# Surprises explained — Pellucidar

> Chapter companion for Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

David Innes, held captive by the Mahars with Dian, negotiates their release by agreeing to retrieve the stolen great secret from a hidden cave. He travels with a Sagoth escort, recovering his rifle and mapping the region. Upon reaching the cave, he finds the manuscript gone. Returning to Phutra, he learns that Hooja the Sly One has already delivered the document to the Mahars and taken Dian as his hostage.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Betrayal

Hooja the Sly One betrays David by stealing the great secret and taking Dian, undermining David's agreement with the Mahars.

### Power and Empire Building

Dian urges David to use outer-world inventions to conquer Pellucidar and establish human dominance over the Mahars.

### Survival and Resilience

David endures captivity and a perilous journey, maintaining hope to free Dian and advance human civilization despite setbacks.

## Character check-ins

### David Innes

Narrator and protagonist; negotiates with Mahars, searches for the great secret, and learns of Hooja's betrayal.

### Dian the Beautiful

Held hostage by Mahars; advises David to return the secret; later given to Hooja.

### Hooja the Sly One

Betrays David by delivering the great secret to the Mahars and taking Dian.

### Abner Perry

Mentioned as a man of peace who needs David's direction to lead Pellucidar.

### Tu-al-sa

Referenced as the Mahar whose debt of gratitude is canceled by sparing David's life.

## Key lines

> They might save us from the tarag and yet not free us. They looked upon us yet, to some extent, I knew, as creatures of a lower order, and so as we are unable to place ourselves in the position of the brutes we enslave—thinking that they are happier in bondage than in the free fulfilment of the purposes for which nature intended them—the Mahars, too, might consider our welfare better conserved in captivity than among the dangers of the savage freedom we craved.

The Mahars might rescue us from the tarag but still keep us captive, viewing us as inferior beings, just as humans assume their enslaved animals are better off in captivity than in the wild.

_David reflects on the Mahars' paternalistic attitude toward humans._

> No, David; the Mahars cannot harm us if you are at liberty. Let them have their secret that you and I may return to our people, and lead them to the conquest of all Pellucidar.

Dian argues that if David is free, the Mahars pose no threat, and they should return the secret to secure their release and lead humanity to dominate Pellucidar.

_Dian's ambition and reasoning convince David to agree to the Mahars' terms._

> The Mahars are unable to reconcile your statement that the document is lost with your action in sending it to them by a special messenger. They wish to know if you have so soon forgotten the truth or if you are merely ignoring it.

The Mahars accuse David of lying, since Hooja delivered the document claiming David sent him, contradicting David's report of its loss.

_David learns of Hooja's betrayal through the Mahars' interrogation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pellucidar_se/chapters/v-surprises
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pellucidar_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pellucidar_se/chapters