 THE CHESSMAN OF MARS, CHAPTER 8 CLOSE WORK Geck, in his happier days, third foreman of the fields of Ludd, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation. Recently, something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed. Had the influence of the strange captive woman ought to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction, he did not know. He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing. Could it be that there were other things more desirable than cold logic and undefiled brain power? Was well-balanced imperfection more to be sought after than the high development of a single characteristic? He thought of the great ultimate brain toward which all kaldanes were striving. It would be deaf and dumb and blind. A thousand beautiful strangers might sing and dance about it, but it could derive no pleasure from the singing or the dancing since it would possess no perceptive faculties. Already had the kaldanes shut themselves off from most of the gratifications of the senses, Geck wondered if much was to be gained by denying themselves still further, and with the thought came a question as to the whole fabric of their theory. After all, perhaps the girl was right. What purpose could a great brain serve sealed in the bowels of the earth? And he, Geck, was to die for this theory. Ludd had decreed it. The injustice of it overwhelmed him with rage, but he was helpless. There was no escape. Beyond the enclosure the Bons awaited him, within his own kind equally as merciless and ferocious. Among them there was no such thing as love or loyalty or friendship. They were just brains. He might kill Ludd, but what would that profit him? Another king would be loosed from his sealed chamber and Geck would be killed. He did not know it, but he would not even have the poor satisfaction of satisfied revenge, since he was not capable of feeling so abstruse a sentiment. Geck, mounted upon his rykor, paced the floor of the tower chamber in which he had been ordered to remain. Ordinarily he would have accepted a sentence of Ludd with perfect equanimity, but since it was but the logical result of reason. But now it seemed different. The stranger woman had bewitched him. Life appeared a pleasant thing. There were great possibilities in it. The dream of the ultimate brain had receded into a tenuous haze far in the background of his thoughts. At that moment there appeared in the doorway of the chamber a red warrior with naked sword. He was a male counterpart of the prisoner whose sweet voice had undermined the cold calculating reason of the kaldane. Silence! admonished the newcomer. His straight brows gathered in an ominous frown and the point of his long sword playing menacingly before the eyes of the kaldane. I seek the woman, Tara of Helium. Where is she? If you value your life speak quickly and speak the truth. If he valued his life, it was a truth that Geck had but just learned. He thought quickly. After all, a great brain is not without its uses. Perhaps here lay escape from the sentence of Ludd. You are of her kind, he asked. You come to rescue her? Yes. Listen then. I have befriended her. And because of this I am to die. If I help you to liberate her, will you take me with you? Gahan of Gathol eyed the weird creature from crown to foot, the perfect body, the grotesque head, the expressionless face. Among such as these had the beautiful daughter of Helium been held captive for days and weeks. If she lives and is unharmed, he said, I will take you with us. When they took her from me, she was alive and unharmed, replied Geck. I cannot say what has been fallen her since. Ludd sent for her. Who is Ludd? Where is he? Lead me to him. Gahan spoke quickly in tones vibrant with authority. Come then, said Geck, leading the way from the apartment and down a stairway toward the underground burrows of the kaldanes. Ludd is my king. I will take you to his chambers. Hason urged Gahan. Sheath your sword, warned Geck. So that should we pass others of my kind. I may say to them that you are a new prisoner with some likelihood of winning their belief. Gahan did as he was bid, but warning the kaldane that his hand was ever ready at his daggers hill. You need have no fear of treachery, said Geck. My only hope of life lies in you. And if you fail me, Gahan admonished him, I can promise you as sure a death as even your king might guarantee you. Geck made no reply, but moved rapidly through the winding subterranean corridors until Gahan began to realize how truly was he in the hands of this strange monster. If the fellow should prove false, it would profit Gahan nothing to slay him, since without his guidance the red man might never hope to retrace his way to the tower in freedom. Twice they met and were accosted by other kaldanes, but in both instances Geck's simple statement that he was taking a new prisoner to Ludd appeared to allay all suspicion, and then at last they came to the antechamber of the king. Here now, red man, thou must fight if ever, whispered Geck. Enter there, and he pointed to a doorway before them. And you, asked Gahan, who was still fearful of treachery. My right core is powerful, replied the kaldane. I shall accompany you and fight at your side. As well died thus as in torture later at the will of Ludd. Come. But Gahan had already crossed the room and entered the chamber beyond. Upon the opposite side of the room was a circular opening guarded by two warriors. Beyond this opening he could see two figures struggling upon the floor, and the fleeting glimpse he had of one of the faces suddenly endowed him with the strength of ten warriors and the ferocity of a wounded band. It was Tara of Helium fighting for her honor for her life. The warriors, startled by the unexpected appearance of a red man, stood for a moment in dumb amazement, and in that moment Gahan of Gathol was upon them, and one was down. A sword thrust through its heart. Strike at the heads, whispered the voice of Geck in Gahan's ear. The latter saw the head of the fallen warrior crawl quickly within the aperture leading to the chamber, where he had seen Tara of Helium in the clutches of a headless body. Then the sword of Geck struck the kaldane of the remaining warrior from its right core, and Gahan ran his sword through the repulsive head. Instantly the red warrior leaped for the aperture while close behind came Geck. Look not upon the eyes of Lud, were in the kaldane, or you are lost. Within the chamber Gahan saw Tara of Helium in the clutches of a mighty body, while close to the wall upon the opposite side of the apartment crouched the hideous spider-like Lud. Instantly the king realized the menace to himself, and sought to facet his eyes upon the eyes of Gahan, and in doing so he was forced to relax his concentration upon the right core in whose embraces Tara struggled, so that almost immediately the girl found herself able to tear away from the awful headless thing. As she rose quickly to her feet she saw, for the first time, the cause of the interruption of Lud's plans, a red warrior. Her heart leaped and rejoicing in thanksgiving. What miracle of fate had sent him to her? She did not recognize him, though, this travel-worn warrior in the plain harness which showed no single jewel. How could she have guessed him the same as the scintillant creature of platinum and diamonds that she had seen for a brief hour under such different circumstances at the court of her August sire? Lud saw Geck following the strange warrior into the chamber. Strike him down, Geck, commanded the king. Strike down the stranger, and your life shall be yours. Gahan glanced at the hideous face of the king. Seek not his eyes, screamed Tara in warning, but it was too late. Already the horrid, hypnotic glance of the king called Dane had seized upon the eyes of Gahan. The red warrior hesitated in his stride. His sword-point drooped slowly toward the floor. Tara glanced toward Geck. She saw the creature glaring with his expressionless eyes upon the broad back of the stranger. She saw the hand of the creature's righore creeping stethyly toward the hilt of its dagger. And then Tara of Helium raised her eyes aloft and poured forth the notes of Mars s most beautiful melody, the song of love. Geck drew his dagger from its sword. His eyes turned toward the singing girl. Lud's glance wavered from the eyes of the man to the face of Tara, and the instant that the latter song distracted his attention from his victim, Gahan of Gathol shook himself, and as with a supreme effort of will forced his eyes to the wall above Lud's hideous head. Geck raised his dagger above his right shoulder, took a single quick step forward, and struck. The girl's song ended in a stifled scream as she leaped forward with the evident intention of frustrating the caldane's purpose. But she was too late, and well it was. For an instant later she realized the purpose of Geck's act as she saw the dagger fly from his hand, pass Gahan's shoulder, and sink full to the guard in the soft face of Lud. Come, cried the assassin, we have no time to lose, and started for the aperture through which they had entered the chamber. But in his stride he paused as his glance was arrested by the form of a mighty rykor lying prone upon the floor, a king's rykor, the most beautiful, the most powerful that the breeders of Bantum could produce. Geck realized that in his escape he could take with him but a single rykor, and there was none in Bantum that could give him better service than this giant lying here. Quickly he transferred himself to the shoulders of the great inert hulk. Instantly the latter was transformed to a sentient creature filled with pulsing life and alert energy. Now, said the caldane, we are ready. Let who so would revert to nothingness impede me. Even as he spoke, he stooped and crawled into the chamber beyond, while Gahan, taking Tara by the arm, motioned her to follow. The girl looked him full in the eyes for the first time. The gods of my people have been kind, she said. You came just in time. To the thanks of Tara of Helium shall be added those of the warlord of Barsoom and his people. Thy reward shall