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肩書を与える: The 無法者s of 火星
Author: Otis Adelbert Kline
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The 無法者s of 火星

by

Otis Adelbert Kline

Serialized in Argosy, November 25, 1933 ff. (7 parts)
Published in 調書をとる／予約する form by Avalon 調書をとる／予約するs, New York, 1961

This e-調書をとる／予約する 版: 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia, 2017

Argosy, November 25, 1933, with first part of "The 無法者s of 火星"

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

As the powerful car 急落（する），激減（する）d up the mountain road Jerry Morgan wondered what sort of 歓迎会 を待つd him at the end of this 運動. Would the mysterious, eccentric man who was his uncle, and who lived in this mountain 退却／保養地 which his 甥 had never been permitted to visit, turn him away now?

It was not until he had reached the highest 限界 of 木材／素質 growth that he （機の）カム upon a スピードを出す／記録につける habitation built against the 山腹 which rose steeply behind it, rugged and 明らかにする of vegetation. He stopped the car in 前線 of the スピードを出す／記録につける porch, off the road enough to 避ける 封鎖するing it. No one was around; no one appeared as he slammed the car door shut, climbed the steps and crossed the veranda. No one answered his knock; the door swung open at the 衝撃 and Jerry entered.

He 設立する himself in a large living room, finished and furnished in 開拓する style, the 塀で囲むs decorated with トロフィーs. にもかかわらず the 冷気／寒がらせる at this 高度, there was only 冷淡な, gray ashes mingled with bits of charcoal in the fireplace. Jerry had the feeling that the place had not been lived in for some time.

探検 確認するd his 初期の impression. 棚上げにするs in the kitchen were empty save for a few dishes and utensils. There was no 調印する of food, and a thin film of dust had settled over everything, even the 沈む.

Puzzled, he returned to the living room and seated himself on a birch settee before the 冷淡な fireplace. 明白に, though this was the 名目上の 住居 of his uncle, Doctor Richard Morgan did not really live here. Where, then, did he live? As far as Jerry had been able to see in every direction there had been no 調印する of a building of any 肉親，親類d, save this one.

As he sat there, 反映するing on these mysteries, he suddenly heard the door open, and turning, saw his uncle.

Like his 甥, Richard Morgan was tall and powerfully built. The remaining 黒人／ボイコット の中で the silver hair and 耐えるd was as jet as Jerry's, and though he did not look like a 軍の man, his presence radiated 当局. His forehead was high and bulged outward over shaggy eyebrows that met above his aquiline nose; and he wore a pointed, closely cropped vandyke.

"Glad to see you, Jerry," にわか景気d the doctor in his resonant bass 発言する／表明する. "I've been 推定する／予想するing you."

Jerry Morgan 星／主役にするd in amazement as he took his uncle's proffered 手渡す. "推定する／予想するing me? Why, I told no one—ーするつもりであるd to surprise you. It sounds almost like thought-移動."

"Perhaps you are nearer the truth than you imagine," replied the doctor, seating himself.

Jerry 小衝突d this aside, mentally, as he groped for the proper words with which to でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる his next speech. "I'm afraid you're not going to like what I have to tell you, Uncle Richard," he began. "The fact is, I've 不名誉d ...

"I, know all about it, Jerry," said the doctor gently, and then proceeded to give a 詳細（に述べる）d account of the episode the young man had been about to tell. He ended with: "You knew the 陸軍大佐 would never believe a story about your 存在 でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd in a manner reminiscent of nineteenth century melodrama, so you had no choice but to 辞職する. What you didn't know was that it was not 中尉／大尉／警部補 Tracy, your 競争相手, who arranged the 事件／事情／状勢 but Elaine herself."

"Impossible, uncle ...

"Think, Jerry. Had you told anyone—anyone but Elaine—that you were not going 直接／まっすぐに 支援する to your ４半期/4分の1s as usual, but were stopping at the drugstore in town first? Someone had to know you would be in town at a 確かな time that night in order for the 計画（する） to 後継する. It couldn't have worked in any other place, although it could have happened at a later time. And 中尉／大尉／警部補 Tracy was in the field that night, and could not have been privy to it. In fact, he knew nothing of it at all."

"Then I misjudged them both—Tracy and Elaine."

"Not too 不正に in Tracy's 事例／患者, I should say. He just wouldn't have done it that way though. He couldn't have been as sure of the 陸軍大佐's reaction as the 陸軍大佐's daughter was, you see. 井戸／弁護士席, don't fret about them my lad. They're two of a 肉親，親類d and they richly deserve each other ... And now will you believe me if I tell you I know everything you've done since? Good." He stood up. "You have guessed that I don't live here—that this place is only a 模造の habitation to keep the folk who live hereabout from 調査するing into my 事件／事情／状勢s. Follow me."

He led the way through the kitchen, and thence 負かす／撃墜する a stairway into the garage. At the 支援する was a tier of 棚上げにするing. The doctor reached behind a shelf and pulled. 即時に, the whole tier swung 支援する from the 塀で囲む, 明らかにする／漏らすing a dark passageway, hewn from the 激しく揺する, 主要な into the 山腹.

"Enter," said the doctor.

At the end of the tunnel they （機の）カム to a 事情に応じて変わる door, which the doctor 押し進めるd 支援する. Behind it was an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 elevator. They entered; Morgan touched a button and they rose noiselessly. At the end of the ascent, they stepped out into a large, airy hallway, into which filtered sunlight streamed through irregularly 形態／調整d skylights of 霜d glass.

"Seen from the outside, those skylights ふりをする the drifts and 山の尾根s of snow which surround us," said Morgan. "We are now at the 頂点（に達する） of the mountain, and this building is so 建設するd that, 見解（をとる）d from 近づく or far, it appears to be a part of it."

"Amazing!" exclaimed Jerry. "I pictured you in a little cabin, perhaps with a small 研究室／実験室."

"I have other surprises for you," said the doctor. "In the 合間, Boyd will show you to your room. He has already 任命する／導入するd your luggage and drawn your bath. I'm sure you will want to freshen up' after your 旅行. See you at breakfast."

"Before I tell you of my life's work," said Morgan, as they attacked the viands before them, "let's talk about you. I know 正確に how you feel. You have lost your career and the woman you 手配中の，お尋ね者, and you have come to me for the 残り／休憩（する） of your patrimony, with which you 推定する／予想する to 乗る，着手する on a 確かな desperate adventure. The 半端物s are a thousand to one against your coming out alive, but this means little to you the way you feel now."

He proceeded to relate 十分な 詳細（に述べる）s of Jerry Morgan's 計画（する）s.

"You seem to read my innermost thoughts, uncle, as if they were a printed page spread before you. I can't imagine how you know all this, but you are 権利."

Morgan sighed. "If you are 決定するd to go on with this, I'll do all in my 力／強力にする to help you. Yet it is my hope that I may be able to 申し込む／申し出 you a new 利益／興味 in life—new adventures that will serve a most excellent 目的, and beside which the one you have planned will pale to insignificance.

"You have said, half in jest, that I appear to read your mind. I do; I have always read your mind, since the death of, your parents put you under my guardianship—which took place after I had perfected my 実験s with telepathy. Telepathy, one of the most remarkable 力／強力にするs of the 客観的な mind, is not 影響する／感情d by time or distance. It 行為／法令／行動するs 即時に, once 接触する has been 設立するd.

"I started out trying to build a 装置 which would 選ぶ up and amplify thought waves. This led to 接触する with a man on 火星 who was 実験ing in transmitting thought-waves—but not the 火星 of today," he 追加するd, seeing the 表現 on Jerry's 直面する. "Lal Vak, the Martian, spoke and still speaks to me from the 火星 some millions of years ago, when a human civilization did 存在する there. We 設立する that personalities could be 交流d between 確かな Martians and Earthmen who were nearly （テニスなどの）ダブルス 肉体的に, and whose brain- patterns were 類似の. Since that time, we 設立するd 接触する with a Venusian, Vorn Vangal who is 同時代の with Lal Vak. I am presently in 接触する with both of these men who, to our niche in space-time have been dead for millions of years. I was able to send two Earthmen to 火星 and two to Venus, through personality 交流. The two men on Venus are still alive, and in communication with me. Of the two I sent to 火星, only one remains; the other, who was a 犯罪の, was 殺害された by his fellow-Earthman. This leaves me with only one 代表者／国会議員 on 火星."

Had it not been for the demonstration he had already received in relation to Morgan's intimate knowledge of his own 事件／事情／状勢s, Jerry Morgan would have been far from credulous. Under the shock of what he had learned, it seemed somehow believable. "It sounds 利益／興味ing," he said, trying not to be carried away. "How about sending my personality to 火星."

"Lal Vak, Vorn Vangal and I have worked out 改良s," Morgan said. "I am now 用意が出来ている to send you on a 旅行 through time and space in the flesh."

"Then you must have some sort of space-time 乗り物."

"Follow me, and I will show you," replied the doctor, rising.

CHAPTER 2

In the 中心 of the high, ドーム-roofed shed stood a 抱擁する globe, more than fifty feet in 直径. It was covered with 厚い asbestos, held in place by a meshwork of steel cables. A circular metal plate, studded with bolts, and 明らかに the lid of a doorway or manhole, was on the 味方する 直面するing them.

"I am indebted to the people of Olba, a nation on Venus, for the 機械装置 which makes this space-time 乗り物 possible," said the doctor. "I do not pretend to understand it myself, and can only tell you that it has made several trips 首尾よく—though without any human 貨物. The 力／強力にする which 推進するs it either comes from or is tapped by the human brain, and what you may have heard of as telekinesis is as good an explanation as any. I already have 接触する with the 機械装置. Now watch the metal plate and see what happens."

Jerry watched, then uttered an exclamation as it began to turn 速く, 事業／計画（する）ing さらに先に and さらに先に from the surface of the sphere with each turn. It was threaded, and when it unscrewed itself for a distance of about five feet, it suddenly fell 今後 with a loud click, and hung 一時停止するd by a 激しい metal hinge, 明らかにする／漏らすing a dark 穴を開ける in the sphere. Then a ladder of 柔軟な steel cable uncoiled itself from the dark depths, and dropped to the ground.

Jerry sprang up the ladder and はうd into the 穴を開ける. After に引き続いて a 狭くする passageway for about twenty feet he （機の）カム to a small circular room about ten feet in 直径. The 塀で囲むs, 床に打ち倒す, and 天井 of the room were thickly padded and suffused with soft light. He turned as a 影をつくる／尾行する 封鎖するd the 'light from the tube.

"How do you like it?" asked Morgan.

"罰金," replied Jerry. "Why not let me start now?"

"I had that thought in mind when I brought you here. However, 上陸 on 火星 will have difficulties because of the rarer atmosphere—not as rare as the 火星 of today, but noticeably more so than what you're accustomed to. Because of this, and the lesser gravity, your heart and 肺s will have to make readjustments, and it will take time to become acclimated. Go slowly, when you leave the sphere."

"How long will it take to get there?"

"I cannot calculate 正確に, but it will not take long."

"And do you know on what part of the 惑星 I will alight?"

Morgan nodded. "While you were crossing the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs by train, Lal Vak was traveling from his home in the city of Dukor, to Raliad, largest city of 火星. He is now housed in the 皇室の palace of Raliad, and is in 接触する with me. So the globe, directed by our minds, will travel straight to the palace. When you arrive, he will be there to 迎える／歓迎する you, and to teach you the language of 火星. After that, you will have to 転換 for yourself."

"Fair enough. But what do you want me to do on 火星? I gather that I can be of help to science, or something of the sort."

"If you 後継する in living on 火星, you will be the first Earthman to do so in the flesh. After that, my thought-recorder will be in 接触する with you, day and night, making a 記録，記録的な／記録する of what you see and do. Alighting in Raliad, greatest city of 火星, you will communicate much 価値のある knowledge regarding this mighty city. From the moment you land, you will be an explorer, automatically relating your adventures to us here."

The doctor raised the lid of a 事例／患者 which Jerry had 以前 noticed, fastened against the 塀で囲む. It 含む／封じ込めるd a repeating ライフル銃／探して盗む, a Colt forty-five in a shoulder holster, a 追跡（する）ing knife, a （軍の）野営地，陣営 axe, a canteen, and a number of boxes of 弾薬／武器 and 準備／条項s.

"For 緊急," said the doctor, "just in 事例／患者 you should happen not to alight at the 皇室の palace in Raliad." He の近くにd the lid and 安全な・保証するd it. "Now let me ひもで縛る you to the 中心 of the 床に打ち倒す, and you will be ready to start."

A few minutes later, warm 別れの（言葉，会）s had been made, the doctor 出発／死d, and the outer door screwed into place.

The globe lurched unsteadily for a moment, then Jerry 設立する himself 軍隊d suddenly against the 床に打ち倒す as it 発射 速く 上向き. 徐々に the 激しい 圧力 against his 団体／死体 grew いっそう少なく and was followed by a feeling of lightness. This feeling lasted for only a few moments; then he felt himself growing heavier, but the sensation was most peculiar. For instead of 圧力（をかける）ing against the 床に打ち倒す, his 団体／死体 was now pulling away from it—tugging against the ひもで縛るs as if in an 成果／努力 to rise toward the 天井.

The strange 圧力 of the ひもで縛るs 徐々に 少なくなるd. Then he felt a slight 揺さぶる, and the 床に打ち倒す began wobbling unsteadily beneath him. Evidently the globe had landed—but on what?

あわてて unfastening his ひもで縛るs, he got to his feet, but the 成果／努力 発射 him up against the 天井 of the cubicle. When he stood on the swaying 床に打ち倒す again he saw that the door was unscrewing itself. A moment later it dropped 負かす／撃墜する from the 開始, and 有望な daylight （機の）カム in through the 穴を開ける.

His first look outside 納得させるd him that he had really landed on 火星. The sun, though it appeared much smaller than when 見解（をとる）d from Earth, 炎d brightly with a peculiar, blue-white light. It hung just above a horizon of weird and grotesque 工場／植物 growths. Looking downward, Jerry saw that the globe had alighted on the shallow, sandy 利ざや of a small lagoon, and its 激しく揺するing was occasioned by the wash of waves driven by a stiff 微風.

His heart 続けざまに猛撃するd wildly as he gazed about him at this strange landscape, and a giddiness 攻撃する，非難するd him. Believing this to be 予定 to the 少なくなるd gravity of the 惑星 on which the globe now 残り／休憩（する）d, he waited for his circulatory system to adjust itself. Slowly, 慎重に, he 吸い込むd the 空気／公表する. It was 冷静な／正味の and 甘い, but somehow it did not 満足させる him. He filled his 肺s to capacity, again and again, but his heart 再開するd its wild 続けざまに猛撃するing; there was a feeling of 圧力 in his eardrums. A gray 煙霧 obscured his 見通し, he fought against it, but to no avail.

He fell 支援する, gasping for breath, then all went 黒人／ボイコット.

CHAPTER 3

Jerry's senses returned slowly.

His 肺s ached from their unwonted exertions, his throat was 乾燥した，日照りの and parched, and his heart was drumming in his ears.

Slowly, 慎重に, he sat up. His fingernails, he saw, were still やめる blue, 証拠 that he had escaped suffocation by a very 狭くする 利ざや. The sun had risen at least twenty degrees, 証明するing that he had been unconscious for more than an hour.

For some time he sat there, 吸い込むing the 冷静な／正味の, 甘い 空気／公表する; then he got up 慎重に, and went 支援する into the cubicle. Here he opened the 事例／患者 which 含む／封じ込めるd his 武器s, 器具／備品, 弾薬／武器 and 準備／条項s. He 負担d the ライフル銃／探して盗む and ピストル, and filled his pockets with 弾薬／武器 for both 武器s. The balance of the 弾薬／武器 and 準備／条項s he placed in a 激しい canvas 捕らえる、獲得する 供給するd for the 目的, and fitted with ひもで縛るs so it could be slung over his 支援する.

After strapping the ピストル, （軍の）野営地，陣営 axe, knife and canteen in place, he slung the pack over his 支援する, took up the ライフル銃／探して盗む, and creeping through the 狭くする passageway, turned and descended the ladder. The shallow water at its foot only （機の）カム to his ankles, and he splashed up の上に the sandy beach.

As he stood there, scanning the strange trees and shrubbery before him, he heard a sharp click. The ladder had been 孤立した into the globe, and the door was screwing itself into place. A moment more and it was tight; then the globe rose, water dripping from beneath it. It soon became a tiny speck which 速く faded from 見解（をとる）.

Resolutely he turned away, and climbing the sloping beach, strode in の中で the strange, treelike growths which fringed the shore. Now Jerry felt an exhilarating sense of lightness and freedom of movement. The 負わせる of his 供給（する）s, 器具／備品 and 武器s was but trifling; and it seemed as if the metal parts of his ライフル銃／探して盗む were made of アルミ rather than steel.

As he passed through the first fringe of trees, Jerry 設立する that he had stepped into a cultivated garden, laid out with paths of resilient, 赤みを帯びた- brown 構成要素 as springy as rubber, which 負傷させる の中で beds of 有望な, weird blooms of grotesque forms and patterns, clumps of shrubbery, and shady groves of trees.

After walking for a distance of about a mile he reached the 辛勝する／優位 of the garden, bounded by a 塀で囲む about fifty feet in 高さ, which stretched in a 漸進的な curve to the 権利 and left, as far as he could see. It was 建設するd from 巨大な 封鎖するs of translucent, amber-colored 構成要素, fitted together so cleverly that the seams were all but invisible. At 正規の／正選手 intervals, curving stairways led up to the 最高の，を越す of the 塀で囲む, and he made his way to the nearest one.

A short climb brought him to the 最高の，を越す of the 塀で囲む, which was more than a hundred feet 厚い. He walked across it and peered over the 辛勝する／優位, then drew 支援する dizzily. He was looking 負かす／撃墜する on the busy streets of an 巨大な city, so far below him that the scurrying people and スピード違反 乗り物s looked like tiny insects. The 塀で囲む on which he stood 辛勝する／優位d the roof of what was the largest building in sight, and the roof itself was covered by the garden through which he had just come. As far as he could see, there were other buildings formed from translucent 封鎖するs of さまざまな colors, taller by far than the mightiest 超高層ビルs on Earth, and all topped by roof-gardens.

From his point of vantage, Jerry now 調査するd the garden through which he had just passed. He saw many scattered individuals at work, caring for the 工場／植物s and 収穫ing the fruits—muscular, nut-brown men who were naked save for turban-like 長，率いる-pieces, leather breech-clouts, and high boots with the 最高の，を越すs rolled 負かす／撃墜する below the 膝s.

Except for their strange apparel and the fact that their chests were, on an 普通の／平均（する）, larger than those of Earthmen, they did not show any 示すd difference from terrestrial peoples. He descended to the garden once more and walked in the direction where he had last seen the nearest 労働者.

He had not gone far when he 設立する himself 直面する-to-直面する with a girl. She was slight, slender and white-skinned, with large brown 注目する，もくろむs, raven-黒人／ボイコット hair, and an ethereal beauty of 直面する and form. A fillet of woven gold links 始める，決める with polished bits of lapis lazuli bound her glossy hair. A 禁止（する）d of the same 構成要素s supported her small breast 保護物，者s of beaten gold. And from a belt of gold links 砕くd with amethysts, depended a tight cincture of shimmering peacock blue fabric with a texture like that of satin.

Though Jerry was 単に startled at this sudden 会合, he saw by the look in her 注目する，もくろむs that the girl was 脅すd. She half-turned as if about to 逃げる but evidently 再考するd, and once more 直面するd him resolutely.

解決するing to try to 静める her 恐れるs, he said, "Good morning."

Then he smiled, and started what was meant to be a step in her direction. But the result, instead of a mere 今後 step, was something in the nature of a leap which landed him not two feet in 前線 of her.

The 影響 of this 業績／成果 on the girl was instantaneous. Before he had 回復するd his equilibrium, she 叫び声をあげるd and shrank 支援する.

Scarcely had he 回復するd his balance, when Jerry's attention was attracted by a new sound—a terrific roar which （機の）カム from a 抱擁する beast that was bounding toward them along the path. With a yawning, tooth-filled mouth as large as that of an alligator, a furry 黒人／ボイコット 団体／死体 fully as big as that of a lion, short 脚s, and a hairless, leathery tail, paddle-形態／調整d and 辛勝する／優位d with sharp spines, the oncoming monster certainly looked formidable.

Jerry thought and 行為／法令／行動するd 速く. His first 義務 was to get the girl out of the path of the 非難する monster.

Gripping his ライフル銃／探して盗む in his left 手渡す, he bent and encircled her slender waist with his 権利 arm. Then he leaped to one 味方する, just in time to 避ける those gaping jaws. But the spring he male carried him （疑いを）晴らす over the hedge, and into a carefully-tended bed of tiny flowering 工場／植物s.

For the first time since he had landed on 火星, he realized the tremendous advantage of his Earth-trained muscles. The short-legged beast, unable to leap over the hedge, was 衝突，墜落ing through it. So he turned, and still carrying the girl beneath his arm, bounded away with tremendous leaps.

The slender form of the girl was feather-light, and 妨げるd him scarcely at all. On Earth she would have 重さを計るd about ninety 続けざまに猛撃するs; on 火星 she 重さを計るd about thirty-four.

ちらりと見ることing 支援する over his shoulder, he saw that although he had a good start on the beast, it was に引き続いて him with a 速度(を上げる） that was amazing in a creature with such short 脚s. Soon the stairway ぼんやり現れるd before him, and he bounded up it, five steps at a time. As soon as he reached the 最高の，を越す of the 塀で囲む he put the girl 負かす／撃墜する and turned to 直面する their pursuer, which had 合間 reached the steps.

Snapping his gun to his shoulder, he took careful 目的（とする） between the 炎ing green 注目する，もくろむs, and 解雇する／砲火／射撃d. Without a sound or a quiver, the beast sank 負かす／撃墜する on the steps.

At the sound of the 発射 the girl had sprung 築く. For a moment she peered 負かす／撃墜する at the fallen beast. Then, her 注目する，もくろむs flashing like those of an enraged tigress, she turned on Jerry with a ボレー of words that were unmistakably scornful and scathing.

Suddenly her 手渡す flashed to her belt and （機の）カム up with a jewel-hilted dagger. Jerry noticed that the blade was straight and 二塁打-辛勝する／優位d, with tiny, かみそり-sharp teeth. For a moment he did not realize what she ーするつもりであるd doing; but when she raised her 武器 on aloft and 肺d straight for his breast, he caught her wrist just in time.

As he stood there 持つ／拘留するing her wrist to keep her from reaching him with that murderous blade, he became aware that men were coming through the garden, converging on them from all directions and 緊急発進するing up the stairways. These brown-skinned men, whom he had 以前 seen working as gardeners, were all 武装した with saw-辛勝する／優位d, straight-bladed swords and daggers, and 激しい maces with disk-形態／調整d 長，率いるs.

There was no chance to escape, so he stood his ground, still clutching the struggling girl's わずかな／ほっそりした wrist with one 手渡す, and leaning on his ライフル銃／探して盗む with the other.

Suddenly the girl wrenched her wrist from his しっかり掴む, and sprang nimbly away from him. And in a moment he was surrounded by a circle of 脅迫的な, saw- 辛勝する／優位d sword blades.

CHAPTER 4

As he stood there, （犯罪の）一味d by 敵意を持った swordsmen, Jerry thought 速く. 明白に, the brown men understood that his ライフル銃／探して盗む was a dangerous 武器, for they were approaching him 慎重に. Accordingly, he bent and laid it at his feet. Then he unstrapped his other 武器s piled them on 最高の，を越す of it, and raised his 手渡すs above his 長，率いる in 記念品 of 降伏する.

即時に two men leaped in and took 所有／入手 of the 武器s. A third cast a 宙返り飛行 of 堅い, 柔軟な leather around his wrists and drew it taut.

The girl spoke to one of the men, evidently an officer, who saluted her by 持つ／拘留するing both 手渡すs before his 注目する，もくろむs, and 問題／発行するd a sharp 命令（する） to the others. Then she turned and descended the steps to where the dead beast lay. As his captors dragged him after her, Jerry was surprised to see her stoop and throw her 武器 around the 広大な／多数の／重要な shaggy neck. When she arose, 涙／ほころびs were trickling 負かす／撃墜する her cheeks.

She led the way through the garden. Behind her, walking at a respectful distance, was the officer; に引き続いて him was the man who held the thong which bound Jerry's 武器. On each 味方する of the Earthman strode a brown 軍人, sword in 手渡す, and behind him walked two more, 耐えるing his 武器 and 器具／備品. The others 分散させるd.

They followed a path of the resilient brown 覆うing 構成要素 which presently led to the mouth of a tunnel which yawned from one 味方する of a tree- covered 塚. At either 味方する of the tunnel mouth stood a white-skinned guard, who in 新規加入 to sword, dagger and mace, was 武装した with a sheaf of wicked- looking multi-barbed javelins.

At sight of the girl, these guards saluted respectfully. Then one hurried into the tunnel and 現れるd a moment later, followed by a 乗り物 which made Jerry gasp in astonishment. It moved 滑らかに and silently on six pairs of 共同のd metal 脚s shod with balls of resilient 赤みを帯びた-brown 構成要素 like that used in 覆うing. In lieu of seats, it supported twelve saddles, 始める，決める three in a 列／漕ぐ／騒動. And in the 真っ先の 列／漕ぐ／騒動, at the extreme 権利, sat the driver, who manipulated the multiped conveyance by means of two vertical levers, on either 味方する of his saddle.

The girl climbed into a saddle beside the driver, and Jerry was placed in the central saddle of the next 列／漕ぐ／騒動, a guard on each 味方する of him. The man who held the thong that bound his wrists, and the two who bore his 器具／備品, seated themselves in the next 列／漕ぐ／騒動. The 乗り物 started as the driver 押し進めるd the two levers 今後.

The tunnel which they entered led downward in a 法外な spiral. It was lighted by small globes filled with a 厚い, luminous liquid which he later learned was derived from a 放射性の 実体 called baridium. They were 一時停止するd on short chains from the 天井, and shed a mellow, amber light. 速く they sped 負かす／撃墜する that spiral ramp, and Jerry caught flashes of small level 壇・綱領・公約s at 正規の／正選手 intervals, 主要な to arched doorways. Presently, the 乗り物 slowed 負かす／撃墜する and （機の）カム to a 事情に応じて変わる stop before one of them.

The girl sprang out の上に the 壇・綱領・公約, and Jerry was dragged after her by his captors. She led the way to a tremendous arched door before which stood a 得点する／非難する／２０ of 武装した and 制服を着た guards. These guards were white. They saluted respectfully, and parted their 階級s to let the party pass.

The splendor of the room they now entered left Jerry spellbound with awe. It was a tremendous circular audience 議会, at least a thousand feet in 直径, and as high as it was wide. Its 天井 of burnished gold was supported by 抱擁する 中心存在s, fifty feet in 直径, each seemingly 削減（する） from a 選び出す／独身 piece of pale blue 水晶.

The 床に打ち倒す was of hexagonal, orange colored 水晶 封鎖するs, between the interstices of which molten silver had been 注ぐd, and the whole polished to a mirror-like luster. 一時停止するd from the 天井 on 厚い golden chains, and hanging about two hundred feet above the 床に打ち倒す, were 抱擁する light globes, twenty feet in 直径, filled with the luminous liquid he had 以前 観察するd.

At spaced intervals around the circular 塀で囲む, 制服を着た guards stood, leaning on their tall spears.

In the 中心 of the room, toward which they were walking, stood a circular 演壇, consisting of three disks placed concentrically one above the other. The 最高の，を越す disk was of blue 水晶, the middle one of orange 水晶, and the 底（に届く） one of 黒人／ボイコット.

一時停止するd above the 中心 of the highest disk, on four 厚い golden cables, was a 大規模な golden 王位, upholstered in blue. And on this 王位, Jerry saw a big man, with handsome, regal features that were as expressionless as 石／投石する. His 厚い, アイロンをかける-gray 耐えるd had been braided into five long plaits which hung 負かす／撃墜する to his wide golden belt, in which a thousand jewels sparkled. His 武器 and torso were 明らかにする, save for his jeweled golden armlets and wrist- guards, and a gem-encrusted medallion which hung on his chest. A の近くに-fitting casque of burnished gold was on his 長，率いる, and a 選び出す／独身 抱擁する gem 炎d above his forehead with a blue-white light.

Two young white men wearing blue, one a blond and the other a brunet, stood on the 最高の，を越す disk at either 味方する of the 王位. Below these, on the orange disk, stood a tall, 幅の広い-shouldered fellow with nut-brown 肌, his 着せる／賦与するing orange trimmed with blue, and a girl わずかに はしけ colored, who likewise wore orange and blue. Jerry saw that she was slight, slender and beautiful.

On the lowest disk were a 得点する／非難する／２０ of white-skinned men and women who wore orange trimmed in 黒人／ボイコット. And surrounding the disks were at least a thousand more who 展示（する）d a variety of colors, though the 大多数 of them wore 黒人／ボイコット. But every one, other than the 軍人s from the garden who had 逮捕（する）d the Earthman, and the man and girl who stood on the middle disk, was white- skinned.

Those who stood around the 王位 stepped aside and saluted respectfully as the girl （機の）カム up with the guards and 囚人. But she ran 速く up the steps and threw her 武器 about the 君主's neck, 涙／ほころびs streaming from her 注目する，もくろむs.

The big man 選ぶd her up as easily as if she had been a doll, and seated her on the wide 王位 beside him. For some time they conversed. From time to time she looked at Jerry as she talked, and he knew the conversation 関係のある to him.

Presently, in the 中央 of her story, the girl stepped 負かす／撃墜する from the 王位 and took Jerry's ライフル銃／探して盗む from one of the brown guards. She brought it to her shoulder, 正確に／まさに as he had done, and he was alarmed to see her finger on the 誘発する／引き起こす.

"Wait!" he cried, and sprang 今後, to snatch the ライフル銃／探して盗む away from her. But at the moment the 武器 went off. The girl was 投げつけるd backward by the 予期しない recoil of the 激しい ライフル銃／探して盗む, and fell to the 床に打ち倒す. The 弾丸 struck one of the 水晶 中心存在s.

即時に, pandemonium 統治するd. The girl was 選ぶd up by the 君主, who あわてて sprang 負かす／撃墜する from his 王位 as she fell. Then, still 持つ／拘留するing her feather 負わせる in his 武器, he 問題／発行するd a sharp 命令（する）.

Jerry was astounded to see a circular section of the 床に打ち倒す rising before the 王位, supported by three stout 中心存在s. When it had risen to a 高さ of about twenty feet, another 床に打ち倒す was 公表する／暴露するd beneath it. As this one （機の）カム to 残り／休憩（する）, three 抱擁する 黒人／ボイコット men stepped from it, carrying a large circular rug made from the resilient 赤みを帯びた-brown 構成要素. They spread this on the 床に打ち倒す.

Then two of them 掴むd Jerry and dragged him to the 中心 of the rug, where they 軍隊d him to his 膝s. The third, who carried an enormous, two- 辛勝する／優位d sword in a sheath strapped to his 支援する, drew the 武器 and looked inquiringly at the 君主. The latter nodded.

CHAPTER 5

Half-stunned, Jerry waited for the executioner's keen blade to descend. But at that instant the blond, blue-覆う？ 青年 who had stood beside the 王位 急ぐd up, sword in 手渡す and struck aside the blade of the executioner.

A moment later, another man （機の）カム running up—a white-haired man who wore orange and 黒人／ボイコット; and on his beardless countenance was a look of 静める benignity. He smiled encouragingly at Jerry, then turned and 演説（する）／住所d the pokerfaced 君主. The latter 問題／発行するd an order to the two 黒人／ボイコット 巨大（な）s at the Earthman's 味方するs, その結果 they permitted him to arise.

In the 合間 the girl in the 君主's 武器 生き返らせるd, and he put her on the 床に打ち倒す, where she joined in the discussion. Jerry noticed that there was かなりの wonder written on her 直面する, as the white-haired man talked to her and the 支配者. Four others joined in the discussion the two young men in blue who had stood at either 味方する of the 王位, and the dark-skinned girl and man who had stood on the central 演壇.

Although he could not understand a word that was spoken, Jerry saw that this latter personage was 勧めるing his 死刑執行. The girl, however, evidently 味方するd with the white-haired newcomer and the blond 青年.

Presently, the 支配者 rumbled a curt order. The thongs were 除去するd from Jerry's wrists, and the white-haired man after saluting the 支配者, took the Earthman's arm and led him away.

"You are Dr. Morgan's 甥, are you not?" he asked in English.

"I am," gulped Jerry, "but how did you know? And who are you?"

"I am Lal Vak," was the reply. "I was unavoidably 延期するd. As I am a stranger in Raliad, and there is a 反乱 in the 州s, I was （刑事）被告 of 存在 a 秘かに調査する. My 逮捕（する） （機の）カム this morning, and I had some difficulty in （疑いを）晴らすing myself of the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, にもかかわらず my 信任状 from the Vil of Xancibar. A stranger is usually accounted 有罪の until he is proven innocent."

While they talked, they threaded 非常に／多数の passageways, and Jerry noticed that every one they met 星／主役にするd curiously at his army uniform.

Presently they （機の）カム to a spiral 滑走路, and Lal Vak, stepping out on the signal 壇・綱領・公約, pulled a cord which unhooded a large light globe 総計費 by 製図／抽選 up the four ４半期/4分の1s of its metal covering as the petals of a flower open. A moment later one of the 乗り物s skidded to a stop before the 上陸.

Then they climbed into the saddles, the scientist spoke a word to the driver, and they 発射 速く 上向き. After passing eight 壇・綱領・公約s, the 乗り物 （機の）カム to a stop before the ninth, and they got out. Threading another hallway, they （機の）カム at length to a large door which an attendant, on seeing Lal Vak, threw open for them.

They entered, and Jerry 設立する himself in the central room of a large and luxurious apartment, lighted by a 選び出す／独身 circular window that 延長するd from 床に打ち倒す to 天井, its 水晶 panes 開始 outward to 収容する／認める the afternoon 微風. The furniture, consisting of 議長，司会を務めるs, divans, and a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, was legless, and 一時停止するd from the 天井 by 柔軟な, silk-covered cables.

"Let us sit on the balcony and talk," said Lal Vak.

Jerry stepped through the window and followed Lal Vak out の上に the balcony. He looked over the railing. Far below him was a 幅の広い street, thronged with darting multiped 乗り物s and scurrying people. Other balconies, he 観察するd, jutted out above, below and around this one, and from the buildings across the street.

Seating himself on the （法廷の）裁判 beside the scientist he mechanically took out a cigarette and lit it. A look of astonishment crossed the features of Lal Vak.

"What's wrong?" asked Jerry.

"For a moment I thought you were on 解雇する／砲火／射撃," replied Lal Vak. "I remember Dr. Morgan's telling me about this curious custom of Earth-people, but it startled me. Tell me, why do you do it?"

"Just a habit, I guess. But a habit I won't have very long," said Jerry, looking at his half-empty cigarette 事例／患者, "as I don't suppose there is such a thing as タバコ on 火星. May 同様に やめる now." He was about to 投げ上げる／ボディチェックする the 事例／患者 ever the railing when Lal Vak caught his arm.

