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Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and
decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were
occupying。 She told me that these people had presumably
flourished over a hundred thousand years before。
They were the early progenitors of her race； but had mixed
with the other great race of early Martians； who were very
dark； almost black； and also with the reddish yellow race
which had flourished at the same time。
These three great divisions of the higher Martians had
been forced into a mighty alliance as the drying up of the
Martian seas had compelled them to seek the comparatively few
and always diminishing fertile areas； and to defend themselves；
under new conditions of life； against the wild hordes of green men。
Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted
in the race of red men； of which Dejah Thoris was a fair
and beautiful daughter。 During the ages of hardships and
incessant warring between their own various races； as well
as with the green men； and before they had fitted themselves
to the changed conditions； much of the high civilization
and many of the arts of the fair…haired Martians had
become lost； but the red race of today has reached a point
where it feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in
a more practical civilization for all that lies irretrievably
buried with the ancient Barsoomians； beneath the countless
intervening ages。
These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and
literary race； but during the vicissitudes of those trying
centuries of readjustment to new conditions； not only did their
advancement and production cease entirely； but practically
all their archives； records； and literature were lost。
Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends
concerning this lost race of noble and kindly people。 She
said that the city in which we were camping was supposed
to have been a center of commerce and culture known as
Korad。 It had been built upon a beautiful； natural harbor；
landlocked by magnificent hills。 The little valley on the west
front of the city； she explained； was all that remained of the
harbor； while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom
had been the channel through which the shipping passed up
to the city's gates。
The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such
cities； and lesser ones； in diminishing numbers； were to be
found converging toward the center of the oceans； as the
people had found it necessary to follow the receding waters
until necessity had forced upon them their ultimate salvation；
the so…called Martian canals。
We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building
and in our conversation that it was late in the afternoon
before we realized it。 We were brought back to a realization
of our present conditions by a messenger bearing a summons
from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear before him
forthwith。 Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell； and
commanding Woola to remain on guard； I hastened to the
audience chamber； where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars
Tarkas seated upon the rostrum。
CHAPTER XII
A PRISONER WITH POWER
As I entered and saluted； Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance；
and； fixing his great； hideous eyes upon me； addressed me thus：
〃You have been with us a few days； yet during that time
you have by your prowess won a high position among us。
Be that as it may； you are not one of us； you owe us no
allegiance。
〃Your position is a peculiar one；〃 he continued； 〃you are
a prisoner and yet you give commands which must be obeyed；
you are an alien and yet you are a Tharkian chieftain； you
are a midget and yet you can kill a mighty warrior with one
blow of your fist。 And now you are reported to have been
plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race； a
prisoner who； from her own admission； half believes you are
returned from the valley of Dor。 Either one of these accusations；
if proved； would be sufficient grounds for your execution；
but we are a just people and you shall have a trial on our
return to Thark； if Tal Hajus so commands。
〃But；〃 he continued； in his fierce guttural tones； 〃if you
run off with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to
Tal Hajus； it is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas； and
either demonstrate my right to command； or the metal from
my dead carcass will go to a better man； for such is the
custom of the Tharks。
〃I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas； together we rule
supreme the greatest of the lesser communities among the
green men； we do not wish to fight between ourselves； and so
if you were dead； John Carter； I should be glad。 Under two
conditions only； however； may you be killed by us without
orders from Tal Hajus； in personal combat in self…defense；
should you attack one of us； or were you apprehended in an
attempt to escape。
〃As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only
await one of these two excuses for ridding ourselves of so
great a responsibility。 The safe delivery of the red girl to
Tal Hajus is of the greatest importance。 Not in a thousand
years have the Tharks made such a capture； she is the
granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks； who is also
our bitterest enemy。 I have spoken。 The red girl told us that
we were without the softer sentiments of humanity； but we
are a just and truthful race。 You may go。〃
Turning； I left the audience chamber。 So this was the
beginning of Sarkoja's persecution！ I knew that none other
could be responsible for this report which had reached the
ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly； and now I recalled those
portions of our conversation which had touched upon escape
and upon my origin。
Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most
trusted female。 As such she was a mighty power behind the
throne； for no warrior had the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel
to such an extent as did his ablest lieutenant； Tars Tarkas。
However； instead of putting thoughts of possible escape
from my mind； my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served
to center my every faculty on this subject。 Now； more than
before； the absolute necessity for escape； in so far as Dejah
Thoris was concerned； was impressed upon me； for I was
convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the
headquarters of Tal Hajus。
As described by Sola； this monster was the exaggerated
personification of all the ages of cruelty； ferocity； and
brutality from which he had descended。 Cold； cunning；
calculating； he was； also； in marked contrast to most of his
fellows； a slave to that brute passion which the waning
demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost
stilled in the Martian breast。
The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into
the clutches of such an abysmal atavism started the cold
sweat upon me。 Far better that we save friendly bullets for