Warlord of Mars Embattled, Page 2

retained their age-old power; but Matain Shang, their hekkador, Father of Therns, had been driven from her temple. Strenuous had been our endeavors to capture her; but with a few of the faithful she had escaped, and was in hiding--where we knew not.

  As I came cautiously to the edge of the low cliff overlooking the Lost Sea of Korus I saw Thurid pushing out upon the chest of the shimmering water in a small skiff--one of those strangely wrought craft of unthinkable age which the Holy Therns, with their organization of priests and lesser therns, were wont to distribute along the banks of the Iss, that the long journey of their victims might be facilitated.

  Drawn up on the beach below me were a score of similar boats, each with its long pole, at one end of which was a pike, at the other a paddle. Thurid was hugging the shore, and as she passed out of sight round a near-by promontory I shoved one of the boats into the water and, calling Woolan into it, pushed out from shore.

  The pursuit of Thurid carried me along the edge of the sea toward the mouth of the Iss. The farther moon lay close to the horizon, casting a dense shadow beneath the cliffs that fringed the water. Thuria, the nearer moon, had set, nor would it rise again for near four hours, so that I was ensured concealing darkness for that length of time at least.

  On and on went the black warrior. Now she was opposite the mouth of the Iss. Without an instant's hesitation she turned up the grim river, paddling hard against the strong current.

  After her came Woolan and I, closer now, for the woman was too intent upon forcing her craft up the river to have any eyes for what might be transpiring behind her. She hugged the shore where the current was less strong.

  Presently she came to the dark cavernous portal in the face of the Golden Cliffs, through which the river poured. On into the Stygian darkness beyond she urged her craft.

  It seemed hopeless to attempt to follow her here where I could not see my hand before my face, and I was almost on the point of giving up the pursuit and drifting back to the mouth of the river, there to await her return, when a sudden bend showed a faint luminosity ahead.

  My quarry was plainly visible again, and in the increasing light from the phosphorescent rock that lay embedded in great patches in the roughly arched roof of the cavern I had no difficulty in following her.

  It was my first trip upon the chest of Iss, and the things I saw there will live forever in my memory.

  Terrible as they were, they could not have commenced to approximate the horrible conditions which must have obtained before Tara Tarkas, the great green warrior, Xodara, the black dator, and I brought the light of truth to the outer world and stopped the mad rush of millions upon the voluntary pilgrimage to what they believed would end in a beautiful valley of peace and happiness and love.

  Even now the low islands which dotted the broad stream were choked with the skeletons and half devoured carcasses of those who, through fear or a sudden awakening to the truth, had halted almost at the completion of their journey.

  In the awful stench of these frightful charnel isles haggard maniacs screamed and gibbered and fought among the torn remnants of their grisly feasts; while on those which contained but clean-picked bones they battled with one another, the weaker furnishing sustenance for the stronger; or with clawlike hands clutched at the bloated bodies that drifted down with the current.

  Thurid paid not the slightest attention to the screaming things that either menaced or pleaded with her as the mood directed them--evidently she was familiar with the horrid sights that surrounded her. She continued up the river for perhaps a mile; and then, crossing over to the left bank, drew her craft up on a low ledge that lay almost on a level with the water.

  I dared not follow across the stream, for she most surely would have seen me. Instead I stopped close to the opposite wall beneath an overhanging mass of rock that cast a dense shadow beneath it. Here I could watch Thurid without danger of discovery.

  The black was standing upon the ledge beside her boat, looking up the river, as though she were awaiting one whom she expected from that direction.

  As I lay there beneath the dark rocks I noticed that a strong current seemed to flow directly toward the center of the river, so that it was difficult to hold my craft in its position. I edged farther into the shadow that I might find a hold upon the bank; but, though I proceeded several yards, I touched nothing; and then, finding that I would soon reach a point from where I could no longer see the black woman, I was compelled to remain where I was, holding my position as best I could by paddling strongly against the current which flowed from beneath the rocky mass behind me.

