In twos we entered the chamber1 and marched down the broad Aisle2 of Hope, as it is called, to the platform in the centre of the hall. Before and behind us marched armed guards, while three solid ranks of Zodangan soldiery lined either side of the aisle from the entrance to the rostrum.
As we reached the raised enclosure I saw our judges. As is the custom upon Barsoom there were thirty-one, supposedly selected by lot from men of the noble class, for nobles were on trial. But to my amazement3 I saw no single friendly face among them. Practically all were Zodangans, and it was I to whom Zodanga owed her defeat at the hands of the green hordes4 and her subsequent vassalage5 to Helium. There could be little justice here for John Carter, or his son, or for the great Thark who had commanded the savage6 tribesmen who overran Zodanga's broad avenues, looting, burning, and murdering.
About us the vast circular coliseum was packed to its full capacity. All classes were represented—all ages, and both sexes. As we entered the hall the hum of subdued7 conversation ceased until as we halted upon the platform, or Throne of Righteousness, the silence of death enveloped8 the ten thousand spectators.
The judges were seated in a great circle about the periphery9 of the circular platform. We were assigned seats with our backs toward a small platform in the exact centre of the larger one. This placed us facing the judges and the audience. Upon the smaller platform each would take his place while his case was being heard.
Zat Arrras himself sat in the golden chair of the presiding magistrate10. As we were seated and our guards retired11 to the foot of the stairway leading to the platform, he arose and called my name.
"John Carter," he cried, "take your place upon the Pedestal of Truth to be judged impartially13 according to your acts and here to know the reward you have earned thereby14." Then turning to and fro toward the audience he narrated15 the acts upon the value of which my reward was to be determined16.
"Know you, O judges and people of Helium," he said, "that John Carter, one time Prince of Helium, has returned by his own statement from the Valley Dor and even from the Temple of Issus itself. That, in the presence of many men of Helium he has blasphemed against the Sacred Iss, and against the Valley Dor, and the Lost Sea of Korus, and the Holy Therns themselves, and even against Issus, Goddess of Death, and of Life Eternal. And know you further by witness of thine own eyes that see him here now upon the Pedestal of Truth that he has indeed returned from these sacred precincts in the face of our ancient customs, and in violation17 of the sanctity of our ancient religion.
"He who be once dead may not live again. He who attempts it must be made dead for ever. Judges, your duty lies plain before you—here can be no testimony18 in contravention of truth. What reward shall be meted19 to John Carter in accordance with the acts he has committed?"
"Death!" shouted one of the judges.
And then a man sprang to his feet in the audience, and raising his hand on high, cried: "Justice! Justice! Justice!" It was Kantos Kan, and as all eyes turned toward him he leaped past the Zodangan soldiery and sprang upon the platform.
"What manner of justice be this?" he cried to Zat Arrras. "The defendant21 has not been heard, nor has he had an opportunity to call others in his behalf. In the name of the people of Helium I demand fair and impartial12 treatment for the Prince of Helium."
A great cry arose from the audience then: "Justice! Justice! Justice!" and Zat Arrras dared not deny them.
"Speak, then," he snarled22, turning to me; "but blaspheme not against the things that are sacred upon Barsoom."
"Men of Helium," I cried, turning to the spectators, and speaking over the heads of my judges, "how can John Carter expect justice from the men of Zodanga? He cannot nor does he ask it. It is to the men of Helium that he states his case; nor does he appeal for mercy to any. It is not in his own cause that he speaks now—it is in thine. In the cause of your wives and daughters, and of wives and daughters yet unborn. It is to save them from the unthinkably atrocious indignities23 that I have seen heaped upon the fair women of Barsoom in the place men call the Temple of Issus. It is to save them from the sucking embrace of the plant men, from the fangs24 of the great white apes of Dor, from the cruel lust25 of the Holy Therns, from all that the cold, dead Iss carries them to from homes of love and life and happiness.
"Sits there no man here who does not know the history of John Carter. How he came among you from another world and rose from a prisoner among the green men, through torture and persecution26, to a place high among the highest of Barsoom. Nor ever did you know John Carter to lie in his own behalf, or to say aught that might harm the people of Barsoom, or to speak lightly of the strange religion which he respected without understanding.
"There be no man here, or elsewhere upon Barsoom to-day who does not owe his life directly to a single act of mine, in which I sacrificed myself and the happiness of my Princess that you might live. And so, men of Helium, I think that I have the right to demand that I be heard, that I be believed, and that you let me serve you and save you from the false hereafter of Dor and Issus as I saved you from the real death that other day.
