READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
believe that she is what the faithful acclaim her to be."
Sardon Dhur relaxed visibly, but not entirely. The vague,
slow tide of excitement still continued t rise within him. "By
the gods!" he exclaimed. "But you tell a convincing plan,
Lotharian! Yet, you have not explained how I am to help."
"This is also quite simple," said Tario. "You are the
leader of the Therns, in fact their provisional Hekkador. Your
order still possesses its old connections, its underground
lines of communication, as it were, into every major city and
nation of Barsoom."
"Yes. This is true. And communication is important. But
speaking practically again must I remind you that every plan
of conquest must eventually turn to the subject of force of
arms? I see your plan well enough. To divide the people with
the sword of fanaticism is excellent. But this must always be
backed by armies, ships, weapons. What of those, Tario of
Lothar?"
"I and my followers can supply an army of almost a
million warriors," replied Tario, smiling confidently.
"I do not know how," said Sardon Dhur, "but assuming
that you can, this is nothing compared to the armed might of
Helium alone, not to mention—"
"A divided Helium," corrected Tario. "Helium and all her
allies will eventually be weakened by the call to religious
fanaticism, by the subconscience yearnings of the race to
return to the olden faith— to embrace the sacred bosom of
the River Iss and return to a resurrected Issus!"
"Even so—you know there must be a greater element of
security in your plan."
"Correct. At one time the Therns maintained their own
military, their armies, weapons and air fleets. You should, on
the basis of a long term plan, be able to organize at least a
million men to add to my own. And let us not minimize the
possibility of enlisting a great majority of the tribes of green
men. I have personal knowledge that they would return again
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