CHAPTER VI
_In the Seraglio_
With a parting word to Turgan and his followers, Damis made his wayalone down the hill and into the thick tropical jungle which grew upalmost to the gates of the Viceregal palace. He was well acquaintedwith a secret entrance into the building. It was a matter of minutes forhim to locate the outer end and open it.
For half a mile he made his way underground until a huge stone doorbarred his way. He felt for the hidden catches and the slab of rock rosebefore him. As he turned toward the doorway he found himself lookinginto the muzzle of a black ray tube in the hands of a gigantic Jovian inthe uniform of the Viceroy's guards.
"Whence came you, Nepthalim?" demanded the guard, a cold note ofsuspicion in his voice.
"From far Torna," replied Damis readily. "I am Durmino, Komar of theprovince of Capries. The slaves rose on us and all were slain except me.I have had to travel by night and hide by day to reach here. I knew notwhether the slaves had conquered or not, but when I found them lying bythousands about Glavour's palace, I knew that the reign of the Sons ofGod was safe. What news from Tubain?"
The face of the Jovian guard cleared as Damis spoke. Durmino, a son ofGlavour by one of his Terrestrial concubines, was Komar of Capries, afact well known to Damis. There was nothing in the newcomer's story toexcite suspicion.
"The fleet of the Ruler of the Universe is approaching," the guardreplied. "In two hours it will be hovering above us. We would haveneeded no aid had not the dogs of Earthmen found our source of power andmanaged to destroy it with stolen ray tubes. We have been cooped up herelike rats waiting for Tubain to arrive. When he comes our vengeance willbe heavy."
"The heavier the better," growled Damis with an oath. "The dogs havebeen getting surly for a generation. I hope that Tubain will teach thema lesson that will not be forgotten for ages to come."
"He will, never fear," laughed the guard. "Already Glavour has made hisplans. I am not a member of the council, yet I have heard enough torealize why Glavour is our ruler. My brain could not conceive of such astupendous plan."
"I will go to my father now," said Damis. "What is the word for passingthe inner gate? I wish to surprise my sire for he doubtless mourns me asdead."
"He thinks you are dead," replied the guard, "yet I never heard ofGlavour mourning for any loss which did not affect his pleasures. He hasplenty of bastards to take your place. The word is 'Tubain.'"
"I thank you, Son of God," said Damis, "and I will inform my sire of thegreat respect and high regard which you have for him. Fear not, yourwords shall be truthfully reported to him."
* * * * *
Leaving the Jovian guard hastily reviewing the conversation with thesupposed Durmino, Damis made his way toward the palace. Since he knewthat he would not reach another door until after several of theunderground passages with which the foundations of the palace werehoneycombed had joined, he had little doubt of his ability to make hisway unsuspected into the citadel. He debated for a moment on theadvisability of killing the Jovian guard and taking his weapons, butcaution prevailed, and empty-handed, save for a dagger concealed underhis robes, he strode forward.
His knowledge of the password enabled him to pass the various guards hemet without difficulty. There were many of the Nepthalim who heldsubordinate positions in the outlying provinces and who were seldom atcourt, and the Jovian guards, who in their hearts regarded the Nepthalimas little better than the Terrestrials, paid small attention to him. Hepassed several guarded points before the path rose steeply and he passedthrough the final gate into the palace itself. A Nepthalim passed himhurriedly and Damis plucked at his robe.
"I am just from outpost," he said. "What news of Tubain?"
"The fleet has entered the atmosphere belt a thousand miles east ofhere," replied the Nepthalim. "They are dropping to an altitude of fivemiles and will then approach. They should arrive in an hour. It is wellthat they hurry."
"What rush is there?" asked Damis in surprise. "We may not be able toleave here, but, at the same time, all the forces the slaves can musterwould never force an entrance."
* * * * *
"You have not heard then?" exclaimed the other in surprise."No--certainly not, if you have been on outpost--for I just learned itmyself. There is a rumor that Havenner lied when he said that he killedTurgan, the Kildare and Damis, the renegade--the curse of Tubain rest onhim--on Mars. It is said that they not only escaped death but havereturned to Earth armed with the weapons of the red planet. Havenner iswith Glavour now and no one knows what the outcome will be. Since Tubainis at hand, doubtless nothing will be done until he arrives. That is thereason why Tubain altered his course and came down so far away insteadof directly overhead. He hopes thus to elude the Martian weapons if theEarthmen really have them."
