the moon pool-第12节
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and never a heartache after that wasn't a pleasant one； and
never a real purpose in life until I took the king's shilling
and earned my wings； something over thirtyand that's me
Larry O'Keefe。〃
〃But it was the Irish O'Keefe who sat out there waiting
for the banshee；〃 I laughed。
〃It was that；〃 he said somberly； and I heard the brogue
creep over his voice like velvet and his eyes grew brooding
again。 〃There's never an O'Keefe for these thousand years
that has passed without his warning。 An' twice have I heard
the banshee callingonce it was when my younger brother
died an' once when my father lay waiting to be carried out
on the ebb tide。〃
He mused a moment； then went on： 〃An' once I saw an
Annir Choille； a girl of the green people； flit like a shade of
green fire through Carntogher woods； an' once at Dun…
chraig I slept where the ashes of the Dun of Cormac Mac…
Concobar are mixed with those of Cormac an' Eilidh the
Fair； all burned in the nine flames that sprang from the harp…
ing of Cravetheen； an' I heard the echo of his dead harp…
ings〃
He paused again and then； softly； with that curiously
sweet； high voice that only the Irish seem to have； he sang：
Woman of the white breasts； Eilidh；
Woman of the gold…brown hair； and lips of the red； red rowan；
Where is the swan that is whiter； with breast more soft；
Or the wave on the sea that moves as thou movest； Eilidh。
CHAPTER VIII
Olaf's Story
THERE was a little silence。 I looked upon him with wonder。
Clearly he was in deepest earnest。 I know the psychology
of the Gael is a curious one and that deep in all their hearts
their ancient traditions and beliefs have strong and living
roots。 And I was both amused and touched。
Here was this soldier； who had faced war and its ugly
realities open…eyed and fearless； picking； indeed； the most
dangerous branch of service for his own； a modern if ever
there was one； appreciative of most unmystical Broadway；
and yet soberly and earnestly attesting to his belief in ban…
shee； in shadowy people of the woods； and phantom harpers！
I wondered what he would think if he could see the Dweller
and then； with a pang； that perhaps his superstitions might
make him an easy prey。
He shook his head half impatiently and ran a hand over
his eyes； turned to me and grinned：
〃Don't think I'm cracked； Professor；〃 he said。 〃I'm not。
But it takes me that way now and then。 It's the Irish in me。
And； believe it or not； I'm telling you the truth。〃
I looked eastward where the moon； now nearly a week
past the full； was mounting。
〃You can't make me see what you've seen； Lieutenant；〃 I
laughed。 〃But you can make me hear。 I've always wondered
what kind of a noise a disembodied spirit could make with…
out any vocal cords or breath or any other earthly sound…
producing mechanism。 How does the banshee sound？〃
O'Keefe looked at me seriously。
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃I'll show you。〃 From deep down in
his throat came first a low； weird sobbing that mounted
steadily into a keening whose mournfulness made my skin
creep。 And then his hand shot out and gripped my shoulder；
and I stiffened like stone in my chairfor from behind us；
like an echo； and then taking up the cry； swelled a wail that
seemed to hold within it a sublimation of the sorrows of
centuries！ It gathered itself into one heartbroken； sobbing
note and died away！ O'Keefe's grip loosened； and he rose
swiftly to his feet。
〃It's all right； Professor；〃 he said。 〃It's for me。 It found
meall this way from Ireland。〃
Again the silence was rent by the cry。 But now I had lo…
cated it。 It came from my room； and it could mean only one
thingHuldricksson had wakened。
〃Forget your banshee！〃 I gasped； and made a jump for the
cabin。
Out of the corner of my eye I noted a look of half…sheep…
ish relief flit over O'Keefe's face； and then he was beside me。
Da Costa shouted an order from the wheel； the Cantonese
ran up and took it from his hands and the little Portuguese
pattered down toward us。 My hand on the door； ready to
throw it open； I stopped。 What if the Dweller were within
what if we had been wrong and it was not dependent for its
power upon that full flood of moon ray which Throck…
martin had thought essential to draw it from the blue pool！
From within； the sobbing wail began once more to rise。
