READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
Kar Komak frowned his puzzlement. "Yes," he answered.
"In a certain degree, I am. I have just come down off the ridge
on my way to the Escarpment. I have a routine message for
the commanding odwar."
"Excellent!" exclaimed the other. "Come with me,
quickly! It will not take long." He started away into a barely
discernible trail through the underbrush.
Kar Komak, after a quick glance about him, followed in
silence, wondering what unexpected turn of events his former
cellmate might have to offer. He had been disappointed with
his new military position in the enemy's camp. It had offered
very little opportunity to obtain further information for John
Carter. He had only learned that the armies of the Thern
Empire and of the First Born numbered in the millions and
that their combined aerial navies numbered close to ten
thousand warships. But he hungered for more vital details,
and also he had chafed at the waste of time involved concerning
his routine training duties as a common padwar of the
infantry.
So it was that he followed Var Koros with a feeling of
anticipation. The old scholar was evidently high in the favor
of one of the important masters of Zumor. Moreover, he had
lived in this valley for centuries and must surely know his
way about, he reasoned.
At last they arrived in a hidden bower, deep back into the
underbrush between the densest cluster of giant trees which
Kar Komak has as yet discovered.
"What is it that you have to tell me?" he asked, impatiently.
Var Koros cautioned him to lower his voice. "We must
not be overheard," he replied. "And it must never be known
that you met me here in the forest."
"Well?" whispered Kar Komak. "What is it?"
"First, you must escape from Tarnath and return to your
Warlord," said Var Koros.
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