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Fanfare, v. 1, issue 1, December 1939

Page 6

   I gazed at his throat in open mouth realization.

   A shriek rang in my ears in that house a year later, when I was on my annual leave from the navy.  During the year, his letters had been getting less frequent and more pleading for me to come to him.  And I had tried--I had tried hard many times, but only managing to get on the wrong side of the officials' tempers.  Now I was afraid it was too late.
   One shrill cry--then nothing.
   It came from outside; I had raced in, and now I raced out again, and around the house.
  The sight that met my eyes nauseated me.  Romped over the body of my friend was a bizarre monster that defied the power of description.  A head, tiny in comparason with the rest of the body, looled loosely as viciously stuck to Merrill's throat, twitching and tugging gently at the flesh where its teeth were buried, and whimpering contendly.
   A cry came from Merrill's lips, a cry that seemed to signify his terrified awakening.  But it was too late; now the monster had escaped from his mind.  The second shriek ended gratingly, monotonously; and his eyes after an aching stare, closed, and as they closed, a smile of sublime peace rose and froze on his face...A smile!
   I ran across the rough, untended lawn with the speed of an antelope, passionately desiring more strength for what I was sure would be an endless ordeal.  With that irresistable monster on earth, nothing would remain--I felt sure he was even now staring with a look of eager, mils speculation in the direction of my fleeting form vanishing toward the gate.
  I had the impression of security.  And that made me turn to see the cross between a bird and an animal and a gob of slime whirl and shriek with frantic abandon--but not at me.  He seemed engaged in a mad combat with himself--occaional ly stopping to stretch its weird head atop a long neck, closely to Merrill's still and mocking face, almost touching.  And then frantic motion again.  And again it would do that curious and grotesque thing, as if peering intently for any sign of life, yet knowing it was in vain all the time.  At last the horrid procedure stopped---and it vanished, leaving Hogarth Merrill's body as a symbol that he had a last found the rest life and the dream monster had denied him.
    The body rested on a small knoll and I was not sheltered from the sight of it until I passed through the huge, metal gates and down the dimly lighted street, illuminated only by a ficle half-moon and a street lamp.
_______________________________
 Questions which the editor would like answered:
1. Do you want fan fiction?
2. " " " more or less drawings?
3. " " " "pro" mag reviews?
4. What would you like to see in future issues of Fanfare?
5. Should Fanfare carry humourous articles and stories?
6. Why don't you write something for Fanfare?
7. What do YOU think a reader's department should be like?
8. Do you think I'm too inquisitive? O.k.
       BI-MONTHLY BOUQUET

   A Fanfare for the Frank A. Munsey Co. for the publishing of the best magazine ever to hit the stands:  FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES

Saving...

I gazed at his throat in open mouth realization. A shriek rang in my ears in that house a year later, when I was on my annual leave from the navy. During the year, his letters had been getting less frequent and more pleading for me to come to him. And I had tried--I had tried hard many times, but only managing to get on the wrong side of the officials' tempers. Now I was afraid it was too late. One shrill cry--then nothing. It came from outside; I had raced in, and now I raced out again, and around the house. The sight that met my eyes nauseated me. Romped over the body of my friend was a bizarre monster that defied the power of description. A head, tiny in comparason with the rest of the body, looled loosely as viciously stuck to Merrill's throat, twitching and tugging gently at the flesh where its teeth were buried, and whimpering contendly. A cry came from Merrill's lips, a cry that seemed to signify his terrified awakening. But it was too late; now the monster had escaped from his mind. The second shriek ended gratingly, monotonously; and his eyes after an aching stare, closed, and as they closed, a smile of sublime peace rose and froze on his face...A smile! I ran across the rough, untended lawn with the speed of an antelope, passionately desiring more strength for what I was sure would be an endless ordeal. With that irresistable monster on earth, nothing would remain--I felt sure he was even now staring with a look of eager, mils speculation in the direction of my fleeting form vanishing toward the gate. I had the impression of security. And that made me turn to see the cross between a bird and an animal and a gob of slime whirl and shriek with frantic abandon--but not at me. He seemed engaged in a mad combat with himself--occaional ly stopping to stretch its weird head atop a long neck, closely to Merrill's still and mocking face, almost touching. And then frantic motion again. And again it would do that curious and grotesque thing, as if peering intently for any sign of life, yet knowing it was in vain all the time. At last the horrid procedure stopped---and it vanished, leaving Hogarth Merrill's body as a symbol that he had a last found the rest life and the dream monster had denied him. The body rested on a small knoll and I was not sheltered from the sight of it until I passed through the huge, metal gates and down the dimly lighted street, illuminated only by a ficle half-moon and a street lamp. _______________________________ Questions which the editor would like answered: 1. Do you want fan fiction? 2. " " " more or less drawings? 3. " " " "pro" mag reviews? 4. What would you like to see in future issues of Fanfare? 5. Should Fanfare carry humourous articles and stories? 6. Why don't you write something for Fanfare? 7. What do YOU think a reader's department should be like? 8. Do you think I'm too inquisitive? O.k. BI-MONTHLY BOUQUET A Fanfare for the Frank A. Munsey Co. for the publishing of the best magazine ever to hit the stands: FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES