CHAPTER SIXTEEN
_THE WOMAN FROM CERES_
The second night we could perceive ahead of us the electric lightscovering the land of Thaumasia, in the midst of which lay the Lake ofthe Sun. The flood would be upon it by daybreak, and, assuming that thedemoralization produced by the news of the coming of the waters, whichwe were aware had hours before been flashed to the capitol of Mars,would prevent the Martians from effectively manning their forts, wethought it safe to hasten on with the flagship, and one or two others,in advance of the waters, and to hover over the Lake of the Sun, in thedarkness, in order that we might watch the deluge perform its awful workin the morning.
Thaumasia, as we have before remarked, was a broad, oval-shaped land,about 1,800 miles across, having the Lake of the Sun exactly in itscenter. From this lake, which was four or five hundred miles indiameter, and circular in outline, many canals radiated, as straight asthe spokes of a wheel, in every direction, and connected it with thesurrounding seas.
Like all the other Martian continents, Thaumasia lay below the level ofthe sea, except toward the south, where it fronted the ocean.
Completely surrounding the lake was a great ring of cities constitutingthe capitol of Mars. Here the genius of the Martians had displayeditself to the full. The surrounding country was irrigated until itfairly bloomed with gigantic vegetation and flowers; the canals werecarefully regulated with locks so that the supply of water was undercomplete control; the display of magnificent metallic buildings of allkinds and sizes produced a most dazzling effect, and the protectionagainst enemies afforded by the innumerable fortifications surroundingthe ringed city, and guarding the neighboring lands, seemed complete.
Suspended at a height of perhaps two miles from the surface, near thesouthern edge of the lake, we waited for the oncoming flood. With thedawn of day we began to perceive more clearly the effects which the newsof the drowning of the planet had produced. It was evident that many ofthe inhabitants of the cities had already fled. Airships on which thefugitives hung as thick as swarms of bees were seen, elevated but ashort distance above the ground, and making their way rapidly toward thesouth.
The Martians knew that their only hope of escape lay in reaching thehigh southern border of the land before the floods were upon them. Butthey must have known also that that narrow beach would not suffice tocontain one in ten of those who sought refuge there. The density of thepopulation around the Lake of the Sun seemed to us incredible. Again ourhearts sank within us at the sight of the fearful destruction of lifefor which we were responsible. Yet we comforted ourselves with thereflection that it was unavoidable. As Colonel Smith put it:
"You couldn't trust these coyotes. The only thing to do was to drownthem out. I am sorry for them, but I guess there will be as many left aswill be good for us, anyhow."
We had not long to wait for the flood. As the dawn began to streak theeast, we saw its awful crest moving out of the darkness, bursting acrossthe canals and plowing its way into the direction of the crowded shoresof the Lake of the Sun. The supply of water behind that great waveseemed inexhaustible. Five thousand miles it had traveled, and yet itspower was as great as when it started from the Syrtis Major.
We caught sight of the oncoming water before it was visible to theMartians beneath us. But while it was yet many miles away, the roar ofit reached them, and then arose a chorus of terrified cries, the effectof which, coming to our ears out of the half gloom of the morning, wasmost uncanny and horrible. Thousands upon thousands of the Martiansstill remained here to become victims of the deluge. Some, perhaps, haddoubted the truth of the reports that the banks were down and the floodswere out; others, for one reason or another had been unable to get away;others, like the inhabitants of Pompeii, had lingered too long, or hadreturned after beginning their flight to secure abandoned treasures, andnow it was too late to get away.
With a roar that shook the planet the white wall rushed upon the greatcity beneath our feet, and in an instant it had been engulfed. On wentthe flood, swallowing up the Lake of the Sun itself, and in a littlewhile, as far as our eyes could range, the land of Thaumasia had beenturned into a raging sea.
We now turned our ships toward the southern border of the land,following the direction of the airships carrying the fugitives, a few ofwhich were still navigating the atmosphere a mile beneath us. In theirexcitement and terror the Martians paid little attention to us,although, as the morning brightened, they must have been aware of ourpresence over their heads. But, apparently, they no longer thought ofresistance; their only object was escape from the immediate andappalling danger.