"Wait," he said. "Save those little white cylinders. They may 証明する 価値のある to you."

"How?" Jerry 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know.

"As 証拠 of your advent from another world. The Vil of Kalsivar 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs that you are an enemy 秘かに調査する, who arrived on the palace roof with an outlandish 衣装 and strange 武器s ーするために deceive him in 事例／患者 of 逮捕（する）. It is thought that your 目的 was to 誘拐する Junia, daughter of Numin Vil."

Jerry said, "Just a moment. Let me get this thing straight. I take it that Numin Vil is the 支配者, who sat on the 王位."

"That's 権利. He is what you might call, the Emperor of Kalsivar, mightiest nation of 火星."

"And that girl I 救助（する）d from the wild beast is his daughter?"

"She is. The Sovil, or 皇室の Princess of Kalsivar. Unfortunately, you did not 救助（する） her from a wild beast. It seems that you met her on the roof garden, and 試みる／企てるd to 誘拐する her. Her favorite dalf （機の）カム to her 救助（する）, and you slew the beast with one of your strange 武器s."

"What's that? You mean the creature I killed was a pet?"

"Not only was it a pet, but she loved it almost like a member of the family. She got that dalf when a cub, and raised it herself."

"Hm. Sort of 監視者, eh? I'll わびる to the lady, of course, and if possible, get her a new dalf."

"わびる, yes, but don't について言及する a new dalf. She has many, but to speak of 取って代わるing this one would be almost 同等（の） to 申し込む／申し出ing to 取って代わる her brother after you had 殺害された him."

"I think I begin to understand."

"You certainly 後継するd in getting into plenty of trouble, and you are far from out of it yet. With the 援助 of Her Highness, Junia Sovil, I was able to get you a forty-day stay of 死刑執行, but at the end of that time you must stand 裁判，公判. The Vil 認めるd this 温和／情状酌量 so you would have time to learn the language, and thus be able to speak in your own に代わって, as 井戸／弁護士席 as to hear your accusers."

"What accusers?"

"I mean, in particular, Thoor Movil, Junia's cousin, who is 長，率いる of the 秘かに調査する system of Kalsivar. He is the tall, dark-skinned fellow who wore orange trimmed with blue. Blue, on 火星, is the 排除的 color of 王族. A Vil, or his 子孫s of unmixed 王室の 血, may wear it with gold. A noble, closely 関係のある to the 王室の family, may 削減する his orange 衣料品s with blue. Thoor Movil is the son of Numin Vil's younger brother."

"He appears to be of a different race," said Jerry.

"His mother was of the brown race," Lal Vak explained, "which is a mixture of the 黒人／ボイコット and white races, によれば our ethnologists. It is believed that Kalsivar was 設立するd by a 黒人／ボイコット race, which was later 征服する／打ち勝つd by a white race, that intermarriage occurred for many 世代s, and the brown race resulted. A few of the 黒人／ボイコットs, however, 保持するd their racial 潔白. Within historical times, about five thousand years ago, Kalsivar was reconquered by a white race which did not intermarry with the other two, and whose leader was the 創立者 of the 現在の 王朝."

"And this 反乱 you speak of. Who is fomenting it?"

"The origin of the leader is shrouded in mystery," replied Lal Vak. "For at least a thousand years there has been a prophecy の中で the brown people to the 影響 that a man of their own race, of the old 王室の 血, would arise to lead them to victory over their white 支配者s. いっそう少なく than a year ago a stranger appeared の中で a large group of them, who had gone into the 砂漠 to 成し遂げる 宗教的な 儀式s as is their 年次の custom. This person wore a hideous mask, fashioned in the likeness of the 長，指導者 of their 古代の gods, Sarkis the Sun God, and （人命などを）奪う，主張するd that he was the reincarnation of that god, returned to lead them to ultimate victory.

"Many fell 負かす／撃墜する and worshiped him, remaining to form the 核 of a 速く growing army of 無法者s, who （警察の）手入れ，急襲 our 農業の 地区s, and 悩ます our shipping. Many 刑罰の 探検隊／遠征隊s have been sent out against these 無法者s, but they invariably break up into small 禁止（する）d which scatter over the trackless 砂漠, to 改革（する） later at some 予期しない point for fresh （警察の）手入れ，急襲s. Their mysterious leader has come to be known as Sarkis the Torturer."

"Does this Sarkis 構成する a menace to the 現在の 支配者 of Kalsivar?"

"Decidedly," was Lal Vak's reply. "His 階級s are 存在 速く swelled by 見捨てる人／脱走兵s from the 皇室の army. And the roving 砂漠 tribes, many of which are of the brown race, have 全員一致で espoused his 原因（となる）."

At this moment a brown-skinned slave appeared in the window 開始 and spoke with Lal Vak. Then the latter turned to Jerry. "I 疑問 not that you are hungry, and our 正規の／正選手 time for eating has arrived. Let us go inside."

They went in and sat 負かす／撃墜する on one of the swinging divans. The slave brought a large bowl, 機動力のある on a tripod, which he 始める，決める before them. The bowl was divided into six segments, and in each segment reposed a different 肉親，親類d of food. 機動力のある on a 選び出す／独身 軸 in the 中心 of the bowl was a small, circular disk, on which stood a flask and two cubical cups, all of gold, exquisitely carved and 始める，決める with sparkling jewels.

The servant 注ぐd a steaming liquid into the cups. It was pink in color, and gave off a fragrant aroma.

Lal Vak took up a cup and 延長するd it to Jerry. "I believe you will find it 平易な to like our favorite Martian drink, though you may find it difficult to accustom yourself to some of our foods."

"What is it?"

"We call it pulcho," Lal Vak replied. "Taken in 穏健な 量s it is a pleasant 興奮剤. When drunk 過度に, it is intoxicating."

The Earthman took a sip, and 設立する it as the scientist had said, both pleasing and 刺激するing.

The brown-skinned servant 急いでd 今後 to refill his cup, and the Earthman noticed that he took it up in such a way that for a moment the palm of his 手渡す was held over it.

The man 手渡すd him the brimming cup, but before he could raise it to his lips, Lal Vak snatched it from him. Springing to his feet, he whipped out his dagger and 現在のd its point to the breast of the servant, 演説（する）／住所ing a few sharp words to him.

With a trembling 手渡す, the fellow took the cup and drained its contents at a 選び出す／独身 gulp. A dull, glazed look （機の）カム to his 注目する，もくろむs. He 低迷d to the 床に打ち倒す, then lay still.

"I thought I saw him 減少（する） something into your cup," said Lal Vak, "but I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to make sure. As you see, I was 権利."

"You mean that the fellow tried to 毒（薬） me?"

"正確に," Lal Vak replied. "He is only a 道具, of course. You have an enemy in Raliad, it seems, and one who 占領するs a high place."

"But who could it have been?"

"That is what we will try to find out—later," the scientist told him, turning toward the door. "I go now to call the guard. Under the circumstances, we had best keep our own 会議. I beg you, for your own good to remember, after I have taught you our language, that this impudent fellow had the bad taste to commit 自殺 in our presence."

CHAPTER 6

熟考する／考慮するing assiduously under the efficient tutelage of Lal Vak, Jerry 速く learned to read and 令状 the Martian language.

The scientist also 教えるd him in Martian manners and customs, and 述べるd to him the 巨大な city without.

"Raliad," Lal Vak told him, "is truthfully called the 'City of a Million Gardens.' Here every house, from the 皇室の palace 負かす／撃墜する to the lowliest hovel, has its roof garden. It is so 巨大な that, within its 限定するs live more people than （不足などを）補う the entire nation of Xancibar, whence I come. Its 居住（者） 全住民 is 井戸／弁護士席 over a hundred million, and its floating 全住民 daily numbers at least twenty-five million more. More canals 瀬戸際 here than in any other six cities on the 惑星, and the canals are the main arteries of travel and 商業."

Some five days before the date 始める，決める for his 裁判，公判, Jerry was enjoying his evening meal in company with Lal Vak, when the latter told him:

"I have arranged a surprise for you. Her 皇室の Highness, the Sovil, when I told her that you had mastered our language, and that you had a 嘆願（書） for her ears, graciously 同意d to 認める you an interview."

"広大な／多数の／重要な! When do we start?"

"Patience, and finish your meal," smiled Lal Vak. "We have plenty of time. A guard will be sent for you at the 任命するd hour, for you are still a 囚人, you know. To show proper 尊敬（する）・点 for her highness, I think we had best dress you for the audience."

"This Army uniform is getting rather seedy looking," said Jerry.

"On 火星 we dress によれば our 駅／配置するs in life. I understand that you are of noble 血."

"On the contrary," Jerry replied, "there are no nobles in the nation from which I （機の）カム. We have our 広大な／多数の／重要な men—our leaders in 財政／金融, in war, in science, and in the arts—but no nobility."

"That I know. Yet Dr. Morgan told me he was descended from the nobility of another nation—Ireland, I believe he called it. This will する権利を与える you to wear orange, trimmed with 黒人／ボイコット, on 火星."

"True. I had forgotten that my first American ancestor was an Irish viscount. But he 放棄するd his 肩書を与える, so that lets me out."

"It doesn't change the 血:"

"That's true, but I think I'll be loyal to his ideas, just the same."

"Then you will have to wear the plain 黒人／ボイコット of a commoner."

Lal Vak 召喚するd a servant, and ordered that a 控訴 of commoner's 着せる／賦与するs be brought. Some time later, Jerry 調査するd himself in the burnished gold mirror. He wore a cincture of glossy 黒人／ボイコット velvet, which left his 脚s 明らかにする. On his feet were 黒人／ボイコット boots of soft leather.

There was a 幅の広い belt of woven silver links about his waist, from which depended an empty sword scabbard on his left, and a dagger sheath on his 権利. The 武器s had been 除去するd because of his status as a 囚人. His 武器 and torso were 明らかにする, save for a pair of silver wrist guards, a pair of armlets of the same metal, and a medallion which depended from around his neck. On his 長，率いる was a 黒人／ボイコット turban, held in place by a 禁止（する）d and chin ひもで縛る of finely woven silver links. This turban was made of a tenuous but 極端に strong and 勝利，勝つd- proof 構成要素, which could be unbound and dropped about his shoulders to form a cloak that would reach to his 膝s.

A few moments later the guard flung open the door and a page entered.

"Her 皇室の Highness, Junia, Sovil of Kalsivar, 命令（する）s the presence of Lal Vak and Jerry Morgan."

They returned his salute, and followed him out into the hallway, where two 武装した guards fell in behind them.

The page led them to the nearest 滑走路, where they took a multiped 乗り物 to the second 床に打ち倒す above them. Here they walked 支援する along an almost 同一の hallway, and Jerry realized, as they paused before a blue-curtained door guarded by two 軍人s, that Junia's apartment was 直接／まっすぐに above his own.

The page went in first, to 発表する them, then returned and bade them enter. In a large, magnificently furnished room, Junia reclined on a swinging divan of blue plush, surrounded by a bevy of her ladies.

As Jerry stood before her and （判決などを）下すd the 王室の salute by 持つ／拘留するing both 手渡すs before his 注目する，もくろむs, he caught his breath at sight of her loveliness.

"I 保護物，者 my 注目する，もくろむs in the glory of your highness's presence," he said.

She returned the salute by raising one slender 手渡す before her 注目する，もくろむs —the salute （判決などを）下すd to those of other than 王室の 血. Then she turned to Lal Vak.

"You have made a mistake, I believe," she said. "This afternoon you requested an audience for a nobleman from another world, and I 認めるd it. Now you bring a commoner before me—an affront which even the Zovil, my brother, would not have dared."

"I can explain in a few words, your highness," said Lal Vak. "Jerry Morgan's noble ancestor 放棄するd his 肩書を与える. Though nothing can 略奪する him of his noble 血, he あられ／賞賛するs from a country where there are no 肩書を与えるs, and so prefers to appear as a commoner."

"It is a churlish preference I should 推定する／予想する in him, after his 活動／戦闘s when first we met. It seems he would 追加する 侮辱 to 傷害."

Lal Vak was about to reply, but Jerry forestalled him.

"I 恐れる your highness misapprehends my 意向s. Since I （機の）カム to わびる for those same 失敗ing 行為／法令／行動するs of 地雷, I wore the 黒人／ボイコット of a commoner in 記念品 of humility."

"Why, this is better," she said, with a faint smile. "I had not 推定する／予想するd so quick a wit in one whose 失敗s have been so lamentable."

"It is charitable of you to 許す them to pass as 失敗s."

"Had I not accounted them so, you would not have been 認めるd this interview," said Junia.

"You lead me to hope that the forgiveness for which I have come to 告訴する will be 認めるd."

"It is already 認めるd."

"I am profoundly 感謝する," he said with almost undue 切望.

She said no more, but her brown 注目する，もくろむs dropped, and a slow blush suffused the lovely features.

For a moment Jerry stood thus, unconscious of everything about him save the allure of this maiden. Then Lal Vak touched his arm, and the （一定の）期間 was broken.

"Come," he said softly. "The interview is ended."

As one in a daze, Jerry saluted and withdrew, …を伴ってd by the scientist and followed by the two guards.

Lal Vak speaking English so the two guards who followed would not understand, said, "I saw that look which passed between you two. If you would live, even to the day of the 裁判，公判, you must never 試みる／企てる to see her again; never let any one know the depth of feeling which you have betrayed and to which she involuntarily 答える／応じるd this evening.

"To know that I should never see her again would be to lose all zest for life. But why do you say I must put her from my mind?"

"Because to do さもなければ will be to 提携させる yourself against 軍隊s that can only compass your 破壊. Already you have made one powerful enemy, whose 指名する I believe I can guess. And now, would you 提携させる Manith Zovil, your friend and protector, and even the Vil himself against you?"

At this moment they entered their apartment, and the two guards took up their positions before the door.

"As I have 以前 told you," Lal Vak went on, "Manith is the Zovil of Nunt, one of the major 力／強力にするs of 火星 with which Kalsivar is on friendly 条件. He was sent here by his father, Lom Harr, Vil of Nunt, for the 表明する 目的 of 法廷，裁判所ing Junia Sovil. And I have been given to understand that the two young people are not at all averse to the idea."

"That does put me in an ぎこちない position. I can't prose 削減（する） my own 利益／興味s without 干渉するing with those of my friend and benefactor."

"正確に. And although we have not definitely discovered the 身元 of your secret enemy, I believe that he will come out into the open very すぐに. Strangely enough, what he believes to be his own 利益／興味s, are …に反対するd to those of Manith Zovil, 同様に as to your recently awakened 願望（する）s."

"And his 指名する?"

"Thoor Movil, whose father was the Vil's brother, but whose mother was a sovil of the 古代の 王室の family of the brown race. He 勧めるd your instant 死刑執行 on the day Manith saved you. There are but two people between him and succession to the 王位 of Kalsivar—Shiev Zovil, Junia's brother, and Junia herself. If he could 遂行する the death of one and marry the other, his succession would be 保証するd, save for one thing—that no man of the brown race has 占領するd that 王位 since the conquest by the white race, five thousand years ago. However, it appears that Sarkis the Torturer is the 道具 of Thoor Movil, as he 需要・要求するs, that Kalsivar shall be 支配するd by a man of the 古代の brown 王族.

"The entire 陰謀（を企てる） is （疑いを）晴らす enough to me, but Numin Vil would not believe me. And Thoor Movil would quickly 始める，決める his 暗殺者s on my 追跡する if the Vil should fail to 行為／法令／行動する against me."

"And just where do I fit in?"

"I have tried to make it plain," said Lal Vak, "that Thoor Movil is both fearless and unscrupulous. What, then, would happen to you if you were to 明らかにする／漏らす your true feelings toward Junia, and such 発覚 were to come to his ears? He would 扱う／治療する you as a pestiferous insect which one 鎮圧するs beneath his foot."

At this instant one of the guards at the door drew 支援する a curtain and 発表するd: "A messenger from His Highness, Thoor Movil."

Lal Vak paled beneath his coat of tan. "It has come, and sooner than I 推定する／予想するd," he told Jerry in English. Then he spoke to the guard in the Martian tongue: "収容する／認める him."

A brown-skinned page entered.

"His Highness, Thoor Movil, is entertaining His 皇室の Highness, Shiev Zovil, at gapun," 発表するd the page, "and 命令（する）s the 出席 of Lal Vak and Jerry Morgan."

"を待つ us outside while we make ready," Lal Vak told the page. The latter stepped out beyond the curtains, and the scientist spoke in English: "Let me 警告する you, my son, that Thoor Movil 企て，努力，提案s you to a more dangerous game than that of gapun. You will best be able to 敗北・負かす him by 存在 scrupulously careful to 感情を害する／違反する no one, and by passing unnoticed any 侮辱s save only those which may 量 to an actual challenge, and which no Martian gentleman may ignore and 保持する his 栄誉（を受ける）."

CHAPTER 7

As he and Lal Vak followed the page into Thoor Movil's large and luxurious apartments, Jerry saw that the party was a small and select one, consisting of about twenty men. Three of them, Shiev Zovil, Manith Zovil and Thoor Movil, wore the blue of 王族. The others, with the exception of the Earthman, wore the orange of nobility.

Four gaming boards 始める，決める on a large swinging （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する served the gapun players. These boards 含む／封じ込めるd numbered 穴を開けるs, and the game consisted of rolling Martian money—small engraved pellets of gold, silver and platinum—into the 穴を開けるs, the first pellet into the highest numbered 穴を開ける winning the entire 火刑／賭ける from each roll.

Pulcho, which was 存在 imbibed by the gamblers, was 存在 注ぐd by a dozen brown slaves.

As Jerry knew Thoor Movil for his enemy, he was surprised when the latter did them 栄誉（を受ける） by rising to receive them. The brown prince 設立する a place for Lal Vak first, then he turned to Jerry with a sarcastic smile, and said in the 審理，公聴会 of all the company: "You are our 最新の and most distinguished gambler, since you wear the darkest 着せる／賦与するing of any one 現在の."

Jerry returned his sarcastic smile with a cheery one. "That I am the 最新の is plain to be seen," he said, "but I 抗議する that I am not the most distinguished. You do me too 広大な／多数の／重要な an 栄誉（を受ける）."

"How so?" asked Thoor Movil.

"It is your highness who is our most distinguished gambler, since you have the darkest 肌 of any 現在の."

The two princes, Shiev and Manith, laughed uproariously and some of the nobles 投機・賭けるd to smile, but most of them looked exceedingly 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. And gravest of all was Lal Vak.

"Is it customary in your country for a guest to 侮辱 his host?" asked Thoor Movil, fingering his sword hilt.

"On the contrary," Jerry replied, "I should say that it is as 広大な／多数の／重要な a rarity as for a host to 侮辱 his guest."

Thoor Movil's frown 深くするd, but Manith Zovil interposed. Taking Jerry's arm with one 手渡す, and that of the brown prince with the other, he said, "Come. You two are 延期するing the game. Let us on with the play."

Before they could seat themselves, however, a tall, 幅の広い-shouldered player who wore the orange and 黒人／ボイコット of the nobility, rose and said: "I, for one, do not care to play, so long as this commoner is 現在の. His 外見 is 不快な／攻撃 enough, but his manners are a stench and an abomination to 極度の慎重さを要する nostrils."

Jerry paused and regarded him coldly. "I have not the 栄誉（を受ける） of your 知識."

At this, Lal Vak plucked at his arm, and said in English:

"Beware. This is the 罠（にかける） Thoor Movil has 始める，決める for you. This man is the most dangerous swordsman in all Kalsivar."

"I am Arsad, Rad of Dhoor," said Jerry's new-設立する enemy. "You are standing in my way."

解任するing his preceptor's 警告 to 避ける a quarrel at any cost, Jerry stepped aside.

But again the fellow turned and 直面するd him. "Have I not said that you stand in my way?"

With this, Arsad struck the Earthman a sharp blow on the cheek with the 支援する of his 手渡す.

Jerry saw red, and he struck out straight from the shoulder, his 握りこぶし 上陸 十分な on the mouth of his adversary. Arsad つまずくd backward and 衝突，墜落d across the gaming （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, sending the gapun boards 飛行機で行くing. For a moment he lay there as if dazed. Then he sprang up with a roar, spat out three teeth and a mouthful of 血, and whipped out his sword.

Jerry felt a jeweled hilt thrust into his 手渡す, Manith Zovil, 栄冠を与える Prince of Nunt, had again befriended him, this time by lending him his sword.

速く Jerry （機の）カム on guard parrying a thrust for his heart. He 設立する his own return thrust parried with 緩和する, and soon realized that he was up against a master swordsman. But Arsad must have come to 認める this at the same time, for he began to 盗品故買者 very 慎重に.

一方／合間, the 観客s, who had formed a （犯罪の）一味 around the two contestants, were 扱う／治療するd to such an 展示 of swordsmanship as they had not seen for many a day. For, though Arsad was known as one of the best swordsmen on 火星, Jerry had likewise been regarded one of the best swordsmen in the American Army.

Arsad had not exhausted all his tricks. And Jerry learned a new one just after he had parried a 特に long 肺 to his 団体／死体. For the Rad of Dhoor, in 回復するing, turned the 辛勝する／優位 of his saw-toothed blade against Jerry's 味方する, and as he drew it 支援する, 削減（する） a 深い gash from which the 血 spurted 自由に. It was a trick which could not have been 成し遂げるd with any but a saw- toothed Martian blade.

Clutching his 味方する to stanch the flow of 血, the Earthman now took the 不快な／攻撃 with such vigor that time and again his 対抗者 was 軍隊d to give ground ーするために save himself. Still Arsad remained unwounded.

But the Martian had, by this time, discovered that he was in danger of losing his life. Snatching his turban-like 長，率いる-cloak from his 長，率いる, he 投げつけるd it into Jerry's 直面する, blinding him for an instant. Then he 肺d.

Jerry's earthly muscles saved his life by a 分裂（する） second, as he leaped 支援する a 十分な ten feet. Then he 小衝突d the blinding fabric aside and gave a 猛烈な／残忍な leap 今後, sword out, straight at the 非難する Arsad. In sheer surprise the latter tripped and fell, an 平易な 的 for the Earthman's point.

But instead of 治めるing the クーデター de grace, Jerry struck the sword from the 手渡す of his tricky 対抗者, then 現在のd his point to his breast.

"Wait! Would you kill an 非武装の man?"

"Unless you 産する／生じる!"

But Arsad sprang backward, and to one 味方する; he 掴むd the 武器 which the Earthman had beaten from his 手渡す, and coming up to catch Jerry with his blade low, 削除するd 速く for his neck.

Jerry dived straight 今後, under that whistling blade, at the same time 延長するing his point. The sword of Arsad flashed harmlessly over his 支援する, but his own 急落（する），激減（する）d （疑いを）晴らす through the 団体／死体 of the Martian, 事業／計画（する）ing a 十分な two feet from his 支援する.

With a look of horrified unbelief on his 直面する, the Rad of Dhoor dropped his sword and 低迷d to the 床に打ち倒す.

Two 外科医s, who had been sent for at the beginning of the duel, now （機の）カム 今後. One pronounced Arsad dead. The other dressed Jerry's 負傷させる by 製図／抽選 it together and covering it with a 厚い gum called jembal which quickly 常習的な into a 柔軟な, porous covering that was antiseptic, permitted drainage, and kept out 感染. A slave took the 血まみれの sword from Jerry's 手渡す, 洗浄するd it, and returned it to him.

His 負傷させる dressed, the Earthman returned the sword to the Zovil of Nunt. "For the second time I am indebted to your highness."

"A trifle," Manith Zovil replied. Then taking a cup of pulcho from a slave who waited nearby, he 手渡すd it to the Earthman. "Drink," he 命令（する）d. "It will help to 回復する your strength. You have lost much 血."

Jerry 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd off the （水以外の）飲料 and felt refreshed. In the 合間, the 団体／死体 of Arsad had been taken away, and all traces of the duel 除去するd by the slaves. The gapun boards were 取って代わるd on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and several of the nobles 再開するd their interrupted gaming, drinking and laughter as if nothing had happened.

Most boisterous of all was Shiev, Zovil of Kalsivar. The 栄冠を与える prince was a slight, spare 青年, and something of a fop. That he had drunk overmuch pulcho was plainly evident.

"Come," he cried, （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing on the board with a handful of platinum pieces. "Let us on with the game. I would see if this 黒人／ボイコット-覆う？ commoner can play gapun 同様に as he can 盗品故買者."

"If it pleases your highness," said Jerry, "I should prefer not to play tonight. I have lost much 血, and feel the need of repose."

Shiev 紅潮／摘発するd. "You 辞退する the 栄誉（を受ける）—辞退する to play with the 相続人 to the 王位 of Kalsivar? You are exceedingly impudent for a commoner."

"And you are exceedingly ungracious for a prince."

His words were like a bombshell in the room. The 直面する of Shiev Zovil went deathly white. His 手渡す flew to his sword hilt, but ere he could draw the 武器, Manith Zovil had interposed.

"Wait, Shiev," he said. "This man is from another world, and does not know our customs."

"Then he needs teaching."

"Not with the sword," Manith answered. "He has 論証するd that on the 団体／死体 of Kalsivar's greatest swordsman."

"Now, by the wrath of Deza!" 爆発するd Shiev. "Are you intimating that I 恐れる to fight this clumsy oaf? Have a care how you 推定する on our 歓待, or it may be that only your ashes will be 支援する to Nunt."

"Do not 推定する too much on the fact that I have come to 支持を得ようと努める her highness, your sister. I am your 王室の equal, and my sword shall answer その上の insinuations from you."

At this, Shiev lurched drunkenly to his feet and whipped out his blade. Manith Zovil drew his own 武器, but to Jerry's surprise, Lal Vak stepped between them.

"Before you go on with this duel, highnesses," said the white-haired scientist, "I beg you to pause and consider the consequences. Many things are done in the heat of 怒り／怒る that bring 悔いる when the 血 冷静な／正味のs. If you fight, one of you may be killed. You are both 勇敢に立ち向かう men and fearless, and this does not 重さを計る with either of you. But no 事柄 which one dies, there will be an 即座の result—a war between Kalsivar and Nunt that will cost millions of lives and use up the 資源s of both nations."

At this, the nobles すぐに 味方するd with Lal Vak, and begged the two princes to sheathe their swords. Jerry, who had joined those 試みる／企てるing to 冷静な／正味の the wrath of Manith Zovil, noticed there was one man in the room who held aloof from all this—as soon as he saw that the swords were to be sheathed, he 追加するd his 発言する／表明する to those of the others in crying for peace.

The two princes were brought to the point of saluting each other, though the 注目する，もくろむs of both still flashed ominously. Then Manith Zovil saluted his dark- skinned host, thanked him for his 歓待, and took his 出発. Jerry and Lal Vak did likewise, and （機の）カム upon the prince as he waited for a multiped 乗り物 on, the signal 壇・綱領・公約.

"Again I have your highness to thank for interposing in my に代わって," said Jerry. "Won't you join Lal Vak and me in our apartment for the 残り／休憩（する） of the evening?"

"Sorry, but I am going now to take leave of Numin Vil and やめる this country," replied Manith. "Junia is glorious, 価値（がある） fighting and dying for, but I am not of the stuff that can brook these constant 侮辱s from her popinjay brother.

"As for the 義務, my friend, there is 非，不，無. I only did that which any man worthy of the 指名する might do under 類似の circumstances. This is not the first time Shiev Zovil has 侮辱d me, and I am 納得させるd that it is because his cousin has 毒（薬）d his mind against me. Unfortunately, I can find no pretext for 捜し出すing a quarrel with Thoor."

At this moment, a multiped 乗り物 stopped at the 壇・綱領・公約. Manith Zovil bade Jerry and Lal Vak 別れの（言葉，会） when they reached their 壇・綱領・公約, and 招待するd them to visit him in his own palace. He would be leaving, he said, as soon as he could 支払う／賃金 his 尊敬（する）・点s to Numin Vil.

When they arrived at their apartment, followed by Jerry's two guards, Lal Vak 示唆するd that the Earthman retire すぐに, as he would need 残り／休憩（する） after losing so much 血. As for himself, he was going to visit a friend in another part of the palace, and would probably return やめる late.

The scientist gone, Jerry 除去するd his 長，率いる-cloak, and was about to do the same with his other 着せる／賦与するing, when a guard drew 支援する the curtain and 発表するd: "A page from Her Highness, Nisha Novil."

Jerry 取って代わるd his headpiece, and said: "Let him enter."

A brown-skinned page stepped into the room, saluted, and said: "Her Highness, Nisha Novil, 命令（する）s the 即座の presence of Jerry Morgan."

"耐える my excuses to her highness," replied Jerry. "Tell her that I am 弱めるd from loss of 血—that I ..."

"This is a 命令（する）, Jerry Morgan. There can be no excuses."

Jerry pondered for a moment, and heartily wished that Lal Vak was here to advise him what to do. Because Nisha Novil was the sister of Thoor Movil, he sensed a 罠（にかける） of some sort. Yet the page would 受託する no excuse— 明らかに had been so 教えるd.

He turned to the page, and said: "I am ready. 行為／行う me to her highness."

CHAPTER 8

The roomy apartments of Nisha Novil were furnished with a splendor that was almost 野蛮な, and Nisha herself was the most ornate 反対する of all. Lying on a swinging divan upholstered with 補欠／交替の／交替する （土地などの）細長い一片s of orange and blue plush, she 発射 a languishing smile at Jerry from beneath her long, curved 攻撃するs, as he was 勧めるd in before her.

The only cloth upon her shapely 団体／死体 was a silken cincture of orange trimmed with blue. Her small breast-保護物，者s were of blue and amber beads. By any 基準 she was undeniably beautiful.

With a wave of her 手渡す she 解任するd the page. Then she spoke, her 発言する／表明する low, with a purring 質, like that of a kitten that is 存在 一打／打撃d.

"You are 誘発する, Jerry Morgan, but why have you brought the 護衛? Were you afraid I might 負傷させる you? As you see, I am 非武装の."

"Your highness forgets that I am a 囚人 under 一時停止するd 宣告，判決 of death. The guards ...

"Yes, to be sure. I had forgotten." She 演説（する）／住所d the two. "My slaves will give you pulcho in another room. Wait there until I send for you. I will be 責任がある your 囚人."

With respectful salutations, the two guards followed a brown slave-girl through a curtained doorway. Then Nisha waved a わずかな／ほっそりした 手渡す, and the other slave- girls who stood in 出席 behind her とじ込み／提出するd out of the room. As soon as they were alone, the princess rose with feline grace, and stood before Jerry, smiling up at him beneath languorous lids. She was no bigger than Junia, and much like her in 外見. Yet there was something about her, an untamed feral something in her every look and gesture.

"Come," she said, taking Jerry's 手渡す and 主要な him to the divan. "You must be 疲れた／うんざりした after your 二重の with Arsad. Come and 残り／休憩（する） here beside me while we talk."

"I did lose some 血," Jerry replied. "That was why I was about to ask your highness's indulgence ..."

"But since I am dispensing with 形式順守," she cooed, 製図／抽選 him 負かす／撃墜する upon the divan, "you may 残り／休憩（する） here 同様に as in your own apartment. And what I have to say cannot wait, for there are those who 陰謀（を企てる） against your life, and I would save you. Tomorrow will be too late."

"Your highness is most generous to take an 利益／興味 in my life."

She snuggled against him. "On the contrary, I am most selfish. From the very day when I first saw you, standing before the 王位 of Numin Vil, I have 願望（する）d you.

"I heard of the 自殺 of the slave in your apartment, but did not しっかり掴む the significance at the time. However, when I learned of your duel with Arsad today, I knew that you had done something to displease my brother, and that where Arsad failed, another of Thoor's 道具s would 結局 後継する. So I had a talk with my brother."

"I don't know what I ever did to him," said Jerry, "except that I turned one of his own sarcastic 発言／述べるs against him, this evening."

"That had some 負わせる, but it is not the true 推論する／理由 for his bitterness against you," she told him. "It began when our cousin, Junia, begged your life from Numin Vil after you had 殺害された her dalf. I may 追加する that those of whom Thoor becomes jealous never 生き残る long."

"It seems that I have been exceedingly fortunate, then."

"Your 技術 with the sword saved you tonight," she answered, "but other means of compassing your death have already been planned. Thoor Movil's 秘かに調査するs are everywhere, and when he heard of the look which Junia gave you in her apartment today, you were 示すd for death.

"And just what can you do about all this?" Jerry asked.

"Everything," she replied. I have made a 協定／条約 with my brother. Your life is to be spared to me on 条件 that you never again cast your 注目する，もくろむs toward our fair cousin."

"So you have arranged the whole thing between you. Thoughtful of your highness. But did it not occur to you that I might have some ideas of my own on the 支配する?"

To his surprise, she flung her 武器 around his neck—圧力（をかける）d her warm lips to his.

Had he never seen Junia, it is やめる possible that the Earthman might have capitulated. Gently he 解放する／撤去させるd the 粘着するing 武器 from around his neck, and arose.

Nisha fell 支援する on the divan, panting. Then she sprang straight for the Earthman. Screeching 悪口を言う／悪態s, she （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 upon his breast, scratched his 明らかにする flesh until the 血 井戸／弁護士席d 前へ／外へ. And through it all he stood immobile, 手渡すs at his 味方するs, teeth clenched in a grim smile.

Her fit of fury passed almost as suddenly as it had begun. With horror in her 注目する，もくろむs, she stood limply before him.

"Deza help me!" she moaned. "What have I done?"

"Have I your highness's leave to go?" he asked, with 熟考する／考慮するd 静める.

"No, wait! You must not leave me thus!"

She turned and ran into another room, 再現するing a moment later with a 水盤／入り江 of water, a handful of soft moss, and a 瓶／封じ込める of jembal. Jerry stood like a statue while she washed away the 血 and 適用するd the 傷をいやす／和解させるing gum to the scratches she had （打撃，刑罰などを）与えるd. Her ministrations finished, she looked up at him, 涙／ほころびs swimming in her large 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs and pearling the long 攻撃するs.

"許す me, my dear lord," she begged, contritely. "Strike me! Break me with those strong 手渡すs of yours! But do not leave me with 怒り／怒る in your heart. Only say that you 許す me, and Deza will 認める me strength to go on, knowing that I may some day 勝利，勝つ your love."

"It is I who should ask forgiveness," Jerry told her, "since you have only 負傷させるd my 団体／死体. But I, it seems, have unwittingly 負傷させるd your heart."

"You are generous, my lord," she cried, and flinging her 武器 around his neck, 鎮圧するd her lips to his. "Now go. But remember—Nisha loves you, and will be waiting."

Without a word, he turned and left the room. He had taken the multiped 乗り物 to his own 床に打ち倒す, the one below, before he noticed that his two guards were not に引き続いて him. But he 推論する／理由d that they knew the way to his apartment 同様に as he.

Passing into the apartment, he hooded all the baridium light globes but one, 準備の to retiring. But, strangely enough, he no longer felt tired or sleepy. Feeling that a breath of 空気／公表する would do him good, he 押し進めるd open the two lower segments of the window, and stepped out の上に the balcony. The night was 異常に 冷淡な, even for 火星 at that season.

