Out of Time's Abyss

serious mishap and that the morrow would doubtless see them all safely returned to Fort Dinosaur. The hopefulness of his mood was tinged with sorr

omy forebodings to weigh down his spirit. When danger threatened, he was prepared; but he was not forever courting disaster, and so it was that when about one o'clock in the morning of

face of his body, and it was with difficulty that he refrained from following an instinctive urge to fire upon the nocturnal intruder. Better, far better would it have been had he given in to the insistent demand of his subconscious mentor; but his almost fanatical obsession to save ammunition proved now his undoing, for while his attent

clawlike talons of great strength seize him beneath his arms and sweep him off his feet; and then the thing rose swiftly with him, so swiftly that his cap was

d then fell in behind them. Bradley now realized the strategy that the pair had used to capture him and at once

entertain the idea that the creatures might be naturally winged and at the same time of human origin. From his position Bradley could not see the wings of his captor, nor in the darkness had he been able to examine those of the sec

ing, mechanically, the wings of a bird-the thing spoke to its companion and in a language that Bradley partially understood, since he recognized words that he had learned from the savage races of Caspak. From this he judged that they were human, and being human, he k

er. Bradley wondered how the exchange was to be accomplished. He knew that those giant wings would not permit the creatures to approac

nd white-robed figure; then the creature above sounded a low call, it was answered from below, and instan

sh was checked, within another hundred feet, and close to the surface of the sea he was again borne upward. As a hawk dives for a songbird on the wing, so this great, human bi

r of one of the buildings; but in that momentary glance he saw strange piles of stone and wood and mud fashioned into buildings of all conceivable sizes and shapes, sometimes piled high on top of one another, sometimes standing alone in an open court-way, but usually crowded and jammed together, so that there were no streets or alleys between them other than a few which ended almost as soon as they began. The principal doorways appeared to be in the roofs, and it was through one of thes

After taking stock of himself and finding that he still had his pistol and ammunition, some matches, a little tobacco, a canteen full of water and a razor, Bradley made

e corner of another building jutting into it, another alcoved by three sides of an octagon, while the fourth was serpentine in contour. Two windows let in more daylight, while two doors evidently gave ingress to other rooms. The walls were partially ceiled with thin strips of wood, nicely fitted and finished, partially plastered and the rest covered with a fine, woven cloth. Figures of reptiles and beasts were painted wit

oom a stout pole about two inches in diameter ran horizontally from wall to wall some six or seven feet from the floor, its ends securely set in two of the columns. Hanging by th

naught by the simple evidence of the fact that stood out glaringly before his eyes-the creatures' wings were not mechanical devices but as natural appendages, growing from their s

nly blinking his large round eyes. Then his gaze fell upon Bradley. The thin lips drew back tightly against yellow teeth in a grimace that was nothing but hideous. It could not have been termed a smile, and what emotion it registered the Englishman w

d in front, revealing skinny legs and the further fact that the thing wore but the single garment, which was of fine, woven cloth. From crown to sole the portions of the body exposed were entirely hairless, and as he noted this, Bradley also noted for the first time the cause of much of the seeming expressionlessness of the

moment the thing approached

plied Bradley

and what?" pursu

r from here," answe

le cor-sva-jo

suppose you answer a few questions. Who are you?

ntry, is called Oo-oh. We brought you here for (literally) Him Who Speaks for Luata to gaze upon

atever you call the blo

laws toward the human skulls supporting the ceiling. His gesture was e

y," snappe

city appeared even more remarkable than in the moonlight, though less weird and unreal. The houses of all shapes and sizes were piled about as a child might pile blocks of various forms and colors. He saw now

the center or near the center, and the columns were of varying heights, from that of a man to those which rose twenty feet above their roofs. The skulls were, as

ey were set in the plaster of the outer walls and at no great distance from where Bradley stood rose a round to

r flapping wings rose and fell like a solemn dirge. Most of them were appareled all in white, like h

