"The Hand of Nergal" by Robert E. Howard & Lin Carter (1967)

Originally appeared in Conan, 1967.

Plot: Conan and the army of King Yildez are attacked by the army of yaralat and the shadow-bats of Nergal. Only Conan survives the battle. Afterwards he finds a girl slave named Hildico who was sent to find him. She takes him back to Yaralet to see her master, the philosopher Atalis. Atalis and the nobleman Prince Than are the enemies of Munthassem Khan, the sorcerer-king who rules with the Hand of Nergal. Using Atalis' crystal, they discover Conan posseses an amulet known as the Heart of Tammuz, and only he can face Munthassem Khan. They sneak into his citadel through a secret passage and finding the conjurer asleep after his magical attack. Munthassem Khan wakes! It's a trap. He immobilizes all three, Conan, Atalis and Than. The slave girl Hildico shows up suddenly and throws the Heart of Tammuz at Munthassem Khan. The gods tammuz and Nergal appear, battle with Nergal vanquished. Munthassem Khan's body is destroyed in the fracas. Conan leaves Yaralet with his reward, the girl Hildico.

Monsters:

The Shadow-Bats of Nergal - these phantasms can be conjured by the owner of the Hand of Nergal. The conjurer is requited to use narcotic lotus.

Nergal - The evil god that looks like a red-eyed ape

Tammuz - The good god who looks like an explosion of light

History: This story is unusual because L. Sprague de Camp didn't partner with Carter to pen it. An outline was by Howard was discovered and Carter wrote the story from it. The story feels more like Carter than Howard. The shadow-bats feel like the fell-beasts ridden by the Ringwraiths. Also Carter's sexism (rather than Howard's) is evident.

John Buscema & Ernie Chan's version in Conan the Barbarian #30

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