CHAPTER VI
_Man of Destiny_
Tarrano! He rose slowly to his feet, his gaze on us for an instant, thenturning to Argo.
"So! You took them? Well done, Argo!"
His gesture dismissed his subordinate; Argo backed from the room. From adisc, an announcer was detailing dispatches. Tarrano frowned slightly.He advanced to us as we three stood together. I had heard Elza give alow, surprised cry as we entered. She stood with a hand upon my arm. Icould feel her trembling, but her face now was impassive.
Georg whispered to me: "This Tarrano----"
But our captor's voice checked him. "Come this way, please." Hesignalled, and three men came forward. To them he issued short commands;they took their places at the instrument tables. Then he led us from theroom through an arch, over a small trestle, into a tiny inner courtyard.A tropical garden, surrounded by blank circular walls of the building. Apatch of blue sky showed above it. A garden secluded from prying eyes,with only a single spider bridge crossing overhead. Vivid flowers andfoliage made it a bower. Brown bark paths laced it; a tiny fountainsplashed in the center.
Tarrano sat on the rim of the fountain; he gestured to a white stonebench where we three sat in a row, Elza between us. It made me feel likea child.
"Your father is dead." He was addressing Elza; and then Georg. "That isunfortunate. He was a good man. I'm sorry."
His voice was soft and musical. He sat there on the fountain rim, anelbow on his crossed knees, chin resting in his hand, his eyes studyingus. A small, slight figure of a man, no more than thirty-five. Simplydressed; white trousers of the tropics, with a strip of narrow blackdown the leg-fronts; a girdle of gold; ruffled white shirt, with sleevesthat flared a trifle, and a neck-piece of black. From his belt dangled afew instruments and several personal weapons--beautifully wrought,small--almost miniatures--yet deadly-looking for all that.
He was bareheaded; black hair closely clipped. A face smooth-shaven.Thin, with a nose hawk-like, and black eyes and heavy brows. His mouthwas thin-lipped, though smiling now, disclosing even, white teeth. Yet acruel mouth, with the firm jaw of determination and power under it. Thefamiliar gray Venus skin, but with that bronze cast of the people of theCentral State.
At first glance, not an unusual or particularly commanding figure. Yetthe man's power of personality, the sheer dominant force of him,radiated like a tower code-beam. No one could be in his presence aninstant without feeling it. A power that enwrapped you; made you feellike a child. Helpless. Anxious to placate a possible wrath that wouldbe devastating; anxious--absurdly--for a smile. It was a radiation ofgenius, humbling every mediocre mortal it touched.
I felt it--felt all this from the moment I came into his presence. Feltlike a child, sitting there on that bench. Vaguely frightened; sullen,with childish resentment at my superior. And over it all, my man'smentality made me angry at myself for such emotions; angry at theconsciousness of my own inferiority, forced upon me now more stronglythan ever anything or any one had made me feel it before.
Tarrano was smiling gently. "... killed your father. I would not havehad it so. Yet--perhaps it was necessary. The Lady Elza----"
I could feel Elza trembling again. Georg burst out: "What do you want ofus? Who are you?"
Tarrano's slim gray-brown hand came up.
"The Lady Elza remembers me----" He seemed waiting with his gentle smilefor her to speak.
"They called you Taro then," she said. Her voice was the small, scared,diffident voice of a child.
"Yes. Taro. A mere sub-officer of the Central State. But destined forbigger things than that, as you see. They did not like what they calledmy ambitious ways--and so they sent me to the Cold Country. That wassoon after I had met you and your father, Lady Elza. You hardly remarkedme then--I was so insignificant a personage. But you--I rememberedyou----"
Still there was in his voice and on his face nothing but kindness and aqueer whimsical look of reminiscence. He broke off at the buzz of a discthat hung from his belt by a golden chain. He jerked it loose from itssnap, and to his ear clasped a small receiver. Like a mask hisgentleness dropped from him. His voice rasped:
"Yes?..." The receiver murmured into his ear. He said: "Connecthim--I'll listen to what he has to say."
A moment; then on the tiny mirror fastened to his wrist with a strap, Isaw a face appear--a face known throughout our Earth--the face of theWar-Director of Great London. Tarrano listened impassively. When thevoice ceased, he said without an instant's hesitation: "No!"
