The residents of a fishing village were plagued by attacks from enormous marauding eagles. The villagers wiped out the eagles, leaving only the “unholy” Black Eagle, who is large enough to carry off a full-grown man. Thor Taver, a “steel-muscled young fisherman,” traveled to the island to visit his brother Leif and their mother. The boat’s captain told Thor the story of the eagles while making the trip. In the village, Thor saw his brother Leif down the block, and watched as the Black Eagle carried Leif off. Thor climbed the cliff where the eagles nested. Once at the summit, he was met by a large convocation of eagles. The villagers had told him only the unholy Black Eagle still survived, yet there were dozens observing a man addressing them. The eagles listened as “the gaunt, cadaverous figure addresses them all, man-like, with a large black cape and gleaming eyes that smolder as in a fever!” Thor found Leif in a cave. Leif acted birdlike, clawing at Thor. Thor tried to lead his brother out of the cave, but the strange man, who was also the Black Eagle, barred his way. Thor fled, but not before getting deeply clawed by the Black Eagle. Thor was forced over a cliff edge and sprouted wings. He returned to rescue Leif, carrying him in his talons. They flew to their mother’s house. The villagers surrounded the shack. Thor, now with a beak as well, picked up a knife and broke out through the skylight. The Black Eagle arrived in bird form for a confrontation with Thor. Thor killed the Black Eagle with the knife. The Black Eagle transformed back into his human form. Thor returned to normal, telling the villagers that soon the other transformed villagers would do likewise.
Description The residents of a fishing village were plagued by attacks from enormous marauding eagles. The villagers wiped out the eagles, leaving only the “unholy” Black Eagle, who is large enough to carry off a full-grown man. Thor Taver, a “steel-muscled young fisherman,” traveled to the island to visit his brother Leif and their mother. The boat’s captain told Thor the story of the eagles while making the trip. In the village, Thor saw his brother Leif down the block, and watched as the Black Eagle carried Leif off. Thor climbed the cliff where the eagles nested. Once at the summit, he was met by a large convocation of eagles. The villagers had told him only the unholy Black Eagle still survived, yet there were dozens observing a man addressing them. The eagles listened as “the gaunt, cadaverous figure addresses them all, man-like, with a large black cape and gleaming eyes that smolder as in a fever!” Thor found Leif in a cave. Leif acted birdlike, clawing at Thor. Thor tried to lead his brother out of the cave, but the strange man, who was also the Black Eagle, barred his way. Thor fled, but not before getting deeply clawed by the Black Eagle. Thor was forced over a cliff edge and sprouted wings. He returned to rescue Leif, carrying him in his talons. They flew to their mother’s house. The villagers surrounded the shack. Thor, now with a beak as well, picked up a knife and broke out through the skylight. The Black Eagle arrived in bird form for a confrontation with Thor. Thor killed the Black Eagle with the knife. The Black Eagle transformed back into his human form. Thor returned to normal, telling the villagers that soon the other transformed villagers would do likewise.
