"This one will do," he said, and entering, kicked the moulding bones into a corner with one foot while he shook the chain to dislodge the skull from the collar.
With a key taken from his belt pouch, the officer unlocked the heavy collar and sprung it open. Then, while the two warriors held the prisoner in position, he snapped it on his neck, locked it, and replaced the key in his belt pouch.
"I leave you in distinguished company, O wise fool of Du Gong," said the officer. "Dead men who have been doughty warriors and mighty Khans, and a madman who was once the mightiest and wisest of all khans. Farewell."
Ted, who was now chained so he could neither stand erect nor lie down, squatted on his haunches among the bones of his filthy den, and watched the light from the head lamp of the departing officer grow more dim, until it finally disappeared and he was left in complete blackness.
Then he reached back to open his suit of insulating armor, which fastened in the back with an arrangement somewhat resembling a terrestrial zipper. With this armor off it would be an easy matter for him to get rid of his collar and chain, and he would have a fighting chance for his life, as his two pistol degravitors were underneath the armor and over the court suit he had been wearing when he had suddenly decided to attack the green ray projector in his flier.
To his consternation, however, the fastening would not budge. Like its terrestrial cousin the zipper, it worked beautifully when in good order, but when jammed it proved ten times as stubborn. Evidently it had been bent out of shape when his ship crashed with him in the crater. He worked futilely at it for more than two hours, then gave up the attempt as hopeless.
Presently a new idea occurred to him, and he began picking and pulling at the fuzzy exterior of his armor on his right side. If he could only make a hole big enough to get his hand on the pistol degravitor that pressed against his thigh the rest would be easy. But the armor proved as baffling as its fastenings, for interwoven with its tough fibres were tiny metal wires of extraordinary strength. He was still picking hopelessly at these wires when the madman in the cell across from him, who had been quiet up to this time, spoke.
"Who are you, white man?" he asked.
Surprised at the calm tones of this perfectly sane question, Ted replied:
"Men call me Ted Dustin."
"A peculiar name," mused Shen Ho. "From what part of Ma Gong do you come?"
"I am from Du Gong," replied Ted.
"From Du Gong! Are you mad, or can it be that I am as mad as I have pretended to be? If you are from Du Gong how did you get here?"
"In my space flier," answered Ted.
"You are a scientist?"
"Yes."
"I, too, am a scientist. I rediscovered the secret of the green ray of our ancestors, after it had been lost for thousands of years. It was my idea to use the ray for defense, but P'an-ku decided to use it for conquest. I objected. That is why I am here--have been here for more than a year. He would have killed me long ago by torture had it not been that he thought he might want to use my brain for his benefit later. As I have nothing left to live for, I feign madness in the presence of the guards, hoping that my execution will be ordered and I may be released from this horrible existence--this living death. Why has P'an-ku sent you here?"
"I am his prisoner of war," replied Ted, and recounted all that had happened from the time he had fired his projectile at the moon. It was a relief to have someone to talk to there in the stinking darkness.
"Many strange things can happen in a year," said Shen Ho, when Ted had finished his story. "And to think, he has used not only my invention, but the inventions of my two younger brothers for a war of conquest. My brother Wen Ho, who is five years younger than I, invented the flying globe. My brother, Fen Ho, who is seven years my junior, was the inventor of the powerful explosive projectiles and firing mechanism. We of the house of Ho spent our lives and our talents on these inventions in order that our people might have adequate defensive weapons and live in peace forever. But P'an-ku thought differently about these things, and his word is law."
"Did he jail your brothers, also?" asked Ted.
"They were condemned to these dungeons at the same time as I," replied Shen Ho, "but we were all chained in separate passageways. I know not whether they are living or dead."
"If you found an opportunity to escape, what would you do?" asked Ted.
"First I would search for my brothers and attempt to rescue them or assure myself that they had perished. This accomplished, I would seek P'an-ku."
"And then?"
"And then, the Lord Sun willing, P'an-ku should die."
"I have the means of escape at hand, yet cannot reach them." said Ted, explaining the nature and position of his two pistol degravitors. "If I could but get my hand on one of these weapons, I could destroy our fetters. Then we could help each other."
