This is a Barsoomian fan pastiche largely written and fully edited by a man who knows the lore inside out, and thus it is told with the expertise of one who is as familiar with John Carter’s family as he is with his own. The story is a logical extension of ERB’s work, carrying his characters into future adventures beyond the canonical tales.
Chapter 1
John Carter persuades his wife, Dejah Thoris, to represent him at the national new year celebration at the palace of Kulan Tith in Kaol. She is accompanied by Rexa Hultan, a woman she thinks is a young, chattering fool. The women board the Tjanath liner “White Diamond” for their journey. Dejah has thoughts of dissatisfaction and even rebellion about her obligations as a Princess.
Dejah Thoris: The Girl On a brief layover stop at Jhuma, the women decide to explore the city. Returning to the ship, they have to pass through a slum. Dejah sends Rexa ahead while she makes the acquaintance of a starving black girl. She discovers that the girl is from earth and that she is pregnant. Her name is Junie Watts, and she has been a slave on Barsoom. Dejah decides to stay with Junie and help her with her delivery. She writes a note to her husband telling him not to worry or try to find her and sends it back to the ship with Rexa.
Chapter 2
Dejah feeds the girl and takes her on a thoat into the hills where she gives her a bath. On the third day of their journey, Dejah is attacked by a large red man, whom she kills with her knife.
Junie Watts: Living in Hell Junie tells Dejah that she got to Barsoom by just waking up there. She tells of how she was captured and repeatedly raped by an ugly, yellow man with a beard. Junie tells how she was branded as a slave sold as a whore as they traveled from town to town. Later she was sold to a black man who arrived on a flier. After this bargain was made, the black man decapitated the yellow man. Holkat, the black man, does not abuse Junie. He takes off her chains and tries to teach her his language. Holkat is a weapons merchant and a practiced warrior. He makes love to Junie in a gentle way, and she learns to respond to him. However, Holkat does not want her when she shows her pregnancy. He thinks she is cursed and abandons her with only a blanket. Junie became a “deformed” beggar in Jhuma. She contemplates suicide, but decides to live for her unborn child. Dejah, the egg-laying Barsoomian, is fascinated with the idea of live birth. Finally they reach a small town and obtain directions to Milieos, the physician, who lives nearby, just six haads beyond the hill. They are warned that he will not treat strangers.
Chapter 3
The physician Milieos is a man tormented by the memory of the loss of his family. He had saved the life of a new born child and later married Alia, his mother. They were from a race different than his own.
Milieos: Houseguests Milieos’ father was the founder of the city of Thilum, which is ruled in his absence by the eldest son, Senca. Milieos also has a sister, Kolua, an artist, and a younger brother, Fokar, who was born with a malformed leg. Milieos’ wife and child were killed by a band of Warhoon raiders, green men, and he began to drink. Dejah and Junie arrive at his house when he is hard in his cups. The doctor thinks that Junie’s pregnancy is a deformity. Dejah informs him of the truth of the matter, and he becomes interested. In the morning, when Milieos is sober, he examines Junie and gets a lesson from her on Jasoomian reproduction. He agrees to let the women stay with him until the birth. Dejah insists that she must sleep in the same room as Junie, which means that Milieos will have to give up his own room. He wonders at her royal demands. We learn that Milieos is a black man and that his wife was red. He agrees on the odd arrangements -- the women get his room, and Dejah is to buy the food and cook for three. Dejah does not approve of Milieos’ drinking. She tells Milieos that his life now belongs to her because he has thrown it away. She warns him to cause no harm to Junie, or she will kill him.
Chapter 4
Thilum is a city of the First Born (black men) founded by Dator Tamat, father of Senca and Milieos. It is a rural village based upon agriculture and ranching, guarded by a squad of trained warriors.
Dejah Thoris: “What is my purpose now?” Although she was raised as an ornamental princess by her father, Dejah Thoris was allowed to learn the basic survival skills by her husband, John Carter. Dejah teaches Junie the Barsoomian language, and she learns Milieos’ history from the locals. Dejah buys Junie maternity dresses. They are becoming fast friends. Dejah tells Junie that she is not a slave, but she fears that she will never be going home again. Junie says, “What is my purpose now?” Dejah tells Junie about her life, and she takes her for a social worker. A red man brings his son to the doctor with an arm injured by a Banth, but Milieos is out on his rounds. Junie has learned enough medicine to be able to stop his bleeding. When Milieos arrives, Junie acts as his nurse, and they stitch up the boy. Milieos tells the farmer, Antak Mobal, that Junie’s fast action has saved his boy’s arm. The man lays his hatchet at her feet. Milieos does not drink this evening. We learn that Junie had begun training as a nurse before coming to Barsoom. They care for the son of Antak Mobal together. Milieos is still curious about Dejah, but she does not reveal her true identity.
