 Chapter 4 of The Moon Made by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Thomas Copeland. Chapter 4. Captured. Our first view of the creatures proved beyond a question of a doubt that they were in effect human quadrupeds. The phases were very broad—much broader than any human faces that I have ever seen— but their profiles were singularly like those of the ancient North American Indians. Their bodies were covered with a garment with short legs that ended above the knees, and which was ornamented about the collar and also about the bottom of each leg with a rather fanciful geometric design. About the barrel of each was a sarsical and connected with it by a backstrap with something analogous to a breaching in earth horse harness. The breaching straps crossed on either side was a small circular ornament, and there was a strap resembling a trace leading from this forward to the collar, passing beneath a quite large circular ornament which appeared to be supported by the sarsical. Smaller straps running from these two ornaments upon the left side supported a sheath in which was carried what appeared to be a knife of some description. And upon the right side a short spear was carried in a boot, similarly suspended from the two ornaments, much as the carbine of our ancient earth cavalry was carried. The spear, which was about six feet long, was of peculiar design, having a slender well-shaped head from the base of which a crescent-shaped arm curved backward from one side, while upon the side opposite the crescent was a short sharp point at bright angles to the median line of the weapon. For a moment we stood there eyeing each other, and from their appearance I judged that they were as much interested in us as we were in them. I noticed that they kept looking beyond us, across the river toward the mainland. Presently I turned for a glance in the same direction, and far away, beyond a thin forest, I saw a cloud of dust which seemed to be moving rapidly toward us. I called Arthur's attention to it. Reinforcements, I said, that is what that fellow was calling for when he screamed. I think we had better try conclusions with five before any more arrive. We will try to make friends first, but if we are unsuccessful, we must fight our way back toward the ship at once. Accordingly I stepped forward toward the five with a smile upon my lips and my hand outstretched. I knew of no other way in which to carry to them an assurance of our friendliness. At the same time I spoke a few words in English in a pleasant and conciliatory tone. Although I knew that my words would be meaningless to them, I hoped that they would catch their intent from my inflection. Immediately upon my advance one of the creatures turned and spoke to another, indicating to us for the first time that they possessed a spoken language. Then he turned and addressed me in a tongue that was of course utterly meaningless to me, but if he had misinterpreted my action I could not misunderstand that which accompanied his words, for he reared up on his hind feet and simultaneously drew his spear and a wicked looking short-bladed sword or dagger, his companions at the same time following his example, until I found myself confronted by an array of weapons backed by scowling malignant faces. Their leader uttered a single word which I interpreted as meaning halt, and so I halted. I pointed to Orthas and to myself and then to the trail along which we had come and then back in the direction of the ship. I was attempting to tell them that we wished to go back whence we had come. Then I turned to Orthas. Draw your revolver, I said, and follow me. If they interfere, we shall have to shoot them. We must get out of this before the others arrive. As we turned to the retrace our steps along the trail, the five dropped upon all fours still holding their weapons in their forepaws and galloped quickly to a position blocking our way. Stand aside, I yelled, and fired my pistol above their heads. From their actions I judged that they had never before heard the report of a firearm, for they stood an instant in evidence of prize, and then wheeled and galloped off for about 100 yards where they turned and halted again facing us. They were still directly across our trail, and Orthas and I moved forward determinately toward them. They were talking among themselves and at the same time watching us closely. When we had arrived at a few yards from them, I again threatened them with my pistol, but they stood their ground, evidently reassured by the fact that the thing that I held in my hand, though it made a loud noise, inflicted no injury. I did not want to shoot one of them if I could possibly avoid it, so I kept on toward them, hoping that they would make way for us, but instead they reared again upon their hind feet and threatened us with their weapons. Just how formidable their weapons were I could not of course determine, but I conjectured that if they were at all adept in its use, their spear might be a very formidable thing indeed. I was within a few feet of them now, and their attitude was more warlike than ever, convincing me that they had no intention of permitting us to pass peacefully. Their features, which I could now see distinctly, were hard, fierce and cruel in the extreme. Their leader seemed to be addressing me, but of course I could not understand him, but when at last standing there upon his hind feet with evidently as much ease as I stood upon my two legs, he carried his spear back in a particularly menacing movement. I realized that I must act and act quickly. I think the fellow was just on the point of launching his spear at me when I fired. The bullet struck him square between the eyes, and he dropped like a log without a sound. Instantly the others wheeled again and galloped away, this time evincing speed that was almost appalling, clearing spaces of a hundred feet in a single bound, even though handicapped as they must have been, by the weapons which they clutched in their forepaws. A glance behind me showed the dust cloud rapidly approaching the river upon the mainland, and calling to Orthas to follow me, I ran rapidly along the trail, which led back in the direction of the ship. The four moon creatures retreated for about half a mile, and then halted and faced us. They were still directly in our line of retreat, and there they stood for a moment, evidently discussing their plans. We were nearing them rapidly, for we had discovered that we too could show remarkable speed when retarded by gravity only one-sixth of that of Earth. To clear forty feet at a jump was nothing, our greatest difficulty lying in a tendency to leap to two great heights, which naturally resulted in cutting down our horizontal distance. As we neared the four who had taken their stand upon a summit of a knoll, I heard a great splashing in the river behind us, and turning saw that their reinforcements were crossing the forward, and would soon be upon us. There appeared to be fully a hundred of them, and our case looked hopeless indeed, unless we could manage to pass the four ahead of us and reach the comparative safety of the forest beyond the first four. Commenced firing, or, as I said, shoot to kill. Take the two at the left as your targets, and outfire at the two at the right. We had better halt and take careful aim, as we can't afford to waste ammunition. We came to a stop about twenty-five yards from the foremost creature, which is a long pistol shot, but they were standing still upon the crest of a knoll, distinctly outlined against the sky, and were such a size as to present a most excellent target. Our shots rang out simultaneously. The creature at the left, at which Orthus had aimed, lead tie into the air and fell to the ground, where it lay kicking convulsively. The one at the right uttered a piercing shriek, clutched at its breast and dropped dead. Then Orthus and I charged the remaining two, while behind us we heard loud, weird cries and the pounding of galloping feet. The two before us did not retreat this time, but came to meet us, and then we halted and fired. This time they were so close that we could not miss them, and the last of our original lunar foment lay dead before us. We ran then, ran as neither of us had imagined human beings ever could run. I know that I covered over fifty feet in many a leap, but by comparison with the speed of the things behind us, we might have been standing still. They fairly flew over the lavender sward, indicating that those which we had first seen had at no time extended themselves in an effort to escape us. I ventured to say that some of them leaped fully three hundred feet at a time, and now at every bound they emitted fierce and terrible yells, which I assumed to be their war cry intended to intimidate us. It's no use, Orthus, I said to my companion. We might as well make our stand here and fight it out. We cannot reach the forward. They are too fast for us. We stopped then and faced them, and when they saw we were going to make a stand, they circled and halted about a hundred yards distant, entirely surrounding us. We had killed five of their fellows, and I knew we could hope for no porter. We were evidently confronted by a race of fierce and warlike creatures, the appearance of which at least gave no indication of the finer characteristics that are so much revered among humankind upon earth. After a good look at one of them, I could not imagine the creature harboring even the slightest conception of the word mercy, and I knew that if we ever escaped that fierce cordon, it would be by fighting our way through it. Come, I said to Orthus, straight through for the forward, and turning again in that direction, I started blazing away with my pistol as I walked slowly along the trail. Orthus was at my side, and he too fired as rapidly as I. Each time our weapons spoke, a moon man fell, and now they commenced to circle us at a run, much as the savage Indians of the Western Plains circled the parked wagon trains of our long-gone ancestors in North America. They hurled spears at us, but I think the sound of our revolvers and the effect of the shots had, to some measure, unnerved them, for their aim was poor, and we were not at any time seriously menaced. As we advanced slowly, firing, we made many hits, but I was horrified to see that every time one of the creatures fell, the nearest of his companions leaped upon him and cut his throat from ear to ear. Some of them had only to fall to be