READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
your government."
John Carter got up from his chair and began to pace the
floor. It is strange," he said. "The belief in a resurrection of
Issus is growing."
"The Therns are at work again, John Carter," said Kar
Komak.
"I know it! We have investigated their activities, yet, on
the surface, they appear quiescent enough. They are working
secretly. And the dangerous part of it is that if I were to
smash their underground organization and make public
examples of them I would only succeed in making martyrs out
of them—thus strengthening their cause!"
"There are signs of their work everywhere."
"Yes. This thing has been growing for years. And have
you taken note of the increase of debtor slavery in our
agricultural areas? With increasing frequency the people
appear to be unable to redeem their currency 4 . I believe they
are actually giving money to the Therns!"
"Do you suspect that there is someone behind all this?"
asked Kar Komak.
John Carter stopped his pacing. He looked at the other
gravely, studying him. At first, he did not answer. Instead, he
returned to his chair and sat down.
"Kar Komak," he said at last, "you are a Lotharian—a
member of an ancient race of mental wizards. It is you who
4 Debtor slavery was first explained in A Princess of Mars:
"Paper money is issued by individuals as they require it and
redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more than he can
redeem, the government pays his creditors in full and the debtor
works out the amount upon the farms or in the mines, which are
all owned by the government. This suits everyone but the
debtor, as it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient
voluntary labor to work the great isolated farm lands of Mars,
stretching as they do like narrow ribbons from pole to pole...”
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