Our heroes arrived in Moerus Lacus bearing the unmistakable signs of desperate combat, which - along with the tales already preceding them by the miracle of the rumour telegraph - had the population in a ferment of wild speculation.
Which is why a representative of the governor hurried them to the British Legation compound and had then installed in a modest house under guard. No-one said "house arrest" but it was apparent the freedom of the city was not in the offing anytime soon.
Hardly had the heroes had time to draw breath when there was news of an emissary at the front door.
A rather finely dressed Martian entered the room bearing an ornate scroll. He introduced himself as Laramuuri, the Major Domo and Factotum of Prince Kalamanka, who very much desired to meet the famous "Steppe Tiger", human hunter of renown, and to that effect had extended an invite to Hartwell and his companions to visit the Prince's estate and enjoy a series of hunts with the Prince.
When Forsyth and Wilhelm at first demurred, the Martian functionary emphatically insisted that the Prince would most certainly welcome a chance to share meals with the Hero of Fort McMurray and hear the tales of the desperate battle for the wall against the vile Shastapsh hordes, and was looking forward also to speaking with the legendary Conqueror of Bordobaar and hearing of the struggle to recover the ancient treasures of antiquity that the Martian people might enjoy them and experience their history in person.
The functionary extolled the virtues of the Prince's estate, saying that is was most unusual in that it was situated over a natural spring1 and could provide a rich variety of countryside to explore and in which to hunt. This was to be something of a celebration too, as the Prince had just become engaged to Shalafarina, daughter of the head of a wealthy Fire Gem trading family in Karkarham.
When the governor's man took them aside and pointed out that this might be an opportune moment to quit Moerus Lacus and allow the public fervour over the charges laid at their door by Miss Carter-Lloyd to die down to more restrained levels, the chaps decided that since this Martian had come so far with the gracious invitation, and had offered a leisurely trip in the Prince's kite to his estate, they might as well get away from the madding crowd and have some fun for a change.
So early the next morning they boarded the kite, a trim craft, seemingly unarmed and rather smaller than they were expecting perhaps, and set sail for the estate, situated south east of Moerus Lacus. Perhaps a harbinger of better times to come, the trip was uneventful, and after a day and a night's sailing they made landfall in a valley surrounded by mountains, in which a large, tiered building of Martian architecture was situated, surrounded by an astonishing wood. This far from a canal it was almost unheard of for there to be trees, especially in such profusion.
Prince Kalamanka proved to be very keen to speak with each of the Earthmen.He seemed to be hopping from one guest to another with almost manic pleasure, and lunch was time for some peculiar conversation.
The Prince kept asking the "Steppe Tiger"2 his opinion on various matters of local Martian politics, trade agreements and so on, matters which Hartwell could not possibly have had an interest in or knowledge of, which meant he was forced to equivocate (which he did with skill many a politician would have envied).
Forsyth was plied with requests for detailed retelling of the events during his command of Fort McMurray, with interruptions from Prince Kalamanka so that the "Steppe Tiger"3 could comment, though there was an almost imperceptible whiff of insincerity when Prince Kalamanka complimented the gallant captain.
Wilhelm, "The Conqueror of Bordobaar", was invited to see Prince Kalamanka's collection of treasures from that haul4, which amounted to a few gold coins of fabulous antiquity and a golden dagger, all displayed on some kind of upholstery in a glass case prominently positioned in one of the palace's rooms. The prince felt sure Wilhelm would recognize the pieces, but Wilhelm was forced to an insincere admiration as that expedition had recovered literally hundreds of ceremonial knives and tens of thousands of gold coins, and Wilhelm had never been much of a numismatist.
After lunch it was announced that the party would need to be transported to the first hunt, since Prince Kalamanka did not have a steppe tiger on his preserve. The prince, it seemed, was anxious to see for himself the famed skill for which his countrymen had named the Earthman. Not only that, he would hear nothing else but that “Steppe Tiger” should use his own father’s black powder musket - a magnificent weapon.
The evening meal saw a repeat of Prince Kalamanka’s odd behaviour, attempting to draw “Steppe Tiger” into offering opinions on subjects on which he was unlikely to have any knowledge or opinions.
So it was that the heroes once again boarded ship after breakfast the next morning, and sailed northeast in search of the fearsome steppe tiger.
Forsyth noted with interest that they flew south and then east of Shastapsh, giving the rebel city a wide berth but still passing close enough for a positive identification. He enquired of Laramuuri why they were flying the route they had taken, and was told it was to avoid provoking the Shastapsh navy.
The ship made landfall early the next morning, and the party met with a band of Steppe Martian tribesmen who had prepared four ruumet breehr5 with howdahs and drivers. The prince had supplied bearers, loaders really, as well as weapons, smoothbore black powder muskets of typical Martian design.
Everyone got two muskets. Well, not everyone. Hartwell only had the one Prince Kalamanka had offered him the previous day. For some reason, our heroes did not think to comment on this curious imbalance of firepower.
