People of the Dark by Robert E. Howard

“People of the Dark” is a short story by Robert E. Howard, first published in 1932. Known for creating Conan the Barbarian, Howard was a master of pulp fiction, blending elements of fantasy, horror, and adventure. This tale delves into themes of reincarnation, love, violence, and ancient, hidden terrors. Set in the foreboding Dagon’s Cave, it explores a complex narrative of vengeance and past lives.

Plot Summary

Beneath the shadow of towering trees, a man arrived at the entrance of Dagon’s Cave with murder in his heart. His mind was consumed by the desire to kill Richard Brent, his rival for the love of Eleanor Bland. The darkness of the cave mirrored the gloom in his soul, and the revolver in his pocket weighed heavy as the only solution to his torment. For days, he had been tortured by the thought that Eleanor might choose Richard, and this jealousy had driven him to the cave, where he intended to end the conflict forever.

The cave had always been shrouded in legend. The villagers spoke of ancient people who once lived there—dwarfish, almost inhuman creatures who had vanished long ago. These tales barely registered in the man’s mind as he moved deeper into the cavern, though the air felt thick with something unspoken. As he descended further, a strange sense of familiarity crept over him, as if the cave knew him in some ancient, forgotten way. Lost in thought, he stumbled down a hidden staircase, his fall rendering him unconscious.

When he awoke, he was no longer himself. The world around him had shifted, and so had his identity. He was no longer John O’Brien but Conan, a warrior from a time long past. The walls of the cave were not unfamiliar—they were the remnants of a life he had once lived. His hand gripped an iron sword, and the weight of his past crashed down on him. The memories were as clear as the bloodstains on his weapon. Conan had once raided these lands, leading his black-haired Gaels against the Britons, slaughtering his enemies in search of a woman named Tamera.

Tamera had golden hair and gray eyes, much like the woman he had desired in another life. She had fled from him into the dark forest, desperate to escape, and Conan had followed her with brutal intent. But when she reached the mouth of Dagon’s Cave, her lover Vertorix, a Briton warrior, had confronted Conan. Their clash was fierce, the ringing of swords and axes filling the night air. Vertorix fought with all his might to protect Tamera, but Conan’s strength was unmatched. He drove the Briton into the cave, his eyes burning with a single-minded obsession.

The cave, however, held dangers far greater than the clash of men. Deeper within its recesses, the Children of the Night waited. These were the descendants of the ancient inhabitants, a race more reptilian than human, who had retreated into the earth long ago. Their twisted forms, scaly and grotesque, now lurked in the shadows, worshipping dark gods and guarding secrets older than time. As Conan pursued his prey deeper into the cave, he found Vertorix and Tamera bound upon an altar, awaiting a gruesome sacrifice.

Conan did not hesitate. He attacked the monstrous creatures with all the fury of his warrior’s heart, cutting through their ranks with his sword. Vertorix, despite being Conan’s enemy, fought beside him, for survival now united them. They battled side by side, retreating through the cavern as more of the inhuman horde swarmed upon them. The two men fought their way to a narrow stairway that led upward toward the light, and with Tamera close behind, they climbed toward what they hoped was escape.

At the top of the stairway, however, they found only despair. The path led to a high ledge overlooking a roaring river, far below the towering cliffs. There was no escape, only the abyss. Vertorix and Tamera exchanged a look, one that spoke of acceptance and love. They had no words left, for their fate was already sealed. Hand in hand, they leapt from the ledge, choosing the river’s cold embrace over the horror that awaited them if they stayed.

The Children of the Night howled in fury at their loss, but Conan was left standing alone. The ancient forces of the cave, the violence of past lives, and the overwhelming desire that had driven him here—all of it faded into the background. As the river swallowed the lovers, Conan’s identity began to blur once more, and the present reclaimed him.

When John O’Brien came to his senses, he was no longer Conan the reaver but the man who had come to kill Richard Brent. The vision of his past life had lifted, but it left behind a strange understanding—an awareness that this conflict had played out before, over many lifetimes. The same roles, the same passions, the same fates. His hand still twitched toward the revolver in his pocket, but something had changed. The hatred that had once consumed him now felt distant, overshadowed by the weight of time and destiny.

