CHAPTER IX

ADRIFT OVER STRANGE REGIONS

Presently Ghek pushed aside a door that opened from the stairway, and

before them Tara saw the moonlight flooding the walled court where the

headless rykors lay beside their feeding-troughs. She saw the perfect

bodies, muscled as the best of her father's fighting men, and the

females whose figures would have been the envy of many of Helium's most

beautiful women. Ah, if she could but endow these with the power to

act! Then indeed might the safety of the panthan be assured; but they

were only poor lumps of clay, nor had she the power to quicken them to

life. Ever must they lie thus until dominated by the cold, heartless

brain of the kaldane. The girl sighed in pity even as she shuddered in

disgust as she picked her way over and among the sprawled creatures

toward the flier.

Quickly she and Ghek mounted to the deck after the latter had cast off

the moorings. Tara tested the control, raising and lowering the ship a

few feet within the walled space. It responded perfectly. Then she

lowered it to the ground again and waited. From the open doorway came

the sounds of conflict, now nearing them, now receding. The girl,

having witnessed her champion's skill, had little fear of the outcome.

Only a single antagonist could face him at a time upon the narrow

stairway, he had the advantage of position and of the defensive, and he

was a master of the sword while they were clumsy bunglers by

comparison. Their sole advantage was in their numbers, unless they

might find a way to come upon him from behind.

She paled at the thought. Could she have seen him she might have been

further perturbed, for he took no advantage of many opportunities to

win nearer the enclosure. He fought coolly, but with a savage

persistence that bore little semblance to purely defensive action.

Often he clambered over the body of a fallen foe to leap against the

next behind, and once there lay five dead kaldanes behind him, so far

had he pushed back his antagonists. They did not know it; these

kaldanes that he fought, nor did the girl awaiting him upon the flier,

but Gahan of Gathol was engaged in a more alluring sport than winning

to freedom, for he was avenging the indignities that had been put upon

the woman he loved; but presently he realized that he might be

jeopardizing her safety uselessly, and so he struck down another before

him and turning leaped quickly up the stairway, while the leading

kaldanes slipped upon the brain-covered floor and stumbled in pursuit.

Gahan reached the enclosure twenty paces ahead of them and raced toward

the flier. "Rise!" he shouted to the girl. "I will ascend the cable."

Slowly the small craft rose from the ground as Gahan leaped the inert

bodies of the rykors lying in his path. The first of the pursuers

sprang from the tower just as Gahan seized the trailing rope.

"Faster!" he shouted to the girl above, "or they will drag us down!"

But the ship seemed scarcely to move, though in reality she was rising

as rapidly as might have been expected of a one-man flier carrying a

load of three. Gahan swung free above the top of the wall, but the end

of the rope still dragged the ground as the kaldanes reached it. They

were pouring in a steady stream from the tower into the enclosure. The

leader seized the rope.

"Quick!" he cried. "Lay hold and we will drag them down."

It needed but the weight of a few to accomplish his design. The ship

was stopped in its flight and then, to the horror of the girl, she felt

it being dragged steadily downward. Gahan, too, realized the danger and

the necessity for instant action. Clinging to the rope with his left

hand, he had wound a leg about it, leaving his right hand free for his

long-sword which he had not sheathed. A downward cut clove the soft

head of a kaldane, and another severed the taut rope beneath the

panthan's feet. The girl heard a sudden renewal of the shrill whistling

of her foes, and at the same time she realized that the craft was

rising again. Slowly it drifted upward, out of reach of the enemy, and

a moment later she saw the figure of Turan clamber over the side. For

the first time in many weeks her heart was filled with the joy of

thanksgiving; but her first thought was of another.

"You are not wounded?" she asked.

"No, Tara of Helium," he replied. "They were scarce worth the effort of

my blade, and never were they a menace to me because of their swords."

"They should have slain you easily," said Ghek. "So great and highly

developed is the power of reason among us that they should have known

before you struck just where, logically, you must seek to strike, and

so they should have been able to parry your every thrust and easily

find an opening to your heart."

"But they did not, Ghek," Gahan reminded him. "Their theory of

development is wrong, for it does not tend toward a perfectly balanced

whole. You have developed the brain and neglected the body and you can

never do with the hands of another what you can do with your own hands.

