the moon pool-第5节
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ticed was the exquisite nicety with which its edges joined the
blocks about it。 Then I realized that its colour was subtly dif…
ferenttinged with grey and of a smooth； peculiardead…
ness。
〃'Looks more like calcite than basalt；' I said。 I touched it
and withdrew my hand quickly for at the contact every nerve
in my arm tingled as though a shock of frozen electricity had
passed through it。 It was not cold as we know cold。 It was a
chill forcethe phrase I have usedfrozen electricityde…
scribes it better than anything else。 Stanton looked at me
oddly。
〃'So you felt it too；' he said。 'I was wondering whether I
was developing hallucinations like Thora。 Notice； by the way；
that the blocks beside it are quite warm beneath the sun。'
〃We examined the slab eagerly。 Its edges were cut as
though by an engraver of jewels。 They fitted against the
neighbouring blocks in almost a hair…line。 Its base was
slightly curved； and fitted as closely as top and sides upon the
huge stones on which it rested。 And then we noted that these
stones had been hollowed to follow the line of the grey stone's
foot。 There was a semicircular depression running from one
side of the slab to the other。 It was as though the grey rock
stood in the centre of a shallow cuprevealing half； covering
half。 Something about this hollow attracted me。 I reached
down and felt it。 Goodwin； although the balance of the stones
that formed it； like all the stones of the courtyard； were
rough and age…wornthis was as smooth； as even surfaced as
though it had just left the hands of the polisher。
〃'It's a door！' exclaimed Stanton。 'It swings around in that
little cup。 That's what makes the hollow so smooth。'
〃'Maybe you're right；' I replied。 'But how the devil can we
open it？'
〃We went over the slab againpressing upon its edges；
thrusting against its sides。 During one of those efforts I hap…
pened to look upand cried out。 A foot above and on each
side of the corner of the grey rock's lintel was a slight con…
vexity； visible only from the angle at which my gaze struck it。
〃We carried with us a small scaling…ladder and up this I
went。 The bosses were apparently nothing more than chis…
eled curvatures in the stone。 I laid my hand on the one I was
examining； and drew it back sharply。 In my palm； at the base
of my thumb； I had felt the same shock that I had in touch…
ing the slab below。 I put my hand back。 The impression came
from a spot not more than an inch wide。 I went carefully
over the entire convexity； and six times more the chill ran
through my arm。 There were seven circles an inch wide in
the curved place； each of which communicated the precise
sensation I have described。 The convexity on the opposite
side of the slab gave exactly the same results。 But no amount
of touching or of pressing these spots singly or in any com…
bination gave the slightest promise of motion to the slab
itself。
〃'And yetthey're what open it；' said Stanton positively。
〃'Why do you say that？' I asked。
〃'Idon't know；' he answered hesitatingly。 'But some…
thing tells me so。 Throck；' he went on half earnestly； half
laughingly； 'the purely scientific part of me is fighting the
purely human part of me。 The scientific part is urging me to
find some way to get that slab either down or open。 The hu…
man part is just as strongly urging me to do nothing of the
sort and get away while I can！'
〃He laughed againshamefacedly。
〃'Which shall it be？' he askedand I thought that in his
tone the human side of him was ascendant。
〃'It will probably stay as it isunless we blow it to bits；'
I said。
〃'I thought of that；' he answered； 'and I wouldn't dare；'
he added soberly enough。 And even as I had spoken there
came to me the same feeling that he had expressed。 It was as
though something passed out of the grey rock that struck my
heart as a hand strikes an impious lip。 We turned awayun…
easily； and faced Thora coming through a breach on the ter…
race。
'Miss Edith wants you quick；' she beganand stopped。
Her eyes went past me to the grey rock。 Her body grew rigid；
she took a few stiff steps forward and then ran straight to it。
She cast herself upon its breast； hands and face pressed
against it； we heard her scream as though her very soul were
being drawn from herand watched her fall at its foot。 As
