Episode 38: A Chance At Redemption?

The adventurers were in low spirits.

The attempted rescue had resulted in the deaths of both hostages; Dr Grant was a loss to the world of archeology of course, but the loss of the innocent Miss White in such dastardly circumstances hit the British lads very hard, triggering harsh introspection and short tempers.

Not only that, there were the consequences to follow the impetuous behaviour of Ssassafrash and his “Followers of Fogg” in declaring that they would henceforth take up residence in the Crocea-Gorlimsk swamplands and … well there was the rub. What would the band of Venusian Militia get up to, unhindered by the guiding hand of British influence?

And to top it off, Captain Forsyth was stricken by a bad case of Martian Canal Fever and forced to retire to a makeshift bed. No doubt his low spirits in the aftermath of the failed rescue were partially to blame for the virulence of the disease.

Informed by the two remaining Martian bargemen that it was a matter of urgency to take on more crew before attempting to return to Syrtis Major, it was decided to make for the small canal-side town of Parabansit, and there try to recruit sailors.

The journey was mercifully free of harassment by pirates, hostile fauna or bellicose Martian forces of any kind, and the barge docked without incident. There were a few formalities, easily disposed of with trade goods, and two new Martian crewmen were retained, though they would only sail as far as Crocea, having no wish to enter the Crown Colony¹. Arrangements were also made with a local ice-house to deliver sawdust, crates and ice to the barge so that the bodies of Dr Grant and Miss White could be preserved for the trip.

Although the team were now without the help of Forsyth or Jones, who was resolutely refusing to leave his captain’s side, they did haver the new-found help of one corporal Henry “Hank” Aldrich, late of the British Expeditionary Forces on Mars and sole survivor of a previous clandestine attempt at rescuing those same poor individuals now lying wrapped in sheets in the hold. Corporal Aldrich had recovered from his ordeal in the swamp and was eager to get back to his command structure.

The barge departed the next day and, after another peaceful day, arrived at the town of Samara. After the formalities had been dealt with, the team discussed options vis-a-vis the Crocea issue: whether to bypass Crocea and avoid any possible resentment toward British Earthmen, or whether to dock there and resupply as the two original Martian crewmen wanted.

Given that the new crew had agreed only to go as far as Crocea, the options were to loose the much-needed crew here in Samara and continue as best they could through waters already known to harbour canal pirates and very possibly Crocean privateers, or to dock in Crocea as honest traders, resupply from Crocean chandlers and attempt to recruit in that large port’s sailors’ establishments.

Crocea it was.

Once docked, the two original Martian crew hurried away to arrange supplies from a chandler, and Hartwell, Phipps and Aldrich went in search of crew, and were treated to the sight of a young human woman being accosted, nay, molested by two Martian ruffians in a dockside alleyway. They ran to the rescue, Phipps contemptuously knocking one bully almost senseless with the butt of his trusty pistol, and that was enough for the two assailants who fled into the alley, leaving our heroes to help the swooning young lady.

Once Phipps had applied smelling salts the young woman regained her senses and turned out to be French and very, very beautiful. This immediately caused a problem, for both Aldrich and Hartwell were smitten and began a jealous rivalry for her affections that was to be the cause of much friction. Phipps, ignoring the childish antics of his companions, ascertained that the poor woman, who introduced herself as Maxine LeBlanc, was in need of transport to her uncle in Syrtis Major, and offered to take her there. This offer was gratefully accepted.

Five new crewmen were obtained and the party, new hires, British worthies and Mlle Leblanc returned to the Krahnaanik’s Folly to await the return of their two crewmen from the chandlers. All afternoon Aldrich and Hartwell vied with each other to demonstrate their suitability as companions and the other’s lack of those very qualities. Phipps was more concerned with practical matters, such as the fact that their crewmen had not returned.

Finally, losing patience with the missing Martians and the ridiculous posturings of his two companions, Phipps led an expedition to the chandlers’ shops to find where the crewman had gone. It was not a quick business, but eventually he came to understand that the “loyal” crewmen had fled in a skiff, taking flight to the north for destination unknown.

