The warlord of Mars
return, when a sudden bend showed a faint luminosity ahead.
My quarry was plainly visible again, and in the increasing light from
the phosphorescent rock that lay embedded in great patches in the
roughly arched roof of the cavern I had no difficulty in following him.
It was my first trip upon the bosom of Iss, and the things I saw there
will live forever in my memory.
Terrible as they were, they could not have commenced to approximate the
horrible conditions which must have obtained before Tars Tarkas, the
great green warrior, Xodar, the black dator, and I brought the light of
truth to the outer world and stopped the mad rush of millions upon the
voluntary pilgrimage to what they believed would end in a beautiful
valley of peace and happiness and love.
Even now the low islands which dotted the broad stream were choked with
the skeletons and half devoured carcasses of those who, through fear or
a sudden awakening to the truth, had halted almost at the completion of
their journey.
In the awful stench of these frightful charnel isles haggard maniacs
screamed and gibbered and fought among the torn remnants of their
grisly feasts; while on those which contained but clean-picked bones
they battled with one another, the weaker furnishing sustenance for the
stronger; or with clawlike hands clutched at the bloated bodies that
drifted down with the current.
Thurid paid not the slightest attention to the screaming things that
either menaced or pleaded with him as the mood directed them—evidently
he was familiar with the horrid sights that surrounded him. He
continued up the river for perhaps a mile; and then, crossing over to
the left bank, drew his craft up on a low ledge that lay almost on a
level with the water.
I dared not follow across the stream, for he most surely would have
seen me. Instead I stopped close to the opposite wall beneath an
overhanging mass of rock that cast a dense shadow beneath it. Here I
could watch Thurid without danger of discovery.
The black was standing upon the ledge beside his boat, looking up the
river, as though he were awaiting one whom he expected from that
direction.
As I lay there beneath the dark rocks I noticed that a strong current
seemed to flow directly toward the center of the river, so that it was
difficult to hold my craft in its position. I edged farther into the
shadow that I might find a hold upon the bank; but, though I proceeded
several yards, I touched nothing; and then, finding that I would soon
reach a point from where I could no longer see the black man, I was
compelled to remain where I was, holding my position as best I could by
paddling strongly against the current which flowed from beneath the
rocky mass behind me.
I could not imagine what might cause this strong lateral flow, for the
main channel of the river was plainly visible to me from where I sat,
and I could see the rippling junction of it and the mysterious current
which had aroused my curiosity.
While I was still speculating upon the phenomenon, my attention was
suddenly riveted upon Thurid, who had raised both palms forward above
his head in the universal salute of Martians, and a moment later his
“Kaor!” the Barsoomian word of greeting, came in low but distinct
tones.
I turned my eyes up the river in the direction that his were bent, and
presently there came within my limited range of vision a long boat, in
which were six men. Five were at the paddles, while the sixth sat in
the seat of honor.
The white skins, the flowing yellow wigs which covered their bald
pates, and the gorgeous diadems set in circlets of gold about their
heads marked them as Holy Therns.
As they drew up beside the ledge upon which Thurid awaited them, he in
the bow of the boat arose to step ashore, and then I saw that it was
none other than Matai Shang, Father of Therns.
The evident cordiality with which the two men exchanged greetings
filled me with wonder, for the black and white men of Barsoom were
hereditary enemies—nor ever before had I known of two meeting other
than in battle.
Evidently the reverses that had recently overtaken both peoples had
resulted in an alliance between these two individuals—at least against
the common enemy—and now I saw why Thurid had come so often out into
the Valley Dor by night, and that the nature of his conspiring might be
such as to strike very close to me or to my friends.
I wished that I might have found a point closer to the two men from
which to have heard their conversation; but it was out of the question
now to attempt to cross the river, and so I lay quietly watching them,
who would have given so much to have known how close I lay to them, and
how easily they might have overcome and killed me with their superior
force.
Several times Thurid pointed across the river in my direction, but that
his gestures had any reference to me I did not for a moment believe.
Presently he and Matai Shang entered the latter’s boat, which turned
out into the river and, swinging round, forged steadily across in my
direction.
As they advanced I moved my boat farther and farther in beneath the
overhanging wall, but at last it became evident that their craft was
holding the same course. The five paddlers sent the larger boat ahead
at a speed that taxed my energies to equal.
Every instant I expected to feel my prow crash against solid rock. The
light from the river was no longer visible, but ahead I saw the faint
tinge of a distant radiance, and still the water before me was open.
At last the truth dawned upon me—I was following a subterranean river
which emptied into the Iss at the very point where I had hidden.
The rowers were now quite close to me. The noise of their own paddles
drowned the sound of mine, but in another instant the growing light
ahead would reveal me to them.
There was no time to be lost. Whatever action I was to take must be
taken at once. Swinging the prow of my boat toward the right, I sought
the river’s rocky side, and there I lay while Matai Shang and Thurid
approached up the center of the stream, which was much narrower than
the Iss.