Chapter 5
Junie learns to love the thoats. She gives them all names and tends them with skill as though they were horses. Big Gun is the largest, but Sophie is her favorite. Dejah tells Junie that she is married to a Jasoomian. Junie wants to know more, but it is not time to tell. Dejah is trying to release Junie from her slave mentality, but it is not an easy task.
Junie Watts: Life in Thilum Dator Senca barges into the house and tells Junie to get out. Dejah tries to eject him at knife-point. Observing the dangerous confrontation, Junie politely asks the man to leave and he does so, throwing a remark to Dejah about her being the “hired help.” Kulua, Milieos' sister comes to the house with the information that her brother, Senca had been to see her about the two women who had dared to confront him. Kulua and Junie become friends, and during a day-long conversation Junie learns much from her about Barsoomian history and customs. Kulua is more open to her than the guarded Dejah Thoris. Kulua credits Junie with her brother’s improvement, but Junie replies that she is weak and that she arrived on Barsoom because she had committed suicide. Kulua tells her that she too suffers from the loss of her mother. Kulua wonders about Dejah, but she only promises to reveal her identity after Junie’s child is born. Dejah is gone in the morning on one of her mysterious journeys. Junie tells Kulua more of her life on Jasoom -- how she studied to become a nurse but had to become a cleaning lady at the hospital due to hard times. She tells her of her suicide by taking pills and how she went to hell on Barsoom, being abused by the Okarian. Kulua tells her that she is on Barsoom because it is the place her heart desired to be. Junie worries when Dejah does not return to the house. It is the longest period she has ever been away. When Milieos returns, he immediately decides to go looking for her since he knows the places she haunts.
Chapter 6
Milieos returns home from his house calls thinking of his strange attraction to the Jasoomian Junie. Arriving at home, he hears of the missing Dejah from Junie, takes his radium rifle and saddles his thoat. Junie insists upon going along, and he cannot refuse.
Milieos: Mundane to Murderous The pair go to the market and the jeweler, Kultis Than, tells them Dejah has been there earlier to order a silver pacifier. Another shopkeeper sends them East. They stop at Senca’s villa and ask him to help in the search. He gives Pyugha, a calot, to sniff out the trail. The calot leads them to Dee, who has been captured and bound by two Warhoons near a campfire in the hills. Milieos sees three thoats, and thinking the third is Dejah's, is surprised by a third green man. Before the villain can strike Milieos with his sword, he is attacked by the calot and thus Milieos has time to quickly shoot the other two barbarians. The calot kills the third Warhoon. Dejah is rescued. She has learned of plans for a Warhoonian raid to occur within a week. While all of this was happening, Junie’s water sac broke and her labor pains have started. They decide to ride slowly back home bringing the Warhoon thoats along.
Chapter 7
On the way home Dejah muses about her life as a princess and about her recent rebellion. When they arrive home, Junie reveals she is not having the baby, but had wet herself in fear during the encounter with the Warhoons.
Dejah Thoris: The Secret in the Hills Dejah places the radium rifle and a pair of pistols on the table and tells Milieos that his father is dead. She shows him a medallion she has found in the hills north of Thilum. It was near a skeleton and a long sword of ancient design -- his father’s sword -- and a great deal of money. Next to his father’s skeleton were two others: that of Arz Nat (recognized by a healed forearm bone) and that of a green man. Arz Nat was a freed slave who owed his very existence to his sire. Dejah had returned to the skeletons to find more evidence and had been captured by the green men waiting for her there. She tells Milieos that she had shown the medallion to the jeweler, Kultis Than, who seemed very interested in it. He must have warned the murder or murderers that their secret had been discovered. At first they they suspect that Senca was the mastermind behind this evil deed since he benefited most by his father’s death, but he already had this ruling power from their father. Next they suspect Kulua and Fokar, Milieos' sister and younger brother. Milieos asks for Dejah’s help in discovering the real murderers.
Chapter 8
Holkat regrets abandonning Junie in a superstitious panic and returns to look for her. He goes to Jhuma for provisions and finds out where she has gone.