Mine are trained to the sword--every muscle responds instantly and

accurately, and almost mechanically, to the need of the instant. I am

scarcely objectively aware that I think when I fight, so quickly does

my point take advantage of every opening, or spring to my defense if I

am threatened that it is almost as though the cold steel had eyes and

brains. You, with your kaldane brain and your rykor body, never could

hope to achieve in the same degree of perfection those things that I

can achieve. Development of the brain should not be the sum total of

human endeavor. The richest and happiest peoples will be those who

attain closest to well-balanced perfection of both mind and body, and

even these must always be short of perfection. In absolute and general

perfection lies stifling monotony and death. Nature must have

contrasts; she must have shadows as well as highlights; sorrow with

happiness; both wrong and right; and sin as well as virtue."

"Always have I been taught differently," replied Ghek; "but since I

have known this woman and you, of another race, I have come to believe

that there may be other standards fully as high and desirable as those

of the kaldanes. At least I have had a glimpse of the thing you call

happiness and I realize that it may be good even though I have no means

of expressing it. I cannot laugh nor smile, and yet within me is a

sense of contentment when this woman sings--a sense that seems to open

before me wondrous vistas of beauty and unguessed pleasure that far

transcend the cold joys of a perfectly functioning brain. I would that

I had been born of thy race."

Caught by a gentle current of air the flier was drifting slowly toward

the northeast across the valley of Bantoom. Below them lay the

cultivated fields, and one after another they passed over the strange

towers of Moak and Nolach and the other kings of the swarms that

inhabited this weird and terrible land. Within each enclosure

surrounding the towers grovelled the rykors, repellent, headless

things, beautiful yet hideous.

"A lesson, those," remarked Gahan, indicating the rykors in an

enclosure above which they were drifting at the time, "to that

fortunately small minority of our race which worships the flesh and

makes a god of appetite. You know them, Tara of Helium; they can tell

you exactly what they had at the midday meal two weeks ago, and how the

loin of the thoat should be prepared, and what drink should be served

with the rump of the zitidar."

Tara of Helium laughed. "But not one of them could tell you the name of

the man whose painting took the Jeddak's Award in The Temple of Beauty

this year," she said. "Like the rykors, their development has not been

balanced."

"Fortunate indeed are those in which there is combined a little good

and a little bad, a little knowledge of many things outside their own

callings, a capacity for love and a capacity for hate, for such as

these can look with tolerance upon all, unbiased by the egotism of him

whose head is so heavy on one side that all his brains run to that

point."

As Gahan ceased speaking Ghek made a little noise in his throat as one

does who would attract attention. "You speak as one who has thought

much upon many subjects. Is it, then, possible that you of the red race

have pleasure in thought? Do you know aught of the joys of

introspection? Do reason and logic form any part of your lives?"

"Most assuredly," replied Gahan, "but not to the extent of occupying

all our time--at least not objectively. You, Ghek, are an example of

the egotism of which I spoke. Because you and your kind devote your

lives to the worship of mind, you believe that no other created beings

think. And possibly we do not in the sense that you do, who think only

of yourselves and your great brains. We think of many things that

concern the welfare of a world. Had it not been for the red men of

Barsoom even the kaldanes had perished from the planet, for while you

may live without air the things upon which you depend for existence

cannot, and there had been no air in sufficient quantities upon Barsoom

these many ages had not a red man planned and built the great

atmosphere plant which gave new life to a dying world.

"What have all the brains of all the kaldanes that have ever lived done

to compare with that single idea of a single red man?"

Ghek was stumped. Being a kaldane he knew that brains spelled the sum

total of universal achievement, but it had never occurred to him that

they should be put to use in practical and profitable ways. He turned

away and looked down upon the valley of his ancestors across which he

was slowly drifting, into what unknown world? He should be a veritable

god among the underlings, he knew; but somehow a doubt assailed him. It

was evident that these two from that other world were ready to question

his preeminence. Even through his great egotism was filtering a

suspicion that they patronized him; perhaps even pitied him. Then he

began to wonder what was to become of him. No longer would he have many

rykors to do his bidding. Only this single one and when it died there

could not be another. When it tired, Ghek must lie almost helpless

while it rested. He wished that he had never seen this red woman. She

had brought him only discontent and dishonor and now exile. Presently

Tara of Helium commenced to hum a tune and Ghek, the kaldane, was

content.

Gently they drifted beneath the hurtling moons above the mad shadows of

a Martian night. The roaring of the banths came in diminishing volume

to their ears as their craft passed on beyond the boundaries of

Bantoom, leaving behind the terrors of that unhappy land. But to what

were they being borne? The girl looked at the man sitting cross-legged

upon the deck of the tiny flier, gazing off into the night ahead,

apparently absorbed in thought.

"Where are we?" she asked. "Toward what are we drifting?"

Turan shrugged his broad shoulders. "The stars tell me that we are

drifting toward the northeast," he replied, "but where we are, or what

lies in our path I cannot even guess. A week since I could have sworn

that I knew what lay behind each succeeding ridge that I approached;

but now I admit in all humility that I have no conception of what lies

a mile in any direction. Tara of Helium, I am lost, and that is all

that I can tell you."

