A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs Audio book with subtitle

today we begin a new series from a book

by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs

the book is called a princess of Mars

it is the first book in a series that

mr. Burroughs wrote about a man who

travels to Mars during the last years of

the 1800s there the man meets strange

beings and sees strange sights at first

he is a captive then a warrior and after

many battles a prince of a royal family

Shep O’Neal begins the story of a

princess of Mars I am a very old man how

old I do not know it is possible I am a

hundred maybe more

I cannot tell because I have never aged

as other men do so far as I can remember

I have always been a man of about thirty

I appear today as I did 40 years ago yet

I feel that I cannot go on living

forever someday I will die the real

death from which there is no escape

I do not know why I should fear death I

who have died two times and I’m still

alive I have never told this story I

know the human mind will not believe

what it cannot understand I cannot

explain what happened to me I can only

tell of the ten years my dead body lay

undiscovered in an Arizona cave

[Music]

my name is John Carter I am from the

state of Virginia at the close of the

Civil War I found myself without a home

without money and without work I decided

the best plan was to search for gold in

the great deserts of the American

Southwest I spent almost a year

searching for gold with another former

soldier Captain James Powell also of

Virginia we were extremely lucky in the

winter of 1865 we found rocks that held

gold Powell was trained as a mining

engineer he said we had uncovered over a

million dollars worth of gold in only

three months but the work was slow with

only two men and not much equipment so

we decided Powell should go to the

nearest settlement to seek equipment and

men to help us with the work on March

3rd 1866 Powell said goodbye he rode his

horse down the mountain toward the

valley I followed his progress for

several hours the morning Powell left

was like all mornings in the deserts of

the great southwest clear and beautiful

not much later I looked across the

valley I was surprised to see three

riders in the same place where I had

last seen my friend

after watching for some time I decided

the three riders must be hostile Indians

Powell I knew was well-armed and an

experienced soldier but I knew he would

need my aid I found my weapons placed a

saddle on my horse and started as fast

as possible down the trail and taken in

by power I followed as quickly as I

could until dark about nine o’clock the

moon became very bright I had no

difficulty following Powell’s trail I

soon found the trail left by the three

riders following power

I knew they were Indians I was sure they

wanted to capture power suddenly I heard

shots far ahead of me I hurried ahead as

fast as I could

soon I came to a small camp several

hundred Apache Indians were in the

center of the camp

I could see Powell on the ground I did

not even think about what to do I just

acted I pulled out my guns and began

shooting the Apaches were surprised and

fled I forced my horse into the camp and

toward Powell I reached down and pulled

him up on the horse by his belt I urged

the horse to greater speed the Apaches

by now realized that I was alone and

quickly began to follow we were soon in

very rough country the trail I chose

began to rise sharply

it went up and up I followed the trail

for several hundred meters more until I

came to the mouth of a large cave

it was almost morning now I got off my

horse and laid power on the ground I

tried to give him water but it was no

use

power was dead I laid his body down and

continued to the cave I began to explore

the cave I was looking for a safe place

to defend myself or perhaps for a way

out but I became very sleepy it was a

pleasant feeling my body became

extremely heavy

I had trouble moving soon I had to lay

down against the side of the cave for

some reason I could not move my arms or

legs I lay facing the opening of the

cave

I could see part of the trail that had

led me here and now I could see the

Apaches they had found me but I could do

nothing within a minute one of them came

into the cave he looked at me but he

came no closer his eyes grew wide his

mouth opened he had a look of terror on

his face

he looked behind me for a moment and

then fled suddenly I heard a low noise

behind me

the Apaches they all turn and fled the

sound became louder but still my could

not move I could not turn my head to see

what was behind me

all day I lay like this I tried again to

rise and again but I still could not

move then I heard a sharp sound it was

like a steel wire breaking I quickly

stood up my back was against the cave

wall I looked down there before me lay

my body

for a few moments I stood looking at my

prey I could not bring myself to touch

it I was the sounds of the cave and the

sight of my body forced me away I slowly

backed to the opening of the cave I

turned to look at the Arizona night I

could see a thousand stars as I stood

there I turned my eyes to a large red

star I could not stop looking at it

it was Mars the Red Planet

the red God of War it seemed to pull me

near then for a moment I closed my eyes

