A Princess of Mars, Part 3

ANNOUNCER: Now, the Special Englishprogram, American Stories.

(MUSIC)

Last week we broadcast the second of ourprograms called “A Princess of Mars.”  The story is from a series of booksby Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Last week we told how John Carter wascaptured by a group of warriors on the planet Mars.  Later, he became oneof them by defeating a huge warrior in a fight.  He is still a captive,but he is treated with honor because he is a skilled fighter.  We leftJohn Carter at the beginning of a fierce battle between the green warriors andtheir main enemy.  The enemy came close to the green Martians in huge airships.  The green Martians attacked.   John Carter continutes totell about what happens to him in Edgar Rice Burroughs’s story, “A Princess ofMars.”

(MUSIC)

JOHN CARTER:  Another of the largeair ships exploded high in the air. Members of the crew fell to theground.  The huge ship lost control and began turning again andagain. 

Soon it was close to the ground.  Thewarriors climbed aboard the ship and began fighting the members of the crew whowere still alive.  Soon the fighting stopped.  The warriors begantaking everything from the ship.

At last, they brought a captive from deepwithin the ship.  Two of the warriors had their captive by eacharm.   I wanted to see what new and strange form of life thiscreature would be. 

As they came near, I saw that it was awoman.  She looked like a woman from Earth.  She was young.  Herskin was a light red, almost a copper color.

I saw at once that she was extremelybeautiful.  She had a fine face with large dark eyes and long, blackhair.   As her guards led her away, she saw me for a moment. She seemed very surprised.  Her face looked hopeful.  But when I madeno attempt to speak to her, her face grew sad and she looked very small andfrightened.  As I watched her disappear into a building, I realized thatSola was near me. 

SOLA: John Carter, that woman will besaved for the great games that are held by our people.  The games are longand cruel and end in death for those captured in battle.  Her death willbe slow and painful.   She will die for the enjoyment of all. 

JOHN CARTER: Sola’s face seemed sad whenshe said this.  I could tell by the way she spoke that she did not likethe games and did not want to see the young woman die.  She was verydifferent from the rest of her people.

Sola, do you not like the games?

SOLA: No, John Carter.  Mymother died in the games.  That is a secret you must not tellanyone.  The wall where Tars Tarkas found you held eggs that produce ouryoung.  All the children belong to the tribe.  A mother never knowswhich child is hers when they come out of the egg.

My mother hid the egg that carriedme.  It was not placed within the walled area.   She kept hersecret until after I was born.   But others discovered her secret andshe was condemned to die in the games.  She hid me among other childrenbefore she was captured.  If this secret were learned, I too would die inthe games. 

Before she left me, my mother told me thename of my father.  I alone keep that secret.  It would mean deathfor him as well as me.  My people are violent and cruel.

(MUSIC)

JOHN CARTER:  The next day I enteredthe great room where the green Martians held meetings.  The red womanprisoner was there too. Soon, the leader of the green Martians came into theroom.  His name was Lorquas Ptomel.  He began speaking to theprisoner.

LORQUAS PTOMEL:  Who are you and whatis your name?

DEJAH THORIS: I am the Princess DejahThoris, daughter of Mors Kajak, the ruler of Helium.   Our air shipwas on a scientific flight.  We were to study the air andatmosphere.   Without our work the air on our planet would grow thinand we would all die.   Why would you attack us? 

JOHN CARTER: As she talked, a warriorran to her and hit her in the face, knocking her to the ground.  He placeda foot on her small body and began laughing.

(LAUGHTER)

I reached for the small sword I carriedand rushed to attack the huge warrior.

(FIGHTING SOUNDS)

JOHN CARTER: He was a strongopponent.  But again, because of the low gravity on Mars, my strength wasfar greater than his.  In a few short minutes, the green warrior wasdead.  I helped the young woman to her feet.

DEJAH THORIS: Who are you?  Why didyou risk your life to help me?  You look almost the same as my people, butyou wear the weapons of a green warrior.   Who… or what.. areyou? 

