tmp_c799c46e2bf43fc5e02e822bf0c23ac4_SzE3FM.fixed.tidied

by MD Scott

  There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the great building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a thousand years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was that some accident might befall the pumping apparatus.

  She led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty radium pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing all Mars with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, she told me, she had watched these pumps which are used alternately a day each at a stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. She has one assistant who divides the watch with her. Half a Martian year, about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each of these women spend alone in this huge, isolated plant.

  Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles of the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold the secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as it is with walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, even the roof being guarded from assault by air craft by a glass covering five feet thick.

  The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians or some demented red woman, as all Barsoomians realize that the very existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon the uninterrupted working of this plant.

  One curious fact I discovered as I watched her thoughts was that the outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are so finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action of a certain combination of thought waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I thought to surprise her into revealing this combination and so I asked her in a casual manner how she had managed to unlock the massive doors for me from the inner chambers of the building. As quick as a flash there leaped to her mind nine Martian sounds, but as quickly faded as she answered that this was a secret she must not divulge.

  From then on her manner toward me changed as though she feared that she had been surprised into divulging her great secret, and I read suspicion and fear in her looks and thoughts, though her words were still fair.

  Before I retired for the night she promised to give me a letter to a nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, which she said, was the nearest Martian city.

  'But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium as they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear protects us in all lands, even among the green men--though we do not trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it,' she added.

  'And so good-night, my friend,' she continued, 'may you have a long and restful sleep--yes, a long sleep.'

  And though she smiled pleasantly I saw in her thoughts the wish that she had never admitted me, and then a picture of her standing over me in the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half formed words, 'I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom.'

  As she closed the door of my chamber behind her her thoughts were cut off from me as was the sight of her, which seemed strange to me in my little knowledge of thought transference.

  What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? Easily could I kill her now that I was warned, but once she was dead I could no more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery of the great plant I should die with all the other inhabitants of the planet--all, even Dejar Thoris were he not already dead. For the others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejar Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host.

  Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woolan, sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; I would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought waves I had read in my host's mind.

  Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had I seen my host, nor did I know where she kept herself by night.

  I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a slight noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess in the corridor. Dragging Woolan after me I crouched low in the darkness.

  Presently the old woman passed close by me, and as she entered the dimly lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that she held a long thin dagger in her hand and that she was sharpening it upon a stone. In her mind was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, which would take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed chamber and finish me.

  As she passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place and crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood between me and liberty.

  Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine thought waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when finally the great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to one side. One after the other the remaining mighty portals opened at my command and Woolan and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better off than we had been before, other than that we had full stomachs.

  Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for the first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as quickly as possible. This I reached about morning and entering the first enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a habitation.

  There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought any response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself upon the ground commanding Woolan to stand guard.

  Some time later I was awakened by her frightful growlings and opened my eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from us and covering me with their rifles.

  'I am unarmed and no enemy,' I hastened to explain. 'I have been a prisoner among the green women and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask is food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions for reaching my destination.'

  They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which was only a short distance away.

  The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, had been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in the entrance hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and bars for their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out of harm's way during the night. They also have private means for lowering or raising them from the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them.

  These sisters, with their husbands and children, occupied three similar houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being government officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, prisoners of war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose.

  They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I spent several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long and arduous experiences.

  When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference to Dejar Thoris and the old woman of the atmosphere plant--they advised me to color my body to more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to find employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the navy.

  'The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after you have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the higher nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through military service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom,' explained one of them, 'and save our richest favors for the fighting w
oman.'

  When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic bull thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. The animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and shape an exact replica of her huge and fierce cousin of the wilds.

  The sisters had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite long, in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the back and banged in front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in the style of a Zodangan gentlewoman, attached to the house of Ptor, which was the family name of my benefactors.

  They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The medium of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except that the coins are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as they require it and redeemed twice yearly. If a woman issues more than she can redeem, the government pays her creditors in full and the debtor works out the amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned by the government. This suits everybody except the debtor as it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to work the great isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow ribbons from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and wilder women.

  When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was out of sight upon the broad white turnpike.

