Avon Murder Mystery Monthly No. 41 — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

154 THE METAL MONSTER and sought ever for means to regain their place among them. There came a time when my father, driven by his longing, ventured forth to Ruszark, seeking friends to help him regain that place—tor these who obey me obeyed not him as they obey me; nor would he have marched them—as I shall—upon Ruszark if they had obeyed him. “Cherkis caught him. And Cherkis waited, knowing well that my mother would follow. For Cherkis knew not where to seek her, nor where they had lain hid, for between his city and here the mountains are great, unscalable, and the way through them is cunningly hidden; by chance alone did my. mother’s mother and those who fled with her discover it. And though they tortured him, my father would not tell. And after a while forthwith those who still remained of hers stole out with my mother to find him, They left me here with Yuruk. And Cherkis caught my mother.” The proud breasts heaved, the eyes shot forth visible fames. “My father was flayed alive and crucified,” she said. “His skin they nailed to the City’s gates. And when Cherkis had had his will with my mother he threw her to his soldiers for their sport. | “All of those who went with them he tortured and slew—and he and his laughed at their torment. But one there was who escaped and told me—me who was little more than a budding maid. He called on me to bring vengeance—and he died. A year passed—and I am not like my mother and my father—and I forgot—dwelling here in the great tran- quillities, barred from and having no thought for men and their way.” “Aie, aie!” she cried; “woe to me that I could forget! But now I shall take my vengeance—I, Norhala, will stamp them flat—Cherkis and his city of Ruszark and everything it holds! I, Norhala, and my servants shall stamp them into the rock of their valley so that none shall know _ that they have been! And would that I could meet their gods with all their powers that I might break them, too, and stamp them into the rock under the feet of my servants!” She threw out white arms. Why had Yuruk lied to me? I wondered as I watched her. The Disk had not slain her mother. Of course! He had lied to play upon our ter- rors; had lied to frighten us away. The wailings were rising in a sustained crescendo. One of the slaying — slipped over the chamber floor, folded its points and glided out the oor. ) | “Come!” commanded Norhala, and led the way. The second star closed, followed us. We stepped over the threshold. For one astounded, breathless moment we paused. In front of us reared a monster—a colossal, headless Sphinx. Like forelegs and paws, a ridge of pointed cubes and globes thrust against each side of the can- GOGO .S (GO)