dispatched by his fellows. A bullet from Orthus' weapon shattered the hind leg of one of them, bringing him to the ground. It was, of course, not a fatal wound, for Orthus had scarcely gone down when the nearest to him sprang forward and finished him, and thus we walked slowly toward the fore, and I commenced to have hope that we might reach it and make our escape. If our antagonists had been less fearless, I should have been certain of it, but they seemed almost indifferent to their danger, evidently counting upon their speed to give them immunity from our bullets. I can assure you that they presented most difficult targets, moving as they did in great leaps and bounds. It was probably more their number than our accuracy that permitted us the hits we made. We were almost at the fore when the circle suddenly broke and then formed a straight line parallel to us, the leader swinging his spear about his head, grasping the handle at its extreme end. The weapon moved at great speed in an almost horizontal plane. I was wondering at the purpose of his action when I saw that three or four of those directly in the rear of him had commenced to swing their spears in a similar manner. There was something strangely menacing about it that filled me with alarm. I fired at the leader and missed, and at the report of my pistol a half-dozen of them let go with their swift-warding spears, and an instant later I realized the purpose of their strange maneuver. For the heavy weapons shot toward us, but first, with the speed of lightning, the crescent-like hooks catching us around a leg, an arm, and the neck, hurling us backward to the ground, and each time we assayed to rise, we were struck again until we finally lay there bruised and half-stunned and holy at the mercy of our antagonists, who galloped forward quickly, stripping our weapons from us. Those who had heard their spears at us recovered them, and then they all gathered about, examining us and jabbering among themselves. Then the leader spoke to me, prodding me with the sharp point of his spear. I took it that he wanted me to arise, and I tried to do so, but I was pretty much all in and fell back each time I assayed to obey. Then he spoke to two of his followers who lifted me and laid me across the back of a third. There I was fastened in a most uncomfortable position by means of leather straps, which were taken from various parts of the harnesses of several of the creatures. The corpus was similarly lashed to another of them, whereupon they moved slowly back in the direction from which they had come, stopping as they went to collect the bodies of their dead, which were strapped to the backs of others of their companions. The fellow upon whom I rode had several well-defined gates, one of which, a square trot, was the acme of torture for me. Since I was bruised and hurt, I had been placed across him face down upon my belly, but in as much as this gate must have been hard to upon him, while thus saddled with a burden, he used it but little, for which I was tremendously thankful. When he changed to a single foot, which fortunately for me he often did, I was much less uncomfortable. As we crossed the fort toward the mainland, it was with difficulty that I kept from being drowned since my head dragged in the water for a considerable distance, and I was mighty glad when we came out again on shore. The thing that bore me was consistently inconsiderate of me, bumping me against others and against the bodies of their slain that were strapped to the backs of his fellows. He was apparently quite tireless, as were the others, and we often moved for what seemed many miles at a fast run. Of course, my lunar weight was equivalent to only about thirty pounds on earth, while our captors seemed fully as well muscled as a small earthly horse, and as we later learned were capable of carrying heavy burdens. How long we were on the march, I do not know. For, where it is always daylight and there is no sun or other means of measuring time, one may only guess at its duration, the result being influenced considerably by one's mental and physical sensations during the period. Judged by these considerations, then, we might have been on the trail for many hours, before I was not only most uncomfortable in body, but in mind as well. However, that may be, I know only that it was a terrible journey, that we crossed rivers twice after reaching the mainland, and came at last to our destination amid low hills, where there was a level park-like space dotted with weird trees. Here the straps were loosened and we were dumped upon the ground more dead than alive and immediately surrounded by great numbers of creatures who were identical with those who had captured us. When I was finally able to sit up and look about, I saw that we were at the threshold of a camp or village, consisting of a number of rectangular huts with high-peak roofs, thatched or rather shingled, with the broad round leaves of the trees that grew about. We saw now for the first time the females and the young. The former were similar to the males, except that they were of lighter build, and they were far more numerous. They had udders with from four to six teats, and many of them were followed by numerous progeny, several that I saw having as high as six young in the litter. The young were naked, but the females wore garments similar to that worn by the males, except that it was less onate, as was their harness and other trappings. From the way the women and children rushed upon us as we were unloaded in camp, I felt that they were going to tear us to pieces, and I really believed they would have had not our captors prevented. Evidently the word was passed that we were not to be injured, for after the first rush, they contented themselves with examining us, and sometimes feeling of us or our clothing, the while they discussed us. But with the bodies of those who were slain, it was different, for when they discovered these where they had been unloaded upon the ground, they fell upon them and commenced to devour them, the warriors joining them in the gruesome and terrible feast. Orthos and I understood now that they had cut the throats of their fellows to let the blood, in anticipation of the repast to come. As we came to understand them and the conditions under which they lived, many things concerning them were explained. For example, at least two-thirds of the young that are born are males, and yet there are only about one-sixth as many adult males as there are females. They are naturally carnivorous, but with the exception of one other creature upon which they prey, there is no animal in that part of the interior lunar world with which I am familiar that they may eat with safety. The flying toad and the walking snake and the other reptilia are poisonous, and they dare not eat them. The time had been, I later learned, possibly however ages before, when many other animals roamed the surface of the inner moon, but all had become extinct except our captors and another creature of which we at the time of our capture knew nothing. And these two preyed upon one another, while the species which was represented by those into whose hands we had fallen raided the tribes and villages of their own kind for food and ate their own dead as we had already seen. As it was the females to whom they must look for the production of animal food, they did not kill these of their own species and never ate the body of one. Enemy women of their own kind whom they captured, they brought to their villages each warrior adding to his herd the individuals that he captured. As only the males are warriors and as no one will eat the flesh of a female, the mortality among the males is accordingly extremely high, accounting for the vastly greater number of adult females. The latter are very well treated as the position of a male in a community is dependent largely upon the size of his herd. The principal mortality among the females results from three causes. Raids by the other flesh-eating species which inhabit the inner lunar world, quarrels arising from jealousy among themselves, and death while bringing forth their young, especially during lean seasons when their warriors have been defeated in battle and have been unable to furnish them with flesh. These creatures eat fruit and herbs and nuts as well as meat, but they do not thrive well upon these things exclusively. Their existence therefore is dependent upon the valor and ferocity of their males, whose lives are spent in making raids and forays against neighboring tribes and defending their own villages against invaders. As Orthas and I sat watching the disgusting orgy of cannibalism about us, the leader of the party that had captured us came toward us from the center of the village, and speaking a single word which I later learned meant come, he prodded us with his spear-point until finally we staggered to our feet. Repeating the word then, he started back into the village. I guess he wants us to follow him, Orthas, I said, and so we fell in behind the creature, which was evidently what he desired, for he nodded his head and stepped on in the direction that he had taken, which led toward a very large hut by far the largest in the village. In the side of the hut presented to us there seemed to be but a single opening, a large door covered by heavy hangings which our conductor thrust aside as we entered the interior with him. We found ourselves in a large room without any other opening whatsoever, save the doorway through which we had entered and over which the hanging had again been drawn. Yet the interior was quite light, though not so much so as outside, but there were no means for artificial lighting apparent. The walls were covered with weapons and with the skulls and other bones of creatures similar to our captors. Though Orthas and I both noticed a few skulls much narrower than the others and which from their appearance might have been the human skulls of earth men, though in discussing it later we came to the conclusion that they were the skulls of the females and the young of the species, whose faces are not so wide as the adult male. Lying upon a bed of grasses at the opposite side of the room was a large male whose skin was of so much deeper lavender hue than the others that we had seen as to almost suggest a purple. The face, though badly disfigured by scars and grim and ferocious in the extreme, was an intelligent one, and the instant that I looked into those eyes