“Do you know any place where we might hide until after dark?” I asked Janai.
“No,” she said, “I know of no place where they would not search.”
“What is on the level above us?” I asked.
“The royal hangar,” she replied, “where Jal Had’s private airships are kept.”
Involuntarily I voiced an exclamation of relief. “What luck!”
I exclaimed. “Nothing could suit our purpose better than one of Jal Had’s fliers.”
“But the hangars are well guarded,” said Janai. “I have often seen the warriors marching past my door to relieve the hangar guards. There were never less than ten of them.”
“There may not be so many today,” said Ur Raj, “as Jal Had needed all his force to defend the palace gates.”
“If there were twenty,” said Bal Tab, “it would make a better fight. Let us hope that there are not too few.”
I gave Jal Had’s radium pistol to Ur Raj, and then the four of us went out into the corridor and ascended the ramp that led to the hangar on the roof. I sent Ur Raj ahead because he was smaller than either Bal Tab or I, and could reconnoiter with less likelihood of being discovered; also, the fact that he was a red man made it advantageous to use him thus, as he would less quickly arouse suspicion than either Bal Tab or myself. We three trailed a short distance behind him, and when he reached a point where he could get a view of the roof we halted and waited.
Presently he returned to us. “There are but two men on guard,” he said. “It will be easy.”
“We’ll rush them,” I suggested. “If we take them by surprise, it may not be necessary to kill them.” Although an experienced man who has participated in many conflicts, I still dislike seeing men die and especially by my own hands, if matters can be arranged otherwise; but the chaps who guarded the royal hangar on the roof did not seem to care whether they lived or died for they charged us the moment they saw us; and though I promised not to harm them if they surrendered, they kept on coming until there was nothing for us to do but engage them.
Just before they reached us, one of them spoke quietly to the other, who turned and ran as fast as he could across the roof. Then his valiant companion engaged us; but I caught a glimpse of the second man disappearing through a trap in the roof. Evidently he had gone to summon aid while his fellow sacrificed his life to detain us. The instant that I realized this, I leaped in to close quarters and dispatched the warrior, though I must say that I never before killed a man with less relish. This simple warrior was a hero, if ever there was one; and it seemed a shame to take his life, but it was his or ours.
Knowing that pursuit might develop immediately, I summoned the others to follow me and hastened into the hangar where I quickly selected what appeared to be a reasonably fast flier which would accommodate all of us.
I knew that Ur Raj could pilot a ship; and so I ordered him to the controls, and a moment later we were gliding smoothly out of the hangar and across the roof. As we took off, I looked down into the palace grounds from which rose the cries of the beasts and the shouts of the warriors; and even as I looked I saw the gate fall and the men of Dur Ajmad swarm through to overwhelm the remnants of Jal Had’s forces.
As we rose in the air, I saw a patrol boat some distance away turn and head for us. I immediately ordered Bal Tab and Janai below, and after giving some instructions to Ur Raj I followed them so that none of us might be seen by members of the crew of the patrol boat.
The latter approached us rapidly, and when it was in speaking distance asked us who we had aboard and where we were headed. Following my instructions, Ur Raj replied that Jal Had was below and that he had given orders not to divulge our destination. The commander of the patrol boat may have had his doubts as to the veracity of the statement, but evidently he felt that he did not care to take a chance of antagonizing his prince in the event that he were aboard and had given such instructions; so he fell off and let us continue on our way; but presently he started trailing us, and before we had passed beyond the limits of the city I saw at least a dozen fliers in pursuit. The hangar guard who had escaped had evidently raised the alarm. Perhaps, even, they had found the body of Jal Had. In any event, it was quite evident that we were being pursued; and when the other ships overtook the patrol and spoke, it too came after us at full speed.
chapter XXVIII
THE GREAT FLEET
THE FLIER WE HAD commandeered was of about the same speed as the larger vessels that were pursuing us; but the patrol boat was faster, and it was evident that she would eventually overhaul us.