"It is to you of Helium that I speak now. When I am done let the men of Zodanga have their will with me. Zat Arrras has taken my sword from me, so the men of Zodanga no longer fear me. Will you listen?"
"Speak, John Carter, Prince of Helium," cried a great noble from the audience, and the multitude echoed his permission, until the building rocked with the noise of their demonstration27.
Zat Arrras knew better than to interfere28 with such a sentiment as was expressed that day in the Temple of Reward, and so for two hours I talked with the people of Helium.
But when I had finished, Zat Arrras arose and, turning to the judges, said in a low tone: "My nobles, you have heard John Carter's plea; every opportunity has been given him to prove his innocence29 if he be not guilty; but instead he has but utilized30 the time in further blasphemy31. What, gentlemen, is your verdict?"
"Death to the blasphemer!" cried one, springing to his feet, and in an instant the entire thirty-one judges were on their feet with upraised swords in token of the unanimity32 of their verdict.
If the people did not hear Zat Arrras' charge, they certainly did hear the verdict of the tribunal. A sullen33 murmur34 rose louder and louder about the packed coliseum, and then Kantos Kan, who had not left the platform since first he had taken his place near me, raised his hand for silence. When he could be heard he spoke35 to the people in a cool and level voice.
"You have heard the fate that the men of Zodanga would mete20 to Helium's noblest hero. It may be the duty of the men of Helium to accept the verdict as final. Let each man act according to his own heart. Here is the answer of Kantos Kan, head of the navy of Helium, to Zat Arrras and his judges," and with that he unbuckled his scabbard and threw his sword at my feet.
In an instant soldiers and citizens, officers and nobles were crowding past the soldiers of Zodanga and forcing their way to the Throne of Righteousness. A hundred men surged up on the platform, and a hundred blades rattled37 and clanked to the floor at my feet. Zat Arrras and his officers were furious, but they were helpless. One by one I raised the swords to my lips and buckled36 them again upon their owners.
"Come," said Kantos Kan, "we will escort John Carter and his party to his own palace," and they formed about us and started toward the stairs leading to the Aisle of Hope.
"Stop!" cried Zat Arrras. "Soldiers of Helium, let no prisoner leave the Throne of Righteousness."
The soldiery from Zodanga were the only organized body of Heliumetic troops within the temple, so Zat Arrras was confident that his orders would be obeyed, but I do not think that he looked for the opposition38 that was raised the moment the soldiers advanced toward the throne.
From every quarter of the coliseum swords flashed and men rushed threateningly upon the Zodangans. Some one raised a cry: "Tardos Mors is dead—a thousand years to John Carter, Jeddak of Helium." As I heard that and saw the ugly attitude of the men of Helium toward the soldiers of Zat Arrras, I knew that only a miracle could avert39 a clash that would end in civil war.
"Hold!" I cried, leaping to the Pedestal of Truth once more. "Let no man move till I am done. A single sword thrust here to-day may plunge40 Helium into a bitter and bloody41 war the results of which none can foresee. It will turn brother against brother and father against son. No man's life is worth that sacrifice. Rather would I submit to the biased42 judgment43 of Zat Arrras than be the cause of civil strife44 in Helium.
"Let us each give in a point to the other, and let this entire matter rest until Tardos Mors returns, or Mors Kajak, his son. If neither be back at the end of a year a second trial may be held—the thing has a precedent45." And then turning to Zat Arrras, I said in a low voice: "Unless you be a bigger fool than I take you to be, you will grasp the chance I am offering you ere it is too late. Once that multitude of swords below is drawn46 against your soldiery no man upon Barsoom—not even Tardos Mors himself—can avert the consequences. What say you? Speak quickly."
The Jed of Zodangan Helium raised his voice to the angry sea beneath us.
"Stay your hands, men of Helium," he shouted, his voice trembling with rage. "The sentence of the court is passed, but the day of retribution has not been set. I, Zat Arrras, Jed of Zodanga, appreciating the royal connections of the prisoner and his past services to Helium and Barsoom, grant a respite47 of one year, or until the return of Mors Kajak, or Tardos Mors to Helium. Disperse48 quietly to your houses. Go."
No one moved. Instead, they stood in tense silence with their eyes fastened upon me, as though waiting for a signal to attack.
"Clear the temple," commanded Zat Arrras, in a low tone to one of his officers.
Fearing the result of an attempt to carry out this order by force, I stepped to the edge of the platform and, pointing toward the main entrance, bid them pass out. As one man they turned at my request and filed, silent and threatening, past the soldiers of Zat Arrras, Jed of Zodanga, who stood scowling49 in impotent rage.
Kantos Kan with the others who had sworn allegiance to me still stood upon the Throne of Righteousness with me.
