READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
have come alone in a small ship to make such an investigation,
but, in these dark and troubled days it was necessary to
travel well prepared for conflict. Moreover, even a giant first
line fighting ship could not venture forth without an adequate
fleet combat unit for escort.
Indeed, John Carter, himself, would have been the first
to lead the search for a visitor from the planet of his birth, but
just now, grim and heart-breaking duties called the Warlord
to various far flung battle frons in half a dozen sectors of the
planet. That this particular fleet unit had been spared at all,
however briefly, gave ample testimony of thee importance
which he had attached to the report from the observatory.
There was with Carthoris, however, a man who qualified
almost equally as well as John Carter for the responsibility of
greeting a traveler from Earth. This was Vad Varo, alias
Ulysses Paxton, the only other terrestrial on the planet.
"It is terribly unfortunate," said the latter, "that this first
physical contact between our two worlds should have to occur
at a time when Barsoom is torn in a mortal struggle of
ideologies."
Carthoris' features hardened at the thought. "Even at this
moment," he added, "we are preparing for the greatest battle
of all. What has gone before has been merely the preliminary
fighting. Rebellions and massacres have taken place, nations
divided themselves in civil war and many of our former allies
have withdrawn from our side to support the so-called Holy
Alliance. But we believe now that the enemy is definitely
headquartered in one specific location. When we discover that
hidden base, we shall pour our last ship and our last man into
the conflict!" Carthoris's eyes gleamed sullen hatred—which
was a hatred for the death of millions of warriors and ordinary
citizens alike, both in the past and in the immediate future.
He longed to eliminate the self-seeking causes of such
useless carnage and destruction.
"The history of Earth can tell you of similar great human
224