The city
had been built upon the gently rolling foothills that in the dim
and distant past had sloped down to meet the sea. It was due to
this fact that I had no difficulty in entering the streets unobserved.
The green hordes that use these deserted cities seldom occupy more
than a few squares about the central plaza, and as they come and
go always across the dead sea bottoms that the cities face, it is
usually a matter of comparative ease to enter from the hillside.
Once within the streets, I kept close in the dense shadows of the
walls. At intersections I halted a moment to make sure that none
was in sight before I sprang quickly to the shadows of the opposite
side. Thus I made the journey to the vicinity of the plaza without
detection. As I approached the purlieus of the inhabited portion
of the city I was made aware of the proximity of the warriors'
quarters by the squealing and grunting of the thoats and zitidars
corralled within the hollow courtyards formed by the buildings
surrounding each square.
These old familiar sounds that are so distinctive of green Martian
life sent a thrill of pleasure surging through me. It was as one
might feel on coming home after a long absence. It was amid such
sounds that I had first courted the incomparable Dejah Thoris in
the age-old marble halls of the dead city of Korad.
As I stood in the shadows at the far corner of the first square
which housed members of the horde, I saw warriors emerging from
several of the buildings.
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