READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
ness and strength surpass my own!"
"What is so amazing about that?" asked Tarzan, though
secretly he had been astounded by the ferocious strength of
this man. For a moment it had seemed to him that he had
come to grips with a great white ape. "But enough of this! Are
you for or against the Alliance?"
John Carter scowled. "Against it!"
"Good! Then do not waste your time opposing me. We
should work together. There is little time to lose."
"I am not convinced that you are Tharos Pthan," replied
John Carter, "but you are certainly a better candidate than
Tario. Come to think of it, if you are opposed ;to the Alliance
and the people believe in you, it might be a good temporary
strategy to use you in this role—until the final truth is told."
"Who are you?" Tarzan asked him.
"I am Dotar Sojat, a soldier in the service of Helium."
"Good!" said the apeman. "Then we are allies. Let us set
to work!"
As Tarzan released John Carter and the two regained
their feet, the latter reflected that if he should find it necessary
to dispatch this mighty stranger in the future, he would
not underestimate his amazing prowess again. He would be
prepared. For the time being, he chose to regard his companion
in the light of his possible strategic value with relation to
the fate of Barsoom.
"By the gods!" he exclaimed. "It might work! If we could
let the forces of the enemy know that they are opposing
Tharos Pthan, then they might turn their arms to our advantage."
"Another strategist has already advised me of this
possibility," replied Tarzan. "But, for the moment, we seem
to be considerably isolated here." He turned his keen eyes
toward the shadowed base of the Escarpment. "Look there.
Do you discern an opening?" He pointed to the dim outline of
a massive door.
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