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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The master mind of Mars</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 4, 2023 [eBook #69703]<br /> -[Most recently updated: October 22, 2023]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Al Haines, Cindy Beyer & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MASTER MIND OF MARS ***</div> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>BATTLE DAMAGE</p> - -<div class='blockquote60percent'> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus called in alarm, “We can’t alter -our course—the ship is useless!”</p> - -</div> -<div class='blockquote60percent'> - -<p class='pindent'>Almost at the same instant, one of my -bullets found and extinguished the enemy -searchlight. Our craft was out of control, -running swiftly toward a collision with the -Toonolian flyer.</p> - -</div> -<div class='blockquote60percent'> - -<p class='pindent'>I asked Dar Tarus if our ship was beyond -repair. His reply was that it would take hours—in -which time the whole Toonolian air -patrol would be upon us.</p> - -</div> -<div class='blockquote60percent'> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we must have another ship!” I said. -I pointed at the enemy craft. “We shall not -have to look far.”</p> - -</div> -<div class='blockquote60percent'> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus shrugged. “Why not? It would -be a glorious fight . . . and a worthy death!”</p> - -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style='margin-bottom:2em;'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line'>Edgar Rice Burroughs</p> -<p class='line'>MARS NOVELS</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<table id='tab1' summary='' class='center'> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>A PRINCESS OF MARS (#1)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>THE GODS OF MARS (#2)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>THE WARLORD OF MARS (#3)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>THUVIA, MAID OF MARS (#4)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>THE CHESSMEN OF MARS (#5)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>THE MASTER MIND OF MARS (#6)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>A FIGHTING MAN OF MARS (#7)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>SWORDS OF MARS (#8)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>SYNTHETIC MEN OF MARS (#9)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>LLANA OF GATHOL (#10)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>JOHN CARTER OF MARS (#11)</td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:1em;font-size:2em;'>THE</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:2em;'>MASTER MIND</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:2em;'>OF MARS</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='margin-bottom:8em;font-size:1.5em;'>Edgar Rice Burroughs</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='blockquote80percent'> - -<p class='noindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'><span class='it'>The Master Mind of Mars</span> was first published in <span class='it'>Amazing Stories -Annual</span> magazine, Volume I, number 1 on July 15, 1927.</span></p> - -</div> -<div class='blockquote80percent'> - -<p class='noindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>Copyright © 1927 Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.</span></p> - -</div> -<div class='blockquote80percent'> - -<p class='noindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>ISBN 0-345-33424-8</span></p> - -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<table id='tab2' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 2em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 17.5em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 2.5em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tab2c1-col3 tdStyle1' colspan='3'><span style='font-size:larger'><span class='gesp'>CONTENTS</span></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tab2c1-col2 tdStyle5' colspan='2'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>A Letter</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_7'>7</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>I</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>The House of the Dead</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_10'>10</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>II</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Preferment</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_20'>20</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>III</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Valla Dia</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_28'>28</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>IV</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>The Compact</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_42'>42</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>V</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Danger</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_53'>53</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>VI</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Suspicions</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_61'>61</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>VII</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Escape</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_72'>72</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>VIII</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Hands Up!</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_81'>81</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>IX</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>The Palace of Mu Tel</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_92'>92</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>X</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Phundahl</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_106'>106</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XI</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Xaxa</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_116'>116</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XII</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>The Great Tur</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XIII</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>Back to Thavas</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_140'>140</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'> </td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'> </td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XIV</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'>John Carter</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#Page_150'>150</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='7' id='Page_7'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>A LETTER</h1></div> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:smaller'>HELIUM</span>, June 8th, 1925</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:0em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:.8em;'>MY DEAR MR. BURROUGHS:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was in the Fall of nineteen seventeen at an officers’ -training camp that I first became acquainted with John -Carter, War Lord of Barsoom, through the pages of your -novel “A Princess of Mars.” The story made a profound -impression upon me and while my better judgment -assured me that it was but a highly imaginative piece of -fiction, a suggestion of the verity of it pervaded my inner -consciousness to such an extent that I found myself -dreaming of Mars and John Carter, of Dejah Thoris, of -Tars Tarkas and of Woola as if they had been entities -of my own experience rather than the figments of your -imagination.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is true that in those days of strenuous preparation -there was little time for dreaming, yet there were brief -moments before sleep claimed me at night and these were -my dreams. Such dreams! Always of Mars, and during -my waking hours at night my eyes always sought out the -Red Planet when he was above the horizon and clung -there seeking a solution of the seemingly unfathomable -riddle he has presented to the Earthman for ages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Perhaps the thing became an obsession. I know it -clung to me all during my training camp days, and at -night, on the deck of the transport, I would lie on my -back gazing up into the red eye of the god of battle—my -god—and wishing that, like John Carter, I might be -drawn across the great void to the haven of my desire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And then came the hideous days and nights in the -trenches—the rats, the vermin, the mud—with an occasional -glorious break in the monotony when we were -ordered over the top. I loved it then and I loved the -bursting shells, the mad, wild chaos of the thundering -guns, but the rats and the vermin and the mud—God! -how I hated them. It sounds like boasting, I know, and I -am sorry; but I wanted to write you just the truth about -myself. I think you will understand. And it may account -for much that happened afterwards.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There came at last to me what had come to so many -others upon those bloody fields. It came within the -week that I had received my first promotion and my -captaincy, of which I was greatly proud, though humbly -so; realizing as I did my youth, the great responsibility -that it placed upon me as well as the opportunities it -offered, not only in service to my country but, in a personal -way, to the men of my command. We had advanced -a matter of two kilometers and with a small detachment -I was holding a very advanced position when I received -orders to fall back to the new line. That is the last that I -remember until I regained consciousness after dark. A -shell must have burst among us. What became of my -men I never knew. It was cold and very dark when I -awoke and at first, for an instant, I was quite comfortable—before -I was fully conscious, I imagine—and then -I commenced to feel pain. It grew until it seemed unbearable. -It was in my legs. I reached down to feel them, -but my hand recoiled from what it found, and when I -tried to move my legs I discovered that I was dead from -the waist down. Then the moon came out from behind a -cloud and I saw that I lay within a shell hole and that I -was not alone—the dead were all about me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was a long time before I found the moral courage -and the physical strength to draw myself up upon one -elbow that I might view the havoc that had been done -me. One look was enough, I sank back in an agony of -mental and physical anguish—my legs had been blown -away from midway between the hips and knees. For some -reason I was not bleeding excessively, yet I know that -I had lost a great deal of blood and that I was gradually -losing enough to put me out of my misery in a short time -if I were not soon found; and as I lay there on my back, -tortured with pain, I prayed that they would not come in -time, for I shrank more from the thought of going -maimed through life than I shrank from the thought of -death. Then my eyes suddenly focussed upon the bright -red eye of Mars and there surged through me a sudden -wave of hope. I stretched out my arms towards Mars, -I did not seem to question or to doubt for an instant as -I prayed to the god of my vocation to reach forth and -succour me. I knew that he would do it, my faith was -complete, and yet so great was the mental effort that I -made to throw off the hideous bonds of my mutilated -flesh that I felt a momentary qualm of nausea and then a -sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and suddenly -I stood naked upon two good legs looking down -upon the bloody, distorted thing that had been I. Just -for an instant did I stand thus before I turned my eyes -aloft again to my star of destiny and with outstretched -arms stand there in the cold of that French night—waiting.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly I felt myself drawn with the speed of thought -through the trackless wastes of interplanetary space. -There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness, -then——</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the rest is in the manuscript that, with the aid of -one greater than either of us, I have found the means -to transmit to you with this letter. You and a few others -of the chosen will believe in it—for the rest it matters -not as yet. The time will come—but why tell you what -you already know?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>My salutations and my congratulations—the latter -on your good fortune in having been chosen as the -medium through which Earthmen shall become better acquainted -with the manners and customs of Barsoom, -against the time that they shall pass through space as -easily as John Carter, and visit the scenes that he has -described to them through you, as have I.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:5em;'>Your sincere friend,</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:.8em;'>ULYSSES PAXTON,</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'><span class='it'>Late Captain, ——th Inf., U.S. Army</span>.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='10' id='Page_10'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER I<br/> THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>I must</span> have closed my eyes involuntarily during the -transition for when I opened them I was lying flat on -my back gazing up into a brilliant, sun-lit sky, while -standing a few feet from me and looking down upon me -with the most mystified expression was as strange a looking -individual as my eyes ever had rested upon. He appeared -to be quite an old man, for he was wrinkled and -withered beyond description. His limbs were emaciated; -his ribs showed distinctly beneath his shrunken hide; -his cranium was large and well developed, which, in conjunction -with his wasted limbs and torso, lent him the -appearance of top heaviness, as though he had a head -beyond all proportion to his body, which was, I am sure, -really not the case.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As he stared down upon me through enormous, many -lensed spectacles I found the opportunity to examine -him as minutely in return. He was, perhaps, five feet five -in height, though doubtless he had been taller in youth, -since he was somewhat bent; he was naked except for -some rather plain and well-worn leather harness which -supported his weapons and pocket pouches, and one great -ornament, a collar, jewel studded, that he wore around -his scraggy neck—such a collar as a dowager empress of -pork or real estate might barter her soul for, if she had -one. His skin was red, his scant locks grey. As he looked -at me his puzzled expression increased in intensity, he -grasped his chin between the thumb and fingers of his -left hand and slowly raising his right hand he scratched -his head most deliberately. Then he spoke to me, but in -a language I did not understand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At his first words I sat up and shook my head. Then -I looked about me. I was seated upon a crimson sward -within a high walled enclosure, at least two, and possibly -three, sides of which were formed by the outer walls of -a structure that in some respects resembled more closely -a feudal castle of Europe than any familiar form of -architecture that comes to my mind. The façade presented -to my view was ornately carved and of most irregular -design, the roof line being so broken as to almost -suggest a ruin, and yet the whole seemed harmonious -and not without beauty. Within the enclosure grew a -number of trees and shrubs, all weirdly strange and all, -or almost all, profusely flowering. About them wound -walks of coloured pebbles among which scintillated -what appeared to be rare and beautiful gems, so lovely -were the strange, unearthly rays that leaped and played -in the sunshine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old man spoke again, peremptorily this time, as -though repeating a command that had been ignored, but -again I shook my head. Then he laid a hand upon one -of his two swords, but as he drew the weapon I leaped -to my feet, with such remarkable results that I cannot -even now say which of us was the more surprised. I -must have sailed ten feet into the air and back about -twenty feet from where I had been sitting; then I was -sure that I was upon Mars (not that I had for one instant -doubted it), for the effects of the lesser gravity, the -colour of the sward and the skin-hue of the red Martians -I had seen described in the manuscripts of John Carter, -those marvellous and as yet unappreciated contributions -to the scientific literature of a world. There could be no -doubt of it, I stood upon the soil of the Red Planet, I -had come to the world of my dreams—to Barsoom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So startled was the old man by my agility that he -jumped a bit himself, though doubtless involuntarily, but, -however, with certain results. His spectacles tumbled -from his nose to the sward, and then it was that I discovered -that the pitiful old wretch was practically blind -when deprived of these artificial aids to vision, for he -got to his knees and commenced to grope frantically for -the lost glasses, as though his very life depended upon -finding them in the instant. Possibly he thought that I -might take advantage of his helplessness and slay him. -Though the spectacles were enormous and lay within a -couple of feet of him he could not find them, his hands, -seemingly afflicted by that strange perversity that sometimes -confounds our simplest acts, passing all about the -lost object of their search, yet never once coming in contact -with it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I stood watching his futile efforts and considering -the advisability of restoring to him the means that would -enable him more readily to find my heart with his sword -point, I became aware that another had entered the -enclosure. Looking towards the building I saw a large -red-man running rapidly towards the little old man of the -spectacles. The newcomer was quite naked, he carried -a club in one hand, and there was upon his face such an -expression as unquestionably boded ill for the helpless -husk of humanity grovelling, mole-like, for its lost -spectacles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>My first impulse was to remain neutral in an affair -that it seemed could not possibly concern me and of -which I had no slightest knowledge upon which to base a -predilection towards either of the parties involved; but a -second glance at the face of the club-bearer aroused a -question as to whether it might not concern me after all. -There was that in the expression upon the man’s face -that betokened either an inherent savageness of disposition -or a maniacal cast of mind which might turn his -evidently murderous attentions upon me after he had dispatched -his elderly victim, while, in outward appearance -at least, the latter was a sane and relatively harmless individual. -It is true that his move to draw his sword against -me was not indicative of a friendly disposition towards -me, but at least, if there were any choice, he seemed the -lesser of two evils.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was still groping for his spectacles and the naked -man was almost upon him as I reached the decision to -cast my lot upon the side of the old man. I was twenty -feet away, naked and unarmed, but to cover the distance -with my Earthly muscles required but an instant, and a -naked sword lay by the old man’s side where he had discarded -it the better to search for his spectacles. So it -was that I faced the attacker at the instant that he came -within striking distance of his victim, and the blow which -had been intended for another was aimed at me. I sidestepped -it and then I learned that the greater agility of -my Earthly muscles had its disadvantages as well as its -advantages, for, indeed, I had to learn to walk at the -very instant that I had to learn to fight with a new -weapon against a maniac armed with a bludgeon, or at -least, so I assumed him to be and I think that it is not -strange that I should have done so, what with his frightful -show of rage and the terrible expression upon his -face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I stumbled about endeavouring to accustom myself -to the new conditions, I found that instead of offering -any serious opposition to my antagonist I was hard -put to it to escape death at his hands, so often did I -stumble and fall sprawling upon the scarlet sward; so -that the duel from its inception became but a series of -efforts, upon his part to reach and crush me with his great -club, and upon mine to dodge and elude him. It was -mortifying but it is the truth. However, this did not last -indefinitely, for soon I learned, and quickly too under the -exigencies of the situation, to command my muscles, and -then I stood my ground and when he aimed a blow at -me, and I had dodged it, I touched him with my point -and brought blood along with a savage roar of pain. He -went more cautiously then, and taking advantage of the -change I pressed him so that he fell back. The effect -upon me was magical, giving me new confidence, so that -I set upon him in good earnest, thrusting and cutting until -I had him bleeding in a half-dozen places, yet taking -good care to avoid his mighty swings, any one of which -would have felled an ox.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In my attempts to elude him in the beginning of the -duel we had crossed the enclosure and were now fighting -at a considerable distance from the point of our first -meeting. It now happened that I stood facing towards -that point at the moment that the old man regained his -spectacles, which he quickly adjusted to his eyes. Immediately -he looked about until he discovered us, whereupon -he commenced to yell excitedly at us at the same time -running in our direction and drawing his short-sword as -he ran. The red-man was pressing me hard, but I had -gained almost complete control of myself, and fearing -that I was soon to have two antagonists instead of one -I set upon him with redoubled intensity. He missed me -by the fraction of an inch, the wind in the wake of his -bludgeon fanning my scalp, but he left an opening into -which I stepped, running my sword fairly through his -heart. At least I thought that I had pierced his heart, but -I had forgotten what I had once read in one of John -Carter’s manuscripts to the effect that all the Martian -internal organs are not disposed identically with those -of Earthmen. However, the immediate results were quite -as satisfactory as though I had found his heart, for the -wound was sufficiently grievous to place him <span class='it'>hors de -combat</span>, and at that instant the old gentleman arrived. He -found me ready, but I had mistaken his intentions. He -made no unfriendly gestures with his weapon, but seemed -to be trying to convince me that he had no intention of -harming me. He was very excited and apparently tremendously -annoyed that I could not understand him, and -perplexed, too. He hopped about screaming strange sentences -at me that bore the tones of peremptory commands, -rabid invective and impotent rage. But the fact -that he had returned his sword to its scabbard had -greater significance than all his jabbering, and when he -ceased to yell at me and commenced to talk in a sort of -pantomime I realized that he was making overtures of -peace if not of friendship, so I lowered my point and -bowed. It was all that I could think of to assure him that -I had no immediate intention of spitting him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He seemed satisfied and at once turned his attention -to the fallen man. He examined his pulse and listened to -his heart, then, nodding his head, he arose and taking a -whistle from one of his pocket pouches sounded a single -loud blast. There emerged immediately from one of the -surrounding buildings a score of naked red-men who -came running towards us. None was armed. To these -he issued a few curt orders, whereupon they gathered the -fallen one in their arms and bore him off. Then the old -man started towards the building, motioning me to accompany -him. There seemed nothing else for me to do -but obey. Wherever I might be upon Mars, the chances -were a million to one that I would be among enemies; -and so I was as well off here as elsewhere and must depend -upon my own resourcefulness, skill and agility to -make my way upon the Red Planet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old man led me into a small chamber from which -opened numerous doors, through one of which they were -just bearing my late antagonist. We followed into a large, -brilliantly lighted chamber wherein there burst upon my -astounded vision the most gruesome scene that I ever -had beheld. Rows upon rows of tables arranged in -parallel lines filled the room and with few exceptions each -table bore a similar grisly burden, a partially dismembered -or otherwise mutilated human corpse. Above each -table was a shelf bearing containers of various sizes and -shapes, while from the bottom of the shelf depended -numerous surgical instruments, suggesting that my entrance -upon Barsoom was to be through a gigantic medical -college.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At a word from the old man, those who bore the -Barsoomian I had wounded laid him upon an empty -table and left the apartment. Whereupon my host, if so I -may call him, for certainly he was not as yet my captor, -motioned me forward. While he conversed in ordinary -tones, he made two incisions in the body of my late -antagonist; one, I imagine, in a large vein and one in an -artery, to which he deftly attached the ends of two tubes, -one of which was connected with an empty glass receptacle -and the other with a similar receptacle filled with a -colourless, transparent liquid resembling clear water. The -connections made, the old gentleman pressed a button -controlling a small motor, whereupon the victim’s blood -was pumped into the empty jar while the contents of -the other was forced into the emptying veins and arteries.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The tones and gestures of the old man as he addressed -me during this operation convinced me that he was explaining -in detail the method and purpose of what was -transpiring, but as I understood no word of all he said -I was as much in the dark when he had completed his -discourse as I was before he started it, though what I had -seen made it appear reasonable to believe that I was -witnessing an ordinary Barsoomian embalming. Having -removed the tubes the old man closed the openings he -had made by covering them with bits of what appeared -to be heavy adhesive tape and then motioned me to -follow him. We went from room to room, in each of -which were the same gruesome exhibits. At many of the -bodies the old man paused to make a brief examination -or to refer to what appeared to be a record of the case, -that hung upon a hook at the head of each of the tables.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the last of the chambers we visited upon the first -floor my host led me up an inclined runway to the second -floor where there were rooms similar to those below, but -here the tables bore whole rather than mutilated bodies, -all of which were patched in various places with adhesive -tape. As we were passing among the bodies in one of -these rooms a Barsoomian girl, whom I took to be -a servant or slave, entered and addressed the old man, -whereupon he signed me to follow him and together we -descended another runway to the first floor of another -building.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here, in a large, gorgeously decorated and sumptuously -furnished apartment an elderly red-woman awaited -us. She appeared to be quite old and her face was -terribly disfigured as by some injury. Her trappings were -magnificent and she was attended by a score of women -and armed warriors, suggesting that she was a person of -some consequence, but the little old man treated her -quite brusquely, as I could see, quite to the horror of -her attendants.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Their conversation was lengthy and at the conclusion -of it, at the direction of the woman, one of her male -escort advanced and opening a pocket pouch at his side -withdrew a handful of what appeared to me to be Martian -coins. A quantity of these he counted out and handed -to the little old man, who then beckoned the woman -to follow him, a gesture which included me. Several of -her women and guard started to accompany us, but these -the old man waved back peremptorily; whereupon -there ensued a heated discussion between the woman and -one of her warriors on one side and the old man on the -other, which terminated in his proffering the return of -the woman’s money with a disgusted air. This seemed to -settle the argument, for she refused the coins, spoke -briefly to her people and accompanied the old man and -myself alone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He led the way to the second floor and to a chamber -which I had not previously visited. It closely resembled -the others except that all the bodies therein were of young -women, many of them of great beauty. Following closely -at the heels of the old man the woman inspected the gruesome -exhibit with painstaking care. Thrice she passed -slowly among the tables examining their ghastly burdens. -Each time she paused longest before a certain one -which bore the figure of the most beautiful creature I had -ever looked upon; then she returned the fourth time to it -and stood looking long and earnestly into the dead face. -For awhile she stood there talking with the old man, -apparently asking innumerable questions, to which he returned -quick, brusque replies, then she indicated the body -with a gesture and nodded assent to the withered keeper -of this ghastly exhibit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Immediately the old fellow sounded a blast upon his -whistle, summoning a number of servants to whom he -issued brief instructions, after which he led us to another -chamber, a smaller one in which were several empty -tables similar to those upon which the corpses lay in -adjoining rooms. Two female slaves or attendants were -in this room and at a word from their master they removed -the trappings from the old woman, unloosed her -hair and helped her to one of the tables. Here she was -thoroughly sprayed with what I presume was an antiseptic -solution of some nature, carefully dried and removed to -another table, at a distance of about twenty inches from -which stood a second parallel table.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now the door of the chamber swung open and two -attendants appeared bearing the body of the beautiful -girl we had seen in the adjoining room. This they deposited -upon the table the old woman had just quitted and as -she had been sprayed so was the corpse, after which it -was transferred to the table beside that on which she lay. -The little old man now made two incisions in the body of -the old woman, just as he had in the body of the red-man -who had fallen to my sword; her blood was -drawn from her veins and the clear liquid pumped into -them, life left her and she lay upon the polished ersite -slab that formed the table top, as much a corpse as the -poor, beautiful, dead creature at her side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The little old man, who had removed the harness down -to his waist and been thoroughly sprayed, now selected a -sharp knife from among the instruments above the table -and removed the old woman’s scalp, following the -hair line entirely around her head. In a similar manner he -then removed the scalp from the corpse of the young -woman, after which, by means of a tiny circular saw -attached to the end of a flexible, revolving shaft he -sawed through the skull of each, following the line exposed -by the removal of the scalps. This and the balance -of the marvellous operation was so skilfully performed -as to baffle description. Suffice it to say that at -the end of four hours he had transferred the brain of -each woman to the brain pan of the other, deftly connected -the severed nerves and ganglia, replaced the skulls -and scalps and bound both heads securely with his peculiar -adhesive tape, which was not only antiseptic and -healing but anaesthetic, locally, as well.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He now reheated the blood that he had withdrawn -from the body of the old woman, adding a few drops of -some clear chemical solution, withdrew the liquid from -the veins of the beautiful corpse, replacing it with the -blood of the old woman and simultaneously administering -a hypodermic injection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the entire operation he had not spoken a word. -Now he issued a few instructions in his curt manner to his -assistants, motioned me to follow him, and left the room. -He led me to a distant part of the building or series of -buildings that composed the whole, ushered me into a -luxurious apartment, opened the door to a Barsoomian -bath and left me in the hands of trained servants. Refreshed -and rested I left the bath after an hour of relaxation -to find harness and trappings awaiting me in the -adjoining chamber. Though plain, they were of good -material, but there were no weapons with them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Naturally I had been thinking much upon the strange -things I had witnessed since my advent upon Mars, but -what puzzled me most lay in the seemingly inexplicable act -of the old woman in paying my host what was evidently -a considerable sum to murder her and transfer to the -inside of her skull the brain of a corpse. Was it the -outcome of some horrible religious fanaticism, or was -there an explanation that my Earthly mind could not -grasp?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I had reached no decision in the matter when I was -summoned to follow a slave to another and nearby -apartment where I found my host awaiting me before a -table loaded with delicious foods, to which, it is needless -to say, I did ample justice after my long fast and -longer weeks of rough army fare.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the meal my host attempted to converse with -me, but, naturally, the effort was fruitless of results. He -waxed quite excited at times and upon three distinct occasions -laid his hand upon one of his swords when I -failed to comprehend what he was saying to me, an -action which resulted in a growing conviction upon my -part that he was partially demented; but he evinced sufficient -self-control in each instance to avert a catastrophe -for one of us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The meal over he sat for a long time in deep meditation, -then a sudden resolution seemed to possess him. -He turned suddenly upon me with a faint suggestion of a -smile and dove headlong into what was to prove an intensive -course of instruction in the Barsoomian language. -It was long after dark before he permitted me to retire -for the night, conducting me himself to a large apartment, -the same in which I had found my new harness, -where he pointed out a pile of rich sleeping silks and -furs, bid me a Barsoomian good night and left me, locking -the door after him upon the outside, and leaving me to -guess whether I were more guest or prisoner.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='20' id='Page_20'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER II<br/> PREFERMENT</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>Three</span> weeks passed rapidly. I had mastered enough -of the Barsoomian tongue to enable me to converse with -my host in a reasonably satisfactory manner, and I was -also progressing slowly in the mastery of the written -language of his nation, which is different, of course, -from the written language of all other Barsoomian nations, -though the spoken language of all is identical. In these -three weeks I had learned much of the strange place -in which I was half guest and half prisoner and of my -remarkable host-jailer, Ras Thavas, the old surgeon of -Toonol, whom I had accompanied almost constantly day -after day until gradually there had unfolded before my -astounded faculties an understanding of the purposes of -the institution over which he ruled and in which he laboured -practically alone; for the slaves and attendants -that served him were but hewers of wood and carriers -of water. It was his brain alone and his skill that directed -the sometimes beneficent, the sometimes malevolent, -but always marvellous activities of his life’s work.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas himself was as remarkable as the things he -accomplished. He was never intentionally cruel; he was -not, I am sure, intentionally wicked. He was guilty of the -most diabolical cruelties and the basest of crimes; yet in -the next moment he might perform a deed that if duplicated -upon Earth would have raised him to the highest -pinnacle of man’s esteem. Though I know that I am safe -in saying that he was never prompted to a cruel or -criminal act by base motives, neither was he ever urged to -a humanitarian one by high motives. He had a purely -scientific mind entirely devoid of the cloying influences -of sentiment, of which he possessed none. His was a practical -mind, as evidenced by the enormous fees he demanded -for his professional services; yet I know that he -would not operate for money alone and I have seen him -devote days to the study of a scientific problem the -solution of which could add nothing to his wealth, while -the quarters that he furnished his waiting clients were -overflowing with wealthy patrons waiting to pour money -into his coffers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His treatment of me was based entirely upon scientific -requirements. I offered a problem. I was either, quite evidently, -not a Barsoomian at all, or I was of a species of -which he had no knowledge. It therefore best suited the -purposes of science that I be preserved and studied. I knew -much about my own planet. It pleased Ras Thavas’ -scientific mind to milk me of all I knew in the hope that -he might derive some suggestion that would solve one of -the Barsoomian scientific riddles that still baffle their savants; -but he was compelled to admit that in this respect I -was a total loss, not alone because I was densely ignorant -upon practically all scientific subjects, but because the -learned sciences on Earth have not advanced even to -the swaddling-clothes stage as compared with the remarkable -progress of corresponding activities on Mars. Yet he -kept me by him, training me in many of the minor duties -of his vast laboratory. I was entrusted with the formula -of the “embalming fluid” and taught how to withdraw a -subject’s blood and replace it with this marvellous preservative -that arrests decay without altering in the -minutest detail the nerve or tissue structure of the body. -I learned also the secret of the few drops of solution -which, added to the rewarmed blood before it is returned -to the veins of the subject, revitalizes the latter and -restores to normal and healthy activity each and every -organ of the body.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He told me once why he had permitted me to learn -these things that he had kept a secret from all others, -and why he kept me with him at all times in preference to -any of the numerous individuals of his own race that -served him and me in lesser capacities both day and -night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Vad Varo,” he said, using the Barsoomian name that -he had given me because he insisted that my own name -was meaningless and impractical, “for many years I have -needed an assistant, but heretofore I have never felt that -I had discovered one who might work here for me wholeheartedly -and disinterestedly without ever having reason -to go elsewhere or to divulge my secrets to others. -You, in all Barsoom, are unique—you have no other -friend or acquaintance than myself. Were you to leave -me you would find yourself in a world of enemies, for all -are suspicious of a stranger. You would not survive a -dozen dawns and you would be cold and hungry and miserable—a -wretched outcast in a hostile world. Here you -have every luxury that the mind of man can devise or -the hand of man produce, and you are occupied with -work of such engrossing interest that your every hour -must be fruitful of unparalleled satisfaction. There is no -selfish reason, therefore, why you should leave me and -there is every reason why you should remain. I expect -no loyalty other than that which may be prompted by -egoism. You make an ideal assistant, not only for the -reasons I have just given you, but because you are intelligent -and quick-witted, and now I have decided, after -observing you carefully for a sufficient time, that you can -serve me in yet another capacity—that of personal bodyguard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You may have noticed that I alone of all those connected -with my laboratory am armed. This is unusual -upon Barsoom, where people of all classes, and all ages -and both sexes habitually go armed. But many of these -people I could not trust armed as they would slay me; -and were I to give arms to those whom I might trust, who -knows but that the others would obtain possession of -them and slay me, or even those whom I had trusted turn -against me, for there is not one who might not wish to -go forth from this place back among his own people—only -you, Vad Varo, for there is no other place for you -to go. So I have decided to give you weapons.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You saved my life once. A similar opportunity might -again present itself. I know that, being a reasoning and -reasonable creature, you will not slay me, for you have -nothing to gain and everything to lose by my death, which -would leave you friendless and unprotected in a world of -strangers where assassination is the order of society and -natural death one of the rarest of phenomena. Here are -your arms.” He stepped to a cabinet which he unlocked, -displaying an assortment of weapons, and selected -for me a long-sword, a short-sword, a pistol and a dagger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You seem sure of my loyalty, Ras Thavas,” I said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He shrugged his shoulders. “I am only sure that I -know perfectly where your interests lie—sentimentalists -have words: love, loyalty, friendship, enmity, jealousy, -hate, a thousand others; a waste of words—one word -defines them all: self-interest. All men of intelligence realize -this. They analyse an individual and by his predilections -and his needs they classify him as friend or foe, leaving -to the weak-minded idiots who like to be deceived the -drooling drivel of sentiment.