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I should feel that I had rounded out a great lifework；
and repaid to Mars at least a portion of the immense debt of
gratitude I owed her for having given me my Dejah Thoris。
And as I thought； I saw but one way； and a single man who could
insure the success of my hopes。 As is ever the way with me；
I acted then as I always actwithout deliberation and
without consultation。
Those who do not like my plans and my ways of promoting them
have always their swords at their sides wherewith to back up their
disapproval； but now there seemed to be no dissenting voice； as；
grasping Talu by the arm； I sprang to the throne that had once been
Salensus Oll's。
〃Warriors of Barsoom；〃 I cried； 〃Kadabra has fallen； and with her
the hateful tyrant of the north； but the integrity of Okar must
be preserved。 The red men are ruled by red jeddaks； the green
warriors of the ancient seas acknowledge none but a green ruler；
the First Born of the south pole take their law from black Xodar；
nor would it be to the interests of either yellow or red man were
a red jeddak to sit upon the throne of Okar。
〃There be but one warrior best fitted for the ancient and mighty
title of Jeddak of Jeddaks of the North。 Men of Okar； raise
your swords to your new rulerTalu； the rebel prince of Marentina！〃
And then a great cry of rejoicing rose among the free men of
Marentina and the Kadabran prisoners； for all had thought that the
red men would retain that which they had taken by force of arms；
for such had been the way upon Barsoom； and that they should be
ruled henceforth by an alien Jeddak。
The victorious warriors who had followed Carthoris joined in the
mad demonstration； and amidst the wild confusion and the tumult
and the cheering； Dejah Thoris and I passed out into the gorgeous
garden of the jeddaks that graces the inner courtyard of the
palace of Kadabra。
At our heels walked Woola； and upon a carved seat of wondrous beauty
beneath a bower of purple blooms we saw two who had preceded us
Thuvia of Ptarth and Carthoris of Helium。
The handsome head of the handsome youth was bent low above the
beautiful face of his companion。 I looked at Dejah Thoris；
smiling； and as I drew her close to me I whispered： 〃Why not？〃
Indeed； why not？ What matter ages in this world of perpetual youth？
We remained at Kadabra； the guests of Talu； until after his
formal induction into office； and then； upon the great fleet which
I had been so fortunate to preserve from destruction； we sailed
south across the ice…barrier； but not before we had witnessed the
total demolition of the grim Guardian of the North under orders of
the new Jeddak of Jeddaks。
〃Henceforth；〃 he said； as the work was completed； 〃the fleets
of the red men and the black are free to come and go across the
ice…barrier as over their own lands。
〃The Carrion Caves shall be cleansed； that the green men may
find an easy way to the land of the yellow； and the hunting of the
sacred apt shall be the sport of my nobles until no single specimen
of that hideous creature roams the frozen north。〃
We bade our yellow friends farewell with real regret； as we
set sail for Ptarth。 There we remained； the guest of Thuvan Dihn；
for a month； and I could see that Carthoris would have remained
forever had he not been a Prince of Helium。
Above the mighty forests of Kaol we hovered until word from
Kulan Tith brought us to his single landing…tower； where all day
and half a night the vessels disembarked their crews。 At the city
of Kaol we visited； cementing the new ties that had been formed
between Kaol and Helium； and then one long…to…be…remembered day we
sighted the tall； thin towers of the twin cities of Helium。
The people had long been preparing for our coming。 The sky
was gorgeous with gaily trimmed fliers。 Every roof within both
cities was spread with costly silks and tapestries。
Gold and jewels were scattered over roof and street and plaza；
so that the two cities seemed ablaze with the fires of the hearts
of the magnificent stones and burnished metal that reflected the
brilliant sunlight； changing it into countless glorious hues。
At last； after twelve years； the royal family of Helium was
reunited in their own mighty city； surrounded by joy…mad millions
before the palace gates。 Women and children and mighty warriors
wept in gratitude for the fate that had restored their beloved
