READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
For once, Ranas Ghol stirred visibly with emotion, and
he raised his voice emphatically. "I warn you that Tharos
Pthan is a dangerous subject!" he exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" asked Tario.
"Consider," replied Ranas Ghol, "the possibility of
bringing into the picture a false Tharos Pthan. As the sacred
mate of Issus and the actual warden and master of the Sacred
Worlds of both Korus and Omean, he would not only rule
your own empires, but the masses of people in the outer
world would support him even against yourselves. Thus, you
must never contemplate the creation of a Tharos Pthan, for
even an imposter would reap the benefit of your own
propaganda—and he would wield a power which none of you
could challenge."
The expression which crept into the eyes of all three of
Ranas Ghol's listeners fully satisfied the Zumorian, but he
feigned alarm. "You see! The very poisonousness of the idea
is having its effect on your own minds!" he exclaimed. "Of all
positions of power, privilege and advantage which could ever
exist on Barsoom, that of Tharos Pthan, mate to the eternal
Issus, would be the most coveted of all. And for that very
reason, Tharos Pthan must always remain the distant promise
and the unfilled portion of the prophecy."
"Suppose," said Zithad, "that the actual prophecy were to
be fulfilled? What if the true Tharos Pthan should appear?"
"Nonsense!" snorted Sardon Dhur.
"It is to be hoped that the idea ia a preposterous one," replied
Ranas Ghol. For, if a genuine Tharos Pthan were to
arise all your powerful work of propaganda—the very faith
which you are inspiring in the people—would serve as an ironical
trap—in which your every dream of reward and power
and perhaps your very lives would be utterly dissolved."
Sardon Dhur and Zithad, Dator of the First Born, glared
at each other in dark speculation. Tario, self-styled Jeddak of
Jeddaks of all Barsoom, glowered meditatively at them both.
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