Within the court a great
herd of thoats and zitidars moved restlessly about, cropping the
moss-like ochre vegetation which overgrows practically the entire
uncultivated area of Mars. What breeze there was came from the
north-west, so there was little danger that the beasts would scent
me. Had they, their squealing and grunting would have grown to
such a volume as to attract the attention of the warriors within
the buildings.
Close to the east wall, beneath the overhanging balconies of the
second floors, I crept in dense shadows the full length of the
courtyard, until I came to the buildings at the north end. These
were lighted for about three floors up, but above the third floor
all was dark.
To pass through the lighted rooms was, of course, out of the question,
since they swarmed with green Martian men and women. My only path
lay through the upper floors, and to gain these it was necessary
to scale the face of the wall. The reaching of the balcony of the
second floor was a matter of easy accomplishment--an agile leap
gave my hands a grasp upon the stone hand-rail above. In another
instant I had drawn myself upon the balcony.
Here through the open windows I saw the green folk squatting upon
their sleeping silks and furs, grunting an occasional monosyllable,
which, in connection with their wondrous telepathic powers, is ample
for their conversational requirements.
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