Richard Brent and Eleanor Bland arrived soon after. Unaware of John’s presence, they spoke quietly, their voices carrying across the quiet cave. The tension between them dissolved as they confessed their love for each other. Eleanor, like Tamera before her, had finally made her choice. The cycle had come full circle once again, but this time John knew that he could not act. Their love, like the doomed passion of Tamera and Vertorix, was something he could not destroy.

Yet, even as John turned to leave the cave, a final horror stirred. From the darkness emerged a creature, the last of the Children of the Night, its deformed body slithering toward the couple. Richard stepped forward, determined to protect Eleanor, though he was unarmed. The beast, its reptilian eyes glinting with malice, advanced. John, watching from the shadows, knew what he must do. He drew his revolver and fired, the single shot echoing through the cave. The creature let out a terrible scream and fell into the abyss, lost to the river below.

Richard and Eleanor were safe, but John knew his part in the story had ended. The cycle of love, sacrifice, and violence had played out once more, and this time, the roles had shifted. John left the cave, leaving behind the ancient echoes of his past and the ghosts of Conan, Tamera, and Vertorix.

Main Characters

• John O’Brien: The protagonist, who comes to Dagon’s Cave to kill his rival Richard Brent. As the story unfolds, he experiences an out-of-body flashback to a past life as a warrior named Conan. His motivations are driven by jealousy and love for Eleanor, but his arc reveals deeper layers as he grapples with his violent impulses and a sense of historical fate.
• Richard Brent: John’s rival for Eleanor’s love. He is presented as a strong, clear-eyed Englishman, embodying everything that frustrates John. Despite this, he is not depicted as evil, but rather as someone caught in the middle of a love triangle and unaware of John’s murderous intent.
• Eleanor Bland: The object of both men’s desires, Eleanor is a complex character, torn between her feelings for John and Richard. She is portrayed as beautiful, with wavy golden hair and deep gray eyes, and plays a central role in driving the conflict between the two men.
• Vertorix: A Briton warrior who appears in John’s vision of his past life as Conan. Vertorix is Tamera’s lover and fights Conan (John) to protect her. His tragic end underscores the theme of doomed love.
• Tamera: A Briton woman from John’s past life who resembles Eleanor. Conan pursues her with brutal desire, and she shares a doomed love with Vertorix. Her tragic fate mirrors Eleanor’s potential future.

Theme

• Reincarnation and Fate: The story suggests that the characters are reliving ancient patterns of conflict, love, and violence. John’s memories of being Conan, a savage warrior, hint at the idea that some loves and rivalries transcend lifetimes, tying into the broader theme of reincarnation.
• Jealousy and Rivalry: At its heart, the plot revolves around John’s intense jealousy of Richard, which motivates his decision to murder him. This theme explores the darker sides of human emotions, leading to destructive decisions that drive the story.
• The Power of Memory and Identity: As John experiences visions of his past life, the story blurs the lines between the present and the ancient past, questioning the nature of identity. His memories of being Conan imply that a person’s essence may carry over through lifetimes, influencing their current actions.
• Ancient Evil and Lost Civilizations: The setting of Dagon’s Cave and the presence of the mysterious “Little People” point to a larger cosmic horror motif, typical of Howard’s work. The hidden, ancient forces lurking within the earth, like the Children of the Night, represent the lingering dangers of forgotten eras and the primal fears of the unknown.

Writing Style and Tone

Robert E. Howard’s writing in “People of the Dark” is rich with atmospheric descriptions and a sense of brooding tension. He uses a gothic, almost claustrophobic style to paint the dark and mysterious setting of Dagon’s Cave. His choice of words creates an overwhelming sense of dread and foreboding, where the shadows themselves seem alive, and the very earth harbors ancient, malevolent forces. Howard’s command of language is taut and evocative, immersing the reader in a primal world where violence and passion dominate.

The tone of the story is dark, grim, and often brutal, mirroring the protagonist’s inner turmoil. Howard’s tone reflects the raw emotions of jealousy, hatred, and desire, while also weaving in elements of tragic inevitability, especially through John’s flashbacks to his life as Conan. This blending of adventure and horror is characteristic of Howard’s sword-and-sorcery tales, but with an additional layer of psychological complexity in “People of the Dark.”