"You may go free within two minutes, upon one condition. Tardos
Mors will never return to Helium. Neither will Mors Kajak, nor
Dejah Thoris. Helium must select a new Jeddak within the year.
Zat Arras would be Jeddak of Helium. Say that you will espouse my
cause. This is the price of your freedom. I am done."
I knew it was within the scope of Zat Arras' cruel heart to destroy
me, and if I were dead I could see little reason to doubt that he
might easily become Jeddak of Helium. Free, I could prosecute the
search for Dejah Thoris. Were I dead, my brave comrades might not
be able to carry out our plans. So, by refusing to accede to his
request, it was quite probable that not only would I not prevent
him from becoming Jeddak of Helium, but that I would be the means
of sealing Dejah Thoris' fate--of consigning her, through my refusal,
to the horrors of the arena of Issus.
For a moment I was perplexed, but for a moment only. The proud
daughter of a thousand Jeddaks would choose death to a dishonorable
alliance such as this, nor could John Carter do less for Helium
than his Princess would do.
Then I turned to Zat Arras.
"There can be no alliance," I said, "between a traitor to Helium
and a prince of the House of Tardos Mors. I do not believe, Zat
Arras, that the great Jeddak is dead."
Zat Arras shrugged his shoulders.
"It will not be long, John Carter," he said, "that your opinions
will be of interest even to yourself, so make the best of them
while you can.
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