Adventure Magazine Cover — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

164 human flesh. The creature appeared to be an old hag, yet Kilgore knew that if this were indeed the Rani, she could be not yet fifty years. Thirty years,;since, his uncle had loved the Rani, and women ripen young in Kashmir. - “There is nothing left of the Rani,” said Esrun, a mournful note in her tone, “except the voice. But you, who heard that voice only once, still remember it. Sir Fandi Singh had forgotten it—but perhaps he was not to blame. I was frightened that day. Nor did I give him any chance to recognize my voice.’ Kilgore strained forward. “Fandi—and Severn! They were here?” “They were here,” repeated Esrun. “And now——” “Let us talk.of them later.” The answer came with a tinge of mockery. The hag again shrouded herself in the yellow cloths. ‘It will be more interesting now if we talk of you, sahib! Or shall we speak first of the days that are dead—of Kashmiri days?” In the mocking voice of this blinded, ravaged atom of humanity there lay a “dreadfuk significance. Kilgore compre- hended this and straightened up. He was master of himself now, and he lighted a cigaret with steady fingers. | _ “As you please,” he said coolly. the Rani and Esrun are one?” “Then “They are one, sahib. Do you remember. the day when you sat in the courtroom by the side of your uncle? Do you remember that I threatened him and his on that day?” “Quite well,” said Kilgore. 3 “The threat was well meant. Listen, sahib! My lover was murdered by your uncle and the rajah. That deed changed the entire course of my life. In striving to avenge it, I became a leper. Later, your uncle sent me to a leper’s prison. I escaped. I took jewels and fled, with two faithful men who served me. We fled far, into the north, into this land. And here we came to rest.” Day intervened. “Tell her she’s away off,jthe mark!” he said roughly. “Tell her that your uncle never had anything to do—+y7’ “Oh, I say!” said Kilgore languidly. “Why bother, old chap? We can’t demean ourselves to.argue with this creature, you know.” _Esrun laughed, and her laughter rang 3 Adventure acidly in their ears. The words had stung. “This creature was a princess of the Raj- puts!” she returned. “And she has made herself strong, powerful, feared! And rich, also. What is better, after the lapse of many years she is- -about to avenge her ruined life upon the rajah’s son, and the nephew of Sir Cecil Kilgore, the | proud sahib!”’ To this Kilgore returned no answer. “Your two friends were here— they trapped me,” went on Esrun after a moment. “T shot Fandi Singh. His companion shot me and left me for dead. But I was not dead. I was badly hurt—so badly that I was unable to prevent the escape of the two men. ‘They joined the party of the Chinaman who came to aid you.” “Sheng Wu!” exclaimed Kilgore sharply. “Then Sheng Wu was at the temple?” “Yes. He found Fandi Singh, who did not die, and Severn, who lost one arm from blood-poisoning. They could find no trace «; of you, and they returned.” “Ah! And they got away?” “They got away. They reached Urga | safely. My followers at Urga so informed me... Day drew a deep breath and relaxed. He had been sitting under tension. “Then it’s all right!” he exclaimed loudly. — “They’ll come back to look for us!” “They will come back,” repeated this deathly Echo. In those words was a note so sinister, so pregnant with meaning, that Kilgore shivered despite himself. ‘In fact, they are nearly here!” There was a moment of silence. “Tf you mean to kill us,” said Kilgore suddenly, ‘why not do it and put an end to this waste of words?” Esrun laughed—a delicious peal of girlish mirth that was frightful to hear, so bitter was its contrast with realities. “T have thirty years of suffering to make up,” she answered. “Do you think that this can be repaid in a moment—in a day— in a year? Do you think it can be repaid by the destruction of the body alone? No, sahib! ‘The gods have been kind, by sending me you and Fandi Singh. Why should I hurry? I am not yet near death.” Day watched the creature in a species of horrified fascination. Kilgore remained cool; the more definitely their position be- came pronounced, in fact, the cooler he grew. comicbook " — (E©)