Last week we brought you the first of four programs
called "A Princess of Mars." Our story is from a series of books by
American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. They are science fiction stories,
a mix of imagination and science.
Last week, we met John Carter
who begins the story. He enters a cave deep in the desert in the state
of Arizona. There something happens. He does not know how, but he has
been transported to the Red Planet, Mars.
He quickly learns that
gravity on Mars is much less than on Earth. The lack of gravity makes
him very strong. He can even jump very high without trying.
He
finds a low wall that surrounds a group of eggs. The eggs are opening.
Out come small, fierce-looking green creatures. When we left John
Carter, a green adult creature carrying a long sharp spear was coming
toward him.
And now, the second program in our series, "A Princess of Mars."

JOHN
CARTER: The creature with the spear was huge. There were many other
similar creatures. They had ridden behind me on the backs of large
animals. Each of them carried a collection of strange-looking weapons.
The
one with the large spear got down from the back of his animal and began
walking toward me. He was almost five meters tall and a dark green
color. Huge teeth stuck out of his face, and his expression showed much
hate and violence.
I immediately knew I was facing a terrible
warrior. He began moving quickly toward me with the spear. I was
completely unarmed. I could not fight. My only chance was to escape.
I
used all my strength to jump away from him. I was able to jump almost
thirty meters. The green Martian stopped and watched my effort. I
would learn later that the look on his face showed complete surprise.
The
creatures gathered and talked among themselves. While they talked, I
thought about running away. However, I noticed several of them carried
devices that looked very much like rifles. I could not run.
Soon,
all but one of the creatures moved away. The one who had threatened me
stayed. He slowly took off a metal band from his arm and held it out
to me. He spoke in a strange language.

JOHN CARTER: Slowly, he laid down his weapons. I thought this would
have been a sign of peace anywhere on Earth…why not on Mars, too? I
walked toward him and in a normal voice announced my name and said I had
come in peace. I knew he did not understand, but like me, he took it
to mean that I meant no harm.
Slowly, we came together. He gave
me the large metal band that had been around his arm. He turned and
made signs with his hands that I should follow him. Soon we arrived at
the large animal he had been riding.
He again made a sign with his
hands that I should ride on the same animal behind him. The group
turned and began riding across the land. We moved quickly toward
mountains in the distance.
JOHN CARTER: The large animals we rode
moved quickly across the land. I could tell from the surrounding
mountains that we were on the bottom of a long dead sea.
In time
we came to a huge city. At first I thought the city was empty. The
buildings all were empty and in poor repair. But soon I saw hundreds of
the green warriors. I also saw green women and children. I soon
learned about many cities like this. The cities were built hundreds of
years ago by a people that no longer existed. The green Martians used
the cities. They moved from one empty city to another, never stopping
for more than a day or two.
We got down from our animals and walked into a large building. We entered a room that was filled with fierce green warriors.

It was not difficult to tell that these were the leaders of the green
Martians. One of them took hold of my arm. He shook me and lifted me
off the ground. He laughed when he did so. I was to learn that green
Martians only laugh at the pain or suffering of others.
This huge
warrior threw me to the ground and then took hold of my arm again to
pick me up. I did the only thing I could do. I hit him with my closed
fist as hard as I could.

The green warrior fell to the floor and did not move. The others in
the room grew silent. I had knocked down one of their warriors with
only my hand.
I moved away from him and prepared to defend myself
as best I could. But they did not move. The green Martian that had
captured me walked toward me. He said in a clear voice:
TARS TARKAS: "TARS TARKAS -- TARS TARKAS."
JOHN
CARTER: As he spoke, he pointed to his own chest. He was telling me
his name! I pointed to my chest and said my name, "John Carter."
He
turned and said the word, "Sola." Immediately, a green Martian woman
came close. He spoke to her. She led me to another building and into a
large room.
The room was filled with equipment carried by the green Martians. She prepared something for me to eat. I was very hungry.
I pointed to her and said the word "Sola." She pointed at me and said my name. It was a beginning. Sola was my guard.
She
also became my teacher. In time she would become a close and valued
friend. As I ate my meal, my lessons in the language of the green
Martians continued.
JOHN CARTER: Two days later, Tars Tarkas came
to my room. He carried the weapons and the metal armbands the green
warriors wear. He put them on the ground near my feet. Sola told him I
now understood some of their language. He turned to me and spoke
slowly.
TARS TARKAS: The warrior you hit is dead. His weapons
and the metal of his rank are yours, John Carter. He was a leader of
one small group among our people. Because you have killed him, you now
are a leader.
You are still a captive and not free to leave.
However you will be treated with the respect you have earned. You are
now a warrior among our people.
JOHN CARTER: Tars Tarkas turned
and spoke softly. From beyond the door a strange creature entered the
room. It was bigger than a large dog and very ugly. It had rows of
long teeth and ten very short legs. Tars Tarkas spoke to the creature
and pointed at me. He left. The creature looked at me, watching
closely. Then Sola spoke about the creature.
SOLA: His name is
Woola. The men of our tribe use them in hunting and war. He has been
told to guard and protect you. He has also been told to prevent your
escape. There is no faster creature in our world. And in a fight they
can kill very quickly. Do not try to escape, John Carter. Woola will
tear you to small pieces.
JOHN CARTER: I continued to watch the
creature named Woola. I had already seen how the green Martians treated
other animals. They were very cruel.
I thought, perhaps this
beast can be taught to be my friend…much like a dog on Earth. I walked
close to the creature and began speaking in much the same way I would
speak to a dog or other animal on Earth.
I sat down next to him
while I talked softly. At first he seemed confused. I believe the
creature Woola had never heard a kind word.
For the next several
days I gained the trust and friendship of Woola. In a few short days
Woola was my friend and fierce protector. He would remain my loyal
friend as long as I was on Mars.
JOHN CARTER: Several days later, Sola came to me with a look of great concern.
SOLA:
John Carter…come with me. A great battle is about to take place. An
enemy is coming near this city. We must prepare to fight and we must be
ready to flee.
JOHN CARTER: Sola, what enemy is this?
SOLA:
A race of red men who travel our world in flying machines. A great
number of their machines have come over the far mountain. Take your
weapons with you and hurry.
JOHN CARTER: I collected my sword and
a spear. I hurried out of the building and joined a group of warriors
moving toward the end of the city. Far in the distance I could see the
air ships.
They were firing large guns at the green warriors. I
heard huge explosions. The green warriors were firing back with their
deadly rifles. The air was filled with the sound of violent battle.

Suddenly a huge air ship exploded. It came down, crashing near me.
Red Martians were falling from the side of the huge ship. And then it
exploded again.
(SOUND AND MUSIC)
You have been listening to
the Special English program, American Stories. This has been the
second part of the story "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. And Barbara Klein
was Sola. Join us again next week at this time as we continue "A
Princess of Mars" in VOA Special English.