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low； thoughtful tone； 〃lovers。〃
〃And you； Dejah Thoris； have parents and brothers and
sisters？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And alover？〃
She was silent； nor could I venture to repeat the question。
〃The man of Barsoom；〃 she finally ventured； 〃does not
ask personal questions of women； except his mother； and the
woman he has fought for and won。〃
〃But I have fought〃 I started； and then I wished my
tongue had been cut from my mouth； for she turned even as
I caught myself and ceased； and drawing my silks from her
shoulder she held them out to me； and without a word； and
with head held high； she moved with the carriage of the
queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her
quarters。
I did not attempt to follow her； other than to see that she
reached the building in safety； but； directing Woola to
accompany her； I turned disconsolately and entered my own house。
I sat for hours cross…legged； and cross…tempered； upon my silks
meditating upon the queer freaks chance plays upon us poor
devils of mortals。
So this was love！ I had escaped it for all the years I had
roamed the five continents and their encircling seas； in spite
of beautiful women and urging opportunity； in spite of a half…
desire for love and a constant search for my ideal； it had
remained for me to fall furiously and hopelessly in love with a
creature from another world； of a species similar possibly；
yet not identical with mine。 A woman who was hatched from
an egg； and whose span of life might cover a thousand years；
whose people had strange customs and ideas； a woman whose
hopes； whose pleasures； whose standards of virtue and of
right and wrong might vary as greatly from mine as did those
of the green Martians。
Yes； I was a fool； but I was in love； and though I was
suffering the greatest misery I had ever known I would not
have had it otherwise for all the riches of Barsoom。 Such is
love； and such are lovers wherever love is known。
To me； Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect； all that was
virtuous and beautiful and noble and good。 I believed that
from the bottom of my heart； from the depth of my soul on
that night in Korad as I sat cross…legged upon my silks while
the nearer moon of Barsoom raced through the western sky
toward the horizon； and lighted up the gold and marble； and
jeweled mosaics of my world…old chamber； and I believe it
today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the
Hudson。 Twenty years have intervened； for ten of them I
lived and fought for Dejah Thoris and her people； and for
ten I have lived upon her memory。
The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear
and hot； as do all Martian mornings except for the six weeks
when the snow melts at the poles。
I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots；
but she turned her shoulder to me； and I could see the red blood
mount to her cheek。 With the foolish inconsistency
of love I held my peace when I might have plead ignorance
of the nature of my offense； or at least the gravity of it；
and so have effected； at worst； a half conciliation。
My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable；
and so I glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks
and furs。 In doing so I noted with horror that she was
heavily chained by one ankle to the side of the vehicle。
〃What does this mean？〃 I cried； turning to Sola。
〃Sarkoja thought it best；〃 she answered； her face betokening
her disapproval of the procedure。
Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a
massive spring lock。
〃Where is the key； Sola？ Let me have it。〃
〃Sarkoja wears it； John Carter；〃 she answered。
I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas；
to whom I vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations
and cruelties； as they seemed to my lover's eyes； that were
being heaped upon Dejah Thoris。
〃John Carter；〃 he answered； 〃if ever you and Dejah Thoris
escape the Tharks it will be upon this journey。 We know that
you will not go without her。 You have shown yourself a
mighty fighter； and we do not wish to manacle you； so we
hold you both in the easiest way that will yet ensure security。
I have spoken。〃
I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash； and knew
that it were futile to appeal from his decision； but I asked
that the key be taken from Sarkoja and that she be directed
to leave the prisoner alone in future。
〃This much； Tars Tarkas； you may do for me in return for
the friendship that； I must confess； I feel for you。〃
〃Friendship？〃 he replied。 〃There is no such thing； John
Carter； but have your will。 I shall direct that Sarkoja cease
to annoy the girl； and I myself will take the custody of the
key。〃
〃Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility；〃 I said；
smiling。
He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke。
〃Were you to give me your word that neither you nor
Dejah Thoris would attempt to escape until after we have
safely reached the court of Tal Hajus you might have the
key and throw the chains into the river Iss。〃
〃It were better that you held the key； Tars Tarkas；〃 I replied
He smiled； and said no more； but that night as we were
making camp I saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself。
With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an
undercurrent of something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed
ever battling to subdue。 Could it be a vestige of some human
instinct come back from an ancient forbear to haunt him
with the horror of his people's ways！
As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja；
and the black； venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest
balm I had felt for many hours。 Lord； how she hated me！
It bristled from her so palpably that one might almost
have cut it with a sword。
A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with
a warrior named Zad； a big； hulking； powerful brute； but
one who had never made a kill among his own chieftains； and
a second name only with the metal of some chieftain。 It was
this custom which entitled me to the names of either of the
chieftains I had killed； in fact； some of the warriors
addressed me as Dotar Sojat； a combination of the surnames
of the two warrior chieftains whose metal I had taken； or； in
other words； whom I had slain in fair fight。
As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in
my direction； while she seemed to be urging him very strongly
to some action。 I paid little attention to it at the time； but
the next day I had good reason to recall the circumstances；
and at the same time gain a slight insight into the depths of
Sarkoja's hatred and the lengths to which she was capable of
going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me。
Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening；
and though I spoke her name she neither replied； nor conceded
by so much as the flutter of an eyelid that she realized
my existence。 In my extremity I did what most other lovers
would have done； I sought word from her through an intimate。
In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted in another
part of camp。
〃What is the matter with Dejah Thoris？〃 I blurted out at her。
〃Why will she not speak to me？〃
Sola seemed puzzled herself； as though such strange actions
on the part of two humans were quite beyond her； as indeed
they were； poor child。
〃She says you have angered her； and that is all she will
say； except that she is the daughter of a jed and the grand…
daughter of a jeddak and she has been humiliated by a
creature who could not polish the teeth of her grandmother's
sorak。〃
I pondered over this report for some time； finally asking；
〃What might a sorak be； Sola？〃
〃A little animal about as big as my hand； which the red
Martian women keep to play with；〃 explained Sola。
Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat！ I must
rank pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris； I
thought； but I could not help laughing at the strange figure
of speech； so homely and in this respect so earthly。 It made
me homesick； for it sounded very much like 〃not fit to polish
her shoes。〃 And then commenced a train of thought quite
new to me。 I began to wonder what my people at home were doing。
I had not seen them for years。 There was a family of
Carters in Virginia who claimed close relationship with me；
I was supposed to be a great uncle； or something of the
kind equally foolish。 I could pass anywhere for twenty…five
to thirty years of age； and to be a great uncle always seemed
the height of incongruity； for my thoughts and feelings were
those of a boy。 There was two little kiddies in the Carter
family whom I had loved and who had thought there was
no one on Earth like Uncle Jack； I could see them just as
plainly； as I stood there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom；
and I longed for them as I had never