Avon Murder Mystery Monthly No. 41 — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

180 THE METAL MONSTER except its spheres and tetrahedrons—at least within its visible bulk. ~The sapphire spark had grown to a glimmering azure marble. Stead- ily we gained upon the pyramid. Never. for an instant ceased that scourging hail of notes from Norhala—never for an instant lessened the drumming clamor that seemed to try to smother them. The sapphire marble became a sapphire ball, a great globe. I saw the Thing we sought to join lift itself into a prodigious pillar; the pillar’s base thrust forth stilts; upon them the Thing stepped over the blue dome of Norhala’s house. The blue bubble was close; now it curved below us. Gently we were lifted down: were set before its portal. I looked up at the bulk that had carried us. | I had been right—built it was only of globe and pyramid; an incon- ceivably grotesque shape, it hung over us. | | Throughout the towering Shape was awful movement; its units writhed within it. Then it was lost to sight in the mists through which the Thing we had pursued had gone. In Norhala’s face as she watched it go was a dismay, a poignant un- certainty, that held in it something indescribably pitiful. “T am afraid!” I heard her whisper. She tightened her grasp upon dreaming Ruth; motioned us to-go within. We passed, silently; behind us she came, followed by three of the great globes, by a pair of her tetrahedrons. Beside a pile of the silken stuffs she halted. The girl’s eyes dwelt upon hers trustingly. | “T am afraid!” whispered Norhala again. “Afraid—for you!” Tenderly she looked down upon her, the galaxies of stars in her eyes soft and tremulous. “I am afraid, little sister,” she whispered for the third time. “Not yet can you go as I do—among the fires.” She hesitated. “Rest here until I return. I shall leave these to guard you and obey you.” She motioned to the five shapes. They ranged themselves about Ruth. Norhala kissed her upon both brown eyes. “Sleep till I return,” she murmured. She. swept from the chamber—with never a glance for us three. I heard a little wailing chorus without, fast dying into silence. Spheres and pyramids twinkled at us, guarding the silken pile where- on Ruth lay asleep—like some enchanted princess. Beat down upon the blue globe like hollow metal worlds, beaten and shrieking. The drums of Destiny! The drums of Doom! Beating taps for the world of men? GOGO .S (GO)