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Updated: May 7, 2025
You have seen them?" demanded the jeddak. "I followed them and I heard them speaking beyond a closed door," replied I-Gos; "but I did not see them." "Where is that door?" cried O-Tar. "We will send at once and fetch them," he looked about the table as though to decide to whom he would entrust this duty. A dozen warrior chiefs arose and laid their hands upon their swords.
O-Tar had risen and was angrily emphasizing his words with heavy blows upon the table, dealt with a golden goblet. "Ey, O-Tar, they elude thy guard but not the wise old calot, I-Gos." "What mean you? Speak!" commanded O-Tar. "I know where they are hid," said the ancient taxidermist. "In the dust of unused corridors their feet have betrayed them." "You followed them?
In the center of the room lay I-Gos, dead upon the floor; but Tara of Helium was nowhere to be seen. Turan was nonplussed. It must have been her hand that had struck down the old man, yet she had made no effort to release Turan from his prison. And then he thought of those last words of hers: "I do not want your love!
And it was you, then, who moaned and screamed when the chiefs came the day that I stole Tara from you?" "It was you, then, old scoundrel?" demanded Gahan, moving threateningly toward I-Gos. "Come, come!" expostulated the old man; "it was I, but then I was your enemy. I would not do it now. Conditions have changed." "How have they changed? What has changed them?" asked Gahan.
"It was indeed," said the girl. "Scarce had I-Gos fallen at the bite of my dagger than I heard the approach of warriors. I ran then to hide until they had passed, thinking to return and liberate you; but in seeking to elude the party I had heard I ran full into the arms of another.
If I fail my life is forfeit that you all know and I know. I demand therefore to be heard. It is my right!" "It is his right," echoed the voices of a score of warriors in various parts of the chamber. "That O-Tar is a coward and a liar I can prove," continued I-Gos. "He said that he faced bravely the horrors of the chamber of O-Mai and saw nothing of the slave Turan.
"Wait!" screamed another voice, old and cracked, as I-Gos, the ancient taxidermist, sprang from among the guests and reached the throne steps ahead of the foremost warriors. At sight of the old man the warriors paused, for age is held in great veneration among the peoples of Barsoom, as is true, perhaps, of all peoples whose religion is based to any extent upon ancestor worship.
"All, then, are not cowards," commented O-Tar. "The duty is distasteful. Therefore all three of you shall go, taking as many warriors as you wish." "But do not ask for volunteers," interrupted I-Gos, "or you will go alone." The three chiefs turned and left the banquet hall, walking slowly like doomed men to their fate.
"I saw the dead O-Mai lying upon the floor of his sleeping chamber with one foot tangled in the sleeping silks and furs upon his couch. I heard horrid moans and frightful screams." "And you are not afraid to go there again?" demanded several. "The dead cannot harm me," said I-Gos. "He has lain thus for five thousand years. Nor can a sound harm me. I heard it once and live I can hear it again.
Let your wise and brave chieftains go thither and fetch him. I am an old man, and could bring but one." "You have done well, I-Gos," O-Tar hastened to assure him, for when he learned that Gahan might still be in the haunted chambers he wished to appease the wrath of I-Gos, knowing well the vitriolic tongue and temper of the ancient one.
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