O'Keefe pushed me aside； threw open the door and crouched
low within it。 I saw an automatic flash dully in his hand； saw
it cover the cabin from side to side； following the swift sweep
of his eyes around it。 Then he straightened and his face；
turned toward the berth； was filled with wondering pity。
Through the window streamed a shaft of the moonlight。
It fell upon Huldricksson's staring eyes； in them great tears
slowly gathered and rolled down his cheeks； from his opened
mouth came the woe…laden wailing。 I ran to the port and
drew the curtains。 Da Costa snapped the lights。
The Norseman's dolorous crying stopped as abruptly as
though cut。 His gaze rolled toward us。 And at one bound
he broke through the leashes I had buckled round him and
faced us； his eyes glaring； his yellow hair almost erect with
the force of the rage visibly surging through him。 Da Costa
shrunk behind me。 O'Keefe； coolly watchful； took a quick
step that brought him in front of me。
〃Where do you take me？〃 said Huldricksson； and his
voice was like the growl of a beast。 〃Where is my boat？〃
I touched O'Keefe gently and stood before the giant。
〃Listen； Olaf Huldricksson；〃 I said。 〃We take you to
where the sparkling devil took your Helma and your Freda。
We follow the sparkling devil that came down from the
moon。 Do you hear me？〃 I spoke slowly； distinctly； striving
to pierce the mists that I knew swirled around the strained
brain。 And the words did pierce。
He thrust out a shaking hand。
〃You say you follow？〃 he asked falteringly。 〃You know
where to follow？ Where it took my Helma and my little
Freda？〃
〃Just that； Olaf Huldricksson；〃 I answered。 〃Just that！ I
pledge you my life that I know。〃
Da Costa stepped forward。 〃He speaks true； Olaf。 You go
faster on the Suwarna than on the Br…rw…un'ilda； Olaf； yes。〃
The giant Norseman； still gripping my hand； looked at
him。 〃I know you； Da Costa；〃 he muttered。 〃You are all
right。 Ja！ You are a fair man。 Where is the Brunhilda？〃
〃She follow be'ind on a big rope； Olaf；〃 soothed the Por…
tuguese。 〃Soon you see her。 But now lie down an' tell us； if
you can； why you tie yourself to your wheel an' what it is
that happen； Olaf。〃
〃If you'll tell us how the sparkling devil came it will help
us all when we get to where it is； Huldricksson；〃 I said。
On O'Keefe's face there was an expression of well…nigh lu…
dicrous doubt and amazement。 He glanced from one to the
other。 The giant shifted his own tense look from me to the
Irishman。 A gleam of approval lighted in his eyes。 He loosed
me； and gripped O'Keefe's arm。 〃Staerk！〃 he said。 〃Ja
strong； and with a strong heart。 A manja！ He comes too
we shall need himja！〃
〃I tell；〃 he muttered； and seated himself on the side of the
bunk。 〃It was four nights ago。 My Freda〃his voice shook
〃Mine Yndling！ She loved the moonlight。 I was at the
wheel and my Freda and my Helma they were behind me。
The moon was behind us and the Brunhilda was like a swan…
boat sailing down with the moonlight sending her； ja。
〃I heard my Freda say： 'I see a nisse coming down the
track of the moon。' And I hear her mother laugh； low； like a
mother does when her Yndling dreams。 I was happythat
nightwith my Helma and my Freda； and the Brunhilda
sailing like a swan…boat； ja。 I heard the child say； 'The nisse
comes fast！' And then I heard a scream from my Helma； a
great screamlike a mare when her foal is torn from her。 I
spun around fast； ja！ I dropped the wheel and spun fast！ I
saw〃 He covered his eyes with his hands。
The Portuguese had crept close to me； and I heard him
panting like a frightened dog。
〃I saw a white fire spring over the rail；〃 whispered Olaf
Huldricksson。 〃It whirled round and round； and it shone like
like stars in a whirlwind mist。 There was a noise in my
ears。 It sounded like bellslittle bells； ja！ Like the music
you make when you run your finger round goblets。 It made
me sick and dizzythe hell noise。
〃My Helma wasindeholdewhat you sayin the mid…
dle of the white fire。 She turned her face to me and she
turned it on the child； and my Helma's face burned into my
heart。 Because it was full of fear； and it was full of happi…
nessof glaede。 I tell you that the fear in my Helma's face
made me ice here〃he beat his breast with clenched hand
〃but the happiness in it burned on me like fire。 And I could
not moveI could not move。
〃I said