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I smiled as I buckled my weapons to my harness, -but I held my peace. Nothing could be gained by arguing -with the man and, too, I felt quite sure that in any -purely academic controversy I should get the worst of it; -but many of the matters of which he had spoken had -aroused my curiosity and one had reawakened in my -mind a matter to which I had given considerable thought. -While partially explained by some of his remarks I still -wondered why the red-man from whom I had rescued -him had seemed so venomously bent upon slaying him -the day of my advent upon Barsoom, and so, as we sat -chatting after our evening meal, I asked him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A sentimentalist,” he said. “A sentimentalist of the -most pronounced type. Why that fellow hated me with a -venom absolutely unbelievable by any of the reactions of a -trained, analytical mind such as mine; but having witnessed -his reactions I become cognizant of a state of -mind that I cannot of myself even imagine. Consider the -facts. He was the victim of assassination—a young warrior -in the prime of life, possessing a handsome face -and a splendid physique. One of my agents paid his relatives -a satisfactory sum for the corpse and brought it to -me. It is thus that I obtain practically all of my material. -I treated it in the manner with which you are familiar. For -a year the body lay in the laboratory, there being no occasion -during that time that I had use for it; but eventually -a rich client came, a not overly prepossessing man of -considerable years. He had fallen desperately in love with -a young woman who was attended by many handsome -suitors. My client had more money than any of them, -more brains, more experience, but he lacked the one -thing that each of the others had that always weighs -heavily with the undeveloped, unreasoning, sentiment-ridden -minds of young females—good looks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now 378-J-493811-P had what my client lacked and -could afford to purchase. Quickly we reached an agreement -as to price and I transferred the brain of my rich -client to the head of 378-J-493811-P and my client went -away and for all I know won the hand of the beautiful -moron; and 378-J-493811-P might have rested on indefinitely -upon his ersite slab until I needed him or a part -of him in my work, had I not, merely by chance, selected -him for resurgence because of an existing need for another -male slave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mind you now, the man had been murdered. He was -dead. I bought and paid for the corpse and all there was -in it. He might have lain dead forever upon one of my -ersite slabs had I not breathed new life into his dead veins. -Did he have the brains to view the transaction in a wise -and dispassionate manner? He did not. His sentimental -reactions caused him to reproach me because I had given -him another body, though it seemed to me that, looking -at the matter from a standpoint of sentiment, if one must, -he should have considered me as a benefactor for having -given him life again in a perfectly healthy, if somewhat -used, body.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He had spoken to me upon the subject several times, -begging me to restore his body to him, a thing of which, -of course, as I explained to him, was utterly out of the -question unless chance happened to bring to my laboratory -the corpse of the client who had purchased his -carcass—a contingency quite beyond the pale of possibility -for one as wealthy as my client. The fellow even suggested -that I permit him to go forth and assassinate my -client, bringing the body back that I might reverse the -operation and restore his body to his brain. When I refused -to divulge the name of the present possessor of -his body he grew sulky, but until the very hour of your -arrival, when he attacked me, I did not suspect the -depth of his hate complex.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sentiment is indeed a bar to all progress. We of -Toonol are probably less subject to its vagaries than most -other nations upon Barsoom, but yet most of my fellow -countrymen are victims of it in varying degrees. It has -its rewards and compensations, however. Without it we -could preserve no stable form of government and the -Phundahlians, or some other people, would overrun and -conquer us; but enough of our lower classes have sentiment -to a sufficient degree to give them loyalty to the -Jeddak of Toonol and the upper classes are brainy enough -to know that it is to their own best interests to keep him -upon his throne.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The Phundahlians, upon the other hand, are egregious -sentimentalists, filled with crass stupidities and superstitions, -slaves to every variety of brain withering conceit. -Why the very fact that they keep the old termagant, -Xaxa, on the throne brands them with their stupid -idiocy. She is an ignorant, arrogant, selfish, stupid, cruel -virago, yet the Phundahlians would fight and die for her -because her father was Jeddak of Phundahl. She taxes -them until they can scarce stagger beneath their burden, -she misrules them, exploits them, betrays them, and they -fall down and worship at her feet. Why? Because her -father was Jeddak of Phundahl and his father before -him and so on back into antiquity; because they are ruled -by sentiment rather than reason; because their wicked -rulers play upon this sentiment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She had nothing to recommend her to a sane person—not -even beauty. You know, you saw her.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I saw her?” I demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You assisted me the day that we gave her old brain a -new casket—the day you arrived from what you call -your Earth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She! That old woman was Jeddara of Phundahl?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That was Xaxa,” he assured me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why, you did not accord her the treatment that one -of the Earth would suppose would be accorded a ruler, -and so I had no idea that she was more than a rich old -woman.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am Ras Thavas,” said the old man. “Why should I -incline the head to any other? In my world nothing counts -but brain and in that respect, and without egotism, I may -say that I acknowledge no superior.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then you are not without sentiment,” I said, smiling. -“You acknowledge pride in your intellect!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is not pride,” he said, patiently, for him, “it is -merely a fact that I state. A fact that I should have no -difficulty in proving. In all probability I have the most -highly developed and perfectly functioning mind among -all the learned men of my acquaintance, and reason indicates -that this fact also suggests that I possess the -most highly developed and perfectly functioning mind -upon Barsoom. From what I know of Earth and from what -I have seen of you, I am convinced that there is no mind -upon your planet that may even faintly approximate -in power that which I have developed during a thousand -years of active study and research. Rasoom (Mercury) or -Cosoom (Venus) may possibly support intelligences equal -to or even greater than mine. While we have made some -study of their thought waves, our instruments are not yet -sufficiently developed to more than suggest that they are -of extreme refinement, power and flexibility.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And what of the girl whose body you gave to the -Jeddara?” I asked, irrelevantly, for my mind could not -efface the memory of that sweet body that must, indeed, -have possessed an equally sweet and fine brain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Merely a subject! Merely a subject!” he replied with -a wave of his hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What will become of her?” I insisted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What difference does it make?” he demanded. “I -bought her with a batch of prisoners of war. I do not -even recall from what country my agent obtained them, -or from whence they originated. Such matters are of no -import.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She was alive when you bought her?” I demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. Why?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You—er—ah—killed her, then?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Killed her! No; I preserved her. That was some ten -years ago. Why should I permit her to grow old and -wrinkled? She would no longer have the same value then, -would she? No, I preserved her. When Xaxa bought -her she was just as fresh and young as the day she arrived. -I kept her a long time. Many women looked at her -and wanted her face and figure, but it took a Jeddara -to afford her. She brought the highest price that I have -ever been paid.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, I kept her a long time, but I knew that some -day she would bring my price. She was indeed beautiful -and so sentiment has its uses—were it not for sentiment -there would be no fools to support this work that I am -doing, thus permitting me to carry on investigations of -far greater merit. You would be surprised, I know, were I -to tell you that I feel that I am almost upon the point of -being able to produce rational human beings through the -action upon certain chemical combinations of a group of -rays probably entirely undiscovered by your scientists, if -I am to judge by the paucity of your knowledge concerning -such things.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I would not be surprised,” I assured him. “I would -not be surprised by anything that you might accomplish.”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='28' id='Page_28'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER III<br/> VALLA DIA</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>I lay</span> awake a long time that night thinking of -4296-E-2631-H, the beautiful girl whose perfect body -had been stolen to furnish a gorgeous setting for the -cruel brain of a tyrant. It seemed such a horrid crime -that I could not rid my mind of it and I think that contemplation -of it sowed the first seed of my hatred and -loathing for Ras Thavas. I could not conjure a creature -so utterly devoid of bowels of compassion as to even -consider for a moment the frightful ravishing of that -sweet and lovely body for even the holiest of purposes, -much less one that could have been induced to do so -for filthy pelf.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So much did I think upon the girl that night that her -image was the first to impinge upon my returning consciousness -at dawn, and after I had eaten, Ras Thavas -not having appeared, I went directly to the storage room -where the poor thing was. Here she lay, identified only -by a small panel, bearing a number: 4296-E-2631-H. -The body of an old woman with a disfigured face lay -before me in the rigid immobility of death; yet that was -not the figure that I saw, but instead, a vision of radiant -loveliness whose imprisoned soul lay dormant beneath -those greying locks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The creature here with the face and form of Xaxa -was not Xaxa at all, for all that made the other what -she was had been transferred to this cold corpse. How -frightful would be the awakening, should awakening ever -come! I shuddered to think of the horror that must overwhelm -the girl when first she realized the horrid crime -that had been perpetrated upon her. Who was she? What -story lay locked in that dead and silent brain? What loves -must have been hers whose beauty was so great and upon -whose fair face had lain the indelible imprint of graciousness! -Would Ras Thavas ever arouse her from this happy -semblance of death?—far happier than any quickening -ever could be for her. I shrank from the thought of her -awakening and yet I longed to hear her speak, to know -that that brain lived again, to learn her name, to listen -to the story of this gentle life that had been so rudely -snatched from its proper environment and so cruelly -handled by the hand of Fate. And suppose she were awakened! -Suppose she were awakened and that I—— A hand -was laid upon my shoulder and I turned to look into the -face of Ras Thavas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You seem interested in this subject,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was wondering,” I replied, “what the reaction -of this girl’s brain would be were she to awaken to the discovery -that she had become an old, disfigured woman.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He stroked his chin and eyed me narrowly. “An interesting -experiment,” he mused. “I am gratified to discover -that you are taking a scientific interest in the labours that -I am carrying on. The psychological phases of my work I -have, I must confess, rather neglected during the past -hundred years or so, though I formerly gave them a great -deal of attention. It would be interesting to observe and -study several of these cases. This one, especially, might -prove of value to you as an initial study, it being simple -and regular. Later we will let you examine into a case -where a man’s brain has been transferred to a woman’s -skull, and a woman’s brain to a man’s. There are also the -interesting cases where a portion of diseased or injured -brain has been replaced by a portion of the brain from -another subject; and, for experimental purposes alone, -those human brains that have been transplanted to the -craniums of beasts, and <span class='it'>vice versa</span>, offer tremendous -opportunities for observation. I have in mind one case -in which I transferred half the brain of an ape to the -skull of a man, after having removed half of his brain, -which I grafted upon the remaining part of the brain in -the ape’s skull. That was a matter of several years ago -and I have often thought that I should like to recall -these two subjects and note the results. I shall have to -have a look at them—as I recall it they are in vault -L-42-X, beneath building 4-J-21. We shall have to have a -look at them some day soon—it has been years since I -have been below. There must be some very interesting -specimens there that have escaped my mind. But come! -let us recall 4296-E-2631-H.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No!” I exclaimed, laying a hand upon his arm. “It -would be horrible.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned a surprised look upon me and then a -nasty, sneering smile curled his lips. “Maudlin, sentimental -fool!” he cried. “Who dare say no to me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I laid a hand upon the hilt of my long-sword and -looked him steadily in the eye. “Ras Thavas,” I said, “you -are master in your own house; but while I am your -guest treat me with courtesy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He returned my look for a moment but his eyes -wavered. “I was hasty,” he said. “Let it pass.” That, I -let answer for an apology—really it was more than I had -expected—but the event was not unfortunate. I think he -treated me with far greater respect thereafter; but now -he turned immediately to the slab bearing the mortal -remains of 4296-E-2631-H.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Prepare the subject for revivification,” he said, “and -make what study you can of all its reactions.” With -that he left the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I was now fairly adept at this work which I set about -with some misgivings but with the assurance that I was -doing right in obeying Ras Thavas while I remained a -member of his entourage. The blood that had once flowed -through the veins of the beautiful body that Ras Thavas -had sold to Xaxa reposed in an hermetically sealed vessel -upon the shelf above the corpse. As I had before done -in other cases beneath the watchful eyes of the old surgeon -I now did for the first time alone. The blood heated, -the incisions made, the tubes attached and the few drops -of life-giving solution added to the blood, I was now ready -to restore life to that delicate brain that had lain dead -for ten years. As my finger rested upon the little button -that actuated the motor that was to send the revivifying -liquid into those dormant veins, I experienced such a -sensation as I imagined no mortal man has ever felt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I had become master of life and death, and yet at this -moment that I stood there upon the point of resurrecting -the dead I felt more like a murderer than a saviour. I -tried to view the procedure dispassionately through the -cold eye of science, but I failed miserably. I could only -see a stricken girl grieving for her lost beauties. With a -muffled oath I turned away. I could not do it! And then, -as though an outside force had seized upon me, my finger -moved unerringly to the button and pressed it. I cannot -explain it, unless upon the theory of dual mentality, -which may explain many things. Perhaps my subjective -mind directed the act. I do not know. Only I know that -I did it, the motor started, the level of the blood in the -container commenced gradually to lower.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Spell-bound, I stood watching. Presently the vessel -was empty. I shut off the motor, removed the tubes, -sealed the openings with tape. The red glow of life tinged -the body, replacing the sallow, purplish hue of death. The -breasts rose and fell regularly, the head turned slightly -and the eyelids moved. A faint sigh issued from between -the parting lips. For a long time there was no other sign -of life, then, suddenly, the eyes opened. They were dull -at first, but presently they commenced to fill with questioning -wonderment. They rested on me and then passed -on about that portion of the room that was visible from -the position of the body. Then they came back to me -and remained steadily fixed upon my countenance after -having once surveyed me up and down. There was still -the questioning in them, but there was no fear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where am I?” she asked. The voice was that of an -old woman—high and harsh. A startled expression filled -her eyes. “What is the matter with me? What is wrong -with my voice? What has happened?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I laid a hand upon her forehead. “Don’t bother about -it now,” I said, soothingly. “Wait until sometime when -you are stronger. Then I will tell you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She sat up. “I am strong,” she said, and then her eyes -swept her lower body and limbs and a look of utter -horror crossed her face. “What has happened to me? In -the name of my first ancestor, what has happened to -me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The shrill, harsh voice grated upon me. It was the -voice of Xaxa and Xaxa now must possess the sweet -musical tones that alone would have harmonized with -the beautiful face she had stolen. I tried to forget those -strident notes and think only of the pulchritude of the -envelope that had once graced the soul within this old -and withered carcass.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She extended a hand and laid it gently upon mine. -The act was beautiful, the movements graceful. The -brain of the girl directed the muscles, but the old, -rough vocal chords of Xaxa could give forth no sweeter -notes. “Tell me, please!” she begged. There were tears -in the old eyes, I’ll venture for the first time in many -years. “Tell me! You do not seem unkind.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And so I told her. She listened intently and when I -was through she sighed. “After all,” she said, “it is not -so dreadful, now that I really know. It is better than -being dead.” That made me glad that I had pressed the -button. She was glad to be alive, even draped in the -hideous carcass of Xaxa. I told her as much.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You were so beautiful,” I told her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And now I am so ugly?” I made no answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“After all, what difference does it make?” she inquired -presently. “This old body cannot change me, or make -me different from what I have always been. The good in -me remains and whatever of sweetness and kindness, and -I can be happy to be alive and perhaps to do some -good. I was terrified at first, because I did not know -what had happened to me. I thought that maybe I had -contracted some terrible disease that had so altered me—that -horrified me; but now that I know—pouf! what -of it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are wonderful,” I said. “Most women would -have gone mad with the horror and grief of it—to lose -such wondrous beauty as was yours—and you do not -care.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes, I care, my friend,” she corrected me, “but -I do not care enough to ruin my life in all other respects -because of it, or to cast a shadow upon the lives -of those around me. I have had my beauty and enjoyed -it. It is not an unalloyed happiness I can assure you. -Men killed one another because of it; two great nations -went to war because of it; and perhaps my father lost -his throne or his life—I do not know, for I was captured -by the enemy while the war still raged. It may be -raging yet and men dying because I was too beautiful. -No one will fight for me now, though,” she added, with -a rueful smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you know how long you have been here?” I -asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” she replied. “It was the day before yesterday -that they brought me hither.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was ten years ago,” I told her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ten years! Impossible.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I pointed to the corpses around us. “You have lain -like this for ten years,” I explained. “There are subjects -here who have lain thus for fifty, Ras Thavas tells -me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ten years! Ten years! What may not have happened -in ten years! It is better thus. I should fear to go back -now. I should not want to know that my father, my -mother too, perhaps, were gone. It is better thus. Perhaps -you will let me sleep again? May I not?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That remains with Ras Thavas,” I replied; “but for -a while I am to observe you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Observe me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Study you—your reactions.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah! and what good will that do?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It may do some good in the world.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It may give this horrid Ras Thavas some new ideas -for his torture chamber—some new scheme for coining -money from the suffering of his victims,” she said, her -harsh voice saddened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some of his works are good,” I told her. “The money -he makes permits him to maintain this wonderful establishment -where he constantly carries on countless experiments. -Many of his operations are beneficent. Yesterday -a warrior was brought in whose arm was crushed -beyond repair. Ras Thavas gave him a new arm. A demented -child was brought. Ras Thavas gave her a new -brain. The arm and the brain were taken from two who -had met violent deaths. Through Ras Thavas they were -permitted, after death, to give life and happiness to -others.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She thought for a moment. “I am content,” she said. -“I only hope that you will always be the observer.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Presently Ras Thavas came and examined her. “A -good subject,” he said. He looked at the chart where I -had made a very brief record following the other entries -relative to the history of Case No. 4296-E-2631-H. Of -course this is, naturally, a rather free translation of this -particular identification number. The Barsoomians have -no alphabet such as ours and their numbering system -is quite different. The thirteen characters above were -represented by four Toonolian characters, yet the meaning -was quite the same—they represented, in contracted -form, the case number, the room, the table and the -building.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The subject will be quartered near you where you -may regularly observe it,” continued Ras Thavas. “There -is a chamber adjoining yours. I will see that it is unlocked. -Take the subject there. When not under your -observation, lock it in.” <span class='it'>It</span> was only another <span class='it'>case</span> to -him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I took the girl, if I may so call her, to her quarters. -On the way I asked her her name, for it seemed to me -an unnecessary discourtesy always to address her and -refer to her as 4296-E-2631-H, and this I explained to -her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is considerate of you to think of that,” she said, -“but really that is all that I am here—just another subject -for vivisection.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are more than that to me,” I told her. “You -are friendless and helpless. I want to be of service to -you—to make your lot easier if I can.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thank you again,” she said. “My name is Valla Dia, -and yours?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ras Thavas calls me Vad Varo,” I told her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But that is not your name?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My name is Ulysses Paxton.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is a strange name, unlike any that I have ever -heard, but you are unlike any man I have ever seen—you -do not seem Barsoomian. Your colour is unlike -that of any race.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am not of Barsoom, but from Earth, the planet -you sometimes call Jasoom. That is why I differ in -appearance from any you have known before.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Jasoom! There is another Jasoomian here whose -fame has reached to the remotest corners of Barsoom, -but I never have seen him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“John Carter?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, The War Lord. He was of Helium and my -people were not friendly with those of Helium. I never -could understand how he came here. And now there is -another from Jasoom—how can it be? How did you -cross the great void?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I shook my head. “I cannot even guess,” I told her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Jasoom must be peopled with wonderful men,” she -said. It was a pretty compliment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As Barsoom is with beautiful women,” I replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She glanced down ruefully at her old and wrinkled -body.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have seen the real you,” I said gently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hate to think of my face,” she said. “I know it is -a frightful thing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is not you, remember that when you see it and -do not feel too badly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is it as bad as that?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I did not reply. “Never mind,” she said presently. -“If I had not beauty of the soul, I was not beautiful, -no matter how perfect my features may have been; but -if I possessed beauty of soul then I have it now. So -I can think beautiful thoughts and perform beautiful -deeds and that, I think, is the real test of beauty, after -all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And there is hope,” I added, almost in a whisper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hope? No, there is no hope, if what you mean to -suggest is that I may some time regain my lost self. You -have told me enough to convince me that that can never -be.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We will not speak of it,” I said, “but we may think -of it and sometimes thinking a great deal of a thing -helps us to find a way to get it, if we want it badly -enough.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I do not want to hope,” she said, “for it will but -mean disappointment for me. I shall be happy as I -am. Hoping, I should always be unhappy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I had ordered food for her and after it was brought -Ras Thavas sent for me and I left her, locking the -door of her chamber as the old surgeon had instructed. -I found Ras Thavas in his office, a small room which -adjoined a very large one in which were a score of -clerks arranging and classifying reports from various departments -of the great laboratory. He arose as I entered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come with me, Vad Varo,” he directed. “We will -have a look at the two cases in L-42-X, the two of -which I spoke.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The man with half a simian brain and the ape with -a half human brain?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He nodded and preceded me towards the runway -that led to the vaults beneath the building. As we descended, -the corridors and passageways indicated long -disuse. The floors were covered with an impalpable dust, -long undisturbed; the tiny radium bulbs that faintly illuminated -the sub-barsoomian depths were likewise -coated. As we proceeded, we passed many doorways -on either side, each marked with its descriptive -hieroglyphic. Several of the openings had been tightly -sealed with masonry. What gruesome secrets were hid -within? At last we came to L-42-X. Here the bodies -were arranged on shelves, several rows of which almost -completely filled the room from floor to ceiling, except -for a rectangular space in the centre of the chamber, -which accommodated an ersite topped operating table -with its array of surgical instruments, its motor and other -laboratory equipment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas searched out the subjects of his strange -experiment and together we carried the human body to -the table. While Ras Thavas attached the tubes I returned -for the vessel of blood which reposed upon the -same shelf with the corpse. The now familiar method of -revivification was soon accomplished and presently we -were watching the return of consciousness to the subject.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The man sat up and looked at us, then he cast a -quick glance about the chamber; there was a savage -light in his eyes as they returned to us. Slowly he backed -from the table to the floor, keeping the former between -us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We will not harm you,” said Ras Thavas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The man attempted to reply, but his words were unintelligible -gibberish, then he shook his head and growled. -Ras Thavas took a step towards him and the man -dropped to all fours, his knuckles resting on the floor, -and backed away, growling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come!” cried Ras Thavas. “We will not harm you.” -Again he attempted to approach the subject, but the -man only backed quickly away, growling more fiercely; -and then suddenly he wheeled and climbed quickly to -the top of the highest shelf, where he squatted upon a -corpse and gibbered at us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We shall have to have help,” said Ras Thavas and, -going to the doorway, he blew a signal upon his -whistle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are you blowing that for?” demanded the man -suddenly. “Who are you? What am I doing here? What -has happened to me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come down,” said Ras Thavas. “We are friends.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Slowly the man descended to the floor and came towards -us, but he still moved with his knuckles to the -pavement. He looked about at the corpses and a new -light entered his eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am hungry!” he cried. “I will eat!” and with that -he seized the nearest corpse and dragged it to the floor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stop! Stop!” cried Ras Thavas, leaping forward. “You -will ruin the subject,” but the man only backed away, -dragging the corpse along the floor after him. It was -then that the attendants came and with their help we -subdued and bound the poor creature. Then Ras Thavas -had the attendants bring the body of the ape and he -told them to remain, as we might need them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The subject was a large specimen of the Barsoomian -white ape, one of the most savage and fearsome denizens -of the Red Planet, and because of the creature’s great -strength and ferocity Ras Thavas took the precaution to -see that it was securely bound before resurgence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was a colossal creature about ten or fifteen feet -tall, standing erect, and had an intermediary set of arms -or legs midway between its upper and lower limbs. The -eyes were close together and non-protruding; the ears -were high set, while its snout and teeth were strikingly -like those of our African gorilla.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With returning consciousness the creature eyed us -questioningly. Several times it seemed to essay to speak, -but only inarticulate sounds issued from its throat. Then -it lay still for a period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas spoke to it. “If you understand my -words, nod your head.” The creature nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Would you like to be freed of your bonds?” asked -the surgeon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again the creature nodded an affirmative.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I fear that you will attempt to injure us, or escape,” -said Ras Thavas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ape was apparently trying very hard to articulate -and at last there issued from its lips a sound that could -not be misunderstood. It was the single word no.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You will not harm us or try to escape?” Ras Thavas -repeated his question.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” said the ape, and this time the word was clearly -enunciated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We shall see,” said Ras Thavas. “But remember -that with our weapons we may dispatch you quickly if -you attack us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ape nodded, and then, very laboriously: “I will -not harm you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At a sign from Ras Thavas the attendants removed -the bonds and the creature sat up. It stretched its limbs -and slid easily to the floor, where it stood erect upon -two feet, which was not surprising, since the white ape -goes more often upon two feet than six; a fact of which -I was not cognizant at the time, but which Ras Thavas -explained to me later in commenting upon the fact that -the human subject had gone upon all fours, which, to -Ras Thavas, indicated a reversion to type in the fractional -ape-brain transplanted to the human skull.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas examined the subject at considerable -length and then resumed his examination of the human -subject which continued to evince more simian characteristics -than human, though it spoke more easily than -the ape, because, undoubtedly, of its more perfect vocal -organs. It was only by exerting the closest attention that -the diction of the ape became understandable at all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is nothing remarkable about these subjects,” -said Ras Thavas, after devoting half a day to them. -“They bear out what I had already determined years -ago in the transplanting of entire brains; that the act -of transplanting stimulates growth and activity of brain -cells. You will note that in each subject the transplanted -portions of the brains are more active—they, in a considerable -measure, control. That is why we have the -human subject displaying distinctly simian characteristics, -while the ape behaves in a more human manner; though -if longer and closer observation were desirable you -would doubtless find that each reverted at times to his -own nature—that is the ape would be more wholly an -ape and the human more manlike—but it is not worth -the time, of which I have already given too much to a -rather unprofitable forenoon. I shall leave you now to -restore the subjects to anaesthesia while I return to the -laboratories above. The attendants will remain here to -assist you, if required.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ape, who had been an interested listener, now -stepped forward. “Oh, please, I pray you,” it mumbled, -“do not again condemn me to these horrid shelves. I -recall the day that I was brought here securely bound, -and though I have no recollection of what has transpired -since I can but guess from the appearance of my own -skin and that of these dusty corpses that I have lain -here long. I beg that you will permit me to live and -either restore me to my fellows or allow me to serve -in some capacity in this establishment, of which I saw -something between the time of my capture and the day -that I was carried into this laboratory, bound and helpless, -to one of your cold, ersite slabs.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas made a gesture of impatience. “Nonsense!” -he cried. “You are better off here, where you can be -preserved in the interests of science.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Accede to his request,” I begged, “and I will myself -take over all responsibility for him while I profit -by the study that he will afford me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do as you are directed,” snapped Ras Thavas as he -quit the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I shrugged my shoulders. “There is nothing for it, -then,” I said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I might dispatch you all and escape,” mused the -ape, aloud, “but you would have helped me. I could -not kill one who would have befriended me—yet I -shrink from the thought of another death. How long -have I lain here?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I referred to the history of his case that had been -brought and suspended at the head of the table. “Twelve -years,” I told him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And yet, why not?” he demanded of himself. “This -man would slay me—why should I not slay him first.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It would do you no good,” I assured him, “for you -could never escape. Instead you would be really killed, -dying a death from which Ras Thavas would probably -think it not worth while ever to recall you, while I, -who might find the opportunity at some later date and -who have the inclination, would be dead at your hands -and thus incapable of saving you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I had been speaking in a low voice, close to his ear, -that the attendants might not overhear me. The ape listened -intently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You will do as you suggest?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At the first opportunity that presents itself,” I assured -him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Very well,” he said, “I will submit, trusting to you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A half hour later both subjects had been returned to -their shelves.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='42' id='Page_42'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER IV<br/> THE COMPACT</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>Days</span> ran into weeks, weeks into months, as day by day -I labored at the side of Ras Thavas, and more and more -the old surgeon took me into his confidence, more -and more he imparted to me the secrets of his skill -and his profession. Gradually he permitted me to perform -more and more important functions in the actual -practice of his vast laboratory. I started transferring -limbs from one subject to another, then internal organs -of the digestive tract. Then he entrusted to me a complete -operation upon a paying client. I removed the kidneys -from a rich old man, replacing them with healthy ones -from a young subject. The following day I gave a stunted -child new thyroid glands. A week later I transferred two -hearts and then, at last, came the great day for me—unassisted, -with Ras Thavas standing silently beside me, -I took the brain of an old man and transplanted it within -the cranium of a youth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When I had done Ras Thavas laid a hand upon my -shoulder. “I could not have done better myself,” he said. -He seemed much elated and I could not but wonder -at this unusual demonstration of emotion upon his part, -he who so prided himself upon his lack of emotionalism. -I had often pondered the purpose which influenced Ras -Thavas to devote so much time to my training, but never -had I hit upon any more satisfactory explanation than -that he had need of assistance in his growing practice. -Yet when I consulted the records, that were now open -to me, I discovered that his practice was no greater than -it had been for many years; and even had it been there -was really no reason why he should have trained me in -preference to one of his red-Martian assistants, his belief -in my loyalty not being sufficient warrant, in my mind, -for this preferment when he could, as well as not, have -kept me for a bodyguard and trained one of his own kind -to aid him in his surgical work.