The Argo Goes West

116, Princess of Barsoom, part 2

The people at the gate looked at each other in confusion.

Hector Jackson, Acting Mayor of Sacramento, responded on behalf of everyone.

"There is no such person in this town."

"She's in town," John Carter replied coldly. "She's hiding her identity. Her name is Dejah Thoris. She wears a golden crown and wears a purple robe."

The townspeople groaned. They figured out who the princess was. It's Helen!

Helen was a princess... Captain Harris was both surprised and convinced. He thought Helen's graceful good looks and demeanor set her apart from the average person. But if she's a princess, so be it.

At a loss for an answer, Hector Jackson turned to Theodore Roosevelt. "What should we do?"

"I don't know the circumstances at all."

"Me too. I'll ask John Carter what's going on."

Theodore Roosevelt once agreed, but soon changed his mind. "Let me speak first." He introduced himself with a dignified voice and demeanor.

"I am Theodore Roosevelt."

Theodore Roosevelt, still facing forward, whispered to Miss Craig beside him. "What was Carter's reaction?"

"He seems surprised."

"Good," Theodore Roosevelt nodded.

"Carter," continued Theodore Roosevelt. "This may be a silly question, but what is your military status? If you are still a member of the United States Army, as Vice President of the United States, I command you. Drop your weapons and surrender. "

"Haha!" John Carter laughed gaily. "Unfortunately, I'm no longer a United States soldier. No, not even a person. I'm a god."

A cliché of insane people, thought Theodore Roosevelt.

"God, what do you want to do with Barsoom's princess? Are you willing to sacrifice her?"

"No, I'm her husband. I'm here to get my wife."

It was John Carter who was 'the master' Helen was muttering about, Captain Harris understood. Harris was bitterly jealous of Carter, a fellow U.S. Army soldier. At the same time, he never wanted to give Helen to Carter. So when Theodore Roosevelt told Carter that Helen would do what he said, Carta was dissatisfied with it.

"Give me some time, I'll ask her," Theodore Roosevelt said to Carter.

"We have plenty of time," John Carter replied. "But you'd better hurry as fast as you can."

"What do you mean?"

John Carter turned to the prisoners and pointed to one at random. It was Hercule.

One of the centaurs grabbed Hercule by the neck and pulled him forward.

"What are you doing?"

Hercule was forced to kneel in front of Carter. John Carter pulls out a bowie knife from his waist and puts it under Hercule's nose. And John Carter raised the knife without hesitation. Hercule's round nose was cut off and flung into the air.

"Ahhhh!" cried Hercule.

"Oh!" Miss Craig reflexively covered her face with her hands.

Theodore Roosevelt told her. "Don't look. You should go somewhere else for a while."

"I do. But what a cruel thing he would do. I don't think it's human."

"It's what humans do. Nose cutting, or rhinotomy, has been practiced since ancient Egyptian times. Spaniards cut off the nose and ears of Indians here in the New World."

"I did not know."

"Some things you don't need to know. But Carter, you claim to be a god, but you're just a regular thug."

Hercule's face was covered in blood. However, the punishment still continued. Hercule was laid on the ground on his back, with heavy iron chains tied around his hands and feet.

"What's next!"

Hercule struggled, but could not undo the chains, only clashing steel.

Each of the four centaurs held the ends of the four chains. They formed an X-shaped formation with Hercule at the center.

John Carter raised his hand. It was a signal. The four centaurs dashed off in all four directions, still holding their chains.

Each of Hercule's limbs was pulled diagonally. It was a drawn & quartered execution that executed François Ravaillac and Robert-François Damiens. Hercule Giraud cried out in excruciating pain.

"It hurts! Kill me! Kill me straight!"vHumans weren't the only ones looking away. Some centaurs did so too.

"EEE-AH-H-H-H-H!"

Hercule's limbs were ripped out from the roots. A large amount of blood spray wet the ground.

"Madness! Madness!" cried Romolo, a young sergeant, above the city gate.

John Carter said with a cold smile.

"It's not Madness. It's Horror. It's the law of those who live in the Wasteland."