we picked her up I saw steal from her face the look I had ob…
served when first we heard the crystal music of Nan…Tauach
that unhuman mingling of opposites！〃
CHAPTER IV
The First Vanishings
〃WE CARRIED Thora back； down to where Edith was waiting。
We told her what had happened and what we had found。
She listened gravely； and as we finished Thora sighed and
opened her eyes。
〃'I would like to see the stone；' she said。 'Charles； you stay
here with Thora。' We passed through the outer court silently
and stood before the rock。 She touched it； drew back her
hand as I had； thrust it forward again resolutely and held it
there。 She seemed to be listening。 Then she turned to me。
〃'David；' said my wife； and the wistfulness in her voice
hurt me'David； would you be very； very disappointed if we
went from herewithout trying to find out any more about
itwould you？'
〃Walter； I never wanted anything so much in my life as I
wanted to learn what that rock concealed。 Nevertheless； I
tried to master my desire； and I answered'Edith； not a bit
if you want us to do it。'
〃She read my struggle in my eyes。 She turned back toward
the grey rock。 I saw a shiver pass through her。 I felt a tinge
of remorse and pity！
〃'Edith；' I exclaimed； 'we'll go！'
〃She looked at me again。 'Science is a jealous mistress；' she
quoted。 'No； after all it may be just fancy。 At any rate； you
can't run away。 No！ But； Dave； I'm going to stay too！'
〃And there was no changing her decision。 As we neared
the others she laid a hand on my arm。
〃'Dave；' she said； 'if there should be somethingwell
inexplicable tonightsomething that seemstoo dangerous
will you promise to go back to our own islet tomorrow； if
we canand wait until the natives return？'
〃I promised eagerlythe desire to stay and see what came
with the night was like a fire within me。
〃We picked a place about five hundred feet away from the
steps leading into the outer court。
〃The spot we had selected was well hidden。 We could not
be seen； and yet we had a clear view of the stairs and the
gateway。 We settled down just before dusk to wait for what…
ever might come。 I was nearest the giant steps； next me
Edith； then Thora； and last Stanton。
〃Night fell。 After a time the eastern sky began to lighten；
and we knew that the moon was rising； grew lighter still； and
the orb peeped over the sea； swam into full sight。 I glanced
at Edith and then at Thora。 My wife was intently listening。
Thora sat； as she had since we had placed ourselves； elbows
on knees； her hands covering her face。
〃And then from the moonlight flooding us there dripped
down on me a great drowsiness。 Sleep seemed to seep from
the rays and fall upon my eyes； closing themclosing them
inexorably。 Edith's hand in mine relaxed。 Stanton's head fell
upon his breast and his body swayed drunkenly。 I tried to
riseto fight against the profound desire for slumber that
pressed on me。
〃And as I fought； Thora raised her head as though listen…
ing； and turned toward the gateway。 There was infinite des…
pair in her faceand expectancy。 I tried again to riseand a
surge of sleep rushed over me。 Dimly； as I sank within it； I
heard a crystalline chiming； raised my lids once more with a
supreme effort。
〃Thora； bathed in light； was standing at the top of the
stairs。
〃Sleep took me for its very ownswept me into the heart
of oblivion！
〃Dawn was breaking when I wakened。 Recollection rushed
back； I thrust a panic…stricken hand out toward Edith；
touched her and my heart gave a great leap of thankfulness。
She stirred； sat up； rubbing dazed eyes。 Stanton lay on his
side； back toward us； head in arms。
〃Edith looked at me laughingly。 'Heavens！ What sleep！'
she said。 Memory came to her。
〃'What happened？' she whispered。 'What made us sleep
like that？'
〃Stanton awoke。
〃'What's the matter！' he exclaimed。 'You look as though
you've been seeing ghosts。'
〃Edith caught my hands。
〃'Where's Thora？' she cried。 Before I could answer she
had run out into the open； calling。
〃'Thora was taken；' was all I could say to Stanton； 'to…
gether we went to my wife； now standing beside the great
stone steps； looking up fearfully at the gateway into the ter…
races。 There I told them what I had seen before sleep had
drowned me。 And together then we ran up the stairs； through
the court and to the grey rock。
