Item Biography
"The Master Assassin of Mars-- Chapter 5: Battle at the Bottom of the World!"
Thousands of Orovars have fallen in pitched battle with their enemies, the Ptothians. Only John Carter and the wingless youth, Garthon stand in defense of the main wall to Karanthor.
The Orovars are unaware of John's increased strength on Mars due to the lighter gravity, so John grabs Garthon and makes a prodigious leap to the safety of a rooftop. With Garthon having previously saved John from death, the pair are now even.
JC is feted for his role in the stand-off when he and Garthon reach Gar Karus and his camp of troops holding back on the second front. Just like on Earth in the Civil War, ground troops take the losses and make the gains, while indolent Generals sit back and take all the credit.
John tries to offload some of the praise to Garthon, who truly became a man on the battlefield. Gar Karus is oblivious even to his existence, though Garthon be his only son. The real reason for the paternal snub is Garthon's lack of wings.
Several skirmishes with Ptothians later, and the invasion is routed. Once more, John is highly praised by Gar Karus, which calls for yet another gourmet banquet. John leaves the feast early to expedite his plan to rescue Dejah.
Nightfall finds Dejah sobbing alone in Chan Tomar's bedroom, while John watches from the window. The cruel Jeddak returns to his quarters, the worse for drink, and forces himself on Dejah's unyielding body.
Enough of this grisly pantomime! Carter crashes in through the window and faces Chan, swords drawn. Though seemingly effete in both appearance and manner, Chan is quite a skilled swordsman himself, as John learns to his detriment. However adept Chan is with a blade, he knows nothing of boxing and Carter's unorthodox application of Queensberry Rules finish him off.