surpass thy greatest desires. Gahan of Gathol saw that she did not recognize him, and quickly he checked the warm greeting that had been upon his lips. Be thou Tara of Helium or another, he replied, is immaterial. To serve thus a red woman of Barsoom is in itself sufficient reward. As they spoke, the girl was making her way through the aperture after Ghek, and presently all three had quitted the apartments of Lod and were moving rapidly along the winding corridors toward the tower. Ghek repeatedly urged them to greater speed, but the red men of Barsoom were never keen for retreat, and so the two that followed him moved all too slowly for the kaldane. There are none to impede our progress urged Gahan, so why tax the strength of the Princess by needless haste? I fear not so much opposition ahead, for there are none there who know the thing that has been done in Lod's chambers this night, but the kaldane of one of the warriors who stood guard before Lod's apartment escaped, and you might count it a truth that he lost no time in seeking aid, that it did not come before we left is due solely to the rapidity with which events transpired in the king's room, long before we reach the tower they will be upon us from behind, and that they will come in numbers far superior to ours and with great and powerful rikors I well know. Nor was Ghek's prophecy long in fulfillment. Presently the sounds of pursuit became audible in the distant clanking of accoutrements and the whistling called arms of the kaldanes. The tower is but a short distance now, cried Ghek. Make haste while yet you may, and if we can barricade it until the sun rises we may yet escape. We shall need no barricades, for we shall not linger in the tower, replied Ghek, moving more rapidly as he realized from the volume of sound behind them the great number of their pursuers. But we may not go further than the tower tonight, insisted Ghek. Beyond the tower await the bounce and certain death. Ghek smiled. Fear not the bounce, he assured them. Can we but reach the enclosure a little ahead of our pursuers we have not to fear from any evil power within this accursed valley? Ghek made no reply. Nor did his expressionless face denote either belief or skepticism. The girl looked into the face of the man questioningly. She did not understand. You're flier, he said. It is moored before the tower. Her face lighted with pleasure and relief. You found it, she exclaimed. What fortune! It was fortune indeed, he replied, since it not only told that you were a prisoner here, but it saved me from the bounce as I was crossing the valley from the hills to this tower into which I saw them take you this afternoon, after your brave attempt at escape. How did you know it was I? she asked, her puzzled brows scanning his face as though she sought to recall from past memories some scene in which he figured. Who is there but knows of the loss of the Princess of Tara of Helium? he replied. And when I saw the device upon your flyer, I knew at once, though I had not known when I saw you among them in the fields a short time earlier. Too great was the distance for me to make certain whether the captive was man or woman. Had chance not divulged the hiding place of your flyer I had gone my way, Tara of Helium. I shuddered to think how close was the chance at that. But for the momentary shining of the sun upon the emblazoned device on the prow of your craft I had passed on unknowing. The girl shuddered, the God sent you, she whispered reverently. The God sent me, Tara of Helium, he replied. But I do not recognize you, she said. I have tried to recall you, but I have failed. Your name, what may it be? It is not strange that so great a Princess should not recall the face of every roving panthan of Barsoom, he replied with a smile. But your name insisted the girl. Call me, Toran, replied the man. For it had come to him that if Tara of Helium recognized him as the man whose impetuous avowal of love had angered her that day in the gardens of the warlord, her situation might be rendered infinitely less bearable than were she to believe him a total stranger. Then, too, as a simple panthan, he might win a greater degree of her confidence by his loyalty and faithfulness and a place at her esteem that seemed to have been closed to the resplendent Jed of Gaethal. They had reached the tower now, and as they entered it from the subterranean corridor a backward glance revealed the van of their pursuers, hideous kaldanes mounted upon swift and powerful rikors. As rapidly as might be the three ascended the stairways leading to the ground level, but after them even more rapidly came the minions of Lud. Ghek led the way, grasping one of Tara's hands the more easily to guide and assist her. While Gehan of Gaethal followed a few paces in their rear, his baird sword ready for the assault that all realized must come upon them now before ever they reached the enclosure in the flyer. Let Ghek drop behind to your side said Tara and fight with you. There is but room for a single blade in these narrow corridors, replied the Gaetholian, hasten on with Ghek, and win to the deck of the flyer. Have your hand upon the control, and if I come far enough ahead of these to reach the dangling cable you can rise at my word and I can clamor to the deck at my leisure. But if one of them emerges first into the enclosure you will know that I shall never come, and you will rise quickly and trust to the gods of our ancestors to give you a fair breeze in the direction of a more hospitable people. Tara of Helium shook her head. We will not desert you, Panthon, she said. Ghehan, ignoring her reply, spoke above her head to Ghek. Take her to the craft, moored within the enclosure he commanded. It is our only hope. Alone I must win to its deck, but have I to wait upon you two at the last moment the chances are that none of us will escape. Do as I bid. His tone was haughty and arrogant, the tone of a man who has commanded other men from birth, and whose will has been law. Tara of Helium was both angered and vexed. She was not accustomed to being either commanded or ignored. But with all her royal pride she was no fool, and she knew the man was right that he was risking his life to save hers. So she hastened on with Ghek as she was bid, and after the first flush of anger she smiled, for the realization came to her that this fellow was but a rough, untutored warrior, skilled not in the finer usages of cultured courts. His heart was right, though, a brave and loyal heart, and gladly she forgave him the offence of his tone and manner. But what a tone! Recollection of it gave her sudden pause. Panthons were rough and ready men. Often they rose to positions of high command, so it was not the note of authority in the fellow's voice that seemed remarkable, but something else, a quality that was indefinable, yet as distinct as it was familiar. She had heard before when the voice of her great grand sire, Tartos Moors, Jeddak of Helium, had risen in command, and in the voice of her grandfather, Moors K. Jack, the Jedd, and in the ringing tones of her illustrious sire, John Carter, warlord of Barsoom, when he addressed his warriors. But now she had no time to speculate upon so trivial a thing, for behind her came the sudden clash of arms, and she knew that Turan, the Panthon, had crossed swords with the first of their pursuers. As she glanced back, he was still visible beyond a turn in the stairway, so that she could see the quick sword play that ensued. Daughter of a world's greatest swordsman, she knew well the finest points of the art. She saw the clumsy attack of the kaldane, and the quick, sure return of the Panthon. As she looked down from above, upon his almost naked body, trapped only in the simplest of Anadoran harness, and saw the play of the lithe muscles beneath the red-bron skin, and witnessed the quick and delicate play of his sword point, to her sense of obligation was added a spontaneous admission of admiration that was but the natural tribute of a woman to skill and bravery, and perchance some trifle to manly symmetry and strength. Three times the Panthon's blade changed its position, once to fend a savage cut, once to faint, and once to thrust. And as he withdrew it from the last position, the kaldane rolled lifeless from its stumbling right-core, and Turan sprang quickly down the steps to engage the next behind, and then Gek had drawn Tara upward, and a turn in the stairway shut the battling Panthon from her view. But still she heard the ring of steel on steel, the clank of accouterments, and the shrill whistling of the kaldanes. Her heart moved her to turn back to the side of her brave defender, but her judgment told her that she could serve him best, by being ready at the control of the flyer at the moment he reached the enclosure. This is the end of The Chessmen of Mars. Chapter 8 Recording by Tom Weiss The Chessmen of Mars. Chapter 9 This is a Librebox recording. All Librebox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librebox.org. Recording by Tom Weiss. The Chessmen of Mars. By Edgar Rice Burroughs Chapter 9 A Drift Over Strange Regions Presently Gek pushed aside a door that opened from the stairway, and before them Tara saw the moonlight flooding the walled court, where the headless right-cores lay beside their feeding troughs. She saw the perfect bodies, muscled as the best of her father's fighting men, and the females, whose figures would have been the envy of many of Helium's most beautiful women. Ah, she could but endow these with the power to act. Then indeed might the safety of the panthan be assured. But they were only poor lumps of clay, nor had she the power to quicken them to light. Ever must they lie thus until dominated by the cold, heartless brain of the kaldane. The girl sighed in pity, even as she shuddered in disgust, as she picked her way over and among the sprawled creatures toward the flyer. Quickly she and Gek mounted to the deck after the ladder had cast off the moorings. Tara tested the control, raising and lowering the ship a few feet within the walled space. It responded perfectly. Then she lowered it to the