Jerry threw 支援する his 長，率いる and 吸い込むd a 広大な／多数の／重要な lungful of the 冷淡な, 甘い 空気／公表する. But he checked the inhalation with a gasp of amazement, for he saw, looking 負かす／撃墜する from the second balcony above him, the lovely 直面する of Junia. As she stood there, wrapped in her light, soft furs, he wished that he might 橋（渡しをする） the gap between them.

She smiled, and Jerry returned her smile. Then she turned away and he saw her no more. But a 計画（する） had come to him. He could 橋（渡しをする） that gap, with the 援助（する） of his Earthly muscles. いっそう少なく than eight feet above his 長，率いる hung the 堅い coils of the vine which decked Nisha's balcony. And he could see, by craning his neck outward, that the vines on Junia's balcony hung even lower.

A few moments later, he stood on Nisha's balcony. Fortunately for his 計画（する）, the vines on Junia's balcony hung lower, and he was able to reach the lower most of these by a vertical jump, thus 避けるing the necessity of running past the window.

The 宙返り飛行 held and he easily made the balcony above. Like the other two, it was 辛勝する／優位d with potted 工場／植物s, and at first he did not notice the 人物／姿／数字 standing at the opposite end in the 影をつくる／尾行する of an aromatic sebolis. But as he crept over the railing, he noticed a slight movement in the 影をつくる／尾行する, and his heart leaped to his throat. Could this be a guard—and he 非武装の?

Jerry was unable to more than make out a muffled form standing immobile before him. Silently, he crept 今後, and as silently sprang, flinging one 手渡す about the 武器 and 団体／死体 of the 人物／姿／数字 and clapping his left を引き渡す the mouth.

To his astonishment, he 設立する that he clasped a woman. A muffled 叫び声をあげる （機の）カム from the girl as he dragged her out into the 十分な light of the nearer moon.

"Junia!" he exclaimed, 解放（する）ing her and standing shamefaced before her. "I thought you were a guard."

"Just what are you doing on my balcony?" she asked. "And why would you have attacked a guard of 地雷?"

"I had to see you. There was no other way to see you alone. Oh, Junia, it seems that I am doomed to 失敗 each time I approach you—that the 運命／宿命s have conspired to make you hate me."

"I-I don't believe I could ever bring myself to hate you, Jerry Morgan," she said softly. "But you are so clumsy. One scarcely knows what to do with you or how to 抑制する you."

As she stood there looking up at him in the moonlight, Jerry 反映するd that this girl could do more to him with her 注目する，もくろむs alone than could Nisha with her 武器 and lips—with her whole 団体／死体.

"You have said that you had to see me," she told him presently. "Why?"

"Because I love you."

"You are bold to approach me thus, and bolder still to make such a 宣言," she said. But there was no hint of 怒り／怒る in her 注目する，もくろむs.

"You are 権利, highness," he said dejectedly, "With your leave I will 出発／死, and never trouble you more."

But as he turned away, she laid her 手渡す on his arm. "Wait, Jerry Morgan," she said. "What if I were to tell you that I also care?"

"Junia! You can't mean id"

"But I do, Jerry Morgan."

Gently, reverently, he took the tiny, fur-覆う？ form in his 武器. She raised her lips.

A moment they stood thus—a moment during which, for Jerry, all time stood still. Then she drew away.

"You must leave me, now. It grows late, and we may be discovered." There was a catch in her 発言する／表明する that sounded like a stifled sob, as she 追加するd: "May Deza keep you 安全な, and bring you 支援する to me, 無事の."

Then she stepped into the 不明瞭 of her apartment.

For a moment Jerry stood there looking after her. Then he lowered himself over the railing, went 負かす／撃墜する the vines を引き渡す 手渡す.

He 設立する the apartment 砂漠d, just as he had left it. Going to the door, he parted the curtains to see if his two guards had returned. They had not, and he was about to turn 支援する when a man wearing the blue of 王族 suddenly （機の）カム running around a bend in the hall toward him. With a start of surprise, he 認めるd Manith Zovil. The Prince of Nunt carried a 血まみれの sword in his 手渡す, and 血 was trickling from a 負傷させる on his breast.

Springing 今後, Jerry caught him and helped him inside.

"What has happened, highness?" he asked. "Were you attacked?"

"Attacked, yes!" panted Manith. "I have just 殺害された that drunken fool, Shiev Zovil. For the love of Deza, help me get rid of this 血, or my life will be 没収される, and there will be a war more 広大な and deadly than 火星 has ever seen before!"

CHAPTER 9

With water and a handful of moss, Jerry 洗浄するd the 負傷させる of Manith Zovil. Then he の近くにd it with jembal. As it was only an インチ in width and centrally 位置を示すd, the Prince of Nunt was able to hide it 完全に with the 激しい medallion which hung on his chest.

Having 洗浄するd his benefactor's sword and returned it to his sheath, Jerry mopped up several 減少（する）s of 血 from the 床に打ち倒す, then went out の上に the balcony and flung the telltale moss over the railing, and far out to his left, so no one below could 正確に 裁判官 from which balcony it had fallen.

This done, he returned to where Manith sat panting on a divan, and 注ぐd him a cup of pulcho.

"Drink this, and try to compose yourself, highness. There is no 原因（となる） for alarm, now. You and your 武器s are 解放する／自由な of 血, and your 負傷させる is dressed and 隠すd. Rather a bad one, too. A little more to the left, and you would not be alive."

Manith 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd off the drink and put 負かす／撃墜する the cup.

"You are 権利, my friend," he said. "I met the drunken popinjay in the hallway. He was carrying his sword in his 手渡す, and evidently bound for your apartment. As soon as I （機の）カム 近づく him, he 肺d at me without a word of 警告, and before I had a chance to so much as しっかり掴む my hilt.

"As you see, his design failed. Having dodged away that 背信の 一打／打撃, I drew my own sword and thrust him through the throat with as little compunction as if he had been a dalf."

"And you are sure he is dead?"

"If not, he soon will be."

"But why should any 非難する attach to you? You killed him in a fair fight, after an unprovoked 強襲，強姦."

"Because there were no 証言，証人／目撃するs. A duel with 証言，証人／目撃するs is 合法的な; without them, is it 殺人."

"Did you 会合，会う anyone in the hallway before or after the duel?"

"No one."

"Then you are 安全な. Only you and I know what occurred, and I 誓約（する） you my word that I will never tell."

"I believe you, for though you wear the 黒人／ボイコット of a commoner, you are a gentleman."

"And now," continued Jerry, "the best thing for you to do is to go on as if nothing had happened. You have taken your leave of the Vil, and were about to 出発／死 for your own country. I 示唆する that you go on, unhurriedly, as planned."

"In that 事例／患者 there should be no 疑惑 ..."

He 停止（させる）d his speech suddenly, as the tramp of feet and the clank of 武器s sounded without. Then rising, he 掴むd the pulcho flask, and filling two cups, 手渡すd one to Manith and took up the other. Behind him, he heard the steps of men entering the 議会, but 無視（する）ing it, held the cup aloft, and said: "A 安全な and pleasant 旅行 to you."

A sword flashed out from behind him, striking the cup from his 手渡す and 流出／こぼすing the contents on the 脚s of Manith Zovil. Turning, he looked into the glittering 注目する，もくろむs of Thoor Movil. Behind the brown prince stood a dozen 軍人s, swords in their 手渡すs.

Jerry 軍隊d himself to smile at his enemy. "Rather a boisterous way to 発表する your visit, highness," he said, 選ぶing up the cup, "but you are welcome, にもかかわらず. Manith Zovil and I were just drinking to his 安全な and pleasant 旅行. Won't you and your men join us?"

"It comports with your every 活動／戦闘 since you first （機の）カム to Kalsivar, that you should choose to be facetious at a time like this."

"Since your highness chose to be playful, I 単に fell in with your mood," Jerry replied, still smiling. "儀礼 to a guest, you know."

"But I am not playful, as you will learn soon enough. I am in deadly earnest. Where are your guards?"

"How should I know?" Jerry replied. "They were 始める，決める to guard me, not I, them."

"What were you doing in the hallway a few moments ago?"

"Nothing. I have been in my apartment for some little time. Manith Zovil and I have been sitting here chatting. He is leaving for Nunt, you know, and dropped in to say 別れの（言葉，会）."

Thoor turned to the visiting prince.

"Did you notice anything unusual in the hallway when you （機の）カム here?"

"Nothing," Manith replied. "Why?"

"Because Shiev Zovil has just been 殺人d there."

"Why, that's 恐ろしい," said Manith. "I must tender my 弔慰s to the prince's father and sister. Who do you think did it?"

"I believe," said Thoor Movil, "that the 秘かに調査する who 占領するs this apartment is the one who committed the 罪，犯罪."

"That would be impossible," said Manith. "He could not commit a 殺人 and sit here talking to me at the same time. And I believe you do him an 不正 in calling him a 秘かに調査する."

"How was the prince 殺害された?" Jerry asked.

"Stabbed through the throat, as you 井戸／弁護士席 know," replied Thoor Movil.

"Perhaps you have not noticed that I am without 武器s."

"True. But you may have a sword 隠すd about the apartment."

"I 招待する you to search it."

"We will do that without your 招待. 売春婦, men, see if you can find the 武器 for me."

The 兵士s went to work peering behind all movable 反対するs and ripping upholstery, but the search was futile.

"Just as a 事柄 of form," said Thoor Movil to Manith Zovil, "may I look at the blades of your sword and dagger? I do not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う you, of course, but I must be 徹底的な in the line of my 義務."

"I understand perfectly," Manith replied, and tendered his 武器s.

Thoor Movil 診察するd the sword minutely, and returned it without comment, gave the dagger a cursory ちらりと見ること, and 手渡すd it 支援する, also.

"They are clean, and your highness is absolved," he said. "But there is something 怪しげな about your friend, here. I go now to make その上の search, but I will leave four men on guard. Would you care to go with me?"

"Of course," Manith Zovil replied. "I must go 支援する to his majesty the Vil, at once, to 申し込む／申し出 my sympathy before I leave." He turned to Jerry. "別れの（言葉，会）, my friend. I am sure you are innocent, and that his highness, here, is sure to find the 有罪の one and （疑いを）晴らす you."

He 出発／死d with Thoor Movil, and Jerry heard the dark prince 地位，任命する guards outside. He sat 負かす／撃墜する on the ripped and rumpled divan to think.

Unless he could find some way to escape from Kalsivar, Jerry 推論する／理由d that nothing could save him except the 介入 of Nisha in his に代わって. And he did not want to feel obligated to her.

There was one, however, in that 広大な nation, in whose good graces Jerry 特に wished to remain. He felt sure that, sooner or later, Thoor or his スパイ／執行官s would go to Junia with insinuations regarding him. Best go to her himself, he thought, ahead of any one else.

Once more, Jerry went out on the balcony. It had become colder as it grew later. And the さらに先に moon had risen in the east, while its nearer, swifter companion, hurtled 今後 from the west to 会合，会う it, the two making visibility much better than before.

He leaped up, caught the 追跡するing vine, and pulled himself up to Nisha's balcony. But scarcely had his feet touched the 床に打ち倒す when a 激しい cloak was thrown over his 長，率いる, strong 武器 pinioned his 武器 to his 味方するs, and he was half carried, half dragged through the window. He kicked and struggled in an 成果／努力 to 解放する／自由な himself from his unseen 加害者s, but in vain. His 手渡すs and feet were 速く and skillfully bound, and with the cloak still over his 長，率いる, he was deposited on a divan.

Then something sharp pricked his 味方する, and a gruff 発言する／表明する said: "If you know what is good for you, you will remain 静かな."

CHAPTER 10

Jerry succumbed to the 必然的な and gave up his struggles. Then suddenly, to his surprise, he heard a throaty contralto 発言する／表明する that was strangely familiar—the 発言する／表明する of Nisha.

"除去する the cloak, Jeth," she said, "and 削減（する） his 社債s. My brother's men have gone."

The cloak dragged from his 長，率いる, Jerry blinked in the unaccustomed rays of a light globe which hung above him, and flexed his numb 四肢s. He was in a small 議会, evidently the dressing room of Thoor's sister.

A burly, brown-skinned guard stood beside him, and another stood watch at the door. Nisha, herself, was looking 負かす／撃墜する at him.

"I hope my men have not 負傷させるd you," she said solicitously. "They 行為／法令／行動するd in the 緊急, under my 命令（する）s, ーするために save your life. The 緊急 has passed, but you are still in 広大な／多数の／重要な danger. However, if you are willing to do as I tell you, it may be that I will be able to save you."

"You have been most 肉親，親類d," Jerry told her. "What do you want me to do?"

"Thoor's men are searching the palace—in fact, the whole city —for you. I guessed that you would try to escape by way of the balcony, and 始める，決める my two faithful men, here, to watch for you and bring you to me 無事の but incapable of 試みる／企てるing to escape. And it is 井戸／弁護士席 that I did so, because Thoor's 兵士s （機の）カム through my apartment a moment later and searched the balcony. By telling them I had not seen you, which was true enough, I 妨げるd their searching this dressing room.

"I have planned an escape for you, but it will 伴う／関わる a 完全にする change in your 外見."

Going to a dressing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する nearby, she selected two small flasks which she 手渡すd to Jerry. "This," she said, 示すing the first, "will dye your hair jet 黒人／ボイコット. And this," pointing to the second, "will make your 肌 the same shade of brown as my guards'. I will go outside while they help you."

As soon as she 出発／死d, the two men 補助装置d Jerry to （土地などの）細長い一片 from 長，率いる to foot. Then one 始める，決める about 適用するing the 黒人／ボイコット dye to his sandy hair, while the other painted his 肌 with the brown liquid. Gazing into the burnished gold mirror, Jerry was astounded at the 変形; he was, to all 外見s, a racial brother of the two brown men.

One of them brought him a coarse gray breech clout and 長，率いる-cloak and a pair of gray boots—the 着せる／賦与するing of a slave. Quickly donning these, he again 調査するd himself in the mirror. He looked 正確に／まさに like one of the thousands of browned-skinned slaves he had seen 雇うd in the palace. A small blue and orange emblem, stitched to all of his 衣料品s, 発表するd that they, and their wearer, were the 所有物／資産／財産 of Nisha Novil. After be had transferred the contents of the pouch 大（公）使館員d to his former belt to the plain gray pouch he now wore, he was ready.

One of the guards went out and a moment later Nisha entered the room. She 解任するd the other guard, and ちらりと見ることd at Jerry.

"Your disguise seems perfect," she said after a careful 査察. "Your 指名する is now Gudo. As Gudo, the slave, you'll すぐに be 行為／行うd hence in a 禁止（する）d of fifty of my slaves, who go to work on the new canal that Numin Vil is building. Every slaveholder in Kalsivar is 要求するd to send one-tenth of his male slaves to work for one senil, or tenth of a Martian year, on the 事業／計画（する）. It fortunately happened that they were to leave tonight, to relieve the fifty who have been working there for the last senil, and who will return to my service."

"Your highness is most 肉親，親類d," said Jerry.

"At the end of the senil," she went on, "you will be returned to my country 広い地所 on the Corvid Canal. I will be waiting there for you, and together we will make 計画（する）s for the 未来. Please understand that I am not pretending altruism or a disinterested friendship. I would rather see you dead than in the 武器 of another. You will have one senil in which to think it over."

She spoke so calmly that Jerry could scarcely believe this was the girl who had alternately caressed and clawed him a short time before. She 手渡すd him a 十分な flask of the 黒人／ボイコット dye, one of the brown stain, and a third which 含む／封じ込めるd a （疑いを）晴らす liquid.

"You may find it necessary to change your disguise," she said. "A few 減少（する）s of this liquid 追加するd to a 水盤／入り江 of water will make a 解答 that will 即時に 回復する your hair and 肌 to their natural color.

"In a moment more you must leave. You will be going into danger, perhaps to your death, though Deza knows I have done everything possible for your safety." She moved closer. "Can you—will you take me in your 武器 —持つ／拘留する me for just a moment? Let me feel your lips on 地雷 just once —willingly? A senil is so long—and if 運命／宿命 should take you from me, there will be, at least, this memory."

"I can and will, Nisha," he replied, 控訴ing his 活動／戦闘s to his words. "I like your candor. You're a girl in a million. It is a pity that love is not a thing we can 命令（する） like a slave, or call to heel like a dalf."

"I know," she replied. Then she turned and called the guards. When they entered she said: "You have your 指示／教授／教育s, and will carry them out at once."

"Come, Gudo," said one, taking Jerry's arm.

"Goodbye, highness," said Jerry.

"別れの（言葉，会）. I will always love you," she replied, with a look of longing in her 注目する，もくろむs.

Then he passed out the door between the two 軍人s.

Jerry's conductors led him through a 一連の rooms and 回廊（地帯）s into a large 議会, where an aggregation of gray-覆う？, brown-skinned slaves waited, guarded by a company of white 軍人s. A scribe took 負かす／撃墜する his assumed 指名する and the 指名する of his owner, and he was herded in with the others.

They were kept standing there for some time, their 階級s 絶えず swelled by newly arrived slaves. But presently Jerry noticed some 調印する of activity at the other end of the hall. Then he saw that a group of 兵士s was 絵 a number on the foreheads of the slaves, with red pigment, and thrusting them, feet first, into a 穴を開ける in the 塀で囲む.

He was 大いに puzzled by this at first, but presently his own turn （機の）カム, and the riddle was solved. With the painted number still wet on his forehead, he was thrust into the dark 穴を開ける. 即時に he 発射 downward at a 法外な angle, with a 速く 増加するing acceleration, in an incredibly slippery tube about four feet in 直径.

At first he descended in a 一連の spirals, but presently this changed to a 法外な, straight incline. Then, 徐々に, this leveled out, slowly checking his 勢い, until he presently 発射 out under the roof of a low shed, to land on a padded 壇・綱領・公約. Here two guards, waiting to receive him, ちらりと見ることd at the painted number on his forehead and turned him over to another guard, who 行為／行うd him to a place where a group of his fellows waited.

By the 薄暗い light of the さらに先に moon—for the nearer, brighter luminary bad now 始める，決める—he saw that they were on a ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる which 前線d a canal. Moored to the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる, 直接／まっすぐに in 前線 of him, was a strange （手先の）技術. It was long and low, arid roofed over in the manner of a whaleback steamer, but with 封鎖するs of translucent 構成要素 through which the rays from its baridium globes shone 前へ／外へ. But the strangest thing about it was its propulsive 機械装置, the 明白な part of which consisted of eight pairs of 抱擁する-共同のd metal 脚s, each tipped with a webbed foot like that of a duck. 明白に the （手先の）技術 現実に swam on the surface of the canal like a waterfowl.

He saw a demonstration of this a moment later when a 類似の boat passed, and was astounded at the smoothness and 速度(を上げる） with which these mechanical 脚s could 推進する the （手先の）技術 over the water.

For some time he and his fellow slaves stood shivering on the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. But presently they were herded 船内に the 大型船 and into several large compartments, each of which was heated by a globular contrivance which stood in the middle of the 床に打ち倒す.

As soon as they entered there was a 急ぐ to get 近づく the heating globe, and those who 後継するd lay 負かす／撃墜する to sleep in its genial warmth. Jerry, 疲れた／うんざりしたd by his adventures and exertions and 弱めるd by his 負傷させる, was glad to curl up against the outside 塀で囲む and の近くに his 注目する，もくろむs.

CHAPTER 11

Jerry was awakened by a sharp kick in the ribs. A guard was standing over him. "It is time to eat, slave," he said gruffily.

に引き続いて the guard （機の）カム a line of slaves 耐えるing large trays of food and drink. The food consisted of a stew in which were 連合させるd fish, flesh and vegetables 削減（する） into small pieces and seasoned with a peppery condiment. The （水以外の）飲料 was the omnipresent pulcho. Jerry ate his stew in the manner of his companions, by drinking the thin gravy and scooping up the 残り／休憩（する） with his fingers. Then he slowly sipped his cup of pulcho, and was ready with the others to 手渡す cup and bowl 支援する to the slaves who （機の）カム to collect the dishes.

The heating globe had been turned off, but its place was more than taken by the sun, which was already halfway to the zenith.

Jerry arose and looked curiously out at the passing scenery. On one 味方する of the canal he saw a 塀で囲む, topped by small buildings at 正規の／正選手 intervals, and patrolled by 歩哨s. On the other 味方する a 一連の 幅の広い terraces led downward to another canal, and another series 進歩d 上向き to a third. The terraces were covered with cultivated gardens and orchards, and dotted here and there with cylindrical buildings, evidently the dwellings of the Martian agriculturalists.

The 目的 of these three canals in a 選び出す／独身 穴掘り was plain enough. The two upper and outer canals each watered the system of terraces below it. The total 穴掘り was about fifteen miles in width. Each canal was だいたい a mile in width, and each system of terraces six miles.

The canals were dotted with （手先の）技術 of さまざまな sizes and 肉親，親類d. All of the larger boats were propelled, like the one on which he 棒, by mechanical webbed feet, but some of the smaller ones had sails, and others were paddled like canoes.

The smaller （手先の）技術 seemed mostly to be engaged in the 占領／職業 of fishing, in which 逮捕するs, lines and spears were all 雇うd. And Jerry was startled to see some of the fishermen leave their boats, carrying their spears or 逮捕するs with them, and walk on the surface of the water.

Presently, when he （機の）カム 近づく enough to one to 観察する how it was done, he saw that the fellow wore inflated, boat-形態／調整d water shoes, on which he glided about with the 緩和する of a 技術d terrestrial ice スケートをする人.

The sun had reached the zenith when the canal on which they were traveling suddenly （機の）カム to a junction with another. Jerry 裁判官d that they must be やめる 近づく the 赤道, and 立証するd this by looking at his 影をつくる／尾行する, which had 縮めるd to almost nothing. The junction of the ３倍になる canals was 影響d by connecting the two upper channels of each by means of four viaducts in the form of a square. These viaducts, each fifteen miles in length and a mile in width, were supported on tremendous arches high above the terraces and the two intersecting drainage canals.

The boat on which they 棒 turned to the left in the farthest transverse channel, and after skirting the 塀で囲む for several miles drew up at a ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. The doors were flung open and the guards herded the slaves out の上に the wharf, where they were turned over to a new group of guards who had evidently been waiting to receive them. Here an officer took the 記録，記録的な／記録するs and called the roll.

This done, they were marched through a tunnel in the 厚い 塀で囲む. They （機の）カム out on a rather 壊れやすい 木造の 壇・綱領・公約, fully two miles above the ground. 直接／まっすぐに below them was the waterless central channel of a 広大な／多数の／重要な ３倍になる canal, still under construction.

As far as Jerry could see, this tremendous 穴掘り stretched northward. He saw men at work on the terraces, evidently leveling them off and getting them into 形態／調整. But the excavating, at this point, had all been 完全にするd.

Supported and 増強するd by 厚い steel cables, a causeway of the resilient red-brown 構成要素 used in 覆うing, slanted 負かす／撃墜する from the 壇・綱領・公約 to the 底（に届く） of the 不景気; on this some two-得点する／非難する／２０ multiped 乗り物s waited. Under the direction of the guards, the slaves 機動力のある the saddles; when all were 船内に, the 乗り物s scampered 負かす／撃墜する the swaying, trembling causeway.

にもかかわらず the 技術 of its driver, the one in which Jerry 棒 would have been jounced off into the yawning abyss beneath had it not been for the cables which formed a 保護するing railing on either 味方する. He heaved a sigh of 救済 when they were once more on solid 地盤. They were now in the 乾燥した，日照りの bed of the central drainage canal, which was composed of solid 激しく揺する, so smooth that it looked almost as if it had been 計画（する）d. And here, the multiped 乗り物s gave an example of the 速度(を上げる） of which they were 有能な. The banks of the canal, and the terraces with their busy workmen, literally hurtled past them.

Mile after mile of 乾燥した，日照りの channel and barren terraces reeled past them with a monotonous sameness, until 中央の-afternoon. Then the 乗り物s suddenly slowed 負かす／撃墜する and Jerry caught his first glimpse of the digging of a Martian canal.

At first he thought; he saw two lines of 抱擁する beasts converging from the 中心 of the 穴掘り in a 抱擁する, 延長するd V, snapping and 涙／ほころびing at the 塀で囲む of earth, 激しく揺する and sand before them. But in a moment he saw that they were not beasts, but machines, with 共同のd metal 脚s and mighty steel jaws. These 抱擁する machines, each operated by a 選び出す／独身 slave 機動力のある in a saddle on its 支援する, bit and swallowed until they had filled their capacious 内部のs, then turned and climbed the banks to disappear over the 最高の，を越すs, while others returned empty and voracious once more.

Interspersed の中で the machines at 正規の／正選手 intervals were 武装した overseers, directing the work, each 運動ing a small six-legged 乗り物.

Behind the line of devouring metal beasts was another 牽引する with the same type of 団体／死体 and 脚s, but with shovel-形態／調整d, underslung lower jaws. These jaws created a terrific din as with sharp, 早い blows like those of trip 大打撃を与えるs they 計画（する）d off the jagged fragments. When filled, they, like the others, 支援するd away from the line and climbed the slope to get rid of their 負担s, while other, empty machines scuttled in to take their places.

Some distance behind the scene of 操作／手術s and pitched upon the newly 計画（する）d terraces at either 味方する of the central channel the work （軍の）野営地，陣営 was 据えるd. It consisted of about a thousand large, 一連の会議、交渉／完成する portable dwellings with ドーム-形態／調整d 最高の，を越すs, made from furry pelts which would turn 支援する the heat at night.

The 乗り物 in which Jerry 棒 turned and 緊急発進するd up the bank to the テント city at the 権利. It was followed by nine others. The remaining machines climbed the left bank.

They （機の）カム to a 停止（させる） in 前線 of a テント, before which a man wearing the orange and 黒人／ボイコット of nobility sat on a swinging divan. An officer 手渡すd him a sheaf of papers, which he conned for a few moments. Then he returned them and waved his 手渡す.

即時に, the guards ordered all the slaves out of the saddles. Then they were drawn up in squads and marched through the （軍の）野営地，陣営, up the 味方する of the terrace to the very 最高の，を越す. Here they crossed a 一時的な 橋（渡しをする）, stretched on steel cables across the empty upper channel. There were four more 類似の 橋（渡しをする）s for the use of the digging machines, which 群れているd across them in endless chains. They emptied their 負担s of がれき on the outer bank by the simple expedient of 開始 their metal mouths, lowering them, and 攻撃するing their 団体／死体s up at the 後部. This done, they turned about and scampered 支援する for more provender.

The Earthman and his companions were 問題／発行するd 器具／実施するs and put to work at once, 減ずるing and leveling the piles of がれき regurgitated by the machines. The 器具／実施する given Jerry was a 激しい 政治家 about eight feet in length with a 厚い アイロンをかける disk on one end. This was used like a rake or 売春婦, to spread the 構成要素 about. Then, with the 軸 held perpendicularly, it was 雇うd to tamp and pack the surface.

It was hard work, even for Jerry with his Earth-trained muscles. And he could realize how much more difficult it must be for the slaves around him. The sun's rays （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 負かす／撃墜する relentlessly upon them, and the guards 勧めるd them on with spear points whenever they lagged.

Men who dropped from exhaustion and were unable to rise were kicked 負かす／撃墜する the 堤防, to be buried beneath the 絶えず growing deposit of がれき.

Jerry worked at the end of his squad, every member of which was a brown man. Next to him was a squad of white men, and one of them, a tremendous fellow over seven feet tall and muscled in 割合, was his nearest neighbor. This powerful 巨大（な） made play of his work, laughing and chatting with guards and workmen alike. Presently he called out to Jerry:

"売春婦, slave of Nisha Novil. At last you palace dalfs will have to do a man's work."

Jerry grinned 支援する at him. "It must be that you like it, since you call it man's work."

"Not I," said the 巨大（な）, "but because necessity 強要するs ..."

He paused in the 中央 of his speech and looked 上向き, a startled 表現 on his 直面する. At the same instant a 影をつくる／尾行する darkened the sun above them. Then something struck Jerry behind the 膝s and he fell backward into a large 逮捕する with metal meshes. The 巨大（な） turned to 逃げる, but the 逮捕する caught him also, and he was swept 支援する on 最高の，を越す of the Earthman.

As the two men sought to disentangle themselves, the ground receded 速く beneath them.

Looking up, Jerry saw that the 逮捕する which held them hung from two chains which depended from both 味方するs of a grotesque 飛行機で行くing monster with membranous wings, a fur-covered 団体／死体, long 脚s covered with yellow 規模s, and a flat, duck-like 法案 武装した with sharp triangular teeth. The chains were fastened to the 味方するs of a saddle of gray metal, on which sat a brown 軍人 who was 投げつけるing javelins at the guards below.

A ちらりと見ること around showed that at least five hundred of these 飛行機で行くing monsters had attacked the （軍の）野営地，陣営, and all were now rising with slaves and guards struggling in their 逮捕するs.

"What is this? Where are they taking us?" Jerry asked his companion.

"A slave （警察の）手入れ，急襲," the latter replied. "Deza help us, for we are in the clutches of Sarkis the Torturer!"

CHAPTER 12

The （警察の）手入れ，急襲ing party flew 速く away, its 犠牲者s dangling helplessly in the 逮捕するs. "I have heard of this Sarkis the Torturer," Jerry said. "An 無法者, I believe. But what can he want with us?"

"He wants fighting men, and 犠牲者s for sacrifice. This （警察の）手入れ，急襲 will 供給する both."

"How both?"

"The 捕虜s will be put to the 実験（する）. Those who can use a sword and are willing to join the 無法者s and worship the Sun God will be spared. The others will be reserved for sacrifice. But why do you ask all these questions?" He ちらりと見ることd はっきりと at Jerry for a moment, then exclaimed: "Ah, I see the 推論する／理由 now! You are a white man in disguise. Who are you?"

Jerry looked 負かす／撃墜する at his chest, and saw what had betrayed him. Two of the （土地などの）細長い一片s of jembal 適用するd by Nisha to the scratches she had made on his 団体／死体 had been rubbed off in the scuffle. And along the 辛勝する／優位s of the scratches his unstained white 肌 showed. "Since you know this much, I may 同様に tell you all," he said. "I am Jerry Morgan of the 惑星 Earth, which you call Dhu Gong. I got into trouble in the palace, and had to leave hurriedly in this disguise."

"I have heard of you," said the big man, a look of 賞賛 in his 注目する，もくろむs, "and of your duel with Arsad, Rad of Dhoor. Since you slew the best swordsman in all Kalsivar, I do not think you will have difficulty qualifying for the service of Sarkis—that is, if you care to join the 無法者s."

"I hadn't thought of it," Jerry told him, "but it might not be a bad idea. I'm an 無法者, myself, 宣告，判決d to be flayed alive and ぱらぱら雨d with 解雇する／砲火／射撃 砕く, whatever that is."

"解雇する／砲火／射撃 砕く is a 構成要素 we use to light 解雇する／砲火／射撃s with," said the 巨大（な）. "It is made from baridium, the same 実体 used in 製造業の our lights, and 点火（する）s when wet."

"半端物 stuff," replied Jerry, "and scarcely a comfortable thing to have ぱらぱら雨d on one. But tell me, who are you, and how did you happen to be doing a slave's work?"

"I am イチイd, the fisherman," said the 巨大（な）, "and was （刑事）被告 of stealing a boat. I was innocent, but an enemy brought 誤った 証言，証人／目撃する, and the seven 裁判官s 宣告，判決d me to work a year on the 穴掘りs with the 禁止（する）d of felons you saw me with."

"Then I 推定する that you have no 原因（となる） to love the 政府."

"You are a man of sound judgment and rare 差別," laughed イチイd. "In a nation where 司法（官） is a mockery, on what 味方する should any real man fight? But unfortunately, I have not the 技術 with the sword which is likely to save me from becoming a sacrifice to the Sun God."

"Perhaps I can find a way to save you from that 運命／宿命," said Jerry. "And I hope you will be willing to forget that I am Jerry Morgan, and remember that I am Cudo, the slave."

"That I will," said イチイd, heartily. "But what are you going to do about those white streaks?"

"I'll 直す／買収する，八百長をする them easily enough," Jerry told him. He took the 瓶／封じ込める of brown liquid from his pouch and stained all the white lines. "How does it look?"

"A perfect match, Gudo," said イチイd. "That is 広大な／多数の／重要な stuff if you want to change your complexion. At 現在の I am 満足させるd with 地雷."

His disguise 完全にするd once more, Jerry looked 負かす／撃墜する at the landscape beneath them. It was a 広大な rolling 砂漠 of ocher-yellow sand, sparsely dotted by patches of 厄介な creepers with large red flowers. "Wherever they are taking us," he told his companion, "it must be a long way into the 砂漠."

"The Torturer and his 無法者s have many secret lairs," said イチイd, "and some of them must be in the 砂漠. But gawrs 要求する much water, and I'll wager that this time we are 存在 taken to one of the wild 沼s of the 地区."

"Gawrs?"

"Yes. The creatures that are carrying us. Have you noticed their webbed feet? They swim 同様に as 飛行機で行く."

It soon became evident that イチイd's 予測 was 訂正する, for the flock sailed over a sheer precipice which 辛勝する／優位d what had evidently once been the shore of an 古代の ocean. Now it was a sloping sandy beach which led 負かす／撃墜する to a 沼, in which a number of small lakes 反映するd the slanting rays of the afternoon sun. Around the shores of several of these lakes were the portable fur huts of a large 武装した 野営, dimly seen through a 煙霧 of smoke from the thousands of cooking 解雇する／砲火／射撃s.

The lakes were dotted with swimming gawrs with their wings chained 負かす／撃墜する to 妨げる their 飛行機で行くing away. 武装した sentinels were 地位，任命するd on the bluffs and in a wide circle all about the （軍の）野営地，陣営. And a 得点する／非難する／２０ of them 絶えず 急に上がるd high 総計費, keeping watch.

At sight of the returning （警察の）手入れ，急襲ing party, a 広大な／多数の／重要な shout went up from the （軍の）野営地，陣営. Then a number of 軍人s caught up their spears and hurried to an open space の中で the huts, where they formed a large （犯罪の）一味. One of the raiders dropped to the 中心 of this （犯罪の）一味 until the 逮捕する 残り／休憩（する）d on the ground, while the gawr hovered 総計費.

Two 兵士s, who had detached themselves from the （犯罪の）一味, （機の）カム 今後 and ordered the three 捕虜s out of the 逮捕する. One by one the gawrs descended, hovered and flew away, until all the 逮捕するs had been emptied.

The 逮捕（する）d men were a motley group, consisting of white, brown and 黒人／ボイコット men. But the spearmen who surrounded them were 平等に diversified as to color, and more so as to their 着せる／賦与するing and ornaments. Jerry noticed, however, that they had one thing in ありふれた. Hanging 一時停止するd on the chest of each was a （疑いを）晴らす 水晶 disk about six インチs in 直径.

The Earthman 軽く押す／注意を引くd his 巨大（な） companion. "What are those disks for?"

"Symbols of their 宗教," イチイd replied, "and 魔法 器具s with which they light their 解雇する／砲火／射撃s in the daytime. They are 崇拝者s of Sarkis, the Sun God. At night they must use 解雇する／砲火／射撃 砕く like the 残り／休憩（する） of us."