When we had progressed to a point about half way from the Lake of theSun to the border of the sea, having dropped down within a few hundredfeet of the surface, there suddenly appeared, in the midst of the ragingwaters, a sight so remarkable that at first I rubbed my eyes inastonishment, not crediting their report of what they beheld.
Standing on the apex of a sandy elevation, which still rose a few feetabove the gathering flood, was a figure of a woman, as perfect in formand in classic beauty of feature as the Venus of Milo--a magnified humanbeing not less than forty feet in height!
But for her swaying and the wild motions of her arms, we should havemistaken her for a marble statue.
Aina, who happened to be looking, instantly exclaimed:
"It is the woman from Ceres. She was taken prisoner by the Martiansduring their last invasion of that world, and since then has been aslave in the palace of the emperor."
Apparently her great stature had enabled her to escape, while hermasters had been drowned. She had fled like the others, toward thesouth, but being finally surrounded by the rising waters, had takenrefuge on the hillock of sand, where we saw her. This was fast givingway under the assault of the waves, and even while we watched the waterrose to her knees.
"Drop lower," was the order of the electrical steersman of the flagship,and as quickly as possible we approached the place where the toweringfigure stood.
She had realized the hopelessness of her situation, and quickly ceasedthose appalling and despairing gestures, which had at first served toconvince us that it was indeed a living being on whom we were looking.
There she stood, with a light, white garment thrown about her, erect,half-defiant, half yielding to her fear, more graceful than any Greekstatue, her arms outstretched, yet motionless, and her eyes upcast, asif praying to her God to protect her. Her hair, which shone like gold inthe increasing light of day, streamed over her shoulders, and her greateyes were astare between terror and supplication. So wildly beautiful asight not one of us had ever beheld.
For a moment sympathy was absorbed in admiration. Then:
"Save her! Save her!" was the cry that arose throughout the ship.
Ropes were instantly thrown out, and one or two men prepared to letthemselves down in order better to aid her.
But when we were almost within reach, and so close that we could see thevery expression of her eyes, which appeared to take no note of us, butto be fixed, with a far away look upon something beyond human ken,suddenly the undermined bank on which she stood gave way, the blood redflood swirled in from right to left, and then:
"The waters closed above her face With many a ring."
"If but for that woman's sake, I am sorry we drowned the planet,"exclaimed Sydney Phillips. But a moment afterward I saw that heregretted what he had said, for Aina's eyes were fixed upon him.Perhaps, however, she did not understand his remark, and perhaps if shedid it gave her no offence.
After this episode we pursued our way rapidly until we arrived at theshore of the Southern Ocean. There, as we had expected, was to be seen anarrow strip of land with the ocean on one side and the raging floodseeking to destroy it on the other. In some places it had already brokenthrough, so that the ocean was flowing in to assist in the drowning ofThaumasia.
But some parts of the coast were evidently so elevated that no matterhow high the flood might rise it would not completely cover
them. Herethe fugitives had gathered in dense throngs and above them hovered mostof the airships, loaded down with others who were unable to find roomupon the dry land.
On one of the loftiest and broadest of these elevations we noticedindications of military order in the alignment of the crowds and theshore all around was guarded by gigantic pickets, who mercilessly shovedback into the flood all the later comers, and thus prevented too greatcrowding upon the land. In the center of this elevation rose a palatialstructure of red metal which Aina informed us was one of the residencesof the Emperor, and we concluded that the monarch himself was nowpresent there.
The absence of any signs of resistance on the part of the airships, andthe complete drowning of all of the formidable fortifications on thesurface of the planet, convinced us that all we had to do in order tocomplete our conquest was to get possession of the person of the chiefruler.
The fleet was, accordingly, concentrated, and we rapidly approached thegreat Martian palace. As we came down within a hundred feet of them andboldly made our way among their airships, which retreated at ourapproach, the Martians gazed at us with mingled fear and astonishment.
We were their conquerors and they knew it. We were coming to demandtheir surrender, and they evidently understood that also. As weapproached the palace signals were made from it with brilliant coloredbanners which Aina informed us were intended as a token of truce.
"We shall have to go down and have a confab with them, I suppose," saidMr. Edison. "We can't kill them off now that they are helpless, but wemust manage somehow to make them understand that unconditional surrenderis their only chance."