ground again and waited. From the open doorway came the sounds of conflict, now nearing them, now receding. The girl, having witnessed her champion's skill, had little fear of the outcome. Only a single antagonist could face him at a time upon the narrow stairway. He had the advantage of position and of the defensive, and he was a master of the sword while they were clumsy bunglers by comparison. Their sole advantage was in their numbers, unless they might find a way to come upon him from behind. She paled at the thought. Could she have seen him she might have been further perturbed, for he took no advantage of many opportunities to win a nearer of the enclosure. He fought coolly, but with a savage persistence that bore little semblance to purely defensive action. Often he clamored over the body of a fallen foe to leap against the next behind, and once there lay five dead caldanes behind him, so far had he pushed back his antagonists. These caldanes that he fought, nor did the girl awaiting them upon the flyer, but Gehan of Gaethal was engaged in a more alluring sport than winning to freedom, for he was avenging the indignities that had been put upon the woman he loved. But presently he realized that he might be jeopardizing her safety uselessly, and so he struck down another before him, and turning leaped quickly up the stairway, while the leading caldanes slipped upon the brain-covered floor and stumbled in pursuit. Gehan reached the enclosure twenty paces ahead of them, and raced toward the flyer, rise, he shouted to the girl, I will ascend the cable. Slowly the small craft rose from the ground as Gehan leaped the inert bodies of the righors lying in his path. The first of the pursuers sprang from the tower, just as Gehan seized the trailing rope. Faster he shouted to the girl above, or they will drag us down. But the ship seemed scarcely to move, though in reality she was rising as rapidly as might have been expected of a one-man flyer carrying a load of three. Gehan swung free above the top of the wall, but the end of the rope still dragged the ground as the caldanes reached it. They were pouring in a steady stream from the tower into the enclosure. The leader seized the rope. Quick he cried, lay hold, and we will drag them down. It needed but the weight of a few to accomplish his design. The ship was stopped in its flight, and then, to the horror of the girl, she felt it being dragged steadily downward. Gehan too realized the danger and the necessity for instant action. Clinging to the rope with his left hand, he had wound a leg about it, leaving his right hand free for his long sword which he had not sheathed. A downward cut clove the soft head of a caldane, and another severed the taut rope beneath the panthons feet. The girl heard a sudden renewal of the shrill whistling of her foes, and at the same time she realized that the craft was rising again. Slowly it drifted upward, out of reach of the enemy, and a moment later she saw the figure of Turan clamor over the side. For the first time in many weeks her heart was filled with the joy of thanksgiving, but her first thought was of another. You are not wounded? she asked. No, Tara of Helium, he replied. They were scarce worth the effort of my blade, and never were they a menace to me because of their swords. They should have slain you easily, said Gek. So great and highly developed is the power of reason among us that they should have known before you struck just where logically you must seek the strike, and so they should have been able to parry your every thrust and easily find an opening to your heart. But they did not, Gek. Kehan reminded him. Their theory of development is wrong, for it does not tend toward a perfectly balanced whole. You have developed the brain and neglected the body, and you can never do with the hands of another what you can do with your own hands. Mine are trained to the sword. Every muscle responds instantly and accurately, and almost mechanically, to the need of the instant. I am scarcely objectively aware that I think when I fight, so quickly does my point take advantage of every opening or spring to my defense if I am threatened that it is almost as though the cold steel had eyes and brains. You, with your caldane brain and your right core body, never could hope to achieve, in the same degree of perfection, those things that I can achieve. Development of the brain should not be the sum total of human endeavor. The richest and happiest peoples will be those who attain closest to well-balanced perfection in both mind and body, and even these must always be short of perfection. An absolute and general perfection lies stifling monotony and death. Nature must have contrasts. She must have shadows as well as highlights, sorrow with happiness, both wrong and right, and sin as well as virtue. Always have I been taught differently, replied Yek. But since I have known this woman and you of another race, I have come to believe that there may be other standards fully as high and desirable as those of the caldanes. At least I have had a glimpse of the thing you call happiness, and I realize that it may be good even though I have no means of expressing it. I cannot laugh nor smile, and yet within me is a sense of contentment, when this woman sings, a sense that seems to open before me wondrous vistas of beauty and unguessed pleasure, that far transcend the cold joys of a perfectly functioning brain. I would that I had been born of die-race. Caught by a gentle current of air, the flyer was drifting slowly toward the northeast across the valley of Bantu. Below them lay the cultivated fields, and one after another they passed over the strange towers of Moque and Nolac and the other kings of the sparms that inhabited this weird and terrible land. Within each enclosure surrounding the towers wobbled the rikors, repellent, headless things, beautiful yet hideous. A lesson, though, remarked Gehan, indicating the rikors in an enclosure above which they were drifting at the time, to that, fortunately, small minority of our race which worships the flesh and makes a god of appetite. You know them, Tara of Helium, they can tell you exactly what they had at the midday meal two weeks ago, and how the loin of the throat should be prepared, and what drink should be served with the rump of the citadar. Tara of Helium laughed, but not one of them could tell you the name of the man whose painting took the jeddak's award in the temple of beauty this year, she said. Like the rikors, their development has not been balanced. Fortunate indeed are those in which there is combined a little good and a little bad, a little knowledge of many things outside their own callings, a capacity for love and a capacity for hate, for such as these can look with tolerance upon all, unbiased by the egotism of him whose head is so heavy on one side that all his brains run to that point. As Gehan, cease speaking, Gech made a little noise in his throat as one does who would attract attention. You speak as one who has thought much upon many subjects. Is it then possible that you of the red race have pleasure in thought? Do you know ought of the joys of introspection? Do reason and logic form any part of your lives? Most assuredly, replied Gehan, but not to the extent of occupying all our time, at least not objectively. You, Gech, are an example of the egotism of which I spoke. Because you and your kind devote your lives to the worship of mind, you believe that no other creative beings think, and possibly we do not in the sense that you do, who think only of yourselves and your great brains. We think of many things that concern the welfare of a world. Had it not been for the red men of Barsoom, even the called Danes had perished from the planet, for while you may live without air, the things upon which you depend for existence cannot. And there had been no air in sufficient quantities upon Barsoom these many ages, had not a red man planned and built the great atmosphere of plan, which gave new life to a dying world. What have all the brains of all the called Danes that have ever lived done to compare with that single idea of a single red man? Gech was stumped. Being a called Dane, he knew that brains spelled the sum total of universal achievement, but it had never occurred to him that they should be put to use in practical and profitable ways. He turned away and looked down upon the valley of his ancestors across which he was slowly drifting into what unknown world. He should be a veritable god among the underlings he knew, but somehow a doubt assailed him. It was evident that these two from that other world were ready to question his preeminence. Even through his great egotism was fillering a suspicion that they patronized him, perhaps even pitied him. Then he began to wonder what was to become of him. No longer would he have many rikers to do his bidding, only this single one, and when it died there could not be another. When it tired, Gech must lie almost helpless while it rested. He wished that he had never seen this red woman. She had brought him only discontent and dishonor and now exile. Presently Tara of Helium commenced a homotune and Gech, the kaldane, was content. Gently they drifted beneath the hurtling moons above the mad shadows of a Martian night. The roaring of the bombs came in diminishing volume to their ears as their craft passed on beyond the boundaries of Bantum, leaving behind the terrors of that unhappy land. But to what were they being born? The girl looked at the man sitting cross-legged upon the deck of the tiny flyer, gazing off into the night ahead, apparently absorbed in thought. Where are we? she asked. Toward what are we drifting? Turan shrugged his broad shoulders. The stars tell me that we are drifting toward the northeast to reply, but where we are or what lies in our path I cannot even guess. A week since I could have sworn that I knew what lay behind each succeeding ridge that I approached, but now I admit in all humility that I have no conception of what lies a mile in any direction. Tara of Helium, I am lost, and that is all that I can tell you. He was