"09 - Synthetic Men of Mars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burroughs Edgar Rice)

approaches any elevation of the land surface that is less than 50 ads beneath
its keel. I think I may best describe this mechanism by asking you to imagine a
self-focusing camera which may be set for any distance, beyond which it is
always in focus. When it approaches an object within less distance than that for
which it has been adjusted it automatically corrects the focus. It is this
change that actuates the controls of the ship, causing it to rise until the
fixed focus is again achieved. So sensitive is this instrument that it functions
as accurately by starlight as by the brightest sunlight. Only in utter darkness
would it fail to operate; but even this single limitation is overcome, on the
rare occasions that the Martian sky is entirely overcast by clouds, through the
medium of a small beam of light which is directed downward from the keel of the
ship.
Secure in our belief in the infallibility of our directional compass, we relaxed
our vigilance and dozed throughout the night. I have no excuses to offer, nor
did John Carter upbraid me; for, as he was prompt to admit, the fault was
as much his as mine. As a matter of fact, he took all the blame, saying that the
responsibility was wholly his.
It was not until well after sunrise that we discovered that something was
radically wrong in either our position or our timing. The snow clad Artolian
Hills which surround Duhor should have been plainly visible dead ahead, but they
were not Ц just a vast expanse of dead sea bottom covered with ochre vegetation,
and, in the distance, low hills.
We quickly took our position, only to find that we were some 4500 haads
southeast of Duhor; or, more accurately, 150░ W. Lon., from Exum, and 15░ N.
Lat. This placed us about 2600 haads southwest of Phundahl, which is situated at
the western extremity of The Great Toonolian Marshes.
John Carter was examining the directional compass. I knew how bitterly
disappointed he must be because of the delay. Another might have railed at fate;
but he only said, "The needle is slightly bent Ц just enough to carry us off our
course. But perhaps it's just as well Ц the Phundahlians are far more likely to
know where Ras Thavas is than anyone in Duhor. I thought of Duhor first,
naturally, because we'd be sure of friendly aid there."
"That's more than we can expect in Phundahl, from what I've heard of them."
He nodded. "Nevertheless, we'll go to Phundahl. Dar Tarus, the jeddak, is
friendly to Vad Varo; and so may be friendly to Vad Varo's friend. Just to be on
the safe side, though, we'll go into the city as panthans."
"They'll think we're flying high," I said, smiling: "Цtwo panthans in a ship of
the princely house of The Warlord of Barsoom!"
A panthan is a wandering soldier of fortune, selling his services and his sword
to whomever will pay him; and the pay is usually low, for everyone knows that a
panthan would rather fight than eat; so they don't pay him very much; and what
they do pay him, he spends with prodigality, so that he is quite broke again in
short order.
"They won't see the ship," replied John Carter. "We'll find a place to hide it
before we get there. You will walk to the gates of Phundahl in plain harness,
Vor Daj." He smiled. "I know how well the officers of my ships like to walk."
As we flew on toward Phundahl we removed the insignia and ornaments from our
harnesses that we might come to the gates in the plain leather of unattached
panthans. Even then, we knew, we might not be admitted to the city, as Martians
are always suspicious of strangers and because spies sometimes come in the guise