the moon pool-第16节
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edge？
What lay beyond it？
I stretched out a shaking hand and touched the surface of
the slab。 A faint thrill passed through my hand and arm；
oddly unfamiliar and as oddly unpleasant； as of electric con…
tact holding the very essence of cold。 O'Keefe； watching；
imitated my action。 As his fingers rested on the stone his face
filled with astonishment。
〃It's the door？〃 he asked。 I nodded。 There was a low
whistle from him and he pointed up toward the top of the
grey stone。 I followed the gesture and saw； above the moon
door and on each side of it； two gently curving bosses of
rock； perhaps a foot in diameter。
〃The moon door's keys；〃 I said。
〃It begins to look so；〃 answered Larry。 〃If we can find
them；〃 he added。
〃There's nothing we can do till moonrise；〃 I replied。 〃And
we've none too much time to prepare as it is。 Come！〃
A little later we were beside our boat。 We lightered it；
set up the tent； and as it was now but a short hour to sun…
down I bade them leave me and make their search。 They
went off together； and I busied myself with opening some of
the paraphernalia I had brought with me。
First of all I took out the two Becquerel ray…condensers
that I had bought in Sydney。 Their lenses would collect and
intensify to the fullest extent any light directed upon them。
I had found them most useful in making spectroscopic
analysis of luminous vapours； and I knew that at Yerkes Ob…
servatory splendid results had been obtained from them in
collecting the diffused radiance of the nebulae for the same
purpose。
If my theory of the grey slab's mechanism were correct；
it was practically certain that with the satellite only a few
nights past the full we could concentrate enough light on
the bosses to open the rock。 And as the ray streams through
the seven globes described by Throckmartin would be too
weak to energize the Pool； we could enter the chamber free
from any fear of encountering its tenant； make our prelimi…
nary observations and go forth before the moon had dropped
so far that the concentration in the condensers would fall
below that necessary to keep the portal from closing。
I took out also a small spectroscope； and a few other in…
struments for the analysis of certain light manifestations and
the testing of metal and liquid。 Finally； I put aside my
emergency medical kit。
I had hardly finished examining and adjusting these be…
fore O'Keefe and Huldricksson returned。 They reported
signs of a camp at least ten days old beside the northern
wall of the outer court； but beyond that no evidence of others
beyond ourselves on Nan…Tauach。
We prepared supper； ate and talked a little； but for the
most part were silent。 Even Larry's high spirits were not in
evidence； half a dozen times I saw him take out his auto…
matic and look it over。 He was more thoughtful than I had
ever seen him。 Once he went into the tent； rummaged about
a bit and brought out another revolver which； he said； he
had got from Da Costa； and a half…dozen clips of cartridges。
He passed the gun over to Olaf。
At last a glow in the southeast heralded the rising moon。
I picked up my instruments and the medical kit； Larry and
Olaf shouldered each a short ladder that was part of my
equipment； and； with our electric flashes pointing the way；
walked up the great stairs； through the enclosures； and
straight to the grey stone。
By this time the moon had risen and its clipped light shone
full upon the slab。 I saw faint gleams pass over it as of fleet…
ing phosphorescencebut so faint were they that I could
not be sure of the truth of my observation。
We set the ladders in place。 Olaf I assigned to stand be…
fore the door and watch for the first signs of its opening
if open it should。 The Becquerels were set within three…inch
tripods； whose feet I had equipped with vacuum rings to
enable them to hold fast to the rock。
I scaled one ladder and fastened a condenser over the boss；
descended； sent Larry up to watch it； and； ascending the
second ladder； rapidly fixed the other in its place。 Then； with
O'Keefe watchful on his perch； I on mine； and Olaf's eyes
fixed upon the moon door； we began our vigil。 Suddenly
there was an exclamation from Larry。
67
MERRITT
〃Seven little lights are beginning to glow on this stone！〃
he cried。
