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put me through a severe and searching cross…examination。
〃Your statements are most remarkable；〃 said the voice； on
concluding its questioning； 〃but you are evidently speaking the
truth； and it is equally evident that you are not of Barsoom。
I can tell that by the conformation of your brain and the
strange location of your internal organs and the shape and
size of your heart。〃
〃Can you see through me？〃 I exclaimed。
〃Yes； I can see all but your thoughts； and were you a Barsoomian
I could read those。〃
Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a
strange； dried up； little mummy of a man came toward me。
He wore but a single article of clothing or adornment； a
small collar of gold from which depended upon his chest a
great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid with huge
diamonds； except for the exact center which was occupied
by a strange stone； an inch in diameter； that scintillated nine
different and distinct rays； the seven colors of our earthly
prism and two beautiful rays which； to me； were new and
nameless。 I cannot describe them any more than you could
describe red to a blind man。 I only know that they were
beautiful in the extreme。
The old man sat and talked with me for hours； and the
strangest part of our intercourse was that I could read his
every thought while he could not fathom an iota from my
mind unless I spoke。
I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental
operations； and thus I learned a great deal which proved of
immense value to me later and which I would never have
known had he suspected my strange power； for the Martians
have such perfect control of their mental machinery that they
are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision。
The building in which I found myself contained the machinery
which produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains
life on Mars。 The secret of the entire process hinges on
the use of the ninth ray； one of the beautiful scintillations
which I had noted emanating from the great stone in my
host's diadem。
This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by
means of finely adjusted instruments placed upon the roof
of the huge building； three…quarters of which is used for
reservoirs in which the ninth ray is stored。 This product is
then treated electrically； or rather certain proportions of
refined electric vibrations are incorporated with it； and the
result is then pumped to the five principal air centers of the
planet where； as it is released； contact with the ether of
space transforms it into atmosphere。
There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in
the great building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for
a thousand years； and the only fear； as my new friend told me；
was that some accident might befall the pumping apparatus。
He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery
of twenty radium pumps any one of which was equal to the
task of furnishing all Mars with the atmosphere compound。
For eight hundred years； he told me； he had watched these
pumps which are used alternately a day each at a stretch； or
a little over twenty…four and one…half Earth hours。 He has one
assistant who divides the watch with him。 Half a Martian
year； about three hundred and forty…four of our days； each
of these men spend alone in this huge； isolated plant。
Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the
principles of the manufacture of atmosphere； but only two
at one time ever hold the secret of ingress to the great building；
which； built as it is with walls a hundred and fifty feet
thick； is absolutely unassailable； even the roof being guarded
from assault by air craft by a glass covering five feet thick。
The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green
Martians or some demented red man； as all Barsoomians
realize that the very existence of every form of life of Mars
is dependent upon the uninterrupted working of this plant。
One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts
was that the outer doors are manipulated by telepathic
means。 The locks are so finely adjusted that the doors are
released by the action of a certain combination of thought
waves。 To experiment with my new…found toy I thought to
surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked
him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the
massive doors for me from the inner chambers of the building。
As quick as a flash there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds；
but as quickly faded as he answered that this was a secret
he must not divulge。
From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared
that he had been surprised into divulging his great secret；
and I read suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts；
though his words were still fair。
Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a
letter to a nearby agricultural officer who would help me on
my way to Zodanga； which he said； was the nearest Martian city。
〃But be sure that you do not let them know you are
bound for Helium as they are at war with that country。
My assistant and I are of no country； we belong to all Barsoom
and this talisman which we wear protects us in all lands；
even among the green menthough we do not trust ourselves
to their hands if we can avoid it；〃 he added。
〃And so good…night； my friend；〃 he continued； 〃may you
have a long and restful sleepyes； a long sleep。〃
And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the
wish that he had never admitted me； and then a picture of
him standing over me in the night； and the swift thrust of
a long dagger and the half formed words； 〃I am sorry； but it
is for the best good of Barsoom。〃
As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his
thoughts were cut off from me as was the sight of him； which
seemed strange to me in my little knowledge of thought
transference。
What was I to do？ How could I escape through these
mighty walls？ Easily could I kill him now that I was warned；
but once he was dead I could no more escape； and with the
stopping of the machinery of the great plant I should die
with all the other inhabitants of the planetall； even Dejah
Thoris were she not already dead。 For the others I did not
give the snap of my finger； but the thought of Dejah Thoris
drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host。
Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and； followed
by Woola； sought the inner of the great doors。 A wild
scheme had come to me； I would attempt to force the great
locks by the nine thought waves I had read in my host's mind。
Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and
down winding runways which turned hither and thither I
finally reached the great hall in which I had broken my long
fast that morning。 Nowhere had I seen my host； nor did I
know where he kept himself by night。
I was on the point of stepping boldly ou