u cannot escape. If any question you, say that you belong to Fosh-bal-soj. There is the way." And this time he point

e wilderness filled with wild beasts, there was the broad inland sea infested with horrid monsters. No wonder his captor felt safe in turn

the smooth, worn pavement, and a rueful grin crossed his features-the alley was paved with skulls. "The City of Human Skulls," mused Bradley. "They mu

y resembled the ordinary bird drinking- and bathing-fonts so commonly seen on suburban lawns. A seat protruded from each of the

er it was a greeting or a threat, Bradley did not know. Suddenly from a dark alcov

t me here to eat,

o Fosh-bal-soj?"

what he thinks," ans

ta-lu?" demand

eat or I'll be all of

radley sat down unconscious of the fact that he had been insulted

y carried solid portions of food to their mouths. At the other end of the skewer was fastened a small clam-shell. This was used to scoop up the smaller and softer portions of the repast into which all four of the occupants of each table dipped impartially. The Wieroo leaned far over their food, scooping

s "trough," as he already thought of it. The Englishman was glad that he could not see into the dark al

rly palatable. It seemed to consist of a combination of meat, fruits, vegetables, small fish and other undistin

ntinued use, the four outer edges hollowed and polished by the contact of the countless Wieroo bodies that had leaned against them for how long a period of time Bradley could not even guess. Everything about the place carried the impression of hoary age. The carved pedestals were black w

aal-lu," screamed the Wieroo; and Bradley did as he was bid. As he approached the creature which stood now behind a large, flat-topped pedestal beside the alcove, he saw lying upon the sm

es the art of weaving cloth possessed that of paper-making. Could it be that such grotesque beings represented the high culture of the human race within the boundari

tween the two extremes with which he, had come in contact. He had heard of the Krolus and the Galus-reputed to be still higher in the plane of evolution-and now he had indisputable evidence of a race possessing refinem

upon the paper. It was difficult to judge from the expressionless features of the Wieroo what was passing in the creature's mind, but Bradley could not but feel t

er and examined the writing with every mark of incredulity and surprise. Of course it could make nothing of the strange characters; but it evidently accept

cliff," announced the creature, "unless before that you are summoned by

ght Bradley as he turne

Bradley was to learn that a house of food was sanctuary for him, since the stern laws of the Wieroos forbade altercations within such walls. Now they were rough and threatening, as with wings half spread they hovered about him in menacing attitudes, barring his way to the ladder leading t

ght and left. He dared not use his pistol for fear that once they discovered its power he would be overcome by weight of numbers and relieved of possession of what he considered h

eneath his fists the others formed a circle about him, but at a safe distance and contented themselves with threatening and blusterin

up his free foot and with all the strength of a powerful leg, planted a heavy shoe squarely in the flat face of the Wieroo that held him. Shrieking horribly, the creature clapped both hands to its face and sank to the ground while Bradley clambered quickly the remaining distance to the ro

out. Immediately the pursuing Wieroos demanded punishment of the jaal-lu who had so grievously maltreated them. Fosh-bal-soj listened to their complaints and

n was taken completely off his guard. When he arose, the door was closed, and Fosh-bal-so

e lay your low, vile, profaning hands upon even the

, calm voice while a half-smile played across

d departed, and the two were alone. Fosh-bal-soj displayed little of the cowardice of those that had attacked Bradley in the alleyway, but that may have been because he had so slight opportunity, for Bradley had him by

merciless rain of blows, at the same time searching for a hold upon his antagonist's throat. Presently he succeeded in tripping the Englishman, and t

ith difficulty that he drew it from its holster, and even then, with death staring him in the face, he thought of his precious ammunition. "Can't waste it," he thought; and slipping his fingers to the barrel he raised the weapon and struc

his great, round eyes staring blankly toward the ceiling. A brief examination convinced Bradley that the thing was dead,

he Wieroos' robes were fashioned from, a number of chests painted blue and white, with white hieroglyphics painted in bold strokes upon the blue and blue hieroglyphics upon the white. In one corner was a pile of human skulls reaching almost to the ceiling and in a

