美国故事 SENEWS-2007-0324-Feature

The Special English program American Stories.

Welcome to the fourth and last part of our program A Princess of Mars¹. The story is from a series of books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Last week we told how John Carter observed a fierce battle between the green Martians and a race of red human-like creatures. He also saw the beautiful Princess Dejah Thoris being captured² after the battle. A short time later, John Carter, the princess and their friend the green Martian woman Sola attempted to escape rather than face death. The princess and Sola must flee while John Carter tries to slow the green warriors⁴ who are chasing⁵ them. John Carter continues to tell what happens in Edgar Rice Burroughs' story A Princess of Mars.

The huge green warrior³ Tars⁶ Tarkas came slowly toward⁷ me with his thin sword. I backed away. I did not want to fight him. I did not to wish his death. He had been as kind to me as a green Martian can be.

As I stood watching him, a rifle⁸ fired in the distance, then another and another. Tars Tarkas and his warriors were under attack from another tribe⁹ of green warriors. Within seconds, a terrible battle reached. As I watched three of the attackers fell on Tars Tarkas. He killed one and was fighting with the other two when he slipped and fell. I ran to his aid, swinging my sword. He was on his feet. Shoulder to shoulder we fought against the attackers. They finally withdrew¹⁰ after an hour of fierce fighting.

"John Carter, I think I understand the meaning of the word: friend. You saved my life when I was about to take yours. From this day you are no longer a captive¹¹ among our people, but a leader and great warrior among us." There was a smile on his face. Once again, he took off a metal band from his arm and gave it to me.

"I have a question for you, John Carter. I understand why you took the red woman with you, but why did Sola leave her people and go with you?"

"She did not want to see me or the princess harmed, she does not like the great games held by your people where captives¹² are led to die. She knows if she's caught she too will die in the games. She told me she hates the games because her mother died there."

"What? How could she know her mother?"

"She told me her mother was killed in the games because she had hidden the egg that produced her. Her mother hid Sola among other children before she was captured. Sola said she was a kind woman, not like others of your tribe."

Tars Tarkas grew angry as I was speaking, but I could see passed his anger, I could see pain in his eyes. I immediately knew Sola's great secret.

"I have a question for you, Tars Tarkas, did you know Sola's mother?"

"Yes, and if I could have, I would have prevented her death. I know this story to be true, I have always known the woman who died in those games had a child. I never knew the child, I do now. Sola is also my child."

For three days we followed the trail left by the Princess Dejah Thoris, Sola and poor ugly Woola. At last we could see them in the distance. Their animal could no longer be ridden. They were talking. When we came near Woola turned to fight us. I slowly walked to him with my hand out. Sola was standing¹³ nearby, she was armed and prepared to fight. The princess was lying next to her feet.

"Sola, what is wrong with the princess?"

"She has been crying much these past few days, John Carter. We believed you died so we could escape. The thought of your death was very heavy on this woman, my friend Dejah Thoris. Come, and tell her you are among the living. Perhaps that would stop her crying."

I walked to where the Princess Dejah Thoris was lying on the ground. She looked at me with eyes that were red from crying.

"Princess, you are no longer in danger. Tars Tarkas has come with me as a friend. He and his warriors will help to see you safely home. And Sola, I would have you greet your father Tars Tarkas, a great leader among your people. Your secret no longer means death to anyone. He already knows you are his daughter. The two of you have nothing to fear."

Sola turned and looked at Tars Tarkas. She held out her hand, he took it. It was a new beginning for them.

"I know our world has never before seen anyone like you, John Carter. Can it be that all earthmen are like you? I was alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened. Yet, you would freely¹⁴ give your life to save me. You come to me now with a tribe of green warriors who offered their friendship. You are no longer a captive but where the medal of great rank among their people. No man has ever done this."

"Princess, I have done many strange things in my life. Many things much smarter than would not have done. And now, before my courage fails, I would ask you to be mine in marriage."

She smiled at me for a moment and then her dark eyes flashed in the evening light.

"You have no need of your courage, John Carter, because you already knew the answer before you ask the question."

Several days later, we reached the city of Helium. At first the red men of Helium thought we were an attacking army, but they soon saw their princess. We were greeted with great joy. Tars Tarkas and his green warriors caused the greatest excitement. This huge group of green warriors entered the city as friends and allies¹⁵. I soon met Tardos Mors, the grandfather of Dejah Thoris. He tried several times to thank me for saving¹⁶ the life of the princess, but tears filled his eyes and he could not speak.

For nine years I served in the government and fought in the armies of Helium as a prince of the royal family, it was a happy time. The Princess Dejah Thoris and I were expecting a child.