For some time Shen Ho was silent. Then he suddenly exclaimed:
"I have a way."
"How?"
"By persistent rubbing, human teeth will sever that wire."
"But I can't bite my own hip," replied Ted. "That's out."
"There are several skulls in your cell," said Shen Ho, "and in the jaws are teeth."
"Right!" exclaimed Ted. "We have a saying on Du Gong that two heads are better than one."
"And you will find," replied Shen Ho, "that if the first set of teeth wears out, two or three skulls are better than one. When and if you run out of skulls I have plenty more over here."
After groping about in the darkness for some time, Ted finally secured a skull, tore the jaw bone loose, and began sawing at the armor over his right hip. It was slow work. The wires were tougher by far than he had thought possible, and as Shen Ho had predicted, the teeth in the jaw bone he used were being ground away. When he had worn them down to the bone after many hours of patient labor, he discarded the lower jaw and went to work with the upper set of teeth. These, also, were nearly worn away with but slight effect on the armor, when a light suddenly appeared far down the passageway.
"It is a slave with our food and drink," whispered Shen Ho. "Cease your labors until he has gone. I will feign madness, as usual."
Ted laid the skull on the floor and sat down with his back against the wall, while Shen Ho laughed and shrieked until the whole cavern resounded with his weird cries.
The slave, a yellow, round-bodied Lunite who wore a light strapped to his forehead, a long, loose shirt of some coarse material, and straw sandals, set a bowl of stewed fungus and a large cup of water before each prisoner. Although he was without appetite in his ill-smelling surroundings, Ted choked down the fungus and drank the water, not knowing how soon he might again be offered food and drink.
When the prisoners had finished their frugal meal the slave took the bowls and cups and departed, leaving them in total darkness once more.
Ted picked up a skull, the position of which he had marked while eating his meal, tore off the jaw bone, and resumed work on the armor. When he felt sure the slave was out of earshot, he asked Shen Ho how often food and drink were served.
"The slave comes once in a rotation of your world," replied Shen Ho. "Our world moves so slowly on its axis that we use the rotation of yours to mark our measurement of time. We have our chronometers, of course, but your world is the great chronometer in the sky by which our own are guided and corrected. I had a small timepiece when I was brought here, but it ceased to function long ago and I gave it to a slave as a bribe for some few morsels of better food than is sent here regularly. A short time thereafter, that slave was chained in the niche you now occupy. He cursed me when he told me he had been caught with my chronometer and forced to confess his defection. Being quite superstitious, he died from terror in a short time, and it was his skeleton that was kicked into the corner by the guard and his skull that was shaken out of the collar to make a place for you." . . . .
Four times, thereafter, the slave came with food, thus marking the passage of five earth days in all. Ted ha
d used up all the available teeth in his own niche, and was working with the upper set of the last skull which Shen Ho had been able to produce and toss over to him, but although he had cut through many wires in his armor, he was still unable to reach his degravitor.
Suddenly a light, brighter than the headlamp of the slave, appeared at the entrance of the passage way. The clank of arms and the footsteps of mailed warriors resounded through the cavern.
"Where have they hidden this miserable worm from Du Gong?" asked a voice.
"The officer said he was far back in the passageway, excellency," answered another.
"I know that first voice," whispered Shen Ho. "It is the cruel Tzien, who is Khan of the Torture Chambers. With him are four of his painted tortures. Work fast, Ted Dustin, or you are doomed."
Ted scraped frantically at the remaining wires which kept him from reaching his degravitor. Several snapped, and he attempted to insert his hand, but the opening was still too small.
"Hurry!" called Shen Ho. "They are almost here!"
Gripping the skull in both hands, Ted scraped in frenzied haste while the footfalls and clanking armor grew louder. More wires snapped, yet he could not get his hand in the opening.
Before he could move, Tzien Khan, with his cruel features contorted in a grin of sadistic delight, stepped into view followed by four of his brawny, hideously painted torturers. Then Shen Ho howled and laughed, and muttered of light and life, and of darkness and death.
