The New Lovecraft Circle

The New Lovecraft Circle

Lovecraftian

Horror

from

S H A D O W S OVER

Del Rey

Books:

INNSMOUTH

TALES OF T H E LOVECRAFT

T H E N E W LOVECRAFT

MYTHOS

CIRCLE

The New

Lovecraft Circle Edited by

Robert M. Price

B A L L A N T I N E

NEW

B O O K S

YORK

A IXrl R e y » B o o k P u b l i s h e d by I h t R a n d o m H o u s e P u b & s h i r g C r o u p Copyright o 1 9 9 6 by Robert M . Price Illustration copyright e 1 9 9 6 b y (iahan Wilson Preface copyright o 1 9 9 6 b y Ramsey C a m p b e l l All r i g h t * r n e r v e d u n d e r I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d P a n - A m e r i c a n C o p y r i g h t C o n v e n t i o n s . P u b l i s h e d in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s by ' I h e R a n d o m H o u s e P u b l i s h i n g C r o u p , a d i v i s i o n o f R a n d o m H o u s e . I n c . N e w Y o r k , a r a l s i m u l t a n e o u s l y in C a n a d a by R a n d o m H o u s e o f C a n a d a L i m i t e d . T o r o n t o . O r i g i n a l l y p u b l i s h e d by l-etfogan & B r e m e r . M i n n e a p o H s . in "Preface" copyright o

19%.

1 9 9 6 by R a m s e y C a m p b e * foe i h i s c c J e c t i o n .

" I n t r o d u c t i o n " c o p y r i g h t i> I W 6 b y R o b e r t M . Price f o r t h i s c o l l e c t i o n .

" T h e P l a i n o f S o u n d " c o p y r i g h t o 1 9 6 4 b y I R a m s e y C a m p b e l l for B r Inhabitant of the 1964, appears here b y permission o f the author. Ramsey Campbell.

Iru Welcome Tenants.

" T h e S t o n e o n the I d a l t d c o p y r i g h t D 1 9 6 4 by A u g u s t I X r r l e t h for OIIT h e r e by p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o r . R a m s e y C a m p b e l l

rhe ÍJfe.

" T h e S t a t e m e n t o f O n e l o h n G i b s o n " copyright o 1 9 8 4 b y B r i a n I n m l e y for C a n d l e m a s 1 9 8 4 . a p p e a r s h e r e by p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o r . B r i a n E u m l e y . " I X : m o n a c a l " c o p y r i g h t c 1 9 7 8 by D a v i d S u t t o n foe C r A n f t i i : a p p e a r s h e r e by p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o r . David S u t l c c i .

1961. appears

Cryft of

Tola of rAr CrAuUui

lait and

CibiiAu »19.

M j ihoi 1 3 . 1 9 ? J .

" T h e Kiss o f l i u g g - S h a s h " c o p y r i g h t D 1 9 7 S b y B r i a n L u m l e y f o r C r h u B i r r T.iin of the Afyiŕicu 1 3 . 1 9 7 4 . a p p e a r s h e r e b y p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o r . B r i a n I . u m l c y .

C.VIiutiiii

" T h e S l i t h e r e r f r o m the S l i m e " c o p y r i g h t o 1 9 S 8 by L i n C a r t e r a n d D a v e W e y for Ináie Sf 1 3 . S e p t e m b e r 1 9 S 8 . a p p e a r s h e r e b y p e r m i s s i o n o f R o b e r t M . P r i c e , a g e n t for I h e e s t a t e o f 1j n C a r t e r .

" T h e I X > o m o f Y a k t h c o o c o p y r i g h t e 1 9 7 1 b y A u g u s t D e r l e t i i for 77ie A>kh\im CnUrcror 1 1 0 . S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 1 . a p p e a r s h e r e b y p e r m i s s i o n o f R o b e r t M . P r i c e , a g e n t for t h e e s t a t e o f l á n C a r t e r . " T h e l i s h e r s f r o m O u t s i d e " c o p y r i g h t C 1 9 8 8 by C r y p t i c P u b l i c a t i o n s for C r f p / of C r A n f t i i » S 4 . E a s t e r t i d e 1 9 8 8 . a p p e a r s h e r e by p e r m i s s i o n o f R o b e r t M . P r x r . a g e n t foe t h e e s t a t e o f L i n C a r t e r . " T h e K e e p e r o« l b : f l a m e " c o p y r i g h t o "IX:ad Giveaway*copyright o m i s s i o n o f V i r g i n i a S. B u r d c t t e .

1 9 9 6 b y C a r s - M y e r s t o r Ihis c o l l e c t i o n .

1 9 7 6 by I. V e r n o n S h e a f o r O u r r r l l . M a y 1 9 7 6 . a p p e a r s h e r e by p e r -

I " T h o s e W h o W a i t " o r i g i n a l l y a p p e a r e d in an u n c o p y r i g h t e d f a n r i n e . T h e a u t h o r a n d h i s f a m i l y h a w passed a«ray.| " T h e Keeper o f Dark Point" and " I h e B l x k M i r r o r " (original versions) copyright e C l a s b y f o r this c o l l e c t i o n .

1996 by lohn

" I ' v e C o m e t o T a l k w i t h Y o u A g a i n " c o p y r i g h t D 1 9 % by t h e E s t a t e o f K a r l E d m r d W a g n e r . In I h e i n t e r i m b e t w e e n t h e w r i t i n g o f i h e s t o n - for Ihis c o l l e c t i o n a n d lis p u b l i c a t i o n , i t a p p e a r e d in t h e B r i t i s h a n t h o l o g y Dark Terror* in a s l i g h t l y m o d i f i e d f o r m . " T h e H a u l e r in I h e D a r k c o p y r i g h t © 1 9 8 4 b y R k h a r d L . T i e m e y f o r m a s 1 9 8 1 . a p p e a r s h e r e b y p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o r . R i c h a r d L. T i e r n e y .

Crypi of Cihathu

124. Lam-

" T h e H o r r o r o n t h e B e a c h " c o p y r i g h t o 1 9 7 8 by T h r a i u . I n c . ; first a p p e a r e d in a l i m i t e d e d i t i o n f r o m S h r o u d P n b l i s h e t s ; r e p r i n t e d b y p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o r a n d the a u t h o r ' s a g e n t . V i r g i n i a K i d d . " T h e W h i s p e r e r s " c o p y r i g h t o 1 9 7 7 b y U l t i m a t e P n b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y foe 1977. appears here b y permission o f the author. Richard A Lupoff.

fimuumr.

September

" L i g h t s ! C a m e r a ! S h u b - N i g £ u r a t h ! " c o p y r i g h t D 1 9 9 6 by R k h a r d A . L o p o t í for Ihis c o l l e c t i o n . " S a u c e r s f r o m Y i d d i t h " c o p y r i g h t o I 9 S 4 b y T h e S t r a n g e C o m p a n y for 1984. appears here by permission o f the author. Robert M . Price. " V a s t a r i e n " c o p y r i g h t C 1 9 8 7 by C r y p t i c P u b l i c a t i o n s for C r y p r 1987. appears here b y permission o f the author. T h o m a s Ligotti.

EKhmp fir Odpieji *>.

if Cihulhu tlS.

Saint lohn's Eve

" T h e M a d n e s s o u t o f S p a c e " c o p y r i g h t c 1 9 8 2 b y C r i s p i n B u r n h a m for Bdriidi finVi n u m b e r s 8 a n d 9 . 1 9 4 2 a n d 1 9 4 3 , a p p e a r s h e r e by p e r m i s s i o n o f i h e a u t h o r . IVrter H . C a n m n . "Aliah W a r d e n " c o p y r i g h t o 1 9 8 5 b y D r a c u l a U n l i m i t e d f o r TAr Court/ Draeiiru s o l . >. n o . 1 . 1 9 4 5 . a p p e a r s h e r e b y p e r m i s s i o n o f i h e a u t h o r . R o g e r l o h n s o n . " T h e Last S u p p e r " c o p y r i g h t O 19$ 1 b y C r i s p i n B u r n h a m for by p e r m i s s i o n o f i h r a u t h o r . D o n a k l R . B u r l e s o n .

Eldruth

t,in Out Annual.

T®Vi 1 7 . 1 9 8 1 . a p p e a r s h r r e

" T h e C h u r c h a l C a r i o c k ' s B e n d " c o p y r i a h l O 1 9 8 7 b y Das-is P u b l i c a t i o n s . I n c . for Alfred H U n ť i A p r i l 1 W 7 . a p p e a r s h e r e by p e r m i s s i o n o f ihe a u t h o r . D a v i d K a u f m a n .

Myatiy A f i i p c i n r .

" T h e S p h e r e s B e y o n d S o u n d I T h r e n o d y } " c o p y r i g h t C 1 9 8 7 b y M a r k R a i n e y foe S u m m e r 1987. appears b y permission o f the author. Stephen M a r k Rainey.

Dearhreafm

D d R e y i s a r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k a n d the D e l Hey c o l o p h o n is a t r a d e m a r k o f R a n d o m H o u s e . I n c . wnwdelrcydigilal.com Library o f Congress Control N u m b e r 2 0 0 3 1 1 4 3 4 9 elSBN

0-MS47227.6

T h i s edition published b y a r r a n g e m e n t with l-edogan & B r e m e r vl.0

12.

Dediča my beloved who shares both

beauty

her years,

led

to Carol,

with Asenaih

White

and

beyond

wisdom

but with none

the bad

stuff!

of

Contents

P r e f a c e by Ramsey

ix

Campbell

I n t r o d u c t i o n by Robert

xiii

M. Price

T h e Plain o f S o u n d by Ramsey

3

Campbell

T h e S t o n e o n the I s l a n d by Ramsey

T h e S t a t e m e n t o f O n e J o h n G i b s o n by Brian D e m o n i a c a l by David

16

Campbell Lumley

29 50

Sutton

T h e Kiss o f B u g g - S h a s h by Brian

59

Lumley

T h e S l i t h e r e r from t h e S l i m e by H. P. Lowcraft

77

T h e D o o m o f Y a k t h o o b by Lin Carter

86

T h e F i s h e r s f r o m O u t s i d e by Lin Carter

89

T h e K e e p e r o f t h e F l a m e by Gary Myers

105

D e a d G i v e a w a y by /. Vernon

110

T h o s e W h o W a i t by lames

Shea

129

Wade

T h e K e e p e r o f D a r k P o i n t by John T h e B l a c k M i r r o r by John

157

Clasby

189

Clasby

I've C o m e to Talk w i t h You A g a i n by Karl T h e H o w l e r in t h e D a r k by Richard T h e H o r r o r o n t h e B e a c h by Alan T h e W h i s p e r e r s by Richard

Edward

Dean

253

Foster

278

Lights! C a m e r a ! S h u b - N i g g u r a t h ! by Richard

A. Lupoff

349

T h e M a d n e s s o u t o f S p a c e by Peter

364

H. Cannon

400

Johnson

T h e Last S u p p e r by Donald

295 330

XL Price

Ligotti

Aliah W a r d e n by Roger

218 224

A. Lupoff

S a u c e r s f r o m Yaddith by Robert V a s t a r i e n by Thomas

Wagner

L. Tierney

410

R. Burleson

T h e C h u r c h at G a r l o c k ' s B e n d by David

414

Kaufman

T h e S p h e r e s B e y o n d S o u n d ( T h r e n o d y ) by Mark

Rainey

429

Preface

Abominable... detestable... unspeakable... noxious... n o i s o m e . . . i n d e s c r i b a b l e . . . d i s t o r t e d . . . m a l f o r m e d . . . Just s o m e o f t h e w o r d s t h a t c o m e to m i n d as I c o n t e m p l a t e m y c o n t r i b u t i o n s to this b o o k . P e r h a p s t h e r e ' s a p e c u l i a r l y English c h a r m a b o u t t h e way " T h e Plain o f S o u n d " follows a quotation

f r o m t h e Necronoinicon

with

the

m o o c h i n g s o f t h r e e y o u n g b u g g e r s in s e a r c h o f a p u b , all t o l d w i t h an u n d u e s o b r i e t y that m u s t have s t r u c k m e as a p p r o p r i a t e l y L o v e c r a f t i a n . Peculiar is c e r t a i n l y t h e t e r m f o r it, a n d for the newsagent's u n likely d i a l e c t , b u t w h a t is the w o r d for the way t h e t h r e e s t u d e n t s view a n o t h e r w o r l d as t h o u g h it isn't m u c h m o r e s i g n i f i c a n t t h a n t h e latest d e v e l o p m e n t in television? Well, there's n o n e s o b l a s e as the y o u n g . A s f o r " T h e S t o n e o n t h e Island," I r e c a l l J . V e r n o n S h e a c o n d e m n i n g t h e o f f i c e m i l i e u as i n a p p r o p r i a t e to a L o v e c r a f t i a n t h e m e . O f c o u r s e it was t h e o f f i c e w h e r e I t h e n w o r k e d , a n d in r e t r o s p e c t t h e n o t i o n o f a c h a r a c t e r e x p e r i e n c i n g v i s i o n s o f s u p e r n a t u r a l t e r r o r a m o n g his fell o w civil s e r v a n t s s e e m s all t o o like idealised a u t o b i o g r a p h y . Still, t h e s t o r y c a n h a r d l y wait to finish h i m o f f , a n d w h o c a n b l a m e it? Let m e leave it in p e a c e and m o v e o n to tales t h a t a r e m o r e t u n . B r i a n L u m l e y s e e m s to have had s o m e . A s f o r J a m e s W a d e ' s tale, w o u l d it b e u n f a i r to s u s p e c t it o f s o m e d e a d p a n h u m o u r ? T h e ast o u n d i n g gullibility o f t h e n a r r a t o r is a l m o s t t r a d i t i o n a l , a n d t h e w a y h e m e r c i f u l l y faints, t h o u g h o n l y to revive a m o m e n t later f o r a n o t h e r sight o f w h a t did f o r h i m . B u t I h a v e m y d o u b t s a b o u t a n invoc a t i o n that g o e s "N'yah

ahahalľ

like a villain in a Mad

c o m i c , a n d all

t h e b u s i n e s s with the G u e s t , n o t least the " s t u p e f y i n g " s p e c t a c l e o f a c o a t , h a t a n d s c a r f lying o n t h e g r o u n d . A n d w h a t a b o u t the line " F o r h o u r s w e d r o n e d o n o v e r n o r t h e r n M a i n e " ? S u r e l y it refers to t h e s o u n d o f the e n g i n e . I. V e r n o n S h e a s e e m s to have felt h u m o u r w o u l d n ' t h u r t h i s story, o n e o f t w o in this a n t h o l o g y w h i c h I c o n s i d e r e d for New

Tales

PREFACE

*

of the Cthulhu

Mythos.

D e s p i t e its l i g h t n e s s o f t o n e , this e x t r a v a g a n z a

d o e s r e s u r r e c t the a u t h e n t i c early L o v e c r a f t i a n m o r b i d i t y a n d c o m m i t m e n t to the g e n e r a t i o n gap. A n d t h e r e ' s n o q u e s t i o n o f t h e k i n d o f fun Lin C a r t e r a n d D a v e Foley were having: t h e y give g o o d slither. I h o p e I w o n ' t b e a c c u s e d o f b l a c k e n i n g Lin's m e m o r y b y s u g g e s t i n g t h a t s o m e o f his m o r e s e r i o u s w o r k reads like p a r o d y t o o — n o t s o m u c h " T h e D o o m o f Y a k t h o o b , " b u t h o w a b o u t the i n v o c a t i o n in " T h e Fishers from O u t s i d e " to t h e o n e - l e g g e d b i r d - g o d , " Q u u m y a g g a n n g ' h a a r g h " ? Still, h e e n j o y s his lost city, a n d it w o u l d b e u n k i n d to suggest that his n a r r a t o r s h o u l d h a v e l i n g e r e d l o n g e r in U s h o n g a . Alan

Dean

F o s t e r revives p u l p c o n v e n t i o n s with g u s t o ,

and

a c h i e v e s real t e r r o r in the cellar, t h o u g h it s e e m s m e a n to e x p e c t C t h u l h u to b e satisfied w i t h n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n a c a t . R o g e r J o h n s o n e x p o r t s a L o v e c r a f t i a n l i n e a g e to a B r i t i s h l a n d s c a p e m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e t h a n a n y I m a n a g e d to find w h e n I was e m u l a t i n g G r a n d p a . A n d Peter C a n n o n s e e m s to h a v e e m p l o y e d a p i n c h o f t h e e s s e n t i a l salts o f t h e o l d gent h i m s e l f , not to m e n t i o n s o m e sly wit. A s f o r D o n ISurleson, h e o f f e r s a l o a t h s o m e fright w h i c h n o a e s t h e t i c a l l y sensitive ghoul should miss. D i c k T i e r n e y tells a tale w o r t h y o f t h e best w e i r d pulps. N o r is h e a l o n e in r e t u r n i n g to p r i n c i p l e s b y w h i c h Lovecraft w r o t e . G a r y M y ers g o e s b a c k , v e r ) ' effectively, to D u n s a n y , a n d D a v i d K a u f m a n is as d e l i c a t e l y p o w e r f u l in c o n v e y i n g a s e n s e o f t h e m a s s i v e a n d terrible. T h e n a m e o f Z a n n is by n o m e a n s b e t r a y e d b y M a r k Rainey. A s f o r T o m Ligotti, h e n e e d a c k n o w l e d g e n o i m a g i n a t i o n b u t his o w n in c o m m u n i c a t i n g h o w " t h e o n l y value o f this world lay in its p o w e r — at c e r t a i n t i m e s — t o suggest a n o t h e r w o r l d . " O t h e r tales m a y h a v e b e e n a d d e d to this b o o k s i n c e I w r o t e this piece to e n d B o b Price's a n x i e t y a b o u t its n o n - a p p e a r a n c e , a n d s o m y f a i l u r e to c o m m e n t o n t h e m s h o u l d not be taken as e x p r e s s i n g a v e r s i o n . I l o o k f o r w a r d to r e a d i n g t h e m . I shall

read t h e m , I tell y o u — I

shall b e e n t e r t a i n e d ! Flee, h e e , h e e . . . F u n ' s t h e o n l y a n s w e r — w h a t else is t h e r e to d o b u t l a u g h i f t h e c o s m o s is a j o k e ? C h o r t l e w i t h C t h u l h u , vuk w i t h Y o g - S o t h o t h , giggle w i t h S h u b - N i g g u r a t h . . . haw, haw, h a w . . . B u t w h a t is this c o l d w i n d w h i c h s p r a n g to life at t h e v e r y o u t s e t o f that s e n t e n c e ? Mercy hind

the parting

words?

of Heaven,

what

is thai shape

be-

Spectral p a l l o r . . . aquiline n o s e . . . elongated

P R E F A C E

lower jaw . . . hands reaching o u l o f word-processor screen . . . d r a g g e d away f r o m k e y b o a r d . . . h e e , hee, h e e . . . Ramsey Campbell Merseyside, England 12 M a y 1 9 9 3

XI

am

Introduction

In h i s Lovecraft:

A Look

Behind

the Cthulhu

Lin C a r t e r o b -

Mythos

served t h a t A u g u s t D e r l e t h ' s c o l l e c t i o n , Tales

of the Cthulhu

Mythos,

" m a r k e d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f an e r a in t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e M y t h o s f o r m a n y r e a s o n s , and o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t w a s that it i n t r o d u c e d an e x t r a o r d i n a r y n u m b e r o f n e w writers in the M y t h o s " ( p . T h e s e s c r i b e s C a r t e r w e n t o n t o d u b " t h e N e w Lovecraft

175).

Circle."

T h e i r n u m b e r i n c l u d e d R a m s e y C a m p b e l l , B r i a n L u m l e y , J. V e r n o n S h e a ( a c t u a l l y a friend a n d c o r r e s p o n d e n t o f Lovecraft's, but

just

m a k i n g h i s M y t h o s fiction d e b u t ) , l a m e s W a d e , C o l i n W i l s o n ( a g a i n , an e s t a b l i s h e d p r o , b u t a n e w M y t h o s w r i t e r ) , G a r y M y e r s , a n d Lin C a r t e r h i m s e l f . Actually, C a r t e r and M y e r s b e g a n p l a y i n g the g a m e t o o late to m a k e it i n t o Tales

of the

Cthulhu

Mythos,

b u t j u s t by a

tendril. Derleth's flagship M y t h o s collection followed related A r k h a m H o u s e v o l u m e s b y C a m p b e l l (The Welcome

Tenants)

c o l l e c t i o n s b y M y e r s (The the Black, (Dreams

The from

Inhabitant

a n d W i l s o n (The

Horror Iťlyeh).

c a n o n The Philosophers

House

Mind

of the iMke Parasites)

L u m l e y (The

of the Worm),

at Oakdeene,

Beneath

and

Less

and preceded

the Moors),

Caller

of

and Carter

S i n c e t h e n , W i l s o n has a d d e d to his M y t h o s Stone,

w h i l e several o f C a m p b e l l ' s tales f r o m

t h e e a r l i e r v o l u m e w e r e later c o l l e c t e d , a l o n g w i t h a f e w n e w o n e s , in t h e S c r e a m Press c o l l e c t i o n Cold

Print

(1985).

C a r t e r w r o t e several m o r e M y t h o s tales, five o f t h e m f o r m i n g a serial n o v e l a f t e r t h e m a n n e r o f D e r l e t h ' s The

Trail of Cthulhu.

h e later s u b m i t t e d to J i m T u r n e r at a p o s t - D e r l e t h A r k h a m u n d e r the title The

Terror

out of Time.

These House

T u r n e r did n o t take the bait,

b u t t h e c o l l e c t i o n is s c h e d u l e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n in the n e a r f u t u r e f r o m C h a o s i u m u n d e r t h e title The Xothic

Legend

Cycle.

Eventually C a r t e r p e r s u a d e d M y e r s , w h o m h e j u d g e d the b e s t a m o n g the New C i r c l e , to p e n a few m o r e b r i e f tales, s o m e o f w h i c h a p p e a r e d in C a r t e r ' s Z e b r a B o o k s r u n o f the p a p e r b a c k Weird

Tales.

I N T R O D U C T I O N xvii

O t h e r s , s o m e n e w l y s o l i c i t e d by y o u r s truly, a p p e a r e d in Cry'pt

of

Cthulhu. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , W a d e and S h e a did not p u r s u e L o v e c r a f t i a n fict i o n m u c h f a r t h e r . A n o t h e r tale o f W a d e ' s , "A D a r k e r S h a d o w o v e r I n n s m o u t h , " really a b r i e f f a b l e a b o u t n u c l e a r w e a p o n s , did a p p e a r in the fifth issue o f D e r l e t h ' s The Arkham

Collector,

while the

m o r e s u b s t a n t i a l " T h e S i l e n c e o f F.rika Z a n n " a p p e a r e d in E d w a r d Paul B e r g l u n d ' s i m p o r t a n t c o l l e c t i o n Disciples

of Cthulhu

in

1976

( D A W B o o k s ) . Shea's 1 9 6 6 m e m o i r o f L o v e c r a f t , " H . P. L o v e c r a f t : T h e H o u s e a n d t h e S h a d o w " w a s r e p r i n t e d by N e c r o n o m i c o n Press in 1 9 8 2 . D e r l e t h ' s Tales of the Cthulhu

Mythos,

t h e n , was d o i n g two j o b s a t

o n c e . It c h r o n i c l e d t h e earlier g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h e Mythos by including important

M y t h o s s t o r i e s by D e r l e t h

him-

self, H e n r y K u t t n e r , R o b e r t E . H o w a r d , C l a r k A s h t o n S m i t h , F r a n k B e l k n a p L o n g , and o t h e r s . B u t t h e n it w e n t o n to give the M y t h o s a n e w b i r t h , a r e i n c a r n a t i o n in c o n t e m p o r a r y g a r b , even a s C a r t e r suggested. It was s i g n i f i c a n t that, while all t h e n e w s t o r i e s were o b v i o u s l y i n s p i r e d by L o v e c r a f t , o r a t least b y D e r l e t h , all were u n a s h a m e d l y c o n t e m p o r a r y (all t h r e e o f W a d e ' s that I h a v e m e n t i o n e d , in fact, were a l m o s t t o o c o n t e m p o r a r y , r e e k i n g o f t h e d e c a d e o f the 6 0 s and its v a r i o u s a g e n d a s , t h o u g h they are s o well w r i t t e n this d o e s not h u r t them). Strikingly, n o n e o f t h e m s o u g h t to l o c a t e their s t o r i e s in Lovecraft's M i s k a t o n i c Valley, e i t h e r . C r i t i c s o f L o v e c r a f t had s c a t h i n g l y p o i n t e d o u t t h e a b s u r d i t y v i s i b l e w h e n o n e v i e w s HPL's tales s y n o p t i cally: w h y were all t h e s e e x t r a - t e r r e s t r i a l b o g i e s s o i n t e r e s t e d in o n e small area o f N e w England? D e r l e t h had advised C a m p b e l l , a n d p e r h a p s t h e o t h e r s t o o k t h e h i n t , n o t to m o v e all h i s

fictional

l u g g a g e i n t o A r k h a m and

Inns-

m o u t h , s i n c e t h e s e places w e r e a l r e a d y s o s a t u r a t e d with s p o o k s and t e n t a c l e s that a fresh s t a r t m i g h t b e t t e r b e m a d e e l s e w h e r e . A n d h e was r i g h t . S o the n e w disciples set to w o r k , like the p i o n e e r s d r i v e n f r o m t h e i r f a m i l i a r f a t h e r l a n d a n d i m p e l l e d t o c a r v e o u t n e w f r o n t i e r s elsew h e r e . B e f o r e l o n g , C a m p b e l l h a d his S e v e r n Valley, L u m l e y h i s

I N T R O D U C T I O N

xvii

B l o w n c H o u s e and O a k d e e n e S a n i t a r i u m , C a r t e r h i s S a n b o u m e Ins t i t u t e o f Pacific A n t i q u i t i e s , e t c . B u t in this case a w a r n i n g away f r o m o n e p a t h was the s t a r t i n g g u n for a r a c e d o w n a n o t h e r . I m a g i n e t h e f u n o f c r e a t i n g o n e ' s o w n L o v e c r a f t i a n u n i v e r s e , e s s e n t i a l l y playing L o v e c r a f t oneselfl A n d w h o c o u l d s t o p t h e n e w w r i t e r s f r o m a d d i n g their o w n t o m e s o f f o r b i d den lore to the a l r e a d y v o l u m i n o u s c a n o n ? C a m p b e l l t h e m u l t i v o l u m e Revelations

of Glaaki,

contributed

w h i c h e v e n s e e m e d to o u t -

a r c a n i z e itself, s i n c e t h e r e s e e m e d to b e e x t r a a p o c r y p h a l v o l u m e s o f the work Scripture

floating

a r o u n d ! C a r t e r w o u l d later t h i n k u p the

a n d the Xanthu

Tablets,

Ponape

a n d W i l s o n d e c i d e d that t h e m y s -

t e r i o u s V o y n i c h M a n u s c r i p t ( w h i c h a c t u a l l y e x i s t s a n d puzzles res e a r c h e r s ) w a s really t h e Necronomicon t h e m y s t e r i o u s Cthaat the

Aquadingen

enciphered. Lumley added

a n d l o a c h i m F e e r y ' s Notes

upon

Necronomicon. T h i s last, incidentally, m i g h t b e h i g h l i g h t e d a s a p e r f e c t d e v i c e

f o r u p d a t i n g w h a t had b e c o m e a h a c k n e y e d p r o p . H o w r a r e c o u l d Alh a z r e d ' s b o o k b e if e v e r y o c c u l t i s t h a d his o w n copy, a s m o s t o f t h e m did by t h e t i m e the o r i g i n a l g e n e r a t i o n o f Lovecraft disciples w e r e d o n e ? S o leave it t o L u m l e y t o c r e a t e a n e w b o o k with t h e ring o f t h e o l d . Feery, y o u see, was s o m e t h i n g o f a m e d i u m h i m s e l f a n d v e n t u r e d to c o m p i l e his o w n g l o s s e d e d i t i o n b a s e d o n no k n o w n m a n u s c r i p t e v i d e n c e , b u t p e r h a p s o n S o u r c e s m u c h c l o s e r to t h e h o r s e ' s m o u t h ! B u t all o f t h e s e s e c o n d - g e n e r a t i o n g r i m o i r e s , it s e e m s to m e , s h o w e d q u i t e a b i t o f i n g e n u i t y . N o n e was s i m p l y a n o t h e r

Necronomicon

c l o n e , like m o s t o f t h e b o o k s d e s i g n e d by t h e e a r l i e r g r o u p o f w r i t e r s . A n d o f c o u r s e , t h e L o v e c r a f t i a n p a n t h e o n b e g a n to bulge, too. C a m p b e l l ' s D a o l o t h a n d C l a a k i , L u m l e y ' s Y i b b - T s t l l and

Shudde-

M ' e l l , a n d C a r t e r ' s Y t h o g t h a a n d Z o t h - O m m o g fairly f o r c e d M y t h o s t a x o n o m i s t s to add a n e w w i n g o n t o the z o o . In all this, in t h e s t o r i e s o f the N e w L o v e c r a f t C i r c l e , o n e s e n s e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y t h e j o y s b o t h o f n o s t a l g i a a n d o f fresh c r e a t i o n . A c c o r d i n g l y the reader, if the s t o r i e s h i t h i m right, e x p e r i e n c e d a feeling o f a t - h o m e - n e s s (Yes, this was the M y t h o s , all r i g h t ! ) a n d t h e delight o f n e w n e s s . You c o u l d alm o s t p r e t e n d it was all u n f o l d i n g f o r the first t i m e , a n d this t i m e h e r e y o u were o n t h e g r o u n d

floor.

All o f which b r i n g s m e to the q u e s t i o n o f pastiches, a guilty literary

I N T R O D U C T I O N

XVI

pleasure. M o s t C t h u l h u M y t h o s

fiction

is c i t h e r a p a s t i c h e o f Love-

c r a f t and D e r l e t h o r a t t h e v e r y least f o r m u l a

fiction.

Is t h i s a b a d

t h i n g ? S o m e say it is, a n d this m a y have s o m e t h i n g to d o with the u n willingness o f m a n y editors even t o l o o k at Mythos

fiction.

They

t h i n k readers k n o w t o o well w h a t to e x p e c t : a t o o - f a m i l i a r s t o r y in w h i c h c e r t a i n t h i n g s will h a p p e n , r i g h t o n s c h e d u l e , a n d in w h i c h c e r t a i n c o d e w o r d s a n d b o o k titles will try, u n s u c c e s s f u l l y , to s u b s t i tute for atmosphere and characterization. P r o l o n g e d e x p o s u r e to f a n z i n e s h a s the e f f e c t o f l e n d i n g s o m e c r e d e n c e to t h e s e s u s p i c i o n s . R e a d i n g m a n y o f t h e m , o n e s o o n c o n c l u d e s t h a t the s m a l l r e a d e r s h i p for w h o m t h e y are w r i t t e n h a s a g r e a t d e a l in c o m m o n

with the seedy p r o t a g o n i s t o f

Campbell's

" C o l d P r i n t . " T h e M y t h o s h a s b e c o m e like p o r n o g r a p h y , a n d it m a t ters n o t w h e t h e r t h e r e is a n y plot o r c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n to s p e a k o f , a n y m o r e t h a n it d o e s in a c h e a p p o r n p a p e r b a c k o r s k i n - f l i c k , lust a s l o n g a s the p r o p e r a n a t o m y is all t h e r e , o n l y in this c a s e it is t e n t a c l e s r a t h e r t h a n testicles, beasts i n s t e a d o f b r e a s t s . B u t s u r e l y n o t all g e n r e fiction, n o t all f o r m u l a fiction, n e e d be a p o o r e x a m p l e o f its t y p e . I will n o t c o n c e d e that C t h u l h u M y t h o s fict i o n is s o s u b - l i t e r a r y a g e n r e that ipso f a c t o t h e r e c a n be n o g o o d e x a m p l e s o f it, t h a t o n l y a b a d e x a m p l e w o u l d b e t r u e to t y p e . W e h a v e t w o i m p o r t a n t issues to a d d r e s s h e r e . ( G r a n t e d , if you have b o u g h t this b o o k , you d o n o t n e e d to b e c o n v i n c e d . B u t at least m a y b e w e can help you win your next a r g u m e n t on the subject.) I believe that w e m a y learn m u c h f r o m s o m e r e m a r k s o f Lin C a r t e r , m a d e in h i s b o o k Imaginary

Worlds,

in reply to the c r i t i c i s m s

m a d e by Alexei a n d C o r y P a n s h i n a g a i n s t t h e pulp g e n r e o f S w o r d - & S o r c e r y fiction, d a m n i n g it as " a living fossil with n o a p p a r e n t a b i l i t y to evolve." T o this C a r t e r replied, " W e l l , p e r h a p s . B u t w h a t o f it? T h e s t u f f is fun to read, a n d f u n to write, a n d the f o s s i l i z a t i o n o f the g e n r e is, I s u s p e c t , largely in t h e e y e o f the b e h o l d e r . . . Musi

a school o f

w r i t i n g e v o l v e ? I w o n d e r why. E v o l u t i o n i m p l i e s c h a n g e i n t o s o m e thing else" (pp. 1 4 5 - 1 4 6 ) . In o t h e r words, this c r i t i c i s m , a l s o a i m e d f r e q u e n t l y a t C t h u l h u M y t h o s fiction, is a C a t c h - 2 2 : if t h e g e n r e d o e s n ' t evolve, it is d e a d in t h e water. I f it d o e s evolve, it b e c o m e s s o m e t h i n g else. A n d in e i t h e r case w e are d o n e w i t h it. Carter offered n o contrived aesthetic defense for writing new

I N T R O D U C T I O N

xvii

S w o r d - & - S o r c e r y , a n d I a m far f r o m r e a d y l o o f f e r o n e f o r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e M y t h o s e i t h e r . J o h n Jakes, in a passage a p p r e c i a t i v e l y q u o t e d b y C a r t e r , s u m s it u p : w e d o n ' t like it b e c a u s e w e are s u p p o s e d to like it o r o b l i g e d to like it by s o m e l i t e r a r y c o n s c i e n c e . W e like it b e c a u s e w e like it. Jakes: " T h e r e a r e j u s t not e n o u g h o f this k i n d o f s t o r i e s to g o a r o u n d a n y m o r e ; n o t e n o u g h , anyway, to please m e " ( I n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e a u t h o r ' s Brak

the

Barbarian).

In o t h e r w o r d s , to p u t it in t e r m s d r a w n f r o m S u s a n S o n t a g ' s fam o u s e s s a y " N o t e s o n C a m p , " C a r t e r , J a k e s and t h e rest o f us e n j o y this fiction precisely f o r the excesses t h a t m a k e m o r e " s e r i o u s " c r i t i c s t u r n u p their n o s e s . I n a n o t h e r e s s a y ( " T h e P o r n o g r a p h i c I m a g i n a tion"), Sontag puts d o w n science

fiction

a l o n g with

pornography

as " s u b - l i t e r a r y , " a c o m p a r i s o n 1 have b o r r o w e d j u s t a b o v e . B u t s h e has forgotten herself when she makes such sweeping judgments. We l a t t e r - d a y p u l p i s t s are n o t to b e d e s p i s e d , for w e have a c q u i r e d t h e s e n s i b i l i t y o f " C a m p . " C a r t e r k n e w w h a t q u a l i f i e d as g r e a t l i t e r a t u r e a n d w h a t d i d n ' t a n d that b o t h w e r e e n j o y a b l e in t h e i r ways. A n d h e was u n a s h a m e d o f h i s n o s t a l g i c , c a m p y love f o r w h a t h e h i m s e l f called " t h e g l o r i o u s l y f o u r t h - r a t e . " B u t , o n e m i g h t persist, d o e s n ' t it get r a t h e r stale? M a y b e t h e r e can be g o o d Mythos

fiction,

g r a n t e d , b u t h a s n ' t it all b e e n w r i t t e n ?

D o e s t h e p l e t h o r a o f p o o r M y t h o s i m i t a t i o n s s i g n a l t h a t it's b e e n d o n e to d e a t h ? W h y c o n t i n u e to write t h e m ? T h e p o i n t is, w h y p a s t i c h e ? H e r e I will a p p e a l to the i n t r i g u i n g t h i n k i n g o f J a c q u e s D e r r i d a . D e r r i d a , a s part o f a l a r g e r a r g u m e n t I d a r e n o t e n t e r t a i n h e r e , c o n t e n d s t h a t w r i t i n g is far f r o m t h e s e c o n d a r y f o s s i l i z a t i o n o f living s p e e c h m o s t p h i l o s o p h e r s a n d linguists h a v e j u d g e d it s i n c e Plato's t i m e . W r i t i n g , s o g o e s the c o m p l a i n t , is t h e d e s i c c a t e d c o r p s e o f s p e e c h . It n o l o n g e r b r e a t h e s with i n t o n a t i o n , n o l o n g e r a l l o w s f o r t h e possibility o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n b y t h e author. B u t , D e r r i d a c o n t e n d s , t h e a u t h o r ' s " i n t e n t i o n " for w h a t h e said o r w r o t e w a s a l r e a d y an e p i p h e n o m e n o n . T h a t is, w h a t h e t h o u g h t " h i s " w o r d s m e a n t was s i m p l y his o w n r e a d i n g o f a text w h i c h p r o d u c e d itself t h r o u g h h i m ( s h a d e s o f J o a c h i m F e e r y ! ) . W h a t c o m e s o u t in the w r i t i n g p r o c e s s is the c o n t e n t s o f t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d , which is already like a written text engraved in t h e n e u r o n s . It m a y s e e m n e w to us, b u t it is n e w like t h e

first-time

recognition of a hitherto

I N T R O D U C T I O N

XVIII

r e p r e s s e d m e m o r y . It is k n o w n f o r t h e first t i m e in

remembrance,

n e v e r h a v i n g b e e n seen b e f o r e . T h i s p r e - w r i t t e n s u b c o n s c i o u s s c r i p t D e r r i d a c a l l s arche-ecriture,

originary writing.

You see, I t h i n k D e r r i d a h e l p s us g r a s p t h e fact, stated

more

b a l d l y by J a k e s a n d s e c o n d e d by C a r t e r , t h a t w h e n o n e w r i t e s a " M y t h o s story," o n e is in fact s i m p l y reading

the M y t h o s story, t h e

o n e w r i t t e n d e e p w i t h i n by all o n e ' s years o f r e a d i n g and e n j o y i n g t h e w o r k o f L o v e c r a f t , D e r l e t h , e t al. T h e s e c o n d h a l f o f D e r l e t h ' s Tales the Cthulhu

Mythos

of

was a r e w r i t i n g , a n d t h u s a r e r e a d i n g , o f the first

h a l f . O n e w i s h e s t h e r e were m o r e o f t h e s e s t o r i e s , s o o n e w r i t e s m o r e o f t h e m , n o t s o m u c h f o r o t h e r h u n g r y L o v e c r a f t i a n s to read, b u t f o r o n e s e l f to read in the v e r y a c t o f w r i t i n g t h e m . All t h o s e t e r r i b l e f a n n i s h M y t h o s y a r n s a r e s o b a d n o t

be-

c a u s e they m u s t b e , n o r e v e n b e c a u s e t h e i r y o u n g a u t h o r s are p o o r writers, b u t rather, a t t h e b o t t o m o f it, b e c a u s e t h e y are p o o r readers! T h e y have p i c k e d u p n o t h i n g in L o v e c r a f t b u t all t h e t o n g u e twisting n a m e s a n d t h e twisting t e n t a c l e s , m e r e l y b e a s t s a n d bestiaries. M y t h o s n a m e s , w e o f t e n h e a r , a n d rightly, d o n o t a L o v e c r a f t i a n story make. E d i t o r W i l u m P u g m i r e a n n o u n c e d t h a t his m a g a z i n e Tales Lovecraftian

of

H o r r o r w o u l d c o n s i d e r n o M y t h o s fiction. A n o d d e d i t o -

rial rule, o n e m i g h t t h i n k , b u t n o . P u g m i r e k n e w h e had to get writers to get the n a m e s o u t o f their h e a d s , a t least t e m p o r a r i l y , i f they were to b e g i n to see w h a t e l s e m a d e t h e O l d G e n t ' s tales s o effective. T h i n g s like m o o d , style, v i s i o n . A n d if t h e s e e l e m e n t s were r i g h t , h e k n e w h e had a tale o f truly L o v e c r a f t i a n h o r r o r o n his h a n d s . T h e r e were o n l y t h r e e issues, a n d to fill e v e n t h a t m a n y h e had to b r e a k h i s o w n rules m o r e t h a n o n c e . T h e a s s i g n m e n t wasn't easy. B u t has a n y o n e n o t i c e d t h a t if a s t o r y f e s t o o n e d with icon

Necronom-

p a s s a g e s and c r i e s o f " l a ! " d o e s n o t b y this t o k e n c o n s t i t u t e a

L o v e c r a f t i a n tale, n e i t h e r are t h e s e p r o p s n e e d e d to m a k e a tale a M y t h o s tale? A n d it c a n j u s t as well b e a M y t h o s tale w i t h o u t b e i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y L o v e c r a f t i a n , as m a n y by Lumley, W i l s o n , a n d D e r l e t h d e m o n s t r a t e . S o w h a t is it that is i n t e g r a l to a s t o r y b e i n g a M y t h o s tale? G l a d I asked! I w o u l d v e n t u r e that a " t a l e o f t h e C t h u l h u M y t h o s " is by n a t u r e ( = by f o r m u l a , by D N A ) a s t r a n g e a n d w o n d r o u s h y b r i d , a F a u s t i a n M y s t e r y . O n e s e e k s f o r b i d d e n k n o w l e d g e , w h e t h e r w i t t i n g l y or, m o r e

xvii

I N T R O D U C T I O N

likely, u n w i t t i n g l y , b u t o n e m a y not k n o w till it is t o o late. T h i s is p o s s i b l e b e c a u s e t h e s e e k i n g is a g r a d u a l p i e c i n g t o g e t h e r o f c l u e s w h o s e e v e n t u a l d e s t i n a t i o n o n e d o e s not k n o w . T h e k n o w l e d g e , o n c e g a i n e d , is t o o g r e a t f o r t h e m i n d o f m a n . It is P r o m e t h e a n , F a u s t i a n k n o w l e d g e . K n o w l e d g e t h a t d e s t r o y s in t h e m o m e n t o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t , a G n o s i s o f d a m n a t i o n , not o f s a l v a t i o n . O n e w o u l d n e v e r h a v e c o n t r a c t e d with M e p h i s t o p h e l e s to g a i n it. O n e r a t h e r w i s h e s it were n o t t o o late t o forget it. A n d u s u a l l y this k n o w l e d g e is s u c h as to t h r e a t e n to c a n c e l t h e f u t u r e , to turn it i n t o the past, p e r h a p s by o p e n i n g o n e s e l f to replacem e n t b y J o s e p h C u r w e n , p e r h a p s by r a i s i n g u p the O l d O n e s w h o will r e t u r n t h e planet to its f o r m e r d o m i c i l e in a l i e n d i m e n s i o n s . A s I s e e it, t h e c o m m o n u s e o f t h e d e v i c e o f s u c h a t h r e a t , w h i c h m a y b e c l o t h e d in as m a n y v e r s i o n s as the a l l - p u r p o s e p l o t d i a g r a m o f L e s t e r D e n t , n e e d n o t issue in u n i f o r m i t y . F o r i n s t a n c e , M y t h o s s t o r i e s m a y o r m a y n o t e n d pessimistically. T h e t h r e a t m a y be t u r n e d b a c k , o r d e f e r r e d , o r w e m a y b e left h a n g i n g . T h e b a s i c idea o f a M y t h o s tale as I h a v e set it f o r t h is a n i n t e r i o r s k e l e t o n like a m a m mal's, a f r a m e o n w h i c h to grow, n o t a hard, l i m i t i n g e x o - s k e l e t o n like t h o s e w o r n b y t h e i n s e c t s f r o m S h a g g a i . It f o r m s t h e b a s e - l i n e a g a i n s t w h i c h t h e n e w v a r i a t i o n s m a y b e m e a s u r e d . It is n o t a d e n i a l of

flexibility;

it is s o m e t h i n g to b e

flexible

with.

In m y j u d g m e n t w e m a y p l o t t h e f a i l u r e o f b o t h insipid fan M y t h o s fiction a n d o f s o p h i s t i c a t e d N e w W a v e M y t h o s o f the c o n t e n t s o f C a m p b e l l ' s New B e r g l u n d ' s Disciples

of Cthulhu)

Tales

of the Cthulhu

fiction

(some and

Mythos

a l o n g this a x i s . T h e f a n fiction t e n d s

to s t i c k to t h e s k e l e t o n s o c l o s e l y t h e r e is n o m e a t o n the b o n e s . O r t h e m e a t is o l d and r a n k . W e ' v e h e a r d it all b e f o r e . T h e New Wave stuff, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , c h u c k s t h e w h o l e skelet o n . It is e i t h e r like an i n v e r t e b r a t e s h o g g o t h o r it has s i m p l y p l u g g e d in a f e w f a m i l i a r M y t h o s n a m e s h e r e and t h e r e in an u n f a m i l i a r s t r u c t u r e . S t o r i e s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l h o r r o r , for e x a m p l e , s i m p l y d o n o t n e e d M y t h o s t o u c h e s a n d are n o t i m p r o v e d b y t h e m . Psycho

would

n o t h a v e b e n e f i t t e d had I.ila f o u n d a c o p y o f the Necronomicon N o r m a n ' s s h e l f a l o n g s i d e The Witch

Cult in Western

In a p r e v i o u s a n t h o l o g y . Tales of the Lovecraft

Mythos,

I s o u g h t to

c r e a t e a p a s t i c h e o f t h e first h a l f o f A u g u s t D e r l e t h ' s Tales Cthulhu

Mythos.

on

Europe. of

the

T h e p r e s e n t c o l l e c t i o n m e a n s to a p e t h e s e c o n d half,

I N T R O D U C T I O N xvii

to c o m m e m o r a t e that d a w n o f a n e w e r a o f M y t h o s f i c t i o n , i h a v e b e e n a b l e to a s s e m b l e several little k n o w n a n d s e l d o m seen s t o r i e s by m o s t o f t h e seven m e m b e r s o f t h e N e w Lovecraft C i r c l e n u m b e r e d by Lin C a r t e r a n d by other, m o r e r e c e n t a d e p t s as well, for t h e t r a d i t i o n g r o w s . T h e c u l t will n o t b e s t a m p e d o u t . O n e o f t h e i r o n i e s o f a c o l l e c t i o n like this is that b y n o w a q u a r t e r o f a c e n t u r y has g o n e b y s i n c e the e r a o f t h e New L o v e c r a f t C i r c l e b e g a n . I n t h e m e a n t i m e s o m e o f t h e b u d d i n g n e w M y t h o s writers, like s o m e in t h e o r i g i n a l L o v e c r a f t C i r c l e ( R o b e r t B l o c h and H e n r y Kuttner, f o r e x a m p l e ) c u t t h e i r f a n g s o n L o v e c r a f t i a n

fiction,

then

w e n t o n to o t h e r t h i n g s . T h i s is c e r t a i n l y t r u e o f R a m s e y C a m p b e l l a n d B r i a n Lumley, w i t h w h o s e p o s t - L o v e c r a f t i a n w o r k s the s h e l v e s n o w fairly b u l g e . A s with B l o c h a n d Kuttner, t h e M y t h o s

fiction

of

t h e s e two m u s t h e n c e f o r t h b e r e c k o n e d as " t h e early L u m l e y , " " t h e early C a m p b e l l . " A few o f t h e s t o r i e s f r o m C a m p b e l l ' s The

Inhabitant

were a x e d f r o m t h e S c r e a m Press c o l l e c t i o n Cold

Print.

of the

iMke

O n e o f these

had b e e n o n e o f m y favorites in t h e earlier c o l l e c t i o n : " T h e Plain o f S o u n d . " 1 r e p r i n t e d it in Crypt

of Cthulhu

* 4 3 , a n d n o w here it is

again, b a c k in h a r d c o v e r s w h e r e it b e l o n g s . " T h e S t o n e o n t h e Isl a n d " a p p e a r e d first in A u g u s t D e r l e t h ' s a n t h o l o g y Over

the

Edge

( 1 9 6 4 ) . Here o n e c a n a l r e a d y see t h e s t r o n g d e v e l o p m e n t o f C a m p bell's g r i t t y realism, the a m b i e n c e o f u r b a n d r e a r i n e s s as t h e t h e a t r e o f horror, the use o f anti-heroic protagonists. T h e s e factors m a d e t h e i r e m e r g e n c e in " C o l d P r i n t , " b u t f o r m y m o n e y , t h e y are m u c h better integrated with the Lovecraftian e l e m e n t here. B r i a n L u m l e y ' s " T h e S t a t e m e n t o f O n e J o h n G i b s o n " first a p p e a r e d in Crypt of Cthulhu first

» 1 9 in 1 9 8 4 a n d is r e s u r r e c t e d h e r e f o r t h e

t i m e . It is related to t h e Lovecraft r e v i s i o n tale " T h e D i a r y o f

A l o n z o Typer," w h i c h H P L w r o t e f r o m a d r a f t by W i l l i a m Lumley. W h o b e t t e r to f o l l o w u p that tale t h a n a living s e q u e l to ( t h o u g h n o t a d e s c e n d a n t o f ) that e l d e r Lumley? Dave S u t t o n ' s " D e m o n i a c a l " first a p p e a r e d in New Horror

and

the Supernatural,

Writings

in

Vol. II ( S p h e r e B o o k s ) where L u m l e y

saw it. " H i s tale was s o o b v i o u s l y a M y t h o s s t o r y that 1 w r o t e h i m and said, ' L e t m e d o a s e q u e l ! ' b e c a u s e I had an idea for j u s t s u c h , " L u m l e y recalls. " H e O K ' e d that and 1 w r o t e ' T h e Kiss o f B u g g - S h a s h , ' w h i c h d e f i n i t e l y was M y t h o s a n d s o b r o u g h t D a v e ' s tale

firmly

into the

xvii

I N T R O D U C T I O N

g e n r e also." T h e p a i r a p p e a r e d t o g e t h e r in I o n H a r v e y ' s p a m p h l e t ser i e s Cthulhu:

Tales

m y o w n Crypt

of

of the Cthulhu

Mythos,

3 ( S p e c t r e P r e s s ) , t h e n in

Cthulhu.

O n e key f e a t u r e o f c a m p i n e s s is t h a t it h o v e r s j u s t o n the t h i n l i n e b e t w e e n n o s t a l g i a and p a r o d y , h a l f - s a l u t i n g a n d h a l f - s a t i r i z i n g . S o m e t i m e s it is n o t s o easy to k e e p the b a l a n c e , a n d s o w e satirize n o t w h a t w e s c o r n , b u t w h a t w e love. T h u s did the y o u n g Lin C a r t e r and Dave F o l e y in their parody, " T h e S l i t h e r e r f r o m t h e S l i m e , " w h i c h first a p p e a r e d in Inside Cthulhu

SF, # 5 3 , S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 5 8 , and t h e n in Crypt

of

#54. T h e basic e l e m e n t s o f a M y t h o s s t o r y need o n l y f o r m

t h e s k e l e t o n a n d n e e d n o t d i c t a t e w h a t m a y g r o w o n it, o r at w h a t rate. T h e s k e l e t o n s h o u l d b e able to a c c o m m o d a t e s o m e f u n - p o k i n g , s o m e t i c k l i n g o f its o w n ribs. Lovecraft's style, I t h i n k , m a y b e h o n o r e d a l m o s t as m u c h in the b r e a c h a s in t h e i m i t a t i o n . In Lovecraft:

A Look

Behind

the

Cthulhu

Mythos,

Lin

Carter

c r o w n e d h i m s e l f " t h e Last D i s c i p l e . " I s u p p o s e h e s i m p l y m e a n t " t h e latest d i s c i p l e , " u n l e s s h e was u n u s u a l l y p e s s i m i s t i c f o r the f u t u r e o f t h e g e n r e . I n that c a s e p e r h a p s he viewed h i m s e l f , w i t h t y p i c a l g r a n d i o s e n e s s , as the " S e a l o f t h e P r o p h e t s . " All this o n t h e s t r e n g t h o f a few b r i e f c a u t i o n a r y tales f r o m the Necronomicon

h e had written

a n d m a i l e d o f f to A u g u s t D e r l e t h d u r i n g the p r e p a r a t i o n o f the Lovec r a f t b o o k . D e r l e t h had by this t i m e b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g o f a g r a n d f a t h e r l y figure to C a r t e r o n m a t t e r s L o v e c r a f t i a n , a n d he a c c e p t e d a c o u p l e o f t h e s e e f f o r t s to a p p e a r in The

Arkham

Collector.

One of

t h e m , " T h e D o o m o f Y a k t h o o b , " r e p r i n t e d h e r e , a p p e a r e d in t h e 1 0 t h issue. S u m m e r

1 9 7 1 . In m y j u d g m e n t ( a n d I have e l s e w h e r e p u b -

lished all o f t h e m in the s e r i e s ) , " Y a k t h o o b " r e m a i n s t h e b e s t o f t h e s e a t t e m p t s to s u p p l y t h e a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l e p i s o d e s Lovecraft h i m s e l f had i m p l i e d p r e f a c e d the d a r k e s t s e c r e t s o f Al

Azif.

In his m a n y " e x c e r p t s " f r o m a n c i e n t t o m e s C a r t e r ' s c o m m a n d o f a n t i q u e t r a n s l a t i o n E n g l i s h w a s n e v e r q u i t e u p to s n u f f . H e was o b v i o u s l y m o r e a t e a s e with crisper, m o d e r n p r o s e . A c c o r d i n g l y , h i s l o n g e r M y t h o s tales set in t h e 3 0 s o r in t h e 7 0 s a n d 8 0 s a r e m o r e eff e c t i v e . " T h e Fishers f r o m O u t s i d e " is o n e o f t h e s e . I n it, as in several o f t h e s e s t o r i e s , Lin picks u p o n s o m e L o v e c r a f t i a n n a m e - d r o p p i n g . In his p o e m " T h e O u t p o s t " a n d his r e v i s i o n tale " W i n g e d D e a t h , " H PL had r e f e r r e d to t h e m y s t e r i o u s Z i m b a b w e r u i n s with their e n i g m a t i c bird reliefs. W h a t s h o c k i n g s i g n i f i c a n c e had Lovecraft i m a g i n e d a s

I N T R O D U C T I O N

XXII

c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e m ? A n d w h o o r w h a t were the " F i s h e r s f r o m O u t side," m e n t i o n e d in b o t h t h e s t o r y and t h e p o e m ? It was left t o C a r t e r to solve t h e r i d d l e . F r o m t h e r e m a i n i n g m e m b e r s o f t h e o r i g i n a l New L o v e c r a f t C i r c l e I have m a n a g e d to e x t r a c t b y u n w h o l e s o m e m e a n s b e s t left u n s p e c i f i e d h e r e a set o f n e w o r at least s e l d o m - v i e w e d tales. G a r y M y e r s has c o n t r i b u t e d a n e w s t o r y to this v o l u m e . Alas, ). V e r n o n S h e a and J a m e s W a d e b o t h f o l l o w e d L o v e c r a f t i n t o t h e a e t h e r s i n c e Carter proclaimed t h e m m e m b e r s o f that New Circle that we may h o p e will s o m e d a y b e u n b r o k e n in the s w e e t Y u g g o t h i a n b y - a n d - b y . In his last years. S h e a h a d e n t e r e d Lovecraft r a n d o m , a n d in t h e first

issue o f his f a n z i n e Outre

he p u b l i s h e d t h e s e q u e l to h i s " T h e

H a u n t e r o f the G r a v e y a r d , " w h i c h o f c o u r s e had a p p e a r e d in D e r leth's Tales of the Cthulhu

Mythos

(though omitted from lim Turner's

n e w edition). H o w natural, then, that " D e a d Giveaway" should app e a r in The New

Lovecraft

Circle,

a s e q u e l to D e r l e t h ' s v o l u m e .

G h o u l i s h d e l v i n g s have a l s o r e t r i e v e d t h e tale that

represents

l a m e s W a d e in t h e p r e s e n t v o l u m e , " T h o s e W h o W a i t . " Like Shea's, this s t o r y h a s b e f o r e n o w o n l y a p p e a r e d in an o b s c u r e fanzine, t h e s e c o n d issue o f t h e p r o m i s i n g b u t a b o r t i v e Dark

Brotherhood

Journal

( 1 9 7 2 ) . I m u s t repeat here W a d e ' s w a r n i n g issued t h e r e that " T h o s e W h o W a i t " was the s t o r y m o s t o f us have w r i t t e n : a f a n n i s h e f f o r t a t a p i n g L o v e c r a f t , p e n n e d in the h e a t o f e a r l y L o v e c r a f t e n t h u s i a s m ( h e w a s o n l y 16 w h e n h e w r o t e it). H e said it s h o u l d really have b e e n titled " T h e R o v e r B o y s at R'lyeh." N o n e t h e l e s s , W a d e g e n e r o u s l y allowed it to b e p u b l i s h e d as a c u r i o s i t y a n d t o satisfy M y t h o s c o m pletists. I a m h a p p y to i n c l u d e it here for t h e s a m e r e a s o n s . W a d e ' s c a n o n o f L o v e c r a f t i a n s t o r i e s is t o o s m a l l f o r a n y o f t h e tales, even j u venilia, to be e x c l u d e d f r o m it. T h e r e was o n e m o r e w r i t e r w h o had b e e n o r d a i n e d b y D e r l e t h h i m s e l f to take a seat, like R a n d o l p h C a r t e r in " T h r o u g h t h e G a t e s o f t h e Silver Key," a m o n g t h e r a n k s o f t h e N e w L o v e c r a f t C i r c l e . B u t , again, like R a n d o l p h C a r t e r , t h e t h r o n e w a s d e n i e d h i m . D e r l e t h had p r o m i s e d t o b r i n g o u t an A r k h a m c o l l e c t i o n o f M y t h o s s t o r i e s by English w e i r d

fictioneer

J o h n G l a s b y . G l a s b y had w r i t t e n a

n u m b e r o f tales f o r the E n g l i s h p a p e r b a c k m a g a z i n e Stories,

huge

Supernatural

some few of t h e m Lovecraft-related.

T h e tragic d e a t h o f t h e m a s t e r m i n d o f A r k h a m H o u s e t h r e w

I N T R O D U C T I O N

XXIII

m a n y p l a n n e d p r o j e c t s i n t o L i m b o . Sadly, G l a s b y ' s The Brooding

City

was o n e o f t h e s e . I p u b l i s h e d all t h e s t o r i e s in two issues o f Crypt Cthulhu

of

(#s 6 7 a n d 7 1 ) , a n d it m a y b e that F e d o g a n & B r e m e r will yet

b r i n g t h e m o u t as the h a r d c o v e r t h e y s h o u l d have b e e n . T h u s 1 i n c l u d e n o n e o f t h e m h e r e . R a t h e r 1 have c h o s e n to r e p r i n t two m u c h r a r e r M y t h o s tales C l a s b y w r o t e for Supernatural

Keeper

Stories,"The

o f D a r k P o i n t " a n d " T h e B l a c k M i r r o r . " I n fact t h e s e tales are even r a r e r t h a n t h a t : t h e y a r e t h e original

versions o f stories which ap-

p e a r e d in p r i n t e d i t o r i a l l y s h o r n o f m o s t o f t h e i r L o v e c r a f t i a n a s s o c i a t i o n s . Here they a r e in all t h e i r L o v e c r a f t i a n glory. T h u s G l a s b y

finds

h i m s e l f , years later, j u s t w h e r e h e b e l o n g s , a s e c u r e m e m b e r o f t h e N e w Lovecraft C i r c l e . T h e C i r c l e h a s e x p a n d e d in t h e y e a r s s i n c e it

first

appeared,

with n e w w r i t e r s t a k i n g the places o f t h o s e w h o h a d fallen. T h e late Karl F d w a r d W a g n e r , j u s t l y r e n o w n e d as t h e c r e a t o r o f the S w o r d - & S o r c e r y s e r i e s o f K a n e n o v e l s and a s t h e e d i t o r o f D A W ' s year's Horror

Stories

Best

c o l l e c t i o n s , w a s also a n a c c o m p l i s h e d h o r r o r writer.

His L o v e c r a f t i a n t r i b u t e t o Lee B r o w n C o y e , Sticks, n e w e d i t i o n o f Tales of the Cthulhu

a p p e a r e d in t h e

He c o n t i n u e d m i n i n g ( o r

Mythos.

is it s u c k i n g ? ) that vein h e r e in " I ' v e C o m e to Talk W i t h You A g a i n . " W e h a v e the h i g h h o n o r o f p r e s e n t i n g here Karl's last s t o r y , w h i c h y o u will find e e r i l y p r o p h e t i c . A n o t h e r S w o r d - & - S o r c e r y s c r i b e w h o has not hesitated to m a k e u s e o f t h e C t h u l h u M y t h o s is R i c h a r d L. T i e r n e y , w h o s e s e m i n a l essay " T h e D e r l e t h M y t h o s " u s h e r e d in a w h o l e era o f L o v e c r a f t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n that d o m i n a t e d t h e field in t h e 7 0 s a n d 8 0 s . T h o u g h k e e n - e y e d a n d critical in his d e l i n e a t i o n o f D e r l e t h ' s e m b e l l i s h m e n t s o f Lovecraft's M y t h o s , T i e r n e y has a l w a y s m a i n t a i n e d that t h e r e is n o r e a s o n n o t to c o n t i n u e w r i t i n g M y t h o s

fiction

in the t r a j e c t o r y

Derleth

m a r k e d o u t . E v e n if it is n o t w h a t t h e O l d G e n t h i m s e l f had in m i n d , it h a s its o w n i n t e g r i t y a n d it is a lot o f

ftin.

T i e r n e y ' s o b j e c t in " T h e D e r l e t h M y t h o s " w a s s i m p l y to m a r k t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n Lovecraft's vision and D e r l e t h ' s , not to turn t h e c l o c k b a c k . A s a result he has m a d e e x t r e m e l y c r e a t i v e use o f t h e M y t h i c s y s t e m s o f b o t h m e n , c o m b i n i n g t h e m in i n t r i c a t e ways w i t h t h e fictional w o r l d s o f R o b e r t E . H o w a r d and C l a r k A s h t o n S m i t h a s well. ( T h e r e was e v e n o n e draft o f a s t o r y in w h i c h T i e r n e y ' s h e r o Sim o n o f C i t t a t e a m e d u p with W a g n e r ' s Kane, b u t c o p y r i g h t p r o b l e m s

I N T R O D U C T I O N

XXIV

p r o v e d t o o f o r m i d a b l e a f o e f o r e v e n t h e s e two stalwart b a r b a r i a n s ! Rest assured o n e c o p y o f the s u p p r e s s e d v e r s i o n rests in m y archives. You m a y yet s e e it. You k n o w h o w t h e s e f o r b i d d e n m a n u s c r i p t s h a v e a w a y o f c o m i n g to l i g h t ! ) In T i e r n e y ' s w o r k w e see a s m o o t h l y harm o n i z e d and i n t e g r a t e d fictional universe t h a t I have elsewhere d u b b e d " t h e Weird

Tales c o s m o l o g y . "

His tale in this a n t h o l o g y , " T h e H o w l e r in the D a r k , " first a p p e a r e d in Cryyt

of Cthulhu

# 2 4 , albeit with o n e l i n e o f text m i s s i n g .

T h a t o m i s s i o n is c o r r e c t e d h e r e . Few r e a d e r s will fail to r e c o g n i z e t h e n a m e s o f Alan D e a n F o s t e r a n d R i c h a r d L u p o f f . B o t h a r e f a m i l i a r in m a n y c o n n e c t i o n s in t h e worlds o f science

fiction,

fantasy, e v e n m o v i e s a n d c o m i c s , r e a l m s

b e t w e e n w h i c h m o s t o f u s m o v e r a t h e r easily. B u t it m a y c o m e a s s o m e t h i n g o f a s u r p r i s e to l e a r n that b o t h m e n have written q u i t e i n teresting Mythos stories. Foster's " T h e H o r r o r o n the B e a c h " was p u b l i s h e d b y K e n n e t h K r u e g e r in an e d i t i o n that was d i s i n t e g r a t i n g as s o o n as it was p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 7 8 . It d e s e r v e s a w i d e r p u b l i c a n d a more abiding incarnation. excellent " D i s c o v e r y

of

t h e G h o o r i c Z o n e — M a r c h , 2 3 3 7 " in t h e n e w v e r s i o n o f Tales of

You

the

Cthulhu

have Mythos,

no

doubt

seen

Lupoff's

w h e r e it had b e e n r e p r i n t e d f r o m its o r i g i n a l a p -

p e a r a n c e in Chrysalis

#1 ( 1 9 7 7 ) . F r o m t h e pages o f Fantastic

now

reappears Lupoff's " T h e Whisperers." His "Lights! C a m e r a !

Shub-

N i g g u r a t h ! " a p p e a r s h e r e for t h e first t i m e . T h e n o v e l e t t e f o r m e d t h e basis f o r L u p o f f ' s n o v e l The Forever

City. T h e o r i g i n a l was o n c e slated

f o r p u b l i c a t i o n , b u t t h e m a g had t h e b a d l u c k to f o l d . N o t e : L u p o f f ' s s e q u e l to " T h e D u n w i c h H o r r o r , " " T h e Devil's H o p Y a r d " Chrysalis

« 2 ) a p p e a r s in m y a n t h o l o g y The

Dumvich

Cycle

(from (Chao-

s i u m , I n c . , 1 9 9 6 ) . H i s s e q u e l to " T h e W h i s p e r e r in D a r k n e s s , " " D o c u m e n t s in the C a s e o f E l i z a b e t h A k e l e y " ( T h e Magazine Science Cycle

Fiction,

of Fantasy

M a r c h 1 9 8 2 ) , a p p e a r s in m y a n t h o l o g y The

&

Hastur

( C h a o s i u m , Inc., 1 9 9 3 ) . F r o m the c r u m b l i n g pages o f Etchings

& Odysseys

(#5,1984), one

o f t h e p r e m i e r e L o v e c r a f t i a n m a g a z i n e s o f the 7 0 s Lovecraft revival, c o m e s m y o w n " S a u c e r s F r o m Yaddith." U n l i k e Lin C a r t e r , w h o s h o w e d a s i m i l a r u n f o r t u n a t e t e n d e n c y to i n c l u d e his o w n

fiction

in

h i s a n t h o l o g i e s , I will n o t d e c l a r e m y s e l f t h e Last D i s c i p l e , f o r t h e n u m b e r still g r o w s .

xvii

I N T R O D U C T I O N

And o n e o f the most interesting things a b o u t s o m e o f the newer C i r c l e m e m b e r s is that they s e e m to b e m a s t e r i n g t h e difficult a r t o f p e n n i n g tales o f the k i n d P u g m i r e s o u g h t , tales n o t e x p l i c i t l y o f t h e C t h u l h u M y t h o s , b u t r a t h e r m o r e strictly L o v e c r a f t i a n in style, m o o d , c o s m i c implication, o r plot structure. T h o m a s Ligotti's "Vast a r i e n , " w h i c h first a p p e a r e d in Crypt

« 4 8 , is, I t h i n k , t h e

of Cthulhu

p e r f e c t r e n d i t i o n o f a t h e m e o n e m i g h t by n o w c o n s i d e r fatally h a c k n e y e d , that o f the f o r b i d d e n b o o k . W h e t h e r it was s u g g e s t e d b y I.ovecralt's first t h r e e " F u n g i F r o m Y u g g o t h " s o n n e t s , o r b y t h e i r p r o s e c o u n t e r p a r t , the fragment " T h e Book," or b y neither, "Vastarien" does t h e b e s t j o b I have e v e r seen o f u n f o l d i n g t h e n o t i o n o f " n i g h t e d w o r l d s o f i l l " kept at b a y b e t w e e n a n t i q u e c o v e r s . P e t e r C a n n o n ' s " T h e M a d n e s s o u t o f S p a c e " was first f o i s t e d o n t h e L o v e c r a f t i a n r e a d i n g p u b l i c a s a t o n g u e - i n - c h e e k h o a x in t h e pages o f Eldritch

» s 8 ( 1 9 8 2 ) and 9 ( 1 9 8 3 ) w h e r e C a n n o n

Tales

c l a i m e d to h a v e d i s c o v e r e d a lost Lovecraft m a n u s c r i p t by a s e r i e s o f o d d c h a n c e s o n a trip to N e w E n g l a n d . T h e r e were c l u e s a p l e n t y to tell y o u o t h e r w i s e , b u t C a n n o n had d o n e a fine j o b at t h e difficult a r t o f L o v e c r a f t p a s t i c h e . Crypt

of Cthulhu

-34

featured a s o m e w h a t

edited v e r s i o n , a n d still a third v e r s i o n a p p e a r s h e r e . R o g e r J o h n s o n ' s " A l i a h W a r d e n " was w r i t t e n o n r e q u e s t for t h e special L o v e c r a f t issue o f The

Count

Dracula

Fan

Club

Annual

in

1 9 8 5 . T h o u g h h e h i m s e l f is t h e last to c l a i m that it h o l d s a n y s u r p r i s e s for t h e reader, I have always c o n s i d e r e d it a little g e m o f stylist i c L o v e c r a f t p a s t i c h e , a n d I a m glad n o w to s h a r e it with a w i d e r audience. D o n a l d R. B u r l e s o n , k n o w n b o t h f o r his i n n o v a t i v e h o r r o r fict i o n a n d his l i t e r a r y c r i t i c i s m o f h o r r o r fiction (see his H.P. A Critical Differ:

Study;

Lovecraft:

Deconstructionist

Disturbing Readings)

the Universe

Lovecraft:

and his Begging

to

is a n o t h e r o f t h o s e w i t h the r a r e

gift o f i n v o k i n g Lovecraft the h a r d way, by style a n d t h e m e , n o t w i t h c o d e n a m e s . E a r l y o n h e w r o t e a s m a l l n u m b e r o f b r i e f tales recalling the Lovecraft o f elegant grue, the Lovecraft o f " T h e Hound," " T h e Loved D e a d , " " T h e S t a t e m e n t o f R a n d o l p h C a r t e r . " T h e first a n d b e s t o f t h e s e , " T h e Last S u p p e r , " w h i c h a p p e a r e d first in D i r k M o s i g ' s fan m a g a z i n e The Miskatonic dritch

( # 2 3 , 1 9 7 8 ) , t h e n in revised v e r s i o n s in El-

Tales 3 7 , a n d in Crypt

bit further.

of Cthulhu

# 3 4 , a p p e a r s here p o l i s h e d a

I N T R O D U C T I O N

XXVI

D e s p i t e the a n t i p a t h y o f m a i n s t r e a m e d i t o r s t o L o v e c r a f t i a n fict i o n , D a v i d K a u f m a n m a n a g e d to s n e a k a l i n e e x a m p l e o f it i n t o t h e pages of

Alfred

Hitchcock's

Mystery

Magazine

(April, 1 9 8 7 ) . I g u e s s

h e w a s able to d o it b e c a u s e o f the line s u b t l e t y o f his w r i t i n g . " T h e C h u r c h a t G a r l o c k ' s B e n d " features n a r y a M y t h o s c l i c h e , yet in its b r o o d i n g a t m o s p h e r e o f t h e o m i n o u s l y l i n g e r i n g past, it s e e m s t o m e p e r f e c t l y L o v e c r a f t i a n . W h a t K a u f m a n does h e r e , few L o v e c r a f t i a n s h a v e e v e n tried. S t e p h e n M a r k R a i n e y , e d i t o r o f Deathrealm,

is a n o t h e r rising s t a r

in today's w e i r d fiction field, as a l o o k at his fine c o l l e c t i o n The Devil

Fugue

will readily verify. Like B r i a n L u m l e y h e s e e m s to have p e r -

fected the art o f revivifying a c c u s t o m e d L o v e c r a f t i a n e l e m e n t s by c r e a t i n g elusively s i m i l a r v a r i a n t v e r s i o n s o f t h e m . In " T h e S p h e r e s B e y o n d S o u n d , " you will d i s c o v e r a m y s t e r i o u s M a e s t r o Z a n n , a u t h o r o f a n e n i g m a t i c t r e a t i s e o n m u s i c . Yet, y o u s h o u l d k n o w , this b o o k a c t u a l l y exists! O n e o t h e r t h i n g you s h o u l d k n o w : a n e a r l i e r version o f this s t o r y a p p e a r e d u n d e r t h e title " T h r e n o d y " in Deathrealm

"2

( S u m m e r , 1 9 8 7 ) , w h i l e a very d i f f e r e n t s t o r y with a l m o s t e x a c t l y t h e s a m e title ( " T h e S p h e r e B e y o n d S o u n d " ) a p p e a r e d s o o n a f t e r in of Lovecraftian

Horror

Tales

S2 d u n e , 1 9 8 8 ) .

At last, I m u s t e x p r e s s m y g r a t i t u d e to several individuals f o r b r i n g i n g s o m e o f t h e tales in this a n d m y p r e v i o u s a n t h o l o g y to m y a t t e n t i o n w h e n 1 would c e r t a i n l y n e v e r have s e e n t h e m

otherwise.

Possessors o f s u c h s h a r p ( t h r e e - l o b e d b u r n i n g ) eyes a r e C h a r l e s G a r o f a l o , T a n i J a n t s a n g , D a n G o b b e t t , t h e late R o n a l d S h e a r e r , M i k e Ashley, S . T . J o s h i , W i l l i a m Fulwiler, and C h a r l e s Gray. A n d t h a n k s also to S t e f f a n Aletti, t r u s t y s c r i b e , w h o h e l p e d m e in t h e s a n i t y blasting labor of proofreading! R o b e r t M . Price B l o o m f i e l d , N e w Jersey July, 1 9 9 6

The New Lovecraft Circle

T h e Plain o f Sound Ramsey Campbell

Verily do we know which

little

of the other

YOG-SOTHOTH

the gate

and

although

make

guards.

their

habitation

Ibn Schacabao

that they may

that

worlds

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but as an odor; create

beauty

barrier occur

between

a certain

sound

in this world

none

the notes forth

abominations

grows

thin, and

look

matter

can

tell; from

sound. is

may

For

sourceless

of S'glhuo. only

In

known

in this world

when

and fear

gate

through

in S'glhuo.

to the denizens in their

the

crawl

by their

and

of our pipes

to those of Earth, may form

which

be known

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and

we may justly

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come

or bring haply

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tells of the beings

the Gulf ofS'glhuo Gulf

universes

Of those

the

sounds They

that shape

can which

universe.

ALLDUL AIJIAZRKI):

NECBONOMICON

h e n F r a n k Nuttall, T o n y R o l e s , a n d I r e a c h e d t h e I n n a t S e v e r n f o r d , we f o u n d that it was c l o s e d . It w a s s u m m e r o f 1 9 5 8 , a n d as we had n o t h i n g p a r t i c u l a r to d o at B r i c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y that d a y we had d e c i d e d to g o o u t w a l k i n g . I had s u g g e s t e d a t r i p to G o a t s w o o d — t h e l e g e n d s t h e r e interested m e — b u t T o n y had h e a r d t h i n g s w h i c h m a d e h i m dislike t h a t t o w n . T h e n F r a n k had told u s a b o u t an a d v e r t i s e m e n t in t h e Weekly

News

Brichester

a b o u t a year b a c k w h i c h h a d referred to an i n n at t h e

31 T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

c e n t e r o f S e v e r n f o r d as " o n e o f the oldest in E n g l a n d . " W e c o u l d walk t h e r e in the m o r n i n g a n d q u e n c h t h e thirst c a u s e d by t h e j o u r n e y ; aft e r w a r d w e c o u l d t a k e t h e bus b a c k to B r i c h e s t e r if w e d i d n o t feel like w a l k i n g . T o n y w a s n o t e n t h u s i a s t i c . " W h y g o all t h a t w a y to get d r u n k , " h e i n q u i r e d , " e v e n if it is s o old? Besides, that ad in the p a p e r ' s o l d t o o — by n o w the place has p r o b a b l y fallen d o w n . . H o w e v e r , F r a n k and I w a n t e d to try it, a n d finally we o v e r r u l e d his p r o t e s t s . W e w o u l d h a v e d o n e b e t t e r to a g r e e with h i m , f o r w e f o u n d t h e inn's d o o r s a n d w i n d o w s b o a r d e d u p and a n e a r b y sign s a y i n g : " T e m p o r a r i l y c l o s e d to t h e p u b l i c . " T h e o n l y c o u r s e w a s to visit t h e m o d e r n p u b l i c h o u s e u p the s t r e e t . W e l o o k e d r o u n d t h e t o w n a little; this did n o t o c c u p y us long, f o r S e v e r n f o r d has few places o f i n t e r e s t , m o s t o f it b e i n g d o c k l a n d . B e f o r e two o ' c l o c k w e were s e a r c h i n g f o r a b u s - s t o p ; w h e n it e l u d e d us, w e e n t e r e d a n e w s a g e n t ' s f o r d i r e c t i o n s . " B u s ť B r i c h e s t e r ? N o , o n l y in the m o r n i n ' s , " t h e p r o p r i e t o r t o l d us. " U p f r o m t h e University, a r e y o u ? " " T h e n h o w d o w e get b a c k ? " T o n y asked. " W a l k , I s ' p o s e , " s u g g e s t e d the n e w s a g e n t . " W h y ' d y o u c o m e u p a n y w a y — o h , t ' l o o k a t t h e I n n ? N o , y o u w o n ' t get in t h e r e n o w — s o m a n y o ' t h e m b l o o d y t e e n a g e r s ' v e b e e n b r e a k i n ' the w i n d e r s an' s u c h t h a t C o u n c i l says it'll o n l y o p e n ť p e o p l e with special p e r m i s s i o n . G o o d j o b , t o o — t h o u g h I ' m n o t s a y i n ' as it's k i d s like you as d o e s it. Still, y o u ' l l b e w a n t i n ' ť get b a c k ť B r i c h e s t e r , a n ' I k n o w t h e s h o r t est way." H e b e g a n to give us c o m p l i c a t e d d i r e c t i o n s , w h i c h he r e p e a t e d in detail. W h e n we still l o o k e d u n c e r t a i n h e waited w h i l e F r a n k g o t o u t n o t e b o o k a n d pencil a n d t o o k d o w n t h e r o u t e . At t h e e n d o f this I was n o t yet s u r e w h i c h w a y to g o , but, a s I r e m a r k e d : " I f w e get lost, w e c a n always ask." " O h , no," p r o t e s t e d o u r i n f o r m a n t . " Y o u w o n ' t g o w r o n g i f y o u f o l l o w that." " R i g h t , t h a n k s , " F r a n k said. " A n d I s u p p o s e t h e r e will b e passersby to a s k i f w e do g o w r o n g ? " " I w o u l d n ' t . " T h e n e w s a g e n t t u r n e d to r e a r r a n g e p a p e r s in t h e r a c k . " Y o u m i g h t ask the w r o n g p e o p l e . " H e a r i n g n o m o r e f r o m h i m , w e w e n t o u t i n t o the street and

T H E

P L A I N

OF

S O U N D 32

t u r n e d r i g h t t o w a r d B r i c h e s t e r . O n c e o n e leaves b e h i n d t h e c e n t r a l a r e a o f S e v e r n f o r d w h e r e a g r o u p o f a r c h a i c b u i l d i n g s is p r e s e r v e d , a n d c o m e s to the s u r r o u n d i n g r e d - b r i c k h o u s e s , t h e r e is little to i n terest the s i g h t - s e e r . M u c h o f S e v e r n f o r d is d o c k l a n d , and e v e n t h e c o u n t r y b e y o n d is n o t n o t i c e a b l y pleasant to t h e f o r c e d hiker. B e sides, s o m e o f the r o a d s are n o t i c e a b l y r o u g h , t h o u g h t h a t m a y h a v e been because we took the wrong t u r n i n g — f o r , a n hour out o f Seve r n f o r d , we realized we were lost. " T u r n left a t the s i g n p o s t a b o u t a m i l e out, it says here," said Frank. " B u t we've c o m e m o r e t h a n a mile a l r e a d y — w h e r e ' s t h e s i g n p o s t ? " " S o w h a t d o w e d o — g o b a c k and a s k ? " T o n y s u g g e s t e d . " T o o far f o r t h a t . L o o k , " F r a n k a s k e d m e , " h a v e you g o t t h a t c o m p a s s you're always c a r r y i n g , Les? B r i c h e s t e r is a l m o s t s o u t h e a s t o f S e v e r n f o r d . If w e keep o n in that d i r e c t i o n , w e w o n ' t g o far w r o n g . " T h e road we had b e e n f o l l o w i n g ran e a s t - w e s t . N o w , w h e n w e t u r n e d o f f i n t o o p e n c o u n t r y , w e c o u l d rely o n l y o n m y c o m p a s s , and w e s o o n f o u n d that w e n e e d e d it. O n c e , w h e n a s c e n d i n g a s l o p e , w e had t o d e t o u r r o u n d a t h i c k l y o v e r g r o w n f o r e s t , w h e r e w e would c e r t a i n l y have b e c o m e f u r t h e r lost. A l t e r that w e c r o s s e d m o n o t o n o u s fields,

never seeing a building o r a n o t h e r h u m a n b e i n g . Two a n d a

h a l f h o u r s o u t o f S e v e r n f o r d , w e r e a c h e d an a r e a o f g r a s s y hillocks, a n d f r o m t h e r e d e s c e n d e d i n t o a n d c l a m b e r e d o u t o f m i n i a t u r e valleys. A b o u t h a l f - a - m i l e i n t o t h i s r e g i o n , T o n y signalled u s to k e e p quiet. "All I c a n hear is the s t r e a m , " said F r a n k . " A m I s u p p o s e d to h e a r s o m e t h i n g i m p o r t a n t ? You h e a r a n y t h i n g . L e s ? " T h e r u s h i n g s t r e a m w e had j u s t c r o s s e d effectively m o s t d i s t a n t s o u n d s , b u t I t h o u g h t I heard a n e a r b y

drowned

mechanical

w h i r r i n g . It rose and fell like t h e s o u n d o f a m o v i n g v e h i c l e , b u t w i t h t h e loudly s p l a s h i n g w a t e r I c o u l d d i s t i n g u i s h n o d e t a i l s . " I ' m not sure," I answered. " T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g that could be a tractor, I t h i n k — " " T h a t ' s w h a t I t h o u g h t , " agreed T o n y . " I t ' s a h e a d s o m e w h e r e — m a y b e t h e d r i v e r c a n direct us. If, o f c o u r s e , h e ' s n o t o n e o f t h a t newsagent's wrong people!" T h e m e c h a n i c a l t h r o b b i n g l o u d e n e d as w e c r o s s e d two hills and c a m e o n t o a s t r i p o f level g r o u n d f r o n t i n g a l o n g , l o w ridge. I w a s t h e

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to reach t h e ridge, c l i m b it and s t a n d a t o p it. A s m y head rose

a b o v e the ridge, I t h r e w m y s e l f b a c k . O n t h e o t h e r s i d e lay a r o u g h l y s q u a r e p l a i n , s u r r o u n d e d by f o u r ridges. T h e plain was a b o u t f o u r hundred yards square, a n d at the o p p o s i t e s i d e w a s a o n e - s t o r y b u i l d i n g . A p a r t f r o m t h i s t h e plain w a s t o t a l l y b a r e , a n d that w a s w h a t s t a r t l e d m e m o s t . For f r o m that b a r e s t r e t c h o f l a n d r o s e a d e a f e n i n g f l o o d o f s o u n d . Here w a s t h e s o u r c e o f that m e c h a n i c a l w h i r r i n g ; it t h r o b b e d o v e r p o w e r i n g l y

upward,

i n c e s s a n t l y f l u c t u a t i n g t h r o u g h t h r e e n o t e s . B e h i n d it were o t h e r s o u n d s ; a faint b a s s h u m m i n g w h i c h h o v e r e d o n the e d g e o f a u d i bility, a n d o t h e r s — w h i s t l i n g a n d h i g h - p i t c h e d t w a n g s w h i c h s o m e t i m e s were i n a u d i b l e a n d s o m e t i m e s a s l o u d as t h e w h i r r i n g . By n o w T o n y and F r a n k were b e s i d e m e , s t a r i n g d o w n . " S u r e l y it can't be c o m i n g f r o m t h a t h u t ? " F r a n k s a i d . " I t ' s n o t r a c t o r , that's c e r t a i n , a n d a h u t t h a t size c o u l d n e v e r c o n t a i n anyt h i n g that'd m a k e t h a t row." " I t h o u g h t it w a s c o m i n g f r o m u n d e r g r o u n d s o m e w h e r e , " s u g gested Tony. " M i n i n g operations, maybe." " W h a t e v e r it is, there's t h a t hut," I s a i d . " W e c a n a s k t h e w a y there." T o n y l o o k e d d o w n doubtfully. " I d o n ' t k n o w — i t m i g h t well b e d a n g e r o u s . You k n o w d r i v i n g o v e r s u b s i d e n c e c a n b e d a n g e r o u s , and h o w d o we k n o w t h e y ' r e n o t w o r k i n g o n s o m e t h i n g like t h a t h e r e ? " " T h e r e ' d b e s i g n s i f they w e r e , " I r e a s s u r e d h i m . " N o , c o m e o n — t h e r e m a y b e n o w h e r e else w e c a n ask, a n d t h e r e ' s n o use k e e p i n g o n in t h e w r o n g d i r e c t i o n . " W e d e s c e n d e d t h e ridge and w a l k e d p e r h a p s t w e n t y y a r d s a c r o s s t h e plain. It was like w a l k i n g i n t o a tidal wave. T h e s o u n d w a s s u d d e n l y all a r o u n d us; t h e m o r e o v e r p o w e r i n g b e c a u s e t h o u g h it b e a t o n u s f r o m all sides, w e c o u l d n o t fight b a c k — l i k e b e i n g e n g u l f e d in jelly. I c o u l d n o t have s t o o d it f o r l o n g — I p u t m y h a n d s o v e r m y e a r s a n d yelled " R u n ! " A n d I s t a g g e r e d a c r o s s the p l a i n , the s o u n d w h i c h I c o u l d n o t s h u t o u t b o o m i n g a t m e , until I r e a c h e d t h e b u i l d i n g o n the o t h e r side. It w a s a b r o w n s t o n e h o u s e , n o t a h u t as w e had t h o u g h t . It had an a r c h e d d o o r w a y in t h e wall f a c i n g us, b o r d e r e d b y t w o l o w w i n -

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d o w s w i t h o u t c u r t a i n s . F r o m w h a t w e c o u l d see t h e r o o m o n t h e loft was the l i v i n g - r o o m , t h a t o n t h e r i g h t a b e d r o o m , b u t g r i m e o n t h e w i n d o w s p r e v e n t e d us f r o m s e e i n g m o r e , e x c e p t t h a t the r o o m s were u n o c c u p i e d . W e did n o t t h i n k to l o o k in a n y w i n d o w s at t h e b a c k . T h e d o o r had n o bell o r k n o c k e r , b u t F r a n k p o u n d e d o n a p a n e l . T h e r e was n o a n s w e r a n d h e k n o c k e d harder. O n t h e s e c o n d k n o c k the d o o r s w u n g o p e n , r e v e a l i n g that it o p e n e d i n t o the livingr o o m . F r a n k l o o k e d in a n d called: " A n y b o d y at h o m e ? " Still n o b o d y a n s w e r e d , a n d h e t u r n e d b a c k t o us. " D o y o u t h i n k we'd b e t t e r g o i n ? " he asked. " M a y b e w e c o u l d wait for the o w n e r , o r t h e r e m i g h t b e s o m e t h i n g in the h o u s e that'd direct us." T o n y p u s h e d past m e to l o o k . "Fley, w h a t — F r a n k , d o you n o t i c e a n y t h i n g h e r e ? S o m e t h i n g tells m e t h a t w h o e v e r the o w n e r is, h e isn't house-proud." W e c o u l d see w h a t he m e a n t . T h e r e were w o o d e n c h a i r s , a t a b l e , b o o k c a s e s , a r a g g e d c a r p e t — a n d all t h i c k w i t h d u s t . W e hesitated a m i n u t e , w a i t i n g f o r s o m e o n e to m a k e a d e c i s i o n ; t h e n F r a n k e n t e r e d . H e s t o p p e d inside t h e d o o r a n d p o i n t e d . L o o k i n g o v e r his s h o u l d e r w e c o u l d s e e t h e r e were n o f o o t p r i n t s a n y w h e r e in the d u s t . W e l o o k e d r o u n d f o r s o m e e x p l a n a t i o n . W h i l e F r a n k closed t h e d o o r and cut o f f t h e t h r o b b i n g f r o m o u t s i d e , T o n y — o u r b i b l i o p h i l e — c r o s s e d to t h e b o o k c a s e s a n d l o o k e d at the s p i n e s . I n o t i c e d a newsp a p e r o n t h e t a b l e and idly p i c k e d it u p . " T h e o w n e r m u s t b e a bit p e c u l i a r . . . La Strega, M i r a n d o l a , " T o n y r e a d , " — D i s c o v e r y of Witches—The hey, Revelations

of Glaaki;

by P i c o della Red

Dragon—

isn't t h a t t h e b o o k t h e U n i v e r s i t y c a n ' t get

f o r t h e i r restricted s e c t i o n ? H e r e ' s a diary, b i g o n e , t o o , b u t I h a d n ' t b e t t e r t o u c h that." W h e n I t u r n e d to the front p a g e o f the n e w s p a p e r , I saw it w a s t h e Camside

Observer.

A s I l o o k e d closer, 1 s a w s o m e t h i n g

which

m a d e m e call the o t h e r s . " L o o k a t t h i s — D e c e m b e r 8 , 1 9 3 0 ! You're r i g h t a b o u t this m a n b e i n g p e c u l i a r — w h a t s o r t o f p e r s o n keeps a n e w s p a p e r for t w e n t y - e i g h t y e a r s ? " " I ' m g o i n g to l o o k in t h e b e d r o o m , " F r a n k d e c l a r e d . H e k n o c k e d o n the d o o r o f f the l i v i n g - r o o m , a n d , w h e n w e c a m e u p b e s i d e h i m , o p e n e d it. T h e r o o m was a l m o s t b a r e : a w a r d r o b e , a h a n g i n g wall-

8

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m i r r o r , a n d a b e d , were t h e o n l y f u r n i s h i n g s . T h e b e d , as we had e x p e c t e d , was e m p t y ; b u t t h e m a r k o f a s l e e p i n g b o d y was c l e a r l y d e fined,

t h o u g h filled with d u s t . We m o v e d c l o s e r , n o t i n g t h e a b s e n c e o f

f o o t p r i n t s o n t h e floor; and b e n d i n g o v e r t h e b e d , I t h o u g h t I s a w s o m e t h i n g besides d u s t in t h e h o l l o w s left by t h e s l e e p e r — s o m e t h i n g like g r o u n d glass, s p a r k l i n g greenly. " W h a t ' s h a p p e n e d ? " T o n y asked in a r a t h e r f r i g h t e n e d t o n e . " O h , p r o b a b l y n o t h i n g o u t o f the o r d i n a r y , " said F r a n k . " M a y b e t h e r e ' s a n o t h e r e n t r a n c e r o u n d t h e b a c k — m a y b e he can't s t a n d all t h e noise, w h a t e v e r it is, and has a b e d r o o m o n t h e o t h e r side. I . o o k , there's a d o o r in that wall; that m a y b e it." I w e n t a c r o s s a n d o p e n e d it, b u t o n l y a very p r i m i t i v e l a v a t o r y lay b e y o n d . " W a i t a m i n u t e , I t h i n k t h e r e was a d o o r n e x t to the b o o k c a s e , " r e c o l l e c t e d Tony. H e r e t u r n e d to t h e l i v i n g - r o o m and o p e n e d t h e d o o r h e had n o t i c e d . A s w e f o l l o w e d h i m , he e x c l a i m e d : " M y G o d — now

what?" T h e f o u r t h r o o m w a s l o n g e r t h a n a n y o f t h e o t h e r s , b u t it w a s

t h e c o n t e n t s that had d r a w n Tony's e x c l a m a t i o n . N e a r e s t us o n t h e bare

floor

w a s s o m e t h i n g like a t e l e v i s i o n s c r e e n , a b o u t two feet

a c r o s s , w i t h a b l u e - g l a s s light b u l b b e h i n d it, s t r a n g e l y d i s t o r t e d a n d with t h i c k wires a t t a c h e d . Next to it a n o t h e r p a i r o f wires led f r o m a m e g a p h o n e - s h a p e d receiver. In b e t w e e n the o p p o s i t e wall and t h e s e i n s t r u m e n t s lay a s t r a n g e a r r a n g e m e n t o f c r y s t a l s , i n d u c t i o n coils, a n d t u b e s , f r o m w h i c h wires h u n g a t e a c h e n d f o r p o s s i b l e att a c h m e n t to the o t h e r a p p l i a n c e s . T h e far c o r n e r o f the c e i l i n g had r e c e n t l y c o l l a p s e d , a l l o w i n g r a i n to d r i p o n t o a s o u n d i n g - b o a r d c a r r y i n g a d o z e n s t r i n g s , a large lever and a m o t o r c o n n e c t e d b y c o g s to a p l e c t r u m - c o v e r e d cylinder. O u t o f c u r i o s i t y I c r o s s e d a n d p l u c k e d a string; b u t s u c h a d i s c o r d t r e m b l e d t h r o u g h t h e b o a r d t h a t I q u i c k l y m u f f l e d it. " S o m e t h i n g very fiinnv is g o i n g o n here," F r a n k said. " T h e r e ' s n o o t h e r r o o m , s o w h e r e c a n h e sleep? A n d the dust, and t h e n e w s p a p e r — and n o w these t h i n g s — I ' v e never s e e n a n y t h i n g like t h e m . . . " " W h y d o n ' t we l o o k at his d i a r y ? " suggested T o n y . " I t d o e s n ' t l o o k like he'll b e b a c k , a n d I f o r o n e w a n t to k n o w w h a t ' s h a p p e n e d here." S o we went back i n t o the living-room and Tony t o o k down the

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h e a v y v o l u m e . H e o p e n e d it t o its last e n t r y : D e c e m b e r 8 , 1 9 3 0 . " I f w e all try a n d read it, it'll take t h r e e t i m e s as long," h e s a i d . " Y o u t w o sit d o w n a n d I'll t r y and read you the r e l e v a n t b i t s . " H e was silent f o r a few m i n u t e s , t h e n : " P r o f e s s o r A r n o l d H i r d , e x - B r i c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y : n e v e r heard o f h i m — m u s t ' v e been before our time. " A h here w e a r e — " ' J a n u a r y 3, 1 9 3 0 : T o d a y m o v e d i n t o n e w h o u s e ( i f it c a n b e called a h o u s e ! ) . N o i s e s are q u e e r — s u p p o s e it's o n l y b e c a u s e t h e r e ' s s o m u c h s u p e r s t i t i o n a b o u t t h e m that n o b o d y ' s investigated b e f o r e . I n t e n d to m a k e full s t u d y — m e t e o r o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s , 8cc: feel t h a t w i n d s b l o w i n g o v e r ridges m a y v i b r a t e a n d c a u s e s o u n d s . T o m o r r o w to l o o k r o u n d , take m e a s u r e m e n t s , find o u t if a n y t h i n g will i n t e r r u p t s o u n d s . P e c u l i a r t h a t s o u n d s e e m s to be d e a f e n i n g in c e r t a i n radius, relatively f a i n t b e y o n d — n o g r a d u a l fading.' " ' J a n u a r y 4 : S l e e p u n e a s y last n i g h t — u n a c c u s t o m e d

dreams.

C i t y o n g r e a t m o u n t a i n — a n g l e d streets, s p i r a l i n g pillars and c o n e s . S t r a n g e inhabitants; taller than h u m a n , scaly skin, boneless

fin-

gers, yet s o m e h o w n o t repulsive. W e r e a w a r e o f m e , in fact s e e m e d to await m y arrival, b u t e a c h t i m e o n e a p p r o a c h e d m e I a w o k e . Rep e a t e d several t i m e s . " ' P r o g r e s s negative. S c r e e n s o n top o f r i d g e s did n o t i n t e r r u p t s o u n d ; u n d i m i n i s h e d t h o u g h little w i n d . M e a s u r e m e n t s — n o r t h w e s t ridge 4 2 3 y a r d s . . . ' W e l l , t h e r e ' s a lot m o r e like that." " M a k e s u r e you d o n ' t m i s s a n y t h i n g i m p o r t a n t , " F r a n k said a s T o n y t u r n e d pages. " ' J a n u a r y 6 : D r e a m s a g a i n . S a m e city, figures a s t h o u g h w a i t i n g . L e a d e r a p p r o a c h e d . S e e m e d to b e c o m m u n i c a t i n g w i t h m e telepathic a l l y : I c a u g h t the t h o u g h t — D o not be

afraid;

w e are

the

sounds.

W h o l e scene faded. " ' N o p r o g r e s s w h a t e v e r . U n a b l e to c o n c e n t r a t e o n

findings;

dreams distracting.' " ' J a n u a r y 7: I n s a n e p e r h a p s , b u t a m o f f to B r i t i s h t o m o r r o w . In last n i g h t ' s d r e a m was t o l d : Check formula

for aiding

us to reach

you.

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Page r e f e r e n c e given. E x p e c t and

h o p e this will be false a l a r m — d r e a m s t a k i n g a l t o g e t h e r t o o m u c h o u t o f m e . B u t w h a t if s o m e t h i n g o n t h a t page? A m not interested in that

field—impossible

to k n o w in n o r m a l w a y . . . '

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" 'January 9: Back from L o n d o n . M a o r i l e — o n page I looked u p — e x a c t l y as d e s c r i b e d in d r e a m ! D o n ' t k n o w w h a t it will do, b u t will p e r f o r m it t o n i g h t to find o u t . S t r a n g e n o d r e a m s w h i l e a w a y — some influence existing only here?' " ' J a n u a r y 10: D i d n ' t w a k e till late a f t e r n o o n . D r e a m s b e g a n a s s o o n as s l e e p a f t e r r i t e . D o n ' t k n o w w h a t to t h i n k . A l t e r n a t i v e s b o t h disturbing: either brain receiving transmission, o r subconsciously inv e n t i n g e v e r y t h i n g — b u t wd. s a n e m i n d act thus? " ' I f t r u e that t r a n s m i s s i o n e x t e r n a l , l e a r n e d f o l l o w i n g : " ' S o u n d s in this a r e a are equivalents sion.

o f matter

in another

dimen-

S a i d d i m e n s i o n o v e r l a p s o u r s at this p o i n t a n d c e r t a i n o t h e r s .

C i t y a n d i n h a b i t a n t s in d r e a m d o n o t a p p e a r a s in o w n s p h e r e , b u t a s wd. appear i f consisting o f matter. Different sounds here c o r r e s p o n d to v a r i o u s o b j e c t s in o t h e r d i m e n s i o n ; w h i r r i n g e q u a l s pillars

&

c o n e s , bass t h r o b b i n g is g r o u n d , o t h e r v a r y i n g s o u n d s are p e o p l e o f city & o t h e r m o v i n g objects. Matter on o u r side they sense as odors. " ' T h e inhabitants can transmit whole concepts mentally. Leader asked m e to t r y n o t to m a k e s o u n d s in r a d i u s o f p o i n t o f c o n n e c t i o n . C a r r i e d o v e r t o their d i m e n s i o n . M y f o o t s t e p s — h u g e c r y s t a l s a p p e a r e d o n s t r e e t s o f city. M y b r e a t h i n g — s o m e t h i n g living w h i c h t h e y r e f u s e d to s h o w m e . H a d to b e killed at o n c e . " ' I n h a b i t a n t s i n t e r e s t e d in c o m m u n i c a t i o n with o u r d i m e n s i o n . Not dream—transmission—frequent Translator

use o f M a o rite d a n g e r o u s .

to b e built o n this s i d e — e n a b l e s s o u n d to b e t r a n s l a t e d

i n t o visual t e r m s o n s c r e e n , as in d r e a m , b u t little else. W h e n

they

b u i l d c o u n t e r p a r t link will be e f f e c t e d — c o m p l e t e passage b e t w e e n dimensions.

Unfortunately,

their

translator

completely

f r o m o u r s and n o t yet s u c c e s s f u l . L e a d e r told m e : Look tions

of Glaaki

for the plans.

in The

different Revela-

A l s o gave m e p a g e r e f e r e n c e & said w h e r e

to get c o p y . " ' M u s t get c o p y . If n o plan, all c o i n c i d e n c e & c a n r e t u r n to n o r m a l r e s e a r c h . I f plan, c a n b u i l d m a c h i n e , c l a i m d i s c o v e r y o f o t h e r dimension!'" "I've been thinking," I interrupted. "Arnold H i r d — t h e r e

was

s o m e t h i n g — w a s n ' t h e asked t o leave t h e U n i v e r s i t y b e c a u s e h e a t t a c k e d s o m e o n e w h e n t h e y d i s a g r e e d with h i m ? S a i d h e ' d r e t u r n and a s t o n i s h e v e r y b o d y s o m e day, b u t w a s n e v e r h e a r d o f a g a i n . "

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" I d o n ' t k n o w , " said Tony. "Anyway, h e c o n t i n u e s : " ' J a n u a r y 12: G o t Revelations

of Glaaki.

H a d to take d r a s t i c m e a -

sures to o b t a i n it, t o o . P l a n h e r e — b o o k 9 , pp. 2 0 5 7 - 9 . W i l l take s o m e t i m e to b u i l d , b u t w o r t h it. T o t h i n k that besides m e , o n l y s u p e r s t i t i o u s k n o w o f t h i s — b u t will s o o n b e able to p r o v e it!' " H m m m — w e l l , t h e r e d o n ' t s e e m to be a n y very i n t e r e s t i n g e n t r i e s a f t e r t h a t . Just ' n o t m u c h p r o g r e s s today' o r 'screen a r r a n g e m e n t c o m p l e t e d ' o r here ' d o w n to S e v e r n f o r d t o d a y — h a d to o r d e r s t r i n g s at m u s i c s h o p . D o n ' t like idea o f u s i n g it, but m u s t k e e p it h a n d y in c a s e . ' " " S o that's it," F r a n k said, s t a n d i n g u p . " T h e m a n was a lunatic, a n d we've b e e n sitting h e r e l i s t e n i n g to his ravings. N o w o n d e r h e was k i c k e d o u t o f the U n i v e r s i t y . " " I d o n ' t t h i n k so," 1 d i s a g r e e d . " I t s e e m s far t o o c o m p l e x — " " W a i t a minute, here's a n o t h e r entry,"called T o n y . " ' — D e c e m b e r 7 . ' " F r a n k gave h i m a p r o t e s t i n g l o o k , b u t sat d o w n a g a i n . " ' D e c e m b e r 7 : G o t t h r o u g h . I m a g e faint, b u t c o n t a c t s u f f i c i e n t — b e i n g s aware. S h o w e d m e u n f i n i s h e d t r a n s l a t o r o n t h e i r s i d e — m a y take s o m e t i m e b e f o r e c o m p l e t i o n . Few m o r e days to p e r f e c t i m a g e , t h e n will publicize.' " ' D e c e m b e r 8 : M u s t b e s u r e a b o u t w e a p o n I have c o n s t r u c t e d . Revelations

give r e a s o n f o r use, b u t w a y o f d e a t h is h o r r i b l e . I f u n n e c -

essary, d e f i n i t e l y will destroy. T o n i g h t will find o u t — w i l l call Alala.' "

" W e l l , F r a n k ? " 1 asked as T o n y r e p l a c e d the d i a r y a n d b e g a n to s e a r c h t h e shelves. " C r a z y , m a y b e — b u t called something

there are those s o u n d s — a n d

he

that n i g h t where his d i a r y e n d s — a n d there's that

p e c u l i a r s t u f f all o v e r the b e d — " " B u t h o w will w e k n o w e i t h e r w a y ? " T o n y a s k e d ,

removing

a book. " S e t u p all that p a r a p h e r n a l i a , o b v i o u s l y , and see w h a t c o m e s through on the screen." " I don't k n o w , " T o n y s a i d . " I w a n t to l o o k in t h e Revelations Glaaki—that's

of

w h a t I've g o t h e r e — b u t as f o r t r y i n g it ourselves, I

t h i n k that's g o i n g a bit far. You'll n o t i c e h o w c a r e f u l h e w a s a b o u t it, a n d s o m e t h i n g h a p p e n e d to h i m . "

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" C o m e o n , let's l o o k at t h e b o o k , " i n t e r r u p t e d F r a n k . " T h a t c a n ' t do any harm." T o n y finally o p e n e d it and placed it o n t h e t a b l e . O n t h e p a g e w e e x a m i n e d d i a g r a m s , a n d l e a r n e d t h a t " t h e s c r e e n is a t t a c h e d to t h e c e n t r a l p o r t i o n a n d viewed, w h i l e t h e receiver is d i r e c t e d t o w a r d t h e s o u n d s b e f o r e a t t a c h m e n t . " N o p o w e r was n e c e s s a r y , f o r " t h e v e r y s o u n d s in their p a s s i n g m a n i p u l a t e t h e i n s t r u m e n t . " T h e diag r a m s were c r u d e b u t intelligible, a n d b o t h F r a n k and I were ready to e x p e r i m e n t . B u t T o n y p o i n t e d t o a p a s s a g e at t h e e n d o f t h e section: " T h e i n t e n t i o n s o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f S ' g l h u o are

uncertain.

T h o s e w h o use t h e t r a n s l a t o r w o u l d b e wise to keep by t h e m t h e s t r i n g e d s o u n d i n g - b o a r d , t h e o n l y e a r t h l y w e a p o n to t o u c h S ' g l h u o . For w h e n t h e y b u i l d the t r a n s l a t o r to c o m p l e t e t h e c o n n e x i o n , w h o k n o w s w h a t they m a y b r i n g t h r o u g h with t h e m ? T h e y are a d e p t in c o n c e a l i n g t h e i r i n t e n t i o n s in d r e a m - c o m m u n i c a t i o n ,

and

the

s o u n d i n g - b o a r d s h o u l d b e u s e d at t h e first hostile a c t i o n . " " Y o u s e e ? " Tony said t r i u m p h a n t l y . " T h e s e t h i n g s are u n f r i e n d l y — t h e b o o k says s o . " " O h , n o , it d o e s n ' t , " c o n t r a d i c t e d F r a n k , " a n d a n y w a y it's a load o f b a l l s — l i v i n g s o u n d s , h a h ! B u t j u s t s u p p o s e it w a s t r u e — i f w e g o t t h r o u g h , w e c o u l d c l a i m t h e d i s c o v e r y — a f t e r all, t h e b o o k says you're safe w i t h this ' w e a p o n . ' A n d there's n o r u s h b a c k to t h e University." A r g u m e n t s e n s u e d , b u t finally w e o p e n e d the d o o r s and d r a g g e d the instruments outside. I returned for the sounding-board, noticing h o w r u s t e d it was, a n d T o n y b r o u g h t the v o l u m e o f t h e

Revelations.

W e s t o o d at t h e e d g e o f the a r e a o f s o u n d and placed the receiver a b o u t m i d w a y . T h e s c r e e n was c o n n e c t e d to t h e c e n t r a l s e c t i o n , and at last w e c l i p p e d t h e w i r e f r o m the s c r e e n to the rest. F o r a m i n u t e n o t h i n g h a p p e n e d . T h e s c r e e n stayed b l a n k ; t h e coils and wire d i d n o t r e s p o n d . T o n y l o o k e d a t t h e s o u n d i n g - b o a r d . T h e v i b r a t i o n s had taken o n a s o m e h o w e x p e c t a n t q u a l i t y , as i f a w a r e o f o u r e x p e r i m e n t . A n d t h e n the b l u e light b u l b flickered, a n d an i m age slowly f o r m e d o n the s c r e e n . It was a l a n d s c a p e o f d r e a m . In the b a c k g r o u n d , great glaciers and crystal m o u n t a i n s sparkled, while at their peaks e n o r m o u s s t o n e buildings s t r e t c h e d u p into the m i s t . T h e r e w e r e t r a n s l u c e n t shapes

flitting

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a b o u t t h o s e b u i l d i n g s . B u t the f o r e g r o u n d was m o s t n o t i c e a b l e — t h e s l a n t i n g streets a n d twisted p i l l a r - s u p p o r t e d c o n e s w h i c h f o r m e d a city o n o n e o f t h e i c y m o u n t a i n s . W e c o u l d see n o life in t h e c i t y b r o o d i n g in a sourceless b l u e light; o n l y a g r e a t m a c h i n e o f t u b e s and crystals which s t o o d b e f o r e u s o n t h e street. W h e n a figure rose i n t o t h e s c r e e n , w e recoiled. I felt a c h i l l o f t e r r o r , f o r this w a s o n e o f the city's i n h a b i t a n t s — a n d it w a s not h u m a n . It was t o o t h i n a n d tall, with h u g e p u p i l l e s s e y e s , a n d a s k i n c o v ered with tiny r i p p l i n g s c a l e s . T h e l i n g e r s were b o n e l e s s , a n d 1 felt a s u r g e o f revulsion as t h e w h i t e eyes s t a r e d u n a w a r e in m y d i r e c t i o n . B u t I s o m e h o w felt that this was an i n t e l l i g e n t b e i n g , a n d n o t d e f i n i t e l y hostile. T h e b e i n g t o o k o u t o f its m e t a l l i c r o b e a t h i n r o d , w h i c h it held vertically a n d s t r o k e d several t i m e s . W h a t e v e r the p r i n c i p l e , this m u s t h a v e b e e n a s u m m o n s , f o r in a f e w m i n u t e s a c r o w d had f o r m e d a b o u t the i n s t r u m e n t in t h e s t r e e t . W h a t f o l l o w e d m a y o n l y h a v e b e e n their m e t h o d o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n , b u t 1 f o u n d it h o r r i b l e ; they s t o o d in a c i r c l e and their f i n g e r s s t r e t c h e d fully two feet to i n t e r l a c e in t h e c e n t e r . T h e y d i s p e r s e d a f t e r a s h o r t t i m e and spread o u t , a s m a l l g r o u p r e m a i n i n g by the m a c h i n e . " L o o k at that t h i n g in the s t r e e t , " said T o n y . " D o you s u p p o s e — " " N o t now," F r a n k , w h o w a s w a t c h i n g in f a s c i n a t i o n , i n t e r r u p t e d . "1 d o n ' t k n o w if it'd be b e t t e r to s w i t c h o f f n o w a n d get s o m e o n e d o w n f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y — n o hell, let's w a t c h a b i t l o n g e r . T o t h i n k that we're watching a n o t h e r world!" T h e g r o u p a r o u n d the m a c h i n e were t u r n i n g it, a n d a t that m o m e n t a set o f t h r e e t u b e s c a m e i n t o view, p o i n t i n g s t r a i g h t at us. O n e o f the b e i n g s w e n t to a s w i t c h b o a r d and c l u t c h e d a lever with l o n g t w i n i n g fingers. T o n y b e g a n to s p e a k , b u t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y 1 realized what he was thinking. " F r a n k , " I s h o u t e d , " t h a t ' s their t r a n s l a t o r ! T h e y ' r e g o i n g to m a k e the c o n n e x i o n ! " " D o you t h i n k I'd b e t t e r s w i t c h o f f , t h e n ? " " B u t s u p p o s e that's not e n o u g h ? " yelled T o n y . " D o you w a n t t h e m t o c o m e t h r o u g h w i t h o u t k n o w i n g w h a t t h e y ' l l d o ? You r e a d t h e b o o k — f o r G o d ' s s a k e u s e the w e a p o n b e f o r e it's t o o late!" His hysteria affected us all. F r a n k ran t o t h e s o u n d i n g - b o a r d and

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g r a b b e d the lever. I w a t c h e d t h e b e i n g o n t h e m a c h i n e , and saw t h a t it was n e a r l y r e a d y to c o m p l e t e the c o n n e x i o n . " W h y a r e n ' t you d o i n g a n y t h i n g ? " T o n y s c r e a m e d a t F r a n k . H e called b a c k : " T h e lever w o n ' t m o v e ! M u s t b e rust in t h e w o r k s — q u i c k . Les, see if you c a n get t h e m u n s t u c k . " I r a n o v e r and b e g a n to s c r a p e at t h e g e a r s w i t h a knife. A c c i d e n tally t h e b l a d e s l i p p e d and t w a n g e d a c r o s s t h e s t r i n g s . " T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g f o r m i n g , I c a n ' t q u i t e see," T o n y s a i d — F r a n k was s t r a i n i n g s o hard at t h e lever that I was a f r a i d it would s n a p — t h e n it j e r k e d free, the gears m o v e d , t h e p l e c t r u m c y l i n d e r s p u n and an a t r o c i o u s s o u n d c a m e from t h e s t r i n g s . It w a s a s c r a p i n g , w h i n i n g d i s c o r d w h i c h c l a w e d at o u r ears; it b l o t t e d o u t t h o s e o t h e r s o u n d s , and I c o u l d not h a v e s t o o d it f o r long. T h e n T o n y s c r e a m e d . We whirled to see h i m k i c k in t h e s c r e e n a n d s t a m p f e r o c i o u s l y o n the wires, still s h r i e k i n g . F r a n k s h o u t e d a t h i m — a n d as h e t u r n e d w e s a w t h e s l a c k n e s s o f his m o u t h a n d t h e saliva d r o o l i n g d o w n his c h i n . W e finally l o c k e d h i m in t h e b a c k r o o m o f t h e h o u s e while w e f o u n d o u r w a y b a c k to B r i c h e s t e r . W e t o l d t h e d o c t o r s o n l y that h e had b e c o m e s e p a r a t e d from us, a n d that by t h e t i m e we f o u n d h i m e v e r y t h i n g was a s t h e y saw it. W h e n they r e m o v e d T o n y f r o m t h e h o u s e , F r a n k t o o k t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to tear a few p a g e s o u t o f Revelations

of Glaaki.

The

P e r h a p s b e c a u s e o f this, t h e t e a m o f B r i c h e s t e r

p r o f e s s o r s a n d o t h e r s s t u d y i n g c o n d i t i o n s t h e r e are m a k i n g little p r o g r e s s . F r a n k and 1 will n e v e r g o t h e r e again; the e v e n t s o f t h a t a f t e r n o o n have left t o o d e e p a m a r k . O f c o u r s e , they affected T o n y far m o r e . H e is c o m p l e t e l y i n s a n e , a n d t h e d o c t o r s foresee n o r e c o v e r y . At h i s worst h e is t o t a l l y i n c o h e r e n t , and

attacks anyone w h o cannot satisfactorily explain

every

s o u n d h e hears. H e gives n o i n d i c a t i o n in his c o h e r e n t p e r i o d s o f w h a t d r o v e h i m m a d . Fie i m a g i n e s h e s a w s o m e t h i n g m o r e o n t h a t s c r e e n , b u t n e v e r d e s c r i b e s w h a t h e saw. O c c a s i o n a l l y h e refers to t h e o b j e c t h e t h i n k s h e saw. O v e r t h e years h e has m e n t i o n e d details w h i c h w o u l d suggest s o m e t h i n g i n c r e d i b l y a l i e n , b u t o f c o u r s e it m u s t have b e e n s o m e t h i n g e l s e w h i c h u n b a l a n c e d h i m . H e s p e a k s o f " t h e s n a i l h o r n s , " " t h e b l u e crystall i n e l e n s e s , " " t h e m o b i l i t y o f t h e faces," " t h e living flame a n d water,"

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"the bell-shaped appendages," and "the c o m m o n

head o f

many

bodies." B u t t h e s e p e r i o d s o f c o m p a r a t i v e c o h e r e n c y d o n o t last long. Usually they e n d w h e n a l o o k o f h o r r o r s p r e a d s o v e r his lace, h e stiffe n s a n d s c r e a m s s o m e t h i n g w h i c h h e h a s not yet e x p l a i n e d : " I s a w w h a t it t o o k f r o m its v i c t i m s ! / saw victims!"

what

it look from

its

The S t o n e on the Island Ramsey Campbell

r r i v i n g h o m o that n i g h t , M i c h a e l N a s h t h o u g h t at first that h i s father was asleep. Dr. S t a n l e y N a s h , his father, w a s lying b a c k in an a r m c h a i r in t h e l i v i n g - r o o m . O n t h e t a b l e b e s i d e h i m s t o o d an e m p t y glass, p r o p p i n g u p a sealed e n v e l o p e , a n d n e a r t h e s e lay a l i b r a r y b o o k . It was all quite ordinary, and Michael o n l y glanced at h i m before entering the k i t c h e n in s e a r c h o f c o f f e e . Fifteen m i n u t e s later h e tried to w a k e h i s father, and realized w h a t t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e glass m u s t have b e e n . N a s h s e n s e d the e v e n t s o f t h e n e x t f e w days with n u m b e d nerves. W h i l e h e realized t h a t a n y f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e h e m i g h t give w o u l d b e disbelieved, h e h e a r d t h e w o r d s " s u i c i d e w h i l e the b a l a n c e o f t h e m i n d w a s d i s t u r b e d " with a feeling o f g u i l t ; he fingered t h a t e n v e l o p e in his p o c k e t , b u t f o r c e d h i m s e l f to keep it t h e r e . A f t e r t h a t a r r i v e d t h o s e p e o p l e w h o saw the a d m i r a t i o n o f Nash's m e d i c a l ability a s a p r e t e x t for t a k i n g a h a l f - d a y o f f w o r k ; t h e n the largely i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e f u n e r a l s e r v i c e , t h e rattle o f e a r t h o n w o o d , a n d t h e faster j o u r ney home. V a r i o u s d u t i e s p r e v e n t e d M i c h a e l f r o m e x a m i n i n g his f a t h e r ' s p a p e r s u n t i l O c t o b e r 2 7 , 1 9 6 2 . H e m i g h t n o t have p l u n g e d i n t o t h e m e v e n t h e n b u t f o r t h e explicit i n j u n c t i o n in his f a t h e r ' s final n o t e . T h u s it w a s t h a t as t h e s u n flamed r e d l y o n t h e w i n d o w s o f G l a d s t o n e Place, N a s h sat in t h e s t u d y o f N o . 6 , with t h e e n v e l o p e b e f o r e h i m o n t h e d e s k a n d the e n c l o s e d sheet spread o u t f o r r e a d i n g . " M y recent research" ( M i c h a e l read) " h a s pried into

regions

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w h o s e d a n g e r I did n o t realize. You k n o w e n o u g h o f t h e s e h i d d e n f o r c e s w h i c h I have a t t e m p t e d to d e s t r o y to s e e that, in c e r t a i n cases, d e a t h is the o n l y w a y o u t . S o m e t h i n g has fastened i t s e l f u p o n m e , b u t I will s u i c i d e b e f o r e its highest p i t c h o f p o t e n c y is r e a c h e d . It has to d o with t h e island b e y o n d S e v e r n f o r d , and my n o t e s a n d d i a r y will f u r n i s h m o r e d e t a i l s t h a n I have t i m e to give. I f y o u w a n t to c a r r y o n m y w o r k , c o n f i n e y o u r s e l f to o t h e r p o w e r s — a n d take m y case as a w a r n i n g n o t to g o t o o far." T h a t w a s all; and n o d o u b t m a n y p e o p l e w o u l d h a v e t o r n u p t h e letter. B u t M i c h a e l N a s h k n e w e n o u g h o f t h e b a s i s o f h i s f a t h e r ' s b e liefs n o t to t r e a t t h e m lightly; i n d e e d , he held t h e s a m e c r e e d s . F r o m an e a r l y a g e h e had read h i s f a t h e r ' s s e c r e t l i b r a r y o f r a r e b o o k s , and f r o m t h e s e had a c q u i r e d an a w a r e n e s s w h i c h t h e m a j o r i t y o f p e o p l e n e v e r possess. Even in t h e m o d e r n office b u i l d i n g w h e r e he w o r k e d o r in the c r o w d e d streets o f c e n t r a l B r i c h e s t e r , h e c o u l d s e n s e t h i n g s d r i f t i n g invisibly w h o s e e x i s t e n c e the c r o w d n e v e r s u s p e c t e d , and h e k n e w v e r y well o f t h e h i d d e n f o r c e s w h i c h c l u s t e r e d a b o u t a h o u s e in V i c t o r i a R o a d , a d e m o l i s h e d wall a t t h e b o t t o m o f M e r c y Hill, and s u c h t o w n s as C l o t t o n , T e m p h i l l and G o a t s w o o d . S o he did n o t s c o f f at his f a t h e r ' s last n o t e , b u t o n l y t u r n e d to the p r i v a t e p a p e r s kept in t h e study. In the desk d r a w e r h e f o u n d t h e r e l e v a n t d o c u m e n t s , inside a file c o v e r c o v e r t l y r e m o v e d f r o m h i s o f f i c e b u i l d i n g . T h e file c o n t a i n e d a p h o t o g r a p h o f the island b e y o n d S e v e r n f o r d by d a y l i g h t , s n a p p e d f r o m the S e v e r n b a n k and h e n c e u n d e t a i l e d ; a n o t h e r

photograph,

t a k e n b y a m e m b e r o f the S o c i e t y for Psychical R e s e a r c h , o f t h e island with d i m w h i t e ovals f l o a t i n g a b o v e it, m o r e likely r e f l e c t i o n s o n t h e c a m e r a l e n s t h a n p s y c h i c m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , b u t i n e x p l i c a b l e e n o u g h to b e r e p o r t e d in the Brichester

Weekly

News];

and several s h e e t s

of

n o t e p a p e r i n s c r i b e d in v a r i - c o l o u r e d inks. T o t h e s e p a g e s M i c h a e l turned. T h e w r i t i n g c o n s i s t e d o f a d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e island

and

a

c h r o n o l o g y o f v a r i o u s e v e n t s c o n n e c t e d with it. " A p p r o x . 2 0 0 ft. a c r o s s , r o u g h l y c i r c u l a r . Little vegetation e x c e p t s h o r t g r a s s . R u i n s o f R o m a n t e m p l e to u n n a m e d d e i t y a t c e n t r e o f island ( t o p o f s l i g h t h i l l ) . O p p . s i d e o f hill f r o m S e v e r n f o r d , a b o u t 3 5 ft. d o w n , a r t i f i c i a l h o l l o w e x t e n d i n g b a c k 10 ft. a n d c o n t a i n i n g s t o n e . " I s l a n d c o n t i n u o u s l y site o f place o f w o r s h i p . Poss. p r e - R o m a n

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nature deity (stone predates R o m a n o c c u p a t i o n ) ; then R o m a n temple b u i l t . In m e d i e v a l t i m e s w i t c h s u p p o s e d to live o n island. In 1 7 t h c e n . w i t c h c u l t m e t t h e r e a n d i n v o k e d w a t e r e l e m e n t a l s . In all c a s e s s t o n e avoided. Circa 1 7 9 0 witchcult disbanded, but stray believers c o n t i n u e d to visit. " 1 8 0 3 : J o s e p h N o r t o n to island t o w o r s h i p . F o u n d s o o n a f t e r in Sevemford, mutilated and raving about 'going too near t o stone.' D i e d s a m e day. "1804:

Recurring stories o f pale o b j e c t

floating

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island.

Vaguely g l o b u l a r a n d i n e x p l i c a b l y d i s t u r b i n g . " 1 8 2 6 : Nevili R a v n e r , c l e r g y m a n at S e v e m f o r d , to island ('I m u s t rid m y flock o f this e v i l ' ) . F o u n d in c h u r c h the d a y after, alive b u t mutilated. " 1 8 3 6 : A t t e m p t by u n k n o w n t r a m p to steal b o a t a n d s p e n d n i g h t o n island. R e t u r n s f r a n t i c a l l y to S e v e m f o r d , b u t will o n l y say s o m e t h i n g had ' f l u t t e r e d at h i m ' as he g r o u n d e d the b o a t . " 1 8 6 6 : P r o s t i t u t e s t r a n g l e d a n d d u m p e d o n island, b u t r e g a i n s c o n s c i o u s n e s s . Taken ofl" b y p a r t y o f d o c k s i d e w o r k e r s and t r a n s p o r t e d t o B r i c h e s t e r C e n t r a l H o s p i t a l . T w o days later f o u n d h o r r i b l y m u t i l a t e d in h o s p i t a l w a r d . A t t a c k e r n e v e r d i s c o v e r e d . " 1 8 7 0 : o n w a r d : R e c r u d e s c e n c e o f r u m o u r s a b o u t pale g l o b e s o n island. " 1 8 9 0 : Alan T h o r p e , i n v e s t i g a t i n g local c u s t o m s , visits island. R e m o v e s a s t o n e a n d t a k e s it to L o n d o n . T h r e e days later is f o u n d w o u n d e d h o r r i b l y — a n d s t o n e is b a c k o n island. "1930:

Brichester

University

students

visit

island.

One

is

s t r a n d e d b y o t h e r s as a j o k e . Taken o f f in m o r n i n g in hysterical c o n d i t i o n o v e r s o m e t h i n g h e h a s s e e n . F o u r days later r u n s s c r e a m i n g f r o m M e r c y Hill F l o s p i t a l , a n d is run over. M u t i l a t i o n s n o t all a c counted for b y car accident. " T o d a t e n o m o r e visits to i s l a n d — g e n e r a l l y s h u n n e d . "

S o m u c h f o r the h i s t o r i c a l d a t a ; n o w N a s h h u n t e d for t h e d i a r y to clarity this s y n o p s i s . B u t t h e d i a r y w a s n o t to be f o u n d in the study, n o r i n d e e d in t h e h o u s e , a n d he had l e a r n e d v e r y little a b o u t the island. B u t w h a t he had l e a r n e d d i d n o t s e e m p a r t i c u l a r l y f r i g h t e n i n g .

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After all, p e r h a p s his f a t h e r had " g o n e l o o n e a r t h e s t o n e , " w h a t e v e r t h a t m e a n t , w h i c h h e w a s n o t g o i n g to d o ; f u r t h e r , h e w o u l d take s o m e o f the

five-pointed

s t o n e s f r o m t h e study c u p b o a r d ; a n d t h e r e

was always the S a a a m a a a R i t u a l if t h i n g s g o t t o o d a n g e r o u s . H e m o s t c e r t a i n l y m u s t g o , f o r this t h i n g o n the island had d r i v e n his f a t h e r to p o i s o n h i m s e l f , and m i g h t d o w o r s e if n o t s t o p p e d . It was d a r k now, a n d h e d i d n o t i n t e n d to m a k e a n o c t u r n a l trip; b u t t o m o r r o w , S u n day, h e w o u l d h i r e a b o a t a n d visit t h e island. O n the edge o f the d o c k s next day he found a small hut ( " H i r e a b o a t a n d s e e the S e v e r n a t its b e s t ! " ) w h e r e h e paid 7/6 a n d w a s h e l p e d i n t o a r a t h e r wet, r a t h e r u n p a i n t e d m o t o r b o a t . H e s p u n t h e wheel and hissed t h r o u g h the w a t e r . U p r i v e r t h e island c l i m b e d into view a n d r u s h e d a t h i m . At t h e t o p o f its hill s t o o d an isolated fragm e n t o f t e m p l e wall, b u t o t h e r w i s e it w a s o n l y a g r e e n d o m e r o u n d w h i c h water rippled, w i t h f a i n t c o n n o t a t i o n s o f a w o m a n in t h e b a t h . H e twisted the w h e e l and t h e island h u r r i e d to o n e side. T h e b o a t r o u n d e d t h e verdant tip; h e s w i t c h e d o f f the m o t o r , p u l l e d t h e b o a t i n s h o r e and g r o u n d e d it; h e l o o k e d u p , and t h e r e , g l i m m e r i n g f a i n t l y f r o m the s h a d o w ) ' h o l l o w , was the s t o n e . It was c a r v e d o f s o m e w h i t e r o c k , in the s h a p e o f a g l o b e s u p p o r t e d by a s m a l l pillar. N a s h n o t i c e d a t o n c e its v a g u e l y l u m i n o u s q u a l i t y ; it s e e m e d to flicker d i m l y , a l m o s t a s if c o n t i n u a l l y a p p e a r i n g a n d v a n i s h i n g . A n d it l o o k e d v e r y h a r m l e s s a n d p u r p o s e l e s s . F u r t h e r u p the hill h e m o m e n t a r i l y t h o u g h t s o m e t h i n g pale wavered; b u t h i s sharp glance caught nothing. His h a n d c l o s e d o n the

five-pointed

star he carried, but he did

n o t d r a w it o u t . I n s t e a d , a s u d d e n feeling e n g u l f e d h i m that h e c o u l d n o t a p p r o a c h that s t o n e , t h a t he was physically i n c a p a b l e o f d o i n g so. H e c o u l d n o t m o v e h i s f o o t — b u t , w i t h a g r e a t e f f o r t , h e m a n a g e d to lift it a n d take a s t e p f o r w a r d . H e f o r c e d h i m s e l f t o w a r d the s t o n e , a n d s u c c e e d e d in p u s h i n g h i m s e l f w i t h i n a f o o t o f it. However, w h i l e h e m i g h t h a v e r e a c h e d it, h e was u n a b l e to t o u c h it. H i s h a n d c o u l d not

reach o u t — b u t

he s t r a i n e d it o u t

trembling, and

one

fin-

g e r p o k e d t h e hard s u r f a c e . A s h i v e r o f c o l d r a n u p h i s a r m , a n d t h a t was all. I m m e d i a t e l y h e k n e w t h a t he had d o n e the w r o n g t h i n g . T h e whole place seemed t o grow dark and cold, and s o m e w h e r e there was a f a i n t s h i f t i n g n o i s e . W i t h o u t k n o w i n g why, N a s h t h r e w h i m s e l f

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b a c k f r o m Ihe s t o n e a n d s t u m b l e d d o w n the hill to t h e b o a t . H e s t a r t e d t h e m o t o r , s l a m m e d the w h e e l left a n d c u t away t h r o u g h t h e w a t e r — a n d n o t u n t i l t h e island had d r o p p e d o u t o f sight did he b e g i n to a p p r o a c h the b a n k .

" Y o u d i d n ' t have to c o m e b a c k to w o r k s o s o o n , y o u k n o w . " " I k n o w . " N a s h said, " b u t I t h i n k I'll feel b e t t e r h e r e , " a n d h e c r o s s e d to his d e s k . T h e p o s t had m o u n t e d u p , h e n o t e d disgustedly, t h o u g h t h e r e were few e n o u g h p i e c e s to suggest t h a t s o m e o n e had tried to help h i m o u t — G l o r i a , p r o b a b l y . H e b e g a n t o s o r t t h e b i t s o f p a p e r into o r d e r ; A m b r o s e D i c k e n s , F. M . D o n n e l l y , H . D y c k , E r n e s t E a r l — a n d h a v i n g m a r r i e d the post with t h e relevant

files,

h e sat

d o w n a g a i n . T h e first o n e o n l y r e q u i r e d issue o f a f o r m , b u t o n e o f which he had no stock. " B a a l , " h e r e m a r k e d to s o m e p e r v e r s e deity, and i m m e d i a t e l y aft e r w a r d d i s c o v e r e d that G l o r i a a l s o l a c k e d the f o r m . A s e a r c h a r o u n d t h e o f f i c e g a i n e d h i m five o r s i x , b u t t h e s e w o u l d n o t last l o n g . " I t h i n k this c a l l s f o r a trip d o w n s t a i r s , " he r e m a r k e d to G l o r i a . " N o t today," s h e i n f o r m e d h i m . " S i n c e y o u ' v e b e e n away, they've b r o u g h t in a n e w a r r a n g e m e n t — e v e r y b o d y m a k e s o u t a list o f w h a t t h e y w a n t , a n d o n W e d n e s d a y s o n e p e r s o n g o e s d o w n a n d g e t s t h e lot. T h e rest o f the t i m e t h e s t o r e r o o m is locked." " G r e a t , " said N a s h resignedly, " s o w e have to h a n g o n f o r t h r e e d a y s . . . W h a t else has h a p p e n e d ? " " W e l l , you've n o t i c e d the n e w arrival o v e r t h e r e — h e r

name's

J a c k i e — a n d t h e r e ' s s o m e o n e n e w o n the third floor t o o . D o n ' t k n o w h i s n a m e , b u t he likes f o r e i g n films, s o J o h n g o t t a l k i n g to h i m a t once of c o u r s e . . . . " " J a c k i e — " h e m u s e d . " . . . O h hell, t h a t r e m i n d s m e ! I ' m s u p p o s e d to b e c a l l i n g o n J a c k P u r v i s t o d a y w h e r e he w o r k s in C a m s i d e , to c o l l e c t s o m e m o n e y h e o w e s m e ! " " W e l l , w h a t a r e y o u g o i n g to d o ? " " T a k e t h e a f t e r n o o n o f f , m a y b e — " a n d h e b e g a n to fill in h i s leave s h e e t . H e passed t h e n e w girl's d e s k w h e r e J o h n w a s u n s u c c e s s fully a t t e m p t i n g to d i s c o v e r a n y i n t e r e s t in C o n t i n e n t a l films ( " N o ,

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I n g m u r " ) and c o n t i n u e d to a s l i g h t a r g u m e n t with M r . F a b e r o v e r his p r o j e c t e d leave, finally g r a n t e d b e c a u s e o f his r e c e n t b e r e a v e m e n t . T h a t a f t e r n o o n he c o l l e c t e d the d e b t in C a m s i d e a n d c a u g h t t h e b u s h o m e . It w a s d a r k by t h e t i m e t h e vehicle d r e w u p at t h e b o t t o m o f M e r c y Hill, a n d the s t r e e t s were a l m o s t d e s e r t e d . As he c l i m b e d t h e hill his f o o t s t e p s c l a t t e r e d b a c k f r o m t h e t h r e e - s t o r y walls, a n d h e slipped o n t h e frost w h i c h was b e g i n n i n g to g l i s t e n in the p a v e m e n t ' s p o r e s . L u n a r sickles e c h o e d f r o m G l a d s t o n e Place's w i n d o w a n d slid f r o m t h e p a n e s o f t h e f r o n t d o o r a s h e o p e n e d it. H e h u n g u p his c o a t , g a t h e r e d t h e e n v e l o p e s f r o m the d o o r m a t a n d , p e e l i n g

one

o p e n , e n t e r e d t h e l i v i n g - r o o m a n d s w i t c h e d o n the light. H e s a w i m m e d i a t e l y t h e face w a t c h i n g h i m b e t w e e n t h e c u r t a i n s . For a m i n u t e N'ash c o n s i d e r e d the c o u r s e s o p e n to h i m . H e c o u l d t u r n a n d r u n f r o m the h o u s e , b u t the i n t r u d e r would b e free in t h e b u i l d i n g — a n d b e s i d e s h e d i d n o t like to t u r n his b a c k . T h e t e l e p h o n e was in t h e study, and h e n c e inaccessible. H e saw the o n e r e m a i n i n g c o u r s e in detail, c a m e o u t o f his t r a n c e a n d , g r a b b i n g a p o k e r f r o m t h e fireplace,

slowly a p p r o a c h e d t h e c u r t a i n s , s t a r i n g into t h e o t h e r ' s eyes.

" C o m e o u t , " h e said, " o r I'll split y o u r head w i t h this. I m e a n that." T h e eyes w a t c h e d h i m u n m o v i n g , and t h e r e was n o m o t i o n u n der the curtain. " I f you don't c o m e out n o w — " Nash warned again. He waited for s o m e m o v e m e n t , then he swung the p o k e r at t h e p o i n t b e h i n d the c u r t a i n w h e r e h e j u d g e d t h e m a n ' s s t o m a c h to b e . T h e r e was n o r e s p o n s e f r o m t h e f a c e , b u t a t i n k l e o f g l a s s s o u n d e d . C o n f u s e d , N a s h p o i s e d the p o k e r a g a i n a n d , w i t h his o t h e r h a n d , w r e n c h e d the c u r t a i n s a p a r t . T h e n he screamed. T h e face h u n g t h e r e for a m o m e n t t h e n fluttered o u t t h r o u g h t h e broken pane. N e x t m o r n i n g , a f t e r a sleepless and h e r m e t i c night, N a s h d e c i d e d to g o to the o f f i c e . O n the bus, a f t e r a j o l t o f m e m o r y c a u s e d by t h e c o n d u c t o r ' s pale r e f l e c t i o n , h e c o u l d n o t a v o i d t h o u g h t s o f last night's e v e n t s . T h a t t h e y were c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i s l a n d b e y o n d S e v e r n f o r d

he

did n o t d o u b t ; h e had a c t e d u n w i s e l y there, b u t n o w h e k n e w to b e

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wary. Ho m u s t take e v e r y p r e c a u t i o n , a n d t h a t w a s w h y he was w o r k i n g today; to b a r r i c a d e his s a n i t y a g a i n s t the i n t e r l o p e r . H e c a r r i e d a five-pointed

star in his p o c k e t , and c l u t c h e d it a s h e left t h e b u s .

T h e lift c a u g h t h i m u p and raised h i m to the f o u r t h floor. H e ret u r n e d g r e e t i n g s a u t o m a t i c a l l y a s h e passed d e s k s , b u t his face stiffe n e d a n y a t t e m p t e d s m i l e , a n d h e was s u r e that e v e r y b o d y w o n d e r e d " W h a t ' s w r o n g w i t h M i k e this m o r n i n g ? " H a n g i n g u p his c o a t , h e g l a n c e d at t h e t e a p o t , and r e m e m b e r e d t h a t h e and G l o r i a were to m a k e it t h a t week. M a n y o f t h e files o n h i s desk, he saw bitterly, r e l a t e d to c a s e s n e e d i n g t h a t elusive f o r m . H e w a n d e r e d d o w n to the third floor, b o r r o w e d a f e w copies, and o n the w a y o u t n o t i c e d s o m e o n e ' s b a c k view w h i c h s e e m e d u n f a m i l i a r — t h e n e w arrival, h e realized, and h e a d e d f o r the lift. " W e l l , " G l o r i a b r o k e in s o m e t i m e later, " I ' d b e t t e r c o l l e c t t h e cups." N a s h c o l l e c t e d the t e a p o t a n d f o l l o w e d h e r o u t . I n a r o o m at t h e e n d o f t h e passage w a t e r b u b b l e d in a header, a n d t h e r o o m ' s d o o r way gaped

lightlessly. His t h o u g h t s t u r n e d to h i s p o c k e t as

he

s w i t c h e d o n the light. T h e y filled u p t h e p o t a n d t r a n s f e r r e d the tea to the cups. " I ' l l take o u r e n d o f t h e o f f i c e , " h e r e m a r k e d , and b a l a n c e d t h e tray into the office. T w o f a c e s were pressed a g a i n s t the w i n d o w , s t a r i n g in a t h i m . H e m a n a g e d to save the tray, but o n e c u p t o p p l e d and i n u n d a t e d M r . F a b e r ' s d e s k . " S o r r y — I ' m s o r r y — h e r e , let m e m o p it up, q u i c k , " h e said h u r r i e d l y , a n d the f a c e s r i p p l e d h o r r i b l y in a stray b r e e z e . T h i n k i n g in a m u d d l e d w a y o f t h e t h i n g s o u t s i d e t h e w i n d o w , t h e p e n t a c l e in h i s p o c k e t , a n d t h e disgust o f M r . F a b e r ' s client o n receiving teastained c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , he splashed the tray t o the r e m a i n i n g d e s k s a n d p o s i t i o n e d his a n d G l o r i a ' s c u p s a t o p t h e i r beermats. H e glared f o r a m i n u t e i n t o the bizarrely-set eyes b e y o n d the p a n e , n o t i c e d a pigeon p e r c h e d o n t h e o p p o s i t e r o o f , and t u r n e d to G l o r i a . " W h a t ' s w r o n g with t h a t p i g e o n ? " he i n q u i r e d , p o i n t i n g with an u n steady finger. T h e faces m u s t b l o c k a n y view o f the bird f r o m h e r desk. " W h a t , that o n e o v e r there? I d o n ' t see a n y t h i n g w r o n g with it," she replied, l o o k i n g s t r a i g h t t h r o u g h t h e faces.

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" O h , I . . . t h o u g h t it w a s i n j u r e d , " a n s w e r e d Nash, u n a b l e to f r a m e a n y f u r t h e r r e m a r k (Am

I going

mad

or what?)—and

t h e tele-

p h o n e r a n g . G l o r i a g l a n c e d a t h i m q u e s t i o n i n g l y , t h e n lifted t h e receiver. " G o o d m o r n i n g , c a n I help y o u ? " s h e asked and s c r i b b l e d o n a s c r a p o f paper. " A n d y o u r initials? Yes, h o l d o n a m i n u t e , p l e a s e . . . G . F. E. D i c k m a n ' s o n e o f y o u r s , isn't it, M i k e ? " " W h a t . . . O h , yes," and he e x t r a c t e d the file a n d , o n e eye o n t h e s i l e n t w a t c h e r s o u t s i d e , r e t u r n e d to his d e s k . ( F o r G o d ' s sake, t h e y ' r e o n l y l o o k i n g . . . n o t doing

anything!) " H e l l o — M r . Dickman?"

" . . . M y . . . m a r r i e d r e c e n t l y . . . " filtered t h r o u g h office m u r m u r a n d client's m u m b l e . " W o u l d y o u like to s p e a k u p , please? I ' m afraid I c a n ' t h e a r y o u . " T h e f a c e s wavered t o w a r d t h e p o i n t w h e r e his g a z e w a s r e s o l u t e l y fixed. " M y son D a — " " C o u l d y o u repeat y o u r son's n a m e , p l e a s e ? " T h e f a c e s f o l l o w e d his turtive glance. " W h a t ' d you say?" " C o u l d you repeat " M y s o n David

that please!" (Leave m e a l o n e you bastards!) I s a i d ! I f I'd k n o w n this w a s all I'd get, I'd o f

c o m e round meselfi" " W e l l , I m i g h t suggest t h a t t h e n e x t t i m e y o u call, y o u take a f e w elocution lessons

first!—Hello?"...

F i e let t h e receiver c l i c k b a c k list-

lessly, a n d t h e faces w e r e c a u g h t by t h e w i n d and f l a p p e d away o v e r the rooftops. Gloria said: " O h , Mike, what did you d o ? " T h e rest o f the

morning

passed

quickly and

unpleasantly.

M r . F a b e r b e c a m e e m p h a t i c o v e r t h e c o r r e c t w a y to t r e a t c l i e n t s , a n d several p e o p l e s t o p p e d in p a s s i n g to r e m a r k t h a t t h e y w i s h e d t h e y h a d t h e c o u r a g e t o a n s w e r c a l l s t h a t way. ( " E v e r y o n e s e e m s t o have forgotten a b o u t y o u r father," said G l o r i a . ) But o n e o ' c l o c k arr i v e d a t last, a n d N a s h left f o r t h e c a n t e e n . H e still l o o k e d a r o u n d s h a r p l y a t e v e r y r e f l e c t i o n in a p l a t e g l a s s w i n d o w , b u t m a n a g e d to f o r g e t t e m p o r a r i l y in a s e a r c h a r o u n d t h e b o o k s h o p s f o r a n e w L a w r e n c e D u r r e l l , w i t h t h e a w a r e n e s s o f his p o c k e t ' s c o n t e n t s c o m forting him. At t w o o ' c l o c k h e r e t u r n e d to t h e o f f i c e . At t h r e e he m a n a g e d to t r a n s p o r t t h e tray w i t h o u t m i s h a p ; at f o u r , u n k n o w n t o Nash, a

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still e n r a g e d G . F. E. D i c k m a n a r r i v e d , a n d a l f o u r - t h i r t y left, a little mollified. A few m i n u t e s later a p h o n e m e s s a g e c a m e f r o m M r . Miller. " W e l l , M r . N a s h . " said M r . Miller, s i t t i n g b a c k in his chair, " I believe y o u had a little t r o u b l e this m o r n i n g . W i t h a M r . D i c k m a n , I t h i n k . I h e a r y o u g o t a b i t i m p a t i e n t with h i m . " " I ' m a f r a i d t h a t ' s true," N a s h a g r e e d . " Y o u see, h e w a s m u m b l i n g s o m u c h I c o u l d n ' t m a k e it o u t , a n d h e g o t d i s a g r e e a b l e w h e n I a s k e d h i m to s p e a k u p . " " A h . . . yes, I k n o w , " M r . M i l l e r i n t e r r u p t e d , " b u t I t h i n k y o u said a little m o r e t o h i m t h a n t h a t . E r — a b u s i v e l a n g u a g e . Well, n o w I k n o w I feel m y s e l f like saying a f e w t h i n g s to s o m e o f t h e p e o p l e w h o p h o n e , b u t 1 feel t h i s isn't t h e w a y . . . Is s o m e t h i n g t h e m a t t e r ? " H e f o l l o w e d N a s h ' s g a z e to t h e w i n d o w a n d t u r n e d b a c k to h i m . " A n y thing wrong?" " N o . . . no, n o t h i n g at all." (Three

now? G o d , how many o f them

are t h e r e ? ) " W e l l , as I w a s s a y i n g , there's a r i g h t a n d a w r o n g w a y to h a n d l e c l i e n t s . 1 k n o w ' t h e c u s t o m e r is always r i g h t ' is a s t o c k

phrase—it

o f t e n isn't t r u e here anyway, as y o u k n o w — b u t w e m u s t t r y and a v o i d a n y d i r e c t o f f e n c e . T h a t o n l y leads to ill feeling, and that w o n ' t d o a n y b o d y a n y g o o d . N o w I had M r . D i c k m a n a r o u n d here this a f t e r n o o n , and I f o u n d it q u i t e h a r d to s m o o t h h i m d o w n . I h o p e I w o n ' t h a v e to d o it a g a i n . " "Yes, I realize h o w y o u feel," N a s h a n s w e r e d , p e e r i n g f r a n t i c a l l y a t the window, " b u t you must understand m y situation." " W h a t s i t u a t i o n is t h a t ? " " W e l l , s i n c e m y f a t h e r died. T h a t is, t h e w a y h e d i e d — " " O h , o f c o u r s e 1 realize t h a t , b u t really you c a n ' t m a k e it t h e e x cuse for everything." " W e l l , if that's y o u r s t u p i d o p i n i o n — ! " M r . M i l l e r l o o k e d u p , b u t said n o t h i n g . "All r i g h t , " N a s h said w e a r i l y . " I ' m sorry, b u t — y o u k n o w — " " O f c o u r s e , " M r . M i l l e r replied coldly. " B u t I w o u l d ask y o u to u s e a little m o r e tact in t h e f u t u r e . " S o m e t h i n g w h i t e b o b b e d o u t s i d e t h e p a n e and d i s a p p e a r e d in the distance.

