02.03.2013 Views

READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Tarzan on Mars<br />

They were almost hairless, but for a great, bristling<br />

mane about their thick necks. Their long, tawny bodies were<br />

supported by ten powerful legs and their enormous jaws were<br />

equipped with several rows of long needle-like fangs. Their<br />

huge, protruding green eyes blazed with murderous rage and<br />

hate.<br />

Thus, caught between these two unexpected forces, the<br />

green men fell beneath giant fangs or battle axe or deadly<br />

arrow—or, indeed, before the lightning swift blade of Kar<br />

Komak, himself. However, though the green warriors feared<br />

the bowmen alone, and only because of the well-founded<br />

superstition that they were the ghosts of the departed<br />

ancestors of the ancient people of Barsoom, they did not even<br />

think in terms of yielding or escape, for they were never hatched<br />

with the mechanism necessary to surrender. It is a<br />

proverb upon Barsoom: give a green man one arm and one<br />

leg with which to fight and he may yet win his way to freedom.<br />

So it was that the bloody battle raged back and forth in<br />

that crowded, dimly lighted room, and to the girl on the dais<br />

it was like some mad dream that could never be in reality.<br />

Perhaps the only reality she could appreciate was that mighty<br />

red-hued warrior who had held such a wondrous look of love<br />

for her in his eyes and who now fought for her safety like<br />

some demon incarnate.<br />

Suddenly, Kar Komak turned and called for her to follow<br />

him closely through a path that seemed open for them, and<br />

without hesitation, she responded. But her walk was more<br />

like a strange series of jumps which puzzled her as well as<br />

her protector. As there was no time to dwell upon this<br />

peculiarity, he merely signaled her to stay close behind him<br />

as he fought, flanked on either side by his fearless, fair-haired<br />

warriors.<br />

It was in that moment that a further commotion was<br />

heard, and suddenly, a group of green warriors charged<br />

157

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!