John is recieved by the chief, Lorquas Ptomel (sounds very Latin, doesn't it?), and Tar Tarkas (John's captor and# 2 man in the tribe).
John is a bit of a paradox; prisoner, but he gives orders; alien, but a chief; midget, but can kill a man with a single punch. Also, he's planning to escape, and is possibly a returnee from the Pilgrimage Lands, from which none return (or at least, they had better not). Either of these is punishable by death. Oh, Crap!.
- I'm getting a bit of Final Fantasy X vibe from the Pilgrimage. Also, they seem like a Chekhov's Gun; he's got to go to them eventually.
But, "[they] are a just race", and he will receive a trial when they reach the capitol, Thark. The only way they can kill him is self defense or if he tries to escape.
- I am not sure whether to expect a Kangaroo Court, or a Trial by Combat, or what.
- I don't know how reliable it is, but Dejah mentioned Martians do not lie, that "When a man does not wish to speak the truth, he is silent.".
What he says next is what I find interesting. The chief says that if John (and more importantly, Dejah) does escape, he will have to answer to the king, and be forced to duel Tar Tarkas, either proving his fitness to rule or having his ornaments and office given to someone more worthy.
- Even if it's for practical reasons, as he mentions that they lead the most powerful of the minor tribes, this still seems like a lot more characterization than most Mooks give or are given.
- Reminds me of Dune, where Muad'dib dismisses leadership duels as wasteful, and to save his friend and fatherinlaw, the chief.
- I'd say it's an interesting take on the usual Orcs, but his was before all that, wasn't? Certainly before Lord Of The Rings.
- I wonder how much this was in Westerns? I mean, The Lone Ranger had a friendly Tonto, but I don't know much about Westerns, beyond the spaghetti kind and James Gardener. And Blazing Saddles.
- I wonder if this means they expect it to matter to him?
Unfortunately, what he's heard of king Tal Hajus from Sola seems to indicate he is unusually depraved. Not much choice but to rescue Dejah.
Tar Tarkas, who always gives the impression of having more going on that he let's show, tells him to pick a dorm for himself, advising him to pick one of the empty upper floors from his building (one that happens to be across the street from Dejah). He also tells him that the slain chieftans' retuine and spoils will be delivered to him. He also makes mention of John's ways not being their ways, but he is strong enough to make his own path.
He gets a bunch of women to cook and clean and maintain arms and ammunition for him, as well as loot, but he likens it to being in charge of and reponsible for a military unit and its maintenance. As property beyond personal weapons, ornaments, and sleeping furs are communal, he is more of a custodian of the loot, to distribute as needed.
- They take care of themselves and he doesn't interact with them.
He again blames their communal ideals and upbringing for their savagery, but admits they are absolutely and inflexibly virtuous, in their way, but again, with no pity or compassion.
Hmm, the next chapter is "Love-making on Mars". I look forward to it.
Comments
- Hmm...the similarity to Dune would be interesting.
