A Princess of Mars Rethroned (22 page)

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 family 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
answered, 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.

My reply was a
quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I can assure
you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed against
the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my way
to a corner of the room where I could force them to come at me only
one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; the
clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam in the
little room.

The noise had
brought Dejar Thoris to the door of his apartment, and there he
stood throughout the conflict with Solan at his back peering over
him shoulder. His face was set and emotionless and I knew that he
did not recognize me, nor did Solan.