Holkat: The Unknown People of Barsoom Holkat’s ship is fired upon by the guns of some green men and a buoyancy tank is struck. He manages to keep aloft long enough to elude his enemies. Holkat observes a caravan of red men who have been butchered by green men. He wonders how the barbarians could have gotten ahead of his ship. Later, losing buoyancy, he is forced to throw everything overboard to get over a hill. He only retains his personal weapons. Holkat battles the green men from the advantage point of his flier, killing some, and they are forced to withdraw. He lands in the hills outside Thilum, enters the city and warns a guard, Torok, about the approaching Warhoons. Hokat is led to Dator Senca, and he reports on the impending Warhoon attack. Senca sends officers to prepare their defenses. Hokat tells Senca about his search for Junie, his female slave, and Senca tells Torok to take him to the house of Milieos. His further instructions are to bring everyone inside the city for protection, including his own family. As they depart, a shadowy figure enters the city by a side gate. When Holkat arrives at the home of Milieos, Junie Watts looks at him with disgust. As they prepare to leave for safety, Holkat is surprised when he hears Junie speak the Barsoomian tongue. In consideration of Junie’s condition, they ride with restraint toward Thilum. The Warhoons attack the city, and the battle rages into the night. Dejah Thoris fights with the warriors with great skill. Senca orders retreat after retreat as the Warhoons push into the city. Holkat is impressed that black and red men can fight so well together. He thinks, “perhaps interracial cooperation is possible.” Finally, they have to retreat to the fortress. Senca tells Milieos to take the women, Fokar, Kulua, and Holkat to Kamtol and raise the alarm for aid. Milieous promises to bring the Black Pirates of old, the great horde of Kamtol, to relieve Thilum. They depart on the 50 man flier piloted by Fu-King, using their cannons to some effect against the Warhoons as they fly away. Milieos says, “I will return, Senca,” and the wind scream rises as they speed through the air. Having to land for repairs from Warhoon hits as they left the city, they come to Thaandor, an ancient ruin. It was the first city to be abandoned as the oceans of Barsoom receded, and it was rumored to be a place of demons and corphals. Fu-King and his crew go off to plunder a wrecked flier. They drink poisoned wine and die. The band of heroes enter the ruined city and are knocked unconscious by a bright, white light from one of the towers. They awaken chained in a dark dungeon. With them in the prison is an old brown man, Elder Huc-En. He tells the story of ancient days, how races intermarried and became a blended brown race. This race was despised by all the other colored races, so they hid in Thaandor. He also tells them they are slaves. Junie Watts screams as something passes close by Holkut’s head.
Chapter 9
A gigantic ulsio is killed by a spear. The old man is killed by a young brown man, who says, “Jokar, come and take these visitors to our camp. I am taking the female to Maj Lantor.” Jokar is a giant brown man. Torvaan Rok, the young warrior introduces himself to Junie Watts. He is a handsome, muscular man -- extremely attractive to Junie. He tells her that her friends are safe and that he is taking her to see Maj Lantor, the greatest scientist in Thaandor.
Junie Watts: Thaandor Torvaan tells Junie more of their history -- how they are ruled by a tyrant, Nal Makor, whom he and his father oppose. They are just about to lead a revolt, and if they win, he will be the new Jeddak. Maj Lantor is the father of Torvaan Rok. He tells Junie that he knows she is from Jasoom and that her people are slaves. He goes on to tell, first person, of his journey to earth 160 years ago, to Alabama. Maj spies on the earth people, learns their language rapidly, but is captured by white men who decide to sell him rather than hanging him on a tree. The story continues in the morning after Junie has a real Jasoomian breakfast. Maj tells of how he was sold to a man in Virginia and had to serve him for two years. He is nearly beaten to death before he is purchased by another man, a kinder man. Maj lives here for two years and marries Cloe. His owner is named “Master Jack.” Maj asks for his freedom and the freedom of his wife, Cloe. Master Jack grants this request after buying Cloe from his cousin, Bob. The couple return to Alabama. Maj and Cloe find the flier and go back to Barsoom, taking some chickens along. Torvaan Rok is born on Barsoom, the first live human birth on the planet. Dejah and the others are reunited with Junie. Dejah asks to see the Letter of Emancipation given to Maj. It was signed by his master, Captain John Carter.
Chapter 10
Milieos is surprised to hear that this man who freed his slave is the same John Carter who overturned Barsoomian life.