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T h a i n i g h t , d e s p i t e t h e strain o f t h e day, Nash slept. H e w o k e freq u e n t l y f r o m o d d d r e a m s o f the s t o n e a n d o f h i s f a t h e r w i t h s o m e mutilation

he could

never

remember

on

waking. But when

he

b o a r d e d t h e bus the n e x t d a y he felt few q u a l m s w h e n h e r e m e m b e r e d the h a u n t e r s ; h e was m o r e d i s t u r b e d b y t h e t e n s i o n h e w a s b u i l d i n g u p in the o f f i c e . After all, i f t h e f a c e s were c o n f i n i n g t h e m selves to m e n t a l t o r t u r e , h e was g r o w i n g a l m o s t u s e d to t h e m b y now. T h e i r a l i e n n e s s repulsed h i m , b u t h e c o u l d b e a r t o l o o k a t t h e m ; and i f they c o u l d a t t a c k h i m physically, s u r e l y t h e y w o u l d a l r e a d y h a v e done so. T h e lift h u m m e d s i x t y f e e t . N a s h r e a c h e d h i s d e s k via t h e c l o a k r o o m , f o u n d t h e D i c k m a n file still lying b e f o r e h i m a n d s l u n g it vic i o u s l y o u t o f his way. H e s t a r t e d a t t h e h e a p o f files a w a i t i n g f o r m s to b e issued, t h e n i n v o l u n t a r i l y g l a n c e d o u t o f the w i n d o w . " N e v e r m i n d , " G l o r i a r e m a r k e d , her b a c k to t h e radiator. " Y o u ' l l be able t o stock u p on t h o s e f o r m s today." At ten o ' c l o c k M r . F a b e r l o o k e d u p o v e r t h e t e a - t r a y ; " I w o n d e r if you'd m i n d going d o w n for the s t o c k today?" At 1 0 : 1 0 , a f t e r s p e n d i n g t e n m i n u t e s o v e r h i s o w n c u p , N a s h r o s e with a w r y g r i n a t G l o r i a a n d s a n k in the lift. T h e s t o r e r o o m s e e m e d d e s e r t e d , b r o o d i n g silently, b u t as t h e d o o r was o p e n h e e n t e r e d and b e g a n to s e a r c h f o r i t e m s o n the list. H e d r a g g e d a s t e p l a d d e r i n t o o n e o f the aisles a n d c l i m b e d to reach s t o c k s o f t h e elusive f o r m s . H e l e a n e d o v e r ; l o o k e d d o w n , a n d s a w t h e f o u r t h face s t a r i n g u p at h i m f r o m the d a r k n e s s o f t h e o t h e r aisle. H e w i t h d r e w h i s h a n d f r o m the s h e l f a n d s t a r e d a t t h e pale visage. F o r a m o m e n t

t h e r e was t o t a l s i l e n c e — t h e n

the thing's

lips

t w i t c h e d a n d t h e m o u t h b e g a n to o p e n . H e k n e w h e w o u l d n o t be a b l e to bear the thing's v o i c e — a n d w h a t it m i g h t say. H e d r e w b a c k his f o o t and k i c k e d t h e w a t c h e r in t h e eye, d r e w it b a c k a n d k i c k e d a g a i n . T h e f a c e fell o u t o f t h e o r i f i c e a n d N a s h h e a r d a t h u d o n the o t h e r side o f t h e s h e l v e s . A faint u n e a s e o v e r t o o k N a s h . F i e c l a t t e r e d d o w n t h e ladder, t u r n e d i n t o t h e n e x t aisle a n d p u l l e d t h e h a n g i n g light c o r d . F o r a m o m e n t h e glared at t h e m a n ' s b o d y lying o n the floor, at the b u r s t

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eyeball a n d the g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e w h i c h t o o late h e v a g u e l y r e c o g nized, and remembered Gloria's remark: " T h e r e ' s s o m e b o d y n e w on t h e third

floor"—and

t h e n h e fled. H e t h r e w o p e n the d o o r a t the far

e n d o f t h e r o o m , reeled d o w n t h e b a c k s t a i r s a n d o u t t h e r e a r e n t r a n c e , a n d j u m p e d a b o a r d t h e first b u s o u t o f B r i c h e s t e r . H e s h o u l d h a v e h i d d e n the b o d y — h e realized that a s s o o n as h e had paid h i s f a r e , f o r s o m e o n e ( p l e a s e , n o t G l o r i a ! ) w o u l d s o o n g o to the s t o r e r o o m in s e a r c h o f N a s h o r the o t h e r , a n d m a k e a d i s c o v e r y — b u t it was t o o late now. All h e c o u l d d o was get o u t at the t e r m i n u s and h i d e t h e r e . H e l o o k e d b a c k a s if to g l i m p s e the s i t u a t i o n in t h e o f f i c e b u i l d i n g , a n d saw t h e f o u r faces s t r a g g l i n g w h i t e l y a f t e r h i m o v e r t h e metal busroofs. T h e bus, h e realized o n r e a c h i n g t h e t e r m i n u s , w e n t as far a s Severnford. T h o u g h it lost h i m all s h a r p o u t l i n e s , he r e m o v e d his s p e c t a cles a n d s t r o l l e d with s t i f f facial m u s c l e s f o r s o m e t i m e . O n

the

t h e o r y that a n y t h i n g in plain s i g h t is invisible to the s e a r c h e r , h e e x p l o r e d b o o k s h o p s a n d a t twelve o ' c l o c k h e a d e d f o r t h e H a r r i s o n H o t e l at the edge o f d o c k l a n d . T h r e e - a n d - a - h a l f h o u r s w e n t q u i c k l y by, b r o k e n o n l y b y a n e a r - a r g u m e n t with a d a r t s - p l a y e r s e e k i n g a p a r t n e r and u n a b l e to u n d e r s t a n d N a s h ' s i n a b i l i t y to s e e t h e b o a r d . N a s h r e m i n d e d h i m s e l f n o t to d r a w a t t e n t i o n in a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a n d left. A c i n e m a a c r o s s t h e r o a d c a u g h t h i s eyes, a n d h e t u m b l e d w i t h h i s wallet. It s h o u l d b e s a f e t o d o n his glasses n o w , h e t h o u g h t , p u t t h e m o n — a n d t h r e w h i m s e l f b a c k o u t o f sight o f the p o l i c e m a n talki n g a t the p a y b o x . W h e r e w a s t h e r e left to hide? ( A n d w h a t a b o u t t o m o r r o w . . . ?) H e h u r r i e d away f r o m t h e c i n e m a a n d s e a r c h e d for a n o t h e r b o o k s h o p , a l i b r a r y e v e n — a n d two s t r e e t s away d i s c o v e r e d a g r i m y lib r a r y , e n t e r e d a n d b r o w s e d ticketless. H o w l o n g , h e w o n d e r e d , b e f o r e t h e l i b r a r i a n a p p r o a c h e d with a " C a n 1 b e o f a n y a s s i s t a n c e ? " and a c q u i r e d an i m p r e s s i o n w h i c h he m i g h t later t r a n s m i t to t h e police? But

five-thirty

a r r i v e d a n d n o help h a d b e e n o f f e r e d ; e v e n t h o u g h h e

had a g r i m few m i n u t e s as h e passed t h e l i b r a r i a n w h o , s e e i n g h i m leave w i t h n o b o o k a p p a r e n t m i g h t h a v e s u s p e c t e d h i m o f r e m o v i n g a v o l u m e u n d e r c o v e r o f his c o a t .

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2 7

H e c o n t i n u e d h i s j o u r n e y in t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n , a n d the l a m p p o s t s m o v e d f u r t h e r apart, the s t r e e t s n a r r o w e d a n d the r o a d w a y s g r e w r o u g h e r . N e a r b y ships blared o u t o f t h e n i g h t , a n d s o m e w h e r e a child w a s c r y i n g . N o b o d y passed h i m , t h o u g h o c c a s i o n a l l y s o m e o n e peered languidly from a doorway o r s t r e e t - c o m e r . T h e h o u s e s c l u s t e r e d closer, m o r e n a r r o w a r c h e d passages a p p e a r e d b e t w e e n t h e m , m o r e l a m p p o s t s were twisted o r lightless, and still h e w e n t o n — u n t i l h e realized w i t h a start, o n r e a c h i n g a hill and v i e w i n g t h e w a y a h e a d , t h a t t h e s t r e e t s s o o n gave o u t . H e c o u l d n o t b r i n g h i m s e l f to c r o s s o p e n c o u n t r y a t n i g h t j u s t yet, a n d t u r n e d to an alley o n t h e l e f t — a n d w a s c o n f r o n t e d w i t h r e d - g l o w i n g m i n i a t u r e fires a n d dull b l a c k - l e a t h e r s h a d o w s . No, that w a s n o t t h e way. H e s t r u c k oft" t h r o u g h a n o t h e r alley, past two h i g h - s e t gas l a m p s a n d w a s suddenly on the bank of the Severn. A w i n d b l e w icily o v e r the water, r i p p l i n g it and s t i r r i n g t h e weeds. A light w e n t o u t s o m e w h e r e b e h i n d h i m , the water s p l a s h e d n e a r b y , a n d five f a c e s r o s e f r o m the river. They

fluttered

t o w a r d h i m o n a g l a c i a l b r e e z e . H e s t o o d and

w a t c h e d as t h e y a p p r o a c h e d , s p r e a d i n g in a s e m i c i r c l e , a circle, c l o s i n g t h e circle, rustling pallidly. H e t h r e w o u t h i s a r m s to ward t h e m o f f , and t o u c h e d o n e w i t h h i s left h a n d . It was c o l d and w e t — t h e s e n s a t i o n s o f t h e grave. H e s c r e a m e d and h i t o u t , b u t the f a c e s still a p p r o a c h e d , o n e s e t t l i n g o v e r his face, t h e o t h e r f o l l o w i n g , a n d

a

c l a m m y film c h o k e d h i s m o u t h a n d n o s e s o that h e had n o c h a n c e to s c r e a m , e v e n to b r e a t h e until t h e y had

finished.

W h e n the S e v e r n f o r d p o l i c e f o u n d h i m , h e c o u l d d o n o t h i n g

but

s c r e a m . T h e y did n o t c o n n e c t h i m a t first w i t h the m u r d e r e r f o r w h o m the B r i c h e s t e r c o n s t a b u l a r y were s e a r c h i n g ; a n d w h e n t h e latter identified h i m he could not o f c o u r s e be prosecuted. " I ' v e n e v e r seen a n y t h i n g like it," said I n s p e c t o r D a n i e l s f r o m Brichester. " W e l l , we t r y to k e e p t h e s e d o c k s i d e g a n g s u n d e r c o n t r o l , " said I n s p e c t o r B l a c k w o o d o f S e v e r n f o r d , " b u t p e o p l e get b e a t e n u p n o w a n d t h e n — n o t h i n g like this t h o u g h . . . . B u t you c a n be s u r e we'll find t h e attacker, e v e n so."

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T h e y have n o t yet f o u n d the attacker. I n s p e c t o r B l a c k w o o d s u s p e c t e d h o m i c i d a l m a n i a at first, b u t t h e r e was n o s i m i l a r c r i m e . B u t h e d o e s n o t like to t h i n k that e v e n S e v e r n f o r d ' s g a n g s would b e c a p a b l e o f s u c h a c r i m e . It w o u l d , he c o n t e n d s , take a v e r y c o n f i r m e d and a c c o m p l i s h e d sadist to r e m o v e , c l e a n l y in o n e piece, t h e skin o f a m a n ' s face.

T h e Statement o f O n e J o h n Gibson Brian Lumley

I

f only, I tell myself. I f o n l y . . . I f o n l y J a m e s Ogilvy, o f S i m o n s , S i m o n s a n d Ogilvy, had n o t s u f -

fered t h a t a c c i d e n t u p o n m y v e r y d o o r s t e p . If he had n o t d i e d in m y a r m s , f u m b l i n g m y father's last will a n d t e s t a m e n t o u t o f h i s i n s i d e p o c k e t . A n d if his last w o r d s had b e e n o t h e r t h a n w h a t t h e y were, w h i c h I m i s t a k e n l y t o o k to be a n a d j u r a t i o n that I o p e n m y f a t h e r ' s b u r e a u a t o n c e a n d s t u d y m o s t c a r e f u l l y all w h i c h I m i g h t

find

within. O f c o u r s e I k n o w n o w t h a t o l d O g i l v y m e a n t m e to d e s t r o y u t t e r l y t h a t b u r e a u a n d its c o n t e n t s , w h i c h w o u l d have b e e n to c o m p l y with m y f a t h e r ' s will; b u t at the t i m e all w a s c h a o s , w h e r e c o n f u s i o n r e i g n e d . A n d k n o w i n g w h a t I know, p e r h a p s t h a t i t s e l f is n o s t r a n g e t h i n g , O g i l v y ' s d e a t h n o m e r e c o i n c i d e n c e . F o r c e s g o v e r n t h i s world w e naively a s s u m e to b e o u r s , in this u n i v e r s e w e s u p p o s e to b e t h e O n e U n i v e r s e , w h i c h s o belittle the a f f a i r s o f m e n as to m a k e t h e m m e a n i n g l e s s . W h a t is t h e life o f o u r w o r l d , o f M a n k i n d itself, b u t a s i n g l e t i c k o f t i m e in the g r e a t C l o c k o f Eternity? I must not s t r a y . . .

M y f a t h e r d i e d o f s o m e c r e e p i n g o r g a n i c m a l f u n c t i o n w h i c h aged h i m well b e f o r e h i s t i m e a n d w i t h e r e d h i m to d e a t h s o m e five days ago, s i n c e w h e n I have h a r d l y s e e m e d t o sleep, a n d d u r i n g w h i c h p e r i o d o f t i m e I h a v e investigated a n d a c q u a i n t e d m y s e l f with m a t t e r s

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o f c o s m i c — y e s , c o s m i c — i m p o r t a n c e . W i t h my m o t h e r in a m a d h o u s e , a n d m y s e l f sole heir a p p a r e n t to the G i b s o n f o r t u n e a n d p r o p erty, I w a i t e d u p o n w o r d f r o m m y f a t h e r ' s s o l i c i t o r s t h a t all w a s in o r d e r and I m i g h t i n d e e d a s s u m e that lordly r a n k a n d o f f i c e . T h e n . . . t h e t e l e p h o n e m e s s a g e f r o m Ogilvy, s a y i n g that he w a s o n his w a y to see m e , a n d t h a t p u r s u a n t u p o n o n e a l l - i m p o r t a n t dir e c t i v e I w o u l d be the l e g i t i m a t e G i b s o n h e i r b e y o n d a n y f u r t h e r b e hest o r r e q u i r e m e n t . F o l l o w i n g w h i c h call, w i t h i n the h a l f - h o u r , t h e r e had c o m e t h a t c r a s h w h i c h sent m e flying f r o m t h e h o u s e to Ogilvy's car, c r u m p l e d and b l a z i n g where, f o r no r e a s o n I c o u l d p l a i n l y see, it had c r a s h e d h e a d l o n g i n t o a n o l d o a k g r o w i n g b y t h e verge o f m y gravel driveway a l m o s t d i r e c t l y o p p o s i t e t h e very d o o r o f t h e house. O g i l v y had m a n a g e d to stagger f r o m the w r e c k , his j a c k e t s m o u l d e r i n g , his face b a d l y b u r n e d , to c o l l a p s e at t h e f o o t o f m y steps. T h e r e I f o u n d h i m , and c r a d l i n g his u p p e r b o d y and head in m y a r m s , s e e i n g t h a t it was all u p with h i m , I asked if t h e r e w a s a n y t h i n g a t all I could do for him. " F o r . . . for y o u r father, J o h n . . . f o r h i m and . . . for y o u r s e l f . " "Yes, yes. W h a t is it?" " H i s . . . b u r e a u , my boy. H i s b u r e a u . . . " "Yes, I k n o w it. G o o n — " His eyes had b y t h e n glazed over, b u t still h e m a n a g e d to f o r c e o u t t h e s e final w o r d s : "Glub

. . . glub

. . . l o o k in . . . b u r e a u . . . d e s t r o y . . . glub

..

A n d with t h a t t h e o l d m a n w a s g o n e f o r e v e r f r o m the w o r l d o f m e n . At the t i m e o f r e c o r d i n g this s t a t e m e n t , o f c o u r s e , I k n o w t h a t w h a t O g i l v y had said w a s " d o not l o o k in the b u r e a u , " that I was to d e s t r o y t h e b u r e a u i n t a c t , b u t his voice was s o q u i e t , s o d i s t o r t e d by p a i n a n d t h e rattle o f d e a t h , t h a t I t o o k h i s w o r d s to m e a n t h e opposite. B u t I had t i m e f o r n e i t h e r will n o r b u r e a u n o r a n y t h i n g else r i g h t t h e n ; i n s t e a d I m u s t s p e a k t o Ogilvy's o f f i c e in t h e city, call t h e p o l i c e , an a m b u l a n c e . . . m a n y t h i n g s ; s o that it w a s s o m e h o u r s later w h e n I r e m e m b e r e d his s u p p o s e d i n s t r u c t i o n t h a t I l o o k in t h e b u r e a u . Even a t t h a t p o i n t all m i g h t have b e e n well, had I b u t taken m y f a t h e r ' s will f r o m m y p o c k e t and read it. B u t no, the d y i n g m a n had

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m a d e a d e c l a r a t i o n o f s o r t s — o r rather, a r e q u e s t — a n d if o n l y f o r his m e m o r y ' s s a k e it w a s o n e with w h i c h I would c o m p l y . T h e a m b u l a n c e was l o n g g o n e , the p o l i c e had t o w e d away t h e w r e c k e d car, a n d t h e d a v was d r a w i n g to its c l o s e b y t h e t i m e I f o u n d m y s e l f a t last a l o n e in the o l d and n o w e x c e e d i n g l y l o n e l y h o u s e m y f a m i l y h a d o c c u p i e d and m a d e its seat for m o r e t h a n a h a l f d o z e n g e n e r a t i o n s ; a n d t h e n I w e n t to m y f a t h e r ' s r o o m , w h e r e in a little w h i l e I f o u n d t h e key to his b u r e a u . In fact o n l y o n e c u p b o a r d w a s l o c k e d , b u t s i n c e the rest o f the b u r e a u s t o o d e m p t y I k n e w that this m u s t b e t h e place I s h o u l d l o o k . Actually, I felt a little a n n o y e d w i t h m y s e l f t h a t I had n o t d o n e s o b e f o r e , but m y f a t h e r ' s r o o m

had always b e e n inviolate, " o u t

of

b o u n d s , " as it were, a n d I s u p p o s e that I h a d u n c o n s c i o u s l y kept it s o e v e n a f t e r his d e a t h . But n o w . . . T h e d o o r o p e n e d easily o n oiled o f t e n - u s e d hinges, a n d the c o n tents lay in dark p i g e o n h o l e recesses, neatly a p p o r t i o n e d and labeled, d r y and well p r e s e r v e d . T h e y were, o f c o u r s e , papers, b o o k s , d o c u m e n t s — s o m e rolled and f a s t e n e d w i t h b a n d s , o t h e r s e n v e l o p e d , t h e b o o k s p r o t e c t e d by l a m i n a t e d c o v e r s and w h o l l y w r a p p e d in g r e a s e - p r o o f p a p e r s — e x a c t l y w h a t o n e w o u l d e x p e c t to find in a b u r e a u . If a n y t h i n g , I w a s d i s a p p o i n t e d . P l a i n l y t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g h e r e w h i c h m y f a t h e r h a d w a n t e d m e to read ( o r s o I t h o u g h t ) , b u t w h e r e to start? At first I was t e m p t e d s i m p l y to c l o s e u p t h e b u r e a u and ret u r n to it a t s o m e m o r e p r o p i t i o u s t i m e ; b u t as I w a s a b o u t to c l o s e t h e d o o r m y eyes lighted u p o n an i t e m o t h e r t h a n t h e m a i n l y p a p e r c o n t e n t s — s o m e t h i n g w h i c h had a g l i n t , p e r h a p s o f s o m e d u l l m e t a l . In t h e g l o o m o f t h e b u r e a u it w a s hard to tell. B u t u p o n d r a w i n g t h e t h i n g f o r t h I perceived it to b e a m e d a l l i o n o f s o r t s , o f a t a r n i s h e d silv e r o r s o m e s i m i l a r m e t a l — p e r h a p s an a l l o y — o n a c h a i n o f the s a m e substance. A n d n o w I n o l o n g e r desired t o c l o s e u p t h e b u r e a u . T h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t this m e d a l l i o n t h a t s t r u c k an i n n e r c h o r d . S o m e p a r t o f m y m e m o r y was given a j o l t . I felt that I had seen t h e t h i n g b e f o r e , a n d t h e s h o r t hairs at t h e b a c k o f m y n e c k stiffened in a s o r t o f s u b c o n s c i o u s b u t definite a p p r e h e n s i o n . I n m y h a n d it

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felt chilly, with a low, u n s e a s o n a l t e m p e r a t u r e o u t o f k e e p i n g w i t h t h a t o f the r o o m and b u r e a u . A n d as for t h e t h i n g ' s d e s i g n . . . I c a n n o t say w h a t m o r b i d g e n i u s c u t o r s t a m p e d o r m i n t e d t h e m e d a l l i o n e x c e p t that his m i n d — i f i n d e e d t h e m a k e r w a s a m a n , or, m o r e to t h e p o i n t , h u m a n — m u s t w o r k a l o n g lines w h o l l y o p p o s e d to t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l in art o r a r t i s t i c i m p r e s s i o n . Shall I say it w a s p r i m i t i v e ? N o , f o r t h e detail s e e m e d e x q u i s i t e . C u b i s t ? N o , f o r d e s p i t e c e r t a i n p e c u l i a r i t i e s o f g e o m e t r y the w o r k w a s n o t surreal. Alien... ? It w a s n o t q u i t e c i r c u l a r , p e r h a p s two i n c h e s a c r o s s a t its w i d e s t p o i n t , o n e - e i g h t h to m a y b e t h r e e - s i x t e e n t h s o f an i n c h thick, and b o r e u p o n o n e s i d e a p i c t u r e o r s c e n e and o n t h e o t h e r a l e g e n d in s o m e g l y p h with w h i c h I w a s n o t f a m i l i a r . . . o r s h o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n . B u t again

I e x p e r i e n c e d t h a t p e c u l i a r s e n s a t i o n o f o l d e n affin-

ity; s o that now, a g a i n s t all c o m m o n s e n s e , 1 s u d d e n l y f o u n d m y s e l f eager to t i p o u t t h e b u r e a u ' s e n t i r e c o n t e n t s a n d e x a m i n e e a c h i t e m in its t u r n . I resisted t h e i m p u l s e . First t h e r e was the p i c t u r e o n the m e d a l lion, w h i c h was c e r t a i n l y w o r t h y o f c l o s e r e x a m i n a t i o n . S i n c e I c o u l d m a k e n e i t h e r head n o r tail o f t h e glyphs, p e r h a p s t h e fine d e t a i l o f t h e art i t s e l f m i g h t tell m e s o m e t h i n g . I fetched a m a g n i f i e r . . . . If I say that t h e p i c t u r e g r a v e n u p o n that s m a l l d i s k had all t h e detail o f a c a n v a s — s a y , especially, a B o s c h — o f several s q u a r e m e t r e s in area, a n d that e v e n with t h e glass I had d i f f i c u l t y in d i s c e r n i n g t h e very smallest

figures,

o b j e c t s a n d finer p o i n t s o f s h a d i n g and stip-

pling, et c e t e r a , t h e n I s h o u l d d o u b t l e s s b e c a l l e d a liar. B u t it is t r u e . O u r finest c r a f t s m e n , given all t h e i r skills, u l t r a - m o d e r n t o o l s and techniques o f n u m i s m a t i c engravature, could not have duplicated this piece. A n d yet I k n e w t h a t far f r o m m o d e r n , t h e m e d a l l i o n w a s a n c i e n t b e y o n d r e c k o n i n g . F l o w w a s t h a t p o s s i b l e ? — h o w c a n I say? P e r h a p s I a m a liar t w i c e over. T h e s c e n e w a s n o t o f E a r t h , n o t m u n d a n e in a n y way. In t h e b a c k g r o u n d t h e r e s e e m e d a s u n r i s e , o r a t least a d a w n i n g o f s o r t s (I suspected the approach o f s o m e awesome event or Being). This was p o r t r a y e d in a b u r s t o f light b e y o n d a h o r i z o n o f s t r a n g e l y angled arc h i t e c t u r a l s t r u c t u r e s , w i n d o w l e s s t o w e r s and t u r r e t s w h o s e u n b a l a n c e d g e o m e t r y m a d e t h e m s e e m b o t h c o n c a v e and c o n v e x at o n e

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a n d the s a m e l i m e : like l o o k i n g at t h a i f a m o u s o p t i c a l i l l u s i o n o f m a r c h i n g m e n o r m o n k s c l i m b i n g the stairs o f a t o w e r w i t h o u t e v e r gaining e l e v a t i o n . T h e c i t y o n the m e d a l l i o n ( I a s s u m e it was a c i t y ) had precisely the s a m e effect o f t r a p p i n g t h e e y e in its o w n visual m a z e . In t h e f o r e g r o u n d figures tied t o w a r d m e . N o w , I say figures. A t t h e t i m e I t h o u g h t o f t h e m a s figures, b e c a u s e I w a s u n c e r t a i n o f t h e i r n a t u r e . T h a t is to say, I w a s n o t s u r e t h e a r t i s t had i n t e n d e d they s h o u l d b e s e e n as living c r e a t u r e s . T h e y s e e m e d r a t h e r m o r e s y m b o l i c o f life ( h o w e v e r d r e a d f u l ) t h a n repres e n t a t i v e , p e r h a p s in the w a y o f e l e m e n t a l s . B u t not the e l e m e n t a l s o f a n y s a n e E a r t h n a t u r e ; t h o u g h I m u s t a d m i t that Air, at least, w a s i n c l u d e d . Yes, and p e r h a p s Water, t o o . T h e s e two, fleeing f o r w a r d f r o m t h e a d v e n t o f w h a t e v e r " d a w n i n g " o r c a t a c l y s m I c o u l d n o t say, w e r e p e r h a p s the m o s t clearly d e fined

o f the—"refugees"? O n e of them, a n t h r o p o m o r p h i c , the air

e l e m e n t a l , s t r o d e a b o v e , h i s great feet h i d d e n in the c l o u d s , whilst t h e o t h e r — a vaguely o c t o p o i d s h a p e , a n d yet a l s o h a v i n g features loosely m a n l i k e — s l i t h e r e d o r flopped b e l o w . B o t h had faces, the e x p r e s s i o n s d e m o n i a c . Later I was to d i s c o v e r that the first w a s I t h a q u a , t h e T h i n g T h a t W a l k s o n the W i n d , a n d t h e o t h e r l o a t h l y L o r d C t h u l h u ; b u t I'll get to t h a t in its t u r n . A s f o r t h e o t h e r s : T h e r e was a b l a c k goat s h a p e , s a t a n i c in its b i p e d a l , u p r i g h t flight; a m a s s o f s u r g i n g b u b b l e s ; a s e e t h i n g thing

some-

that b o i l e d f o r w a r d u p o n t h e e a r t h ; a s p i d e r - t h i n g o f m a n y

j o i n t e d legs; a featureless, l e a t h e r y slug thing; a h e a v i n g m o n s t r o s i t y o f t o s s i n g t e n t a c l e s , c l a w s and eyes, o h , a n d o t h e r s q u i t e b e y o n d m y l i m i t e d p o w e r s o f d e s c r i p t i o n . A n d all o f t h e m b e y o n d a n y s h a d o w o f d o u b t evil as t h e pit. I k n e w this, that t h e y were evil, even c o n s i d e r i n g t h e m u n r e a l , o r a t b e s t figments o f s o m e feverish i m a g i n a t i o n o r i m ages o f t i m e - l o s t m y t h . B u t s t r a n g e r by far t h a n

t h o s e outre

demons or

elementals

viewed t h r o u g h m y glass w a s m y g r o w i n g feeling o f f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h t h e m , the d i s t u r b i n g c o n v i c t i o n t h a t I s h o u l d r e c o g n i z e w h a t I s a w a n d b e a b l e to place a n d n a m e it. P e r h a p s the s c e n e was f r o m s o m e o b s c u r e m y t h o l o g y o n c e g l i m p s e d in the pages o f o n e o f m y f a t h e r ' s b o o k s a n d till n o w f o r g o t t e n .

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I t u r n e d on the light, m a d e m y s e l f c o m f o r t a b l e , heaved a sigh o f r e s i g n a t i o n — f o r I k n e w n o w that I must c o n t i n u e — a n d t o o k o u t t h e p a p e r s , p a c k a g e s , d o c u m e n t s a n d b o o k s o n e by o n e , e x a m i n i n g t h e m as I went. T h e s e a r e t h e t h i n g s I d i s c o v e r e d : O n e : a n o t e b o o k d a t i n g f r o m a b o u t 1 9 5 5 in m y father's h a n d . "Rvo: five b u l k y v o l u m e s o f letters in b o o k f o r m , b e i n g the Letters

Selected

o f H . P. L o v e c r a f t , a m a c a b r e a u t h o r I h a d heard to b e o f n o t e ,

s e c o n d a r y o n l y to P o e a n d s o m e w o u l d say Poe's peer. T h r e e : a n o t h e r b o o k in t h e s a m e f o r m a t , titled The Horror

in the Museum,

being sto-

ries revised b y Lovecraft f r o m t h e w o r k o f o t h e r a u t h o r s and p u b lished by t h e s a m e h o u s e , A r k h a m H o u s e p u b l i s h e r s , in 1 9 7 0 . F o u r : a s h e a f o f A - 4 p h o t o s t a t s . Five: a c r u m b l i n g c o p y o f Weird

Tales,

an

o l d " p u l p " m a g a z i n e with a faded b u t still lurid c o v e r . S i x : a b u n d l e o f o l d letters. S e v e n : a n u m b e r o f l a r g e r p h o t o c o p i e d s h e e t s b e a r i n g m a n y lines o f t h o s e p e c u l i a r - l o o k i n g r u n e s I had e x a m i n e d u p o n t h e m e d a l l i o n , t h e s e rolled u p and fastened with elastic b a n d s . Eight: s e v eral f a m i l y trees o n s i m i l a r l y large sheets. N i n e : A g r e a s e p r o o f p a r c e l o f five o l d b o o k s , their titles b e i n g The J u n z t ' s Unaussprechlichen

Kulten,

Cthaat

F e e r y ' s Notes

a n d that s a m e a u t h o r ' s s t u d y o f the Book

Aquaditigen,

Von

on the

Necronomicon

of Dzyan,

a n d a must)',

l e a t h e r - j a c k e t e d v o l u m e w h o s e s p i n e b o r e t h e faded a n d c o n j e c t u r a l l e g e n d Ghorl

Nigral.

T h e s e latter w o r k s m i g h t have p r o v o k e d a s h u d d e r in a p e r s o n o t h e r t h a n m y s e l f , b u t here it m u s t b e stated that m y life had b e e n o n e w h o s e p r o x i m i t y to d a r k l i n g m a t t e r s had r a t h e r i n u r e d me. T h a t is to say, m y f a t h e r had b e e n a delver in o b s c u r e m y t h s a n d m y t h cycles, a s e a r c h e r o f n i g h t e d c r y p t s a n d b e n e a t h d e s e r t m a s t a b a s , a n d a p u r s u e r o f all t h i n g s e s o t e r i c a n d e x c i t i n g to his s o r t o f s u p e r i m a g i n a t i v e m i n d . H e h a d not b e e n a cultist, n o ( t h o u g h in h i s t i m e I believe h e h a d s o m e s m a l l dealings w i t h t h e O r d e r o f T h e G o l d e n D a w n ) ; b u t in h i s p e r s o n a l s t u d i e s — h i s a t t i m e s

all-consuming

s t u d i e s — h e h a d c o n c e r n e d h i m s e l f a g r e a t deal with all m a n n e r o f Earth's e l d e r h o r r o r s and m y s t e r i e s , s o that h e c o u l d well b e said to b e an a u t h o r i t y in s u c h d u b i o u s a n d l e g e n d - s h r o u d e d m a t t e r s . N a t u r a l l y , a little o f h i s p e r s o n a l i t y , his s t r a n g e b e n t f o r t h e m a c a b r e s i d e o f e x i s t e n c e , had r u b b e d o f f o n m e ; t h o u g h 1 would n e v e r h a v e d a r e d a d m i t it in his p r e s e n c e . N o i n d e e d , f o r t i m e and t i m e o v e r he had w a r n e d m e :

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" J o h n , m y boy, have n o t h i n g to d o with t h e d a r k side. Avoid m e d i u m s and spiritualists, c u l t i s t s and g h o s t - s e e k e r s . A n d m o s t o f all s t e e r clear o f a n y w h o aspire to d e m o n o l o g y . Avoid ' e m like t h e p l a g u e . T h e y w o r k m i s c h i e f . . . h a v e w o r k e d it s i n c e t i m e i m m e m o rial. O h , t h e r e are w a r n i n g s e n o u g h in the G o o d B o o k — a n d it is a good

b o o k , believe m e . N o , they w o u l d n ' t s u f f e r a w i t c h o r wizard to

live in t h o s e days, and r i g h t l y s o . T a k e h e e d , J o h n , f o r I've l o o k e d d e e p i n t o s u c h t h i n g s and s p e a k f r o m e x p e r i e n c e . " T h i s was t h e s o r t o f t h i n g h e w o u l d say i f e v e r h e f o u n d m e w i t h o n e o f h i s b o o k s o f s t r a n g e k n o w l e d g e , o r p o r i n g o v e r the a s t r o l o g i cal c h a r t s

with

which M o t h e r often

amused

herself. At

least, I

t h o u g h t s h e s t u d i e d s u c h c h a r t s for a m u s e m e n t . N o w . . . well, n o w I a m not s o s u r e . B u t a s I g r e w f r o m a s m a l l child to a tall if s o m e w h a t frail y o u t h , it b e c a m e m o r e difficult to find such b o o k s a n d c h a r t s . M y p a r e n t s were e v e r m o r e careful, a n d would n o t leave t h e h o u s e w i t h o u t

first

l o c k i n g away a n y t h i n g t h e y c o n s i d e r e d (yes, I see it n o w ) d a n g e r o u s to m e . F o r h e w a s right, m y father, s u c h k n o w l e d g e is d a n g e r o u s — a n d it w a s e s p e c i a l l y s o to m e B u t d a r k l i n g b o o k s a n d c o s m i c m y s t e r i e s w e r e n o t all they k e p t f r o m m e . I n m y m i d - t e e n s , w h e n o t h e r y o u t h s were c o u r t i n g t h e i r first g i r l f r i e n d s , I w a s k e p t at m y s t u d i e s u n d e r an a r m y o f private tut o r s ; a n d w h i l e o t h e r lads o f m y age were s t e a l i n g t h e i r first kisses, I w o u l d b e d e e p l y i m m e r s e d in C h r i s t i a n a n d o t h e r t h e o l o g i c a l i n s t r u c t i o n . O n e w o u l d h a v e t h o u g h t ( i n d e e d I o f t e n did t h i n k i t ! ) t h a t m y parents intended I should be a priest! Priests o r h o l y m e n o f m a n y r e l i g i o n s d o n o t m a r r y . T h e y a r e c e l i b a t e . . . t h e y d o not have c h i l d r e n . A n d their w o r k is s u c h t h a t t h e y s h u n w h a t F a t h e r w o u l d have c a l l e d " t h e d a r k s i d e . . . " A m o n g s t t h e p r i e s t h o o d s o n l y e x o r c i s t s — a n d t h e r e are f e w o f t h o s e

these

d a y s — a t t a i n to that sort o f k n o w l e d g e . O h , yes, I see it all: I w a s to b e t h e last o f the G i b s o n line, and n o t w i t h o u t g o o d r e a s o n . A n d t h e feeling g r o w s in m e , p e r h a p s I shall b e the last a f t e r all. B u t now, r e c o r d i n g this f o r w h o e v e r shall hear it, I realize t h a t in m y o p e n i n g o r i n t r o d u c t o r y p a r a g r a p h s this s t a t e m e n t is i n c o m p l e t e ; o r rather, it is i n s u f f i c i e n t . I t a l k a b o u t t h e p r i m a r y c i r c u m s t a n c e s which have b r o u g h t m e to m y present pass, b u t I have n o t e x p l a i n e d . . . m y s e l f . M y o w n g e n e s i s is still a m y s t e r y to t h e listener. F i e k n o w s I

36

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a m J o h n G i b s o n , b u l h e k n o w s v e r y little o f my line, m y b e g i n n i n g s . V e r y well, p e r h a p s this is as g o o d a j u n c t u r e as a n y f o r a w o r d o r t w o o f clarification (HF.RE A BRIEF B R E A K IN T H E N A R R A T I V E ) M y m o t h e r c a m e f r o m an o l d D u t c h line, t h e S l e g h t s , f o r m e r l y Van der S l a e t e n . A n d t h o u g h she c o u l d a c c u r a t e l y t r a c e her a c t u a l English lineage b a c k as far a s 1 7 2 0 o r t h e r e a b o u t s , t h e r e w a s still a h i n t o f the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c w i d e - m o u t h a b o u t her w h i c h is i n d i c a t i v e o f Dutch blood. T h e m o u t h and the straightness o f the eyebrows were especially d i s t i n c t i v e in her features. A s f o r m y f a t h e r : h e w a s d e s c e n d e d f r o m the B o s t o n

Gibsons,

w h o in turn c a m e d o w n f r o m t h e T y p e r s o f New H a m p s h i r e , a f a m i l y r a r e l y f o u n d in t h o s e p a r t s n o w a d a y s . M o t h e r always r e m a r k e d u p o n t h e hollow, sallow cast o f his face by r e f e r r i n g to t h e T y p e r s in his a n cestry, f o r a p p a r e n t l y all o f t h e m had b e e n k n o w n f o r t h e c o a r s e , alm o s t g r e e n i s h cast o f their f e a t u r e s . T h e earliest T y p e r s o n r e c o r d had b e e n Ulster C o u n t y p e o p l e , b u t that b r a n c h is l o n g e x t i n c t . N o w t o myself: T h e r e c o r d s s h o w t h a t I was b o r n a t m i d n i g h t , April 30, 1 9 5 7 , a d a t e few w o u l d have d i f f i c u l t y in r e c o g n i z i n g as t h e o l d W a l p u r g i s E v e ; t h o u g h that is a fact w h i c h p r e v i o u s l y m e a n t p r e c i o u s little o r n o t h i n g to m e . B u t to c o n t i n u e : M y c h i l d h o o d years were s p e n t h e r e , in this v e n e r a b l e , ivied, m a n y - w i n g e d h o u s e o f t h e G i b s o n s in Surrey, E n g l a n d , c e n t e r e d in a c o u n t r y s i d e o f s m a l l villages a n d t o w n s , s e c l u d e d in a f o r e s t e d e s t a t e o f m a n y acres. I n t h o s e years, m y f a t h e r ' s c o l l e c t i o n o f b o o k s was e x tensive, o v e r f l o w i n g f r o m the official l i b r a r y o n the first f l o o r and e x t e n d i n g i n t o m a n y s m a l l e r r o o m s o n t h a t level. A s I g r e w o l d e r h e w o u l d take t h e n o t u n n a t u r a l p r e c a u t i o n o f l o c k i n g l i b r a r y d o o r s and o f p l a c i n g in s a f e - k e e p i n g t h o s e v o l u m e s w h i c h w e r e e x t r e m e l y rare, o l d , o r v a l u a b l e ; a m e a s u r e o f p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t s m a l l a n d careless, t h o u g h n e v e r d e l i b e r a t e l y m a l i c i o u s , fingers. F o r in m a n y ways I w a s j u s t like a n y o t h e r b o y m y age. B u t in o t h e r s . . . It was early a p p a r e n t that m y m o t h e r was o f a n e x t r e m e l y n e r v o u s d i s p o s i t i o n . F r o m s n a t c h e s o f c o n v e r s a t i o n I had d e d u c e d t h a t

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m u c h o f h e r t r o u b l e s t e m m e d f r o m m y b i r t h , w h i c h m u s t have b e e n difficult and later c a u s e d h e r to g r o w ill, s o t h a t she w a s i n c a p a b l e o f t e n d i n g m e in m y first year o r s o o f life. S h e had d e v e l o p e d that a v e r s i o n to m e w h i c h is n o t r a r e a m o n g w o m e n o f b r o o d i n g o r e x c i t a b l e n a t u r e s . In m y a d v e n t , I had h u r t her, a n d the w o u n d w a s m o r e in h e r m i n d t h a n b o d y ; s o that it was s o m e t i m e b e f o r e s h e w a s a b l e to take m e to h e r b o s o m . B u t I w a s her s o n , a f t e r all, a n d s o in t h e e n d b l o o d w o n t h r o u g h . Alas, o v e r the c o u r s e o f t h e last five years I h a v e s e e n s u c h a d e c l i n e in h e r that I have d e s p a i r e d . M y father, t o o , u n t i l in t h e e n d he was o b l i g e d to place h e r in t h a t s o called " r e f u g e " f o r t h e insane. However: I have m o r e t h a n h i n t e d that m y c h i l d h o o d was n o t a n o r m a l o n e , and h a v e e x p l a i n e d s o m e t h i n g o f m y father's h a n d in this and m y m o t h e r ' s i n a b i l i t y to p r o v i d e the s t a b i l i t y n e c e s s a r y f o r a c h i l d ' s welfare. P e r h a p s it w a s this e a r l y s t a t e o f a f f a i r s — a c o l d o n e at best, t h o u g h n o t h u r t f u l — w h i c h f o r m e d m e i n t o t h e chill c r e a t u r e t h a t I a m , not g i v e n to e x t r e m e s o f e m o t i o n a n d little c a r i n g for w o r l d l y m a t t e r s o r the wealth I n o w c o n t r o l ; m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in the m i n d t h a n t h e b o d y a n d spirit; m o r e d w e l l i n g in d e e p wells o f t h o u g h t t h a n a c t i v e in t h e living, b r e a t h i n g world o f m e n . P e r h a p s . . . B u t be t h a t as it may, w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e s e c l u s i o n o f m y early life and t h e i d i o s y n c r a s i e s o f m y p a r e n t s affected m e , the fact r e m a i n s t h a t I was a d i s t i n c t l y p e c u l i a r child. A d r e a m e r , and o f n o s a n e o r healthy things. O n e n i g h t m a r e in p a r t i c u l a r stays with m e still; o r rather, its memory—that

memory

w h i c h this m o r n i n g o n c e m o r e

became

reality! Heaven f o r b i d t h a t I s h o u l d e v e r d r e a m t h a t thing a g a i n , and u n t h i n k a b l e t h a t it s h o u l d b e with the f r e q u e n c y and r e c u r r e n t m a l i g n a n c y o f m y early t e e n s . It is t h e p r i m e r e a s o n I will take t h o s e steps w h i c h m u s t n o w b e t a k e n . A n d the d r e a m w a s always t h e s a m e : I was t r a p p e d in a d a r k p l a c e . An e m p t y , lightless, negative

place. I

k n e w . . . little. Bereft o f m e m o r y , o f m i n d — b u t n o t q u i t e o f will, o f basic k n o w l e d g e — I felt t h a t I w a s p r i s o n e d , l o c k e d away in a t i m e l e s s solitude. W h a t c r i m e I had c o m m i t t e d against w h a t society, I k n e w n o t . O n l y that this was m y p u n i s h m e n t . A n d I r e m e m b e r ( h o w s t r a n g e ) t h a t in that d r e a m the idea o f c r i m e o r c r i m i n a l t h o u g h t o r i n t e n t had

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little o r n o m e a n i n g to m e . 1 did n o t t h i n k o f my m i s d e e d — w h a t e v e r it had b e e n — a s a c r i m e b u t as a m i s t a k e . I had o f f e n d e d n o t b y i m m o r a l i t y b u t a m o r a l i t y . I did n o t k n o w w i c k e d n e s s . O r w o u l d n o t a d m i t o f it. I had d o n e n o t h i n g to h u r t , d i s g u s t , a l a r m o r destroy. N o t deliberately. Not to a c h i e v e t h o s e specific e n d s . If, t h r o u g h a c t i o n s o f m i n e , h a r m had c o m e , the h a r m i t s e l f w a s n o t o f m y design. O n l y t h e will to d o w h a t I had d o n e had b e e n d e l i b e r a t e . A n d here I a m r e m i n d e d o f Crowley's d i c t u m : " D o w h a t y o u will shall b e the w o r d . . ." A n d I s h u d d e r . H o w e v e r o n e applies it, it is a d i c t u m o f a b o m i n a t i o n , a n e g a t i o n o f all law, o r d e r a n d sanity. B u t the d r e a m : I was c h a i n e d , b u t not in a n y c h a i n s w r o u g h t o f i r o n . T h e s e w e r e m i n d - c h a i n s , as if I had suffered t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f a p r e f r o n t a l l o b o t o m y . A n d yet it w a s s t r o n g e r t h a n a n y t h i n g like that, this f o r c e w h i c h held m e i m m o b i l e . T h e n I w o u l d r e m e m b e r . I w a s . . . e n s c o r c e l l e d ! Yes, u n d e r a spell. C r u c i f i e d u n d y i n g o n a cross o f S c i e n c e greater than Man's, m u m m i f i e d with my viscera i n t a c t in a p l a c e m o r e lightless t h a n a n y P h a r a o h ' s s u b t e r r a n e a n , p y r a m i d c a p p e d t o m b . F o r m y " s i n " I had b e e n b a n i s h e d f r o m t h e U n i v e r s e to a place " o u t s i d e , " a n d here I m u s t stay u n t i l T i m e o r E n t r o p y f o u n d a n d freed m e , o r until t h e o l d e n spells b r o k e d o w n , o r u n t i l s o m e O t h e r s h o u l d c o m e a n d s p e a k the W o r d s o f F r e e d o m , the R u n e o f Release. T h e Rune of R e l e a s e . . . I m y s e l f had o n c e k n o w n that r u n e , d e e p , d e e p inside, b u t e v e n if I c o u l d r e m e m b e r it I n o l o n g e r had m e a n s o f u t t e r a n c e . M y p r i s o n was like a d r e a m f r o m w h i c h t h e r e is n o a w a k e n i n g . B u t if I s t r a i n e d , i f I f o u g h t , if I tossed a n d t u r n e d a n d w o r k e d a t m y m e n t a l b o n d s — i f I sent o u t m i n d - m e s s a g e s o f m y fate, as a s h i p w r e c k e d s a i l o r s e n d s m e s s a g e s in b o t t l e s — a n d if s o m e w h e r e s o m e o n e s h o u l d h e a r o r read s u c h a m e s s a g e . . . and c o m e to find a n d release m e . F o r I k n e w that inside m e , if o n l y t h e r i g h t w o r d s were s p o k e n , was a P o w e r u n i m a g i n a b l e , a b u r n i n g o f s t a r s , a c o l l i s i o n o f g a l a x i e s . O h , yes! I w a s — h a d b e e n — a g o d ! O r a devil. A n d at t h i s p o i n t in m y d r e a m — a l w a y s a t this p o i n t — I would w o n d e r w h a t I l o o k e d like, w h a t s h a p e 1 w o r e , and I w o u l d t r y to rem e m b e r how

I had

been

b e f o r e m y i m p r i s o n m e n t . A n d it was t h a t

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m e m o r y , b u r s t i n g in m y b r a i n , w h i c h w o u l d w a k e m e u p s h r i e k i n g — j u s t as it w o k e m e this m o r n i n g , a f t e r all t h e s e l o n g years o f peace. M y G o d ! M y G o d ! O r m a y I n o l o n g e r call u p o n h i m ? F o r s t a r t i n g awake, a m e r e c h i l d , f r o m this d r e a m o f u t t e r terror, a n d m y c r i e s b r i n g i n g p a r e n t s a n d s e r v a n t s r u n n i n g to m y r o o m , I would

find...

I would find . . .

It is a t e r r i b l e t h i n g to i m a g i n e o n e s e l f a w a k e , to believe o n e h a s risen u p f r o m s l e e p a n d e s c a p e d the m i r e o f n a m e l e s s n i g h t m a r e s , o n l y to d i s c o v e r that t h e h o r r o r is still u p o n o n e . F o r t h e w o r s t t h i n g was this; t h a t I w o u l d see, u p o n m y p i l l o w o r t w i n i n g o n the c o v e r s o r p u l s a t i n g in t h e s h e e t s w h e r e m y f r a n t i c tossing and t u r n i n g had d i s arrayed m y blankets, a leprous greenish-grey tentacle t h i n g — a n d I w o u l d see t h a t this m e m b e r p r o j e c t e d from the sleeve o f m y p a j a m a j a c k e t , and I w o u l d k n o w t h a t t h i s w a s m y a r m ! [ H E R E A B R I E F B R E A K IN T H E TAPE'S M E S S A G E W H E R E G I B S O N PAUSED) T h i s t h e n w a s my n i g h t m a r e , w h o s e s o u r c e I c o u l d never, o r d a r e d n e v e r , i m a g i n e . A n d n o w the t h i n g has r e t u r n e d , a n d I c a n n o t b e a r it. F o r n o w I know, o r s u s p e c t that I know, w h a t that f o r b i d d e n s o u r c e is a n d w h a t I m u s t d o to c o n f i r m , o n e w a y o r the o t h e r , m y worst s u s p i c i o n s . O n l y o n e p e r s o n r e m a i n s w h o k n o w s t h e t r u t h , and she is m a d . A n d w h a t d r o v e her m a d , I a s k m y s e l f . . . o r d o I a l r e a d y know? T o b e s u r e I m u s t visit h e r ; a visit n o t o f d u t y o r p i t y b u t o f i n q u i s i t i o n . T h i s I h a v e a r r a n g e d and will see h e r today, a t n o o n . I will take t h e r e c o r d e r w i t h me. B u t b e f o r e that I m u s t finish, as b e s t I c a n , my statement. And where was I . . . ? Ah, y e s — t h e c o n t e n t s o f m y father's bureau. T h e books, papers, letters a n d d o c u m e n t s . For t h r e e l o n g n i g h t s a n d t h r e e m o r n i n g s I have p o r e d o v e r t h e m , and through them

finally

I have c o m e to g r a s p c e r t a i n t r u t h s . T h e

o l d , h o a r y b o o k s o f e l d e r m a g i c t o l d m e this: t h a t M a n was not t h e first s e n t i e n t dweller u p o n t h i s p l a n e t , b u t in t h e b e g i n n i n g were o t h ers c o m e o u t o f s t r a n g e stars and d i s t a n t d i m e n s i o n s . T h e s e were t h e

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B e i n g s o r d e m o n s o f t h e C t h u l h u C y c l e , w h i c h Lovecraft in h i s wisd o m c l o a k e d in s e c r e c y a n d s h r o u d e d in c r y p t i c h a l f - t r u t h s , s o t h a t t h e i r lull h o r r o r m i g h t n e v e r b e k n o w n . B u t b e c a u s e h e was a w r i t e r o f d a r k tales h e c o u l d not c o m p l e t e l y i g n o r e the m o n s t r o u s and everr e v e r b e r a t i n g call o f C t h u l h u . No, h e m u s t s o m e h o w tell the w o r l d , b u t in s u c h a way that t h e w o r l d w o u l d c o n s i d e r the t h i n g a

fic-

t i o n . In o r d e r to d o t h i s h e utilized a m y t h o l o g y o l d e r t h a n m a n k i n d , w h i c h is this: That for deeds so base, for blasphemies s o e n o r m o u s , the Great O l d O n e s o f that f a b u l o u s C t h u l h u M y t h o s were b a n i s h e d

from

t h e l a n d s o f their p r e v i o u s d o m i n i o n and l o c k e d away in v a r i o u s p r i s o n s . A n d s o m e o f t h e s e p r i s o n s — c e r t a i n l y one o f w h i c h I k n e w — were t o o c l o s e to m a n ' s h a b i t a t i o n a n d t o o a c c e s s i b l e , as a result o f which... B u t I m u s t get o n . T h e ageless o r d e r o f b e n i g n E l d e r G o d s o f O r i o n t o o k u p o n t h e m s e l v e s t h e task o f p u n i s h i n g the b l a s p h e m o u s B e i n g s o f t h e M y t h o s . C t h u l h u , leader o f s o m e m o n s t r o u s uprising or rebellion, was t r a c k e d d o w n to E a r t h a n d s u n k e n i n t o the d e p t h s o f t h e Pacific in R'lyeh, h i s h o u s e o f p r i m a l s t o n e , a n d I t h a q u a t h e W i n d W a l k e r b a n i s h e d f o r e v e r to t h e i c y Arctic w a s t e s . Y o g - S o t h o t h , b e c a u s e o f h i s s h e e r m i n d l e s s b e s t i a l i t y a n d e n d l e s s a p p e t i t e for all t h i n g s a b e r r a n t , was s e c u r e d a t a place where all p o i n t s o f t i m e a n d s p a c e and d i m e n s i o n s b e y o n d the ken o f m e n c o m e t o g e t h e r , c r e a t i n g s u c h a m a t r i x o f w e i r d g r a v i t a t i o n t h a t his p r i s o n is i n e s c a p a b l e as the f u n n e l o f a b l a c k h o l e . H a s t u r , C t h u l h u ' s h a l f - b r o t h e r , was h u r l e d o u t i n t o t h e b l e a k e m p t i n e s s o f s p a c e , w h e r e s o m e l e g e n d s have it h e w a l k s t h e wind between the worlds, a n d o t h e r s that he b u b b l e s a n d b l a s p h e m e s in the h i d e o u s d e p t h s o f Hali. T h e T i n d l o s i H o u n d s , t o o , t h o s e f a m i l iars o f the G r e a t O l d O n e s : they were b a n i s h e d to t h e d a r k angles o f t i m e , a place l a c k i n g in t h r e e o f the f o u r d i m e n s i o n s k n o w n to m a n , w h e r e t h e y exist c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s with all s p a c e b u t n e v e r a b l e to e n t e r it, j u s t a s t h e legended F l y i n g D u t c h m a n m a y n e v e r c o m e to rest in a p o r t o f t h e living. A n d s o o n . A n d all o f t h e s e B e i n g s and o t h e r s like t h e m held in p l a c e b y t h e ageless spells o f t h e E l d e r G o d s . B u t . . . the M y t h o s d e i t i e s had a m e s s e n g e r , N y a r l a t h o t e p , a n d o f all o f t h e m h e a l o n e w a s n o t p r i s o n e d . Free, his t i m e is s p e n t c a r r y i n g w o r d b e t w e e n the G r e a t O l d O n e s in t h e i r v a r i o u s c o n f i n e m e n t s , as-

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sisting in their n e v e r - e n d i n g p l o t t i n g f o r f r e e d o m . F o r t h e y w o u l d b e o u t a n d r a v a g i n g again, and e v e r they s e e k a m e a n s o f r e l e a s e . O n e s u c h w a y would b e to i n f l u e n c e the m i n d s o f m e n , evolved in t h e t i m e elapsed s i n c e their i m m e m o r i a l i m p r i s o n m e n t , a n d in t h i s they h a v e b e e n partly s u c c e s s f u l . T e l e p a t h i c , t h e G r e a t O l d O n e s have b e c o m e m a s t e r s o f d r e a m s , and a r e r e s p o n s i b l e for m u c h that is n i g h t m a r i s h in t h e d r e a m s o f m e n . I n d e e d , they are r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a m a j o r i t y o f t h e world's m a d n e s s . A n d they have c a u s e d to c o m e i n t o b e i n g t h o s e secret c u l t s a n d s o c i e t i e s w h o s e p u r p o s e — o f t e n u n s u s p e c t e d e v e n by t h e c u l t i s t s t h e m s e l v e s , g u l l i b l e f o o l s at b e s t — i s t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f C t h u l h u a n d his s t a r - s p a w n b a n d . A n d f o r t h e s e r e a s o n s if for n o o t h e r s , s u r e l y my f a t h e r ' s w a r n i n g t h a t I avoid cultists, m e d i u m s , g h o s t - s e e k e r s a n d the like, was n o t idly issued. W h o w o u l d k n o w b e t t e r t h a n he? H i m w i t h his life s p e n t in tomb-delving and far-flung discovery of olden mysteries—including t h a t final t r i p w h i c h e n d e d s o disastrously. But I g o ahead o f myself. A p a r t f r o m the o l d b o o k s a n d their M y t h o s lore, there were t h o s e c h a r t s o f M o t h e r ' s , t h e a n c i e n t f a m i l y trees, and f r o m t h e m also I u n raveled m o r e o f t h e m y s t e r y : that i n d e e d the o l d "typer a n d Van d e r S l a e t e n b l o o d is m o r e e v i d e n t in my p a r e n t s and m y s e l f t h a n e v e r t h e y h a d a d m i t t e d . Yes, a n d m o r e t h a n m e r e l y "typer and S l a e t e n blood. B u t it w a s f r o m the b o o k s o f t e r r o r

fiction

that I l e a r n e d t h e

worst o f it, f r o m t h e m and f r o m my f a t h e r ' s n o t e b o o k . In the latter h e s p e a k s o f Lovecraft's r e v i s i o n a n d " f i c t i o n a l i z a t i o n " o f W i l l i a m L u m l e y ' s w o r k , " T h e D i a r y o f A l o n z o T y p e r , " h i n t i n g t h a t in t r u t h t h e o r i g i n a l s t o r y was based u p o n m a t t e r s o f fact. A n d it w a s h i s r e s e a r c h i n t o this t h i n g w h i c h a f t e r m a n y years s e n t h i m a n d m y m o t h e r , p o o r M o t h e r , o n that last ill-fated trip o f t h e i r s to A m e r i c a — a n d to Attica, N e w York! B u t this is i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h will c o n v e y little to t h e listener u n less he, t o o , has read " T h e D i a r y o f A l o n z o T y p e r . " At w h i c h p o i n t I find m y s e l f o f two m i n d s . I f I a m r i g h t — a n d I fear that I a m , h o r r i b l y r i g h t — m i g h t n o t this r e c o r d e d s t a t e m e n t o f m i n e s e n d o t h e r s o u t u p o n t h e s a m e trail? O r will it a c t as a w a r n i n g t h a t t h e y s h o u l d on account

no

f o l l o w that trail? In a n y case, t r u t h d o u b t l e s s will o u t . I m u s t

say o n . . . .

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M y p a r e n t s , t h e n , d i s c o v e r i n g this link b e t w e e n t h e m s e l v e s and t h e d o o m e d h e r o o f a tale o f s u p p o s e d h o r r o r

fiction,

w e n t o u t to

A m e r i c a t o t r a c k the t h i n g d o w n . T h e years had n o t passed idly, h o w ever, and t h e y d i d n o t g o u n p r e p a r e d . N o t e n t i r e l y . N o t as A l o n z o TVper h a d g o n e b e f o r e t h e m . N o , the a d v e n t u r e was in n o way lightly undertaken. T h e G i b s o n b u s i n e s s w a s h a n d e d o v e r t e m p o r a r i l y to m y f a t h e r ' s p a r t n e r s , as it h a d b e e n o n s o m a n y p r e v i o u s o c c a s i o n s ; b u t s i n c e h e o w n e d a m a j o r i t y o f shares and w a s little m o r e t h a n a

figurehead

w h e r e the a c t u a l w o r k was c o n c e r n e d , this w a s h a r d l y p r o b l e m a t i c . B u t that w a s m y f a t h e r ' s way; h e was t h o r o u g h in a l m o s t e v e r y t h i n g . B u t I h a v e stated that h e w a s n o t u n p r e p a r e d , and in this I d o n o t refer to t h e a f f a i r s o f the G i b s o n b u s i n e s s . M y m e a n i n g is that h e w a s n o t u n p r e p a r e d f o r w h a t h e m i g h t find . . . M y great-uncle V i c t o r Gibson was a Professor o f Anthropology, s p e c i a l i z i n g in E t h n o l o g y a n d M y t h o l o g y , at H e i d e l b e r g . T h a t w a s u n t i l h e retired in 1 8 9 3 . B u t p r i o r to his p o s i t i o n a t t h a t e s t i m a b l e u n i v e r s i t y h e was n o less a w a n d e r e r a n d delver t h a n m y f a t h e r h i m self. Yes, a n d h e was o n e o f A l o n z o T y p e r ' s t u t o r s . T y p e r s t u d i e d a t H e i d e l b e r g , a n d a c c o r d i n g to c o r r e s p o n d e n c e b e t w e e n m y f a t h e r and t h a t v e n e r a b l e seat o f l e a r n i n g , h e w a s o n e o f m y

great-uncle's

f a v o u r i t e pupils. I c a n o n l y believe, as F a t h e r o b v i o u s l y believed b e fore me, that the " V

" o f W i l l i a m I . u m l e y ' s a l l e g e d fiction w a s in

fact G r e a t - U n c l e V i c t o r . B u t h e r e , an a p p a r e n t a m b i g u i t y . T h a t V

is n o t m e n t i o n e d

( o r d o e s not a p p e a r to have b e e n m e n t i o n e d ) in t h e o r i g i n a l s t o r y b e f o r e L o v e c r a f t ' s r e v i s i o n . H o w d o I k n o w this? S i m p l e : a m o n g s t t h e m a n y p h o t o c o p i e d s h e e t s in the b u r e a u , m y f a t h e r had

pro-

cured from s o m e w h e r e a n d reproduced not only Lumley's purported o r i g i n a l — w h i c h n o w r e s t s sans

V

B r o w n U n i v e r s i t y — b u t a l s o the real

in the J o h n H a y L i b r a r y a t original, consisting o f rough,

handwritten, u n a m e n d e d notes. This was where V m e n t i o n e d , a n d Lovecraft, n o t knowing V

was

first

w a s real, left h i m in

t h e s t o r y to a d d v e r i s i m i l i t u d e , as well as a d d i n g m u c h a d d i t i o n a l eso t e r i c i n f o r m a t i o n o f his o w n i n v e n t i o n . ( O r p e r h a p s , t h e t h o u g h t d a w n s , he did

k n o w he was real; in w h i c h case his p u r p o s e m u s t re-

main unfathomed.)

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A s f o r t h e s u p p o s e d L u m l e y o r i g i n a l at the J o h n H a y L i b r a r y in R h o d e Island: t h a t is e i t h e r a f a k e . . . o r L u m l e y s u b s e q u e n t l y saw fit to r e m o v e e v e r y m e n t i o n o f V

f r o m it. B u t w h y w o u l d he d o

t h a t ? P e r h a p s L o v e c r a f t ' s d e a t h early in

1936—almost exactly o n e

year b e f o r e t h e first p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e s t o r y in t h a t c r u m b l i n g o l d pulp, Weird

Tales,

in F e b r u a r y 1 9 3 8 — p r o m p t e d his a c t i o n in m a k i n g

a final " r e v i s i o n " . Yes, I t h i n k t h a t this is the a n s w e r , a n d I t h i n k Fat h e r t h o u g h t s o b e f o r e m e . HPL's d e a t h s e e m e d n a t u r a l e n o u g h , a n d yet... [HF.RF A PAUSE IN T H E N A R R A T I V E ) M y c o n c e n t r a t e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n h a v i n g t a k e n m e all t h r o u g h t h e n i g h t a n d i n t o t h e n e x t day, it was n o o n b e f o r e I c o u l d

finally

tear

m y s e l f f r o m t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e b u r e a u , a n d have c o o k fix m e a m e a l ; f o l l o w i n g w h i c h , a r m e d with a large j u g o f c o f f e e , I r e t u r n e d b l e a r y eyed t o t h e task in h a n d . A n d as t h e c o f f e e b e g a n to w o r k o n m e , even as I r e m e m b e r e d m y investigations, I found myself asking what drove m e on? W h a t m a d d e n i n g p a t t e r n o r t h e m e was t h e r e h e r e w h i c h d r e w m e like i r o n - f i l i n g s to a m a g n e t — o r a m o t h to the c a n d l e ' s

flame?

A n d t h e n , e v e n d o u b t i n g t h e c o m m o n s e n s e o r validity o f w h a t I was a b o u t , I c a m e u p o n t h a t w h i c h m u s t s u r e l y b e the c o r n e r s t o n e i t e m o f all m y findings, t h e f o u n d a t i o n u p o n w h i c h to b u i l d m y

final

c o n c l u s i o n . It w a s a letter, f r o m m y g r e a t - u n c l e V i c t o r to m y father, dated

18th M a y

1920, which was s o m e three m o n t h s before

he

died, a g e d a s p r i g h t l y e i g h t y - f i v e . C a u s e o f d e a t h , apparently, a h e a r t attack. I h a v e t h e l e t t e r b e f o r e m e n o w ; it is terse, to t h e p o i n t , b u t I shall a b b r e v i a t e it e v e n m o r e and s o b e d o n e with it: Nephew— I ' m an o l d m a n a n d d y i n g , I fear, but I've lived a l o n g life a n d have few regrets. O n e o f the f e w I d o have, however, is t h a t I have b e e n l u r e d by the o l d e n mysteries. I n this y o u are m o r e like m e t h a n y o u r o w n father, m y d e p a r t e d b r o t h e r , a n d s o I leave w h a t I have to y o u . B u t a s well a s w o r l d l y

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g o o d s , w h i c h will n o t a m o u n t to m u c h , I leave y o u s o m e t h i n g o f g r e a t e r value by f a r : a w a r n i n g ! T h e r e ' s that in y o u r b l o o d w h i c h is b a d . It is in m i n e , t o o , w h i c h gives m e the r i g h t to tell y o u o f it. I have b e e n lucky. It has n o t h a r m e d m e d e s p i t e all I've d o n e and s e e n in s o m a n y s t r a n g e parts. You m a y n o t b e s o f o r t u n a t e . If, w h e n you o p e n the parcel w h i c h a c c o m p a n i e s this letter, y o u feel n o t h i n g — i f y o u feel n o affinity

for the m e d a l -

l i o n y o u shall d i s c o v e r w i t h i n — t h e n p e r h a p s t h e s e w o r d s are u n n e c e s s a r y . B u t if you recoil f r o m the t h i n g , o r w o r s e still find y o u r s e l f f a s c i n a t e d b y it, t h e n m y w a r n i n g is valid i n d e e d . In w h i c h c a s e d e s t r o y it a t o n c e i f y o u c a n , a n d o n c e a n d for all t u r n y o u r eyes f r o m t h e c o u r s e o f d a r k l e a r n i n g . A s for t h e m e d a l l i o n : I b r o u g h t it b a c k w i t h m e m a n y years a g o f r o m Y i a n - H o , w h o s e very e x i s t e n c e m a n y will d o u b t . B u t it was after that p l a c e t h a t I settled a t last to h o n est w o r k at H e i d e l b e r g . D o n ' t t h i n k , h o w e v e r , that s t a y i n g h e r e has b e e n easy; always t h e r e was t h e u r g e in m e to b e u p a n d away a g a i n . T h e m e d a l l i o n is the s o u l - s y m b o l o f T h o s e W h o W a i t a n d W h i s p e r in D a r k n e s s and in D r e a m s , T h o s e W h o are C h a i n e d b u t will b e Free. It has a c o l d n e s s n o t o f this F a r t h ( w h i c h is o n l y n a t u r a l , f o r it is not o f this E a r t h ) a n d this is t h e a f f i n i t y o f w h i c h I have s p o k e n . A n d t h e t h o u g h t c o m e s to m e t h a t p e r h a p s I err. If t h e b l o o d r u n s t r u e in y o u r veins my w a r n i n g will b e o f little use. It m a y well have the o p p o s i t e effect. Well t h e n , s o b e it. I w o u l d n o t keep a m a n f r o m his destiny, w h a t e v e r it m a y be. Your Uncle Victor Gibson A n d h a v i n g read that l e t t e r m y h e a d w h i r l e d , e v e n as r e a d i n g it n o w it whirls, and 1 b e g a n to total u p t h e i n t e g e r s in this p o r t e n t o u s s u m o f c u m u l a t i v e facts a n d e v i d e n c e s : A l o n z o T y p e r would a p p e a r to h a v e had b l o o d o f m y b l o o d in h i m . F i e d i e d mysteriously, p e r h a p s horrifically, u n d e r an o l d h o u s e in Attica in April 1 9 0 8 ; b u t b e f o r e that h e s t u d i e d u n d e r m y g r e a t - u n c l e V i c t o r G i b s o n in H e i d e l b e r g . Yes, and w h a t d i d h e l e a r n from h i m ? A s for G r e a t - U n c l e V i c t o r , h e d i e d twelve years later in 1 9 2 0 . B e -

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f o r e Ihat h e s e n t m y f a t h e r a letter and a m e d a l l i o n . M y

father

p a t e n t l y i g n o r e d t h e w a r n i n g , o r p e r h a p s like m y s e l f felt d r a w n to t h e m e d a l l i o n and lured b y it. H e k n e w o f t h e T y p e r s t o r y ; p e r h a p s h e had h e a r d earlier o f T y p e r from my g r e a t - u n c l e , I can't say. B u t in early J u l y 1 9 5 6 , a f t e r m a n y years o f research i n t o t h e s e l f s a m e m y s t e r y ( o r p e r h a p s a f t e r r e a d i n g the T y p e r tale in t h a t o l d c o p y o f

Weird

Tales, o r m a y b e in a n o t h e r b o o k I f o u n d m e n t i o n e d in his n o t e b o o k : Beyond

(he Wall of Sleep—Lovecraft

a g a i n ! — p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 4 3 ) , h e

t o o k m y m o t h e r w i t h h i m and w e n t t o Attica, f o r a r e a s o n I c a n n o w well u n d e r s t a n d . T h a t s a m e r e a s o n t h a t relative o f o u r s , "typer h i m self, w e n t there. T h e n . . . then . . . what he f o u n d there . . . a n d s o m e t h i n g o f w h a t t r a n s p i r e d b e f o r e h e c o u l d say the R u n e s o f E x o r c i s m .

The

T h i n g — t h a t monstrous, tentacled, grey-green Great O l d O n e — w a s d e s t r o y e d , m a d e inert o r s e n t o u t s i d e , I k n o w n o t w h i c h . B u t t o o late! [SHORT BREAK IN T H E NARRATIVE] A n d t h e r e y o u have the facts, o r s u f f i c i e n t o f t h e m . O h , t h e r e is m o r e , if you w i s h t o delve. H i n t s a n d a l l u s i o n s in my f a t h e r ' s n o t e b o o k ; n i g h t m a r i s h s u g g e s t i o n s and w h i s p e r s in the e l d e r g r i m o i r e s — all o f w h i c h I h a v e n o w s c a n n e d and u n d e r s t a n d as b e s t I c a n . A n d n o w , too, I m u s t d o o n e last t h i n g . I m u s t drive to t h e a s y l u m f o r m y visit with M o t h e r , w h o a l o n e m i g h t e x p l a i n why, in the w e e h o u r s o f t h e m o r n i n g , I d r e a m e d a g a i n that d r e a m . . . a n d w h y u p o n a w a k e n ing I thought I s a w . . . thought that I s a w . . . |SHORT" B R E A K I N N A R R A T I V E ) | N O T E : F r o m this p o i n t o n t h e r e c o r d i n g is d i v i d e d b e t w e e n t w o v o i c e s , o n e b e i n g t h a t o f J o h n G i b s o n , t h e o t h e r p r e s u m a b l y that o f h i s m o t h e r . T h i s is fairly well c o r r o b o r a t e d by s t a f f a t the H a m m e r s m i t h I n s t i t u t e for t h e M e n t a l l y D i s t u r b e d , w h e r e u p o n a d m i t t a n c e G i b s o n w a s s e e n to b e c a r r y i n g a s m a l l p o r t a b l e r e c o r d e r . H e still had this m a c h i n e with h i m w h e n h e w a s left in private w i t h the lady, w h i c h s i t u a t i o n w a s n o t u n u s u a l as h e r d i s o r d e r w a s n o t b y i n c l i n a tion violent. T h e tape continues.)

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. . H o w are you today. M o t h e r ? " " O h , J o h n ! I ' m s o glad

y o u c o u l d c o m e . B u t . . . why d o y o u s t a r e

so? You l o o k s o s t r a n g e , s o h a g g a r d . Is his d e a t h p r e y i n g u p o n y o u r m i n d ? S t r a n g e , I find o n l y p e a c e . . " M o t h e r , t h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g I m u s t ask y o u . S o m e t h i n g v e r ) ' i m p o r t a n t to m e . " " I m p o r t a n t ? " |Here a q u i c k e n i n g , a q u i t e a u d i b l e g a s p ) " l o h n , a r o u n d y o u r n e c k . You're w e a r i n g — " " T h e m e d a l l i o n ? T h i s ? O h , yes. A n d I k n o w w h a t it is. I k n o w w h e r e it c a m e f r o m a n d w h o b r o u g h t it o u t o f that p l a c e . A n d . . . I k n o w w h e r e it led Father. A n d y o u . . . " " J o h n , " [ t h e voice g a s p i n g , a l a r m e d n o w ] " b e c a r e f u l . T h e r e ' s d a n g e r f o r y o u — i n m e ! C o m e , forget t h e s e q u e s t i o n s o f y o u r s . T h e y are m e a n i n g l e s s . Let m e h o l d y o u . " " M o t h e r , I must k n o w ! D o n ' t try to p u t m e o f f . Tell m e w h a t h a p p e n e d t h a t n i g h t . F a t h e r ' s n o t e b o o k h i n t s o f it, b u t — " |Again the g a s p i n g , l o u d e r n o w ] " Y o u ' v e read his p a p e r s ? You've b e e n in h i s b u r e a u ! O h , J o h n ! " " T h e n it's true. A n d he b r o u g h t m e u p , a l l o w e d m e to live a s . . . as a m a n ! Even k n o w i n g I wasn't his s o n . W a s he b l i n d — o r was h e s i m p l y m a d d e r t h a n you? A n d m y b i r t h : n i n e m o n t h s to t h e d a y a f t e r y o u f o u n d t h a t hellish place, that awful T h i n g in t h e d a r k n e s s ! " " W e c o u l d n ' t b e s u r e , J o h n . S u r e l y y o u c a n see t h a t ? " " N o , I can't s e e it." ( G i b s o n ' s v o i c e h a r s h now, uglyj " B u t as a b a b y you were s o — " "Normal?" "Yes, n o r m a l ! A n d I c a m e to love y o u . A n d so, w h e n finally w e k n e w , w e kept it f r o m y o u . A n d b e c a u s e y o u were m i n e , a n d b e c a u s e y o u r f a t h e r held h i m s e l f r e s p o n s i b l e — a l s o b e c a u s e y o u had n o h a r m in y o u — " [A g r u n t ] " H e let m e live." |A m e r e w h i s p e r ] " Y e s . . . . " " A n d y o u , m o t h e r , s a n e b u t l o c k e d in h e r e . Not b e c a u s e you're m a d , n o , b u t b e c a u s e y o u r n e r v e s are s u c h t h a t they c a n n o t b e a r t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d — b e c a u s e you k n o w w h a t y o u b r o u g h t i n t o it! A n d n o w I know, t o o . . . . " (Gibson's voice n o w dark, sinister] " J o h n , d o n ' t s q u e e z e m e s o . You're h u r t i n g m e ! " " H u r t i n g ? Pain? Y e s — b u t w h a t is t h a t to m e ? W h a t is y o u r e n t i r e

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h u m a n r a c e to m e ? D o you t h i n k I w o n ' t h u r t t h e m , t o o ? It is m y n a ture, Mother, m y destiny!" " J o h n , I love y o u . D o n ' t m a k e m e — " " M a k e you what?" (Gibson's voice was coarse but alert) | His m o t h e r ' s voice was a c h o k e d rattle) " J o h n . . . d a n g e r in m e . . . I have t h e e x o r c i s m . . . w o r d s o f d i s s o l u t i o n . D o n ' t m a k e m e . . . u s e them!" ( G i b s o n ' s voice, d i s t o r t e d a l m o s t b e y o n d r e c o g n i t i o n ) "Gha, Hyuh,

hyuh,

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tilling ai gha!

ngh!

S e e , M o t h e r , the c h a n g e ! S o y o u love

m e , d o y o u ? D o y o u love this f " J o h n ! " [A m e r e c r o a k ] " O h , m y G o d ! — m y s o n . . . " " Y o u r s o n , y e s — b u t also His s o n . T h e s o n o f It!" " J o h n , n o — t h e Seven W o r d s — m y G o d — S U A M E T I N E V U O D FESF.OD K N E O B TEHCSF.J S E I M SEID! No,

AME-

no—nooo!"

( T h e c r y t a p e r i n g o f f into a g u r g l e , w h i c h is lost in a s i m u l t a n e o u s l a p p i n g o r s w i s h i n g s o u n d , a n d a w h i s t l i n g s c r e a m s u c h as s t e a m m a k e s in its e s c a p e from a k e t t l e . A n d n o m o r e until m u f f l e d v o i c e s , a h a m m e r i n g a t the d o o r a n d t h e s o u n d o f s p l i n t e r i n g w o o d . . . ) END NOTE: O n h e a r i n g t h e u p r o a r f r o m R o o m 2 1 7 , w h i c h is a private ward in the trustee w i n g , m a l e - n u r s e s F r a n k l i n and l o n e s w e n t to t h e r o o m b u t had to b r e a k d o w n t h e d o o r a g a i n s t s o m e i n t e r n a l o b s t r u c t i o n . I n s i d e , s p r a w l e d o n t h e floor a t t h e d o o r itself, they f o u n d M r s . E v a n g e l i n e G i b s o n dead. O f her s o n t h e r e w a s n o t r a c e , b u t

his

r e c o r d e r was t h e r e a n d still s w i t c h e d o n . It h a d j u s t r e a c h e d t h e e n d o f t h e t a p e a n d s w i t c h e d itself o f f a u t o m a t i c a l l y . M r . G i b s o n had not b e e n s e e n to leave t h e i n s t i t u t e ' s g r o u n d s b u t m u s t h a v e d o n e s o in t h e g e n e r a l c o n f u s i o n w h i c h

followed.

S i n c e h e c a n n o t b e f o u n d to v o i c e a n y d e n i a l o r e x p l a n a t i o n , and in light o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g his d i s a p p e a r a n c e , c a n o n l y a s s u m e that h e m u r d e r e d his m o t h e r . It would

one

appear

t h a t h e a c h i e v e d h e r d e a t h by use o f s o m e c o r r o s i v e p o i s o n , w h i c h h e s o m e h o w p o u r e d liberally i n t o h e r . S m a l l p o o l s o f the b l a c k , n o x i o u s s t u f f — s o volatile that it q u i c k l y e v a p o r a t e d in air, leaving o n l y s t i c k y stains, w e r e seen all o v e r the floor. S u c h had b e e n h e r d o s a g e t h a t t h e p o i s o n was still r u n n i n g o u t M r s . G i b s o n ' s m o u t h

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a n d n o s e w h e n F r a n k l i n and J o n e s e n t e r e d t h e r o o m . A m i d s t t h e stains was f o u n d a half-dissolved m e t a l d i s k o n a b a d l y c o r r o d e d chain. Police a c t i o n in p o s t i n g w a n t e d n o t i c e s in the n a m e and d e s c r i p t i o n o f J o h n G i b s o n w o u l d s e e m to c o r r o b o r a t e t h e

institution's

resolution. A c o r o n e r ' s r e p o r t is awaited. B o a r d and I V u s t e e s o f the H a m m e r s m i t h Institute for the Mentally Disturbed D a t e d 11 D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 2 . » » »

A u t h o r ' s N o t e : ( F o r the w o u l d - b e investigator o f m a l i g n a n t o c c u r r e n c e s , in o r d e r that h e b e s p a r e d t i m e and e x p e n s e . )

S t r a n g e o c c u r r e n c e s in t h e a n n a l s o f i n s a n e a s y l u m s are leg i o n . T h e F l a m m e r s m i t h I n c i d e n t was not

my i n s p i r a t i o n .

I n d e e d I d o n o t believe s u c h an i n s t i t u t e exists. T h e Seven W o r d s o f D i s s o l u t i o n have n o m e a n i n g w h a t soever, t h o u g h it m a y a m u s e t h e r e a d e r to believe h e c a n find a p a t t e r n in t h e m o r s o u r c e s f o r t h e m . T h e fact that I w a s b o m n i n e m o n t h s a f t e r L o v e c r a f t ' s death (on 2nd December q u i r k i l y had it in Dark

1 9 3 7 , not

Things—though

1 9 3 6 , as M r .

Derleth

d o u b t l e s s he had h i s

r e a s o n s f o r that, o r e l s e it w a s a p r i n t e r ' s e r r o r ) is e n t i r e l y coincidental. I d i d h a v e a g r e a t - u n c l e w h o e m i g r a t e d to A m e r i c a in t h e m i d - N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y , b u t see this as b e i n g insuffic i e n t e v i d e n c e u p o n w h i c h to l i n k m y s e l f in a n y w a y to W i l l i a m L u m l e y . ( A n o p i n i o n 1 p r e s e n t e d to M r . D e C a m p s o m e years a g o u p o n his i n q u i r y . ) A s for W i l l i a m L u m l e y the w r i t e r : I believe Lovecraft

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h i m s e l f s o m e w h e r e p o i n t s o u t t h a t W L w a s an e x t r e m e l y credulous person. T h e r e are n e i t h e r T y p e r s o r S l e g h t s in m y a n c e s t r y , w h i c h is as o l d a line as E n g l a n d itself. I n d e e d the p r e s e n t d a y Earl o f S c a r b o r o u g h is a Lumley, a s is L o r d H e x h a m , but neither do I claim relationship t o t h e m . Finally, the fact t h a t 1 live in C r o u c h E n d is also e n t i r e l y c o i n c i d e n t a l . W o u l d - b e v i s i t o r s are, h o w e v e r , d e f i n i t e l y encouraged

not

Demoniacal David S u t t o n

I 46 A

n d anyway," Bart said in a h u r t t o n e , " s o what? If they w a n t

x l l o

i n c l u d e i n c a n t a t i o n s , w h y s h o u l d n ' t it b e a e s t h e t i c ? "

He

sipped at his lager and s l u m p e d b a c k in the c h a i r like an a n g r y child. His d r i n k i n g partner, Nuttall, really k n e w h o w to get h i m g o i n g . H o w ever, for all their a r g u i n g , they r e m a i n e d t h e b e s t o f friends. Bart s c a n n e d the i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e l o u n g e bar. P r e d o m i n a n t l y s t u d e n t s , t h e l o n g - h a i r e d , f a s h i o n - f l a u n t i n g s e t , t o t a l l y geared

to

s e m i - i d e a l i s m , u n d e r g r o u n d and folk m u s i c and f r a n k , u n i n h i b i t e d c h a t t e r o n a n y and e v e r ) ' t o p i c . T h e W i n d s o r w a s a g o o d s c e n e , b u t n o t t h e m o s t r e s p e c t e d p u b in t o w n . At a n y o n e t i m e B a r t c o u l d see, if h e l o o k e d hard e n o u g h , c a n n a b i s b o u g h t and s o l d , t h e easy p i c k u p s , t h e h a n g e r s - o n , t h e e r s t w h i l e C N D m o b , its n u m b e r s dim i n i s h i n g n i g h t l y a s the local g r o u p b r o k e u p t h r o u g h

singularly

n o n p e a c e t u l s i t u a t i o n s . T h e a t m o s p h e r e w a s relaxed a n d p r o v e d t h e i d e a l p l a c e f o r B a r t a n d Nuttall to g o t o , their politics b e i n g o f a s i m i lar t y p e to t h e rest o f t h e c l i e n t e l e . N u t t a l l d e c i d e d to c l o s e t h e latest d i s c u s s i o n w h i c h had reached t h e e n d o f its tether, a s far a s Bart w a s c o n c e r n e d , and said, " I ' m sorry, A l a n , b u t it j u s t s e e m s to m e that a progressive g r o u p like Fried S p i d e r s n e e d n ' t u s e g i m m i c k s to m a k e g o o d m u s i c . . . . " Bart s t a r e d at his p a r t n e r . " L o o k , Ray, t h e i n v o c a t i o n s a r e all p a r t o f t h e t h e m e in this c a s e . T h e y a r e i n t e g r a l a n d , no m a t t e r w h a t y o u

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say, you'll find I ' m r i g h t , o n c e y o u ' v e heard t h e LP a c o u p l e o f t i m e s . " H e g l a n c e d a t the e m p t y glasses. " A n o t h e r ? " H e tossed b a c k his l o n g , b r o w n , c u r l y h a i r as h e s t e p p e d u p to the b a r . W h i l e he w a s g o n e , Nuttall p i c k e d u p a n e w s p a p e r w h i c h had b e e n left o n t h e t a b l e . H e slid his s u n g l a s s e s u p w a r d s u n t i l they c a u g h t in h i s tight, b l a c k hair. H i s s k i n w a s olive a n d s m o o t h text u r e d . W i t h his d a r k h a i r a n d b l a c k l e a t h e r j a c k e t , h e t o o k o n a s o m b r e , a l o o f a p p e a r a n c e . H e had a l a c k o f p u r p o s e a b o u t h i m a n d less i n s i g h t , o r s o it s e e m e d . H e resisted c u l t ideas and s n e e r e d o p e n l y a t t h e o r d e r l i n e s s that i n f e c t e d m o s t p e o p l e ' s lives. H e was a l s o r i c h e n o u g h to d o s o . T h r o u g h d a r k , w e a k e y e s , h e read p a r t s o f t h e newspaper, h i s eyelids t h i c k and heavy o v e r t h e eyeballs, his m o u t h a c o n t e m p t u o u s l i n e o f pale p i n k . H e had the a p p e a r a n c e o f a v u l t u r e o v e r its prey. H o w e v e r , his l o o k s belied a h u m o u r that, f r e q u e n t l y in t h e e x t r e m e s o f i r o n y and s a r c a s m , was m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t t h e b a s i s o f his uncharacteristic friendliness. Bart r e t u r n e d w i t h the d r i n k s , to w h i c h N u t t a l l n o d d e d a " t h a n k y o u " w h i l e r e m a i n i n g glued to an a r t i c l e in t h e c e n t r e pages. B a r t slid a b o o k f r o m his p o c k e t and b e g a n to read, c o m b i n g t h e h a i r o f f h i s face, away f r o m his eyes. H e had a m o r e s e r i o u s turn o f m i n d t h a n N u t t a l l a n d l o o k e d f o r s o m e p u r p o s e in l i f e — p r e f e r a b l y o n e w h i c h w o u l d c r u s h the p r e s e n t d a y s o c i e t y w h i c h p o n d e r s o n the b r i n k o f d e s t r u c t i o n with c a r e l e s s e a s e . H i s pale f o r e h e a d was n e a r l y a l w a y s creased

in c o n c e n t r a t i o n ,

tackling a

problem

in his m i n d . As a

y o u n g s t e r , h e had had no a w a r e n e s s . H a v i n g b e e n o u t o f s c h o o l six years, his w h o l e c h a r a c t e r a n d o u t l o o k had c o m e f o r w a r d to s h o u t t h e i r e x i s t e n c e in w h a t , u p until t h e n , had b e e n an a u t o m a t o n . Pale, like c a n d l e wax, h i s b l u e eyes were o r b s o f a z u r e fire set in his face; h i s lips r u d d y o n their c a d a v e r o u s b a c k g r o u n d . N u t t a l l t o o k u p his pint a n d p u l l e d heavily o n it. H e l o o k e d away f r o m the p a p e r a n d said, " G u e s s what? Y o u r Fried S p i d e r s h a v e c a u s e d a s e n s a t i o n in o c c u l t circles." " O h ? " B a r t said interestedly. " L e t m e read you this." H i s f r i e n d p a u s e d . " ' S e v e r a l o c c u l t s o c i eties a n d w e l l - k n o w n e x p e r t s have c o n d e m n e d a r e c o r d released last w e e k b y a B i r m i n g h a m g r o u p k n o w n as F r i e d S p i d e r s . T h i s l o n g p l a y i n g r e c o r d c o m b i n e s several lines o f i n c a n t a t i o n s o n o n e o f t h e s o n g s w h i c h , said T h o m a s M i l l w r i g h t , s c h o l a r o f B l a c k M a g i c , c o u l d

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b e h i g h l y d a n g e r o u s . Q u e s t i o n e d f u r t h e r , M r . M i l l w r i g h t stated t h a t t h e s e rituals a r e o f a very a n c i e n t c e r e m o n y , p o s s i b l y q u i t e h a r m f u l , t a k e n f r o m a r a r e b o o k o f m a g i c . Luckily, he c o n t i n u e d , s e c t i o n s o f t h e i n v o c a t i o n s have b e e n o m i t t e d o n t h e r e c o r d and it is u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e o r d i n a r y listener would c o m e to a n y h a r m . A n o v i c e in t h e Black A r t s m i g h t find t h e spell e x t r e m e l y useful a n d p o s s i b l y d a n g e r o u s , however.' H o w a b o u t t h a t , A l a n ? " " H m m . You k n o w w h a t t h e p a p e r s a r e like, Ray. M i n d you, t h e s t u f f o n t h e LP is the real t h i n g ; t h e b a n d l o o k e d it u p especially. B u t as far as t h e press is c o n c e r n e d , it's j u s t like t h o s e s c a n d a l i s e d s t o r i e s o f rituals in graveyards, d u g u p graves, t h o r n - p i e r c e d h e a r t s and so on." " I t h o u g h t you had a k i n d e y e t o w a r d s o c c u l t i s m a n d all t h a t ? " " I d o , t h o u g h n o t t h i s w i d e l y publicised a n d s u i t a b l y glorified s t u f f y o u read a b o u t . B l a c k M a g i c , a n d W h i t e for that m a t t e r , d o e s g o o n a n d , I believe, with s o m e s u c c e s s — b e h i n d

l o c k e d and

secret

d o o r s . N o n e o f it r e a c h e s t h e p o p u l a r press." N u t t a l l , h o w e v e r , had n o w b e c o m e m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in t h e g r o u p . " W h a t was t h e title o f the L P a g a i n ? " "Ocean

of Minds.

Why? Thinking of buying it?"

" N o , I'll b o r r o w y o u r s if I w a n t to h e a r it," Nuttall a n s w e r e d . " O h , y e s . . . " B a r t said in m o c k d e r i s i o n . " I t h o u g h t y o u d i d n ' t like g i m m i c k g r o u p s . " "Yes, b u t a s you say, I h a v e to give it a fair h e a r i n g . W h y not b r i n g it o v e r to m y flat t o m o r r o w n i g h t and we'll see h o w it g o e s . " "All r i g h t , Ray, b u t d o n ' t e x p e c t t o o m u c h , will y o u . T h e r e a r e o n l y two t r a c k s o n it. Ocean

of Minds

and Demoniacal,

w h i c h is t h e

o n e with t h e c o n t r o v e r s i a l c o n t e n t , you m i g h t say." " A h , b u t o n m y hi-fi I c a n give it the best t r e a t m e n t , c a n ' t I," Ray said r h e t o r i c a l l y . " B e s i d e s , m a y b e we c a n call u p B e e l z e b u b a t t h e s a m e t i m e ! S e e you t o m o r r o w , t h e n . " H e l a u g h e d and g o t u p to g o . "Yes, sure," B a r t s a i d . " S e e y o u a t e i g h t . . . . " H e was not at all s u r e that his f r i e n d w a s a c t i n g n o r m a l l y . H i s s u d d e n i n t e r e s t in t h e L P m a d e B a r t w o n d e r j u s t w h a t he w a s u p t o . T h e feeling o f u n ease w a s p r o b a b l y j u s t a b o u t o f Bart's o v e r s e n s i t i v e

imagination

m a k i n g u p f o r t h e weeks o f m a t e r i a l i s t i c study h e had j u s t b e e n putting in.

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II Alan B a r l slid t h e d i s c f r o m t h e r a c k , its b l a c k c o v e r s h i n i n g , t h e d a z z l e h i d i n g a h a l f - s e e n n e g a t i v e p h o t o g r a p h o f a n u d e d a n c e r in e r o t i c p o s t u r e . H e s h r u g g e d o n a t a t t e r e d o v e r c o a t a n d left t h e h o u s e . A s h e waited for t h e bus, he p o n d e r e d o n N u t t a l l ' s s t r a n g e b e h a v i o r . O n l y a f e w m i n u t e s b e f o r e a s k i n g to h e a r the r e c o r d , he had argued q u i t e b i t t e r l y o n t h e a r t i f i c e s used b y b a n d s p r e t e n d i n g to p r o d u c e m u s i c . Yet it w o u l d h a r d l y b o t h e r Nuttall s i n c e h e had n o s t r o n g feeli n g a b o u t a n y t h i n g . I n fact, t h o u g h t Bart, h e a r g u e d m o s t o f t e n j u s t f o r t h e sake o f it a n d w o u l d take an o p p o s i n g v i e w p o i n t to k e e p a discussion boiling. T h e bus c a m e , s c r e e c h i n g i n e v i t a b l y past t h e stop. B a r t r a n to m e e t the o p e n i n g d o o r s . H e sat d o w n s t a i r s a t t h e rear a n d gazed o u t o f the w i n d o w . F o r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n Nuttall w a n t e d to h e a r t h e r e c o r d , it w o u l d be n i c e , he t h o u g h t , to h e a r t h e m a c a b r e m u s i c o n s t e r e o e q u i p m e n t f o r a c h a n g e , r a t h e r t h a n h i s o l d r e c o r d player. N u t tall w a s o n e o f t h o s e hip c h a r a c t e r s w h o had b e e n b o r n w i t h silver s p o o n s in t h e i r m o u t h s . It w a s easy for t h e m to i g n o r e the i r r a t i o n a l and b i z a r r e s o c i e t y in w h i c h t h e y lived, e a s y t o slip i n t o a q u i e t , w o r k l e s s w a y o f e x i s t e n c e — t i n k e r i n g with w h a t e v e r t o o k t h e i r f a n c y . T h u s , t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h affect t h e rest o f w o r k i n g h u m a n i t y did not a p p l y t o N u t t a l l . H i s fiat w a s a lavish affair; it was really s o m e t h i n g n o t to m i s s w h e n h e held a p a r t y a n d that was q u i t e freq u e n t l y . . . W h a t was it a b o u t p a r t i e s . . . ? S o m e t h i n g Bart c o u l d n o t q u i t e r e m e m b e r . N o t a party, but s o m e t h i n g e l s e Nuttall had d o n e a t his

fiat...

?

B a r t , c o n v e r s e l y , f o u n d s o c i e t y at o d d s w i t h h i m .

Working

t h r o u g h what he considered was a hateful working class society, h e had a c h i e v e d s e l f - i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m b y h i s o w n h a r d - e a r n e d e f f o r t . T h e s e t w o i n s e p a r a b l e f r i e n d s were a p a i r that, o n t h e s u r f a c e , did n o t m a t c h . T h e y were s o c i a l l y a t e a c h e n d o f t h e scale, b u t it is s o m e t h i n g a b i t d e e p e r t h a n p e r s o n a l b a c k g r o u n d s w h i c h tie two p e o p l e together. A cold night wind bit into Bart's hands as he made his way up a l i t t e r - b l o w n street to N u t t a l l ' s flat. H e pressed t h e d o o r - b e l l twice. " H u l l o , A l a n , c o m e o n in," Nuttall c o r d i a l l y i n v i t e d . " C o f f e e ? " "Yes please, Ray. It's b l o o d y c o l d t o n i g h t . "

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" I see you've g o t the r e c o r d . B e f o r e w e play it. let m e s h o w y o u something." Bart f o l l o w e d h i m i n t o t h e llat, a large o n e with a s p a c i o u s lounge. W i t h a tastefulness which o n e thought Nuttall would not care to possess, the r o o m was d e c o r a t e d in an u n u s u a l m a n n e r . Expensive lighting could be d i m m e d down at a touch o f a button. T h e walls were p a i n t e d s o f t b r o w n and t a k i n g t h e w h o l e l e n g t h o f o n e wall was the r a n g e o f hi-fi e q u i p m e n t : t a p e , t r a n s c r i p t i o n u n i t , r a d i o a n d all. T h e s p e a k e r s were set u n o s t e n t a t i o u s l y n e a r the

floor

w o o d e n s t a n d s . T h e f u r n i t u r e w a s soft, l u x u r i o u s n u t b r o w n

on cor-

d u r o y c h a i r s and s o f a . T h e w h o l e r o o m , in fact, had an u n n e r v i n g e f f e c t . It a p p e a r e d to i s o l a t e its o c c u p a n t s f r o m t h e w o r l d . It was q u i e t , a s t h o u g h w a i t i n g f o r m u s i c to b r i n g it to life. In its w a y it was severe, with no o r n a m e n t a t i o n o r b r i c - a - b r a c ; yet the s m o o t h , w a r m f e a t u r e s o p p o s e d this idea. T h e y suggested c o m f o r t a n d r e l a x a t i o n . D i d t h e r o o m have a d o u b l e p u r p o s e ? It w a s an u n u s u a l o n e , certainly, a n d not to b e stayed in f o r a n y l e n g t h o f t i m e w i t h o u t c o m p a n y o r s o u n d " T a k e a l o o k a t this, w h i l e I m a k e c o f f e e , " Nuttall said, h a n d i n g h i s friend a b o o k . It w a s t h e o l d e s t l o o k i n g t o m e B a r t had e v e r s e e n . B o u n d in b r o w n l e a t h e r w i t h m e t a l clasps, it was e x t r e m e l y b a t t e r e d . H e u n d i d the f a s t e n i n g s g e n t l y a n d t u r n e d o p e n the cover. " U g h ! H o w o l d is this t h i n g , Ray? It reeks w i t h m u s t , " he called. " O h , a few h u n d r e d years." Nuttall r e t u r n e d f r o m t h e k i t c h e n with two s t e a m i n g m u g s . " S o b e c a r e f u l with it; it's p r a c t i c a l l y falling to pieces." " I c a n see t h a t ! " N u t t a l l h a n d e d h i m h i s d r i n k . " T h a n k s . " " I t w a s written b y a n E n g l i s h m a n , n a m e o f Berkley. A s y o u c a n see, h e n e v e r put a title to it, t h o u g h it w a s s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r e d to a s 'Mad

Berkley's

Book.'"

" B u t w h a t e x a c t l y is it, R a y ? " "A b o o k o f m a g i c , spells, and s o f o r t h . Y o u k n o w , t h e r e w e r e l o t s o f t h e s e t h i n g s written by s o - c a l l e d m a g i c i a n s in t h o s e days. S o m e t i m e s they were b a n n e d by the c h u r c h a n d b u r n e d , o r driven u n d e r g r o u n d . C o n s e q u e n t l y , m a n y o f t h e s e b o o k s have b e c o m e very rare." Bart sipped h i s c o f f e e . It tasted s l i g h t l y bitter.

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N u t t a l l n o t i c e d his e x p r e s s i o n . " J u s t a little s o m e t h i n g to k e e p u s alert," h e s a i d . "Alert...?" H e i g n o r e d t h e q u e r y . "Anyway, it was w h e n I was r e a d i n g y o u t h a t n e w s p a p e r i t e m last n i g h t . S o m e t h i n g s t r u c k m e a b o u t t h a t Black M a g i c e x p e r t they m e n t i o n e d , T h o m a s M i l l w r i g h t . I'd read o r heard a b o u t h i m s o m e w h e r e before. I looked through a b u n c h o f old m a g a z i n e s a n d , by s o m e fluke, I c a m e a c r o s s a n a r t i c l e o n h i m w r i t t e n a b o u t a year a g o . H e w a s a p p a r e n t l y m a k i n g a study o f o n e part i c u l a r b o o k o f m a g i c — M a d Berkley's

Book,

in f a c t . It's e x t r e m e l y

r a r e . Y o u k n o w m y g r a n d f a t h e r f o r d i g g i n g u p relics; well, h e gave m e a pile o f o l d b o o k s a f e w m o n t h s b a c k . You c a n i m a g i n e m y s u r p r i s e when—" " H a n g o n a m i n u t e , Ray," B a r t i n t e r r u p t e d . " W h a t has all this g o t to d o with the r e c o r d ? " " I w a s c o m i n g to t h a t . It's q u i t e s i m p l e . M i l l w r i g h t has d e v o t e d t h e s e last m o n t h s to s t u d y i n g o n e b o o k in p a r t i c u l a r , right? N o w isn't it q u i t e likely t h a t , w h e n h e m e n t i o n e d the b o o k in t h e n e w s p a p e r , h e was t a l k i n g a b o u t the very o n e h e was s t u d y i n g ? T h e o n e w e h a v e h e r e . S o , i f I ' m r i g h t , w e have t h e complete

text o f the i n c a n t a t i o n s o n

t h e LP." Bart felt t h a t t h i s was t o o m u c h o f a c o i n c i d e n c e . Even if it w a s the

b o o k , s o what? S u r e l y Nuttall w a s n o t t h i n k i n g o f

practising

m a g i c ? T h e n B a r t r e m e m b e r e d w h a t h e was t r y i n g to t h i n k o f o n t h e b u s . Just vague r u m o u r s ; n o t h i n g s u b s t a n t i a l . B u t w a s it not N u t t a l l w h o had b e e n i n v o l v e d in that B l a c k M a g i c s c a n d a l a c o u p l e o f years b a c k . . . b e f o r e B a r t had r e a l l y g o t to k n o w h i m ? Using his h o m e a s m e e t i n g place f o r t h e r i t u a l s . . . ? N o , it w a s t o o a b s u r d . " W h a t ' s the p o i n t o f the exercise, R a y ? " " O h , " h e a n s w e r e d vaguely, " j u s t f o r the research value a n d to s e e w h a t the b a n d m a k e o f t h e spells. I j u s t t h o u g h t y o u ' d b e interested. After all, we do have the g e n u i n e a r t i c l e ! " " I a m , Ray," h e said and t o o k a l o n g d r i n k o f c o f f e e . " C a n I h a v e a l o o k at t h e r e c o r d s l e e v e ? " B a r t h a n d e d it to h i m a n d h e o p e n e d it o u t and read t h e n o t e s o n the m u s i c . "

'Demoniacal

c o n t a i n s a c t u a l i n v o c a t i o n s f r o m an a n c i e n t c e r e m o n y u s e d , ' " N u t tall q u o t e d , " 'for t h e c o n j u r a t i o n o f a d e m o n f r o m t h e n e t h e r w o r l d .

T H E

5 6

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T h e y b e g i n : H e W h o Is T h e B l a c k O n e , T h e Filler O f Space, W h o Is T o B e Lei O u t O f His P l a c e O n t o T h e E a r l h . . . ' S o u n d s typically m u m b o - j u m b o ; b u t n i c e o f t h e m to give us t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e c e r e m o n y . N o w w e c a n l o o k it up, b e f o r e playing the m u s i c . " N u t t a l l b e g a n c a r e f u l l y leafing t h r o u g h t h e pages o f the

un-

titled t o m e . As he did s o , B a r t b e c a m e m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in this a u t h e n t i c research and f o l l o w e d the p a i n s t a k i n g w o r k . It w a s a

massive

b o o k and a lot o f t e x t had faded with t i m e . S o m e pages h a d a l m o s t c r u m b l e d to p o w d e r , a s if they had b e e n e x p o s e d for a t h o u s a n d years. D i a g r a m s were d o t t e d a b o u t h e r e a n d t h e r e a n d

marginal

n o t e s in i n k still s h o w e d , h o w e v e r faded, the w r i t i n g o f a n e r v o u s h a n d . It was B a r t w h o f o u n d the r i t u a l first. " T h e r e ! " H e p o i n t e d to t h e page. "Yes, yes." A p a u s e . " T h i s first bit here deals with the p r e c a u t i o n s the

aspiring

warlock

should

take

before

going

ahead,"

Nuttall

laughed. " I d o u b t that h e w o u l d b e a b l e to take a n y n o w a d a y s , w i t h all that faded script. S o m e t h i n g t h e r e a b o u t a n e w m o o n a n d t h e n t h a t w h o l e s e c t i o n t h e r e is b l o t t e d o u t . T h e n it g o e s o n a b o u t a n u n b r o k e n p e n t a g r a m . Anyway, Ray, w e ' v e g o t t h e text. Let's h e a r t h e music!" Bart s l i p p e d the d i s c f r o m t h e sleeve and Nuttall p l a c e d it o n t h e t u r n t a b l e . After a p r e l i m i n a r y c l e a n i n g , he l o w e r e d the a r m

and

t u r n e d u p t h e v o l u m e . H e t h e n d i m m e d t h e lights u n t i l it was o n l y j u s t possible to read in t h e d a r k e n e d r o o m . T o g e t h e r t h e y sat o n t h e sofa, with the b o o k across their knees. T h e m u s i c w a s heavily e l e c t r o n i c , and t h e w e i r d c o s m i c s o u n d s were really e f f e c t i v e in t h e d a r k e n e d r o o m . A c h i l l i n g series o f b u b b l i n g e l e c t r o n i c s b l a s t e d o u t . T h e n , quietly, a f a i n t s c r e a m i n g b e g a n in

the

background;

the vocalist

hauntingly warbled.

Both

men

l o o k e d a t t h e b o o k a n d f o l l o w e d t h e w o r d s w i t h s o m e difficulty. T h e m u s i c i n s i n u a t e d in a h o r r i b l e f a s h i o n ; c h i l l i n g l y w h i s p e r i n g , t h e c h a n t w e n t o n , g i v e n evil a n d f r i g h t f u l life with d i s t o r t e d voice and i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n . An o r g a n i n t o n e d d r e a m l i k e , s o m e w h e r e , and d r u m s beat out a hypnotic rhythm. T h e m u s i c w a s s t a r t l i n g , all t h e m o r e s o , f o r w h a t e v e r N u t t a l l had p u t in t h e c o f f e e w a s n o w t a k i n g e f f e c t . B a r t felt d e t a c h e d , f l o a t i n g

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f r e e in a w o m b o f c o s m i c s o u n d . H e b e c a m e f r i g h t e n e d ; t h e d r u g had i n t e n s i f i e d his a w a r e n e s s , yet h e felt h e c o u l d n o t m o v e o f his o w n f r e e will. H e d r i f t e d in space, weightless, u n a b l e to c o n t r o l his l i m b s . T h e o l d b o o k b e f o r e h i m s w a m away, its pages

flapping

slowly, t h e

m u s t y s m e l l d r i f t i n g like s o m e t a n g i b l e s m o k e i n t o his n o s t r i l s . H e c o u l d not r e a c h t h e b o o k . H e was t o o far away, t u r n i n g h o t l y w i t h i n a chrysalis o f sticky s o u n d . T h e m u s i c c a m e to h i m w i t h full s t e r e o p h o n i c c l a r i t y a n d , d e e p l y i n s i d e his m i n d , the b l e a t i n g c h a n t c l a t t e r e d , r e s o u n d i n g o n s c r e a m ing guitar pluckings. A thin, high screech dashed through the wall o f s o u n d . H a n d d r u m s c a m e in, b e a t i n g a frenzied a n d h y p n o t i c p a t t e r n o n t o the vocalist's w o r d s . T i m e l e s s , t e r r i b l e c h i t t e r i n g s s h a t t e r e d in Bart's m i n d . It s o u n d e d like the s w i r l i n g o f the u n i v e r s e had i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y f o u n d v o i c e inside his h e a d . H e s p u n in s t a r - d u s t a n d n e b u lae a n d in n o v a e o f e n o r m o u s s o u n d s waves. T h e b o o m i n g m u s i c t o n e d d o w n , q u i e t . . . soft. S u d d e n l y t h e s i n g i n g s t o p p e d , b u t the i n s t r u m e n t s played o n as h e k n e w they w o u l d . H e s w a m in t h e l u s h d a r k n e s s as t h e b e a t d e v e l o p e d and t h e s o u n d w a s all t h e r e was in this h u g e , w a r m world. T h e n t h e i n c a n t a t i o n c o n t i n u e d . B u t t h a t had n o t b e e n o n t h e record before! A sparkling, irritating a n d terrifying thought glanced a c r o s s B a r t ' s s w i m m i n g m i n d . It s o u n d e d like N u t t a l l ' s v o i c e . . . S u d d e n l y Nuttall s c r e a m e d . Far away it s e e m e d . Terrified now, Bart s h o o k h i s head t o regain s o m e c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h e r o o m w a s c o l d . H e still sat o n t h e s o f a , b u t his c o m p a n i o n lay s p r a w l e d o n t h e fioor.

T h e r o o m was i m m e a s u r a b l y c o l d a n d b l a c k a n d t h e b l a c k

filled all space. It c l u n g wetly to h i m , a m i r e o f d a r k , a s w a m p o f c h i l l n i g h t . B a r t j u m p e d u p a n d s h r i e k e d . . . the b l a c k n e s s m o v e d . . . It r o l l e d a n d slithered in t h e n o w s i l e n t r o o m . It had invisible eyes, i n c r e d i b l y evil eyes w h i c h l o o k e d a t h i m . It s w a m , m i n g l i n g with t h e t r u e d a r k , t o w a r d s h i m ! H e felt t h e w e t n e s s , t h e h o r r i b l e , filthy n a u s e o u s fingers o f s l i m e o n his f a c e . . . it was tasting his s k i n . . . tasting

with

its

H e l u r c h e d u p a n d staggered a l o n g , c l u t c h i n g t h e wall. H i s

fin-

invisible,

quivering

him

. . . licking

rapturously

lips!

gers c a u g h t s o m e t h i n g . T h e lights w e n t o n and t h e vile p r o t o p l a s m o f n i g h t i m p l o d e d in o n i t s e l f a n d v a n i s h e d . B a r t slid d o w n the wall. H e

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was c o v e r e d in a c l i n g i n g , u l i g i n o u s liquid w h i c h w a l l o w e d a r o u n d h i s eyes a n d d r o o l e d from his sagging m o u t h . H e r e t c h e d . N'uttall lay g r o a n i n g o n

the

floor,

t r y i n g to lift h i m s e l f o u t

o f a p o o l o f c l e a r g l u t i n o u s o o z e . " T h a n k G o d f o r t h e light

...

A l a n . . . A l a n , w e f o r g o t t h e p e n t a g r a m . . . T h e B l a c k O n e . . . it's out now!"

T h e Kiss o f Bugg-Shash Brian Lumley

I i ť V ^ o u let it o u t ? " T h o m a s M i l l w r i g h t i n c r e d u l o u s l y r e p e a l e d Ray A

Nuttall's obliquely offered

a d m i s s i o n . Alan

somewhat younger c o m p a n i o n , nodded

Bart,

Nuttall's

in e a g e r if a p p r e h e n s i v e

a g r e e m e n t , s h i v e r i n g d e s p i t e t h e w a r m t h o f the L o n d o n e r ' s c i t y flat. "Yes, w e did, sir," h e b l u r t e d , " b u t n o t i n t e n t i o n a l l y , you m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t . G o d , n e v e r t h a t — a n d c e r t a i n l y n o t i f we'd k n o w n w h a t w e were d o i n g , b u t — " " C h r i s t , A l a n , b u t you're g i b b e r i n g ! " Nuttall's disgusted e x c l a m a t i o n c u t B a r t o f f in m i d - s e n t e n c e , his w e a k eyes p e e r i n g n e r v o u s l y a b o u t t h e flat a n d g i v i n g the lie to h i s c o o l c o n t r o l l e d t o n e o f v o i c e . " I ' m s u r e M r . M i l l w r i g h t u n d e r s t a n d s e v e r y t h i n g we've told

him.

T h e r e ' s really n o n e e d to g o o n so." Alan Bart's c y n i c a l - s e e m i n g f r i e n d had pulled h i m s e l f t o g e t h e r s o m e w h a t . H e had a c c e p t e d t h e h o r r o r o f t h e t h i n g far m o r e readily t h a n t h e y o u n g e r m a n , s i n c e that s e r i e s o f e v e n t s w h i c h t h r e e n i g h t s e a r l i e r had c u l m i n a t e d w h e n t h e two, a l b e i t u n w i t t i n g l y , h a d i n d e e d called u p a d e m o n , o r d e m o n i c d e v i c e , f r o m n a m e l e s s n e t h e r - g u l f s into the world o f m e n . " O h yes, I u n d e r s t a n d p e r f e c t l y w h a t y o u ' v e t o l d m e , " a n s w e r e d the saturnine, dark-eyed occult scholar, " t h o u g h 1 must admit finding

to

s o m e d i f f i c u l t y in b e l i e v i n g t h a t — "

" T h a t a couple o f rank amateurs, bungling about with a rather

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w e i r d and e s o t e r i c g r a m o p h o n e r e c o r d and a n e v o c a t i o n f r o m s o m e o l d e c c e n t r i c ' s b o o k o f spells, c o u l d a c t u a l l y c o n j u r e s u c h a b e i n g ? " N u t t a l l f i n i s h e d it for h i m . " I n a n u t s h e l l , y e s . . . exactly." T h e o c c u l t i s t m a d e n o b o n e s o f it. " M i n d you, I c a n readily e n o u g h u n d e r s t a n d h o w y o u m i g h t h a v e c o n v i n c e d yourselves that it was s o . S e l f - h y p n o s i s is the basis o f m a n y so-called cases o f d e m o n i c possession." " W e t h o u g h t y o u m i g h t say s o m e t h i n g like that," Nuttall told h i m , " b u t w e c a n prove o u r s t o r y v e r y easily." His voice was s u d d e n l y t r e m b l i n g ; h e p l a i n l y f o u g h t to m a i n t a i n a g r i p o n h i m s e l f . " H o w ever, it's n o t a pleasant e x p e r i e n c e . . " I t ' s h o r r i b l e , h o r r i b l e ! " T h e y o u n g e r m a n , Bart, j u m p e d u p . H i s n o r m a l l y s a l l o w f e a t u r e s were s u d d e n l y m a n y s h a d e s lighter. " D o n ' t m a k e us p r o v e it, M r . M i l l w r i g h t ! N o t t h a t again, G o d , not t h a t ! " h i s v o i c e b e g a n to rise hysterically. " Y o u n e e d n ' t s t a y for it, Alan." N u t t a l l t o o k p i t y o n the w e a k e r m a n . " I c a n s t a n d it o n my o w n , I t h i n k , a n d a n y w a y it will o n l y b e f o r a s e c o n d . A n d I w o n ' t really b e a l o n e , as M r . M i l l w r i g h t will b e with m e . " M i l l w r i g h t f r o w n e d and rose to his feet f r o m the c o u c h w h e r e h e had b e e n r e c l i n i n g . H i s face p l a i n l y s h o w e d h i s interest. " J u s t w h a t w o u l d this ' p r o o f ' o f y o u r s c o n s i s t o f ? " " W e w o u l d s i m p l y t u r n o f f t h e lights for a m o m e n t , " N u t t a l l a n s w e r e d , r e a c h i n g h i s h a n d o u t to the light s w i t c h o n the wall. " W a i t ! " B a r t s c r e a m e d , g r a b b i n g his c o m p a n i o n ' s a r m . " W a i t , " h e g u l p e d , h i s eyes w i d e and fearful. H e t u r n e d to t h e o c c u l t i s t : " I s t h e r e a light in y o u r b a t h r o o m ? " " O f course," Millwright answered, frowning again. He showed Bart to t h e b a t h r o o m d o o r a n d w a t c h e d b e m u s e d a s the y o u n g m a n t r e m b l i n g l y e n t e r e d . H e n o t i c e d h o w B a r t m a d e s u r e t h a t the light in t h e s m a l l r o o m w a s o n b e f o r e h e w e n t i n . T h e n he h e a r d the c a t c h g o h o m e o n t h e i n s i d e o f the d o o r . S u d d e n l y M i l l w r i g h t b e g a n to b e l i e v e . T h e s e two n i g h t v i s i t o r s , with their a r s e n a l o f p o c k e t t o r c h e s and their p a t e n t l y p s y c h o t i c fear o f d a r k n e s s , w e r e n o t really p u l l i n g his leg. B u t m o s t p r o b a b l y it w a s as he had d i a g n o s e d ; the o d d s were all in f a v o u r o f s e l f - h y p n o s i s . T h e y had d e s i r e d s o b a d l y that their e x p e r i m e n t s h o u l d w o r k and

T H E

KISS

OF

B U G G - S H A S H

61

t h e y h a d p r o b a b l y b e e n in s u c h a s t a t e o f s e l f - i n d u c e d hysteria a t t h e t i m e , t h r o u g h the m u s i c a n d their e s o t e r i c c h a n t i n g s , t h a t t h e y a c t u ally believed t h e y had c a l l e d u p a d e m o n f r o m hell. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d . . . well. M i l l w r i g h t w a s n o t i n e x p e r i e n c e d in t h e d a r k e r m y s t e r i e s . Black M a g i c , p r a c t i s e d with a d e g r e e o f d i s c r e t i o n , a n d the v a r i o u s carefully e d i t e d w o r k s he had w r i t t e n in t h e s a m e v e i n , had m a d e life very easy f o r h i m f o r t h e past fifteen years. N o w , t h o u g h , h e had to see f o r h i m s e l f — o r , at least, e x p e r i e n c e — t h i s " p r o o f that t h e s e y o u n g m e n had o f f e r e d h i m . S u c h p r o o f would n o t b e p l e a s a n t , t h e m a n c a l l e d Nuttall h a d w a r n e d h i m . Well, v e r y f e w m a g i c a l o r n e c r o m a n t i c e x p e r i e n c e s were p l e a s a n t ; b u t o f c o u r s e , N u t t a l l w o u l d h a r d l y b e willing to d e m o n s t r a t e t h e t h i n g — w h a t e v e r it w a s — i f it were really d a n g e r o u s . . . T h e y had n o t e x p l a i n e d e x a c t l y w h a t t h e y believed they had released f r o m its n e t h e r h a b i t a t i o n , b u t p o s s i b l y t h e y d i d not k n o w . T h e y h a d t o l d h i m , h o w e v e r , that t h e y k n e w h e w a s a n " e x p e r t " in this s o r t o f t h i n g , w h i c h was w h y they had a p p r o a c h e d h i m f o r his help. A n d n o w . . . t h e r e w a s o n e easy w a y to find o u t w h a t t h e t r u t h o f t h e m a t t e r really was. M i l l w r i g h t r e t u r n e d to his s t u d y and i n t o t h e p r e s e n c e o f the o l i v e - s k i n n e d m a n c a l l e d Nuttall. H e s a w that h i s v i s i t o r w a s s w e a t i n g in a n t i c i p a t i o n , t h o u g h h e still m a i n t a i n e d t h e vestiges o f s e l f a s s u r a n c e . "All right, M r . Nuttall," M i l l w r i g h t said, c l o s i n g t h e study d o o r behind him. "Let's have your demonstration." N u t t a l l ' s A d a m ' s a p p l e w a s visibly b o b b i n g . " I have to s t a y r i g h t h e r e , " h e m u t t e r e d , " b e s i d e the light s w i t c h , s o that I c a n

switch

it o n a g a i n . A n d you'll n e e d to h o l d m y h a n d , I t h i n k , to r e a l l y — a p p r e c i a t e — t h e t h i n g . A r e you r e a d y ? " D e s p i t e his few r e m a i n i n g d o u b t s regards the v e r a c i t y o f t h e i r story, t h e o c c u l t i s t n e v e r t h e l e s s felt a thrill o f u n s e e n e n e r g i e s , w e i r d f o r c e s , b u i l d i n g in the air. H e a l m o s t c a l l e d a halt to t h e e x p e r i m e n t t h e r e and t h e n . Later, h e w i s h e d that h e had Instead, h e n o d d e d his r e a d i n e s s a n d , a t t h a t , Nuttall s w i t c h e d off the light. In the b r i g h t l y lit b a t h r o o m , h u d d l e d fearfully in o n e c o r n e r w i t h his face s c r e w e d u p in dread e x p e c t a t i o n , Alan B a r t heard M i l l w r i g h t ' s

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h i g h - p i t c h e d s c r e a m a n d , s e c o n d s later, his s o b b i n g a c c u s a t i o n s and v i c i o u s s w e a r i n g . H e k n e w t h e n that Ray had " d e m o n s t r a t e d . " W e a k k n e e d , h e let h i m s e l f o u t o f t h e b a t h r o o m and m a d e his way u n steadily b a c k to the o c c u l t i s t ' s study. T h e r e h e f o u n d w h a t h e k n e w h e w o u l d find: t h e h o r r o r w h i c h h e h i m s e l f had e x p e r i e n c e d t w i c e already. T h e two m e n , h i s

friend

N u t t a l l a n d t h e still s t e a d i l y s w e a r i n g , b u l g e - e y e d o c c u l t i s t , w e r e h a s t i l y r e m o v i n g t h e i r o u t e r g a r m e n t s . All t h e while, they were f r e n ziedly w i p i n g at their f a c e s , s h a k i n g t h e i r a r m s a n d h a n d s a n d k i c k i n g t h e i r legs in a c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t to be rid o f t h e v i s c o u s , c l e a r j e l l y t h a t covered t h e m head to toe in shiny, g l u e y envelopes. T h i s was the snailtrail, the r e s i d u e o f the B l a c k O n e — t h e Filler o f S p a c e — H e

Who

C o m e s in the D a r k ! — t h a t c r e a t u r e o r p o w e r o f o u t e r d i m e n s i o n s w h i c h o n l y t h e p u r i t y o f t h e light m i g h t d i s p e r s e !

N u t t a l l sat w r a p p e d in a towel, pale, d r a w n a n d s h i v e r i n g b e s i d e t h e w a r m t h o f a gas fire w h o s e g l o w i n g l o g s l o o k e d s o very n e a r l y real. H e a n d the o c c u l t i s t had s h o w e r e d to c l e a n s e t h e m s e l v e s o f t h e o b n o x i o u s , s l i m y c o v e r i n g s and n o w M i l l w r i g h t sat, l i s t e n i n g , w h i l e Bart e x p l a i n e d the m o s t i n t r i c a t e details o f w h a t had g o n e o n b e f o r e . Bart n a r r a t e d h o w h e a n d Nuttall had s t u m b l e d a c r o s s the m e a n s o f d r a w i n g t h e h o r r o r o f the j e l l y - s u b s t a n c e t h r o u g h the f a b r i c o f a l i e n d i m e n s i o n s to t h e i r o w n world; h o w t h e y had d i s c o v e r e d t h a t light held this c r e a t u r e o f d a r k n e s s , this

fiy-the-light,

at bay; a n d h o w

thereafter, w h e n e v e r t h e y f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s in d a r k n e s s , t h e t h i n g t h a t lived a n d c h i t t e r e d in d a r k n e s s w o u l d r e t u r n to t r y to d r o w n t h e m in its e x u d e d e s s e n c e . At this m e n t i o n , all eyes

flickered

towards that

t h i c k liquid w h i c h e v e n n o w s l i m e d t h e floor in s t i n k i n g , d r y i n g p u d dles, t h a t j u i c e w h i c h not o n e o f t h e t h r e e c o u l d a s yet b r i n g h i m s e l f to t o u c h o r c l e a r away. " A n d y o u a c t u a l l y h a v e a c o p y o f Mad

Berkley's

Bookľ"

the

s h a k e n o c c u l t i s t asked, t h e silver tassels o f h i s o r i e n t a l d r e s s i n g - g o w n m o v i n g to the s h u d d e r s o f his b o d y . "Yes, it b e l o n g e d

to Ray's g r a n d f a t h e r , " B a r t

agreed. " W e ' v e

b r o u g h t it with us." H e c r o s s e d t h e r o o m to w h e r e his c o a t h u n g and t r e m u l o u s l y r e m o v e d f r o m a large i n n e r p o c k e t a l e a t h e r - b o u n d volu m e in i r o n c l a s p s . H e h a n d e d t h e b o o k to the o c c u l t i s t w h o o p e n e d

T H E

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i t , s t u d i e d its c o n t e n t s f o r a f e w m o m e n t s , t h e n s n a p p e d it d e c i sively s h u t . " O h yes, t h a t ' s Mad

Berkley's

Book

all right. A n d , i n d e e d , it's in

b e t t e r c o n d i t i o n t h a n m y o w n copy. O l d B e r k l e y ' s believed to h a v e c o m b i n e d all t h e worst e l e m e n t s o f a s c o r e o f e s o t e r i c v o l u m e s in this w o r k — t h e Necronomicon, Unaussprechlichen

Kulten—and,

the Cihaat

Aquadingen,

the German

b y G o d , I c a n readily e n o u g h believe

it n o w ! I m y s e l f have n e v e r u s e d t h e b o o k . 1 k n e w that a lot o f t h e s t u f f O l d B e r k l e y p u t d o w n o n p a p e r was d a m n a b l y d a n g e r o u s , o f c o u r s e , b u t this! T h i s is a m o n s t r o u s e v i l ! " H e p a u s e d f o r a m o m e n t , his h a n d s s h a k i n g terribly; t h e n his eyes h a r d e n e d as he t u r n e d t h e m u p o n Nuttall by t h e gas fire. " Y o u b l o o d y f o o l ! You've d a m n e d m e with t h e s a m e h i d e o u s c u r s e ! D i d n ' t y o u realise t h a t o n c e I had e x p e r i e n c e d t h a t — t h i n g — t h a t

I, too,

w o u l d be s u b j e c t to s u c h v i s i t a t i o n s ? " N u t t a l l l o o k e d u p , a s h a d o w o f h i s p r e v i o u s c y n i c a l c o n t r o l ret u r n i n g to d r a w n , h a g g a r d features. " I g u e s s e d it m i g h t b e s o , yes," h e a d m i t t e d , t h e n h a s t i l y w e n t o n ; " b u t d o n ' t you see it had to b e this way? H o w e l s e c o u l d 1 b e s u r e y o u ' d help us? N o w that you're in t h e s a m e b o a t , y o u h a v e to h e l p . I f y o u c a n . . . e x o r c i s e . . . this h o r r o r , t h e n we'll all b e s a f e . A t least you have an i n c e n t i v e . . . n o w ! " " W h y , y o u d a m n e d y o u n g . . ." M i l l w r i g h t rose in a fury, b u t B a r t c a u g h t at h i s sleeve. " W h a t u s e t o fight a b o u t it, M r . M i l l w r i g h t ? D o n ' t y o u see t h a t t h e r e ' s no t i m e f o r that? S o o n e r o r later, unless w e find . . . w e l l . . . an a n t i d o t e , o n e b y o n e , a c c i d e n t a l l y , we'll all b e c a u g h t in t h e d a r k . W h e n t h a t h a p p e n s . . . t h e n . . . " B a r t ' s voice t r a i l e d o m i n o u s l y away as h e left the s e n t e n c e u n f i n i s h e d . " B u t I d o n ' t k n o w o f a n y ' a n t i d o t e ' as you p u t it," the o c c u l t i s t r o u n d e d o n h i m , his v o i c e harsh. " T h e n we'd b e t t e r start l o o k i n g f o r o n e r i g h t away," Ray N u t t a l l s n a p p e d , t h e s i t u a t i o n finally g e t t i n g the b e t t e r o f his n e r v e s . " S u r e l y y o u h a v e s o m e idea o f w h a t t h e t h i n g is? 1 m e a n , you're the e x p e r t , aft e r all. A r e t h e r e n o o t h e r o c c u l t i s t s w e c a n c o n s u l t ? " " I k n o w o f t h r e e o r f o u r o t h e r s in E n g l a n d o f m o r e t h a n o r d i n a r y p o w e r , yes," M i l l w r i g h t a n s w e r e d , p o n d e r i n g

their

problem.

T h e n h e s h o o k his h e a d . " N o u s e to c o n t a c t t h e m , however. T h e y w o u l d n ' t help m e . I m i g h t as well a d m i t it r i g h t n o w — m y r e p u t a t i o n

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C I R C L E

in o c c u l t c i r c l e s is n o t g o o d . I've u s e d w h a t I k n o w o f the d a r k p o w e r s to m y o w n e n d s far t o o o f t e n f o r the liking o f c e r t a i n lily-livered c o n temporaries, I'm afraid. T h e r e are so-called 'ethics' even i n matters s u c h as t h e s e . T h e o n l y m e n I k n o w w h o m i g h t have h e l p e d — t h o u g h e v e n that is d o u b t f u l — h a v e a l s o fallen foul o f s o m e evil, I fear. "You've heard o f Titus C r o w a n d Henri-Laurent d e Marigny? Yes? W e l l , t h e y d i s a p p e a r e d t o g e t h e r s o m e m o n t h s ago, w h e n C r o w ' s h o m e w a s d e s t r o y e d in a f r e a k l i g h t n i n g s t o r m . T h a t rules t h e m o u t . N o , if I ' m to b e a t this t h i n g , t h e n I ' m to d o it o n m y o w n . . . b u t y o u t w o will help m e . N o w , we've m u c h to d o . T h e r e ' l l b e n o s l e e p f o r u s t o n i g h t . Personally, I d o u b t i f I shall e v e r s l e e p a g a i n ! "

II W i t h all the lights o f the flat ablaze, m i d n i g h t f o u n d t h e t h r e e in v a r i o u s a t t i t u d e s o f u n e a s y study. M i l l w r i g h t h a d h e a r d t h e i r s t o r y t h r o u g h o n c e m o r e in all its d e t a i l b e f o r e d e c i d i n g o n a d e f i n i t e c o u r s e o f a c t i o n . At t h e m e n t i o n o f t h e n e w s p a p e r a r t i c l e that q u o t e d M i l l w r i g h t a n d had s p a r k e d o f f Nuttall's i n t e r e s t in t h e progressive g r o u p , Fried S p i d e r s , the o c c u l t i s t a d m i t t e d that his o n l y i n t e r e s t at the t i m e had b e e n in g a i n i n g p u b l i c i t y f o r his r e c e n t b o o k o n o c c u l t t h e m e s . I n fact, h e had n e v e r s o m u c h a s heard the L P in question. M i l l w r i g h t c o n c l u d e d that t h e t w o a c c i d e n t a l l y h i t u p o n the p e r fect a t m o s p h e r e and s e t t i n g , l e a d i n g u p to t h e c o n j u r a t i o n . D o u b t l e s s t h e s o f t d r u g s N u t t a l l had a c c e s s to h a d h e l p e d b r i n g a b o u t a p r o p e r c o n n e c t i o n with o u t s i d e s p h e r e s , h a d c o n t r i b u t e d in f o r m i n g a link, as it were, with a l i e n d i m e n s i o n s . W h e n t h e g r o u p h a d

finished

their

f e w l i n e s o f i n t o n e d i n v o c a t i o n , Nuttall h a d t a k e n u p t h e c h a n t to its c o n c l u s i o n . . . A n d t h e n c a m e the B l a c k O n e ! Never g u e s s i n g t h a t a n y s u c h v i s i t a t i o n m i g h t a c t u a l l y o c c u r , Nuttall had failed to t a k e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p r e c a u t i o n o f p r i s o n i n g the h o r r o r in a p e n t a g r a m . A n d it 1W7S a h o r r o r ! A t h i n g w i t h invisible, evil eyes that s a w in t h e dark, with m o u t h s and lips t h a t s u c k e d and s l o b b e r e d . T h e y had d r i v e n it o f f s i m p l y by s w i t c h i n g o n the light. I f they had n o t . . . t h e n s o o n t h e y w o u l d have d r o w n e d in its h i d e o u s r e s i d u a l s l i m e , t h e j u i c e s it e x u d e d f r o m a l i e n a g g l u t i n o u s p o r e s .

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H a v i n g d r i v e n i h e I h i n g o f f , t h e y had t h o u g h t t h a t t h e y were rid o f it. However, later t h a t n i g h t , a f t e r c l e a n i n g u p , w h e n B a r t s o u g h t to leave N u t t a l l ' s place to r e t u r n h o m e , o u t in t h e dark t h e t h i n g had c o m e to h i m a g a i n . H e h a d b a r e l y b e e n a b l e to m a k e it b a c k to N u t tall's d o o r a n d t h e s a n c t u a r y o f t h e blessed light w i t h i n . N o w , u n s e e n , the B l a c k O n e waited f o r t h e s u m m o n s o f its b e l o v e d d a r k n e s s , w h e n it c o u l d r e t u r n again with its s u c k i n g m o u t h s to d r o w n its l i b e r a t o r s in l o a t h s o m e s l i m e . A n d now, t o o , it waited for M i l l w r i g h t . . . T h e o c c u l t i s t w a s o n l y t o o well a w a r e o f t h e h o r r o r o f living w i t h this n i g h t m a r e — o f n e v e r k n o w i n g w h e n t h e lights m i g h t fail; t h e c o n s t a n t fear o f a c c i d e n t a l l y k n o c k i n g o n e s e l f u n c o n s c i o u s and w a k i n g at n i g h t in a d a r k e n e d r o o m , o r p e r h a p s n o t w a k i n g at all! Now, at t h e m i d n i g h t h o u r , tired as h e was, he p a t i e n t l y t u r n e d the leaves o f a g r e a t a n d a n c i e n t l y e s o t e r i c t e x t b o o k , h o p e f u l o f finding s o m e c l u e as to t h e n a t u r e o f t h e t h i n g his v i s i t o r s had c a l l e d u p f r o m the d a r k e r spheres. N u t t a l l and

B a r t were s i m i l a r l y e m p l o y e d , albeit w i t h

lesser

w o r k s o f r e f e r e n c e . O n l y t h e d r y rustles o f flipped pages, the o c c a s i o n a l m u t t e r e d c u r s e as a p r o m i s i n g s t r e a m o f r e s e a r c h w e n t d r y a n d the t i c k i n g o f M i l l w r i g h t ' s w a l l - c l o c k d i s t u r b e d t h e s i l e n c e . T h e i r task s e e m e d i m p o s s i b l e ; a n d yet by m o r n i n g , t h r o u g h s h e e r d i l i g e n c e a n d hard w o r k — e n g e n d e r e d o f a d r e a d f u l f e a r — t h e y had l e a r n e d m u c h o f t h e h o r r o r that e v e n n o w stalked t h e d a r k places

and

awaited t h e m h u n g r i l y . T h o u g h w h a t t h e y h a d d i s c o v e r e d had o n l y served to i n c r e a s e their t e r r o r . T h i s c r e a t u r e , b e i n g o r p o w e r , had b e e n

k n o w n in the

pre-

d a w n w o r l d to t h e earliest B l a c k M a g i c i a n s a n d N e c r o m a n c e r s . R e c o r d s had c o m e d o w n e v e n f r o m p r e d e l u g e Atlantis o f " T h e N i g h t T h i n g " — " T h e B l a c k O n e " — " T h e Filler o f S p a c e " — " B u g g - S h a s h t h e T e r r i b l e " — a d e m o n w h o m E i b o n o f M h u T h u l a n h i m s e l f had written o f as being: O n e o f t h e d a r k e s t B e i n g s o f t h e N e t h e r w o r l d , w h o s e Trail is as that o f a m o n s t r o u s S n a i l , w h o hails f r o m t h e b l a c k e s t Pits o f t h e m o s t r e m o t e S p h e r e s . C o u s i n to Y i b b - T s t l l , B u g g S h a s h , t o o is a D r o w n e r ; H i s lips d o s u c k a n d lick; H i s Kiss is

66

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t h e s l i m y Kiss o f t h e h i d e o u s D e a t h . H e w a k e s the very D e a d t o H i s C o m m a n d , and e n c a s e d in t h e h o r r o r o f H i s E s s e n c e e v e n the w o r m - r a v a g e d Lich h a s t e n s to H i s B i d d i n g . . . This from that t o m e so carefully scrutinized and guarded f r o m t h e v i e w o f h i s t w o assistants by M i l l w r i g h t . A n d f r o m F e e r y ' s Notes

on the Cthaat

Aquadlngen—though

Mill-

w r i g h t h a d w a r n e d that Feery's r e c o n s t r u c t i o n s and t r a n s l a t i o n s were o f t e n a t fault o r f a n c i f u l in their t r e a t m e n t o f the o r i g i n a l w o r k s — Bart had c u l l e d t h e f o l l o w i n g c r y p t i c i n f o r m a t i o n : Lest a n y b r a s h o r i n e x p e r i e n c e d W i z a r d b e t e m p t e d to call f o r t h o n e o f ye D r o w n e r s — b e it Y i b b - T s t l l o r B u g g - S h a s h this W a r n i n g shall g u i d e h i m & i n f o r m h i m o f his Folly. F o r ye D r o w n e r s a r e o f a like t r e a c h e r o u s & r e q u i r e e v e n ye m o s t d e l i c a t e H a n d l i n g & m i n u t e s t A t t e n t i o n to

thaumaturgic

D e t a i l . Y i b b - T s t l l m a y o n l y b e c o n t r o l l e d by u s e o f ye S o u l searing Barrier of Naach-Tith, & Bugg-Shash may only be c o n t a i n e d in ye P e n t a g r a m o f P o w e r . Too, ye D r o w n e r s m u s t b e s e n t early a b o u t ye B u s i n e s s o f t h e m , w h i c h is D e a t h , lest t h e y find ways to turn u p o n ye C a l l e r . C a l l N O T u p o n B u g S h a s h f o r ye sake o f m e r e idle c u r i o s i t y ; f o r ye G r e a t B l a c k O n e , n e i t h e r H i m n o r H i s C o u s i n , will r e t u r n o f H i s o w n A c c o r d to H i s Place, b u t will s e e k o u t by a n y M e a n s a V i c t i m , b e i n g o f t e n t h a t s a m e W i z a r d w h i c h u t t e r e d ye C a l l i n g . O f ye two is B u g g - S h a s h m o s t t r e a c h e r o u s & vilely c u n n i n g , f o r s h o u l d n o S a c r i f i c e o r V i c t i m b e p r e p a r e d for His C o m i n g , H e will n o t g o b a c k w i t h o u t H e t a k e s H i s Caller w i t h H i m , m u s t n e e d s H e stay an h u n d r e d Years to a c c o m p l i s h His P u r p o s e . . .

N u t t a l l s u p p l i e d t h e s m a l l e s t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s their k n o w l e d g e o f the h o r r o r l u r k i n g in the d a r k n e s s . T h i s f r a g m e n t was f r o m a heavy, h a n d w r i t t e n t o m e w h o s e t i t l e had b e e n c a r e l u l l y r e m o v e d f r o m its s p i n e by b u r n i n g with a h o t i r o n — a n d it was a f r a g m e n t . O f t h e Filler o f S p a c e , t h e b o o k related o n l y this: B u g g - S h a s h is u n b e a r a b l e ! H i s lips s u c k ; H e k n o w s not d e f e a t

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b u t b r i n g s d o w n H i s v i c t i m at t h e last; aye, e v e n t h o u g h H e follows t h a t v i c t i m u n t o D e a t h and b e y o n d to a c h i e v e H i s p u r p o s e . A n d t h e r e was a riddle k n o w n to m y f o r e f a t h e r s : What Swathed

evil wakes in horror

that should toe to

lie

dead,

head<

" T h a t ' s f r o m t h e Neeronomicon!"

Millwright cried when, towards

d a w n , Nuttall f o u n d this piece a n d read it a l o u d in the b r i g h t l y lit study. " I t is A l h a z r e d ! " T h e o c c u l t i s t s n a t c h e d t h e b o o k f r o m

the

o t h e r ' s h a n d s to p o r e eagerly o v e r t h e p a g e — t h e n t h r e w it d o w n in disgust. " O n l y t h a t , " he g r u m b l e d , " n o t h i n g m o r e . B u t it's a c l u e ! T h i s b o o k is s i m p l y a h o d g e - p o d g e o f o c c u l t l o r e a n d l e g e n d , b u t p e r h a p s t h e M a d Arab's Necronoinicon—in t h e i r o r i g i n — p e r h a p s that

which I'm sure those lines have

book contains m o r e on the s a m e subject.

It's c e r t a i n l y w o r t h a try. F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e b l a c k e r s i d e o f m y reput a t i o n has n o t yet r e a c h e d t h e a u t h o r i t i e s a t the British

Museum.

T h e y r e c o g n i s e m e a s an ' a u t h o r i t y ' in m y o w n r i g h t — a s a g e n u i n e s c h o l a r . T h r o u g h t h e m , I h a v e a c c e s s to a r c h i v e s f o r b i d d e n to m o s t o t h e r s . I a d m i t that t h e s e s c r a p s we've f o u n d w o r r y m e . . . h o r r i b l y ! B u t w e m u s t r e m e m b e r t h a t e v e r y m a g i c a l c o n j u r a t i o n h a s its d a n gers. S o far in t h i s b u s i n e s s I h a v e — w e l l , I've e s c a p e d j u s t i c e , s o to speak. Yes, a n d I h o p e to d o s o a g a i n . " I f t h e r e is a w a y t o . . . d e f l e c t . . . this h o r r o r , t h e n I n o w believe I s t a n d e v e r y c h a n c e o f f i n d i n g it, t h o u g h t h a t m a y take s o m e t i m e . T h i s c l u e is t h e o n e I n e e d e d . " H e t a p p e d t h e b o o k with a

finger-

nail. " I f n o t . . . at least w e k n o w w h a t w e ' r e u p a g a i n s t . Personally, well, y o u will n e v e r find m y h o m e w a n t i n g f o r a g r o s s o f c a n d l e s ; I will always have a s t o r e o f d r y b a t t e r i e s a n d e l e c t r i c light bulbs; I will always c a r r y o n m y p e r s o n a t least o n e c i g a r e t t e lighter and a m e t a l b o x o f fresh, d r y m a t c h e s . B u g g - S h a s h will n o t find m e u n p r e p a r e d when darkness f a l l s . . . "

T h r o u g h the m o r n i n g , Bart and Nuttall slept and, even

though

d a y l i g h t s t r e a m e d in a c r o s s M i l l w r i g h t ' s b a l c o n y a n d t h r o u g h h i s

68

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w i n d o w s , still t h e e l e c t r i c lights b u r n e d w h i l e candles s a n k d o w n slowly o n t h e i r w i c k s . I n m i d - a f t e r n o o n , w h e n the o c c u l t i s t r e t u r n e d in c a u t i o u s t r i u m p h , the two were u p and a b o u t . " I h a v e it," h e said, c l o s i n g the d o o r o f t h e s u m p t u o u s tlat b e h i n d h i m . "At least, I t h i n k s o . It is the T h i r d S a t h l a t t a . T h e r e w a s m o r e o n B u g g - S h a s h in the Necronomicon, t h e Cthaat

Aquadingen,"

a n d that in turn led m e

to

h e s h u d d e r e d . " I t is a c o u n t e r - s p e l l to b e

i n v o k e d — a s with m a n y o f t h e S a t h l a t t a e — a t m i d n i g h t . T o n i g h t we'll f r e e ourselves o f B u g g - S h a s h f o r e v e r . . . u n l e s s . . . " A s h e f i n i s h e d t h e o c c u l t i s t f r o w n e d . Despite h i s w o r d s , t h e r e w a s u n c e r t a i n t y in his tone. "Yes?"

Nuttall

prompted

him.

"Unless

what?

Is

something

wrong?" " N o , n o , " M i l l w r i g h t s h o o k his h e a d angrily, tiredly. " I t ' s just t h a t . . . a g a i n I've c o m e a c r o s s this p e c u l i a r w a r n i n g ! " " W h a t w a r n i n g is t h a t ? " B a r t w o r r i e d l y asked, h i s face t w i t c h i n g nervously. " O h , t h e r e are d e f i n i t e w a r n i n g s , o f s o r t s , " M i l l w r i g h t a n s w e r e d , " b u t they're n e v e r clearly s t a t e d . C o n f o u n d that d a m n e d A r a b ! It s e e m s h e n e v e r o n c e w r o t e a w o r d w i t h o u t that h e w r a p p e d it in a riddle!"

He collapsed into a chair.

