A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

THE NINTH LIFE (Continued from page 93) “No,” Gees agreed tonelessly, there.” Sentences from Kefra’s story were back in his mind. ‘When she had need, she took—so much of my life that I was as 6c? it’s not one dead until she had her will...and thus renewed her accursed self.” And now at last he knew. There was no mask—for none had been worn. Gees realized that at the end, Kefra had known too. That was what she had meant this afternoon. Her own body, during those moments of blackness, those ‘“renderings- up of myself to the goddess,” had been the instrument of Sekhmet’s hideous, bloody-hungry cruelty. And as once long ago, Sekhmet had killed the man whom Keira had loved—so last night in jealousy she had tried to kill him, Gees. But who would believe these tales— an ancient goddess of wrath and murder, coming to earth to destroy ; making of her priestess a changeling—a clawing, snarl- ing lion-woman; giving that priestess timeless and destructive life, using her to procure the blood of mortals—the blood so necessary to sacrifice and belief... .No, these things would not be believed. But no matter. Sekhmet was dead now. For Saleh, her only living worshipper, lay lifeless in the car. There was no one to believe in her any more; and without be- lief she perished, as must all the gods whose cult has passed from the minds and hearts, the fear and worship, of men. And with Sekhmet dead, then Kefra—her priestess, her instrument, and her victim —was at last released from the long bond- age—‘the closer bond,” she had called it. So they were dead—all three. Goddess, priestess, devotée. Gone from the earth. And none would remember. Time had claimed them at last. Gees knew though, with a pan; of mis- ery, that time would never take from him the memory of Kefra’s burning amber eyes, nor that moment of utter peace they had known this afternoon . . . Was it only this afternoon? It seemed centuries “They must have thrown it out!” Tott insisted. He was still fuming about the mask. “Very well, then, they threw it out. In that case, you il find it somewhere on the DR. R. SCHIFFMANN'S -ASTHMADOR WE s bolree Be 3 that The Dyco Action. Course in Beers Sale Sales- manship make you a gd and professionally successful through Spe Shame Based tested principles and proved methods. Easily learned. Done eairats im four colors. Requires 15 — a day for twelve weeks, TATE RESULTS, ts only $2 per month for six months, Write for free dotails te DYCO PUBLISHING COMPANY Selling Aids Division Dept. SA 4, 1321 Arch St., Philadelphia 7, Pa. f) ee relief with Dent’s. Use Dent's Tooth um or Dent’s Tooth Drops for cavity tooth- s aches. Use Dent’s Dental Poultice for pain or Since rege” soreness in gums or teeth. At ail drug stores. z -p E NT’S TOOTH GUM: TOOTH. DROPS: es Get Well (42, QUICKER DENTAL POULTICE. <<” From Your Cow Due te a Co} FOLEY’S tasers &, ugh pound $ & 2% Borrow 3% fo 7300" ere you anes meee a rn ge ap HS 300. i > $800.00 O this € easy, quick, Al L-é eonfidential way. No endorsers BY needed. Employed men & women of good eharacter eligible. Solve your moray peab lens quickly and in complete privacy with a loan Reeeriyt @ fora loan, Conventent moathly Ba aye of know al fou are appiving fo oceupation—for Application Biank sont Fuad « in plainenvelope. Noobligation. State Finance Co. 210 State Finance Bidg., Dept. 5-71, Des Meines &, lowa peg TE FINANCE CO., Dept. &-72 ee! ee Se EE Ee “| l sto ae sleancss Bidg., "Des Moines <" towa Please rush FREE Application Blank. i j PRE EE SES Lag om Os LS Se STATE. scascna8 i | Occupation a ss es FE I ee a TS Age ..-.... ey TE ered eee) ee a ED RE See) ESE SEED UD TS Ga TOS SEES ES 2S ee — 4 ef; | 1 27 a) €omicbooks:com