A Princess Of Mars

Princess of Mars

Edgar Rice Burroughs

ESL Easy Read

Reading Comprehension B1 • Original Text • Português Support

SAMPLE

Copyright

Fonte original — domínio público

Esta edição ESL Easy Read foi adaptada a partir de A Princess Of Mars, de Edgar Rice Burroughs, publicado originalmente em 1912.

A obra original encontra-se em domínio público e pode ser utilizada, reproduzida, distribuída e adaptada de acordo com a legislação aplicável.

Autor

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950)

Estados Unidos

Esta obra foi publicada originalmente em 1912.

Nos Estados Unidos, obras publicadas antes de 1930 encontram-se normalmente em domínio público.

Com base no ano de publicação disponível, esta obra encontra-se em domínio público nos Estados Unidos desde 1º de janeiro de 2008.

Brasil

Autor: Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950)

De acordo com a Lei nº 9.610/1998, os direitos patrimoniais expiram 70 anos após a morte do autor, contados a partir de 1º de janeiro do ano seguinte ao falecimento.

Edgar Rice Burroughs faleceu em 1950.

Situação no Brasil: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Portugal

Autor: Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950)

De acordo com o Código do Direito de Autor e dos Direitos Conexos, a proteção patrimonial dura 70 anos após a morte do autor.

Edgar Rice Burroughs faleceu em 1950.

Situação em Portugal: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Dados da publicação original

Obra original: A Princess Of Mars

Autor: Edgar Rice Burroughs

Primeira publicação: 1912

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Esta adaptação ESL Easy Read

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Introdução

Como ler este livro

Cada livro desta coleção é apresentado em um nível de leitura simplificada, de acordo com o CEFR — Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para Línguas.

A2 — Básico: indicado para leitores que já compreendem frases simples, vocabulário frequente e textos curtos sobre situações do cotidiano.

B1 — Intermediário: indicado para leitores que conseguem compreender as ideias principais de textos claros e acompanhar uma narrativa com vocabulário e estruturas de dificuldade moderada.

B2 — Intermediário avançado: indicado para leitores que já conseguem compreender textos mais complexos, acompanhar descrições detalhadas e reconhecer uma variedade maior de vocabulário e estruturas gramaticais.

Este livro foi adaptado para o nível B1.

Assim, você pode começar a lê-lo mesmo sem dominar completamente o inglês. O texto foi simplificado para facilitar a compreensão, preservando a história, os personagens e os acontecimentos principais da obra original.

Como usar as notas

No texto de leitura simplificada, cada parágrafo possui um link Pt/En. Esse link abre uma nota com a tradução em português do texto simplificado e o trecho correspondente no texto original em inglês.

No texto original em inglês, o link PT leva diretamente ao parágrafo correspondente na versão em português. Na tradução portuguesa, o link En retorna ao parágrafo correspondente no texto original.

A tradução para o português é feita a partir do texto em inglês simplificado, e não diretamente do texto original. O objetivo é ajudar você a compreender com precisão a frase simplificada que está estudando naquele momento.

O texto original em inglês é apresentado separadamente para a etapa seguinte do aprendizado, quando você já estiver preparado para ler e comparar a obra em sua forma original.

Cada nota contém links que permitem retornar exatamente ao parágrafo que você estava lendo.

Como usar o glossário

Na última parte do livro, o Glossary: New Words reúne, em ordem alfabética, palavras mais complexas ou menos frequentes presentes no texto simplificado de nível B1. Essas palavras aparecem em itálico no texto.

Cada entrada apresenta pronúncia, tradução em português, explicação simples em inglês, frase de exemplo e até cinco frases reais do livro.

O link Back to B1 retorna exatamente à frase correspondente na versão simplificada.

Depois do texto simplificado, o livro apresenta também o texto original completo em inglês e a versão completa em português.

Sobre este livro

Uma Princesa de Marte é um romance de fantasia científica de Edgar Rice Burroughs, o primeiro de sua série Barsoom. A história segue John Carter, um veterano confederado da Guerra Civil Americana que misteriosamente se vê transportado para Marte, conhecido por seus habitantes como Barsoom. Neste planeta desértico e moribundo, Carter descobre que possui força e agilidade sobre-humanas devido à menor gravidade. Ele é capturado pelos Tharks, uma raça bárbara de pele verde e quatro braços. Entre eles, ele ganha respeito por sua proeza e faz amizade com Tars Tarkas, um nobre chefe Thark. Carter também resgata Dejah Thoris, a bela princesa de pele vermelha da cidade-estado de Hélio, dos Tharks. O conflito central envolve os esforços de Carter para proteger Dejah Thoris e ajudá-la a retornar a Hélio, enquanto navega pelas intrigas políticas e guerras entre as várias raças marcianas, incluindo os Tharks e a cidade rival de Zodanga. O romance é repleto de lutas de espadas, feitos audaciosos e aventura romântica. O tom é heroico e acelerado, típico da literatura pulp do início do século XX. O cenário é um mundo hostil e antigo, com civilizações decadentes e criaturas exóticas. A progressão segue a jornada de Carter de um estranho isolado a um jogador-chave nos assuntos marcianos, culminando em uma batalha climática pelo destino de Hélio. O romance é um exemplo seminal do subgênero romance planetário, misturando elementos de faroeste e fantasia.

Nota editorial

A tradução para o português e a versão Reading Comprehension B1 foram geradas com apoio de inteligência artificial e submetidas a revisão editorial.

Em caso de dúvida ou observações, fale conosco.

MicMac from Las Vegas LLC
Contato: admin@micmacfromlasvegas.com

Outros livros e materiais

Materiais e outros livros da série ESL Easy Read:

Coleção Marte de Burroughs

A Fighting Man Of Mars

A Princess of Mars

Synthetic Men of Mars

The Chessmen Of Mars

The Gods Of Mars

The Master Mind Of Mars

The Warlord Of Mars

Thuvia, Maid Of Mars

Outras coleções disponíveis

Doctor Dolittle

Anne of Green Gables / L. M. Montgomery

Gothic and Terror Classics

A Selva de Burroughs

Sherlock Holmes

The Land of Oz

www.micmacfromlasvegas.com

Reading Comprehension B1

2 - FOREWORD

3 - CHAPTER I — ON THE ARIZONA HILLS

4 - CHAPTER II — THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD

5 - CHAPTER III — MY ADVENT ON MARS

6 - CHAPTER IV — A PRISONER

FOREWORD

Pt/En To the person reading this book:

Pt/En I am giving you Captain Carter's unusual story in this book. I think you will be interested to learn about this special person.

Pt/En I first remember Captain Carter from the time he lived at my father's house in Virginia, just before the civil war started. I was only five years old then, but I still remember the tall, dark man with a smooth face and a strong body, whom I called Uncle Jack.

Pt/En He always seemed happy and laughed a lot. He enjoyed playing games with the children as much as he enjoyed activities with adults. He would also sit for a long time and tell my old grandmother stories about his exciting and unusual life in different parts of the world. We all liked him very much, and the people who worked for us loved him deeply.

Pt/En He was a very strong and handsome man, taller than six feet, with wide shoulders and narrow hips. He stood like a trained soldier. His face was well-shaped, his hair was short and black, and his eyes were steel gray. His eyes showed he had a strong, loyal character, full of energy and new ideas. He had perfect manners and was as polite as a very fine southern gentleman.

Pt/En He was an excellent horseman, even in a land of great riders. His father often warned him about being too reckless. However, he would just laugh and say that the fall that would kill him would be from a horse that was not yet born.

Pt/En When the war started, he left. The narrator did not see him for about 15 or 16 years. When he came back, it was a surprise. He looked exactly the same as before, not older and not changed. With others, he was happy and friendly like he used to be. But when he was alone, he would often stare into space for hours. His face showed a sad longing and deep unhappiness. At night, he would look at the sky, and the narrator later understood why after reading his writing.

Pt/En He told them he had spent some of this time working as a prospector and miner in Arizona. He had been very successful, as he had a lot of money. He did not want to talk about the details of his life during those years.

Pt/En He stayed with them for about a year. Then he moved to New York and bought a small house by the Hudson River. The narrator visited him there once a year when he went to New York for business. Captain Carter had a nice, small house on a hill with a view of the river. During one of the narrator's last visits in the winter of 1885, he saw Captain Carter writing a lot. The narrator now believes he was writing this manuscript.

Pt/En At that time, he asked the narrator to take care of his property if anything happened to him. He gave the narrator a key to a safe in his study. He said the narrator would find his will and some personal instructions there. He made the narrator promise to follow these instructions exactly.

Pt/En After going to bed, the narrator saw a man from his window. The man was standing in the moonlight on the edge of a cliff above the Hudson River. His arms were stretched out towards the sky, as if he was asking for help. The narrator thought he might be praying, but he did not believe the man was religious.

Pt/En Several months after returning home from his last visit, around March 1, 1886, the narrator received a telegram. It asked him to come to the man immediately. The narrator was the man's favorite among the younger family members, so he quickly agreed to go.

Pt/En The narrator arrived at a small station near the man's house on the morning of March 4, 1886. When he asked a driver to take him to Captain Carter's, the driver said he had bad news if he was a friend of the Captain. The driver explained that Captain Carter had been found dead that morning, shortly after sunrise, by a security guard from a nearby property.

Pt/En For some reason, this news did not surprise the narrator. He went to Captain Carter's house as fast as he could. He wanted to take care of the body and manage the Captain's business.

Pt/En In Captain Carter's study, the narrator met the security guard who found the body, the local police chief, and some townspeople. The guard explained that the body was still warm when he found it. He said the Captain was lying on the snow with his arms stretched above his head, towards the edge of the cliff. When the guard showed the narrator the exact spot, the narrator realized it was the same place where he had seen the Captain standing with his arms raised to the sky on previous nights.

Pt/En There were no signs of harm on the body. Doctors decided he died of a heart problem. When he was alone in the study, he opened the safe. Inside a drawer, he found instructions that the dead man had told him about. The instructions were strange, but he followed them exactly.

Pt/En The dead man asked him to take his body to Virginia without preparing it. He wanted to be put in an open coffin inside a tomb that was already built and had good air. The instructions said he must make sure this was done exactly as told, even if it had to be secret.

Pt/En The dead man's property was arranged so that he would receive all the money from it for twenty-five years. After that, the main property would be his. He also gave instructions about a manuscript. He was to keep it closed and unread for eleven years. He was not allowed to tell anyone what it said until twenty-one years after the man's death.

Pt/En A strange thing about the tomb, where the body is still kept, is its large door. It has a big lock made of gold that can only be opened from the inside.

Pt/En Sincerely, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

CHAPTER I — ON THE ARIZONA HILLS

Pt/En The speaker says he is very old, but he doesn't know his exact age. He has never aged like other people and has no memory of being a child. He has always looked about thirty years old. Even though he has died twice and is still alive, he is afraid of dying a real death. He thinks this fear makes him believe he will die someday.

Pt/En Because he is sure he will die, he has decided to write the story of his life and his death. He cannot explain strange things that happened, but he will write about the unusual events that occurred during the ten years his dead body was in a cave in Arizona without anyone finding it.

Pt/En He has never told this story before, and no one will read it until after he is gone forever. He knows people might not believe him because they cannot understand it. He does not want to be called a liar when he is only telling the truth. He hopes his experiences on Mars and the knowledge he shares might help people understand that planet better.

Pt/En The speaker's name is John Carter, also known as Captain Jack Carter from Virginia. After the Civil War, he had money and a captain's rank, but his army and state were gone. With no job and no way to make money, he decided to go to the southwest to look for gold and try to become rich again.

Pt/En He spent almost a year searching for gold with another Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell. They were very lucky. In the winter of 1865, after facing many difficulties, they found a gold mine with more gold than they had ever imagined. Powell, who was a mining engineer, said they had found gold worth over a million dollars in just three months.

Pt/En Their equipment was very basic. They decided one person needed to go back to the town. This person would buy the needed machines and bring back enough workers to operate the mine well.

Pt/En Powell knew the area and how mining machines worked, so they decided he should make the trip. The narrator agreed to stay and protect their claim in case another prospector tried to take it.

Pt/En On March 3, 1866, Powell and the narrator packed food for two donkeys. Powell said goodbye and rode his horse down the mountain towards the valley, which was the first part of his journey.

Pt/En The morning Powell left was clear and beautiful, like most mornings in Arizona. The narrator watched Powell and his pack animals go down the mountain. The narrator saw them several times during the morning as they moved across the land. The last time the narrator saw Powell was in the afternoon when he entered the mountains on the other side of the valley.

Pt/En About thirty minutes later, the narrator looked across the valley. He was surprised to see three small dots in the same place where he had last seen Powell and his animals. The narrator tried to believe that Powell was fine and that the dots were just wild animals, but he started to worry.

Pt/En Since they had entered the area, they had not seen any unfriendly Native Americans. Because of this, they had become very careless. They used to laugh at stories about many dangerous warriors who were said to hide on the trails and hurt or kill any white people they captured.

Pt/En I knew Powell was well-armed and had experience fighting Native Americans. However, I had also lived and fought with the Sioux for years. I understood that his chances were small against skilled Apache trackers. I could not wait any longer. I took my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, put two cartridge belts around me, and got my horse. Then I started down the trail Powell had taken that morning.

Pt/En As soon as I reached flatter ground, I made my horse go faster. I continued this speed where the path allowed. Near dark, I found where other tracks joined Powell's. There were three sets of tracks from unshod ponies, and they had been running fast.

Pt/En I followed quickly. When it became dark, I had to stop and wait for the moon to rise. This gave me time to think if my chase was wise. Maybe I was imagining dangers, like a worried person, and Powell would just laugh when I caught up. But I am not easily worried. Following my duty, wherever it leads, has always been very important to me. This might be why I received honors from three countries and medals and friendships from a powerful emperor and several kings, for whom I have fought many times.

Pt/En Around nine o'clock, the moon was bright enough to continue. I followed the trail easily at a fast walk, and sometimes a quick trot. Around midnight, I reached the water hole where Powell planned to camp. I arrived suddenly and found the place empty. There were no signs that anyone had camped there recently.

Pt/En The narrator saw that the tracks of the horsemen chasing Powell continued. They had only stopped for a short time to get water. The horsemen were moving at the same speed as Powell.

Pt/En The narrator was sure the pursuers were Apaches. He thought they wanted to capture Powell alive to torture him. So, the narrator rode his horse very fast. He hoped to reach Powell before the Apaches attacked.

Pt/En Suddenly, the narrator heard two gunshots far away. He knew Powell needed help immediately. The narrator made his horse go as fast as possible up the difficult mountain path.

Pt/En The narrator rode for about a mile without hearing more sounds. Then, the path opened into a small, flat area near the top of the mountain. He had just passed through a narrow, rocky passage. What he saw there made him feel very worried and shocked.

Pt/En The flat area had many Indian tents. About five hundred warriors were gathered near the center. They were all looking at something and did not see the narrator. He could have easily gone back into the passage and escaped safely. However, he did not think of escaping until much later, so he could not say he was brave.

Pt/En The narrator did not think he was a hero. He explained that when he had faced death many times, he never thought of another choice until hours later. He believed his mind automatically made him do what was right without difficult thinking. He was glad that he could not choose to be a coward.

Pt/En In this situation, he was sure Powell was the main target. He quickly took out his guns and ran towards the warriors, shooting and shouting loudly. He thought this was the best way to fight alone. The warriors were surprised and thought many soldiers were attacking them. They turned and ran to get their weapons.

Pt/En When the warriors ran away, he saw Powell. Powell's body was covered with arrows. The narrator was sure Powell was dead. However, he still wanted to save Powell's body from being damaged by the Apaches, just as he would have saved him from death.

Pt/En He rode close to Powell and pulled him onto his horse. Looking back, he saw that going back the way he came was more dangerous. So, he urged his horse forward and rode quickly towards an opening he could see on the other side of the land.

Pt/En By this time, the Indians knew he was alone. They shouted insults and shot arrows and bullets at him. But it was hard for them to aim well in the moonlight. They were also surprised by his sudden attack. Because he was moving fast, he was saved from their attacks and reached the safety of the mountains before they could chase him in an organized way.

Pt/En My horse was going mostly by itself because I did not know the way to the pass as well as the horse did. The horse went into a narrow valley that led to the top of the mountains, not to the pass I wanted to reach safety. However, this probably saved my life and led to the amazing things that happened to me in the next ten years.

Pt/En I first knew I was on the wrong path when I heard the shouts of the chasing people become quieter and quieter, far away to my left.

Pt/En I understood then that they had gone past the sharp rocks at the edge of the high land. My horse had carried me and Powell's body to the right of these rocks.

Pt/En I stopped my horse on a small, flat area that looked down on the path below and to my left. I saw the group of chasing people disappearing around the side of a nearby mountain.

Pt/En I knew the native people would soon see they were following the wrong path. They would start looking for me again in the correct direction as soon as they found my footprints.

Pt/En The narrator walked a little further. A good path appeared near a tall cliff. The path was flat and wide. It went up and in the direction the narrator wanted to go. On the right, the cliff was very high. On the left, there was a steep drop to a rocky valley.

Pt/En The narrator followed the path for about 100 yards. A sharp turn to the right led to the entrance of a large cave. The opening was about four feet high and three to four feet wide. The path ended at this opening.

Pt/En It was morning. In Arizona, daylight often comes suddenly without a clear dawn. It became light very quickly.

Pt/En The narrator got off his horse and placed Powell on the ground. He checked Powell carefully but found no sign of life. The narrator tried to give him water and cleaned his face, rubbing his hands. He worked for almost an hour, even though he knew Powell was dead.

Pt/En The narrator was very fond of Powell. He thought Powell was a true man, a polite gentleman from the South, and a loyal friend. The narrator felt very sad when he finally stopped trying to bring Powell back to life.

Pt/En I left Powell's body on the ledge and went into the cave to look around. It was a big room, about 100 feet wide and 30-40 feet high. The floor was smooth and looked like people had lived there a long time ago. The back of the cave was very dark, so I could not see if there were other rooms.

Pt/En While I was looking, I started to feel sleepy. I thought it was because I was tired from riding and from the excitement of the fight and chase. I felt safe in the cave because I knew one person could stop many enemies from reaching it.

Pt/En I became so tired that I wanted to lie down for a short rest. But I knew this was dangerous because my enemies might find me. I tried to walk to the cave entrance, but I felt dizzy. I leaned against a wall and then fell to the floor.

CHAPTER II — THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD

Pt/En I felt very sleepy and my body felt relaxed. I was about to fall asleep when I heard horses coming. I tried to stand up but my body would not move. I was awake but could not move at all, like I was made of stone. I then saw a light mist in the cave, which was visible near the entrance. I also smelled a strange, sharp smell. I guessed it was poison gas, but I did not understand why I could think but not move.

Pt/En I was lying down, looking towards the cave entrance and the path outside. The sound of horses had stopped, and I thought the attackers were quietly coming closer on the narrow path. I hoped they would kill me quickly because I was afraid of what they might do to me if they decided to hurt me.

Pt/En I heard a quiet sound and knew they were close. Then, a face with a war bonnet and paint looked carefully around the edge of the cliff. Wild eyes looked at me. I was sure the person could see me in the dim light of the cave because the morning sun was shining on me through the opening.

Pt/En The person did not come closer but just stood and stared with wide eyes and an open mouth. Then, another face appeared, and a third, fourth, and fifth. They stretched their necks over the shoulders of the others because they could not pass on the narrow path. Each face showed surprise and fear, but I did not know why. It was clear that more people were behind the first ones because the leaders whispered messages to them.

Pt/En Suddenly, a low moaning sound came from the back of the cave. When the Indians heard it, they turned and ran away in panic. They were so scared of the unseen thing behind me that one of them fell off the cliff onto the rocks below. Their loud cries could be heard for a short time, and then it was quiet again.

Pt/En The sound that had scared them did not happen again, but it made me wonder what terrible thing was hiding in the shadows behind me. Fear is different for everyone. I can only say that if I felt fear in those next few minutes, then God help anyone who feels it, because being a coward is its own punishment.

Pt/En To be frozen in place, with my back to a frightening and unknown danger, a danger that made strong Apache warriors run away like sheep from wolves, seemed like the worst possible situation for me. I was a man who always fought for his life with all his strength.

Pt/En The narrator heard quiet sounds behind him, but they stopped. He was alone with his thoughts. He did not understand why he could not move. He hoped the paralysis would end as suddenly as it started.

Pt/En Later, his horse left the cave to look for food and water. The narrator was left alone with his mysterious companion and the dead body of his friend. He had put the body on the ledge earlier.

Pt/En After a long silence, the morning sounds began. He heard something moving in the dark shadows. This greatly shocked him. He tried very hard to break free from his paralysis. It was a mental effort, not physical, because he could not move his body at all. Then, he felt something give way, felt sick for a moment, and heard a sharp click. He found himself standing against the cave wall, facing his unknown enemy.

Pt/En Moonlight filled the cave. He saw his own body lying on the floor, just as it had been for hours. His eyes looked towards the open ledge, and his hands rested on the ground. He looked at his dead body and then at himself in great confusion. He was wearing clothes, but he was standing there completely naked.

Pt/En The change was so fast and unexpected that he forgot everything else. He wondered if this was death and if he had moved to another life. But he did not think so. He could feel his heart beating fast from the effort to free himself from the paralysis. He was breathing quickly, and sweat covered his body. When he pinched himself, he knew he was real and not a ghost.

Pt/En A strange sound from deep in the cave made me notice my surroundings again. I was naked and had no weapons. I did not want to meet the unknown thing that was threatening me.

Pt/En My guns were on my body, but I could not touch it for some reason. My rifle was on my horse, but my horse had gone away. I had no way to defend myself. My only choice seemed to be to run. I decided to run because I heard the rustling sound again. In the dark cave, I imagined the thing was quietly coming closer to me.