A hasty survey of the boat revealed that there were rifles in their racks below deck and a small gun at bow and astern above. They all fired the ordinary Martian exploding projectiles which have been standard for ages. A single, direct hit in any vital part of the ship might easily disable it, and I knew that as soon as the patrol plane came within range it would commence firing. I had come on deck as soon as I had realized that we were no longer deceiving the Amhorians, and I was standing beside Ur Raj urging him to greater speed.
“She is doing her limit now,” he said; “but they are still gaining on us. However, I don’t think we need to worry greatly. You may not have noticed it, but the hull of this ship is well protected, probably better armored than the other ships because it was used by Jal Had, personally. Only by scoring a direct hit on the controls or the rudder, can they put us out of commission, unless they are able to get very close and give us a broadside; but with our guns we ought to be able to prevent that.”
Janai and Bal Tab had joined me on deck, and we three stood watching the pursuing patrol boat, which was gaining on us steadily.
“There!” said Janai. “They have opened fire.”
“It fell short and would have been wide anyway,” said Bal Tab.
“But they will soon correct that and get our range,” I prophesied.
I told Janai and Bal Tab to go below as there was no sense in risking their lives on deck unnecessarily.
“When we are in rifle range, Bal Tab,” I told him, “I shall send for you; and you may bring up two or three rifles from below.”
I then went to the stern gun and trained it on the oncoming patrol boat as another shot fell just short of us. Then I trained our gun very carefully and fired.
“Fine!” cried Janai. “You scored a hit the first time.” I turned to see both her and Bal Tab kneeling behind me. We were screened by the gun shield, but I still thought it too dangerous; but she would not go below nor either would Bal Tab except only to bring up several rifles and a larger supply of ammunition.
My shot, while a direct hit, had evidently done little or no harm for it neither slowed up the craft nor interfered with its firing.
Presently the patrol boat commenced to veer off slightly to the right with the possible intention of getting into a position from which it could pour broadsides into us.
We were both firing continuously now, and every now and then a shell would strike against the gunshield or the hull and explode.
I cautioned Ur Raj to keep on a straight course, since, if we tried to keep our stern and smallest target always presented to the pursuing enemy, we should have to alter our course and would be driven into a wide curve that would permit the larger vessels to overhaul us. Then we should most certainly be destroyed or captured.
This running fight continued until Amhor lay far behind. We were speeding above vast stretches where once Mars’ mighty oceans rolled, now barren waste where only the wild, nomadic green men roved. The patrol boat had steadily gained on us, and the fleet of larger vessels had crept up a little, showing that they were a trifle faster than our flier. The patrol boat was slowly creeping up opposite us but still at a considerable distance. They had ceased firing, and now they signalled us to surrender; but for reply Bal Tab and I turned both the bow and stern guns upon them. They returned our fire, giving us a broadside with all their guns. I dragged Janai down beside me behind the gunshield; but Bal T
ab had not been so fortunate. I saw him straighten to his full height and topple backward over the side of the flier.
I regretted the loss of Bal Tab, not only because it reduced our defensive force but because of the loss of a loyal comrade and a fine fighting man. However, he was gone, and mourning would do no good. He had died as he would have wished to die, fighting; and his body lay where he would have wished it to lie, on the ochre moss of a dead sea bottom.
Projectiles were now exploding continually against the armored sides of our craft and the gunshield which was our protection. Ur Raj had ample protection in the pilot’s compartment, which was heavily armored.
We three seemed safe enough if we kept behind our protection; but how long the armored side of the flier could withstand this constant bombardment of exploding shells, I did not know.
Attracting Ur Raj’s attention, I signalled him to rise and endeavor to get above the patrol boat, for if we could fire down upon her from above, we might disable her.
As we started to rise, Ur Raj called to me and pointed ahead. A sight met my eyes that fairly took my breath away. Approaching, far aloft and already almost above us, was a fleet of great battleships that we had not observed because of our preoccupation with the fight in which we had been engaged.