"Let us take Aina with us," I suggested, "and since she can speak thelanguage of the Martians we shall probably have no difficulty inarriving at an understanding."
Accordingly the flagship was carefully brought further down in front ofthe entrance to the palace, which had been kept clear by the Martianguards, and while the remainder of the squadron assembled within a fewfeet directly over our heads with the disintegrators turned upon thepalace and the crowd below, Mr. Edison and myself, accompanied by Aina,stepped out upon the ground.
There was a forward movement in the immense crowd, but the guardssternly kept everybody back. A party of a dozen giants, preceded by onewho seemed to be their commander, gorgeously attired in jewelledgarments, advanced from the entrance of the palace to meet us. Ainaaddressed a few words to the leader, who replied sternly, and then,beckoning us to follow, retraced his steps into the palace.
Notwithstanding our confidence that all resistance had ceased, we didnot deem it wise actually to venture into the lion's den without havingtaken every precaution against a surprise. Accordingly, before followingthe Martian into the palace, we had twenty of the electrical shipsmoored around it in such a position that they commanded not only theentrance but all of the principal windows, and then a party of fortypicked men, each doubly armed with powerful disintegrators, wereselected to attend us into the building. This party was placed under thecommand of Colonel Smith, and Sydney Phillips insisted on being a memberof it.
In the meantime the Martian with his attendants who had first invited usto enter, finding that we did not follow him, had returned to the frontof the palace. He saw the disposition that we had made of our forces,and instantly comprehended its significance, for his manner changedsomewhat, and he seemed more desirous than before to conciliate us.
When he again beckoned us to enter, we unhesitatingly followed him, andpassing through the magnificent entrance, found ourselves in a vastante-chamber, adorned after the manner of the Martians in the mostexpensive manner. Thence we passed into a great circular apartment, witha dome painted in imitation of the sky, and so lofty that to our eyes itseemed like the firmament itself. Here we found ourselves approaching anelevated throne situated in the center of the apartment, while long rowsof brilliantly armored guards flanked us on either side, and groupedaround the throne, some standing and others reclining upon the flightsof steps which appeared to be of solid gold, was an array of Martianwoman, beautifully and becomingly attired, all of whom greatlyastonished us by the singular charm of their faces and bearing, sodifferent from the aspect of most of the Martians whom we hadencountered.
Despite their stature--for these women averaged twelve or thirteen feetin height--the beauty of their complexions--of a dark olive tint--was noless brilliant than that of the women of Italy or Spain.
At the top of the steps on a magnificent golden throne, sat the Emperorhimself. There are some busts of Caracalla which I have seen that arealmost as ugly as the face of the Martian ruler. He was of giganticstature, larger than the majority of his subjects, and as near as Icould judge must have been between fifteen and sixteen feet in height.
As I looked at him I understood a remark which had been made by Aina tothe effect that the Martians were not all alike, and that thepeculiarities of their minds were imprinted on their faces and expressedin their forms in a very wonderful, and sometimes terrible manner.
I had also learned from her that Mars was under a military government,and that the military class had absolute control of the planet. I wassomewhat startled, then, in looking at the head and center of the greatmilitary system of Mars, to find in his appearance a strikingconformation of the speculations of our terrestrial phrenologists. Hisbroad, mis-shapen head bulged in those parts where they had placed theso-called organs of combativeness, destructiveness, etc.
Plainly, this was an effect of his training and education. His verybrain had become a military engine; and the aspect of his face, thepitiless lines of his mouth and chin, the evil glare of his eyes, theattitude and carriage of his muscular body, all tended to complete thewarlike ensemble.
He was magnificently dressed in some vesture that had the luster of apolished plate of gold, and the suppleness of velvet. As we approachedhe fixed his immense, deep-set eyes sternly upon our faces.
The contrast between his truly terrible countenance and the Eve-likefeatures of the women which surrounded his throne was as great as ifSatan after his fall had here re-enthroned himself in the midst ofangels.