Pt/En I could not wait to leave the horrible place. I quickly jumped through an opening into the starlight of a clear Arizona night. The cool, fresh mountain air outside felt good and gave me new energy and courage. I stood on the edge of the ledge and told myself that I had been too worried for no reason. I thought about how I had been helpless in the cave for many hours, and nothing had hurt me. My good sense told me that the noises were probably from natural and harmless things, like the wind moving through the cave.

Pt/En I decided to look around, but first I breathed in the clean, refreshing night air of the mountains. As I did this, I saw the beautiful view far below. It was a rocky valley and a flat area with cacti, made magical by the moonlight.

Pt/En The beauty of an Arizona landscape in the moonlight is very special. The distant mountains looked silver. Strange lights and shadows were on the land and the cacti. The stiff but beautiful cacti looked unusual. The scene was magical and inspiring, like seeing a forgotten world for the first time, very different from anywhere else on Earth.

Pt/En The narrator was thinking and looked at the stars. He saw a big red star near the horizon. He felt very interested in it. He knew it was Mars, the god of war. For him, a fighter, Mars was always very exciting. That night, the star seemed to call him from far away, inviting him to come.

Pt/En The narrator wanted to go to Mars very much, and he could not stop himself. He closed his eyes, put his arms out towards Mars, and felt himself move through space very quickly, like a thought. For a moment, it was very cold and dark.

CHAPTER III — MY ADVENT ON MARS

Pt/En He opened his eyes and saw a strange and unusual place. He knew he was on Mars. He did not doubt if he was sane or awake. His mind told him he was on Mars, just like he knows he is on Earth. He did not question it.

Pt/En He found himself lying down on a yellow, moss-like plant that covered the ground for a very long distance. He seemed to be in a large, round area, with low hills around the edge.

Pt/En It was daytime, and the sun was hot on his bare body, but not too hot, like a desert on Earth. He saw some rocks with quartz shining in the sun. About a hundred yards away, he saw a low wall, about four feet high. There was no water and no other plants except the moss. Because he was thirsty, he decided to look around.

Pt/En When the narrator stood up, he was surprised. On Mars, standing up sent him about three yards into the air. He landed softly. He realized he had to learn to walk again because his body's movements worked differently on Mars than on Earth.

Pt/En His attempts to walk were not normal. Instead of walking, he hopped a couple of feet off the ground with each step. He often fell down. His muscles, which were used to Earth's gravity, did not work well with Mars' lower gravity and air pressure.

Pt/En He wanted to explore a low building he saw. It was the only sign of life nearby. He decided to try crawling, like a baby. This worked better, and he soon reached the low wall around the building.

Pt/En There were no doors or windows on the side he was on. The wall was only about four feet high. He carefully stood up and looked over the top. He saw the strangest thing he had ever seen.

Pt/En The roof of the building was made of thick glass, about four or five inches deep. Under the glass were hundreds of large, round, white eggs. The eggs were all about the same size, nearly two and a half feet wide.

Pt/En The narrator saw several strange creatures hatching from eggs. They looked very unusual, with large heads and small bodies. They had six legs, or perhaps two legs, two arms, and an extra pair of limbs that could be used as either arms or legs. Their eyes were on the sides of their heads and could move independently, allowing them to look in many directions at once without turning their heads.

Pt/En The creatures had small, cup-shaped ears located slightly above their eyes. Their noses were simple slits in the middle of their faces, positioned between their mouths and ears.

Pt/En These young creatures had no hair and their skin was a light yellowish-green color. The narrator learned that adult Martians had darker, olive-green skin, with males being darker than females. Adult Martians also had heads that were more in proportion to their bodies compared to the young ones.

Pt/En Their eyes had bright red irises and dark pupils. The whites of their eyes and their teeth were very white. The teeth, especially the lower tusks that curved upwards, made them look fierce. Their tusks were as white and shiny as fine china and stood out strongly against their dark skin.

Pt/En The narrator noticed these details later because he was busy watching the strange creatures hatch. While he was focused on the eggs, he did not see a group of adult Martians approach from behind.

Pt/En The enemies approached quietly over the soft moss that covers most of Mars. They could have captured me easily, but their plans were more dangerous. I was warned by the sound of the first warrior's equipment.

Pt/En My life depended on a small thing, and I was surprised I escaped so easily. The leader's rifle swung and hit his spear. This made a sound that caused me to turn. I saw the point of his huge spear, forty feet long, very close to me. He was riding a creature like the ones I had been watching.

Pt/En Compared to this huge warrior, the others looked small and harmless. The man was about fifteen feet tall and would weigh about four hundred pounds on Earth. He sat on his mount like we sit a horse, holding his large spear low. His two left arms were out to the sides to help him balance, as his mount had no reins or bridle.

Pt/En His mount was very large, about ten feet tall at the shoulder. It had four legs on each side and a broad, flat tail that it held straight out when running. It had a wide mouth that opened from its snout to its long neck.

Pt/En Like its rider, the mount had no hair. It was dark slate colored, smooth, and shiny. Its belly was white, and its legs changed from slate to yellow at the feet. The feet were padded and had no nails, which helped them move quietly. Most animals on Mars have many legs and no nails, but the highest type of man and one other animal, the only mammal, have nails. There are no animals with hooves on Mars.

Pt/En Nineteen more creatures followed the first one. They looked the same, but later I understood they were all different, like people are different even if they look similar. This frightening sight made a strong and quick impression on me as I prepared to face it.

Pt/En I had no weapons and was naked. My first thought was to escape the charging spears. So, I made a very strong jump, higher than a normal person, to get to the top of what I thought was a Martian incubator.

Pt/En My jump was successful, which surprised me and the Martian warriors. I jumped about ten meters into the air and landed about thirty meters away, on the other side of the area.

Pt/En I landed softly on the moss. When I looked back, I saw my enemies along the far wall. Some looked very surprised, and others were checking to make sure I had not harmed their young.

Pt/En They spoke quietly to each other, pointing at me. They realized I had not hurt the young Martians and that I was unarmed. This probably made them less angry. However, I would later learn that my ability to jump so far helped me the most.

Pt/En The Martians are very large with big bones. Their muscles are only strong enough for the gravity on Mars. Because of this, they are not as quick or strong as Earth people for their weight. The narrator believed a Martian could not lift its own weight if it were on Earth.

Pt/En The narrator's action was as amazing on Mars as it would have been on Earth. The Martians changed from wanting to kill him to seeing him as an interesting discovery they wanted to catch and show to others.

Pt/En The short time the narrator had because of his quick movements allowed him to think about his next steps. He also looked more closely at the warriors, remembering that they were the same kind of fighters who had chased him the day before.

Pt/En Each warrior had several weapons besides the large spear already described. The narrator decided not to try and run away because he saw what looked like a rifle. He felt they were very skilled at using this weapon.

Pt/En The rifles were made of white metal with wooden handles. The metal was a strong alloy of aluminum and steel, much harder than Earth steel. The rifles were light and had small bullets that exploded. They were very deadly and could shoot accurately over long distances, up to about two hundred miles.

Pt/En I had great respect for the Martian guns. I felt that some kind of mental power warned me not to try to escape in the daytime when twenty of these dangerous weapons were pointed at me.

Pt/En After talking for a short time, the Martians rode away. They left one Martian alone near the enclosure. After riding about two hundred yards, they stopped. They turned their horses to look at us and watched the warrior by the enclosure.

Pt/En The Martian who had almost hit me with his spear was the leader. The others seemed to follow his directions. He got off his horse, put down his weapons, and walked towards me. He was not wearing any clothes, like me, but he had ornaments on his head, arms, and chest.

Pt/En When he was about fifty feet away, he took off a large metal bracelet. He held it out to me with his open hand. He spoke in a loud, clear voice, but I could not understand his language. He seemed to be waiting for me to answer, and he looked and listened carefully.

Pt/En Because it was quiet for too long, I decided to try to speak. I thought he wanted to be friends. On Earth, if someone drops their weapons and their group moves away while they approach, it means they want peace. I thought it might be the same on Mars.

Pt/En The narrator put his hand on his heart and bowed to the Martian. He tried to explain that he did not understand the Martian's language, but the Martian's actions showed peace and friendship, which was very important to him. Even though his words might not have made sense, the Martian understood the actions that followed.

Pt/En The narrator reached out his hand, took a bracelet from the Martian, and put it on his arm. He smiled, and the Martian smiled back. They walked together towards the Martian's animal. The Martian signaled his followers to come, but told them to slow down, perhaps because he was worried the narrator might get scared again and jump away.

Pt/En The Martian spoke to his men and then showed the narrator that he would ride behind one of them. One of the men lifted the narrator onto the back of his animal. The narrator held on tightly to the straps and belts that held the Martian's weapons and decorations.

Pt/En The group then rode away quickly towards some hills in the distance.

CHAPTER IV — A PRISONER

Pt/En After riding for about ten miles, the ground began to go up very steeply. The narrator later learned that they were getting close to the edge of an old, dry sea on Mars, where he had first met the Martians.

Pt/En Soon, they reached the bottom of the mountains. They went through a narrow passage and arrived in an open valley. At the end of the valley, they saw a very large city on a low, flat area of land. They rode their horses towards the city. They entered it through a road that looked old and broken. This road led to the edge of the flat land, where it stopped suddenly at a set of wide stairs.

Pt/En Looking closer, the narrator saw that the buildings were empty. They were not badly damaged, but they looked like no one had lived there for many years, maybe even centuries. In the middle of the city, there was a big open square. Around this square, about nine or ten hundred creatures, like the ones who captured him, were camped. He now thought of them as captors, even though they had tricked him gently.

Pt/En Except for their decorations, all the creatures were naked. The women looked very similar to the men. However, their tusks were much longer compared to their height, sometimes almost reaching their high ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter in color. Their fingers and toes had small, developing nails, which the males did not have. The adult women were between ten and twelve feet tall.

Pt/En The children were a light color, even lighter than the women. To the narrator, they all looked the same, except some were taller than others, which he guessed meant they were older.

Pt/En The narrator did not see any signs of very old creatures. Their appearance did not change much from when they became adults, around age forty, until about one thousand years old. At that age, they would choose to go on a strange journey down the Iss River. No one living on Mars knows where this river goes, and no one who has gone on it has ever returned. If they did return, they would not be allowed to live after starting the journey on its cold, dark water.

Pt/En Most Martians do not die from sickness. Instead, they often die from violent events like fights, hunting, flying, or war. Many young Martians are also killed by large white apes.

Pt/En Martians can live for about 300 years, but many die from violence. Because their planet has fewer resources, they need to balance long lives with other factors. Life is not considered very important on Mars, which is shown by their dangerous sports and constant fighting between groups.

Pt/En Besides natural reasons, the population decreases because every Martian always carries a weapon.

Pt/En As we got closer to the public square, people saw me. Many Martians surrounded us, wanting to take me from my guard. The leader spoke, and they stopped shouting. We then walked quickly across the square to a very beautiful building.

Pt/En The building was not tall but covered a very large area. It was made of white marble with gold and bright stones that shone in the sun. The main entrance was very wide and created a large roof over the entrance hall. There were no stairs, but a gentle slope led to the first floor, opening into a huge room with balconies around it.

Pt/En In a large room with many carved wooden tables and chairs, about 40 to 50 Martian men were gathered near a platform. On the platform sat a very large warrior wearing many metal decorations, colorful feathers, and decorated leather items with jewels. He also wore a short cape made of white fur with red silk inside.

Pt/En The most surprising thing about the room and the people was that the Martians were too big for the furniture. The tables and chairs were made for people like me, but the Martians were so large they could not fit in the chairs or under the tables. This showed that there were other kinds of people on Mars. The old buildings suggested that they might have been built by a very old, forgotten race from Mars's past.

Pt/En My group stopped at the entrance of the building. My captor brought me inside the room where the Martians were. We walked up to the leader without many rules. My captor went to the platform, and others moved out of his way. The leader stood up and said the name of my escort. My escort then repeated the leader's name and his title.

Pt/En At that time, I did not understand this ceremony or the words spoken. Later, I learned that this was how green Martians usually greeted each other. If they were strangers and did not know each other's names, they would exchange gifts if they wanted peace. If not, they would fight.

Pt/En My captor was named Tars Tarkas. He was like the second-in-command and was good at leading and fighting. He explained what happened on his trip, including how he captured me. After he finished, the leader spoke to me for a long time.

Pt/En The narrator spoke in English to show they could not understand each other. However, he noticed that when he smiled, the other person also smiled. This, and something similar that happened with Tars Tarkas before, made him think they shared something in common: the ability to smile and perhaps laugh, which suggests a sense of humor. But he would later learn that Martian smiles were not genuine, and their laughter was frightening.

Pt/En The green men of Mars had very different ideas about what was funny compared to humans. They found the suffering and death of others very amusing. Their favorite way to entertain themselves was to kill their prisoners of war in cruel and imaginative ways.

Pt/En The Martian warriors and leaders looked at the narrator very carefully, touching his muscles and skin. The main leader then seemed to want to see him move or do something. He motioned for the narrator to follow him, and they went to a large open area.

Pt/En The narrator had not tried to walk on his own since his first attempt failed. He had only walked while holding Tars Tarkas' arm. Now, he moved around the room awkwardly, like a large grasshopper. After hurting himself badly, which amused the Martians, he tried to crawl. But this did not please them, and a tall man who had laughed a lot at his difficulties pulled him roughly to his feet.

Pt/En As the tall Martian pushed him down onto his feet, he leaned close to the narrator's face. The narrator reacted by punching him hard in the jaw. The Martian fell down like a dead animal. As he fell, the narrator turned with his back against a desk, expecting the other Martians to attack him for revenge. He was ready to fight as hard as he could before he died.

Pt/En The narrator was worried, but his fears were not needed. The other Martians were surprised at first, then they laughed and clapped loudly. The narrator did not know it was applause. Later, he learned that he had done something special that they rarely showed approval for.

Pt/En The Martian the narrator had hit stayed on the ground, and no one helped him. Tars Tarkas walked to the narrator, offered his arm, and they went to the open area without more problems. The narrator did not know why they were there, but he soon understood. They said the word "sak" many times. Then Tars Tarkas jumped several times, saying "sak" before each jump. Finally, Tars Tarkas told the narrator to say "sak!". The narrator understood they wanted him to jump. He jumped very far, about 150 feet, and landed well on his feet. He then jumped back to the group.

Pt/En Many other Martians saw the narrator jump and asked him to do it again. The leader told him to repeat the jump. But the narrator was hungry and thirsty. He decided that the only way to get what he needed was to ask for it. So, he ignored their commands to "sak" and instead pointed to his mouth and rubbed his stomach each time they asked.

Pt/En Tars Tarkas and the leader spoke briefly. Tars Tarkas then called a young female from the crowd, gave her instructions, and told the narrator to go with her. The narrator took her arm, and they walked across the open area towards a large building.

Pt/En The female companion was about eight feet tall and had just become an adult. She had light olive-green skin and a smooth, shiny body. Her name was Sola, and she worked for Tars Tarkas. She took the narrator to a large room in a building facing the open area. The room had silks and furs on the floor, so the narrator thought it was a sleeping place for several people.

Pt/En The room was bright with many large windows and decorated with beautiful paintings and mosaics. It looked very old. The narrator felt that the people who built it were very different from the people who lived there now.

Pt/En Sola asked the narrator to sit on some silks. She made a hissing sound, like calling someone. A new Martian creature came in. It walked on ten short legs and sat like a dog. It was about the size of a Shetland pony, with a head like a frog but with three rows of sharp teeth.

Original English Text

2 - FOREWORD

3 - CHAPTER I — ON THE ARIZONA HILLS

4 - CHAPTER II — THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD

5 - CHAPTER III — MY ADVENT ON MARS

6 - CHAPTER IV — A PRISONER

FOREWORD

PT To the Reader of this Work:

PT In submitting Captain Carter's strange manuscript to you in book form, I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will be of interest.

PT My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent at my father's home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack.

PT He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those pastimes in which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old grandmother with stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of the world. We all loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the ground he trod.

PT He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of a typical southern gentleman of the highest type.

PT His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would only laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from the back of a horse yet unfoaled.

PT When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when others were with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of old, but when he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for hours gazing off into space, his face set in a look of wistful longing and hopeless misery; and at night he would sit thus looking up into the heavens, at what I did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward.

PT He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of the time since the war; and that he had been very successful was evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. As to the details of his life during these years he was very reticent, in fact he would not talk of them at all.

PT He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a year on the occasions of my trips to the New York market -- my father and I owning and operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia at that time. Captain Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, situated on a bluff overlooking the river, and during one of my last visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he was much occupied in writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript.

PT He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will there and some personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to carry out with absolute fidelity.

PT After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never understood that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious man.

PT Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his demand.

PT I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me out to Captain Carter's he replied that if I was a friend of the Captain's he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the watchman attached to an adjoining property.

PT For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body and of his affairs.

PT I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of the body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms outstretched above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when he showed me the spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical one where I had seen him on those other nights, with his arms raised in supplication to the skies.

PT There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a local physician the coroner's jury quickly reached a decision of death from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would find my instructions. They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have followed them to each last detail as faithfully as I was able.

PT He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had had constructed and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. The instructions impressed upon me that I must personally see that this was carried out just as he directed, even in secrecy if necessary.

PT His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. His further instructions related to this manuscript which I was to retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was I to divulge its contents until twenty-one years after his death.

PT A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring lock which can be opened only from the inside .

PT Yours very sincerely, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

CHAPTER I — ON THE ARIZONA HILLS

PT I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living forever; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality.

PT And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words of an ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events that befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona cave.

PT I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths which some day science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me.

PT My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; the servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold.

PT I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months.

PT As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine.

PT As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against the remote possibility of its being jumped by some wandering prospector.

PT On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first stage of his journey.

PT The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, and all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them as they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the shadows of the range on the opposite side of the valley.

PT Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure myself.

PT Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in lives and torture of every white party which fell into their merciless clutches.

PT Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, I strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle horse, started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning.

PT As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies had been galloping.

PT I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when I should catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. However, I am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword has been red many a time.

PT About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of having been recently occupied as a camp.

PT I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of speed as his.

PT I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him.

PT Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and difficult mountain trail.

PT I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table land, and the sight which met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay.

PT The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice me, and I easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this thought did not occur to me until the following day removes any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this episode might possibly otherwise entitle me.

PT I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted that cowardice is not optional with me.

PT In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for the red men, convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars was upon them, turned and fled in every direction for their bows, arrows, and rifles.

PT The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of the braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, and yet I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death.

PT Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come would be more hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which I could distinguish on the far side of the table land.

PT The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit could be organized.

PT My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which led to the summit of the range and not to the pass which I had hoped would carry me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and adventures which befell me during the following ten years.

PT My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off to my left.

PT I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse had borne me and the body of Powell.

PT I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing around the point of a neighboring peak.

PT I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks.

PT I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine.

PT I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, and at this opening the trail ended.

PT It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost without warning.

PT Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed his hands, working over him continuously for the better part of an hour in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead.

PT I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude endeavors at resuscitation.

PT Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some remote period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in dense shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were openings into other apartments or not.

PT As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave against an army.

PT I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' rest, but I knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an effort I started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor.

CHAPTER II — THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD

PT A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom.

PT I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit prompted them.

PT I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the opening.

PT The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were still other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from the fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them.

PT Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of the braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. Their wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then all was still once more.

PT The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced in previous positions of danger and by those that I have passed through since; but I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment.

PT To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and unknown danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man who had ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of a powerful physique.

PT Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to the contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me.

PT Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just within my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early morning.

PT From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the sound of a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to my already overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and I stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown foe.

PT And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave and then down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet here I stood but naked as at the minute of my birth.

PT The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as I could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out from every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching revealed the fact that I was anything other than a wraith.

PT Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which menaced me.

PT My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed to lie in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of the rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me.

PT Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing through me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when permitted the direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises I had heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had caused the sounds I heard.

PT I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous enchantment.

PT Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of any other spot upon our earth.

PT As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of overpowering fascination -- it was Mars, the god of war, and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron.

PT My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness.

CHAPTER III — MY ADVENT ON MARS

PT I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I.

PT I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills.

PT It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat thirsty I determined to do a little exploring.

PT Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now commenced a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the muscular exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played strange antics with me upon Mars.

PT Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, played the mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope with the lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars.

PT I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, encircling wall of the enclosure.

PT There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given me to see.

PT The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size being about two and one-half feet in diameter.

PT Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could be directed either forward or back and also independently of each other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head.

PT The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears.

PT There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young.

PT The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance.

PT Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me.

PT Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, they might have captured me easily, but their intentions were far more sinister. It was the rattling of the accouterments of the foremost warrior which warned me.

PT On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without ever knowing that death was near me. But the little sound caused me to turn, and there upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the little devils I had been watching.

PT But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins of any description for guidance.

PT And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its snout to its long, massive neck.

PT Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence there.

PT Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it.

PT Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it must be.

PT My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on the opposite side of the enclosure.

PT I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that I had not molested their young.

PT They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling.

PT While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. The result is that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he could lift his own weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so.

PT My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their fellows.

PT The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely the appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these people in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day before, had been pursuing me.

PT I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were peculiarly efficient in handling.

PT These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel which they have learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but the best they can do in actual service when equipped with their wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles.

PT This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of these death-dealing machines.

PT The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat watching the warrior by the enclosure.

PT He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast.

PT When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking his strange-looking eyes still further toward me.

PT As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on Mars!

PT Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action with which I immediately followed my words.