  CHAPTER XXI

  AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA

  As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom.

  The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, and pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. Along either side of these conduits, and extending their entire length, lie the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts of about the same size, each tract being under the supervision of one or more government officers.

  Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting immense quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is carried underground through a vast network of small pipes directly to the roots of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always uniform, for there are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying birds.

  On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic animals of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, but not a single article of food which was exactly similar to anything on Earth. Every plant and flower and vegetable and animal has been so refined by ages of careful, scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of them on Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by comparison.

  At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble class and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One of the older women had been there on a diplomatic mission several years before and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to keep these two countries at war.

  'Helium,' she said, 'rightly boasts the most beautiful men of Barsoom, and of all his treasures the wondrous son of Mora Kajak, Dejar Thoris, is the most exquisite flower.

  'Why,' she added, 'the people really worship the ground he walks upon and since his loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium has been draped in mourning.

  'That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was returning to Helium was but another of her awful blunders which I fear will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser woman to her place.'

  'Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is not a popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our forces took advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of Helium on their search for the prince, and so we have been able easily to reduce the city to a sorry plight. It is said he will fall within the next few passages of the further moon.'

  'And what, think you, may have been the fate of the prince, Dejar Thoris?' I asked as casually as possible.

  'He is dead,' she answered. 'This much was learned from a green warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. He escaped from the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, only to fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering upon the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were discovered nearby.'

  While this information was in no way reassuring, neithers was it at all conclusive proof of the death of Dejar Thoris, and so I determined to make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly as I could and carry to Tardoa Mors such news of her granddaughter's possible whereabouts as lay in my power.

  Ten days after leaving the three Ptor sisters I arrived at Zodanga. From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants of Mars I had noticed that Woolan drew a great amount of unwelcome attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which is never domesticated by the red women. Were one to stroll down Broadway with a Numidian lion at her heels the effect would be somewhat similar to that which I should have produced had I entered Zodanga with Woolan.

  The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so great regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before we arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it became imperative that we separate. Had nothing further than my own safety or pleasure been at stake no argument could have prevailed upon me to turn away the one creature upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration of affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered my life in the service of his in search of whom I was about to challenge the unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious city, I could not permit even Woolan's life to threaten the success of my venture, much less her momentary happiness, for I doubted not she soon would forget me. And so I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising her, however, that if I came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should find the means to search her out.

  She seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the direction of Thark she turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to watch her go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with a touch of heartsickness approached his frowning walls.

  The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the vast, walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the streets were practically deserted. The residences, raised high upon their metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule were not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or barred, since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. Assassination is the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, and for this reason alone their homes are raised high above the ground at night, or in times of danger.

  The Ptor sisters had given me explicit directions for reaching the point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be near the offices of the government agents to whom they had given me letters. My way led to the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of all Martian cities.

  The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the palaces of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty and nobility of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public buildings, cafes, and shops.

  As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly toward me from one of the avenues. She paid not the slightest attention to me, but as she came abreast I recognized her, and turning I placed
my hand upon her shoulder, calling out:

  'Kaor, Kantoa Kan!'

  Like lightning she wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand the point of her long-sword was at my breast.

  'Who are you?' she growled, and then as a backward leap carried me fifty feet from her sword she dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, laughing,

  'I do not need a better reply, there is but one woman upon all Barsoom who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further moon, Joan Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen that you can change your color at will?'

  'You gave me a bad half minute my friend,' she continued, after I had briefly outlined my adventures since parting with her in the arena at Warhoon. 'Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardoa Mors, Jeddak of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of Dejar Thoris, our prince. Saba Than, princess of Zodanga, has his hidden in the city and has fallen madly in love with him. Her mother, Thana Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has made his voluntary marriage to her daughter the price of peace between our countries, but Tardoa Mors will not accede to the demands and has sent word that she and her people would rather look upon the dead face of their prince than see his wed to any than his own choice, and that personally she would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and burning Helium to joining the metal of her house with that of Thana Kosis. Her reply was the deadliest affront she could have put upon Thana Kosis and the Zodangans, but her people love her the more for it and her strength in Helium is greater today than ever.