"Surely that is a lie!" cried Damis.
"We hope that it is, yet Havenner would have been slain without mercyhad he admitted that he left Mars without slaying or capturing Turganand Damis. Many believe that it is true."
"Is Glavour in the council room?" asked Damis. "I have a message."
"It would be better for you to defer the message if it be ill news untilTubain arrives, brother, for Glavour is enraged beyond measure at all ofus. He threatens to sacrifice us at the next games and he may do sounless Tubain alters the decree. He has not loved us since Damis brokehis arm a month ago."
"Nevertheless, I will deliver my message," replied Damis. "While it maynot please him, it is essential that he get it before Tubain arrives."
"Good luck go with you, brother," replied the Nepthalim with a shrug ofhis shoulders. "The temper of the Viceroy of God is an uncertain qualityat best. He is in his seraglio."
* * * * *
Damis saluted the messenger and made his way toward the inner portion ofthe palace where the women whom the lustful Viceroy had dragged into hisharem were kept. He had no plausible excuse for passing the guards intothis forbidden portion of the palace, but that was a matter which causedhim small worry. There were few of the secrets of the palace which werenot well known to Damis, who had at one time been major domo of thebuilding. There were some well known to him, the existence of which wasnot even suspected by the majority of the Sons of God.
As he neared the seraglio, he turned off to his right and passed througha maze of little-used passages until he halted before what wasapparently a blank wall. Casting a rapid glance around to ensure himselfthat there was no one in sight, he touched a hidden catch and a portionof the wall swung inward, opening a way before him. He entered a passagebuilt in the thickness of the wall and lighted with radium bulbs. Thedoor closed softly behind him. He removed his sandals lest even theirquiet tread should betray him and on bare feet crept forward.
The passage bent and twisted as it followed the walls until Damis knewthat he was in one of the walls of the seraglio. Praying that it wouldwork noiselessly, he slid open a panel of stone and found himselflooking through a semi-transparent hanging into the sacred precincts ofthe seraglio itself. Glavour stood facing him, his heavy face drawn upin a scowl of rage. Damis noted with satisfaction that one of theViceroy's arms was supported by a silk scarf and that he made no attemptto use it. With a pale face, Havenner stood before his ruler.
* * * * *
"The word has been brought to me from a source which I trust as much asI do your own word, Havenner," Glavour was saying. "I tell you, I do notbelieve your story. If Damis and Turgan were dead, the Terrestrialswould not see them alive again on Earth. Neither would they have weaponsof which we know nothing. One of our observers admits that he saw aspace ship land a few hours ago, coming from the direction of Mars. Youfailed in your mission, Havenner, and on you I pronounce the doom. Isentence you to the twilight of the gods."
"I appeal to Tubain from that sentence!" cried the equerry with drylips.
"Your appea
l shall be noted and laid before him at the proper time,"replied the Viceroy savagely; "yet, by the time he arrives, it will betoo late. Ho, Guards! Take him away."
Havenner turned as though to resist, but six of the huge Joviansanswered the Viceroy's call. Two of them grasped him by the arms andstarted to lead him from the room.
"I appeal!" cried Havenner again. "I brought back the maiden whom I wassent to fetch, and for that reason I made no failure. To bring her wasthe principal item of my orders."
Glavour's face grew purple with rage.
"And who sent the message to Tubain which resulted in the orders whichhe sent me?" he demanded savagely. "It was sent by one of your henchmenand by your orders. You slew the sender before I could question him, butI know whose orders he obeyed. Take him away!"
The guards started to drag the luckless equerry from the presence of theViceroy, but Havenner made a final appeal for his life.
"I will confess, Viceroy of God," he cried. "No message was sent toTubain. I dared not send such a message lest such orders would bereturned as I caused to be given to you. I coveted the maiden for myselfand I took this means of getting her. I had a false message delivered toyou which would prevent you from taking her before Tubain arrived. Inreward for my services as spy on you, I planned to ask that she be givento me. I surrender all claims to her, Glavour. Spare my life and you mayhave her."
* * * * *
For a moment Glavour could not speak for rage.