He was smiling and the girl smiled back at him. There was a slightly

puzzled expression on her face--there was something tantalizingly

familiar about that smile of his. She had met many a panthan--they came

and went, following the fighting of a world--but she could not place

this one.

"From what country are you, Turan?" she asked suddenly.

"Know you not, Tara of Helium," he countered, "that a panthan has no

country? Today he fights beneath the banner of one master, tomorrow

beneath that of another."

"But you must own allegiance to some country when you are not

fighting," she insisted. "What banner, then, owns you now?"

He rose and stood before her, then, bowing low. "And I am acceptable,"

he said, "I serve beneath the banner of the daughter of The Warlord

now--and forever."

She reached forth and touched his arm with a slim brown hand. "Your

services are accepted," she said; "and if ever we reach Helium I

promise that your reward shall be all that your heart could desire."

"I shall serve faithfully, hoping for that reward," he said; but Tara

of Helium did not guess what was in his mind, thinking rather that he

was mercenary. For how could the proud daughter of The Warlord guess

that a simple panthan aspired to her hand and heart?

The dawn found them moving rapidly over an unfamiliar landscape. The

wind had increased during the night and had borne them far from

Bantoom. The country below them was rough and inhospitable. No water

was visible and the surface of the ground was cut by deep gorges, while

nowhere was any but the most meager vegetation discernible. They saw no

life of any nature, nor was there any indication that the country could

support life. For two days they drifted over this horrid wasteland.

They were without food or water and suffered accordingly. Ghek had

temporarily abandoned his rykor after enlisting Turan's assistance in

lashing it safely to the deck. The less he used it the less would its

vitality be spent. Already it was showing the effects of privation.

Ghek crawled about the vessel like a great spider--over the side, down

beneath the keel, and up over the opposite rail. He seemed equally at

home one place as another. For his companions, however, the quarters

were cramped, for the deck of a one-man flier is not intended for three.

Turan sought always ahead for signs of water. Water they must have, or

that water-giving plant which makes life possible upon many of the

seemingly arid areas of Mars; but there was neither the one nor the

other for these two days and now the third night was upon them. The

girl did not complain, but Turan knew that she must be suffering and

his heart was heavy within him. Ghek suffered least of all, and he

explained to them that his kind could exist for long periods without

food or water. Turan almost cursed him as he saw the form of Tara of

Helium slowly wasting away before his eyes, while the hideous kaldane

seemed as full of vitality as ever.

"There are circumstances," remarked Ghek, "under which a gross and

material body is less desirable than a highly developed brain."

Turan looked at him, but said nothing. Tara of Helium smiled faintly.

"One cannot blame him," she said, "were we not a bit boastful in the

pride of our superiority? When our stomachs were filled," she added.

"Perhaps there is something to be said for their system," Turan

admitted. "If we could but lay aside our stomachs when they cried for

food and water I have no doubt but that we should do so."

"I should never miss mine now," assented Tara; "it is mighty poor

company."

A new day had dawned, revealing a less desolate country and renewing

again the hope that had been low within them. Suddenly Turan leaned

forward, pointing ahead.

"Look, Tara of Helium!" he cried. "A city! As I am Ga--as I am Turan

the panthan, a city."

Far in the distance the domes and walls and slender towers of a city

shone in the rising sun. Quickly the man seized the control and the

ship dropped rapidly behind a low range of intervening hills, for well

Turan knew that they must not be seen until they could discover whether

friend or foe inhabited the strange city. Chances were that they were

far from the abode of friends and so must the panthan move with the

utmost caution; but there was a city and where a city was, was water,

even though it were a deserted city, and food if it were inhabited.

To the red man food and water, even in the citadel of an enemy, meant

food and drink for Tara of Helium. He would accept it from friends or

he would take it from enemies. Just so long as it was there he would

have it--and there was shown the egotism of the fighting man, though

Turan did not see it, nor Tara who came from a long line of fighting

men; but Ghek might have smiled had he known how.

Turan permitted the flier to drift closer behind the screening hills,

and then when he could advance no farther without fear of discovery, he

dropped the craft gently to ground in a little ravine, and leaping over

the side made her fast to a stout tree. For several moments they

discussed their plans--whether it would be best to wait where they were

until darkness hid their movements and then approach the city in search

of food and water, or approach it now, taking advantage of what cover

they could, until they could glean something of the nature of its

inhabitants.