" G o o n , " p r o m p t e d Nuttall, " e x p l a i n . H o w d o e s t h i s ' c o u n t e r spell' o f y o u r s w o r k . . . and w h a t are t h e s e ' w a r n i n g s ' t h a t you're s o worried about?" " A s to y o u r first q u e s t i o n : I d o n ' t believe t h e r e ' s a n y n e e d to e x p l a i n m o r e t h a n I've d o n e already. B u t to e n l i g h t e n you, albeit b r i e f l y ; t h e S a t h l a t t a e c o n s i s t o f w o r k i n g s p e l l s a n d c o u n t e r s p e l l s . T h e third S a t h l a t t a is o f the latter o r d e r . As to w h a t I ' m f r i g h t e n e d of, w e l l . . . " " Y e s ? " Nuttall i m p a t i e n t l y p r o m p t e d h i m a g a i n . "As a p p l i c a b l e to o u r present situation," M i l l w r i g h t finally w e n t o n , " — i n this p r e d i c a m e n t we're i n — t h e third Sathlatta i s . . . i n c o m p l e t e ! " " Y o u m e a n it w o n ' t w o r k ? " Bart d e m a n d e d , his eyes w i d e and fearful. " O h , yes, it'll w o r k all r i g h t . B u t — " " F o r G o d ' s s a k e ! " Nuttall c r i e d , his u s u a l l y d i s c i p l i n e d n e r v e s s t r e t c h e d n o w to t h e b r e a k i n g p o i n t , e v i d e n c e o f w h i c h c l e a r l y in his h i g h , q u a v e r i n g v o i c e . " G e t o n , m a n ! "

showed

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" H o w d o I e x p l a i n s o m e t h i n g w h i c h I can't readily u n d e r s t a n d m y s e l f ? " Millwright snarled, rounding on the frightened m a n . "And y o u ' d b e t t e r n o t s t a r t s h o u t i n g at m e , m y friend. W h y , b u t for y o u r m e d d l i n g , n o n e o f us w o u l d b e in this p o s i t i o n . . . and r e m e m b e r t h a t , w i t h o u t m y help, y o u ' r e s t u c k with it f o r e v e r ! " At that, Nuttall's face w e n t v e r y w h i t e and h e b e g a n a s t u t t e r e d a p o l o g y . T h e o c c u l t i s t c u t h i m s h o r t . " F o r g e t it. I'll tell y o u w h y I ' m w o r r i e d . T o p u t it simply, the third S a t h l a t t a c a r r i e s a c l a u s e ! " "A c l a u s e ? " B a r t repeated t h e w o r d w o n d e r i n g l y , p l a i n l y failing to understand. " T o q u o t e Alhazred," M i l l w r i g h t i g n o r e d h i m , " t h e c o u n t e r s p e l l ' s protection lasts'only unto death'!" F o r a m o m e n t t h e r e w a s s i l e n c e ; t h e n B a r t gave a s h o r t , s t r a i n e d l a u g h . " O n l y u n t o d e a t h ? W h y , w h o c o u l d a s k f a i r e r t h a n that? I really don't s e e . . " A n d o n e o t h e r t h i n g , " the o c c u l t i s t c o n t i n u e d . " T h e third S a t h latta is not i r r e v o c a b l e . Its a c t i o n m a y be r e v e r s e d s i m p l y by u t t e r i n g t h e S a t h l a t t a i t s e l f in reverse o r d e r . " M i l l w r i g h t ' s guest

stared

at

him

for

a few m o m e n t s

with-

o u t s p e a k i n g ; t h e n Nuttall s a i d : " D o e s a n y o n e else k n o w o f o u r . . . problem?" " N o t u n l e s s you've told s o m e o n e else," t h e o c c u l t i s t a n s w e r e d , a deep frown creasing his forehead. "Have you?" " N o , " Nuttall a n s w e r e d , " w e h a v e n ' t . . . b u t y o u s e e w h a t I m e a n , d o n ' t y o u ? W h a t is t h e r e to w o r r y a b o u t , i f it's all as s i m p l e as y o u say? W e , certainly, will n e v e r m e s s a b o u t w i t h this s o r t o f t h i n g again . . . a n d w h o e l s e is t h e r e to k n o w w h a t ' s h a p p e n e d ? E v e n if s o m e o n e w a s a w a r e t h a t we'd c o n j u r e d u p a devil, it's u n l i k e l y he'd k n o w h o w to reverse this p r o c e s s o f y o u r s . It's d o u b t f u l a n y o n e would even w a n t o r d a r e t o , isn't it?" Millwright

considered

it a n d g r a d u a l l y

his m a n n e r

became

m o r e r e l a x e d . "Yes, you're r i g h t , o f c o u r s e , " h e a n s w e r e d . " I t ' s j u s t t h a t I d o n ' t like c o m p l i c a t i o n s in t h e s e t h i n g s . You see, I k n o w s o m e t h i n g o f t h e O l d A d e p t s . T h e y d i d n ' t issue t h e sort o f w a r n i n g s I've s e e n h e r e f o r n o t h i n g . T h i s B u g g - S h a s h — w h a t e v e r he i s — m u s t b e t h e very worst o r d e r o f d e m o n s . E v e r y t h i n g a b o u t h i m is demoniacal!"

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III T h a i s a m e e v e n i n g , f r o m c o p i o u s n o t e s c o p i e d in t h e rare b o o k s d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e B r i t i s h M u s e u m , M i l l w r i g h t set u p all the p a r a p h e r n a l i a o f h i s task. H e c l e a r e d t h e floor o f his study. T h e n , in w h a t a p p e a r e d to N u t t a l l a n d B a r t c o m p l e t e l y r a n d o m

positions—which

were, in fact, c a r e f u l l y m e a s u r e d , i f in u t t e r l y a l i e n t a b l e s — u p o n t h e n a k e d floor, h e placed c a n d l e s , c e n s o r s a n d c u r i o u s c o p p e r b o w l s . W h e n he was satisfied w i t h t h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e s e i m p l e m e n t s , leaving the c e n t r e o f t h e floor clear, h e c h a l k e d o n t h e r e m a i n i n g s u r rounding

floor-space

s t r a n g e a n d d i s t u r b i n g m a g i c a l s y m b o l s in a

s i m i l a r l y c o n f u s i n g a n d a p p a r e n t l y illogical over-all d e s i g n . C e n t r a l to all t h e s e p r e p a r a t o r y d e v i c e s , h e d r e w a p l a i n w h i t e circle a n d , a s t h e m i d n i g h t h o u r a p p r o a c h e d , h e invited h i s guests to e n t e r w i t h h i m i n t o this p r o t e c t i v e r i n g . D u r i n g t h e final p r e p a r a t i o n s t h e c a n d l e s h a d b e e n lit. T h e c o n t e n t s o f the c e n s o r s a n d bowls, t o o , n o w s e n t u p to the c e i l i n g t h i n l y w a v e r i n g c o l u m n s o f c o l o u r e d s m o k e and i n c e n s e . M o r e o v e r , t h e p u r e l y e l e c t r i c a l lights o f t h e r o o m had b e e n s w i t c h e d

off—very

m u c h to t h e a l m o s t hysterical B a r t ' s d i s l i k e — s o t h a t o n l y t h e c a n d l e s gave a g e n u i n e , if

flickering,

light w h i l e the p o w d e r s and h e r b s in

t h e i r b o w l s a n d c e n s o r s m e r e l y g l o w e d a d u l l red. A s t h e first s t r o k e o f m i d n i g h t s o u n d e d f r o m t h e c l o c k o n t h e w a l l , M i l l w r i g h t d r e w f r o m his p o c k e t a c a r e f u l l y f o l d e d s h e e t o f p a p e r . In a v o i c e d e a d o f e m o t i o n — d e v o i d , a l m o s t , o f all h u m a n i n f l e c t i o n — h e read the words s o carefully c o p i e d earlier that day f r o m a n e a r - f o r g o t t e n t o m e in t h e d i m m e r r e a c h e s o f t h e B r i t i s h Museum. It is d o u b t t u l w h e t h e r B a r t o r Nuttall c o u l d e v e r h a v e recalled t h e j u m b l e o f alien vowels, syllables a n d d i s c o r d a n t s that rolled in s e e m i n g l y c h a o t i c d i s o r d e r o f f M i l l w r i g h t ' s t o n g u e in that d i m l y lit r o o m . C e r t a i n l y , it w o u l d h a v e b e e n i m p o s s i b l e f o r a n y m e r e m o r tal, u n v e r s e d in t h o s e a r t s w i t h w h i c h M i l l w r i g h t h a d m a d e h i m s e l f f a m i l i a r , to r e p e a t that

hideously jarring, incredible sequence

of

s o u n d s . T o u t t e r the t h i n g b a c k w a r d s , t h e n — " i n reverse o r d e r , " a s M i l l w r i g h t had had i t — m u s t p l a i n l y b e o u t o f the q u e s t i o n . T h i s t h o u g h t , i f n o t the u p p e r m o s t in their m i n d s , u n d o u b t e d l y o c c u r r e d

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to the two initiates as t h e o c c u l t i s t c a m e to t h e e n d o f his p e r f o r m a n c e and t h e e c h o e s o f h i s hellish liturgy d i e d a w a y . . . b u t , w i t h i n t h e space o f s e c o n d s , this and all o t h e r t h o u g h t s were d r i v e n f r o m t h e i r m i n d s by s h e e r t e r r o r ! Even M i l l w r i g h t believed, at first, t h a t he had m a d e s o m e t e r r i b l e m i s t a k e , for n o w t h e r e fell u p o n t h e t h r e e m e n in t h e c h a l k e d c i r c l e a t a n g i b l e w e i g h t o f h o r r o r a n d i m p e n d i n g d o o m ! B a r t s c r e a m e d and w o u l d h a v e fled the c i r c l e and the r o o m at o n c e — d o u b t l e s s to his d e a t h — b u t the o c c u l t i s t g r a b b e d h i m and held h i m

firmly.

S l o w l y b u t surely, t h e c a n d l e s d i m m e d as t h e i r flames i n e x p l i c a b l y lowered. T h e n , o n e b y o n e , t h e y b e g a n to flicker o u t , a p p a r e n t l y self-extinguished. Bart's struggles a n d screaming b e c a m e s u c h that N u t t a l l , t o o , had to h o l d o n to h i m to p r e v e n t his r u s h i n g f r o m t h e circle. S u d d e n l y , t h e r e c a m e to the e a r s o f the t h r e e — a s i f f r o m a t h o u s a n d m i l e s a w a y — t h e m e r e s t w h i s p e r at first, a s u s u r r a t i o n , a s h e a r d in a s o u n d i n g s h e l l . T h e r u s t l i n g c h i t t e r i n g s o f w h a t c o u l d o n l y b e . . . a presence! Bart p r o m p t l y f a i n t e d . M i l l w r i g h t and N u t t a l l lowered h i m to t h e floor a n d c r o u c h e d b e s i d e h i s u n c o n s c i o u s f o r m , still h o l d i n g h i m tightly in t h e i r t e r r o r , s t a r i n g i n t o the s u r r o u n d i n g s h a d o w s . T h e h i d e o u s l y evil c h i t t e r i n g s , m a d l y m u s i c a l in a n i n d e f i n a b l e

alien

m a n n e r , g r e w louder. A n d t h e n . . . s o m e t h i n g s l i m y a n d w e t m o v e d g e l a t i n o u s l y in the d a r k e r s h a d o w s o f t h e r o o m ' s c o r n e r s ! " M i l l w r i g h t ! " Nuttall's voice c r a c k e d o n that o n e

exclamation.

T h e w o r d had b e e n a n a l m o s t i n a r t i c u l a t e u t t e r a n c e , s u c h as a child m i g h t m a k e , c r y i n g o u t for its m o t h e r in t h e m i d d l e o f a p a r t i c u l a r l y frightening nightmare. " S t a y still! A n d b e q u i e t ! " M i l l w r i g h t c o m m a n d e d , his o w n v o i c e n o less c r a c k e d a n d h i g h - p i t c h e d . O n l y two c a n d l e s b u r n e d now, s o l o w a n d d i m that they m e r e l y p u s h e d b a c k t h e i m m e d i a t e s h a d o w s . A s the o c c u l t i s t r e a c h e d o u t a t r e m u l o u s h a n d to d r a w o n e o f t h e s e i n t o the c i r c l e . . . s o t h e o t h e r b l i n k e d o u t , leaving o n l y a spiral o f g r e y s m o k e h a n g i n g in t h e nearcomplete darkness. At this, t h e a b o m i n a b l e c h i t t e r i n g g r e w l o u d e r still. It s u r r o u n d e d t h e c i r c l e c o m p l e t e l y n o w a n d , for t h e first t i m e , t h e two c o n s c i o u s m e n clearly s a w that w h i c h the single, tiny r e m a i n i n g flame held a t

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bay. C r e e p i n g u p o n all sides, l o the very line o f the c h a l k e d circle, t h e T h i n g c a m e ; a glistening, s h u d d e r i n g wall o f jelly-like oo/.e in w h i c h m a n y m o u t h s g a p e d a n d just as m a n y eyes m o n s t r o u s l y o g l e d ! T h i s was B u g g - S h a s h the D r o w n e r , T h e Black O n e , T h e Filler o f S p a c e . Indeed, t h e b u l k o f t h i s . . . B e i n g ? . . .

did s e e m to fill the e n t i r e s t u d y !

All bar the blessed s a n c t u a r y o f t h e circle. T h e eyes were . . . b e y o n d words, b u t w o r s e still w e r e t h o s e m o u t h s . S u c k i n g a n d w h i s t l i n g w i t h t h i c k l y v i s c o u s lips, t h e m o u t h s glistened a n d slobbered and, from out of those gluttonous orifices p o u r e d the lunatic chitterings o f alien s o n g — t h e S o n g o f BuggS h a s h — a s Flis s u b s t a n c e t o w e r e d u p a n d l e a n e d i n w a r d s to f o r m a slimy ceiling over their very heads! N u t t a l l closed h i s eyes and b e g a n to pray o u t l o u d , w h i l e M i l l w r i g h t s i m p l y m o a n e d and g r o a n e d in h i s terror, u n a b l e to v o i c e p r a y e r s to a G o d h e h a d l o n g f o r s a k e n ; but t h o u g h it s e e m e d t h a t all was lost, t h e T h i r d S a t h l a t t a had n o t failed t h e m . Even as the c e i l i n g o f jelly b e g a n an a p p a r e n t l y i n e x o r a b l e d e s c e n t , s o t h e r e m a i n i n g c a n d l e flared u p a n d , a t t h a t , t h e b u l k o f B u g g - S h a s h b r o k e and ran like w a t e r t h r o u g h a s h a t t e r e d d a m . T h e wall a n d c e i l i n g o f q u i v e r i n g p r o t o p l a s m with its l o a t h s o m e eyes and m o u t h s s e e m e d to w a v e and s h r i n k b e f o r e M i l l w r i g h t ' s eyes as t h e awful B l a c k O n e d r e w b a c k to the darker shadows. T h e n , m i r a c u l o u s l y , t h e m a n y e x t i n c t c a n d l e s flared u p , r e t u r n i n g to life o n e by o n e a n d n o less m y s t e r i o u s l y t h a n they had snuffed t h e m s e l v e s o u t . T h e o c c u l t i s t k n e w t h e n that w h a t h e had seen had m e r e l y b e e n an i m m a t e r i a l v i s i t a t i o n , a v i s i o n o f w h a t might

have

b e e n , b u t for t h e p o w e r o f the T h i r d S a t h l a t t a . S i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h Bart's r e t u r n to c o n s c i o u s n e s s . M i l l w r i g h t shouted: "We've w o n ! " A s N'uttall

ventured

to o p e n

i n c r e d u l o u s eyes

the

s t e p p e d o u t o f t h e circle, c r o s s e d to the light s w i t c h and

occultist

flooded

the

r o o m with light. T h e t h i n g h e and N u t t a l l h a d w i t n e s s e d m u s t i n d e e d have been merely a v i s i o n — a demon-inspired h a l l u c i n a t i o n — f o r n o sign o f t h e h o r r o r r e m a i n e d . T h e floor, the walls a n d b o o k s h e l v e s , t h e p u s h e d - a s i d e f u r n i t u r e , all w e r e c l e a n a n d dry, free o f t h e h o r r i d E s s e n c e o f B u g g - S h a s h . N o s i n g l e t r a c e o f H i s visit s h o w e d in a n y p a r t o f the r o o m ; n o s i n g l e c r a c k o r c r e v i c e o f the p i n e floor k n e w t h e m o r b i d l o a t h s o m e n e s s o f His s n a i l - t r a i l s l i m e . . .

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" R a y ! " Alan B a r l c r i e d , s h o u l d e r i n g his w a y t h r o u g h t h e l o n g haired, tassel-jacketed patrons o f T h e Windsor's s m o k e r o o m . Nuttall saw h i m , waved h i m in t h e d i r e c t i o n o f a t a b l e a n d o r d e r e d a n o t h e r d r i n k . W i t h a glass in e a c h h a n d he t h e n m a d e h i s w a y from t h e bar, t h r o u g h t h e c r u s h o f regulars, to w h e r e B a r t n o w sat w i t h his b a c k to t h e wall, his fist w r a p p e d tightly a r o u n d an e v e n i n g n e w s p a p e r . O v e r a w e e k had passed s i n c e their t e r r i f y i n g e x p e r i e n c e a t t h e L o n d o n fiat o f T h o m a s M i l l w r i g h t . S i n c e t h e n , they had s t a r t e d to g r o w b a c k i n t o their o l d c r e e d s a n d c u s t o m s . A l t h o u g h t h e y still did n o t q u i t e trust t h e dark, t h e y had l o n g s i n c e p r o v e d f o r t h e m s e l v e s t h e e f f i c a c y o f M i l l w r i g h t ' s T h i r d S a t h l a t t a . Ever the c y n i c , and d e spite the fact that h e still t r e m b l e d in d a r k places, Nuttall n o w i n sisted u p o n t a k i n g l o n g w a l k s a l o n g l o n e c o u n t r y lanes o f a n e v e n i n g , usually e n d i n g u p at T h e W i n d s o r b e f o r e c l o s i n g t i m e . T h u s B a r t had k n o w n w h e r e to find h i m . " W h a t ' s u p ? " Nuttall q u e s t i o n e d a s h e t o o k a seat b e s i d e t h e y o u n g e r m a n . H e n o t e d with a s l i g h t t r e m o r o f a l a r m t h e d r a w n , w o r r i e d t e x t u r e o f h i s f r i e n d ' s face. "Millwright's dead!" Bart abruptly blurted, without

preamble.

" H e ' s d e a d — a t r a f f i c a c c i d e n t — r u n d o w n by a l o r r y n o t far f r o m his fiat. H e was i d e n t i f i e d in t h e m o r t u a r y . It's all in t h e paper." H e spread t h e n e w s p a p e r b e f o r e Nuttall w h o h a r d l y g l a n c e d at it. If the o l i v e - s k i n n e d m a n w a s s h o c k e d , it did n o t s h o w ; h i s w e a k eyes had w i d e n e d slightly a t Bart's d i s c l o s u r e , n o t h i n g m o r e . H e let t h e news s i n k in, t h e n s h r u g g e d his s h o u l d e r s . Bart was c o m p l e t e l y t a k e n a b a c k b y his f r i e n d ' s n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e . " W e did know

h i m ! " he protested.

" B r i e f l y , " N u t t a l l a c k n o w l e d g e d ; a n d t h e n , to B a r t ' s a m a z e m e n t , h e s m i l e d . " T h a t ' s a relief," h e m u t t e r e d . Bart d r e w away f r o m h i m . " W h a t ? D i d I h e a r y o u s a y — " " I t ' s a relief, yes," Nuttall s n a p p e d . " D o n ' t y o u s e e ? H e was t h e o n l y o n e we k n e w w h o c o u l d e v e r h a v e b r o u g h t t h a t . . . t h i n g . . . d o w n o n us a g a i n . A n d n o w he's g o n e . " F o r a while t h e y sat in s i l e n c e , t a s t i n g t h e i r d r i n k s , a l l o w i n g t h e h u m a n n o i s e s o f t h e c r o w d e d r o o m to close in a n d i m p i n g e u p o n their beings. T h e n Bart said: "Ray, do you suppose t h a t . . . ? "

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" H m m ? " Nuttall l o o k e d a t h i m . " D o I s u p p o s e w h a t , A l a n ? " " O h , n o t h i n g really. I was just t h i n k i n g a b o u t w h a t M i l l w r i g h t t o l d us; a b o u t t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f that spell o f his lasting ' o n l y u n t o death'!" " O h ? " N u t t a l l a n s w e r e d . " W e l l , if I were you, I s h o u l d n ' t b o t h e r . It's s o m e t h i n g 1 d o n ' t i n t e n d t o find o u t a b o u t f o r a l o n g t i m e . " " A n d there's s o m e t h i n g else b o t h e r i n g m e , " B a r t a d m i t t e d , n o t really l i s t e n i n g to Nuttall's p e r f t m c t o r y a n s w e r . " I t ' s s o m e t h i n g I c a n ' t q u i t e pin d o w n — p a r t o f w h a t w e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t n i g h t at M i l l wright's place, w h e n we were g o i n g t h r o u g h all t h o s e o l d b o o k s . D a m n e d if I c a n r e m e m b e r w h a t it is, t h o u g h ! " " T h e n forget i t ! " N u t t a l l g r i n n e d . " A n d w h i l e y o u ' r e a t it, h o w a b o u t a d r i n k ? It's y o u r r o u n d . "

Against his b e t t e r i n s t i n c t s , b u t n o t w a n t i n g Nuttall to see h o w desp e r a t e l y h e feared the d a r k n e s s still, B a r t a l l o w e d h i m s e l f to b e talked i n t o w a l k i n g h o m e . Nuttall lived in a flat in o n e o f the r a t h e r m o r e " f l a s h " a r e a s o f t h e city, b u t w a l k i n g t h e y w o u l d h a v e to pass B a r t ' s place first. B a r t did n o t m i n d t h e d a r k s o m u c h — h e s a i d — s o l o n g as h e was n o t a l o n e . Low, s c u d d i n g c l o u d s o b s c u r e d t h e s t a r s a s t h e y w a l k e d a n d a chill a u t u m n wind blew discarded wrappers, the o c c a s i o n a l leaf a n d loose, eerily-flapping sheets o f evening "racing specials" against t h e i r legs. N u t t a l l ' s flat was c i t y - s i d e o f a s u b u r b a n estate, w h i l e B a r t ' s place lay m o r e o n t h e o u t s k i r t s o f the city p r o p e r . T h e w h o l e area, t h o u g h , was still q u i t e new, s o t h a t s o o n the d i s t a n c e s b e t w e e n

welcome

l a m p - p o s t s increased; t h e r e w a s n o n e e d f o r a l o t o f light w a y o u t h e r e . W i t h t h e r e s u l t a n t c l o s i n g - i n o f d a r k n e s s , B a r t s h u d d e r e d and pressed c l o s e r to his a p p a r e n t l y fearless f r i e n d . H e d i d n o t k n o w it, b u t N u t t a l l was d e e p in w o r r i e d t h o u g h t . B a r t ' s w o r d s in the s m o k e r o o m o f T h e W i n d s o r had b r o u g h t niggling d o u b t s

flooding

to t h e

f o r e f r o n t o f his c o n s c i o u s n e s s ; h e c o u l d q u i t e c l e a r l y recall all t h a t t h e y had u n c o v e r e d a t M i l l w r i g h t ' s h o m e — i n c l u d i n g t h a t w h i c h B a r t had f o r g o t t e n . . . At t h e c i t y e n d o f Bart's r o a d , a l m o s t h a l f - w a y to N u t t a l l ' s flat a n d w i t h i n h a l f a m i l e o f Bart's d o o r , t h e y saw a m a n a t o p a ladder

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a t t e n d i n g to an a p p a r e n t l y m a l f u n c t i o n i n g street l a m p . T h e light flickered,

flared,

t h e n died as they a p p r o a c h e d t h e l a m p - p o s t a n d t h e

b a s e o f t h e ladder. " T h e s e p e o p l e , " B a r t a s s e r t e d with a little s h u d d e r , " a r e

the

g r a f t e r s . O u t here all h o u r s o f t h e n i g h t — j u s t to m a k e s u r e that w e h a v e . . . light." W i t h o u t a breath o f warning, simultaneous with Bart's shivery u t t e r i n g o f the w o r d " l i g h t , " the g r e a t b o w l o f t h e street l a m p c r a s h e d d o w n f r o m above to shatter into a m i l l i o n glass f r a g m e n t s at their feet. " M y G o d ! " Nuttall s h o u t e d u p a t the b l a c k s i l h o u e t t e c l a m b e r i n g u n s t e a d i l y d o w n t h e l a d d e r . " T a k e it easy, o l d c h a p . You b l o o d y n e a r d r o p p e d that t h i n g r i g h t o n o u r h e a d s ! " T h e t w o m e n s t o p p e d in the d a r k street to s t e a d y t h e p r e c a r i o u s l o o k i n g ladder a n d , a s they d i d s o , a s p l a t t e r i n g o f liquid d r o p l e t s fell f r o m a b o v e , s t r i k i n g their h a n d s and u p t u r n e d f a c e s . I n the d a r k n e s s they c o u l d not see t h o s e l i q u i d d r o p l e t s . . . b u t they c o u l d feel t h e c l i n g i n g s l i m i n e s s o f t h e m ! F r o z e n in s p o n t a n e o u s h o r r o r , they s t a r e d a t e a c h o t h e r t h r o u g h t h e s h r o u d i n g n i g h t as t h e figure o n t h e ladder stepped down between them. Bart's p o c k e t t o r c h c u t a jerky swath o f light a c r o s s Nuttall's frozen features until it played u p o n the face o f the m a n f r o m the ladder. T h a t f a c e — s t i c k i l y wet and h i d e o u s l y v a c a n t , d r i p p i n g n i g h t m a r e s l i m e as it w a s — w a s nevertheless

the face of

Millwright!

M i l l w r i g h t , t h e p a w n o f t h e B l a c k O n e , fled f r o m t h e m o r t u a r y — w h e r e B u g g - S h a s h had f o u n d his b o d y in the d a r k — t o a c c o m p l i s h t h a t Being's p u r p o s e , t h e p u r p o s e H e must

pursue before He could

r e t u r n to His o w n hellish d i m e n s i o n ! O n l y b l i n d i n s t i n c t , t h e i n s t i n c t o f s e l f - p r e s e r v a t i o n , had c a u s e d Bart to r e a c h f o r his t o r c h ; b u t t h e s i g h t revealed by its b e a m had c o m p l e t e l y u n n e r v e d h i m . H i s t o r c h fell f r o m uselessly t w i t c h i n g fingers, c l a t t e r i n g o n t h e p a v e m e n t , a n d t h e dead m a n ' s heel c a m e d o w n u p o n it with s h a t t e r i n g f o r c e . Again t h e d a r k n e s s c l o s e d i n . T h e n t h e s l i m y figure b e t w e e n t h e two m e n m o v e d and they felt fingers

like b a n d s o f i r o n e n c l o s i n g t h e i r wrists. T h e z o m b i e t h a t w a s

M i l l w r i g h t e x e r t e d f a n t a s t i c s t r e n g t h to h o l d t h e m — o r rather, B u g g S h a s h e x e r t e d His s t r e n g t h t h r o u g h the o c c u l t i s t ' s c o r p s e — a s dead lips o p e n e d to u t t e r the ghastly, s o u l - d e s t r o y i n g s t r a i n s o f the versed

T h i r d Sathlatta!

re-

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In Ihc n e a r - d i s t a n t d a r k n e s s f a i n t , delighted c h i t t e r i n g s

com-

m e n c e d ; a n d the w e i r d t r i o t h r a s h e d a b o u t a c r o s s the r o a d , to a n d f r o in a leaping, t w i s t i n g , s c r e a m i n g t u g - o ' - w a r o f d e a t h as, a t last, t h e t h i n g that B a r t had f o r g o t t e n c a m e b a c k to his c o l l a p s i n g , n i g h t m a r e blasted mind: H e w a k e s the v e r y D e a d to H i s C o m m a n d , a n d e n c a s e d in t h e h o r r o r o f his E s s e n c e even t h e w o r m - r a v a g e d I.ich hast e n s to H i s b i d d i n g - . . T h e hellish d a n c e lasted, as did the s c r e a m i n g , u n t i l t h e y felt the lips o f B u g g - S h a s h a n d his m o n s t r o u s k i s s e s . . .

T h e Slitherer from the Slime H. P. L o w c r a f ť

It is my firm belief malignant ments that

man the foul

far corners

Thing, and

thai beyond

has done

worship of the

we are but the puppets all mortal so since

of Incarnate

of some

comprehension,

the very Dawn Darkness

tor-

of Time;

and

still goes

on in

the

globe. LOUISA M A E

H

evil,

that

Alton

ad I b u t received s o m e o c c u l t p r e m o n i t i o n o f t h e g h a s t l y h o r rors that awaited m e that fatetul e v e n i n g , 1 have n o d o u b t b u t

t h a t 1 w o u l d have t u r n e d m y c o a c h a b o u t and g o n e b a c k to A r k h a m f o r t h w i t h . However, n o s u c h w a r n i n g f r o m the B e y o n d w a s m i n e , a n d m y m i n d was at ease a s 1 d r o v e m y l a t h e r e d h o r s e s u p the s t o r m swept, t r e a c h e r o u s r o a d to the m o u l d e r i n g , i n c r e d i b l y a n c i e n t c a s t l e t h a t c r o w n e d G a l l o w s Hill. It w a s a n i g h t o f u n b e l i e v a b l e h i d e o u s n e s s ; the l i g h t n i n g flamed and flared in the s k y like a b u r n i n g iron held in t h e h a n d o f a slavering d e m o n with w h i c h to t o r t u r e a helpless, c h a i n - b o u n d god; t h e w i n d s h r i e k e d and b e l l o w e d like a f r e n zied h o r d e o f s h a m b l i n g g h o u l s , m a d with u n m e n t i o n a b l e h u n g e r s , a n d t h e r a i n p o u r e d d o w n to s w e e p a s i n - d r u n k m a n k i n d f r o m this

"This curious manuscript, believed by p r o m i n e n t Lowcraft authority August September b e a u t h e n t i c , a n d p e r h a p s t h e L i t t h i n g L o w c r a f t w r o < e , is p u b l i s h e d h e r e f o r t h e with the p e r m i s s i o n o f the o w n e r s ol the m a n u s c r i p t , Lin Carter a n d Have

Holey.

first

to

time,

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c o s m i c g l o b e o f f e c u n d s l i m e . In t h e g o b l i n - f l i c k e r i n g o f t h e levinb o l t s t h a t r a c k e d t h e t o r t u r e d w e l k i n w i t h t h e i r d e m o n i a c fires, I caught intermittent glimpses o f crumbling, ivy-covered

Castle

D r u m g o o l w h e r e it c r o u c h e d , r o t t i n g w i t h the c e n t u r i e s , a t o p t h e b a r r e n hill like s o m e w a i t i n g m o n s t e r . T h e l e e r i n g c o r n i c e s , t h e b l i n d w i n d o w s , the c r u m b l i n g c u p o l a s , the t o t t e r i n g turrets, t h e s l i m y p o r t i c o s , all cast a pall o f u n u t t e r a b l e d e s o l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e h i d d e n advts o f my shuddering heart. A s t h u n d e r ( o r was it t h u n d e r ? ) w h o o p e d and g o b b l e d d o w n t h e i n k y s k i e s like t h e b a b b l i n g s o f a n i n s a n e g o d , I d r o v e m y c u r i o u s l y unwilling steeds through the tottering arch, over-grown with peculiarly u n w h o l e s o m e f u n g o i d s o f o b s c e n e s h a p e s and e l d r i t c h c o l o u r s , and into the mouldering courtyard. A sodden g r o o m appeared from t h e d a r k n e s s to seize t h e r e i n s , a n d as h e led m y m a r e s o f f to t h e stables, I f o u n d m y s e l f s p e c u l a t i n g o d d l y o n his s h a m b l i n g , l o p i n g g a i t , a n d t h e s c a l y b a t r a c h i a n a p p e a r a n c e o f his b l o a t e d , g r a y i s h face w i t h its leering, d i s t u r b i n g l y m o c k i n g eyes. M y u n k n o w n h o s t was n o t a t t h e c r u m b l i n g p o r t a l t o g r e e t m e , so I pushed open the ancient, decaying, o a k e n - p a n e l l e d door, a n d e n t e r e d the g l o o m - s h r o u d e d , d u s t - m a n t l e d , d a r k and fetid vault o f the castle vestibule. B l a c k u n s e e n h o r r o r s s e e m e d to

flutter

back

i n t o t h e s h a d o w s at m y a p p r o a c h , a n d I w a t c h e d with g r o w i n g u n ease as t h e f a i n t a n d g h o s t l y shaft o f light f r o m t h e o u t s i d e n a r r o w e d a n d w a s g o n e . T h e r o t t i n g o a k e n d o o r b o o m e d s h u t b e h i n d m e and I f o u n d m y s e l f a l o n e in t h e hellish, stygian hall o f t h e c u r s e d a n d b e nighted Castle Drumgool. A f o u l and d e c a y i n g f o e t o r rose f r o m d e e p w i t h i n t h e dark halls, a n d as it e n v e l o p e d m e , I felt m y heart s h u d d e r and q u a i l . I b a c k e d t o w a r d t h e d o o r , involuntarily, a n d at length, u n a b l e to b e a r f o r a s e c o n d longer the nauseous m i a s m a that assaulted m y nostrils, turned to leave. B u t o n the i n s t a n t , f r o m d e e p w i t h i n the g l o o m y d e p t h s o f t h e g h o s t l y halls, t h e r e issued a s o u n d o f c r u s t e d m e t a l s q u e a l i n g as an i n n e r d o o r s w u n g o p e n . M y fingers f r o z e o n t h e l a t c h , and I c o u l d d o n o t h i n g b u t stare in g r o w i n g h o r r o r as t h e b e n t and s h a m b l i n g figure o f a m a n ( o r was it a m a n ? ) m a d e its w a y t o w a r d m e a c r o s s t h e e c h o i n g c h a m b e r . T h e r e s o u n d e d a voice f r o m t h i s twisted t r a v e s t y o f a h u m a n , and as h e a p p r o a c h e d my u n w i l l i n g eyes b e h e l d h i s c o r p s e - l i k e pallor, a n d t h e s u b t l y rotted aspect o f his dress. H i s

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S 1.1T H E R E R

F R O M

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SI.IM E

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eyes fixed m e w i t h a stare, a n d repeated that p h r a s e w h i c h I had n o t b e f o r e h e a r d , o r p e r h a p s had r e f u s e d to h e a r — " W e l c o m e to

Castle

Drumgool.'" M y f r a m e q u a k e d as t h e full i m p o r t o f t h e s e w o r d s s t r u c k m e , a n d I staggered b a c k a p a c e in o r d e r to p r o t e c t m y s e l f f r o m t h e a u r a o f evil t h a t s p r a n g u p a l m o s t t a n g i b l y a r o u n d the e b o n a p p a r i t i o n . M y h e a r t s a n k in m y b r e a s t as, f r o m a fold o f his d e c a y i n g r o b e , h e p r o d u c e d a taper, a n d I w a s for the first t i m e s u b j e c t e d to t h e s i g h t o f the face o f t h e m a s t e r o f C a s t l e D r u m g o o l o f G a l l o w s Hill ( o r

was

it a hill?). T h e w a v e r i n g flame o f t h e c a n d l e , t h a t was, m y s h u d d e r ing m i n d c o n j e c t u r e d , fashioned perhaps o f corpse-fat, r e v e a l e d — a h , imagine, i f you but can, the r o t u n d , w o r m - s o f t , slug-like, unwholes o m e l y b l o a t e d figure that m e t my c r i n g i n g gaze; a s w o l l e n - c h e e k e d visage w h o s e pallid flesh s e e m e d a c r a w l w i t h p u l p y m a g g o t s ; and eyes, h a l f b u r i e d w i t h i n the folds o f

flaccid

flesh,

g l i n t i n g hellishly

with a d i a b o l i c a l c o u n t e r f e i t o f f r i e n d l y w e l c o m e . H a s t i l y I m u t t e r e d s o m e c o n v e n t i o n a l a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f his g r e e t i n g , w h i l e m y fearf r o z e n g a z e t o o k in, with w h a t i n w a r d q u a k i n g m y r e a d e r is at libe r t y to s u r m i s e , t h e u n u t t e r a b l e l o a t h s o m e n e s s o f his r o b e ( w h i c h I n o w perceived to be a s m o k i n g j a c k e t ) , h i s o b s c e n e felt slippers, t h e h i d e o u s travesty o f j o l l i t y in h i s s m i r k i n g face. M y h o s t u s h e r e d m e i n t o a large, d i m l y - l i t c a v e r n o f a r o o m , and s h o w e d m e to a seat, w h i l e h e r u n g , o s t e n s i b l y to s u m m o n a s e r v i t o r , a l t h o u g h m y t e r r o r f r a u g h t m i n d v i s i o n e d all t o o c l e a r l y t h e g h a s t l y c r e a t u r e s h i s a l a r m was m e a n t to r o u s e , a b e l l . T h e r o o m , m y paralyzed s e n s e s g r a d u a l l y perceived, w a s a library, a n d , in an e f f o r t to c a l m m y l e a p i n g pulse, I t o r e m y eyes away f r o m his g r u e s o m e l y r u b i c u n d visage, and

fixed

t h e m u p o n the t o m e s that c r o w d e d his s h e l v e s . A thrill o f pure h o r r o r pierced m y i n n e r m o s t soul, as I glimpsed t h e titles lettered in g o l d ( o r MIS it g o l d ? ) u p o n the b i n d i n g s . T h e b o o k s , if s u c h they c o u l d b e c a l l e d , e x u d e d an a l m o s t p a l p a b l e o d o u r o f f o u l n e s s a n d decay, a grave s t e n c h b e f o r e w h o s e u n n e r v i n g a s s a u l t m y n o s t r i l s c r i n k l e d i n v o l u n t a r i l y . T h e r e I g l i m p s e d that hellish t e x t w h i c h c e l e b r a t e s t h e s p l e n d o u r s o f t h e E l d e r D a r k , that m o n s t r o u s v o l u m e o f d e m o n - w o r s h i p . Black

Beauty;

n e x t to it rested a c o p y o f

t h a t u n h o l y a n d b l a s p h e m o u s h i s t o r y o f a n e c r o m a n c e r f a m e d in eld r i c h l e g e n d . The

Wizard

of Oz; b e s i d e t h a t , b o u n d in the rotting,

o p h i d i a n h i d e o f s o m e l o a t h s o m e s e r p e n t , w a s that f o u l t o m e w h i c h

80

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t h e a n c i e n t p a g a n d e i t i e s o f the w o o d s h o l d s a c r e d , Peter

and

Pan;

n e x t to it, that c h a o t i c and m o n s t r o u s v o l u m e , t h a t i n c r e d i b l y a n c i e n t c o m p i l a t i o n o f e l d r i t c h lore, t h a t vast a n t h o l o g y o f d e m o n i a c w i s d o m c u l l e d f r o m f o r g o t t e n ages, The Pickwick Though

Papers'.

I, a s t h e r e a d e r o f t h e s e t o r t u r e d w o r d s m i g h t

well

perceive, f o u n d m y s o u l r e e l i n g in revulsion as e a c h n e w t i t l e d e filed

m y e y e s , still I was n o t a b l e to tear t h e m f r o m t h e c o n t i n u -

i n g s h e l v e s o f l i t e r a r y h o r r o r s w h i c h s p r a w l e d a r o u n d t h e walls o f t h e d a r k e n e d c h a m b e r . M y u n w i l l i n g eyes pressed o n i n t o t h e d a r k c o r n e r s o f t h a t d a m n e d a n d b e n i g h t e d library, a n d e a c h t u r n o f t h e shelf b r o u g h t s o m e n e w terror, s o m e m o r e m o n s t r o u s a n d perverted blasphemy. M y s h u d d e r i n g g a z e fell u p o n a c o p y o f that b l a c k a n d n e f a r i o u s tale o f a l i e n life o n E a r t h , that hellish c h r o n i c l e o f t h a t d w e l l e r in the d a r k and s i n i s t e r d e p t h s o f h a u n t e d w o o d l a n d s , Winnie Pooh.

the

R e s t i n g n e x t t o it, I b e h e l d a v o l u m e o f t h e foul and g h a s t l y leg-

e n d s and lore w h i c h are k n o w n to t h e h o r r o r s o f the n i g h t ; t h a t fiendish

c o m p i l a t i o n o f e l d r i c h t e r r o r s , t h a t awful and s o u l - s e a r i n g

t o m e , Aesop's

Fables.

A n d at last, t h o u g h m y b r a i n r e e l e d in r e j e c -

t i o n o f this c r o w n i n g h o r r o r , I f o r c e d m y s e l f to g a z e u p o n the volu m e w h i c h i n h a b i t e d t h e last s p a c e o n the w o r m - e a t e n s h e l v e s — a work o f

unspeakable loathesomeness

and

terrific

monstrosity,

a

t o m e o f g h a s t l y a n d c o n s u m i n g h e l l i s h n e s s , that foul and b l a s p h e m o u s atrocity, which n o o n e m a y n a m e a l o u d , a n d a t the w r i t i n g o f w h o s e title m y pen r e c o i l s f r o m t h e paper. The

Power

of

Positive

Thinking! I s t r u g g l e d w i t h m y t o r t u r e d m i n d , a t t e m p t i n g to regain s o m e s e m b l a n c e o f c o m p o s u r e , s o that m y h o s t w o u l d n o t perceive t h a t I had d i s c e r n e d h i s devilish n a t u r e , b u t n o s o o n e r had I s u p p r e s s e d t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f l o a t h i n g a n d fear w h i c h t h r e a t e n e d to c o n t o r t m y face, w h e n a n e w and m o r e

frightful

h o r r o r b e c a m e apparent. A thrill o f

t e r r o r s h o t a c r o s s m y b r a i n , as I s a w t h e l a t c h o f t h e l i b r a r y d o o r ( o r was it a d o o r ? ) slowly l i f t i n g — w i t h o u t any visible

hand

to raise

it!

I shrank back into the cushions o f the unspeakably loathsome c h a i r in w h i c h I w a s seated, in a t r a n s p o r t o f h o r r o r . M y f r o z e n b r a i n s e a r c h e d f r a n t i c a l l y f o r s o m e e x p l a n a t i o n o f the g h a s t l y p h e n o m e n o n w h i c h was t a k i n g place b e f o r e m y v e r y e y e s — s o m e s a n e , r a t i o -

T H E

nal physical

S 1.1T H E R E R

F R O M

T H E

SI.IM E

81

f o r c e w h i c h c o u l d raise a d o o r latch w i t h o u t m a k i n g it-

s e l f a p p a r e n t in a n y o t h e r f a s h i o n . M y m i n d b o g g l e d , h o w e v e r , a n d I c o u l d o n l y w a t c h n u m b l y a s t h e l a t c h was raised to its limit, a n d t h e d o o r was s l o w l y o p e n e d . A t h i n g s t o o d in the d o o r w a y , h a l f in s h a d o w , a n d f o r the

first

t i m e in that d a r k a n d g r i m e v e n i n g I was s t r u c k with the d i a b o l i c a l cleverness o f m y eldritch host. T h e p h a n t o m s which no doubt occupied the c h a m b e r h a d n o t , a f t e r all, m a d e t h e m s e l v e s k n o w n . No, m y h o s t w a s far t o o clever. T h e r a i s i n g o f the l a t c h had b e e n d o n e b y t h e d a r k c r e a t u r e w h i c h s t o o d n o w in t h e d o o r w a y , d e l i b e r a t e l y c a l c u lated to c o n v i n c e m e t h a t the c h a m b e r w a s i n d e e d the a b o d e o f s p i r its f r o m hell, and to t h e n dispel t h e i l l u s i o n a n d c o n v i n c e m e o f t h e o p p o s i t e . B u t I w a s far t o o c l e v e r — I w a s n o w m o r e firmly c o n v i n c e d than ever! T h e creature on the threshold entered, and I saw at o n c e that he was d r e s s e d in the attire o f a m a n s e r v a n t . His c o s t u m e , h o w e v e r , w a s o f s u c h a m a t e r i a l and a s p e c t as to p r e s e n t an i m p r e s s i o n o f n a k e d , r o t t i n g flesh, s e e m i n g , in t h e firelight, to b e a c r a w l with m a g g o t s . H i s face w a s a

fiendishly

clever i m i t a t i o n o f a h u m a n c o u n t e n a n c e , but,

a p p r e h e n d i n g his h i d d e n n a t u r e , it w a s n o t d i f f i c u l t to s e e b e n e a t h this m a s k to t h e l u r k i n g m o n s t e r b e n e a t h . H i s eyes b u r n e d like t w i n c o a l s d y i n g in a c u p o f h e m l o c k , and h i s m o u t h was like s o m e rotted w o u n d as h e o p e n e d it to s h a p e this g r o t e s q u e brandy,

phrase—"The

sir"

T h e v e r y walls o f C a s t l e D r u m g o o l r o c k e d a b o u t m e a s his w o r d s fell u p o n m y e a r s . I w a n t e d to s h o u t , to c r y f o r help, to b e s e e c h s o m e o n e f r o m t h e world o f light to c o m e a n d r e s c u e m e f r o m the c l o u d o f evil t h a t held m e in its c r u s h i n g c l u t c h . T h r o u g h a haze o f p a l p i t a t i n g d i s c o n c e r t , I w a t c h e d t h e m a n - s e r v a n t - t h i n g c r o s s the r o o m , a n d set a t r a y o f b e v e r a g e u p o n a t a b l e . M y hellish h o s t , w h o had b e e n , w i t h a fiendish

c o u n t e r f e i t o f c o m p o s u r e , lighting w h a t s e e m e d to b e a b r i a r

pipe, as I had gazed a t his s e r v i t o r , n o w cleared h i s t h r o a t ( o f w h a t u n m e n t i o n a b l e p h l e g m I c o u l d b u t c o n j e c t u r e ) , and said, in his diab o l i c a l travesty o f a voice, " T h e n i g h t is c o l d . W o u l d y o u c a r e f o r a w a r m i n g beverage, sir?" T h e v e r y U n i v e r s e s e e m e d to shatter, as b e f o r e the m a d p u m m e l ings o f s o m e i d i o t - g o d , and c r u m b l e a b o u t m y f r o z e n m i n d , as t h e

82

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t r u e h i d d e n m e a n i n g l u r k i n g b e h i n d the o b v i o u s h i d d e n b e h i n d h i s apparently

meaning

o r d i n a r y invitation d a w n e d w i t h i n m y p a n i c -

riven b r a i n . W h a t c o u l d I d o b u t a c c e p t h i s g h o u l i s h i n v i t a t i o n ? W e r e I to reftise his offer, t h e n h e w o u l d k n o w , b e y o n d a n y w a n p h a n t o m o f a d o u b t , that 1 was aware

o f his true, indescribably

nauseating

identity. F o r c i n g m y visage, w i t h a c o l o s s a l effort o f will, to s h o w n o sign o f m y revulsion, I m u r m u r e d acceptance, and watched with c o n g e a l i n g b l o o d as h e p o u r e d a gelid, i n c a r n a d i n e d g r u e s o m e l y - c a r v e n g o b l e t o f w h a t m a y , or

may

not,

fluid

into a

have been

crystal. 1 received the g o b l e t h e h a n d e d m e ( w r i t h i n g i n w a r d l y as h i s r o t t i n g t a l o n s t o u c h e d m y flesh), and sat n u m b l y , m y m i n d a c h a o s o f b o i l i n g s h a d o w s , gazing a t t h e s q u a m o u s liquid o f w h i c h I m u s t imbibe. W i t h a v u l p i n e leer, m y h o s t u t t e r e d t h e s e d a m n a b l e

words,

w h i c h b u r n e d , as a s m o k i n g iron in t h e c l a w s o f a t i t t e r i n g fiend, i n t o m y q u a k i n g b r a i n — " T h e r e , old man,

drink

tip

now!"

M y time had come. W i t h a s u p r a - h u m a n e f f o r t , 1 lifted the n o i s o m e g o b l e t to m y c r a c k e d , p a r c h e d lips, a n d drank

down

the slimy brew, c o n j e c t u r i n g

( a s t h e r e a d e r m i g h t well i m a g i n e ) in b l i n d p e r t u r b a t i o n u p o n w h a t n e c r o m a n t i c potion, what nightmare philtre, what unutterably unm e n t i o n a b l e i n g r e d i e n t s c o m p r i s e d the d e v i l i s h d r a u g h t . T h e r o o m s p u n a b o u t m e — t h e evil, g h o u l i s h leer o n m y h o s t ' s b l o a t e d c o u n t e n a n c e , the z o m b i e - b l a n k f a c e o f t h e s e r v a n t - t h i n g , t h e r o t t i n g r o w o f d e m o n i a c t o m e s — a l l l o o m e d m a d l y as the i n s i d i o u s p o i s o n b u b b l e d t h r o u g h m y veins. S p a c e a n d t i m e s e e m e d to c r a c k ; t h e world c r u m b l e d f r o m b e n e a t h m y feet; I w e n t c a r e e n i n g o f f i n t o a c h a o s o f s p i n n i n g stars A n d t h e n , with a flash like that o f an e n t i r e u n i v e r s e o f p l a n e t s e x p l o d i n g at the c o m m a n d o f a b l o o d - m a d , s a t a n i c god, t h e full i m p o r t o f t h e i n c r e d i b l e t r u t h b u r s t u p o n m y b r a i n . Nothing ever

had

been

in the

brandy!

what-

M y h o s t , f r o m w h a t e v e r pit o f h e l l

h e h a i l e d , h a d b e e n c l e v e r e n o u g h not to p o i s o n t h e b r a n d y . T h e n w h a t , m y s h u d d e r i n g s o u l a s k e d , u n t h o u g h t - o f t o r m e n t had

he

planned for me? A s m y m i n d s o u g h t d e s p e r a t e l y to a n s w e r t h i s q u e s t i o n , the fell servant m o v e d the goblet f r o m m y c l u t c h a n d left the r o o m , o m i n o u s l y

T H E

S 1.1T H E R E R

F R O M

T H E

SI.IM E

83

closing Ihe great d o o r b e h i n d h i m . W e sat a l o n e , m y m o n s t r o u s h o s t a n d I, as, o u t s i d e , t h u n d e r g i b b e r e d a n d rolled; a n i g h t m a r e w i n d s h r i e k e d c a c o p h o n i c a l l y and clawed with icy t a l o n s at t h e w i n d o w p a n e s . A n u m b i n g chill, as f r o m g r a v e - s o i l , s o a k e d i n t o t h e r o o m , u n relieved b y the e e r i e red and yellow flames that coiled a n d w a v e r e d in the great

fireplace,

flames

t h a t fed ( d o u b t l e s s l y )

upon the

fang-

p i c k e d b o n e s a n d s p l i n t e r e d coffin o f a n e a r b y t o m b . I felt the f o r c e s o f hell g a t h e r a r o u n d the c r u m b l i n g walls o f C a s tle D r u m g o o l as t h e n i g h t s h r i e k e d o n , a n d their i n s a n e v o i c e s roared as if i n a n s w e r to the t h u n d e r , a s if in c h a l l e n g e to the e l e m e n t s , w i t h e v e r ) ' flash ( l i g h t i n g u p t h e f e t i d land s u r r o u n d i n g t h e h i g h a n d hellish castle in a d e a d l y a n d c o r p s e - l i k e p a l l o r ) o f l i g h t n i n g , while t h e w i n d h o w l e d t h r o u g h the o v e r g r o w n t u r r e t s a n d d o w n t h e c h i m n e y , b l o w i n g the fire in t h e g r a t e i n t o m a d , p h a n t a s m a g o r i a l shapes, t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f w h i c h I c o u l d n o t b r i n g m y s e l f to i m a g i n e . I c o u l d o n l y a t t e m p t to c o n v e r s e with m y h o s t in w h a t m u s t s e e m a n o r m a l f a s h i o n , n e v e r o n c e a l l o w i n g m y m a s k to slip, n e v e r o n c e a l l o w i n g to fall f r o m my lips a n y w o r d , f r o m m y h a n d s a n y gesture, that would suggest to h i m that I k n e w his t r u e a n d h i d e o u s n a t u r e , k n e w h i m to b e , n o t a s i m p l e m o r t a l , b u t a c r e a t u r e o f t h e n a m e l e s s pit, a b e i n g o f t h e b l a c k and a w e s o m e r e g i o n w h i c h , thankfully, lies b e y o n d t h e ken o f m o r t a l - k i n d and i n v a d e s the w o r l d o f daylight o n l y in a b y s m a l d r e a m s and n i g h t m a r i s h fancies. In a f e w m i n u t e s h e s p o k e again, inviting m e , ostensibly, to partake o f h i s h o s p i t a l i t y f o r t h e n i g h t . M y m i n d s h u d d e r e d , its v e r y fabric

i n e f f a b l y s o i l e d , a t t h e hellish i m p l i c a t i o n s o f his

apparently

h a r m l e s s words; h o w e v e r , I a l l o w e d h i m t o p r e c e d e m e (again w i t h t h a t hellish t a p e r o f c o r p s e - f a t , w h o s e sickly c o i l o f

filthy

vapour

t a i n t e d m y q u i v e r i n g n o s t r i l s ) o u t o f the l i b r a r y and i n t o t h e d a r k n e s s o f t h e o u t e r hall; t h e r e u p o n , h e led m e u p a r i c k e t y s t a i r c a s e f a s h i o n e d ( b y whose

fingers

m y f r o z e n b r a i n c o u l d not i m a g i n e ) o f

s o m e u n u t t e r a b l y h i d e o u s w o o d ( o r was it w o o d ? ) , w h i c h teetered o v e r the y a w n i n g e d g e o f a n i n k - b l a c k pit, a b o v e w h i c h w e w o u n d o u r s l o w a n d t o r t u o u s way, at e v e r y step m y m i n d q u a i l i n g a t t h e t h o u g h t o f w h a t m i g h t await m e a b o v e ; w e p r o c e e d e d u p w a r d , h o w ever, w h i l e the w i n d s c r e a m e d a n d w h o o p e d o u t s i d e a n d the t h u n d e r r o c k e d a n d rolled like t h e m a d l a u g h t e r o f an i n s a n e deity, w h i l e

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d a r k n e s s c l o s e d a b o u t us, c l a m m y , n o i s o m e d a r k n e s s t a i n t e d w i t h t h e c h a r n e l - s t e n c h o f t h i n g s l o n g d e a d and b e t t e r left u n n a m e d ; t h e n m y e l d r i t c h h o s t , r e a c h i n g t h e w o r m - r o t t e d l a n d i n g o f the h i d e o u s s t a i r case, gestured to a s c a r r e d a n d s l i m e e n c r u s t e d d o o r , w h i c h , as I w a t c h e d w i t h g r o w i n g h o r r o r , b e g a n s l o w l y to o p e n , its h i n g e s g r o a n i n g , as t h e s o u n d o f a d a m n e d soul c r y i n g f o r s u c c o r f r o m the d e p t h s o f hell's b l a c k e s t p i t , r e v e a l i n g b e h i n d it a stygian c h a m b e r w h o s e i n f e r n a l d a r k n e s s t h e o i l y taper c o u l d n o t p e n e t r a t e , and w i t h a t h r i l l o f t e r r o r 1 realized that this f o u l cell w a s i n t e n d e d by m y h o s t to b e m y r e s t i n g place; feeling t h e n his g n a r l e d t a l o n g r i p p i n g m y a r m , and h e a r i n g t h e s e p e r v e r t e d syllables e s c a p e his fusty l i p s — " H e r e ' s t h e guest r o o m ; h o p e you'll b e c o m f o r t a b l e . " — I felt m y s e l f d r a w n irresistibly i n t o t h e d a r k a n d fearful m a w , u p o n e n t e r i n g i n t o w h i c h m y f r a c t u r e d s e n s e s perceived t h e g r e a t i r o n - b o u n d p o r t a l c l o s i n g b e h i n d m e , p e r h a p s , m y c a r e e n i n g i m a g i n a t i o n led m e to s u r m i s e , alt h o u g h e v e r ) ' l i b e r o f m y c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e b e l l e d a t this m o s t g h a s t l y o f fates, forever; and all the while m y m i n d r e v o l v e d o n a l i n e f r o m t h e C r a z y A r a b w h o had o n c e d e s c r i b e d j u s t s u c h a h o r r i b l e s c e n e , j u s t s u c h an i n d e s c r i b a b l y h i d e o u s , u n m e n t i o n a b l y b l a s p h e m o u s , i n comparably

disgusting,

unnameably

nauseating,

overpoweringly

ugly, c h a o t i c a l l y l o a t h s o m e , b l o o d - c h i l l i n g l y , u n s e t t l i n g , s i c k e n i n g , s o u l - s e a r i n g , s i g h t - d e f i l i n g — s i g h t — s i g h t - — N O T S I G H T ! I see w i t h a new HOO

sense—lightning have

mercy—I

Cobble-nobbin—gods FOOF

...

EYE—OR

FARB

flashes,

but—UGUG!

. . . UNIFY of night,

SAVE

ME

THE

FORCES

WOW!... ...

IS IT AN EYE' OOOO

THE aaaa

HELL

YIG!

BIAH!

YOO-

. . . Yubbleglub FIRE AND

EIGHT-NODED

and TITANIC

FLAMING

ee

NOTE: T h e c u r i o u s m a n u s c r i p t w h i c h trails o f f a b o v e was f o u n d b e s i d e the b o d ) ' o f H i r u m l ' h i n e a s Lowcraft, w h o had apparently died o f s o m e t h i n g r e s e m b l i n g a s t r o k e w h i l e s p e n d i n g the n i g h t a t P l e a s a n t - A c r e s b y - t h e - T h a m e s , the c o u n t r y estate o f Sir R o d n e y H a p p i e - H a p p i e , f a m o u s a u t h o r o f children's b o o k s . Sir R o d n e y , when q u e s t i o n e d a b o u t the o d d c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g I.owcraft's s u d d e n d e a t h , commented:

T H E

Demmed seemed

S 1.1T H E R E R

peculiar;

couldn't

to be always

Must have

been from

stuff—you

know,

Well, I certainly

F R O M

make

jumping writing

T H E

anything

or looking too much

have

invited

out

about

85

of the for

and that sort of

him out again

fellah;

something.

of that irregular

all that h e l d r i t c h bosh, wouldn't

SI.IM E

horror thing.

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w h i c h I s h u d d e r to c o n j e c t u r e , the l i t t l e - k n o w n " F i r s t Narrative," g o i n g s t r a i g h t f r o m t h e s o - c a l l e d

"Introitus"—the

o p e n i n g p a r a g r a p h w h i c h , in Dee, r e a d s : " T h e B o o k o f t h e Laws o f t h e D e a d , w h i c h w a s w r i t t e n by t h e p o e t A b d u l Alh a z r e d o f S a n a a , in D a m a s c u s , t h e Year o f the H e j i r a 113, s o t h a t all M a n k i n d m i g h t k n o w o f t h e H o r r o r s o f t h e T o m b and o f those greater Horrors which await B e y o n d " — t o the f a m o u s " S e c o n d N a r r a t i v e , " that o f the C i t ) ' o f Pillars. M y o w n c o p y o f A l h a z r e d — a v i r t u a l l y p r i c e l e s s m a n u s c r i p t in Dee's o w n h a n d — l u c k i l y c o n t a i n s this rare e p i s o d e , w h i c h 1 h a v e t r a n s c r i b e d h e r e f o r the use o f t h e s e r i o u s s t u d e n t . )

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s a y o u t h I was a p p r e n t i c e d to t h e n o t o r i o u s S a r a c e n

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ard, Y a k t h o o b , a m o n g m a n y o t h e r s , o f w h o m the l a n g u i d and

d i s s o l u t e I b n G h a z o u l b e c a m e m y c l o s e s t friend, d e s p i t e his v o l u p t u o u s and i m m o r a l h a b i t s . At the b e h e s t o f t h e M a s t e r w e l e a r n e d t h e s u m m o n i n g - u p o f Evil T h i n g s a n d c o n v e r s e d w i t h g h o u l s in the r o c k t o m b s o f N e b and e v e n p a r t o o k o f the u n n a m e d Feasts o f N i t o c r i s in l o a t h s o m e c r y p t s b e n e a t h t h e G r e a t P y r a m i d . W e w e n t d o w n the Sec r e t S t a i r to w o r s h i p T h a t w h i c h dwelleth in t h e b l a c k c a t a c o m b s b e l o w t h e c r u m b l i n g r u i n s o f e l d e r and g h o u l h a u n t e d M e m p h i s , and in the n o x i o u s c a v e r n s o f N e p h r e n - K a in t h e sealed a n d u n k n o w n

T H E

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87

Valley o f H a d o t h by t h e Nile w e p e r f o r m e d s u c h B l a s p h e m o u s Rites t h a t e v e n n o w m y s o u l s h u d d e r e t h to c o n t e m p l a t e . Ever w e begged o f t h e M a s t e r that h e i n s t r u c t u s in t h e c a l l i n g u p o f the G r e a t P r i n c e s o f the Pit, t h e w h i c h h e was fearful to d o , s a y i n g t h a t t h e Lesser D e m o n s b e easily satisfied with t h e Red

Offering

a l o n e , h a v i n g a h o r r i d t h i r s t for t h e B l o o d o f M e n , b u t that t h e G r e a t O n e s d e m a n d n a u g h t less t h a n t h e o f f e r i n g u p o f a Living S o u l , save t h a t ye have a c e r t a i n Elixir, c o m p o u n d e d a c c o r d i n g to t h e F o r b i d d e n B o o k s f r o m t h e i c h o r o f h o l y angels, the s e c r e t o f w h i c h is k n o w n but to a c e r t a i n g r e a t N e c r o m a n c e r

w h o d w e l l e t h a m o n g s t the dead

tombs of accursed and immemorial Babylon. F o r a t i m e the M a s t e r sated o u r lust for d a e m o n i c

knowledge

with Rites a n d H o r r o r s t e r r i b l e to t h i n k u p o n , b u t e v e r a n d again w e did b e s e e c h f o r t h a t G r e a t S e c r e t w h e r e o f I have s p o k e n , a n d a t l e n g t h h e was p e r s u a d e d a n d d i s p a t c h e d t h e y o u t h I b n G h a z o u l to c r u m b l i n g and a n t i q u e B a b y l o n w i t h m u c h g o l d to p u r c h a s e f r o m the Necromancer

the t e r r i b l e

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returned

t h e r e f r o m and b o r e with h i m , in a flask o f p r e c i o u s o r i c h a l c f r o m d e a d Atlantis, the Elixir, a n d w e t h u s repaired to sealed a n d h i d d e n H a d o t h w h e r e t h e M a s t e r d i d T h a t o f w h i c h 1 d a r e n o t s p e a k , a n d Lo! a g r e a t T h i n g rose u p tall a n d t e r r i b l e against the stars. S c a r l e t and wet a n d g l i s t e n i n g w a s It, like a flayed t o r m e n t e d t h i n g , w i t h eyes like Black S t a r s . A b o u t it h o v e r e d a b u r n i n g c o l d like t h e d a r k w i n d t h a t b l o w s b e t w e e n the S t a r s , a n d it s t u n k o f t h e f o e t o r o f t h e Pit. In a s l o b b e r i n g voice t h e A b o m i n a t i o n d e m a n d e d its p r i c e , and b o r e the f l a c o n o f o r i c h a l c to its s n o u t in o n e scarlet Claw, a n d s n u f fled t h e r e a t , and t h e n to o u r i m m e a s u r a b l e H o r r o r h o w l e d f o r t h a b r a y i n g L a u g h t e r a n d h u r l e d the Flask f r o m it, a n d c a u g h t u p t h e M a s t e r in o n e C l a w o f h o r r i b l e c o l d a n d p l u c k e d and tore at h i m , all t h e w h i l e m a k i n g the N i g h t h i d e o u s with t e r r i b l e l a u g h t e r . F o r a t i m e t h e hapless Y a k t h o o b s q u e a l e d and f l o p p e d in the c l u t c h e s o f t h e Claw, b u t t h e n lay still, a n d d a n g l e d t h e r e f r o m , b l a c k a n d s h r i v e l l e d , as t h e l a u g h i n g T h i n g r i p p e d a t it until it r a p e d f o r t h t h e Spirit o f Y a k t h o o b , w h i c h it D e v o u r e d in a C e r t a i n M a n n e r w h i c h m a d e m y dreams hideous with Nightmares for twenty y e a r s . . . W e s c r e a m e d a n d fled f r o m t h e a c c u r s e d g l o o m o f H a d o t h w h e r e a Scarlet T h i n g howled and fed a b o m i n a b l y under the shudderi n g s t a r s , all b u t t h e v i l e a n d h o r r i d I b n G h a z o u l , t h a t w r e t c h e d

115 T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

v o l u p t u a r y , w h o had s q u a n d e r e d t h e M a s t e r ' s g o l d o n the lusts o f his flesh

d u r i n g his travels to B a b y l o n , and had s u b s t i t u t e d naught

wine

in place o f t h e rare I c h o r . . . H i m w e s a w n e v e r again, and to

but

this d a y I q u a k e with n a m e l e s s t e r r o r at the t h o u g h t o f s u m m o n i n g f o r t h the G r e a t O n e s f r o m the P i t , m i n d f u l o f t h e h o r r i b l e D o o m o f t h e wizard Y a k t h o o b .

T h e Fishers from Outside Lin C a r t e r

STATEMENT O F H A R L O W SLOAN

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hen M a y h e w found the Black S t o n e beneath the ruins o f Z i m b a b w e , it was t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f m a n y l o n g and w e a r ) ' years

o f w o r k . H i s quest had b e g u n t w e n t y years b e f o r e , w h e n a s a y o u n g s t u d e n t at M i s k a t o n i c h e had first heard o f t h e " F i s h e r s f r o m O u t s i d e " in t h e u n p u b l i s h e d j o u r n a l s o f the e x p l o r e r S l a u e n w i t e . T h a t o d d a n d c u r i o u s t e r m was the n a m e by w h i c h the G a l l a s o f U g a n d a referred

to a m y s t e r i o u s race

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a c c o r d i n g to t h e l e g e n d — b e f o r e the first m a m m a l s w e r e . I n t r i g u e d , M a y h e w read o n with g r o w i n g e x c i t e m e n t as S l a u e n w i t e t o l d o f c e r t a i n h e l l i s h l y o l d s t o n e r u i n s w h i c h the local t r i b e s d r e a d a n d a v o i d , o f j u n g l e - g r o w n m e g a l i t h s believed to b e " o l d e r t h a n m a n , " and o f a c e r t a i n s t o n e c i t y s o m e w h e r e in the s o u t h w h i c h t h e i r w i t c h - d o c t o r s w h i s p e r e d w a s an a b a n d o n e d o u t p o s t o f c r e a t u r e s " f l o w n d o w n f r o m the stars w h e n t h e w o r l d was y o u n g . " I s u p p o s e it is hard f o r a s c h o l a r o r a s c i e n t i s t to e x a c t l y pin d o w n w h a t first i m p e l l e d h i m in t h e d i r e c t i o n o f his f u t u r e w o r k . B u t M a y h e w always said it w a s t h e n a t i v e s t o r i e s S l a u e n w i t e r e c o r d e d in 1932 in his j o u r n a l s . At a n y rate, h e e m b a r k e d o n a s e a r c h for m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t the F i s h e r s f r o m O u t s i d e . H e f o u n d

fragments

o f lore c o n c e r n i n g the m y s t e r y - r a c e in s u c h o l d b o o k s as t h e d u b i o u s Unaussprechlichen Eibon,

Kulten

o f V o n Junzt, t h e n o t o r i o u s Book

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of Lost Empires,

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b y t h e F l e m i s h w i z a r d , L u d v i g P r i n n , and t h e f r i g h t f u l

Scripture

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that A b n e r Exekiel H o a g had f o u n d in t h e Pacific is-

l a n d s . I n t h e f e r v o r o f his g r o w i n g o b s e s s i o n , M a y h e w e v e n d a r e d to l o o k i n t o the n i g h t m a r i s h pages o f the Necronomicon

o f A b d u l Al-

h a z r e d , the A r a b i a n d e m o n o l o g i s t . A c c o r d i n g to A l h a z r e d ' s a c c o u n t , t h e Fishers w e r e t h e m i n i o n s o r servants o f the d e m o n

Golgoroth, w h o had anciently been

wor-

shipped on Bal-Sagoth, which some rather questionable authorities c l a i m to have b e e n the last f o u n d e r i n g r e m n a n t o f t h e m y t h i c a l A t l a n t i s . O n B a l - S a g o t h h e w a s w o r s h i p p e d b o t h as the " g o d o f d a r k ness," and i n h i s " b i r d - g o d " avatar, w r o t e t h e A r a b . M o s t

scholars

w o u l d d i s m i s s t h e l e g e n d a s idle tales, b u t M a y h e w k n e w t h e r e w a s i n d e p e n d e n t c o r r o b o r a t i o n for at least part o f t h e a c c o u n t , f o r N o r s e voyagers d u r i n g t h e early C r u s a d e s had seen B a l - S a g o t h , r e c o r d i n g s o m e t h i n g o f its s t r a n g e g o d s in t h e i r sagas.

After c o m p l e t i n g h i s d o c t o r a t e , M a y h e w o b t a i n e d a g r a n t a n d w e n t to A f r i c a . H e f o l l o w e d t h e f o o t s t e p s o f S l a u e n w i t e , e x p l o r i n g C e n t r a l U g a n d a , s t u d y i n g n a t i v e m y t h s a n d s t o r i e s . Tales c a m e t o h i s e a r s o f an a n c i e n t s t o n e c i t y b u r i e d in the s o u t h e r n j u n g l e s o f t h e D a r k C o n t i n e n t , which s o m e thought the ruins o f the legendary King S o l o m o n ' s m i n e s b u t w h i c h o t h e r s a s c r i b e d to t h e h a n d i w o r k o f P o r t u g u e s e slavers o r t r a d e r s . M a y h e w k n e w t h a t the E g y p t i a n g e o g r a pher, P t o l e m y , had w r i t t e n m a n y c e n t u r i e s a g o o f " A g y s i m b a " t h e s t o n e city in the j u n g l e . D o u b t l e s s t h e U g a n d a n m y t h a n d the o l d E g y p t i a n s t o r y r e f e r r e d to the s a m e r u i n . . . a n d that c o u l d h a r d l y b e a n y t h i n g e l s e t h a n o l d Z i m b a b w e itself, that i m m e m o r i a l and myster i o u s s t o n e c i t y d e e p in t h e j u n g l e d heart o f R h o d e s i a . . . Z i m b a b w e , w h e r e o f s o m u c h is w h i s p e r e d a n d s o v e r y little k n o w n f o r c e r t a i n . I j o i n e d h i m at t h e site o f Z i m b a b w e in 1 9 4 6 . 1 had b e e n s t u d y i n g at the U n i v e r s i t y o f C a p e t o w n , and o n e o f his p a p e r s — a m o n o graph o n

U g a n d a n p e t r o g l y p h s , still u n d e c i p h e r a b l e — c a u g h t

my

eye. I w r o t e , a p p l y i n g f o r a j o b , a n d was p r o m p t l y a c c e p t e d . I k n e w little o f Z i m b a b w e . I k n e w it w a s t h e f o c a l p o i n t o f a vast s y s t e m o f m i g h t y t o w e r s and r a m p a r t s s p r e a d o u t o v e r s o m e t h i n g like t h r e e h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d s q u a r e m i l e s o f t r a c k l e s s j u n g l e . T h e r u i n s a r e f o u n d in M a s h o n a l a n d , t h e m i n i n g a r e a s o f G w e l o ,

T H F.

F I S H E R S

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Q u o - Q u e a n d S e l u k w e . At the center, d e e p in S o u t h e r n about two hundred and eighty miles the

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Z i m b a b w e — g r e a t e s t a n d m o s t f a b u l o u s o f the r o u g h l y five h u n d r e d s t o n e s t r u c t u r e s f o u n d in this w i d e z o n e , w h i c h s e e m t h e w o r k o f a race u n k n o w n t o h i s t o r y , and w h o s e p u z z l i n g a r c h i t e c t u r e h a s n o parallel e l s e w h e r e o n this planet, save in c e r t a i n fearfully a n c i e n t r u i n s in P e r u . T h i s little 1 had g l e a n e d f r o m that t a n t a l i z i n g b o o k . Hall's Zimbabwe,

Great

which raises s o m a n y disturbing questions a n d settles s o

v e r y f e w — i f a n y — o f t h e m . A n d s o o n I was to s e e t h e f a n t a s t i c c i t y myself.

M y first sight o f m y s t e r i o u s Z i m b a b w e c a m e a t d u s k . T h e s k y w a s o n e s u p e r n a l blaze o f c a r m i n e and v e r m i l i o n flame, a g a i n s t w h i c h t h e t i t a n i c walls o f t h e e n c l o s u r e s o a r e d impressively, c o m p o s e d o f m a s s i v e b l o c k s w e i g h i n g e a c h m a n y t o n s , t h e wall e x t e n d i n g h u n d r e d s o f feet, e n c l o s i n g t h e w e i r d , u n c a n n y " t o p l e s s t o w e r s " o f w h i c h I had h e a r d . M a y h e w ' s w o r k m e n h a d cleared away t h e v i n e s and u n d e r g r o w t h w h i c h for ages had e n c u m b e r e d t h e g i g a n t i c r a m p a r t , b u t t h e j u n g l e , 1 s o m e h o w knew, had n o t s u r r e n d e r e d , b u t had m e r e l y ret r e a t e d b e f o r e s u p e r i o r force, a n d w a s b i d i n g its t i m e , w a i t i n g for t h e puny, e p h e m e r a l c h i l d r e n o f m e n to leave that it m i g h t i n e x o r a b l y regain its a n t i q u e d o m i n i o n o v e r the m i g h t y walls and t o w e r s . A s h u d d e r , a s o f e e r i e p r e m o n i t i o n , ran t h r o u g h m e a s I

first

gazed u p o n lost Z i m b a b w e d r o w s i n g t h e ages away. B u t t h e n I forced a s h a k y laugh, a n d p u t s u c h t r e p i d a t i o n s f r o m m e ; a f t e r all, n i g h t had n e a r l y fallen, and t h e b r e e z e w a s d a n k and w e t . . . M a y h e w I f o u n d a devoted, even fanatic, scientist. His peculiar fixation

o n t h e l e g e n d o f t h e " F i s h e r s f r o m O u t s i d e " set by, h e was a

learned and scholarly m a n . H e told m e something o f the G o l g o r o t h myth, a n d discussed what scraps o f knowledge h a d b e e n a c c u m u lated as to t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e s t u p e n d o u s r u i n b e f o r e us. T h e P o r t u g u e s e had first g l i m p s e d it a b o u t 1 5 5 0 , h e t o l d m e , b u t t h e

first

e x p l o r e r did n o t reach t h e s e p a r t s u n t i l 1 8 6 8 . " I u n d e r s t a n d n o i n s c r i p t i o n s have e v e r b e e n f o u n d , " I m u r m u r e d . H e n o d d e d , his lean, a s c e t i c f a c e s e r i o u s and t r o u b l e d .

92

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

"Yes, a n d t h a t ' s a n o t h e r m y s t e r y ! A race that c a n build a s t o n e wall f o u r t e e n feet thick, in an elliptical e n c l o s u r e e i g h t h u n d r e d feet in c i r c u m f e r e n c e , s h o u l d s u r e l y have s o m e f o r m o f w r i t i n g , if o n l y f o r the r e q u i r e d m a t h e m a t i c s , " he m u s e d . "And n o artifacts have ever been f o u n d ? " I hazarded. " O n l y t h e s e , " he said s o m b e r l y , h o l d i n g o u t a w o o d e n

tray.

W i t h i n I saw a n u m b e r o f small, oddlv-shaped objects o f baked clay a n d c a r v e n s t o n e . T h e y r e s e m b l e d c u r i o u s l y stylized b i r d s , b u t n o t like a n y b i r d s I k n e w . . . t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g m i s s h a p e n , d e f o r m e d , e v e n — m o n s t r o u s , a b o u t t h e m . I repressed a s h i v e r o f d i s t a s t e . " D o you k n o w w h a t t h e y r e p r e s e n t ? " I asked faintly. F o r a l o n g m o m e n t he peered d o w n a t t h e t r a y o f tiny artifacts, p e e r i n g at t h e m t h r o u g h his eyeglasses, a p a i r o f p i n c e - n e z s p e c t a c l e s h e w o r e always, l o o p e d a b o u t his t h r o a t o n a l o n g r i b b o n o f b l a c k silk. T h e s e p i n c e - n e z were his m o s t f a m o u s a f f e c t a t i o n , a n d I k n e w o f t h e m l o n g b e f o r e I e v e r c a m e to k n o w the m a n h i m s e l f . T h e n h e t u r n e d and l o o k e d a t m e . " P e r h a p s t h e Fishers f r o m O u t s i d e , " h e said, his voice d r o p p i n g to a f a i n t , h o a r s e w h i s p e r . " O r , p e r h a p s t h e i r m i g h t y M a s t e r

...

Golgoroth." S o m e t h i n g in the u n c o u t h , h a r s h g u t t e r a l s o f t h a t s t r a n g e n a m e m a d e m e w i s h , o b s c u r e l y , that h e h a d n o t s p o k e n it a l o u d . N o t h e r e , amidst the i m m e m o r i a l ruins o f elder Z i m b a b w e

I shall n o t b o r e y o u with a n y e x t e n d e d a c c o u n t o f t h e m a n y w e e k s it t o o k to c o m p l e t e o u r e x c a v a t i o n s . First, w e investigated the w e i r d t o p l e s s t o w e r s , w h i c h were d e v o i d o f a n y i n t e r i o r s t r u c t u r e , save f o r t h i c k s t o n e piers j u t t i n g a t i n t e r v a l s i n t o t h e hollow, c h i m n e y - l i k e i n t e r i o r . T h e y were u n c a n n i l y r e m i n i s c e n t o f the pegs in a n aviary, t h e p e r c h e s in a b i r d c a g e , it s e e m e d t o m e ; b u t I said n o t h i n g , leaving t h e P r o f e s s o r to his o w n c o n j e c t u r e s . W i t h i n a m o n t h I was s e n t u p r i v e r to o b t a i n s u p p l i e s . 1 w a s r a t h e r glad o f this, f o r I w o u l d m i s s o u r w o r k in the Plain o f M e g a liths. T h e r e was s o m e t h i n g a b o u t this vast and level field, c o v e r e d with r o w o n r o w o f m a m m o t h s t o n e c u b e s , that m a d e m e t h i n k o f h u n d r e d s o f D r u i d i c s a c r i f i c i a l altars, a n d as the d a t e o f t h e i r e x c a v a -

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t i o n a p p r o a c h e d , my s l e e p was d i s t u r b e d b y d a r k d r e a m s in w h i c h 1 s e e m e d to s e e h u n d r e d s o f s q u i r m i n g n a k e d b l a c k s b o u n d to r o w after row o f the altar-stones . . . while weirdly bird-masked s h a m a n s raised an e e r i e , c a w i n g c h a n t b e n e a t h t h e p e e r i n g M o o n w h o s e c o l d eye was o b s c u r e d b y d r i f t s o f r e e k i n g s m o k e f r o m m a n y

fires...

T e r r i b l e d r e a m s t h e y were! Upriver, 1 f o u n d t h e t r a d i n g post a n d loitered t h e r e l o n g e n o u g h f o r t h e e x c a v a t i o n s t o be c o m p l e t e d o n the Plain o f M e g a l i t h s . M y h o s t was a local t r a d e s m a n o f B o e r d e s c e n t , w h o q u e s t i o n e d m e i n t e n t l y a b o u t o u r w o r k , a n d e y e d m e furtively from t i m e to t i m e , a s if t h e r e were q u e s t i o n s he did n o t q u i t e dare ask. " E v e r h e a r d o f the ' G r e a t O l d O n e s ' ? " he b l u r t e d o n e n i g h t , h i s courage bolstered b y r u m . I s h o o k m y head. " I d o n ' t t h i n k so," I s a i d . " W h a t a r e they, s o m e n a t i v e l e g e n d ? " "Yes . . . b u t , meiri

Con!...

n a t i v e to w h a t world, 1 c o u l d n o t

say!" 1 stared at h i m , baffled; but before I could ask a n o t h e r question, h e a b r u p t l y c h a n g e d the s u b j e c t a n d b e g a n to t a l k lewdly and disg u s t i n g l y a b o u t t h e local native w o m e n . I left d o w n r i v e r the n e x t d a y with t h e s u p p l i e s . It s e e m s 1 h a d l i n g e r e d a t t h e U s h o n g a t r a d i n g - p o s t l o n g e r t h a n had b e e n needful; t h e Plain o f M e g a l i t h s had b e e n e x c a v a t e d , a n d t h e diggers had t u r n e d u p n o t h i n g m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g t h a n h u n d r e d s o f t h e little b i r d l i k e s t o n e i m a g e s . M a y h e w had t h e r e f o r e t u r n e d his att e n t i o n to the g r e a t A c r o p o l i s , and b e n e a t h t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e h u g e c e n t e r - s t o n e a r e m a r k a b l e d i s c o v e r y had b e e n m a d e . H e s h o w e d it to m e by the w a v e r i n g light o f a hissing k e r o s e n e l a m p , t e n d e r l y u n w r a p p i n g the o d d - s h a p e d t h i n g with h a n d s t h a t s h o o k w i t h e x c i t e m e n t . I s t a r e d at it in awe a n d a m a z e m e n t . . . yes, e v e n a s I had s t a r e d at Z i m b a b w e i t s e l f that first n i g h t . . . a n d with a cold inward shudder o f ghastly p r e m o n i t i o n , too.

T H E BLACK STONE. It was a d e c a h e d r o n , a t e n - s i d e d m a s s o f flinty, a l m o s t c r y s t a l l i n e b l a c k s t o n e w h i c h I c o u l d n o t a t o n c e identify. F r o m t h e w e i g h t o f it, I g u e s s e d it to b e s o m e s o r t o f m e t a l . . .

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" M e t e o r i c i r o n , " M a y h e w w h i s p e r e d , eyes alive with feral e n t h u s i a s m , b e h i n d t h e g l i n t i n g lenses o f h i s p i n c e - n e z , f o r o n c e askew. " C u t f r o m the h e a r t o f a fallen s t a r . . . and

look ai the

inscriptions!"

I peered m o r e c l o s e l y : e a c h o f the ten a n g l e d sides was a s l e e k p l a n e o f g l i s t e n i n g b l a c k , c o v e r e d with c o l u m n o n c o l u m n o f m i n u t e c h a r a c t e r s o r h i e r o g l y p h s in a l a n g u a g e u n k n o w n to m e , t h o u g h nagg i n g l y f a m i l i a r . T h e y in n o slightest w a y r e s e m b l e d h i e r a t i c o r d e m o t i c Egyptian, or any other f o r m o f writing I could

remember

h a v i n g e v e r s e e n . I later c o p i e d s o m e o f t h e m d o w n in m y n o t e b o o k a n d c a n r e p r o d u c e a few s p e c i m e n s h e r e :

T h e P r o f e s s o r r e v e r e n t l y t u r n e d t h e m e t a l l i c b l o c k over. " T h i s s i d e in p a r t i c u l a r , " h e said in a l o w v o i c e . I s t a r e d a t the w e i r d , s t y l i z e d profile figure o f a m o n s t r o u s t h i n g like a h i d e o u s bird with s t a r i n g eyes and a g a p i n g b e a k filled w i t h f a n g s . T h e r e was a s t a r k ugliness to t h e d e p i c t i o n that was q u i t e u n settling. I l o o k e d u p at h i m , a m u t e q u e s t i o n in my e y e s . .. Golgoroth,"

he b r e a t h e d .

W i t h i n t h e w e e k w e d e p a r t e d f o r the S t a t e s . N o r was I a t all l o a t h to g o , for all t h e e x c i t e m e n t o f o u r e x c a v a t i o n s a n d t h e d i s c o v e r i e s they had u n e a r t h e d . T o tell t h e t r u t h , e v e r s i n c e that n i g h t I had first set eyes o n the B l a c k S t o n e , I had n o t b e e n s l e e p i n g a t all well. A t o u c h o f j u n g l e fever, p e r h a p s , b u t n i g h t a f t e r n i g h t I t o s s e d and t u r n e d , m y dreams a mad turmoil o f

frightful

nightmares...

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O n e n i g h t in p a r t i c u l a r , a f t e r I s a w the S t o n e , I again d r e a m e d o f Z i m b a b w e as it m i g h t have l o o k e d at its h e i g h t , t h e s a c r i f i c i a l s m o k e s s t a i n i n g t h e s k y and o b s c u r i n g b e h i n d l u c e n t veils the w h i t e face o f t h e l e e r i n g M o o n as it g l o a t e d d o w n o n s c o r e s o f w r i t h i n g b l a c k s b o u n d to t h e s t o n e altars, g r o t e s q u e l y m a s k e d p r i e s t s l e a p i n g in a wild a n d savage d a n c e . . . I k n e w that they were t r y i n g to call d o w n f r o m t h e stars s o m e m o n s t r o u s h o r r o r - g o d , b u t h o w this k n o w l e d g e c a m e to m e I c a n n o t really say. B u t t h e n t h e m o o n w a s h i d d e n b y b l a c k , t h a t circled and s w o o p e d like e n o r m o u s

fishing-birds,

flapping

shapes

darting down

to t h e altars t o p l u c k a n d tear at the w r i g g l i n g b o d i e s b o u n d t h e r e . . . a n d o n e o f the h u g e , q u e e r l y d e f o r m e d - l o o k i n g b i r d - t h i n g s e m e r g e d i n t o t h e m o o n l i g h t , and I s t a r e d w i t h u n b e l i e v i n g h o r r o r at its h u l k i n g , h o r r i b l y a p t e r o u s , q u a s i - a v i a n f o r m , c l o t h e d w i t h scales

not

f e a t h e r s . . . o n e g l i m p s e o f t h e repulsive t h i n g with its o n e leg and o n e glaring Cyclopean eye and hideous, hooked, fang-lined b e a k — I w o k e s c r e a m i n g , with a b e w i l d e r e d M a y h e w s h a k i n g m e b y t h e s h o u l d e r s , d e m a n d i n g to k n o w w h a t was the m a t t e r . N o , I wasn't u n h a p p y to b e g o i n g h o m e : I had had m o r e t h a n m y fill o f t h e s i n i s t e r b r o o d i n g s i l e n c e o f that thick, fetid j u n g l e , c r o w d i n g s o o m i n o u s l y c l o s e t o t h e r u i n s as if w a i t i n g , w a i t i n g . . . o f t h a t h o r r i b l y o l d s t o n e city, w h o s e m y s t e r i o u s past c o n t a i n s h i d e o u s secrets I did n o t w i s h to p l u m b . . . T h e r e a s o n f o r o u r a b r u p t d e p a r t u r e w a s q u i t e easily e x p l a i n e d . It would s e e m that P r o f e s s o r M a y h e w had f o u n d w h a t he had b e e n l o o k i n g for. T h e d i s c o v e r y o f t h e B l a c k S t o n e f r o m Z i m b a b w e would m a k e h i m v e r ) ' f a m o u s — a n d his f a m e w o u l d b e all t h e greater, o f c o u r s e , w e r e h e able to d e c i p h e r t h e i n s c r i p t i o n s . F o r h e , as well, h a d h a l f - r e c o g n i z e d t h e m . M y v a g u e , t e a s i n g r e c o l l e c t i o n o f h a v i n g s o m e w h e r e o n c e s e e n s o m e t h i n g very m u c h like t h o s e q u e e r g l y p h s t o r m e n t e d m e ; 1 c o u l d n e i t h e r pin it d o w n n o r c o u l d I get it o u t o f m y m i n d . It w a s M a y h e w , however, w h o r e m e m b e r e d w h e r e h e h a d seen s y m b o l s v e r y m u c h like t h e m , and t h e m o m e n t h e s p o k e o f it 1 felt c e r t a i n t h a t h e was r i g h t . T h e Ponape

Scripture!

I m u s t have s e e n t h e

glyphs r e p r o d u c e d in s o m e S u n d a y s u p p l e m e n t a r t i c l e a b o u t t h e c r y p t i c o l d b o o k . B u t t h e P r o f e s s o r , o f c o u r s e , had s t u d i e d the a c t u a l Ponape

Scripture

itself, in its r e p o s i t o r y at t h e Kester L i b r a r y in

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S a l e m , M a s s a c h u s e t t s . H e h a d e x a m i n e d t h e a c t u a l b o o k , w r i t t e n in an u n k n o w n t o n g u e , a n d had c o m p a r e d it a g a i n s t the d e b a t a b l e E n glish v e r s i o n p r e p a r e d b y A b n e r Exekiel H o a g ' s b o d y - s e r v a n t , a Polyn e s i a n h a l l b r e e d f r o m t h e isle o f P o n a p e . M a y h e w h o p e d to find, s o m e w h e r e , s o m e h o w , the key to t h e u n k n o w n l a n g u a g e . O n t h e b o a t h e fretted o v e r that, s e n d i n g r a d i o telegraph messages. " C h u r c h w a r d w o u l d k n o w , i f h e were alive, I ' m s u r e o f that," h e m u t t e r e d . " H i s Naacal

Key h a s n e v e r b e e n p u b l i s h e d , b u t I have seen

h i s s p e c u l a t i v e w o r k o n T s a t h - y o and R ' l y e h i a n . S o m e w h e r e a m o n g h i s n o t e s t h e r e m i g h t b e d a t a o n this P o n a p i a n g l y p h - s y s t e m , w h a t e v e r it is c a l l e d . . O n e night, as w e n e a r e d the c o a s t l i n e , h e b u r s t i n t o m y c a b i n , t r i u m p h a n t l y waving a piece o f yellow paper. " C h u r c h w a r d ' s w i d o w has g i v e n m e p e r m i s s i o n to b o r r o w h i s u n p u b l i s h e d n o t e b o o k s and p a p e r s ! " he c r o w e d , face flushed,

unhealthily

eyes b r i g h t with e x c i t e m e n t . "A c h a n c e , at l a s t ! "

Privately, I d o u b t e d it. B u t I kept m y r e s e r v a t i o n s to myself. W e d i s e m b a r k e d , a n d w e n t i m m e d i a t e l y to S a l e m , w h e r e t h e P r o f e s s o r had r e s e r v e d r o o m s f o r u s a t the U n i v e r s i t y C l u b . T h e n e x t m o r n i n g , leaving m e to u n p a c k o u r n o t e s , r e c o r d s and s a m p l e artifacts, he w a s o f f t o await t h e arrival o f C h u r c h w a r d ' s p a p e r s . F o r days h e p o r e d t h r o u g h t h e m in g r o w i n g e x a s p e r a t i o n , f o r the a u t h o r o f The

Lost

Continent

of Alt/ and o t h e r d u b i o u s w o r k s o f p s e u d o -

s c i e n t i f i c s p e c u l a t i o n had k n o w n n o t h i n g o f the u n k n o w n l a n g u a g e , it s e e m e d . " W h a t about Hoag's papers?" I suggested. "Perhaps his servant left a g l o s s a r y o r s o m e t h i n g ; I k n o w it was b a c k in t h e s e v e n t e e n h u n d r e d s , b u t still, s i n c e t h e Scripture

is r i g h t here at t h e Kester, p e r h a p s

t h e y h o l d the r e m a i n d e r o f his library, a s well." His eyes flashed a n d h e s m o t e h i s b r o w with a g r o a n , d i s l o d g i n g h i s p i n c e - n e z from t h e i r p e r c h . "A s p l e n d i d idea, y o u n g f e l l o w ! " h e cried. " M y intuition on hiring you was right." T h e n e x t day, I a c c o m p a n i e d the P r o f e s s o r to the Library, w h e r e h i s s c h o l a r l y c r e d e n t i a l s q u i c k l y g a i n e d us access to a p r i v a t e r e a d i n g c u b i c l e a n d to t h e s t r a n g e o l d b o o k itself. W h i l e h e p o r e d o v e r it e a gerly, I regarded t h e v o l u m e with t h i n l y d i s g u i s e d r e p u g n a n c e . I r e c a l l e d w h a t little was k n o w n o f its c u r i o u s h i s t o r y : t h e f a m o u s

T H F.

F 1 S H F. R S

F R O M

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9 7

" Y a n k e e trader," A b n e r E x e k i e l H o a g o f the H o a g s o f A r k h a m , had d i s c o v e r e d the a n c i e n t b o o k o n o n e o f his r u m - a n d - c o p r a

trading

v e n t u r e s in the S o u t h Seas, b a c k in 1 7 3 4 . It w a s a w e i r d d o c u m e n t o f m a n y pages, i n s c r i b e d with m e t a l l i c i n k s o f several c o l o r s o n p a l m - l e a f p a r c h m e n t s h e e t s , w h i c h w e r e b o u n d b e t w e e n b o a r d s o f a r c h a i c w o o d , c a r v e n with g r o t e s q u e d e s i g n s . . . t h e v e r y r e e k o f t h e ages r o s e f r o m it, m i l l e n n i a m a d e a l m o s t p a l p a b l e , like t h e m i a s m a o f a g e - o l d r o t t e n n e s s . . . I had read w h a t the f a m o u s Pacific a r c h a e o l o g i s t , Harold H a d l e y C o p e l a n d , had w r i t t e n o f the b o o k in his o w n s h o c k i n g and c o n t r o v e r sial The Prehistoric

Pacific

in the Light

of the 'Ponape

Scripture,'

which

o n l y increased m y r e p u g n a n c e . P o o r P r o f e s s o r C o p e l a n d , that o n c e brilliant and p i o n e e r i n g scholar, had developed an u n c a n n y

fixation

r e g a r d i n g the s o - c a l l e d "lost c o n t i n e n t o f M u " w h i c h s o m e o c c u l t i s t s and p s e u d o - s c h o l a r s , like C o l o n e l C h u r c h w a r d , c o n s i d e r t o have b e e n t h e o r i g i n a l b i r t h p l a c e o f h u m a n i t y — t h e "Atlantis o f t h e Pacific." S u d d e n l y I b e c a m e a w a r e t h a t M a y h e w had t u r n e d u p o n m e a g l i t t e r i n g eye, b r i g h t w i t h e x c i t e m e n t . " W h a t is it, P r o f e s s o r ? " " S l o a n , m y b o y , it's here . . . m a n y o f t h e i d e n t i c a l s y m b o l s w e t r a c e d and c o p i e d f r o m t h e B l a c k S t o n e ! S e e — " h e i n d i c a t e d several o f t h e s y m b o l s o n t h e c r u m b l i n g , h a l f - d e c a y e d s h e e t s o f leathertough native p a r c h m e n t , " — h e r e — a n d here, a n d — h e r e ! " " O d d that y o u d i d n ' t r e c o g n i z e t h e m a t o n c e , w h e n you first b e gan making your tracings f r o m the Stone," 1 m u r m u r e d

inanely,

s e a r c h i n g for s o m e t h i n g to say. H e s h r u g g e d , restlessly. " I o n l y g l a n c e d over the o r i g i n a l c o d e x , " h e e x p l a i n e d , " a s I w a s m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in the English v e r s i o n . . . b u t l o o k : I have t r i e d a s b e s t I c o u l d t o m a t c h t h e h i e r o g l y p h to the E n g l i s h text, w i t h the following conjectural r e s u l t — " I g l a n c e d a t the s h e e t o f s c r i b b l e d n o t e - p a p e r h e b r a n d i s h e d b e f o r e m e . I d o n o t recall all o f t h e s y m b o l s o r their m e a n i n g s , b u t o f t h e t h r e e s y m b o l s I d r e w e a r l i e r in this s t a t e m e n t , the first s t o o d f o r t h e n a m e o r w o r d " Y i g , " t h e s e c o n d for " M n o m q u a h , " and t h e third for... "Golgoroth!"

M a y h e w b r e a t h e d , a l m o s t reverently.

F o r s o m e r e a s o n , I s h u d d e r e d a s if a n icy w i n d w a s b l o w i n g u p o n m y n a k e d soul.

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L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

T h e C u r a t o r o f M a n u s c r i p t s a t the Kester L i b r a r y was P r o f e s s o r E d w i n W i n s l o w A r n o l d , a c h u b b y - f a c e d m a n with a c h e r u b i c s m i l e and p i e r c i n g b l u e e y e s . H e had o b v i o u s l y h e a r d o f m y e m p l o y e r a n d I k n e w s o m e w h a t o f his a c a d e m i c r e p u t a t i o n , f o r w e f o u n d n o o b s t a c l e in o u r p a t h w h i c h w o u l d p r e v e n t u s f r o m e x a m i n i n g the m i s c e l l a n e o u s d i a r i e s and p a p e r s o f A b n e r E x e k i e l H o a g . A large n u m b e r o f t h e s e w e r e in t h e M a s s a c h u s e t t s H i s t o r i c a l A r c h i v e s , o f c o u r s e , b u t t h e s e c o u l d hardly b e e x p e c t e d to c o n t a i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n P r o f e s s o r M a y h e w desired. T h e d o c u m e n t s w h i c h related to t h e Pompe ture

Scrip-

were in the " s e a l e d " files, a n d were m a d e available o n l y to r e p -

utable scholars. W i t h i n a d a y o r two, M a y h e w f o u n d w h a t h e was l o o k i n g for, in t h e f o r m o f a b a t t e r e d , w a t e r - s t a i n e d n o t e b o o k o b v i o u s l y kept by Hoag's m a n , Yogash. T h i s Yogash was t h e b o d y s e r v a n t H o a g had " a d o p t e d " in the Pacific islands, a P o l y n e s i a n / O r i e n t a l h a l t b r e e d o f s o m e k i n d ( w e i r d l y t h e r e filtered i n t o m y m e m o r y a bit o f n o n s e n s e p o o r m a d C o p e l a n d had r e c o r d e d in his b o o k . The Prehistoric

Pacific,

in w h i c h h e c o n j e c t u r e d t h a t this m y s t e r i o u s Y o g a s h p e r s o n

might

b e , in h i s i n e x p l i c a b l e p h r a s e , " a h u m a n / D e e p O n e h y b r i d , " w h a t e v e r that m i g h t m e a n ) . Yogash had kept a w o r k b o o k in w h i c h t h e English e q u i v a l e n t s , o f t e n m a r k e d with a n i n t e r r o g a t i o n - p o i n t in the m a r g i n , p e r h a p s to i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e e q u i v a l e n c y w a s d u b i o u s o r u n c e r t a i n , were a l i g n e d with c o l u m n s o f m i n u t e l y - i n k e d g l y p h s . T h i s w a s the key to t h e lang u a g e o f the Scripture,

b y p e r u s a l o f w h i c h M a y h e w h o p e d to b e a b l e

to t r a n s l a t e t h e s e c r e t s o f the B l a c k S t o n e . " T h e y are all h e r e , " g l o a t e d M a y h e w , p e e r i n g

enthusiastically

o v e r t h e b l u r r e d , s t a i n e d pages o f t h e o l d n o t e b o o k . " N u g , a n d Yeb, and their mother, Shub-Niggurath . . . Yig and M n o m q u a h and Golgoroth, h i m s e l f . . " A r e t h e s e t h e g o d s o f s o m e Pacific m y t h o l o g y ? " I h a z a r d e d . " S o t h e y w o u l d a p p e a r to be, f r o m their p r o m i n e n c e in the ture"

Scrip-

he m u r m u r e d abstractedly. " B u t — i f t h a t is t r u e , t h e n , h o w d o y o u e x p l a i n t h e i r r e c u r r e n c e

o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e g l o b e , in t h e d e p t h s o f S o u t h A f r i c a ? " I cried. T h e P r o f e s s o r peered a t m e o v e r his p i n c e - n e z .

T H F. F 1 S H F. R S

FROM

O U T S I D E

99

" I c a n n o t e x p l a i n it," h e said finally, a f t e r a m o m e n t ' s s i l e n c e . "Any m o r e than 1 c a n explain how virtually the same f o u n d o n t h e Easier

Island

Tablets,

characters

w h e r e o f Churchward wrote, ap-

p e a r in t h e M o h e n j o - D a r o i n s c r i p t i o n s , f o u n d in the n o r t h e r l y p a r t s o f India." " C h u r c h w a r d was an o c c u l t i s t o f sorts," I protested. " H i s reputation as a scientist has never b e e n taken s e r i o u s l y ! " " N e v e r t h e l e s s , the Easter

Island

Tablets

e x i s t — y o u c a n find excel-

l e n t p h o t o g r a p h s o f t h e m in b a c k f i l e s o f National

Geographic,

with-

o u t n e e d i n g to s e a r c h m o r e d e e p l y i n t o t h e s c h o l a r l y p e r i o d i c a l s . A n d 1 trust y o u are a w a r e o f t h e veracity, if n o t o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e , o f t h e i n s c r i p t i o n s f o u n d at t h e site o f M o h e n j o - D a r o ? " I n o d d e d , m y r e s i s t a n c e to his a r g u m e n t s s u b s i d i n g . B u t — h o w c o u l d this m y s t e r y b e e x p l a i n e d , save by p o s t u l a t i n g s o m e w o r l d w i d e prehistoric race o r network of religious cults which have hitherto eluded the attention of scholars? Baffled, I t u r n e d to o t h e r tasks, a b a n d o n i n g s p e c u l a t i o n .

W i t h t h e h e l p o f the a m i a b l e Dr. A r n o l d , P r o f e s s o r M a y h e w a n d I had c l e a r a n d d i s t i n c t p h o t o g r a p h i c c o p i e s o f t h e n o t e b o o k m a d e f o r f u r t h e r s t u d y a n d c o m p a r i s o n with t h e i n s c r i p t i o n s o n t h e B l a c k S t o n e , s i n c e o b v i o u s l y t h e Kester L i b r a r y c o u l d n o t p e r m i t Yogash's n o t e b o o k to leave the p r e m i s e s , a s it w a s a p a r t o f the H o a g P a p e r s . F o r days a n d weeks w e c o m p a r e d t h e s y m b o l s , j o t t i n g d o w n a rough rendering into English. T h e g r a m m a r and punctuation,

of

c o u r s e , had to b e s u p p l i e d b y the P r o f e s s o r a n d m y s e l f , a s it w a s n o t p o s s i b l e to d e d u c e f r o m t h e n o t e s o f Yogash w h a t e q u i v a l e n t s t h e s e were in t h e u n k n o w n l a n g u a g e o f the Scripture.

of

From a study o f

t h e n o t e b o o k , m a n y bits o f data c a m e to light w h i c h m e a n t little to m e at t h e t i m e , b u t w h i c h e x c i t e d the P r o f e s s o r t r e m e n d o u s l y . " S o ! " h e e x c l a i m e d o n e e v e n i n g , " t h e l a n g u a g e is n e i t h e r a n y k n o w n f o r m o f N a a c a l , n e i t h e r is it R ' l y e h i a n o r e v e n T s a t h - y o . . . I had r a t h e r c o n j e c t u r e d it m i g h t b e a f o r m o f T s a t h - y o . . . b u t , n o , Yogash refers to it in six p l a c e s a s ' t h e Fllder T o n g u e ' and in two places as 'the Elder S c r i p t ' . . . " " I ' v e h e a r d you m e n t i o n t h a t w o r d ' T s a t h - y o ' b e f o r e , " I i n t e r j e c t e d . " W h a t e x a c t l y d o e s it r e f e r t o ? "

100

THE

NEW

LOVECRAFT

CIRCLE

" I I w a s ihe l a n g u a g e o f a n c i e n t H y p e r b o r e a in p r e h i s t o r i c t i m e s , " he muttered off-handedlv. " H y p e r b o r e a ? " I e x c l a i m e d , skeptically. " T h e p o l a r p a r a d i s e o f G r e e k m y t h o l o g y ? I believe P i n d a r refers to it i n — " " T h e conjectural n a m e — l a c k i n g a better o n e ! — f o r a polar civil i z a t i o n w h i c h w a s t h e p r e s u m e d link b e t w e e n e l d e r M u a n d t h e m o r e r e c e n t c i v i l i z a t i o n s o f Atlantis, Valusia, M n a r a n d s o o n . Alt h o u g h C y r o n o f V a r a a d , in h i s b r i e f Life ofEibon,

does indeed sug-

gest that t h e first h u m a n s m i g r a t e d from f o u n d e r i n g M u to V a l u s i a a n d t h e S e v e n E m p i r e s , and Atlantis as well, t h e n in its b a r b a r i c p e r i o d , b e f o r e t r a v e l i n g n o r t h to H y p e r b o r e a . . I c o u l d m a k e little o r n o t h i n g o f t h e s e r a m b l i n g e x p l a n a t i o n s , b u t filed t h e m away f o r f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e . M y c o n c e p t s o f a n c i e n t hist o r y , I perceived, were g o i n g to r e q u i r e s o m e e x t e n s i v e r e v i s i o n s , if I m u s t i n c l u d e t h e r e i n , a s t r u e a n d veritable c u l t u r e s , s u c h f a i r y - t a l e s as M u a n d H y p e r b o r e a a n d A t l a n t i s . T h a t n i g h t m y b a d d r e a m s b o t h e r e d m e a g a i n , and

I awoke

s o a k e d in c o l d sweat, a n d s h i v e r i n g like a l e a f in a g a l e . Across t h e r o o m I s a w t h e w h i t e m o o n l i g h t b a t h i n g t h e e e r i l y - i n s c r i b e d facets o f t h e Black S t o n e , and s u d d e n l y I felt an u n c a n n y a n d i n e x p l i c a b l e fear. O r was i t — f o r e b o d i n g ?

B e f o r e m a n y w e e k s had passed. P r o f e s s o r M a y h e w g r a d u a l l y c a m e to u n d e r s t a n d t h e p u r p o s e and n a t u r e o f t h e m y s t e r i o u s i n s c r i p t i o n s o n t h e B l a c k S t o n e from Z i m b a b w e . T h e y were n o t h i n g less t h a n litanies a n d c e r e m o n i a l s f o r t h e s u m m o n i n g — t h e " c a l l i n g d o w n , " to e m p l o y t h e o m i n o u s p h r a s e o f t h e S t o n e ' s l a n g u a g e — o f t h e Fishers f r o m O u t s i d e w h i c h were t h e m i n i o n s and s e r v i t o r s o f the d a r k d e m o n - g o d , G o l g o r o t h . O d d , h o w m y w e i r d d r e a m s had s e e m e d to p r e d i c t this v e r y discover)', f o r t h o s e h o r r i b l e n i g h t m a r e s w h i c h had plagued m e f r o m the first d a y I laid eyes o n t h e a c c u r s e d S t o n e h a d b e e n o f rituals w h e r e b y the h i d e o u s l y m a s k e d p r i e s t s h a d s e e m e d to call d o w n f r o m the n i g h t e d s k i e s t h o s e h o r r i b l e b i r d - t h i n g s ( t h e P r o f e s s o r h a d d i s c o v e r e d , in d e c i p h e r i n g t h e S t o n e , t h a t they were p r o p e r l y t e r m e d " S h a n t a k s " ) ! B u t here I c a u g h t m y s e l f b e g i n n i n g to take a l m o s t f o r g r a n t e d t h a t o n e ' s d r e a m s c a n a c t u a l l y p r e s a g e the f u t u r e .

T H F.

F 1 S H F. R S

F R O M

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101

A s for t h e d a r k d i v i n i t y t h e y served, G o l g o r o t h — a t least in his b i r d - a v a t a r f o r m — w a s p r e s u m e d b y m y t h o l o g y to dwell b e n e a t h t h e " b l a c k c o n e " o f A n t a r k t o s , a m o u n t a i n in A n t a r c t i c a , a t o r v e r y n e a r to t h e S o u t h Pole. ( O f c o u r s e , I a m t r a n s l a t i n g t h e s e c o n c e p t s : t h e a c tual text c a l l s it " t h e a n t e - b o r e a l Pole," a n d t h e n a m e " A n t a r k t o s " w a s s u p p l i e d by the P r o f e s s o r h i m s e l f . ) When

he

had g o t t e n to that

portion o f

the t r a n s l a t i o n ,

he

s e e m e d to hesitate, to b e c o m e lost in d r e a m s . I a s k e d h i m i f all w a s well, if he felt ill; he r o u s e d h i m s e l f w i t h an e f f o r t , and gave m e a shadowed smile. " I t is n o t h i n g ; a m o m e n t a r y q u a l m . N o , S l o a n . . . 1 called

to

m i n d a s c r a p o f verse 1 have s o m e w h e r e r e a d — 1 c a n n o t t h i n k j u s t w h e r e — b u t the n a m e Antarktos

w a s a t t a c h e d to i t — "

A n d in a low, t h r o b b i n g voice, h e recited t h e s e s t r a n g e l i n e s : Deep

in my dream

Of the black Pushing

above

By storm-crazed

the great

cone amid

the ice-sheet, aeons

bird whispered

the polar lone

battered

queerly

waste; and and

drearly defaced...

S o m e t h i n g in his h u s h e d , h o a r s e v o i c e — o r w a s it in t h o s e g r i m a n d o m i n o u s lines o f v e r s e ? — m a d e m e s h u d d e r uncontrollably. And 1 t h o u g h t a g a i n o f m y w e i r d d r e a m s o f that Plain o f M e g a l i t h s , o f those naked b o d i e s b o u n d for sacrifice, a n d o f the semi-avian, semiapterous bird-monstrosities

as they s w o o p e d , a n d

plunged,

and

c l u t c h e d a n d clawed, r i p p i n g a n d t e a r i n g the n a k e d , w r i t h i n g m e a t staked o u t f o r t h e m . A n d a g a i n t h a t n i g h t I h a d . . .

unwholesome

dreams.

"Rvo days a f t e r this i n c i d e n t — a n d fear n o t , o f f i c e r s , my s t o r y is very n e a r l y d o n e — t h e P r o f e s s o r s e e m e d t o have c o n c l u d e d t h e m a j o r p o r t i o n o f his r e s e a r c h e s . T h a t is, as far as 1 c o u l d tell he had

finished

d e c i p h e r i n g t h e last o f t h e s u m m o n i n g - r i t u a l s o f the S h a n t a k s c u t deep on the slick metallic planes o f the Black Stone. " S l o a n , 1 w a n t y o u to g o to t h e K e s t e r today," h e t o l d m e t h a t a f t e r n o o n , j u s t w h e n I had a s s u m e d o u r day's toil was d o n e . " I will n e e d the text o f this p a r t o f the Book

of Eibon—"

and h e r e h e h a n d e d

102

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

m e a s c r a p o f p a p e r l o r n f r o m h i s p o c k e t - n o i e b o o k , with p a g e n u m e r a l s s c r i b b l e d d o w n . I gave h i m a s u r p r i s e d l o o k . " B u t s u r e l y t h e L i b r a r y is c l o s e d b y this t i m e . Professor, a n d I could make the trip t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g — ? " H e s h o o k h i s h e a d . " I n e e d t h e text o f that passage t o n i g h t , and t h e L i b r a r y , w h i l e it m a y be c l o s e d to t h e public, will still be o p e n in t h a t t h e s t a f f are o n h a n d and q u a l i f i e d s c h o l a r s with passes s i g n e d by Dr. A r n o l d s h o u l d b e able t o g a i n e n t r y w i t h o u t difficulty. T a k e c a r e o f t h i s at o n c e , please." Well, t h e r e was n o r e f u s i n g s u c h a r e q u e s t — P r o f e s s o r M a y h e w was m y e m p l o y e r , a f t e r a l l — s o I left t h e U n i v e r s i t y C l u b a n d c a u g h t t h e s t r e e t c a r o n B a n k s S t r e e t to the Library. T h e s k y was l o w e r i n g and gray; a fitful, u n e a s y w i n d , chill and d a n k as a b r e a t h f r o m the very grave p r o w l e d a m i d s t t h e d r y leaves o f e a r l y fall a s I h u r r i e d b e t w e e n t h e g r a n i t e pillars and i n t o t h e b r o n z e gateway. I f o u n d n o d i f f i c u l t y in s e c u r i n g t h e Book

of Eibon

f r o m the files

a n d b e g a n c o p y i n g d o w n the passage w h i c h t h e P r o f e s s o r r e q u i r e d . It c o n s i s t e d o f c e r t a i n m a t t e r f r o m t h e s i x t h c h a p t e r o f Part III o f t h e Eibon,

a lengthy mythological or c o s m o g o n i c a l treatise called 'Pa-

p y r u s o f t h e D a r k W i s d o m . ' T h e passage read as f o l l o w s : . . . b u t g r e a t M n o m q u a h c a m e n o t d o w n to this E a r t h b u t c h o s e f o r the place o f H i s a b i d i n g t h e B l a c k L a k e o f U b b o t h w h i c h lieth d e e p in the i m p e n e t r a b l e g l o o m s o f N u g - y a a b e n e a t h the M o o n ' s c r u s t ; b u t , a s f o r G o l g o r o t h , t h a t b r o t h e r o f M n o m q u a h , H e d e s c e n d e d to this E a r t h in t h e r e g i o n s c i r c u m a m b i e n t to t h e A u s t r a l P o l e , where to this d a y H e a b i d e t h t h e passage o f t h e ages b e n e a t h t h e b l a c k c o n e o f M o u n t A n t a r k t o s , aye, a n d all the h i d e o u s h o s t o f S h a n t a k s t h a t s e r v e H i m in H i s p r i s o n m e n t , t h e y a n d their s i r e , Q u u m v a g g a , t h a t is the first a m o n g t h e m i n i o n s o f G o l g o r o t h , a n d t h a t d w e l l e t h e i t h e r in t h e n i g h t e d c h a s m s b e n e a t h b l a c k A n t a r k t o s o r in the less i n a c c e s s i b l e o f p e a k s o f f r i g h t f u l Leng; w h e r e a l s o did great I t h a q u a , t h e W a l k e r U p o n

the

W i n d , take f o r H i s e a r t h - p l a c e t h e i c y Arctic b a r r e n s , and m i g h t y C h a u g n a r F a u g n d w e l l e t h t h e r e a b o u t as well, and fearsome A p h o o m Zhah, w h o haunteth the black bowels o f Y a a n e k , t h e i c e - m o u n t a i n a t the B o r e a l P o l e , a n d all t h e y

T H F.

F 1 S H F. R S

F R O M

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103

t h a t s e r v e H i m , e v e n t h e Y l i d h e e m , the C o l d O n e s , and t h e i r master, R l i m S h a i k o r t h — It w a s with a d i s t i n c t s h o c k that 1 realized s u d d e n l y that t h e r e was n o t h i n g — n o t h i n g at all—In

this E i b o n i c m a t e r i a l t h a t t h e P r o -

f e s s o r and 1 did not a l r e a d y h a v e r e c o r d e d in o u r n o t e s , a n d t h a t t h e o n l y e x p l a n a t i o n for m y b e i n g sent o n this false e r r a n d was to get m e out o f the way while the Professor d i d — w h a t ? S e i z e d by a n a m e l e s s p r e m o n i t i o n , I s n a t c h e d u p the p a p e r s in w h i c h 1 h a d c o p i e d the passages f r o m Eibon,

r e t u r n e d t h e o l d b o o k to

t h e c l e r k , and left the g r o u n d s o f the Library. D a r k c l o u d s h a d c o m e b o i l i n g u p o v e r t h e h o r i z o n , d r o w n i n g the l o n g n a r r o w s t r e e t s in g l o o m . T h e w i n d b l e w f r o m t h e n o r t h , c o l d a n d d a n k as t h e p a n t i n g breath o f s o m e predatory beast. A b a n d o n i n g t h e n o t i o n o f w a i t i n g f o r the streetcar, I hailed a p a s s i n g taxi a n d d r o v e b a c k to the U n i v e r s i t y C l u b . 1 had t h e h o r r i b l e feeling t h a t e v e r y m o m e n t m i g h t c o u n t a g a i n s t life o r d e a t h ; a n d yet 1 c o u l d n o t h a v e told y o u w h a t it w a s t h a t I f e a r e d . T h e r e a r e c e r t a i n t i m e s in o u r lives w h e n k n o w l e d g e c o m e s to u s by u n k n o w n p a t h s , a n d w o e u n t o h i m w h o i g n o r e s t h e w a r n i n g s explicit in t h a t fore-knowing! T o s s i n g a c r u m p l e d bill a t the driver, 1 s p r a n g from the c a b and r a c e d i n t o t h e b u i l d i n g . P l u n g i n g u p t h e staircase, I e n t e r e d

the

r o o m s a s s i g n e d to us, o n l y to find n o sign o f t h e Professor. B u t e v e n as I t u r n e d to d e s c e n d t h e s t a i r a n d to seek f o r M a y h e w in the C l u b library, t h e r e c a m e to m y e a r s a weird, ragged, c h a n t i n g u l u l l a t i o n f r o m t h e r o o f d i r e c t l y a b o v e o u r r o o m s , and a m o n g t h e weird vocables I recognized certain w o r d s — lit! Id! Golgoroth! Antarktos! Quumyagga! Quumyagga

Golgoroth

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T h e s e were the o p e n i n g w o r d s o f o n e o f t h e s u m m o n i n g - l i t a n i e s to t h e S h a n t a k s , for 1 c l e a r l y r e c a l l e d t h e m f r o m the m a n u s c r i p t o f Professor Mayhew's tentative translation o f what he called the " Z i m b a b w e Rituals." A n d t h e n 1 k n e w , with a s u r g e o f c o l d fear that closed

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like a vise a b o u t m y h e a r t , that t h e P r o f e s s o r h a d e m p l o y e d a m e r e s u b t e r f u g e to get m e o u t o f the way while h e w e n t u p to the r o o f and tried o u t the s u m m o n i n g - l i t a n y . . . a n d I c r i e d o u t , a n d I c u r s e d t h e u n h o l y c u r i o s i t y o f t h e s c h o l a r t h a t would d a r e s u c h an e n o r m i t y . U p to the r o o f I r a n , s t u m b l i n g o v e r the stairs, a n d b u r s t o u t u p o n t h e r o o f t o p to see b e f o r e m e a s c e n e o f h o r r o r ! A d o m e o f l e a d e n c l o u d s hid t h e sky, as if s o m e i m m e n s e lid o f g r a y m e t a l h a d b e e n c l a m p e d d o w n u p o n t h e w o r l d , f r o m h o r i z o n to h o r i z o n . T h e w a n l u m i n a n c e t h a t filtered t h r o u g h t h e r o i l i n g v a p o r s was lurid, u n n a t u r a l , p h o s p h o r i c , s u l p h u r o u s yellow. F o r a

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i n s t a n t I was r e m i n d e d o f the s k i e s o v e r Z i m b a b w e in m y d r e a m s — the

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b a l e - f i r e s , the d r i f t i n g s m o k e s , t h e b i r d - m a s k e d priests,

t h e l e e r i n g M o o n — t h e n I s h r i e k e d and s a w — a n d

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D o w n t h e y c a m e , t h e a p t e r o u s , s e m i - a v i a n h u r t l i n g s h a p e s , all s l i m y scales w h e r e f e a t h e r s o u g h t b y r i g h t s to b e ,

hippocephalic

c l u b b e d h e a d s h i d e o u s l y g r i n n i n g . . . and h o v e r e d o n scaly, t r a n s l u c e n t wings: h o v e r e d and s w o o p e d a n d d i p p e d , to tear a n d tear a t t h e s h r i e k i n g s c a r l e t - s p l a t t e r e d t h i n g t h a t j e r k e d a n d jiggled p r o n e o n t h e r o o f t o p , w a l l o w i n g in a b a t h o f b l o o d — t h a t s h r i e k i n g t h i n g that I c o u l d n e v e r h a v e d i s t i n g u i s h e d a s h a v i n g o n c e b e e n h u m a n , had it n o t b e e n f o r t h e o n e d e t a i l to w h i c h my s h u d d e r i n g g a z e c l u n g w i t h u n b e l i e v i n g t e r r o r . . . the blood-spattered ribbon

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h e great s t o n e face o f the t e m p l e o f K i s h l o o k s o u t o v e r the b r o a d plain o f S h a n d f r o m the l o f t y p r e c i p i c e that rises a b o v e it. O u t o f

t h e p r e c i p i c e it l o o k s i n d e e d , f o r its m a k e r s c a r v e d it f r o m t h e living r o c k , a n d the r u b b i s h o f its c a r v i n g c a n still be s e e n h e a p e d a g a i n s t t h e b o t t o m o f the cliff. T h e s h a d e d a r c h w a y o f its w i d e front d o o r , t h r o u g h w h i c h t h r e e e l e p h a n t s m i g h t easily pass, is o n c l e a r days visib l e e v e n as far as t h e g a t e s o f S h a n d itself. N o t s o v i s i b l e is t h e little p a t h t h a t w i n d s its w a y d o w n t h e f a c e o f t h e cliff, t h e o n l y r o a d b e t w e e n t h e t e m p l e and t h e p l a i n . It is h a r d to i m a g i n e h o w the t e m p l e c a n e x i s t in a place s o little accessible to t h e c i t y it serves. It is n o less h a r d to i m a g i n e h o w f a i t h a l o n e c a n sustain a r e g u l a r traffic b e t w e e n t h e m . Yet t h e d a y s e l d o m passes that has not seen its little b a n d o f p i l g r i m s c l i m b i n g t h e p a t h f r o m t h e p l a i n b e l o w , to say its p r a y e r s o n the t e m p l e ' s steps, a n d to leave its o f f e r i n g s o f w i n e a n d m e a l a n d oil o n t h e p o r c h b e f o r e t h e t e m p l e ' s t h r e s h o l d . B e f o r e the t h r e s h o l d t h e o f f e r i n g s are always left, f o r it is t h e law o f t h e t e m p l e t h a t n o p i l g r i m m a y a d v a n c e b e y o n d it. O n l y t h e priest o f Kish m a y c r o s s t h e t h r e s h o l d . O n l y h e m a y e n t e r t h e h o l y o f h o l i e s a n d t h e p r e s e n c e o f the living g o d . B u t u p o n a t i m e t h e r e c a m e to t h e t e m p l e o n e w h o cared n o t h i n g f o r its law. At t h a t p e r i o d t h e p r i e s t o f K i s h w a s a m a n w h o s e e x c e e d i n g h o l i n e s s was m a t c h e d o n l y by his e x c e e d i n g age. F o r m o r e t h a n h a l f a c e n t u r y he had p e r f o r m e d faithfully* the d u t i e s o f his o f fice, g r e e t i n g t h e p i l g r i m s w h e n they c a m e , g i v i n g t h e m w o r d s o f

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h o p e a n d c o m f o r t , h e a r i n g their p r a y e r s and a c c e p t i n g t h e i r o f f e r i n g s all in t h e n a m e o f t h e g o d . B u t o n t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e d a y o f w h i c h I tell, h e w a s s i t t i n g in t h e s u n o n t h e t e m p l e ' s p o r c h w h e n a l o n e pilg r i m c a m e to s t a n d a t the f o o t o f t h e t e m p l e ' s s t e p s . T h e o l d p r i e s t had g r e e t e d m a n y p i l g r i m s in m o r e t h a n h a l f a c e n t u r y , b u t the y o u n g m a n n o w s t a n d i n g b e f o r e h i m was like n o o t h e r p i l g r i m h e had e v e r s e e n . For o n e t h i n g , h e lacked the p i l g r i m ' s w o n t e d h u m i l i t y . H e b o r e h i m s e l f a s p r o u d l y as an e m p e r o r , t h o u g h t h e r e was little in h i s w o r n t u n i c and b r o k e n s a n d a l s t o j u s t i f y s u c h b e a r i n g . F o r a n o t h e r , h e had n o t b r o u g h t the c u s t o m a r y o f f e r i n g . B u t t h e s t r a n g e s t t h i n g a b o u t h i m w a s t h e a n s w e r he gave w h e n the o l d p r i e s t asked h i m w h o h e was and w h y h e had c o m e . F o r h e a n s w e r e d in a l o u d c l e a r v o i c e that m u s t have b e e n heard in the h e a r t o f t h e t e m p l e itself: " I a m N o d , a n d I have c o m e to s e e k an a u d i e n c e w i t h Kish." Even to c o n c e i v e o f s u c h a p u r p o s e was a v i o l a t i o n o f the t e m ple's law, yet t h e o l d p r i e s t d i d not d e n o u n c e t h e y o u n g m a n w h o had e x p r e s s e d it. F o r h e h o p e d t h a t h e had s p o k e n t h u s o u t o f i g n o r a n c e o r m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g . H e t h e r e f o r e p r o c e e d e d to e x p l a i n to h i m t h a t t h e p r i v i l e g e h e s o u g h t was reserved to the priest o f K i s h a l o n e , and t h a t a n y p r a y e r i n t e n d e d for t h e g o d m u s t b e e n t r u s t e d to t h e priest. For it was t h e f u n c t i o n o f the priest o f Kish to b e t h e m e s s e n g e r b e t w e e n h i s w o r s h i p p e r s a n d t h e g o d . B u t N o d d e n i e d that h e had s p o k e n o u t o f i g n o r a n c e . H e n e e d e d n o m e s s e n g e r to g o b e t w e e n

him

a n d Kish. F o r t h e f r e e d o m to w o r s h i p w a s t h e r i g h t f r o m b i r t h o f e v e r y m a n , and a c c e s s to his g o d c o u l d n o m o r e j u s t l y b e d e n i e d h i m t h a n a c c e s s to w i n d a n d s u n . T h e n t h e o l d p r i e s t k n e w b e y o n d a n y d o u b t that this w a s n o c o m m o n p i l g r i m . Yet h e still had h o p e s o f recalling h i m to r e a s o n . I f h e did not a d m i t t h e a r g u m e n t s o f law, h e m i g h t a d m i t t h o s e o f t r a d i t i o n . F o r it was t h e g l o r y o f t h e w o r s h i p p e r s o f Kish that they had w o r s h i p p e d their god in this way a n d n o o t h e r f o r as l o n g as his w o r s h i p had b e e n . B y f o l l o w i n g t h e s e t r a d i t i o n s t h e w o r s h i p p e r o f t o d a y c o u l d p a r t a k e o f t h e t i m e l e s s n e s s o f the g o d h i m s e l f , and q u e n c h h i s t h i r s t at the s a m e c o o l s t r e a m that had s o o t h e d t h e p a r c h e d t h r o a t s o f g e n e r a t i o n s . B u t N o d o n l y m o c k e d a t t h e m e t a p h o r . F o r an o l d t h i n g was n o t n e c e s s a r i l y g o o d s i m p l y b e c a u s e it was o l d . A n d w h e n tradi-

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107

t i o n c a m e to c h o k e the s t r e a m it s h o u l d have let flow freely, it w a s e v e r ) ' m a n ' s d u t y to b r e a k it. T h e o l d priest w a s still u n d a u n t e d . T h e y o u n g m a n m i g h t fail to see the t i m e l e s s b e a u t y o f t r a d i t i o n , b u t e v e n h e c o u l d n o t be b l i n d to t h e e t e r n a l t r u t h s o f p h i l o s o p h y . F o r the g o d s , b e i n g as it were t h e e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h e s a c r e d , c o u l d n o t be a p p r o a c h e d b y t h e p r o f a n e . O n l y their priests w h o h a d u n d e r g o n e a r i g o r o u s c o u r s e o f p u r i f i c a tion and enlightenment, only they could approach the gods with imp u n i t y . B u t N o d d e n i e d t h e s e t r u t h s as well. F o r h o w c o u l d t h e g o d s b e o f f e n d e d by h o n e s t w o r s h i p ? A n d s o far were t h e y a b o v e m e n t h a t for t h e m the distinction between priest a n d layman could hardly b e said to e x i s t . T h a t d i s t i n c t i o n had b e e n i n v e n t e d by the p r i e s t s t h e m selves to e n l a r g e t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e a m o n g m e n , and to divert t h e b l e s s i n g s o f the g o d s t o w a r d their o w n selfish e n d s . T h e o l d p r i e s t sat in s i l e n c e a f t e r that, c o n s i d e r i n g h o w to p r o c e e d . H e felt n o a n i m o s i t y t o w a r d this y o u n g m a n , in s p i t e o f h i s h e r e t i c a l w o r d s a n d t h e i r t h i n l y veiled p e r s o n a l a t t a c k . H e c o u l d o n l y a d m i r e t h i s fiery zealot w h o would let n o t h i n g s t a n d b e t w e e n

him

a n d his g o d . H e w o n d e r e d if in his o w n f o r g o t t e n y o u t h he had e v e r b e e n as p a s s i o n a t e in h i s faith. H e had h o p e d to s e n d t h e y o u n g m a n away with his faith i n t a c t . B u t n o w that law, t r a d i t i o n a n d p h i l o s o p h y had failed to t u r n h i m f r o m his p u r p o s e , the o l d p r i e s t w a s forced to a d m i t t h a t the t i m e had c o m e f o r s t r o n g e r m e a s u r e s . S o , " C o m e w i t h m e , " he said, and r o s e a n d t u r n e d t o w a r d t h e t e m p l e d o o r . lust inside t h e d o o r t h e priest t o o k u p the s m a l l clay l a m p w h i c h h e had left b u r n i n g t h e r e a g a i n s t his r e t u r n . A n d by its light N o d s a w f o r t h e first t i m e w h a t lay w i t h i n t h e t e m p l e walls. It m a y b e that h e had e x p e c t e d to find a r i c h d i s p l a y o f g o l d and j e w e l s , a s h i n i n g m o n u m e n t to m e r e w o r l d l y s p l e n d o r . I f s o , h e m u s t h a v e b e e n s u r prised at t h e t r u t h . F o r the i n t e r i o r o f t h e t e m p l e w a s o n l y a t u n n e l c u t in t h e s t o n e , a t u n n e l c o n t i n u i n g t h e c o l o s s a l s c a l e o f t h e e n t r a n c e , b u t n o less d a r k and d e p r e s s i n g for t h a t . T h e f e w d o o r w a y s t h a t o p e n e d in t h e walls o n e i t h e r s i d e s h o w e d o n l y d a r k a n d c o m f o r t l e s s cells m o r e b e f i t t i n g a p r i s o n t h a n a t e m p l e . B u t m a y b e N o d was n o t s u r p r i s e d : For w h a t n e e d had they o f w o r l d l y s p l e n d o r w h o c o u l d b a s k in t h e g l o r y o f a g o d ? P r o c e e d i n g d o w n t h e t u n n e l , they c a m e p r e s e n t l y to a gate o f

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i r o n b a r s that s p a n n e d it f r o m wall to wall a n d f r o m floor to ceiling. T h e g a t e was t o o large for t h e m e n to m o v e , b u t t h e r e w a s a s m a l l e r gate f r a m e d w i t h i n the larger, a n d this t h e o l d priest u n l o c k e d and o p e n e d to let N o d and h i m s e l f pass t h r o u g h . B e y o n d the g a t e t h e t u n n e l c o n t i n u e d a s b e f o r e . B u t b y the t i m e t h e y r e a c h e d the s e c o n d gate, they m i g h t have s e e n a g r e e n i s h light g l o w i n g f a i n t l y in t h e dist a n c e . T h i s light g r e w b r i g h t e r t h e f a r t h e r they a d v a n c e d , until t h e little flame o f t h e s m a l l c l a y l a m p s e e m e d to e x t i n g u i s h itself f o r s h a m e . A n d w h e n t h e y a r r i v e d b e f o r e t h e t h i r d a n d final gate, t h e light had b e c o m e a l u m i n o u s g r e e n mist that filled all the t u n n e l b e f o r e t h e m , a l u m i n o u s g r e e n m i s t t h a t r o l l e d like t h e sea a l o n g its s h o r e , and g r e w n o w b r i g h t e r , n o w d i m m e r as it r o s e a n d fell. Here the o l d p r i e s t t u r n e d to r e a s o n w i t h N o d f o r t h e last t i m e . H e had b r o u g h t h i m h e r e , w h e r e n o n e b u t a priest o f K i s h h a d e v e r b e e n , in a final a t t e m p t to t u r n his feet f r o m the r u i n o u s p a t h they were set u p o n . W h a t did N o d really k n o w o f t h e n a t u r e o f the gods? H o w c o u l d he be s u r e that t h e priests had set t h e m s e l v e s b e t w e e n m e n a n d g o d s to d e p r i v e t h e m o f t h e i r blessing and n o t to d e f e n d t h e m f r o m their curse? N o d t h o u g h t o f his g o d a s a c o m f o r t i n g f l a m e w h e r e a t he m i g h t w a r m his s p i r i t . B u t w h a t if the reality was a

fiery

f u r n a c e t h a t m i g h t b u m his spirit to ashes? Let h i m h e e d t h e r e f o r e t h e o l d p r i e s t ' s w a r n i n g . Let h i m a b a n d o n the d a n g e r o u s q u e s t f o r t r u t h , a n d t a k e refuge in the c o m f o r t i n g lies o f faith. F o r t h e r e a l o n e was a n y h o p e for m a n . S o said t h e o l d p r i e s t , s p e a k i n g with t h e e l o q u e n c e o f d e s p e r a t i o n . B u t his e l o q u e n c e o n l y stirred N o d to a n g e r . F o r this w a s blasp h e m y a n d r a n k a t h e i s m . N o d w o u l d n o t have his e a r s p o l l u t e d w i t h s u c h filth. If t h e priest again p r o f a n e d the n a m e o f t h e g o d s w i t h i n his hearing, he would drag him from the temple, and cast h i m down t h e p r e c i p i c e to his d e a t h o n the s t o n e s b e l o w . S o s p o k e N o d in h i s a n g e r . B u t h i s w o r d s did n o t t r o u b l e t h e o l d priest h a l f as m u c h as t h e l o o k in his eyes w h e n h e s p o k e t h e m . F o r t h e y n e v e r t u r n e d f r o m t h e g r e e n i s h v a p o r , and t h e y r e s p o n d e d to its u n e a r t h l y g l o w with a m o r e t h a n a n s w e r i n g fire. It was this m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g else that

finally

p e r s u a d e d the o l d p r i e s t to u n l o c k and o p e n t h e gate. F i n d i n g the last o b s t a c l e g o n e f r o m his p a t h , t h e y o u n g

man

b e g a n to m o v e f o r w a r d , s l o w l y at first, b u t with g a t h e r i n g s p e e d a s t h e g r e e n v a p o r rose to e n g u l f h i m . H i s figure dissolved in its m i s t y

THE

KEEPER

OF

THE

FLAME

109

r a d i a n c e , s o t h a i o n l y ihe s o u n d o f h i s s a n d a l s o n the s t o n e r e m a i n e d to tell o f his f u r t h e r progress. A n d s o o n e v e n this was lost in t h e dist a n c e . T h e stillness that f o l l o w e d w a s c o m p l e t e . E v e n t h e m i s t had c e a s e d its h e a v i n g . A n d t h e n , s u d d e n l y a n d w i t h o u t w a r n i n g , t h e g r e e n i s h light b e g a n to s t r e n g t h e n i n i n t e n s i t y . B r i g h t e r it g r e w and b r i g h t e r , f e e d i n g its p o w e r from s o m e h i d d e n s o u r c e , u n t i l il reached a level o f b l i n d i n g b r i l l i a n c e . T h e n , the s o u r c e o f its p o w e r e x h a u s t e d , il b e g a n l o die b a c k d o w n a g a i n , a n d to r e t u r n by slow d e g r e e s to its o l d sullen g l o w . O n l y t h e n d i d t h e o l d m a n c l o s e a n d l o c k Ihe gate, c l u m s i l y w i t h s h a k i n g h a n d s . O n l y t h e n did h e g r o p e his w a y b a c k to ihe clean w h i t e light o f the s u n .

Dead Giveaway J . Vernon Shea

I

M

iss M a r y P e a b o d y ( y o u c a n give her s u r n a m e t h e N e w E n g l a n d p r o n u n c i a t i o n ! P e b ' - u h - d e e ) t u r n e d as was h e r w o n t i n t o t h e

street t h a t led to O l d D e t h s h i l l C e m e t e r y . It was a l m o s t a d a i l y r i t u a l with

her, b a r r i n g a b o m i n a b l e

weather.

Her

progress d o w n

the

s h a r p l y s l o p i n g street did n o t g o u n o b s e r v e d ! T h e f e w p e o p l e o u t s i d e ( i t w a s a b l u s t e r y day, w i t h tall trees b e n t l o w as if t r y i n g to s e n d m o r e r o o t s i n t o t h e g r o u n d ) t u r n e d to s t a r e a t her, and p e o p l e i n s i d e p u s h e d aside c u r t a i n s f o r a b e t t e r l o o k . F o r M i s s P e a b o d y had b e c o m e s o m e w h a t o f an i n s t i t u t i o n u p o n t h e s t r e e t . It a l w a y s l o o k e d as if she had p i c k e d t h e c l o t h e s that w e r e closest t o h a n d , and h e r w a r d r o b e m u s t have b u l g e d w i t h b i z a r r e i t e m s . People were c u r i o u s ( a n d even m a d e b e t s ) as to w h a t the n e x t day's outfit w o u l d b e like. T o d a y ' s e n s e m b l e was a c o n g l o m e r a t i o n o f c l o t h i n g o f v a r i o u s p e r i o d s , all c o m p l e t e l y o u t o f f a s h i o n . T o n i g h t w o u l d b e H a l l o w e ' e n , b u t she w o r e a s u m m e r ) '

flowered

h a t ; a l t h o u g h the flowers were artificial, t h e y s o m e h o w l o o k e d w i l t e d a n d dusty. Fler red velvet dress w a s o f 1 9 1 0 l e n g t h , and in t h e rear it was s t u c k in t h e c r a c k o f her b e h i n d , e x p o s i n g a g r e a t e x p a n s e o f pett i c o a t . O v e r it she h a d p u t o n a b u t t o n - d o w n m a n ' s s w e a t e r w h i c h m a y h a v e b e l o n g e d to h e r b r o t h e r , and u p o n h e r feet she w o r e b l a c k h i g h - b u t t o n s h o e s . S h e c a r r i e d a n u n r a i s e d pink p a r a s o l w h i c h t h e w i n d s o u g h t , r u f f l i n g its silk

fiiriously.

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S h e w a s w a l k i n g i n t o t h e w i n d , a n d its s h a r p s t i n g b r o u g h t an u n a c c u s t o m e d r o s i n e s s to h e r w i t h e r e d c h e e k s . And then the calls c a m e : Crazy

Mary,

won't you go

home.

Crazy

Mary,

won't you go

home.

It w a s t h e c h i l d r e n , s p r u n g u p m a g i c a l l y e v e r y w h e r e . A f e w o f t h e b o l d e r o n e s w o u l d a p p r o a c h her closely, r e c i t e t h e i r l i n e s , t h e n d a r t giggling a r o u n d the corners o f houses. Miss Peabody did not m i n d t h e m , h a v i n g b e c o m e a c c u s t o m e d to t h e m , b u t as usual she passed h e r h a n d a c r o s s her b r o w in b e w i l d e r m e n t , w o n d e r i n g w h o " C r a z y M a r y " might be. T h e c h i l d r e n f o l l o w e d h e r at a d i s t a n c e d o w n t h e s t r e e t , c h a n t i n g . A n d n o w she w a s a p p r o a c h i n g t h e o l d E l m e r H a r r o d

house.

Usually d e s e r t e d , f o r t h e c i t y had b o a r d e d it u p a n d s h u t o f f the utilities a f t e r H a r r o d ' s m y s t e r i o u s a n d h o r r i f y i n g d e a t h , it n o w t h r o n g e d with life; a g r o u p o f t e e n a g e r s were u p o n t h e p o r c h , w a t c h i n g her. O n e o f t h e m , w h o s e n a m e s h e had n e v e r k n o w n , b u t w h o m s h e r e c o g n i z e d a s o n e o f her p r i n c i p a l t o r m e n t o r s , c a m e f r o m t h e p o r c h o v e r to h e r . H e recited s o m e j u s t - c o i n e d lines: Dress

up your

ass,

High-button

shoes.

Want something It's time

to

else up your

ass?

choose.

S h e c a u g h t her b r e a t h in s h o c k at t h e f o u l n e s s o f the l a n g u a g e , l u s t t h e n t h e t e e n a g e r seized t h e p a r a s o l a n d gave it a twirl. Still c l i n g i n g to it, M i s s M a r y P e a b o d y was s p u n a r o u n d , a n d s h e a l m o s t fell to t h e s i d e w a l k in d i z z i n e s s . " O h , y o u w a n t to d a n c e ? " the t e e n a g e r said, and h e p u s h e d h e r b a c k w a r d s in a p a r o d y o f t h e waltz. " L e t her a l o n e , G o d d a m n i t ! " s o m e o n e s a i d . It was old E m i l Weiskopf, w h o lived two d o o r s away, O l d E m i l Weiskopf, w h o kept to h i m s e l f and never b o t h e r e d m u c h with c h i l d r e n . T h e t e e n a g e r let M i s s P e a b o d y l o o s e in a s t o n i s h m e n t . O l d E m i l

112

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N E W

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C I R C L E

p i c k e d u p Ihe p a r a s o l , w h i c h had fallen to i h e s i d e w a l k , and h a n d e d it c e r e m o n i o u s l y to M i s s Pea b o d y . " W o u l d y o u c o m e to m y h o u s e and rest a w h i l e ? " h e a s k e d her. " O h , no, no," s h e s a i d . " I m u s t get to t h e c e m e t e r y . " " B u t w h y today? It's c o l d and w i n d y o u t t h e r e . " " I m u s t get to t h e c e m e t e r y , " s h e said, a s if by rote. A n d s h e w o r e the bewildered look again. Why m u s t s h e get to the c e m e t e r y ? S h e c o u l d n ' t r e m e m b e r . O h , yes, it was t o find B e n j y , her little b r o t h e r . S h e had lost B e n j y s o m e w h e r e , and she c o u l d n e v e r r e m e m b e r just w h e r e . S h e had a h a z y r e c o l l e c t i o n t h a t it had s o m e t h i n g to d o with O l d D e t h s h i l l C e m e t e r y , a n d t h a t was why s h e m a d e her d a i l y t r i p s there, in t h e h o p e t h a t s o m e d a y s h e would r e m e m b e r exactly.

She wanted Benjy back. She

n e e d e d h i m . It was s o l o n e l y in h e r a p a r t m e n t w i t h o u t h i m . H e had always k n o w n w h a t to d o . A m a n k n o w s such things; a w o m a n doesn't. ( H a d B e n j y g r o w n to manhood,

o r was s h e t h i n k i n g o f s o m e o n e else?

She wished she could r e m e m b e r . ) T h e w i n d died d o w n s t r a n g e l y as s h e e n t e r e d O l d

Dethshill

C e m e t e r y . T h e d e a t h o f E l m e r H a r r o d , t h e T V h o r r o r film h o s t , had received n a t i o n a l p u b l i c i t y , a n d t h e c e m e t e r y w a s n o w s o m e w h a t o f a t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n ( t o u r i s t s c a m e once,

a n d never returned); s o the

c i t y officials h a d b e e n c o m p e l l e d to c u t a road t h r o u g h the b a c k s e c t i o n i n t o w h i c h t h e street d e b o u c h e d , a n d h a d e v e n r a z e d s o m e r u n d o w n h o u s e s o f a n e a r b y s l u m area to m a k e r o o m for a n e w s e c t i o n o f the c e m e t e r y , as s o m e o f the c i t y residents h a d e x p r e s s e d a p e r verse d e s i r e to b e b u r i e d t h e r e . B u t e v e n with t h e c h a n g e s .

Old

D e t h s h i l l C e m e t e r y r e m a i n e d m u c h t h e s a m e . It w a s still a

place

which did not w e l c o m e intruders. S h e shivered with s u d d e n c o l d . D e s p i t e the f r e q u e n c y o f h e r visits, M i s s P e a b o d y still felt h e r s e l f an i n t r u d e r . T h e c e m e t e r y gave her a feeling o f g u i l t , as if s h e had d o n e s o m e t h i n g v e r y w r o n g t h e r e years b e f o r e . B u t she c o u l d n e v e r r e m e m b e r j u s t what.

Her visits were, in a

m e a s u r e , an a t o n e m e n t . A s s h e m a d e her w a y i n t o t h e c e m e t e r y g r o u n d s , s h e c o u l d h e a r t h e o l d s c u t t e r i n g s o u n d s w i t h w h i c h t h e place a b o u n d e d .

Something

was l u r k i n g b e h i n d t h a t t r e e o v e r t h e r e ; i f s h e r e m a i n e d q u i t e still, she m i g h t c a t c h a g l i m p s e o f its face. C o u l d it b e little B e n j y , playing tricks upon her?

