A Princess of Mars, Part 4

ANNOUNCER:

Now, the Special English program, AmericanStories.

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ANNOUNCER:

Welcome to the fourth and last part of ourprogram, “A Princess of Mars.”  The story is from a series of books byEdgar Rice Burroughs.

Last week, we told how John Carter observeda fierce battle between the green Martians and a race of red, human-likecreatures.  He also saw the beautiful Princess Dejah Thoris being capturedafter the battle.

A short time later, John Carter, thePrincess and their friend, the green Martian woman Sola, attempt to escaperather than face death.  The Princess and Sola must flee while John Cartertries to slow the green warriors who are chasing them.   John Cartercontinues to tell what happens in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ story, “A Princess ofMars.”

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JOHN CARTER:

The huge green warrior Tars Tarkas cameslowly toward me with his thin sword.  I backed away.  I did not wantto fight him.  I did not wish his death.  He had been as kind to meas a green Martian can be.

As I stood watching him, a rifle fired inthe distance, then another and another.  Tars Tarkas and his warriors wereunder attack from another tribe of green warriors. 

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Within seconds, a terrible battleraged.  As I watched, three of the attackers fell on Tars Tarkas.  Hekilled one and was fighting with the other two when he slipped and fell.

I ran to his aid, swinging my sword. He was on his feet.  Shoulder-to-shoulder, we fought against theattackers.  They finally withdrew after an hour of fierce fighting.

TARS TARKAS:

John Carter, I think I understand themeaning of the word “friend.”  You saved my life when I was about to takeyours.  From this day, you are no longer a captive among our people, but aleader and great warrior among us.

JOHN CARTER:

There was a smile on his face.  Onceagain, he took off a metal band from his arm and gave it to me. 

TARS TARKAS:

I have a question for you JohnCarter.  I understand why you took the red woman with you.  But whydid Sola leave her people and go with you?

JOHN CARTER:

She did not want to see me or the Princessharmed.  She does not like the great games held by your people wherecaptives are led to die.  She knows if she is caught, she too will die inthe games.  She told me she hates the games because her mother died there.

TARS TARKAS:

What?  How could she know hermother? 

JOHN CARTER:

She told me her mother was killed in thegames because she had hidden the egg that produced her.   Her motherhid Sola among other children before she was captured.  Sola said she wasa kind woman, not like others of your tribe. 

Tars Tarkas grew angry as I wasspeaking.   But I could see past his anger.  I could see pain inhis eyes.  I immediately knew Sola’s great secret.

 I have a question for you, TarsTarkas.  Did you know Sola’s mother?

TARS TARKAS:

Yes… and if I could have, I would haveprevented her death.  I know this story to be true.  I have alwaysknown the woman who died in those games had a child.  I never knew thechild.  I do now.  Sola is also my child.

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JOHN CARTER:

For three days, we followed the trail leftby the Princess Dejah Thoris, Sola and poor ugly Woola.  At last, we couldsee them in the distance.  Their animal could no longer be ridden. They were talking.  When we came near, Woola turned to fight us.  Islowly walked to him with my hand out. 

Sola was standing nearby.  She wasarmed and prepared to fight.  The princess was lying next to herfeet. 

Sola, what is wrong with the princess?

SOLA: 

She has been crying much these past fewdays, John Carter.  We believed you died so we could escape.  Thethought of your death was very heavy on this woman…my friend DejahThoris.  Come and tell her you are among the living. Perhaps that willstop her crying.

JOHN CARTER:

I walked to where the Princess Dejah Thoriswas lying on the ground.  She looked at me with eyes that were red fromcrying.

Princess, you are no longer indanger.  Tars Tarkas has come with me as a friend.  He and hiswarriors will help to see you safely home. 

And..Sola!  I would have you greetyour father -- Tars Tarkas -- a great leader among your people.  Yoursecret no longer means death to anyone.  He already knows you are hisdaughter.  The two of you have nothing to fear.

Sola turned and looked at TarsTarkas.  She held out her hand.  He took it.  It was a newbeginning for them.

DEJAH THORIS:

I know our world has never before seenanyone like you, John Carter.  Can it be that all Earthmen are likeyou?  I was alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened.  Yet you wouldfreely give your life to save me. 

You come to me now with a tribe of greenwarriors who offer their friendship.  You are no longer a captive but wearthe metal of great rank among their people.  No man has ever donethis. 

JOHN CARTER:

Princess, I have done many strange thingsin my life, many things much smarter men would not have done.  And now,before my courage fails, I would ask you, to be mine in marriage.

She smiled at me for a moment and then herdark eyes flashed in the evening light.

DEJAH THORIS:

You have no need of your courage, JohnCarter, because you already knew the answer before you asked thequestion. 

JOHN CARTER:

And so Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, adaughter of the Red Planet Mars, promised herself in marriage to John Carter, agentleman ofVirginia. 

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JOHN CARTER:

Several days later, we reached the city ofHelium.  At first,the red men of Helium thought we were an attacking army.  But they soonsaw their Princess.  We were greeted with great joy.   TarsTarkas and his green warriors caused the greatest excitement.  This hugegroup of green warriors entered the city as friends and allies. 

I soon met Tardos Mors, the grandfather ofDejah Thoris.  He tried several times to thank me for saving the life ofthe Princess.  But tears filled his eyes and he could not speak. 

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JOHN CARTER:

For nine years, I served in the governmentand fought in the armies of Helium as a Prince of the royal family.  Itwas a happy time.  The Princess Dejah Thoris and I were expecting achild. 

Then, one day, a soldier returned from along flight.  When he landed he hurried to the great meeting room. 

Tardos Mors met with the soldier andreported that every creature on the planet had but three days to live.  Hesaid the great machines that produced the atmosphere on the planet had stoppedproducing oxygen.  He said no one knew why this had happened, but therewas nothing that could be done. 

The air grew thin within a day.  Manypeople could do nothing but sleep.   I watched as my Princess wasslowly dying.  I had to try something.

I could still move with greatdifficulty.  I went to our airport and chose a fast aircraft.  I flewas fast as I could to the building that produced the atmosphere of the planet.

Workers were trying to enter.  I triedto help.  With a great effort I opened a hole.

I grew very weak.  I asked one of theworkers if he could start the engines.  He said he would try.  I fellasleep on the ground.

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It was dark when I opened my eyesagain.  My clothing felt stiff and strange.  I sat up.  I couldsee light from an opening.   I walked outside.  The land lookedstrange to me.  I looked up to the sky and saw the Red Planet Mars. I was once again on Earth in thedesertofArizona.  I criedout with deep emotion. 

Did the worker reach the machines to renewthe atmosphere?  Did the air reach the people of that planet in time tosave them?  Was my Princess Dejah Thoris alive or did she lie cold indeath? 

For ten years now, I have watched the nightsky, looking for an answer.  I believe she and our child are waiting therefor me.  Something tells me that I shall soon know.

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ANNOUNCER:

You have been listening to the SpecialEnglish program, American Stories. 

Shep O’Neal was the voice of JohnCarter.  Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. Barbara Klein was Sola. And GwenOuten was Princess Dejah Thoris.  This story was adapted for SpecialEnglish by Paul Thompson.  It was produced by Paul Thompson and MarioRitter. Listen again next week for another American Story in  SpecialEnglish.

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