All Stories New and Complete— No Reprints MB NOVEMBER

A ghost claims his partner

The Last Waltz

SEABURY QUINN Piliff Got my sample lesson Free. Examine ft, read it — see how clear it is, how easy to understand. Find out how I train you at home in spare time to be a Itadio Tech- nician. Do it now. Mail the coupon. Many Radio Technicians Make $30, $40, $50 a Week Radio Broadcasting stations employ engineers, opera- tors, todmlciaas. Radio manufacturers employ testers, Chief Operator inspectors, foremen, servicemen in good-pay jobs. J ' Broadcasting Radio jobbers and dealerj employ installation MjflEp , and Station servicemen. Many Radio Technicians open their own lllf : Radio sales and repair businesses and make $80, $-10, ! Before T com- $50 a week. Others hold their regular jobs and make i plated your $5 to $10 a- week fixing Radios in spare time. Auto- U5 mobile, Police. Aviation, Commercial Radio; Loud- • -^ons » I °b- mmZm ujned ®y speaker systems, Electronic Devices are other lields dio Broadcast offering opportunities for which N. R. I. gives the Operator’s license and im- required knowledge of Radio. Television promises to mediately joined Station open good jobs soon. where I ara Chief WMPC Malta fo Operator. HOLLIS F. Many $5 $10 a W #118 and build circuits. This 50-50 method of training makes learning at hGma interesting, fascinating, and $60 a week fo practical. I ALSO GIVE YOU A MODERN PRO- after all ex- FESSIONAL ALL-WAYS SfJT PERVICING IN- ponses are STRUMENT to help you mak8 mure money tiling Radios whilo learning, and equip you for full time STATIONS (top illustration) paid, and I am work after you become a Radio Technician. BROADCASTING employ Radio T©clinicians as operators, installa- getting all the Itadio work Find Qu# What Radio, Television Offer You tion, maintenance men and in. other fascinating, I can take cars of, thanks steady, well-paying technical jobs. FIXING Act Today. Marl the coupon now for sample lesson (lower illustration) pays many to N. R. I. H. W. SPAN- RADIO SETS and 64 -page book. They point out Radio’s spare lima Radio Technician* $30, $40, $50 a week. Others GLER, 126% S. Gay St., and full time opportunities aud those coming- in hold their regular jobs, and make $5 to $10 extra Knoxville, Term. Television: tell about my training in Radio and Tele- a weds in spare time. vision; show more than 100 letters from men I SIO to 125 a (rained, telling what they ara doing and earning. Find out what Radio. Television offer YOU! MAIL Spare Week in COUPON In an envelope, or paste on a postcard.

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Please mention Newsstand Fiction Unit when answering advertisements RD TALES NOVEMBER

1940

Cover by Margaret Brundage

THE LAST WALTZ Seabury Quinn 8 Death Comes Back to Dance THE GREEN INVASION Denis Plimmer 17 Just a Quiet Professional Man—with Six Extra Dimensions Up His Sleeve WINE OF THE SABBAT Robert Bloch 31

Damnation Itself . . . Uncorked From Green Bottles THE GREAT GOD DEATH Edith Hurley 41 Verse AN ADVENTURE OF A PROFESSIONAL CORPSE

(3) The Wife of the Humorous Gangster . H. Bedford-Jones 42 9 Many $ the Handsome Corpse He Made! THE SANDWIN COMPACT August W. Derleth 53 "The Owls Are Hooting” THE MIRROR Liam Kennedy 68 Hell Through the Looking Glass

TURN OVER . Dorothy Quick 73 Dead Men Are Supposed to Lie Still THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURE H. T. W. Bousfield 85 In Greece the Hills Are Never Quite Asleep

SUPERSTITIONS AND TABOOS Irwin J. Weill 96 THE MOUND (Novelette) Z. B. Bishop 98

Darkness and Gold . . . and a Timeless Underworld IT HAPPENED TO ME Dulcie Browne 121 THE EYRIE—and Weird Tales Club 123

Except for personal experiences the contents of this magazine is fiction. Any use of the name of any living person or reference to actual events is purely coincidental.

Published bi-monthly by Weird Tales, 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N. Y. Reentered as second-class matter January 26, 1940, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Single copies, 15 cents. Subscription rates: One year in the United States and possessions, 90c. Foreign and Canadian postage extra. English Office: Charles Lavell, Limited, 4 Clements Inn, Strand, London, W.C.2, England. The publishers are not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts although every care will be taken of such material while in their possession. Copyright, 1940, by Weird Tales. Copyrighted in Great Britain. —g^pl^-,173 Title registered in U. S. Patent Office.

PRINTED IN THB 13. 8. A. Vol. 35, No. 6

D. McILWRAITH, Editor. H. AVELINE PERKINS, Associate Editor. . .

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Please mention Newsstand Fiction Unit when answering advertisements IThe /* «/ ast Waltz

Even behveen the battlefield and the ballroom, love forged a chain no poiver on earth could break.

HE Eighth Zouaves, had stormed staying. Charge bayonets—forward, double the ridge twice. It must have quick, march!” T been five hundred feet up to the Dwight Fairchild transferred his sword heights where the red flag with its blue to his left hand, wrapping the hilt-knot St. Andrew’s Cross and thirteen silver stars about his wrist, and dragged his heavy waved challenging!)' and the butternut-clad Colt from its holster. Captain Schwing infantry lay waiting behind their rampart was down, so was Lieutenant Ditmas; he of boulders. Five hundred feet of steep was company commander — just past up-grade with fallen trees and underbrush twenty, and in command. Drusilla would to clamber over, and veterans from Fred- be proud when he wrote Tier about this— ericksburg and Chancellorsville to meet "Guide right; dress the line!” he shouted them at the top. One out of every three as he glanced along the rank of leveled men in the line had fallen, you could bayonets. "At the double—forward!” see the deep red of their baggy trousers They were halfway up the height, now. and the deep blue of their jackets like The whine of Minie balls was like the bright flowers on the black soil underneath droning of a nest of angry hornets; some- the bullet-riven trees. times they cut a branch above his head "Attention!” Colonel Dutcher’s fog- with a sharp snick! sometimes they struck horn voice smashed through the muted a tree trunk with a dull pung! When they roar of cannonading on the left. "We’re ricocheted from the stones underfoot they going up again, men—and this time we’re screamed like demons in frustration.

8 — — ”

By SEABURY QUINN

“Why no, it was no bugle Wowing retreat; it was an orchestra—and it was playing a Strauss waits.”

Twenty-five feet forward, thirty, maybe, this to me”—then the welling, gushin| a clump of boulders cropped waist-high spate of blood that rushed out of the hole; from tire loam. Funny they should stand between the hatbrim and the smiling eyes; like that—like a group of tombstones in a the opened gaping mouth. And then noth- country churchyard—might be shelter for ing. Like a jack-in-the-box the sharp- a Johnny behind them shooter had dropped down behind the The face that rose behind the tallest sheltering stone, a sliced second too late, stone was wreathed in a broad grin. It was and as the gray-clad boy fell Dwight a nice face, clean-shaved, boyish, and there stumbled, felt his left arm crumple under was something almost friendly in the blue him, and lay against the leaf-mould with eyes underneath the battered broad- a spear of grass tickling his left ear and brimmed slouch hat. "Here y’are, Yank the sweet, clean smell of topsoil in his tell Abe Lincoln I sent this!” the lad be- nostrils. hind the rock called cheerfully, and then "Hully Gee, th’ Loot’s plugged!” he squeezed his trigger. heard Sergeant Gilroy call, then, in his Fairchild felt the impact of the bullet ear, but sounding far away, "Are ye hur-rt like a fist-blow on his chest. It didn’t hurt, bad, sor?”

not as much as he’d supposed it would, at "Never mind me. Sergeant.” Funny any rate. Just knocked the wind from how he had to shout to make his voice him, and made his left arm feel heavy and sound even— like a whisper, "Keep the men useless. "Right back at you, Reb—take this in line one to Jeff Davis!” he jerked his pistol up Something bothered him. His mouth and fired. was full of sticky stuff. Salty. Nasty.

It was comical, that look upon the And his left side hurt. It seemed as if a other’s face. A. sort of shocked-surprised hand were pressed against it, holding down expression, as if to say, "You can’t do his chest. He couldn’t breathe, and when 9 ” '

10 WEIRD TALES

he tried it hurt so—hurt as if a bayonet Fulton and Grand Street ferries or south bore into him just below the collar-bone. and west from fashionable First Avenue As the gaitered legs swung past his to the Broadway Central where the mili- face he reached out with his right hand, tary and civic ball was in progress for the drawing himself nearer to the big pine benefit of the Women’s Sanitary Ambu- tree. There, that was better. Lie here, lance Corps. Gas light blazed in every

take it easy, boy; you’re going to be all window of the hotel, the crystal chan- right. They’ll come back for you, soon as deliers of the ballroom gleamed diamond- they have cleared the ridge. Mustn’t ask like with bright reflections as the orchestra

’em to stop now, though. This is a war struck up the music for the grand march:

we’re having—- Who cares about their old war? There’s a flower— De Camptown ladies sing dis song, It was a bloodroot, pale and pinkly- Do-da, do-da; white, thrusting up through the dead black De Camptown race-track ten miles long, pine needles. He looked at it with his Do-da, do-da, day! hand to his heart while the fresh, vigorous young blood trickled through his fingers Most of the men were uniformed, their and made an ugly stain on the precise blue gold braid and buttons and bright sashes tunic that he had always kept so carefully, vying with the costumes of the ladies. brushing it each time he took it off, Everybody who aspired to be mentioned

sponging it with a damp rag to remove in the Social Columns was present. dust and powder-stains. Who cares about Dwight Fairchild felt his fingers the old coat? See that pretty flower—like tremble as Drusilla laid her hand in his. the one Drusilla wore in her hair that “You’re very beautiful tonight, dear,” he night. whispered as he bent toward her, "and it It was funny how the past reeled out was sweet of you to wear my flowers.” before him, like one of those moving He glanced down at the spray of pale pink stereopticaris they had in Hartley’s Arcade, roses at her waist, then at the single blos- only run through in reverse. Somewhere som nestled in her soft dark hair. —"I near a bugle sounded—Retreat. Had they should have called for you, but duty

swept the Johnnies from the ridge? • Why, "La!” she interrupted with a pout. no, it was no bugle, it was an orchestra, "Duty—always duty! Anyone would think and it was playing a Strauss waltz. That that you were going to marry Mister Lin- flower was no humble country-blooming coln, ’stead of me.” Then her brown eyes bloodroot, it was a pale pink rose, and it softened. "Why don’t you resign from was in Drusilla’s hair. "My waltz. Ma’am, the army, Dwight? You know how Papa I believe,” he murmured to the little, nod- feels about this war, and,” she added wist- ding floret. fully, "we could be married right away and have such fun together. The skating’s EW YORK was in a winter mood. lovely in the park these days, and all the N Since halfpast six the great white roads are thick with snow. We could go flakes had drifted through the breezeless sleighing out to Hempstead, or Freeport, air, the cobble stones of Broadway were and I know the sweetest little house in cottoned by the thick snow fall, and the Williamsburg we can get for almost no carriage-horses’ hooves were silenced as rent—” The marchers separated as they the long parade of family broughams and reached the bandstand, and with a coax- hired hacks streamed northward from the ing smile she turned away. THE LAST WALTZ 11

He kept time with the music as he fol- loved the hurt. After all, he was a man, lowed the stout captain of hussars who her Dwight. She lowered lace-veined lids marched before him, but though he still and gave herself up wholly to the cap- smiled he was troubled. It had not been tivating rhythm of the music and the easy to win Drusilla Willemese, for the strength of his encircling arm. dark-haired, pale-skinned heiress was con- Now they were by the ballroom vesti- spicuous for her beauty even in die Brook- bule and as he looked across his partner’s lyn Eastern District, where pretty girls were creamy shoulder Fairchild saw a young by no means a rarity, and her suitors num- man in zouave uniform who beckoned him bered scores. Afterwards, her parents’ con- imperatively. "Excuse me, darling,” he sent had been even harder to obtain, for whispered, then, as he reached the young the Willemese fortune was based upon enlisted man: the Southern cotton trade, and "Mr. Lin- "Yes, Corporal?” coln’s war” had all but wrecked the cot- "Colonel Dutcher’s compliments, sor. ton-factoring business. Only the insistent All officers are ordered to report at once teasing of a pampered only daughter had to the armory.” secured a grudging assent to the engage- "I’m called for instant duty, dear,” Fair- ment, with the understanding that no wed- child murmured. "Don’t know what it is, ding should take place as long as young but it’s important, or they’d not have sent Fairchild continued in "King Lincoln’s for me.” livery.” "Oh, Dwight, can’t we even finish this?” Now Drusilla urged him to resign, to "No, dear; every minute counts. This quit his country in its time of peril. What is a war we’re having. —But”—as her eyes if her father forced her to return his ring? darkened with rebellion "I’ll be back to There was Harold Martense, rich and claim the dance, my dearest, never fear. handsome and outspoken in his Southern Say you’ll save it for me.” sympathies. Suppose the old man made Her eyes were wide, moist, starry, and her accept his suit? her lips trembled like a little child’s. "Al- The lines of marchers were together once ways and forever, dear heart. Come what more; her hand was in his again, her eyes may, this dance is yours, and yours alone. were turned on him in entreaty. "Please, I’ll never dance the Blue Danube with any Dwight? They don’t need you to fight their other man. Claim it when you will. I’ll old war; there are plenty without you. Re- hold it open for you—always.” sign your commission and Papa will let us Then, to the scandal of the chaperon- marry right away.” ing dowagers who were lined in straight- He danced a polka with her, then a backed chairs along the wall, he bent and rollicking mazurka; after that young Mar- kissed her quickly. “I’ll remember, dear- tense claimed her for the schottische. Now est love. When you hear me say, 'My the orchestra struck up the Blue Danube, waltz, Ma’am, I believe,’ you’ll know that and he bowed before her. "My waltz. I’ve come back to claim the Blue Danube Ma’am, I believe.” from you.” They whirled around the floor once, It had stopped snowing and grown twice; he held her tighter than convention colder since the ball began. A wind that permitted, for he was young, and terribly seemed to scream with gleeful malice in love, and fearful of losing her. The whipped down Broadway, snatching at power of his wanting was in his arm, and their hats and clutching at their greatcoats his almost fierce grip hurt her; but she as Lieutenant Fairchild and Corporal Gil- 12 WEIRD TALES

roy climbed into a handsom-cab and set with love than with each other. After out for the armory. all, Dwight, what have we in common? Two hours later they marched to the You are devoted to your military ca- Jersey City ferries and entrained for the reer, "seeking the bubble reputation at South. the cannon’s mouth,” as the poet says, while I want a home, and a husband TARUSILLA sat before the cherry writ- who can be with me and think as ing desk in her boudoir. Two candles I do. in tall silver standards shed their light Papa says Mr. Lincoln’s war may last across the pad of correspondence paper another five years, and by that time I which lay bare and blank before her, their should be an old maid, even if you flickering luminance struck flashes from came back and still wanted me. You the little diamond setting of the ring that see, I’m twenty-one next April. lay beside the opened pad of paper, and So, I think we’d better let by-gones from the larger stone that graced the be by-gones. Harold Martense wants to circlet on the third finger of her left marry him, and I’m sure that I’ve found hand. "Dear Dwight,” she wrote, then love this time. paused and nibbled at her penholder. This I’d send your ring back through the was going to be harder than she’d thought. mail, but I’m sure some horrid Yan-

She crumpled the sheet to a ball and threw kee soldier would steal it, so I’ll just it on the floor, then began again, "Dwight hold it here for you, and if you come dearest.” That was better, less formal, back from the war, or when you’re but—one couldn’t be too affectionate home on leave, if you’ll call at the house when— She threw the second sheet of Papa will give it to you. wadded paper down beside the first and Drusilla. started afresh.

The small ormolu clock on the dresser There, it was done, and a clever piece ticked away the minutes, and her pen of composition, too. Not too flippant, scratched with a gently scraping sound not too serious; just the proper balance of across the linen paper. Sheet after sheet gravity and frivolity. But final. Oh, defi- was torn or crumpled as she finished it; nitely final. She picked up the small ring but finally the note was done. The writ- and looked into its tiny diamond, like a ing was bold, ill-formed, altogether fash- seeress gazing into a crystal. "You were ionable; its message was plain as any epi- a sweet old thing, Dwight,” she murmured taph upon a tombstone. impulsively as she brushed her lips across the gleaming stone. Dear Dwight: Tire evening had been hot and oppres-

I loathe writing this, but Papa thinks sive, but now a light breeze blew in from I should tell you right away. After the river, fluttering the primly starched thinking matters over I know that our scrim curtains, making the straight candle- engagement was a mistake. You were flames sway dancingly. And with the young and so was I; you were fasci- breeze there came the distance-muted music nated by my pretty face (for I am pretty of the orchestra of an excursion boat steam- —my mirror tells the truth, even if the ing home late from Block Island. young men lie), I loved your pretty For a moment she heard without recog- uniform and the pretty things you said, nition, then suddenly her senses fitted the and we were both much more in love notes into the pattern of her memory. The — ” ” ” ”

THE LAST WALTZ 13

Blue Danube! Against her will her heart the world long enough to regard men im-

echoed and re-echoed tire music. personally, and this pale-faced boy with "Oh, Dwight—Dwight dearest, Dwight the great eyes who asked so plaintively for beloved!” Her sob-choked exclamation was mail each day wrung her heart. "No mail half moan, half scream, pitched shrilly, today, Lieutenant,” she responded gently. but controlled. Papa must not hear her. "The trains from the North are all delayed She’d promised him by troop movements. Maybe you’ll get She threw herself across die bed and your letter tomorrow.” pressed her face into the lavender-spiced She met Dr. Frisby as she left the ward.

pillow, weeping helplessly, noiselessly, till “Dr. Bogardus seems so sure that young sheer exhaustion gave her a degree of man’s going to die,” she volunteered, “but peace. I’m not certain. Fie has a dreadful wound, it’s true; but I never— saw a man who clung TAR. BOGARDUS splashed the soap- to life so fiercely suds from his hands and wiped them "Yep, Bogardus said he seemed to be on the fresh huck towel which the orderly waitin’ for something before— he finally had just brought to the lavatory. "Dum it, makes up his mind to die Frisby,” he said as his colleague took pos- The sister smiled. A knowing, woman’s session of the wash basin, "I can’t under- smile. "He’s waiting for a letter from stand that young Fairchild in B-2. The his sweetheart, Doctor. The hope of it’s

feller should ’a’ died tv/o weeks ago, with sustaining him. When it comes—unless the apex of his left lung almost shot away, it comes too late—I shouldn’t be surprised but-—dum it all!—he hangs on like a if he got well and fooled us all.” pointer pup to a root. Seems as if he’s waitin’ for somediing before he finally de- “T IEUTENANT FAIRCHILD, here’s cides to kick the bucket.” your letter!” Sister Mary Agnes "H’m?” Dr. Frisby laved his hands and almost stumbled in her haste to reach dried them methodically. "Funny thing Dwight’s cot. “Now everything will be about these tough young ’uns. Half the all right, and you’ll get well—shall I read time they get well when we’ve given— up it to you?” all hope, and spoil our reputations The big, unnaturally bright eyes in his "This one won’t,”. Bogardus denied. pale face shone with an ethereal light. "He can’t. Hasn’t got an earthly chance; “Yes, please,— if you will. I’m afraid I just livin’— on his nerve. When that can’t quite breaks ” He shrugged into his blouse and “Never mind. Just rest quietly; I’ll bent his head back as he hooked the col- read it— She had broken the seal and lar fastenings. "Come on, let’s eat. I’ve drawn out the sheet of folded paper. With done ten amputations today, an’ I’m hun- a quick glance she scanned the irregular, gry as a wolf.” fashionable writing, and for a moment all "Any mail, Sister?” Dwight looked up expression left her face. Then she smiled hopefully as the young woman in the at him, not only with her lips, but with blue habit bustled past his bed, the her eyes; eyes that were warm and under- points of her starched cornette flapping standing and kind. “It’s a beautiful, sweet like a bird’s wing with the motion of her letter,” she assured him. "Listen”? walk. The young sister of charity looked down Dwight, my beloved: pityingly. She had not withdrawn from They tell me that you have been ”

14 WEIRD TALES

wounded, and when I heard the news against a wall and played his accordion. it seemed the bullet tore through my The notes came wheezily, and plainly the flesh, too, for we are so soon to be one, musician played by ear, but the tune was my darling, that whatever hurts you easily distinguishable. The Blue Danube. hurts me, just as everything that gives you happiness makes me happy. rpHREE hundred guests had passed the Do you know they say the war will bride and bridegroom, showering con- soon be over, dearest one? And you’ll gratulations and good wishes on them; be coming bade to me with all your now the wedding supper was completed, honors thick upon you. But I’ll not the last champagne toast drunk, and the see the hero with his medals or the company repaired to the ballroom where victor who returns in triumph from the the orchestra was playing a soft prelude

battle; I’ll only see my own true love, to the dance. The older people found seats for whose return I’ve hoped and waited by the wall, the youngsters looked expect- so long. How happy we shall be, my antly toward Martense and his bride, for

dear! All the happy times we’ve had till they led off none might dance, and together were but the prelude to the their feet were tingling to begin. happiness we have in store for us. It had been one of those intolerable Good night, my dearest, and know late-August days that sometimes afflict the that every day I miss you, and every west tip of Long Island, a day of humid night I pray for your return. heat that stopped the nostrils and clogged Always and forever yours, the throat, with neither life nor freshness Drusilla. in such air as moved, only more heat. But now a breeze was rising, whimpering She glanced down at him as she fin- through the pear trees in the garden, bring- ished. He was looking straight before ing a promise of rain. Thunder rolled

him, eyes wide, as if he saw a glory he and grumbled in the east out by Jamaica had never dreamed of limned against the Bay, the horizon was brightened inter- whitewashed wall of the hospital ward. mittently with the white glow of lightning. She heard his quick, light breathing, she "Shall we dance, my dear?” Young saw the sweat that started to his forehead Mr. Martense bowed, reached out a white- just below the hair-line. She knew the gloved hand and clasped her small, sweet signs. Hastily she rose to summon Dr. waist. The violin and clarinets struck up Bogardus, then returned to kneel beside the Blue Danube, and in a moment they the cot and recite prayers for the dying. were whirling round the brightly lighted, And for herself. It was a sin to lie, but mirrored room, the center of a hundred she was not repentant. Even as she asked other whirling couples. forgiveness for the lie she knew that she "You’re cold?” he asked as she shud- would do the same thing many times again dered slightly in the circle of his arm. if by such sinning she could guard a dying "Shall I have them close the windows?” boy from heart-hurt. "Oh, no, please,” she denied.— "It isn’t Presently she heard the doctor grunt. that I’m cold; it’s just that "All right, Sister. Call the orderlies. Get The storm burst on them with a scream- ’im out o’ here. We’re short o’ beds.” ing war-whoop. The building fairly stag- Outside in the warm sunshine an almost gered with the impact of the wind, the convalescent trooper from the Fifth Michi- rain dashed with an angry hiss against the gan Cavalry baked himself luxuriously walls, and through the opened French THE LAST WALTZ H windows lashed a spate of water almost of Valenciennes lace looped across the solid as a rising wave. other. The flaring gas flames in the chandeliers Clear and piercing-sweet, the second were fluttering like tattered banners in the movement of the waltz tune eddied through gale. One after another they wavered, the darkness. She turned to make her way flattened, and went out. The room was from the floor, but stopped in mid-step as dark as Erebus, the shrouding blackness a shadow, a bare shade darker than the echoed with the startled screams of women darkness of the lightless room, loomed and the men’s ejaculations. directly in her path. "Excuse me, dear. I’ll have things right "My waltz. Ma’am, I believe.” in no time,” Martense murmured, and in She felt her waist encircled by a strong his excitement forgot to escort her from arm. Not the formal embrace of conven- the floor. tional dancing, not the precise, stiff hold She looked about her in bewilderment. of her husband, but a tightening, almost Accustoming themselves to the darkness, stifling clasp that drew her to a broadcloth her eyes could descry figures, but not fea- coat set with a double row of buttoms. tures. As she raised her hand involuntarily her The orchestra was still playing and fingers touched the gold lace of an epaulet. a few of the more daring couples danced, No one at the reception had been uni- but she stood in a little .zone of vacant formed, a soldier would have seemed in- space clutching her bouquet of bridal roses congruous in that company. But this in the bend of one arm, her trailing veil man Turn — f page]

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16 ’WEIRD TALES

"My waltz, Ma’am, I believe.” dows shut. They brought lights for the

She drew back from the clutching, fierce blown-out gas jets. Once more the room embrace as she recalled his last words shone with the gleam of blazing chande- her promise—but the arm about her tight- liers. The orchestra stopped playing, the ened, and a laugh that had no hint of dancers stood in a wide, frightened circle,

happiness or humor in it sounded softly watching the wild, whirling, pirouetting, in her ear. spinning figure in the center of the floor. .” "My waltz, Mdam, I believe Her bride’s bouquet was thrown away The words were taken up by the wind and trampled underfoot, her veil was rent shrieking through the windows. They fell to tattered streamers, across her white into a rhythm matching the cadences of shoulders the dark hair floated unbound, the music. like the tresses of a drowned girl floating She dropped her bouquet, and her stiff- on the tide. ening fingers crawled up to her lips to "Drusilla!” Harold Martense strode to

stifle back a shrill cry of sheer terror. her, laid a hand upon her arm. "Control Her heart was jerking like a thing in yourself!”

its death-throes. Her throat closed with She turned strange, empty eyes on him. compelling panic, and into every vein and Cold eyes, lifeless as the- windows of a artery an icy fluid seemed to pour in place vacant house with all the curtains drawn of blood. —but with something peeping furtively Her nerves were fraying out like slowly underneath the lowered blinds. breaking threads. Her knees were weak She was humming an accompaniment as water, and she faltered, stumbled, all to her dance. The Blue Danube. Her but fell; but the hungry-clasping arm voice rose higher; rose and mounted like about her held her up. a quickening flame. It rose and shrilled

"My waltz, Mdam, I believe.” and sharpened till it seemed no human

Something burst like a bomb in her throat could stand the piping strain of it. head. She was no longer fearful. This Then, like a snapping violin string, its was glorious! The arm about her held sound stopped suddenly, abruptly; utterly. her so close that it hurt; and she loved Her husband took her by the shoulders the pain of it. and shook her. "Stop this nonsense!” he Closer, tighter; hold me closer, dear, commanded— sharply. "Everything’s all dear lover! Drag me down to hell or up right, now to heaven with you. Anywhere—any- She looked at him as if she’d never where, as long as we’re together! seen him before; then, in a small, cold She was sobbing; hard, dry, ugly sobs voice: of heart-break, and laughing as she "He came back to me; back from the sobbed. grave to claim the waltz I’d promised him "My waltz, Mo!am, I believe.” the night he went away, and”-—the racing, "Yes—yes; your waltz! Tin’s and all breathless words came in a tittering whis- my waltzes, beloved. Never will I dance per -”he took me with him!” again with any other man; never shall Three days later she was sent to Black- another man so much as touch my hand. well’s Island, pronounced incurably in- The hurrying waiters forced the win- sane. "He was burned at the stake in the year 1526!” Vhe^ v>reen Invasion

By DENIS PLIMMER

From the world of the ninth dimension came swarming the damned of all the centuries.

OR Joan and me nothing has been Green Invasion startlingly materialized it the same since the night of the the empty midnight sky. F Green Invasion. Our outlook on It all began with the strange behavior the world has altered, our love for all that of Peter Barrows.

is permanent and peaceful has increased a Peter had been our closest friend for thousand-fold, and above all else I believe more years than either of us cared to count, that our souls reached their full maturity and his loyalty, humor, unselfishness, and during those shattering seconds when the courage had endeared him to both of us. 17 IS WEIRD TALES

He was everything which I, Martin Gaye, An unaccountable electrical, leakage am not. He was bold where I am cau- has been reported today by officials of tious, reckless where I am wary, imagina- the New York Standard Electric Com- tive where the wings of my own mental pany. Firm engineers and accountants powers skim close to the ground. bodi state that they have discovered And now Peter had made us move! large discrepancies between the amount He had come to us with lyric praise for of current actually put out by the New a small apartment he had found in an York Standard Electric Company, and old private house on lower Riverside Drive, the amount of power registered on cus- a house which had flavor, character, atmos- tomers’ meters. No explanation, offi- phere; whose rooms were large, with gap- cials report, can conceivably explain this ing fireplaces, broad windows, heavy and difference. genuine oak panelling. And, he assured us, we could afford the "I don’t think much of that,” Joan ob- rent! served. "Electricity’s not the sort of thing

Unable to withstand the cataracts of en- a thief could very well abscond with, is thusiasm he poured forth, we shifted at it?” once and found everything quite as attrac- And in a perfumed swirl of lace and tive as he had predicted. One matter only velvet she was gone. troubled us. This house had four stories, Forgetting the paragraph, I put the and each apartment occupied an entire paper aside and settled down to w7 ork. floor. Hov/ever, when we came the top floor The night was pleasantly cool—it was early alone was rented by, as the landlord ex- May—and I had a sheaf of proofs to cor- plained to us, "a very quiet professional rect, proofs of my latest book, “Uncle man.” Possum and the Bumble Bee.” I write The three floors below this "profes- children’s stories, a most engrossing occu- sional man” were empty. If the house pation and one which I personally delight was such a bargain, we speculated, why in. had not these three unimpeachable apart- The proofs before me were surpris- ments been snapped up long before? We ingly good and needed little alteration. said nothing of this to Peter, however, and Within an hour I had reached the last it was really so small a thing that it hardly page and had even pencilled in a final gave us more than a moment’s worry. notation, when someone knocked on the Our second night in our new home saw outside door leading to the stairs. I jumped us fairly well settled. Joan was dressing up immediately for I was expecting Peter, to go to an evening fashion exhibit—Joan who, naturally, would be anxious to see designs expensive looking clothes for girls us comfortably settled in this home he who can’t afford expensive clothes—and I had chosen for us. was glancing through the evening paper. However, when I opened the door my Finally Joan bounced into the drawing- visitor proved to be a boy of about seven- room wearing, of course, one of her own teen, slight, blond, immature, and quietly creations. dressed. My surprise was so great that I "Ready to leave, dear?” I asked. She stood open-mouthed. The stranger spoke nodded, adding, "Anything interesting in first. the paper?” "Mr. Gaye,” he said, and his voice was "Yes,” I replied, and read aloud the fol- far more mature than I had expected. I lowing: nodded. "I am your neighbor of the floor THE GREEN INVASION ' 19

above, Mr. Gaye. I have come to pay you accomplish little, they encourage no new a visit. Am I welcome?” work. The great things of this world have This courteous, balanced mode of ad- been done by men working alone in lonely dress was so unusual that once again I places. His colleagues laughed at Pasteur,

was tongue-tied. However I managed to the work of Harvey was scorned at first, nod, and invited him in. When I re-en- and Lavoisier was guillotined in the Place tered the room behind him he had already de la Revolution! How much more should reached my lighted desk. He swung about I then be ridiculed, I whose work is so

politely, and it was all I could do to hold much greater than theirs!” back a cry of amazement, for this was no He stared firmly into my face, his light stripling! This was a man many years brilliant eyes burning with intensity. older than I and the spurious air of youth I managed to stammer in reply that I which had deceived me had been caused saw his point and that he had my com- by the bad lighting in the hall. His thin plete sympathy. face was furrowed and his eyes deep pits "Sympathy!” he exclaimed bitterly. of discontent. But his slight unformed "Sympathy is a fine thing no doubt, but we body spoke only of adolescence, and his who must fight humanity’s battles in the fine flaxen hair might have adorned the face of humanity’s distrust need more! head of a youngster. We need help! Have I your help, Mr. "My name,” he announced in his un- Gaye?” ruffled manner, "is Cardin Kane.” His personality was so completely over- Collecting my wits I indicated a chair powering that I could do no more than and brought him a glass of sherry. Then nod. At that he arose sharply and marched I surveyed my "professional man” at my to the door. ease. He was sipping the wine with dis- "I’m glad to have seen you, Mr. Gaye,” crimination and when his eyes met mine he said. "I believe that you and I shall be they were eloquent of respect for the fine friends. I should like a friend. I have liquor. The glance held for so long that none, you know. I shall take the liberty

I, never a man of much poise, felt con- of dropping in again tomorrow evening strained’ to break the silence. at this time. Good night.” "Mr. Kane,” I began, "we understand The door opened, he stepped out, the that you’re a professional man. In what door closed. I was alone! sense?” "I see by the proofs on your desk,” he EAKLY I returned to my desk and replied, "that your work lies with the arts. W stared at 'the pile of proofs before Mine is somewhat different. I am an elec- me. My mind was in a maelstrom of tro-physicist.” amazement. If this was to be our upstairs "I suppose,” I ventured then, "that you neighbor, then no wonder the house had are connected with some institution of no other tenants! And yet something about learning — or perhaps with one of the Cardin Kane attracted me. He was so great commercial laboratories?” strong, so purposeful, so dogmatic, that his

• Deliberately he finished his drink and, mere presence had been a mental tonic. leaning toward me, spoke in a level con- Although I was anxious to have Joan’s trolled voice. opinion of him, I decided not to prejudice "Mr. Gaye,” he said, "commercial her in advance. I would in fact say noth- laboratories and institutions of learning are ing, so that his visit of the following eve- chimeras in the popular imagination. They ning would be unheralded and therefore —

20 WEIRD TALES

his dynamic presence would affect Joan days of my life on it, and I am, I believe, freshly. close to achieving my purpose!” The next day passed uneventfully and I Peter had remained standing, and his saw nothing of the electro-physicist. With body appeared tensed, almost as if he were nightfall Peter arrived to share our din- preparing to spring. ner. His manner, I thought, betrayed in- "That must be most gratifying,” he ob- tense excitement. served. "And the nature of your work, "How do you like the place?” he asked Mr. Kane? Won’t you tell us a little of us more than once, and with such eager- that?”

ness that we were both, I think, a little “I,” Kane returned, "have something of surprised. We tried to discuss Peter’s work the artist in me. I prefer not to expose my but his replies were monosyllabic and al- poor labors until they are in a fit condi- most brusque. Peter had some sort of gov- tion to be exhibited. At the moment they

ernment job, tlie duties of which were to are, so to speak, incomplete, and I should

Joan and me ill-defined and hazy. The find it almost cruel to bare them to the diree of us had finally fallen into a dead public gaze!” silence when we heard a sharp rap on the Peter nodded, lips compressed, eyes door. I admitted our upstairs neighbor. narrowed and intent. "Mr. Kane,” I said, "allow me to pre- "And how does your work progress, sent my wife, Joan. Joan, this is Cardin Mr. Barrows?” Kane who lives upstairs. Mr. Kane is a For a tiny space of time there was si- scientist.” lence and the two men eyed each other like expert swordsmen. Each time they HE two shook hands and suddenly spoke I seemed to hear the sliding ring of T Peter stepped forward. crossed rapiers. "I’d like to meet Mr. Kane too, Mar- "My work,” said Pe.ter slowly, "is so tin,” he announced. I introduced them, prosaic, Mr. Kane, that I hardly think and the two men, standing in the center you’d be interested. Government clerks of the living room, nodded to each other. have always appeared in society’s eyes as a "Mr. Barrows,” asked the scientist particularly down-at-heel lot whose lives smoothly, "is an old friend, Mr. Gaye?” have not for one moment the least spark "A very old friend.” Peter had an- of originality. I am one of that shabby swered for me. “Martin and Joan are very crew, and my work is uninspired and rou- dear to me, and there’s nothing I’d not do, tine to the extreme, just as yours must be Mr. Kane, to save them from any evil!” exciting and adventurous!” "Evil?” Kane’s eyebrows lifted a frac- "Something tells me,” Kane responded, tion. Then he turned to Joan and smiled. "that anything you would be connected “You’re most fortunate, Mrs. Gaye,” he with would have somewhere in its heart a said, “to have two such stalwart defend- seed of danger!” ers!” Peter smiled. Joan was silent. "All life bears a seed of danger,” he "Tell me, Mr. Kane,” said Peter then, said. "how does your scientific work progress?” Kane rose. Kane seated himself comfortably in an "I must be getting bade to my tasks, easy chair. Mr. Gaye. I’m glad to have met your "My work progresses superbly,” he re- charming wife, and I’m glad to have met plied in a soft voice. “I have spent the Mr. Peter Barrows.” THE GREEN INVASION 21

Peter bowed. our neighbor I do hope you’ll try to con- "The pleasure,” he said, "is two- ceal your dislike as much as possible!” edged!” "May I endorse that?” said Peter. Between the two I felt a subtle cur- "You?” Joan turned on him sharply. "I rent flowing. Suddenly it blazed forth thought that you were on my side!” in words. "I’ve changed my mind. I now think "Like a sword?” Kane had spoken. that Kane might make a most interesting "Like a sword,” Peter replied. "Good friend for Martin. A new type of hu- night, Mr. Kane.” man! Change is good for the soul!” Kane walked to the door. "Peter Barrows,” Joan exclaimed, "you

"Good night,” he said. know that you hated the man just as 'I did! Would you make him your friend?” A ND the room was left to ourselves "No,” Peter replied slowly, "but I’m once more. not Martin, am I? I’m only speaking Peter turned to me and spoke gently. for him.” "You have a most interesting neighbor, Joan looked both amused and exasper- Martin!” ated. I grew hot with anger. "What are you trying to do?” she de- "Why did you bait him so, Peter?” I manded. "Mystify us?” demanded. "I’ve never known you to ex- She turned to the radio and switched it press open resentment so clearly!” on. "On the contrary,” Peter corrected, "There’s a Toscanini concert,” she ex- "your Mr. Kane has my wholesome respect plained. "I’d much rather listen to that and admiration.” than to either of you!” "You faced each other like enemies!” However she was doomed to disappoint- Peter looked thoughtful. ment. The static was so loud that we "I shouldn’t like to think of you as his were unable to hear a note. friend, Martin,” he said. "That’s funny,” I said, looking help- "I agree,” Joan put in, "and I’ll be lessly at the instrument. "We’re supposed more honest than either of you! If ever to have the newest static-eliminator on that I hated a man on sight, I hated Cardin set!” Kane!” Joan switched it off. I began to feel that my neighbor was "Nothings right tonight,” she mur- being unjustly treated. mured pensively, "except the moon and "Kane,” I remonstrated, "is a strange the stars! The evening’s lovely! I’m go- man, I admit, but all men are strange ing to walk in it! Anybody coming?” who’ve spent their lives on a certain piece "May I?” Peter smiled. of work, and who’ve been scoffed at for "Why not? And we can leave Martin their pains! to the tender affections of his Mr. Kane! Kane’s existence has been hard and I don’t need a hat, Peter! Come on!” bitter. It’s not surprising therefore that The two headed for the door. he’s withdrawn and secretive in his man- “Sure you won’t come, Martin?” he ner!” asked. "I don’t like him,” Joan repeated very I felt irrationally furious. bluntly. "To the best of my knowledge I haven’t "Well, my dear,” I said, "you must have been asked,” I replied huffily, "but if that’s your own way about that, but since Kane’s an invitation, consider it rejected!” ”

22 WEIRD TALES

Joan ruffled my hair into my eyes. "Secrecy?” "Watch out for tire mad magician up- "For the time being. Soon, of course, stairs!” she advised, and arm in arm with what I am about to reveal to you will be Peter, departed. common knowledge, but until then—one Standing at the window, I watched likes to be sure of one’s little theatrical them stroll down the Drive. The night effects!” was warmly fragrant, and, having turned I gave him the promise he wished. down the chance of a walk which I should "Good. You must not speak of this even have enjoyed, I naturally felt restless. to your wife, nor to the interesting Mr. Again I tried the radio, but the static was Barrows!”

even worse. Suddenly it occured to me "Very well.” that I might return Kane’s visit and, inci- Kane sat motionless, his gray luminous dentally, see something of his work at first eyes reaching my face unblinkingly. hand. I considered this, staring across the Suddenly—sharply—he spoke. river at the moving electric sign which told "This world we see is not ail, Mr. Gaye. the time every two minutes. This world of tables and turnips-—-of "9:58.” "Tire time is now,” it insisted, watches and . weddings—of bread and bat- I started for the door. tles! This does not comprise all creation does it?” UTSIDE Kane’s door I paused, for I shook my head. O within were two voices, the scien- "There is much not visible to the naked tist’s and another’s. I knocked, and with eyes. The astronomer, for example, has my knocking the voices ceased. For almost calculated the existence of heavenly bodies a minute I waited and was on the verge which even the strongest telescopes cannot of knocking a second time when the door discern, and the physicist has communed opened and a flood of harsh white light with beta and gamma rays invisible to even from the apartment dazzled me. the most powerful microscope.”

