The Abbey

Introduction

Robert E. Howard’s probably unfinished story “The Abbey” first saw publication in the Fantasy Crossroads fanzine in 1975. This fragment reveals Howard’s ability to craft a haunting atmosphere and intriguing narrative, centered around an ancient abbey with a mysterious past and sinister occurrences. Written in the early 20th century, the tale blends historical elements with horror and suspense.

The fragment of “The Abbey” leaves readers intrigued by the mysterious events surrounding the ancient structure and the ominous past hinted at through the letter and Professor Brill’s warnings.

Summary

The story opens with the narrator arriving at an ancient abbey at sunset. The building, a well-preserved Saxon structure, stands alone amidst huge oaks casting deep shadows. A nearby man-made pool with a moss-covered stone curb adds to the eerie atmosphere. Despite the abbey’s preserved state, an ominous silence pervades the area, suggesting it is uninhabited.

Upon entering the abbey, the narrator finds it as if recently abandoned, with crude furnishings left untouched. Notably, an old-fashioned desk with a piece of paper catches his attention. The paper, written in English and in a feminine hand, appears to be a letter, starting mid-sentence.

The letter’s author describes an unsettling experience at the abbey. While visiting with Professor Brill, she drank from the pool only to encounter a repulsive, biting toad. The creature’s attack left her with a painful wound, proving that some toads indeed have teeth. Despite this frightening incident, the abbey’s allure draws her back repeatedly. She finds the ruins fascinating and often visits, though she remains wary of the pool.

Professor Brill, an antiquarian, shares her interest in the abbey but discourages her solo visits, hinting at the unsavory character of the last abbot. He suggests that the abbey retains some malevolence from its former master. The letter writer admits to having strange, unsettling dreams about the abbey, involving dark, moist walls, shadowy trees, and a voice croaking ominously that it has marked her and will call her in time.

The letter ends abruptly, with the margin containing a few Latin words and an archaic seal resembling a scourge, suggesting a connection to ancient flagellants.

Characters

  • Narrator (Unnamed): The main character who discovers the abbey and reads the letter, providing the story’s point of view.
  • Letter Writer (Unnamed): A woman fascinated by the abbey despite a terrifying encounter with a biting toad. She frequently visits the ruins and experiences strange dreams connected to the site.
  • Professor Brill: An antiquarian who shows the abbey to the letter writer and warns her about its sinister history. He is skeptical about the existence of biting toads and concerned about the abbey’s lingering malevolence.

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