PT Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape.

PT He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments.

PT The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of hills in the distance.

CHAPTER IV — A PRISONER

PT We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the Martians had taken place.

PT In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps.

PT Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped.

PT With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter in color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which were entirely lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in height from ten to twelve feet.

PT The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; older, I presumed.

PT I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after once embarking upon its cold, dark waters.

PT Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of the little Martians fall victims to the great white apes of Mars.

PT The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark were it not for the various means leading to violent death. Owing to the waning resources of the planet it evidently became necessary to counteract the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come to be considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between the various communities.

PT There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of destruction.

PT As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has rested upon.

PT The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some hundred feet in width and projected from the building proper to form a huge canopy above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a gentle incline to the first floor of the building opened into an enormous chamber encircled by galleries.

PT On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended a short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk.

PT What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; these being of a size adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for their long legs. Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars.

PT Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for him as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name of my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the ruler followed by his title.

PT At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged ornaments, had their missions been peaceful -- otherwise they would have exchanged shots, or have fought out their introduction with some other of their various weapons.

PT My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected with his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at some length.

PT I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror.

PT The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a fellow being are, to these strange creatures, provocative of the wildest hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible ways.

PT The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza.

PT Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to the amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, but this did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes.

PT As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger's rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life.

PT My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, but later, when I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned that I had won what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation.

PT The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come to the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made several jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, turning to me, he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and gathering myself together I "sakked" with such marvelous success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I, this time, lose my equilibrium, but landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned by easy jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors.

PT My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation was to demand the consideration from these creatures which they evidently would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned to my mouth and rubbed my stomach.

PT Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far side.

PT My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the buildings fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of silks and furs upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of the natives.

PT The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity which convinced me that the architects and builders of these wondrous creations had nothing in common with the crude half-brutes which now occupied them.

PT Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks.

Versão em Português

2 - PREFÁCIO

3 - CAPÍTULO I — NAS COLINAS DO ARIZONA

4 - CAPÍTULO II — A FUGA DOS MORTOS

5 - CAPÍTULO III — MINHA CHEGADA A MARTE

6 - CAPÍTULO IV — PRISIONEIRO

PREFÁCIO

En Este trabalho é dirigido à pessoa que o lê.

En Ao publicar o manuscrito peculiar do Capitão Carter como livro, acredito que algumas observações sobre este homem notável serão de interesse.

En Minha primeira lembrança do Capitão Carter é dos poucos meses que ele passou na casa do meu pai na Virgínia, pouco antes do início da Guerra Civil. Eu tinha apenas cinco anos, mas me lembro claramente do homem alto, moreno, barbeado e atlético a quem chamava de Tio Jack.

En Ele parecia estar sempre rindo e participava das brincadeiras das crianças com o mesmo espírito entusiasmado que mostrava nos passatempos adultos. Às vezes, passava uma hora inteira entretendo minha avó com histórias de suas aventuras selvagens ao redor do mundo. Todos nós o amávamos, e nossos escravos o admiravam profundamente.

En Ele era um homem impressionante, medindo mais de seis pés de altura, ombros largos e quadris estreitos, com a postura de um lutador treinado. Suas feições eram regulares e definidas, seu cabelo preto e curto, seus olhos cinza-aço, refletindo um caráter forte e leal, cheio de energia e iniciativa. Seus modos eram perfeitos, e ele era tão cortês quanto qualquer cavalheiro sulista de alta classe.

En Sua habilidade como cavaleiro, especialmente quando caçava com cães, era admirada até mesmo em uma região conhecida por excelentes cavaleiros. Seu pai frequentemente o alertava sobre sua ousadia perigosa, mas ele simplesmente ria e afirmava que a queda que finalmente o mataria viria de um cavalo que ainda não havia nascido.

En Quando a guerra começou, ele partiu, e o narrador não o viu por cerca de quinze ou dezesseis anos. Ele voltou sem aviso e, surpreendentemente, não parecia ter envelhecido nem um dia nem mudado em nada. Em companhia, era o mesmo homem alegre e amigável de antes, mas quando pensava que estava sozinho, o narrador às vezes o via sentado por horas olhando para o espaço, sua expressão cheia de saudade e profunda miséria. À noite, ele se sentava olhando para os céus; o narrador não entendeu o porquê até ler seu manuscrito anos depois.

En Ele lhes disse que passou parte do tempo desde a guerra prospectando e minerando no Arizona, e seu grande sucesso era evidente pela quantia ilimitada de dinheiro que possuía. Ele relutava muito em discutir os detalhes de sua vida durante aqueles anos; na verdade, recusava-se a falar sobre eles completamente.

En Ele ficou com eles por cerca de um ano, depois mudou-se para Nova York, onde comprou uma pequena casa no Hudson. O narrador o visitava uma vez por ano em viagens de negócios a Nova York. O Capitão Carter tinha uma pequena mas bela casa de campo em um penhasco com vista para o rio. Durante uma das últimas visitas do narrador, no inverno de 1885, o narrador notou que ele estava ocupado escrevendo; o narrador agora acredita que ele estava trabalhando neste manuscrito.

En Naquela época, ele disse ao narrador que, se algo acontecesse com ele, queria que o narrador cuidasse de sua propriedade. Ele deu ao narrador uma chave para um compartimento do cofre em seu escritório, dizendo que o narrador encontraria seu testamento e algumas instruções pessoais ali, e fez o narrador prometer cumpri-las com total lealdade.

En Depois de se recolher para a noite, o narrador observou um homem de sua janela, parado ao luar na borda de um penhasco com vista para o Hudson. O homem estendeu os braços para o céu como se em apelo, e o narrador presumiu que ele estava rezando, embora nunca o tivesse considerado particularmente religioso.

En Vários meses após sua última visita, por volta do primeiro de março de 1886, o narrador recebeu um telegrama do homem pedindo que fosse imediatamente. O narrador sempre fora o favorito do homem entre a geração mais jovem dos Carters, então ele atendeu rapidamente ao pedido.

En O narrador chegou à pequena estação perto da propriedade do homem na manhã de 4 de março de 1886. Quando perguntou a um motorista de aluguel para levá-lo à casa do Capitão Carter, o motorista respondeu que, se ele era amigo, tinha más notícias: o Capitão havia sido encontrado morto pouco depois do amanhecer daquela manhã por um vigia de uma propriedade vizinha.

En A notícia não surpreendeu o narrador, mas ele correu para a propriedade o mais rápido possível para cuidar do corpo e administrar os assuntos do Capitão.

En O narrador encontrou o vigia que havia descoberto o corpo, junto com o chefe de polícia local e vários moradores, reunidos no escritório. O vigia deu alguns detalhes: o corpo ainda estava quente quando encontrado, deitado por completo na neve com os braços estendidos acima da cabeça em direção à borda do penhasco. Quando o vigia mostrou o local ao narrador, ele percebeu que era o mesmo lugar onde havia visto o homem em noites anteriores, com os braços erguidos em súplica aos céus.

En Não havia sinais de violência no corpo. Com a ajuda de um médico local, o júri do legista rapidamente decidiu que ele morreu de insuficiência cardíaca. Quando fiquei sozinho no escritório, abri o cofre e retirei o conteúdo da gaveta onde ele me dissera que encontraria minhas instruções. Eram um tanto estranhas, mas eu as segui tão fielmente quanto pude.

En Ele me instruiu a levar seu corpo para a Virgínia sem embalsamá-lo e a colocá-lo em um caixão aberto dentro de um túmulo que ele havia construído anteriormente. Mais tarde, soube que o túmulo era bem ventilado. As instruções enfatizavam que eu deveria garantir pessoalmente que tudo fosse feito exatamente como ele queria, mesmo que tivesse que ser feito em segredo.

En Sua propriedade foi organizada de modo que eu receberia toda a renda dela por vinte e cinco anos, após os quais a propriedade em si se tornaria minha. Ele também deu instruções sobre este manuscrito: eu deveria mantê-lo lacrado e não lido por onze anos, exatamente como o encontrei, e não deveria revelar seu conteúdo até vinte e um anos após sua morte.

En Uma característica estranha do túmulo, onde seu corpo ainda descansa, é que a porta pesada tem uma única e grande fechadura de mola folheada a ouro que só pode ser aberta por dentro.

En Atenciosamente, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

CAPÍTULO I — NAS COLINAS DO ARIZONA

En Ele afirma que é muito velho, mas não sabe exatamente quantos anos tem. Ele não envelheceu como outros homens e não tem memória da infância. Sempre aparentou ter cerca de trinta anos. Embora tenha morrido duas vezes e ainda esteja vivo, ele teme a morte real da qual não há ressurreição. Esse medo, ele acredita, o convence de sua própria mortalidade.

En Ele decidiu escrever a história de sua vida e morte. Não pode explicar os fenômenos, mas registrará os estranhos eventos que aconteceram durante os dez anos em que seu corpo morto permaneceu não descoberto em uma caverna no Arizona.

En Ele nunca contou essa história e ninguém verá o manuscrito até após sua morte. Ele sabe que a maioria das pessoas não acreditará no que não pode entender, então não quer ser chamado de mentiroso por dizer a verdade. Ele espera que suas experiências em Marte e o conhecimento que registra ajudem a ciência a entender os mistérios daquele planeta, que já não são mais mistérios para ele.

En Seu nome é John Carter, conhecido como Capitão Jack Carter, da Virgínia. Após a Guerra Civil, ele tinha dinheiro confederado e uma patente de capitão, mas o exército e o estado não existiam mais. Sem mestre, sem dinheiro e sem meios de sustento além da luta, ele decidiu viajar para o sudoeste em busca de ouro para restaurar sua fortuna.

En Ele passou quase um ano prospectando com outro oficial confederado, o Capitão James K. Powell. Eles tiveram muita sorte; após muitas dificuldades no inverno de 1865, encontraram um notável veio de quartzo aurífero. Powell, um engenheiro de minas, estimou que eles haviam descoberto mais de um milhão de dólares em minério em pouco mais de três meses.

En Como nosso equipamento era extremamente rudimentar, decidimos que um de nós teria que voltar à civilização, comprar as máquinas necessárias e retornar com homens suficientes para operar a mina adequadamente.

En Como Powell conhecia a região e as necessidades mecânicas da mineração, decidimos que era melhor ele fazer a viagem. Combinamos que eu ficaria e protegeria nossa reivindicação caso um prospector errante tentasse tomá-la.

En Em 3 de março de 1866, Powell e eu colocamos suas provisões em dois de nossos burros. Ele se despediu de mim, montou em seu cavalo e começou a descer a encosta da montanha em direção ao vale, que era a primeira etapa de sua jornada.

En A manhã da partida de Powell estava clara e bonita, como a maioria das manhãs no Arizona. Eu podia vê-lo e seus pequenos animais de carga descendo a montanha em direção ao vale. Durante toda a manhã, eu os via ocasionalmente enquanto subiam uma crista ou alcançavam um planalto plano. Vi Powell pela última vez por volta das três da tarde, quando ele entrou nas sombras das montanhas do outro lado do vale.

En Cerca de meia hora depois, aconteceu de eu olhar através do vale e fiquei surpreso ao ver três pequenos pontos aproximadamente no mesmo lugar onde havia visto meu amigo e seus dois animais de carga pela última vez. Não sou propenso a preocupações desnecessárias, mas quanto mais tentava me convencer de que Powell estava bem e que os pontos em sua trilha eram antílopes ou cavalos selvagens, menos conseguia me tranquilizar.

En Tendo entrado no território sem encontrar nenhum índio hostil, o grupo havia se tornado extremamente descuidado. Eles frequentemente zombavam das histórias que ouviam sobre os muitos saqueadores ferozes que supostamente espreitavam nas trilhas, atacando todo grupo branco que caísse em suas mãos cruéis.

En Eu sabia que Powell estava bem armado e era experiente em lutar contra índios, mas eu também tinha vivido e lutado com os Sioux no Norte por anos, e percebi que suas chances eram pequenas contra um grupo de astutos rastreadores Apache. Incapaz de suportar a suspense por mais tempo, armei-me com meus dois revólveres Colt e uma carabina, prendi dois cintos de cartuchos e, pegando meu cavalo de sela, comecei a descer a trilha que Powell havia tomado naquela manhã.

En Assim que cheguei a um terreno relativamente plano, instiguei meu cavalo a um meio-galope e mantive esse ritmo onde possível. Perto do anoitecer, encontrei onde outras trilhas se juntavam às de Powell. Havia três conjuntos de pegadas de pôneis sem ferraduras, e eles estavam galopando.

En Eu segui rapidamente até que a escuridão me obrigou a parar e esperar o nascer da lua, dando-me tempo para considerar se minha perseguição era sábia. Talvez eu tivesse imaginado perigos impossíveis, como uma dona de casa nervosa, e seria ridicularizado quando alcançasse Powell. Mas não me preocupo facilmente; seguir meu senso de dever onde quer que ele leve sempre foi um princípio norteador para mim. Isso pode explicar por que fui homenageado por três repúblicas e recebi condecorações e amizade de um imperador velho e poderoso e vários reis menores, a cujo serviço lutei muitas vezes.

En Por volta das nove horas, a lua estava brilhante o suficiente para eu continuar. Segui a trilha facilmente em passo rápido, e às vezes em trote rápido, até por volta da meia-noite, quando cheguei ao poço d'água onde Powell planejava acampar. Encontrei o local inesperadamente e o achei completamente deserto, sem nenhuma evidência de acampamento recente.

En O narrador notou que os rastros dos cavaleiros perseguidores continuaram após Powell, parando apenas brevemente para água, e mantiveram a mesma velocidade.

En Ele tinha certeza de que os perseguidores eram apaches que pretendiam capturar Powell vivo para torturá-lo, então montou seu cavalo em uma velocidade perigosa, esperando alcançá-lo antes do ataque.

En Seus pensamentos foram interrompidos por dois tiros distantes. Sabendo que Powell precisava dele, o narrador forçou seu cavalo à velocidade máxima pela trilha estreita da montanha.

En Depois de cavalgar cerca de um quilômetro sem mais sons, a trilha abriu-se para um pequeno planalto perto do topo do desfiladeiro. O narrador acabara de emergir de uma garganta estreita, e a visão diante dele o encheu de consternação.

En O planalto estava coberto de tendas indígenas e cerca de quinhentos guerreiros reunidos em torno de algo no centro. Eles estavam tão concentrados que não o viram. O narrador poderia ter escapado de volta para a garganta, mas não pensou nisso até o dia seguinte, o que o impediu de reivindicar qualquer heroísmo no incidente.

En O narrador refletiu que não se considerava um herói, porque sempre que enfrentava o perigo, nunca pensava em uma alternativa até muito depois. Ele acreditava que sua mente era naturalmente compelida a fazer o que era certo sem raciocínio difícil. Ele era grato por a covardia não ser uma opção para ele.

En Ele tinha certeza de que Powell era o foco principal do ataque. Sem pensar, sacou seus revólveres e carregou contra os guerreiros, atirando e gritando alto. Essa foi uma tática sábia, pois o ataque súbito convenceu os guerreiros de que uma grande força estava sobre eles. Eles entraram em pânico e fugiram para pegar suas armas.

En Quando os guerreiros se dispersaram, ele viu o corpo de Powell coberto de flechas. Embora acreditasse que Powell já estava morto, ele ainda desejava proteger o corpo da mutilação pelos Apaches, assim como teria tentado salvar o homem vivo.

En Ele cavalgou perto de Powell e, estendendo a mão, puxou-o para seu cavalo. Olhando para trás, decidiu que voltar pelo mesmo caminho era muito perigoso. Em vez disso, esporeou seu cavalo e disparou em direção a um desfiladeiro que ele podia ver no lado oposto do planalto.

En Os índios logo perceberam que ele estava sozinho e o perseguiram com gritos, flechas e tiros. No entanto, mirar com precisão sob o luar era difícil, e seu ataque súbito e rápido os surpreendeu. Ele conseguiu alcançar a segurança dos picos ao redor antes que eles pudessem organizar uma perseguição ordenada.

En Meu cavalo se moveu quase sem orientação, pois percebi que eu tinha menos conhecimento da trilha do que ele. Assim aconteceu que ele entrou em um desfiladeiro estreito que levava ao topo das montanhas, em vez do passo que eu esperava que me levasse ao vale e à segurança. No entanto, é provável que eu deva minha vida a esse erro, bem como as notáveis aventuras que se abateram sobre mim nos dez anos seguintes.

En Percebi pela primeira vez que estava no caminho errado quando ouvi os gritos dos meus perseguidores se tornando cada vez mais fracos, bem à minha esquerda.

En Então entendi que eles tinham ido para a esquerda das rochas irregulares na borda do planalto, enquanto meu cavalo havia me levado, junto com o corpo de Powell, para a direita.

En Parei meu cavalo em um pequeno platô com vista para a trilha à minha esquerda e vi o bando de perseguidores desaparecer ao lado de um pico próximo.

En Eu sabia que os índios logo perceberiam seu erro e retomariam a busca na direção correta assim que encontrassem meus rastros.

En Depois de caminhar uma curta distância, notei o que parecia ser uma boa trilha se abrindo ao redor da face de um penhasco alto. A trilha era plana, bastante larga e subia na direção geral para onde eu queria ir. O penhasco se elevava várias centenas de pés à minha direita, enquanto à minha esquerda havia uma queda igualmente íngreme em uma ravina rochosa.

En Segui a trilha por cerca de cem jardas até que uma curva fechada à direita revelou a entrada de uma grande caverna. A abertura tinha aproximadamente quatro pés de altura e três a quatro pés de largura, e a trilha terminava ali.

En A manhã havia chegado e, como é típico no Arizona, a transição para a luz do dia aconteceu abruptamente, com quase nenhum amanhecer gradual.

En Desmontei e deitei Powell no chão, mas um exame cuidadoso não mostrou nenhum sinal de vida. Apesar de saber que ele estava morto, forcei água do meu cantil entre seus lábios, lavei seu rosto e esfreguei suas mãos, trabalhando sobre ele por quase uma hora.

En Eu era profundamente apegado a Powell. Ele era um homem completo em todos os aspectos, um cavalheiro sulista refinado e um amigo leal e verdadeiro. Foi com profunda tristeza que finalmente parei minhas tentativas rudimentares de reanimá-lo.

En Deixando o corpo de Powell na borda da saliência, entrei na caverna para explorar. Dentro, encontrei uma grande câmara com cerca de cem pés de diâmetro e trinta a quarenta pés de altura. O chão era liso e desgastado, com claros sinais de que a caverna havia sido habitada há muito tempo. O fundo da caverna estava tão escuro que não conseguia ver se havia aberturas para outros cômodos.

En Enquanto continuava examinando a caverna, uma sonolência agradável começou a me dominar. Atribuí isso ao cansaço da minha longa e árdua cavalgada e à empolgação da luta e da perseguição. Sentindo-me relativamente seguro no meu local atual — já que um homem poderia defender a trilha estreita contra um exército inteiro — deixei-me relaxar.

En Logo fiquei tão sonolento que mal conseguia resistir à vontade de me deitar no chão da caverna e descansar um pouco. Mas sabia que não podia, porque isso significaria morte certa se meus inimigos vermelhos chegassem. Com esforço, comecei a caminhar em direção à entrada, só que cambaleei como um bêbado contra a parede e então escorreguei e caí de bruços no chão.

CAPÍTULO II — A FUGA DOS MORTOS

En Uma sensação sonhadora tomou conta de mim. Meus músculos relaxaram, e eu estava prestes a ceder ao sono quando ouvi cavalos se aproximando. Tentei pular, mas, horrorizado, descobri que meus músculos não me obedeciam. Eu estava totalmente acordado, porém incapaz de mover um único músculo, como se estivesse petrificado. Pela primeira vez, notei um vapor fraco na caverna, visível apenas contra a abertura para a luz do dia. Um odor levemente pungente chegou às minhas narinas. Imaginei que tivesse sido dominado por gás venenoso, mas não conseguia entender por que minha mente ainda estava lúcida enquanto meu corpo estava paralisado.

En Deitei-me de frente para a abertura da caverna, conseguindo ver o pequeno trecho da trilha entre a caverna e a curva do penhasco. O barulho dos cavalos que se aproximavam havia cessado, e eu deduzi que os índios estavam se aproximando sorrateiramente pela borda da saliência em direção ao meu túmulo vivo. Lembro-me de ter esperado que eles me matassem rapidamente, pois não queria suportar as coisas indescritíveis que poderiam fazer se tivessem vontade.

En Pouco depois, um som silencioso me disse que estavam próximos. Então um rosto usando um cocar de guerra e pintado com listras apareceu cautelosamente na borda do penhasco, e olhos ferozes encontraram os meus. Eu tinha certeza de que o guerreiro podia me ver na caverna escura, porque a luz do sol da manhã caía diretamente sobre mim através da abertura.

En O homem não se aproximou, mas simplesmente ficou parado e olhou com olhos arregalados e boca aberta. Então outro rosto apareceu, e um terceiro, quarto e quinto, todos esticando o pescoço sobre os ombros dos que estavam na frente, pois não podiam passar na saliência estreita. Cada rosto mostrava admiração e medo, embora eu não entendesse por que — e só descobriria o motivo dez anos depois. Estava claro que havia mais guerreiros atrás destes, porque os líderes sussurravam mensagens para os mais distantes.

En De repente, um som baixo mas claro de gemido veio do fundo da caverna atrás de mim. Quando os índios o ouviram, viraram-se e fugiram em pânico total. O desespero para escapar da presença invisível atrás de mim era tão grande que um guerreiro foi jogado de cabeça do penhasco sobre as rochas abaixo. Seus gritos ecoaram pelo desfiladeiro por um tempo, e então tudo ficou em silêncio novamente.