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" B e n j y ! " s h e called o u t w i t h a s u d d e n i m p u l s e . " W h e r e a r e you? It's y o u r sister M a r y . You c a l l e d m e M a m i e , d o n ' t y o u r e m e m b e r ? " T h e r e w a s n o r e s p o n s e , b u t the s c u t t e r i n g s o u n d s s e e m e d to b e i n t e n s i f i e d . A n d d o w n t h e hillside, t h i c k n o w w i t h o n c e s p l e n d i d leaves, the figure with the red velvet dress a n d pink parasol s t r o l l e d , c a l l i n g o u t " B e n j y ! " t i m e and again, t h e s u n l i g h t m u t e d and w i t h o u t w a r m t h a s it s t r u g g l e d to p e n e t r a t e the m a z e o f trees o v e r h e a d . M i s s P e a b o d y was s e e k i n g o n e p a r t i c u l a r grave, h e r o w n d i s c o v ery. N o w t h a t the c i t y p r o v i d e d c a r e t a k e r s , w h o m o w e d t h e grass o c c a s i o n a l l y , b u t w i t h t h e greatest r e l u c t a n c e ( c a r e t a k e r s n e v e r stayed o n t h e i r j o b s very l o n g ) , graves were easier to find; s h e had m e r e l y to b r u s h t h e d e a d g r a s s away f r o m t h e m a r k e r s with her f o o t . S h e w a s e n g a g e d in d o i n g s o w h e n s h e n o t i c e d a v e r y c u r i o u s t h i n g . S h e h a d f r e q u e n t l y passed t h e grave o f O b e d i a h C a r t e r in h e r t r i p s h e r e , o n e o f the o l d e s t graves in t h e c e m e t e r y , o n e w h o s e m a r k e r b o r e a l m o s t o b l i t e r a t e d d a t e s : 1 7 9 _ — 1 8 _ 7 . B u t t o d a y all t h e grass and w e e d s s u r r o u n d i n g it were c l e a r e d away, a n d the m a r k e r

looked

freshly w a s h e d — a n d , m u c h m o r e d i s t u r b i n g , the m a r k e r did

not

q u i t e m e e t the p a c k e d e a r t h a r o u n d it; it l o o k e d f o r all t h e w o r l d like a fresh

grave.

T h e C a r t e r grave had a l w a y s s e e m e d to M i s s P e a b o d y

much

t o o c l o s e to t h e place w h i c h E l m e r H a r r o d had called " W i t c h e s ' H o l l o w " — a p l a c e s h e always s k i r t e d — f o r h e r liking, a n d s h e h u r r i e d o n . ( N o t t h a t s h e h a d e v e r m e t a w i t c h t h e r e ; s h e always w a s a f r a i d t h a t i f she did m e e t s o m e t h i n g t h e r e , it would b e s o m e t h i n g far w o r s e t h a n a w i t c h . ) S h e reached t h e o b j e c t o f her s e a r c h a l m o s t t o o s o o n , almost unexpectedly. It was a n o t h e r very o l d g r a v e , p r o b a b l y e v e n o l d e r t h a n C a r t e r ' s , f o r t h e t i m e had d o n e e v e n m o r e d a m a g e to t h e c a r v i n g . O n l y B E N J A M I N was d e c i p h e r a b l e , t h e e r o d e d s u r n a m e d e f y i n g i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . T h e little she c o u l d m a k e o u t c e r t a i n l y d i d n ' t l o o k like P E A B O D Y , b u t it might

b e . O n e part o f h e r b r a i n t o l d her t h a t t h i s couldn't

be

B e n j y ' s g r a v e , f o r B e n j y wasn't that o l d , b u t it w a s the o n l y B e n j a m i n she had e v e r b e e n able to d i s c o v e r in t h e c e m e t e r y , a n d s h e felt f o r it a s e n s e o f p r o p r i e t o r s h i p . S o m e t i m e s she e v e n b r o u g h t flowers to s t r e w u p o n it ( w h i c h s o m e o n e had always r e m o v e d by t h e n e x t d a y ) . T h e grave w a s always t h e e n d p o i n t o f h e r j o u r n e y a n d , a s was h e r w o n t , she s t r e t c h e d h e r s e l f t i r e d l y u p o n its m a r k e r .

114

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C I R C L E

B u i the c o l d a i r a n d t h e c o l d m a r b l e s o o n p e n e t r a t e d her d r e s s a n d t h i n sweater, and she had t o rise. S h e t h o u g h t s h e w o u l d r e t u r n by a d i f f e r e n t r o u t e , and s h e c h o s e to g o by w a y o f t h e n e w s e c t i o n . P e r h a p s s h e m i g h t e v e n find B e n j y t h e r e . S h e d i d n ' t m u c h like t h e n e w s e c t i o n , for, a s today, it u s u a l l y had a f e w v i s i t o r s . It had an a i r o f m o d e r n i t y n o t in k e e p i n g with O l d D e t h s h i l l C e m e t e r y . T h e graves were p a c k e d m u c h t o o c l o s e l y t o gether, a n d t h e grass l o o k e d f r e s h l y w a t e r e d a n d m a n i c u r e d .

The

n e w e s t g r a v e , w h i c h b o r e t h e n a m e R U S S E L L C A R M O D Y , was blazi n g w i t h flowers, c u t o n e s and p o t t e d o n e s . " T h i s fellow has t o o m a n y flowers," M i s s P e a b o d y said to h e r s e l f , " w h i l e this p o o r s o u l d o e s n ' t have any." S o , p u t t i n g her p a r a s o l d o w n , she p i c k e d a r m f u l s o f

flowers

f r o m t h e C a r m o d y g r a v e a n d placed

t h e m u p o n the grave o f his n e i g h b o r , d i s t r i b u t i n g t h e m equally. It w a s b e c o m i n g d a r k as s h e a p p r o a c h e d the n e w shaft w h i c h had b e c o m e t h e tallest t h i n g in the c e m e t e r y , a f o c a l p o i n t . As always, s h e felt a t o u c h o f chill as s h e gazed u p at it. It was m a d e o f s o m e c u r i o u s b l a c k p o l i s h e d s t o n e , a n d it s t r e t c h e d u p m u c h h i g h e r t h a n

Miss

P e a b o d y c o u l d r e a c h , a n d it rested u p o n a t h i c k c i r c u l a r p l a t f o r m c o m p o s e d o f the s a m e b l a c k s t o n e . B o t h s i d e s o f t h e shaft ( i t w a s really an o b e l i s k , b u t M i s s P e a b o d y d i d n ' t k n o w t h a t ) were c o v e r e d w i t h s o m e very w e i r d a n d o u t r e d r a w i n g s a n d s e n t e n c e s ( p r e s u m a b l y ) in a g r e a t m a n y none o f which Miss

Peabody understood.

languages,

For instance, the

top

l i n e s were in Assyrian c u n e i f o r m s y m b o l s w h i c h an a m a t e u r linguist a m o n g s t the c i t ) ' o f f i c i a l s had t r a n s l i t e r a t e d as kutullu, garta.

shub,

and

na-

T h e s o u n d s o f t h e s e s y m b o l s had s o d i s t u r b e d h i m ( h e had t h e

e e r i e s e n s a t i o n t h a t s o m e t h i n g c l o s e b y had s t o p p e d to listen) that h e had refused t o c o n t i n u e his r e s e a r c h . A n d t h e d r a w i n g s were o f a n a t u r e w h i c h M i s s P e a b o d y r e f u s e d to c o n t e m p l a t e steadily. T h e r e w e r e f a c e s t h e r e w h i c h r e m i n d e d h e r o f t h e s t a t u e s o f Easter I s l a n d ; and t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g w h i c h l o o k e d like a h o r r e n d o u s g o a t ; a n d t h e r e was s o m e t h i n g m u c h w o r s e w h i c h had a great m a n y t e n t a c l e s ; t h e r e were d e p i c t i o n s o f a c t i o n s w h i c h were o b v i o u s l y o b s c e n e , a n d , even m o r e nauseating, depictions of people being devoured by nameless monsters. It m u s t h a v e taken the s t o n e c u t t e r ( o r s t o n e c u t t e r s ) t r e m e n d o u s t i m e a n d e f f o r t to p e r f o r m s o h o r r i f y i n g a t a s k .

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" B e a u t i f u l , isn't it?" a v o i c e b e h i n d her said, a n d t u r n i n g , M i s s P e a b o d y saw t h a t t h e s p e a k e r h a d a profile w h i c h r e m i n d e d her o f a f r o g o r toad. H e was o b v i o u s l y s o m e i n h a b i t a n t o f n e a r b y

Inns-

m o u t h . But there was n o longer a n I n n s m o u t h . Trembling,

Miss

P e a b o d y h u r r i e d away a s fast a s s h e c o u l d , h e r parasol

bounding

a h e a d o f h e r like a j a c k r a b b i t .

II At t h e a p p r o a c h o f twilight M r s . C h a r l o t t e C a r m o d y s e a t e d h e r s e l f in t h e c h a i r by t h e w i n d o w w h i c h c o m m a n d e d the b e s t view o f t h e s t r e e t . T h e s t r o n g w i n d s h a d n o t yet s u b s i d e d , and s h e w a s c o n s c i o u s o f a d r a u g h t f r o m the w i n d o w . T h e f u r n a c e w a s o n , b u t s h e felt c o l d , and she rose a n d g o t h e r s e l f a sweater. S h e had n o t felt really w a r m s i n c e t h e m o m e n t last w e e k w h e n s h e had seen the c a s k e t o f h e r s o n Russell b e i n g lowered i n t o t h e n e w g r a v e in O l d D e t h s h i l l C e m e t e r y . S h e s h i v e r e d a t t h e m e m o r y , and s h e d a b b e d with h e r h a n d k e r c h i e f a t her red, s w o l l e n e y e l i d s . T h e h o u s e w a s c o l d , c o l d , o l d a n d e m p t y like h e r s e l f . W h y had she p i c k e d s u c h s o m b r e f u r n i t u r e ? S h e n e e d e d b r i g h t , w a r m c o l o r s . Russell c o l d in h i s grave a n d s h e here all a l o n e . . . the b l e a k years w i t h o u t Russell s t r e t c h e d i n t e r m i n a b l y a h e a d . S h e w a s n o t really o l d , a n d s h e k n e w s h e w a s g o i n g to live f o r a long, l o n g t i m e A n d n o w the street w a s b e c o m i n g d a r k , and a l r e a d y p e o p l e w e r e b e g i n n i n g to w e l c o m e the H a l l o w e ' e n e r s . S h e p u r s e d h e r lips. T h e g o o d , g e n e r o u s p e o p l e . W h a t an easy w a y to b u y f r i e n d s h i p , with j u s t a f e w b a g s o f p e n n y c a n d y ! " T r i c k o r t r e a t " i n d e e d ! It was really a k i n d o f b l a c k m a i l . N o b o d y had e v e r given her a n y t h i n g w h e n s h e w a s a girl in St. Louis. C h i l d r e n t h e n were c o n t e n t j u s t to d r e s s u p in c o s t u m e and p a r a d e u p and d o w n t h e s t r e e t s . B u t t h e k i d s t o d a y w e r e s p o i l e d , s p o i l e d r o t t e n . L o o k at t h e w a y t h e y w e n t t h r o u g h her g a r den a f t e r a ball and t r a m p l e d her roses! A n d d a r i n g to ride u p and d o w n her s i d e w a l k o n t h e i r b i k e s ! " O h , m o t h e r , they d o n ' t m e a n anyt h i n g ! " Russell u s e d to r e m o n s t r a t e . B u t Russell w a s t o o e a s y - g o i n g . O n e had to assert o n e ' s rights. A n d s o s h e had had to yell at t h e m , " I f y o u d o n ' t get o u t o f m y garden, I ' m g o i n g to call the p o l i c e ! " A n d s h e had m e a n t it. Lei t h e m call her " t h e m e a n o l d l a d y " ! Well, s h e had no i n t e n t i o n o f t u r n i n g o n her

porchlight. She

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n e v e r had b e f o r e , a n d s h e wasn't g o i n g to set a p r e c e d e n t

tonight.

T h e c h i l d r e n o n this street k n e w h e r t o o well; t h e y ' d n e v e r d r e a m o f r i n g i n g her

d o o r b e l l . S h e ' d n e v e r let t h e m in if they did. S h e s a w

n o w a c a r b e i n g d r i v e n slowly d o w n t h e street a n d c o m i n g to a halt, a n d a m o t h e r l e t t i n g h e r s m a l l c h i l d r e n , j u s t w e e tots, o u t a n d w a i t i n g w h i l e they r a n g d o o r b e l l s a n d c a m e b a c k to t h e c a r l o a d e d w i t h gilts. A n d t h e n c a m e a m o t h e r w a l k i n g with her c h i l d r e n a n d b e n d i n g o v e r t h e m a n d tying t h e i r s c a r v e s tighter, b u n d l i n g t h e m a g a i n s t t h e c o l d . T h e y b u l g e d s o with c l o t h i n g t h a t their s k e l e t o n c o s t u m e s were i n c o n g r u o u s . Well, M r s . C a r m o d y t h o u g h t , the city streets were s o d a n g e r o u s n o w a d a y s it w a s n o w o n d e r that p a r e n t s were a f r a i d to let c h i l d r e n venture out after dark. Blaring s o u n d s c a m e s u d d e n l y from further d o w n the street, f r o m E l m e r H a r r o d ' s o l d p l a c e . It wasn't H a r r o d m a k i n g all t h a t r a c k e t , that was s u r e . A n d n o w it w a s really d a r k out, a n d t i m e for h e r to repair to t h e b a c k o f t h e h o u s e . O n H a l l o w e ' e n n i g h t she always t u r n e d o f f t h e lights in f r o n t to m a k e the c h i l d r e n t h i n k s h e wasn't h o m e . S h e sat d o w n at h e r k i t c h e n table a n d b e g a n to read the e v e n i n g paper. B u t it w a s e v e n c h i l l i e r f a c i n g the n o r t h w i t h its c o l d w i n d , and she had to t u r n o n the stove to get m o r e heat. S h e r u b b e d her h a n d s t o g e t h e r o v e r the gas f l a m e . H o w p r o m i n e n t t h e v e i n s o n the b a c k s o f h e r h a n d s were g e t t i n g to b e — a n d t h e r e w e r e e v e n a c o u p l e o f h o r r i d b r o w n s p o t s . O h , she w a s g e t t i n g old, getting o l d S h e w a s in t h e m i d s t o f r e a d i n g her p a p e r w h e n the d o o r b e l l r a n g . It m u s t b e s o m e m i s t a k e : S o m e child n e w to the n e i g h b o r h o o d w h o d i d n ' t k n o w her r e p u t a t i o n . B u t t h e r i n g i n g persisted f o r l o n g m i n u t e s , a n d at last M r s . C a r m o d y w e n t to her seat by the w i n d o w a n d p u s h e d aside h e r c u r t a i n . A g r o u p o f m a s q u e r a d e r s was o n h e r porch, c a r r y i n g s h o p p i n g bags already almost

filled;

mostly small

c h i l d r e n , b u t t h e y were a c c o m p a n i e d b y s o m e l a r g e r b o y s . T h e l e a d e r s e e m e d to be the r o w d y r e d - h a i r e d t e e n a g e r w h o used to b e her p a p e r boy. H e m u s t h a v e s e n s e d h e r p r e s e n c e b y t h e w i n d o w , f o r h e called o u t s u d d e n l y , " T Y i c k o r treat! T r i c k o r t r e a t ! " A n d a f t e r a m o m e n t h e a d d e d t h e g r i m line: " T r e a t o r you'll b e t r i c k e d ! " You can stay there

all night if you want

to, M r s . C a r m o d y t h o u g h t ;

D E A D

I'm not going

to open

the door.

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W h e r e was Russell w h e n s h e n e e d e d

h i m ? O h , yes, o h , y e s . . . S h e s t a r t e d t o c r y again a n d r e t u r n e d to t h e k i t c h e n . S h e had b a r e l y b e g u n to read again w h e n t h e r e c a m e a tapp i n g at her h i g h s i d e w i n d o w a n d , l o o k i n g u p , s h e saw a b l a z i n g o r a n g e face l e e r i n g d o w n at her. P a i n s s h o t s h a r p l y a c r o s s her h e a r t , b u t a f t e r a m o m e n t she reco g n i z e d it f o r w h a t it was: It's just a jack

o' lantern.

" C o m e out, Char-

l o t t e , " a v o i c e c a m e , " w e k n o w y o u ' r e in t h e r e . " " I f y o u c h i l d r e n d o n ' t g o away," s h e s c r e a m e d t h e n , " I ' m g o i n g to call the p o l i c e . " " H u s h , h u s h , sweet C h a r l o t t e , " t h e v o i c e said m o c k i n g l y , a n d s h e h e a r d feet r u n n i n g away. A n d s i l e n c e h e l d — f o r a little while.

Ill O l d E m i l W e i s k o p f w a s the first p e r s o n u p o n t h e street to s w i t c h o n his p o r c h light. T h e p o r c h was d e c o r a t e d w i t h H a l l o w e ' e n

motifs:

p u m p k i n s a n d I n d i a n c o m a n d c o m h u s k s u p o n t h e railings, c u t o u t s o f b l a c k c a t s in the w i n d o w s , and u p o n t h e p o r c h a w i t c h ( d r i v e n b y an e l e c t r i c m o t o r ) w h o r o c k e d b a c k a n d f o r t h u p o n h e r b r o o m s t i c k , t i t t e r i n g evilly. H e w e n t b a c k to t h e k i t c h e n a n d r e m o v e d t h e last t r a y o f c a n d y m o l d s f r o m the refrigerator. T h e t r a y c o n t a i n e d c h o c o l a t e s w h i c h h e had b e e n p r e p a r i n g l o v i n g l y a l l day. H e t o u c h e d o n e o f t h e c h o c o l a t e s t e n t a t i v e l y : yes, it was suffic i e n t l y hard. H e sat d o w n a t the k i t c h e n t a b l e and b e g a n to w r a p t h e c h o c o l a t e s in t h e e x p e n s i v e - l o o k i n g w r a p p e r s he had c a r e f u l l y saved all year. H e had q u i t e an a c c u m u l a t i o n o f t h e m , for, like his d e a r F u e h r e r b e f o r e h i m , h e i n d u l g e d his c r a v i n g for sweets. T h e table w a s piled h i g h w i t h his day's h a n d i w o r k : h a n d - d i p p e d c h o c o l a t e s . H e h a d n ' t t h e s l i g h t e s t desire, o f c o u r s e , to n i b b l e u p o n o n e o f t h e m , for h e k n e w w h a t t h e y c o n t a i n e d . T h i n g s c a r e f u l l y p r e served f o r j u s t this day, t h i n g s s e l e c t e d j u s t f o r t h e c h i l d r e n o f his s t r e e t . T h i n g s like u s e d r a z o r b l a d e s a n d g r o u n d glass a n d dead i n sects and rat e x c r e m e n t . O h , t h e y w o u l d s e r v e t h e little b a s t a r d s r i g h t ! S c a r c e l y a d a y passed that they d i d n ' t d i s t u r b h i m w i t h t h e i r n o i s e and their t r i c k s . A l m o s t e v e r y d a y s o m e y o u n g s t e r — h e c o u l d n e v e r c a t c h h i m a t it, o r

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he'd b o x his e a r s — t w i s t e d the o u t s i d e r e a r - v i e w m i r r o r a r o u n d s o t h a t h e c o u l d n o l o n g e r see if a c a r was a p p r o a c h i n g , a n d t h i s w a s d a n g e r o u s , e s p e c i a l l y in the w i n t e r m o n t h s w h e n h i s r e a r w i n d o w was s t e a m e d u p o r t h i c k w i t h ice. You'd t h i n k t h e y o u n g s t e r would e v e n t u a l l y tire o f his little g a m e , b u t h e n e v e r did. A n d o n c e h e had f o u n d the m i r r o r with its c r a c k e d glass h a n g i n g by s h r e d s : it l o o k e d as if s o m e o n e had d e l i b e r a t e l y s t r u c k it with a h a m m e r — o r p o s s i b l y it h a d b e e n s h a t t e r e d by a ball t h r o w n in a g a m e . A n d s o m e t i m e s t h e c h i l d r e n s t o l e the c o v e r o f his g a s o l i n e t a n k , o r filled t h e t a n k w i t h dirt, a n d o n c e they had r e m o v e d his h u b c a p s and filled t h e m w i t h s t o n e s and r e p l a c e d t h e m , a n d s u c h a d r e a d f u l r a c k e t had d e v e l o p e d w h e n h e s t a r t e d o u t t h a t h e had t h o u g h t h i s m u f f l e r was d r a g g i n g a l o n g t h e s t r e e t . I n the s u m m e r m o n t h s t h e c h i l d r e n were always d a r t i n g o u t i n t o the street u n e x p e c t e d l y t o retrieve a ball o r r i d i n g t h e i r b i c y c l e s in t h e m i d d l e o f t h e s t r e e t , and w h e n h e r e t u r n e d f r o m w o r k t h e y would b e o u t in the s t r e e t p l a y i n g b a s e b a l l , t h a t s t u p i d A m e r i c a n g a m e , a n d p r a c t i c a l l y d a r e d h i m t o r u n over t h e m . O r t h e y w o u l d a s k h i m n o t to p a r k in j u s t that s p o t , a s it was first base, b u t to p a r k f u r t h e r u p the s t r e e t ! ( T h e y w o u l d n o t s o a p o r d a m a g e his c a r

tonighr.

h e had it s t o r e d away in a safe p l a c e . )

A n d the r a c k e t they c r e a t e d w a s e v e n worse: T h e c a l l s a n d t h e s c r e a m s a n d the o f f - k e y s i n g i n g . H i s s e n s e o f h e a r i n g h a d a l w a y s b e e n e x t r e m e l y a c u t e , a n d a g e had d i m m e d it o n l y a little. It had b e e n an a s s e t in t h e g r a n d o l d days o f t h e f a t h e r l a n d , w h e n he had served as c o n c e r t m a s t e r with t h e l e a d i n g o r c h e s t r a s . T h e p r o u d e s t d a y o f h i s life, o f c o u r s e , h a d c o m e — a n d

h e s h i v e r e d in e c s t a s y at

the

m e m o r y — w h e n t h e F u e h r e r had a t t e n d e d a W a g n e r i a n m a t i n e e and had c o m e b a c k s t a g e and p e r s o n a l l y s h a k e n his h a n d .

O h , the fools, the swine-dogs, the poor, benighted fools! G e r m a n y was n o l o n g e r a fit p l a c e to live; t h e y had t h r o w n h i m i n t o p r i s o n and carefully "de-Nazified" h i m (as i f a n y o n e could erase those glorious years!) and n o l o n g e r w a n t e d h i m in t h e i r o r c h e s t r a s , s o n o w h e w a s a " D P " in this b o o b l a n d , w h e r e h e c o u l d n o t play his S t r a d i v a r i u s b e c a u s e o f his a r t h r i t i c fingers, b u t instead served as a . . . a s a . . . ( h e c o u l d not f o r c e h i m s e l f to c o m p l e t e the t h o u g h t ) . T h e d o o r b e l l rang j u s t t h e n , and o l d E m i l W e i s k o p f b e g a n to

D E A D

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h u m t r i u m p h a n t l y the o p e n i n g b a r s o f the B e e t h o v e n Fifth ( t h e F a t e k n o c k i n g a t t h e d o o r t h e m e ) a s he h u r r i e d to a n s w e r it.

It was m u c h later, a n d o l d E m i l had d i s p o s e d o f a l m o s t all his c h o c o lates. H e w e n t to h i s f r o n t w i n d o w a n d p e e r e d o u t . T h e w i n d had died d o w n , a n d the t r e e s a n d t h e few flowers w h i c h had s u r v i v e d t h e c o l d were b a r e l y q u i v e r i n g . T h e street was d e s e r t e d e x c e p t f o r o n e figure, a tall and v e r y e m a c i a t e d o n e , d r e s s e d v e r y fittingly in a s k e l e t o n c o s t u m e , w h i c h l e a n e d a g a i n s t E m i ľ s g a t e p o s t , as i f t o o w e a r y o r t o o s h y to e n t e r t h e y a r d . E m i l g a t h e r e d u p t h e rest o f his c h o c o l a t e s a n d p u t t h e m in a b a g a n d o p e n e d his d o o r . " C o m e h e r e , lad," he called. " I h a v e a n i c e treat f o r y o u . " T h e figure with t h e s k e l e t o n m a s k l o o k e d u p a n d s h o o k its h e a d . It raised a b o n y f i n g e r and b e c k o n e d t o E m i l . OK, if you

t h o u g h t Emil, a trifle a n n o y e d .

want to play games,

H e h u r r i e d o v e r to the figure. A n d n o w h e c o u l d see the figure m o r e clearly. T h e s k e l e t o n face w a s n o t a m a s k .

IV " C u t it d o w n a b i t , guys," said R o n n i e Sears, " o r old C h a r l o t t e will b e c a l l i n g the pigs." Still in H a l l o w e ' e n c o s t u m e , t h e y w e r e s p r a w l e d c o m f o r t a b l y — u p o n t h e f l o o r o r u p o n sofas, feet o v e r t h e s i d e s — i n t h e r o o m E l m e r H a r r o d had u s e d as a r e c o r d i n g s t u d i o . A few o f the y o u n g e r o n e s were p u f f i n g u p o n r e e f e r s ( w h i c h t h e y d i d n ' t really like b u t felt t h a t t h e y s h o u l d ) b u t m o s t o f t h e m s t u c k to c i g a r e t t e s a d u l t e r a t e d o n l y by their natural poisons. R o n n i e ' s p a r e n t s were away f o r the e v e n i n g , n o t willing to c o p e with the H a l l o w e ' e n e r s , and as usual u p o n s u c h o c c a s i o n s , R o n n i e had r u n a c a b l e f r o m his h o u s e n e x t d o o r to t h e H a r r o d h o u s e f o r lights and had t u r n e d o n the water f r o m the street m a i n . T h e H a r r o d h o u s e served effectively as a c l u b h o u s e for t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d c h i l d r e n , alt h o u g h usually they j u s t played H a r r o d ' s o l d tapes o r leafed t h r o u g h his b o o k s ( t h e y d i d n ' t k n o w h o w to o p e r a t e his m o v i e p r o j e c t o r ) .

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"Aw, d o n ' t b e a c a n d y a s s , R o n , " o n e o f t h e m s a i d . " T h i s m u s i c is cool." " R i g h t on, brother." " Y e a h , " said R o n n i e Sears, " b u t w h a t w e n e e d n o w is s o m e real c r e e p y m u s i c , you know, like Dr. P h i b e s played o n t h e o r g a n . W h a t w e h a v e h e r e is a f a i l u r e o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n : w e ' r e s u p p o s e d to b e s c a r i n g t h e hell o u t o f t h e o l d b a s t a r d s . " " R i g h t o n , m a n . C r e e p y m u s i c f o r t h e c r e e p s . Like o l d

Emil

W i s e h e a d . D i d you n o t i c e h o w s w e e t l y h e h a n d e d o u t his c a n d y ? I'll b e t it's lull o f b u g s . " " S h i t , m a n , I ' m n o t g o i n g t h r o u g h all t h e s e tapes just f o r s p o o k m u s i c . Say, here's s o m e t h i n g w e haven't played yet," a n d h e p i c k e d u p a small tape recorder f r o m Elmer Harrod's writing desk. It w a s the t a p e r e c o r d e r w h i c h had b e e n f o u n d u p o n

Harrod's

c o r p s e . T h e p o l i c e had played it b a c k r e p e a t e d l y f o r a p o s s i b l e c l u e to h i s d e a t h , b u t t h e w o r d s d i d n ' t m a k e s e n s e . T h e y were j u s t g i b b e r i s h . " W e l l , play it, m a n . " N i g h t . T h e s i g h i n g o f t h e w i n d in t h e trees. Little o d d s c u t t e r i n g sounds. "Say, that s o u n d s j u s t like the c e m e t e r y . " "Aw, turn it o f f . It d o n ' t say n o t h i n ' . " A s i f to refute h i m , w o r d s s u d d e n l y t u m b l e d f o r t h , in H a r r o d ' s recognizable voice. lit! hi! Cthulhu nagl

fhtagn!

Ph'nglui

mglw'nafli

Cthulhu

R'lyeh

wgah-

fhtagrt. " W h a t in t h e hell is t h a t ? " " G r e a t , m a n , g r e a t ! It's j u s t w h a t we n e e d e d ! T u r n it u p louder.

T h i s ' l l f r i g h t e n ' e m o u t o f their f r i g h t wigs." " N o , d o n ' t ! I d o n ' t like it. It's s - s c a r y . " " L i s t e n to t h e c a n d y ass! W h y d o n ' t y o u g o h o m e to m a m a ? " T h e v o l u m e w a s increased, a n d they played the r e c o r d i n g e n d lessly. T h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g o d d l y f a s c i n a t i n g a b o u t t h e u n c o u t h s o u n d s , s o m e t h i n g that s e e m e d to e v o k e m e m o r i e s . T h e y t h o u g h t o f n e a r b y I n n s m o u t h , n o w d e s t r o y e d , a n d o f the g r e a t r e e f o u t in its h a r b o r , and o f the

fish-faces

and t h e f r o g - f a c e s w h o had

dwelled

t h e r e , w h o had p r a c t i c e d u n s e e m l y rites. Id! la! Cthulhu nagl

fhtagrt.

fhtagn!

Ph'nglui

mglw'nafli

Cthulhu

R'lyeh

wagh-

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T h e y h e a r d ihe s o u n d s again, b u t this t i m e t h e y s e e m e d to b e c o m i n g f r o m a g r e a t d i s t a n c e . T h e y c o u l d n ' t s e e m to p i n p o i n t t h e dir e c t i o n ; s o m e c l a i m e d that t h e y c a m e f r o m the c e m e t e r y , w h i l e o t h ers insisted that they were in t h e h o u s e itself, a t a p o i n t b e n e a t h t h e m , p o s s i b l y the b a s e m e n t . T h e s o u n d s were c l e a r e r now, c l e a r e r a n d closer. T h e y were c h a n g i n g into a c h a n t i n g , a t a faster t e m p o , a n d w o r d s were b e i n g a d d e d , w o r d s n o t to b e f o u n d u p o n t h e t a p e r e c o r d e r : Id! Shub-Nigguraih! sand

The

Black

Goal

of ihe

Woods

with

a

Thou-

Young! " ' T h e B l a c k G o a t o f t h e W o o d s with a T h o u s a n d Y o u n g ! ' M a n ,

is this far o u t ! " " I ' m g e t t i n g o u t o f h e r e ! " o n e s m a l l b o y said, and h e d e p a r t e d to derisive c r i e s . Nyarlaihotep

. . . N'gah-Kthun

pents

. . . Tsatltoggua...

Great

Cthulhu...

. . . Hasiur!...

Yog-Sothoth...

L'mur-Kathulos

...He

Yig, Father

Yian . . . Azathoth Who

of

Ser-

. . . la!

Is Not To Be

la!

Named.

" Y o u t h i n k it c o u l d b e the o l d c r e e p s , t r y i n g to play t r i c k s upon us?" "You're out o f your ever-lovin' mind!" For s o m e time, u n c o n s c i o u s l y they had been aware o f sounds, s o u n d s o d i o u s , i n e x p l i c a b l e , a n d t h e y s e e m e d to d e n o t e

move-

m e n t o f s o m e k i n d , f o r t h e y w e r e o b v i o u s l y c o m i n g nearer.

They

w e r e a c c o m p a n i e d a l w a y s by t h e c h a n t i n g o f t h e g i b b e r i s h w o r d s : gibberish t o the boys, but obviously not gibberish t o w h o m e v e r w a s m a k i n g t h e m . T h e y had a p e r c e p t i b l e r h y t h m , a n d were a p p a r e n t l y an i n c a n t a t i o n , a n e v o c a t i o n o f s o m e k i n d . A c a l l i n g f o r t h of

what? " T h e y must be coming

f r o m t h e cellar," said

Ronnie

Sears.

"Agreed?" There was a m u r m u r o f assent. "Let's take a look-see." "Aw, d o w e have

to?"

" D o n ' t b e a c a n d y ass all y o u r life." B u t t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g in t h e cellar, a d a n k a n d c o b w e b b e d place w h e r e F.lmer H a r r o d had s t o r e d t h i n g s w h i c h m u s t have s p o i l e d by now, for there was quite a perceptible stench. B u t they were o b v i o u s l y c l o s e r t o t h e s o u r c e o f the s o u n d s a n d o f t h e c h a n t i n g ; w h e n they pressed their e a r s against o n e wall, the s o u n d s were m a g n i f i e d .

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"Say, d i d n ' t H a r r o d say s o m e t h i n g a b o u t a s e c r e t passageway d o w n here in o n e o f his b r o a d c a s t s ? " " N o , h e said h e h a d a dream

a b o u t a s e c r e t passageway."

" W e l l , t h e r e m u s t b e o n e s o m e w h e r e . Let's t r y p r e s s i n g o n t h e b r i c k s o r l o o k i n g for a s w i t c h . " T h e s w i t c h w a s s o o n d i s c o v e r e d . A s e c t i o n o f t h e wall m o v e d b a c k with a s q u e a k i n g p r o t e s t f r o m u n o i l e d

fixtures,

and a s u r p r i s -

i n g l y w i d e a n d h i g h t u n n e l w a s revealed. T h e a i r f r o m t h e t u n n e l w a s m u s t y and foul, h i n t i n g o f t h i n g s l o n g d e a d , s t r o n g e n o u g h to m a k e t h e m recoil involuntarily. A n d at the t u n n e l e n t r a n c e t h e s o u n d s and t h e c h a n t i n g c o u l d b e h e a r d with c o n s i d e r a b l e c l a r i t y . S o m e w h e r e t h e r e was a s p l a s h i n g s o u n d , like t h a t o f a h i p p o p o t a m u s d r o p p i n g i n t o w a t e r . " M a n , I ' m not g o i n g in t h e r e ! " " O h , yes, you a r e — " a n d h e w a s p u s h e d i n t o t h e t u n n e l . N o t h i n g c a m e a l o n g to g o b b l e h i m up. N o n e o f the b o y s r e a l l y w a n t e d to e n t e r t h e t u n n e l , b u t n o n e o f t h e m w a n t e d to b e a c c u s e d o f c o w a r d i c e e i t h e r . T h e l o n g e r

they

l o o k e d at t h e t u n n e l t h e m o r e their c u r i o s i t y g r e w — a n d w i t h it t h e f a s c i n a t i o n w h i c h t u n n e l s a n d secret passageways have always e x e r t e d upon mankind. " W e l l , let's g o , m e n , " R o n n i e S e a r s said, and h e t o o k t h e initiative. T h e t u n n e l d i p p e d s h a r p l y into t h e b u r r o w s o f the e a r t h , a t u n nel w h i c h m a n y p e o p l e had passed t h r o u g h b e f o r e , f o r t h e r e were fixt u r e s to h o l d t o r c h e s a n d little recesses c u t i n t o the walls w h i c h , s o far as R o n n i e ' s

flashlight

c o u l d discover, were q u i t e u n o c c u p i e d now.

N o t h i n g disturbed their progress, not even a rat. P r o g r e s s — f o r , for s o m e o d d r e a s o n , t h e y f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s h u r r y i n g . N o n e o f t h e b o y s w a n t e d to b e at t h e tail o f t h e p r o c e s s i o n , s o t h e y were all b u n c h e d t o g e t h e r a s closely as t h e w i d t h o f t h e t u n n e l w o u l d p e r m i t . T h e t u n n e l t o o k w e i r d twists a n d t u r n s : s o m e t i m e s t h e s o u n d o f the c h a n t i n g s e e m e d to b e above beneath

t h e m , s o m e t i m e s even

t h e m — a n d s u c h was t h e s u b t l e i n s i s t e n c e o f t h e r h y t h m t h a t

o n e o r m o r e o f the b o y s w o u l d find t h e m s e l v e s c h a n t i n g a l o n g w i t h it; t h e y had p i c k e d u p t h e w o r d s v e r y quickly. Bethmoora... The Stalker

Among

Leng...

Bran...

The Stars...

Innsmouth... lai

The Like

of

Hali...

Shub-Niggurath...

It w a s v e r y m u c h later t h a t t h e y d e t e c t e d i l l u m i n a t i o n t o w a r d t h e

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t u n n e l ' s e n d , and the c h a n t i n g t h a t assailed t h e i r e a r d r u m s increased n o w m a n v - f o l d , a n d the f o o l h a r d i n e s s o f t h e i r v e n t u r e s t r u c k t h e m all a t o n c e , a n d they s t o p p e d in t h e i r t r a c k s . B u t t h e s o u n d s a n d the c h a n t i n g c o n t i n u e d w i t h o u t pause. A n d p r e s e n t l y they c o u l d see in the d i s t a n c e t h e flaring o f t o r c h e s b o r n e alofi, t o r c h e s w h i c h lit u p a n o i s o m e b l a c k lake i n t o w h i c h w a t e r f r o m the r o o f o f the t u n n e l c o n s t a n t l y d r i p p e d , a n d the t o r c h e s w e r e b e i n g c a r r i e d by a n u m b e r o f p e o p l e w i t h m o n s t r o u s frog f a c e s , t h e people formerly o f Innsmouth. It w a s t i m e t h e n t o r e t r e a t , and t h e y s t a r t e d to d o so, b u t j u s t t h e n o n e o f t h e b o y s c r i e d , " L o o k ! " a n d p o i n t e d to t h e t u n n e l a h e a d . A n entire b l o c k o f the flooring was b e i n g raised slowly, a n d f r o m it an o v e r p o w e r i n g s e a - s t e n c h w a s e m a n a t i n g , and a n e v e r - l e n g t h e n i n g c o i l o f t e n t a c l e c a m e p r o b i n g a c r o s s t h e floor t o w a r d t h e m . V M i s s M a r y P e a b o d y had b e e n w a n d e r i n g d a z e d l y t h r o u g h

the

c e m e t e r y f o r h o u r s . S h e c o u l d n ' t s e e m to b e a b l e to find t h e way o u t . S h e had n e v e r b e e n in t h e c e m e t e r y a t n i g h t b e f o r e , a n d e v e r y t h i n g l o o k e d d i f f e r e n t — d i f f e r e n t and m u c h m o r e m a l i g n . T h e little s c u t t e r i n g s o u n d s were m u c h l o u d e r n o w , a n d o n c e a n d again s h e c o u l d h e a r the c r y o f s o m e t h i n g a p p a r e n t l y in m o r t a l a g o n y . S h e l e a n e d against the b o l e o f a t r e e a n d s h i v e r e d , f o r her t h i n s w e a t e r a f f o r d e d s c a n t w a r m t h a n d it was very m u c h c o l d e r now. F r o m q u i t e a d i s t a n c e away she c o u l d h e a r d o g s b a r k i n g , a n d s h e felt a m o m e n t o f relief, f o r the s o u n d d e n o t e d the street by w h i c h s h e had entered, and people there. O h , she

had b e e n

seeing p e o p l e — o f a k i n d — a l l night;

she

s e e m e d p e r p e t u a l l y to b e t u r n i n g i n t o t h e W i t c h e s ' H o l l o w , w h e r e were g a t h e r e d t h e

fish-faces

and t h e f r o g - f a c e s p e r f o r m i n g

some

s t r a n g e ritual o r o t h e r a n d c h a n t i n g the m o s t f r i g h t e n i n g s o u n d s . B u t s h e p r e f e r r e d even them

to the sight o f t h e tall shaft in t h e

n e w part o f t h e c e m e t e r y . W h e n e v e r s h e passed by it, it s e e m e d to b e slowly r e v o l v i n g u p o n its p l a t f o r m , a n d s h e g r e w q u i t e dizzy a t t h e sight. "Ma-mief T h e call c a m e f r o m n o t far away. M i s s P e a b o d y l i s t e n e d intently.

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" M a m i e , w h e r e are you? I ' m c o l d a n d I ' m lonely." " B e n j y ? B e n j y ? Is t h a t y o u , B e n j y ? " T h e r e was n o i m m e d i a t e answer. M i s s P e a b o d y h a s t e n e d in t h e d i r e c t i o n o f the voice, a l m o s t t r i p p i n g over h e r p a r a s o l . " O h , t h e r e y o u are, B e n j y . " S h e h u r r i e d to w h a t s e e m e d to b e Benjy as she remembered

h i m , a s m a l l b o y in a c a p a n d

old-

f a s h i o n e d k n i c k e r s , b u t w h i c h t u r n e d i n t o a tree t r u n k w h e n s h e g o t there. It w a s s o d a r k in h e r e u n d e r t h e trees. S h e would n e v e r

find

B e n j y now. She

t u r n e d a w a y in d i s a p p o i n t m e n t — a n d

almost

ran

into

s o m e t h i n g in her p a t h , s o m e t h i n g v e r y tall a n d v e r y d a r k a n d q u i t e distinguishable. It b l o c k e d h e r p a t h again a n d w r a p p e d i t s e l f a r o u n d her. " L e t m e g o ! You're n o t B e n j y ! " " O h , yes, I a m — o r u s e d to b e . D i d you really w a n t to

find

B e n j y — B e n j y , r e m e m b e r , w h o m y o u h i t o v e r t h e head with a r o c k a n d b u r i e d here? I was n o t q u i t e d e a d t h e n . " " L e t m e g o ! You're h u r t i n g m e ! " "Yes, I ' m B e n j y . I ' m s o c o l d a n d s o l o n e l y a n d s o ver)', very hungry." VI T h e n i g h t w o r e o n , s o lull o f h o r r o r s that M r s . C a r m o d y felt t h a t s h e w o u l d n e v e r be able to sleep. T h e w i n d rose again and rattled the w i n d o w s o f h e r b e d r o o m , a n d it m o a n e d o c c a s i o n a l l y like a b a n s h e e . A d o g kept b a r k i n g a n d t h e n t h e s o u n d b e c a m e a d u o a n d t h e n a t r i o and t h e n a q u a r t e t , a c o n t a g i o u s thing, b u t there w a s n o t h i n g j o y o u s a b o u t it; they s e e m e d to s h a r e , mutually, a m i s e r y . T h e d o g s s e e m e d d i s t u r b e d by the p r e s e n c e o f s o m e s t r a n g e r o r s t r a n g e r s u p o n t h e street. B u t p r e s e n t l y their s o u n d s were t r a n s m u t e d o d d l y ; t h e y b e c a m e w h i n e s and m o a n s a n d w h i m p e r s to b e let i n . T h e n o n e o f t h e m yelped o u t in agony, a n d t h e o t h e r t h r e e b e c a m e p a n i c k y and M r s . C a r m o d y c o u l d m e n t a l l y visualize t h e i r s t r a i n i n g at their leashes. T h e s o u n d s f r o m E l m e r H a r r o d ' s o l d h o u s e f r i g h t e n e d her even m o r e . S h e had h e a r d H a r r o d ' s f a m i l i a r s a r d o n i c voice repeatedly, and h e r heart had p o u n d e d wildly, b u t t h e n s h e had realized that t h e s e

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m u s t be p l a y b a c k s f r o m o l d b r o a d c a s t s . P l a y b a c k s — f o r s h e r e c o g n i z e d the m u s i c a n d s o m e o f the l i n e s f r o m years a g o . B u t t h e n , still in H a r r o d ' s voice, c a m e s o m e n e w w o r d s . W o r d s t h e y m u s t b e , b u t t h e y d i d n ' t m a k e s e n s e , yet they were c u r i o u s l y — d e t e s t a b l e . W o r d s like Biblical lines read b a c k w a r d s a t a b l a c k sabb a t h . W o r d s t h a t s e e m e d to e v o k e s o m e a n c e s t r a l h o r r o r . S h e felt t h a t she h a d heard t h e s e w o r d s s o m e w h e r e b e f o r e , a n d s h e d i d n ' t w a n t to remember

where.

T h e n , f r o m t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e cemetery,

t h e w o r d s w e r e re-

p e a t e d . R e p e a t e d , a n d t h e n n e w w o r d s were a d d e d , in t h e s a m e k i n d o f a b o m i n a b l e g i b b e r i s h . W o r d s t h a t were like t h e n a m e s o f f o r b i d den p l a c e s . T h e w o r d s i n c r e a s e d in v o l u m e , and M r s . C a r m o d y had t h e c h i l l i n g s e n s a t i o n that w h o e v e r was u t t e r i n g t h e m was c o m i n g nearer,

w a s a p p r o a c h i n g h e r s t r e e t . N o t whoever,

for t h e r e was m o r e

t h a n o n e voice, t h e r e were m a n y voices. T h e n , abruptly, the sounds from the Harrod house

ceased.

B u t t h e r e still s o u n d e d as if t h e r e were a great d e a l o f a c t i v i t y in t h e c e m e t e r y — o n c e s h e t h o u g h t s h e heard a w o m a n s c r e a m i n g , a n d t h e v o i c e s r e p e a t i n g their s i n i s t e r d o g g e r e l did not d i e d o w n , b u t c a m e e v e r closer. A n d n o w it w a s her h o u s e that was b e i n g b e s i e g e d . S h e had heard the trundle o f heavy wheels from the c e m e t e r y — t h e r e h a d b e e n a c a r t u p o n her s t r e e t b e f o r e — a n d the w h i n n y i n g o f h o r s e s , a n d t h e g r o u p o f p e o p l e d r i v i n g the c a r t s p e a k i n g m i n i m a l l y a m o n g t h e m selves. T h e y were s t o p p i n g a t e a c h h o u s e in t u r n , like g a r b a g e c o l l e c t o r s m a k i n g t h e i r r o u n d s , and t h e y m o v e d q u i t e slowly, as if t h e i r b u r d e n s were heavy. T h e d o g s were f r a n t i c at their a p p r o a c h . A n d n o w t h e y were in front o f her h o u s e . Ice s e e m e d to e n g u l f her in her b e d . H e r c u r i o s i t y had q u i t e forsaken h e r ; s h e had a b s o l u t e l y n o desire to s e e w h o m o r what

was o u t

t h e r e . S h e was a w o m a n w h o had r a r e l y e x p e r i e n c e d terror, b u t s h e was a f r a i d n o w as she had n e v e r b e e n a f r a i d b e f o r e in her life. T h e r e c a m e the s o u n d o f s o m e o n e o r s o m e t h i n g

laboriously

c l i m b i n g her s t e p s , d r a g g i n g h i m s e l f o r i t s e l f a c r o s s the p o r c h , t r y i n g t h e d o o r , rattling t h e d o o r h a n d l e , s c r a b b l i n g as with c l a w s a t t h e d o o r a n d w i n d o w s . S h e l i s t e n e d in an a g o n y o f s u s p e n s e . T h e n , gett i n g n o r e p o s e the v i s i t a n t reversed his o r its p r o c e d u r e , and retreated f r o m her steps. B u t t h e n she c o u l d h e a r t h e u n w e l c o m e v i s i t o r c o m i n g

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with w h a t s e e m e d like infinite s l o w n e s s d o w n her s i d e w a l k and s t o p ping under her b e d r o o m window.

" M o t h e r , " t h e v o i c e c a m e , "let m e i n . Please let m e in."

S h e felt a n e x c e s s o f furv. It m u s t b e t h e t e e n a g e r e d h e a d c o m i n g b a c k to p e s t e r her. H o w c o u l d a n y o n e be s o c r u e l as to t o r m e n t a b e r e a v e d m o t h e r in the m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t , e v e n g o i n g s o far a s to i m i t a t e t h e v o i c e o f her dead s o n ? Well, s h e would get o n h e r ' p h o n e in t h e m o r n i n g a n d m a k e h i m w i s h he h a d n ' t ! Her feeling o f t u r y q u i t e s u p p l a n t e d h e r t e r r o r , a n d in a f e w m i n utes s h e was s l e e p i n g q u i t e s o u n d l y .

V I I

M o r n i n g b r o k e s h a r p a n d clear. T h e r e w a s little w i n d , a n d t h e s u n p r o m i s e d to b r e a k t h r o u g h its b o n d a g e o f c l o u d s at a n y m o m e n t . It was g o i n g to b e a fine dav. T h e p e o p l e w h o lived u p o n the street r o s e r e l u c t a n t l y f r o m b e d , s o m e to get ready f o r w o r k . M o s t o f t h e m h a d g o n e w i t h o u t s l e e p , a w a k e the n i g h t t h r o u g h b e c a u s e o f t h e f e a r s o m e s o u n d s . F o r s o m e o b s c u r e r e a s o n t h e y all p o s t p o n e d l o o k i n g o u t s i d e f o r a s l o n g a s possible. W h e n they d i d , t h e y were a g h a s t at w h a t they saw, and m o s t o f t h e m called the p o l i c e i m m e d i a t e l y . T h e p o l i c e c a r s c a m e p r e s e n t l y with sirens s h r i e k i n g , a n u m b e r o f t h e m , a n d a l m o s t t h e first a c t o f t h e p o l i c e m e n w a s to b a r r i c a d e t h e street a g a i n s t traffic. Passersby a n d p e o p l e f r o m t h e n e i g h b o r i n g streets, d r a w n by t h e sirens, c a m e h u r r y i n g u p a n d g a z i n g d o w n the s h a r p s l o p e o f the street w h i c h led to O l d D e t h s h i l l C e m e t e r y . T h e c r o w d s i n c r e a s e d greatly, a n d b e f o r e l o n g t h e r e were p e o p l e t h e r e h a w k i n g b a l l o o n s and roasted c h e s t n u t s a n d h o t d o g s . A n d d o w n t o w n t h e c i t y e d i t o r s left t h e i r

front

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open for photographs. T h e r e was really q u i t e a lot to p h o t o g r a p h , a l t h o u g h l a t e r m o s t o f the p i c t u r e s were " k i l l e d " a s b e i n g t o o g r u e s o m e . F o r the n i g h t ' s v i s i t o r s h a d b e e n q u i t e g e n e r o u s , b e s t o w i n g u p o n e a c h h o u s e in

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t u r n — e i l h c r u p o n ihcir lawns o r propped up on steps or against trees o f the t r i m l a w n s — a c o r p s e f r o m t h e c e m e t e r y . S o m e o f t h e c o r p s e s w e r e in an a d v a n c e d s t a t e o f p u t r e f a c t i o n a n d s t a n k q u i t e dreadfully, w h i l e o t h e r s had b e e n s t r i p p e d clean o f flesh a n d w e r e o n l y s k e l e t o n s , like t h e o n e w h i c h had a d e a t h - l o c k u p o n t h e t h r o a t o f o l d E m i l W e i s k o p f , w h o s t a r e d u p at t h e s k y in a p e r p e t u a l l o o k o f disbelieving horror. T h e very first s t o p the v i s i t o r s had m a d e was to E l m e r H a r r o d ' s o l d h o m e , a n d they had left E l m e r h i m s e l f , o r r a t h e r his s k e l e t o n , f o r h e was r e c o g n i z a b l e o n l y by h i s c l o t h i n g . E l m e r ' s b o d y had lain l o n g u n c l a i m e d in t h e c i t y m o r g u e , and it w a s t h e first o n e to b e b u r i e d in t h e n e w s e c t i o n o f t h e c e m e t e r y , d u b b e d H a r r o d Place in h i s h o n o r . W h a t n o o n e c o u l d q u i t e u n d e r s t a n d was w h y it was w r a p p e d n o w in a c o c o o n o f tapes. T h e street's i n h a b i t a n t s had a c o n s i d e r a b l e p r o b l e m with t h e i r p e t s . S o m e o f t h e d o g s c a m e u p sniffing at t h e c o r p s e s a n d stole b a c k to t h e i r d o g h o u s e s a n d lay t h e r e q u i v e r i n g in t e r r o r , w h i l e o t h e r s w o r r i e d the b o n e s a n d had to b e d r i v e n o f f b y their o w n e r s . I n e x p l i c ably, t h e r e was t h e b o d y o f a d o g t h e r e a l s o , its b o d y c o n t o r t e d q u i t e oddly. T h e r e was o n e c a t w h i c h had retrieved t h e liver f r o m a c o r p s e a n d sat t h e r e d e v o u r i n g it, a n d w h i c h s p a t o u t w i t h b l a z i n g eyes w h e n its o w n e r a p p r o a c h e d it. M r s . C h a r l o t t e C a r m o d y had had to b e r e m o v e d to t h e h o s p i t a l s u f f e r i n g f r o m s h o c k . W h e n s h e had c o m e o u t e a r l y t h a t m o r n i n g to s w e e p her sidewalk, s h e had f o u n d o n the s i d e w a l k b e n e a t h her b e d r o o m w i n d o w , s c r a b b l i n g a t the s t u c c o , a c o r p s e . Its face was a l r e a d y t o o d e c o m p o s e d to p e r m i t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , b u t s h e had r e c o g n i z e d t h e suit it w o r e a s the s u i t in w h i c h she had b u r i e d her s o n Russell. T h e p o l i c e h a d f o u n d t h e o l d H a r r o d h o u s e still b l a z i n g w i t h lights, and in o n e r o o m a t a p e r e c o r d e r w h i c h w a s still t u r n e d o n . Leaving it o n all n i g h t m u s t have r u i n e d it, f o r t h e w o r d s u p o n replay were q u i t e i n d e c i p h e r a b l e , j u s t o u t l a n d i s h g i b b e r i s h . B u t o f t h e child r e n o f t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d w h o had o c c u p i e d t h e h o u s e t h e n i g h t b e f o r e t h e r e was n o t r a c e . T h e p o l i c e h a d s e a r c h e d t h e h o u s e t h o r oughly, and in t h e c e l l a r had e v e n t u a l l y c o m e u p o n t h e s e c r e t t u n n e l , b u t in t h e t u n n e l i t s e l f t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g b u t a fearful o d o r , m o s t l y c o m p o u n d e d o f t h e sea. T h e t u n n e l led u p to t h e freshly w a s h e d grave o f O b e d i a h C a r t e r , e l e g a n t in the s u n .

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T h e n e w s e c t i o n o f O l d D e t h s h i l l m u s t have b e e n visited by v a n dals d u r i n g the n i g h t , f o r e a c h o f the graves had b e e n t o r n u p a n d its c o n t e n t s r e m o v e d . T h e c a s k e t s had b e e n s m a s h e d and piled u p like s o m u c h k i n d l i n g w o o d . T h e p o l i c e w e r e i n c l i n e d to a t t r i b u t e t h e d a m age to the n e i g h b o r h o o d c h i l d r e n , w h o , t i r i n g o f t h e H a r r o d h o u s e , had s o u g h t m o r e m i s c h i e f e l s e w h e r e . An i n t e n s i v e s e a r c h f o r t h e child r e n w a s i n s t i t u t e d a n d their d e s c r i p t i o n s b r o a d c a s t to n e i g h b o r i n g cities. B u t t h e p o l i c e d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t t o m a k e o f the d e a t h o f M i s s M a r v P e a b o d y . H e r p i n k p a r a s o l had b e e n raised a n d tossed u p i n t o t h e l i m b s o f a tree, a n d its h a n d l e p o i n t e d m o c k i n g l y t o w a r d h e r c o r p s e . W h a t e v e r it was w h i c h had e a t e n h e r had b e e n q u i t e selective, s c o o p i n g o u t j u s t t h e t o r s o a n d leaving her head a n d t h i n , s c r a w n y a r m s a n d legs a t t a c h e d p r e c a r i o u s l y to h e r s p i n e ; w h e n t h e p o l i c e had c a r e f u l l y lifted the c o r p s e , it had b o u n c e d u p a n d d o w n u p o n its s p i n e b o n e like a j u m p i n g j a c k . N'or c o u l d t h e p o l i c e q u i t e u n d e r s t a n d why, o f all t h e t h i n g s in t h e n e w s e c t i o n o f the c e m e t e r y , t h e o n l y t h i n g w h i c h had b e e n left u n d i s t u r b e d was t h e tall o b e l i s k . It s t o o d t h e r e t r i u m p h a n t l y a n d t h e s u n l i g h t w h i c h fell u p o n its b l a c k s t o n e s e e m e d to l i n g e r l o n g e s t u p o n t h e c a r v e d letters C T H U L H U .

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o r t u n a t e i n d e e d is h e w h o s e r a n g e o f e x p e r i e n c e n e v e r e x c e e d s t h a t t i n y s e g m e n t o f I n f i n i t y w h i c h it is m e a n t that M a n s h o u l d

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in d r e a d f u l d a n g e r o f life, sanity, and soul. E v e n if h e e s c a p e s t h e p e r i l , life c a n n e v e r b e the s a m e a g a i n — f o r h e c a n n o t e s c a p e h i s memories. It is n o w seven m o n t h s s i n c e I c a m e to the a r c h a i c M a s s a c h u s e t t s t o w n o f A r k h a m , to a t t e n d the s m a l l b u t w i d e l y - k n o w n M i s k a t o n i c University. S i n c e t h e n , m y k n o w l e d g e h a s i n c r e a s e d in an u n p r e c e d e n t e d m a n n e r , b u t not in t h e ways I h a d e x p e c t e d . F o r m e , n e w w o r l d s have b e e n o p e n e d — n e w w o r l d s c o n t a i n i n g f a s c i n a t i n g v i s t a s o f w i s d o m , and a l s o u n d r e a m a b l e a b y s s e s o f h o r r o r , in w h i c h I l e a r n e d t h e fatal w e a k n e s s o f the h u m a n m i n d in d e a l i n g w i t h f o r c e s b e y o n d its c o m p r e h e n s i o n . T h e first f e w weeks o f m y a t t e n d a n c e a t t h e u n i v e r s i t y w e r e o c c u pied with settling m y s e l f in the n e w s u r r o u n d i n g s a n d b e c o m i n g a c c u s t o m e d t o m y classes. M y r o o m - m a t e , Bill Tracy, I i n s t i n c t i v e l y liked. A tall, b l o n d e , s e l f - e f f a c i n g fellow, h e w a s o n e o f t h o s e u t t e r l y f r a n k a n d c o m p a t i b l e i n d i v i d u a l s o n e m e e t s all t o o s e l d o m . F i e w a s a s o p h o m o r e , and helped my a b s o r p t i o n i n t o the s c h o o l ' s r o u t i n e by a n s w e r i n g m y i n n u m e r a b l e q u e s t i o n s as to t h e l o c a t i o n o f r o o m s , t h e d i s p o s i t i o n s o f i n s t r u c t o r s , a n d the t h o u s a n d o t h e r t h i n g s a b o u t w h i c h the b e g i n n e r a t a s c h o o l is e v e r c u r i o u s .

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A l m o s t a m o n t h elapsed thus when the event o c c u r r e d which was to set in m o t i o n a t r a i n o f e v e n t s u n p a r a l l e l e d , s o far as we know, in t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e E a r t h . It b e g a n , h o w e v e r , p r o s a i c a l l y e n o u g h . O n e e v e n i n g , r a t h e r late, I s u d d e n l y r e m e m b e r e d s o m e q u o t a t i o n s f r o m S h e l l e y I w o u l d be e x p e c t e d to k n o w by t h e n e x t d a y f o r m y l i t e r a t u r e class. A p p r e h e n s i v e l y I asked Bill T r a c y , " D o y o u s u p p o s e t h e c a m p u s l i b r a r y is still o p e n ? " " P r o b a b l y , " h e replied, " b u t b e t t e r h u r r y . T h e y close at t e n . You s h o u l d have g o n e earlier." H e g r i n n e d a t my n e g l i g e n c e . I h u r r i e d f r o m the d o r m i t o r y and t o o k t h e gravel p a t h a c r o s s t h e c a m p u s t o w a r d the large b r i c k l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g . O n n e a r i n g it, 1 w a s relieved to n o t i c e that f a i n t lights were still b u r n i n g o n the g r o u n d floor.

I n s i d e , I p r o c u r e d t h e n e e d e d b o o k , a n d , p a s s i n g t h e b u s y li-

b r a r i a n , 1 s u d d e n l y t u r n e d o n an i m p u l s e a n d m a d e m y w a y i n t o t h e r a r e b o o k s r o o m , w h i c h w a s t h e n c o m p l e t e l y e m p t y , as w a s t h e rest o f t h e library. S e a t i n g m y s e l f a t o n e o f t h e tables, I p r e p a r e d to delve i n t o Shelley's o d e s , w h e n s u d d e n l y I s a w i t — t h e t h i n g w h i c h was to c h a n g e my v e r y life. It was n o t h i n g b u t a sheet o f p a p e r lying o n t h e t a b l e n e a r m e , w r i t t e n p a r t o f t h e way d o w n o n e side. O u t o f idle c u r i o s i t y I p i c k e d it up. It s e e m e d b u t a s e r i e s o f n o t e s , s u c h as s t u d e n t s m i g h t j o t d o w n when sitting together rather than disturb the quiet o f the readingr o o m b y s p e a k i n g a l o u d . T h e r e w e r e s h o r t s e n t e n c e s in two a l t e r n a t i n g h a n d s . I w a s a b o u t to toss t h e p a p e r aside, w h e n

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c a u g h t m y eye, a n d I read it w i t h e v e r - m o u n t i n g interest a n d mystific a t i o n . A s n e a r l y a s I c a n r e m e m b e r , this is w h a t t h e w r i t t e n c o n v e r sation said: " W h a t t i m e is i t ? " "9:15." " I w i s h t h e y ' d leave." " T h e r e are o n l y t w o . T h e y will leave s o o n . " " H o p e they h u r r y . I'd like to let I t h a q u a get t h e — " ( H e r e the s c r i p t w a s h u r r i e d l y b r o k e n o f f , a n d t h e r e had b e e n an o n l y p a r t i a l l y s u c c e s s f u l a t t e m p t to c r o s s o u t the c r y p t i c w o r d . After which:)

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" F o o l ! I have told y o u — n e v e r write t h o s e n a m e s ! " "All r i g h t . — C a n w e finish t o n i g h t ? " " I c a n c o p y the c h a n t . " " W e c a n o p e n the G a t e b y — " ( H e r e a g a i n the w r i t i n g w a s i n t e r r u p t e d ) " T h e y ' r e leaving. B r i n g t h e key." T h i s c o m p l e t e d t h e c o n t e n t s o f the paper. I w a s baflled. W h a t were t h e s e two p l a n n i n g — a r o b b e r y ? B u t w h a t a b o u t t h e c r y p t i c refe r e n c e t o a " c h a n t " a n d " o p e n i n g the g a t e " ? W h o was " I t h a q u a " and w h y s h o u l d n ' t t h a t n a m e be w r i t t e n ? I w a s i n t e r r u p t e d in t h e s e s p e c u l a t i o n s by the o p e n i n g o f a n e a r b y d o o r m a r k e d " P r i v a t e , " a n d t h e e m e r g e n c e o f two m e n . I c a u g h t a m o m e n t a r y g l i m p s e o f the rows o f b o o k s w i t h i n the r o o m , a n d t h e n a p i e r c i n g g a z e w a s directed u p o n m e a n d t h e p a p e r b e fore me. T h e g a z e r was tall, b e e t l e - b r o w e d , a n d excessively d a r k , a n d had t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f b e i n g t o o adult for a s t u d e n t , b u t b o t h he a n d his c o m p a n i o n — a s h o r t e r , s t o u t e r , and v o u n g e r - l o o k i n g fellow w h o c a r ried a b r i e f - c a s e — w o r e school sweaters. T h e younger m a n , apparently quite agitated at seeing me, quickly closed a n d locked the door, a n d t h e n s t o o d w a i t i n g for his o l d e r c o m p a n i o n to act, w h i c h h e i m m e d i a t e l y did. S t r i d i n g f o r w a r d , h e a d d r e s s e d m e in low, fierce t o n e s with a h i n t o f fear in his v o i c e . " P a r d o n m e , sir, this p a p e r is m i n e . " A n d w i t h o u t f u r t h e r a d o , h e s n a t c h e d it u p a n d t u r n e d away. " J u s t a m o m e n t ! " I e x c l a i m e d angrily, " W h a t a r e y o u u p to? Have y o u two b e e n s t e a l i n g r a r e b o o k s f r o m in there? W h a t ' s in t h a t brief-case?" S e e i n g h e c o u l d not get away w i t h o u t an e x p l a n a t i o n , h e s t o p p e d a n d b e c a m e immediately suavely polite. " P a r d o n m y h a s t e , " h e said, s m i l i n g b l a n d l y . " M y c o m p a n i o n and I a r e e n g a g e d in n o u n t o w a r d activities. It is t r u e : W e were u s i n g t h e s o rare b o o k s w i t h i n that r o o m , b u t w e were m e r e l y c o p y i n g p o r t i o n s o f t h e m , f o r a — t h e s i s ; yes, a t h e s i s o n d e m o n o l a t r y . " S o m e t h i n g in

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the inflection and wording suggested that he w a s a foreigner. " Y o u will e x c u s e u s n o w . " G r a s p i n g t h e a r m o f h i s c o m p a n i o n , h e t u r n e d once more. " D o you t h i n k h e u n d e r s t o o d — ? " b e g a n t h e s m a l l e r m a n , b u t h e was h u s h e d by a g e s t u r e f r o m the o t h e r , w h o l o o k e d g u a r d e d l y b a c k at m e . T h e two q u i c k l y left t h e library, leaving m e to m u s e o n w h a t I had w i t n e s s e d . M y w o r k was s o o n

finished,

b u t a s I walked a c r o s s t h e c a m p u s ,

t h o u g h t s o f the two s t r a n g e m e n o b s e s s e d m e . I f t h e y had b e e n e n gaged in a u t h o r i z e d r e f e r e n c e w o r k , w h y had t h e n o t e h i n t e d t h a t t h e y w i s h e d to b e left a l o n e b e f o r e e n t e r i n g the locked r o o m ? T o o , p a r t s o f the dark, m o o d y n o t e s e e m e d c u r i o u s l y i r r e c o n c i l a b l e to t h a t explanation. O v e r the t h i c k l y c l u s t e r e d , s h a d o w y g r o v e to t h e east h u n g a w a n i n g m o o n . S t a r s , t h o s e b r i g h t s p e c k s o f light f r o m d i s t a n c e s i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e , held d o m i n i o n o v e r t h e m o r e s u b d u e d h u e s o f d a r k n e s s a t the z e n i t h . A h e a d o f m e s t r e t c h e d t h e half-lit

dormi-

t o r y . W i t h i n w a s Bill Tracy. P e r h a p s he c o u l d shed s o m e light o n this matter. I h u r r i e d to o u r r o o m . Bill g r e e t e d m e with a cheer)', " H i ! G e t your work done?" " Y e s , " I a n s w e r e d a b s t r a c t e d l y ; t h e n : " H a v e y o u e v e r s e e n a tall, dark, f o r e i g n , o l d e r - l o o k i n g fellow in t h e s t u d e n t

body?—Maybe

tagged by a s t o u t i s h , y o u n g e r f e l l o w ? " " I t h i n k I k n o w w h o you m e a n . His n a m e is R e n a u n t . H e Is o l d e r . T a k i n g a p o s t - g r a d u a t e c o u r s e in A n c i e n t L i t e r a t u r e and F o l k l o r e . " " W h a t d o you k n o w a b o u t h i m ? " " O h , n o t h i n g in p a r t i c u l a r .

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I mentioned

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locked r o o m . " H e ' s u p to n o g o o d , " m u t t e r e d Bill, m o r e to h i m s e l f t h a n to m e . " W h a t d o you k n o w a b o u t it?" " I t ' s m o r e t h a n y o u c a n i m a g i n e . I w a s b o r n and raised h e r e . There are legends... H e told m e t h e n : f a n t a s t i c tales o f a n c i e n t b o o k s o n m a l i g n a n t evil c o m e d o w n f r o m ages i m m e m o r i a l , kept in M i s k a t o n i c L i b r a r y ' s

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l o c k e d r o o m . S a n e o r n o t , the d a r k beliefs and rituals c o n t a i n e d in t h e s e b o o k s have b e e n p r a c t i c e d e v e n d o w n to t h e p r e s e n t . T h e t h i c k w o o d s b o r d e r i n g t h e M i s k a t o n i c R i v e r had seen h i d e o u s , illogical r i t e s c e l e b r a t e d w i t h i n a n c i e n t c i r c l e s o f s t a n d i n g s t o n e s , and t h e forg o t t e n h a m l e t o f D u n w i c h , s u r r o u n d e d b y a l t a r - c r o w n e d hills, d e g e n e r a t e d year b y year f r o m m o r e c a u s e t h a n m e r e i s o l a t i o n . T h e r e were t h o s e , e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g the o l d s t e r s o f A r k h a m , w h o averred t h a t d a r k t h i n g s could

b e called f r o m t h e hills o r t h e sky, if o n e w a s

willing to pay t h e p r i c e . It w a s u n i v e r s a l l y a d m i t t e d t h a t at c e r t a i n s e a s o n s t h e s k y lit u p d i s t u r b i n g l y o v e r t h e hills, a n d q u e e r r u m b l i n g e a r t h - n o i s e s w e r e heard. S c i e n t i s t s m u m b l e d a b o u t s e i s m o g r a p h i c s h o c k s a n d A u r o r a Borealis, b u t few d a r e d to investigate. In t h e o l d days, it had b e e n q u i t e g e n e r a l l y believed t h a t i n d e s c r i b a b l e l e g i o n s o f d e m o n s w e r e served t h e r e b y w i c k e d c u l t s . S t r a n g e d i s a p p e a r a n c e s o f t h o s e w h o lived o r v e n t u r e d t o o n e a r t h e w o o d s a t n i g h t were i n v a r i a b l y laid to the c u l t o r its h i d e o u s d e i t i e s , especially w h e n t h e b o d i e s w o u l d b e f o u n d m o n t h s later far away, o n l y a few days dead. Here m y i n f o r m e r p a u s e d . " S u r e l y , " I p r o m p t e d , " y o u d o n ' t believe t h a t ! " " B e l i e v e it? I w o u l d n ' t believe that Renauni

believed it if it wasn't

f o r that n o t e y o u told m e a b o u t . T h e y s o u n d in e a r n e s t . " "Couple of crackpots!" " I f y o u really w a n t to k n o w s o m e t h i n g a b o u t this c r a z y b u s i n e s s , j u s t a s k t o m o r r o w to e x a m i n e s o m e o f the b o o k s in t h a t

room.

T h e y ' l l let y o u . B u t a s for c o p y i n g w h o l e s a l e f r o m t h e m , t h e r e ' d b e s u s p i c i o n s . T h a t ' s why y o u r two p l a y m a t e s m a d e their o w n key and n o s e d in o n t h e b o o k s secretly." T h a t n i g h t I had little rest. I n d e e d , m y l o s s o f sleep was not t h e result o f vague a n d later d e f i n i t e fears w h i c h w o u l d s o o n b e s e t m e , b u t w a s r a t h e r c a u s e d b y e x c i t e m e n t : I t h o u g h t p e r h a p s I h a d disc o v e r e d a n e w m y t h - p a t t e r n ( n e w t o m e , at least), as m y h o b b y had f o r y e a r s b e e n t h e g a t h e r i n g o f native l e g e n d s f r o m m y h o m e state, Wisconsin. S u d d e n l y in the m i d d l e o f the n i g h t , I r e m e m b e r e d where I had h e a r d that c r y p t i c n a m e , I t h a q u a . D u r i n g my e x p l o r a t i o n s o f W i s c o n s i n ' s n o r t h w o o d s in s e a r c h o f lore f o r m y c o l l e c t i o n , I had m e t an o l d I n d i a n w h o had told m e vague l e g e n d s o f the s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d " W i n d - W a l k e r " o r Ithaqua—a

Wendigo,

t i t a n i c a n d repulsive

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m o n s t e r , h a u n t e r o f the g r e a t u n f r e q u e n t e d s n o w - f o r e s t s — a b e i n g w h o t o o k m e n w i t h h i m h i g h a n d a b o v e t h e w o o d s t o t h e far c o r n e r s o f t h e E a r t h , b u t w h o n e v e r r e l i n q u i s h e d h i s v i c t i m s until t h e y had been frozen t o death. Such, then, was the thing which these unusual collegians spoke o f as a reality, o r — ? T h e n e x t d a y passed slowly f o r m e , b u t at last m y classes t e r m i n a t e d a n d 1 w e n t q u i c k l y to the g r e a t library. R a t h e r t i m o r o u s l y I a p p r o a c h e d t h e a g e d l i b r a r i a n , and asked w h e t h e r I m i g h t e x a m i n e t h e r a r e o c c u l t b o o k s c o n t a i n e d in t h e locked r o o m . H e eyed m e o d d l y b u t a s s e n t e d , a n d , g i v i n g m e a key f r o m t h e ring at his s i d e , b a d e m e l o c k the d o o r c a r e f u l l y w h e n I

finished.

W i t h q u e e r m i s g i v i n g s I a p p r o a c h e d t h e fated d o o r a n d applied t h e key. Inside, I was c o n f r o n t e d w i t h several r o w s o f b o o k s held in wall-shelves. T h e i m m e n s e a n t i q u i t y o f the r o t t i n g t o m e s g r e a t l y i m p r e s s e d m e . M a n y were i n c o m p l e t e o r m u t i l a t e d ; o t h e r s m e r e l y b o u n d m a n u s c r i p t s . 1 saw s u c h titles as t h e Necronomicon A l h a z r e d , Unaussprechlichen De Vermis

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o f Abdul Ivonis,

and

b y L u d w i g P r i n n . I w a s blissfully i g n o r a n t o f t h e

hellish evil a r o u n d m e , b u t w a s n o t l o n g to r e m a i n s o . T o o p e n t h e Necronomicon

( o n e o f t h e largest a n d best p r e s e r v e d

o f t h e l o t ) w a s t h e w o r k o f the m o m e n t . T h u m b i n g t h r o u g h it, I l e a r n e d f o r t h e first t i m e o f G r e a t C t h u l h u ; o f A z a t h o t h , the L o r d o f All T h i n g s , o f Y o g - S o t h o t h a n d S h u b - N i g g u r a t h , o f

Nyarlathotep

a n d T s a t h o g g u a , and o f o t h e r h o r r o r s t h e n a t u r e o f w h i c h I c o u l d g r a s p n o b e t t e r . H a d I believed w h a t 1 read t h e n , I s h o u l d i n e v i t a b l y h a v e g o n e m a d a t o n c e , b u t t h i n k i n g it m e r e l y a p a r t i c u l a r l y m a l i g n a n t m y t h - p a t t e r n o r a d e v i l i s h l y c l e v e r h o a x , 1 read o n with o n l y a c u r i o u s interest. T h e r e were m a n y h u n d r e d s o f p a g e s o f r a m b l i n g , d i s c o n n e c t e d essays in Latin, c o n t a i n i n g c h a r m s , c o u n t e r - c h a r m s , spells a n d i n c a n t a t i o n s ( w h i c h latter s e e m e d to b e e n t i r e l y in a l a b o r i o u s l y spelled p h o n e t i c l a n g u a g e ) . F r e q u e n t l y t h e r e was a c r u d e d i a g r a m o f c o m p l i c a t e d signs, s u c h a s a p a t t e r n o f i n t e r s e c t i n g l i n e s a n d c o n c e n t r i c c i r cles, as well as a

fire-outlined

s t a r d e s i g n a t e d as " T h e E l d e r S i g n . "

F r o m t h e p a r t i c u l a r l y l u c i d passages, I g l e a n e d a s t r a n g e story. It s e e m s , a c c o r d i n g to t h e c r a z e d A r a b a u t h o r that, b i l l i o n s o f a e o n s b e f o r e M a n , g r e a t c o s m i c e n t i t i e s " f r o m t h e s t a r s " had c o m e to E a r t h .

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135

T h e s e T h i n g s ( p o s s e s s i n g the q u e e r n a m e s t h a i h a d s o p u z z l e d m e ) were e x t r a - d i m e n s i o n a l and b e y o n d t h e ties o f T i m e a n d S p a c e . T h e y were the p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n s o f u n i v e r s a l Evil a n d had fled f r o m c o s m o s e s b e y o n d h u m a n ken t h e w r a t h o f the b e n i g n E l d e r

Gods,

a g a i n s t w h o m T h e y h a d rebelled. T h e s e evil G r e a t O l d O n e s b u i l t c y d o p e a n cities a c c o r d i n g to n o n - E u c l i d e a n g e o m e t r i c p r i n c i p l e s , and f r o m E a r t h p l a n n e d to r e n e w their fight a g a i n s t the E l d e r G o d s . B u t b e f o r e T h e y were tully p r e p a r e d , " t h e stars w e n t w r o n g " a s t h e a u t h o r p u t it, and t h e s e G r e a t O l d O n e s c o u l d not live. N e i t h e r c o u l d T h e y e v e r die, b u t b e i n g p r e s e r v e d b y t h e b l a c k m a g i c o f T h e i r h i g h p r i e s t G r e a t C t h u l h u , slept w i t h i n T h e i r m o n s t e r cities to await a c o m i n g t i m e . S o m e were b a n i s h e d i n t o c a v e r n s in the b o w e l s o f the E a r t h ; others, imprisoned beyond the known universe. In t h e c o u r s e o f a n u n b e l i e v a b l e passage o f t i m e , M a n had arrived a n d t h e G r e a t O l d O n e s had c o m m u n i c a t e d with s o m e i n d i viduals telepathically, telling t h e m o f t h e g r e a t a w a k e n i n g t h a t w a s to c o m e , a n d i n s t r u c t i n g t h e m in t h e c h a n t s a n d r i t u a l s w h i c h , t o g e t h e r with p r o p e r s a c r i f i c e s a n d w o r s h i p , c o u l d b r i n g t h e g i g a n t i c T h i n g s t e m p o r a r i l y to g r e a t c i r c l e s o f s t o n e m o n o l i t h s set u p in a b a n d o n e d places, a n d f u r t h e r h i n t i n g that M a n w o u l d b e i n s t r u m e n t a l in t h e p e r m a n e n t release o f t h e O l d O n e s , a s T h e y c o u l d n o t yet m o v e u n der Their own volition. T h e s e s e c r e t s had b e e n l e a r n e d a n d passed o n by w i c k e d g r o u p s o f m e n e v e n a f t e r R'lyeh, t h e n i g h t m a r e - c i t y o f C t h u l h u , had s u n k i n t o t h e s e a in t h e s a m e c a t a c l y s m t h a t s p e l l e d d o o m f o r Atlantis and M u . T h e c u l t s w o u l d g o o n u n t i l " t h e stars again b e c a m e r i g h t " and t h e release o f the b l a s p h e m o u s e l d e r m o n s t e r s w o u l d b e a c c o m plished as t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f its s u p r e m e p u r p o s e . In a d d i t i o n to t h e s e w i l d h i s t o r i c a l n o t e s , t h e b o o k held h u n dreds o f stories o f various strange happenings, authenticated

by

l o n g - f o r g o t t e n w i t n e s s e s a n d i n e x p l i c a b l e save in t h e light o f t h e lore the b o o k e x p o u n d e d . C o n c e r n i n g the physical aspect o f these extraterrestrials a n d T h e i r m i n i o n s , t h e b o o k w a s d i s t r e s s i n g l y hazy. O n c e it a l l u d e d to T h e m as " o f n o s u b s t a n c e " ; o t h e r t i m e s m e n t i o n i n g a h i d e o u s p l a s t i c i t y and t h e c a p a b i l i t y o f b e c o m i n g i n v i s i b l e . B e i n g s o c o m p l e t e l y a b s o r b e d in t h e b o o k , I failed to n o t i c e light steps a p p r o a c h i n g t h e d o o r , b u t I d r o p p e d the Necronotnicon as a m e n a c i n g l y f a m i l i a r voice s o u n d e d b e h i n d me.

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"Are you perhaps looking for something?" It was R e n a u n t , o f c o u r s e , n o t far p r e c e d i n g his p u d g y a c c o m plice with the e t e r n a l b r i e f - c a s e . In s t r a n g e a g i t a t i o n I tried t o reply lightly. " I w a s j u s t c h e c k i n g u p to see w h a t i n t e r e s t e d you s o m u c h last evening." " I t h o u g h t y o u p e r h a p s m i g h t d o so," h e r e t u r n e d n a r r o w l y . " H a v e you f o u n d anything o f interest?" "Yes, i n d e e d ! Here s e e m s to b e a m v t h - p a t t e r n o f g r e a t a n t i q u i t y u p o n w h i c h I have n e v e r b e f o r e s t u m b l e d . " " Y o u are i n t e r e s t e d in the a n c i e n t r e l i g i o n s ? " "Very much." " S o a r e we. You m u s t p a r d o n m e . 1 a m J a c q u e s R e n a u n t — t h a t is m y s o g o o d friend P e t e r s o n . " W e s h o o k h a n d s . I did n o t e n j o y t h e e x p e r i e n c e . " I h a v e s o m e t h i n g y o u m i g h t like to see," said R e n a u n t in a disa r m i n g l y f r i e n d l y m a n n e r . " P e r h a p s last n i g h t y o u t h o u g h t us devilw o r s h i p p e r s , to c o p y from t h e s e o l d b o o k s , b u t this is u n c o r r e c t . " " I n c o r r e c t . " P e t e r s o n s p o k e h i s first w o r d in the c o n v e r s a t i o n . " Y o u m u s t n ' t forget y o u r E n g l i s h . " " Q u i t e r i g h t . T h a n k y o u . As 1 w a s saying, we are m e r e l y a m a t e u r a r c h a e o l o g i s t s , b u t w e h a v e d i s c o v e r e d , not far f r o m h e r e , s o m e very u n i q u e r u i n s , w h i c h , if w e are n o t m i s t a k e n , w e r e o n c e u s e d in c o n n e c t i o n with r i t e s given in this b o o k s . " " T h e s e b o o k s , " p u t in P e t e r s o n . " N o m a t t e r . T h e p o i n t is, w e have b e e n p e r u s i n g — t h e s e b o o k s to gain f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n . W e p l a n n e d to visit t h e s e r u i n s t o n i — t h i s a f t e r n o o n . W e w o u l d b e glad f o r a — c o m p a n i o n . " T h e two e x c h a n g e d glances. D i d I let m y i n s t i n c t i v e a v e r s i o n t o t h e s e m e n c a u s e m e to r e f u s e their bland offer? No; logic c o n q u e r e d instinct, a n d I m a d e myself see o n l y a n e w a n d f a s c i n a t i n g e x p e r i e n c e in a v e n t u r e against w h i c h m y ever)' d o r m a n t intuition cried out loud. " I w o u l d b e d e l i g h t e d . First let m e tell m y r o o m - m a t e . .

"

" P e t e r s o n will d o t h a t w h e n h e g e t s the car. Hurry, P e t e r s o n . " T h e s t o u t m a n s c u t t l e d away, w h i l e R e n a u n t let m e r a t h e r furtively o u t a s i d e e x i t . In a s u r p r i s i n g l y s h o r t t i m e P e t e r s o n d r o v e u p in t h e car. R e n a u n t o p e n e d t h e b a c k d o o r f o r m e a n d t h e n c l i m b e d in

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b e s i d e P e t e r s o n . F o r a few m i n u t e s , s i l e n c e prevailed as t h e c a r s w e p t swiftly a c r o s s t h e l e a f - s t r e w n c a m p u s g r o u n d s a n d a u t u m n - t i n t e d , r o l l i n g M a s s a c h u s e t t s hills. T h e n

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a n d a d d r e s s e d m e politely. " Y o u m u s t p a r d o n m e w h i l e I c o n v e r s e with M r . P e t e r s o n in m y native language. It is tiring f o r m e to c o n s t a n t l y f o r m u l a t e m y t h o u g h t s into the English." T h e y i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n t a l k i n g in s o m e f o r e i g n dialect. Listeni n g idly, I c o u l d n o t t r a c e a n y R o m a n c e l a n g u a g e o r G r e e k o r even S l a v i c in w h a t they said; it s e e m e d a k i n d o f g u t t u r a l O r i e n t a l t o n g u e , b u t as I sat l i s t e n i n g to it, m i l e a f t e r m i l e in that s t u f f y car, I c o u l d take n o p l e a s u r e in the b e a u t i e s o f t h e w o o d e d hills, o r o f the f o r e s t c r a d l e d M i s k a t o n i c River, n o w t i n t e d a flaming o r a n g e b y t h e rays o f the descending sun. M u c h f u r t h e r t h a n I had e x p e c t e d w e d r o v e . T h e s u n w a s h i d d e n b e h i n d t h e tall p i n e s o f t h e m o u n t a i n s a h e a d w h e n w e t u r n e d f r o m t h e m a i n r o a d . T h e e a s t e r n s k y w a s d u s k y b e h i n d us a s t h e c a r j o g g e d a l o n g a n a r r o w , r o u g h dirt trail. S e v e r a l t i m e s it b r a n c h e d o f f again o n b y p a t h s l e a d i n g t h r o u g h q u i e t f o r e s t g l a d e s o f t h e greatest sylvan b e a u t y . T h e trail b e c a m e b a r e l y w i d e e n o u g h to p e r m i t passage t o t h e s e d a n . F e w were t h e f a r m s w e passed, and t h e s e few were always in a d e p l o r a b l y r u n - d o w n c o n d i t i o n . It w a s a p o o r d i s t r i c t , r u l e d by N a t u r e and n o t M a n . L o n g a f t e r l o s i n g sight o f t h e last f a r m h o u s e a m o n g t h e t h i c k e n i n g trees, P e t e r s o n b r o u g h t the a u t o to a l u r c h i n g h a l t . " T h i s is as far as we c a n g o by the car," said R e n a u n t , o p e n i n g the door. W i t h i n a f e w m i n u t e s w e were p l u n g i n g t h r o u g h thick u n d e r g r o w t h a m o n g the h u g e b o l e s o f an a m a z i n g c l u s t e r o f trees. T h i s , I t h o u g h t , m u s t b e o n e o f the few o u t - o f - t h e - w a y virgin forests in t h e state. A n o t h e r t h o u g h t o c c u r r e d to m e a n d I asked R e n a u n t , " W h y were t h e s e r u i n s n o t d i s c o v e r e d b e f o r e ? T h e y are r e a s o n a b l y n e a r h u man habitation." " T h e n a t i v e s a r o u n d here fear t h e s e w o o d s , " a n s w e r e d m y g u i d e cryptically, " a n d f e w o t h e r s have o c c a s i o n to visit t h e m . " In s i l e n c e w e c o v e r e d the d i s t a n c e o f p e r h a p s a m i l e . T h e g r o u n d g r a d u a l l y b e c a m e d a m p and s p o n g y until it was a p p a r e n t t h a t w e were n e a r i n g a s w a m p .

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" T h e r u i n s a r e o n a k i n d o f island in ihe m i d s t o f a m a r s h y cresc e n t lake n e a r t h e M i s k a t o n i c , " e x p l a i n e d R e n a u n t in r e s p o n s e to m y query. A d e e p dusk, e n h a n c e d b y t h e s o m b e r s h a d e o f t h e forest, had n o w i n d e e d fallen. " H o w c a n w e see w h e n we arrive? W e have s t a r t e d t o o late," I commented. I received n o reply, save the pulsing c r o a k o f frogs w h i c h n o w r e a c h e d us f r o m s o m e w h e r e a h e a d in t h e leafy l a b y r i n t h . Little by little t h e trees t h i n n e d a n d I s a w s t r e t c h e d b e f o r e m e , s u r r o u n d e d by w o o d s like t h o s e f r o m w h i c h w e were e m e r g i n g , a low, o p e n , m a r s h y s p o t in the s h a p e o f a g i a n t c r e s c e n t m o o n . R e e d s a n d r u s h e s g r e w a t t h e m a r g i n , while n e a r t h e m i d d l e t h e w a t e r w a s c l e a r a n d d e e p , albeit r a t h e r s t a g n a n t . N e a r t h e c e n t e r o f t h e lake r o s e a s m a l l island, a l m o s t c o v e r e d w i t h the s p r a w l i n g r u i n o f a s t r a n g e , i r r e g u l a r g r e y s t o n e p l a t f o r m s u r r o u n d e d by a c r u m b l i n g p a r a p e t , m u c h in n e e d o f repair. L o w s t o n e c o l u m n s r o s e at i n t e r v a l s f r o m it. T h e last reflected rays o f t h e s e t t i n g s u n s h o n e b e h i n d it, o u t l i n i n g t h e skeletal r e m a i n s o f a o n c e - g r e a t and still i m p o s i n g s t r u c t u r e . I was a s t o u n d e d t o find s u c h a c o m p l e x piece o f a r c h i t e c t u r e in a p p a r e n t l y u n e x p l o r e d wilds. " T h e lake o f Y ' h a - n t h l e i , " b r e a t h e d P e t e r s o n , " l a ! C t h u l h u ! " " W h a t did y o u s a y ? " I e x c l a i m e d , " I — " B u t R e n a u n t i n t e r r u p t e d m e with a terse c o m m a n d to P e t e r s o n . " N o w is t h e t i m e ! " h e s n a p p e d . " C o n c e n t r a t e ! " — a n d I felt all s u d d e n l y g o b l a c k a r o u n d m e . M y last c o n s c i o u s i m p r e s s i o n w a s o n e o f t h e two g r a s p i n g m y a r m s to keep f r o m f a l l i n g as I slipped i n t o t h e b l a c k t r o u g h o f insensibility.

W h e n I awoke, t h e d e e p e s t n i g h t had fallen. M y first s e n s a t i o n was o f lying u n c o m f o r t a b l y o n a v e r y hard s u b s t a n c e ; m y s e c o n d was o f b e w i l d e r m e n t : I c o u l d not realize t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e b o n d s a r o u n d m y w r i s t s and a n k l e s . I k n e w n o w t h a t I w a s a p r i s o n e r . T h e n , s u d denly, t h e m e a n i n g o f my s i t u a t i o n c a m e b a c k to m e . I r e m e m b e r e d t h e s t r a n g e trek t h r o u g h the s h a d o w ) ' w o o d s with m y q u e e r c o m p a n i o n s ; t h e m a r s h lake, t h e r u i n s . I r e m e m b e r e d t o o m y f a i n t ( f o r s u c h I t h e n d e e m e d it) a t t h e e d g e o f t h e w o o d s . T h e n I b e g a n to s t r u g g l e .

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for, gazing a r o u n d , I d i s c o v e r e d t h a i I was lying o n the r o u g h s t o n e flags c o m p r i s i n g t h e floor o f the island r u i n . M y c o m p a n i o n s m u s t have b r o u g h t m e here, I thought; but why b o u n d ? T h e e x t e n t o f R e n a u n ť s t r e a c h e r y w a s s o o n to b e m a d e c l e a r to m e , however. I heard v o i c e s a p p r o a c h i n g and s o o n , f r o m b e h i n d a pile o f c r u m b l i n g s t o n e s , two r o b e d figures a p p e a r e d . T h e y were Ren a u n t and P e t e r s o n , h o o d e d a n d e n c a s e d in b l a c k g a r m e n t s . W i t h a s h u d d e r o f u n b e l i e v a b l e t e r r o r , I realized that t h e y p l a n n e d to stage a c e r e m o n y , o f w h i c h I m i g h t be a p a r t . That

was why I had b e e n e n -

t i c e d o n this d e v i l i s h trip! Renaunt approached me, m o r e than h u m a n wrath and c o n t e m p t g l o w i n g in his eyes. " A h , m y s o c u r i o u s y o u n g f r i e n d , y o u will n o t let well e n o u g h a l o n e , a n d n o w s e e w h a t it h a s g o t y o u ! " " L e t m e g o ! " I s t o r m e d , w i t h m o r e c o u r a g e in m y voice t h a n in m y h e a r t . " W h a t is t h e m e a n i n g o f t h i s ? " " I t m e a n s you shall b e a living s a c r i f i c e to T h o s e W h o W a i t ! " " M a d m a n ! Y o u p l a n — t o s a c r i f i c e m e in s o m e i d i o t i c ritual? A r e y o u g o i n g to kill m e ? " " O u r h a n d s will be c l e a n , 1 assure y o u — y o u will leave this island alive." "Then you—?" " B u t you will n e v e r b e seen s o a g a i n ! " "Nonsense!" " Y o u will s e e ! " h e c r i e d in a fit o f a n g e r . " W e a r e c o m e f r o m t h e S u p r e m e O n e o f I r e m to o p e n t h e G a t e f o r t h e G r e a t O l d O n e s ! T h e stars are a l m o s t r i g h t a g a i n ! T o n i g h t , w e will tell G r e a t C t h u l h u s o H e m a y p r e p a r e . S o o n shall T h e y d o b a t t l e w i t h T h o s e o f B e t e l g e u z e , a n d — ! — B u t light t h e t o r c h e s , M o n o g ! " T h e o n e I k n e w as P e t e r s o n , w i t h a l o n g

flambeau,

fired

masses

o f d r y w o o d a t o p the pillars o f t h e p a r a p e t . " Y o u , " said R e n a u n t , " w i l l b e t h e b a i t to d r a w G r e a t C t h u l h u h e r e , as is w r i t t e n in t h e O l d Books." P e t e r s o n , o r M o n o g , had by t h e n c o m p l e t e d h i s task, and h e and R e n a u n t lifted m y b o u n d b o d y , t o s s i n g m e r o u g h l y u p o n a h i g h pile o f crumbling stones. T h e c e a s e l e s s p i p i n g o f frogs, w h i c h all t h e w h i l e had f o r m e d a w e i r d b a c k g r o u n d to the w o r d s o f m y c a p t o r , n o w s e e m e d t o i n c r e a s e

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in i n t e n s i t y a n d to fill the n i g h t air. B e n e a t h m e , R e n a u n t a n d Peterson were s t o o p i n g to c h a l k d i a g r a m s d r a w n from p a p e r s t h e y held ( d o u b t l e s s l y c o p i e s from t h e Necronomicon

and the other books) on

t h e s t o n e flags. R e n a u n t t h e n b e g a n a w e i r d c h a n t , w h i l e Peterson c o w e r e d b e n e a t h an o u t c r o p p i n g o f s t o n e . W h a t w o u l d t h e s e l u n a t i c s d o , I w o n d e r e d , w h e n t h e y realized that their m a d a c t i v i t i e s b r o u g h t n o result? T h e n all s p e c u l a t i o n was swept away and I a b a n d o n e d m y s o u l to t e r r o r ! For s o m e t h i n g

h a p p e n i n g — n o t o n l y b e l o w m e b u t all

was

a r o u n d ; o n t h e lake, o n the r a m p a r t — a s the m e a n i n g l e s s m o u t h i n g c o n t i n u e d . T h e l a n d s c a p e s e e m e d to c h a n g e s u b t l y u n d e r t h e pale rays o f t h e d y i n g m o o n ; a b l u r d i m m e d t h e h o r i z o n ; a n g l e s shifted a n d s o l i d s t o n e swayed formlessly. T h e waters o f the lake w e r e w i l d l y s t i r r i n g , t h o u g h t h e r e w a s n o w i n d . From

all sides,

g r e a t waves b r o k e

o v e r the l o w p a r a p e t , t h r e a t e n i n g to d o u s e t h e f r a n t i c a l l y f l i c k e r i n g fires. A s t e n c h as o f all t h e d e a d and r o t t i n g water life o f the world nauseated me. A strange wind now stirred, m o a n i n g , through

the

t u m b l e d s t o n e s , a n d a b o v e t h e c h o r u s o f frogs, R e n a u n t ' s v o i c e w a s lifted in a p r i m a l i n c a n t a t i o n : "la! la! N'gah-hah! gmm

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flitaghn!

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vulla!

Cthulhu!" T h e leaping flames o f the great torches n o w revealed to m y h o r r o r s t r i c k e n eyes a t h i n , w a v e r i n g l i n e a c r o s s t h e sky. M o r e a p p e a r e d , t r a v e r s i n g t h e s p a c e a b o v e m y h e a d . A low, t h u n d e r o u s r o a r c o m p e t e d with the t r u l y c a c o p h o n o u s c h a n t o f t h e frogs a n d t h e i n c a n t a t i o n s h o u t e d b y R e n a u n t , w h i l e g r e e n i s h flashes from o v e r t h e h o r i z o n lit t h e s c e n e fitfully. A g r e a t b l a s t o f c o l d air s w e p t o v e r the lake, followed i m m e d i a t e l y by a foetid w a r m d r a f t , as with a h i d e o u s s t e n c h , and an u n c o u t h b u b b l i n g s o u n d , a g i a n t s h a p e s p r a n g s e e m i n g l y f r o m t h e lake i t s e l f a n d h o v e r e d o v e r us w i t h o u t visible m e a n s o f levitat i o n ! Mercifully, I fainted. W h e n I r e g a i n e d my s e n s e s (it m u s t have b e e n b u t a m o m e n t l a t e r ) t h e T h i n g was still t h e r e . It is b e y o n d t h e p o w e r o f a n y pen to h i n t a d e q u a t e l y a t t h e a s p e c t o f I t . A n alien, u n d i m e n s i o n e d e n t i t y f r o m b e y o n d the k n o w n U n i v e r s e , It s e e m e d by t u r n s to b e a great, green, m o n s t r o u s tentacled squid; a boiling, c h a n g i n g , flowing m a s s o f p r o t o p l a s m , c o n s t a n t l y a l t e r i n g yet e v e r the s a m e , h a v i n g m a l e v o -

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l e n t red eyes o p e n i n g f r o m e v e r y part o f its n o n - t e r r e s t r i a l b o d y , and a s w o l l e n , e m p u r p l e d m a w f r o m w h i c h issued an idiotic, f r a n t i c , b u b b l i n g u l u l a t i o n , s o l o w in t i m b r e that it s t r u c k o n e a s a p h y s i c a l vibration rather t h a n a true s o u n d . Great crypt

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B u t I c o u l d n o t die; I c o u l d n o t e v e n f a i n t a g a i n . Even n o w m y h a n d t r e m b l e s w h e n I t h i n k o f m y h i d e o u s c a p t i v i t y a s t h e helpless p r e y o f t h a t hellish d a e m o n ! B e l o w , R e n a u n t was c o n v e r s i n g w i t h It, in t h e s a m e u n h o l y dialect w i t h w h i c h h e had s u m m o n e d It ( t h e s a m e , i n d e e d , in w h i c h h e had talked with P e t e r s o n in the c a r ) , m e n t i o n i n g s u c h n a m e s as A z a t h o t h , Betelgeuze, R'lyeh, t h e Hyades, a s well as the n a m e s o f t h e o t h e r w e i r d m o n s t e r s . As h i s m o n o l o g u e p r o g r e s s e d , C t h u l h u b e c a m e g r e a t l y excited, q u i v e r i n g in a g i t a t i o n as H i s g r e a t b o d y o v e r s h a d o w e d the e n t i r e lake, a n d later u t t e r i n g a few g h a s t l y m o u t h i n g s o u n d s w h i c h thrilled m y s o u l with a n e w fear w h e n I had t h o u g h t I had r e a c h e d t h e e x t r e m i t y o f t e r r o r . Abruptly, t h e a w f u l c o m m u n i c a t i o n e n d e d . R e n a u n t fell o n h i s k n e e s b e l o w t h e T h i n g a n d e x t e n d e d h i s h a n d t o w a r d the pile o f d e b r i s o n w h i c h I lay b o u n d . It flowed t o w a r d m e , e x t e n d i n g f r o m Its p l a s t i c s e l f a t e n t a c l e o r t r u n k w h i c h g r o p e d d o w n w a r d at m e . D i r e c t l y a b o v e m e , the savage o p e n i n g o f w h a t It u s e d as a m o u t h y a w n e d wide, d i s c l o s i n g a h o l l o w b o d y c a v i t y s t r i a t e d with red b a n d s . In a n o t h e r m o m e n t I w o u l d have k n o w n a t h i n g far worse t h a n m e r ciful d e a t h ; b u t a t t h a t i n s t a n t , s o m e t h i n g i n t e r v e n e d t o save m e . Bill T V a c y — w h a t t r i b u t e s are d u e h i s c o u r a g e ! — a p p e a r e d a t t h e t o p o f the s a c r i f i c i a l m o u n d , a p p r o a c h i n g from t h e s i d e o p p o s i t e t h a t o f R e n a u n t . S i c k e n i n g h o r r o r s h o w e d in e v e r ) ' l i n e o f his face, b u t h e n e v e r t h e l e s s s p r a n g to m y s i d e a n d s l a s h e d m y b o n d s with a ready k n i f e . A s I leapt u p , h e e x t e n d e d his r i g h t h a n d towards t h e e x c r e s c e n c e o f C t h u l h u , w h i c h had a l m o s t r e a c h e d us. It recoiled, and t h e m a s s i v e b u l k o v e r h e a d l u m b e r e d away. " R u n ! " s h o u t e d Tracy. " S w i m the lake! G e t to the c a r ! " W e were o f f , r a c i n g m a d l y o v e r the s h a t t e r e d flags a n d p l u n g i n g i n t o t h e s t a g n a n t l a k e . B e h i n d us, R e n a u n t was i m p l o r i n g C t h u l h u , a n d as w e s w a m f r a n t i c a l l y for s h o r e , w e h e a r d h i m r a c i n g in p u r s u i t .

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H e a n d P e t e r s o n d r a g g e d a s m a l l r o w b o a t to t h e m a r g i n o f t h e lake a n d p u l l e d a f t e r us. O v e r h e a d , the g r e a t b u l k o f the m o n s t r o u s e n t i t y C t h u l h u flowed a l o n g , l a s h i n g t h e a f f r i g h t e d air with t h o u s a n d s o f l o a t h s o m e t e n t a c l e s . F o r t u n a t e l y , T r a c y and I w e r e b o t h g o o d s w i m m e r s , a n d t h e s u r p r i s e i n s t i t u t e d b y Tracy's d a r i n g m o v e gave us a head start. U p o n reaching the shore, we plunged into the pitch-dark forest. T h e s o u n d s of frantic s h o u t s a n d the ululant m o u t h i n g s o f C t h u l h u ( w h o had e v i d e n t l y j o i n e d t h e c h a s e ) g o a d e d us to f r e n z i e d e x e r t i o n s . " W e m u s t s e p a r a t e , " g a s p e d Bill. " T h e y k n o w t h e s e w o o d s . I'll g o this way, b u t if I d o n ' t get t h r o u g h , r e m e m b e r : d o n ' t g o to the p o l i c e . It w o n ' t d o a n y g o o d . G o to P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s . " T h u s saying, he p l u n g e d o f f to t h e left, a t t e m p t i n g to c r o s s a c l e a r i n g w h o s e e d g e I w a s s k i r t i n g . A s he reached its c e n t e r , R e n a u n t and Peterson broke

from

t h e w o o d s o n t h e o p p o s i t e side.

Behind

t h e m , o v e r the t o p s o f t h e trees, C t h u l h u rapidly n e a r e d . R e n a u n t , with a m a z i n g s p e e d , s o u g h t t o g r a p p l e w i t h Tracy, b u t again e x t e n d i n g his r i g h t a r m , o n w h i c h I saw s o m e t h i n g g l e a m , m y deliverer c a u s e d m y f o r m e r c a p t o r to fall. I n d o i n g s o , he c l u t c h e d Tracy's k n e e s . T h e latter, a f t e r a d e s p e r a t e s t r u g g l e t o retain his b a l a n c e , p l u n g e d heavily to t h e g r o u n d . As t h e y rolled free, R e n a u n t h a l f - r o s e , e x t e n d i n g o n e a r m t o w a r d Tracy, t h e o t h e r t o w a r d t h e b l a s p h e m o u s monstrosity hovering overhead. He shrieked a flaming c o m m a n d , a n d i m m e d i a t e l y the T h i n g p u t f o r t h d o z e n s o f s q u a m o u s t e n t a c l e s w h i c h e n t a n g l e d the s t r u g g l i n g b o d y o f m y rescuer. H e w a s lifted, s c r e a m i n g h i d e o u s l y t o w a r d the f r o t h i n g m a w o f the m o n s t e r . C o l d with icy t e r r o r , I r a n o n t h r o u g h the c l u t c h i n g u n d e r g r o w t h o f t h o s e h a u n t e d w o o d s . After w h a t s e e m e d an a l m o s t i n t e r m i n a b l e i n t e r v a l , t h e trees t h i n n e d a n d I e m e r g e d o n t h e h i g h w a y less t h a n a q u a r t e r o f a m i l e f r o m the c a r s . TVacy's vehicle w a s parked n e a r R e n a u n t ' s . H e had o b v i o u s l y s u s p i c i o u s l y trailed us, p e r h a p s b e c o m i n g lost in t h e forest, a n d a r r i v i n g o n l y in t i m e to save m y life at the c o s t o f his o w n . W i t h a prayer o f t h a n k s , I s a w t h a t the keys were still in t h e ign i t i o n . M o m e n t s later, I w a s s p e e d i n g recklessly o v e r t h e d e s e r t e d highways, c a r i n g o n l y to get far f r o m

that awful s p o t .

Through

t h e b l a c k e s t h o u r s o f the n i g h t I was lost, b u t a t d a w n I f o u n d m y s e l f a p p r o a c h i n g A r k h a m . W h a t had p o o r Bill said? " S e e

Profes-

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s o r S t e r n s . " A s h o r t c o n s u l t a t i o n with the t e l e p h o n e d i r e c t o r ) ' in a s m a l l c o n f e c t i o n e r y told m e his address. As I w a s l e a v i n g t h e s t o r e , I s h u d d e r e d to see b l a t a n t h e a d l i n e s o n a c h e a p a s t r o l o g y odical

proclaiming, "Portentous

E v e n t s in

the

peri-

Stars—Something

Unprecedented!"

I d r o v e slowly a l o n g p l e a s a n t , t r e e - l i n e d r e s i d e n t i a l streets, hazy in t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g s u n l i g h t , a n d s t o p p e d at a d e c a y i n g m i d - V i c t o r i a n m a n s i o n b e a r i n g the n u m b e r I had m e m o r i z e d . And so, shaken in b o d y , m i n d a n d s p i r i t , with a n i n d e l i b l e m e m o r y

fomenting

in m y c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d a g n a w i n g fear t o r m e n t i n g m e , I lilted t h e k n o c k e r b e s i d e t h e a n c i e n t n a m e p l a t e with t h e l e g e n d , " P r o f e s s o r Arlin S t e r n s , P h . D . " A m e l l o w - f a c e d , w h i t e - b e a r d e d elderly m a n o p e n e d the d o o r and in r e s p o n s e to m y agitated q u e r y i n t r o d u c e d h i m s e l f as

Professor

S t e r n s . U p o n l e a r n i n g m y n a m e , h e g r e w pale, b u t civilly invited m e in. " H o w m u c h d o y o u k n o w , " I b e g a n h u r r i e d l y , " o f Bill T r a c y and m e a n d w h a t g o e s o n in t h a t — " " I k n o w , " h e said laboredly, " t h a t a y o u n g m a n c a m e to m e this m o r n i n g a n d told m e o f two c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s h e b e l i e v e d to be e n gaged in very n a s t y b u s i n e s s . H e e x p r e s s e d fear t h a t you, his f r i e n d , m i g h t b e d r a w n i n t o it. I advised h i m to keep a w a t c h o n you, a n d I gave h i m a c e r t a i n b r a c e l e t w h i c h I felt w o u l d give h i m p r o t e c t i o n . What has happened?" I t h e r e u p o n told h i m m y full story, e n d i n g o n an a l m o s t hysterical n o t e as I r e c o u n t e d m y m a d flight t h r o u g h the f o r e s t a n d the e n d less r a c e a l o n g t r e e - l i n e d highways. As I s p o k e , t h e s a v a n t s t r o k e d h i s s t u b b y goatee, but when

I told o f Bill Tracy's g r u e s o m e fate, h e

s t o p p e d a b r u p t l y and m u t t e r e d , " I told h i m t h e grey s t o n e

from

M n a r w o u l d n ' t s t o p the O l d O n e s T h e m s e l v e s . " " D o you believe w h a t I s a y ? " I asked. " I c a n h a r d l y believe it myself!" " U n f o r t u n a t e l y , yes," replied P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s . " B e f o r e m y retirem e n t as P r o f e s s o r o f A n t h r o p o l o g y at M i s k a t o n i c , I had o c c a s i o n to b e c o n v i n c e d in a m o s t h o r r i b l e m a n n e r . B u t t h a t ' s n e i t h e r h e r e n o r t h e r e . T h e p o i n t i s , " — h i s face s h o w e d w o r r i e d l i n e s — " t h e world, t h e w h o l e u n i v e r s e as we k n o w it, is in d a n g e r o f b e i n g o b l i t e r a t e d in a

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t e r r i b l e way in a c o m i n g b a t t l e b e t w e e n e x t r a - d i m e n s i o n a l

entities

w h o s e n a t u r e w e c a n n o t e v e n b e g i n to g r a s p . T h a t is the p u r p o s e and p u r p o r t , veiled, g a r b l e d and c l o a k e d in m y s t i c i s m , o f all r e l i g i o n s and cults, a n d , m o r e directly, o f the evil b o o k s n o w f o u n d in o n l y a few s c a t t e r e d l i b r a r i e s a n d m a n u s c r i p t f r a g m e n t s in private p o s s e s s i o n . " H e t u r n e d . " B u t I m u s t n o t k e e p y o u w a i t i n g o u t h e r e . Please c o m e i n t o m y study." H e led the w a y t h r o u g h a d a r k , n a r r o w hall i n t o a large r o o m , l i n e d with b o o k c a s e s and s t r e w n w i t h t h e o d d s a n d e n d s o f a l o n g a n d v a r i e d c a r e e r . W i t h a s e r i o u s d e m e a n o r he u n l o c k e d o n e o f t h e l o w e r d r a w e r s o f h i s desk, a n d d r e w f o r t h a folio o f m a n u s c r i p t . A f t e r b i d d i n g m e seat m y s e l f o n a c h a i r n e a r the desk, he a d d r e s s e d m e in this f a s h i o n : " T h e s e are t h e e x t r a c t s I c o p i e d f r o m the Necronomicon

and

o t h e r b o o k s w h i l e I was a t M i s k a t o n i c . A l l o w m e t o p o i n t o u t to y o u s o m e p e r t i n e n t passages." H e passed o v e r to m e o n e o f the s h e e t s . I t o o k it a n d read. Nor

is it 10 be thought

the

Masters

and

Substance

Ones known of

of Earth;

are,

walks

and

the

Man nor

alone. Old

places

and

where

The

them.

They

Rites

howled

with

Their

voices;

ness.

They

bend

crush

the city—yet

not forest

hand

that

They

where Winter shall dispute pelled

at their the

man

rules

now.

is Summer. They

reign

them.

again, Those

to open

the

They

desire,

but

know

but a brief

those while

soon

know

for who

of

and

coming the

primal, foul

winds

the

consciouswave; rule

again,

the again

and

potent

after

for

here

none

shall

shall

be

Them

and

shall

serve

open

the

way

unwitting

thereafter.

They

beholds

They

Gates

in the gibber

Their

nor city

and

Old

and

is Winter

patient

at Their

up

of Life

spaces

walk

The

shall

Summer

wait

who way

raise

the the

spoken

with

nor ocean

After and

...

mutters They

in

calm

been

of

were,

Not

walk

or last

part

. . . They

have

ruled;

They

Ones be.

Seasons

Earth

the forest.

smites.

Old

shall

Words

the oldest

the greater

to us unseen

the

through

is either that

Ones

to us, but between

no dimensions,

lonely

thai nay,

Them

imas shall

T H O S E

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145

" N o w ihis," said t h e p r o f e s s o r , h a n d i n g m e a n o t h e r s h e e t . I read, Then

shall

Great

Cthulhu

R'lyeh

come

Hali,

and

all

return

I—/

beneath

shall His

They

the sea,

from

shall the

and Old

lay his hand blind

Middle where who

Gods.

and

Ithaqua

shall

upon

which

All-in-One

caverns

take

He shall

all

the walk

the

Earth

shall

prepare forth

and

shall

come

Earth to do

with

Destroy,

and

rise from

the

destruction,

and

and and battle

Abyss

to

Cthugha

and

One-in-All

of in

word

at the Centre

again, of

the and

shall

Infinity,

of the Great

come

Him

Lake

multiply

carry

minions,

blasphemed

and

from Named

the

and

is Chaos

is to say,

possession

the Lord

shall

Azathoth,

shall

within

it and

When

returning. the

bubbled

Things,

and

together live

where

near

forth

oppose

noxious

shall

be freed

Is Not To Be

come

Their

on all that

World

is the

litten

and

the

returning

Carcosa

Nyarlathotep

Ones

great

Who

shall

the

he hath

is of All globes

Him

Idiot, of

this

which

Shub-Niggurath

Great

on

at the name—j

and

His City,

hideousness, the

and

shuddered

which

Yog-Sothoth

shall

bring

from

the

His black-

Tsathoggua all

and

things

that

with

the

Elder

is apprised

of

Their

His Brothers

to

disperse

Evil.

" Y o u m e a n , " I e x c l a i m e d , " t h a t this b o o k — w r i t t e n a t h o u s a n d years a g o — a c t u a l l y foretells w h a t is h a p p e n i n g n o w ? " " I ' m s u r e o f i t ! " said t h e p r o f e s s o r forcefully. " L o o k : a s t r o l o g e r s p r o c l a i m that s o m e t h i n g u n p r e c e d e n t e d is in the stars. T h e w r i t e r o f this m y t h o l o g y c l a i m s that ' w h e n t h e stars a r e right' t h o s e w h o k n o w 'shall b e i m p e l l e d to o p e n t h e Gates.' T h e s e m e n c o m e , f r a n t i c a l l y study t h e b o o k s , and c o n j u r e u p a m o n s t e r b e y o n d t h e

wildest

dreams of a hashish-eater. T h e y admit their purposes. What could be plainer?" I was c o n v i n c e d f o r o n c e and all o f the a b s o l u t e v e r a c i t y o f t h e Arab necromancer. "But," I inquired, "Renaunt mentioned something about being sent ' b y t h e S u p r e m e O n e o f I r e m . ' W h a t d o e s t h a t m e a n ? "

146

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" L e t m e read y o u w h a t A l h a z r e d says; h e r e — But

ihe

namely,

first

Gate

in Irem,

was

thai

which

the city of pillars,

I caused

to be

the cit)' under

the

opened, desert.

" I r e m is t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f this hellish t h i n g . T h e r e , t h e e n t i r e p u r p o s e o f t h e O l d O n e s is k n o w n , o r at least as m u c h as M a n c a n k n o w o f it, a n d t h e r e are s o m e t h i n g s in I r e m that are n o t e v e n h u m a n , unless I miss m y guess. R e n a u n t and Peterson, or whatever their n a m e s are in I r e m , m u s t b e h i g h u p , if they were sent o n this c r o w n i n g m i s s i o n . T h e island m u s t b e a vital s p o t if it w a s c h o s e n

for

C t h u l h u ' s a w a k e n i n g . W e m u s t p r e v e n t this, m y b o y ! It is b o u n d to c o m e s o m e day, b u t i f w e c a n s t o p t h e m n o w , it will b e t h o u s a n d s o f years b e f o r e the s t a r s are r i g h t a g a i n ! " " B u t how?" I gasped. "Aren't the O l d O n e s already loosed? H o w a b o u t last n i g h t ? " " T h a t was just a w a r n i n g to G r e a t C t h u l h u , " said

Professor

S t e r n s . " T h e real a w a k e n i n g c a n o n l y be s c h e d u l e d f o r A l l - H a l l o w s ' Eve; a m o n t h yet." " H o w can you k n o w ? " " T h e r e are c e r t a i n t i m e s w h e n t h e s e c e r e m o n i e s g r o w m o r e p o tent; s t r o n g e r ; i n t e n s e r . T h e t i m e s are M a y Eve, W a l p u r g i s

night;

C a n d l e m a s ; R o o d m a s s ; and A l l - H a l l o w ' s Eve. T h e o p e n i n g o f t h e G a t e will b e a d i f f i c u l t t h i n g . It will shake t h e E a r t h , a n d its c o n s e q u e n c e s will d e s t r o y m a n k i n d . It is i n f i n i t e l y i m p o r t a n t t o — T h e m . " " H o w c a n w e h o p e to s t o p t h e s e i n v i n c i b l e m o n s t r o s i t i e s ? " " I t will b e hard; hard! B u t T h e i r w e a k p o i n t s are T h e i r m i n i o n s . T h e y m u s t b e t h e r e to p e r f o r m the c e r e m o n i e s . A n d t h o u g h all t h e p o w e r s o f I r e m a n d the O l d O n e s T h e m s e l v e s p r o t e c t t h e m , t h e y ' r e o n l y h u m a n . N o t much

m o r e than h u m a n , a n y w a y — I hope."

D u r i n g the f o l l o w i n g m o n t h , b o t h P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s a n d m y s e l f were f e v e r i s h l y b u s y . I w a s able to c o n t i n u e my c l a s s e s at the university, b u t e v e r ) ' d a y a f t e r their t e r m i n a t i o n I h u r r i e d to the a n c i e n t savant's c r u m b l i n g b r o w n s t o n e h o u s e , w h i c h I h a d c o m e to l o o k u p o n as n o t o n l y a s e c o n d h o m e , but a s a sort o f m e c c a f o r all the w o r l d ' s h o p e s . It w a s f a n t a s t i c : a w o r l d o f b e i n g s living in c o m p l e t e i g n o r a n c e o f a

T H O S E

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147

g h a s t l y a n d u n s p e a k a b l e fale w h i c h was i n e x o r a b l y a p p r o a c h i n g and t h r e a t e n i n g t h e i r v e r y s o u l s , w h i l e t w o m e n struggled to avert t h e c a t a s t r o p h e w i t h all t h e k n o w l e d g e and skill, h u m a n and i n h u m a n , in their possession. O r , rather, not j u s t two, f o r I f o u n d t h a t t h e r e w a s a c o n s i d e r a b l e b a n d o f l e a r n e d m e n , all o v e r the w o r l d , u n i t e d in a c o m m o n k n o w l e d g e o f a n d b e l i e f in t h e n i g h t m a r e m y t h , a n d a desire to t h w a r t t h e G r e a t O l d O n e s a n d T h e i r m i n i o n s . T h e r e was a s t e a d y s t r e a m o f s t r a n g e v i s i t o r s to the w e a t h e r e d o l d h o u s e o n H a r p e r S t r e e t , and an equally s t r a n g e flow o f o u t l a n d i s h letters and p a r c e l s . P r o f e s s o r S t e m s ' large d e s k in t h e l i b r a r y b e c a m e h e a p e d with n e a t folios o f p a p e r s a n d s m a l l p a c k a g e s . W h a t were they? All m a n n e r o f c h a r m s , spells and d i a g r a m s helpful a g a i n s t t h e m a l i g n a n t m o n s t e r s

and

T h e i r w o r s h i p p e r s . P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s was p a r t i c u l a r l y excited o v e r t h e arrival o f a large c r a t e f r o m a B u d d h i s t priest in T i b e t . T h i s , t h e p r o f e s s o r i n f o r m e d m e , c o n t a i n e d t h e E l d e r G o d s ' b e n i g n s i g n , c a r v e d by T h e i r V e r y S e l v e s o n a s t o n e b r o u g h t f r o m a n o t h e r w o r l d and s p i r ited away f r o m t h e a n c i e n t and a c c u r s e d P l a t e a u o f L e n g e x p r e s s l y to aid us in o u r m i s s i o n . W e e k s w e n t by; Bill Tracy, w h o s e d i s a p p e a r a n c e had c a u s e d a w i d e stir, was not f o u n d , alive o r dead. T h e b e i n g s k n o w n to u s as Ren a u n t a n d P e t e r s o n had also v a n i s h e d . O n a pale, s o m b r e O c t o b e r e v e n i n g late in the m o n t h . P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s t e l e p h o n e d m e a n d asked m e to visit h i m f o r final i n s t r u c t i o n s . I left for his h o u s e , feeling a c u t e l y the n e r v o u s a p p r e h e n s i o n u n d e r w h i c h 1 had s o l o n g l a b o r e d .

A near-full

moon,

rising a b o v e t h e trees s u r r o u n d i n g

Professor

S t e r n s ' h o u s e s h o t f e e b l e rays g l i n t i n g a l o n g the r i d g e p o l e o f the r o o f , a l o n g the o l d tin s p o u t i n g , a l o n g the b a n i s t e r s o f t h e w i d e f r o n t p o r c h . A q u e e r chill g r i p p e d m e as I a p p r o a c h e d a l o n g t h e gravel walk; t h e h o u s e was lightless. H a l f f o r m e d fears stirred u n e a s i l y in m y m i n d as I plied t h e k n o c k e r , b u t a f t e r a s h o r t , s u s p e n s e f u l i n t e r v a l I r e c o g n i z e d t h e s l o w tread o f m y a g e d f r i e n d a p p r o a c h i n g t h e p a n e l f r o m w i t h i n . It o p e n e d s l o w l y and 1 d i s c e r n e d the kindly, b e a r d e d face p e e r i n g n a r r o w l y t h r o u g h t h e g l o o m . A l m o s t i n s t a n t l y a l o o k o f r e l i e f and w e l c o m e s w e p t o v e r it.

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" A h ! Y o u ! " m u t t e r e d the professor. " I a m glad to see y o u . You c a m e s o o n e r t h a n I h a d a n t i c i p a t e d . S t e p i n t o the hall." Inside, h e s p o k e q u i e t l y b u t rapidly. " T h e r e h a s b e e n a c h a n g e in p l a n s . I — w e have a g u e s t . H e is to h e l p us. H e ' s — s t r a n g e . D o e s n ' t s p e a k E n g l i s h , b u t he's o n o u r side. D o y o u r e m e m b e r h o w y o u lost c o n s c i o u s n e s s a t the e d g e o f the lake a f t e r R e n a u n t told P e t e r s o n to c o n c e n t r a t e ? T h a t was i n s t a n t a n e o u s h y p n o t i s m , s h o w i n g a g r e a t d e v e l o p m e n t o f m i n d - p o w e r . Well, o u r guest has j u s t s u c h m i n d - p o w e r , and m o r e . H e will be an i m m e a s u r able aid to us." P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s led t h e w a y i n t o t h e study, s w i t c h e d o n t h e light, a n d there, s t a n d i n g by the d e s k , w a s t h e G u e s t . Little c o u l d b e s e e n o f h i m , for h e w o r e a l o n g , t i g h t l y - b u t t o n e d o v e r c o a t w h i c h d r a g g e d o n t h e floor. It had b e e n t h r o w n o v e r h i s s h o u l d e r s , s o t h a t t h e a r m s d a n g l e d uselessly a t his sides. O n his h e a d h e w o r e a large hat pulled far d o w n , a n d ( s t r a n g e to tell!), o v e r h i s face h e w o r e a g r e y scarf, k n o t t e d firmly at the b a c k o f his h e a d . T h u s n o t a n i n c h o f his p e r son w a s v i s i b l e . O n l y o n c e did I see h i m w i t h o u t a l l this p a r a p h e r n a lia i n t a c t . " T h i s is the y o u n g m a n I was telling you a b o u t , " t h e p r o f e s s o r was s a y i n g . H e s e e m e d h i g h l y r e s p e c t f u l , a l m o s t reverential, t o w a r d t h e m u f f l e d figure. B u t w h a t was it h e had s a i d ? — " H e d o e s n ' t s p e a k E n g l i s h ! " H e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d it, t h o u g h , I t h o u g h t . The

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bow, a n d I m u r m u r e d c o n v e n t i o n a l w o r d s o f g r e e t i n g to it. I n o t i c e d t h a t the t o p o f t h e d e s k had b e e n c l e a r e d , a n d that t h r e e s u i t c a s e s lay in t h e s h a d o w s . I Hashed a q u e s t i o n i n g l o o k to P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s . " W e a r e l e a v i n g , " the s a v a n t s p o k e n e r v o u s l y . " I have d i s c o v e r e d w h e r e t h e G r e a t A w a k e n i n g is to take p l a c e . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n is hidden by a clever c o d e in t h e Seven

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us in a p e c u l i a r q u i e t and g l i d i n g m a n n e r , u n b u r d e n e d . H e s e e m e d s h o r t e r t h a n w h e n I had first s e e n h i m , b u t I put t h i s d o w n t o a t r i c k o f light a n d s h a d o w . It m a y h a v e b e e n h a l f an h o u r later w h e n w e a r r i v e d al the

field.

U n d e r t h e rays o f ihe m o o n , d r y s t u b b l e l o o k o n a b e a u l i f t i l yellow s h e e n , a n d the a i r p l a n e s h o n e with a pale silver glow. F o r t h e r e

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an a i r p l a n e o n Ihe field, a n d in il t h e p r o f e s s o r placed his s u i t c a s e , i n s t r u c t i n g m e to d o the s a m e w i l h m i n e . " B u t , " I s t a m m e r e d , " w h e r e a r e w e g o i n g ? W h o is t a k i n g u s ? ! " " W e a r e g o i n g , " replied t h e a g e d m a n g r i m l y , " t o t h e n o r t h w o o d s o f M a i n e ; to a place w h i c h I will n o t n a m e and for a p u r p o s e y o u k n o w t o o well. G e l in, my boy." I n s i d e I h e l i n y c a b i n P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s s e t t l e d h i m s e l f at

the

c o n t r o l s , with m e b e s i d e h i m , w h i l e i h e G u e s t sat o n t h e s u i t c a s e s behind. "I

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Professor

Peaslee, t h e m a n w h o s e f a t h e r had s u c h a d r e a d f u l e x p e r i e n c e w h e n t h o s e s i n g u l a r l y a n c i e n t r u i n s were d i s c o v e r e d in Australia thai h e c o m m i t t e d suicide." W i t h a w h i n e and a g r o w l that d e e p e n e d to a roar, the m o t o r a w o k e a n d in a f e w m o m e n t s w e were b o u n c i n g s w i f t l y d o w n t h e field. At its e x t r e m e e n d o u r pilot lifted ihe p l a n e ' s n o s e a n d w e were a i r b o r n e , c l i m b i n g s h a r p l y to g a i n a l t i t u d e a n d leveling o f f to s t r e a k swiftly n o r t h w a r d . L o o k i n g d o w n , I c o u l d s e e t h e t h i n line o f light that w a s t h e M i s k a t o n i c R i v e r f a d e i n t o t h e d i s t a n c e . S i l e n c e and d a r k n e s s (save f o r t h e m o n o t o n e o f the m o t o r a n d t h e i l l u m i n a t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s ) c l o s e d in o n us, w r a p p i n g us in a pall o f a l m o s t s e n t i e n t g l o o m as w e s p e d o n for h o u r s o v e r n o r t h e r n M a s s a c h u s e t t s and Ihe s o u t h e a s t e r n c o r n e r o f New H a m p s h i r e . M i d n i g h t f o u n d us o v e r M a i n e . P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s was e x p l a i n i n g to m e m o r e in detail a b o u t b o t h o u r m i s s i o n and o u r a d v e r s a r i e s . S o m e o f w h a t h e said 1 c a n n o t b r i n g m y s e l f to repeat, f o r t h e w o r l d is b e l t e r o f f w i t h o u t it, b u t o t h e r p a r t s o f h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w e r e vital and pertinent. " A s y o u know, t h e G r e a t O l d O n e s are e l e m e n t a l s ; t h a i is, e a c h is i d e n t i f i e d with a n d has d o m i n i o n o v e r o n e o f the a n c i e n t s o - c a l l e d

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is the d e i t y o f water, C t h u g h a

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N y a r l a t h o t e p , T s a t h o g g u a , A z a t h o t h and S h u b - N i g g u r a t h s e e m a s s o c i a t e d with E a r t h . T h e a i r - b e i n g s a r e Hastur, Z h a r , I t h a q u a ,

and

Lloigor. Y o g - S o t h o t h , w h o is s p o k e n o f as the ' A l l - i n - O n e and t h e O n e - i n - A l l , ' s e e m s n o t to be a s s o c i a t e d w i t h an e l e m e n t . " F r o m hints in t h e Necrononiicon,

I c a n guess at s o m e o f the

t h i n g s t h a t will h a p p e n a t t h e G r e a t A w a k e n i n g . First o f all, t h e r e will b e t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f rites f o r days in a d v a n c e . O f t h e i r n a t u r e , t h e r e is n o n e e d to speak. T h e n , o n A l l - H a l l o w s ' Eve ( t o m o r r o w

night)

t h e r e will b e a l o n g r i t u a l b e g i n n i n g a t s u n s e t . T h e n , a t m i d n i g h t , t h e b o o k says, . . . shall Outside

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" W h a t w e m u s t d o is to s t o p that ritual, to w h i c h t h e r e a r e t w o p a r t s . T h e first ' O p e n s t h e G a t e ' a n d t h e s e c o n d frees the O l d O n e s to m o v e . If w e c a n s t o p it b e f o r e t h e e n d , t h e n the f l e e t i n g m o m e n t in w h i c h t h e s t a r s a r e in the r i g h t p o s i t i o n for it to take e f f e c t will pass, a n d E a r t h will b e saved." " H o w c a n w e s t o p t h e r i t u a l ? " I asked. " M u r d e r ? " " T h a t is n e i t h e r n e c e s s a r y n o r w o u l d it b e effective. T h e r e will b e far t o o m a n y t h e r e . R e n a u n t and P e t e r s o n m a y o r m a y not be t h e r e . W h a t w e m u s t d o is to c o u n t e r a c t their s p e l l s and c h a r m s with o u r o w n , a n d , finally, d e s t r o y their lair o f c o s m i c evil by s e a l i n g it w i t h t h e E l d e r S i g n o n t h a t s t o n e b l o c k f r o m T i b e t . B u t t h e r e are m a n y r i s k s . W e m a y b e a p p r e h e n d e d b e f o r e we c a n d o a n y o f t h o s e t h i n g s . For that r e a s o n , I have w r i s t - b a n d s f o r us to wear. N o n e o f t h e m i n i o n s o f t h e O l d O n e s c a n b e a r to t o u c h t h e s e s t o n e s with t h e E l d e r sign o n t h e m , b u t o n l y o n the T i b e t a n e n c h a n t e d s t o n e is it p o t e n t e n o u g h to s t o p all evil. R e m e m b e r , Bill T r a c y f o u n d t h e w e a k n e s s o f the bracelets his undoing." For h o u r s we d r o n e d on over northern Maine. T h e hands o f the c l o c k o n the i n s t r u m e n t p a n e l p o i n t e d to 4 a . m . w h e n s u d d e n l y I n o ticed s o m e t h i n g . " L o o k ! " I m u r m u r e d to t h e professor, " T h e r e a h e a d ! "

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S h i f t i n g his g a z e slightly, h e t o o s a w w h a t h a d a t t r a c t e d m y a t t e n t i o n . Miles shadow man

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r u s h i n g to m e e t us; a g i a n t s h a p e ,

m i l e s h i g h , w h o s e c o l o s s a l b u l k filled the h o r i z o n a n d s t r e t c h e d to t h e z e n i t h ! S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , a h o w l i n g w i n d s p r a n g u p , b e a r i n g o n its w i n g s t h e s o u n d o f shrill, t e r r i b l e m u s i c , as o f g r e a t flutes o r reed p i p e s b e i n g played all a r o u n d u s in t h e air. " O n e o f t h e O l d O n e s s e n t to d e s t r o y u s ! " s h o u t e d

Professor

S t e r n s . "An a i r - e l e m e n t a l . It is I t h a q u a t h e W i n d - W a l k e r ! " B l a c k terror gripped m e T h e s h a d o w - l i k e B e i n g n e a r e d r a p i d l y , yet o u r p i l o t h e l d h i s c o u r s e , f l y i n g s t r a i g h t at t h e m o u n d - l i k e , n e c k l e s s head and

the

star-eyes. " W e m u s t fiee!" I e x c l a i m e d . " N o use," said t h e p r o f e s s o r , " t h i s is t h e o n l y way." L o u d e r s o u n d e d the d e m o n i a c m u s i c , n e a r e r r u s h e d t h e m o n ster. F o r a m o m e n t Its f l a m i n g eyes s h o n e d i r e c t l y b e f o r e us, a n d t h e n I c l o s e d m y o w n . W h e n 1 o p e n e d t h e m , t h e s k y a h e a d was clear. " W e h a v e c u t a c r o s s a n o t h e r d i m e n s i o n a n d passed

directly

t h r o u g h H i s b o d y , " b r e a t h e d the p r o f e s s o r . " H e c a n n o t t o u c h us b e c a u s e o f the grey s t o n e . W e are s a f e ! " B u t j u s t t h e n a t r e m e n d o u s g u s t o f w i n d t h r e w t h e p l a n e i n t o a d a n g e r o u s s p i n . " H e is s e n d i n g H i s w i n d s to w r e c k u s ! " T h r o u g h t h e b l a c k n i g h t tore h o w l i n g , w h i s t l i n g b l a s t s o f air, t h r o w i n g us o f f o u r c o u r s e d e s p i t e e v e r y t h i n g the p r o f e s s o r c o u l d do. For m i n u t e s h e f o u g h t v a l i a n t l y w i t h the c o n t r o l s , b u t a t last a s e e t h i n g v o r t e x o f c y c l o n i c s t r e n g t h seized the m a c h i n e like a h u g e b l a c k fist and s e e m e d a b o u t t o h u r l it to d e s t r u c t i o n o n the e a r t h b e low. B u t at t h e last m o m e n t , t h e w i n d s s u b s i d e d and t h e

plane

r i g h t e d itself. " W h a t . . . ?" I b e g a n , w h e n P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s i n t e r r u p t e d m e w i t h a whispered,

"Look!"

O n the h o r i z o n a pale, o p a l e s c e n t g l o w b r o a d e n e d i m p e r c e p t i b l y , r e f l e c t i n g t h i n rays u p o n the m i s t s a b o v e .

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" D a w n ! " T h e first n i g h t o f t e r r o r had passed safely, b u t t h e G r e a t Adventure was just beginning.

Less t h a n h a l f an h o u r later, o u r p l a n e l a n d e d n e a r the village o f C h e s u n c o o k . There, the professor loaded o u r luggage into a car w h i c h w a s s o m e h o w w a i t i n g for us, a n d , w i t h t h e G u e s t in the b a c k seat, w e e m b a r k e d o n a trip very s i m i l a r ( a n d yet h o w d i f f e r e n t f r o m ) o n e I had t a k e n a m o n t h b e f o r e . T h e d a v was d a m p , foggy and u n c o m f o r t a b l e . T h e p i n e forests o n e i t h e r s i d e o f the r o a d s t o o d d a r k and e x p e c t a n t , u n w a r m e d by the c l o u d - o b s c u r e d sun. A b o u t n o o n , the professor extracted a b o x l u n c h f r o m o n e o f t h e s u i t c a s e s , b u t t h e G u e s t did n o t p a r t a k e , n o r did t h e p r o f e s s o r o f f e r h i m a n y o f t h e f o o d . It w a s l o n g past n o o n w h e n the c a r s t o p p e d . T h e g r e y c l o u d s in t h e sky were still u n r e l i e v e d , save f o r a d u l l g l o w b e t w e e n z e n i t h and h o r i z o n w h i c h w a s all that w a s visible o f t h e s u n . P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s t h e n o p e n e d a n o t h e r suitcase a n d e x t r a c t e d a q u e e r a p p a r a t u s c o n s i s t i n g o f a s q u a r e b o a r d w i t h a c i r c u l a r h o l e in t h e center. In the h o l e w a s fastened a s h a l l o w m e t a l t r a y o f the s a m e s h a p e , with a c u r v e d glass o v e r it w h i c h p r e v e n t e d the s p i l l i n g o f t h e l i q u i d in the tray. In this c l e a r fluid floated an o b l o n g p i e c e o f d a r k w o o d several i n c h e s long, whittled to a p o i n t at o n e e n d . O n t h e o u t s i d e b o a r d , q u e e r d e s i g n s were c a r v e n . H o l d i n g this o d d c o n t r a p t i o n level, t h e p r o f e s s o r gazed i n t e n t l y at t h e w o o d e n p o i n t e r . It s e e m e d to turn s l o w l y c o u n t e r - c l o c k w i s e , b u t s u d d e n l y it r e v e r s e d its d i r e c t i o n a n d j e r k e d q u i c k l y

three-

quarters o f the way around, there remaining immovable. " T h i s is o u r g u i d e , " r e m a r k e d t h e p r o f e s s o r . " I t ' s a k i n d o f c o m pass, b u t it d o e s n ' t p o i n t n o r t h ! " W e set o f f i n t o t h e w o o d s , f o l l o w i n g t h e d i r e c t i o n set by t h i s c o m p a s s that was not a compass. I t o o k the two remaining suitc a s e s ( o n e was very heavy), a n d t h e a g e d savant w e n t a h e a d with t h e d i r e c t i o n - f i n d e r . T h e G u e s t m o v e d u n o b t r u s i v e l y a l o n g in the rear. T h e u n d e r g r o w t h was very t h i c k , and t h e p i n e s s e e m e d to g r o w a b n o r m a l l y close t o g e t h e r , s o o u r p r o g r e s s was s l o w and n o n e t o o steady. I called f r e q u e n t h a l t s f o r rest w h e n 1 n o t i c e d t h a t t h e p r o f e s s o r w a s s t a g g e r i n g f r o m fatigue.

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I m p e r c e p t i b l y , t h e s h a d e s o f t h e forest d e e p e n e d and

it w a s

n i g h t . I b e g a n to feel an i n d e f i n a b l e a u r a o f evil s u r r o u n d i n g t h e s e b l a c k w o o d s ; a s e n s e o f c o s m i c d r e a d a n d a l i e n p u r p o s e , s o that I did n o t like to let m y m i n d dwell o n o u r m i s s i o n . Q u i t e a b r u p t l y , w e c a m e to the c l e a r i n g . It w a s a b o u t a q u a r t e r o f a m i l e a c r o s s , a n d in t h e c e n t e r w a s a s t o n e s t r u c t u r e r e s e m b l i n g a well, b a t h e d in rays o f a g h o s t l y full m o o n w h i c h s h o n e f r o m a rift b e t w e e n two c l o u d s . T h i s , the p r o f e s s o r i n f o r m e d m e , w a s the o n l y e n t r a n c e to the m o s t u n h o l y a n d a c c u r s e d t e m p l e o n e a r t h ; a place w h e r e d a r k t h i n g s dwelt w i t h d e g e n e r a t e m e n , a n d t h e site o f t h e AllHallows' Great Awakening. A flickering light as o f t o r c h e s c a m e f r o m the m o u t h o f the o p e n c y l i n d e r - s h a f t , a n d a f a i n t m u r m u r also r e a c h e d us from it. T h e following events which occurred on that hellish night 1 must b e v e r y c a r e f u l in d e s c r i b i n g . W e scuttled a c r o s s t h e c l e a r i n g a n d c r o u c h e d b y t h e lip o f t h e r o u n d s h a f t , w h i c h r o s e p e r h a p s a yard f r o m t h e g r o u n d . " T h e c e r e m o n y has started," w h i s p e r e d P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s . " W a t c h t h e sky a n d d o w h a t I say." H e u n l o c k e d b o t h suitcases, t o o k f r o m o n e a folio o f p a p e r s f r o m a m o n g s t m a n y m o r e , a n d f r o m t h e o t h e r e a s e d t h e g r e a t g r e y T i b e t a n s t o n e , w i t h its q u e e r c a r v i n g , laying it b e t w e e n h i m s e l f and the G u e s t . F o r a l o n g t i m e , t h e o n l y t h i n g a u d i b l e f r o m b e l o w w a s the m u r m u r o f c h a n t i n g m e n ' s voices, o c c a s i o n a l l y b r o k e n b y a s t r a n g e , d e e p , e c s t a t i c m o a n . T h e n , syllables in English floated u p to us. " O h , R a v t h o r e , the t i m e h a s c o m e . B e g i n , t h o u ! " I s t a r t e d wildly as a n o t h e r v o i c e b e g a n in c h a n t - l i k e s p e e c h . F o r the second voice was that o f Jacques Renaunt! "Death-Walker! Winds—adorainus

God

of

the

Winds!

Thou

Who

walkest

on

the

te!"

T h e s k y s l o w l y faded to a d a r k g r a y i s h - g r e e n , and t h e w i n d stirred. "Oh, Thou

Who pass above

the sky—adoratnus

the Earth;

Thou

Who

hast

vanquished

te!"

T h e w i n d g r e w in a few s e c o n d s to a c y c l o n i c pitch, a n d h i g h in t h e s k y the c l o u d s r u s h e d b a c k w i t h b r e a t h - t a k i n g speed, as i f its f o r c e u p t h e r e were t h o u s a n d s o f t i m e s greater t h a n w e felt below. "Ithaqua!

Thou

Who

hast

vanquished

the sky—vanquish

it

yet

154

T H E

again

that

Ithaqua hi! hi!

the Supreme

cfayak

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

Purpose

vulgtmm

C I R C L E

may be fulfilled.

vugtlagln

vulgtmm.

Id! hi! Ithaqua! Ithaqua

Ai! Ai!

flitaghn!

Ugh!

hi!!

T h u n d e r r u m b l e d and c r a s h e d a r o u n d us, a d d i n g yet a n o l h e r v o i c e to the i n s a n e c a n t i c l e o f c h a n t a n d w i n d . T h e c h o r u s o f m e n ' s v o i c e s w e l l e d u p d e e p a n d s t r o n g as a c l i m a x a p p r o a c h e d in t h e indescribable c h a o s o f the elements. "la! Azathoth!

1,1! Yog-Sothoth!

hi! Cthulhu!

hi!

Flashes o f light s h o w e d t h e s t r a i n i n g s k y

Cthugha!"

flecked

with lines o f

glowing green. "la! Hastur!

la! Ithaqua!

Ia! Zhar!

1,1!

Lloigorr

A loud buzzing sound seemed b o r n e o n the shrieking blasts o f wind. "10! Shub-Niggurath!

Id! Tsathoggua!

la! Nyarlathotep!

Ai!"

O n t h e last w o r d , a fiendish s h o u t o f e x p e c t a n c y e c h o e d u p f r o m below. W h y didn't the professor do s o m e t h i n g ? I wondered shudderingly. G l a n c i n g al h i m , I s a w h i m w o r r i e d l y w a t c h i n g the passive G u e s t . B u t all t h o u g h t w a s e x t i n g u i s h e d as, w i t h a n o i s e u n e q u a l l e d s i n c e the b i r t h o f the world, the sky

cracked!

T h e r e is n o o t h e r w a y to e x p r e s s it. T h e d a r k n e s s s p l i t , shrivelled a n d r o l l e d u p , a n d , f r o m O u t s i d e , a h i d e o u s and u n k n o w n

light

b a t h e d t h e U n i v e r s e , as t h e G r e a t O l d O n e s o n c e m o r e l o o k e d u p o n Earth. O f w h a t I saw b e y o n d the r a g g e d s h r e d s o f t h e b o r d e r s o f o u r S p a c e - T i m e c o n t i n u u m as new, final c h a n t s r o s e f r o m the t e m p l e b e low, I c a n o n l y b e g i n t o h i n t . I had t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s i m p r e s s i o n o f s t u p e n d o u s , a m o r p h o u s e n t i t i e s ; o f fluid h v p e r - i n t e l l i g e n c e s o f d o m i n a t i n g u n i v e r s a l Evil; o f an u n d i m e n s i o n e d c h a o s o f i m p o s s i b l e a n g u l a r curves a n d c u r v e d a n g l e s ; o f a b o i l i n g , c h a n g i n g c a u l d r o n o f m o v i n g , m a s s i n g m o n s t r o s i t i e s approaching;

then, being a mere hu-

m a n b e i n g , I fell b a c k w a r d to t h e g r o u n d and t u r n e d m y face away. W h a t I s a w o n t h e g r o u n d was a l m o s t as s t u p e f y i n g as t h e sky's ghastly c h a n g e . F o r t h e r e in t h e d i r t w a s an o v e r c o a t , a h a t , and a g r a y scarf, lying in c r u m p l e d disarray, w h i l e in t h e s h a d o w s o f the w o o d a b l a c k f o r m was d i s a p p e a r i n g ! S e c o n d s later, a t i t a n i c c o l u m n o f flame e x p l o d e d f r o m the f o r e s t a n d s h o t u p w a r d , s e n d i n g s h o w e r s o f s p a r k s flying e v e r y w h e r e . Its

T H O S E

W H O

W A I T

155

b a s e left ihe E a r t h a n d it e x p a n d e d swiftly, w h i l e m o v i n g u p w a r d at a rate inconceivable. Simultaneously, f r o m the four points o f the c o m pass, f o u r s i m i l a r pillars o f fire w e r e p r o p e l l e d to t h e /.enith, w h e r e t h e y were s u p e r i m p o s e d o n o n e a n o t h e r in the f o r m o f a c o l o s s a l pentagram, o r

five-pointed

star, s i l h o u e t t e d a g a i n s t t h e t o r n s k y a n d

t h e a m o r p h o u s s h a p e s s t r e a m i n g a c r o s s it. I c o w e r e d in a b j e c t t e r r o r ! " C o m e ! " w h i s p e r e d P r o f e s s o r S t e r n s . " W e have w o r k to d o ! " H e b e g a n c o p y i n g s t r a n g e d e s i g n s , f r o m the p a p e r s h e held, o n t o the a n c i e n t s t o n e s o f the shaft with a q u e e r p a s t e - l i k e s u b s t a n c e f r o m a metal tube. " N o w ! " h e e x c l a i m e d , t h r o w i n g t h e i m p l e m e n t aside, " h e l p m e with this s t o n e ! " W e lifted t h e heavy T i b e t a n m y s t i c a l s t o n e , w h i c h h a d b e g u n to g l o w with a c u r i o u s russet l i g h t , to the lip o f t h e shaft and cast it over. It fell inside with a c r a s h , a n d i m m e d i a t e l y t h e shaft caved in a m i d c r i e s o f a g o n y f r o m below, w h i c h s u p e r s e d e d t h e f o r m e r c h a n t i n g . T h e professor m u r m u r e d a few indistinguishable words and made a c u r i o u s sign with his r i g h t h a n d . " O u r j o b is finished," h e said in a t r e m b l i n g v o i c e . " W e m u s t escape the forest-fire." For the woods f r o m whence the F l a m e - B e i n g had risen were i n d e e d b u r n i n g

fiercely.