The tribesmen had located a likely area containing not one buttwo steppe tigers, a mated pair with young according to the tribe's leader. At least, that was what Laramuuri claimed. None of the Englishmen could understand a word of whatever martian language Prince Kalamanka, his staff or the tribesmen spoke. Each of our heroes mounted a ruumet breehr, took station in its howdah next to the alloted bearer, and once he prince had followed suit, they were off.
Some time later, Hartwell dismounted to check for spoor and became aware he was being observed, no, stalked by their quarry, a fearsome steppe tiger! Dropping to his knee as the slavering beast charged he coolly leveled his musket and fired a shot, hitting the beast - but failing to stop it!
The steppe tiger slammed into Hartwell at an appalling speed, snarling and snapping his teeth but merely getting a chunk of Hartwell's clothing for its trouble, as it was carried past the now-prone Hartwell by its own terrifying momentum.
Hartwell, still somehow clutching the now-useless musket leapt to his feet and ran for the safety of his ruumet breehr. No sooner had he stumbled into the howdah than a second steppe tiger, unseen until now by our lucky hunter, leapt for the flank of the ruumet breehr, disemboweling it with a sweep of its mighty claws! The poor beast was mortally wounded, and fell over, smashing the howdah and tossing the crew to the ground.
crouching amid the wreckage, the three former riders were thankful that the freshly killed ruumet breehr was not only providing a massive wall behind which to take stock and shelter, but the smell of its blood was a major distraction to both steppe tigers, who began to feed noisily on their prize.
Hartwell had his musket reloaded and, deciding to reconnoiter, crept round the flank of the beast and spotted the two steppe tigers feeding.
Meanwhile Prince Kalamanka and the other two Earthmen were approaching on their own mounts. Wilhelm and Forsyth fired, but missed due to the extreme range and the pitching and rolling of the howdahs. The prince held his fire.
Hartwell leveled his own weapon, sighted on the original steppe tiger that had come so close to ending his life and at point blank range - he missed!
The steppe tiger span around, bared its teeth and screamed a challenge to freeze the blood of any warm-blooded animal.
Forsyth cooly grabbed his second weapon from his loader, quickly took aim and fired, hitting the animal in its vitals, killing it stone dead.
Wilhelm, meanwhile, was riding down the second steppe tiger, still ensconced in the bloody ruin of the dead ruumet breehr. He fired, hitting the beast, but not seriously wounding it.
The beast spun round, screamed its own challenge and leapt for the flank of Wilhelm’s ruumet breehr, its wicked claws extended fully.
Fortunately, the ruumet breehr’s hide was too tough for the predator. Unfortunately (for the steppe tiger) the ruumet breehr’s driver failed to keep the beast under control and, enraged by the attack it had suffered, it proceeded to trample the steppe tiger into bloody paste.
The prince looked on aghast. Hartwell had proved inept at killing the steppe tiger in this hunt, but Forsyth had duplicated the famed feat of arms, witnessed by the prince, his staff and countless Martian flunkies. The pelt would have to go to Forsyth.
The second steppe tiger was in no fit shape to donate its pelt for display by anyone. What a complete and utter fiasco.
The party returned their beasts to the steppe tribe they had received them from, watched Prince Kalamanka and his major domo argue vociferously with the tribal leader, presumably over compensation for the killed ruumet breehr, then boarded the aerial ship they had arrived in and made their weary way back to the palace.
For the next hunt Prince Kalamanka, somewhat disgruntled at the turn of events of the first hunt (though he hid it well) announced they would be traveling to the swamps outside Gorklimsk6 to hunt an almost mythical (until recently) beast - the Knoe Shoshu. A reclusive animal, it was rumoured to be extremely aggressive when needs arose. The prince had word of where one might be found, which they would hunt with harpoons.
At dinner, Prince Kalamanka was fulsome in his praise of Forsyth, though he still plied the unfortunate "Steppe Tiger" with delicate questions of Martian business etiquette and local trade politics, seemingly extremely interested in the bewildered Earthman's views on subjects of which he could have no experience to draw upon. He also laid on thick his regret that "Steppe Tiger" had had his mount eaten out from under him before he could truly demonstrate his no-doubt superior hunting technique.
The next day dawned and the party rose early to take ship for the swamplands just west of Gorklimsk, a shot flight of only a few hours.
During the trip the heroes noted that there were boats of the non-flying variety hanging from primitive davits installed on the deck of Prince Kalamanka's kite, and that the hulls of these boats were being painted with some foul-smelling liquid. When asked what was going on, Laramuuri said that the liquid was bait for the Knoe Shoshu, and would attract the beast from wherever it was hiding if it was out and about in the swamp.
The kite soon took station over the swamp, each hunter climbed into a boat with his assigned bearer and two large harpoons, and the boats were lowered into the water in a rather nerve-wracking operation. Eventually all boats were in the water and under way.