En O som que os aterrorizara não se repetiu, mas foi suficiente para me fazer imaginar que horror poderia estar escondido nas sombras atrás de mim. O medo é um conceito relativo, e só posso julgar meus sentimentos na época comparando-os com perigos que enfrentei antes e depois. No entanto, posso dizer sem vergonha que se o que senti nos minutos seguintes foi medo, então que Deus ajude o covarde, pois a covardia é certamente seu próprio castigo.

En Ficar paralisado no lugar, com as costas voltadas para um perigo horrível e desconhecido — um perigo cujo mero som fazia os ferozes guerreiros apaches fugirem como ovelhas de lobos — parecia-me a situação mais aterrorizante para um homem que sempre lutara pela vida com toda a força de um corpo poderoso.

En Ele pensou ter ouvido sons fracos atrás de si, como alguém se movendo com cuidado, mas eles pararam. Sozinho, ele refletiu sobre sua situação. Ele só podia imaginar por que estava paralisado, e sua única esperança era que isso terminasse tão repentinamente quanto começou.

En No final da tarde, seu cavalo, que havia estado parado com as rédeas soltas, começou a descer lentamente a trilha em busca de comida e água. Ele agora estava sozinho com seu misterioso companheiro e o corpo morto de seu amigo, que estava na saliência onde o colocara naquela manhã.

En A partir de então até cerca da meia-noite, houve silêncio completo. De repente, um gemido terrível quebrou o silêncio, e ele ouviu algo se movendo nas sombras escuras, com um leve farfalhar como de folhas secas. O choque para seus nervos já tensos foi extremo. Com um esforço sobre-humano, ele tentou se libertar. Foi um esforço da mente e da vontade, não muscular, já que ele não conseguia nem mover um dedo. Então algo cedeu. Ele sentiu um momento de náusea, ouviu um clique agudo como o estalar de um fio de aço, e se viu de pé contra a parede da caverna, enfrentando seu inimigo desconhecido.

En Então a luz da lua encheu a caverna, e ele viu seu próprio corpo deitado ali como estivera por horas — olhos fixos na saliência, mãos frouxas no chão. Ele olhou para seu corpo morto no chão, depois para si mesmo confuso. Ali estava seu corpo vestido, enquanto ele estava nu como ao nascer.

En A mudança foi tão repentina e inesperada que por um momento ele esqueceu tudo, exceto sua estranha transformação. Ele se perguntou se aquilo era a morte — se ele havia passado para outra vida. Mas não podia acreditar, porque sentia seu coração batendo forte com o esforço de se libertar da paralisia. Sua respiração ficou rápida, suor frio cobriu seu corpo, e beliscar a si mesmo provou que ele não era um fantasma.

En Fui trazido de volta ao meu entorno por outro gemido estranho vindo do fundo da caverna. Eu estava nu e desarmado, e não queria enfrentar a coisa desconhecida que me ameaçava.

En Meus revólveres ainda estavam presos ao meu corpo morto, que por alguma razão eu não conseguia tocar. Meu rifle estava no suporte da sela, mas meu cavalo havia se afastado, então eu não tinha como me defender. A única escolha que tive foi fugir, e essa decisão se tornou definitiva quando ouvi o som de farfalhar novamente. Na caverna escura, minha mente assustada imaginou a coisa rastejando lentamente em minha direção.

En Não aguentei mais a vontade de escapar daquele lugar horrível, então pulei rapidamente pela abertura para a luz das estrelas de uma noite clara do Arizona. O ar fresco e puro da montanha lá fora me reviveu, e senti nova vida e coragem. Pausei na borda e me culpei pelo que agora parecia medo desnecessário. Raciocinei que havia ficado deitado indefeso na caverna por muitas horas sem ser perturbado, e meu julgamento lógico me disse que os barulhos deviam ter vindo de causas naturais e inofensivas — talvez a forma da caverna fizesse com que uma leve brisa produzisse os sons.

En Decidi olhar ao redor, mas primeiro levantei a cabeça para encher os pulmões com o ar puro e refrescante da noite na montanha. Ao fazer isso, vi uma bela vista lá embaixo: um desfiladeiro rochoso e uma planície salpicada de cactos, tudo transformado pela luz da lua em uma cena de suave esplendor e encantamento.

En Poucas vistas no Oeste Americano são tão inspiradoras quanto uma paisagem do Arizona sob a luz da lua: as montanhas prateadas ao longe, as estranhas luzes e sombras nas cristas e leitos secos de rios, e os cactos rígidos mas belos criam uma imagem que é ao mesmo tempo encantadora e inspiradora. Parecia ver um mundo morto e esquecido pela primeira vez, tão diferente é de qualquer outro lugar na Terra.

En Enquanto ele estava pensando, ele olhou da paisagem para as estrelas. Uma grande estrela vermelha perto do horizonte chamou sua atenção. Ele sentiu um forte fascínio, sabendo que era Marte, o deus da guerra, que sempre o encantara como lutador. Naquela noite, parecia chamá-lo através da vasta distância, atraindo-o como um ímã.

En Seu desejo era forte demais para resistir. Ele fechou os olhos, estendeu os braços em direção a Marte e sentiu-se puxado instantaneamente pelo espaço. Por um momento, houve frio extremo e escuridão completa.

CAPÍTULO III — MINHA CHEGADA A MARTE

En Ele abriu os olhos para uma paisagem estranha e soube que estava em Marte sem duvidar de sua sanidade ou vigília. Sua certeza interior era tão clara quanto saber que se está na Terra. Ele não questionou isso.

En Ele estava deitado sobre um leito de musgo amarelado que se estendia infinitamente. Ele estava em uma bacia circular e profunda cercada por colinas baixas.

En Era meio-dia, e o sol estava quente em seu corpo nu, mas não mais do que em um deserto do Arizona. Ele viu rochas de quartzo brilhando e um muro baixo de cerca de um metro e vinte de altura a cem metros de distância. Não havia água ou outra vegetação além do musgo. Com sede, ele decidiu explorar.

En Quando o narrador se levantou, ficou surpreso. Na Terra, levantar-se teria sido normal, mas aqui o lançou cerca de três jardas para o ar. Ele pousou suavemente. Então experimentou uma série de movimentos que pareceram ridículos. Percebeu que tinha que aprender a andar novamente porque seus músculos, adaptados à gravidade da Terra, se comportavam de forma estranha em Marte.

En Suas tentativas de andar resultaram em pulos estranhos que o erguiam alguns pés do chão a cada passo, e ele frequentemente caía. Seus músculos, acostumados com a gravidade da Terra, não conseguiam lidar com a menor gravidade e pressão atmosférica de Marte.

En Determinado a explorar o único sinal de habitação à vista, uma estrutura baixa, ele decidiu tentar engatinhar. Isso funcionou melhor, e logo ele alcançou o muro baixo.

En Não havia portas nem janelas no lado para o qual ele estava virado. O muro tinha apenas cerca de um metro e vinte de altura, então ele se levantou cautelosamente e olhou por cima, vendo a visão mais estranha que já tinha visto.

En O telhado do recinto era feito de vidro maciço com cerca de quatro ou cinco polegadas de espessura. Debaixo dele havia centenas de ovos grandes, perfeitamente redondos e brancos como a neve, cada um com cerca de dois pés e meio de diâmetro.

En Cerca de cinco ou seis ovos já haviam eclodido. As criaturas que emergiram eram tão grotescas que o narrador duvidou de sua sanidade. Elas tinham cabeças grandes, corpos pequenos, pescoços longos e seis pernas — ou, como ele aprendeu depois, duas pernas e dois braços com um par extra que podia servir a ambos os propósitos. Seus olhos estavam posicionados nas laterais extremas da cabeça, ligeiramente acima do centro, e se projetavam de modo que podiam olhar em qualquer direção ou em duas direções ao mesmo tempo sem virar a cabeça.

En Suas orelhas eram pequenas antenas em forma de taça, logo acima dos olhos e mais próximas entre si, projetando-se menos de uma polegada nestes jovens. Seus narizes eram fendas longitudinais no meio do rosto, a meio caminho entre a boca e as orelhas.

En Os corpos eram sem pelos e de um verde-amarelado claro. Nos adultos, como o narrador logo aprendeu, a cor se aprofundava para um verde-oliva, mais escuro nos machos. Além disso, as cabeças dos adultos eram mais proporcionais aos seus corpos do que nos jovens.

En A íris era vermelha como sangue, como a de um albino, com pupila escura. O globo ocular e os dentes eram muito brancos. As presas inferiores se curvavam para cima até pontas afiadas que alcançavam aproximadamente onde os olhos humanos estariam. Os dentes eram tão brancos quanto a porcelana mais fina, destacando-se fortemente contra a pele escura de oliva.

En A maioria desses detalhes ele notou apenas mais tarde, pois teve pouco tempo para refletir. Enquanto observava os horríveis filhotes rompendo suas cascas, ele não percebeu a aproximação de uma vintena de marcianos adultos por trás.

En Os guerreiros se moveram sobre o musgo macio e silencioso que cobre a maior parte de Marte, exceto pelos polos congelados e algumas áreas cultivadas. Eles poderiam ter me capturado facilmente, mas sua intenção era pior. O barulho do equipamento do primeiro guerreiro me alertou.

En Fiquei surpreso por ter escapado tão facilmente, pois minha vida dependia de um pequeno acidente. O rifle do líder balançou e atingiu sua lança de metal, fazendo um som que me fez virar. Vi a ponta da lança a menos de dez pés do meu peito—uma arma de quarenta pés de comprimento com ponta de metal brilhante, segurada baixa por um cavaleiro em uma criatura como os pequenos demônios que eu estava observando.

En Mas ao lado desta terrível encarnação de ódio e morte, os outros pareciam insignificantes e inofensivos. O homem em si tinha quinze pés de altura e pesaria cerca de quatrocentas libras na Terra. Ele sentava em sua montaria como em um cavalo, segurando o corpo do animal com seus membros inferiores. Seus dois braços direitos seguravam a enorme lança baixa ao lado; seus dois braços esquerdos estavam estendidos para equilibrar, já que sua montaria não tinha rédeas ou bridão.

En E sua montaria—como palavras terrenas podem descrevê-la! Media dez pés na cernelha, com quatro pernas de cada lado, uma cauda larga e chata que mantinha esticada para trás enquanto corria, e uma boca escancarada que dividia sua cabeça do focinho ao longo e massivo pescoço.

En Como seu mestre, a montaria era completamente sem pelos, de cor ardósia escura, lisa e brilhante. Sua barriga era branca e suas pernas gradavam do ardósia ao amarelo vivo nos pés. Os pés eram fortemente acolchoados e sem unhas, o que também contribuía para sua aproximação silenciosa. Ter muitas pernas é uma característica comum dos animais marcianos. O tipo mais elevado de homem e um outro animal, o único mamífero em Marte, têm unhas bem formadas; não existem absolutamente animais com cascos lá.

En Mais dezenove demônios seguiram o primeiro, todos semelhantes na aparência, mas cada um com suas próprias características únicas, assim como não existem dois humanos exatamente iguais. Essa visão aterrorizante causou uma impressão rápida e poderosa em mim enquanto eu me virava para enfrentá-la.

En Estando desarmado e nu, meu instinto de sobrevivência me levou a escapar da lança que avançava. Então dei um salto extraordinário, ao mesmo tempo terreno e sobre-humano, visando o topo do que eu havia determinado ser uma incubadora marciana.

En Meu salto foi bem-sucedido além das expectativas, surpreendendo-me tanto quanto os guerreiros marcianos. Ele me levou a trinta pés de altura e me depositou a cem pés de distância, no lado oposto do recinto.

En Aterrissei facilmente no musgo macio sem me machucar. Virando-me, vi meus inimigos alinhados ao longo da parede distante. Alguns olhavam com expressões de extremo espanto, enquanto outros verificavam se eu não havia machucado seus filhotes.

En Eles falavam baixinho entre si, gesticulando e apontando para mim. Descobrir que eu estava desarmado e não havia machucado os pequenos marcianos deve ter suavizado sua hostilidade. No entanto, mais tarde soube que meu salto notável foi o que mais me favoreceu.

En Embora os marcianos sejam enormes, seus ossos são muito grandes e seus músculos são fortes apenas o suficiente para a gravidade que precisam superar. Consequentemente, eles são muito menos ágeis e poderosos para seu tamanho do que um homem da Terra. O narrador duvidava que, se um marciano fosse subitamente transportado para a Terra, ele conseguiria levantar seu próprio peso do chão; na verdade, ele estava convencido de que não conseguiria.

En A façanha do narrador foi tão surpreendente em Marte quanto teria sido na Terra. Em vez de quererem destruí-lo, os marcianos de repente o consideraram uma descoberta maravilhosa a ser capturada e exibida a seus semelhantes.

En A breve pausa proporcionada por sua velocidade inesperada permitiu ao narrador formular planos para o futuro imediato e estudar os guerreiros mais de perto. Ele não conseguia separar essas pessoas em sua mente dos guerreiros que o haviam perseguido no dia anterior.

En O narrador notou que cada guerreiro carregava várias outras armas além da grande lança. A arma que o fez decidir contra tentar escapar era claramente um tipo de rifle, que ele percebeu que eles eram particularmente habilidosos em usar.

En Esses rifles eram feitos de um metal branco com coronha de madeira. O metal era uma liga de alumínio e aço, temperada até uma dureza muito superior ao aço da Terra. Os rifles eram leves, com projéteis explosivos de rádio de pequeno calibre e canos longos, tornando-os extremamente mortais a distâncias inimagináveis na Terra. O alcance efetivo teórico era de trezentas milhas, mas no serviço real com localizadores e miras sem fio, eles conseguiam pouco mais de duzentas milhas.

En Isso foi o suficiente para me dar um profundo respeito pela arma de fogo marciana. Senti que alguma força telepática deve ter me avisado para não tentar escapar à luz do dia quando vinte dessas máquinas mortais estavam apontadas para mim.

En Após uma breve conversa, os marcianos se viraram e cavalgaram de volta pelo caminho de onde vieram, deixando um de seu grupo sozinho junto ao cercado. Quando percorreram cerca de duzentas jardas, pararam e viraram suas montarias para nos enfrentar, sentados e observando o guerreiro junto ao cercado.

En Ele era aquele cuja lança quase me trespassou, e ele era claramente o líder do grupo, pois eu havia notado que eles se moveram para sua posição atual por ordem dele. Quando sua força parou, ele desmontou, largou sua lança e armas secundárias, e contornou a extremidade da incubadora em minha direção, completamente desarmado e tão nu quanto eu, exceto pelos ornamentos amarrados em sua cabeça, membros e peito.

En Quando ele estava a cerca de cinquenta pés de distância, ele desabotoou uma grande braçadeira de metal e a segurou em minha direção na palma da mão. Ele se dirigiu a mim com uma voz clara e ressonante, mas, claro, em uma língua que eu não conseguia entender. Ele então fez uma pausa como se esperasse minha resposta, erguendo suas orelhas antenadas e virando seus olhos estranhos ainda mais intensamente em minha direção.

En Como o silêncio se tornou desconfortável, decidi arriscar iniciar uma conversa, já que eu havia adivinhado que ele estava fazendo acenos de paz. Na Terra, largar as armas e retirar as tropas antes de se aproximar indicaria uma intenção pacífica, então por que não em Marte também?

En Ele colocou a mão sobre o coração, curvou-se diante do marciano e tentou explicar que, embora não entendesse a língua do marciano, as ações dele transmitiam paz e amizade, que eram o que mais importava naquele momento. Suas palavras provavelmente não tiveram significado, mas o gesto que se seguiu foi compreendido.

En Ele estendeu a mão, pegou o bracelete da palma aberta do marciano e o prendeu em seu próprio braço acima do cotovelo. Sorriu e ficou esperando. O marciano sorriu de volta, entrelaçou um de seus braços intermediários com o dele, e eles se viraram e caminharam de volta para a montaria do marciano. Ao mesmo tempo, o marciano sinalizou para seus seguidores avançarem. Eles começaram a correr desenfreadamente em sua direção, mas ele os conteve com outro gesto. Aparentemente, ele temia que, se o narrador ficasse com muito medo novamente, pudesse pular para longe completamente.

En Ele trocou algumas palavras com seus homens e então fez sinal de que o narrador montaria atrás de um deles. Montou em seu próprio animal. O homem designado estendeu duas ou três mãos e ergueu o narrador para trás dele, sobre o dorso lustroso de sua montaria, onde ele se agarrou como pôde nas correias e tiras que seguravam as armas e ornamentos do marciano.

En Então toda a comitiva se virou e galopou em direção à distante cadeia de colinas.

CAPÍTULO IV — PRISIONEIRO

En Eles haviam viajado talvez dez milhas quando o chão começou a subir muito rapidamente. Como o narrador descobriu mais tarde, estavam se aproximando da borda de um dos mares há muito extintos de Marte, no fundo do qual seu encontro com os marcianos havia ocorrido.

En Logo eles chegaram ao pé das montanhas. Depois de passar por um desfiladeiro estreito, chegaram a um vale aberto. No extremo do vale havia um planalto baixo, e sobre ele o narrador viu uma cidade enorme. Eles galoparam em direção a ela e entraram por uma estrada arruinada que saía da cidade, mas terminava abruptamente na borda do planalto em uma escadaria de degraus largos.

En Ao passarem pelos edifícios, o narrador notou que estavam desertos. Embora não muito deteriorados, pareciam como se ninguém morasse neles há anos, talvez séculos. Perto do centro da cidade havia uma grande praça, e nela e nos edifícios ao redor estavam acampados cerca de nove ou dez centenas de criaturas do mesmo tipo que seus captores. Ele agora os considerava captores, apesar da maneira suave com que havia sido enganado.

En Exceto por seus ornamentos, todas as criaturas estavam nuas. As mulheres eram muito parecidas com os homens, exceto que suas presas eram muito maiores em proporção à sua altura, às vezes curvando-se quase até suas orelhas altas. Seus corpos eram menores e de cor mais clara, e seus dedos das mãos e dos pés tinham o início de unhas, que os machos não possuíam. As fêmeas adultas variavam em altura de dez a doze pés.

En As crianças eram de cor clara, ainda mais claras que as mulheres. Para o narrador, todas pareciam exatamente iguais, exceto que algumas eram mais altas que outras, o que ele supôs significar que eram mais velhas.

En O narrador não viu sinais de idade extrema entre eles. Sua aparência não mudava visivelmente desde a idade adulta, por volta dos quarenta anos, até aproximadamente mil anos, quando eles voluntariamente começavam sua estranha jornada final pelo Rio Iss. Nenhum marciano vivo sabe para onde o rio leva, e nenhum marciano jamais retornou de suas águas frias e escuras. Se eles retornassem após embarcar, não teriam permissão para viver.

En Muito poucos marcianos morrem de doenças; a maioria morre de mortes violentas em duelos, caça, aviação ou guerra. Muitas crianças também são vítimas dos grandes macacos brancos de Marte.

En Os marcianos poderiam viver até mil anos, mas a morte violenta reduz sua expectativa de vida média para cerca de trezentos. Como os recursos do planeta estão diminuindo, tornou-se necessário neutralizar o aumento da longevidade, então a vida agora é considerada barata, como mostram seus esportes perigosos e guerras constantes.

En Outra causa importante do declínio populacional é que todo marciano, homem ou mulher, sempre carrega uma arma.

En Ao se aproximarem da praça, o narrador foi descoberto e cercado por centenas de marcianos ansiosos para arrancá-lo de seu guarda. O líder do grupo falou e os acalmou, então eles prosseguiram a trote pela praça até a entrada de um magnífico edifício.

En O edifício era baixo, mas cobria uma vasta área. Era feito de mármore branco reluzente com incrustações de ouro e pedras brilhantes que cintilavam à luz do sol. A entrada principal tinha cerca de cem pés de largura e se projetava para formar um enorme dossel sobre o hall de entrada. Não havia escadas, apenas uma suave inclinação que levava ao primeiro andar, que se abria para uma câmara enorme cercada por galerias.

En Na sala, com muitas mesas e cadeiras de madeira entalhada, cerca de quarenta a cinquenta marcianos do sexo masculino se reuniram ao redor dos degraus de uma plataforma. Na própria plataforma estava sentado um enorme guerreiro vestido com ornamentos de metal, penas coloridas e tiras de couro com pedras preciosas. Ele usava uma capa curta de pele branca forrada com seda vermelha brilhante.

En O mais impressionante era que os móveis eram do tamanho errado para os marcianos. As mesas e cadeiras eram feitas para pessoas como eu, enquanto os marcianos mal conseguiam se encaixar nas cadeiras ou colocar as pernas debaixo das mesas. Isso mostrava que devia haver outros seres em Marte além dessas criaturas. Os prédios antigos ao meu redor sugeriam que eles pertenciam a uma raça antiga e esquecida do passado distante de Marte.

En Paramos na entrada e, a um sinal do líder, fui abaixado ao chão. Ele enlaçou o braço no meu novamente e entramos na sala de audiência. Havia poucas formalidades. Meu captor caminhou diretamente para a plataforma, e os outros se afastaram. O chefe se levantou e pronunciou o nome do meu escolta, que então parou e repetiu o nome e o título do governante.

En Na época, eu não entendia a cerimônia nem as palavras que eles diziam. Mais tarde, aprendi que esta era a saudação padrão entre os marcianos verdes. Se os homens fossem estranhos e não pudessem trocar nomes, eles trocariam ornamentos silenciosamente se suas intenções fossem pacíficas. Caso contrário, eles atirariam ou lutariam com outras armas para se apresentar.