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But I was presently to learn that he had an excellent -reason for what he was doing—Ras Thavas always had -an excellent reason for whatever he did. One night after -we had finished our evening meal he sat looking at me -intently as he so often did, as though he would read -my mind, which, by the way, he was totally unable -to do, much to his surprise and chagrin; for unless a -Martian is constantly upon the alert any other Martian -can read clearly his every thought; but Ras Thavas -was unable to read mine. He said that it was due to the -fact that I was not a Barsoomian. Yet I could often read -the minds of his assistants, when they were off their -guard, though never had I read aught of Ras Thavas’ -thoughts, nor, I am sure, had any other read them. He -kept his brain sealed like one of his own blood jars, nor -was he ever for a moment found with his barriers down.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He sat looking at me this evening for a long time, nor -did it in the least embarrass me, so accustomed was I -to his peculiarities. “Perhaps,” he said presently, “one -of the reasons that I trust you is due to the fact that I -cannot ever, at any time, fathom your mind; so, if you -harbor traitorous thoughts concerning me I do not know -it, while the others, every one of them, reveal their -inmost souls to my searching mind and in each one there -is envy, jealousy or hatred of me. Them, I know, I cannot -trust. Therefore I must accept the risk and place all my -dependence upon you, and my reason tells me that my -choice is a wise one—I have told you upon what grounds -it based my selection of you as my bodyguard. The same -holds true in my selection of you for the thing I have in -mind. You cannot harm me without harming yourself and -no man will intentionally do that; nor is there any -reason why you should feel any deep antagonism towards -me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are, of course, a sentimentalist and doubtless -you look with horror upon many of the acts of a sane, -rational, scientific mind; but you are also highly intelligent -and can, therefore, appreciate better than another, -even though you may not approve them, the motives that -prompt me to do many of those things of which your -sentimentality disapproves. I may have offended you, but -I have never wronged you, nor have I wronged any -creature for which you might have felt some of your -so-called friendship or love. Are my premises incorrect, -or my reasoning faulty?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I assured him to the contrary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Very well! Now let me explain why I have gone to -such pains to train you as no other human being, aside -from myself, has ever been trained. I am not ready to use -you yet, or rather you are not ready; but if you know -my purpose you will realize the necessity for bending your -energy to the consummation of my purpose, and to that -end you will strive even more diligently than you have to -perfect yourself in the high, scientific art I am imparting -to you.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am a very old man,” he continued after a brief -pause, “even as age goes upon Barsoom. I have lived -more than a thousand years. I have passed the allotted -natural span of life, but I am not through with my -life’s work—I have but barely started it. I must not die. -Barsoom must not be robbed of this wondrous brain and -skill of mine. I have long had in mind a plan to thwart -death, but it required another with skill equal to mine—two -such might live for ever. I have selected you to be -that other, for reasons that I already have explained—they -are undefiled by sentimentalism. I did not choose -you because I love you, or because I feel friendship for -you, or because I think that you love me, or feel friendship -towards me. I chose you because I knew that of all the -inhabitants of a world you were the one least likely to fail -me. For a time you will have my life in your hands. You -will understand now why I have not been able to choose -carelessly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This plan that I have chosen is simplicity itself provided -that I can count upon just two essential factors—skill -and self-interested loyalty in an assistant. My body -is about worn out. I must have a new one. My laboratory -is filled with wonderful bodies, young and complete with -potential strength and health. I have but to select one -of these and have my skilled assistant transfer my brain -from this old carcass to the new one.” He paused.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I understand now, why you have trained me,” I -said. “It has puzzled me greatly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thus and thus only may I continue my labors,” he -went on, “and thus may Barsoom be assured a continuance -practically indefinitely, of the benefits that my brain may -bestow upon her children. I may live for ever, provided -I always have a skilled assistant, and I may assure myself -of such by seeing to it that he never dies; when he wears -out one organ, or his whole body, I can replace either -from my great storehouse of perfect parts, and for me -he can perform the same service. Thus may we continue -to live indefinitely; for the brain, I believe, is almost deathless, -unless injured or attacked by disease.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are not ready as yet to be entrusted with this -important task. You must transfer many more brains and -meet with and overcome the various irregularities and -idiosyncrasies that constitute the never failing differences -that render no two operations identical. When you gain -sufficient proficiency I shall be the first to know it and -then we shall lose no time in making Barsoom safe for -posterity.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old man was far from achieving hatred of himself. -However, his plan was an excellent one, both for himself -and for me. It assured us immortality—we might live -for ever and always with strong, healthy, young bodies. -The outlook was alluring—and what a wonderful position -it placed me in. If the old man could be assured of -my loyalty because of self-interest, similarly might I -depend upon his loyalty; for he could not afford to antagonize -the one creature in the world who could assure -him immortality, or withhold it from him. For the first -time since I had entered his establishment I felt safe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As soon as I had left him I went directly to Valla Dia’s -apartment, for I wanted to tell her this wonderful news. -In the weeks that had passed since her resurrection I had -seen much of her and in our daily intercourse there had -been revealed to me little by little the wondrous beauties -of her soul, until at last I no longer saw the hideous, disfigured -face of Xaxa when I looked upon her, but the -eyes of my heart penetrated deeper to the loveliness that -lay within that sweet mind. She had become my confidant, -as I was hers, and this association constituted the one -great pleasure of my existence upon Barsoom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Her congratulations, when I told her of what had -come to me, were very sincere and lovely. She said that -she hoped I would use this great power of mine to do good -in the world. I assured her that I would and that among -the first things that I should demand of Ras Thavas was -that he should give Valla Dia a beautiful body; but she -shook her head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, my friend,” she said, “if I may not have my own -body this old one of Xaxa’s is quite as good for me as -another. Without my own body I should not care to return -to my native country; while were Ras Thavas to give me -the beautiful body of another, I should always be in -danger of the covetousness of his clients, any one of -whom might see and desire to purchase it, leaving to me -her old husk, conceivably one quite terribly diseased or -maimed. No, my friend, I am satisfied with the body of -Xaxa, unless I may again possess my own, for Xaxa -at least bequeathed me a tough and healthy envelope, -however ugly it may be; and for what do looks count -here? You, alone, are my friend—that I have your -friendship is enough. You admire me for what I am, not -for what I look like, so let us leave well enough alone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you could regain your own body and return to your -native country, you would like that?” I demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, do not say it!” she cried. “The simple thought of -it drives me mad with longing. I must not harbour so -hopeless a dream that at best may only tantalize me into -greater abhorrence of my lot.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do not say that it is hopeless,” I urged. “Death, only, -renders hope futile.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You mean to be kind,” she said, “but you are only -hurting me. There can be no hope.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“May I hope for you, then?” I asked. “For I surely -see a way; however slight a possibility for success it may -have, still, it is a way.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She shook her head. “There is no way,” she said, with -finality. “No more will Duhor know me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Duhor?” I repeated. “Your—someone you care for -very much?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I care for Duhor very much,” she answered with a -smile, “but Duhor is not someone—Duhor is my home, -the country of my ancestors.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How came you to leave Duhor?” I asked. “You have -never told me, Valla Dia.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was because of the ruthlessness of Jal Had, Prince -of Amhor,” she replied. “Hereditary enemies were Duhor -and Amhor; but Jal Had came disguised into the city of -Duhor, having heard, they say, of the great beauty attributed -to the only daughter of Kor San, Jeddak of -Duhor; and when he had seen her he determined to possess -her. Returning to Amhor he sent ambassadors to the -court of Kor San to sue for the hand of the Princess of -Duhor; but Kor San, who had no son, had determined to -wed his daughter to one of his own Jeds, that the son -of this union, with the blood of Kor San in his veins, -might rule over the people of Duhor; and so the offer -of Jal Had was declined.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This so incensed the Amhorian that he equipped -a great fleet and set forth to conquer Duhor and take by -force that which he could not win by honorable methods. -Duhor was, at that time, at war with Helium and -all her forces were far afield in the south, with the -exception of a small army that had been left behind to -guard the city. Jal Had, therefore, could not have selected -a more propitious time for an attack. Duhor fell, and -while his troops were looting the fair city Jal Had, with -a picked force, sacked the palace of the Jeddak and -searched for the princess; but the princess had no mind -to go back with him as Princess of Amhor. From the -moment that the vanguard of the Amhorian fleet was -seen in the sky she had known, with the others of the -city, the purpose for which they came, and so she used -her head to defeat that purpose.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There was in her retinue a cosmetologist whose duty -it was to preserve the lustrous beauty of the princess’ -hair and skin and prepare her for public audiences, for -fêtes and for the daily intercourse of the court. He was -a master of his art; he could render the ugly pleasant -to look upon, he could make the plain lovely, and he -could make the lovely radiant. She called him quickly to -her and commanded him to make the radiant ugly; and -when he had done with her none might guess that she -was the Princess of Duhor, so deftly had he wrought with -his pigments and his tiny brushes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When Jal Had could not find the princess within the -palace, and no amount of threat or torture could force a -statement of her whereabouts from the loyal lips of her -people, the Amhorian ordered that every woman within -the palace be seized and taken to Amhor; there to be -held as hostages until the princess of Duhor should be -delivered to him in marriage. We were, therefore, all -seized and placed upon an Amhorian war ship which was -sent back to Amhor ahead of the balance of the fleet, -which remained to complete the sacking of Duhor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When the ship, with its small convoy, had covered -some four thousand of the five thousand haads that separate -Duhor from Amhor, it was sighted by a fleet from -Phundahl which immediately attacked. The convoying -ships were destroyed or driven off and that which carried -us was captured. We were taken to Phundahl where -we were put upon the auction block and I fell to the bid -of one of Ras Thavas’ agents. The rest you know.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And what became of the princess?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps she died—her party was separated in Phundahl—but -death could not more definitely prevent her -return to Duhor. The Princess of Duhor will never again -see her native country.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you may!” I cried, for I had suddenly hit upon -a plan. “Where is Duhor?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are going there?” she asked, laughingly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are mad, my friend,” she said. “Duhor lies a full -seven thousand, eight hundred haads from Toonol, upon -the opposite side of the snow-clad Artolian Hills. You, a -stranger and alone, could never reach it; for between -lie the Toonolian Marshes, wild hordes, savage beasts -and warlike cities. You would but die uselessly within -the first dozen haads, even could you escape from the -island upon which stands the laboratory of Ras Thavas; -and what motive is there to prompt you to such a useless -sacrifice?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could not tell her. I could not look upon that withered -figure and into that hideous and disfigured face and -say: “It is because I love you, Valla Dia.” But that, alas, -was my only reason. Gradually, as I had come to know -her through the slow revealment of the wondrous beauty -of her mind and soul, there had crept into my heart a -knowledge of my love; and yet, explain it I cannot, I -could not speak the words to that frightful old hag. I had -seen the gorgeous mundane tabernacle that had housed -the equally gorgeous spirit of the real Valla Dia—<span class='it'>that</span> I -could love; her heart and soul and mind I could love; -but I could not love the body of Xaxa. I was torn, too, -by other emotions, induced by a great doubt—could -Valla Dia return my love. Habilitated in the corpse of -Xaxa, with no other suitor, nay, with no other friend -she might, out of gratitude or through sheer loneliness, -be attracted to me; but once again were she Valla Dia the -beautiful and returned to the palace of her king, surrounded -by the great nobles of Duhor, would she have -either eyes or heart for a lone and friendless exile from -another world? I doubted it—and yet that doubt did -not deter me from my determination to carry out, as far -as Fate would permit, the mad scheme that was revolving -in my brain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have not answered my question, Vad Varo,” -she interrupted my surging thoughts. “Why would you -do this thing?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To right the wrong that has been done you, Valla -Dia,” I said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She sighed. “Do not attempt it, please,” she begged. -“You would but rob me of my one friend, whose association -is the only source of happiness remaining to me. I -appreciate your generosity and your loyalty, even -though I may not understand them; your unselfish desire -to serve me at such suicidal risk touches me more -deeply than I can reveal, adding still further to the debt -I owe you; but you must not attempt it—you must not.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If it troubles you, Valla Dia,” I replied, “we will not -speak of it again; but know always that it is never from -my thoughts. Some day I shall find a way, even though -the plan I now have fails me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The days moved on and on, the gorgeous Martian -nights, filled with her hurtling moons, followed one upon -another. Ras Thavas spent more and more time in directing -my work of brain transference. I had long since -become an adept; and I realized that the time was rapidly -approaching when Ras Thavas would feel that he could -safely entrust to my hands and skill his life and future. -He would be wholly within my power and he knew that -I knew it. I could slay him; I could permit him to remain -for ever in the preserving grip of his own anaesthetic; or -I could play any trick upon him that I chose, even to giving -him the body of a calot or a part of the brain of an -ape; but he must take the chance and that I knew, for he -was failing rapidly. Already almost stone blind, it was -only the wonderful spectacles that he had himself invented -that permitted him to see at all; long deaf, he used -artificial means for hearing; and now his heart was showing -symptoms of fatigue that he could not longer ignore.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One morning I was summoned to his sleeping apartment -by a slave. I found the old surgeon lying, a shrunken, -pitiful heap of withered skin and bones.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We must hasten, Vad Varo,” he said in a weak whisper. -“My heart was like to have stopped a few tals ago. -It was then that I sent for you.” He pointed to a door -leading from his chamber. “There,” he said, “you will -find the body I have chosen. There, in the private laboratory -I long ago built for this very purpose, you will -perform the greatest surgical operation that the universe -has ever known, transferring its most perfect brain to the -most beautiful and perfect body that ever has passed -beneath these ancient eyes. You will find the head already -prepared to receive my brain; the brain of the subject -having been removed and destroyed—totally destroyed -by fire. I could not possibly chance the existence of a -brain desiring and scheming to regain its wondrous -body. No, I destroyed it. Call slaves and have them bear -my body to the ersite slab.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That will not be necessary,” I told him; and lifting -his shrunken form in my arms as he had been an earthly -babe, I carried him into the adjoining room where I -found a perfectly lighted and appointed laboratory containing -two operating tables, one of which was occupied -by the body of a red-man. Upon the surface of the other, -which was vacant, I laid Ras Thavas, then I turned to look -at the new envelope he had chosen. Never, I believe, -had I beheld so perfect a form, so handsome a face—Ras -Thavas had indeed chosen well for himself. Then I -turned back to the old surgeon. Deftly, as he had taught -me, I made the two incisions and attached the tubes. -My finger rested upon the button that would start the -motor pumping his blood from his veins and his marvellous -preservative-anaesthetic into them. Then I spoke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ras Thavas,” I said, “you have long been training me -to this end. I have labored assiduously to prepare myself -that there might be no slightest cause for apprehension -as to the outcome. You have, coincidentally, taught -me that one’s every act should be prompted by self-interest -only. You are satisfied, therefore, that I am not -doing this for you because I love you, or because I feel -any friendship for you; but you think that you have -offered me enough in placing before me a similar opportunity -for immortality.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Regardless of your teaching I am afraid that I am -still somewhat of a sentimentalist. I crave the redressing -of wrongs. I crave friendship and love. The price you -offer is not enough. Are you willing to pay more that -this operation may be successfully concluded?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He looked at me steadily for a long minute. “What do -you want?” he asked. I could see that he was trembling -with anger, but he did not raise his voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you recall 4296-E-2631-H?” I inquired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The subject with the body of Xaxa? Yes, I recall the -case. What of it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wish her body returned to her. That is the price -you must pay for this operation.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He glared at me. “It is impossible. Xaxa has the body. -Even if I cared to do so, I could never recover it. Proceed -with the operation!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When you have promised me,” I insisted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I cannot promise the impossible—I cannot obtain -Xaxa. Ask me something else. I am not unwilling to -grant any reasonable request.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is all I wish—just that; but I do not insist that -you obtain the body. If I bring Xaxa here will you make -the transfer?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It would mean war between Toonol and Phundahl,” -he fumed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That does not interest me,” I said. “Quick! Reach a -decision. In five tals I shall press this button. If you -promise what I ask, you shall be restored with a new -and beautiful body; if you refuse you shall lie here in -the semblance of death for ever.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I promise,” he said slowly, “that when you bring the -body of Xaxa to me I will transfer to that body any -brain that you select from among my subjects.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” I exclaimed, and pressed the button.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='53' id='Page_53'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER V<br/> DANGER</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>Ras Thavas</span> awakened from the anaesthetic a new and -gorgeous creature—a youth of such wondrous beauty -that he seemed of heavenly rather than worldly origin; -but in that beautiful head was the hard, cold, thousand-year-old -brain of the master surgeon. As he opened his -eyes he looked upon me coldly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have done well,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What I have done, I have done for friendship—perhaps -for love,” I said, “so you can thank the sentimentalism -you decry for the success of the transfer.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He made no reply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And now,” I continued, “I shall look to you for the -fulfilment of the promise you have made me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When you bring Xaxa’s body I shall transfer to it the -brain of any of my subjects you may select,” he said, -“but were I you, I would not risk my life in such an impossible -venture—you cannot succeed. Select another -body—there are many beautiful ones—and I will give it -the brain of 4296-E-2631-H.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“None other than the body now owned by the Jeddara -Xaxa will fulfill your promise to me,” I said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He shrugged and there was a cold smile upon his handsome -lips. “Very well,” he said, “fetch Xaxa. When do -you start?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am not yet ready. I will let you know when I am.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good and now begone—but wait! First go to the office -and see what cases await us and if there be any that -do not require my personal attention, and they fall within -your skill and knowledge, attend to them yourself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I left him I noticed a crafty smile of satisfaction -upon his lips. What had aroused that? I did not like it -and as I walked away I tried to conjure what could possibly -have passed through that wondrous brain to call -forth at that particular instant so unpleasant a smile. As -I passed through the doorway and into the corridor beyond -I heard him summon his personal slave and body -servant, Yamdor, a huge fellow whose loyalty he kept -through the bestowal of lavish gifts and countless favors. -So great was the fellow’s power that all feared him, as a -word to the master from the lips of Yamdor might easily -send any of the numerous slaves or attendants to an -ersite slab for eternity. It was rumored that he was the -result of an unnatural experiment which had combined -the brain of a woman with the body of a man, and there -was much in his actions and mannerisms to justify this -general belief. His touch, when he worked about his master, -was soft and light, his movements graceful, his ways -gentle, but his mind was jealous, vindictive and unforgiving.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I believe that he did not like me, through jealousy of -the authority I had attained in the establishment of Ras -Thavas; for there was no questioning the fact that I was -a lieutenant, while he was but a slave; yet he always accorded -me the utmost respect. He was, however, merely -a minor cog in the machinery of the great institution presided -over by the sovereign mind of Ras Thavas, and as -such I had given him little consideration; nor did I now -as I bent my steps towards the office.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I had gone but a short distance when I recalled a matter -of importance upon which it was necessary for me -to obtain instructions from Ras Thavas immediately; and -so I wheeled about and retraced my way towards his -apartments, through the open doorway of which, as I -approached, I heard the new voice of the master surgeon. -Ras Thavas had always spoken in rather loud tones, -whether as a vocal reflection of his naturally domineering -and authoritative character, or because of his deafness, -I do not know; and now, with the fresh young vocal -chords of his new body, his words rang out clearly and -distinctly in the corridor leading to his room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You will, therefore, Yamdor,” he was saying, “go at -once and, selecting two slaves in whose silence and discretion -you may trust, take the subject from the apartments -of Vad Varo and destroy it—let no vestige of -body or brain remain. Immediately after, you will bring -the two slaves to the laboratory F-30-L, permitting them -to speak to no one, and I will consign them to silence -and forgetfulness for eternity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Vad Varo will discover the absence of the subject -and report the matter to me. During my investigation you -will confess that you aided 4296-E-2631-H to escape, -but that you have no idea where it intended going. I -will sentence you to death as punishment, but at last, -explaining how urgently I need your services and upon -your solemn promise never to transgress again, I will -defer punishment for the term of your continued good -behaviour. Do you thoroughly understand the entire -plan?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, master,” replied Yamdor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then depart at once and select the slaves who are to -assist you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Quickly and silently I sped along the corridor until the -first intersection permitted me to place myself out of -sight of anyone coming from Ras Thavas’ apartment; then -I went directly to the chamber occupied by Valla Dia. -Unlocking the door I threw it open and beckoned her to -come out. “Quick! Valla Dia!” I cried. “No time is to be -lost. In attempting to save you I have but brought destruction -upon you. First we must find a hiding place for -you, and that at once—afterwards we can plan for the -future.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The place that first occurred to me as affording adequate -concealment was the half forgotten vaults in the -pits beneath the laboratories, and towards these I hastened -Valla Dia. As we proceeded I narrated all that had -transpired, nor did she once reproach me; but, instead, -expressed naught but gratitude for what she was pleased -to designate as my unselfish friendship. That it had miscarried, -she assured me, was no reflection upon me and -she insisted that she would rather die in the knowledge -that she possessed one such friend than to live on indefinitely, -friendless.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We came at last to the chamber I sought—vault L-42-X, -in building 4-J-21, where reposed the bodies of the -ape and the man, each of which possessed half the brain -of the other. Here I was forced to leave Valla Dia for the -time, that I might hasten to the office and perform the -duties imposed upon me by Ras Thavas, lest his suspicions -be aroused when Yamdor reported that he had -found her apartment vacant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I reached the office without it being discovered by -anyone who might report the fact to Ras Thavas that I -had been a long time coming from his apartment. To -my relief, I found there were no cases. Without appearing -in any undue haste, I nevertheless soon found an -excuse to depart and at once made my way towards my -own quarters, moving in a leisurely and unconcerned -manner and humming as was my wont (a habit which -greatly irritated Ras Thavas), snatches from some song -that had been popular at the time that I quit Earth. In -this instance it was “Oh, Frenchy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I was thus engaged when I met Yamdor moving hurriedly -along the corridor leading from my apartment, in -company with two male slaves. I greeted him pleasantly, -as was my custom, and he returned my greeting; but -there was an expression of fear and suspicion in his eyes. -I went at once to my quarters, opened the door leading -to the chamber formerly occupied by Valla Dia and then -hastened immediately to the apartment of Ras Thavas, -where I found him conversing with Yamdor. I rushed -in apparently breathless and simulating great excitement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ras Thavas,” I demanded, “what have you done -with 4296-E-2631-H? She has disappeared; her apartment -is empty; and as I was approaching it I met Yamdor -and two other slaves coming from that direction.” I -turned then upon Yamdor and pointed an accusing finger -at him. “Yamdor!” I cried. “What have you done -with this woman?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Both Ras Thavas and Yamdor seemed genuinely puzzled -and I congratulated myself that I had thus readily -thrown them off the track. The master surgeon declared -that he would make an immediate investigation; and he -at once ordered a thorough search of the ground and of -the island outside the enclosure. Yamdor denied any -knowledge of the woman and I, at least, was aware of -the sincerity of his protestations, but not so Ras Thavas. -I could see a hint of suspicion in his eyes as he questioned -his body servant; but evidently he could conjure -no motive for any such treasonable action on the part of -Yamdor as would have been represented by the abduction -of the woman and the consequent gross disobedience -of orders.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas’ investigation revealed nothing. I think as -it progressed that he became gradually more and more -imbued with a growing suspicion that I might know more -about the disappearance of Valla Dia than my attitude -indicated, for I presently became aware of a delicately -concealed espionage. Up to this time I had been able to -smuggle food to Valla Dia every night, after Ras Thavas -had retired to his quarters. Then, on one occasion, I -suddenly became subconsciously aware that I was being -followed, and instead of going to the vaults I went to the -office, where I added some observations to my report -upon a case I had handled that day. Returning to my -room I hummed a few bars from “Over There,” that the -suggestion of my unconcern might be accentuated. From -the moment that I quit my quarters until I returned to -them I was sure that eyes had been watching my every -move. What was I to do? Valla Dia must have food, -without it she would die; and were I to be followed to -her hiding place while taking it to her, she would die; -Ras Thavas would see to that.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Half the night I lay awake, racking my brains for some -solution to the problem. There seemed only one way—I -must elude the spies. If I could do this but one single -time I could carry out the balance of a plan that had -occurred to me, and which was, I thought, the only one -feasible that might eventually lead to the resurrection of -Valla Dia in her own body. The way was long, the risks -great; but I was young, in love and utterly reckless of -consequences in so far as they concerned me; it was Valla -Dia’s happiness alone that I could not risk too greatly, -other than under dire stress. Well, the stress existed and -I must risk that, even as I risked my life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>My plan was formulated and I lay awake upon my -sleeping silks and furs in the darkness of my room, awaiting -the time when I might put it into execution. My window, -which was upon the third floor, overlooked the -walled enclosure, upon the scarlet sward of which I had -made my first bow to Barsoom. Across the open casement -I had watched Cluros, the farther moon, take his -slow deliberate way. He had already set. Behind him, -Thuria, his elusive mistress, fled through the heavens. In -five xats (about 15 minutes) she would set; and then for -about three and three quarters Earth hours the heavens -would be dark, except for the stars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the corridor, perhaps, lurked those watchful eyes. -I prayed God that they might not be elsewhere as Thuria -sank at last beneath the horizon and I swung to my window -ledge, in my hand a long rope fabricated from -braided strips torn from my sleeping silks while I had -awaited the setting of the moons. One end I had fastened -to a heavy sorapus bench which I had drawn close to the -window. I dropped the free end of the rope and started -my descent. My Earthly muscles, untried in such endeavours, -I had not trusted to the task of carrying me to -my window ledge in a single leap, when I should be returning. -I felt that they would, but I did not know; and -too much depended upon the success of my venture to -risk any unnecessary chance of failure. And so I had -prepared the rope.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Whether I was being observed I did not know. I must -go on as though none were spying upon me. In less than -four hours Thuria would return (just before the sudden -Barsoomian dawn) and in the interval I must reach -Valla Dia, persuade her of the necessity of my plan and -carry out its details, returning to my chamber before -Thuria could disclose me to any accidental observer. I -carried my weapons with me and in my heart was unbending -determination to slay whoever might cross my -path and recognize me during the course of my errand, -however innocent of evil intent against me he might be.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The night was quiet except for the usual distant sounds -that I had heard ever since I had been here—sounds -that I had interpreted as the cries of savage beasts. Once -I had asked Ras Thavas about them, but he had been in -ill humor and had ignored my question. I reached the -ground quickly and without hesitation moved directly to -the nearest entrance of the building, having previously -searched out and determined upon the route I would -follow to the vault. No one was visible and I was confident, -when at last I reached the doorway, that I had -come through undetected. Valla Dia was so happy to see -me again that it almost brought the tears to my eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I thought that something had happened to you,” she -cried, “for I knew that you would not remain away so -long of your own volition.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I told her of my conviction that I was being watched -and that it would not be possible for me longer to bring -food to her without incurring almost certain detection, -which would spell immediate death for her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is a single alternative,” I said, “and that I -dread even to suggest and would not were there any -other way. You must be securely hidden for a long time, -until Ras Thavas’ suspicions have been allayed; for as -long as he has me watched I cannot possibly carry out -the plans I have formulated for your eventual release, -the restoration of your own body and your return to -Duhor.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Your will shall be my law, Vad Varo.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I shook my head. “It will be harder for you than you -imagine.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is the way?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I pointed to the ersite topped table. “You must pass -again through that ordeal that I may hide you away in -this vault until the time is ripe for the carrying out of -my plans. Can you endure it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She smiled. “Why not?” she asked. “It is only sleep—if -it lasts for ever I shall be no wiser.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I was surprised that she did not shrink from the idea, -but I was very glad since I knew that it was the only -way that we had a chance for success. Without my help -she disposed herself upon the ersite slab.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am ready, Vad Varo,” she said, bravely; “but first -promise me that you will take no risks in this mad venture. -You cannot succeed. When I close my eyes I know -that it will be for the last time if my resurrection depends -upon the successful outcome of the maddest venture that -ever man conceived; yet I am happy, because I know -that it is inspired by the greatest friendship with which -any mortal woman has ever been blessed.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As she talked I had been adjusting the tubes and now -I stood beside her with my finger upon the starting button -of the motor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-bye, Vad Varo,” she whispered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not good-bye, Valla Dia, but only a sweet sleep for -what to you will be the briefest instant. You will seem -but to close your eyes and open them again. As you see -me now, I shall be standing here beside you as though I -never had departed from you. As I am the last that you -look upon to-night before you close your eyes, so shall I -be the first that you shall look upon as you open them -on that new and beautiful morning; but you shall not -again look forth through the eyes of Xaxa, but from the -limpid depths of your own beautiful orbs.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She smiled and shook her head. Two tears formed beneath -her lids. I pressed her hand in mine and touched -the button.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='61' id='Page_61'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER VI<br/> SUSPICIONS</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>In</span> so far as I could know I reached my apartment without -detection. Hiding my rope where I was sure it would -not be discovered, I sought my sleeping silks and furs -and was soon asleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following morning as I emerged from my quarters -I caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure in a nearby -corridor and from then on for a long time I had further -evidence that Ras Thavas suspicioned me. I went at once -to his quarters, as had been my habit. He seemed restless, -but he gave me no hint that he held any assurance -that I had been responsible for the disappearance of -Valla Dia, and I think that he was far from positive of -it. It was simply that his judgment pointed to the fact -that I was the only person who might have any reason -for interfering in any way with this particular subject, -and he was having me watched to either prove or disprove -the truth of his reasonable suspicions. His restlessness -he explained to me himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have often studied the reaction of others who have -undergone brain transference,” he said, “and so I am -not wholly surprised at my own. Not only has my brain -energy been stimulated, resulting in an increased production -of nervous energy, but I also feel the effects of the -young tissue and youthful blood of my new body. They -are affecting my consciousness in a way that my experiment -had vaguely indicated, but which I now see must be -actually experienced to be fully understood. My thoughts, -my inclinations, even my ambitions have been changed, -or at least coloured, by the transfer. It will take some -time for me to find myself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though uninterested, I listened politely until he was -through and then I changed the subject. “Have you located -the missing woman?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He shook his head, negatively.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You must appreciate, Ras Thavas,” I said, “that I -fully realize that you must have known that the removal -or destruction of that woman would entirely frustrate -my entire plan. You are master here. Nothing that passes -is without your knowledge.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You mean that I am responsible for the disappearance -of the woman?” he demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Certainly. It is obvious. I demand that she be restored.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He lost his temper. “Who are you to demand?” he -shouted. “You are naught but a slave. Cease your impudence -or I shall erase you—erase you. It will be as -though you never had existed.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I laughed in his face. “Anger is the most futile attribute -of the sentimentalist,” I reminded him. “You will -not erase me, for I alone stand between you and mortality.