smiling, and the girl smiled back at him. There was a slightly puzzled expression on her face. There was something tantalizingly familiar about that smile of his. She had met many a panthan, they came and went, following the fighting of a world, but she could not place this one. From what country are you, Turan? she asked suddenly. No, you not, Tara of Helium, he countered, that a panthan has no country. Today he fights beneath the banner of one master. Tomorrow beneath that of another. But you must all allegiance to some country when you are not fighting, she insisted. What banner then owns you now? He rose and stood before her, then bowing low. And I am acceptable, he said. I serve beneath the banner of the daughter of the warlord, now and forever. She reached forth and touched his arm with a slim brown hand. Your services are accepted, she said. And if ever we reach Helium, I promise that your reward shall be all that your heart could desire. I shall serve faithfully, hoping for that reward, he said. But Tara of Helium did not guess what was in his mind, thinking rather that he was mercenary. For how could the proud daughter of the warlord guess that a simple panthan aspired to her hand and heart? The dawn found them moving rapidly over an unfamiliar landscape. The wind had increased during the night and had borne them far from Van Thuom. The country below them was rough and inhospitable. No water was visible, and the surface of the ground was cut by deep gorges, while nowhere was any but the most meager vegetation discernible. They saw no life of any nature, nor was there any indication that the country could support life. For two days they drifted over this horrid wasteland. They were without food or water and suffered accordingly. Gack had temporarily abandoned his rye core after enlisting Turin's assistance in lashing it safely to the deck. The less he used it, the less would its vitality be spent. Already it was showing the effects of privation. Gack crawled about the vessel like a great spider over the side, down beneath the keel, and up over the opposite rail. He seemed equally at home one place as another. For his companions, however, the quarters were cramped, for the deck of a one-man flier is not intended for three. Turin sought always for signs of water, water they must have, or that water-giving plant which makes life possible upon many of the seemingly arid areas of Mars. But there was neither the one nor the other for these two days, and now the third night was upon them. The girl did not complain, but Turin knew that she must be suffering, and his heart was heavy within him. Gack suffered least of all, and he explained to them that his kind could exist for long periods without food or water. Turin almost cursed him as he saw the form of Tara of Helium slowly wasting away before his eyes, while the hideous Chaldein seemed as full vitality as ever. There are circumstances, remarked Gack, under which a gross and material body is less desirable than a highly developed brain. Turin looked at him, but said nothing. Tara of Helium smiled faintly. One cannot blame him, she said, where we not a bit boastful in the pride of our superiority when our stomachs were filled, she added. Perhaps there is something to be said for their system, Turin admitted. If we could but lay aside our stomachs when they cried for food and water, I have no doubt but that we should do so. I should never miss mine now, ascended Tara. It is mighty poor company. A new day had dawned, revealing a less desolate country and renewing again the hope that had been low within them. Suddenly Turin leaned forward, pointing ahead. Look, Tara of Helium, he cried. A city, as I am gay, as I am Turin, the panthan, a city. Far in the distance the domes and walls and slender towers of a city shown in the rising sun. Quickly the man seized the control and the ship dropped rapidly behind a low range of intervening hills, for well Turin knew that they must not be seen until they could discover whether friend or foe inhabited the strange city. Chances were that they were far from the abode of friends, and so must the panthan move with the utmost caution. But there was a city, and where a city was, was water, even though it were a deserted city, and food if it were inhabited. To the red man, food and water, even in the citadel of an enemy, meant food and drink for Tara of Helium. He would accept it from friends, or he would take it from enemies. Just so long, as it was there, he would have it. And there was shown the egotism of a fighting man, though Turin did not see it, nor Tara who came from a long line of fighting men. But Gek might have smiled had he known how. Turin permitted the flyer to drift closer behind his screening hills, and then, when he could advance no farther without fear of discovery, he dropped the craft gently to the ground in a little ravine, and leaping over the side made her fast to a stout tree. For several moments they discussed their plans, whether it would be best to wait where they were until darkness hid their movements and then approached the city in search of food and water, or approach it now, taking advantage of what cover they could, until they could glean something of the nature of its inhabitants. It was Turin's plan which finally prevailed. They would approach as close as safety dictated, in the hope of finding water outside the city, food too perhaps. If they did not, they could at least reconnoiter the ground by daylight, and then when night came Turin could quickly come close to the city, and in comparative safety prosecute his search for food and drink. Following the ravine upward they finally topped the summit of the ridge, from which they had an excellent view of that part of the city which lay nearest them, though themselves hidden by the brush behind which they crouched. Gek had resumed his rykor, which had suffered less than either Tara or Turin through their enforced fast. The first glance at the city, now much closer than when they had first discovered it, revealed the fact that it was inhabited. Banners and penins broke from many a stat. People were moving about the gate before them. The high white walls were paced by sentinels at far intervals. Upon the roosts of higher buildings the women could be seen airing the sleeping-silks and furs. Turin watched it all in silence for some time. I do not know them, he said at last. I cannot guess what city this may be, but it is an ancient city. Its people have no fliers and no firearms. It must be old indeed. How do you know they have not these things? asked the girl. There are no landing stages upon the roosts, not one that can be seen from here. While we were looking similarly at Helium we would see hundreds, and they have no firearms because their defenses are all built to withstand the attack of spear and arrow, with spear and arrow. They are an ancient people. If they are ancient, perhaps they are friendly, suggested the girl. Did we not learn, as children, in the history of our planet, that it was once peopled by a friendly, peace-loving race? But I fear they are not as ancient as that, replied Turin, laughing. It has long been ages since the men of Barsoom loved peace. My father loves peace, returned the girl, and yet he is always at war, said the man. She laughed. But he says he likes peace. We all like peace, he rejoined. Peace with honor, but our neighbors will not let us have it, and so we must fight. And to fight well men must like to fight, she added. And to like to fight they must know how to fight, he said, or no man likes to do the thing that he does not know how to do well, or that some other man can do better than he. And so always there will be wars and men will fight, he concluded, for always the men with hot blood in their veins will practice the art of war. We have settled the great questions of the girl's smiling, but our stomachs are still empty. Your panthan is neglecting his duty, replied Turin, and how can he with the great reward always before his eyes? She did not guess in what literal sense he spoke. I go forthwith, he continued, to rest food and drink from the ancients. No, she cried, laying a hand upon his arm, not yet. They would slay you or make you a prisoner. You are a brave panthan and a mighty one, but you cannot overcome a city single-handed. She smiled up into his face, and her hands still lay upon his arm. He felt the thrill of hot blood coursing through his veins. He could have seized her in his arms and crushed her to him. There was only gek the kalday in there, but there was something stronger within him that restrained his hand. Who may define it that inherent chivalry that renders certain men the natural protectors of women? From their vantage point they saw a body of armed warriors ride forth from the gate, and winding along a well-beaten road past from sight about the foot of the hill from which they watched. The men were red, like themselves, and they rode the small saddle thoats of the red race. Their trappings were barbaric and magnificent, and in their headdress were many feathers as had been the custom of the ancients. They were armed with swords and long spears, and they rode almost naked, their bodies being painted in ochre and blue and white. There were perhaps a score of them in the party, and as they galloped away on their tireless mounts, they presented a picture at once savage and beautiful. They had the appearance of splendid warriors, said Tehran. I have a great mind to walk boldly into their city and seek service. Tarrish at her head. Wait, she admonished. What would I do without you? And if you were captured, how could you collect your reward? I should escape, he said. At any rate, I shall try it, and he started to rise. You shall not, said the girl, her tone all authority. The man looked at her quickly, questioningly. You have entered my service, she said, a trifle heartily. You have entered my service for hire, and you shall do as I bid you. Tehran sank down beside her again with a half-smile upon his lips. It is yours to command, Princess, he said. The day passed. Ghek, tiring of the sunlight, had