I had missed joining in the action, but our plan had been based entirely on judging the mood of the people, the psychological effect our appearance would have, and the result of my poison-tipped spear - smeared with the paralysing stuff we had found in the vats of the City of the Spider - on Jewar Bam. If our plan had failed we should have been destroyed in as short a time as were our enemies.
I was trembling both with reaction and relief as I swung down a rope-ladder to stand beside my friends on the dais. We cut Morahi Vaja free. Down in the square, all around us, the other reprieved victims were being released.
A great cheer now rose up for Hool Haji.
It lasted for many, many minutes. Meanwhile Jil Deera and Vas Oola swung from the ship and moored her to the stake.
I stepped forward and cried to the people of Mendishar: 'Salute your Bradhi - Hool Haji! Do you accept him?'
'We do!' came back the voice of the crowd.
Hool Haji raised his hand, moved by this response.
‘Thank you. I have saved you from the rule of the tyrant and helped you overcome him and his followers -though the true saviour is Michael Kane. But now you must seek out the rest of the Priosa and capture them, for they must all pay the penalty for their deeds over the past years. Go now - arm yourselves with the weapons of your persecutors and scour the streets for those who still live!'
The men began to stoop and pick up the swords of the fallen Priosa. Then they were rushing through the streets and soon the sounds of conflict echoed again in Mendisharling.
As the effect of the poison was beginning to wear off, we bound Jewar Baru securely.
He was mumbling now and foam flicked his lips. He was plainly quite mad - had been niad for some time, but this sudden defeat had tipped the balance completely.
'What do you intend to do with him?' I asked Hool Hajl
‘Try and kill him,' said my friend simply.
Now I had a feeling of anticlimax. It was over - our object had been achieved rapidly. Again a sense of aimlessness overcame me.
We established ourselves in Jewar Baru's palace - the building which had housed generations of Hool Haji's ancestors before the populace had misguidedly followed the upstart to their own downfall.
Morahi Vaja took charge of the parties seeking out the Priosa who had escaped the initial coup. He left, but returned shortly to tell us that a great many of the Priosa were still out on patrol or else had fled the city. It would take time to locate them all - and many might well escape.
This gave me an idea. Although doubtless the Priosa who remained uncaught offered no real threat to Hool Haji, they should not be allowed to go unpunished. Their crimes were manifold - the sadistic killing of the innocent looming large among them.
This would be something in which I could help, I decided.
'I will be your scout.' I said. 'If I take the airship I will be able to travel much faster than the Priosa and work out their exact positions, and so on. Then I can return and tell you roughly where to find those who have escaped.'
'A good plan.' Hool Haji nodded. 'I would come with you, but there are too many things still to be done here. Start in the morning - you need a little rest.' I saw the sense of this. A bedroom was placed at my disposal and I was soon asleep.
Next morning I climbed into my ship, waved to Hool Haji and told him that I would probably be away a few days. The great body of the Priosa, I was told, had fled south, so that would be the best direction in which to go.
The near-silent engine began to pulse, the propellers began to turn, and soon I had left Mendisharling and Hool Haji behind.
I did not realise then what fate - which has, I feel, taken an inordinate interest in my affairs - had in store for me.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Flying Monster
Two days later I was very far south indeed. I had seen several small bands of Priosa and noted their positions and the general direction which they were heading.
I had gone past the borders of Mendishar and saw in distance a range of tall, black mountain peaks that seemed familiar.
Having, I felt, located all the Priosa I was likely to find, I decided to investigate the mountains and see if these were indeed what I suspected.
The mountains were what I had thought. The Mountains of Argzoou where earlier - or was it yet to happen? -I had fought against the minions of that wicked renegade Horguhl, and the beast which she had somehow hypnotically controlled.
I felt emotion stir in me - a sense almost of nostalgia -as I flew over those bleak mountains. I felt no love for the mountains themselves, of course, but they reminded me of my earlier adventures on Vashu and, more particularly, of the short period of happiness I had enjoyed with that beautiful girl Shizala. It was difficult to convince myself that she was as yet unborn.
I wondered if it would be worth flying down, but reasoned that the Argzoon had not yet been defeated and were likely to make short work of me. Then I would die for nothing.
I was just turning the ship when I saw the thing suddenly appear from a dark gorge and come flapping up towards me.
It was a monster of such astounding proportions that at first I believed it must be some weird kind of flying machine. Nothing could lift that bulk off the ground, let alone fly so swiftly, but a man-made device, I thought
But it was not man-made.
It had the appearance of a two-headed heela - the small, savage beast that inhabited the forest farther south - with great fangs and blazing eyes. From its shoulders sprouted vast, leathery wings. It was evidently a cousin of the heela in appearance and temperament The heela was dangerous enough, but this creature was many times its size.
It was flying towards me, great taloned paws outstretched as if to seize me, both mouths of both heads gaping wide.
I rammed over the speed lever to ‘full' and pulled another lever to let the ballast out of its cradles slung beneath the main cabin.
Climbing rapidly, I managed to put some extra distance between the beast and myself. But now the creature was gaining height and speed also.
