Edgar Rice Burroughs

Later he became one of them by defeating a huge warrior in a fight. He is still a captive, but he is treated with honor because he is a skilled fighter. We left John Carter at the beginning of a fierce battle between the green warriors and their main enemy. The enemy came close to the green Martians in huge airships. The green Martians attacked. John Carter continues to tell about what happens to him in Edgar Rice Burroughs' story A Princess of Mars.


Another of a large airship exploded high. Members of the crew fell to ground. The huge ship lost control and began turning again and again. Soon it was close to the ground. The warriors climbed the board of the ship and began fighting the members of the crew who were still alive. Soon, the fighting stopped. The warriors began taking everything from the ship. At last, they brought a captive from deep within the ship. Two of the warriors held their captive by each arm. I wanted to see what a new and strange form of life this creature would be. As they came near I saw that it was a woman. She looked like a woman from earth. She was young. Her skin was a light red, almost a copper color. I thought at once that she was extremely beautiful. She had a fine face with large dark eyes and long black hair. As her guards let her away she saw me for a moment. She seemed very surprised, her face looked hopeful. But when I made no attempt to speak to her, her face grew sad and she looked very small and frightened.

As I watched her disappear into a building I realized that Sola was near me. "John Carter that woman will be saved for the great games that are held by our people. The games are long and cruel and end in death for those captured in battle. Her death will be slow and painful. She will die for the enjoyment of all." Sola's face seemed sad when she said this. I could tell by the way she spoke that she did not like the games and did not want to see the young woman dying. She was very different from the rest of her people. "Sola, do you not like the games?" "No, John Carter, my mother died in the games. That is a secret, you must not tell anyone. The wall where Tars Tarkas found you held eggs that produce our young, all the children belong to the tribe. A mother never knows which child is hers when they come out of the egg. My mother hid the egg that carried me, it was not placed within the ward area. She kept her secret until after I was born. But others discovered her secret and she was condemned to die in the games. She hid me among other children before she was captured. If this secret were learned, I too would die in the games. Before she left me, my mother told me the name of my father. I alone keep that secret. It would mean death for him as well as me. My people are violent and cruel."

The next day I entered the great room where the green Martians held meetings. The red woman prisoner was there, too. Soon the leader of the green Martians came into the room. His name was Lorquas Ptomel. He began speaking to the prisoner. "Who are you and what is your name?" "I am the Princess Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak, the ruler of Helium . Our airship was on a scientific flight. We were to study the air and atmosphere. Without our work, the air on our planet would grow thin and we would all die. Why would you attack us?" As she talked, a warrior ran to her and hit her in her face, knocking her to the ground. He placed a foot on her small body and began laughing. "Ha ha ha." I reached for the small sword I carried and rushed to attack the huge warrior. He was a strong opponent, but again because of the low gravity on Mars, my strength was far greater than his. In a few short minutes the green warrior was dead. I helped the young woman to her feet. "Who are you? Why did you risk your life to help me? You look almost the same as my people but you wear the weapons of a green warrior. Who or what are you?" "My name is John Carter. I am from the planet earth. How I got here is a long story. I attacked that warrior because where I come from men do not attack women. I will offer you my protection as long as I can. However, I must tell you that I too am a captive." "Come, John Carter, and bring the red woman with you. Let us leave this room quickly before some warrior attempts to stop us."

The three of us quickly returned to the building where I had spent the last several days. Sola then left to prepare food. Woola sat in the corner and looked at the both of us. The young woman was afraid of poor ugly Woola. I told her not to fear him. Woola is not only my guard, he is my friend. I have treated him with kindness that he has never known. As each day passes, he trusts me more. I now think he would follow any command I give. Sola has told me that all captives are held until they can die in the great games held by the green Martians. Our only chance to survive is to escape. But we must have Sola's help for a plan to succeed. "Yes, if we stay with the green warriors we will both die. If we are to escape we will need several of the animals to ride. It will be our only chance." "I have several of the animals, they were given to me when I became a warrior."