It was Turan's plan which finally prevailed. They would approach as

close as safety dictated in the hope of finding water outside the city;

food, too, perhaps. If they did not they could at least reconnoiter the

ground by daylight, and then when night came Turan could quickly come

close to the city and in comparative safety prosecute his search for

food and drink.

Following the ravine upward they finally topped the summit of the

ridge, from which they had an excellent view of that part of the city

which lay nearest them, though themselves hidden by the brush behind

which they crouched. Ghek had resumed his rykor, which had suffered

less than either Tara or Turan through their enforced fast.

The first glance at the city, now much closer than when they had first

discovered it, revealed the fact that it was inhabited. Banners and

pennons broke from many a staff. People were moving about the gate

before them. The high white walls were paced by sentinels at far

intervals. Upon the roofs of higher buildings the women could be seen

airing the sleeping silks and furs. Turan watched it all in silence for

some time.

"I do not know them," he said at last. "I cannot guess what city this

may be. But it is an ancient city. Its people have no fliers and no

firearms. It must be old indeed."

"How do you know they have not these things?" asked the girl.

"There are no landing-stages upon the roofs--not one that can be seen

from here; while were we looking similarly at Helium we would see

hundreds. And they have no firearms because their defenses are all

built to withstand the attack of spear and arrow, with spear and arrow.

They are an ancient people."

"If they are ancient perhaps they are friendly," suggested the girl.

"Did we not learn as children in the history of our planet that it was

once peopled by a friendly, peace-loving race?"

"But I fear they are not as ancient as that," replied Turan, laughing.

"It has been long ages since the men of Barsoom loved peace."

"My father loves peace," returned the girl.

"And yet he is always at war," said the man.

She laughed. "But he says he likes peace."

"We all like peace," he rejoined; "peace with honor; but our neighbors

will not let us have it, and so we must fight."

"And to fight well men must like to fight," she added.

"And to like to fight they must know how to fight," he said, "for no

man likes to do the thing that he does not know how to do well."

"Or that some other man can do better than he."

"And so always there will be wars and men will fight," he concluded,

"for always the men with hot blood in their veins will practice the art

of war."

"We have settled a great question," said the girl, smiling; "but our

stomachs are still empty."

"Your panthan is neglecting his duty," replied Turan; "and how can he

with the great reward always before his eyes!"

She did not guess in what literal a sense he spoke.

"I go forthwith," he continued, "to wrest food and drink from the

ancients."

"No," she cried, laying a hand upon his arm, "not yet. They would slay

you or make you prisoner. You are a brave panthan and a mighty one, but

you cannot overcome a city singlehanded."

She smiled up into his face and her hand still lay upon his arm. He

felt the thrill of hot blood coursing through his veins. He could have

seized her in his arms and crushed her to him. There was only Ghek the

kaldane there, but there was something stronger within him that

restrained his hand. Who may define it--that inherent chivalry that

renders certain men the natural protectors of women?

From their vantage point they saw a body of armed warriors ride forth

from the gate, and winding along a well-beaten road pass from sight

about the foot of the hill from which they watched. The men were red,

like themselves, and they rode the small saddle thoats of the red race.

Their trappings were barbaric and magnificent, and in their head-dress

were many feathers as had been the custom of ancients. They were armed

with swords and long spears and they rode almost naked, their bodies

being painted in ochre and blue and white. There were, perhaps, a score

of them in the party and as they galloped away on their tireless mounts

they presented a picture at once savage and beautiful.

"They have the appearance of splendid warriors," said Turan. "I have a

great mind to walk boldly into their city and seek service."

Tara shook her head. "Wait," she admonished. "What would I do without

you, and if you were captured how could you collect your reward?"

"I should escape," he said. "At any rate I shall try it," and he

started to rise.

"You shall not," said the girl, her tone all authority.

The man looked at her quickly--questioningly.

"You have entered my service," she said, a trifle haughtily.

"You have entered my service for hire and you shall do as I bid you."

Turan sank down beside her again with a half smile upon his lips. "It

is yours to command, Princess," he said.

The day passed. Ghek, tiring of the sunlight, had deserted his rykor

and crawled down a hole he had discovered close by. Tara and Turan

reclined beneath the scant shade of a small tree. They watched the

people coming and going through the gate. The party of horsemen did not

return. A small herd of zitidars was driven into the city during the

day, and once a caravan of broad-wheeled carts drawn by these huge

animals wound out of the distant horizon and came down to the city. It,

too, passed from their sight within the gateway. Then darkness came and

Tara of Helium bid her panthan search for food and drink; but she

cautioned him against attempting to enter the city. Before he left her

he bent and kissed her hand as a warrior may kiss the hand of his queen.