Tire scientist was standing in the en- I assented.

trance, his pale hair a golden shining halo "So it would seem that this human plane in the radiance, his frail shirt-sleeved form upon which we live is but a small island even younger and less mature than before. surrounded by a vast unseen world. The My appearance apparently did not surprise unseen world of the astronomer,—the un- him, for he ushered me in politely and seen world of the physicist, and gave me a chair. "And—?” “I thought you might, return my call,” "And the unseen world of the psychic!” he said, "and I’m glad to welcome you. I experienced a spasm of disappoint- Your friend has gone?” ment. Psychic phenomena had never at- I explained that Peter and Joan were tracted me particularly, and I had always out walking. felt most psychic investigators to be either "Ah,” Kane surveyed me shrewdly. fools or charlatans. "And you have come to learn something This reaction was not lost upon Kane. of my work, haven’t you, Mr. Gaye?” "You are skeptical of these things?” he I nodded. inquired smiling. "Very good,” Kane, seating himself in "At least,” I replied, "I have never a chair facing mine, pressed the tips of his had reason to be otherwise.” fingers lightly together. "First, Mr. Gaye, "In the Middle Ages,” Kane mused,” I must have from you a pledge of secrecy.” "a radio broadcast would have seemed THE GREEN INVASION \ 23

witchcraft! In ancient Rome gunpowder sure that he wasn’t indulging in some ob- would have seemed essentially Jovian. In scure scientific joke. the Stone Age wheels would have seemed He was in deadly earnest. miraculous. The marvel of one age is the "Brother Carolus Pius has been in con- commonplace of the next!” stant communication with me,” he went "But psychic investigation has been car- on, "for about two years. When I first

ried on during all ages,” I objected, "and contacted him, we could converse only in never successfully!” a very limited manner by means of ec- Kane raised his hand. clesiastical Latin, which meant that I un- "I wouldn’t say that, Mr. Gaye. As a derstood about one word in three! Later

matter of fact, certain ancient peoples did it developed that Brother Carolus was an establish contact with a world apart from English monk who had traveled to France our own.” to spread certain heretical doctrines among "Go on,” I encouraged. the French Catholic peasantry, and that "We think of the psychic, the invisible eventually he had been burned for his be- world,” he stated, "as immaterial, as exist- liefs. He was, however, a man of strong ing on a thought-basis rather than on a spirit and unshakable will. Consequently basis of matter.” he left certain documents buried in the "Yes?” crypt of a ruined Basque abbey. Last sum- "We have been wrong!” mer I went abroad and unearthed them. The silence which followed this an- Just a minute.” nouncement was profound. Turning to an oaken chest he withdrew

"You mean,” I said finally, "that what from it a large bulky package wrapped in we have called the spirit world actually rubberized cloth. This he placed on a table exists in a physical state, palpable and and unwrapped. visible?” As the coverings fell apart, an indescrib- "I do.” able odor filled the room, an odor of de- A thought flashed through my mind. cay and ancientness, an odor which spoke When I had stood outside Kane’s door, I of damp cloisters in forgotten monasteries, had heard two voices in conversation. Now an odor which brought with it the chim- Kane appeared to be alone. I mentioned ing of ancient bells and the muttering of this. Popish prayers, an odor of magic and "You’re quick, Mr. Gaye,” he replied. death. "You did hear two voices. One was mine, "He had collected his entire writings the other belonged to a scholarly priest of in a single volume which he bound him- my acquaintance, a certain Brother Carolus self,” Kane was saying. "This is it.” Pius.” Before me on the table lay a large flat I looked about the room helplessly. book covered in heavy unpolished leather.

"But where is he?” I asked. Kane opened it at random. The pages "Brother Carolus,” Kane replied very were of heavy parchment, and the writ- softly, "was burned at the stake in the ing was black, crowded, and crabbed. marketplace of Lyons in the year 1526!” "Can you read it?” I asked. Kane shook his head. A LTHOUGH Kane’s introductory re- "It’s written in a Latin cypher,” he ex- marks had prepared me for something plained. “So far I’ve been unable to per- of this sort, the shock v/as, nevertheless, suade Brother Carolus to give me the key.” great. I looked at him carefully to make Tenderly rewrapping the ancient vol- T4 WEIRD TALES

uffle, lie returned it to the chest. Then "But,” I objected, "if that is so, it must he went back to his seat. be between ourselves and the sun. Why "To continue,—in my conversations doesn’t it affect us?” with Brother Carolus, I discovered, as I "It does,” Kane replied. "Popular opin-

have said, that he was English. From ion is that tides are caused by the influ- that time on we spoke in English, and dur- ence of the moon. Actually, since the ing that time I managed to purge his ninth dimensional world revolves more speech of many archaicisms which made slowly than our own, its lag produces a him almost incomprehensible to modern gravitational retrograde pull. That is the ears. Now we chat quite naturally.” true cause of tides!” "And Brother Carolus belongs to the I was so utterly bewildered by the mag- spirit world?” I asked. nitude of the man’s statements that I found Kane shook his head. myself captivated. Still, deep within me "Not to your idea of the spirit world,” some grain of doubt continued to exist, he said. "On his death something hap- for an instinct made me say, "I suppose pened to him which happens only to the you’re the only person able to hear exceptionally bold and powerful souls of Brother Carolus?” this world. Brother Carolus was translated Kane looked surprised. into the Ninth Dimension!” "You heard him, didn’t you, when you I probably looked very foolish, for the were standing outside the door?” other continued quickly. "By what means do you get in touch "As you know, this world of ours exists with him?” I asked. "Through a medium?” on a basis of three dimensions: length, Kane shook his head. breadth, and height. We have often spoken "Through something much more every- of a fourth dimension perpendicular to day.” Crossing the room, he opened a these three, and certain modern thinkers door. "Through a radio operating on a

have decided that this fourth dimension is higher frequency than has hitherto been Time. No one, however, has gone fur- thought possible. Look.” ther than that. No one has even consid- ered the possibility of additional dimen- OINING him at the door, I saw be- sions. I alone have studied such a pos- J yond what appeared to be a radio, ordi-

sibility! I have found nothing concern- nary in everything except its cabinet, which ing the fourth, fifth, and sixth dimensions, appeared to be made of some material but I have discovered the seventh, eighth, resembling heavy asbestos. and ninth! These represent various planes "It is asbestos,” Kane replied in answer of existence, and were our eyes constructed to my question. "The higher frequencies better than they are, were our sensory per- generate terrific heat. If the instrument

ceptions keener, we should be able to per- were not insulated, it might easily start a

ceive all these dimensions. However, as it fire.”

is, the ninth-dimensional world which Having thrown a switch on the instru- greatly resembles our own is completely ment panel, he adjusted two knobs. I in-

invisible to us, despite the fact that it ex- stantly heard a low roaring that resembled

ists within the area of space covered by our the sound of breakers on a distant coast.

earth and its envelope of atmosphere! The Quietly Kane picked up a small micro- fact is that the world of the ninth dimen- phone formed of some unfamiliar rose- sion exists in a great curving plane in the hued metal. highest reaches of the stratosphere!” “Earth calling,” he said softly. “Earth — !

THE GREEN INVASION 25 calling — Earth calling — Earth calling! vain men, of greedy men, of jealous men!” Come in, please!” He seemed to have forgotten my presence The roaring sound grew louder. Kane as he sat contemplating the pictures which adjusted a dial. danced through his seething brain. Sud- "Earth calling—Earth calling! Come denly his body twitched, and he returned in, please!” from his dream. "You’ve seen what I

I scarcely dared breathe, so tense was have done, Mr. Gaye, and you’re con- the atmosphere in that quiet Manhattan vinced, aren’t you? And you will tell no room, and my heart was pounding fran- one anything of what you have seen? tically, The roaring stopped. There was Good. You know at this moment more a moment’s stillness, and I became aware of my work and of myself than does any of a voice stealing through the speaker other person in this world! On your shoul- a voice faint, rounded, but mellow. ders may some day fall the task of inter- A voice from the Sixteenth Century! preting my motives—if by that time inter-

"Master Kane,” it said, "what is your pretation is wanted or even possible!” message, pray?” Abruptly he rose. Kane’s eyes glowed. "Good night, Mr. Gaye,” he said usher- "Just a little experiment,” he replied. ing me to the door. "Good night. You Again the voice filtered through. have been present at a miracle! No mat- "Excellent! The lack of experimental- ter what may come, you have had this mo- ism was the downfall of Greek science. It ment!” rejoices my heart to see that you are wiser!” Standing there, his slenderness was al- "That’s all,” said Kane. "Good-by, most ethereal, and his light eyes burned Brother Carolus.” into mine like acetylene torches. Then the "Benedicite, Master Kane!” door closed, and I was left dazzled and be- Again the distant roaring filled the wildered, alone in the dark hallway. room. Kane flipped the switch. Silence As I made my way down to my own swirled about us. apartment, I kept puzzling over two things The scientist’s face was queerly twisted. he had said. The first was "The task of "Are you convinced, Mr. Gaye?” interpreting my motives if by that time I nodded, for I could still hear in my interpretation is wanted or even possible!” head the whispered echoes of that voice and the second was "No matter what may !” which belonged to a monk burned alive come, you have had this moment more than four-hundred years ago! Something in these phrases troubled me, "Imagine,” Kane went on, conducting but it was not until I had my hand on my me back to the living room, "what it would own doorknob that I managed to localize mean for us to be in contact with men my feeling. For in a staggering flash I such as that constantly. Imagine the search- saw that Kane had been talking as if life light which a conversation with them as we know it were doomed would turn on all our wonderings about When I re-entered my cozy apartment, the after-life!” my face was cold with the sudden sweat Throwing himself into a chair, he sat of terror! biting his lower lip and clenching his hands. rjlHE next day passed quietly enough, "And this I have done alone in the face although my whole being was in a of universal ridicule!” he breathed. "This tempest of excitement and dread. I had I have fought for over the opposition of spoken no word of my visit to Joan or to ”

26 WEIRD TALES

Peter, and no outward due suggested to every radio in the neighborhood behaved either that I had experienced anything out as yours did!”

of the ordinary. "Does that mean,” I questioned, "that After dinner that night a note was you were in constant touch with Brother slipped under my door. It read: Carolus?” Nodding he took me into his labora- My dear Mr. Gaye: tory. Great shades covered the windows I should be gratified if you would and somewhere I could hear a low hum, visit me at about eleven this evening. as if from a generator. I shall have important work to do, Kane perched himself on a high lab and I should like your presence in the stool and faced me.

twin capacities of assistant and chron- "Mr. Gaye,” he said, "this night is of icler. all nights my zenith! For years I have

I am, planned this moment and now it has come! Very truly yours, What I do tonight will rock the world Cardin Kane. with wonder! Around us seven million souls are peacefully relaxing at the end of I kept this note from Joan, and during another day and the vast city grows bright the following two hours managed to chat and gentle with evening! But here in this with her calmly and quietly, but ever my room I am preparing to jolt their sodden eye strayed to the flashing time-sign across lives to the core! From pole to pole man- the river, and ever within me I felt the kind shall hear my name, and those who leaping vibrant surge of adventure. Finally jeered will bow, while those who laughed the shining letters of the sign proclaimed fall at my feet!” His light eyes were blaz- that the time was now 10:50 and, rising, ing with a fantastic fire and his voice rose I suggested casually that I should be the to a high-pitched scream, as he said, "In better for a brief stroll before bedtime. letters of fire my name shall blaze across Joan agreed, and, fighting to control my the heavens, and the seven million shall excitement, I left her to hasten upstairs wake!” to Kane’s door. My soft knocking brought For an instant of silence he sat pant- an instant response, and Kane welcomed ing on his stool. me in. “Mr. Gaye,” he continued more calm-

"I am overjoyed, Mr. Gaye,” he said in ly, "have you read anything in the papers his mellow voice, "that you were able to recently about an unusual discrepancy in accept my little invitation. This night is the electrical output' of New York Stan- my most important, and I felt the need of dard?” an observer who would later transmit an "Why,— yes!” I cried. "Only the other unprejudiced account of tonight’s happen- day I ings to the future world.” He stared keenly He silenced me with a glance. at me. "Did you notice anything unusual "The world of the ninth dimension is a yesterday or today?” world in many ways similar to our own I referred to the extraordinary amount with this exception. Their substitute for of static on the radio. oxygen as a source of physical energy is "Ah,” Kane replied quickly, "that’s electricity. In quantity of electricity alone what I meant! The terrific influence my is their world less rich than our own. Had own high frequency set has on the sur- they sources of electrical power equal to rounding district makes it probable that ours, we should have known of them years THE GREEN INVASION 27 ago. By tapping the generators of the "Kane? Is it Kane?” New York Standard Electric Company, I "Yes.” have for almost two months furnished "What do you want?” them with an unbroken stream of power "What time are you starting?” through the medium of an extremely sen- "You’ll sight us at exactly midnight!” sitive antenna which operates from there!” Kane switched the instrument off and He pointed to a fireplace at the end of turned to me. the ropm. A jungle of wires led from a “Does that answer your question?” he huge transformer to the insulated base of asked softly. a metal rod which disappeared up the I nodded, stupefied. chimney. He crossed the room and raised the "That rod,” he explained, “is my own shades covering his two broad windows. contrivance. It is telescopic, and when- Before us lay the peaceful curving Drive, ever I fear that its tip may be visible from the soft easy-flowing river, dark and pol- the street, I contract it slightly. At night, ished, the darker palisades, and the broad however, the thin sensitive tip is quite in- arching night sky. visible, and consequently I allow it to "The time is now 11:45,” the sign project as much as six feet above the chim- twinkled tirelessly. ney top. At this moment the tip reaches "Fifteen minutes more,” Kane mused. up into the dark, and from it a steady "Who,” I asked, "was that who just stream of power is flowing to the ninth spoke?” dimensional world of Brother Carolus!” Kane’s face seemed oddly distorted. For a moment I was too stupefied to “That voice,” he replied, "was the voice speak. of one of their leaders, Carlo Scarpa, a "But,” I said finally, “why do they need thirteenth-century forger who died scream- it? They must have sufficient to exist on!” ing on the rack!” Kane laughed nervously. "But why should he be among their "Oh, they have, Mr. Gaye,” he chuckled. leaders?” I exclaimed. "Why not some "They have! This supply is extra!” great saint or benefactor?” "To what purpose?” Kane’s voice trembled like wire drawn Kane’s face slipped into a pattern of too tight. grimness. "Because the good are weak and only "In order,” he said slowly and im- the evil are strong! The ninth dimensional pressively, "for them to break free of their world is a world of splendid and glowing own world and visit ours!” evil! All the arch villains of history re- "You mean that we shall be able to see side there, and they are the most powerful them?” spirits of all Creation!” "Exactly.” "But when?” HE wide stretch of the Western sky Kane arose and walked to the receiv- T looked threatening. Every few mo- ing set which he switched on. He picked ments fitful lightning blazed russet, up his microphone. — bloated, stabbed the dark. “Earth calling—Earth calling ” he be- The time was now 11:50. gan. "Come in, please—Come in please.” "They should come,” he said pointing to The voice which drifted down to us was the heavens, "from that direction!” thinner and harsher than that of Brother He stood with his back to me, staring Carolus. out like a mystic at the expressionless ,

28 WEIRD TALES

night. Suddenly I had a vision of this fear evil and you fear its power! What ghastly horde already preparing to ap- do I owe the earth that I should defend proach our green and pleasant earth, this it? No, let them come!” army of thieves and murderers, of liars His eyes scorched me. and blasphemers, of traitors and tortur- "Only five more minutes, Mr. Gaye,” ers. I suddenly sensed the power and he went on. "I should have killed you goodness of the innocent seven million were I not more anxious that you should lying all about us. I knew then that, no first see approach the inheritors of earth! matter what the cost, Kane’s plan must be That window should provide a perfect shattered and these bloody legions of evil view! After they have come and com- repulsed! menced their rule, I shall arrange for your

I stared at the scientist’s slender back speedy execution, for there is little doubt and in a lightning moment of resolve my that I shall be raised to a position of great unpracticed fingers were at his throat. He eminence! In the meantime, watch the whirled about like a mountain cat and west, Mr. Gaye—watch the west!” drove at me savagely, striking, tearing, He threw the radio switch. An imper- gouging! I hadn’t fought any man since sonal, sexless voice was heard. my fifteenth year and consequently I was "Calling Earth—Galling Earth.” out of training, but the holiness of my The scientist grabbed his microphone. cause lent me strength. "Kane speaking!” For a few blind seconds we wrestled "We are ready to depart.” back and forth, toe to toe. Anything went Kane glanced at me triumphantly. in that desperate battle high above the "I am waiting,” he said. streets of New York, and many were the I writhed wildly at the knots but they rules that were broken! Kane’s light body held firm. was deceptively powerful and he knew "They have taken off,” the voice an- many tricks against which I had no guard. nounced. "The first contingent of multi- But I was bigger than he, and my superior dimensional ships have taken off. I can weight told at first. We strained and still—wait!—they’ve disappeared! They panted, yet we were silent for there was are entering your dimension! Watch the no word to be said in this contest between west!” hopeful life and lunatic death! I was The time was now 11:56! Kane ad- gaining the upper-hand, though my justed a dial. muscles cracked with the effort, when sud- "Let’s see what our own little world is denly I felt a sickening dagger of pain saying and doing in their death hour,” shoot through my body and I fell, face he suggested. Dance music filled the room, down on the floor. Kane seized my wrists music from one of the Broadway night- and bound them with heavy rope. Despite clubs. "How gay! I shall soften it slight- my last feeble efforts he did the same to ly, and we shall have the remarkable my ankles, and kicked my tortured body privilege of listening to emanations from into a corner. two worlds. The world about to conquer The time was now 11:55! —and the world about to die!” "Kane,” I pleaded desperately, "stop that current!” OT soon will those mad minutes pass His lips curved with scorn as he wiped N from my memory, those minutes a slender trickle of blood from his mouth. while Cardin Kane and I listened to mur- “You’re like the rest,” he said. “You murous dance music from. Broadway as we ” —

THE GREEN INVASION 29

awaited an invasion from another world! make out a faint glow. It was of the palest While the glittering letters across the dark apple-green. river spelled out the fateful passage of "They’re coming, Gaye! They’re com- time! ing!”

Kane stood at the window, peering I fought fiercely and the strong ropes eagerly into the dark night. cut deep into, the flesh of my wrists and Dramatically a voice crackled through ankles until I could feel my hands and the ether. feet warm and damp with flowing blood. "Calling Earth—Calling Earth—Have I had to break loose! I had to smash the you seen our ships, Kane?” source of electrical power before "Not yet.” The radio interrupted. With vivid suddenness the terrestrial "Flames have engulfed Newark! Jour-

radio music halted as an agitated voice cut nal Square is a roaring furnace!” through. Somebody pounded heavily on the door. "We are interrupting this broadcast to Kane stood in the window like a bring you a special bulletin! We have statue. just been informed that the New Jersey "Look!” he shouted. "They’re here!” towns of Flemington, Flagtown, Royce- Suddenly the Palisades were blackly sil- field, and Raritan are all in flames! The houetted against a rose curtain of flame. source of the conflagration is unknown! The time-sign across the river flickered and Please stand by for further bulletins!” vanished. It looked as if all New Jersey The music flowed on. Dumbly I looked were burning fiercely. Then high above

at Kane. Elis whole body was shaking in the night I saw the invaders!' with excitement. "Our friends are approaching,” he said. HEY were approaching in disk-like T conveyances at a terrific speed. The rpHE music jerked to a halt again and ships seemed made of some luminous the voice of an announcer reached us. metal, a brilliant apple-green in color. "The mysterious conflagrations just re- There were seventeen of them sweeping ported have spread in a straight line down the sky—flying in a W-formation. through the towns of Somerville, Plain- They were headed directly for Manhattan! field, Rahway, and Elizabeth! Elizabeth Again came the pounding on the door. is now completely aflame! No explanation "Let us —in Kane!” It was Peter! "For of the holocaust is known, although motor- God’s sake ists report having seen a vaguely luminous “Peter,” I shouted. patch in the western sky, Which appeared "Whatever they pass they set ablaze!” to be proceeding in an easterly direction! Kane drowned me out. "It is the most Please stand by!” formidable machine of death ever de- Kane laughed in a high whinnying man- vised!” ner. Both radio speakers, ethereal and ter- "It seems,” he chortled, "that the ninth restrial, clamored together. Above them dimension has means of destruction which cut Peter’s high challenge. we earthbound creatures have never "I’m going to shoot the lock! If you’re dreamed of!” Suddenly his body stiffened inside Martin, watch out!” and his lean arm pointed to the window. My answer was unheard for the shatter- "Look, Gaye! Look!” ing explosion of Peter’s revolver. The

High in the western night I could just lock shot from the door and landed crash- 30 WEIRD TALES

ing on the' floor halfway across the room. the gold-crowned head fell back against I fought at the ropes. the floor. Cardin Kane lay still in the The Green Invasion was lower now, and center of the laboratory from which he terrifyingly close! The whole lurid sky was had directed the destruction of mankind. filled with their luminous green disks, and Already his unhappy soul was no doubt I saw that they were gigantic! They were entering that nine dimensional world, the less than half a mile west of the river! existence of which he had been the first Kane had thrown himself against the to discover. door in an effort to withstand Peter’s as- sault. For a precious ten seconds the door F WHAT happened thereafter there

held. O is little need to write here, for the Suddenly Peter broke through, leap- facts are too well known through the ac- ing across the room like a tiger and his count which Peter wrote for the official fingers were on Kane’s throat! use of the Intelligence Department and They fought savagely, silently. The which has since been placed within the room was filled with the noise of the in- public reach.

vaders’ engines. It is interesting to note, however, that "The antenna in the fireplace, Peter,” I the Department had assigned Peter to the shouted. "Smash it!” case two months earlier, when the first Suddenly from the door another figure suspicion as to the true cause of the elec-

streaked into the room. It was Joan! In trical leakage was guessed, that Peter had a flash she was at the fireplace tearing at quietly found the area in which the leak- the tangle of wires. The Green Invasion age was occurring, that he had finally dis- was above the river now, and a matter of covered the actual house, and that, for his hundreds of yards from New York. There own uses, he had persuaded Joan and me was a smashing explosion and the whole to move there. night was as white as noon. I saw the The toll of death and devastation in green ships rear up toward the zenith New Jersey was appalling, but money for like leaves in a tempest. For an instant the public works and rehabilitation of the sky v/as blood-colored. Then dark swept ravaged area was raised through a nation- in with a rush. When our eyes were ac- wide campaign. One shudders to think

customed to it we stared. For the night of what might have happened had Joan was empty. Below the scalded Hudson reached the antenna a minute later, and frothed and bubbled and heaved. Above, had the approaching ships reached Man- a hi eh lonesome wind tore through the hattan Island! night. The danger seems to have passed now The Green Invasion had been defeated! forever, yet even tonight when Peter, Joan On the floor Peter’s hands were sunk and I dine together I know that our eyes deep in the scientist’s neck. Joan plucked will often wander heavenwards, ever on at his shoulder and Peter looked up. His the watch lest again the Green Invasion eyes were dazed as his strangling fingers appear high in the calm emptiness of the slowly relaxed. With a ripe heavy thud Western sky. "What comes to the Sabbat? Witches and war-locks that ride the winds. Men in the diverse and curious shapes of strange beasts!”

ine of the Sabbat By ROBERT BLOCH

Wine whose-bouquet was the enftavied embrace of a stone Sphinx—whose perfume was warm blood on obscene altars.

T’S too damn bad this story hasn’t got Lugosi or Peter Lorre. That’s what this the proper setting. Prague would do yarn needs; setting and atmosphere—what I it, I think, or Budapest—one of those the books call "build-up” and what critics foreign burgs that no one knows anything of weird fiction call "adjectivitis.” But it’s about but vaguely associates with Bela just my hard luck that this happens to be 31 a

32 WEIRD TALES

true, and I can’t see it in my mind any sort of person. Loneliness is in itself a

way except that in which it happened. So hunger.

that’s the way I’ll have to tell it. She had a wide circle of acquaintance,

Maybe it’s just as well. I’ve noticed that and I met interesting people at her place. in what we laughingly call "real life” the To a fellow of my garrulity, that’s a god- big things come pretty much as a surprise. send.

The Paramount Studio Orchestra doesn’t So I cultivated Mabel Fiske, I admit it. play Leiberstraum in the background when Not romantically, just socially. Mabel svas you propose to a girl. There are no three a mousy little brunette of at least thirty- pages of foreboding description preceding five. an actual railroad wreck in which you cut Her late husband had been a scenar-

your throat. Those infrequent moments ist of considerable means and since his of icy horror in real life come suddenly, death she had lived in a sort of haze— without warning. Sometimes they occur haze in which her old friends moved in an in the bright sunlight of morning, amidst extremely social set that dropped into the

prosaic happenings. Then it’s the contrast, house at all hours of the day or night. Her the unnaturalness of instantaneous dread in home was a continual open house, open commonplace circumstances, which makes bar, and open forum. for true horror. Amongst the crowd that knocked lettuce That’s the way this thing was—no out of the ice-box, burned the piano-keys haunted castles, no mad hypnotists, no brown with cigarettes, and added to the ravens wheeling and croaking under an pile of empty fifths in the bath-tub were accursed and blood-bloated moon. quite a number of interesting people.

But simple and sudden as it was, I still Movie folk predominated, but there were wake up in the middle of tire night and also at times visiting business men, college feel cold sweat at the memory of Mabel professors, dude ranch cowboys, aviators, Fiske’s party. taxi-drivers, hermits. Cubist painters, radio When I met Mabel Fiske I was living comics, messiahs, swamis, and admirals of in Los Angeles. That was before I turned the Pacific Fleet. But the occult note pre- commercial. I had a little-room in a flop- dominated on occasion. Mabel and her house where I ate graham crackers and late husband seemed to have been on inti- drank milk and wrote the Great American mate terms with every yogi, divinator,

Novel. It dealt, as I recall it, with the metaphysicist and screwball on the Coast. life of a young man who lived in a flop- They generally swarmed down for the house, ate graham crackers and drank milk, weekends, waving their crystals and horo- and was writing the Great American scopes and luck-charms, babbling of Para- Novel. celsus and Swedenborg and Hermes and

Excuse the autobiography, but it’s neces- Father Divine. In flowing robes, Flouse sary to account for my relations with Mabel of David beards, evening dress and goatees, Fiske. burlap bags and bare feet—all came to Mabel F'iske had a house near Laguna prance under the genial influence of the Beach, a sense of humor, and a wide circle juniper berry. of acquaintances. That’s why I liked her. Frankly, I found it fascinating. I was She had a house, and once a week I could impressionable enough to relish calling a drop in for a square meal. Hunger knows film big-shot by his first name; avaricious no conscience. enough to dream of meeting some befud- She had a sense of humor, and I like that dled publisher who might give my book to —

WINE OF THE SABBAT 33

a waiting world; human enough to enjoy time, drifted over. Bruce shook hands and those fantastic parties. Eddie offered me a glass, which meant the

There it was. And there was I. same thing to him. “Welcome to Liberty Hall,” Bruce chuckled.

PT1HERE was I, on Saturday evening "Libertine Hall, I’d call it,” remarked

of April 30th, 1940. I hitch-hiked a voice behind me. It was Lavinia Hearn down late that afternoon and hit the house who spoke; a statuesque blonde who about five. It was almost dinner-time and claimed to be a painter, but exhibited no I had a very healthy appetite. signs of her work save a heavily-rouged I walked in — you didn’t knock at face. Mabel’s, on a Saturday—and stared around "Don’t mind Lavinia, she’s bottle-dizzy,” the living room. There was a room worthy said Arch Blaine, the writer’s agent, ap- of its name. Never have I seen a room pearing at her side. I liked Blaine; he that looked quite so lived in. The walls usually rescued me from the attentions of were black with smoke, and there were the schizoid guests. lipstick frescoes on the mantel, and on the "Enjoying yourself?” he asked me. floor was what had once been an oriental Lavinia answered for me. “He always rug but was now merely a sort of Teheran enjoys himself! But he seldom enjoys ash-tray. The furniture stood (and anyone else.” slouched, and tottered) in a war-torn "Quite a crowd,” I commented to Blaine parade of crippled chairs; armless, legless, as Lavinia, Bruce, and Ensenada Eddie even seatless. The sofas were sagging wandered off. It was quite a crowd. In ad- hulks of disembowelled stuffing. The hands dition to those I’d met, I recognized a num- of the grandfather’s clock on the mantel ber of people wandering from the parlor were pulled down to form a mouth, and to the kitchen and back. There was a cow- the face was repainted to caricature boy, a playboy, and bus-boy; a composer, Groucho Marx. The fireplace under the a housewife, an elderly woman psychiatrist, mantel housed a portable refrigerator for and a burlesque chorine. They were all those too weak to seek the kitchen’s nour- (a) going to the kitchen for a drink ishment. (b) coming from the kitchen with a drink, Glancing around, I noticed the faces of or (c) staying in the kitchen and drinking. several old friends. Anyone you ever The conversation sparkled like fake shared a drink with became an "old friend” champagne.

at Mabel’s. "So I say listen Zanuclc, if you want me There was Cyril Bruce, the movie actor to write General Grant into the picture —a matinee idol whose afternoon was you’ll have to cut out the Ritz Brothers nearly over. He was a tall, blond chap and it was the custom of this Gilles de Rais of about forty; his eyes ravaged by the to procure small children which he—gets effects of Kleig lights and bright lights in fresh with me, see, so I says whaddya want equal proportions. for two beers, a floor show?—all right. I’m Bruce stood deep in conversation with a radical. But I’m impartial—I hate every- Ensenada Eddie; a swarthy little Filipino thing—He’s no naive in his sophistication whose feet had never been confined by —I’ll mix a flock of them right away shoe-leather. Ensenada was a mysterious sometimes wonder if people grow up or beachcomber who spent all his time writ- down—want to know is when’s feeding ing free verse—he couldn’t sell it. time in this zoo?” Bruce and Eddie spotted me at the same That last sentence struck a responsive 34 WEIRD TALES

chord in my own breast, and lower, in my night of the Sabbat—the Witche’s Sabbat. stomach. I turned to Arch Blaine. Black Mass Eve. “When do we eat?” I inquired. On Walpurgis Eve the demon stars “When Mabel Fiske gets back,” he re- formed in a black conjunction. On Wal- plied. purgis Eve things walked that were meant Lavinia, entering, heard him. "When to crawl; things crawled that were meant Mabel what?” she giggled. "Blaine, you to lie and rot. On Walpurgis Eve the outlaw, you aren’t inferring that our Mabel covens assembled and drank in honor of has gone out?” the Master of all Mystery. On Walpurgis Blaine nodded. Eve all ancient evil became reanimate. "But Mabel never goes out,” Lavinia Christians kept their holy days, and Dia- wailed. "It’s the Apocalypse.” bolists kept their unholy nights. "She went down to L.A. to pick up some important guests,” Blaine offered. Lavinia T3UT where was Mabel Fiske on Wal- looked stunned. O purgis Eve? "She wouldn’t go ten blocks to meet Mabel had learned that Doctor Voidin Roosevelt. Or Charlie McCarthy.” was expected on the Coast; Voidin the “Must be a big evening planned,” I Satanist. She meant to bag him, hence her said. "Wonder what’s up—what kind of trip. guests she’s bringing.” This Doctor Voidin, who was he now? "Step into the kitchen,” Blaine advised. A rather fabulous figure; wealthy European "The crowd out there ought to give you a manicheist. A dabbler in necromancy, hint. Their kind never shows up unless some said.

something is doing.” What was he doing on the Coast? Oh, I stepped out. The kitchen was a dark that was a secret. Of course, there were shrine of Bacchus, but today it held queer stories of underground Devil-worship out worshipers. There were dark men in tur- here; of a quite sizable cult whose devo- bans, pale men in togas, gaunt women in tees included many wealthy eccentrics, a flowing gowns. Beards wagged furiously, smattering of movie-colony folk, and a slim fingers gesticulated in ivory patterns, number of serious students. Hearsay had lips were red blurs of motion. Such a it that the doctor was out to conduct the queerly dressed talkative crowd meant only Mass—the Black Mass of the Sabbat, al- one thing—occultists. ways held on Walpurgis Eve. It was a meeting of the Isms and the When and where? Who could say? Osophies; a congregation of Ologies and Naturally, it was a secret. The Satanists Abrists. The faces, on the whole, were did not reveal their faith or its mysteries. unfamiliar to me, but they were interest- But it really was no joking matter, and ing. The blur of sounds; deep male voices, there were amazing tales of the worship shrill female tones, outlandish foreign in- and how the rites were conducted, and flections, blended into a conversational why, and who attended. And where the hash from which I gradually extracted in- blazes is that other fifth of gin? formation. I stood in the doorway and listened to Tonight was April 30th. Tomorrow was that crowd of dilettantes babble of myster- May Day, then—maypoles and Communist ies older than the Sphinx, and all at once parades, all that sort of thing. But this the .incongruity struck me full force. I was not the point. Tonight was Walpurgis started to laugh. Then I walked in and Eve. Walpurgis Eve, the immemorial had a drink. -

WINE OF THE SABBAT 35

Arch Blaine joined me, and Lavinia, and for a moment I thought it was that!—to Cyril Bruce. We were talking about The shake hands. His voice was the deep Golden Bough and double-scotches and purr of a cat’s. A black, wise, sinister Kwong-fu-Tze and Thorne Smith and Till feline. Etdenspiegel and Bruce’s new picture and "Pleased. You have written of goety, Blaine’s sobriety and Lavinia’s tipsiness, no? We must talk.” and I just switched the conversation around “My associate, Dubois.” to my book, very cleverly, and started to I would have guessed "Hassim.” But down my fifth drink, when Mabel Fiske it was "Dubois,” just as it had once been entered. "Christophe.” The man was a gigantic Mabel Fiske entered, and that was un- black; Haitiian, no doubt—ebony in eve- usual. Mabel was the kind of a woman ning dress. who appeared; who drifted in. But tonight, "And the Reverend Mr. Orsac.” despite my slight befuddlement, I could see There was mockery in the way Doctor that she entered. Voidin pronounced the title, and mockery Her slight figure poised momentarily in in the eyes of the fat little bald-headed the doorway.— I’d never quite swallowed Orsac who grasped my hand in the cold, that phrase "poised momentarily”—when pudgy grip of a meeting in the morgue.

I read it; but that was exactly what Mabel I didn’t like this fish-eyed little foreigner, did. She surveyed the crowd, and then and I didn’t care for the sneering Negro deliberately advanced. Mabel was sober. giant. As for the tall, thin figure out Mabel’s brown eyes sparkled. of Poe— "Hello, Bob,” she greeted me. "Bruce, "We will meet again at dinner,” purred Blaine—-you’re wearing an alcohalo, La- Doctor Voidin. He turned, with the vinia—help me to get these hammerheads Negro and the clergyman, and left the out of here, will you please?” room in Mabel’s company. We circulated, pushed, led, persuaded Lavinia smirked in astonishment. "What the majority of the drinking esthetes into a trio,” she remarked to herself. "Dracula, the other room. Then Mabel beckoned to Uncle Tom, and Bishop Shapiro.” the waiting figures in the doorway. "That man is—disturbing,” was Blaine’s "Come in, Doctor,” she invited. comment. He stared into my eyes, and I Now I had thought it was a joke. I’d nodded slowly, knowing his thought. been drinking with Blaine and ribbing him "I wonder if Mabel knows just what’s about the Sabbat, and picturing the long- goin’ on,” Blaine continued. "He isn’t one haired old boy Doctor Voidin was going of the occult boys, by a long shot. I’m to be. Lavinia had called him a "French pretty skeptical, but if I ever saw living, poodle with a dash of Sigmund Freud psychologically incarnate Evil walk, it’s about the beard.” walking in that man. I’m worried about But the tall, cadaverously thin figure in tonight.” the black coat was real. His was the pale face of the ascetic; his eyes the ancient “"TVEATH,” giggled Lavinia, "Takes a black of forgotten midnights. Holiday. And what a time he’ll have No, it wasn’t the scotch in me, nor the at this party!” Ben Hecht. Doctor Voidin’s stare sobered; Neither Blaine nor I could laugh at this and warned. He brushed the single strand sally. There was an ominous ring of truth of silver back into his black, curly hair, and in the witticism. extended his talon—I swear to Heaven, There was an ominous ring of the din* 36 WEIRD TALES

ner-bell. Mabel had opened up the little- fast,” Lavinia whispered. She poured for used dining room, and we turned to enter. Blaine and myself. There were only twenty of us at the table. The scene began to remind me more Perhaps a dozen or so of the lesser figures strongly of Poe—of his story, King Pest departed, urged by Mabel. She had a about the revellers in a charnel house dur- newfound spirit of purposefulness which ing a plague. A drinking-bout of the

surprised me; ushering the guests out doomed, as it were. firmly. We drank. Blaine stared at me. Mabel Mabel shared the head of the board with mumbled to Voidin. The occult brethern Doctor Voidin. The black Dubois and re-filled their glasses. And yet, there was Reverend Orsac sat nearby. Lavinia, Cyril nothing really wrong, or out of place. But

Bruce, Blaine, and the esoteric crew com- that room held panic. I could feel it ris- prised the remainder of the company. ing from each quickened breath. The way It was a good dinner, for Mabel’s place. Voidin stared down the table. The gloat- The long table was spotless, for once. Food ing look in Orsac’s eyes, the sneer of Du- had evidently been brought from a res- bois’ face. Mabel’s changed expression of taurant, and it was decently served. determination. Something was very wrong. But no one spoke. There was a definite Was this really Mabel’s house, were these tension in the air. Mabel’s changed man- Mabel’s carefree friends? Something alien ner seemed to amaze her friends to silence. had crept in; crept in and crouched, wait- The occultists glanced nervously at the ing. Waiting for—what? grim figure of Doctor Voidin. To them Mabel rose from her chair. he seemed appropriately playing the part "Listen, friends. I have a surprise for of skeleton at the feast. Blaine and I you.” watched his imperturbable death-mask I caught it at once; the forced tone in throughout the meal. her voice. She wasn’t natural any more. No one ate much. Mabel whispered to Something had happened. Voidin, Voidin whispered to Orsac and She continued. "Doctor Voidin, here, Dubois. has just returned from a European trip and I remembered those nasty rumors float- he tells me he’s managed to get hold of ing around the crowd in the kitchen and some real wine. He brought along a half- wondered. The rumor-mongers them- dozen bottles or so, out in my car. Shall selves were wondering, too. I could tell we try it?” that, because they began to drink. "Yeah. Why not?” And so forth, in Lavinia set the pace, of course. "Brrrr,” varying tones and inflections. The guests she giggled. She rose and went into the were just primed for that psychological kitchen for a bottle. Others followed. It suggestion. I looked at Blaine queerly, was steady, serious drinking at the table and he winked. Yes, there was a purpose from then on. No laughter, no sociability behind all this. —just a shuddering glance at the corpse- Dubois left the room. Presently the like face of the doctor and a hasty gulping black returned, assisting the single servant from the glasses. in passing glasses around the table. Then A mood had fallen over the company; he produced a number of tall, green bottles one of those herd-impulse things which at that bore no labels. times seems to grip a social gathering en "Say, what kind of stuff is this?” asked masse. Bruce. "Condemned man drank a hearty break- Doctor Voidin smiled. "It’s a special ” —”

WINE OF THE SABBAT 37

preparation of my own vineyards,” he re- versation sounded wrong. And on my left plied. "A sacramental wine.” I saw Cyril Bruce’s glassy eyes. He looked Dubois was pouring. through me and said: The words should have clicked in my "Many are the moons that ride the night brain, but I felt dazed. Previous drinks when the peacock soars to shadowed khem had set my mind wandering in dark chan- and the dark lord ascends to the throne of nels of unwholesome fancy. For perhaps his delight”

ten minutes I sat there in a sort of ab- He said it like that. Bruce, the actor, stracted trance. I suppose I became aware said it like that—no inflection, no capitali- of what was happening only when the con- zation, no punctuation in the monotony of versation started. his cold, dead tones. I stared raptly into For suddenly—it seemed sudden—every- his dead face as he drank his second glass. one commenced to speak. I looked up. "And over the graves the mandragora There was a queer animation in every coun- embrace for this is the night of their de- tenance. sire when all passion creeps from dark— I looked down. My fingers clutched places to rule men who share the sabbat

the stem of a wine-glass, filled with a dark I turned to Lavinia, stared into her red liquor. purple pupils as her coral lips parted. I glanced about. Twenty hands were "Hail the Black Goat of the Woods! duplicating my gesture; clutching a glass Prance from the stars, oh Prince, and thy of ruby fluid, raising it to drain the con- hooves shall be bathed— in shining red! The tents. Black, gigantic statue of silence, Black Goat comes Dubois passed around pouring from the Quietly, I slipped my glass under the long green bottles as he refilled the glasses. table and poured the refilled contents out

upon the carpet. As I did so I again be- RAISED my glass to my lips and in- came aware of the abominable reek of the I haled the scent. It was bitter, yet al- wine, welling in a black bouquet. It was luring. It did not appeal to the physical the smell of hasheesh, the scent of musk, senses, but to the imagination. It was the odor of aphrodisiac, the perfume of the kiss of a cold woman named Mystery, warm blood on an obscene altar.

it was the chill caress of a serpent; it was Voidin’s wine, from his own vineyards the enflamed embrace of a stone Sphinx. —or the Devil’s brew! I shook myself out of that. Where the Wine of the Sabbat. devil did such thoughts come from? Look- The words flamed through my brain. ing up, I saw Voidin. He too was hold- The wine of Evil—the liquor that trans- ing a glass, but as I watched, he carefully formed men’s nature; as the devil’s oint- slipped it under the table for a moment ment was said to transform the bodies of and brought it up emptied. He wasn’t witches and wizards. It was being used. drinking. Circe’s wine.