deserted his right core and crawled down a hole he had discovered close by. Tarrish and Tehran reclined beneath the scant shade of a small tree. They watched the people coming and going through the gate. The party of horsemen did not return. A small herd of citadars was driven into the city during the day, and once a caravan of broad-wield carts drawn by these huge animals wound out of the distant horizon and came down to the city. It, too, passed from their sight within the gateway. Then darkness came, and Tara of Helium bid her panthan search for food and drink, but she cautioned him against attempting to enter the city. Before he left her he bent and kissed her hand as a warrior may kiss the hand of his queen. This is the end of the Chessmen of Mars Chapter 9 Recording by Tom Weiss The Chessmen of Mars Chapter 10 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tom Weiss The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs Chapter 10 and Trapped Turan the panthan approached the strange city under cover of the darkness. He entertained little hope of finding either food or water outside the wall, but he would try and then, if he failed, he would attempt to make his way into the city for Tara of Helium must have sustenance and have it soon. He saw that the walls were poorly sentineled, but they were sufficiently high to render an attempt to scale them for doom to failure. Taking advantage of underbrush and trees, Turan managed to reach the base of the wall without detection. Silently he moved north past the gateway which was closed by a massive gate which effectively barred even the slightest glimpse within the city beyond. It was Turan's hope to find upon the north side of the city away from the hills a level plane where grew the crops of the inhabitants and here too water from their irrigating system. But though he traveled far along that seemingly interminable wall, he found no fields nor any water. He searched also for some means of ingress to the city, yet here too failure was his only reward, and now, as he went, keen eyes watched him from above and a silent stalker kept pace with him for a time upon the summit of the wall. But presently the shadow word descended to the pavement within and hurrying swiftly raced ahead of the stranger without. He came presently to a small gate beside which was a low building and before the doorway of the building a warrior standing guard. He spoke a few quick words to the warrior and then entered the building only to return almost immediately to the street, followed by fully forty warriors. Cautiously opening the gate, the fellow peered carefully along the wall upon the outside in the direction from which he had come. Evidently satisfied he issued a few words of instructions to those behind him whereupon half the warriors followed the man stealthily through the gateway where they crouched low among the shrubbery in a half-circle just north of the gateway which they had left open. Here they waited in utter silence, nor had they longed to wait before Turra on the panthan came cautiously along the base of the wall. To the very gate he came and when he found it and that it was open he paused for a moment listening. Then he approached and looked within. Assured that there was none within sight to apprehend him, he stepped through the gateway into the city. He found himself in a narrow street that paralleled the wall. Upon the opposite side rose buildings of an architecture unknown to him yet strangely beautiful. While the buildings were packed closely together there seemed to be no two alike and their fronts were all shapes and heights and of many hues. The skyline was broken by spire and dome and minaret and tall slender towers while the walls supported many a balcony and in the soft light of Chloros the farther moon now low in the west he sawed his surprise and consternation the figures of people upon the balconies. Directly opposite him were two women and a man. They sat leaning upon the rail of the balcony looking apparently directly at him, but if they saw him they gave no sign. Turra on hesitated a moment in the face of almost certain discovery and then assured that they must take him for one of their own he moved boldly into the avenue. Having no idea of the direction in which he might best hope to find what he sought and not wishing to arouse suspicion by further hesitation he turned to the left and stepped riskily along the pavement with the intention of placing himself as quickly as possible beyond the observation of those nocturnal watchers. He knew that the night must be far spent and so he could not but wonder why people should sit upon their balconies when they should have been asleep among their silks and furs. At first he had thought them the late guests of some convivial host but the windows behind them were shrouded in darkness and utter quiet prevailed quite upsetting such a theory and as he proceeded he passed many another group sitting silently upon other balconies they paid no attention to him seeming not even to note his passing. Some leaned with a single elbow upon the rail their chins resting in their palms others leaned upon both arms across the balcony looking down into the street while several that he saw held musical instruments in their hands but their fingers moved not upon the strings and then Turan came to a point where the avenue turned to the right to skirt a building that jetted from the inside of the city wall and as he rounded the corner he came full upon two warriors standing upon either side of the entrance to a building upon his right it was impossible for them not to be aware of his presence yet neither moved nor gave other evidence that they had seen him he stood there waiting his hand upon the hill of his long sword but they neither challenged nor halted him could it be that these also thought him to be one of their own kind indeed upon no other grounds could he explain their inaction as Turan had passed through the gateway into the city and taken his unhindered way along the avenue 20 warriors had entered the city and closed the gate behind them and then one had taken to the wall and followed along its summit in the rear of Turan and another had followed him along the avenue while the third had crossed the street and entered one of the buildings upon the opposite side the balance of them with the exception of a single sentinel beside the gate had re-entered the building from which they had been summoned they were well built strapping painted fellows their naked figures covered now by gorgeous robes against the chill of night as they spoke of the stranger they laughed at the ease with which they had tricked him and were still laughing as they threw themselves upon their sleeping silks and furs to resume their broken slumber it was evident that they constituted a guard detailed for the gate beside which they slept and it was equally evident that the gates were guarded and the city watched much more carefully than Turan had believed chagrind indeed had been the Jed of Gaethal had he dreamed that he was being so neatly tricked as Turan proceeded along the avenue he passed other centuries beside other doors but now he gave them small heed since they neither challenged nor otherwise outwardly noted his passing but while at nearly every turn of the erratic avenue he passed one or more of these silent sentinels he could not guess that he had passed one of them many times and that his every move was watched by silent clever stalkers scarce had he passed the certain one of these rigid guardsmen before the fellow awoke to sudden life found it across the avenue entered a narrow opening in the outer wall where he swiftly followed a corridor built within the wall itself until presently he emerged a little distance ahead of Turan where he assumed the stiff and silent attitude of a soldier upon guard nor did Turan know that a second followed in the shadows of the buildings behind him nor of the third who hastened ahead of him upon some urgent mission and so the panthan moved through the silent streets of the strange city in search of food and drink for the woman he loved men and women looked down upon him from shadowy balconies but spoke not and sentinels saw him pass and did not challenge presently from along the avenue before him came the familiar sound of clanking accoutrements the herald of marching warriors and almost simultaneously he saw upon his right an open doorway dimly lighted from within it was the only available place where he might seek to hide from the approaching company and while he had passed several centuries unquestioned it could scarce hope to escape scrutiny and questioning from a patrol as he naturally assumed this body of men to be inside the doorway he discovered a passage turning abruptly to the right and almost immediately thereafter to the left there was none in sight within and so he stepped cautiously around the second term the more effectually to be hidden from the street before him stretched the long corridor dimly lighted like the entrance waiting there he heard the party approach the building he heard someone at the entrance to his hiding place and then he heard the door past which he had come slam to he laid his hand upon his sword expecting momentarily to hear footsteps approaching along the corridor but none came he approached the turn and looked around it the corridor was empty to the closed door whoever had closed it had remained upon the outside turan waited listening he heard no sound then he advanced to the door and placed an ear against it all was silenced in the street beyond a sudden draft must have closed the door or perhaps it was the duty of the patrol to see to such things it was immaterial they had evidently passed on and now he will return to the street and continue upon his way somewhere there would be a public fountain where he could obtain water and the chance of food lay in the strings of dried vegetables and meat which hung before the doorways of nearly every bar Sumian home of the poorer classes that he had ever seen it was this district he was seeking and it was for this reason his search