魔法 器具s—and for lighting 解雇する／砲火／射撃s. Jerry 即時に 認めるd them for large magnifying glasses, but he said nothing to his companion. He noticed a 動かす in the （人が）群がる behind the spearman, and heard cries of:

"Way for His 宗教上の Majesty! 保護物，者 your 注目する，もくろむs from the blinding glory of Sarkis, Lord of the Day and Vil of the Worlds."

A path opened up in the （人が）群がる of 軍人s, all of whom 即時に raised their 手渡すs before their 注目する，もくろむs to salute a most repulsive-looking thing. It was on a divan that topped a gilded 壇・綱領・公約, borne on the 支援するs of a 得点する／非難する／２０ of slaves. The thing was 明白に a man, large and muscular. But his 直面する was 隠すd by a most hideous mask of burnished gold, fastened to a headpiece on which a 厚い mat of golden threads formed a bristling, leonine mane.

The sharp 麻薬中毒の nose of the mask was covered with red lacquer, and the lips were blue against a background of yellow fangs. From behind the oval slits in the 黒人／ボイコット-（犯罪の）一味d 注目する，もくろむ-sockets a pair of glittering 注目する，もくろむs looked 前へ／外へ. The 衣料品s were of 王室の peacock blue, and those parts of the 団体／死体 which would 普通は have been exposed—torso, 脚s, 武器 and 手渡すs—were covered with a finely woven golden mesh. He wore a richly jeweled, gold hilted sword and dagger. And on his chest there hung a large 水晶 disk, fully twelve インチs in 直径.

At a 調印する from the masked 人物／姿／数字 on the divan, the slaves lowered the 壇・綱領・公約 to the ground and stood with 倍のd 武器 on either 味方する of it.

The Torturer rose, and standing in 前線 of his divan, spoke in weird, sepulchral トンs that echoed hollowly in the golden 限定するs of his mask.

"The sacrifice comes first," he said. "Then we will make 裁判，公判 of the 囚人s."

At this, a number of the spearmen herded the 囚人s 支援する to a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す at the left of the divan. Then a 小道／航路 opened in the lines opposite it, and through this （機の）カム a hundred slaves, staggering under the 負わせる of a large metal 壇・綱領・公約 on which five 幅の広い steps had been built. On each step reclined a man, bound in place by chains tightly drawn around neck, waist and ankles. 一時停止するd above them on two 政治家s by means of short 軸s which 許すd it to be turned in any direction, was a tremendous 水晶 disk.

This disk, as the slaves lowered their 重荷（を負わせる） to the ground, had its 辛勝する／優位 turned toward the sun. But as soon as the 壇・綱領・公約 had been placed in position, the Torturer raised his 手渡す, and at this signal two men in yellow 式服s sprang up beside the 政治家s and swung the disk around, manipulating it until they had 焦点（を合わせる）d the sun's rays in a brilliant 位置／汚点／見つけ出す of blue-white light, on the 床に打ち倒す of the 壇・綱領・公約 just in 前線 of the lowest step.

This done, the masked 人物／姿／数字 raised both 手渡すs. 即時に the surrounding multitude began a slow, eerie 詠唱する which reminded Jerry of a dirge. The metal 床に打ち倒す of the 壇・綱領・公約 had already become red hot at the point where the light 焦点（を合わせる）d.

With an 表現 of horror on his features the man on the lowest step watched the oncoming 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. As it drew の近くに to him, his 肌 was seen to redden from the heat it radiated. Suddenly he shrieked, as the white-hot light touched his 味方する. The 詠唱するing grew louder, and in a moment more the agonized shrieking 中止するd, as the concentrated sun rays 燃やすd through a 決定的な 位置／汚点／見つけ出す.

The brilliant, blinding 位置／汚点／見つけ出す traveled onward. One after another the remaining men shrieked and were silent. The 詠唱するing 中止するd. The smoking 壇・綱領・公約 with its grisly 重荷（を負わせる）s was carried away.

The two yellow 式服d men 前進するd so they 直面するd both the masked 人物／姿／数字 on the 壇・綱領・公約 and the sun.

"Thus, O Sarkis, Lord of the Day and Vil of the Worlds, do thy humble servants 迎える／歓迎する thee at thy rising, 保釈（金） thee at thy meridian, and 速度(を上げる） thee at thy setting, in 一致 with the 古代の custom," they said, raising their 手渡すs before their 注目する，もくろむs.

The Torturer 解任するd them with a gesture. "Now we will 診察する the 囚人s," he 発表するd, seating himself once more upon the divan.

Four men, bareheaded and naked to the waist, 現れるd from behind the 壇・綱領・公約. They stepped in 前線 of the divan and saluted. Two were white, one wearing an orange cincture trimmed with 黒人／ボイコット, and the other a plain 黒人／ボイコット cincture. The third and fourth men were brown-skinned and wore the gray of slaves. A short, squat 黒人／ボイコット man, also wearing the gray of a slave, now approached the man in orange and 黒人／ボイコット, and held out to him a sheaf 含む／封じ込めるing a dozen swords. The fellow selected one, and Jerry saw that its 味方するs, instead of 存在 saw-辛勝する／優位d, were smooth and dull, while its point was tipped by a small oval bulb. The 黒人／ボイコット passed 類似の swords to the other three men.

In the 合間, one of the 捕虜s, a brown slave, was marched up in 前線 of the Torturer. He saluted, and took a sword from the 黒人／ボイコット.

The Torturer leaned 今後 and looked at him appraisingly.

"We have here swordsmen of the first, second, third and fourth grades," he said. "If you would 避ける the sacrificial altar you must 敗北・負かす at least a fourth grade swordsman. This will make you a ありふれた 軍人, and you need go no さらに先に. But if you are ambitious and would be an officer, a barb, then you must 敗北・負かす our swordsman of the third grade. 敗北・負かす the swordsman of the second grade, and you will be made a jen. And if you can best our swordsman of the first grade, you will be made a jendus. 敗北・負かす at any 行う／開催する／段階 will （判決などを）下す you a 犠牲者 for the sacrifice. Which swordsman do you choose to fight first?"

"I choose the swordsman of the fourth grade, may it please your 宗教上の majesty."

And as soon as the two contestants had crossed their 武器s Jerry saw that there was good 推論する／理由 for the slave's diffidence. His antagonist had him at the second thrust, 場内取引員／株価 him over the heart with a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す of red pigment which squeezed out of the bulb on the end of the sword.

"To the sacrifice pens," ordered Sarkis, in his hollow, sepulchral トンs, "and bring the next 囚人."

Man after man was brought 今後. Some were unable to 敗北・負かす the swordsman of the lowest grade, and so went to the sacrifice pens. Most of those who won the first duel were 満足させるd to stop there and enlist in the army of Sarkis as ありふれた 兵士s. But there were a few who aspired to higher 栄誉（を受ける）s. One of these became a barb, and stopped there. Another aspired to be a jen, but was 敗北・負かすd by the swordsman of the second grade.

When the fourth grade swordsman had fought ten duels, he was 取って代わるd by another. The swordsmen of the upper grades had so little 盗品故買者ing to do that it was unnecessary to relieve them. Some fifty-半端物 men had fought, and a sixth swordsman of the fourth grade was 実験（する）ing, when イチイd, who stood just in 前線 of Jerry, was called.

"別れの（言葉，会）, Gudo, my friend," he whispered. "If it were to be a spear or javelin, I would have a chance. But with a sword I am all but helpless."

A shout went up from the （人が）群がる at sight of イチイd's 巨大（な） thews, but as soon as he had a sword in his 手渡す, his unfamiliarity with that 武器 was 即時に 明らかな. His brown-skinned 対抗者 grinned, played with him for a moment, and then 示すd him twice on the chest.

Jerry's turn was next. The surrounding 軍人s hooted him as derisively as they had イチイd. But when he selected a 武器, 実験（する）d its balance, and whipped it about with the 緩和する and grace of a practiced swordsman, they grew silent.

The swordsman of the fourth 階級 前進するd with 武器 in 準備完了, but Jerry held up his 手渡す. "Wait. I would not waste the time of his 宗教上の majesty."

"What is this, slave?" asked the masked 人物／姿／数字 on the 王位.

"With your majesty's 許可, I will engage only the swordsman of the first grade. I have seen the 盗品故買者ing of these others, and they would furnish but poor sport for me. But 非，不，無 has yet tried the mettle of this jendus."

"Why, this is bold talk," said Sarkis. "But braggarts who cannot make good their 誇るing do not long 生き残る の中で us. Have at him, then."

CHAPTER 13

Jerry 設立する his antagonist a swordsman of unusual talent. And as he fought, there were many times when he was only able to save himself from the touch that would have sent him to the sacrifice pen by the agility which his Earth-trained muscles afforded him on 火星.

And it was this same factor which, in the end, gave him the advantage. For his 対抗者, evidently fearful of the derision of the horde, 圧力（をかける）d so ひどく that he tired himself. Soon Jerry was only playing with the man who had been the idol of the Torturer's 軍人s. But he quickly put an end to it by 場内取引員／株価 the chest of the jendus just above the heart.

The 直面する of the latter was a 熟考する／考慮する in mixed emotions—surprise, chagrin, and 傷つける vanity. But Jerry's attention was distracted from him by the 発言する／表明する of the masked man on the divan.

"You have made good your 誇る, slave," he said, "and we are ready to 任命する you a jendus in our army if you will 証明する your devotion to our 原因（となる） by truthfully answering any questions I may put to you. Fail to do so, and there is still the sacrifice pens. What is your 指名する?"

"Men call me Gudo, the slave."

"Slave of whom?"

"Of Her Highness Nisha Novil."

"Ah! And you mean to tell me that her highness would send a swordsman of your ability to work on the canal?"

"That was where she sent me, your majesty."

"Are you of the brown race of Kalsivar?"

"If I am not," said Jerry with a smile, "what am I?"

"That is what I mean to find out—in a moment," said Sarkis. He turned to a slave and 問題／発行するd a curt order. The latter dashed away, returning a moment later with a large 水盤／入り江 of water. The Torturer took a small flask from his pouch, and uncorking it, 注ぐd several 減少（する）s of a （疑いを）晴らす liquid into the water. After stirring it with his dagger he beckoned to Jerry. "Come and stand before me," he 命令（する）d.

The Earthman did as directed.

Taking the 水盤／入り江 from the slave's 手渡すs, Sarkis 命令（する）d: "除去する our 長，率いる-cloak."

As soon as he had 従うd, Jerry was drenched from 長，率いる to foot by the contents of that 水盤／入り江. To his surprise and horror, he saw that wherever the water had touched, his 肌 had 再開するd its normal color.

"And now," said the Torturer, a 公式文書，認める of exultation in his hollow トンs, "who are you?"

"I am Jerry Morgan of Earth."

"And not the slave of Nisha Novil?" No."

"Nor yet a member of the brown race of Kalsivar. Nor do men call you Gudo. You have lied to me, and you know the 刑罰，罰則. To the sacrifice pens with him. And see that he is the first 犠牲者 to 迎える／歓迎する the 広大な／多数の／重要な Lord Sun at his rising tomorrow."

Jerry was hustled away through the jeering （人が）群がる to the gate of a large inclosure, surrounded by a 石／投石する 塀で囲む thirty feet in 高さ. A guard opened the gate, and he was 投げつけるd through by his burly conductors.

A big 手渡す reached out to help him. It was the 手渡す of イチイd, the fisherman.

"I did not think to see you here," said the 巨大（な）, "and with your rightful color 回復するd. This Sarkis must be a wizard, in very truth."

"At least he is a good guesser," replied Jerry, "or what is more probable, is someone who saw me at the 法廷，裁判所 of Numin Vil..

"There may be some truth in that. I have heard that the Torturer spends much time away from his army, and that he comes and goes alone in his 広大な／多数の／重要な metal 飛行機で行くing machine. Each time he leaves, he 飛行機で行くs straight toward the sun until his （手先の）技術 is lost to 見解（をとる）, and gives out that he is returning to his home in the sun."

"I'm afraid he would need a better 絶縁するd 控訴 and mask than the ones he is wearing for a visit to the sun," said Jerry. "Can his people 現実に believe he goes there?"

"Many of them do," replied イチイd. "Others, I am 納得させるd, only pretend. They have joined 軍隊s with him because he has always been 勝利を得た, and because his （警察の）手入れ，急襲s afford much 略奪する."

While they were talking the last of the 犠牲者s from the （警察の）手入れ，急襲 was thrust into the pen. And すぐに thereafter, night fell with the suddenness ありふれた to 火星, where there is little light refraction in the thin 乾燥した，日照りの atmosphere, and no perceptible twilight. The pen was 急落（する），激減（する）d into instant 不明瞭.

In the deeper 影をつくる／尾行する of the 塀で囲む, Jerry was carrying on a whispered conversation with イチイd.

"You say the pen is on the 辛勝する／優位 of the lake, and that the gawrs swim riderless only a short distance from the shore?" he asked.

"If they remain as they were before I was brought hither. But I don't see how it will be possible for you to leap to the 最高の，を越す of the 塀で囲む."

"That is a 詳細（に述べる） you must take on 約束. In any event, we are all doomed men, and an 試みる／企てる to escape cannot put us in worse 事例／患者."

"You are 権利," agreed イチイd. "Let us then pass the word の中で the others, and see who is willing to make the 試みる／企てる with us."

"Tell them to take off their belts and give them to you," Jerry said, "and I will do likewise. Twenty belts will easily reach over the 最高の，を越す of the 塀で囲む and to the ground on the other 味方する. I'll 会合，会う you here when we have made the 一連の会議、交渉／完成するs."

A few moments later イチイd and Jerry 衝突する／食い違うd in the 不明瞭. "Have you some belts?" asked the Earthman.

"More than we need," the 巨大（な） replied. "I have twenty-seven."

"And I have thirty-two," Jerry told him. "We will 建設する two lines. Every man is coming with us, and thus we will be able to get them over the 塀で囲む with more 速度(を上げる）."

As soon as the two long chains of belts had been fastened together, イチイd （疑いを）晴らすd a path for Jerry. 絶対の silence had been enjoined upon all, but there was a subdued murmur of wonder as they heard the Earthman run and spring, and a moment later saw him 輪郭（を描く）d against the 星／主役にするs as he drew himself up の上に the 塀で囲む.

The end of each chain of belts had been 麻薬中毒の to the 支援する of his own belt. But he left them there for a moment, as he paused to cast a swift, 用心深い look around him. There were no guards between him and the water's 辛勝する／優位. Most of the campfires had 燃やすd 負かす／撃墜する to beds of glowing coals, but the sounds of revelry were loud and there was the mixed medley of songs, and drunken quarrels.

保証するd that the way was （疑いを）晴らす, Jerry 速く unhooked the two chains of belts, and lowered one on each 味方する of him until ten belts had passed each 手渡す and he knew that the ground had been reached. Then he gave one line a gentle shake, after which he gripped it with both 手渡すs and を締めるd himself on the opposite 味方する of the 塀で囲む. A 激しい 負わせる was thrown on that chain of belts, but Jerry's powerful Earthly muscles were more than 有能な of supporting it. And in a few moments イチイd was on the 塀で囲む beside him.

イチイd jerked a signal to the men beneath him, and as soon as the line grew taut, descended on the other 味方する, where he しっかり掴むd the ends of both lines.

保持するing his seat on the 最高の，を越す of the 塀で囲む, Jerry directed 操作／手術s by signaling to those below each time a man had reached the 最高の，を越す of the 塀で囲む on either line, until he had counted sixty, and the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 was emptied. Then, 製図／抽選 up the ends of the lines, he dropped them on the outside, and letting himself 負かす／撃墜する as low as possible by hanging の上に the outer 縁 of the 塀で囲む, dropped after them.

Silently the men 再開するd their belts, and then, forming a 広大な／多数の／重要な human chain by clasping 手渡すs in the dark, they silently 前進するd to the water's 辛勝する／優位. Here they paused for a moment, while イチイd whispered the final 指示／教授／教育s.

"Remember, not a sound or a splash," he 警告を与えるd. "It may be that we will become separated from one 原因（となる） or another. If so, our place of rendezvous will be the southern end of the Tarvaho 沼. Pass the word along, then swim out, 掴む the gawr nearest you, and 飛行機で行く straight north."

The human chain broke into its 部隊s, with the exception of イチイd and Jerry. Because the latter knew nothing whatever about managing a gawr, the two had decided to 試みる／企てる to make their escape on the same bird-beast.

A short swim brought them to the 味方する of a 広大な／多数の／重要な bird-beast which snorted and shook its 長，率いる as the two men climbed to its 支援する. イチイd, seated in 前線, unsnapped the ends of the two chains which trammeled the creature's wings by 存在 麻薬中毒の through perforations in the membrane around one of the wing-bones. The 二塁打 目的 of these chains became evident to Jerry when, a moment later, the 巨大（な） fisherman snapped one to his own belt and the other to that of the Earthman.

"It is customary for a rider to attach both chains to his belt each time he 開始するs a gawr," explained イチイd, "to 妨げる his 落ちるing to the ground in 事例／患者 he slips from his saddle. But since there are two of us, we must be content with one chain each."

There was a light 棒, fastened at one end to a short rope which was 麻薬中毒の around the gawr's neck, and at the other, to the 鞍馬 of the saddle. The 巨大（な） now raised the 棒, その結果 the 広大な／多数の／重要な bird-beast swam 速く 今後, then took to the 空気／公表する with a mighty flapping of wings. This was the signal which had been agreed upon for the others to take off. And their advent into the 空気／公表する was followed by a mighty splashing and flapping all about them.

It was followed, too, by shouts from several of the sentinels who had heard the noise and thought the bird-beasts had been attacked by some of the monster saurians which were known to 住む the 沼.

But before the 機動力のある guards had reached the 残りの人，物 of the herd, the sixty stolen gawrs were silently winging their way northward in the 不明瞭, high above the 沼. 追跡 parties were 即時に 組織するd, to 飛行機で行く in all directions, as it was impossible to tell which way the 逃亡者／はかないものs had gone.

In the 合間 Jerry and his party flew 刻々と toward the north, unable to see each other in the 不明瞭 and guided 単独で by the 炎ing stellar 星座s 総計費, with which every Martian is familiar.

Presently, however, the nearer moon popped above the western horizon, and by its light Jerry saw that the gawr which he and イチイd bestrode had fallen やめる a distance behind the other bird-beasts.

"Looks as if we are going to be late for the rendezvous."

"The creature has a 二塁打, nay a treble 重荷（を負わせる）," replied イチイd. "I 重さを計る as much as two 普通の／平均（する） men, and you are not small, by any means."

They lagged さらに先に and さらに先に behind until their fellow 逃亡者／はかないものs were out of sight. すぐに thereafter the beast ぱたぱたするd groundward にもかかわらず イチイd's frantic 強く引っ張るs at the guiding 棒. Although they were now 飛行機で行くing over the 砂漠, far to the north of the 沼 where Sarkis was 野営するd, the bird-beast had selected a small, tree-covered oasis at which to land.

As soon as it alighted it 倍のd its wings, ran in under the trees and splashed into a shallow pool, where it knelt, taking sips of water and 辞退するing to rise or move.

イチイd unsnapped the ends of the chains from his and Jerry's belts— then fastened them to the gawr's wings.

"We may 同様に dismount and get some 残り／休憩（する）, ourselves. It will not 動かす from this place until it has fully 回復するd from its 疲労，（軍の）雑役."

They accordingly got 負かす／撃墜する from the saddle and stretched themselves out on the sand beneath the 厚い canopy of trees. Scarcely had they done so when Jerry saw baridium たいまつs flashing 総計費, and looking up, saw a large party of 飛行機で行くing 軍人s.

"Deza be 賞賛するd!" exclaimed イチイd. "We have been 保存するd from 逮捕（する） by the sudden weariness of our bird-beast, and the 厚い foliage above this oasis. Had it continued to 飛行機で行く with us at the 率 we were traveling we should soon have been 精密検査するd."

When the last of their pursuers had passed, Jerry settled 負かす／撃墜する once more in his bed of sand.

He was awakened by a slanting 軸 of 有望な sunlight, which had 侵入するd the surrounding foliage and shone 直接／まっすぐに in his 直面する. Sitting up and looking about him, he saw that イチイd had already arisen and was standing beside the pool looking at the gawr, which had 低迷d over in a most unnatural position.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Come and see for yourself," イチイd told him. "We are in sore 海峡s."

Hurrying to the 巨大（な）'s 味方する, Jerry saw that the bird-beast was dead. 血 had drooled 負かす／撃墜する from the corners of its beak to form a congealing, bluish red pool upon the bank.

"What killed it?" Jerry asked.

イチイd pointed to the place where neck and 団体／死体 joined. From this 位置／汚点／見つけ出す several sharp spines 事業／計画（する）d through the 肌.

"It swallowed a dagger fish. Must have been dying when we 機動力のある it 支援する at the 沼. The wonder is that the creature carried us this far."

"Looks as if we'll have to walk the 残り／休憩（する） of the way," the Earthman 観察するd.

"It looks as if we are doomed. For between us and the Tarvaho 沼 is an 巨大な stretch of trackless 砂漠, 住むd by 猛烈な／残忍な beasts, 敵意を持った tribes and deadly insects."

CHAPTER 14

Jerry smiled grimly. "Last night we were in the sacrifice pen of the Torturer," he said. "Every man in that pen considered himself doomed. Don't give up hope."

"Although I can see no ray of hope, you somehow give me courage," said イチイd. "At least we have 武器s. There is a sheaf of javelins fastened to the saddle. I modestly 自白する that few men are my equal with spear or javelin. One has to be quick and 正確な to spear fish."

He climbed up, 除去するd the sheaf of javelins from the saddle, and after passing one of the multi-barbed 武器s to Jerry, slung the 残り／休憩（する） over his 支援する.

"It is unfortunate that we have no water 瓶／封じ込めるs to take with us," said Jerry. "But we had best drink our fill from the pool before we start, 血 or no 血. And now shall we start?"

"I am ready," said the 巨大（な）.

And so they 始める，決める off across the rolling dunes of ocher yellow sand.

When noon arrived both men were tired and thirsty, but there was no sight of an oasis and pool.

Presently they （機の）カム to a gently sloping hillside, strewn with gray 玉石s, and by 相互の 同意, decided to pause for a 残り／休憩（する）.

Jerry sank 負かす／撃墜する on one of the 玉石s, and to his surprise, 設立する it soft and 産する／生じるing. With suddenly 誘発するd curiosity he pricked it with the point of his javelin and a （疑いを）晴らす viscous liquid 井戸／弁護士席d 前へ／外へ.

"Look, イチイd!" he exclaimed. "Here is a 石／投石する that bleeds."

The 巨大（な） looked, then dipped a finger into the sticky liquid and tasted it.

"Deza be thanked!" he exclaimed. "These are not 石／投石するs, but fungoid 工場／植物s that we call torfals. Had you not made this 発見 we might have died from hunger and かわき in the 中央 of plenty. But this liquid 供給（する）s a balanced ration of food and water."

Jerry tasted the liquid. It was 甘い and わずかに 酸性の, with a syrupy consistency, and a flavor that reminded him both of 気が狂って and muskmelons. 圧力（をかける）ing on the 肌 around the incision he had made, he drank his fill. イチイd, 一方／合間, had tapped another torfal, and was drinking thirstily.

When both had finished they arose, refreshed, and each taking as many medium sized torfals as he could conveniently carry, they plodded on into the afternoon.

The sun was 中途の toward the horizon when suddenly, upon crossing an 異常に high 山の尾根 of sand they （機の）カム to a large oasis where the waters of a small lake gleamed の中で the tree trunks. With glad cries, they hurried toward it. But they had scarcely entered its 感謝する shade, when they heard shouts, cries, and the 衝突／不一致 of 武器s from some distance beyond. They 裁判官d from the sounds that a かなりの 軍隊 of men was engaged in some sort of cavalry 戦う／戦い, but because of the 介入するing trees and shrubbery, were unable to see the contest. Here was a serious 状況／情勢 for Jerry and イチイd. They were hidden for the moment, but they were in 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な danger of 存在 discovered.

慎重に Jerry and イチイd crept 今後 in the concealment of the shrubbery, until Jerry, parting the 支店s ahead of them, saw two parties of 軍人s, each numbering about a thousand men, in deadly 戦闘.

Those nearest the oasis were 機動力のある on the 支援するs of large, two-legged creatures that were neither true birds nor reptiles. They stood about five feet high at the shoulder, but their long necks, covered with 有望な green 規模s, held their ugly reptilian 長，率いるs to a 高さ of ten feet. These 長，率いるs were much like those of large serpents, except that they were tipped by crests of curling white plumes and there was a sharp, straight horn on the snout of each. Their birdlike 団体／死体s were covered with 厚い yellow 負かす／撃墜する, and the 脚s, like the necks, were 装甲の with 有望な green 規模s. The wings were 単に short bunches of white plumes 大（公）使館員d to tiny useless stubs.

They were fitted with saddles somewhat 類似の to those used on the gawrs, and equipped with large quivers that held the javelins of the riders.

The riders were 明白に of the white race, though 井戸／弁護士席 tanned by the sun. Their 着せる／賦与するing consisted of cloaks, evidently made from the downy hides of creatures like those which they bestrode, headdresses of the white plumes, which were 大（公）使館員d to the 支援する of the 長，率いる and spread out, fanwise above the 直面する, and cinctures and boots of leather. Their thighs, 武器 and torsos were 保護するd by scaly plates, evidently made from the 脚 coverings of their 開始するs. And in 新規加入 to javelins, sword, dagger and mace, each was 武装した with a long 軸 like that of a lance, but tipped with a pair of sharp 結社s.

Their enemies were 類似して 機動力のある and 武装した, with the exception that their 開始するs had 黒人／ボイコット plumes instead of white, and they used these for their headdresses. All the riders of both warring 派閥s wore the 水晶 disks which 示すd them as 崇拝者s of the sun.

The battleground was strewn with dead and dying 軍人s, whose comrades on both 味方するs fought above them. Although they were using every type of 武器, their favorite seemed to be the strange 軸 tipped with 結社s. With these, riders on both 味方するs 掴むd their enemies and dragged them from their saddles, the sharp points piercing them 深く，強烈に.

The 長，指導者 目的 of the things, as was plainly evident, was not to kill, but to 逮捕（する） enemies. On each 味方する, Jerry noticed a 詳細（に述べる） of 軍人s guarding 負傷させるd 囚人s who had been dragged from their 開始するs to the 支援する of the lines.

"Who are these people?" Jerry asked his companion.

"Wild 砂漠 lorwocks," イチイd replied. "They are ferocious 闘士，戦闘機s and slave-raiders. Perhaps you have noticed that the tuzars, the long 武器s they carry, are admirably adapted for slave taking."

"Rather hard on the slaves, I should say. But when those things once 支配する them, they have to come."

While they watched, the 戦う／戦い 殺到するd nearer and nearer the oasis. Jerry's attention was attracted to one of the white-plumed lorwocks, evidently the 長，指導者. And though his 軍隊 was 存在 driven 刻々と backward by their 黒人／ボイコット-plumed 対抗者s, he 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d again and again into the lines of the enemy, each time dragging 支援する a limp, bleeding 囚人 at the end of his tuzar, while he fended off 投げつけるd javelins with his sword blade.

But presently, as he returned to the fray, a cloud of javelins descended upon him 同時に from many directions. Some he parried and some he dodged, but there was one that pierced his neck, その結果 he went limp in the saddle. His 開始する wandered erratically for a moment, then turned and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d straight into the bushes where Jerry and イチイd were 隠すd. They leaped aside just in time, but the thing stopped and looked inquiringly at Jerry as if asking him to relieve it of its limp 重荷（を負わせる）.

イチイd sprang in and caught the guiding 棒, while Jerry 診察するd the stricken chieftain. He was やめる dead.

"Here are 武器s, and a 開始する for one!" exclaimed イチイd. "If we only had another rodal, we would not need to walk or 恐れる to 遭遇（する） 武装した enemies."

At this instant, another riderless 開始する dashed into the bushes. With a swift spring, イチイd 掴むd the guiding 棒 and leaped into the saddle.

"Come, let us be off before the 軍人s see us," he said.

"No, wait. I have a more ambitious 計画（する）," Jerry told him.

速く he 除去するd his own 着せる／賦与するing, and stripping that of the dead chieftain from him, donned it, along with his 武器s. The tuzar had been lost, but the other 武器s were 損なわれていない.

"By the 力／強力にする and glory of Deza!" exclaimed イチイd, when he had finished and leaped into the saddle. "You seem a very lorwock 長，指導者. But come, let us start before we are （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd."

"I have a better 計画（する）," Jerry told him. "From what I have seen, I am 納得させるd that we could not travel far without 存在 traced by these tribesmen. But if we join them they may 受託する us as friends and 同盟（する）s. Will you follow me into that 戦う／戦い?"

"With all my heart."

Jerry 手渡すd him all of the javelins but two from his own quiver.

"You prefer javelins—I the sword. Follow closely, keeping off enemies from my 味方するs and 支援する. I will …に出席する to those in 前線. Let us see if we cannot turn the tide of 戦う／戦い."

By this time the 黒人／ボイコット-plumed lorwocks had driven their closely 圧力（をかける）d adversaries into a 防御の semicircle by 遂行する／発効させるing an encircling movement at each end of the line. And the horns of the 広大な／多数の／重要な 三日月 thus formed were 速く 製図／抽選 together.

One horn of the 三日月 had just reached the oasis when Jerry 押し進めるd 今後 on the guiding 棒. His rodal 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d.

The Earthman steered his swift 開始する so that instead of 非難する with the other white-plumed 軍人s, he was riding behind the attacking line of 黒人／ボイコット- plumes. As these 軍人s had their tuzars 延長するd toward the line of white- plumed 軍人s, they could not use them on him, but could only turn in their saddles, snatching out their swords or javelins for 弁護.

Some who thus turned their attention away from enemies in 前線 of them were 即時に dragged from their saddles by the tuzars of the white-plumes. Some fell beneath Jerry's flashing blade; the others were pierced by the javelins of イチイd.

As a result, the line of 黒人／ボイコット-plumes was thrown into 混乱. In いっそう少なく than five minutes the entire 権利 horn of their 三日月 had been 粉々にするd and put to 大勝する. But Jerry continued on through the 中心 and around to the left horn, cutting and thrusting as he 棒, while the deadly javelins of イチイd kept off enemies from his 味方するs and 支援する.

The Earthman's 予期しない クーデター 完全に turned the tide of 戦う／戦い and won the day for the white-plumed lorwocks. With shouts of 勝利 they 追求するd the 粉々にするd 残余 of their 逃げるing enemies, dragging them from their 開始するs with their tuzars, while others 逮捕（する）d and herded together the riderless rodals. Jerry 概算の that at least seventy-five per cent of the 黒人／ボイコット-plumed 軍人s had been killed or 逮捕（する）d. The 残り／休憩（する） were 逃げるing for their lives.

When the last enemy and rodal had been 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd up, the white-plumed 軍人s and their lesser officers （人が）群がるd around Jerry and his 巨大（な） companion. Then one of the jens, who had evidently been 構成するd 広報担当者 by his fellow officers, said:

"Though we know not who you are nor whence you （機の）カム, riding the rodal of our jendus and wearing his 衣料品s, my comrades and I salute you and your slave, and 企て，努力，提案 you welcome." So 説, he raised both 手渡すs before his 注目する，もくろむs, and all the others followed his example.

"There has been a prophecy の中で you that a fighting man would come to lead you to victory," said Jerry. "An impostor, who hides his 直面する behind a mask, and blasphemously calls himself the reincarnation of Sarkis the Sun God, has gathered a かなりの に引き続いて. But I tell you now that I am he who has come in answer to your prophecy. I learned the art of war on another 惑星; I am that leader for whom you have been waiting."

When he had finished he calmly took out his cigarette 事例／患者, selected a cigarette, and lighted it. The 影響 on the lorwocks when they saw smoke 続いて起こるing from his mouth and nostrils was instantaneous. To a man, they clapped their 手渡すs over their 注目する，もくろむs and 屈服するd to their saddle horns.

"As I told you," said Jerry, when the 軍人s 投機・賭けるd to look up once more, "I do not （人命などを）奪う，主張する to be the reincarnation of Sarkis. I am Jerry Morgan of Dhu Gong, and will be so called. I have come to gather the 砂漠 hordes beneath my 旗，新聞一面トップの大見出し／大々的に報道する. And those who ride after me now will have the 栄誉（を受ける） of 存在 the first to do so. For the 現在の, I ride north."

So 説, he wheeled his 開始する, and with イチイd に引き続いて の近くに after him, 棒 away. To a man, the lorwocks fell in behind him with their 囚人s and 逮捕（する）d rodals.

CHAPTER 15

Two days after he had 達成するd 命令（する） of the white-plumed lorwocks, Jerry led them 負かす／撃墜する the 味方する of a 法外な declivity and across an 古代の, 玉石-strewn beach, to the shore of a small lake at the southern end of the Tarvaho 沼.

"This," he told his jens, "will be our 長，指導者 （軍の）野営地，陣営 for the 現在の. From here we will send messengers to the 砂漠 hordes, 発表するing that a new leader has come, and that the days of the Torturer are numbered."

At the opposite 味方する of the lake, Jerry saw the gawrs that shad been 逮捕（する）d by the escaped 囚人s. And on the shore, in their improvised （軍の）野営地，陣営, he saw the 囚人s themselves. He called イチイd to his 味方する. "Ride around the lake," he 命令（する）d, "and tell our comrades to cross the lake and join us."

A half hour later the two 軍隊s were joined, and Jerry 設立する himself in 命令（する） of eight hundred 機動力のある lorwocks, fifty-nine gawr riders, and three hundred 囚人s. After a 会議／協議会 with his jens, he called the 黒人／ボイコット-plumed 囚人s together and 演説（する）／住所d them, telling them he was going to 解放（する） them and send them as messengers of good will to the 黒人／ボイコット-plumed tribes, 招待するing them to join him.

After he had made his speech he smoked a cigarette to impress them, and sent them on their way.

In ten days, his 軍隊s augmented by thousands of 砂漠 tribesmen and escaped slaves, Jerry made his first （警察の）手入れ，急襲 on the central （軍の）野営地，陣営 of Sarkis. Five thousand of his newly 新採用するd men crossed the 沼 with water shoes in the dead of night. Then, while a number of the Earthmen's lorwocks created a 騒動 on the bluffs above the Torturer's （軍の）野営地，陣営, Jerry's men 機動力のある and escaped with five thousand gawrs. As he had 心配するd, Sarkis had placed a guard around the sacrifice pens, but had thought his 飛行機で行くing bird-beasts 安全な.

When the Torturer learned that it was Jerry Morgan's men who had （警察の）手入れ，急襲d his （軍の）野営地，陣営, he swore that he would bring the Earthman and all of his 信奉者s to the 拷問 壇・綱領・公約; and on learning of his （軍の）野営地，陣営ing place, 始める，決める out with a 抱擁する 武装した 軍隊 to 鎮圧する him.

But Jerry's 飛行機で行くing scouts quickly 報告（する）／憶測d the movement of Sarkis's 巨大な army, and when the Torturer reached the Tarvaho 沼 he 設立する it 砂漠d.