En Meu captor, chamado Tars Tarkas, era o vice-chefe da comunidade e um homem de grande habilidade como estadista e guerreiro. Ele explicou brevemente os eventos de sua expedição, incluindo como me capturou. Depois que ele terminou, o chefe falou comigo longamente.

En O narrador falou em inglês para mostrar que eles não se entendiam, mas notou que o marciano sorriu em resposta. Isso, junto com uma experiência semelhante com Tars Tarkas, sugeriu que eles compartilhavam a capacidade de sorrir e rir, indicando um senso de humor. No entanto, ele mais tarde aprendeu que o sorriso marciano não era genuíno, e que sua risada era assustadora.

En Os homens verdes de Marte tinham um senso de humor muito diferente do dos humanos. Eles achavam grande diversão no sofrimento e na morte dos outros, e sua forma mais comum de entretenimento era matar prisioneiros de guerra de maneiras cruéis e imaginativas.

En Os guerreiros e líderes examinaram o narrador de perto, tocando seus músculos e pele. O líder principal então pareceu querer ver suas habilidades, então fez um gesto para o narrador segui-lo, e eles foram com Tars Tarkas até uma praça aberta.

En O narrador não havia tentado andar sozinho desde seu primeiro fracasso, exceto enquanto segurava o braço de Tars Tarkas. Agora ele se movia desajeitadamente entre os móveis, como um grande gafanhoto. Depois de se machucar gravemente, ele começou a engatinhar, mas isso desagradou os marcianos, e um alto que havia rido dele o puxou bruscamente para cima.

En Enquanto o marciano alto o empurrava para baixo sobre seus pés, seu rosto estava perto do narrador. O narrador reagiu dando um soco direto em seu queixo, derrubando-o. Ele então se virou com as costas para uma mesa, esperando que os outros atacassem, mas determinado a lutar o melhor que pudesse antes de morrer.

En Apesar da minha preocupação anterior, meus temores se mostraram infundados. Os outros marcianos, que inicialmente ficaram atordoados em silêncio, finalmente explodiram em gargalhadas e o que mais tarde entendi ser aplausos. Não reconheci sua aprovação na época, mas eventualmente aprendi que havia recebido um sinal raro de sua aprovação.

En O marciano que eu havia golpeado permaneceu no chão, e nenhum de seus companheiros se aproximou dele. Tars Tarkas avançou e me ofereceu seu braço, e caminhamos até a praça sem mais incidentes. Eu não entendi por que estávamos lá, mas logo aprendi. Eles repetiram a palavra 'sak' várias vezes, e Tars Tarkas demonstrou pulando e dizendo a palavra. Então ele me disse para fazer o mesmo. Eu entendi e pulei com sucesso cerca de 150 pés, aterrissando bem. Depois voltei com saltos menores.

En Muitos marcianos de menor status haviam assistido e exigiram uma repetição. O chefe ordenou que eu fizesse novamente, mas eu estava com fome e sede. Decidi que a única maneira de obter consideração era exigi-la. Então ignorei suas ordens e, em vez disso, apontei para minha boca e esfreguei meu estômago.

En Tars Tarkas e o chefe discutiram brevemente. Então Tars Tarkas chamou uma jovem fêmea da multidão, deu-lhe instruções e fez um gesto para que eu a seguisse. Peguei seu braço oferecido e atravessamos a praça em direção a um grande edifício.

En Minha acompanhante tinha cerca de dois metros e quarenta, recém-madura, mas não em sua altura total. Ela tinha pele verde-oliva clara, lisa e brilhante. Seu nome era Sola, e ela fazia parte da comitiva de Tars Tarkas. Ela me levou a uma sala espaçosa em um edifício de frente para a praça. O chão estava coberto de sedas e peles, sugerindo que era um dormitório para vários nativos.

En A câmara era bem iluminada por grandes janelas e adornada com murais e mosaicos antigos, mas o narrador sentiu um grande abismo entre os refinados criadores de tal arte e os seres grosseiros que agora a habitavam.

En Sola fez um gesto para que o narrador se sentasse numa pilha de sedas e emitiu um sinal sibilante. Em resposta, uma criatura do tamanho de um pônei Shetland entrou cambaleando sobre dez pernas curtas; sua cabeça, um tanto parecida com a de um sapo, tinha três fileiras de presas afiadas.

FOREWORD

Português

Este trabalho é dirigido à pessoa que o lê.

Original English

To the Reader of this Work:

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Português

Ao publicar o manuscrito peculiar do Capitão Carter como livro, acredito que algumas observações sobre este homem notável serão de interesse.

Original English

In submitting Captain Carter's strange manuscript to you in book form, I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will be of interest.

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Português

Minha primeira lembrança do Capitão Carter é dos poucos meses que ele passou na casa do meu pai na Virgínia, pouco antes do início da Guerra Civil. Eu tinha apenas cinco anos, mas me lembro claramente do homem alto, moreno, barbeado e atlético a quem chamava de Tio Jack.

Original English

My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent at my father's home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack.

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Português

Ele parecia estar sempre rindo e participava das brincadeiras das crianças com o mesmo espírito entusiasmado que mostrava nos passatempos adultos. Às vezes, passava uma hora inteira entretendo minha avó com histórias de suas aventuras selvagens ao redor do mundo. Todos nós o amávamos, e nossos escravos o admiravam profundamente.

Original English

He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those pastimes in which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old grandmother with stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of the world. We all loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the ground he trod.

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Português

Ele era um homem impressionante, medindo mais de seis pés de altura, ombros largos e quadris estreitos, com a postura de um lutador treinado. Suas feições eram regulares e definidas, seu cabelo preto e curto, seus olhos cinza-aço, refletindo um caráter forte e leal, cheio de energia e iniciativa. Seus modos eram perfeitos, e ele era tão cortês quanto qualquer cavalheiro sulista de alta classe.

Original English

He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of a typical southern gentleman of the highest type.

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Português

Sua habilidade como cavaleiro, especialmente quando caçava com cães, era admirada até mesmo em uma região conhecida por excelentes cavaleiros. Seu pai frequentemente o alertava sobre sua ousadia perigosa, mas ele simplesmente ria e afirmava que a queda que finalmente o mataria viria de um cavalo que ainda não havia nascido.

Original English

His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would only laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from the back of a horse yet unfoaled.

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Português

Quando a guerra começou, ele partiu, e o narrador não o viu por cerca de quinze ou dezesseis anos. Ele voltou sem aviso e, surpreendentemente, não parecia ter envelhecido nem um dia nem mudado em nada. Em companhia, era o mesmo homem alegre e amigável de antes, mas quando pensava que estava sozinho, o narrador às vezes o via sentado por horas olhando para o espaço, sua expressão cheia de saudade e profunda miséria. À noite, ele se sentava olhando para os céus; o narrador não entendeu o porquê até ler seu manuscrito anos depois.

Original English

When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when others were with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of old, but when he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for hours gazing off into space, his face set in a look of wistful longing and hopeless misery; and at night he would sit thus looking up into the heavens, at what I did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward.

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Português

Ele lhes disse que passou parte do tempo desde a guerra prospectando e minerando no Arizona, e seu grande sucesso era evidente pela quantia ilimitada de dinheiro que possuía. Ele relutava muito em discutir os detalhes de sua vida durante aqueles anos; na verdade, recusava-se a falar sobre eles completamente.

Original English

He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of the time since the war; and that he had been very successful was evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. As to the details of his life during these years he was very reticent, in fact he would not talk of them at all.

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Português

Ele ficou com eles por cerca de um ano, depois mudou-se para Nova York, onde comprou uma pequena casa no Hudson. O narrador o visitava uma vez por ano em viagens de negócios a Nova York. O Capitão Carter tinha uma pequena mas bela casa de campo em um penhasco com vista para o rio. Durante uma das últimas visitas do narrador, no inverno de 1885, o narrador notou que ele estava ocupado escrevendo; o narrador agora acredita que ele estava trabalhando neste manuscrito.

Original English

He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a year on the occasions of my trips to the New York market -- my father and I owning and operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia at that time. Captain Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, situated on a bluff overlooking the river, and during one of my last visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he was much occupied in writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript.

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Português

Naquela época, ele disse ao narrador que, se algo acontecesse com ele, queria que o narrador cuidasse de sua propriedade. Ele deu ao narrador uma chave para um compartimento do cofre em seu escritório, dizendo que o narrador encontraria seu testamento e algumas instruções pessoais ali, e fez o narrador prometer cumpri-las com total lealdade.

Original English

He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will there and some personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to carry out with absolute fidelity.

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Português

Depois de se recolher para a noite, o narrador observou um homem de sua janela, parado ao luar na borda de um penhasco com vista para o Hudson. O homem estendeu os braços para o céu como se em apelo, e o narrador presumiu que ele estava rezando, embora nunca o tivesse considerado particularmente religioso.

Original English

After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never understood that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious man.

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Português

Vários meses após sua última visita, por volta do primeiro de março de 1886, o narrador recebeu um telegrama do homem pedindo que fosse imediatamente. O narrador sempre fora o favorito do homem entre a geração mais jovem dos Carters, então ele atendeu rapidamente ao pedido.

Original English

Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his demand.

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Português

O narrador chegou à pequena estação perto da propriedade do homem na manhã de 4 de março de 1886. Quando perguntou a um motorista de aluguel para levá-lo à casa do Capitão Carter, o motorista respondeu que, se ele era amigo, tinha más notícias: o Capitão havia sido encontrado morto pouco depois do amanhecer daquela manhã por um vigia de uma propriedade vizinha.

Original English

I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me out to Captain Carter's he replied that if I was a friend of the Captain's he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the watchman attached to an adjoining property.

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Português

A notícia não surpreendeu o narrador, mas ele correu para a propriedade o mais rápido possível para cuidar do corpo e administrar os assuntos do Capitão.

Original English

For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body and of his affairs.

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Português

O narrador encontrou o vigia que havia descoberto o corpo, junto com o chefe de polícia local e vários moradores, reunidos no escritório. O vigia deu alguns detalhes: o corpo ainda estava quente quando encontrado, deitado por completo na neve com os braços estendidos acima da cabeça em direção à borda do penhasco. Quando o vigia mostrou o local ao narrador, ele percebeu que era o mesmo lugar onde havia visto o homem em noites anteriores, com os braços erguidos em súplica aos céus.

Original English

I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of the body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms outstretched above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when he showed me the spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical one where I had seen him on those other nights, with his arms raised in supplication to the skies.

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Português

Não havia sinais de violência no corpo. Com a ajuda de um médico local, o júri do legista rapidamente decidiu que ele morreu de insuficiência cardíaca. Quando fiquei sozinho no escritório, abri o cofre e retirei o conteúdo da gaveta onde ele me dissera que encontraria minhas instruções. Eram um tanto estranhas, mas eu as segui tão fielmente quanto pude.

Original English

There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a local physician the coroner's jury quickly reached a decision of death from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would find my instructions. They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have followed them to each last detail as faithfully as I was able.

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Português

Ele me instruiu a levar seu corpo para a Virgínia sem embalsamá-lo e a colocá-lo em um caixão aberto dentro de um túmulo que ele havia construído anteriormente. Mais tarde, soube que o túmulo era bem ventilado. As instruções enfatizavam que eu deveria garantir pessoalmente que tudo fosse feito exatamente como ele queria, mesmo que tivesse que ser feito em segredo.

Original English

He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had had constructed and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. The instructions impressed upon me that I must personally see that this was carried out just as he directed, even in secrecy if necessary.

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Português

Sua propriedade foi organizada de modo que eu receberia toda a renda dela por vinte e cinco anos, após os quais a propriedade em si se tornaria minha. Ele também deu instruções sobre este manuscrito: eu deveria mantê-lo lacrado e não lido por onze anos, exatamente como o encontrei, e não deveria revelar seu conteúdo até vinte e um anos após sua morte.

Original English

His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. His further instructions related to this manuscript which I was to retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was I to divulge its contents until twenty-one years after his death.

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Português

Uma característica estranha do túmulo, onde seu corpo ainda descansa, é que a porta pesada tem uma única e grande fechadura de mola folheada a ouro que só pode ser aberta por dentro.

Original English

A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring lock which can be opened only from the inside .

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Português

Atenciosamente, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Original English

Yours very sincerely, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

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CHAPTER I — ON THE ARIZONA HILLS

Português

Ele afirma que é muito velho, mas não sabe exatamente quantos anos tem. Ele não envelheceu como outros homens e não tem memória da infância. Sempre aparentou ter cerca de trinta anos. Embora tenha morrido duas vezes e ainda esteja vivo, ele teme a morte real da qual não há ressurreição. Esse medo, ele acredita, o convence de sua própria mortalidade.

Original English

I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living forever; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality.

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Português

Ele decidiu escrever a história de sua vida e morte. Não pode explicar os fenômenos, mas registrará os estranhos eventos que aconteceram durante os dez anos em que seu corpo morto permaneceu não descoberto em uma caverna no Arizona.

Original English

And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words of an ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events that befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona cave.

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Português

Ele nunca contou essa história e ninguém verá o manuscrito até após sua morte. Ele sabe que a maioria das pessoas não acreditará no que não pode entender, então não quer ser chamado de mentiroso por dizer a verdade. Ele espera que suas experiências em Marte e o conhecimento que registra ajudem a ciência a entender os mistérios daquele planeta, que já não são mais mistérios para ele.

Original English

I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths which some day science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me.

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Português

Seu nome é John Carter, conhecido como Capitão Jack Carter, da Virgínia. Após a Guerra Civil, ele tinha dinheiro confederado e uma patente de capitão, mas o exército e o estado não existiam mais. Sem mestre, sem dinheiro e sem meios de sustento além da luta, ele decidiu viajar para o sudoeste em busca de ouro para restaurar sua fortuna.

Original English

My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; the servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold.

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Português

Ele passou quase um ano prospectando com outro oficial confederado, o Capitão James K. Powell. Eles tiveram muita sorte; após muitas dificuldades no inverno de 1865, encontraram um notável veio de quartzo aurífero. Powell, um engenheiro de minas, estimou que eles haviam descoberto mais de um milhão de dólares em minério em pouco mais de três meses.

Original English

I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months.

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Português

Como nosso equipamento era extremamente rudimentar, decidimos que um de nós teria que voltar à civilização, comprar as máquinas necessárias e retornar com homens suficientes para operar a mina adequadamente.

Original English

As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine.

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Português

Como Powell conhecia a região e as necessidades mecânicas da mineração, decidimos que era melhor ele fazer a viagem. Combinamos que eu ficaria e protegeria nossa reivindicação caso um prospector errante tentasse tomá-la.

Original English

As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against the remote possibility of its being jumped by some wandering prospector.

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Português

Em 3 de março de 1866, Powell e eu colocamos suas provisões em dois de nossos burros. Ele se despediu de mim, montou em seu cavalo e começou a descer a encosta da montanha em direção ao vale, que era a primeira etapa de sua jornada.

Original English

On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first stage of his journey.

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Português

A manhã da partida de Powell estava clara e bonita, como a maioria das manhãs no Arizona. Eu podia vê-lo e seus pequenos animais de carga descendo a montanha em direção ao vale. Durante toda a manhã, eu os via ocasionalmente enquanto subiam uma crista ou alcançavam um planalto plano. Vi Powell pela última vez por volta das três da tarde, quando ele entrou nas sombras das montanhas do outro lado do vale.

Original English

The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, and all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them as they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the shadows of the range on the opposite side of the valley.

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Português

Cerca de meia hora depois, aconteceu de eu olhar através do vale e fiquei surpreso ao ver três pequenos pontos aproximadamente no mesmo lugar onde havia visto meu amigo e seus dois animais de carga pela última vez. Não sou propenso a preocupações desnecessárias, mas quanto mais tentava me convencer de que Powell estava bem e que os pontos em sua trilha eram antílopes ou cavalos selvagens, menos conseguia me tranquilizar.

Original English

Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure myself.

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Português

Tendo entrado no território sem encontrar nenhum índio hostil, o grupo havia se tornado extremamente descuidado. Eles frequentemente zombavam das histórias que ouviam sobre os muitos saqueadores ferozes que supostamente espreitavam nas trilhas, atacando todo grupo branco que caísse em suas mãos cruéis.

Original English

Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in lives and torture of every white party which fell into their merciless clutches.

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Português

Eu sabia que Powell estava bem armado e era experiente em lutar contra índios, mas eu também tinha vivido e lutado com os Sioux no Norte por anos, e percebi que suas chances eram pequenas contra um grupo de astutos rastreadores Apache. Incapaz de suportar a suspense por mais tempo, armei-me com meus dois revólveres Colt e uma carabina, prendi dois cintos de cartuchos e, pegando meu cavalo de sela, comecei a descer a trilha que Powell havia tomado naquela manhã.

Original English

Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, I strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle horse, started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning.

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Português

Assim que cheguei a um terreno relativamente plano, instiguei meu cavalo a um meio-galope e mantive esse ritmo onde possível. Perto do anoitecer, encontrei onde outras trilhas se juntavam às de Powell. Havia três conjuntos de pegadas de pôneis sem ferraduras, e eles estavam galopando.

Original English

As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies had been galloping.

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Português

Eu segui rapidamente até que a escuridão me obrigou a parar e esperar o nascer da lua, dando-me tempo para considerar se minha perseguição era sábia. Talvez eu tivesse imaginado perigos impossíveis, como uma dona de casa nervosa, e seria ridicularizado quando alcançasse Powell. Mas não me preocupo facilmente; seguir meu senso de dever onde quer que ele leve sempre foi um princípio norteador para mim. Isso pode explicar por que fui homenageado por três repúblicas e recebi condecorações e amizade de um imperador velho e poderoso e vários reis menores, a cujo serviço lutei muitas vezes.

Original English

I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when I should catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. However, I am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword has been red many a time.

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Português

Por volta das nove horas, a lua estava brilhante o suficiente para eu continuar. Segui a trilha facilmente em passo rápido, e às vezes em trote rápido, até por volta da meia-noite, quando cheguei ao poço d'água onde Powell planejava acampar. Encontrei o local inesperadamente e o achei completamente deserto, sem nenhuma evidência de acampamento recente.

Original English

About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of having been recently occupied as a camp.

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Português

O narrador notou que os rastros dos cavaleiros perseguidores continuaram após Powell, parando apenas brevemente para água, e mantiveram a mesma velocidade.

Original English

I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of speed as his.

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Português

Ele tinha certeza de que os perseguidores eram apaches que pretendiam capturar Powell vivo para torturá-lo, então montou seu cavalo em uma velocidade perigosa, esperando alcançá-lo antes do ataque.

Original English

I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him.

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Português

Seus pensamentos foram interrompidos por dois tiros distantes. Sabendo que Powell precisava dele, o narrador forçou seu cavalo à velocidade máxima pela trilha estreita da montanha.

Original English

Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and difficult mountain trail.

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Português

Depois de cavalgar cerca de um quilômetro sem mais sons, a trilha abriu-se para um pequeno planalto perto do topo do desfiladeiro. O narrador acabara de emergir de uma garganta estreita, e a visão diante dele o encheu de consternação.

Original English

I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table land, and the sight which met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay.

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Português

O planalto estava coberto de tendas indígenas e cerca de quinhentos guerreiros reunidos em torno de algo no centro. Eles estavam tão concentrados que não o viram. O narrador poderia ter escapado de volta para a garganta, mas não pensou nisso até o dia seguinte, o que o impediu de reivindicar qualquer heroísmo no incidente.

Original English

The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice me, and I easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this thought did not occur to me until the following day removes any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this episode might possibly otherwise entitle me.

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Português

O narrador refletiu que não se considerava um herói, porque sempre que enfrentava o perigo, nunca pensava em uma alternativa até muito depois. Ele acreditava que sua mente era naturalmente compelida a fazer o que era certo sem raciocínio difícil. Ele era grato por a covardia não ser uma opção para ele.

Original English

I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted that cowardice is not optional with me.

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Português

Ele tinha certeza de que Powell era o foco principal do ataque. Sem pensar, sacou seus revólveres e carregou contra os guerreiros, atirando e gritando alto. Essa foi uma tática sábia, pois o ataque súbito convenceu os guerreiros de que uma grande força estava sobre eles. Eles entraram em pânico e fugiram para pegar suas armas.

Original English

In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for the red men, convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars was upon them, turned and fled in every direction for their bows, arrows, and rifles.

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Português

Quando os guerreiros se dispersaram, ele viu o corpo de Powell coberto de flechas. Embora acreditasse que Powell já estava morto, ele ainda desejava proteger o corpo da mutilação pelos Apaches, assim como teria tentado salvar o homem vivo.

Original English

The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of the braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, and yet I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death.

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Português

Ele cavalgou perto de Powell e, estendendo a mão, puxou-o para seu cavalo. Olhando para trás, decidiu que voltar pelo mesmo caminho era muito perigoso. Em vez disso, esporeou seu cavalo e disparou em direção a um desfiladeiro que ele podia ver no lado oposto do planalto.

Original English

Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come would be more hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which I could distinguish on the far side of the table land.

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Português

Os índios logo perceberam que ele estava sozinho e o perseguiram com gritos, flechas e tiros. No entanto, mirar com precisão sob o luar era difícil, e seu ataque súbito e rápido os surpreendeu. Ele conseguiu alcançar a segurança dos picos ao redor antes que eles pudessem organizar uma perseguição ordenada.

Original English

The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit could be organized.

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Português

Meu cavalo se moveu quase sem orientação, pois percebi que eu tinha menos conhecimento da trilha do que ele. Assim aconteceu que ele entrou em um desfiladeiro estreito que levava ao topo das montanhas, em vez do passo que eu esperava que me levasse ao vale e à segurança. No entanto, é provável que eu deva minha vida a esse erro, bem como as notáveis aventuras que se abateram sobre mim nos dez anos seguintes.