Disgusted at the loss of a half day’s sailing, Phipps returned to the Krahaanik’s Folly where Mlle LeBlanc offered to make dinner as “poor consolation and to reward the brave British men for rescuing her”, an offer the heroes gratefully accepted.

Phipps, Hartwell, Aldrich, Jones and Forsyth were treated to a fish dish - “Lemon sole, or the nearest I can make with this Martian fish the name of which I am not acquainted but which has six eyes, though the taste is acceptable I am assured” - and tea, liberally seasoned with Bhutan Spices. All ate heartily.

Phipps detected a flatness in taste but could not sense any adulteration, though his suspicions were aroused by some sixth sense. And his wariness was well-founded, for soon his companions fell into a deep sleep from which he could not arouse them. Why he alone was unaffected was a mystery, but he was fully alert when the treacherous Mlle LeBlanc ran at him, leapt into the air, kicked him squarely in the chest with some force and, like some kind of demented French acrobat somehow retreated past him, and adopted a boxer’s stance, laughing at his expression of surprise.

Phipps attempted to counter attack the treacherous woman, but she was lightning-fast in her reflexes and tiger-like in her ferocity and in relatively short order his battered body sank into blesséd unconsciousness, not before the Frenchwoman announced this was revenge for her sister’s death.

The five woke briefly to find themselves chained in the brig of what must have been a flying vessel of some kind, and suffering tremendous hunger and ravening thirst. A martian guard appeared with food and water, but naturally it was drugged and the prisoners were once again sleeping when they were delivered to High Martian slavers.

The heroes woke to find themselves chained into a work team with a handful of Martian unfortunates in some sort of cavern. It wasn’t long before High Martian guards drove them out of a tunnel into an orchard of trees whose peculiar shape Phipps knew to be that of Liftwood trees! Only a handful of humans had ever seen these miraculous trees. Phipps might have been entranced had the circumstances been other than they were. The battered heroes looked around and saw he whole orchard was under a net canopy, obviously made to prevent loose branches floating up and revealing the position of the plantation.

Several work teams were being held in this cavern, and they worked shifts to tend the trees under the watchful eyes of the armed High Martian guards. One of the other teams proved to have the crew of the ill-fated Persephone in it.

One day, the work crew were taken through a different tunnel to a docking cradle where a small Kite waited at anchor for lading with goods stacked alongside. The work crew were organized into a bucket-brigade and made to load the cargo, and this gave Hartwell the chance to steal a pin dropped by a careless sailor. Once back in their cavern prison the heroes conspired with the other British prisoners to formulate a plan for escape.

The next time a ship docked, Hartwell picked the locks securing his, Phipps’ and Aldrich’s chains, and the heroes attacked and subdued the Martian guard, stealing the keys and releasing the rest of the chained prisoners. Then the now-free prisoners feigned being still chained and followed the inattentive High Martian guard into the tunnel to the docking cradle. Just before rounding the final curve of the tunnel they attacked and killed the guard then, en masse, the slaves charged screaming from the tunnel, attacking the Kite crew before they knew what was happening.

In short order the original crew of the Kite had been savagely dealt with, along with any High Martians foolish enough to get too close, and the former slaves flew the Kite out of the Kraal to freedom. The enraged High Martians gave chase, but were soon left far behind as the Kite ran east with a following wind with Hartwell at the helm. Once clear of pursuit, they Kite turned north and made for the Moeris Lacus-Shastapsh canal, where they turned west toward Moeris Lacus and British rule.

For a short time they were pursued by a Kite obviously of the Shastapsh navy, which went as far as to fire on them, but once again the piloting skills of Hartwell saved the day, and the astounded shipyard master of Moeris Lacus watched a ship full of battered, ragged Martians and Earthmen settle into a free cradle.

1. Syrtis Lapis↑

Episode 37: A Rescue Is Attempted

The pirate attack continued, with the Ssassafrash’s Followers of Fogg bringing havoc to the pirates in savage hand-to-hand combat while Phipps, Forsyth and Jones gave good account with their small arms and Hartwell fired the machine gun … to little effect it has to be said.

It took only a short while to dispatch the entire pirate fleet and capture their skiffs.

