Avon Fantasy Reader No. 9 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

“Well, it’s no use. You can’t stop me. You can’t stop them!” “Take it easy, darling—” | “Never mind. Do you think I care what they do to me, if only I can go? I’m not afraid. I know I can’t go as I am now. I know they must alter me. , 3 There are certain parts they want for reasons of their own. You’d be frightened if I told you. But I’m not afraid. You say I’m sick and insane; don’t deny it. Yet I’m healthy enough, sane enough to face them and their world. It’s you who are too morbid to endure it all.” Avis Long was wailing now; a thin, high-pitched wail of a little girl in a tantrum. : "You and I are leaving this house tomorrow,” Mason said. “We're going away. We'll be married and live happily ever after—in good old storybook ° style. The trouble with you, young lady, is that you’ve never had to grow up. All this nonsense about goblins and other worlds—” . Avis screamed: Mason ignored her. “Right now I’m going to shut that window,” he declared. Avis continued to scream. The shrill ululation echoed on a sustained note as Mason reached up and closed the round pane of glass over the black aperture. The wind resisted his efforts, but he shut the window and secured ~ the latch. | Then her fingers were digging into his throat from the rear, and her scream was pouring down his ear, “PIL kill you!” she wailed. It was the wail of an enraged child. But there was nothing of the child, or the invalid, in the strength be- hind her clawing fingers. He fought her off, panting. Then, suddenly, Dr. Clegg was in the room. A hypodermic needle flashed and gleamed in an arc of plunging silver. : : They carried her back to the bed, tucked her in. The blankets nestled about the weary face of a child in sleep. 3 The window was closed tightly now. | Everything was in order as the two men-turned out the light and tiptoed from the room. Neither of them said a word until they stood downstairs once again. Facing the fireplace, Mason sighed, “Somehow [ll get her out of here tomorrow,” he promised. “Perhaps it was too abrupt—my coming back tonight and waking her. I wasn’t very tactful. : “But something about her; something about that room, frightened me.” Dr. Clegg lit his pipe. “I know,” he said. “That’s why I couldn’t pre- tend to you that I completely understand. There’s more to it than mere hallucination.” , “Pm going to sit up here tonight,” Mason continued. “Just in case some- thing might happen.” | 84 CORNICE OOKS.6©)