I knew that we were in the presence of a leader, nor was I wrong, for this was the chief or king of the tribe into whose clutches fate had thrown us. A few words passed between the two, and then the chief arose and came toward us. He examined us very critically, our clothing seeming to interest him tremendously. He tried to talk with us, evidently asking us questions, and seemed very much disgusted when it became apparent to him that we could not understand him nor he us, for Orthas and I spoke to one another several times, and once or twice addressed him. He gave some instructions to the fellow who had brought us, and we were taken out again, and to another hut, to which there was presently brought a portion of the carcass of one of the creatures we had killed before we were captured. I could not eat any of it, however, and neither could Orthas, and after a while, by signs and gestures, we made them understand that we wished some other kind of fruit. With the result, a little later they brought us fruit and vegetables, which were more palatable and, as we were to discover later, sufficiently nutritious to carry us along and maintain our strength. I had become thirsty, and by simulating drinking, I finally succeeded in making plain to them my desire in that direction, with the result that they led us out to a little stream which ran through the village, and there we quenched our thirst. We were still very weak and sore from the manhandling we had received, but we were both delighted to discover that we were not seriously injured, nor were any of our bones broken. And everything that we possessed of a similar nature, and which they considered as curiosities. The chief wore Orthas' wristwatch above one forepaw and mine above the other, but as he did not know how to wind them, nor the purpose for which they were intended, they did him or us no good. The result was, however, that it was now entirely impossible for us to measure time in any way, and I did not know even to this day how long we were in this strange village. We ate when we were hungry, and slept when we were tired. It was always daylight, and it seemed that there were always raiding parties going out or returning, so that flesh was plentiful, and we became rather reconciled to our fate, in so far as the immediate danger of being eaten was concerned, but why they kept us alive, as we had slain so many of their fellows, I could not understand. It must have been immediately after we arrived that they made an attempt to teach us their language. Two females were detailed for this duty. We were given unlimited freedom within certain bounds, which were well indicated by the several sentries which constantly watched from the summit of hills surrounding the village. Past these we could not go. Nor do I know that we had any particular desire to do so, since we realized only too well that there would be little chance of our regaining the ship should we escape the village, in as much as we had not the remotest idea in what direction it lay. Our one hope lay in learning their language, and then utilizing our knowledge in acquiring some definite information as to the surrounding country and the location of the Barsoom. It did not seem to take us very long to learn their tongue, though, of course, I realized that it may really have been months. Almost before we knew it, we were conversing freely with our captors. When I say freely, it is possible that I exaggerate a trifle, for though we could understand them fairly well, it was with difficulty that we made ourselves understood. Yet we managed it some way, handicapped as we were, by the peculiarities of the most remarkable language of which I have any knowledge. It is a very difficult language to speak, and as a written language would be practically impossible. For example, there is the word guel, for which Orthus and I discovered twenty-seven separate and distinct meanings, and that there are others I have little or no doubt. Their speech is more aptly described as song, the meaning of each syllable being governed by the note in which it is sung. They speak in five notes, which we may describe as A, B, C, D, and E. Gu sung in A means something radically different from gu sung in E, and again, if gu is sung in A followed by E in G, it means something other than if gu had been sung in D followed by E and A. Fortunately for us, there are no words of over three syllables, and most of them consist of only one or two, or we should have been entirely lost. The resulting speech, however, is extremely beautiful, and Orthus used to say that if he closed his eyes, he could imagine himself living constantly in grand opera. The chief's name, as we learned, was Gavagol. The name of the tribal village was Novans, while the race to which they belonged was known as Vagas. When I felt that I had mastered the language sufficiently well to make myself at least partially understood, I asked to speak to Gavagol, and shortly thereafter I was taken to him. You have learned our speech, he asked. I nodded in the affirmative. I have, I said, and I have come to ask why we are held captives and what you intend to do with us. We did not come to seek a quarrel with you. We wish only to be friends and to be allowed to go our way in peace. What manner of creature are you, he asked, and where do you come from? I asked him if he had ever heard of the sun or the stars or the other planets or any worlds outside his own, and he replied that he had not, and that there were no such things. But there are Gavagol, I said, and I and my companion are from another world far, far outside your own. An accident brought us here. Give us back our weapons and let us go. He shook his head negatively. Where you come from, do you eat one another? He asked. No, I replied, we do not. Why? he asked, and I saw his eyes narrow as he awaited my reply. Was it mental telepathy or just luck that put the right answer in my mouth? For somehow, intuitively, I seemed to grasp what was in the creature's mind. Our flesh is poison, I said, those who eat it die. He looked at me then for a long time with an expression upon his face which I could not interpret. It may have been that he doubted my word, or again it may have been that my reply confirmed his suspicion. I do not know. But presently he asked me another question. Are there many like you in the land where you live? Millions upon millions, I replied. And what do they eat? They eat fruits and vegetables and the flesh of animals, I answered. What animals? he asked. I have seen no animals here like them, I replied, but there are many kinds unlike us, so that we do not have to eat flesh of our own race. Then you have all the flesh that you want, all that we can eat, I replied. We raised these animals for their flesh. Where is your country? he demanded. Take me to it. I smiled. I cannot take you to it. I said it is upon another world. It was quite evident that he did not believe me, for he scowled at me ferociously. Do you wish to die? he demanded. I told him that I had no such longing. Then you will lead me to your country, he said, where there is plenty of flesh for everyone. You may think about it until I send for you again. Go. And thus he dismissed me. Then he sent for Orthas. But what Orthas told him I never knew exactly, for he would not tell me. And as our relations, even in our captivity, were far from friendly, I did not urge him to any confidences. I had occasion to notice, however, that from that time, Gavago indicated a marked preference for Orthas, and the latter was often called to his heart. I was momentarily expected to be summoned into Gavago's presence and learn my fate when it discovered that I could not lead him to my country, where flesh was so plentiful. But at about this time we broke camp, and in the press of other matters, he evidently neglected to take any further immediate action in my case, or at least so I thought, until I later had reason to suspect that he felt that he need no longer depend upon me to lead him to this land of milk and honey. The Vagas are nomadic race, moving hither and thither, either as they are pressed by some foes, or till their victories have frightened away the other tribes from their vicinity. In either of which events, they march in search of fresh territory. The move that we made now was necessitated by the fact that all the other tribes nearby had fled before the ferocity of the Nobans, whose repeated and successful raids had depleted the villages of their neighbors and filled them with terror. The breaking of camp was a wonderfully simple operation. All their few belongings, consisting of extra clothing, trappings, weapons, and their treasured skulls and bones of victims, were strapped to the backs of the women. Orthos and I each bestowed a warrior detailed by Gavago for the purpose of transporting us, and we filed out of the village, leaving the huts behind. Gavago, with a half dozen warriors, galloped far ahead. Then came a strong detachment of warriors with the women folks behind them, another detachment of warriors following in the rear of the women and children, while others rode upon either flank. A mile or so in the rear came three warriors, and there were two or three scattered far out on either flank. Thus we moved, thoroughly protected against surprise, regulating our speed by that of the point with which Gavago traveled. Because of the women and the children, we moved more slowly than warriors do when on the march alone, when they seldom, if ever, travel slower than a trot, and more generally at a fast gallop. We moved along a well-worn trail, passing several deserted villages from which the prey of the novans had fled. We crossed many rivers, for the lunar world is well-watered. We skirted several lakes, and at one point of high ground I saw far at our left the waters of what appeared to be a great ocean. There was never a time when Orthos and I were not plentifully supplied with food, for there is an abundance of it growing throughout all the territory we crossed, but the novans had been without flesh for several days and were in consequence mad with hunker as the fruits and vegetables which they ate seemed not to satisfy them at all. We were moving along at a brisk trot when without warning we were struck by a sudden gust of wind that swept cold and refreshing down from some icy mountain fastness. The effect upon the novans was electrical. I would not have had to understand their language to realize that