No sooner were the pirates turned into food for whatever swims in the swamp than the team heard moans coming from a small islet where they discovered a British soldier in very poor condition indeed. He had apparently given good account of himself; he was surrounded by the bodies of slain eight-legged lizards. Phipps took one look and identified the things as the dread Cissawaans, known to inhabit aquatic environments and to hunt in very large packs. This worthy was either very lucky or a tiger in combat.

Bringing the poor lad aboard the Krahaanik’s Folly, Phipps gave him whatever help he could and made him comfortable, and the team pressed on.

Not long after rescuing the soldier, the heroes found the wreckage of the bow-mounted steam Gatling gun from the Persephone, all-but submerged in the filthy waters of the swamp. It was clear that the gun had been smashed by heavy gun fire and torn from the deck.

The chart room was also found. It had also been torn from the hull of the Persephone by heavy gunfire. It was riddled by small arms impacts, suggesting a pitched battle had taken place. Broken trees suggested where to look for the rest of the ship.

The hull, when found, was badly damaged by cannon fire from both sides. Impacts from sweepers were also noticed. All surviving liftwood had been salvaged, as has every piece of metal, from the engine and boiler to the captain’s silver cruet. It was obvious to all that the Persephone had been ambushed by at least two aerial ships and enfiladed with cannon-fire - a typical pirate tactic.

While searching below decks in the knee-deep, filthy water, Forsyth was attacked by the dread Green Koko - a very large Martian constrictor, not unlike the giant anaconda rumoured to inhabit the upper reaches of the Amazon river! A desperate battle ensued as Forsyth was pushed face-first into the water and bound tightly in the coils of the monstrous snake. After what seemed an eternity, Forsyth was able to break free and gasp lung-fulls of life-giving air. Raising the alarm he was able to hold off the beast until Phipps and Hartwell could join the struggle, whereupon the Green Koko was dispatched and became a collection of preserved specimens in Dr Phipps’ growing collection of bottles and vials.

Suddenly, the air was split by a female scream.

Ssassafrash’s Lizardmen were able to ‘taste’ the air for human and martian scent and direct the team to the location of the hostages. Phipps, Hartwell, Forsyth and Jones along with Ssassafrash and several of his Followers of Fogg boarded the captured skiffs and made their way to the pirate base, with a token force left to guard the Krahaanik’s Folly.

A large island, covered in thick, impenetrable jungle featured a clearing in which had been set up a fortified camp. Guard towers loomed in the air. A wire fence served to keep swamp denizens out. In the clearing two large huts could be seen, and two pirates guarded the gate.

Inside, chained and helpless and looking much the worse for wear, were two hostages - Dr Grant and Miss White!

The team rowed ashore and made their way through the thick jungle. Some of the Venusian braves swam to the small harbour fronting the fenced compound. Then Jones was spotted and the guards fired on him with their black powder weapons but their aim was - luckily - bad. One of the guards in a tower spotted the amphibious assault team and fired on them, but missed. And battle proper was joined.

Fortunately for our heroes the Martian pirates were very poor marksmen indeed, missing with most of their shots. That isn’t to say the day went easily to the Earthmen and their Venusian allies, for the heat and humidity made poor shots of the Earthmen too, and lucky hits dealt Forsyth and Hartwell punishing wounds they could ill-afford. Several Followers of Fogg were also taken down in the heated hand-to-hand fighting between them and the Martians.

Two very lucky shots early in the battle caught the guards at the gate as they were reloading their black powder muskets, igniting and exploding their powder in two spectacular explosions that demolished the gate itself and the guards too. The Lizardmen were quick to exploit this sudden development, invading the compound in a frenzy of close combat.

The heroes were slowly turning the tide of battle their way when the pirate leader emerged from hiding, taking Miss White as a personal prisoner and human shield. Placing his short sword at her throat he barked something at the attackers, which no-one understood. Whatever vile, debased Martian dialect this vile bounder was speaking, no-one on the side of law and order understood. As more Venusian warriors spilled into the compound, the pirate leader snarled and, in a move of sheer savage cruelty, cut the poor woman’s throat, throwing her lifeless body to the stinking ground!

This swine then made his way into combat with some Venusians near Dr Grant’s position, and, gaining a brief upper hand, with a vicious slash of his bloody sword, slew the helpless and unarmed Earthman too!