had led him away from the main gate of the city which he knew would not be located in a poor district he attempted to open the door only to find that it resisted his every effort it was locked upon the outside here indeed was a sorry contra-tempts turan the panthons scratched his head fortune frowns upon me he murmured but beyond the door fate in the form of a painted warrior stood smiling neatly had he tricked the unwary stranger the lighted doorway the marching patrol these had been planned in times to a nicety by the third warrior who had sped ahead of turan along another avenue and the stranger had done precisely what the fellow had thought he would do no wonder then that he smiled this exit bar to him turan turned back into the corridor he followed it cautiously and silently occasionally there was a door on one side or the other these he tried only to find each securely locked the corridor wound more erratically the farther he advanced a locked door barred his way at its end but a door upon his right opened and he stepped into a dimly lighted chamber about the walls of which were three other doors each of which he tried in turn two were locked the other opened upon a runway leading downward it was spiraled and he could see no further than the first turn a door in the corridor he had quit it opened after he had passed and the third warrior stepped out and followed after him a faint smile still lingered upon the fellow's grim lips turan drew his short sword and cautiously descended at the bottom was a short corridor with a closed door at the end he approached the single heavy panel and listened no sound came to him from beyond the mysterious portal gently he tried the door which swung easily toward him at his touch before him was a low sealed chamber with a dirt floor set in its walls were several other doors and all were closed as turan stepped cautiously within the third warrior descended the spiral runway behind him the panthan crossed the room quickly and tried a door it was locked he heard a muffled click behind him and turned about with ready sword he was alone but the door through which he had entered was closed it was the click of its lock that he heard with a bound he crossed the room and attempted to open it but to no avail no longer did he seek silence for he knew now that thing had gone beyond the sphere of chance he threw his weight against a wooden panel but the thick skill of which it was constructed would have withstood a battering ram from beyond came a low lap rapidly turan examined each of the other doors they were all locked a glance about the chamber revealed a wooden table and a bench set in the walls were several heavy rings to which rusty chains were attached all too significant of the purpose to which the room was dedicated in the dirt floor near the wall were two or three holes resembling the mouths of burrows doubtless the habitat of the giant martian rat he had observed this much when suddenly the dim light was extinguished leaving him in darkness utter and complete turan groping about sought the table and the bench placing the ladder against the wall he drew the table in front of him and sat down upon the bench his long sword gripped in readiness before him at least they should fight before they took him for some time he sat there waiting for he knew not what no sound penetrated to his subterranean dungeon he slowly revolved in his mind the incidents of the one evening the open unguarded gate the lighted doorway the only one he had seen thus open and lighted along the avenue he had followed the advance of the warriors at precisely the moment that he could find no other avenue of escape or concealment the corridors and chambers that led past many locked doors to this underground prison leaving no other path for him to pursue be my first ancestor he swore but it was simple and I a simpleton they tricked me neatly and have taken me without exposing themselves to a scratch but for what purpose he wished that he might answer that question and then his thoughts turned to the girl waiting there on the hill beyond the city for him and he would never come he knew the ways of the more savage peoples of bar soon no he would never come now he had disobeyed her he smiled at the sweet recollection of those words of command that had fallen from her dear lips he had disobeyed her and now he had lost the reward but what of her what now would be her fate starting before a hostile city with only an inhuman call dane for company another thought a horrid thought obtruded itself upon him she had told him of the hideous sights she had witnessed in the burrows of call danes and he knew that they ate human flesh geck was starving should he eat his right core he would be helpless but there was sustenance there for them both for the right core and the call dane to run cursed himself for a fool why had he left her far better to have remained and died with her ready always to protect her than to have left her at the mercy of the hideous bantoumian now turan detected a heavy odor in the air it oppressed him with a feeling of drowsiness he would have risen to fight off the creepy lethargy but his legs seemed weak so that he sank again to the bench presently his sword slipped from his fingers and he sprawled forward upon the table his head resting upon his arms tara of helium as the night wore on and turan did not return became more and more uneasy and when dawn broke with no sign of him she guessed that he had failed something more than her own unhappy predicament for a feeling of sorrow to her heart of sorrow and loneliness she realized now how she had come to depend upon this panthan not only for protection but for companionship as well she missed him and in missing him realized suddenly that he had spent more to her than a mere hired warrior it was as though a friend had been taken from her an old and valued friend she rose from her place of concealment that she might have a better view of the city udor duar of the eighth utan of otar jediq a manator rode back in the early dawn toward manator from a brief excursion to a neighboring village as he was rounding the hills south of the city his keen eyes were attracted by a slight movement among the shrubbery close to the summit of the nearest hill he halted his vicious mount and watched more closely he saw a figure rise facing away from him and peered down toward manator beyond the hill come he signaled to his followers and with a word to his throat turned the beast at a rabbit gallop up the hillside in his wake swept 20 savage warriors the padded feet of their mounts soundless upon the soft turf it was the rattle of sidearms at harness that brought tara of helium suddenly about facing them she saw a score of warriors with couched glances bearing down upon her she glanced at geck what would the spider man do in this emergency she saw him crawl to his rye core and attach himself then he arose the beautiful body once again animated and alert she thought that the creature was preparing for flight well it made little difference to her against such as were streaming up the hill toward them a single mediocre swordsman such as geck was worse than no defense at all hurry geck she had managed him back into the hills you may find there a hiding place that the creature only stuck between her and the oncoming riders drawing his long sword it is useless geck she said when she saw that he intended to defend her what kind of single sword accomplished against such odds i can dive at once replied the kaldane you and your panthan saved me from lead and i but do what your panthan would do were he here to protect you it is brave but it is useless she replied sheath your sword they may not intend as harm geck let the point of his weapon drop to the ground but he did not sheath it and thus the two stood waiting as udor the dwarf stopped his throat before them while his 20 warriors formed a rough circle about for a long minute udor sat his mount in silence looking searchingly first at tarah of helium and then at her hideous companion what manner of creature are you he asked presently and what do you before the gates of minotaur we are from far countries replied the girl and we are lost and starving we ask only food and rest and the privilege to go our way seeking our own homes udor smiled a grim smile minotaur and the hills which guarded alone know the age of minotaur he said yet in all the ages that have rolled by since minotaur first was there be no record in the annals of minotaur of a stranger departing from minotaur but i am a princess cried the girl heartily and my country is not at war with yours you must give me and my companions aid and assist us to return to our own land it is the law of bar soon minotaur knows only the laws of minotaur replied udor but come you shall go with us to the city where you being beautiful need have no fear i myself will protect you if otar so decrees but as for your companion but hold you said companions there are others of your party then you see what you see replied tarah haughtily be that as it may said udor if there be more they shall not escape minotaur for as i was saying if your companion fights well he too may live her otar is just and just are the laws of minotaur come get demure it is useless said the girl seeing that he would have stood his ground and fought them let us go with them wipe it your puny blade against their mighty ones when there should lie in your great brain the means to out with them she spoke in a low whisper rapidly you are right tarah of helium a replied and sheath the sword and so they moved down the hillside toward the gates of minotaur tarah princess of helium and get the kaldane of bantu and surrounding them wrote the savage painted warriors of udor duar of the eight utan of otar jeddak of minotaur this is the end of the chestmen of mars chapter 10 recording by tom weiss the chestmen of mars chapter 11 this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox dot org recording by tom weiss the chestmen of mars by edgar rice burrows chapter 11 the choice of tarah the dazzling sunlight of barsoom clothed the minotaur in