Manly Wade Wellman - John the Balladeer 05 by The Voice of the Mountain (v1.1) Page A

           “No
delusion,” Scylla scraped out. “Those judges didn’t know how to go about their
oyer and terminer trials. Why, some of them couldn’t even sign their names. And
they hanged some of the old religion, but others they missed.” Her eyes
glittered like chunks of glass. “A lot of others. The
old religion goes on.”
                 “And
you’re a Salem witch by blood descent and home training,”
said Harpe. “Isn’t that so?”
                 “That’s
so, and I’m glad it’s so. I had the old wisdom, I had the old powers. Many came
to consult me, including Ruel Harpe.”
                 “We
decided to become partners,” Harpe added on, “and to establish our headquarters
here on Cry Mountain .”
                 “I
located Cry Mountain , from rumors drifting up to Salem ,” said Scylla, “I chose it.”
                 “True,”
Harpe agreed her, “but it was I who came here first, by myself, made sure how
carefully it was avoided, and gathered a crew of helpers to build our stockade
and our living quarters.” He made a wave of his hand. “All
this, and the grounds outside.”
                 “That
rope in the comer/' cawed Scylla, “the one we tug to bring us whatever we
want—it was mine in Salem, it's mine here."
                 “It's
ours, Scylla, it's ours," said Harpe. “Community
property. Thank you for your interesting history. Now, Alka, it's your
turn."
                 Alka
put up a thin hand to straighten her big glasses. “I was a librarian," she
said. “On the staff of the library of Miskatonic University at Arkham , Massachusetts ."
                 “Arkham," tittered Scylla. “Don't I know that town?"
                 “Among
my duties was the directorship of the library's considerable collection of
occult literature and memorabilia," Alka went on. “I became very much
interested in it. I wrote articles on occultism for various reviews. I took to
attending the meetings of two interesting cults in town. I felt that most of
the members were stumbling fanatics without much understanding, but I found
that I could perform unusual effects—what some would call miracles."
                 I
felt a nudge against my leg. That would be Tarrah’s plump knee, sort of out
from under her short skirt.
                 “At
my library post, I met many earnest researchers into the occult. Writers, for
instance—Robert Bloch called on me, and Fritz Leiber, and Frank Belknap Long. And then, Ruel Harpe."
                 “Yes,
indeed," Harpe drawled.
                 “And
we had a pleasant luncheon together, Ruel and I," Alka said, “and he
persuaded me to come here to be with him and Scylla, help them with what I'd
learned. And I came, and I'm glad to be here. That’s my story."
                 “Not
quite all of it, John," said Harpe with his drawl. “When I visited her, I
was able to warn her that the Massachusetts State Bureau of Investigation was
mounting a troublesome probe into those Arkham cult meetings. And I knew that
her name was on the list of those to be questioned. Dear Alka, you got out of
there just in time.”
                “You’re right, Ruel, I did. And I
managed to bring along some manuscripts from the library. They’ve been
interesting, haven’t they?”
                 “Interesting,”
he said, “and helpful.”
                 “ One we don’t have yet,” squalled out Scylla. “The Judas book.”
                 “That
wasn’t in the collection at Miskatonic,” said Alka. “I’ve heard some reports of
it, that’s all.”
                 “If
I knew just where it was, I’d bring it here,” allowed Harpe.
                 “Judas book?” I wondered them. “What’s that?”
                 Harpe
wagged his head, like