Avon Murder Mystery Monthly No. 41 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

152 THE METAL MONSTER I had estimated then, at least twenty miles away. And how long was. the pass, the tunnel, through them? And then how far this place of the armored men? It had been past dawn when Drake had frightened the black eunuch with his pistol. It was not yet dawn now. How could Yuruk have made his way to the Persians so swiftly—how could they so swiftly have returned? | Amazingly she answered the spoken question and the unspoken. _ “They came long before dusk,” she said. “By the night before Yuruk — had won to Ruszark, the city of Cherkis; and long before dawn they were on their way hither. This the black dog I slew told me.” “But Yuruk was with us here at dawn yesterday,” I gasped. “A night has passed since then,” she said, “and another night is almost one.” | | . Stunned, I considered this. If this were true—-and not for an instant did I doubt her—then not for a few hours had we lain there at the foot of the living wall in the Hall of the Cones—but tor the balance of that day and that night, and another day and part of still another night. “What does she say?” Drake stared anxiously into my whitened face. I told him. | | “Yes.” Norhala spoke again. “The dusk before the last dusk that has passed | returned to my house. The maid was there and sorrowing. She told me you had gone into the valley, prayed me to help you and to bring you back. I comforted her, and soniething of—the peace—I gave her; but not all, for she fought‘against it. A little we played together, and I left her sleeping. I sought you and found you also sleeping. I knew no harm would come.to you, and I went my ways—and forgot you. Then I came here again—and found Yuruk and these the maid had slain.” The great eyes flashed. “Now do I honor the maid for the battle that she did,” she said, “though how she slew so many strong men I do not know. My heart goes out to her. And therefore when I bring her back she shall no more be plaything to Norhala, but sister. And with you it shall be as she wills. And woe to those who have taken her!” | She.paused, listening. From without came a rising storm of thin wail- Ings, insistent and eager. “But I have an older vengeance than this’ to take,” the golden voice tolled somberly. “Long have I forgotten—and shame I feel that I had forgot. So long have I forgotten all hatreds, all lusts, all cruelty—among ' —these—” She thrust a hand forth toward the hidden valley. “Forgot— dwelling in the great harmonies. Save for you and what has befallen I would never have stirred from them, I think. But now awakened, I take GOGO .S (GO)