After that the Lizardmen and Earthmen made short work of the last of the pirates and cornered the pirate leader - who suddenly found the wherewithal to fight like a demon but was cut to ribbons by the Followers of Fogg for all that

But this was a Pyhrric victory at best. The hostages were both dead, vilely slaughtered by the cowardly Martian pirate swine. Fully half of Ssassafrash’s brave Lizardmen had journeyed from Venus to honour Fogg only to lose their lives under volleys of musket fire and savage hand-to-hand fighting in the Martian swamp.

Jones had narrowly avoided death after stopping a lucky - some might say “extremely unlucky” - round from a musket. Fortunately help was at hand and somehow Jones was able to rally enough for Phipps to stabilize him, though he would have been unable to rejoin hostilities had they not been brought to a close.

Forsyth, Phipps and Hartwell were devastated by their failure to save the hostages, and by Ssassafrash who declared his intention to remain at the pirate island base with the remainder of the Followers of Fogg, clearly implying he and his tribal brothers were under-whelmed by the Earthman tactics of firing from cover rather than engaging the enemy in close combat. Such tactics did not “honour Fogg” it seems.

The team returned to Krahaanik’s Folly with the bodies of Dr Grant and Miss White and the Followers of Fogg left to crew the barge left to join Ssassafrash’s band. The bodies were wrapped in sailcloth and stowed.

Under-crewed and heart-sore, the team began the journey home and wondered how they would explain events to the Governor.

Episode 36: A New Adventure With an Old Acquaintance

A new day dawned on Mars to the news that the Persephone had been lost in the Crocea-Gorlimsk Swamplands.

The Persephone had been chartered by Dr Grant for some sort of expedition to the swamplands. Not only were Dr Grant and the crew lost, but Grant had taken along is erstwhile assistant miss Elizabeth White.

It was quite the talk of the Explorer’s Club public lounge, in which Captain Forsyth and Dr Phipps had received the news that Waldmont would not be remaining on mars, but would be returning to Earth to take up the reins of his family business. Indeed, Forsyth and Phipps were talking about it to a new acquaintance, a former military chap by the name of Hartwell when they became aware of being avidly watched by a young woman scribbling in a notebook.

Forsyth intercepted her and learned she was the author of the newspaper article reporting the loss of the Persephone, and that she was looking for more information on the late Mr Waldmont and Professor Wilhelm, absent from the world of the Brotherhood of Luxor for many months now. Forsyth was polite but firm that neither he nor his friends could add anything of value to the story.

The next day Forsyth was presented with a letter signed by Assistant Deputy Commissioner Mandrake informing him that his presence was required at the Governor’s residence at 4pm where a garden party was being held. He was also informed that he was needed to resolve a … situation … and furthermore, that an “honour guard” would be provided “as a courtesy”. And indeed, at 3:45pm four burly soldiers in the uniform of the Parhoon Rifles arrived to “escort” Captain Forsyth to the party.

As he arrived at the Governor’s residence, Forsyth caught a strong smell of something he hadn’t smelled since he was on Venus. Before he could speculate he emerged into the garden where the sight of two dozen scantily-clad tribal Venusian Lizardmen greeted him. Before he could react, one lizardman, slightly more ornately clad than the rest (a matter of the number and type of feathers in his headband) stepped forward and demanded to know why Fogg was not present. Forsyth immediately recognized his acquaintance Ssassafrash! That very lizardman who had been so helpful on Venus and who had been so impressed by the pugilistic skills of the reverend Fogg. Ssassafrash and his fellow Venusians had come to “honour Fogg” he said, and at the mention of the name “Fogg” each lizardman exulted, hissing the name “Fogg” reverently. The Governor’s representative muttered “you see our problem, Captain Forsyth” and made himself scarce.

Forsyth explained as best he could that Fogg had passed away, fighting bravely to the end, and had been buried in a secret place Fogg himself had forbidden anyone to visit (this because it occurred to Forsyth that even if he could locate the grave-site, it had been improvised with whatever rocks were to hand to form a cairn over Fogg’s body and that the elements and Martian scavengers might likely have disturbed the scene. Heaven alone knew what the reaction of this, this, Cult of Fogg would be to such a discovery. Forsyth waited a decent interval, then made his excuses and left to inform the others of this development.

