'A Princess of Mars,' by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Part Four

2017 · VOA Learning English

This speaker is a general-american model. Each line below can be recorded and scored against it.

Transcript

1. toward me with his thin sword. I backed away.

   13.3s–20.7sPractise this

2. I did not want to fight him. I did not wish his death.

   20.8s–27.1sPractise this

3. He had been as kind to me as a green Martian can be. As I stood watching him, a rifle fired in the distance, then another and another.

   27.3s–42.1sPractise this

4. Tars Tarkas and his warriors were under attack from another tribe of green warriors. Within seconds, a terrible battle raged.

   42.0s–55.5sPractise this

5. 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.

   55.7s–67.7sPractise this

6. I ran to his aid, swinging my sword. He was on his feet.

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7. Shoulder-to-shoulder, we fought against the attackers. They finally withdrew after an hour of fierce fighting.

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8. You saved my life when I was about to take yours.

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9. From this day, you are no longer a captive among our people, but a leader and great warrior among us.

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10. Once again, he took off a metal band from his arm and gave it to me.

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11. I understand why you took the red woman with you. But why did Sola leave her people and go with you?

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12. She does not like the great games held by your people where captives are led to die. She knows if she is caught, she too will die in the games.

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13. She told me she hates the games because her mother died there.

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14. Her mother hid Sola among other children before she was captured. Sola said she was a kind woman, not like others of your tribe.

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15. Tars Tarkas grew angry as I was speaking. But I could see past his anger.

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16. I could see pain in his eyes. I immediately knew Sola’s great secret.

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17. I have a question for you, Tars Tarkas. Did you know Sola’s mother?

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18. I know this story to be true. I have always known the woman who died in those games had a child.

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19. I never knew the child. I do now.

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20. Sola is also my child.

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21. At last, we could see them in the distance. Their animal could no longer be ridden.

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22. They were talking. When we came near, Woola turned to fight us.

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23. I slowly walked to him with my hand out. Sola was standing nearby.

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24. She was armed and prepared to fight. The princess was lying next to her feet.

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25. SOLA: She has been crying much these past few days, John Carter. We believed you died so we could escape.

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26. The thought of your death was very heavy on this woman…my friend Dejah Thoris. Come and tell her you are among the living.

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27. She looked at me with eyes that were red from crying. Princess, you are no longer in danger.

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28. Tars Tarkas has come with me as a friend. He and his warriors will help to see you safely home.

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29. Your secret no longer means death to anyone. He already knows you are his daughter.

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30. The two of you have nothing to fear. Sola turned and looked at Tars Tarkas.

    355.5s–364.7sPractise this

31. She held out her hand. He took it. It was a new beginning for them.

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32. Can it be that all Earthmen are like you? I was alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened.

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33. Yet you would freely give your life to save me. You come to me now with a tribe of green warriors who offer their friendship.

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34. You are no longer a captive but wear the metal of great rank among their people. No man has ever done this.

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35. And now, before my courage fails, I would ask you, to be mine in marriage.

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

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37. At first, the red men of Helium thought we were an attacking army. But they soon saw their Princess.

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38. We were greeted with great joy. Tars Tarkas and his green warriors caused the greatest excitement.

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39. This huge group of green warriors entered the city as friends and allies.

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40. I soon met Tardos Mors, the grandfather of Dejah Thoris. He tried several times to thank me for saving the life of the Princess.

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41. But tears filled his eyes and he could not speak.

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42. It was a happy time. The Princess Dejah Thoris and I were expecting a child.

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43. Then, one day, a soldier returned from a long flight. When he landed he hurried to the great meeting room.

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44. Tardos Mors met with the soldier and reported that every creature on the planet had but three days to live.

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45. He said the great machines that produced the atmosphere on the planet had stopped producing oxygen.

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46. He said no one knew why this had happened, but there was nothing that could be done. The air grew thin within a day.

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47. Many people could do nothing but sleep. I watched as my Princess was slowly dying.

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48. I had to try something. I could still move with great difficulty.

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49. 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.

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50. Workers were trying to enter. I tried to help.

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51. With a great effort I opened a hole. I grew very weak.

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52. I asked one of the workers if he could start the engines. He said he would try.

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53. I fell asleep on the ground. It was dark when I opened my eyes again.

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54. My clothing felt stiff and strange. I sat up.

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55. I could see light from an opening. I walked outside.

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56. The land looked strange to me. I looked up to the sky and saw the Red Planet Mars.

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57. I was once again on Earth in the desert of Arizona. I cried out with deep emotion.

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58. Did the worker reach the machines to renew the atmosphere? Did the air reach the people of that planet in time to save them?

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59. Was my Princess Dejah Thoris alive or did she lie cold in death?

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60. For ten years now, I have watched the night sky, looking for an answer.

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61. I believe she and our child are waiting there for me.

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62. Something tells me that I

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63. shall soon know.

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