Milieos: The Science of War Maj Lantor shows Milieos his invention, a liquid growth exciter that can enlarge animals to a great size. He has had an accident, creating giant ulsios that live in Thaandor but could become a plague on Barsoom should they ever escape. The effect of the exciter is transmitted to offspring. (The giant, Jokar, was also created during this accident.) Maj did not create the growth exciter to make larger creatures but to prolong Cloe’s life so it would be closer to the normal 1000 year Barsoomian span. He had some success, causing her to live longer, but she eventually died. Maj also confesses that due to his great strength and endurance he was forced to breed with a Jasoomian slave while he was on earth. He does not know if she ever had a child. Milieos tells Maj that he wishes to help him overthrow Nal Makor and in return he wants help to rescue his brother Senca. The First Born women in Thaandor are warriors beside the men. Holkat argues with Milieos over his presumed ownership of Junie. Milieos tells Junie that he will attack Nal Makor with the aid of Maj Lantor and Holkat, but she is not impressed. Milieos professes his love for her, but before she can reply he is called to battle. Maj Lantor and Milieos head for the palace of Nal Makor with twelve utans of warriors and cages of ulsios and soraks. They are to be met there by Torvaan Rok and Holkat. They fight their way to the palace with sword and dagger. Then, as they are attacked by radium weapons, Maj sprays the beasts with his growth exciter and they become gigantic before their very eyes. The rebels create a barrier of flame and smoke between themselves and the enemy, which causes the animals to run toward the ranks of Nal Makor’s men, who kill them all. But an opening in the ranks has been made. The palace guards manage to get through the gates and close them, however they are battered down by a ram created by steel bars on the nose of a flier. This was the second prong of the planned attack led by Torvaan Rok, Holkat, and the giant Jokar. A female padwar congratulates Milieos. She has been near him throughout the battle. The heroic warriors battle through the palace room by room. Milieos is saved by the female padwar, Galkina. The beastial Nal Makor leads his own bodyguard in the final battle in the throne room. Galkina and Milieos enter first and are pinned down while the others are unable to follow. They are saved by an attack through the rear wall led by Dejah Thoris. Surrounded, the Jeddak’s guards throw down their weapons. Maj Lantor and Nal Makor fight a personal duel with swords at the center of the battle-scarred hall. Maj wins the battle despite trickery on the part of Nal Makor. He breaks Nals back with his sword, and the villain stabs himself in the heart. Torvaan Rok declares Maj Lantor, his father, Jeddak of Thaandor, even though he, Torvaan, was expected to be the next ruler. Holkat and his men put together a great ship from spare parts on the Thaandor plain. Milieos, along with Torvaan Rok and his warriors prepare to return to lift the siege of Thilum. Milieos asks Dejah to stay in Thaandor with Junie when they go into this second battle. She tells him to see what Junie wants her to do, then walks away. Galkina and Milieos go to Junie and find her with Maj Lantor. Milieos feels a twinge of jealousy. Junie wants to go with Milieos, and he agrees to let her go along although it will be dangerous. Maj tells Milieos that he thinks he can extend Junie’s life with his further experiments. As they set out for Thilum, Milieos wonders that Galkina has volunteered to go along. Holkat acts as the able commander of the ship. Milieos sees Junie talking with Torvaan Rok, and again he feels jealous. When Torvaan comes out of her cabin, he is accosted by Valvia, a First Born woman, who is also jealous! As they approach Thilum, they discover that it has already been put to torch by the Warhoons.
Chapter 11:
Milieos tells Holkat to take the ship back to Thaandor and that he will go into the ruined city alone. Galkina declares she will go with him. Holkat says that he will not leave and that they must wipe out the Warhoon threat before it spreads to Thaandor. Dejah outlines a plan of attack from two fronts -- mounted warriors from the hills upon the thoat herds of Thilum and the ship from the east at midnight made invisible when it is coated with tar. Dejah and Galkina are to go with 500 warriors on the ground attack led by Torvaan Rok. Holkat will attack from the air.
Holkat: The Perpetual State Junie goes to Holkat’s cabin and asks him to release his claim on her. Holkat gathers that she loves someone, either Milieos or Maj Lankor, and she does not want this loved one harmed in a later showdown. Holkat tells her to get out. Holkat thinks that Milieos is her true love, and he wants to kill him to gain back her affections. Junie, Dee, and Milieos’ family are to stay behind and escape to Thaandor upon thoats if the battle should be lost. Dejah and Galkina have made a reconnaissance of the city and have given information about the best way to mount the attack. Warriors from the disquised ship descend at night to the city roofs by ropes while the victorious Warhoons torture their captured victims of war. The cannons are fired, the ship lands on 100 or more green men and as avenging warriors disembark and begin the desperate battle for the city. The landing party falls back to the ship just as the Warhoons' stampeded war thoats arrive according to plan to crush the massed warriors. Torvaan Rok’s mounted warriors follow the stampede; even the defeated citizens of Thilum join in wiping out the Warhoons. Holkat follows Milieos into the fortress, the last barbarian stronghold. He fights hand-to-hand with two gigantic green men and defeats them both. He finds Milieos kneeling beside the horribly disfigured body of Senca. Holkat saves Milieos from one of the last surviving green men, but he is horribly wounded in the effort. In his fading breath he thanks Junie Watts for something he cannot remember.