they were terrified. They looked apprehensively about and increased their speed as though endeavoring to overtake Gavago, who was now far ahead with the point. A moment later a dash of rain struck us, and then it was every man for himself and the devil take behind most as they broke into a wild stampede to place themselves close to their chief. Their hysterical flight was like the terrorized rush of wild cattle. They jostled and tripped one another and stumbled and fell and were trampled upon in their haste to escape. Old Gavago had stopped with his point and was waiting for us. Those who accompanied him seemed equally terrified with the rest, but evidently they did not dare run until Gavago gave the word. I think, however, that they all felt safer when they were close to him because they had a great deal of confidence in him, yet they were still pretty badly frightened and it would not have taken much to have set them off again into another route. Gavago waited until the last of the rearguard straggled in and then he set off directly toward the mountains, the entire tribe moving in a compact mass though they might have fallen easy prey to an ambush or any sudden attack. They knew, however, what I have guessed that knowing that their enemies were as terrified of the storm as they, there was little danger of their being attacked, none would ever, in fact. We came at last to a hillside covered with great trees which offered some protection from both the wind and the rain, which had now arisen to the proportion of a hurricane. As we came to a halt, I slipped from the back of the warrior who had been carrying me and found myself beside one of the women who had forthesoned me the language of the Vagas. Why is everyone so terrified? I asked her. It is Zohal, she whispered fearfully. He is angry. Who is Zohal? I asked. She looked at me in wide-eyed astonishment. Who is Zohal? She repeated. They told me that you said that you came from another world and I can well believe it when you ask, who is Zohal? Well, who is he? I insisted. He is a great beast, she whispered. He is everywhere. He lives in all the great holes in the ground and when he is angry he comes forth and makes the water fall and the air run away. We know that there is no water up there when she pointed toward the sky, but when Zohal is angry he makes water fall from where there is no water. So might he is Zohal and he makes the air to run away so that the trees fall before it as it rushes past and huts are not flat or carried high above the ground. And then, oh terror of terrors, he makes a great noise before which mighty warriors fall upon the ground and cover up their ears. We have angered Zohal and he is punishing us and I do not dare to ask him not to send the big noise. It was at that instant that there broke upon my ears the most terrific detonation that I have ever heard. So terrific was it that I thought my eardrums had burst and simultaneously a great ball of fire seemed to come rolling down from the mountain heights above us. The woman covering her ears shuddered and when she saw the ball of fire she voiced a piercing shriek. The light that devours, she cried. When that comes to it is the end for then is Zohal mad with rage. The ground shook to the terrifying noise and though the ball of fire did not pass close to us still could I feel the heat of it even as it went by at a distance leaving a trail of blackened and smoking vegetation in its rear. What flames there were the torrential rain extinguished almost immediately. It must have traveled about ten miles down toward the sea across rolling hills and level valleys when suddenly it burst the explosion being followed by a report infinitely louder than that which I had first heard. An earthquake could scarce have agitated the ground more terrifyingly than did this peel of lunar thunder. I had witnessed my first lunar electrical storm and I did not wonder that the inhabitants of this strange world were terrified by it. They attribute these storms as they do all their troubles to Zohal, a great beast which is supposed to dwell in the depth of the lunar craters the lower ends of which open into the interior lunar world. As we cowered there among the trees I wondered if they were not afraid that the wind would blow the forest down and crush them. And I asked the woman who stood beside me yes she said that often happens but more often does it happen that if one is caught in a clearing the air that runs away picks him up and carries him along to drop him from a great height upon the hard ground. The trees bend before they break and those who watch are warned and they escape destruction if they are quick. When the wind that runs seizes one there is no escape. It seems to me I said that it would have been safer if Gavago had led us into one of those sheltered ravines and I indicated a gorge in the hillside at our right. No, she said, Gavago is wise. He led us to the safest spot. We are sheltered from the air that runs away and perhaps a little from the light that devours nor can the waters that drown reach us here for presently they will fill that ravine full. Nor was she wrong. Down from the hillside the water poured in torrents into the ravine and presently though it must have been 20 or 30 feet deep it was filled almost overflowing. Whoever had sought refuge there would have been drowned and washed away to the big ocean far below. It was evident that Gavago had not been actuated solely by blind terror though I came to know that he must have felt terror for these terrible electrical storms alone in the breasts of these fearless and ferocious people. The storm must have lasted for a considerable time. How long, of course, I do not know but some idea of his duration may be gained by the fact that I became hungry and ate of the fruit of the trees which sheltered us at least six times and slept twice. We were soaked to the skin and very cold for the rain evidently came from a great altitude. During the entire storm the novans scarcely moved from their positions under the trees with their backs toward the storm where they stood with lowered heads like cattle. We experienced twelve detonations of the ground shaking thunder and witnessed six manifestations of the light that devours. Trees had fallen all about us and as far as we could see the grasses lay flat and matted upon the ground. They told me that storms of the severity of this were infrequent, though rain and wind accompanied by electrical manifestations might be expected at any season of the year. I use that expression from habit for one can scarcely say that there are any well-marked seasonal changes within the moon that could indicate corresponding divisions of time as upon the earth. From what I was able to gather from observation and from questioning of the vagas lunar vegetation reproduces itself entirely independent of any seasonal restrictions the frequency and temperature of the rains having seemingly the greatest influence in the matter. A period of drought and cold rains retards growth and germination while frequent warm rains have an opposite effect the result being that you find vegetation of the same variety in all stages of development growing side by side blossoms upon one tree, fruit upon another and the dry seed pods upon a third. Not even therefore by the growth of plant life might one measure time within the moon and the period of gestation among the vagas is similarly irregular being affected by the physical condition of the female as well as by climatic conditions I imagine. When the tribe is well fed and the weather warm the warriors victorious and the minds of the women at peace they bring forth their young in an incredibly short period. On the other hand a period of cold or of hunger or of long marches follow a defeat induces an opposite result. It seems to me that the females nurse their young for a very short period of time for they grow rapidly and as soon as their molars are through and they can commence eating meat they are weaned. They are devilish little rascals their youthful exuberance finding its outlet in acts of fiendish cruelty. As they are not strong enough to inflict their tortures on adults they perpetrate them upon one another with the result that the weaker are often killed after they are weaned and have left the protection of their savage mothers. Of course they tried to play some of their fiendish tricks on Orthos and myself but after we had knocked a few of them down they left us severely alone. During the storm they huddled shivering and cold against the adults possibly I should be ashamed to say it but I felt no pity for them and rather prayed that they would all be chilled to death so hateful and wantonly cruel were they. As they become adults they are less wanton in their atrocities though no less cruel. Their energies however being intelligently directed upon the two vital interests of their lives procuring flesh and women. Shortly after the rain ceased the wind began to abate and as I was cold, cramped and uncomfortable I walked out into the open in search of exercise that would stimulate my circulation and warm me again. As I walked briskly to and fro from here and there at the evidences of the recent storm my glance chanced to rise toward the sky and there I saw what appeared at first to be a huge bird a few hundred feet above the forest in which we had sought shelter. It was flapping its great wings weakly and seemed to be almost upon the verge of exhaustion and though I could see that it was attempting to fly back in the direction of the mountains the force of the wind was steadily carrying it in the direction of the lowlands and the sea. Presently it would be directly above me and as it drew nearer I knit my brows in puzzlement for except for its wings and would appear to be a large hump upon its back its form for a striking resemblance to that of a human being. Some of the Novans evidently saw me looking upwards thus interestingly and prompted by curiosity joined me. When they saw the creature flying weakly overhead they set up a great noise until presently all the tribe had run into the open and were looking up at the thing above us. The wind was lessening rapidly but it still was strong enough to carry the creature gently toward us and at the same time I perceived that whatever it was it was falling slowly to the ground or more correctly sinking slowly. What is it? I asked of the warrior standing beside me. It is a yuga, he replied. Now shall