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I can train another,” he parried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you could not trust him,” I pointed out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you bargained with me for my life when you -had me in your power,” he cried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“For nothing that it would have harmed you to have -granted willingly. I did not ask anything for myself. Be -that as it may, you will trust me again. You will trust, -for no other reason than that you will be forced to trust -me. So why not win my gratitude and my loyalty by returning -the woman to me and carrying out in spirit as -well as in fact the terms of our agreement?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned and looked steadily at me. “Vad Varo,” he -said, “I give you the word of honor of a Barsoomian -noble that I know absolutely nothing concerning the -whereabouts of 4296-E-2631-H.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps Yamdor does,” I persisted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nor Yamdor. Of my knowledge no person in any -way connected with me knows what became of it. I have -spoken the truth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Well, the conversation was not as profitless as it might -appear, for I was sure that it had almost convinced Ras -Thavas that I was equally as ignorant of the fate of -Valla Dia as was he. That it had not wholly convinced -him was evidenced by the fact that the espionage continued -for a long time, a fact which determined me to -use Ras Thavas’ own methods in my own defence. I had -had allotted to me a number of slaves, and these I had -won over by kindness and understanding until I knew -that I had the full measure of their loyalty. They had no -reason to love Ras Thavas and every reason to hate -him; on the other hand they had no reason to hate me, -and I saw to it that they had every reason to love me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The result was that I had no difficulty in enlisting the -services of a couple of them to spy upon Ras Thavas’ -spies, with the result that I was soon apprised that my -suspicions were well founded—I was being constantly -watched every minute that I was out of my apartments, -but the spying did not come beyond my outer chamber -walls. That was why I had been successful in reaching the -vault in the manner that I had, the spies having assumed -that I would leave my chamber only by its natural exit, -had been content to guard that and permit my windows -to go unwatched.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I think it was about two of our months that the spying -continued and then my men reported that it seemed -to have ceased entirely. All that time I was fretting at -the delay, for I wanted to be about my plans which -would have been absolutely impossible for me to carry -out if I were being watched. I had spent the interval in -studying the geography of the north-eastern Barsoomian -hemisphere where my activities were to be carried on, -and also in scanning a great number of case histories and -inspecting the subjects to which they referred; but at -last, with the removal of the spies, it began to look as -though I might soon commence to put my plans in active -operation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas had for some time permitted me considerable -freedom in independent investigation and experiment, -and this I determined to take advantage of -in every possible way that might forward my plans for -the resurrection of Valla Dia. My study of the histories -of many of the cases had been with the possibility in -mind of discovering subjects that might be of assistance -to me in my venture. Among those that had occupied -my careful attention were, quite naturally, the cases -with which I had been most familiar, namely: 378-J-493811-P, -the red-man from whose vicious attack I had -saved Ras Thavas upon the day of my advent upon -Mars; and he whose brain had been divided with an -ape.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The former, 378-J-493811-P, had been a native of -Phundahl—a young warrior attached to the court of -Xaxa, Jeddara of Phundahl—and a victim of assassination. -His body had been purchased by a Phundahlian -noble for the purpose, as Ras Thavas had narrated, of -winning the favor of a young beauty. I felt that I might -possibly enlist his services, but that would depend upon -the extent of his loyalty towards Xaxa, which I could -only determine by reviving and questioning him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He whose brain had been divided with an ape had -originated in Ptarth, which lay at a considerable distance -to the west of Phundahl and a little south and -about an equal distance from Duhor, which lay north -and a little west of it. An inhabitant of Ptarth, I reasoned, -would know much of the entire country included -in the triangle formed by Phundahl, Ptarth and Duhor; -the strength and ferocity of the great ape would prove -of value in crossing beast infested wastes; and I felt -that I could hold forth sufficient promise to the human -half of the great beast’s brain, which really now dominated -the creature, to win its support and loyalty. The -third subject that I had tentatively selected had been -a notorious Toonolian assassin, whose audacity, fearlessness -and swordsmanship had won for him a reputation -that had spread far beyond the boundaries of his -country.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ras Thavas, himself a Toonolian, had given me something -of the history of this man whose grim calling is -not without honor upon Barsoom, and which Gor -Hajus had raised still higher in the esteem of his countrymen -through the fact that he never struck down a -woman or a good man and that he never struck from -behind. His killings were always the results of fair fights -in which the victim had every opportunity to defend -himself and slay his attacker; and he was famous for -his loyalty to his friends. In fact this very loyalty had -been a contributing factor in his downfall which had -brought him to one of Ras Thavas’ ersite slabs some -years since, for he had earned the enmity of Vobis -Kan, Jeddak of Toonol, through his refusal to assassinate -a man who once had befriended Gor Hajus in some -slight degree; following which Vobis Kan conceived the -suspicion that Gor Hajus had him marked for slaying. -The result was inevitable: Gor Hajus was arrested and -condemned to death; immediately following the execution -of the sentence an agent of Ras Thavas had purchased -the body.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>These three, then, I had chosen to be my partners -in my great adventure. It is true that I had not discussed -the matter with any one of them, but my judgment -assured me that I would have no difficulty in -enlisting their services and loyalty in return for their -total resurrection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>My first task lay in renewing the organs of 378-J-493811-P -and of Gor Hajus which had been injured -by the wounds that had laid them low; the former requiring -a new lung and the latter a new heart, his -executioner having run him through with a short-sword. -I hesitated to ask Ras Thavas’ permission to experiment -on these subjects for fear of the possibility of -arousing his suspicions, in which event he would probably -have them destroyed; and so I was forced to accomplish -my designs by subterfuge and stealth. To this end -I made it a practice for weeks to carry my regular -laboratory work far into the night, often requiring the -services of various assistants that all might become accustomed -to the sight of me at work at unusual hours. -In my selection of these assistants I made it a point -to choose two of the very spies that Ras Thavas had -set to watching me. While it was true that they were -no longer employed in this particular service, I had -hopes that they would carry word of my activities to -their master; and I was careful to see that they received -from me the proper suggestions that would mould -their report in language far from harmful to me. By -the merest suggestion I carried to them the idea that -I worked thus late purely for the love of the work -itself and the tremendous interest in it that Ras Thavas -had awakened within my mind. Some nights I worked -with assistants and as often I did not, but always I -was careful to assure myself that the following morning -those in the office were made aware that I had labored -far into the preceding night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This groundwork carefully prepared, I had comparatively -little fear of the results of actual discovery when -I set to work upon the warrior of Phundahl and the -assassin of Toonol. I chose the former first. His lung -was badly injured where my blade had passed through -it, but from the laboratory where were kept fractional -bodies I brought a perfect lung, with which I replaced -the one that I had ruined. The work occupied but half -the night. So anxious was I to complete my task that -I immediately opened up the breast of Gor Hajus, for -whom I had selected an unusually strong and powerful -heart, and by working rapidly I succeeded in completing -the transference before dawn. Having known the nature -of the wounds that had dispatched these two men, I -had spent weeks in performing similar operations that I -might perfect myself especially in this work; and having -encountered no unusual pathological conditions in -either subject, the work had progressed smoothly and -with great rapidity. I had completed what I had feared -would be the most difficult part of my task and now, -having removed as far as possible all signs of the operation -except the therapeutic tape which closed the incisions, -I returned to my quarters for a few minutes -of much needed rest, praying that Ras Thavas would -not by any chance examine either of the subjects upon -which I had been working; although I had fortified myself -against such a contingency by entering full details -of the operation upon the history card of each subject -that, in the event of discovery, any suspicion of ulterior -motives upon my part might be allayed by my play -of open frankness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I arose at the usual time and went at once to Ras -Thavas’ apartment, where I was met with a bombshell -that nearly wrecked my composure. He eyed me closely -for a long minute before he spoke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You worked late last night, Vad Varo,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I often do,” I replied, lightly; but my heart was -heavy as a stone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And what might it have been that so occupied your -interest?” he inquired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I felt as a mouse with which the cat is playing. “I -have been doing quite a little lung and heart transference -of late,” I replied, “and I became so engrossed with -my work that I did not note the passage of time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have known that you worked late at night. Do -you think it wise?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that moment I felt that it had been very unwise, -yet I assured him to the contrary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was restless,” he said. “I could not sleep and so -I went to your quarters after midnight, but you were -not there. I wanted someone with whom to talk, but -your slaves knew only that you were not there—where -you were they did not know—so I set out to search -for you.” My heart went into my sandals. “I guessed -that you were in one of the laboratories, but though -I visited several I did not find you.” My heart arose -with the lightness of a feather. “Since my own transference -I have been cursed with restlessness and sleeplessness, -so that I could almost wish for the return of -my old corpse—the youth of my body harmonizes not -with the antiquity of my brain. It is filled with latent -urges and desires that comport illy with the serious subject -matter of my mind.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What your body needs,” I said, “is exercise. It is -young, strong, virile. Work it hard and it will let your -brain rest at night.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I know that you are right,” he replied. “I have -reached that same conclusion myself. In fact, not finding -you, I walked in the gardens for an hour or more -before returning to my quarters, and then I slept soundly. -I shall walk every night when I cannot sleep, or I -shall go into the laboratories and work as do you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This news was most disquieting. Now I could never -be sure but that Ras Thavas was wandering about at -night and I had one more very important night’s work -to do, perhaps two. The only way that I could be sure -of him was to be with him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Send for me when you are restless,” I said, “and -I will walk and work with you. You should not go -about thus at night alone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Very well,” he said, “I may do that occasionally.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I hoped that he would do it always, for then I would -know that when he failed to send for me he was safe -in his own quarters. Yet I saw that I must henceforth -face the menace of detection; and knowing this I determined -to hasten the completion of my plans and to -risk everything on a single bold stroke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That night I had no opportunity to put it into action -as Ras Thavas sent for me early and informed me -that we would walk in the gardens until he was tired. -Now, as I needed a full night for what I had in mind -and as Ras Thavas walked until midnight, I was compelled -to forego everything for that evening, but the -following morning I persuaded him to walk early on the -pretext that I should like to go beyond the enclosure -and see something of Barsoom beside the inside of his -laboratories and his gardens. I had little confidence that -he would grant my request, yet he did so. I am sure -he never would have done it had he possessed his old -body; but thus greatly had young blood changed Ras -Thavas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I had never been beyond the buildings, nor had I -seen beyond, since there were no windows in the outside -walls of any of the structures and upon the garden -side the trees had grown to such a height that they -obstructed all view beyond them. For a time we walked -in another garden just inside the outer wall, and then -I asked Ras Thavas if I might go even beyond this.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” he said. “It would not be safe.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And why not?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I will show you and at the same time give you a -much broader view of the outside world than you could -obtain by merely passing through the gate. Come, follow -me!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He led me immediately to a lofty tower that rose -at the corner of the largest building of the group that -comprised his vast establishment. Within was a circular -runway which led not only upward, but down as well. -This we ascended, passing openings at each floor, until -we came at last out upon its lofty summit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About me spread the first Barsoomian landscape of -any extent upon which my eyes had yet rested during -the long months that I had spent upon the Red Planet. -For almost an Earthly year I had been immured within -the grim walls of Ras Thavas’ bloody laboratory, until, -such creatures of habit are we, the weird life there had -grown to seem quite natural and ordinary; but with this -first glimpse of open country there surged up within me -an urge for freedom, for space, for room to move about, -such as I knew would not be long denied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Directly beneath lay an irregular patch of rocky land -elevated perhaps a dozen feet or more above the general -level of the immediately surrounding country. Its -extent was, at a rough guess, a hundred acres. Upon -this stood the buildings and grounds, which were enclosed -in a high wall. The tower upon which we stood -was situated at about the centre of the total area enclosed. -Beyond the outer wall was a strip of rocky -ground on which grew a sparse forest of fair sized trees -interspersed with patches of a jungle growth, and beyond -all, what appeared to be an oozy marsh through -which were narrow water courses connecting occasional -open water—little lakes, the largest of which could have -comprised scarce two acres. This landscape extended as -far as the eye could reach, broken by occasional islands -similar to that upon which we were and at a short distance -by the skyline of a large city, whose towers and -domes and minarets glistened and sparkled in the sun -as though plated with shining metals and picked out -with precious gems.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This, I knew, must be Toonol and all about us the -Great Toonolian Marshes which extend nearly eighteen -hundred Earth miles east and west and in some places -have a width of three hundred miles. Little is known -about them in other portions of Barsoom as they are -frequented by fierce beasts, afford no landing places for -fliers and are commanded by Phundahl at their western -end and Toonol at the east; inhospitable kingdoms that -invite no intercourse with the outside world and maintain -their independence alone by their inaccessibility -and savage aloofness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As my eyes returned to the island at our feet I -saw a huge form emerge from one of the nearby patches -of jungle a short distance beyond the outer wall. It -was followed by a second and a third. Ras Thavas saw -that the creatures had attracted my notice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There,” he said, pointing to them, “are three of a -number of similar reasons why it would not have been -safe for us to venture outside the enclosure.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They were great white apes of Barsoom, creatures so -savage that even that fierce Barsoomian lion, the banth, -hesitates to cross their path.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They serve two purposes,” explained Ras Thavas. -“They discourage those who might otherwise creep upon -me by night from the city of Toonol, where I am not -without many good enemies, and they prevent desertion -upon the part of my slaves and assistants.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But how do your clients reach you?” I asked. “How -are your supplies brought in?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned and pointed down toward the highest portion -of the irregular roof of the building below us. -Built upon it was a large, shed-like structure. “There,” -he said, “I keep three small ships. One of them goes -every day to Toonol.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I was overcome with eagerness to know more about -these ships, in which I thought I saw a much needed -means of escape from the island; but I dared not question -him for fear of arousing his suspicions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As we turned to descend the tower runway I expressed -interest in the structure which gave evidence of -being far older than any of the surrounding buildings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This tower,” said Ras Thavas, “was built some -twenty-three thousand years ago by an ancestor of mine -who was driven from Toonol by the reigning Jeddak -of the time. Here, and upon other islands, he gathered -a considerable following, dominated the surrounding -marshes and defended himself successfully for hundreds -of years. While my family has been permitted to return -to Toonol since, this has been their home; to which, -one by one, have been added the various buildings -which you see about the tower, each floor of which connects -with the adjacent building from the roof to the -lowest pits beneath the ground.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This information also interested me greatly since I -thought that I saw where it too might have considerable -bearing upon my plan of escape, and so, as we descended -the runway, I encouraged Ras Thavas to discourse -upon the construction of the tower, its relation -to the other buildings and especially its accessibility from -the pits. We walked again in the outer garden and by -the time we returned to Ras Thavas’ quarters it was almost -dark and the master surgeon was considerably -fatigued.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I feel that I shall sleep well to-night,” he said as -I left him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope so, Ras Thavas,” I replied.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='72' id='Page_72'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER VII<br/> ESCAPE</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>It</span> was usually about three hours after the evening meal, -which was served immediately after dark, that the establishment -quieted down definitely for the night. While I -should have preferred waiting longer before undertaking -that which I had in mind, I could not safely do so, -since there was much to be accomplished before dawn. -So it was that with the first indications that the occupants -of the building in which my work was to be performed -had retired for the night, I left my quarters -and went directly to the laboratory, where, fortunately -for my plans, the bodies of Gor Hajus, the assassin -of Toonol, and 378-J-493811-P both reposed. It was -the work of a few minutes to carry them to adjoining -tables, where I quickly strapped them securely against -the possibility that one or both of them might not be -willing to agree to the proposition I was about to make -them, and thus force me to anaesthetize them again. -At last the incisions were made, the tubes attached and -the motors started. 378-J-493811-P, whom I shall hereafter -call by his own name, Dar Tarus, was the first -to open his eyes; but he had not regained full consciousness -when Gor Hajus showed signs of life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I waited until both appeared quite restored. Dar -Tarus was eyeing me with growing recognition that -brought a most venomous expression of hatred to his -countenance. Gor Hajus was frankly puzzled. The last -he remembered was the scene in the death chamber at -the instant that his executioner had run a sword -through his heart. It was I who broke the silence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In the first place,” I said, “let me tell you where -you are, if you do not already know.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I know well enough where I am,” growled Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah!” exclaimed Gor Hajus, whose eyes had been -roaming about the chamber. “I can guess where I am. -What Toonolian has not heard of Ras Thavas? So they -sold my corpse to the old butcher did they? And what -now? Did I just arrive?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have been here six years,” I told him, “and -you may stay here for ever unless we three can reach -an agreement within the next few minutes, and that goes -for you too, Dar Tarus.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Six years!” mused Gor Hajus. “Well, out with it, -man. What do you want? If it is to slay Ras Thavas, -no! He has saved me from utter destruction; but name -me some other, preferably Vobis Kan, Jeddak of Toonol. -Find me a blade and I will slay a hundred to regain -life.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I seek the life of none unless he stands in the way -of the fulfilment of my desire in this matter that I have -in hand. Listen! Ras Thavas had here a beautiful -Duhorian girl. He sold her body to Xaxa, Jeddara of -Phundahl, transplanting the girl’s brain to the wrinkled -and hideous body of the Jeddara. It is my intention to -regain the body, restore it to its own brain and return -the girl to Duhor.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus grinned. “You have a large contract on -your hands,” he said, “but I can see that you are a -man after my own heart and I am with you. It will -give freedom and fighting, and all that I ask is a chance -for one thrust at Vobis Kan.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I promise you life,” I replied; “but with the understanding -that you serve me faithfully and none other, -undertaking no business of your own, until mine has -been carried to a successful conclusion.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That means that I shall have to serve you for life,” -he replied, “for the thing you have undertaken you can -never accomplish; but that is better than lying here on -a cold ersite slab waiting for old Ras Thavas to come -along and carve out my gizzard. I am yours! Let me -up, that I may feel a good pair of legs under me again.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And you?” I asked, turning to Dar Tarus as I released -the bonds that held Gor Hajus. For the first time -I now noticed that the ugly expression that I had first -noted upon the face of Dar Tarus had given place to -one of eagerness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike off my bonds!” he cried. “I will follow you -to the ends of Barsoom and the way leads thus far to -the fulfilment of your design; but it will not. It will -lead to Phundahl and to the chamber of the wicked -Xaxa, where, by the generosity of my ancestors, I may -be given the opportunity to avenge the hideous wrong -the creature did me. You could not have chosen one -better fitted for your mission than Dar Tarus, one time -soldier of the Jeddara’s Guard, whom she had slain that -in my former body one of her rotten nobles might woo -the girl I loved.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later the two men stood at my side, and -without more delay I led them towards the runway that -descended to the pits beneath the building. As we went, -I described to them the creature I had chosen to be the -fourth member of our strange party. Gor Hajus questioned -the wisdom of my choice, saying that the ape -would attract too much attention to us. Dar Tarus, however, -believed that it might be helpful in many respects, -since it was possible that we might be compelled to -spend some time among the islands of the marshes which -were often infested with these creatures; while, once in -Phundahl, the ape might readily be used in the furtherance -of our plans and would cause no considerable -comment in a city where many of these beasts are held -in captivity and often are seen performing for the -edification of street crowds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We went at once to the vault where the ape lay -and where I had concealed the anaesthetized body of -Valla Dia. Here I revived the great anthropoid and to -my great relief found that the human half of its brain -still was dominant. Briefly I explained my plan as I -had to the other two and won the hearty promise of -his support upon my engaging to restore his brain to its -rightful place upon the completion of our venture.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>First we must get off the island, and I outlined two -plans I had in mind. One was to steal one of Ras -Thavas’ three fliers and set out directly for Phundahl, -and the other, in the event that the first did not seem -feasible, was to secrete ourselves aboard one of them -on the chance that we might either overpower the crew -and take over the ship after we had left the island, -or escape undetected upon its arrival in Toonol. Dar -Tarus liked the first plan; the ape, whom we now called -by the name belonging to the human half of his brain, -Hovan Du, preferred the first alternative of the second -plan; and Gor Hajus the second alternative.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus explained that as our principal objective -was Phundahl, the quicker we got there the better. -Hovan Du argued that by seizing the ship after it had -left the island we would have longer time in which to -make our escape before the ship was missed and pursuit -instituted, than by seizing it now in the full knowledge -that its absence would be discovered within a few -hours. Gor Hajus thought that it would be better if -we could come into Toonol secretly and there, through -one of his friends, secure arms and a flier of our own. -It would never do, he insisted, to attempt to go far -without arms for himself and Dar Tarus, nor could we -hope to reach Phundahl without being overhauled by -pursuers; for we must plan on the hypothesis that Ras -Thavas would immediately discover my absence; that he -would at once investigate; that he would find Dar Tarus -and Gor Hajus missing and thereupon lose no time in -advising Vobis Kan, Jeddak of Toonol, that Gor Hajus -the assassin was at large, whereupon the Jeddak’s best -ships would be sent in pursuit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus’ reasoning was sound and coupled with -my recollection that Ras Thavas had told me that his -three ships were slow, I could readily foresee that our -liberty would be of short duration were we to steal one -of the old surgeon’s fliers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As we discussed the matter we had made our way -through the pits and I had found the exit to the tower. -Silently we passed upward along the runway and out -upon the roof. Both moons were winging low through -the heavens and the scene was almost as light as day. -If anyone was about discovery was certain. We hastened -towards the hangar and were soon within it, where, for -a moment at least, I breathed far more easily than I -had beneath those two brilliant moons upon the exposed -roof.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fliers were peculiar looking contrivances, low, -squat, with rounded bows and sterns and covered decks, -their every line proclaiming them as cargo carriers -built for anything but speed. One was much smaller than -the other two and a second was evidently undergoing -repairs. The third I entered and examined carefully. Gor -Hajus was with me and pointed out several places -where we might hide with little likelihood of discovery -unless it were suspected that we might be aboard, and -that of course constituted a very real danger; so much -so that I had about decided to risk all aboard the small -flier, which Gor Hajus assured me would be the fastest -of the three, when Dar Tarus stuck his head into the -ship and motioned me to come quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is someone about,” he said when I reached -his side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where?” I demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come,” he said, and led me to the rear of the -hangar, which was flush with the wall of the building -upon which it stood, and pointed through one of the -windows into the inner garden where, to my consternation, -I saw Ras Thavas walking slowly to and fro. For -an instant I was sick with despair, for I knew that no -ship could leave that roof unseen while anyone was -abroad in the garden beneath, and Ras Thavas least -of all people in the world; but suddenly a great light -dawned upon me. I called the three close to me and -explained my plan.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instantly they grasped the possibilities in it and a -moment later we had run the small flier out upon the -roof and turned her nose toward the east, away from -Toonol. Then Gor Hajus entered her, set the various -controls as we had decided, opened the throttle, slipped -back to the roof. The four of us hastened into the hangar -and ran to the rear window where we saw the ship -moving slowly and gracefully out over the garden and -the head of Ras Thavas, whose ears must instantly have -caught the faint purring of the motor, for he was looking -up by the time we reached the window.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instantly he hailed the ship and stepping back from -the window that he might not see me I answered: -“Good-bye, Ras Thavas! It is I, Vad Varo, going out -into a strange world to see what it is like. I shall return. -The spirits of your ancestors be with you until -then.” That was a phrase I had picked up from reading -in Ras Thavas’ library and I was quite proud of -it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come back at once,” he shouted up in reply, “or -you will be with the spirits of your own ancestors before -another day is done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I made no reply. The ship was now at such a distance -that I feared my voice might no longer seem to -come from it and that we should be discovered. Without -more delay we concealed ourselves aboard one of the -remaining fliers, that upon which no work was being -done, and there commenced as long and tiresome a period -of waiting as I can recall ever having passed -through.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I had at last given up any hope of the ship’s being -flown that day when I heard voices in the hangar, and -presently the sound of footsteps aboard the flier. A moment -later a few commands were given and almost -immediately the ship moved slowly out into the open.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The four of us were crowded into a small compartment -built into a tiny space between the forward and -aft starboard buoyancy tanks. It was very dark and -poorly ventilated, having evidently been designed as a -storage closet to utilize otherwise waste space. We dared -not converse for fear of attracting attention to our presence, -and for the same reason we moved about as little -as possible, since we had no means of knowing but -that some member of the crew might be just beyond -the thin door that separated us from the main cabin of -the ship. Altogether we were most uncomfortable; but -the distance to Toonol is not so great but that we -might hope that our situation would soon be changed—at -least if Toonol was to be the destination of the -ship. Of this we soon had cheering hope. We had been -out but a short time when, faintly, we heard a hail -and then the motors were immediately shut down and -the ship stopped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What ship?” we heard a voice demand, and from -aboard our own came the reply:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The Vosar, Tower of Thavas for Toonol.” We heard -a scraping as the other ship touched ours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We are coming aboard to search you in the name -of Vobis Kan, Jeddak of Toonol. Make way!” shouted -one from the other ship. Our cheer had been of short -duration. We heard the shuffling of many feet and Gor -Hajus whispered in my ear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What shall we do?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I slipped my short-sword into his hand. “Fight!” I -replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good, Vad Varo,” he replied, and then I handed -him my pistol and told him to pass it on to Dar Tarus. -We heard the voices again, but nearer now.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What ho!” cried one. “It is Bal Zak himself, my old -friend Bal Zak!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“None other,” replied a deep voice. “And whom did -you expect to find in command of the Vosar other -than Bal Zak?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who could know but that it might have been this -Vad Varo himself, or even Gor Hajus,” said the other, -“and our orders are to search all ships.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I would that they were here,” replied Bal Zak, “for -the reward is high. But how could they, when Ras -Thavas himself with his own eyes saw them fly off in -the Pinsar before dawn this day and disappear in the -east?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Right you are, Bal Zak,” agreed the other, “and it -were a waste of time to search your ship. Come men! -to our own!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could feel the muscles about my heart relax with -the receding footfalls of Vobis Kan’s warriors as they -quitted the deck of the Vosar for their own ship, and -my spirits rose with the renewed purring of our own -motor as Ras Thavas’ flier again got under way. Gor -Hajus bent his lips close to my ear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The spirits of our ancestors smile upon us,” he whispered. -“It is night and the darkness will aid in covering -our escape from the ship and the landing stage.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What makes you think it is night?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Vobis Kan’s ship was close by when it hailed and -asked our name. By daylight it could have seen what -ship we were.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was right. We had been locked in that stuffy hole -since before dawn, and while I had thought that it had -been for a considerable time, I also had realized that the -darkness and the inaction and the nervous strain would -tend to make it seem much longer than it really had -been; so that I would not have been greatly surprised -had we made Toonol by daylight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The distance from the Tower of Thavas to Toonol is -inconsiderable, so that shortly after Vobis Kan’s ship had -spoken to us we came to rest upon the landing stage at -our destination. For a long time we waited, listening to -the sounds of movement aboard the ship and wondering, -upon my part at least, as to what the intentions of the -captain might be. It was quite possible that Bal Zak -might return to Thavas this same night, especially if he -had come to Toonol to fetch a rich or powerful patient -to the laboratories; but if he had come only for supplies -he might well lie here until the morrow. This much -I had learned from Gor Hajus, my own knowledge of the -movements of the fliers of Ras Thavas being considerably -less than nothing; for, though I had been months a -lieutenant of the master surgeon, I had learned only the -day before of the existence of his small fleet, it being -according to the policy of Ras Thavas to tell me nothing -unless the telling of it coincided with and furthered his -own plans.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Questions which I asked he always answered, if he -reasoned that the effects would not be harmful to his -own interests, but he volunteered nothing that he did not -particularly wish me to know; and the fact that there -were no windows in the outside walls of the building facing -towards Toonol, that I had never before the previous -day been upon the roof and that I never had seen a ship -sail over the inner court towards the east all tended to -explain my ignorance of the fleet and its customary operations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We waited quietly until silence fell upon the ship, betokening -either that the crew had retired for the night or -that they had gone down into the city. Then, after a -whispered consultation with Gor Hajus, we decided to -make an attempt to leave the flier. It was our purpose to -seek a hiding place within the tower of the landing stage -from which we might investigate possible avenues of -escape into the city, either at once or upon the morrow -when we might more easily mix with the crowd that -Gor Hajus said would certainly be in evidence from a few -hours after sunrise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cautiously I opened the door of our closet and looked -into the main cabin beyond. It lay in darkness. Silently -we filed out. The silence of the tomb lay upon the flier, -but from far below arose the subdued noises of the city. -So far, so good! Then, without sound, without warning, a -burst of brilliant light illuminated the interior of the -cabin. I felt my fingers tighten upon my sword-hilt as I -glanced quickly about.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Directly opposite us, in the narrow doorway of a small -cabin, stood a tall man whose handsome harness betokened -the fact that he was no common warrior. In -either hand he held a heavy Barsoomian pistol, into the -muzzles of which we found ourselves staring.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='81' id='Page_81'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER VIII<br/> HANDS UP!</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>In</span> quiet tones he spoke the words of the Barsoomian -equivalent of our Earthly <span class='it'>hands up!</span> The shadow of a grim -smile touched his lips, and as he saw us hesitate to obey -his commands he spoke again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do as I tell you and you will be well off. Keep perfect -silence. A raised voice may spell your doom; a pistol -shot most assuredly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus raised his hands above his head and we -others followed his example.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am Bal Zak,” announced the stranger. My heart -slumped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then you had better commence firing,” said Gor -Hajus, “for you will not take us alive and we are four to -one.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not so fast, Gor Hajus,” admonished the captain -of the Vosar, “until you learn what is in my mind.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That, we already know for we heard you speak of the -large reward that awaited the captor of Vad Varo and Gor -Hajus,” snapped the assassin of Toonol.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Had I craved that reward so much I could have turned -you over to the dwar of Vobis Kan’s ship when he -boarded us,” said Bal Zak.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You did not know we were aboard the Vosar,” I -reminded him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah, but I did.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus snorted his disbelief.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How then,” Bal Zak reminded us, “was I able to be -ready upon this very spot when you emerged from your -hiding place? Yes, I knew that you were aboard.