Tardos Mors and the divine princess whom the whole nation idolized。
Nor did any of us who had been upon that expedition of indescribable
danger and glory lack for plaudits。
That night a messenger came to me as I sat with Dejah Thoris
and Carthoris upon the roof of my city palace； where we had long
since caused a lovely garden to be made that we three might find
seclusion and quiet happiness among ourselves； far from the pomp
and ceremony of court； to summon us to the Temple of Reward
〃where one is to be judged this night；〃 the summons concluded。
I racked my brain to try and determine what important case
there might be pending which could call the royal family from
their palaces on the eve of their return to Helium after years
of absence； but when the jeddak summons no man delays。
As our flier touched the landing stage at the temple's top we
saw countless other craft arriving and departing。 In the streets
below a great multitude surged toward the great gates of the temple。
Slowly there came to me the recollection of the deferred doom that
awaited me since that time I had been tried here in the Temple by
Zat Arras for the sin of returning from the Valley Dor and the
Lost Sea of Korus。
Could it be possible that the strict sense of justice which
dominates the men of Mars had caused them to overlook the
great good that had come out of my heresy？ Could they ignore the
fact that to me； and me alone； was due the rescue of Carthoris；
of Dejah Thoris； of Mors Kajak； of Tardos Mors？
I could not believe it； and yet for what other purpose could I
have been summoned to the Temple of Reward immediately upon the
return of Tardos Mors to his throne？
My first surprise as I entered the temple and approached the Throne
of Righteousness was to note the men who sat there as judges。
There was Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol； whom we had but just left
within his own palace a few days since； there was Thuvan Dihn；
Jeddak of Ptarthhow came he to Helium as soon as we？
There was Tars Tarkas； Jeddak of Thark； and Xodar； Jeddak of
the First Born； there was Talu； Jeddak of Jeddaks of the North；
whom I could have sworn was still in his ice…bound hothouse city
beyond the northern barrier； and among them sat Tardos Mors and
Mors Kajak； with enough lesser jeds and jeddaks to make up the
thirty…one who must sit in judgment upon their fellow…man。
A right royal tribunal indeed； and such a one； I warrant； as never
before sat together during all the history of ancient Mars。
As I entered； silence fell upon the great concourse of people that
packed the auditorium。 Then Tardos Mors arose。
〃John Carter；〃 he said in his deep； martial voice； 〃take your place
upon the Pedestal of Truth； for you are to be tried by a fair and
impartial tribunal of your fellow…men。〃
With level eye and high…held head I did as he bade； and as I glanced
about that circle of faces that a moment before I could have sworn
contained the best friends I had upon Barsoom； I saw no single
friendly glanceonly stern； uncompromising judges； there to
do their duty。
A clerk rose and from a great book read a long list of the more
notable deeds that I had thought to my credit； covering a long
period of twenty…two years since first I had stepped the ocher sea
bottom beside the incubator of the Tharks。 With the others he read
of all that I had done within the circle of the Otz Mountains where
the Holy Therns and the First Born had held sway。
It is the way upon Barsoom to recite a man's virtues with his sins
when he is come to trial； and so I was not surprised that all that
was to my credit should be read there to my judgeswho knew it
all by hearteven down to the present moment。 When the reading
had ceased Tardos Mors arose。
〃Most righteous judges；〃 he exclaimed； 〃you have heard recited
all that is known of John Carter； Prince of Heliumthe good
with the bad。 What is your judgment？〃
Then Tars Tarkas came slowly to his feet； unfolding all his mighty；
towering height until he loomed； a green…bronze statue； far above us all。
He turned a baleful eye upon mehe； Tars Tarkas； with whom I had fought
through countless battles； whom I loved as a brother。
I could have wept had I not been so mad with rage that I
almost whipped my sword out and had at them all upon the spot。
〃Judges；〃 he said； 〃there can be but one verdict。 No longer may
John Carter be Prince of Helium〃he paused