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 />

Tario, on the other hand, but wore a beautiful, unadorned<br />

robe of the pure white fur of the arctic apt, and on his brew<br />

still gleamed the lesser Star of Issus. His face alone mirrored<br />

the burden of the long, intense years of preparation and his<br />

keen awareness of the present moment's potentialities, for it<br />

was colorless, set, impassive, illuminated only by the penetrating<br />

glare of his eyes.<br />

And Ranas Ghol, the ever changeless and self-effacing<br />

oracle of Zumor, sat silently at the great table on the balcony,<br />

meditating expressionlessly over a frail, exquisite cup of<br />

translucent pink glass—his latest creation.<br />

The great amphitheater was empty, as was required<br />

under sacred law when the council was in session. And the<br />

golden throne, itself, was unoccupied, for it was early morning,<br />

and Issus had not yet awakened in her closely guarded<br />

quarters...<br />

"My secret agents have confirmed that the enemy is<br />

aware of the location of Tarnath," Sardon Dhur was saying.<br />

"At any moment we may see the battle fleets of the Warlord<br />

on the horizon."<br />

And there they shall remain," interposed Zithad.<br />

"This is to be hoped," said Tario. "Your high promise of<br />

nullifiers for every battleship had not been fulfilled. We have<br />

but a single projector here to rely on."<br />

"It will be enough," insisted Zithad.<br />

"I doubt it," argued Sardon Dhur. "While you hold one<br />

fleet on the ground, another can move high overhead, outside<br />

the radius of the beam."<br />

"That fleet above our heads will be our own—moving out<br />

to bomb and shell the helpless craft of the enemy where they<br />

lie anchored to the ground, unable to maneuver," replied<br />

Zithad confidently. "And do not forget that without the<br />

nullifier our own fleets and armies coupled with the massive<br />

fire power and impregnability of the Escarpment are formidable<br />

enough. Moreover, our satellite allies in the outer world<br />

277

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!