Page:Weird Tales volume 38 number 03 CAN.djvu/67

 The Wends, who were going about lighting their lamps, stopped momentarily at his outburst, then went on, unmoved, with their preparations.

Christian sat against the wall after lifting the girl gently to his side. Though overwhelmed with hopelessness, he looked about at the ceremony chamber and began to take in details. It was by far the largest room of the series—fully fifty feet square. The walls were decorated crudely though symbolically, the swastika again in predominance, Mina had opened her eyes and was taking things in with him.

Now the room was brighter. Simultaneously they looked to the far side. There was the god Zcerneboh. He stood close against the wall upon a stone dais. Christian, however, was puzzled. This was a small god, only four-and-a-half feet high, and as motionless as stone. But the same repugnant countenance—utterly black—red eyes—small round mouth—and skull-like nostrils. In his hands he held a brass receptacle which a Wend was touching with fire. Incense.

Wends were busy lighting lamps and incense burners and the chamber was growing brilliant. All were chanting in a low monotonous unison: "Lon buh-nescen—Zcerneboh—Zcyb'n vendi-lahnsi. Lon bu-nescen—Zcerneboh—zcyb'n vendi-lahnsi."

For a few moments Christian and Mina were unmolested, for the Wends were very busy. Enoch returned, wiped his bloody sword, and joined the others.

UDDENLY Hynek and another seized Mina. A second pair seized Christian. Both were bound with long strips of tape from feet to neck, then, amid sudden crescendo in the chanting, were picked up and laid on the dais at the feet of Zcerneboh.

Currents of air coming from somewhere kept the lamps flickering. This caused shadows to dance about Zcerneboh and the illusion of distorted movements in his body until he seemed weirdly to be dancing. And, the crimson of Zcerneboh's eyes became aglow. But Christian, lying at the black god's feet, saw plainly that he was not moving; that he was a very material god carved out of black marble. He too saw a dark vapor issuing from his disgusting mouth.

Dispersed about, the Wends now were swaying rhythmically on their knees. Their chant continued, growing in volume and pitch. One by one they arose and joined the rhythm of contortions. Now their chant was shrill and noisy intensified by the close rock walls. Through their sinister designs and evil worship they were the manikins of dark and primitive powers.

They danced with a fervor, a mania, while a million others throughout Europe stepped to the same measure, unaware that the disease of their minds was engendered from a secret grotto near Dresden.

Now came the rite's climax, the god's moment. He was moving from his erstwhile fixed position, gliding sidewards. The helpless Christian saw him move, saw the black hand from in back that was pushing the statue aside. Black fingers, seemingly from out of the rock, grasped the panel, slid the whole contraption to the side exposing a wide opening. Now the jetty hand joined by its mate reached out and grabbed the feet of the bound youth—pulled him through the opening; then Mina. It was she who saw the living Zcerneboh first. She fainted.