The Earthman's 軍隊s 組立て直すd at a new rendezvous, but not before they had （警察の）手入れ，急襲d two of the Torturer's lesser （軍の）野営地，陣営s, in one of which they 逮捕（する）d, in 新規加入 to many slaves and much rich 略奪する of all descriptions, fifty large metal 飛行機で行くing machines. Each would 融通する fifty 軍人s in 新規加入 to the 操縦する. The glazed windows could be opened to 収容する／認める the 空気／公表する, or covered with metal shutters to keep out enemy 発射物s.

When he reached his new rendezvous and 分配するd the 略奪する, Jerry 設立する, の中で other things, several thousand 控訴s of 着せる／賦与するing. の中で these were many outfits of rich 黒人／ボイコット 構成要素 ーするつもりであるd for sale to 豊富な commoners. The Earthman selected a number of outfits that ふさわしい him as to size and 削減（する）, with appropriate silver 機動力のある 武器s and silver trappings. And though he might have worn the peacock blue of 王族, he chose rather to be known as the Commoner.

He also 原因（となる）d pennons to be made of 黒人／ボイコット 構成要素, each 辛勝する／優位d with silver fringe and 中心d with a 選び出す／独身 silver 星／主役にする.

As the days passed, Jerry's army swelled 速く. Not only was he joined by the 砂漠 hordes, escaped slaves, 無法者s, and 見捨てる人／脱走兵s from the Torturer's army; even the 広大な／多数の／重要な nobles of Kalsivar, who were 不満な with the 政策s of Numin Vil, began throwing in their lot with him. The fame of his 偉業／利用するs spread 速く, all over 火星.

But にもかかわらず his 早い rise to 力／強力にする and 前例のない 一連の victories he was still an 無法者, with a price upon his 長，率いる. Numin Vil now believed the Earthman to be the 殺害者 of his son, and even Junia was 納得させるd by the 証拠 Thoor Movil had brought 前へ／外へ, Jerry heard.

Numin Vil, その上の 怒り／怒るd by the desertions of many of his nobles, gave orders that the army of the Earthman should be 鎮圧するd, his 信奉者s 殺害された without ４半期/4分の1, and himself brought in, dead or alive.

Though he might have brought the 探検隊／遠征隊 sent against him to grief, Jerry rather chose to 避ける it. 深い in his heart was the hope that some day he might again be in the good graces of Junia—that he might be able to 証明する to her that he was innocent of her brother's death.

The Torturer, who had no such scruples as Jerry regarding the 皇室の 軍隊s, met and surrounded the first 探検隊／遠征隊, then 絶滅するd it, 殺人，大当り or 逮捕（する）ing every man and officer 現在の. In this 戦う／戦い the Torturer kept himself 井戸／弁護士席 out of sight and ordered the 黒人／ボイコット-and-silver 基準s of the Commoner to be shown. Then, at the 結論 of the 戦う／戦い he permitted several 囚人s to escape to Raliad with the story that the army had been 鎮圧するd by the 軍隊s of the Earthman.

の中で those in the 皇室の palace who listened with bated breath to the recital of each new 偉業／利用する of the Commoner, was Nisha Novil. The princess had never for a moment given up hope of making him her own.

Accordingly she ordered her luxuriously 任命するd 飛行機で行くing machine one 有望な morning, giving out that she ーするつもりであるd to visit her 広い地所 on the Corvid Canal. But before she started she had a 簡潔な／要約する 会議／協議会 with her brother, Thoor Movil.

"I will make a 取引 with you," she said. "…を伴ってd by your 秘かに調査する, Wurgul, to show me the way as we bad planned, I will visit this Commoner in his main （軍の）野営地，陣営. If he accedes to my wishes I will spare his life. If not, I will use my dagger. But in 事例／患者 I spare his life, you are to intercede for him with the Torturer and the Vil. And when you have become Vil of Kalsivar, you are to spare him. Do you agree?"

"On the one 条件 that you 説得する him to give up his 命令（する） and go with you to your country 広い地所. As long as he has an army at his 支援する he remains a menace."

"I will 受託する that 条件. And now, 別れの（言葉，会）."

"別れの（言葉，会）, and may success reward your 請け負うing," said Thoor, rising and walking to the door with his sister. But he smiled to himself, for he had already 問題／発行するd special 指示／教授／教育s to Wurgul, who was to 行為／行う her to Jerry's （軍の）野営地，陣営.

Nisha was amazed at the size and orderliness of the 無法者 （軍の）野営地，陣営. It was a city of portable huts, laid out around a central plaza from which all streets radiated like the spokes of a wheel. And in the middle of this plaza was a large hut of 黒人／ボイコット fur.

As soon as the flier had passed over the bluff, two others out of a 得点する／非難する／２０ circling above the （軍の）野営地，陣営 flew up and challenged them. When the colors of the princess were shown, her 操縦する was ordered to descend at a （疑いを）晴らすd place on the 辛勝する／優位 of the （軍の）野営地，陣営.

The machine alighted, then （機の）カム to a stop. The ladder was dropped, and Nisha Novil stepped out, followed by Wurgul the 秘かに調査する. She was met by an officer and a squad of men, who （許可，名誉などを）与えるd her the 王室の salute. In answer to her 調査s, they told her that the Commoner was in （軍の）野営地，陣営, conferring with his jens, and 召喚するd a multiped 乗り物 for her.

…を伴ってd by the officer and Wurgul, she 棒 along one of the streets of the （軍の）野営地，陣営 until they （機の）カム to the central plaza. Here they were challenged by a guard, who 主張するd that both the princess and her 信奉者 deposit their 武器s with him before going さらに先に.

Nisha 抗議するd, but when she saw that it would be impossible to proceed without 従うing with this order, 降伏するd her jeweled dagger, and ordered Wurgul to give up his sword, dagger and mace.

A 兵士 raised the silver curtain which draped the central doorway of the 黒人／ボイコット hut. And the officer who had come with the two 訪問者s, 発表するd: "Her 王室の Highness, Nisha Novil."

Nisha swept into the room with Wurgul at her heels, and caught sight of Jerry. Seated の中で his officers, his 黒人／ボイコット 着せる／賦与するing and plain silver trappings contrasted oddly with their brightly colored 衣料品s and their gold, platinum and flashing jewels. Yet, as he rose to 迎える／歓迎する her, she saw that he was easily the most striking 人物／姿／数字 in that assemblage.

"This is an 予期しない 栄誉（を受ける） and 楽しみ, your highness," he said, （判決などを）下すing her the 王室の salute. "May I 現在の my nobles and officers?"

"Later, Jerry Morgan. At 現在の I am 疲れた／うんざりしたd by my 旅行. And I have a message for your ears alone."

"It shall be as your highness wishes," he told her. Then he 演説（する）／住所d his men: "The 会合 is 延期，休会するd until I send a new 召喚するs."

The nobles and officers arose and とじ込み／提出するd out, each saluting the princess as he passed her. When the last man had gone, there remained only Jerry, Nisha and Wurgul. The Earthman looked 意味ありげに at the 秘かに調査する, その結果 the princess ordered him to wait outside the door for her.

"Won't you be seated and have some pulcho?" 招待するd Jerry. He 示すd his own swinging divan and a small taboret beside it on which stood a steaming flask of freshly brewed pulcho, surrounded by a dozen jewel-encrusted, platinum cups.

Nisha sat 負かす／撃墜する and Jerry filled a cup for her. After she had 受託するd and tasted it he filled another for himself, and stood before her.

"You need not be formal, Jerry Morgan. Come and sit here beside me."

"Indeed, I prefer to stand for a while," he replied. "I have been sitting in 会議／協議会 all morning. And now won't you tell me in what way I may be of service to you?"

"You-you make it so difficult for me, with your formal ways."

"I'm sorry," he answered. "My 意向s are やめる the 逆転する."

"When last we parted," she told him, "you were to think over a 確かな 事柄, for the space of one senil. At the end of that time we had arranged for a rendezvous at my country place on the Corvid Canal. But the rendezvous was not kept, nor have you vouchsafed me an answer. I have been so lonely for you —so hungry for even a small sight of you.

"Once more I 申し込む／申し出 you all that any man might 願望（する）—myself, my love, and the wealth position and 力／強力にする which will 落ちる to the lot of my husband. Think, Jerry Morgan. Before another senil hag passed I will be sister to the Vil of Kalsivar. Give up this futile life of outlawry and come with me to my country 広い地所. There we can be 静かに married, and I can 約束 you that within a senil your 力／強力にする in Kalsivar will be second only to that of the 王位, itself, for you will be the brother-in-法律 of the Vil."

"I hope you will believe me, highness," replied Jerry, "when I say that it grieves me more than I can say to 拒絶する／低下する your 申し込む／申し出. As you say, I am an 無法者, under 宣告，判決 of death. And その上に, I am indebted to you for life itself. But somehow, marriage is a thing I have always associated with love. And unfortunately, love is a thing which cannot be coerced or 命令（する）d. Where love enters, it 命令（する）s. We who are its 支配するs can only obey, no 事柄 where its dictates lead us."

At this Nisha's 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs flashed and Jerry 推定する／予想するd another 突発／発生. But it did not come. Instead, she arose and said meekly: "Then this is the end. It is 別れの（言葉，会） forever. Let us not part in 怒り／怒る."

Slowly she walked up to where he stood, 武器 outstretched.

"One last kiss," she whispered.

Her 手渡す hovered above the silver 機動力のある hilt of his dagger. With a sudden, snake-like movement she 掴むd it, wrenched it from its sheath, and 肺d for his breast. But the Earthman was too quick for her. He caught her wrist in a 支配する of アイロンをかける, wrenched the 武器 from her しっかり掴む.

In the 合間 Wurgul, who had been standing outside the silver curtain, engaged the guard who stood there in a conversation. While they conversed, he managed to move against the curtain in such a way as to 押し進める it 支援する, permitting him a glimpse into the room. He saw that Jerry was standing with his 支援する to the doorway, 持つ／拘留するing the wrists of the 激怒（する）ing princess.

For an instant, he fumbled in the 倍のs of his 長，率いる-cloak. Then, with one 手渡す still 隠すd, he raised the other and pointed skyward. "What strange （手先の）技術 is that?"

As the guard looked up, Wurgul's other 手渡す （機の）カム out from beneath the 倍のs of his headpiece, clutching a short, straight dagger. The blade flashed downward—急落（する），激減（する）d into the guard's 支援する up to the hilt.

Wurgul turned, flipped 支援する the curtain, and ran noiselessly up behind the Earthman. Nisha saw him coming, but save for a 広げるing of her 注目する，もくろむs made no sound or 調印する. He 肺d straight for the unprotected 支援する of the Earthman.

CHAPTER 16

As Jerry held the 激怒（する）ing little princess away from him, he suddenly noticed that her 注目する，もくろむs had gone wide, as if she had seen something startling behind him. He flung her 支援する across the divan, and whirled around just in time to see Wurgul 肺ing at him.

There was no time to 掴む a 武器, but Jerry 封鎖するd the 一打／打撃 with his left 手渡す against the wrist of the 暗殺者. Then he drove a 粉砕するing 権利 to the point of Wurgul's jaw. The 秘かに調査する 低迷d to the 床に打ち倒す, unconscious. At the same moment an officer and a half dozen guards 急ぐd into the room.

"This 殺害者 just slew Shuvi, the guard," cried the officer. "Stabbed him in the 支援する."

"Put him in the 刑務所，拘置所 pen. I'll …に出席する to his 事例／患者 later."

As two 軍人s carried out the still unconscious Wurgul, Nisha （機の）カム to her feet. "I suppose I, too, must go to the 刑務所，拘置所 pen," she said defiantly. "Or perhaps you will order my 死刑執行 at once."

Jerry smiled grimly 負かす／撃墜する at her. "Neither," he answered. "You sought only to take that which you once saved for me—my life. I have not forgotten, and I am not ungrateful. You are 解放する／自由な to go."

At this Nisha laughed 激しく.

"You are a generous fool, Jerry Morgan," she said. "If you were wise, you would keep me here—make me your slave. I 警告する you that once I am 解放する／自由な, I will leave no 石／投石する unturned to compass your 廃虚."

Jerry turned to the officer, who stood with his four men, を待つing orders. "You will 行為／行う her highness to her flier."

Nisha walked out with 長，率いる held high, and in her 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs was the feral gleam which the Earthman knew meant trouble.

Jerry sat の中で his officers, conferring on 未来 計画（する）s of （選挙などの）運動をする until a late hour. One thing they had all 勧めるd upon him was that he should select from の中で his 信奉者s two men who would be his constant companions night and day, in 新規加入 to the 正規の／正選手 guard.

He chose イチイd, the 巨大（な） fisherman, and a 黒人／ボイコット dwarf 指名するd Koha, a queer, misshapen creature whose brawny 武器 were longer than his 脚s, and whose 広大な／多数の／重要な shoulders were as 幅の広い as those of the 巨大（な）. He could throw daggers with deadly 正確, and carried a 激しい, long-扱うd mace with which he had bested many a swordsman by the simple expedient of 粉砕するing through guard and skull.

The Earthman had 解任するd his officers, and was 準備するing to retire for the night, with Koha stretched across his doorway, and イチイd standing guard behind his divan, when a messenger （機の）カム running up to the doorway.

"A 先触れ（する） has arrived from Sarkis the Torturer," he 発表するd.

"収容する／認める him," said Jerry.

With イチイd standing on guard at one 味方する of his divan, and Koha at the other, Jerry を待つd the 先触れ（する）, who said: "I 耐える a challenge from His 宗教上の Majesty, Sarkis, Lord of the Day and Vil of the Worlds. Tomorrow afternoon, when the 広大な／多数の／重要な Lord Sun has spanned three-fourths of the sky, his 宗教上の majesty will leave his entire army on the 高さs of Zokar, which overlook the Plain of Ling, and will ride along to the 中心 of the plain.

"If Jerry Morgan is the leader that he （人命などを）奪う，主張するs to be, he will leave his own army on the 高さs of Lokar, which overlook the plain from the opposite 味方する, and ride 負かす／撃墜する alone to do 戦う／戦い with the Lord of the Day. And there, within sight of the two hosts, let the 問題／発行する of 選び出す／独身 戦闘 決定する who is the true leader foretold in the prophecy, and who the ペテン師."

"You will を待つ my answer outside," said Jerry. Then, as the 先触れ（する） passed through the curtained doorway, he turned to the 巨大（な） fisherman. "What think you of this, イチイd?"

"Though my poor wits fail to read the riddle," replied the 巨大（な）, "they plainly tell me that there is one. Perhaps this Sarkis honestly believes he can （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 you in 選び出す／独身 戦闘. But it is not his way to take such a 危険."

"And what think you, Koha?" asked Jerry, turning to the dwarf.

"I think the Torturer wishes to bring the two armies together so there may be a 広大な／多数の／重要な 戦う／戦い, which, by some trick, he is 確信して of winning, though there be little difference in strength," said the 黒人／ボイコット man.

"And yet," said Jerry, "I cannot do さもなければ than 受託する this challenge. To fail to do so would smack of cowardice."

"That is true," agreed イチイd.

"It would seem that the Torturer has put us in a position where we must walk into his 罠（にかける）. Let the 先触れ（する） remain outside, and call a 会議／協議会 of the officers."

This was done, and for some time Jerry was cloistered with his men. Then he sent for the 先触れ（する）. When the fellow entered, he said: "Tell Sarkis that Jerry Morgan 受託するs his challenge."

The 先触れ（する） saluted and 出発／死d. But as soon as he had gone, the （軍の）野営地，陣営 began to 解散させる away in the moonlight. Piece by piece, the portable fur huts （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する, were rolled up and stowed on the 支援するs of the pack-rodals, along with all other （軍の）野営地，陣営 articles and utensils.

Before the night was an hour older, a 広大な cavalcade, 影をつくる／尾行するd by a flapping host of gawr riders, climbed up の上に the plain, and started in the direction of the 高さs of Lokar.

"Always do what the enemy 推定する／予想するs you not to do," Jerry bad told his officers. "Sarkis will 推定する／予想する us to leave tomorrow morning, so we will leave now. Thus, we will be the first on the field, and in a position perhaps to 妨害する him, or to leave if a 罠（にかける） is 明らかにする／漏らすd."

Jerry's army reached its 客観的な without 出来事/事件, and pitched （軍の）野営地，陣営. Save for the sentinels on 義務, all the men were permitted to sleep late the に引き続いて morning, so they would be fresh for 戦う／戦い. But to Jerry's surprise, morning and noon （機の）カム and went without a 調印する of the Torturer.

Presently, however, 近づく midafternoon, his gawr sentinels 発表するd the approach of a 広大な horde. すぐに thereafter the army of the Torturer took up its position on the 高さs of Lokar, 直面するing them across the Plain of Ling, and the 黒人／ボイコット cloud of gawr riders which …を伴ってd it settled to the ground.

After a 延期する of more than two hours, during which the Earthman watched with bated breath, a 孤独な 軍人 機動力のある on a rodal （機の）カム trotting 負かす／撃墜する the hillside toward the 中心 of the plain. The slanting 軸s of the late afternoon sun were 反映するd by the burnished gold of his mask.

イチイd had his rodal and 武器s in 準備完了, and it was but the work of a moment to 開始する and ride 負かす／撃墜する the hillside at 十分な 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 toward the gold- masked 支持する／優勝者.

The latter, on seeing Jerry, 停止（させる）d his beast 近づく the middle of the plain and waited, evidently in no hurry to begin the 約束／交戦. He carried a tuzar, but Jerry, who had not mastered this 武器, carried a long, stout- 軸d lance, instead.

As soon as the Earthman （機の）カム within a hundred feet of his enemy the latter lowered his tuzar and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d. Jerry couched his long lance, and with it pointed at the breast of his adversary, 勧めるd his beast 今後.

The masked rider, however, swerved his 開始する, and while Jerry's lance 遭遇（する）d only empty 空気／公表する, the sharp points of the 結社s clamped into the Earthman's hips. He was jerked from the saddle, and his enemy 棒 速く toward the enemy lines, dragging Jerry over the rugged ground.

A mighty 元気づける went up from the lines of Sarkis, at sight of this 平易な victory for their 支持する／優勝者.

In the 合間, Jerry 掴むd the 結社s and dragged himself to a standing posture. Then, still 粘着するing to a 結社 with his left 手渡す, and sailing over the ground with tremendous leaps, he unhooked his 激しい, saw-toothed mace from his belt and brought it 負かす／撃墜する with all his strength on the 軸 of the tuzar.

The 堅い 支持を得ようと努めるd 割れ目d, but the long 繊維s still held. Again and again Jerry 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd at that stubborn 軸. It seemed ages before the last 繊維 snapped, and he fell 解放する／自由な, his mace 飛行機で行くing from his 手渡す, while the 結社s 解放（する）d their 持つ／拘留する and clattered after him.

Half stunned and covered with 血, bruises, scratches and dust, Jerry lay on his 支援する, breathing ひどく. From the corners of his 注目する，もくろむs he saw his adversary wheel his 開始する, and flinging away his useless 軸, draw a sharp, multibarbed javelin from the sheath at his 支援する.

慎重に, the masked man 棒 toward his fallen and motionless antagonist, his javelin in 準備完了. Jerry was breathing more easily, now, and felt his strength returning. Suddenly he saw the javelin arm 飛行機で行く 支援する— the deadly barbed ミサイル hurtling straight toward him.

In a flash he had rolled over, just out of reach of that keen point. And then, before his enemy had divined what he was about, he sprang to his feet and bounded straight for the hideously masked 人物／姿／数字. The 機動力のある 軍人 reached for another javelin but before he could 身を引く it from the sheath the Earthman had sprung up behind him and caught him with an 肘 crooked about his 装甲の neck.

Now it was the turn of the masked man to be jerked from his saddle. Jerry, while they fell, had 解放（する）d his 持つ／拘留する on his enemy and alighted catlike on both feet. He whipped out his sword and turned to 直面する his adversary. The latter got up and drew his own sword.

For some time both contestants 盗品故買者d 慎重に. Then Jerry, after a swift feint, 設立する the 開始 he sought, and 肺d straight for his 対抗者's breast. His point went true to the 示す, but his blade bent 二塁打 and snapped in two. In an instant he realized that the masked man wore a metal breastplate. With a 勝利を得た laugh his enemy drove a savage blow.

Jerry saved himself from death by a quick leap to one 味方する. Then, before the masked man could draw 支援する from that 肺, he struck again with the broken stump of his sword. But this time, he 急落（する），激減（する）d it with unerring 正確, through the 権利 注目する，もくろむ-slit of the golden mask—through the 注目する，もくろむ and into the brain of his enemy.

At this, a tremendous shout went up from the army of the Earthman. It was answered by jeers from the army of the Torturer, and Jerry, looking in the direction of this strange demonstration, saw the 推論する／理由. For the Torturer himself was 存在 borne on his 壇・綱領・公約 of 明言する／公表する, straight 負かす／撃墜する toward the 前線 of his own lines.

Jerry wrenched the stub of his sword from where it was wedged in the bony 軌道 of his fallen 敵. Then he tore the mask from the lolling 長，率いる. The dead 直面する that looked up at him was that of the jendus he had 敗北・負かすd in the Torturer's （軍の）野営地，陣営.

投げつけるing the hideous mask from him, Jerry turned and walked 支援する toward his own lines. Two riders dashed 負かす／撃墜する to 会合，会う him, イチイd and Koha. The white 巨大（な） led a saddled rodal. The 黒人／ボイコット dwarf brought him a new sword and a flask of steaming pulcho.

After a copious draught from the flask, he 機動力のある and 棒 支援する to his （警察，軍隊などの）本部. Here his 長，指導者 外科医 を待つd him, and 洗浄するd and dressed his 負傷させるs while he held 会議／協議会 with his officers.

にもかかわらず the furious 怒り／怒る of his men, however, Jerry ordered his officers to 持つ／拘留する the men in check.

"Have I not always counseled you," he said, "to do what the enemy 推定する／予想するs you not to do? If we go into 戦う／戦い with the army of Sarkis now, we will be doing 正確に what he 推定する／予想するs us to do. We will sit 静かに for a time —and see what happens. When the time comes, we will make some 計画（する）s of our own."

Scarcely had he finished this pronouncement when one of his gawr scouts （機の）カム sailing 負かす／撃墜する out of the sky. Dismounting, he ran up before the Earthman and saluted.

"Numin Vil is coming up behind us with a 広大な host," he cried excitedly, "which より数が多いs our 軍隊 at least two to one! We are 罠にかける between two mighty armies!"

CHAPTER 17

There was びっくり仰天 on the 直面する of the officers, but Jerry, standing in their 中央, smiled confidently. "Just as I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd. It is 井戸／弁護士席 that we did not attack the army of Sarkis, for then, 弱めるd by our losses, we should have fallen an 平易な prey to the 軍隊s of Numin Vil."

As a 事柄 of fact, this was the last thing Jerry had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd. But now he must think, and think 急速な／放蕩な, if his 命令（する） was to be saved from annihilation. He knew, also, that his men must be given something to do to keep up their 意気込み／士気.

"Pack 器具／備品," he ordered, "but do so in such a way that the enemy will not notice. For the 現在の, leave the huts standing. But have them ready to pack at a moment's notice."

As his officers hurried away to carry out his orders, Jerry sat 負かす／撃墜する and 注ぐd himself a cup of pulcho.

"Why not march south or north?" 示唆するd イチイd. "We are only hemmed in from the east and west."

You surprise me, イチイd. What do you think our enemies would be doing, in the 合間?"

"I don't know."

"Nor do I. But I believe they could and would march south or north as 急速な／放蕩な as we, in the 合間 徐々に converging upon us from both 味方するs. And they might corner us in a much worse place than this 丘の頂上, where we have some advantage of position."

"But even our lofty position will not avail us against such superior numbers," said Koha.

"If it could, we should have no problem," Jerry said. "But since we have a problem, I am 捜し出すing to solve it. Fetch me a gawr, and I'll have a look about."

The dwarf waddled hurriedly away, returning a few moments later with a saddled bird-beast. Jerry 機動力のある, pulled up on the guiding 棒, and 急に上がるd aloft. First he flew out over the Plain of Ling, and had a look at the army of Sarkis. There was かなりの activity の中で the hordes of the Torturer.

He turned, and 急に上がるing higher, flew 支援する across his own （軍の）野営地，陣営 toward the 軍隊s of Numin Vil. As he 勧めるd his 広大な／多数の／重要な flapping bird-beast onward, the sun dipped suddenly beneath the horizon, and the rolling 砂漠 below him was lighted only by the pale rays of the さらに先に moon.

Presently, he 述べるd the 前進するing army of the Vil of Kalsivar. It was a formidable host, and he knew that it would be 悲惨な to 炭坑，オーケストラ席 his smaller 軍隊 against it. He calculated that, unless Numin Vil struck with his 空中の 軍隊s first, he would not be able to attack, for at least a half hour. Accordingly, he turned and flew 支援する to his own （軍の）野営地，陣営 as 急速な／放蕩な as his bird-beast would carry him.

Before he reached his （警察，軍隊などの）本部 the さらに先に moon had 始める，決める. But campfires had been lighted both in his own （軍の）野営地，陣営 and in that of the Torturer, and by these he was able to 位置を示す his own hut, and descend.

Here he 設立する his 長，指導者 officers clustered, more panic-stricken than before. But he had made his 計画（する）s now.

First, he ordered all 解雇する／砲火／射撃s quenched. Then the huts were 取り去る／解体するd and packed with the other 器具／備品. As soon as this had been done, all in pitch 不明瞭 and with a 最小限 of noise, he formed his little army into a 広大な／多数の／重要な triangle, with the pack-rodals in the 中心, the rodal cavalry forming the three 味方するs, and the gawr riders and metal fliers flapping in wedge 形式 総計費. Though he might have ridden on a gawr, or in one of the metal 飛行機で行くing machines, he chose rather to lead the main 団体／死体 of his army, and so 棒 at the point of the triangle which 直面するd the position of Sarkis, with イチイd riding の近くに at his left, and Koha at his 権利.

It was difficult for the men to see each other's positions in the gloom, and there were some 衝突／不一致s as they 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d straight for the position of the Torturer. Scarcely had they crossed the plain when the 先導 of Numin Vil appeared on the 高さs they had just 砂漠d, carrying his baridium たいまつs.

勧めるing his men to greater 速度(を上げる）, Jerry led them up the hill. At any moment, he 推定する／予想するd a 反対する-告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 from the 軍隊s of Sarkis, and was puzzled when it was not 来たるべき. The twinkling campfires were 燃やすing as brightly as ever, and he could see men moving 支援する and 前へ／外へ before them. But as he drew closer, he saw the 推論する／理由. Not one of the 広大な city of huts which had been there that afternoon was standing, nor were there any rodals in sight.

The 巨大（な） イチイd saw the 状況／情勢 almost as soon as the Earthman, and burst into noisy merriment.

"By the might of Deza! The Torturer played a neat trick on us. And had you not decided to give him 戦う／戦い, we would now be 支援する on the 高さs of Lokar, vainly 努力する／競うing against the powerful 軍隊s of the Vil."

"We 港／避難所't escaped yet," said Jerry. "Numin Vil is の近くに behind us, and the nearer moon is 予定 to rise soon." He called to the officers who 棒 nearest to him. "Pass the word along to break up into small groups, and scatter. Let all lorwock 軍人s return to their own tribes, and remain with their families and friends for the space of ten days. At that time, our 会合 place will be the 沼 of Atabah. Let those who have no tribes or families to return to, live where they will in small groups until the time for our rendezvous arrives.

"I go, now, to the Atabah 沼, with my fliers."

He signaled a large airship which had been 飛行機で行くing 総計費, and it settled 速く to the earth before him. Then he dismounted and entered, …を伴ってd by イチイd and Koha.

速く and 静かに his orders were carried out. So that by the time the 軍隊s of the Vil had passed the 高さs of Lokar and the nearer moon had risen, the 追跡する they followed had 分裂（する） up into many, which spread out fan- wise, and 徐々に grew more tenuous as they 前進するd, until there were a thousand small 追跡するs, no 選び出す／独身 one of which it would be 価値（がある） the while of an army to follow.

Jerry led his 飛行機で行くing 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 straight to the Atabah 沼. A few portable huts which had been stowed in the airships were 始める，決める up. But most of the gawr riders bivouacked under the （疑いを）晴らす sky, wrapped in their furs. Later, their pack-rodals, if uncaptured, would be in with the 残り／休憩（する） of the huts and 供給（する）s.

As the Earthman sat in his hut, eating a meal which Koha had あわてて 用意が出来ている, and sipping his pulcho, the more he thought about it the more he was 納得させるd that the Torturer had some 目的 beyond that of 伴う／関わるing him in a 戦う／戦い with the 軍隊s of Numin Vil.

Accordingly, he called in the jen of his scouts, and ordered that a hundred gawr riders take the 空気／公表する at once, 飛行機で行くing in all directions, to bring him news as to the 場所s of both Sarkis and Numin Vil.

As soon as the jen of scouts had gone out, he sent for his jen of 秘かに調査するs. After a 簡潔な／要約する 会議／協議会 it was decided that twelve 秘かに調査するs, each starting alone and leaving at 不規律な intervals, should 飛行機で行く to Raliad and 試みる／企てる to learn what was taking place there.

早期に the に引き続いて morning Jerry was awakened by the 黒人／ボイコット dwarf, who proffered him a cup of steaming pulcho, and said: "A 秘かに調査する has just returned from Raliad with important tidings. Will you see him now?"

"収容する／認める him," said Jerry.

A small, 穏やかな-mannered brown man in the 衣料品s of a slave entered on Koha's 招待. "What have you learned, Eni?" asked Jerry.

"Sarkis is in Raliad."

"What! You mean he has been taken 囚人?"

"Far from it. While Numin Vil was 追求するing our army, the Torturer led his 軍隊s to the west gate of Raliad. His 外見 was a signal for those in sympathy with the 革命 to 落ちる upon the loyal 兵士s and guards who remained. The gates were thrown open to him by 反逆者s, and he marched straight to the palace with almost no 対立.

"All the members of the white nobility who were unable to escape were either 殺害された or made 囚人s. The brown nobility have been 割り当てるd their 階級s, 肩書を与えるs and 広い地所s and the brown prince, Thoor Movil, has been 布告するd Vil of Kalsivar."

"But Junia! What of her?"

"She is a 囚人 in the palace. And the Torturer has 申し込む／申し出d her the choice of marrying Thoor Movil, or dying under the 燃やすing disk."

"And has she made a choice?"

"That I have not heard."

"But what of Numin Vil?"

"He returned to Raliad late last night, but the gates were の近くにd to him, and the 軍人s of Sarkis 乗組員を乗せた the 塀で囲むs. He attacked 繰り返して, but each time was driven off with 激しい losses. 早期に this morning he withdrew his 軍隊s and pitched his （軍の）野営地，陣営 on the Plains of Lav, within sight of the city."

"You have done 井戸／弁護士席, Eni," said Jerry, "and I will see that you are 都合よく rewarded. を待つ my その上の orders outside."

As the 秘かに調査する saluted and 支援するd out of the doorway, Jerry turned to his two guards and 助言者／カウンセラーs.

"At last we begin to see the depth of the Torturer's cunning," he said.

"This time it seems he has outguessed me, though I was able to 敗北・負かす part of his 計画（する）s. It was his 意向 to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of me, to wipe out my army, and to 弱める the army of Numin Vil, all this while he was 逮捕（する）ing Raliad."

At this instant a guard drew 支援する the curtain and 発表するd: "Algo the 秘かに調査する, from the （軍の）野営地，陣営 of Numin Vil."

"Let him come in," said Jerry.

A tall, soldierly white man of middle age, dressed in the uniform of the Palace Guard, entered and saluted.

"Eni has told me what befell last night," Jerry told him. "Who 始める，決める Numin Vil on our 追跡する?"

"It was Nisha Novil," said the 秘かに調査する. "Yesterday afternoon she （機の）カム hurrying into the audience 議会, and asked for an 即座の 審理，公聴会 on a 事柄 of 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な importance. It was 認めるd, and she told the Vil a slave of hers, returning from her country 広い地所 on the Corvid Canal, had flown 近づく the 高さs of Lokar on his gawr, and had seen your army 野営するd there.

"Numin Vil sprang 負かす／撃墜する from his 王位, ordered a 軍隊 組み立てる／集結するd, and 始める，決める out at the 長，率いる of it, bent on 絶滅するing us."

"She said nothing about the 軍隊 of Sarkis 存在 野営するd opposite us on the 高さs of Lokar?"

"Not a word."

"Ah!"

Jerry sprang up from his divan.

"That will be all, Algo. You may return to the （軍の）野営地，陣営 of the Vil, and 報告（する）／憶測 in two days."

As Algo saluted and withdrew, Jerry turned to Koha.

"Fetch me the 着せる／賦与するing of a palace slave, I am going to the 皇室の Palace in Raliad."

CHAPTER 18

Disguised as a brown-skinned palace slave with the 水晶 disk of a sun- 崇拝者 on his breast, and 機動力のある on a swift, sturdy gawr, Jerry flew toward Raliad, unheeding the picturesque scenery which unrolled 速く beneath him.

On sighting the 皇室の palace, Jerry 急に上がるd high above it ーするために select the best place for a 上陸. He saw that the Torturer had stabled a number of his gawrs in the lagoons of the palace roof garden, something Numin Vil had never permitted. However, this made it easier for Jerry to reach his 客観的な; he decided to land on the roof of the palace itself.

He accordingly selected the lagoon which was nearest that 味方する of the edifice on which he knew Junia's apartments to be 据えるd, and 急に上がるd 負かす／撃墜する to the sloping beach. A brown-skinned attendant, who wore only a leather breech- clout, （機の）カム hurrying up.

"You cannot alight here slave," he said, gruffly. "Only the 軍人s of Sarkis and Thoor Vil may stable their gawrs in these lagoons."

Without replying, Jerry untied and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd him the thong which held the end of the guiding 棒 to the saddle. Then he sprang to the ground.

"Have I not said that you cannot land here?" 需要・要求するd the attendant.

"Fool!" said Jerry. "I'm the 持参人払いの of important tidings for his 宗教上の majesty. Would you like it known that you have 延期するd me? For such as you there is the 燃やすing 注目する，もくろむ of the Lord Sun."

"許す me, my lord," said the attendant, abjectly. "I did not know you for a messenger of the 宗教上の one."

"See that my 開始する is 井戸／弁護士席 fed and watered, and 持つ／拘留する him here in 準備完了 for my coming, as I may be leaving soon, in a hurry."

"I hear and obey, my lord," replied the attendant, saluting respectfully.

Jerry swaggered away in the direction of the nearest 乗り物 tunnel. But as soon as a turn in the walk took him out of sight of the attendant, he slipped off through the shrubbery toward the 厚い 塀で囲む that 辛勝する／優位d the roof. Here he 機動力のある a stairway, and, going to the 辛勝する／優位 of the 塀で囲む, peered over the balustrade.

It took him but a moment to identify the balcony of Junia, which was in the upper 列／漕ぐ／騒動, by the swinging divans with their golden chains and cushions of peacock blue, 側面に位置するd by taborets of gold inlaid with lapis lazuli, which could only adorn the apartments of the Vil or his 即座の family.

