The Chessmen of Mars · Chapter
XIX: The Menace of the Dead explained
I-Gos reports to O-Tar that he has tracked Tara and Turan to the chambers of O-Mai the Cruel.
What happens
I-Gos reports to O-Tar that he has tracked Tara and Turan to the chambers of O-Mai the Cruel. O-Tar sends three reluctant chiefs to capture them, but they return terrified by ghostly phenomena. Meanwhile, Tara and Turan hide in a chamber, where Tara confesses her love for Turan, unaware he is Gahan of Gathol. They are nearly discovered by warriors playing Jetan but evade capture. O-Tar is challenged by a chief to lead the search himself, but is interrupted by a new arrival.
Themes in this chapter
Courage and Resilience
Tara and Turan face the threat of capture with resourcefulness, while the Manatorian chiefs grapple with fear of the supernatural.
Identity and Disguise
Gahan remains disguised as Turan, leading to Tara's confession of love for a man she believes is a panthan, not the Jed of Gathol.
Love and Sacrifice
Tara's love for Turan leads her to question her prior feelings for Djor Kantos, and Gahan struggles with his hidden identity.
Characters to notice
- Tara of Helium
Hides with Turan in the chambers of O-Mai, confesses her love for him, and discusses Gahan of Gathol.
- Gahan of Gathol
Disguised as Turan, he listens to Tara's opinion of the Jed of Gathol and struggles with his feelings after her confession.
- O-Tar
Jeddak of Manator, receives I-Gos's report, sends chiefs to capture the fugitives, and is later challenged by a chieftain.
- I-Gos
Ancient taxidermist who tracks Tara and Turan to O-Mai's chambers and reports to O-Tar.
- Turan
Alias used by Gahan; he is the panthan who accompanies Tara and receives her love confession.
- Tasor
Mentioned as having led Tara and Turan to the chamber and gone for help.
Key passages
“I love you, Turan; I love you so! It is my only poor excuse for having done this wrong to Djor Kantos, whom now I know I never loved, who knew not the meaning of love.”
Tara confesses her love for Turan, acknowledging that her feelings make her realize she never truly loved Djor Kantos.
This moment reveals Tara's emotional vulnerability and her shift in loyalty.
“We turned and fled. We threw away our swords and fought with one another to escape. With sorrow, but without shame, I tell it, for there be no man in all Manator that would not have done the same.”
The returning chiefs admit they fled in terror from the haunted chambers, claiming any Manatorian would have done the same.
Highlights the superstitious dread surrounding O-Mai's chambers and the cultural acceptance of such fear.