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READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

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Tarzan on Mars<br />

over Carthoris' features.<br />

"Ah yes! Well do I remember now! It was from Lothar<br />

that you rescued Thuvia of Ptarth! And this Lotharian became<br />

your ally."<br />

"Yes. He is my friend—a formidable battle companion,<br />

too."<br />

"And his name?"<br />

"Kar Komak. He was formerly an odwar of the Lotharian<br />

bowmen, but now he is a dwar in the service of my father, the<br />

Warlord."<br />

Valla Dia looked again at Kar Komak, sadly. "He seems<br />

to be such a very lonely man."<br />

"Yes," said Carthoris, pensively. "Very lonely."<br />

It was at that moment that a palace guard brought a<br />

verbal message to Kar Komak. He nodded gravely and<br />

quickly followed the guard out of the ballroom.<br />

Fifteen minutes, later, he stood before John Carter in the<br />

latter's conference room. The two were alone.<br />

"Sit down, Kar Komak," said the Warlord.<br />

As the dwar complied, his superior studied him carefully.<br />

"You have been away for a long time," said the his superior.<br />

"Were you not attached to the twenty-fifth and thirty-seventh<br />

utans which accompanied Tars Tarkas, on the campaign<br />

against the southern Warhoons?"<br />

"Yes, sire. I have but just returned."<br />

"Naturally," said the Warlord, "I have received my official<br />

report on this campaign, but I should like to get your personal<br />

reaction. Why do you think the tribes are in turmoil?"<br />

Kar Komak looked his surprise. "It is common knowledge,<br />

sire! They have abandoned the treaty of peace which<br />

you and Tars Tarkas made with them years ago."<br />

"And the reason?"<br />

"The reason is that you oppose the old religion. They<br />

have returned to it, and, since you are opposed to the idea of<br />

worshipping Issus, they consider it sacrilege to adhere to<br />

97

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