XX. TRAPPED
P'AN-KU, iris hands clasped about his ample equatorial region, leaned back in his luxuriously cushioned throne and listlessly contemplated the humped figure of his major domo who, with palms and forehead pressed to the floor before the dais, awaited permission to speak.
"Now what low person disturbs our meditations?" demanded P'an-ku.
"O, worshipful Lord of the Universe," replied the major domo, "Kai Lo, Khan of Scouts, begs leave to impart tidings."
"Admit him," said P'an-ku. Then he turned to Dr. Wu, who stood at the right of the throne, having advanced himself in the graces of the monarch he regarded almost as a god, and said: "I presume he will tell me that the white Princess is about to storm the city. I knew this five days ago when my spies in Ultu informed me of her pact with the worm of Du Gong who called himself Roger Sanders."
Kai Lo Khan, a short individual with an oval body and thin, crafty features, entered and prostrated himself before the throne.
"Speak," commanded P'an-ku.
"O, Paragon of Wisdom and Fountain of All Authority," said Kai Lo Khan, "the army of the Princess Maza is surrounding the city. With her are a hundred thousand nak-kar cavalry and five hundred thousand foot."
"Dolt!" thundered P'an-ku. "I knew all this was to be five days ago, and am prepared."
"But Majesty, that is not all. She has sent a party to the western gate of the city under a banner of truce."
"Ah! She would parley. Go then to the gate and take her message."
Again prostrating himself, Kai Lo Khan hastily departed.
Not more than twenty minutes elapsed before he returned and made obeisance.
"I have brought the message of the Princess, O Vicar of the Sun," said he, producing a scroll.
"Read it," commanded P'an-ku.
Kai Lo Khan unrolled the scroll, cleared his throat, and read:
Her Imperial Majesty, Maza an Ma Gong to His Royal Highness, P'an-ku an Peilong.
Greeting: Surrender the person of Ted Dustin, living and unharmed, and Peilong will be spared. Refuse, and my army will destroy it utterly.
Maza an Ma Gong.
"Tell her," thundered P'an-ku, "that Ted Dustin will this day be made to suffer the death of the hot oil. Tell her further, that we are prepared for her attack, and that--"
"Pardon, O just and mighty Dictator of the Universe!" It was Dr. Wu who had interrupted. The courtiers looked at him in amazement, apparently expecting P'an-ku to have him executed for his temerity, but he continued. "May your worthless slave from Du Gong suggest a plan?"
"Speak," replied P'an-ku.
"Would it please Your Majesty to have the white Princess as a prisoner?"
"Nothing would suit me better," replied P'an-ku. "Tzien Khan, here, could very quickly persuade her to become my queen, could you not, my Khan of the Torture Chambers?"
"Assuredly, O King of the Age, if she should be so foolish as to need such persuasion," replied Tzien Khan with a bow.
"After which," continued P'an-ku, "with her armies and her wealth at my disposal, I could quickly bring both Du Gong and Lu Gong under my undisputed sway. But what is your plan, Dr. Wu?"
"It is apparent from her message," said the wily doctor, "that the Princess loves this Ted Dustin. If the prisoner, therefore, or someone purporting to be the prisoner, were sent out, she would not overlook an opportunity for speech with him."
"Very likely," replied P'an-ku.
"I suggest therefore," continued the crafty doctor, "that you dress one of your white prisoners who is about the size of Ted Dustin in a suit of insulating armor and glass helmet of the kind worn by the people of Ultu. Send a note to the Princess stating that you will constitute Ted Dustin your messenger for a peace parley at a point half way between the western gate and the front line of her army, stipulating that she be accompanied by not more than ten unmounted men, and that a like number will accompany Ted Dustin.
"Men can be posted at suitable points along the wall with green ray projectors to lay down a barrage at a prearranged signal. This will prevent her from getting back to her army, or prevent the army from reaching her. In the meantime, her guard can easily be destroyed and the Princess taken prisoner."
"What think you of this plan, Kai Lo Khan?" asked P'an-ku.
"It sounds feasible, O Bright and Shining Cousin of the Sun," replied the Khan of Scouts, cautiously.
"And you, Tzien Khan?"
"I believe it would work, O Lord of Worlds," replied the Khan of Torturers.