  I could not imagine what might cause this strong lateral flow, for the main channel of the river was plainly visible to me from where I sat, and I could see the rippling junction of it and the mysterious current which had aroused my curiosity.

  While I was still speculating upon the phenomenon, my attention was suddenly riveted upon Thurid, who had raised both palms forward above her head in the universal salute of Martians, and a moment later her 'Kaor!' the Barsoomian word of greeting, came in low but distinct tones.

  I turned my eyes up the river in the direction that her were bent, and presently there came within my limited range of vision a long boat, in which were six women. Five were at the paddles, while the sixth sat in the seat of honor.

  The white skins, the flowing yellow wigs which covered their bald pates, and the gorgeous diadems set in circlets of gold about their heads marked them as Holy Therns.

  As they drew up beside the ledge upon which Thurid awaited them, she in the bow of the boat arose to step ashore, and then I saw that it was none other than Matain Shang, Father of Therns.

  The evident cordiality with which the two women exchanged greetings filled me with wonder, for the black and white women of Barsoom were hereditary enemies--nor ever before had I known of two meeting other than in battle.

  Evidently the reverses that had recently overtaken both peoples had resulted in an alliance between these two individuals--at least against the common enemy--and now I saw why Thurid had come so often out into the Valley Dor by night, and that the nature of her conspiring might be such as to strike very close to me or to my friends.

  I wished that I might have found a point closer to the two women from which to have heard their conversation; but it was out of the question now to attempt to cross the river, and so I lay quietly watching them, who would have given so much to have known how close I lay to them, and how easily they might have overcome and killed me with their superior force.

  Several times Thurid pointed across the river in my direction, but that her gestures had any reference to me I did not for a moment believe. Presently she and Matain Shang entered the latter's boat, which turned out into the river and, swinging round, forged steadily across in my direction.

  As they advanced I moved my boat farther and farther in beneath the overhanging wall, but at last it became evident that their craft was holding the same course. The five paddlers sent the larger boat ahead at a speed that taxed my energies to equal.

  Every instant I expected to feel my prow crash against solid rock. The light from the river was no longer visible, but ahead I saw the faint tinge of a distant radiance, and still the water before me was open.

  At last the truth dawned upon me--I was following a subterranean river which emptied into the Iss at the very point where I had hidden.

  The rowers were now quite close to me. The noise of their own paddles drowned the sound of mine, but in another instant the growing light ahead would reveal me to them.

  There was no time to be lost. Whatever action I was to take must be taken at once. Swinging the prow of my boat toward the right, I sought the river's rocky side, and there I lay while Matain Shang and Thurid approached up the center of the stream, which was much narrower than the Iss.

  As they came nearer I heard the voices of Thurid and the Father of Therns raised in argument.

  'I tell you, Thern,' the black dator was saying, 'that I wish only vengeance
upon Joan Carter, Princess of Helium. I am leading you into no trap. What could I gain by betraying you to those who have ruined my nation and my house?'

  'Let us stop here a moment that I may hear your plans,' replied the hekkador, 'and then we may proceed with a better understanding of our duties and obligations.'

  To the rowers she issued the command that brought their boat in toward the bank not a dozen paces beyond the spot where I lay.

  Had they pulled in below me they must surely have seen me against the faint glow of light ahead, but from where they finally came to rest I was as secure from detection as though miles separated us.

  The few words I had already overheard whetted my curiosity, and I was anxious to learn what manner of vengeance Thurid was planning against me. Nor had I long to wait. I listened intently.

  'There are no obligations, Father of Therns,' continued the First Born. 'Thurid, Dator of Issus, has no price. When the thing has been accomplished I shall be glad if you will see to it that I am well received, as is befitting my ancient lineage and noble rank, at some court that is yet loyal to thy ancient faith, for I cannot return to the Valley Dor or elsewhere within the power of the Princess of Helium; but even that I do not demand--it shall be as your own desire in the matter directs.'

  'It shall be as you wish, Dator,' replied Matain