Henry Kuttner 
Thunder in the Void and three more stories [EPUB ebook] 

From "Avengers Of Space"-"Then he was in the temple, empty save for the alter and its dreadful tenant.As Shawn raced forward he felt a blast of power rush out to meet him, the mighty thoughts of Droom tearing at his brain.Blazing agony blinded him.A thousand fingers of steel seemed to be plucking, tearing, wrenching his head, pulling it apart bit by bit.The flames within the alter were blinding. Staggering, he kept on, hearing the bellowing of the beastmen growing louder behind him….