"So you have been the spy who has reported my every doing and my everysecret council to Tubain!" he gasped. "But for you, I would long agohave conquered Venus and Mercury and declared myself independent of theJovian overlord. In time I might have even overthrown him, but everymove was known to him before I made it. Not once, but a dozen times,would you go through the twilight were Tubain not at hand. Niton, it ismy order that the twilight be as slow as our instruments will allow.Give him time to learn to suffer and to pray for the blessing of deathat my hand. Take him away!"
The struggling Havenner was removed by the guards despite his efforts atresistance and his cries for mercy. Glavour stared after him for amoment and an evil gleam came into his eyes.
"Sonom!" he called sharply.
A guard entered the room and saluted.
"Sonom, bring me the Daughter of Man, Lura!" cried the Viceroy. "Whenyou have brought her here, post guards at all doors and see that no oneis admitted under any circumstances until Tubain himself arrives anddemands admittance."
The guard hesitated.
"Your Excellency," he faltered, "the orders from Tubain were--"
"False rumors given out by the traitor, Havenner, who has now gone tothe twilight of the gods," interrupted the Viceroy. "By the crown ofTubain, do I need to repeat my orders? I am Viceroy of the Earth and amsupreme until Tubain revokes my rank. Obey my orders!"
* * * * *
The guard saluted and withdrew. Glavour licked his thick lips inanticipation and strode restlessly back and forth across the room.Inside the hangings, Damis' face hardened and he drew his dagger fromunder his robe. The door opened and Sonom returned, dragging Lura afterhim. The face of the Earth-girl was pale and drawn, yet, when she sawGlavour, her head rose in an expression of defiance. Sonom saluted theViceroy and left the room, the massive door clanging shut behind him.Glavour stared at the girl with an evil leer on his heavy countenance.
"I have learned, Daughter of Man," he said slowly, "of how you seducedone of my servants from his duty to me and caused him to forge an orderfrom the great Tubain in order that he might keep you for his ownpleasure. For a time the stratagem succeeded, but now my eyes are open.When I first looked upon your face and form I swore to myself that youshould be the solace of my leisure hours. Now the time is come. I wasminded once to honor you as Hortan once honored a Terrestrial and letyou amuse yourself by sitting on a throne, but your treachery haschanged my intention. Not even as an accepted concubine shall you rank,but only as a slave to be used as a toy and tossed to one of my guardswhen I am tired of you. Come hither!"
Lura made no move to obey the order, and Glavour with an oath steppedtoward her, his one good arm outstretched in a grasping gesture. Luradid not move until his hand almost closed on her arm and then she sprangback. Her hand sought the bosom of her robe and the Viceroy recoiled asa glittering dagger flashed in the air.
"Back, Jovian!" cried Lura in ringing tones. "Think you that thedaughter of a king of men is to be a toy for your base Jovian passions?The point of this dagger is poisoned so that one touch through your skinwill mean death. One step nearer and I will strike!"
* * * * *
The Viceroy hesitated for a moment and then drew from his robe a shortthick tube. Lura correctly interpreted the gesture.
"Raise that tube and I will bury the blade in my own body!" she cried."I know that you have the power to clasp me in your arms, but it will bea corpse which you clasp."
She lowered the knife until the point rested against the skin of herthroat. The slightest pressure would cause it to penetrate her skin andbring about her almost instant death. Glavour watched her like a cat,the tube ready in his hand. With a grim laugh he threw the tube from himand walked a few steps away. Lura lowered the knife. As she did so,Glavour turned with a movement so swift that the eye could hardly followit. His eyes caught Lura's and she straightened back her head, powerlessagainst his will, caught as she was, momentarily off her guard.
"Throw down your knife," said Glavour's voice slowly. Lura struggled toraise the weapon against herself, but she could not. Slowly her fingersrelaxed and the weapon clattered on the floor. Still holding her eyeswith his own, Glavour stepped forward until his huge splayed foot restedon the weapon. He averted his gaze and swiftly picked it up. Lura gave ascream of horror and strove to fly, but the heavy door was barredagainst her. Glavour placed the weapon in a cabinet on the wall which helocked and then turned to her, an expression of triumph on his face.
"It is useless, Daughter of Man, to struggle against the will of theSons of God," he said mockingly. "What we desire is ours. Come to me."
