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She MUST marry； and you know the ceremony has been unavoidably
postponed so far。〃
〃Unavoidably postponed？〃 Yes； Heaven wotted I was aware of the
fact。 And was Heru going to marry black Hath in such a hurry？ And
after all I had done for her？ It was scarcely decent； and I tried to rouse
myself to rage over it； but somehow the seductive Martian contentment
with any fate was getting into my veins。 I was not yet altogether sunk in
their slothful acceptance of the inevitable； but there was not the slightest
doubt the hot red blood in me was turn… ing to vapid stuff such as did duty
for the article in their veins。 I mustered up a half…hearted frown at this
unwelcome intelligence； turning with it on my face towards the slave girl；
but she had slipped away into the throng； so the frown evaporated； and
shrugging my shoulders I said to myself； 〃What does it matter？ There
are twenty others will do as well for me。 If not one； why then obviously
an… other； 'tis the only rational way to think； and at all events there is the
magic globe。 That may tell us something。〃 And slipping my arm round
the waist of the first disengaged girlwe were not then； mind you； in
Atlantic CityI kissed her dimpling cheek unreproached； and gaily
followed in the drift of humanity； trending with a low hum of pleasure
towards the great white terraces under the palace porch。
How well I knew them！ It was just such an evening Heru had
consulted Fate in the same place once before； how much had happened
since then！ But there was little time or in… clination to think of those
things now。 The whole phantom city's population had drifted to one
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common centre。 The crumbling seaward ramparts were all deserted； no
soldier watch was kept to note if angry woodmen came from over seas； a
soft wind blew in from off the brine； but told no tales； the streets were
empty； and； when as we waited far away in the southern sky the earth
planet presently got up； by its light Heru； herself again； came tripping
down the steps to read her fate。
They had placed another magic globe under a shroud on a tripod for
her。 It stood within the charmed circle upon the terrace； and I was close
by； although the princess did not see me。
Again that weird； fantastic dance commenced； the princess working
herself up from the drowsiest undulations to a hur… ricane of emotion。
Then she stopped close by the orb； and seized the corner of the web
covering it。 We saw the globe begin to beam with veiled magnificence at
her touch。
Not an eye wavered； not a thought wandered from her in all that silent
multitude。 It was a moment of the keenest suspense； and just when it was
at its height there came a strange sound of hurrying feet behind the
outermost crowd； a murmur such as a great pack of wolves might make
rushing through snow； while a soft long wail went up from the darkness。
Whether Heru understood it or not I cannot say； but she hesitated a
moment； then swept the cloth from the orb of her fate。
And as its ghostly； self…emitting light beamed up in the darkness with
weird brilliancy； there by it； in gold and furs and war panoply； huge； fierce；
and lowering； stoodAR…HAP HIMSELF！
Ay； and behind him； towering over the crouching Mar… tians； blocking
every outlet and street； were scores and hundreds of his men。 Never was
surprise so utter； ambush more complete。 Even I was transfixed with
astonishment； staring with open…mouthed horror at the splendid figure of
the barbarian king as he stood aglitter in the ruddy light； scowling defiance
at the throng around him。 So silently had he come on his errand of
vengeance it was difficult to be… lieve he was a reality； and not some clever
piece of stageplay； some vision conjured up by Martian necromancy。
But he was good reality。 In a minute comedy turned to tragedy。 Ar…
hap gave a sign with his hand； whereon all his men set up a terrible warcry；
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the like of which Seth had not heard for very long； and as far as I could
make out in the half light began hacking and hewing my luckless friends
with all their might。 Meanwhile the king made at Heru； feeling sure of
her this time； and doubtless intending to make her taste his vengeance to
the dregs； and seeing her handled like that； and hearing her plaintive cries；
wrath took the place of stupid surprise in me。 I was on my feet in a
second； across the intervening space； and with all my force gave the king a
blow upon the jaw which sent even him staggering backwards。 Before I
could close again； so swift was the sequence of events in those flying
minutes； a wild mob of people； victims and executioners in one disordered
throng； was between us。 How the king fared I know not； nor stopped to
ask； but half dragging； half carrying Heru through the shrieking mob； got
her up the palace steps and in at the great doors； which a couple of yellow…
clad slaves； more frightened of the barbarians than thoughtful of the crowd
without； promptly clapped to； and shot the bolts。 Thus we were safe for a
moment； and putting the princess on a couch； I ran up a short flight of
stairs and looked out of a front window to see if there were a chance of
succouring those in the palace square。 But it was all hopeless chaos with
the town already beginning to burn and not a show of fight anywhere
which I could join。
I glared out on that infernal tumult for a moment or two in an agony of
impotent rage； then turned towards the harbour and saw in the shine of the
burning town below the ancient battlements and towers of Seth begin to
gleam out； like a splendid frost work of living metal clear…cut against the
smooth； black night behind； and never a show of resistance there either。
Ay； and by this time Ar…hap's men were battering in our gates with a big
beam； and somehow； I do not know how it happened； the palace itself
away on the right； where the dry…as…dust library lay； was also beginning to
burn。
It was hopeless outside； and nothing to be done but to save Heru； so
down I went； and； with the slaves； carried her away from the hall through
a vestibule or two； and into an anteroom； where some yellow…girt
individuals were al… ready engaged in the suggestive work of tying up pal…
ace plate in bundles； amongst other things； alas！ the great gold love…bowl
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from whichoh！ so long agoI had drawn Heru's marriage billet。 These
individuals told me in tremulous accents they had got a boat on a secret
waterway behind the palace whence flight to the main river and so； far
away inland； to another smaller but more peaceful city of their race would
be quite practical； and joyfully hearing this news； I handed over to them
the princess while I went to look for Hath。
And the search was not long。 Dashing into the banquet…hall； still
littered with the remains of a feast； and looking down its deserted vistas；
there at the farther end； on his throne； clad in the sombre garments he
affected； chin on hand； sedate in royal melancholy； listening unmoved to
the sack of his town outside； sat the prince himself。 Strange； gloomy
man； the great dead intelligence of his race shining in his face as weird
and out of place as a lonely sea beacon fading to nothing before the glow
of sunrise； never had he appeared so mysterious as at that moment。 Even
in the heat of excitement I stared at him in amazement； wishing in a hasty
thought the confusion of the past few weeks had giv