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Rocket, v. 1, issue 1, March 1940
Page 19
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19 "It would seem so," he explained, "But I have been spared it, thus far, as if I were intended for this very work. Several of the men who have since entered the tomb have died of the disease, but not in its worst form, or you may be sure the press would have made more of a to-do about it, instead of merely mentioning that they died of a strange malady that has not been identified by medical science. I feel, however, that my time is near its end and that I must rust my work which calls for more capital. My fortune is gone, and I have sunk every penny I had into this effort and now I am stalemated unless you can give me assistance. That is why I called you here. There it is, my boy, you have the whole story, and I must have money to continue. I want you to return to Cairo with Assin Salu and think it over more thoroughly. If you are then convinced of the truth of my story, send to your father for five thousand dollars. A few thousand will be little missed from his fortune in comparison to the great service you can do humanity." VI This last sentence seemed to automatically end our conversation. I arose from the table and left in the company of Assin Salu. Our return journey proved uneventful for it seemed so as I was turning over so many things in my mind. Arrival at the hotel had not given me sufficient time to think things out so I walked the streets of Cairo for the remainder of the night. I won't bore you with the thousand and one do's and don't's that entered my mind but only tell you that the following morning I cabled my father for the money, promising an explanation later. Good old dad readily sent it without question. Late the following afternoon, Assin Salu returned to inform me that his effendi was ill. Together we rushed back to the valley, which I was later unable to find, and this time I wasted no time in rapping on the door as it flew open at my onrushing. I got no further for there, sprawled over the table, was the most gruesome sight that ever a man beheld. For there was a desiccated corpse from which a nauseating, fetid odor arose to strike me like a physical blow -- an unspeakable repulsion, whose offense spread from the olfactory nerves to the other four senses, saturating my entire being with utter loathing. I whirled and stumbled from the sight, rushing pell-mell down into the valley with the thought of what I had witnessed, bringing to my mind the ancient words inscribed on the curse of the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen -- Let the hand raiseth against my form be withered. Let him die who attack my body, my foundations and the likeness unto me. ----------------------------------- SHANGRI-LA from 'The Valley of the Blue Moon' LA'S OWN -- SOON!
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19 "It would seem so," he explained, "But I have been spared it, thus far, as if I were intended for this very work. Several of the men who have since entered the tomb have died of the disease, but not in its worst form, or you may be sure the press would have made more of a to-do about it, instead of merely mentioning that they died of a strange malady that has not been identified by medical science. I feel, however, that my time is near its end and that I must rust my work which calls for more capital. My fortune is gone, and I have sunk every penny I had into this effort and now I am stalemated unless you can give me assistance. That is why I called you here. There it is, my boy, you have the whole story, and I must have money to continue. I want you to return to Cairo with Assin Salu and think it over more thoroughly. If you are then convinced of the truth of my story, send to your father for five thousand dollars. A few thousand will be little missed from his fortune in comparison to the great service you can do humanity." VI This last sentence seemed to automatically end our conversation. I arose from the table and left in the company of Assin Salu. Our return journey proved uneventful for it seemed so as I was turning over so many things in my mind. Arrival at the hotel had not given me sufficient time to think things out so I walked the streets of Cairo for the remainder of the night. I won't bore you with the thousand and one do's and don't's that entered my mind but only tell you that the following morning I cabled my father for the money, promising an explanation later. Good old dad readily sent it without question. Late the following afternoon, Assin Salu returned to inform me that his effendi was ill. Together we rushed back to the valley, which I was later unable to find, and this time I wasted no time in rapping on the door as it flew open at my onrushing. I got no further for there, sprawled over the table, was the most gruesome sight that ever a man beheld. For there was a desiccated corpse from which a nauseating, fetid odor arose to strike me like a physical blow -- an unspeakable repulsion, whose offense spread from the olfactory nerves to the other four senses, saturating my entire being with utter loathing. I whirled and stumbled from the sight, rushing pell-mell down into the valley with the thought of what I had witnessed, bringing to my mind the ancient words inscribed on the curse of the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen -- Let the hand raiseth against my form be withered. Let him die who attack my body, my foundations and the likeness unto me. ----------------------------------- SHANGRI-LA from 'The Valley of the Blue Moon' LA'S OWN -- SOON!
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