Neither was I. I nudged Blaine, who I stared at faces—once-familiar faces followed my gaze. Together, very dis- about me. Yes, Circe’s wine. For I saw creetly, we followed Voidin’s example. not men, but animals. Hog-snouts, hound Dubois didn’t notice. He refilled Blaine’s muzzles, feline eyes and wolf-teeth and glass, my glass, Voidin’s glass. The strong bat-ears and red slavering mouths crept perfume of the wine rose again, and I through distorted flesh. The light caught fought against the peculiar drugging scent. each shadowed expression and caused it Quickly I looked about. That buzz of con- to simulate some animal countenance. And ”

38 WEIRD TALES

from the throats came the growls of beasts. "You have w'orked well, Mrs. Fiske. The food was gorged, and ever the red Better than I had hoped for. There was wine poured. Claws snatched the glasses no trouble introducing the wine to these refilled by the silent Dubois. Talons trem- sycophants.” bled as they held beakers to snarling lips “Three years,” muttered Mabel, in low so that the long red tongues might lap. tones I didn’t always distinguish. “Three They drank deeply, and then in torrents years to pave the way—tolerated all sorts came that incomprehensible jumble of of fools—gained the reputation for eccen- speech. tricity—rented house and posed as one of At the head of the table sat the Rev- them—adopt themselves to the plan. When erend Orsac, his wine untouched, fish-eyes will the Change occur?” closed. Mabel Fiske was chuckling with Her speech capitalized the word. What

laughter. Doctor Voidin looked about him Change? I wondered desperately for there and smiled. were hints in her speech. Had she delib-

His smile was somehow worse than any erately planned all this? In conspiracy with of the bestial grimaces on the faces about Voidin she had lured us here to put us me. It was a smile that could not, should under the influence of that accursed wine. not be—the smile of a corpse, the smirk But why? of a death’s-head. Voidin’s voice. He knew. "Shall occur at once. Did you raise the And Mabel knew. That laughter—for Altar? Very well. I am ready to officiate. the first time I saw Mabel Fiske. There I have the sacrifice, and the Host.” had been a method in her madness, a pur- pose. This was a climax, a consummation. LTAR. Priest. Sacrifice. Host. Wal- It had all been planned, arranged. A purgis Eve. The Black Mass. The feast went on. The feast indeed! And now from the next room, organ Mowing and braying, cackling and moan- strains. Dubois played the organ. Dubois ing like animals—the people I had once tortured the organ; he flayed its keys with known drank of the red wine. Man into massive, claw-like fingers that tore screams beast. and sobs and groans that rose from Hell.

And then, as the shrieking rose to a It was the Dies Irae of the damned he crescendo—beast into demon. played, beneath yellow candle-light, in a Voidin rose to his feet and said "Come. room evidently transformed during our

It is the Hour!” meal by silent servitors. Incense flickered They followed into the other room; fol- forth from braziers against newly hung lowed on hands and knees, crawling, leap- black velvet drapes on the walls. And at ing, rending their garments. Cyril Bruce the head of the room an Altar had been was a hound from hell as he turned and reared. This I saw from my vantage be- bit savagely at Lavinia’s leg in the door- neath the table, through a slit in the por- way. The Reverend Orsac, Dubois, Mabel, tieres. Now the view was obscured by the and Doctor Voidin paused near the thresh- moving legs of Voidin, Mable and Rev- old in a whispering group. erend Orsac. And I—ludicrous figure, grotesque far- Blaine nudged me and whispered. ceur in a melodramatic setting—crouched "I never would have believed it of her,” cowering under the table where Blaine had he muttered. "A secret -Satanist, paving dragged me. We listened to Voidin’s tri- the way, luring excitable— guests to be umphant purr. drugged by the wine " — , —

WINE OF THE SABBAT 39

Guests? The thought swept through my cowl from which his white face leered brain. Where were the guests in the other forth. He grinned at the beasts and his room? laughter rose.

. "What comes to the Sabbat? Of course I couldn’t stand it. Mabel

" Witches: and warlocks that ride the was just an eccentric alcoholic, Lavinia was winds. Men in the diverse and curious a drunken poseur and Bruce was an ordi- shapes of strange beasts.” nary enough founder, and this was a stucco For some reason these words, resurrected house in California. We were in the Twen- in memory from some old monograph on tieth Century; not five miles away a movie demonology, now whispered through me. house was playing Shirley Temple, and in A part of my mind was struggling with a parked car down the road someone was hints of horror. Drugged wine, a Circe’s listening to Raymond Scott’s Quintette wine that, changed men to beasts. There My mind fought. Mabel’s queer guests was a Sabbat wine, I knew, drawn from had brought in a pack of animals for their grapes plucked by the moon of midnight; screwball ceremonies, and my friends had grapes nourished strangely by blood. I gone. These amateur theatricals in the had read of such things. front parlor were just that.

And I had read the phrase that now So I desperately reasoned. But all the rang in my head— Men in the diverse and while I kept reviewing Mabel’s scheme; curious shapes of strange beasts.” how she’d planned for this night and given Now the two thoughts met and mingled her guests the Sabbat Wine so that they to produce a monstrous surmise. Satan is might be changed to beast-forms and wor- worshiped by mockery, and the human ship the power of Satan. I heard again tenement is sacred because it holds a soul. the horrid cries from human throats, saw If the human form can be violated, what again the terrible change in visages once greater mockery exists? Drugged wine. familiar. I saw the black dog with the Beasts attend the Sabbat eyes of Cyril Bruce, and the gray cat that I stared into the other room and saw walked like Lavinia. I fought, but I could nightmare come true. For from the oppo- not forget. And from the next room the site side of the chamber they came, pour- organ boomed, I heard the whimpering of ing in as an obscene horde. The gigantic beasts, and smelled the acrid animal scent shadows crept along the wall before I saw mingling with incense reek. them—the shadows that should not, could I fought, and lost. not be. And then the bodies; the loping, "God, give me a drink!” I gasped. trotting, crawling bodies! Blaine, croudiing under the table next to

A black dog, tongue lolling as it squatted me, reached one hand around and fumbled and grinned a grin of agony. A black dog for a bottle. I grasped it and drank avidly with the tormented eyes of Cyril Bruce! in the darkness. The liquor warmed my The great gray cat entered with mincing senses. terror; stauesque even in fear. A picture "Now! We’ve got to do something.” of Lavinia crossed my brain. The rats There was command in my voice. Blaine padded in; and the sow with the human grasped my shoulder. eyes; the little green toad that hopped and "I’ve a revolver in my car,” he whis- hopped, croaking with fright and shame. pered. "If I can make it.” Voidin tended the flames in the brazier set I gripped his hand. "Hurry!” at the altar sides. He wore a black cas- He scuttled away, crawled through the sock now, and Orsac was garbed in a red portieres, through the throng, I strained 40 WEIRD TALES

to see his weaving figure as it reached the began to slip through my fingers. Madly hall and disappeared. Then I sat back and I struggled to act.

took another drink. I made it. Racing forward, tottering And staring, into the parlor, waiting, forward, I swung my bottle down, beating waiting, I saw Mabel enter. She was clad at furry backs. Fangs snapped at me; fangs in white, and bore the Shepherd’s Crook, freshly reddened at a ghastly feast. My which is shaped in a way that I cannot tom fingers groped for the floor. I clutched

name. the revolver, scooped it from where it had She was Circe, face alight with the fallen. I was burning to the floor, they white fire that burns up from the Pit. The were baying at my waist, and yet I dared music ceased, the mowing beasts bowed not sink. I wheeled and fired a shot, not down, and Voidin stood before the altar, into that nightmare horde, but through the in his hands the knife of sacrifice. The portieres. The burst of quick flame was chanting began, and the animals moaned welcome as it seared into mounting light at the goading of Mabel’s staff. The Sab- across the doorway. The throng turned and bat was at hand! howled. Voidin leaped from the altar,

I crouched watching, suddenly numbed. Mable and Dubois at his heels.

I felt cold. There is a tingling sensation But the revolver held them back. The when one’s foot falls asleep, and now this flames spread swiftly — they had to, I sensation invaded my entire body. In an- prayed. Flames cleanse. other way it entered my mind. Shadows I held them; held them in swirling seemed to pour over my brain, buzzing smoke and rising heat. They knew my away all thought. I felt it, and struggled purpose—to destroy them in fire. to resist. I seemed able to clear my mind, Then through the wall of brightness I but the numbness of my body persisted. saw that they were looking at me in a pe- And then I jerked upright. Blaine had culiar way. And I felt the shivery horror re-appeared. He stood in the doorway as of burning lance through my body—burn- the chanting rose, and his face was a grim ing not of fire. I felt my hands drop the shield of vengeance. In one hand he held revolver, felt the room whirl as I read- the revolver, and as I watched he raised justed perspective. I felt my bones wrench, it, pointed it at Voidin’s chest. I saw him. and then I seemed to be on my knees. I They saw him. was smaller, standing on shortened feet

"Slay!” The voice crackled from Voi- and hands as well. I was—I must admit it din’s throat. And the animal horde turned, —on all fours. swiftly. Blaine hadn’t expected that. The They laughed then, as though something pack was upon him even as he fired. The had happened, and tried to leap through shot went wild, and then they were milling the mounting barrier of the flames. But around his waist, leaping up for his throat. merciful Fate was with me, for of a sud- A dozen furry forms tore at Blaine’s flesh den the fire blazed as the wood caught, and and he went down, down in a moaning it swirled through the room fed on oils melee. He screamed. spilled from the brazier. Cries of horror I screamed. I clutched the portieres for drowned in a crackling red sea as I turned. support there in the doorway, for that Turned on hands and knee—turned to numbness was stealing over me. My knees stare down at the bottle still resting in my were giving way under me. I tried des- palm; the bottle Blaine had fumbled for perately hard to stand erect, but my body on the table, the bottle from which I burned, and the bottle I held in one hand drank. WINE OF THE SABBAT 41

The bottle—containing the Wine of the I made it. Because the next morning I Sabbat! woke in my garret bed. I was naked, and And it did not rest in my palm. It rested tired, and shocked to read in the papers of in a paw. They had laughed, and I was the house that had burned last night in numbed, and on all fours. I had drunk Laguna Beach. But I was in human shape, the Sabbat Wine! and to that my sanity clung. I wish I could Then I crawled into the hall on hands convince myself that the Wine of the Sab- and knees. I saw the big hall mirror bright bat was ordinary vintage. in the flames behind me, stared at myself I could, too, if I were not such an untidy in the mocking glass. It was then that I person. Being untidy I had neglected to screamed—although what rose in my throat sweep my garret in days past. And the was not a scream. The dreadful sound was cruel sunlight of that morning glinted only a confirmation of what tortured eyes re- too plainly on the uncarpeted area of floor vealed to me in the reflection. I leapt stretching from the open door to my bed. from that burning house and surrendered The uncarpeted floor was dusty, and the to nightmare. Since Walpurgis Eve I have dust had been recently disturbed. never returned. Leading from door to bed were a series I don’t know how I got home. It’s a of great tracks in the dust; tracks leading long way from Laguna to Los Angeles, but inward only—the unmistakable, the damn-

I made it. able, the maddening pawprints of a giant A man can’t run that far, nor crawl wolf! on hands and knees. I might have I lay back in bed and pulled the covers been drunk or drugged by that wine, but tightly over my head.

The Great God Death By EDITH HURLEY

Upon a mountain in a secret place, On a gigantic erag of ebon stone. The Great God Death sits brooding and alone, Far from the centers of the human race; About him blow the winds of timeless Space And at the foot of this titanic throne Low bend the souls that he has called his own For no one lives who looks upon his face.

And he, the ruler of this bitter land

Wherenever flower blooms nor song is heard.

But Fear and Silence weigh upon the air, Regards with sadness his puissant hand Where lies the body of a buoyant bird That came upon his kingdom unaware. —

Adventure of a Professional Corpse

The Wife of the Humorous Gangster By H. BEDFORD-JONES

There’s good money in dying. It is surprising how many people can make use of a dead man.

HE ability to counterfeit death Coming to a mid-western city I fol- Yes, many’s the handsome lowed my usual procedure of inserting a under T corpse I’ve made, but never blind advertisement in , newspapers, and my real name. James F. Bronson is in- then scouting around for the right man to scribed on no tombstone. Once I learned work with me. In this instance I found how to earn legitimate money, and big him in the person of one Dr. Roesche, a

money, I went seriously to work at it. My young fellow of German extraction. physical abnormality, combined with the Roesche had brains, he was conscien- proper drugs, helped practice make per- tious, and he was hard up. I liked him fect. from the start, because he refused point- The element of chance, of adventure, of blank to touch anything shady, and when risk, so fascinated me that I would have he heard of my business he turned me

traded professions with no one. And it is down cold. He would only change his safe to say that no one would have traded mind when I had convinced him that I was

professions with me. It is surprising how considering nothing of an illegal character, many people can make use of a dead man, and wanted nothing from him that would however! This odd profession of mine had conflict with professional ethics. only one real drawback. I had to trust "I need you to administer a hypodermic; someone to bring me back to life after I no more,” I told him, and then frankly set was "dead.” my case before him, showing that my heart For this little item, I very naturally was on the right side instead of the left. needed a medico, and it was the curious "It has a very slow beat, too. More cor- adventure of the humorous gangster which rectly, no beat at all. It flutters rather than provided me with a real find in this way. beats, so there’s no pulse to mention. They

It was always a task to locate the right per- tell me it’s nothing very rare.” son. Although I was mixed up with noth- "Auricular Fibrilation,” and he nodded. ing crooked I could not employ any doctor "And a barrel chest, I see. The heart isn’t imbued with high faluting notions of pro- against the ribs—why, the stethoscope fessional ethics; such a man was too risky doesn’t bring it up a bit!” an equation. From a professional standpoint, he was 42 :

THE WIFE OF THE HUMOROUS GANGSTER '43 >

“Even while I was dancing, I could feel those deadly eyes drilling into the back of my head.” keenly interested. Also, we got on well to- Half of them I weeded out as crank gether. Once he consented to work with letters, others as involving something me, he was full of ideas. Instead of the crooked. Then I picked up one and read it chance drug I used to put me to sleep, he aloud suggested an improvement on it. The up- shot was that I got the idea of a permanent "Dear Sir: partnership, and he was not averse to it. "Your advertisement may be a fake, but if "You’ll have to show me where there’s not, I can use you. Believe it or not, my pur- any money in it, though,” he said cau- pose is on the level and my money legitimate. tiously. If you want to talk business, give me a ring "Come on back to my hotel, then. Stop at this number. Yours for eternity, at the newspaper offices on the way, pick "Dion Caffery.” up the answers to my advertisement, and you’ll see quick enough.” When he heard the writer’s name, We did just this, and reached my hotel Roesche uttered a grunt. with a dozen replies to examine. "You don’t know of him? Then you’d 44 WEIRD TALES

better get acquainted with this town, Bron- nodded and leaned back in his chair, fully son. He runs a big flower shop on satisfied. Seneca Avenue and lives in the apartment "Good. You’ll do. What do you

nouse overhead; in fact he owns it. His charge?” name used to be Cafferelli, but he changed "The fee depends entirely on the job,” it to Caffery.” I said. "Frankly, I’m not sure I’d want to I looked at him, puzzled. “Well? What’s work for you, Caffery.” wrong with that?” "And if you did, you’d make me pay “Nothing, only he runs about half the big, eh?” He chuckled, displaying no re- rackets in the city, and he’s in on the sentment of my attitude. "Fair enough. liquor game. In fact, the worst kind of a I’ll set the fee at ten thousand cash in ad-

gangster.” vance. The work is to play a little joke on This happened some years ago, during my wife and some of my friends. I want prohibition. to pretend to kill you, and have some fun “Suppose we hear what he has to say?” with -the presence of a corpse.” I suggested. "The letter sounds interest- I frowned at him. "Let’s have straight

ing; even if the interview comes to noth- talk, Caffery. In your business, which is no ing. I’d like to meet such a man.” secret, why would you want an imitation Roesche assented with a shrug, and I corpse? I should think you could pick up called Caffery. To my surprise he had a a real one at a cheaper price.” very pleasant voice, and immediately He looked at me with a puzzled expres- agreed to drop in and see me. sion, and then smiled. "Oh, I see! You have the conventional WAS more surprised when he showed idea about what you call gangsters, eh? I up. He was heavily built but well Well, Bronson, brush ’em all away. Give dressed, and had pleasant, intelligent fea- me credit for a little intelligence. I’m a tures with twinkling dark eyes. When I pretty good business man, and I have aver- had introduced my partner, he looked from age sense. I don’t go around emptying a one to the other of us, whimsically. rod at anyone who looks crosseyed at me; “Just what kind of a gag is this?” he in fact, I’ve never killed anyone in my life. demanded. "Do I talk before witnesses?” However, it’s high time that I did, and "You do if you want to talk,” I said that’s where you come in. Forget your firmly. "If your proposition has anything moving picture notions of bad men, will crooked about it, then save it for some- you? I’m not running a barrel house or body else. Dr. Roesche has to be in on the a low den of iniquity. I’m running a busi- affair, as I can’t work without him.” ness, and I’m at the top of it.” He broke into a hearty laugh, produced How mudi of his talk was blarney and cigars, and dropped into a chair. how much was true, I’m not sure to this

"You’re all right, Bronson. Now, can day, but it was impressive. His easy good you play dead enough so a doctor will pro- humor, his intelligence, carried it over. I nounce you dead?” was inclined to believe his words, and felt "A good many have certified to it al- ashamed of my own hazy notions about a ready.” gangster chief. “Just how is the trick worked? Loosen "Now, here’s the proposition,” he said, up with the details. They might not fit in and sobered. In fact, he took on a look of with what I want.” worry; his eyes lost their humorous glim-

I briefly indicated my abilities, and he mer and became very earnest. "I’m too THE WIFE OF THE HUMOROUS GANGSTER 45 good-natured for my job, and that’s no and his crowd probably knew it. He was joke. My crowd is tough, sure. I’ve got to clever enough to realize his shortcomings impress them. And chiefly, I’ve got to im- and conquer them by using his brains. press my wife. Nelly’s a darling, but she Behind this was the picture of a man just can’t get out of the habit of flirting. trying to hold his wife— if she was his Not that she means wrong by it, mind; wife. As a matter of fact, she was nothing just a habit. But it’s got to stop.” of the kind; I learned this later on. But I was startled. Caffery was dead in love with her all the "I don’t like your idea,” I said bluntly. same. He would have married her, except "If you want to kill somebody, why should that she had a husband already and could you, of all people, want to fake it?” not get rid of him. Caffery was simply He made a helpless gesture. "D’you crazy about her, but the people with whom think I’m a fool? Murder is murder, Bron- they associated, the life they led, the way son. Can’t you get it into your head that she acted, had him in torment on the I’m no killer, that I don’t want to spend anxious seat. my life in stir, that I’ve got enough brains "Suppose the cartridge in your gun to be something better than a gunman?” should turn out to have a bullet in it?” I Once more, contact with realities put to suggested uneasily. He grunted. shame my vague conceptions of gangsters. "Oh, hell! Roesche can see to that him- This man was no crude, cold-hearted mon- self. He’ll be in the apartment at the ster. time.”

"Make your proposal, Caffery. I’ll take I looked at Roesche, questioningly. Ten it or leave it.” thousand dollars was a lot of money. And

"Fair enough; here it is. Tomorrow there was nothing illegal about this. To night, I’m throwing a party at the Bon Ton my look, he shrugged and made answer. Club. You come along there, wander in, "It’s your funeral, Bronson; and literally, and I’ll greet you like an old friend. Play maybe. I think it’s a risky business. But up to Nelly. She’ll fall for you, strong; you’re the one to decide. I’m willing to

I’ll say you’re just in from New York, on a take it on if you are.” visit. I’ll skip out with the boys, on busi- “Yes, you ought to be,” I said unhap- ness, and leave you to bring her home. pily. Then I looked at Caffery. "Two When you get there, I’ll be waiting. I’ll things about your scheme are bad. First, rip into you for trying to play around with there’d be no bullet hole when my body her and fire a blank, and you keel over. was examined. That is, I hope there’d be

Her brother is a doctor and lives upstairs. none.” If he finds you dead, I’ll horse around and He chuckled, and his eyes twinkled raise hell with everybody, and so forth. again.

I’ll have you carried into a back room. "The unpleasant possibility sticks in your Dr. Roesch can be hidden there and fetch craw, eh? But you’re right. Besides, there’s you around and sneak you out the back the noise. Flow’s this, now! I’ll use a big way, and everything’s Jake. The boys never persuader, stuffed with cotton instead of will wise up to how I disposed of the lead. Give you one crack, and finish you, body.” and proud of it. Suit you better?” Joke? Maybe yes, and maybe not. He "Much better,” I said with relief. "The was too earnest about it. second thing is that it wouldn’t be logical I could see now that he had told the to go off your head and kill a man, just exact truth about himself. He was no killer, because you let him bring your wife home. 46 WEIRD TALES

That is, a man you haven’t seen for a long "It’s marvelous, Bronson,” he told me time, until that evening.” afterward. "With your eyes taken care of "Right,” he agreed instantly, and by the drops, and no mirror test, you’ll get plunged into the business with all the by with anything except a prolonged criti- ardor of a small boy planning a parlor cal examination. Still, I’m uncertain about masquerade. He was amused and tickled two things. First, the ultimate result on by the whole thing. "I tell you, Bronson! your health.” Put off the party to Saturday night—see? "Is that any worse than the ultimate re- On Friday night, I’ll be at the Bon Ton sult of a driving business life on any for dinner, with Nelly and a couple of the man?” boys. You drop in and meet us then, and "Well, no,” he agreed. "But what play up a bit to Nelly—make it plenty about the legal aspect of your stunt?” strong. I’ll invite you to the party the I laughed at this, for I had long ago next night, which will be all jake. And settled all such argument. or. the way home I’ll do enough talking "Look it up; it’s no crime, Roesche. about how you played up to Nelly, so That is, as I play the game. I might be things will look right when I blow you arrested for attempting suicide, but I could

down. How’s that? And is it yes or no?” beat out such a charge easily.”

Under the circumstances, it could be This was true. After he talked with a nothing else than yes. Now that the blank lawyer, his last doubt was settled. cartridge business was out, the thing did not look so bad; in fact, I had already HEN I walked into the Bon Ton taken much riskier jobs than this. W on Friday evening, I was nervous So we buckled down to it then and enough. The place was a flashy one, the there, settling all details and getting every- crowd was large and well dressed, the thing thoroughly understood, even to a orchestra banged heavily. I heard a yell, floor plan of Caffery’s apartment. And and Caffery came rushing toward me. He Caffery counted out five crisp thousand- gripped me by both hands, hailed me lust- dollar bills. The balance would be paid on ily as "good old Mike Leary,” and dragged Friday night. me to his table. "There’s just one thing to guard It was a big one in the center of the against,” I said in conclusion. “You mustn’t place. His wife and four other men sat let your doctor hold a mirror to my breath; there, and I was given a chair beside Nelly. that would give me away. Stop that at any I had little to do except follow the lead of cost, even if you have to call Roesche right Caffery, who asked no delicate questions, in. That’s one test I can’t guard against.” and was soon at my ease. That is, out- “Right,” said Caffery, and departed wardly. grinning. Nelly Caffery, as she was generally

The ' racketeer angle was not pleasant, known, was a genuine blonde. She was but Roesche agreed with me that we now vivacious, young, impudent and saucy, and had the program foolproof. He had ablaze with life. The homage of men was slightly changed the drug I used, so that the very breath of existence to her, and it any physical reflexes were more completely was no trouble at all to fall into my role eliminated, and that same day he insisted of admiring male. on making a test with me. I submitted, But those other four men—well, they and he was more than delighted by the re- were young too, young and sleek and gay sults. enough. They made me think of some- THE WIFE OF THE HUMOROUS GANGSTER 47

thing my uncle said after he got home themselves very subtle, and I suppose they from South America and was talking about find many a sap who falls for their pretty his travels and adventures. ways. "A real bad man don’t usually look I could see that Caffery had Nelly sized bad, but if a man’s living on a hair-trigger up just right. She was not bad; she did

it always shows in one place. His eyes. not have enough sense to be bad. But They go into you.” flirtation was inborn within her. She simply That was the way with these young men. could not help snuggling in my arms as Their eyes drifted into me. Dark eyes, for we danced, and putting her face close to they all had Italian names. Their eyes mine, and drinking in all my flattery until would question me, then shift to Nelly or her eyes sparkled like stars. to Caffery. So, from Caffrey’s viewpoint, the eve- We danced, we drank, we laughed and ning passed off most successfully, but the joked and enjoyed ourselves. Had it not party broke up early. been for the deference paid Caffery on "What are you doing tomorrow night, every side, the men who spoke to him, the Mike?” exclaimed Caffery, before we left. curious glances cast at him, I could hardly "Come on and join us here about eight. have believed that I was sitting with rack- We’ll throw you a real party and run it eteers. There was no rough talk of any into Sunday morning if you say the word!” kind. Even Nelly, except for her conspicu- I hesitated and looked at Nelly. She ous diamonds, seemed no more than a care- begged me to accept, and I made it quite free, light-hearted girl intent on pleasure; obvious that I accepted only because she and so she was. wanted it. In fact, I was afraid I had over- Caffery entered into his part with an played my hand a bit. impish glee. Under the spur of his de- But no. Caffery telephoned me half an lighted abandon, he showed himself a hour later, and was positively chortling. roaring boon companion; but there was "Put it on thick tomorrow night, right iron in him just the same. He was no fool. from the start,” he ordered. "I’ll be called When he urged me to go on and dance away early, then take the boys home. I’ll with Nelly, he gave her a hot shot under be waiting when you get there.” cover of a laugh. "Don’t wait too long, then,” I said. "I "Look out for her, Mike! Remember have to put some stuff in my eyes, and it that a woman never has any principles, or pretty near blinds me when it takes effect.” if she has any, she calls ’em something "I get you. Better wear a gun, for the else.” looks of it.” This was over Nelly’s head, however. "A gun? I haven’t any.” She was not long on brains. "Then I’ll slip you one at the table,” She was flattered by my obvious attention, and he rang off, chuckling. by my swift interest in her, and tried hard I did not appreciate his humor at all. to pump me about myself. She was one of Even less did I appreciate it on Satur- those women who think themselves very day morning, when Dr. Roesche walked deep, who have a "Why?” for everything in and got me out of bed to read a news- as though in search of hidden motives, paper. He waved it at me. who set themselves to understand a man "Open war threatens!” he declaimed, with their eyes and lips better than he un- grandiloquently. derstands himself; they are usually fools. "War?” and I yawned. "Where?” Such vapid, doll-like beauties usually fancy "Right here. Caffery and Rafello fac- 48 WEIRD TALES

tions; gangster’s war. Boy, I’m glad you kinds—the champagne flowed like water. got full pay in advance last night! Here, Even when I was dancing, I could feel read this.” those deadly eyes drilling into the back of

It was not pleasant reading; I did not my head; it took a real effort to play my

understand half of it, except that Caffery part with Nelly, but I played it according and some other racketeer had fallen out. to my instructions. And she did not make

However, it could not very well affect me, it a bit hard for me, either. Knowing that

and I said so. Even if it did, I had taken she would get a scare out of the whole Cafferys’ money and must go through with thing, and nothing worse. I had small the play. hesitation in making my admiration for "Remember what he said about never her quite evident. having killed anybody?” said Roesche. "I At the table, my seat was next to Caffery.

bet he knew this was coming. He’s pulling Thus, under cover of the tablecloth, it was some rough stuff with you, to impress his not difficult for him to slip a pistol into my own men; that was true enough. I’m glad lap. The touch of the tiling startled me; tonight ends our connection with that out- I had for the moment forgotten our tele-

fit.” phone conversation.

I was more than glad. I was delighted. "Oh, it’s not loaded,” and he was evi- The idea of lying dead to the world while dently amused by my repugnance. He

warring gangsters pumped lead into me spoke under his breath. "Stick it away and

and made me an actual corpse, haunted pull it when I jump you. It’ll look better.”, me. Roesche was none too happy either, "I hope you’re getting your money’s as evening approached. Caffery had de- worth,” I retorted. He laughed. cided that upon leaving the Bon Ton with "I aim to get it, you bet!” his friends, he would pick up Roesche and Getting the pistol into a hip pocket and plant him in the back room, unknown to cursing its weight, I led Nelly out on the his henchmen. And poor Roesche, less ac- floor again. She must have caught some customed to risks than I was, did not like warning from one of the other men, for

the notion at all; still, he could not help now she gave me a sharp admonition, not himself. unmixed with alarm. At eight o’clock that evening I walked "Watch your step, Mr. Leary! My hus- into the Bon Ton again and found the band doesn’t like free and easy ways.” party assembled. Once more there was a I smiled down into her eyes. "What’s big table, with Nelly the only woman at the harm, baby? I don’t make you sore, do

it. Caffery had six of his men here now, I?”

all of the same type, and he had done the "You might, easy enough. Get wise; thing up proud, with flowers galore and they’re watching us.” silver wine-buckets and all the trimmings. "Let ’em watch,” I said, and held her

I was the guest of honor, and he took the more tightly. "You’re a swell dancer; a gleeful, chuckling pleasure in the irony come on, forget your troubles!”

of it. In the eyes of his companions, I That was easy enough for her. Wien fancied an ominous and sardonic suspense, we came back to the table she was flushed as though they were watching and waiting; and laughing, chattering away brightly; undoubtedly, Caffery had been talking but under the watching, waiting eyes of about my attentions to his wife. He had those sleek men, I rather lost my confi- not been talking to Nelly, however. She dence. was bubbling over with high spirits, both It was just nine o’clock, and the dinner —

THE WIFE OF THE HUMOROUS GANGSTER 49 was hardly well under way, when a waiter all of a sudden she straightened up and brought a note to Caffery. He read it, and looked at a man who was approaching our then shot a muttered order at his men. table. Her eyes flickered, and then steadied, Two of them rose and went out. Even as she pulled herself together. though I knew he had arranged it all, I He was a short, heavy-set man in full had to admire the manner in which he evening dress. He -was pale, with slick handled the affair. black hair, and there was an ugly twist to "Sorry, folks,” he said to us, with a his lip. He paused at our table, gave me shrug and a smile. "I’ve got to pull out. one swift and incurious glance, and then Business. Mike, you stick around and en- nodded amiably to Nelly. joy yourself, and bring Nelly home later "Hello,” he said carelessly. "Where’s on. I’ll leave the car for you. Nelly, you Caffery?” see that Mike has a good time.” "I don’t know,” she replied. "He left a "No. I’ll go with you,” she said quickly. while ago.” Caffery rose, laughing. "All right. Tell him I was looking for "Not much! I’m not going home. May him, will you?” not be back until late.” With another careless nod, the man "Might as well have one more dance,” sauntered on. He joined two other men near I said to Nelly. the entrance, and they disappeared. Nelly "Just one, then,” she assented. "We’ll was looking after him, and I saw that she finish dinner and go.” was white once more, but her eyes were bright and eager and not in the least ter- O Caffery and his men said good-night, rified.

S and Caffery paid for the party as he "What’s it all about?” I asked, as she went out. There was no longer any point rose. "Who was your friend?” in my continuing with the act, so I did "My God, don’t you read the papers?” not try to prolong matters at all. Nelly she snapped at me. "That was Nick was nervous and uneasy, and my lack of Rafello. I’ll get my wraps and put in a enthusiasm was not calculated to lift her phone call, and meet you at the door.” sudden depression. Rafello, eh? If he had come a few min- "What’s wrong with you, anyway?” I untes earlier—well, I had missed some-

demanded, as we danced. "You seem to be thing, and was heartily glad of it. A burn- out of humor with everything, all at—once.” ing anxiety gripped me to finish this busi- "I am. Just wrought up, I guess ” She ness and get rid of the whole mess. broke off abruptly, staring over my shoul- And yet, even as I went to the men’s der. Her eyes dilated. Her face went room and made my own preparations, I white. "Let’s get out of here, Mr. Leary. thrilled to a glimmer of realization, of You don’t mind, do you? I’m tired of sharp suspicion. When Caffery left, the dancing.” woman had been disconcerted and dis-

"Oh, it’s all right with me,” I replied, mayed. When Rafello had shown up, she searching for the cause of her agitation was agitated and alarmed; then, the look

and failing to find it. she had exchanged with Rafello We got off the crowded floor, came back How had Rafello known that Dion Caf- to the table, and I persuaded her to take a fery was going to be here? Had Nelly swallow of wine before we left. She tipped him off?

needed it, for some reason. Well, it was none of my business. In We delayed only a moment or two, but another hour I would be done with the ” ” ” —

fO WEIRD TALES

whole racketeer crowd, and for ever. Yet apartment door. She inserted a key, threw I could not forget the look those two had open the door, and turned to me. The pas- exchanged; eyes can speak more than sage showed empty, and I wondered if tongues, at times. A look of understand- Caffery were really here. ing, of inquiry, of tacit comprehension. "Good-night, Mr. Leary,” she said. "It’s Anything further had been prevented by been— my presence at the table. "Oh, let me come in for a minute any- Was I really on the edge of under- how,” I exclaimed. "I’d like to put in a world drama? Or was the whole business phone call, if you don’t mind.” a product of my fevered imagination? She hesitated. Just then a soft, hard Hardly likely, I thought; I could read laugh reached us, and she swung around. faces. However, I had to get to work be- Caffery appeared in the passage.

fore rejoining Nelly. "Yeah, come on in,” he said. I was star-

It was a scant ten minutes ride from tled to see that his look of good humor here to the Seneca Avenue apartment of had vanished; he was acting his part, I Caffery, which was just the time margin thought. "Come on, come on, and shut I needed. In the privacy of the men’s room, the door! I want to see you—the both of I measured out my dose of the drug mix- you.”

ture which would make me dead to the There was an ugly note in his voice. I

world, and swallowed it. Then, a much shoved Nelly inside, followed her, and slower matter, I put the drops of homa- pulled the door shut. Then, behind Caffery, tropine and cocaine into my eyes-—the appeared several of his henchmen, watch- drops which would deaden the cornea to ing us. He drew back and ordered us into any reflex test, and enlarge the pupils to the parlor. I obeyed. simulate the look of death. "What’s the big idea, Caffery?” I de- When I rejoined Nelly at the entrance, manded belligerently. His attention was she was impatient. fastened on Nelly rather than on me, and "You certainly took your time,” she there was a blaze in his eyes. snapped. "Look here, Mr. Leary. The— car’s "Oh, you!” He swung on me with a outside and I don’t need any escort laugh—a harsh, grating laugh. If he was "Nonsense!” I exclaimed jovially. "Your pretending, he was doing it ominously husband told me to escort you home, and well. By this time, the drug was taking

I mean to do it. Besides, it’s only plain pretty full effect on me, while the stuff in courtesy, Nelly. Come along.” my eyes left me nearly blind. We got into her limousine and were "I’ll learn you to play around with my driven away, and a few minutes later wife,” he said viciously. "I’ll learn her a halted before the apartment house. few things, too, but you first. Why, damn As we went inside, I noted that the you, d’ye think I’m blind— and dumb? You flower shop on the street level was open blasted cheating bastard and was doing a good business; it was a I fumbled for the gun, could see noth- Saturday night, so this was to be expected. ing clearly, realized he was coming at me. Inside, Nelly tried to dismiss me again, Then something hit me over the head but I insisted on going up to the apart- something soft enough, but with a re- ment with her. As I was no longer paying sounding thwack. I let the gun fall, and her any devoted attention, she assented as I collapsed and lay quiet, heard Nelly with a shrug. scream. Then, before the drug blurred my We left the elevator and came to her brain, I heard something else. ” ” ” —

THE WIFE OF THE HUMOROUS GANGSTER 51

"You!” It was Caffery’s voice, hoarse tent gaze of the men around, he pulled now and filled with madness. "I’ve been himself together. too damned good to you, Nelly; you just "Him? Leary?” A harsh cackle of mirth- took me for a sucker, eh? Well, I’ve got less laughter came from him. "Oh, to you dead to rights. Thought you’d bring hell with him! Leave him to me; I’ll Rafello in on me tonight and walk off with handle the matter later. Carry him into the him after I was dead, eh? Shut— up, damn back bedroom, two of you, and shut the you! I’ve got the proof of it door.” She screamed again, uttering wild pro- "But Dion—” test. Cafferys’ voice reached me faintly. I "Do what I say, damn you!” he burst could not stir my brain was dulling out. out, and they hastily obeyed. I was lifted "There’s your own letter to him, blast and taken into the back room, where you! The woman I loved — why, good Roesche was hidden. And the minute we God! I’d have gone to hell for you, Nelly! were alone together, he lost no time in And maybe I will, right now. Anyhow, fetching me back to life; not a quick job, you won’t play—and jockey with the love of unfortunately. any other man When two of his men would have There was the roaring explosion of a touched Nelly’s body, Caffery forbade pistol above me, and everything was gone. them. Of course, his whole plan in regard I was out, and completely out. to me was completely gone. There was no need of bringing in any doctor, or of ATER, Roesche told me what hap- bothering further with me. L pened there in the front room. "Somebody get out there,” said Caffery, Caffery stood as though paralyzed, star- as a knock came at the door. "Some ing down at the woman he had just shot; damned fools will be raising hell about the front of her evening gown was black- the shot. Tell ’em it was an accident ened by powder. Then his men stirred and anything at all. Tony! You go up and broke into action. One of them knelt be- fetch Nelly’s brother down here.” side me. They conferred briefly, Caffery "Her brother?” standing the while and staring down like "Yeah,” and Caffery’s voice was grim. a wooden image. "He can certify to her death. She is dead, "Hey, Dion!” one of them exclaimed, isn’t she?” and shook him by the shoulder. "Come "Yeah.”

out of it. What’ll we do about this Leary Caffrey slumped, and he turned away. guy? You biffed him too hard; he’s "All right,” he said. "Go on and do croaked. Don’t matter about Nelly. We what I say. I’ll be back in no time. Keep

can all swear that it was suicide. Here, her brother here, and keep him scared.” give me the gun— "Where you going?” one of the men He took the pistol from Caffery’s hand, asked. wiped it with his handkerchief, and then Caffery looked down at the still, dead stooped. He pressed the dead fingers of figure of the girl. "I’m going downstairs the woman about it, and rose. to get some flowers,” he said gently, and "Come on, Dion! Wake up! What his face changed and softened. "Roses. about this guy?” White roses. She always liked ’em best. Caffery came out of his stupor. His face, Poor kid! She just got carried away; too aged and drawn and contorted, bore a much glitter. Yes, I’ll get enough white stamp of horror. Then, meeting the in- roses to cover her out of sight.” 52 WEIRD TALES

He looked up, met the eyes of his men, Half a dozen more sounded, almost in and his voice barked out at them. a -bunch.

"Get busy. Round up everybody. As "Backfire, hell!” I exclaimed. “That’s quick as I’ve attended to those roses, we shooting. Let’s get away from here.” go to work, understand? Tonight; here I was able to walk fairly well now. We and now. Yes, Rafello’s got a glitter to drifted down the alley, came out on a him, damn him! There won’t be any glitter street, and in another five minutes were when I’m done with him. Get busy.” in a taxi and on the way to the hotel. He went on out of the apartment. “Well, we’re out of it,” and Roesche Meanwhile, Roesche had been working drew a long breath.

like a madman over me. He gave me a “Was it a dream?” I demanded. "Did dangerously strong injection, for he knew he shoot her, or did I imagine it?” what had happened out front, and was “You imagined nothing,” Roesche said scared stiff; however, he kept his head. grimly, and told me what had happened. Caffery had shown him the way out. As "Good lord!” I exclaimed. "Let’s pack soon as he had me half awake, he got me and clear out by the first train—any- on my feet and rushed me out. I was where.” And we did it. dazed and groggy, of course; the descent Morning found us reaching a city three of those back stairs of the apartment house hundred miles distant. We were break- was a nightmare. Roesche, with his arm fasting in the diner, before leaving the around me, carried me part of the way, but train, when the morning papers were the night air soon cleared my brain. brought aboard. Roesche got hold of one, Then matters came easier. Once out of glanced at the headlines, and then, with- that accursed place, the feeling of relief out a word, laid it in front of me. We read was overwhelming. We went on down, it together. and now the alley was before us, with only As we descended those back stairs, the another short flight of steps to cover. previous night, Caffery had been killed. At this moment, a sound like a shot We had heard the shots. He had been came from the street. Roesche laughed shot down as he stood in his flower shop, shakily. shot down by "parties unknown.” "Backfire, eh? Gave me a start, At the moment, he had been ordering though—” white roses.