They soon found themselves nudging up against an island of vegetation, and Prince Kalamanka excitedly announced that he could see the lair of the beast dead ahead of them. The party advanced quietly, harpoons at the ready, when the "reclusive" beast launched itself out of the hole in which it had been hiding and made to attack!
Forsyth reacted quickly and struck with his harpoon, killing it instantly, to the amazement of all, not the least of these being Forsyth himself!
The prince was impressed despite himself, and mastered his disappointment at the rather short duration of what he had expected to be a protracted hunt, confining himself to a few pointed remarks regretting the loss of the second chance for the famous Steppe Tiger to demonstrate his "no-doubt impressive" skill.
So it was that a rather subdued Prince Kalamanka led the party of rather more jubilant Earthmen back to the ship and thence back to his estate and another sumptuous dinner punctuated with earnest requests that The Steppe Tiger comment on this or that nuanced point of Martian trade politics and the relative merits of a few obscure Bhutan Spices not normally found in the Crown Colony.
The third hunt was to take place in Prince Kalamanka's hunting preserve itself. It seemed that a beast the Martians referred to as a "Death Stalker" had taken up residence in the grounds and was preying on the herds of eegar Prince Kalamanka was reserving for his own sport. Therefore, the prince would lead an expedition to corner the beast and dispatch it, using black powder pistols. A brace of six fine examples were to be supplied to each hunter, and were holstered in a rather elaborate waistcoat-like harness for ease of drawing and firing.
There was one possible hitch, the prince allowed. The Death Stalker had a way of making itself invisible by vibrating. Something to do with sound too high pitched to be heard by humans or martians. The prince, however, had a trick up his sleeve. He had a supply of antique goggles specially designed for hunting these things, goggles coated with a substance that would render the beast visible to all! He had the goggles brought in and distributed, each Earthman picking his choice. The prince would take from whatever was left.
The next day, after a light breakfast, the troupe made their way, clad in their pistol-packin' braces7 to the lower levels of the palace, thence to the lush, spring-fed woods surrounding the building. Forsyth has suggested swords be worn "as a precaution" and so everyone was equipped with a fine Martian short sword in addition to half a dozen loaded .50 calibre black powder flintlock pistols, again, of antique Martian design. Each hunter was assigned a bearer who carried ammunition, powder, and light refreshments.
After a pleasant walk in the woods for about a mile or so, the party descended a steep escarpment using a switchback trail to the steppe-like area that seemed to make up he majority of the grounds. In the distance, perhaps ten miles off, mountain ridges fenced in the preserve. Approaching a cliff face with two distinct caves showing, Prince Kalamanka announced that this was where the Death Stalker had taken up residence. This beast was described as about the size of a small horse and in appearance not unlike a scorpion, albeit a scorpion of giant proportions.
Forsyth suggested they build fires in front of each cave, and add green leaves and foliage from the shrubs scattered about and smoke out the beast, rather than attempt to beard it in its lair, and everyone thought this a fine idea. No sooner were the fires lit and producing volumes of choking smoke than the Death Stalker scuttled out of one of the caves and adopted a threatening posture.
Undaunted by the giant scorpion-thing clacking its mandibles at them, the hunters fired their pistols at close range, scoring hit after hit.
Afterward, some opined the wonder was that no-one was injured by the fusillade of ricochets this produced.
Seeing the beast was completely unharmed, Prince Kalamanka decided to retreat in order that the Steppe Tiger and his friends have a better field of fire. The Death Stalker, snoof organs ringing from the rather ineffective bombardment it had undergone, promptly turned invisible.
Our heroes of course deployed Prince Kalamanka's wondrous goggles, but found they were of no use whatsoever in revealing any sign of the beast. So much for Ancient Martian Technology!
Forsyth tore off his goggles and attempted to make sense of he tracks from a distance, but could not be certain of much. He decided to cautiously back away from his current position.
Wilhelm snorted in disgust at the failure of the Martian goggles, and deployed his own trusty set from his marvelous hat. Scanning quickly around he pinpointed the beast's position, as he could make out its blurry outline through his lenses. He then also fell back in search of better ground and cover.
It then seemed that The Steppe Tiger8 was seized by a fit of madness. He ran pell-mell toward the thing he could not see following Wilhelm's shouted directions, drawing his sword as he ran. Colliding with the invisible thing, he lashed out with all his might.
The bearer's cries of dismay became sounds of bewildered wonder when the beast became visible in a series of pulses, its power fading as its life drained away thanks to the hideous wound The Steppe Tiger9 had dealt it. The Steppe Tiger had slain the invincible Death Stalker with a single blow and he could not see it at the time!
Prince Kalamanka was aghast. His revered antiques had failed to live up to their reputation at every turn, and the day had been saved by an Earthman's risibly ugly devices. And the Earthmen had turned out to be just as awesome in the hunt as had been rumoured - if not even more so. It was humiliating.
The prince vowed to himself that he would have a better showing in the final hunt.
