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chance was lost forever； in so far as it could come in time
to save his loved ones； for he was ordered away upon a long
expedition to the ice…clad south； to make war upon the
natives there and despoil them of their furs； for such is
the manner of the green Barsoomian； he does not labor for
what he can wrest in battle from others。
〃He was gone for four years； and when he returned all
had been over for three； for about a year after his departure；
and shortly before the time for the return of an expedition
which had gone forth to fetch the fruits of a community
incubator； the egg had hatched。 Thereafter my mother
continued to keep me in the old tower； visiting me nightly
and lavishing upon me the love the community life would
have robbed us both of。 She hoped； upon the return of the
expedition from the incubator； to mix me with the other young
assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus； and thus escape the
fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin against
the ancient traditions of the green men。
〃She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind；
and one night she told me the story I have told to you up to
this point； impressing upon me the necessity for absolute
secrecy and the great caution I must exercise after she had
placed me with the other young Tharks to permit no one to
guess that I was further advanced in education than they；
nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of others my
affection for her； or my knowledge of my parentage； and
then drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the
name of my father。
〃And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the
tower chamber； and there stood Sarkoja； her gleaming；
baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy of loathing and contempt
upon my mother。 The torrent of hatred and abuse she
poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror。
That she had heard the entire story was apparent； and that
she had suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly
absences from her quarters accounted for her presence there
on that fateful night。
〃One thing she had not heard； nor did she know； the
whispered name of my father。 This was apparent from her
repeated demands upon my mother to disclose the name of
her partner in sin； but no amount of abuse or threats could
wring this from her； and to save me from needless torture
she lied； for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would
she even tell her child。
〃With final imprecations； Sarkoja hastened away to Tal
Hajus to report her discovery； and while she was gone my
mother； wrapping me in the silks and furs of her night coverings；
so that I was scarcely noticeable； descended to the streets
and ran wildly away toward the outskirts of the city；
in the direction which led to the far south； out toward the
man whose protection she might not claim； but on whose
face she wished to look once more before she died。
〃As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came
to us from across the mossy flat； from the direction of the
only pass through the hills which led to the gates； the pass
by which caravans from either north or south or east or
west would enter the city。 The sounds we heard were the
squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars； with the
occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of
a body of warriors。 The thought uppermost in her mind was
that it was my father returned from his expedition； but the
cunning of the Thark held her from headlong and precipitate
flight to greet him。
〃Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the
coming of the cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue；
breaking its formation and thronging the thoroughfare
from wall to wall。 As the head of the procession passed us
the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging roofs and lit
up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous light。
My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows；
and from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not
that of my father； but the returning caravan bearing the
young Tharks。 Instantly her plan was formed； and as a great
chariot swung close to our hiding place she slipped stealthily
in upon the trailing tailboard； crouching low in the shadow
of the high side； straining me to her bosom in a frenzy of
love。
〃She knew； what I did not； that never again after that
night would she hold me to her breast； nor was it likely we
would ever look upon each other's face again。 In the
confusion of the plaza she mixed me with the other children；
whose guardians during the journey were now free to relinquish
their responsibility。 We were herded together into a great room；
fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition； and the next
day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains。
〃I never saw my mother after that night。 She was imprisoned
by Tal Hajus； and every effort； including the most horrible
and shameful torture； was brought to bear upon her to wring
from her lips the name of my father； but she remained
steadfast and loyal； dying at last amidst the laughter of
Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful torture
she was undergoing。
〃I learned afterwards that she told them that she had
killed me to save me from a like fate at their hands； and
that she had thrown my body to the white apes。 Sarkoja
alone disbelieved her； and I feel to this day that she suspects
my true origin； but does not dare expose me； at the present；
at all events； because she also guesses； I am sure； the identity
of my father。
〃When he returned from his expedition and learned the story
of my mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him；
but never by the quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest
emotion； only he did not laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully
described her death struggles。 From that moment on he was
the cruelest of the cruel； and I am awaiting the day when
he shall win the goal of his ambition； and feel the carcass of
Tal Hajus beneath his foot； for I am as sure that he but
waits the opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance； and that
his great love is as strong in his breast as when it first
transfigured him nearly forty years ago； as I am that we sit
here upon the edge of a world…old ocean while sensible people
sleep； John Carter。〃
〃And your father； Sola； is he with us now？〃 I asked。
〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃but he does not know me for what I
am； nor does he know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus。
I alone know my father's name； and only I and Tal Hajus
and Sarkoja know that it was she who carried the tale that
brought death and torture upon her he loved。〃
We sat silent for a few moments； she wrapped in the
gloomy thoughts of her terrible past； and I in pity for the
poor creatures whom the heartless； senseless customs of their
race had doomed to loveless lives of cruelty and of hate。
Presently she spoke。
〃John Carter； if ever a real man walked the cold； dead
bosom of Barsoom you are one。 I know that I can trust you；
and because the knowledge may someday help you or him
or Dejah Thoris or myself； I am going to tell you the name
of my father； nor place any restrictions or conditions upon
your tongue。 When the time comes； speak the truth if it
seems best to you。 I trust you because I know that you are
not cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving
truthfulness； that you could lie like one of your own Virginia
gentlemen if a lie would save others from sorrow or suffering。
My father's name is Tars Tarkas。〃
CHAPTER XVI
WE PLAN ESCAPE
The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful。
We were twenty days upon the road； crossing two sea bottoms
and passing through or around a number of ruined cities；
mostly smaller than Korad。 Twice we crossed the famous
Martian waterways； or canals； so…called by our earthly
astronomers。 When we approached these points a warrior
would be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass； and if
no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we would
advance as close as possible without chance of being seen and
then camp until dark； when we would slowly approach the
cultivated tract； and； locating one of the numerous； broad
highways which cross these areas at regular intervals； creep
silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other
side。 It required five hours to make one of these crossings
without a single halt； and the other consumed the entire night；
so that we were just leaving the confines of the high…walled
fields when the sun broke out upon us。
Crossing in the darkness； as we did； I was unable to see
but little； except as the nearer moon； in her wild and
ceaseless hurtling through the Barsoomian heavens； lit up
little patches of the landscape from time to time； disclosing
walled fields and low； rambling buildings； presenting much
the appearance of earth