1899- Journey to Mars

“I suggest you do not look down, friend Billy,” Avi said.

Avi banked around a rock outcropping and the precipice came within yards. Billy’s eyes followed it down to the hardpan below.

“Too late,” he said.

Between one peak and the next, Billy could make out the vast dust cloud headed for the Atmosphere Factory. Hopefully by now, Guthrie had found Dakota and was escorting him back to the Argent. His next thoughts were of course for Ekka. She had a plan of some kind—something he had somehow missed. That was what women seemed to be for; to come behind you and pick up a man’s messes. All of this was a mess. Now his wife and his son were in danger. He should never have brought them along. Not that there had been any choice in the matter back in Waco, or in Ceylon, or any leg of the trip thus far. Each moment called for its own set of decisions, and sometimes those decisions had to be made quickly.

Avi looked back at him. “Just settle in, Billy,” he said. “Enjoy the ride.”

[ 90 ]

The Martian Atmosphere Factory stood on a prominent ridge of rock suspended partially over the grand canal. From it’s upper parapets the northern wall of the canal and a large portion of its floor—that area where the golden, oxygen-giving plants thrived—could be seen. From the broad walkway atop its lowest wall, however, the canal floor was out of view. It yet did afford a view of the battlefield and the distant outcrop of stone that demarked the location of the last waterwell wit

hin several hundred miles.

John Carter, Ian and Dejah Thoris emerged from a secret, one-way doorway onto the battlefield beneath the place where the forces of Dracula had smashed the wall and thereby nearly attained their victory.

From around the long, curving wall of the Atmosphere Factory, Tardos Mors led a small remuda of horses.

“My lady!” Tardos Mors called. “You may not ride into battle.”

“I am your Princess. It is my right.”

“We would not risk your injury, my Princess.”

“I dinna believe ye’ll be talkin’ her out of it,” Ian stated.

Dejah took the reins of the horse trailing Tardos Mors and mounted swiftly. John Carter and Ian found a horse, mounted and rode up beside her.

Together the four scanned the horizon in front of them. In the distance was the finger of rock that demarked the castle of Mort Prime. Closer at hand was the small jut of rock marking the well. To either side of the closer rock, tens of thousands of corts and morts pressed inexorably forward.

“It has been my honor to serve at your side, John Carter,” Ian stated.

“The honor has been mine, my friend. But have heart. We are not finished yet. Those copies of men coming at us are weak. The enemy relies on strength of numbers. I think we will mow them down like wheat.”

“I have a request,” Ian said.

“Ask,” John Carter said.

“If anything should happen. If I dinnae see another sunrise, will ‘ee give my love to the lady?”

“What lady?” Carter asked.

“Why, Bixie, of course.”

John Carter reached out and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Don’t fret, my friend. I’ll do as you ask, if it comes to it. Remember though, her great powers. If evil were to befall you, she would know.”

Ian smiled. “I suppose you’re right. I never did ken it. Either her powers...or the beauty of her face.”

Dejah Thoris stood forward in the stirrups of her mount. She raised her sword high and shouted one word. “Hai!”

She and all her men, with John Carter and Ian riding close beside her, galloped towards the coming mass of the enemy

[ 91 ]

The moment Dakota felt the strong hand on his shoulder his mind began to work. He was alone, far from his family, and he had been caught unawares. If he were going to escape, he would have to use every ounce of wits at his disposal. The fingers dug hard into his collarbone, and Dakota winced. From that point he decided to play like the man was killing him. He wailed loudly.

“What’s going on up there?” A voice called out.