Original English

My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which led to the summit of the range and not to the pass which I had hoped would carry me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and adventures which befell me during the following ten years.

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Português

Percebi pela primeira vez que estava no caminho errado quando ouvi os gritos dos meus perseguidores se tornando cada vez mais fracos, bem à minha esquerda.

Original English

My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off to my left.

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Português

Então entendi que eles tinham ido para a esquerda das rochas irregulares na borda do planalto, enquanto meu cavalo havia me levado, junto com o corpo de Powell, para a direita.

Original English

I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse had borne me and the body of Powell.

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Português

Parei meu cavalo em um pequeno platô com vista para a trilha à minha esquerda e vi o bando de perseguidores desaparecer ao lado de um pico próximo.

Original English

I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing around the point of a neighboring peak.

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Português

Eu sabia que os índios logo perceberiam seu erro e retomariam a busca na direção correta assim que encontrassem meus rastros.

Original English

I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks.

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Português

Depois de caminhar uma curta distância, notei o que parecia ser uma boa trilha se abrindo ao redor da face de um penhasco alto. A trilha era plana, bastante larga e subia na direção geral para onde eu queria ir. O penhasco se elevava várias centenas de pés à minha direita, enquanto à minha esquerda havia uma queda igualmente íngreme em uma ravina rochosa.

Original English

I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine.

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Português

Segui a trilha por cerca de cem jardas até que uma curva fechada à direita revelou a entrada de uma grande caverna. A abertura tinha aproximadamente quatro pés de altura e três a quatro pés de largura, e a trilha terminava ali.

Original English

I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, and at this opening the trail ended.

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Português

A manhã havia chegado e, como é típico no Arizona, a transição para a luz do dia aconteceu abruptamente, com quase nenhum amanhecer gradual.

Original English

It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost without warning.

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Português

Desmontei e deitei Powell no chão, mas um exame cuidadoso não mostrou nenhum sinal de vida. Apesar de saber que ele estava morto, forcei água do meu cantil entre seus lábios, lavei seu rosto e esfreguei suas mãos, trabalhando sobre ele por quase uma hora.

Original English

Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed his hands, working over him continuously for the better part of an hour in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead.

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Português

Eu era profundamente apegado a Powell. Ele era um homem completo em todos os aspectos, um cavalheiro sulista refinado e um amigo leal e verdadeiro. Foi com profunda tristeza que finalmente parei minhas tentativas rudimentares de reanimá-lo.

Original English

I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude endeavors at resuscitation.

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Português

Deixando o corpo de Powell na borda da saliência, entrei na caverna para explorar. Dentro, encontrei uma grande câmara com cerca de cem pés de diâmetro e trinta a quarenta pés de altura. O chão era liso e desgastado, com claros sinais de que a caverna havia sido habitada há muito tempo. O fundo da caverna estava tão escuro que não conseguia ver se havia aberturas para outros cômodos.

Original English

Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some remote period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in dense shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were openings into other apartments or not.

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Português

Enquanto continuava examinando a caverna, uma sonolência agradável começou a me dominar. Atribuí isso ao cansaço da minha longa e árdua cavalgada e à empolgação da luta e da perseguição. Sentindo-me relativamente seguro no meu local atual — já que um homem poderia defender a trilha estreita contra um exército inteiro — deixei-me relaxar.

Original English

As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave against an army.

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Português

Logo fiquei tão sonolento que mal conseguia resistir à vontade de me deitar no chão da caverna e descansar um pouco. Mas sabia que não podia, porque isso significaria morte certa se meus inimigos vermelhos chegassem. Com esforço, comecei a caminhar em direção à entrada, só que cambaleei como um bêbado contra a parede e então escorreguei e caí de bruços no chão.

Original English

I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' rest, but I knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an effort I started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor.

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CHAPTER II — THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD

Português

Uma sensação sonhadora tomou conta de mim. Meus músculos relaxaram, e eu estava prestes a ceder ao sono quando ouvi cavalos se aproximando. Tentei pular, mas, horrorizado, descobri que meus músculos não me obedeciam. Eu estava totalmente acordado, porém incapaz de mover um único músculo, como se estivesse petrificado. Pela primeira vez, notei um vapor fraco na caverna, visível apenas contra a abertura para a luz do dia. Um odor levemente pungente chegou às minhas narinas. Imaginei que tivesse sido dominado por gás venenoso, mas não conseguia entender por que minha mente ainda estava lúcida enquanto meu corpo estava paralisado.

Original English

A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom.

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Português

Deitei-me de frente para a abertura da caverna, conseguindo ver o pequeno trecho da trilha entre a caverna e a curva do penhasco. O barulho dos cavalos que se aproximavam havia cessado, e eu deduzi que os índios estavam se aproximando sorrateiramente pela borda da saliência em direção ao meu túmulo vivo. Lembro-me de ter esperado que eles me matassem rapidamente, pois não queria suportar as coisas indescritíveis que poderiam fazer se tivessem vontade.

Original English

I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit prompted them.

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Português

Pouco depois, um som silencioso me disse que estavam próximos. Então um rosto usando um cocar de guerra e pintado com listras apareceu cautelosamente na borda do penhasco, e olhos ferozes encontraram os meus. Eu tinha certeza de que o guerreiro podia me ver na caverna escura, porque a luz do sol da manhã caía diretamente sobre mim através da abertura.

Original English

I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the opening.

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Português

O homem não se aproximou, mas simplesmente ficou parado e olhou com olhos arregalados e boca aberta. Então outro rosto apareceu, e um terceiro, quarto e quinto, todos esticando o pescoço sobre os ombros dos que estavam na frente, pois não podiam passar na saliência estreita. Cada rosto mostrava admiração e medo, embora eu não entendesse por que — e só descobriria o motivo dez anos depois. Estava claro que havia mais guerreiros atrás destes, porque os líderes sussurravam mensagens para os mais distantes.

Original English

The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were still other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from the fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them.

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Português

De repente, um som baixo mas claro de gemido veio do fundo da caverna atrás de mim. Quando os índios o ouviram, viraram-se e fugiram em pânico total. O desespero para escapar da presença invisível atrás de mim era tão grande que um guerreiro foi jogado de cabeça do penhasco sobre as rochas abaixo. Seus gritos ecoaram pelo desfiladeiro por um tempo, e então tudo ficou em silêncio novamente.

Original English

Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of the braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. Their wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then all was still once more.

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Português

O som que os aterrorizara não se repetiu, mas foi suficiente para me fazer imaginar que horror poderia estar escondido nas sombras atrás de mim. O medo é um conceito relativo, e só posso julgar meus sentimentos na época comparando-os com perigos que enfrentei antes e depois. No entanto, posso dizer sem vergonha que se o que senti nos minutos seguintes foi medo, então que Deus ajude o covarde, pois a covardia é certamente seu próprio castigo.

Original English

The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced in previous positions of danger and by those that I have passed through since; but I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment.

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Português

Ficar paralisado no lugar, com as costas voltadas para um perigo horrível e desconhecido — um perigo cujo mero som fazia os ferozes guerreiros apaches fugirem como ovelhas de lobos — parecia-me a situação mais aterrorizante para um homem que sempre lutara pela vida com toda a força de um corpo poderoso.

Original English

To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and unknown danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man who had ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of a powerful physique.

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Português

Ele pensou ter ouvido sons fracos atrás de si, como alguém se movendo com cuidado, mas eles pararam. Sozinho, ele refletiu sobre sua situação. Ele só podia imaginar por que estava paralisado, e sua única esperança era que isso terminasse tão repentinamente quanto começou.

Original English

Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to the contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me.

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Português

No final da tarde, seu cavalo, que havia estado parado com as rédeas soltas, começou a descer lentamente a trilha em busca de comida e água. Ele agora estava sozinho com seu misterioso companheiro e o corpo morto de seu amigo, que estava na saliência onde o colocara naquela manhã.

Original English

Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just within my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early morning.

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Português

A partir de então até cerca da meia-noite, houve silêncio completo. De repente, um gemido terrível quebrou o silêncio, e ele ouviu algo se movendo nas sombras escuras, com um leve farfalhar como de folhas secas. O choque para seus nervos já tensos foi extremo. Com um esforço sobre-humano, ele tentou se libertar. Foi um esforço da mente e da vontade, não muscular, já que ele não conseguia nem mover um dedo. Então algo cedeu. Ele sentiu um momento de náusea, ouviu um clique agudo como o estalar de um fio de aço, e se viu de pé contra a parede da caverna, enfrentando seu inimigo desconhecido.

Original English

From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the sound of a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to my already overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and I stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown foe.

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Português

Então a luz da lua encheu a caverna, e ele viu seu próprio corpo deitado ali como estivera por horas — olhos fixos na saliência, mãos frouxas no chão. Ele olhou para seu corpo morto no chão, depois para si mesmo confuso. Ali estava seu corpo vestido, enquanto ele estava nu como ao nascer.

Original English

And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave and then down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet here I stood but naked as at the minute of my birth.

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Português

A mudança foi tão repentina e inesperada que por um momento ele esqueceu tudo, exceto sua estranha transformação. Ele se perguntou se aquilo era a morte — se ele havia passado para outra vida. Mas não podia acreditar, porque sentia seu coração batendo forte com o esforço de se libertar da paralisia. Sua respiração ficou rápida, suor frio cobriu seu corpo, e beliscar a si mesmo provou que ele não era um fantasma.

Original English

The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as I could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out from every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching revealed the fact that I was anything other than a wraith.

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Português

Fui trazido de volta ao meu entorno por outro gemido estranho vindo do fundo da caverna. Eu estava nu e desarmado, e não queria enfrentar a coisa desconhecida que me ameaçava.

Original English

Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which menaced me.

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Português

Meus revólveres ainda estavam presos ao meu corpo morto, que por alguma razão eu não conseguia tocar. Meu rifle estava no suporte da sela, mas meu cavalo havia se afastado, então eu não tinha como me defender. A única escolha que tive foi fugir, e essa decisão se tornou definitiva quando ouvi o som de farfalhar novamente. Na caverna escura, minha mente assustada imaginou a coisa rastejando lentamente em minha direção.

Original English

My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed to lie in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of the rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me.

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Português

Não aguentei mais a vontade de escapar daquele lugar horrível, então pulei rapidamente pela abertura para a luz das estrelas de uma noite clara do Arizona. O ar fresco e puro da montanha lá fora me reviveu, e senti nova vida e coragem. Pausei na borda e me culpei pelo que agora parecia medo desnecessário. Raciocinei que havia ficado deitado indefeso na caverna por muitas horas sem ser perturbado, e meu julgamento lógico me disse que os barulhos deviam ter vindo de causas naturais e inofensivas — talvez a forma da caverna fizesse com que uma leve brisa produzisse os sons.

Original English

Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing through me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when permitted the direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises I had heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had caused the sounds I heard.

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Português

Decidi olhar ao redor, mas primeiro levantei a cabeça para encher os pulmões com o ar puro e refrescante da noite na montanha. Ao fazer isso, vi uma bela vista lá embaixo: um desfiladeiro rochoso e uma planície salpicada de cactos, tudo transformado pela luz da lua em uma cena de suave esplendor e encantamento.

Original English

I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous enchantment.

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Português

Poucas vistas no Oeste Americano são tão inspiradoras quanto uma paisagem do Arizona sob a luz da lua: as montanhas prateadas ao longe, as estranhas luzes e sombras nas cristas e leitos secos de rios, e os cactos rígidos mas belos criam uma imagem que é ao mesmo tempo encantadora e inspiradora. Parecia ver um mundo morto e esquecido pela primeira vez, tão diferente é de qualquer outro lugar na Terra.

Original English

Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of any other spot upon our earth.

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Português

Enquanto ele estava pensando, ele olhou da paisagem para as estrelas. Uma grande estrela vermelha perto do horizonte chamou sua atenção. Ele sentiu um forte fascínio, sabendo que era Marte, o deus da guerra, que sempre o encantara como lutador. Naquela noite, parecia chamá-lo através da vasta distância, atraindo-o como um ímã.

Original English

As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of overpowering fascination -- it was Mars, the god of war, and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron.

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Português

Seu desejo era forte demais para resistir. Ele fechou os olhos, estendeu os braços em direção a Marte e sentiu-se puxado instantaneamente pelo espaço. Por um momento, houve frio extremo e escuridão completa.

Original English

My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness.

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CHAPTER III — MY ADVENT ON MARS

Português

Ele abriu os olhos para uma paisagem estranha e soube que estava em Marte sem duvidar de sua sanidade ou vigília. Sua certeza interior era tão clara quanto saber que se está na Terra. Ele não questionou isso.

Original English

I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I.

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Português

Ele estava deitado sobre um leito de musgo amarelado que se estendia infinitamente. Ele estava em uma bacia circular e profunda cercada por colinas baixas.

Original English

I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills.

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Português

Era meio-dia, e o sol estava quente em seu corpo nu, mas não mais do que em um deserto do Arizona. Ele viu rochas de quartzo brilhando e um muro baixo de cerca de um metro e vinte de altura a cem metros de distância. Não havia água ou outra vegetação além do musgo. Com sede, ele decidiu explorar.

Original English

It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat thirsty I determined to do a little exploring.

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Português

Quando o narrador se levantou, ficou surpreso. Na Terra, levantar-se teria sido normal, mas aqui o lançou cerca de três jardas para o ar. Ele pousou suavemente. Então experimentou uma série de movimentos que pareceram ridículos. Percebeu que tinha que aprender a andar novamente porque seus músculos, adaptados à gravidade da Terra, se comportavam de forma estranha em Marte.

Original English

Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now commenced a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the muscular exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played strange antics with me upon Mars.

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Português

Suas tentativas de andar resultaram em pulos estranhos que o erguiam alguns pés do chão a cada passo, e ele frequentemente caía. Seus músculos, acostumados com a gravidade da Terra, não conseguiam lidar com a menor gravidade e pressão atmosférica de Marte.

Original English

Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, played the mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope with the lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars.

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Português

Determinado a explorar o único sinal de habitação à vista, uma estrutura baixa, ele decidiu tentar engatinhar. Isso funcionou melhor, e logo ele alcançou o muro baixo.

Original English

I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, encircling wall of the enclosure.

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Português

Não havia portas nem janelas no lado para o qual ele estava virado. O muro tinha apenas cerca de um metro e vinte de altura, então ele se levantou cautelosamente e olhou por cima, vendo a visão mais estranha que já tinha visto.

Original English

There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given me to see.

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Português

O telhado do recinto era feito de vidro maciço com cerca de quatro ou cinco polegadas de espessura. Debaixo dele havia centenas de ovos grandes, perfeitamente redondos e brancos como a neve, cada um com cerca de dois pés e meio de diâmetro.

Original English

The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size being about two and one-half feet in diameter.

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Português

Cerca de cinco ou seis ovos já haviam eclodido. As criaturas que emergiram eram tão grotescas que o narrador duvidou de sua sanidade. Elas tinham cabeças grandes, corpos pequenos, pescoços longos e seis pernas — ou, como ele aprendeu depois, duas pernas e dois braços com um par extra que podia servir a ambos os propósitos. Seus olhos estavam posicionados nas laterais extremas da cabeça, ligeiramente acima do centro, e se projetavam de modo que podiam olhar em qualquer direção ou em duas direções ao mesmo tempo sem virar a cabeça.

Original English

Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could be directed either forward or back and also independently of each other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head.

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Português

Suas orelhas eram pequenas antenas em forma de taça, logo acima dos olhos e mais próximas entre si, projetando-se menos de uma polegada nestes jovens. Seus narizes eram fendas longitudinais no meio do rosto, a meio caminho entre a boca e as orelhas.

Original English

The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears.

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Português

Os corpos eram sem pelos e de um verde-amarelado claro. Nos adultos, como o narrador logo aprendeu, a cor se aprofundava para um verde-oliva, mais escuro nos machos. Além disso, as cabeças dos adultos eram mais proporcionais aos seus corpos do que nos jovens.

Original English

There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young.

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Português

A íris era vermelha como sangue, como a de um albino, com pupila escura. O globo ocular e os dentes eram muito brancos. As presas inferiores se curvavam para cima até pontas afiadas que alcançavam aproximadamente onde os olhos humanos estariam. Os dentes eram tão brancos quanto a porcelana mais fina, destacando-se fortemente contra a pele escura de oliva.

Original English

The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance.

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Português

A maioria desses detalhes ele notou apenas mais tarde, pois teve pouco tempo para refletir. Enquanto observava os horríveis filhotes rompendo suas cascas, ele não percebeu a aproximação de uma vintena de marcianos adultos por trás.

Original English

Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me.

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Português

Os guerreiros se moveram sobre o musgo macio e silencioso que cobre a maior parte de Marte, exceto pelos polos congelados e algumas áreas cultivadas. Eles poderiam ter me capturado facilmente, mas sua intenção era pior. O barulho do equipamento do primeiro guerreiro me alertou.

Original English

Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, they might have captured me easily, but their intentions were far more sinister. It was the rattling of the accouterments of the foremost warrior which warned me.

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Português

Fiquei surpreso por ter escapado tão facilmente, pois minha vida dependia de um pequeno acidente. O rifle do líder balançou e atingiu sua lança de metal, fazendo um som que me fez virar. Vi a ponta da lança a menos de dez pés do meu peito—uma arma de quarenta pés de comprimento com ponta de metal brilhante, segurada baixa por um cavaleiro em uma criatura como os pequenos demônios que eu estava observando.

Original English

On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without ever knowing that death was near me. But the little sound caused me to turn, and there upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the little devils I had been watching.

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Português

Mas ao lado desta terrível encarnação de ódio e morte, os outros pareciam insignificantes e inofensivos. O homem em si tinha quinze pés de altura e pesaria cerca de quatrocentas libras na Terra. Ele sentava em sua montaria como em um cavalo, segurando o corpo do animal com seus membros inferiores. Seus dois braços direitos seguravam a enorme lança baixa ao lado; seus dois braços esquerdos estavam estendidos para equilibrar, já que sua montaria não tinha rédeas ou bridão.

Original English

But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins of any description for guidance.

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Português

E sua montaria—como palavras terrenas podem descrevê-la! Media dez pés na cernelha, com quatro pernas de cada lado, uma cauda larga e chata que mantinha esticada para trás enquanto corria, e uma boca escancarada que dividia sua cabeça do focinho ao longo e massivo pescoço.

Original English

And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its snout to its long, massive neck.

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Português

Como seu mestre, a montaria era completamente sem pelos, de cor ardósia escura, lisa e brilhante. Sua barriga era branca e suas pernas gradavam do ardósia ao amarelo vivo nos pés. Os pés eram fortemente acolchoados e sem unhas, o que também contribuía para sua aproximação silenciosa. Ter muitas pernas é uma característica comum dos animais marcianos. O tipo mais elevado de homem e um outro animal, o único mamífero em Marte, têm unhas bem formadas; não existem absolutamente animais com cascos lá.

Original English

Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence there.

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Português

Mais dezenove demônios seguiram o primeiro, todos semelhantes na aparência, mas cada um com suas próprias características únicas, assim como não existem dois humanos exatamente iguais. Essa visão aterrorizante causou uma impressão rápida e poderosa em mim enquanto eu me virava para enfrentá-la.

Original English

Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it.

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Português

Estando desarmado e nu, meu instinto de sobrevivência me levou a escapar da lança que avançava. Então dei um salto extraordinário, ao mesmo tempo terreno e sobre-humano, visando o topo do que eu havia determinado ser uma incubadora marciana.

Original English

Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it must be.

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Português

Meu salto foi bem-sucedido além das expectativas, surpreendendo-me tanto quanto os guerreiros marcianos. Ele me levou a trinta pés de altura e me depositou a cem pés de distância, no lado oposto do recinto.

Original English

My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on the opposite side of the enclosure.

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Português

Aterrissei facilmente no musgo macio sem me machucar. Virando-me, vi meus inimigos alinhados ao longo da parede distante. Alguns olhavam com expressões de extremo espanto, enquanto outros verificavam se eu não havia machucado seus filhotes.

Original English

I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that I had not molested their young.

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Português

Eles falavam baixinho entre si, gesticulando e apontando para mim. Descobrir que eu estava desarmado e não havia machucado os pequenos marcianos deve ter suavizado sua hostilidade. No entanto, mais tarde soube que meu salto notável foi o que mais me favoreceu.

Original English

They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling.

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Português

Embora os marcianos sejam enormes, seus ossos são muito grandes e seus músculos são fortes apenas o suficiente para a gravidade que precisam superar. Consequentemente, eles são muito menos ágeis e poderosos para seu tamanho do que um homem da Terra. O narrador duvidava que, se um marciano fosse subitamente transportado para a Terra, ele conseguiria levantar seu próprio peso do chão; na verdade, ele estava convencido de que não conseguiria.

Original English

While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. The result is that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he could lift his own weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so.

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Português

A façanha do narrador foi tão surpreendente em Marte quanto teria sido na Terra. Em vez de quererem destruí-lo, os marcianos de repente o consideraram uma descoberta maravilhosa a ser capturada e exibida a seus semelhantes.

Original English

My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their fellows.

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Português

A breve pausa proporcionada por sua velocidade inesperada permitiu ao narrador formular planos para o futuro imediato e estudar os guerreiros mais de perto. Ele não conseguia separar essas pessoas em sua mente dos guerreiros que o haviam perseguido no dia anterior.

Original English

The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely the appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these people in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day before, had been pursuing me.

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Português

O narrador notou que cada guerreiro carregava várias outras armas além da grande lança. A arma que o fez decidir contra tentar escapar era claramente um tipo de rifle, que ele percebeu que eles eram particularmente habilidosos em usar.

