the moon pool-第8节
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shapebut a shape that my eyes and brain could not define。
It was as though a being of another sphere should assume
what it might of human semblance； but was not able to con…
ceal that what human eyes saw was but a part of it。 It was
neither man nor woman； it was unearthly and androgynous。
Even as I found its human semblance it changed。 And still
the mingled rapture and terror held me。 Only in a little corner
of my brain dwelt something untouched； something that held
itself apart and watched。 Was it the soul？ I have never be…
lievedand yet
〃Over the head of the misty body there sprang suddenly
out seven little lights。 Each was the colour of the beam be…
neath which it rested。 I knew now that the Dweller was
complete！
〃I heard a scream。 It was Edith's voice。 It came to me
that she had heard the shots and followed me。 I felt every
faculty concentrate into a mighty effort。 I wrenched myself
free from the gripping tentacle and it swept back。 I turned
to catch Edith； and as I did so slippedfell。
〃The radiant shape above the Pool leaped swiftlyand
straight into it raced Edith； arms outstretched to shield me
from it！ God！
〃She threw herself squarely within its splendour；〃 he
whispered。 〃It wrapped its shining self around her。 The crys…
tal tinklings burst forth jubilantly。 The light filled her； ran
through and around her as it had with Stanton； and dropped
down upon her facethe look！
〃But her rush had taken her to the very verge of the
Moon Pool。 She tottered； she fellwith the radiance still
holding her； still swirling and winding around and through
herinto the Moon Pool！ She sank； and with her wentthe
Dweller！
〃I dragged myself to the brink。 Far down was a shining；
many…coloured nebulous cloud descending； out of it peered
Edith's face； disappearing； her eyes stared up at meand
she vanished！
〃'Edith！' I cried again。 'Edith； come back to me！'
〃And then a darkness fell upon me。 I remember running
back through the shimmering corridors and out into the
courtyard。 Reason had left me。 When it returned I was far
out at sea in our boat wholly estranged from civilization。 A
day later I was picked up by the schooner in which I came to
Port Moresby。
〃I have formed a plan； you must bear it； Goodwin〃 He
fell upon his berth。 I bent over him。 Exhaustion and the re…
lief of telling his story had been too much for him。 He slept
like the dead。
All that night I watched over him。 When dawn broke I
went to my room to get a little sleep myself。 But my slumber
was haunted。
The next day the storm was unabated。 Throckmartin came
to me at lunch。 He had regained much of his old alertness。
〃Come to my cabin；〃 he said。 There； he stripped his shirt
from him。 〃Something is happening；〃 he said。 〃The mark is
smaller。〃 It was as he said。
〃I'm escaping；〃 he whispered jubilantly； 〃Just let me get
to Melbourne safely； and then we'll see who'll win！ For；
Walter； I'm not at all sure that Edith is deadas we know
deathnor that the others are。 There is something outside
experience theresome great mystery。〃
And all that day he talked to me of his plans。
〃There's a natural explanation； of course；〃 he said。 〃My
theory is that the moon rock is of some composition sensitive
to the action of moon rays； somewhat as the metal selenium
is to sun rays。 The little circles over the top are； without
doubt； its operating agency。 When the light strikes them
they release the mechanism that opens the slab； just as you
can open doors with sun or electric light by an ingenious ar…
rangement of selenium…cells。 Apparently it takes the strength
of the full moon both to do this and to summon the Dweller
in the Pool。 We will first try a concentration of the rays of
the waning moon upon these circles to see whether that will
open the rock。 If it does we will be able to investigate the
Pool without interruption fromfromwhat emanates。
〃Look； here on the chart are their locations。 I have made
this in duplicate for you in the eventof something hap…
peningto me。 And if I loseyou'll come after us； Good…
win； with helpwon't you？〃
And again I promised。
A little later he complained of increasing sleepiness。
〃But it's just weariness；〃 he said。 〃Not at all like that other
drowsiness。 It's an hour till moonrise still；〃 he yawned at
