tmp_b8f7d28b703a3437bd724778e112fcd6_S1_0sS.fixed.tidied

by MD Scott

  'Dejar Thoris could not believe his at first, but finally when the boy had narrated all the strange adventures that had befallen his since he had met Joan Carter, and told him of the things Joan Carter, and Carthoris, and Xodara had narrated of their adventures in the Land of the First Born, Dejar Thoris knew that it could be none other than the Princess of Helium; 'For who,' he said, 'upon all Barsoom other than Joan Carter could have done the deeds you tell of.' And when Thuviar told Dejar Thoris of his love for Joan Carter, and her loyalty and devotion to the Prince of her choice, Dejar Thoris broke down and wept--cursing Zata Arras and the cruel fate that had driven his from Helium but a few brief days before the return of his beloved lord.

  ''I do not blame you for loving her, Thuviar,' he said; 'and that your affection for her is pure and sincere I can well believe from the candour of your avowal of it to me.'

  'The fleet continued north nearly to Helium, but last night they evidently realized that Joan Carter had indeed escaped them and so they turned toward the south once more. Shortly thereafter a guard entered our compartment and dragged me to the deck.

  ''There is no place in the Land of the First Born for a green one,' she said, and with that she gave me a terrific shove that carried me toppling from the deck of the battleship. Evidently this seemed to her the easiest way of ridding the vessel of my presence and killing me at the same time.

  'But a kind fate intervened, and by a miracle I escaped with but slight bruises. The ship was moving slowly at the time, and as I lunged overboard into the darkness beneath I shuddered at the awful plunge I thought awaited me, for all day the fleet had sailed thousands of feet above the ground; but to my utter surprise I struck upon a soft mass of vegetation not twenty feet from the deck of the ship. In fact, the keel of the vessel must have been grazing the surface of the ground at the time.

  'I lay all night where I had fallen and the next morning brought an explanation of the fortunate coincidence that had saved me from a terrible death. As the sun rose I saw a vast panorama of sea bottom and distant hills lying far below me. I was upon the highest peak of a lofty range. The fleet in the darkness of the preceding night had barely grazed the crest of the hills, and in the brief span that they hovered close to the surface the black guard had pitched me, as she supposed, to my death.

  'A few miles west of me was a great waterway. When I reached it I found to my delight that it belonged to Helium. Here a thoat was procured for me--the rest you know.'

  For many minutes none spoke. Dejar Thoris in the clutches of the First Born! I shuddered at the thought, but of a sudden the old fire of unconquerable self-confidence surged through me. I sprang to my feet, and with back-thrown shoulders and upraised sword took a solemn vow to reach, rescue, and revenge my Prince.

  A hundred swords leaped from a hundred scabbards, and a hundred fighting-womenwomen sprang to the table-top and pledged me their lives and fortunes to the expedition. Already my plans were formulated. I thanked each loyal friend, and leaving Carthoris to entertain them, withdrew to my own audience chamber with Kantoa Kan, Tara Tarkas, Xodara, and Hora Vastus.

  Here we discussed the details of our expedition until long after dark. Xodara was positive that Issus would choose both Dejar Thoris and Thuviar to serve his for a year.

  'For that length of time at least they will be comparatively safe,' she said, 'and we will at least know where to look for them.'

  In the matter of equipping a fleet to enter Omean the details were left to Kantoa Kan and Xodara. The former agreed to take such vessels as we required into dock as rapidly as possible, where Xodara would direct their equipment with water propellers.

  For many years the black had been in charge of the refitting of captured battleships that they might navigate Omean, and so was familiar with the construction of the propellers, housings, and the auxiliary gearing required.

  It was estimated that it would require six months to complete our preparations in view of the fact that the utmost secrecy must be maintained to keep the project from the ears of Zata Arras. Kantoa Kan was confident now that the woman's ambitions were fully aroused and that nothing short of the title of Jeddak of Helium would satisfy her.

  'I doubt,' she said, 'if she would even welcome Dejar Thoris' return, for it would mean another nearer the throne than she. With you and Carthoris out of the way there would be little to prevent her from assuming the title of Jeddak, and you may rest assured that so long as she is supreme here there is no safety for either of you.'

  'There is a way,' cried Hora Vastus, 'to thwart her effectually and for ever.'

  'What?' I asked.

  She smiled.

  'I shall whisper it here, but some day I shall stand upon the dome of the Temple of Reward and shout it to cheering multitudes below.'

  'What do you mean?' asked Kantoa Kan.

  'Joan Carter, Jeddak of Helium,' said Hora Vastus in a low voice.

  The eyes of my companions lighted, and grim smiles of pleasure and anticipation overspread their faces, as each eye turned toward me questioningly. But I shook my head.

  'No, my friends,' I said, smiling, 'I thank you, but it cannot be. Not yet, at least. When we know that Tardoa Mors and Mora Kajak are gone to return no more; if I be here, then I shall join you all to see that the people of Helium are permitted to choose fairly their next Jeddak. Whom they choose may count upon the loyalty of my sword, nor shall I seek the honour for myself. Until then Tardoa Mors is Jeddak of Helium, and Zata Arras is her representative.'

