I have always appeared to be about thirty years
old.
Why do all the other races on Mars hate each other
so? It wasa gruesome sight, and what it portended I could not guess. What do you
make of these skeletons and bodies? They were sprawled in the grotesque postures of
death. We counted seventeen corpses before we reached the entrance to
thecourtyard.
You dont have to leave the valley to
beexterminated.
Pan Dan Chee satup and talked with
Llana.
It all happened so quickly that I can scarcely
visualize it all.
They werealmost upon me when I leaped high into the
air and completely overthem. But at last I got an opening, and drove my short-sword
into the heartof the banth.
It is fully four thousand haads from here toGathol,
the nearest friendly city. It wasa gruesome sight, and what it portended I could not
guess. Here in shaded ravines we sometimes found edible roots
andtubers.
Of course Im all right, said Pan Dan Chee; but
you?
I have been here a year, said the red man. I
thought she was a little too short with him. When I tried to lift Llana from the
ground, she leaped to her feet. From our dizzy footing on that precarious trail we
had an excellentview of the valley below.
Llana of Gathol pressed close to me and seized my
arm.
Your father has been avenged, I told
him.
I fought all duringthe Civil War in the Confederate
Army.
The feet themselves are heavilypadded and nailless.
A short distance from us was a little river; and, beyond it, a forestcame down to
its edge.
I can assure you a welcome in Helium and a post of
somenature in the army of the jeddak.
You can imagine thatalmost any country would wish
to possess it. I fought all duringthe Civil War in the Confederate
Army.
Heavily guarded, we were taken to a large building
and there we wereseparated.
I have, so far as I know, simply always been. I
thought she was a little too short with him.
I am sure I havent the slightest idea of what the
explanation canbe, I replied.
In a few moments, said Kam Han Tor, we shall be
looking upon thebroad waters of Throxeus. I should like somuch to see the beauties
of that valley closer.
But at last I got an opening, and drove my
short-sword into the heartof the banth.
When that is done you have such a severe paralytic
strokethat you die almost instantly.
If I went back the way I had come, I might run into
the arms of agreen man. Isuppose it is all wrong, but I cannot help it.
A simple sword thrust would havedone it much more
quickly. You will have to come to Kamtol with us, said the leader.