READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
align himself vertically, head down, arms and finger-tips
outstretched to cut the water. In spite of the hopelessness of
his predicament, Tarzan's life credo yet guided his efforts to
preserve himself, for always where there was life there was
hope.
The broad, black waters seemed to hurtle upward to
meet him, and with the vision of Jane Clayton foremost in his
mind he cleaved the surface of the lake in a clean, perfect dive
that plunged him almost instantly into depths which struck at
his ears with the sharpness of daggers.
He remembered arching in order to turn his course
upward, and a searing flame of pain crossed his back. Only
semi-conscious, he seemed to drift slowly toward the surface
at last, borne by an ever sewiftening current toward the
whirlpool.
His lungs threatened to burst as the blackness of death
crowded in upon his life. Yet in spite of his extremity, he
would never forget the sight of Thum's head, completely
severed from his mangled body, plunging past him, with its
single great eye glaring at him in still living hate.
Only in the last moment before oblivion did he see the
thing which came downward, reaching out for him. It was a
man thing with a great, shining sword, yet seeming like a
mighty angel, with giant, feathered wings outspread through
the murky, watery depths.
Then he lost consciousness....
* * *
Far behind the great circle of grounded invasion ships
moved a giant, gray battle cruiser, slowly, and low above the
ground. It was just beyond range of the nullifier beam,
traveling without insignia or colors. For almost two hours, it
had traveled around the area of Tarnath. Whenever its
bouyancy began to fail, it would withdraw until normal
operation was obtained.
From time to time, one of the Heliumitic scoutships or
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