in view Bradley approached the chest to open it. The lid was made in two pieces, each being hinged at an opposite end of the chest and joining nicely where they met in the center of the chest, making a snug, well-fitting joint. There was no lock. Bradley

nce of his crime. There was a space between the chests and the wall, and into this he forced the corpse, piling the discarded robes up

in sight to the left over a considerable expanse of roof-top, and to the right another building shut off his line of vision at about twenty feet. Slipping out, he turned to the right and in a few steps found a narrow passageway between two buildings.

width, the strips in adjacent patches never running in the same direction. The result bore some resemblance to a crazy patchwork quilt, which was heightened when, as in one of the doors he had seen, contiguous patches were painted different colors. The strips appeared to have been bound together and to the underlying framework of the door with gut or fiber and also glued, after which a thick c

buildings as it made its way down the narrow passage in his direction. As the yellow door offered the only means of escape without detection, t

e opposite wall, an expression of incredulity upon her face. At a glance he saw that she was of no race of humans that he had come in contact with since his arrival upon Caprona-there

ue-and-white chest encircled her arms and legs, while a golden fillet with a triangular diadem bound her heavy hair above her brows. Her skin was white as from long confinement within doors; but it was clear

ous a creature among the hideous inhabitants of the City of Human Skulls. For a moment the two looked at one another in

from where do you come? Do not

your garments; but you are like the Galus in other respects. I know that you are not of this frightful city, for I have been here for almost ten moons, and never have I

t she had been a prisoner there for many months; but for what purpose he did not then learn, as in the mi

s. "Whence came this reptile?" it demanded of

ay just ahead of you," Bra

it said, "for now only you will have to die." And stepping to the door

kill it?" he asked, half drawing his pistol. "Wh

filer!" it screamed. "You dare to thre

, shows that they may not intend to kill you at all, and so there is a chance for you if you do not a

f you?" ask

d," replied the gir

? Lu and lo, Bradley knew to mean man and woman; ata; was employed variously to indicate life, eggs, young, r

y will kill you?

"My fate is to be worse than death-in just a f

Who Speaks for Luata has chosen you for himself. Today you go to his temple-" the Wiero

ce toward Bradley. "Ah," she sighed, "if I c

r if there was no way by which he might encompass her escape. She shook her head sorrowfully. "Even if w

city, if we could leav

which there are but few wild beasts and no men, for only the Wieroos live upon this island and they dwell always in cities of which there are three, th

es was a good day's march in Caspak, owing to the fact that at most points it was a trackless wilderness

nt through the opening in the roof of several Wieroos who had c

shall be done with it. It is one of those strange creatures that Fosh-bal-soj discovered first above the Band-lu country and followed back toward the beginning. He Who Sp

intention to clean up the room in record time; but he had reckoned without the opening in the roof. Two were down and a great wailing and moaning was arising when reinforcements appeared from above. Bradley did not see them; but the girl did, and though she cried out a warning, it came

ntly was a person of authority, one left and presently ret

directed the chief Wieroo, "and one take the word

ley and carried him through the yellow doorway to the roof from whence it rose upon its wide-spread

iles square. The houses were piled in indescribable heaps, sometimes to a height of a hundred feet. The streets and alleys were short and crooked and there were many a

were the myriad poles surmounted by grinning skulls; but the two most prominent features of the city were the round tower of human skulls that Bradley had noted earlier in the day and another and much larger edifice near the center of the city. As they approached it, Bradley saw that it was a huge building rising a hundred feet in height from the ground and that it stood al

trees and running water beneath. They passed the building and about five hundred yards beyond the creature alighted on the roof of a

g real terror as he had ever come in his life before. As he rolled off into the black abyss he felt the rope tighten about his ankle and an instant later he was stopped with a sudden jerk to swing pendulumlike, head downward. Then the creature lowered away until Bradley's he