SKULLS IN THE STARS
BY ROBERT E HOWARD
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Weird Tales January 1929.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"Across the fen sounded a single shriek of terrible laughter."
There are two roads to Torkertown. One, the shorter and more directroute, leads across a barren upland moor, and the other, which ismuch longer, winds its tortuous way in and out among the hummocks andquagmires of the swamps, skirting the low hills to the east. It was adangerous and tedious trail; so Solomon Kane halted in amazement whena breathless youth from the village he had just left, overtook him andimplored him for God's sake to take the swamp road.
"The swamp road!" Kane stared at the boy.
He was a tall, gaunt man, was Solomon Kane, his darkly pallid face anddeep brooding eyes made more somber by the drab Puritanical garb heaffected.
"Yes, sir, 'tis far safer," the youngster answered his surprizedexclamation.
"Then the moor road must be haunted by Satan himself, for your townsmenwarned me against traversing the other."
"Because of the quagmires, sir, that you might not see in the dark.You had better return to the village and continue your journey in themorning, sir."
"Taking the swamp road?"
"Yes, sir."
Kane shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
"The moon rises almost as soon as twilight dies. By its light I canreach Torkertown in a few hours, across the moor."
"Sir, you had better not. No one ever goes that way. There are nohouses at all upon the moor, while in the swamp there is the house ofold Ezra who lives there all alone since his maniac cousin, Gideon,wandered off and died in the swamp and was never found—and old Ezrathough a miser would not refuse you lodging should you decide to stopuntil morning. Since you must go, you had better go the swamp road."
Kane eyed the boy piercingly. The lad squirmed and shuffled his feet.
"Since this moor road is so dour to wayfarers," said the Puritan,"why did not the villagers tell me the whole tale, instead of vaguemouthings?"
"Men like not to talk of it, sir. We hoped that you would take theswamp road after the men advised you to, but when we watched and sawthat you turned not at the forks, they sent me to run after you and begyou to reconsider."
"Name of the Devil!" exclaimed Kane sharply, the unaccustomed oathshowing his irritation; "the swamp road and the moor road—what is itthat threatens me and why should I go miles out of my way and risk thebogs and mires?"
"Sir," said the boy, dropping his voice and drawing closer, "we besimple villagers who like not to talk of such things lest foul fortunebefall us, but the moor road is a way accurst and hath not