A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, December 1949 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

~ a", oe a PP ae Sar Ae e ryt oO 82 A. MERRITT’S FANTASY But now I heard again the voice that had changed to the buzzing of a fly— “Beware ... beware of Dahut ... Alan, beware of Dahut ...” And I thought of the blank-eyed, impassive men . . . slaves to her will or to her father’s . . . _ I would not put away the sword—but I would hide it. I said, earnestly: “I haven’t the slight- est idea what you mean, Dahut. Really I haven’t. I meant precisely what I said.” She seemed to believe me. And on that basis, piquant enough considering what had gone before in New York and - ancient Ys, our breakfast continued. It had its peculiar charm. Before it was done I found myself dangerously close several times to thinking of the Demoiselle exactly as she wanted me to think of her. We dawdled, and it was eleven when we ended. She suggested a ride around the place, and with relief I went up to change my clothes. I had to snap my gun a few times and look at the leaves in McCann’s holster to clear my mind of disarming doubts. Dahut had a way with her. EN I came down she was in riding breeches, her hair braided around her head like a helmet. We went to the stables. There were a dozen first class horses. I looked around for the black stal- lion. I didn’t see it, but there was a box stall where it might have been. I picked out a sweet roan and Dahut a leggy bay. What I wanted most to see was de Kera- del’s “‘rockery.” I didn’t see it. We trotted along a well-made bridle path which gave occasional vistas of the water, but most of the time the rocks and trees shut off the ocean. It was a peculiar layout and one better adapted for solitude I have never seen. We came at last to the wall, turned and rode along it. Wicked, inverted chevaux-frise guard- ed the top, and there were a couple of wires that I suspected of carrying heavy voltage. They could not have been there when ’Lias had scaled the wall. I thought that probably he had taught a lesson as well as received one. And here and there stood several of the swarthy little men. They had clubs, hut how otherwise armed I could not tell. They knelt as we passed them. We came to a massive gate, and there ‘going out the gate for a canter? I’d like 3 was a garrison of half a dozen. We rode past the gate and came to a wide, long meadow land dotted with stunted bushes, crouching like cowering men. It came to me that this must be where the un- fortunate ’Lias had encounteerd the dogs that weren’t dogs. Under the sun, the brisk air and the exhilaration of riding, that story had lost many of its elements of reality. Yet the place had a frightened, forbidding aspect. I mentioned this cas-_ ually to Dahut. She looked at me with a secret amusement; answered as casually: “Yes—but there is good hunting here.” — She rode on without saying what kind — of hunting. Nor did I ask; for there had ~ been that about her answer which had — abruptly restored. my faith in ’Lias’s © veracity. “ We came to the end of the wall, and it © was built in the rock as McCann had © said. There was a big breast of the rock — which shut off a view of what lay beyond. — “T’d like to take a look from here.” And — before she could answer, had dismounted — and climbed the rock. From the top, it | was open ocean. A couple of hundred yards from shore were two men in a small fishing boat. They raised their heads — as they saw me, and one drew out a hand © net and began dipping with it. 4 Well, McCann was on the job. ; I scrambled down and joined Dahut. | I asked: “How about riding back and 7 to see more of the countryside.”’ She hesitated, then nodded; we rode — back and through the garrison and out — upon a country road. In a little while we — sighted a fine old house, set well back among big trees. A stone wall protected it from the road, and lounging beside one of its gates was McCann, He watched us come, imperturbably. — Dahut passed without a glance. I had hung back a few paces, and as I went by — McCann I dropped a card. I had hoped — for just this encounter, and I had man- ~ aged to scribble on it: S “Something very wrong but no definite — evidence yet. About thirty men, think all well-armed. Barbed and charged wires — behind wall.” ig I drew up beside the Demoiselle and we rode on a mile or so. She halted, and Cd te a ea Comichooks.com