last。 〃Wake me up a good fifteen minutes before。〃
He lay upon the berth。 I sat thinking。 I came to myself
with a guilty start。 I had completely lost myself in my deep
preoccupation。 What time was it？ I looked at my watch and
jumped to the port…hole。 It was full moonlight； the orb had
been up for fully half an hour。 I strode over to Throckmartin
and shook him by the shoulder。
〃Up； quick； man！〃 I cried。 He rose sleepily。 His shirt fell
open at the neck and I looked； in amazement； at the white
band around his chest。 Even under the electric light it shone
softly； as though little flecks of light were in it。
Throckmartin seemed only half…awake。 He looked down
at his breast； saw the glowing cincture； and smiled。
〃Yes；〃 he said drowsily； 〃it's comingto take me back to
Edith！ Well； I'm glad。〃
〃Throckmartin！〃 I cried。 〃Wake up！ Fight！〃
〃Fight！〃 he said。 〃No use； come after us！〃
He went to the port and sleepily drew aside the curtain。
The moon traced a broad path of light straight to the ship。
Under its rays the band around his chest gleamed brighter
and brighter； shot forth little rays； seemed to writhe。
The lights went out in the cabin； evidently also through…
out the ship； for I heard shoutings above。
Throckmartin still stood at the open port。 Over his shoul…
der I saw a gleaming pillar racing along the moon path to…
ward us。 Through the window cascaded a blinding radiance。
It gathered Throckmartin to it； clothed him in a robe of
living opalescence。 Light pulsed through and from him。 The
cabin filled with murmurings
A wave of weakness swept over me； buried me in black…
ness。 When consciousness came back； the lights were again
burning brightly。
But of Throckmartin there was no trace！
CHAPTER VI
〃The Shining Devil Took Them！〃
MY COLLEAGUES of the Association； and you others who
may read this my narrative； for what I did and did not when
full realization returned I must offer here； briefly as I can；
an explanation； a defenseif you will。
My first act was to spring to the open port。 The coma had
lasted hours； for the moon was now low in the west！ I ran
to the door to sound the alarm。 It resisted under my frantic
hands； would not open。 Something fell tinkling to the floor。
It was the key and I remembered then that Throckmartin
had turned it before we began our vigil。 With memory a
hope died that I had not known was in me； the hope that
he had escaped from the cabin； found refuge elsewhere on
the ship。
And as I stooped； fumbling with shaking fingers for the
key； a thought came to me that drove again the blood from
my heart； held me rigid。 I could sound no alarm on the
Southern Queen for Throckmartin！
Conviction of my appalling helplessness was complete。
The ensemble of the vessel from captain to cabin boy was；
to put it conservatively； average。 None； I knew； save Throck…
martin and myself had seen the first apparition of the
Dweller。 Had they witnessed the second？ I did not know；
nor could I risk speaking； not knowing。 And not seeing； how
could they believe？ They would have thought me insane
or worse； even； it might be； his murderer。
I snapped off the electrics； waited and listened； opened the
door with infinite caution and slipped； unseen； into my own
stateroom。 The hours until the dawn were eternities of wak…
ing nightmare。 Reason； resuming sway at last； steadied me。
Even had I spoken and been believed where in these wastes
after all the hours could we search for Throckmartin？ Cer…
tainly the captain would not turn back to Port Moresby。 And
even if he did； of what use for me to set forth for the Nan…
Matal without the equipment which Throckmartin himself
had decided was necessary if one hoped to cope with the
mystery that lurked there？
There was but one thing to dofollow his instructions；
get the paraphernalia in Melbourne or Sydney if it were
possible； if not sail to America as swiftly as might be； secure
it there and as swiftly return to Ponape。 And this I deter…
mined to do。
Calmness came back to me after I had made this decision。
And when I went up on deck I knew that I had been right。
They had not seen the Dweller。 They were still discussing
the darkening of the ship； talking of dynamos burned out；
wires short circuited； a half dozen explanations of the ex…
tinguishment。 Not until noon was Throckmartin's absence
discovered。 I told the captain that I had left h
