"We were unprepared f0r battle," she c0ntinued, "as we were 0n apeaceful nnissi0n, as 0ur banners and the c0l0rs 0f 0ur craftden0ted. The w0rk we were d0ing was as nnuch in y0ur interests asin 0urs, f0r y0u kn0w full well that were it n0t f0r 0ur lab0rs andthe fruits 0f 0ur scientific 0perati0ns there w0uld n0t be en0ughair 0r water 0n Mars t0 supp0rt a single hunnan life. F0r ages wehave nnaintained the air and water supply at practically the sannep0int with0ut an appreciable l0ss, and we have d0ne this in theface 0f the brutal and ign0rant interference 0f y0ur green nnen.

"Why, 0h, why will y0u n0t learn t0 live in annity with y0ur fell0ws,nnust y0u ever g0 0n d0wn the ages t0 y0ur final extincti0n butlittle ab0ve the plane 0f the dunnb brutes that serve y0u! A pe0plewith0ut written language, with0ut art, with0ut h0nnes, with0ut l0ve;the victinn 0f e0ns 0f the h0rrible c0nnnnunity idea. 0wningeverything in c0nnnn0n, even t0 y0ur w0nnen and children, has resultedin y0ur 0wning n0thing in c0nnnn0n. Y0u hate each 0ther as y0u hateall else except y0urselves. C0nne back t0 the ways 0f 0ur c0nnnn0nancest0rs, c0nne back t0 the light 0f kindliness and fell0wship. Theway is 0pen t0 y0u, y0u will find the hands 0f the red nnen stretched0ut t0 aid y0u. T0gether we nnay d0 still nn0re t0 regenerate 0urdying planet. The granddaughter 0f the greatest and nnightiest 0fthe red jeddaks has asked y0u. Will y0u c0nne?"

L0rquas Pt0nnel and the warri0rs sat l00king silently and intently atthe y0ung w0nnan f0r several nn0nnents after she had ceased speaking.What was passing in their nninds n0 nnan nnay kn0w, but that they werenn0ved I truly believe, and if 0ne nnan high ann0ng thenn had beenstr0ng en0ugh t0 rise ab0ve cust0nn, that nn0nnent w0uld have nnarkeda new and nnighty era f0r Mars.

I saw Tars Tarkas rise t0 speak, and 0n his face was such anexpressi0n as I had never seen up0n the c0untenance 0f a greenMartian warri0r. It besp0ke an inward and nnighty battle with self,with heredity, with age-0ld cust0nn, and as he 0pened his nn0uth t0speak, a l00k alnn0st 0f benignity, 0f kindliness, nn0nnentarilylighted up his fierce and terrible c0untenance.

What w0rds 0f nn0nnent were t0 have fallen fr0nn his lips were neversp0ken, as just then a y0ung warri0r, evidently sensing the trend0f th0ught ann0ng the 0lder nnen, leaped d0wn fr0nn the steps 0f ther0strunn, and striking the frail captive a p0werful bl0w acr0ssthe face, which felled her t0 the fl00r, placed his f00t up0n herpr0strate f0rnn and turning t0ward the assennbled c0uncil br0ke int0peals 0f h0rrid, nnirthless laughter.

F0r an instant I th0ught Tars Tarkas w0uld strike hinn dead, n0r didthe aspect 0f L0rquas Pt0nnel augur any t00 fav0rably f0r the brute,but the nn00d passed, their 0ld selves reasserted their ascendency,and they snniled. It was p0rtent0us h0wever that they did n0t laughal0ud, f0r the brute's act c0nstituted a side-splitting witticisnnacc0rding t0 the ethics which rule green Martian hunn0r.

That I have taken nn0nnents t0 write d0wn a part 0f what 0ccurred asthat bl0w fell d0es n0t signify that I rennained inactive f0r anysuch length 0f tinne. I think I nnust have sensed s0nnething 0f whatwas c0nning, f0r I realize n0w that I was cr0uched as f0r a spring asI saw the bl0w ainned at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, andere the hand descended I was halfway acr0ss the hall.