Princess of Mars / Принцесса Марса. Уровень 2

Three or four females and a couple of the recently hatched young Martians occupied our sleeping quarters at this time; Sola and her youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. It was customary[44 - it was customary – было принято] for the adults to carry on a desultory conversation for a short time before sleeping. I was always a keen listener because now I could understand their language, although I never proffered any remarks myself[45 - I never proffered any remarks myself – хотя сам я ничего не говорил].

Once the conversation finally fell upon the prisoner. I was all ears[46 - I was all ears – я стал внимательно слушать] on the instant. I never dared to question Sola about the beautiful captive. I remembered the strange expression I noted upon her face after my first encounter with the prisoner. I did not know if it was jealousy, and I felt it safer to affect indifference judging by earthly standards. I wanted to learn more surely Sola's attitude toward the object of my solicitude.

Someone asked Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our home and one of the prisoner's guards:

“When will we enjoy the death throes of the red one? or does our Jed Lorquas Ptomel intend holding her for ransom?”

“They decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus,” replied Sarkoja.

“How will she die?” asked Sola. “She is very small and very beautiful; I hoped that they would hold her for ransom.

Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of weakness on the part of Sola.

“It is sad that you were not born a million years ago, Sola” snapped Sarkoja, “when all the hollows of the land were filled with water, and the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. We progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and atavism in our day. It will not be well for you to let Tars Tarkas know your degenerate sentiments.

“I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red woman,” answered Sola. “She never harmed us. It is only the men of her kind who fight against us. I always thought that it is just the reflection to our attitude towards them. They live at peace with all their fellows and fight only when duty calls upon them, while we are at peace with none.