Chapter 12
Junie had felt contractions before the battle but she says nothing that will distract the warriors from their mission. Suddenly her water breaks. Dee helps her to a hollow under the wall -- a rude birthing place. The thoats gather around but Folkar and Kulua decide not to watch the birth. An old Thaandorian woman who had been present at the birth of Torvaan Rok says she will help Junie. As they wait for the child to come, Dee tells Junie stories of Barsoom, and Dee reveals her envy because she cannot have any more children.
Junie Watts: A Traitor in Thilum Junie gives birth to a boy as she squats over a cloak-covered bed of moss. The second child in a pair of twins is a girl! They are brown skinned. Who their father might be, the Okarian or Holkat, she cannot tell. The midwife reveals her name is Yona. Since it sounds like Junie’s grandfather’s name, she names the son Jonah. She names the girl Dee after Dejah Thoris, her savior and best friend. Dejah Thoris reveals to Junie her true identity. In the morning, they ride toward Thilum to see how the battle turned out. Dejah scouts ahead and returns with the good news of the victory. Torvaan Rok meets them outside the city. He directs them to Milieos at the Dator’s fortress. As they go to him, Folkar and Kulua slip away down a side street. The dator's palace is now a field hospital. Junie hands her babies to Dejah and works beside Milieos as his nurse. Milieos tenderly treats a shoulder wound on the unconscious Galkina. After many hours, Dejah pulls Junie away from the operating table to feed her babies. Milieos tells Junie that Holkat is in a coma. He also tells her that she is welcome to live in Thilum with her children for the rest of her life. Junie tells Milieos that next to Dee, he is her best friend and that he should look after Galkina not only as her doctor but as her man. He gives her his pledge. Milieos knows that someone opened the side gate and let the Warhoons into the fortress. Holkat remembers seeing a fat man there as they were leaving the city. Dejah, on patrol, returns to the city with the jeweler Kultis Than, the fat man, as her prisoner. He was caught escaping with packs of weapons, gold, and jewels. Milieos engages in a sword duel with the traitor and kills him, but before he dies the jeweler accuses another as being the real traitor and, before Folkar can back-stab Milieos, Dejah quickly beheads him.
Chapter 13: Dejah Thoris
Dejah Thoris decides that it is time to go home.
Caged by Kindness Galkina tells her that she has already given her heart to Milieos but that he does not know it yet. Dejah tells her about the tragedy of his first wife, and she is grateful for the information. Galkina goes to Milieos and calls him “My chieftain.” Dejah says goodbye to Holkat, telling him he was wise to release his hold on Junie. She would have killed him had he not done so. He tells her that he admires her as much as any man. Milieos gives Dee the requested thoat for her journey to Jhuma. She reveals that Junie will stay with them because she plans to leave without saying goodbye to Junie. Junie follows Dejah to the thoat pen. She wants to go with her, but Dejah has to refuse. She wants Junie and her children to be free, not “caged by kindness.” Dejah takes Junie on a stroll through the city and explains her life to the Jasoomian. By the end of the conversation both women realize that there is nothing they cannot do -- they must make their own destinies. Dejah decides to stay another day. She rises early the next morning and whispers a quiet goodbye to Junie’s babies. Dejah is surprised to see Milieos, Galkina, and Torvaan Rok waiting for her at the thoat pen. Junie has revealed her true identity to Milieos and they are determined to act as her guardians back to Jhuma. On the trail they share food and conversation like true friends. They part outside Jhuma to keep the brown race a secret until they gain more strength with allies. Dejah sheds a tear after they part. Dejah boards a ship for Hastor instead of Helium. She warns off two Phundahlian men who accost her in the dining room and is later attacked in her own cabin as she slept. Dejah stabs him, but he is not killed. Dejah lands in Hastor and talks to Rexa Hultan. John Carter happens to be in Hastor too. Dejah goes to him in Rexa Hultan's garden. She simply says, “Hello, John. I’m home.” That evening, John and Dejah make love. She feels that there might be a miracle -- she might someday have another child.
The End
AFTERWORD
Leaving Junie’s final fate an open question is Burroughsian in nature, but since this story is more ambitious than any ERB wrote it seems to be a heavy burden for the reader to bear. However, we must remember that Dejah’s quest was to make Junie Watts a free woman strong enough to make her own way.
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