Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

478 “ There’s something about them like St. Elmo’s fire, witch lights—condensations of -atmespheric electricity.”” Ventnor’s voice was calm; now that it was plain we were nearing the heart of this mystery in which we were enmeshed he had clearly taken fresh grip, was again his keen, observant cel f | We watched, once more silent; and in- deed we had spoken little since we had be- gun that ride whose end we sensed close. In the unfolding of enigmatic happening after happening, the pressing in on every hand, every instant, of the utterly strange, the incredible, the mind had deserted speech and crouched listening at every door of sight and hearing and touch to gather from the messages crowding in some clue to causes, some thread -of understanding. Slowly now we were gliding through the forest of pillars; so effortless, so smooth our flight that we seemed to be standing . still, the tremendons columns flitting past us, turning and wheeling around us, dizzy- ingly. My head swam with the mirage motion, I closed my eyes. é¢ Look! 9 “Look! What d’you make of that?” Half a mile ahead the pillars stopped at the edge of a shimmering, quivering cur- tain of green luminescence. High, high up past the pale gilt suns its smooth folds ran, into the golden amber must that canopied the columns. In its sparkling was more than hint of the dancing corpuscles of the aurora; it was, indeed, as though woven of the vires- cent auroral rays. And all about it played shifting, tremulous shadows formed by the “merging of the aureate light with the cur- tain’s emerald gleaming. Up to its base swept the cube that bore Ruth and Norhala—and stopped. From it leaped the woman, drew Ruth down be- side her, Ge turned and gestured toward us. That upon which we rode drew close. I — felt it shudder beneath me; felt on the in- stant the magnetic grip drop from me, an- gle downward, leave me free. Shaaily I arose from aching knees, saw Ventnor flash down and run, rifle in hand, to his sister Drake bent for his fallen gun, I moved Drake was shaking me. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. unsteadily toward the side of the clustered cubes. There came a curious, pushing mo- tion driving me to the edge. Sliding over upon me came Drake and the pony. The cube tilted, gently, playfully—and with the slightest of jars the three of us steod beside it on the floor, we two men gaping at it m renewed wonder, and the little beast stretching its legs, lifting its feet and whinnying with relief. Then abruptly the four blocks that had been our steed broke from each other; that which had been the woman’s glided to them. The four clicked into place behind it and darted from sight. &¢ Ruth! 39 with his fear. ‘“ Ruth! What is wrong with you? What has she done to you?” We ran to his side. He stood clutching her hands, searching her eyes that were wide, unseeing, dream filled. And I saw with a definite shock of dread that upon her face the calm and stillness that were mirrored reflections of Norhala’s unearthly tranquility had deepened. “ Brother!” The sweet voice seemed far away, drifting out of untroubled space, an echo of Norhala’s golden chimings— ‘* Brother, there is nothing wrong with me. Indeed—all is—well with me—brother.”’ He dropped the listless palms, faced the woman, tall figure tense, face drawn with mingled rage and anguish. “What have you done to her?” he whis- pered in Norhala’s own tongue. The clear, serene gaze took him in, un- disturbed by his wrath save for the faint- est’ shadow of wonder, of perplexity. “ Done,” she repeated, slowly. ‘I have stilled all that was troubled within her—I have lifted her above sorrow. I have given her the peace—as I will give it to you if—-” “ You'll give me nothing,” he interrupt- ed fiercely; then, his passion breaking through all restraint—“ Yes, you damned witch—you'll give me back my sister!” In his rage he had spoken Engtish; she could not, of course, have understood the words, but their anger and hatred she did understand. Her serenity quivered, broke. The strange stars within her eyes began to glitter forth as they had when she had sum- Ventnor’s voice was vibrant moned the Smiting Thitz! Unheeding, EOMICOOOKS. COM