"I Talked with God” {Yes, I Did—Actually and Literally)

and as a result of that little talk with God some ten if there is poverty, unrest, unhappiness, ill-health years ago, a strange Power came into my life. After or despair in your life, well — this same God-Power 42 years of horrible, sickening, dismal failure and is able to do for you what it did for me. No matter despair, everything took on a brighter hue. It’s fas- how useless or helpless your life seems to be — all cinating to talk with God, and it can be done very this can be changed. For this is not a human power easily once you learn how. And when yon do, well, I’m talking about.— it’s a God-Power, and, of course, there will come into your life the same dynamic there can tie no limitations to the God-Power, can Power which came into mine. The shackles of defeat there? Would you like to know how you too may which had bound me for years went a-shimmering — talk with God? Would you like to know how this and now? — well — I own control of the largest cir- God-Power may come into your life as it came into culating daily newspaper in my County. I own the mine? Then write a letter or post-card to Dr. Frank largest office building in my City, I drive a beautiful B. Robinson, Dept 390, Moscow, Idaho, and full par- limousine, I own my own home which has a lovely ticulars of this strange Teaching will be' sent you pipe-organ in it, and my family are abundantly pro- free of charge. But write now — while you are in the vided for after I’m gone. And all this has been made mood. It only costs one cent to find out, and this possible because one day, ten years ago, I talked might easily be the best one cent you have ever with God. Actually and literally talked with God. spent. It may sound unbelievable — but it’s true or I You, too, may experience that strange Power which wouldn’t tell you it was. Advi; Copyright 1939 Frank comes from talking with God, and when you do, B. Robinson. andwin Compact

By AUGUST W. DERLETH

Frightful voices speak from behind a ponderous door.

KNOW now that the strange and terrible happenings at Sandwin House I had their beginnings much farther back than any of us then imagined, cer-

tainly farther bade than Eldon or I thought at that time. Manifestly, there was no reason to suppose in those early weeks during which Asa Sandwin’s time was running out that his trouble grew out of something in a past so remote as to be beyond our comprehension. It was only toward the end of the affair at Sandwin House that terrible glimpses were afforded us, hints of something frightful and awful behind the commonplace events of every- day life broke through to the surface, and ultimately we were enabled to grasp briefly the heart of what lay beneath. Sandwin House had originally been called Sandwin-by-the-Sea, but its later ap- pellation had soon come to be far more convenient in use. It was an old-fashioned house, old as such houses were old in New England, standing along the Innsmouth road not too far from Arkham: of two stories and an attic, with a deep basement. The roof was many-gabled, with dormer windows rising from the attic. Before the house old elms and maples stood; behind, only a hedge of lilac separated the lawns from the sharp descent to the sea, for the house stood on a high point of land some-

“Three generations of Sandwins had made a compact with these beings!” n *4 WEIRD TALES

what removed from tire highway itself. tence was: The oivls are hooting! And In appearance it might have seemed a my cousin Eldon had spoken it.

little cold to the casual passer-by, but to

me it had always been colored by memo- TT7ITHIN an hour I had arranged for ’ ries of childhood vacations spent there with ’ a substitute to take my place in the my cousin Eldon; it represented relief library of Miskatonic and was on my way from Boston, escape from the crowded city. to Sandwin House, driving faster than Until the curious happenings that began the law permitted. Candidly, I was half in the late winter of 1938, I retained my amused, half frightened; the pledge as we early impression of Sandwin House; even had made it in those days was serious so, it was not until after that strange win- enough, but it was, after all, a fancy oE

ter’s end that I became aware of how childhood; that Eldon had seen fit to utter subtly but certainly Sandwin House had now that cryptic sentence seemed to me changed from the haven of childhood evidence of something seriously disturb- summers to a malign harbor for incredi- ing in his existence; it seemed to me now ble evil. rather the last appeal of dire distress than My introduction to those curiously dis- any casual harking back to childhood. turbing events was prosaic enough; it came The night descended before I reached in the shape of a telephone call from Eldon Sandwin House; a chill night with frost. as I was about to sit down to supper with A light snow still covered the ground, but my fellow librarians of Arkham’s Miska- the highway was clear. The last few tonic University in the small club of which miles to Sandwin House lay along the we were members. I took the call in the ocean, so that the drive was singularly club’s lounging room. beautiful: the moonlight making a wide "Dave? This is Eldon. I want you to path of yellow on the sea, and the wind run up for a few days.” rippling the water so that the entire bosom "Too busy. I’m afraid,” I replied. "I’ll of the sea sparkled and gleamed as with try to make it next week.” some inner light. Trees, buildings, hill- "No, no—now. Dave—the owls are slopes broke into the eastern horizon line hooting.” from time to time, but lessened the sea’s That was all; there was nothing more. beauty not at all. And presently the large

I returned to the heated discussion in ungainly structure that was Sandwin House which I had been engaged when I was broke into the skyline. summoned to the telephone and had actu- Sandwin House was dark save for a thin ally picked up the threads of that discus- line of light well toward tire rear. Here sion once more when what my cousin had Eldon lived alone with his father and an said effected the necessary bridge into the old servant, though a country woman or years past, and instantly I excused myself two came regularly to clean the place once and left for my rooms to prepare for the or twice a week. I drove the car around journey to Sandwin House. Long ago, to one side where an old barn served as almost three decades ago, in those care- a garage, put the car away, took my bag free days of childhood play, there had and made my way to the house. been established between us a certain Eldon had heard me. I encountered agreement; if ever one of us uttered a him in the darkness just beyond the door, certain cryptic sentence, it was to be in- his long face touched a little with moon- terpreted as a cry for assistance. To this light, his dressing-gown held closely to we pledged ourselves. That cryptic sen- his thin body. THE SANDWIN COMPACT 5?

"I knew I could count on you, Dave,” one day he was gone; another, he was back. he said, taking my bag. It happened the same way this time—and "What’s up, Eldon?” after he was back, there seemed again to "Oh, don’t say anything,” he said ner- be plenty of money available for our use.” vously, as if someone might hear. "Wait. He shook his head, perplexed. "I confess I’ll tell you in time. And be quiet; let’s to you that for some time thereafter I not disturb father for the time being.” looked through the Transcript with the He led the way into the house, going utmost care on the lookout for some notice with extreme care down the wide hall to- of robbery; but there was none.” ward the stairs, behind which his own "Some business, perhaps,” I murmured. rooms were. I could not help noticing the unnatural quiet of the house and the sound E SHOOK his head. "But that isn’t of the sea beyond; it struck me then that H what worries me now. I could for- the atmosphere was faindy eery, but I get that if it weren’t for the fact that it shrugged away this feeling. seems to have some connections with In the light of his room, I saw that father’s present condition.”

my cousin was seriously upset, despite a "Is he ill, then?” false air of healthy welcome; my coming "Why—yes and no. He isn’t himself.” was clearly not an end, but only an inci- "What do you mean?” dent. He was haggard, his eyes were dark "He isn’t the father I knew. I can and red-rimmed, as if he had not slept hardly explain myself, and, naturally, I’m for some days, and his hands moved con- upset. I was aware of this for the first stantly in that access of nervousness so time when I learned he had returned and, common to neurotics. pausing outside the door of his rooms, "Now then, sit down; make yourself heard him talking to himself in a low, at home. You’ve had supper, eh?” guttural voice. 'I’ve tricked them,’ he said "Enough,” I assured him, and waited to himself several times. There was more, for him to unburden himself. of course, but at the moment I did not

He took a turn or two about the room, listen. I knocked on the door, whereupon opened the door cautiously and looked out, he called out harshly and ordered me to before he came back to sit down beside return to my quarters until the following

me. "Well, it’s about father,” he began day. Since that time he has been behaving without preamble. "You know how we with increasing queerness, and of late he have always lived without any visible in- has seemed to me definitely afraid of come, and yet always seemed to have something or someone—I don’t know money. That’s been for several genera- which. And some unusual things have tions in the Sandwin line, and I’ve never begun to take place.”

bothered my head about it. Last fall, "What things?” I asked bluntly. however, money was running very low. "Well, to begin with—the wet door- Father said he needed to go on a journey, knobs.” and he went. Father seldom travels, but "Wet doorknobs!” I exclaimed. I remembered then that the last time he He nodded gravely. "The first time traveled: almost ten years ago, we were father saw them, he had old Ambrose and also in dire straits. But when he came me on the carpet demanding to know back, there seemed again to be plenty of which of us had gone through the house money. I never saw my father leave the with wet hands. Of course, neither of us house, and I never saw him come back; had; he dismissed us abruptly, and there 56 WEIRD TALES

was an end to that. But from time to time beard ran along his jaw from one ear to a doorknob or two would show up wet, the other, though he wore no moustache. and father began to be afraid of finding His nose was small, almost non-existent, them so, developing a kind of apprehen- in contrast to eyes so abnormally large sion I couldn’t mistake for something that a first glance from them invariably else.” startled any beholder. In addition to the "Go on." unnatural size of his eyes, their prominence "Then there are, of course, the foot- was augmented by thick-lensed spectacles steps and the music. They seem to sound which he wore, for in later years his eyes from the air, or from the earth—frankly, had grown progressively weaker and he I don’t know which. But there is some- found it necessary to consult an oculist thing here I don’t understand, and some- every six months. His mouth, finally, was

thing of which father is frankly afraid; singularly wide and thin; it was not gross so that he keeps more and more to his or thick-lipped, as one might have sup-

rooms; he doesn’t come out sometimes for posed it would be in one so squat and days, and when he does, walks with the heavy, but its width was astonishing, for

air of a man momentarily expecting some it was no less than five inches across, so enemy to pounce upon him, with his eyes that, what with the thick shortness of his

- for every stray shadow and movement, and neck and his deceptive fringe of beard, it no great concern for Ambrose or me or was as if the line of the mouth divided the women who come in to clean—though his head from his torso. He had a he has not permitted any of these women strangely batrachian appearance and al- in his rooms, preferring to keep them ready in our childhood we had nicknamed clean himself.” him The Frog, because at that time he bore What my cousin had said distressed me a facial resemblance of the creatures Eldon not so much for my uncle’s sake as for and I often caught in the meadows and his own; indeed, at the conclusion of his swamp across the highway inland from narrative, he was almost painfully upset, Sandwin House.

and I could neither treat what he had told At the moment of our entrance to his me with the levity I had the impulse to upstairs study. Uncle Asa was bent over do, nor with the gravity he seemed to his desk, hunched in that aspect so natural

think it merited. I preserved, accord- to see. He turned at once, his eyes nar- ingly, an interested impartiality. rowed, his mouth partly open; but almost

"I suppose Uncle Asa is still up,” I instantly the aspect of sudden fear was said. "He’ll be surprised to find me here, gone, he smiled affably, and shuffled away and you won’t want him to know you’ve from his desk toward me, one hand out- sent for me. So I rather think we’d better stretched. go on up now.” "Ah, good evening, David. I had not thought to see you before Easter.” Y UNCLE ASA was in every respect "I found I could get away,” I replied. M his son’s opposite; while Eldon "So I came. Besides, I hear little from tended to be tall and thin, Asa was squat you and Eldon.” and heavy, not so much fat as muscular, The old man flashed a quick glance at with a short, thick neck, and a curiously Eldon, and I could not help thinking that repellant face. He had scarcely any fore- while my cousin looked older than he was, head; thick, black hair grew only an inch my uncle certainly looked less than the above his bushy eyebrows, and a fringe of sixty-odd years that were his. He put —

THE SANDWIN COMPACT 57 out chairs for us and immediately engaged He shook hands again, a little ceremoni- me in conversation about foreign affairs, ously, and we were dismissed. a subject upon which I found him aston- ishingly well informed. The easy infor- T71LDON said nothing until we reached mality of his manner did much to offset his own rooms once more. Then I the impression I had received from Eldon; saw that he was trembling. He sat down indeed, I was well on the way to thinking weakly and held his head in his hands, that some grave mental illness had taken murmuring, "You see! I told you how possession of Eldon, when I received con- it was. And that’s nothing.” firmation of my cousin’s suspicions. In "Well, I don’t think you need worry the middle of a sentence about the problem about it,” I assured him. "In the first of European minorities, my uncle sud- place, I am familiar with any number of denly broke off with his head cocked a people who continue to work in their little to one side, as if he were listening minds while carrying on conversations, and for something, and an expression of min- suddenly cease talking when ideas hit them gled fear and defiance crossed his face. with any force. As to the episode of the He seemed to have forgotten about us en- window—I confess I cannot attempt to ” tirely, so complete was his absorption. explain it, but

For almost three minutes he sat in this "Oh, it wasn't my father,” said Eldon manner, while neither Eldon nor I made suddenly. "It was the cry, the call from any move whatever beyond turning our outside, that ululation.” heads a. little in an effort to hear also what "I thought—a bird,” I answered lamely. he heard. At the moment, however, there "There’s no bird that makes a sound was no telling to what he listened; the like that; and the migration hasn’t begun wind outside had risen, and the voice of except for robins and bluebirds and kill- the sea murmured and thundered along deers. It was that; I tell you, Dave the shore; beyond this rose the sound of whatever it is that makes that sound, some nocturnal bird, an uncanny ululation speaks to father!" with which I was not familiar; and above For a few moments I was too surprised us, in the attic of the old house, a kind to answer, not alone because of my cousin’s of rustling was constant, as if the wind sincerity, but because I could not deny were crying through an aperture some- that Uncle Asa had indeed conducted him- where into the room. self as if someone had spoken to him. I For the duration of those three minutes, got up and took a turn about the room, then, no one of us made a move, no one glancing at Eldon from time to time; but spoke; then abruptly my uncle’s face was it was evident that my cousin needed no contorted with rage; he leaped to his feet belief of mine to confirm his own; so I sat and ran to the one open window on the down near him again. east, closing the window with such violence "If we assume that such is the case, that I thought the glass must surely break. Eldon, what is it that talks to your father?”

But it did not. For a moment he stood “I don’t know. I heard it first about a there mumbling to himself; then he turned month ago. That time father seemed very and hurried back to us, his features as calm frightened; not long after, I heard it again. and affable as ever. I tried to find out where it came from, "Well, good-night, my boy. I have but I could learn nothing; that second time much work to do. Make yourself at home it seemed to come from the sea, as it did here, as always.” tonight; subsequently I was positive it came —

58 WEIRD TALES from above the house, and once I could whether you alone are affected by these take oath it came from beneath the build- things, or does Ambrose experience them, ing. Shortly after that first time, I heard too?” music—weird music, beautiful, but evil. Eldon nodded quickly. "Of course he I thought I had dreamed it, because it does; he’s wanted to leave, but we’ve been induced in me strange, fantastic dreams able to dissuade him so far.” dreams of some place far from earth and "Then you needn’t fear for your sanity,” yet linked to earth by some demonic chain I reassured him. "Now, then, for bed.” —I can’t describe them with any degree of justice at all. At about the same time Y ROOM, as always when I stayed in I was conscious of the sound of footsteps, M the house, adjoined Eldon’s. I bade and I swear to you that they came from my cousin good-night and w'alked down somewhere in the air, though on a similar the hall in the darkness, entering my room occasion I felt them beneath—not a man’s with some anxiety about Eldon occupying steps, but something larger making them.' my thoughts. It was perhaps this anxiety

It is at approximately these times that we which accounted for my slow reaction to find wet doorknobs, and the whole house the fact that my hand was wet; I noticed gives off a strange fish-like odor that seems this at the moment I reached up to take strongest just outside my father’s rooms.” off my coat. I stood for a moment staring In any ordinary case, I would have dis- at my gleaming hand before I remembered missed what Eldon had said as a result of Eldon’s story; then I went at once to the some illness unknown to him as well as door and opened it. Yes, the outer door- to me, but to tell the truth, one or two knob was wet; not only was it wet but it things he had said stirred to life chords gave off a strong smell of aquatic life, that of memory which had only begun to bridge same fish-like odor of which Eldon had the abyss between the prosaic present and only just a few moments past spoken. I that past time in which I had become fa- closed the door and wiped my hand, puz- miliar with certain aspects of life on the zled. Could it be that someone in the dark side, so to speak. So I said nothing, house was deliberately plotting against trying to think of what it might be I sought Eldon’s sanity? Surely not, for Ambrose in the channels of my memory, but failing, had nothing to gain by such a course, and though I recognized the connection be- so far as I had been able to ascertain over tween Eldon’s narrative and certain ghastly the years, there was no animosity whatever and forbidden accounts hidden in the between my Uncle Asa and Eldon. There library at Miskatonic University. was no one else who might be guilty of "You don’t believe me,” he accused such a campaign of fright. suddenly. I got into bed, troubled still, and trying "I neither believe nor disbelieve for the to bridge the distance between the past present,” I replied quietly. "Let’s sleep and present. What was it happened at upon it.” Innsmouth almost ten years ago now?

"But you must believe me, Dave! The What was it lay in those shunned manu- only alternative I have is my own mad- scripts and books in Miskatonic Univer- ness.” sity? That I must see them, I knew; so "It isn’t so much a matter of belief as I resolved to return to Arkham as soon it is some reason for the existence of these as possible. Still trying to search my things. We shall see. Before we go to memory for some clue to the solution of bed, tell me one tiring: do you know the night’s events, I fell asleep. •

THE SANDWIN COMPACT 59

I hesitate to chronicle what took place then I was gone, held above the frozen shortly after I slept. The human mind fastnesses of the far north, looking down is unreliable enough at best, let alone in upon a secret Indian village where natives sleep or just after, when the mental proc- worshipped before idols of snow. Every- esses are clogged by sluggishness resulting .where was wind, everywhere music and from sleep. But in the light of subse- the sound of that whistling voice like a quent events, the dream of that night takes prolog to terror, a warning of incredible on a clarity and reality which I would have and awful evil soon to flower, everywhere thought possible of nothing in the strange the voice of primeval horror shrouded half-world of sleep. For I dreamed; I and hidden beneath beautiful unearthly dreamed almost immediately of a great music. vast plateau in a strange, sandy world, I woke soon after, unbearably tired, and which bore some resemblance to the high lay with eyes open staring into the dark- plateaus of Tibet or the Honan country I ness. Slowly I emerged from somnolence, had once visited. In this place the wind and slowly I became conscious that the blew eternally, and singularly beautiful air in my room was heavy, laden with the music fell upon my ears. And yet that fish-like odor of which Eldon had spoken; music was not pure, not free of evil, for and at the same time I was aware of two always there was an undercurrent of sinis- other things—the sound of retreating foot- ter notes, like a tangible warning of tribu- steps, and the fading ululation I had heard lation to come, like the grim fate notes not only in my dreams but in my uncle’s of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The rooms only a few hours ago. I jumped music emanated from a group of buildings from bed and ran to the window, look- on an island in a black lake. There all ing eastward; but there was nothing to be was still; figures stood unmoving, strange- seen, nothing to be known save that the faced beings in the guise of men, some sounds seemed certainly to emanate from curious hybrid Chinese standing as if on the vast ocean beyond. I crossed my room guard. again and went out into the hall, where .

Throughout this dream it seemed as if the smell of aquatic life was much stronger

I moved with the wind high above, a wind than it was in my room. I knocked gently that never ceased. How long I was there, on Eldon’s door and, receiving no answer, I could not say, for I dreamed endlessly; entered the room. presently I was away from this place, I He lay on his back, his arms flung out looked down from high above the sea upon and his fingers working. That he still another island where stood great buildings slept was evident, though at first I was and idols, where again were strange be- deceived by the whispered words coming ings, few of them in the guise of men, from his lips. In the act of awaking him, and again that deathless music sounded. I paused, hand outstretched, and listened. But here also was something more: the His voice was for the most part too low voice of that thing which had but recently in pitch to carry well, but I did catch sev- in time talked to my Uncle Asa—that same eral words spoken apparently with greater weird ululation emanating from deep with- effort to be clear: Lloigor—Ithaqua— in a squat building whose cellars must Cthulhu; these words were repeated sev- certainly have been inundated by the sea. eral times before I caught hold of Eldon’s For only a brief time I looked upon this shoulder and shook him. His awakening island, while from somewhere within me was not swift, as it should have been, but I knew its modern name: Easter Island— sluggish, uncertain; only after a full min- 60 WEIRD TALES

ute did lie become aware of me, but from I set myself to listen, and heard first my the moment of that recognition he was his uncle’s voice. usual self, he sat up, conscious at the same "I will not!” time of the odor in the room, and the The unreal accents of the things in the sounds beyond. rooms with him sounded beyond the door. "Ah—you see!” he said gravely, as if "Id! Id! Shuh-Niggurath!” There fol- this were all the confirmation I now lowed a succession of rapid mouthings, as needed. if in violent anger. "Cthulhu will not take me into the sea; TTE GOT out of bed and went over to I have closed the passage.” the windows, standing there to look Violence again answered my uncle, who out. seemed, however, to remain unafraid, de- "Did you dream?” I asked. spite the significant change in the caliber "Yes, and you?” of his voice. We had had substantially the same “Nor Ithaqua come in the wind: I can dreams. Throughout his narrative about foil him, too.” his dreams, I became conscious of move- My uncle’s visitor spat a single word: !” ment on the floor above: furtive, sluggish "Lloigor and there was no reply from

movement, carrying with it sounds as of my uncle. something wet sloshing across the floor. At the same time the ululation beyond the WAS conscious of a subtle undercur- house faded away, and the sound of foot- I rent of terror, quite apart from the steps, too, came to a stop. But there was atmosphere of menace that pervaded the now present in the atmosphere of the old old house; this was because I had recog- house such an air of menace and horror, nized in my uncle’s speech the same words that the cessation of these sounds contrib- spoken but a few moments ago by Eldon uted little to our peace of mind. in his sleep, and understood that some “Let’s go up and talk to your father,” malign influence was at work in the house.

I suggested abruptly. Moreover, there began to drift back into His eyes widened. “Oh, no—we won’t my mind certain memories of strange nar- dare disturb him; he’s given orders.” ratives brought back across the years from But I was not to be daunted; I turned a time when I had delved into the for- alone and went up the stairs, where I bidden texts at Miskatonic University: paused to knock peremptorily on Uncle weird, incredible tales of Ancient Gods, Asa’s door. There was no reply. I came of evil beings older than man; I began to to my knees and looked into the room dwell upon the terrible secrets concealed through the keyhole, but I could see noth- in the Pnakotic Manuscripts, in the R’lyeh ing; all was dark. But someone was there, Text, those vague, suggestive stories of for voices came out occasionally; the one creatures too horrible to contemplate in was dearly Uncle Asa’s—but strangely the prosaic existence of today. I attempted guttural and rasping, as if it had under- to shake myself free of the cloud of fear gone some vital change; the other was that insidiously overcame me, but there like nothing I have ever heard before or was that in the atmosphere of the house since—a deep, throaty sound, a croaking, to make this impossible. Fortunately, the harsh voice, somber with menace. And arrival of my cousin Eldon did what I while my uncle spoke in intelligible Eng- myself could not do. lish, his visitor quite evidently did not. He had crept up the stairs behind me THE SANDWIN COMPACT 61 and now stood waiting for some move on the floor stood pools of water. My uncle my part. I motioned him forward and did not appear to notice, or, accustomed told him what I had heard. Then we bent to it, had forgotten about it; he sat down to listen together. There was no longer in his arm-chair and looked at us, motion- the sound of conversation, but only a sul- ing us to seats before him. The vapor len, unintelligible muttering accompanied had begun almost imperceptibly to lift and by the growing sound of footsteps, or Uncle Asa’s face grew clearer to my eyes rather, of sounds which, by their spacing, —his squat head even deeper in his body might have been footsteps, but were made now, his forehead gone entirely, his eyes not by any creature familiar to my ears by half closed, so that his resemblance to the its sound, but by something which seemed frogs of our childhood days was marked: at every step to be walking into a bog; now a grotesque caricature, horrible in its im- there was, too, a faint inner trembling in plications. With only the slightest hesi- the old house, a strange, unnatural shud- tation, we sat down. dering, which neither decreased nor in- "Did you hear anything?” he asked. creased, but continued until the sound of But without waiting for an answer, he footsteps ceased, fading into the distance. went on. "I suppose you did. I have During all this time no sound had es- thought for some time I must tell you, caped us, but when the footsteps crossed and now—there may be little enough time the room behind the door and went on into left. space beyond the house, Eldon caught his But I may deceive them yet, I may breath and held it until I could hear the escape them. ...” blood pounding in his temples bent close He opened his eyes and looked at Eldon; to mine. he did not seem to see me at all. Eldon "Good God!” he burst out at last. leaned forward a little anxiously, for it

"What is it?” was evident that something troubled the I did not trust myself to answer, but old man; he was not himself, he seemed had begun to turn slightly to make some only half present, with his mind still wan- kind of reply, when the door opened with dering in some far place. a suddenness that left us both speechless. "The Sandwin compact must end,” he My Uncle Asa stood there; from behind said in a guttural voice not unlike that I him on all sides came an overpowering had heard in the room. "You will re- smell, as of fish or frogs, a thick miasmic member that. Let no other Sandwin be odor of stagnant water so powerful that in bondage to those creatures. Did you

it brought me close to nausea. ever wonder where our income came from, "I heard you,” my uncle said slowly. Eldon?” he asked suddenly. "Come in.” "Why, yes—often,” Eldon managed to He stepped aside, and we entered his reply. rooms, Eldon still somewhat reluctant. "And it’s been that way for three gen- The windows in the opposite wall were erations; my grandfather and my father wide open. At first the dim light disclosed before me. My grandfather signed my

nothing, for it was itself as if shrouded father away, and my father signed me in fog, but presently it was evident that away—but I shall not sign you away, something wet had been in the room, never fear. This must be its end. So something that gave off a heavy vapor, for they will not allow me to go naturally as walls, floors, furniture—all were covered they did grandfather and father, they will with a heavy dew, and here and there on take me before instead of waiting. But —

62 WEIRD TALES

you will be free of them, Eldon, you will sea rose distantly, the long roll and mur- be free.” mur of water.

"Father, what is it? What’s the mat- My cousin was about to break the ter?” silence that had fallen with another ques- He did not appear to hear. "Make no tion, when Uncle Asa turned once more compact with them, Eldon; shun them, to us and said briefly, curtly, "Enough

avoid them. Evil is their heritage, such now. Leave me.” evil as you cannot know. These are things Eldon protested, but my uncle was ada- you are better without knowing.” mant. By this time I needed little further "Who was here. Father?” enlightenment; the stories I had. heard "Their servant; he did not frighten me. about Innsmouth, the Tuttle affair on the Nor of Cthulhu am I afraid, nor Ithaqua, Aylesbury road, the strange knowledge with whom I had ridden high over the concealed in those shunned texts at Miska- face of the earth, over Egypt and Samar- tonic University—the Pnakotic Manu- kand, over the great white silences, over scripts, the Book of Eibon, the R’lyeh Hawaii and the Pacific—but Lloigor, who Text—and, darkest of all, the dread can draw the body from the earth piece- Necronomicon of the mad Arab Abdul meal, Lloigor with his twin brother, Zhar, Alhazred: all these things revived long- and the horrible Tcho-Tcho people who forgotten memories of potent evil An- tend them in the high plateaus of Tibet cient Ones, elder beings of incredible age, of him . . He paused abruptly and old gods who once inhabited not only shuddered. "They have threatened me earth but the entire universe, who were with his coming.” He took a deep breath. divided between forces of ancient good "Let him come, then.” and forces of ancient evil, of which the latter, now in leash, were yet greater in Y COUSIN said nothing, but looked nurriber if not in power. Most ancient his distress. of all, the Elder Gods, the forces of good

"What is this compact. Uncle Asa?” were nameless; but weird and terrible

I asked. names identified the others—Cthulhu, "And you will remember,” he went on, leader of the elemental water powers; oblivious to my question, "how your Hastur, Ithaqua, Lloigor, who led the grandfather’s coffin was kept shut, and forces of air; Yog-Sothoth and Tsathoggua how light it was. There’s nothing in his of earth. It was now apparent to me that grave, only the coffin; and in your great- three generations of Sandwins had made grandfather’s, too. They took them, they a hideous compact with these beings, a have them, somewhere they have given compact that promised surrender of soul them unnatural life, a soulless life—for and body in return for their great knowl- nothing more than our sustenance, that edge and security in the natural life of the small income we have had and the knowl- Sandwins: but the most ghastly aspect of edge they gave us of their hideous secrets. this compact was the obvious indication It began, I think, in Innsmouth—my that each generation swore away the suc- grandfather met someone there, someone ceeding generation. My Uncle Asa had who like him belonged to those creatures at last rebelled, and he now awaited the who came up, frog-like, out of the sea.” consequences. He shrugged and glanced once briefly to- Once more in the hall, Eldon put a ward the windows on the east, where now hand on my arm and said, "I don’t under- fog glowed whitely and the sound of the stand.” THE SANDWIN COMPACT 63

I shook him off almost roughly. "Nor mote caverns under the seas. I had learned

I, Eldon; but I’ve some idea, and I want enough to be convinced of my uncle’s to get back to the library and verify it.” hideous compact: the pledge of body and "You can’t go now.” soul to serve the spawn of Cthulhu and "No, but if nothing happens for a day Lloigor among the Tcho-Tcho people in or so. I’ll go. I’ll come back later.” remote Tibet, to serve them in after-life We spent an hour or so in Eldon’s in their constant struggle against the domi- room, talking all around the trouble, and nation of the Elder Gods, the seals put listening almost morbidly for evidence of upon them by the retreating Ancient Ones, further activity above; but there was noth- the struggle to rise again and spread hor- ing, and presently I returned to bed, al- ror throughout earth. most as ill at ease for the lack of strange That my uncle’s father and grandfather sounds and odors, as I had previously been were even now so serving in some distant at their happening. fastness, I could not reasonably doubt, for The remainder of the night passed un- evidence of evil activity was all about me, eventfully, and so did the next day, during not alone in tangible things, but in the all of which my Uncle Asa did not come incredibly strong aura of intangible terror from his room. The second night passed that held the house in siege. On that quietly, also; so that on the following day second visit I found my cousin somewhat I returned to Arkham, welcoming the sight reassured, but still waiting half fearfully of the ancient gambrel roofs and Georgian for something to happen. I could not stir balustrades as the face of home. him to any hope, but must perforce reveal to him some of the things I had verified TN a fortnight I returned to Sandwin in the ancient and forbidden books repos- House, but nothing more had hap- ing in the vaults of Miskatonic. pened. I saw my uncle briefly and was On the night preceding my departure, astonished at the change in his aspect: while we sat a little uneasily in Eldon’s He had grown to look more and more room waiting for something to happen, the batrachian, and his body seemed to have door was suddenly opened and my uncle shrunk a little. He made some effort to came in, walking with a strange, halting conceal his hands, but not before I had gait unnatural to him. He seemed some- seen a peculiar transformation there: a how to have grown smaller, too, now that curious growth of skin from finger to I saw him on his feet, and his clothes finger, the significance of which did not at bagged on him. first dawn on me. I asked him once what "Eldon, why don’t you go into Arkham more he had heard from the visitors of with David tomorrow,” he said without that night two weeks ago. preamble. "A little change will do you "I’m waiting for Lloigor,” he said crypti- good.” cally, his eyes fixed beadily on the east "Yes, I’d like to have him,” I said. windows, and a grimness about his mouth. Eldon shook his head. "No. I’ll stay In this hiatus, I had learned more about to see that nothing happens to you, the dread secrets of the Elder Gods and Father.” ». the beings of evil they had long ago ban- Uncle Asa laughed brittlely and, I ished to the hidden places of earth—the thought, with a faint sneer, as if to depre- Arctic wastes, the desert land, the cate anything Eldon might attempt to do. shunned Plateau of Leng in the heart of If Eldon did not understand his father’s

Asia, the Lake of Hali, the vast and re- attitude, it was clear enough to me, since 64 WEIRD TALES

I knew more than Eldon something of the to the inhabitants of Devil Reef before power of the primeval evil to which my the reef was bombed; you must remem-

uncle had become allied. ber it, Eldon.” My uncle shrugged then. "Well, you’re He said no more until I spurred him on safe enough; unless you’re frightened to by telling him that he must keep in touch death. I don’t know.” with me by telephone. "You expect something to happen soon, "That may be too late, Dave.” then?” I asked. "No. I’ll come at once. At the first The old man gave me a searching sign of anything amiss, call me.”

glance. "It is clear that you do, David,” He agreed, and he went to bed for a he said thoughtfully. "I expect Lloiger, restless but quiet night. yes. If I am able to fight him, I shall be ” free of him. If I am not He HE April moon reached its greatest shrugged and added, "Then, I think. Sand- T fullness at approximately midnight on win House will be free of this accursed the night of April twenty-seventh. Long

cloud of evil that has shrouded it for so before that time, I was ready for Eldon’s

long.” telephone call; indeed, more than once in "There is a time?” I asked. the late afternoon and early evening hours,

His glance did not waver, but his eyes I had the impulse to go to Sandwin House narrowed a little. "When the full moon without waiting for Eldon to call, but I rises, I think. If my computations are resisted. At nine o’clock that night, El- correct, Arcturus must also be above the don called; oddly enough, I had just be- horizon before Lloigor can come on his come cognizant of Arcturus standing over cosmic wind—for, being a wind elemen- the roofs of Arkham in the east, its am- tal, he will travel as wind. But I will be ber light glowing brightly despite the bril- waiting for him.” He shrugged once liance of the moon. That something had more, as if he were dismissing some triv- happened, I knew, for Eldon’s voice shook,

ial event instead of the grave threat to his words were clipped, he was eager to his life that was inherent in his words. say what he must so that I could come "Very well, then, Eldon; do as you wish.” without delay. He left the room and Eldon turned to "For God’s sake, Dave—come.” me. He said no more; he needed to say no "Can’t we help him fight this thing, more. Within a few minutes I was in my Dave? There must be some way.” car speeding up the coast toward Sandwin "If there is a way, your father knows House. The night was quiet, windless; it.” killdeers and whippoorwills were calling, Tie hesitated for a long minute before and an occasional nighthawk swooped and he spoke of something evidently on his sky-coasted within the glow of my car’s

mind . for some time. "Did you notice lights. The air was fragrant with the smell father’s appearance? How he seems to of growing things, the rich aroma of have changed?” He shuddered. "Like a turned earth and early foliage, of swamp- frog, Dave.” land and open water, all in direct contrast I nodded. "There is some relation be- to the horror that clung tenaciously to tween his aspect and that of the creatures mind. with whom he has become aligned. There As before, Eldon met me in the yard was something of this in Innsmouth, too at Sandwin House. I had no sooner got —-people who bore a strange resemblance out of my car than he was there beside THE SANDWIN COMPACT 6?

me, greatly distraught, his hands trem- sound of gigantic footsteps, the soggy, bling. wet footsteps, accompanied by an unde- ‘'Ambrose has just gone,” he said. "He niable sucking noise that seemed to ema- went before the wind started—because of nate from somewhere beneath us and yet the whippoorwills.” beyond the house itself, beyond even ter-

As he spoke, I was conscious of the restrial earth as we knew it: this, too, arose whippoorwills: scores of them calling from from some psychic source; this, too, was a all around, and I remembered the super- manifestation of those evil beings with stition believed by so many of the natives whom the Sandwins had made that ghastly —that at die approach of death, the whip- compact. poorwills, in the service of evil, called for "Where’s your father?” I asked. the soul of the dying. Their crying was "In his rooms; he won’t come out. The constant, unceasing, rising most steadily door’s shut, and I can’t go in.” and loudly from the meadows west of the Sandwin House, but sounding to some de- T WENT up the stairs toward the door gree all around: a kind of maddening out- •*- to my uncle’s quarters with the inten- cry, for the birds seemed close, and the tion of opening that door by force. Eldon

cry of a whippoorwill, nostalgic and lonely came protestingly behind; it was no use, at a distance, multiplied many times and he assured me; he had tried it and failed.

placed near by, becomes a harsh, shrill call, I was almost upon the door when I -was difficult to tolerate for long. I smiled grimly stopped in mid-stride by- an impassable at Ambrose’s flight, and remembered El- barrier—no thing of substance, but a wall don’s saying he had gone before the wind of cold, chilling air beyond which I could began. The night was windless still. not go, no matter how much I tried. “What wind?” I asked abruptly. “You see!” cried Eldon. "Come in.” I tried and tried again to reach through He turned and led the way swiftly into that impassive wall of air toward the door,

the house. but I could not. Finally, in desperation, I From the moment that I stepped across called out to Uncle Asa. But no human the threshold of Sandwin House that night, voice answered me; I was not answered at I entered another world, remote from that all save by the roaring of great winds I had just left. For the first thing of which somewhere beyond that door, for, strong as I was cognizant was the high rushing sound the winds had sounded in the lower hall, of great winds; the house itself seemed to in the quarters occupied by my uncle the tremble under the impact of tremendous sound of them was incredibly powerful,

forces from without, and yet I know, hav- and it seemed as if at any moment the ing just come in from outside, that the air walls must fly asunder by the terrific forces was quiet, that no wind blew. The wunds, that were unleashed there. Throughout then, sounded within the house, from the all this time, the sound of footsteps and upper stories, those quarters occupied by the ululation too were growing in magni- my Uncle Asa, those quarters linked tude; they were approaching the house psychically to the incredible evil with from the direction of the sea, if such an which he had become allied. In addition occurrence were possible in the light of to this incessant rushing of wind, there their seeming already there, a part of the came as from a great distance that shud- unholy aura of evil in which Sandwin deringly familiar ululation, striking in House was cloaked. Simultaneously with from the east, and at the same time the the approach of these sounds from the —

66 WEIRD TALES

water, there struck into our consciousness music still sounded distantly, as if a group another sound from high above us, a sound of servants were singing their adoration so incredible, that Eldon looked at me and for their master, a hellish chant, a trium- I at him as if we had not heard aright: phant ululation:

it was the sound of music and of voices "la!' la! Lloigor! Ugh! Shub-Niggurath!

singing, rising and falling, alternately . . . Lloigor fhtagn! Cthulhu fhtagn!

clear and vague. But in a moment we Ithaqua! Ithaqua! . . . la! Ia! Lloigor understood the source of that music as naflfhtagn! Lloigor cfayak vulgtmm, the same from which had come that weirdly vugtlagln vulgtmm. AH At! AH” beautiful music we had heard in our There was a brief lull, during -which dreams in Sandwin House; for the music, some voice came as if in answer: a harsh, on the surface of it so beautiful and ethe- frog-like croaking of words unintelligible real, abounded with hellish undertones. to me: in a voice whose harsh sound still It was such music as the sirens might have bore some overtones vaguely, arrestingly

sung to Ulysses, it was beautiful as the familiar to me, as if somewhere before I Venusberg music, but perverted by evil had heard certain of these inflections. This that was horribly manifest. harsh croaking came more and more hesi- I turned to Eldon, who stood wide-eyed tantly, the gutturals apparently failing the and trembling behind me. "Are there any speaker, and then once again rose that windows open?” triumphant ululation, that maddening "Not in father’s rooms. He worked at chorus of voices from beyond the door, that the past few days.” He held his head accompanied by such a feeling of dread

cocked to one side and suddenly gripped horror that no words can describe it. my arm. "Listen!” Trembling violently, my cousin held out There arose now from beyond the door his arm to show me that his wrist-watch a growing ululation accompanied by a indicated but a few minutes before mid- ghastly gibbering from among which cer- night, the hour of the full moon. The tain words were audible, certain horrible voices in the rooms before us continued to words only too familiar to me from sight rise in intensity, and the wind rose, so of them in those forbidden books at Mis- that it was as if we stood in a raging katonic University, the sounds of those cyclone; at the same time the harsh croak- creatures bound in unholy alliance to the ing voice resumed again, mounting in in- Sandwins, the evil mouthings of those tensity until abruptly it changed into the hellish beings long ago banished to outer most awful wailing man ever heard, the spaces, to remote places of earth and uni- crying of a lost soul, the demon-ridden verse by the Elder Gods on distant Betel- scream of a soul lost for all time. geuze. It was then, I think, that realization came to me, that I knew and recognized LISTENED with mounting horror, the harsh croaking voice as not one of my I made all the greater by knowledge of uncle’s hellish visitor’s at all, but the voice my impotence, and tinged now with a cer- of Uncle Asa! tain nameless fear for my own existence. At the moment of this ghastly recogni- The mouthings beyond the door mounted tion, which must have come to Eldon at in intensity, with occasionally a sharp sound the same time, the sounds beyond the door that must have been made by someone dif- rose to unbearable shrillness, the demoniac ferent from them. Their own voices were winds thundered and roared; my head clear, however, rising and falling even as whirled; I clapped my hands to my ears THE SANDWIN COMPACT 67

ally it so much I remember, and then nothing sat; was indeed as if . a powerful more. gale had torn asunder papers, furniture, hangings with equal malevolence. T AWOKE to find Eldon bending over But it was my uncle’s chair to which

me; I was still in the upper hall, lying our attention was directed, and what we on the floor before the entrance to my saw there was all the more frightful in its uncle’s quarters, and Eldon’s pale, lumi- significance now that the tangible aura of nous eyes were peering anxiously into horror had been removed from Sandwin mine. House. The trail leading from the trap- "You fainted,” he whispered. "So did door and attic window wTent directly to I.” my uncle’s chair and back again: a strange I started up, startled by the sound of shapeless procession of marks—snake-like, his voice that seemed so loud, though it some of them, the prints of webbed feet, had been but a whisper. which, most curiously, seemed to emanate All was still. No sound disturbed the from the chair in which my uncle had quiet of Sandwin House. At the far end been wont to sit and pass outward: all led of the hall the moonlight lay in a paral- back to that tiny break in the pane of the lelogram of white light, lending a mystic attic window; something had come in and illumination to the darkness all around. something more had gone out. Incredible, My cousin looked toward the door to my terrible, awful to contemplate—what must uncle’s quarters, and I went forward un- have taken place while we lay beyond the hesitatingly, and yet afraid of what we door, what must have wrung from my might find behind it uncle that terrible wailing we had heard The door was still locked; we had before we lapsed into unconsciousness.

finally to break it down. Eldon struck a For of my uncle there was no trace save match to relieve the deep darkness of the one—the ghastly remnants of what stood rooms. for him, rather than of him. In the chair,

I don’t know what Eldon expected to his favorite chair, lay his clothes: not taken . find, but what we found was far beyond off and pmg carelessly down, not that—but even my most fearful expectations. Even in the horrible, life-like position of a man as Eldon had said, the windows had been sitting there, fallen a little together: from boarded up so securely that not a single cravat to shoes, the terrible mockery of a ray of moonlight penetrated the rooms, man sitting there—but they were empty, and on the sills had been laid a strange a shell about which clung an abysmal collection of five-pointed stones. But clothing shaped by some ghastly power

there had been one point of entrance my beyond our comprehension into the effigy uncle had evidently forgotten: the attic of the man who had worn them, the man window, though this was closed and locked who, by all the evidence, was draivn or save for a tiny break in one pane. The sucked out of them as by some frightful, course of my uncle’s visitors had been un- malign being who employed in his aid the mistakable—a wet trail leading into the terrible wind heard within the rooms: the quarters from the trap-door near the at- mark of Lloigor, who walks the winds tic window. The rooms were in frightful among the star-spaces, the terrible Lloigor condition: no single thing remained intact against whom my uncle had had no save the chair in which my uncle habitu- iveapon! By LIAM KENNEDY

Who—or what—was the murderous wraith in that old dressing-room? The terrifying experience of an opera singer.