JOHN CARTER: My name is John Carter. I amfrom the planet Earth.  How I got here is a long story.  I attackedthat warrior because, where I come from, men do not attack women.  I willoffer you my protection as long as I can.  However, I must tell you thatI, too, am a captive.

SOLA: Come, John Carter, and bring the redwoman with you.  Let us leave this room quickly before some warriorattempts to stops us.

JOHN CARTER: The three of us quicklyreturned to the building where I had spent the last several days.  Solathen left to prepare food.  Woola sat in the corner and looked at the bothof us.  The young woman was afraid of poor, ugly Woola. 

I told her not to fear him.  You musttell no one, but Woola is not only my guard.  He is my friend.  Ihave treated him with kindness that he has never known.  As each daypasses, he trusts me more.  I now think he would follow any command Igive.

Sola has told me that all captives areheld until they can die in the great games held by the green Martians. Our onlychance to survive is to escape.  But we must have Sola’s help for our planto succeed.

DEJAH THORIS: Yes. If we stay with thegreen warriors, we will both die.  If we are to escape, we will needseveral of the animals to ride.  It would be our only chance.

JOHN CARTER: I have several of theanimals.  They were given to me when I became a warrior.

Sola came back later with food for the twoof us.  Dejah Thoris and I asked for her help.  The three of ustalked long into the night.  At last Sola gave us her answer.

SOLA: Your best chance for escape will bein the next two days.  We will leave this city tomorrow and begin a longtrip to the home of our tribe.  I will help you escape.  But I mustcome with you.  I will be killed if you escape.  

DEJAH THORIS: Sola, of course you mustcome with us!  You are not cruel or violent as many of your peopleare.  Help us and I can promise you a much better life.  You will betreated with respect as an honored guest.

JOHN CARTER: The next morning we rode awayfrom the city on our animals.  More than a thousand animals were carryingthe huge tribe of green Martians.  Also in the group were one American,one Princess of the Royal House of Helium, our guard, Sola, and poor uglyWoola.

Late that night we left the camp. One animal carried me.  Another Sola and Princess Dejah Thoris. Woola followed close behind.

We rode quickly through the Martiannight.  I looked into the sky and saw Earth across the great distance ofspace.  Since I had met the Princess Dejah Thoris, I had not thought onceof Earth or home.  I knew then that I would never willingly leaveher. 

The next morning, I could see that we werebeing followed by several hundred of the green warriors.  Our animals werevery tired.  I knew we must stop.

I told Sola and the Princess to take thestronger of the two animals and ride away.  I will hold back the greenwarriors as long as I can.   Woola!  Go with them and guard themwith your life.

DEJAH THORIS: We can’t leave you alone. Itwould be certain death if you are captured again.  You must come with us!

JOHN CARTER: Sola took the princess by thearm and lifted her on top of the animal she had chosen.  Quickly she beganriding away.   For a moment, Woola looked at me, then turned and ranafter them.

I took out my rifle from its case.  Ibegan firing to slow the green warriors. 

(SHOTS) 

I was able to slow them for more than anhour.  But then I had no more ammunition.  Soon I wassurrounded.  A green warrior got off his animal and came toward me. He pulled out his long, thin sword.  I reached for mine.  As weneared each other I saw it was Tars Tarkas.  He stopped and spoke to mevery slowly.

TARS TARKAS: You will die here… today…John Carter.  It is I who must kill you.  Know that I will take nopleasure in your death.

(MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER: You have been listening tothe Special English program, American Stories.  This has been the thirdprogram in our series “A Princess of Mars,” by Edgar Rice Burrows. This storywas adapted for Special English by Paul Thompson. It was produced by PaulThompson and Mario Ritter.

Shep O’Neal was the voice of JohnCarter.  Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. Barbara Klein was Sola. And  GwenOuten was the Princess Dejah Thoris.  Join us again next week as wecontinue “A Princess of Mars,” in  Special English.