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But how?” demanded Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is immaterial,” replied Bal Zak, “but to satisfy -your natural curiosity I will tell you that I have quarters -in a small room in the Tower of Thavas, my windows -overlook the roof and the hangar. My long life spent -aboard fliers has made me very sensitive to every sound -of a ship—motors changing their speed will awaken me in -the dead of night, as quickly as will their starting or their -stopping. I was awakened by the starting of the motors of -the Pinsar; I saw three of you upon the roof and the -fourth drop from the deck of the flier as she started and -my judgment told me that the ship was being sent out -unmanned for some reason of which I had no knowledge. -It was too late for me to prevent the act and so I waited -in silence to learn what would follow. I saw you hasten -into the hangar and I heard Ras Thavas’ hail and your -reply, and then I saw you board the Vosar. Immediately I -descended to the roof and ran noiselessly to the hangar, -apprehending that you intended making away with this -ship; but there was no one about the controls; and from -a tiny port in the control room, through which one has a -view of the main cabin, I saw you enter the closet. I -was at once convinced that your only purpose was to -stow away for Toonol and consequently, aside from -keeping an eye upon your hiding place, I went about my -business as usual.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And you did not advise Ras Thavas?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I advised no one,” he replied. “Years ago I learned to -mind my own business, to see all, to hear all and to tell -nothing unless it profited me to do so.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you said that the reward is high for our apprehension,” -Gor Hajus reminded him. “Would it not be -profitable to collect it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There are in the breasts of honourable men,” replied -Bal Zak, “forces that rise superior to the lust for -gold, and while Toonolians are supposedly a people free -from the withering influences of sentiment yet I for one -am not totally unconscious of the demand of gratitude. -Six years ago, Gor Hajus, you refused to assassinate -my father, holding that he was a good man, worthy to -live and one that had once befriended you slightly. -To-day, through his son, you reap your reward and in -some measure are repaid for the punishment that was -meted out to you by Vobis Kan because of your refusal -to slay the sire of Bal Zak. I have sent my crew -away that none aboard the Vosar but myself might have -knowledge of your presence. Tell me your plans and -command me in what way I may be of further service to -you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We wish to reach the streets, unobserved,” replied Gor -Hajus. “Can you but help us in that we shall not put -upon your shoulders further responsibility for our escape. -You have our gratitude and in Toonol, I need not remind -you, the gratitude of Gor Hajus is a possession that -even the Jeddak has craved.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Your problem is complicated,” said Bal Zak, after a -moment of thought, “by the personnel of your party. The -ape would immediately attract attention and arouse suspicion. -Knowing much of Ras Thavas’ experiments I realized -at once this morning, after watching him with you, -that he had the brain of a man; but this very fact would -attract to him and to you the closer attention of the -masses.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I do not need acquaint them with the fact,” growled -Hovan Du. “To them I need be but a captive ape. Are -such unknown in Toonol?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not entirely, though they are rare,” replied Bal Zak. -“But there is also the white skin of Vad Varo! Ras Thavas -appears to have known nothing of the presence of the -ape with you; but he full well knew of Vad Varo, and -your description has been spread by every means at his -command. You would be recognized immediately by the -first Toonolian that lays eyes upon you, and then there -is Gor Hajus. He has been as dead for six years, yet I -venture there is scarce a Toonolian that broke the shell -prior to ten years ago who does not know the face of -Gor Hajus as well as he knows that of his own mother. -The Jeddak himself was not better known to the people -of Toonol than Gor Hajus. That leaves but one who -might possibly escape suspicion and detection in the -streets of Toonol.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If we could but obtain weapons for these others,” I -suggested, “we might even yet reach the house of Gor -Hajus’ friend.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fight your way through the city of Toonol?” demanded -Bal Zak.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If there is no other way we should have to,” I replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I admire the will,” commented the commander of the -Vosar, “but fear that the flesh is without sufficient -strength. Wait! there is a way—perhaps. On the stage -just below this there is a public depot where equilibrimotors -are kept and rented. Could we find the means to -obtain four of these there would be a chance, at least, -for you to elude the air patrols and reach the house of -Gor Hajus’ friend; and I think I see a way to the accomplishment -of that. The landing tower is closed for -the night but there are several watchmen distributed -through it at different levels. There is one at the equilibrimotor -depot and, as I happen to know, he is a devotee of -jetan. He would rather play jetan than attend to his -duties as watchman. I often remain aboard the Vosar at -night and occasionally he and I indulge in a game. I will -ask him up to-night and while he is thus engaged you -may go to the depot, help yourselves to equilibrimotors -and pray to your ancestors that no air patrol suspects -you as you cross the city towards your destination. What -think you of this plan, Gor Hajus?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is splendid,” replied the assassin. “And you, Vad -Varo?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If I knew what an equilibrimotor is I might be in a -better position to judge the merits of the plan,” I replied. -“However, I am satisfied to abide by the judgment -of Gor Hajus. I can assure you, Bal Zak, of our great -appreciation, and as Gor Hajus has put the stamp of his -approval upon your plan I can only urge you to arrange -that we may put it into effect with as little delay as possible.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” exclaimed Bal Zak. “Come with me and I -will conceal you until I have lured the watchman to the -jetan game within my cabin. After that your fate will be -in your own hands.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We followed him from the ship on to the deck of -the landing stage and close under the side of the Vosar -opposite that from which the watchman must approach -the ship and enter it. Then, bidding us good luck, Bal Zak -departed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the summit of the landing tower I had my first -view of a Martian city. Several hundred feet below me -lay spread the broad, well-lighted avenues of Toonol, -many of which were crowded with people. Here and -there, in this central district, a building was raised high -upon its supporting, cylindrical metal shaft; while further -out, where the residences predominated, the city -took on the appearance of a colossal and grotesque forest. -Among the larger palaces only an occasional suite -of rooms was thus raised high above the level of the -others, these being the sleeping apartments of the owners, -their servants or their guests; but the smaller homes were -raised in their entirety, a precaution necessitated by the -constant activities of the followers of Gor Hajus’ ancient -profession that permitted no man to be free from the -constant menace of assassination. Throughout the central -district the sky was pierced by the lofty towers of -several other landing stages; but, as I was later to learn, -these were comparatively few in number. Toonol is in no -sense a flying nation, supporting no such enormous fleets -of merchant ships and vessels of war as, for example, the -twin cities of Helium or the great capital of Ptarth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A peculiar feature of the street lighting of Toonol, and -in fact the same condition applies to the lighting of -other Barsoomian cities I have visited, I noted for the first -time that night as I waited upon the landing stage for the -return of Bal Zak with the watchman. The luminosity -below me seemed confined directly to the area to be -lighted; there was no diffusion of light upward or beyond -the limits the lamps were designed to light. This was -effected, I was told, by lamps designed upon principles -resulting from ages of investigation of the properties of -light waves and the laws governing them which permit -Barsoomian scientists to confine and control light as we -confine and control matter. The light waves leave the -lamp, pass along a prescribed circuit and return to the -lamp. There is no waste nor, strange this seemed to me, -are there any dense shadows when lights are properly -installed and adjusted; for the waves in passing around -objects to return to the lamp, illuminate all sides of -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The effect of this lighting from the great height of the -tower was rather remarkable. The night was dark, there -being no moons at that hour upon this night, and the -effect was that obtained when sitting in a darkened auditorium -and looking upon a brilliantly lighted stage. I -was still intent upon watching the life and colour beneath -when we heard Bal Zak returning. That he had been successful -in his mission was apparent from the fact that -he was conversing with another.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Five minutes later we crept quietly from our hiding -place and descended to the stage below where lay the -equilibrimotor depot. As theft is practically unknown -upon Barsoom, except for purposes entirely disassociated -from a desire to obtain pecuniary profit through the thing -stolen, no precautions are taken against theft. We therefore -found the doors of the depot open and Gor Hajus -and Dar Tarus quickly selected four equilibrimotors and -adjusted them upon us. They consist of a broad belt, -not unlike the life belt used aboard trans-oceanic liners -upon Earth; these belts are filled with the eighth Barsoomian -ray, or ray of propulsion, to a sufficient degree -to just about equalize the pull of gravity and thus -to maintain a person in equilibrium between that force -and the opposite force exerted by the eighth ray. Permanently -attached to the back of the belt is a small -radium motor, the controls for which are upon the front -of the belt. Rigidly attached to and projecting from -each side of the upper rim of the belt is a strong, light -wing with small hand levers for quickly altering its -position.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus quickly explained the method of control, -but I could apprehend that there might be embarrassment -and trouble awaiting me before I mastered the art of -flying in an equilibrimotor. He showed me how to tilt -the wings downward in walking so that I would not -leave the ground at every step, and thus he led me to -the edge of the landing stage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We will rise here,” he said, “and keeping in the darkness -of the upper levels seek to reach the house of my -friend without being detected. If we are pursued by air -patrols we must separate; and later those who escape -may gather just west of the city wall where you will -find a small lake with a deserted tower upon its northern -rim—this tower will be our rendezvous in event of trouble. -Follow me!” He started his motor and rose gracefully -into the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hovan Du followed him and then it was my turn. I -rose beautifully for about twenty feet, floating out over -the city which lay hundreds of feet below, and then, quite -suddenly, I turned upside down. I had done something -wrong—I was quite positive of it. It was a most startling -sensation, I can assure you, floating there with my head -down, quite helpless; while below me lay the streets of a -great city and no softer, I was sure, than the streets of -Los Angeles or Paris. My motor was still going, and -as I manipulated the controls which operated the wings -I commenced to describe all sorts of strange loops and -spirals and spins; and then Dar Tarus came to my rescue. -First he told me to lie quietly and then directed the -manipulation of each wing until I had gained an upright -position. After that I did fairly well and was soon rising -in the wake of Gor Hajus and Hovan Du.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I need not describe in detail the hour of flying, or -rather floating, that ensued. Gor Hajus led us to a considerable -altitude and there, through the darkness above -the city, our slow motors drove us towards a district of -magnificent homes surrounded by spacious grounds; and -here, as we hovered over a large palace, we were suddenly -startled by a sharp challenge coming from directly -above us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who flies by night?” a voice demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Friends of Mu Tel, Prince of the House of Kan,” replied -Gor Hajus quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let me see your night flying permit and your flier’s -licence,” ordered the one above us, at the same time -swooping suddenly to our level and giving me my first -sight of a Martian policeman. He was equipped with a -much swifter and handier equilibrimotor than ours. I -think that was the first fact to impress us deeply, and it -demonstrated the futility of flight; for he could have -given us ten minutes start and overhauled each of us -within another ten minutes, even though we had elected -to fly in different directions. The fellow was a warrior -rather than a policeman, though detailed to duty such -as our Earthly police officers perform; the city being -patrolled both day and night by the warriors of Vobis -Kan’s army.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He dropped now close to the assassin of Toonol, again -demanding permit and license and at the same time -flashing a light in the face of my comrade.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“By the sword of the Jeddak!” he cried. “Fortune -heaps her favors upon me. Who would have thought an -hour since that it would be I who would collect the reward -for the capture of Gor Hajus?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Any other fool might have thought it,” returned Gor -Hajus, “but he would have been as wrong as you,” and as -he spoke he struck with the short-sword I had loaned -him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The blow was broken by the wing of the warrior’s -equilibrimotor, which it demolished, yet it inflicted a -severe wound in the fellow’s shoulder. He tried to back -off, but the damaged wing caused him only to wheel -around erratically; and then he seized upon his whistle -and attempted to blow a mighty blast that was cut short -by another blow from Gor Hajus’ sword that split the -man’s head open to the bridge of his nose.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Quick!” cried the assassin. “We must drop into the -gardens of Mu Tel, for that signal will bring a swarm -of air patrols about our heads.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The others I saw falling rapidly towards the ground, -but again I had trouble. Depress my wings as I would I -moved only slightly downward and upon a path that, if -continued, would have landed me at a considerable distance -from the gardens of Mu Tel. I was approaching -one of the elevated portions of the palace, what appeared -to be a small suite that was raised upon its -shining metal shaft far above the ground. From all directions -I could hear the screaming whistles of the air -patrols answering the last call of their comrade whose -corpse floated just above me, a guide even in death to -point the way for his fellows to search us out. They were -sure to discover him and then I would be in plain view -of them and my fate sealed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Perhaps I could find ingress to the apartment looming -darkly near! There I might hide until the danger -had passed, provided I could enter, undetected. I directed -my course towards the structure; an open window -took form through the darkness and then I collided -with a fine wire netting—I had run into a protecting -curtain that fends off assassins of the air from these high-flung -sleeping apartments. I felt that I was lost. If I -could but reach the ground I might find concealment -among the trees and shrubbery that I had seen vaguely -outlined beneath me in the gardens of this Barsoomian -prince; but I could not drop at a sufficient angle to -bring me to ground within the garden, and when I tried -to spiral down I turned over and started up again. I -thought of ripping open my belt and letting the eighth -ray escape; but in my unfamiliarity with this strange -force I feared that such an act might precipitate me to -the ground with too great violence, though I was -determined to have recourse to it as a last alternative -if nothing less drastic presented itself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In my last attempt to spiral downward I rose rapidly -feet foremost to a sudden and surprising collision with -some object above me. As I frantically righted myself, -fully expecting to be immediately seized by a member of -the air patrol, I found myself face to face with the corpse -of the warrior Gor Hajus had slain. The whistling of -the air patrols sounded ever nearer—it could be only a -question of seconds now before I was discovered—and -with the stern necessity that confronted me, with death -looking me in the face, there burst upon me a possible -avenue of escape from my dilemma.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seizing tightly with my left hand the harness of the -dead Toonolian, I whipped out my dagger and slashed -his buoyancy belt a dozen times. Instantly, as the rays -escaped, his body started to drag me downward. Our -descent was rapid, but not precipitate, and it was but a -matter of seconds before we landed gently upon the -scarlet sward of the gardens of Mu Tel, Prince of the -House of Kan, close beside a clump of heavy shrubbery. -Above me sounded the whistles of the circling patrols as -I dragged the corpse of the warrior into the concealing -depth of the foliage. Nor was I an instant too soon for -safety, as almost immediately the brilliant rays of a -searchlight shot downward from the deck of a small patrol -ship, illuminating the open spaces of the garden all about -me. A hurried glance through the branches and the leaves -of my sanctuary revealed nothing of my companions -and I breathed a sigh of relief in the thought that they, -too, had found concealment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The light played for a short time about the gardens and -then passed on, as did the sound of the patrol’s whistles, -as the search proceeded elsewhere; thus giving me the -assurance that no suspicion was directed upon our hiding -place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Left in darkness I appropriated such of the weapons of -the dead warrior as I coveted, after having removed my -equilibrimotor, which I was first minded to destroy, but -which I finally decided to moor to one of the larger -shrubs against the possibility that I might again have need -for it; and now, secure in the conviction that the danger -of discovery by the air patrol had passed, I left my concealment -and started in search of my companions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Keeping well in the shadows of the trees and shrubs -I moved in the direction of the main building, which -loomed darkly near at hand; for in this direction I believed -Gor Hajus would lead the others as I knew that -the palace of Mu Tel was to have been our destination. -As I crept along, moving with utmost stealth, Thuria, the -nearer moon, shot suddenly above the horizon, illuminating -the night with her brilliant rays. I was close to -the building’s ornately carved wall at the moment; beside -me was a narrow niche, its interior cast in deepest -shadow by Thuria’s brilliant rays; to my left was an -open bit of lawn upon which, revealed in every detail of -its terrifying presence, stood as fearsome a creature as -my Earthly eyes ever had rested upon. It was a beast -about the size of a Shetland pony, with ten short legs -and a terrifying head that bore some slight resemblance -to that of a frog, except that the jaws were equipped -with three rows of long, sharp tusks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The thing had its nose in the air and was sniffing -about, while its great pop eyes moved swiftly here and -there, assuring me, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that -it was searching for someone. I am not inclined to be -egotistical, yet I could not avoid the conviction that it -was searching for me. It was my first experience of a -Martian watch dog; and as I sought concealment within -the dark shadows of the niche behind me, at the very -instant that the creature’s eyes alighted upon me, and -heard his growl and saw him charge straight towards -me, I had a premonition that it might prove my last experience -with one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I drew my long-sword as I backed into the niche, but -with a sense of the utter inadequacy of the unaccustomed -weapon in the face of this three or four hundred pounds -of ferocity incarnate. Slowly I backed away into the -shadows as the creature bore down upon me and then, -as it entered the niche, my back collided with a solid -obstacle that put an end to further retreat.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='92' id='Page_92'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER IX<br/> THE PALACE OF MU TEL</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>As</span> the calot entered the niche I experienced, I believe, -all of the reactions of the cornered rat, and I certainly -know that I set myself to fight in that proverbial manner. -The beast was almost upon me and I was metaphorically -kicking myself for not having remained in the open -where there were many tall trees when the support at my -back suddenly gave way, a hand reached out of the darkness -behind me and seized my harness and I was drawn -swiftly into inky blackness. A door slammed and the -silhouette of the calot against the moonlit entrance to -the niche was blotted out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A gruff voice spoke in my ear. “Come with me!” it -said. A hand found mine and thus I was led along -through the darkness of what I soon discovered was a -narrow corridor from the constantly recurring collisions -I had first with one side of it and then with the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ascending gradually, the corridor turned abruptly at -right angles and I saw beyond my guide a dim luminosity -that gradually increased until another turn brought us to -the threshold of a brilliantly lighted chamber—a magnificent -apartment, the gorgeous furnishings and decorations -of which beggar the meagre descriptive powers of -my native tongue. Gold, ivory, precious stones, marvelous -woods, resplendent fabrics, gorgeous furs and startling -architecture combined to impress upon my earthly -vision such a picture as I had never even dreamed of -dreaming; and in the center of this room, surrounded by -a little group of Martians, were my three companions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>My guide conducted me towards the party, the members -of which had turned towards us as we entered the -chamber, and stopped before a tall Barsoomian, resplendent -in jewel encrusted harness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Prince,” he said, “I was scarce a tal too soon. In -fact, as I opened the door to step out into the garden in -search of him, as you directed, there he was upon the -opposite side with one of the calots of the garden almost -upon him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” exclaimed he who had been addressed as -prince, and then he turned to Gor Hajus. “This is he, my -friend, of whom you told me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is Vad Varo, who claims to be from the planet -Jasoom,” replied Gor Hajus; “and this, Vad Varo, is -Mu Tel, Prince of the House of Kan.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I bowed and the prince advanced and placed his right -hand upon my left shoulder in true Barsoomian acknowledgment -of an introduction; when I had done similarly, -the ceremony was over. There was no silly pleased-to-meet-you, -how-do-you-do? or it’s-a-pleasure-I-assure-you.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Mu Tel’s request I narrated briefly what had befallen -me between the time I had become separated from -my companions and the moment that one of his officers -had snatched me from impending disaster. Mu Tel gave -instructions that all traces of the dead patrol be removed -before dawn lest their discovery bring upon him the further -suspicion of his uncle, Vobis Kan, Jeddak of Toonol, -whom it seemed had long been jealous of his nephew’s -growing popularity and fearful that he harbored aspirations -for the throne.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was later in the evening, during one of those elaborate -meals for which the princes of Barsoom are justly -famous, when mellowed slightly by the rare vintages -with which he delighted his guests, that Mu Tel discoursed -with less restraint upon his imperial uncle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The nobles have long been tired of Vobis Kan,” he -said, “and the people are tiring of him—he is a conscienceless -tyrant—but he is our hereditary ruler, and so -they hesitate to change. We are a practical people, little -influenced by sentiment; yet there is enough to keep the -masses loyal to their Jeddak even after he has ceased to -deserve their loyalty, while the fear of the wrath of the -masses keeps the nobles loyal. There is also the natural -suspicion that I, the next in line for succession, would -make them no less tyrannical a Jeddak than has Vobis -Kan, while, having youth, I might be much more active in -cruel and nefarious practices.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“For myself, I would not hesitate to destroy my uncle -and seize his throne were I sure of the support of the -army, for with the warriors of Vobis Kan at my back I -might defy the balance of Toonol. It is because of this -that I long since offered my friendship to Gor Hajus; not -that he might slay my uncle, but that when I had slain -him in fair fight Gor Hajus might win to me the loyalty -of the Jeddak’s warriors, for great is the popularity of Gor -Hajus among the soldiers, who ever look up to such a -great fighter with reverence and devotion. I have offered -Gor Hajus a high place in the affairs of Toonol should -he cast his lot with me; but he tells me that he has first -to fulfil his obligations to you, Vad Varo, and for the -furtherance of your adventure he has asked me to give -you what assistance I may. This I offer gladly, from -purely practical motives, since your early success will -hasten mine. Therefore I propose to place at your disposal -a staunch flier that will carry you and your companions -to Phundahl.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This offer I naturally accepted, after which we fell to -discussing plans for our departure which we finally decided -to attempt early the following night, at a time -when neither of the moons would be in the heavens. -After a brief discussion of equipment we were, at my -request, permitted to retire since I had not slept for -more than thirty-six hours and my companions for -twenty-four.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Slaves conducted us to our sleeping apartments, which -were luxuriously furnished, and arranged magnificent -sleeping silks and furs for our comfort. After they had -left us Gor Hajus touched a button and the room rose -swiftly upon its metal shaft to a height of forty or fifty -feet; the wire netting automatically dropped about us, -and we were safe for the night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following morning, after our apartment had been -lowered to its daylight level and before I was permitted -to leave it, a slave was sent to me by Mu Tel with instructions -to stain my entire body the beautiful copper-red -of my Barsoomian friends; furnishing me with a disguise -which I well knew to be highly essential to the success -of my venture, since my white skin would have -drawn unpleasant notice upon me in any city of Barsoom. -Another slave brought harness and weapons for -Gor Hajus, Dar Tarus and myself, and a collar and chain -for Hovan Du, the ape-man. Our harness, while of heavy -material, and splendid workmanship, was quite plain, being -free of all insignia either of rank or service—such -harness as is customarily worn by the Barsoomian panthan, -or soldier of fortune, at such times as he is not -definitely in the service of any nation or individual. -These panthans are virtually men without a country, -being roving mercenaries ready to sell their swords to -the highest bidder. Although they have no organization -they are ruled by a severe code of ethics and while in the -employ of a master are, almost without exception, loyal -to him. They are generally supposed to be men who have -flown from the wrath of their own Jeddaks or the justice -of their own courts, but there is among them a sprinkling -of adventurous souls who have adopted their calling because -of the thrills and excitement it offers. While they -are well paid, they are also great gamblers and notorious -spenders, with the result that they are almost always -without funds and often reduced to strange expedients -for the gaining of their livelihood between engagements; -a fact which gave great plausibility to our possession of -a trained ape, which upon Mars would appear no more -remarkable than would to us the possession of a monkey -or parrot by an old salt just returned, from a long cruise, -to one of our Earthly ports.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This day that I stayed in the palace of Mu Tel I spent -much in the company of the prince, who found pleasure -in questioning me concerning the customs, the politics, -the civilization and the geography of Earth, with much of -which, I was surprised to note, he seemed quite familiar; -a fact which he explained was due to the marvelous development -of Barsoomian astronomical instruments, -wireless photography and wireless telephony; the last of -which has been brought to such a state of perfection that -many Barsoomian savants have succeeded in learning -several Earthly languages, notably Urdu, English and -Russian, and, a few, Chinese also. These have doubtless -been the first languages to attract their attention because -of the fact that they are spoken by great numbers of -people over large areas of the world.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mu Tel took me to a small auditorium in his palace -that reminded me somewhat of private projection rooms -on Earth. It had, I should say, a capacity of some two -hundred persons and was built like a large camera obscura; -the audience sitting within the instrument, their -backs towards the lens and in front of them, filling one -entire end of the room, a large ground glass upon which -is thrown the image to be observed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mu Tel seated himself at a table upon which was a -chart of the heavens. Just above the chart was a movable -arm carrying a pointer. This pointer Mu Tel moved until -it rested upon the planet Earth, then he switched off the -light in the room and immediately there appeared upon -the ground glass plate a view such as one might obtain -from an airplane riding at an elevation of a thousand -feet. There was something strangely familiar about the -scene before me. It was of a desolate, wasted country. -I saw shattered stumps whose orderly arrangement proclaimed -that here once an orchard had blossomed and -borne fruit. There were great, unsightly holes in the -earth and over and across all a tangle of barbed wire. I -asked Mu Tel how we might change the picture to another -locality. He lighted a small radio bulb between us -and I saw a globe there, a globe of Earth, and a small -pointer fixed over it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The side of this globe now presented to you represents -the face of the Earth turned towards us,” explained -Mu Tel. “You will note that the globe is slowly revolving. -Place this pointer where you will upon the globe -and that portion of Jasoom will be revealed for you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I moved the pointer very slowly and the picture -changed. A ruined village came into view. I saw some -people moving among its ruins. They were not soldiers. -A little further on I came upon trenches and dug-outs—there -were no soldiers here, either. I moved the pointer -rapidly north and south along a vast line of trenches. -Here and there in villages there were soldiers, but they -were all French soldiers and never were they in the -trenches. There were no German soldiers and no fighting. -The war was over, then! I moved the pointer to the -Rhine and across. There were soldiers in Germany—French -soldiers, English soldiers, American soldiers. We -had won the war! I was glad, but it seemed very far -away and quite unreal—as though no such world existed -and no such peoples had ever fought—it was as -though I were recalling through its illustrations a novel -that I had read a long time since.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You seem much interested in that war torn country,” -remarked Mu Tel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” I explained, “I fought in that war. Perhaps I -was killed. I do not know.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And you won?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, my people won,” I replied. “We fought for a -great principle and for the peace and happiness of a -world. I hope that we did not fight in vain.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you mean that you hope that your principle will -triumph because you fought and won, or that peace -will come, your hopes are futile. War never brought -peace—it but brings more and greater wars. War is Nature’s -natural state—it is folly to combat it. Peace should -be considered only as a time for preparation for the -principal business of man’s existence. Were it not for -constant warring of one form of life upon another, and -even upon itself, the planets would be so overrun with -life that it would smother itself out. We found upon -Barsoom that long periods of peace brought plagues and -terrible diseases that killed more than the wars killed -and in a much more hideous and painful way. There is -neither pleasure nor thrill nor reward of any sort to be -gained by dying in bed of a loathsome disease. We must -all die—let us therefore go out and die in a great and -exciting game, and make room for the millions who are -to follow us. We have tried it out upon Barsoom and we -would not be without war.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mu Tel told me much that day about the peculiar philosophy -of Toonolians. They believe that no good deed -was ever performed except for a selfish motive; they -have no god and no religion; they believe, as do all educated -Barsoomians, that man came originally from the -Tree of Life, but unlike most of their fellows they do -not believe that an omnipotent being created the Tree of -Life. They hold that the only sin is failure—success, -however achieved, is meritorious; and yet, paradoxical -as it may seem, they never break their given word. Mu -Tel explained that they overcame the baneful results of -this degrading weakness—this sentimental bosh—by seldom, -if ever, binding themselves to loyalty to another, -and then only for a definitely prescribed period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I came to know them better, and especially Gor -Hajus, I began to realize that much of their flaunted -contempt of the finer sensibilities was specious. It is true -that generations of inhibition had to some extent atrophied -those characteristics of heart and soul which the -noblest among us so highly esteem; that friendship’s ties -were lax and that blood kinship awakened no high sense -of responsibility or love even between parents and children; -yet Gor Hajus was essentially a man of sentiment, -though he would doubtless have run through the heart -any who had dared accuse him of it, thus perfectly proving -the truth of the other’s accusation. His pride in his -reputation for integrity and loyalty proved him a man of -heart as truly as did his jealousy of his reputation for -heartlessness prove him a man of sentiment; and in all -this he was but typical of the people of Toonol. They -denied deity, and in the same breath worshiped the fetish -of science that they had permitted to obsess them quite -as harmfully as do religious fanatics accept the unreasoning -rule of their imaginary gods; and so, with all their -vaunted knowledge, they were unintelligent because unbalanced.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the day drew to a close I became the more anxious -to be away. Far to the west across desolate leagues -of marsh lay Phundahl, and in Phundahl the beauteous -body of the girl I loved and that I was sworn to restore -to its rightful owner. The evening meal was over and -Mu Tel himself had conducted us to a secret hangar in -one of the towers of his palace. Here artisans had prepared -a flier for us, having removed during the day all -signs of its real ownership, even to slightly altering its -lines; so that in the event of capture Mu Tel’s name -might in no way be connected with the expedition. Provisions -were stored, including plenty of raw meat for -Hovan Du, and, as the farther moon sank below the horizon -and darkness fell, a panel of the tower wall, directly -in front of the flier’s nose, slid aside. Mu Tel -wished us luck and the ship slipped silently out into the -night. The flier, like many of her type, was without cockpit -or cabin; a low, metal hand-rail surmounted her -gunwale; heavy rings were set substantially in her deck -and to these her crew was supposed to cling or attach -themselves by means of their harness hooks provided -for this and similar purposes; a low wind shield, with a -rakish slant, afforded some protection from the wind; the -motor and controls were all exposed, as all the space -below decks was taken up by the buoyancy tanks. In -this type everything is sacrificed to speed; there is no -comfort aboard. When moving at high speed each member -of the crew lies extended at full length upon the -deck, each in his allotted place to give the necessary -trim, and hangs on for dear life. These Toonolian crafts, -however, are not overly fast, so I was told, being far -outstripped in speed by the fliers of such nations as -Helium and Ptarth who have for ages devoted themselves -to the perfection of their navies; but this one was quite -fast enough for our purposes, to the consummation of -which it would be pitted against fliers of no higher rating, -and it was certainly fast enough for me. In comparison -with the slow moving Vosar, it seemed to shoot through -the air like an arrow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We wasted no time in strategy or stealth, but opened -her wide as soon as we were in the clear, and directed her -straight towards the west and Phundahl. Scarcely had -we passed over the gardens of Mu Tel when we met -with our first adventure. We shot by a solitary figure -floating in the air and almost simultaneously there shrilled -forth the warning whistle of an air patrol. A shot whistled -above us harmlessly and we were gone; but within -a few seconds I saw the rays of a searchlight shining -down from above and moving searchingly to and fro -through the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A patrol boat!” shouted Gor Hajus in my ear. Hovan -Du growled savagely and shook the chain upon his collar. -We raced on, trusting to the big gods and the little -gods and all our ancestors that the relentless eye of light -would not find us out; but it did. Within a few seconds it -fell full upon our deck from above and in front of us -and there it clung as the patrol boat dropped rapidly towards -us while it maintained a high rate of speed upon a -course otherwise identical with ours. Then, to our consternation, -the ship opened fire on us with explosive -bullets. These projectiles contain a high explosive that is -detonated by light rays when the opaque covering of the -projectile is broken by impact with the target. It is therefore -not at all necessary to make a direct hit for a shot -to be effective. If the projectile strikes the ground or the -deck of a vessel or any solid substance near its target, -it does considerably more damage when fired at a group -of men than if it strikes but one of them, since it will -then explode if its outer shell is broken and kill or wound -several; while if it enters the body of an individual the -light rays cannot reach it and it accomplishes no more -than a non-explosive bullet. Moonlight is not powerful -enough to detonate this explosive and so projectiles fired -at night, unless touched by the powerful rays of searchlights, -detonate at sunrise the following morning, making -a battlefield a most unsafe place at that time even -though the contending forces are no longer there. Similarly -they make the removal of the unexploded projectiles -from the bodies of the wounded a most ticklish operation -which may well result in the instant death of both -the patient and the surgeon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus, at the controls, turned the nose of our -flier upward directly towards the patrol boat and at the -same time shouted to us to concentrate our fire upon -her propellers. For myself, I could see little but the -blinding eye of the searchlight, and at that I fired with -the strange weapon to which I had received my first introduction -but a few hours since when it was presented -to me by Mu Tel. To me that all searching eye represented -the greatest menace that confronted us, and -could we blind it the patrol boat would have no great -advantage over us. So I kept my rifle straight upon it, my -finger on the button that controlled the fire, and prayed -for a hit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus knelt at my side, his weapon spitting bullets -at the patrol boat. Dar Tarus’ hands were busy with -the controls and Hovan Du squatted in the bow and -growled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly Dar Tarus voiced an exclamation of alarm. -“The controls are hit!” he shouted. “We can’t alter our -course—the ship is useless.” Almost the same instant -the searchlight was extinguished—one of my bullets evidently -having found it. We were quite close to the enemy -now and heard their shout of anger. Our own craft, out -of control, was running swiftly towards the other. It -seemed that if there was not a collision we would pass -directly beneath the keel of the air patrol. I asked Dar -Tarus if our ship was beyond repair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We could repair it if we had time,” he replied, “but -it would take hours and while we were thus delayed the -whole air patrol force of Toonol would be upon us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we must have another ship,” I said. Dar Tarus -laughed. “You are right, Vad Varo,” he replied, “but -where shall we find it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I pointed to the patrol boat. “We shall not have to -look far.