READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
IX
TARNATH
WHEN Kar Komak regained consciousness, he found
himself on board a large aerial battle cruiser. He lay on the
open deck chained to the starboard rail evidently in preparation
for disembarkation, for the vessel was slowing its forward
movement.
It was now somewhere near mid-day and he saw hundreds
of black-skinned First Born soldiery and Therns alike,
also in battle harness, moving quickly about the ship on their
various duties. Not far away on the starboard moved another
great, black battle cruiser, on the bow of which he could make
out the device of Omean.
Above his head swooped smaller, swifter craft. These
appeared to be the units of an air patrol. On them he could
discern both the device of Omean and another—a blazing
sun—which he understood to be the outlawed device of the
overthrown Thern Empire.
"Where are we?" he asked of a First Born padwar of the
guard, who stood near.
The black warrior looked down at him, surprised that he
was conscious. He smiled with a mixed expression of derision
and triumph. "Ha! Red man—awake! And shake your wits
alive!" he exclaimed. "For you are at the mighty gates of
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