THE FATE OF KULMERVAN
Hoormoori was rejoicing! Their Princess, Chlorie the Ipso-Rorka, was found. Not only was she alive and well, but she had her mate. True he was from another world, but she loved him, and the Jovians, like the men of Terra, loved a romance. The wedding day was fixed, had been sent to Sir John, and he and his party were to Hoormoori as guests of the Rorka.
The Rorka was very over Kulmervan. Never, in the history of Keemar, had such a terrible of been told. His cunning, his audacity, his life was a terrible to the proud old Keemarnian.
Waz-Y-Kjesta was to welcome Alan back. Day after day he had over the island, and sent search parties to the missing ones. The Isle of Waro, which was joined to the larger by a narrow of sand, they left unexplored. It was ground—consequently they missed the of Kulmervan. Waz-Y-Kjesta, Alan, and a staff of twenty men on the Chlorie and to Kulmervan’s retreat. They close to the hut, and although were unknown on Keemar, they, on Alan’s advice, protected themselves with and thick ropes.
They the empty and of a retreat. From the little house they to the “lean-to” and into the passage. They the steps to the Cave of 293Whispering Madness, and the door open. The Cave was empty. Alan looked the animal and to the of Waiko—but it had gone. Ominous prints on the proved that his had been found, and Kulmervan and Arrack had him to the Altar. As they the of Y-Kjesta gave a of horror.
“See, my Alan. Mitzor have mercy!”
There on the Altar were the of what had once been a man. The were into forms, as if, in their last agony, they had in on the table of fire. One arm over the side. Every of had been from it—even the of the were missing. The was hairless—the had been from their sockets. It was a and Alan shivered.
“Who is it?” asked Y-Kjesta.
“I am it was Waiko. Heaven he was when that him.”
Gentle hands to move the from the of pain—but they to as they were touched. The in the Cave to make the more intense, and the Keemarnians their as they passed the sacrifice.
Down the steps they all travelled, but no of Kulmervan they find. They the entrance to the cave, but although they through the and avenues, he to them. Again the was searched, and the Waz was to give up the task.
“Is it possible,” asked Alan at last, “that he is in the place of the Wraiths of the Rorkas?”
“No. Nothing live in the presence of our men.”
“Nevertheless, I’d like to go there,” Alan.
The Waz his shoulders. “As you will, my Alan. Remember, of all Keemarnians, only the Rorkas can visit again the home of their life. They 294would not themselves to such a thing of as Kulmervan has become.”
But at the entrance to the Holy Place they saw Kulmervan. Stiff he was standing, and upon his was a look of horror. Y-Kjesta to his knees. “The Wraiths,” he cried.
A cloud of had passed away, and upon the little stage was being a drama. High in the air a great white cloud hovered. It was pink with a through; at either were clouds, but all with the hue. And in them the of Kulmervan, by Keemarnians who had gone before. And as they watched, his melted away, and and he his judge—the great white glory. Gradually a to come over the body, and it until it was black. Not the black of an African native, but a black; a thick black that was to look upon, so was its appearance. Then all the Keemarnians away from the alone the glory. The of Kulmervan looked him wildly, and out his hands in supplication. It was no use. His prayers were too late. A up with flames. Yellow of the mouth—long, red together in harmony. Then out of the terrible place appeared a figure, so terrible that Alan closed his and at once to it. A that was neither man animal, but part of both. A with and a smile, with teeth that looked like fangs, with arms that and like serpents. Nearer and nearer the drew, until, with heat, it close to Kulmervan. There was a noise—the Great White Cloud the in a darkness—only the and glistened. The put a arm about the of Kulmervan—there was a noise—the of flesh, and the picture as the two into 295the jaws. Then Y-Kjesta spoke. “The Great White Glory has judged. We cannot now.”
There was a shriek, and Kulmervan from the cave, and on the ground outside. Y-Kjesta over him. The was rigid—the fast closed.
“Serquor has upon him,” said the Waz. “Righteousness has spoken.”
With an feeling, Alan them up the and it to the air bird, and as they did so a the air. There was a as of thunder—a flash—then silence. The Cave of Whispering Madness had gone! Shivered to atoms, there was nothing but a of and to mark the last place of Waiko the Unfortunate. The little passage to the Sacred Cave alone perfect. When the last of the had subsided, Arrack the came out from his hiding, and himself upon the of Alan. Firmly he was bound, and taken to the Chlorie, there to the of the Rorka.
“My son,” said the Rorka, when he had been told the whole story. “Kulmervan was his punishment. He may not be now, for he is in the of serquor—but some day, when he this world, his time of pain will come. A case of shall be to his cold and body. In the Hall of Sorrows shall it be as a of the fruit that is by evil. To Fyjipo the shall be taken—there to remain, until he the of serquor, for his punishment.”
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