Avon Murder Mystery Monthly No. 41 — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVI The Vengeance of Norhala ORHALA’S hand that had gone from my wrist dropped down again; the other fell upon Drake’s. Kulun loosed his hood, let it fall about his shoulders. He stepped forward, held out his arms to Norhala. “A strong man!” she cried approvingly. “Hail—my bridegroom! But stay—stand back a moment. Stand beside that man for whom I came to Ruszark. I would see you together!” | -Kulun’s face darkened. But Cherkis smiled: with evil understanding, shrugged his shoulders and whispered to him. Sullenly Kulun stepped back. The ring of the archers lowered their bows; they leaped to their feet and stood aside to let him pass. Quick as a serpents tongue a pyramid tipped tentacle flicked out be- neath us. It darted through the broken circle of the bowmen. It icked wp Ruth and Ventnor and—Kulun! | Swiftly as it had swept forth it returned, coiled and dropped those two I loved at Norhala’s feet. | It flashed back on high with the scarlet length of Cherkis’s son sprawled along its angled end. | The great body of Cherkis seemed to wither. Up from all the-wall went a tempestuous sigh of horror. Out rang the merciless chimes of Norhala’s laughter. “T'chai!” she cried. “Tchai! Fat fool there. Tchai—you Cherkis! Toad whose wits have sickened with your years! “Did ,you think to catch me, Norhala, in your filthy web? Princess! Queen! Empress of Earth! Ho—old fox I have outplayed and beaten, what now have you to trade with Norhala?” | ‘Mouth sagging open, eyes glaring, the tyrant slowly raised his arms— asuppliant. = = | “You would have back the bridegroom you gave me?” she laughed. e “Take him, then.” | Down swept the metal arm that held Kulun. The arm dropped Cher-. Kis's son at Cherkis’s feet; and as though Kulun had been a grape—it crushed him! : | | Before those who had seen could stir from their stupor the tentacle hovered over Cherkis, glaring down at the horror that had been his son. It did not strike him—it drew him up to it as a magnet draws a pin. 167 GOGO .S (GO)