The story opens with Dejah Thoris in a sword battle with a huge green Thark--Tars Tarkas. She is determined to free her husband, John Carter, or die! Tars Tarkas stuns Dejah Thors, breaks the chains on John Carter, and the there disappear on a space flier into the night sky, headed for Helium. The trio is attacked on the ship and Dejah Thoris is kidnapped.
