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trivial errand。 I liked and trusted Sola； but for some reason I
desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris； who represented to
me all that I had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and
congenial companionship。 There seemed bonds of mutual
interest between us as powerful as though we had been born
under the same roof rather than upon different planets；
hurtling through space some forty…eight million miles apart。
That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive；
for on my approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left
her sweet countenance to be replaced by a smile of joyful
welcome； as she placed her little right hand upon my left
shoulder in true red Martian salute。
〃Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark；〃 she
said； 〃and that I would now see no more of you than of any
of the other warriors。〃
〃Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude；〃 I replied；
〃notwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to
absolute verity。〃
Dejah Thoris laughed。
〃I knew that even though you became a member of the
community you would not cease to be my friend； 'A warrior
may change his metal； but not his heart；' as the saying
is upon Barsoom。〃
〃I think they have been trying to keep us apart；〃 she
continued； 〃for whenever you have been off duty one of the
older women of Tars Tarkas' retinue has always arranged to
trump up some excuse to get Sola and me out of sight。
They have had me down in the pits below the buildings
helping them mix their awful radium powder； and make their
terrible projectiles。 You know that these have to be
manufactured by artificial light； as exposure to sunlight always
results in an explosion。 You have noticed that their bullets
explode when they strike an object？ Well； the opaque； outer
coating is broken by the impact； exposing a glass cylinder；
almost solid； in the forward end of which is a minute particle
of radium powder。 The moment the sunlight； even though
diffused； strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which
nothing can withstand。 If you ever witness a night battle
you will note the absence of these explosions； while the
morning following the battle will be filled at sunrise with the
sharp detonations of exploding missiles fired the preceding
night。 As a rule； however； non…exploding projectiles are used
at night。〃1
While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation
of this wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare； I was more
concerned by the immediate problem of their treatment of
her。 That they were keeping her away from me was not a
matter for surprise； but that they should subject her to
dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage。
〃Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy；
Dejah Thoris？〃 I asked； feeling the hot blood of my fighting
ancestors leap in my veins as I awaited her reply。
〃Only in little ways； John Carter；〃 she answered。 〃Nothing
that can harm me outside my pride。 They know that I am
the daughter of ten thousand jeddaks； that I trace my
ancestry straight back without a break to the builder of
the first great waterway； and they； who do not even know
their own mothers； are jealous of me。 At heart they hate
their horrid fates； and so wreak their poor spite on me who
stand for everything they have not； and for all they most
crave and never can attain。 Let us pity them； my chieftain；
for even though we die at their hands we can afford them
pity； since we are greater than they and they know it。〃
Had I known the significance of those words 〃my chieftain；〃
as applied by a red Martian woman to a man； I should have
had the surprise of my life； but I did not know at that time；
nor for many months thereafter。 Yes； I still had much to
learn upon Barsoom。
〃I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to
our fate with as good grace as possible； Dejah Thoris； but I
hope； nevertheless； that I may be present the next time that
any Martian； green； red； pink； or violet； has the temerity to
even so much as frown on you； my princess。〃
Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words； and
I have used the word radium in describing this powder because in
the light of recent discoveries on Earth I believe it to be a mixture of
which radium is the base。 In Captain Carter's manuscript it is mentioned
always by the name used in the written language of Helium and is
spelled in hieroglyphics which it would be difficult and useless to
reproduce。
gazed upon me with dilated eyes and quickening breath； and
then； with an odd little laugh； which brought roguish dimples
to the corners of her mouth； she shook her head and cried：
〃What a child！ A great warrior and yet a stumbling little
child。〃
〃What have I done now？〃 I asked； in sore perplexity。
〃Some day you shall know； John Carter； if we live； but
I may not tell you。 And I； the daughter of Mors Kajak； son of
Tardos Mors； have listened without anger；〃 she soliloquized
in conclusion。
Then she broke out again into one of her gay； happy； laughing moods；
joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with
my soft heart and natural kindliness。
〃I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy
you would take him home and nurse him back to health；〃
she laughed。
〃That is precisely what we do on Earth；〃 I answered。
〃At least among civilized men。〃
This made her laugh again。 She could not understand it；
for； with all her tenderness and womanly sweetness； she was
still a Martian； and to a Martian the only good enemy is a
dead enemy； for every dead foeman means so much more to
divide between those who live。
I was very curious to know what I had said or done to
cause her so much perturbation a moment before and so I
continued to importune her to enlighten me。
〃No；〃 she exclaimed； 〃it is enough that you have said it
and that I have listened。 And when you learn； John Carter；
and if I be dead； as likely I shall be ere the further
moon has circled Barsoom another twelve times； remember
that I listened and that Ismiled。〃
It was all Greek to me； but the more I begged her to
explain the more positive became her denials of my request；
and； so； in very hopelessness； I desisted。
Day had now given away to night and as we wandered
along the great avenue lighted by the two moons of
Barsoom； and with Earth looking down upon us out of her
luminous green eye； it seemed that we were alone in the
universe； and I； at least； was content that it should be so。
The chill of the Martian night was upon us； and removing
my silks I threw them across the shoulders of Dejah
Thoris。 As my arm rested for an instant upon her I felt a
thrill pass through every fiber of my being such as contact
with no other mortal had even produced； and it seemed to
me that she had leaned slightly toward me； but of that I
was not sure。 Only I knew that as my arm rested there
across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the
silk required she did not draw away； nor did she speak。
And so； in silence； we walked the surface of a dying world；
but in the breast of one of us at least had been born that
which is ever oldest； yet ever new。
I loved Dejah Thoris。 The touch of my arm upon her naked
shoulder had spoken to me in words I would not mistake；
and I knew that I had loved her since the first moment
that my eyes had met hers that first time in the plaza
of the dead city of Korad。
CHAPTER XIV
A DUEL TO THE DEATH
My first impulse was to tell her of my love； and then I
thought of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone
could lighten the burdens of her captivity； and protect her in
my poor way against the thousands of hereditary enemies
she must face upon our arrival at Thark。 I could not chance
causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love
which； in all probability she did not return。 Should I be so
indiscreet； her position would be even more unbearable than
now； and the thought that she might feel that I was taking
advantage of her helplessness； to influence her decision was
the final argument which sealed my lips。
〃Why are you so quiet； Dejah Thoris？〃 I asked。 〃Possibly
you would rather return to Sola and your quarters。〃
〃No；〃 she murmured； 〃I am happy here。 I do not know
why it is that I should always be happy and contented
when you； John Carter； a stranger； are with me； yet at such
times it seems that I am safe and that； with you； I shall soon
return to my father's court and feel his strong arms about me
and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek。〃
〃Do people kiss； then； upon Barsoom？〃 I asked； when she
had explained the word she used； in answer to my inquiry as
to its meaning。
〃Parents； brothers； and sisters； yes； and；〃 she added in a
low； thoughtful tone； 〃lovers。〃
〃And you； Dejah Thoris； have parents and b