A decision irrevocable; the power almost of a deity seemed behind itsfinality. "No! I--will--not--do--it!" Careful, slow enunciation asthough to make sure an inferior mentality could not mistake his words.And with a click, Tarrano broke connection. The mirror went dark; hehung his little disc and ear-piece back on his belt. Again he wassmiling at us gently, the incident forgotten already--dismissed from hismind until the need to consider it should again arise.
"I remember you, Lady Elza, very well." A vague wistfulness came intohis voice. "I wish to speak with you alone--now--for a moment." Hetouched two of the metal buttons of his shirt-front together. A manappeared in the narrow tunnel-entrance to the garden. A small man, nomore than four and a half feet tall; a trim, but powerfully made littlefigure, in the black and white linen uniform worn also by Tarrano. Yetmore pretentiously dressed than his superior. A broad belt of danglingweapons; under it, a sash of red, encircling his waist and flowing downone side. Over his white ruffled shirt, a short sleeveless vest of blacksilk. A circular hat, with a vivid plume. A smooth-shaven face; blackhair long to the base of the neck; a deep, red-brown complexion. Anative of the Little People of Mars, here in the service of Tarrano. Hestood stiff and respectful in the tunnel entrance.
Tarrano said crisply: "Wolfgar, take these two men to the fourth tower.Make them comfortable."
I met Georg's eyes. Leave Elza here alone with this man? Georg burstout: "My sister goes with me!"
"So?" Tarrano's heavy brows went up inquiringly. A quizzical smileplucked at his lips. "You need have no fear. The Lady Elza----" He swungto her. "Not--afraid, are you?"
"I--no," she stammered.
"She'll come with us," I declared; but the stoutness of my words couldnot hide my fear. Tarrano was still smiling; but as I took a protectingstep toward Elza, his smile died.
"You--will go--with Wolfgar--both of you." That same slow finality. Hisface was impassive; but under his frowning bushy brows, his eyestransfixed me. It was as though with his paralyzing ray he had rooted meto the spot. And Georg beside me. Yet he had not moved from his carelessattitude of ease on the fountain-rim; the little conical golden weapondangled untouched at his belt.
Elza was frightened. "Jac! You must do what he says. I'm--not afraid."
Again Tarrano was smiling. "No--of course not." His gaze went to Georg."You are her brother--your fear is very natural. So I give you myword--the honorable word of Tarrano--that she shall come to no harm."
Elza murmured: "Go, Georg." Afraid for us, and doubtless she had goodreason to be. It struck me then as queer that Tarrano should waste thesewords with us; but I realized, as did Elza and Georg, that we weretreading very dangerous ground. Georg said, with a sudden dignity atwhich I marveled:
"Your word is quite enough." He gestured to me. With a last glance atElza, standing there frightened, but for our sakes striving not to showit, we let this Wolfgar lead us away.
Elza later told us what occurred. With her father, she had been twice tothe Venus Central State--the visit of two years ago Dr. Brende hadmentioned to me, and a former one. It was upon this first trip Elza hadmet Tarrano. He was an under-officer then, in the Army of the CentralState--his name then was Taro. She--herself no more than a slip of agirl at that time--remembered him as a queerly silent youngman--insignificant in physique and manner. He had escorted her once to aVenus festival; in a strange, brooding, humble, yet dignified fashion,he had spoken of love. She had laughed, and soon forgot the incident.But Tarrano had not forgotte
n. The daughter of the great Dr. Brende hadfired his youthful imagination. Who knows what dreams even then--born ofthe genius as yet merely latent--were within him? He had never crossedElza's mind from that time, until today she saw and recognized him.
When they were alone, still without moving from his seat, he signed herto come to him, to sit on the carpet of grass at his feet. She wasfrightened, but she would not show it. He made no move to touch her; hegazed down to meet her upturned, fascinated stare, still with hisgentle, whimsical smile.
"Queer that I should meet you again, Lady Elza. Yet, I must admit, itcomes not by chance, for I contrived it. My prisoner! Dr. Brende'sdaughter, held captive by little Taro!"
