Avon Fantasy Reader No. 9 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

was an impostor. On attempting to translate other characters, I found the majority of them unintelligible to me. “One of the requirements of my pilgrimage was that I was to spend four hours a day for a period of seven days alone on my knees before the sacred stone. A guard, posted outside the door, saw to it that but one pilgrim was admitted at a time. On the day following, I secreted writing materials in my clothing, and spent the time allotted to me on that day, and the five days following, in carefully copying the writing on the stone. age “I carried my prize away without detection, but did not return to T’ainfu. Instead, I wandered from monastery to monastery, from temple to temple, conversing with the learned men and reading the ancient records to which I, as a pilgrim priest, was usually given access without question. The task of translation, which had at first appeared easy, took me ten years to complete. “When it was finished I knew that it had not been written by God, as was supposed, but by the first earthly ancestor of my race, and I found myself charged with a trust which appeared as difficult of fulfillment as the trans- lation itself. The crater which you have been investigating was described to me—yet its location was unknown to the writer. I was charged to find it and to find you. It took me nine years to find the crater, during which time I visited thousands, none of which exactly fitted the description. It took me a year more to find you and to receive the sign.” ee “May I ask what sign you refer to?” inquired the professor. “My illustrious ancestor, who charged me with the task of conveying his message to you, said in the writing that his spirit would be watching me from Magong. He prophesied that you would appear at this place, and when you did, he would flash a brilliant signal to me from his Celestial abode.” “And you have the signal?” — “IT have and do, for it is still visible. Look!” He pointed toward the full moon. a, is The professor looked, then raised his binoculars to his eyes and focused them. “By Jove!” he exclaimed. “You have unusually sharp eyes. There is a bril- liant, star-like light in the crater, Aristarchus. A rare occurrence, too.” “IT have studied Magong for many years,” replied our guest, “and have trained my eyes to see things hidden from the sight of ordinary mortals. I could have used a telescope or binoculars, but for my purpose I have no need of them.” as : Bee “Remarkable!” commented the professor. “And this light fulfills the proph- ecy?” | : , “To the letter. Permit me to deliver my message, therefore, and depart, for I have much to do before Magong veils her face once more.” Drawing a large, bulky envelope from his pocket, the Oriental arose and handed it to the professor with a profound bow. } 3 Springing to his feet with alacrity, the professor accepted it with a bow as low and dignified as that of the donor. | : 39 EComichooks com