W e fled s w i f t l y t h e w a y w e had c o m e , b u t n o t t o o swiftly for m e to g l a n c e b a c k and c a t c h a g l i m p s e o f the fiery s t a r v a n q u i s h i n g t h e b e i n g s f r o m O u t s i d e , the hellish vision fading away, a n d t h e h e a v e n s r e t u r n i n g to n o r m a l . B u t t h e rest o f that flight t h r o u g h the f e a r - h a u n t e d f o r e s t is to m e even m o r e n i g h t m a r i s h t h a n w h a t had p r e c e d e d it, a n d I shall n e v e r again k n o w p e a c e o f m i n d , e v e n t h o u g h t h e n e w s p a p e r s b a b b l e r e a s s u r i n g l y a b o u t a v o l c a n i c d i s t u r b a n c e in M a i n e and its s t r a n g e effect o n t h e s k i e s . F o r t h e a n s w e r w h i c h P r o f e s s o r A r l i n S t e r n s gave in a s h u d d e r i n g w h i s p e r to m y q u e s t i o n a b o u t t h e i d e n t i t y o f o u r m y s terious

Guest

is f o r e v e r

burned

into

m y brain. As we

plunged

t h r o u g h t h e n i g h t e d w o o d s , h e g a s p e d to m e , " I t c a m e to m y d o o r o n e n i g h t . . . It was b l a c k and a s p l a s t i c a s j e l l y . . . It s e n t a m e s s a g e i n t o m y m i n d telling m e w h a t I h a d to d o t o n i g h t . . . telling m e It w o u l d g o with m e . . . I g o t it to f o r m i n t o a piece a b o u t the s h a p e o f a m a n , and p u t t h o s e c l o t h e s o n It to disguise It . . . It told m e in my m i n d t h a t It had c o m e f r o m the s t a r

156

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

B e t e l g e u z e , 2 0 0 light years away with Its B r o t h e r s to c o m b a t

the

Great Old O n e s ! " A n d as w e ran t o w a r d the c a r a n d the s a f e t y o f c i v i l i z a t i o n , t h e r e c a m e b a c k to m e h a l f - f o r g o t t e n passages f r o m the a b h o r r e d

Necro-

w h i c h c a u s e d m e to t r e m b l e in a n e w ecstasy o f fear and

nomicon

a g o n y o f r e m e m b r a n c e , e v e n t h o u g h t h e E a r t h had b e e n saved f o r a time Ubbo-Sathla Old

Ones

Who

is thai unforgonen Who

dare

are of a black fluid

the shape ment

of Towers

. . . And

things Elder

together

that lived

the Elder

shape.

And

of Fire hurled

. . . but they shall

fied

source

oppose

return; shall

came

the

Great

Gods

being

the

Ones

Those

Ones

the Old Ones

Those

take

whence

who came into

in

banish-

Who

Wait shall

possession

of Earth

and

all

to do battle

with

the

upon it and shall prepare

be

satis-

Gods... W H E N T H E L O R D O F T H E G R E A T A B Y S S IS A P P R I S ' D

OF THEIR RETURNING, HE SHALL C O M E WITH

HIS

B R O T H E R S AS T O W E R S O F F I R E A N D D I S P E R S E

THE

EVIL!

T h e Keeper o f Dark Point J o h n Glasby

T

he strange disappearance of Stephen Dehnore Ashton during the

s u m m e r o f 1 9 3 6 e v o k e d little i n t e r e s t e i t h e r in the local o r n a -

tional press. A l m o s t

c e r t a i n l y this w a s d u e to his e a r l i e r

unan-

n o u n c e d , a n d o f t e n u n e x p e c t e d , t r i p s to v a r i o u s p a r t s o f the world. I n d e e d , it m a y t r u t h f u l l y b e said t h a t s i n c e the age o f e i g h t e e n he had resided at the a n c e s t r a l h o m e , Trewallen M a n o r , f o r less t h a n a t o t a l o f t h r e e years. O n this o c c a s i o n , h o w e v e r , t h e r e was a s o l i t a r y w i t n e s s t o t h e b i z a r r e e v e n t s w h i c h led u p to his d i s a p p e a r a n c e ; o n e a b l e to testify t h a t S t e p h e n A s h t o n will n e v e r be seen o n E a r t h a g a i n . W h i l e it is a g a i n s t m y b e t t e r j u d g m e n t to m a k e t h e s e facts w i d e l y k n o w n , a n d k n o w i n g t h e r e is little c h a n c e o f s u c h w i l d l y m o n s t r o u s a n d c o n t r o v e r s i a l e v i d e n c e b e i n g a c c e p t e d e x c e p t b y t h o s e few, like A s h t o n and myself, w h o u n d e r s t a n d s o m e t h i n g o f t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f m a n k i n d ' s e x i s t e n c e in t h e u n i v e r s e , it is vital t h a t s o m e

warning

s h o u l d be given o f that w h i c h lies j u s t b e y o n d t h e r i m o f o u r p r e s e n t knowledge. T h o s e in a u t h o r i t y will d o u b t l e s s m a i n t a i n that while it is an u n d i s p u t e d fact t h a t A s h t o n ' s family, o n his m a t e r n a l s i d e , c a n t r a c e t h e i r l i n e a g e b a c k a l m o s t two t h o u s a n d years in an u n b r o k e n line, t h e g r o t e s q u e m y t h s a n d legends s u r r o u n d i n g t h e m a r e n o t h i n g

more

t h a n i d l e g o s s i p a n d hearsay. T h e i n c r e d i b l y a n c i e n t b o o k we f o u n d will b e d i s m i s s e d a s a c o m p a r a t i v e l y m o d e r n f a k e a n d t h e n o t e

158

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

i n s e r t e d b e t w e e n t h e pages n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n t h e r u m b l i n g s o f an unsound mind. Even t h e u t t e r d e s t r u c t i o n o f D a r k P o i n t Light, s t a n d i n g o n its r o c k y p r o m o n t o r y o f f t h e C o r n i s h c o a s t will b e put d o w n to t h e v i o l e n c e o f that u n p r e c e d e n t e d s t o r m s h a t t e r i n g an a l r e a d y d e c a y i n g s t r u c t u r e w h i c h had lain u n t e n a n t e d a n d u n m a i n t a i n e d f o r m o r e t h a n fifty years. In the e n d I m u s t rely u p o n t h o s e w h o c a n c o r r e l a t e the facts a s I relate t h e m and see t h a t t h e y p o i n t in a d i f f e r e n t , a n d far m o r e terrible, direction from the m o r e c o m m o n p l a c e and rational theories. W h e n I first m e t A s h t o n , d u r i n g m y years a t university, h i s pass i o n f o r o b s c u r e f o l k l o r e had i m m e d i a t e l y d r a w n m e to h i m . H i s i n t e n s e f a s c i n a t i o n with s t r a n g e m y t h - c y c l e s w h i c h p o i n t e d to s o m e u n d e r l y i n g race m e m o r y o f a f a r - d i s t a n t past parallelled m y o w n . W e w o u l d s p e n d h o u r s d i s c u s s i n g the p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e m o t e , p r e - h u m a n c i v i l i z a t i o n s s t r e t c h i n g b a c k to the v e r y y o u t h o f this p l a n e t ;

of

s t r a n g e , a l i e n r u i n s b u r i e d in r e m o t e places, b u i l t b y u n h u m a n h a n d s l o n g b e f o r e the c o m i n g o f m a n k i n d . Even a f t e r g a i n i n g o u r d e g r e e s a n d g o i n g o u r s e p a r a t e ways, we kept u p a c l o s e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e . W h e r e a s I r e m a i n e d in E n g l a n d e a r n i n g m y living a s a w r i t e r o f b o o k s o n a n c i e n t and m e d i e v a l history, h e t o o k h i m s e l f o f f o n n u m e r o u s t r i p s to w e i r d and e x o t i c places, s e a r c h i n g a t

first-hand

for

the origin o f these m y t h s . O n n o o c c a s i o n did he a n n o u n c e the d a t e o f his r e t u r n , a n d h i s unexpected appearance on m y doorsteps that s u m m e r evening c a m e as n o little s u r p r i s e . I had r e c e n t l y t a k e n a s m a l l c o t t a g e o n t h e o u t skirts o f

Riveton, a

picturesque

little village

near the

Yorkshire

m o o r s , r e q u i r i n g the p e a c e and s o l i t u d e to c o m p l e t e m y v o l u m e o n m e d i e v a l w i t c h c r a f t . N e v e r t h e l e s s , h i s arrival was w e l c o m e s i n c e it p r o v i d e d m e w i t h an e x c u s e to c e a s e m y l i t e r a r y l a b o u r s f o r a w h i l e . I m u s t a d m i t , however, that his g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e and

de-

m e a n o u r s h o c k e d m e m o r e t h a n a little. H e had a l w a y s b e e n an i n o r d i n a t e l y tall i n d i v i d u a l , t h i n a l m o s t to t h e p o i n t o f g a u n t n e s s . B u t n o w he s e e m e d t h i n n e r t h a n I r e m e m b e r e d h i m a n d t h e o n l y p a r t o f h i s f e a t u r e s w h i c h a p p e a r e d really alive were his eyes, b l a c k a n d o d d l y piercing. After l e t t i n g h i m in, I s h o w e d h i m i n t o t h e f r o n t p a r l o u r w h e r e h e d e l i b e r a t e l y seated h i m s e l f n e a r t h e w i n d o w w h e r e h e c o u l d s e e

T H E

K E E P E R

OF

DARK

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c l e a r l y a l o n g t h e l a n e r u n n i n g t h r o u g h the village. O f f e r i n g h i m a d r i n k , I sat d o w n a t the table a n d waited for h i m to explain his visit, w o n d e r i n g h o w he had m a n a g e d to find m e s i n c e m y last l e t t e r had been written from London. A p o l o g i z i n g f o r his u n h e r a l d e d arrival, he c o n t i n u e d , " I ' v e c o m e to ask a f a v o u r o f you, M a r t i n . " H e g e s t u r e d t o w a r d s t h e t y p e w r i t e r a n d p a p e r s o n t h e table. " I c a n see you're in the m i d d l e o f a n o t h e r o f y o u r b o o k s a n d y o u p r o b a b l y have a d e a d l i n e to m e e t , b u t I n e e d y o u r help desperately." " G o on," I said. " T h e r e ' s a c e r t a i n b o o k I m u s t find a n d o n c e I lay m y h a n d s o n it, I'll n e e d y o u r help in d e c i p h e r i n g it." " Y o u s e e m q u i t e c e r t a i n you'll find it," I r e m a r k e d . K n o w i n g h i s p r e d i l e c t i o n f o r v i s i t i n g s t r a n g e and d i s t a n t places, I i n w a r d l y h o p e d h e did n o t i n t e n d to d r a g m e o n s o m e j o u r n e y halfway a c r o s s t h e world. H e did n o t reply for a few m o m e n t s , s t a r i n g d o w n at his d r i n k , a n d I n o t i c e d that his h a n d s were t r e m b l i n g visibly. W a t c h i n g h i m closely, I c o u l d s c a r c e l y believe this w a s t h e s a m e p e r s o n I h a d k n o w n at university. T h e n , he had always b e e n s o s u r e o f h i m s e l f , b r i m m i n g with s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e . I a l s o t o o k n o t e o f the furtive w a y h e k e p t g l a n c i n g o u t o f t h e w i n d o w a s i f e x p e c t i n g to s e e

someone—or

s o m e t h i n g — l u r k i n g outside. Finally, h e fixed his p i e r c i n g g a z e o n m e a n d w h e n h e s p o k e t h e r e was a c u r i o u s i n t e n s i t y in his v o i c e w h i c h m a d e m e shiver. " I f it still exists, I k n o w e x a c t l y w h e r e to find it. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e s e a n c i e n t w r i t i n g s a r e o f s u c h a n a t u r e I d a r e n ' t s h o w t h e m to a n y o n e else. Not o n l y for fear o f b e i n g ridiculed b u t b e c a u s e I believe t h e k n o w l e d g e this b o o k c o n t a i n s c o u l d b e h i g h l y d a n g e r o u s in t h e wrong hands." " I see. B u t w h y c o m e to m e ? " " B e c a u s e I u n d e r s t a n d you c a n read a r c h a i c E n g l i s h and I k n o w y o u d o n ' t d i s m i s s t h e o l d m y t h s a n d legends o u t o f h a n d like s o m a n y s o - c a l l e d s c i e n t i s t s w h o ' r e o n l y p r e p a r e d to believe w h a t t h e y c a n see and m e a s u r e w i t h t h e i r i n s t r u m e n t s . I n e e d s o m e o n e like y o u r s e l f w h o isn't afraid to delve i n t o s u c h t h i n g s . " " A n d w h e r e is this b o o k s u p p o s e d to b e ? " I asked, s p e a k i n g a little m o r e s h a r p l y t h a n 1 had i n t e n d e d .

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" I ' m afraid I can't tell y o u t h a t a t t h e m o m e n t , e x c e p t t h a t it's in Cornwall." Seeing m y hesitation, he immediately launched into a rambling m o n o l o g u e o f w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d to h i m s i n c e o u r u n i v e r s i t y days a n d it s o o n b e c a m e a b u n d a n t l y c l e a r his r e s e a r c h e s had t a k e n a far d i f f e r e n t p a t h f r o m m i n e in his s e a r c h f o r t h e t r u t h b e h i n d t h e ageo l d s t o r i e s t h a t dated f r o m t h e p r e - d a w n o f m a n k i n d . H i s v a g u e c i r cumlocution touched upon highly controversial things o f which I had no p r e v i o u s k n o w l e d g e . In low, h u s h e d t o n e s h e s p o k e o f c e r t a i n a n c i e n t t o m e s w h i c h were reputed to have b e e n in his family's p o s s e s s i o n f o r c e n t u r i e s , v o l u m e s w h i c h were kept s e c u r e l y h i d d e n f r o m t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d . I f s u c h b o o k s e v e r e x i s t e d a n d had c o m e to the n o t i c e o f t h e a u t h o r i t i e s c e n t u r i e s ago, t h e r e s e e m e d little d o u b t h i s a n c e s t o r s w o u l d h a v e b e e n b u r n e d at t h e s t a k e a s w i t c h e s and w a r l o c k s . It w a s e v i d e n t he was in a h i g h l y e m o t i o n a l s t a t e and yet t h e r e was a n o t e o f u t t e r s i n c e r i t y in h i s m a n n e r w h i c h i n t r i g u e d m e to t h e p o i n t w h e r e I finally, albeit reluctantly, a g r e e d to a c c o m p a n y h i m to C o r n w a l l , o f f e r i n g t o p u t h i m u p f o r t h e n i g h t s o t h a t w e m i g h t travel d o w n early t h e n e x t day. D u r i n g the long train journey, I learned m o r e o f Ashton's family h i s t o r y . N o w t h a t I w a s an a c c o m p l i c e in h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , h e w a s m o r e o p e n and f o r t h r i g h t a l t h o u g h m o s t o f w h a t h e told m e was fant a s t i c in t h e e x t r e m e . It was o n l y o n his m o t h e r ' s s i d e o f t h e family, t h e T r e w a l l e n s , that t h e r e were t h e s e v a g u e h i n t s o f h o r r o r , s p o k e n o f in w e i r d tales g o i n g b a c k a l m o s t two t h o u s a n d years. H o w h e had s u c c e e d e d in t r a c i n g his lineage b a c k s o far in t i m e , he d i d n ' t divulge, yet it s e e m e d s t r a n g e t h a t s u c h a l o n g r e c o r d c o u l d e x i s t u n b r o k e n . T h a t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n s had b e e n e x t r e m e l y t h o r o u g h , I c o u l d

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d o u b t . H i s r e c e n t visit to A m e r i c a , h e said, he had u n d e r t a k e n w i t h the express p u r p o s e o f seeking o u t old records c o n c e r n i n g a b r a n c h o f t h e f a m i l y w h i c h had e m i g r a t e d to N e w E n g l a n d in t h e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y w h e r e t h e r e w e r e c e r t a i n r e f e r e n c e s to the w i t c h c r a f t t r i a l s h e l d in O l d S a l e m a n d o t h e r t o w n s a l o n g t h e e a s t e r n seaboard. T h i s , however, p r o v e d to b e o n l y a s m a l l , d i v e r g e n t s t r e a m o f t h e m a i n f a m i l y line. T h e T r e w a l l e n s h a d , in the m a i n , s e t t l e d in C o r n -

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wall in Ihe face o f ihe a d v a n c i n g R o m a n a r m i e s w h e r e t h e y h a d rem a i n e d u n t i l the d e a t h s o f his p a r e n t s a few years previously. I l i s t e n e d to t h i s a c c o u n t w i t h a g r o w i n g s e n s e o f a p p r e h e n s i o n a n d d i s b e l i e f f o r t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g in his w o r d s w h i c h filled m e with a n a m e l e s s f o r e b o d i n g s o t h a t , at t i m e s , I d o u b t e d his sanity. W h a t s t r a n g e and t e r r i b l e e v e n t s had s h a p e d t h e d e s t i n y o f his m a t e r nal f o r e b e a r s I c o u l d o n l y g u e s s at f o r it w a s c l e a r that t h e h i n t s h e gave c o n c e a l e d s o m e t h i n g m o r e s i n i s t e r a n d f r i g h t e n i n g . I m u s t a d m i t t h e r e were m o m e n t s d u r i n g o u r j o u r n e y w h e n I w i s h e d 1 h a d n ' t s u b m i t t e d to his u r g e n t e n t r e a t i e s a n d had r e m a i n e d in the s a n e vales o f Yorkshire. It w a s still light w h e n w e a r r i v e d in P e n z a n c e w h e r e w e f o u n d A s h t o n ' s c a r still parked o u t s i d e the railway s t a t i o n w h e r e h e h a d left it t h e p r e v i o u s day. T h e s u n had set a l m o s t h a l f a n h o u r earlier b u t it was still s u f f i c i e n t l y light f o r m e to m a k e o u t details o f the s u r r o u n d i n g c o u n t r y s i d e as w e d r o v e a l o n g n a r r o w , t w i s t i n g r o a d s b e s i d e t h e r u g g e d c o a s t . After leaving the t o w n I had e x p e c t e d the g e n e r a l a s p e c t o f t h e c o u n t r y to b e s i m i l a r to that o f my m o r e n o r t h e r n c o u n t y . Yet, s c a n n i n g t h e low, h u m p e d hills a n d w i l d m o o r l a n d o n t h e o n e s i d e a n d t h e s h e e r d r o p o f t h e cliffs o n t h e o t h e r , I s e n s e d a s u b t l e difference. Taken individually, the m o o r l a n d , hills a n d o c e a n s e e m e d n o r m a l e n o u g h . Yet it w a s t h e w a y in w h i c h t h e t h r e e c o m b i n e d in t h e f a d i n g c o l o r s o f t h e s u n s e t w h i c h d i s t u r b e d m e in s o m e o d d way. T h e r e s e e m e d to b e a c u r i o u s d i s h a r m o n y a b o u t the a m a l g a m a t i o n w h i c h g r a t e d o n m y nerves. T h e hills o n t h e s k y l i n e c r o w d e d t o o closely t o g e t h e r as i f s t r i v i n g to c o n c e a l d a r k s e c r e t s f r o m s o m e fardistant past. F r o m w h a t h e had told m e earlier, I had e x p e c t e d A s h t o n to live in s o m e large, isolated m a n o r , well away f r o m a n y o t h e r h u m a n h a b i t a t i o n . B u t j u s t a s it was g r o w i n g dark, w e d r o v e t h r o u g h a s m a l l , p i c t u r e s q u e village w h e r e h e s t o p p e d t h e c a r o u t s i d e a t w o - s t o r e y h o u s e at t h e e n d o f a n a r r o w lane l e a d i n g o f f t h e m a i n r o a d . As I t o o k m y case f r o m t h e b a c k seat a n d f o l l o w e d m y h o s t a l o n g t h e g a r d e n p a t h , I n o t i c e d that his furtive m a n n e r w a s n o w e v e n m o r e p r o n o u n c e d . In p a r t i c u l a r , his g a z e k e p t flicking t o w a r d s s o m e p o i n t o n the h o r i z o n w h i c h c l e a r l y e v o k e d s o m e q u e e r r e s t l e s s n e s s in h i m . I w a s o n t h e

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p o i n t o f m e n t i o n i n g it b u t f o r b o r e to d o s o , s o m e i n s t i n c t w a r n i n g m e that this m i g h t a f f e c t h i m f u r t h e r . T h a t h e was afraid o f s o m e t h i n g o u t t h e r e in the d e e p e n i n g twilight w a s o b v i o u s . Yet I c o u l d s e e n o t h i n g o u t o f the o r d i n a r y to a c c o u n t f o r his o d d b e h a v i o u r . Unlocking

the d o o r , h e u s h e r e d m e inside, c l o s i n g the d o o r

q u i c k l y b e h i n d h i m and t u r n i n g the key in t h e l o c k . S w i t c h i n g o n t h e light in the f r o n t r o o m , h e m o t i o n e d m e to a c h a i r a n d while h e b u s ied h i m s e l f l i g h t i n g a fire in the w i d e , s t o n e h e a r t h , 1 s u r v e y e d t h e r o o m , n o t i c i n g in p a r t i c u l a r t h e l o n g b o o k s h e l f a l o n g o n e w a l l . M o s t o f t h e titles I c o u l d m a k e o u t w e r e c l e a r l y related to A s h t o n ' s i n t e r e s t s as a h i s t o r i a n a n d a n t i q u a r i a n . I n d e e d , m a n y o f t h e m r e p o s e d o n m y o w n s h e l v e s . B u t t h e r e were o t h e r s w h i c h w e r e e i t h e r c o m p l e t e l y u n k n o w n to m e o r o f w h o s e e x i s t e n c e I had h e a r d o n l y v a g u e and frightening rumours. O n c e t h e fire was g o i n g to h i s s a t i s f a c t i o n , A s h t o n seated h i m s e l f in the c h a i r o p p o s i t e m e , h i s features peculiarly flushed b u t w h e t h e r f r o m t h e heat o f t h e fire o r f r o m s o m e i n n e r e x c i t e m e n t , it w a s i m p o s s i b l e to tell. " I see you're a d m i r i n g m y c o l l e c t i o n , " h e said. " B e l i e v e m e , it's t a k e n years a n d a lot o f travelling a n d s e a r c h i n g to a c q u i r e s o m e o f those volumes." I g o t u p and p e r u s e d the b o o k s m o r e closely, a w a r e all t h e t i m e o f h i s i n t e n s e g a z e o n m y b a c k , w a t c h i n g m y e v e r ) ' m o v e . Here and t h e r e , I c a m e a c r o s s v o l u m e s w h i c h , i f t h e y were o r i g i n a l s , were i n c r e d i b l y r a r e a n d a n c i e n t . M a n y were w r i t t e n in faded Latin o r G r e e k , o t h e r s in A r a b i c , o n yellowed p a r c h m e n t s o b r i t t l e I w a s a f r a i d to t u r n t h e pages f o r fear t h e y m i g h t d i s i n t e g r a t e i n t o d u s t b e n e a t h m y fingers.

Yet, o d d l y , I c o u l d find n o n e w r i t t e n in a r c h a i c E n g l i s h .

W h e n I p o i n t e d t h i s o u t to m y c o m p a n i o n , h e gave a q u i c k , j e r k y n o d . " A s I said, t h e b o o k in q u e s t i o n isn't h e r e . " " T h e n w h e r e is it?" I asked, r e t u r n i n g to m y c h a i r . A s h t o n m a d e an o d d m o t i o n with his left h a n d , t h e n p o i n t e d t o w a r d s t h e w i n d o w . " I t ' s o u t t h e r e , h i d d e n w h e r e n o o n e else c a n find it. T o m o r r o w , I'll take you t h e r e . " F o r a m o m e n t , s i t t i n g there, I e x p e r i e n c e d a s h a r p s u r g e o f anger. Clearly, h e d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d e d m y help b u t a l t h o u g h h e had t o l d m e m u c h o n t h e train, I had t h e feeling h e w a s h i d i n g far m o r e and o n c e

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again, I w a s b e g i n n i n g to regret I h a d a c q u i e s c e d t o his r e q u e s t to accompany him. A s h e rose to his feet, I said a b r u p t l y . " P e r h a p s y o u ' d b e t t e r e x p l a i n y o u r s e l f , S t e p h e n . S o far, I've h e a r d little m o r e t h a n o d d r u m o u r s c o n c e r n i n g y o u r f a m i l y h i s t o r y . N o n e o f w h i c h a p p e a r to h a v e a n y b e a r i n g o n the r e a s o n y o u asked m e to c o m e h e r e . I n d e e d , m u c h o f w h a t y o u ' v e t o l d m e m a k e s v e r y little s e n s e . " "Please don't m i s u n d e r s t a n d o r misjudge me, Martin." T h e exp r e s s i o n o n his g a u n t f e a t u r e s w a s o n e I c o u l d n ' t analyze. Fear, p e r haps, o r s o m e strange i n n e r e x c i t e m e n t . He leaned forward, lingers g r i p p i n g the b a c k o f his c h a i r tightly. " I c a n assure y o u that m y hesit a t i o n in a c q u a i n t i n g y o u with all t h e f a c t s is s i m p l y that t h e r e is s o m u c h to explain and I find it e x t r e m e l y difficult to p u t t h e s e m a t t e r s into words which even you might understand." W i t h a s u d d e n a b r u p t n e s s , h e c h a n g e d the s u b j e c t . " W e ' r e b o t h h u n g r y . I'll p r e p a r e s o m e t h i n g to e a t and t h e n w e c a n talk." Refusing m y o f f e r o f help, h e b u s i e d h i m s e l f in the k i t c h e n and w e a t e o u r m e a l in a s t r a i n e d s i l e n c e . Inwardly, I felt c o n c e r n e d a b o u t h i s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a n d m o r e t h a n a little d i s t u r b e d b y t h e fact t h a t n o o n e k n e w I was in this h o u s e , h u n d r e d s o f m i l e s f r o m Y o r k s h i r e . N o t until t h e t a b l e h a d b e e n c l e a r e d d i d m y h o s t c o n t i n u e w i t h h i s e x p l a n a t i o n s . H e still a p p e a r e d t e n s e a n d n e r v o u s b u t e v i d e n t l y h e had r e g a i n e d s o m e o f his c o m p o s u r e a n d had h i m s e l f u n d e r t i g h t c o n t r o l a s h e s e a t e d h i m s e l f in f r o n t o f t h e b l a z i n g

fire.

" M u c h o f w h a t I ' m g o i n g to tell y o u m a y s e e m like t h e r a v i n g s o f a m a d m a n b u t I m u s t a s s u r e you that e v e r y t h i n g is t r u e . T h e s p e c t r a l tales c o n c e r n i n g m y m a t e r n a l a n c e s t o r s a r e a m a t t e r o f r e c o r d alt h o u g h initially I p u t t h e m d o w n to e x a g g e r a t i o n a n d t h e w r i t i n g s o f s u p e r s t i t i o u s m e n d o w n t h e ages. Now, however, I ' m q u i t e c e r t a i n t h e y are n o t h i n g m o r e o r less t h a n t h e literal t r u t h . " " I ' m q u i t e p r e p a r e d to a c c e p t t h a t s u c h r e c o r d s w e r e m a d e , e s p e cially d u r i n g the M i d d l e Ages," I told h i m . " A n d t h a t t h o s e w h o w r o t e t h e m believed t h e m to b e t r u e . B u t it s e e m s to m e you're t a l k i n g a b o u t s o m e t h i n g m o r e than mere superstition." " I a m . " H e leaned f o r w a r d , a v i b r a n t i n t e n s i t y in his v o i c e . H e waved a h a n d t o w a r d s t h e b o o k s h e l f . " I ' v e g o n e far b e y o n d

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t h a n you c a n p o s s i b l y i m a g i n e . W e talk glibly o f t h e first g r e a t civiliz a t i o n s o f Egypt and S u m e r as if t h e r e was n o t h i n g b e f o r e t h e m . G o o d G o d , M a r t i n , this p l a n e t has b e e n c a p a b l e o f s u s t a i n i n g intelligent life a t h o u s a n d t i m e s l o n g e r t h a n the p e r i o d b e t w e e n n o w and t h e First D y n a s t y o f E g y p t . Mankind

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" I believe t h e r e is. T h a t ' s w h a t I w a n t to tell you s o t h a t y o u , too, c a n u n d e r s t a n d all I've d i s c o v e r e d . " I l i s t e n e d t o h i m for t h e n e x t h o u r , i m m e r s e d in a g r o w i n g s e n s e o f d i s b e l i e f . Yet in s p i t e o f m y n a t u r a l s k e p t i c i s m , a n d d o u b t as to h i s sanity, t h e r e was an o d d c o n v i c t i o n in h i s t o n e w h i c h held m e entranced. M u c h o f his d i s c o u r s e w a s c u r i o u s l y d i s j o i n t e d and i n t e r s p e r s e d by l o n g p e r i o d s o f c o n t e m p l a t i v e s i l e n c e as if he was u n s u r e h o w to p u t h i s b e l i e f s i n t o words. At t i m e s , h e s e e m e d m o r t a l l y a f r a i d , w h i l e at o t h e r s his m o o d was o n e o f elated a n t i c i p a t i o n , like a m a n o n t h e verge o f s o m e t r e m e n d o u s d i s c o v e r y . M o s t o f h i s n a r r a t i v e c o n c e r n e d p e r i o d s o f t i m e s o i n c r e d i b l y rem o t e t h a t m y m i n d h a d d i f f i c u l t y in a c c e p t i n g t h e m fully. H e s p o k e in low, m e a s u r e d t o n e s o f ages b e f o r e m a n k i n d ' s e x i s t e n c e , o f r a c e s w h i c h had p o p u l a t e d t h e E a r t h l o n g b e f o r e t h e first Ice Age that had covered m u c h o f the n o r t h e r n hemisphere; o f other beings which c a m e to E a r t h from o u t e r gulfs o f space, leaving b e h i n d few t a n g i b l e records o f their presence. T h e r e were, he a v e r r e d s o l e m n l y , c e r t a i n s t o n e bore symbols having no counterpart

fragments

a m o n g a n y languages

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k n o w n , indecipherable r e m n a n t s o f a e o n - o l d writings whose exist e n c e was k n o w n o n l y to a few. G r a d u a l l y , d u r i n g the c o u r s e o f h i s s e e m i n g l y i r r a t i o n a l o u t p o u r i n g s , h e b r o u g h t in t h e T r e w a l l e n f a m i l y a n d its part in s u c h c o s m i c m a t t e r s . T h r o u g h o u t the ages, h e m a i n t a i n e d , c e r t a i n sects, s c a t t e r e d a r o u n d the w o r l d , c o n t i n u e d t h e w o r s h i p o f t h e O l d G o d s , c l a i m i n g t h e s e b e i n g s n e v e r died b u t lived o n in u n b r o k e n s l u m b e r in o u t - o f - t h e - w a y places until the t i m e w a s r i g h t for t h e m to rise again, s w e e p i n g away the n e w e r g o d s t h a t had r e p l a c e d t h e m w i t h the e m e r g e n c e o f m a n k i n d . A l m o s t w h i s p e r i n g now, a s if a f r a i d o f b e i n g o v e r h e a r d , A s h t o n

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s p o k e o f h o w ihe T r e w a l l e n f a m i l y had b e e n i h e c u s t o d i a n s o f secret, a r c a n e k n o w l e d g e f r o m p r e - C e l t i c t i m e s . S h u d d e r i n g visibly, h e told o f h o w Ihev had b e e n p e r s e c u t e d b y t h e D r u i d s in t h o s e f a r - o f f days, f o r e v e n t h e s e p e o p l e w h o c a r r i e d o u t h u m a n sacrifices a n d Ihe m o s t h i d e o u s rites a m i d c i r c l e s o f s t a n d i n g s t o n e s o l d e r t h a n m e m o r y had r e v o l t e d a g a i n s t Ihe secret c e r e m o n i e s e n a c t e d in Ihe n a m e o f g o d s m o r e a n c i e n t and fearful t h a n their o w n . T h a t t h e s e rites had c o n t i n u e d , virtually to the present day, s e e m e d c l e a r f r o m the h i n t s w h i c h A s h t o n d r o p p e d . T h e r e had always b e e n a n i m o s i t y a g a i n s t his f a m i l y f r o m t h e local p o p u l a c e a n d this had c u l m i n a t e d , t e n y e a r s earlier, in a s h r i e k i n g m o b f r o m t h e village, r o u s e d b y a s m a l l n u m b e r o f h o t - h e a d e d individuals, a d v a n c i n g o n t h e m a n o r o n e N o v e m b e r n i g h t a n d p u t t i n g t h e a n c i e n t b u i l d i n g to t h e t o r c h . B o t h o f his p a r e n t s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h r e e s e r v a n t s , had p e r i s h e d in the h o l o c a u s t . T h r o u g h o u t this e x t r a o r d i n a r y tale, m y feeling g r e w t h a t o v e r t h e y e a r s A s h t o n had b e c o m e o b s e s s e d w i t h this m o n s t r o u s s u p e r s t i t i o n and t h a t his m i n d w a s in g r a v e d a n g e r o f b e c o m i n g u n h i n g e d . C e r t a i n l y f r o m w h a t I had h e a r d h e s e e m e d s c a r c e l y c a p a b l e o f r a t i o nal t h o u g h t . S o m e t h i n g o f m y feelings m u s t have s h o w n in m y f a c e f o r h e s t o p p e d a b r u p t l y and f o r c e d h i m s e l f to sit b a c k m o r e c a l m l y in h i s c h a i r b e f o r e c o n t i n u i n g in a m a r k e d c h a n g e o f t o n e . " I ' m afraid all o f this m u s t s t r i k e y o u a s t h e r a v i n g s o f a lunatic, M a r t i n . A n d y o u m u s t b e w o n d e r i n g w h a t I've b r o u g h t y o u into. All I a s k is t h a t y o u b e a r with m e until t o m o r r o w . T h e n , I ' m sure, you'll h a v e all t h e p r o o f y o u n e e d that I ' m a s s a n e a s y o u are." After t h a t he said n o m o r e o n the s u b j e c t f o r by n o w t h e h o u r had g r o w n late and w e were b o t h tired b y t h e l o n g j o u r n e y . Inwardly, I w a s glad w h e n h e s h o w e d m e to m y r o o m a n d had retired t o h i s own. S o m e instinct prompted m e t o lock m y door before going a c r o s s to the w i n d o w , t a k i n g o f f my j a c k e t and p l a c i n g it a c r o s s t h e b a c k o f t h e c h a i r b e s i d e the bed. It w a s a w a r m , s u l t r y n i g h t and I o p e n e d t h e w i n d o w s l i g h t l y to let s o m e a i r i n t o t h e r o o m . O u t s i d e , it w a s still n o t c o m p l e t e l y d a r k a l t h o u g h it was past m i d n i g h t . C a p e l l a lay l o w t o w a r d s t h e n o r t h w h e r e a pale b l u e g l o w lit the h o r i z o n . T h e r o o m was s i t u a t e d a t t h e r e a r o f t h e h o u s e , o v e r l o o k i n g a w i l d s t r e t c h o f m o o r l a n d and in t h e

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d i s t a n c e I c o u l d j u s t m a k e o u t the o c e a n . Physically, I felt d r a i n e d and e x h a u s t e d , yet my m i n d was c u r i o u s l y a l e r t , filled with t h e o d d t h i n g s w h i c h A s h t o n had revealed. H o w m u c h t r u t h c o u l d b e c o n t a i n e d in t h o s e s t r a n g e r a m b l i n g s ? T h a t his f a m i l y had b e e n involved in c e r t a i n q u e e r rites d o w n t h e c e n t u r i e s I c o u l d a c c e p t . T h e o l d p a g a n r e l i g i o n had m a i n t a i n e d its i n s i d i o u s g r i p o n this part o f E n g l a n d l o n g a f t e r the c o m i n g o f C h r i s tianity, p e r s i s t i n g d o w n t h e years well i n t o t h e M i d d l e Ages. B u t all that f a n t a s t i c t a l k o f p r e - h u m a n c i v i l i z a t i o n s , o f

Old

G o d s from o u t s i d e the E a r t h still living o n in r e m o t e a n d i n a c c e s s i b l e places, w a i t i n g to rise again, c o m m u n i n g with t h e i r a d h e r e n t s by m e a n s o f d r e a m s and a g e - o l d c e r e m o n i e s . All o f that was n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n the result o f an o v e r - a c t i v e i m a g i n a t i o n . Yet w h y had t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f this area s u d d e n l y d e s c e n d e d in a f r e n z i e d m o b u p o n t h e o l d m a n o r a n d d e l i b e r a t e l y set it ablaze, k n o w i n g t h a t five p e o p l e were inside with literally n o h o p e o f e s c a p e ? I t r i e d to recall a n y m e n t i o n o f it in t h e n e w s p a p e r s o f that t i m e b u t n o t h i n g c a m e to m i n d . I f it h a d a c t u a l l y h a p p e n e d a s A s h t o n had d e s c r i b e d , e i t h e r I had m i s s e d a n y r e f e r e n c e to i t — o r t h e a u t h o r i t i e s here had h u s h e d it u p s o t h a t n o n e w s o f the d e e d had r e a c h e d b e y o n d t h e c o n f i n e s o f this tiny region. I was o n t h e p o i n t o f t u r n i n g away

from

the w i n d o w w h e n

s o m e t h i n g c a u g h t a n d held m y a t t e n t i o n . O v e r to m y r i g h t , a b r i g h t light f l i c k e d o n and o f f , l o n g a n d s h o r t flashes f o l l o w i n g e a c h o t h e r in a r a p i d , a n d s e e m i n g l y r a n d o m , s e q u e n c e . P u z z l e d , I s t o o d rigid, tryi n g to a s c e r t a i n its o r i g i n and n a t u r e . M y first i m p r e s s i o n was t h a t s o m e o n e was s i g n a l l i n g a c r o s s the m o o r s . B u t I d i s m i s s e d this a l m o s t at o n c e w h e n the r e a l i z a t i o n c a m e t h a t t h e s o u r c e o f t h e light m u s t h a v e b e e n at least f o u r m i l e s away f o r it c l e a r l y o r i g i n a t e d f r o m s o m e w h e r e b e y o n d t h e rim o f the cliffs w h e r e the l a n d fell p r e c i p i t o u s l y t o w a r d s the sea. Swiftly, however, l o g i c a n d c o m m o n s e n s e asserted t h e m s e l v e s . Possibly c o l o r e d by w h a t I had heard, m y m i n d had insisted o n s e e i n g s o m e t h i n g s i n i s t e r b e h i n d t h o s e flashes w h e r e a s t h e r e was, o f c o u r s e , a logical e x p l a n a t i o n . O u t t h e r e , that s t r e t c h o f c o a s t was a l m o s t c e r tainly m a r k e d by h i d d e n s h o a l s a n d r o c k s and w h a t I was s e e i n g w a s n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n the w a r n i n g light s e n t o u t b y a l i g h t h o u s e , a c t i n g as a b e a c o n for vessels in the vicinity.

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At b r e a k f a s t t h e n e x t m o r n i n g , I casually m e n t i o n e d w h a t I had s e e n . W h i l e A s h t o n a f f i r m e d t h a t t h e r e was, i n d e e d , an o l d l i g h t h o u s e o n a r o c k y p r o m o n t o r y f o u r m i l e s d i s t a n t , h e insisted it had n o t b e e n in o p e r a t i o n f o r m o r e years t h a n h e c o u l d r e m e m b e r . H e a r g u e d t h a t it c o u l d not h a v e b e e n a b e a m f r o m the o l d l i g h t h o u s e I h a d s e e n , i f I had s e e n a n y t h i n g a t all, a n d it m u s t have b e e n f r o m s o m e vessel p a s s i n g a l o n g t h a t s t r e t c h o f c o a s t . T h e r e w a s c l e a r l y no p o i n t in purs u i n g this s u b j e c t a n y f u r t h e r in his p r e s e n t s t a t e o f m i n d a n d w h e n h e suggested I a c c o m p a n y h i m to the r u i n s o f the m a n o r I readily agreed. T h e w e a t h e r was again w a r m and s u n n y a s w e left the h o u s e and s t r u c k o f f a c r o s s the m o o r s t o w a r d s a d e n s e c o p s e o f trees p e r h a p s t w o m i l e s away. T h e r e had o n c e b e e n a n u m b e r o f t r a c k s a c r o s s t h e m o o r s b u t m o s t were n o w o v e r g r o w n w i t h t h i c k s t r a n d s o f b r i a r w h i c h v i r t u a l l y o b l i t e r a t e d t h e m in places. By t h e t i m e w e r e a c h e d t h e trees w e were b o t h p e r s p i r i n g freely a n d , l o o k i n g a b o u t m e , I s a w t h a t t h e w o o d w a s m o r e d e n s e and o v e r p o p u l a t e d t h a n 1 had i m a g ined f r o m a distance.

E n o r m o u s o a k s g r e w s o close t o g e t h e r

it

seemed impossible that anyone could squeeze between them. As we p a u s e d to get o u r b r e a t h b a c k , I n o t i c e d A s h t o n h a d t u r n e d and w a s s u r v e y i n g t h e g r o u n d b e h i n d us. H e a p p e a r e d o d d l y ill a t ease a n d I g l a n c e d b a c k a l o n g t h e p a t h w e had travelled to s e e w h a t w a s t r o u b l i n g h i m . C e r t a i n l y t h e r e w a s n o o n e in sight o n t h e m o o r s and t h e r e were n o p l a c e s w h e r e a n y o n e m i g h t c o n c e a l t h e m s e l v e s . B u t t h e n , s w e e p i n g m y g a z e a l o n g the h o r i z o n , I g l i m p s e d an o d d s t r u c t u r e w h i c h c o u l d o n l y have b e e n the l i g h t h o u s e . Its o u t l i n e s were i n d i s t i n c t , partially o b s c u r e d by a haze w h i c h lay o v e r t h e sea. Yet even f r o m t h a t s h a d o w y g l i m p s e , I realized t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g p e c u l i a r a b o u t that s k y - r e a r i n g s h a p e . It rose, s q u a t a n d ugly, f r o m its r o c k y base, u n l i k e t h e s l e n d e r t o w e r s o f m o s t o t h e r s i m i l a r s t r u c t u r e s I had s e e n , and t h e l a m p r o o m at t h e t o p w a s o f a c u r i o u s l y b u l b o u s configuration. A s h t o n c o n t i n u e d t o stare at it a s t h o u g h m e s m e r i z e d , totally o b l i v i o u s o f his s u r r o u n d i n g s for several m o m e n t s . T h e n , w i t h an eff o r t , he p u l l e d h i m s e l f t o g e t h e r a n d w i t h o u t a w o r d led the w a y i n t o t h e trees. H e r e , o u t o f sight o f t h e s u n , f o r t h e g r o t e s q u e l y thick, g n a r l e d b r a n c h e s s h u t o u t all v i e w o f t h e o u t s i d e world, t h e b r o o d i n g t r u n k s c r o w d e d in o n u s f r o m e v e r y s i d e . U t t e r s i l e n c e h u n g

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t h i c k a n d h e a v y in t h e u n m o v i n g a i r and the t h i c k layer o f d e a d and d e c a y i n g v e g e t a t i o n d e a d e n e d the s o u n d o f o u r f o o t s t e p s . H o w A s h t o n m a n a g e d to o r i e n t a t e h i m s e l f and g a u g e his d i r e c t i o n . I c o u l d not guess, f o r h e t h r u s t h i s way t h r o u g h t h e d e n s e u n d e r g r o w t h w i t h o u t o n c e d e v i a t i n g f r o m his p a t h . T h e n , suddenly, w e c a m e o u t i n t o a wide c l e a r i n g . Here, the g r o u n d was d e v o i d o f all v e g e t a t i o n w h i l e in t h e c e n t e r s t o o d the

fire-blackened

r u i n s o f TVe-

wallen M a n o r . It w a s i m m e d i a t e l y o b v i o u s that the fire had d o n e its w o r k well. G a u n t s t o n e walls rose d e s o l a t e l y t o w a r d s the h e a v e n s . TWisted, s p l i n t e r e d b e a m s h u n g l o p s i d e d l y w i t h i n the i n t e r i o r w h e r e t h e piles o f d e b r i s lay in m o u l d e r i n g h e a p s o p e n to t h e sky. C l a s s l e s s w i n d o w s leered at us like h u n g r y eyes w a t c h i n g o u r a p p r o a c h w i t h a l o a t h s o m e m a l e v o l e n c e t h a t s e n t a s h i v e r t h r o u g h m e in s p i t e o f t h e w a r m t h o f t h e day. A s h t o n p a u s e d w h i l e still a little d i s t a n c e away a n d s t a r e d a t t h e r u i n s with t h e s a m e e x p r e s s i o n o n h i s face a s t h a t w h i c h I had n o t i c e d o n the o u t s k i r t s o f t h e w o o d . C o m i n g a l o n g s i d e h i m , I said softly, " S u r e l y you d o n ' t e x p e c t to find a n y t h i n g still i n t a c t in t h e r e ? " F o r a few s e c o n d s it w a s as if h e had n o t h e a r d m e , t h e n h e t u r n e d h i s head q u i c k l y in m y d i r e c t i o n . " I ' l l find it," h e m u t t e r e d t h i c k l y . " I m u s t . O t h e r w i s e e v e r y t h i n g m a y be lost. M a k e n o m i s t a k e a b o u t that." C l u t c h i n g m e b y t h e a r m , he h u s t l e d m e t o w a r d s t h e r u i n s . A t h i c k layer o f g r e y d u s t a n d a s h lay o v e r e v e r y t h i n g s o t h a t w e w e r e f o r c e d to tread carefiilly. B r o k e n and c r a c k e d s l a b s lay c o n c e a l e d b e n e a t h the ash and t h e twisted r e m n a n t s o f s c o r c h e d w o o d e n b e a m s c r i s s - c r o s s e d the floor. Even a c u r s o r y g l a n c e w a s sufficient t o tell m e t h a t n o t h i n g c o u l d p o s s i b l y have s u r v i v e d the i n f e r n o w h i c h had d e s t r o y e d this p l a c e . I m a d e to p o i n t t h i s o u t to m y c o m p a n i o n b u t he had m o v e d away to a far c o r n e r o f w h a t had o n c e b e e n a large b a n q u e t i n g hall. T h e r e , t h e r e m a i n s o f a w i d e s t a i r w a y thrust u p towards the shell o f the upper

floors.

Ashton went down on one knee beside the unsupported stairs a n d p e e r e d i n t e n t l y a t the s t o n e floor, s c r a p i n g away t h e ash a n d d e -

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b r i s w i t h his h a n d s . I i n c h e d m y w a y past the t a t t e r e d s h r e d s o f o n c e r i c h tapestries w h i c h had o n c e a d o r n e d t h e walls. " I t has to b e here s o m e w h e r e " A s h t o n m u t t e r e d a n d I had t h e i m p r e s s i o n h e w a s s p e a k i n g m o r e to r e a s s u r e h i m s e l f t h a n to me. " I s e e m to r e m e m b e r — " H e b r o k e o f f a b r u p t l y as his q u e s t i n g l i n g e r s f o u n d w h a t h e w a s s e e k i n g . B e n e a t h t h e stairs, flat a g a i n s t t h e floor, was a large i r o n r i n g w h i c h he g r a s p e d f i r m l y in b o t h h a n d s . S t r a i g h t e n i n g up, h e p u l l e d with all his s t r e n g t h . T h e h e a v y t r a p d o o r lifted slowly a n d I b e n t f o r w a r d to help h i m . T h e n e x t s e c o n d we were b o t h r e e l i n g a n d g a s p i n g in the blast o f n o x i o u s air that swept u p from t h e g a p i n g h o l e in t h e floor. W i t h a s u d d e n s u r g e o f f r a n t i c s t r e n g t h , A s h t o n h u r l e d t h e d o o r b a c k o n its h i n g e s a n d staggered away f r o m t h e o p e n i n g , c o v e r i n g his m o u t h a n d n o s t r i l s with h i s h a n d s . After a few m i n u t e s w e were b o t h s u f f i c i e n t l y r e c o v e r e d to p e e r d o w n i n t o t h e abyssal b l a c k n e s s u s i n g a p o w e r f u l t o r c h w h i c h A s h t o n had b r o u g h t w i t h h i m . S h i n i n g t h e b e a m d o w n w a r d , m y c o m p a n i o n i l l u m i n a t e d t h e n a r r o w steps w h i c h led into u n k n o w n d e p t h s b e n e a t h t h e r u i n s . If w h a t e v e r h e was s e e k i n g still e x i s t e d , a n d h e c l e a r l y e x p e c t e d to f i n d it s o m e w h e r e in t h e cellar, t h e r e was u n d e n i a b l y a p o s s i b i l i t y it had e s c a p e d t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e f l a m e s a n d s m o k e w h i c h had d e s t r o y e d the rest o f the m a n o r . T h e t h i c k s t o n e f l o o r would have afforded a great deal o f p r o t e c t i o n , e v e n f r o m the t r e m e n dous heat. Yet in s p i t e o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e h e a t t a c h e d to f i n d i n g this b o o k , A s h t o n s e e m e d o d d l y r e l u c t a n t to d e s c e n d t h o s e s t e p s . " W h a t are y o u h o p i n g to find in this b o o k if it's d o w n t h e r e ? " I asked, w i n c i n g a little at t h e w a y m y v o i c e e c h o e d e e r i l y f r o m t h e s h a t t e r e d walls. " T h e key to all I've b e e n s e a r c h i n g f o r all t h e s e years," h e replied in a h o a r s e w h i s p e r . " E v e r s i n c e I c a n r e m e m b e r , I've b e e n t o l d o f t h e d u t y laid o n the T r e w a l l e n s . I l e a r n e d c e r t a i n t h i n g s f r o m m y m o t h e r a n d p e r h a p s she f o r e s a w t h e r e m i g h t c o m e a t i m e w h e n the villagers w o u l d t a k e t h i n g s i n t o t h e i r o w n h a n d s f o r t h e r e w a s n o d o u b t they b o t h h a t e d a n d feared us. S h e a l w a y s said that if a n y t h i n g d i d h a p p e n , I was to s e a r c h d o w n h e r e . " " T h e n we'd b e t t e r g o d o w n a n d take a l o o k . " Still hesitant, A s h t o n finally n o d d e d a n d l o w e r e d h i m s e l f g i n g e r l y

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i n t o t h e a p e r t u r e , d i r e c t i n g the t o r c h l i g h t b e t w e e n his feet s o t h a t h e m i g h t see w h e r e he w a s g o i n g . I s t o o d q u i t e still, w a t c h i n g his s l o w d e s c e n t , the w a v e r i n g b e a m s e n d i n g his s h a d o w d a n c i n g g r o t e s q u e l y o v e r t h e a n c i e n t s t o n e walls. T h e steps led far d e e p e r i n t o t h e f o u n d a t i o n s t h a n I had a n t i c i p a t e d a n d it w a s a full five m i n u t e s b e f o r e I heard his v o i c e c a l l i n g o n m e t o follow. I n the s a m e i n s t a n t , h e d i r e c t e d t h e t o r c h l i g h t u p t h e shaft in o r d e r to d e l i n e a t e t h e s t o n e s t e p s f o r m e . C a u t i o u s l y , I e a s e d m y w a y o v e r t h e e d g e a n d c o m m e n c e d feeling m y way d o w n the steps, s t e a d y i n g m y s e l f a g a i n s t t h e c o n f i n i n g walls w h i c h g r a d u a l l y b e c a m e m o r e s l i p p e r ) ' and s l i m y u n d e r my

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By t h e t i m e 1 r e a c h e d t h e b o t t o m , m y h a n d s were s m e a r e d w i t h a g h a s t l y g r e e n m o l d a n d t h e r e w a s a q u e e r m u s t y s m e l l in m y nostrils, a stench c o m p o u n d e d o f decay and certain chemical o d o u r s which I couldn't place. I s t r a i g h t e n e d u p slowly, e x p e c t i n g m y h e a d to t o u c h the ceili n g b u t i n s t e a d , I f o u n d w e were s t a n d i n g in a l o f t y passage w h i c h s t r e t c h e d away in b o t h d i r e c t i o n s a n d with n o v i s i b l e e n d e i t h e r way. M y c o m p a n i o n s h o n e h i s t o r c h a r o u n d the d r i p p i n g walls a s w e e d g e d away f r o m the s t e p s , t h e light p i c k i n g o u t d e t a i l s o f t h e r o u g h s u r f a c e . At i n t e r v a l s , m e t a l b r a c k e t s had b e e n affixed t o t h e s t o n e and in o n e w e f o u n d t h e b u r n t r e m a i n s o f a r u s h l i g h t , a d d i n g f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e to the a n t i q u i t y o f t h e p l a c e f o r t h e s e lights had o b v i o u s l y b e e n p l a c e d t h e r e to p r o v i d e i l l u m i n a t i o n o f a sort in b y g o n e a g e s . I had n o m e a n s o f k n o w i n g h o w o l d this b u i l d i n g w a s b u t f r o m w h a t I s a w in that vast cellar, I r e c k o n e d it m u s t have dated b a c k n o t less t h a n f o u r o r five c e n t u r i e s . I n d e e d , 1 s u s p e c t e d t h e m a n o r had b e e n e r e c t e d o n an even e a r l i e r site and this s u b t e r r e n e passage had b e e n c a r v e d f r o m t h e s o l i d r o c k m o r e t h a n t w o t h o u s a n d years b e f o r e . At o n e p o i n t we e n c o u n t e r e d a n a r r o w passage l e a d i n g o f f t o o u r r i g h t b u t a l t h o u g h w e p r o b e d it with the light o f t h e t o r c h w e c o u l d see n o e n d to it a n d it s e e m e d t o o i n c r e d i b l y n a r r o w f o r a n o r m a l p a s s a g e . W h a t e v e r p u r p o s e it had o n c e served, it w a s c l e a r l y n o t i n t e n d e d for m e n to walk a l o n g . S o m e t h i r t y y a r d s f u r t h e r o n , t h e t u n n e l w i d e n e d a b r u p t l y , leadi n g i n t o a h u g e c h a m b e r w h o s e f u r t h e r m o s t l i m i t s were o n l y just t o u c h e d by the t o r c h l i g h t as A s h t o n s w u n g t h e b e a m a r o u n d .

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S c a t t e r e d a c r o s s t h e s t o n e floor were several c r u m b l i n g w o o d e n cases. S o m e had b e e n b o u n d with iron straps a n d f o r t h e m o s t p a r t t h e s e m e t a l b i n d i n g s w e r e all that w a s left o f t h e m , t h e w o o d h a v i n g t o t a l l y d i s i n t e g r a t e d o v e r t h e years. A s h t o n gave t h e s e o n l y a c u r s o r y e x a m i n a t i o n . Evidently w h a t h e s o u g h t was n o t to be f o u n d there. T h e n I h e a r d h i m u t t e r a s h a r p e x c l a m a t i o n a s the w a v e r i n g t o r c h l i g h t t o u c h e d u p o n

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a g a i n s t the far wall. T h e n e x t m o m e n t , h e w a s r u s h i n g f o r w a r d , kicki n g aside t h e r o t t i n g b o x e s in his h a s t e . I f o l l o w e d a s q u i c k l y as I dared. Jutting f r o m the wall w a s a t h i c k s t o n e s h e l f a b o u t t h r e e feet in w i d t h a n d o n it s t o o d a large m e t a l c h e s t w h o s e lid b o r e a n u m b e r o f h i d e o u s i d e o g l y p h s m o u l d e d in l o w relief. T h r u s t i n g t h e t o r c h a t m e , A s h t o n d i r e c t e d m e to s h i n e the light u p o n t h e c h e s t , p u l l i n g h a r d o n t h e lid o n l y to find it s e c u r e l y locked. " S e e i f you c a n find a n y t h i n g with w h i c h to prise this o p e n , " h e c o m m a n d e d tersely. C a s t i n g a b o u t , I s p i e d a s h o r t m e t a l bar o n t h e t l o o r w h i c h had o b v i o u s l y b e e n u s e d at o n e t i m e to o p e n the l o n g w o o d e n cases. Seizi n g it from m e , h e t h r u s t the e n d savagely u n d e r the lid, f o r c i n g it u p with all his s t r e n g t h . T h e r e w a s a h a r s h r e n d i n g s c r e e c h o f m e t a l and t h e lid flew o p e n with an e x p l o s i v e c r a c k , s l a m m i n g hard a g a i n s t t h e wall. D r o p p i n g t h e b a r , A s h t o n t h r u s t his h a n d s i n s i d e a n d w i t h d r e w a v o l u m i n o u s t o m e w h i c h h e held u p t o t h e light, h i s features o d d l y elated. He uttered a sudden c r y that e c h o e d through the c h a m b e r . " I s t h a t it?" I asked. M y v o i c e t r e m b l e d slightly, n o t f r o m the e x c i t e m e n t o f this discovery, b u t b e c a u s e in t h a t s a m e i n s t a n t , a s t r a n g e a u r a s e e m e d to have p e r v a d e d the c h a m b e r . T h e s i l e n t walls s e e m e d to o o z e m e n a c e a n d I had t h e u n s h a k a b l e i m p r e s s i o n t h e r e had b e e n a s o u n d s o m e w h e r e a l o n g the w i d e passage w e had r e c e n t l y t r a versed; a s o u n d w h i c h had c o m e in a n s w e r to A s h t o n ' s s u d d e n cry. T h e n o i s e was e x t r e m e l y faint, it is t r u e , yet it w a s o n e w h i c h s e n t a s h i v e r o f n a m e l e s s d r e a d t h r o u g h m e a n d I felt an irresistible i m p u l s e to t u r n a n d flee f r o m that s u b t e r r e n e c h a m b e r with its a g e - o l d secrets. A s h t o n m u s t have h e a r d the s o u n d t o o , for h e lifted h i s head f r o m his perusal o f the t o m e a n d s t a r e d at m e w i t h a n a s h e n face, h i s d a r k eyes g l i n t i n g s t r a n g e l y in the t o r c h l i g h t .

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I c o u l d o n l y n o d m u t e l y in a f f i r m a t i o n . W h e t h e r his i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e n o i s e w a s s i m i l a r to m i n e , I c o u l d n o t say. T o m e , t h e i m p r e s s i o n I had was o n e o f s o m e t h i n g h u g e and m o n s t r o u s s l i t h e r i n g a c r o s s the s t o n e f l o o r ; a d r a g g i n g , n a u s e o u s s o u n d w h i c h h a d faded swiftly i n t o t h e d i s t a n c e . In the u t t e r s i l e n c e o f t h a t cellar, it had s e e m e d u n n a t u r a l l y s h a r p a n d a l i e n . Had it c o m e t o w a r d s us, i n s t e a d o f r e c e d i n g i n t o the dist a n c e , b o t h o f us w o u l d have b e e n t r a p p e d w i t h n o w a y o f e s c a p e . S t a n d i n g t h e r e , s t a r i n g w i l d l y a t e a c h other, w e were b o t h f r a n t i c a l l y s e e k i n g s o m e n a t u r a l e x p l a n a t i o n , s o m e logical e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h a t s h o c k i n g e c h o , s t r a i n i n g o u r e a r s f o r a n y r e p e t i t i o n . Finally, A s h t o n laid a s h a k i n g h a n d o n m y a r m a n d m o t i o n e d towards t h e passage l e a d i n g b a c k to t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d . C l u t c h i n g the a n c i e n t b o o k u n d e r o n e a r m , h e h u r r i e d b e s i d e m e as I used t h e t o r c h to light o u r way b a c k . T h e t h o u g h t o f b e i n g t r a p p e d in t h a t u n d e r g r o u n d t u n n e l i m p e l l e d us to h u r r v in spite o f t h e t r e a c h e r o u s , s l i p p e r y u n e v e n n e s s o f t h e r o c k y floor. N o t u n t i l w e r e a c h e d t h e n i t r e - c o v e r e d s t e p s l e a d i n g u p t h r o u g h the f o u n d a t i o n s o f the m a n o r did w e p a u s e . H e r e , w h e r e the t u n n e l c o n t i n u e d in t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n , I s h o n e t h e t o r c h l i g h t a l o n g it, s t r i v i n g to p i c k o u t a n y t h i n g w h i c h m i g h t a c c o u n t f o r w h a t w e had h e a r d , c e r t a i n t h a t w h a t e v e r it had b e e n , the o r i g i n a t o r o f t h a t s o u n d h a d m o v e d away in t h a t d i r e c t i o n . In a low, s h a k y whisper, I asked, " D o y o u k n o w w h e r e t h a t t u n n e l leads?" " O u t u n d e r the m o o r s , I s u p p o s e . " A s h t o n ' s v o i c e w a s p i t c h e d e q u a l l y low. " B u t as to where it e m e r g e s , I've n o idea. A n d I ' m n o t i n c l i n e d to find o u t . " H e cast a q u i c k , a p p r e h e n s i v e g l a n c e a l o n g t h e passage w h e r e t h e b e a m o f t h e t o r c h p i c k e d o u t n o t h i n g m o r e s u b s t a n t i a l t h a n s h a d o w s . " L e t ' s get o u t o f h e r e . I've g o t w h a t I c a m e for." O n e a f t e r t h e other, w e c l a m b e r e d u p t h e s l i m y steps,

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p u l l i n g ourselves t h r o u g h the exit, d r o p p i n g the h e a v y t r a p d o o r b a c k into place. H a s t e n i n g f r o m t h e b l a c k e n e d r u i n s , w e thrust o u r w a y t h r o u g h t h e s u r r o u n d i n g trees, b a c k o v e r t h e m o o r l a n d t r a c k t o t h e village. In t h e b r i g h t n o o n s u n l i g h t s t r e a m i n g t h r o u g h the w i n d o w s , w e e x a m i n e d A s h t o n ' s find. It was i m p o s s i b l e to p u t a n y d a t e o n t h e

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b o o k a l t h o u g h the c o n d i t i o n o f t h e yellowed pages p o i n t e d t o g r e a t a n t i q u i t y . T h e w r i t i n g , in p l a c e s faded a l m o s t i n t o illegibility, was in a s p i d e r ) ' s c r i p t , u n d o u b t e d l y o l d E n g l i s h a s A s h t o n had i n t i m a t e d t w o days earlier. B u t it w a s a s m y c o m p a n i o n t u r n e d t h e b r i t t l e pages t h a t s o m e t h i n g else fell o n t o the floor a t o u r feet. P i c k i n g it u p , A s h t o n t u r n e d it o v e r in his h a n d s b e f o r e laying it flat o n the t a b l e . It was s o m e t h i n g far m o r e m o d e r n t h a n t h e t o m e — a n o r d i n a r y s h e e t o f c o m m o n p a per, f o l d e d carelessly as if t h e m e s s a g e it b o r e h a d b e e n

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s c r i b b l e d a n d t h r u s t b e t w e e n the pages. S t a r i n g d o w n o v e r A s h t o n ' s s h o u l d e r , I read t h r o u g h it w i t h a g r o w i n g s e n s e o f p e r p l e x i t y and horror. M y Dearest Son, If y o u e v e r read this letter, it will m e a n t h a t b o t h y o u r f a t h e r a n d m y s e l f n o l o n g e r e x i s t in this w o r l d . B y now, y o u k n o w a little o f y o u r d a r k h e r i t a g e ; t h a t b o n d a g e w h i c h w a s forged countless centuries ago and has continued, u n b r o k e n , t h r o u g h o u t the a g e s . Yet n o w the s i g n s are o m i n o u s . T o o m a n y e v e n t s are c o n s p i r i n g a g a i n s t u s a n d t h o s e a r o u n d us are m o r t a l l y a f r a i d o f that w h i c h t h e y c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d a n d I fear they n o w i n t e n d to b r i n g a b o u t t h e e n d o f t h e TVewallen line. W h a t e v e r h a p p e n s , I u r g e you to h e e d m y i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d f o l l o w t h e m to the letter. Believe m e w h e n I say it was n o w i s h o f m i n e to b r i n g this d o o m u p o n y o u r f a t h e r and y o u r self. Yet m y o w n fate is m o r e t e r r i b l e still a n d m y final p e a c e r e s t s in y o u r h a n d s a l o n e . T h e O l d O n e s c a n n o t b e d e n i e d . T h e y d e m a n d t h e i r s a c r i f i c e s in r e t u r n for t h a t w h i c h w e r e c e i v e . W e , t h e K e e p e r s o f D a r k P o i n t Light, are a m o n g t h e f o r e m o s t o f t h e i r m i n i o n s o n E a r t h while T h e y s l e e p t h r o u g h t h e e t e r n a l c y c l e s u n t i l the t i m e o f T h e i r c o m i n g again. U n l e s s you w i s h m y fate to fall u p o n you, h e e d m y w o r d s well. T h e b o o k gives you the t w o f o r m u l a e ; that for the z e n i t h w h i c h is t h e o p e n e r o f t h e w a y f o r T h o s e o u t s i d e — a n d t h e o t h e r for t h e nadir. It is t h e s e c o n d you m u s t use b u t o n l y

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s e n t e n c e ? T o w h a t was she r e f e r r i n g w h e n s h e i n t i m a t e d t h a t her son had no n e e d to fear w h a t lay b e n e a t h the m a n o r ? D u r i n g t h e l o n g a f t e r n o o n , A s h t o n and I p o n d e r e d l o n g o v e r t h e p u z z l i n g c o n t e n t s o f t h e letter. C e r t a i n p o i n t s s e e m e d c l e a r a n d u n a m b i g u o u s . D a r k P o i n t L i g h t c l e a r l y referred to t h a t a n c i e n t lighth o u s e o u t o n t h e d i s t a n t p r o m o n t o r y and A s h t o n readily agreed t h a t t h e O l d O n e s were t h o s e a e o n - o l d g o d s w h o s e w o r s h i p dated b a c k far b e y o n d C h r i s t i a n i t y o r a n y o t h e r r e l i g i o n a n d w h i c h w a s still c a r r i e d o n to t h i s d a y in v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d . A s h e s p o k e , h e g r e w m o r e a n d m o r e a g i t a t e d a n d b e h i n d all t h a t h e said was t h e u r g e n c y for m e to help h i m by t r a n s l a t i n g t h e a r c h a i c English in t h e b o o k . T h i s , h e insisted, was essential f o r o t h e r w i s e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s c o u l d be u t t e r l y c a t a s t r o p h i c . T h e r e was n o d o u b t t h a t t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h a t l e t t e r had s h o c k e d and d i s t u r b e d h i m and f r o m t h e m a n n e r in w h i c h h e c o n t i n u a l l y p a c e d t h e

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t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w , I w o n d e r e d i f h e s u s p e c t e d the i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e village were c o m i n g to b u r n d o w n the h o u s e as they had t h e manor. A s h i s t a l k g r e w progressively w i l d e r a n d m o r e f a n t a s t i c , I realized that if I w a s to b e o f a n y h e l p t o h i m , I n e e d e d a n s w e r s to t h e r i o t o f q u e s t i o n s w h i c h p l a g u e d m e . B y degrees, 1 s u c c e e d e d in c a l m i n g h i m d o w n , f o r c i n g h i m to take his t i m e in a n s w e r i n g me. It was n o t easy to piece t o g e t h e r a c o m p l e t e a n d c o h e r e n t p i c t u r e s i n c e A s h t o n kept j u m p i n g f r o m o n e s u b j e c t , o r f r o m o n e p e r i o d o f h i s t o r y , to a n o t h e r . Yet f r o m w h a t h e told m e , I g a t h e r e d that it w a s h i s firm b e l i e f that a m o n g t h o s e secret cults w h i c h e x i s t e d in m a n y c o u n t r i e s to c o n t i n u e the w o r s h i p o f t h e O l d O n e s , t h e T r e w a l l e n s were a m o n g t h e o l d e s t . T h e y k n e w m a n y o f t h e s e c r e t s w h i c h had

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been handed down f r o m lime i m m e m o r i a l , k n e w the locations o f h i d d e n p l a c e s t h a t lay c l o s e to t h o s e o u t s i d e r e a l m s w h e r e o n l y m a d n e s s a n d t e r r o r lurked. A s h t o n a c c e p t e d a s a m a t t e r o f faith t h a t D a r k P o i n t L i g h t w a s o n e o f t h e s e l o c a t i o n s , b e l i e v i n g it p o s s i b l y f r o m tales h a n d e d d o w n f r o m g e n e r a t i o n to g e n e r a t i o n by his f o r e b e a r s . T h o u g h w h e n , a n d in w h a t m a n n e r , t h e m e m b e r s o f his m a t e r n a l f a m i l y b e c a m e K e e p e r s o f t h e tower, h e d i d not k n o w . C e r t a i n l y , h e was p u z z l e d by h i s m o t h e r ' s r e f e r e n c e to s o m e t h i n g u n d e r t h e m a n o r and c o u l d o n l y s u r m i s e t h a t this was t h e d r e a d k n o w l e d g e c o n t a i n e d in t h e a n c i e n t t o m e w h i c h n o w r e p o s e d o n t h e t a b l e in f r o n t o f us. A l t h o u g h we had n o t e a t e n s i n c e b r e a k f a s t , n e i t h e r o f u s had a n y t h o u g h t f o r f o o d . A s h t o n ' s initial a g i t a t i o n had n o w b e c o m e a m o o d o f d e s p e r a t e u r g e n c y . C h e c k i n g h i s a l m a n a c , w e d e t e r m i n e d that, a s n e a r as w e c o u l d e s t i m a t e , C a p e l l a would lie d i r e c t l y b e n e a t h P o l a r i s at m i d n i g h t t h r e e days h e n c e . N o w , the o n e t h o u g h t u p p e r m o s t in h i s m i n d was t o d e c i p h e r as m u c h as p o s s i b l e o f the a r c h a i c E n g l i s h a n d , in p a r t i c u l a r , t o d e t e r m i n e t h e two f o r m u l a e m e n t i o n e d in h i s m o t h e r ' s letter. T h e b o o k w a s v o l u m i n o u s a n d the s c r i p t was, in m a n y places, s c a r c e l y legible as we p o r e d o v e r it in the g r o w i n g d a r k n e s s . A l t h o u g h it was the n o r m a l s c r i p t o f an early S a x o n age a n d o n e w h i c h I had encountered on several previous occasions, there was s o m e t h i n g in t h o s e a r c h a i c s y m b o l s w h i c h m a d e m e s h u d d e r i n w a r d l y a s I p a i n f u l l y t r a n s c r i b e d t h e m , r e a d i n g a l o u d while A s h t o n w r o t e d o w n ever)' word. F r o m the s h a p e o f t h e p o i n t e d c h a r a c t e r s , I dated t h e b o o k to a r o u n d the third o r f o u r t h c e n t u r y A . D . , a t a t i m e w h e n a n y C h r i s tian i n f l u e n c e was e x t r e m e l y t e n u o u s a n d m o r e a n c i e n t beliefs still s e e t h e d and s i m m e r e d s t r o n g l y b e n e a t h a t h i n v e n e e r o f c i v i l i z a t i o n . T h e story which unfolded from o u r reading o f the t o m e confirmed

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had s t o r m e d t h e m a n o r that N o v e m b e r n i g h t ten years b e f o r e and b u r n e d e v e r y t h i n g and e v e r y o n e in it. How

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t h e t r a n s c r i p t i o n m e t i c u l o u s l y , w e had f o u n d n o r e f e r e n c e to t h e t w o f o r m u l a e m e n t i o n e d in t h a t hastily s c r a w l e d letter. C e r t a i n l y t h e r e were l o n g passages s o faded o r s t a i n e d as to b e v i r t u a l l y u n r e a d a b l e , yet this d i d n o t a p p e a r to b e the r e a s o n f o r this s t r a n g e o m i s s i o n . Had A s h t o n ' s m o t h e r b e e n m i s t a k e n ? S o m e h o w , w e d o u b t e d t h a t . S h e had g i v e n s u f f i c i e n t d e t a i l to i n s i n u a t e t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e in a v e r t i n g s o m e t e r r i b l e c a t a s t r o p h e a n d it w a s u n l i k e l y she would h a v e stressed w h e r e t h e y were to be f o u n d i f she had not b e e n a b s o l u t e l y certain. Yet w h a t o t h e r e x p l a n a t i o n w a s there? At m y c o m p a n i o n ' s u r gent i n s i s t e n c e , I w e n t t h r o u g h t h e v o l u m e s l o w l y o n c e m o r e , p a g e by page, in t h e e v e n t t h a t the o n e in q u e s t i o n had b e e n d e l i b e r a t e l y removed. T h e n , a l m o s t halfway t h r o u g h t h e v o l u m e , I c a m e a c r o s s a p a g e w h i c h s e e m e d slightly t h i c k e r t h a n the o t h e r s . R u n n i n g m y

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c a r e f u l l y a l o n g the edge I f o u n d , as I was b e g i n n i n g to s u s p e c t , t h a t t w o pages had b e e n s t u c k t o g e t h e r . S e p a r a t i n g t h e m r e q u i r e d e x t r e m e c a r e o w i n g to t h e g e n e r a l b r i t t l e n e s s o f the p a r c h m e n t a n d it was the w o r k o f several m i n u t e s to g e n t l y prise t h e t w o s h e e t s a p a r t with t h e e d g e o f a s h a r p k n i f e . I t h i n k we were b o t h e x p e c t i n g to find w h a t w a s w r i t t e n t h e r e to b e in t h e s a m e h a n d a n d a r c h a i c English as t h e rest o f t h e m a i n text. In this, we were f r u s t r a t i n g l y d i s a p p o i n t e d . T h e s y m b o l s o n e a c h o f t h e s e pages b o r e n o r e s e m b l a n c e to E n g l i s h . T h e o d d c u r s i v e s c r i p t was u n k n o w n to m e . T h e m i n u s c u l e s w e r e b o l d l y d e l i n e a t e d , clearly f o r m e d , as if t h e w r i t e r i n t e n d e d t h e r e s h o u l d b e a b s o l u t e l y n o d u b i ety as to t h e s y m b o l s h e had w r i t t e n . Yet, in s p i t e o f t h e a l i e n n e s s o f the characters, Ashton declared shudderingly that there was s o m e t h i n g f a m i l i a r a b o u t t h e m , s o m e t h i n g he had s e e n b e f o r e . Clearly, a l t h o u g h t i m e was n o w d e s p e r a t e l y s h o r t , t h e r e w a s little to b e g a i n e d by a t t e m p t i n g t o solve t h e s e c r y p t i c f o r m u l a e j u s t t h e n . W e were b o t h a t the p o i n t o f u t t e r e x h a u s t i o n and k n e w t h a t to g o o n

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w i t h o u t rest w o u l d i n e v i t a b l y lead to fatal e r r o r s . It n o w b e i n g a f t e r e i g h t - t h i r t y , A s h t o n m a d e s o m e t h i n g to e a t a n d w e b o t h r e t i r e d . W h e n I w o k e , s o m e six h o u r s later, it was to find A s h t o n a l r e a d y u p , s e a r c h i n g d i l i g e n t l y t h r o u g h t h e v o l u m e s o n his b o o k s h e l v e s . H e g l a n c e d u p q u i c k l y as I e n t e r e d . T h e r e were d a r k c i r c l e s u n d e r his eyes a n d it was e v i d e n t h e had had v e r y little sleep. T h e r e w a s n o w o n l y o n e t h i n g d r i v i n g h i m o n , p u s h i n g h i m relentlessly to t h e utm o s t l i m i t s o f his physical a n d m e n t a l r e s o u r c e s . " I t has t o b e here s o m e w h e r e , " h e said hoarsely, i n d i c a t i n g t h e r o w s o f b o o k s with a s w e e p o f his a r m . " I t m u s t b e . I ' m s u r e I ' m n o t mistaken." " T h e n let's g o at this p r o b l e m logically and m e t h o d i c a l l y , " I told h i m . " W e still have two days left to find the a n s w e r . " W e were able to d i s r e g a r d m o s t o f t h e v o l u m e s s i n c e t h o s e in h i s c o l l e c t i o n w r i t t e n in Latin, A r a b i c a n d G r e e k were c l e a r l y o f n o c o n c e r n . T h e n , late t h a t m o r n i n g , my c o m p a n i o n u t t e r e d a s h a r p exclam a t i o n a n d , g l a n c i n g u p f r o m m y o w n s e a r c h i n g , I saw he had a s l i m , t a t t e r e d v o l u m e in h i s h a n d s a n d was riffling t h r o u g h it in a f r e n z y o f e x c i t e m e n t , I l i c k i n g t h e pages in r a p i d s u c c e s s i o n . T h e r e was a s t r a n g e e x p r e s s i o n o n his d r a w n f e a t u r e s as h e l e a n e d a c r o s s the t a b l e to c o m p a r e the w r i t i n g with t h a t o f the v o l u m e w e had b r o u g h t f r o m t h e c e l l a r b e n e a t h the m a n o r . G l a n c i n g o v e r h i s s h o u l d e r I s a w t h e r e was, i n d e e d , a v e r y c l o s e r e s e m b l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e two s e t s o f c h a r a c t e r s . " T h i s is it," h e d e c l a r e d e l a t e d l y . " I k n e w I'd s e e n t h a t s c r i p t before." I f o r b o r e to i n q u i r e t h e title o f t h e b o o k . F r o m its c o n d i t i o n , I k n e w it to b e o n e o f the oldest in his c o l l e c t i o n . " C a n you t r a n s l a t e t h e s e f o r m u l a e i n t o s o m e k i n d o f p h o n e t i c r e n d e r i n g ? " I asked tensely. A s h t o n h e s i t a t e d , t h e n n o d d e d . " I t h i n k s o . It w o n ' t b e easy. Evid e n t l y they're s i m i l a r t o t h e N'aacal l a n g u a g e b u t t h e r e a p p e a r to b e s u b t l e d i f f e r e n c e s a n d , w h a t e v e r h a p p e n s , I h a v e to m a k e a b s o l u t e l y s u r e . I f I ' m to c a r r y o u t m y m o t h e r ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s , e v e r y t h i n g has to b e e x a c t . T h e s m a l l e s t e r r o r a n d — " H e b r o k e o f f in m i d - s e n t e n c e b u t I c o u l d g u e s s a t the m e a n i n g b e h i n d his w o r d s . Leaving h i m to t h e task o f d e c i p h e r i n g t h e s t r a n g e f o r m u l a e , I

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m a d e m y s e l f s o m e t h i n g to e a t , t h e n asked if I m i g h t take t h e c a r s i n c e t h e r e s e e m e d little I c o u l d d o to help h i m a t t h e m o m e n t . A f t e r o n l y a m o m e n t a r y h e s i t a t i o n , h e a g r e e d and h a n d e d m e t h e keys. O u t s i d e , t h e a i r w a s still w a r m a n d the m i d - a f t e r n o o n w a s b r i g h t a n d s u n n y . I had t a k e n t h e p r e c a u t i o n o f b r i n g i n g a m a p o f t h e local a r e a with m e a n d b e f o r e s w i t c h i n g o n the i g n i t i o n , I s t u d i e d it c a r e fully, h a v i n g a l r e a d y m a d e u p my m i n d where I w a n t e d to g o . I had n o t m e n t i o n e d m y i n t e n d e d d e s t i n a t i o n to A s h t o n for fear t h a t h e m i g h t refuse the car and d o his u t m o s t to d i s s u a d e m e . P u t t i n g t h e car i n t o gear, I d r o v e s l o w l y o u t o f the village and t o o k t h e n a r r o w t r a c k w h i c h the m a p i n d i c a t e d led t o w a r d s the c o a s t , t e r m i n a t i n g at a p o i n t o n l y a s h o r t d i s t a n c e n o r t h o f the p r o m o n t o r y o n w h i c h D a r k P o i n t L i g h t s t o o d . T h e r e were f e w p e o p l e a b o u t alt h o u g h t h o s e I passed gave m e s t r a n g e l o o k s . T h e t r a c k I w a s f o l l o w i n g was u n d e v e l o p e d a n d full o f p o t h o l e s , e v i d e n t l y s e l d o m used. A r o u n d m e , t h e t e r r a i n g r e w

perceptibly

w i l d e r as I n e a r e d t h e cliffs, t h e r i c h e r v e g e t a t i o n g i v i n g way to s p a r s e t u f t s o f grass a n d s t u n t e d b u s h e s . T o p p i n g a l o w r i s e , I m a d e o u t t h e c u r i o u s l y s h a p e d l i g h t h o u s e c l e a r l y f o r t h e first t i m e and e v e n t h a t initial g l i m p s e was e n o u g h to tell m e that I h a d n o t b e e n m i s t a k e n t h e p r e v i o u s d a y w h e n I had n o t e d its o d d s i l h o u e t t e . Yet, o n t h a t o c c a s i o n , d i s t a n c e a n d t h e h a z e had o b s c u r e d m o s t o f the a b n o r m a l i t i e s a s s o c i a t e d with its s h a p e . In a d d i t i o n to t h e p e c u l i a r n a t u r e o f t h e l a m p r o o m a t t h e top, I n o t i c e d several b i z a r r e b u l b o u s p r o j e c t i o n s a r o u n d t h e sides w h i c h s e e m e d to serve n o o r d i n a r y p u r p o s e t h a t I c o u l d d e t e r m i n e . All in all, it held an air o f i n d e f i n a b l e m y s t e r y t h a t g r e w m o r e p r o n o u n c e d a s I m a n o e u v e r e d t h e c a r d o w n a steep, r o c k y incline towards the beach. P r e s e n t l y I was forced to s t o p t h e c a r w h e r e t h e t r a c k petered o u t c o m p l e t e l y . In front o f m e was b a r e s h i n g l e , still wet f r o m the n o w rec e d i n g tide. T h e long, r o c k y t o n g u e w h i c h t h r u s t o u t f r o m t h e s h o r e s t o o d o u t several feet a b o v e t h e w a t e r a l t h o u g h j u d g i n g by the l o n g s t r a n d s o f s e a w e e d w h i c h f e s t o o n e d its length, I r e c k o n e d it w o u l d lie c o m p l e t e l y s u b m e r g e d a t h i g h tide. Even as I walked c a u t i o u s l y t o w a r d s it, p i c k i n g m y w a y c a r e f u l l y o v e r the s l i p p e r y r o c k s , I c o u l d see t h a t the s t o n e t o w e r was in a s t a t e o f g r e a t d e c r e p i t u d e . Parts o f t h e u p p e r s t r u c t u r e had d e c a y e d o v e r

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t h e years and fallen. D e s o l a t i o n a n d d e c a y h u n g o v e r it like a d a r k c l o u d in s t a r k c o n t r a s t to t h o s e o t h e r s i m i l a r b u i l d i n g s I had s o m e t i m e s s e e n a r o u n d t h e English c o a s t . At t h e top, t h e brilliant s u n l i g h t glinted o f f t h e glass w h i c h , u n l i k e t h e s t o n e w o r k , a p p e a r e d to b e i n t a c t . 1 h a d e x p e c t e d to see a m a s s i v e d o o r o n t h e s i d e f a c i n g t h e land b u t the c u r v e d s t o n e wall c o n t i n u e d in an u n b r o k e n line as far a s I c o u l d see. N o t u n t i l I had a p p r o a c h e d to w i t h i n a few yards o f the base did I see t h e r e w a s a n a r r o w raised p l a t f o r m w h i c h c l e a r l y r a n a r o u n d t h e e n t i r e c i r c u m f e r e n c e with a s h o r t

flight

o f steps l e a d i n g u p to it.

T h e r e had o n c e b e e n a m e t a l rail t h e r e b u t it had l o n g s i n c e v a n i s h e d , w h e t h e r by t h e a c t i o n o f t h e p o u n d i n g waves o r v a n d a l i s m it was i m p o s s i b l e to tell. N o w o n l y a f e w r u s t e d i r o n s t u m p s p r o j e c t e d f r o m the stonework. C l a m b e r i n g u p the steps, I w o r k e d m y w a y a r o u n d the t o w e r b e f o r e e n c o u n t e r i n g a large, i r o n - b a n d e d d o o r o n t h e far s i d e l o o k i n g o u t o v e r the o c e a n . In spite o f t h e s i n i s t e r a u r a w h i c h s u r r o u n d e d t h e t o w e r and the o d d tales I h a d h e a r d c o n c e r n i n g it, I p u s h e d o p e n t h e d o o r o n its c r e a k i n g hinges and p e e r e d i n s i d e . Piles o f d e b r i s and fallen b l o c k s o f s t o n e m e t my gaze in the d i m n e s s . S t e p p i n g inside, I examined the i m m e d i a t e area minutely, aware o f the c u r i o u s a t m o s p h e r e w h i c h p e r v a d e d t h e place. It w a s n o t s i m p l y the m u s t y s m e l l w h i c h c o m e s o f l o n g years o f e m p t i n e s s a n d n e g l e c t a l t h o u g h t h e r e was c e r t a i n l y a s u r f e i t o f greyish dust in p l a c e s a n d a forest o f c o b w e b s a r o u n d t h e walls. R a t h e r it w a s an o d d e l e c t r i c t e n s i o n w h i c h tingled u n p l e a s a n t l y a l o n g m y n e r v e s a s if e v e r y i n c h o f the b u i l d i n g held an i n t e n s e e l e c t r o s t a t i c c h a r g e . T h e r e was also a f u r t h e r o d d fact w h i c h I n o t i c e d a t o n c e . T h e floor

and l o w e r s t e p s w e r e c o v e r e d with the s a m e s p e c i e s o f s e a w e e d I

had seen o n t h e p r o m o n t o r y o u t s i d e . Yet h o w t h o s e s t r a n d s had g o t t h e r e w a s b e y o n d m e , for they w e r e still d a m p . T h e m a s s i v e d o o r looked capable o f withstanding the incessant pounding o f the ocean a n d there was n o o t h e r m e a n s o f ingress. B r a c i n g m y s e l f mentally,

I crossed the s m o o t h

floor,

edging

a r o u n d t h e fallen b l o c k s , and a p p r o a c h e d the stairs. C u r i o u s l y , t h e r e was n o f u r n i t u r e , n o r a n y s i g n t h e r e had e v e r b e e n a n y as I would h a v e e x p e c t e d if t h e l i g h t h o u s e had b e e n u s e d in the p a s t . Yet t h e r e were o d d m a r k i n g s o n t h e floor b u t in t h e d i m light it w a s a l m o s t i m -

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p o s s i b l e to m a k e t h e m o u t . O n l y w h e n I had c l i m b e d a d o z e n s t a i r s a n d l o o k e d d o w n f r o m t h a t h e i g h t w a s I able to d i s c e r n a n y t h i n g o f t h e overall d e s i g n with a n y clarity. Even t h e n , I f o u n d it difficult to take it in for t h e r e were c u r i o u s l y c u r v e d l i n e s in faded red which i n t e r s e c t e d and c r o s s e d a t a b n o r m a l a n g l e s a n d a t v a r i o u s p o i n t s a r o u n d t h e d e s i g n were o t h e r g e o m e t r i c a l s y m b o l s in b l a c k . W h i l e m y m i n d p e r s i s t e d in s u g g e s t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t m a t h e m a t i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s in t h e s e c r y p t o g r a m s , I a l s o n o t i c e d t h a t in several p l a c e s t h e y had b e e n a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y o b l i t e r a t e d . N o t , I felt c e r t a i n , by s o m e n a t u r a l a g e i n g p r o c e s s b u t b y s o m e deliberate effacement. T h e a s c e n t to t h e top o f t h e t o w e r t o o k m e several m i n u t e s f o r t h e stairs w o u n d s p i r a l l y a r o u n d t h e i n n e r c i r c u m f e r e n c e a n d , in o n e o r two places, were s o b r o k e n I feared it m i g h t p r o v e i m p o s s i b l e to attain t h e t o p . A s I a s c e n d e d , I b e c a m e a w a r e o f a f u r t h e r s t r a n g e t h i n g . W h i l e t h e b o t t o m m o s t s t e p s a n d m u c h o f t h e floor were literally c o v e r e d with d e b r i s and s e a w e e d , the rest o f the w a y w a s c l e a r a s i f s o m e o n e , in t h e v e r y r e c e n t past, had swept t h e stairs c o m p l e t e l y f r e e o f d u s t a n d dirt. Finally, I c a m e to a s t o u t w o o d e n d o o r which o p e n e d c r e a k i n g l y at m y t o u c h a n d s t e p p i n g t h r o u g h I s t a r e d a b o u t m e in b e w i l d e r e d a m a z e m e n t . T h e s u n l i g h t s h o n e fiercely t h r o u g h t h e glass, h i g h l i g h t i n g e v e r y detail in the r o o m . In t h e c e n t e r was t h e l a m p , set o n its axis, a n d b e s i d e it s t o o d a n u m b e r o f levers w h o s e p u r p o s e I c o u l d n o t , a t first, d e t e r m i n e f o r t h e y a p p e a r e d to b e c o n n e c t e d i n t e r n a l l y with t h e l a m p m e c h a n i s m . It was not u n t i l I g l a n c e d u p a t t h e c u r v e d d o m e o v e r m y head t h a t a g l i m m e r o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g c a m e . I had e x p e c t e d the r o o f to b e o f s o l i d m e t a l . I n s t e a d , t h e r e were t w o i r o n s h u t t e r s w h i c h w e r e c l e a r l y c a p a b l e o f b e i n g o p e n e d f o r t h e y rested o n a set o f well-oiled r u n n e r s . Just w h y they t o o k my a t t e n t i o n I c o u l d n o t tell b u t s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e m e v o k e d a s u d d e n t h o u g h t in m y m i n d . T h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f this s t r a n g e s e t - u p were n o w clear. E x p e r i m e n t a l l y , I pulled h a r d o n t h e n e a r e s t lever. F o r several s e c o n d s , n o t h i n g h a p p e n e d alt h o u g h the lever m o v e d easily u n d e r my h a n d . T h e n , w i t h a n o i s e l e s s m o v e m e n t , t h e twin s h u t t e r s slid aside r e v e a l i n g a s e c t i o n o f sky dir e c t l y a b o v e t h e l a m p . I had t h o u g h t the a p e r t u r e would lie o p e n to t h e a t m o s p h e r e b u t i n s t e a d , I s a w the s h u t t e r s had c o n c e a l e d a c l e a r

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crystal lens, p e r h a p s t h r e e feet in d i a m e t e r . A s I w a t c h e d , a c l o u d drifted s l o w l y a c r o s s t h e s c e n e , its o u t l i n e s o d d l y m a g n i f i e d and dist o r t e d by the lens. W h a t e n g i n e e r had c o n s t r u c t e d this m e c h a n i s m I c o u l d not even guess. It s e e m e d s c a r c e l y c r e d i b l e t h a t it had b e e n installed w h e n this t o w e r had b e e n e r e c t e d for it w a s i m m e d i a t e l y a p p a r e n t that e x c e p tionally specialized knowledge a n d e q u i p m e n t would have b e e n necessary f o r its m a n u f a c t u r e a n d i n s t a l l a t i o n . Yet w h a t w a s its p u r p o s e ? T o s e n d a h i g h l y f o c u s s e d b e a m o f light directly i n t o t h e heavens? T h a t s e e m e d a b s u r d , yet o n l o o k i n g c l o s e r at t h e i n t e r n a l m e c h a n i s m o f the l a m p , I saw t h a t it c o u l d b e a l i g n e d to d o e x a c t l y this, p o s s i b l y by m a n i p u l a t i o n o f t h e o t h e r , s m a l l e r levers. W h a t in G o d ' s n a m e w a s t h i s place? A s h t o n had c l a i m e d it had b e e n a b a n d o n e d f o r m a n y years and yet e v e r y t h i n g p o i n t e d to it havi n g b e e n used d u r i n g r e c e n t t i m e s . T h e s m o o t h s h e e n o f oil o n t h e s h u t t e r b e a r i n g s ; t h e u n d o u b t e d i n t r i c a c y o f the l a m p m e c h a n i s m ; t h e c l e a n l i n e s s o f the u p p e r stairs and t h e i n c r e d i b l e m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g w h i c h had g o n e i n t o its d e s i g n a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n , all s u g gested s o m e very m o d e r n o r i g i n . I f it was s o closely a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e h a t e d TVewallens, I felt s u r e n o n e o f the villagers w o u l d v e n t u r e o u t here a n d , a p a r t f r o m m y c o m p a n i o n , t h e last o f his l i n e had p e r i s h e d in flames t e n y e a r s b e f o r e . T h e longer I stood there, staring around me, the m o r e m y imagin a t i o n w o r k e d u n t i l I b e g a n to f a n c y s t r a n g e t h i n g s . I s e e m e d

to

s e n s e s o m e alien, f o r m l e s s p r e s e n c e c l o s e by, w a t c h i n g m e with a f e a r s o m e i n t e n t n e s s . I felt e n t w i n e d with

something—something

w h i c h w a s n o t o f this w o r l d — b u t w h i c h e n c i r c l e d m e w i t h an alien malevolence. Swiftly, a l m o s t o f its o w n v o l i t i o n , m y h a n d m o v e d a n d t h r u s t t h e lever b a c k i n t o its f o r m e r p o s i t i o n a n d it w a s as t h e s h u t t e r s slid shut o v e r m y head that I heard a soft, m u f f l e d s o u n d f r o m far b e l o w m e . T h e t h o u g h t t h a t s o m e t h i n g w a s m a k i n g its w a y s t e a l t h i l y u p t h e stairs, t r a p p i n g m e in that c u r i o u s l a m p r o o m , h e l d m e

petrified.

T h e n , all a t o n c e , t h e spell was b r o k e n . T h r u s t i n g m y w a y t h r o u g h t h e d o o r , I p l u n g e d d o w n t h e s t o n e stairs, s l i p p i n g and s l i d i n g p r e c a r i o u s l y w h e r e t h e y had all b u t c r u m b l e d away. S o m e h o w , I reached t h e b o t t o m , m y b r e a t h h a r s h a n d raw in m y t h r o a t . T h e furtive, slithe r i n g s o u n d w h i c h h a d s o p a n i c k e d m e w a s still a u d i b l e . B u t it w a s

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f a i n t e r n o w a n d w i t h a f u r t h e r s h o c k o f s u p e r s t i t i o u s h o r r o r I realized it c a m e f r o m still f u r t h e r b e l o w m e , f r o m b e n e a t h the f o u n d a t i o n s o f the tower, d e e p w i t h i n the s o l i d r o c k . S o m e h o w , I m a n a g e d to p u s h m y s e l f t h r o u g h t h e h e a v y d o o r , r u n n i n g h e a d l o n g o v e r t h e s l i p p e r ) ' r o c k s t o w a r d s t h e w a i t i n g car. Reversing it quickly, h e e d l e s s o f s p i n n i n g t h e w h e e l s into the m u d d y s h i n g l e , I d r o v e as rapidly as I d a r e d b a c k a l o n g the n a r r o w t r a c k t o wards t h e c o m p a r a t i v e s a f e t y o f t h e village. By now, m y c h a o t i c t h o u g h t s had s h a p e d t h e m s e l v e s i n t o s o m e k i n d o f o r d e r . A p p r o a c h i n g t h e village, I had b e e n t u r n i n g o v e r in m y m i n d w h a t to tell A s h t o n o f m y visit to D a r k P o i n t L i g h t . B y t h e t i m e I d r e w u p o u t s i d e the h o u s e I had a l r e a d y r e a c h e d t h e d e c i s i o n , r i g h t l y o r w r o n g l y , to say n o t h i n g o f it. A f t e r all, w h a t had really h a p p e n e d ? I had s e e n n o t h i n g w h i c h did n o t a d m i t t o a r e a s o n a b l e e x p l a n a t i o n . I had c e r t a i n l y h e a r d that o d d l y f r i g h t e n i n g s o u n d far b e l o w t h e r o c k s . Yet it h a d b e e n a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l to that w h i c h w e had b o t h heard in the c e l l a r o f the m a n o r a n d c o u l d , q u i t e readily, b e a t t r i b u t e d to t h e ingress o f t h e s e a a l o n g s u b t e r r a n e a n t u n n e l s . A s for t h e o d d m e c h a n i s m in t h e l a m p r o o m , t h e r e had b e e n n o t h i n g s u p e r n a t u r a l a b o u t it. C e r t a i n l y it had a p p e a r e d e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y c o m p l e x . Yet it was a w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d fact that t h e V i c t o r i a n s had p r o d u c e d s i m i l a r m a c h i n e r y , s u c h a s the c a m e r a o b s c u r a , in t h e i r s c i e n t i f i c heyday. I d i s c o v e r e d A s h t o n in a h i g h l y elated m o o d , h a v i n g a l m o s t c o m pleted h i s p h o n e t i c r e n d e r i n g o f the t w i n f o r m u l a e . M u c h o f h i s form e r a p p r e h e n s i o n s e e m e d to h a v e e v a p o r a t e d a l t h o u g h 1 n o t i c e d h e still g l a n c e d o c c a s i o n a l l y t h r o u g h the w i n d o w as if to assure h i m s e l f h e was n o t b e i n g k e p t u n d e r s u r v e i l l a n c e . " I m u s t c o n f e s s I t h o u g h t it m i g h t b e b e y o n d m e , " h e a d m i t t e d excitedly, w a v i n g t h e piece o f p a p e r in his h a n d . " U n t i l I d i s c o v e r e d t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s are s i m p l y a v a r i a n t o f Naacal w h i c h was used by c e r t a i n cults o f a n t i q u i t y . " " A n d you're a b s o l u t e l y c e r t a i n y o u h a v e e v e r y t h i n g r i g h t ? " " I ' l l have t o c h e c k it again, o f c o u r s e . B u t n o w it's s i m p l y a m a t t e r o f a s c e r t a i n i n g t h e e x a c t p r o n u n c i a t i o n . Anyway, I ' m c o n f i d e n t I'll b e able to use t h e c o r r e c t f o r m u l a w h e n the t i m e c o m e s . " W i t h that, I had to b e c o n t e n t . B u t d u r i n g t h e n e x t t w o days, I w a t c h e d h i m intently, t r o u b l e d a little by his a t t i t u d e a n d g e n e r a l

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a p p e a r a n c e . H i s face a p p e a r e d m o r e d r a w n t h a n b e f o r e and t h e r e w a s a h a u n t e d , f r i g h t e n e d l o o k in his eyes w h i c h suggested h e k n e w m o r e t h a n h e w a s telling m e o f w h a t h e had to d o in o r d e r to c a r r y o u t h i s dead mother's implicit instructions. T h e n , shortly before eleven o' clock on the second night we made o u r final a r r a n g e m e n t s . In a d d i t i o n to the p h o n e t i c r e n d e r i n g o f t h e N a d i r F o r m u l a , A s h t o n c a r r i e d a p o w e r f u l t o r c h a n d , a g a i n s t my b e t t e r j u d g e m e n t , a revolver. Not k n o w i n g w h a t to e x p e c t , I t o o k a l o n g a pair o f binoculars. Even at that h o u r , the s k y w a s n o t fully d a r k . T o t h e n o r t h was a pale b l u e g l o w w h e r e C a p e l l a g l e a m e d yellowly a b o v e t h e h o r i z o n , a s p e c t r a l b e a c o n slightly t o t h e west o f n o r t h . S t a r t i n g t h e c a r , A s h t o n d r o v e s l o w l y o u t o f t h e village, t h e h e a d light b e a m s r i s i n g and falling a s w e b u m p e d o v e r the n u m e r o u s p o t h o l e s . N e i t h e r o f us s p o k e d u r i n g the j o u r n e y f o r t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e u t t e r stillness o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e w h i c h m i l i t a t e d a g a i n s t conversation. A b o u t h a l f a m i l e f r o m the c o a s t , m y c o m p a n i o n s t o p p e d t h e c a r a n d s w i t c h e d o f f the lights. Even in t h e d a r k n e s s , it was p o s s i b l e to m a k e o u t t h e s p e c t r a l t o w e r o f D a r k P o i n t Light with an a m a z i n g c l a r i t y b u t several s e c o n d s passed b e f o r e I r e c o g n i z e d the r e a s o n . T h e o c e a n that frothed around the lighthouse possessed a peculiar luminescence; a greenish, phosphorescent glow which highlighted the wat e r ) ' b a c k g r o u n d . I p o i n t e d this o u t to A s h t o n b u t h e m e r e l y p u t it d o w n to the p r e s e n c e o f c e r t a i n algae w h i c h h e m a i n t a i n e d

were

k n o w n to p r o d u c e t h i s effect. W h e t h e r h e b e l i e v e d this o r n o t , t h e r e was n o w a y o f telling b u t I had t h e i m p r e s s i o n he had given this e x p l a n a t i o n s i m p l y t o allay m y n a t u r a l fears. Taking m y arm, he gestured towards the lighthouse, then swung h i s gaze b a c k to w h e r e C a p e l l a s h o n e u n w i n k i n g l y t o w a r d s t h e n o r t h . " C o m e , " h e said curtly. " T h e r e ' s v e r y little t i m e left. I w a n t to take a l o o k inside t h a t l i g h t h o u s e b e f o r e I u s e the f o r m u l a . " " I s t h a t wise?" I asked, r e c a l l i n g w h a t I had s e e n o n my p r e v i o u s visit. " T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g I h a v e to k n o w . " H i s t o n e w a s n o w o n e o f o d d l y h e i g h t e n e d f a s c i n a t i o n . " I f you're afraid, you c a n r e m a i n h e r e in t h e c a r . "

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I s h o o k m y head, g o t o u t , a n d fell i n t o step b e s i d e h i m . T h e narr o w t r a c k d o w n to the b e a c h s e e m e d l o n g e r t h a n I r e m e m b e r e d b u t finally

we s t o o d o n t h e l o n g t o n g u e o f r o c k w h i c h j u t t e d o u t i n t o t h e

sea. T h i s t i m e , t h e tide was c o m i n g in and n e a r the t o w e r t h e w a t e r was a l r e a d y l a p p i n g o v e r the r o c k s . S p l a s h i n g a n k l e - d e e p t h r o u g h t h e f o a m w e w o r k e d o u r w a y c a u t i o u s l y to t h e g r e a t d o o r o n t h e seaward s i d e w h e r e A s h t o n p r o d u c e d his t o r c h b e f o r e t h r u s t i n g it o p e n and going inside. S o m e h o w , recalling the s o u n d I had h e a r d o n t h e p r e v i o u s o c c a s i o n , I h a l f e x p e c t e d to find s o m e t h i n g c h a n g e d b u t at first sight I c o u l d s e e n o t h i n g to i n d i c a t e t h a t a n y o n e h a d b e e n t h e r e s i n c e m y exploratory search. I t h o u g h t m y c o m p a n i o n i n t e n d e d to m o u n t t h e stairs b u t i n stead, h e w a l k e d f o r w a r d t o w a r d s t h e m i d d l e o f t h e r o o m , s w e e p i n g t h e t o r c h l i g h t a c r o s s the floor, i g n o r i n g t h e s t r a n d s o f s e a w e e d w h i c h littered the p l a c e . It was t h e n I saw s o m e t h i n g w h i c h sent a s h u d d e r o f l o a t h s o m e h o r r o r t h r o u g h me. P r e v i o u s l y , t h e floor had b e e n virtually c o v e r e d by t h a t t h i c k layer o f g r e y i s h - w h i t e d u s t . N o w , in t h e t o r c h l i g h t , I saw that this had b e e n swept c l e a r in a l o n g , wide s w a t h e f r o m a p o i n t n e a r the c e n t e r o f the weird, c a b a l i s t i c d e s i g n d a u b e d o n the

floor! A n d in the very c e n t e r w a s revealed a large t r a p d o o r with an iron

r i n g w h i c h had e a r l i e r b e e n c o n c e a l e d . S o m e o n e — o r had

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w h i r l i n g m i n d i n s t a n t l y c o n n e c t e d it with that f r i g h t e n i n g s l i t h e r i n g , b u m p i n g s o u n d I had f a i n t l y h e a r d b e n e a t h the f o u n d a t i o n s . S h a k e n by w h a t I saw a n d its g r u e s o m e i m p l i c a t i o n s , I started f o r w a r d as A s h t o n b e n t towards the iron r i n g , h o o k i n g his

fingers

a r o u n d it. B e f o r e I c o u l d s t o p h i m , h o w e v e r , h e had h e a v e d t h e t r a p d o o r u p and w a s s h i n i n g the t o r c h l i g h t d i r e c t l y d o w n w a r d i n t o t h e y a w n i n g a p e r t u r e . A m e p h i t i c s t e n c h rose f r o m the g a p i n g h o l e and we b o t h reeled back, h a n d s over o u r m o u t h s a n d nostrils. I had e x p e c t e d t o see a flight o f s t e p s l e a d i n g d o w n i n t o t h e Stygian b l a c k n e s s b u t t h e light p i c k e d o u t s m o o t h s t o n e walls t h a t w e n t s t r a i g h t d o w n as far as the b e a m c o u l d r e a c h . U n w i l l i n g to i m a g i n e h o w a n y t h i n g c o u l d p o s s i b l y have c l i m b e d t h a t shaft w i t h o u t v i s i b l e h a n d o r f o o t h o l d s , I p u l l e d A s h t o n away. W e w e r e b o t h t r e m b l i n g u n c o n t r o l l a b l y n o w for, in spite o f t h e

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u n s c a l a b l e n a t u r e o f t h a t t u n n e l , it was a b u n d a n t l y c l e a r t h a t s o m e t h i n g had c o m e u p f r o m t h o s e u n p l u m b e d d e p t h s and I saw, o n m y c o m p a n i o n ' s a s h e n face, that h e had g u e s s e d t h e s a m e t h i n g as I. T h i s o p e n i n g had a n o t h e r exit, o n e w h i c h w e h a d s e e n f o r ourselves, d e e p beneath the

fire-blackened

ruins o f Trewallen M a n o r !

W h a t m o n s t r o u s c r e a t u r e i n h a b i t e d that f o u r - m i l e - l o n g t u n n e l b e n e a t h the m o o r s w h i c h c o n n e c t e d t h e s e two places, I had no w i s h to k n o w . Yet in t h a t i n s t a n t , t h e r e c a m e a flash o f m e m o r y . D i d t h a t e n i g m a t i c s e n t e n c e in A s h t o n ' s m o t h e r ' s letter refer to s o m e t h i n g alive w h i c h h a u n t e d t h o s e n i g h t - r i d d e n d e p t h s ? A n d i f t h a t w a s w h a t it signified, w h y h a d s h e m a i n t a i n e d he had n o c a u s e to fear it? F o r a m o m e n t I t h i n k w e b o t h felt an u n c o n t r o l l a b l e u r g e to flee t h a t e l d r i c h t o w e r w i t h its s t r a n g e , h i d d e n secrets. I n d e e d , I would h a v e d o n e s o had n o t A s h t o n seized m y a r m , p o i n t i n g t o w a r d s t h e stairs. M o v i n g a h e a d o f m e , he c o n t i n u a l l y flashed h i s light a r o u n d o u r feet as w e c l i m b e d , h e l p i n g m e over t h e places w h e r e t h e s t a i r s had c r u m b l e d , until w e e v e n t u a l l y r e a c h e d t h e d o o r a t t h e

top.

W h e t h e r m y c o m p a n i o n h a d a n y p r i o r k n o w l e d g e o f w h a t lay b e y o n d , I c o u l d n o t tell, n o r did I ask h i m f o r s c a r c e l y had w e p a u s e d b e f o r e t h e d o o r t h a n a s o u n d r e a c h e d us f r o m j u s t b e y o n d t h a t e n t r a n c e i n t o the l a m p r o o m . It was a d i a b o l i c a l s o u n d ; a l o w k e e n i n g m o a n t h a t u n d u l a t e d u p a n d d o w n a s a w - e d g e d scale. T o call it a wail like that o f a s o u l in torm e n t w o u l d b e to i g n o r e t h e q u i n t e s s e n c e o f l o a t h s o m e

nauseous-

n e s s it p o s s e s s e d . Yet, f a i n t a s it was, it a l m o s t m a s k e d t h e o t h e r s o u n d w h i c h a c c o m p a n i e d it; a s q u e l c h i n g , s u c k i n g noise, a s if s o m e t h i n g h u g e a n d p o n d e r o u s was m o v i n g a r o u n d inside t h e r o o m . W h a t e v e r e l s e A s h t o n m a y have l a c k e d , it was c e r t a i n l y

not

c o u r a g e . P e r h a p s h e b e l i e v e d t h a t , a r m e d with t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e Nadir Formula, he was protected against anything he might

en-

c o u n t e r . W h a t e v e r t h e r e a s o n , h e r e a c h e d o u t a n d twisted the h a n d l e o f the d o o r , t h r o w i n g all o f his w e i g h t a g a i n s t it as it refused to b u d g e . I tried to h o l d h i m b a c k , f o r I s e n s e d , w i t h s o m e s t r a n g e i n s t i n c t , that w h a t e v e r lay b e h i n d the d o o r w a s s o m e t h i n g n o t o f this E a r t h . F o r an instant, the d o o r gave s l i g h t l y u n d e r his f r e n z i e d p u s h a n d a h o r r i b l e fishy o d o u r s w e p t o u t . O n l y f o r a s e c o n d d i d t h e t o r c h l i g h t s h o w s o m e t h i n g scaly and o f a h i d e o u s g r e e n c o l o r the entire aperture.

filling

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T h e n A s h t o n staggered b a c k , t h r u s t i n g a t m e to get away. S o m e h o w , we m a d e it safely d o w n t h e t r e a c h e r o u s s t e p s t o t h e b o t t o m . Here, A s h t o n halted a n d e v e n t h o u g h I u r g e d h i m to leave that t e r r o r h a u n t e d tower, h e s h o o k h i s h e a d in a d a m a n t refusal. "You must go—quickly," he c o m m a n d e d

harshly. " I t ' s a l m o s t

m i d n i g h t a n d the N a d i r F o r m u l a m u s t b e recited at t h e focal p o i n t if this p o r t a l is to b e d e s t r o y e d f o r ever. H a v e n o w o r r y o n my a c c o u n t . Now go!" In t h e f a c e o f his p e r v e r s e o b d u r a c y , t h e r e w a s n o o t h e r c o u r s e o p e n to m e . L e a v i n g h i m a l o n e in that l o w e r c h a m b e r , I s p l a s h e d t h r o u g h t h e k n e e - h i g h tide, s l i p p i n g a n d s l i d i n g o n t h e t r e a c h e r o u s r o c k s u n t i l 1 r e a c h e d the top o f the cliffs w h e r e I s t o p p e d , s t a r i n g b a c k at t h e l i g h t h o u s e . A c t i n g o n a s u d d e n i m p u l s e , I lifted t h e p o w e r f u l b i n o c u l a r s to m y eyes a n d swiftly focussed t h e m o n t h e top o f t h e tower. T h r o u g h t h e glass w h i c h s u r r o u n d e d t h e l a m p r o o m , I c o u l d m a k e o u t v e r y little. A g r e a t , shapeless m a s s o b s c u r e d m u c h o f the i n t e r i o r b u t t h e o u t l i n e s c o n t i n u a l l y b l u r r e d a n d wavered s o that n o d e f i n i t e s h a p e e m e r g e d b e f o r e m y eyes. T h e n , even across that distance, I heard Ashton's voice and k n e w h e was b e g i n n i n g t h e c h a n t , m o u t h i n g a r c h a i c syllables w h i c h w e r e n o t m e a n t for h u m a n s p e e c h . T h e w o r d s b o o m e d a n d e c h o e d f r o m w i t h i n t h e l i g h t h o u s e as if t h e walls were an a m p l i f i e r , r e a c h i n g o u t across the shingle, evoking strange antiphonal reverberations that s h i v e r e d in the still air. Even as t h e first d r e a d syllables r a n g o u t , m y eyes were s u d d e n l y seared by a brilliant light w h i c h s p r a n g i n t o b e i n g at t h e t o p o f t h e tower. In t h a t split s e c o n d , I s a w e v e r y t h i n g . N o t o n l y the n a t u r e o f t h a t t h i n g w h i c h l u r k e d inside that u n h o l y r o o m b u t t h e h i d e o u s t r u t h b e h i n d t h e long, pagan c e n t u r i e s d u r i n g w h i c h the T r e w a l l e n s had b e e n K e e p e r s o f D a r k P o i n t L i g h t , the m e a n i n g b e h i n d

that

c r y p t i c letter, a n d t h e i d e n t i t y o f that b u r r o w e r b e n e a t h the m o o r s . A c h i l l w i n d s p r a n g u p a l m o s t in t h e s a m e i n s t a n t f r o m t h e s e a , swiftly i n c r e a s i n g in ferocity, w h i p p i n g at m y c o a t . W i t h an e f f o r t , I t o r e m y g a z e f r o m t h e t o w e r as s o m e t h i n g p r o m p t e d m e to l o o k u p ward. T h e r e , n e a r t h e z e n i t h , d i r e c t l y a b o v e D a r k P o i n t Light, w a s a swirling o f blackness, o b s c u r i n g the stars. At the s a m e t i m e , t h e a i r t r e m b l e d w i t h a v i b r a t i o n w h i c h a d d e d

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to t h e b e r s e r k J u r y o f the w i n d . T h e g r e a t s p r e a d i n g b l u r o f m i d n i g h t b l a c k n e s s s w o o p e d d o w n f r o m t h e stars a n d the n e x t m o m e n t a vic i o u s l i g h t n i n g s t r o k e speared d o w n w a r d , s t r i k i n g t h e b u l b o u s l a m p r o o m a t o p t h e tower. A c r o s s the i n t e r v e n i n g d i s t a n c e I h e a r d A s h t o n ' s voice u t t e r i n g t h e final w o r d o f t h e i n c a n t a t i o n , a n d s c a r c e l y had t h e

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e c h o e s d i e d away t h a n a b e a m o f b l u i s h light s o a r e d u p w a r d f r o m t h e t o p o f t h e t o w e r t o w a r d the inky, f o r m l e s s n e b u l o s i t y . 1 had a fragm e n t a r y glimpse o f s o m e t h i n g else which shot skyward, trapped w i t h i n that c y a n i c g l o w ; two d a r k s h a p e s that w r i t h e d a n d twisted a n d spiralled t o w a r d s i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e s . T h e i m p r e s s i o n w h i c h seared i n t o m y b r a i n in t h a t h o r r o r - f i l l e d m o m e n t w a s o f a g i g a n t i c o c t o p o i d b o d y with t e n t a c l e - l i k e a p p e n d a g e s that t h r e s h e d helplessly in t h e f e w s e c o n d s b e f o r e it v a n i s h e d utterly, f o l l o w e d by a m o r e h u m a n f o r m w h i c h I k n e w to b e S t e p h e n D e l m o r e A s h t o n . In the e n s u i n g d a r k n e s s a n d s i l e n c e I w a s o n l y j u s t a w a r e that t h e h o w l i n g gale had died away c o m p l e t e l y . W h e n 1 c o u l d see c l e a r l y again, it was to find t h a t the l i g h t n i n g b o l t had riven t h e r e a r i n g t o w e r in t w a i n a n d all t h a t r e m a i n e d o f it w a s a pile o f t u m b l e d , s h a t t e r e d s t o n e a t the e n d o f t h e p r o m o n t o r y , t h e i n c o m i n g tide w a s h i n g o v e r it. By his i n v o c a t i o n , his r e c i t i n g o f t h e N a d i r F o r m u l a , A s h t o n had i n d e e d closed that a e o n - o l d p o r t a l i n t o t h o s e o u t e r r e a l m s b e y o n d n o r m a l s p a c e and t i m e . Yet the c r o w n i n g h o r r o r o f t h a t n i g h t w a s n o t t h e fact t h a t h e had b e e n s o m e h o w d r a w n i n t o it, v a n i s h i n g u t t e r l y f r o m t h e E a r t h — b u t w h a t 1 had w i t n e s s e d t h r o u g h t h e b i n o c u l a r s d u r i n g t h a t b r i e f m o m e n t w h e n the l a m p in the t o w e r had a b r u p t l y i l l u m i n a t e d t h a t h u g e r o o m w i t h its b i z a r r e m a c h i n e r y d e s i g n e d , a s I n o w knew, for s e n d i n g t h a t b e a m upward

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w h o investigated his d e a t h at first h a n d . Yet t h e r e are a n u m b e r o f d i s t u r b i n g features w h i c h p r o m p t o t h e r s to s e e m o r e d e e p l y i n t o t h e s t r a n g e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g his d e m i s e a n d suggest m o r e terr i b l e c o n n o t a t i o n s . T h e y p o i n t s i g n i f i c a n t l y to c e r t a i n

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counter-evidence such as the unscorched carpet on which his charred r e m a i n s w e r e f o u n d ; t h e c o m p l e t e a b s e n c e o f a n y fire in t h e r o o m o r t r a c e s o f f l a m m a b l e m a t e r i a l o n the b u r n t c l o t h i n g , a n d t h a t n o o n e w i t n e s s e d a n y flames o r s m o k e issuing f r o m t h e o p e n w i n d o w b e n e a t h w h i c h h i s b o d y lay. T h e c u r i o u s e n t r i e s in his d i a r y have b e e n taken as the j o t t i n g s o f an o v e r - i m a g i n a t i v e m i n d for it was well k n o w n in t h e s m a l l c o m m u n i t y that t h e v i c t i m w a s g i v e n to t h e s t u d y o f o c c u l t and b i z a r r e lore, o f t e n f r e q u e n t i n g o l d b o o k s h o p s and o t h e r p r e m i s e s in E x e t e r in s e a r c h o f f a b u l o u s and a n c i e n t v o l u m e s and s e e k i n g o u t rare i t e m s w h i c h , i f g e n u i n e , were o f e q u a l a n t i q u i t y . It was o n e o f t h e s e i t e m s , a s t r a n g e l y o r n a m e n t e d b l a c k m i r r o r , w h i c h was r e m o v e d f r o m S m i t h ' s r o o m w i t h o u t t h e p r i o r k n o w l e d g e o r p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e p o l i c e a n d t h r o w n d o w n o n e o f the o l d m i n e shafts five m i l e s f r o m T o r p o i n t w h e r e it w a s d o u b t l e s s s m a s h e d i n t o countless fragments. The perpetrator of this deed, Doctor Alexander M o r t o n , later m a i n t a i n e d that his a c t o f v a n d a l i s m h a d saved m a n k i n d f r o m s o m e t h i n g far m o r e evil t h a n c o u l d e v e r b e c o n c e i v e d .

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C e r t a i n l y t h e d o c t o r w a s the o n l y p e r s o n to h a v e had m o r e t h a n a p a s s i n g a c q u a i n t a n c e with S m i t h a n d h a d visited t h e o l d f a r m h o u s e o n a few o c c a s i o n s a l t h o u g h it w a s n o t i c e d that, t o w a r d s the e n d , his visits g r e w m o r e a n d m o r e i n f r e q u e n t as if t h e r e was s o m e t h i n g t h e r e o f w h i c h h e felt m o r t a l l y a f r a i d . A l t h o u g h h e n e v e r c o n f i d e d in anyo n e c o n c e r n i n g w h a t t r a n s p i r e d a t t h e h o u s e , it b e c a m e progressively c l e a r to t h o s e w h o k n e w h i m t h a t s o m e t h i n g had t o u c h e d h i m p a l p a bly, f r i g h t e n i n g h i m m o r e t h a n he w o u l d e v e r a d m i t . W h e t h e r S m i t h ' s d e a t h was due to s p o n t a n e o u s c o m b u s t i o n a s t h e p o l i c e d o c t o r o n c e t e n t a t i v e l y suggested in private, o r to s o m e t h i n g w h i c h c a m e f r o m u l t r a m u n d a n e r e a l m s as a n u m b e r o f s c h o l a r s insist, m u s t b e left for the r e a d e r to decide, f o r t h e o n l y t a n g i b l e e v i d e n c e left by S m i t h is h i s d i a r y a n d all t h a t c a n b e d o n e is to att e m p t to d r a w t o g e t h e r t h e d a r k s t r a n d s o f this d i s j o i n t e d a c c o u n t a n d t r a c e t h e m y s t e r i o u s c h a i n o f e v e n t s to s o m e c o n c l u s i o n . P h i l i p S m i t h h a d c l e a r l y b e e n interested in a n c i e n t m y t h s and l e g e n d s f r o m an early age for h e a l r e a d y p o s s e s s e d a vast s t o r e o f arc a n e k n o w l e d g e by t h e t i m e h e c a m e to T o r p o i n t in the early a u t u m n o f 1 9 3 7 . A l t h o u g h still o n l y in his m i d - t w e n t i e s h e was in p o s s e s s i o n o f i n d e p e n d e n t m e a n s a n d had travelled w i d e l y to v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d a l t h o u g h it m u s t b e a d m i t t e d that, in k e e p i n g w i t h h i s o u t l a n d i s h r e s e a r c h e s , t h e s e e x c u r s i o n s were i n v a r i a b l y to t h e m o r e o u t - o f - t h e - w a y places, u n t o u c h e d by o r d i n a r y t o u r i s t s . H e had a p p a r e n t l y s p e n t several m o n t h s in a s t r a n g e s t o n e m o n a s t e r y s i t u a t e d o n a h i g h p l a t e a u in c e n t r a l T i b e t w h e r e h e had b e e n i n s t r u c t e d in t h e s e c r e t s o f a r a r e d r u g d i s t i l l e d f r o m t h e f l o w e r s o f the p u r p l e p o p p y g r o w n o n l y in t h a t r e g i o n . Travelling s o u t h i n t o India, h e had s o u g h t o u t a s t r a n g e H i n d o o w h o , a c c o r d i n g to S m i t h ' s diary, told h i m o d d tales o f o t h e r r e a l m s , e x t e r i o r to o u r o w n u n i v e r s e o f s p a c e t i m e , and h o w s u c h r e a l m s m a y t o u c h , o r e v e n overlap, a t c e r t a i n points. Here, he also learned the truth b e h i n d the legends o f various a n c i e n t cults w h o s e m e m b e r s w o r s h i p p e d t h e O l d O n e s , m e n t i o n e d by the A m e r i c a n w r i t e r L o v e c r a f t , w i t h w h o m S m i t h had h a d s o m e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e several years earlier. O n leaving India, in t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 3 7 , S m i t h had s t o p p e d o f f in l Y a n s y l v a n i a w h e r e he had j o u r n e y e d d e e p i n t o the m o u n t a i n s to t h e r u i n s o f an a n c i e n t c a s t l e in w h o s e d e e p e s t c r y p t s h e had d i s c o v e r e d a

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n u m b e r o f m o u l d e r i n g t o m e s r e p u t e d l y w r i t t e n in a l a n g u a g e n e v e r p r e v i o u s l y d e c i p h e r e d . A c c o r d i n g to local l e g e n d s w h i s p e r e d a r o u n d b l a z i n g fires in t h e d e a d o f winter, t h e s e i n s c r i p t i o n s had b e e n faithfully c o p i e d c e n t u r i e s earlier, s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e R o m a n s h a d d e s e r t e d t h e a r e a in A . D . 2 7 1 , f r o m c h i s e l l e d c h a r a c t e r s f o u n d in a t u n n e l d e e p w i t h i n t h e T r a n s y l v a n i a n Alps. I m m e d i a t e l y o n h i s r e t u r n to E n g l a n d , S m i t h had p u r c h a s e d an old f a r m h o u s e o n

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a r o u s e d m u c h c u r i o s i t y a n d e v e n t u a l l y b e c a m e the s o u r c e o f several q u e e r r u m o u r s , m a i n l y c o n c e r n i n g t h e c o n t e n t s o f f o u r large p a c k i n g cases which a c c o m p a n i e d h i m . S m i t h ' s a t t e m p t s to get a n y o f the villagers to help h i m c l e a n t h e place a n d c a r r y o u t e s s e n t i a l r e p a i r s p r o v i n g futile, h e e n g a g e d t h r e e m e n f r o m Exeter to p e r f o r m the w o r k . S i t u a t e d as it was m o r e t h a n a m i l e f r o m T o r p o i n t , t h e f a r m h o u s e s t o o d in a n isolated r e g i o n s u r r o u n d e d b y t h i c k w o o d l a n d with o n l y a n a r r o w d i r t t r a c k l e a d i n g u p to it f r o m the r o a d . It was t h u s well c o n c e a l e d f r o m travellers to and f r o m t h e village a n d f o r t h e first few d a y s little a t t e n t i o n w a s paid to this n e w c o m e r . It w a s n o t u n t i l the w o r k m e n b e g a n t a l k i n g in the village i n n that t h e r u m o u r s b e g a n to e s c a l a t e a n d take o n a m o r e sinister a n d puzzling aspect. W h i l e t h e m e n c o n f e s s e d to s e e i n g n o t h i n g really f r i g h t e n i n g a t t h e o l d h o u s e , t h e y m a i n t a i n e d that c e r t a i n o f t h e b o o k s w h i c h S m i t h had c o l l e c t e d were o d d in the e x t r e m e . O n e o f the w o r k m e n , W i l l i a m S h e r i d a n , w h o p o s s e s s e d s o m e slight s c i e n t i f i c l e a n i n g s , s p o k e w i t h D o c t o r M o r t o n , the village p r a c t i t i o n e r , d e s c r i b i n g s o m e o f t h e s e v o l u m e s w h i c h a p p a r e n t l y c o v e r e d a w i d e r a n g e o f c a b a l i s t i c a n d alc h e m i c a l lore d a t i n g b a c k o v e r m a n y c e n t u r i e s . A l s o m e n t i o n e d d u r i n g t h e s e d i s c u s s i o n s w a s t h e fact that S m i t h h a d set a s i d e a s m a l l o u t b u i l d i n g a little w a y f r o m t h e h o u s e a s an a s t r o n o m i c a l o b s e r v a t o r y , c a r e f u l l y siting a large t e l e s c o p e w h i c h h e w a s p o s i t i o n i n g a c c o r d i n g to c e r t a i n s p e c i f i c a l i g n m e n t s s o that h e c o u l d v i e w a p a r t i c u l a r a r e a o f the s o u t h e r n sky. T h i s n e w s p r o m p t e d the d o c t o r to p a y a call o n S m i t h o n t h e p r e t e x t o f i n t r o d u c i n g h i m s e l f a n d , a l t h o u g h he was received c o r dially e n o u g h , it w a s a p p a r e n t f r o m S m i t h ' s a t t i t u d e that h e desired

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a b s o l u t e s o l i t u d e and w o u l d n o t w e l c o m e the a t t e n t i o n s o f his n e i g h b o u r s . It was d u r i n g this visit that t h e d o c t o r c a s u a l l y m e n t i o n e d his o w n passing interest in a s t r o n o m y a n d , o n b e i n g s h o w n the o b s e r v a t o r y , e x p r e s s e d his a d m i r a t i o n o f the o p t i c a l i n s t r u m e n t w h i c h w a s almost completely assembled. A l t h o u g h o b v i o u s l y an a m a t e u r , M o r t o n s a w a t o n c e t h a t S m i t h had s p e n t a g r e a t d e a l o f m o n e y c o n v e r t i n g t h e b u i l d i n g a n d purc h a s i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t . Even t h o u g h o n l y a n o v i c e i n this b r a n c h o f s c i e n c e , M o r t o n was s t r u c k b y t h e peculiar aspect o f the o b s e r v a t o r y . A s S h e r i d a n had c l a i m e d , the layout w a s s u c h that, w h i l e it would p r o v e e x t r e m e l y difficult for S m i t h to o b s e r v e t h e h e a v e n s t o w a r d s t h e z e n i t h a n d the n o r t h , t h e t e l e s c o p e had an e x c e l l e n t and u n h i n d e r e d coverage o f t h e heavens l o w d o w n a l o n g the s o u t h e r n h o r i z o n . O n p o i n t i n g this o u t t o his h o s t , h e received o n l y evasive answers. T h e q u e s t i o n had c l e a r l y p u t S m i t h o n t h e d e f e n s i v e a n d h e m e r e l y m u m b l e d t h a t his p r i m a r y interest w a s in c e r t a i n stars w h i c h lay t o o far s o u t h to b e o b s e r v a b l e f r o m the m o r e n o r t h e r n c o u n t i e s o f E n g l a n d . M o r t o n f o r b o r e to i n t e r r o g a t e h i m f u r t h e r a l o n g t h e s e l i n e s s i n c e it was a p p a r e n t that S m i t h was b e c o m i n g e x t r e m e l y a g i t a t e d a t this line o f q u e s t i o n i n g a n d , a l t h o u g h n o t w i s h i n g to s h o w a n y l a c k o f m a n n e r s , his a t t i t u d e i n d i c a t e d h e would p r e f e r M o r t o n to leave. It was as h e was f o l l o w i n g h i s h o s t to the d o o r t h a t the d o c t o r n o t i c e d the b o o k lying o n a s m a l l table. T h e v o l u m e was e v i d e n t l y i n c r e d i b l y o l d and lay o p e n s o t h a t h e w a s able to read part o f the s c r i p t w h i c h had b e e n heavily u n d e r l i n e d . S i n c e it a p p e a r e d to h a v e s o m e b e a r i n g o n w h a t h e had just s e e n , t h e d o c t o r r e c a l l e d it f r o m m e m o r y i m m e d i a t e l y o n his r e t u r n h o m e , j o t t i n g it d o w n in a s m a l l n o t e b o o k . In e s s e n c e , it read: In t h e Z e g r e m b i M a n u s c r i p t it is w r i t t e n t h a t C t h u g h a w h o is g r e a t a m o n g t h e O l d O n e s lies b o u n d w i t h i n the r a g i n g fiery c h a o s K o r v a z , w h i c h is a s m a l l s t a r lying c l o s e in t h e h e a v e n s to F o m a l h a u t , b r i g h t e s t s t a r o f Piscis Australis, t h e S o u t h e r n Fish. W h i l e h i s m i n i o n s , the J i n n e e , m a y b e called u p t h r o u g h t h e b l a c k m i r r o r , take c a r e lest you also call H i m b e f o r e his t i m e , f o r H e c a n n o t b e put d o w n . A b o v e all, k e e p c l o s e w a t c h o n the s k y n e a r F o m a l h a u t ,

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b e e n H i s f r o m the b e g i n n i n g o f t i m e . Perplexed by w h a t h e had read, M o r t o n a t t e m p t e d to m a k e s o m e s e n s e o u t o f t h e s e e n i g m a t i c p a r a g r a p h s . Evidently, S m i t h h a d s o a r r a n g e d the layout o f t h e o b s e r v a t o r y s o t h a t h e m i g h t k e e p a c o n stant w a t c h o n t h e sky a r o u n d F o m a l h a u t . Yet w h a t was h e to m a k e o f t h e rest? W h o were C t h u g h a and t h e O l d O n e s ? A n d that s t r a n g e s t a t e m e n t t h a t H e a n d his m i n i o n s m i g h t b e c a l l e d u p t h r o u g h t h e black m i r r o r — w h a t m a d kind o f nonsense was that? Inwardly, h e s h u d d e r e d as h e struggled to f o r m u l a t e s o m e r a t i o nal m e a n i n g b e h i n d the words. A s a d o c t o r , M o r t o n w a s a s c i e n t i f i c m a n , yet he c o u l d f o r m n o r e a s o n a b l e c o n c l u s i o n . S o m e t h i n g — s o m e p r e s e n c e — w h i c h e x i s t e d i n s i d e a star, c o u l d b e d r a w n a c r o s s t h e b l a c k i n t e r s t e l l a r v o i d to E a r t h and m a n i f e s t i t s e l f b y m e a n s o f a m i r r o r ? Had this b e e n t h e M i d d l e Ages, e v e n t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f t h a t b o o k w o u l d have r e s u l t e d in y o u n g S m i t h b e i n g t r i e d and h a n g e d a s a warlock. T h e r e was, o f c o u r s e , the e q u a l l y d i s t u r b i n g possibility

that

S m i t h ' s m i n d had b e c o m e , to a c e r t a i n e x t e n t , d e r a n g e d . T o M o r t o n ' s k e e n e y e t h e r e had b e e n s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the y o u n g m a n w h i c h h e had felt, r a t h e r t h a n s e e n , d u r i n g h i s b r i e f talk with h i m . H e had given the i m p r e s s i o n o f b e i n g o n t h e verge o f s o m e t r e m e n d o u s discover)', yet o n e w h i c h had s u c h f r i g h t e n i n g o v e r t o n e s t h a t he c o u l d n o t b r i n g h i m s e l f e v e n to h i n t at it t o an o u t s i d e r . At t h a t t i m e , M o r t o n was u n a w a r e o f t h e travels w h i c h S m i t h had e m b a r k e d

upon

p r i o r to c o m i n g to T o r p o i n t . H e h a d , however, received t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e y o u n g m a n was s e a r c h i n g d e s p e r a t e l y for s o m e t h i n g o f vital i m p o r t a n c e ; that he had d e l i b e r a t e l y c h o s e n this place in w h i c h to live f o r s o m e r e a s o n o t h e r t h a n t h e a s t r o n o m i c a l o n e o f o b s e r v i n g p a r t s o f the s k y w h i c h c o u l d n o t b e seen f r o m a n y p o s i t i o n m u c h f u r ther north. After all, if S m i t h m e r e l y w i s h e d to p u r s u e his h o b b y o f w a t c h i n g t h e s o u t h e r n skies, w o u l d it n o t h a v e m a d e m o r e s e n s e to have settled in s o m e o t h e r c o u n t r y c l o s e r to the e q u a t o r ? T h e m o r e h e tried to

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p u z z l e t h i n g s o u t , t h e m o r e c o n v i n c e d M o r t o n b e c a m e that, w h a t e v e r it w a s t h a t S m i t h was l o o k i n g for, h e had r e a s o n to believe it w a s s o m e w h e r e in t h e v i c i n i t y o f T o r p o i n t . A l t h o u g h h e tried to d i s m i s s t h e i d e a as t o o f a n t a s t i c f o r belief, M o r t o n was r e l u c t a n t l y f o r c e d to the c o n c l u s i o n that S m i t h a c t u a l l y believed in the literal t r u t h o f t h o s e w o r d s in t h a t a n c i e n t b o o k w h i c h h e had s o m e h o w a c q u i r e d . H o w e v e r i n s a n e it m i g h t s e e m , S m i t h had o b t a i n e d s o m e a n c i e n t a r c a n e k n o w l e d g e b y m e a n s o f w h i c h he w a s h o p i n g to call u p s o m e c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f n a t u r e w h i c h h e was c e r t a i n e x i s t e d n e a r F o m a l h a u t and to d o this it w a s n e c e s s a r y h e s h o u l d gain p o s s e s s i o n o f o n e t h i n g — t h e b l a c k m i r r o r m e n t i o n e d in t h a t o u t l a n d i s h text. T h a t this was a s i m i l a r k i n d o f f a n t a s y w h i c h had a f f l i c t e d t h e early p h i l o s o p h e r s in their futile s e a r c h for t h e Elixir o f Life a n d t h e Philosopher's Stone, M o r t o n recognized at once. He recalled that S h e r i d a n had m e n t i o n e d t h a t c e r t a i n o f the b o o k s S m i t h had c o l l e c t e d dealt w i t h a l c h e m y . T h e logical e x p l a n a t i o n o f all this, if t h e r e was o n e , w a s s i m p l y that S m i t h had a fanatical interest in this a n c i e n t w i s d o m and had t a k e n this b e l i e f to a n e x t r e m e . W h i l e s u c h an o u t l o o k w a s d e f i n i t e l y u n h e a l t h y i f t a k e n t o o far, it w a s n o t a case in w h i c h he c o u l d i n t e r f e r e d i r e c t l y as a d o c t o r . However, he felt it w a s h i s d u t y to keep t h e y o u n g m a n u n d e r d i s c r e e t s c r u t i n y f o r t h e r e was n o telling w h a t e f f e c t this o b s e s s i o n m i g h t have o n h i s m i n d i f it was a l l o w e d to take o v e r his p e r s o n a l i t y c o m p l e t e l y . W i t h i n t h e s p a c e o f t h r e e weeks, m o s t o f t h e repairs a n d r e n o v a t i o n s to the f a r m h o u s e had b e e n c o m p l e t e d to S m i t h ' s s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d t h e w o r k m e n were h a n d s o m e l y r e w a r d e d f o r their h a n d i w o r k . A s his s t u d y , S m i t h had c h o s e n a large r o o m o n the top floor a t t h e r e a r w h i c h o v e r l o o k e d t h e s o l i t a r y o p e n i n g in the tall trees w h i c h r i n g e d t h e h o u s e in an a l m o s t c o m p l e t e circle, s h u t t i n g it o f f f r o m t h e s u r r o u n d i n g fields and hills. It c o m m a n d e d an u n i m p e d e d view o f the h o r i z o n a l m o s t d u e s o u t h w i t h o n l y the l o w o u t b u i l d i n g sited on a small knoll d o m i n a t i n g the nearer landscape. T h e d i s t a n t h o r i z o n in this d i r e c t i o n w a s r e a s o n a b l y flat w i t h m o s t o f the h u m p e d hills s h o w i n g above t h e r i n g o f trees t o w a r d s t h e w e s t . B e y o n d t h e m , he knew, the p r e c i p i t o u s s l o p e s p l u n g e d s h e e r t o w a r d s the o c e a n . F o r m u c h o f the d a y h e w o u l d sit a t the large o a k desk, p o r i n g o v e r t h e m u s t y t o m e s he had b r o u g h t with h i m ,

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w o r k i n g feverishly o n his a t t e m p t s to d e c i p h e r t h o s e w h i c h h e had d i s c o v e r e d in T r a n s y l v a n i a . Initially, h e a s s u m e d that t h e w r i t i n g was in c i p h e r f o r it was well known that the ancient alchemists and n e c r o m a n c e r s used

such

c o m p l e x c o d e s , e i t h e r to p r o t e c t t h e i r s e c r e t s f r o m rival r e s e a r c h e r s o r to h i d e t h e m from the p r y i n g eyes o f t h e c h u r c h a u t h o r i t i e s . W h e n s u c c e s s c o n t i n u e d to e l u d e h i m , he s o o n saw that his o r i g i n a l d e d u c t i o n w a s i n c o r r e c t . T h e s e w r i t i n g s had to b e c o p i e s d e r i v e d f r o m m u c h earlier s o u r c e s and his c o n v i c t i o n t h a t h e m i g h t s o o n s t u m b l e u p o n t h e key b e c a m e severely s h a k e n . E v i d e n t l y h e would have to resort to o t h e r b o o k s , o n e s w h i c h h e d i d n ' t have in his p o s s e s s i o n , if h e was to m a k e a n y h e a d w a y . A c c o r d i n g l y , e a r l y o n e w a r m d a y in late S e p t e m b e r , h e d r o v e i n t o Exeter, p a r k i n g his c a r n e a r the c e n t e r o f t o w n . T h e r e was n o p o s s i bility, o f c o u r s e , t h a t a n y o f the m o d e r n , f a s h i o n a b l e

bookshops

w o u l d s t o c k the v o l u m e s h e was s e e k i n g a n d h e d e l i b e r a t e l y s t r u c k o f f the m a i n s t r e e t s , w a n d e r i n g the m a z e o f n a r r o w r o a d s w h e r e i n n u m e r a b l e alleys led o f f in all d i r e c t i o n s . Here, h e s o u g h t o u t t h e o l d e r and

lesser-known shops which seemed

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themselves

away, o u t o f s i g h t , a s if not w a n t i n g to be f r e q u e n t e d by the t o u r i s t s . In o n e o f t h e s e he i n q u i r e d o f t h e s h o p k e e p e r a b o u t a n y b o o k s d e a l i n g with the Z e g r e m b i M a n u s c r i p t b u t the m a n m e r e l y l o o k e d o d d l y f r i g h t e n e d a n d s h o o k his h e a d and w h e n S m i t h pressed h i m f o r an answer, h e f e i g n e d i g n o r a n c e a n d m a i n t a i n e d h e had n e v e r heard the name. T h e r e s e e m e d n o p o i n t in a s k i n g f u r t h e r , f o r it w a s c l e a r that t h e m a n k n e w s o m e t h i n g b u t w o u l d n e v e r tell w h a t h e k n e w . Acting o n i m p u l s e . S m i t h left t h e s h o p h u r r i e d l y a n d c o n c e a l e d h i m s e l f in a n a r r o w alley a few y a r d s f r o m t h e s h o p e n t r a n c e . H e had o n l y b e e n t h e r e a c o u p l e o f m i n u t e s w h e n the s h o p o w n e r e m e r g e d a n d , a f t e r t h r o w i n g a w a r y g l a n c e a l o n g the s t r e e t , l o o k i n g in b o t h d i r e c t i o n s , hurried o f f across the small, cobbled square, vanishing around a corner immediately opposite S m i t h s vantage point. Fortunately there were few p e o p l e a b o u t a n d S m i t h was a b l e to f o l l o w t h e m a n , k e e p i n g h i m in s i g h t w i t h o u t t h e o t h e r b e i n g a w a r e o f his p r e s e n c e . T h e m a n d i d n o t g o far. H a l f w a y a l o n g a n a r r o w alley, h e p a u s e d a n d t h e n d a r t e d i n t o an e v e n n a r r o w e r passage b e t w e e n two tall V i c t o r i a n h o u s e s , t u r n i n g left a t t h e far e n d . Swiftly, S m i t h w e n t a f t e r

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h i m a n d w a s j u s t in t i m e to see h i m e n t e r i n g a s m a l l , d i n g y - l o o k i n g s h o p o n t h e o p p o s i t e side o f t h e s t r e e t . T h e i n t e r i o r was d i m and S m i t h c o u l d o n l y just m a k e o u t t h e two figures t h r o u g h t h e d u s t s m e a r e d glass o f t h e w i n d o w . B u t it w a s e v i d e n t the m a n he had followed was t a l k i n g a n i m a t e d l y w i t h his c o l l e a g u e b e h i n d t h e l o n g c o u n t e r . Even t h o u g h he c o u l d h e a r n o t h i n g , S m i t h did n o t d o u b t t h e y were d i s c u s s i n g h i m and his r e q u e s t . W h i l e S m i t h p o n d e r e d h i s n e x t m o v e , t h e first m a n c a m e o u t , h e s i t a t e d a m o m e n t , t h e n h u r r i e d b a c k a l o n g the s t r e e t . A f t e r h e had g o n e . S m i t h s t o o d s t a r i n g at t h e d i n g y s h o p . It s o m e h o w e x c i t e d h i m to find that his f e w w o r d s in t h e last s h o p h a d e l i c i t e d this r e a c t i o n f o r it s e e m e d to c o n f i r m h e was n o w o n t h e t r a c k o f d i s c o v e r i n g something important. A c t i n g a l m o s t w i t h o u t c o n s c i o u s initiative, h e m a d e his w a y a c r o s s the street a n d inside the s h o p . F o r a m o m e n t , h e had the i m p r e s s i o n it w a s c o m p l e t e l y e m p t y . T h e n h e n o t i c e d the s h a d o w ) - figu r e b e h i n d t h e c o u n t e r a n d w a s a w a r e o f eyes w a t c h i n g h i m s h r e w d l y as h e a p p r o a c h e d . " S o you're the o n e w h o ' s i n q u i r i n g a b o u t the Z e g r e m b i M a n u s c r i p t , " t h e m a n said. H i s voice was little m o r e t h a n a h o a r s e w h i s p e r a n d t h e r e was a c u r i o u s m e t a l l i c q u a l i t y to it w h i c h s u r p r i s e d S m i t h . S e e i n g n o r e a s o n to d e n y that this w a s so. S m i t h n o d d e d . H i s eyes had n o w g r o w n a c c u s t o m e d to the g l o o m i n s i d e t h e s h o p a n d h e saw that t h e o w n e r was a s m a l l , w i z e n e d m a n o f i n d e t e r m i n a t e a g e a l t h o u g h , to S m i t h ' s s t a r t l e d gaze, h e c o u l d n o t have b e e n less t h a n n i n e t y years o l d . A n d his eyes, in the d i m l y s h a d o w e d features, w e r e s t r a n g e l y u p s e t t i n g — o d d l y s l a n t e d like t h o s e o f a C h i n e s e and in t h e i r b l a c k , s e e m i n g l y irisless, d e p t h s twin fiames s e e m e d to

flicker

redly. " I m u s t a d m i t I d i d n ' t e x p e c t y o u s o s o o n . Evidently y o u m u s t h a v e d i s c o v e r e d a g r e a t d e a l in y o u r travels." D e s p i t e the a b r u p t s h o c k evoked by this s t a t e m e n t f r o m a c o m p l e t e s t r a n g e r . S m i t h s o m e h o w m a n a g e d to k e e p his c o m p o s u r e . Perh a p s it was t h e fact t h a t in h i s s h o r t l i f e t i m e , h e had b e e n w i t n e s s to s o m a n y s t r a n g e and i n e x p l i c a b l e t h i n g s w h i c h a l l o w e d h i m t o k e e p h i s v o i c e n o r m a l as h e asked, " H o w d o you k n o w w h e r e I've b e e n ? " " A h , b u t I h a p p e n to k n o w a lot a b o u t y o u . M i s t e r S m i t h . I k n o w w h y you c a m e to T o r p o i n t , e v e n t h o u g h y o u m a y not k n o w the real

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r e a s o n y o u r s e l f . I k n o w all o f I h e p l a c e s you've visited and w h a t y o u h e a r d and f o u n d there. A n d a b o v e all, I k n o w w h a t it is you're s e a r c h i n g for s o urgently. T h e b l a c k m i r r o r o f Z e g r e m b i . " G r i p p i n g t h e e d g e o f the c o u n t e r with w h i t e - k n u c k l e d

hands.