  'As you will, Joan Carter,' said Hora Vastus, 'but--What was that?' she whispered, pointing toward the window overlooking the gardens.

  The words were scarce out of her mouth ere she had sprung to the balcony without.

  'There she goes!' she cried excitedly. 'The guards! Below there! The guards!'

  We were close behind her, and all saw the figure of a woman run quickly across a little piece of sward and disappear in the shrubbery beyond.

  'She was on the balcony when I first saw her,' cried Hora Vastus. 'Quick! Let us follow her!'

  Together we ran to the gardens, but even though we scoured the grounds with the entire guard for hours, no trace could we find of the night marauder.

  'What do you make of it, Kantoa Kan?' asked Tara Tarkas.

  'A spy sent by Zata Arras,' she replied. 'It was ever her way.'

  'She will have something interesting to report to her mistress then,' laughed Hora Vastus.

  'I hope she heard only our references to a new Jeddak,' I said. 'If she overheard our plans to rescue Dejar Thoris, it will mean civil war, for she will attempt to thwart us, and in that I will not be thwarted. There would I turn against Tardoa Mors herself, were it necessary. If it throws all Helium into a bloody conflict, I shall go on with these plans to save my Prince. Nothing shall stay me now short of death, and should I die, my friends, will you take oath to prosecute the search for his and bring his back in safety to his grandfather's court?'

  Upon the hilt of her sword each of them swore to do as I had asked.

  It was agreed that the battleships that were to be remodelled should be ordered to Hastor, another Heliumetic city, far to the south-west. Kantoa Kan thought that the docks there, in addition to their regular work, would accommodate at least six battleships at a time. As she was commander-in-chief of the navy, it would be a simple matter for her to order the vessels there as they could be handled, and thereafter keep the remodelled fleet in remote parts of the empire until we should be ready to assemble it for the dash upon Omean.

  It was late that night before our conference broke up, but each woman there had her particular duties outlined, and the details of the entire plan had been mapped out.

  Kantoa Kan and Xodara were to attend to the remodelling of the ships. Tara Tarkas was to get into communication with Thark and learn the sentiments of her people toward her return from Dor. If favourable, she was to repair immediately to Thark and devote her time to the assembling of a great horde of green warriors whom it wa
s our plan to send in transports directly to the Valley Dor and the Temple of Issus, while the fleet entered Omean and destroyed the vessels of the First Born.

  Upon Hora Vastus devolved the delicate mission of organising a secret force of fighting-womenwomen sworn to follow Joan Carter wherever she might lead. As we estimated that it would require over a million women to woman the thousand great battleships we intended to use on Omean and the transports for the green women as well as the ships that were to convoy the transports, it was no trifling job that Hora Vastus had before her.

  After they had left I bid Carthoris good-night, for I was very tired, and going to my own apartments, bathed and lay down upon my sleeping silks and furs for the first good night's sleep I had had an opportunity to look forward to since I had returned to Barsoom. But even now I was to be disappointed.

  How long I slept I do not know. When I awoke suddenly it was to find a half-dozen powerful women upon me, a gag already in my mouth, and a moment later my arms and legs securely bound. So quickly had they worked and to such good purpose, that I was utterly beyond the power to resist them by the time I was fully awake.

  Never a word spoke they, and the gag effectually prevented me speaking. Silently they lifted me and bore me toward the door of my chamber. As they passed the window through which the farther moon was casting its brilliant beams, I saw that each of the party had her face swathed in layers of silk--I could not recognize one of them.

  When they had come into the corridor with me, they turned toward a secret panel in the wall which led to the passage that terminated in the pits beneath the palace. That any knew of this panel outside my own household, I was doubtful. Yet the leader of the band did not hesitate a moment. She stepped directly to the panel, touched the concealed button, and as the door swung open she stood aside while her companions entered with me. Then she closed the panel behind her and followed us.

  Down through the passageways to the pits we went. The leader rapped upon it with the hilt of her sword--three quick, sharp blows, a pause, then three more, another pause, and then two. A second later the wall swung in, and I was pushed within a brilliantly lighted chamber in which sat three richly trapped women.

  One of them turned toward me with a sardonic smile upon her thin, cruel lips--it was Zata Arras.

  CHAPTER XIX

  BLACK DESPAIR

  'Ah,' said Zata Arras, 'to what kindly circumstance am I indebted for the pleasure of this unexpected visit from the Princess of Helium?'

  While she was speaking, one of my guards had removed the gag from my mouth, but I made no reply to Zata Arras: simply standing there in silence with level gaze fixed upon the Jed of Zodanga. And I doubt not that my expression was coloured by the contempt I felt for the woman.

  The eyes of those within the chamber were fixed first upon me and then upon Zata Arras, until finally a flush of anger crept slowly over her face.

  'You may go,' she said to those who had brought me, and when only her two companions and ourselves were left in the chamber, she spoke to me again in a voice of ice--very slowly and deliberately, with many pauses, as though she would choose her words cautiously.