Reaching beneath his 長，率いる-cloak, Jerry now took out a coil of light, 堅い rope. Going to a point 直接／まっすぐに above one end of Junia's balcony, he made one end of the rope 急速な／放蕩な and dropped the coil. It fell の中で the potted shrubs, and the Earthman 公式文書，認めるd that it reached all the way, with a good twelve feet to spare.

After a swift ちらりと見ること around, to make sure that he was not 観察するd, he swung over the balustrade and slid 負かす／撃墜する the rope, alighting on the balcony without a sound. 慎重に, he made his way の中で the 工場／植物s to a point opposite the window, and peered between them into the apartment.

His heart 続けざまに猛撃するd wildly as he caught sight of the girl who meant more to him than life itself. Junia was seated before a small taboret, 負担d with a variety of dainties. A brown-skinned slave girl was 勧めるing her to eat, but she would only sip a little pulcho from a tiny jeweled cup.

As he crouched there in the shrubbery, 審議する／熟考するing as to the best way to approach her, he suddenly saw a look of loathing come over her features. She was gazing toward another part of the room which he could not see. Someone had entered an 武装した man, evidently, for he distinctly heard the clank of 武器s.

Then Jerry 認めるd the hollow, sepulchral トンs of Sarkis the Torturer.

"I have come for your 決定／判定勝ち（する）, princess. The 広大な／多数の／重要な Lord Sun 近づくs the zenith, and the time for the noon sacrifice is 近づく at 手渡す. You will give me your word, now, that you will 結婚する with Thoor Vil at once, or you will go beneath the 燃やすing 注目する，もくろむ."

Again there was the clank of 武器s, and the Torturer stepped into 見解（をとる） before Junia. Behind him （機の）カム two burly 黒人／ボイコット 軍人s.

The girl stood up, and said defiantly: "You have asked for my answer. Take it then, nameless one who hides behind a mask lest his 直面する be identified with his own evil 行為s. I will not marry the 誤った Vil, my cousin, and your puppet. You have 申し込む／申し出d me two choices, but Deza 現在のs a third."

So 説, she suddenly turned and sprang through the window.

"掴む her!" shouted the Torturer. Before she was halfway across the balcony one of the burly 黒人／ボイコットs had her.

At this Jerry whipped out his sword and sprang from his hiding place. A 選び出す／独身 bound brought him 直接／まっすぐに in 前線 of the astounded guard, and a 広範囲にわたる 削減（する） sheared through the fellow's 長，率いる from 栄冠を与える to chin.

"Courage, highness," he said, as Junia jerked her arm 解放する／自由な. He whirled to 直面する the second 軍人, who ran at him with his point 延長するd. Deftly the Earthman parried the thrust, then caught the 非難する 黒人／ボイコット on his blade.

The masked Torturer was now running toward the door which led to the hallway, bawling for the guard. Jerry snatched his mace from his belt and 投げつけるd it with all his might. It flew straight to the 示す, 粉砕するing into the 後部 of the golden helmet and flattening the Torturer upon the 床に打ち倒す.

Leaping over his 敵, Jerry reached the door and 発射 the bolt, just as a かなりの 団体／死体 of men （機の）カム 急ぐing up from the outside. When they 設立する the door locked they began 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスing at it with their 武器s, but Jerry knew it would be some time before they could break through.

Sheathing his sword, he caught up his mace and 取って代わるd it in his belt. He was tempted to 涙／ほころび the mask from the 直面する of the recumbent Torturer, but knew that he must make every second count ーするために carry out his 計画（する）s. Snatching a blue-and-gold curtain from a doorway, he ran out の上に the balcony. Junia was standing 近づく the railing.

"Who are you?" she asked. "Don't come 近づく me or I'll jump."

For answer, he （疑いを）晴らすd the space between them at a 選び出す／独身 bound and flung the curtain over her.

"I know you now, Jerry Morgan," she said, "for there is no other man on 火星 who can jump like that. 解放（する） me."

"You must 信用 me, highness," he said, bundling the fabric more tightly about her slender 人物／姿／数字, "for I have come to save you. If you resist you will only put us both in 危険，危なくする."

"How can I 信用 the 殺害者 of my brother?"

But Jerry had no time to reply. Flinging his bundle over his shoulder, he hurried to where the rope 追跡するd on the balcony. With his dagger he 削減（する） off a twelve-foot length, and quickly made a sling by which he swung the girl across his 支援する. He could hear the door of the apartment 後援ing as he started to climb, を引き渡す 手渡す, toward the balustrade above.

The attendant, seeing the strange bundle upon his 支援する, looked surprised, but Jerry said, はっきりと: "Bring me my 開始する quickly, fellow! Can't you see I'm in a hurry?"

Evidently still puzzled, yet afraid not to obey him, the man waded into the shallows and led the 広大な／多数の／重要な bird-beast out の上に the sand.

Jerry climbed into the saddle, made the thong of the steering 棒 急速な／放蕩な, and, unhooking the safety chains from the gawr's wings, 麻薬中毒の them through the （犯罪の）一味s in his belt. At this instant there was a shout from the nearest tunnel mouth, and a group of 軍人s （機の）カム running out.

"Stop him!" called an officer. "Stop that slave! He has stolen the princess!"

The Earthman 解除するd the guiding 棒 and the 抱擁する bird-beast, after running clumsily along the beach a few feet, spread its 広大な／多数の／重要な wings and took to the 空気／公表する.

As soon as he was out of javelin 範囲 above the palace roof, Jerry turned his 開始する's 長，率いる toward the Plains of Lav beside the Corvid Canal, where he had heard that Numin Vil was 野営するd. He planned to 回復する Junia to her father, then escape before his 身元 was discovered.

Scarcely had he flown across the palace area when a 得点する／非難する／２０ of 軍人s 機動力のある on gawrs rose in 追跡. The 寺 of Mercy lay 直接／まっすぐに in his path, and on this he saw that one of the Torturer's 巨大な 燃やすing glasses had been placed. This was surrounded by a group of yellow-式服d priests, who were encircled by a company of brown 軍人s, some of whom led gawrs.

As he flew straight toward them, one of the 軍人s chanced to look up. 即時に he called the attention of his companions, and in a moment they had 機動力のある and 急に上がるd aloft to を回避する the Earthman.

Jerry was now 直面するd with the necessity of 飛行機で行くing across the city, almost at 権利 angles to the course he would have chosen. Some time passed before they flew over the 広大な／多数の／重要な 塀で囲む which 示すd the 辛勝する／優位 of Raliad. Jerry knew that sooner or later, with his doubly laden bird-beast, he would be overtaken and 殺害された unless he could reach a 団体／死体 of his own 飛行機で行くing 軍人s. Accordingly he tried, by turning the 長，率いる of his 開始する a little at a time, to steer a course toward the 沼 of Atabah.

He had flown thus for some time when he suddenly noticed that the sun no longer （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 負かす／撃墜する upon him. Looking up, he was astounded to see that it was obscured by the upper fringe of an 巨大な, 赤みを帯びた-brown cloud which, 追跡するing backward and downward like a ragged, 新たな展開d 衣料品, reached （疑いを）晴らす to the ground.

Never, in all his experience on 火星, had Jerry seen a cloud but he had been told of the terrific sand 嵐／襲撃するs which いつかs swept the 直面する of the 惑星.

There could be little question but that the cloud now 耐えるing 負かす／撃墜する upon him with such amazing 速度(を上げる） was a cloud of sand and other 破片 選ぶd up from the surface of the land by tremendously powerful 勝利，勝つd. He saw a ragged streamer creep up on his pursuers. It caught them. For a moment they were 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd about like leaves in a 強風, then the cloud swallowed them up.

速く Jerry let 負かす／撃墜する his 長，率いる-cloak and drew the transparent, 柔軟な mask with which it was equipped across his 直面する. Tucking the cloak 負かす／撃墜する around the precious bundle on his 支援する, he を待つd the 猛攻撃 of the 嵐／襲撃する. He noticed that his 開始する dropped a transparent inner eyelid over each eyeball, and a thinly perforated membranous flap over each nostril.

There was a roaring, rumbling noise behind him now, that 速く 増加するd in 容積／容量 until the sound was deafening. Then the 嵐／襲撃する struck.

At the first 衝撃 of that 巨大（な） 軍隊 the gawr turned 完全に over, and for a moment Jerry hung from his safety chains. Whirling, hurtling 粒子s of sand （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 against his 着せる／賦与するing and mask, 精査するing into the interstices and getting into his 注目する，もくろむs, ears and nostrils. The gawr 権利d itself, and he dragged himself 支援する to the saddle, gripping the horn and 粘着するing with all his strength.

The world above, below and around him was blotted out by a maelstrom of 飛行機で行くing sand.

Hours passed thus, and still the 嵐／襲撃する showed no 調印する of abating. Presently the gawr began ぱたぱたするing weakly, and turning over and over, sank 速く groundward.

Suddenly it struck a solid 反対する with a terrific 衝撃. Jerry was 投げつけるd 今後 with such 軍隊 that the safety chains tore out his belt （犯罪の）一味s.

CHAPTER 19

When Jerry 回復するd consciousness someone was shaking him, calling his 指名する.

"Jerry Morgan, speak to me! O Deza, 認める that he still lives!"

He opened his 注目する，もくろむs and looked up into the 脅すd 直面する of Junia, bending over him as he lay on his 支援する in the sand. The slanting rays of the afternoon sun shone brightly 負かす／撃墜する from a （疑いを）晴らす sky.

"Junia!" he exclaimed. "Are you all 権利?"

"Yes. And you?"

He sat up and his 長，率いる throbbed painfully. 探検 with his fingers 明らかにする／漏らすd a lump that was sore, but not dangerous.

"明らかに I 衝突する／食い違うd with something as hard as my 長，率いる," he said, getting dizzily to his feet, "but there are no 永久の 傷害s."

Junia did not reply. As soon as she had learned that he was not 不正に 傷つける her manner had altered perceptibly. And Jerry guessed the 推論する／理由. She could not feel other than antagonistic toward the supposed 殺害者 of her brother.

"Highness," he said, "I wish I could 証明する to you in some way that I am not 有罪の of the—the 罪，犯罪 which you seem to think I committed."

At this she turned on him and said, almost ひどく: "I wish to Deza that you could! But mere 主張 証明するs nothing."

He walked over to where the bird-beast was lying, half-buried beneath a drift of sand. It was breathing ひどく, with its 広大な／多数の／重要な membranous wings outspread, and its 長，率いる stretched out upon the ground. He pulled up on the guiding 棒, but when he 解放（する）d it the 長，率いる dropped 支援する as before.

With the flat 長，率いる of his mace he scooped the sand away from one 味方する. Suddenly he noticed 血 in the sand around the wing, の近くに to where it joined the 団体／死体. An examination 明らかにする／漏らすd the fact that the bone was snapped asunder. The gawr would never 飛行機で行く again, and he realized that it must be 苦しむing horribly.

Resolutely he walked to where the 長，率いる lay on the ground anal, raising his mace, drove the keen saw-teeth 負かす／撃墜する through the creature's skull into its brain. "We will have to walk," he called to Junia.

"明らかに," she replied, "since you have just destroyed our only other means of transportation."

"If you will look at the gawr's 左翼 you will see the 推論する／理由."

At first she seemed 決定するd to do nothing of the sort, but presently her curiosity got the better of her, and she walked over and looked.

"Oh, the poor creature!" she cried. "And you slew it to end its 苦しむing. 許す me, Jerry Morgan."

"Willingly," he answered. "And now have you any idea where we are?"

"I'm afraid I can be of no help," she said, "for this 地形 is as strange to me as to you. And the 砂漠, after all, is much alike all over 火星."

He 除去するd the sheaf of javelins from the saddle of the bird-beast and slung it over his shoulder. Then he rolled up the hanging in which he had carried the girl, wrapped the rope about it, and slung it beside the sheaf.

"Come on," he said. "Let us climb to the highest sand dune we can find. Perhaps we will be able to sight something besides 砂漠."

The highest dune in sight lay to the northwest of them, and toward this they plodded through the soft sand. Upon 開始するing to its 最高の，を越す they made out, far to the south, a chain of low hills sparsely dotted with vegetation. In every other direction there were only barren dunes of ocher-yellow sand.

"Where there is vegetation there may be food and water," said Jerry. "Our best 計画（する） will be to go south."

A walk of some five miles brought them to the foot of the hills they had descried from a distance. On の近くに 査察 they did not look so 招待するing. The sparse clumps of vegetation were mostly 厄介な shrubs that 申し込む／申し出d neither food nor 避難所. And there was no 調印する of water.

They reached the 最高の，を越す after a short climb, and Junia cried out in pleased surprise at the sight which lay before them. They were looking 負かす／撃墜する into a green valley, through which a 狭くする stream meandered. Here was water, and perhaps food, for 工場／植物s and shrubs which grew along the banks of the stream made it probable that there would be edible fruits or nuts.

With 新たにするd hope in their hearts they hurried 負かす／撃墜する the hillside, and made straight for the stream. Rinsing his 倍のing cup, Jerry 申し込む／申し出d it to Junia. But she 拒絶する／低下するd it, and drank from her cupped 手渡すs. They remained beside the stream for some time, drinking and bathing their 直面するs in the 冷淡な water. Then Jerry arose.

"I think we had best be going," he said. "The sun is low, and as yet we have 設立する neither food nor 避難所."

Without a word she arose and followed him along the river bank. Presently, he noticed a fin cleaving the water 近づく the shore. He drew a javelin from his sheath and 慎重に stalked it. Presently it （機の）カム の近くに under the bank, and he drove the multibarbed 武器 straight 負かす／撃墜する through the water in 前線 of that fin. It struck something solid.

But scarcely had he driven the point home when the half was wrenched from his 手渡す. An 巨大な and hideous 長，率いる on a long scaly neck 後部d itself high above him, taking the javelin with it, and he saw that he had speared the neck of a 抱擁する saurian.

The 巨大（な） water lizard opened an 巨大な mouth that was 武装した with a ３倍になる 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of sharp, 支援する-curved teeth, and, with a loud hiss, darted straight for this thing which had had the presumption to annoy it with a javelin.

For a moment Jerry 星／主役にするd, too astounded to move. But when he saw it darting toward him his Earth-muscles carried him straight 支援する in a tremendous 飛行機で行くing leap to where Junia stood.

The saurian floundered up out of the water on two 巨大な flippers, hissing 怒って, and dragging an amazingly 抱擁する 団体／死体 out の上に the bank.

Jerry caught Junia up as if she had been a child and, turning, sprinted away at his best 速度(を上げる）. The saurian turned 支援する toward the river, still hissing its 怒り／怒る and shaking its neck to dislodge the annoying javelin.

When he had placed a good mile between himself and his pursuer, Jerry stood Junia on her feet once more, and paused for a short breathing （一定の）期間.

"I thought I had speared our dinner," he said, "but I （機の）カム 近づく furnishing a dinner, instead. What do you call that thing?"

"It is a histid," she replied. "They are やめる ありふれた in wild 沼s and lakes."

"井戸／弁護士席, this histid has made a vegetarian out of me," said Jerry. "I no longer have the craving for fish that I had a few moments ago."

They moved on once more, に引き続いて the curving bank of the stream. Presently the ground grew soft and boggy beneath their feet, the water oozing up around them at each step. Then suddenly, with a peculiar sucking sound, a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する trapdoor in the bog flew open just in 前線 of Jerry, and a long, slimy thing as large as a boa constrictor darted out. At the end of the thing was a white sucking disk, which clamped itself to the Earthman's chest. He was 解除するd off his feet, then dragged downward to the very 縁 of the 穴を開ける beneath the trapdoor, which was about three feet across.

Jerry 橋（渡しをする）d himself across that 穴を開ける. The slimy thing that had 掴むd him threshed about beneath him, almost 涙／ほころびing the 肌 from his chest in its 成果／努力s to drag him 負かす／撃墜する. Then he heard a 叫び声をあげる from Junia.

Supporting himself with his 膝s and left 手渡す, he snatched his long dagger from his belt with his 権利. Then, with the keen 辛勝する／優位, he 削減（する） through his slimy enemy, just below the sucking disk, and sprang 築く. Junia was 存在 fought over by two of the things, which had both 掴むd her 同時に.

Transferring his dagger to his left 手渡す, Jerry whipped out his sword with his 権利, sprang 今後, and 同時に 厳しいd the two snaky necks. Then he sheathed his dagger and, throwing Junia over his shoulder, ran across the sucking ooze toward the higher ground.

The two 厳しいd disks still clung to Junia, one on each 味方する of her waist. 製図／抽選 his dagger, he slit one from 味方する to 味方する with the point, then peeled it away. Beneath it, the 血 had begun to ooze through a thousand little 穴をあけるs in the soft white 肌. 速く he 除去するd the other, and then 削除するd and ripped off the one that clung to his own chest.

Taking a 瓶／封じ込める of jembal from his belt pouch, he 適用するd the antiseptic gum to her 負傷させるs. Junia was pale and trembling.

"Once again you have saved my life, Jerry Morgan," she said. "If only ..."

Yes, I know. Somehow, some day, I'm going to 証明する to you that I am innocent."

"Deza 速度(を上げる） the day!" she said. "And now, let me dress your 負傷させる."

She took the 瓶／封じ込める from his 手渡す and deftly 適用するd the liquid gum. She had finished dressing his 負傷させるs and was 手渡すing him the 瓶／封じ込める when suddenly her 注目する，もくろむs went wide.

"Look! Look behind you!" she exclaimed.

CHAPTER 20

At Junia's cry Jerry whirled around, then gave a low whistle of amazement. A monstrous thing was wading toward them across the 狭くする stream. As he gazed, it 現れるd upon the bank, a gigantic and hideous bird, fully forty feet in 高さ.

Its long lean neck and scrawny 団体／死体 were leathery and 明らかにする of feathers. On its 抱擁する 長，率いる was a waving crest of plumes. Its beak, which was four feet in length and two in width at the base, was 麻薬中毒の like that of an eagle. The short wings were covered with sharp spines in lieu of feathers. The long scaly 脚s were adaptable either for wading or swimming, and there were leathery webs between the toes, which were 武装した with 巨大な, sickle-形態／調整d talons.

"What is it?" Jerry asked.

"A koroo," Junia told him. "The aquatic cousin of the koree, the 広大な／多数の／重要な man-eating bird of the 砂漠. Like its 砂漠 親族, it is fond of human flesh. But the koroo is much larger and considered far more formidable."

"It's certainly big enough," he replied. "We would just make about one mouthful apiece for it. Do you think it has seen us?"

"I think not. Let us move away as slowly and 静かに as possible, and 捜し出す a place of concealment."

Slowly, 慎重に, they crept up the stony bank. Jerry, 一方／合間, kept a sharp watch on the monster, which raised its plumbed 長，率いる to its 十分な 高さ and cocked an 注目する，もくろむ in the direction of the 逃げるing couple. At sight of them its crest rose and its horny wings, which had been hanging at its 味方するs, were suddenly elevated to a 水平の position. Then, with a peculiar にわか景気ing cry, it 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d 速く toward them.

"It sees us!" said Jerry excitedly. "We may 同様に spring for it, now."

He caught up Junia, flung her over his shoulder, and started up the hillside with 抱擁する leaps that almost matched the 巨大（な） strides of the bird.

Jerry ran as he had never run before. But the fifteen-foot 脚s of the monster koroo 縮めるd the distance between them with alarming rapidity. Soon the Earthman could hear it stertorous breathing behind him. Then he noticed a dark 穴を開ける in the hillside, just in 前線 of him. Like a 追跡（する）d animal 捜し出すing cover, he 急落（する），激減（する）d into it.

He took his baridium たいまつ from his belt and unhooded it, flashing it about to 保証する himself that there was no formidable creature lurking there. He was in a 概略で circular 洞穴, about thirty feet in 直径, with a twelve- foot 天井. 速く he ran to the opposite 味方する of the 洞穴 and 直面するd about.

The koroo was now peering into the 穴を開ける, its 長，率いる cocked to one 味方する. Seeing its ーするつもりであるd prey standing in the 支援する of the 洞穴, it 肺d 今後. But its long neck would only 交渉する about half of the distance, and the 開始 was not large enough to 収容する／認める its shoulders.

一時的に baffled, the monster 支援するd out and began scratching and 涙／ほころびing at the 開始 with its 巨大な talons. After it had 大きくするd the 穴を開ける かなり, it again 肺d 今後. This time its shoulders passed through.

Jerry took a javelin from the sheaf he carried and, running up の近くに to the hideous 長，率いる, 急落（する），激減（する）d it into one 抱擁する, glaring 注目する，もくろむ.

With a squawk of 苦痛 the koroo 支援するd out of the 洞穴, shaking its 長，率いる and clawing at the 軸 of the 武器 in an 成果／努力 to dislodge it. The barbs held, but the 軸 was snapped off like matchwood. Blinded in one 注目する，もくろむ, the man- eater again 投げつけるd itself into the 穴を開ける. Once more Jerry ran 今後, and this time threw a javelin with all his strength into the other 注目する，もくろむ.

Again the 巨大（な） bird 支援するd out, shaking its 長，率いる and clawing at the 軸. Then it lost its balance and rolled end over end 負かす／撃墜する the 法外な hillside, 緩和するing a small 雪崩／（抗議などの）殺到 of 石／投石するs and gravel. About halfway 負かす／撃墜する it brought up against a 抱擁する 玉石 with a 衝突，墜落, and lay still.

製図／抽選 his sword, Jerry half slid, half ran, 負かす／撃墜する the hillside to where the koroo lay. He pricked it with the point, but it did not 答える／応じる. Sheathing the larger 武器, he took out his dagger, and, after laying 支援する a section of the leathery 肌 on the breast, 削減（する） out a large 厚板 of meat. With this he returned to where Junia waited in the 洞穴 mouth.

"At last we have food," he said, depositing the meat on a flat 玉石.

"I have never heard of anyone eating koroo," she said.

"Nor I," replied Jerry, "but I'm hungry enough to eat 鎮圧するd 激しく揺する."

速く he gathered a pile of 乾燥した，日照りの 小衝突 and dead leaves, and 砕くing a small 量 of the latter, lighted them by 焦点（を合わせる）ing the rays of the setting sun on them with his 水晶 disk. Soon he had an efficient cooking 解雇する／砲火／射撃 crackling, and when it had 燃やすd 負かす／撃墜する to a bed of glowing coals, 取調べ／厳しく尋問するd several slices of the meat.

Politely he passed the first slice to Junia. She 試みる／企てるd to bite off a piece, but was unable to So much as dent it with her teeth. Jerry tried another with 類似の results. It tasted like a 厚板 of 単独の leather flavored with fish oil, and was neither palatable nor chewable.

"There seems to be an excellent 推論する／理由 why you never heard of anyone eating koroo," he told Junia.

"明らかに," she replied. "Yet the flesh-飛行機で行くs seem to enjoy it."

She nodded in the direction of the carcass, and Jerry, に引き続いて her gaze, saw that 事実上 nothing remained but the 選ぶd 骸骨／概要. A half dozen 抱擁する insects still walked about it, as if looking for 逸脱する morsels.

"They are welcome to my 株," he said. "After all, I believe I should prefer to 取り組む 鎮圧するd 激しく揺する. But if we may not eat, we can at least sleep. The sun is low, and we had best make our 準備s for the night."

When Jerry awoke in the morning his first thought was of Junia. How little and helpless she looked, sleeping there wrapped in her blue curtain! A ひどく 保護の feeling 殺到するd up in him as he turned to 直面する this strange and 敵意を持った world.

慎重に he 除去するd a 石／投石する or two of the 障壁 he had 築くd the night before, and peered out. But there were no enemies in sight, so he soon had the 開始 （疑いを）晴らすd out.

The sound of his labors awakened Junia, and she quickly joined him. Together they went 負かす／撃墜する to the stream to drink and wash.

"Shall we 追跡（する） upstream or 負かす／撃墜する?" Jerry 問い合わせd. "I think we would do 井戸／弁護士席 to keep 近づく the water."

"負かす／撃墜する," Junia 投票（する）d. "We would be going in the general direction of Raliad."

Their hopes rose as they 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd a bend in the little stream, for it emptied into a large river. In the middle of the river was a very sizable island, and Jerry scanned the shore attentively.

"Junia, does that look to you like a boat?"

"I believe it is."

"That means human 存在s, and food. I'll swim across and find out."

"Don't leave me behind!" she pleaded; she followed him into the water, leaving the curtain 式服 behind.

They struck out 堅固に for the island, breasting the slight 現在の, and landed 近づく the 反対する they had 秘かに調査するd from the other shore. It 証明するd indeed to be a boat, wide, flat and 木造の. In it lay two 木造の paddles, a 逮捕する, and a multi-pronged fishing spear. And there was the 残余 of a 狭くする path 主要な up from the shore, where the ground was so packed by footsteps that the 少しのd which had grown over it were stunted.

"Maybe the people who left this boat here also left an empty dwelling we can use," said Jerry. "Shall we 調査／捜査する?"

"By all means," Junia replied. "It will be 激しく 冷淡な after sunset, and neither of us is equipped for it. If there is a dwelling of some sort, we can at least build a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 and keep warm."

They were suddenly startled by a terrific roar, followed by a 衝突，墜落ing in the underbrush. Then a 抱擁する 黒人／ボイコット dalf burst into 見解（をとる）, and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d at them with 明らかにするd fangs.

Stepping in 前線 of Junia, Jerry whipped out his sword and を待つd the beast. But when it （機の）カム やめる 近づく him, it stopped suddenly, 匂いをかぐing in his direction and growling softly. Then he noticed that it had a （名声などを）汚すd, gold- plated collar around its neck, on which was the inscription:

Neem, the dalf of Thaine

Evidently, thought Jerry, this beast was half minded to be friendly.

"静かな, Neem," he said.

The 広大な／多数の／重要な beast pricked up its ears and 中止するd growling.

"Come here, Neem," Jerry went on, lowering his sword and 持つ／拘留するing out his 手渡す.

The dalf （機の）カム 今後 slowly, evidently still 怪しげな. Then Junia spoke to him, at the same time stepping from behind Jerry. As soon as he saw her, Neem gave violent manifestations of an exuberance of joy. Soon she was rumpling his 長，率いる, while Neem stood, leaning lightly against her, with his 注目する，もくろむs half-の近くにd, the picture of contentment.

"I must 似ている his former mistress," said Junia. Then she went on musingly: "I wonder who this Thaine could have been."

"Perhaps we can solve the riddle if we find the house of Thaine," said Jerry. "The sun is 予定 to 始める，決める in a very short time. Let us start searching."

He led the way up the path, with Junia and the dalf に引き続いて closely behind. But presently, when he 現れるd in an open glade in the 中心 of the 支持を得ようと努めるd, the 追跡する disappeared 完全に. And a careful look around 公表する／暴露するd no 調印する of a house.

CHAPTER 21

As Jerry and Junia stood in the little sunlit glade, Neem, the 広大な／多数の／重要な 黒人／ボイコット dalf, stood between them, gazing up at, first, one and then the other. 明らかに he wondered why they had stopped.

"No 調印する of a house here," said Jerry.

At the word "house," Neem pricked up his small ears. Then he 掴むd a 倍の of the 長，率いる-cloak which Junia wore, and began tugging gently.

"Go ahead. Show us the house, Neem," she said, encouragingly.

At this, the beast turned and trotted toward a vine-covered 塚, his flat, spiked tail proudly elevated. He led them through a small 開始 in a leafy 審査する of 絡まるd vines, and behind it they saw a door 削減（する） in the supposed 塚, which turned out to be an irregularly 形態／調整d house covered with vines and creepers.

"The place is certainly 井戸／弁護士席 隠すd," said Jerry. "Thaine must have been hiding for some 推論する／理由."

後部ing up, the dalf 圧力（をかける）d on the latch with one 抱擁する paw, then shouldered the door open and went in. Jerry and Junia followed him into a large room, comfortably furnished with swinging 議長，司会を務めるs and divans. There were three circular doorways 削減（する） in the 塀で囲むs, 主要な to the other rooms. And at one end was a large fireplace, around which were さまざまな utensils, and beside which a shelf held a number of dishes, cups, and the like, all of which were of gold, skillfully engraved and 始める，決める with jewels. A shelf on the other 味方する held a number of covered jars, such as the Martians use for the 貯蔵 of foods.

"Evidently the lady was やめる 豊富な," said Jerry. "Those dishes and jars look as if they （機の）カム from a palace."

"They did. On each is the 示す of the 王室の house of Xancibar. It must be that Thaine had some 関係 with the house of Miradon Vil."

"Or perhaps with a ギャング（団） of 夜盗，押し込み強盗s. In any 事例／患者, we eat!"

And eat they did. It was some time before they troubled to 診察する the three other rooms. One was 明白に the sleeping room of a man—a mighty huntsman, 裁判官ing from the 武器s and the collection of トロフィーs.

The second room was used for 貯蔵. In it they 設立する かなりの 量s of 乾燥した，日照りのd and 保存するd 準備／条項s, 同様に as boxes of 着せる／賦与するing, sleeping furs, 解雇する／砲火／射撃 砕く, and other necessities.

The remaining room was unmistakably the boudoir of a girl, with its many chests of feminine apparel, and its dainty jeweled boxes of cosmetics. There were 武器s here, also, but smaller and はしけ than those in the sleeping room of the man.

Junia すぐに took 所有／入手 of this room, and Jerry retired to the room of the hunter. He bathed, then took the 瓶／封じ込める of depilatory which he had long since 代用品，人d for his かみそり and went to the mirror to 除去する his 耐えるd. Putting 負かす／撃墜する the depilatory, he returned to his belt pouch, and getting the 瓶／封じ込める of （疑いを）晴らす liquid, filled a jeweled gold 水盤／入り江 with water at the bath box, 追加するd a few 減少（する）s of the 化学製品, and 除去するd the dye from his 肌 and hair.

He got out the 瓶／封じ込める of 黒人／ボイコット hair dye, and with it redyed his hair and eyebrows and stained his 耐えるd jet 黒人／ボイコット. Then he opened several chests until he 設立する what he 手配中の，お尋ね者—boots, cincture and 長，率いる-cloak of brown, pliable leather like those worn by huntsmen. These he speedily donned.

His 洗面所 完全にするd, Jerry opened the door to the living room and saw, to his surprise, that Junia was there before him. She had kindled a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 in the grate, and had a マリファナ of fragrant pulcho brewing. Like Jerry, she had chosen huntsman's leather in preference to the blue and gold raiment which was at her 処分. She was bending over の近くに to the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, 準備するing a マリファナ of hunter's stew, a mixture of 乾燥した，日照りのd meats, berries and vegetables.

審理，公聴会 the sound of his footsteps behind her, Junia turned, took one look at him, and uttered a piercing 叫び声をあげる. 即時に, Neem the dalf, who had been lying stretched 近づく her, sprang up with a roar, and 急落（する），激減（する）d straight for the Earthman.

Neem, after 非難する up to within three feet of Jerry, suddenly stopped, 匂いをかぐing the 空気／公表する. Then he hung his 長，率いる, the bristles on his 支援する receded, and with a most crestfallen manner he returned to his place by the 解雇する／砲火／射撃.

"Sorry to have startled you," said Jerry. "I thought I made 十分な noise coming into the room.

"It wasn't the noise, but the change in your 外見," Junia said. "I should never have known you.

"Then perhaps my 計画（する） will work," Jerry told her, continuing: "Junia, I want to take you 支援する to your father, and when I do, I would like to remain and help him. Without my help, and that of my army, it is probable that he not only will never be able to 奪い返す Raliad, but that the Torturer may 完全に 鎮圧する his army."

"Just what is your 計画（する）?"

"I would go as I am, disguised as a huntsman from Xancibar, who 設立する you in this 沼. As a reward, your father should be glad to give me a 地位，任命する in his army. I am a 兵士 by profession—have made a 熟考する／考慮する of the art of war. With my help, and that of my 軍人s, who I am sure I could 説得する to 増強する the Vil's army, your father will be able to 運動 the Torturer from Raliad and 奪い返す his empire."

"I suppose you realize," she said, "that if my father should 認める you, or if you should be betrayed by someone else, he would have you put to death without compunction. And even with the—the 障壁 that stands between us, I should not want that to happen."

"I know," he agreed. "And for a 罪，犯罪 I did not commit."

"That remains to be 証明するd," she reminded him. "And I have prayed every night that you may 証明する your innocence."

"Bless your heart!" For a moment Jerry laid his large brown を引き渡す her small one.

They sat there before the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, toying with their pulcho cups and making their 計画（する）s for the morrow.

"I 設立する a 地図／計画する which shows our 場所," said Junia. "We are in the 中央 of the Takkor 沼, on the 縁 of which is 据えるd 城 Takkor. The Raddek of Takkor is within the Empire of Xancibar, and 支配する to its 支配者."

"Then how far are we from Raliad?" asked Jerry.

"I have 計算するd the distance at four thousand jahuds," she replied.

"May I see the 地図／計画する?" he asked.

She rose and went into her room, presently 再現するing with a roll of waterproof silk, which she spread on the taboret. "Here is our 場所 in the 中心 of the 沼," she said, pointing to a tiny red dot on a small island.

He looked at the 地図／計画する more closely. "It appears that we are about two hundred jahuds from the Corvid Canal," he said. "That will take us straight to Raliad. We are five hundred jahuds from Dukor, 資本／首都 of Xancibar, and only fifty from 城 Takkor. Why not go to the 城 and ask the Rad for the 貸付金 of a couple of gawrs?"

"I am surprised at you, Jerry Morgan," she said. "Have you forgotten that Sarkis is in Raliad, and that Thoor has been 指名するd Vil?

"We know not what 条約s may have been 結論するd between Kalsivar and Xancibar during our absence. It may be that the Rad of Takkor would place us under 逮捕（する） and send us to Raliad. Perhaps Thoor and Sarkis have 申し込む／申し出d a fabulous reward for our return."

"I 屈服する to your superior judgment," he said, "and わびる for 存在 so 厚い-witted. 自然に, if it would not be wise to go to 城 Takkor, it would be 平等に unwise to go to Dukor. But if we go straight to the Corvid Canal, disguised as a huntsman and his sister, it may be that we can take passage on one of the boats for Raliad."

"Have you thought of the 事柄 of passage money?"

"No," Jerry 認める. "And I suppose the boatmen won't take 約束s. Perhaps we'll have to steal a boat."

"Fortunately not," she replied. "I 設立する a 井戸／弁護士席-filled purse in the 底（に届く） of a chest in Thaine's sleeping room." She put a small, gold-embroidered silk 捕らえる、獲得する on the taboret, and 開始 it, 公表する／暴露するd a かなりの sum of gold and platinum pieces stamped with the 示す of the Vil of Xancibar.

"Take the purse," she went on, "and if we 後継する in reaching my father I will learn the どの辺に of this Thaine, and reimburse her."

Jerry 押し進めるd the purse 支援する to her. "You take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of it," he said. "And now, how about what I asked you? Will you 許す me to 補助装置 your father in my character as a huntsman?"

"I'll sleep on that," she told him, rising and yawning prettily. "Good night."

CHAPTER 22

The earthman arose 早期に, and went 負かす／撃墜する to the bank of the stream to 準備する the 木造の boat for their 旅行 across the 沼.

