READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
long for a return to the old religion."
John Carter frowned. "How can that be possible?" he
retorted. "Do they not know that the River Iss would carry
them to hell and hideous death rather than to heaven? Of
course, the power of the Thern priests has been broken.
Well, do you remember, Tars Tarkas, our adventures within
the sacred Mountain of Otz, and how we discovered, together,
the Great Deception—how they used to prey upon the
pilgrims to their false heaven and rob them of their worldly
possessions before turning them over to the tender mercies
of the great white apes and the plant men. And do they not
remember," he continued, angrily, "that the Issus I overthrew
was a false and cruel old hag—a witch and cannibal?"
Tario studied the Warlord's intense expression and took
not of his clenched fists. He could not resist putting words
into the mouth of the Thark Jeddak he represented.
"However bitter the taste of truth," he countered, "men
have always demonstrated the proclivity to eat of carrion and
of death if it be pablum to the soul!"
A dark shadow passed over the features of John Carter.
He was silent for a long time.
Then, with a suddenness which the Lotharian would not
foresee, the Warlord was on his feet, and his long, keen
fighting blade pricked lightly at Tario's chest.
"Who be you? That you are not Tars Tarkas I am certain.
I have known him too many years. I know his race and I know
his mind and temperament. Four times this evening have you
betrayed yourself as an imposter. First, your strange attitude,
your apparent groping to recognize old acquaintances, your
obvious search for the correct words to say. Secondly, Tars
Tarkas never shielded his mind from me—and yet you wear
a metal screen which is as impenetrable as any I have ever
sought to probe. Thirdly, you made the mistake of trying to
probe my own mind. And now you speak words which no
Thark ever had the depth of mind and soul to utter! More-
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