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READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

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Tarzan on Mars<br />

faces the entire planet...”<br />

La then explained how the green men had become her<br />

followers. At first they had attributed mystical powers to her<br />

because of her dominance of the great white apes, but later<br />

they came to accept her as a goddess in her own right.<br />

"In fact," she concluded, "they now continue to seek me<br />

out and follow me in ever increasing numbers because of a<br />

belief which originated among themselves. This belief has<br />

even attracted men of your own race, Var Koros."<br />

"Do you mean," asked Mordos Val of Gathol, astounded,<br />

"that red Barsoomians, too, have joined this cult?"<br />

La shrugged gleaming white shoulder. "I cannot prevent<br />

it."<br />

"And what," said Var Koros, "is this belief which you say<br />

has originated among your followers?"<br />

"To outsiders," she said, "I am referred to as the Goddess<br />

of the Sun, but among themselves they call me—the resurrected<br />

Issus...”<br />

Mordos Val and Sorquas Ptorel, as well as half a dozen of<br />

the others present, rose to their feet staring at her in wonderment.<br />

"Issus!" exclaimed Sorquas Ptorel. "By the sacred Tree<br />

of Life!—but she fits the ancient legend!"<br />

"A white woman," muttered Mordos Val, deeply disturbed,<br />

"and from another world."<br />

"Who speaks with animals!" exclaimed another.<br />

"Just a moment!" interrupted Var Koros. "You of the Lost<br />

People have not yet learned what the outer world has known<br />

for many years—that the resurrected Issus already sits upon<br />

her throne in the Sacred Worlds."<br />

Sorquas Ptorel tensed. "Var Koros—what you say is<br />

difficult to believe! Do you know what that means?"<br />

The old man nodded solemnly. "More than you realize.<br />

As I have said, brother now fights against brother. Within<br />

each city and nation, the people are divided between belief<br />

213

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