The fragrant aroma of boiling pulcho 迎える／歓迎するd him as he opened the door, and Junia cheerily called him to breakfast. This consisted of several 肉親，親類d of 乾燥した，日照りのd fruits, which she had stewed, and the 必然的な pulcho.

Their breakfast over, they carefully selected the 準備／条項s and 供給（する）s which they would take with them, with a 見解（をとる） to keeping their packs as light as possible, for they would have to walk across the 砂漠 a distance of about seventy miles before reaching the Corvid Canal. Then it might be necessary to walk ten or fifteen miles さらに先に before reaching a boat 駅／配置する.

When they .bad 負担d and strapped on their packs, with a rolled sleeping fur 大（公）使館員d to each, Jerry went into the huntsman's sleeping room and got his 武器s. After 補充するing his 供給（する） of javelins from a large sheaf on the 塀で囲む, and pouching a half dozen 瓶／封じ込めるs of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 砕く, he was ready.

Neem …を伴ってd them 負かす／撃墜する to the boat, and when they were ready to 押し進める off, Jerry called to him. But instead of getting in with them, he took the tie- rope in his mouth, and 急落（する），激減（する）ing into the water with it, pulled them out into the middle of the stream, then stopped, looking 支援する at them.

"Why, I believe the beast wants to 牽引する us!" exclaimed Jerry.

"Of course," Junia told him. "That is what all 沼-後部d dalfs are trained to do. I'll guide him."

She sat 負かす／撃墜する in the 前線 of the boat, and unrolling the 地図／計画する, spread it over her dimpled 膝s.

"To the 権利, Neem," she said.

The dalf obediently turned and started away, dragging the boat after him with a 速度(を上げる） which Jerry could never have equaled with a paddle.

A two hours' ride through the 沼 brought them to a wide sandy beach strewn with 玉石s, behind which towered a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of rugged, frowning cliffs.

"The 砂漠 starts at the 辛勝する／優位 of those cliffs," said Junia, ちらりと見ることing at her 地図／計画する. "And a hundred and forty jahuds beyond lies the Corvid Canal."

They left the boat on the beach, and shouldering their packs, climbed up の中で the 玉石s to the base of the cliff. Here they 消費するd a laborious hour in 規模ing the precipice, then 現れるd into the 砂漠.

After a 簡潔な／要約する 残り／休憩（する）, they started off across the ocher-yellow sands. Presently, a growl from Neem attracted Jerry's attention, and he looked in the direction toward which the dalf was gazing. He saw that several rodals were coming 速く toward them.

They were riderless, and had 明白に run thus for some time. It was 明らかな that these were the 生存者s of a 衝突／不一致 between 砂漠 tribesmen. The rodals （機の）カム to a 停止（させる） a short distance away from the 旅行者s. Jerry turned to the girl.

"Suppose you wait here with Neem to guard you, and I'll see if I can catch a couple of rodals. I'm accustomed to 扱うing them."

The nearest rodal had stopped at a patch of sand flowers about half a mile away, and Jerry walked slowly toward it. As be drew 近づく, he saw that it was engaged in 追跡（する）ing the large insects and small rodents and reptiles which （不足などを）補う the diet of these 砂漠 steeds. It raised its plumed, snaky 長，率いる at his approach, and stood 星／主役にするing at him. At this, Jerry made a sound used by the 砂漠 lorwocks to call their 開始するs, while he continued to saunter closer.

The rodal was puzzled. It looked around several times, as if half minded to sprint away. Again Jerry called. This, and his slow, careless approach seemed to 安心させる it. Almost before the creature was aware of it, the Earthman had his 手渡す on the guiding 棒, and had 丸天井d into the saddle.

Once on the rodal's 支援する, Jerry was in 完全にする 命令（する）. And the 事柄 of 逮捕（する）ing a second 開始する for Junia was easily 遂行するd. Soon they were スピード違反 across the sands on their tireless 砂漠 steeds, with Neem loping along beside them.

At noon they 停止（させる）d in a small oasis for 残り／休憩（する）, food and pulcho. Then they 圧力（をかける）d onward, and late that afternoon sighted the 黒人／ボイコット 石／投石する 塀で囲む which, topped by 歩哨 towers at intervals of one jahud, or だいたい a half mile, guarded the Corvid Canal.

They now took a course 平行の to the 塀で囲む, and just out of sight of the 歩哨s, until they （機の）カム to a tower above which was a small replica of a ship. This 示すd that it was a 駅／配置する where boats stopped for 乗客s and freight. Here they abandoned their rodals and waited until sunset.

A short walk in the 薄暗い moonlight brought them to an arched 開始 in the 塀で囲む. A 歩哨 on the 塀で囲む above the gate flashed his baridium たいまつ in their 直面するs and challenged them.

"Who are you, and what do you want?"

"I am Jandar the Hunter, with my sister Thaine, and her dalf. We have left our hut in the Takkor 沼 to 捜し出す passage for Raliad."

"Have you passage money?"

"We have saved a little from the sale of our furs," replied Jerry, "and would see the wonderful sights in the greatest city of all 火星."

The 歩哨 called to someone below him, and a moment later the two 大規模な doors beneath the archway swung outward. A 発言する／表明する called: "Enter."

They went in 味方する by 味方する, with Neem 追跡するing at their heels, and 横断するd the dimly lighted passageway which led through the 塀で囲む. This brought them up before a corpulent, red-直面するd officer in the uniform of Xancibar, at whose 支援する stood two stalwart guards. The officer sat on a swinging 議長，司会を務める before a taboret, with a baridium たいまつ dangling above his 長，率いる. A scroll of waterproof silk was unrolled before him. Beside it was an 署名／調印する マリファナ, and in his 手渡す was a 令状ing 小衝突.

"指名する?" he rasped at Jerry.

"Jandar the Hunter."

"From?"

"Takkor 沼."

Dipping the 小衝突 into the マリファナ of 署名／調印する, he made the 入ること／参加（者） on the scroll. Then he turned to Junia with the same questions. She replied that she was Thaine the Huntress, also from the Takkor 沼.

Having entered this, he ちらりと見ることd at the 指名する plate on the dalf's collar, and wrote it 負かす／撃墜する on the scroll. This done, he said:

"It is not strange that there should be two dazzlingly beautiful Thaines in Xancibar, nor yet that there should be two 黒人／ボイコット dalfs 指名するd Neem. But that there should ever have been two such Thaines, each with a 黒人／ボイコット dalf 指名するd Neem, is passing strange. Also, I have heard it said that her highness, the Vil's 可決する・採択するd daughter, lost her 黒人／ボイコット dalf Neem in the Takkor 沼 some time ago. I wonder if this could be the same beast."

"I see nothing strange in the fact that my sister was 指名するd after her highness, nor that she should 指名する her 黒人／ボイコット dalf after the beast which belonged to the Vil's 可決する・採択するd daughter," said Jerry. "And," he continued, laying his 手渡す on the hilt of his sword, "I resent the insinuation of 窃盗 which your words seem to 暗示する. I wait to hear you 撤回する them."

"You take a strange トン for a mere hunter," said the officer, looking the Earthman over with the practiced 注目する，もくろむ of a 軍の man. And though the officer was not accounted a bad swordsman, the 冷静な／正味の self-保証／確信 of the young man who stood before him did not make him at all anxious to 圧力（をかける） 事柄s その上の. He sat 負かす／撃墜する ひどく, and continued: "But after all, hunters have their 権利s, as does every 国民 of Xancibar, however humble, under the just 役割 of our mighty Vil. And as his majesty's 代表者／国会議員, it is my 義務 to see that you get 司法（官）. I, Hazlit Jen, 撤回する the insinuation, and wish you and your sister a pleasant trip to Raliad. すぐに after the rising of the nearer moon a large 乗客 boat going your way will ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる here. In the 合間, there is a small cabin boat tied at the wharf. If you care to 支払う／賃金 the price, it might be that you could 借り切る／憲章 it for the trip."

Jerry 除去するd his 手渡す from his hilt and saluted. "We are beholden to you for your 親切. Come, sister. Let us interview the boatman at the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる."

At this, the bulky officer arose.

"許す me to interview Padrath for you," he said. "I know the fellow. If he thinks you are in a hurry, he will want to 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 you 二塁打 or perhaps treble fare."

Intuition 即時に told Jerry there was something amiss. "Don't trouble yourself. If we find the boatman 不当な, we will wait for the 乗客 ship."

"Ah, but I 主張する," wheezed the officer, （人が）群がるing past them and waddling 負かす／撃墜する to the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる, where a small 狭くする （手先の）技術 with a cabin of iridescent 水晶 was moored.

With a whispered 警告 to Junia to remain 静かな and keep the dalf with her, Jerry softly stepped upon the deck, and tiptoeing to the cabin door, crouched there, listening. For the most part, the conversation was indistinguishable, but he did make out the words: "Junia, 栄冠を与える Princess of Kalsivar," "Thoor Vil," and "a reward of ten thousand platinum tayzos."

Noticing that one of the bulky 影をつくる／尾行するs inside had gotten up, he quickly stepped 支援する to the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる.

A moment later, the door opened and the red-直面するd officer squeezed through.

"All is settled," he wheezed, "and at a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引 for you. I, myself, am going with you and will 支払う／賃金 half of the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, which my friend Padrath has made very 名目上の for my sake. I had ーするつもりであるd going tomorrow, but tonight will do 同様に. 耐える with me but a moment, and I will be with you."

He waddled off あわてて in the direction of the tower.

"What did you hear? What does it all mean?" asked Junia.

"It means," replied Jerry grimly, "that the fat, red-直面するd jen has 認めるd you, and has conspired with the boatman to take us to Raliad, that they may collect the reward of ten thousand platinum tayzos which Thoor Vil has 申し込む／申し出d for your return."

And knowing this, you mean to go with them?"

"We have no choice in the 事柄. To 試みる／企てる an escape over the 塀で囲む, patrolled as it is, would be 極端に dangerous and would only put us 支援する where we started if successful. This way the danger will be 平等に 広大な／多数の／重要な, but at least we will have the satisfaction of knowing that we are 製図／抽選 nearer to our 目的地. And some 適切な時期 for escape may 現在の itself before we reach Raliad."

CHAPTER 23

So far as physical 慰安s went, Jerry and Junia were pleasantly 任命する／導入するd on a pile of cushions in the cabin of Padrath's swift little boat. The boatman himself sat in the 前線 of the cabin on a saddle-like seat, manipulating the two 運動ing levers which controlled both the 速度(を上げる） and direction of the （手先の）技術. The corpulent, red-直面するd officer 占領するd a cushion across from them, and Neem, the 黒人／ボイコット dalf, snoozed at their feet.

Under any other circumstances it would have been pleasant to glide 速く and 滑らかに over the placid waters of the canal, leaving a wake of ripples that sparkled in the mellow light of the さらに先に moon.

Presently, some time after the nearer moon had risen, Jerry said: "You are 疲れた／うんざりした, little sister. の近くに your 注目する，もくろむs and sleep."

"And what of you, big brother?"

"I would watch this strange scenery," he told her.

"It is no more strange to you than to me, and not a bit いっそう少なく 利益／興味ing."

近づく midnight, Hazlit Jen brought a pan of charcoal, 点火（する）d it with a pinch of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 砕く and a splash of water, and brewed pulcho. After passing a cup to the boatman and one to Junia, he filled one for Jerry and 手渡すd it to him. But the Earthman noticed that before he 選ぶd it up, he held the palm of his を引き渡す it for a moment. Accordingly, he held the cup without tasting it, and then as the officer filled his own cup, said:

"A whim of 地雷, Hazlit Jen. の中で huntsmen it is a custom for good friends to 交流 cups." He 圧力（をかける）d the cup into the officer's left 手渡す and took the one he had 注ぐd for himself.

The man's 直面する grew redder, and he flashed a 怪しげな look at Jerry.

"To a swift 旅行 and a 安全な arrival," said the Earthman.

Having gone this far, Hazlit Jen was 軍隊d to raise the cup which Jerry had 手渡すd him. But as he slid so, it slipped from his 手渡す.

"Clumsy of me," he wheezed, catching up the cup and 投げつけるing it through the porthole as if his temper had got the better of him. Then he filled another cup.

すぐに thereafter, Hazlit Jen settled 支援する の中で his cushions and was soon snoring lustily.

"We must get some sleep," Jerry whispered to Junia, "for a long 旅行 lies ahead of us. You sleep first, and I will watch. Then, when you awaken, I will get some sleep."

When the Earthman awoke, the sun was at the zenith. And Junia was busily engaged over the charcoal pan, 準備するing their noon meal. The appetizing odors made Jerry ravenous, and he did 十分な 司法（官） to the meal, 支払う／賃金ing extravagant 尊敬の印 to the 技術 of the cook.

They 招待するd Padrath and Hazlit Jen to join them, but both 拒絶する／低下するd, 説 that they were not hungry, and would 準備する their own food later.

After they had eaten, Jerry and Junia went out on deck where Neem was basking in the sunlight, and fed him the 残りの人，物 of the anuba steaks. Then they sat 負かす／撃墜する to enjoy the 日光 and the scenery that was slipping past them.

Far below them was the drainage canal, 群れているing with boats and fishermen. And across the thirteen mile chasm was the other irrigation canal which watered the opposite terraces, its larger （手先の）技術 plainly 明白な in the （疑いを）晴らす 空気／公表する.

At intervals of about two hundred jahuds, cross canals 橋（渡しをする）d the chasm on tremendous arched structures of metal and 石／投石する, connecting the two upper canals and making it possible for boats to cross 直接／まっすぐに from one to the other without using the slower systems of locks which occurred at equal distances, and connected both with the lower drainage canal.

The sun was low in the west when Padrath turned into one of these transverse channels and crossed to the irrigation canal on the opposite 味方する.

As they turned into the other canal, the sun 始める，決める, and night fell suddenly with its 炎 of sparkling 星／主役にするs in a 黒人／ボイコット velvet sky, and the pale さらに先に moon 準備するing to follow the sun beneath the western horizon.

Lights flashed on in the teeming （手先の）技術 that 群れているd on the canal, the houses that dotted the terraces, and the watch towers upon the 塀で囲む. And Padrath unhooded the baridium たいまつ that lighted the small cabin. The boatman then rose, and turning over the 支配（する）／統制する levers to Hazlit Jen, sauntered out upon the deck, の近くにing the door after him.

For a time he stood looking at the passing towers and 一打／打撃ing his bushy 耐えるd. Then he said: "We should make the 国境 of Kalsivar before the さらに先に moon 始める，決めるs. I suppose you two have パスポートs."

"Why, no, we 港／避難所't," replied Jerry. "I didn't know they would be 要求するd."

"They are. But a few platinum pieces will serve 同様に. I know an officer."

"How much will it cost?" asked Jerry.

"Five tayzos should be enough."

"My sister carries our money," said Jerry. Then he turned to Junia. "支払う／賃金 the boatman five tay ..." he began. But at that instant something descended upon his 長，率いる with terrific 軍隊, felling him to the deck. Fortunately for him, he had coiled the leather lasso inside his 長，率いる-cloak to 隠す it, and this saved him a 鎮圧するd skull.

Almost as soon as the blow fell, there was a low growl from Neem. Then the big dalf, with a quickness that was surprising in a creature of such 広大な／多数の／重要な 本体，大部分／ばら積みの, leaped straight over the fallen Earthman, There was a muffled shriek, and a crunch of 粉々にするd bone. Then Padrath fell to the deck with the dalf on 最高の，を越す of him, his 長，率いる 鎮圧するd like an eggshell.

Jerry sprang dizzily to his feet, and しっかり掴むing Neem by the collar, pulled him off his fallen 加害者. A 選び出す／独身 ちらりと見ること told him that the boatman was beyond all human 援助（する）.

Feeling sure that Hazlit jen, who had tried a more subtle method of 暗殺 only a few hours before, was in on the 陰謀（を企てる）, Jerry tiptoed to the cabin door and softly opened it. The officer sat at the 支配（する）／統制するs, looking straight out through the 前線 windows and 操縦するing the （手先の）技術 through the canal traffic with 衰えていない 速度(を上げる）.

Jerry 静かに の近くにd the door. Then he returned to where the 死体 lay, and 涙／ほころびing off a piece of the 長，率いる-cloak, heaved it into the water. With the fabric he mopped up the 血, then dropped it overboard.

He turned to Junia.

"I am going into the cabin to try to learn the 計画（する）s of Hazlit Jen," he said. "First give me five tayzos. I will leave the door open. If you see me raise my 手渡す to my 長，率いる, 急ぐ into the cabin, 説 that Padrath has snatched your purse with a thousand tayzos in it, and leaped overboard."

"But what are you going to do? He may kill you."

"Have no 恐れる, and 信用 me," said Jerry, 圧力（をかける）ing her 手渡す as she passed him the money. "Is all （疑いを）晴らす?"

"Yes."

Jerry went to the cabin door, and opened it noisily. Then be walked in, and toward the 前線.

"I dislike to trouble an officer with what must seem a most trivial 事柄," Jerry began, "yet to a poor hunter a 事柄 of five tayzos is of かなりの importance. To me it 代表するs many dangerous 追跡（する）s, and many trips to the City of Takkor, where the しっかり掴むing fur merchants 支払う／賃金 us いっそう少なく than a tenth of the prices they receive from the tanners in Dukor. I hope that you understand."

"I understand fully, my poor fellow," said Hazlit Jen. "Go on."

"I have not forgotten that you 警告するd me against the cupidity of our boatman," continued the Earthman. "Just a moment ago he approached me and asked if we had パスポートs. Since we had 非，不，無, he said he would have to have five tayzos with which to 賄賂 the 公式の／役人s at the 国境 in order that we might pass into Kalsivar. He （人命などを）奪う，主張するd he was 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with one of the officers, and could arrange everything for us."

"The 量 he について言及するd was 訂正する. But if he told you he could arrange things with the 公式の／役人s, he lied. Only I can do that. And it is to me that you must 支払う／賃金 the money."

"Indeed I am glad I 協議するd you in this 事柄," Jerry told him, 手渡すing over the five platinum pellets with a look of 救済.

The officer dropped the money into his belt pouch. "Leave everything to me, and you will be 安全な and sound in Raliad before sun-up."

Jerry raised his 手渡す, as if to adjust his 長，率いる-cloak. This movement was followed by a most 納得させるing 叫び声をあげる from Junia. Then she 急ぐd into the cabin.

"What happened? What's wrong?" asked Hazlit jen, paling.

"The boatman!" she panted. "He snatched my purse and leaped overboard. Our life 貯金—our thousand tayzos—are gone with him."

Jerry sprang to his feet, ふりをするing 怒り／怒る, but the 怒り／怒る of the red- 直面するd officer was not ふりをするd. Moving both levers 支援する to 中立の, he turned and asked: "Where is the scoundrel?"

"He must be on shore, and 井戸／弁護士席 away with the 略奪する by this time," said Junia.

Hazlit jen 急落（する），激減（する）d across the cabin, through the door, and out upon the deck. Jerking his baridium たいまつ from his belt, he flashed it over the placid waters.

"Gone!" he wheezed 怒って. "Gone with a thousand platinum tayzos! Oh, the blackguard!"

"After all," said Jerry dryly, "there are more platinum pieces where those （機の）カム from. The fool has only cheated himself."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Since the low-born villain has decamped, there is no 推論する／理由 why two officers and gentlemen should not be perfectly frank with each other," said Jerry in a confidential トン. "Let us 減少（する） all pretense. I realized that you had 認めるd her highness, from the start. What you have evidently not realized is that I an in the 雇う of His Majesty, Thoor Vil. Of course she doesn't know that. And I thought it best not to tell her until we arrive. She might 申し込む／申し出 absurd 反対s, or 試みる／企てる to escape."

"やめる 権利," said Hazlit. "But what of the reward?"

"I'll 分裂（する） it with you" Jerry told him. "I had ーするつもりであるd dividing with you and the boatman. But since he took the purse, there remain larger 部分s for both of us. It is he who is the greatest loser."

"Why, so he is," said the officer. He was still 持つ／拘留するing his baridium たいまつ, unhooded, and the rays were 向こうずねing on the deck. For a moment, the little pig-like 注目する，もくろむs paused and 広げるd at sight of a small, red splotch.

Jerry saw it too, and quickly looked up to see if the jen had noticed it. But the officer looked away unconcernedly.

"Let the fool boatman go with his ill-gotten 伸び（る）s," he said. "We will have ten thousand tayzos to divide between us."

He hooded his baridium たいまつ, and 取って代わるing it in his belt, started toward the cabin.

During this conversation, the boat had been drifting slowly 今後 under its own 勢い, the 運動ing 機械装置 having been 始める，決める at 中立の.

"We are almost at the Kalsivar 国境," said Hazlit Jen, 再開するing his seat between the two 支配（する）／統制する levers. "You two had best remain in the cabin. I will ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる the boat and …に出席する to interviewing the officers, alone."

He 押し進めるd both levers 今後 a little way. A cunning look （機の）カム into his 注目する，もくろむs as he 滑らかに guided the boat up to the international ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. He drew the levers 支援する to 中立の, and stood up.

"を待つ me here," he said, "and leave everything to me. I won't be long."

CHAPTER 24

Jerry kept his place の中で the cushions in the cabin when Hazlit jen went out to moor the boat. But he had no 意向 of leaving the officer unwatched.

The Earthman watched through a porthole while Hazlit jen tied the boat to the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる and walked to the tower doorway. As soon as the officer entered, Jerry strolled unconcernedly out on the deck and across the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる after him. Guards were 駅／配置するd at 正規の／正選手 intervals along the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる, 同様に as upon the 黒人／ボイコット 塀で囲む, and in the open windows of the tower. And there were four swift patrol boats of Kalsivar 錨，総合司会者d at equidistant points across the canal, 直面するing four 類似の boats belonging to Xancibar.

Instead of entering the tower doorway, Jerry paused just outside it, and a little to one 味方する. Hazlit jen, with his 支援する toward him, was standing before the 指揮官 of the 国境 guards, who sat on a swinging 議長，司会を務める with 令状ing 構成要素s on a taboret before him.

"The hunter 殺人d the boatman," Hazlit jen was 説, "and threw his 団体／死体 into the canal. Then he told me his 犠牲者 had robbed his sister and leaped overboard. I will take the girl on to Raliad, for she is innocent, but I should like to have you 持つ／拘留する this 暗殺者 here until I come 支援する. Then I will return him to Dukor in chains, to stand 裁判，公判 for 殺人.

"I don't know why you wish to leave him with me, instead of the Xancibar officer," said the 指揮官, "but since you have paid me five tayzos, I can see no 反対 to 持つ／拘留するing the 暗殺者 for you." He turned to a 兵士 who stood behind him. "Take six men and 逮捕（する） the hunter on the small boat at the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる," he ordered.

Jerry waited to hear no more. Springing across the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる, he whipped out his sword, 削除するd the tie-rope, and leaped 船内に the boat. Then he 急落（する），激減（する）d into the cabin, 掴むd the two 支配（する）／統制する levers, and 押し進めるd them 今後 as far as they would go. The boat tore away from the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる with a 急ぐ, just as the two nearest guards （機の）カム running up.

Jerry kept his 注目する，もくろむs ahead and his 手渡すs on the 支配（する）／統制する levers, while Junia watched from the 後部 deck.

"The patrol boat is 製図／抽選 up to the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる," she said, "and Hazlit jen is getting 船内に. Now they are starting after us."

It looked as though their 逮捕（する） would be only a 事柄 of minutes, when Jerry, who had noticed the さらに先に moon just ready to settle below the western horizon, suddenly thought of a 計画（する）. Zigzagging through the traffic toward the outer bank, he presently reached a position only a few feet from shore. By this time the patrol boat was but two hundred feet behind them, its prow lined with 軍人s ready to leap upon their afterdeck.

Presently the moon dipped below the horizon. 即時に Jerry hooded the baridium たいまつ that lighted the cabin, 急落（する），激減（する）ing the boat into 不明瞭. Then he 始める，決める the levers so the （手先の）技術 would turn about in a 狭くする circle. しっかり掴むing Junia's 手渡す, he hurried her out の上に the deck.

The dark 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of the shore ぼんやり現れるd beside them, and the boat began curving away from it. 集会 the girl in his 武器, Jerry jumped, his Earth-trained muscles easily carrying him beyond the water's 辛勝する／優位. 速く he ran up the bank in the 不明瞭. And a moment later, he knew that part of his 計画（する） had worked out, for there was a terrific 衝突，墜落, and the shouts of men struggling in the water, as the small boat, turning in a circle, rammed the large （手先の）技術 amidships.

There were stairways for the use of defending 軍人s at 正規の／正選手 intervals along the inner 味方する of the 塀で囲む, and Jerry presently groped his way in the dark to one of these. Climbing it without noise, he saw a guard approaching, 輪郭（を描く）d against the sky. At this moment, Jerry, who had 完全に forgotten Neem the dalf, felt a wet muzzle 圧力（をかける）d against his arm.

"Get him, Neem," he whispered.

While Jerry and Junia crouched in the 影をつくる／尾行する, the 広大な／多数の／重要な shaggy beast crept over the 辛勝する／優位 of the 塀で囲む. The guard saw him and raised his javelin. But ere he could draw it 支援する for a thrust, the furry 団体／死体 発射 through the 空気／公表する, the 抱擁する jaws の近くにd on his 長，率いる with a 選び出す／独身 crunch, and the sentinel 満了する／死ぬd without a sound.

Jerry caught up Junia once more and ran to the 辛勝する／優位 of the 塀で囲む. Uncoiling the rope beneath his 長，率いる-cloak, he passed it around her slender waist and let her over the 辛勝する／優位. The lasso did not grow slack until most of its length had been paid out so he knew there was a 減少（する） of about thirty feet beneath him.

"解放（する） the rope," he called 負かす／撃墜する to Junia softly.

She 即時に 従うd, and fastening it around Neem, he 押し進めるd the beast over the 辛勝する／優位, snubbing the lasso on the parapet ーするために 持つ／拘留する the 広大な／多数の／重要な 負わせる of the dalf.

As soon as the beast had alighted, Jerry let himself 負かす／撃墜する as far as he could by hanging from both 手渡すs, then dropped, alighting in the soft sand without 傷害.

回復するing the rope, he caught up Junia and hurried away.

For some time the 不明瞭 好意d them. Then the 有望な nearer moon suddenly popped above the western horizon, almost at the point where the さらに先に moon had 始める，決める, flooding the 砂漠 with light. By this time they were more than a mile from the 塀で囲む, and Jerry 設立する that by keeping to the hollows behind the sand dunes, they could travel without danger of 存在 seen by the enemy.

The 有望な nearer moon was high in the heavens when a 黒人／ボイコット 影をつくる／尾行する suddenly swept across its 直面する and fell upon the 逃亡者／はかないものs. It was followed by another and another, and Jerry, looking up, saw that a party of a hundred gawr riders was passing high 総計費.

Junia, who had also been watching the fliers, clutched his arm. "They've seen us! What shall we do?"

"I'm afraid there is nothing we can do," he replied. "It is too late to hide, we can't outrun them, and it would be hopeless to try to fight a hundred 軍人s."

The sound of flapping leathery wings grew louder as the 飛行機で行くing 軍人s spiraled lower, and in a few moments they had landed in a circle 完全に surrounding the 逃亡者／はかないものs.

駅／配置するing himself in 前線 of Junia, Neem bristled up, and ominous rumblings 問題／発行するd from his cavernous throat.

Then suddenly the leader of the 軍人s flung himself 負かす／撃墜する from his steed. He was short and 屈服する-legged, with long ape-like 武器 and tremendously 幅の広い shoulders. Instead of a javelin, he carried a 激しい, long-扱うd mace.

"Koha!" Jerry exclaimed.

"I hoped it would be you, master," the 黒人／ボイコット dwarf cried, saluting. He turned to the others, whirling his mace aloft. "売春婦, 軍人s! It is the Commoner!"

At this a 元気づける broke from the throats of the entire company.

"We have been searching for you day and night, since your 見えなくなる, master," continued Koha.

"The lady with me is Her 皇室の Highness of Kalsivar," said Jerry. "You will salute her, and 供給する a gawr for each of us."

即時に the entire company sprang from their saddles, （判決などを）下すing the 皇室の salute to Junia and proffering their 開始するs. Jerry selected one for the princess and another for himself.

機動力のある on their swift bird-beasts, it took them いっそう少なく than a half hour to reach Jerry's （軍の）野営地，陣営, where he and the princess received a tremendous ovation. Here, after 供給するing Junia with a portable hut, and recommending that she get some sleep, the Earthman called his officers together.

"It is 高度に probable," he said, "that there will be desperate fighting for all of us in a few days. And strange as it may appear to you, we will probably be fighting as 同盟（する）s of Numin Vil. As you all know, the Torturer is in Raliad, and has put the dark-skinned prince on the 王位 for his puppet. By joining 軍隊s with Numin Vil, we will be 補助装置ing him in 戦闘ing a 相互の enemy, and if we 勝利，勝つ, there will be suitable rewards for all. Are there any questions or 反対s?"

No one spoke.

"There 存在 no 反対s," Jerry continued, "you will send out riders at once to 召喚する the tribesmen, and the other 部隊s of our army that are in hiding. Let the Atabah 沼 be the rendezvous, and be ready for matching orders by tomorrow. I go now to 検査／視察する the work of our armorers and smiths."

Rising, he strode through the circle of officers, followed by イチイd and Koha, and crossing the sandy, 玉石-strewn beach to the base of the cliff, entered a dark doorway.

Unhooding his baridium たいまつ, he followed a winding passageway 深い into the cliff. He 現れるd in a tremendous natural 洞穴, where a night 転換 of two thousand men was at work, (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むing and welding small octagonal metal turrets, each large enough to 持つ／拘留する one man. The turrets were fitted with 厚い 水晶 パネル盤s, each of which could be opened or の近くにd by a lever in the 手渡すs of the occupant.

"How many are ready?" Jerry asked.

"Eight hundred are finished," Koha replied. "And there will be two hundred more by morning."

"Good! And now let us see what the workmen in the next 洞穴 have 遂行するd."

As they passed through the 抱擁する workshop, Jerry paused from time to time to 検査／視察する a turret or say a few words to a workman. A second passageway led them into another tremendous 洞穴, where five thousand 労働者s, men and women, were busy. The men were molding hollow metal 爆撃するs of cast アイロンをかける. The women were filling them with 手段d 量s of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 砕く, and 挿入するing small, stoppered globes of water. Some of these were fitted with （着弾の瞬間に破裂する）着発 plungers which would break the globes on 接触する, and others with tiny clockwork 機械装置s that would jerk the stoppers from the glass globes in from one to ten seconds, depending upon how they were 始める，決める.

"You made the 実験（する）s as I ordered?" Jerry asked, turning to イチイd.

"All of them," replied the 巨大（な）. "The large globes, when dropped, excavate 穴を開けるs in the ground that will 含む／封じ込める a hundred 機動力のある men. The smaller ones make 噴火口，クレーターs proportionate to their size."

"How many are finished?" Jerry asked.

"A hundred thousand of the small, and ten thousand of the large."

"You have done splendidly, all of you," said Jerry. "Keep it up, and if nothing happens to 妨げる, I will return tomorrow. I go, now, to return the princess to her father, and to perfect our 同盟 with him."

イチイd said: "Deza 認める that you may find Raliad a safer place this time than you ever have before."

CHAPTER 25

As he drew 近づく his own （軍の）野営地，陣営, some hours later, Jerry saw that the 準備s for war which he had ordered were 井戸／弁護士席 under way. Already the city of portable huts had grown to thrice its former size, and his 軍隊s were still 存在 swelled by large companies of rodal cavalry, and by thousands of 飛行機で行くing 軍人s. The lakes were 黒人／ボイコット with swimming gawrs, and the entire end of the 沼 had been turned into a 広大な community of fur-covered dwellings.

Challenged by a strange 飛行機で行くing guard, Jerry gave the password, "On to Raliad," and was permitted to alight in the square before his hut. Here the guards and officers 認めるd his disguise, and 急ぐd up to 迎える／歓迎する him. の中で them was イチイd.

"You are 支援する sooner than we 推定する／予想するd you, my Viljen," said the 巨大（な）.

"Find Koha," Jerry replied, "and bring him to me. I would 持つ／拘留する 会議 with you two."

Two guards parted the silver curtains that 隠すd the doorway of the 黒人／ボイコット hut, and Jerry went in. Since the need for his disguise was at an end, he 除去するd it, and 交流d his huntsman's 衣料品s for a commoner's 黒人／ボイコット and silver. A slave brought pulcho, 始める，決める it on a taboret at his 肘, and withdrew. And a moment later イチイd strode in with Koha waddling behind him.

"What news, master?" asked the dwarf. "Do we join the Vil's army today?"

"Not today, or ever," replied Jerry dejectedly, 押し進めるing the pulcho flask toward his two sturdy henchmen. "I have failed in my 使節団—failed miserably and 完全に. The Vil would have 非，不，無 of me as an officer. He has made an 同盟 with Manith Zovil, 結婚の／夫婦の 同様に as 戦争の. And to 最高の，を越す it all, my disguise was 侵入するd by one of his courtiers, so that I barely escaped with my life—he still みなすing me the 殺害者 of his son."

"Why, then, that leaves us 解放する／自由な to 悩ます the Torturer in our own way," said イチイd, drinking 深く，強烈に. "And with the new 武器s we should be able to more than 持つ／拘留する our own."

"You forget that the Torturer and his puppet sit in Raliad," said Jerry. "He is no longer an 無法者, but the 力／強力にする behind the 王位. Numin Vil, if he does not 奪い返す his 資本／首都, will himself be the 無法者. And even with the help of Manith Zovil, I do not believe he can do it. With our 援助 it might be done, but he would 放棄する his kingdom forever rather than 受託する my 援助（する）."

"If we could only find the man who slew Shiev Zovil," said Koha, "the 残り／休憩（する） should be 平易な."

"Ah, but the irony of 運命／宿命 妨げるs even that!" exclaimed Jerry.

Then what are we to do?"

"Do? Why, I will 設立する a city of 無法者s, here on this 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, that will 反抗する all the armies of 火星. So long as Thoor remains Vil of Kalsivar with the Torturer pulling the strings, we shall be a thorn in their 味方するs. We will ..."

He was interrupted by a guard, who drew 支援する a silver curtain and said: Algo the 秘かに調査する is here with an important message."

"収容する／認める him," said Jerry.

The 秘かに調査する, resplendent in his uniform of the 皇室の guards, hurried in.

"What news, Algo?" Jerry asked.

"The princess has been 誘拐するd."

"What!" Jerry sprang to his feet. "When? By whom?"

"Only a short time ago. And by スパイ／執行官s of the Torturer."

"Impossible! Wasn't Neem the 黒人／ボイコット dalf with her? And was she not surrounded by the Vil's army?"

"Neither," Algo replied. "She was circling above the （軍の）野営地，陣営 on the swift gawr you gave her, …を伴ってd by two guards. Suddenly four brown 軍人s 急落（する），激減（する）d 負かす／撃墜する from high above them. Three slew the guards with their javelins. The fourth dropped a noose around the neck of her highness's gawr, so that it was 軍隊d to follow his bird-beast or strangle. Then he flew off in the direction of Raliad, followed by his three companions. I managed to bring you this message by pretending to follow the abductors."