IGUPvDSEN strode briskly down the night, and after spending a short week- main street of the little Hungarian end in Buda he had traveled down as late S town and paused before the Opera as he dared and come straight from the House, noting with a nod of satisfaction railway station, carrying his make-up and that his name showed up well on the play- personal properties in a leather bag. bills. His company was to open there that The Opera House was in the center of 6$ THE MIRROR 69

a block of shops, with no passage on either Something in the tone of the man’s

side of it, and Sigurdsen continued his voice startled the opera-singer, and he progress along the street in search of the turned to look at him. He saw a face still turning which would lead him to the stage young, unusually refined for the occupant door. Some thirty yards further along he of so humble a position, but white as wax, found a side street at the end of which and lined and ravaged by some tempest of he turned into a dark alley which seemed the soul which puzzled him. Only the

to lead in tire required direction. eyes were plain to read, for they burned The alley was a particularly unpleasant and smoldered with the same agony of

place, for one side of it was occupied by hope which had rung in his voice. a row of derelict houses, while on the Without waiting for a reply he closed other side a blank wall stretched away into the door and was gone, leaving Sigurdsen tire darkness, showing no sign of the door to stand wondering at his unusual ques- which he sought. tion—at the agony in his voice—-and

He thought that it must be the fog (strange afterthought!) why no sound of whidr deadened the noises of the main receding footsteps had accompanied his re- street so that no sound of distant traffic treat along the corridor. came to his ears and he seemed to walk in an eery silence. He stumbled along through HE room which, to his disgust, was lit the murk, grumbling to himself at the cal- T only by two candles in sconces at the lousness of theatre proprietors, until at last side of the table, was squalid enough to he discerned a dim glow of light in front set him grumbling again, although there of him and realized that he had reached were signs that someone had tried to make

his destination. it comfortable. There was a small square The dilapidated condition of the stage of carpet by the table and the floor had door served but to increase his discontent. been swept clean. The clothes-hooks on In contrast to the front of the theatre, the wall were empty, as was a large dress-

which was quite new, its interior and the basket which stood against the wall be-

passages leading away from it looked as tween the table and the door, and Sigurd- if they had been standing there for cen- sen determined to give the wardrobe-mas- turies. ter a piece of his mind when he arrived His growing dissatisfaction was slightly late with his stage-clothes. Seating himself assuaged by the stage-doorkeeper who at the table, which was furnished with a greeted him (to tire satisfaction of his pro- large mirror, he set to work to put on his fessional soul) by name and offered to wig, leaning forward close to the glass as show him to his room. The theatre, he he made the join. explained, was a maze of corridors back- Behind his own image in the mirror he stage, and a stranger might easily lose him- could see the door, the wall with the self among them. With a grudging word clothes-hooks and the top of the dress- of thanks, Sigurdsen followed his guide basket into whose empty interior he had down a flight of stone stairs and along a already peered; and the first time the lid of bewildering succession of gloomy passages, the basket moved, he was so intent upon until at last the stage-doorkeeper threw his work that he did not immediately no- open a door and stood aside to allow him tice it. By the time it had forced itself to enter, saying as he did so: "I’ve made it upon his attention there was a definite gap as comfortable for you as I can, sir. You between the lid and the rim, and he swung won’t want to change it, will you?” round in his chair, staring at it in surprise. •70 WEIRD TALES

The lid was shut, as he knew that it freezing, numbing tide which rose higher

should be, and with an angry shake of and higher about him until it reached the the head he turned back to the mirror. level of his face, filling his nostrils with This time, however, for some reason which the unforgettable smell of death. Then it

he would have found it hard to explain, he flowed over his head and he was com- kept a wary eye over the shoulder of his pletely engulfed. He felt as though he reflected image, upon the top of the bas- were encased in a block of frozen putre- ket, only to discover with an unpleasant scene, unable to tear his eyes from the sense of shock that the lid was now open well-spring of its emission—the depths of wider than before, as though it were being the mirror. pushed up from below. Once again he Nor had he long to wait, for as he turned away from the image in the glass watched he saw the basket begin to tremble

and looked directly at it. The lid was shut, and a creaking sound came from it. He

though he had heard no sound of its fall- fell into a violent fit of shivering, for he

ing, and he strode angrily over to it, knew, with a terrible certainty, that some-

wrenched it open, and once more exam- thing which he could not see was alive in ined the interior of the basket. As he ex- the basket—alive with a different life from pected, it was empty, and he slammed his own—and it was coming out. down the lid, muttering his annoyance as He heard a soft squelching sound upon he did so. Once again he sat down at the floor and the rustle of cloth being the table—and this time his heart seemed dragged free of the wicker, though he to miss a beat and his body stiffened, for could still see nothing. Or was there some- the image in the glass showed him that the thing beginning to take shape in the mir- lid was now half open and he could see ror—something darker than the surround- rising as he watched it. of it slowly ing gloom—a formless shadow out . It was at this moment that he began to which two luminous specks seemed to be afraid. He wanted to turn away from smolder where he had instinctively looked the mirror, for some vague instinct warned to see the eyes.

him that in its depths he was about to see

something which was not good for him to rpHE shadow came nearer until it stood look upon. He felt an urge to smash the immediately behind his reflected image, mirror in pieces—to get away from the and now he was able to discern things dressing-room—from the theater, if pos- about it which had not been clear to him

sible; but some force stronger than him- before. It had looked formless because its self, stronger even than his fear, held him garments were not clean-cut, but ragged prisoner. He stared into the mirror and and torn at the edges and dirty gray in watched the lid of the basket rising, rising, color, and he realized with a violent until at last it rested back against the wall shrinking of his body that they were grave- and he braced himself to look on that clothes, earth-stained and worm-eaten and which had lifted it. rotten. He knew that he must escape be- There was nothing. fore the thing came closer: the mere He was soon to discover that although thought of its touch set him to retching: there might be nothing visible, nothing but no power on earth could have moved tangible in the basket, something was him from his chair. The thing might get there, for he was immediately conscious of between, him and the door and put its a wave of cold which seemed to pour from hand on him! its mouth with the silent flow of milk—-a He saw it pass round to the side of him, — —-

THE MIRROR 71 and, despite his terror, was compelled to thing was whitening its grave-ravaged look into the luminous specks reflected in arms and hands with the contents of a the mirror. To his comfort, the eyes were wet-white bottle, he was seized with a vio- not looking at him but downward to the lent fit of nausea and the room spun table. His glance passed beyond the eyes about him so that for a moment the mirror and he saw with a numb frozen horror was obscured. that it had no face. Yet there should have When he could see clearly again the been something there, for a soiled filthy thing was behind him in its old position, bandage passed from what might have but closer—much closer—than before. He been the top of the head down and under knew now that the moment' of climax was where he had expected to see the jaw. But upon him, and in a wild paroxysm of ter- the bandage framed a gray nothingness, ror he strove to lift himself from the chair. and he felt that even a grinning skull The thing placed its arms about his neck would have been better than that. and fondled him. By this time, Sigurdsen felt that he had Nothing which he had feared up to plumbed the last depths of human terror this moment could compare with the terror that he could endure no more and remain which racked him now. Tire arms were alive. Indeed, the thought passed through soft and womanish, but spongy and wet— hi's mind that ’he must be already dead and and cold — cold as frozen metal, which part of the world of shadows into which burns and blisters where it touches. And he was staring. Perhaps the thought com- as they caressed him, he could smell the forted him a little and numbed the sources sour reek of wet clay. He felt that if he of his terror; by no other reasoning can he did not get loose from them he would go explain how he lived through the next few mad and die of disgust. Yet worse was to moments. follow; for after what seemed an eternity As he stared into the depths of the mir- of nausea he realized that something new ror he saw the thing take up his grease- was entering his soul: a horrible, horrify- paints and begin to make itself a face. ing pleasure, an obscene delight in the Out of the gray nothingness there grad- touch of those hellish caresses. His last ually emerged a pale yellowish mask as the feeble resistance flickered out like a candle foundation color was put on. Then, swiftly in the wind and he surrendered. and skilfully, the highlights were painted He felt the arms being drawn bade and in: the cheeks were reddened and a little cold wet hands began playing about his pink put on the point of the chin: and, throat. The fingers were searching last and most horrible of all, the eyes were searching, as Sigurdsen realized in a help- outlined and a Cupid’s bow formed on the less, drugged fashion, for that one particu- lips. lar grip by whose aid even a weak woman It was a woman’s face which now can break a man’s neck like a rotten stick. smiled at him, slowly and terribly, from As he sat there in a kind of sodden ecstasy, the depths of the glass, but a ghoulish he wondered why the thing should wish to parody of womanly beauty such as Sigurd- kill him in this manner. sen could not have imagined in his wildest Suddenly, through the growing darkness nightmares. It was like a face made of of the mirror, he saw the door flung open multi-colored wet blotting-paper and gave and the stage- doorkeeper stood on the

the impression that if you touched it, it threshold, his face a twisted mask of an- would fall to pieces. But when, staring guish. Sigurdsen noticed, in a foolish half- insanely into the mirror, he saw that the witted way, that he seemed to be a long 72 WEIRD TALES

way off and that when he spoke his voice to talk of his experience, he drew the story sounded faint and distant. of the theatre from the unwilling manager. "Pray!” he sobbed. “Pray! Oh the long Some fifty years previously, when the night of Eternity! The long, black night of old theatre was still standing, a resident Eternity!” stock company had played there whose It was as though a blinding light had principal actress was more than ordinarily flashed through the room, and in a sudden beautiful. She had begun her professional blaze Sigurdsen saw clearly the awful peril career in a traveling circus where she had in which he stood. He knew that he must learned a good deal of out-of-the-way fight the thing that stood behind him or be knowledge, and, so she confessed at her

lost. Not his body, but his soul was the trial, had become a wilfing initiate to prize, and he too would know the long Satanism. On her own statement she took terror of eternal night. a keen delight in the act of murder and With an effort which almost racked him had actually succeeded in killing twelve

in pieces he flung his will against the evil men before she was caught, first lulling which was ravishing him and knew, on the them to a sense of security with her ca- instant, that his challenge was accepted. resses, and then breaking their necks by Wave upon wave of sensuous anesthesia means of that peculiar grip which Sigurd- flowed over him, while those wet spongy sen had such good reason to remember. arms renewed their fondlings, and the Her method of killing led the police to thing seemed to break into a horrid whis- believe that the criminal must of necessity pering, suggesting unspeakable delights. be a man of considerable physical strength, Sigurdsen fought with the courage of de- and she might never have been caught had

spair and in the deep recesses of his spirit it not been that her lover betrayed her. struggled to pray. For a moment the He was a young man of good family who, strength of the attack seemed to waver. besotted by her beauty, left his home and Struggling to his feet, he grasped the mir- took up the position of stage-doorkeeper ror with his two hands and brought it in order to be near her. She told him of down with a crash upon the make-up table, the murders and initiated him into the hor- breaking it into fragments. A dreadful rid mysteries of her cult; but he revolted bubbling scream rose from behind him, under the burden of guilt, betrayed her to and he sank deep into unconsciousness. the police and poisoned himself. At her trial When he came to his senses he found she professed herself proud of what she had himself, lying on the cobblestones of done in the service of her master and went the alley, his leather bag still unopened to her death laughing and unrepentant. by his side. No light shone out into the After her execution, said the manager, new lifting fog—he could see no stage strange things continued to happen at the door in the wall. He picked himself up old theatre. More mysterious deaths took and staggered back to the main street, to place, always in the old manner, until the find that the stage door for which he was proprietor of the building, vowing that searching was in the opposite direction there was a curse on it, had it pulled down and was reached through an arcade in the and erected the new theatre in its place. side of the block. He arrived there in a And the part where the old dressing-rooms state of collapse, was taken to his hotel were situated was walled off and filled up and put to bed, and for three weeks he with rubble, so that you couldn’t get into hovered on the verge of insanity. it if you wanted to. Later, when he had recovered sufficiently But Sigurdsen knows better. 'May plotted to i!ow up the mausoleum.”

<5U Over By DOROTHY QUICK

Turning in his grave was Rufus Fletcher’s way of making his family turn over a new leaf.

HE very last time I saw Rufus He looked at me and little wrinkles of Fletcher he was in a rage. laughter pushed the anger out of his eyes. "Young man,” he snarled, "That shows how much you don’t "you’d best keep away from my family. know, young man. felonde curls, blue Hie things they do are enough to make me eyes, peaches and cream comnlexion, a turn over in my grave!” beautiful torso and a smile that mows them

I muttered somediing about being sure down! That’s Celia. She looks like an Celia was too sweet to worry anyone. angel at the top of a Christmas tree, too n. —

74 WEIRD TALES

holy -to touch, but don’t let that mislead getting old—eighty-one, and what will you. She’s engaged to you and she came happen when I’m gone I don’t know. I in at four o’clock this morning and spent don’t expect any peace in my grave, but I’ve twenty-five minutes in the hall saying found a way to manage them. Tell that good-night to the upstart she’d been out father of yours I want to see him. I’m

with. I declare, it’s enough to make a man going over it again with him just to be turn in his grave when a girl carries on sure he understands. Don’t marry Celia like that!” unless you can wield a horsewhip and are willing to. She’s young—you might be TT WAS enough to make me feel some able to tame her down.”

cool prickling down my spine. I, too, Just at this point Celia, ravishing in ice had spent a long time saying good-night blue satin and ermine, came in. to Celia on various occasions, Celia in my “So,” she said, in the voice that always arms, her lips clinging to mine. I was reminded me of the chiming of silver deeply in love with Celia. I’d thought bells, "he’s been maligning me.” She she was in love with me, but if I was just dropped a kiss on the old man’s halo of part of a racket—her fiance, perhaps be- thistledown hair. cause her grandfather approved of me “Get along, and come in earlier to- I felt rage surging through me. night.” His tones were gruff, but his eyes “And that’s not all,” old Rufus went were smiling and the red was fading from on. "It isn’t enough that my grand- his forehead. daughter carries on in what I consider an "I’ll make it three, just for your sake. indecent fashion—her mother does the Come on Terry.” She caught my hand. same thing. She’s got a gigolo! A young "Don’t forget to tell your father, I want Italian she’s supporting with my money! to see him tomorrow,” Rufus called as we I declare, I’m ashamed of Frances and her went out. husband—-a stuffed shirt—as for Timothy, “Oh, dear,” Celia whispered, “he he’s my only son, but he gives me no peace. wants to see his lawyer. That’s a bad Wastrel, drunkard, his wife’s a fool, and sign!” my grandson Rufe is no better. He "I don’t consider wanting an interview doesn’t drink, but his business methods with my father anything of the sort,” I said are nefarious. He’d skin me alive if he stiffly. could get another nickel for it, and he "Stupid, you know I didn’t mean that. knows his methods burn me up.” Your father’s a dear, almost as nice as his “But, sir,” I interjected, I was afraid son.” We were in the famous hall Rufus he would have a stroke, the red was had been talking about, and Celia put her mounting in his face and his white eye- arm around my neck. “I’m afraid he’s brows jutted out from his forehead like going to change his will again, and maybe tufts of cotton on a ripe tomato. this time I’ll be out. Oh, well, let’s forget "No buts. My other daughter ought these sordid things.” She tilted her face so to be a comfort to me—the spinsters in the her lips came close to mine. family usually are—but May isn’t. She’s' I didn’t kiss her. I was remembering got queer Communistic ideas, and prac- what old Rufus had said. tically goes around waving a red flag. I "Celia,” I remarked sternly, "my love- sit on her of course—I sit on all of them. making can’t be very satisfactory if you They know what I want, what I like and have to find other kisses, so perhaps we’d what I don’t. I keep them in line, but I’m better consider our engagement— ”

TURN OVER 7 ?

Her face paled and she put her lovely "We were just talking when it hap- hand over my mouth. pened—just talking—poor dear father.” "Oh, no, Terry. No! I guess Rufus She began to sob. told you about last night? You were so I could imagine what the "just talking” busy I did go out with Bob Morton. I did had consisted of! Being in my father’s drink too much, I did let him kiss me. I law office, where Rufus Fletcher’s affairs wanted to find out if any other man could were handled, I knew every time his thrill me as much as you do.” daughter "talked” to him it meant money, "Did you—find out?” I managed to requests that usually were granted. To- mumble through her fingers. night he’d been on a rampage anyway so "I found out that I got a certain animal had probably refused. That would have reaction—any man that isn’t unattractive been a signal for fireworks. I could pic- can give a woman that—but there wasn’t ture everything perfectly but I hadn’t much any more—no sting to it. I didn’t want to time to check. Here I was with two wail- carry on, I didn’t want to belong to him ing females on my hands. Celia had buried wholly the way I want to belong to you. her face on my shoulder and begun to cry. Oh, Terry, let’s get married soon.” She I knew her tears were genuine, she had took her hand away. been fond of the old man, but I wasn’t sure about her mother’s. KISSED her. "We’ll be married in I was greatly relieved when I saw my June,” I announced. father coming downstairs. He looked very She clung to me. "No, Terry, sooner. solemn and rather disturbed. Let’s go down to City Hall tomorrow. The "I’m glad you’re here, Terry,” he Fletchers are rotten stock, and even though nodded to me, and then addressed Mrs. my name’s Norton I have Fletcher blood. Norton. "I’m sorry to intrude on your I need someone to look after me. Let’s grief and that of the other members of get married right away!” the family,— but in view of the” —he hesi- "Good idea!” Rufus popped his head tated "rather unusual directions Mr. out from behind the velvet curtain where Fletcher has left for his burial, I thought he’d been hiding. "Promise me, Terry, I’d better talk to the family at once. The you’ll marry her no matter what that weak- others are waiting in the library.”

minded creature, her mother, says.” Then and there I iknew Mrs. Norton’s "I promise,” I told him with due seri- grief wasn’t real. She stopped sobbing at ousness. We shook hands, while Celia once and regarded my father coldly. clapped hers, then smiling, like a benign "Surely Mr. Winthrop, we might have a old Santa Claus, he let us out the front few hours of privacy.” door. "It seems best to acquaint you with "Best night’s work I’ve done in a long these—er—somewhat unusual provisions time.” His words floated after us, but —at once Celia and I -were too busy making plans "Just what are these arrangements to for the wedding to hear. Neither of us which you refer?” had any way of knowing that we would "If you’ll come to the library I’ll go into never see Rufus alive again. them fully.” When we came home we were met by In solemn procession we followed my Mrs. Norton who told us that shortly after father. Celia clinging to me. Once there we’d gone, Rufus had had a stroke and we found Thomas Norton, very quiet and died almost immediately. Timothy Fletcher and his son. Timothy - —

*76 WEIRD TALES

had been drinking and young Rufe had a very expensive electrical apparatus, which the avaricious look in his eyes his grand- will register each turn on an instrument in father had disliked. His mother, Bertha my office. It has already been installed in Fletcher, was a nondescript kind of per- the family mausoleum by the electric com- son; she was sniffling unobtrusively. May pany Mr. Fletcher selected. When Mr. Fletcher sat straight and stiff in a high- Fletcher’s—er—remains are placed there backed chair. She was the only one who it will be connected with wires coming

resembled Rufus, and the likeness came from the coffin. In the bottom is a thin more from her thick white hair, which pad on which Mr. Fletcher will lie. If

aureoled her face as her father’s had done. Mr. Fletcher turns in his grave, it will defi-

They all looked up when we came in nitely be registered. I have instructions and Thomas Norton came over and put his to have a clerk constantly watching the in- arm around his wife. She promptly strument in my office which will register

shrugged it away. Frances was the brittle, the convolutions.” beauty parlor type—a woman of forty-five "It’s—crazy, and show's that my grand- who looked thirty, but nevertheless gave father ” Rufe began. the impression to a really observant re- My father held up his hand. gard, that without the make-up, massages, "There’s a good reason for it. Mr. and lotions she would look her age. Fletcher has left his estate divided equally Young Rufe acted as spokesman. "We between you all, including Mr. Norton are all' very curious, Mr. Winthrop.” and Mrs. Timothy Fletcher. He said he’d My father sat down and eyed him. like them to have some independence

"I don’t doubt it. Once again my they hadn’t had any so far, and if they apologies for intruding upon your—er— didn’t soon they’d be buried without ever grief, but as Mr. Fletcher has made some having been able to call their souls their very peculiar arrangements I thought you own.” should know about them beforehand. For Mrs. Norton bit her lip, Timothy instance the coffin that your father ordered Fletcher laughed aloud, while his son was —and paid for—is extra wide.” obviously annoyed. There was a little chorus of exclama- Father continued, "The money is to be tions. May Fletcher finally crashed held in trust by the bank and myself and through with, "May I ask why?” paid out in a monthly allowance to each "Certainly. Your father expects to one, but if Rufus Fletcher turns in his turn often in his grave.” grave that month’s check is to be with- Another chorus of exclamations; the held from the person responsible for his shock stopped Celia’s crying. turning and divided equally among the

"Mr. Fletcher said that with the collec- others, or if I cannot determine who is re- tion of heirs he had—I beg your pardon sponsible, then no one is to receive any but I am quoting the words of your father money that month, and the money is to go —that he would probably spend most of to charity.” his time turning in his grave, so he might "We can break the will,” Rufe squinted as well do it in comfort.” his eyes. "It’s perfectly obvious that my "Preposterous—w’on’t allow it!” Tim- grandfather was out of his head.” othy spoke up. My father shook his head. "You can’t l\yfY FATHER smiled. "Mr. Fletcher prevent it. Mr. Fletcher had it put in his anticipated that you might say that, will. The coffin will be connected with and also that the—er—unusual arrange- ”

TURN OVER 77

meats might give some cause for such a husband, forget society and try to be a conclusion, and guarded against any ac- good mother, and not spend so much on tion on your part. He had three of the clothes. finest sanity experts examine him and cer- "Timothy—stop drinking. Get to know tify to his sound mentality, also two judges your wife and thrash your son.

and his personal physician. I think you’d "Rufus, try to learn it’s more blessed to not get very far with a suit, Rufe, and I give than to receive, and honesty is the best must also tell you that anyone who tries policy. to break the will can have no share what- "Celia, be sweet and natural, stop play- ever in the estate.” ing, and make Terry a good wife.” Rufe’s importance collapsed like a de- At this point Celia put her hand in flated rubber tire. mine. Mrs. Norton began sputtering until May Then Father went on. "He said, 'The drew herself up still higher in her chair. only thing Thomas and Bertha can do to

"Don’t be ridiculous, Frances. It’s all make me mad is not to take advantage of very silly. I’m sure I’d never do anything the independence I’m giving them.’ There, to—to—make Father turn in his grave, I think these things are almost verbatim, but if that’s the way he wanted things to but I’ll mail a copy to eadi of you. I also be we’ll have to abide by what he says in forgot to mention there is a register here the will.” as well as in my office.” He walked to the

"I’ll jolly well say so, and I think it’s a book case, turned a key, swung open the

good joke on all of us.” Timothy laughed. door; the bools came with it, and behind

"You won’t think it’s so funny when was something that looked like a radio. you have to stop drinking.” It was the On die dial, which— resembled a compass, first time Bertha, Timothy’s wife, had ever were four things "R. I. P., Full Turn,

asserted herself so far as I, or anyone else, Turn to Right, Turn to Left.” There was knew. We all looked surprised, Timothy a needle that at present indicated "R. I. P.,” most of all. The mirth trickled out of "Resting in peace.” Father said, "If diere’s

him. any change, the needle indicates it, also a Frances Norton looked at May. "You bell rings. It will. I’m afraid make quite don’t need to be so sure of yourself either,— a bit of noise. Rufus wanted it like that, my dear sister. Father didn’t approve but once it is noted in my office, where it "When— it comes to approving, how about rings simultaneously, though not so loud, your ” May cut in but father stopped it will be switched off until the next time.” her. "Idiotic! We’re all fools to even listen "It may interest you to know a few of to this rigmarole. I shall consult a law- the things your father most disliked. He yer!” Rufe raged. gave me a list, but it’s pretty firmly "If you do, you’ll lose your inheritance. stamped on my mind. Once again I apolo- Besides the firm of Winthrop and Win- gize—-you’ll realize, however, I’m only throp is the best in die city. The world quoting: knows that,” Thomas Norton said pom- "May’s Communistic ideas. None of pously. my money can support anything but Amer- Timothy laughed. "Don’t be an idiot icanism, and I don’t like her holier-than- yourself, my boy. There’s no use giving thou attitude either. The two don’t go to- up anything or fighting the will. Every- gether and she’d better forget them both. thing will be just as Father wanted it.” "As for Frances, she’d better stick to her Everyone looked at him in surprise. ”

78 WEIRD TALES

"Are you going to stop drinking?” his didn’t want her grandfather to turn in his wife asked. grave. He laughed again. "Of course not. "I quite see your point. So far as I can You don’t suppose I believe Father can see it’s only advancing the date. I’ll ar- turn in his grave—do you believe it?” He range with Judge Freeman to marry you threw the question in my father’s face. tomorrow. Fortunately you’ve got the For the first time that evening my father license.” smiled. Father knew I’d been carrying that

"I’ve been wondering how long it would around for weeks. take that point to penetrate, and who "Nothing of the sort. Just because

would see it first. Congratulations, Tim- Celia is an heiress is no reason for gobbling othy. You are quite right. I don’t be- her up immediately!” Frances Norton was lieve Rufus Fletcher or anyone else can her nastiest self. turn in their grave. I told him so. He Father replied to her. "Celia’s always didn’t agree, but that’s beside the point. been an heiress and, so far as that goes, my

I take it no one wants to interfere with boy not only is my heir but has money of Mr. Fletcher’s arrangements.” his own.” "I don’t care. I positively forbid the O ONE did, not even young Rufe. match, and Celia’s not of age. I won’t N He was quite chagrined that he had allow—her to be married before June—if not thought of such an obvious solution. then There was a general lifting of spirits. Even There was a silence broken by a pierc- May unbent and talked kindly to Bertha. ing scream from upstairs. We all rushed Celia clutched my hand harder, pulled outside to find Molly, the housekeeper, me down until my face was on a level with rushing down the steps faster than her age hers. "Terry, I want to be married right would ordinarily have allowed. away.” "It’s the master!” she gasped.' "I was "Now?” I exclaimed. "But the funeral!” sitting there watching him and all at once "I don’t care. Grandfather wished us he moved. As sure as I’m speaking he to be married right away—we promised. turned over on the bed. He’s lying on his I—I don’t want him to turn over in his side, and I don’t believe it’s dead he is!” grave.” No one spoke, no one moved. Frances I looked at her closely and saw that, turned white under her rouge. My father incredible as it seemed, she actually be- rushed upstairs and came back looking pale lieved it was a possibility. I leaned over around his mouth. and kissed her, then led her to my father. "There’s no doubt he’s moved. He "We want to be married right away, was lying on his back when I left. Tele- Dad—tomorrow.” phone for the doctor, Terry.” The others, who had begun to cluster Dr. Linden lived next door. He came in little groups, immediately focused their in and solemnly reiterated that Mr. attention on us. Fletcher was quite dead, mumbled some-

"Isn’t this a bit soon?” my father asked, thing about it being either a practical joke but I could tell from his tone he didn’t or a cadaveric spasm, and went away as dislike the idea. quickly as he had come. Celia began to explain. She told them Celia turned to her mother. what Rufus had said earlier in the evening, "It was just after you said I couldn’t and our promise, and reiterated that she marry Terry. Grandfather knows what TURN OVER 79 we say, what we do! I’m going to do was afraid someone might cut the wires.” what he wanted. I’m going to marry He looked at Rufe and from the young

Terry tomorrow.” man’s face it was easy to read that he had This time Frances Norton made no pro- had such an idea—even though his words test. denied it, "As though it would be neces- sary!” — TT7.E WEPT, married at noon. I took "You forget ” Frances began. * ’ Celia home to my apartment for the "That,” Rufe faced her fiercely, "was honeymoon as we had to attend the funeral a cadaveric spasm, or else Molly moved the next day. I told her I didn’t think she him. Anything else is unthinkable.” should go to the cemetery but she shook "According to instructions I am probat- her head. ing the will at once. Shall I come and "I’m going to be a good wife, Terry, read it to you all tonight?” my father and do what you say, but not this. Grand- asked. father would want me to be there. I did “No,” Rufe flung at him. Being the so many things he didn’t like when he was business man of the family, he seemed to alive that I want to make up for them always assume the role of spokesman, and now.” nobody differed.

"So you believe he knows?” I asked, as "Your first checks will be due on the I kissed her. 15th.” It was the tenth, so there was not “Yes, I do. The money doesn’t count, long to wait.

Terry. I-—I just want to please him.” "Considerate,” Rufe sneered. ”1 know that, sweet.” I kissed her again. Then the group broke up. rjlHE funeral was quite in keeping with rni-IREE days later Celia and I were in the Fletcher tradition. The extra wide vited to dinner by—wonders of won coffin was so arranged with flowers 'that ders—Bertha Fletcher. It was the first its unusual size passed without notice. The time we’d been to the Fletcher home since interment was to be private. It took place the funeral. Celia’s mother had pointedly with a great bevy of electrical experts who ignored her daughter’s existence. Celia connected a complicated series of wires didn’t want to go but when I pointed out supervised by my father, while the heirs it would be much better to be friendly, took refuge in stony silence. Timothy, and this was a way of breaking the ice for once, was quite sober, and clung to -—besides encouraging Bertha’s independ- Bertha in a fashion that brought a glow of ence, she gave in very sweetly. As we happiness to eyes from which it had long went up the steps she said, "It’s funny, been a stranger. Celia was the only one but I don’t feel any sense of belonging who cried, but I knew that underneath her here any more.” grief was the great happiness we had "Of course not—you belong to me.” found together which would soon pull her The door opened; Broadstairs, the but- out of her misery. ler, was delighted to see us. Bertha came When everything was finally settled, we out of the living room. I w'as amazed at left the mausoleum and father locked the the change in her. Before she had been door and put the big heavy key in his an inconspicuous old maid type, despite pocket. having a husband and son. Now she was

"I forgot to tell you, there’s to be a as smart looking as Frances and much pret- guard here day -and night. Mr. Fletcher tier, for her skin was naturally lovely, and ” ”

80 WEIRD TALES

the dusky hair which was rejoicing in its reached the drawing room, Timothy wasn’t

first permanent made her look young and with us. stylish. "I’d better go back and look for him,” "I’m glad you came,” she said hur- Norton said to me. "He’s been drinking riedly. "We want to see if you can’t do very little since the funeral. I’d hate to something with your mother. She’s been see him start.” He turned toward the seeing a lot of that Mr. D’Alvari and I door, but Frances’ high-pitched voice ar-

thought—” rested him. "Thomas, I wish to tell you Thomas Norton came down the stairs all that I will—not have my friendships in- and greeted Celia affectionately. He, too, terfered with had suffered a"sea change.” He was more "But, Mother, I only suggested.—” natural and much less pompous. The Celia began. other drifted in—Frances, brittle as a "That my friendship with Tony D’Al-

newly formed icicle. It seemed funny to vari is more than a friendship,” Frances

think of them all still living in the old cried. "You’ve all been talking about me house as they had done when Rufus was behind my back, setting my own child alive. against me—afraid I’ll make Father turn Conversation was difficult at first but over in —his grave, I suppose, whereas the soon simmered into normality. truth is After dinner the ladies left the dining It went on and on—arguments until I room. I saw determination in Celia’s eye, wanted to pick Celia up and carry her and knew she meant to speak to her home. It had just reached the point mother. where a hair-pulling row between Frances Timothy refilled his brandy glass. and Bertha seemed imminent when the "It’s funny how strained wr e’ve all felt bell began to ring. —as though we had the sword of Damo- At first they thought it was the front cles hanging over our heads.” door, but gradually the idea of what it

"Don’t be silly, Father. It’s all non- really was seeped through their conscious- sense. Grandfather can’t turn over in his ness. It was the bell in the library! Rufus grave. No bell’s going to ring.” Rufe Fletcher had turned over in his grave. spoke calmly. When we got there, the library dial had “Are you sure of that?” There was registered a full turn! eagerness in Timothy’s voice. It seemed incredible, but they had seen “Certainly.” with their own eyes when the apparatus "Then why didn’t you sign the papers was installed that here was no possible for the Carleton deal you knew Rufus trickery. My father had attended to that. wouldn’t approve of?” The only thing that could ring the bell was The young man laughed. "Because movement inside the coffin. there was a clause I didn’t approve of! I shivered inwardly. Celia was quite Not for any silly foolishness about calm, and apparently not surprised. graves.” “I knew it would happen.” She had to "Oh.” Timothy drained his glass and talk loud, the bell made such a clamor. filled it again. “It’s your doing,” Rufus told Frances. “Let’s go upstairs,” Thomas Norton "You and your gigolo! That’s what made suggested, nervously eyeing the brandy him turn.” bottle. Frances gasped, but recovered herself We all started upstairs, but when we quickly. — —

TURN OVER 81

"Not at all. I’ve done nothing. Father been behaving remarkably for a Fletcher, —Father wouldn’t turn over for a family I can only assume that’s your influence!” quarrel—he actually enjoyed those. I he sneered. it’s much more likely to be your father. "Celia happened to love her grand- He’s probably drunk, and father always father. She’s the only one of you with a hated that.” heart. She also thinks it’s quite possible She was right—about Timothy. We for him to turn and she isn’t going to be found him sprawled on the dining-room responsible. So far as the money is con- table, the empty brandy bottle beside him. cerned, I have plenty without Celia’s. I

There was no doubt of his condition being wouldn’t touch a penny of it.” the cause of die infernal din that still went Rufe walked out of the room and May, on from the bell. the stiff bulwark of propriety, cried out, By the time we’d gotten him to bed, my "Father—Father!” and fainted. father arrived. Frances was screaming On the way home I asked my father, hysterically, "I can’t stand it — Father who was walking a few blocks with us, couldn’t turn over in his grave, but he has, "Do you believe old Rufus is turning over he has! Oh, please make that bell stop!” in his grave?” Just at that moment the bell ceased ring- My father hesitated. "I wouldn’t have ing. It was a tremendous relief to us all. a week ago, but now Young Rufe tried to put some of the blame on Frances, but after everyone else rpHAT was the way we all felt. Except had spoken up Frances was absolved from young Rufe, who went to the mauso- blame. She was still hysterical, so Celia leum the next morning with a formidable took her upstairs where Bertha was al- barrage of experts of his own. They had ready watching over Timothy. hardly started their investigation when the

The rest of us milled over the situation bell began to ring. I was in our office at for a long time without reaching any defi- the time, and could hear it buzzing away in nite conclusion. Thomas Norton believed the room set apart for it. Rufe continued in the supernatural, just as Celia did; Rufe his investigations despite it, but all he got didn’t. I never had, but in view of the was the indisputable opinion that the bell facts it was beginning to look as though I had to be rung by movement within the were wrong. coffin. I didn’t like the glint in Rufe’s eyes. So he returned to the Fletcher mansion "I am going to investigate that mauso- with no satisfaction and much poorer, for leum and the wiring,” he announced. he had lost his first allowance on account "Investigate all you like, but you can’t of the bell’s ringing. open the coffin. That’s in the will,” Father The rest of the month was hectic—the told him. “Mr. Fletcher didn’t want to be bell went off so frequently. Sometimes our given what he spoke of as "the once over” office had difficulty in placing the cause. every time one of you doubted whether Once was obvious. After the allowances he’d moved or not.” had been paid Frances Norton gave a gen-

“If there’s trickery it doesn’t come from erous check to D’Alvari. Rufus Fletch- inside the coffin.”— Rufe looked at me. er’s instructions had been definite about “May I ask ” I began. keeping an eye on the activities of his “Certainly. If one of us loses his share, family. Father had suspected D’Alvari there’s that much more for the rest. You would be the source of trouble sooner or married Celia pretty quickly, and she’s later, so he had had him watched. The 82 WEIRD TALES

minute he went to cash the check, the bell open and the dial was plain to be seen.

rang! Nobody jested about it any more; in fact,

Once it seemed as though we’d have to they were too serious. give up placing the blame for a half turn "Eve never believed in ghosts. I really on old Rufus’ part, and Father said he’d thought when Mr. Winthrop first men- withhold everyone’s allowance for the tioned the turn over business that Grand- month. Then Bertha tearfully confessed father had been insane. I realize now that that she’d given her money to Timothy. this isn’t so. There are more tilings in

That, of course, didn’t fit in with Rufus’ heaven and earth than we dream of. idea of independence. Grandfather turns all right! It registers, Another time the bell sounded was and if he didn’t move—actually move, I when young Rufe signed the papers for a mean—it wouldn’t. I’ve had experts, and business deal his father had mentioned. I’ve sat hours out in that cold mausoleum The dial registered a full turn for this. with the guards. I know no one touches Even my sweet Celia was responsible for the wires. I’ve even encouraged Father to a turn to the left. Being lonely and bored get drunk to see if the bell would ring at when I had had to work late several nights, the right time. Well, it did. I am con- she went out dancing with Joe Blake. I vinced, and I’ve called this meeting be- knew about it and didn’t mind, but Rufus cause I think we’re being fools.” apparently did, for the bell rang. "What do you mean?” Frances asked. May Fletcher set it off several times; two "To lose money all the time and be re- donations to the Communist party and one sponsible for disturbing our relatives’ rest. speech distinctly on the Red side were the After all, it lies with us as to whedier causes. Grandfather turns over or not.”