we eat. I had seen no birds in the lunar world and as I knew they would not eat the flying reptiles I guessed that this must be some species of bird life but as it dropped closer I became more and more convinced that it was a winged human being or at least a winged creature with human form as it fluttered toward the ground the novens ran along to meet it waiting for it to fall within reach. As they did so Gavago called to them to bring the creature to him alive and unharmed. I was about a hundred yards from the spot when the poor thing finally fell into their clutches. They dragged it to the ground roughly and a moment later I was horrified to see them tear its wings from it and the hump from its back. There was a great deal of grumbling at Gavago's order as following the storm in the long fast the tribe was ravenously hungry. Flash, flash! they growled. We are hungry, give us flash! But Gavago paid no attention to them standing to one side beneath the tree awaiting the prisoner that they were bringing toward him. End of chapter 5 Recording by Thomas Copeland Chapter 6 of the Moon Maid by Edgar Rice Burroughs This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Thomas Copeland Chapter 6, The Moon Maid Arthas, who was becoming the almost constant companion of the chief was standing beside the ladder while I was 25 or 30 yards away and directly between Gavago and the warriors who were approaching with the prisoner who would have necessity to pass close beside me. I remained where I was therefore in order to get a better look at it which was rather difficult because it was almost entirely surrounded by novans. However, as they came opposite me there was a little break momentarily in the ranks and I had my first opportunity, the brief, for a closer examination of the captive. My comprehension was almost staggered by what my eyes revealed to me for there before me was as perfectly formed a human female as I had ever seen. By earthly standards she appeared a girl of about 18 with hair of glossy blackness that suggested more the raven's wing than ought else and a skin of almost marble whiteness slightly tinged with a creamy shade. Only in the color of her skin did she differ from earthly women in appearance except that she seemed far more beautiful than they. Such perfection of features seemed almost unbelievable. Had I seen her first posed motionless I could have sworn that she was chiseled from marble yet there was nothing cold about her appearance. She fairly radiated life and feeling. If my first impression had been startling it was nothing to the effect that was produced when she turned her eyes full upon me. Her black brows were too thin penciled arches beneath which were dark wells of light vying in blackness with her raven hair. On either cheek was just the faintest suggestion of a deeper cream and to think that these hideous creatures saw in that form divine only flesh to eat. I shuddered at the thought and then my eyes met hers and I saw an expression of impregnality and surprise registered in those liquid ores. She half turned her head as she was dragged past that she might have a further look at me. For doubtless she was as surprised to see a creature like me as I was to see her. Involuntarily I started forward. Whether there was an appeal for succor in those eyes I do not know, but at least they aroused within me instantly that natural instinct of a ewan male to protect the weak. And so it was that I was a little behind her and to her right when she was halted before Gavago. The savage vagas chieftain eyed her coldly. While from all sides there arose cries of give us flesh! Give us flesh! We are hungry! To which Gavago paid not the slightest attention. From whence come you yoga? He demanded. Her head was high and she eyed him with cold dignity as she replied from lathe. The novan raised his brows. Ah, I agree, from lathe. The flesh of the women from lathe is good and elictus thin lips. The girl narrowed her eyes and tilted her chin a bit higher. Rymph, she ejaculated disgustedly. As rymph is the name of the four-legged snake of Vana, the inner world, and considered the lowest and most disgusting of created things, she could not well have applied a more appropriate epithet to the novan chieftain, but if it had been her intent to affront him his expression gave no indication that she had succeeded. Your name? he asked. Na ila, she replied. Na ila, he repeated. Ah! Are you the daughter of Sagrath, Gemedar lathe? She nodded in indifferent affirmation as though ought he might say it was a matter of perfect indifference to her. What do you expect us to do with you? Asked Gavago, a question which suggested a cat playing with a mouse before destroying it. What can I expect of the vagas other than that they will kill me and eat me? she replied. A roar of savage assent arose from the creature surrounding her. Gavago flashed a quick look of anger and displeasure at his people. Do not be too sure of that, he snapped. This be little more than a meal for Gavago alone. It would but wet the appetite at the tribe. There are two more, suggested a bold warrior close beside me, pointing at me and Orthes. Silence, roared Gavago, since when did you become chief of the nobans? We can starve without a chief, muttered the warrior with spoken, and from two or three about him arose grumblings of assent. Swift at that, Gavago reared upon his hind feet and in the same motion drew and hurled his spear, the sharp point penetrating the breast of the mouth content, piercing his heart. As the creature fell, the warrior closest to him slit his throat, while another withdrew Gavago's spear from the corpse and returned it to the chief. Divide the carcass among you, commanded the chief, and whosoever thinks that there is not enough, let him speak as that one spoke, and there shall be more flesh to eat. Thus did Gavago chief of the nobans hold the obedience of his savage tribesmen. There was no more muttering then, but I saw several cast hungry eyes at me, hungry, angry eyes and no good. In what seemed an incredibly short space of time, the carcass of the slain warrior had been divided and devoured, and once again we set out upon the march in search of new fields to conquer and fresh flesh to eat. Now Gavago sent scouts far in advance of the point, for we were entering territory which he had not invaded for a long time, a truth which was evidenced that there were only about 20 warriors in the tribe besides Gavago who were at all familiar with the territory. Naturally quarrelsome and disagreeable, the nobans were far from pleasant companions upon that memorable march, since they had not recovered from the fright and discomforts of the storm, and in addition were ravenously hungry. I imagine that none other than Gavago could have held them. What his purpose was in preserving the three prisoners that would have made such excellent food for the tribe, I did not know. However, we were not slain, though I judged the fellow who carried me would much sooner have eaten me, and to vent his spite upon me he trotted as much as he could, and I can assure you that he had the most devilishly execrable trot I ever sat. I felt that he was rather running the thing into the ground, for he had an easy track which would have made it much more comfortable for both of us, and in as much as I knew that I was safe as long as I was under Gavago's protection, I made up my mind to teach the fellow a lesson which I finally did, although almost as much to my discomfort as his, by making no effort to ease myself upon his back, so that at every step I rose high and came down hard upon him, sitting as far back as possible was to pound his kidneys painfully. It made him very angry and he threatened me with all kinds of things if it didn't assist, but I only answered by suggesting that he take an easier gait, which at last he was forced to do. Arthas was riding ahead with Gavago who as usual led the point while the new prisoner, a strident Novan warrior, was with the main body as was I. Once the warriors that we bestowed side by side and I saw the girl eyeing me questioningly. She seemed much interested in the remnants of my uniform which must have differed greatly from any clothing she had seen in her own world. It seemed that she spoke and understood the same language that Gavago used and so at last I made bold to address her. It is unfortunate, I said, that you have fallen into the hands of these creatures. I wish that I might be of service to you, but I also am a prisoner. She acknowledged my speech with a slight inclination of her head and at first I thought that she was not going to reply but finally looking me full in the face she asked what are you? I am one of the inhabitants of the planet Earth. Where is that? And what is a planet? She asked where I had had to use the Earth word since there is no word of similar meaning in the language of the Gavagas. You know of course I said that space outside of Vana is filled with other worlds. The closest to Vana is Earth which is many many times larger than your world. It is from Earth that I come. She shook her head. I do not understand, she said. She closed her eyes and waved her hands with a gesture that might have included the universe. Oh all is rock. She said except here in the center of everything in this space we call Vana who else is rock? I suppressed a smile at the vast egotism of Vana. But yet how little different is it from many worldlings who conceive that the entire cosmos exists solely for the inhabitants of Earth. I even know men in our own enlightened 21st century who insist that Mars is not inhabited and that the messages that are purported to come from our sister planet are either the evidences of a great world hoax or the voice of the devil luring people from belief in the true God. Did you ever see me like in Vana? I asked her. No, she replied. I never did. But I have not been to every part of Vana. It is a very great world and there are many corners of it of which I know nothing. I am not a Vana I told her again. I am from another world far far away and then I tried to explain something of the universe to her of the sun and the planets and their satellites but I saw that it was as far beyond her as of the conceptions of eternity and space beyond the finite mind of Earth men. She simply couldn't get it that was all. To her everything was solid rock that we know as space. She thought for a long time though and then she said perhaps after all there