there was an instant of extreme cold and

total darkness suddenly I was in deep

dreamless peaceful sleep

I opened my eyes upon a very strange

land I immediately knew then I was on

Mars not once did I question this fact

my mind told me I was on Mars as your

mind tells you that you are upon earth

you do not question the fact nor did i i

found myself lying on a bed of yellow

colored grass that covered the land for

kilometres the time was near the middle

of the day and the Sun was shining full

upon me it was war I decided to do a

little exploring springing to my feet I

received my first Martian surprise the

effort to stand carried me into the

Martian air to the height of about 1

meter I landed softly upon the ground

however without incident

I found that I must learn to walk all

over again

my muscles were used to the gravity of

Earth Mars has less gravity my attempts

to walk resulted in jumps and hops which

took me into the air I once landed on my

face I soon learned that it took much

less effort for me to move on Mars than

it did on earth near me was a small low

wall carefully I made my way to the wall

and looked over it was filled with eggs

some already broken open small green

creatures were in them they looked at me

with huge red eyes as I watched the

fierce-looking creatures I fail to hear

20 full-grown Martians coming from

behind me

they had come without warning as I

turned I saw them one was coming at me

with a huge spear with its sharp tip

pointed at

my heart and now the second program in

our series a princess of Mars the

creature with the spear was huge there

were many other similar creatures they

had ridden behind me on the backs of

large animals each of them carried a

collection of strange-looking weapons

the one with the large spear got down

from the back of his animal and began

walking toward me

he was almost 5 meters tall and a dark

green color huge teeth stuck out of his

face and his expression showed much hate

and violence I immediately knew I was

facing a terrible warrior he began

moving quickly toward me with the spear

I was completely unarmed I could not

fight my only chance was to escape I

used all my strength to jump away from

him I was able to jump almost 30 meters

the green Martian stopped and watched my

effort I would learn later that the look

on his face showed complete surprise

the creatures gathered and talked among

themselves while they talked I thought

about running away however I noticed

several of them carried devices that

looked very much like rifles I could not

run soon all but one of the creatures

moved away the one who had threatened me

stayed he slowly took off a metal band

from his arm and held it out to me he

spoke in a strange language

nikto mock to toss a code ah slowly he

laid down his weapons I thought this

would have been a sign of peace anywhere

on earth

why not Mars - I walked toward him and

in a normal voice announced my name and

said I had come in peace

I knew he did not understand but like me

he took it to mean that I meant no harm

slowly we came together he gave me the

large metal band that had been around

his arm he turned and made signs with

his hands that I should follow him soon

we arrived at the large animal he had

been riding he again made a sign with

his hands that I should ride on the same

animal behind him the group turned and

began riding across the land we moved

quickly toward mountains in the distance

the large animals we rode moved quickly

across the land I could tell from the

surrounding mountains that we were on

the bottom of a long dead sea in time we

came to a huge city at first I thought

the city was empty the buildings were

all empty and in poor repair but soon I

saw hundreds of the green warriors I

also saw green women and children I soon

learned about many cities like this the

cities were built hundreds of years ago

by a people that no longer existed the

green Martians used the cities they

moved from one empty city to another

never stopping for more than a day or

two we got down from our animals and

walked into a large building we entered

a room that was filled with

here’s green warriors it was not

difficult to tell that these were the

leaders of the green Martians one of

them took hold of my arm he shook me and

lifted me off the ground he laughed when

he did so I was to learn that green

Martians only laugh at the pain or

suffering of others this huge warrior

threw me to the ground and then took

hold of my arm again to pick me up I did

the only thing I could do I hit him with

my closed fist as hard as I could the

green warrior fell to the floor and did

not move the others in the room grew

silent I had knocked down one of their

warriors with only my hand I moved away

from him and prepared to defend myself

as best I could

but they did not move the green Martian

that had captured me walked toward me he

said in a clear voice Tars Tarkas Tars

Tarkas as he spoke he pointed to his own

chest he was telling me his name I

pointed to my chest and said my name

John Carter he turned and said the word

Sola immediately a green Martian woman

came close he spoke to her she led me to

another building and into a large room

the room was filled with equipment

carried by the green Martians she

prepared something for me to eat I was

very hungry I pointed to her and said

