"The Coming of the White Worm" is a short story by the late American author Clark Ashton Smith. It is the penultimate tale in his Hyperborean Cycle of fantasy works.
Synopsis[]
When the dreaded entity Rlim Shaikorth arrives off shore in its iceberg-fortress Yikilth, it destroys the sorcerer Evagh's village and forcibly recruits him into its small priesthood of mages.
Travelling the length of Hyperborea and devastating its coastline for many miles inland, Evagh slowly learns of his new master, an ancient entity which desires nothing more than to inflict destruction on whatever happens to lie in its path. However, as the days and weeks pass, the priesthood begins to dwindle: its members simply disappear during the night, and Rlim Shaikorth appears suspiciously larger in the morning.
The day arrives when Evagh is the only one left, and he comes across his master in a state of slumber. From within the beast, he hears the souls of his fellows calling to him along with the many, many others it has consumed over the aeons. The captive souls beg him to take his sword and slice open Shaikorth, although they warn that to do so will also mean his own death.
Evagh complies, and a black liquid gushes forth from the fatal wound in his former master, along with the souls of its victims, the liquid killing Evagh and melting Yikilth. Although it has cost him his life, the brave sorcerer has saved his land from certain destruction.
Characters[]
- Evagh, a powerful Hyperborean wizard.
- Dooni, a member of Rlim Shaikorth's priesthood.
- Ux Loddhan, a member of the priesthood.
- Rlim Shaikorth, an ancient being of unimaginable evil.
Publication History[]
"The Coming of the White Worm" was first published in the pulp magazine Stirring Science Stories in April 1941. It has since been reprinted many times, and has been translated into Spanish, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Hungarian and Portuguese.
Trivia[]
- The story is presented as a tale related by the Hyperborean sorcerer Eibon, who learned it through questioning the spirit of Evagh.
| "The Tale of Satampra Zeiros" • "The Testament of Athammaus" • "The Weird of Avoosl Wuthoqquan" • "The Door to Saturn" • "The House of Haon-Dor" • "The Ice-Demon" • "Ubbo-Sathla" • The Seven Geases" • "The White Sybil" • "The Coming of the White Worm" • "The Theft of Thirty-Nine Girdles" |