may be other worlds than Vana. The great hoos, those vast holes that lead into the eternal rock may open into other worlds like Vana. I have heard that theory discussed but no one in Vana believes it. It's true then, she exclaimed brightly and you come from another world like Vana. You came through one of the hoos, did you not? Yes, I came through one of the hoos, I replied. The word means hole in the Bagas tongue but I did not come from a world like Vana. Here you live on the inside of a hollow sphere. We Earth men live upon the outside of a similar though much larger sphere. What holds it up? She cried laughing. It was the first time that she had laughed and it was a very contagious laugh and altogether delightful. Although I knew that it would probably be useless, I tried to explain the whole thing to her, commencing with the nebular hypothesis and winding up with the relations that exist between the moon and the Earth. If I didn't accomplish anything else, I at least would do something to distract her mind from her great predicament and to amuse her temporarily for she laughed often at some of my statements. I had never seen so gay and vivacious a creature nor one so entirely beautiful as she. The single sleeveless tunic-like garment that she wore fell scarcely to her knees and as she bestowed the no-lon warrior, it often flew back until her thighs even were exposed. It was divinely perfect, its graceful contours being rather accentuated than hidden by the diaphanous material of her dainty covering. But when she laughed, she exposed two rows of even white teeth that would be the envy of the most beautiful of Earth maids. Suppose, she said, that I should take a handful of gravel and throw it up in the air. According to your theory, the smaller would all commence to revolve about the larger, and they would go flying thus wildly around in the air forever. But that is not what would happen. If I threw a handful of gravel into the air, it would fall immediately to the ground again. And if the worlds you tell me of were cast thus into the air, they too would fall, just as the gravel falls. It was useless. But I had known that from the beginning. What would be more interesting to question her, and that I had wished to do for some time. But she always put me off with a pretty gesture and a shake of her head insisting that I answer some of her questions instead. But this time, I insisted. Tell me, please, I asked, how you came to the spot where you were captured, how you flew, and what became of your wings, and why, when they tore them from you, it did not injure you. I answered that quite merely. The wings do not grow upon us, she explained, we make them and fasten them upon our arms. Then you can support yourself in the air with wings fastened to your arms, I demanded incredulously. Oh no, she said, the wings we use simply for propelling ourselves through the air. In a bag upon our backs we carry a gas that is later than air. It is this gas which supports us, and we carry it in such quantities as to maintain a perfect equilibrium so that we may float at any altitude or with our wings rise or fall gently. But as I hovered over lathe came the air that runs and seizing me with its strong arms bore me off across the surface of Vana. Futilely I fought against it until I was spent and weak and then it dropped me into the clutches of the vagas, for the gas in my bag had become depleted. It was not intended to carry me aloft for any great length of time. She had used a word which when I questioned her she explained so that I understood that it meant time and I asked her what she meant by it and how she could measure it since I had seen no indication of the vagas having any conception of a measurable aspect of duration. Na'ila explained to me that the vagas who were lower order had no means of measuring time but the yuga the race to which she belonged had always been able to compute time through their observation of the fact that during certain periods the bottoms of the hooves or craters were illuminated and for another period they were dark and so they took as a unit of measure the total period from the beginning of this light in a certain crater to its beginning again and this they called a yula which corresponds with a sidereal month. By mechanical means they divide this into a hundred parts called ola the duration of each of which is about six hours and 32 minutes earth time. Ten oolas make a keld which one might call the lunar year of about 272 days earth time. I asked her many questions with great pleasure in her answers for she was a bright intelligent girl and although I saw many evidences of regal dignity about her her manner toward me was most natural and unaffected and I could not help but feel that she occupied a position of importance among her own people. Our conversation was suddenly interrupted however by a messenger from the point who came racing back at tremendous speed carrying word from gavago that the scouts were signaling that they had discovered a large village and that the warriors were to prepare to fight. Immediately we moved up rapidly to gavago and then we all advanced toward the scout who could be seen upon a no far ahead. We were cautioned to silence and as we moved at a brisk canter over the soft pale lavender vegetation of the inner moon the feet of the vagas giving forth no sound the picture presented to my earthly eyes was weird and mysterious in the extreme. When we reached the scout we learned that the village was situated just beyond a low ridge not far distant so gavago gave orders that the women, the children and the three prisoners should remain under a small guard where we were until they had taught the ridge when we were to advance to a position where we might overlook the village and if the battle was against the novans we could retreat to a point which he indicated to the warriors left to guard us. This was to be the rendezvous for following defeat the vagas warriors scatter in all directions thus preventing any considerable body of them being attacked and destroyed by a larger body of the pursuing enemy. As we stood there upon the no watching gavago and his savage warriors galloping swiftly toward the distant ridge I could not but wonder that the inhabitants of the village which they were about to attack had not placed sentinels along the ridge to prevent just such a surprise as this but when I questioned one of the warriors who had been left to guard us he said that not all the vagas tribes were accustomed to posting sentinels when they felt themselves reasonably safe from attack it had always been gavago's custom however and to it they attributed his supremacy among the other vagas tribes in large territory. After a tribe has made a few successful raids and returned victorious they are filled with pride the warrior explained to me and presently they begin to think that no one dares to attack them and then they grow careless and it'll by little the customer posting sentinels as drops into disuse the very fact that they have no sentinels indicates that they are a large, powerful and successful tribe for a long time the very idea of the thought that was passing through his mind was repellent in the extreme and I fairly shuddered when I contemplated the callousness with which this creature spoke of the coming orgy in which he hoped to devour flesh of his own kind presently we saw our force disappear beyond the ridge and then we too advanced and as we moved forward to the distance the fierce and savage war cry of the nobons and a moment later it was answered by another no less terrible rising from the village beyond the ridge our guards hastened us then to greater speed until at a full run we mounted the steep slope of the ridge and halted upon its crest below us lay a broad valley and in the center a long beautiful lake the opposite shore of which was loathed in forest while that nearest us was open and park-like dotted here and there with beautiful trees and in this open space we described a large village the ferocity of the scene below us was almost indescribable the nobons warriors were circling the village at a rapid run attempting to keep the enemy in a compact mass within where it would present a better target for their spears the ground was dotted with corpses there were no wounded for whenever one fell the nearest to him whether friend or foe cut his throat since the victors would devour them all without partiality the females and the young had taken refuge in the huts from the doorways of which they watched the progress of the battle the defenders attempted repeatedly to break through the circling nobons the warrior with whom I had been talking told me that if they were successful the females and the young would follow them through the break scattering in all directions while their warriors attempted to encircle the nobons it was almost immediately evident that the advantage lay with the force that succeeded in placing this swift moving circle about its enemy and keeping the enemy within it until they had been dispatched for those in the racing circle presented a poor target while the compact massive warriors milling in the center could scarce be missed following several unsuccessful attempts to break through the ring of savage foemen the defenders suddenly formed another smaller ring within and moving in the opposite direction to the nobons raced in a rapid circle no longer did they cast spears at the enemy but contented themselves with leaping and bounding at a rapid gate at first it seemed to me that they had lost their heads with terror but at last I realized that they were executing a strategic maneuver which demonstrated both cunning and high discipline in the earlier stages of the battle each side had depended for its weapons upon those hurled by the opposing force but now the defenders hurled no weapons and it became apparent that the nobons would soon no longer have spears to cast at them the defenders were also lessening their casualties by moving in a rapid circle in a direction opposite to that taken by the attackers but it must have required high courage and considerable discipline to achieve this result since it is difficult in the extreme to compel men to present themselves continuously as living targets for a foe while they themselves are permitted to inflict no injury upon the enemy Gavago apparently was familiar with the ruse or suddenly he gave a loud cry which was evidently a command instantaneously