READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
along with the tools and materials for building it. The rest was
a matter of work and practice.
Moreover, no ordinary man of Barsoom would have been
able to accomplish this. Thanks to Kar Komak's tremendous
Lotharian mentality, a vast and complicated semantic orientation
had been impressed indelibly upon his companion's
mind, which now turned out to be vital to both of them.
"I think," said Tarzan, after they had conversed experimentally
for some time, "that it would be advisable for us to
land somewhere in a secluded spot and spend a day or two in
getting acquainted. If I am to succeed in my quest, there are
many things I must know."
"And I, too, have many questions to ask you," replied Kar
Komak.
He pointed out the very ancient ruins of a small city,
hidden in a range of low hills. "That will be as good a place as
any," he said. "And I believe that we shall find water there, as
well as food." By food, as Tarzan was to learn, he meant the
mantalia plant which grew in a thick grove beside the ruins.
This was the vegetable "milk" plant of Barsoom.
Thus it was that the two companions in adventures came
to know each other. Tarzan was able to confirm the facts
concerning Kar Komak of which Jules Carter had apprised
him, to the effect that he was a mental creation of Tario and
a highly developed mentalist. He was also able to confirm
Tario's identity as the erstwhile emperor of the Lotharians
and one of the present masters of Tarnath. Kar Komak
explained to him more fully the nature of the Holy Alliance
and the principal issues which were at stake between the Alliance
and the forces of the Warlord. He also related to Tarzan
the Legend of Issus.
When the apeman then explained his own purposes and
his actual origin, Kar Komak was incredulous, not so much
because of the fact that Tarzan was of Earth, but that La had
had her origin there.
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