Original English

I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were peculiarly efficient in handling.

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Português

Esses rifles eram feitos de um metal branco com coronha de madeira. O metal era uma liga de alumínio e aço, temperada até uma dureza muito superior ao aço da Terra. Os rifles eram leves, com projéteis explosivos de rádio de pequeno calibre e canos longos, tornando-os extremamente mortais a distâncias inimagináveis na Terra. O alcance efetivo teórico era de trezentas milhas, mas no serviço real com localizadores e miras sem fio, eles conseguiam pouco mais de duzentas milhas.

Original English

These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel which they have learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but the best they can do in actual service when equipped with their wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles.

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Português

Isso foi o suficiente para me dar um profundo respeito pela arma de fogo marciana. Senti que alguma força telepática deve ter me avisado para não tentar escapar à luz do dia quando vinte dessas máquinas mortais estavam apontadas para mim.

Original English

This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of these death-dealing machines.

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Português

Após uma breve conversa, os marcianos se viraram e cavalgaram de volta pelo caminho de onde vieram, deixando um de seu grupo sozinho junto ao cercado. Quando percorreram cerca de duzentas jardas, pararam e viraram suas montarias para nos enfrentar, sentados e observando o guerreiro junto ao cercado.

Original English

The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat watching the warrior by the enclosure.

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Português

Ele era aquele cuja lança quase me trespassou, e ele era claramente o líder do grupo, pois eu havia notado que eles se moveram para sua posição atual por ordem dele. Quando sua força parou, ele desmontou, largou sua lança e armas secundárias, e contornou a extremidade da incubadora em minha direção, completamente desarmado e tão nu quanto eu, exceto pelos ornamentos amarrados em sua cabeça, membros e peito.

Original English

He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast.

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Português

Quando ele estava a cerca de cinquenta pés de distância, ele desabotoou uma grande braçadeira de metal e a segurou em minha direção na palma da mão. Ele se dirigiu a mim com uma voz clara e ressonante, mas, claro, em uma língua que eu não conseguia entender. Ele então fez uma pausa como se esperasse minha resposta, erguendo suas orelhas antenadas e virando seus olhos estranhos ainda mais intensamente em minha direção.

Original English

When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking his strange-looking eyes still further toward me.

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Português

Como o silêncio se tornou desconfortável, decidi arriscar iniciar uma conversa, já que eu havia adivinhado que ele estava fazendo acenos de paz. Na Terra, largar as armas e retirar as tropas antes de se aproximar indicaria uma intenção pacífica, então por que não em Marte também?

Original English

As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on Mars!

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Português

Ele colocou a mão sobre o coração, curvou-se diante do marciano e tentou explicar que, embora não entendesse a língua do marciano, as ações dele transmitiam paz e amizade, que eram o que mais importava naquele momento. Suas palavras provavelmente não tiveram significado, mas o gesto que se seguiu foi compreendido.

Original English

Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action with which I immediately followed my words.

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Português

Ele estendeu a mão, pegou o bracelete da palma aberta do marciano e o prendeu em seu próprio braço acima do cotovelo. Sorriu e ficou esperando. O marciano sorriu de volta, entrelaçou um de seus braços intermediários com o dele, e eles se viraram e caminharam de volta para a montaria do marciano. Ao mesmo tempo, o marciano sinalizou para seus seguidores avançarem. Eles começaram a correr desenfreadamente em sua direção, mas ele os conteve com outro gesto. Aparentemente, ele temia que, se o narrador ficasse com muito medo novamente, pudesse pular para longe completamente.

Original English

Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape.

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Português

Ele trocou algumas palavras com seus homens e então fez sinal de que o narrador montaria atrás de um deles. Montou em seu próprio animal. O homem designado estendeu duas ou três mãos e ergueu o narrador para trás dele, sobre o dorso lustroso de sua montaria, onde ele se agarrou como pôde nas correias e tiras que seguravam as armas e ornamentos do marciano.

Original English

He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments.

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Português

Então toda a comitiva se virou e galopou em direção à distante cadeia de colinas.

Original English

The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of hills in the distance.

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CHAPTER IV — A PRISONER

Português

Eles haviam viajado talvez dez milhas quando o chão começou a subir muito rapidamente. Como o narrador descobriu mais tarde, estavam se aproximando da borda de um dos mares há muito extintos de Marte, no fundo do qual seu encontro com os marcianos havia ocorrido.

Original English

We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the Martians had taken place.

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Português

Logo eles chegaram ao pé das montanhas. Depois de passar por um desfiladeiro estreito, chegaram a um vale aberto. No extremo do vale havia um planalto baixo, e sobre ele o narrador viu uma cidade enorme. Eles galoparam em direção a ela e entraram por uma estrada arruinada que saía da cidade, mas terminava abruptamente na borda do planalto em uma escadaria de degraus largos.

Original English

In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps.

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Português

Ao passarem pelos edifícios, o narrador notou que estavam desertos. Embora não muito deteriorados, pareciam como se ninguém morasse neles há anos, talvez séculos. Perto do centro da cidade havia uma grande praça, e nela e nos edifícios ao redor estavam acampados cerca de nove ou dez centenas de criaturas do mesmo tipo que seus captores. Ele agora os considerava captores, apesar da maneira suave com que havia sido enganado.

Original English

Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped.

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Português

Exceto por seus ornamentos, todas as criaturas estavam nuas. As mulheres eram muito parecidas com os homens, exceto que suas presas eram muito maiores em proporção à sua altura, às vezes curvando-se quase até suas orelhas altas. Seus corpos eram menores e de cor mais clara, e seus dedos das mãos e dos pés tinham o início de unhas, que os machos não possuíam. As fêmeas adultas variavam em altura de dez a doze pés.

Original English

With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter in color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which were entirely lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in height from ten to twelve feet.

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Português

As crianças eram de cor clara, ainda mais claras que as mulheres. Para o narrador, todas pareciam exatamente iguais, exceto que algumas eram mais altas que outras, o que ele supôs significar que eram mais velhas.

Original English

The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; older, I presumed.

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Português

O narrador não viu sinais de idade extrema entre eles. Sua aparência não mudava visivelmente desde a idade adulta, por volta dos quarenta anos, até aproximadamente mil anos, quando eles voluntariamente começavam sua estranha jornada final pelo Rio Iss. Nenhum marciano vivo sabe para onde o rio leva, e nenhum marciano jamais retornou de suas águas frias e escuras. Se eles retornassem após embarcar, não teriam permissão para viver.

Original English

I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after once embarking upon its cold, dark waters.

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Português

Muito poucos marcianos morrem de doenças; a maioria morre de mortes violentas em duelos, caça, aviação ou guerra. Muitas crianças também são vítimas dos grandes macacos brancos de Marte.

Original English

Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of the little Martians fall victims to the great white apes of Mars.

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Português

Os marcianos poderiam viver até mil anos, mas a morte violenta reduz sua expectativa de vida média para cerca de trezentos. Como os recursos do planeta estão diminuindo, tornou-se necessário neutralizar o aumento da longevidade, então a vida agora é considerada barata, como mostram seus esportes perigosos e guerras constantes.

Original English

The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark were it not for the various means leading to violent death. Owing to the waning resources of the planet it evidently became necessary to counteract the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come to be considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between the various communities.

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Português

Outra causa importante do declínio populacional é que todo marciano, homem ou mulher, sempre carrega uma arma.

Original English

There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of destruction.

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Português

Ao se aproximarem da praça, o narrador foi descoberto e cercado por centenas de marcianos ansiosos para arrancá-lo de seu guarda. O líder do grupo falou e os acalmou, então eles prosseguiram a trote pela praça até a entrada de um magnífico edifício.

Original English

As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has rested upon.

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Português

O edifício era baixo, mas cobria uma vasta área. Era feito de mármore branco reluzente com incrustações de ouro e pedras brilhantes que cintilavam à luz do sol. A entrada principal tinha cerca de cem pés de largura e se projetava para formar um enorme dossel sobre o hall de entrada. Não havia escadas, apenas uma suave inclinação que levava ao primeiro andar, que se abria para uma câmara enorme cercada por galerias.

Original English

The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some hundred feet in width and projected from the building proper to form a huge canopy above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a gentle incline to the first floor of the building opened into an enormous chamber encircled by galleries.

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Português

Na sala, com muitas mesas e cadeiras de madeira entalhada, cerca de quarenta a cinquenta marcianos do sexo masculino se reuniram ao redor dos degraus de uma plataforma. Na própria plataforma estava sentado um enorme guerreiro vestido com ornamentos de metal, penas coloridas e tiras de couro com pedras preciosas. Ele usava uma capa curta de pele branca forrada com seda vermelha brilhante.

Original English

On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended a short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk.

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Português

O mais impressionante era que os móveis eram do tamanho errado para os marcianos. As mesas e cadeiras eram feitas para pessoas como eu, enquanto os marcianos mal conseguiam se encaixar nas cadeiras ou colocar as pernas debaixo das mesas. Isso mostrava que devia haver outros seres em Marte além dessas criaturas. Os prédios antigos ao meu redor sugeriam que eles pertenciam a uma raça antiga e esquecida do passado distante de Marte.

Original English

What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; these being of a size adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for their long legs. Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars.

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Português

Paramos na entrada e, a um sinal do líder, fui abaixado ao chão. Ele enlaçou o braço no meu novamente e entramos na sala de audiência. Havia poucas formalidades. Meu captor caminhou diretamente para a plataforma, e os outros se afastaram. O chefe se levantou e pronunciou o nome do meu escolta, que então parou e repetiu o nome e o título do governante.

Original English

Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for him as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name of my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the ruler followed by his title.

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Português

Na época, eu não entendia a cerimônia nem as palavras que eles diziam. Mais tarde, aprendi que esta era a saudação padrão entre os marcianos verdes. Se os homens fossem estranhos e não pudessem trocar nomes, eles trocariam ornamentos silenciosamente se suas intenções fossem pacíficas. Caso contrário, eles atirariam ou lutariam com outras armas para se apresentar.

Original English

At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged ornaments, had their missions been peaceful -- otherwise they would have exchanged shots, or have fought out their introduction with some other of their various weapons.

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Português

Meu captor, chamado Tars Tarkas, era o vice-chefe da comunidade e um homem de grande habilidade como estadista e guerreiro. Ele explicou brevemente os eventos de sua expedição, incluindo como me capturou. Depois que ele terminou, o chefe falou comigo longamente.

Original English

My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected with his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at some length.

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Português

O narrador falou em inglês para mostrar que eles não se entendiam, mas notou que o marciano sorriu em resposta. Isso, junto com uma experiência semelhante com Tars Tarkas, sugeriu que eles compartilhavam a capacidade de sorrir e rir, indicando um senso de humor. No entanto, ele mais tarde aprendeu que o sorriso marciano não era genuíno, e que sua risada era assustadora.

Original English

I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror.

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Português

Os homens verdes de Marte tinham um senso de humor muito diferente do dos humanos. Eles achavam grande diversão no sofrimento e na morte dos outros, e sua forma mais comum de entretenimento era matar prisioneiros de guerra de maneiras cruéis e imaginativas.

Original English

The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a fellow being are, to these strange creatures, provocative of the wildest hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible ways.

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Português

Os guerreiros e líderes examinaram o narrador de perto, tocando seus músculos e pele. O líder principal então pareceu querer ver suas habilidades, então fez um gesto para o narrador segui-lo, e eles foram com Tars Tarkas até uma praça aberta.

Original English

The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza.

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Português

O narrador não havia tentado andar sozinho desde seu primeiro fracasso, exceto enquanto segurava o braço de Tars Tarkas. Agora ele se movia desajeitadamente entre os móveis, como um grande gafanhoto. Depois de se machucar gravemente, ele começou a engatinhar, mas isso desagradou os marcianos, e um alto que havia rido dele o puxou bruscamente para cima.

Original English

Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to the amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, but this did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes.

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Português

Enquanto o marciano alto o empurrava para baixo sobre seus pés, seu rosto estava perto do narrador. O narrador reagiu dando um soco direto em seu queixo, derrubando-o. Ele então se virou com as costas para uma mesa, esperando que os outros atacassem, mas determinado a lutar o melhor que pudesse antes de morrer.

Original English

As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger's rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life.

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Português

Apesar da minha preocupação anterior, meus temores se mostraram infundados. Os outros marcianos, que inicialmente ficaram atordoados em silêncio, finalmente explodiram em gargalhadas e o que mais tarde entendi ser aplausos. Não reconheci sua aprovação na época, mas eventualmente aprendi que havia recebido um sinal raro de sua aprovação.

Original English

My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, but later, when I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned that I had won what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation.

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Português

O marciano que eu havia golpeado permaneceu no chão, e nenhum de seus companheiros se aproximou dele. Tars Tarkas avançou e me ofereceu seu braço, e caminhamos até a praça sem mais incidentes. Eu não entendi por que estávamos lá, mas logo aprendi. Eles repetiram a palavra 'sak' várias vezes, e Tars Tarkas demonstrou pulando e dizendo a palavra. Então ele me disse para fazer o mesmo. Eu entendi e pulei com sucesso cerca de 150 pés, aterrissando bem. Depois voltei com saltos menores.

Original English

The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come to the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made several jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, turning to me, he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and gathering myself together I "sakked" with such marvelous success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I, this time, lose my equilibrium, but landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned by easy jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors.

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Português

Muitos marcianos de menor status haviam assistido e exigiram uma repetição. O chefe ordenou que eu fizesse novamente, mas eu estava com fome e sede. Decidi que a única maneira de obter consideração era exigi-la. Então ignorei suas ordens e, em vez disso, apontei para minha boca e esfreguei meu estômago.

Original English

My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation was to demand the consideration from these creatures which they evidently would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned to my mouth and rubbed my stomach.

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Português

Tars Tarkas e o chefe discutiram brevemente. Então Tars Tarkas chamou uma jovem fêmea da multidão, deu-lhe instruções e fez um gesto para que eu a seguisse. Peguei seu braço oferecido e atravessamos a praça em direção a um grande edifício.

Original English

Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far side.

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Português

Minha acompanhante tinha cerca de dois metros e quarenta, recém-madura, mas não em sua altura total. Ela tinha pele verde-oliva clara, lisa e brilhante. Seu nome era Sola, e ela fazia parte da comitiva de Tars Tarkas. Ela me levou a uma sala espaçosa em um edifício de frente para a praça. O chão estava coberto de sedas e peles, sugerindo que era um dormitório para vários nativos.

Original English

My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the buildings fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of silks and furs upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of the natives.

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Português

A câmara era bem iluminada por grandes janelas e adornada com murais e mosaicos antigos, mas o narrador sentiu um grande abismo entre os refinados criadores de tal arte e os seres grosseiros que agora a habitavam.

Original English

The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity which convinced me that the architects and builders of these wondrous creations had nothing in common with the crude half-brutes which now occupied them.

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Português

Sola fez um gesto para que o narrador se sentasse numa pilha de sedas e emitiu um sinal sibilante. Em resposta, uma criatura do tamanho de um pônei Shetland entrou cambaleando sobre dez pernas curtas; sua cabeça, um tanto parecida com a de um sapo, tinha três fileiras de presas afiadas.

Original English

Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks.

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Glossary: New Words

Words introduced by the simplified reading. Each entry shows up to five real sentences from this book; every Back to B1 link opens the exact sentence in the simplified version.

amazing əˈmeɪzɪŋ (8)

Português: incrível

Simple English: very surprising or great

Example: It was an amazing fight.

Uses in this book:

1. However, this probably saved my life and led to the amazing things that happened to me in the next ten years. Back to B1

2. The narrator's action was as amazing on Mars as it would have been on Earth. Back to B1

3. The narrator got to his feet and watched an amazing battle.

4. It was an amazing sight: a large, burning ship floating without anyone controlling it through the empty sky of Mars.

5. In a few days, the narrator's thoats were amazing to everyone.

Americans əˈmɛrɪkənz (2)

Português: americanos

Simple English: People from the United States.

Example: Many Americans like baseball.

Uses in this book:

1. Since they had entered the area, they had not seen any unfriendly Native Americans. Back to B1

2. I knew Powell was well-armed and had experience fighting Native Americans. Back to B1

amused əˈmjuːzd (1)

Português: divertido

Simple English: feeling happy or entertained by something funny

Example: She was amused by the funny story.

Uses in this book:

1. After hurting himself badly, which amused the Martians, he tried to crawl. Back to B1

amusing əˈmjuzɪŋ (1)

Português: divertido

Simple English: Funny or entertaining.

Example: The movie was very amusing.

Uses in this book:

1. They found the suffering and death of others very amusing. Back to B1

angry ˈæŋɡri (28)

Português: zangado

Simple English: Feeling mad or upset.

Example: But they were afraid the plants would be angry and send out bad gases.

Uses in this book:

1. This probably made them less angry. Back to B1

2. But this time, he saw no good reason to fight the strong and angry creature from an unknown world.

3. So, he turned to face the angry ape.

4. As they got close to the city, they saw the ape-like creature run into the building, very angry.

5. She looked very sad, and also angry and disgusted.

attackers əˈtækərz (2)

Português: agressores

Simple English: People who try to hurt others.

Example: Tarzan let the first two attackers pass.

Uses in this book:

1. The sound of horses had stopped, and I thought the attackers were quietly coming closer on the narrow path. Back to B1

2. After it became dark, the attackers left.

automatically ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli (1)

Português: automaticamente

Simple English: Done without thinking or control, by itself.

Example: He automatically breathed in air.

Uses in this book:

1. He believed his mind automatically made him do what was right without difficult thinking. Back to B1

baby ˈbeɪbi (2)

Português: bebê

Simple English: A very young child or animal.

Example: Sabor was with her only cub, a small, spotted baby.

Uses in this book:

1. He decided to try crawling, like a baby. Back to B1

2. He remembered their last night together, talking quietly about their unusual life and the coming baby that would make them even happier.

basic /ˈbeɪsɪk/ (1)

Português: Basic; base; fundamentais

Simple English: Forming the necessary foundation on which other things build.

Example: Understanding basic math is essential for solving more complex problems later.

Uses in this book:

1. Their equipment was very basic. Back to B1

bonnet ˈbɒnɪt (1)

Português: cocarde

Simple English: a soft hat worn especially in the past or as decoration

Example: The girl wore a bonnet during the festival.

Uses in this book:

1. Then, a face with a war bonnet and paint looked carefully around the edge of the cliff. Back to B1

bracelet ˈbreɪslɪt (2)

Português: pulseira

Simple English: a piece of jewelry worn around the wrist or leg

Example: She wore a gold bracelet on her wrist.

Uses in this book:

1. When he was about fifty feet away, he took off a large metal bracelet. Back to B1

2. The narrator reached out his hand, took a bracelet from the Martian, and put it on his arm. Back to B1

choose ʧuːz (9)

Português: escolher

Simple English: to decide which one to take or do

Example: You can choose your favorite color.

Uses in this book:

1. He was glad that he could not choose to be a coward. Back to B1

2. At that age, they would choose to go on a strange journey down the Iss River. Back to B1

3. They carefully choose only the strongest young Martians to raise.

4. He added that the second floor was also full of warriors, but the third floor and the floors above it were empty, so John Carter could choose any of them.

5. However, he also advised that as a chieftain, John Carter should have people to serve him, and according to their customs, he could choose any of the females from the groups of chieftains whose metal he now wore.

clapped klæpt (1)

Português: bateu palmas

Simple English: Hit hands together to show approval.

Example: They clapped after the performance.

Uses in this book:

1. The other Martians were surprised at first, then they laughed and clapped loudly. Back to B1

colorful ˈkʌlərfəl (4)

Português: colorido

Simple English: having many bright colors

Example: The forest was full of colorful birds.

Uses in this book:

1. On the platform sat a very large warrior wearing many metal decorations, colorful feathers, and decorated leather items with jewels. Back to B1

2. There were many colorful and unusual wild flowers.

3. Everyone wore bright, colorful clothes and decorations, and the animals had fancy coverings too.

4. They had long, colorful flags and banners with interesting designs.

compared kəmˈpɛrd (5)

Português: comparado

Simple English: looked at two things to find differences or similarities

Example: He compared the prices before buying.

Uses in this book:

1. Adult Martians also had heads that were more in proportion to their bodies compared to the young ones. Back to B1

2. Compared to this huge warrior, the others looked small and harmless. Back to B1

3. However, their tusks were much longer compared to their height, sometimes almost reaching their high ears. Back to B1

4. The green men of Mars had very different ideas about what was funny compared to humans. Back to B1

5. Compared to the green Martians, they were quite good-looking.

Cool /kuːl/ (1)

Português: legal; fresco; fixe

Simple English: Having an appealing or attractive quality.

Example: That new jacket looks really cool and stylish on you!

Uses in this book:

1. The cool, fresh mountain air outside felt good and gave me new energy and courage. Back to B1

crawl krɔːl (1)

Português: engatinhar

Simple English: to move on your hands and knees or close to the ground

Example: The baby learned to crawl last month.

Uses in this book:

1. After hurting himself badly, which amused the Martians, he tried to crawl. Back to B1

daytime ˈdeɪtaɪm (2)

Português: durante o dia

Simple English: the period of the day when it is light

Example: We like to swim during daytime.

Uses in this book:

1. It was daytime, and the sun was hot on his bare body, but not too hot, like a desert on Earth. Back to B1

2. I felt that some kind of mental power warned me not to try to escape in the daytime when twenty of these dangerous weapons were pointed at me. Back to B1

decreases dɪˈkriːsɪz (1)

Português: diminui

Simple English: becomes smaller or less

Example: Her energy decreases after a long day.

