READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
was gone behind the arras in a single bound.
"Tarzan!" La cried out, struggling to hold back her tears.
As the phantom bowmen marched through the arras after
the apeman, the green men moved slowly forward among the
apes.
"We do not understand," said their spokesman. "You are
Issus, and he who follows the Lotharian is Tharos Pthan—yet
he acts not as though he were your mate. And you have called
him an imposter."
La suddenly remembered her secret plans. These
followers were more important to her now than ever before.
"Seek not to solve the mysteries of the gods," she
retorted. "Know you that an imposter sits upon the throne of
Issus in the Sacred Worlds, and Tharos Pthan has gone to
depose her! For I am the living Issus!"
"But, you said he was an imposter," insisted the other.
"I spoke in anger," she replied, "because of a personal
thing which is a matter for our own resolution.
"Then why did you presume that we could lay our hands
upon him with impunity?"
"He asked me to make this test of your loyalty—and you
have shown it only too well. But enough! Issus will not be
questioned forever! I have spoken!"
"It is well," replied the green man, solemnly, "because
you have an important visitor who would see you with his
own eyes. If he believes you are Issus, then in truth you will
have an army to fight for you!"
La controlled a sudden surge of elation as she heard
these words. She carefully maintained her original expression
of self-assurance. "Know you not that the fact of Issus is sufficient
unto itself?" she said, peremptorily. "It matters not
whether the jeddaks of Barsoom believe in me today—for
tomorrow it is written: I alone shall occupy the sacred throne!
But bid this stranger enter! I welcome doubt, for in my
presence it may be banished at once rather than by the more
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