I like one of the things Sola mentioned, that she confides in John because he can lie like a Virginia gentleman to avoid harming others.
Carefully sneaking across cultivated lands, they make their way to Thark.
Planning their escape, they beg Sola to come with them, where she will receive the love and affection she craves, and besides, if it is suspected she aided the escape, or if the king feels bored, horrible brutal torture. She agrees.
- I wonder how prejudiced the Red Martians might be against Sola.
Now, they have to make their way to Helium; Dejah isn't sure if the nearby settled areas are, uh, friendly or not. Guess they're not as unified as we thought. They decide to take an indirect, 200 mile route, because it's not an obvious choice and to avoid casualties among the settlements when the hunting party goes after them. They plan to meet at a building on the outskirts of town.
John arrives, but they're late. Might have something to do with that group of warriors sniffing around.
John evades them and sneaks back to his building. Listening at the door, he hears a chief giving orders for four warriors to sieze him when he returns, and commenting that Sarkoja has done a heroic night's work.
Good grief, doesn't anyone know how to check for eavesdroppers?