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus shrugged his shoulders. “Why not!” he exclaimed. -“It would be a glorious fight and a worthy -death.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus slapped me on the shoulder. “To the death, -my captain!” he cried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hovan Du shook his chain and roared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two ships were rapidly approaching one another. -We had stopped firing now for fear that we might disable -the craft we hoped to use for our escape; and for -some reason the crew of the patrol ship had ceased firing -at us—I never learned why. We were moving in a -line that would bring us directly beneath the other ship. -I determined to board her at all costs. I could see her -keel boarding tackle slung beneath her, ready to be lowered -to the deck of a quarry when once her grappling -hooks had seized the prey. Doubtless they were already -manning the latter, and as soon as we were beneath her -the steel tentacles would reach down and seize us as her -crew swarmed down the board tackle to our deck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I called Hovan Du and he crept back to my side -where I whispered my instructions in his ear. When I -was done he nodded his head with a low growl. I cast -off the harness hook that held me to the deck, and the -ape and I moved to our bow after I had issued brief, -whispered instructions to Gor Hajus and Dar Tarus. We -were now almost directly beneath the enemy craft; I -could see the grappling hooks being prepared for lowering. -Our bow ran beneath the stern of the other ship -and the moment was at hand for which I had been waiting. -Now those upon the deck of the patrol boat could -not see Hovan Du or me. The boarding tackle of the -other ship swung fifteen feet above our heads; I whispered -a word of command to the ape and simultaneously -we crouched and sprang for the tackle. It may sound -like a mad chance—failure meant almost certain death—but -I felt that if two of us could reach the deck of the -patrol boat while her crew was busy with the grappling -gear it would be well worth the risk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus had assured me that there would not be -more than six men aboard the patrol ship; that one -would be at the controls and the others manning the -grappling hooks. It would be a most propitious time to -gain a footing on the enemy’s deck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hovan Du and I made our leaps and Fortune smiled -upon us, though the huge ape but barely reached the -tackle with one outstretched hand, while my Earthly muscles -carried me easily to my goal. Together we made our -way rapidly towards the bow of the patrol craft and -without hesitation, and as previously arranged, he clambered -quickly up the starboard side and I the port. If I -were the more agile jumper Hovan Du far outclassed me -in climbing, with the result that he reached the rail and -was clambering over while my eyes were still below the -level of the deck, which was, perhaps, a fortunate thing -for me since, by chance, I had elected to gain the deck -directly at a point where, unknown to me, one of the -crew of the ship was engaged with the grappling hooks. -Had his eyes not been attracted elsewhere by the shout -of one of his fellows who was first to see Hovan Du’s -savage face rise above the gunwale, he could have dispatched -me with a single blow before ever I could have -set foot upon the deck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ape had also come up directly in front of a -Toonolian warrior and this fellow had let out a yell of -surprise and sought to draw his sword, but the ape, -for all his great bulk, was too quick for him; and as -my eyes topped the rail I saw the mighty anthropoid -seize the unfortunate man by the harness, drag him -to the side and hurl him to destruction far below. Instantly -we were both over the rail and squarely on deck -while the remaining members of the craft’s crew, abandoning -their stations, ran forward to overpower us. I -think that the sight of the great, savage beast must have -had a demoralizing effect upon them, for they hesitated, -each seeming to be willing to accord his fellow the honour -of first engaging us; but they did come on, though -slowly. This hesitation I was delighted to see, for it -accorded perfectly with the plan that I had worked out, -which depended largely upon the success which might -attend the efforts of Gor Hajus and Dar Tarus to reach -the deck of the patrol when our craft had risen sufficiently -close beneath the other to permit them to -reach the boarding tackle, which we were utilizing with -reverse English, as one might say.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus had cautioned me to dispatch the man -at the controls as quickly as possible, since his very -first act would be to injure them the instant that there -appeared any possibility that we might be successful in -our attempt to take his ship, and so I ran quickly towards -him and before he could draw I cut him down. -There were now four against us and we waited for them -to advance that we might gain time for our fellows to -reach the deck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The four moved slowly forward and were almost within -striking distance when I saw Gor Hajus’ head appear -above the stern rail, quickly followed by that of Dar -Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look!” I cried to the enemy, “and surrender,” and -I pointed astern.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of them turned to look and what he saw brought -an exclamation of surprise to his lips. “It is Gor Hajus,” -he cried, and then, to me: “What is your purpose with -us if we surrender?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We have no quarrel with you,” I replied. “We but -wish to leave Toonol and go our way in peace—we -shall not harm you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned to his fellows while, at a sign from me, -my three companions stopped their advance and waited. -For a few minutes the four warriors conversed in low -tones, then he who had first spoken addressed me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There are few Toonolians,” he said, “who would not -be glad to serve Gor Hajus, whom we had thought long -dead, but to surrender our ship to you would mean certain -death for us when we reported our defeat at our -headquarters. On the other hand were we to continue -our defence most of us here upon the deck of this flier -would be killed. If you can assure us that your plans -are not aimed at the safety of Toonol I can make a -suggestion that will afford an avenue of escape and -safety for us all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We only wish to leave Toonol,” I replied. “No harm -can come to Toonol because of what I seek to accomplish.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good! and where do you wish to go?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That I may not tell you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You may trust us, if you accept my proposal,” he -assured me, “which is that we convey you to your destination, -after which we can return to Toonol and report -that we engaged you and that after a long running fight, -in which two of our number were killed, you eluded us -in the darkness and escaped.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can we trust these men?” I asked, addressing Gor -Hajus, who assured me that we could, and thus the -compact was entered into which saw us speeding rapidly -towards Phundahl aboard one of Vobis Kan’s own -fliers.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='106' id='Page_106'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER X<br/> PHUNDAHL</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> following night the Toonolian crew set us down -just inside the wall of the city of Phundahl, following -the directions of Dar Tarus who was a native of the -city, had been a warrior of the Jeddara’s Guard and, -prior to that, seen service in Phundahl’s tiny navy. That -he was familiar with every detail of Phundahl’s defences -and her systems of patrols was evidenced by the fact -that we landed without detection and that the Toonolian -ship rose and departed apparently unnoticed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Our landing place had been the roof of a low building -built within and against the city wall. From this roof -Dar Tarus led us down an inclined runway to the street, -which, at this point, was quite deserted. The street was -narrow and dark, being flanked upon one side by the -low buildings built against the city wall and upon the -other by higher buildings, some of which were windowless -and none showing any light. Dar Tarus explained -that he had chosen this point for our entrance because -it was a district of storage houses, and while a hive -of industry during the day, was always deserted at night, -not even a watchman being required owing to the almost -total absence of thievery upon Barsoom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By devious and roundabout ways he led us finally to -a section of second-rate shops, eating places and hotels -such as are frequented by the common soldiers, artisans -and slaves, where the only attention we attracted was -due to the curiosity aroused by Hovan Du. As we -had not eaten since leaving Mu Tel’s palace, our first -consideration was food. Mu Tel had furnished Gor Hajus -with money, so that we had the means to gratify our -wants. Our first stop was at a small shop where Gor -Hajus purchased four or five pounds of thoat steak -for Hovan Du, and then we repaired to an eating place -of which Dar Tarus knew. At first the proprietor would -not let us bring Hovan Du inside, but finally, after much -argument, he permitted us to lock the great ape in an -inner room where Hovan Du was forced to remain -with his thoat meat while we sat at a table in the outer -room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I will say for Hovan Du that he played his role well, -nor was there once when the proprietor of the place, -or any of his patrons, or the considerable crowd that -gathered to listen to the altercation, could have guessed -that the body of the great, savage beast was animated -by a human brain. It was really only when feeding or -fighting that the simian half of Hovan Du’s brain appeared -to exercise any considerable influence upon him; -yet there seemed little doubt that it always coloured all -his thoughts and actions to some extent, accounting for -his habitual taciturnity and the quickness with which he -was aroused to anger, as well as to the fact that he -never smiled, nor appeared to appreciate in any degree -the humor of a situation. He assured me, however, that -the human half of his brain not only appreciated but -greatly enjoyed the lighter episodes and occurrences of -our adventure and the witty stories and anecdotes related -by Gor Hajus, the Assassin, but that his simian -anatomy had developed no muscles wherewith to evidence -physical expression of his mental reactions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We dined heartily, though upon rough and simple fare, -but were glad to escape the prying curiosity of the -garrulous and gossipy proprietor, who plied us with so -many questions as to our past performances and future -plans that Dar Tarus, who was our spokesman here, -was hard put to it to quickly fabricate replies that would -be always consistent. However, escape we did at last, -and once again in the street, Dar Tarus set out to lead -us to a public lodging house of which he knew. As -we went we approached a great building of wondrous -beauty in and out of which constant streams of people -were pouring, and when we were before it Dar Tarus -asked us to wait without as he must enter. When I -asked him why, he told me that this was a temple of -Tur, the god worshipped by the people of Phundahl.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have been away for a long time,” he said, “and -have had no opportunity to do honor to my god. I -shall not keep you waiting long. Gor Hajus, will you -loan me a few pieces of gold?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In silence the Toonolian took a few pieces of money -from one of his pocket pouches and handed them to -Dar Tarus, but I could see that it was only with difficulty -that he hid an expression of contempt, since the -Toonolians are atheists.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I asked Dar Tarus if I might accompany him into -the temple, which seemed to please him very much; and -so we fell in with the stream approaching the broad -entrance. Dar Tarus gave me two of the gold pieces -that he had borrowed from Gor Hajus and told me to -follow directly behind him and do whatever I saw him -doing. Directly inside the main entrance, and spread -entirely across it at intervals that permitted space for -the worshippers to pass between them, was a line of -priests, their entire bodies, including their heads and -faces, covered by a mantle of white cloth. In front of -each was a substantial stand upon which rested a cash -drawer. As we approached one of these we handed him -a piece of gold which he immediately changed into many -pieces of lesser value, one of which we dropped into -a box at his side; whereupon he made several passes -with his hands above our heads, dipped one of his fingers -into a bowl of dirty water which he rubbed upon -the ends of our noses, mumbled a few words which I -could not understand and turned to the next in line -as we passed on into the interior of the great temple. -Never have I seen such a gorgeous display of wealth -and lavish ornamentation as confronted my eyes in this, -the first of the temples of Tur that it was my fortune -to behold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The enormous floor was unbroken by a single pillar -and arranged upon it at regular intervals were carven -images resting upon gorgeous pedestals. Some of these -images were of men and some of women and many -of them were beautiful; and there were others of beasts -and of strange, grotesque creatures and many of these -were hideous indeed. The first we approached was that -of a beautiful female figure; and about the pedestal of -this lay a number of men and women prone upon the -floor against which they bumped their heads seven times -and then arose and dropped a piece of money into a -receptacle provided for that purpose, moving on then -to another figure. The next that Dar Tarus and I -visited was that of a man with the body of a <span class='it'>silian</span>, -about the pedestal of which was arranged a series of -horizontal wooden bars in concentric circles. The bars -were about five feet from the floor and hanging from -them by their knees were a number of men and women, -repeating monotonously, over and over again, something -that sounded to me like, <span class='it'>bibble-babble-blup</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus and I swung to the bars like the others -and mumbled the meaningless phrase for a minute or -two, then we swung down, dropped a coin into the box, -and moved on. I asked Dar Tarus what the words were -that we had repeated and what they meant, but he said -he did not know. I asked him if anyone knew, but he -appeared shocked and said that such a question was -sacrilegious and revealed a marked lack of faith. At -the next figure we visited the people were all upon -their hands and knees crawling madly in a circle about -the pedestal. Seven times around they crawled and then -they arose and put some money in a dish and went -their ways. At another the people rolled about, saying, -“Tur is Tur; Tur is Tur; Tur is Tur,” and dropping -money in a golden bowl when they were done.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What god was that?” I whispered to Dar Tarus -when we had quit this last figure, which had no head, -but eyes, nose and mouth in the center of its belly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is but one god,” replied Dar Tarus solemnly, -“and he is Tur!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Was that Tur?” I inquired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Silence, man,” whispered Dar Tarus. “They would -tear you to pieces were they to hear such heresy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, I beg your pardon,” I exclaimed. “I did not -mean to offend. I see now that that is merely one of -your idols.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus clapped a hand over my mouth. “S-s-s-t!” -he cautioned to silence. “We do not worship idols—there -is but one god and he is Tur!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, what are these?” I insisted, with a sweep of -a hand that embraced the several score images about -which were gathered the thousands of worshippers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We must not ask,” he assured me. “It is enough -that we have faith that all the works of Tur are just -and righteous. Come! I shall soon be through and we -may join our companions.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He led me next to the figure of a monstrosity with -a mouth that ran entirely around its head. It had a -long tail and the breasts of a woman. About this image -were a great many people, each standing upon his head. -They also were repeating, over and over, “Tur is Tur; -Tur is Tur; Tur is Tur.” When we had done this for a -minute or two, during which I had a devil of a time -maintaining my equilibrium, we arose, dropped a coin -into the box by the pedestal and moved on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We may go now,” said Dar Tarus. “I have done -well in the sight of Tur.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I notice,” I remarked, “that the people repeated the -same phrase before this figure that they did at the last—Tur -is Tur.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, no,” exclaimed Dar Tarus. “On the contrary -they said just exactly the opposite from what they said -at the other. At that they said, Tur is Tur; while at -this they absolutely reversed it and said, Tur is Tur. -Do you not see? They turned it right around backwards, -which makes a very great difference.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It sounded the same to me,” I insisted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is because you lack faith,” he said sadly, and -we passed out of the temple, after depositing the rest -of our money in a huge chest, of which there were -many standing about almost filled with coins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We found Gor Hajus and Hovan Du awaiting us impatiently, -the center of a large and curious throng -among which were many warriors in the metal of Xaxa, -the Jeddara of Phundahl. They wanted to see Hovan -Du perform, but Dar Tarus told them that he was tired -and in an ugly mood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To-morrow,” he said, “when he is rested I shall -bring him out upon the avenues to amuse you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With difficulty we extricated ourselves, and passing -into a quieter avenue, took a roundabout way to the -lodging place, where Hovan Du was confined in a small -chamber while Gor Hajus, Dar Tarus and I were conducted -by slaves to a large sleeping apartment where -sleeping silks and furs were arranged for us upon a low -platform that encircled the room and was broken only -at the single entrance to the chamber. Here were already -sleeping a considerable number of men, while two -armed slaves patrolled the aisle to guard the guests from -assassins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was still early and some of the other lodgers were -conversing in low whispers so I sought to engage Dar -Tarus in conversation relative to his religion, about which -I was curious.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The mysteries of religions always fascinate me, Dar -Tarus,” I told him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah, but that is the beauty of the religion of Tur,” -he exclaimed, “it has no mysteries. It is simple, natural, -scientific and every word and work of it is susceptible -of proof through the pages of Turgan, the great book -written by Tur himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tur’s home is upon the sun. There, one hundred -thousand years ago, he made Barsoom and tossed it -out into space. Then he amused himself by creating -man in various forms and two sexes; and later he fashioned -animals to be food for man and each other, and -caused vegetation and water to appear that man and -the animals might live. Do you not see how simple and -scientific it all is?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But it was Gor Hajus who told me most about the -religion of Tur one day when Dar Tarus was not about. -He said that the Phundahlians maintained that Tur still -created every living thing with his own hands. They -denied vigorously that man possessed the power to reproduce -his kind and taught their young that all such -belief was vile; and always they hid every evidence of -natural procreation, insisting to the death that even those -things which they witnessed with their own eyes and -experienced with their own bodies in the bringing forth -of their young never transpired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Turgan taught them that Barsoom is flat and they -shut their minds to every proof to the contrary. They -would not leave Phundahl far for fear of falling off the -edge of the world; they would not permit the development -of aeronautics because should one of their ships -circumnavigate Barsoom it would be a wicked sacrilege -in the eyes of Tur who made Barsoom flat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They would not permit the use of telescopes, for Tur -taught them that there was no other world than Barsoom -and to look at another would be heresy; nor -would they permit the teaching in their schools of any -history of Barsoom that antedated the creation of Barsoom -by Tur, though Barsoom has a well authenticated -written history that reaches back more than one hundred -thousand years; nor would they permit any geography -of Barsoom except that which appears in Turgan, nor -any scientific researches along biological lines. Turgan -is their only text book—if it is not in Turgan it is a -wicked lie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Much of all this and a great deal more I gathered -from one source or another during my brief stay in -Phundahl, whose people are, I believe, the least advanced -in civilization of any of the red nations upon -Barsoom. Giving, as they do, all their best thought to -religious matters, they have become ignorant, bigoted -and narrow, going as far to one extreme as the Toonolians -do to the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>However, I had not come to Phundahl to investigate -her culture but to steal her queen, and that thought -was uppermost in my mind when I awoke to a new -day—my first in Phundahl. Following the morning meal -we set out in the direction of the palace to reconnoitre, -Dar Tarus leading us to a point from which he might -easily direct us the balance of the way, as he did not -dare accompany us to the immediate vicinity of the -royal grounds for fear of recognition, the body he now -possessed having formerly belonged to a well-known -noble.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was arranged that Gor Hajus should act as spokesman -and I as keeper of the ape. This arranged, we -bade farewell to Dar Tarus and set forth, the three of -us, along a broad and beautiful avenue that led directly -to the palace gates. We had been planning and -rehearsing the parts that we were to play and which -we hoped would prove so successful that they would -open the gates to us and win us to the presence of -the Jeddara.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As we strolled with seeming unconcern along the -avenue, I had ample opportunity to enjoy the novel -and beautiful sights of this rich boulevard of palaces. -The sun shone down upon vivid scarlet lawns, gorgeous -flowered pimalia and a score of other rarely beautiful -Barsoomian shrubs and trees, while the avenue itself -was shaded by almost perfect specimens of the magnificent -sorapus. The sleeping apartments of the buildings -had all been lowered to their daytime level, and from a -hundred balconies gorgeous silks and furs were airing -in the sun. Slaves were briskly engaged with their duties -about the grounds, while upon many a balcony women -and children sat at their morning meal. Among the children -we aroused considerable enthusiasm, or at least -Hovan Du did, nor was he without interest to the adults. -Some of them would have detained us for an exhibition, -but we moved steadily on towards the palace, for -nowhere else had we business or concern within the -walls of Phundahl.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Around the palace gates was the usual crowd of -loitering curiosity seekers; for after all human nature is -much the same everywhere, whether skins be black or -white, red or yellow or brown, upon Earth or upon -Mars. The crowd before Xaxa’s gates were largely made -up of visitors from the islands of that part of the Great -Toonolian Marshes which owes allegiance to Phundahl’s -queen, and like all provincials eager for a glimpse of -royalty; though none the less to be interested by the -antics of a simian, wherefore we had a ready made -audience awaiting our arrival. Their natural fear of the -great brute caused them to fall back a little at our -approach so that we had a clear avenue to the very -gates themselves, and there we halted while the crowds -closed in behind, forming a half circle about us. Gor -Hajus addressed them in a loud tone of voice that might -be overheard by the warriors and their officers beyond -the gates, for it was really them we had come to entertain, -not the crowds in which we had not the slightest -interest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Men and women of Phundahl,” cried Gor Hajus, -“behold two poor panthans, who, risking their lives, -have captured and trained one of the most savage and -ferocious and at the same time most intelligent specimens -of the great white ape of Barsoom ever before -seen in captivity and at great expense have brought it -to Phundahl for your entertainment and edification. My -friends, this wonderful ape is endowed with human intelligence; -he understands every word that is spoken to -him. With your kind attention, my friends, I will endeavor -to demonstrate the remarkable intelligence of -this ferocious, man-eating beast—an intelligence that has -entertained the crowned heads of Barsoom and mystified -the minds of her most learned savants.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I thought Gor Hajus did pretty well as a bally-hoo -artist. I had to smile as I listened, here upon Mars, to -the familiar lines that I had taught him out of my -Earthly experience of county fairs and amusement parks, -so highly ludicrous they sounded falling from the lips -of the Assassin of Toonol; but they evidently interested -his auditors and impressed them, too, for they craned -their necks and stood in earnest eyed silence awaiting -the performance of Hovan Du. Even better, several members -of the Jeddara’s Guard pricked up their ears and -sauntered towards the gates; and among them was an -officer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus caused Hovan Du to lie down at word -of command, to get up, to stand upon one foot, and to -indicate the number of fingers that Gor Hajus held up -by growling once for each finger, thus satisfying the audience -that he could count; but these simple things -were only by way of leading up to the more remarkable -achievements which we hoped would win an audience -before the Jeddara. Gor Hajus borrowed a set -of harness and weapons from a man in the crowd and -had Hovan Du don it and fence with him, and then -indeed did we hear exclamations of amazement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The warriors and the officer of Xaxa had drawn near -the gates and were interested spectators, which was precisely -what we wished, and now Gor Hajus was ready -for the final, astounding revelation of Hovan Du’s intelligence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“These things that you have witnessed are as nothing,” -he cried. “Why this wonderful beast can even read -and write. He was captured in a deserted city near -Ptarth and can read and write the language of that -country. Is there among you one who, by chance, comes -from that distant country?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A slave spoke up. “I am from Ptarth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” said Gor Hajus. “Write some simple instructions -and hand them to the ape. I will turn my back -that you may know that I cannot assist him in any -way.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The slave drew forth a tablet from a pocket pouch -and wrote briefly. What he wrote he handed to Hovan -Du. The ape read the message and without hesitation -moved quickly to the gate and handed it to the officer -standing upon the other side, the gate being constructed -of wrought metal in fanciful designs that offered no obstruction -to the view or to the passage of small articles. -The officer took the message and examined it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What does it say?” he demanded of the slave that -had penned it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It says,” replied the latter: “Take this message to -the officer who stands just within the gates.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were exclamations of surprise from all parts -of the crowd and Hovan Du was compelled to repeat -his performance several times with different messages -which directed him to do various things, the officer -always taking a great interest in the proceedings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is marvellous,” said he at last. “The Jeddara -would be amused by the performance of this beast. Wait -here, therefore, until I have sent word to her that she -may, if she so desires, command your presence.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nothing could have better suited us and so we waited -with what patience we might for the messenger to return; -and while we waited Hovan Du continued to mystify -his audience with new proofs of his great intelligence.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='116' id='Page_116'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER XI<br/> XAXA</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> officer returned, the gates swung out and we were -commanded to enter the courtyard of the palace of -Xaxa, Jeddara of Phundahl. After that events transpired -with great rapidity—surprising and totally unexpected -events. We were led through an intricate maze of corridors -and chambers until I became suspicious that we -were purposely being confused, and convinced that -whether such was the intention or not the fact remained -that I could no more have retraced my steps to the -outer courtyard than I could have flown without wings. -We had planned that, in the event of gaining admission -to the palace, we would carefully note whatever might -be essential to a speedy escape; but when, in a whisper, -I asked Gor Hajus if he could find his way out again -he assured me that he was as confused as I.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The palace was in no sense remarkable nor particularly -interesting, the work of the Phundahlian artists -being heavy and oppressing and without indication of -high imaginative genius. The scenes depicted were mostly -of a religious nature illustrating passages from Turgan, -the Phundahlian bible, and, for the most part, were a -series of monotonous repetitions. There was one, which -appeared again and again, depicting Turgan creating a -round, flat Mars and hurling it into Space, that always -reminded me of a culinary artist turning a flap jack -in a child’s window.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were also numerous paintings of what appeared -to be court scenes delineating members of the Phundahlian -royal line in various activities; it was noticeable -that the more recent ones in which Xaxa appeared -had had the principal figure repainted so that there confronted -me from time to time portraits, none too well -done, of the beautiful face and figure of Valla Dia in -the royal trappings of a Jeddara. The effect of these -upon me is not easy of description. They brought home -to me the fact that I was approaching, and should presently -be face to face with, the person of the woman -to whom I had consecrated my love and my life, and -yet in that same person I should be confronting one -whom I loathed and would destroy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We were halted at last before a great door and from -the number of warriors and nobles congregated before -it I was confident that we were soon to be ushered -into the presence of the Jeddara. As we waited those -assembled about us eyed us with, it seemed to me, more -of hostility than curiosity and when the door swung open -they accompanied us, with the exception of a few warriors, -into the chamber beyond. The room was of medium -size and at the farther side, behind a massive -table, sat Xaxa. About her were grouped a number of -heavily armed nobles. As I looked them over I wondered -if among them was he for whom the body of -Dar Tarus had been filched; for we had promised him -that if conditions were favorable we would attempt to -recover it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Xaxa eyed us coldly as we were halted before her. -“Let us see the beast perform,” she commanded, and -then suddenly: “What mean you by permitting strangers -to enter my presence bearing arms?” she cried. “Sag Or, -see that their weapons are removed!” and she turned to -a handsome young warrior standing near her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sag Or! That was the name. Before me stood the -noble for whom Dar Tarus had suffered the loss of his -liberty, his body and his love. Gor Hajus had also -recognized the name and Hovan Du, too; I could tell by -the way they eyed the man as he advanced. Curtly he -instructed us to hand our weapons to two warriors who -advanced to receive them. Gor Hajus hesitated. I admit -that I did not know what course to pursue.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Everyone seemed hostile and yet that might be, and -doubtless was, but a reflection of their attitude towards -all strangers. If we refused to disarm we were but three -against a room full, if they chose to resort to force; or -if they turned us out of the palace because of it we would -be robbed of this seemingly god given opportunity to -win to the very heart of Xaxa’s palace and to her very -presence, where we must eventually win before we could -strike. Would such an opportunity ever be freely offered -us again? I doubted it and felt that we had better assume -a vague risk now than, by refusing their demand, definitely -arm their suspicions. So I quietly removed my -weapons and handed them to the warrior waiting to -receive them; and following my example, Gor Hajus did -likewise, though I can imagine with what poor grace.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Once again Xaxa signified that she would see Hovan -Du perform. As Gor Hajus put him through his antics -she watched listlessly; nor did anything that the ape did -arouse the slightest flicker of interest among the entire -group assembled about the Jeddara. As the thing dragged -on I became obsessed with apprehensions that all was -not right. It seemed to me that an effort was being made -to detain us for some purpose—to gain time. I could -not understand, for instance, why Xaxa required that we -repeat several times the least interesting of the ape’s performances. -And all the time Xaxa sat playing with a -long, slim dagger, and I saw that she watched me quite -as much as she watched Hovan Du, while I found it difficult -to keep my eyes averted from that perfect face, -even though I knew that it was but a stolen mask behind -which lurked the cruel mind of a tyrant and a murderess.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last came an interruption to the performance. The -door opened and a noble entered, who went directly to -the Jeddara whom he addressed briefly and in a low tone. -I saw that she asked him several questions and that she -seemed vexed by his replies. Then she dismissed him -with a curt gesture and turned towards us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Enough of this!” she cried. Her eyes rested upon mine -and she pointed her slim dagger at me. “Where is the -other?” she demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What other?” I inquired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There were three of you, beside the ape. I know nothing -about the ape, nor where, nor how you acquired it; -but I do know all about you, Vad Varo, and Gor Hajus, -the Assassin of Toonol, and Dar Tarus. Where is Dar -Tarus?” her voice was low and musical and entirely beautiful—the -voice of Valla Dia—but behind it I knew was -the terrible personality of Xaxa, and I knew too that it -would be hard to deceive her, for she must have received -what information she had directly from Ras Thavas. -It had been stupid of me not to foresee that Ras Thavas -would immediately guess the purpose of my mission and -warn Xaxa. I perceived instantly that it would be worse -than useless to deny our identity, rather I must explain -our presence—if I could.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where is Dar Tarus?” she repeated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How should I know?” I countered. “Dar Tarus has -reasons to believe that he would not be safe in Phundahl -and I imagine that he is not anxious that anyone should -know his whereabouts—myself included. He helped me -to escape from the Island of Thavas, for which his liberty -was to be his reward. He has not chosen to accompany -me further upon my adventures.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Xaxa seemed momentarily disarmed that I did not -deny my identity—evidently she had supposed that I -would do so.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You admit then,” she said, “that you are Vad Varo, -the assistant of Ras Thavas?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Have I ever sought to deny it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have disguised yourself as a red-man of Barsoom.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How could I travel in Barsoom otherwise, where every -man’s hand is against a stranger?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And why would you travel in Barsoom?” Her eyes -narrowed as she waited for my reply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As Ras Thavas has doubtless sent you word, I am -from another world and I would see more of this one,” I -told her. “Is that strange?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And you come to Phundahl and seek to gain entrance -to my presence and bring with you the notorious -Assassin of Toonol that you may see more of Barsoom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Gor Hajus may not return to Toonol,” I explained, -“and so he must seek service for his sword at some -other court than that of Vobis Kan—in Phundahl perhaps, -or if not here he must move on. I hope that he -will decide to accompany me as I am a stranger in -Barsoom, unaccustomed to the manners and ways of her -people. I would fare ill without a guide and mentor.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You shall fare ill,” she cried. “You have seen all of -Barsoom that you are destined to see—you have reached -the end of your adventure. You think to deceive me, eh? -You do not know, perhaps, that I have heard of your -infatuation for Valla Dia or that I am fully conversant -with the purpose of your visit to Phundahl.” Her eyes -left me and swept her nobles and her warriors. “To the -pits with them!” she cried. “Later we shall choose the -manner of their passing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instantly we were surrounded by a score of naked -blades. There was no escape for Gor Hajus or me, but -I thought that I saw an opportunity for Hovan Du to get -away. I had had the possibility of such a contingency -in mind from the first and always I had been on the -look-out for an avenue of escape for one of us, and so -the open windows at the right of the Jeddara had not -gone unnoticed, nor the great trees growing in the courtyard -beneath. Hovan Du was close beside me as Xaxa -spoke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go!” I whispered. “The windows are open. Go, and -tell Dar Tarus what has happened to us,” and then I fell -back away from him and dragged Gor Hajus with me -as though we would attempt to resist arrest; and while I -thus distracted their attention from him Hovan Du turned -towards an open window. He had taken but a few steps -when a warrior attempted to halt him; with that the -ferocious brain of the anthropoid seemed to seize -dominion over the great creature. With a hideous growl -he leaped with the agility of a cat upon the unfortunate -Phundahlian, swung him high in giant hands and using -his body as a flail tumbled his fellows to right and left -as he cut a swath towards the open window nearest -him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instantly pandemonium reigned in the apartment. The -attention of all seemed centered upon the great ape and -even those who had been confronting us turned to -attack Hovan Du. And in the midst of the confusion I -saw Xaxa step to some heavy hangings directly behind -her desk, part them and disappear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come!” I whispered to Gor Hajus. Apparently intent -only upon watching the conflict between the ape and the -warriors I moved forward with the fighters but always to -the left towards the desk that Xaxa had just quitted. -Hovan Du was giving a good account of himself. He had -discarded his first victim and one by one had seized -others as they came within range of his long arms and -powerful hands, sometimes four at a time as he stood -well braced upon two of his hand-like feet and fought with -the other four. His shock of bristling hair stood erect -upon his skull and his fierce eyes blazed with rage as, -towering high above his antagonists, he fought for his -life—the most feared of all the savage creatures of -Barsoom. Perhaps his greatest advantage lay in the inherent -fear of him that was a part of every man in that -room who faced him, and it forwarded my quickly conceived -plan, too, for it kept every eye turned upon -Hovan Du, so that Gor Hajus and I were able to work -our way to the rear of the desk. I think Hovan Du -must have sensed my intention then, for he did the one -thing best suited to attract every eye from us to him and, -too, he gave me notice that the human half of his brain -was still alert and watchful of our welfare.