I had not had time to turn the ship and was still heading almost due south. I wished for some weapon other than the poison-tipped lances still in the cabin and my sword. A machine-gun loaded with dum-dum bullets might have had some slight effect on the beast. Better still, a large, rapid-fire artillery piece or a bazooka, or a flame-thrower, or one of those laser-projectors...
I had nothing of the sort. I was beginning to feel that I did not even have speed on my side as the monster clung to its trail and began slowly to shorten the distance between us.
The airship was not the most manoeuvrable of craft, but the aerobatics I managed to perform would have astounded anyone who knew anything about the possibilities of manipulating a balloon-type vessel!
Below me - far, far below - I saw the heela forest that I had ventured through once with Damad, Shizala's brother.
Then I was past that and still travelling due south.
I strained every ounce of energy from the motor so that I feared the propellers must shake themselves loose sooner or later.
Nearer and nearer flapped the monster. It was larger -including its vast wings - than my ship and I knew that a couple of rips from its claws alone could destroy the gas-bag and send me dropping like a stone to the ground far below.
It refused to give up. Surely, I thought, any ordinary animal would have tired by now. But no. Doggedly it pursued me, sensing perhaps that victory and a meal were in sight - though I could only feel he would be disappointed in the meal.
I circled higher. Soon, unless I was careful, I would be in an atmosphere too thin to breathe. Then I would no longer need to worry about the flying heela - or indeed about anything. I would be dead
I wondered if, for all its ferocity, this creature were as cowardly as its smaller, land-bound cousins of the forests. K it were, there might be a way to scare it.
I racked my brains but could think of nothing. What did scare a two-headed flyi
ng mammal of several tons in sheer weight? The humorous answer presented itself -another, larger, two headed flying mammal! I had no such ally, however.
Now the heela - or whatever it was called - was much closer so that I could make out its features clearly.
By reflex more than by anything else, I reached for one of the poison-tipped lances and flung it through the porthole at the thing.
I think it must have entered one of its throats, for the mouth closed, chewed - and there was no longer a spear. Now it was almost upon me and I decided that I might as well die fitting, however futilely.
I flung another spear, this time missing altogether. What happened next was astonishing. The beast reached out and snapped the falling spear in its mouth. Again it chewed, again it swallowed.
I felt chagrin then. It was not only unaffected by my puny weapons - it was enjoying them as a meal!
The spears served to slow it a little, at any rate, as it paused to snap them up! I flung the rest, trying for one of its eyes, but failed miserably.
The last thing I remembered was the beast finally catching up with the ship! A huge black shadow seemed to engulf me. I remember a ripping noise and realising that I was doomed along with my ship - either to being eaten, gasbag, cabin and all, in mid-air by a predator that seemed literally omnivorous, or to fall thousands of feet and be smashed to small fragments on the ground.
The cabin swung crazily and I fell back, hit my head on the side of the control panel and, as dizziness overcame me, I remember thinking that at least I would not be aware of my own dying.
CHAPTER TWELVE
New Friends
I FELT that every bone in my body was broken. As it happened - though every bone should have been - not one was! I was badly bruised and cut - that was all.
But where was I?
Alive? Just about. How? I could not guess.
I began to disentangle myself from the contents of the cabin. As far as I could tell it was not badly damaged -that building material of the Yaksha must be incredible stuff.
I got the hatch - which was above me now - open and crawled out into the comparative darkness of the Martian night, lit as it was by the twin moons.
The gas-bag bobbed on the ground, half empty. Had I dropped so rapidly that, once having released much of the contents of the gas-bag, the heela had been unable to follow me?
I did not know, but my tentative answer as to how I was saved was not very convincing.
I went back into the cabin, repressing a groan of pain from my bruising, and got a patch and a tin of the sticky substance we had found in the Yaksha city. Helium was still escaping from the bag but only slowly, since it had folded in on itself, forming a kind of pocket from which the gas was seeping less quickly than it would normally have done.
Hastily I patched the balloon and reflected thankfully that there were still enough spare tanks of helium to fill it
Just as I was finishing my work I saw something to my right. It was a large object.
I approached it cautiously - and discovered the monster! How had it died? I stepped forward to see if I could tell -and then realised that it was still breathing!
Breathing with difficulty, to be sure, but breathing nonetheless!
I guessed that it had swallowed too much of the paralysing poison even for its incredible digestive system to absorb. In the act of attacking me it kad been seized by paralysis and had veered away, flopping earthwards to land here. My damaged balloon must have followed it down and landed near it shortly afterwards.
I thanked providence for giving the heela its weird appetite. Then I ran back to the ship for my sword, which must have fallen from my belt as I hurtled downwards.
While the beast slept - and feeling something of a coward, though the creature needed to be slain lest it attack any other travelled - pierced its faceted eyes, hoping that I had reached the brain. It dashed about, flinging me off twice, but I persevered until finally it was dead.
Then I returned to the airship and attached containers of helium to the valve of the bag.
I soon felt little worse, except for my bruises.
I decided to sleep in the cabin, having moored the ship to the ground, and try to get my bearings in the morning.
