Authors: Lyon Sprague de Camp

Conan and the Spider God (18 page)

BOOK: Conan and the Spider God

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Instantly the magical rope faded away, dissolving into wisps of ordinary smoke. Freed, Conan sank down, gasping great lungfuls of air.

When he had recovered, Conan heaved himself erect and tottered over to where Psamitek lay. He went through the Stygian’s purse, finding an assortment of coins, some of them gold, and the roll of parchment bearing Tughril’s offer for Conan’s head. The money Conan transferred to his own purse.

The scroll he stared at, trying to puzzle out its spidery glyphs. It would not do, he thought, to leave such a document adrift in the world. Someone else might get his hands on it and be inspired, like Psamitek, to try to collect the reward.

Conan bent and gently blew upon the tiny, smoldering fire in the brazier; the little tripod still stood upright. When he had coaxed a flame into being, he dipped a corner of the parchment into the blaze and held it there until the writing surface caught fire. He held the sheet, turning it to spread the fire across it. The cryptic writings glowed red for an instant and disappeared. Soon the entire document, save the corner by which Conan held it, was reduced to ash.

Then Conan swung into the saddle and cantered off, leaving the Stygian’s body for the hyenas.

Chronological order of the CONAN series:

CONAN
CONAN OF CIMMERIA
CONAN THE FREEBOOTER
CONAN THE WANDERER
CONAN THE ADVENTURER
CONAN THE BUCCANEER
CONAN THE WARRIOR
CONAN THE USURPER
CONAN THE CONQUEROR
CONAN THE AVENGER
CONAN OF AQUILONIA
CONAN OF THE ISLES
CONAN THE SWORDSMAN
CONAN THE LIBERATOR
CONAN THE SWORD OF SKELOS
CONAN THE ROAD OF KINGS
CONAN THE REBEL
CONAN AND THE SPIDER GOD

Illustrated CONAN novels:

CONAN AND THE SORCERER
CONAN: THE FLAME KNIFE
CONAN THE MERCENARY
THE TREASURE OF TRANICOS

Other CONAN novels:

THE BLADE OF CONAN
THE SPELL OF CONAN

About the Author

L.
SPRAGUE DE CAMP was well known for his fantasies, science popularizations, and historical novels as well as his work in the science fiction world. His work appeared in many of the science fiction magazines of the 1930s, including
Astounding
and
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
De Camp also worked on unfinished manuscripts of Robert E. Howard and, with Lin Carter, created new Conan stories. He is the co-author of
Dark Valley Destiny,
the definitive biography of Robert E. Howard. De Camp died in 2000.

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.

CONAN AND THE SPIDER GOD

Originally published by Bantam Books in December 1980 and republished by Ace Books in April 1989.

Tor
^®is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
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New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

eISBN 9781429972727

First eBook Edition : February 2011

First Tor Edition: February 2002