What, gentlemen, is your verdict?"
"Death to the blasphemer!" cried one, springing to his feet, and
in an instant the entire thirty-one judges were on their feet with
upraised swords in token of the unanimity of their verdict.
If the people did not hear Zat Arras' charge, they certainly did
hear the verdict of the tribunal. A sullen murmur rose louder
and louder about the packed coliseum, and then Kantos Kan, who had
not left the platform since first he had taken his place near me,
raised his hand for silence. When he could be heard he spoke to
the people in a cool and level voice.
"You have heard the fate that the men of Zodanga would mete to
Helium's noblest hero. It may be the duty of the men of Helium
to accept the verdict as final. Let each man act according to his
own heart. Here is the answer of Kantos Kan, head of the navy of
Helium, to Zat Arras and his judges," and with that he unbuckled
his scabbard and threw his sword at my feet.
In an instant soldiers and citizens, officers and nobles were
crowding past the soldiers of Zodanga and forcing their way to the
Throne of Righteousness. A hundred men surged upon the platform,
and a hundred blades rattled and clanked to the floor at my feet.
Zat Arras and his officers were furious, but they were helpless.
One by one I raised the swords to my lips and buckled them again
upon their owners.
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