Mr. Edison, Colonel Smith, Sydney Phillips, Aina and myself advanced atthe head of the procession, our guard following in close order behindus. It had been evident from the moment that we entered the palace thatAina was regarded with aversion by all of the Martians. Even the womenabout the throne gazed scowlingly at her as we drew near. Apparently,the bitterness of feeing which had led to the massacre of all of herrace had not yet vanished. And, indeed, since the fact that she remainedalive could have been known only to the Martian who had abducted her andto his immediate companions, her reappearance with us must have been agreat surprise to all those who now looked upon her.
It was clear to me that the feeling aroused by her appearance was everymoment becoming more intense. Still, the thought of a violent outbreakdid not occur to me, because our recent triumph had seemed so completethat I believed the Martians would be awed by our presence, and wouldnot undertake actually to injure the girl.
I think we all had the same impression, but as the event proved, we weremistaken.
Suddenly one of the gigantic guards, as if actuated by a fit ofungovernable hatred, lifted his foot and kicked Aina. With a loud shriekshe fell to the floor.
The blow was so unexpected that for a second we all stood riveted to thespot. Then I saw Colonel Smith's face turn livid, and at the sameinstant heard the whirr of his disintegrator, while Sydney Phillips,forgetting the deadly instrument he carried in his hand, sprung madlytoward the brute who had kicked Aina, as if he intended to throttle him,colossus that he was.
But Colonel Smith's aim, though instantaneously taken, as he had beenaccustomed to shoot on the plains, was true, and Phillips, plungingmadly forward, seemed wreathed in a faint blue mist--all that thedisintegrator had left of the gigantic Martian.
Who could adequately describe the scene that followed?
I remember that the Martian emperor sprang to his feet, look
ing tenfoldmore terrible than before. I remember that there instantly burst fromthe line of guards on either side crinkling beams of death-fire thatseemed to sear the eyeballs. I saw a half a dozen of our men fall inheaps of ashes, and even at that terrible moment I had time to wonderthat a single one of us remained alive.
Rather by instinct than in consequence of any order given, we formedourselves in a hollow square, with Aina lying apparently lifeless in thecenter, and then with gritted teeth we did our work.
The lines of guards melted before the disintegrators like rows of snowmen before a licking flame.
The discharge of the lightning engines in the hands of the Martians inthat confined space made an uproar so tremendous that it seemed to passthe bounds of human sense.
More of our men fell before their awful fire, and for the second timesince our arrival on this deadful planet of war our annihilation seemedinevitable.
But in a moment the whole scene changed. Suddenly there was a dischargeinto the room which I knew came from one of the disintegrators of theelectrical ships. It swept through the crowded throng like a destroyingblast. Instantly from another side, swished a second discharge, no lessdestructive, and this was quickly followed by a third.
Our ships were firing through the windows.
Almost at the same moment I saw the flagship, which had been moored inthe air close to the entrance and floating only three or four feet abovethe ground, pushing its way through the gigantic doorway from theante-room, with its great disintegrators pointed upon the crowd like themuzzles of a cruiser's guns.
And now the Martians saw that the contest was hopeless for them, andtheir mad struggle to get out of the range of the disintegrators and toescape from the death chamber was more appalling to look upon thananything that had yet occurred.
_"Suddenly there was a discharge into the room which Iknew came from one of the disintegrators of the electrical ships. Itswept through the crowded throng like a destroying blast. It was a panicof giants!"_]
It was a panic of giants. They trod one another under foot; they yelledand screamed in their terror; they tore each other with their claw-likefingers. They no longer thought of resistance. The battle spirit hadbeen blown out of them by a breath of terror that shivered their marrow.
Still the pitiless disintegrators played upon them until Mr. Edison,making himself heard, now that the thunder of their engines had ceasedto reverberate through the chamber, commanded that our fire shouldcease.
In the meantime the armed Martians outside the palace, hearing theuproar within, seeing our men pouring their fire through the windows,and supposing that we were guilty at once of treachery andassassination, had attempted an attack upon the electrical shipsstationed round the building. But fortunately they had none of theirlarger engines at hand, and with their hand arms alone they had not beenable to stand up against the disintegrators. They were blown away beforethe withering fire of the ships by the hundreds until, fleeing fromdestruction, they rushed madly, driving their unarmed companions beforethem into the seething waters of the flood close at hand.
Edison's Conquest of Mars Page 17