his entire force wheeled in their tracks and raced in the opposite direction paralleling the defenders of the village and immediately thereafter cast their remaining spears at comparatively easy targets the defenders who were of the tribe called Luthans wheeled instantly to reverse the direction of their flight those wounded in the sudden onslaught stumbled and fell tripping and repeating the others with the result that for an instant they were a tangled mass without order or formation then it was that Gavago and his nobons leaped in upon them with their short wicked sword daggers at once the battle resolved itself into a ferocious and bloody hand-to-hand conflict in which daggers and teeth and three-toed paws each did their share to inflict injury upon an antagonist in order for the guards to escape a blow or to place themselves in an advantageous position many of the competence leaped high into the air sometimes between 30 and 40 feet their shrieks and howls were continuous and piercing corpses lay piled so thick as to impede the movements of the warriors and the ground was slippery with blood yet on and on they fought until it seemed that not a single it is almost over remarked the warrior at my side see there are two or three nobons now attacking each luthon it was true and I saw that the battle put last but a short time as a matter of fact it ended almost immediately the remaining luthons suddenly attempting to break away and scatter in different directions some of them succeeded in escaping and possibly 20 but I am sure that there were more than that and the rest fell Gavago and his warriors did not pursue the few who had escaped evidently considering that it was not worth the effort since there were not enough of them to menace the village and there was already plenty of meat lying fresh and warm upon the ground we were summoned now and as we filed down into the village rape was the rejoicing of our females and young guards were placed over the women and children of the defeated luthons and then at a signal from Gavago the nobons fell upon the spoils of war it was a revolting spectacle as mothers devoured their sons and wives their husbands and I do not care to dwell upon it when the victors had eaten their fill the prisoners were brought forth under heavy guard and divided by the Barbas between the surviving nobons warriors no favouritism shown in the distribution of the prisoners except that Gavago was given first choice and received also those that remained after as nearly equal a distribution as possible had been made I had expected that the male children would be killed but they were not being inducted into the tribe upon an equal footing with those that had been born into it being capable of no sentiments of either affection or loyalty it is immaterial to these creatures to what tribe they belong but once inducted into a tribe the instinct of self-preservation holds them to it since they would be immediately slain by the members of any other tribe I learned shortly after this engagement that Gavago had lost fully half his warriors and that this was one of the most important battles that the tribe had ever fought the spoils however had been rich for they had taken over 10,000 women and fully 50,000 young and great quantities of weapons harness and apparel the flesh that they could not eat was wrapped up and buried and I was told that it would remain in excellent condition almost indefinitely End of Chapter 6 Recording by Thomas Copeland Chapter 7 Our Moon Made by Edgar Rice Burroughs This Librivox recording is in the public domain Recording by Thomas Copeland Chapter 6 A Fight and a Chance After occupying the new village Orthos and I were separated he being assigned a hut close to Gavago while I was placed in another section of the village If I could have been said to have been on good terms with any of the terrible creatures of the tribe it was with the woman who had taught me the language of the vagas and it was from her that I learned that Gavago was treated with such marked distinction by Gavago whom it seemed he had promised to lead to the land of our origin where he had assured the savage chieftain he would find flesh in abundance Na'ila was confined in still another part of the village and I only saw her occasionally for it was evident that Gavago wished to keep the prisoners separated Upon one occasion when I met her at the shore of the lake I asked her why it was that they had not slain and eaten her and she told me that when Gavago had discovered her identity and that her father was a gemadol a ruler of a great city he had sent messengers with an offer to return Na'ila for a ransom of one hundred young women of the city of Leith Do you think your father will send the ransom I asked? I do not know she replied I do not see how they are going to get a message to him for ordinarily my race kills the virus on sight they may succeed however but even so it is possible that my father will not send the ransom I would not wish him to the daughters of my father's people are as dear to them as am I to him it would be wrong to give a hundred of the daughters of Leith in return for one even though she be the daughter of the gemadol we had drunk and were returning toward our huts when wishing to prolong our conversation and to be with this pleasant companion while I might I suggested that we walk farther into the woods and gather fruit Na'ila signified her willingness and together we strolled out of the village into the denser woods at its rear where we found a particularly delicious fruit growing in abundance I gathered some and offered it to her but she refused thanking me saying that she had but just eaten do they bring the fruit to you I asked or do you have to come and gather it yourself what fruit I get I gathered she replied but they bring me flesh it is of that which I have just eaten and so I do not care for fruit now flesh I explained what kind of flesh the flesh of the virus of course she replied what other flesh might a yuga eat I fear that I concealed my surprise and discussed at the thought that the beautiful Na'ila ate of the flesh of the vagas you too eat of the flesh of these creatures I demanded why not she asked you eat flesh do you not in your own country you told me that you raised beasts solely for their flesh yes I replied that is true we have lower orders we do not eat the flesh of humans you mean that you do not eat the flesh of your own species she said yes I replied that is what I mean neither do I she said the vagas are not of the same species as the yuga they are a lower order just as are the creatures whose flesh you eat in your own country you told me a beef and a mutton and a pork which you have described as creatures with four legs like the vagas what is the difference then between the eating of the flesh of pork and beef or mutton and the eating of vagas who are low creatures also but they have human faces I cried at a spoken language you had better learn to eat them she said otherwise you will eat no flesh in vana the more I thought about it the more reason I saw in her point of view she was right she was transgressing in a natural law and eating the flesh of the vagas then to we eating the flesh of cattle to her the vagas were less than cattle they were dangerous and hated enemies the more I analyzed the thing the more it seemed to me that we humans of the earth were more surely transgressing a natural law by devouring our domestic animals many of which we learned to love then were the yuga a vana in devouring the flesh of their four footed foes the vagas upon our earth we farms we raise calves and sheep and little pigs and often times we become greatly attached to individuals and they to us we gain their confidence and they have implicit trust in us and yet when they are of the right age we slay and devour them presently it did not seem either wrong or unnatural that Na'ila should eat the flesh of the vagas for myself I could never do it nor ever did we had left the forest and were returning to the village to our huts when near the large hut occupied by Gavago we came suddenly upon Orthas at the sight of us together he scowled if I were you he said to me I would not associate with her too much it may arouse the displeasure of Gavago it was the first time that Orthas had spoken to me since we had occupied this village I did not like his tone or his manner you will please to mind your own business Orthas I said to him and continued on with Na'ila I saw the man's eyes narrow malignantly and then he turned and entered the hut of Gavago the chief of the Novanas every time I went to the river I had to pass in the vicinity of Na'ila's hut it was a little out of my way but I always made the slight detour in the hope of meeting her though I had never entered her hut nor called for her since she had never invited me and realizing her position I did not wish to intrude I was of course ignorant of the social customs of her people and feared offending her accidentally a chance that the next time that I walked down to the lake shore following our stroll in the woods I made my usual detour that I might pass by the hut of Na'ila as I came near I heard voices one of which I recognized as that of Na'ila and the other a man's voice the girl's tones were angry and imperious leave my presence creature with the first words that I could distinguish and then the man's voice calm he said ingratiatingly let us be friends come to my hut and you will be safe for Gavago is my friend the voice was that of Orthas go she ordered him again I would as soon lie with Gavago as with you know then by Orthas angrily that you will go whether you wish it or not for Gavago has given you to me calm and then he must have seized her for I heard her cry out how dare you lay hands upon me Na'ila princess of Leith I was close beside the entrance to the hut now and I did not wait to hear any more but thrusting the hanging aside entered there they were in the center of the single room Orthas struggling to drag the girl toward the opening while she resisted and struck at him Orthas back was toward me and he did not know that there was another in the hut until I had stepped up behind him and grasping him roughly by the shoulder had jerked him from the girl and swung him about facing me you cad I said get out of here before I kick you out and don't ever let me hear of you molesting this girl again his eyes narrowed and he looked at me with an ugly light in them since