User:DoctorWho42/The Master of the Crabs

"The Master of the Crabs" is a short story by American author Clark Ashton Smith as part of his Zothique cycle, and first published in the March 1948 issue of Weird Tales.

Publication history
According to Emperor of Dreams: A Clark Ashton Smith Bibliography (1978) by Donald Sidney-Fryer, "The Master of the Crabs" was first published in the March 1932 issue of Weird Tales. It was included in the books Lost Worlds (1944) and The Abominations of Yondo (1960).

Plot
Manthar, an apprentice to the wizard Mior Lumivix, begins to nod off while guarding scarab beetles used for a particular potion. However, Mior Lumivix tells him that he has found out that sarcand, a rival wizard, has found the chart of Omvor. Sarcand himself is a necromancer from naat whose mother was a black cannibal. The chart of Omvor was a legendary prize found by a pirate while looting a monastary. As the monks did not copy the text, it was even more prized. Omvor was swept off-course by the water current the Black River. Instead of falling off the edge of the world, Omvor off-loaded the chart somewhere in between. Its location has since remained a mystery until now. Through some clairvoyance, Mior Lumivix learns that Sarcand has discovered it is on the island of crabs Iribos. Thus the two set out to find the chart before Sarcand or one of his servants does. Arriving at the island, the two find the remains of two sailors Sarcand has enlisted to help procure the chart. Small crabs pick at the remains but those remains were being sent to a cavern. Manthar and Mior Lumivix follow the crabs to the cavern where they find Sarcand. Sarcand's leg is broken. While the two prepare for combat, Mior Lumivix notes it may not be a fair fight. Sarcand points out a ring he found in the treasure that allows control over air, oceans, and crabs; hence their behaviour. While manthar is drawn to the ring, the crabs prepare to attack both of them. Mior Lumivix then throws a knife cutting off the arm of Sarcand that wields the ring. Thus the crabs fall away. Manthar and Mior Lumivix prepare to set up camp and cook a few of the crabs but decide against the ones who have dined on human flesh.