S m i t h e x p e r i e n c e d a m o u n t i n g tide o f i n s i d i o u s h o r r o r a n d a p p r e h e n s i o n s u r g i n g t h r o u g h h i m . H e c o u l d n o t recall h a v i n g e v e r seen this m a n b e f o r e and k n e w h e w o u l d c e r t a i n l y have r e m e m b e r e d s u c h f e a t u r e s if h e had e v e r d o n e s o . T h e n h e r e c a l l e d t h e t h r e e w o r k m e n h e had e n g a g e d a n d it o c c u r r e d t o h i m that, in spite o f all the care h e had t a k e n , o n e o f t h e m m i g h t have g o n e t h r o u g h h i s b o o k s a n d , o n r e t u r n i n g to Exeter, s p o k e n with t h i s m a n c o n c e r n i n g his travels and r e c e n t activities. W i t h an e f f o r t , he f o r c e d h i m s e l f to relax slightly, ass u r i n g h i m s e l f that this was the logical e x p l a n a t i o n . " T h e n i f y o u k n o w s o m u c h a b o u t m e , " h e said harshly, " y o u m a y b e o f s o m e h e l p . I n e e d to d e c i p h e r a c e r t a i n s c r i p t w h i c h is c l e a r l y w r i t t e n in s o m e l a n g u a g e u n k n o w n at the p r e s e n t t i m e . " " O f c o u r s e . " T h e w r i n k l e d head n o d d e d g r o t e s q u e l y o n the s h o p keeper's s c r a w n y s h o u l d e r s . " T h e v o l u m e s y o u f o u n d in Transylvania." " W h y , yes." " I t h o u g h t so. B u t y o u m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h o s e v o l u m e s are o n l y c o p i e s o f a m u c h earlier w o r k a n d w e r e t h e m s e l v e s c o p i e s o f c o p i e s . T h e o r i g i n a l w a s w r i t t e n o n s t o n e l o n g b e f o r e t h e r e were a n y m e n o n this p l a n e t . S o m e say the s t o n e was t a k e n i n t o s o m e o t h e r realm, beyond our own universe o f angled time and space, mill i o n s o f years a g o . T h e Z e g r e m b i M a n u s c r i p t is, however, a faithful reproduction." "But how—?" " H o w d i d Z e g r e m b i , the n e c r o m a n c e r , gain p o s s e s s i o n o f it and s u c c e e d in d e c i p h e r i n g i t ? " T h e flickering flames w i t h i n the old m a n ' s eyes s e e m e d to b r i g h t e n a n d S m i t h f o u n d that, n o m a t t e r h o w hard h e tried, h e w a s u n a b l e to tear his g a z e f r o m this m e s m e r i c stare. H e s e e m e d to h e a r t h e w h e e z i n g v o i c e e c h o i n g s t r a n g e l y f r o m a g r e a t distance. " Z e g r e m b i

had d i s c o v e r e d t h e m e a n i n g b e h i n d

certain

p l a n e s a n d a n g l e s , h o w t h e s e c o u l d be e n m e s h e d t o g e t h e r s o t h a t passage f r o m o n e r e a l m to a n o t h e r b e c a m e p o s s i b l e . T h i s a r c a n e k n o w l e d g e e n a b l e d h i m to e n t e r that p a r t i c u l a r s p h e r e w i t h i n w h i c h t h e g r a v e n s t o n e was c o n c e a l e d a n d h e b r o u g h t it b a c k with h i m to h i s garret in L o n d o n in the year 1 6 6 3 .

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" H o w l o n g it t o o k h i m to d e c i p h e r it n o o n e else k n o w s , b u t t h a t h e had s u c c e e d e d t h r e e years later is o b v i o u s f r o m s u b s e q u e n t events. You see, he also b r o u g h t b a c k s o m e t h i n g else with h i m f r o m t h e o u t e r r e a l m s — t h e b l a c k m i r r o r w h i c h , as y o u h a v e a l r e a d y g u e s s e d , is t h e portal t h r o u g h w h i c h t h o s e w h o s e r v e g r e a t C t h u g h a m a y pass." In spite o f his n a t u r a l revulsion a t the o t h e r ' s a p p e a r a n c e . S m i t h felt a s u d d e n s u r g e o f e x c i t e m e n t a t t h e o w n e r ' s r e v e l a t i o n s . " A n d y o u k n o w w h e r e this m i r r o r is n o w ? " h e asked. " I c a n o n l y tell you t h a t Z e g r e m b i is said to h a v e taken it w i t h h i m , t o g e t h e r w i t h o t h e r d o c u m e n t s , w h e n he lied L o n d o n in 1 6 6 6 . 1 said t h e r e were o t h e r e v e n t s w h i c h prove this b e y o n d all s h a d o w o f d o u b t . P e r h a p s y o u recall w h a t h a p p e n e d o n S e p t e m b e r the s e c o n d , 1666."

S m i t h t h o u g h t f o r a m o m e n t , t h e n n o d d e d . " T h e G r e a t Fire o f London." " J u s t so. A n d C t h u g h a is the O l d O n e a s s o c i a t e d with fire, j u s t a s C t h u l h u is L o r d o f the W a t e r s and I t h a q u a rules the w i n d s . " " A r e y o u s a y i n g that Z e g r e m b i c a l l e d u p C t h u g h a t h r o u g h t h e black m i r r o r ? " " N o . Not Cthugha, otherwise the entire Earth would have been r e d u c e d to a b l a c k e n e d c i n d e r . B u t he did call u p o n e , o r m o r e , o f t h e Jinnee,

the s e r v a n t s o f C t h u g h a , t h o s e b e i n g s w h o d w e l l in t h e o u t e r

realms." T h e o l d m a n p a u s e d , t h e b l a z i n g eyes still fixed h y p n o t i c a l l y o n S m i t h . " I k n o w t h a t you h a v e f o l l o w e d the trail o f C t h u g h a for m a n y years a n d p e r h a p s it is o n l y r i g h t 1 s h o u l d aid a b e l i e v e r in his s e a r c h . " T u r n i n g suddenly, he m o v e d towards the rear o f the darkened s h o p and w h e n h e c a m e b a c k t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g in his h a n d w h i c h h e placed c a r e f u l l y o n t h e c o u n t e r . " T a k e this. It is the o n l y c o p y in e x i s t e n c e . L o o k u p o n it i f y o u w i s h as y o u r R o s e t t a S t o n e in t r a n s l a t i n g the a e o n - o l d w r i t i n g s w h i c h were g r a v e n u p o n Earth's r o c k s l o n g b e f o r e even t h e d i n o s a u r s r o a m e d t h i s p l a n e t . " A l m o s t b e f o r e he w a s a w a r e o f it, S m i t h f o u n d h i m s e l f s t a n d i n g in t h e n a r r o w s t r e e t , b l i n k i n g h i s eyes a g a i n s t t h e b r i g h t s u n l i g h t . H e had n o k n o w l e d g e o f h o w h e had g o t there; c e r t a i n l y h e c o u l d n o t recall h a v i n g passed t h r o u g h t h e s h o p d o o r , a n d for several m o m e n t s h e s t o o d t h e r e , s w a y i n g slightly a t t h e s u d d e n t r a n s i t i o n . It was n o t u n t i l he t u r n e d to g l a n c e b e h i n d h i m that t h e full h o r -

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r o r b u r s t u p o n h i m . W h e r e h e h a d i m a g i n e d t h e b o o k s h o p to b e w a s a hardware shop sandwiched between two dilapidated

buildings,

t h e i r w i n d o w s b o a r d e d u p and c l e a r l y u n t e n a n t e d . In a daze, h e w a n d e r e d the w h o l e l e n g t h o f t h e s t r e e t , s c a r c e l y s u r e o f his o w n sanity, f o r t h e r e w a s n o sign o f t h e b o o k s h o p h e had j u s t visited. E i t h e r h e had d r e a m e d t h e e n t i r e e p i s o d e w h i l e still w a l k i n g t h r o u g h t h e s e n a r r o w streets, o r h e had suffered a t e m p o r a r y lapse o f m e m o r y and h a d w a l k e d s o m e c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s t a n c e w i t h o u t b e i n g a w a r e o f it b e f o r e r e g a i n i n g his s e n s e s here in this street w h i c h , alt h o u g h it l o o k e d like t h a t w h e r e the o l d b o o k s h o p was l o c a t e d , m i g h t b e s o m e d i s t a n c e away. Yet e v e n a s h e s t r u g g l e d to o r i e n t a t e h i m self, a w a r e t h a t s o m e o f t h e p a s s e r s b y were e y e i n g h i m c u r i o u s l y , h i s h a n d w e n t to the i n n e r p o c k e t o f his c o a t , w i t h d r a w i n g a r o l l e d - u p p a r c h m e n t w h i c h he r e c o g n i z e d at o n c e a s the l o n g - l o s t Z e g r e m b i Manuscript. T h i s d i s c o v e r y s e n t h i m h a s t e n i n g b a c k t h r o u g h t h e t w i s t i n g alleys to w h e r e h e h a d p a r k e d his car. All the w a y b a c k to T o r p o i n t h e a t t e m p t e d to r a t i o n a l i z e w h a t had h a p p e n e d . H i s p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e p a r c h m e n t w a s c o n c r e t e p r o o f that h e had n e i t h e r d r e a m e d

nor

i m a g i n e d e v e r y t h i n g . S o m e o n e — o r s o m e t h i n g — h a d w a n t e d h i m to o b t a i n the Z e g r e m b i M a n u s c r i p t , f o r w h a t o b s c u r e m o t i v e h e c o u l d n o t e v e n guess. Gradually, however, h i s initial feeling o f d a r k a p p r e h e n s i o n a n d awe gave w a y to o n e o f i n t e n s e e l a t i o n . N o w h e felt c e r t a i n he h a d t h e m e a n s o f d e c i p h e r i n g that p r e h u m a n l a n g u a g e o f the T r a n s y l v a n i a n v o l u m e s and also o f d i s c o v e r i n g the whereabouts o f the black mirror. B a c k a t t h e f a r m h o u s e . S m i t h w a s t e d n o t i m e in p e r u s i n g t h e p a r c h m e n t . A s the o l d m a n h a d c l a i m e d , it w a s i n d e e d a

Rosetta

S t o n e , w r i t t e n in t h r e e l a n g u a g e s . T h e first was u n d o u b t e d l y i d e n t i c a l with the w e i r d h i e r o g l y p h s g i v e n in the a n c i e n t t o m e s h e had f o u n d in t h a t s u b t e r r a n e a n c r y p t in E a s t e r n E u r o p e ; the s e c o n d was a s c r i p t h e c o u l d n o t i d e n t i f y a l t h o u g h the linear c h a r a c t e r s a p p e a r e d allied to t h e N o r d i c r u n e s . T h e third p o r t i o n o f the text w a s in L a t i n . At o n c e , h e r e c o g n i z e d that i f t h e two lower s c r i p t s were an e x a c t t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e first, t h e d e c i p h e r m e n t o f t h e t e r r i b l y a n c i e n t volu m e s lay w i t h i n his g r a s p . T h a t it w o u l d n o t b e easy, h e realized, and it w o u l d u n d o u b t e d l y t a k e s o m e t i m e . B u t w h e n h e retired

that

n i g h t , h e felt like a m a n o n the verge o f a great d i s c o v e r y . In spite o f

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h i s physical t i r e d n e s s , his b r a i n w a s still active, g o i n g o v e r w h a t had h a p p e n e d again a n d again s o that it w a s two h i l l h o u r s b e f o r e h e fell asleep, l i s t e n i n g to the c r e a k s a n d g r o a n s o f t h e o l d h o u s e . F o r t h e first t i m e s i n c e h e had m o v e d i n t o the f a r m h o u s e , h e d r e a m e d . In his d r e a m h e f o u n d h i m s e l f p l u n g e d i n t o a v o r t e x o f c y d o p e a n h o r r o r . H e h u n g m o t i o n l e s s in a b l a c k , f o r b i d d i n g s k y and a t first

t h o u g h t h e w a s s u s p e n d e d s o m e w h e r e in t h e i n t r a s o l a r d e e p s

m u c h c l o s e r to the S u n t h a n o n F a r t h . B u t t h e n h e realized t h a t t h e d u l l y g l e a m i n g o r b w h i c h floated b e f o r e his d r e a m i n g v i s i o n w a s n o t t h e S u n . Ugly d a r k b l o t c h e s m o t t l e d t h e dull o r a n g e s u r f a c e and g r e a t c o l u m n s o f s p i n n i n g flame a r c e d a r o u n d the r i m . F o r a n i m m e a s u r a b l e p e r i o d o f t i m e , h e floated t h e r e , his e n t i r e a t t e n t i o n focussed o n the s t r a n g e star, w a t c h i n g t h e t i t a n s u n s p o t s drift s l o w l y a c r o s s t h e h i d e o u s d i s c , at t i m e s g r o w i n g l a r g e r and m e r g i n g i n t o g r e a t g a p i n g c h a s m s in t h e fiery a t m o s p h e r e , w h i l e a t o t h e r s d w i n d l i n g a l m o s t to n o t h i n g n e s s . T h e n h e n o t i c e d t h a t the b l a c k abyss a r o u n d t h e s t a r w a s not e n tirely v a c a n t . S w i n g i n g a r o u n d f r o m b e h i n d the s u n c a m e a s m a l l e r b o d y w h i c h h e i m m e d i a t e l y c o n c l u d e d was a s o l i t a r y p l a n e t previo u s l y h i d d e n by that b l o t c h e d , fiery s p h e r e . A s it s w u n g c l o s e r in, t o w a r d s h i s v a n t a g e p o i n t , he g l i m p s e d t h e m e t e o r - p o c k e d s u r f a c e , c r o w d e d with i n d e s c r i b a b l y a n g l e d s t o n e m o n u m e n t s w h i c h clust e r e d in a l i e n - s h a p e d g r o u p s , s p r o u t i n g f r o m t h e g r o u n d like m o n strous tungi. T i t a n c o l u m n s reared up into the star-strewn heavens a n d e v e r y t h i n g h e s a w held a t o u c h o f u n s p e a k a b l e m e n a c e and h o r r o r ; and t h e n , a s t h e b l a c k planet s w u n g past h i m h e a l m o s t s c r e a m e d a l o u d as h e g l i m p s e d the f e a r s o m e d e n i z e n s o f that m i d n i g h t world. Alien-hued creatures which s w a r m e d across the undulant

surface,

t h e i r c r a z y o u t l i n e s s u r r o u n d e d b y w h a t a p p e a r e d to b e

flickering

flames. In that s a m e i n s t a n t , h e b e c a m e a w a r e , f o r t h e first t i m e , o f a sound; a roaring, shrieking confusion o f noise which permeated the d a r k v o i d , rising a n d falling in s o m e a b n o r m a l r h y t h m w h i c h , s o m e h o w , s e e m e d to b e s y n c h r o n o u s w i t h the m o t i o n o f that s e e t h i n g m a s s o f i n h u m a n life. T h e s o u n d r e a c h e d a s o u l - s h u d d e r i n g p a t t e r n o f aural v i o l e n c e a n d t h e n d i m i n i s h e d slowly as t h e g i g a n t i c o r b floated past h i m in its e r r a t i c o r b i t a r o u n d t h e star. E v e n t h o u g h s o m e s t r a n g e i n n e r s e n s e

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t o l d h i m h e w a s s i m p l y d r e a m i n g and h e s t r u g g l e d d e s p e r a t e l y to w a k e n , t h e r e c a m e o n e final e p i s o d e w h i c h c r o w d e d i n s a n e l y i n t o his w h i r l i n g m i n d . H i s g a z e s u d d e n l y s w i t c h e d f r o m the b l a c k p l a n e t b a c k to t h e c e n t r a l star. At first, it s e e m e d j u s t as it had b e e n b e f o r e b u t t h e n h e n o t i c e d it w a s n o t o n l y g r o w i n g larger b u t s e e m e d to b e s p i n n i n g m o r e r a p i d l y o n its c r a z i l y - t i l t e d axis. T h e u m b r o u s s p o t s o n its s u r f a c e swept a c r o s s it w i t h an i n c r e a s i n g a c c e l e r a t i o n , t h e l e a p i n g fiames s o a r e d swiftly i n t o the s u r r o u n d i n g v o i d , c u r v e d and fell b a c k as s p i n n i n g m a g n e t i c fields t w i s t e d and w a r p e d . S o m e t h i n g was s t i r r i n g d e e p w i t h i n that fiery a t m o s p h e r e ; s o m e t h i n g

mon-

s t r o u s that r o a r e d an i n s a t i a b l e a n g e r a g a i n s t the c h a i n s o f the F.lder G o d s w h i c h had b o u n d it t h e r e f o r an eternity. A n d S m i t h k n e w that h e w a s b e i n g d r a w n irresistibly t o w a r d s it. U n a b l e to resist, u t t e r l y powerless to c o n t r o l his m o v e m e n t s , h e w a s d i v i n g h e a d l o n g t o w a r d s that r a v e n i n g c h a o s , that a g e - o l d

intelli-

gence which was Cthugha. T h e n , even as the h o r r e n d o u s disc exp a n d e d swiftly b e f o r e h i m , h e j e r k e d u p r i g h t in h i s b e d , a s h r i e k o f u t t e r h o r r o r b u r s t i n g f r o m his s h a k i n g lips, p e r s p i r a t i o n b o i l i n g f r o m e v e r ) ' p o r e o f his body. H e w a s t r e m b l i n g u n c o n t r o l l a b l y , s t a r i n g i n t o t h e d a r k n e s s , that final d r e a m i n g i m a g e still s t r o n g in h i s m i n d . F o r t h e rest o f t h e n i g h t he lay in the dark, fighting a g a i n s t s l e e p u n t i l t h e first g r e y g l i m m e r o f d a w n s h o w e d t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w s w h e n h e w e n t d o w n i n t o the k i t c h e n and p r e p a r e d h i m s e l f a s t r o n g c o f f e e in an a t t e m p t to c a l m his taut n e r v e s . T h a t m o r n i n g , with o m i n o u s t h u n d e r h e a d s p i l i n g u p t o w a r d s t h e s o u t h - e a s t . S m i t h c o u l d s c a r c e l y b r i n g h i m s e l f to tackle the task o f b e g i n n i n g t h e t r a n s l a t i o n o f that a n c i e n t t e x t w h i c h h a d i n t r i g u e d h i m for s o l o n g . H i s m i n d w a s still r e e l i n g u n d e r t h e i m p a c t o f t h a t n i g h t m a r i s h d r e a m w h i c h had assailed h i m d u r i n g the night. longer could

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h e had w i t n e s s e d d u r i n g

No that

d r e a m i n g s t a t e had b e e n t h e lair o f g r e a t C t h u g h a ; that f a i n t s t a r w h i c h lay c l o s e in t h e heavens to the m o r e brilliant F o m a l h a u t . A n d t h a t n i g h t - b l a c k planet o n w h i c h had c r a w l e d t h o s e l o a t h s o m e c r e a t u r e s — w a s t h a t t h e a b o d e o f t h e l i n n e e , t h o s e w h o had w o r s h i p p e d C t h u g h a t h r o u g h o u t t h e a e o n s s i n c e that t i t a n i c b a t t l e w h i c h h a d r e s u l t e d in t h e d e f e a t a n d s u b s e q u e n t i m p r i s o n m e n t

of

t h e O l d O n e s ? S h u d d e r i n g at t h e m e m o r y , h e seated h i m s e l f at h i s desk where he unrolled the p a r c h m e n t bearing the three inscriptions.

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k e e p i n g it flat w i t h a q u a r t e t o f p a p e r w e i g h t s a s h e p u z z l e d o v e r t h e w e i r d c h a r a c t e r s o f that earliest l a n g u a g e , s t r i v i n g to c o r r e l a t e it w i t h t h e Latin text. H e k n e w he w a s i n e v i t a b l y m a k i n g a n u m b e r o f a s s u m p t i o n s a n d t h e r e was a s t r o n g p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t o n e , o r p e r h a p s all o f these, m i g h t b e i n c o r r e c t . Yet he w o u l d gain n o t h i n g by m e r e l y l o o k i n g at t h e m . E v i d e n t l y t h e o l d n e c r o m a n c e r , Z e g r e m b i , had s o m e h o w f o u n d the m e a n s o f t r a n s c r i b i n g t h e p r e - h u m a n s c r i p t i n t o Latin and n o w S m i t h a t t e m p t e d to d o likewise with t h e t a t t e r e d , m o u l d y t o m e s , p a i n f u l l y d e c o d i n g t h e f a b u l o u s c h a r a c t e r s i n t o t h e i r Latin e q u i v a l e n t . P r o g r e s s was i n e v i t a b l y s l o w a n d h e w a s still s t r u g g l i n g with t h e t e x t w h e n t h e g a t h e r i n g s t o r m b r o k e . V i c i o u s l i g h t n i n g s t r o k e s and r o l l i n g t h u n d e r c r a s h e d a c r o s s t h e heavens, a c c o m p a n i e d by t o r r e n tial rain w h i c h b a t t e r e d i n c e s s a n t l y at t h e w i n d o w s . S m i t h d i d his b e s t to i g n o r e t h e s o u n d , c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n the task b e f o r e h i m b u t ten m i n u t e s later t h e r e c a m e a n o t h e r s o u n d w h i c h j e r k e d h i m u p r i g h t in his chair, a s u r g e o f a n g e r g o i n g t h r o u g h h i m . T h e loud knocking on the d o o r downstairs was repeated. Tossing his pen a n g r i l y o n t o the desk, h e w e n t d o w n s t a i r s a n d o p e n e d the d o o r , r e c o i l i n g s l i g h t l y a s a savage blast o f a i r s t r u c k h i m . D o c t o r M o r t o n s t o o d t h e r e , the r a i n d r i p p i n g f r o m his h a t a n d o v e r c o a t . A p o l o g i z i n g f o r his u n e x p e c t e d a p p e a r a n c e o n S m i t h ' s d o o r s t e p , the d o c t o r explained that while returning f r o m visiting a patient, he had b e e n c a u g h t in the s u d d e n d o w n p o u r o n his way b a c k to the village a n d a s k e d if h e m i g h t s h e l t e r until t h e s t o r m a b a t e d . A l t h o u g h a n n o y e d by this u n w a n t e d i n t r u s i o n , a n d a n x i o u s to get b a c k to h i s w o r k . S m i t h c o u l d not very well refuse t h i s r e q u e s t s i n c e this would n o t o n l y a r o u s e s u s p i c i o n in t h e d o c t o r ' s m i n d b u t m i g h t d o t h e s a m e w h e r e t h e villagers were c o n c e r n e d s h o u l d t h e d o c t o r let it b e k n o w n h e had b e e n d e n i e d shelter. W o r d l e s s l y , h e t o o k his v i s i t o r i n t o t h e p a r l o u r and m o t i o n e d h i m to a c h a i r a f t e r t a k i n g h i s wet h a t a n d o v e r c o a t , d r a p i n g the latter o v e r t h e b a c k o f a c h a i r i n f r o n t o f t h e fire. W h i l e s t u d y i n g his h o s t m i n u t e l y f r o m b e n e a t h lowered lids, M o r t o n i n q u i r e d h o w h i s a s t r o n o m i c a l o b s e r v a t i o n s were p r o g r e s s i n g , r e m a r k i n g that the r e c e n t n i g h t s had b e e n e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y c l e a r w i t h excellent c o n d i t i o n s for viewing the heavens. S m i t h waved this q u e s t i o n aside q u i t e s u m m a r i l y , m e r e l y s a y i n g

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t h a i , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , p r e s s u r e o f o t h e r w o r k had m e a n t h e had b e e n f o r c e d to p o s t p o n e s u c h o b s e r v a t i o n s for the t i m e b e i n g . T h i s s t a t e m e n t , D o c t o r M o r t o n f o u n d difficult to b e l i e v e . A f t e r all. S m i t h had e v i d e n t l y p a i d a g r e a t deal o f m o n e y b u y i n g the t e l e s c o p e a n d s e t t i n g it u p in t h e o u t h o u s e . I f his earlier s t a t e m e n t , given w h e n t h e y had first m e t , h a d b e e n t r u e , w h a t e v e r it was that S m i t h i n t e n d e d to o b serve s o closely, it had to lie in a r e g i o n o f t h e s k y v e r ) ' l o w o n t h e s o u t h e r n h o r i z o n . A n d a l t h o u g h the d o c t o r had o n l y a passing i n t e r est in a s t r o n o m y , h i s k n o w l e d g e o f t h e s u b j e c t w a s s u f f i c i e n t f o r h i m to k n o w t h a t a n y stellar o b j e c t s o l o w d o w n n e a r the s o u t h e r n h o r i z o n would o n l y r e m a i n v i s i b l e f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d d u r i n g the year. W h a t also w o r r i e d h i m w a s S m i t h ' s g e n e r a l d e m e a n o u r . T h e y o u n g m a n w a s c l e a r l y ill a t ease, fidgeting n e r v o u s l y in h i s chair, and it w a s a b u n d a n t l y c l e a r that all h e really w a n t e d was f o r the r a i n to c e a s e a n d his guest to d e p a r t . Something, Morton

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what

o t h e r a c t i v i t y S m i t h was e n g a g e d u p o n w h i c h had p r o m p t e d h i m to shut h i m s e l f away like this. A s t r o n o m i c a l o b s e r v a t i o n was, h e felt s u r e , o n l y a s m a l l part o f S m i t h ' s r e a s o n f o r b e i n g t h e r e . A n d w h a t e v e r it was, h e e v i d e n t l y did n o t w i s h a n y o n e to k n o w o f it. H e r e c a l l e d t h o s e c u r i o u s b o o k s w h i c h S h e r i d a n had m e n t i o n e d a n d w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r t h e y played a n y part in S m i t h ' s r e s e a r c h e s a n d , in t h e h o p e o f d r a w i n g his h o s t o u t , h e m e n t i o n e d s o m e t h i n g o f t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e f a r m h o u s e , h o p i n g to e v o k e s o m e k i n d o f r e s p o n s e . At first, S m i t h l i s t e n e d in a d e s u l t o r y f a s h i o n as if totally d i s i n t e r e s t e d in w h a t the d o c t o r w a s s a y i n g and it w a s c l e a r h e w a s n o a n t i q u a r i a n . It was not u n t i l M o r t o n m e n t i o n e d t h a t , a c c o r d i n g to local s u p e r s t i t i o n , the f a r m h o u s e had o n c e b e e n t h e h o m e o f t h e reputed n e c r o m a n c e r , N i c h o l a s Z e g r e m b i w h o had resided t h e r e f o r several years a f t e r the G r e a t

Fire o f L o n d o n in

1 6 6 6 , that S m i t h ' s e x p r e s s i o n

c h a n g e d d r a m a t i c a l l y . Flis initial l o o k o f s t a r t l e d s u r p r i s e , w h i c h h e tried v a i n l y to hide, was q u i c k l y r e p l a c e d b y s o m e t h i n g else; an a i r o f h e i g h t e n e d interest. " Y o u ' v e h e a r d t h e n a m e ? " M o r t o n asked. S m i t h s h r u g g e d . " I ' v e c o m e a c r o s s it o n c e o r twice," h e said, s t r i v i n g to s o u n d c a l m and c a s u a l . " W a s n ' t h e s u p p o s e d to b e s o m e k i n d o f w a r l o c k in t h e M i d d l e A g e s ? " " I f y o u were to listen t o s o m e o f t h e tales t h e y still tell in t h e

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village, you'd realize he was s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n t h a t . I s u p p o s e y o u k n o w that y o u r arrival h e r e , p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n it b e c a m e k n o w n y o u were b u y i n g this place, c a u s e d q u i t e a lot o f t a l k in T o r p o i n t . Not t h a t I set m u c h s t o r e by s u c h m y t h s and l e g e n d s myself. B u t you w o n ' t get a n y o f t h e villagers e n t e r i n g t h i s place, n o r c o m i n g n e a r it, e s p e c i a l l y after dark. " I t ' s a fact, t h o u g h , that several q u e e r h a p p e n i n g s o c c u r r e d in t h e s e parts a t that t i m e , all well d o c u m e n t e d in t h e r e c o r d s o f t h e lib r a r y in Exeter." " W h a t sort o f h a p p e n i n g s ? " S m i t h d e m a n d e d . F o r a m o m e n t , t h e r e s e e m e d such a l a r m in t h e y o u n g m a n ' s v o i c e that M o r t o n felt a m o m e n t a r y fear for himself. T h e n S m i t h a b r u p t l y c h a n g e d h i s t o n e , f o r c i n g h i m s e l f to relax in his c h a i r a l t h o u g h h e n e v e r o n c e r e m o v e d h i s g a z e f r o m the d o c t o r ' s face. " F o r g i v e m e , " h e c o n t i n u e d harshly, " t h e t r o u b l e is I had q u i t e a t r a u m a t i c e x p e r i e n c e w h i l e a b r o a d and it a f f e c t e d m y d i s p o s i t i o n , m a k i n g m e far m o r e n e r v o u s t h a n I used to be." " P e r h a p s I m i g h t b e able to p r e s c r i b e s o m e t h i n g w h i c h would help you," M o r t o n suggested. " N o , t h a n k y o u . I'll b e all r i g h t , I a s s u r e y o u . It's j u s t that I c a m e h e r e f o r p e a c e a n d q u i e t a n d this t a l k o f s t r a n g e o c c u r r e n c e s m a k e s m e feel a little q u e e r . B u t please c o n t i n u e ; if t h e r e ' s a n y t h i n g s t r a n g e a b o u t this place, it's b e t t e r I s h o u l d k n o w . " By now, M o r t o n was c o n v i n c e d t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g m o r e to S m i t h ' s q u e s t i o n s t h a n a m e r e interest in a m a n w h o h a d b e e n dead f o r m o r e t h a n t h r e e c e n t u r i e s . H i s s u d d e n start at t h e n a m e Zeg r e m b i , a n d his f e e b l e e x c u s e , i n d i c a t e d that t h e r e was m o r e to this m a t t e r t h a n h e w a s w i l l i n g to tell. In t h e h o p e o f o b t a i n i n g s o m e f u r t h e r r e a c t i o n f r o m his host, M o r t o n e n l a r g e d u p o n his story. " A c c o r d i n g to t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e t i m e q u i t e a n u m b e r o f p e o p l e f r o m t h e village v a n i s h e d a r o u n d t h a t t i m e and t h e r e were v a g u e r u m o u r s o f s t r a n g e ,

flickering

lights seen

m o v i n g a m o n g t h e t r e e s y o n d e r and c u r i o u s s c o r c h m a r k s f o u n d a t v a r i o u s places. W h e t h e r t h e r e is a n y t r u t h in w h a t s o m e o f t h e vill a g e r s d i s c o v e r e d , that t h e s e m a r k s all b o r e an o d d r e s e m b l a n c e to t h e s h a p e o f a h u m a n b o d y , I w o u l d n ' t like t o s p e c u l a t e u p o n . " B u t t h e r e s e e m s n o d o u b t that the local p e o p l e s h u n n e d this

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place and its s t r a n g e o c c u p a n t like t h e p l a g u e . A f t e r a t i m e , w h e n m o r e f o l k d i s a p p e a r e d , t h e a u t h o r i t i e s w e r e c a l l e d in b u t n o t h i n g d e f i n i t e was e v e r p r o v e d . " " A n d Z e g r e m b i ? " S m i t h d e m a n d e d hoarsely. " W h a t

happened

to h i m ? " " A c c o r d i n g to t h e s t o r i e s w h i c h have b e e n h a n d e d d o w n o v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s , t h e villagers finally d e c i d e d t h e y ' d get n o real help f r o m t h e c h u r c h o r the a u t h o r i t i e s , s o t h e y g o t t o g e t h e r a n d t o o k m a t t e r s i n t o t h e i r o w n h a n d s . I.ed by t h r e e w o r t h y c l e r g y m e n , t h e y c a m e o u t h e r e with t h e i n t e n t i o n o f b u r n i n g h i m a t t h e stake. H o w e v e r , w h e n they a r r i v e d a n d s t o r m e d the f a r m h o u s e , they c o u l d find n o t r a c e o f h i m . S o m e said he'd b e e n w a r n e d o f their c o m i n g and had l i e d , w h i l e o t h ers r e c k o n e d he'd b e e n taken b a c k to his m a s t e r — S a t a n . " " A n d w h a t ' s y o u r o p i n i o n , d o c t o r ? " T h e r e w a s an o d d i n t e n s i t y in S m i t h ' s v o i c e , h i s t o n e s o insistent that f o r a m o m e n t the d o c t o r was u n s u r e h o w to reply. At that instant, M o r t o n was a b s o l u t e l y c e r t a i n that t h e y o u t h w a s d a b b l i n g in s o m e t h i n g far m o r e s i n i s t e r t h a n h e had

previously

i m a g i n e d . W h a t it was exactly, h e c o u l d n ' t b e s u r e . B u t s u d d e n l y h e felt a f r a i d . F o r c i n g e v e n n e s s i n t o h i s t o n e , he a n s w e r e d , " I w o u l d n ' t care to f o r m a n y o p i n i o n . It all h a p p e n e d a l o n g t i m e ago and it's i m p o s s i b l e to say h o w m u c h c r e d e n c e c a n b e placed u p o n t h e s e r e c o r d s o f the time." A n x i o u s n o w to leave t h i s p l a c e , h e r o s e s w i f t l y to h i s f e e t , r e m a r k i n g that the rain had n o w ceased and he had overstayed his welcome. S m i t h s a w h i m to t h e d o o r a n d w a t c h e d t h e s t o o p e d figure u n t i l t h e d o c t o r h a d d i s a p p e a r e d a m o n g t h e trees, h e a d i n g b a c k t o w a r d s T o r p o i n t . R e t u r n i n g to his s t u d y , h e s t o o d f o r several m i n u t e s s t a r i n g d o w n at t h e s c r i b b l e d n o t e s h e had a l r e a d y m a d e , s t r u g g l i n g to a b s o r b this n e w i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g Z e g r e m b i . W a s it possible t h a t h i s t e r r i f y i n g n i g h t m a r e o f t h e p r e v i o u s n i g h t had b e e n o c c a s i o n e d by t h e fact t h a t this was t h e h o u s e w h i c h h a d h a r b o u r e d the o l d wizard f o l l o w i n g h i s p r e c i p i t o u s flight f r o m L o n d o n all t h o s e years ago? T h a t this a n c i e n t h o u s e had had s o m e s u b t l e i n f l u e n c e

upon

h i m e v e r s i n c e h e h a d m o v e d in, he c o u l d not deny. A n d t h e r e had b e e n c e r t a i n passages in t h e o l d v o l u m e s w h i c h h a d s u g g e s t e d t h a t

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t h e b l a c k m i r r o r he w a s s e e k i n g w a s c o n c e a l e d s o m e w h e r e in t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d o f T o r p o i n t . A n d now, with the Z e g r e m b i

Manu-

s c r i p t in h i s p o s s e s s i o n , h e h o p e d he m i g h t s o o n d i s c o v e r its e x a c t whereabouts. Still p o n d e r i n g o n t h e s e t h i n g s , h e c r o s s e d t o t h e w i n d o w . N o w t h e s t o r m had passed over, the c l o u d s were b e g i n n i n g to b r e a k u p a n d pallid rays o f s u n l i g h t

filtered

through the grey overcast. For a

f e w m o m e n t s , h e w a t c h e d the play o f s u n l i g h t o v e r the fields in t h e far d i s t a n c e , t h e n lowered his g a z e in t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e trees. S o m e t h i n g m o v e d s u d d e n l y a t t h e edge o f his v i s i o n ; a d i m l y seen

figure

t h a t s e e m e d to flit a m o n g t h e trees, g i v i n g o n l y a t a n t a l i z i n g l y b r i e f g l i m p s e o f its o u t l i n e s . S m i t h ' s first intuitive c o n c l u s i o n was t h a t o n e o f the villagers w a s s p y i n g o n h i m , k e e p i n g h i m u n d e r s u r v e i l l a n c e f r o m a safe d i s t a n c e . T h e n t h e m a n s t e p p e d o u t from a m o n g the trees, w a l k i n g slowly b u t deliberately towards the observatory and S m i t h saw h i m clearly for t h e first t i m e . Even f r o m that d i s t a n c e , r e c o g n i t i o n w a s i m m e d i a t e . It was t h e o l d m a n f r o m the b o o k s h o p ! R u n n i n g d o w n the stairs. S m i t h t h r u s t o p e n t h e b a c k d o o r and s p r i n t e d t o w a r d s t h e l o w b u i l d i n g . T h e r e w a s n o sign o f t h e o l d m a n by the t i m e h e r e a c h e d it but, o n t r y i n g t h e d o o r , h e f o u n d it o p e n t h o u g h he c o u l d h a v e s w o r n h e had locked it s e c u r e l y t h e last t i m e h e had b e e n i n . P u s h i n g his way inside, he flicked o n the light, s t a r i n g a r o u n d h i m . T h e place was j u s t as h e had left it. N o t h i n g s e e m e d o u t o f place a n d a swift c h e c k a s s u r e d h i m t h e r e was n o o n e there. Yet w h e r e c o u l d t h a t s t o o p e d figure have g o n e ? A n d , m o r e to t h e p o i n t , w h y was h e here? S m i t h w a s n o w b e g i n n i n g to believe s t r a n g e t h i n g s a b o u t t h a t a n c i e n t s h o p k e e p e r and all s o r t s o f weird c o n j e c t u r e s e n t e r e d h i s m i n d as h e walked slowly b a c k to t h e h o u s e . T h e logical e x p l a n a t i o n was that the d o c t o r ' s r e v e l a t i o n s h a d s o c o l o r e d h i s t h o u g h t s t h a t h e had s i m p l y i m a g i n e d h e had seen h i m . P e r h a p s this place w a s g e t t i n g to h i m m o r e t h a n h e realized. As s o o n a s p o s s i b l e , he w o u l d have to g o b a c k i n t o E x e t e r a n d t r y to find t h o s e o l d records, c h e c k for h i m s e l f j u s t w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d here in 1 6 6 6 . T h e n e x t d a y d a w n e d b r i g h t and s u n n y a n d as h e d r o v e a l o n g t h e w i n d i n g c o u n t r y road i n t o Exeter, S m i t h felt, m o r e s t r o n g l y t h a n ever, that h e w a s o n the b r i n k o f u n r a v e l l i n g this m y s t e r y . H e l o c a t e d

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t h e m a i n l i b r a r y with little difficulty. F i n d i n g a seat in the r e a d i n g r o o m , h e s o o n l o c a t e d t h e v o l u m e h e n e e d e d , s c a n n i n g t h e yellowed pages f o r r e f e r e n c e s to Z e g r e m b i a n d T o r p o i n t . A p p a r e n t l y , the n e c r o m a n c e r h a d a r r i v e d i n t h e village o n S e p t e m b e r 8 , 1 6 6 6 a n d had t a k e n u p r e s i d e n c e a t t h e o l d f a r m h o u s e t w o days later. S e v e r a l reliable w i t n e s s e s had testified to t h e e n o r m o u s a m o u n t o f luggage h e had b r o u g h t with h i m ; w o o d e n b o x e s b o u n d with t h i c k m e t a l strips, t h r e e m a s s i v e t r u n k s a n d m o r e t h a n a do/.en p a c k a g e s o f v a r i o u s s h a p e s and sizes. T h e r e w a s m u c h local t a l k o f w e i r d b l u i s h lights and d e e p - t o n e d r u m b l i n g s e m a n a t i n g f r o m i n s i d e the house, particularly after dark. G r a d u a l l y , however, m o r e s i n i s t e r o c c u r r e n c e s t o o k p l a c e . N o c t u r n a l travellers o n t h e r o a d b e t w e e n E x e t e r a n d T o r p o i n t s p o k e o f witnessing screaming

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s u e d b y flaming d e m o n s ; o f s e a r c h p a r t i e s finding c u r i o u s m a r k s in t h e g r a s s y fields o r e v e n s c o r c h e d o u t o f t h e s o l i d rock, m a r k s w h i c h b o r e an u n c a n n y r e s e m b l a n c e to a h u m a n o u t l i n e . S i n c e all o f t h e s e e v e n t s b e g a n with Z e g r e m b i ' s a r r i v a l in the a r e a , it was i n e v i t a b l e t h a t t h e y b e c a m e c o n n e c t e d w i t h his s o r c e r o u s activities. T h e a c c o u n t o f the s t o r m i n g o f t h e f a r m h o u s e a n d t h e s u b s e q u e n t d i s c o v e r ) ' that the n e c r o m a n c e r had m y s t e r i o u s l y d i s a p p e a r e d was far m o r e b r i e f t h a n S m i t h had h o p e d . T h e r e was, o f c o u r s e , s p e c u l a t i o n a s to his w h e r e a b o u t s a n d a b e w i l d e r i n g d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e m a n y b o o k s and p i e c e s o f a l c h e m i c a l a p p a r a t u s f o u n d in t h e h o u s e , the latter b e i n g s m a s h e d by t h e m o b , w h i l e t h e f o r m e r w e r e all t a k e n i n t o t h e yard and b u r n e d u n d e r the w a t c h f u l eyes o f the c l e r g y m e n w h o m a i n t a i n e d that all o f t h e s e b l a s p h e m o u s v o l u m e s w e r e w r i t t e n in s o m e h e a t h e n l a n g u a g e w h i c h n o o n e c o u l d u n d e r s t a n d . All in all, t h e a c c o u n t told S m i t h little m o r e t h a n h e had a l r e a d y l e a r n e d f r o m t h e d o c t o r a n d it was with a feeling o f i n t e n s e d i s a p p o i n t m e n t a n d f r u s t r a t i o n that h e m a d e to c l o s e the b o o k . It w a s t h e n that h e n o t i c e d that the final b l a n k p a g e had b e e n sealed by its edges to t h e h a r d b a c k c o v e r . G l a n c i n g r o u n d t o s e e t h a t h e was n o t b e i n g o b s e r v e d , h e t o o k o u t his p e n k n i f e a n d , i n s e r t i n g the t i p o f t h e b l a d e c a r e f u l l y n e a r t h e b i n d i n g , h e slit t h e p a p e r all t h e way a r o u n d . T h e two c o n c e a l e d pages fell o p e n a n d h e s t a r e d a t t h e m w i t h a s h o c k o f h o r r o r a n d d i s b e l i e f . O n the first s o m e u n k n o w n w r i t e r h a d scrawled a h i d d e n m e s s a g e , n o w b a r e l y legible w h e r e the i n k had

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faded o v e r Ihe years. T h e c r u d e s y m b o l s were o b v i o u s l y s i m i l a r to t h o s e in t h e t e r r i b l y o l d v o l u m e s h e had t a k e n f r o m t h e c r y p t in l Y a n s y l v a n i a , a n d b e n e a t h t h e w o r d s , b u t h e r e w r i t t e n in E n g l i s h , were t h e w o r d s : Ye copy

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B u t it was n o t this w h i c h e v o k e d t h e s p a s m o f h o r r o r t h a t s h o o k S m i t h to the c o r e . It w a s w h a t a p p e a r e d o n the f a c i n g page w h i c h m a d e h i m s h i v e r u n c o n t r o l l a b l y as h e sat a t t h e l i b r a r y t a b l e , s t r u g gling d e s p e r a t e l y to t h i n k c o h e r e n t l y . E v e n t h o u g h faded, like t h e w r i t i n g , the p e n a n d i n k d r a w i n g , c a p t i o n e d N i c h o l a s Z e g r e m b i , w a s i n s t a n t l y r e c o g n i z a b l e as the o l d m a n in the b o o k s h o p ! H o w s u c h a t h i n g c o u l d p o s s i b l y be, h e c o u l d n o t tell. F r o m t h e p a g e , the wizard's f e a t u r e s stared at h i m with a m a l e v o l e n c e t h a t seared i n t o his b r a i n s o that h e d r o p p e d t h e b o o k o n t o the t a b l e w i t h a l o u d clatter. Wildly, h e g l a n c e d a r o u n d , aware that o n e o r t w o o f t h e o t h e r r e a d e r s in t h e r o o m were e y e i n g h i m c u r i o u s l y . It w a s o n l y w i t h a s u p r e m e e f f o r t that h e s u c c e e d e d in c o n t r o l l i n g the t r e m o r i n g in h i s limbs, r i s i n g s h a k i l y f r o m his seat a n d r e p l a c i n g t h e v o l u m e o n t h e s h e l f b e f o r e w a l k i n g u n s t e a d i l y from t h e library. O n c e in the o p e n air, h e s t o o d q u i t e still o n the l i b r a r y steps. H e had h o p e d to d i s c o v e r s o m e t h i n g w h i c h m i g h t h e l p h i m in his s e a r c h f o r the b l a c k m i r r o r — b u t c e r t a i n l y not this. Even t h o u g h c o m m o n s e n s e and l o g i c told h i m he m u s t be m i s t a k e n , that t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e b o o k s h o p had b e e n v e r y d i m and h e had o n l y b e e n t h e r e f o r a f e w m i n u t e s , he k n e w , d e e p inside, that t h e r e had b e e n n o

mistake.

S c a r c e l y a w a r e o f t h e s t r e a m i n g traffic a n d the p e d e s t r i a n s

who

passed h i m in t h e streets, h e m a d e his way b a c k t o t h e c a r . Yet s h a k e n t h o u g h h e was with h o r r o r , h i s s e n s e o f g r i m d e t e r m i n a t i o n w a s still u p p e r m o s t in h i s m i n d , m a k i n g h i m e v e n m o r e i n t e n t o n leaving n o s t o n e u n t u r n e d in his s e a r c h f o r the m i r r o r . By the t i m e h e w a s safely b a c k in h i s study, he had e x a m i n e d s e v eral p o s s i b i l i t i e s w i t h o u t c o m i n g to a n y firm c o n c l u s i o n . T h a t t h e m a n in t h e b o o k s h o p a n d N i c h o l a s Z e g r e m b i were o n e and t h e s a m e h e w a s f o r c e d to a c c e p t . S o w h a t did this signify? T h a t Z e g r e m b i had n o t fied t h e f a r m h o u s e in t h e n o r m a l s e n s e w h e n t h o s e villagers had c o m e to b u r n h i m a t t h e stake? Calling u p o n all o f his a r c a n e k n o w l e d g e , t h e y o u t h slowly b e g a n to piece t o g e t h e r the scattered bits o f the mystery, r e j e c t i n g n o idea, h o w e v e r f a n t a s t i c , in an a t t e m p t to f o r m a c o h e r e n t p i c t u r e .

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Z e g r e m b i had d i s a p p e a r e d , it w a s t r u e , but h e had not t a k e n to h i s heels f o r s o m e o t h e r part o f t h e c o u n t r y ; h e h a d used his s o r c e r o u s k n o w l e d g e to e n t e r s o m e o t h e r r e a l m o f e x i s t e n c e . A n d now, p o s sibly by t h e s a m e m e a n s , h e had r e t u r n e d , t h o u g h for w h a t p u r p o s e . S m i t h could not i m a g i n e . T h a t the a n c i e n t n e c r o m a n c e r wished h i m to s u c c e s s f u l l y d e c i p h e r t h e o l d T r a n s y l v a n i a n t o m e s and l e a r n t h e i r d r e a d s e c r e t s w a s o b v i o u s s i n c e h e had s u p p l i e d the o n l y m e a n s o f d o i n g so. W h e t h e r this was p a r t o f s o m e d i a b o l i c a l p l a n evolved d o w n t h e ages, o r s o m e m e a n s o f w r e a k i n g revenge u p o n t h e d e s c e n d a n t s o f t h o s e w h o had f o r c e d h i m to c e a s e his p r a c t i c e s t h r e e c e n t u r i e s earlier, it w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o tell. W i t h a n e f f o r t , S m i t h p u l l e d h i m s e l f t o g e t h e r and b e g a n w o r k i n g again o n the m a n u s c r i p t . A s t r a n g e c o m p u l s i o n s e e m e d to have seized h i m , u r g i n g h i m t o c o m p l e t e this task as s o o n a s p o s s i b l e . G r a d u a l l y , h e was able to m a k e s o m e s e n s e o f the p r e - h u m a n s c r i p t . W h i l e S m i t h ' s d i a r y gives o n l y a b r i e f o u t l i n e o f w h a t h e d i s c o v e r e d , w h e t h e r b e c a u s e o f difficulties in t r a n s l a t i o n o r b e c a u s e h e w a s m o r t a l l y a f r a i d o f w h a t h e d i s c o v e r e d , h e was c l e a r l y t r o u b l e d a n d d i s t u r b e d by w h a t h e d i d m a n a g e to d e c i p h e r . T h e black m i r r o r was mentioned on numerous occasions as also was t h e n a m e Z e g r e m b i . I f his o w n t r a n s c r i p t i o n c o u l d b e t r u s t e d , it b e c a m e c l e a r to S m i t h t h a t t h e n e c r o m a n c e r m u s t h a v e p l i e d his s o r c e r o u s trade far b a c k t h r o u g h t h e ages, l o n g b e f o r e the m o s t r e c e n t o c c a s i o n in 1 6 6 6 . Awed and s h o c k e d by t h e s e r e v e l a t i o n s . S m i t h sat at his t a b l e , r e a d i n g t h r o u g h this d i s j o i n t e d Latin t r a n s l a t i o n again a n d again, s t r u g g l i n g t o a d j u s t h i s m i n d to t h e n o t i o n o f l o n g ages s t r e t c h i n g far b a c k i n t o t h e past w h e n t h e c u l t o f C t h u g h a had

flour-

i s h e d in a n t e d i l u v i a n t i m e s . Yet in s p i t e o f his e f f o r t s , t h e r e w a s o n e t h i n g m i s s i n g . O n e vital piece o f i n f o r m a t i o n h e d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d e d was not t h e r e . A s far a s h e c o u l d d e t e r m i n e , t h e text gave n o c l u e as to t h e p r e s e n t w h e r e abouts of the black mirror which he was now convinced was the secret portal through which the Jinnee, those servants o f great C t h u g h a , c o u l d pass f r o m o n e d i m e n s i o n to a n o t h e r and by m e a n s o f w h i c h Z e g r e m b i had e s c a p e d the r e t r i b u t i o n o f t h e s u p e r s t i t i o u s villagers t h r e e c e n t u r i e s b e f o r e . By n o w t h e h o u r h a d g r o w n late. H e had b e e n s i t t i n g a t the t a b l e t h r o u g h o u t the w h o l e o f t h e l o n g a f t e r n o o n a n d e v e n i n g w i t h o u t

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t h o u g h t o f f o o d o r rest while t h e s u n had set a n d the s h a d o w s o u t s i d e had l e n g t h e n e d . G o i n g d o w n i n t o t h e k i t c h e n , h e m a d e h i m s e l f a h a s t y m e a l , w a s h i n g it d o w n w i t h b l a c k c o f f e e . It was t h e n , in t h e d e e p e n i n g t w i l i g h t , t h a t h e realized t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g h e had failed to r e m e m b e r w h e n t h a t o d d c o m p u l s i o n had c o m e o v e r h i m . T h a t c r y p t i c m e s s a g e h e had c o m e a c r o s s in t h e l i b r a r y t h a t m o r n i n g . A message

written

on ye wall in ye a t tick.

S i n c e the b o o k had b e e n a c o m p i l a t i o n o f the e v e n t s w h i c h had o c c u r r e d w h e n N i c h o l a s Z e g r e m b i had lived in t h i s v e r y h o u s e , it w a s p o s s i b l e t h a t the a t t i c r e f e r r e d to w a s t h a t b e n e a t h t h e s a g g i n g r o o f o f the farmhouse. A c t i n g o n a s u d d e n i m p u l s e , h e lit a l a n t e r n for h e d o u b t e d if t h e r e was a n y e l e c t r i c i t y laid o n to that part o f t h e b u i l d i n g a n d m a d e h i s w a y u p t h e stairs to t h e l o n g s t o r e r o o m

at the f r o n t o f

the

dwelling w h e r e h e had p r e v i o u s l y n o t i c e d a t r a p d o o r in t h e ceiling. Here, h e s a w t h a t the e n t r a n c e into the a t t i c had b e e n b o a r d e d u p with l o n g strips o f t h i c k w o o d a n d n a i l s . T h e nails had l o n g s i n c e r u s t e d a n d , finding a h e a v y h a m m e r , it was t h e w o r k o f o n l y a few m i n u t e s to s t r i p away t h e w o o d f r o m the o p e n i n g . T h e d o o r w a s n o t h a r d to lift, s w i n g i n g b a c k with a c r a s h o n s q u e a l i n g hinges, revealing a dark o p e n i n g through which he hauled himself, half c h o k i n g on the dust. H o l d i n g the l a n t e r n h i g h over his head, h e s t a r e d a b o u t h i m . T h e a t t i c s e e m e d far l a r g e r t h a n h e h a d i m a g i n e d a n d h e s o o n s a w t h a t h i s first i m p r e s s i o n , that it w a s r o u g h l y c i r c u l a r in s h a p e , was i n c o r r e c t . T h e l a n t e r n l i g h t s h o w e d it to b e s e v e n - s i d e d , a n d o n e c o r n e r , w h e r e t h e r o o f angled d o w n w a r d f r o m two d i r e c t i o n s , he j u d g e d to b e p e r h a p s t h i r t y feet away. Yet w h e n h e w a l k e d t o w a r d s it, l o w e r i n g h i s h e a d w h e r e t h e r o o f d i p p e d d o w n , h e d i s c o v e r e d it to b e less t h a n twelve feet f r o m where h e had b e e n s t a n d i n g . C l e a r l y t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g p e c u l i a r a b o u t t h e a n g l e s a n d d i s t a n c e s in t h a t p a r t i c u l a r p a r t w h i c h p r o d u c e d a n e x t r e m e l y realistic i l l u s o r y e f f e c t . T h e dust-covered

fioor

w a s c o m p l e t e l y b a r e b u t , as h i s s h o e s

s c u f f e d away s o m e o f the g r e y d u s t , h e n o t i c e d faded m a r k i n g s w h i c h s h o w e d u p d i m l y in t h e l i g h t . P l a c i n g the l a n t e r n o n t h e

fioor,

he

k n e l t a n d c l e a r e d away a s m u c h o f t h e d u s t a s p o s s i b l e to reveal a large p e n t a g r a m s u r r o u n d e d by a wide c i r c l e with w h a t s e e m e d to b e an a r r o w p o i n t i n g d i r e c t l y t o w a r d s t h e o d d l v - a n g l e d c o r n e r . In

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p l a c e s , t h e m a r k s w e r e especially f a i n t as if s o m e a t t e m p t had b e e n m a d e to e r a s e the figures w i t h o n l y partial s u c c e s s . G e t t i n g to h i s f e e t . S m i t h n o w t u r n e d his a t t e n t i o n to t h e walls. At first, it a p p e a r e d that all o f t h e m were o f b a r e s t o n e with

no

a d o r n m e n t , but t h e n h e n o t i c e d that the lowest, n e x t to t h e far c o r n e r , had b e e n d a u b e d w i t h s o m e k i n d o f l i m e s t o n e w a s h . T h a t this had b e e n d o n e h u r r i e d l y a n d a l o n g t i m e b e f o r e was c l e a r f r o m t h e w a y this c o v e r i n g w a s flaking a n d p e e l i n g f r o m t h e s t o n e . H o l d i n g t h e l a n t e r n closer, h e m a d e o u t the f a i n t m a r k i n g s in t h o s e p l a c e s w h e r e the w a s h h a d c r a c k e d a n d c o m e away f r o m t h e u n d e r l y i n g stone. C e r t a i n n o w that h e was o n the r i g h t t r a c k , h e t o o k o u t his k n i f e a n d c o m m e n c e d s c r a p i n g away the w h i t i s h - g r e y c o a t i n g , t a k i n g c a r e n o t to d i s t u r b t h e d a u b i n g u n d e r n e a t h . Finally, t h e e n t i r e s e c t i o n o f wall w a s u n c o v e r e d a n d in t h e l a n t e r n l i g h t h e c o u l d m a k e o u t t h e r o w s o f g l y p h s w h i c h , as far as h e c o u l d recall, w e r e i d e n t i c a l to t h o s e given o n t h a t c o n c e a l e d page. In the d i m yellow light. S m i t h m a d e a n e x a c t c o p y o f the i d e o glyphs w h o s e s t r a n g e c u r s i v e c h a r a c t e r s s p o k e s h u d d e r i n g l y o f blasp h e m o u s g o d s a n d l o n g - d e a d a e o n s . W h o e v e r had t r i e d to o b l i t e r a t e this w r i t i n g had e i t h e r h a d s o m e k n o w l e d g e o f its t e r r i b l e m e a n i n g or, a s s o c i a t i n g it with t h e o l d n e c r o m a n c e r had a t t e m p t e d to e r a s e all e v i d e n c e and m e m o r y o f h i s s t a y t h e r e . B e f o r e l e a v i n g t h e a t t i c . S m i t h p a u s e d n e a r t h e t r a p d o o r and looked once again towards the furthest corner of the r o o m , wishing to v e r i f y w h a t h e had s e e n earlier. T h e r e w a s n o d o u b t t h a t t h e alien m a n n e r in w h i c h the r o o f a n d walls m e t a t that p o i n t did p r o d u c e this weird o p t i c a l i l l u s i o n , g i v i n g the u n s h a k a b l e i m p r e s s i o n o f seei n g i n t o an i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e . F o r a l m o s t a m i n u t e h e f o u n d h e c o u l d n o t tear h i s g a z e f r o m it a n d , as h e l o o k e d , t h a t s m a l l r e g i o n o f t h e r o o m a p p e a r e d to e x t e n d f u r t h e r and f u r t h e r f r o m h i m and h e f a n cied it g r e w pellucid with m o v i n g , h a l f - f o r m e d s h a p e s d r i f t i n g b e y o n d it in an infinite v o i d . C r a z y c o n f i g u r a t i o n s s e e m e d to i m p o s e t h e m s e l v e s u p o n his stultified vision s o that it was o n l y with a s u p r e m e m e n t a l e f f o r t o f will that h e s u c c e e d e d in e v e n t u a l l y t e a r i n g his g a z e away. L o w e r i n g h i m s e l f q u i c k l y t h r o u g h t h e a p e r t u r e , he d r o p p e d to t h e floor b e l o w , t h e n p u l l e d t h e t r a p d o o r s h u t . R e t u r n i n g to his study, he l a b o r i o u s l y t r a n s c r i b e d t h o s e w e i r d

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s y m b o l s f r o m t h e a t t i c wall. In s p i t e o f t h e feeling o f t e r r o r h e had e x p e r i e n c e d in t h a t c r a z i l y - a n g l e d r o o m u p s t a i r s , h e felt a g r o w i n g s e n s e o f e x c i t e m e n t and e l a t i o n as t h e Latin p h r a s e s b e g a n to e m e r g e . T h e s e , w h e n r o u g h l y t r a n s l a t e d , read: " T o h i m w h o c o m e s a f t e r m e , t h a t w h i c h y o u seek lies w i t h i n the c i r c l e w h e r e t h e o a k s a r e s e v e n . " T h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f this m e s s a g e were c l e a r and to S m i t h t h e r e c o u l d b e n o d o u b t t h a t it had b e e n Z e g r e m b i h i m s e l f w h o

had

scrawled that m e s s a g e o n t h e wall, g i v i n g t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e b l a c k m i r r o r . S i g h i n g , he s t r a i g h t e n e d in his c h a i r . C l e a r l y t h e r e was n o p o i n t in s e a r c h i n g in the d a r k . In t h e m o r n i n g , h e would e x p l o r e t h e s u r r o u n d i n g w o o d in a d e t e r m i n e d a t t e m p t to l o c a t e it.

S m i t h w o k e j u s t a s t h e d a w n was b r e a k i n g . Yet e v e n t h o u g h he had fallen a s l e e p b e f o r e m i d n i g h t , he felt little rested. A s b e f o r e , his s l e e p had b e e n plagued by s t r a n g e d r e a m s b u t a l t h o u g h h e t r i e d to r e c a l l t h e m , o n this o c c a s i o n h e c o u l d r e m e m b e r o n l y b r i e f s n a t c h e s . T h e r e had b e e n a place o f t i t a n s t o n e cliffs, a t o p w h i c h l o n g c o l u m n s o f graven

figures

s t r e t c h e d away in e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n as far as t h e e y e

c o u l d see. A n i g h t m a r i s h l a n d s c a p e o f j a g g e d r o c k s a n d m i d n i g h t b l a c k c h a s m s a c r o s s w h i c h h e ran a n d r a n , k n o w i n g t h a t he had to o u t r u n the s u n r i s e o n this a l i e n p l a n e t for, o n c e t h e d a w n b r i g h t e n e d i n t o day, that w h i c h rose a b o v e t h e serrated h o r i z o n w o u l d b e t o o h o r r i b l e even to c o n t e m p l a t e . A n d finally, t h e s u p r e m e h o r r o r . U n a b l e to run a n y f u r t h e r h e had s t o o d o n that h i d e o u s l y - d i s t o r t e d s u r f a c e , w a t c h i n g as t h e s u n rose, lifting i n t o the u m b r o u s h e a v e n s ; a s u n n o l o n g e r d i m a n d m o t tled w i t h s u n s p o t s as in his p r e v i o u s d r e a m b u t an e y e - s e a r i n g , t e n t a cled m a s s o f fire that w r i t h e d and b u b b l e d a n d twisted w i t h an evil intelligence. S h i v e r i n g a little, e v e n t h o u g h t h e r o o m was w a r m , h e dressed quickly, t r y i n g vainly to s h r u g h i s u n e a s e away. W e r e t h e s e d r e a m s a w a r n i n g that h e w a s m e d d l i n g in t h i n g s w h i c h were b e s t left a l o n e ? O r were t h e y an i n d i c a t i o n o f s o m e t h i n g m o r e — t h a t h e was o n t h e p o i n t o f m a k i n g the m o s t i m p o r t a n t d i s c o v e r ) ' i n all h i s l o n g years o f s e a r c h i n g for the t r u t h b e h i n d t h e s e a n c i e n t m y t h s a n d legends? T h e s u n w a s well c l e a r o f t h e e a s t e r n h o r i z o n w h e n he left t h e f a r m h o u s e , c a r r y i n g a s p a d e with h i m . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e w o o d a r o u n d

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213

t h e h o u s e held n o m o r e a s s u r a n c e in b r o a d daylight t h a n it d i d a f t e r d a r k . T h e t h i c k , m a l i g n l y - g n a r l e d o a k s c r o w d e d c l o s e l y t o g e t h e r as if s e e k i n g s o m e p r o t e c t i o n f r o m an a g e - o l d evil t h a t had o n c e d w e l t t h e r e , leaving l i n g e r i n g t r a c e s b e h i n d . S i n c e h e had n o idea w h e r e t h e s p o t g i v e n in that c r y p t i c m e s s a g e m i g h t lie, h e had a l r e a d y d e c i d e d to w o r k his w a y t h r o u g h t h e w o o d i n a c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n f r o m t h e o b s e r v a t o r y . O n c e w i t h i n the trees, h i s p r o g r e s s was slowed c o n s i d e r a b l y for t h e a n c i e n t t r u n k s g r e w s o c l o s e to t h e n a r r o w p a t h r u n n i n g b e t w e e n t h e m that h e was f o r c e d to t h r u s t his way f o r w a r d a g a i n s t the impeding undergrowth, ignoring the thorny branches and tough, w i r y grass that w h i p p e d and l a s h e d at his b o d y . T h e r e w a s a n o p pressive a i r o f a g e a n d d e c a y h a n g i n g like a m i a s m i c s h r o u d o v e r everything. T h e d e e p e r h e p r o g r e s s e d a m o n g t h e trees, the m o r e a b s o l u t e was t h e s i l e n c e . N o t h i n g r u s t l e d

through the abnormally

dense

u n d e r g r o w t h ; n o b i r d s t w i t t e r e d in t h e o v e r h a n g i n g b o u g h s . H e r e a n d t h e r e , h e c a m e a c r o s s h u g e rings o f w h i t i s h f u n g i w h i c h s e e m e d l a r g e r and m o r e g r o t e s q u e l y - s h a p e d t h a n n o r m a l g r o w t h s a n d t h e s e h e a v o i d e d w h e r e h e c o u l d . O n c e , in a s m a l l c l e a r i n g , h e c a m e u p o n a place w h e r e n o vegetation g r e w in t h e a r e a a n d t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t its o u t l i n e s which m a d e h i m turn h u r r i e d l y away a n d p u s h o n with a r e n e w e d v i g o u r . T h e n , s u d d e n l y , h e c a m e to w h e r e t h e h a l f - s e e n p a t h a n g l e d c l o s e to the p e r i m e t e r o f t h e w o o d a n d g l a n c i n g t h r o u g h t h e trees h e n o t i c e d a s m a l l k n o l l , p e r h a p s a q u a r t e r o f a mile away, c r o w n e d with a r i n g o f seven trees. W i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , h e left t h e w o o d a n d s t r o d e r a p i d l y a c r o s s the o p e n

fields.

C l a m b e r i n g u p t h e k n o l l w h i c h p r o v e d s t e e p e r t h a n he had e x p e c t e d , h e e n t e r e d t h e o p e n s p a c e a m o n g the trees. A t first, h e c o u l d see n o o u t w a r d s i g n to i n d i c a t e w h e r e Z e g r e m b i ' s m i r r o r m i g h t b e c o n c e a l e d . H u g e tufts o f c r e e p i n g v e g e t a t i o n c o v e r e d the g r o u n d , s n a k i n g t e n d r i l s o f an o b n o x i o u s g r e y that s t r o v e to i m p e d e h i s p r o g r e s s w i t h an a l m o s t s e n t i e n t m a l e v o l e n c e . T h r u s t i n g f o r w a r d , h e e x p l o r e d t h e n e a r e r r i m o f t h e k n o l l , t h e n a l m o s t fell a s h e s t u m b l e d o v e r s o m e t h i n g c o m p l e t e l y h i d d e n in the r a n k g r o w t h . B e n d i n g , h e t o r e at the c r e e p e r s , h a c k i n g t h e m d o w n w i t h t h e e d g e o f the s p a d e . Set d e e p in the h a r d g r o u n d w a s a large s q u a r e s t o n e s o m e t h r e e feet a l o n g e a c h side.

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S c r a p i n g away the d i r t , h e s a w t h a t the r o u g h s u r f a c e w a s c r u d e l y i n c i s e d with

figurings

o f a truly h o r r i f i c n a t u r e . W h a t e v e r c r e a t u r e s

t h e y were s u p p o s e d to r e p r e s e n t it w a s c l e a r they had n e v e r o r i g i n a t e d o n E a r t h . W h a t h a n d had chiselled t h o s e s y m b o l s . S m i t h c o u l d n o t even g u e s s . Yet i n t e r s p e r s e d with t h e s e h i d e o u s figures were o t h e r s , s o m e w h a t m o r e m o d e r n in s t y l e — t h e d e v i c e s u s e d in a l c h e m y — t h e s u n , m o o n and p l a n e t s . F o r an i n s t a n t . S m i t h r e c o i l e d in i n d e t e r m i n a t e p a n i c . It was n o t m e r e l y the sight o f w h a t was i n s c r i b e d u p o n t h e s t o n e which b r o u g h t a b o u t this feeling o f s u p e r s t i t i o u s a w e . T h e r e was also the s u d d e n o v e r p o w e r i n g feeling t h a t h e w a s n o t a l o n e ; t h a t t h e r e was s o m e invisible p r e s e n c e c l o s e by, w a t c h i n g h i m w i t h a d a r k intentness. Clearly, this place w a s b e g i n n i n g to get o n h i s n e r v e s , as well it m i g h t in t h e light o f w h a t he had j u s t d i s c o v e r e d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , h e did not i n t e n d t o a l l o w s u c h feelings to i n t e r f e r e with his task. T h r u s t i n g t h e e n d o f the s p a d e d e e p into the e a r t h b e n e a t h o n e e d g e o f the slab, h e h e a v e d with all his s t r e n g t h . Slowly, the h e a v y s t o n e lifted a n d b y twisting the s p a d e h e w a s able to p r o p the s l a b u p o n t h e steel b l a d e . H o o k i n g his fingers b e n e a t h t h e e d g e , he p u l l e d m i g h t i l y , s o t h a t t h e s l a b fell o v e r o n t o its side. B e n e a t h w a s a s q u a r e o f s a n d y s o i l into w h i c h t h e s h a r p - e d g e d s p a d e s a n k easily as S m i t h d u g rapidly, still k e e n l y a w a r e o f that u n s e e n p r e s e n c e w a t c h i n g his e v e r y m o v e . S o m e t h r e e feet d o w n , t h e s p a d e s t r u c k s o m e t h i n g solid a n d , g o i n g d o w n o n h i s h a n d s a n d k n e e s , h e w i p e d t h e s o i l away. It was a large o b j e c t , w r a p p e d in a t h i c k red c l o t h , still r e m a r k a b l y i n t a c t o w i n g to t h e d r y n a t u r e o f t h e s o i l . C a r e f u l l y , he e a s e d it o u t o f t h e h o l e and

un-

w r a p p e d it with t r e m b l i n g h a n d s . T h a t t h e o b j e c t was a m i r r o r o f s o m e k i n d w a s c l e a r b u t it w a s n o t w h a t S m i t h had b e e n e x p e c t i n g . It had a c u r i o u s l y a s y m m e t r i c s h a p e , m a d e u p o f o d d - a n g l e d and weirdly c u r v e d sides. A r o u n d t h e c i r c u m f e r e n c e were the p i c t o g r a p h s o f t h a t a n c i e n t text h e had b e e n s o l a b o r i o u s l y t r a n s l a t i n g and h e s h u d d e r e d i n w a r d l y a s h e r e c o g n i z e d t h e n a m e C t h u g h a . O f the rest, h e c o u l d d e c i p h e r n o t h i n g f r o m m e m o r y a l t h o u g h he did n o t d o u b t h e c o u l d t r a n s l a t e it f r o m the Zegrembi Manuscript. B u t it was n o t this that s h o c k e d h i m in a m o s t a l a r m i n g f a s h i o n . H e h a d e x p e c t e d to see glass o r c r y s t a l with his o w n h a l f - s c a r e d re-

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f l e c t i o n s t a r i n g o u t a t h i m . Instead, t h e r e w a s o n l y b l a c k n e s s ; an e b o n sheet w h i c h s e e m e d to a b s o r b all light. K n e e l i n g t h e r e , p e e r i n g i n t o t h a t i n k y n o t h i n g n e s s , h e had t h e u n n e r v i n g

impression he was

falling f o r w a r d i n t o i n f i n i t e d e p t h s , i n t o an abyss o f m i d n i g h t e m p t i n e s s w h i c h w a s as limitless as the u n i v e r s e itself. S i c k e n i n g v e r t i g o twisted t h e m u s c l e s o f his s t o m a c h i n t o

a

p a i n f u l k n o t a s he f o u g h t d e s p e r a t e l y to t u r n his head a n d l o o k away. H o w l o n g h e knelt there, u n a b l e to m o v e , it w a s i m p o s s i b l e to tell. T h e n , all a t o n c e , the e l d r i c h spell was b r o k e n . J e r k i n g h i s head a r o u n d with a p a i n f u l w r e n c h i n g o f n e c k m u s c l e s , h e staggered u p r i g h t , still h o l d i n g tightly to t h e m i r r o r . W i t h o u t l o o k i n g d o w n , h e s u c c e e d e d in w r a p p i n g t h e t h i c k c l o t h a r o u n d it, c l u t c h i n g it tightly u n d e r o n e a r m as h e h u r r i e d b a c k to t h e h o u s e . I n t o his m i n d Hashed i n c o n g r u o u s m e m o r i e s o f t h o s e a n c i e n t h e r o e s w h o had l o o k e d d i r e c t l y u p o n the face o f t h e G o r g o n and b e e n t u r n e d to s t o n e . W h a t e x a c t l y was this relic o f a g e - o l d c o s m i c evil? W h e r e had it o r i g i n a t e d a n d by w h o m h a d it b e e n f a s h i o n e d ? T h e s e were q u e s t i o n s h e f o u n d difficult, if n o t i m p o s s i b l e , to answer. A s to its p u r p o s e , t h i s h e h a d a l r e a d y g u e s s e d f r o m his earlier readings o f the a n c i e n t t o m e s . H e s h o o k i n w a r d l y as he r e c a l l e d t h o s e events chronicled a r o u n d

the t i m e o f Z e g r e m b i ' s

disappearance.

T h o s e f i e r y d e m o n s that had p u r s u e d their hapless v i c t i m s a c r o s s t h e m o o r s — h a d t h e y b e e n l i n n e e , raised by t h e n e c r o m a n c e r b y m e a n s o f this h i d e o u s a r t i f a c t ? T h e fact that i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g Z e grembi's vanishment there had b e e n n o further reported disappeara n c e s in the n e i g h b o u r h o o d p o i n t e d to the fact that, s o m e h o w , t h e s o r c e r e r had k n o w n o f the a c t i o n i n t e n d e d b y t h e irate, yet t e r r i f i e d , villagers a n d b e f o r e h e had s o cleverly c o n c e a l e d the m i r r o r , h e had p o s s e s s e d t h e m e a n s o f s e n d i n g t h o s e c r e a t u r e s b a c k to t h e i r o w n plane. Clearly, until h e h a d c o m p l e t e l y t r a n s l a t e d t h e c r y p t i c s c r i p t a r o u n d t h e m i r r o r a n d p e r f e c t e d his o w n p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t w h a t m i g h t be called u p , h e w o u l d h a v e to p r o c e e d with t h e u t m o s t caution. His r e t u r n to the h o u s e t o o k h i m l o n g e r t h a n he had a n t i c i p a t e d . 1\vice, he lost his w a y a m o n g t h e trees a n d w a s f o r c e d to r e t r a c e his steps b e f o r e s t u m b l i n g u p o n the r i g h t p a t h . Finally, h o w e v e r , b r e a t h i n g a s o u n d l e s s sigh o f relief, h e c a m e o u t i n t o t h e o p e n i n g where t h e

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o b s e r v a t o r y s t o o d . O n c e inside t h e h o u s e , h e c a r r i e d his find to h i s study a n d p l a c e d it c a r e f u l l y a g a i n s t the wall, l e a v i n g it c o v e r e d . At t h e m o m e n t , h e had n o w i s h to p e e r a g a i n i n t o t h o s e n i g h t b l a c k d e p t h s w h e r e i n , h e felt c e r t a i n , lurked s o m e t h i n g u n u t t e r a b l y t e r r i b l e a n d evil, b i d i n g its t i m e w i t h an i n s a t i a b l e h u n g e r , h o v e r i n g j u s t o n t h e t h r e s h o l d b e t w e e n h i s o w n r e a l i t y and t h e b l a s p h e m o u s terrors of the outer spheres. T h e next three days he spent c h e c k i n g and rechecking

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t r a n s c r i p t i o n s h e had m a d e . T h e n i g h t s h e s p e n t a t the t e l e s c o p e , a n x i o u s l y w a t c h i n g t h a t s p o t in t h e s o u t h e r n h e a v e n s c l o s e to F o m a l haut,

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his unwavering attention o n a n extremely faint star

w h i c h h e h a d tentatively i d e n t i f i e d a s that a r o u n d w h i c h t h e b l a c k p l a n e t rolled in its e c c e n t r i c o r b i t , s h r o u d e d in e l d e r m y s t e r y and h o r r o r . At t i m e s , h e f a n c i e d it w o u l d b r i g h t e n a n d t h e n fade in a c u r i o u s l y i r r e g u l a r m a n n e r a n d his f r i g h t and a n x i e t y w o u l d i n c r e a s e a h u n d r e d f o l d as he s t r a i n e d his vision to k e e p it in view. O n t h e s e c o n d day, h e received a f u r t h e r u n w e l c o m e visit f r o m D o c t o r M o r t o n , w h o e x p r e s s e d his g r a v e c o n c e r n a t t h e y o u t h ' s haggard and d r a w n a p p e a r a n c e . S m i t h l i s t e n e d with a n i l l - c o n c e a l e d i m p a t i e n c e as t h e w o r t h y g e n t l e m a n a t t e m p t e d to p e r s u a d e h i m to e a s e u p o n w h a t e v e r he was d o i n g , i n s i s t i n g t h a t h e w a s p u s h i n g h i m s e l f to t h e u t m o s t l i m i t s . S m i t h e x p l a i n e d that t h e a s t r o n o m i c a l s i d e o f h i s w o r k w o u l d s o o n b e c o m i n g to an e n d a n d h e w o u l d t h e n b e a b l e to relax a t n i g h t s . A l t h o u g h the d o c t o r was c l e a r l y n o t satisfied with this e x p l a n a t i o n t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g f u r t h e r h e c o u l d d o s i n c e t h e y o u t h was o b d u r a t e in his i n s i s t e n c e t h a t his w o r k w a s o f s u c h i m p o r t a n c e it had to b e c o m p l e t e d w i t h o u t delay. F r o m the s c r i b b l e d s t a t e m e n t s in S m i t h ' s d i a r y it w o u l d t h u s a p p e a r that o n c e the d o c t o r had left, n o o t h e r living p e r s o n s a w S t e p h e n A s h m o r e S m i t h alive. F r o m this p o i n t o n w a r d . S m i t h ' s e n t r i e s in his d i a r y lapse i n t o an u n t i d y s c r a w l , e v i d e n t l y w r i t t e n in great h a s t e a n d u n d e r e x t r e m e m e n t a l pressure. In places, t h e y a r e s c a r c e l y legible; in o t h e r s t h e r e is a c u r i o u s s u b s t i t u t i o n o f Latin p h r a s e s and a r c h a i c E n g l i s h . W h i l e t h e c o r o n e r r e c o r d e d an o p e n verdict o n t h e case a n d t h e m a n n e r in w h i c h S m i t h died, and t h e p o l i c e s u r g e o n v i r t u a l l y i g n o r e d t h e s e o d d c h a n g e s in l a n g u a g e , p u t t i n g t h e m d o w n to s o m e f o r m o f m e n t a l

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breakdown on ihe pari o f the victim, a n u m b e r of o t h e r investigators have reached a m u c h different conclusion. T h e y p o i n t to S m i t h ' s travels p r i o r t o s e t t l i n g in T o r p o i n t , to h i s u n d o u b t e d o b s e s s i o n with t h e o c c u l t and weird m y t h c y c l e s and to the fact t h a t t h e s t r a n g e h i e r o g l y p h s in t h e a t t i c a n d t h e c u r i o u s l y g r a v e n s t o n e o n the k n o l l d o i n d e e d e x i s t . A b o v e all, t h e y take n o t e o f the fact that t h e d a y a f t e r S m i t h ' s c h a r r e d b o d y was r e m o v e d f r o m t h e f a r m h o u s e , D o c t o r M o r t o n g a i n e d e n t r y a n d left w i t h a heavy, flat o b j e c t , c a r e f u l l y s w a t h e d in a t h i c k red c l o t h w h i c h he t h r e w i n t o the old m i n e shaft. T h a t S m i t h s u c c e e d e d in t r a n s l a t i n g t h e s c r i p t g r a v e n a r o u n d t h e c i r c u m f e r e n c e o f the m i r r o r a p p e a r s c e r t a i n f r o m his d i a r y and c e r t a i n s c r i b b l e d n o t e s h e left. F r o m t h e j o t t i n g s , it w o u l d s e e m h e c o n t i n u e d w r i t i n g a l m o s t to the e n d o f his life. T h e r e were s u c h s t a t e m e n t s , o n l y b a r e l y intelligible, as: " H a v e m e m o r i z e d t h e d e s c e n d i n g f o r m u l a a n d n o w i n t e n d to rec i t e t h a t w h i c h will call u p T h o s e f r o m the o u t e r s p h e r e . " " N o t h i n g h a p p e n i n g . . . p e r h a p s F o m a l h a u t t o o c l o s e to t h e h o r i z o n . . . m a y have to try a g a i n a l t h o u g h . . " A n o t h e r voice in the r o o m . . . c a n n o t s e e c l e a r l y b u t . . . s m a l l s t o o p i n g figure n e a r d o o r . . . d e a r G o d — Z e g r e m b i ! " " M u s t w r i t e w h a t I see. M i r r o r n o l o n g e r b l a c k . . . b r i g h t e n i n g ! S o m e t h i n g in t h e s k y o u t s i d e . . . c o m i n g c l o s e r . . . g l o w i n g trail like a m e t e o r i t e . . . t e n d r i l s o f fire f r o m t h e m i r r o r . . . m u s t get away b u t Z e g r e m b i b l o c k i n g the d o o r w a y . . . o n l y the w i n d o w left n o w . .

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h e y were all in T h e S w a n . T h e m u s i c b o x w a s m o a n i n g s o m e t h i n g a b o u t " e v e r y b o d y h u r t s s o m e t i m e " o r w a s it " e v e r y b o d y

hurts s o m e t h i n g . " Jon Holsten couldn't decide. He wondered why the c o u n t r y - w e s t e r n s o u n d in L o n d o n . M a y b e it w a s " e v e r y b o d y h u r t s s o m e b o d y . " W h e r e were T h e B e a t l e s w h e n y o u n e e d e d t h e m ? O n e Beatle s h o r t , to b e g i n w i t h . Well, yeah, t w o B e a t l e s . A n d Pete B e s t . Whatever. " W i s h t h e y ' d turn t h a t b l o o d y t h i n g d o w n . " J o n H o l s t e n s c o w l e d at t h e o f f e n d i n g s p e a k e r s . C o i n s a n d s o u n d e f f e c t s c l a t t e r e d f r o m t h e fruit m a c h i n e , a l o n g w i t h b o n k s and flippers f r o m t h e Fish Tales p i n ball m a c h i n e . T h e p u b was m u s t y with m i l d e w f r o m the p i s s i n g rain o f t h e past w e e k and t h e p e n e t r a t i n g s t e n c h o f s t a l e t o b a c c o s m o k e . H o l s t e n h a t e d the e r s a t z s t u f f e d t r o u t a t o p t h e p i n b a l l m a c h i n e . M a n n e r i n g w a s o p e n i n g a packet o f crisps, o f f e r i n g t h e m a r o u n d . F o s t e r d e c l i n e d : h e h a d to w a t c h his salt. C a r t e r c r u n c h e d a h a n d ful, t h e n w a n d e r e d a c r o s s to the l o n g w o o d e n b a r to e x a m i n e t h e two chalk-on-slate m e n u s : Quality Fayre was promised. Fie ordered p r i m e p o r k s a u s a g e s w i t h c h i p s and b a k e d b e a n s , n o t r e m e m b e r i n g to w a t c h his w e i g h t . S t e i n l i m p e d d o w n t h e t r e a c h e r o u s stairs to t h e G e n t ' s . Insulin t i m e . C r o s l e y h e l p e d h i m s e l f to the c r i s p s a n d w o r r i e d t h a t his r o u n d w a s c o m i n g u p . He'd have to d u c k it. Ten quid left f r o m his d o l e c h e c k , and a w e e k till t h e n e x t . T h e r e were six o f t h e m t o n i g h t , w h e r e o n c e e i g h t o r ten m i g h t

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t r a d i t i o n : I o n H o l s t e n o v e r f r o m t h e S t a t e s f o r h i s h o l i d a y in L o n d o n , t h e usual c r o w d a r o u n d for p i n t s a n d j o l l y t i m e s . C a n c e r o f the k i d n e y s had taken M c F e r r a n last y e a r ; h e w h o always m u s t h a v e h i s steak a n d k i d n e y pie. Hiles had d e c a m p e d to the K e n t i s h c o a s t , w h e r e h e h o p e d t h e s e a a i r w o u l d i m p r o v e his c h e s t . M a r l i n was s o m e w h e r e in F r a n c e , b u t n o o n e k n e w where, n o r w h e t h e r h e had k i c k e d his d r u g dependence. S o it w e n t . " T o a b s e n t f r i e n d s , " said H o l s t e n , r a i s i n g his p i n t . T h e toast w a s well received, b u t a d d e d t o t h e g l o o m o f t h e w e a t h e r w i t h its m e m o ries o f t h o s e w h o s h o u l d h a v e b e e n h e r e . Ion H o l s t e n w a s an A m e r i c a n w r i t e r o f m o d e s t m e a n s b u t res p e c t a b l e r e p u t a t i o n . H e g o t by with a little help f r o m h i s friends, a s it w e r e . H o l s t e n was g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d to be the finest o f t h e later g e n e r a t i o n o f writers in t h e L o v e c r a f t i a n s c h o o l — a g e n r e m a i n l y o u t o f f a s h i o n in t h e s e days o f c h a i n s a w s a n d

flesh-eating

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revered by s u f f i c i e n t d e v o t e e s to p r o v i d e f o r H o l s t e n ' s a n n u a l e x c u r s i o n to L o n d o n . H o l s t e n tipped b a c k his pint glass. O v e r its r i m h e s a w t h e y e l l o w - r o b e d figure e n t e r the d o o r w a y . H e c o n t i n u e d d r i n k i n g w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , s w a l l o w i n g p e r h a p s faster n o w . T h e pallid m a s k regarded h i m as i m p a s s i v e l y as ever. A n A m e r i c a n c o u p l e e n t e r e d t h e p u b , w a l k i n g past. T h e y were a r g u i n g in l o u d N e w York a c c e n t s a b o u t w h e t h e r to e a t h e r e . F o r an i n s t a n t t h e b l u e - h a i r e d w o m a n shivered as s h e b r u s h e d t h r o u g h the tattered c l o a k . H o l s t e n had fine b l o n d hair, b r u s h e d s t r a i g h t b a c k . His eyes were b l u e a n d t r o u b l e d . H e s t o o d j u s t u n d e r six feet, was c o m p a c t l y m u s cled b e n e a t h h i s b l u e t h r e e - p i e c e s u i t . H o l s t e n was past t h e age o f sixty. " B l o o d y s h a m e a b o u t M c F e r r a n , " said M a n n e r i n g ,

finishing

the

crisps. C a r t e r r e t u r n e d from t h e b a r with his plate. C r o s l e y l o o k e d o n h u n g r i l y . F o s t e r l o o k e d at his e m p t y glass. S t e i n r e t u r n e d f r o m t h e Gent's. S t e i n : " W h a t were y o u s a y i n g ? " Mannering: "About McFerran." " B l o o d y s h a m e . " S t e i n sat d o w n .

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" M y r o u n d , " said H o l s t e n . " G i v e us a h a n d , will y o u , T e d ? " T h e figure in t a t t e r e d yellow w a t c h e d H o l s t e n as h e a r o s e . H o l sten had a l r e a d y p a i d f o r his r o u n d . Ted C r o s l e y was a failed w r i t e r o f h o r r o r f i c t i o n : s o m e f o r t y s t o r i e s in t w e n t y years, m o s t l y f o r n o n p a y i n g m a r k e t s . H e w a s f o r t y a n d b a l d i n g and w o r r i e d a b o u t h i s h a c k i n g c o u g h . Dave M a n n e r i n g a n d S t e v e C a r t e r ran a b o o k s h o p and lived a b o v e it. C o n f i r m e d b a c h e l o r s adrift from V i c t o r i a n t i m e s . M a n n e r i n g was t h i n , dark, w e l l - d r e s s e d , s c h o l a r l y . C a r t e r w a s r e d - h a i r e d , Irish, rather large, f o n d o f w e a r i n g R u g b y s h i r t s . T h e y were b o t h a b o u t forty. C h a r l e s Stein w a s a b o o k c o l l e c t o r a n d lived in C r o u c h E n d . H e was s h o w i n g m u c h g r e y a n d w a s v e r y c o n c e r n e d a b o u t h i s d i a b e t e s . H e w a s a b o u t forty. M i k e F o s t e r was a tall, r a n g y b o o k c o l l e c t o r f r o m L i v e r p o o l . H e was w e a r i n g a l e a t h e r j a c k e t a n d d e n i m j e a n s . H e was c o n c e r n e d a b o u t his b l o o d p r e s s u r e a f t e r a n e a r - f a t a l h e a r t a t t a c k last year. H e was f a d i n g and a b o u t forty. T h e figure in the pallid m a s k w a s s e a t e d at their t a b l e w h e n H o l sten and C r o s l e y r e t u r n e d f r o m t h e b a r w i t h full pints. N'o n e e d f o r a s e v e n t h p i n t . H o l s t e n sat d o w n , t r y i n g to a v o i d t h e eyes that s h o n e f r o m b e h i n d the pallid m a s k . F i e wasn't q u i c k e n o u g h . T h e lake w a s b l a c k . T h e t o w e r s were s o m e h o w b e h i n d t h e m o o n . T h e m o o n s . Beneath the black water. S o m e t h i n g rising. A shape. Tent a c l e d . T e r r o r n o w . T h e figure in t a t t e r e d yellow p u l l i n g h i m f o r w a r d . T h e pallid m a s k . Lifted. " A r e y o u all r i g h t ? " M a n n e r i n g w a s s h a k i n g h i m . " S o r r y ? " T h e y were all l o o k i n g a t H o l s t e n . " J e t lag, I s u p p o s e . " " Y o u ' v e b e e n o v e r here for a f o r t n i g h t , " Stein p o i n t e d o u t . " T i r e d f r o m it all," said H o l s t e n . H e t o o k a d e e p swallow f r o m h i s p i n t , s m i l e d r e a s s u r i n g l y . " G e t t i n g t o o o l d f o r this, 1 i m a g i n e . " " Y o u ' r e in b e t t e r h e a l t h t h a n m o s t o f us," said Foster. T h e tattered c l o a k w a s t r a i l i n g o v e r his s h o u l d e r s . H i s n e x t h e a r t a t t a c k w o u l d n o t b e n e a r - f a t a l . T h e figure in the pallid m a s k b r u s h e d past, m o v ing o n . M a n n e r i n g s i p p e d his p i n t . T h e n e x t o n e would h a v e to b e a half: he'd b e e n w a r n e d a b o u t h i s liver. " Y o u will b e s i x t y - f o u r o n N o v e m b e r 1 8 . " M a n n e r i n g had a m e m o r y f o r d a t e s a n d had r e c e n t l y w r i t t e n

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a long essay o n Jon Holsten for a h o r r o r magazine. " H o w d o you m a n a g e to s t a y s o

fit?"

" I h a v e this p o r t r a i t in m y attic." H o l s t e n had used t h e j o k e t o o m a n y t i m e s b e f o r e , b u t it always d r e w a laugh. A n d h e w a s n o t g o i n g o n s i x t y - f o u r , d e s p i t e the dates given in his b o o k s . " N o . S e r i o u s l y . " Stein would b e d r i n k i n g a Pils n e x t r o u n d , w o r r y i n g a b o u t a l c o h o l and insulin. T h e t e n t a c l e s were n o t really t e n t a c l e s — o n l y s o m e t h i n g

with

w h i c h to g r a s p a n d feed. To reach o u t . T o g a t h e r in t h o s e w h o had f o o l i s h l y b e e n d r a w n i n t o its r e a c h . H a d d e l i b e r a t e l y c h o s e n to pass i n t o its r e a c h . T h e p r o m i s e s . T h e v o w s . T h e l a u g h t e r f r o m b e h i n d t h e pallid m a s k . Was t h e p r i c e w o r t h t h e g a i n ? T o o late. " J o n ? You s u r e you're feeling all r i g h t ? " Stein w a s o b l i v i o u s t o t h e pallid m a s k p e e r i n g o v e r his s h o u l d e r . " E x e r c i s e a n d v i t a m i n s , " said H o l s t e n . H e gave S t e i n p e r h a p s a n o t h e r t w o years. " I t m u s t w o r k for you, then," M a n n e r i n g persisted. " Y o u h a r d l y l o o k a n y o l d e r t h a n w h e n w e first m e t y o u here in L o n d o n s o m e ages a g o . T h e rest o f u s are rapidly c r u m b l i n g apart." " T r y jogging and only the occasional pint," Holsten improvised. " I ' d r a t h e r j u s t j o g , " said C a r t e r , g e t t i n g u p for a n o t h e r r o u n d . H e passed b y the t a t t e r e d yellow c l o a k . C a r t e r w o u l d n e v e r j o g . " B o u g h t a r a t h e r g o o d c o p y o f The

Outsider,"

said Foster, to

c h a n g e t h e s u b j e c t . " S o m e w h a t f o x e d , a n d in t h e r e p r i n t d u s t j a c k e t , b u t a t a g o o d price." It had b e e n C r o s l e y ' s c o p y , sold c h e a p l y to a n o t h e r dealer. H o l s t e n r e m e m b e r e d t h e a f t e r n o o n . T o o m a n y years a g o . N e w Y o r k . D o w n s t a i r s b o o k s h o p . N o i s e o f the s u b w a y . C h e a p shelf. King

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s t u f f e d with pages f r o m s o m e o l d e r b o o k . A b a r g a i n .

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h e would s o o n t h r o w h i m s e l f in f r o n t o f a t u b e t r a i n . D r a i n e d and discarded. " W e l l , " said H o l s t e n . " I ' d b e s t b e g e t t i n g b a c k a f t e r this o n e . " " T h i s early in the d a y ? " said M a n n e r i n g , w h o w a s b e g i n n i n g to feel his p i n t s . " M u s t b e s h o w i n g y o u r age." " N o t i f I c a n help it." H o l s t e n s a n k his p i n t . " I t ' s j u s t t h a t I said I'd m e e t s o m e o n e in t h e hotel r e s i d e n t s ' bar a t h a l f t h r e e . H e w a n t s to

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d o o n e o f t h o s e i n t e r v i e w s , o r I'd ask you a l o n g . B o r i n g , o f c o u r s e . But.. " T h e n c o m e r o u n d after," M a n n e r i n g i n v i t e d . " W e ' l l all be here." B u t n o t for v e r y m u c h l o n g e r , t h o u g h t H o l s t e n ; b u t h e s a i d : " S e e you shortly, then." C r o s l e y w a s again c o u g h i n g badly, a s t a i n e d h a n d k e r c h i e f to h i s mouth. Ion H o l s t e n

fled.

T h e k i d w a s n a m e d Dave H a r v i s , he was f r o m B a t t e r s e a , and he'd b e e n w a i t i n g in t h e h o t e l l o b b y o f the B l o o m s b u r y Park f o r an h o u r in o r d e r n o t to be late. H e w o r e a b l u e a n o r a k a n d w a s c l u t c h i n g a b l u e n y l o n b a g w i t h a c a s s e t t e r e c o r d e r and s o m e b o o k s to b e s i g n e d , a n d h e w a s j u s t past t w e n t y - o n e . H o l s t e n p i c k e d h i m o u t as h e e n t e r e d t h e l o b b y , b u t t h e k i d s t a r e d cluelessly. " H e l l o . I ' m I o n H o l s t e n . " H e e x t e n d e d his h a n d , as o n s o m a n y such meetings. " D a v e H a r v i s . " H e j u m p e d f r o m his s e a t . " I t ' s a privilege to m e e t you, sir. Actually, I w a s e x p e c t i n g a m u c h o l d e r . . . t h a t i s . . . " " I get by with a little help f r o m m y f r i e n d s . " H o l s t e n gave h i m a firm A m e r i c a n h a n d s h a k e . " D e l i g h t e d to m e e t y o u . " T h e t e n t a c l e d m o u t h s s t r o k e d a n d fed, p r o m i s i n g w h a t e v e r y o u w a n t e d to hear. T h e figure in its tattered yellow c l o a k lifted its pallid m a s k . W h a t is said is s a i d . W h a t is d o n e is d o n e . N'o t u r n i n g b a c k . S o m e p r o m i s e s c a n ' t be b r o k e n . " A r e y o u all r i g h t , s i r ? " H a r v i s h a d h e a r d that H o l s t e n m u s t b e u p in his years. " J e t lag, that's all," said H o l s t e n . " L e t ' s g o i n t o t h e b a r , and y o u c a n b u y m e a pint f o r t h e i n t e r v i e w . It's q u i e t there, I t h i n k . " H o l s t e n sat d o w n , t r o u b l e d . Harvis c a r r i e d o v e r two lagers. H e w o r k e d o n his c a s s e t t e recorder. T h e residents' b a r was deserted but for the b a r m a n . " I f you d o n ' t m i n d , sir." H a r v i s t o o k a g u l p o f his lager. " I ' v e i n vited a f e w m a t e s r o u n d t h i s e v e n i n g to m e e t u p at T h e S w a n . T h e y ' r e g r e a t fans o f y o u r w o r k . I f y o u w o u l d n ' t m i n d . . . . " " M y pleasure," said H o l s t e n . T h e figure in tattered yellow n o w e n t e r e d t h e r e s i d e n t s ' bar. T h e

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pallid m a s k r e g a r d e d H a r v i s a n d H o l s t e n . as H a r v i s t u m b l e d w i t h a microcassette tape. H o l s t e n felt a r u s h o f s t r e n g t h . H o l s t e n m u m b l e d i n t o his p i n t : " I d i d n ' t m e a n for this to h a p p e n this way. b u t I can't s t o p it." Harvis was still f u m b l i n g w i t h the t a p e a n d d i d n ' t h e a r . N e i t h e r did a n y g o d s w h o c a r e d .

T h e Howler in the Dark R i c h a r d L. T i e r n e y

I

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rving H a m i l t o n p u l l e d t h e c o l l a r o f his t o p c o a t closely a b o u t h i s t h r o a t as a g u s t o f i c y w i n d lashed his face with t i n y s n o w crystals.

Far b e l o w h e c o u l d h e a r the t h u n d e r o f t h e waves d a s h i n g in w i n d -

l a s h e d f u r y against t h e b a s e o f t h e cliff. C a r e f u l l y h e f o l l o w e d in t h e f o o t s t e p s o f his c o m p a n i o n , k e e p i n g c l o s e b e h i n d h i m and o c c a s i o n ally g l a n c i n g o u t o v e r the s t o r m - t o s s e d s e a . H e w i s h e d t h e n a r r o w f o o t p a t h w a s not s o n e a r the e d g e o f the p r e c i p i c e a n d t h a t it d i d n o t wind so obscurely a m o n g the jagged boulders and protruding rock formations. As they topped a

rise, H a m i l t o n ' s c o m p a n i o n

stopped

and

p o i n t e d away t o w a r d the n e x t j a g g e d ridge o f t h e c l i f f t o p . H a m i l t o n thrilled as h e saw the i r r e g u l a r o u t l i n e s o f an o l d castle s i l h o u e t t e d a g a i n s t the g r a y n o r t h e r n sky. " T h e r e it is," said his g u i d e . " D u n c a s t e r A b b e y — o r w h a t ' s left of it" H a m i l t o n eyed the d a r k pile with careful interest. M u c h o f t h e a n c i e n t edifice had c r u m b l e d i n t o r u i n , a n d o n l y o n e dark t o w e r n o w p r o t r u d e d i n t a c t a b o v e t h e r a g g e d b a t t l e m e n t s to s t a n d , like a s y m b o l o f mystery, a g a i n s t t h e l o w e r i n g sky. T h e e n t i r e s t r u c t u r e s e e m e d alm o s t part o f the c l i f f — a p i n n a c l e d o u t c r o p p i n g b a l a n c e d h i g h and p r e c a r i o u s l y above the r o a r i n g sea. T o t h e east, w o o d e d hills rolled

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away to f o r m a p a n o r a m a o f wild b e a u t y — f r o z e n , s n o w - c l a d and desolate. " H o w d e l i g h t f u l l y G o t h i c , " e x c l a i m e d H a m i l t o n . " A n d y o u say, C l y d e , that it's s u p p o s e d to b e h a u n t e d ? " Clyde Mayfield, turning his back o n the chilling wind, answered h i s f r i e n d with a gesture o f d e r o g a t o r y a m u s e m e n t . " N o t h a u n t e d , " he l a u g h e d ; " j u s t i n h a b i t e d . T h e t o w n s p e o p l e like to d r a m a t i z e this p l a c e . " " I c a n see why! It's s o p i c t u r e s q u e a n d c o l o r f u l . . . " " N o t s o v e r ) ' c o l o r f u l today, I ' m a f r a i d , " said M a y f i e l d , s h i v e r i n g . " W e s h o u l d h a v e p i c k e d a b e t t e r d a y to c o m e o u t . " " I s u p p o s e we'd b e t t e r s t a r t b a c k , t h e n — t h o u g h

I would

like

a c l o s e r l o o k . P e r h a p s w e c a n c o m e b a c k a n o t h e r d a y w h e n it's n o t so cold." T h e y t h r e a d e d their w a y c a r e f u l l y b a c k a l o n g t h e w i n d - s w e p t f o o t p a t h a n d , t e n m i n u t e s later, a f t e r r e a c h i n g the road a n d M a y field's p a r k e d car, were s p e e d i n g b a c k t o t h e town o f D u n c a s t e r . " S o r r y I c o a x e d y o u i n t o b r i n g i n g m e o u t h e r e o n a d a y like t h i s , " said H a m i l t o n , " b u t I d i d n ' t r e a l i z e t h e w e a t h e r w o u l d b e s o nasty." " Q u i t e all r i g h t — I w a n t e d to s h o w you t h e place s o m e t i m e d u r i n g y o u r visit, and S u n d a y ' s t h e o n l y d a y I c a n leave t h e p h a r m a c y f o r l o n g . Besides, I find the walk and t h e v i e w i n v i g o r a t i n g . " H a m i l t o n settled b a c k c o n t e n t e d l y a n d w a t c h e d the c o u n t r y s i d e f l o w p a s t . T h e r e was s o m e t h i n g s t r a n g e and a w e s o m e a b o u t t h e s e d e s o l a t e h i l l s — s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the w a y the b l a c k , g n a r l e d

oaks

c l u n g to t h e i r c r a g g y , s n o w - c o v e r e d flanks t h a t suggested f l e e t i n g visions of olden times. H e turned o n c e m o r e t o Mayfield. " W h y d o t h e t o w n s p e o p l e dislike the castle s o m u c h ? " M a y f i e l d l a u g h e d . " T h e y d o n ' t — t h e y love it. You'll learn to take w h a t t h e y say w i t h a g r a i n o f salt if y o u s t a y here awhile. T h a t castle is D u n c a s t e r ' s o n l y c l a i m to f a m e , a n d it's kept t h e gossips h e r e a b o u t s e n t e r t a i n e d for c e n t u r i e s , e v e r s i n c e it was finally a b a n d o n e d a r o u n d 1700..." " B u t I t h o u g h t y o u said it w a s i n h a b i t e d , " p r o t e s t e d H a m i l t o n . " A h , s o I did. T h i s year t w o fellows have b e e n living t h e r e . C o m e to t h i n k o f it, they're A m e r i c a n s — f e l l o w - c o u n t r y m e n o f y o u r s . S i n c e

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you're s o i n t e r e s t e d in t h e place, p e r h a p s y o u c o u l d s t r i k e u p an a c q u a i n t a n c e with t h e m and get t h e m to s h o w y o u a r o u n d . " H a m i l t o n , an a r c h i t e c t b y t r a d e a n d p o s s e s s i n g a p a s s i o n a t e interest in a n t i q u a r i a n a r c h i t e c t u r e , l e a n e d forward eagerly a n d asked: " D o y o u t h i n k they w o u l d ? " " I d o n ' t see w h y n o t . S t i l l . . . " M a y f i e l d p u r s e d his lips t h o u g h t f u l l y . " I t ' s h a r d to say. I've seen t h e m o n l y the few t i m e s t h e y ' v e c o m e to m y p h a r m a c y . T h e y ' r e n o t at all talkative. 1 t h i n k they're e n g a g e d in s o m e k i n d o f s c i e n t i f i c research." " M a y b e t h e y w a n t privacy." H a m i l t o n l a u g h e d . " Y o u ' r e t o o u n i m a g i n a t i v e ! D o n ' t you s e e w h a t w e h a v e h e r e ? T w o m y s t e r i o u s s t r a n g e r s living in t h e r e m a i n s o f an a n c i e n t castle, p r o c u r i n g s t r a n g e c h e m i c a l s f r o m the local p h a r m a c i s t f o r s o m e n a m e l e s s p u r p o s e — h a ! All w e n e e d is a distressed d a m s e l in a w h i t e n i g h t g o w n a n d w e h a v e all t h e e l e m e n t s f o r a

first-

r a t e G o t h i c h o r r o r story." " N o w you're b e g i n n i n g to s o u n d like t h e t o w n s p e o p l e . .

ľ

"Aha!" cried Hamilton triumphantly. " F u r t h e r m o r e , " M a y f i e l d c o n t i n u e d , " t h e m e n have n e v e r o r dered a n y 'strange' chemicals f r o m m e — m e r e l y a variety o f c o m m o n pharmaceutical a n d medical supplies." "Simply no imagination," grinned Flamilton. Mayfield shrugged. " M a y b e not, but imagination nets me

no

p r o f i t s . I d o n ' t c a r e if they're b u i l d i n g F r a n k e n s t e i n m o n s t e r s if it keeps t h e m as g o o d c u s t o m e r s o f m i n e as they have b e e n . " N o w , a s the car t o p p e d a rise in the r o a d , the lights o f the village o f D u n c a s t e r hove into view, s o f t l y brilliant b e n e a t h t h e m a n t l e o f d a r k c r e e p i n g o u t f r o m t h e w e s t w a r d hills. T h o s e lights, g a i l y - c o l o r e d a m i d t h e q u a i n t d e c o r a t i o n s in t h e h o u s e - w i n d o w s , r e m i n d e d t h e p a i r that C h r i s t m a s w a s o n l y a w e e k away, and t h e i r c o n v e r s a t i o n t u r n e d i n v o l u n t a r i l y to b r i g h t e r t h i n g s . A s H a m i l t o n s h a r e d a c h e e r f u l S u n d a y d i n n e r with M a y f i e l d a n d h i s family, t h e t o p i c o f t h e a f t e r n o o n ' s d i s c u s s i o n was far f r o m h i s m i n d . Later, h o w e v e r , as h e r e t i r e d to the M a y f i e l d s ' c o m f o r t a b l e guest r o o m and lay l i s t e n i n g to t h e w i n t e r w i n d b e f o r e d r i f t i n g o f f to sleep, h e c o u l d n o t help b u t recall h i s visit to t h e o l d c a s t l e by t h e s e a — t h a t b l e a k , a g e - h a u n t e d pile o f m a s o n r y s t a n d i n g a b o v e the a n -

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gry, p o u n d i n g s e a — a n d w o n d e r e d a b o u l t h e two s t r a n g e m e n w h o c h o s e to live in s u c h l o n e l y i s o l a t i o n .

II W h e n H a m i l t o n w o k e n e x t m o r n i n g it w a s late; Mayfield had alr e a d y left f o r t h e p h a r m a c y . A c c o r d i n g l y , a f t e r p a r t a k i n g o f a b r e a k fast M r s . M a y f i e l d had a c c o m m o d a t i n g l y kept w a r m for h i m , h e set o u t o n a s o l i t a r y j a u n t t h r o u g h the streets o f D u n c a s t e r . T h e s k y w a s c l e a r a n d b l u e . A c r i s p w i n t r i n e s s s p a r k e d the air. H a m i l t o n b r e a t h e d deeply, e n j o y i n g the q u a i n t a t m o s p h e r e o f the o l d village and w a t c h i n g t h e t o w n s p e o p l e b u s t l i n g a b o u t in their p r e p a rations for Christmas. T h o u g h he had been here only a week, m a n y o f t h e p e o p l e h a i l e d h i m b y n a m e a s t h e y passed h i m o n the s t r e e t , a n d he b e g a n to feel a s e n s e o f e a s i n e s s a n d b e l o n g i n g steal o v e r h i m . E n t e r i n g a s m a l l b o o k s h o p w h i c h h e had b e g u n to f r e q u e n t alm o s t daily, h e c l o s e d the o a k e n d o o r w i t h its d i a m o n d - p a n e d w i n d o w s a n d s t a m p e d the s n o w f r o m his b o o t s . " A n d h o w b e y o u today, M r . H a m i l t o n ? " a s k e d o l d M r . S c o t t , t h e white-mustached

p r o p r i e t o r , h i s b l u e eyes t w i n k l i n g f r o m

behind

thick, square spectacles. " A s c h i p p e r a s you l o o k to m e , E r i c — o r s o I h o p e , " said H a m i l t o n . " I ' m w o n d e r i n g if you c a n s h o w m e a n y b o o k s r e c o r d i n g t h e h i s t o r y o f this r e g i o n . " " I t h i n k s o . " E r i c S c o t t f u m b l e d a r o u n d o n h i s b o o k s h e l v e s and p r e s e n t l y w i t h d r e w a d a r k , w o r n v o l u m e . H e t h u m b e d t h r o u g h it rapidly, p e e r i n g i n t e n t l y a t t h e yellowed pages. " H e r e it is," h e said finally, p o i n t i n g to a c h a p t e r h e a d i n g . " T h i s c o v e r s it all f r o m the R o m a n t i m e s to the N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y . Please h a n d l e it gently, M r . H a m i l t o n — t h a t b o o k is o v e r o n e h u n d r e d and fifty years o l d . " " I c e r t a i n l y will. M a y I read it h e r e ? " " O f c o u r s e . U s e the t a b l e by t h e w i n d o w . It's a pleasure f o r m e to see a m a n o f y o u r age e n j o y i n g the o l d t h i n g s that s o m a n y h a v e forg o t t e n h o w to e n j o y . " H a m i l t o n sat d o w n and o p e n e d t h e o l d b o o k . H e felt again t h e c o m f o r t a b l e s e n s e o f b e l o n g i n g . It w a s a privilege, h e k n e w , e v e n to b e a l l o w e d in o l d E r i c S c o t t ' s b o o k s h o p , let a l o n e to b e free to b r o w s e

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a m i d h i s f a s c i n a t i n g , a n t i q u a t e d t o m e s . S c o t t ' s s t o c k was e n t i r e l y o f r a r e , o l d i t e m s and all his b u s i n e s s w a s d o n e by m a i l - o r d e r , s o t h a t profane h a n d s never touched a b o o k without a prior r e i m b u r s e m e n t sizable e n o u g h to i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e b o o k w o u l d receive s h e l f - s p a c e in a loving h o m e . O n l y Mayfield's assurances, plus Hamilton's o b v i o u s e n t h u s i a s m t o w a r d a n c i e n t a r c h i t e c t u r e and a l l w r i t i n g s p e r t a i n i n g t h e r e t o , had relaxed the o l d m a n ' s guard a n d

finally

endeared the

American to him. H a m i l t o n s o o n lost h i m s e l f in t h e o l d b o o k . T h e c h a p t e r he w a s r e a d i n g dealt with the h i s t o r y o f D u n c a s t e r and t h e larger, n e a r b y c o m m u n i t y o f B u r n t s h i r e . Presently h e w a s gratified to find a fairly l e n g t h y d e s c r i p t i o n o f D u n c a s t e r A b b e y itself. T h e c o n q u e r i n g

Ro-

m a n s had f o u n d a n c i e n t rings o f s t o n e s t h e r e a n d , a f t e r a b o l i s h i n g t h e Pagan r i t e s w h i c h the natives had p r a c t i c e d , had built a fine, c o l o n n a d e d t e m p l e o f their o w n — w h i c h was, in t u r n , d e s t r o y e d c e n t u r i e s later b y b a n d s o f V i k i n g s w h o for a t i m e o v e r r a n n o r t h e r n E n g l a n d . It w a s d u r i n g t h e Twelfth

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B a r o n , H u g o d e T a r a n , r e t u r n e d f r o m the C r u s a d e s a n d built t h e first castle o n t h e site that was later to b e D u n c a s t e r Abbey. B a r o n d e T a r a n r u l e d h i s s e r f s with no m o r e t h a n the usual h a r s h n e s s o f the time, b u t was reputed to p r a c t i c e n o n - C h r i s t i a n rites w h i c h g e n e r a t e d a great deal o f gossip a n d r e p u g n a n c e — r i t e s w h i c h , it was said, included even h u m a n s a c r i f i c e . B a r o n d e Taran's F r a n k i s h m o t h e r was o f t h e d'F.rlettes o f Averoigne, a lineage a n d a r e g i o n b o t h l o n g a s s o c i a t e d with s o r c e r o u s practices; m o r e o v e r , it was said t h a t the B a r o n , d u r i n g h i s c a m p a i g n s a g a i n s t the P a y n i m in t h e H o l y L a n d , had a c q u i r e d f o r s p o i l c e r t a i n a n c i e n t d o c u m e n t s w r i t t e n b y t h e m a g i o f A r a b i a and E g y p t . H o w e v e r , C h u r c h r u l e was w e a k o n the f r o n t i e r s o f w h a t passed f o r c i v i l i z a t i o n in t h o s e D a r k Ages, a n d t h e h e a d s o f B a r o n d e T a r a n ' s a c c u s e r s were s o o n s k e w e r e d o n pikes to d r y in t h e sun. T h e d e s c e n d a n t s o f H u g o d e T a r a n , a c c o r d i n g to l e g e n d , u s e d t h e i r p o s i t i o n o f l o r d s h i p to c a r r y o n t h e b l a s p h e m o u s t r a d i t i o n t h e i r sire had b e g u n . S o m e e v e n c l a i m e d the a n c i e n t R o m a n and C e l t i c r i t e s h a d b e e n revived. Lights and s o u n d s were seen a n d h e a r d a b o u t t h e castle o n c e r t a i n n i g h t s o f the year, w h i l e p e o p l e w h o m y s t e r i o u s l y v a n i s h e d o n t h o s e s a m e n i g h t s w e r e n e v e r seen a g a i n . T h e s e s i n i s t e r activities b e g a n to d e c l i n e d u r i n g t h e F o u r t e e n t h C e n t u r y as C a t h o l i c i s m b e c a m e e v e r s t r o n g e r in E n g l a n d . By t h e

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1600s, p e r h a p s b e c a u s e o f t h e i r o n rule o f t h e C a l v i n i s t i c C h u r c h o f S c o t l a n d , t h e a c t i v i t i e s had c e a s e d a l t o g e t h e r . B u t t h e n , in 1 6 9 0 , w h e n t h e p r o b l e m o f W i t c h c r a f t was a l s o b e i n g c o n f r o n t e d in the A m e r i c a n c o l o n i e s , t h e village o f D u n c a s t e r w a s s m i t t e n with a s t r a n g e t e r r o r w h i c h m i g h t have b e e n a p l a g u e . T h e c a u s e o f t h e w i d e s p r e a d deaths, h o w e v e r , w a s u n a n i m o u s l y believed to b e c o n n e c t e d w i t h the last m e m b e r s o f the d e c l i n i n g d e T a r a n line, a n d t h e C h u r c h o f S c o t l a n d was called u p o n to take a c t i o n . T h e r e f o l l o w e d the w i t c h - b u r n i n g s o f 1 6 9 0 , w h i c h a p p a r e n t l y e n d e d t h e reign o f the h a t e d l o r d s w h o had ruled for so long with such superstition-inspiring terrorism. T h e c l e r g y m e n chronicling these events were vague, a n d only h i n t e d at t h e t h i n g s w h i c h w e r e d r a g g e d to light f r o m the t o w e r s and d u n g e o n s o f t h e a n c i e n t castle. S i g n s o f p a g a n i s t i c r i t u a l were a b u n d a n t , a n d t h e r e w e r e r e m a i n s o f b l o o d s t a i n e d altars i n s c r i b e d w i t h p r i m a l s y m b o l s o f f o r g o t t e n m e a n i n g . O f the v o l u m e s o f a c c u r s e d eld e r lore alleged to have b e e n c o l l e c t e d d o w n t h e c e n t u r i e s b y t h e w i c k e d b a r o n s , n o t a t r a c e c o u l d b e f o u n d , a n d it w a s a s s u m e d t h a t t h e y had b e e n c a r e f u l l y s e c r e t e d in s o m e i n a c c e s s i b l e n e t h e r c r y p t . On

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b u r n e d , so that the frightful knowledge o f the de Taran's m i g h t never b e b r o u g h t to light a n d s p r e a d a b r o a d . T h o u g h t h e c a s t l e was n o t d e s t r o y e d utterly, its c h a r r e d r e m a i n s lay a b a n d o n e d for o v e r a c e n t u r y . T h e n an a t t e m p t w a s m a d e by t h e A n g l i c a n C h u r c h to u s e t h e edifice, and it was p a r t l y r e b u i l t and given t h e n a m e o f " D u n c a s t e r Abbey." F o r s o m e r e a s o n , however, t h e b u i l d i n g w a s used as a m o n a s t e r y f o r o n l y a few m o n t h s , a f t e r w h i c h it w a s a b a n d o n e d o n c e m o r e . T h i s t i m e it lay v a c a n t until t h e p r e s e n t d a y — o r rather, H a m i l t o n r e f l e c t e d as h e f i n i s h e d r e a d i n g t h e a c c o u n t , u n t i l the t w o A m e r i c a n s had e s t a b l i s h e d t h e m s e l v e s in

it

n e a r l y a year a g o . " D i d y o u f i n d w h a t you w a n t e d ? " asked t h e o l d b o o k s e l l e r a s H a m i l t o n closed a n d laid aside t h e a g e d v o l u m e . H a m i l t o n n o d d e d . " F a s c i n a t i n g ! W h a t d o you k n o w a b o u t t h e t w o m e n n o w living in t h e castle? I ' m h o p i n g to get their p e r m i s s i o n to l o o k it over." Eric S c o t t b r u s h e d

b a c k his t h i n n i n g h a i r t h o u g h t f u l l y , a n d

H a m i l t o n s e n s e d a slight u n e a s i n e s s in t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f his w a t e r y b l u e eyes.

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" T h o s e t w o a r e a n o d d pair," h e said. " I ' m n o t s u r e I'd care to k n o w t h e m better. l u s t m y o w n i m p r e s s i o n , o f c o u r s e — b u t

you'll

f i n d m o s t p e o p l e h e r e a b o u t s will say the s a m e . " " W h y ? " asked H a m i l t o n " I t ' s n o t h i n g a n y o n e c a n lay a solid finger o n — b u t let m e tell y o u something..

"

T h e o l d m a n l a u n c h e d h i m s e l f i n t o an a c c o u n t o f w h a t he k n e w a n d w h a t local g o s s i p had to say a b o u t the s t r a n g e r s , a n d H a m i l t o n l e a n e d f o r w a r d o n his e l b o w s a n d l i s t e n e d a t t e n t i v e l y . . .

It was d u r i n g the p r e v i o u s F e b r u a r y that t h e s t r a n g e r s had first a p p e a r e d in D u n c a s t e r , r e s i d i n g in o l d M r s . K n a p p ' s r o o m i n g

house

n e a r t h e s e a - r o a d a n d h a v i n g n o t h i n g to d o with t h e t o w n s f o l k . H e r e t h e y lived for m o r e t h a n a m o n t h , m a k i n g o c c a s i o n a l t r i p s to t h e d e s e r t e d c a s t l e by the sea. T h e i r b r i e f a p p e a r a n c e s o n the s t r e e t s o f D u n c a s t e r , s p o r t i n g their b r o w n b e a r d s , w i d e - b r i m m e d

hats

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long, dark overcoats, soon earned them the reputation o f ludicrous, albeit s o m e w h a t sinister, e c c e n t r i c s . O l d M r s . K n a p p t a l k e d a g r e a t deal a b o u t t h e pair, and a b o u t t h e m a n y c r a t e s o f e l e c t r i c a l a p p a r a t u s , glassware a n d b o o k s they had lugged from their s t a t i o n - w a g o n to t h e u p s t a i r s r o o m s they had r e n t e d . T h e m e n gave their n a m e s as Pitts a n d T a g g a r t , t h o u g h f o r s o m e r e a s o n M r s . K n a p p p r e f e r r e d to t h i n k t h e s e were n o t t h e i r t r u e a p p e l l a t i o n s . I n d e e d , t h e landlady, g o s s i p t h a t s h e was, t o o k a c e r t a i n p r i d e in her m y s t e r i o u s t e n a n t s and n o d o u b t o f t e n e x a g g e r a t e d t h e i r p e c u l i a r i t i e s . T h e i r m a i n t r a i t , h o w e v e r — o u t s t a n d i n g in s u c h a s m a l l c o m m u n i t y — w a s their extreme taciturn reticence. T h e i r accent proc l a i m e d t h e m A m e r i c a n s , b u t o t h e r t h a n this b i t o f i n f o r m a t i o n n o t h i n g factual could be deduced. N e x t to o l d M r s . K n a p p , h o w e v e r , E r i c S c o t t h i m s e l f was p r o b a b l y the f o r e m o s t a u t h o r i t y o n the m e n . T h e y had a c t u a l l y w r i t t e n to h i m s h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e i r arrival, p r o f e s s i n g a n i n t e r e s t in c e r t a i n r a r e o l d b o o k s , a n d h a d s u b s e q u e n t l y visited h i m several t i m e s in h i s m u s t y o l d b o o k - s h o p . S c o t t had b e e n v a g u e l y d i s t u r b e d a t s o m e o f t h e titles they had m e n t i o n e d , f o r he h a d h e a r d t e r r i b l e t h i n g s o f t h e b l a s p h e m o u s Necronomicon

o f the m a d A r a b A b d u l A l h a z r e d , a n d h e

a s s o c i a t e d m o n s t r o u s legends o f evil with c e r t a i n o d d n a m e s i n s c r i b e d

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was s o m e h o w glad thai h e was a l m o s t e n t i r e l y u n a b l e to aid t h e s t r a n g e r s in t h e i r q u e s t , a n d h o p e d t h e y w o u l d not b e i n c l i n e d to seek f u r t h e r for t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h e y desired. B e s i d e s E r i c Scott's o l d b o o k - s h o p , the s t r a n g e r s a l s o b e g a n to f r e q u e n t M a y f i e l d ' s P h a r m a c y a n d Howell's M e d i c a l S u p p l y s t o r e . O c c a s i o n a l l y t h e y w o u l d drive o v e r to B u r n t s h i r e to m a k e use o f t h e l i b r a r y t h e r e a n d , as t h e g o s s i p s o o n had it, to request f r o m t h e l i b r a r i a n s a n y t h i n g p e r t a i n i n g to t h e r u i n s o f D u n c a s t e r Abbey. T h e n , d u r i n g M a r c h , the s t r a n g e r s j o u r n e y e d to L o n d o n and a p parently made s o m e transactions with those who owned the castle, f o r o n t h e i r r e t u r n to D u n c a s t e r t h e y i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n to t r a n s p o r t all their b e l o n g i n g s to t h e a n c i e n t e d i f i c e . After finally c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r c h a n g e o f r e s i d e n c e , Pitts and T a g g a r t h a d p a i d o f f o l d M r s . K n a p p , t h u s b r e a k i n g all ties with t h e world. M a n y o f t h e t o w n s f o l k had b e e n s h o c k e d a t all this, for to t h e r e l i g i o u s l y o r t h o d o x t h e c a s t l e was s y m b o l i c o f evil f r o m t i m e i m m e m o r i a l . For several m o n t h s the two c o n t i n u e d to dwell in their strange a b o d e , virtually c u t o f f f r o m the outside world, for t h e nearest road was m o r e t h a n h a l f a m i l e f r o m the c a s t l e . I n f r e q u e n t l y they w o u l d p i c k their w a y over the old f o o t p a t h a l o n g the ragged seacliffs a n d drive i n t o t o w n to p u r c h a s e large q u a n t i t i e s o f f o o d a n d o t h e r s u p p l i e s . F i n a l l y t h e y sold t h e i r s t a t i o n - w a g o n to a m a n in B u r n t s h i r e , retired t o t h e castle and v a n i s h e d i n t o u t t e r s e c l u s i o n . T h e t o w n g o s s i p s , o f c o u r s e , s p e c u l a t e d w i l d l y b u t futilely o n t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f the two A m e r i c a n s . T o w a r d s u m m e r , however, e v e n t s t o o k a d a r k e r a n d m o r e s i n i s t e r t u r n with t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f little T o m m y M c C a l l i s t e r , w h o v a n i s h e d m y s t e r i o u s l y o n e a f t e r n o o n w h i l e playing w i t h several f r i e n d s n e a r the b l u f f s by t h e sea. A c c o r d i n g to the o t h e r c h i l d r e n . T o m m y , w h o w a s k n o w n as a r a t h e r aggressive y o u t h , b o a s t e d that h e was n o t a f r a i d to a p p r o a c h the f o r b i d d i n g castle and a t t e m p t to s p y o n its t w o m y s t e r i o u s i n h a b i t a n t s . Against the advice o f his c o m p a n i o n s , the lad had set o u t to p r o v e g o o d his b o a s t , c h a r g i n g the rest to wait for h i s r e t u r n . T h e y had s e e n T o m m y walk o f f t o w a r d the n o r t h e r n h o r i z o n a n d v a n i s h i n t o t h e d a r k w o o d s w h i c h s u r r o u n d e d t h e c a s t l e o n its t h r e e l a n d w a r d sides; but, t h o u g h t h e y waited f o r n e a r l y t h r e e h o u r s , t h e b o y did n o t r e t u r n . At last, s e e i n g that d u s k was near, t h e y o u n g sters t u r n e d r e l u c t a n t l y h o m e w a r d .

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At first t h e c h i l d r e n said n o t h i n g to t h e i r elders a b o u t T o m m y , f o r their p a r e n t s had s t e r n l y w a r n e d t h e m n o t to play n e a r t h e s e a ; b u t n e x t day, w h e n the f r a n t i c M c C a l l i s t e r s b e g a n to i n q u i r e a b o u t t h e i r m i s s i n g boy, t h e y o u n g s t e r s finally b r o k e d o w n and c o n f e s s e d w h a t had h a p p e n e d . I m m e d i a t e l y a s e a r c h p a r t y set o u t to s c o u r t h e w o o d e d hills n e a r t h e sea. Yet, t h o u g h the s e a r c h e r s persisted t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y and part o f the n i g h t , t h e y f o u n d n o t r a c e o f t h e missing child. T h e t o w n s p e o p l e , h o w e v e r , were n o t t o t a l l y s u r p r i s e d a t

this

f a i l u r e , f o r m a n y had a l r e a d y b e g u n to h i n t s u l l e n l y that t h e b o y h a d m e t w i t h f o u l play. It w a s C o n s t a b l e D u n l a p , t h e t o w n ' s s i n gle law-enforcement

officer, w h o s u g g e s t e d

this p o s s i b i l i t y

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s t r o n g l y , p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t t h e b o y had b e e n last s e e n a c t u a l l y a p p r o a c h i n g t h e o l d castle with t h e i n t e n t i o n o f s p y i n g o n its i n h a b i t a n t s . Was it n o t p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e s e reclusive e c c e n t r i c s m i g h t b e m a d m e n w h o w o u l d n o t h e s i t a t e to inflict h a r m o n a n y t h e y c o n s i d ered trespassers? O n h e a r i n g C o n s t a b l e D u n l a p ' s o p i n i o n s , the villagers i m m e d i a t e l y a c c e p t e d t h e m as fact a n d displayed a g r e a t d e a l o f e m o t i o n a l i n d i g n a t i o n . T h e y l o u d l y d e m a n d e d t h a t D u n l a p g o f o r t h a n d arrest the pair—though

n o n e v o l u n t e e r e d to a c c o m p a n y h i m — a n d

the

v e r y n e x t m o r n i n g t h e c o n s t a b l e set o u t to q u e s t i o n the dwellers in Duncaster Abbey. H e d i d n o t r e t u r n . W h e n it w a s l e a r n e d t h a t the c o n s t a b l e had v a n i s h e d as m y s t e r i o u s l y a s T o m m y M c C a l l i s t e r , a g r e a t f u r o r e n s u e d . O f f i c i a l s in B u r n t s h i r e w e r e i n f o r m e d , and t h e S h e r i f f a n d several o f h i s local c o n s t a b u l a r y were s e n t i m m e d i a t e l y to c h e c k u p o n t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e c a s t l e . T h i s they did, b u t the results o f their investig a t i o n fell far s h o r t o f s a t i s f y i n g t h e c i t i z e n s o f D u n c a s t e r . A c c o r d i n g to the S h e r i f f , the two A m e r i c a n s h a d received h i m a n d h i s m e n o p e n l y and e v e n h o s p i t a b l y . T h e y were v e r y a c c o m m o d a t i n g , o f f e r i n g n o resistance to a s e a r c h o f t h e p r e m i s e s a n d a n s w e r i n g all q u e s t i o n s with s e e m i n g f r a n k n e s s w h i l e e x p r e s s i n g a d e s i r e to h e l p in a n y w a y they c o u l d . T h e S h e r i f f w a s n o t c o n v i n c e d o f t h e i r sincerity, o f c o u r s e , b u t s e a r c h as t h e y m i g h t , his m e n c o u l d find n o t the slightest trace o f anything even remotely suspicious.

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by t h e f u r n i s h i n g s and b o o k s a b o u t t h e castle, t h e A m e r i c a n s w e r e m e r e l y a p a i r o f s c h o l a r l y b a c h e l o r s e n g a g e d in a n t i q u a r i a n p u r s u i t s .

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After several h o u r s Ihe S h e r i f f a n d his m e n left, a n n o y e d al h a v i n g n o e v i d e n c e o n w h i c h l o b a s e an a r r e s t . It a p p e a r e d , however, thai t h e t o w n s p e o p l e m i g h t h a v e b e e n w r o n g a b o u t Pitts a n d T a g g a r t ; for Ihe very n e x t day, w h e n a g r o u p o f fishermen

f o u n d the b o d y o f T o m m y M c C a l l i s t e r w a s h e d u p o n t h e

s e a s h o r e , j u s t s o u t h o f D u n c a s t e r , t h e r e were n o i n d i c a t i o n s w h a t s o e v e r that t h e b o y had m e t d e a t h by v i o l e n c e . T h e a u t o p s y p e r f o r m e d by the m o r t i c i a n in B u r n t s h i r e revealed n o i n d i c a t i o n s o f m u r d e r , a n d it was o f f i c i a l l y a s s u m e d that t h e t h i r t e e n - y e a r - o l d b o y had fallen f r o m t h e c l i f f i n t o the s e a w h i l e r e t u r n i n g f r o m t h e castle by w a y o f the narrow footpath. C o n s t a b l e D u n l a p ' s fate, however, w a s m o r e p e r p l e x i n g . N o t r a c e o f h i m w a s e v e r f o u n d . F o r m a n y w e e k s the S h e r i f f c o n t i n u e d his i n v e s t i g a t i o n , several t i m e s q u e s t i o n i n g Pitts a n d T a g g a r t and s e a r c h i n g t h e i r G o t h i c r e s i d e n c e f o r s o m e c l u e . E a c h visit w a s m e t by t h e s a m e l a c k o f e i t h e r r e s i s t a n c e o r e v i d e n c e , and the S h e r i f f w a s at last reluct a n t l y c o m p e l l e d to a d m i t — o f f i c i a l l y , a t l e a s t — t h a t the c u r i o u s p a i r p r o b a b l y had n o t h i n g to d o with t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e s . P o s s i b l y C o n stable D u n l a p had fallen i n t o o n e o f the fairly n u m e r o u s pits o r c r e v i c e s w h i c h were k n o w n to be a h a z a r d in the hilly w o o d l a n d s along that seacoast. T h e case was b r o u g h t to a final c l o s e e a r l y in the fall by the S h e r i f f ' s u n t i m e l y d e a t h , and t h e official w h o r e p l a c e d h i m filed t h e rep o r t o f t h e a f f a i r and s o o n f o r g o t a b o u t it. H a v i n g n o

personal

i n t e r e s t in the case, the n e w S h e r i f f w a s c o n t e n t t o r e g a r d it a s largely a s e n s a t i o n a l i s t i c u p r o a r . T h e p e o p l e o f D u n c a s t e r , however, held to t h e i r o p i n i o n s a n d c o n t i n u e d to regard the castle a n d its i n h a b i t a n t s with d i s t a s t e . D a r k s p e c u l a t i o n c o n t i n u e d to flit f r o m m o u t h

to

m o u t h — w h i s p e r s not o n l y o f p o s s i b l e m u r d e r , b u t o f w i l d e r t h i n g s like t o r t u r e , w i t c h c r a f t a n d h u m a n s a c r i f i c e . T h e r e were e v e n t h o s e w h o m a i n t a i n e d that t h e o l d S h e r i f f ' s d e a t h m i g h t n o t h a v e b e e n a s s i m p l e as it s e e m e d — t h a t D r . B a n n i s t e r ' s d i a g n o s i s o f s o m e " s t r a n g e , e p i l e p t i c - l i k e s e i z u r e " m a y have b e e n o n l y a c o v e r - u p for h i s o w n ign o r a n c e . C e r t a i n l y t h e r e had b e e n s o m e t h i n g d i s t u r b i n g a b o u t t h e w a y t h e S h e r i f f h a d s c r e a m e d o u t in t h e n i g h t j u s t b e f o r e h e w a s f o u n d d e a d in his r o o m , his eyes fixed w i d e as if in h o r r o r — b u t t h e n , all this w a s idle g o s s i p b y r u s t i c s w h o s e o n l y t r a d i t i o n s w e r e h a n d e d d o w n f r o m s u p e r s t i t i o u s p e a s a n t s o f the D a r k Ages.

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TWice m o r e i h e s t r a n g e r s visited D u n c a s t e r , h i k i n g to t o w n o n f o o t , b u t n o w t h e y w e r e regarded with r e v u l s i o n r a t h e r t h a n a m u s e d c u r i o s i t y . O n l y a few local t r a d e s m e n , w h o s e s h o p s they p a t r o n i z e d lavishly, w o u l d l o o k u p o n t h e p a i r w i t h a n y t h i n g less t h a n a v e r s i o n . B o t h t i m e s t h e y visited t h e o l d b o o k - s h o p o f Eric S c o t t , p u r c h a s i n g v a r i o u s o d d v o l u m e s o f a n c i e n t r e l i g i o u s a n d R o s i c r u c i a n lore. S c o t t r e m e m b e r e d that t h e s e b o o k s dwelt largely o n s u b j e c t s s u c h as h y p n o t i s m , astral p r o j e c t i o n and h i d d e n p o w e r s o f t h e m i n d , a n d that the m a n had r e f e r r e d to o l d e r and d a r k e r texts d e a l i n g w i t h h a l f - f o r g o t t e n s e c r e t s t h a t h a d b a r e l y m a n a g e d to struggle d o w n t h e ages f r o m t i m e s o f u n g u e s s e d a n t i q u i t y . W h a t t h e s e m e n s o u g h t to a c h i e v e t h r o u g h the a c q u i s i t i o n o f s u c h l o n g - s u p p r e s s e d k n o w l e d g e , S c o t t d i d n o t like to g u e s s .

For the rest o f t h e a u t u m n , Pitts a n d T a g g a r t w e r e s e e n n o m o r e e x c e p t by a f e w e a r l y f i s h e r m e n w h o , f r o m t h e d i s t a n t v a n t a g e o f t h e i r b o a t s , c l a i m e d to have n o t i c e d t h e p a i r c o m b i n g the b e a c h b e n e a t h t h e i r c r a g - p e r c h e d castle, g a t h e r i n g o b j e c t s w a s h e d u p b y the A t l a n t i c tides. H o w e v e r , the c i t i z e n s o f D u n c a s t e r did n o t f o r g e t , a n d t h e g o s sips w h i s p e r e d o f d i m lights and w i l d c r i e s w h i c h had issued f r o m t h e c a s t l e o n the n i g h t o f All Hallows Eve; while t h e r e a f t e r , s o m e c l a i m e d , o n e c o u l d h e a r an eerie, m o u r n f u l h o w l i n g if o n e s t o o d in c e r t a i n p l a c e s a t the b a s e o f t h e c a s t l e - c r o w n e d p r e c i p i c e . Few ventured to p r o v e t h e s e t h i n g s for t h e m s e l v e s , h o w e v e r , m o s t p r e f e r r i n g to a c c e p t t h e t e s t i m o n y o f the local s t o r y - t e l l e r s . A n d s o it w a s that, a f t e r n e a r l y an e n t i r e year, t h e m y s t e r y o f the d a r k s t r a n g e r s o f D u n c a s t e r A b b e y w a s as b a f f l i n g a s — p e r h a p s e v e n m o r e b a f f l i n g t h a n — i t had b e e n o n the d a y o f t h e i r arrival.

Ill At first H a m i l t o n did n o t realize t h a t E r i c S c o t t had f i n i s h e d speaking;

the o l d m a n ' s s t o r y had

held

him

enthralled.

Feeling

v a g u e l y uneasy, h e tried to b r i n g his m i n d to f o c u s o n the p r e s e n t . " T h a t ' s q u i t e a s t o r y , " h e said. " J u s t w h a t d o y o n believe a b o u t t h e Americans?" S c o t t s h r u g g e d . " I ' m n o t ready to believe e v e r y t h i n g I hear, M r .

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H a m i l t o n , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e I'll n o t g o o u t o f m y way to s c o f f a t e v e r y t h i n g that s e e m s s t r a n g e . It's m y o p i n i o n that t h o s e m e n a r e u p to s o m e t h i n g t h e y s h o u l d n ' t be. I k n o w t o o m u c h a b o u t the b o o k s t h e y ' v e s o u g h t to d o u b t that." H a m i l t o n ' s u n e a s i n e s s i n c r e a s e d . T h e r e were m a n y p o i n t s in c o m m o n b e t w e e n S c o t t ' s s t o r y and t h e a c c o u n t h e had read o f the d e Taran

line o f o l d e n

days—mysterious

disappearances,

forbidden

b o o k s o f d a r k lore, h i n t s o f w i t c h c r a f t and fearful rites p r a c t i c e d w i t h i n t h e castle's b l a c k p r e c i n c t s . . . H e rose f r o m his c h a i r a n d , t h a n k i n g t h e o l d b o o k s e l l e r , set o u t r a t h e r h u r r i e d l y i n t o the o p e n a i r o f t h e s t r e e t . S o m e h o w he was glad to leave t h e b o o k s h o p with its d r y a t m o s p h e r e o f age and stuffiness, glad to feel the w i n t e r w i n d b l o w i n g c o l d a g a i n s t his face. Later, however, a s h e c h a t t e d with M a y f i e l d a t t h e p h a r m a c y , h e f o u n d h i m s e l f a c t u a l l y c h u c k l i n g o v e r t h e o d d n o t i o n s o f t h e aged bookseller. "Yes, o l d S c o t t is q u i t e a storyteller," said Mayfield. " H e ' s lull o f o d d n o t i o n s — e s p e c i a l l y w h e n it c o m e s to the s u b j e c t o f D u n c a s t e r Abbey." " H e c e r t a i n l y has e x c i t e d m y c u r i o s i t y , " g r i n n e d H a m i l t o n . " I s i m p l y c a n ' t leave w i t h o u t s e e i n g t h a t o l d castle n o w — a n d m e e t i n g its i n h a b i t a n t s ! " M a y f i e l d g l a n c e d at his w a t c h . " L o o k , I'll be b u s y f o r t h e rest o f t h e a f t e r n o o n , s o w h y d o n ' t y o u take m y c a r a n d d r i v e o u t t h e r e y o u r s e l f ? T h e w e a t h e r is fairly d e c e n t n o w , a n d you k n o w t h e way." " Y o u m e a n it? You're s u r e y o u w o n ' t b e n e e d i n g t h e c a r ? " " N o t at all." M a y f i e l d h a n d e d o v e r his c a r keys. " J u s t b e b a c k in t i m e for s u p p e r o r m y wife will t h r o w fits. T h e r e ' s an e x t r a tire u n d e r t h e b a c k seat if you s h o u l d n e e d it. G o o d l u c k ! " A few m o m e n t s later H a m i l t o n w a s m o t o r i n g r a p i d l y o u t

of

D u n c a s t e r , e n j o y i n g the wild b e a u t y o f t h e w o o d e d hills a n d feeling a b i t u n e a s y a b o u t d r i v i n g u p o n t h e left s i d e o f the r o a d . D u r i n g t h e s o l i t u d e o f the drive his m i n d r e t u r n e d to t h e t h i n g s h e h a d read and h e a r d in t h e q u a i n t o l d b o o k s h o p , and h e p o n d e r e d a g a i n o v e r t h e o d d c o i n c i d e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e past a n d t h e p r e s e n t . P r o b a b l y S c o t t a n d the rest o f t h e t o w n s p e o p l e , k n o w i n g t h e legends c o n c e r n i n g t h e b y g o n e d e T a r a n line, had p r o j e c t e d s i m i l a r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o n t h e t w o s t r a n g e r s n o w residing in the A b b e y .

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At l e n g t h H a m i l t o n p u l l e d o v e r to a s h o r t t u r n o f f a n d parked t h e car. D o u b t l e s s this w a s w h e r e the A m e r i c a n s u s e d to park t h e i r v e h i cle, a l s o . As h e s t e p p e d o u t , h e c o u l d h e a r the p o u n d i n g o f the n e a r b y surf. It w a s b u t a s h o r t walk to the f o o t p a t h a l o n g the c l i f f edge, and t h e n c e t o t h e ridge f r o m w h i c h the c a s t l e c o u l d b e s e e n . T h e place s e e m e d less f o r e b o d i n g u n d e r b l u e sky and s u n l i g h t , b u t t h e w i n d still b l e w in from t h e s e a w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e gustiness, c a u s i n g a n g r y waves to c r a s h l o u d l y u p o n t h e r o c k s b e l o w . C a r e f u l l y H a m i l t o n p i c k e d his w a y a l o n g the f o o t p a t h , r e m e m b e r i n g s u d d e n l y t h a t the y o u n g M c C a l l i s t e r b o y m u s t have fallen f r o m t h e ledge s o m e w h e r e n e a r b y . T h e t h o u g h t w a s n o t p l e a s a n t , a n d he f o u n d h i m s e l f w o n d e r i n g a g a i n a b o u t t h e fate o f C o n s t a b l e D u n l a p a n d t h e o d d t h i n g s p e o p l e had h i n t e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e S h e r i f f ' s d e a t h . P r e s e n t l y the p a t h t u r n e d away f r o m the c l i f f a n d e n t e r e d t h e t h i c k grove s u r r o u n d i n g the castle. H a m i l t o n lost sight o f the b u i l d i n g a s h e p i c k e d his w a y a m o n g t h e d a r k b o l e s o f g n a r l e d o a k s w h o s e b r a n c h e s twisted w e i r d l y a b o v e h i m . H i s u n e a s i n e s s g r e w a s h e realized h o w c o m p l e t e l y i s o l a t e d the castle was. Yet, a t the s a m e t i m e , h e was e n j o y i n g his a d v e n t u r e , a n t i c i p a t i n g w h a t his f r i e n d s b a c k h o m e w o u l d say w h e n h e t o l d t h e m o f the o l d " h a u n t e d c a s t l e " h e had visited in E n g l a n d E m e r g i n g f r o m t h e w o o d , H a m i l t o n s a w that the castle w a s q u i t e near, l o o m i n g a b o v e h i m o n its r o c k y c r a g w i t h i m p o s i n g g r a n d e u r , its r u i n e d b a t t l e m e n t s d a r k a g a i n s t the sky. H e s t o p p e d to g a z e a t it f o r a m o m e n t , w i s h i n g h e had t h o u g h t to b r i n g a c a m e r a ; a n d , as h e l o o k e d , h e heard a s t r a n g e , d r a w n - o u t wail that s e e m e d to e m e r g e f r o m t h e base o f t h e cliff. It was o b v i o u s l y , h e d e c i d e d , a t r i c k o f t h e w i n d as it h o w l e d a m o n g the j a g g e d r o c k s p i r e s o f t h e c l i f f s i d e — a n d yet, it s e e m e d at t i m e s s o like the c r y o f a p e r s o n in a n g u i s h , a s t h o u g h s o m e o n e were a c t u a l l y t r a p p e d in s o m e d a r k c r e v i c e o r cave r n w i t h i n the r o c k , t h a t H a m i l t o n c o u l d easily see h o w t h e i m a g i n a t i o n s o f the l o c a l s h a d c o n j u r e d u p v o i c e s f r o m n o w h e r e . H e c l i m b e d t h e r e m a i n i n g d i s t a n c e u p t h e f o o t p a t h and p i c k e d his way a m o n g the tumbled, frost-covered blocks o f the shattered walls. T h e p a t h e n d e d a t a d o o r o f s o l i d o a k set in a m a s s i v e wall. O v e r c o m i n g a m o m e n t a r y h e s i t a t i o n , H a m i l t o n raised t h e h e a v y iron k n o c k e r and let it fall n o i s i l y a g a i n s t the d o o r . Several times H a m i l t o n knocked, but n o one answered. Perhaps,

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h e t h o u g h t , the i n h a b i t a n t s were i g n o r i n g w o u l d - b e v i s i t o r s . H e had a b o u t d e c i d e d to leave w h e n h e h e a r d a c l a n k i n g o f heavy b o l t s b e i n g s h o t b a c k , a n d t h e n e x t i n s t a n t the d o o r s w u n g o p e n o n g r a t i n g hinges. H a m i l t o n g l a n c e d q u i c k l y o v e r the figure that s t o o d in t h e d o o r way, w o n d e r i n g w h a t to say f o r a n o p e n i n g . T h e m a n c o n f r o n t i n g h i m was slightly shorter than himself, slender, and sporting a trim b r o w n g o a t e e a n d m u s t a c h e w h i c h m e r g e d together. H e w o r e a d a r k c l o a k , o f a type f a s h i o n a b l e in t h e early N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y ; it h u n g a b o u t his f o r m like raven wings. H i s alert b r o w n eyes gazed suspiciously at Hamilton from b e h i n d d a r k - r i m m e d spectacles. " S o r r y to t r o u b l e y o u , " b e g a n H a m i l t o n , " b u t I ' m i n t e r e s t e d in t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f this castle, a n d was h o p i n g y o u m i g h t a l l o w m e to e x a m i n e it m o r e closely. You s e e n , I ' m an a r c h i t e c t b y trade and an antiquarian at h e a r t . . . T h e m a n s u d d e n l y g r i n n e d and his eyes lost t h e i r s u s p i c i o u s glare. "Ah, o f c o u r s e — a n a n t i q u a r i a n ! T h e r e a r e n ' t m a n y o f u s left, I fear. D o c o m e i n . " H a m i l t o n , pleased at b e i n g a c c e p t e d s o readily, s t e p p e d q u i c k l y i n s i d e . H i s h o s t i m m e d i a t e l y c l o s e d and b o l t e d t h e d o o r o n c e m o r e . " I h o p e you don't m i n d m y i n t r u s i o n , " said H a m i l t o n , " b u t I fear m y c u r i o s i t y c o n c e r n i n g a n c i e n t a r c h i t e c t u r e is o f t e n m o r e

than

g o o d m a n n e r s c a n h o l d in c h e c k . . . . " "Please don't apologize. I sympathize with your interest—which is o n e o f t h e r e a s o n s I c h o s e to live h e r e , M i s t e r . . . . " "Hamilton. Irving Hamilton." " M r . H a m i l t o n . And I am l o h n Taggart." T h e m a n w r u n g his guest's h a n d , t h e n m o t i o n e d h i m to follow. T h e y walked

through

several vaulted s t o n e c o r r i d o r s , w h i c h H a m i l t o n a d m i r e d w i t h g r e a t interest, and p r e s e n t l y e n t e r e d a large r o o m s p a r s e l y b u t c o m f o r t a b l y f u r n i s h e d with a r t i c l e s o f N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y m a n u f a c t u r e . T w o plush e a s y c h a i r s a n d a large m a h o g a n y t a b l e o c c u p i e d t h e c e n t e r o f t h e r o o m , t h e t a b l e b e i n g littered with b o o k s , p a p e r s a n d a f e w glass c o n t a i n e r s o f a s s o r t e d sizes a n d s h a p e s . Heavy, t h i c k d r a p e s f l a n k e d the single arched w i n d o w of the c h a m b e r , hanging limply from the c e i l i n g to the s t o n e floor, while o n e i t h e r s i d e o f this n a r r o w c a s e m e n t rested m a s s i v e b o o k c a s e s , their m a n y shelves filled with b o o k s b o t h ancient and modern.