the word Sola she pointed at me and said

my name it was a beginning Sola was my

guard she also became my teacher in time

she would become a close and valued

friend

as I ate my meal my lessons in the

language of the green Martians continued

two days later Tars Tarkas came to my

room he carried the weapons and the

metal armbands the green warriors where

he put them on the ground near my feet

Sola told him I now understood some of

their language he turned to me and spoke

slowly the warrior you hit is dead his

weapons and the metal of his rank are

yours John Carter he was a leader of one

small group among our people because you

have killed him you now are a leader you

are still a captive and not free to

leave however you will be treated with

the respect you have earned you are now

a warrior among our people Tars Tarkas

turned and spoke softly from beyond the

door a strange creature entered the room

it was bigger than a large dog and very

ugly it had rows of long teeth and ten

very short legs Tars Tarkas spoke to the

creature and pointed at me

he left the creature looked at me

watching closely

then Sola spoke about the creature

his name is Woola the men of our tribe

used them in hunting and war he has been

told to guard and protect you he has

also been told to prevent your escape

there is no faster creature in our world

and in a fight they can

very quickly do not try to escape

JOHN CARTER hula will tear you to small

pieces I continued to watch the creature

named Woola I had already seen how the

green Martians treated other animals

they were very cruel I thought perhaps

this beast can be taught to be my friend

much like a dog on earth

I walked close to the creature and began

speaking in much the same way I would

speak to a dog or another animal on

earth i sat down next to him while I

talked softly at first he seemed

confused

I believe the creature Woola had never

heard a kind word in the next several

days I gained the trust and friendship

of ulla in a few short days Woola was my

friend

and fierce protector he would remain my

loyal friend as long as I was on Mars

several days later Sola came to me with

a look of great concern

JOHN CARTER come with me a great battle

is about to take place an enemy is

coming near this city we must prepare to

fight and we must be ready to flee so

now what enemy is this a race of red men

who travel our world in flying machines

a great number of their machines have

come over the farm mountain take your

weapons with you and hurry I collected

my sword and a spear

I hurried out of the building and joined

a group of warriors moving toward the

end of the city far in the distance

I could see the airships they were

firing large guns at the green warriors

I heard huge explosions the green

warriors were firing back with their

deadly rifles the air was filled with

the sound of violent battle

suddenly a huge airship exploded it came

down crashing nearly red Martians were

falling from the side of the huge ship

and then it exploded again another of

the large airships exploded hi members

of the crew fell to the ground the human

ship lost control and began turning

again and again soon it was close to the

ground the warriors climbed aboard the

ship and began fighting the members of

the crew who were still alive

soon the fighting stopped the warriors

began taking everything from the ship at

last they brought a captive from deep

within the ship two of the warriors had

their captive by each arm I wanted to

see what new and strange form of life

this creature would be as they came near

I saw that it was a woman she looked

like a woman from Earth she was young

her skin was a light red almost a copper

color I saw at once that she was

extremely beautiful she had a fine face

with large dark eyes and long black as

her guards led her away she saw me for a

moment she seemed very surprised her

face looked hopeful but when I made no

attempt to speak to her her face grew

sad and she looked very small and

frightened as I watched her disappear

into a building I realized that so

wasn’t here me JOHN CARTER that woman

will be saved for the great games that

are held by our people the games are

long and cruel and end in death for

those captured in battle her death will

be slow and painful she will die for the

enjoyment of all so love’s face seemed

sad when she said this I could tell by

the way she spoke that she did not like

the games and did not want to see the

young woman die she was very different

from the rest of her people so na do you

not like the games No

JOHN CARTER my mother died in the games

that is a secret you must not tell

anyone the wall where Tars Tarkas found

you held eggs that produce our young all

the children belong to the tribe a

mother never knows which child is hers

when they come out of the egg my mother

hid the egg that carried me it was not

placed within the walled area she kept

her secret until after I was born

but others discovered her secret and she

was condemned to die in the games

she hid me among other children before

she was captured if this secret were

learned I too would die in the games

before she left me my mother told me the

name of my father I alone keep that

secret

it would mean death for him as well as

me

my people are violent and cruel the next