"支援する to your 地位，任命する, then, Algo," said Jerry. "And 今後 you 階級 a jendus for bringing this news."

The 秘かに調査する saluted smartly and 出発／死d.

The Earthman whirled on Koha.

"Have the saddles been 用意が出来ている with the chains and hooks, as I ordered?"

"They have, master; four thousand of them."

"Good. See that the gawrs are saddled, and their riders ready. And have two thousand more 飛行機で行くing 軍人s 用意が出来ている to join them."

As Koha waddled away, イチイd asked: "What are you going to do?"

"First I will lead a （警察の）手入れ，急襲 upon the canal excavating 乗組員," he said. "Then our watchword shall become our war cry: 'On to Raliad!'"

CHAPTER 26

Seated in his 黒人／ボイコット hut, Jerry 召喚するd his officers and called for a scroll, 小衝突 and 署名／調印する. Then he wrote the に引き続いて 公式文書，認める:

To Sarkis the Torturer, Thoor the 誤った Vil, and the people of Raliad:

Today, when the sun reaches the zenith, my army will enter Raliad through the Gate of Victory, march 負かす／撃墜する the Avenue of 勝利, and take over the 皇室の Palace. All 国民s are 警告するd of the danger of congregating at any of these places at that hour.

The Commoner.

"原因（となる） five hundred copies of this notice to be made," he told his jendus of fliers, "and see that they are dropped along the Avenue of 勝利 and upon the roof of the 皇室の Palace, at once."

"I hear and obey, my Viljen," replied the officer, saluting.

Jerry turned to his jendus of cavalry. "動員する all riders at once, and start for Raliad. By hurrying, you will be able to 会合，会う the 飛行機で行くing 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 in 前線 of the Gate of Victory, の直前に noon. See that the riders who carry 手りゅう弾s are in the 前線 階級s."

"To hear is to obey, O Viljen," the officer answered.

Having given 詳細（に述べる）d 指示／教授／教育s to his other officers, Jerry went out on a 簡潔な／要約する 小旅行する of 査察. The turrets which had been 製造（する）d in the 洞穴 were 存在 rolled out into the sunlight and stacked. 解雇する／砲火／射撃-砕く 手りゅう弾s were 存在 問題／発行するd to both 飛行機で行くing 軍人s and members of the first 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 of rodal cavalry. The heavier 爆弾s were passed out to a 選ぶd group of fliers, who were also given a few small 手りゅう弾s.

His 査察 完全にするd, Jerry 機動力のある his gawr, took his place at the 長，率いる of the （警察の）手入れ，急襲ing party, and 始める，決める off for the canal work-（軍の）野営地，陣営. An hour's flight brought them 直接／まっすぐに above their 客観的な.

As soon as the party of raiders was sighted a general alarm was sounded. The digging machines stopped work and their drivers were ordered off of them and into the work-（軍の）野営地，陣営, where they were surrounded by the guards, for it was believed that this was a slave （警察の）手入れ，急襲. It ふさわしい Jerry's 目的 to let them think so. And so he continued to circle until all of the slaves had been herded into the 構内／化合物 with their guards 集まりd around them.

Then be 急襲するd 負かす／撃墜する, and with a thousand riders 武装した with 手りゅう弾s, formed a line between the （軍の）野営地，陣営 and the abandoned machines. Another thousand riders dismounted behind them, and each ran to a machine. 一方／合間, the four thousand remaining riders 作戦行動d until four gawrs hovered above each machine. Then the riders each dropped two hooks 一時停止するd on 激しい chains fifty feet in length. The men on the ground 速く fastened the hooks to the 味方するs of the digging machines.

As soon as the guards realized what the raiders were about, they 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d the line of 軍人s which Jerry had 地位，任命するd on guard. But a few 解雇する／砲火／射撃-砕く 手りゅう弾s 投げつけるd の中で them wrought such havoc that they （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 a 迅速な 退却／保養地.

Before they could 決起大会／結集させる, a thousand of the machines were dangling high above their 長，率いるs, each carried by four gawrs. And in a moment more the 残り／休憩（する） of the raiders, led by Jerry, had taken to the 空気／公表する.

Straight 支援する to the （軍の）野営地，陣営 they flew. Here the machines were lowered to the sand, their supporting gawrs still hovering above them, and were 速く fitted with the turrets which had been built to their exact dimensions to 保護する the drivers.

In いっそう少なく than a half hour every turret was in place with its 棚上げにするs lined with 手りゅう弾s and an experienced driver in the saddle.

And now, at a 命令（する） from the Earthman, the entire 飛行機で行くing 軍隊 took to the 空気／公表する. Jerry flew in the lead, 側面に位置するd on either 味方する by イチイd and Koha, and すぐに followed by the 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 of fliers who carried the 激しい 爆弾s. Those who carried the 変えるd digging machines were in the 中心, and were guarded on either 味方する and at the 後部 by 軍人s 武装した with 手りゅう弾s. Behind these （機の）カム the large metal 飛行機で行くing machines carrying foot 兵士s.

The sun was two-thirds of the way to the meridian when Jerry caught up with his cavalry, about two jahuds from the Gate of Victory. As he had 心配するd, a 激しい 軍隊 of the Torturer's fliers circled above the gate. And the 塀で囲むs were lined with 軍人s, ready for the attack.

The Earthman sent his 飛行機で行くing 整然としたs to carry his final 命令（する）s to his さまざまな officers, then 勧めるd his bird-beast 今後. 即時に, those who carried 激しい 爆弾s fell in behind him, forming an 巨大な triangle in the sky. About five hundred feet above them, and 主要な them by だいたい the same distance, flew a 類似の triangle of those who carried 手りゅう弾s.

At this, the 飛行機で行くing 軍人s of the Torturer formed a 選び出す／独身 wedge, much larger than either of his, and （機の）カム hurtling toward them. In 一致 with their 指示／教授／教育s, Jerry's men in the upper wedge did not throw their 手りゅう弾s until the 真っ先の enemy was within javelin 範囲. Then they began 投げつけるing them with deadly 正確. The 解雇する／砲火／射撃-砕く 爆発するd with sharp detonations like those of cordite, and the havoc wrought の中で the enemy fliers was appalling.

There was, however, a drawback to this 方式 of 戦争 in the 空気／公表する. Some of the 爆撃する fragments did かなりの 損失 in his own 階級s. He was about to order his 軍人s to 中止する throwing 手りゅう弾s and use their javelins when the 命令（する） was made unnecessary by the enemy 軍人s themselves, their swift 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 was turned to an ignominious and 悲惨な 大勝する.

A moment more and Jerry was passing above the Gate of Victory at a 高さ of about two thousand feet. The 軍隊 above him still 保持するd its V 形式, but the 爆撃機s now drew together in a long, straight line, with the Earthman at the 長，率いる. As he had 推定する／予想するd, the Torturer had 事実上 packed the Avenue of 勝利 with his cavalry and foot-兵士s arranged in succession so he could hurl them in 補欠／交替の／交替する waves at any enemy that might be able to pass the gate.

He flew on, his 爆撃機s strung out behind him at intervals of about five hundred feet, に引き続いて the Avenue of 勝利 straight to the palace.

In the 合間, the Torturer's 飛行機で行くing 軍隊 continued its disorderly 退却／保養地, until it reached the palace, where Sarkis himself was waiting. Jerry saw the glint of his jeweled golden mask and armor on the roof, and a moment later saw him take the 空気／公表する on the 支援する of a gawr.

He 即時に 改革（する）d his 軍隊s, but Jerry had 達成するd his 客観的な.

Unhooking a 爆弾 from its rack in the 前線 of his saddle, he dropped it to the packed street below, then を待つd the result. It struck between two 軍人s. There was a terrific detonation, and the 軍人s, together with those around them, disappeared in a cloud of dust, smoke and 破片.

The concussion was quickly followed by a 一連の 類似の 爆発s, which, in the space of a few seconds, traveled （疑いを）晴らす 支援する to the Gate of Victory. And when the smoke and dust （疑いを）晴らすd away, no living thing, either man or beast, was left on the entire length of the avenue. There were only 抱擁する 噴火口，クレーターs in the 覆うing where the 爆弾s had struck.

Leaving his 爆撃機s to 持つ／拘留する their position above the Avenue of 勝利, Jerry now 急に上がるd 上向き to lead the other 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 against the hosts of the Torturer. But this time he 警告を与えるd his 軍人s to 飛行機で行く above the 敵.

There was a きびきびした, sharp 約束／交戦, and again the 軍隊s of Sarkis were broken up. But the main 団体／死体 was driven 支援する to the palace roof, and with them was the Torturer himself. Jerry 投げつけるd a 手りゅう弾 at him, but he forgot to 始める，決める the time 機械装置; it struck the neck of Sarkis's 開始する, it bounded off and rolled harmlessly to the roof.

A moment later the Torturer dismounted and disappeared into the mouth of one of the tunnels which led to the lower levels, followed by several hundred of his officers and men. Others of his 軍隊 設立する 港／避難所 in other tunnel mouths. But at least half of those who alighted on the roof never lived to reach them.

Leaving the main 団体／死体 of his men to guard the room and tunnels, Jerry, …を伴ってd by イチイd, Koha and a 得点する／非難する／２０ of his best 闘士，戦闘機s, flew straight to the balcony of Junia. As his bird-beast （機の）カム to 残り／休憩（する） on the balcony, he heard the 叫び声をあげる of a girl in mortal terror.

Springing from the saddle, he sprinted through the open window just in time to see Junia carried through the door on the 支援する of a hideous, masked 人物／姿／数字, 着せる／賦与するd in woven gold links. The door slammed shut, there was the sound of a bolt 事情に応じて変わる into place, followed by the noise of 退却／保養地ing footsteps in the hallway.

イチイd and Koha （機の）カム through the window, and the other 軍人s began （人が）群がるing in after them. But Jerry ordered them all 支援する. Then, standing just outside the window, he 投げつけるd a （着弾の瞬間に破裂する）着発 手りゅう弾 at the door, and dropped below the sill. There was a sharp 爆発; when the Earthman raised his 注目する，もくろむs above the sill he saw that a jagged 穴を開ける had been blown in the door. Dashing 今後, he 急落（する），激減（する）d through that 穴を開ける, followed by イチイd, Koha, and the other 軍人s.

In the 合間, 支援する at the Gate of Victory, Jerry's officers were carrying out his orders. As soon as the last 激しい 爆弾 had 爆発するd, （疑いを）晴らすing the avenue of the Torturer's 軍人s, a small squad of gawr riders flew low over the gate and 隣接する 塀で囲むs, 投げつけるing 手りゅう弾s which 速く wiped out the 集まりd defenders.

に引き続いて them （機の）カム the gawrs carrying digging machines at the ends of long chains. These were 始める，決める 負かす／撃墜する in the street, four abreast, and the hooks 解放（する）d.

Behind them, two 抱擁する 飛行機で行くing machines 発射する／解雇するd foot 兵士s upon the 塀で囲むs and into the gate towers. These quickly drove out the 残余s of the defenders, and taking 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 支配（する）／統制する levers, swung the gates wide just as the sun reached the zenith. At this, Jerry's 猛烈な／残忍な 砂漠 tribesmen, 機動力のある on their rodals, 注ぐd through. Half of them followed the 変えるd digging machines in their march along the Avenue of 勝利 to the palace.

Sarkis had 駅／配置するd 軍人s in the windows and upon the roofs of the buildings on either 味方する to burl javelins 負かす／撃墜する upon the army of the Commoner. But as 急速な／放蕩な as these showed themselves they were 扱う／治療するd to 手りゅう弾s, 投げつけるd by the Earthman's fliers.

The other half of the rodal cavalry 分裂（する） in two parts, and …を伴ってd by the large metal 飛行機で行くing machines 含む／封じ込めるing the foot 兵士s, began a systematic 回路・連盟 of the 塀で囲む, 殺人，大当り or 逮捕（する）ing the guards who did not 逃げる, and 任命する／導入するing the men of the Commoner in their places.

速く, the 血-red pennon of the Torturer was torn 負かす／撃墜する from each 逮捕（する）d gate tower. And in its place was hoisted the 黒人／ボイコット 基準 of the Commoner, with its 選び出す／独身 silver 星／主役にする. At the points where the 非常に／多数の canals entered the city, solid 塀で囲むs were built up from the terraces to a ありふれた level, and there were tremendous 閉めだした gates which could be dropped in the channels to 封鎖する 航海.

All these had to be 逮捕（する）d and 投資するd, 同様に as the land gates and sentinel towers.

As the last 武装した rider passed through the Gate of Victory, the jen in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 ordered it の近くにd. Then, chancing to look out of the tower window, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and turned to the 軍人 who stood at the 支配（する）／統制する levers.

"Look, Tarjus!" he exclaimed. "A 広大な host approaches across the Plains of Lav! And the sky above it is 黒人／ボイコット with gawrs! Who do you think that could be? Now who could that be?"

Tarjus looked out of the window for a moment, then cried out in 狼狽. "We are in for it now, Deza help us!" he exclaimed. "A 軍隊 the size of that one can be 非，不，無 other than the 連合させるd armies of Numin Vil and Manith Zovil!"

CHAPTER 27

When the first cross street was reached by the improvised 戦車／タンクs, there was a 猛烈な／残忍な 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of rodal cavalry from both 味方するs against the 前進するing machines. The drivers of the machines 投げつけるd 手りゅう弾s into the 真っ先の 階級s of enemy cavalry, then made a swift countercharge.

The 抱擁する steel jaws which had been designed to bite through solid 激しく揺する now snapped like living animals at the fighting men and their 開始するs. 軍人s were bitten 完全に in two, and a 選び出す／独身 snap was 十分な to kill or maim a rodal. Around the 辛勝する／優位s of the melee the 飛行機で行くing 軍人s of the Commoner continued to hurl their 手りゅう弾s, 害のない to the men in the metal turrets.

The sanguinary 約束／交戦 was soon ended, with the scattered 残余s of the Torturer's 軍隊s dashing off 負かす／撃墜する the 味方する streets.

At the next cross street a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of foot 兵士s met the 前進するing 軍隊s. But these were even more easily scattered than the cavalry. After that there was no more 対立 until the palace was reached. Here Sarkis had concentrated the 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of his most seasoned fighting men.

The army of the Commoner did not attack at once. Instead, it 分裂（する） into two columns, which went to the 権利 and left, circling the palace until it was 完全に surrounded. Now a thousand metal fighting machines 直面するd the building from all 味方するs.

When all was in 準備完了, the machines 前進するd first. Some of them 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d up to doorways, others straight up to the 塀で囲む. But no 事柄 what was in 前線 of them, they went to work to 除去する it, biting out and swallowing 広大な／多数の／重要な chunks of the 塀で囲む, and eating away the tremendous arches that でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd the metal doors.

速く, machines excavated tunnels through the base of the 塀で囲む. And as 速く, others tore away the door でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるs and arches. Presently one machine ripped out a 抱擁する metal door, and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d through into a closely packed 集まり of defenders. Behind it （機の）カム Jerry's foot-兵士s, 投げつけるing 手りゅう弾s as they went. As soon as they were through the doorway, the rodal cavalry 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d in after them and （軍隊を）展開する，配備するd to the 権利 and left. At almost the same time other machines were breaking through the 塀で囲むs and 涙／ほころびing 負かす／撃墜する the doors, to 遭遇（する） 類似の 抵抗 and 雇う like 対策. And soon the greatest 戦う／戦い ever fought in all Kalsivar was 激怒（する）ing within the 抱擁する palace itself.

In the 合間 Jerry, followed by イチイd, Koha and a 得点する／非難する／２０ of his 軍人s, met with a check as he 急落（する），激減（する）d through the 穴を開ける in the door of Junia's apartment in 追跡 of her masked abductor. For Sarkis had 地位，任命するd a かなりの 団体／死体 of fighting men in the 回廊（地帯）, and these より数が多いd the Earthman's little 禁止（する）d at least five to one.

Jerry, （権力などを）行使するing his sword, was in the 前線 and 中心 as the two 軍隊s 衝突／不一致d. At his 味方する was the 巨大（な） イチイd, using by preference in these の近くに ４半期/4分の1s, a short, 厚い-軸d spear. At イチイd's left, Koha the 黒人／ボイコット dwarf swung his 抱擁する mace with 広大な／多数の／重要な, 粉砕するing blows that snapped swordblades, 鎮圧するd skulls like eggshells, and bit through bone and sinew alike. Behind them the small squad of the Earthman's 選ぶd 闘士，戦闘機s used such 武器s as best met the 緊急 or ふさわしい their fancy.

Fully half of their number were 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する before the Sarkis 軍人s realized that it was sure death to step in 前線 of the spear of the white 巨大（な）, the sword of the Commoner, or the mace of the 黒人／ボイコット dwarf. But once this 現実化 （機の）カム to them, they fled more 速く than they had come to the 遭遇（する） a short time before.

Bleeding from half a dozen small 負傷させるs, and panting from his exertions, Jerry paused and leaned on his dripping sword, while one of his 軍人s 適用するd jembal to his 傷害s. イチイd and Koha also had their 負傷させるs dressed. Then his 注目する，もくろむs chanced to 落ちる on one of the brown 軍人s who had been felled by the mace of Koha.

明らかに it had only struck him a ちらりと見ることing blow, for he was moaning and 試みる／企てるing to rise. "Fetch me that 軍人," Jerry ordered.

Two of his men 除去するd the fellow's 武器s, 選ぶd him up, and laid him at the feet of the Earthman.

"Give him pulcho," said Jerry.

A 兵士 produced a flask and put it to the man's lips. He drank 深く，強烈に and brightened perceptibly.

"Get up," the Earthman ordered.

He got to his feet, swaying unsteadily.

"Where has the Torturer gone?"

"I don't know."

"You 嘘（をつく）!" grated Jerry. "Throw him on his 支援する and open his mouth."

速く, the 軍人s carried out his orders. Jerry took a small 瓶／封じ込める of 解雇する／砲火／射撃-砕く from his belt pouch, and standing over the 囚人, leisurely 除去するd the stopper.

"A few 穀物s in the 注目する，もくろむs might make you talk," he said. "I will try that first. If it fails then the mouth."

Jerry let a 選び出す／独身 穀物 of the 砕く 落ちる upon his perspiring cheek. It ゆらめくd up, and the man 叫び声をあげるd as it seared his 肌.

"Stop! Wait! I'll tell you!" he shrieked.

"Ah, that is better," Jerry told him. "I am more than just, for I am 慈悲の. If you tell me the truth this time, you will be spared."

"Before he went," said the 囚人, "I heard the Lord Sarkis tell our jen to 会合，会う him in the central audience 議会."

"Is that all he said?" asked Jerry.

"He said that in 事例／患者 the 戦う／戦い went against us, he had a 人質 for the sake of whose safety the Commoner would 認める us all our freedom."

Jerry corked the 解雇する／砲火／射撃-砕く and 取って代わるd it in his belt pouch.

"To the central audience 議会," he said, "and bring the 囚人 with us, until we make sure he has told us the truth."

When they reached the main 床に打ち倒す 壇・綱領・公約 they heard the sudden deafening clamor of 戦う／戦い. Jerry went 慎重に to the door to reconnoiter, and saw that his fighting machines had broken into the palace. Behind them, his foot- 兵士s were 投げつけるing 手りゅう弾s into the 集まりd defenders, creating fearful 大虐殺 の中で them. And a moment later his rodal cavalry 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d in. From that time on, only 冷淡な steel was used.

In a moment the wave of 戦う／戦い had reached the door where the Earthman stood, as the 軍隊s of the Torturer fell 支援する before the 猛烈な／残忍な 猛攻撃 of the 砂漠 tribesmen. Foot by foot, the 軍隊s of the Torturer were 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する or 軍隊d 支援する, until Jerry's men were at the very doors of the audience 議会, and the 残余 of Sarkis's army was inside it.

Suddenly the clarion 公式文書，認めるs of a trumpet sounded from the 中心 of the 広大な room. In the 軍の language of 火星, they were a request for a 一時休戦.

Looking up, Jerry saw the 先触れ（する） standing on the lower step of the central 演壇. But at the 最高の，を越す stood the masked Torturer. He was supporting Junia with his left arm. And in his 権利 手渡す gleamed a dagger.

即時に the Earthman called for a 先触れ（する）, and when he （機の）カム running up, ordered him to sound the "一時休戦 認めるd."

As the silver トンs broke over that 広大な assemblage, the din of 戦う／戦い 中止するd as if by 魔法. Then the sepulchral トンs of the Torturer floated across the room to Jerry, sitting his rodal in the doorway.

"Desperate 状況／情勢s call for desperate 治療（薬）s. We do not ordinarily sacrifice women with the dagger, but the moment one 武装した enemy 始める，決めるs foot within this room, Junia Sovil dies."

"My men will 尊敬（する）・点 the 一時休戦 so long as yours do," said Jerry. "What do you want?"

"Freedom," replied the Torturer. "You will すぐに order that a gawr for me, and one for each of my men be saddled, 準備／条項d and made ready on the palace roof at once. And in earnest of your own good 意向s you will lay 負かす／撃墜する your 武器 and join my other 囚人, to be kept as a 人質 until we are ready to 出発／死."

"解放（する） the princess now, and I 誓約（する） you my word that you and your 軍人s shall all go 解放する／自由な and 無事の," said Jerry.

"Do you take me for a fool?" the Torturer roared. "I am not so gullible as all that."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席," said Jerry, "I will 受託する your 条件. But if you 試みる／企てる any tricks, you and those with you will never leave this palace alive."

丸天井ing 負かす／撃墜する from his saddle, he 除去するd his 武器s and 手渡すd them, one by one, by Koha and イチイd. While he did so he 速く 問題／発行するd 指示／教授／教育s to them. Then, as he 手渡すd his dagger to the 黒人／ボイコット dwarf, a 特使 （機の）カム running up.

"What is it?" asked Jerry.

"Numin Vil and Manith Zovil are at the Gate of Victory with a 広大な army," said the messenger. "They 需要・要求する that we すぐに throw the gates open to them, and say that failing in this, they will take the city by 強襲，強姦 and 殺す all of us."

"Tell them," the Earthman replied, "that 圧力（をかける）ing 商売／仕事 here at the palace 妨げるs my 会合 them and 護衛するing them hither. Tell them I have 武器s that would destroy their armies as easily as they did that of the Torturer. But say that I 招待する them to come here and 会合，会う me for a friendly 会議／協議会, 保証（人）ing them 安全な 行為／行う. Then, if they 同意 to come, bring them in my swiftest metal flier. But see that 非，不，無 of their 飛行機で行くing 軍人s are permitted to pass above the 塀で囲むs."

Jerry whispered a final, "Don't forget the signal," to イチイd and Koha. Then he turned and marched weaponless through the doorway.

The Torturer's 軍人s opened their 階級s to let him pass, and fearlessly he strode up to the 演壇.

CHAPTER 28

As Jerry walked up to the 演壇 on which the Torturer stood with Junia, he saw that the princess was tightly bound, 手渡す and foot.

Sarkis 迎える／歓迎するd him with a chuckle from the depths of his hideous mask.

Now I have you both where I can kill you. I will die content."

"What do you mean?" asked Jerry. "Do you think you could do that and get out of here alive?"

"Since this 敗北・負かす, I have nothing left to live for," said the Torturer. "I 誘惑するd you here only for the 目的 of 復讐. First you shall see your beloved die; then you shall 株 her 運命／宿命."

He raised his dagger aloft, clutching the princess by her glossy 黒人／ボイコット hair as she struggled in his しっかり掴む. At the same instant Jerry 解除するd his 手渡す to his 長，率いる—a signal his men would understand. Then he sprang straight for the 最高の，を越す of the 演壇.

The Earthman's remarkable jumping 力／強力にするs were something Sarkis had overlooked; the startled Torturer turned to defend himself. As Jerry alighted he gripped the dagger wrist of Sarkis with his left 手渡す, and with his 権利 dealt him such a buffet on the 味方する of the 長，率いる as must have made his ears （犯罪の）一味 inside the golden helmet.

The Torturer 解放（する）d the girl and 焦点（を合わせる）d all his attention on the Earthman. The two struggled for a moment on the 狭くする 最高の，を越す of the 演壇, then lost their balance at the 辛勝する／優位, and 倒れるing, rolled over and over to the 床に打ち倒す.

At the same instant pandemonium broke loose within that 広大な 議会. Jerry's men opened 敵意s by 投げつけるing 手りゅう弾s into the packed 集まり of their 敵s. Then they 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d. At this, some of the Torturer's men turned and ran toward the 演壇. But to their utter astonishment they saw that a square section of the 床に打ち倒す, supported on four metal 軸s, had risen in 前線 of the 王位. Through the 開始 squirmed a white 巨大（な）, followed by a 黒人／ボイコット dwarf.

And after them 注ぐd a 安定した stream of the Commoner's 猛烈な／残忍な fighting men.

In a few seconds the 演壇 was 完全に surrounded by a （犯罪の）一味 of Jerry's 兵士s, whose numbers were 絶えず augmented by those who 注ぐd through from beneath. And now, the pitiful 残余 of the Torturer's army threw 負かす／撃墜する their 武器 and 降伏するd.

Not so the Torturer. He wrenched himself 解放する／自由な from Jerry's しっかり掴む and with his dagger 目的（とする）d a blow at his heart.

But the Earthman kicked the 武器 from his 手渡す and sprang 支援する.

"Give me a sword," he told Koha, "then 削減（する） the princess 解放する／自由な and stand guard over her. But see that no one （性的に）いたずらするs the Torturer. He is 地雷 alone to を取り引きする."

As the 黒人／ボイコット dwarf 圧力（をかける）d his sword into the Earthman's 手渡す, Sarkis drew his own 武器.

"Some days ago," said Jerry, "you challenged me to a duel, but did not appear. Though I slew your 代用品，人, I do not consider the 事件／事情／状勢 settled. What is your opinion?"

"It will be settled when I have killed you," grated Sarkis, 肺ing.

Jerry deflected the 肺 with 緩和する then before his 対抗者 could 回復する, raked him across the chest with his point, cutting a long gash in his 衣料品 of golden mesh and 明らかにする／漏らすing an expanse of 向こうずねing steel beneath.

"Ah, a breastplate!" said Jerry. "We must 除去する it."

Again they engaged, and again Jerry slit his enemy's golden covering, so that one corner hung 負かす／撃墜する. A third 削除する, and Sarkis wore a golden apron which flopped about his 脚s as he moved.

But Jerry had only begun. Systematically, he began undressing his 対抗者 with his point. At the fourth 削除する, the Torturer was plainly 明らかにする／漏らすd as a brown-skinned man. With his golden disguise 削減（する） away from him, his torso was naked save for the breastplate. Then the Earthman 削減（する） the ひもで縛るs that held it and it clattered to the 床に打ち倒す.

At this Jerry heard a hearty laugh behind him, and turning for an instant, saw Manith Zovil, who had just come up with Numin Vil. The Vil was clutching the collar of a 広大な／多数の／重要な 黒人／ボイコット dalf, who was growling thunderously and seemed anxious to leap 今後 to the 援助（する） of the Earthman.

"支援する, Neem," said Jerry quickly.

Though the Torturer fought 猛烈に, he was now 不正に 妨害するd by his 激しい golden 衣料品s, which he was compelled to 停止する with one 手渡す to keep them from slipping 負かす／撃墜する around his 脚s and tripping him.

Suddenly Jerry 避けるd a 肺, and springing in, struck 上向き so that his 鞍馬 caught beneath the 麻薬中毒の nose of the hideous mask. It flew off 明らかにする／漏らすing the features of Thoor Movil. Before his enemy could 回復する, Jerry turned and brought his blade 負かす／撃墜する upon that of the brown prince with such 軍隊 that the 武器 was knocked from his しっかり掴む.

At this sudden 発覚 of the 身元 of the Torturer there were cries of amazement from the onlookers, and shouts of "Kill the 誤った Vil! 殺す the Torturer! Pierce his rotten heart!"

"産する／生じる or die," said Jerry, 現在のing his point to his enemy's breast.

"I 産する／生じる," replied Thoor Movil.

"Take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 囚人," said Jerry, sheathing his sword. Two of his 軍人s sprang 今後 to do his bidding, and he turned to salute his 王室の guests. Junia had joined her father, and the Vil stood with his arm around her slight 人物／姿／数字, while she fondled the 長，率いる of Neem, the dalf.

Manith Zovil smiled 概して as he 定評のある Jerry's salute.

"That was rare entertainment you just afforded us, my friend," he said. "I'm glad you 招待するd us here to 証言，証人／目撃する it.

"But I didn't," replied Jerry. "I hoped to have it over with by the time you arrived."

"Then Deza be thanked that you miscalculated. I wouldn't have 行方不明になるd it for a million tayzos."

Numin Vil was more brusque. "Now that you have 掴むd my 資本／首都, what do you ーするつもりである doing with it?"

"I believe you 申し込む／申し出d the 手渡す of your daughter to the man who would 再度捕まえる it for you," Jerry replied.

"That 申し込む／申し出 was made to my friend Manith Zovil, and not to the 殺害者 of my son," 雷鳴d the Vil.

"One moment, majesty," interrupted Manith Zovil. "It seems that between us we have done my friend Jerry Morgan a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 不正. He did not kill your son."

"Then who did?"

"I slew Shiev Zovil in self-弁護," replied the Prince. "I met him in the 回廊（地帯） 近づく Jerry Morgan's apartment, and he 肺d at me without a word of 警告, when my sword was sheathed. I leaped 支援する, and only the fact that the point was stopped by my breastbone saved my life.

"Then I drew my own 武器, and we had it out."

The poker 直面する of Numin Vil showed nothing of his feelings, but his rumbling 発言する／表明する grew suddenly tremulous. "II cannot understand why Shiev attacked you thus."

"I can explain that, also," replied Manith Zovil. "Thoor Movil 毒（薬）d his mind against me. He wished to marry Junia himself, and after putting you and the 栄冠を与える prince out of the way, to make himself Vil of Kalsivar. As you see, his 計画（する）s underwent some slight changes through circumstances, but his central 目的 has ever been the same."

"It seems," rumbled Numin Vil, turning and 直す／買収する，八百長をするing the 囚人 with his expressionless 注目する，もくろむs, "that my 甥 is responsible not only for the death of my son, but for all of our troubles and 誤解s. Were he my 囚人 ..."

"He is your 囚人, majesty," interrupted Jerry. "I wish to turn him over to you, along with your 資本／首都 and your empire, which I will tell you 率直に that I do not want. All I ask is that you 合法的に 解放する／自由な those of my 信奉者s who have been slaves, 容赦 those who have broken your 法律s, and 許す us all to go in peace."

"Then you have no ambition to 支配する Kalsivar?"

"非，不，無 whatever."

The Vil again regarded his 背信の 甥. "Thoor Movil," he said, "I 宣告，判決 you ..."

At this moment there was an interruption. No one had paid any attention to the slight, brown-skinned girl attired in a gray slave habit, who had unobtrusively wormed her way through the （人が）群がる to a position behind Thoor Movil. Jerry's first inkling of what was taking place was when he saw the glint of light on the blade of a dagger which she slipped into the prince's 権利 手渡す.

The feel of that 武器 galvanized the desperate prince to sudden 活動／戦闘: Before the two 軍人s who stood guard at either 味方する of him had any idea what was taking place, he sprang 今後, 掴むd the Vil by his braided 耐えるd, and raised his dagger to 急落（する），激減（する） it into the 君主's heart.

To all save Jerry this 開発 was so 予期しない, that they could only stand, gasping and helpless. But the Earthman had caught the glint of the dagger just in time. And so, when Thoor Movil leaped, Jerry was but a fraction of a second behind him. With a 選び出す／独身, 広範囲にわたる 動議, his sword flashed from its scabbard and 述べるd a glittering arc. One moment the bystanders saw the brown prince standing with dagger raised for the death thrust; the next, they saw the upraised arm and sneering 長，率いる leap 上向き and 飛行機で行く through the 空気／公表する, both 厳しいd by the same terrific blow.

Behind him Jerry heard a 女性（の） 発言する／表明する 叫び声をあげるing—悪口を言う／悪態ing. He turned and saw Nisha Novil, wearing the gray of a slave girl, struggling in the 支配する of two of his 軍人s.

"What is this?" 雷鳴d Numin Vil. "Has my niece become a slave?"

"It was she who passed the dagger to Thoor Movil, majesty," volunteered one of the men.

"Then she shall have the 宣告，判決 I ーするつもりであるd for her traitorous brother," rumbled the 君主. "Nisha Novil, you are stripped of your 王室の 階級, your wealth and lands. You have chosen to wear the habit of a slave girl as a disguise. Wear it now as your 未来 apparel. And tomorrow you go on the auction 封鎖する."

He waved his 手渡す, and the two 軍人s dragged her away, still kicking, 悪口を言う／悪態ing, biting and scratching.

"Deza help the man who buys her," said Manith Zovil dryly.

The Vil turned to the Earthman.

"Jerry Morgan," he said, "you have not only 回復するd my daughter and my empire, but have saved my life. The rewards which I 約束d you on the Plains of Lav shall now be yours. A million tayzos and the Raddek of Dhoor."

At this Jerry's heart turned bitter within him. For a moment he was minded to 持つ／拘留する the empire which lay within his しっかり掴む—to make Junia his own, にもかかわらず the evident 不本意 of the Vil to give his daughter to a commoner. But he remembered that the princess had agreed to marry Manith Zovil, and he did not want the empire; it was only Junia he 手配中の，お尋ね者—Junia and his freedom.

"I care not for your riches nor your 肩書を与えるs," he said. "The 解放する／自由な, adventurous life of your 砂漠s and 沼s 控訴s me better than your （人が）群がるd city 存在. I would sooner sleep beneath the jeweled 丸天井 of heaven than in a palace with a golden roof 始める，決める with the most precious gems; would rather watch the sun rise over the sand dunes or through the morning もやs that hang over the Atabah 沼, than over the most ornate building in your 広大な city. I want to go 支援する to my wild tribesmen—to ride and 追跡（する） and live and ..."

"And love?" asked Junia, coming quickly to his 味方する and looking up at him with starry 注目する，もくろむs, eloquent with a meaning which he could not mistake.

"And love!" he replied, taking her in his 武器 and 所有するing himself of her eager, 上昇傾向d lips.

"Then take me with you, my Commoner," she murmured.

He looked up at the Vil.

"On my world," he said, "it is a custom for 無法者s to say, 'Your money or your life!' You know that I 持つ／拘留する all Kalsivar in the hollow of my 手渡す. And I, the 無法者 of 火星, now say to you, 'Your empire or your daughter!' It is up to you to choose."

For a moment the Vil glared at him, speechless. Then the 疑惑 of a twinkle （機の）カム to his usually expressionless 注目する，もくろむs as he replied: "Since she, herself, has chosen you, take her, my boy, and may Deza bless you both."

So Jerry Morgan, though he had 放棄するd the 王位 of the greatest empire on all 火星, was very 井戸／弁護士席 content.

"The 無法者s of 火星," Avalon 調書をとる／予約するs, New York, 1961

THE END

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