and

Present
Volume 2238
38



 

 

38. "INTO THE DEPTHS" -- Aug. 23, '42
(read novelization

P1: John Carter rose to the water's surface to see the giant Woola leaping toward the reservoir to quench his thirst. 

P2: The huge beast splashed headlong into the water; great waves rolled upon the little lake. 

P3: A mighty wave loomed above the Earthman. 

P4: It flung him bodily upward, then buried him in its wake. 

P5: Over and over he was tossed in the angry, churning waters before the wave spent itself. 

P6: His lungs screamed for air as he shot once again toward the surface. 

P7: As he burst out and gulped down the precious air, he beheld Woola's great face directly above him. 

P8: Then the calot's tongue began to lap up the water and the Earthman was drawn toward the cavernous mouth. 
 

Notes:

1. Compare 


 
 

CHAPTER 38: "INTO THE DEPTHS"
Novelization of the JCB strip by Dale R. Broadhurst

John Carter skimmed across the water's surface, more rapidly than any Barsoomian swimmer could have imagined possible. Then again, the last Barsoomian swimmer died when the human inhabitants of earth were still learning how to cook with fire. 

A few dozen body lengths ahead of him he could see the legs and sandaled feet of the princess. He had to lift his eyes to see more of her massive form. Still his mind sent out thoughts to the giantess but their mental connection was confused and sporatic. He caught hold of random images and ideas, but they were not effective communication. She sensed that he had seen her sandals -- then her mind wandered off in surprise that the footware had been enlarged along with her feet. Carter was terribly frustrated but he continued his efforts to master Martian telepathy. But, no matter that, he soon would be close enough to leap out of the water and upon her seated body. She certainly would recognize him then! 

Woola tired of his play in the mud and moved toward the reservoir to quench his thirst. Under normal circumstances on the red planet a calot might live a long life and never feel the splash of any liquid upon its rough tongue other than hot blood. Nevertheless, every Martian animal retains an instinctive understanding of what water is, and when they encounter the rare liquid they of course know how to drink it. 

"Don't be afraid, foolish calot! A little water won't hurt you!" the girl called out. So long as Woola and she stayed together she felt that they would soon locate the Jasoomian, even if he were as small as she now suspected he might be. 

The huge beast splashed headlong into the reservoir, obviously enjoying the unique sensation of experiencing a liquid in such vast quantities. The abrupt entry of all his tons of living flesh into the little lake created waves half as high as himself and many times the height of the unseen swimmer. A mighty wall of water loomed above the Earthman. It flung him bodily upward, backward, and then buried him deep within its wake. Over and over Carter was tossed in the angry, churning waters. Wave after mighty wave rushed over him until Woola's body ripples diminished and their effect grew less powerful. 

The unexpected onrush of water not only knocked the breath from the swimmer's lungs, it filled his head and throat. His lungs screamed for air as he shot up toward the light. John Carter at last broke the surface, coughed out the suffocating liquid and gulped in the thin air of Mars. The turbulence of the disturbed pool, however, again and again pushed him downward, robbing him of breath and strength. He lost all sense of direction, struggling just to keep his head above water long enough to draw a breath. Eventually, though, he realized he had made his way nearer to the shore, 

With his strength rapidly draining away, the Earthman made a final, desperate effort to reach the land. The moving water continued to batter him but he knew he was almost there. In the midst of this watery chaos Captain Carter beheld Woola's great muzzle directly above him. At the worst possible moment, the calot's tongue extended down to lap in the water and the weakened, floundering Earthman was drawn straight toward the beast's cavernous gullet. 

Sleeping soundly in the shade of the high cliffs, Sola did not feel the sun's warmth upon her green skin until late in the morning. She looked about for Woola but could not find him. That was not unusual. The calot was a born hunter and only John Carter's direct commands could compel him to stand still when the scent of new prey was in the air. She tended to the thoat and awaited Woola's return. But he did not come. The green girl was alone and once again she sensed that her two human friends might be in danger. In a place where thoats were made of metal and flew through the air, who knew what perils faced the trusting traveler? 

The Thark maid was beginning to feel guilty as well as anxious. It was she who chose the escape route from her people and she who had picked the campsite where Dejah Thoris was abducted. Her suggestions took them first to Go-La-Ra and now to the forbidden Plateau of Eo, from whence only females return to relate its legends. They had spent only one happy night since their entry into the capital city of Thark and Sola wondered if any of the three companions would ever again feel that same happiness. 

The Wizard of Eo had warned her and Woola to approach no closer to his mysterious realm, but now the calot was gone and was probably roaming the forbidden mountain. Should she follow or should she wait? Sola searched the skies for the unlikely appearance of flying thoats -- and waited. 

Dejah Thoris searched the banks of the reservoir with her eyes, looking for the form of her chieftain, even if he should be no larger than the little metal men who lived in the city. She knew he was close by. Three times now she had caught his thoughts and she was certain that he was looking for her also. But it did not occur to her to cast her gaze out upon the surface of the pool. She rose to her feet and looked practically everywhere else. 

The princess at last saw the little band of metal men. She recognized Oman as the robot whose spear had pinned John Carter to the door but she did not see Vovo among the throng of tiny figures. She was contemplating what to do about the intrusion when Oman's voice came to her. 

"Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, it is important that you listen to me?" 

She did not know how to respond. The voice of the tiny creature had not arrived as sound in her ears; neither was it mental telepathy. The words simply came to her silently, as her own memories came to her. The red girl was uncertain that her voice would be heard as intelligible speech to beings so small, so instead of calling out an answer she raised her hand in what was the universal Barsoomian sign for agreement. 

"Dejah Thoris, you and the calot are victims of Vovo's expansion experiment, but the effects will not last forever. There is yet hope if you will heed my words. Your calot killed Vovo. I am concerned that he will injure us as well. The Jasoomian was with me just a short while ago. Now I cannot communicate with him. Will you hold back the calot and help me re-establish contact with the one you call 'John Carter'?" 

Again the girl gave the same sign. Then she turned her attention to Woola and what she saw made her blood run cold! 
 

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