I was certain from the size and number of them that they were not ships of Amhor; but from our position below them I could not read the insignias upon their bows nor see the colors flying from their superstructures. However, no matter what nation they represented, we would be no worse off in their hands than in the hands of the Amhorians; so I instructed Ur Raj to continue to set his course for them and to try to get between them and the patrol boat, hoping that the latter would hold its fire rather than take a chance of hitting one of the great ships of the fleet whose big guns could have destroyed it in an instant; nor was I wrong in my conjecture, for the patrol boat ceased firing though it continued to pursue us.
We were now rapidly approaching the leading ship of the fleet. I could see men peering over the sides at us, and presently the great craft slowed down.
As we arose closer to its bow, Ur Raj suddenly cried out in exaltation, “A fleet from Helium!” And then I, too, saw the insignia on the ship’s bow, and my heart leaped for I knew that Janai was saved.
Now they hailed us, demanding to know who we were. “Ur Raj of Hastor,” I replied, “a padwar in the Navy of Helium, and two of his friends escaping from imprisonment in the City of Amhor.”
They ordered us to come aboard, then, and Ur Raj piloted the craft across their rail and set it down on the broad deck of the battleship.
Officers and men looked at me in astonishment as I dropped to the deck and lifted Janai down. Then Ur Raj joined us.
In the meantime, the Amhorian patrol boat had evidently discovered the identity of their fleet, for it turned about and was speeding back toward its sister ships; and soon all those that had been pursuing us were headed back toward Amhor at full speed; for they knew that Ur Raj was from Helium, and they feared reprisals for having held him in captivity.
Janai, Ur Raj, and I were taken before the commanding officer where Ur Raj had no difficulty in convincing them of his identity. “And these other two?” demanded the officer, indicating Janai and me.
“I am a friend of Vor Daj,” I replied, “and so is this girl, Janai. I have served John Carter, too, faithfully. He will be glad to know that I am alive and well.”
“You are Tor-dur-bar?” asked the officer.
“Yes,” I replied, “but how could you know that?”
“This fleet was on its way to Amhor in search of you and the girl, Janai.”
“But how in the world could you have known that we were at Amhor?” I asked, amazed.
“It is quite simple,” he replied. “The fleet was bringing John Carter and Ras Thavas back to Morbus. Yesterday we were sailing low over the Great Toonolian Marshes when we saw a red man being pursued by savages. Their canoes were about to overtake his when we dropped a bomb among them, dispersing them. Then we dropped lower, and with landing tackle brought the man aboard. He said that his name was Pandar, and that he was escaping from Morbus; and when John Carter questioned him he learned that a flier from Amhor had captured you and the girl, Janai. The fleet was immediately ordered to Amhor to effect your rescue.”
“And you arrived none too soon,” I said; “but tell me, John Carter and Ras Thavas both live?”
“Yes,” he said; “they are aboard the Ruzaar.”
I have always prided myself that I have perfect control over my emotions; but with this final proof that John Carter and Ras Thavas both lived, I came as close to breaking down as I ever had in my life. The relief from long months of doubt and uncertainty almost proved my undoing; but I held myself together, and then in a moment another doubt raised its ugly head. John Carter and Ras Thavas lived; but was the body of Vor Daj still in existence? And, if so, was it within the power of man to recover it?
chapter XXIX
BACK TOWARD MORBUS
WE WERE SOON transferred to the Ruzaar, where I received a warm greeting from John Carter and Ras Thavas.
When I told my story, and Ur Raj had assured them that there were no more Heliumetic prisoners in Amhor, John Carter ordered the fleet about; and it headed again toward Morbus.
Ras Thavas was much concerned when I told him about the accident that had occurred in Vat Room No. 4 and its results.
“That is bad,” he said, “very bad. We may never be able to stop it. Let us hope that it has not reached the body of Vor Daj.”