Lura's face showed an expression of loathing as she looked at the hugemisshapen monstrosity before her. The Viceroy forgot the momentarysatisfaction of his triumph in his rage at her attitude. With a growl ofanger he grasped at her. Lura avoided his rush and ran along the side ofthe room, Glavour in pursuit. He cornered her at last and she stoppedwith her back to the tapestry with which the room was hung. Glowering inhis triumph, Glavour approached and reached out his hand to seize her.His huge paw descended, but before it touched her shoulder a hand withfingers of steel reached through the hangings and grasped his wrist.
* * * * *
When Sonom had dragged Lura into the room, Damis inserted the point ofhis dagger into the tapestry and started to cut a slit through which hecould enter the room. The keen-edged knife cut for a few inches readilyenough and then stopped. Damis withdrew the blade and examined the stuffbefore him. An expression of dismay crossed his face, for the materialwas crisscrossed with stellanium wires, set six inches apart. Eachjuncture was braised together and the whole made a web through which hecould not force his way. Cautiously he exerted his strength. The keenblade hewed through the first of the stellanium strands, but Damis heldhis breath as the wire parted. It seemed impossible that the ting ofparting metal which sounded like a thunderclap in his ears would not beheard by the Viceroy. He knew that there must be an entrance into theroom through the hangings and he made his way cautiously forward,testing the draperies from time to time with his knife.
When Lura laid her dagger against her breast and threatened to end herlife, it took all of Damis' self-control to keep from crying out andstriving to force his way into the room by sheer strength. He knew thetoughness of stellanium well enough to realize the impossibility of evenhis enormous strength tearing apart
a webbing of it. The certainty thatGlavour would not push matters far enough to rob himself of his preyaided him to restrain his ardor and to pursue his systematic search.
He came at last to a corner where his knife met with no resistance as itmade its way through the silken stuff on the walls. Swiftly he cut aslit through which he could rush. As he parted the material, Lura rushedpast him and stood with her back to the wall to await the oncomingViceroy. Damis raised his hand and stood ready. As Glavour's huge pawdescended on Lura's shoulder Damis' hand shot out. Still holding thewrist of the Viceroy in a grip of steel, he emerged from his hidingplace, tearing off the black wig and beard which disguised him.
"Damis!" cried Lura in wonder and delight as she saw him.
* * * * *
Glavour stared with unbelieving eyes for a moment and then a hoarse cryof alarm burst from his lips. Desperately he strove to release hiswrist from the Nepthalim's grip, but to no avail. He disengaged hiscrippled arm from the scarf which supported it and groped under his robefor a weapon. Lura cried out in warning, but Damis had anticipated sucha move. With a quick effort he whirled about and drew the Viceroy's armover his shoulder. He bent forward and exerted his full strength. Thehuge bulk of Glavour rose in the air and pitched forward over Damis'shoulder. There was a crash as he landed on the marble floor. Quick as acat, Damis sprang on him and pinioned down his arms.
"Take his weapons, Lura!" he cried.
Lura bent over the prostrate form of the Jovian to take from his beltthe tubes which he habitually carried there. As she stooped, Glavourraised one of his huge feet and struck her with all the force of hismighty thighs behind the blow. With a cry of pain, Lura flew halfwayacross the room. Damis leaped to her assistance, forgetting for a momentthe potentialities for destruction which the Viceroy bore on his person.A sudden sound made him whirl about. He bent over Lura and picked herfrom the floor. With her in his arms he leaped to one side just as aflash of violet light stabbed through the air. It missed them by inches.He dropped Lura on a rug and turned to face Glavour.
On the Jovian's face was an expression of fiendish triumph. In his handwas a short black tube which he aimed with deliberate slowness at thecrouching Nepthalim. Damis shifted his gaze from the Viceroy's eyes andconcentrated it on the muscles of his wrist. Glavour's grip tightenedand Damis leaped to one side as the violet light again stabbed the air.With an oath, Glavour swung the deadly ray in an arc trying to reach theNepthalim, but Damis moved like a cat. Once, as the ray almost touchedhim, he sprang high in the air and let it sweep by under him. With eachmovement he came nearer to the Viceroy. Slowly the violet began to loseits intensity of color. Glavour dropped it and reached for a secondtube. Before he could draw one, Damis was on him.