Part 1 (1/2)

The Hour of the Dragon

by Robert E Howard

1

O Sleeper, Awake!

The long tapers flickered, sending the black shadoavering along the walls, and the velvet tapestries rippled Yet there was no wind in the chareen sarcophagus that gleaht hand of each ht

Outside was night and a lost windthe black trees

Inside the cha of the shadohile four pairs of eyes, burning with intensity, were fixed on the long green case across which cryptic hieroglyphics writhed, as if lent life and ht The us leaned over it anda mystic syold stick at the foot of the case, and, ible to his companions, he thrust a broad white hand into his fur-triain it was as if he cupped in his pal fire

The other three drew in their breath sharply, and the dark, powerful us whispered: 'The Heart of Ahriman!' The other lifted a quick hand for silence So dolefully, and a stealthy step padded outside the barred and bolted door But none looked aside from the mummy-case over which the reat fla jehile he muttered an incantation that was old when Atlantis sank

The glare of the gem dazzled their eyes, so that they could not be sure of what they saw; but with a splintering crash, the carven lid of the sarcophagus burst outward as if from some irresistible pressure applied froerly forward, saw the occupant--a huddled, withered, wizened shape, with dried brown lies

'Bring that thing _back_?' ht, with a short sardonic laugh 'It is ready to crumble at a touch

We are fools--'

'Shhh!' It was an urgent hiss of coe man who held the jewel Perspiration stood upon his broad white forehead and his eyes were dilated He leaned forward, and, without touching the thing with his hand, laid on the breast of thejewel Then he drew back and watched with fierce intensity, his lips lobe of living fire flickered and burned on the dead, withered bosoh the clenched teeth of the watchers For as they watched, an awful transmutation becaus was expanding, was growing, lengthening The bandages burst and fell into brown dust

The shriveled lian to fade

'By Mitra!' whispered the tall, yellow-haired ian That part at least was true'

Again a treer warned for silence The hound outside was no longer howling He whimpered, as with an evil dream, and then that sound, too, died away in silence, in which the yellow-hairedof the heavy door, as if so outside pushed powerfully upon it He half turned, his hand at his sword, but the : 'Stay! Do not break the chain! And on your life do not go to the door!'

The yellow-haired ed and turned back, and then he stopped short, staring In the jade sarcophagus lay a living man: a tall, lusty man, naked, white of skin, and dark of hair and beard He layas a newborn babe's On his breast the great jewel smoldered and sparkled

The man in ermine reeled as if froasped 'It is Xaltotun!--_and he lives!_ Valerius!

Tarascus! Amalric! Do you see? Do you see? You doubted ates of hell this night, and the shapes of darkness have gathered close about us--aye, they followed _hiician back to life'

'And da, I doubt not,' muttered the small, dark hed harshly

'What purgatory can be worse than life itself? So we are all daether from birth Besides, ould not sell his ence in his stare, Orastes,' said the largebeen dead,' answered Orastes 'He is as one neakened

Hissleep--nay, he was _dead_, not sleeping We brought his spirit back over the voids and gulfs of night and oblivion I will speak to hi his gaze on the wide dark eyes of the man within, he said, slowly: 'Awake, Xaltotun!'

The lips of thewhisper

'_You_ are Xaltotun!' exclaiestions 'You are Xaltotun of Python, in Acheron'