Then one day a soldier returned from a long flight. When he landed he hurried to the great meeting room. Tardos Mors met with the soldier and reported that every creature on the planet¹⁷ had but three days to live. He said the great machines that produced the atmosphere on the planet had stopped producing oxygen. He said no one knew why this had happened, but there was nothing that could be done.

The air grew thin within a day. Many people could do nothing but sleep. I watched as my princess was slowly dying¹⁸. I had to try something. I could still move with great difficulty. I went to our airport and chose a fast aircraft. I flew as fast as I could to the building that produced the atmosphere of the planet. Workers were trying to enter. I tried to help. With a great effort I opened a hole. I grew very weak. I asked one of the workers if he could start the engines. He said he would try. I fell asleep on the ground.

It was dark when I opened my eyes again. My clothing felt stiff¹⁹ and strange. I sat up. I could see light from an opening. I walked outside. The land looked strange to me. I looked up to the sky and saw the red planet Mars. I was once again on earth in the dessert of Arizona. I cried out with deep emotion. Did the worker reached the machines to renew²⁰ the atmosphere? Did the air reached the people of that planet in time to save them? Was my Princess Dejah Thoris alive? Or did she lie cold in death. For ten years now, I have watched the night sky, looking for an answer. I believe she and our child are waiting there for me. Something tells me that I shall soon know.

You have been listening to the Special English program American Stories. Shep O'Neal was the voice of John Carter. Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. Barbara Klein was Sola. And Guan Outen was Princess Dejah Thoris. This story was adapted for Special English by Paul Thompson. It was produced by Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter. Listen again next week for another American Story in VOA Special English.

1 Mars   

n.火星，战争

参考例句：

• As of now we don't know much about Mars.目前我们对火星还知之甚少。
• He contended that there must be life on Mars.他坚信火星上面一定有生物。

2 captured   

俘获( capture的过去式和过去分词 )； 夺取； 夺得； 引起（注意、想像、兴趣）

参考例句：

• Allied troops captured over 300 enemy soldiers. 盟军俘虏了300多名敌方士兵。
• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。

3 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

4 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

5 chasing   

n.雕镂术，雕刻工作；车螺丝；抛光；螺旋板

参考例句：

• My dog likes chasing rabbits. 我的狗喜欢追捕兔子。
• The children were having fun, chasing each other's shadows. 孩子们追逐着彼此的影子，玩得很开心。

6 tars   

焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Around 280 degrees C, Volatile gases and flammable tars are released. 在大约摄氏280度，挥发性的气体和可燃焦被放出。
• Tars could be seen walking towards the harbor. 可以看到水手正在走向港口。

7 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

8 rifle   

n.来复枪，步枪

参考例句：

• The soldiers keep a tight hold of the rifle.战士们紧握手中的枪。
• They armed him with a rifle.他们发给他一支步枪。

9 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

10 withdrew   

v.取[收]回( withdraw的过去式 )；（使）撤退[出]；提；收回

参考例句：

• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She quickly withdrew her hand from the hot iron. 她很快地将手从火烫的熨斗上缩了回来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 captive   

adj.被俘虏的，不得自由行动的，被监禁的

参考例句：

• They led him captive.他们将他活捉。
• The rock star had a captive audience.那位摇滚歌星倾倒了许多观众。

12 captives   

战俘，俘虏( captive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The rebels cut off the heads of their captives. 叛乱者砍掉了俘虏的脑袋。
• The captives are wearing chains. 俘虏们带着镣铐。

13 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

14 freely   

adv.自由地，随便地，无拘无束地

参考例句：

• She was unable to keep back her tears,and wept freely.她抑制不住泪水，痛痛快快地哭了起来。
• A liquid flows freely and has no fixed shape.液体能自由流动，无固定形态。

15 allies   

联盟国，同盟者； 同盟国，同盟者( ally的名词复数 )； 支持者； 盟军

参考例句：

• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。
• A number of the United States' allies had urged him not to take a hasty decision. 美国的一些盟友已力劝他不要急于作决定。

16 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

17 planet   

n.行星

参考例句：

• Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun. 海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Rubbish, however, is only part of the problem of polluting our planet. 然而, 垃圾只是我们这个星球的污染问题的一个方面。

18 dying   

adj.垂死的，临终的

参考例句：

• He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
• She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子，那里有一个垂死的人。

19 stiff   

adj.严厉的，激烈的，硬的，僵直的，不灵活的

参考例句：

• There is a sheet of stiff cardboard in the drawer.在那个抽屉里有块硬纸板。
• You have to push on the handle to turn it,becanse it's very stiff.手柄很不灵活，你必须用力推才能转动它。

20 renew   

vt.使更新，复始，使恢复，补充；vi.更新，重新开始

参考例句：

• The most important thing is to renew your health.最重要的是恢复你的健康。
• We must renew our supplies of coal.我们必须补充煤的储备。