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Korad。 It had been built upon a beautiful； natural harbor；
landlocked by magnificent hills。 The little valley on the west
front of the city； she explained； was all that remained of the
harbor； while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom
had been the channel through which the shipping passed up
to the city's gates。
The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such
cities； and lesser ones； in diminishing numbers； were to be
found converging toward the center of the oceans； as the
people had found it necessary to follow the receding waters
until necessity had forced upon them their ultimate salvation；
the so…called Martian canals。
We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building
and in our conversation that it was late in the afternoon
before we realized it。 We were brought back to a realization
of our present conditions by a messenger bearing a summons
from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear before him
forthwith。 Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell； and
commanding Woola to remain on guard； I hastened to the
audience chamber； where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars
Tarkas seated upon the rostrum。
CHAPTER XII
A PRISONER WITH POWER
As I entered and saluted； Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance；
and； fixing his great； hideous eyes upon me； addressed me thus：
〃You have been with us a few days； yet during that time
you have by your prowess won a high position among us。
Be that as it may； you are not one of us； you owe us no
allegiance。
〃Your position is a peculiar one；〃 he continued； 〃you are
a prisoner and yet you give commands which must be obeyed；
you are an alien and yet you are a Tharkian chieftain； you
are a midget and yet you can kill a mighty warrior with one
blow of your fist。 And now you are reported to have been
plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race； a
prisoner who； from her own admission； half believes you are
returned from the valley of Dor。 Either one of these accusations；
if proved； would be sufficient grounds for your execution；
but we are a just people and you shall have a trial on our
return to Thark； if Tal Hajus so commands。
〃But；〃 he continued； in his fierce guttural tones； 〃if you
run off with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to
Tal Hajus； it is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas； and
either demonstrate my right to command； or the metal from
my dead carcass will go to a better man； for such is the
custom of the Tharks。
〃I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas； together we rule
supreme the greatest of the lesser communities among the
green men； we do not wish to fight between ourselves； and so
if you were dead； John Carter； I should be glad。 Under two
conditions only； however； may you be killed by us without
orders from Tal Hajus； in personal combat in self…defense；
should you attack one of us； or were you apprehended in an
attempt to escape。
〃As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only
await one of these two excuses for ridding ourselves of so
great a responsibility。 The safe delivery of the red girl to
Tal Hajus is of the greatest importance。 Not in a thousand
years have the Tharks made such a capture； she is the
granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks； who is also
our bitterest enemy。 I have spoken。 The red girl told us that
we were without the softer sentiments of humanity； but we
are a just and truthful race。 You may go。〃
Turning； I left the audience chamber。 So this was the
beginning of Sarkoja's persecution！ I knew that none other
could be responsible for this report which had reached the
ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly； and now I recalled those
portions of our conversation which had touched upon escape
and upon my origin。
Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most
trusted female。 As such she was a mighty power behind the
throne； for no warrior had the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel
to such an extent as did his ablest lieutenant； Tars Tarkas。
However； instead of putting thoughts of possible escape
from my mind； my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served
to center my every faculty on this subject。 Now； more than
before； the absolute necessity for escape； in so far as Dejah
Thoris was concerned； was impressed upon me； for I was
convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the
headquarters of Tal Hajus。
As described by Sola； this monster was the exaggerated
personification of all the ages of cruelty； ferocity； and
brutality from which he had descended。 Cold； cunning；
calculating； he was； also； in marked contrast to most of his
fellows； a slave to that brute passion which the waning
demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost
stilled in the Martian breast。
The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into
the clutches of such an abysmal atavism started the cold
sweat upon me。 Far better that we save friendly bullets for
ourselves at the last moment； as did those brave frontier
women of my lost land； who took their own lives rather than
fall into the hands of the Indian braves。
As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings
Tars Tarkas approached me on his way from the audience
chamber。 His demeanor toward me was unchanged； and he
greeted me as though we had not just parted a few
moments before。
〃Where are your quarters； John Carter？〃 he asked。
〃I have selected none；〃 I replied。 〃It seemed best that I
quartered either by myself or among the other warriors； and
I was awaiting an opportunity to ask your advice。 As you
know；〃 and I smiled； 〃I am not yet familiar with all the
customs of the Tharks。〃
〃Come with me；〃 he directed； and together we moved off
across the plaza to a building which I was glad to see
adjoined that occupied by Sola and her charges。
〃My quarters are on the first floor of this building；〃 he
said； 〃and the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors；
but the third floor and the floors above are vacant； you may
take your choice of these。
〃I understand；〃 he continued； 〃that you have given up
your woman to the red prisoner。 Well； as you have said；
your ways are not our ways； but you can fight well enough
to do about as you please； and so； if you wish to give your
woman to a captive； it is your own affair； but as a chieftain
you should have those to serve you； and in accordance with
our customs you may select any or all the females from the
retinues of the chieftains whose metal you now wear。〃
I thanked him； but assured him that I could get along
very nicely without assistance except in the matter of
preparing food； and so he promised to send women to me for
this purpose and also for the care of my arms and the
manufacture of my ammunition； which he said would be
necessary。 I suggested that they might also bring some of
the sleeping silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of
combat； for the nights were cold and I had none of my own。
He promised to do so； and departed。 Left alone； I ascended
the winding corridor to the upper floors in search of
suitable quarters。 The beauties of the other buildings were
repeated in this； and； as usual； I was soon lost in a tour of
investigation and discovery。
I finally chose a front room on the third floor； because
this brought me nearer to Dejah Thoris； whose apartment
was on the second floor of the adjoining building； and it
flashed upon me that I could rig up some means of communication
whereby she might signal me in case she needed either my
services or my protection。
Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths； dressing
rooms； and other sleeping and living apartments； in all some
ten rooms on this floor。 The windows of the back rooms
overlooked an enormous court； which formed the center of
the square made by the buildings which faced the four
contiguous streets； and which was now given over to the
quartering of the various animals belonging to the warriors
occupying the adjoining buildings。
While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow；
moss…like vegetation which blankets practically the entire
surface of Mars； yet numerous fountains； statuary； benches；
and pergola…like contraptions bore witness to the beauty
which the court must have presented in bygone times； when
graced by the fair…haired； laughing people whom stern and
unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes；
but from all except the vague legends of their descendants。
One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant
Martian vegetation which once filled this scene with life
and color； the graceful figures of the beautiful women； the
straight and handsome men； the happy frolicking children
all sunlight； happiness and peace。 It was difficult to realize
that they had gone； down through ages of darkness； cruelty；
and ign