day I entered the great room where the

green Martians held meetings the red

woman prisoner was there too soon the

leader of the Green Martians came into

the room his name was Laura’s Tamara he

began speaking to the prisoner who are

you and what is your name I am the

princess Dejah Thoris daughter of Mors

kajak the ruler of hell iam our airship

was on a scientific flight we were to

study the air and atmosphere without our

work the air on our planet would grow

thin and we would all die why would you

attack us as she talked a warrior ran to

her and hit her in the face knocking her

to the ground he placed a foot on her

small body and again laughing I reached

for the small sword I carried and rushed

to attack the huge warrior he was a

strong opponent but again because of the

low gravity on Mars my strength was far

greater than his in a few short minutes

the green warrior was dead I helped the

young woman to her feet who are you why

did you risk your life to help me you

look almost the same as my people but

you wear the weapons of a green warrior

who or what are you my name is John

Carter I am from the planet Earth how I

got here

is a long story I attacked that warrior

because where I come from men do not

attack women I will offer you my

protection as long as I can however I

must tell you that I am a captive come

John Carter and bring the red woman with

you let us leave this room quickly

before some warrior attempts to stop us

the three of us quickly returned to the

building where I had spends the last

several days Sola then left to prepare

food Woola sat in the corner and looked

at the both of us the young woman was

afraid of poor ugly Allah I told her not

to fear Him who lies not only my guard

he is my friend I have treated him with

kindness that he has never known as each

day passes he trusts me more I now think

he would follow any command I give Sola

has told me that all captives are held

until they can die in the great games

held by the green Martians our only

chance to survive is to escape but we

must have solar cell for our plan to

succeed yes if we stay with the green

warriors we will both die if we are to

escape we will need several of the

animals to ride it will be our only

chance I have several of the animals

they were given to me when I became a

warrior

Soula came back later with food for the

two of us Dejah Thoris and I asked for

her help the three of us talked long

into the night at last Sola gave us her

answer your best chance for escape will

be in the next two days we will leave

this city tomorrow and begin a long trip

to the home of our tribe I will help you

escape but I must come with you I will

be killed if you escape Sola of course

you must come with us

you are not cruel or violent as many of

your people are help us and I can

promise you a much better life you will

be treated with respect as an honored

guest the next morning we rode away from

the city on our animals more than a

thousand animals were carrying the huge

tribe of green Martians also in the

group were one American one princess of

the royal house of helium our guard Sola

and poor ugly Woola late that night we

left the camp one animal carried me

another of Sola and princess Dejah

Thoris Woola followed close behind

we rode quickly through the Martian

night I looked into the sky and saw

earth across the great distance of space

since I had met the princess Dejah

Thoris I had not thought once of Earth

or

home I knew then that I would never

willingly leave her the next morning I

could see that we were being followed by

several hundred of the green warriors

our animals were very tired

I knew we must stop I told Sola and the

princess to take the stronger of the two

animals and ride away I will hold back

the green warriors as long as I can

Woola go with them and guard them with

your life we can’t leave you alone it

would be certain death if you are

captured again you must come with us

Sola took the princess by the arm and

lifted her on top of the animal she had

chosen quickly she began riding away for

a moment Woola looked at me then turned

and ran after them I took out my rifle

from its case I began firing to slope

the green warriors

[Music]

I was able to slow them for more than an

hour but then I had no more ammunition

soon I was surrounded a green warrior

got off his animal and came toward me he

pulled out his long thin sword I reached

for mine as we neared each other I saw

it was Tars Tarkas he stopped and spoke

to me very slowly you will die here

today John Carter it is I who must kill

you

know that I will take no pleasure in

your death

the huge green warrior Tars Tarkas came

slowly toward me with his thin sword I

backed away I did not want to fight him

I did not wish his death he had been as

kind to me as a green Martian can be as

I stood watching him a rifle fired in

the distance then another and another

Tars Tarkas and his Warriors were under

attack from another tribe of green

warrior with him seconds a terrible

battle raged and I watched three of the

attackers fell on Tars Tarkas he killed

one and was fighting with the other two

when he slipped and fell

I ran to his aid swinging my sword he

was on his feet and shoulder to shoulder

we fought against the attackers they

finally withdrew after an hour of fierce

fighting

[Applause]