As they came nearer I heard the voices of Thurid and the Father of
Therns raised in argument.
“I tell you, Thern,” the black dator was saying, “that I wish only
vengeance upon John Carter, Prince of Helium. I am leading you into no
trap. What could I gain by betraying you to those who have ruined my
nation and my house?”
“Let us stop here a moment that I may hear your plans,” replied the
hekkador, “and then we may proceed with a better understanding of our
duties and obligations.”
To the rowers he issued the command that brought their boat in toward
the bank not a dozen paces beyond the spot where I lay.
Had they pulled in below me they must surely have seen me against the
faint glow of light ahead, but from where they finally came to rest I
was as secure from detection as though miles separated us.
The few words I had already overheard whetted my curiosity, and I was
anxious to learn what manner of vengeance Thurid was planning against
me. Nor had I long to wait. I listened intently.
“There are no obligations, Father of Therns,” continued the First Born.
“Thurid, Dator of Issus, has no price. When the thing has been
accomplished I shall be glad if you will see to it that I am well
received, as is befitting my ancient lineage and noble rank, at some
court that is yet loyal to thy ancient faith, for I cannot return to
the Valley Dor or elsewhere within the power of the Prince of Helium;
but even that I do not demand—it shall be as your own desire in the
matter directs.”
“It shall be as you wish, Dator,” replied Matai Shang; “nor is that
all—power and riches shall be yours if you restore my daughter,
Phaidor, to me, and place within my power Dejah Thoris, Princess of
Helium.
“Ah,” he continued with a malicious snarl, “but the Earth man shall
suffer for the indignities he has put upon the holy of holies, nor
shall any vileness be too vile to inflict upon his princess. Would that
it were in my power to force him to witness the humiliation and
degradation of the red woman.”
“You shall have your way with her before another day has passed, Matai
Shang,” said Thurid, “if you but say the word.”
“I have heard of the Temple of the Sun, Dator,” replied Matai Shang,
“but never have I heard that its prisoners could be released before the
allotted year of their incarceration had elapsed. How, then, may you
accomplish the impossible?”
“Access may be had to any cell of the temple at any time,” replied
Thurid. “Only Issus knew this; nor was it ever Issus’ way to divulge
more of her secrets than were necessary. By chance, after her death, I
came upon an ancient plan of the temple, and there I found, plainly
writ, the most minute directions for reaching the cells at any time.
“And more I learned—that many men had gone thither for Issus in the
past, always on errands of death and torture to the prisoners; but
those who thus learned the secret way were wont to die mysteriously
immediately they had returned and made their reports to cruel Issus.”
“Let us proceed, then,” said Matai Shang at last. “I must trust you,
yet at the same time you must trust me, for we are six to your one.”
“I do not fear,” replied Thurid, “nor need you. Our hatred of the
common enemy is sufficient bond to insure our loyalty to each other,
and after we have defiled the Princess of Helium there will be still
greater reason for the maintenance of our allegiance—unless I greatly
mistake the temper of her lord.”
Matai Shang spoke to the paddlers. The boat moved on up the tributary.
It was with difficulty that I restrained myself from rushing upon them
and slaying the two vile plotters; but quickly I saw the mad rashness
of such an act, which would cut down the only man who could lead the
way to Dejah Thoris’ prison before the long Martian year had swung its
interminable circle.
If he should lead Matai Shang to that hallowed spot, then, too, should
he lead John Carter, Prince of Helium.
With silent paddle I swung slowly into the wake of the larger craft.
UNDER THE MOUNTAINS
As we advanced up the river which winds beneath the Golden Cliffs out
of the bowels of the Mountains of Otz to mingle its dark waters with
the grim and mysterious Iss the faint glow which had appeared before us
grew gradually into an all-enveloping radiance.
The river widened until it presented the aspect of a large lake whose
vaulted dome, lighted by glowing phosphorescent rock, was splashed with
the vivid rays of the diamond, the sapphire, the ruby, and the
countless, nameless jewels of Barsoom which lay incrusted in the virgin
gold which forms the major portion of these magnificent cliffs.
Beyond the lighted chamber of the lake was darkness—what lay behind the
darkness I could not even guess.
To have followed the thern boat across the gleaming water would have
been to invite instant detection, and so, though I was loath to permit
Thurid to pass even for an instant beyond my sight, I was forced to
wait in the shadows until the other boat had passed from my sight at
the far extremity of the lake.
Then I paddled out upon the brilliant surface in the direction they had
taken.
When, after what seemed an eternity, I reached the shadows at the upper
end of the lake I found that the river issued from a low aperture, to
pass beneath which it was necessary that I compel Woola to lie flat in
the boat, and I, myself, must need bend double before the low roof
cleared my head.
Immediately the roof rose again upon the other side, but no longer was
the way brilliantly lighted. Instead only a feeble glow emanated from
small and scattered patches of phosphorescent rock in wall and roof.