“Is it possible,” asked Alan at last, “that he is hiding in the place of
the Wraiths of the Rorkas?”
“No. Nothing evil could live in the presence of our holiest men.”
“Nevertheless, I’d like to go there,” suggested Alan.
The Waz shrugged his shoulders. “As you will, my Alan. Remember, of all
Keemarnians, only the Rorkas can visit again the home of their life.
They would not show themselves to such a thing of evil as Kulmervan has
become.”
But at the entrance to the Holy Place they saw Kulmervan. Stiff he was
standing, and upon his face was a frozen look of horror. Y-Kjesta fell
to his knees. “The Wraiths,” he cried.
A cloud of haze had passed away, and upon the little stage was being
enacted a drama. High in the air a great white cloud hovered. It was
pink tipped with a golden glory shining through; at either side were
lesser clouds, but all tinged with the glorious roseate hue. And in
chains beneath them stood the astral figure of Kulmervan, surrounded by
Keemarnians who had gone before. And as they watched, his clothes melted
away, and naked and ashamed he stood before his judge—the great white
glory. Gradually a dusky shadow seemed to come over the gleaming body,
darker and darker it grew until it was jet black. Not the black of an
African native, but a cruel black; a thick black that was horrible to
look upon, so evil was its appearance. Then all the Keemarnians shrank
away from the solitary evil figure standing alone before the glory. The
shadowy figure of Kulmervan looked round him wildly, and threw out his
hands in supplication. It was no use. His prayers were too late. A
yawning pit showed up bright with flames. Yellow tongues of flame licked
round the mouth—long, red flames danced together in riotous harmony.
Then out of the terrible place appeared a figure, so terrible that Alan
closed his eyes and strove at once to forget it. A figure that was
neither man nor animal, but part of both. A creature with bloodshot eyes
and a baleful smile, with teeth that looked like fangs, with arms that
twisted and twirled like evil serpents. Nearer and nearer the figure
drew, until, radiating with heat, it drew close to Kulmervan. There was
a mighty noise—the Great White Cloud vanished leaving the scene in a
pitchy darkness—only the fiery cavern gleamed and glistened. The
venomous figure put a sinewy arm about the form of Kulmervan—there was a
crackling noise—the hideous smell of burning flesh, and the picture
vanished as the two figures disappeared into the fiery jaws. Then
Y-Kjesta spoke. “The Great White Glory has judged. We cannot punish
now.”
There was a fearsome shriek, and Kulmervan rushed from the cave, and
fell prostrate on the ground outside. Y-Kjesta stooped over him. The
body was rigid—the eyes fast closed.
“Serquor has descended upon him,” said the Waz. “Righteousness has
spoken.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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