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Spaceways, v. 4, issue 4, whole no. 27, April 1942
Page 7
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SPACEWAYS 7 [centered] ALTUR, THE AVENGER somm, and Ssessorass, even as had Kohmeer of old in secret worshipped them. And over all the Siers and Krollus of Vad, he learned, a single man--worthy succes-sor to wrinkled old Kohmeer--there was, who controlled all the government of Vad as well. Kronavv they called him, and at the swish of his pure white robes and the sight of his golden hood, the gravest of men slunk away like thrice-flayed curs. Then did Altur, his soul sic with the starven degradation of his people; his heart aching for the mothers who sold themselves in the market to provide food for their children--then did Altur draw his mighty sword and pledge to To-lak, by the sacred binding of the Holy Skrood, that never would his blade be sheathed until the last Sier and Krollu be driven from all Vadun--or he lie dead! His mighty, straight sword was in his hand; and two daggers, their dull-blued blades sharp and naroow, were in his lower, shorter pair of arms; while his fourth arm wrenched powerfully at the stone door of a Krollu altar place. With a groan, that massive block of stone slid back into its slot and Altur stepped into the foul chamber beyond. His sword crashed down through the neck and shoulder of a crimson-cloaked Krollu. A dozen of the priests whipped slim swords and daggers from beneath their robes; two Siers, black-robed, with whit-ened hair straggling downward almost to their yellowed belts of human skin, strove to flee the room. "Now, spawn of the unholy demons you serve," Altur roared, his great sword whistling, "call on your gods and devils! You will need them! On your own al-tars, where weltered many an innocent woman and child, will i spill your blood!" Blood spurted and gushed, spattering the bound, trembling sacrifices lying between the two altars--but none of that crimson flow was Altur's. The The strength of a hundred men, the cunning of a uzapp, and the fury of the oppressed were in every swing of that resistless, flaming blade. The Siers and Krollus fell, sightless, across their own bloody shrines; for their eyes were blind with death. Then Altur, his daggers flashing, freed the bound women, and the children beside them. He gestured to the slain, priestly butchers. "See," he said, "do they not die even as do you? Tolak, the unseen and un-knowable, has given to me this victory. Tell your men, and if they be men lov-ing their families they too will smite these workers of evil." They raced from the room; and the rustle of leathery demons was come about him. Altur saw their unearthly, hollow-flanked shadows crowd savagely about slug-creature, like unto those of Kamool; there were snaky, crocodile monsters; gibbering, scaly monkey-things; tentacular blobs of protoplasm, instinct with evil life, and manlike things, their purplish sunken features rotten with most ghastly evil knowledge! Altur laughed into that hovering, sinister brood, laughed and thrust a strong arm, to the elbow, into the gaping jaws of a crocodile fantom shape. Was not the cloak of Tolak about the shoulders of Altur? "Bite!" he commanded savagely. "By the Holy Skrood, you have not the pow-er!" The wail of that foul, half-seen horde was already dead in his ears ere Al-tur watched the last of them fade into the swirling clouds of smoke and incense wreating up from flickering braziers beneath the blood-dripping shrines. Out of that charnel-house did Altur plunge and into another of the altar rooms; his blade drank deep of priestly blood that night, and he was not ashamed--for they were but sadistic killers in priestly guise. And about him, in the scattered alleys and streets of Vad, the Krollus died before the clubs and knives of outraged fathers and husbands, by the score. Vengeance was sated in full measure long before themorning sunlight touched the upper domes of the city's soaring pile. So, throughout the night, while the aristocrats in their elevated levels ate, drank, and danced madly, the heavy sword of Altur thudded and splintered
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SPACEWAYS 7 [centered] ALTUR, THE AVENGER somm, and Ssessorass, even as had Kohmeer of old in secret worshipped them. And over all the Siers and Krollus of Vad, he learned, a single man--worthy succes-sor to wrinkled old Kohmeer--there was, who controlled all the government of Vad as well. Kronavv they called him, and at the swish of his pure white robes and the sight of his golden hood, the gravest of men slunk away like thrice-flayed curs. Then did Altur, his soul sic with the starven degradation of his people; his heart aching for the mothers who sold themselves in the market to provide food for their children--then did Altur draw his mighty sword and pledge to To-lak, by the sacred binding of the Holy Skrood, that never would his blade be sheathed until the last Sier and Krollu be driven from all Vadun--or he lie dead! His mighty, straight sword was in his hand; and two daggers, their dull-blued blades sharp and naroow, were in his lower, shorter pair of arms; while his fourth arm wrenched powerfully at the stone door of a Krollu altar place. With a groan, that massive block of stone slid back into its slot and Altur stepped into the foul chamber beyond. His sword crashed down through the neck and shoulder of a crimson-cloaked Krollu. A dozen of the priests whipped slim swords and daggers from beneath their robes; two Siers, black-robed, with whit-ened hair straggling downward almost to their yellowed belts of human skin, strove to flee the room. "Now, spawn of the unholy demons you serve," Altur roared, his great sword whistling, "call on your gods and devils! You will need them! On your own al-tars, where weltered many an innocent woman and child, will i spill your blood!" Blood spurted and gushed, spattering the bound, trembling sacrifices lying between the two altars--but none of that crimson flow was Altur's. The The strength of a hundred men, the cunning of a uzapp, and the fury of the oppressed were in every swing of that resistless, flaming blade. The Siers and Krollus fell, sightless, across their own bloody shrines; for their eyes were blind with death. Then Altur, his daggers flashing, freed the bound women, and the children beside them. He gestured to the slain, priestly butchers. "See," he said, "do they not die even as do you? Tolak, the unseen and un-knowable, has given to me this victory. Tell your men, and if they be men lov-ing their families they too will smite these workers of evil." They raced from the room; and the rustle of leathery demons was come about him. Altur saw their unearthly, hollow-flanked shadows crowd savagely about slug-creature, like unto those of Kamool; there were snaky, crocodile monsters; gibbering, scaly monkey-things; tentacular blobs of protoplasm, instinct with evil life, and manlike things, their purplish sunken features rotten with most ghastly evil knowledge! Altur laughed into that hovering, sinister brood, laughed and thrust a strong arm, to the elbow, into the gaping jaws of a crocodile fantom shape. Was not the cloak of Tolak about the shoulders of Altur? "Bite!" he commanded savagely. "By the Holy Skrood, you have not the pow-er!" The wail of that foul, half-seen horde was already dead in his ears ere Al-tur watched the last of them fade into the swirling clouds of smoke and incense wreating up from flickering braziers beneath the blood-dripping shrines. Out of that charnel-house did Altur plunge and into another of the altar rooms; his blade drank deep of priestly blood that night, and he was not ashamed--for they were but sadistic killers in priestly guise. And about him, in the scattered alleys and streets of Vad, the Krollus died before the clubs and knives of outraged fathers and husbands, by the score. Vengeance was sated in full measure long before themorning sunlight touched the upper domes of the city's soaring pile. So, throughout the night, while the aristocrats in their elevated levels ate, drank, and danced madly, the heavy sword of Altur thudded and splintered
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