READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
"Fortunately," smiled Ranas Ghol, "the future is blurred
by variables of probability. We cannot know all."
"No!" retorted Derlas Kor. "It is not fortunate. Were the
future a structure of crystal clarity, entirely pre-determined
by the Creative Force, we might relax in the very imminence
of doom—but the mists of probability call ever upon us to
choose that course which is the least distorted by disaster. If
only men knew that change is the root of evil, the earth-fault
that presages destruction!
"For ages, Barsoom has been changeless, balanced as are
all things in nature by the twin forces of good and evil, and we
have survived in peace. Then came John Carter. We foresaw
that he would overthrow the apparently evil system of this
world's religion—but we hesitated to give him advice to the
contrary, because perhaps it would have been selfish, since
only ourselves are vitally sensitive to change. Yet, were we
not selfish, after all, in blinding ourselves to what our other eye
could see?"
"Perhaps," answered Ranas Ghol. "His work, though
sincere and nobly inspired, has sown the seed of its own
destruction."
"Not necessarily. Do not forget the variables, my
brother!"
"If we do not take an active part this time," said Ranas
Ghol, "well—you have seen the course of that future. Yet
when I explore the other variable which ensues from our
participation, it divides itself again in split probability."
Derlas Kor smiled strangely. "Have you examined the
third probability along that variable?" he asked.
Ranas Ghol nodded. "I have seen it. What do you think?"
"For once," said Derlas Kor, "let us think of the inhabitants
of the living planets, and not of ourselves. Our world died
long ago...”
They both looked once more at the sky, as though they
could see the great belt of the asteroids, halfway between
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