I foresee that RebeccaDew will figure largely
in my future correspondence.
Ill finish you off all right, slave, he came
back, if youll standstill and fight. Yes, but what excuse am I to make for
leaving my friends? We owe Rojas a great debt of gratitude, I said. He
staggered to his feet and tried to throw himself upon me, screamingimprecations
as he came. A fifthman then appeared who I later discovered was what you might
call areferee, or umpire. But in the dusk Im free fromboth and belong only to
myself .
Tonight or tomorrow morning, replied the
commander.
After we had all breakfasted together Dejah
Thoris asked me what myplans were now.
She doesnt come to the tablewhen theres
company . Ihope that you will like it there, Rojas.
I am so glad that you did, she said, for I
deceived you. How well you look, he said, and we both laughed.
I have a scratchy pen and I cant write
love-letters with ascratchy pen . Perhaps she was the type that would bide its
time until it could wreaksome terrible revenge. I am the man whose flier you
stole at Horz, I replied. I foresee that RebeccaDew will figure largely in my
future correspondence.
Llana of Gathol may have been invisible, but
she was also definitelycorporeal. I glanced at the great clock on the
wall.
I cautioned the girls to silence, and we
walked hand in handin the direction of the flier. Well, enjoy it while you may,
said the man, for in a few minutes hewill be dead. A little after midnight she
will hear me whistle.
They are forty-threemillion miles from
Barsoom.
A debt, she replied, which it will be very
easy, and I hopepleasant, for you to repay.
And, I suppose that Motus does not have to
fight fair, I said; butthat is immaterial to me. The outlook appeared
brighterimmediately.
It happened just as the train was coming to a
stop at the station.
I knew I just had to board withthe
widows.
I was flying no colors,and when they hailed me
I made no response. The men stopped then, and most of them fell back.