an aureole of splendor as the girl and her captors rode into the city through the gate of enemies here the wall was some 50 feet thick and the sides of the passageway within the gate were covered with parallel shells of masonry from bottom to top within these shelves or long horizontal niches stood row upon row of small figures appearing like tiny grotesque statuettes of men their long black hair falling below their feet and sometimes trailing to the shelf beneath the figures were scarce a foot in height and but for their diminutive proportions might have been the mummified bodies of once living men the girl noticed that as they passed the warrior saluted the figures with their spears after the manner of barsoomian fighting men in extending a military courtesy and then they rode on into the avenue beyond which ran wide and stately through the city toward the east on either side were great buildings wondrously wrought paintings of great beauty and antiquity covered many of the walls their colors softened and blended by the suns of ages upon the pavement the life of the newly awakened city was already afoot women in brilliant trappings be feathered warriors their bodies doved with paint artisans armed but less gaily comparison took their various ways upon the duties of the day a giant zititar magnificent in rich harness rumbled its broad wheeled cart along the stone pavement toward the gate of enemies life and color and beauty wrought together a picture that filled the eyes of Tara of Helium with wonder and admiration for here was a scene out of the dead past of dying mars such had been the cities of the founders of her race before throxias mightiest of oceans had disappeared from the face of the world and from balconies on either side men and women looked down in silence upon the scene below the people in the street looked at the two prisoners especially at the hideous get and called out in question or comment to their guard but the watchers upon the balcony spoke not nor did one so much as turn ahead to note their passing there were many balconies on each building and not a one that did not hold its silent party of richly trapped men and women with here and there a child or two but even the children maintained their uniform silence and immobility of their elders as they approached the center of the city the girl saw that even the roof spore companies of these idle watchers harness and be jeweled as for some gala day of laughter and music but no laughter broke from these silent lips nor any music from the strings of the instruments that many of them held in jeweled fingers and now the avenue widened into an immense square at the far end of which rose a stately edifice gleaming white in virgin marble among the gaily painted buildings surrounding it and its scarlet sword and gaily flowering green foliage shrubbery toward this udor led his prisoners and their guard to the great arched entrance before which a line of 50 mounted warriors barred the way when the commander of the guard recognized udor the guardsmen fell back to either side leaving a broad avenue through which the party passed directly inside the entrance were inclined runways leading upward on either side udor turned to the left and led them upward to the second floor and down a long corridor here they passed other mounted men and in chambers upon either side they saw more occasionally there was another runway leading either up or down a warrior his steed at full gallop dashed into sight from one of those and race swiftly passed them upon some errand nowhere as yet had tara of helium seen a man afoot in this great building but when at a turn udor led them to the third floor she caught glimpses of chambers in which many riderless thotes were penned and others adjoining were dismounted warriors lulled at ease or played games of skill or chance and many there were who played at g-10 and then the party passed into a long wide hall of state as magnificent an apartment as even a princess of mighty helium ever had seen the length of the room ran an arched ceiling ablaze with countless radium bulbs the mighty spans extended from wall to wall leaving the vast floor unbroken by a single column the arches were a white marble apparently quarried in single huge blocks from which each arch was cut complete between the arches the ceiling was set solid about the radium balls with precious stones whose cindal and fire and color and beauty filled the whole apartment the stones were carried down the walls in an irregular fringe for a few feet where they appeared to hang like a beautiful and gorgeous drapery against the white marble of the wall the marble ended some six or seven feet from the floor the walls from that point down being wainscoted in solid gold the floor itself was of marble richly inlaid with gold in that single room was a vast treasure equal to the wealth of many a large city but what riveted the girl's attention even more than the fabulous treasure of decorations were the files of gorgeously harnessed warriors who sat their thoats in grim silence and immobility of either side of the central aisle rank after rank of them to the farther walls and as the party passed between them she could not note so much as the flicker of an eyelid or the twitching of a thoat's ear the hall of chiefs whispered one of her guard evidently noting her interest it was a note of pride in the fellow's voice and something of hushed awe then they passed through a great doorway into the chamber beyond a large square room in which a dozen mounted warriors lulled in their saddles as udor and his party entered the room the warriors came quickly erect in their saddles and formed a line before another door upon the opposite side of the wall the padwar commanding them saluted udor who with this party had halted facing the guard send one to otar announcing that udor brings two prisoners worthy of the observation of the great jeddak said udor one because of her extreme beauty the other because of his extreme ugliness otar sits in council with the lesser chiefs replied to lieutenant but the words of udor the dwarf shall be carried to him and he turned and gave instructions to one who sat his throat behind him what manner of creature is the male he asked the udor it cannot be that both are of one race they were together in the hills south of the city explained udor and they saying they are lost and starving the woman is beautiful said the padwar she will not long go begging in the city of manator and then they spoke of other matters of the doings of the palace of the expedition of udor until the messenger returned to say that otar made them bring the prisoners to him they passed them through a massive doorway which when opened revealed the great council chamber of otar jeddak of manator beyond a central aisle led from the doorway the full length of the great hall terminating at the steps of a marble dais upon which a man sat in a great throne chair upon either side of the aisle were ranged rows of highly carved desks and chairs of skel a hardwood of great beauty only a few of the desks were occupied those in the front row just below the rostrum at the entrance udor dismounted with four of his followers who formed a guard about the two prisoners who were then conducted toward the foot of the throne following a few faces behind udor as they called it at the foot of the marble steps the proud gaze of tara of helium rested upon the enthroned figure of the man above her he sat erect without stiffness a commanding presence trapped in the barbaric splendor that the barsoomian chieftain loves he was a large man the perfection of whose handsome face was marred only by the hauteur of his cold eyes in the suggestion of cruelty imparted by two thin lips it needed no second glance to assure the least observing that here indeed was a ruler of men a fighting jeddak whose people might worship but not love and for whose slightest favor warriors would buy with one another to go forth and die this was otar jeddak of manator and as tara of helium saw him for the first time she could not but acknowledge a certain admiration for the savage chieftain who severely personified the ancient virtues of the god of war udor and the jeddak interchanged the simple greetings of barsoom and then the former recounted the details of the discovery and the capture of the prisoners otar scrutinized them both intently during udor's narration of events his expression revealing not of what passed in the brain behind those inscrutable eyes when the officer had finished the jeddak fashioned his gaze upon ghek and you he asked what manner of thing are you from what country why are you in manator i am a kaldane replied yet the highest type of created creature upon the face of barsoom i am mine you are matter i come from band tomb i am here because we were lost and starving and you otar turned suddenly on tara you too or a kaldane i am a princess of helium replied to girl i was a prisoner in band tomb this kaldane and a warrior of my own race rescued me the warrior left us to search for food and water he is doubtless fallen into the hands of your people i ask you to free him and give us food and drink and let us go upon our way i am a granddaughter of a jeddak the daughter of a jeddak of jeddaks the warlord of barsoom i ask only the treatment that my people would accord you or yours helium repeated otar i know not of helium nor does a jeddak of helium rule manator i otar and jeddak of manator i alone rule i protect my own you have never seen a man or a warrior of manator captive in helium why should i protect the people of another jeddak it is his duty to protect them if he cannot he is weak and his people must fall into the hands of the strong i otar am strong i will keep you that he pointed at yet can it fight it is brave replied tara of helium but it has not the skill at arms which my people possess there is none then to fight for you asked otar we are a just people he continued without waiting for a reply and had you want to fight for you he might win to freedom for himself and you as well but udor assured me that no stranger ever had departed