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" O u r living r o o m and library," said Taggarl. " T h e t a b l e is r a t h e r cluttered, but we weren't expecting company." He began s o m e w h a t h u r r i e d l y to c l e a r t h e t a b l e o f its v o l u m e s a n d p a p e r s , p l a c i n g t h e m in v a r i o u s n i c h e s in the b o o k c a s e s . " I j u d g e by y o u r a c c e n t that you're a New-Englander." " T h a t ' s r i g h t . A n d j u d g i n g by your

s p e e c h , I'd say you're o r i g i -

nally from the upper M i d w e s t . . . " Y o u are p e r c e p t i v e , " said T a g g a r t b r i e f l y . " B u t , c o m e — I ' l l s h o w y o u a r o u n d the castle. It isn't o f t e n I m e e t a n y o n e w i t h i n t e r e s t s s i m i lar to m y o w n , a n d it d o e s m e g o o d to k n o w t h e r e a r e still t h o s e w h o find j o y in t h e a n t i q u a t e d t h i n g s o f the w o r l d . " S o saying, T a g g a r t c o n d u c t e d H a m i l t o n t h r o u g h several halls a n d c h a m b e r s o n t h e m a i n floor, t h e n g r a d u a l l y w o r k e d u p w a r d to h i g h e r suites o f r o o m s . H a m i l t o n b e c a m e d e e p l y a b s o r b e d in e v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d h i m a n d in h i s h o s t ' s c o m m e n t s o n the h i s t o r y o f this a g e d G o t h i c s t r u c t u r e . H e reveled in the i m a g i n e d g l o r i e s o f ages past, and s p e c u l a t e d a b i t u n e a s i l y a b o u t t h o s e w h o had dwelt in t h e castle s o m a n y c e n t u r i e s a g o . T a g g a r t was q u i t e a t t e n t i v e to h i s q u e s t i o n s a n d insisted o n a c c o m p a n y i n g h i m a s a g u i d e ; the m a n o b v i o u s l y t o o k a c e r t a i n p r i d e in h i s s t r a n g e h o m e , and c o m m e n t e d w i t h g r e a t k n o w l e d g e o n e v e r y detail o f t h e a n t i q u a t e d a r c h i t e c t u r e a b o u t t h e m . A l m o s t it s e e m e d t h a t h e was c o n d u c t i n g a g u i d e d t o u r w h i c h h e had b e e n o v e r m a n y t i m e s b e f o r e . At length, a f t e r a s c e n d i n g a l o n g , n a r r o w s t a i r w a y o f w o r n s t o n e , t h e y e m e r g e d o n t o a s m a l l c i r c u l a r area b e n e a t h the o p e n sky. H e r e t h e w i n d b l u s t e r e d c o l d a n d s t r o n g , b u t H a m i l t o n f o r g o t the chill a s h e gazed o v e r t h e m a s s i v e b a t t l e m e n t s o f t h e t o w e r a n d b e h e l d t h e l a n d s c a p e o f d a r k w o o d e d hills s t r e t c h i n g a w a y o n all sides, save to t h e west w h e r e t h e g r a y sea r o a r e d in, all flecked with w h i t e c a p s , to c r a s h o n t h e c o a s t below. " I t w a s f r o m this tower," said T a g g a r t , " t h a t the T a r a n

barons

u s e d to s u r v e y t h e i r b r o a d d o m a i n s . " " A h ! You k n o w o f t h e T a r a n s ? " " O f course. W h y should we n o t — w e who n o w o c c u p y their anc i e n t h o m e ? T h e y were m e n o f great p o w e r and v i s i o n , a n d their hist o r y is w o r t h y o f s t u d y . T h e y m i g h t h a v e r u l e d all E n g l a n d if they had n o t b e e n t o o eager to s h o w t h e i r h a n d . . . . "

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Taggart s t o p p e d s p e a k i n g — r a t h e r abruptly, Hamilton thought. " D e T a r a n is a very u n u s u a l n a m e , " said H a m i l t o n . " I ' v e n e v e r r u n a c r o s s it b e f o r e . " " I t is i n d e e d . A s a m a t t e r o f fact, it w a s n o t the o r i g i n a l n a m e o f t h e f o u n d e r o f t h e line a t all. T a r a n is t h e n a m e o f o n e o f t h e o l d e s t g o d s t o b e w o r s h i p p e d in E u r o p e , a god o f l i g h t n i n g a n d t h u n d e r . W h e n Caesar's l e g i o n s first m a r c h e d i n t o G a u l t h e y f o u n d the i n h a b i t a n t s o f f e r i n g u p h u m a n s a c r i f i c e s to this g o d , and c e r t a i n r e c o r d s far m o r e a n c i e n t t h a n the R o m a n c h r o n i c l e s i n d i c a t e that his o r i g i n s g o far b a c k i n d e e d . C h r i s t i a n i t y s u p p r e s s e d the w o r s h i p o f T a r a n , o f c o u r s e , b u t B a r o n H u g o later t o o k u p a f u r t i v e d e v o t i o n to h i m f o r r e a s o n s o f his o w n , at w h i c h t i m e his e n e m i e s all d i e d o f f r a t h e r s u d denly. H i s p o w e r g r e w swiftly a f t e r t h a t , till finally, a f t e r a m a s s i n g g r e a t wealth in the C r u s a d e s , h e o p e n l y styled h i m s e l f B a r o n

de

T a r a n , r e m o v e d h i m s e l f f r o m p u b l i c eyes a n d built this s t r o n g h o l d h e r e in t h e n o r t h o f E n g l a n d . S i n c e t h e n , they say, t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e T a r a n line have had a t e n d e n c y to die o f f early in life. R i d i c u l o u s , o f course, but

f a s c i n a t i n g l e g e n d r y n e v e r t h e l e s s , as I ' m s u r e

you'll

agree." " I ' d heard t h e y were g r e a t l y f e a r e d . . .

"

H a m i l t o n a b r u p t l y c e a s e d s p e a k i n g as a low, m o a n i n g

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drifted u p t h e shaft o f t h e t o w e r — a wild d e s p a i r i n g , w i n d y c r y like t h e s o u n d h e h a d heard n e a r t h e c l i f f - b a s e . T a g g a r t , h o w e v e r , a c t e d a s t h o u g h h e h a d h e a r d n o t h i n g , a n d H a m i l t o n w o n d e r e d u n e a s i l y if t h e s o u n d m i g h t h a v e b e e n d u e m e r e l y to t h e w i n d h o w l i n g a m i d t h e s h a t t e r e d walls and b a t t l e m e n t s . " I ' m afraid t h e r e ' s little m o r e to s h o w y o u , " said Taggart. " C o m e o n — l e t ' s get o u t o f this c o l d w i n d . " T h e n , a s t h e y m a d e t h e i r w a y d o w n the t o w e r stairs o n c e m o r e , h e a d d e d : " I h o p e y o u h a v e e n j o y e d y o u r visit as m u c h as I've e n j o y e d h a v i n g you c o m e . " " I ' v e e n j o y e d it i m m e n s e l y , t h a n k you; b u t have you really s h o w n m e e v e r y t h i n g ? If I ' m n o t b e i n g o v e r l y d e m a n d i n g , I'd very m u c h like to see the w i n e cellars and d u n g e o n s as w e l l . . . . " " I w o u l d willingly s h o w t h e m to y o u i f it were p o s s i b l e , " said T a g g a r t ; " b u t , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e cellars o f t h e c a s t l e lie b e n e a t h t h e r u i n e d p o r t i o n a n d w e r e filled w i t h r u b b l e at t h e t i m e o f the d e s t r u c t i o n . T h e y are q u i t e i n a c c e s s i b l e . "

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At this p o i n t t h e y had a r r i v e d at the g r o u n d floor and h a d j u s t r e - e n t e r e d the s p a c i o u s , s p a r s e l y - f u r n i s h e d library, w h e n suddenly, H a m i l t o n h e a r d a g a i n that f a i n t , w a i l i n g h o w l o f despair. T h i s t i m e it was c l e a r e r , a n d he c o u l d hardly d o u b t t h a t it w a s the a n g u i s h e d c r y o f s o m e living t h i n g in d i r e t o r m e n t . B e f o r e h e c o u l d s p e c u l a t e f u r ther, h o w e v e r , a third m a n s t r o d e rapidly i n t o t h e r o o m and s t o p p e d a b r u p t l y u p o n s e e i n g t h e m . H e w a s tall and lean, his pale f a c e c l e a n shaven a n d s c o w l i n g . H e was d r e s s e d in t h e s a m e m a n n e r as Taggart. H a m i l t o n realized the m a n m u s t be P i t t s . T h e n e w c o m e r ' s b l u e eyes glared w i t h u n c o n c e a l e d h o s t i l i t y a t Hamilton. " W h o is t h i s ? " he d e m a n d e d o f T a g g a r t . "A guest in o u r h o u s e . " T a g g a r t ' s voice w a s even yet e m p h a t i c . " T h i s is M r . H a m i l t o n , an a r c h i t e c t f r o m M a s s a c h u s e t t s , w h o is very i n t e r e s t e d in o u r a n c i e n t a b o d e . M r . H a m i l t o n , " h e c o n t i n u e d , " t h i s is M r . J e r e m y Pitts, m y f r i e n d a n d fellow s c h o l a r . " Pitts n o d d e d slightly to H a m i l t o n t h e n t u r n e d to T a g g a r t . " C o m e quickly," h e m u t t e r e d , t h e n t u r n e d a b r u p t l y and s t r o d e o u t o f t h e r o o m , his d a r k c l o a k s t i r r i n g t h e d u s t i n t o w h o r l s b e h i n d h i m . " E x c u s e m e , " said T a g g a r t , waving H a m i l t o n to a c h a i r . " I h a v e s o m e m a t t e r s to a t t e n d to briefly. I'll o n l y b e a f e w m i n u t e s . " S o saying, h e s t r o d e r a p i d l y away i n t o the c o r r i d o r ,

leaving

H a m i l t o n a l o n e and p u z z l e d . A m o m e n t later H a m i l t o n t h o u g h t h e h e a r d the s t r a n g e h o w l i n g o n c e m o r e , b u t it c e a s e d a b r u p t l y followi n g a heavy, g r a t i n g s o u n d as t h o u g h a h u g e s t o n e were b e i n g m o v e d a c r o s s t h e floor. After this, the castle g r e w u t t e r l y s i l e n t . S o m e t i m e passed, but T a g g a r t did not r e t u r n . As H a m i l t o n waited h e felt m o r e a n d m o r e u n e a s y . H i s m e m o r y o f t h e s t r a n g e h o w l i n g , a n d the p r e s e n t a t m o s p h e r e o f s i l e n t g l o o m , were w o r k i n g u p o n h i m oppressively. H e f o u n d h i m s e l f i m p a t i e n t to b e g o n e , yet a part o f h i m insisted t h a t h e s h o u l d n o t leave w i t h o u t t h a n k i n g h i s h o s t . A c c o r d i n g l y , h e s e l e c t e d a b o o k f r o m t h e s h e l v e s and s e t t l e d b a c k to an easy chair, i n t e n d i n g to read u n t i l T a g g a r t ' s r e t u r n . T h e b o o k was a large, b l a c k v o l u m e e n t i t l e d : The Complete of Edgar

Allan

Works

Poe. Its leaves fell easily a n d n a t u r a l l y o p e n to a c e r t a i n

p a g e , a s t h o u g h it had b e e n o p e n e d a t that p a g e frequently, and H a m i l t o n n o t i c e d several l i n e s heavily u n d e r l i n e d in d a r k p e n c i l . T h e l i n e s read:

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A w r o n g is u n r e d r e s s e d w h e n r e t r i b u t i o n o v e r t a k e s its redresser. It is e q u a l l y u n r e d r e s s e d w h e n t h e a v e n g e r fails to m a k e h i m s e l f felt as s u c h to h i m w h o h a s d o n e t h e w r o n g . T h e l i n e s were f r o m P o e ' s s t o r y " T h e C a s k o f A m o n t i l l a d o " — a tale o f m o r b i d and t e r r i b l e revenge. H a m i l t o n felt his s p i r i t s d a r k e n subtly, a n d he n o l o n g e r w i s h e d to r e a d . Laying the b o o k aside, h e b e g a n to p a c e restlessly a b o u t t h e r o o m a n d , as h e did s o , h e n o t i c e d o n t h e t a b l e an a g e d t o m e o f p o n d e r o u s d i m e n s i o n s . Its yellowed pages were held o p e n b y a heavy p a p e r w e i g h t ; a n d , w h e n o u t o f m i l d c u r i o s i t y h e h a p p e n e d to g l a n c e at its title, H a m i l t o n was s l i g h t l y s h o c k e d to find t h a t it was t h e m y s t e r i o u s Necronomicon

which old Eric Scott

had s p o k e n o f s o h e s i t a n t l y . His c u r i o s i t y a r o u s e d , H a m i l t o n e x a m i n e d t h e b o o k m o r e closely. It was p a i n s t a k i n g l y h a n d - p r i n t e d in a r c h a i c English b y a c e r t a i n Dr. Dee, e v i d e n t l y the t r a n s l a t o r r a t h e r t h a n t h e a u t h o r . B e t w e e n t h e pages o f this b o o k several l o o s e p a p e r s were t h r u s t ; s o m e were a n c i e n t a n d b r i t t l e p a r c h m e n t c o v e r e d with m y s t i f y i n g l i n e s o f Egyptian h i e r o g l y p h i c s a n d h i e r a t i c s y m b o l s a s well as glyphs o f l a n g u a g e s H a m i l t o n c o u l d not identify'; t h e rest, a p p a r e n t l y t h e t r a n s l a t i o n s , were written in English o n m o d e r n t y p i n g paper. H a m i l t o n g l a n c e d o v e r t h e s e t r a n s l a t i o n s briefly, b u t d i d not read t h e m ; c e r t a i n n a m e s w h i c h h e g l i m p s e d , s u c h a s " T a a r a n , G o d o f E v i l " a n d "N'yarlathotep, T h e Crawling Chaos," were vaguely disturbing. T h e great b o o k itself was obviously written during a time when t h e world w a s rife with the wildest s o r t o f s u p e r s t i t i o n ; f o r the s i n g l e page Hamilton glimpsed was probably but a s a m p l e of the fantastic ideas c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h e e n t i r e v o l u m e : T h e r e are W a y s in w h i c h t h e M i n d o f a M a n is like u n t o an Eye, in that it c a n b e u s e d as a l e n s to f o c u s t h e P o w e r s t h a t e x i s t in t h e S p a c e s b e t w e e n t h e W o r l d s . I n d e e d , t h e M i n d o f a n y M a n c a n b e used, w h e n s e v e r e d f r o m t h e c o n f i n i n g ties o f the Flesh and p u t i n t o a s t a t e o f T r a n c e , a s a W e a p o n o f great Power. To the Sorcerer w h o brings such a M i n d u n d e r h i s C o n t r o l , n o t h i n g is i m p o s s i b l e , f o r h e will b e able t o s e e i n t o t h e farthest L a n d s o f t h e W o r l d b y m e a n s o f t h a t M i n d ' s Eye, a n d shall be able to inflict u p o n his E n e m i e s a Y e n -

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g e a n c e o f s u c h T y p e a s will leave n o slightest M a r k , b u t shall c a u s e t h e m to e x p i r e with F e a r and g r e a t T e r r o r s . B e f o r e H a m i l t o n c o u l d read f u r t h e r h e h e a r d o n c e m o r e t h e l o u d , g r a t i n g s o u n d , a n d h u r r i e d l y r e p l a c e d t h e a n c i e n t b o o k as h e had f o u n d it. F o r s o m e r e a s o n h e was u n w i l l i n g to have h i s h o s t find h i m l o o k i n g a t t h e v o l u m e . H e seated h i m s e l f o n c e m o r e , a n d a m o m e n t later T a g g a r t e n t e r e d t h e r o o m , a p o l o g i z i n g f o r h a v i n g left s o s u d d e n l y b u t s t a t i n g that it c o u l d not be helped. H e d i d not e x p l a i n t h e c a u s e o f his d e p a r t u r e , h o w e v e r , a n d H a m i l t o n , a f t e r e x c h a n g i n g a f e w final civilities with h i m , t o o k his leave. A s h e w a l k e d b a c k a l o n g t h e w i n d - s w e p t p a t h b y t h e s e a , he w a s s t r a n g e l y t r o u b l e d . T a g g a r t , it w a s t r u e , had s h o w n h i m e v e r y c o u r tesy, b u t h i s feeling that t h e r e w a s s o m e c o n c e a l e d m y s t e r y had o n l y i n c r e a s e d . F o r o n e thing, T a g g a r t had said t h e r e were n o r o o m s left i n t a c t b e n e a t h the castle, yet, n o w t h a t H a m i l t o n t h o u g h t o f it, t h o s e w e i r d h o w l i n g s o u n d s h a d s e e m e d to c o m e f r o m b e l o w — o r , rather, had s o m e h o w c a r r i e d with t h e m a s e n s e oidepih A n d w h a t , h e w o n d e r e d , c o u l d b e the c a u s e o f the s o u n d itself? T h e m o r e h e tried to recall it, t h e less likely it s e e m e d that it c o u l d h a v e b e e n c a u s e d b y the w i n d o r a n y o t h e r i n a n i m a t e a g e n c y . T h e r e had b e e n a s u g g e s t i o n o f a g o n y a n d f r u s t r a t i o n in t h e s o u n d , f a i n t as it h a d b e e n , and H a m i l t o n g r e w a n g r y a t the t h o u g h t o f s o m e h a p less a n i m a l u n d e r g o i n g s t r a n g e , p a i n f u l e x p e r i m e n t s in s o m e d a r k c h a m b e r b e n e a t h t h e castle. W a s this w h y T a g g a r t had b e e n s o hastily s u m m o n e d — t o aid in s o m e s u c h m o r b i d e x p e r i m e n t ? O r was t h e r e an e v e n d a r k e r r e a s o n ? C e r t a i n l y t h o s e a n c i e n t b o o k s h e had g l i m p s e d , t h o u g h r i d i c u l o u s a n d h a r m l e s s in themselves, were n o t the s o r t o f b o o k s to b e taken s e r i o u s l y b y r a t i o n a l m e n . C o u l d the c a s t l e - d w e l l e r s b e m a d m e n w h o were p e r f o r m i n g m a g i c a l rituals o f s a c r i f i c e for secret p u r p o s e s . . . ? A s H a m i l t o n d r o v e b a c k to D u n c a s t e r , m u l l i n g o v e r his i m p r e s s i o n s , h e h a d to a d m i t to h i m s e l f t h a t t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g o n w h i c h h e c o u l d p u t his finger. It t r o u b l e d h i m that t h e r e were s o m a n y p o i n t s o f c o i n c i d e n c e b e t w e e n t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f the A m e r i c a n s and t h e a c c o u n t s o f t h e a n c i e n t T a r a n s . H e n o l o n g e r cared f o r t h e flavor o f m y s t e r y w h i c h had a t first s e e m e d s o c o l o r f u l to h i m , n o r did h e like t h e t h o u g h t o f t h o s e o l d b o o k s h e had s e e n , with their h i n t s

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v e n g e a n c e a n d s t r a n g e powers. T h e a f t e r n o o n had given h i m pleas u r e e n o u g h , b u t it had also left an u n s a v o r y a f t e r t a s t e with h i m . I V

" Y o u ' v e far t o o g r e a t an i m a g i n a t i o n , " said M a y f i e l d a s h e and H a m i l t o n left the s u p p e r t a b l e to retire to the d e n . " Y o u say y o u were received very h o s p i t a b l y . W h a t w a s it y o u d i d n ' t like a b o u t the m e n ? " H a m i l t o n settled c o m f o r t a b l y i n t o a plush l o u n g i n g - c h a i r

as

M a y f i e l d p o u r e d t h e b r a n d y . " I ' m n o t s u r e , really. M a y b e it was just o l d Eric S c o t t ' s g o s s i p t h a t set m y m i n d g o i n g . I m u s t a d m i t t h e w o r l d s e e m s m o r e p r o s a i c n o w , h e r e in y o u r cozy d e n . . .

Thank

y o u . " H e a c c e p t e d t h e glass o f b r a n d y f r o m M a y f i e l d , t h e n a d d e d t h o u g h t f u l l y : " I t ' s j u s t that t h e r e ' s s u c h an i n t e n s e a i r o f m y s t e r y a b o u t it a l l . . . . " " W e l l , forget it." M a y f i e l d h a n d e d h i m over a c o p y o f the Times

Ixmdon

a n d p o i n t e d to an a r t i c l e . " T h i s s h o u l d i n t e r e s t you, c o n s i d e r -

i n g y o u r taste for m y s t e r y . H a v e y o u h e a r d o f the ' s c r e a m i n g d e a t h s ' ? " " N o . I'd s w o r n o f f n e w s p a p e r s a t t h e s t a r t o f this v a c a t i o n . " " A h , b u t y o u d e v o u r e d t h e a c c o u n t o f the L o c h N e s s M o n s t e r last w e e k readily e n o u g h ! You'll like this, too, I ' m s u r e . " H a m i l t o n s i g h e d and b e g a n to scan t h e a r t i c l e . It s e e m e d t h a t several A m e r i c a n s v i s i t i n g E n g l a n d h a d , in the last m o n t h o r s o , b e e n a f f l i c t e d with a s t r a n g e d i s e a s e w h i c h the n e w s p a p e r s , with t y p i c a l s e n s a t i o n a l i s m , r e f e r r e d to as the " s c r e a m i n g d e a t h . " A l t h o u g h o n l y a h a l f - d o / e n p e o p l e o r s o had s o far s u c c u m b e d to t h e disease, t h e s t r a n g e n a t u r e o f t h e s e c a s e s had c a u s e d c o n s i d e r a b l e c o m m e n t . Indeed, t h e t e r m " d i s e a s e " had b e e n a p p l i e d o n l y f o r l a c k o f a b e t t e r t e r m . D o c t o r s had referred to the d e a t h s as " s e i z u r e s , " w h i l e psychiatrists h a d called them "suicidal epilepsy" a n d o t h e r ridiculous names, b u t n o n e s e e m e d to b e able to p o i n t to a n y r a t i o n a l c a u s e for t h e att a c k s . In fact, t h e p o l i c e had g o n e s o far as to c o n s i d e r t h e m p o s s i b l y an i n g e n i o u s f o r m o f m u r d e r , a l t h o u g h they were a t a loss f o r e x p l a i n i n g the modus

operandi.

Specifically, t h e c a s e s w e r e a l i k e in t h a t the d i s e a s e always s t r u c k s u d d e n l y a n d a t night, usually in t h e early h o u r s o f the m o r n i n g . It was as swift a s it was deadly, g i v i n g n o s y m p t o m s o r

forewarning

w h a t s o e v e r . T h e v i c t i m s were i n v a r i a b l y seized w i t h g r e a t pain a few

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m i n u t e s b e f o r e their d e a t h s , a s w a s e v i d e n t in their wild and t e r r i b l e c r i e s in the n i g h t , o f t e n w a k i n g p e o p l e in n e i g h b o r i n g h o u s e s . T h i s a g o n y was also d o u b t l e s s r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e h i d e o u s , c o n t o r t e d e x p r e s s i o n s f o u n d o n t h e f a c e s o f the d e c e a s e d , the v i c t i m s i n v a r i a b l y b e i n g dead b e f o r e a n y o n e c o u l d a r r i v e o n t h e s c e n e . A n d in e v e r y case their r o o m s were in c h a o t i c d i s o r d e r , s u g g e s t i n g that t h e i r d e a t h s had b e e n a c c o m p a n i e d by v i o l e n t p h y s i c a l s p a s m s . T h o s e w h o a d v o c a t e d t h e m u r d e r t h e o r y p o i n t e d to this last fact as e v i d e n c e o f a struggle, w h i l e they a l s o d r e w a t t e n t i o n to t h e fact t h a t e a c h v i c t i m c a m e f r o m the same States.

city in the Midwestern

United

A p p a r e n t l y , d u r i n g the last m o n t h o r two, e a c h had d e c i d e d —

i n d e p e n d e n t l y and r a t h e r i m p u l s i v e l y — t o v a c a t i o n in E n g l a n d , d e spite the a d v e r s e w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s t h e r e d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r s e a s o n . M o r e o v e r , e a c h had held a j o b in t h e fields o f law p r a c t i c e o r legal a d m i n i s t r a t i o n : o n e had b e e n a petty j u d g e , a n o t h e r a f o r m e r p o l i c e c h i e f , w h i l e t h e rest had b e e n e i t h e r p o l i c e m e n o r lawyers. T h u s s o m e sort o f p a t t e r n s e e m e d a p p a r e n t , b u t o n e w h i c h p o i n t e d in n o particular direction. T h e m u r d e r t h e o r y was f u r t h e r w e a k e n e d w h e n a u t o p s i e s revealed n o m a r k s o f v i o l e n c e o r e v i d e n c e o f p o i s o n i n g in a n y o f t h e deaths. Meanwhile doctors pointed out that the c o m m o n origin o f t h e s e u n f o r t u n a t e v i s i t o r s was p r o o f o f their

t h e o r y of strange disease

o r plague, a n d urged t h a t A m e r i c a n m e d i c s w o u l d d o well to c h e c k o u t the possibility. W h e n H a m i l t o n finished t h e a r t i c l e , his f o r e h e a d w a s d a m p w i t h sweat and his h a n d s s h o o k perceptibly. M a y f i e l d , n o t i c i n g his a g i t a t i o n , w o n d e r e d if h e felt ill, b u t this H a m i l t o n d e n i e d hastily, s a y i n g t h a t h e w a s m e r e l y s o m e w h a t f a t i g u e d a n d that h e w i s h e d to r e t i r e early. A c c o r d i n g l y , a f t e r b i d d i n g his h o s t g o o d night, h e d e p a r t e d to t h e guest r o o m . H a m i l t o n d i d n o t s l e e p that night, however. T o o m a n y c o i n c i d e n c e s kept t u r n i n g u p in his restless m i n d — c o i n c i d e n c e s

that

h i n t e d at t e r r i f y i n g t h i n g s b e y o n d the t h r e s h o l d o f s a n e r e a s o n . All n i g h t h e tossed and t u r n e d , t r y i n g to r a t i o n a l i z e away his terr i b l e i m a g i n i n g s . H e c o u l d n o t . H i s m i n d held t o o m a n y bits o f i n f o r m a t i o n that fit t o g e t h e r t o o well. W h a t o f t h e o l d S h e r i f f w h o , a c c o r d i n g t o Eric S c o t t , had died in a way s o s i m i l a r t o the v i s i t o r s f r o m t h e A m e r i c a n M i d w e s t ; had he p e r h a p s died b e c a u s e he s u s -

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p e c t e d t o o m u c h ? A n d w h a t o f t h e fact that T a g g a r t and Pitts w e r e also m i d w e s t e r n e r s , as was e v i d e n t f r o m t h e i r a c c e n t ? T h e c o n c l u s i o n s t h e s e ideas s u g g e s t e d were o n e s

Hamilton's

m o d e r n m i n d c o u l d n o t a c c e p t , yet t h e m o r e h e tried to s h u t t h e m o u t o f h i s m i n d t h e m o r e they d i s t u r b e d h i m . M o s t d i s t u r b i n g o f all, p e r h a p s , w a s t h e m e m o r y o f that passage h e had s c a n n e d in the pages o f the forbidden and terrible

Necronomicon.

At the first c r a c k o f d a w n f o l l o w i n g a sleepless n i g h t , H a m i l t o n stole s i l e n t l y o u t i n t o t h e s t r e e t s o f D u n c a s t e r a n d m a d e his w a y to t h e o l d b o o k s h o p o f E r i c S c o t t ; his b r e a t h t u r n e d to fog b e f o r e h i m in t h e c o l d , still air. S c o t t was a l r e a d y p u t t e r i n g a r o u n d the s h o p a n d , at H a m i l t o n ' s i n s i s t e n t r a p p i n g , the o l d m a n p e r m i t t e d h i m t o e n t e r . H e s e e m e d s u r p r i s e d at t h e early visit, b u t h i s s u r p r i s e c h a n g e d to grave c o n c e r n as H a m i l t o n h e s i t a n t l y b e g a n to tell his s t o r y . T h e gossips o f D u n c a s t e r n e v e r l e a r n e d w h a t w a s said t h a t d a y behind the closed d o o r o f Scott's book-shop, though they knew that o n l y a m a t t e r o f g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e would h a v e kept t h e m e r c e n a r y o l d s h o p k e e p e r f r o m a n s w e r i n g his d o o r o r t e l e p h o n e . P r o b a b l y it is j u s t as w e l l — t h i n g s that t e n d to link u n g u e s s e d r e a l m s o f h o r r o r with t h e a p p a r e n t l y c o m m o n p l a c e w o r l d a r e o f t e n b e t t e r left u n s a i d . It w a s g u e s s e d o n l y t h a t s t r a n g e v o l u m e s were d i l i g e n t l y p e r u s e d , and t h a t k n o w l e d g e o f a s t r a n g e k i n d was d o u b t l e s s gained and c o r r e l a t e d with c e r t a i n f a c t s — b u t w h a t this k n o w l e d g e m i g h t h a v e b e e n , n e i t h e r S c o t t n o r H a m i l t o n would e v e r say. T h a t e v e n i n g M a y f i e l d , o n H a m i l t o n ' s r e t u r n , g r e e t e d his guest with c u r i o u s q u e s t i o n s . H a m i l t o n , t h o u g h p o l i t e , s e e m e d s t r a n g e l y evasive. H e was t h o u g h t f u l l y s i l e n t at s u p p e r t h a t e v e n i n g , and h a r d l y s p o k e a t all until M a y f i e l d h a p p e n e d to m e n t i o n a t o p i c t h a t q u i c k l y caught his attention. " R e m e m b e r the o u t l a n d i s h a r t i c l e I s h o w e d y o u last n i g h t ? " h e remarked. " T h e o n e about the so-called 'screaming deaths'?" " O h — y e s , I recall it," replied H a m i l t o n , w h o h a d t h o u g h t o f little else all day. " W e l l , t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r s t o r y in this e v e n i n g ' s p a p e r . . .

ľ

H a m i l t o n felt a p a n g o f d r e a d . Yet h i s voice was d e l i b e r a t e l y steady as h e a s k e d : " Y o u m e a n t h e r e have b e e n m o r e d e a t h s ? " " Y e s — f i v e , to be e x a c t . T h i s t i m e an e n t i r e f a m i l y was w i p e d out;

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p e o p l e by t h e n a m e o f P e a r s o n o r P a r s o n — I don't r e m e m b e r exactly. B u t t h e y were all f r o m the s a m e A m e r i c a n city as the o t h e r s . Isn't it t h e m o s t p u z z l i n g t h i n g y o u e v e r h e a r d o f ? T h e local p a p e r ' s full o f i t — t h e y w e r e staying at t h e C l a i b o u r n e I n n a t B u r n t s h i r e , p r a c t i c a l l y n e x t d o o r , you m i g h t say. I f y o u and o l d S c o t t h a d n ' t b e e n s o lost in t h e past all day, y o u ' d h a v e h e a r d t h e w h o l e t o w n t a l k i n g a b o u t i t ! " H a m i l t o n h o p e d his face s h o w e d n o n e o f his i n w a r d t u r m o i l . H e k n e w n o w that h e a n d E r i c S c o t t m u s t s o o n take s o m e s o r t o f a c t i o n . T h e law, h e w a s c e r t a i n , w o u l d n e v e r solve this m y s t e r y , n o r would m e d i c a l s c i e n c e e v e r find a c u r e . B y s o m e o b s c u r e twist o f c h a n c e , H a m i l t o n realized, t h e m a d fiends o f fate had c h o s e n h i m and S c o t t to f a c e a l o n e t h e full i m p o r t o f this s i t u a t i o n , a n d his s o u l s e e m e d to s h r i n k w i t h i n h i m a t the t h o u g h t o f the t e r r i b l e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t h a t n o w rested u p o n h i s s h o u l d e r s . V T h e w i n d w h i s t l e d d i s m a l l y a m o n g t h e r o c k s as H a m i l t o n and S c o t t s t r u g g l e d u p t h e steep f o o t p a t h by t h e sea. T h e i r u n e a s i n e s s g r e w as the castle b r o o d e d e v e r m o r e darkly a n d c l o s e l y a b o v e t h e m , a n d H a m i l t o n w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r a n y o n e had e v e r b e f o r e s p e n t a C h r i s t m a s v a c a t i o n m o r e strangely. " W h a t shall t h e y t h i n k o f o u r v i s i t ? " asked S c o t t

nervously.

" T h e y ' r e s u r e to s u s p e c t . " " l u s t try to act n a t u r a l . Tell t h e m you're i n t e r e s t e d in s e e i n g s o m e o f t h e i r o l d b o o k s I t o l d y o u a b o u t . I f they d o s u s p e c t , w e l l . . . . " H e fingered

t h e h a n d l e o f t h e c o m p a c t S m i t h a n d W e s s o n revolver t h a t

n e s t l e d in his c o a t p o c k e t — a n i t e m he s t u b b o r n l y risked c a r r y i n g o n all his travels w h a t e v e r t h e local r e g u l a t i o n s m i g h t b e . A s t h e y r e a c h e d t h e top o f t h e cliff, a f a i n t n o i s e like r o u g h p o u n d i n g r e a c h e d their e a r s . H a m i l t o n g r i p p e d his pistol and led t h e w a y forward a m o n g t h e t u m b l e d s t o n e s o f the r u i n s . W h e n

they

c a m e to the e n d o f t h e p a t h t h e y saw, to their s u r p r i s e , that t h e o a k e n d o o r o f t h e castle h u n g o p e n . It s w u n g b a c k a n d f o r t h o n its rusty h i n g e s , c a u s i n g t h e p o u n d i n g n o i s e as t h e w i n d b a n g e d it to a n d f r o in its s t o n e c a s e m e n t . T h e p a i r l o o k e d at o n e a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n i n g l y . " C o u l d t h e y have f l e d ? " said S c o t t .

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"We'll s o o n know. C o m e on." T h e y e n t e r e d t h e castle. F i n e w i s p s o f drifted s n o w lay a l o n g t h e s t o n e c o r r i d o r . W i t h o u t p a u s i n g , they h u r r i e d o n u n t i l t h e y c a m e to t h e g r e a t l i b r a r y - r o o m . It w a s as e m p t y a n d c o l d as the c o r r i d o r . T h e l o n g drapes by the w i n d o w stirred slightly in t h e d r a f t . M o s t o f t h e b o o k s , H a m i l t o n n o t i c e d , were g o n e f r o m the s h e l v e s , b u t a f e w lay s c a t t e r e d a b o u t o n the floor. S c o t t b e g a n to e x a m i n e t h e s e with i n t e r est, a n d w a s q u i c k l y a b s o r b e d in t h e m . " I n c r e d i b l e ! " he m u t t e r e d a s h e g l a n c e d o v e r a m i l d e w e d v o l u m e . " I t h o u g h t this w o r k had b e e n lost a h u n d r e d years ago." A n d again, p i c k i n g u p a n o t h e r : " S u r e l y t h e C h u r c h w o u l d n o t k n o w i n g l y h a v e suffered this o n e t o e x i s t . . . . " Suddenly a long, low-pitched howl echoed dimly through

the

castle. H a m i l t o n s t a r t e d a s h e r e c o g n i z e d it. " S t a y h e r e , Eric," h e said. " I ' m g o i n g to find o u t w h a t t h a t is, o n c e a n d for all." "I'll g o with you," said the o l d m a n , but H a m i l t o n waved h i m b a c k . " Y o u ' r e u n a r m e d , and I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t w e ' r e u p against. If I haven't r e t u r n e d to this r o o m w i t h i n t h i r t y m i n u t e s , d o n ' t

hang

a r o u n d — g o b a c k to t o w n a n d b r i n g t h e p o l i c e . " S c o t t n o d d e d a n d t u r n e d b a c k t o the b o o k s . H a m i l t o n set o u t i n t o t h e c o r r i d o r . H e had n o t w a l k e d m o r e t h a n a d o z e n p a c e s b e f o r e h e heard t h e h o w l i n g o n c e m o r e . T u r n i n g i n t o a b r a n c h passage, h e c o n t i n u e d o n t o w a r d t h e o r i g i n o f the s o u n d , u n c e r t a i n t h a t h e w a s g o i n g in the r i g h t d i r e c t i o n , h o w e v e r , s o f a i n t a n d e c h o i n g h a d b e e n the c r y . . . . T h e passage w a s d i m , and F l a m i l t o n p r o d u c e d a flashlight h e had b r o u g h t . A s h e fiicked it o n h e heard the s o u n d o n c e m o r e , this t i m e louder and obviously ahead of h i m . Hurrying on, he reached the end o f t h e passage and f o u n d it b l o c k e d by a m a s s i v e s t o n e d o o r . T h i s d o o r w a s o p e n a b o u t h a l f a f o o t a n d l o o k e d like n o t h i n g b u t a h u g e slab c u t f r o m t h e wall. It w o u l d p r o b a b l y b e u n d e t e c t a b l e

when

c l o s e d , H a m i l t o n realized. H e b r a c e d h i m s e l f and tugged heavily a t t h e d o o r , and it c a m e slowly o p e n with a h a r s h , g r a t i n g s o u n d . A s u r g e o f d a n k a i r f o u l e d h i s n o s t r i l s , and h e g l i m p s e d s t o n e stairs l e a d i n g d o w n into an i n k y b l a c k n e s s . S o t h e r e were

still u n d e r g r o u n d r e g i o n s o f the c a s t l e , a f t e r all!

S l o w l y H a m i l t o n b e g a n to w o r k his w a y d o w n , careful n o t to slip o n

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a n y l o o s e s t o n e o r p a t c h o f m o i s t u r e . H e shivered s l i g h t l y a t t h e t o u c h o f t h e d a m p walls, and b r u s h e d away s t r a n d s o f c l i n g i n g s p i d e r w e b with d i s g u s t . T h e s o u n d c a m e again, w e l l i n g u p f r o m t h e d e p t h s , and H a m i l t o n s t o p p e d with a m o m e n t a r y p a n g o f h o r r o r . T h e r e was n o w e v i d e n t a d i s t i n c t l y human

q u a l i t y in the cry. W e r e the c a s t l e - d w e l l e r s

a c t u a l l y e n g a g e d in t h e t o r t u r e o f s o m e h a p l e s s f e l l o w - b e i n g ? H o l d i n g his pistol ready, H a m i l t o n c o n t i n u e d o n . After m a n y w i n d i n g s u n d e r vaulted archways, t h e s t a i r e n d e d in a large s u b t e r r a n e a n

c h a m b e r . Against t h e wall o f this

room

s t o o d several s t o n e t a b l e s littered with g r e a t q u a n t i t i e s o f c h e m i c a l s , flasks, e l e c t r i c a l a p p a r a t u s , t o o l s and m i l d e w e d b o o k s . It s u g g e s t e d to Hamilton a c o m b i n a t i o n o f alchemist's laboratory and electrician's w o r k s h o p . M u c h o f the floor w a s scrawled with s t r a n g e , s m u d g e d designs, a n d m a n y half-melted candles s t o o d upright. O n o n e s t o n e slab in t h e c e n t e r o f t h e r o o m s t o o d several e m p t y w i n e b o t t l e s and t w o h u m a n skulls, a n d H a m i l t o n n o t i c e d that the t o p s o f t h e s e skulls were m i s s i n g , h a v i n g b e e n c u t o f f j u s t a b o v e t h e eyes. O n c l o s e r e x a m i n a t i o n h e was a p p a l l e d to o b s e r v e that the skulls had e v i d e n t l y b e e n u s e d as d r i n k i n g vessels! His s p e c u l a t i o n s were c u t s h o r t by t h e w e i r d h o w l f r o m

the

darkness, a n d he c o n t i n u e d on across the great r o o m a n d entered a n a r r o w c o r r i d o r o n the far s i d e . After o n l y fifty feet o r s o h e e m e r g e d i n t o a still vaster s p a c e . T h i s , h e saw w i t h s u r p r i s e , w a s n o t

man-

m a d e at all, b e i n g e v i d e n t l y a h u g e c a v e r n h o l l o w e d w i t h i n the r o c k by n a t u r a l forces. A n e w s o u n d c a m e to his ears, a n d h e realized it was t h e p o u n d i n g o f the sea. H e k n e w n o w h o w h e had first c o m e to h e a r t h e h o w l i n g f r o m o u t s i d e ; t h e r e m u s t b e h i d d e n fissures in t h e cliffside l e a d i n g to this c a v e r n . Swiftly he c r o s s e d t h e s t o n e - f l a g g e d floor, h e a d i n g f o r a b l a c k o p e n i n g o n the far s i d e . It w a s a n artificial t u n n e l , o b v i o u s l y c u t i n t o t h e r o c k l o n g a g o . A s H a m i l t o n e n t e r e d , he d e t e c t e d f o r the first t i m e a s o u n d that s e e m e d q u i t e o u t o f place in t h e s e d i m , a r c h a i c recesses. It was a s o f t , t h r o b b i n g , p u m p i n g s o u n d o f m a c h i n e r y . He advanced slowly d o w n the narrow tunnel, keeping his

flash-

light partially c o v e r e d s o t h a t its light w o u l d n o t s h i n e o u t far a h e a d o f him. T h e throbbing grew louder, mingled n o w with a rhythmic.

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w h e e z i n g s o u n d w h i c h h e c o u l d not identify. H e c l u t c h e d h i s revolver m o r e tightly. S u d d e n l y h e b e c a m e a w a r e o f l o w m u m b l i n g t h a t s e e m e d to ripple softly a l o n g the s l i m y walls. A d v a n c i n g cautiously, h e saw t h a t h e was a p p r o a c h i n g an a r c h w a y to a d a r k c h a m b e r a t the t u n n e l ' s e n d . T h e m u m b l i n g resolved i t s e l f i n t o m u t t e r e d w o r d s , and as H a m i l t o n c a u g h t t h e i r i m p o r t , he f r o z e in t h e g r i p o f a s t r a n g e h o r r o r . " H o l y M a r y m o t h e r o f G o d , " m u t t e r e d t h e v o i c e , its t o n e s c o n veying a hideous undercurrent of utter despair and madness; "pray f o r us s i n n e r s n o w a n d a t t h e h o u r o f o u r d e a t h H o l y M a r y m o t h e r o f G o d pray f o r u s . . . . " A s t h e v o i c e r e p e a t e d this p h r a s e o v e r a n d over, it g r e w s t e a d i l y l o u d e r a n d s h r i l l e r in p i t c h , u n t i l at last it lost all f o r m a n d c o h e r e n c y a n d b u r s t f o r t h in a w a i l i n g , d e m o n i c h o w l o f f r u s t r a t i o n and m i s e r y . H a m i l t o n , feeling h i m s e l f b e c o m i n g u n n e r v e d , u n v e i l e d h i s

flashlight

and cried out: " W h o ' s there? A n s w e r m e ! " T h e voice g r e w s i l e n t , and o n l y t h e s o u n d o f t h e t h r o b b i n g m a c h i n e r y pulsed d o w n the c o r r i d o r . " W h o ' s there?" cried Hamilton again. " C o m e out of

there—

quickly. I've g o t a g u n , a n d I ' m not a f r a i d to u s e i t ! " A h o l l o w laugh e c h o e d f r o m t h e d a r k c h a m b e r , and H a m i l t o n felt his s p i n e prickle strangely. " W h y s h o u l d 1 fear d e a t h ? " d r o n e d the voice; " I , to w h o m all in life is l o s t ! " " W h a t d o you m e a n ? W h o are y o u ? " " M e n o n c e called m e D u n l a p , " the v o i c e m u r m u r e d , " b u t n o w t h e y w o u l d call m e — h o r r o r ! " " D u n l a p ! T h e n — y o u ' r e t h e c o n s t a b l e w h o d i s a p p e a r e d several months a g o . . . ! " " I was; b u t if you h a v e c o m e to rescue m e , you are t o o l a t e . . . . " " B u t you're still alive . . b e g a n

Hamilton, taking a step toward

t h e b l a c k archway. A t e r r i b l e s h r i e k o f w a r n i n g f r o m t h e voice m a d e h i m stop short, trembling. " N o ! D o n o t e n t e r here if you value y o u r s a n i t y ! " it c r i e d . " W h a t . . . W h a t d o y o u w a n t m e t o d o ? " said H a m i l t o n . " I w a n t to help y o u . W h e r e are Pitts a n d T a g g a r t ? "

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" T h e y a r e g o n e , " wailed i h e v o i c e . " T h e y left m e here alive. T h e y c o n d e m n e d m e to l i n g e r o n in t h e s e v a u l t s — d a m n t h e m ! — a n d b a d e m e r e m e m b e r all t h o s e I had e v e r a i d e d in s e n d i n g to p r i s o n while I l a n g u i s h e d h e r e in t h e d a r k n e s s . . . T h e voice b e c a m e m o r e r a p i d and shrill as it raved o n , and H a m i l t o n listened in g r o w i n g h o r r o r . " I w a s r i g h t a b o u t t h e b o y — i t was they w h o c a p t u r e d little T o m M c C a l l i s t e r , a n d killed h i m in s o m e s t r a n g e w a y w h e n t h e y f o u n d his m i n d was n o t d e v e l o p e d e n o u g h for their hideous purpose. Ha! ha! ha! But m i n e w a s — a n d when I c a m e f o r t h e m , t h e y were w a i t i n g . . . . " " W h a t d o y o u m e a n ? " u r g e d H a m i l t o n , h o r r i f i e d at the rising m a d n e s s in t h e v o i c e . " W h a t have they d o n e to y o u ? " " T h e y u s e d m e — h a ! ha! T h e y t o o k m e o u t to u n f o r m e d s p a c e s b e t w e e n t h e s t a r s , and m a d e m e s i g n the b l a c k b o o k o f A z a t h o t h , t h a t m y m i n d m i g h t be p u t to d a r k a n d t e r r i b l e u s e s . T h e n t h e y b r o u g h t m e d o w n t o this r o o m a n d did t e r r i b l e t h i n g s . . . t e r r i b l e t h i n g s . . . To Hamilton

it w a s o b v i o u s t h e m a n was u t t e r l y m a d ,

but

h e c o u l d n o t help l i s t e n i n g w i t h s p e l l b o u n d h o r r o r as t h e v o i c e raved o n : " T h e n t h e y l o o k e d i n t o m y e y e s , and I c o u l d see i n t o far places. T h e r e were s t r a n g e and vast p o w e r s s u r g i n g invisibly a b o u t m e , and t h e y f o r c e d m e to use t h o s e p o w e r s in h o r r i b l e ways. First it was to s u m m o n , s u m m o n , s u m m o n — a n d then to kill! G o d forgive m e ! It was n o t s o b a d w h e n they m a d e m e kill t h e fat p o l i c e c h i e f , o r t h e lawyers, o r t h a t senile, b l o a t - f a c e d o l d j u d g e ; b u t that last t i m e , over in B u r n t s h i r e . . . " T h e voice b r o k e in a d e s p e r a t e s o b , t h e n w e n t o n : " P e r h a p s the m a n had u s e d his wealth for c o r r u p t a n d cruel p u r p o s e s and d e s e r v e d to die as he did, b u t w h e n t h e y had m e first slay his wife and y o u n g d a u g h t e r s b e f o r e his very e y e s — G o d help m e ! M y s o u l shall b u r n f o r e v e r in Hell f o r w h a t I've taken p a r t i n — b u t . Heaven b e m e r ciful to a s i n n e r ! Can even Hell hold agonies T h e v o i c e had risen

worse

than these...

to a s h r i e k a n d n o w dissolved

?" into an

a n g u i s h e d h o w l o f despair. G e t t i n g a grip o n himself, H a m i l t o n s t r o d e f o r w a r d , d e t e r m i n e d to give w h a t aid h e c o u l d to the d e m e n t e d s u f ferer, a n d s h i n e d his light into t h e r o o m . T h e light revealed a w o o d e n t a b l e a n d , b e n e a t h it, a c o m p l e x t a n g l e o f wires, t u b e s and m e c h a n i c a l d e v i c e s — o b v i o u s l y the s o u r c e o f the s t r a n g e t h r o b b i n g a n d w h e e z i n g . U p o n t h e table was a s i n g l e pallid o b j e c t , vertically o v o i d and set i n t o

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an iron r i n g a t its b a s e . At first H a m i l t o n ' s m i n d r e f u s e d to r e c o g n i z e this o b j e c t distinctly; but, as his light fell directly u p o n it a n d h e c o u l d n o t avoid realizing w h a t it was, all h i s c o u r a g e v a n i s h e d in a n i n s t a n t o f electrifying terror. "Kill me!"

s h r i e k e d the voice madly. "Kill

me!"

But Hamilton, his entire being shaken with horror, ran screami n g a n d g i b b e r i n g b a c k d o w n t h e d a r k t u n n e l a n d o u t i n t o t h e vast c a v e r n b e y o n d . H i s wild yells r e v e r b e r a t e d in t h e awful b l a c k n e s s a s h e raced b a c k t h e w a y h e had c o m e , s t u m b l i n g b l i n d l y t h r o u g h t h e s u b t e r r a n e a n halls a n d r o o m s a n d u p t h e d a n k , s l i m y s t a i r w a y in a m a d e f f o r t to e s c a p e t h o s e h i d e o u s b l a c k r e g i o n s o f u t t e r h o r r o r . A n d all the while t h a t t e r r i b l e , m a d h o w l o f the voice rang in his e a r s , u r g i n g h i m o n in his f r a n t i c (light f r o m t h o s e n o c t u r n a l d u n g e o n s and t h e h o r r o r o f w h a t h e had g l i m p s e d therein

H a m i l t o n r e m e m b e r e d n o t h i n g o f w h a t f o l l o w e d d u r i n g the n e x t f e w m o m e n t s ; t h e r e are s o m e e x p e r i e n c e s t o o u t t e r l y t e r r o r - c h a r g e d f o r t h e h u m a n m i n d to r e t a i n . H i s n e x t c o n s c i o u s s e n s a t i o n

was

t h a t o f the c o l d s e a - w i n d a g a i n s t his face, a n d t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t h e was f o l l o w i n g s t u m b l i n g l y b e h i n d E r i c S c o t t a l o n g the s n o w - s w e p t footpath. " I h a d to b u r n t h e m , " S c o t t was s a y i n g . " T h e k n o w l e d g e c o n t a i n e d in t h o s e evil b o o k s s h o u l d n e v e r h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n d o w n . I h o p e y o u will u n d e r s t a n d . . . "I

understand,"

ľ

muttered

Hamilton.

"God

help

me—I

understand!" " W h a t w a s it you saw b e n e a t h t h e c a s t l e ? " a s k e d S c o t t , d i s t u r b e d by his c o m p a n i o n ' s s h a k e n c o n d i t i o n and o d d pallor. " A n d w h a t h a p p e n e d to Pitts a n d T a g g a r t ? " " T h e y are g o n e — d o n ' t ask m e w h e r e . P e r h a p s they've h i d d e n t h e m s e l v e s a m i d t h e wild hills to t h e n o r t h , o r have v a n i s h e d to s o m e far l a n d , o r — o r s o m e w h e r e else. W h e r e v e r t h e y are, t h e y ' v e a c c o m plished their t e r r i b l e r e v e n g e , a n d I h o p e we'll see t h e m n o m o r e . " W h a t did I see b e n e a t h t h e c a s t l e ? I c a n n e v e r k n o w f o r s u r e , f o r I o n l y g o t a g l i m p s e , and G o d k n o w s h o w o v e r w r o u g h t m y m i n d w a s in t h a t m o m e n t — b u t if m y s e n s e s d i d n o t d e c e i v e m e , t h e n I m u s t f o r e v e r c u r s e t h e w e a k n e s s t h a t kept m e f r o m d o i n g t h a t w h i c h w a s

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n e c e s s a r y a n d d e c e n t . T h e t h i n g t h a t was o n c e C o n s t a b l e

Dunlap

s h o u l d n o t h a v e lived o n in its c o n d i t i o n , a n d w a s kept alive o n l y by m e a n s u n k n o w n t o m e d i c a l s c i e n c e . N o , Eric, the t h i n g I g l i m p s e d in t h a t b l a c k , u n h o l y c h a m b e r b e n e a t h the castle w a s n o t e n t i r e l y a m a n ; it was only a living,

breathing,

hideously

animated

human

head!"

The Horror on the Beach Alan Dean Foster

t t T " X o y o u realize t h a i this r a n c h e r o is o v e r t h r e e h u n d r e d years . l ^ o l d , M r . C o r t u ? T h r e e h u n d r e d years! O n e o f the greatest o l d S p a n i s h D o n s lived h e r e . T h i s isn't a h o u s e , it's a piece o f h i s t o r y ! " T h e a g e n t sidled closer. " P a r d o n my s a y i n g s o , Dave, b u t you'll b e s o r r y if you pass t h i s u p . " D a v i d C o r t u i g n o r e d the u n s u b t l e s w i t c h f r o m " M r . C o r t u " to " D a v e . " All h e s a w was Julie, r u n n i n g her h a n d s o v e r t h e s t o n e w o r k , b r i n g i n g i m a g i n a r y azaleas a n d p e t u n i a s to life in t h e e m p t y p l a n t e r s . Well, t h e place w a s c o n v e n i e n t to his o f f i c e in S a n t a B a r b a r a , n e a r e n o u g h t h e Pacific C o a s t Highway, and the p r i v a c y was e x c e p t i o n a l f o r b e a c h f r o n t p r o p e r t y . O n l y o n e f a m i l y n e a r by . . . a n d t h e o l d b e a c h c o m b e r , who didn't count. Julie w a s t a l k i n g . " A b o u t n e i g h b o r s , M r . B a s c o m b ? N a t u r a l l y w e like privacy, and all, b u t Flip is b a r e l y e i g h t . A b o y his a g e o u g h t to h a v e some

c o m p a n i o n s apart f r o m school-time."

" I q u i t e a g r e e , M r s . C o r t u . A n d 1 d o n ' t t h i n k you n e e d w o r r y o n t h a t a c c o u n t . " H e m o v e d to s t a n d b y t h e f r o n t w i n d o w . Big for t h e h o u s e , it w a s s m a l l b y m o d e r n s t a n d a r d s . T h a t w i n d o w was a p r o b l e m , D a v e reflected. O h well, t h e y c o u l d h a v e a l a r g e r o n e p u t in later. T h e y ' d d a m n well have t o , b e c a u s e t h e t h i c k w r o u g h t - i r o n b a r s b e h i n d it b l o c k e d o u t m o s t o f w h a t light t h e a n c i e n t glass allowed in. B a s c o m b g e s t u r e d n o r t h w a r d , u p t h e b e a c h . "As is s p e c i f i e d in t h e deed, y o u s h a r e the b e a c h a n d c o v e with j u s t two o t h e r residences.

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T h e B i r c h f a m i l y h a s t h e i r place just o v e r that b i g d u n e , t h e r e . T h e y h a v e two twin d a u g h t e r s ( t w o o r four, m u s e d D a v e ) and as I r e c a l l t h e y ' d b e a b o u t y o u r son's a g e . O u g h t to get a l o n g line. D o w n b y t h e rocks, o f course, there's o l d Joshua Whipple." " T h a t ' s t h e b e a c h c o m b e r we've h e a r d a b o u t , r i g h t ? " asked Julie. " I s h e . . . I m e a n , Flip . . . " T h e a g e n t ' s h a n d s f l u t t e r e d n e r v o u s l y . " O h , don't w o r r y ! O l d J o s h is p r o b a b l y t h e b e s t n e i g h b o r y o u c o u l d a s k for, M r s . C o r f u . D o e s n ' t e v e n c o m e a r o u n d to b o r r o w t h e l a w n m o w e r . " " N o g r a s s , " said Dave. " Y e s . Well he's a bit t a c i t u r n , b u t f r i e n d l y e n o u g h . " " O h , all r i g h t , we'll take it." Julie's t h a n k you kiss a l m o s t m a d e h i m forget a b o u t the m o r t g a g e . It d i d n ' t take D a v e l o n g t o realize that h e w a s a t t r a c t i n g far m o r e a t t e n t i o n t h a n a n o i l e n g i n e e r in an e c o l o g y - c o n s c i o u s t o w n o u g h t t o . T o w n s f o l k favored h i m w i t h b r i e f , a w k w a r d g l a n c e s . W h e n

he

t u r n e d to s t a r e a t the w h i s p e r e r s , t h e y b e c a m e u n n a t u r a l l y c h e e r f u l o r talkative to c o v e r u p t h e i r f u r t i v e n e s s . At first h e i g n o r e d t h e a t t e n t i o n , b u t it b e g a n to w e a r o n h i s nerves. Even the m e n h e w o r k e d with o n t h e g r e a t p l a t f o r m o u t in t h e bay w e r e n o t i m m u n e . O n e a f t e r n o o n h e w a s s u f f i c i e n t l y i r r i t a t e d to disregard e t i q u e t t e a n d c o n f r o n t his w a t c h e r s . T h r e e drillers, their faces b l a c k e n e d w i t h g r e a s e and c r u d e oil s o that they s h o n e as if p o l i s h e d , s t a r e d b a c k at h i m . " L o o k , fellas, I ' m g e t t i n g sick o f p e o p l e t a l k i n g at m e i n s t e a d o f to me. A n y t h i n g y o u h a v e to s a y a b o u t m e y o u c a n d a m n well say to m y face." T h e y g l a n c e d a t the steel floor, at the rig, a n y w h e r e b u t a t D a v e . I f h e h a d n ' t b e e n s o u p s e t h e m i g h t have reflected o n t h e o d d i t y o f t h r e e brawny, m u s c u l a r b i t - m e n r e a c t i n g to the c h a l l e n g e o f a slightly u n d e r s i z e e n g i n e e r like s o m a n y kids c a u g h t s n i t c h i n g fudge. O n e o f the m e n licked his lips, fixed Dave with an u n c e r t a i n stare. " S i r , is it t r u e that y o u live in the o l d h o u s e k n o w n as the C a s a d e R o d r i g o d e L i m a ? T h e o n e 011 t h e d i r t y s a n d b e a c h in

Cabrillo

Cove?" " S i n c e e v e r y o n e in S a n t a B a r b a r a s e e m s to k n o w it already, n o t m u c h u s e in m y d e n y i n g it. W h y ? "

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" T h e n , sir, m a y G o d have m e r c y o n y o u r s o u l ! " and t h e m a n t u r n e d b a c k to his w o r k . TYy, plead, t h r e a t e n as h e m i g h t , D a v e c o u l d n o t get a n y o f t h e m to u t t e r a n o t h e r w o r d .

T h a t n i g h t was t h e first t i m e they b e c a m e a w a r e o f t h e d r u m s . T h e y ' d r e t u r n e d f r o m their r e g u l a r S u n d a y - e v e bridge

match

with t h e B i r c h e s . It w a s a f r i e n d s h i p p r a c t i c a l l y f o r c e d o n t h e t w o c o u p l e s , s i n c e their n e a r e s t o t h e r n e i g h b o r s were several m i l e s away a m o n g the m o r e accessible p o r t i o n s o f t h e wild Pacific c o a s t . A n d it was n o t likely that o l d W h i p p l e c a t e r e d to b r i d g e . lulie n o t i c e d t h e m first. S h e woke h i m gently. H e t u r n e d t o s t a r e drowsily in h e r d i r e c t i o n . B u t w h e n he saw her face, h e sat u p fast. " H e y , w h a t gives, h o n ? " S h e w h i s p e r e d , e v e n t h o u g h Flip was l o n g a s l e e p d o w n t h e hall a n d t h e r e w a s n o o n e b u t h i m to hear. " S h s s h . D o n ' t y o u hear it?" " H e a r w h a t ? " h e a n s w e r e d inanely. "Listen!" H e c o n c e n t r a t e d . T h e r e did s e e m t o be a faint h u m m i n g s o u n d . H e rose f r o m t h e b e d a n d raised t h e o n e w i n d o w slightly. It let in t h e s o u n d , a l o n g with a gust o f s a l t - e d g e d a i r that c u t t h e s l e e p from h i s eyes. Yes, a s l i g h t d r u m m i n g s o u n d , n o t clear. It s e e m e d to b e a c c o m p a n i e d by a m o d u l a t e d k e e n i n g , as o f m a n y v o i c e s m o a n i n g o r s i n g i n g in u n i s o n . " O d d . T h a t ' s c e r t a i n l y not t h e o c e a n . S e e m s to b e c o m i n g f r o m t h e n o r t h , n e a r the P o i n t . M u s t b e s o m e k i n d o f p a r t y o r s o m e t h i n g . " " I d o n ' t like it," Julie said firmly. " I t d o e s n ' t s o u n d like a n y k i n d o f p a r t y m u s i c I e v e r heard." H e y a w n e d . " W e l l , it's h a r m l e s s , w h a t e v e r it is ( w h y s h o u l d n ' t it be? W h y ' d h e t h i n k o f t h a t ? ) . P r o b a b l y a b u n c h o f l o n g - h a i r s f r o m t h e University. N o t h i n g w o r t h l o s i n g s l e e p over." T h e B i r c h e s had also heard t h e s o u n d s . . . M a r t i n B i r c h refused to call t h e m " d r u m m i n g s . " N o , h e d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t t h e y were and yes, t h e y ' d h e a r d t h e m b e f o r e . A l t h o u g h s i n c e t h e C o r f u s had arrived the n i g h t l y c o n c e r t s had i n c r e a s e d in f r e q u e n c y .

Command

p e r f o r m a n c e s f o r the n e w s a v i o r o f t h e c o a s t , M a r t i n had g r i n n i n g l y suggested.

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Dave g r i n n e d b a c k . H e w a s still g r i n n i n g w h e n h e walked i n t o B a s c o m b ' s office that a f t e r n o o n . " W h a t I'd like to k n o w , B a s c o m b , is w h y t h e t o w n s p e o p l e give a h o o t a b o u t the p l a c e I ' m l i v i n g i n . At first I t h o u g h t it was m e , n o w I find o u t it's t h e h o u s e . W h y ? A n d why'd t h e last t e n a n t s m o v e o u t , if it w a s s u c h a g r e a t b u y ? " B a s c o m b c o n s i d e r e d Dave t h r o u g h the s t e e p l e h e ' d f o r m e d o f h i s fingers. " U m . Well, t h e d e e d is i r o n c l a d , s o I s u p p o s e y o u m i g h t a s well k n o w . K i n d l y d o not l a u g h , M r . C o r f u , b u t p e o p l e h e r e a b o u t s h a v e s o m e f u n n y n o t i o n s w h e r e t h e d e L i m a r e s i d e n c e is c o n c e r n e d . A n d s o m e t h i n k t h e y m i g h t have r e a s o n . .

"

"I'm home, honey!" S h e w a s kissing h i m as h e o p e n e d h i s b r i e f c a s e , said " B i g d e a l ! " kissed h i m a g a i n , h a r d e r . H e d r e w her o v e r to the b i g c o u c h . "It s e e m s there's quite a story b e h i n d o u r h u m b l e abode." " Y o u saw the a g e n t ? " " I s a w B a s c o m b . It s e e m s that this w a s t h e d e Lima's e q u i v a l e n t o f a s e c o n d h o m e - c u m - e x p o r t p l a n t . H i d e s a n d tallow f r o m t h e d e L i m a h e r d s w e r e s h i p p e d f r o m here to d e e p - w a t e r s c h o o n e r s . T h e s h o r e d r o p s o f f s h a r p l y o u t past the p o i n t a n d t h e b i g s h i p s c o u l d m a n e u v e r in fairly c l o s e . A n y h o w , it s e e m s t h e first d e L i m a m a d e a p a c t with the devil." " T h e devil?" " U h - U h . W i t h a devil. T h e l e g e n d a p p a r e n t l y is v e r ) ' s p e c i f i c o n t h a t p o i n t . W h i c h p a r t i c u l a r d e v i l n o o n e s e e m s to r e m e m b e r . In 1 7 2 4 t h e d e L i m a r a n c h e r o w a s a t t a c k e d by a w h o l e t r i b e o f Yani Ind i a n s . T h e f a m i l y r e t r e a t e d f r o m t h e i r c e n t r a l h a c i e n d a , n e a r the o l d m i s s i o n . M a y b e t h e y t h o u g h t this place w o u l d be e a s i e r to d e f e n d with w h a t they had left, s i n c e t h e i r retreat to I*ueblo d e L o s A n g e l e s was c u t o f f . M a y b e t h e y h o p e d to s i g n a l a b o a t . Regardless, they w e r e w i p e d o u t to the last m a n . " " T h e d e Limas?" " N o p e . T h e I n d i a n s . Q u i t e an a c c o m p l i s h m e n t f o r t h r e e m e n , t h e i r wives, kids, a b u n c h o f f r i g h t e n e d s e r v a n t s , a n d o l d d e L i m a h i m s e l f . H e a n d the I n d i a n s n e v e r d i d get a l o n g , it s e e m s . W h i c h is f u n n y in itself, b e c a u s e like m o s t C a l i f o r n i a tribes, t h e Yani w e r e i n clined towards being peaceable.

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"After w o r d g o t a r o u n d , n o o n e b o t h e r e d the d e L i m a s a g a i n . N o t I n d i a n , S p a n i a r d , M e x i c a n , o r A m e r i c a n , w h e n t h e y arrived. S o m e t h i n g in t h e f a m i l y r e p u t a t i o n — o r t h e f a m i l y — g o t o n p e o p l e ' s n e r v e s . S o m u c h s o t h a t the f a m i l y e v e n t u a l l y h a d to sell o u t and m o v e to Brazil. I n t e r e s t i n g ? " " I n a g r u e s o m e s o r t o f way, yes." " A n d t h e r e ' s m o r e . K n o w w h e n the p r e v i o u s t e n a n t s vacated? 1 8 8 9 ! N o t a t e r r i b l y p o p u l a r piece o f p r o p e r t y , it s e e m s . " " D a v i d , you s t o p that! Now, w h a t a b o u t t h e f u n n y m u s i c w e h e a r d last n i g h t , h m m m ? W h a t d i d he h a v e t o say a b o u t t h a t ? " " O h yeah." H e f r o w n e d . " F u n n y , b u t B a s c o m b w a s willing to c h a t a b o u t t h e h o u s e all day, yet w h e n I m e n t i o n e d o u r ' m u s i c ' to h i m h e c l a m m e d r i g h t u p t i g h t . H e insisted h e d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t I was t r y i n g to 'pull.' You k n o w , I m e t o l d W h i p p l e o n the road in and j u s t o n an o f f c h a n c e , 1 asked h i m . T u r n e d positively green,

h e did. Now, I c a n

get used to t h e n o i s e — t h e B i r c h e s h a v e — b u t I d o n ' t like t h i s sil e n c e c o n c e r n i n g it, e i t h e r . I t h i n k I'll a s k a r o u n d t o w n s o m e m o r e tomorrow."

B u t h e d i d n ' t , b e c a u s e t o m o r r o w was T u e s d a y , t h e d a y p l a t f o r m " 2 s t a r t e d to leak. D e s p i t e f r a n t i c e f f o r t s o f the p l a t f o r m ' s c r e w , t h e quantity o f crude petroleum b u b b l i n g out o f the o c e a n floor grew r a p i d l y to c r i t i c a l p r o p o r t i o n s . P l a n e s c r u i s i n g o v e r t h e a r e a were t h e first to n o t i c e t h e p h e n o m e n o n and w e r e q u i c k to r a d i o the i n f o r m a t i o n to s h o r e . S o b e f o r e the p a n i c k e d oil c o m p a n y c o u l d get o n t o p o f t h e s i t u a t i o n t h e n e w s m e d i a w e r e gleefully s p l a s h i n g it o v e r e v e r y available line o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . " O h , Dave! I h e a r d o n t h e r a d i o . . . it's all t r u e , a b o u t t h e o i l ? " Dave flipped his b r i e f c a s e o n t o the c o u c h and c o l l a p s e d in h i s fav o r i t e c h a i r with a h e a r t r e n d i n g sigh. " 'Fraid s o , luv. W e can't s e e m to c u t t h e blasted t h i n g o f f , it d o e s n ' t r e s p o n d to n o r m a l s h u t d o w n p r o c e d u r e . . . a n d it l o o k s like w e ' r e s h o r t l y g o i n g to b e o n t h e r e c e i v i n g e n d o f howls o f o u t r a g e f r o m d o w n s o u t h . I ' m glad I ' m j u s t a n e n g i n e e r and n o t t h e head o f the public relations d e p a r t m e n t ! " S h e sat d o w n n e x t to h i m and b e g a n m a s s a g i n g his n e c k m u s c l e s . H e t u r n e d s o t h a t s h e c o u l d reach t h e tight s p o t s m o r e easily.

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" O h , I had a c h a n c e to talk with t h e local s h e r i f f . T h e y ' v e heard o f o u r n o c t u r n a l c e l e b r a n t s , b u t s i n c e n o o n e ' s b o t h e r e d to file a c o m p l a i n t , they've n e v e r i n t e r f e r e d . T h e y ' r e definitely not

college

kids, t h o u g h . A p p a r e n t l y it's s o m e local n u t c u l t t h a t m e e t s o u t o n the Point." " L i k e t h e Elks a n d t h o s e p e o p l e ? " " N o t q u i t e . " H e c h u c k l e d , shifted o n t h e c o u c h . " T h e

group

s e e m s to c o n s i s t m o s t l y o f Ihe p o o r e r locals, with a s p r i n k l i n g o f m o r e r e s p e c t a b l e t y p e s . A s far as t h e s h e r i f f c o u l d find o u t

there

aren't any criminal elements a m o n g them. T h e townsfolk don't care f o r t h e m , but t h e y ' v e c a u s e d n o t r o u b l e . T h e y d o n ' t m a k e m u c h fuss, so I couldn't see swearing out a complaint." lulie c h e w e d o n a lip, said, " I ' v e t a l k e d w i t h Sue B i r c h , and s h e says it's the r h y t h m t h a t b o t h e r s y o u m o s t . " " W e l l , w e c a n get u s e d to it t o o . " lulie s i g h e d . " I guess s o . " S h e p a u s e d . " D a v e , d o y o u k n o w s o m e t i m e s I c o u l d n ' t h e l p b u t . . . you'll t h i n k t h i s is silly, a n d I d o n ' t b l a m e y o u . . . b u t s o m e t i m e s I w a k e u p in the m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t a n d the h o u s e a l m o s t s e e m s to . . . well, to b e m o v i n g in s y m p a t h y with t h a t d r u m m i n g , o r c h a n t i n g , o r w h a t e v e r it is. T h e r e , I've said it! N o w g o a h e a d and l a u g h . " But he didn't. B e c a u s e t h e s a m e t h i n g had h a p p e n e d to h i m .

Polite h a m m e r i n g o n b e l l s far away s w i p e a t t h e m b u t they w o u l d n ' t leave d a m m i t and h o w w a s a m a n . . . Dave's eyes o p e n e d slowly. H e l o o k e d a r o u n d in that s t u p o r o f a w k w a r d a w a k e n i n g t h a t p e o p l e are p r o n e to early in the m o r n i n g . H e s t a r e d at t h e p h o n e w h i c h y a m m e r e d b a c k d e m a n d i n g l y . R a i s i n g h i m s e l f s l o w l y to a s i t t i n g p o s i t i o n , he g l a n c e d at t h e

fluorescent

dial

o f t h e n i g h t t a b l e d o c k . N o w w h o the hell w o u l d be calling a t f o u r . . . no, five in t h e m o r n i n g ? P r o b a b l y s o m e c r a z y reporter, o u t f o r a c a n did c o m m e n t o n t h e oil spill. H e ' d give h i m a c a n d i d c o m m e n t ! H e lifted the p h o n e f r o m t h e receiver. W h a t c a m e o v e r was n o t t h e voice o f a r e p o r t e r . T h e w o r d s were d i s t o r t e d , h i g h , s h r i l l . T h e y were all the m o r e

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difficult to u n d e r s t a n d b e c a u s e o f t h e s o u n d o f b r e a k i n g w o o d w h i c h d o m i n a t e d the b a c k g r o u n d . D e s p i t e t h e c o n f u s i o n a n d the u n n a t u r a l t i m b r e o f the voice, he r e c o g n i z e d the f r i g h t e n e d , u t t e r l y terrified tones o f Martin Birch. " D a v i d . . . Dave, is that y o u ? Listen D a v e , y o u ' v e g o t to get away! T a k e lulie and t h e b o y and get away!

M y G o d , w h a t an a b o m i n a t i o n ! "

T h e r e was a p a u s e , f o l l o w e d b y w h a t s o u n d e d like a s e r i e s o f m u f f l e d g u n s h o t s . M o r e b r e a k i n g s o u n d s , l o u d e r now. Evelyn B i r c h c o u l d b e h e a r d s h r i e k i n g in the b a c k g r o u n d , a l o n g w i t h a m u t e d , w h i m p e r i n g v o i c e w h i c h was p r o b a b l y o n e o f the t w i n s . A n d t h e r e was a n o t h e r s o u n d , w h i c h Dave c o u l d n ' t identify. T h e h a i r o n h i s body tingled. Martin's

voice

resumed, masked

with

long,

heavy g a s p s

for

b r e a t h . " H u r r y , m a n , h u r r y ! T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g y o u c a n d o h e r e ! Save yourselves! It's all around

us! D o n ' t c o m e o v e r h e r e ! It's c o m i n g in,

my God, T H E W I N D O W . . . GREAT H E A V — ! " T h e r e w a s a c r i s p , s h a t t e r i n g s o u n d , a n d t h e line w e n t dead w i t h an a b r u p t n e s s that left Dave s t a r i n g d u m b l y at the s i l e n t receiver. T o h i s s u r p r i s e h e f o u n d h e w a s s o a k i n g wet f r o m sweat. Julie was s t a n d i n g b y t h e o p e n w i n d o w . H e h a d n ' t e v e n h e a r d her get o u t o f b e d . " D a v e . . . 1 c o u l d h e a r s o u n d s , f r o m t h e i r d i r e c t i o n . It s o u n d e d like t h i n g s . . . b r e a k i n g u p . O h D - d - d a v e . . . S h e w a s in h i s a r m s t h e n , s h i v e r i n g u n c o n t r o l l a b l y . " D o n ' t w o r r y , h o n , we're safe." H e was a w a r e o f h o w h o l l o w it sounded. Hollow. " W e l l t h e n , M r . C o r f u , w h a t s e e m s to b e the p r o b l e m ? " T h e grayi n g s e r g e a n t w a s g r u f f l y c o u r t e o u s , b u t g o t it a c r o s s h e d i d n ' t like b e i n g c a l l e d away f r o m a w a r m s t a t i o n - h o u s e a t d a y b r e a k o n

some

d a m n f o o l n u t call. "1 u n d e r s t a n d you p h o n e d in s o m e t h i n g a b o u t y o u r n e i g h b o r s . B e e n a b i t rowdy, have they? T h a t ' s n a t u r a l , t h e n i g h t before..." " T h a t ' s n o t it at all, s e r g e a n t . I ' m a f r a i d t h e y m a y have b e e n vict i m s of, well, v a n d a l s o r s o m e t h i n g . Anyways, t h e i r p h o n e line is dead." " S o y o u r e p o r t e d , " said the y o u n g e r c o p . " I t ' s j u s t o v e r t h a t d u n e , " D a v e a d d e d hastily. " S h o r t e r t h a n drivi n g the l o n g w a y ' r o u n d . "

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T h e sergeant g r u m b l e d , but followed Dave as he started up the s a n d y i n c l i n e . T h e m u t t e r i n g and g r u m b l i n g s t o p p e d t h e m i n u t e t h e y c l e a r e d the last rise and g o t a c l e a r view o f the b e a c h b e l o w . T h e B i r c h h o m e w a s a r e c e n t a d d i t i o n to the t o p o g r a p h y o f t h e c o v e . U n l i k e Dave's, w h i c h had b e e n t h e r e f o r h u n d r e d s o f years, t h e w e a l t h y B i r c h h a d h a d m a t e r i a l s t r u c k e d in. T h e r e s u l t a n t u l t r a m o d e r n s t r u c t u r e h a d b e e n an i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t r a s t to t h e a n c i e n t a b o d e o f the de Lima r a n c h - h o u s e . It had b e e n

flattened

as t h o u g h b y a t y p h o o n .

In s o m b e r s i l e n c e , t h e t h r e e s c r a m b l e d their way d o w n t h e s i d e o f t h e d u n e , o v e r l o w b e a c h s c r u b a n d i c e p l a n t , s a n d - f l i e s p u f f i n g in s o o t y c l o u d s a b o u t their feet. N o o n e said a n y t h i n g . T h e p o u r e d c o n c r e t e pillars t h a t had s u p p o r t e d the f r o n t s e c t i o n o f the h o u s e had b e e n s h a t t e r e d like m a t c h w o o d . T h e

shipped-in

b o u l d e r s w h i c h h a d f o r m e d the b u l w a r k o f t h e seawall w e r e scattered h a p h a z a r d l y a b o u t the b e a c h . T w o - b y - f o u r s a n d w o o d e n p l a n k i n g , e v e n t h e resilient r e d w o o d , had b e e n p u l p e d to n e a r - c a r d b o a r d t h i n . S h a t t e r e d glass s p a r k l e d e v e r y w h e r e a m i d s t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n . H a r d l y a piece o f f u r n i t u r e a p p e a r e d to b e i n t a c t . O f t h e B i r c h e s t h e m s e l v e s , t h e r e was n o sign. A l m o s t a s u n s e t t l i n g a s t h e r u i n s was t h e c o n d i t i o n o f the b e a c h . T h e B i r c h h o m e had b e e n set d o w n a l m o s t o n the h i g h w a t e r line, w h i l e Dave's w a s m u c h f u r t h e r i n l a n d . In a b r o a d p a t h all a r o u n d t h e a r e a o f d e v a s t a t i o n the s a n d w a s g o u g e d a n d c o m p r e s s e d ; n o , pressed.

de-

T h e d e p r e s s i o n e x t e n d e d r i g h t d o w n to . . . o r u p f r o m , t h e

w a t e r m a r k . It was a s if s o m e t h i n g o f c o n s i d e r a b l e w e i g h t had b e e n d r a g g e d u p f r o m the sea, a r o u n d t h e h o u s e , and b a c k d o w n a g a i n . A s t o r m - t o s s e d b o u l d e r o f great size c o u l d d o that, D a v e t h o u g h t , b u t w h y in s u c h a r e g u l a r p a t h ? Besides, t h e r e h a d n ' t b e e n a n y s t o r m . W h e n h e finally s p o k e , t h e s e r g e a n t ' s v o i c e w a s m u t e d , as if to fit t h e u n n a t u r a l stillness o f t h e air. C o m e to t h i n k o f it, t h e n o r m a l rauc o u s n e s s o f t h e g u l l s a n d s a n d p i p e r s w a s m i s s i n g this m o r n i n g . "I don't know w h a t happened here, Mr. Corfu, but y o u better believe we'll c h e c k i n t o this. I a i n ' t n e v e r s e e n nothing

t h e likes o f this."

" B o y ! " b r e a t h e d the c o r p o r a l . " L o o k s like s o m e o n e d i d a j o b o n this p l a c e w i t h a b i g d o z e r . You say this guy gave y o u a call f r o m mister?"

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" Y e s . I c o u l d . . . I c o u l d h e a r Ihe h o u s e c o m i n g d o w n a r o u n d i h e m . H e had a g u n , l o o . " " U m , " said t h e s e r g e a n t . H e kicked at a m a n g l e d

lampstand.

" W e ' l l have t o get a c r e w o u t h e r e s o o n . . . s e a r c h f o r t h e b o d i e s . I d u n n o . I j u s t d u n n o . " H e s h o o k his h e a d as t h o u g h it m i g h t help resolve an u n r e s o l v a b l e s i t u a t i o n . Dave m a d e n o r e s p o n s e . H e w a s o c c u p i e d in i n s p e c t i n g

the

d e p r e s s i o n , f o l l o w i n g it d o w n to w h e r e it d i s a p p e a r e d in the g e n t l e e b b - f l o w o f the sea.

" H o n e y , w h a t e v e r h a p p e n e d o v e r t h e r e this m o r n i n g , a n d t h e serg e a n t had n o m o r e idea o f w h a t had t h a n 1 . . . it t o o k away a very s t r o n g m a n in M a r t i n B i r c h . 1 d o n ' t w a n t it h a p p e n i n g to u s ! " S h e l o o k e d at h i m t h o u g h t f u l l y . " Y o u ' v e g o t an i d e a t h e n , b u t f o r r e a s o n s o f y o u r o w n y o u d o n ' t w a n t t o tell m e w h a t it is." H e tried to p r o t e s t , b u t she c u t h i m o f f . " N e v e r m i n d . A r e you g o i n g to talk to t h e police again?" " U h - u h . 1 d o n ' t t h i n k t h e y ' d t a k e k i n d l y to m y i d e a s . I ' m g o i n g to h a v e a talk w i t h P e d r o A r m e n d a r i z . " " W h o ? O h , that b i o c h e m i s t f r i e n d o f y o u r s at t h e U n i v e r s i t y ? " " T h a t ' s the o n e . I f w h a t e v e r h a p p e n e d t o the B i r c h e s was c a u s e d by s o m e t h i n g t h a t . . . t h a t c a m e o u t o f the sea, t h e n P e d r o o u g h t to k n o w a b o u t it. E v e n if it w a s s o m e t h i n g ' o u t o f t h e o r d i n a r y . ' " T h e big Ford grumbled crankily . . . sea air gets into everything, h e t h o u g h t . . . b u t it s t a r t e d q u i c k l y e n o u g h . H e s w u n g o u t o f t h e driveway, s c a t t e r i n g d i r t and a f e w b i r d s . . . at least the g u l l s had returned . . . and headed up the dirt access road. It w o u l d h a v e b e e n h a r d to m i s s t h e tall, s c r a g g l y figure a m b l i n g a l o n g in t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n , b o w e d u n d e r a large p a c k . H e peered h a r d e r as the d i s t a n c e c l o s e d . Yes, it c e r t a i n l y l o o k e d like their a n c i e n t r e c l u s e , b u t w h a t was o l d W h i p p l e d o i n g with a heavy pack? "Say, J o s h ! J o s h W h i p p l e ! " W h i p p l e o b v i o u s l y heard h i m , but hesitated b e f o r e t r u d g i n g over. " M o r n i n to ye, M r . C o r f t i . " H e l e a n e d c l o s e r a n d s m i l e d slightly. "Ah, I k i n s e e ye k n o w w h u t h a p p e n e d o v e r a t t h ' B i r c h place, t h e n . " " I do. Fact is, I ' m g o i n g i n t o t o w n to s e e s o m e o n e a b o u t it r i g h t n o w . T h e p o l i c e have a l r e a d y b e e n and g o n e . "

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" H u h ! " s n o r t e d W h i p p l e . " I k i n i m a g i n ' w h u t they

found. Nuth-

i n ! " H e p a u s e d a n d s t a r e d s h a r p l y at Dave. W i t h o u t k n o w i n g why, Dave s q u i r m e d as t h o u g h u n d e r the eye o f his s u p e r i o r . " Y o u listen to m e , M r . C o r f u . Yer n i c e folks, ye a r e . T h e B i r c h e s wuz n i c e folks t o o , b u t it d i d n ' t d o t h e m n o g o o d a'tall. S o I ' m givin' ye a piece o ' g o o d a d v i c e . T a k e y e r M i s s u s a n d y e r kid a n d leave this place, n o w . T h e r e ' s t h i n g s t a k i n ' place t h a t are w a y past ye, h e r e , M r . C o r t u , a n d I ' m s u g g e s t i n ' ye leave w h i l e ye g o t the c h a n c e . " T h e B i r c h e s is dead." T h e w a y h e said it, with u t t e r surety, left no r o o m f o r a r g u m e n t . Dave t h o u g h t f u r i o u s l y . H e h a d n ' t s e e n t h e o l d s t e r lately. N o t t h a t he'd b e e n l o o k i n g f o r h i m . H e s u p p o s e d it m i g h t have b e e n p o s s i b l e f o r W h i p p l e to visit t h e r u i n s b e f o r e t h e p o l i c e a r r i v e d . All o f a s u d d e n h e was a s h a m e d o f w h a t he'd b e e n t h i n k i n g . A f t e r s e e i n g t h e w r e c k o f t h e B i r c h h o m e , Dave's e v a l u a t i o n o f their p r o b a b l e fate h a d n ' t b e e n a n y m o r e o p t i m i s t i c , a l t h o u g h n o t s o g r u e s o m e l y positive. " Y o u k n o w a b o u t that, t h e n ? Yes, o b v i o u s l y you d o , a l t h o u g h h o w y o u c a n b e s o sure, I d o n ' t k n o w . T h e y ' r e m i s s i n g , all r i g h t , b u t n o b o d i e s have b e e n f o u n d as yet, a n d . . F o r s o m e r e a s o n W h i p p l e f o u n d this v e r y a m u s i n g . " O h , t h e y ' r e d e a d e n o u g h . You kin bet o n t h e t . W h y , b a c k w h e . . F i e

stopped

s u d d e n l y a n d s h o u l d e r e d h i s p a c k , c e n t e r i n g the load m o r e precisely o n his s l e n d e r f r a m e . Dave e y e d t h e b u l k y load, essayed a w i l d g u e s s . " Y o u c o u l d n ' t b e leaving us. J o s h ? " " I not o n l y c o u l d , I a m ! I've t h i n g s to d o e l s e w h e r e , M r . C o r f u , t h i n g s to d o . 'Sides," a n d he c h u c k l e d d r i l y , " 'taint safe a r o u n d h e r e f o r h o n e s t folks." " C a n I give y o u a lift i n t o t o w n , t h e n ? " " N o , t h a n k e e , I prefer to walk. ' S i d e s , I kin stay c l o s e r to the s e a thetaways." Dave w a s r e l u c t a n t to let t h e g a r r u l o u s o l d m a n d e p a r t . " I w o n d e r w h a t c o u l d h a v e h a p p e n e d to t h e m . P e r h a p s they left for r e a s o n s o f t h e i r o w n . I k n o w I w o u l d n ' t have s t o p p e d r u n n i n g y e t . " W h i p p l e c h u c k l e d again . . . m a n h a d a d e c i d e d l y o d d s e n s e o f humor, Dave thought.

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" Y e w a n t to k n o w w h u t h a p p e n e d to ' e m . d o ye? W e l l , 1 told t h e m they s h o u l d n ' t ha' built thet b i g n e w p l a c e t h e r e . It d i d n ' t b e l o n g , ye k n o w . I e v e n o f f e r e d to s h o w o l d B i r c h t h e place in T h e B o o k , b u t h e jest l a u g h e d at m e . . . l a u g h e d ! I w a r n e d h i m t h e r e w u z t h i n g s g o i n ' o n h e c o u l d n ' t s t o p , and thet I c o u l d n ' t c o n t r o l t o o well m y s e l f . He d o n ' t h a n k e r to o u t s i d e r s a t this s p o t , M r . C o r f u ! " "He?" " C a l l ' i m w h a t y o u w i l l . . . s e a - g o d , s e a - d e v i l , he's m o r ' n t h e t . C t h u l h u , h e . . . " H e p a u s e d and gave a start, as t h o u g h he'd b e e n t a l k i n g in a d a z e . " T h e t ' s all I ' m s a y i n g to ye, M r . C o r f u . Ye b e t h a n k f u l f e r t h e t . I c o u l d tell ye t o o m u c h f e r y e r o w n g o o d ! " D e s p i t e Dave's e n t r e a t i e s t h e o l d fellow set o f f at a steady p a c e o v e r the l o w hills and was s o o n lost to sight . . . h e a d e d i n l a n d , h e noticed.

P e d r o A r m e n d a r i z lived in o n e o f t h e b e t t e r s e c t i o n s o f s u b u r b a n S a n t a B a r b a r a , o n a hillside, c o m m a n d i n g a s w e e p i n g view o f t h e Pacific. F l o w e r i n g i c e p l a n t a n d g e r a n i u m c o v e r e d t h e s l o p i n g g r o u n d s with a p r o f u s i o n o f red and yellow b l o o m s . Dave w a s e n j o y i n g t h e lethal p o i s e o f a g a r d e n spider, all yellow a n d b l a c k p a t i e n c e , w h e n A r m e n d a r i z o p e n e d t h e d o o r . A f t e r m u t u a l e x c h a n g e s o f hello and o t h e r s m a l l p l e a s u r e s , they m o v e d i n t o the den w h i c h w a s the p r o f e s sor's i n n e r s a n c t u m . A r m e n d a r i z settled h i m s e l f i n t o a d e e p c h a i r a c r o s s f r o m D a v e a n d p r o p p e d h i s feet u p o n the w r o u g h t iron t a b l e s e p a r a t i n g t h e m . It had b e e n s o m e t i m e s i n c e D a v e had had o c c a s i o n to c o n v e r s e with his f r i e n d o t h e r t h a n by p h o n e . T h e b l a c k h a i r was g r a y i n g a b i t m o r e a t t h e t e m p l e s , t h e olive s k i n s h o w e d a few m o r e

wrin-

kles, t h e n o s e s e e m e d a bit m o r e a q u i l i n e . . . b u t the s a m e tiny, j e t b l a c k eyes peered inquisitively o u t f r o m u n d e r a l m o s t f e m i n i n e light b r o w s . T h e y r e g a r d e d D a v e w i t h m u c h t h e s a m e interest t h a t h e regarded t h e m . " W e l l , D a v i d , it is t o o l o n g s i n c e y o u h a v e visited R o s a and m e . A n d s o I s u s p e c t t h i s is n o t e n t i r e l y a s o c i a l visit, e h ? " " I t ' s n o t a b o u t the oil spill, if that's w h a t you're t h i n k i n g . "

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" N o ? I had t h o u g h t c e r t a i n l y t h a t . . . b u t w h a t is it, t h e n ? " " P e d r o , early this m o r n i n g t h e h o u s e o f m y n e i g h b o r w a s c o m pletely d e s t r o y e d , by w h a t I d o n ' t k n o w . N e i t h e r d o the p o l i c e . A n d t h e p e o p l e t h e m s e l v e s h a v e n o t b e e n seen s i n c e . " " Q u e coso.

Yet I a m n o d e t e c t i v e , my f r i e n d . V a n d a l i s m , p e r h a p s ?

An explosion?" " N o , Pedro.

I mean

totally

destroyed. And

t h e r e are

other

factors... A s well as h e c o u l d , Dave related the o c c u r r e n c e s at C a b r i l l o C o v e , b e g i n n i n g f r o m t h e d a y they m o v e d i n . Armendariz remained characteristically unperturbed b y the narrative, s o m e t i m e s n o d d i n g h i s head as t h o u g h to i n d i c a t e a g r e e m e n t , n o w and t h e n i n t e r r u p t i n g f o r c l a r i f i c a t i o n o f this o r that s e e m i n g l y insignificant point. " I see. A n d n e i t h e r you n o r the p o l i c e h a v e a n y idea as to t h e w h e r e a b o u t s o f the p e o p l e ? " " O n l y what o u r i m a g i n a t i o n s c a n supply. O n l y . . . " he paused. " W e h a v e . . . rather, w e had a s e c o n d , r a t h e r e c c e n t r i c n e i g h b o r . O l d guy n a m e d W h i p p l e . B e a c h c o m b e r , a likeable s o r t , if a b i t o f

a

r e c l u s e . I r a n i n t o h i m a c c i d e n t a l l y o n m y way t o s e e y o u . S e e m s h e was in the p r o c e s s o f m o v i n g o u t . As m u c h a s suggested I d o t h e s a m e . H e had s o m e c o c k - a n d - b u l l story, said h e k n e w w h a t had b e e n r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e d e s t r u c t i o n . " " I n d e e d ? " said A r m e n d a r i z politely. " A n d w h a t d i d h e o f f e r a s an explanation? Ghosts, perhaps? A petulant poltergeist?" Dave s m i l e d b a c k . " N o , h e said it had b e e n s o m e s o r t o f s e a d e i t y . . . C i t . . . C t h u l h u , yes, t h a t w a s i t . . . I . . . say, are y o u all right, Pedro?" A m o s t e x t r a o r d i n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n had c o m e o v e r his f r i e n d ' s face. T h e n o r m a l c o m p l a c e n t visage o f the e r u d i t e s o p h i s t i c a t e had dissolved to reveal t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f a t e r r i f i e d s a v a g e . S o b r i e f w a s it t h a t D a v e wasn't s u r e w h a t he'd s e e n . W h e n at last t h e p r o f e s s o r replied t h e r e was an u n d e r c u r r e n t o f s e r i o u s n e s s a n d a p p r e h e n s i o n in his voice t h a t w a s t o t a l l y u n l i k e h i m . " W h a t ' s that, w h a t ' s t h a t ? Cthulhu,

y o u say? T h a t ' s exactly

the

n a m e h e used? It's n o t a c o m m o n w o r d . You're c e r t a i n o f it?" " P r e t t y m u c h s o , yes," replied Dave. H e w a s r a t h e r taken a b a c k b y his f r i e n d ' s a b r u p t c h a n g e . " W h y

so c u r i o u s ? You m e a n

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really m e a n s s o m e t h i n g ? 1 know, it's a w h a l e , o r a large s e a - t u r t l e o r something?" A p e c u l i a r b r i g h t n e s s was in A r m e n d a r i z ' e y e s . " Y o u are c o n s i d e r i n g a large m a r i n e a n i m a l , m y f r i e n d ? N o , I a m a f r a i d you c o u l d n o t q u i t e call it a n a n i m a l . " H i s v o i c e d r o p p e d a n d he s p o k e to h i m s e l f in S p a n i s h . Dave w a s fairly tluent, b u t o n l y the r h y t h m i c rise and fall o f t h e p r o f e s s o r ' s v o i c e identified it as s o m e k i n d o f prayer. H e g l a n c e d u p s u d d e n l y , s t a r t l i n g D a v e yet a g a i n . A n a i r o f u n questioning authority n o w permeated his questions. " T h i s e l d e r l y friend o f y o u r s , this b e a c h c o m b e r . D i d h e e v e r h a p p e n to m e n t i o n his h o m e to y o u ? H i s place o f b i r t h ? " " W e l l , yes. W e talked n o w and t h e n . S o m e p l a c e b a c k East. M a s s a chusetts, I believe." This produced another unexpected reaction from Armendariz. H e g r i n n e d . "Ah, M a s s a c h u s e t t s , y o u say? W h a t p l a c e ? " Dave was g e t t i n g i r r i t a t e d . W h a t did all this have to d o w i t h . . . ? " O h , I t h i n k it w a s s o m e w h e r e o n the c o a s t . H e liked t h e s e a . I d o n ' t h a p p e n to recall the zip c o d e ! " B u t the p r o f e s s o r m i s s e d the s a r c a s m . H e w a s d e e p in t h o u g h t s o f his o w n . D a v e k n e w the m o o d and politely r e f r a i n e d f r o m b r e a k i n g it. H e w a s i n t e n s e l y c u r i o u s , d e s p i t e his i r r i t a t i o n , t o k n o w t h e r e a s o n f o r his f r i e n d ' s r e m a r k a b l e b e h a v i o r o f the past f e w m i n u t e s . At length A r m e n d a r i z r o s e a n d w a l k e d to a rear p o r t a l . "Rosa!" R o s a A r m e n d a r i z was a p l u m p b u t still v i v a c i o u s little w o m a n . S h e had to s t a n d o n t i p t o e to h e a r w h a t h e r h u s b a n d had to w h i s p e r to her, e v e n t h o u g h h e b e n t over. Dave c o u l d n ' t m a k e o u t w h a t they were s a y i n g , b u t he n o t i c e d the way her eyes w i d e n e d , a n d h o w s h e s e e m e d m o m e n t a r i l y t r a n s f i x e d t h e way h e r h u s b a n d had a m o m e n t a g o . S h e p a u s e d l o n g e n o u g h to give D a v e o n e u n f a t h o m a b l e b a c k wards g l a n c e b e f o r e d e p a r t i n g w i t h o u t as m u c h as a hello. " I s u g g e s t , " b e g a n A r m e n d a r i z , " t h a t you s e n d Julie a n d the b o y u p here to s t a y w i t h us f o r a w h i l e , and c o m e y o u r s e l f as s o o n as y o u are a b l e . At least u n t i l I c a n d e t e r m i n e w h a t c a n b e d o n e a b o u t this. I f e v e n h a l f o f w h a t I s u s p e c t is t r u e , y o u c a n n o t r e m a i n in t h a t place a m o m e n t longer." " O h , c o m e o f f it, P e d r o ! S t o p t r y i n g to s c a r e m e with s o m e c r a z y h o c u s - p o c u s ! I h a r d l y see the n e e d f o r . .

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A r m e n d a r i z i n t e r r u p t e d h i m w i t h an a l m o s t b o r e d

fluttering

of

a h a n d . " P l e a s e , I h a v e n o t i m e f o r a r g u i n g with you, D a v i d . I suggest this b e c a u s e I believe it is e s s e n t i a l f o r y o u r o w n welfare." "But the p o l i c e . . " C a n t h i n k w h a t t h e y like. T h e i r s u p p o s i t i o n s are o f n o c o n s e q u e n c e in this, believe m e . " " A n d y o u r s are, I s u p p o s e ? " T h e professor was not upset. "Possibly. Possibly. I f w e are lucky. I m u s t t e l e p h o n e s o m e associates in M a s s a c h u s e t t s . . . yes, that's r i g h t . . . Yale and M i s k a t o n i c , b o t h . I m u s t have s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m libraries there . . . it will take time, a n d I d o not like d o i n g s u c h things by phone...." " W h y n o t h a v e t h e m a t e r i a l p h o t o c o p i e d and s e n t o u t ? " A r m e n d a r i z s m i l e d . " I t w o u l d take t o o long, m y friend, a n d b e sides, t h e s e m a t e r i a l s d o n o t ' p h o t o c o p y ' I n e e d a l s o t h e a d v i c e o f a c e r t a i n e n t h u s i a s t i c a n t i q u a r i a n . . . I pray h e is at h o m e . . . . " " L o o k , I really j u s t c a m e for s o m e a d v i c e , P e d r o . I f t h i s is g o i n g to p u t you to a w h o l e l o t o f t r o u b l e . . . . " " I d o n o t d o this f o r you a l o n e a n y m o r e , David. I will e x p e c t y o u h e r e with y o u r f a m i l y by t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g at t h e latest. N o w please b e g o o d e n o u g h to leave m e f o r a w h i l e . I have m u c h to d o . A n d David?" "Yes?" " I t is b e t t e r t h a n y o u k n o w t h a t y o u c a m e to m e . Hasia

la

vis/a."

His last view o f A r m e n d a r i z s h o w e d t h e p r o f e s s o r s c r i b b l i n g furiously

at h i s desk, a tattered o l d b o o k in o n e h a n d and a rapidly ris-

i n g pile o f n o t e s a t the o t h e r .

T h e y w e r e g a t h e r e d a r o u n d the fireplace in the living r o o m . Dave w a s s t r i v i n g futilely f o r a w a y to plug a c r a c k in the Pacific's floor. Julie was c u r l e d u p o n t h e c o u c h t r a n s c r i b i n g r e c i p e s i n t o her little card file. In t h e far hallway Flip w a s b u s y a s s a u l t i n g a c o f f e e t a b l e with a large force o f m i n i a t u r e d i n o s a u r s . T h e r e w a s a f o u r t h p e r s o n a g e p r e s e n t . G e n e r a l L e e , the m u t a t e d s i a m e s e , s n u g g l e d c o m f o r t a b l y o n a fat s i l k p i l l o w b e t w e e n piles o f g e o l o g y texts. TVy a s h e w o u l d , D a v e c o u l d not c o n c e n t r a t e o n e n g i n e e r i n g . Ar-

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m e n d a r i z . . . why, h e ' d n e v e r seen P e d r o act t h e w a y h e had this a f t e r n o o n ! O r d i n a r i l y h e was a pillar o f c a l m , u n r u f f l e d by the m o s t o u t rageous

h a p p e n i n g s . Yet a f e w m i l d

statements

had

upset

him

c o m p l e t e l y . At least h e was interested, t h o u g h . Was h e ! If h e believed t h e r e m i g h t b e s o m e t h i n g in all this talk o f s e a - m o n s t e r s a n d s u c h , well t h e n . . . His eyes w a n d e r e d with his t h o u g h t s . T h e y c a m e to rest eventually o n the light figure o f G e n e r a l Lee. At which p o i n t Dave s t r a i g h t e n e d in his chair, all t h o u g h t s o f g e o s y n c l i n e s and f a u l t - p r o n e strata g o n e . T h e c a t w a s n o l o n g e r c u r l e d o n its pillow. It s t o o d i n s t e a d b e f o r e the h e a v y p l a n k d o o r . T h e h a i r o n its b a c k was stiff a n d erect, as w a s t h e p e p p e r e d tail. Eyes a b n o r m a l l y wide, e a r s

flattened

back

againt t h e sides o f t h e head . . . e v e r y t h i n g in the a n i m a l ' s s t a n c e w a s suggestive o f fear and t e r r o r . lulie b r o k e his c o n c e n t r a t i o n . " U h , D a v e . . . is t h e r e s o m e o n e o u t f r o n t , d o y o u t h i n k ? " N o t m o v i n g a m u s c l e , s t r a i n i n g his h e a r i n g , h e l i s t e n e d . N o t h i n g . N o wait, wasn't that s o m e t h i n g , there? Yes, surely. A faint s u c k i n g s o u n d , as o f w e t c l o t h b e i n g s l a p p e d lightly o n c e m e n t . A m i l d , l o a t h s o m e r e v e r b e r a t i o n . It s e e m e d p e r h a p s to b e . . . yes, it was c l e a r l y g r o w i n g l o u d e r e v e n a s h e listened. K e e p i n g his v o i c e as level a s p o s s i b l e s o as n o t to s t a r t l e Flip, h e said to h e r , " L o o k at t h e cat." S h e d i d , a n d stifled a g a s p . H e r eyes w e n t as w i d e a s t h e cat's. A p o n d e r o u s s u c t i o n w a s n o w q u i t e a u d i b l e , c a r r y i n g with it t h e s u g g e s t i o n o f g r e a t w e i g h t . E v e r y b r i s t l e 011 h i s b o d y s t i f f as a q u i l l . G e n e r a l L e e was slowly b a c k i n g away f r o m t h e d o o r . T h e s m a l l f a n g s were b a r e d a n d l o w s o u n d s c a m e from h i s t h r o a t t h a t D a v e would have thought impossible for a cat. H e s t a r e d likewise w i t h d u m b f a s c i n a t i o n at t h e solid o a k d o o r . It s e e m e d to j i g g l e e v e r s o slightly. H i s voice r e m a i n e d c a l m , a l m o s t div o r c e d from t h e s i t u a t i o n . " M o v e quietly, l u l i e . T a k e Flip and t r y n o t to b u m p i n t o anyt h i n g , will y o u ? We're g o i n g t o g o d o w n i n t o t h e o l d w i n e cellar, y o u understand? Okay, n o w . . . move." S h e n o d d e d and g o t u p f r o m the c o u c h . T h e c a r d s s h e had b e e n l a b o r i n g o v e r slid to t h e floor. D a v e walked to t h e c e n t e r o f the r o o m a n d s h i f t e d a s i d e the o l d t h r o w rug to reveal a large s q u a r e o u t l i n e in

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t h e c e n t e r o f t h e floor, a s i n g l e iron ring a t t a c h e d to o n e s i d e o f t h e o u t l i n e . Flip m e r c i f u l l y kept q u i e t a s J u l i e led h i m over. A s lightly a s p o s s i b l e , D a v e lilted t h e r i n g . B e l o w , a s e r i e s o f b r o a d w o o d e n s t e p s a p p e a r e d in the d a r k n e s s . O n e day, D a v e had p l a n n e d to c o n v e r t t h e old wine cellar into a playroom. H e c o c k e d a n e r v o u s eye o n t h e f r o n t d o o r . It had b e g u n to s h o w an a l a r m i n g b e n d inwards. H e urged Julie and Flip d o w n t h e o l d steps. T h e sliding, o o z i n g s o u n d s were n o w a c c o m p a n i e d by a s t e n c h o f s t o m a c h - t u r n i n g intensity. H e f o l l o w e d quickly, p a u s i n g o n l y l o n g e n o u g h to let a w h i t e s t r e a k . G e n e r a l L e e , d a s h d o w n past h i m . It w a s d a r k d o w n in that cellar. O n e d a y h e ' d s t r i n g e l e c t r i c lights. O n e day. M e a n w h i l e t h e

flashlight

w o u l d have to do. T a k i n g

it f r o m its c o n v e n i e n t h o o k h e s w i t c h e d it o n . A s m a l l f r i e n d l y p a t h a p p e a r e d in the b l a c k n e s s . After s w e e p i n g t h e e n t i r e r o o m h e settled on a small alcove b e h i n d a j u m b l e o f ancient shelving. A n u m b e r o f old burlap c e m e n t sacks showed there, brown against the mossy a d o b e . T h a t w a s t h e s i d e n e a r e s t t h e sea, a n d t h e s t o n e s

drip-

ped slightly. H e gestured with t h e b e a m . H o l d i n g Flip tightly, Julie walked o v e r a n d c r a w l e d b a c k i n t o t h e i n d i c a t e d r e c e s s . H e t h e n played his light o v e r the s p o t b u t w a s u n a b l e to see her. G o o d . Givi n g the t r a p d o o r a last g l a n c e he h u r r i e d o v e r t o j o i n t h e m . D a m p as it was, t h e wall b e h i n d t h e m w a s r e a s s u r i n g in its solidity. T h e h e a v y air, m o i s t and t h i c k a s i n k , c l o s e d a r o u n d h i m like a s t r a i g h t j a c k e t . B e s i d e his left leg h e c o u l d feel t h e s h i v e r i n g b o d y o f G e n eral Lee. T o g e t h e r t h e f o u r o f t h e m s t a r e d a t t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e t r a p was. T h e r e was a m u f f l e d s n a p p i n g and r e n d i n g , followed by a t r e m e n d o u s crash. Dull c r u n c h i n g s o u n d s followed, a l o n g with a definite g r o a n i n g o f the a n c i e n t

floor-beams.

L o u d snaps and c r a c k l i n g s c o u l d

b e heard, i n t e r s p e r s e d with a b u m p i n g and sliding that s o m e h o w m a n aged to c o n v e y with it an a l m o s t a u d i b l e wetness. T h a t h o r r i b l e s t i n k filtered

d o w n i n t o the cellar, a n d Dave r e c o g n i z e d it in the c l o y i n g

d a r k . It was an o d o r he'd e n c o u n t e r e d o f t e n o u t o n e x p l o r a t o r y rigs. T h e o d o r o f t h e d e e p , d e e p sea b o t t o m . Slowly, h e b e c a m e aware o f a pain in his left s h o u l d e r . H e s a w t h a t Julie w a s d i g g i n g h e r free h a n d i n t o his a r m w i t h s u c h force s h e was d r a w i n g b l o o d .

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His a t t e n t i o n was d i v e r t e d b y a s h o r t , h i g h - p i t c h e d s q u e a l f r o m Flip. H i s eyes w i d e n e d in h o r r o r as they l o c a t e d the r e a s o n . T h e t r a p w a s b e i n g slowly o p e n e d . N o t lifted, b u t b e n t inwards,

f o r c e d d o w n o n its m e t a l h i n g e s by

s o m e i n c r e d i b l e p r e s s u r e . Light f r o m the still i n t a c t living r o o m

fix-

t u r e s filtered in a r o u n d the edges. F r o m this p o i n t o n Dave w a s later a b l e to r e m e m b e r w h a t h a p p e n e d o n l y vaguely. T h e h u m a n m i n d c a n s t a n d o n l y a m e a s u r e d d o s e o f h o r r o r b e f o r e reflexive d e f e n s e m e c h a n i s m s take over to p r o tect o n e ' s s a n i t y . A t h i n g c a m e s l i t h e r i n g in over the s p l i n t e r e d , t o r t u r e d r e m a i n s o f t h e t r a p c o v e r i n g . It s h o w e d a dull g r e e n in the available light f r o m t h e living r o o m b u l b s . A s m a l l t h i n g , a t first, s h a p e d r o u g h l y like a p a w . . . o r was it a c a b l e ? A g r e e n c a b l e . It m o v e d d o w n i n t o t h e c e l l a r with a n o b s c e n e h a l f - c r e e p i n g , h a l f - f l o w i n g m o t i o n . It w a s u n m i s t a k a b l y s e a r c h i n g f o r s o m e t h i n g . As it l e n g t h e n e d it g r e w until it filled the w i d e o p e n i n g p r o v i d e d b y t h e s h a t t e r e d d o o r . Dave n e v e r c o u l d give a c o h e r e n t d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e t h i n g . In c o l o r it w a s g r a y i s h - g r e e n , with here a n d t h e r e u n h e a l t h y - l o o k i n g p a t c h e s o f s o m e d a r k e r c o l o r . I m p o s s i b l y , it gave t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f b e i n g o f v a r i a b l e c o n s i s t e n c y . N o w it was like a s y r u p , n o w a gel, w h e t h e r inside l i q u i d o r s o l i d o r s o m e n a u s e a t i n g c h e m i s t r y i n between he would never know. It r e a c h e d t h e b o t t o m o f t h e s t e p s and s e e m e d to h e s i t a t e . D a v e r e m i n d e d h i m s e l f that this was o n l y a pari

o f whatever monstrosity

rested o n t h e fioor a b o v e , fishing f o r t h e m . T h e n , slowly, it b e g a n to m o v e a g a i n . T o w a r d s t h e i r little h i d i n g place, their last refuge o f s a n ity. H e prayed s i l e n t l y to the o t h e r s , n o t d a r i n g to w h i s p e r . D o n ' t s c r e a m . W h a t e v e r y o u d o , t h i n k , feel, don't scream.

A s t h o u g h s h e had

read h i s t h o u g h t s h e n o t i c e d t h a t lulie had placed her o t h e r h a n d t i g h t l y o v e r Flip's m o u t h . It wasn't n e c e s s a r y . T h e b o y h a d fainted. H e d i m l y r e c a l l e d t h e d i s t a n t voice o f M a r t i n B i r c h , s c r e a m i n g o v e r h i s p h o n e . "It's all around

the

house!"

S t a r i n g with m e s m e r i z e d r e v u l s i o n a t t h e h o r r o r h e pressed h i m s e l f a g a i n s t the m o i s t wall, t r y i n g to b e c o m e a part o f t h e s o l i d r o c k . T h e t h i n g was p o k i n g a m o n g t h e b u r l a p now, a large verdant w o r m . H e k n e w with i n s t a n t c l a r i t y t h a t if the t h i n g t o u c h e d h i m h e would

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start s c r e a m i n g al Ihe l o p o f his lungs. S c r e a m and s c r e a m and n e v e r s l o p s c r e a m i n g , ever. H e w a s s u d d e n l y a w a r e o f a large b l a c k - a n d - w h i l e b l u r s t r e a k i n g pasl h i m . T h e s t r a i n had g r o w n t o o m u c h f o r G e n e r a l L e e . W i t h a h e a r t - r e n d i n g yowl o f d e s p e r a t i o n t h e p o o r a n i m a l t o o k o f f like a shot for the o n e patch o f clean visible light. H e n e v e r r e a c h e d the s e c o n d s t e p . W i t h w h i p p e t - l i k e s p e e d , t h e g r e e n t h i n g e n v e l o p e d t h e c a t in m i d - l e a p . It c o n t r a c t e d , o n c e . G e n eral L e e let out a s h r i e k o f s u c h c o n c e n t r a t e d a g o n y t h a t D a v e w a s f o r c e d to c l a p h i s h a n d s to his e a r s . Julie f a i n t e d . T h e cat's eyes p o p p e d o u t like b u t t o n s o n a fat m a n ' s vest. It h u n g l i m p in t h e g r e e n t h i n g ' s g r a s p , s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n m e r e l y life c r u s h e d o u t o f its s m a l l b o d y . A p p a r e n t l y s o m e t h i n g had b e e n sated, b e c a u s e the l o n g l e n g t h o f p r o t o p l a s m w i t h d r e w , leaving a trail o f m a l o d o r o u s s l i m e b e h i n d it. H e r e t a i n e d c o n s c i o u s n e s s o n l y l o n g e n o u g h to c a t c h a b r i e f glimpse o f the T h i n g that towered into the sky above the shattered t r a p , b l o t t i n g o u t t h e e v e n i n g s t a r s . T h e n he, t o o , fainted.

W h e n he a w o k e h e a w o k e s c r e a m i n g , e x p e c t i n g to see that h o r r o r g l o a t i n g d o w n at h i m . B u t t h e b r o k e n t r a p w a s c l e a r a n d filled with a s q u a r e o f pure, u n c o n t a m i n a t e d daylight. H e was a w a r e o f the d a m p n e s s o f h i s c l o t h e s , not all o f w h i c h was d u e to his p r o l o n g e d c o n t a c t with t h e a d o b e . H e woke Julie, s t i l l i n g t h e i n c i p i e n t s c r e a m with h i s h a n d , a n d g e s t u r e d u p w a r d s . W h e n she s a w t h e e m p t y o p e n i n g and t h e b r i l l i a n t daylight d r i f t i n g d o w n s h e c o l l a p s e d c o m p l e t e l y in h i s a r m s . T h e y rested like that f o r s o m e t i m e b e f o r e h e f o r c e d h i m s e l f to m o v e . C a u t i o u s l y h e p e e r e d o v e r the u p p e r e d g e o f t h e t r a p , ready to d u c k b a c k i n s t a n t l y . All that was in view was the w r e c k a g e o f their livi n g r o o m . H e l p i n g Julie with Flip, w h o was still a s l e e p , t h e y s t e p p e d o u t i n t o the d a y l i g h t . Daylight b e c a u s e a g r e a t p o r t i o n o f t h e r o o f was m i s s i n g , t o r n away like p a p e r . T h e daylight m a d e h i m less c a u t i o u s . T h e sky s h o n e d o w n o n t h r e e s c a r r e d lives. " C a r r y Flip o u t to t h e car. W e ' l l c o m e b a c k later for what's l e f t . . . m a y b e . " S h e n o d d e d n u m b l y a n d g u i d e d the sleepy, n o w h a l f - a w a k e

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y o u n g s t e r o u t w h e r e the d o o r h a d b e e n . H e s e e m e d n o t t o r e m e m b e r a n y t h i n g o f t h e n i g h t past. H o p e f u l l y , his m i n d w o u l d n e v e r remind him. Dave p a u s e d to e x a m i n e the w r e c k a g e . T h e g r e a t w o o d e n s u p p o r t i v e b e a m s w e r e s h a t t e r e d like m a t c h s t i c k s . T h e h u g e b l a c k iron b r a c e s w h i c h had b o u n d the d o o r and w i n d o w s to the t h i c k a d o b e had b e e n b e n t and peeled away like t i n f o i l . S o m e r u b b i n g a c t i o n had g r o u n d away m u c h o f the f r o n t i n g a d o b e itself. O n c l o s e i n s p e c t i o n the r o u g h s e c t i o n s h o w e d a clear, t a c k y s l i m e . It s m e l l e d o f b o t t o m oo/.e. In front o f the h o u s e was a h u g e d e p r e s s i o n in the s a n d l e a d i n g d o w n t o w a r d s the i n n o c e n t l y c u r l i n g s u r f . It w a s w h o l l y f a m i l i a r . G e n e r a l I.ee had g o n e t h e w a y o f the B i r c h e s .

Dave h a d s u p p o s e d his e x p e r i e n c e w o u l d b e a s u r p r i s e , n o t to m e n t i o n a s h o c k , to t h e professor. B u t w h e n P e d r o g r e e t e d h i m a t h i s h o u s e that m o r n i n g h e o n l y n o d d e d k n o w i n g l y a n d said, " Y o u h a v e seen." After R o s a h a d g e n t l y g u i d e d Julie a n d a m e r c i f u l l y i g n o r a n t Flip to t h e guest c o t t a g e , Dave j o i n e d his friend in t h e p e a c e a n d reality o f the d e n . T h e events o f the night previous seemed fantastic and unreal. T h e r e w a s p r o o f e n o u g h , however, in the p r o f e s s o r ' s face. " P e d r o , w h a t in all the hells w a s it, a n d w h e r e did it c o m e f r o m ? " "Actually, D a v i d , I had i n t e n d e d n o t to tell y o u a n y m o r e t h a n y o u k n e w yesterday. P e o p l e w h o b e c o m e involved in s u c h t h i n g s a r e m a r k e d forever. B u t a little k n o w l e d g e p a l e s in c o m p a r i s o n t o t h e t h i n g itself. I m i g h t tell you t h a t it is a l s o q u i t e likely r e s p o n s i b l e f o r your errant oil. No, don't interrupt. L i s t e n . . . r e m e m b e r . " W h e t h e r y o u believe w h a t I a m a b o u t to tell y o u o r n o t is o f no real i m p o r t a n c e . Y o u r b e l i e f o r d i s b e l i e f c a n n o t a l t e r the t r u t h o n e iota." "After last n i g h t t h e r e ' s n o t a hell o f a lot I w o u l d n ' t believe. G o ahead." " S o . L o n g ago the universe was rocked b y a titanic struggle bet w e e n two g r o u p s o f p o w e r f u l e n t i t i e s , o n e m o r e o r less b e n e f i c e n t , t h e o t h e r d e c i d e d l y evil. T h e evil o n e s were d e f e a t e d and p u t i n t o

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v a r i o u s f o r m s o f e x i l e o r r e s t r a i n t . B u t the G r e a t O l d O n e s h a v e b e e n away a l o n g t i m e a n d t h e b o n d s r e s t r a i n i n g t h e s e evil o n e s g r o w w e a k e r . S o m e say t h e t i m e for t h e r e t u r n o f t h e s e is n e a r . T h e y req u i r e h u m a n . . . and n o n - h u m a n . . . s e r v a n t s to p r o p e r l y p r e p a r e t h e w a y f o r t h e i r r e t u r n . Always t h e y a r e t r y i n g to b r e a k t h e h o l d s placed o n them so long ago. "I

have r e a s o n to believe t h a t b y r e - o c c u p y i n g t h e d e

Lima

a b o d e , at this p a r t i c u l a r t i m e , you have u n w i t t i n g l y a i d e d in a s c h e m e to let l o o s e u p o n the w o r l d p e r h a p s t h e m o s t m o n s t r o u s o f t h e s e b e ings. T h a t is o n e r e a s o n w h y I h a v e d i s s u a d e d you f r o m i n v o l v i n g t h e p o l i c e a n y m o r e t h a n y o u a l r e a d y h a v e . S u c h t h i n g s a r e not s u b j e c t to t h e n o r m a l laws o f t i m e and space." " I see. L o o k , I ' m n o t l a u g h i n g . H o w d i d y o u find o u t a b o u t s u c h , u h . . . things?" " T h e r e are

hints

t o m e s , s u c h as t h e De w o r s e , t h e Necronomicon

in c e r t a i n Vermis

forbidden

Mysteriis

and

well-sequestered

o f Ludvig P r i n n , and even

o f the m a d A r a b , A l h a z r e d . "

Dave b r i g h t e n e d s u d d e n l y . " T h e n t h o s e c u l t i s t s o n t h e P o i n t . . . is that w h a t you m e a n t b y ' t h i s p a r t i c u l a r t i m e ' ? " Armendariz nodded somberly. " F o r whatever reasons, they have b e e n a b l e to s u m m o n him

f r o m h i s h o u s e in g r e a t R ' l y e h . I believe

t h a t this is in part r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e p e t r o l e u m leakage t h a t h a s s t y m i e d y o u r b e s t e n g i n e e r s . T h o u g h I fear its i m p l i c a t i o n s

more

t h a n the fact." Dave h a d n ' t h e a r d the last. " S o that's w h a t h a p p e n e d to o u r divers! W e t h o u g h t it was u n s t a b l e c u r r e n t s o n t h e s e a - f l o o r . G r e a t Heavens, P e d r o , w e ' v e g o t to n o t i f y the army, w e . . . ! " H e s t o p p e d . T h e p r o f e s s o r w a s s h a k i n g his head slowly. " Y o u h a v e n o t l i s t e n e d carefully. He is n o t s u b j e c t to n a t u r a l law, as w e k n o w it. W e m u s t try and fight this h o r r o r o n its o w n t e r m s . I h a v e received w h a t I c a n o n l y h o p e will be s u f f i c i e n t i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m m y c o n t a c t s a t M i s k a t o n i c a n d Yale U n i v e r s i t i e s . B u t first, y o u m u s t tell m e e v e r y t h i n g y o u c a n r e m e m b e r a b o u t t h e c o n t e n t

of

those strange chantings that disturbed y o u . . . F o r h o u r s D a v e s t r u g g l e d to recall t h e o d d w o r d s , t h e p e c u l i a r t i m b r e d p h r a s e s w h i c h had d i s r u p t e d his s l e e p t h o s e first n i g h t s in t h e a g e d a d o b e . W i t h a little h y p n o t i c c o a x i n g f r o m P e d r o h e and

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HORROR

ON

THE

BEACH

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Julie w e r e a b l e t o recall m u c h m o r e t h a n they t h o u g h t t h e y ' d heard. W h e n t h e p r o f e s s o r r e p e a t e d t h e s o u n d s b a c k to h i m , Dave shivered. It was m u c h like l e a r n i n g a l a n g u a g e a n d t h e n h e a r i n g it s p o k e n by s o m e o n e w h o k n e w the a c c e n t like a native. " W h e n d o y o u w a n t t o . . . to d o w h a t e v e r it is y o u i n t e n d to do, Pedro?" " A s s o o n as p o s s i b l e . T i m e m u s t not b e wasted. W i t h e v e r y n i g h t t h e c h a n t s g r o w s t r o n g e r , t h e evil r e - e n f o r c e s itself. We m u s t t r y to b r e a k t h e l o c k s t o n i g h t , b e f o r e the f o r g i n g is c o m p l e t e . " Dave g e s t u r e d at t h e p h o n e . " I d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d e n o u g h o f this to o f f e r a n y o b j e c t i o n s , P e d r o , b u t d o n ' t y o u t h i n k w e o u g h t to h a v e some

help?"

A r m e n d a r i z c o n s i d e r e d . " Y e s . No, I still t h i n k t h e type o f ' h e l p ' y o u h a v e in m i n d would b e worse t h a n useless, b u t it o c c u r s to m e t h a t the m e m b e r s o f t h e c u l t m a y possess m o r e e a r t h y f o r m s o f a r g u m e n t . I have a f r i e n d at t h e m i s s i l e base . . . a M a j o r G o m e z . H e will n o t believe, b u t he will c o m e . T o n i g h t , t h e n . "

T h e r e was v e r ) ' little breeze to m u f f l e t h e s o u n d s o f the l e a t h e r o n r o c k a s D a v e w o r k e d h i s w a y a l o n g the b l o c k y p r o m o n t o r y w h i c h b o r d e r e d t h e n o r t h e n d o f C a b r i l l o C o v e . D e s p i t e t h e fact that it was t o o e a r l y f o r a p r e - d a w n f o g , he felt d a m p . A g l a n c e to the left a n d r i g h t s h o w e d d i m o u t l i n e s o f G o m e z ' s t r o o p s , spread o u t a l o n g t h e r o c k s to c u t o f f a n y possible line o f r e t r e a t . N e a r b y , t h e m a j o r was m u t t e r i n g a n g r i l y to h i m s e l f and to a n y o n e w h o cared to l i s t e n , h e e d l e s s o f the fact that t h e g l o w f r o m t h e cultists' fire w a s n o w q u i t e visible. " D a m n f o o l i s h n e s s ! P e d r o , if I d i d n ' t o w e you this favor I'd h a u l y o u in f o r o b s e r v a t i o n myself! ' P r i m a l j e l l y ' i n d e e d ! T h e r e ' d b e t t e r b e something

to this c o c k - a n d - b u l l s t o r y o f y o u r s . If this gets o u t I'll b e

the laughing stock o f the base!" " I c a n o n l y h o p e , " A r m e n d a r i z replied softly, " t h a t r i d i c u l e is t h e worst t h a t c o n f r o n t s us." G o m e z s n o r t e d derisively, b u t said n o m o r e . T h e y were c l o s e to a p o i n t w h e r e s o m e c a u t i o n w a s necessary. H e r e the s o u n d s o f that i n sidious chant s o u n d e d loud. They conveyed a perverse sensuality that

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invited r e j e c t i o n b u t r e f u s e d it. D a v e n o t i c e d that e v e n t h e s k e p t i c a l G o m e z w a s s w a y i n g slightly to that suggestive r h y t h m . O n l y the p r o fessor seemed i m m u n e . " T h a t is the s a m e w o r d i n g y o u and J u l i e h e a r d a t n i g h t s ? T h e s a m e y o u at least repeated to m e this a f t e r n o o n ? " Dave c o u l d o n l y n o d m u t e l y . T h e evil u l u l a t i o n , its t h r o b b i n g subtleties, absorbed his c o m p l e t e attention. Below t h e m , on a

flat,

o p e n area o f n a k e d r o c k , the c u l t i s t s swayed and d a n c e d in a j e r k i n g , w r i t h i n g p a r o d y o f s o m e t h i n g his d e e p e s t m e m o r i e s c o u l d b u t h a l f g u e s s at. H e s t o o d , m o v i n g u n c e r t a i n l y to t h e i n s i s t e n c e o f t h a t p u l s a t i n g wail. D i m l y , he perceived t h e o t h e r s b e g i n n i n g to d o likewise. A g r e a t feeling o f loss m i n g l e d w i t h e x a l t a t i o n c a m e o v e r h i m . H e b e c a m e a w a r e t h a t t h e p r o f e s s o r was m o v i n g . W i t h a g r e a t e f f o r t , he m a n a g e d to t u r n his h e a d . A r m e n d a r i z w a s c a r e f u l l y r e m o v i n g his c l o t h i n g . As e a c h i t e m o f a p p a r e l w a s r e m o v e d t h e s y m b o l s a n d d e s i g n s w h i c h had b e e n p a i n t e d o n his b o d y w e r e revealed in the f a i n t m o o n l i g h t . D o u b t l e s s he'd d r a w n t h e m h i m s e l f , with R o s a filling in t h e a r e a s he would b e u n a b l e to r e a c h . T h e y s e e m e d to m e r g e i n t o o n e a n o t h e r in a s i n g l e swirling pattern o f repellant appearance. C o m p l e t e l y d e v o i d o f a n y t h i n g to suggest he was a h i g h l y intelligent m e m b e r o f a h i g h c i v i l i z a t i o n , t h e p r o f e s s o r s t e p p e d o v e r t h e c o n c e a l i n g r o c k s a n d walked o u t i n t o lull v i e w o f t h e c u l t i s t s . R a i s i n g h i s eyes to the sky a n d s p r e a d i n g h i s a r m s like s o m e i m p o s s i b l y tall w a d i n g bird, he b e g a n to d e c l a i m in a p e c u l i a r l y a r t i f i c i a l - s o u n d i n g voice. S t a r i n g in s h o c k a t t h e a p p a r i t i o n w h i c h had s h a t t e r e d t h e i r c h a n t i n g , t h e c u l t i s t s s t o o d f r o z e n in place. O b v i o u s l y t h e y had b e e n i n t e r r u p t e d at a c r u c i a l p o i n t in t h e i r ritual. O n l y o n e a m o n g t h e m , o n e w h o s e e m e d f a i n t l y f a m i l i a r to D a v e , r e m a i n e d u n a f f e c t e d . H e s t o o d tall o n t h e s i d e o f the fire. H e was p a i n t e d in a m a n n e r very s i m i l a r to the professor, with the e x c e p t i o n t h a t t h e d e s i g n s o n his skin did n o t a p p e a r to h a v e b e e n p a i n t e d o n , b u t i n s t e a d s e e m e d to b e etched

or burned

into the

flesh!

It w a s t h e very first t i m e Dave had s e e n l o s h u a W h i p p l e with h i s clothes off. T h e o l d m a n did n o t halt his s i n g - s o n g , b u t t h e t o n e in w h i c h h e

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c h a n t e d altered n o t i c e a b l y . D e s p i t e h i s i g n o r a n c e o f t h e s t r a n g e s o u n d i n g syllables t h e y f o r c e d D a v e and t h e o t h e r s to recoil in terr o r . T h e v e r y m o d u l a t i o n , t h e p h r a s i n g , was h o r r i f y i n g . T h a t v o i c e d e m a n d e d all a t t e n t i o n , d o m i n a t i n g e v e n the o b s c e n e g r e e n s t a t u e t h a t s t o o d to o n e s i d e o f the fire. U n d a u n t e d , the p r o f e s s o r i n s t a n t l y m o d i f i e d his o w n s p e e c h in r e s p o n s e . N o w it w a s t h e turn o f the c u l t i s t s to d r a w b a c k in fear. T h e y s c r a m b l e d p a t h e t i c a l l y a b o u t t h e fire. A f a i n t flicker o f c o n c e r n s h o w e d in o l d W h i p p l e ' s eyes a n d h e b e g a n to c h a n t in

deadly

earnest. Dave felt m i l d l y dizzy. H e t r i e d to take a s t e p b a c k w a r d s and f o u n d h e c o u l d n ' t m o v e . H e w a s tied to t h a t c h a n t and t h i s s p o t u n t i l e v e n t s played t h e m s e l v e s o u t . I d l y h e n o t i c e d t h a t b o t h t h e c u l t i s t s a n d G o m e z ' t r o o p s were in a s i m i l a r s t a t e . N e i t h e r A r m e n d a r i z n o r W h i p p l e s e e m e d affected. B u t w h a t w a s this? It was far t o o e a r l y f o r t h e m o r n i n g fog to b e c o m i n g in, b u t a d e f i n i t e m i s t had g a t h e r e d a r o u n d t h e P o i n t . It o b s c u r e d v i s i o n f o r all b u t a s h o r t d i s t a n c e a r o u n d . Perspective b e c a m e t e r r i b l y d i s t o r t e d and Dave f o u n d h e c o u l d n o l o n g e r p r o p e r l y j u d g e d i s t a n c e . H e c o u l d n ' t even see t h e s o l d i e r s , w h o were l i n e d u p a s h o r t d i s t a n c e b e h i n d h i s p o s i t i o n . His feet s e e m e d d i v o r c e d f r o m

the

b a s a l t b e n e a t h . T h i s h a r d l y s e e m e d a n o r m a l f o g . It had a p e c u l i a r t i n g l e to it. Besides, it w a s a l m o s t b l a c k in color. A s the v o i c e s o f W h i p p l e a n d t h e p r o f e s s o r r o s e yet h i g h e r , D a v e t h o u g h t h e c o u l d b e g i n to m a k e o u t s h a p e s a g a i n . S o m e t h i n g t h e r e , in t h e f o g , n e a r t h e w a t e r . . . H e b e c a m e a w a r e o f s c r e a m i n g all a r o u n d h i m and realized in s u r p r i s e that h e was o n e o f t h e s c r e a m e r s . S o m e t h i n g b e g a n to g i g g l e at t h e b a c k o f h i s skull. It w o u l d n ' t g o away. A s W h i p p l e ' s n o w q u a v e r i n g tone r e a c h e d a n i m p o s s i b l e p i t c h , t h e o b j e c t t o o k o n a definite f o r m . It t o w e r e d o v e r the n o w v u l n e r a b l e P o i n t , its f a c e . . . if s u c h it c o u l d b e c a l l e d . . . a m a s s o f w r i t h i n g t e n t a c l e s , its s h a p e s a u r i a n with translucid

w i n g s f l a p p i n g a s it stag-

g e r e d f o r t h t r a i l i n g p h o s p h o r u s in its w a k e . Dave r e c o g n i z e d t h e s m e l l . . . t h e s a m e s m e l l he'd b r e a t h e d that awful n i g h t in the w i n e cellar. M a n i a c a l l a u g h t e r r e s o u n d e d in h i s s k u l l as h e c l a p p e d pale trembling hands upon his throbbing temples and screamed because he could not g o mad.

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A g r e a t claw h o v e r e d o v e r the P o i n t and t h e fire s h r a n k away f r o m it in t e r r o r . O n e c u l t i s t w e n t m a d o n t h e s p o t . A n o t h e r fell to h i s b e l l y a n d b e g a n to m a k e low, c r o o n i n g s o u n d s d e e p in h i s t h r o a t . Another uttered a series o f high, yelping cries and threw h i m s e l f o v e r t h e s i d e o f t h e cliff to s m a s h o n the r o c k s below. T h e great c o r r u p t i o n - e n c r u s t e d c l a w wavered u n c e r t a i n l y o v e r t h e two vocal c o m b a t a n t s , d r i f t i n g u n c e r t a i n l y f r o m o n e to the other. T h e p r o f e s s o r ' s v o i c e r o s e to t h e v e r y limit o f e n d u r a n c e and W h i p ple s e e m e d to s h r i n k in o n h i m s e l f as a t h u n d e r o u s , r o l l i n g c r y o f "CTHULHU

IA VGLNN!"

split the t e n s i o n - c h a r g e d m i s t .

T h e claw m o v e d . It swayed and d i p p e d a n d finally c l u t c h e d . . . t h e s c a r r e d f o r m o f W h i p p l e ! A n u n h a l l o w e d s h r i e k o f d a m n a t i o n iss u e d f r o m W h i p p l e ' s twisted lips as the claw w r u n g f o r t h h i s s o u l w h i l e the g r e a t f o r m slipped i n t o the f o a m i n g o c e a n . A wall o f w a t e r c o u r s e d o v e r t h e P o i n t n e a r l y d r o w n i n g D a v e in its o n s l a u g h t . T h e r e c e d i n g r i p t i d e s u c k e d his h e e l s f r o m u n d e r h i m a n d left D a v e shive r i n g , d r e n c h e d , p r o s t r a t e a n d s t a r i n g u p i n t o the stars n o w w h i r l i n g , a m i d n i g h t c a r o u s e l in his c o n s c i o u s n e s s c o n v e r g i n g , c o n c e n t r i c , i n t o oblivion's compassion.

S o m e t h i n g r e f u s e d to s t o p s h a k i n g h i m . D i m l y , h e tried to w i s h it away, b u t it retused to leave. B l i n k i n g p a i n f u l l y . . . h i s eyes s e e m e d to a c h e . . . h e rolled over, to stare i n t o the h a g g a r d f a c e o f M a j o r Gome/., f r a m e d in the d e l i c i o u s c r e a m - b l u e o f a Pacific sky. H e sat u p a b r u p t l y . H o w had he g o t t e n s u c h a t e r r i f i c h e a d a c h e ? T h e n h e rem e m b e r e d , a n d wished he hadn't. " W h e r e ' s t h e p r o f e s s o r ? " h e said s u d d e n l y . Gome/, j e r k e d his head and D a v e t u r n e d t o see a pale b e n t f o r m h u d d l e d u n d e r an a r m y b l a n k e t . It was s i t t i n g b y t h e e d g e o f t h e s o u t h e r n cliff a n d s t a r i n g o u t to sea. D a v e t u r n e d b a c k t o t h e m a j o r . " H e ' s alive t h e n . All r i g h t ? " "Yes to the first. A s to t h e s e c o n d , " h e s h r u g g e d . " W h y n o t ask h i m y o u r s e l f . I m u s t see to m y m e n a n d to t h e a s s e m b l i n g o f t h e s e . . . people." Dave rose a n d w a l k e d o v e r to t h e m o t i o n l e s s figure. H e n o t i c e d t h e s o l d i e r s were g a t h e r i n g u p the r e m a i n i n g cultists a n d h e r d i n g t h e m d o w n t h e s l o p e t o w a r d s w a i t i n g t r u c k s . R a t h e r u r g e n t l y , too. T h e

THE

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r o u g h h a n d l i n g w a s partly the result o f the s o l d i e r s ' refusal to l o o k w h e r e they were g o i n g . T h e y s h o w e d a t e n d e n c y to cast q u i c k g l a n c e s b a c k a t t h e peaceful o c e a n . T h e c u l t m e m b e r s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e far t o o d a z e d to o f f e r e v e n p e r f u n c t o r y r e s i s t a n c e . "Pedro?" T h e p r o f e s s o r t u r n e d his face to Dave. It w a s f r i g h t e n i n g l y pale. Dave sat d o w n b e s i d e h i m . " W e l l , y o u d i d it." "Yes, yes . . . w h a t e v e r it was, I have d o n e . I did n o t t h i n k I was s t r o n g e n o u g h , David. K n o w i n g e x a c t l y the r i g h t w o r d s h e l p e d . W h i p ple w a s s t r o n g e r , actually, b u t at t h e c r u c i a l m o m e n t h e lost c o n t r o l . " T h e y sat s i l e n t l y f o r s o m e t i m e , w a t c h i n g t h e waves roll in from Asia. " I s u p p o s e this m e a n s the oil will s t o p l e a k i n g n o w ? " At this A r m e n d a r i z s m i l e d , t h e n b e g a n to l a u g h . H e l a u g h e d u n til t h e tears ran d o w n h i s face and his s i d e b e g a n t o p a i n h i m , laughed s o that D a v e feared for his f r i e n d ' s s a n i t y . B u t it w a s h o n e s t l a u g h t e r . " F o r g i v e m e , Dave. Y o u r r e m a r k s t r u c k

m e as h u m o r o u s . I

n e e d e d t h e release badly. Yes, I d o not d o u b t t h a t y o u r p r e c i o u s p e t r o l e u m will b e safe f o r n o w . T h o u g h I have heard d i s t u r b i n g t h i n g s a b o u t w h a t t h e C r e o l e s have b e e n d o i n g d o w n in t h e b a c k c o u n t r y o f L o u i s i a n a . A n d t h e r e is a n o t h e r t h i n g . L o o k ! " Dave f o l l o w e d t h e p o i n t i n g a r m d o w n , d o w n to t h e f l o o r o f t h e little c o v e , d o w n past t h e j a c k - s t r a w r u b b l e o f t h e h o u s e o f t h e u n f o r t u n a t e M a r t i n B i r c h , o v e r t h e l o w s a n d d u n e s , to see t h a t w h e r e had stood the ranch h o m e o f Rodrigo de Lima there was now o n l y a s p a r k l i n g s m o o t h e x p a n s e o f w h i t e Pacific s a n d .

T h e Whisperers R i c h a r d A. L u p o f f

T

he so-called editorial office o f M i l l b r o o k High School's student p a p e r w o u l d n e v e r h a v e b e e n m i s t a k e n f o r t h e city r o o m o f t h e

S a n F r a n c i s c o Chronicle,

o r even, to s t i c k c l o s e r to h o m e . . .

M a r i n Independent-Journal.

A c a r d b o a r d sign w i t h

the

hand-lettered

c o p y was t a p e d to t h e f r o s t e d glass; it said " M i l l b r o o k H i - L i f e , " and i n s i d e the m u s t y r o o m , w r e s t l e d a d e c a d e ago f r o m a p r o t e s t i n g lang u a g e teacher, h a l f a d o z e n b a t t e r e d d e s k s c r o w d e d i n t o an area suitable f o r h a l f t h a t n u m b e r . K a r e n R o b e r t s o n sat b e h i n d t h e biggest o f t h o s e d e s k s . O n its battered c o m p o s i t i o n

top s t o o d a p l a s t i c s i g n a n n o u n c i n g K a r e n ' s

p o s i t i o n , Editor-in-Chief,

a n d o n a r o l l i n g t a b l e b e s i d e the d e s k a

b a t t l e - f a t i g u e d e l e c t r i c typewriter, its o n c e b r i g h t p a i n t - j o b s u f f e r i n g severely f r o m the c h i p s a n d fades. M a r i o C i p o l l a a n d A n n i e E p s t e i n sat in s t r a i g h t - b a c k e d c h a i r s o p p o s i t e K a r e n . All t h r e e were s e n i o r s a t M i l l b r o o k H i g h ; a n o t h e r h a l f a year a n d they would have t h e i r d i p l o m a s and b e o f f for a

final

c a r e f r e e s u m m e r b e f o r e t h e y s t a r t e d college. T h e y ' d b e e n f r i e n d s and s c h o o l m a t e s f o r a l o n g t i m e , b u t fall would s e e t h e m s c a t t e r e d to C a l a c r o s s t h e b a y in Berkeley, to t h e local C o l l e g e o f M a r i n in n e a r b y Kentfield, to U S C n e a r l y h a l f a t h o u s a n d m i l e s d u e s o u t h . B u t now, o n this m i s e r a b l e Friday a f t e r n o o n in J a n u a r y , w i t h t h e n o r t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a s k y a s o d d e n , d e p r e s s i n g g r a y and a steady t h r u m o f c h i l l i n g rain d e s c e n d i n g , t h e y c l u s t e r e d a r o u n d

Karen's

T H F.

W H I S P E R E R S

2 7 9

d e s k d i s c u s s i n g the a s s i g n m e n t t h a t A n n i e a n d M a r i o w o u l d head o u t o n that e v e n i n g . " N o b o d y gets i n t e r v i e w s with t h e W h i s p e r e r s , " K a r e n said. " A r e y o u r e a l l y s u r e y o u c a n get in there, A n n i e ? " A n n i e s h o o k b a c k her l o n g , r u s t - r e d hair. " M y f a t h e r says it's all set. We'll g o in f o r the s o u n d c h e c k , t h e n get o u r i n t e r v i e w , a n d w e have backstage passes for tonight's show." M a r i o nodded his support o f Annie. Almost unconsciously he d u g a c o u p l e o f fingers past the f e l t - t i p p e d pen in his s h i r t p o c k e t and r e a s s u r e d h i m s e l f that the p r e c i o u s s t a g e - d o o r pass w a s still t h e r e . It was a s m a l l c l o t h s q u a r e with two words. The ized lettering and t h e w o r d s Wimerland,

i n styl-

Whisperers,

San Francisco

r u b b e r - s t a m p e d b e n e a t h in s p e c i a l i n k t h a t w o u l d

a n d the d a t e

fluoresce

beneath

a special light. H e h a d a n a t t a c h e c a s e with a m i n i a t u r e c a s s e t t e r e c o r d e r in it, a l o n g with h i s pad a n d pencils. A n n i e had h e r c a m e r a a r o u n d h e r n e c k — h e ' d hardly ever seen h e r without i t — a n d a gadget bag beside h e r chair, w i t h e x t r a lenses a n d film. H e k n e w t h a t flash e q u i p m e n t was verboten

o n - s t a g e , a n d t h a t A n n i e , like t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l r o c k p h o -

t o g r a p h e r s , had l e a r n e d to use u l t r a - f a s t films a n d w i d e a p e r t u r e s to c a p t u r e t h e i r i m a g e s by available s t a g e l i g h t i n g . " I am a little n e r v o u s a b o u t the interview," M a r i o s a i d . " Y o u know, t h e W h i s p e r e r s have had t h o s e big hit singles, 'Daemonium' Zann,'

and 'Erich

and I've seen t h e m o n television and all, b u t — " h e s h r u g g e d .