Still rather dazed and wearied from the previous day's experience, I took the air next morning without quite knowing what I planned.
Below me now I saw a broad river winding. I did not recognise the countryside at all, but decided to follow the river in the hope that I would spy some settlement on it where I could ask just where I was.
I followed this river, as it happened, for four days without sighting a single settlement.
When I eventually did see something it was not a settlement - but a fleet!
There were some dozen or so finely made sailing galleys of graceful beauty beating up the river. Flying lower, I saw that the ships were crewed by men like myself, only darker skinned.
I began to drop down towards the leading galley which, judging by the size and decoration of its single, lateen-rigged sail, was the flagship. I caused some consternation before I found my megaphone and shouted down:
'I mean you no harm. Who are you?'
In the common language of Mars, though in an accent that was only barely familiar, one of the men shouted up:
'We are men of Mishim Tep bound for the Jewelled City! Who are you?'
Mishim Tep! That was Kamala's oldest ally - and Kamala was the land from which my Shizala came. I felt I was among friends!
I replied that I was a traveller from the North - a tribe-less man who would welcome company if 1 were allowed to board the ship.
Their curiosity now seemed to be aroused and they also believed me when I said I offered no danger. So they allowed me to tether the balloon to their mast and descend my rope ladder to the deck - a difficult operation which, I pride myself, I accomplished with some dexterity.
The young captain, a pleasant warrior called Vorum Saz Hazhi, told me that he had been away for many months on an expedition to the coast, where a small ally of Mishim Tep's had been plagued by raiders. They had destroyed the raiders and were now on their way home to Mih-Sa-Voh, the Jewelled City, capital of Mishim Tep.
Rather than complicate matters, there and then I told him that I was a scientist, inventor of the airship we now had in tow, looking for commissions in the south. I said that I had journeyed from the Western continent - which was, strictly speaking, true.
‘If you could invent that’ Vorum Saz Hazhi said enthusiastically, 'then you will be more than welcome at the court of our Bradhi and you need not fear going hungry. He will give you all the commisions you need.'
I was pleased to hear that and made up my mind on the spot to set myself up as what I had said I was - a freelance scientist!'
I was not too worried about the Priosa I had failed to report The mission had only been to occupy my time really, and the Priosa would probably be tracked down soon enough. I would, of course, return to Mendishar soon to ensure Hool Haji that I was safe. But, in the meanwhile, I could not resist the prospect of dwelling for a short while with people of my own size and general appearance - people, moreover, who had strong affinities of custom and tradition with my adopted nation, the Kamala.
Some days later the towers of the Jewelled City came in sight.
It was the most magnificent place I have seen in my life. Every tower and roof was decorated with precious or semi-precious gems so that from a distance the city looked like one vast blaze of scintillating colour.
Its harbour was made of white marble in which crystals sparkled, reflected in the dancing water of the river. A bright sun shone from a clear blue sky, the scents of shrubs and herbs were sweet, the sight and sound of happy, intelligent and well-cared-for people was a joy to my senses.
Many folk had come to welcome the arrival of the ships after their long expedition. They were dressed in bright cloaks which matched the brave display of banners from our masts. Many gasped to see the ai
rship in tow.
The delicate music of the Southern Martians began to sound in the air, welcoming the return of the fleet. The sun was warm, the scene peaceful. It was the first time since I had arrived on Mars again that I had felt close to happiness.
Although Hool Haji and the Mendishar had been cultured and noble people, their civilisation had had a touch of savagery about it, a faint echo of their links with their cousins the Argzoon, which the societies of the South did not possess. More than this, the Mendishar, like the Argzoon, were physically so strange to me that the feeling of being among men of my own breed again was good.
We set foot on the quay and Vorum Saz Hazhi's relatives came forward to greet him. He introduced me and they said I was welcome to be their guest until I could find a place of my own.
Vorum Saz Hazhi said that on the morrow he would seek an audience with the Bradhi.
Looking around the dock I saw that there were many warriors - more than I had noticed at first. Also there seemed to be hasty preparations in progress. Vorum Saz Hazhi noticed tiiis too and was as puzzled as I was. He asked his parents about it.
They frowned and said first we must return home, then they would tell him the bad news. It was not until evening, when we sat at table, that Vorum Saz Hazhi's parents began to tell him that Mishim Tep was preparing for war.
‘It is a black day and I cannot understand how it should have happened,' my new friend's father said. 'But . . . '
Just then a man and a woman entered. They were about the same age as Vorum Saz Hazhi's parents. They wanted to learn all about the balloon, hear about my adventures and soon.
Thus the talk went away from politics as I politely told of my experiences in the North and on the Western continent. By the time the guests had left I was very much ready for bed and wasted no time using the room which the young warrior's parents had prepared for me.
In the morning Vorum Saz Hazhi went to the palace, where he was to be congratulated by the Bradhi for his victories, and I went to the harbour. We had arranged that he should speak to the Bradhi on my behalf while I was getting the balloon. Already the news would have reached the Bradhi, of course, but he would plainly want to see my ship for himself. I was to steer it to the palace and moor it there.
Lord of the Spiders or Blades of Mars Page 9