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Heretofore the Phundahlians must have looked upon -him as a remarkable specimen of great ape, marvelously -trained, but now, of a sudden, he paralyzed them with -awe, for his roars and growls took the form of words -and he spoke with the tongue of a human. He was near -the window now. Several of the nobles were pushing -bravely forward. Among them was Sag Or. Hovan Du -reached forth and seized him, wrenching his weapons -from him. “I go,” he cried, “but let harm befall my -friends and I shall return and tear the heart from Xaxa. -Tell her that, from the Great Ape of Ptarth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For an instant the warriors and the nobles stood -transfixed with awe. Every eye was upon Hovan Du as -he stood there with the struggling figure of Sag Or in his -mighty grasp. Gor Hajus and I were forgotten. And then -Hovan Du turned and leaped to the sill of the window -and from there lightly to the branches of the nearest -tree; and with him went Sag Or, the favorite of Xaxa, the -Jeddara. At the same instant I drew Gor Hajus with me -between the hangings in the rear of Xaxa’s desk, and as -they fell behind us we found ourselves in the narrow -mouth of a dark corridor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Without knowledge of where the passage led we could -only follow it blindly, urged on by the necessity for discovering -a hiding place or an avenue of escape from the -palace before the pursuit, which we knew would be immediately -instituted, overtook us. As our eyes became -accustomed to the gloom, which was partially dispelled -by a faint luminosity, we moved more rapidly and presently -came to a narrow spiral runway which descended -into a dark hole below the level of the corridor and also -arose into equal darkness above.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Which way?” I asked Gor Hajus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They will expect us to descend,” he replied, “for in -that direction lies the nearest avenue of escape.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we will go up.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” he exclaimed. “All we seek now is a place to -hide until night has fallen, for we may not escape by -day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We had scarcely started to ascend before we heard the -first sound of pursuit—the clank of accoutrements in the -corridor beneath. Yet, even with this urge from behind, -we were forced to move with great caution, for we knew -not what lay before. At the next level there was a doorway, -the door closed and locked, but there was no corridor, -nor anywhere to hide, and so we continued on upward. -The second level was identical with that just beneath, -but at the third a single corridor ran straight off -into darkness and at our right was a door, ajar. The -sounds of pursuit were appreciably nearer now and the -necessity for concealment seemed increasing as the square -of their growing proportions until every other consideration -was overwhelmed by it. Nor is this so strange when -the purpose of my adventure is considered and that discovery -now must assuredly spell defeat and blast for -ever the slender ray of hope that remained for the resurrection -of Valla Dia in her own flesh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was scarce a moment for consideration. The -corridor before us was shrouded in darkness—it might -be naught but a blind alley. The door was close and ajar. -I pushed it gently inward. An odor of heavy incense -greeted our nostrils and through the small aperture we -saw a portion of a large chamber garishly decorated. -Directly before us, and almost wholly obstructing our -view of the entire chamber, stood a colossal statue of a -squatting manlike figure. Behind us we heard voices—our -pursuers already were ascending the spiral—they -would be upon us in a few seconds. I examined the door -and discovered that it fastened with a spring lock. I -looked again into the chamber and saw no one within -the range of our vision, and then I motioned Gor Hajus to -follow me and stepping into the room closed the door -behind us. We had burned our bridges. As the door -closed the lock engaged with a sharp, metallic click.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What was that?” demanded a voice, originating, seemingly, -at the far end of the chamber.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus looked at me and shrugged his shoulders -in resignation (he must have been thinking what I was -thinking—that with two avenues we had chosen the -wrong one) but he smiled and there was no reproach in -his eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It sounded from the direction of the Great Tur,” replied -a second voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps someone is at the door,” suggested the first -speaker.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus and I were flattened against the back of -the statue that we might postpone as long as possible our -inevitable discovery should the speakers decide to investigate -the origin of the noise that had attracted their -suspicions. I was facing against the polished stone of the -figure’s back, my hands outspread upon it. Beneath my -fingers were the carven bits of its ornamental harness—jutting -protuberances that were costly gems set in these -trappings of stone, and there were gorgeous inlays of -gold filagree; but these things I had no eyes for now. We -could hear the two conversing as they came nearer. Perhaps -I was nervous, I do not know. I am sure I never -shrank from an encounter when either duty or expediency -called; but in this instance both demanded that we avoid -conflict and remain undiscovered. However that may -be, my fingers must have been moving nervously over -the jeweled harness of the figure when I became vaguely, -perhaps subconsciously, aware that one of the gems was -loose in its setting. I do not recall that this made any -impression upon my conscious mind, but I do know that -it seemed to catch the attention of my wandering fingers -and they must have paused to play with the loosened -stone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The voices seemed quite close now—it could be but -a matter of seconds before we should be confronted by -their owners. My muscles seemed to tense for the anticipated -encounter and unconsciously I pressed heavily -upon the loosened setting—whereat a portion of the -figure’s back gave noiselessly inward revealing to us the -dimly lighted interior of the statue. We needed no further -invitation; simultaneously we stepped across the -threshold and in almost the same movement I turned and -closed the panel gently behind us. I think that there -was absolutely no sound connected with the entire transaction; -and following it we remained in utter silence, -motionless—scarce breathing. Our eyes became quickly accustomed -to the dim interior which we discovered was -lighted through numerous small orifices in the shell of -the statue, which was entirely hollow, and through these -same orifices every outside sound came clearly to our -ears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We had scarcely closed the opening when we heard -the voices directly outside it and simultaneously there -came a hammering on the door by which we had entered -the apartment from the corridor. “Who seeks entrance to -Xaxa’s Temple?” demanded one of the voices within the -room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Tis I, dwar of the Jeddara’s Guard,” boomed a voice -from without. “We are seeking two who came to assassinate -Xaxa.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Came they this way?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Think you, priest, that I should be seeking them -here had they not?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How long since?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Scarce twenty tals since,” replied the dwar.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then they are not here,” the priest assured him, -“for we have been here for a full zode<a id='rA'/><a href='#fA' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[A]</span></sup></a> and no other -has entered the temple during that time. Look quickly to -Xaxa’s apartments above and to the roof and the hangars, -for if you followed them up the spiral there is no -other where they might flee.”</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<p class='footnote'> -<span class='footnote-id' id='fA'><a href='#rA'>[A]</a></span> - -<span style='font-size:smaller'>A tal is about one second, and a zode approximately two and -one-half hours, Earth time.</span></p> - -</div> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<p class='pindent'>“Watch then the temple carefully until I return,” -shouted the warrior and we heard him and his men moving -on up the spiral.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now we heard the priests conversing as they moved -slowly past the statue.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What could have caused the noise that first attracted -our attention?” asked one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps the fugitives tried the door,” suggested the -other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It must have been that, but they did not enter or we -should have seen them when they emerged from behind -the Great Tur, for we were facing him at the time, nor -have once turned our eyes from this end of the temple.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then at least they are not within the temple.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And where else they may be is no concern of ours.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, nor if they reached Xaxa’s apartment, if they -did not pass through the temple.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps they did reach it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And they were assassins!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Worse things might befall Phundahl.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hush! the gods have ears.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of stone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But the ears of Xaxa are not of stone and they hear -many things that are not intended for them.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The old she-banth!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She is Jeddara and High Priestess.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, but——” the voices passed beyond the range of -our ears at the far end of the temple, yet they had told -me much—that Xaxa was feared and hated by the priesthood -and that the priests themselves had none too much -reverence for their deity as evidenced by the remark of -one that the gods have ears of stone. And they had told -us other things, important things, when they conversed -with the dwar of the Jeddara’s Guard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus and I now felt that we had fallen by chance -upon a most ideal place of concealment, for the very -guardians of the temple would swear that we were not, -could not be, where we were. Already had they thrown -the pursuers off our track.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, for the first time, we had an opportunity to -examine our hiding place. The interior of the statue was -hollow and far above us, perhaps forty feet, we could -see the outside light shining through the mouth, ears -and nostrils, just below which a circular platform could -be discerned running around the inside of the neck. A -ladder with flat rungs led upward from the base to the -platform. Thick dust covered the floor on which we -stood, and the extremity of our position suggested a -careful examination of this dust, with the result that I -was at once impressed by the evidence that it revealed; -which indicated that we were the first to enter the statue -for a long time, possibly for years, as the fine coating of -almost impalpable dust that covered the floor was undisturbed. -As I searched for this evidence my eyes fell -upon something lying huddled close to the base of the -ladder and approaching nearer I saw that it was a human -skeleton, while a closer examination revealed that the -skull was crushed and one arm and several ribs broken. -About it lay, dust-covered, the most gorgeous trappings I -had ever seen. Its position at the foot of the ladder, as -well as the crushed skull and broken bones, appeared -quite conclusive evidence of the manner in which death -had come—the man had fallen head foremost from the -circular platform forty feet above, carrying with him to -eternity, doubtless, the secret of the entrance to the interior -of the Great Tur.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I suggested this to Gor Hajus who was examining the -dead man’s trappings and he agreed with me that such -must have been the manner of his death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He was a high priest of Tur,” whispered Gor Hajus, -“and probably a member of the royal house—possibly -a Jeddak. He has been dead a long time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am going up above,” I said. “I will test the ladder. -If it is safe, follow me up. I think we shall be able to -see the interior of the temple through the mouth of Tur.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go carefully,” Gor Hajus admonished. “The ladder -is very old.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I went carefully, testing each rung before I trusted -my weight to it, but I found the old sorapus wood of -which it was constructed sound and as staunch as steel. -How the high priest came to his death must always remain -a mystery, for the ladder or the circular platform -would have carried the weight of a hundred red-men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the platform I could see through the mouth of -Tur. Below me was a large chamber along the sides of -which were ranged other, though lesser, idols. They were -even more grotesque than those I had seen in the temple -in the city and their trappings were rich beyond the conception -of man—Earthman—for the gems of Barsoom -scintillate with rays unknown to us and of such gorgeous -and blinding beauty as to transcend description. Directly -in front of the Great Tur was an altar of palthon, a -rare and beautiful stone, blood red, in which are traced -in purest white Nature’s most fanciful designs; the whole -vastly enhanced by the wondrous polish which the stone -takes beneath the hand of the craftsman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus joined me and together we examined the -interior of the temple. Tall windows lined two sides, letting -in a flood of light. At the far end, opposite the -Great Tur, were two enormous doors, closing the main -entrance to the chamber, and here stood the two priests -whom we had heard conversing. Otherwise the temple -was deserted. Incense burned upon tiny altars before -each of the minor idols, but whether any burned before -the Great Tur we could not see.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having satisfied our curiosity relative to the temple, we -returned our attention to a further examination of the -interior of Tur’s huge head and were rewarded by the -discovery of another ladder leading upward against the -rear wall to a higher and smaller platform that evidently -led to the eyes. It did not take me long to investigate and -here I found a most comfortable chair set before a control -that operated the eyes, so that they could be made to -turn from side to side, or up or down, according to the -whim of the operator; and here too was a speaking-tube -leading to the mouth. This again I must needs investigate -and so I returned to the lower platform and there I discovered -a device beneath the tongue of the idol, and this -device, which was in the nature of an amplifier, was -connected with the speaking-tube from above. I could not -repress a smile as I considered these silent witnesses to the -perfidy of man and thought of the broken thing lying at -the foot of the ladder. Tur, I could have sworn, had -been silent for many years.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Together Gor Hajus and I returned to the higher platform -and again I made a discovery—the eyes of Tur -were veritable periscopes. By turning them we could see -any portion of the temple and what we saw through the -eyes was magnified. Nothing could escape the eyes of -Tur and presently, when the priests began to talk again, -we discovered that nothing could escape Tur’s ears, for -every slightest sound in the temple came clearly to us. -What a valuable adjunct to high priesthood this Great -Tur must have been in the days when that broken -skeleton lying below us was a thing of blood and life!</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='129' id='Page_129'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER XII<br/> THE GREAT TUR</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> day dragged wearily for Gor Hajus and me. We -watched the various priests who came in pairs at intervals -to relieve those who had preceded them, and we -listened to their prattle, mostly idle gossip of court -scandals. At times they spoke of us and we learned -that Hovan Du had escaped with Sag Or, nor had they -been located as yet, nor had Dar Tarus. The whole court -was mystified by our seemingly miraculous disappearance. -Three thousand people, the inmates and attaches of the -palace, were constantly upon the look-out for us. Every -part of the palace and the palace grounds had been -searched and searched again. The pits had been explored -more thoroughly than they had been explored -within the memory of the oldest retainer, and it seemed -that queer things had been unearthed there—things of -which not even Xaxa dreamed; and the priests whispered -that at least one great and powerful house would fall -because of what a dwar of the Jeddara’s Guard had discovered -in a remote precinct of the pits.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the sun dropped below the horizon and darkness -came, the interior of the temple was illuminated by a soft -white light, brilliantly but without the glare of Earthly -artificial illumination. More priests came and many young -girls, priestesses. They performed before the idols, chanting -meaningless gibberish. Gradually the chamber filled -with worshippers, nobles of the Jeddara’s court with their -women and their retainers, forming in two lines along -either side of the temple before the lesser idols, leaving -a wide aisle from the great entrance to the foot of the -Great Tur and towards this aisle they all faced, waiting. -For what were they waiting? Their eyes were turned expectantly -towards the closed doors of the great entrance -and Gor Hajus and I felt our eyes held there too, fascinated -by the suggestion that they were about to open -and reveal some stupendous spectacle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And presently the doors did swing slowly open and -all we saw was what appeared to be a great roll of -carpet lying upon its side across the opening. Twenty -slaves, naked but for their scant leather harness, stood -behind the huge roll; and as the doors swung fully -open they rolled the carpet inward to the very feet of the -altar before the Great Tur, covering the wide aisle from -the entranceway almost to the idol with a thick, soft -rug of gold and white and blue. It was the most beautiful -thing in the temple where all else was blatant, loud and -garish or hideous, or grotesque. And then the doors -closed and again we waited; but not for long. Bugles -sounded from without, the sound increasing as they -neared the entrance. Once more the doors swung in. -Across the entrance stood a double rank of gorgeously -trapped nobles. Slowly they entered the temple and -behind them came a splendid chariot drawn by two -banths, the fierce Barsoomian lion, held in leash by -slaves on either side. Upon the chariot was a litter and -in the litter, reclining at ease, lay Xaxa. As she entered -the temple the people commenced to chant her praises -in a monotonous sing-song. Chained to the chariot and -following on foot was a red warrior and behind him a -procession composed of fifty young men and an equal -number of young girls.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gor Hajus touched my arm. “The prisoner,” he whispered, -“do you recognize him?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dar Tarus!” I exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was Dar Tarus—they had discovered his hiding place -and arrested him, but what of Hovan Du? Had they taken -him, also? If they had it must have been only after slaying -him, for they never would have sought to capture -the fierce beast, nor would he have brooked capture. I -looked for Sag Or, but he was nowhere to be seen within -the temple and this fact gave me hope that Hovan Du -might be still at liberty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The chariot was halted before the altar and Xaxa -alighted; the lock that held Dar Tarus’ chain to the vehicle -was opened and the banths were led away by their attendants -to one side of the temple behind the lesser -idols. Then Dar Tarus was dragged roughly to the altar and -thrown upon it and Xaxa, mounting the steps at its base, -came close to his side and with hands outstretched above -him looked up at the Great Tur towering above her. How -beautiful she was! How richly trapped! Ah, Valla Dia! -that your sweet form should be debased to the cruel purposes -of the wicked mind that now animates you!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Xaxa’s eyes now rested upon the face of the Great -Tur. “O, Tur, Father of Barsoom,” she cried, “behold the -offering we place before you, All-seeing, All-knowing, -All-powerful One, and frown no more upon us in silence. -For a hundred years you have not deigned to speak aloud -to your faithful slaves; never since Hora San, the high -priest, was taken away by you on that long-gone night of -mystery have you unsealed your lips to your people. -Speak, Great Tur! Give us some sign, ere we plunge this -dagger into the heart of our offering, that our works are -pleasing in thine eyes. Tell us whither went the two who -came here to-day to assassinate your high priestess; reveal -to us the fate of Sag Or. Speak, Great Tur, ere I -strike,” and she raised her slim blade above the heart of -Dar Tarus and looked straight upward into the eyes of -Tur.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And then, as a bolt from the blue, I was struck by -the great inspiration. My hand sought the lever controlling -the eyes of Tur and I turned them until they -completed a full circuit of the room and rested again -upon Xaxa. The effect was magical. Never before had I -seen a whole room full of people so absolutely stunned -and awe-struck as were these. As the eyes returned to -Xaxa she seemed turned to stone and her copper skin to -have taken on an ashen purple hue. Her dagger remained -stiffly poised above the heart of Dar Tarus. Not for a hundred -years had they seen the eyes of the Great Tur -move. Then I placed the speaking-tube to my lips and -the voice of Tur rumbled through the chamber. As from -one great throat a gasp arose from the crowded temple -floor and the people fell upon their knees and buried -their faces in their hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Judgment is mine!” I cried. “Strike not lest ye be -struck! To Tur is the sacrifice!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I was silent then, attempting to plan how best to utilize -the advantage I had gained. Fearfully, one by one, -the bowed heads were raised and frightened eyes sought -the face of Tur. I gave them another thrill by letting the -god’s eyes wander slowly over the upturned faces, and -while I was doing this I had another inspiration, which -I imparted to Gor Hajus in a low whisper. I could hear -him chuckle as he started down the ladder to carry my -new plan into effect. Again I had recourse to the speaking-tube.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The sacrifice is Tur’s,” I rumbled. “Tur will strike -with his own hand. Extinguish the lights and let no one -move under pain of instant death until Tur gives the -word. Prostrate yourselves and bury your eyes in your -palms, for whosoever sees shall be blinded when the -spirit of Tur walks among his people.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Down they went again and one of the priests hurriedly -extinguished the lights, leaving the temple in total -darkness; and while Gor Hajus was engaged with his -part of the performance I tried to cover any accidental -noise he might make by keeping up a running fire of -celestial revelation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Xaxa, the high priestess, asks what has become of -the two whom she believed came to assassinate her. I, -Tur took them to myself. Vengeance is Tur’s! And Sag -Or I took, also. In the guise of a great ape I came and -took Sag Or and none knew me; though even a fool -might have guessed, for who is there ever heard a great -ape speak with tongue of man unless he was animated by -the spirit of Tur?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I guess that convinced them, it being just the sort of -logic suited to their religion, or it would have convinced -them if they had not already been convinced. I wondered -what might be passing in the mind of the doubting -priest who had remarked that the gods had ears of stone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Presently I heard a noise upon the ladder beneath me -and a moment later someone climbed upon the circular -landing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All’s well,” whispered the voice of Gor Hajus. “Dar -Tarus is with me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Light the temple!” I commanded through the speaking-tube. -“Rise and look upon your altar.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lights flashed on and the people rose, trembling, -to their feet. Every eye was bent upon the altar and -what they saw there seemed to crush them with terror. -Some of the women screamed and fainted. It all impressed -me with the belief that none of them had taken -this god of theirs with any great amount of seriousness, -and now when they were confronted with absolute proof -of his miraculous powers they were swept completely off -their feet. Where, a few moments before, they had seen -a live sacrifice awaiting the knife of the high priestess -they saw now only a dust-covered human skull. I grant -you that without an explanation it might have seemed a -miracle to almost anyone so quickly had Gor Hajus run -from the base of the idol with the skull of the dead high -priest and returned again leading Dar Tarus with him. I -had been a bit concerned as to what the attitude of Dar -Tarus might be, who was no more conversant with the -hoax than were the Phundahlians, but Gor Hajus had -whispered “For Valla Dia” in his ear and he had understood -and come quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The Great Tur,” I now announced, “is angry with -his people. For a long time they have denied him in -their hearts even while they made open worship of him. -The Great Tur is angry with Xaxa. Only through Xaxa -may the people of Phundahl be saved from destruction, -for the Great Tur is angry. Go then from the temple and -the palace leaving no human being here other than Xaxa, -the high priestess of Tur. Leave her here in solitude beside -the altar. Tur would speak with her alone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could see Xaxa fairly shrivel in fright.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is the Jeddara Xaxa, High Priestess of the Great -God Tur, afraid to meet her master?” I demanded. The -woman’s jaw trembled so that she could not reply. -“Obey! or Xaxa and all her people shall be struck dead!” -I fairly screamed at them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Like cattle they turned and fled towards the entrance -and Xaxa, her knees shaking so that she could scarce -stand erect, staggered after them. A noble saw her and -pushed her roughly back, but she shrieked and ran after -him when he had left her. Then others dragged her to -the foot of the altar and threw her roughly down and one -menaced her with his sword, but at that I called aloud -that no harm must befall the Jeddara if they did not -wish the wrath of Tur to fall upon them all. They left -her lying there and so weak from fright was she that she -could not rise, and a moment later the temple was empty, -but not until I had shouted after them to clear the -whole palace within a quarter zode, for my plan required -a free and unobstructed as well as unobserved field of -action.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The last of them was scarce out of sight ere we three -descended from the head of Tur and stepped out upon -the temple floor behind the idol. Quickly I ran towards -the altar, upon the other side of which Xaxa had dropped -to the floor in a swoon. She still lay there and I gathered -her into my arms and ran quickly back to the door -in the wall behind the idol—the doorway through which -Gor Hajus and I had entered the temple earlier in the -day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preceded by Gor Hajus and followed by Dar Tarus, I -ascended the runway towards the roof where the conversation -of the priests had informed us were located -the royal hangars. Had Hovan Du and Sag Or been with -us my cup of happiness would have been full, for within -half a day, what had seemed utter failure and defeat -had been turned almost to assured success. At the landing -where lay Xaxa’s apartments we halted and looked -within, for the long night voyage I contemplated would -be cold and the body of Valla Dia must be kept warm -with suitable robes even though it was inhabited by the -spirit of Xaxa. Seeing no one we entered and soon found -what we required. As I was adjusting a heavy robe of -orluk about the Jeddara she regained consciousness. Instantly -she recognized me and then Gor Hajus and finally -Dar Tarus. Mechanically she felt for her dagger, but -it was not there and when she saw my smile she paled -with anger. At first she must have jumped to the conclusion -that she had been the victim of a hoax, but presently -a doubt seemed to enter her mind—she must have -been recalling some of the things that had transpired -within the temple of the Great Tur, and these, neither -she nor any other mortal might explain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who are you?” she demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am Tur,” I replied, brazenly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is your purpose with me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am going to take you away from Phundahl,” I replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But I do not wish to go. You are not Tur. You are -Vad Varo. I shall call for help and my guards will come -and slay you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is no one in the palace,” I reminded her. “Did -I, Tur, not send them away?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I shall not go with you,” she announced firmly. -“Rather would I die.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You shall go with me, Xaxa,” I replied, and though -she fought and struggled we carried her from her apartment -and up the spiral runway to the roof where, I -prayed, I should find the hangars and the royal fliers; -and as we stepped out into the fresh night air of Mars we -did see the hangars before us, but we saw something -else—a group of Phundahlian warriors of the Jeddara’s -Guard whom they had evidently failed to notify of the -commands of Tur. At sight of them Xaxa cried aloud in -relief.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To me! To the Jeddara!” she cried. “Strike down -these assassins and save me!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were three of them and there were three of -us, but they were armed and between us we had but -Xaxa’s slender dagger. Gor Hajus carried that. Victory -seemed turned to defeat as they rushed towards us; but -it was Gor Hajus who gave them pause. He seized Xaxa -and raised the blade, its point above her heart. “Halt!” -he cried, “or I strike.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The warriors hesitated; Xaxa was silent, stricken with -fear. Thus we stood in stalemate when, just beyond the -three Phundahlian warriors, I saw a movement at the -roof’s edge. What was it? In the dim light I saw something -that seemed a human head, and yet unhuman, rise -slowly above the edge of the roof, and then, silently, a -great form followed, and then I recognized it—Hovan -Du, the great white ape.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tell them,” I cried to Xaxa in a loud voice that -Hovan Du might hear, “that I am Tur, for see, I come -again in the semblance of a white ape!” and I pointed to -Hovan Du. “I would not destroy these poor warriors. -Let them lay down their weapons and go in peace.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The men turned, and seeing the great ape standing -there behind them, materialized, it might have been, out -of thin air, were shaken.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who is he, Jeddara?” demanded one of the men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is Tur,” replied Xaxa in a weak voice; “but save -me from him! Save me from him!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Throw down your weapons and your harness and -fly!” I commanded, “or Tur will strike you dead. Heard -you not the people rushing from the palace at Tur’s -command? How think you we brought Xaxa hither with -a lesser power than Tur’s when all her palace was filled -with her fighting men? Go, while yet you may in safety.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of them unbuckled his harness and threw it with -his weapons upon the roof, and as he started at a run -for the spiral his companions followed his example. -Then Hovan Du approached us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well done, Vad Varo,” he growled, “though I know -not what it is all about.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That you shall know later,” I told him, “but now we -must find a swift flier and be upon our way. Where is -Sag Or? Does he still live?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have him securely bound and safely hidden in one -of the high towers of the palace,” replied the ape. “It -will be easy to get him when we have launched a flier.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Xaxa was eyeing us ragefully. “You are not Tur!” she -cried. “The ape has exposed you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But too late to profit you in any way, Jeddara,” I assured -her. “Nor could you convince one of your people -who stood in the temple this night that I am not Tur. -Nor do you, yourself, know that I am not. The ways of -Tur, the all-powerful, all-knowing, are beyond the conception -of mortal man. To you then, Jeddara, I am Tur, -and you will find me all-powerful enough for my purposes.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I think she was still perplexed as we found and dragged -forth a flier, aboard which we placed her, and turned the -craft’s nose towards a lofty tower where Hovan Du told -us lay Sag Or.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I shall be glad to see myself again,” said Dar Tarus, -with a laugh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And you shall be yourself again, Dar Tarus,” I told -him, “as soon as ever we can come again to the pits of -Ras Thavas.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Would that I might be reunited with my sweet Kara -Vasa,” he sighed. “Then, Vad Varo, the last full measure -of my gratitude would be yours.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where may we find her?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Alas, I do not know. It was while I was searching for -her that I was apprehended by the agents of Xaxa. I had -been to her father’s palace only to learn that he had -been assassinated and his property confiscated. The -whereabouts of Kara Vasa they either did not know or -would not divulge; but they held me there upon one -pretext or another until a detachment of the Jeddara’s -Guard could come and arrest me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We shall have to make inquiries of Sag Or,” I said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We were now coming to a stop alongside a window -of the tower Hovan Du had indicated, and he and Dar -Tarus leaped to the sill and disappeared within. We were -all armed now, having taken the weapons discarded by -the three warriors at the hangars, and with a good flier -beneath our feet and all our little company reunited, -with Xaxa and Sag Or, whom they were now conducting -aboard, we were indeed in high spirits.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As we got under way again, setting our nose towards -the east, I asked Sag Or if he knew what had become -of Kara Vasa, but he assured me, in surly tones, that he -did not.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Think again, Sag Or,” I admonished him, “and think -hard, for perhaps upon your answer your life depends.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What chance have I for life?” he sneered, casting an -ugly look towards Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have every chance,” I replied. “Your life lies in -the hollow of my hand; and you serve me well it shall -be yours, though in your own body and not in that belonging -to Dar Tarus.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You do not intend destroying me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Neither you nor Xaxa,” I answered. “Xaxa shall live -on in her own body and you in yours.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I do not wish to live in my own body,” snapped the -Jeddara.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus stood looking at Sag Or—looking at his -own body like some disembodied soul—as weird a situation -as I have ever encountered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tell me, Sag Or,” he said, “what has become of Kara -Vasa. When my body has been restored to me and yours -to you I shall hold no enmity against you if you have not -harmed Kara Vasa and will tell me where she be.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I cannot tell you, for I do not know. She was not -harmed, but the day after you were assassinated she disappeared -from Phundahl. We were positive that she was -spirited away by her father, but from him we could learn -nothing. Then he was assassinated,” the man glanced at -Xaxa, “and since, we have learned nothing. A slave told -us that Kara Vasa, with some of her father’s warriors, -had embarked upon a flier and set out for Helium, where -she purposed placing herself under the protection of the -great War Lord of Barsoom; but of the truth of that we -know nothing. This is the truth. I, Sag Or, have spoken!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was futile then to search Phundahl for Kara Vasa -and so we held our course towards the east and the -Tower of Thavas.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='140' id='Page_140'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER XIII<br/> BACK TO THAVAS</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>All</span> that night we sped beneath the hurtling moons of -Mars, as strange a company as was ever foregathered -upon any planet, I will swear. Two men, each possessing -the body of the other, an old and wicked empress whose -fair body belonged to a youthful damsel beloved by another -of this company, a great white ape dominated by -half the brain of a human being, and I, a creature of a -distant planet, with Gor Hajus, the Assassin of Toonol, -completed the mad roster.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could scarce keep my eyes from the fair form and -face of Xaxa, and it is well that I was thus fascinated -for I caught her in the act of attempting to hurl herself -overboard, so repugnant to her was the prospect of living -again in her own old and hideous corpse. After that -I kept her securely bound and fastened to the deck, -though it hurt me to see the bonds upon those fair limbs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus was almost equally fascinated by the contemplation -of his own body, which he had not seen for -many years.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“By my first ancestor,” he ejaculated. “It must be that -I was the least vain of fellows, for I give you my word -I had no idea that I was so fair to look upon. I can say -this now without seeming egotism, since I am speaking -of Sag Or,” and he laughed aloud at his little joke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the fact remained that the body and face of Dar -Tarus were beautiful indeed, though there was a hint of -steel in the eyes and the set of the jaw that betokened -fighting blood. Little wonder, then, that Sag Or had coveted -the body of this young warrior; for his own, which -Dar Tarus now possessed, was marked by dissipation and -age; nor that Dar Tarus yearned to come again into his -own.