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so because only when you realize the truth may you seek a cure for the ills that

draw about your throne."

O-Tar had slumped down upon his bench--suddenly he looked shrunken and

tired and old. "Cursed be the day," he cried, "that saw those three strangers enter

the city of Manator. Would that U-Dor had been spared to me. He was strong--my

enemies feared him; but he is gone--dead at the hands of that hateful slave,

Turan; may the curse of Issus be upon him!"

"My jeddak, what shall we do?" begged E-Thas. "Cursing the slave will not solve

your problems."

"But the great feast and the marriage is but three days off," plead O-Tar. "It shall

be a great gala occasion. The warriors and the chiefs all know that--it is the

custom. Upon that day gifts and honors shall be bestowed. Tell me, who are most

bitter against me? I will send you among them and let it be known that I am

planning rewards for their past services to the throne. We will make jeds of chiefs

and chiefs of warriors, and grant them palaces and slaves. Eh, E-Thas?"

The other shook his head. "It will not do, O-Tar. They will have nothing of your

gifts or honors. I have heard them say as much."

"What do they want?" demanded O-Tar.

They want a jeddak as brave as the bravest," replied E-Thas, though his knees

shook as he said it.

"They think I am a coward?" cried the jeddak.

They say you are afraid to go to the apartments of O-mai the Cruel."

For a long time O-Tar sat, his head sunk upon his breast, staring blankly at the

floor.

"Tell them," he said at last in a hollow voice that sounded not at all like the voice

of a great jeddak; "tell them that I will go to the chambers of O-Mai and search for

Turan the slave."

178

The Chessmen of Mars