Sola came back later with food for the two of us. Dejah Thoris and I ask for her help. The three of us talked long into the night. At last, Sola gave us her answer. "Your best chance for escape will be in the next two days. We will leave this city tomorrow and begin a long trip to the home of our tribe. I will help you escape, but I must come with you. I will be killed if you escape." "Sola, of course you must come with us. You are not cruel or violent as many of your people are. Help us and I can promise you a much better life. You will be treated with respect as an honored guest."

The next morning, we rode away from the city on our animals. More than a thousand animals were carrying the huge tribe of green Martians. Also in the group were one American, one princess of the royal house of Helium, our guard Sola and poor ugly Woola. Late that night we left the camp. One animal carried me, another Sola and Princess Dejah Thoris. Woola followed close behind. We rode quickly through the Martian night. I looked into the sky and saw earth across the great distance of space. Since I had met the Princess Dejah Thoris, I had not thought once of earth or home. I knew then that I would never willingly leave her.

The next morning I could see that we were being followed by several hundred of the green warriors. Our animals were very tired, I knew we must stop. I told Sola and the princess to take the stronger of the two animals and ride away. "I will hold back the green warriors as long as I can. Woola, with them and guard them with your life." "We can't leave you alone, it would be certain death if you are captured again. You must come with us." Sola took the princess by the arm and lifted her on top of the animal she had chosen, quickly she began riding away. For a moment, Woola looked at me, then turned and ran after them. I took out my rifle from its case. I began firing to slow the green warriors. I was able to slow them for more than an hour, but then I had no more ammunition. Soon I was surrounded, a green warrior got off his animal and came toward me. He pulled out his long thin sword, I reached for mine. As we neared each other, I saw it was Tars Tarkas. He stopped and spoke to me very slowly, "You will die here today, John Carter. It is I who must kill you, know that I will take no pleasure in your death."

You have been listening to the Special English program American Stories. This has been the third program in our series A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This story was adapted for Special English by Paul Thompson. It was produced by Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter. Shep O'Neal was the voice of John Carter, Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas, Barbara Klein was Sola and Guan Wooden was the Princess Dejah Thoris. Join us again next week as we continue A Princess of Mars.

A Princess of Mars

Last week we brought you the first of four programs called "A Princess of Mars". Our story is from a series of books by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. They are science fiction stories, a mix of imagination and science. Last week we met John Cater who begins the story. He enters a cave deep in the desert in the State of Arizona. There, something happens. He does not know how but he has been transported to the red planet Mars. He quickly learns that gravity on Mars is much less than on Earth. The lack of gravity makes him very strong. He can even jump very high without trying. He finds a low wall that surrounds a group of eggs. The eggs are opening, outcome small fierce-looking green creatures. When we left John Carter a green adult creature carrying a long sharp spear was coming toward him. And now the second program in our series "A Princess of Mars".


The creature with the spear was huge. There were many other similar creatures. They had ridden behind me on the backs of large animals. Each of them carried a collection of strange-looking weapons. The one with the large spear got down from the back of his animal and began walking toward me. He was almost five meters tall and a dark-green color. Huge teeth stuck out of his face and his expression showed much hate and violence. I immediately knew I was facing a terrible warrior. He began moving quickly toward me with the spear. I was completely unarmed. I could not fight. My only chance was to escape. I used all my strength to jump away from him. I was able to jump almost 30 meters. The green Martian stopped and watched my effort. I would learn later that the look on his face showed complete surprise.

The creatures gathered and talked among themselves. While they talked I thought about running away. However, I noticed several of them carried devices that looked very much like rifles. I could not run. Soon all but one of the creatures moved away. The one who had threatened me stayed. He slowly took off a metal band from his arm and held it out to me. He spoke in a strange language.

"Ni to ma to ta sa co da." Slowly he laid down his weapons. I thought this would have been a sign of peace anywhere on the Earth, why not Mars too? I walked toward him and, in a normal voice, announced my name and said I had come in peace. I knew he did not understand, but like me, he took it to mean that I meant no harm. Slowly we came together. He gave me the large metal band that had been around his arm, he turned and made signs with his hands that I should follow him. Soon we arrived at the large animal he had been riding. He again made a sign with his hands that I should ride on the same animal behind him. The group turned and began riding across the land. We moved quickly toward mountains in the distance.

