Those that had the greatest number of maleswere
rewarded; the unproductive were destroyed.
A moment later you may enter, but payno attention
to me. Can you lead us there, or tell us how we may reach it?
And we should lose no more time in returning, said
Phao. We have come for the girl, I stated brusquely. To effect her rescue was the
objectof my journey. Above theothers one voice rose in tones of authority. They
would not believe a word of mystory, nor of that of my companion. But such matters
were no concern of mine, nor had they any bearingupon the business at
hand.
He is a beast, she said, who is better dead than
alive. Before it had only seemed the most desirable thing in theworld; now it had
become imperative. I waited but a moment, and then I, too, entered the
apartment.
You are right in both conjectures, he
said.
Recently I have heard much of him,but as yet I have
not heard him credited with a single virtue.
With an imperious gesture hesignalled the guards to
remove me. I die for a woman of Helium, I corrected.
They will watch the door while we
enterelsewhere.
And now tellme where I may find the
keys.
They must reach the bottomalive to endure all the
horrors of The Death that await them there.
We have come for the girl, I stated brusquely. Do
not reproach yourself, Tavia, I begged her, for who might haveforeseen such a stupid
reception?
Then, he says, he will sail forthand conquer all
Barsoom. Before it had only seemed the most desirable thing in theworld; now it had
become imperative.
From earliest consciousness the thought of war has
beenimplanted within their minds.
I, therefore, suggest that Nur An remain here. With
an imperious gesture hesignalled the guards to remove me. I waited but a moment, and
then I, too, entered the apartment.
But be that as it may, Tul Axtar had the manpower
and the weapon, yetstill he hesitated.
In this cell there was but one, he replied; now
there are two. The girl stepped back, her eyes wide with surprise and then
slowlyrecognition dawned within them.
I shall hope to render a good account of myself
also, said Nur An.
It was hideous, and yet I gloatedin its possession.
I am Hadron of Hastor, padwar in the navy of Helium, I replied.
I strained my eyes into the gloomy
darkness.
The girl at my side moved a little and I heard a
low laugh. Nur An, of whom I told you, is hiding in a closet in one of theapartments
of the little prince. I have orders to bring her to Haj Osis, I replied. Near the
mouth of the ramp lay the intersection of two main corridors. Perhaps I can help
you, said Phao; perhaps, she added wistfully,we may all escape
together.
The girl stepped back, her eyes wide with surprise
and then slowlyrecognition dawned within them.