A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, February 1950 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

THE SMOKING LAND 87 upon it with their sword-butts and fists. How long would it be before they were inside ? CHAPTER 26 Escape Us Never VEN Sylvia was not so uniamiliar with life and danger that she failed to recognize what we were in for. She began to run, and I was amazed. What with the rifle, the heavy ammunition belt, and other things, I found it hard to keep up with her; she went like a deer. And Darrell was close behind. I wondered if Darrell had locked the door when he came out. And if it was made solidly enough to withstand a bat- tering. And furthermore, after banging on it a couple of times, if the guards would take it for granted that no one was inside and go away? Fear is more exhausting than physical effort; I was winded and shaking when we came toward a lighted end of a passage where several guards were stationed. I would have turned back, but Darrell made a sign to go on. He took the lead. And we walked straight up to the soldiers, the girl draw- ing a hood almost entirely across her face. And she came closer to me, and put a hand on my arm. I felt the tremor in that hand, and heard the depth of her breath- ing. And yet I think that she was steadier than [! When we reached them, a pair of hal- berds were crossed in our path. “Where goest thou?” said the man in command. Murder sat down before us, and lolled out his long, red tongue. I was glad of him ; he seemed to give a casual aspect to our whole party. He turned us into mere strollers. ‘““We go to the airships,’’ said Darrell. “Ah?” says the other. “And by what authority ?” “By my own authority,” said Darrell, while my breath stopped again. “And by the authority of the chief of the wise men,” he added. ‘Dost thou know this signet ?”’ He held out a ring. Oh, wise Darrell, to have taken that ring from Wilbur, the son of John! 9 One of the soldiers came up and peered in my face, and then stared at the girl. “Here is one in the robes of the priest- ess!” says he. ‘‘Look now, if she is not exactly dressed as the priestess !”’ “She is,” said another, ‘but we know that the priestess Sylvia hath not her liberty now.” The officer of the guard was turning the ring back and forth in his hand, but now he nodded. “Yes,” he said, “I recognize it. But hath he given thee no writing ?” “If he had taken time to write me an order,” said Darrell, impatiently, “would he have entrusted his own signet to me? Go to, friend! Where are thy wits?” I thought that he might have taken another moment for baiting the soldier, but the latter, after he had scowled black- ly at Darrell, finally nodded and stepped ack. “Open the door,” he commanded. And instantly what had seemed a blank wall of rock at the end of the passage opened, sliding back with a dull rumbling sound. We were stepping through when the offi- cer called out: “Halt, there!” We halted; my blood curdled. “Thou mayest pass with the signet, but now what of these two? And what are their names? And wherefore go they with thee? One of them is a woman!” “I have eyes, it is true,” said Darrell. “And I have a brain, also. Dost thou think that I have brought these by chance, or from intention?” The man growled like an angry dog, and muttered something, but we went on, and he finally roared out, “Take them to the runways!” And a pair of men unarmored, and dressed like laborers, came along with us. “What wilt thou have?” said one of them. “The ship which is most ready to fly,” said Darrell. At this, both of the men paused. “Aye, but we have'no order to give thee a ship,” said one. “Look,” said Darrell, showing the ring. “Is there a higher order than this signet ?” The older of the two bent his head over it. He looked like a Chinese, with a broad COMicaoo C@