第45章
Tara of Helium, as the night wore on and Turan did not return, became more and more uneasy, and when dawn broke with no sign of him she guessed that he had failed.Something more than her own unhappy predicament brought a feeling of sorrow to her heart--of sorrow and loneliness.She realized now how she had come to depend upon this panthan not only for protection but for companionship as well.She missed him, and in missing him realized suddenly that he had meant more to her than a mere hired warrior.It was as though a friend had been taken from her--an old and valued friend.She rose from her place of concealment that she might have a better view of the city.
U-Dor, dwar of the 8th Utan of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator, rode back in the early dawn toward Manator from a brief excursion to a neighboring village.As he was rounding the hills south of the city, his keen eyes were attracted by a slight movement among the shrubbery close to the summit of the nearest hill.He halted his vicious mount and watched more closely.He saw a figure rise facing away from him and peer down toward Manator beyond the hill.
"Come!" he signalled to his followers, and with a word to this thoat turned the beast at a rapid gallop up the hillside.In his wake swept his twenty savage warriors, the padded feet of their mounts soundless upon the soft turf.It was the rattle of sidearms and harness that brought Tara of Helium suddenly about, facing them.She saw a score of warriors with couched lances bearing down upon her.
She glanced at Ghek.What would the spiderman do in this emergency? She saw him crawl to his rykor and attach himself.
Then he arose, the beautiful body once again animated and alert.
She thought that the creature was preparing for flight.Well, it made little difference to her.Against such as were streaming up the hill toward them a single mediocre swordsman such as Ghek was worse than no defense at all.
"Hurry, Ghek!" she admonished him."Back into the hills! You may find there a hiding-place;" but the creature only stepped between her and the oncoming riders, drawing his long-sword.
"It is useless, Ghek," she said, when she saw that he intended to defend her."What can a single sword accomplish against such odds?""I can die but once," replied the kaldane."You and your panthan saved me from Luud and I but do what your panthan would do were he here to protect you.""It is brave, but it is useless," she replied."Sheathe your sword.They may not intend us harm."Ghek let the point of his weapon drop to the ground, but he did not sheathe it, and thus the two stood waiting as U-Dor the dwar stopped his thoat before them while his twenty warriors formed a rough circle about.For a long minute U-Dor sat his mount in silence, looking searchingly first at Tara of Helium and then at her hideous companion.
"What manner of creature are you?" he asked presently."And what do you before the gates of Manator?""We are from far countries," replied the girl, "and we are lost and starving.We ask only food and rest and the privilege to go our way seeking our own homes."U-Dor smiled a grim smile."Manator and the hills which guard it alone know the age of Manator," he said; "yet in all the ages that have rolled by since Manator first was, there be no record in the annals of Manator of a stranger departing from Manator.""But I am a princess," cried the girl haughtily, "and my country is not at war with yours.You must give me and my companions aid and assist us to return to our own land.It is the law of Barsoom.""Manator knows only the laws of Manator," replied U-Dor; "but come.You shall go with us to the city, where you, being beautiful, need have no fear.I, myself, will protect you if O-Tar so decrees.And as for your companion--but hold! You said 'companions'--there are others of your party then?""You see what you see," replied Tara haughtily.
"Be that as it may," said U-Dor."If there be more they shall not escape Manator; but as I was saying, if your companion fights well he too may live, for O-Tar is just, and just are the laws of Manator.Come!"Ghek demurred.
"It is useless," said the girl, seeing that he would have stood his ground and fought them."Let us go with them.Why pit your puny blade against their mighty ones when there should lie in your great brain the means to outwit them?" She spoke in a low whisper, rapidly.
"You are right, Tara of Helium," he replied and sheathed his sword.
And so they moved down the hillside toward the gates of Manator--Tara, Princess of Helium, and Ghek, the kaldane of Bantoom--and surrounding them rode the savage, painted warriors of U-Dor, dwar of the 8th Utan of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator.