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Acolyte, v. 2, issue 2, whole no. 6, Spring 1944
31858063101376_012
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THE ARCANA OF ARKHAM-AUBURN by R. A. Hoffman (note. It is difficult to preface an article of this sort, for there are many alien and inimical factors toreconcile. One must steer a precarious course between those of true faith on the one hand, and those misled atheists who profess to disbelieve in even Great Cthulhu and Tsathoggua. Moreover, a carelessly turned tho innocent phrase might bring from him Who is not to be Named a dire and unspecifiable vengeance. Though this day is strictly a factual article, the casual reader may note certain most disturbing implications, which, if followed to their logical conclusions will shatter his conception of the cosmos. If you be such a one, it is recommended that you take as fact only those portions of the narrative which you can believe without upsetting your equilibrium. But if you be an adept in nameless rites, you will know that, if anything, this account is grossly understated. To such as you, it is not necessary to state that Klarkash himself checked and revised this narrative. To such as you, this account will bring joyful tidings, for it shows conclusively that the time is coming soon when They will once more walk the earth in their rightful shapes. Ia! Shub Niggurath! Ia! Tsathoggua! Ia! Cthulhu! ...FTL.) I. On December 27, 1941, four seekers of hidden knowledge made a pilgrimage to Auburn. On that murky, midwinter day Henry Hasse, Emil Petaja, Paul Freehafer, and R. A. Hoffman sought out the renowned mage, former Lord High Priest of Poseidonis, Klarkash Ton--known to modern men as Clark Ashton Smith. The wise-cracking with which we had left Los Angeles gradually became transformed into a hushed awe as we approached Auburn. The clouds seemed to darken and descend upon us from the surrounding hills. On each side of the road were row after row of certain ambiguous bare trees--apparently comprising some kind of orchard-- with short, squatty bases. I say "bases". It is difficult to think of them as tree trunks, for from them dark, gnarled branches rose, appearing as myriad hands clawing angrily up through the earth at the storm. Then the road took us through a tunnel, and after traversing a mile or two of winding road, we came upon--Arkham. The signboard said "Auburn", but we know that this was merely to preserve the sanity of casual passers-through. I have never seen a more archaic community. Weatherworn frame buildings line the narrow, tortuous ways and side alleys plunge into steep inclines. The storm-emptied streets made us think we had entered a ghost town, but a wan glimmer of light in a drugstore promised human companionship and guidance. In order that no single one of us should be left alone in this strange town, Paul and Henry went boldly int o task the way to Smith's dwelling, while Emil and I cowered in the car. They looked worried when they returned, for the sardonic, half-concealed amusement of the druggist as they told of their quest, and the mysterious way in which he had directed them, were scarcely sedative. The manner in which he had told them that by following certain directions we would be "within a hundred yards of it" seemed to intimate that the place might not always be visible to--human beings. The druggist had advised us, if ever we reached a certain point in the journey, to inquire at a farmhouse opposite a dairy farm. Presently we saw the dairy sign, and Paul and Henry followed a muddy path up to the farmhouse door. Emil and I, staying in the car out of the rain, heard a weird animal-howl as the other two approached the house; but when we asked them later about this, they denied having heard any such sound themselves. They could get no directions at this place, for the person who came to the door said that the family had moved in only recently, and had not yet become acquainted with the territory. We wondered then just how many families in but had shortly...left. The dairyman proved to be our benefactor. After vainly attempting to tell us the way, he took us there in his car. He angled into rough and narrow side roads, then turned and bounced off across country, where no road was visible to our human -- 8 --
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THE ARCANA OF ARKHAM-AUBURN by R. A. Hoffman (note. It is difficult to preface an article of this sort, for there are many alien and inimical factors toreconcile. One must steer a precarious course between those of true faith on the one hand, and those misled atheists who profess to disbelieve in even Great Cthulhu and Tsathoggua. Moreover, a carelessly turned tho innocent phrase might bring from him Who is not to be Named a dire and unspecifiable vengeance. Though this day is strictly a factual article, the casual reader may note certain most disturbing implications, which, if followed to their logical conclusions will shatter his conception of the cosmos. If you be such a one, it is recommended that you take as fact only those portions of the narrative which you can believe without upsetting your equilibrium. But if you be an adept in nameless rites, you will know that, if anything, this account is grossly understated. To such as you, it is not necessary to state that Klarkash himself checked and revised this narrative. To such as you, this account will bring joyful tidings, for it shows conclusively that the time is coming soon when They will once more walk the earth in their rightful shapes. Ia! Shub Niggurath! Ia! Tsathoggua! Ia! Cthulhu! ...FTL.) I. On December 27, 1941, four seekers of hidden knowledge made a pilgrimage to Auburn. On that murky, midwinter day Henry Hasse, Emil Petaja, Paul Freehafer, and R. A. Hoffman sought out the renowned mage, former Lord High Priest of Poseidonis, Klarkash Ton--known to modern men as Clark Ashton Smith. The wise-cracking with which we had left Los Angeles gradually became transformed into a hushed awe as we approached Auburn. The clouds seemed to darken and descend upon us from the surrounding hills. On each side of the road were row after row of certain ambiguous bare trees--apparently comprising some kind of orchard-- with short, squatty bases. I say "bases". It is difficult to think of them as tree trunks, for from them dark, gnarled branches rose, appearing as myriad hands clawing angrily up through the earth at the storm. Then the road took us through a tunnel, and after traversing a mile or two of winding road, we came upon--Arkham. The signboard said "Auburn", but we know that this was merely to preserve the sanity of casual passers-through. I have never seen a more archaic community. Weatherworn frame buildings line the narrow, tortuous ways and side alleys plunge into steep inclines. The storm-emptied streets made us think we had entered a ghost town, but a wan glimmer of light in a drugstore promised human companionship and guidance. In order that no single one of us should be left alone in this strange town, Paul and Henry went boldly int o task the way to Smith's dwelling, while Emil and I cowered in the car. They looked worried when they returned, for the sardonic, half-concealed amusement of the druggist as they told of their quest, and the mysterious way in which he had directed them, were scarcely sedative. The manner in which he had told them that by following certain directions we would be "within a hundred yards of it" seemed to intimate that the place might not always be visible to--human beings. The druggist had advised us, if ever we reached a certain point in the journey, to inquire at a farmhouse opposite a dairy farm. Presently we saw the dairy sign, and Paul and Henry followed a muddy path up to the farmhouse door. Emil and I, staying in the car out of the rain, heard a weird animal-howl as the other two approached the house; but when we asked them later about this, they denied having heard any such sound themselves. They could get no directions at this place, for the person who came to the door said that the family had moved in only recently, and had not yet become acquainted with the territory. We wondered then just how many families in but had shortly...left. The dairyman proved to be our benefactor. After vainly attempting to tell us the way, he took us there in his car. He angled into rough and narrow side roads, then turned and bounced off across country, where no road was visible to our human -- 8 --
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