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READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

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Tarzan on Mars<br />

might have been accomplished even across the Intergalactic<br />

Crevasse, itself.<br />

* * *<br />

Tario started, looking up from the diadem in time to see<br />

the figure of a woman, nearly naked and gleaming white as<br />

moonlight in the rays of Thuria, slump to unconsciousness at<br />

his feet.<br />

He sprang up with a cry that was without meaning yet<br />

which was beyond ideation. To him, it was the exultant shout<br />

of a creator who shattered the stillness and the dark of unborn<br />

Eternity with the command: "Let there be—!"<br />

And there was..<br />

There was she whom he alone had created!— for whom<br />

he had waited down through ages of fruitless longevity—she<br />

whom he would make into Issus, who was the symbol of the<br />

power he coveted— mate eternal of Tharos Pthan, Guardian<br />

of Heaven, Warden of the Sacred Worlds, ruler of men!<br />

Sobbing with the centuries-long imprisoned emotions of<br />

the monomaniac, the mentalist-philosopher and the lost,<br />

lonely man that he was, Tario flung himself to the floor beside<br />

the woman and pulled her into his arms.<br />

The brilliant rays of both Thuria and Cluros shone full<br />

upon her face and form through that window perched high on<br />

the walls of ancient Zumor. Her long, flowing black hair, her<br />

pale, unblemished features, white throat and heavenly body<br />

adorned in spun gold and precious jewels, was an ecstatic<br />

shock to Tario.<br />

He trembled, almost gibbering, as he gazed upon her and<br />

stoked her hair and, at last, tearfully caressed her, near to<br />

swooning with unimaginable joy.<br />

It was then that she opened her eyes and saw him—<br />

clear, cold blue eyes that held no welcome light of response<br />

for her creator.<br />

He felt her sudden tension, saw the soft, parted lips<br />

tighten above sharp, white teeth as she snarled, then sank her<br />

132

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