DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Agenbite of Inwit, issue 5, Summer 1944

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Agenbite of Inwit, issue 5, Summer 1944

Page 5

before their very eyes, and of sailing through a sea of boiling, bubbling water for two solid hours. Third Mate Swenson, who seemed most deeply overcome by the experience, kept praying and mumbling of a terrible demon or sea-monster whom he called Kichulu or Kithulu.

The clipping went on for several more paragraphs, giving mainly further details on the above.

Following this was another clipping from the same paper, but dated several days after. This reported the sudden death of one Olaf Swenson, a member of the crew of the Kungshavn, who was found in a back alley of San Francisco with his face chewed off.

Beside this clipping, the oddly crabbed handwriting of Eliphas Snodgrass read: "Kichulu -- does he mean Cthulhu?"

This meant nothing to me at the time. Oh would that it had! Perhaps I still might have saved Eliphas.

Then there was a note in Eliphas' handwriting: -- 

"Tuesday must say the Dho chant and widdershin six times. Hastur is ascendant. Dagon recumbent? Must investigate. See Lovecraft on the proper incantation for Yog-Sototl. Pygnont says he has copy of "Eibon" for me; must write thim to send it by special messenger. I feel that the time is close. I must consult Alhazred -- must find a way to obtain volume. It is all in the old Arab's book; he bungled; I must not. So little time. The Day of Blackness is approaching. I must be ready. Ileiger protect me."

After this, there was a sheaf of pages crammed with what looked like chemical and astrological configurations.

I FELT VERY DISTURBED after reading the above. It was so out of the ordinary. I have but one thing more to mention form that investigation. On the ceiling of Eliphas' room was a curious, wide wet mark. I knew that the roof leaked, but still it was sinister.

Gradually the city settled back to normal. Normal! When I think now what a horror was amongst us, I shudder that we can say such things as back to normal. The stench in the Snodgrass home gradually abated.

I went back about my studies and soon has almost forgotten Eliphas. It was not until the early Winter that the matter came up again. At that time, Mrs Snodgrass called to say that she had heard footsteps in the dead of night in Eliphas' room, and thought she had heard conversations; yet, when she knocked, there was no one there.

I returned with Mrs Snodgrass to the Crombleigh mansion and re-entered Eliphas' chamber. She had placed the room in order, carefully filing the papers and objects. I thought nothing was out of place until I chanced to glance up at the ceiling. There were wet footprints against the white kalsomine of the ceiling -- footprints leading across from th etop of th edoor to where the large closet opened!

I went at once to th ecloset; at first glance nothing was wrong. Then I noticed a bit of paper lying on the floor. I picked it up. On it was written one word in a hand unmistakably that of the missing student.

One word -- "Alhazred"!

As soon as I was free, I went to Miskatonic University and secured permission to peruse that damnable volume by Abdul Alhazred. Would

Saving...

before their very eyes, and of sailing through a sea of boiling, bubbling water for two solid hours. Third Mate Swenson, who seemed most deeply overcome by the experience, kept praying and mumbling of a terrible demon or sea-monster whom he called Kichulu or Kithulu. The clipping went on for several more paragraphs, giving mainly further details on the above. Following this was another clipping from the same paper, but dated several days after. This reported the sudden death of one Olaf Swenson, a member of the crew of the Kungshavn, who was found in a back alley of San Francisco with his face chewed off. Beside this clipping, the oddly crabbed handwriting of Eliphas Snodgrass read: "Kichulu -- does he mean Cthulhu?" This meant nothing to me at the time. Oh would that it had! Perhaps I still might have saved Eliphas. Then there was a note in Eliphas' handwriting: -- "Tuesday must say the Dho chant and widdershin six times. Hastur is ascendant. Dagon recumbent? Must investigate. See Lovecraft on the proper incantation for Yog-Sototl. Pygnont says he has copy of "Eibon" for me; must write thim to send it by special messenger. I feel that the time is close. I must consult Alhazred -- must find a way to obtain volume. It is all in the old Arab's book; he bungled; I must not. So little time. The Day of Blackness is approaching. I must be ready. Ileiger protect me." After this, there was a sheaf of pages crammed with what looked like chemical and astrological configurations. I FELT VERY DISTURBED after reading the above. It was so out of the ordinary. I have but one thing more to mention form that investigation. On the ceiling of Eliphas' room was a curious, wide wet mark. I knew that the roof leaked, but still it was sinister. Gradually the city settled back to normal. Normal! When I think now what a horror was amongst us, I shudder that we can say such things as back to normal. The stench in the Snodgrass home gradually abated. I went back about my studies and soon has almost forgotten Eliphas. It was not until the early Winter that the matter came up again. At that time, Mrs Snodgrass called to say that she had heard footsteps in the dead of night in Eliphas' room, and thought she had heard conversations; yet, when she knocked, there was no one there. I returned with Mrs Snodgrass to the Crombleigh mansion and re-entered Eliphas' chamber. She had placed the room in order, carefully filing the papers and objects. I thought nothing was out of place until I chanced to glance up at the ceiling. There were wet footprints against the white kalsomine of the ceiling -- footprints leading across from th etop of th edoor to where the large closet opened! I went at once to th ecloset; at first glance nothing was wrong. Then I noticed a bit of paper lying on the floor. I picked it up. On it was written one word in a hand unmistakably that of the missing student. One word -- "Alhazred"! As soon as I was free, I went to Miskatonic University and secured permission to peruse that damnable volume by Abdul Alhazred. Would