"Come," said Kantos Kan to me, "we will escort you to your palace, my Prince. Come, Carthoris and Xodar. Come, Tars50 Tarkas." And with a haughty51 sneer52 for Zat Arrras upon his handsome lips, he turned and strode to the throne steps and up the Aisle of Hope. We four and the hundred loyal ones followed behind him, nor was a hand raised to stay us, though glowering53 eyes followed our triumphal march through the temple.
In the avenues we found a press of people, but they opened a pathway for us, and many were the swords that were flung at my feet as I passed through the city of Helium toward my palace upon the outskirts54. Here my old slaves fell upon their knees and kissed my hands as I greeted them. They cared not where I had been. It was enough that I had returned to them.
"Ah, master," cried one, "if our divine Princess were but here this would be a day indeed."
Tears came to my eyes, so that I was forced to turn away that I might hide my emotions. Carthoris wept openly as the slaves pressed about him with expressions of affection, and words of sorrow for our common loss. It was now that Tars Tarkas for the first time learned that his daughter, Sola, had accompanied Dejah Thoris upon the last long pilgrimage. I had not had the heart to tell him what Kantos Kan had told me. With the stoicism of the green Martian he showed no sign of suffering, yet I knew that his grief was as poignant55 as my own. In marked contrast to his kind, he had in well-developed form the kindlier human characteristics of love, friendship, and charity.
It was a sad and sombre party that sat at the feast of welcome in the great dining hall of the palace of the Prince of Helium that day. We were over a hundred strong, not counting the members of my little court, for Dejah Thoris and I had maintained a household consistent with our royal rank.
The board, according to red Martian custom, was triangular56, for there were three in our family. Carthoris and I presided in the centre of our sides of the table—midway of the third side Dejah Thoris' high-backed, carven chair stood vacant except for her gorgeous wedding trappings and jewels which were draped upon it. Behind stood a slave as in the days when his mistress had occupied her place at the board, ready to do her bidding. It was the way upon Barsoom, so I endured the anguish57 of it, though it wrung58 my heart to see that silent chair where should have been my laughing and vivacious59 Princess keeping the great hall ringing with her merry gaiety.
At my right sat Kantos Kan, while to the right of Dejah Thoris' empty place Tars Tarkas sat in a huge chair before a raised section of the board which years ago I had had constructed to meet the requirements of his mighty60 bulk. The place of honour at a Martian hoard61 is always at the hostess's right, and this place was ever reserved by Dejah Thoris for the great Thark upon the occasions that he was in Helium.
Hor Vastus sat in the seat of honour upon Carthoris' side of the table. There was little general conversation. It was a quiet and saddened party. The loss of Dejah Thoris was still fresh in the minds of all, and to this was added fear for the safety of Tardos Mors and Mors Kajak, as well as doubt and uncertainty62 as to the fate of Helium, should it prove true that she was permanently63 deprived of her great Jeddak.
Suddenly our attention was attracted by the sound of distant shouting, as of many people raising their voices at once, but whether in anger or rejoicing, we could not tell. Nearer and nearer came the tumult64. A slave rushed into the dining hall to cry that a great concourse of people was swarming65 through the palace gates. A second burst upon the heels of the first alternately laughing and shrieking66 as a madman.
"Dejah Thoris is found!" he cried. "A messenger from Dejah Thoris!"
I waited to hear no more. The great windows of the dining hall overlooked the avenue leading to the main gates—they were upon the opposite side of the hall from me with the table intervening. I did not waste time in circling the great board—with a single leap I cleared table and diners and sprang upon the balcony beyond. Thirty feet below lay the scarlet67 sward of the lawn and beyond were many people crowding about a great thoat which bore a rider headed toward the palace. I vaulted68 to the ground below and ran swiftly toward the advancing party.
As I came near to them I saw that the figure on the thoat was Sola.
"Where is the Princess of Helium?" I cried.
The green girl slid from her mighty mount and ran toward me.
"O my Prince! My Prince!" she cried. "She is gone for ever. Even now she may be a captive upon the lesser69 moon. The black pirates of Barsoom have stolen her."
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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vassalage
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| n.家臣身份，隶属 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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7
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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8
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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periphery
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| n.(圆体的)外面；周围 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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impartially
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| adv.公平地，无私地 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mete
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| v.分配；给予 | |
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defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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41
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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biased
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| a.有偏见的 | |
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43
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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45
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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46
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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48
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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49
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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50
tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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51
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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52
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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53
glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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54
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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55
poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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56
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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57
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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58
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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59
vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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60
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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61
hoard
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| n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积 | |
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62
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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65
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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66
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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67
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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