# XIX: The Menace of the Dead explained — The Chessmen of Mars

> Chapter companion for The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/xix-the-menace-of-the-dead
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters