Adrift Over Strange Regions

: The Chessmen Of Mars

Presently Ghek pushed aside a door that opened from the stairway,

and before them Tara saw the moonlight flooding the walled court

where the headless rykors lay beside their feeding-troughs. She

saw the perfect bodies, muscled as the best of her father's

fighting men, and the females whose figures would have been the

envy of many of Helium's most beautiful women. Ah, if she could

but endow these with the power to act!
hen indeed might the

safety of the panthan be assured; but they were only poor lumps

of clay, nor had she the power to quicken them to life. Ever must

they lie thus until dominated by the cold, heartless brain of the

kaldane. The girl sighed in pity even as she shuddered in disgust

as she picked her way over and among the sprawled creatures

toward the flier.



Quickly she and Ghek mounted to the deck after the latter had

cast off the moorings. Tara tested the control, raising and

lowering the ship a few feet within the walled space. It

responded perfectly. Then she lowered it to the ground again and

waited. From the open doorway came the sounds of conflict, now

nearing them, now receding. The girl, having witnessed her

champion's skill, had little fear of the outcome. Only a single

antagonist could face him at a time upon the narrow stairway, he

had the advantage of position and of the defensive, and he was a

master of the sword while they were clumsy bunglers by

comparison. Their sole advantage was in their numbers, unless

they might find a way to come upon him from behind.



She paled at the thought. Could she have seen him she might have

been further perturbed, for he took no advantage of many

opportunities to win nearer the enclosure. He fought coolly, but

with a savage persistence that bore little semblance to purely

defensive action. Often he clambered over the body of a fallen

foe to leap against the next behind, and once there lay five dead

kaldanes behind him, so far had he pushed back his antagonists.

They did not know it; these kaldanes that he fought, nor did the

girl awaiting him upon the flier, but Gahan of Gathol was engaged

in a more alluring sport than winning to freedom, for he was

avenging the indignities that had been put upon the woman he

loved; but presently he realized that he might be jeopardizing

her safety uselessly, and so he struck down another before him

and turning leaped quickly up the stairway, while the leading

kaldanes slipped upon the brain-covered floor and stumbled in

pursuit.



Gahan reached the enclosure twenty paces ahead of them and raced

toward the flier. "Rise!" he shouted to the girl. "I will ascend

the cable."



Slowly the small craft rose from the ground as Gahan leaped the

inert bodies of the rykors lying in his path. The first of the

pursuers sprang from the tower just as Gahan seized the trailing

rope.



"Faster!" he shouted to the girl above, "or they will drag us

down!" But the ship seemed scarcely to move, though in reality

she was rising as rapidly as might have been expected of a

one-man flier carrying a load of three. Gahan swung free above

the top of the wall, but the end of the rope still dragged the

ground as the kaldanes reached it. They were pouring in a steady

stream from the tower into the enclosure. The leader seized the

rope.



"Quick!" he cried. "Lay hold and we will drag them down."



It needed but the weight of a few to accomplish his design. The

ship was stopped in its flight and then, to the horror of the

girl, she felt it being dragged steadily downward. Gahan, too,

realized the danger and the necessity for instant action.

Clinging to the rope with his left hand, he had wound a leg about

it, leaving his right hand free for his long-sword which he had

not sheathed. A downward cut clove the soft head of a kaldane,

and another severed the taut rope beneath the panthan's feet. The

girl heard a sudden renewal of the shrill whistling of her foes,

and at the same time she realized that the craft was rising

again. Slowly it drifted upward, out of reach of the enemy, and a

moment later she saw the figure of Turan clamber over the side.

For the first time in many weeks her heart was filled with the

joy of thanksgiving; but her first thought was of another.



"You are not wounded?" she asked.



"No, Tara of Helium," he replied. "They were scarce worth the

effort of my blade, and never were they a menace to me because of

their swords."



"They should have slain you easily," said Ghek. "So great and

highly developed is the power of reason among us that they should

have known before you struck just where, logically, you must seek

to strike, and so they should have been able to parry your every

thrust and easily find an opening to your heart."



"But they did not, Ghek," Gahan reminded him. "Their theory of

development is wrong, for it does not tend toward a perfectly

balanced whole. You have developed the brain and neglected the

body and you can never do with the hands of another what you can

do with your own hands. Mine are trained to the sword--every

muscle responds instantly and accurately, and almost

mechanically, to the need of the instant. I am scarcely

objectively aware that I think when I fight, so quickly does my

point take advantage of every opening, or spring to my defense if

I am threatened that it is almost as though the cold steel had

eyes and brains. You, with your kaldane brain and your rykor

body, never could hope to achieve in the same degree of

perfection those things that I can achieve. Development of the

brain should not be the sum total of human endeavor. The richest

and happiest peoples will be those who attain closest to

well-balanced perfection of both mind and body, and even these

must always be short of perfection. In absolute and general

perfection lies stifling monotony and death. Nature must have

contrasts; she must have shadows as well as highlights; sorrow

with happiness; both wrong and right; and sin as well as virtue."