The next day the Earthmen were contacted by yet another representative of the Governor’s office, a “Mr Smith”, with the news that Dr Grant and Miss White were being held by swamp pirates who were demanding an immense ransom for the hostages, a ransom so large the strategic reserves could not encompass the demand. Furthermore, all military assets were currently occupied with the Oenotrian menace, and an official rescue attempt into neutral Crocean territory would certainly push those neutral city states bordering the swamplands into the Oenotrian camp.

Smith suggested that were a private expedition mounted, a certain amount of funds could perhaps be made available to help equip it.

Forsyth, Phipps and Hartwell discussed the mater among themselves for a few minutes, discarded the idea of using a flying vessel and decided that a large canal barge of narrow draught would be ideal. It was also suggested that Forsyth approach Ssassafrash with a view to asking him and his fellow Venusians to join as extra muscle. Ssassafrash listened to the proposition, then announced it would seem to be the perfect way of honouring Fogg.

And so it was that on the 14th of September, the Krahaanik's Folly left the dockside of Syrtis Major, ostensibly on a scientific expedition mounted by Dr Phipps to search for a certain type of martian leech that would be invaluable in creating new medicines. The machine gun mounted on the bow was simply a precaution against Canal and Swamp Pirates, both of whom were known to interfere with peaceful folk going about their lawful business on the waterways of Mars. The many cases of ammunition were merely an expression of the nature of the hazard involved.

The crew were five loyal Martian boatmen, Ssassafrash and his two dozen spearmen, Forsyth and his batman Jones, Phipps and the new chap, Hartwell. It was quite a crowd, and their departure was watched carefully by several people including the young woman who had accosted Forsyth in the Explorer’s Club, some Martians and a sinister human who was taking pains not to be spotted.

The week long trip to the swamp was mostly uneventful, and each night the Krahaanik's Folly would dock at some canal-side town to trade minor items and gather information. The picture that emerged was grim, if speculative. The crew of the Persephone had, by all accounts, been sold as slaves to some High Martian “king”, while the unfortunate Dr Grant and Miss White were being held for ransom from the British - or whoever could pay it!

There was one encounter with canal pirates, which ended badly for the brave explorers but very badly indeed for the pirates. The Krahaanik's Folly was hailed by an approaching vessel and ordered to heave to for an “inspection”. Suspecting foul play, Forsyth and Phipps opened fire withtheir small arms while Hartwell attempted to fire the machine gun - but it jammed! The pirates returned fire with their sweeper and landed a very (un)lucky shot that dropped two Martian crew and poor Jones. A shot from Phipps aimed at the madly reloading gunner then ignited the pirate’s supply of powder and blew the bows completely off the vessel, sinking it with the loss of all aboard.

Jones was badly wounded, but alive thanks to his stout Welsh constitution. The two Martian crewmen were not so lucky.

Finally reaching the mouth of the swamp, the Krahaanik's Folly cautiously made its way into the network of channels and islets, like and yet unlike the swamps of Venus. On Venus the vegetation is varying shades of green. Here, it was of course varying shades of red. But barely had the crew begun to admire the screnery when a flotilla of swamp pirate skiffs, well prepared and crewed, sprang a classic swamp pirate ambush and surrounded the Krahaanik's Folly!

The Earthmen readied themselves. Hartwell, anxious to redeem himself, gave good account with the machine gun, dropping a pirate. Phipps and Forsyth also began firing, as did Jones. But all were astonished at the military precision of the Lizardmen as they leapt overboard at Ssassafrash’s urging, and in what seemed expert military fashion began attacking the pirates with their spears.

The pirates, desperate now their ruse was up, fired pistols. Rounds tore through Hartwell’s new safari jacket, ruining the tailored line, and struck the proud figure of Ssassafrash, standing in clear view and urging his cohorts on with sibilant commands in whatever Venusian language they all spoke. One lucky shot dropped a Lizardman.

And then … but you will have to wait until next month’s exciting episode to find out what happened then, dear reader.