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Well did Gahan know this country that bordered his upon the west--even the
ships of the air avoided it because of the treacherous currents that rose from the
deep chasms, and the almost total absence of safe landings. He knew now where
Manator lay and for the first time in long weeks the way to his own Gathol, and
here was a man, a fellow prisoner, in whose veins flowed the blood of his own
ancestors--a man who knew Manator; its people, its customs and the country
surrounding it--one who could aid him, with advice at least, to find a plan for the
rescue of Tara of Helium and for escape. But would A-Kor--could he dare broach
the subject? He could do no less than try.
"And O-Tar you think will sentence you to death?" he asked; "and why?"
"
He would like to," replied A-Kor, "for the people chafe beneath his iron hand and
their loyalty is but the loyalty of a people to the long line of illustrious jeddaks
from which he has sprung. He is a jealous man and has found the means of
disposing of most of those whose blood might entitle them to a claim upon the
throne, and whose place in the affections of the people endowed them with any
political significance. The fact that I was the son of a slave relegated me to a
position of minor importance in the consideration of O-Tar, yet I am still the son
of a jeddak and might sit upon the throne of Manator with as perfect congruity as
O-Tar himself. Combined with this is the fact that of recent years the people, and
especially many of the younger warriors, have evinced a growing affection for me,
which I attribute to certain virtues of character and training derived from my
mother, but which O-Tar assumes to be the result of an ambition upon my part
to occupy the throne of Manator.
"And now, I am firmly convinced, he has seized upon my criticism of his
treatment of the slave girl Tara as a pretext for ridding himself of me."
"But if you could escape and reach Gathol," suggested Turan.
"I have thought of that," mused A-Kor; "but how much better off would I be? In
the eyes of the Gatholians I would be, not a Gatholian; but a stranger and
doubtless they would accord me the same treatment that we of Manator accord
strangers."
"Could you convince them that you are the son of the Princess Haja your welcome
would be assured," said Turan; "while on the other hand you could purchase your
freedom and citizenship with a brief period of labor in the diamond mines."
"
How know you all these things?" asked A-Kor. "I thought you were from Helium."
"I am a panthan," replied Turan, "and I have served many countries, among them
Gathol."
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