A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, December 1949 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

| Keradel put it? . the paupers’ ‘and had enough and more than enough blood for the last sacrifice. Incongruously, a line came into my mind ‘the grapes of wrath are stored . . that he had “pressed — “He is trampling out the vintage Feo bP ot so incongruous . . . [ thought: De Keradel has trampled out another vintage for the Gatherer’s drink. My blood was to have been mixed with it, but Dahut had re- fused to let it be! I felt no gratitude toward her for that. She was a spider who thought her fly se- curely in her web, and was resisting an- other spider’s attempt to take it from her. That was all, But the fly was no longer in her web, nor did it owe her for its re- lease. If L felt increase of hatred for de Keradel, I felt no decrease of it for Dahut. _ Nevertheless, what I had heard had changed the.vague pattern of my venge- ance. The design clarified. The shadows were wrong, Dahut must not die before her father. I had a better plan .. . it came to me from the Lord of Caranac whom Dahut thought had died in her arms... and he ceunseled me as he had counseled himself, long and long and long ago in- ancient Ys I walked up the stairs. The door to my room was open. I switched on the lights, boldly. Dahut was standing there, between me and the bed. She smiled—but her eyes did not. She walked toward me. I thrust the point of the long knife toward her. She stopped and laughed—but her eyes did not laugh. She said: “You are so elusive, my beloved. You have such a gift of disappearance.” “You have told me that before, Dahut. And...” I touched my cheek... “have even emphasized it? Her eyes misted, welled, and tears were on her cheeks. “You have much to for- give—but so have I, Alan.” Well, that was true enough— . Beware ... beware of Dahut . “Where did you get your knife, Alan: 2” _A practical question that steadied me; I answered it as practically. “From one of your men whom [I killed.” “And would kill me with it—if I came close?” — “Why not, Dahut? You sent me as a A. MERRITT’S FANTASY — 4° - + rn P i See shadow into the shadowy land and I have = learned its lesson.” “What was that lesson, Alan?” s a i “To be merciless.” ; ay “But I am not merciless, Alan—else - you would not be here.” ; “Now I know you lie, Dahut. It was” not you who released me from that bond= age.” | 4 She said, “I did not mean that... roca B do I lie... and I am tempted to try you, — Alan...” She came toward me, slowly. I held the point of the knife in readiness — against her coming. She said: a “Kill me if you want to. I have not much love for life. You are all that I love. ~ If you will not love me—kill me.” y She was close; so close that the point — of the knife touched her breast; she said, “Thrust—and end it.” My hand dropped. “T cannot kill you, Dahut!” ¥ Her eyes softened, her face grew ten- der—but triumph lurked under the ten- — derness. She rested her hands on my — shoulders ; then kissed the whip-welts one — by one, saying, “By this kiss I forgive— and by this I forgive . . . and by this = forgive...” She held her lips up to me, “Now kiss? me, Alan—and with that kiss say that you forgive me.” KISSED her, but I did not say that fe forgave, nor did I let fall the knife. She trembled in ‘my arms and clung to me and whispered, “Say it... say it. I pushed her away from me and laughed am “Why are you. so eager for forgiveness E Dahut? What do you fear that makes ~ my forgiveness so desirable before your = = father kills me?” ps She asked, “How did you know he means to kill you?”’ yy “T heard him say so when he was makes ing that pleasant little demand for my © blood not long ago. Bargaining with you for me. Promising you a substitute who | would be far more satisfactory.” Again | I laughed. “Is my forgiveness a necessary ~ part of that incarnation?” a She said, breathlessly, “If you heard that, you must also know that I would — not give you to him.” a _ I lied. “I do not. Just jis your ser- vant forced me to kill him. When I was — Comicbooks.com — vs -