"Always have I been taught differently," replied Ghek; "but since

I have known this woman and you, of another race, I have come to

believe that there may be other standards fully as high and

desirable as those of the kaldanes. At least I have had a glimpse

of the thing you call happiness and I realize that it may be good

even though I have no means of expressing it. I cannot laugh nor

smile, and yet within me is a sense of contentment when this

woman sings--a sense that seems to open before me wondrous vistas

of beauty and unguessed pleasure that far transcend the cold joys

of a perfectly functioning brain. I would that I had been born of

thy race."



Caught by a gentle current of air the flier was drifting slowly

toward the northeast across the valley of Bantoom. Below them lay

the cultivated fields, and one after another they passed over the

strange towers of Moak and Nolach and the other kings of the

swarms that inhabited this weird and terrible land. Within each

enclosure surrounding the towers grovelled the rykors, repellent,

headless things, beautiful yet hideous.



"A lesson, those," remarked Gahan, indicating the rykors in an

enclosure above which they were drifting at the time, "to that

fortunately small minority of our race which worships the flesh

and makes a god of appetite. You know them, Tara of Helium; they

can tell you exactly what they had at the midday meal two weeks

ago, and how the loin of the thoat should be prepared, and what

drink should be served with the rump of the zitidar."



Tara of Helium laughed. "But not one of them could tell you the

name of the man whose painting took the Jeddak's Award in The

Temple of Beauty this year," she said. "Like the rykors, their

development has not been balanced."



"Fortunate indeed are those in which there is combined a little

good and a little bad, a little knowledge of many things outside

their own callings, a capacity for love and a capacity for hate,

for such as these can look with tolerance upon all, unbiased by

the egotism of him whose head is so heavy on one side that all

his brains run to that point."



As Gahan ceased speaking Ghek made a little noise in his throat

as one does who would attract attention. "You speak as one who

has thought much upon many subjects. Is it, then, possible that

you of the red race have pleasure in thought? Do you know aught

of the joys of introspection? Do reason and logic form any part

of your lives?"



"Most assuredly," replied Gahan, "but not to the extent of

occupying all our time--at least not objectively. You, Ghek, are

an example of the egotism of which I spoke. Because you and your

kind devote your lives to the worship of mind, you believe that

no other created beings think. And possibly we do not in the

sense that you do, who think only of yourselves and your great

brains. We think of many things that concern the welfare of a

world. Had it not been for the red men of Barsoom even the

kaldanes had perished from the planet, for while you may live

without air the things upon which you depend for existence

cannot, and there had been no air in sufficient quantities upon

Barsoom these many ages had not a red man planned and built the

great atmosphere plant which gave new life to a dying world.



"What have all the brains of all the kaldanes that have ever

lived done to compare with that single idea of a single red man?"



Ghek was stumped. Being a kaldane he knew that brains spelled the

sum total of universal achievement, but it had never occurred to

him that they should be put to use in practical and profitable

ways. He turned away and looked down upon the valley of his

ancestors across which he was slowly drifting, into what unknown

world? He should be a veritable god among the underlings, he

knew; but somehow a doubt assailed him. It was evident that these

two from that other world were ready to question his preeminence.

Even through his great egotism was filtering a suspicion that

they patronized him; perhaps even pitied him. Then he began to

wonder what was to become of him. No longer would he have many

rykors to do his bidding. Only this single one and when it died

there could not be another. When it tired, Ghek must lie almost

helpless while it rested. He wished that he had never seen this

red woman. She had brought him only discontent and dishonor and

now exile. Presently Tara of Helium commenced to hum a tune and

Ghek, the kaldane, was content.



Gently they drifted beneath the hurtling moons above the mad

shadows of a Martian night. The roaring of the banths came in

diminishing volume to their ears as their craft passed on beyond

the boundaries of Bantoom, leaving behind the terrors of that

unhappy land. But to what were they being borne? The girl looked

at the man sitting cross-legged upon the deck of the tiny flier,

gazing off into the night ahead, apparently absorbed in thought.



"Where are we?" she asked. "Toward what are we drifting?"



Turan shrugged his broad shoulders. "The stars tell me that we

are drifting toward the northeast," he replied, "but where we

are, or what lies in our path I cannot even guess. A week since I

could have sworn that I knew what lay behind each succeeding

ridge that I approached; but now I admit in all humility that I

have no conception of what lies a mile in any direction. Tara of

Helium, I am lost, and that is all that I can tell you."



