A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, February 1950 — page 83: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SMOKING LAND 83 Forget her? I shuddered when I re- membered what the boy had said—how the fire could be controlled so that the flames wotild devour her body slowly, bit by bit! “How are we to get her out of her pri- son?’’ Darrell said. “Tf she’s guarded,” said I, “we might be able to rush the guards—”’ “There'd be a fight, then, and fights make noise, and nose travels far along rock _ corridors. Besides, they have their sys- tem of mechanical ears that pick up sounds and carry them, and identify the places from which they come. We’d have a hun- dred men around us in no time.” I tried to think; my head simply spun. Darrell, in the meantime, was walking up ae down, his head bowed. Finally he said: “T might try sham authority.” “How?” said I. “I know where she’s kept,” he an- swered. ‘“‘And after all, I’m one of the inner circle of the powers, in the eyes of the common soldiers, They don’t know that I’m just a toy in the hands of their real leaders. They think that I’m one of the chosen few! If I appeared and told them—well, told them, for instance, that the girl was wanted for an examining consultation in my own chamber, by a few of the highest ones—yes, if I used the name of the father of Arthur yonder —there’s a very good chance that I could get her back here. From this room— well, later on, as soon as the way was clear, we could start again. I can’t think of a better way.” I nodded. “It sounds clumsy, Cleve,” said I. 667 KNOW it does,” he agreed. “But clumsy inventions are better than none. Otherwise, I don’t know how we'll be able to turn the key of her door, or walk her through the guards. If they bring her here, they'll be glad if I dis- miss them for an hour.” “Perhaps it might pan out,” I ad- mitted. ‘You'll have to keep a straight face. But look here, Cleve—you're tak- ing all the danger and all the responsibi- lity.” “Your share will come later on,” said he. “And while I’m gone, you'll be on the edge of a higher cliff than the one I’m $ walking. So just keep a steady grip.’ “Go on, then,” said I, “and Heaven knows I'll be praying for you while you’re gone.” He went at once to the door and there he paused and held out his hand. I gripped it hardy and was glad to find that it was both warm and steady. Darrell’s nerve was as splended a thing as could be found in the world. Then the door closed behind him, and I was alone. Well, that was the beginning of a bad time, you may be sure. I saw everything that could possibly happen occurring behind my back; I walked the length of long, echoing cor- ridors with my friend. I saw him confront the guards; I heard them laugh in his face! I paced up and down in a frenzy until, finally, even the thought of the boy in the recess was a comfort. He was possible human companionship. So I went to the recgss and drew the curtain, and looked down into his face. He was lying flat on his back, and when he saw me, a gleam of mockery, or triumph lighted up his eyes. Finally, I ventured to take the gag from between his teeth. He dragged in a few deep breaths, and then smiled at me with contempt and mas- tership. “Count thy few moments,” he said to me, “‘for they are soon ended.” “Vou lie, Arthur,” said I, ‘and as you've already been told, you're not ly- ing well, today.” ' At this, he closed his eyes with the heartiness of his laughter; it shook his entire body. I had an almost irresistible temptation to reach down and throttle him, but I controlled it. After all, even this sort of conversation was better than pacing up and down the room in silence, imagining the end of the world. “Dost thou know why I laugh?” he said. “Perhaps you're a fool,” I suggested. “In what name will he require the priestess from the guard?” he asked. “In the name of your sainted father, my friend,” said I. He laughed again. When he could speak, he said, ‘‘My father is even now with her, questioning, trying to break down bet igi’ Be ee ee ty ‘ aia Ae eee er eee ee See Lee Tete ay eae Bs