Last week we broadcast the second of our programs called
"A Princess of Mars." The story is from a series of books by Edgar Rice
Burroughs.
Last week we told how John Carter was captured by a
group of warriors on the planet Mars. Later, he became one of them by
defeating a huge warrior in a fight. He is still a captive, but he is
treated with honor because he is a skilled fighter. We left John Carter
at the beginning of a fierce battle between the green warriors and
their main enemy. The enemy came close to the green Martians in huge
air ships. The green Martians attacked. John Carter continues to tell
about what happens to him in Edgar Rice Burroughs's story, "A Princess
of Mars."

JOHN CARTER: Another of the large air
ships exploded high in the air. Members of the crew fell to the ground.
The huge ship lost control and began turning again and again.
Soon
it was close to the ground. The warriors climbed aboard the ship and
began fighting the members of the crew who were still alive. Soon the
fighting stopped. The warriors began taking everything from the ship.
At
last, they brought a captive from deep within the ship. Two of the
warriors had their captive by each arm. I wanted to see what new and
strange form of life this creature would be.
As they came near, I
saw that it was a woman. She looked like a woman from Earth. She was
young. Her skin was a light red, almost a copper color.
I saw at
once that she was extremely beautiful. She had a fine face with large
dark eyes and long, black hair. As her guards led her away, she saw me
for a moment. She seemed very surprised. Her face looked hopeful. But
when I made no attempt to speak to her, her face grew sad and she
looked very small and frightened. As I watched her disappear into a
building, I realized that Sola was near me.
SOLA: John Carter,
that woman will be saved for the great games that are held by our
people. The games are long and cruel and end in death for those
captured in battle. Her death will be slow and painful. She will die
for the enjoyment of all.
JOHN CARTER: Sola's face seemed sad when
she said this. I could tell by the way she spoke that she did not like
the games and did not want to see the young woman die. She was very
different from the rest of her people.
Sola, do you not like the games?
SOLA: No,
John Carter. My mother died in the games. That is a secret you must
not tell anyone. The wall where Tars Tarkas found you held eggs that
produce our young. All the children belong to the tribe. A mother
never knows which child is hers when they come out of the egg.
My
mother hid the egg that carried me. It was not placed within the walled
area. She kept her secret until after I was born. But others
discovered her secret and she was condemned to die in the games. She
hid me among other children before she was captured. If this secret
were learned, I too would die in the games.
Before she left me, my
mother told me the name of my father. I alone keep that secret. It
would mean death for him as well as me. My people are violent and
cruel.
JOHN CARTER: The next day I entered the great room where
the green Martians held meetings. The red woman prisoner was there too.
Soon, the leader of the green Martians came into the room. His name
was Lorquas Ptomel. He began speaking to the prisoner.
LORQUAS PTOMEL: Who are you and what is your name?
DEJAH
THORIS: I am the Princess Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak, the
ruler of Helium. Our air ship was on a scientific flight. We were to
study the air and atmosphere. Without our work the air on our planet
would grow thin and we would all die. Why would you attack us?
JOHN
CARTER: As she talked, a warrior ran to her and hit her in the face,
knocking her to the ground. He placed a foot on her small body and
began laughing.
(LAUGHTER)
I reached for the small sword I carried and rushed to attack the huge warrior.
(FIGHTING SOUNDS)
JOHN
CARTER: He was a strong opponent. But again, because of the low
gravity on Mars, my strength was far greater than his. In a few short
minutes, the green warrior was dead. I helped the young woman to her
feet.
DEJAH THORIS: Who are you? Why did you risk your life to
help me? You look almost the same as my people, but you wear the
weapons of a green warrior. Who… or what.. are you?
JOHN CARTER:
My name is John Carter. I am from the planet Earth. How I got here is a
long story. I attacked that warrior because, where I come from, men do
not attack women. I will offer you my protection as long as I can.
However, I must tell you that I, too, am a captive.
SOLA: Come,
John Carter, and bring the red woman with you. Let us leave this room
quickly before some warrior attempts to stops us.
JOHN CARTER: The
three of us quickly returned to the building where I had spent the last
several days. Sola then left to prepare food. Woola sat in the corner
and looked at the both of us. The young woman was afraid of poor, ugly
Woola.
I told her not to fear him. You must tell no one, but
Woola is not only my guard. He is my friend. I have treated him with
kindness that he has never known. As each day passes, he trusts me
more. I now think he would follow any command I give.
Sola has
told me that all captives are held until they can die in the great games
held by the green Martians. Our only chance to survive is to escape.
But we must have Sola's help for our plan to succeed.
DEJAH
THORIS: Yes. If we stay with the green warriors, we will both die. If
we are to escape, we will need several of the animals to ride. It would
be our only chance.
JOHN CARTER: I have several of the animals. They were given to me when I became a warrior.
Sola
came back later with food for the two of us. Dejah Thoris and I asked
for her help. The three of us talked long into the night. At last Sola
gave us her answer.
SOLA: Your best chance for escape will be in
the next two days. We will leave this city tomorrow and begin a long
trip to the home of our tribe. I will help you escape. But I must come
with you. I will be killed if you escape.
DEJAH THORIS: Sola, of
course you must come with us! You are not cruel or violent as many of
your people are. Help us and I can promise you a much better life. You
will be treated with respect as an honored guest.
JOHN CARTER:
The next morning we rode away from the city on our animals. More than a
thousand animals were carrying the huge tribe of green Martians. Also
in the group were one American, one Princess of the Royal House of
Helium, our guard, Sola, and poor ugly Woola.
Late that night we left the camp. One animal carried me. Another Sola and Princess Dejah Thoris. Woola followed close behind.
We
rode quickly through the Martian night. I looked into the sky and saw
Earth across the great distance of space. Since I had met the Princess
Dejah Thoris, I had not thought once of Earth or home. I knew then that
I would never willingly leave her.
The next morning, I could see
that we were being followed by several hundred of the green warriors.
Our animals were very tired. I knew we must stop.
I told Sola and
the Princess to take the stronger of the two animals and ride away. I
will hold back the green warriors as long as I can. Woola! Go with
them and guard them with your life.
DEJAH THORIS: We can't leave you alone. It would be certain death if you are captured again. You must come with us!
JOHN
CARTER: Sola took the princess by the arm and lifted her on top of the
animal she had chosen. Quickly she began riding away. For a moment,
Woola looked at me, then turned and ran after them.
I took out my rifle from its case. I began firing to slow the green warriors.
(SHOTS)
I
was able to slow them for more than an hour. But then I had no more
ammunition. Soon I was surrounded. A green warrior got off his animal
and came toward me. He pulled out his long, thin sword. I reached for
mine. As we neared each other I saw it was Tars Tarkas. He stopped and
spoke to me very slowly.
TARS TARKAS: You will die here… today…
John Carter. It is I who must kill you. Know that I will take no
pleasure in your death.
ANNOUNCER: You have been listening to the
Special English program, American Stories. This has been the third
program in our series "A Princess of Mars," by Edgar Rice Burrows. This
story was adapted for Special English by Paul Thompson. It was produced
by Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter.
Shep O'Neal was the voice of
John Carter. Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. Barbara Klein was Sola. And
Gwen Outen was the Princess Dejah Thoris. Join us again next week as we
continue "A Princess of Mars," in VOA Special English.