He was smiling and the girl smiled back at him. There was a

slightly puzzled expression on her face--there was something

tantalizingly familiar about that smile of his. She had met many

a panthan--they came and went, following the fighting of a

world--but she could not place this one.



"From what country are you, Turan?" she asked suddenly.



"Know you not, Tara of Helium," he countered, "that a panthan has

no country? Today he fights beneath the banner of one master,

tomorrow beneath that of another."



"But you must own allegiance to some country when you are not

fighting," she insisted. "What banner, then, owns you now?"



He rose and stood before her, then, bowing low. "And I am

acceptable," he said, "I serve beneath the banner of the daughter

of The Warlord now--and forever."



She reached forth and touched his arm with a slim brown hand.

"Your services are accepted," she said; "and if ever we reach

Helium I promise that your reward shall be all that your heart

could desire."



"I shall serve faithfully, hoping for that reward," he said;

but Tara of Helium did not guess what was in his mind, thinking

rather that he was mercenary. For how could the proud daughter of

The Warlord guess that a simple panthan aspired to her hand and

heart?



The dawn found them moving rapidly over an unfamiliar landscape.

The wind had increased during the night and had borne them far

from Bantoom. The country below them was rough and inhospitable.

No water was visible and the surface of the ground was cut by

deep gorges, while nowhere was any but the most meager vegetation

discernible. They saw no life of any nature, nor was there any

indication that the country could support life. For two days they

drifted over this horrid wasteland. They were without food or

water and suffered accordingly. Ghek had temporarily abandoned

his rykor after enlisting Turan's assistance in lashing it safely

to the deck. The less he used it the less would its vitality be

spent. Already it was showing the effects of privation. Ghek

crawled about the vessel like a great spider--over the side, down

beneath the keel, and up over the opposite rail. He seemed

equally at home one place as another. For his companions,

however, the quarters were cramped, for the deck of a one-man

flier is not intended for three.



Turan sought always ahead for signs of water. Water they must

have, or that water-giving plant which makes life possible upon

many of the seemingly arid areas of Mars; but there was neither

the one nor the other for these two days and now the third night

was upon them. The girl did not complain, but Turan knew that she

must be suffering and his heart was heavy within him. Ghek

suffered least of all, and he explained to them that his kind

could exist for long periods without food or water. Turan almost

cursed him as he saw the form of Tara of Helium slowly wasting

away before his eyes, while the hideous kaldane seemed as full of

vitality as ever.



"There are circumstances," remarked Ghek, "under which a gross

and material body is less desirable than a highly developed

brain."



Turan looked at him, but said nothing. Tara of Helium smiled

faintly. "One cannot blame him," she said, "were we not a bit

boastful in the pride of our superiority? When our stomachs were

filled," she added.



"Perhaps there is something to be said for their system," Turan

admitted. "If we could but lay aside our stomachs when they cried

for food and water I have no doubt but that we should do so."



"I should never miss mine now," assented Tara; "it is mighty poor

company."



A new day had dawned, revealing a less desolate country and

renewing again the hope that had been low within them. Suddenly

Turan leaned forward, pointing ahead.



"Look, Tara of Helium!" he cried. "A city! As I am Ga--as I am

Turan the panthan, a city."



Far in the distance the domes and walls and slender towers of a

city shone in the rising sun. Quickly the man seized the control

and the ship dropped rapidly behind a low range of intervening

hills, for well Turan knew that they must not be seen until they

could discover whether friend or foe inhabited the strange city.

Chances were that they were far from the abode of friends and so

must the panthan move with the utmost caution; but there was a

city and where a city was, was water, even though it were a

deserted city, and food if it were inhabited.



To the red man food and water, even in the citadel of an enemy,

meant food and drink for Tara of Helium. He would accept it from

friends or he would take it from enemies. Just so long as it was

there he would have it--and there was shown the egotism of the

fighting man, though Turan did not see it, nor Tara who came from

a long line of fighting men; but Ghek might have smiled had he

known how.



Turan permitted the flier to drift closer behind the screening

hills, and then when he could advance no farther without fear of

discovery, he dropped the craft gently to ground in a little

ravine, and leaping over the side made her fast to a stout tree.

For several moments they discussed their plans--whether it would

be best to wait where they were until darkness hid their

movements and then approach the city in search of food and water,

or approach it now, taking advantage of what cover they could,

until they could glean something of the nature of its

inhabitants.