Uses in this book:

1. Besides natural reasons, the population decreases because every Martian always carries a weapon. Back to B1

developing dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ (2)

Português: desenvolvendo

Simple English: growing or improving right now

Example: She is developing her painting skills.

Uses in this book:

1. Their fingers and toes had small, developing nails, which the males did not have. Back to B1

2. Her mother visited it once a year for five years while it was developing.

dizzy ˈdɪzi (3)

Português: tonto

Simple English: Feeling like the room is spinning or losing balance.

Example: She felt dizzy after spinning around.

Uses in this book:

1. I tried to walk to the cave entrance, but I felt dizzy. Back to B1

2. He felt the sword cut him, everything went dark, he felt dizzy, and his legs felt weak.

3. The narrator was hit many times, felt dizzy, and then lost consciousness.

doctors ˈdɒktərz (1)

Português: médicos

Simple English: people who help sick or injured people

Example: There were two doctors with the soldiers.

Uses in this book:

1. Doctors decided he died of a heart problem. Back to B1

doesn't ˈdəʊzənt (1)

Português: não

Simple English: Short form for 'does not'

Example: She doesn't like spicy food.

Uses in this book:

1. The speaker says he is very old, but he doesn't know his exact age. Back to B1

donkeys ˈdɒŋkiz (1)

Português: burros

Simple English: animals similar to horses, used for carrying loads

Example: They used donkeys to carry the supplies.

Uses in this book:

1. On March 3, 1866, Powell and the narrator packed food for two donkeys. Back to B1

exciting ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ (2)

Português: emocionante

Simple English: Causing strong feelings of happiness or interest.

Example: These exciting events made his life less boring.

Uses in this book:

1. He would also sit for a long time and tell my old grandmother stories about his exciting and unusual life in different parts of the world. Back to B1

2. For him, a fighter, Mars was always very exciting. Back to B1

factors ˈfæktərz (1)

Português: fatores

Simple English: things that influence a result or situation

Example: Many factors affect your health.

Uses in this book:

1. Because their planet has fewer resources, they need to balance long lives with other factors. Back to B1

fine faɪn (4)

Português: bem

Simple English: good or okay

Example: Everything will be fine.

Uses in this book:

1. He had perfect manners and was as polite as a very fine southern gentleman. Back to B1

2. The narrator tried to believe that Powell was fine and that the dots were just wild animals, but he started to worry. Back to B1

3. Their tusks were as white and shiny as fine china and stood out strongly against their dark skin. Back to B1

4. Inside each chariot sat a Martian woman wearing many ornaments, jewels, and fine clothes.

flatter ˈflætər (1)

Português: mais plano

Simple English: more level or smooth

Example: They climbed onto flatter ground after the valley.

Uses in this book:

1. As soon as I reached flatter ground, I made my horse go faster. Back to B1

footprints ˈfʊtprɪnts (1)

Português: pegadas

Simple English: Marks left by feet on the ground.

Example: The footprints in the sand showed where she had walked.

Uses in this book:

1. They would start looking for me again in the correct direction as soon as they found my footprints. Back to B1

forgot fərˈɡɒt (1)

Português: esqueceu

Simple English: Did not remember something.

Example: They wanted to check if they forgot anything.

Uses in this book:

1. The change was so fast and unexpected that he forgot everything else. Back to B1

frightening ˈfraɪtnɪŋ (6)

Português: assustador

Simple English: Causing fear or scary feelings.

Example: She was a large and frightening animal.

Uses in this book:

1. To be frozen in place, with my back to a frightening and unknown danger, a danger that made strong Apache warriors run away like sheep from wolves, seemed like the worst possible situation for me. Back to B1

2. This frightening sight made a strong and quick impression on me as I prepared to face it. Back to B1

3. But he would later learn that Martian smiles were not genuine, and their laughter was frightening. Back to B1

4. However, she preferred to take her chances with people like herself rather than stay with the frightening and violent green men of Mars.

5. The noise from them was very loud, and they looked frightening, making people feel worried.

funny ˈfʌni (3)

Português: engraçado

Simple English: Causing laughter or amusement.

Example: The joke was really funny and made everyone laugh.

Uses in this book:

1. The green men of Mars had very different ideas about what was funny compared to humans. Back to B1

2. The narrator found this very funny.

3. The narrator noted that this was a sign, as the warrior's action was considered very funny by green Martians, even though they did not laugh out loud.

furniture ˈfɜːrnɪtʃər (1)

Português: móveis

Simple English: Objects like chairs and tables in a room.

Example: The furniture in the room is very old.

Uses in this book:

1. The most surprising thing about the room and the people was that the Martians were too big for the furniture. Back to B1

ghost /ɡoʊst/ (1)

Português: fantasma; espírito

Simple English: Spirit of a dead person or animal appearing alive.

Example: At night, I saw a ghost floating in the old house.

Uses in this book:

1. When he pinched himself, he knew he was real and not a ghost. Back to B1

gifts ɡɪfts (2)

Português: presentes

Simple English: Things given to someone as a surprise or reward.

Example: She gave him many gifts on his birthday.

Uses in this book:

1. If they were strangers and did not know each other's names, they would exchange gifts if they wanted peace. Back to B1

2. For ten days, the Thark people and their friends were given food and gifts.

goodbye ɡʊdˈbaɪ (8)

Português: adeus

Simple English: Words said when leaving.

Example: He said goodbye before leaving.

Uses in this book:

1. Powell said goodbye and rode his horse down the mountain towards the valley, which was the first part of his journey. Back to B1

2. After saying goodbye to Dejah Thoris and Sola, and telling Woola to stay and guard, the narrator went quickly to the meeting room.

3. He told the princess goodbye, saying they might meet again in Helium.

4. Then they said goodbye and watched me until I was out of sight on the wide, white road.

5. He said goodbye to Woola, promising to find him again if his adventure was successful.

gunshots ˈɡʌnʃɒts (1)

Português: disparos

Simple English: Several sounds of guns firing.

Example: Twice, they heard gunshots.

Uses in this book:

1. Suddenly, the narrator heard two gunshots far away. Back to B1

hero ˈhɪəroʊ (1)

Português: herói

Simple English: a person who is admired for brave acts

Example: They followed the ape-man who seemed like a hero.

Uses in this book:

1. The narrator did not think he was a hero. Back to B1

hooves huːvz (1)

Português: casco

Simple English: the hard feet of animals like horses

Example: The horses' hooves left clear tracks on the ground.

Uses in this book:

1. There are no animals with hooves on Mars. Back to B1

horseman ˈhɔːrsmən (1)

Português: cavaleiro

Simple English: A person who rides a horse well.

Example: He is a skilled horseman in the competition.

Uses in this book:

1. He was an excellent horseman, even in a land of great riders. Back to B1

imaginative ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv (1)

Português: imaginativo

Simple English: Good at thinking of new ideas or stories.

Example: He told imaginative stories that others liked.

Uses in this book:

1. Their favorite way to entertain themselves was to kill their prisoners of war in cruel and imaginative ways. Back to B1

imagined ɪˈmædʒɪnd (4)

Português: imaginou

Simple English: thought of something that is not real

Example: He imagined he was very rich.

Uses in this book:

1. In the winter of 1865, after facing many difficulties, they found a gold mine with more gold than they had ever imagined. Back to B1

2. In the dark cave, I imagined the thing was quietly coming closer to me. Back to B1

3. The narrator imagined the beautiful plants and people that once lived on Mars.

4. He explained that he had done many brave and strange things, but he had never imagined winning Dejah Thoris for himself.

imagining ɪˈmædʒɪnɪŋ (1)

Português: imaginando

Simple English: Thinking about something in your mind.

Example: She is imagining a big adventure.

Uses in this book:

1. Maybe I was imagining dangers, like a worried person, and Powell would just laugh when I caught up. Back to B1

items ˈaɪtəmz (5)

Português: objetos

Simple English: Things or objects, especially small ones.

Example: Clayton said he wished they had left those items.

Uses in this book:

1. On the platform sat a very large warrior wearing many metal decorations, colorful feathers, and decorated leather items with jewels. Back to B1

2. These items included weapons, silk cloth, furs, jewels, stone pots, food, and drinks.

3. They also made all the manufactured items, such as weapons and ammunition.

4. All these items had belonged to two chieftains the narrator had killed.

5. People could only keep what they needed, and extra items were given to younger members of the community when they were needed.

job dʒɒb (8)

Português: trabalho

Simple English: a task or work to do

Example: Tarzan did not understand why they were doing such a big job.

Uses in this book:

1. With no job and no way to make money, he decided to go to the southwest to look for gold and try to become rich again. Back to B1

2. Their job was to study air currents and test the density of the atmosphere.

3. My job was to make sure she was comfortable.

4. His job was to watch the animals, like zitidars and thoats, and make sure they did not go too far.

5. Kantos Kan then pretended to finish the job and told John Carter to go to the hills east of the city and wait for him.

magical ˈmædʒɪkəl (2)

Português: mágico

Simple English: related to magic or a special power

Example: The story told about magical creatures.

Uses in this book:

1. It was a rocky valley and a flat area with cacti, made magical by the moonlight. Back to B1

2. The scene was magical and inspiring, like seeing a forgotten world for the first time, very different from anywhere else on Earth. Back to B1

manage ˈmænɪdʒ (2)

Português: lidar

Simple English: to control or deal with a situation

Example: She had to manage her tasks carefully.

Uses in this book:

1. He wanted to take care of the body and manage the Captain's business. Back to B1

2. I thanked him but said I could manage alone, except for needing help to prepare food.

maybe ˈmeɪbi (2)

Português: talvez

Simple English: Possibly or perhaps.

Example: Maybe he had a fever because he was alone.

Uses in this book:

1. Maybe I was imagining dangers, like a worried person, and Powell would just laugh when I caught up. Back to B1

2. They were not badly damaged, but they looked like no one had lived there for many years, maybe even centuries. Back to B1

medals ˈmɛdəlz (1)

Português: medalhas

Simple English: metal awards for brave actions

Example: She won medals for her bravery.

Uses in this book:

1. This might be why I received honors from three countries and medals and friendships from a powerful emperor and several kings, for whom I have fought many times. Back to B1

meters ˈmitərz (2)

Português: metros

Simple English: a unit to measure length or distance

Example: The pool is 25 meters long.

Uses in this book:

1. I jumped about ten meters into the air and landed about thirty meters away, on the other side of the area. Back to B1

narrator ˈnærətər (385)

Português: narrador

Simple English: The person who tells a story.

Example: The narrator was busy looking for strange things.

Uses in this book:

1. The narrator did not see him for about 15 or 16 years. Back to B1

2. At night, he would look at the sky, and the narrator later understood why after reading his writing. Back to B1

3. The narrator visited him there once a year when he went to New York for business. Back to B1

4. During one of the narrator's last visits in the winter of 1885, he saw Captain Carter writing a lot. Back to B1

5. The narrator now believes he was writing this manuscript. Back to B1

nice naɪs (3)

Português: bom

Simple English: Pleasant or attractive.

Example: The room looks very nice and clean.

Uses in this book:

1. Captain Carter had a nice, small house on a hill with a view of the river. Back to B1

2. These people wore nice, long robes with metal and jewels.

3. The officers were very polite to me and said many nice things.

operate /ˈɒpəreɪt/ (1)

Português: operar; opere; funcionar

Simple English: To perform surgery to fix or remove body tissue.

Example: The surgeon will operate on her heart to improve blood flow.

Uses in this book:

1. This person would buy the needed machines and bring back enough workers to operate the mine well. Back to B1

pinched pɪnʧt (1)

Português: beliscou

Simple English: Grabbed a small piece tightly between fingers.

Example: He pinched her cheek gently.

Uses in this book:

1. When he pinched himself, he knew he was real and not a ghost. Back to B1

poison /ˈpɔɪzən/ (1)

Português: veneno; envenenar; envenenamento

Simple English: Substance that can harm or kill if ingested.

Example: You should be careful not to touch any poison in the lab.

Uses in this book:

1. I guessed it was poison gas, but I did not understand why I could think but not move. Back to B1

polite pəˈlaɪt (4)

Português: educado

Simple English: showing good manners

Example: She is always polite to strangers.

Uses in this book:

1. He had perfect manners and was as polite as a very fine southern gentleman. Back to B1

2. He thought Powell was a true man, a polite gentleman from the South, and a loyal friend. Back to B1

3. When we entered the room, Dak Kova did not give the usual polite greeting.

4. The officers were very polite to me and said many nice things.

prepared prɪˈpɛrd (2)

Português: preparado

Simple English: Ready to do something.

Example: I prepared to start the test.

Uses in this book:

1. This frightening sight made a strong and quick impression on me as I prepared to face it. Back to B1

2. She continued, saying they were not prepared for battle because it was a peaceful mission, as their banners and ship colors showed.

punching ˈpʌntʃɪŋ (1)

Português: socar

Simple English: Hitting someone with a closed fist.

Example: He was punching the bag hard.

Uses in this book:

1. The narrator reacted by punching him hard in the jaw. Back to B1

reacted riˈæktɪd (2)

Português: reagiu

Simple English: behaved in response to something

Example: She reacted immediately to the loud noise.

Uses in this book:

1. The narrator reacted by punching him hard in the jaw. Back to B1

2. Woola reacted in a surprising way.

reckless ˈrɛkləs (1)

Português: imprudente

Simple English: not caring about danger or results

Example: He was reckless and took many risks.

Uses in this book:

1. His father often warned him about being too reckless. Back to B1

revenge rɪˈvɛndʒ (5)

Português: vingança

Simple English: To harm someone because they harmed you.

Example: The emperor wanted revenge for the attack.

Uses in this book:

1. As he fell, the narrator turned with his back against a desk, expecting the other Martians to attack him for revenge. Back to B1

2. I learned more about Sarkoja's deep hatred and how far she would go to get revenge on me.

3. Sola believed he was waiting for the chance to kill Tal Hajus and get revenge.

4. But he thought of Tars Tarkas and decided not to take away Tars Tarkas's chance for revenge.

5. Then, more officers arrived to help their new ruler and to get revenge for the old ruler's death.

rich rɪʧ (3)

Português: rico

Simple English: Having a lot of money or valuable things

Example: They hoped to become very rich.

Uses in this book:

1. With no job and no way to make money, he decided to go to the southwest to look for gold and try to become rich again. Back to B1

2. It was a very beautiful and rich sight.

3. He had found an old mine that was not used and it made him very rich.

shiny /ˈʃaɪni/ (3)

Português: brilhante; reluzente

Simple English: Bright and smooth, reflecting light effectively visually.

Example: Her shiny hair reflects the sunlight beautifully during the summer.

Uses in this book:

1. Their tusks were as white and shiny as fine china and stood out strongly against their dark skin. Back to B1

2. It was dark slate colored, smooth, and shiny. Back to B1

3. She had light olive-green skin and a smooth, shiny body. Back to B1

shoot /ʃuːt/ (4)

Português: atirar; disparar; filmar

Simple English: To release a bullet or arrow from a weapon accurately.

Example: He learned to shoot accurately when he was very young.

Uses in this book:

1. They were very deadly and could shoot accurately over long distances, up to about two hundred miles. Back to B1

2. A warrior took out a gun and was about to shoot the animal.

3. The Martian warriors then ran to the roofs of the buildings and continued to shoot at the retreating ships.

4. The narrator was very angry and wanted to shoot Zad, but Zad was ready to fight with his sword.

situation ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃən (18)

Português: situação

Simple English: a set of conditions at a specific time

Example: He understood his difficult situation.

Uses in this book:

1. In this situation, he was sure Powell was the main target. Back to B1

2. To be frozen in place, with my back to a frightening and unknown danger, a danger that made strong Apache warriors run away like sheep from wolves, seemed like the worst possible situation for me. Back to B1

3. The narrator was ready to fight if the situation was fair.

4. The situation changed quickly.

5. Dejah Thoris mentioned that she had heard my challenge to Tars Tarkas and understood my situation, but she could not understand why I said I was not from Barsoom.

sleepy ˈsliː.pi (2)

Português: com sono

Simple English: Feeling tired and ready to sleep.

Example: The warm room made him feel sleepy.

Uses in this book:

1. While I was looking, I started to feel sleepy. Back to B1

2. I felt very sleepy and my body felt relaxed. Back to B1

slope /sloʊp/ (1)

Português: inclinação; declive; encosta

Simple English: Land that is higher at one end than the other end.

Example: The children loved to roll down the grassy slope on sunny days.

Uses in this book:

1. There were no stairs, but a gentle slope led to the first floor, opening into a huge room with balconies around it. Back to B1

smell smɛl (1)

Português: cheirar

Simple English: To notice a scent with your nose.

Example: She can smell fresh flowers.

Uses in this book:

1. I also smelled a strange, sharp smell. Back to B1

smelled smɛld (3)

Português: cheirou

Simple English: used the nose to notice a scent

Example: He smelled the air to find the prisoner.

Uses in this book:

1. I also smelled a strange, sharp smell. Back to B1

2. Animals in enclosures made scared noises as they smelled the strange people and beasts.

3. They were quieter without people, but they became more restless and noisy when they smelled the narrator.

stairs steərz (5)

Português: escadas

Simple English: a set of steps for going from one level to another

Example: He went up the stairs to his room.

Uses in this book:

1. This road led to the edge of the flat land, where it stopped suddenly at a set of wide stairs. Back to B1

2. There were no stairs, but a gentle slope led to the first floor, opening into a huge room with balconies around it. Back to B1

3. She explained that she had met Sarkoja coming down the stairs.

4. The narrator, feeling scared but also curious, went down the stairs to the lower floor.

5. At the top of the large stairs that led to the palace doors, the royal group was waiting.

stare /stɛər/ (1)

Português: olhar; encarar; fitar

Simple English: To look at someone or something without blinking for long.

Example: The child couldn't help but stare at the magician's tricks.

Uses in this book:

1. But when he was alone, he would often stare into space for hours. Back to B1

steep /stiːp/ (1)

Português: íngreme; acentuada; escarpadas

Simple English: (Of an angle) measuring less than ninety degrees.

Example: The mountain climb was steep, making it very challenging for hikers.

Uses in this book:

1. On the left, there was a steep drop to a rocky valley. Back to B1

steeply ˈstiːpli (1)

Português: de forma íngreme

Simple English: going down or up quickly at a strong angle

Example: The road goes down steeply to the river.

Uses in this book:

1. After riding for about ten miles, the ground began to go up very steeply. Back to B1

tents tents (1)

Português: barracas

Simple English: Portable shelters made of cloth.

Example: The men quickly went to their tents.

Uses in this book:

1. The flat area had many Indian tents. Back to B1

trackers ˈtrækərz (1)

Português: rastreadoras

Simple English: People who follow signs to find someone or something.

Example: The trackers found the lost hiker.

Uses in this book:

1. I understood that his chances were small against skilled Apache trackers. Back to B1

unhappiness ʌnˈhæpinəs (1)

Português: infelicidade

Simple English: The feeling of being sad or not happy.

Example: Her unhappiness was clear after the bad news.

Uses in this book:

1. His face showed a sad longing and deep unhappiness. Back to B1

using ˈjuːzɪŋ (18)

Português: usando

Simple English: Doing something with an object.

Example: She is using a rope to climb.

Uses in this book:

1. He felt they were very skilled at using this weapon. Back to B1

2. When they finished, the warriors quickly climbed out of the ship using ropes.

3. He also worried that she might think he was using her difficult situation to make her agree to something.

4. Some warriors even called me Dotar Sojat, using parts of the names of two chieftains I had defeated in fair fights.

5. However, he could not use guns or a spear if Zad was only using his long sword.

weigh /weɪ/ (1)

Português: pesar; pesam; pesa

Simple English: To measure one's weight on a scale accurately.

Example: I want to weigh myself before and after my diet plan.

Uses in this book:

1. The man was about fifteen feet tall and would weigh about four hundred pounds on Earth. Back to B1

wise /waɪz/ (2)

Português: sábio; sensato; prudente

Simple English: Having deep knowledge and experience; capable of giving good advice.

Example: My grandfather is wise; he gives the best advice based on his experience.

Uses in this book:

1. This gave me time to think if my chase was wise. Back to B1

2. Lorquas Ptomel was a wise old soldier.

workers ˈwɜːrkərz (3)

Português: trabalhadores

Simple English: people who do work or jobs

Example: Six workers dug a hole on the path.

Uses in this book:

1. This person would buy the needed machines and bring back enough workers to operate the mine well. Back to B1

2. This system works for most people, but not for the debtors, as it is hard to find enough workers for the large farms located in wild areas.

3. Soldiers, leaders, important people, workers, and slaves ran everywhere in the halls and rooms.

worried ˈwʌrid (20)

Português: preocupada

Simple English: feeling nervous or anxious

Example: She was always worried about him.

Uses in this book:

1. Maybe I was imagining dangers, like a worried person, and Powell would just laugh when I caught up. Back to B1

2. But I am not easily worried. Back to B1

3. What he saw there made him feel very worried and shocked. Back to B1

4. I stood on the edge of the ledge and told myself that I had been too worried for no reason. Back to B1

5. The Martian signaled his followers to come, but told them to slow down, perhaps because he was worried the narrator might get scared again and jump away. Back to B1

worry /ˈwʌri/ (6)

Português: se preocupe; te preocupes; preocupar

Simple English: To feel anxious about something.

Example: Do not worry about it.

Uses in this book:

1. The narrator tried to believe that Powell was fine and that the dots were just wild animals, but he started to worry. Back to B1

2. She decided not to worry about the problem, because her heart told her to believe me because she wanted to.

3. However, they did not think they had said anything important, so they decided not to worry about it.

4. My new friend told me that the only worry was that something might go wrong with the pumping machines.

5. To join, John Carter had to take a test, but Kantos Kan had told him not to worry.