XIII: A Desperate Deed explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Courage and Resilience

  Tara's defiance and decisive action against E-Med demonstrate her courage and refusal to be victimized.

• Justice and Tyranny

  The arbitrary and deadly 'justice' of Manator is contrasted with Tara's sense of honor and Helium's values.

• The Game of Life and Death

  The living Jetan game is a central metaphor, where life and death are decided by moves on a board.

Characters to notice

• Tara of Helium

  Kills E-Med in self-defense, then hides the body with Lan-O. She defiantly asserts her honor as a princess of Helium.

• Lan-O

  Slave girl who helps Tara hide E-Med's body and explains the rules of Manator's Jetan games.

• E-Med

  The dwar who attempts to assault Tara and is killed by her.

• A-Kor

  Mentioned as having been sentenced to the games; his chivalry and courage are praised by Lan-O.

• Ghek

  Mentioned as the kaldane who has seemingly performed impossible feats, causing suspicion among the Manatorians.

• Turan

  Tara asks about him, but the officer ignores her question.

• O-Tar

  Mentioned as the jeddak who may take a hand in E-Med's disappearance and who sentences prisoners to the games.

Key passages

• “If a man, and he survived ten games his liberty would be his... But none ever survives?”

  A prisoner could earn freedom by surviving ten games, but no one has ever done so.

  Lan-O explains the brutal odds of the Jetan games.

• “Sacred to the people of Helium are the persons of the women of Helium.”

  The honor of Helium's women is inviolable, and any insult is met with war.

  Tara asserts her cultural values to E-Med.

• “If thou wouldst possess a dead body press me too far, but know, man of Manator, that the blood of The Warlord flows not in the veins of Tara of Helium for naught.”

  If you push me, you will only get my corpse, for I am the daughter of John Carter and will not be dishonored.

  Tara threatens suicide rather than submit to E-Med.