“Oh, don’t suggest such a thing,” cried Janai. “Vor Daj must be saved.”
“It was to rescue Vor Daj that I returned with this fleet,” said John Carter, “and you may rest assured that it will not return without him, unless he has been destroyed.”
In fear and trembling, I inquired of John Carter the state of Dejah Thoris’s health.
“Thanks to Ras Thavas, she has completely recovered,” he replied. “Every great surgeon of Helium had given her up; but Ras Thavas, the miracle worker, restored her to perfect health.”
“Did you have any difficulty in returning to Helium from Morbus?” I asked.
“We had little else,” he replied. “From Morbus to Phundahl was almost one continuous battle with insects, beasts, reptiles, and savage men. How we survived it and won through is a mystery to me; but Dur-dan and Ras Thavas gave a good account of themselves with sword and dagger, and we came through almost to the flier without the loss of one of our number. Then, just the day before we reached it, Dur-dan was killed in a battle with some wild savages—the last we were to encounter in the Marshes. The journey between Morbus and Phundahl took up most of the time; but then, of course, we had to spend some time in Helium while Dejah Thoris was undergoing treatment. I felt convinced that you would pull through some way. You were powerful, intelligent, and resourceful; but I am afraid that my confidence would have been undermined had I known of what had happened in Vat Room No. 4.”
“It is a terrible catastrophe,” I said, “perhaps a world catastrophe, and as horrifying a sight as any that you have ever witnessed. There is no combatting it, for even if you cut it to pieces it continues to grow and to spread.”
That evening as I was walking on deck, I saw Janai standing alone at the rail. Knowing how repulsive I must be to her I never forced my company upon her; but this time she stopped me.
“Tor-dur-bar,” she said, “I wonder if I have ever adequately thanked you for all that you have done for me?”
“I want no thanks,” I said. “It is enough that I have been able to serve you and Vor Daj.”
She looked at me very closely. “What will it mean to you, Tor-dur-bar, if Vor Daj’s body is never recovered?”
“I shall have lost a friend,” I said.
“And you will come to Helium to live?”
“I do not know that I shall care to live,” I said.
“Why?” she demanded.
“Because there is no place in the world for such a hideous monster as I.”
“Do not say that, Tor-dur-bar,” she said, kindly. “You are not hideous, because you have a good heart. At first, before I knew you, I thought that you were hideous; but now, my friend, I see only the beauty and nobility of your character.”
That was very sweet of her, and I told her so; but it didn’t alter the fact that I was so hideous that I knew I should constantly be frightening women and children should I consent to go to Helium.
“Well, I think your appearance will make little difference in Helium,” she said, “for I am convinced that you will have many friends; but what is to become of me if Vor Daj is not rescued?”
“You need have no fear. John Carter will see to that.”
“But John Carter is under no obligation to me,” she insisted.
“Nevertheless, he will take care of you.”
“And you will come to see me, Tor-dur-bar?” she asked.
“If you wish me to,” I said; but I knew that Tor-dur-bar would never live to go to Helium.
She looked at me in silence and steadily for a moment, and then she said, “I know what is in your mind, Tor-dur-bar. You will never come to Helium as you are; but now that Ras Thavas has returned, why can he not give your brain a new body, as he did for so many other less worthy hormads?”
“Perhaps,” I replied; “but where shall I find a body?”
“There is Vor Daj’s,” she said, in a whisper.
“You mean,” I said, “that you would like my brain in the body of Vor Daj?”
“Why not?” she asked. “It is your brain that has been my best and most loyal friend. Sytor told me that Vor Daj’s brain had been destroyed. Perhaps it has. If that is true, I know that he lied when he said that you caused it to be destroyed; for I know you better now and know that you would not have so wronged a friend; but if by chance it has been destroyed, what could be better for me than that the brain of my friend animate the body of one whom I so admired?”
The Collected John Carter of Mars (Volume 3) Page 42
