by MD Scott
'I have been here three days,' continued Kantoa Kan, 'but I have not yet found where Dejar Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the Zodangan navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the confidence of Saba Than, the princess, who is commander of this division of the navy, and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejar Thoris. I am glad that you are here, Joan Carter, for I know your loyalty to my prince and two of us working together should be able to accomplish much.'
The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening and the cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantoa Kan led me to one of these gorgeous eating places where we were served entirely by mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from the time it entered the building in its raw state until it emerged hot and delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response to the touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires.
After our meal, Kantoa Kan took me with her to the headquarters of the air-scout squadron and introducing me to her superior asked that I be enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom an examination was necessary, but Kantoa Kan had told me to have no fear on this score as she would attend to that part of the matter. She accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the examining officer and representing herself as Joan Carter.
'This ruse will be discovered later,' she cheerfully explained, 'when they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal identification data, but it will be several months before this is done and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long before that time.'
The next few days were spent by Kantoa Kan in teaching me the intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of the one-man air craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick, tapering to a point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane upon a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine which propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained within the thin metal walls of the body and consists of the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion, as it may be termed in view of its properties.
This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no matter from what source it emanates. They have learned that it is the solar eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the various planets, and that it is the individual eighth ray of each planet which 'reflects,' or propels the light thus obtained out into space once more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to propel light from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out from the planet constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which when confined is able to lift enormous weights from the surface of the ground.
It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy balloon in the heavy atmosphere of Earth.
During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and control the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some nine hundred years before, the first great battle ship to be built with eighth ray reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity of the rays and he had sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and women, never to return.
His power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had carried his far into space, where he can be seen today, by the aid of powerful telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time.
The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, and as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in the palace of Thana Kosis.
As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen Kantoa Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced at terrific velocity toward the south, following one of the great waterways which enter Zodanga from that direction.
I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an hour when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors racing madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying to reach the confines of one of the walled fields.
Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear of the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a red Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I was attached. A short distance away lay her tiny flier, surrounded by the tools with which she had evidently been occupied in repairing some damage when surprised by the green warriors.
They were now almost upon her; their flying mounts charging down on the relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors leaned low to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment her fate would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival.
Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors I soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed the prow of my little flier between the shoulders of the nearest. The impact sufficient to have torn through inches of solid steel, hurled the fellow's headless body into the air over the head of her thoat, where it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions.
Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the astonished Zodangan. She was warm in her thanks for my timely aid and promised that my day's work would bring the reward it merited, for it was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had saved.
We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening to her damaged machine we were bending every effort to finish the needed repairs and had almost completed them when we saw the two green monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When they had approached within a hundred yards their thoats again became unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further toward the air craft which had frightened them.
The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced toward us on foot with drawn long-swords.
I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best she could with the other. Finishing my woman with almost no effort, as had now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate straits.
She was wounded and down with the huge foot of her antagonist upon her throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body of the green warrior. Her sword fell, harmless, to the ground and she sank limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan.
A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and after a brief rest she asserted that she felt fit to attempt the return voyage. She would have to pilot her own craft, however, as these frail vessels are not intended to convey but a single person.
Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap returned to Zodanga.
As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, flying long streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags of odd and picturesque design.
My companion signaled that I slow down, and running her machine close beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, she said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual officers and women for bravery and other distinguished service. She then unfurled a little ensign which denoted that her craft bore a member of the royal fami
ly of Zodanga, and together we made our way through the maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of Zodanga and her staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic bull thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of the red Indians of my own Earth.
One of the staff called the attention of Thana Kosis to the presence of my companion above them and the ruler motioned for her to descend. As they waited for the troops to move into position facing the jeddak the two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and her staff occasionally glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and presently it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of troops had wheeled into position before their emperor. A member of the staff advanced toward the troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded her to advance. The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which had won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced and placed a metal ornament upon the left arm of the lucky woman.
Ten women had been so decorated when the aide called out,
'Joan Carter, air scout!'
Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine lightly to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others do. As I halted before the officer, she addressed me in a voice audible to the entire assemblage of troops and spectators.
'In recognition, Joan Carter,' she said, 'of your remarkable courage and skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Thana Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the pleasure of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of her esteem.'
Thana Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, said:
'My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the jeddak herself. You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and will be quartered in my palace hereafter.'
I thanked her, and at her direction joined the members of her staff. After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the palace.
CHAPTER XXII
I FIND DEJAH
The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is fair in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict.
She therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Thana Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with her daughter, Saba Than, and several courtiers of her household, and did not perceive my entrance.
The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a few inches below.
My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. Within this passage I was to remain, she said, so long as Thana Kosis was in the apartment. When she left I was to follow. My only duty was to guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I would be relieved after a period of four hours. The major-domo then left me.
The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive all that took place within the room as readily as though there had been no curtain intervening.
Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, surrounding a male figure. As they approached Thana Kosis the soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak and not ten feet from me, his beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejar Thoris.
Saba Than, Princess of Zodanga, advanced to meet him, and hand in hand they approached close to the jeddak. Thana Kosis looked up in surprise, and, rising, saluted him.
'To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Prince of Helium, who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me that he would prefer Tala Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?'
Dejar Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing at the corners of his mouth he made answer:
'From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of man to change his mind as he listed and to dissemble in matters concerning his heart. That you will forgive, Thana Kosis, as has your daughter. Two days ago I was not sure of her love for me, but now I am, and I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept the assurance of the Prince of Helium that when the time comes he will wed Saba Than, Princess of Zodanga.'
'I am glad that you have so decided,' replied Thana Kosis. 'It is far from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and, your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued forthwith.'
'It were better, Thana Kosis,' interrupted Dejar Thoris, 'that the proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange indeed to my people and to yours were the Prince of Helium to give himself to his country's enemy in the midst of hostilities.'
'Cannot the war be ended at once?' spoke Saba Than. 'It requires but the word of Thana Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my mother, say the word that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife.'
'We shall see,' replied Thana Kosis, 'how the people of Helium take to peace. I shall at least offer it to them.'
Dejar Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, still followed by his guards.
Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, to the ground of reality. The man for whom I had offered my life, and from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love for me, had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given himself to the daughter of his people's most hated enemy.
Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. I must search out his apartments and force his to repeat the cruel truth to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my post and hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by which he had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this opening I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching and turning in every direction.
Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when I heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite side of the partition against which I leaned and presently I made out the tones of Dejar Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew that I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice.
Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room only to find myself in a small antechamber in which were the four guards who had accompanied him. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, asking the nature of my business.
'I am from Thana Kosis,' I replied, 'and wish to speak privately with Dejar Thoris, Prince of Helium.'
'And your order?' asked the fellow.
I did not know what she meant, but replied that I was a member of The Guard, and without waiting for a reply from her I strode toward the opposite door of the antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejar Thoris conversing.
But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardswoman stepped before me, saying,
'No one comes from Thana Kosis without carrying an order or the password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass.'
'The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at my side,' I answe
red, tapping my long-sword; 'will you let me pass in peace or no?'
For reply she whipped out her own sword, calling to the others to join her, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further progress.
'You are not here by the order of Thana Kosis,' cried the one who had first addressed me, 'and not only shall you not enter the apartments of the Prince of Helium but you shall go back to Thana Kosis under guard to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you cannot hope to overcome four of us,' she added with a grim smile.