| 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| 1 | 50 | 99 | 149 | 198 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
Tara of Helium had just reached the gate in the outer wall. Without warning it
swung open toward her. She saw that for a moment it would hide her from those
within and in that moment she turned and ran, keeping close to the wall, until,
passing out of sight beyond the curve of the structure, she came to the opposite
side of the enclosure. Here, panting from her exertion and from the excitement of
her narrow escape, she threw herself among some tall weeds that grew close to
the foot of the wall. There she lay trembling for some time, not even daring to
raise her head and look about. Never before had Tara of Helium felt the
paralyzing effects of terror. She was shocked and angry at herself, that she,
daughter of John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom, should exhibit fear. Not even the
fact that there had been none there to witness it lessened her shame and anger,
and the worst of it was she knew that under similar circumstances she would
again be equally as craven. It was not the fear of death--she knew that. No, it was
the thought of those headless bodies and that she might see them and that they
might even touch her--lay hands upon her--seize her. She shuddered and
trembled at the thought.
After a while she gained sufficient command of herself to raise her head and look
about. To her horror she discovered that everywhere she looked she saw people
working in the fields or preparing to do so. Workmen were coming from other
towers. Little bands were passing to this field and that. They were even some
already at work within thirty ads of her--about a hundred yards. There were ten,
perhaps, in the party nearest her, both men and women, and all were beautiful of
form and grotesque of face. So meager were their trappings that they were
practically naked; a fact that was in no way remarkable among the tillers of the
fields of Mars. Each wore the peculiar, high leather collar that completely hid the
neck, and each wore sufficient other leather to support a single sword and a
pocket-pouch. The leather was very old and worn, showing long, hard service,
and was absolutely plain with the exception of a single device upon the left
shoulder. The heads, however, were covered with ornaments of precious metals
and jewels, so that little more than eyes, nose, and mouth were discernible. These
were hideously inhuman and yet grotesquely human at the same time. The eyes
were far apart and protruding, the nose scarce more than two small, parallel slits
set vertically above a round hole that was the mouth. The heads were peculiarly
repulsive--so much so that it seemed unbelievable to the girl that they formed an
integral part of the beautiful bodies below them.
So fascinated was Tara of Helium that she could scarce take her eyes from the
strange creatures--a fact that was to prove her undoing, for in order that she
might see them she was forced to expose a part of her own head and presently, to
her consternation, she saw that one of the creatures had stopped his work and
was staring directly at her. She did not dare move, for it was still possible that the
3
2
Page
Quick Jump
|