from manator she answered otar shrugged that does not disprove the justice of the laws of manator replied otar but rather that the warriors of manator are invincible had there come one who could defeat our warriors that one had one to liberty and you fetch my warrior cried tara heartily you shall see such sword play as doubtless the crumbling walls of your decaying city never have witnessed and if there be no trick in your offer we are already as good as free otar smiled more broadly than before and udor smiled too and the chiefs and warriors who looked on nudged one another and whispered laughing and tara of helium knew then that there was some trickery in their justice but though her situation seemed hopeless she did not cease to hope for was she not the daughter of john carter warlord of barsoom whose famous challenge the fate i still live remained the one irreducible defense against despair at thought of her noble sire the patrician chin of tara of helium rose a shade higher ah if he but knew where she was there was little to fear them the ghosts of helium would batter at the gates of manator the great green warriors of john carter's savage allies would swarm up from the dead sea bottoms lusting for pillage and for loot the stately ships of her beloved navy was sore above the unprotected towers and minarets of the doom city which only capitulation and heavy tribute could then save but john carter did not know there was only one other to whom she might hope to look turan the panthan but where was he she had seen his sword in play and she knew that it had been wielded by a master hand and who should know sword play better than tara of helium who had learned it well under the constant tutorage of john carter himself tricks she knew that discounted even far greater physical prowess than her own and a method of attack that might have been at once the envy and despair of the cleverest of warriors and so it was that her thoughts turned to turan the panthan though not alone because of the protection he might afford her she had realized since he had left her in search of food that there had grown between them a certain comradeship that she now missed there had been that about him which seemed to have bridged the gulf between their stations in life with him she had failed to consider that he was a panthan or that she was a princess they had been comrades suddenly she realized that she missed him for himself more than for his sword she turned toward otar where is turan my warrior she demanded you shall not lack for warriors replied the jeddak one of your beauty shall find plenty to fight for her possibly it shall not be necessary to look further than a jeddak of manator you please me woman what say you to such an honor through narrowed lids the princess of helium scrutinized the jeddak of manator from feathered headdress to sandaled foot and back to feathered headdress honor she mimicked in tones of scorn i please state do i then no swine that thou pleases me not that the daughter of john carter is not for such as thou a sudden tense silence fell upon the assembled chiefs slowly the blood receded from the sinister face of otar jeddak of manator leaving him a sickly purple in his wrath his eyes narrowed to two thin slits his lips were compressed to a bloodless line of malevolence for a long moment there was no sound in the throne room of the palace at manator then the jeddak turned toward udor take her away he said in a level voice that he lied his appearance of rage take her away and at the next games let the prisoners and the common warriors play a g tan for her and this asked udor pointing at geck to the pits until the next games replied otar so this is your wanted justice cried tara of helium that two strangers who have not wronged you shall be sentenced without trial and one of them is a woman the swine of manator are as just as they are brave away with her shouted otar and at a sign from udor the guards formed about the two prisoners and conducted them from the chamber outside the palace geck and tara of helium were separated the girl was led through long avenues toward the center of the city and finally into a low building topped by lofty towers of massive construction here she was turned over to a warrior who wore the insignia of a dwarf captain it is otar's wish explained udor to this one that she be kept until the next games when the prisoners and the common warriors shall play for her had she not the tongue of a throat she had been a worthy stake for our noblest seal and udor side perhaps even yet i may win a pardon for her it were too bad to see such beauty fall to the lot of some common fellow i would have honored her myself if i am to be imprisoned imprison me said the girl i do not recall that i was sentenced to listen to the insults of every low-born war who chance to admire me you see a core cried udor the tongue that she has even so and worse spoke she to otar the jedi i see replied a core whom tara saw was with difficulty restraining a smile come then with me woman he said and we shall find a safe place within the towers of g-10 but stay what ails me the girl had staggered and would have fallen had not the man caught her in his arms she seemed to gather herself then and bravely sought to stand erect without support a core glanced at udor knew ye the woman was ill he has possibly it is lack of food replied the other she mentioned i believe that she and her companions had not eaten for several days brave are the warriors otar sneered a core lavish their hospitality udor whose riches are uncounted and the brave otar whose squealing foats are stabled within marble halls and fed from troughs of gold can spare no crust to feed a starving girl the black-haired udor scald thy tongue will yet pierce thy heart son of a slave he cried once too often mayst us try the patience of the just otar hereafter guard thy speech as well as thy towers think not to taunt me with my mother's states at a core it is the blood of the slave woman that fills my veins with pride and my only shame is that i am also the son of the jedi an otar heard this queried udor otar has already heard it from my own lips replied a core this and more he turned upon his heels a supporting arm still around the waist of tara of helium and thus he half led half carried her into the towers of g tan while udor wielded his throat and galloped back in the direction of the palace within the main entrance to the tower of g tan lulled a half dozen warriors to one of these spoke a core keeper of the towers fetch lano the slave girl and bid her bring food and drink to the upper level of the thurian tower then he lifted the half fainting girl in his arms and bore her along the spiral inclined runway that led upward within the tower somewhere in the longest scent tara lost consciousness when it returned she found herself in a large circular chamber the stone walls of which were pierced by windows at regular intervals about the entire circumference of the room she was lying upon a pile of sleeping silks and furs while they're knelt above her a young woman who was forcing drops of some cooling beverage between her parched lips tara of helium half rose upon an elbow and looked about in the first moment of returning consciousness there were swept from the screen of recollection the happenings of many weeks she thought that she awoke in the palace of the warlord at helium her brows knit as she scrutinized the strange face bending over her who are you she asked and where is uthea i am lano the slave girl replied the other i know none by the name of uthea tara of helium sat erect and looked about her this rough stone was not the marble of her father's halls where am i she asked in the thurian tower replied the girl and then seeing that the other still did not understand she guessed the truth you are a prisoner in the towers of g ten in the city of manator she explained you were brought to this chamber weak and fainting by acor twar of the towers of g ten who sent me to you with food and drink for kind is the heart of ator i remember now sit tara slowly i remember but where is turan my warrior did they speak of him i heard not of another replied lano you alone were brought to the towers in that you are fortunate for there be no nobler man in manator than acor it is his mother's blood that makes himself she was a slave girl from gaythol gaythol explained tara of helium lies gaythol close by manator not close yet still the nearest country replied lano about 22 degrees east at lies gaythol murmured tara far gaythol but you are not from gaythol said the slave girl your harness is not of gaythol i am from helium said tara it is far from helium to gaythol said the slave girl but in our studies we learn much of the greatness of helium we of gaythol so it seems not so far away you too are from gaythol as tara many of us are from gaythol who are slaves in manator replied the girl it is to gaythol nearest country that the manatorians look for slaves most often they go in great numbers at intervals of three or seven years and haunt the roads that lead the gaythol and thus they capture whole caravans leaving none to bear warning the gaythol of their faith nor do any ever escape from manator to carry word of us back to gayhon our jed tara of helium ate slowly and in silence the girl's words aroused memories of the last hour she had spent in her father's palace and the great midday function at which she had met gaythol of gaythol even now she flushed as she recalled his daring words upon her reveries the door opened and a burly warrior appeared in the opening a hulking fellow with thick lips and an evil glaring face the slave girl sprang to her feet facing him what does this mean e-med she cried was it not the will of acor that this woman be not disturbed the will of acor indeed and the man sneered the will of acor is without power in the towers of g-10 or elsewhere for acor lies now in the pits of otar and e-med is dwarf of the towers tara of helium saw the face of the slave girl pale and the terror in her eyes this is the end of the chessmen of mars chapter 11 recording by tom weiss