READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
potential allies, men of reason, intelligence, and position, who
stand on the borderline between the ugly truth of the old
ways and the incompleteness of John Carter's way. The Holy
Alliance proposes to establish in the Valley Dor, the land of
love and peace which it was purported to have been in the
beginning. Furthermore, they have made powerful propaganda
out of the ancient of Issus and now hold forth to the
faithful the promise that the original goddess will be resurrected.
Do you not see what a mighty sword they wield? It is
a weapon of fanaticism, used by a master!"
Long after Var Koros had fallen asleep, Kor Komak
remained awake. What he had learned in this single day had
shaken him to the depths of his being. The old Barsoomian
scholar told him much that he could never have imagined or
surmised -of the growing might of the individual members of
the Sacred Council and their suspicious and jealousies and the
increasing strife between them—of the Legend of Issus, of
the plan to resurrect her—and of the prophecy concerning
Tharos Pthan, Guardian of Heaven, who was to be the mate
of Issus.
Tharos Pthan.. Something in that mystic name bothered
Kar Komak. Somewhere it rang a distant bell of memory.
Either he had heard that name before, or it held a special
meaning that he could not quite grasp. But he felt, vaguely,
that it was important to remember.
Great though his mental preoccupations were, however,
Kar Komak did not neglect to devote one hour of concentration
on that distant, secret chamber in the palace of the jeddak
in Lothar. There hovered the phantom wraith of his love, who
would know life or extinction depending upon the powers of
his concentration and faithful devotion. Or this, at least, Kar
Komak was certain.
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