At times I would cover my face with my hands in a vain effort to
shut out the fearful thing from my mind.
It was in the forenoon that we arrived above the mile-high scarlet
tower which marks greater Helium from her twin city. As we descended
in great circles toward the navy docks a mighty multitude could be
seen surging in the streets beneath. Helium had been notified by
radio-aerogram of our approach.
From the deck of the Xavarian we four, Carthoris, Tars Tarkas,
Xodar, and I, were transferred to a lesser flier to be transported
to quarters within the Temple of Reward. It is here that Martian
justice is meted to benefactor and malefactor. Here the hero is
decorated. Here the felon is condemned. We were taken into the
temple from the landing stage upon the roof, so that we did not
pass among the people at all, as is customary. Always before I had
seen prisoners of note, or returned wanderers of eminence, paraded
from the Gate of Jeddaks to the Temple of Reward up the broad Avenue
of Ancestors through dense crowds of jeering or cheering citizens.
I knew that Zat Arras dared not trust the people near to us, for
he feared that their love for Carthoris and myself might break into
a demonstration which would wipe out their superstitious horror of
the crime we were to be charged with. What his plans were I could
only guess, but that they were sinister was evidenced by the fact
that only his most trusted servitors accompanied us upon the flier
to the Temple of Reward.
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