CHAPTER IX -Gulliver of Mars

In Chapter IX of “Gulliver of Mars,” the protagonist finds himself in a desolate and eerie region after landing on a shore surrounded by low islands, rank vegetation, and shallow pools, with a forest beyond. As night falls, he takes shelter under a tree, facing the lonely and chilling wilderness alone. The night is alive with strange and unsettling sounds, suggesting the presence of unseen creatures and haunting the protagonist with their cries.

As he attempts to rest, the night brings more unsettling events, with heavy footsteps approaching from the darkness, signaling the presence of large, unidentified creatures. The tension rises as these creatures, hinted to be enormous and rat-like but as large as elephants, become aware of each other and engage in a fierce and unseen battle near the protagonist. The fight is brutal and ends with one creature devouring the other, an ordeal that the protagonist can only listen to, unable to see or intervene.

By morning, the protagonist is tired and hungry but resolves to press on, driven by thoughts of the abducted princess Heru and a sense of duty. His immediate concern, however, is finding food. The sight of smoke signals the presence of another being, leading him to a solitary girl who mistakes him for a spirit. The girl, a fisherwoman, offers him food and shares knowledge of the island and directions to a village that could aid in his quest.

The chapter illustrates the protagonist’s resilience and determination amid the alien and often hostile environment of Mars. His interaction with the fisherwoman brings a moment of human connection in the midst of his isolation, highlighting themes of survival, the kindness of strangers, and the pursuit of a noble, if daunting, objective.