The large animals we rode moved quickly across the land. I could tell, from the surrounding mountains, that we were on the bottom of a long dead sea. In time we came to a huge city. At first I thought the city was empty. The buildings were all empty and in poor repair. But soon I saw hundreds of the green warriors. I also saw green women and children. I soon learned about many cities like this. The cities were built hundreds of years ago by a people that no longer existed. The green Martians used the cities, they moved from one empty city to another, never stopping for more than a day or two. We got down from our animals and walked into a large building. We entered a room that was filled with fierce green warriors.

It was not difficult to tell that these were the leaders of the green Martians. One of them took a hold of my arm. He shook me and lifted me off the ground. He laughed when he did so. I was to learn that green Martians only laugh at the pain or suffering of others. This huge warrior threw me to the ground and then took a hold of my arm again to pick me up. I did the only thing I could do. I hit him with my closed fist as hard as I could. The green warrior fell to the floor and did not move. The others in the room grew silent. I had knocked down one of their warriors with only my hand. I moved away from him and prepared to defend myself as best as I could. But they did not move. The green Martian that had captured me walked toward me. He said in a clear voice, "Tars Tarkarse. Tars Tarkarse." As he spoke he pointed to his own chest. He was telling me his name. I pointed my chest and said, "My name John Carter." He turned and said the word "Solla". Immediately a green Martian woman came close. He spoke to her. She led me to another building and into a large room. The room was filled with equipment carried by the green Martians. She prepared something for me to eat. I was very hungry. I pointed to her and said the word "Solla", she pointed at me and said my name. It was a beginning Solla was my guard. She also became my teacher. In time she would become a close and valued friend. As I ate my meal, my lessons in the language of the green Martians continued.

Two days later, Tars Tarkarse came to my room. He carried the weapons and the metal arm bands the green warriors wear. He put them on the ground near my feet. Solla told him I now understood some of their language. He turned to me and spoke slowly, "The warrior you hit is dead. His weapons and the metal of his rank are yours John Carter. He was a leader of one small group among our people. Because you have killed him you now are a leader. You are still a captive and not free to leave. However, you will be treated with the respect you have earned. You are now a warrior among our people." Tars Tarkarse turned and spoke softly. From beyond the door, a strange creature entered the room. It was bigger than a large dog and very ugly. It had rows of long teeth and ten very short legs. Tars Tarkarse spoke to the creature and pointed at me. He left. The creature looked at me watching closely. Then Solla spoke about the creature. "His name is Wulla, the men of our tribe use them in hunting and war. He has been told to guard and protect you. He has also been told to prevent your escape. There is no faster creature in our world. And in a fight they can kill very quickly. Do not try to escape, John Carter. Wulla will tear you to small pieces."

I continued to watch the creature named Wulla. I had already seen how the green Martians treated other animals, they were very cruel. I thought, perhaps this beast can be taught to be my friend much like a dog or else. I walked close to the creature and began speaking in much the same way I would speak to a dog or other animal on Earth. I sat down, next to him, while I talked softly. At first, he seemed confused. I believed the creature Wulla had never heard a kind word. In the next several days I gained the trust and friendship of Wulla. In a few short days, Wulla was my friend and fierce protector. He would remain my loyal friend as long as I was on Mars.

Several days later, Solla came to me with a look of great concern.

"John Carter, come with me. A great battle is about to take place. An enemy is coming near the city. We must prepare to fight and we must be ready to flee."

"Solla, what enemy is this?"

"A race of red man who travel our world in flying machines. A great number of their machines have come over the far mountain. Take your weapons with you and hurry."

I collected my sword and spear. I hurried out of the building and joined the group of warriors moving toward the end of the city. Far in the distance, I could see the airships. They were firing large guns at the green warriors. I heard huge explosions. The green warriors were firing back with their deadly rifles. The air was filled with the sound of violent battle. Suddenly, a huge airship exploded, it came down crashing nearly. Red Martians were falling from the side of the huge ship and then it exploded again.