It seemed to amuse him, this whimsical reminiscence of those days whenhe was struggling unknown. "I want to confess something to you, LadyElza. You were so far above me then--daughter of the famous Dr. Brende.Yet, as you remember, I aspired to you. And now--I have not changed. Inever change. I still--aspire to you."
He said it very softly, slowly. She flushed; but for that moment fear ofhim dropped from her.
"Oh," she said. "I--I thank you for such a compliment----"
"A compliment? Yes, I suppose it is that now. You wondered, didn't you,why I was so lenient with your brother and that Jac Hallen when theywould have refused me obedience? That is not my way--to be lenient." Hesaid it with a sudden snap of crispness, but his eyes were twinkling."It was because of you, Lady Elza."
"Me?" she murmured.
"You--of course. Because I--want you to like me." His fingersinvoluntarily touched a stray lock of her hair as she sat there at hisfeet, but when she moved her head away he withdrew his hand. His slowvoice went on:
"Back in those other days, Lady Elza, the little Taro had strangedreams. A power within him--he could feel it--here----" His gaze was faraway; his fist struck his breast. "He could feel it--the urge to fulfillhis destiny--feel it within him, and no one else knew it was there.
"Then--you came. A shy, rather pretty little girl, he realizes now, isall you were. But then--you seemed a goddess. A new dream arose--a dreamof you ... I frighten you, child?" His tone was contrite. "I do not meanto do that. I am too hasty. Queer, isn't it, that I can make men,nations, worlds, obey me--but I have to bide my time with a fragilelittle woman?"
His mood changed; he stirred. "I could bend you to my will--breakyou--like that!" His lean fingers snapped. Then his hand dropped, andagain he relaxed. "But of what use?... Your respect? I have it now.Respect and fear come to me from everyone. It is something more thanthat I want from you."
She would have spoken, but his gesture stopped her. "Queer that I shouldwant it? Yes, I think perhaps it is. The little Taro was very queer,perhaps very impressionable. He knew he had nations and worlds toconquer--a destiny to fulfill. Not alone because of you, little Elza. Iwould not make you think that. But for you to share. The great Tarrano,master of the universe, and his Lady Elza! Worlds for you to toy with,like gems on a thread adorning your white throat----"
He must have swayed her, the sheer power of him. Impulsively she touchedhis knee. "I am not worth----"
His face clouded with a frown. "I would not try to buy your love----"
"Oh," she said. "No, I did not mean----"
"I would not try to buy you. I want to share with you--these worlds--asyour due. To make myself master of everything, so that you will look tome and say, 'He is the greatest of all men--I love him'.... Soon I willbe the greatest of all men throughout the ages. And very gentle always,with you, Lady Elza----"
A buzz came from the disc at his belt. He answered the call--listened toa voice.
"So? Bring him here." He disconnected. "...very gentle with you, myElza----"
His voice drifted away. He seemed waiting; and Elza, her head whirlingwith the confusion of it all, sat silent. A moment; then Argo appeared,driving a half-nude man before him. A native official of Venia, strippedof his uniform. Argo flung him down in the garden path, where hecowered, his face ashen, his eyes wild, lips mumbling with terror.
Tarrano barely moved. "So? You tell me he was asleep at the mirrors,Argo?"
"Master, I could not help it! Since first you made your move in GreaterNew York at Park Sixty, I have sat there. Two nights and a day----"
"And you fell asleep without asking for a relief?"
"Master, I----"
"Did you?"
"Yes. I did not realize I was sleeping----"
A gesture to Argo, and the man was flung closer to Tarrano's feet. Elzashrank away.
"Left a mirror unattended. So?... The wire, Argo." He took the lengthof wire, gleaming white-hot, as the leering, gloating Argo turned thecurrent into it--Tarrano took it, lashed it upon the poor wretch's nakedback and legs. Welts arose, and the stench of burning flesh. A measuredscore of the passionless strokes made him writhe and scream in agony.
It turned Elza sick and faint. Shuddering, she crouched there, hidingher face until the punishment was over and the half-unconscious culpritwas carried away.
"Very gentle with you, my Elza...."
She looked up to find Tarrano smiling at her; looked up and stared, andwondered what might be her fate with such a man as this.