It was Turan's plan which finally prevailed. They would approach

as close as safety dictated in the hope of finding water outside

the city; food, too, perhaps. If they did not they could at least

reconnoiter the ground by daylight, and then when night came

Turan could quickly come close to the city and in comparative

safety prosecute his search for food and drink.



Following the ravine upward they finally topped the summit of the

ridge, from which they had an excellent view of that part of the

city which lay nearest them, though themselves hidden by the

brush behind which they crouched. Ghek had resumed his rykor,

which had suffered less than either Tara or Turan through their

enforced fast.



The first glance at the city, now much closer than when they had

first discovered it, revealed the fact that it was inhabited.

Banners and pennons broke from many a staff. People were moving

about the gate before them. The high white walls were paced by

sentinels at far intervals. Upon the roofs of higher buildings

the women could be seen airing the sleeping silks and furs. Turan

watched it all in silence for some time.



"I do not know them," he said at last. "I cannot guess what city

this may be. But it is an ancient city. Its people have no fliers

and no firearms. It must be old indeed."



"How do you know they have not these things?" asked the girl.



"There are no landing-stages upon the roofs--not one that can be

seen from here; while were we looking similarly at Helium we

would see hundreds. And they have no firearms because their

defenses are all built to withstand the attack of spear and

arrow, with spear and arrow. They are an ancient people."



"If they are ancient perhaps they are friendly," suggested the

girl. "Did we not learn as children in the history of our planet

that it was once peopled by a friendly, peace-loving race?"



"But I fear they are not as ancient as that," replied Turan,

laughing. "It has been long ages since the men of Barsoom loved

peace."



"My father loves peace," returned the girl.



"And yet he is always at war," said the man.



She laughed. "But he says he likes peace."



"We all like peace," he rejoined; "peace with honor; but our

neighbors will not let us have it, and so we must fight."



"And to fight well men must like to fight," she added.



"And to like to fight they must know how to fight," he said, "for

no man likes to do the thing that he does not know how to do

well."



"Or that some other man can do better than he."



"And so always there will be wars and men will fight," he

concluded, "for always the men with hot blood in their veins will

practice the art of war."



"We have settled a great question," said the girl, smiling; "but

our stomachs are still empty."



"Your panthan is neglecting his duty," replied Turan; "and how

can he with the great reward always before his eyes!"



She did not guess in what literal a sense he spoke.



"I go forthwith," he continued, "to wrest food and drink from the

ancients."



"No," she cried, laying a hand upon his arm, "not yet. They would

slay you or make you prisoner. You are a brave panthan and a

mighty one, but you cannot overcome a city singlehanded."



She smiled up into his face and her hand still lay upon his arm.

He felt the thrill of hot blood coursing through his veins. He

could have seized her in his arms and crushed her to him. There

was only Ghek the kaldane there, but there was something stronger

within him that restrained his hand. Who may define it--that

inherent chivalry that renders certain men the natural protectors

of women?



From their vantage point they saw a body of armed warriors ride

forth from the gate, and winding along a well-beaten road pass

from sight about the foot of the hill from which they watched.

The men were red, like themselves, and they rode the small saddle

thoats of the red race. Their trappings were barbaric and

magnificent, and in their head-dress were many feathers as had

been the custom of ancients. They were armed with swords and long

spears and they rode almost naked, their bodies being painted in

ochre and blue and white. There were, perhaps, a score of them in

the party and as they galloped away on their tireless mounts they

presented a picture at once savage and beautiful.



"They have the appearance of splendid warriors," said Turan. "I

have a great mind to walk boldly into their city and seek

service."



Tara shook her head. "Wait," she admonished. "What would I do

without you, and if you were captured how could you collect your

reward?"



"I should escape," he said. "At any rate I shall try it," and he

started to rise.



"You shall not," said the girl, her tone all authority.



The man looked at her quickly--questioningly.



"You have entered my service," she said, a trifle haughtily.



"You have entered my service for hire and you shall do as I bid

you."



Turan sank down beside her again with a half smile upon his lips.

"It is yours to command, Princess," he said.



The day passed. Ghek, tiring of the sunlight, had deserted his

rykor and crawled down a hole he had discovered close by. Tara

and Turan reclined beneath the scant shade of a small tree. They

watched the people coming and going through the gate. The party

of horsemen did not return. A small herd of zitidars was driven

into the city during the day, and once a caravan of broad-wheeled

carts drawn by these huge animals wound out of the distant

horizon and came down to the city. It, too, passed from their

sight within the gateway. Then darkness came and Tara of Helium

bid her panthan search for food and drink; but she cautioned him

against attempting to enter the city. Before he left her he bent

and kissed her hand as a warrior may kiss the hand of his queen.



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