Timothy also was responsible for elec- I could see Father nodding his head with trical discords and half revolutions, for he approval. Bertha, who had been angry went on drinking. Even Thomas Norton when Rufe spoke of getting Timothy made old Rufus turn when he allowed his drunk, deliberately calmed down, and wife to interfere with his going to his col- Timothy himself laughed in his jovial way. lege dinner because she wanted him to “It would come hard with me. I’m fond stay at home with her. of brandy.” The St. John Orphanage was much "You’ll stop drinking it if I have to beat richer that month and Rufe had to run you to a pulp,” Rufe told him. the house, as he had means of his own. “Look—look at the dial!” Celia cried. The worst of all was when May plotted Our heads turned, like those of people to blow up the mausoleum. The guards at a tennis match, toward the dial. The pretended to be bribed, but reported what hand, which had been at "R. I. P.,” had was going on, and we caught her with one begun to quiver and move toward the of her Communistic friends about to plant "Half turn to the left.” a time bomb. The needle made three full "I didn’t mean it, sir—really!” Rufe turns around the dial and the bell went on spoke as though his grandfather was actu- for hours. ally in the room. "I wouldn’t beat him, Things continued like this for several but I will see he behaves himself—you’ll months, then the bell rang less frequently. like that, I know!” Finally Rufe called a family meeting one The hand moved back to "R. I. P.” morning. We all came and sat silently in where it was finally still. the Fletcher library. The book case was "That settles it,” Timothy whispered. ”

TURN OVER 81

"I’ve never really quite believed Father around.” Celia’s voice shook with emo-

moved, but I do now.” tion. "How can he know what we do, as we "Good girl,” for once Rufe wasn’t in-

do it, so quickly?” May asked. tolerant. In fact, his whole nature seemed "All things are possible to the soul. It to have mellowed. "Now, how about the is free and can be everywhere.” Thomas rest of you?” He looked around; every- Norton, who was very religious, spoke the one nodded. "You’ll stop drinking?” He words as though he were in a pulpit of the directed his question to Timothy. church. "I’d be a brute if I didn’t. Perhaps the "The old Egyptians had a theory—they thought of Dad turning over will keep me believed that a unity was composed of sober. I hope so.” Timothy was actually three parts—the body, the ba, or spirit, and serious. the ka, which was more or less the body’s Bertha put her hand in his. "I’ll help guardian. The ka stayed in the tomb to you, Tim—and—I’ll be independent.” watch over the body, but the ba, or spirit, Rufe switched to May. "And how about could roam about at will—sometimes even the Communist party?” take human form, though eventually it She sniffed. "I’m finished with them must return to its two other components,” anyway. Ever since we tried to bomb the Bertha told us. "It’s Father’s spirit that mausoleum and they told me I belonged knows everything we do, though his body with the aristocrats because I owned a registers it.” marble palace, for that’s what they thought the mausoleum was, I’m through! I’m COULDN’T help thinking how com- thinking of taking up the cult of Karish- I pletely Bertha had changed. She had el-Khiam.” always been scholarly, but before Rufus "Look,” Rufe swung around, "Grand- Fletcher died she would no more have father doesn’t like it!” The needle was dared to share her knowledge of erudite wobbling again. matters than she would have appeared in "All right—I wasn’t very enthusiastic the nude. about Karish. I’ll go and help the Rever- "There’s another explanation,” I put in, end Spleen at Father’s own church.” for I had been giving the matter consider- The needle went back to "R. I. P.” able thought. "I believe that everything "And don’t think it’s on account of the produces a vibration of its own, like a money,” May went on. —"I—I hate to radio wave length, for example. Well, think of Father so restless Rufus Fletcher’s body may be so attuned "So do I!” exclaimed Frances. “I’ve, to the things he disliked that when one been worrying about it lately and I told of them happens it produces an automatic Toni last week I didn’t want to ever see reaction.” him again. You know, Father seems closer

May nodded her head. It was - plain now that he’s dead than when he was that this appealed to her more than any alive. I want you to know, Thomas, of the other reasons. there’s never been any harm in my friend- "I think the dead do know what we do. ship with D’AIvari. I was just vain epough I believe they have power—much more to be flattered with attention, and silly than we, even if they can’t make them- enough to want to be young and go on selves visible. I’ll do anything I can to dancing and having good times. I’ve given have Grandfather rest in peace, and not you some horrid moments, but I’ll make up have that horrid little hand moving to you for them.” —

84 WEIRD TALES

Norton took his wife’s hand. "I’ve thought he might be able to—dead. I been foolish, too, letting you go your own know he believed thoroughly in after life, way—staying in too much. Hereafter we’ll and the survival of tire soul. But Rufus step out together. I can dance myself Fletcher wasn’t a man to take chances. It after a few lessons.” has occurred to me that he might have Celia’s tears were quite dry now and had some kind of an electric machine hid- she smiled happily. den in the lining of the coffin that would "That just about settles everything ring the bell and register turns or half then,” Rufe said, "except I do want you to turns every so often. He’d know his

know it isn’t all money with me either. family rvell enough to know there’d be I’m going to give up all my shady trans- plenty of cause.” actions and be as honest in my dealings "That's a swell theory, but it doesn’t ex- as Grandfather was. He made his fortune plain how the bell rang so opportunely.” squarely, I guess I ought to be able to do “Coincidence.”

as' well. It’s only lately that I’ve realized "And the way the neddle quivered this what a darn fine man he was. I want to morning when young Rufe threatened to think of him at peace.” Rufe actually beat up his father, and May spoke of that wiped a tear away from the comer of his cult.”

eye. "Oh, I’ll admit it’s a theory you can

Father got up and said that their de- shoot full of holes, still it’s odd that he cision had made him personally very happy said in the will his coffin must never be

and he knew that it would have an even opened or disturbed. It was because he greater efficacy where Rufus Fletcher was made such a point of that I got the idea. I concerned. Everyone shook hands and may be right or wrong. I don’t suppose the conference ended on a high note, un- we’ll ever know the truth.” usual for that family. We never did. The complete right- about change in the Fletcher family didn’t N OUR way back to the office I asked happen all at once. There were lapses; O Father, "What did you think of my Timothy found it hard to give up his theory of vibration?” brandy and Frances, even if she is my "It’s as good as any. I’ve got one of mother-in-law?, is primarily a fool. The my own.” bell rang occasionally in spasmodic "Why didn’t you mention it?” lengths of time over a period of thirteen "I don’t want to interfere with their months—just long enough to "set” the good resolutions. They’ll be hard enough entire family in their new roles. Soon they to live up to as it is. But I’ll tell you if were letter perfect; then the bell ceased you promise to keep it to yourself.” ringing. "Of course.” No one ever doubted that it would "Not even a whisper to Celia.” sound again if they didn’t live up to Rufus I promised solemnly. Fletcher’s idea of them, so they did—-and Then Father began. "Rufus Fletcher Rufus Fletcher rested at peace in his grave. knew his family. He knew that under- Had he ever turned over? Had my neath all that screw ball exterior was in- father just happened to hit on the real trinsic worth, but he was wise enough to solution, or had Rufus Fletcher’s last slum- see that only something drastic could strip bers actually been disturbed? Personally off the outer skin. He was also sure that, I believe they were, but it’s a question that alive, he couldn’t do it, but he obviously will never be answered. By H. T. W. BOUSFIELD

The evolution of the human family disproved, denied— every speculator since Darwin, wrong.

F YOU find this story incredible, I me what small property he had—an old- must ask you to remember that it is fashioned and dilapidated house in Caith- I based upon notes made by my unde ness, a quantity of debts and very little who died in the Spring of 1939 and left money with which to settle them. 85 — —I

86 WEIRD TALES

My uncle must have been, I think, a actually seemed more familiar and more man of greater classical learning than he dear than my native Scotland. believed, and if his notes had been pub- I vaguely intended to write. But to my lished by himself in the form of a properly shame I never produced anything in all the annotated paper he might have readied years except one small book of lyrics— the head-lines. But as I hardly know the refer to my Sporades which appeared in difference, between Greek and Latin other 1927 and is now out of print. It wasn’t people must make what they can of the af- a success, I may say. The English Press

fair. I cannot even date it, but I should as a whole ignored it, though a small edi- imagine Unde David’s impossible adven- tion went quite well in America. ture happened in the early thirties—-if one I suppose I was Greek-mad, but I most

is to believe that it happened at all—be- certainly was not insane! cause I do vaguely remember that his great- I could not write well, I say, of the niece, Barbara Sdiofield (not my side of Greece I loved, but I must write now of the family), was lost in an air-liner in the what I saw and did and experienced dur- Spring of 1933 or 1934, and the house it- ing my third year in Hypata.

self was badly damaged by fire about a year It’s in Arcadia (to use the traditional

earlier. name) . I made it my headquarters as soon

I say at once, I have no corroborative as I saw it. Indeed I bought in that remote evidence. I am too busy to go to Greece mountain village a house of sorts where and I have no intention of doing so; it I could watch the sunrise and dream my would cost hundreds, with an interpreter sterile dreams and write my poems that and so on. As for the Macdonald couple were never quite good enough—and for- who looked after the Caithness house, any- get that better men than I were doing real body is welcome to their address, and I work in the world. wish anybody joy of them—rude, inde- In Hypata I spent the Spring and early pendent, ungrateful. In fact, insolent. Summer, undisturbed by political upheav- als and changes of government. Nothing Undated It Tas too high ( ) ever changed in Hypata. w rriHIS is a brief account of an adventure and too far away. that befell me, David Gannon, in The peasants accepted me without ani- Greece less than two years ago. I must mosity. They never treated me as an alien record it before I cease to believe in it my- and one—my real friend and my servant self. had, I believe, a genuine affection for me. My interest in Greek remains has never He was an old man called Peter. been scientific enough to qualify me for Now Greece is a volcanic country, full membership of any learned Society, I fear. of semi-extinct volcanoes—a country where I have been an amateur, and rather an idle the hills are never quite asleep. There are one, all my life. But I have some critical earthquakes in Greece that never seem to faculty in literature, and I have a natural make front-page news in London—many gift for languages. Greek literature and earthquakes. legend consoled me in my schooldays, and I got quite used to them, but I remember when I visited Greece for the first time I —in March it was—being shaken almost did not mind the primitive conditions that out of my bed by what seemed an endless then .confronted any traveler who went convulsion, so that I thought the little where tourists are not expected. The flow- house would fall down on me. It did not;

ers in the valleys and the snow on the hills it was sturdily built of stone, but when — —

THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURE 87

Peter arrived the next morning with goat’s questions that must have occurred to the milk and provisions he had a tale to least critical minds. tell. But I dimly remembered that before the There had been a fall of rock, five hun- quadrupled centaur established himself dred feet above me. A vineyard had been upon the average amphora there were overwhelmed. The peasants had fled to earlier legends of creatures, derived before the valleys. The hill-top was scarred and evolution, or God, had finally settled the broken. And Peter had been caught in the problem of the ultimate body of man catastrophe and narrowly escaped with his creatures human to the buttocks, and then life. with two legs indeed, but horses’ legs In his guttural dialect he told me an in- hoofed and covered with hair. credible thing. Before us there was something that was "I have found a centaur,” he said. "It all man to the hips, and then all horse. It

is wounded, and unless you can help it will might have been dead. It was unconscious. die.” One of those strange but strangely grace-

That is the proper way in which .to an- ful legs had been broken by a rock. There nounce the impossible: "I have found a was a bruise on the forehead. centaur.” As one might say: "The trout I shall never be able to describe my are rising; come quickly.” sensations at the sight. I believe I might Of course we went through the natural even have sniggered, but from the waist exchange of incredulity and re-assertion. up, at any rate, there was a fellow-creature But I was dressing all the time I argued who needed help. And from the waist up and disbelieved, and I ran as fast as Peter, was no savage, no half man or missing the old goat, up that hill. link, but a blond, strapping youth with a The fall of rock had been more tre- fine head, regular, intellectual features, a mendous than I’d imagined. Fortunately mass of cropped fair hair, a muscular body.

it had crashed away from Hypata. The top From the waist up he would have made a of the little mountain had been obliquely model for Praxiteles. From the waist sliced off as if by a sharp knife. And one down the evolution of the human family astounding thing was that a great tunnel was disproved, denied. was revealed, running down spirally into I ima.gine he was about seventeen years the earth. old. In the most fantastic circumstances one T WAS in the mouth of this tunnel that can only do ordinary things. I know some- I the incredible deferred to the impos- thing of first-aid—indeed, I once began to sible become a doctor, but I got bored with the Most people imagine a centaur as a hard work. So I could examine "it” fairly horse, four legs and all, with a man’s body, professionally, and I soon found that there neck, head and arms where the normal was nothing seriously wrong, apart from a horse’s head would grow. Such a monster simple fracture of the leg, and Peter, far is one of the commonest things in Greek calmer than I, helped me to carry it down art, and there are plenty of appropriate to my house. It groaned once or twice, legends to describe them. It appears that but I’d set the leg before pain really re- such centaurs somehow contrive to be stored consciousness. notoriously amorous as well as chronic dip- Life in that face made it beautiful, and somaniacs, and no poet or story-teller both- intelligent. Wary blue eyes caught mine ered to answer the many physiological with astonishment. Movement attempted 88 WEIRD TALES

was with pain abandoned. My centaur Very soon I gave up any attempt to spoke. understand his language and I began to I thought there was a hint of Greek in teach him mine. those unintelligible words, but nothing I had never taught anybody anything be- sounded that I could catch on to. I tried fore, but I think he was unusually quick. a dialect or two. Peter tried. I could see He tacitly agreed to learn, and I soon dis- we were a millenium too modern. But with covered what he called himself—at least it gestures evidently we managed to convey sounded like "Chalchis,” though that is that we were friendly, and the centaur ac- the name of a city. Anyway, I called him cepted a drink of milk, and presently slept. "Charles.” After a bit he realized that he This strange thing had been naked when was to be "Charles,” and he laughed and we found him. In my bed, with blankets nodded. up to his chin, he looked like an athletic The first time he said slowly, in quite undergraduate. He looked like the sort of good English: "I am Charles, and you are rowing-blue that flappers try to waylay for Daveed,” I mixed myself a strong drink; his autograph on the towing-path at Put- I don’t know why. ney. I used to wake up in the night and dis-

I said to Peter: believe in the whole tiring, until I realized "Have you spoken about this to any- I was lying on the floor, and Charles had body?” my bed. Old Peter, of course, was wonder-

"No, sir.” ful. I think he was as interested as I was, "Then swear to me you will not. Swear and I know he told nobody. But as Charles

to me that until I permit you to do so you began to get better I began to worry. will not even whisper that we have found What was to be done with him? Some- —what is it that we have found?” times he reminded me of Pan, but there "I think, sir,” said Peter, "that we have were no goat’s horns on his head; his ears found a young god.” were not pointed, and those unbelievable That day was spent by the centaur in hoofs were not cleft. I began to see noth- sleep, and I spent it in trying to force some ing incongruous in horse’s legs attached to sense into my conventionally astonished a magnificent human body. I began to brain. think my own useless toes, that had to be cased in leather before I could carry myself rpHAT night there was another upheaval, over stony ground, the absurdity, the de- and the following morning Peter re- formity.

ported that the mouth of the tunnel was When I have time to write a full ac-

quite obliterated. count of this, the photographs I took of I made Peter into a nurse, and apart Charles standing, running, sitting* will from occasional attacks of awe he did prove indeed that his lower limbs were very well. The patient was quick enough more practical than a normal man’s. What

to notice the awe and I could see it re- of natural selection, of survival of the fit- lieved and amused him. Oh, he was a test? Every speculator since Darwin has very normal young man of seventeen with been wrong.

the blankets up to his chin, and he began How long would it take an ordinary to pick up as only youth and health can. * Editor's Note: I have not been able to find any I sat most of the time by the bedside, find- photographs. My uncle had a camera, but two rolls ing by trial and error what he liked to eat of undeveloped films which I discovered amongst his effects produced nothing but vague shapes. and drink. H. T. W. B. —

THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURE 89

modem youth, who was trying his best, greatest problems. Almost any vegetation and who knew no English, to express him- that they could furtively gather from the self in that language? In three weeks world above was beaten into fibre and with Charles at any rate knew enough to tell me infinite care woven into fabric. Cloth was something about himself. their medium of currency. A centaur with According to him the race of Centaurs a spare robe or two was rich. No yard of had always lived in enormous caverns deep cloth that could hold together, however under the Arcadian Hills ever since some thread-bare, was ever abandoned. And the pre-historic battle with the Greeks had al- skins of animals, of course, were used as most exterminated them. You can imagine well. But nobody wasted clothes by wear- my questions. What of air? They had ing them just to cover their nakedness.

plenty, it seemed, which Charles supposed came from unnoticed caves in those wild MADE friends with Charles. I won regions. That must have been a fact, or I his devotion by giving him a shirt, a Charles himself could not have existed. pair of trousers and a rather worn tie of What of light? Torches. Imagine a race my old school! living by torch-light for five thousand No extravagant socialite—as I believe years! He added, however, that his people they call rich and idle young women—has paid many visits to the surface of the earth, ever been more interested in clothes than and were seldom or never seen by men. Charles. I began to feel ashamed, when Any man or woman who came upon a he got well enough to move about, that I centaur by chance was invariably murdered. had not provided myself with a more im- So fear can persist! Food? They lived nor- posing wardrobe. He tried on everything mally upon the blind fish caught in their I had—and his only distress was that my underground lakes, upon mushrooms, and socks and my shoes were beyond him. on any sheep or goats, birds or rabbits they I had wondered at the hairlessness of managed to snare in the world above. his face. Can you imagine shaving with a Cereals were naturally outside their normal blunt strip of immemorial tempered diet. They liked fruit when they could bronze? Apparently that was what Charles steal it. Vast bituminous deposits, I gath- was accustomed to—for he explained that ered, provided fuel for light and for fires. beards were forbidden as savagery. His Their politics? A simple patriarchal com- delight at an old safety-razor and rather munity. Religion? One god, who might blunt blades was pathetic. have paralleled Chronos; one goddess And Charles himself? He cheerfully perhaps Diana. Arts? Pottery. Literature? admitted that he had no affection for his They could write. He showed me some family or his race. He had no curiosity scrawls that I have carefully preserved. as to their fate in the earthquake. But Upon my soul they were ideographs, as he was quite sure they must have survived you can see; I have taken particular pains as they had survived a thousand in the to preserve them.* past. How many of his race? He neither I asked if they knew clothing—for in knew nor cared, but he did know that winter the cold in those parts can be biting. for some hundreds of years they had been It appeared that clothing was one of their dwindling in numbers. Were there ten thousand left? Not so many. Five? thousand likely. * I am still hoping to discover these specimens of Perhaps. Two more picture writing. If I do, they will be found as an His own contemporaries seemed to be appendix to this paper. epidemic of depression. H. T. W. B. suffering from an .

90 WEIRD TALES

(If it were due to inbreeding, Qiarles that he hated them, and their Patriarch, himself showed no signs of deterioration) his own father, most of all. His mother Himself, he had been forbidden to go up was dead, and he unfilially stated he had the tunnel on the night when the earth- never liked her. He had no brothers or quake came by his father—the chief of sisters. He had no friends. And he was the community—but he went because he glad of it. He admitted that the destruc- did not care whether he were killed or not. tion of one tunnel-mouth would not cut How did they know when volcanic dis- his people off from the world, but he re- turbances were likely? There was a spe- fused to show me others. cial class of Observers, who were also the priests, and they knew always—how, E WAS going with me, he said, Charles did not know. H wherever I went. He was going He easily got bored with too much to see the modern world. questioning, but I obtained quite enough Even in flannel trousers he could not information for a paper that will stagger hide those legs. They were comic, they the British Association. Only I do not were tragic, in trousers. They bent the propose to publish it until I secure proper wrong way! recognition. And the end of this adven- A naked centaur might be beautiful, ture has, of course, produced some legal even awesome; a centaur in trousers was difficulties. I must take advice. I don’t below the waist a figure of fun or of pity. want to be prosecuted. I realize that I And the weather was getting too hot may thoughtlessly have placed myself in for comfort. I was supposed to go home. an awkward position. Indeed, I had to go home, for my affairs One acts for the best, and then, alas, needed a little attention and my Scottish thinks later—too late. house a little care. By the time Charles was up and about, I had to go back. chattering to me in fluent but execrable I interviewed Peter, and the interview English, overeating himself with all the was short. Peter would obey me and not luxuries I could get (and they were not even whisper about my centaur, but look many) I made him listen to my chief after him, feed him, hide him, protect worry, which was his own future. him in my absence, Peter would not do At first he was blandly prepared to for all the money in Athens. assume that I was always going to live in Then I had a telegram from my old Iiypata, and he was always going to enjoy fool of a family solicitor who ought to the hide-and-seek life of pretending to be have been able to do by himself what I a man in flannel trousers. But as his own paid him to see to instead of me. keenness to learn English defeated his at- I had to go. tempts to misunderstand me, we had to And I found Ed drifted into an ab- have a show-down. surd affection for Charles. I wanted him to go back. I promised He was so gay and so amusing, and so an expedition to rescue his race from their utterly selfish and imprudent. He was so self-imposed imprisonment. I convinced intelligent and quick. He could by then him that they would run no more risk of even read and write English. His com- slaughter than he had. He believed that ments on what he read enthralled me. Im- would be more than modem men merci- agine them— ! No proverbial hen with ful, more even than benevolent, but he one chick was such a fool as I. juft would not co-operate. He said at last "Very well,” I said, "you’ll have to come —

THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURE 91

to Scotland with me. And if you don’t do an international crook—he just said: "Now exactly everything I tell you, down to the we can go?”

smallest detail, I’ll kill you!” "You will kill me•?” said Charles. "My E WENT. - - dear, kind David, you could not kill me; The journey was uneventful, but I am strong, and young. And you will very tiring for me. I had to see that Charles

not want to. I will be so good and quiet. spoke as little as possible, for his accent I will never disgrace you.” naturally was far from perfect. We de- So far, so good. Obviously, by dis- cided he should always speak in a whis- guising Charles as an invalid, I could get per when he had officially to speak, on ac- him down to the coast, and as an invalid count of some unspecified injury to his I could get him to Scotland without any throat. Really he was very good. He al- tiresome questions being asked. But there lowed himself to be wheeled about—al- are more things than tickets to buy when ways—on the boat that took us to Mar- one goes from one country to another in seilles, and if he did make a little noise these days. A passport for Charles was in our cabin, I was always prepared to the next thing. take the blame. The methods by which undesirable per- I must have been over-anxious, for no- sons can get passports have bothered the body complained. Such a handsome young police of every country for many years, man could not help attracting some atten-

and I have (when I thought about it) tion, even in my rather shabby coats and inveighed against the scoundrelly under- caps and so on, and there was one young

ground traffic as sincerely as any other re- woman on that French boat who showed spectable citizen. Yet without the help a very undesirable interest in him that

of that underworld I do not know what Charles might have encouraged. But, as I I should have done. say, he was very good—and I really did Since some sort of passport must have not give him a chance; when I was about been obtained, or I could never have got —and I was always about—he resigned

Charles out of Greece, there is no point himself to the role of invalid. I told the

in pretending that I did not get it. It was few acquaintances I could not help pick- expensive. It purported to have been ing up that he was my nephew who had signed by Curzon of Kedlestone. It car- been gravely injured in a motor smash. ried Charles’ photograph—just head and Once across France, once across the shoulders—and it had an array of past Channel, I had no more worry over his visas that would have deceived the devil passport. Really it was so good that no- himself. body could question it. In Marseilles I Even if I’m prosecuted, I shall not be- bought him clothes. I could not bear him tray the source from whence it came, be- to be so shabby as my old things made cause the job was well done. But I wish him, so we reached Scotland without the

I had that passport still, even if it were least incident, though the journey was ter- evidence against me. ribly expensive. Special carriages, stretch- During my inevitable absence in con- ers, ambulances almost ruined me. But he triving this international crime, Charles had to go flat on his back. (now Charles Mountain, according to that My house in Caithness is not marvel- same passport) behaved with perfect cir- lous. I know it needs modernizing in half- cumspection under the eye of Peter, and a-dozen wrays. But it has one advantage: when I returned feeling like a criminal Robert Macdonald and his -wife, who — —

92 WEIRD TALES

looked after it in my father’s time as well T’M a coward, I suppose; at least a pro- as mine, are .absolutely reliable. 's- crastinator. No need to do anything They have never, I know, approved of at once. That day, and next day, and the my journeys abroad, but they are utterly day after I was safe—we were safe. I faithful, and the first thing I did when needn’t think immediately in that remote we had arrived and the ambulance men house where nobody would come that I had gone away was to call old Robert into didn’t want to see. Time enough to de- my study. cide when—when I had to. I made him sit down, and I said to Old Elspeth fell for Charles at once him: as definitely, though dourly, as the pretty "My guest, Robert, is no ordinary man. girl on the French boat. She gave us her I may as well tell you now as later. He best cooking, she waited on Charles hand is a demi-god.” and foot. She began to hint I was cruel "And what heathen thing may that be, to the poor wean in keeping him locked up,

sir?” as she described it. "He is a centaur. He is a man—not yet For his part, Charles was far too inter- a Qiristian, maybe, but a man. Only his ested in his new surroundings to regard legs are not a man’s legs. Now he is to himself as a prisoner. With Robert’s con-

stay here until I can decide what is to be nivance I got rid of the only gardener, and done. You must look after him, and I he could get some exercise in the grounds.

rely on you not to talk. And I rely on But most of the time he spent in the li- you that Elspeth doesn’t talk either.” brary and making me explain what he read

“Elspeth won’t talk. But what’s wrong of a world he still could not quite believe with his legs? And what’s a demi-god in. what heathen tiling have you brought?” Charles was never bored—and I was "I have brought here,” I said, "a cen- not, for I saw with every hour that I taur. His legs are horse’s legs.” mmt make up my mind to do something. "Indeed,” said Robert. Even if we were not discovered by some "You can see him,” I said. mischance, the day was bound to come I took him into the Jacobite room. when I should have to betray Charles to

"Get up, Charles,” I said. "This is the world. I could not bear to think that Robert Macdonald who will look after my beautiful, amusing, incredible Charles you. No need to fear him! he served my might be photographed and placarded as father before me.” And Charles stood a monster. It would have killed him. up and held out his hand. I’d settled matters with my old fool of "Good-day,” said Charles in his funny a solicitor by letters and expensive trunk

accent. telephone calls, and that meant my fam- But Robert Macdonald crossed himself, ily would know I was back from Greece.

and then he bowed. "In this house, sir,” There is no defense from a family solicitor, he said, "you have nothing to fear,” and especially a stupid one. he turned to me. "I served your father I was actually planning a disguise for before you, and my father did so before Charles, artificial feet to be made by some

me. I do not know what this means, but bribed craftsman under the direction of a there’ll be no talking.” reliable orthopaedist, when I got a telegram And then he went out. from my great-niece, Barbara, to say she And then I knew my worry was only had heard I was back and she proposed to just beginning. come and stay with me for a week. THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURE 93

Barbara never writes letters, and for- ing after he requires. But you can see tunately for her she has enough money to him and read to him and maybe improve make her telegrams long. She was com- his English—he’s very keen on getting bet- ing to stay wdth me because she had broken ter with his mother-tongue—and cheer the her engagement with John (who was poor boy up. Yes,” I said, "it will be a

John? ) and she felt the pure air of Caith- distraction to you, too, during yout short ness would cure her wounded heart. Or stay here, and it will maybe take your words to that effect. mind off this John of yours. Who is John, It was nearly lunch-time when I got by the way? I can’t imagine any young that telegram, and the aged Angus who man you had a fancy for letting you go.” obliges now and then by carrying tele- "We won’t talk about John, Uncle grams from the local post-office admitted David, if you don’t mind,” she said. "John he had loitered by the way. Loitering to is nothing more to me than a reminder him, meant anything you like in hours or that I can be just as much a fool as any days. other woman. And I thought I was wise. To cut a long and agonizing story short, "But what do you mean by a short I had hardly collected Charles from the visit? Don’t you generally spend the sum- orchard and hurried him indoors when she mer up here? I’m going to stay a month arrived. at least.” I knew—I knew then that the game was "A month?” I said. up- "Don’t you want me to stay. Uncle Barbara Schofield—my late wife’s great- David?” niece, actually—is very pretty. At least I "My dear,” I said, "my dear—you know think so. I’m not too old to admire pretty you’re welcome for ever, but an old man women, I hope. Her hair really is Titian with an invalid in the house, in this re- red, and her eyes really are dark blue, mote place isn’t an interesting proposition with dark lashes. She’s far too pretty to for anything as pretty as you.” be happy, for only a plain woman can be "Uncle David, I was twenty-one last sure of a faithful husband, and only a poor week—though you never sent me a birth- woman can even hope for one. day present—and I’ve come here for a Barbara is rich, poor child, and critical rest-cure. You’re not going to turn me and intelligent. Poor child. out just because there’s an invalid who

I had an invalid staying with me, I takes up Elspeth Macdonald’s time? I’ll told her, the son of a very old friend of make my own bed, and I can cook.” mine who had been grievously injured in a "Do you know Greek?” I asked her. motor accident in Greece. The young man, "Now, Uncle David, you know I never indeed, was half Greek, and his English went to Girton or to Oxford. If he speaks mother had died in bringing him into the Greek and he doesn’t speak French, I shall

world. The motor accident had caused a have to speak to him in English— . Uncle spinal injury which could only be cured David, did you say 'thank God’?” by rest and quiet. "I said nothing of the kind, but it’s best for you to speak English to the poor boy, ARBARA was all agog to see him. for that’s the best way to improve his Eng- B She had taken a course of nursing. lish—and- he’s very sensitive about not be- She would look after him. ing very good yet with his mother’s "That’s just what you. can’t do,” I told tongue.” her. "The Macdonalds do all the look- “What’s the name of this young man?" 94 WEIRD TALES

"Charles Mountain—Mountain was his of collecting an expedition to rescue his mother’s maiden name, and he is adopt- nation. ing it by deed-poll, for he wants to get And tire implacable Macdonald warned naturalized. Now go and tidy yourself me that there was tragedy all about us. for lunch, and after lunch you shall be in- "Why will you not get her away?” he troduced.” asked me every morning. "She must go,”

Then I talked to Charles. I told him to he said. "You can see how it is with be careful. I warned him not to give him- them. It can’t go on. It’s wicked and self away. I reminded him that we had heathen and unchristian.” He crossed not yet decided just how to introduce him himself as he always did when we dis- to the modern world. He promised to be cussed Charles. "The poor creature’s not good, but his eyes were sparkling with ex- to blame. But you’ll be to blame, ye’ll citement. He was terribly good-looking. have blood on your hands if the young At lunch Barbara pestered me with ques- lady doesn’t leave.” tions, and the less I answered them the Barbara didn’t leave. more curious she grew. After lunch I took Then, too, there was the question of ex- her up to Charles’ room. He was swathed ercise for Charles. A youth of his age, in blankets and rugs in his wheeled diair. fit and well, cannot spend his life in an They stared at each other. Good Heav- invalid chair. It was Macdonald who sug- ens, how they stared at each other! I could gested midnight exercise, and midnight see what had happened. In a moment exercise it had to be, when Barbara was she had forgotten John—whoever John in bed and asleep. But I believe it took might have been. Charles perhaps had years off my life, the arranging of mid- nothing to forget— night runs and midnight exercise—and When I got her away my Charles was then trying to be normal and awake next on fire. When I saw her later, Charles day. Charles of course could sleep as an was all she would talk about. invalid should. I had no excuse for fall- ing asleep whenever I sat down in a chair. SUPPOSE I knew then that the situa- And all the time I could not think of

tion was hopeless. If there is such a a way to tell Barbara the truth about thing as love at first sight it had happened Charles, and Charles was beginning to get then under my roof. a look in his eyes that scared me. Every day Barbara would spend her And Barbara simply ceased to consider time talking to and reading to Charles. any date of going home or away anywhere Whenever she was out of his room I was else. warning him and prompting him what to Well, I suppose the end was inevit- say about himself, his English mother and able, but if I had ever had any luck it his Greek father. need not have been quite so dramatic. The unfortunate creature, you see, actu- I could not watch over Charles’ mid- ally knew far less about modern Greece night exercise indefinitely -— I’m not a than I did. young man any longer. It was late sum- I had to describe Athens to him, mer and the weather was fine and tire Sparta, Olympus, Crete. I had to prom- moon was full, when it all happened. ise that I would find a way of telling Bar- Elspeth Macdonald was ill, and her ob- bara the truth. I tried to convince him stinate old husband insisted on staying of the absurdity of loving a modern Eng- with her. lish girl. I tried to re-open the possibility Now Charles was generally most ab- -

THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURE 9?

stemious. I’d naturally as we were in Scot- time I’d got her into the. car she was in land introduced him to whiskey in moder- a state of collapse. I drove her to the ation. That night, finding himself alone doctor’s, knocked him up, told him some when he got up, for some reason he must frantic story of burglars, ghosts and night- have got drunk. mares, and he gave her an injection and I was awakened by wild singing-—chant- let her stay—and let me stay—until morn- ing is perhaps the right word. There is a ing. stone terrace on the garden side of the Thank God he did. house where most of the bedrooms look out. I listened half asleep for a minute JTY HOUSE—most of it—was burned or two and then with dread in my heart I down that night, and Charles was

leapt out of bed and rushed to the win- burned in it. Macdonald and I buried dow. what was left of him, but that was after There on the terrace was Charles, caper- Barbara, white and silent, had left for the ing like a ballet-dancer, his hoofs clatter- South, borrowing money from the doctor ing, and chanting a dirge-like chant in his for her fare. nameless language. Naked as the day Peter She never asked me to forward her be- and I found him, the sight did not seem longings. She never mentioned Charles to me so much indecent as terrifying— to me. She never asked any questions. I beauty and grace and animalism and de- never saw or spoke to her again. spair. But I heard she’d taken up flying, and I said that most of the bedrooms were on the poor child killed herself when her that side of the house. Barbara’s room plane crashed in the Mediterranean in the was one of them. following year. I’ve always wondered if

Then I heard her screaming. she was trying to fly to Greece. Now I am an elderly man, unused to alarms, and my nerves had been tried IRST the illegal passport, then the un- pretty high. When I heard the chanting F reported death and burial—I still dare and the screaming, only the frenzied haste not make an official report. But the above with which I dressed saved me, I think, is a brief, skeleton summary of the facts. from fainting—and the clatter and the singing and the cries went on. NOTE: The house was damaged but by no means

I found Barbara half out of her open destroyed. My old unde patched it up before he died. Unless the whole property is dug up I don’t window, crying and sobbing and calling see how I can find the Centaur’s grave. Nobody to Charles, and he took no notice of her seems to be sure whether or not David Gannon had and went on dancing and went on sing- an invalid visitor just before the fire. And the ing. Macdonalds simply will not speak. But their very Remember, I was alone that night. silence makes me think there is some truth some- where in this incredible affair. I may take my time How I got some clothes on her, how I but I shall probably do something, find out some- dragged her out by the front of the house thing definite in the end. I shall never quite remember, but by the H. T. W. B. UPERSTlflONS

WLLING dALT PROVOKES BAD LUCK UNLESS A PINCH OF IT IS THROWN OVER THE SHOULDER THREE TIMES. ' Salt was used in religious services, and perhaps for

THIS REASON IT RECEIVED SPECIAL RECOGNITION IN FORMER DALLS WHEN TO EAT SALT WITH AWOKE CEMENTED FRIEND- SHIPS AND EVEN TERMINATED DEATHLD FEUDS. At ONE TIME, ALSO, IT WAS VALUED ALMOST AS MUCH AS GOLD, AND SOLDIERS, OFFICIALS AND WORKING PEOPLE IN GREECE AND ROME RECEIVED ALL OR PART OF THEIR PAU IN SALT. From this custom of pawing with

SALT ALSO COMES , THE POPULAR PHRASE, "TO EARN

1 ONE'S SALT '...

96 SIGHT OF A rlAGPSE IS UNLUCKD UNLESS / you spit in youR hat f * THE MAGPIE WAS A k SACRED BIRD IN FORMER g\ DAyS, AND WAS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE

CREATION , 1 OF 1 ^ DAN AND NIGHT.

A wm$n in the PRESENCE OF A ^IlNDOO WILL CAUSE HIM TO SNAP HIS THUMBS, IN THE BELIEF THAT THIS WILL HINDER THE SOUL

FROM LEAVING THE , BODy By ISSUING THROUGH THE/n^Wv^ OPEN MOUTH /

97 “He half glimpsed a great bleached thing that set him trembling.”

By Z. B. BISHOP

A shuddery tale of a world so devilish and old that men refused even f to speak of it—by the author of "The Curse of Yig-’

A FTER ten years I have been able stitions which the white men have inher- neither to forget nor explain the ited from their red neighbors. Ji phenomena which, as a scientist, My hobby naturally aroused my interest I should like to dismiss as a hallucination. in the mound superstitions of Oklahoma,

I am an ethnologist, whose specialty is the where my work had often taken me. I origin of the various Indian cultures. As had seen many of these vast, lonely, arti- a sort of hobby I frequently combine my ficial-looking mounds in the western part regular research with tracking down super- of the state; and in 1928, during a brief 98 THE MOUND 99 lull in my work, I decided to investigate over half the villagers agreed that the ap- the oldest and most common of the mound parition was headless. legends, a local and distinctive tale which, This and minor variant versions seemed though really old, was wholly new to the to have been current ever since the set- outside world of research. There was an tlement of the Wichita country in 1889; added thrill in the fact that it came from and were, I was told, sustained to an the remote town of Binger, in Caddo astonishing degree by still-existing phe- County, a place I had long known as the nomena which anyone might observe for scene of a very terrible and partly inex- himself. plicable occurrence connected with the old Eager to see what bizarre wonders snake-god myth. might be lurking in this small, obscure vil- The tale, outwardly, was an extremely lage so far from the searchlight of scien- naive and simple one, and centered in a tific knowledge, I went to Binger in the huge, lone mound or small hill that rose late summer of 1928, arriving at twilight, above the plain about a third of a mile west with a feeling of being cut off from whole- of the village, a mound which some some and everyday things. The station thought a product of nature, but which platform was filled with curious loafers, others believed to be a burial-place or cere- all of whom seemed eager to direct me monial dais constructed by prehistoric tribes. This mound, the villagers said, was haunted by two Indian figures that appeared in alternation; an old man who paced back and forth along the top from

dawn till dusk, regardless of the weather and with only brief intervals of disappear- ance, and a squaw who took his place at night with a blue-flamed torch that glim- mered continuously till morning. When the moon was bright, the squaw’s peculiar figure could be seen fairly plainly, and -

100 WEIRD TALES

when I asked for the man to whom I had searchers declared that they felt a sort of letters of introduction. I was ushered invisible restraining presence; but they along a commonplace main street whose could describe nothing more definite than rutted surface was red with the sandstone that. It was simply as if the air thick- soil of the country, and finally delivered ened against them in the direction they at the door of my prospective host. Those wished to move. who had arranged things for me had done But it was not from the tales of these well, for Clyde Compton was a man of high sane, observant seekers that the chief ter- intelligence and local responsibility. His ror of the ghost-mound sprang; indeed, mother, who lived with him and was fa- had their experience been typical, the phe- miliarly known as "Grandma Compton,” nomenon would have bulked far less was of the pioneer generation, and a mine prominently in the local legendry. The of anecdote and folklore. most evil thing was the fact that many That evening the Comptons summed up seekers had come back impaired in mind for me all the legends current among the and body. Others had not come back at

villagers. The ghosts, it seems, were ac- all.

cepted almost as a matter of course by The first of these cases had occurred in everyone in Binger. Two generations had 1891, when a young man named Heaton been born and reared within sight of that had gone with a shovel to see what secrets queer, lone tumulus and its restless figures. he could unearth. He had resolved to get The neighborhood of the mound was natu- to the bottom of the mystery, and watch- rally feared and shunned, so that the vil- ers from the village saw him hacking dili- lage and the farms had not spread toward gently at the shrubbery atop the mound. it in all the four decades of settlement; yet Then they saw his figure melt slowly into venturesome individuals had several times invisibility, not to reappear for long hours,

visited it. • till after the dusk drew on, and the torch Some had come back to report that they of the headless squaw glimmered on the saw no ghosts at all when they neared the distant elevation. dreaded hill; that somehow the lone senti- About two hours after nightfall he stag- nel had stepped out of sight before they gered into the village and burst into a reached the spot, leaving them free to shrieking monolog of disconnected rav- climb the steep slope and explore the flat ings. He howled of shocking abysses and summit. There was nothing up there, monsters, of terrible carvings and statues, they said—merely a rough expanse of un- of inhuman captors and grotesque tor- derbrush. tures. "Old! Old! Old!” he moaned over and the Indian HERE watcher could have over. “Great God, they . are older than W vanished to, they had no idea. He the earth. They know what you think, must, they reflected, have descended the and make you know what they think— slope and somehow managed to escape un- they’re half man, half ghost—crossed the seen along the plain; although there was line—melt and take shape again—every- no convenient cover within sight. At any thing made of gold—monstrous animals, •rate, there did not appear to be any open- half human—dead slaves—madness— ing into the mound; a conclusion which that white man—oh, my God, what they was reached after considerable exploration did to him! ..." of the shrubbery and tall grass on all sides. Heaton was the village idiot for about m a few cases some of the more sensitive eight years until he died. Since his ordeal, THE MOUND 101

there had been two more cases of mound- noon, about the time the Indian tom-toms madness, and eight of total disappearance. begin their incessant annual beating over

Immediately after Heaton’s mad return, the flat, red-dusty plains. Nobody watched three determined men had gone out to the them, and their parents did not become lone hill together, heavily armed, and worried at their failure to return for sev- with spades and pickaxes. Watching vil- eral hours. Then came an alarm and a lagers saw the Indian ghost melt away as searching-party, and another resignation the explorers drew near, and afterward to the mystery of silence and doubt. saw the men climb the mound and begin Later one of them came back. It was scouting around through the underbrush. Ed, the elder, and his straw-colored hair They were never seen again. and beard had turned white. On his fore- Only when the incidents of 1891 were head was a queer scar like a branded largely forgotten did anybody dare to think hieroglyphic. Three months after he and of further explorations. Then, in 1910, his brother. Walker, had vanished, he a youth not old enough to recall the hor- skulked into his house at night, wearing rors made a trip to tire shunned spot and nothing but a queerly patterned blanket found nothing at all. which he thrust into the fire as soon as he By 1915 the acute dread and wild legen- had got into a suit of his own clothes. dry of ’91 had largely faded into the com- He told his parents that he and Walker monplace and unimaginative ghost-tales at had been captured by some strange In- present surviving—that is, had so faded dians, not Wichitas or Caddos, and held among the white people. On the nearby prisoners somewhere toward the west. reservation were old Indians who thought Walker had died under torture, but Ed much and kept their own counsel. About had managed to escape. The experience this time a second wave of active curiosity had been so horrible he could not talk

and adventuring developed, and several about it. He must rest, and anyway, it bold searchers made the trip to the mound would do no good to give an alarm and and returned. Then came a trip of two try to find and punish the Indians. They Eastern visitors with spades and other ap- were not of a sort that could be caught or paratus: a pair of amateur archeologists punished. connected with a small college, who had been making studies among the Indians. T>EFORE he climbed the rickety flight to No one watched this trip from the village, *-' his room Ed took a pad and pencil but they never came back. The searching- from the living-room table, and an auto- party that went out after them, among matic pistol from his father’s desk drawer. whom was my host Clyde Compton, found Three hours later Ed Clay put a bullet nothing whatsoever amiss at the mound. through his right temple. He left a By 1920, so short is human memory, the sparsely written sheet of paper on the mound was almost .a joke, and the tame rickety table near his bed. He had, it story of the murdered squaw began to dis- later appeared from the whittled pencil- place the darker whispers on everybody’s stub and stove full of charred paper, tongue. Then two reckless young brothers originally written much more; but had —the especially unimaginative and hard- finally decided not to tell what he knew boiled Clay boys—decided to dig up the beyond vague hints. The surviving frag- buried squaw and the gold for which the ment was only a mad warning scrawled in old Indian had murdered her. a curiously backhanded script—the ravings They went out on a September after- of a mind obviously deranged by hard- —

102 WEIRD TALES

ships—and it read thus: rather surprisingly that was not a star—a bluish spark that for the utterance of one who had always moved and glimmered against the Milky been stolid and matter-of-fact: Way near the horizon. In another mo-

ment it was clear that this spark came from For gods sake never go nere that mound it is the top of a long, distant rise in the out- part of some kind of a world so devilish and old spread and faintly-litten plain; and I it cannot be spoke about me and Walker went and was took into the thing just melted at times and turned to Compton with a question. snade up agen and the whole world outside is help- "Yes,” he answered, "it’s the blue less alongside of what they can do—they what live ghost-light — and that is the mound. forever young as they like and you cant tell if in history that we they are really men or just gostes—and what they There’s not a night do cant be spoke about and this is only 1 entrance haven’t seen it—and not a living soul in you cant tell how big the whole thing is after — Binger that would walk out over that plain what we seen X dont want to liwe aney more it. It’s a business, young man, France was nothing besides this — and see that toward bad people always keep away o god they wood if they and if you’re wise you’ll let it rest where see poor walker like he was in the end. it is. Better call your search off, son, and Yrs truely legends Ed Clay tackle some of the other Injun around here.”