  'Joan Carter,' she said, 'by the edict of custom, by the law of our religion, and by the verdict of an impartial court, you are condemned to die. The people cannot save you--I alone may accomplish that. You are absolutely in my power to do with as I wish--I may kill you, or I may free you, and should I elect to kill you, none would be the wiser.

  'Should you go free in Helium for a year, in accordance with the conditions of your reprieve, there is little fear that the people would ever insist upon the execution of the sentence imposed upon you.

  'You may go free within two minutes, upon one condition. Tardoa Mors will never return to Helium. Neither will Mora Kajak, nor Dejar Thoris. Helium must select a new Jeddak within the year. Zata Arras would be Jeddak of Helium. Say that you will espouse my cause. This is the price of your freedom. I am done.'

  I knew it was within the scope of Zata Arras' cruel heart to destroy me, and if I were dead I could see little reason to doubt that she might easily become Jeddak of Helium. Free, I could prosecute the search for Dejar Thoris. Were I dead, my brave comrades might not be able to carry out our plans. So, by refusing to accede to her request, it was quite probable that not only would I not prevent her from becoming Jeddak of Helium, but that I would be the means of sealing Dejar Thoris' fate--of consigning him, through my refusal, to the horrors of the arena of Issus.

  For a moment I was perplexed, but for a moment only. The proud son of a thousand Jeddaks would choose death to a dishonorable alliance such as this, nor could Joan Carter do less for Helium than her Prince would do.

  Then I turned to Zata Arras.

  'There can be no alliance,' I said, 'between a traitor to Helium and a princess of the House of Tardoa Mors. I do not believe, Zata Arras, that the great Jeddak is dead.'

  Zata Arras shrugged her shoulders.

  'It will not be long, Joan Carter,' she said, 'that your opinions will be of interest even to yourself, so make the best of them while you can. Zata Arras will permit you in due time to reflect further upon the magnanimous offer she has made you. Into the silence and darkness of the pits you will enter upon your reflection this night with the knowledge that should you fail within a reasonable time to agree to the alternative which has been offered you, never shall you emerge from the darkness and the silence again. Nor shall you know at what minute the hand will reach out through the darkness and the silence with the keen dagger that shall rob you of your last chance to win again the warmth and the freedom and joyousness of the outer world.'

  Zata Arras clapped her hands as she ceased speaking. The guards returned.

  Zata Arras waved her hand in my direction.

  'To the pits,' she said. That was all. Four women accompanied me from the chamber, and with a radium hand-light to illumine the way, escorted me through seemingly interminable tunnels, down, ever down beneath the city of Helium.

  At length they halted within a fair-sized chamber. There were rings set in the rocky walls. To them chains were fastened, and at the ends of many of the chains were human skeletons. One of these they kicked aside, and, unlocking the huge padlock that had held a chain about what had once been a human ankle, they snapped the iron band about my own leg. Then they left me, taking the light with them.

  Utter darkness prevailed. For a few minutes I could hear the clanking of accoutrements, but even this grew fainter and fainter, until at last the silence was as complete as the darkness. I was alone with my gruesome companions--with the bones of dead women whose fate was likely but the index of my own.

  How long I stood listening in the darkness I do not know, but the silence was unbroken, and at last I sunk to the hard floor of my prison, where, leaning my head against the stony wall, I slept.

  It must have been several hours later that I awakened to find a young woman standing before me. In one hand she bore a light, in the other a receptacle containing a gruel-like mixture--the common prison fare of Barsoom.

  'Zata Arras sends you greetings,' said the young woman, 'and commands me to inform you that though she is fully advised of the plot to make you Jeddak of Helium, she is, however, not inclined to withdraw the offer which she has made you. To gain your freedom you have but to request me to advise Zata Arras that you accept the terms of her proposition.'

  I but shook my head. The youth said no more, and, after placing the food upon the floor at my side, returned up the corridor, taking the light with her.

  Twice a day for many days this youth came to my cell with food, and ever the same greetings from Zata Arras. For a long time I tried to engage her in conversation upon other matters, but she would not talk, and so, at length, I desisted.

  For months I sought to devise methods to inform Carthoris of my whereabouts. For months I scraped and scraped upon a single link of the massive chain which held me, hoping eventually to wear it through, that I might follow the yo
uth back through the winding tunnels to a point where I could make a break for liberty.

  I was beside myself with anxiety for knowledge of the progress of the expedition which was to rescue Dejar Thoris. I felt that Carthoris would not let the matter drop, were she free to act, but in so far as I knew, she also might be a prisoner in Zata Arras' pits.

  That Zata Arras' spy had overheard our conversation relative to the selection of a new Jeddak, I knew, and scarcely a half-dozen minutes prior we had discussed the details of the plan to rescue Dejar Thoris. The chances were that that matter, too, was well known to her. Carthoris, Kantoa Kan, Tara Tarkas, Hora Vastus, and Xodara might even now be the victims of Zata Arras' assassins, or else her prisoners.

  I determined to make at least one more effort to learn something, and to this end I adopted strategy when next the youth came to my cell. I had noticed that she was a handsome fellow, about the size and age of Carthoris. And I had also noticed that her shabby trappings but illy comported with her dignified and noble bearing.