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Just before dawn we dropped to one of the numerous -small islands that dot the Great Toonolian Marshes -and nosing the ship between the boles of great trees we -came to rest upon the surface of the ground, half buried -in the lush and gorgeous jungle grasses, well hidden -from the sight of possible pursuers. Here Hovan Du found -fruits and nuts for us which the simian section of his brain -pronounced safe for human consumption, and instinct -led him to a nearby spring from which there bubbled -delicious water. We four were half famished and much -fatigued, so that the food and water were most welcome -to us; nor did Xaxa and Sag Or refuse them. Having -eaten, three of us lay down upon the ship’s deck to -sleep, after securely chaining our prisoners, while the -fourth stood watch. In this way, taking turns, we slept -away most of the day and when night fell, rested and refreshed, -we were ready to resume our flight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Making a wide detour to the south we avoided Toonol -and about two hours before dawn we sighted the high -Tower of Thavas. I think we were all keyed up to the -highest pitch of excitement, for there was not one aboard -that flier but whose whole life would be seriously affected -by the success or failure of our venture. As a first -precaution we secured the hands of Xaxa and Sag Or behind -their backs and placed gags in their mouths, lest -they succeed in giving warning of our approach.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cluros had long since set and Thuria was streaming -towards the horizon as we stopped our motor and drifted -without lights a mile or two south of the tower while -we waited impatiently for Thuria to leave the heavens -to darkness and the world to us. To the north-west the -lights of Toonol shone plainly against the dark background -of the windows of the great laboratory of Ras -Thavas, but the tower itself was dark from plinth to -pinnacle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And now the nearer moon dropped plummetlike beneath -the horizon and left the scene to darkness and to -us. Dar Tarus started the motor, the wonderful, silent -motor of Barsoom, and we moved slowly, close to the -ground, towards Ras Thavas’ island, with no sound other -than the gentle whirring of our propeller; nor could that -have been heard scarce a hundred feet so slowly was it -turning. Close off the island we came to a stop behind a -cluster of giant trees and Hovan Du, going into the bow, -uttered a few low growls. Then we stood waiting in silence, -listening. There was a rustling in the dense undergrowth -upon the shore. Again Hovan Du voiced his low, -grim call and this time there came an answer from the -black shadows. Hovan Du spoke in the language of the -great apes and the invisible creature replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For five minutes, during which time we were aware -from the different voices that others had joined in the -conversation from the shore, the apes conversed, and -then Hovan Du turned to me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is arranged,” he said. “They will permit us to hide -our ship beneath these trees and they will permit us to -pass out again when we are ready and board her, nor -will they harm us in any way. All they ask is that when -we are through we shall leave the gate open that leads to -the inner court.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do they understand that while an ape goes in with us -none will return with us?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes; but they will not harm us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why do they wish the gate left open?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do not inquire too closely, Vad Varo,” replied Hovan -Du. “It should be enough that the great apes make it -possible for you to restore Valla Dia’s body to her brain -and escape with her from this terrible place.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is enough,” I replied. “When may we land?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At once. They will help us drag the ship beneath the -trees and make her fast.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But first we must top the wall to the inner court,” I -reminded him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, true—I had forgotten that we cannot open the -gate from this side.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He spoke again, then, to the apes, whom we had not -yet seen; and then he told us that all was arranged and -that he and Dar Tarus would return with the ship after -landing us inside the wall.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again we got under way and rising slowly above the -outer wall dropped silently to the courtyard beyond. -The night was unusually dark, clouds having followed -Thuria and blotted out the stars after the moon had set. -No one could have seen the ship at a distance of fifty -feet, and we moved almost without noise. Quietly we -lowered our prisoners over the side and Gor Hajus and I -remained with them while Dar Tarus and Hovan Du rose -again and piloted the ship back to its hiding place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I moved at once to the gate and, unlatching it, waited. -I heard nothing. Never, I think, have I endured such -utter silence. There came no sound from the great pile -rising behind me, nor any from the dark jungle beyond -the wall. Dimly I could see the huddled forms of Gor -Hajus, Xaxa and Sag Or beside me—otherwise I might -have been alone in the darkness and immensity of space.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It seemed an eternity that I waited there before I -heard a soft scratching on the panels of the heavy gate. -I pushed it open and Dar Tarus and Hovan Du stepped -silently within as I closed and relatched it. No one spoke. -All had been carefully planned so that there was no need -of speech. Dar Tarus and I led the way, Gor Hajus and -Hovan Du brought up the rear with the prisoners. We -moved directly to the entrance to the tower, found the -runway and descended to the pits. Every fortune seemed -with us. We met no one, we had no difficulty in finding -the vault we sought, and once within we secured the -door so that we had no fear of interruption—that was -our first concern—and then I hastened to the spot where -I had hidden Valla Dia behind the body of a large warrior, -tucked far back against the wall in a dark corner. -My heart stood still as I dragged aside the body of the -warrior, for always had I feared that Ras Thavas, knowing -my interest in her and guessing the purpose of my -venture, would cause every chamber and pit to be -searched and every body to be examined until he found -her for whom he sought; but my fears had been baseless, -for there lay the body of Xaxa, the old and wrinkled -casket of the lovely brain of my beloved, where I had -hidden it against this very night. Gently I lifted it out -and bore it to one of the two ersite topped tables. Xaxa, -standing there bound and gagged, looked on with eyes -that shot hate and loathing at me and at that hideous -body to which her brain was so soon to be restored.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I lifted her to the adjoining slab she tried to wriggle -from my grasp and hurl herself to the floor, but I -held her and soon had strapped her securely in place. A -moment later she was unconscious and the re-transference -was well under way. Gor Hajus, Sag Or and Hovan -Du were interested spectators, but to Dar Tarus, who -stood ready to assist me, it was an old story, for he had -worked in the laboratory and seen more than enough of -similar operations. I will not bore you with a description -of it—it was but a repetition of what I had done many -times in preparation for this very event.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last it was completed and my heart fairly stood -still as I replaced the embalming fluid with Valla Dia’s -own life blood and saw the color mount to her cheeks -and her rounded bosom rise and fall to her gentle -breathing. Then she opened her eyes and looked up into -mine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What has happened, Vad Varo?” she asked. “Has -something gone amiss that you have recalled me so soon, -or did I not respond to the fluid?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Her eyes wandered past me to the faces of the others -standing about. “What does it mean?” she asked. “Who -are these?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I raised her gently in my arms and pointed at the body -of Xaxa lying deathlike on the ersite slab beside her. -Valla Dia’s eyes went wide. “It is done?” she cried, and -clapped her hands to her face and felt of all her features -and of the soft, delicate contours of her smooth neck; -and yet she could scarce believe it and asked for a glass -and I took one from Xaxa’s pocket pouch and handed -it to her. She looked long into it and the tears commenced -to roll down her cheeks, and then she looked up -at me through the mist of them and put her dear -arms about my neck and drew my face down to hers. -“My chieftain,” she whispered—that was all. But it was -enough. For those two words I had risked my life and -faced unknown dangers, and gladly would I risk my life -again for that same reward and always, for ever.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another night had fallen before I had completed the -restoration of Dar Tarus and Hovan Du. Xaxa, and Sag -Or and the great ape I left sleeping the deathlike sleep -of Ras Thavas’ marvelous anaesthetic. The great ape I -had no intention of restoring, but the others I felt bound -to return to Phundahl, though Dar Tarus, now resplendent -in his own flesh and the gorgeous trappings of Sag Or, -urged me not to inflict them again upon the long suffering -Phundahlians.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But I have given my word,” I told him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then they must be returned,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Though what I may do afterward is another matter,” -I added, for there had suddenly occurred to me a bold -scheme.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I did not tell Dar Tarus what it was nor would I have -had time, for at the very instant we heard someone without -trying the door and then we heard voices and presently -the door was tried again, this time with force. We -made no noise, but just waited. I hoped that whoever it -was would go away. The door was very strong and when -they tried to force it they must soon have realized the -futility of it because they quickly desisted and we heard -their voices for only a short time thereafter and then -they seemed to have gone away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We must leave,” I said, “before they return.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Strapping the hands of Xaxa and Sag Or behind them -and placing gags in their mouths I quickly restored -them to life, nor ever did I see two less grateful. The -looks they cast upon me might well have killed could -looks do that, and with what disgust they viewed one -another was writ plain in their eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cautiously unbolting the door I opened it very quietly, -a naked sword in my right hand and Dar Tarus, Gor -Hajus and Hovan Du ready with theirs at my shoulder, -and as it swung back it revealed two standing in the corridor -watching—two of Ras Thavas’ slaves; and one of -them was Yamdor, his body servant. At sight of us the -fellow gave a loud cry of recognition and before I could -leap through the doorway and prevent them, they had -both turned and were flying up the corridor as fast as -their feet would carry them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now there was no time to be lost—everything must -be sacrificed to speed. Without thought of caution or silence -we hastened through the pits towards the runway -in the tower; and when we stepped into the inner court -it was night again, but the farther moon was in the heavens -and there were no clouds. The result was that we -were instantly discovered by a sentry, who gave the -alarm as he ran forward to intercept us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>What was a sentry doing in the courtyard of Ras -Thavas? I could not understand. And what were these? -A dozen armed warriors were hurrying across the court -on the heels of the sentry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Toonolians!” shouted Gor Hajus. “The warriors of -Vobis Kan, Jeddak of Toonol!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Breathlessly we raced for the gate. If we could but -reach it first! But we were handicapped by our prisoners, -who held back the moment they discovered how -they might embarrass us, and so it was that we all met in -front of the gate. Dar Tarus and Gor Hajus and Hovan -Du and I put Valla Dia and our prisoners behind us and -fought the twenty warriors of Toonol with the odds five -to one against us; but we had more heart in the fight -than they and perhaps that gave us an advantage, -though I am sure that Gor Hajus was as ten men himself -so terrible was the effect of his name alone upon the -men of Toonol.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Gor Hajus!” cried one, the first to recognize him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, it is Gor Hajus,” replied the assassin. “Prepare -to meet your ancestors!” and he drove into them like a -racing propeller, and I was upon his right and Hovan Du -and Dar Tarus upon his left.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was a pretty fight, but it must eventually have gone -against us, so greatly were we outnumbered, had I not -thought of the apes and the gate beside us. Working my -way to it I threw it open and there upon the outside, attracted -by the noise of the conflict, stood a full dozen of -the great beasts. I called to Gor Hajus and the others to -fall back beside the gate, and as the apes rushed in I -pointed to the Toonolian warriors.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I think the apes were at a loss to know which were -friends and which were foes, but the Toonolians apprised -them by attacking them, while we stood aside -with our points upon the ground. Just a moment we stood -thus waiting. Then as the apes rushed among the Toonolian -warriors, we slipped into the darkness of the jungle -beyond the outer wall and sought our flier. Behind us we -could hear the growls and the roars of the beasts mingled -with the shouts and the curses of the men; and the -sound still rose from the courtyard as we clambered -aboard the flier and pushed off into the night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As soon as we felt that we were safely escaped from -the Island of Thavas I removed the gags from the -mouths of Xaxa and Sag Or and I can tell you that -I immediately regretted it, for never in my life had I -been subjected to such horrid abuse as poured from -the wrinkled old lips of the Jeddara; and it was only -when I started to gag her again that she promised to -desist.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>My plans were now well laid and they included a -return to Phundahl since I could not start for Duhor -with Valla Dia without provisions and fuel; nor could -I obtain these elsewhere than in Phundahl, since I felt -that I held the key that would unlock the resources of -that city to me; whereas all Toonol was in arms against -us owing to Vobis Kan’s fear of Gor Hajus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So we retraced our way towards Phundahl as secretly -as we had come, for I had no mind to be apprehended -before we had gained entrance to the palace of Xaxa.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again we rested over daylight upon the same island -that had given us sanctuary two days before, and at -dark we set out upon the last leg of our journey to -Phundahl. If there had been pursuit we had seen -naught of it; and that might easily be explained by the -great extent of the uninhabited marshes across which -we flew and the far southerly course that we followed -close above the ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As we neared Phundahl I caused Xaxa and Sag Or -to be again gagged, and further, I had their heads -bandaged so that none might recognize them; and then -we sailed straight over the city towards the palace, hoping -that we would not be discovered and yet ready in -the event that we should be.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But we came to the hangars on the roof apparently -unseen and constantly I coached each upon the part -he was to play. As we were settling slowly to the roof -Dar Tarus, Hovan Du and Valla Dia quickly bound -Gor Hajus and me and wrapped our heads in bandages, -for we had seen below the figures of the hangar guard. -Had we found the roof unguarded the binding of Gor -Hajus and me had been unnecessary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As we dropped nearer one of the guard hailed us. -“What ship?” he cried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The royal flier of the Jeddara of Phundahl,” replied -Dar Tarus, “returning with Xaxa and Sag Or.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The warriors whispered among themselves as we -dropped nearer and I must confess that I felt a bit -nervous as to the outcome of our ruse; but they permitted -us to land without a word and when they saw -Valla Dia they saluted her after the manner of Barsoom, -as, with the regal carriage of an empress, she -descended from the deck of the flier.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Carry the prisoners to my apartments!” she commanded, -addressing the guard, and with the help of -Hovan Du and Dar Tarus the four bound and muffled -figures were carried from the flier down the spiral runway -to the apartments of Xaxa, Jeddara of Phundahl. -Here excited slaves hastened to do the bidding of the -Jeddara. Word must have flown through the palace with -the speed of light that Xaxa had returned, for almost -immediately court functionaries began to arrive and be -announced; but Valla Dia sent word that she would see -no one for a while. Then she dismissed her slaves, and -at my suggestion Dar Tarus investigated the apartments -with a view to finding a safe hiding place for Gor -Hajus, me, and the prisoners. This he soon found in a -small antechamber directly off the main apartment of -the royal suite; the bonds were removed from the -assassin and myself and together we carried Xaxa and -Sag Or into the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The entrance here was furnished with a heavy door -over which there were hangings that completely hid it. -I bade Hovan Du, who, like the rest of us, wore Phundahlian -harness, stand guard before the hangings and let -no one enter but members of our own party. Gor Hajus -and I took up our positions just within the hangings -through which we cut small holes that permitted us to -see all that went on within the main chamber, for I was -greatly concerned for Valla Dia’s safety while she posed -as Xaxa, whom I knew to be both feared and hated -by her people and therefore always liable to assassination.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Valla Dia summoned the slaves and bade them admit -the officials of the court, and as the doors opened fully -a score of nobles entered. They appeared ill at ease -and I could guess that they were recalling the episode -in the temple when they had deserted their Jeddara and -even hurled her roughly at the feet of the Great Tur, -but Valla Dia soon put them at their ease.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have summoned you,” she said, “to hear the word -of Tur. Tur would speak again to his people. Three -days and three nights have I spent with Tur. His anger -against Phundahl is great. He bids me summon all the -higher nobles to the temple after the evening meal to-night, -and all the priests, and the commanders and dwars -of the Guard, and as many of the lesser nobles as be -in the palace; and then shall the people of Phundahl -hear the word and the law of Tur and all those who -shall obey shall live and all those who shall not obey -shall die; and woe be to him who, having been summoned, -shall not be in the temple this night. I, Xaxa, -Jeddara of Phundahl, have spoken! Go!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They went and they seemed glad to go. Then Valla -Dia summoned the odwar of the Guard, who would -be in our world a general, and she told him to clear -the palace of every living being from the temple level -to the roof an hour before the evening meal, nor to permit -any one to enter the temple or the levels above -it until the hour appointed for the assembling in the -temple to hear the word of Tur, excepting however -those who might be in her own apartments, which were -not to be entered upon pain of death. She made it all -very clear and plain and the odwar understood and I -think he trembled a trifle, for all were in great fear of -the Jeddara Xaxa; and then he went away and the -slaves were dismissed and we were alone.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='150' id='Page_150'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER XIV<br/> JOHN CARTER</h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'>Half</span> an hour before the evening meal we carried Xaxa -and Sag Or down the spiral runway and placed them -in the base of the Great Tur and Gor Hajus and I -took our places on the upper platform behind the eyes -and voice of the idol. Valla Dia, Dar Tarus and Hovan -Du remained in the royal apartments. Our plans were -well formulated. There was no one between the door -at the rear of the Great Tur and the flier that lay -ready on the roof in the event that we were forced -to flee through any miscarriage of our mad scheme.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The minutes dragged slowly by and darkness fell. The -time was approaching. We heard the doors of the temple -open and beyond we saw the great corridor brilliantly -lighted. It was empty except for two priests who -stood hesitating nervously in the doorway. Finally one -of them mustered up sufficient courage to enter and -switch on the lights. More bravely now they advanced -and prostrated themselves before the altar of the Great -Tur. When they arose and looked up into the face of -the idol I could not resist the temptation to turn those -huge eyes until they had rolled completely about the -interior of the chamber and rested again upon the priests; -but I did not speak and I think the effect of the awful -silence in the presence of the living god was more impressive -than would words have been. The two priests -simply collapsed. They slid to the floor and lay there -trembling, moaning and supplicating Tur to have mercy -on them, nor did they rise before the first of the worshippers -arrived.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thereafter the temple filled rapidly and I could see -the word of Tur had been well and thoroughly disseminated. -They came as they had before; but there were -more this time, and they ranged upon either side of -the central aisle and there they waited, their eyes -divided between the doorway and the god. About the -time that I thought the next scene was about to be -enacted I let Tur’s eyes travel over the assemblage that -they might be keyed to the proper pitch for what was -to follow. They reacted precisely as had the priests, -falling upon the floor and moaning and supplicating; and -there they remained until the sounds of bugles announced -the coming of the Jeddara. Then they rose unsteadily -to their feet. The great doors swung open and there -was the carpet and the slaves behind it. As they rolled -it down towards the altar the bugles sounded louder -and the head of the royal procession came into view. -I had ordered it thus to permit of greater pageantry -than was possible when the doors opened immediately -upon the head of the procession. My plan permitted -the audience to see the royal retinue advancing down -the long corridor and the effect was splendid. First came -the double rank of nobles and behind these the chariot -drawn by the two banths, bearing the litter upon which -reclined Valla Dia. Behind her walked Dar Tarus, but -all within that room thought they were looking upon -the Jeddara Xaxa and her favorite, Sag Or. Hovan Du -walked behind Sag Or and following came the fifty -young men and the fifty maidens.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The chariot halted before the altar and Valla Dia -descended and knelt and the voices that had been chanting -the praises of Xaxa were stilled as the beautiful -creature extended her hands towards the Great Tur and -looked up into his face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We are ready, Master!” she cried. “Speak! We -await the word of Tur!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A gasp arose from the kneeling assemblage, a gasp -that ended in a sob. I felt that they were pretty well -worked up and that everything ought to go off without -a hitch. I placed the speaking-tube to my lips.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am Tur!” I thundered and the people trembled. -“I come to pass judgment on the men of Phundahl. -As you receive my word so shall you prosper or so -shall you perish. The sins of the people may be atoned -by two who have sinned most in my sight.” I let the -eyes of Tur rove about over the audience and then -brought them to rest upon Valla Dia. “Xaxa, are you -ready to atone for your sins and for the sins of your -people?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Valla Dia bowed her beautiful head. “Thy will is -law, Master!” she replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And Sag Or,” I continued, “you have sinned. Are -you prepared to pay?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As Tur shall require,” said Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then it is my will,” I boomed, “that Xaxa and Sag -Or shall give back to those from whom they stole -them, the beautiful bodies they now wear; that he from -whom Sag Or took this body shall become Jeddak of -Phundahl and High Priest of Tur; and that she from -whom Xaxa stole her body shall be returned in pomp -to her native country. I have spoken. Let any who -would revolt against my word speak now or for ever -hold his peace.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was no objection voiced. I had felt pretty certain -that there would not be. I doubt if any god ever -looked down upon a more subdued and chastened flock. -As I had talked, Gor Hajus had descended to the base -of the idol and removed the bonds from the feet and -legs of Xaxa and Sag Or.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Extinguish the lights!” I commanded. A trembling -priest did my bidding.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Valla Dia and Dar Tarus were standing side by side -before the altar when the lights went out. In the next -minute they and Gor Hajus must have worked fast, for -when I heard a low whistle from the interior of the -idol’s base, the prearranged signal that Gor Hajus had -finished his work, and ordered the lights on again, there -stood Xaxa and Sag Or where Valla Dia and Dar Tarus -had been, and the latter were nowhere in sight. I think -the dramatic effect of that transformation upon the people -there was the most stupendous thing I have ever -seen. There was no cord or gag upon either Xaxa or -Sag Or, nothing to indicate that they had been brought -hither by force—no one about who might have so -brought them. The illusion was perfect—it was a gesture -of omnipotence that simply staggered the intellect. -But I wasn’t through.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have heard Xaxa renounce her throne,” I said, -“and Sag Or submit to the judgment of Tur.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have not renounced my throne!” cried Xaxa. “It -is all a——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Silence!” I thundered. “Prepare to greet the new -Jeddak, Dar Tarus of Phundahl!” I turned my eyes towards -the great doors and the eyes of the assemblage -followed mine. They swung open and there stood Dar -Tarus, resplendent in the trappings of Hora San, the -long dead Jeddak and high priest, whose bones we had -robbed in the base of the idol an hour earlier. How -Dar Tarus had managed to make the change so quickly -is beyond me, but he had done it and the effect was -colossal. He looked every inch a Jeddak as he moved -with slow dignity up the wide aisle along the blue and -gold and white carpet. Xaxa turned purple with rage. -“Impostor!” she shrieked. “Seize him! Kill him!” and -she ran forward to meet him as though she would slay -him with her bare hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Take her away,” said Dar Tarus in a quiet voice, -and at that Xaxa fell foaming to the floor. She shrieked -and gasped and then lay still—a wicked old woman -dead of apoplexy. And when Sag Or saw her lying there -he must have been the first to realize that she was -dead and that there was now no one to protect him -from the hatreds that are leveled always at the person -of a ruler’s favorite. He looked wildly about for an -instant and then threw himself at the feet of Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You promised to protect me!” he cried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“None shall harm you,” replied Dar Tarus. “Go your -way and live in peace.” Then he turned his eyes upward -towards the face of the Great Tur. “What is thy -will, Master?” he cried. “Dar Tarus, thy servant, awaits -thy commands!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I permitted an impressive silence before I replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let the priests of Tur, the lesser nobles and a certain -number of the Jeddak’s Guard go forth into the -city and spread the word of Tur among the people that -they may know that Tur smiles again upon Phundahl -and that they have a new Jeddak who stands high in -the favor of Tur. Let the higher nobles attend presently -in the chambers that were Xaxa’s and do honor to Valla -Dia in whose perfect body their Jeddara once ruled -them, and effect the necessary arrangements for her -proper return to Duhor, her native city. There also will -they find two who have served Tur well and these shall -be accorded the hospitality and friendship of every -Phundahlian—Gor Hajus of Toonol and Vad Varo of -Jasoom. Go! and when the last has gone let the temple -be darkened. I, Tur, have spoken!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Valla Dia had gone directly to the apartments of the -former Jeddara and the moment that the lights were -extinguished Gor Hajus and I joined her. She could -not wait to hear the outcome of our ruse, and when -I assured her that there had been no hitch the tears -came to her eyes for very joy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You have accomplished the impossible, my chieftain,” -she murmured, “and already can I see the hills of -Duhor and the towers of my native city. Ah, Vad Varo, -I had not dreamed that life might again hold for me -such happy prospects. I owe you life and more than -life.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We were interrupted by the coming of Dar Tarus, -and with him were Hovan Du and a number of the -higher nobles. The latter received us pleasantly, though -I think they were mystified as to just how we were -linked with the service of their god; nor, I am sure, -did one of them ever learn. They were frankly delighted -to be rid of Xaxa; and while they could not -understand Tur’s purpose in elevating a former warrior -of the Guard to the throne, yet they were content if -it served to relieve them from the wrath of their god, -now a very real and terrible god, since the miracles -that had been performed in the temple. That Dar Tarus -had been of a noble family relieved them of embarrassment, -and I noted that they treated him with great respect. -I was positive that they would continue to treat -him so, for he was also high priest and for the first -time in a hundred years he would bring to the Great -Tur in the royal Temple the voice of god, for Hovan -Du had agreed to take service with Dar Tarus, and -Gor Hajus as well, so that there would never be lacking -a tongue wherewith Tur might speak. I foresaw -great possibilities for the reign of Dar Tarus, Jeddak -of Phundahl.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the meeting held in the apartments of Xaxa it -was decided that Valla Dia should rest two days in -Phundahl while a small fleet was preparing to transport -her to Duhor. Dar Tarus assigned Xaxa’s apartments -for her use and gave her slaves from different cities -to attend upon her, all of whom were to be freed and -returned with Valla Dia to her native land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was almost dawn before we sought our sleeping -silks and furs and the sun was high before we awoke. -Gor Hajus and I breakfasted with Valla Dia, outside -whose door we had spread our beds that we might not -leave her unprotected for a moment that it was not -necessary. We had scarce finished our meal when a messenger -came from Dar Tarus summoning us to the audience -chamber, where we found some of the higher -officers of the court gathered about the throne upon -which Dar Tarus sat, looking every inch an emperor. -He greeted us kindly, rising and descending from his -dais to receive Valla Dia and escort her to one of the -benches he had placed beside the throne for her and -for me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is one,” he said to me, “who has come to -Phundahl over night and now begs audience of the Jeddak—one -whom I thought you might like to meet -again,” and he signed to one of his attendants to admit -the petitioner; and when the doors at the opposite end -of the room opened I saw Ras Thavas standing there. -He did not recognize me or Valla Dia or Gor Hajus -until he was almost at the foot of the throne, and when -he did he looked puzzled and glanced again quickly at -Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ras Thavas of the Tower of Thavas, Toonol,” announced -an officer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What would Ras Thavas of the Jeddak of Phundahl?” -asked Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I came seeking audience of Xaxa,” replied Ras -Thavas, “not knowing of her death or your accession -until this very morning; but I see Sag Or upon Xaxa’s -throne and beside him one whom I thought was Xaxa, -though they tell me Xaxa is dead, and another who -was my assistant at Thavas and one who is the Assassin -of Toonol, and I am confused, Jeddak, and do not -know whether I be among friends or foes.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Speak as though Xaxa still sat upon the throne of -Phundahl,” Dar Tarus told him, “for though I am Dar -Tarus, whom you wronged, and not Sag Or, yet need -you have no fear in the court of Phundahl.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then let me tell you that Vobis Kan, Jeddak of -Toonol, learning that Gor Hajus had escaped me, -swore that I had set him free to assassinate him, and -he sent warriors who took my island and would have -imprisoned me had I not been warned in time to escape; -and I came hither to Xaxa to beg her to send -warriors to drive the men of Toonol from my island -and restore it to me that I may carry on my scientific -labors.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus turned to me. “Vad Varo, of all others you -are most familiar with the work of Ras Thavas. Would -you see him again restored to his island and his laboratory?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Only on condition that he devote his great skill to -the amelioration of human suffering,” I replied, “and no -longer prostitute it to the foul purposes of greed and -sin.” This led to a discussion which lasted for hours, the -results of which were of far-reaching significance. Ras -Thavas agreed to all that I required and Dar Tarus commissioned -Gor Hajus to head an army against Toonol.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But these matters, while of vast interest to those most -directly concerned, have no direct bearing upon the -story of my adventures upon Barsoom, as I had no part -in them, since upon the second day I boarded a flier -with Valla Dia and, escorted by a Phundahlian fleet, set -out towards Duhor. Dar Tarus accompanied us for a -short distance. When the fleet was stopped at the shore -of the great marsh he bade us farewell, and was about -to step to the deck of his own ship and return to Phundahl -when a shout arose from the deck of one of the -other ships and word was soon passed that a lookout -had sighted what appeared to be a great fleet far to the -south-west. Nor was it long before it became plainly -visible to us all and equally plain that it was headed for -Phundahl.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dar Tarus told me then that as much as he regretted -it, there seemed nothing to do but return at once to his -capital with the entire fleet, since he could not spare a -single ship or man if this proved an enemy fleet, nor could -Valla Dia or I interpose any objection; and so we -turned about and sped as rapidly as the slow ships of -Phundahl permitted back towards the city.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The stranger fleet had sighted us at about the same -time that we had sighted it, and we saw it change its -course and bear down upon us; and as it came nearer it -fell into single file and prepared to encircle us. I was -standing at Dar Tarus’ side when the colors of the approaching -fleet became distinguishable and we first -learned that it was from Helium.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Signal and ask if they come in peace,” directed Dar -Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We seek word with Xaxa, Jeddara of Phundahl,” -came the reply. “The question of peace or war will be -hers to decide.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tell them that Xaxa is dead and that I, Dar Tarus, -Jeddak of Phundahl, will receive the commander of Helium’s -fleet in peace upon the deck of this ship, or that I -will receive him in war with all my guns. I, Dar Tarus, -have spoken!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the bow of a great ship of Helium there broke -the flag of truce and when Dar Tarus’ ship answered it -in kind the other drew near and presently we could see -the men of Helium upon her decks. Slowly the great flier -came alongside our smaller ship and when the two had -been made fast a party of officers boarded us. They were -fine looking men, and at their head was one whom I -recognized immediately though I never before had laid -eyes upon him. I think he was the most impressive figure -I have ever seen as he advanced slowly across the -deck towards us—John Carter, Prince of Helium, Warlord -of Barsoom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dar Tarus,” he said, “John Carter greets you and in -peace, though it had been different, I think, had Xaxa -still reigned.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You came to war upon Xaxa?” asked Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We came to right a wrong,” replied the Warlord. -“But from what we know of Xaxa that could have been -done only by force.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What wrong has Phundahl done Helium?” demanded -Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The wrong was against one of your own people—even -against you in person.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I do not understand,” said Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is one aboard my ship who may be able to -explain to you, Dar Tarus,” replied John Carter, with a -smile. He turned and spoke to one of his aides in a -whisper, and the man saluted and returned to the deck -of his own ship. “You shall see with your own eyes, Dar -Tarus.” Suddenly his eyes narrowed. “This is indeed Dar -Tarus who was a warrior of the Jeddara’s Guard and -supposedly assassinated by her command?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is,” replied Dar Tarus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I must be certain,” said the Warlord.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is no question about it, John Carter,” I spoke -up in English.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His eyes went wide, and when they fell upon me and he -noted my lighter skin, from which the dye was wearing -away, he stepped forward and held out his hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A countryman?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, an American,” I replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was almost surprised,” he said. “Yet why should I -be? I have crossed—there is no reason why others -should not. And you have accomplished it! You must -come to Helium with me and tell me all about it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Further conversation was interrupted by the return of -the aide, who brought a young woman with him. At -sight of her Dar Tarus uttered a cry of joy and sprang -forward, and I did not need to be told that this was Kara -Vasa.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is little more to tell that might not bore you in -the telling—of how John Carter himself took Valla Dia -and me to Duhor after attending the nuptials of Dar -Tarus and Kara Vasa; and of the great surprise that -awaited me in Duhor, where I learned for the first time -that Kor San, Jeddak of Duhor, was the father of Valla -Dia; and of the honors and the great riches that he -heaped upon me when Valla Dia and I were wed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John Carter was present at the wedding and we initiated -upon Barsoom a good old American custom, for the -Warlord acted as best man; and then he insisted that we -follow that up with a honeymoon and bore us off to -Helium, where I am writing this.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Even now it seems like a dream that I can look out of -my window and see the scarlet and the yellow towers of -the twin cities of Helium; that I have met, and see daily, -Cathoris, Thuvia of Ptarth, Tara of Helium, Gahan of -Gathol and that peerless creature, Dejah Thoris, Princess -of Mars. Though to me, beautiful as she is, there is -another even more beautiful—Valla Dia, Princess of Duhor—Mrs. -Ulysses Paxton.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:.5em;font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. -Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been -employed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious -printer errors occur.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MASTER MIND OF MARS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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