boyhood you have cheated me out of all that I wished you ruined my life on earth but now conditions are reversed the tables have turned believe me then when I tell you that if you interfere with me you sign your own death warrant it is only by my favor that you live at all if I gave the word Gavago would destroy you at once go then to your hut and stop your meddling in the affairs of others a habit that you developed in a most flagrant degree on earth but which will avail you nothing here within moon the woman is mine Gavago has given her to me even if her father should fail to send the ransom her life shall be spared as long as I desire her your interference then can only result in your death and do her no good for provided you are successful in keeping me from her you would be but condemning her to death in the event that her father does not send the ransom and Gavago has told me that there is little likelihood of that since it is scarcely possible that his messengers will be able to deliver Gavago's demands to Sageroth you have heard him, I said, turning to the girl what are your wishes in the matter perhaps he speaks the truth I have no doubt but that he speaks the truth, she replied but no, strangers that the honor of a princess of Leith is dearer than her life very well, Orthas, I said to the man you'll hurt her, now get out he was almost white with anger and for a moment I thought that he was going to attack me but he was ever a coward and condemning himself with giving me a venomous look he walked from the hut without another word I turned to Naila after the hanging had dropped behind Orthas it is too bad I said that with all your suffering at the hands of the vagas you should also be annoyed by one who is practically of your own species your kindness more than compensates he replied graciously you are a brave man and I am afraid that you are going to suffer for your protection of me this man is powerful he has made wonderful promises to Gavago he is going to teach him how to use the strange weapons that you brought from your own world the woman who brings me my meat told me all of this and that the tribe is much excited by the promises that your friend has made to Gavago he will teach them to make the weapons such as you slew their warriors with so that they will be invincible and may go abroad in Varna slaying all who oppose them and even raiding the cities of the Yuga he has told them that he will lead them to the strange thing which brought you from your world to Varna and there they will find other weapons like those that you carried and having the noise which they make and the things with which they kill all these he says they may have and that later he will build other things such as brought you from your world to Varna and he will take Gavago and all the novans to what you call earth if there is any man in the universe who might do it it is he I reply but there is little likelihood that he can do it he is merely deceiving Gavago in the hope of prolonging his own life against the possibility that an opportunity to escape will develop in which event he will return to our ship and our friends he is a bad man though Naila and you must be careful of him there is a vacant hut near yours and I will come and live in it there is no use in asking Gavago for he is friendly with Orthos and he will not permit me to make the change if you ever need me call Julian as loud as you can and I will come you are very good she said you are like the better men of Lath the high nobles of the court of the gemadars I grew up my father they too are honorable men to whom a woman may look for protection but there are no others in all Vana since the Kalkars arose thousands of Kels ago and destroyed the power of the nobles in the gemadars and all the civilization that was Vana's only in Lath have we preserved assemblance of the old order I wish I might take you to Lath for there you would be safe and happy you are a brave man it is strange that you are not married I was on the point of making some reply when the hangings at the doorway parted and a Novan warrior entered behind him were three others they were walking erect with drawn spears here he is said the leader and then addressing me come why I asked what you want of me the question he demanded when Gavago commands he is sent for me I asked come repeated the leader and an instant later they had hooked their spears about my arms and neck and none too gently they dragged me from the hut I had something of a presentiment that this was to be the end at the doorway I have turned to glance back at the girl she was standing wide-eyed tense watching them drag me away goodbye Julian she said we shall never meet again for there is none to carry our souls to a new incarnation we are not dead yet I called back and remember if you need me call me and then the hanging dropped behind us and she was shut off from my vision they did not take me to my own hut but to another not far distant from Naela's and there they bound my hands and feet with strips of leather and threw me upon the ground afterwards they left me dropping the hanging before the entrance I did not think that they would eat me for authors had joined with me in explaining to Gavago and the others that our flesh was poisonous and though they may have questioned the veracity of our statements nevertheless I was quite sure that they would not risk the chance of our having told the truth the vagas obtain their leather by curing the heights of their dead the better portions they use with their trappings and harness the other portions they cut into thin strips which they use in your rope most of this is very strong but some of it is not especially that which is improperly cured the warriors who had been sent to cease me had scarcely left the hut before I commenced working with my bonds in an attempt to loosen or break them I exerted all my strength in the effort and I became sure that those which held my hands were stretching the effort however was very tiring and I had to stop often at rest I do not know how long I worked at them but it must have been a very long time before I became convinced that however much they gave they were not going to break just what I intended to do with my freedom I do not know since there was little or no chance that I might escape from the village perpetual daylight it is disadvantages and this was one of them that there was no concealing nocturnal darkness during which I might sneak away from the village unseen as I lay resting after my exertions I suddenly became aware of a strange moaning sound from without and then the hut shook and I realized that another storm had come soon after I heard the beat of raindrops on the roof and then a staggering deafening peel of lunar thunder as the storm waxed in violence I could imagine the terror of the novens nor even in my plight could I resist the desire to smile at their discomforture I knew that they must all be hiding in their huts and again I renewed my efforts to break the bonds at my wrists but all to no avail and then suddenly above the moaning of the wind and the beating of the rain there came distinctly to my ears clear full voice a single word julian nahila I thought she needs me what are they doing to her they're flashed quickly before my mental vision a dozen scenes in each of which I saw the divine figure of the moon maid the victim of some fiendish brutality now she was being devoured by govago now some of the females were tearing her to pieces and again the warriors were piercing beautiful skin with their cruel spears or it was orthous come to claim govago's gift it was this last thought I think which turned me almost mad giving to my muscles the strength of a dozen men I have always been accounted a powerful man but in the instant that that sweet voice came across the storm to find me and my imagination pictured her in the clutches of orthous something within moved me to herculean efforts far transcending opt that I had previously achieved as though they had been caught in twine now the leather bonds at my wrists snapped a sunder and an instant later those at my ankles were torn away and I was upon my feet I sprang to the door and into the open where I found myself in a maelstrom of wind and rain in two bounds I had cleared the space between the hut in which I had been confined and that occupied Naila had torn the hanging aside and had sprung into the interior and there I beheld the materialization of my last vision there was orthous one arm about the slender body of the girl pinning her arms close to her side while his other hand was at her throat choking her and pressing her slowly backward across his knees toward the ground he was facing the door this time and saw me enter and as he realized who I was he hurled the girl roughly from him and rose to meet me for once in his life he seemed to know no fear and I think that what with his passion for the girl and the hatred he felt for me and the rage that my interference must have engendered he was momentarily insane for he suddenly leaped upon me like a madman and for an instant I came near going down beneath his blows but only for an instant and then I caught him heavily upon the chin with my left fist and again full in the face with my right and though he was a splendid boxer he was helpless in my hands neither of us had a weapon or one of us certainly would have been killed in short order as it was I tried to kill him with my bare fists and at last when he had fallen for the dozens time and I had picked him up and held him upon his feet again and again he no longer moved I was sure that he was dead and it was with a feeling of relief and of satisfaction in a duty well performed that I looked down upon his lifeless body then I turned to Na'ila calm I said there has been given to us this chance for escape never again may such a fortuitous combination of circumstances arise the bagas will be hiding in their huts crouching in terror of the storm I do not know whether we may fly but wherever it be we can be in no greater danger than we are here she shuddered a little at the thought of going out into the terrors of the storm though not so fearful of it as the ignorant bagas she still feared the wrath of the elements as do all the inhabitants of Varna but she did not hesitate and as I stretched out a hand she placed one of hers within it and together we stepped out into the swirling rain and wind End of Chapter 7 Recording by Thomas Copeland