| 188 | 189 | 190 | 191 | 192 |
| 1 | 50 | 99 | 149 | 198 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
Would Turan's promised succor come too late? Tara listened to the long,
monotonous intonation of the wedding service. She heard the virtues of O-Tar
extolled and the beauties of the bride. The moment was approaching and still no
sign of Turan. But what could he accomplish should he succeed in reaching the
throne room, other than to die with her? There could be no hope of rescue.
The dignitary lifted the golden handcuffs from the pillow upon which they
reposed. He blessed them and reached for Tara's wrist. The time had come! The
thing could go no further, for alive or dead, by all the laws of Barsoom she would
be the wife of O-Tar of Manator the instant the two were locked together. Even
should rescue come then or later she could never dissolve those bonds and Turan
would be lost to her as surely as though death separated them.
Her hand stole toward the hidden blade, but instantly the hand of the groom shot
out and seized her wrist. He had guessed her intention. Through the slits in the
grotesque mask she could see his eyes upon her and she guessed the sardonic
smile that the mask hid. For a tense moment the two stood thus. The people
below them kept breathless silence for the play before the throne had not passed
un-noticed.
Dramatic as was the moment it was suddenly rendered trebly so by the noisy
opening of the doors leading to The Hall of Chiefs. All eyes turned in the direction
of the interruption to see another figure framed in the massive opening--a half-
clad figure buckling the half-adjusted harness hurriedly in place--the figure of O-
Tar, Jeddak of Manator.
"
Stop!" he screamed, springing forward along the aisle toward the throne. "Seize
the impostor!"
All eyes shot to the figure of the groom before the throne. They saw him raise his
hand and snatch off the golden mask, and Tara of Helium in wide-eyed
incredulity looked up into the face of Turan the panthan.
"
"
"
Turan the slave," they cried then. "Death to him! Death to him!"
Wait!" shouted Turan, drawing his sword, as a dozen warriors leaped forward.
Wait!" screamed another voice, old and cracked, as I-Gos, the ancient
taxidermist, sprang from among the guests and reached the throne steps ahead
of the foremost warriors.
At sight of the old man the warriors paused, for age is held in great veneration
among the peoples of Barsoom, as is true, perhaps, of all peoples whose religion
190
Page
Quick Jump
|