JOHN CARTER I think I understand the

meaning of the word friend you saved my

life when I was about to take yours from

this day you are no longer a captive

among our people but a leader and great

warrior among us there was a smile on

his face once again he took off a metal

band from his arm and gave it to me I

have a question for you John Carter

I understand why you took the red woman

with you but why did Sola leave her

people and go with you she did not want

to see me or the princess harmed she

does not like the great games held by

your people where captives are led to

die she knows if she is caught she too

will die in the games she told me she

hates the games because her mother died

there what how could she know her mother

she told me her mother was killed in the

games because she had hidden the egg

that produced her her mother hid Sola

among other children before she was

captured Sola said she was a kind woman

not like others of your tribe

tars tarkas grew angry as I was speaking

but I could see past his anger

I could see pain in his eyes I

immediately knew SOLAS great secret I

have a question for you Tars Tarkas did

you know SOLAS mother yes and if I could

have I would have prevented her death I

know this story to be true I have always

known the woman who died in those games

had a child I never knew the child I do

now

so la is also my child

[Music]

for three days we followed the trail

left by the princess Dejah Thoris Sola

and poor ugly Loula at last we could see

them in the distance their animal could

no longer be ridden they were talking

when we came near Woola turned to fight

us I slowly walked to him with my hand

out Sola was standing nearby she was

armed and prepared to fight the princess

was lying next to her feet Sola what is

wrong with the princess she has been

crying much these past few days John

Carter we believed you died so we could

escape the thought of your death was

very heavy on this woman my friend Dejah

Thoris come and tell her you are among

the living perhaps that will stop her

crying I walked to where the princess

Dejah Thoris was lying on the ground she

looked at me with eyes that were red

from crying Princess you are no longer

in danger Tars Tarkas has come with me

as a friend he and his warriors will

help to see you safely home and Sola I

would have you greet your father Tars

Tarkas a great leader among your people

your secret no longer means death to

anyone he already knows you are his

daughter the two of you have nothing to

fear

so la turned and looked that tars tarkas

she held out her hand he took it it was

a new beginning for them I know our

world has never before seen anyone like

you

JOHN CARTER can it be that all earth men

are like you I was alone a stranger

hunted threatened yet you would freely

give your life to save me you come to me

now with a tribe of green warriors who

offer their friendship you are no longer

a captive but wear the medal of great

rank among their people no man has ever

done this princess I have done many

strange things in my life

many things much smarter men would not

have done and now before my courage

fails I would ask you to be mine

in marriage she smiled at me for a

moment and then her dark eyes flashed in

the evening light you have no need of

your courage JOHN CARTER because you

already knew the answer before you asked

the question

[Music]

several days later we reached the city

of helium at first the red men of helium

thought we were an attacking army but

they soon saw their princess we were

greeted with great joy Tars Tarkas and

his green warriors caused the greatest

excitement this huge group of green

warriors entered the city as friends and

allies I soon met tardos mors

the grandfather of Dejah Thoris he tried

several times to thank me for saving the

life of the princess but tears filled

his eyes and he could not speak for nine

years I served in the government and

fought in the armies of helium as a

prince of the royal family it was a

happy time

the princess Dejah Thoris and I were

expecting a child then one day a soldier

returned from a long flight when he

landed he hurried to the great meeting

room tardos mors met with the soldier

and reported that every creature on the

planet had but three days to live he

said the great machines that produced

the atmosphere on the planet had stopped

producing oxygen he said no one knew why

this had happened but there was nothing

that could be done the air grew thin

within a day many people could do

nothing but sleep I watched as my

princess was slowly dying I had to try

something I could still move with great

difficulty I went to our Airport and

chose a fast aircraft I flew as fast as

I could to the building that produced

the atmosphere of the planet workers

were trying to enter I tried to them

with a great effort I opened a hole I

grew very weak I asked one of the

workers if he could start the engines he

said he would try I fell asleep on the

ground it was dark when I opened my eyes

again my clothing felt stiff and strange

i sat up I could see light from an

opening I walked outside the land looked

strange to me I looked up to the sky and

saw the red planet Mars

I was once again on earth in the desert

of Arizona I cried out with deep emotion

did the worker reach the machines to

renew the atmosphere did the air reach

the people of that planet and time to

save them was my princess Dejah Thoris

alive or did she lie cold in death for

10 years now

I have watched the night sky looking for

an answer

I believe she and our child are waiting

there for me something tells me that I

shall soon you have been listening to

the special English Program American

stories Shep O’Neal was the voice of

John Carter

Steve ember was tars tarkas

Barbara Klein was Sola and Gwen Newton

was princes Dejah Thoris this story was

adapted for special English by Paul

Thompson it was produced by Paul

Thompson and Mario Ritter

you