READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
The warlord drew his shining long-sword and raised it
high. It was the same famous sword which had cut the roots
of the old religion and opened a path of truth for all peoples of
Barsoom. "Remove the false deck!" he cried. "Prepare the
Mount! And remember—disperse for your approach. Fly low
and fast. Then—converge upon the city of Zumor, as we have
planned it. And may the true Issus, wherever she may be, smile
upon your work this day!"
"The master stroke!" muttered Talu, grimly, as the
commandos shouted in enthusiastic response.
John Carter's brief answering smile faded as he sheathed
his sword. "We have mounts of our own, Talu. Let us go in
the lead together...”
So it was that the false deck of the strange battle cruiser
was removed, and from its inner holds emerged the secret
weapon of the Warlord. Fighting commandos rose into the air
on the backs of giant malagaors, the great man-carryhing
birds of the Toonolian Marshes— which were totally immune
to the effects of the nullifier beam. Utan after utan they came,
by the hundreds, dispersing widely and winging swiftly over
the grounded Heliumitic fleets toward the towering Escarpment
of Tarnath. And as theyt flew, five million warriors
looked up and shouted encouragement.
John Carter and Talu of Okar flew sid by side within
earshot of each other, urging their great, powerful birds to
greater speed. As they neared the valley's edge, they discerned
the armies of Tarnath.
"Look!" shouted Talu. "They are emerging to charge our
forces!"
"Good!" returned John Carter. "The closer they get to
our ships, the safer that area will be from bombardment!"
The two fighting men turned briefly to look back at the
allied Heliumitic fleets, where they observed a thin line of
mounted warriors moving forward to meet the mighty hordes
of the enemy.
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