A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

THE NINTH LIFE 39 will you to desire me as I willed him. For then—”’ She did not end it. “Ah!” he breathed. “We appear to be getting somewhere, now. And that magic must be very old. As old as—well, as old as your cats, say.” “That a man should we me?’’ she asked derisively. “That a-man should not,” he contra- dicted. “You, being what you are, have roused intense dislike in three men, to my knowledge, and Tony Briggs, whom you own you willed to desire you, is— well, nothing but desire of you, by all that I’ve seen. Yes, very old magic.’ ““How old?” she asked again, with not less irony. “That is for you to tell me—the— what was‘it? Yes, the unbelievable fanta- sy that you need not even deny, and at the same time an explanation which will finally extinguish my accusation—or not.” “TI answered you,” she said coldly. “Again we talk in circles,” he com- plained. “A very ugly and terrible fact remains unexplained. Full explanation of yourself may lead me to the solution of my problem, just as you and Tony bidding each other a tender farewell in the entrance hall of tae Gravenor solved another problem—by proving that the man who should have been on duty wasn’t. This is not an accusation, but a request.” “From one of the three men who dislike me,” she pointed out. “J did, but I don’t now,”’ he said blunt- ly. “I have even—well, call it a kindness for you.” “I do not understand that,’ she de- clared slowly. “Because—I realize—’”’ more slowly— he spoke still “that you once saved my @ PROLONGS RECORD LIFE @ IMPROVES TONE QUALITY @e REDUCES NEEDLE SHOCK @ INCREASES NEEDLE LIFE @. _SAVE YOUR RECORDSS cavern father’s life. Thirty-eight years ago.” Flames leaped and danced over the fire basket and he could see all the sinuous grace of her as she sat leaned toward him —could see how her night-dark eyes sof- tened as the meaning of his words struck on her sense. She said: “So he told you! I am glad | saved him.” She leaned back and, whether by her will or by the intensity of the firelight, her eyes so changed that he saw them as amber jewels, a difference that trans- formed her from tender, dawning woman- hood to complete maturity. He told him- self then that she must not marry Tony Briggs. If only Tony could see her like this— “What makes you suddenly old?” he asked bluntly, even rudely. “Sight,” she answered, without resent- ment. “I have stood beside and out of time for so long that I will not even call it memory. Sight that you by your -ques- tioning put before my eyes.” Again he took out his cigarette case and offered it. HE said, abruptly: “There is too much light,” and stretched out her right hand toward the fire. Instantly the leap- ing flames died down until they were no larger than the flames of thin candles. over the kindling coals. “More magic. Creating an atmosphere, say, to fit the story.” He sat in a stillness such as he had never known, a remoteness from ordinary being in which time might have ceased to exist—it was as if he were bodiless in the void of space between the universes. When she spoke again her voice came to him in a thin, faint sound, like that of 0.8.%e'9 er ote. on) state DOCAA * Perens oe Pwr etone oo gates OA SOS Oe OO IO” AIR POs >. IP re) OLR yO DOSCABOO ena ane. ,° oO oe O OOO e) ORO tr If Not Available At Your Dealer Send $1.00-Regular ... $2.50-Deluxe Model. ZIM PRODUCTS SHIRE AVE. ST. LOUIS 9, MO. comicboo CS (elo)