At the autopsy it was found that all of young Clay’s organs were transposed from 2 right to left within his body, as if he had been turned inside out. Whether they had "OUT I was in no mood for advice; and always been so, no one could say at the though Compton gave me a pleasant

time, but it was later learned from army room, I could not sleep, through eager-

records that Ed had been perfectly normal ness for the next morning with its chances when mustered out of the service in May, to see the daytime ghost. I rose and 1919. dressed at dawn, and when I heard others That was the end of the explorations of stirring I went downstairs. Compton was the mound. In the eight intervening years building the kitchen fire while his mother no one had been near the place, and few was busy in the pantry.

indeed had cared even to level a spy- After breakfast he lit his pipe, helped

glass at it. The thing was accepted at face me collect my things and beckoned me to value as a mystery not to be probed, and follow him. As we walked along the lane by common consent the village shunned I stared at the mound, far away and very

the subject. curious in its aspect of artificial regular-

It was very late, and Grandma Compton ity. It must have been from thirty to had long since gone upstairs to bed, when forty feet high, and at least a hundred Clyde finished telling me this. I hardly yards from north to south. It was not as knew what to think of the frightful puzzle, wide as that from east to west, Compton yet rebelled at any notion in conflict with said, but had the contour of a rather thin- sane materialism. Compton motioned me nish ellipse. He, I knew, had been safely to follow him outdoors. We stepped from out to it and back several times. My pulse the frame house to the quiet side street, mounted, and I seized quickly on the high- and walked a few paces in the light of a powered binoculars which Compton quiet- waning August moon to where the houses ly offered me. Focussing them hastily, I were thinner. As I looked out over the saw at first only a tangle of underbrush vast expanse of earth and sky in the di- on the distant mound’s rim—and then rection Compton pointed, I saw a spark something stalked into the field. THE MOUND 103

It was unmistakably a human shape, and mensions, uniformly covered with rank I knew at once that I was seeing the day- grass and dense underbrush, and utterly time "Indian ghost.” I did not wonder incompatible with the constant presence of at the description, for surely the tall, lean, a pacing sentinel. This condition gave darkly robed being with the filleted black me a real shock, for it showed beyond hair and seamed, coppery, expressionless, question that the "Old Indian,” vivid aquiline face looked more like an Indian though he had seemed, could not be other than anything else in my previous ex- than -a hallucination. perience. And yet my trained ethnolo- I looked about with considerable per- gist’s eye told me at once that this was no plexity and alarm, glancing wistfully back redskin of any sort hitherto known to his- at the village and the mass of black dots tory, but a creature of vast racial variation which I knew was the watching crowd. and of a wholly different culture-stream. Training my glasses upon them, I saw that Modern Indians are brachycephalic; round- they were studying me avidly with their headed: and you can’t find any dolicho- glasses; so to reassure them I waved my cephalic or long-headed skulls except in cap in the air with a show of jauntiness ancient Pueblo deposits dating back 2500 which I was far from feeling. Then, years or more; yet this man’s long-head- settling to my work I flung down pick, edness was so pronounced that I recog- shovel, and bag, using my machete to nized it at once, even at this vast distance clear away underbrush. It was a weary and in the uncertain field of the binocu- task, and now and then I felt a curious lars. I saw, too, that the pattern of his shiver as some perverse gust of wind robe represented a decorative tradition arose to hamper my motion with a skill utterly remote from anything we recog- approaching deliberateness. nize in southwestern native art. As I turned up the soil with my trench- As he paced back and forth along the knife I could not help wondering at the top of the mound I followed him for sev- relative thinness of the reddish regional eral minutes with the glass, noting the layer. The country as a whole was all red kinesthetic quality of his stride and the sandstone earth, but here I found a strange poised way he carried' his head; and there black loom less than a foot down. It was was borne in upon me the strong, persis- such soil as one finds in tire strange, deep tent conviction that this man, whoever or valleys farther west and south, and must whatever he might be, was certainly not a surely have been brought from a consid- savage. He was the product of a civiliza- erable distance in the prehistoric age when tion. the mound was reared. Compton left me when we drew near Kneeling and digging, I felt my imple- the mound. We shook hands and I tried ments strike a hard surface, and wondered to joke about the ghost, but Compton if a rock layer rested beneath. Prying didn’t smile. When I reached the mound about with the trench-knife, I found that I turned and watched his bent form such was not the case. Instead, to my in- shuffling homeward. tense surprise and feverish interest, I There were no signs of a path toward brought up a mold-clogged, heavy object the top; and, burdened as I was, I man- of cylindrical shape, about a foot long and aged to scramble up only with considerable four inches in diameter. difficulty. When I reached the summit I found a roughly level elliptical plateau ITTING down, I cleaned die magnetic about three hundred by fifty feet in di- S cylinder against the rough corduroy 104 WEIRD TALES

of my knickerbockers. The carvings and Xinaian, A.D. 1545.” Here, surely, was chasings were horrible, nameless monsters too much for any mind to absorb all at and designs fraught with insidious evil; once. A subterranean world—again that and all were of the highest finish and persistent idea which filtered through all craftsmanship. I could not at first make the Indian tales and through all the utter- head or tail of the thing, and handled it ances of those who had come back from aimlessly until I spied a cleavage near one the mound. And the date, 1545—what end. Then I sought eagerly for some could this mean? In 1540 Coronado and mode of opening, discovering at last that his men had gone north from Mexico into the end simply unscrewed. the wilderness, but had they not turned The cap yielded with difficulty, but at back in 1542?

last it came off, liberating a curious aro- My eye ran questingly down the opened matic odor. The sole contents was a bulky part of the scroll, and almost at once seized roll of a yellowish, paper-like substance on the name Francisco Vasquez de Coro- inscribed in greenish characters, and for nado. The writer of this thing, clearly, a second I had the supreme thrill of fancy- was one of Coronado’s men, but what had ing that I held a written key to unknown he been doing in this remote realm three elder worlds and abysses beyond time. Al- years after his party had gone back? I must most immediately, however, the unrolling read further, for another glance told me of one end showed that the manuscript that what was now unrolled was merely was in Spanish — the formal, pompous a summary of Coronado’s northward Spanish of a long-departed day. In the march, differing in no essential way from sunset light I looked at the heading and the account known to history. the opening paragraph, trying to decipher It was only the waning light which the wretched and ill-punctuated script of checked me before I could unroll and read the vanished writer. more, and in my impatient bafflement The yellow scroll with the green script I almost forgot to be frightened at the on- began with a bold, identifying caption rush of night in this sinister place. Others, and a ceremoniously desperate appeal for however, had not forgotten the lurking belief in incredible revelations to follow: terror, for I heard a loud distant halloo- ing from a knot of men who had gathered RELACION DE PANFILO DE ZAMACONA V NUNEZ, HIDALGO DE LUARCA EN ASTU- at the edge of the town. Answering the RIAS, TOCANTE AL MUNDO SOTERRANEO anxious hail, I restored the manuscript to XINAIAN. A.D. DE MDXLV its strange cylinder. Leaving the pick and

shovel for the next day’s work, I took up En el nombre de la santisima Trinidad, Padre, Hijo, y Espiritu-Santo, tres personas distintas y un solo. my hand-bag, scrambled down the steep Dios verdadero, y de la santisima Virgen nuestra side of the mound, and in another quarter- Senora, YO, PANFILO DE ZAMACONA, HIJO hour was back in the village explaining DE PEDRO GUZMAN Y ZAMACONA, HI- DALGO, Y DE LA DONA YNfiS ALVARADO Y and exhibiting my curious find. As dark- NUNEZ, DE LUARCA EN ASTURIAS, juro ness drew on, I glanced back at the mound para que todo que deco esta verdadero como Sacra- I had so lately left, and saw with a shud- mento. . . . der that the faint bluish torch of the noc- I paused to reflect on the portentous sig- turnal squaw-ghost had begun to glimmer. nificance of what I was reading. "The Promising the townsfolk a clear account Narrative of Panfilo de Zamacona y of my findings in the morning, and giving Unex, gentleman, of Luarca in Asturias, them ample opportunity to examine the Concerning the Subterranean World of bizarre and provocative cylinder, I accom- THE MOUND 10 ?

panied Clyde Compton home and went up tion, how Cibola was found to be merely to my room to make the translation. Open- the squalid Pueblo village of Zuni, and ing my hand-bag in the light of a single how de Niza was sent back to Mexico in electric bulb, I took out the cylinder. The disgrace for his florid exaggerations; how designs glimmered evilly on the richly lus- Coronado first saw the Grand Canyon, trous and unknown metal, and I could not and how at Cicuye, on the Pecos, he heard help shivering as I studied the abnormal from the Indian called El Turco of the and blasphemous forms that leered at me rich and mysterious land of Quivira, far with such exquisite workmanship. to the northeast, where gold, silver, and At last I took out the manuscript and buffaloes abounded, and where there began translating—jotting down an outline flowed rivers two leagues wide. Zamacona in English as I went, and now and then re- told briefly of the winter camp at Tiguex gretting the absence of a Spanish diction- on the Pecos, and of the northward start ary when I came upon some especially ob- in April, when the native guide proved scure or archaic word or construction. false and led the party astray amidst a There was a sense of ineffable strangeness land of prairie-dogs, salt pools, and rov- in thus being thrown back nearly four cen- ing, bison-hunting tribes. turies in the midst of my continuous quest, When Coronado dismissed his larger thrown back to a year when my own fore- force and made his final forty-two day bears were settled, home-keeping gentle- march with a very small and select detach- men of Somerset and Devon under Henry ment, Zamacona managed to be included the Eighth, with never a thought of the in the advancing party. He spoke of the adventure that was to take their blood to fertile country and of the great ravines Virginia and the New World; yet when with trees visible only from the edge of that New World possessed, even as now, their steep banks; and of how all the men the same brooding mystery of the mound lived solely on buffalo-meat. And then which formed my present sphere and hori- came mention of the expedition’s farthest zon. limit—of the disappointing land of Qui- vira with its villages of grass houses, its

brooks and rivers, its good black soil, its 3 plums, nuts, grapes, and mulberries, and

F HIS youth in Luarca, a small, placid its maize-growing and copper-using In- O port on the Bay of Biscay, Zamacona dians. The execution of El Turco, the told little. He had been wild,' and a false native guide, was casually touched younger son, and had come to New Spain upon, and there was a mention of the cross in 1532, when only twenty years old. Sen- which Coronado raised on the bank of a sitively imaginative, he had listened spell- great river in the autumn of 1541—a cross bound to the floating rumors of rich cities bearing the inscription, "Thus far came and unknown worlds to the north. Hear- the great general, Francisco Vasquez de ing of Coronado’s contemplated expedi- Coronado.” tion in search of these wonders, and of the These northerly natives seemed more greater wonders whispered to lie beyond reluctant to talk about the rumored cities them in the land of buffaloes, young and worlds than the Mexican Indians had Zamacona managed to join the picked party been. Their vagueness exasperated the of three hundred, and started north with Spanish leader, but Zamacona, more pa- the rest in 1540. tient than his chief, found the tales inter- History knows the story of that expedi- esting, and he learned enough of the lccal —

106 WEIRD TALES

speech to hold long conversations with a The place was about a five-days’ march young buck named Charging Buffalo, to the south, near the region of great whose curiosity had led him into much mounds. stranger places than any of his fellow- These mounds had something to do tribesmen had dared to penetrate. with the evil world down there; they were It was Charging Buffalo who told Zama- probably ancient closed-up passages to it, cona of the queer stone gates or cave- for once the Old Ones below had had mouths at the bottom of some of those colonies on the surface and had traded deep, wooded ravines which the party had with men everywhere, even in the lands noticed on the northward march. These that had sunk under the big waters. openings, he said, were mostly concealed It was when those lands had sunk that by shrubbery, and few had entered them the old Ones closed themselves up below for untold eons. Those who went to where and refused to deal with surface people. they led, never returned—or in a few cases The refugees from the sinking places returned mad or curiously maimed. But had told them that the gods of outer earth all this was legend, for nobody was known were against men, and that no men could to have gone more than a limited distance survive on the outer earth unless they inside any of them within the memory of were demons in league with the evil gods. the grandfathers of the oldest living men. That is why they shut out all surface folk, Charging Buffalo himself had probably and did fearful things to any who ventured been farther than anyone else, and he had down where they dwelt. There had been seen enough to curb both his curiosity and sentries once at the various openings, but his greed for the rumored gold below. after ages they were no longer needed. Not Beyond the aperture he had entered many people cared to talk about the hid- there was a long passage running crazily den Old Ones, and the legends about them up and down and round about, and cov- would probably have died out but for oc- ered with frightful carvings of monsters casional ghostly reminders of their pres- and horrors that no man had ever seen. ence. At last, after untold miles of windings and descents, there was a glow of terrible blue fTAMACONA was held spellbound by light, and the passage opened upon a ^ the Indian’s tale, and at once resolved shocking nether world. About this the to accept his guidance to the cryptic door- Indian would say no more, for he had way in the ravine. He did not believe the seen something that had sent him back in accounts of strange ways attributed by haste. legend to the hidden people, for the ex- But the golden cities must be somewhere periences of the party had been such as down there, he added, and perhaps a white to disillusion one regarding native myths man with the magic of the thunderstick of unknown lands; but he did feel that might succeed in getting to them. He some sufficiently marvelous field of riches would not tell the big chief Coronado and adventure must indeed lie beyond the what he knew, for Coronado would not weirdly carved passages in the earth. listen to Indian talk any more. Yes—he At first he thought of persuading could show Zamacona the way if the Charging Buffalo to tell his story to Coro- white man would leave the party and ac- nado—offering to shield him against any cept his guidance. But we would not go effects of the leader’s testy skepticism inside the opening with the white man. It but later he decided that a lone adventure was bad in there. would be better. If he had no aid, he THE MOUND 107 would not have to share anything he the one arriving first was to pitch camp found, but might perhaps become a great until the other should arrive. discoverer and owner of fabulous riches. In the manuscript Zamacona expressed Success would make him a greater figure a wistful wonder as to the Indian’s length than Coronado himself, perhaps a greater of waiting at the rendezvous—for he him- figure than anyone else in New Spain, in- self could never keep that tryst. cluding even the mighty viceroy Don An- Zamacona felt no immediate premoni- tonio de Mendoza. tion of evil upon entering that ominous

On October 7, 1541, at an hour close to doorway, though from the first he was midnight, Zamacona stole out of the Span- surrounded by a bizarre and unwholesome ish camp near the grass-house village and atmosphere. The passage, slightly taller met Charging Buffalo for the long south- and wider than the aperture, was for many ward journey. He traveled as lightly as yards a level tunnel of Cyclopean masonry, possible, and did not wear his heavy hel- with heavily worn flagstones underfoot, met and breast-plate. Of the details of the and grotesquely carved granite and sand- trip the manuscript told very little, but stone blocks in sides and ceiling. Zamacona records his arrival at the great For three days, as best he could reckon, ravine on October 13th. The descent of Panfilo de Zamacona scrambled down, up, the thickly wooded slope took no great along, and around, but always predomi- time, and though the Indian had trouble nantly downward, through this dark region in locating the shrubbery-hidden stone door of paleogean night. Once in awhile he again amidst the twilight of that deep heard some secret being of darkness patter gorge, the place was finally found. or flap out of his way, and on just one It was a very small aperture as doorways occasion he half glimpsed a great bleached go, formed of monolithic sandstone jambs thing that set him trembling. The quality and lintel, and bearing signs of nearly of the air was mostly endurable, though effaced and now undecipherable carvings. fetid zones were now and then met with.

Its height was perhaps seven feet, and its One great cavern of stalactites and stalag- width not more than four. There were mites afforded a depressing dampness. drilled places in the jambs which argued At what he considered the end of the the bygone presence of a hinged door or third day, Zamacona reached a level pas- gate, but all other traces of such a thing sage of artificial masonry with dark, basal- had long since vanished. tic blocks. There was no need for a torch At sight of this black gulf, Charging now, for all the air was glowing with a Buffalo displayed considerable fear, and bluish, quasi-electric radiance. It was the threw down his pack of supplies with strange light of the inner world that the signs of haste. He had provided Zamacona Indian had described; and in another mo- with a good stock of resinous torches and ment Zamacona emerged from the tunnel provisions, and had guided him honestly upon a bleak, rocky hillside which climbed and well, but refused to share in the ven- above him to a seething, impenetrable sky ture that lay ahead. Zamacona gave him of bluish coruscations, and descended diz- the trinkets he had kept for such an occa- zily below him to an apparently illimitable sion, and obtained his promise to return plain shrouded in bluish mist. to the region in a month; afterward show- He had come to the unknown world at ing the way southward to the Pecos Pueblo last, and a strange sense of glory filled him, villages. A prominent rock on the plain for he had imagination enough to know above them was chosen as a meeting-place; what it meant to stand alone in an inex- 108 WEIRD TALES

plicable nether world whose existence no silence. As he advanced, he at last be- other white man suspected. came able to distinguish a few objects on the distant plain below: trees, bushes, EATING himself for rest and thought, rocks, and a small river that came into S Zamacona lightened his pack by re- view from the right and curved forward moving an amount of food and torches at a point to the left of his contemplated sufficient to take him back through the tun- course. Then he saw a blurred mass mov- nel. These he proceeded to cache at the ing over the distant plain. He had seen opening, under a cairn hastily formed of no more of the sinister footprints, but the rock fragments which everywhere lay something about that slowly and deliber- around. Then, readjusting his lightened ately moving mass sickened him. Noth- pack, he commenced his descent toward ing but a herd of grazing animals could the distant plain, preparing to invade a move just like that, and after seeing the region which no white man had ever pene- footprints he did not wish to meet the trated, and from which, if legend were to things which had made them. be believed, no organic creature had ever The next afternoon, to use the lan- returned whole. guage of the outer world as the manu- Zamacona strode briskly along down the script did at all times, Zamacona reached steep, interminable slope, his progress the silent plain and crossed the soundless, checked at times by the bad walking that slow-running river on a curiously carved came from loose rock fragments, or by the and fairly well-preserved bridge of black excessive precipitousness of the grade. The basalt. The water was clear, and contained distance of the mist-shrouded plain must large fishes of a wholly strange aspect. At have been enormous, for many hours’ walk- last he came upon a crumbling temple,

ing brought him apparently no closer to it decorated with nauseous bas-reliefs depict- than he had been before. ing scenes and beings, objects and cere- The rock-strewn nature of the soil gave monies, which could certainly have no few opportunities for tracks of any kind, place on this or any sane planet. The but at one point a rather level interval door of the place stood open, and absolute had caused the loose detritus to accumulate darkness filled the windowless interior. in a ridge, leaving a considerable area of Conquering the repulsion which the sculp- dark-gray loam absolutely bare. Here, in tures had excited, Zamacona took out flint a rambling confusion indicating a large and steel, lighted a resinous torch, pushed herd aimlessly wandering, Zamacona aside curtaining vines, and crossed the found abnormal prints. ominous threshold. It is to be regretted that he could not For a moment he was quite stupefied by describe them more exactly, but the manu- what he saw. It was not the all-covering script displayed far more vague fear than dust and cobwebs of immemorial eons, the accurate observation. Just what it was fluttering winged things, the shriekingly that so frightened the Spaniard can only loathsome sculptures on the walls, the be inferred from his later hints regarding bizarre form of the many basins and bra- the beasts. ziers, the sinister pyramidal altar with the Zamacona finally gave way to weariness hollow top, or the monstrous, octopus- and slept beside what seemed to-be an an- headed abnormality in some strange, dark cient road. Next day he rose early and metal leering and squatting broodingly on resumed his descent through this world of its hieroglyphed pedestal, which robbed blue mist and desolation and preternatural him of even the power to give a startled THE MOUND 109

cry. It was merely the fact that, with the the frightened man blessed his patron saint

exception of the dust, the cobwebs, the that it was still effective. winged things, and the gigantic emerald- Sound alone told the fugitive the se- eyed idol, every particle of substance in quel. When the roar grew near it re- sight was composed of pure and evidently solved itself into separate footfalls, as if solid gold. the evergreen grove had made it necessary Even the manuscript, written in retro- for the herd to slacken speed and disperse. spect after Zamacona knew that gold is the But feet continued to approach, and it be- most common structural metal of a nether came evident that the beasts were advanc- world containing limitless lodes and veins ing among the trees and circling the

of it, reflects the frenzied excitement hideously carven temple walls. The curious which the traveler felt upon suddenly deliberateness of their tread Zamacona

finding the real source of all the Indian found alarming and repulsive, nor did legends of golden cities. he like the scuffling sounds which were Zamacona’s ecstasy was dispelled by a audible even through the thick stone walls tremendous wave of fear as, for the first and heavy golden door. Once the door time in this silent world, he heard a rumble rattled ominously on its archaic hinges, as of very definite and obviously approaching if under a heavy impact, but fortunately

sound. There was no mistaking its nature. it still held. Then, after a seemingly end- It was a thunderously charging herd of less interval, he heard retreating steps and large animals. He looked about frantically realized that his unknown visitors were for a refuge in the great, gold-painted in- leaving. terior. He felt he must close the long- Since the herds did not seem to be very

disused door, which still hung on its an- numerous, it would perhaps have been safe cient hinges, doubled back against the to venture out within a half-hour or less, inner wall. but Zamacona took no chances. Opening Soil, vines, and moss had entered the his pack, he prepared his camp on the gol- opening from outside, so that he had to dig den tiles of the temple’s floor, with the

a path for the great gold portal with his great door still securely latched against all sword; but he managed to perform this comers; drifting eventually into a sounder work very swiftly under the frightful sleep than he could have known in the stimulus of the approaching noise. The blue spaces outside. hoof-beats had grown still louder and more menacing by the time he began tug- 4 ging at the heavy door itself, and for awhile his fears reached a frantic height, LTHOUGH it was late, I continued as hope of starting the age-clogged metal A my translation of the singular docu- grew faint. ment I had unearthed at the mound. De- Then, with a creak, the thing responded termined to discover the source of the to his youthful strength, and a frenzied legend of the ghostly walkers, the old man siege of pulling and pushing ensued. by day and the apparently headless squaw

Amidst the roar of unseen stampeding feet by night, I plunged deeper into the archaic success came at last, and the ponderous Spanish manuscript of Panfilo de Zama- golden door clanged shut, leaving Zama- cona, anxious to find possible clues to the cona in darkness but for the single lighted Oklahoma mound legends which this Six- torch he had wedged between the pillars teenth Century Spaniard might reveal. of a basin-tripod. There was a latch, and Fascinated by his dramatic account of —

110 WEIRD TALES

the timeless underworld with its gold and city beyond the low hills, mounted on ani- strangely horrible footprints, I relighted mals, and that they had been summoned by my pipe and went back to the difficult task animals who had reported his presence; of translation. that they were not sure what kind of a Zamacona, once the mysterious horde person he was or just where he had come had left him securely locked in the golden from, but that they knew he must be as- temple, slept from exhaustion. What sociated with that dimly remembered outer finally roused him was a thunderous rap- world which they sometimes visited in ping at the door. It beat through his curious dreams. How he read all this in dreams and dissolved all the lingering the gaze of the two or three leaders he mists of drowsiness as soon as he knew could not possibly explain, though he

what it was. There could be no mistake learned why a moment later. about it—it was a definite, human, and As it was, he attempted to address his peremptory rapping, performed apparently visitors in the Wichita dialect that he had with some metallic object, and with all picked up from Charging Buffalo, and the measured quality of conscious thought after this' failed to draw a vocal reply he

or will behind it. As the awakening man successively tried the Aztec, Spanish, rose clumsily to his feet, a sharp vocal note French, and Latin tongues — adding as was added to the summons. Feeling sure many scraps of lame Greek, Galician and that his visitors were men and not demons, Portuguese, and of the peasant patois of and arguing that they could have no reason his native Asturias, as his memory could for considering him an enemy, Zamacona recall. But not even this polyglot array decided to face them openly. He fumbled his entire linguistic stock—could bring a with the ancient latch till the golden door reply in kind. creaked open from the pressure of those When, however, he paused in perplex- outside. ity, one of the visitors began speaking in As the great portal swung back, Zama- an utterly strange and rather fascinating cona stood facing a group of about twenty language whose sounds the Spaniard later individuals of an aspect not calculated to had much difficulty in representing on give him alarm. -They seemed to be In- paper. Upon his failure to understand dians, though their tasteful robes and trap- this, the speaker pointed first to his own pings and swords were not such as he had eyes, then to his forehead, and then to his seen among any of the tribes of the outer eyes again, as if commanding the other to world, while their faces had many subtle gaze at him in order to absorb what he differences from the Indian type. That wished to transmit. they did not mean to be irresponsibly hos- Zamacona, obeying, found himself rap-

tile was very clear, for instead of menac- idly in possession of certain information. ing him in any way they merely probed The people, he learned, conversed by him attentively and significantly with their means of soundless radiations of thought, eyes, as if they expected the gaze to open although they had formerly used a spoken up some sort of communication. language which still survived as the writ- The longer they gazed, the more he ten tongue, and into which they still seemed to know about them and their mis- dropped orally for tradition’s sake, or sion, for although no one had spoken since when strong feeling demanded a sponta- the vocal summons before the opening neous outlet. He could understand them of the door, he found himself slowly real- merely by concentrating his attention upon izing that they had come from the great their eyes, and could reply by summoning THE MOUND 111 up a mental image of what he wished to when he did, he would have discovered say, and throwing the substance of this into this accomplishment in a highly puzzling his glance. way, for only the strain and bother of the When the thought-speaker paused, ap- process prevented the twenty men from parently inviting a response, Zamacona passing bodily through the golden door tried his best to follow the prescribed pat- without pausing for a summons. This art tern, but did not appear to succeed very could be taught to some extent, though well. So he nodded, and tried to describe never perfectly, to any intelligent person. himself and his journey by signs. He The people of K’n-yan all dwelt in the pointed upward, as if to the outer world, great, tall city of Tsath beyond the moun- then closed his eyes and made signs as of tains. Formerly several races had inhabi- a mole burrowing. Then he opened his ted the underground world, but the men eyes again and pointed downward, in or- of Tsath had conquered and enslaved the der to indicate his descent of the great rest, interbreeding them with certain slope. Experimentally he blended a spoken horned and four-footed animals of the red- word or two with his gestures; for ex- litten region. The slave class was by now ample, pointing successively to himself and extensive and highly composite, being to all of his visitors and saying ”un hom- bred not only from ancient conquered bre,” and then pointing to himself alone enemies, but also from outer-world strag- and very carefully pronouncing his name, glers, from dead bodies curiously galvan- Panfilo de Zamacona. ized into effectiveness, and from the natu- rally inferior members of the ruling class. EFORE this strange conversation was The acts of the slaves were controlled by B over, a good deal of data had passed their masters who gave them hypnotic im- in both directions, but Zamacona in par- pressions in the morning of all they were ticular had learned many things. The un- to do during the day. The most mechan- derground world, he found, was called ical of the slaves were those called the " Xinaian or "K’n-yan,” as it could prob- y’m-bhi, organisms which had died, but ably best be represented phonetically to which had been mechanically reanimated Anglo-Saxon ears. The people of K’n-yan for industrial purposes by means of atomic possessed various marvelous abilities. They energy and thought-power. It was the had conquered the phenomena of old age y’m-bhi who were used for the amusement and death so that they no longer grew of the people in the amphitheater, and feeble or died except through violence or many of them consequently showed evi- will. They could also regulate the balance dences of horrible subtractions, distortions, between matter and abstract energy, even transpositions, graftings, and even of de- where the bodies of living organic beings capitation. The flesh of a special slave class were concerned, by the sheer force of the was the principal meat stock of K’n-yan, technically trained will. In other words, and especially of the gyaa-yothn, the great with suitable effort a learned man of floundering white beasts which so horrified K’n-yan could dematerialize and remate- Zamacona that he only hinted at the black rialize himself, or, with somewhat greater fur on their backs, the rudimentary horn

effort' and subtler technique, any other ob- on their forehead, and the unmistakable ject he chose; reducing solid matter to free trace of human or anthropoid blood in external particles and recombining the their flat-nosed, bulging-lipped faces. particles again without damage. Had not In government, Tsath was a kind of Zamacona answered his visitors’ knock semi-anarchical state; habit rather than law 112 WEIRD TALES

determining the order of things. The race his visitors took place in the green-blue suffered from a paralyzing ennui and de- twilight of the grove just outside of the cadence, and was interested solely in temple door. Some of the men reclined on physical fundamentals and new sensations, the weeds and moss beside the half-van- desiring only that the mutual encroach- ished walk, while others, including the ments of pleasure-seeking should not Spaniard and the chief spokesman of the cripple the massed life of the community. Tsath party, sat on the low, monolithic Family organization and the civil and so- pillars that lined the temple approach. Al- cial distinction of the sexes had long ago most a whole terrestrial day must have been perished. consumed in the colloquy, for Zamacona As the conversation continued, Zama- felt the need of food several time^ and ate cona felt a growing repulsion and alarm from his well-stocked pack while some of

•—at what was told, at the strange, tele- the Tsath party went back for provisions pathic manner of telling, and at the in- to the roadway, where they had left the ference that he must never return to tell animals on which they had ridden. At the outer world of the existence of Ken- length the leader of the party brought the yan and its golden treasures. In fact, the discourse to a close, and indicated that men of Tsath were so displeased to learn the time had come to proceed to the city. that men from Spain and France and Eng- There were, he said, several extra beasts land were exploring those parts of the up- In the cavalcade, upon one of which Zama- per world where the passages to K’n-yan cona could ride. The prospect of mount- lay, that they determined to post sentries ing one of those ominous hybrid entities once more at all the unblocked passages whose fabled nourishment was so alarm- to the outside world which they could re- ing was by no means reassuring to the member. Their decision made Zamacona traveler. There was, moreover, another wish he had never descended to this re- point about the things which disturbed him gion of magic and abnormality, but he real- greatly; the apparently preternatural intel- ized that for the present his policy should ligence with which some members of the be to appear to acquiesce and to furnish previous day’s roving pack had reported his visitors with all the information they his presence to the men of Tsath and had might desire. They, on their part, were brought out the present expedition. But fascinated by the outer-world data which Zamacona was not a coward, and followed he managed haltingly to convey. the men boldly down the weed-grown walk It was really the first reliable surface toward the road where the things were information they had had since the refu- stationed. gees straggled back from Atlantis and Le- The party observed Zamacona’s discom- muria eons before; for all their subsequent fiture and hastened to reassure him as emissaries from outside had been members much as possible. The beasts or gyaa- of narrow and local groups without any yothn, they explained, surely were curious knowledge of the world at large: Mayas, things, but were really harmless. Toltecs and Aztecs at best, and mostly ig- It argues well for the intrepid fiber of norant tribes of the plains. Zamacona was those Renaissance Spaniards who con- the first European they had ever seen, and quered half tire unknown world, that Pan- the fact that he was a youth of education filo de Zamacona actually mounted one of and brilliancy made him of still more em- the morbid beasts of Tsath and fell into phatic value as a source of knowlede. place beside the leader of the cavalcade: The long conversation of Zamacona and the man named Gll-Hthaa-Ynn, who had THE MOUND m

been most active in the previous exchange phatically told he must never think of re- of information. It was a repulsive busi- turning to the upper world. There were

ness; but after all, the seat was easy, and to be conversations with persons of learn- • the gait of the clumsy gyaa-yoth surpris- ing in various places, and lessons in many ingly even and regular. No saddle was branches of Tsathic lore. Liberal periods necessary, and the animal appeared to re- of research were allowed for, and all the quire no guidance whatever. libraries of K’n-yan both secular and sacred were to be thrown open to him as soon as HEN the cavalcade drew near the he might master the written language. Wcompact outskirts of Tsath, and well Rites and spectacles were to be attended, within the shadow of its terrifying towers, except when he might especially object, Gll-Hthaa-Ynn pointed out a monstrous and much time would be left for the en- circular building before which enormous lightened pleasure-seeking and emotional crowds were lined up. This, he indicated, titillation which formed the goal and was one of the many amphitheaters where nucleus of daily life. curious sports and sensations were pro- A house in the suburbs or an apart- vided for the weary people of K’n-yan. He ment in the city would be assigned him, was about to pause and usher Zamacona and he would be initiated into one of the inside the vast curved facade, when the large affection-groups, including many Spaniard demurred. This was the first of noblewomen of the most extreme and art- those friendly clashes of taste which were enhanced beauty, which in latter-day to convince the people of Tsath that their K’n-yan took the place of family units. guest followed strange and narrow stand- Several horned gyaa-yothn would be pro- ards. vided for his transportation and errand- Tsath itself was a network of strange running, and ten living slaves of intact and ancient streets; and despite a growing body would serve to conduct his establish-

sense of horror and alienage, Zamacona ment and protect him from thieves and - was enthralled by its intimations of mys- sadists and religious drgiasts on the pub- tery and cosmic wonder. The over awing lic highways. towers, the monstrous surge of teeming Upon his choosing an apartment in life through its ornate avenues, the curious preference to a suburban villa, Zamacona carvings on its doorways and windows, was dismissed by the executives with great the odd vistas glimpsed from balustrated courtesy and ceremony, and was led plazas and tiers of titan terraces, and the through several gorgeous streets to a cliff- enveloping gray haze which seemed to like carven structure of some seventy or press down on the gorge-like streets in eighty floors. Preparations for his arrival low ceiling-fashion, all combined to pro- had already been instituted, and in a spa- duce such a sense of adventurous expec- cious ground-floor suite of vaulted rooms tancy as he had never known before. slaves were busy adjusting hangings and He was taken at once to a council of furniture. There were lacquered and in* executives which held forth in a gold-and- laid tahorets, velvet and silk reclining- copper palace behind a gardened and foun- corners and squatting-cushions, and infi- tained park, and was for some time sub- nite rows of teakwood and ebony pigeon- jected to close, friendly questioning in a holes with metal cylinders containing some vaulted hall frescoed with vertiginous of the manuscripts he was soon to read, arabesques. A daily program was laid standard classics which all urban apart- down for the visitor, after he was em- ments possessed. 114 WEIRD TALES

There were windows, but at this shad- tions, and reanimations which made him owy ground-level they were of scant illumi- cross himself again and again. His ca- nating value. In some of the rooms were pacity for astonishment was blunted by elaborate baths, while the kitchen was a the plethora of new marvels which every maze of technical contrivances. Supplies day brought him. were brought, Zamacona was told, through But the longer he stayed, the more he the network of underground passages wished to leave, for the inner life of which lay beneath Tsath, and which had K’n-yan was based on impulses very plainly once accommodated curious mechanical outside his radius. As he progressed in transports. historical knowledge, he understood more, Before his inspection was finished, the but understanding only heightened his permanent staff of slaves arrived and were distaste. He felt that the people of Tsath introduced, and shortly afterward there were a lost and dangerous race—more came some half-dozen freemen and noble- dangerous to themselves than they knew women of his future affection-group, who —and that their growing frenzy of were to be his companions for several days, monotony-warfare and novelty-quest was contributing what they could to his in- leading them rapidly toward a precipice struction and amusement. Upon their de- of disintegration and utter horror. parture, another party would take their As a means of keeping the image of place, and so onward in rotation through home in mind, he began about this time a group of about fifty members. to make rough drafts of the manuscript relating his adventures; delighting in the loved, old, Spanish words and the familiar 5 letters of the Roman alphabet. Somehow mHUS was Panfilo de Zamacona absorbed he fancied he might get the manuscript for four years into the life of the sinis- to the outer world, and to make it con- ter city of Tsath in the blue-Iitten nether vincing to his fellows he resolved to en-

world of K’n-yan. All that he learned close it in one of the Tulu-metal cylinders and saw and did is clearly not told in his used for sacred archives. manuscript, for a pious reticence overcame But even while he planned, he had little him when he began to write in his native real hope of ever establishing contact with Spanish tongue, and he dared not set down the earth’s surface. Every known gate, he everything. Much he consistently viewed knew, was guarded by persons and forces

with repulsion, and many things he stead- that it were better not to oppose. His ily refrained from seeing or doing or eat- attempts to escape had not helped matters, ing. For other things he atoned by for he could now see a growing hostility frequent countings of the beads of his to the outer world he represented. He rosary. hoped that no other European would find He explored the entire world of K’n- his way in, for it was possible that later yan, including the deserted machine-cities comers might not fare as well as he.

of the middle period on the gorse-grown In the year 1545, as he reckoned it, plain of Nith, and made one descent into Zamacona grew hopeful. An opportunity the red-litten world of Yoth to see the for escape came from an unexpected cyclopean ruins. He witnessed prodigies source: a female of his affection-group of craft and machinery which left him who conceived for him a curious individual breathless, and beheld human metamor- infatuation based on some hereditary mem- phoses, dematerializations, rematerializa- ory of the days of monogamous wedlock —

THE MOUND 11 *

in Tsath. Over this female—a noble- the five laden beasts on foot, were readily woman of moderate beauty and of at least taken for commonplace workers; and they average intelligence, named T’la-yub clung as long as possible to the subterra- Zamacona acquired the most extraordinary nean way, using a long and little-fre- influence, finally inducing her to help him quented branch which had formerly con- in an escape, under the promise that, he ducted the mechanical transports to the would let her accompany him. now ruined suburb of L’thaa. Chance proved a great factor in the Amidst the ruins of L’thaa they came to course of events, for T’la-yub came of a the surface, thereafter passing as rapidly primordial family of gate-lords who had as possible over the deserted, blue-litten retained oral traditions of at least one pas- plain of Nith toward the Grh-yan range sage to the outer world which the mass of of low hills. There, in the tangled under- people had forgotten. brush, T’la-yub found the long-disused Zamacona, now working feverishly to entrance to the forgotten tunnel; a thing get his manuscript into final form in case she had seen but once before—eons in the anything untoward should happen to him, past. It was hard work getting the laden decided to take with him on his outward gyaa-yothn to scrape through the obstruct- journey only five beast-loads of unalloyed ing vines and briars, and one of them dis- gold in the form of the small ingots used played a rebelliousness destined to bear for minor decorations—enough, he calcu- dire consequences—bolting away from the lated, to make him a personage of unlim- party and loping back toward Tsath on its ited power in his own world. detestable pads, golden burden and all.