But I had already seen those beneath my lens begin to
gleam out with a silvery lustre。 Swiftly the rays within the
condenser began to thicken and increase； and as they did so
the seven small circles waxed like stars growing out of the
dusk； and with a queercurdled is the best word I can find
to define itradiance entirely strange to me。
Beneath me I heard a faint； sighing murmur and then the
voice of Huldricksson：
〃It opensthe stone turns〃
I began to climb down the ladder。 Again came Olaf's
voice：
〃The stoneit is open〃 And then a shriek； a wail of
blended anguish and pity； of rage and despairand the
sound of swift footsteps racing through the wall beneath me！
I dropped to the ground。 The moon door was wide open；
and through it I caught a glimpse of a corridor filled with a
faint； pearly vaporous light like earliest misty dawn。 But of
Olaf I could seenothing！ And even as I stood； gaping； from
behind me came the sharp crack of a rifle； the glass of the
condenser at Larry's side flew into fragments； he dropped
swiftly to the ground； the automatic in his hand flashed once；
twice； into the darkness。
And the moon door began to pivot slowly； slowly back
into its place！
I rushed toward the turning stone with the wild idea of
holding it open。 As I thrust my hands against it there came
at my back a snarl and an oath and Larry staggered under
the impact of a body that had flung itself straight at his
throat。 He reeled at the lip of the shallow cup at the base
of the slab； slipped upon its polished curve； fell and rolled
with that which had attacked him； kicking and writhing；
straight through the narrowing portal into the passage！
Forgetting all else； I sprang to his aid。 As I leaped I felt the
closing edge of the moon door graze my side。 Then； as Larry
raised a fist； brought it down upon the temple of the man
who had grappled with him and rose from the twitching
body unsteadily to his feet； I heard shuddering past me a
mournful whisper； spun about as though some giant's hand
had whirled me
The end of the corridor no longer opened out into the
moonlit square of ruined Nan…Tauach。 It was barred by a
solid mass of glimmering stone。 The moon door had closed！
O'Keefe took a stumbling step toward the barrier behind
us。 There was no mark of juncture with the shining walls；
the slab fitted into the sides as closely as a mosaic。
〃It's shut all right；〃 said Larry。 〃But if there's a way in；
there's a way out。 Anyway； Doc； we're right in the pew we've
been heading forso why worry？〃 He grinned at me cheer…
fully。 The man on the floor groaned； and he dropped to his
knees beside him。
〃Marakinoff！〃 he cried。
At my exclamation he moved aside； turning the face so I
could see it。 It was clearly Russian； and just as clearly its
possessor was one of unusual force and intellect。
The strong； massive brow with orbital ridge unusually de…
veloped； the dominant； high…bridged nose； the straight lips
with their more than suggestion of latent cruelty； and the
strong lines of the jaw beneath a black； pointed beard all
gave evidence that here was a personality beyond the ordi…
nary。
〃Couldn't be anybody else；〃 said Larry； breaking in on
my thoughts。 〃He must have been watching us over there
from Chau…ta…leur's vault all the time。〃
Swiftly he ran practised hands over his body； then stood
erect； holding out to me two wicked…looking magazine pis…
tols and a knife。 〃He got one of my bullets through his right
forearm； too；〃 he said。 〃Just a flesh wound； but it made him
drop his rifle。 Some arsenal； our little Russian scientist；
what？〃
I opened my medical kit。 The wound was a slight one；
and Larry stood looking on as I bandaged it。
〃Got another one of those condensers？〃 he asked； sud…
denly。 〃And do you suppose Olaf will know enough to use
it？〃
〃Larry；〃 I answered； 〃Olaf's not outside！ He's in here
somewhere！〃
His jaw dropped。
〃The hell you say！〃 he whispered。
〃Didn't you hear him shriek when the stone opened？〃 I
asked。
〃I heard him yell； yes；〃 he said。 〃But I didn't know what
was the matter。 And then this wildcat jumped me〃 He
paused and his eyes widened。 〃Which way did he go？〃 he
asked swiftly。 I pointed down the faintly glowing passage。
〃There's only one way；〃 I said。
〃Watch that bird close；〃 hissed O'Keefe； pointing to Mara…
kinoffand pistol in hand stretched his long legs and raced
away。 I look