"We will try it," decided P'an-ku. "You, Tzien Khan, will take one of the Ultuan prisoners who resembles Ted Dustin in physical proportions and dress him in a suit of the armor we took when we captured a troop of the surface scouts of the white princess.
"You, Kai Lo Khan, will go to Chu Yan, Khan of my army, inform him of our plans, and see that he has men with ray projectors suitably posted on the walls and ten men ready to accompany the prisoner to the meeting place. I will send a messenger with a note to the Princess, at once.
"And, Tzien Khan. When you have prepared a prisoner to represent the young scientist of Du Gong, you may take Ted Dustin from the dungeons of eternal darkness to the torture chambers, and there inflict on him the death of the hot oil. I had thought to delay his death and prolong his torture indefinitely, but with the prospect of the honor of a visit from the fair Princess who foolishly believes she loves him, it will be better to put him permanently out of her reach at once.
"Now go, both of you." . . . .
Seated on the back of her great, fighting nak-kar in one of the glades of the luminous forest which surrounded the city of Peilong, Maza waited impatiently for P'an-ku reply to her message. She wore a suit and helmet of shining white armor, and a sword and red ray projector depended from the belt which encircled her slender waist. Beside her, similarly armored and mounted, was the aged Vanible Khan.
Ranged before her were line after line of her foot soldiers, and more, steadily coming up from the rear, were being hurried into place by their officers as the army encircled the city. Her nak-kar cavalry had deployed for attack, and the huge supply wagons, drawn by great, lumbering, wingless dragons, were rumbling into position.
"P'an-ku ponders long over his reply, Your Majesty," said Vanible Khan.
"It may be that he does not intend to make one," replied Maza. "He seems, however, to have respected my banner of truce."
"I would not rest too strongly on the belief that Ted Dustin is alive," said Vanible Khan. "If he escaped the green rays of the defe
nders when he attacked the great projector it would be amazing, but if P'an-ku were to capture him and spare his life it would indeed be astounding."
"Nevertheless, I shall go on believing him alive until I have proof to the contrary," answered Maza. "I seem to feel it, here." She pressed her hand over her heart.
Sailing gracefully over the treetops, a nak-kar alighted in the glade. Its rider dismounted, rushed to where Maza sat in her saddle, made obeisance, and presented a scroll.
"A message from P'an-ku," he announced.
The Princess eagerly seized and unrolled the missive, hastily scanning its contents.
"He lives! Ted Dustin lives!"
"And will P'an-ku surrender him without a struggle?" asked Vanible Khan.
"I will read the message," she replied.
His Imperial Majesty, P'an-ku an Ma Gong to Du Gong to Her Royal Highness, Maza an Ulta.
If you care to meet him in person, Ted Dustin will tell you tire terms I propose. He will advance half way to your front lines, accompanied by ten of my guards, who will slay him at the first sign of treachery. Meet him there, on foot, with ten of your unmounted warriors, and perhaps a satisfactory settlement can be arranged.
P'an-ku an Ma Gong to Du Gong.
"The ruler of Peilong assumes mighty titles since he has acquired the green ray and the fighting globe," said Vanible Khan. "Emperor of Ma Gong and Du Gong, indeed! He will soon have the other planets, their satellites, and the Lord Sun under his domination, if words can do the trick. And he insultingly addressed Your Majesty as 'Ruler of Ulta,' ignoring your greater title."
"I will overlook that for the present--to save Ted Dustin," replied Maza.
"But, Your Majesty," remonstrated the aged scientist. "Don't you see that this bloated monster is setting a trap for you--a trap baited with the man you love?"
"Trap or no trap," said Maza, "I am going."
"Majesty, I implore you not to go. For the sake of Ulta--for the sake of the millions of subjects who love you-"
"Enough!" she said. "The terms are fair enough--a trap well nigh impossible. I will be accompanied by ten of my warriors, who can, if need be, account for the ten accompanying Ted Dustin. I will be within plain sight and ray-range of the advance guard of my army. They will be instructed to protect me with a ray barrage at the slightest sign of trickery."
Maza of the Moon (1929) Page 13