T’la-yub he would perhaps allow to It was nightmare work burrowing by share his fortune, for she was by no means the light of blue-ray torches upward, down- unattractive; though possibly he would ar- ward, forward, and upward again through range for her sojourn among the plains a dank, choked tunnel that no foot had Indians, since he was not overanxious to trodden since ages before the sinking of preserve links with the manner of life of Atlantis; and at one point T’la-yub had to Tsath. For a wife, of course, he would practice the fearsome art of dematerializa- choose a lady of Spain, or at worst, an tion on herself, Zamacona, and the laden Indian princess of normal outer-world beasts in order to pass a point wholly descent and a regular and approved past. clogged by shifting earth-strata. It was a But for the present T’la-yub must be used terrible experience for Zamacona; for al- as a guide. The manuscript he would though he had often witnessed demate- carry on his own person, encased in a book- rialization in others, and even practiced cylinder of the sacred and magnetic Tulu- it himself to the extent of dream-projec- metal. tion, he had never been fully subjected

to it before. But T’la-yub was skilled in HE expedition itself is described in the the arts of K’n-yan, and accomplished the Taddendum to Zamacona’s manuscript, double metamorphosis in perfect safety. written later, and in a hand showing signs At last they came to a very narrow place of nervous strain. He set out after taking where the natural or only slightly hewn the most careful precautions, proceeding cave-walls gave place to walls of wholly as far as possible along the faintly lighted artificial masonry, carved into terrible bas- passages beneath the city. Zamacona and reliefs. At this point the passage opened T’la-yub, disguised in slaves’ garments, into a prodigious vaulted and circular bearing provision-knapsacks, and leading chamber of human construction, wholly 116 WEIRD TALES

covered with horrible carvings, and reveal- Zamacona soon heard, not without many ing at the farther end an arched passage- pangs of a regret he could scarcely have way with the foot of a flight of steps. anticipated, that poor T’la-yub had T’la-yub knew from family tales that this emerged from the arena in a headless and must be very near the earth’s surface, but otherwise incomplete state, and had been she could not tell just how near. Here set as an outermost guard upon the mound the party camped for what they meant in which the passage had been found to to be their last rest-period in the subter- terminate. She was, he was told, a night- raneous world. sentinel, whose automatic duty was to

warn off all comers with a torch; sending TT MUST have been hours later that the down reports to a small garrison of twelve clank of metal and the padding of dead slave y’m-bhi and six living but beasts’ feet awakened Zamacona and T’la- partly dematerialized freemen in the yub. An alarm had been given at Tsath vaulted, circular chamber if the approach- by the returning gyaa-yothn which had es did not heed her warning. She worked, rebelled at the briar-choked tunnel-en- he was told, in conjunction with a day- trance, and a swift party of pursuers had sentinel—a living freeman who chose this come to arrest the fugitives. Resistance post in preference to other forms of disci- -was clearly useless, and none was offered. pline for certain offenses against the state. Zamacona and T’la-yub were tried be- It was now made plain to him, though fore the three gn’agn of the supreme tribu- indirectly, that his own penalty for an- nal in the gold-and-copper palace behind other escape-attempt would be service as a the gardened and fountained park, and gate-sentry. It was intimated that he, or the Spaniard was given his liberty because parts of him, would be reanimated to of the vital (juter-world information he guard some inner section of the passage,

still had to impart. He was told to return within sight of others, where his abridged to his apartment and to his affection-group, person might serve as a permanent symbol taking up his life as before, and continuing of the rewards of treason. But, his in-

to meet deputations of scholars according formants always added, it was of course to the latest schedule he had been follow- inconceivable that he would ever court ing. No restrictions would be imposed such a fate. So long as he remained peace- upon him so long as he might remain ably in K’n-yan, he would continue to , be

peacefully in K’n-yan, but it was intimated a free, privileged and respected personage. that such leniency would not be repeated Yet in the end Panfilo de Zamacona did

after another attempt at escape. court the fate so direcfully hinted to him . The fate of T’la-yub was less happy. True, he did not really expect to encoun-

There being no object in retaining her, and ter it, but the nervous latter part of his her ancient Tsathic lineage giving her con- manuscript makes it clear that he was pre- duct a greater aspect of treason than Zama- pared to face its possibility. What gave cona’s, she was ordered to be delivered to him a final hope of scathless escape from the curious diversions of the amphitheater; K’n-yan was his growing mastery of the and afterward, in a somewhat mutilated art of dematerialization. Having studied and half-dematerialized form, to be given it for years, and having learned still more the functions of a y’m-bhi or animated from the two instances in which he had corpse-slave and stationed among the sen- been subjected to it, he now felt increas- tries guarding the passage whose existence ingly able to use it independently and

• , - she had betrayed. , , . effectively. —

THE MOUND 117

Of course he could not bear away any nomena of the mound, of the seemingly gold, but mere escape was enough. He meaningless and paradoxical actions of would, though, dematerialize and carry diurnal and nocturnal ghosts, and of the with him his manuscript in the Tulu- queer cases of madness and disappearance! metal cylinder, even though it cost addi- It was even an accursedly plausible expla- tional effort, for this record and proof nation, evilly consistent, if one could adopt must reach the outer world at all hazards. the incredible. It must be a shocking hoax He now knew the passage to follow, and devised by someone who knew all the lore

if he could thread it in an atom-scattered of the mound. There was even a hint of state, he did not see how any person or social satire in the account of that unbe- force could detect or stop him. The only lievable nether world of horror and decay. trouble would be if he failed to maintain Surely this was the clever forgery of some his spectral condition at all times. That learned cynic, something like the leaden was the one ever-present peril, as he had crosses in New Mexico, which a jester once learned from his experiments. planted and pretended to discover as a relic For many nights after his ultimate reso- of some forgotten Dark-Age colony from lution Zamacona prayed to St. Pamphilus Europe.

and other guardian saints, and counted the Upon going down to breakfast I hardly beads of his rosary. The last entry in the knew what to tell Compton and his mother, manuscript—which toward the end took as well as the curious callers who had the form of a diary more and more—was already begun to arrive. Still in a daze,

merely a single sentence: "Es mas tarde de I gave a few points from the notes I had lo que pensaba—tango que marcharme” made, mumbling my belief that the thing

. . . “It is later than I thought! I must was a subtle and ingenious fraud left there go.” After that, only silence and conjec- by some previous explorer of the mound ture—and such evidence as the presence a belief in which everybody seemed to of the manuscript itself, and what that concur when told of the substance of the manuscript could lead to, might provide. manuscript. When I reached the mound that morn- ing, there was no one in sight. Repeating 6 my upward scramble of the previous day, HEN I looked up from my half- I was troubled by thoughts of what might W stupefied reading and note-making, lie close at hand, if any miracle, any part the morning sun was high in the heavens. of the manuscript were actually half true. The electric bulb was still burning, but In such a case, I could not help reflecting, such things of the real world—the mod- the hypothetical Spaniard Zamacona must ern outer world—were far from my whirl- have barely reached the outer world when ing brain. I knew I was in my room at overtaken by some disaster, perhaps an in- Clyde Compton's at Binger, but upon voluntary rematerialization. what monstrous vista had I stumbled? Was He would naturally, in that event, have this thing a hoax or a chronicle of mad- been seized by whichever sentry happened

ness? If a hoax, was it a jest of the Six- to be on duty at the time—either the dis- teenth Century or, of today? The manu- credited freeman, or, as a matter of su- script’s age looked appallingly genuine to preme irony, the very T’la-yub who had my not wholly unpractised eyes. planned and aided his first attempt at es- Moreover, what a monstrously exact ex- cape, and in the ensuing struggle the cyl-

planation it gave of all the baffling phe- inder with the manuscript might well have 1.18 WEIRD TALES

been dropped on the mound’s summit to leave a good-sized aperture when the roots

be neglected and gradually buried for that had bound it were gone. A few more nearly four centuries. hacks of the machete did the trick, and It was a very real shock which chased with a parting cave-in and uprush of curi- this morbid speculation from my head, for ously chill and alien air the last barrier upon glancing around the elliptical summit gave way. Under the morning sun yawned I saw at once that my pick and shovel had a huge opening at least three feet square, been stolen. This was a highly provoking and showing the top of a flight of stone and disconcerting development; baffling, steps down which the loose earth of the too, in view of the seeming reluctance of collapse was still sliding. My quest had everyone in Binger to visit the mound. come to something at last! With an ela- Was this reluctance a pretended thing, and tion of accomplishment almost overbal- had the jokers of the village been ancing fear, I replaced the trench-knife chuckling with anticipation of my discom- and machete in my hand-bag, took out my fiture as they solemnly saw me off ten min- powerful electric torch, and prepared for utes before? I took out my binoculars and a triumphant lone, and utterly rash inva- scanned the gaping crowd at the edge of sion of the fabulous nether world I had the village. No; they did not seem to be uncovered. looking for any comic climax. Everything else on the mound was as I TT WAS difficult getting down the first had left it: brush cut by my machete, slight, I few steps, both because of the fallen bowl-like depression toward the north earth which had choked them and because end, and the hole I had made with my of a singular up-pushing of a cold wind trench-knife in digging up the cylinder. from below. The electric torch showed

Deeming it too great a concession to the dank, water-stained and salt-encrusted unknown jokers to return to Binger for walls fashioned of huge basalt blocks, and another pick and shovel, I resolved to carry now and then I thought I descried some out my program as best I could with the trace of carving beneath the nitrous de- machete and trench-knife in my hand-bag; posits. so, extracting these, I set to work excavat- My descent became swifter, and I ing the bowl-like depression which my eye avoided studying the terrible bas-reliefs had picked as the possible site of a former and intaglios that had unnerved me. All entrance to the mound. As I proceeded, I at once I saw an arched opening ahead, and felt again tire suggestion of a sudden wind realized that the prodigious staircase had blowing against me which I had noticed ended at last. But with that realization the day before—a suggestion which seemed came horror in mounting and magnitude, stronger, and still more reminiscent of un- for before me there yawned a vast vaulted seen, formless, opposing hands laid on my crypt of all-too-familiar outline—a great wrists, as I cut deeper and deeper through circular space answering in every least par- the root-tangled red soil and reached the ticular to the carving-lined chamber de- exotic black loam beneath. scribed in the Zamacona manuscript. Then, quite without warning, the black, It was indeed the place. There could be root-woven earth beneath my feet began no mistake. And if any room for doubt to sink cracklingly, while I heard a faint yet remained, that doubt was abolished by sound of sifting, falling matter far below what I saw directly across the great vault. me. I saw that the earth was sifting down It was a second arched opening, commenc- into some large cavity beneath, so as to ing a long, narrow passage and having at THE MOUND 119

its mouth two huge opposite niches bear- very different nature; two things of the ing loathsome and totanic images of shock- eminently real and sane world which grew ingly familiar pattern. more instead of less distinct the longer I

From this point onward I ask no cre- looked at them. I say they were of the dence for what I tell—for what I think I eminently real and sane world, yet they saw. It is too unnatural, too monstrous did more to unseat my shaky reason than and incredible, to be any part of sane hu- anything I had seen before—because I man experience or objective reality. My knew what they were, and knew how pro- torch, though casting a powerful beam foundly, in the course of nature, they ahead, naturally could not furnish any gen- ought not to be there. They were my own eral illumination of the Cyclopean crypt; missing pick and shovel, side by side, and

so I now began moving it about to explore leaning neatly against the blasphemously the giant walls little by little. As I did carved wall of that hellish crypt. so, I saw to my horror that the space was The cursed hypnotism of the manuscript by no means vacant, but was instead lit- got at me, and I actually saw the half- tered with odd furniture and utensils and transparent shapes of the things that were heaps of packages which bespoke a popu- pushing and plucking—those leprous lous recent occupancy—-no nitrous relic of paleogean things with something of hu- the past, but queerly-shaped objects and manity still clinging to them—the com- supplies in modern, everyday use. As my plete forms, and the forms that were mor- torch rested on each article or group of bidly and perversely incomplete ... all articles, however, the distinctness of the these, and hideous other entities—the four- outlines soon began to grow blurred, until footed blasphemies with ape-like face and

in the end I could scarcely tell whether great projecting horn . . . and not a sound the things belonged to the realm of mat- so far in all that nitrous hell of inner

ter or to the realm of spirit. earth. . . . Wild conceits surged through my mind. Then there was a sound—a flopping; I thought of the manuscript and what it a padding; a dull, advancing sound which said about the garrison stationed in this heralded beyond question a being as struc- place—twelve dead slave y’m-bhi and six turally material as the pickax and the living but partly dematerialized freemen shovel—something wholly unlike the —that was in 1545—three hundred and shadow-shapes that ringed me in, yet eighty-three years ago— What since equally remote from any sort of life as life then? Zamacona had predicted change is understood on the earth’s wholesome —subtle disintegration—more demate- surface. My shattered brain tried to pre- rialization—weaker and weaker— It pare me for what was coming, but could occurred to me with shuddering force not frame any adequate image. I could that I was building my speculations out only say over and over again to myself,

of a full belief in the Zamacona manu- "It is of the abyss, but it is not demate- script—this must not be—I must get a rialized.”

grip on myself! . . . The padding grew more distinct, But every time I tried to get a grip I and from the mechanical cast of the saw some fresh sight to shatter my poise tread I knew it was a dead thing that still further. This time, just as my will- stalked in the darkness. Then—oh, God, power was driving the half-seen para- I saw it in the full beam of my torch; saw phernalia into obscurity, my glance and it framed like a sentinel in the narrow torch-beam had to light on two things of passage. . . . 120 WEIRD TALES

T ET me collect myself enough to hint I think you’ll recall my citing early in ^ at what I saw—to explain why I this tale the case of a bright young man dropped torch and hand-bag alike and named Heaton who went out to that fled empty-handed in the utter blackness, mound one day in 1891 and came back at wrapped in a merciful unconsciousness night as the village idiot, babbling for which did not wear off until the sun and eight years about horrors and then dying

the distant yelling and shouting from the in an epileptic fit. What he used to keep " village roused me as I lay gasping on the moaning was that white man—or, my

top of the accursed mound. I do not yet God, what they did to him . . know what guided me again to die earth’s Well, I saw the same thing that poor surface. I only know that the watchers Heaton saw—and I saw it after reading in Binger saw me stagger up into sight that manuscript; so I know more of its

three hours after I had vanished; saw me history than he did. That makes it worse, lurch up and fall flat on the ground as if for I know all that it implies—all that struck by a bullet. None of them dared must be still brooding and festering and

to help me; they knew I must be in a bad waiting down there. I told you it had state, so tried to rouse me by yelling in padded mechanically toward me out of chorus and firing off revolvers. the narrow passage, and had stood sentry-

It worked in the end, and when I came like at the entrance. That was natural and to I almost rolled down the side of the inevitable—because the thing was a sen- mound in my eagerness to get away from try. It had been made a sentry for pun-

that black aperture which still yawned ishment, and it was quite dead, besides open. My torch and tools, and the hand- lacking head, arms, lower legs and other bag with the manuscript, were all down customary parts of a human being. Yes,

there; but it is easy to see why neither it had been a very human being once; and

I nor anyone else ever went after them. what is more, it had been white. Very ob- When I had staggered across the plain and viously, if that manuscript was as true as into the village I dared not tell what I had I think it was, this being had been used seen. I only muttered vague tilings about for the diversions of the amphitheater, carvings and statues and snakes and shaken before its life had become wholly extinct nerves. And I did not faint again until and supplanted by automatic impulses con- somebody mentioned that the ghost-senti- trolled from outside. nel had reappeared about the time I had On its white and only slightly hairy staggered halfway back to town. I left chest some letters had been gashed or Binger that evening, and have never been branded—I had not stopped to investigate, there since, though they tell me the ghosts but had merly noted that they were in an still appear on the mound as usual. awkward and fumbling Spanish; an awk-

But I have resolved to hint here at last ward Spanish implying a kind of ironic what I dared not hint to the people of use of the language by an alien inscriber Binger on that terrible August afternoon. familiar neither with the idiom nor the

I don’t know yet just how I can go about Roman letters used to record it. The in- it—and if in the end you think my re- scription had read: "Secuestrado a la vo- ticence strange, just remember that to im- luntad de Xinain en el cuerpo decapitado agine such a horror is one thing, but to see de Tlayub” — "Seized by the will of it is another thing. I saw it. K-n-yan in the headless body of T’la-yub.” Happened to Me

IT/r EIRD TALES will pay ten dollars apiece lor true psychic experiences. Have " you ever slept in a haunted house, or been chased by a ghost? Have you ever dreamed a dream that came true? Has your life been saved by a vision? Let the other readers of WEIRD TALES know about your weird experience. Your story must be briefly told, in not more than a thousand words; the shorter the better. It must be true, interesting, and must deal with the supernatural. Write it down today and send it to WEIRD TALES, “It Happened to Me” department, 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N. Y. We will pay ten dollars for every one used.

GHOST FARM By DULCIE BROWNE

Y FATHER’S farm was situ- It was easy to see that the skulls were ated in the San Joaquin Valley those of Indians and that they had been M near Tulare Lake—which had buried many years ago. Putting the team receded until it was no more than a dank in the barn father took a shovel and be- mud-hole. It was said, however, that the gan to dig in the spot where most of the lake had, at one time, covered a large area bones were turned up. He found many in the center of the valley and that the of them of all sizes, indicating that men, place where we lived was a portion of that women and children had all been buried old lake bed. together in all kinds of shapes. There

Be that as it may, the land was fertile were also many stone implements buried and father had done quite well so far. He with them. had working for him an Indian from the When Skip heard of the find, as all the reservation some miles away. Old Skip countryside did before long, he came back was a good worker but silent and of a to the ranch and advised father to stop reserved disposition, showing no emotion digging the bones up. His voice contained at any time. a warning as he said: The only time I ever saw Skip display "You make lots of money. You will any feeling was the time when my father lose money if you not stop digging. Skip voiced his intention of plowing up a high know.” spot in the center of the ranch which had But father only laughed at what he con- hitherto been uncultivated on account of sidered an old Indian superstition and kept not being accessible to irrigation water. right on digging. Of course, people came Old Skip showed a great deal of excite- from far and near to examine and exclaim ment and displeasure at my father’s sug- over the weird find, while the hole in the gestion and departed to the reservation in ground grew bigger every day and the pile high dungeon. Nothing daunted, father of bones higher. hitched up a team and began to play the It was at this time that we children be- knoll. I was with him when we discov- gan to hear strange noises about the house, ered the human skulls planted so close to and there were times when one could actu- the top of the ground that the plowshare ally see in a strange sort of way, as though threw them up in the furrow. the thing were a vision; that a human form 121 122 WEIRD TALES was near. Sitting below stairs one could When father ceased his operations it not help hearing the distinct sound of foot- would have seemed that the phenomena falls in the rooms upstairs. Then, too, in the house would be ended. But it 'was there was that sound of striking flint that not so. Things were as they had been. could be heard in any room in the house. And there was a noticeable difference My parents ignored these sounds and for- seen in the whole ranch. The fowl and bade us to speak of them in their hearing. animals began to perish with strange But so noticeable did they become that we diseases, the crops were not coming up to referred to that company of shadowy occu- expectations. There was a dull gray tinge pants as "They,” and to us they became settling over the very buildings and even like members of our own household. the shade trees that had flourished so

Father had now dug a pit so deep that it greenly in the yard were wilting and yel- was over his head and water was seeping lowing. in. And then he came to a large flat The next year there was no green thing rock. The rock could easily have been growing on the whole ranch, in spite of six by eight feet, had it been entirely father’s careful planning and culture. Ex- square instead of roughly so. When he perts came. They shook their heads and had completely uncovered it it took about went away perplexed. My father’s place a dozen of the neighbors to help him get became a blighted area among all the it up out of the ground. I understood green fields of our neighbors. Father was that father expected to discover hidden losing money in every transaction he made. treasure, and his hopes were higher still Two years later we left the farm, aban- as he dug in the mud and slush where doned it to die gray horde. the rock had been. But there were only Today the farm is just the same. Other more bones. Only one skeleton and that folk have moved there from time to time of a huge man over seven feet tall. and left when they found they could grow Here my father’s quest was at an end. no crops. The house stares vacantly out of There had been no treasure, and father its paneless windows. I often wonder if was keenly disappointed. He began re- that Indian horde still inhabits it and what filling the huge hole, throwing the bones secrets they whisper to each other as they back in wild disarray. As he filled in the pass through the deserted rooms, the soft last spadeful of earth he seemed glad to padding of their feet resounding as I heard be rid of the whole business. them many times.

I T IS with profound regret that we announce the death of Farnsworth Wright who I was editor of WEIRD TALES for many years and was so largely responsible for the success of the magazine. It seems fitting that we should print here in the Eyrie a letter about Mr. Wright from a man who not only was one of his personal friends, but also a constant contributor to WEIRD TALES. The staff of WEIRD TALES, its contributors and countless of its readers join with Seabury Quinn in his tribute to a great editor and scholar.

FARNSWORTH WRIGHT

IKE everyone who has long been a reader We knew him as a cultured gentleman, a L of or contributor to Weird Tales, I was charming host, an incomparably congenial greatly shocked and grieved at the news of companion, and a true and loyal friend. His Farnsw'orth Wright’s passing. Any one who steadily failing health caused us all concern, has read Weird Tales must have been im- but his courage and resolution were so great pressed by his thorough knowledge of weird that none of us realized how near the great literature, his complete understanding of the beyond he was. His cheerful letters lulled us great background of folk lore, superstition into a sense of false optimism, and when news and comparative religion from which such of his death came our surprise was almost literature is drawn, and his nice sense of dis- equal to our grief. crimination in selecting the cream of such As for his abilities, his work provides the stories by modern authors to carry on the finest monument possible. In the old files of tradition of the Georgian and early Victorian Weird Tales can be read tire biography of masters of Gothic tales. Helped and encour- a man whose genius made possible a magazine aged by his expert criticism and kindly advice which was and is truly unique. As to his epi- a whole generation of writers was developed, taph: If it be true that in imitation lies the and though many of these have "graduated” sincerest form of flattery, Farnsworth Wright to other media of expression, none, I am has been eloquently acclaimed. When he as- sure, will ever forget the debt he owes to sumed the editorial chair of Weird Tales

Farnsworth Wright. There is today hardly a almost twenty years ago he was a lone ad- writer of fantasy whose success does not date venturer setting out to bring a highly speci- from the encouragement he received from Mr. alized form of entertainment to the reading Wright, and there is certainly no one engaged public. A recent issue of Author & Journalist in creative work who ever dealt with Farns- lists twenty-two magazines devoted exclusively worth Wright who does not think kindly of to fantasy or pseudo-scientific fiction. Could him. any greater or more sincere compliment be To those of us who were privileged to paid his vision or his work? know him personally the loss is even greater. SEABURY QUINN. 123 124 WEIRD TALES

Did It Happen? We feel it might be a good idea to restore this feature. Let us know what you think?] From Denver, Colorado, E. Hoffmann Price writes: Fact Articles "Looking at the July Eyrie and noting the comment (page 124) on Alice Blair Moffett writes from Springfield, Penn- Olsen’s true experience yam about the sylvania: ghost girl at the Cocoanut Grove reminds back, me of a bit of background I picked up on "Mr. Frank Bristol, several issues that same story. I was in Salt Lake City and Mr. A1 MacDowell in the last, some while ago and picked up substan- made a good suggestion: I’d like to why tially the same account, from a newspaper second it. The suggestion was: occult, man, a couple of months before it was not publish short fact articles on kindred sub- printed in WT. One is at times inclined esoteric, mythological, and to to be skeptical about 'true’ experiences; jects? This would add immensely but this one seems to stand up under in- WT’s value, and give a sane and sound interest vestigation. The names given • in your direction to the swiftly growing account are, wisely enough, somewhat dif- in this type of study that can be noticed ferent from the first hand account I got. all over the country. 'It Happened to There was also an ingenious and pretty Me’ is, it seems, an absorbing step in this successful attempt at a 'logical’ explana- direction. Mr. MacDonald’s article was tion. Inasmuch as persons locally known excellent, and gives an interpretation are the principal characters of the tragedy, esoterically, that explains one point of die story behind the story was never view. And 'The Black Art’ finished the printed. This is not intended to refute Eyrie off very nicely.” Mr. McDonald’s interesting discussion; I merely thought that readers would be inter- {We hope to continue printing more of ested to know that there was actually such "the Black Art” type of articles whenever a mystery, at least enough to warrant an there is sufficient space.} expense account of $>735 for the investi- gator before he was told that even if his deductions were true, the whole business Golden Chalice would still be dropped. Whether sure enough supernatural, or a clever hoax that From Dyersburg, Tenn., James G. Merri- kicked back, fatally, is neither here nor man writes: there. A remarkable yam and what WT "There is one point I’d like to raise. In printed was just about the straight of it.” the story on "The Golden Chalice” (July issue) there is nothing miraculous about From Springfield, Missouri, Donald V. the Cup itself that is, it was excavated, Allgeier writes: not sent down from Heaven as in the "For ten years I have been a WT legends—it was just a battered drinking fan and during that time it has always vessel. How, then, does Mr. Gruber ac- been my favorite of all magazines. I still count for its being golden? Neither Jesus have nostalgic memories of some of the nor any one personally connected with great stories in the magazine’s past. I was Him was rich, and He would not have afraid that bi-monthly publication might used golden dishes, anyway.” be necessary, but I was relieved to see that the high quality of the stories remained. In answer to the Holy Grail query raised Why not restore the old custom of voting by Mr. Merriman, the author of "The Golden for the best story each issue and printing Chalice” replies: "In the legends I’ve read the title of the winner? That used to spur me to write in at least once every two about the Chalice, it has always been golden. months. Although the size and shape have varied most of illustrations. "I like the Bok is according to the different legends, some even good, as is Ferman and, occasionally, del having it a shallow dish, rather than a cup. Campo. The best story in September was, ” But always it by all odds, 'Sea Born.’ has been golden. The Holy Grail, which Sir Galahad sought so strenu- {What do you readers think of Mr. All- ously, was supposed to have been of gold. geier’s "voting for the best story” suggestion? "Religion must be taken on faith alone. THE EYRIE 125

Recorded history does not always bear out High School Raises religion. "If He could turn a few loaves into r enough to feed a multitude. He could cer- ou Standards of {— tainly change a dish made of baser material into gold—if He wanted to. Mr. Merriman must have skipped over his Bible a little hastily, if he says that everyone connected with Him was poor. At least one of the twelve apostles was a rich man. I leave the 1 X discover. % name for Mr. Merriman to e*’ “The particular cup in my story was based on the one shown at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, which like the one in my story was excavated near Antioch. It was definitely Many Finish in 2 Years ^ Finish High School at home, as FAST as time and abfli ty golden. permit. Equivalent to resident school work—prepares foe college, pre-professional examinations, business, industry. "Why wouldn’t He have used golden Standard texts. Diploma. Credit for High School subjects already completed. Single subjects if desired- American School, dishes ? "Frank Gruber.” Chicago.est. 1897. FREE Bulletin. Write TODAY I American School, Dept. H -739, Drexel Ave, at 53th St.„Chicago Send free information as checked below. No obligation. — HIGH SCHOOL COURSE - Air Conditioning^ HE mystery of Holy Grail remains one of — Accounting and Auditing — Diesel Engineering — Architecture and Building — Drafting and Design — Automotive Engineering — Liberal Arts T the most fascinating unsolved riddles of — Business Management _ - . _ — Aviation — Mechanical Engineering — Electrical Engineering — Radio and Television all time. . . . Certainly no other single object — Electric and Gas Refrigeration - Home Economics Courses has collected about itself such a wealth of Name - myth and legend—every Christian and semi- Christian land has its own especial version Promotion Begins at Home concerning this mystical vessel of thin and hammered gold (which, as you know, is re- INVENTORS puted to have been used by Christ at the Last Supper). Take first step to protect your Invention— without cost. Get free Record of Invention 48 page book, "Patent Guide for the form and { In the Arthurian legends the Golden Inventor.” Time Counts! Write today. Chalice has the romantic name of the Holy CLARENCE A. O'BRIEN Registered Patent Attorney Sangreal. Perhaps this—the quest by the Dept OK-5 Adams Bldg., Washington, D. G, knights of a legendary king for a legendary grail—is the most fascinating of all the chalice myths. Sir Launcelot, who captained fmniwr afeas) 1 the holy search party, traveled for many years TAfT's KIN M AK E UPV U Rsf^ Bo a Taxidermist. We teach you at Home. Mount I through the dark forests of England’s pre- SJirds, Animals, Pets, Heads, Fish. Save your hunting trophies. Decorate home and don. Make Sfioney. Mount and tan for others. Fun and mediaeval West—where in high towers wiz- Profits! Don’t delay. WRITE TODAY-NOW-for h 100 Banie pictures. FREE BOOK Hunters,:g" . get your copy.— ards cast their spells and enchantment waited " ' It’s Now Free. Send post card. State your N. W: SCHOOL OF TAXIDERMY, Dept* 9037, Omaha, Nebr« round every twist in the path.

In charming old English one legend re- lates: "So it befell on a night, at midnight, Home-Study he arrived before a castle, which was rich and Business Training fair, and there was a postern opened towards Your opportunity will never be bigger than your the sea, and was open without any entry, save preparation. Prepare now and reap the rewards of early success. Free 64- Page Books Tell How. Write two lions kept the entry; the and moon shone NOW for book you want, or mail coupon with your name, present position address in margin today. clear.” Sir Launcelot went into the castle, and Higher Accountancy Business Mgm’t and after an encounter with a dwarf, who Mod. Salesmanship Business Corres. Traffic Management Expert Bookkeeping temporarily paralyzed his arm, came upon a Law : Degree of LL» B. C. P. A. Coaching Commercial Law Effective Speaking chapel. Here he beheld the Holy Sangreal it- Industrial Mgm’t Stenotypy self, covered with scarlet samite, and stand- ing on an altar where one candle burned. LaSalle Extension University A C NCE But before he could approach it, he was sud- Dept. I075.R ?j5sTiTl?TlON Chicago — !

126 WEIRD TALES

SECRETS ENTRUSTED denly struck with fire, and lay unconscious and near death for twenty-four days. Men have searched in a thousand lands for archeolo- the Holy Grail ; no one, not even an

gist, has ever found it. WEIRD TALES CLUB

9 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, N. Y.

HE Weird Tales Club is growing. Dur- T ing these last several weeks we have had the largest response since the Club first got under way, and, as you see, the list of mem-

bers in this issue is three times as long as the

list printed in the September number. This is

all very encouraging, and we can all hope that HERE are some things that can not be in the not so distant future your Club will ex- T generally told things you ought to pand to proportions where it will be of real know. Great truths are dangerous to some—but factors for personal power value to fans and readers. and accomplishment in the hands of You will be glad to hear that a membership those who understand them.Behind the tales card carrying a design by Hannes Bok—is ofthe miracles and mysteries ofthe ancients, — lie centuries of their secret probing into being prepared. This card will be sent to nature’s laws—their amazing discoveries everyone enclosing a stamped addressed of the hidden processes of man’s mind, and the mastery of life’s problems. envelope. Once shrouded in mystery to avoid their Incidentally, a number of readers have sug- destruction by mass fear and ignorance, gested in their letters that we print members’ these facts remain a useful heritage for the thousands of men and women who ages. So perhaps all those desiring their ages privately use them in their homes today. published would tell us when writing in? THIS FREE BOOK If you are not already a member, why not The Rosicrucians (not a religious organization), us a line, so that we can enroll you on an age-old brotherhood of learning, have pre- drop served thi3 secret wisdom in their archives for the Club roster, and publish your name and centuries. They now invite you to share the practical helpfulness of their teachings. address in the magazine? Write today for a free copy of the book, “The looking to you to keep the Weird Secret Heritage.” Within its pages may lie a new We’re life of opportunity for you. Address Scribe B.M.N, Tales Club rolling WSe Rosicrucians (AMORC), SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U. S. A. WEIRD TALES CLUB, 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N. Y. WEIRD BOOKS RENTED of cor- Well, it seems from the amount Books by Lovecraft, Merritt, Quinn, etc., rented by maiL 3c a day respondence and serious inquirers, that the postage. Write for free Hat. WEREWOLF LENDING plus oft-wished-for Club is under way at LIBRARY, 227*8, So. Atlantic Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. WT THE EYRIE 127 last. I believe I voice the opinion of all New Members the correspondent-members when I say Herbert Arthur Sloane, 214 Chillicothe St., that those who have discovered others of like interests through this Club have found Portsmouth, Ohio. it most interesting, instructive, and an all- Alexander MacDowell, Box 46, Walden, around satisfaction. N. Y. Thanks for bearing with me; and a toast Albert B. Stavitsky, 322 Clinton Ave., New- to all those who have made it possible for ark, "factual fantasy” lovers to get together. N. J. Blair Moffett. Harry Lambert, 3312—36th Ave. S, Min- 340 Powell Road, neapolis, Minn. Springfield, Pa. Harold De Ford, 39 India St,, Brooklyn, N. Y. WEIRD TALES CLUB, Earl H. Williams, 1512A State St., East St. 9 Rockefeller Plaza, Louis, Illinois. New York, N. Y. John Wasso, Jr., 119 Jackson Ave., Pen The WEIRD TALES CLUB is a good Argyl, Pa. idea, and I would like to tell WT readers Agnes Faulkner, 818 Greenlawn Ave., Peoria, that we already have a club here in Eastern Illinois. Massachusetts which meets around Boston, St., Malden, and we would welcome any fantasy or Lester Balcom, 294 Summer science-fiction fans desirous of joining. Mass. Art Widner, Jr., Rosalyn Moody, Monroe, Georgia. Director of The Stranger Club William Hammarstrom, Waretown, N. J. Box 122, Bryantville, Mass. Julian H. Woodruff, P. O. Box No. 5, Mur- freesboro, Tennessee. WEIRD TALES CLUB, W. C. Murray, Camp Clayton, Calif. 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N. Y. Al. Moore, 1511 N. E. Tillamook St., Port- We readers of WEIRD TALES in land, Oregon. Cleveland are forming a club to discuss Winifred Marx, c/o Marxochime Colony, stories in your unusual magazine. the New Troy, Michigan. Readers wishing to cooperate in the for- mation of this club are advised to contact Dick Balch, 18969 Ohio Ave., Detroit, the undersigned immediately, for further Michigan. discussion. Richard Geney, R. F. D. No. 1, Owosso, More of Bloch! Allen R. Baker. Michigan. 3562 E. 140th St., Harry Wyman, 327 Niagara St., Buffalo, Cleveland, Ohio. N. Y.

Roy E. Bowman, R No. 2, Waynesboro, Va. WEIRD TALES CLUB, Wallis Clarke, Cadiz, Kentucky. 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N. Y. Beatrice A. Brownlee, 460 Clayton St., Den- ver, Colorado. I’m alone. Oh yes, I have friends and acquaintances, but no one with whom to Jerome Kelley, P. O. Box No. 250, Camp discuss the subjects in which I’m most in- Hendersonville, North Carolina. terested. Books, the theater, radio, com- posing, AND SCIENCE FICTION AND Elsie May Mercer, 215 Edkley Ave., Peoria, FANTASY. So I’m alone. Illinois. Could you please publish my name and Agnes Waga, 13 North Main St., Perry, address in WEIRD TALES, as a member N. Y. who would like to establish communica- tion with kindred souls close by, with a Robert Lenoir Mayo, 181 Park Place, Brook- view to arranging reciprocal visits? lyn, N. Y. John Wasso, Jr. 119 Jackson Ave., Allen R. Baker, 3562 East 140th St., Cleve- Pen Argyl, Pa. land, Ohio. THE SHAPE OF THRILLS TO COM Peer into the future with us for a few minutes—and take a look at what is coming in the next WEIRD TALES WEIRD TALES’ All fans of SEABURY QUINN (and that means this great writer fans) will be glad to hear that another fine yarn by is scheduled. It’s titled . . • ...Two Shall Be Born— Byzantium—of an enthralling novelette of the crumbling empire of pact doomed garrisons falling before the Saracen hordes—of a suicide fresh untouched of ancient times, and the beautiful girl who lay, and centuries for her in her coffin of terra cotta, waiting through the lover in present day New York.

tale in his BEDFORD-JONES is contributing the fourth and last Professional Corpse series. HENRY KUTTNER novelette DRAGON MOON this stages a smashing comeback with his superb — in the November issue of author’s first story since his TOWERS OF DEATH with the Pallid One for 1939 Sorcery and black evil, the powers, that battled harbor of Poseidonia, and all the Dragon throne of Cyrena ... the clanging come to life in this grand fantasy. the glamor of the drowned continent of Atlantis

As well as these topliners we The January Issue will promise a selection of stories by such tried favorites as:

Mary Elizabeth Counselman . . . News- be on sale At Your Loretta Burrough . . . Robert

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__ State.—.--—------F4011 Town ...... — •Fabric Shrinkage Less than \% Standard Test CS-59-36. MFRS. ORIG. SELLING PRICE OR - EASY TERMS While THEY Last! $1 25 Truly the most outstand- ing offer I have given my customers in years ! Only NO MONEY DOWN because of an exceptional EXTRA VALUE! purchase can I sell these Noiseless machines at the TYPEWRITER STAND sensationally low price of $34.85 (cash) or on easy f terms of 70c a week. Bach 10 DAY TRIAL one carefully gone over and refinislied ^o that its lustre gives it the appearance of a brand new ma- Easy Terms—10c A Day chine costing over three times as much. The mfrs. orig. selling price No obligation. See before you huy on this Underwood was $125.00. If's on wide open 10 day trial. Pay no sent to you in Underwood packing money until you test, inspect, com- box with Underwood book of instruc- pare, and use this Underwood Noise- tions on care and operation. less. Judge for yourself without hurry and without risk. When you are convinced that this is the biggest A NOISELESS MACHINE Two Wings typewriter bargain you have ever Correct seen then say, “I’ll Buy.” Send only Uatest achievement in typewriters! Working 70c a week or $3.00 a month until Height Provides writing perfection with term price of only $38.85 is paid. SIXPENCE. For those who want the All Metal Try it first, enjoy a full 10 days’ advantages of a quiet home or office. steady use. There is no red tape or This Underwood’s Noiseless mechan- investigation—My offer is exactly as ism eliminates the nerve shattering I state it. clatter common to many models. An aid to better work because it allows clear thinking reduces im- , fatigue, 2-YEAR GUARANTEE proves accuracy. This typewriter dis- touch of finger turbs no one. for it is almost im- I back this machine with my per- possible to hear it operate a few sonal 2-yr. guarantee that it is in For those who have no typewriter stand or feet. away. You get all the features A-l condition in every respect handy place to use a machine, I make this spe- —that of an Underwood PL.US Noiseless cial offer. This attractive stand that ordinarily it will give first class service. Over typing. sells for $4.85 can be yours for only $2.00 extra 30 years of fair dealing and my added to your account. Quality built. Note all 200.000 satisfied customers prove the its convenient features. soundness of my golden rule policy FIRST CHOICE OF TYPISTS _ and prove that dealing direct with me saves you money. OVER 5,000.000 UNDERW.OODS NOW IN USE! Recognized as the finest, strongest built! Here is an office size Underwood with late modern features that Touch Typing Course give you SILENT TYPING. Has all standard equip- ment—keyboard, 2 colors, back spacer, automatic re- verse. tabulator, etc. THERE IS NO RISK! SEE A complete home study course of famous Van Zaudt BEFORE YOU BUY ON MY 10 DAY NO OBLIGA- Touch Typing system. Learn to type quickly and easily. TION TRIAL PLAN. If you wish send the machine Carefully illustrated. Written expressly for home use. back at my expense.

MAIL COUPON NOW • Limited. Quantity an &a£e! WIDE 14” CARRIAGES | International Typewriter Exchange, Dept. 1092, 231 W.' Monroe St., Chicago, III, Send Underwood Noiseless (F.O.B. Chicago) for ten days' trial. If I keep it, I will pay Wide carriage machines for government re- I $3.00 per month until easy term price ($38.85) Is paid. If I am not satisfied I can return ports, large office forms, billing, etc., only it express collect. 10" carriage. P 14" carriage ($3.00 extra) $3.00 extra with order. Takes paper 14" I For quick shipment give occupation and reference wide, has 12" writing line. A Beal Buy in Name an Underwood Noiseless! Age. Address

City State...., International Typewriter Exchange I , I Check for typewriter stand ($2.00 extra) Stand sent on receipt of first payment on Underwood, I 231 W. Monroe St. Dept. 1092 Chicago. III.