" I ' v e m e t lots o f m u s i c i a n s , " A n n i e r e p l i e d . " D a d d y ' s a l w a y s b r i n g i n g t h e m u p t o t h e h o u s e to u s e the s w i m m i n g p o o l o r t a k i n g m e t o s h o w s a n d i n t r o d u c i n g m e to t h e m . M o s t o f t h e m a r e p e r f e c t l y ordinary people, and very nice." Neither M a r i o nor Karen responded. " W e l l , " A n n i e r e s u m e d , " s o m e o f t h e m are a little b i t o d d . " " I ' l l b e t . " M a r i o s m o o t h e d his m e d i u m - l o n g hair. " T h e s t o r i e s a b o u t w e i r d c a r r y i n g o n , a n d d r u g s , a n d b r e a k i n g u p hotel r o o m s . " H e p a u s e d . " A n d g r o u p i e s . T h e y m u s t all b e s t r a n g e p e o p l e . " A n n i e said " N o , they're n o t . At least n o t m o s t o f t h e m . N o t t h e o n e s I've m e t , a n d I've m e t p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r ) ' a r t i s t o n t h e D a g o n label, and a lot o f o t h e r s , that D a d d y ' s f r i e n d s i n t r o d u c e d m e Elektra, L o n d o n , E p i c . "

to—

280

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

M a r i o b e g a n to p i c k u p his case w i t h t h e r e c o r d e r . H e g o t to h i s feet and h e a d e d for t h e c o r n e r o f the n e w s p a p e r o f f i c e , r e a c h e d f o r h i s q u i l t e d d o w n i e j a c k e t and r a i n - h o o d . " Y e a h , well, let's get g o i n g . We'll b e g o i n g a g a i n s t the traffic b u t it's still g o i n g to b e r u s h h o u r , e s p e c i a l l y in t h e city." " G o o d l u c k ! " K a r e n c a l l e d a f t e r t h e m . " G e t a g o o d story. W e ' l l s c o o p everybody." M a r i o and A n n i e h e a d e d d o w n t h e hall, t o w a r d the f r o n t d o o r o f t h e s c h o o l . It was a f t e r f o u r o ' c l o c k , and by this t i m e o f d a y — especially b y this t i m e o f F r i d a y — M i l l b r o o k High was p r e t t y n e a r l y deserted. T h e y s i g n e d t h e late-exit b o o k a t t h e front d o o r , h e a d e d d o w n t h e s t e p s h a n d - i n - h a n d a n d s p r i n t e d a c r o s s t h e f r o n t yard t o w a r d t h e s t u d e n t p a r k i n g lot w h e r e A n n i e left the little Volvo I 8 0 0 E t h a t h e r f a t h e r had g i v e n her f o r h e r s e n i o r p r e s e n t . S h e and

Mario

weren't exactly sweethearts—they'd both h a d dates with plenty o f o t h e r kids, a n d had n e v e r g o t i n t o the h e a v y s e n i o r s c e n e — a t least with e a c h o t h e r — b u t they'd g o n e to p a r t i e s and d a n c e s a n d g e n erally h u n g a r o u n d together ever since j u n i o r high. T h a t was a long time. A n n i e u n l o c k e d t h e d o o r o n the d r i v e r ' s side o f the 1 8 0 0 . S h e l o o k e d a c r o s s its sleek, r a i n - b e a d e d r o o f a t M a r i o . " W o u l d y o u r a t h e r drive us i n t o the c i t y ? " H e g r i n n e d . "Really, I w o u l d . I always feel k i n d o f — s t r a n g e — w h e n a girl d r i v e s . You k n o w ? " A n n i e said. " T h a t ' s p r e t t y o l d - f a s h i o n e d , M a r i o . " B u t she walked a r o u n d the c a r ' s l o n g h o o d and h a n d e d h i m t h e keys, w a i t i n g for h i m to c l i m b into the d r i v e r ' s seat a n d r e a c h a c r o s s to u n l o c k t h e p a s s e n g e r d o o r f o r her. S h e settled i n t o the leather b u c k e t seat, f u m b l e d in h e r g a d g e t b a g a n d c a m e u p with a p a i r o f p h o t o t r o p i c J e r r y G a r c i a glasses. S h e settled t h e m o n h e r n o s e . In t h e g l o o m y wet a f t e r n o o n t h e y were a s c l e a r as p l a i n g r o u n d g l a s s . M a r i o c l i c k e d o n the e n g i n e a n d e a s e d the Volvo's f l o o r - s h i f t i n t o its s m o o t h and p o w e r f u l lower g e a r . F i e r o l l e d it o u t o f t h e p a r k i n g lot, b r a k e d f o r t h e s t o p sign at the s t r e e t , t h e n h e a d e d o n t o S i r F r a n c i s D r a k e B o u l e v a r d and u p s h i f t e d , c r u i s i n g t h r o u g h the light traffic and t h e s t e a d y r a i n t o w a r d t h e freeway.

T H F.

WHISPERERS

281

O u t o f t h e c o r n e r o f his e y e he c o u l d see A n n i e d o i n g s o m e t h i n g with her h a n d s in t h e car's m a p c o m p a r t m e n t . " Y o u l o o k i n g f o r something?" " D o you k n o w t h e W h i s p e r e r s ' m u s i c ? ' " T h e i r singles." " W e l l , h e r e . " A n n i e p u l l e d a t a p e c a r t r i d g e from the m a p d r a w e r a n d s l a p p e d it i n t o t h e Volvo's B e n d i x t a p e s y s t e m . " T h i s is t h e i r n e w a l b u m . It's called Chtbulhu.

D a d d y b r o u g h t it h o m e for m e . It's a

p r o m o a d v a n c e c o p y ; the a l b u m w o n ' t b e o u t till n e x t w e e k . T h e y ' r e s u p p o s e d to p u s h it o n this tour." M a r i o s h o o k his head a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e p u l l e d a r o u n d a b i g O l d s m o b i l e s t a t i o n w a g o n that w a s filling a l a n e a n d a h a l f o f S i r F r a n c i s . " G r o c e r ) ' s h o p p i n g , " h e g r u m b l e d to h i m s e l f . T h e s o u n d o f water s o f t l y l a p p i n g a t — w h a t , a pier, the p r o w o f a small b o a t ? — c a m e f r o m the car's quad m i n i - B o z a k speakers. Slowly t h e s o u n d rose, and rising w i t h it a n d t h r o u g h it c a m e t h e i n d e s c r i b able t h e r e m i n - l i k e wail o f an A r p synthesizer, t h e n a d e e p ,

bass

t h r o b b i n g . At first M a r i o t h o u g h t it w a s a d r u m , b u t w h e n it c h a n g e d p i t c h h e realized t h a t it w a s a p o u n d i n g F e n d e r bass. " T h a t ' s — I k n o w that," M a r i o s a i d . N o w the vocal e n t e r e d , t h e u n e a r t h l y m u l t i - t r a c k e d f e m a l e v o i c e t h a t he had h e a r d s o o f t e n b e f o r e . " T h a t ' s ' S t y x R i v e r B o a t m a n ' , " h e s a i d . " I ' v e h e a r d that p l e n t y o f times." " R i g h t . It's t h e lead t r a c k o n Chthulhu.

T h e single's b e e n o u t f o r

a m o n t h . N o w they h i t w i t h t h e a l b u m a n d t h e tour. T h e y o u g h t to g o g o l d o n b o t h o f t h e m . T h e s i n g l e ' s a l r e a d y c h a r t e d with a b u l l e t and—" " I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t you're t a l k i n g a b o u t , A n n i e . " " O h . It's m u s i c b u s i n e s s s h o p talk. D a d d y always talks a b o u t h i s w o r k and m o s t o f o u r f r i e n d s are in the b u s i n e s s . W h a t 1 m e a n is, t h e W h i s p e r e r s a r e g o i n g to b e t h e biggest g r o u p a r o u n d b y t h e e n d o f t h e year." M a r i o m a d e a s o u n d s o m e t h i n g like hmmf.

He dropped

the

t h r e a d o f c o n v e r s a t i o n , let t h e m u s i c fill h i s e a r s while he kept h i s eyes careftilly o n h i s d r i v i n g . H e ' d b a n g e d a f e n d e r o n t h e f a m i l y A p o l l o last fall a n d still h a d n ' t h e a r d t h e last o f it. M o s t o f t h e o t h e r

282

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

k i d s in h i s class had c a r s o f i h c i r o w n , o r at least g o t to u s e their pare n t s ' cars, and here he w a s r i d i n g o n b u s e s o r b e g g i n g r i d e s . T h e b o u l e v a r d c u r v e d a r o u n d a n d h e t o o k a r a m p t h a t ran f r o m it o n t o t h e freeway. H e d r o p p e d t h e Volvo i n t o t h i r d , t h e n d o w n i n t o s e c o n d w h e n h e s a w t h e t r a f f i c o n the freeway. T h e r e was a b r e a k between a Plymouth

Duster and a blue-flecked wide-open

dune

b u g g y — m u s t be s o m e b o d y headed h o m e f r o m Stinson B e a c h — a n d M a r i o had t h e 1 8 0 0 o n t o the freeway, a c r o s s i n t o the c e n t e r lane and a c c e l e r a t i n g in t h e s p a c e o f a q u a d r o p h o n i c s y n t h e s i z e r h o w l . "Very nice," Annie applauded. " L i s t e n , " M a r i o s a i d , " w e b e t t e r d o a g o o d j o b 011 this. You're s u r e this is the o n l y i n t e r v i e w t h e y ' r e g i v i n g o n t h i s g i g ? " "Yep." H e s h o o k h i s h e a d . " I ' d just e x p e c t W a s s e r m a n to get it t h e n , o r Phil E l w o o d f r o m t h e

Examiner."

T h e f r e e w a y w o u n d and s w o o p e d t h r o u g h t h e hills b e t w e e n M i l l Valley a n d Sausalito, p l u n g e d t h r o u g h t h e twin t u n n e l s a n d s l a n t e d d o w n the l o n g g r a d e t o w a r d the G o l d e n G a t e B r i d g e . To their right, t h e g r e e n w i n t r y hills were b a t h e d in g h o s t l y s h r e d s o f fog that had w o r k e d t h e i r way in f r o m t h e Pacific a n d t h r o u g h the M a r i n valleys. T o t h e i r left, t h e b a y w a s a d i s m a l s h e e t o f water, its s u r f a c e p o c k e d with a m i l l i o n i m p a c t s a m i n u t e . " T h e y ' r e o n l y d o i n g it as a favor to D a d d y , " A n n i e c a l l e d h i m b a c k f r o m h i s r e v e r y . ' T told y o u that." " O h — w e l l . I ' m j u s t s u r p r i s e d , that's all. I f they w o u l d n ' t d o it f o r t h e dailies, y o u k n o w , I t h o u g h t t h e y ' d give an i n t e r v i e w to s o m e b o d y f r o m Rolling

Stone,

y o u k n o w . B e n F o n g - T o r r e s o r s o m e b o d y , and

l i m M a r s h a l l would s h o o t it o r A n n i e L i e b o v i t z . O r they c o u l d h a v e t h a t g u y f r o m Ramparts

a n d M i c h a e l G a z a r i s c o u l d s h o o t it. D i d y o u

see t h o s e s h o t s h e g o t o f ( a g g e r last t i m e t h e S t o n e s p l a y e d ? " M a r i o m i s s e d A n n i e ' s a n s w e r as h e b r a k e d f o r the toll plaza a t t h e n o r t h e r n e n d o f t h e b r i d g e . H e p u t t h e 1 8 0 0 i n t o first and pulled away f r o m t h e gate, settled f o r a steady 4 3 a s they c u t t h r o u g h t h e r a i n d r o p s . N o t yet five o ' c l o c k , yet the s u n w a s g o n e , the s k y a g r a y a p p r o a c h i n g b l a c k , the bridge i l l u m i n a t e d o n l y by t h e g h a s t l y glare o f its p i n k - o r a n g e h i g h - i n t e n s i t y l a m p s . T h e y c r o s s e d t h e bridge w i t h o u t f u r t h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n , the o n l y

T H F.

283

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s o u n d s t h o s e o f t h e t a p e system w o r k i n g its w a y f r o m t r a c k to t r a c k o f t h e W h i s p e r e r s ' n e w a l b u m a n d o f t h e car's p r o g r e s s t h r o u g h t h e frigid rain: the d r o p s d r u m m i n g o n t h e h o o d a n d r o o f o f the Volvo, t h e b e a t - s w i s h , b e a t - s w i s h o f t h e w i p e r s , t h e s h u s h o f the car's f o u r n e w Pirelli r a d i a l s o n the wet a s p h a l t o f t h e r o a d w a y . T h e Friday c o m m u t e r t r a f f i c w a s h e a v i e r now, s n a r l e d and m a d e m o r e d e n s e t h a n n o r m a l b y t h e steady rainfall. M a r i o s w u n g t h e Volvo a r o u n d the la/)' c u r v e f r o m the b r i d g e o n t o D o y l e D r i v e , all b u t o v e r w h e l m e d by t h e s h e e r m a s s i v e n u m b e r s o f t h e c a r s a n d c o m m u t e r b u s e s m o v i n g in t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n . H e m a d e h i s w a y past t h e n e o - c o r i n t h i a n Palace o f F i n e A r t s , d o w n u g l y L o m b a r d S t r e e t with its n e o n m o t e l s a n d g r i m y g a s o l i n e s t a t i o n s , and t u r n e d o n t o Fillmore. A line o f c a r s s t o p p e d h i m a t t h e traffic light a t U n i o n S t r e e t . F r o m t h e seat b e s i d e h i m A n n i e asked i f h e c o u l d see the d i n g y little s t o r e t h e y ' d j u s t passed. M a r i o

l o o k e d b a c k . " W h a t , that

button

shop?" " K n o w w h a t u s e d to be t h e r e ? " M a r i o s h o o k his h e a d . " T h a t w a s t h e o r i g i n a l M a t r i x . D a d d y says that h e t o o k m e t h e r e w h e n I w a s a little girl. I c a n h a r d l y r e m e m b e r it. All o f the b a n d s played t h e r e b a c k in the b e g i n n i n g . T h e A i r p l a n e , t h e D o o r s , t h e W a r l o c k s , t h e N e w R i d e r s . T h a t w a s b a c k in F l o w e r P o w e r t i m e s . " " T h a t little p l a c e ? " M a r i o c a s t a last g l a n c e o v e r h i s s h o u l d e r , t h e n f o l l o w e d a P o r s c h e 9 1 4 as it p u l l e d a c r o s s U n i o n . T h e P o r s c h e dived i n t o a p a r k i n g s p a c e a n d M a r i o g u n n e d the 1 8 0 0 uphill in s e c o n d . " H o w c o u l d they m a k e a living playing in a j o i n t like t h a t ? " " I c o u l d n e v e r u n d e r s t a n d t h a t e i t h e r . D a d d y says they lived o n p e a c e a n d love a n d h o l i n e s s . " " Y e a h . lust like t h e W h i s p e r e r s , right? O r d o t h e y h a v e a d i f f e r e n t trip going?" " T h e y s u r e do. T h e y ' r e m a k i n g plenty. D a d d y says they g o t a r e c o r d i n g a d v a n c e f r o m D a g o n and t h e y ' r e c l e a n i n g u p o n

their

t o u r s a n d T V g i g s . T h e r e w a s n o s u c h t h i n g as r o c k o n T V b a c k in t h e o l d days, D a d d y says, u n l e s s you c o u l d get o n F.d Sullivan's s h o w like Elvis o r t h e Beatles." M a r i o said " W h o ' s Ed S u l l i v a n ? "

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C I R C L E

A n n i e said " I t h i n k h e was s o m e t h i n g like D i c k C l a r k , I ' m n o t sure." "Yeah." T h e W h i s p e r e r s ' n e w a l b u m Chihulhti

w o u n d u p with a typically

w e i r d , h e a v y n u m b e r with o d d w o r d s a b o u t s o m e b o d y c a l l e d t h e R e a n i m a t o r . A n n i e p u l l e d t h e c a r t r i d g e f r o m t h e B e n d i x unit and r e p l a c e d it with t h e W h i s p e r e r s ' first a l b u m ,

Atiubis.

T h e classic w h i t e a p a r t m e n t b u i l d i n g s o f Pacific H e i g h t s g r a d u ally gave w a y to c r u m b l i n g t e n e m e n t s as F i l l m o r e Street c h a n g e d f r o m a high-price, old-line n e i g h b o r h o o d into a g r i m y ghetto street. " P l a c e s like t h i s give m e t h e c r e e p s , " M a r i o g r u m b l e d . H e held t h e wheel w i t h o n e h a n d a n d c h e c k e d his d o o r latch with t h e o t h e r . A n n i e said n o t h i n g . " L o o k , " M a r i o w e n t o n nervously, " y o u really k n o w s o m u c h m o r e a b o u t the w h o l e m u s i c b u s i n e s s t h a n 1 d o , I ' m n o t s o s u r e a b o u t this i n t e r v i e w , A n n i e . " She s h o o k her head, her reddish hair swinging into the edge o f M a r i o ' s field o f v i s i o n . " Y o u d o n ' t h a v e e n o u g h c o n f i d e n c e , M a r i o . I always read y o u r s t u f f , and we've d o n e s t o r i e s t o g e t h e r b e f o r e . D o n ' t w o r r y , r e l a x , you'll d o

fine."

H e f o u n d a p a r k i n g p l a c e n e x t to a b o a r d e d - u p , d e s e r t e d c h u r c h o n S u t t e r S t r e e t , and b a c k e d t h e Volvo into it. " I h o p e t h e c a r ' l l b e safe h e r e , " h e said, r e a c h i n g b e h i n d the b u c k e t s e a t s f o r h i s c a s s e t t e r e c o r d e r in its a t t a c h e c a s e . " I t ' l l b e safe, M a r i o . " " I d o n ' t k n o w . A n i c e car in a n e i g h b o r h o o d like this, m a y b e w e s h o u l d put it in t h e M i y a k o . " A n n i e i g n o r e d t h e s u g g e s t i o n . S h e h o i s t e d her gadget b a g o n t o h e r s h o u l d e r a n d c l i m b e d o u t o f the car. T h e y walked t o g e t h e r past a r o w o f ( a p a n e s e r e s t a u r a n t s c a t e r i n g to v i s i t i n g Asian b u s i n e s s m e n a n d t o u r i s t s and p e o p l e a r r i v i n g early f o r t h e s h o w a t W i n t e r l a n d . M a r i o l o o k e d a t his w a t c h . " W e c a n get s o m e d i n n e r a f t e r we d o t h e i n t e r v i e w , t h e n g o b a c k f o r t h e s h o w afterwards." Annie agreed. T h e y walked u p Post to S t e i n e r S t r e e t , t h e n c o n t i n u e d past t h e c o r n e r to the s t a g e d o o r o f the c a v e r n o u s c o n c e r t hall. M a r i o r a p p e d o n t h e d o o r with a

fifty-cent

piece, t h e e c h o o f t h e m e t a l l i c c l a s h

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s o u n d i n g o f f I h e c o n c r e t e walls a n d sidewalk. " W i l l y o u r dad b e h e r e , Annie?" " H e said h e m i g h t c o m e o v e r f o r ihe s h o w , " s h e a n s w e r e d , s h a k i n g h e r head, " b u l he was s t u c k in a m e e t i n g all day. At least h e told m e t h i s m o r n i n g that h e e x p e c t e d to b e . S o w e s h o u l d j u s t g o a h e a d . " "Okay." T h e stage d o o r , a heavy sheet o f iron r i v e t t e d o n t o

creaking

h i n g e s , s w u n g o p e n slowly a n d a h o s t i l e face g l o w e r e d o u t a t t h e m . " U h — t h e W h i s p e r e r s a r e e x p e c t i n g us," M a r i o m u t t e r e d . " S h o w ' s sold o u t , " t h e d o o r m a n g r o w l e d . " U m - n o , uh. W e — " T h e d o o r m a n s l a m m e d the h e a v y iron d o o r s h u t . M a r i o l o o k e d at A n n i e f o r l o r n l y , t h e n r e m e m b e r e d .

He

un-

z i p p e d t h e f r o n t o f his w a t e r p r o o f j a c k e t , fished h i s b a c k s t a g e pass o u t a n d held it in f r o n t o f h i m . A n n i e g r i n n e d and hefted her heavy gadget b a g to s h o w w h e r e she'd s t u c k h e r o w n pass to its side. M a r i o r a p p e d o n the iron a g a i n . A f t e r a few s e c o n d s t h e d o o r c r e a k e d o p e n and t h e d o o r m a n ' s face, m o r e hostile t h a n ever, a p p e a r e d o n c e m o r e . M a r i o s h o v e d his pass f o r w a r d s o t h e d o o r m a n c o u l d see it. T h e d o o r m a n s t o p p e d , gazed u n i m p r e s s e d a t the b a c k s t a g e pass a n d said, " S h o w ' s n o t f o r f o u r h o u r s . T h a t d o e s n ' t get you i n t o t h e s o u n d c h e c k . " H e s t a r t e d t o close t h e d o o r again b u t it s t o p p e d a t M a r i o ' s h e a v y h i k i n g b o o t — t h e k i n d that all t h e kids a t M i l l b r o o k High were w e a r i n g this year. T h e d o o r m a n ' s e x p r e s s i o n t u r n e d f r o m o n e o f g e n e r a l h o s t i l i t y to p e r s o n a l rage. " S a y — " " T h e W h i s p e r e r s a r e e x p e c t i n g us. It w a s all set u p by D a g o n R e c o r d s . You'd b e t t e r c h e c k o n it. T h e y ' l l b e p r e t t y upset w h e n t h e y find out, otherwise." T h e d o o r m a n g r u m b l e d i n c o h e r e n t l y , t h e n said " I ' l l g o ask t h e i r m a n a g e r B a r t S t a r k e a b o u t it. You b e t t e r b e s t r a i g h t with m e o r it's n o b a c k s t a g e , 1 d o n ' t care a b o u t a n y passes. A n d t a k e y o u r f o o t o u t o f m y d o o r b e f o r e 1 c u t it o f f . " M a r i o reluctantly withdrew his boot. T h e d o o r s l a m m e d shut. M a r i o t u r n e d t o w a r d A n n i e . " N i c e fellow. I w o n d e r why h e hates m e ? " " H e d o e s n ' t h a t e y o u . " A n n i e s m i l e d at h i m . M a r i o c o u l d see t h e r a i n b e a d i n g u p o n h e r f o r e h e a d a n d the edges o f h e r h a i r that e x t e n d e d b e y o n d the n y l o n h o o d o f h e r j a c k e t . In the g h a s t l y light o f a

286

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billboard lamp advertising the Whisperers' forthcoming a l b u m , the o n l y light o n t h i s s i d e o f t h e W i n t e r l a n d a u d i t o r i u m , t h e r a i n w a t e r p u d d l e d and r a n like i c y p e r s p i r a t i o n . " H e d o e s n ' t h a t e y o u , " she r e p e a t e d . " T h a t ' s j u s t o l d G o o l e y t h e d o o r m a n . He'd have a t h o u s a n d g a t e - c r a s h e r s o r g r o u p i e s o r a s s o r t e d r i p - o f f s in here e v e r y n i g h t if h e d i d n ' t c o m e o n a little b i t heavy, Mario." "Hmmph." T h e y s t o o d in the c h i l l i n g r a i n w a i t i n g f o r G o o l e y ' s r e t u r n . After a w h i l e t h e i r o n d o o r c r e a k e d o p e n f o r t h e third t i m e . G o o l e y l o o k e d a little less h o s t i l e a n d a n g r y t h a n h e had b e f o r e . H e m a d e a g e s t u r e with his h a n d and A n n i e a n d M a r i o s t e p p e d o v e r a l o w i r o n b u l k head that separated the dingily painted

floor

inside the d o o r w a y

f r o m the littered g r a y c e m e n t o u t s i d e . " S t a r k e says okay." G o o l e y g e s t u r e d o v e r his s h o u l d e r , t o w a r d a s h o r t n a r r o w s t a i r c a s e t h a t led u p to a h a l f - e l e v a t e d p l a t f o r m level. A heavyset m i d d l e - a g e d m a n w a s s t a n d i n g o n t h e p l a t f o r m . H i s j o w l y face was ringed with a f r i n g e o f g r a y i n g hair. H e w o r e a r u m pled g r a y t w e e d j a c k e t a n d b a g g y b r o w n

flannel

pants. He smiled

t h i n l y at M a r i o a n d A n n i e . " Y o u t h e kids f r o m the s c h o o l p a p e r ? " "Yes sir." " I ' m B a r t S t a r k e . Hal E p s t e i n f r o m D a g o n said y o u w e r e all right." " M r . E p s t e i n is m y father," A n n i e s a i d . S t a r k e repeated h i s s m i l e , m o r e t h i n l y t h a n ever. " Y e a h . L o o k , m y k i d s a r e just s t a r t i n g t h e i r s o u n d c h e c k . Y o u g o m a k e

yourselves

c o m f y a n d y o u c a n talk to J o h n n y a n d O i l y after." H e j e r k e d a t h u m b toward a w o o d e n door. M a r i o and A n n i e c r o s s e d t h e r o o m t o w a r d t h e n e w d o o r . M a r i o l e a n e d his head t o w a r d A n n i e ' s a n d hissed, " J o h n n y a n d O i l y ? " " T h e W h i s p e r e r s , " s h e a n s w e r e d softly. " J o h n n y K e n d r i c k and O l i v i a O l d h a m , d i d n ' t you d o y o u r h o m e w o r k , M a r i o ? " " O h , okay." H e p u t his h a n d o n the t a r n i s h e d b r a s s k n o b and pushed the wooden panel ahead o f them. "Sure. I just never t h o u g h t o f O l i v i a O l d h a m as Oily, that's all." Inside t h e b i g a u d i t o r i u m they m a d e t h e i r w a y to t h e first b a n k

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o f a n c i e n l . p a t c h e d s e a t s that flanked t h e d a n c e floor. A n n i e tossed a q u i c k l o o k a r o u n d the c a v e r n o u s r o o m , s t u d i e d the s t a g e for a few s e c o n d s a n d t h e n b u s i e d h e r s e l f o v e r h e r gadget b a g . M a r i o p u t d o w n h i s a t t a c h e c a s e a n d settled i n t o a d u s t - s o a k e d c u s h i o n , t h e n t u r n e d h i s o w n g a z e to t h e stage that rose a s tall a s a m a n a t t h e e n d o f t h e auditorium. T h e W h i s p e r e r s w e r e a l r e a d y in t h e i r places w h i l e s o u n d t e c h n i cians a n d lighting crew scuttered a r o u n d them, checking cables, setting m o n i t o r speakers, aligning spots. T h e workers t o a m a n wore b a t t e r e d b l u e j e a n s a n d s o i l e d tee s h i r t s , u n c o n s c i o u s p a r o d i e s , M a r i o t h o u g h t , o f an a n c i e n t M a r l o n B r a n d o s c r e e n i m a g e . T h e o n l y m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t v i s i b l e o n the s t a g e was j o h n n y Kendrick's white A r p synthesizer; the synthesizer, a n d t w o mikes a t o p t h e i r c h r o m i u m s t a n d s , a g i g a n t i c s o u n d c o n s o l e at o n e s i d e o f t h e stage a n d a towering b a n k o f Acoustic 12-inch a n d 18-inch speaker cabinets under Ampeg V6c a m p tops. " H e y , d o n ' t they w o r k w i t h a full b a n d ? " M a r i o asked A n n i e . S h e s h o o k her head, p u l l i n g h e r a t t e n t i o n away from t h e c a m e r a gear she'd b e e n a s s e m b l i n g , " j u s t t h e m . All t h e rest is o n t a p e — a l l t h e o t h e r i n s t r u m e n t s and the e f f e c t s . " S h e t u r n e d b a c k to t h e 135 m m l e n s she'd b e e n s c r e w i n g o n t o her N i k o n F 2 b o d y f o r u l t r a - l o n g doseups. M a r i o said " B u t — i s n ' t t h a t — 1 d o n ' t k n o w , n o t q u i t e — u h ,

ethi-

cal o r s o m e t h i n g ? 1 m e a n , this isn't a d i s c o t h e q u e . " " P e r f e c t l y n o r m a l . P i n k Floyd travelled with t a p e d e f f e c t s f o r years. First a r t i s t e v e r to g o all o u t w a s T o d d R u n d g r e n — " "Uhg!" " W e l l anyway, h e did a w h o l e set r i g h t in t h i s r o o m w i t h a w h o l e b a n d o n t a p e . l u s t R u n t and a g u i t a r a n d a d e c k . " "Hmph!" T h e t e c h n i c i a n s s i l t e d away f r o m the stage. M a r i o s a w A n n i e slip away from the plush seats, glide o u t o n t o the m i d d l e o f t h e g v m n a s i u m sized d a n c e floor to take s o m e l o n g s h o t s o f t h e W h i s p e r e r s ; t o n i g h t she'd use h e r b a c k s t a g e pass to get i n t o the w i n g s o r o n t o the e d g e o f t h e s t a g e itself f o r live s h o t s . J o h n n y K e n d r i c k was s t a n d i n g b e h i n d the A r p k e y b o a r d , O l i v i a O l d h a m at her m i k e a t c e n t e r s t a g e . T h e y started playing a n d s i n g i n g

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t h e i r newest s i n g l e . M a r i o l o o k e d at J o h n n y f o r a m o m e n t : he w a s dressed in a b l a c k s a t i n s t a g e outfit w i t h c r i m s o n flashing. A heavy t e x t u r e d g o l d c h a i n h u n g a r o u n d his n e c k , with a h u g e c l e a r j e w e l Hashing red b e n e a t h the s p o t s . His h a i r was l o n g , h a n g i n g in s t r a i g h t , g l o s s y b l a c k p l a n e s o n eit h e r s i d e o f his d a r k , s e r i o u s face. H e w o r e a d a r k m o u s t a c h e . O m a r S h a r i f , M a r i o t h o u g h t , m a d e u p to l o o k like a s a t a n i c priest. H e r e a c h e d i n s t i n c t i v e l y to finger a set o f r o s a r y b e a d s h e ' d t h r o w n in a g a r b a g e pail five years earlier. H e t u r n e d h i s gaze to A n n i e E p s t e i n . T h e a u d i t o r i u m w a s in n e a r l y total d a r k n e s s , t h e o n l y light in t h e g r e a t r o o m t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f the stage lights a n d the s p o t s that blazed f r o m the b a l c o n y lighting b o o t h . T h e s t a g e lighting cycled t h r o u g h dazzling w h i t e , o r a n g e , red, g r e e n , b l u e a n d b a c k to w h i t e . A n n i e w a s p o i n t i n g her M i n o l t a light m e t e r a t the W h i s p e r e r s , b a r e l y v i s i b l e e x p r e s s i o n s o f a n n o y a n c e and d i s t r a c t i o n c h a s i n g e a c h o t h e r a c r o s s h e r r o u n d , a n i m a t e d face with e a c h a l t e r a t i o n in t h e l i g h t i n g . In h e r b u l k y q u i l t e d j a c k e t a n d r a g g e d j e a n s , with h e r wirer i m m e d g l a s s e s a n d r a i n - f r i z z e d h a i r s h e l o o k e d like t h e u n d e r ground c o m i c b o o k hippie chick Pudge. M a r i o left t h e dusty plush seats and m o v e d o u t o n t o t h e b i g d a n c e fioor h i m s e l f . H e t u r n e d b a c k to face the s t a g e ; f r o m this dist a n c e t h e e l e v a t i o n o f t h e p l a t f o r m m a t t e r e d o n l y a little, a n d h e c o u l d see t h e W h i s p e r e r s w i t h o u t the d i s t o r t i o n t h a t w o u l d a n n o y a f r o n t - r o w listener and w a t c h e r . T h e y ' d c u t their first n u m b e r s h o r t — n o n e e d to r u n t h o u g h all o f it at a s o u n d c h e c k — a n d O l i v i a had t u r n e d h e r b a c k to t h e " a u d i e n c e , " to walk to l o h n n y ' s A r p a n d lean o v e r it, c o n f e r r i n g w i t h h i m . After a little w h i l e the two m u s i c i a n s n o d d e d t h e i r h e a d s in a g r e e m e n t o n s o m e p o i n t a n d O l i v i a walked away f r o m t h e s y n t h e s i z e r a n d b a c k to h e r m i c r o p h o n e . S h e m a d e a s m a l l gesture with h e r left h a n d a n d a l o w e e r i e s o u n d b e g a n to filter t h r o u g h t h e g i a n t s p e a k e r b a n k s b e h i n d t h e stage. It w a s t h e u n e a r t h l y l e a d - i n to a n o t h e r W h i s perers' n u m b e r . M a r i o w a t c h e d O l i v i a O l d h a m : s h e w a s a c o m p l e t e c o n t r a s t to K e n d r i c k . W h e r e his h a i r w a s like j e t , h e r s w a s a g l i s t e n i n g b l o n d e t h a t p i c k e d u p e a c h c o l o r in turn f r o m t h e g l a r i n g lights; u n d e r t h e w h i t e glare it l o o k e d as p a l e a s J o h n n y W i n t e r ' s . H e r face was t h i n

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a n d pale; w h e n s h e s m i l e d o r s a n g M a r i o c o u l d see Ihe play o f e v e r y t e n d o n a n d m u s c l e in her f a c e and her t h r o a t . W h e n s h e g e s t u r e d — she had a p e c u l i a r , f a s c i n a t i n g way o f h o l d i n g her fingers a s if s h e were g r a s p i n g s o m e invisible line f o r s u p p o r t — h e c o u l d a l m o s t feel her touching him. H e s h u d d e r e d a n d s q u e e z e d h i s eyes s h u t , t h e n o p e n e d

them

a g a i n . T h e stage lights were o f f for t h e m o m e n t , a n d t h e W h i s p e r e r s were b a t h e d in s e p a r a t e s p o t l i g h t s : J o h n n y K e n d r i c k in a d e e p b l u e t h a t e m p h a s i z e d his s a t a n i c a p p e a r a n c e ; O l i v i a O l d h a m in an a l m o s t t a n g i b l e d e l u g e o f red that m a d e h e r p l a t i n u m hair, h e r pale, t h i n face, her b i l l o w i n g w h i t e d r e s s a m o n t a g e o f c r i m s o n t e x t u r e s . A l m o s t involuntarily, M a r i o sat d o w n , c r o s s - l e g g e d o n the hard wooden

fioor.

He'd h e a r d all o f t h e W h i s p e r e r s ' m u s i c b e f o r e : their s i n g l e s o n t h e r a d i o for t h e past year a n d a h a l f s i n c e t h e y ' d a p p e a r e d o u t o f d u s t y m i d w e s t e m o b s c u r i t y , their t w o released a l b u m s Anubis Nightshade

and

t h e past few n i g h t s a t h o m e as h e p r e p a r e d f o r the b i g i n -

terview, t h e n e w Chthullm

in the Volvo 1 8 0 0 o n t h e w a y to W i n t e r -

l a n d today. B u t he'd n e v e r h e a r d t h e m b e f o r e like this. H e w a t c h e d the W h i s p e r e r s o n t h e s t a g e . U n d e r t h o s e lights, h e t h o u g h t , a n d with the a u d i t o r i u m i t s e l f in a l m o s t total d a r k n e s s , t h e Whisperers could hardly know there was anyone present beside their t e c h n i c a l crew. Yet t h e w a y t h e y m o v e d , l o o k e d , and s a n g It w a s a l m o s t as i f M a r i o were b e i n g c a r r i e d away o n s o m e s o r t o f astral j o u r n e y , c a r r i e d a w a y b y two c r e a t u r e s o f s o m e s o r t

of—

p r e t e r n a t u r a l essences, o f d a r k n e s s a n d o f light, p u r e distillates o f yin a n d o f y a n g , e l e m e n t a l e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h e m a l e and f e m a l e p r i n c i ples o f being. T h e c o l o r s cycled, t h e d a r k K e n d r i c k and the pale O l i v i a w e r e t r a n s f o r m e d from o r a n g e t o red to g r e e n to b l u e ; t h e e e r i e s o u n d s c o m i n g f r o m the b i g A m p e g / A c o u s t i c t o w e r s s e e m e d to w h i s p e r to h i m personally. He could almost understand what the Whisperers were s a y i n g to h i m , a l m o s t feel O l i v i a O l d h a m ' s t r e m u l o u s ,

needing

touch— " Y o u ' r e n o t o n s o m e t h i n g are you, k i d ? " Mario

flinched

away from the h e a v y h a n d t h a t w a s s h a k i n g h i m

r o u g h l y by o n e s h o u l d e r . H e b l i n k e d his eyes a n d s a w t h a t J o h n n y

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K e n d r i c k a n d O l i v i a O l d h a m were g o n e f r o m t h e stage; the h o u s e lights were o n and h a l f a d o / e n c a s u a l l y dressed t e c h n i c i a n s were r e c h e c k i n g e v e r y piece o f e q u i p m e n t . T u r n i n g , M a r i o s a w the j o w l y face o f B a r t o n S t a r k e p e e r i n g i n t o h i s face. S t a r k e l o o k e d a n n o y e d . H e w a s c h e w i n g a fat b r o w n cigar, o r at least the last i n c h o r s o that r e m a i n e d o f o n e . M a r i o b l i n k e d u p a t h i m and g r u n t e d in c o n f u s i o n . H e pressed b o t h his h a n d s o n t h e f l o o r and s t a r t e d to s t a n d u p . " I said, y o u on s o m e t h i n g , k i d ? " M a r i o s h o o k his h e a d . " N - n o sir. I was j u s t , ah . . " Y e a h , " S t a r k e n o d d e d . " Y o u g o t c a r r i e d away with t h e m u s i c . All right, I don't want n o b o d y c o m i n g a r o u n d here stoned out on anyt h i n g , y o u k n o w ? T h e c u s t o m e r s are b a d e n o u g h , b u t that's not m y p r o b l e m . You w a n t that interview, y o u b e t t e r get b a c k s t a g e n o w and d o it b e f o r e m y kids g o take t h e i r n a p b e f o r e the s h o w . " H e j e r k e d his h a n d t o w a r d t h e d o o r that led f r o m t h e a u d i t o r i u m to the b a c k s t a g e area w h e r e t h e y ' d first e n t e r e d t h e b u i l d i n g . M a r i o r u b b e d h i s h a n d s o v e r h i s o w n face, p i c k e d u p h i s a t t a c h e case w i t h the c a s s e t t e e q u i p m e n t in it and s t a r t e d f o r the d o o r . H e was s t a r t i n g to get b a c k t o g e t h e r n o w . H e c o u l d see that A n n i e had p i c k e d u p her g a d g e t b a g a n d w a s a f e w p a c e s a h e a d o f h i m .

He

c a u g h t u p to her as they r e a c h e d the d o o r and s t e p p e d t h r o u g h it dir e c t l y b e h i n d her, S t a r k e f o l l o w i n g at h i s heels. He s t u m b l e d through the door, through the cold, drab he'd b e e n in earlier, u p the s t a i r w a y w h e r e he'd first s e e n

room Barton

S t a r k e . T h e r e was still a slight r i n g i n g in M a r i o ' s e a r s — s u r e l y t h e a f t e r - e f f e c t o f t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g l o u d s p e a k e r s in t h e a u d i t o r i u m — a n d h i s eyes had a p p a r e n t l y n o t r e t u r n e d a l t o g e t h e r to n o r m a l a f t e r t h a t o d d visual e x p e r i e n c e . A n n i e E p s t e i n s e e m e d to h a v e g o n e o f f s o m e w h e r e , m a y b e to c h a n g e lenses o r load a fresh roll o f t r i - X . M a r i o s t o p p e d a t t h e top o f t h e s t a i r s and l o o k e d b a c k b u t h e d i d n ' t s e e a n y o n e — n o t S t a r k e , n o t the d o o r m a n Gooley, not any o f the stage hands or technicians. H e p u t his h a n d o n t h e d o o r k n o b and w e n t t h r o u g h i n t o a n o t h e r r o o m . It w a s d i m l y l i g h t e d — h e c o u l d n ' t tell w h e t h e r t h e r e were recessed e l e c t r i c b u l b s s o m e w h e r e o r w h e t h e r the light c a m e entirely from

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s e e m e d to b e f u r n i s h e d in d a r k p l u s h , a n c i e n t b l a c k velvet c u s h i o n s a n d m a r o o n drapes. T h e r e was an o d o r in t h e a i r — s o m e t h i n g musty, yet s o m e h o w s w e e t . H e t u r n e d to l o o k b a c k a t t h e d o o r b u t it s e e m e d t o h a v e r e c e d e d , o r else M a r i o had u n c o n s c i o u s l y a d v a n c e d to t h e m i d d l e o f t h e r o o m . H e l o o k e d d o w n a n d s a w that he w a s s t a n d i n g in the c e n t e r o f a dark, heavily p a t t e r n e d c a r p e t . H e t r i e d to f o l l o w t h e p a t t e r n with his e y e s : it wove t o r t u o u s l y , s e e m e d a l m o s t to p r e s e n t a n o b j e c tive p i c t u r e o f — s o m e t h i n g . B u t h e c o u l d n ' t q u i t e m a k e o u t w h a t it was, n o t in t h e d i m n e s s , the w a v e r i n g i l l u m i n a t i o n o f the d a r k r o o m . T h e r e was a s o u n d o f s w i s h i n g d r a p e r i e s a n d h e s a w a pale s t a n d i n g b e s i d e o n e o f t h e c a n d l e s . It was O l i v i a O l d h a m ; in t h e

figure flick-

e r i n g c a n d l e l i g h t s h e l o o k e d s l i m m e r t h a n ever, a n d far m o r e pale. Her h a i r l o o k e d a l m o s t p u r e w h i t e , a n d to M a r i o she s e e m e d , f o r an i n s t a n t , n o t to b e t h e v e r y y o u n g w o m a n s h e h a d s e e m e d o n t h e stage. F o r t h e first t i m e h e c o u l d see her eyes clearly: t h e y w e r e pale, t o o , like e v e r y t h i n g e l s e a b o u t her. H e c o u l d n ' t tell w h a t c o l o r they w e r e : a pale, pale b l u e , o r p e r h a p s a w h i t e n e d g o l d e n t i n t that p i c k e d u p flickers o f c a n d l e l i g h t a n d g l e a m e d at h i m a c r o s s t h e r o o m . O l i v i a O l d h a m said " H i . " T h e s i n g l e syllable, s o f t l y u t t e r e d , s t r u c k M a r i o like a n e l e c t r i c s h o c k . H e h a d n ' t e x p e c t e d her to speak, s o m e h o w : as a b s u r d a s t h a t s e e m e d e v e n to h i m . S h e had s e e m e d like a c r e a t u r e f r o m s o m e o t h e r plane o f existence. To hear her c o m m o n p l a c e greeting was m o r e a s t o u n d i n g t h a n it w o u l d have b e e n to see h e r s l o w l y f a d e i n t o invisibility. S h e c r o s s e d t h e r o o m t o w a r d h i m and put her h a n d o u t as if f o r h i m to take it. " Y o u ' r e M r . C i p o l l a ? Please m a k e y o u r s e l f c o m f o r t a b l e . W o u l d y o u like a n y t h i n g ? A c u p o f t e a ? " S h e g e s t u r e d , and b e s i d e o n e o f t h e c a n d l e s w h e r e M a r i o c o u l d n o t i m a g i n e n o t n o t i c i n g it, t h e r e w a s a p l a i n t r a y with a pot and c u p s . H e b a r e l y m a n a g e d to c r o a k an affirmative response. Olivia's v o i c e w a s — s o m e h o w soft a n d l o w like a whisper, yet p l e n t i f u l l y c l e a r to h i m . M a r i o f o u n d h i m s e l f s i t t i n g o n a plush velvet b e n c h . H e felt s o m e h o w c l u m s y a n d i n a d e q u a t e .

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Olivia O l d h a m , unbelievably

C I R C L E

fragile-seeming,

sat b e s i d e h i m , a

c u p in h e r h a n d s . M a r i o l o o k e d i n t o her eyes. T h e y

were g o l d e n .

He

realized s u d d e n l y t h a t s h e w a s the m o s t b e a u t i t u l p e r s o n he'd e v e r seen, t h a t h e w a s — h e felt h i m s e l f t u r n i n g c r i m s o n a n d h o t . H e f u m b l e d for his n o t e b o o k , his r e c o r d e r . " U h — t h e r e ' s — A n n i e said her f a t h e r h a d — " " A n n i e w e n t with J o h n

K e n d r i c k . " O l i v i a sipped a t her

cup,

raised her eyes to l o o k u p at h i m a s s h e d i d . " T o get s o m e s h o t s in b e t t e r light. B r i g h t e r light, t h a t is." " U h . " M a r i o tried a s i p o f t h e t e a h i m s e l f . H e ' d heard s t o r i e s o f t h e s t r a n g e b a c k s t a g e s c e n e s a t places like this, o f t h e d a n g e r s a n d t h e t e m p t a t i o n s . H e l o o k e d at O l i v i a . S h e s e e m e d c o m p l e t e l y at h o m e in this d i m , plush r o o m , her w h i t e g o w n a l m o s t f l o a t i n g a b o u t her like t h e s o f t w a v e r i n g fins o f s o m e d e l i c a t e t r o p i c a l fish. M a r i o ' s h e a d felt light, his b o d y s e e m e d to tingle. H e t o o k a n o t h e r s i p o f t h e hot o r a n g e tea. O u t s i d e , he r e m i n d e d h i m s e l f , the world w a s g o i n g o n . H e w a s h e r e to d o an i n t e r v i e w for h i s s c h o o l paper, O l i v i a O l d h a m was a singer, h a l f o f the W h i s p e r e r s , t h a t was all. A n d n o t f o r t y feet away, o u t s i d e this place, S a n F r a n c i s c o was g o i n g a b o u t its r a i n y Friday n i g h t r o u t i n e : late c o m m u t e r s still h e a d i n g for the b r i d g e to M a r i n , t o u r i s t s f r o m O m a h a a n d f r o m O s a k a r i d i n g u p a n d d o w n t h e city's hills o n c a b l e cars, freaks from B e r k e l e y a n d w h a t was left o f H a i g h t c u e i n g u p r i g h t n o w a t t h e front d o o r o f W i n t e r l a n d — H e s n a p p e d h i s head u p a n d l o o k e d a t O l i v i a O l d h a m . " U h — w h e r e ' s — u h — w h e r e d i d y o u start, u m . . . " i f o n l y h e c o u l d get t h e i n t e r v i e w g o i n g , get b a c k in c o n t r o l o f t h e s i t u a t i o n s o m e h o w . B u t O l i v i a s e e m e d t o b e m a k i n g t h a t p e c u l i a r gesture w i t h her

fingers,

a n d M a r i o f o u n d it h a r d e r a n d h a r d e r t o m o v e . S h e t o o k the c u p f r o m his h a n d s , p u t it b a c k o n t h e shelf. S h e s t o o d b e f o r e h i m and d r e w h i m u p to h i s f e e t . " U h , I m e a n t to ask you . . . " h e plowed d o g g e d l y o n , t r y i n g to c l e a r his h e a d . I f h e c o u l d get s o m e fresh air. It was s o s t u f f y in this r o o m , t h e p e c u l i a r o d o r in h e r e . H e l o o k e d a t Olivia, a n d c o u l d n ' t tell w h e t h e r s h e was v e r ) ' tiny o r w h e t h e r she t o w e r e d o v e r h i m , w h e t h e r t h e r o o m itself was c r o w d i n g in o r r e t r e a t i n g to m o n s t r o u s dimensions. " O h , " h e tried o n c e m o r e , " t h e , a h , t h e W h i s p e r e r s — "

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S h e s m i l e d at h i m a n d n o d d e d e n c o u r a g i n g l y . " A h , y o u h a v e u n u s u a l m a t e r i a l . 1 m e a n , a h , w h y d o you w r i t e s o n g s a b o u t s u c h , a h , m o r b i d t o p i c s ? Like, a h , y o u r n e w a l b u m . W h a t d o e s Chthulhu

m e a n ? D o e s n ' t it have s o m e t h i n g to d o with a h , s o m e

old a h — ? " " Y e s , " s h e n o d d e d , "it is an o l d t r a d i t i o n . V e r y o l d . Y o u m i g h t e v e n call it an o l d religion. T h o s e w h o k n o w o f t h e E l d e r G o d s . T h o s e w h o w o u l d o p e n the way o n c e m o r e . " " B u t w h y t h e W h i s p e r e r s ? I m e a n if it's a r e l i g i o n — " "A religion that was s u p p r e s s e d a m i l l i o n years a g o . A religion t h a t e x i s t e d o n l y in secret places, o n l y in i s o l a t e d villages. A religion t h a t w a s d i s c o v e r e d a n d secretly a t t a c k e d a g a i n and n e a r l y w i p e d o u t fifty y e a r s a g o . Y o u c a n read o f it, you c a n find it all in t h e w o r k s o f t h e P r o v i d e n c e writer." " B u t — b u t — " Mario stammered. " B u t now," O l i v i a w e n t o n , " n o w w e have t h e way. T o n i g h t y o u will see. T o n i g h t you will see f o u r t h o u s a n d y o u n g p e o p l e s w a y i n g a n d c h a n t i n g with us, m o v i n g in t h e r i t u a l steps, c a l l i n g b a c k the Elder Gods, worshipping, worshipping." Her t h i n h a n d h o l d i n g his s e e m e d to b e m a d e o f i r o n , s t r o n g and resistless; s h e s e e m e d to t o w e r a b o v e his head, h e r eyes g l e a m i n g ; h e r w h i t e flowing d r e s s s e e m i n g to flutter and w h i r l w i t h a life o f its o w n , as if it were not m e r e c l o t h , b u t a s e n t i e n t t h i n g . " B u t w h y d o you tell m e this? W o n ' t y o u b e d e s t r o y e d a g a i n ? I'll w r i t e a b o u t y o u , we'll p r i n t it. A n n i e ' s p h o t o s — " Her shrill l a u g h t e r c u t i n t o his voice, a n d f r o m b e h i n d h i m t h e r e c a m e m o r e laughter, d e e p e r . H e whirled and s a w J o h n n y K e n d r i c k s t a n d i n g , the c a n d l e l i g h t r e f l e c t i n g f r o m t h e b l a c k s a t i n o f his s u i t a n d t h e r e d o f its filigreed chain.

flashing,

Beside

o f t h e g r e a t j e w e l t h a t h u n g f r o m its

Kendrick stood Annie, her face

blankly

expressionless. " F o u r t h o u s a n d p e o p l e , " K e n d r i c k said softly. " F o u r t h o u s a n d y o u n g p e o p l e , full o f the vital e n e r g y needed t o feed t h e b e a s t , to s u m m o n t h e o p e n e r , to b r i n g b a c k the E l d e r G o d s . " W e let you c o m e s o t h e r e would

b e a r e c o r d o f this great night.

U s e y o u r b e s t w o r d s , boy." H e t u r n e d to A n n i e . " U s e y o u r b e s t skill, girl. T o n i g h t is a n i g h t that will live forever. A n d in c o m i n g days, as t h e m i g h t y sounds o f C h t h u l h u m u s i c drive from millions o f speakers.

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drive t h r o u g h m i l l i o n s o f b r a i n s , the m i g h t ) ' o n e will h e a r . H e will rise. T h e E l d e r G o d s will r e t u r n . " K e n d r i c k s t e p p e d to t h e d o o r , o p e n e d it, s n a p p e d " S t a r k e ! S e n d t h a t n u i s a n c e G o o l e y f o r s o m e f o o d f o r us. G e t e n o u g h f o r o u r guests. W e have to b e c o n s i d e r a t e o f t h e p o w e r s o f t h e p r e s s ! " H e laughed, and s l a m m e d t h e d o o r s h u t .

Lights! Camera! Shub-Niggurath! R i c h a r d A. L u p o f f

O

n e o f Ihe m o r e g l a m o r o u s t o w n s in S t a r r e t t is c a l l e d — n o w don't b e s u r p r i s e d — H o l l y w o o d . You'll r e m e m b e r t h a t

there

was the first H o l l v w o o d l a n d , later s h o r t e n e d to H o l l y w o o d , b a c k o n e a r t h . L a t e r c a m e the f a m o u s H o l l y w o o d - o n - t h e - m o o n , w h e r e they were able to get s u c h f a b u l o u s s c e n i c a n d lighting effects a n d w h e r e t h e light g r a v i t y m a d e it e a s y to u s e heavy e q u i p m e n t . In t i m e the b u i l d e r s a n d m a n a g e r s o f Starrett, that g i a n t t i n c a n w o r l d t h a t plies its w a r e s in t h e i n t e r s t e l l a r d e e p s , d e e m e d it w i s e to c a r r y o n the t r a d i t i o n . H e n c e , Starrett's o w n

Hollywood-between-

the-Stars. You've p r o b a b l y heard a b o u t Starrett, b u t j u s t in c a s e y o u haven't, here's h o w that artificial world s u r v i v e s . It's s o b i g t h e r e ' s a c o m p l e t e e c o - s y s t e m ( a n d a c o m p l e t e e c o n o m y ! ) inside Starrett's m a s s i v e shell. T h u s , as Starrett travels f r o m s t a r to s t a r a n d visits planet a f t e r planet, it f u n c t i o n s s o m e t h i n g like a h i g h - t e c h g y p s y c a m p . T h e s p a c e - f o l k w h o live in S t a r r e t t b u y at this w o r l d a n d sell a t t h a t . T h e y s o m e t i m e s c a r r y p a s s e n g e r s b e t w e e n r e m o t e s o l a r systems. T h e y p r o v i d e varied f o r m s o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t f o r t h e m u d - h o p p e r s ( a . k . a . r u b e s ) w h o s h u t t l e u p f r o m p l a n e t s i d e for a special treat. A n d t h e y p r o d u c e s o m e o f t h e b i g g e s t m o n e y - m a k i n g s h o w s in t h e k n o w n galaxy.

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Even i f you're t h o r o u g h l y f a m i l i a r with S t a r r e t t , it's less t h a n likely t h a t y o u ' v e e v e r h e a r d o f D i n g a n z i c h t , a n o t h e r artificial s p a c e - h a b i t a t t h a t d i d n ' t travel as w i d e l y a s S t a r r e t t . N o t b y a l o n g - s h o t . In fact, Dingan/.icht h a r d l y travelled at all, e x c e p t in the s o m e w h a t d i f f u s e ast r o n o m i c a l s e n s e . T h a t is, D i n g a n z i c h t w a s a s s o c i a t e d with the t r i n a r y s t a r system F o r n a x 1 3 8 2 . A s F o r n a x 1 3 8 2 m o v e d relative

to

o t h e r n e a r b y o b j e c t s ( a n d , in t h e u l t i m a t e view, a s the u n i v e r s e c o n t i n u e d to e x p a n d ) D i n g a n z i c h t m o v e d a l o n g w i t h it. B u t that d o e s n ' t m e a n m u c h o n the local s c a l e . F o r n a x 1 3 8 2 c o n s i s t e d o f 1 3 8 2 A l p h a , a red g i a n t s t a r ; 1 3 8 2 B e t a , a g r e e n dwarf; a n d 1 3 8 2 G a m m a , a m e d i u m - s i z e , yellowish

main-

s e q u e n c e s t a r n o t v e r y u n l i k e S o l . T h e s e t h r e e stars were s o m e t i m e s k n o w n as t h e c o s m i c t r a f f i c light, o r as t h e s h e r b e t t r i p l e t s C h e r r y , Lime, a n d L e m o n . D i n g a n z i c h t was a large c o n s t r u c t . It had b e e n p o s i t i o n e d to rem a i n s t a t i o n a r y in the g r a v i t a t i o n a l n e x u s o f C h e r r y , L i m e ,

and

L e m o n . As t h e t h r e e stellar m e m b e r s o f F o r n a x 1 3 8 2 wove their c o m p l e x o r b i t a l n e t a r o u n d D i n g a n z i c h t , D i n g a n z i c h t e r s c o u l d peer o u t t h r o u g h t h e v i e w p o r t s o f their h o l l o w m e t a l l i c world a n d see an e n d lessly c h a n g i n g l i g h t - s h o w . C h e r r y would rise and L e m o n set, o r L e m o n w o u l d rise as L i m e s e t , a n d s o o n . T h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f c o l o r e d s u n l i g h t s m i g h t p r o d u c e a b r i g h t o r a n g e e f f e c t o n e day, a lurid c h a r t r e u s e a n o t h e r , a truly g l o r i o u s m a g e n t a a n o t h e r . D i n g a n z i c h t was p r o b a b l y t h e worst place in t h e u n i v e r s e to live i f y o u were c o l o r - b l i n d . N o t b e c a u s e y o u would s u f f e r a n y p a r t i c u l a r h a r m f r o m living t h e r e . Just b e c a u s e you'd m i s s s o d a m n e d

much

natural spectacle.

C o n s i d e r i n g the n u m b e r o f i n h a b i t e d w o r l d s in t h e g a l a x y — a n d t h a t n u m b e r w a s i n c r e a s i n g all t h e t i m e , b y the w a y — t h e r e w a s a l i m i t l e s s m a r k e t f o r t h e w a r e s p e d d l e d b y S t a r r e t t and a n u m b e r o f s i m i l a r i n terstellar g y p s y c a m p s . T h e s p a c e - f o l k m i g h t h a v e j u s t kept p r o d u c i n g c o p i e s o f existing p r o d u c t i o n s a n d s e l l i n g ' e m to n e w c u s t o m e r s , b u t that w o u l d h a v e r e d u c e d their art to m e r e c o m m e r c e . T h e y i n sisted o n c o n t i n u i n g to t u r n o u t n e w p r o d u c t i o n s all the t i m e . T h e t h r e e b i g g e s t s t u d i o s in H o l l y w o o d - b e t w e e n - t h e - S t a r s were

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

30th Century-Bioid, Universal-Interdimensional, and

297

Asahi-Kirin-

T o y o . R u n n i n g a d i s t a n t f o u r t h was an outfit m o d e s t l y k n o w n a s C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c P r o d u c t i o n s , o r C o l i c p r o d s for s h o r t . C o l i c p r o d s was h e a d e d b y o n e T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r IV, nee I s i d o r e S t i c k p l a s t e r , a nervous, balding, cigar-chomping

m a n o f m i d d l e years,

much

given to stodgy, o l d - f a s h i o n e d dress. F o r i n s t a n c e , w h e n t h e c u r r e n t arbiters

of

Hollywood-between-the-Stars

fashion

dictated

wing-

c o l l a r e d shirts a n d s t r i p e d cravats, d a r k j a c k e t s , b o w l e r s and b r o l l i e s — T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r c o u l d b e seen in f l u o r e s c e n t tights a n d t u r q u o i s e h e l m e t , a style that had d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m t h e s t u d i o s a n d w a t e r i n g holes o f Hollywood h o u r s a n d hours ago. It d i d n ' t h e l p T a r q u i n ' s j u m p i n e s s a n y that C o l i c p r o d s was in b a d financial

trouble at the m o m e n t . T h e c h i e f - o f - p r o d u c t i o n for the stu-

d i o w a s a s t a t u e s q u e i n d i v i d u a l w h o had b e e n b o m P a m e l a

Rose

T r e m a y n e b u t w h o insisted o n b e i n g k n o w n p r o f e s s i o n a l l y as G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z . G o l d a differed f r o m m o s t S t a r r e t t e e r s , w h o were alm o s t u n a n i m o u s l y o f e a r t h - h u m a n a n c e s t r y . G o l d a t o o was h u m a n , b u t w a s o f F o r m a l h a u t i a n o r i g i n . S h e had i m m i g r a t e d to S t a r r e t t w h e n it w a s v i s i t i n g h e r h o m e w o r l d o f F o r m a l h a u t V I I I . B u t y o u c o u l d h a r d l y tell her f r o m a n a t i v e S t a r r e t t e e r , e x c e p t that s h e w a s seven feet tall and had b r i l l i a n t m e t a l l i c - g r e e n s k i n . In an era o f s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , D i n g a n z i c h t was o n e o f t h e m o s t successful o f s p e c i a l i z e d worlds. T h e r e were p l a n e t s d e v o t e d largely o r exclusively to a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e r e w e r e o t h e r s that c o n c e n t r a t e d o n heavy industry, fine m a n u f a c t u r i n g , a r t i s t i c c r e a t i o n , o r prayer. ( O f t h e latter, R e v e r e n d J i m m y Joe J e e t e r — t h a t was t h e n a m e o f t h e p l a n e t , yes. R e v e r e n d J i m m y Joe J e e t e r — w a s t h e b e s t

known

example.) D i n g a n z i c h t s p e c i a l i z e d in s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y . T h e w h o l e world, with o n l y m i n i m a l s u p p o r t s y s t e m s to p r o v i d e s u c h necessities as f o o d , was a c o m p l e x o f l a b o r a t o r i e s , research facilities, a n d t e s t i n g g r o u n d s . T h e r e were a g r e a t m a n y i n d e p e n d e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s in D i n g a n z i c h t , a n d e a c h o f t h e m m a n a g e d to e a r n its w a y by d e v e l o p i n g u s e f u l d e v i c e s t h a t the D i n g a n z i c h t e r s c o u l d sell to t h e rest o f t h e galaxy. T h e r e was, for instance, the Edison/Tsiolkovsky C o r p o r a t i o n , w h o s e m o s t successful p r o d u c t was the f a m o u s rollaway cat impellor. T h e r e

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was the V i e u x C a r r e C a s t - I r o n P r o d u c t s C o m p a n y A . G . , from w h o s e l a b o r a t o r y had e m e r g e d t h e h y p o s p a c e drive that p e r m i t t e d Starrett and w o r l d s like it to m o v e from s t a r to star in s u c h s h o r t p e r i o d s o f t i m e . T h e r e was Z. Z. Z a c h a r y and .Associates, w h o had developed the m a t t e r duplicator, that i n v e n t i o n that has c a u s e d such h a p p i n e s s and p l e n t y — a n d s u c h bizarre h e a d a c h e s ! — f o r users t h r o u g h o u t the galaxy. A n d t h e r e w a s M a c r o t e c h .Associates. Oy, w a s t h e r e e v e r M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s ! Macrotech

Associates

had s o m e o f t h e b e s t

minds

in

Din-

g a n z i c h t — o r a n y o t h e r world, f o r that m a t t e r ! — a t its d i s p o s a l . W e l l , a n d it m i g h t have b e e n s i m p l e r in t h e l o n g r u n if it h a d n ' t !

Right a t this m o m e n t t h e r e w a s a t e r r i b l e a r g u m e n t g o i n g o n in T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r ' s o f f i c e , a m o d e s t little r o o m p a t t e r n e d o n t h e o n e t i m e private a u d i e n c e c h a m b e r o f T a r q u i n ' s favorite h i s t o r i c a l

figure,

t h e E m p e r o r F r a n z J o s e f o f A u s t r i a - H u n g a r y . T a r q u i n was h o s t i n g t h e m e e t i n g h i m s e l f , l i g h t i n g a s e r i e s o f fat b l a c k cigars i m p o r t e d f r o m I.a H a b a n a O t r a Vez, p o u r i n g little glasses o f P u e r t o M a s R i c a n r u m f o r h i m s e l f and his guests, a n d s w e a t i n g u p a s t o r m d e s p i t e t h e c a r e f u l l y c o n t r o l l e d t e m p e r a t u r e and h u m i d i t y . A l s o p r e s e n t were C o r t Swiggert, a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e s t u d i o c o m p t r o l l e r ' s o f f i c e , w e a r i n g h i s h a r l e q u i n o u t f i t o f red a n d black; C o l d a A b r o m o w i t z , s w a t h e d as usual in a thick, b u s h y coverall o f s y n t h e t i c p o l a r b e a r f u r ; and M a r t i n v a n B u r e n M a c T a v i s h . M a c T a v i s h was a s c r e e n w r i t e r , j u s t a b o u t t h e b e s t in t h e industry. H e w o r e a h i g h l a n d kilt, t a m o ' s h a n t e r , a n d s p o r r a n . P e r c h e d o n o n e h a i r y k n e e w a s h i s p o r t a b l e w o r d - p r o c e s s o r . It was s l i g h t l y s m a l l e r t h a n an i m m y , a n d if you d o n ' t k n o w w h a t an i m m y is you've n e v e r really played m a r b l e s . Every t i m e C o r t S w i g g e r t gave T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r a bit o f fin a n c i a l n e w s , t h e red p a r a l l e l o g r a m s o n

his o u t f i t g l o w e d . A r m -

b r u s t e r s w e a t e d , lit o r re-lit a cigar, a n d g u l p e d r u m . T h e

financial

p i c t u r e was lousy. C o l d a A b r o m o w i t z p e e r e d o u t o f h e r furs a n d said, " I know

this

p i c t u r e will b e a b o x office b o f f . It'll save C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c . B u t it h a s to b e d o n e r i g h t . T h e r e ' s n o o t h e r way. W e can't s u r v i v e p u t t i n g o n

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R A T H ! 326

s h o w s tor Ihe S a t u r d a y n i g h t b l a s t - i n c i r c u i t . T h i s has to b e t o p quality." T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r w i p e d away a freshet o f p e r s p i r a t i o n . " B u t a horror movie, Golda? A big-budget, risk-it-all-on-one-throw horror movie?" G o l d a t u r n e d h e r h e a d to the side. " T e l l h i m , M a r t i n . " M a r t i n van Buren MacTavish h a d b e e n c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n

his

w o r d - p r o c e s s o r . In a d d i t i o n to s t o r i n g , revising, and o u t p u t t i n g t h e text t h a t w a s fed i n t o it, t h e w o r d - p r o c e s s o r c o u l d f u n c t i o n as a v i d e o g a m e , a h o l o t a p e p l a y b a c k u n i t , a m u s i c - s y n t h e s i z e r c a p a b l e o f pipi n g o u t a n y c o m p o s i t i o n in the k n o w n h i s t o r y o f m e l o d y ( o r o f c o m p o s i n g n e w s e l e c t i o n s to M a c T a v i s h s s p e c i f i c a t i o n s ) , o r an e m e r g e n c y cook-stove. " H u h ? " M a r t i n said. " I w a n t y o u to tell T a r k i e a b o u t t h e p r o j e c t , " G o l d a p r o m p t e d . " O h . " M a c T a v i s h fiddled with t h e w o r d - p r o c e s s o r a little m o r e , t h e n c l i c k e d it o f f a n d slipped it i n t o his s p o r r a n . " W e h a d the girls in m a r k e t research get us u p a few figures, jefe,

and they say t h a t a really

h o t h o r r o r h o l o f l i k c o u l d sell o n n o fewer t h a n t w e n t y - k a y w o r l d s . M a y b e as m a n y a s t h i r t y - k a y . W e — " A r m b r u s t e r c u t h i m o f f . " W h a t a b o u t it, S w i g g e r t ? " H e p u l l e d a t h i s cigar, tossed b a c k a s w i g o f r u m . " Y o u s e e n their

figures?"

S w i g g e r t n o d d e d . " T h e y l o o k p r e t t y c o n v i n c i n g . " T h e red p a r a l lelograms on

his outfit

faded to dull o c h r e a n d t h e b l a c k

ones

g l o w e d . T h e b r i g h t g l o w o f b l a c k d i a m o n d s p r o d u c e d an e e r i e e f f e c t all its o w n . " H u h , " g r u n t e d T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r IV. " A n d w h a t d o y o u h a v e in m i n d ? Y o u g o i n g to b r i n g b a c k o n e o f t h o s e l u r c h i n g m o n s t e r s f r o m the o l d d a y s ? " M a c T a v i s h slipped o n e h a n d i n s i d e his s p o r r a n and f u m b l e d h i s w o r d - p r o c e s s o r b a c k to life. T h e m a c h i n e had a B r a i l l e o u t p u t plate, a n d a l t h o u g h M a c T a v i s h w a s n o t b l i n d , he had t a u g h t h i m s e l f to read Braille with o n e sensitive t h u m b . " I w a n t to d o a s t o r y c a l l e d The Dunwich

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g a n z i c h t . T h e r e had b e e n a b u n c h o f t h e m a t first, and t h e y had o f course been hugely useful. But they'd m a d e s o m u c h trouble that t h e y had b e e n b a n n e d . Here's o n e s m a l l e x a m p l e . L u r l e e n L u r i a w a s a religious f a n a t i c , p o s s i b l y t h e o n l y o n e e v e r in D i n g a n z i c h t . S h e had i n v e n t e d a r e l i g i o n b a s e d o n t h e n o t i o n t h a t o n e s h o u l d eat o n l y p i m e n t o s a n d t h i n k o n l y o f t h e n u m b e r eight. S h e had a t o u g h t i m e w i n n i n g c o n v e r t s to her way o f t h i n k i n g . Yet, she was c o n v i n c e d that if e v e r y b o d y w o u l d j u s t a d o p t her faith, h e r d i e t , a n d h e r p a t t e r n o f t h o u g h t , t h e r e w o u l d b e universal b r o t h e r l a n d / o r s i s t e r - ) h o o d , h a p p i n e s s a n d t r a n q u i l i t y in t h e w o r l d . Well, L u r l e e n t h o u g h t to h e r s e l f , if I ' m t h e o n l y o n e w h o u n d e r s t a n d s that m y r e l i g i o n is t h e o n e key to s a l v a t i o n , t h e r e w o u l d b e u n i v e r s a l s a l v a t i o n if e v e r y b o d y were j u s t like me. S h e t o o k to i n v i t i n g p e o p l e o v e r to h e r place a n d w a l k i n g t h e m t h r o u g h a m a t t e r - d u p l i c a t o r i n p u t b i n d i s g u i s e d as a hallway. S h e ' d a l r e a d y set h e r m a t t e r - d u p l i c a t o r , u s i n g h e r s e l f as the m o d e l s p e c s , s o t h e o r g a n s , cells, e v e n m o l e c u l e s o f her g u e s t s were b r o k e n d o w n into s e p a r a t e a t o m s and r e a s s e m b l e d i n t o n e w L u r l e e n Lurias. W h o d i d , naturally, agree w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l Lurleen's dietary, i n t e l l e c t u a l , and religious notions. T h e y finally t r a c k e d d o w n L u r l e e n and put h e r o u t o f b u s i n e s s ( b u t not before a dozen security troopers got turned

into

new

L u r l e e n L u r i a s ) . T h e y n e v e r d i d g e t all t h e n e w L u r l e e n s t u r n e d b a c k i n t o t h e i r o r i g i n a l selves, t h o u g h . W h a t a m e s s ! When

t h e y t r i e d to r o u n d u p and d i s m a n t l e a l l t h e m a t t e r -

d u p l i c a t o r s in D i n g a n z i c h t , the a r g u m e n t w a s m a d e that t h e s a n e , i n n o c e n t , a n d r e s p o n s i b l e users o f the m a c h i n e s were b e i n g p u n i s h e d a l o n g w i t h the (relatively few) crazy, guilty, o r i r r e s p o n s i b l e o n e s like L u r l e e n Luria. B u t n o b o d y c o u l d figure o u t a w a y to keep m a t t e r d u p l i c a t o r s o n l y in the " r i g h t " h a n d s . O n e o f t h e p r o b l e m s o f g e t t i n g rid o f the t h i n g s was this: I f s o m e b o d y o w n e d o n e , a n d a f r i e n d o f his o r h e r s a l s o o w n e d o n e , t h e y c o u l d d i s m a n t l e the s e c o n d d u p e r , r u n it t h r o u g h the first, and r e a s s e m b l e the s e c t i o n s . T h e n t h e y ' d h a v e n o t t w o o f the gadgets, b u t t h r e e . A n d s h o r t l y , i f t h e y c h o s e , four, five, o r a n y n u m b e r .

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Well, t h e y g o t ' e m r o u n d e d u p finally, b u t it was a t o u g h j o b . In a b i g g e r place t h a n D i n g a n z i c h t , o r a less o r g a n i z e d o n e , it w o u l d h a v e proved impossible. T h a t was a w h i l e ago, however. T h e c u r r e n t p r o b l e m at M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s g r e w o u t o f the c u r r e n t h o t r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t in t h e e l e c t r o t e c h n o l o g y d i v i s i o n , the s a m e outfit t h a t h a d g i n n e d u p t h e matter duplicator. T h e c u r r e n t h o t r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t was t h e i n s t a n t c o m m u n i c a t o r . T h i s w a s an a t t e m p t t o t a c k l e a p r o b l e m t h a t had first a p p e a r e d with t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f s p a c e travel. B a c k in t h e days w h e n e v e r y b o d y had lived o n o n e p l a n e t , r a d i o - s p e c t r u m c o m m u n i c a t i o n w a s p l e n t y fast e n o u g h . At o n e t i m e , in fact, folks h a d t h o u g h t t h a t light waves, r a d i o waves and the like w o r k e d i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y . In t i m e they f o u n d o u t t h a t they did t a k e t i m e t o p r o p a g a t e , b u t c r i p e s , t h e y c o u l d c i r c l e t h e planet in a n e i g h t h o f a s e c o n d , s o w h o c a r e d ? B u t w h e n y o u g o t u p to i n t e r p l a n e t a r y d i s t a n c e s , you w e r e talking a b o u t minutes,

then hours, t o send " H i , m o m , we're

num-

b e r o n e , " and get b a c k " T h a t ' s a g o o d boy, d o n ' t forget to e a t y o u r supper." A n d o n c e y o u g o t u p to the i n t e r s t e l l a r s c a l e , it c o u l d t a k e

years.

S o M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s , e l e c t r o t e c h n o l o g y d i v i s i o n , had a n i m p o r t a n t p r o j e c t to w o r k o n . T h e b r a i n s t h a t were w o r k i n g o n the p r o j e c t w e r e t h o s e o f a b r i g h t y o u n g fellow n a m e d A l e x a n d e r U l i a n o v a n d a b r i l l i a n t y o u n g woman named Amy 2 - 3 - 4 Al-Khnemu. Alex and A m y were m a k i n g g o o d progress, t o o . B u t t h e t o p b r a s s at M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s (as well as t h e g e n e r a l m a n a g e m e n t o f D i n g a n z i c h t ) were k e e p i n g d a m n e d c l o s e w a t c h o v e r the p r o j e c t . T h e y remembered Lurleen Luria

matter-duplicators—did

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In fact, t h e r e w a s a little c o l o n y o f i d e n t i c a l L u r l e e n Lurias still living. T h e y had b e e n s e q u e s t e r e d . N o b o d y k n e w w h i c h w a s t h e original (guilty) Lurleen a n d which h e r i n n o c e n t victims. T h e y were kept c o m f o r t a b l e in a little c o m p o u n d w h e r e t h e y were g r o w i n g o l d t o g e t h e r , h a p p i l y living o n p i m e n t o s a n d t h i n k i n g o f the n u m b e r e i g h t , w h i l e scientists f r o m t h e p s y c h o t e c h n o l o g y division o f M a c r o tech Associates happily studied them.

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N o , n o b o d y w a n t e d a n o t h e r m a t t e r - d u p l i c a t o r fiasco, a n d t h e r e was a g o o d deal o f n e r v o u s n e s s a b o u t the i m p l i c a t i o n s o f A l e x a n d e r Ulianov and Amy 2 - 3 - 4 Al-Khnemu's work.

T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r I V was m o r e i n c l i n e d to d o a s w a s h b u c k l e r a b o u t pirates on the Spanish M a i n , or maybe even a Biblical e p i c t h a n a h o r r o r m o v i e . T h e n again, h e had a f o n d n e s s f o r w e s t e r n s , too. B u t G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z and M a r t i n v a n B u r e n M a c T a v i s h had t h e s u p p o r t o f G o r t Swiggert, a n d w h a t t h e c o m p t r o l l e r had to say c a r r i e d a lot o f w e i g h t w i t h T a r k . H e told ' e m to g o a h e a d . M a c T a v i s h had an easy t i m e t u r n i n g The Dunwich

Horror

into a

screenplay. It was o n e o f t h e best s t o r i e s o f an o l d N e w E n g l a n d a u t h o r w h o h a d m o r e o f t e n relied o n a t m o s p h e r e t h a n e v e n t s to m a k e h i s s t o r i e s w o r k , b u t this o n e was u n u s u a l f o r h i m . It was g r a p h i c , full o f p l o t a n d events, and it had a c o u p l e o f s c e n e s in it that were real sockdolligers. T h e r e w a s a b i g s h a m b l i n g guy in it n a m e d W i l b u r W h a t e l e y . W i l b u r w e n t a r o u n d in a b a g g y o v e r c o a t , s u m m e r and winter, like a flasher. A n d a b o u t t w o - t h i r d s o f the way t h r o u g h the s t o r y W i l b u r ' s o v e r c o a t gets o p e n e d a n d t h e a u d i e n c e sees w h a t ' s inside, a n d is it ever s o m e t h i n g ! W o w ! W i l b u r has a b r o t h e r , t o o , w h o isn't s e e n u n t i l the g r a n d c l i m a x o f t h e y a r n , a n d if you t h i n k W i l b u r was s o m e t h i n g to m a k e s t r o n g m e n r e t c h , wait 'til you s e e h i s t w i n ! In fact, that w a s the biggest p r o b l e m t h a t G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z had with The Dunwich

Horror.

M a r t y M a c T a v i s h and his w o n d e r f u l w o r d - p r o c e s s o r t u r n e d o u t a g o o d s c r i p t in r e c o r d t i m e . C a s t i n g w e n t well, t o o . G o l d a w a s a b l e to get Nefertiti L o g a n , c u r r e n t h o l d e r o f t h e " t h i s s e a s o n ' s b l o n d e " title, to play the e x o t i c a l b i n o L a v i n i a W h a t e l e y . F o r c o n t r a s t , s h e h i r e d t h e r a v e n - t r e s s e d , f l a s h i n g - e y e d G a z a d e L u r e II to p o r t r a y

Sally

Sawyer. T h e m a l e lead, t h e role o f P r o f e s s o r H e n r y A r m i t a g e , she gave to a piece o f b e e f c a k e c a l l e d R o c k Q u a r t z . R o c k used to stand i n f r o n t o f m i r r o r s m o s t o f t h e t i m e w h e n he wasn't a c t u a l l y o n c a m e r a , and

L I G H T S !

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303

w h e n h e was o n - c a m e r a , h e t r e a t e d the lens like a m i r r o r , t o o . T h e effect o n a u d i e n c e s was d e v a s t a t i n g . C u r t i s W h a t e l e y — h e o f the u n d e c a y e d b r a n c h o f the W h a t e l e y s — was played b y R o s c o e Inelegante. R o s c o e I n e l e g a n t e wasn't e x a c t l y t h e actor's real n a m e , but n o b o d y q u i t e k n e w w h a t his real n a m e was, and w o r d had passed in H o l l v w o o d - b e t w e e n - t h e - S t a r s that it wasn't w i s e to try and find o u t . B u t w h o w o u l d play the W h a t e l e y boys, W i l b u r a n d his f r a t e r nal t w i n ? T h e r e d i d n ' t s e e m to b e a n y o n e in H o l l y w o o d q u i t e c a p a b l e o f h a n d l i n g t h e roles. C o l d a m i g h t get an a c t o r to p o r t r a y W i l b u r - w i t h - h i s - o v e r c o a t o n . S o m e b o d y like K a r l o s K a r c h w h o had a l r e a d y parlayed a set o f g r o t e s q u e features and a g r o w l i n g , a n i m a l i s t i c m a n n e r i n t o a s u b s t a n t i a l c a r e e r as a h o l o c i n e m a t i c m a n i a c , b r u t e , a n d g e n e r a l heavy. B u t e v e n K a r c h ( w h o was, o f f - s c r e e n , a s w e e t - n a t u r e d and g e n t l e m a n , faithful h u s b a n d a n d d o t i n g f a t h e r ) c o u l d n ' t h a n d l e W i l b u r with-his-coat-off. M a r t i n van B u r e n M a c T a v i s h had t u r n e d u p the o r i g i n a l t e x t d e s c r i b i n g W i l b u r , and it w a s a d o o z i e ! T e n t a c l e s , m o u t h s , tur, r u d i m e n t a r y eyes set in p i n k i s h , c i l i a t e d o r b i t s , a t r u n k with p u r p l e a n n u lar m a r k i n g s , r i d g y - v e i n e d p a d s T h e b e a u t i f u l C o l d a A b r o m o w i t z n e a r l y lost her l u n c h

when

M a r t y s h o w e d h e r t h e text. T h e y tried o u t f i t t i n g K a r l o s K a r c h with a c y b o r g e d r u b b e r suit. It w o r k e d fairly well, and w a s t o t a l l y d i s g u s t i n g to t h e eye. T h e s t r a n g e s t thing, t h o u g h , w a s this: Nefertiti L o g a n , G a z a d e Lure II, a n d e v e n G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z h e r s e l f , f o u n d K a r l o s K a r c h a total t u r n - o n w h e n h e w o r e his W i l b u r W h a t e l e y s u i t . T h e y e i t h e r c o u l d n ' t o r w o u l d n ' t tell a n y o f the m e n a s s o c i a t e d with t h e p r o j e c t the reason. Even K a r l o s wasn't s u r e , b u t h e and M a r t i n v a n B u r e n M a c T a v i s h s p e n t a l o n g s e s s i o n with a b o t t l e o f P u e r t o M a s R i c a n r u m

filched

f r o m T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r ' s private s t o c k , and d e v i s e d a t h e o r y . N e f e r t i t i , G a z a , and G o l d a were all f a n t a s i z i n g , t h e y d e c i d e d , as to w h a t it m i g h t b e like to have an e x p e r i e n c e w i t h all o f t h o s e w e i r d s q u i r m i n g t e n t a c l e s a n d m o u t h s a n d eyes and hair and r i d g y - v e i n e d pads.

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K a r l o s a n d M a r l y a s k e d G a z a o n i h e set t h e n e x t day, b u t s h e j u s t s m i l e d d r e a m i l y and said, " K a r l o s , w h y d o n ' t y o u p u t o n y o u r r u b b e r suit and we'll try y o u r t h e o r y o u t . " B u t K a r l o s d i d n ' t g o for that, s o n o b o d y e v e r really knew. Anyway, t h i n g s were g o i n g k i n d o f p o o r l y o n t h e set by n o w . T h e W i l b u r W h a t e l e y suit w a s less t h a n satisfactory, a n d a s for t h e role o f W i l b u r ' s b r o t h e r , that w a s a c o m p l e t e c o n u n d r u m . M a r t y M a c T a v i s h had t u r n e d u p the o r i g i n a l s p e c s f o r W i l b u r ' s b r o t h e r , g i v e n in t h e w o r d s o f a c h a r a c t e r in t h e o r i g i n a l s t o r y . T h e story, b y t h e way, w a s l o n g s i n c e o u t o f c o p y r i g h t , w h i c h was o n e o f t h e b r i g h t e r p o i n t s in t h e d a y o f b o t h T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r and G o r t Swiggert in his harlequin suit. W i l b u r ' s b r o t h e r w a s " B i g g e r ' n a b a r n . . . all m a d e o ' s q u i r m i n ' r o p e s . . . g r e a t b u l g i n ' eyes all o v e r it . . . ten o r t w e n t y m o u t h s o r t r u n k s a - s t i c k i n ' a o u t all a l o n g t h e sides, all a - t o s s i n ' a n d o p e n i n ' an' s h u t t i n ' . . . all grey, w i t h k i n d e r b l u e o r p u r p l e r i n g s . . . an' Gawd Heaven—thai

h a f f f a c e on

in

top!"

Well, they tried c o m p u t e r a n i m a t i o n and they g o t s o m e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g effects b u t they d i d n ' t get W i l b u r ' s b r o t h e r . A n d t h e y tried m i n i a t u r e m o d e l s b u t t h e y d i d n ' t work. A n d t h e y tried a full-size m o c k - u p

b u t it l o o k e d m o r e

like

H a p p y t h e H u m b u g t h a n it did a m o n s t e r c r o s s - b r e e d b e t w e e n h u m a n and giant alien. N o w it h a p p e n e d that j u s t a b o u t at t h e p o i n t w h e n The Horror

Dunwich

was in d a n g e r o f w i n d i n g u p t o t a l l y o n t h e s c r a p - h e a p — a n d

T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r IV, G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z , a n d C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c P r o d u c t i o n s a l o n g w i t h i t — S t a r r e t t was a p p r o a c h i n g the t r i p l e s t a r Fornax 1382. Tarquin A r m b r u s t e r I V and Golda Abromowitz decided

that

t h e i r last h o p e was to get s o m e help f r o m the s u p e r s c i e n t i l i c s h i z z e s in D i n g a n z i c h t . A f t e r all, a n y w o r l d t h a t c a n p r o d u c e t h e r o l l a w a y c a t i m p e l l o r s h o u l d be able to p r o v i d e a b i g b o o s t to C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c Productions. T a r q u i n a n d G o l d a c l i m b e d a b o a r d the u l t r a l i t e s h u t t l e Winger

Harris.

Clare

T h e y c o u l d h a v e left S t a r r e t t f r o m a p o r t n e a r H o l l y -

w o o d , b u t t h e y were in a h u r r y a n d it was q u i c k e r to zip a c r o s s t h e h o l l o w m i d d l e o f S t a r r e t t a n d e x i t o n the a n t i p o d a l side. Q u i t e n e a r t h e island o f K a s p a k , a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t .

L I G H T S !

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305

passed s m a c k t h r o u g h

the

n u l l - g p o i n t in t h e g e o m e t r i c c e n t e r o f S t a r r e t t . T h e null-g p o i n t and t h e u l t r a - l o w - g z o n e s u r r o u n d i n g it w e r e t h e h o m e s o f a n u m b e r o f f a s c i n a t i n g species o f life, b o t h a n i m a l and v e g e t a b l e . T h e r e was n u l l - g l i c h e n , for i n s t a n c e . T h e r e were f l o a t i n g b l o b s o f w a t e r that h o s t e d p e r f e c t l y g l o b u l a r fishes o f v a r i o u s c o l o r s . T h e r e were several s p e c i e s o f f o o t l e s s b i r d s t h a t s p e n t t h e i r e n t i r e lives in t h e air, n e v e r c o m i n g to e a r t h (as it w e r e ) , n o t e v e n to lay t h e i r eggs o r to b u i l d n e s t s ( w h i c h they d i d in the n u l l - g l i c h e n . ) O n e i n t e r e s t i n g a s p e c t o f this n u l l - g lichen was t h e c o m p l e x , f r e e - f o r m n e t w o r k o f n e u r a l - l i k e filament that spread t h r o u g h o u t t h e stuff. It h a d b e e n

theorized

that c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d

intelligence,

rather than being a discrete attribute developed b y any particular species as t h e result o f an e v o l u t i o n a r y i m p e r a t i v e , was a c t u a l l y an i n e s c a p a b l e c o n c o m i t a n t o f any s i g n a l i n g n e t w o r k o f s u f f i c i e n t s i z e and complexity. A n d t h e n u l l - g l i c h e n that floated in the c e n t e r o f S t a r r e t t was b i g enough, and the network o f signal-conducting, neural-like

fibres

it

c o n t a i n e d was c o m p l e x e n o u g h , to c o m e in well o v e r the c r i t i c a l line. It m i g h t n o t be a l t o g e t h e r i n a c c u r a t e to c h a r a c t e r i z e S t a r r e t t ' s n u l l - g lichen a s . . . smart

moss!

A n d here w a s t h e u l t r a l i t e s h u t t l e Clare

Winger

Harris,

flittering

u p w a r d f r o m H o l l y w o o d , c o n t a i n i n g o n e fat, b a l d , s w e a t y - b r o w e d , c i g a r - c h o m p i n g , r u m - s w i g g i n g s t u d i o head n a m e d T a r q u i n

Arm-

b r u s t e r IV; and o n e s e v e n - f o o t - t a l l , e l e g a n t , m e t a l l i c - g r e e n , polarbear-fur-covered p r o d u c t i o n chief called Golda A b r o m o w i t z . A n d w h a t d i d T a r q u i n and G o l d a have o n t h e i r m i n d s as t h e i r s h u t t l e p e n e t r a t e d t h e wispy o u t e r edges o f t h e n u l l - g l i c h e n t h a t drifted in t h e c e n t e r o f S t a r r e t t ? W h y , n o t h i n g o t h e r t h a n t h e peculiar p h y s i c a l a t t r i b u t e s o f t h e w o n d e r f u l W h a t e l e y b r o t h e r s . You know, all t h o s e t e n t a c l e s a n d s u c k ers a n d h a l f - f o r m e d eyes a n d w r i t h i n g r o p e s and s t o v e p i p e legs and G a w d in Heaven that h a l f face o n t o p !

N o w m e e t P. H . " B i f f " C o n n a u g h t . Biff C o n n a u g h t w a s h e a d o f s e c u r i t y f o r M a c r o t e c h Associates. A r e d - f a c e d , g r a y - h a i r e d , m i d d l e - a g e d fellow. B i f f had b e e n u p and

306

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N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

d o w n t h e c o r p o r a t e ladder in his day. H e n o w held a r e s p o n s i b l e b u t n o t v e r y g l a m o r o u s p o s i t i o n , t h e c h i e f a d v a n t a g e o f w h i c h was t h e c h a n c e it p r o v i d e d f o r B i f f to live o u t h i s f a n t a s i e s . In his y o u t h , B i f f had w a n t e d to b e a p o l i c e m a n c o m p l e t e w i t h u n i f o r m , b a d g e a n d g u n . H e d i d n ' t k n o w q u i t e why t h a t j o b a p p e a l e d to h i m . If he'd b e e n a m o r e i n s i g h t f u l p e r s o n , he m i g h t have d e t e c t e d a c e r t a i n flaw in his o w n p s y c h e , a g n a w i n g s e n s e o f i n a d e q u a c y , o f p s y c h i c i m p o t e n c e , w h i c h h e c o u l d o v e r c o m e by p l a c i n g h i m s e l f in a position o f psychological d o m i n a n c e and authority. By t h e t i m e B i f f was o f a g e , h e was able t o live o u t his w i s h e s by becoming a cop. H o w h e c a m e to leave t h e official p o l i c e force is a n o t h e r story. B u t h a v i n g d o n e so, h e m o v e d i n t o private s e c u r i t y w o r k , rose by diligent a p p l i c a t i o n f r o m u n i f o r m e d r e n t - a - b u l l to p l a i n - c l o t h e s , a n d ult i m a t e l y to h e a d o f s e c u r i t y f o r M a c r o t e c h . H e h a d , b y this t i m e , realized t h a t t h e p o w e r o f t h e p l a i n c l o t h e s c h i e f o f s e c u r i t y was even g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t o f the u n i f o r m e d h a r n e s s b u l l s h e c o m m a n d e d . Besides, Bift" w a s issued a m o s t i m p r e s s i v e b a d g e that h e kept in a p o c k e t - c a s e ready f o r

flashing.

A n d h e c a r r i e d an

old-fashioned

s n u b n o s e revolver u n d e r his a r m p i t ; the s n u b n o s e had b e e n

pur-

c h a s e d in an a n t i q u e s h o p o n M i r z a m B e t a IV. Bifl" p e r s o n a l l y restored it t o w o r k i n g o r d e r a n d h a n d - l o a d e d a m m u n i t i o n f o r it. Top m a n a g e m e n t

at M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s w a s v e r y

worried

a b o u t A l e x U l i a n o v a n d A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u ' s research p r o j e c t o n instantaneous communication. O n the face o f it, it s h o u l d b e a b o o n to i n t e r s t e l l a r c i v i l i z a t i o n . After all, t h e h y p o s p a c e d r i v e d e v e l o p e d b y M a c r o t e c h ' s c o m p e t i t o r V i e u x C a r r e C a s t - i r o n P r o d u c t s A . G . had b e e n a positive gift f r o m h e a v e n . P r i o r to t h e availability o f h y p o s p a c e , n o b o d y h a d b e e n a b l e to travel a n y faster t h a n t h e s p e e d o f light. In fact, travel had b e e n l i m i t e d to a p a c e a s y m p t o t i c a l l y a p p r o a c h i n g l i g h t - s p e e d . F o u r - p l u s years f r o m Sol to C e n t a u r u s , f o u r h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d ( e x c e p t that n o b o d y b o t h e r e d to try it) f r o m C e n t a u r u s to Y g g d r a s i l l . O n c e the e n g i n e e r s a t V i e u x C a r r e d e v e l o p e d h y p o s p a c e d r i v e , a n d t h e c o m p a n y ' s sales f o r c e m a r k e t e d it, all o f t h a t c h a n g e d . Little e x p l o r i n g s h i p s — a n d later, b i g c o l o n i z i n g s h i p s — a n d still later, rovi n g t r a d e r s and i n t e r s t e l l a r g y p s y c a m p s like Starrett, W e i n b a u m , and

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

307

Z e a l i a R e e d — c o u l d g o a n y w h e r e in t h e galaxy in a t i n y t r a c t i o n o f t h e t i m e it w o u l d h a v e t a k e n at m e r e l i g h t - s p e e d . Hypospace

wasn't

e x a c t l y a /us/er-than-light drive. It

didn't

i n v o l v e t a c h y o n s o r a n y t h i n g like t h a t . N o r did it involve the f o u r t h d i m e n s i o n , o r those f a m o u s ( b u t , alas, apparently n o n e x i s t e n t ) " w o r m h o l e s " in space. W h a t t h e V i e u x C a r r e h y p o s p a c e drive did, in effect, was let you cut a c r o s s s p a c e - t i m e vectors and r e - e m e r g e into n o r m a l space wherever y o u wanted. It still t o o k t i m e to m a k e t h e trip, but it d i d n ' t take a n y w h e r e n e a r as l o n g as it would have in n o r m a l space. Kind o f like this. I f y o u were s i t t i n g in a h o u s e o n the s u r f a c e o f a p l a n e t — s a y , in t h e city o f X n m p ' p r o n H o u d i n i I I I — a n d y o u c o u l d sort o f a n c h o r y o u r s e l f to o n e s p o t w h i l e t h e g l o b e s p u n b e n e a t h y o u at a t h o u s a n d m i l e s per h o u r o r s o , y o u ' d get the e f f e c t o f traveling a t a t h o u s a n d m i l e s p e r h o u r w i t h o u t a c t u a l l y m o v i n g a t all. If y o u a d d e d all o f t h e v e c t o r e d m o t i o n s g o i n g o n a r o u n d y o u — t h e r o t a t i o n o f H o u d i n i III, t h e o r b i t a l m o t i o n o f the planet a r o u n d its s u n , t h e m o v e m e n t o f t h a t s u n w i t h i n its local s t a r - g r o u p , t h e m o t i o n o f t h a t g r o u p relative to t h e rest o f t h e galaxy, the s p i n o f t h e w h o l e g a l a c t i c d i s c , the m o t i o n o f the g a l a x y w i t h i n its local g a l a c t i c cluster, and s o o n u p t h e s c a l e — y o u c o u l d a c c u m u l a t e a t e r r i f i c a m o u n t o f speed. T h a t ' s w h a t t h e V i e u x C a r r e drive did for y o u . A n d it yielded t h e e f f e c t , i f n o t t h e literal a c t u a l i t y , o f f a s t e r - t h a n - l i g h t . B u t it still wasn't i n s t a n t a n e o u s . N o w t h e n , while h y p o s p a c e drive had b e e n a vast blessing, m a t t e r d u p l i c a t o r s h a d b e e n , let's say, a mixed

blessing a t best.

T h e f o l k s in t h e e x e c u t i v e s u i t e a t M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s w a n t e d to m a k e d a m n e d s u r e that i n s t a n t a n e o u s c o m m u n i c a t i o n , if it e v e r h a p p e n e d , w a s p u t to o n l y b e n e f i c i a l use. T h e y were a l s o c o n c e r n e d t h a t it b r i n g a n i c e

fat profit

to

M a c r o t e c h . U n l i k e the m a t t e r - d u p l i c a t o r , w h i c h had y i e l d e d a m o d est p r o f i t to Z. Z. Z a c h a r v a n d A s s o c i a t e s , b u t q u i c k l y c e a s e d to d o s o o n c e p e o p l e c a u g h t o n to t h e t r i c k o f u s i n g m a t t e r d u p l i c a t o r s to m a k e m o r e m a t t e r d u p l i c a t o r s . It was s u r e as hell c h e a p e r t h a n buyi n g ' e m t r o m Z. Z. Z a c h a r y . S o P. H . " B i f f " C o n n a u g h t w a s c a l l e d to the e x e c u t i v e s u i t e o f t h e M a c r o t e c h h e a d q u a r t e r s palace a n d p r e s e n t e d w i t h the p r o b l e m o f

308

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L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

k e e p i n g Alex a n d A m y a n d their g l i t t e r y p r o j e c t u n d e r c o n t r o l . A l o n g with Biff, the t o p d o g s a l s o s u m m o n e d C y n d o r a V e x m a n n , t h e head o f Macrotech's psychotechnology division. T h e y

figured

Cyndora

m i g h t have s o m e pretty g o o d s u g g e s t i o n s t o m a k e .

T h e little s h u t t l e - s h i p Clare

Winger

Harris

p e n e t r a t e d the n u l l - g z o n e

in t h e c e n t e r o f S t a r r e t t . As the s h i p m o v e d t h r o u g h t h e r e g i o n it p i e r c e d t h e c l o u d l i k e b o d y o f l i c h e n that had m u t a t e d a n d e v o l v e d in t h e p e c u l i a r c o n d i t i o n s t h a t o b t a i n in the very c e n t e r o f a h o l l o w world. T h e s h i p ' s passage t h r o u g h t h e l i c h e n c a u s e d a wave-field to ripple t h r o u g h the l i c h e n , m a k i n g a s o u n d , a barely a u d i b l e s o u n d . I f y o u ' d b e e n t h e r e you m i g h t have d e s c r i b e d it as a k i n d o f b r u s h i n g , s w i s h i n g , c r a c k l i n g n o i s e . You m i g h t h a v e r e p r o d u c e d it, a t least a p p r o x i m a t e l y , by m a k i n g a s o f t ch'ch'ch'ch

s o u n d with t h e m i d d l e o f

y o u r t o n g u e pressed against t h e r o o f o f y o u r m o u t h , t h e t i p o f y o u r t o n g u e p o i n t e d t o w a r d t h e b a c k s o f y o u r t o p - f r o n t teeth, a n d y o u r lips slightly p u r s e d . TVy t h a t a n d e x h a l e t h r o u g h y o u r m o u t h softly, a n d you'll get s o m e t h i n g close to the s o u n d . T h e l i c h e n had n e v e r h a d a n a m e , b u t if y o u w a n t to call it s o m e t h i n g ( o t h e r t h a n " l i c h e n , " o f c o u r s e ) , y o u m i g h t a s well c a l l it "Ch-ch-ch." Inside t h e Clare

Winger

Harris,

T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r I V was sit-

t i n g at t h e pilot's post, c h e w i n g a b l a c k N u e v a C u b a n a M a g n i f i c o and s w e a t i n g bullets. G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z w a s b e n t o v e r a c o p y o f M a r t i n v a n B u r e n M a c T a v i s h ' s s c r i p t f o r The Dunwich

Horror,

t r y i n g t o fig-

u r e o u t a w a y to p o r t r a y the W h a t e l e y b r o t h e r s a n d save t h e p r o d u c t i o n ( a n d C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c i n t o the b a r g a i n ) . C h - c h - c h w a s m i n d i n g its o w n b u s i n e s s , k e e p i n g its r e s i d e n t b i r d s , insects, p o n d s , fishes a n d s m a l l reptiles happy. S u d d e n l y C h - c h - c h felt i t s e l f p u n c t u r e d . It was a hell o f a s h o c k , a l t h o u g h it p r o b a b l y d i d n ' t e x a c t l y hurl

C h - c h - c h . Can you apply the

c o n c e p t o f pain to a n u l l - g l i c h e n ? Even t o an i n t e l l i g e n t o n e ? Probably not. In a fleeting m o m e n t the Harris

was g o n e . C h - c h - c h , b e i n g fairly

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

309

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

a m o r p h o u s in c o m p o s i t i o n , s l o w l y drifted b a c k t o g e t h e r a n d

re-

s u m e d its c o m m o n p l a c e little life. But a c h u n k o f C h - c h - c h got itself h o o k e d on the outer skin o f t h e s h u t t l e , a n d was c a r r i e d away f r o m its p a r e n t . R e s p o n d i n g to the local g r a v i t y o f t h e s h u t t l e this n e w b o d y o f lichen spread itself thinly over the skin o f the ship. Inside t h e Harris,

T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r I V c h o m p e d d o w n o n his

N'ueva C u b a n a M a g n i f i c o and g r u n t e d . T o G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z

he

said, " H e y , I n e v e r n o t i c e d b e f o r e , this little s h i p e v e n h a s tinted glass in t h e v i e w p l a t e s . N o t b a d ! M a y b e w e s h o u l d t r y a s p a c e a d v e n t u r e . " " T o o o l d hat. F o r g e t it." G o l d a d i d n ' t even l o o k u p f r o m M a c Tavish's Dunwich

Horror

script.

T h e intelligent lichen s p r e a d a l m o s t invisibly t h i n over the s h u t t l e was h a v i n g all s o r t s o f i n t e r e s t i n g n e w e x p e r i e n c e s . Gravity. I n e r t i a . W e i g h t . Kinesis. T h o u g h t . A b o v e all, t h o u g h t . C h - c h - c h had b e e n e x p o s e d to t h e m e n t a l activity, s u c h as it was, o f the m a n y s m a l l c r e a t u r e s t h a t lived w i t h i n its s p o n g e l i k e c h a n n e l s a n d p r o t u b e r a n c e s . B u t now, C h - c h - c h J u n i o r was p i c k i n g u p t h e m e n t a l e m a n a t i o n s o f T a r q u i n and G o l d a . Junior was absolutely flabbergasted. Dazzled, amazed, strangely pleased by the sensation o f t h o u g h t

and mental imagery.

And

flabbergasted.

" Y o u u n d e r s t a n d why y o u c a n ' t k n o w a n y t h i n g a b o u t y o u r w o r k , " Cyndora V e x m a n n purred. " N o , w e really d o n ' t , " A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u r e p l i e d . S h e s h o t a g l a n c e at Al U l i a n o v ; he n o d d e d in r e s p o n s e . S h e was to s p e a k f o r t h e two o f them. C y n d o r a s m i l e d . " P l a c e y o u r s e l v e s in the c o m p a n y ' s s h o e s . T h e o p e r a t i v e p r e c e d e n t — I was b r i e f e d by legal, o f c o u r s e — g o e s b a c k to t h e o l d D i s n e y versus S o n y c a s e . You r e m e m b e r that." " N o , we really d o n ' t , " A m y r e p l i e d . C y n d o r a h e a v e d a sigh. " I t had to d o w i t h v i d e o t a p e r e c o r d e r s . I don't suppose you r e m e m b e r those, o r even heard o f them." Al U l i a n o v said, " I t h i n k I r e m e m b e r l e a r n i n g s o m e t h i n g a b o u t

310

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N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

t h e m in a h i s t o r y c o u r s e . I t h i n k t h e y were p h a s e d o u t in favor o f w a x g r a m o p h o n e c y l i n d e r s . O r w a s it t h e o t h e r way a r o u n d ? " " W h a t it h a d to d o w i t h , " C y n d o r a said, " w a s p r o v i d i n g t h e p u b lic w i t h t e c h n o l o g y t h e y c o u l d u s e to d u p l i c a t e c o p y r i g h t e d tapes. D i s n e y held a lot o f v a l u a b l e c o p y r i g h t s . O n c e p e o p l e had v i d e o r e c o r d e r s , t h e y c o u l d m a k e c o p i e s o f their o w n . E i t h e r c a p t u r e b r o a d cast m a t e r i a l o r d u p l i c a t e e x i s t i n g tapes. D i s n e y w a n t e d to restrict t h e p u b l i c to p l a y - o n l y t e c h n o l o g y . " " H u h ! W h a t h a p p e n e d ? " A m y l e a n e d forward in her c h a i r . " I n e v e r h e a r d o f t h e case." " W h a t h a p p e n e d was, D i s n e y w o n in c o u r t b u t it w a s t o o late to s t o p t h e r e c o r d e r b u s i n e s s . T h e r e w e r e a l r e a d y m i l l i o n s o f the t h i n g s a r o u n d . S o they w o n the b a t t l e b u t lost t h e war." A m y e x c h a n g e d a n o t h e r g l a n c e w i t h h e r p a r t n e r . " W h a t d o e s all this have to d o w i t h u s ? " " I ' l l tell you w h a t , y o u little c r e e p s ! " T h a t was Biff C o n n a u g h t s p e a k i n g , a s y o u p r o b a b l y figured. B i f f d i d n ' t purr. H e growled s o m e t i m e s , a n d r o a r e d occasionally, b u t he did n o t purr. " I ' l l tell you w h a t , " B i f f r e p e a t e d . " W e k n o w w h a t you're u p t o ! Instantaneous c o m m u n i c a t i o n ! " " O f c o u r s e , " A m y a g r e e d . " I t ' s in o u r r e p o r t s . It's in o u r f u n d i n g r e q u e s t s . You're s o m e d e t e c t i v e . Biff, to figure t h a t o u t ! Next you'll tell us t h a t y o u ' v e d i s c o v e r e d w h a t t h e P. H . in y o u r n a m e s t a n d s for." " N e v e r m i n d m y n a m e ! B i f f will d o , y o u — " T h e last f e w syllables o f B i f f ' s s p e e c h trailed away. H e glared a t A m y . " C o m e to t h i n k o f it, it's C a p t a i n C o n n a u g h t to y o u . A s head o f s e c u r i t y I ' m e q u i v a l e n t to p o l i c e c a p t a i n in g r a d e . " " C o m e o n , A l e x . " A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u placed her h a n d o n Alex U l i a n o v ' s w r i s t . " W e d o n ' t have to p u t u p w i t h this." C y n d o r a V e x m a n n s t o p p e d t h e m . " D r . A l - K h n e m u . Dr. U l i a n o v . Please a c c e p t m y a p o l o g y o n b e h a l f o f M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s . C a p tain C o n n a u g h t h e r e m e a n t n o h a r m . He's j u s t an u n l e t t e r e d r u f f i a n . " S h e t u r n e d t o w a r d C o n n a u g h t . " P l e a s e , Biff, e i t h e r l e a r n to treat p e o ple d e c e n t l y o r l i m i t y o u r s e l f to d e a l i n g w i t h t r e s p a s s e r s a n d petty thieves." Biff m a n a g e d to flush b e n e a t h his w a l n u t - c o l o r e d c o m p l e x i o n . " U c k ! I g u e s s I . . . " A g a i n his w o r d s t r a i l e d away. " W h a t top m a n a g e m e n t

is c o n c e r n e d a b o u t , " C y n d o r a

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b a c k t o w a r d A m y and Alex, " i s that y o u r w o r k will get o u t o f c o r p o r a t e c o n t r o l . A n d o n c e t h e secret is o u t — w e l l , you k n o w h o w hard it is to e n f o r c e t h i n g s like p a t e n t s and c o p y r i g h t s o v e r interstellar d i s t a n c e s . " " I n d e e d . B u t — w h a t d o y o u have in m i n d ? " C y n d o r a s m i l e d h e r m o s t d i s a r m i n g s m i l e . " W e j u s t can't a f f o r d to have i n f o r m a t i o n l e a k i n g o u t a b o u t y o u r w o r k . A n d , to be totally c a n d i d , w e can't a f f o r d to h a v e you k n o w a b o u t y o u r w o r k , e i t h e r . T h a t g o e s b a c k to the o l d v i d e o r e c o r d e r case, too. T e c h n i c i a n s were w o r k i n g f o r c o m p a n i e s , t r y i n g to c o n c o c t s e c u r i t y d e v i c e s f o r b r o a d c a s t e r s . T h e n they'd g o h o m e and d e s i g n b o x e s to u n s c r a m b l e s c r a m b l e d signals, c r a c k t h e v e r y c o d e s t h e y t h e m s e l v e s h a d d e v i s e d . O h , it was really s o m e t h i n g ! " " Y o u still haven't told us w h a t you w a n t to d o . O r w h a t y o u w a n t us to d o . " C y n d o r a s h o t a g l a n c e a t B i f f C o n n a u g h t . She said, " A m y , Alex, all w e w a n t to d o is lock u p M a c r o t e c h ' s p r o p r i e t a r y i n f o r m a t i o n . W h e n y o u g o h o m e f r o m w o r k , w e w a n t you to leave e v e r y t h i n g b e h i n d y o u . H a v e a g o o d time. E n j o y yourselves. G o n u l l - g s w i m m i n g , listen to g o o d m u s i c , i m b i b e y o u r f a v o r i t e e u p h o r i c s , d o w h a t e v e r you please. " B u t w e d o n ' t w a n t y o u to d o a n y t h i n g a b o u t c o m m u n i c a t i o n . N o t t a l k o r e v e n t h i n k a b o u t it.

instantaneous Not—even—know—

about—it!" A m y laughed, a s i n g l e , g r u n t - l i k e l a u g h . " A n d h o w are w e s u p p o s e d to d o t h a t ? It s o u n d s like the f a m o u s c l u b w h e r e t h e i n i t i a t i o n test was to s t a n d in t h e c o r n e r for five m i n u t e s a n d not t h i n k o f a p o lar b e a r . " C y n d o r a s t o o d u p and walked a f e w steps, s o t h a t she s t o o d b e f o r e A m y and Alex, f a c i n g t h e m , a b r o a d w i n d o w s t r e t c h i n g h o r i z o n t a l l y b e h i n d her. T h r o u g h it, A m y c o u l d see t h e rolling, c o n c a v e l a n d s c a p e o f D i n g a n z i c h t . L i n d e n trees, e l m s and willows d o t t e d t h e g r e e n vista o u t s i d e the M a c r o t e c h b u i l d i n g c o m p o u n d . In the d i s t a n c e , b e f o r e t h e r i s i n g hills faded i n t o a m i s t e d vista, a n a r r o w s t r e a m p u r l e d o v e r a r o c k y c o u r s e . J u m p i n g fish s p l a s h e d e v e r y n o w a n d t h e n . A s m a l l b r o w n b e a r b e n t p a t i e n t l y at t h e e d g e o f the water, w a i t i n g for d i n n e r to m a k e i t s e l f a v a i l a b l e . C y n d o r a V e x m a n n s a i d , " Y o u ' l l j u s t forget all a b o u t i n s t a n t a n e o u s

312

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c o m m u n i c a t i o n w h e n y o u leave w o r k e a c h e v e n i n g , a n d r e m e m b e r it again w h e n y o u c o m e b a c k in e a c h m o r n i n g . " " A n d h o w will w e d o t h a t ? " " A h , that's w h e r e B i f f - o b o y o v e r t h e r e finally s h o w e d a little i n t e l l i g e n c e . H e c a m e to m e . A n d I d e v i s e d a s i m p l e little s c h e m e . W e j u s t give y o u e a c h a c o u p l e o f key w o r d s . W e set u p a m e n t a l c o m p a r t m e n t a l i z a t i o n f o r t h e i n s t a n t - c o m p r o j e c t , and we l o c k it o f f f r o m t h e rest o f y o u r m i n d . W h e n y o u c o m e to w o r k , w e s p e a k o n e key w o r d , t h e l o c k o p e n s , and y o u h a v e c o m p l e t e access to the p r o p r i e t a r y d a t a . W h e n it's t i m e to g o h o m e a f t e r w o r k , w e j u s t s p e a k t h e o t h e r key w o r d , a n d — c l i c k ! — t h e d o o r g o e s s h u t , t h e l o c k s n a p s c l o s e d , and y o u d o n ' t h a v e to w o r r y a n y t h i n g a b o u t y o u r w o r k u n t i l t o m o r r o w . Isn't that w o n d e r f t i l ? " A m y a n d Alex e x c h a n g e d g l a n c e s . " I ' m n o t s o s u r e it is," A m y s a i d . " I d o n ' t like t h e i d e a o f you o r B i f f - o o r a n y b o d y else t a m p e r i n g with m y m i n d . A n d I ' m s u r e Alex feels the s a m e way." Alex n o d d e d . " S u r e d o . " C y n d o r a s h o o k h e r head slowly. " I don't b l a m e you f o r feeling t h a t way. 1 w o u l d n ' t w a n t a n y b o d y t a m p e r i n g w i t h m y m i n d either. B u t this has b e e n used t i m e a f t e r t i m e . It w o r k s perfectly, and it d o e s n ' t i n t e r f e r e with y o u r f r e e will o r y o u r r e c o l l e c t i o n s in a n y way." She smiled winsomely. A m y said, " E x c e p t ? " C y n d o r a s h o t a g l a n c e at Biff, t h e n said, " E x c e p t what? W h a t d o you mean?" " I m e a n , t h e r e h a s to be a n except,

or you wouldn't bother with

all t h i s . " " O h . " C y n d o r a gave A m y a v e r y s i n c e r e l o o k , t u r n e d a n d did t h e s a m e to A l e x a n d e r U l i a n o v . " W e l l , e x c e p t y o u c a n ' t r e m e m b e r w h a t you're w o r k i n g o n . Actually, w e u s u a l l y give p e o p l e a little c o v e r story. People feel u n c o m f o r t a b l e n o t k n o w i n g w h a t t h e y d o all day, a n d if t h e y ' r e n o t a l l o w e d to k n o w w h a t it is, w e give t h e m s o m e t h i n g e l s e to think

they've b e e n working on."

S h e shifted her p o s i t i o n u n c o m f o r t a b l y . " F o r i n s t a n c e , w e m i g h t w o r k o u t a little c o v e r s t o r y f o r you two, for y o u and A l e x h e r e , t h a t y o u w e r e w o r k i n g o n , say, a w h o l e n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f u l t r a - h i g h - t e c h f o o d p r o c e s s o r s . You see? You'd a c t u a l l y believe it y o u r s e l v e s , in y o u r

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o f f - d u t y h o u r s . You c o u l d tell t h a t to y o u r f r i e n d s a n d they'd believe it. Only, w h e n y o u g o t to w o r k e a c h m o r n i n g , t h i n k i n g you were g o i n g t o w o r k o n t h e n e w f o o d - p r o c e s s o r line, why, B i f f o r I o r s o m e o n e else w o u l d b e waiting, a n d we'd j u s t say the key w o r d s , a n d you'd r e m e m b e r all a b o u t the i n s t a n t c o m p r o j e c t . " Alex U l i a n o v s a i d , " I w o n d e r h o w m a n y p e o p l e a r e a l r e a d y w o r k i n g that way. Amy, y o u k n o w Z i p p e r D o r n b a u e r d o w n at the lab? H e always says he's w o r k i n g o n an a d v a n c e d p a s t r y w i s k p r o d u c t . B u t M a c r o t e c h d o e s n ' t m a k e p a s t r y w i s k s . I've w o n d e r e d a b o u t t h a t . A n d M a g d a di G a z z i o l i in a d v a n c e d p r o j e c t s says she's r e f o r m u l a t i n g b a sic c o l d C r a y o l a w a x f o r m u l a s . She's really e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t t h e p r o j ect, always talks a b o u t it d o w n at t h e c o r n e r s a l o o n . B u t M a c r o t e c h doesn't m a k e crayons." A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u h a d b e e n p a y i n g c l o s e a t t e n t i o n to Alex's w o r d s . N'ow she t u r n e d a n g r i l y b a c k t o w a r d B i f f a n d C y n d o r a . B e f o r e she c o u l d s p e a k . B i f f s t o o d u p . T h e s t u p i d , s o m e w h a t c l o d d i s h f e a t u r e s o n B i f f C o n n a u g h t ' s face a s s u m e d a m o r e a n i m a t e d c h a r a c t e r than they usually s h o w e d . ( W h i c h , a d m i t t e d l y , was n o t v e r ) ' a n i m a t e d at t h a t . ) Biff said, " P o p e I n n o c e n t t h e S i x t h . " C y n d o r a V e x m a n n t o o k a step b a c k w a r d a n d s t o o d b e s i d e C o n n a u g h t . T h e y w a t c h e d w i t h slitted eyes. A l e x a n d e r U l i a n o v rose f r o m his c h a i r . H e s e e m e d for a

fleeting

m o m e n t t o t a l l y u n a w a r e o f the p r e s e n c e o f B i f f and C y n d o r a , s e e m e d a l m o s t u n a w a r e o f his s u r r o u n d i n g s . H e l o o k e d at A m y A l - K h n e m u a n d said, " H e y , l o o k a t t h e h o u r ! We'd b e t t e r get to w o r k o r we'll b e in b a d t r o u b l e ! T h o s e n e w i n f r a v i b r a t o r y f o o d - p r o c e s s o r s have t o h i t t h e m a r k e t in t i m e f o r Escoffier's B i r t h d a y ! " A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u l o o k e d at h e r w r i s t c h r o n o - t e m p o - m e t e r a n d gasped. " Y o u ' r e r i g h t ! Let's g o ! " S h e l o o k e d a r o u n d a n d raised o n e h a n d to h e r face in s u r p r i s e . " C a p t a i n C o n n a u g h t ! Dr. V e x m a n n ! What—?" " D o n ' t w o r r y a b o u t a n y t h i n g , lady," B i f l ' g r u n t e d . " Y o u and y o u r pal g o t to get to w o r k o n y o u r i n s t a n t c o m m o g a d g e t . " " I n s t a n t c o m m o ? " P u z z l e m e n t spread o n A m y ' s face. " W h a t a r e y o u t a l k i n g a b o u t ? W e ' r e a s s i g n e d to the n e w f o o d - p r o c e s s o r line." C o n n a u g h t l a u g h e d . " R i g h t . B u t listen to this." H e c h u c k l e d , t h e n almost whispered, "Vera H r u b a Ralston!"

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Amy 2-3-4 Al-Khnemu

C I R C L E

and Alexander Ulianov both

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s t u n n e d . B u t t h e s h o c k lasted o n l y f o r a m o m e n t . E a c h o f t h e m s e e m e d to stagger, to regain c o n t r o l and t h e n U l i a n o v said, " H e y , l o o k a t t h e h o u r ! We'd b e t t e r get to w o r k o r we'll b e in b a d t r o u b l e ! T h o s e n e w i n s t a n t a n e o u s c o m m u n i c a t o r s have to h i t the m a r k e t in time for Marconi's Birthday!" A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u l o o k e d at h e r w r i s t c h r o n o - t e m p o - m e t e r a n d g a s p e d . " Y o u ' r e r i g h t ! Let's g o ! " S h e l o o k e d a r o u n d a n d raised o n e h a n d to h e r face in s u r p r i s e . " C a p t a i n C o n n a u g h t ! Dr. V e x m a n n ! What—?" " D o n ' t w o r r y a b o u t a n y t h i n g , lady," B i f f g r u n t e d . " Y o u and y o u r pal g o t to get to w o r k o n y o u r n e w f o o d p r o c e s s o r . " " F o o d p r o c e s s o r ? " P u z z l e m e n t spread o n A m y ' s face. " W h a t a r e y o u t a l k i n g a b o u t ? W e ' r e assigned to the n e w i n s t a n t a n e o u s c o m m u n i c a t o r line." C o n n a u g h t l a u g h e d . " T h a t ' s right, I m a d e a little m i s t a k e . Well, y o u t w o s u p e r b r a i n s g o a b o u t y o u r s u p e r s c i e n t i f i c w o r k , hey? It's t o o m u c h for m e , I ' m just a s i m p l e o l d c o p t r y i n g to m a k e a living. Ain't t h a t right, D r . V e x m a n n ? " C y n d o r a said. " T h a t ' s right, Biff-o." A m y a n d A l e x left t h e office a n d h e a d e d f o r t h e i r l a b . A l m o s t b e f o r e the d o o r had hissed shut b e h i n d t h e m . B i f f C o n n a u g h t ' s o f f i c e s o u n d e d with t h e m i n g l e d l a u g h t e r o f a m a n and a w o m a n .

W h i l e t h e s e e v e n t s w e r e t r a n s p i r i n g in the offices a n d l a b o r a t o r i e s o f t h e M a c r o t e c h A s s o c i a t e s Ell T e e D e e c o m p l e x in D i n g a n z i c h t , and w h i l e the little s h u t t l e Clare

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t o w a r d t h e triple s u n F o r n a x 1 3 8 2 , e v e n t s w e r e c o n t i n u i n g to m o v e within Starrett. In t h e c i t y o f N'ew C h i c a g o , for e x a m p l e , trade w a s b r i s k a t O l d e D o c t o r Christmas's Booke & Brownie Shoppe. T h e proprietor, Will Lux, w a s h a v i n g o n e o f h i s b e s t s e a s o n s ever. In the S t a r r e t t i a n m e t r o p o l i s o f B o m b a y V I I o n

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s h o r e o f the M u s c h e l k a l k Sea, P o n n e m p e r u n a ' s Pet E m p o r i u m had j u s t c l o s e d f o r t h e day. B u s i n e s s in t h e pet t r a d e w a s a l s o excellent,

L I G H T S !

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a n d t h e P o n n e m p e r u n a family, M o h a n d i s , l i t e n d r a , and their b e l o v e d d a u g h t e r C h i t a r h i , were p r e p a r i n g to sit d o w n t o a s a v o u r y d i n n e r o f d h a l , c u r r y , a n d a n c i e n t B o m b a y style b r e a d . In t h e s t a t e o f F l o r i d a l s o , it w a s s p r i n g t r a i n i n g s e a s o n f o r t h e b a s e b a l l c l u b s f r o m " u p n o r t h " ( w h a t e v e r that t e r m m i g h t m e a n in a t i n c a n world like S t a r r e t t ) . T h e N e w S t . L o u i s B r o w n s w e r e t r a i n i n g in the village o f B a h i a M a r , a n d the s e n s a t i o n o f the c a m p w a s a f a b u l o u s l y t a l e n t e d k i d c a t c h e r . T h e kid was k n o c k i n g t h e c o v e r o f f t h e ball, h e had a rifle f o r an a r m , and t h e w a y h e m o v e d b e h i n d t h e plate, y o u ' d t h i n k h e had oiled m a c h i n e s for k n e e s . W h a t w a s m o s t r e m a r k a b l e a b o u t h i m was this. H e w o r e h i s c a t c h e r ' s m a s k all t h e t i m e , b e h i n d the plate, u p a t b a t , in the l o c k e r r o o m — e v e r y w h e r e ! N o b o d y o n the c l u b had seen h i s face, a n d it w a s r u m o r e d that he had b e e n h i d e o u s l y s c a r r e d in a n a c c i d e n t , s o n o b o d y t r i e d to peek. W h o cared, as l o n g a s h e c o u l d p e r f o r m the w a y h e did? H e w o u l d n ' t e v e n give his n a m e , b u t s i n c e they n e e d e d to c a l l h i m something,

h e asked f o r a r o s t e r o f l o n g - r e t i r e d N e w St. L o u i s

B r o w n s players. A n d s i n c e he was a c a t c h e r , t h e kid t o o k the n a m e o f a m u g w h o had o n c e played in a s i n g l e g a m e f o r t h e c l u b . " J o e Niem a n J u n i o r , that's m y n a m e , " h e t o l d t h e m a n a g e r . " Y o u c a n just c a l l m e Joe." T h e m a n a g e r said, " K e e p playing like that and I'll call you anyt h i n g you l i k e ! " A n d in H o l l y w o o d - b e t w e e n - t h e - S t a r s , t h e y were still w o r k i n g o n The Dunwich

Horror,

p e n d i n g the r e t u r n o f T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r and

Golda Abramowitz with s o m e new technology for the sequences involving the Whateley monsters. O n e o f t h e n i c e t h i n g s a b o u t S t a r r e t t w a s its s i z e — t h i s w a s a big t i n c a n w o r l d ! O u t at the C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c p r o p e r t y t h e y had b u i l t a c o m p l e t e New E n g l a n d village to p r o v i d e s c e n e r y a n d b a c k g r o u n d a n d s e t s f o r The Dunwich

Horror.

T h e r e were a l r e a d y r o l l i n g hillsides

a n d g r e e n f a r m l a n d s ; it was a p e r f e c t place to m a k e t h e flik. M a r t i n van B u r e n M a c T a v i s h had left b e h i n d a final ( o r n e a r l y final)

script when he went with Tarquin Armbruster and

A b r a m o w i t z to t h e s h u t t l e p o r t . H e s a w t h e m o f f o n t h e Clare Harris,

t h e n r e t u r n e d to " D u n w i c h " a t C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c .

Golda Winger

316

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C I R C L E

G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z had a p p o i n t e d a d i r e c t o r and t h e d i r e c t o r had hired a special effects crew, a c a m e r a crew, a s e t - d e c o r a t i o n c r e w , a c o s t u m e r , and all o f the rest o f the p e o p l e n e c e s s a r y f o r the p r o d u c t i o n . G a z a d e Lure, Nefertiti L o g a n , R o c k Q u a r t z , R o s c o e I n e l e g a n t e a n d K a r l o s K o c h were all r e h e a r s e d in t h e i r roles, and s h o o t i n g had a c t u a l l y b e g u n , u n d e r the careful s u p e r v i s i o n and c o n t r o l o f t h e dir e c t o r G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z had left in c h a r g e . T h a t was

Josephine

A n n e J o n e s , w h o s e d i r e c t o r i a l c r e d i t s i n c l u d e d s u c h s u c c e s s e s a s Pirates of the Plains,

The Haunted

Garage,

and o n e X - r a t e d h i t (she did

this o n e u n d e r a p s e u d o n y m , and y o u will please The Garden

of

n o t tell a n y o n e ! ) .

ShambaUah.

S h e had e v e n w o r k e d f r o m a M a r t i n M a c T a v i s h s c r i p t b e f o r e , M a r t y ' s early e f f o r t Betelgeuse

Beach

Party,

a flik billed a s " t h e u n i -

verse's first o u t e r - s p a c e s u r f e r s p e c t a c u l a r . " T h e flik m a d e m o n e y f o r years, selling o v e r a n d o v e r a n d over a g a i n w h e r e v e r S t a r r e t t h a p p e n e d to visit. At

the

very

moment

that

A b r a m o w i t z , travelling in t h e Clare

Tarquin Winger

Armbruster Harris,

and

Golda

h o v e i n t o sight o f

Fornax 1382 and exclaimed with pleasure at the lighting effects that t h e t r i p l e g l a r e o f L e m o n , L i m e , a n d C h e r r y p r o d u c e d inside t h e i r s h u t t l e s h i p . . . a t this v e r y m o m e n t , t h e day's s h o o t i n g was a b o u t to b e g i n o n t h e set o f The Dumvich

Horror.

T h e s c e n e they w e r e s h o o t i n g a t C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c t h a t d a y w a s » 2 3 7 k o n the m a s t e r s c e n e list. J o s e p h i n e A n n e J o n e s was p r e s e n t dressed in p u t t e e s , c r a v a t , b e r e t , a n d l o n g c i g a r e t t e h o l d e r . ( S h e was a t r a d i t i o n a l i s t ; s h e e v e n w o r e a m o n o c l e tied to t h e e n d o f a r i b b o n , b u t n e v e r s c r e w e d it i n t o her eye in p u b l i c ; she h a d n ' t m a s t e r e d t h a t t r i c k and it e m b a r r a s s e d h e r to m a k e t h e e f f o r t a n d fail.) M a r t i n van B u r e n M a c T a v i s h w a s also p r e s e n t , s c r i p t - b o o k in h a n d . H e h a d n o t b e e n pleased with his r e l a t i o n s h i p with J o s e p h i n e d u r i n g Betelgeuse

Beach

r e c t o r f o r The Dumvich

Party a n d he was not h a p p y to h a v e h e r as diHorror.

T h e y were s h o o t i n g i n d o o r s . T h e s c e n e t o o k p l a c e inside t h e M i s k a t o n i c U n i v e r s i t y library. K a r l o s K a r c h , a s W i l b u r W h a t e l e y , w a s d e c k e d o u t in f r i g h t - w i g , p u t t y n o s e , p l e n t y o f paint a n d d i s t o r t e r s f o r his face, a n d e v e n t e m p o r a r i l y m o d i f i e d h a n d s . H e w o r e a s l o u c h h a t p u l l e d d o w n o v e r his f o r e h e a d . It was a t r i u m p h o f c o s t u m e and c a m e r a a n g l e : it w o u l d give t h e i l l u s i o n that W i l b u r ' s f a c e was h i d d e n

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

317

f r o m view w h i l e a c t u a l l y a f f o r d i n g t h e a u d i e n c e a t h o r o u g h e x a m i n a t i o n o f W i l b u r ' s f r i g h t e n i n g a n d d i s t o r t e d features. A n d W i l b u r , naturally, w o r e his c u s t o m a r y a n k l e - l e n g t h o v e r c o a t . G a z a d e Lure, as S a l l y Sawyer, had b e e n w r i t t e n i n t o a n e w task, t h a t o f m a n a g i n g l i b r a r i a n f o r M i s k a t o n i c U. G a z a was a t h r o w b a c k to an o l d earth type o f b e a u t y . She w a s s l i m a n d fragile l o o k i n g — s h e c o u l d n ' t h a v e weighed m o r e t h a n f o u r k i l o g r a m s a n d s h e w a s b a r e l y 1.6 m e t e r s tall. S h e had s o f t l y

flowing,

pale b l o n d e hair a n d eyes o f a d e e p yet brilliant e m e r a l d h u e t h a t were f a m o u s o n a g r o s s o f planets. O n e h o l o f l i k h i s t o r i a n had t r a c e d t h r o u g h p r i n t s o f a n c i e n t

fliks

a n d stills f r o m e v e n m o r e a n c i e n t o n e s , and h a d f o u n d an a m a z i n g p r o t o t y p e o r avatar o f G a z a , an a n c i e n t t o o d e e film a c t r e s s n a m e d V e r o n i c a L a k e . I f y o u c a n ' t find a h o l o o f G a z a d e Lure, see i f y o u c a n t u r n u p a t o o d e e p r i n t o f V e r o n i c a L a k e o r o n e o f h e r films ( t h a t ' s w h a t they were c a l l e d ,

films

or s o m e t i m e s ((I don't know why))

" m o o m p i c h a s " ) a n d you'll see w h a t this is all a b o u t . B e p r e p a r e d to fall in love. Well, t h e r e t h e y were o n t h e set. W i l b u r W h a t e l e y ( K a r l o s K a r c h ) s h a m b l e d u p to t h e c h e c k o u t d e s k . S a l l y Sawyer ( G a z a d e L u r e ) g r e e t e d h i m . H e r face s h o w e d an a m a l g a m o f h o r r o r , fear a n d d i s g u s t . W i l b u r , in h i s s t r a n g e , g u t t u r a l t o n e s , s p o k e to Sally. " T h e r e is a b o o k 1 m u s t have. It is a very rare, v e r ) ' o l d b o o k . " A l t h o u g h K a r l o s in h i s n a t u r a l s p e e c h w a s a m o s t a r t i c u l a t e and p l e a s a n t - s p o k e n m a n , h e a d o p t e d a very d i f f e r e n t v o i c e as W i l b u r W h a t e l e y . It w a s a c o m b i n a t i o n gasp, hiss, a n d g u t t u r a l g r o a n . " T h e a u t h o r o f t h e b o o k is a m a d arab n a m e d A b d u l . A b d u l alHazred." T h e m u l t i s e n s e r e c e p t o r s o n t h e flik c a m e r a p i c k e d u p a foetid odor of ancient alienness as Wilbur spoke. " I k n o w the b o o k you m e a n , sir," Sally s a i d . " I ' m afraid it can't b e t a k e n o u t o f t h e library. I f you w o u l d like to u s e it h e r e , w e have a special r o o m with a r m e d g u a r d s , h e a v y l o c k s , t h i c k l y a r m o r e d walls, w h e r e y o u m a y b e p e r m i t t e d to u s e t h e b o o k for a l i m i t e d p e r i o d o f tiktox." " T h a t will do," W i l b u r hissed. " T h a t will h a v e to d o . Please s h o w m e to t h e locked c h a m b e r . Please get the b o o k for m e at o n c e . "

318

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C I R C L E

T h e c a m e r a s h o w e d W i l b u r ' s hairy, d i s t o r t e d h a n d s w r i t h i n g a s with a life o f their o w n . l o s e p h i n e l o n e s yelled, " C u t ! " T h e s e t - l i g h t s d i m m e d b a c k , the c a m e r a g r o u n d to a h a l t . " T h a t l o o k s p r e t t y g o o d . " J o s e p h i n e g e s t u r e d to t h e c a m e r a o p . " L e t ' s take a q u i c k p e e k at w h a t we've g o t . " Even b e f o r e she c o u l d see the r u s h , M a r t y M a c T a v i s h w a s s t a n d i n g b e f o r e her, j u m p i n g u p a n d d o w n . " I t isn't r i g h t ! " M a c T a v i s h yelled. " Y o u c h a n g e d t h e dialog! You're w r e c k i n g m y s c r i p t again, j u s t like y o u d i d o n Betelgettse

Beach

Party'."

" I ' m in c h a r g e h e r e , " J o s e p h i n e J o n e s s a i d . " K e e p q u i e t o r I'll b a r y o u f r o m the set, M a c T a v i s h . " " Y o u c a n ' t d o t h i s to m e ! I'll talk to G o l d a a b o u t this! I'll t a l k to T a r q u i n ! I'll b l o w t h e lid o f f The Garden

of—"

" S h u t u p ! " J o s e p h i n e hissed. " M e n t i o n t h a t t o p i c o n c e m o r e and I s w e a r , I'll get a c o n t r a c t a n d h a v e you killed. I m e a n it, M a c T a v i s h . I'll d o w h a t I say." M a r t y b a c k e d u p a step. H e b u r s t i n t o a c o l d sweat. " Y o u w o u l d , too, wouldn't you?" J o s e p h i n e J o n e s m e r e l y n o d d e d . S h e s t o o d u p a n d said, " O k a y , e v e r y b o d y . Tea b r e a k , t h e n 2 3 7 b . N o b o d y leave t h e set please." After t e a t h e y s t a r t e d o n 2 3 7 b . T h a t was the s c e n e o f W i l b u r tryi n g to s m u g g l e t h e b o o k o u t o f t h e M i s k a t o n i c l i b r a r y b y c o n c e a l i n g it u n d e r his o v e r c o a t . B e i n g W i l b u r W h a t e l e y , he'd have h i s h a n d s free because he could h a n g o n t o the b o o k with s o m e o f those tentacles a n d o t h e r b i z a r r e a p p e n d a g e s h e p o s s e s s e d . J o s e p h i n e J o n e s settled in her d i r e c t o r ' s c h a i r , o r d e r e d t h e a c t o r s to their places, u t t e r e d t h e t i m e - h o n o r e d c r y : " L i g h t s ! C a m e r a ! Action!" M a r t i n van Buren MacTavish, standing behind Josephine, danced u p and d o w n in a n x i e t y , c l u t c h i n g his m a s t e r c o p y o f the s c r i p t . K a r l o s K a r c h c a m e s h a m b l i n g o u t o f t h e s h a d o w s , o u t o f the d i m c o r r i d o r t h a t led f r o m t h e c i r c u l a t i o n d e s k to t h e l o c k e d and g u a r d e d rare b o o k r o o m . A s K a r l o s passed by t h e c i r c u l a t i o n desk, the v o i c e o f an e x t r a c a m e f r o m o f f - c a m e r a . " S t o p t h a t m a n ! He's s t e a l i n g a b o o k ! " G a z a d e Lure hit a b u t t o n a n d an iron g a t e ( t h i s w a s M a r t y ' s i n -

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

319

v e n l i o n and h e was p r o u d o f it) c l a n g e d i n t o place, b l o c k i n g Karlos' exit f r o m t h e r o o m .

L e m o n a n d L i m e were a t the o p p o s i t e e n d s o f the sky, L e m o n j u s t risi n g and L i m e j u s t s e t t i n g , with C h e r r y directly o v e r h e a d as t h e Winger

Harris

Clare

s p i r a l e d d o w n t o w a r d a l a n d i n g in D i n g a n z i c h t . T h e

artificial world's l a n d i n g p o r t a l was o p e n e d a n d t h e s h u t t l e e n t e r e d neatly. Within a matter o f minutes, Tarquin Armbruster I V and Golda A b r a m o w i t z were g r e e t e d b y a m a r k e t i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m M a c r o tech Associates, and within a matter o f m i n u t e s after that a c o n ference was taking place between Tarquin, Golda, and a team o f M a c r o t e c h sales a n d e n g i n e e r i n g p e o p l e , in a plush office w i t h i n t h e Macrotech complex. B a c k in a s e r v i c e h a n g a r , the s h u t t l e s h i p Harris

h a d b e e n racked

a n d fueled a n d w a s b e i n g held f o r its o w n e r s ' r e t u r n . S o m e o f the s e r v i c e t e c h s a n d s p a c e j o c k e y s w h o w o r k e d in t h e h a n g a r n o t i c e d that the Harris

had a t h i n c o a t i n g o v e r m o s t o f its

s u r f a c e , a p e c u l i a r l y t e x t u r e d g r e e n i s h g u n k t h a t l o o k e d a l m o s t like an u l t r a t h i n layer o f s p o n g e . B u t , w h a t t h e hey, the o w n e r s h a d n ' t req u e s t e d a s c r u b - u p , j u s t a t o p - o f f o f t h e fuel t a n k s . A n d w h a t t h e y asked f o r w a s w h a t t h e y g o t . C h - c h - c h [ u n i o r was left pretty m u c h to itself. It still had t h e t h o u g h t s that it had picked u p f r o m T a r q u i n a n d G o l d a to p o n d e r , and a l t h o u g h [ u n i o r had b e e n alive f o r a fairly lengthy p e r i o d o f t i m e — and a l t h o u g h it w a s a r e m a r k a b l y intelligent bit o f v e g e t a t i o n — J u n i o r was still very n e w at this c o n s c i o u s n e s s business, and was h a v i n g q u i t e a t i m e f o r i t s e l f t r y i n g to deal with all o f the p e r c e p t i o n s and t h o u g h t s to which it had rather s u d d e n l y fallen heir. S o , s i n c e n o b o d y had b o t h e r e d it a n y — h e y , n o b o d y had m u c h n o ticed i t ! — J u n i o r j u s t h u n g o n t o the Clare

Winger

Harris

and pondered.

G o l d a and T a r q u i n , o v e r a t M a c r o t e c h , had p r e t t y well s k e t c h e d in

their

problem for

the m a r k e t i n g and

engineering

folks.

The

M a c r o t e c h p e o p l e invited t h e m to have l u n c h in t h e e x e c u t i v e d i n i n g r o o m , b u t G o l d a , w h o was o f s o m e w h a t p r o l e t a r i a n attitudes, i n sisted o n b u y i n g h e r o w n l u n c h in t h e e m p l o y e e s ' c a f e t e r i a .

320

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N o w y o u have l o pay c l o s e a t t e n t i o n al this p o i n t , b e c a u s e s o m e t h i n g v e r y r e m a r k a b l e h a p p e n e d . S o m e t h i n g that c o u l d n ' t have b e e n p l a n n e d . It m a k e s y o u w o n d e r a b o u t t h e w o r k i n g s o f c h a n c e , and w h e t h e r t h e y are a l t o g e t h e r blind. H m m . Here's w h a t h a p p e n e d . G o l d a and T a r q u i n w e r e seated with s o m e M a c r o t e c h h o n c h o s a t a s m a l l t a b l e , e a t i n g a c o l d salad. A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u and A l e x a n d e r U l i a n o v were sitting nearby, also e a t i n g a cold salad. G o l d a and T a r q u i n were t a l k i n g a b o u t the m o v i e b u s i n e s s . A m y and Alex were t a l k i n g a b o u t h i g h - t e c h f o o d

processors,

h a v i n g b e e n " P o p e I n n o c e n t t h e S i x t h e ď ' a s they left t h e i r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s lab a t l u n c h time. At p r e c i s e l y the s a m e m o m e n t d u r i n g t h e m e a l , b o t h

Amy

a n d G o l d a f o u n d it n e c e s s a r y to a n s w e r a c a l l o f n a t u r e . B o t h o f t h e m repaired t o the facility. W h i l e there t h e y s t r u c k u p a c a s u a l conversation. A m y t o l d G o l d a that s h e was w o r k i n g with D r . U l i a n o v o n a n e w line o f food-processors. G o l d a e x p r e s s e d o n l y p o l i t e interest. T h e n G o l d a told A m y t h a t she was w o r k i n g f o r M r . A r m b r u s t e r o f C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c S t u d i o s , t h a t she w a s p r o d u c t i o n c h i e f a n d t h e y were p l a n n i n g a b i g - b u d g e t h o r r o r m o v i e . A m y a l l o w e d a s h o w she was i n t e r e s t e d in m o v i e s h e r s e l f w h e n she wasn't d e s i g n i n g f o o d p r o c e s s o r s . Especially o l d m o v i e s . G o l d a a l l o w e d as h o w s h e s h a r e d that i n t e r e s t . S h e was, in fact, p r o b a b l y the greatest F o r m a l h a u t i a n film h i s t o r i a n alive. A m y r e s p o n d e d with e n t h u s i a s m , reeling o f f t h e n a m e s o f h e r fav o r i t e o l d - t i m e films, d i r e c t o r s , writers, a n d a c t o r s . G o l d a r e s p o n d e d w i t h her o w n f a v o r i t e s . N o w , w o u l d y o u like to k n o w t h e n a m e s o f G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z ' s favorite r e a l - o l d - t i m e m o v i e a c t r e s s e s ? You w o u l d ? G o o d ! H e r e t h e y c o m e : Sara

Algood.

Verree

Teasdale.

Butterfly Anna Jane

McQueen.

May

Wong.

Darwell.

L I G H T S !

Dorothy Dtpe Lynn

C A M E R A !

321

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

Gislt. Velez.

Bar i.

Carmen

Miranda.

Vera Hrubá

Ralston.

Bingo! N'o s o o n e r had G o l d a m e n t i o n e d Vera H r u b á R a l s l o n , t h e s t a r o f s u c h m e m o r a b l e lliks as The iMdy and the Monster, a n d Murder

in the Music

Hall,

Storm

Over

Lisbon,

than A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u under-

w e n t a s u d d e n , slight b u t n o t i c e a b l e , t r a n s i t i o n . H e r f a c e s e e m e d to sag f o r a n i n s t a n t , b e f o r e r e s u m i n g a n e x p r e s s i o n a l m o s t — b u t q u i t e — e x a c t l y t h e s a m e that it h a d s h o w n b e f o r e t h e m e n t i o n

not of

Vera H r u b a R a l s t o n . N o t f o r n o t h i n g was G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z r e g a r d e d as o n e o f t h e b r i g h t e s t talents in t h e e n t i r e flixbiz. She w a s k n o w l e d g e a b l e , s h e w a s i n t e l l i g e n t , s h e was t a l e n t e d , a n d s h e was p e r c e p t i v e . W o w , was s h e ever perceptive! That

fleeting

c h a n g e in A m y A l - K h n e m u ' s e x p r e s s i o n , t h a t m o -

m e n t a r y sag o f the j a w m u s c l e s , t h a t i n s t a n t o f d i s o r i e n t a t i o n in h e r eyes, w o u l d have g o n e u n n o t i c e d by a l m o s t a n y o n e n o t c a r e f u l l y l o o k i n g for s u c h s i g n s . B u t t h e y d i d n ' t get past G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z . She took hold o f Amy's hands. " A r e y o u all r i g h t ? " " O f c o u r s e I a m . " A m y b l u s h e d . " L o o k , I've really e n j o y e d o u r little c h a t , I ' m h a p p y w e m e t . M a y b e w e c a n get t o g e t h e r f o r a m i l d i n t o x i c a n t a f t e r w o r k . B u t r i g h t n o w I have to get b a c k to t h e i n s t a n t c o m m o p r o j e c t with Alex." D i d y o u c a t c h t h a t ? G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z s u r e as hell did. " W h a t instant c o m m o project?" A m y s h o o k h e r h e a d . S h e p u l l e d her h a n d s f r e e o f G o l d a ' s . " I . o o k , I h a v e to m a k e a living. I ' m w o r k i n g o n an instant c o m m u n i c a t o r f o r M a c r o t e c h . " S h e c h e c k e d the t i m e . " I d o have to get b a c k t o w o r k . " " N o w just hold o n . There's s o m e t h i n g very strange here." A m y m i g h t h a v e b e e n i n c l i n e d to p u s h past G o l d a a n d j u s t stalk away, b u t s h e t h o u g h t b e t t e r o f that. After all, G o l d a A b r o m o w i t z w a s a s e v e n - f o o t - t a l l F o r m a l h a u t i a n . You d i d n ' t j u s t b r u s h past her. N o y o u did n o t .

322

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N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

G o l d a and A m y s a l d o w n o n a c u s h i o n e d s o f a t h e r e in the ladies' l o u n g e , a n d b e f o r e c o f f e e c o u l d c o o l b a c k at t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e tables, t h e y had u n r a v e l l e d the w h o l e s c h e m e that B i f f C o n n a u g h t a n d C y n d o r a V e x m a n n had s o skillfully a n d ruthlessly w o v e n . T h e o n e t h i n g that they c o u l d not u n r a v e l was t h e key w o r d t h a t set Alex a n d A m y u p to t h i n k they w e r e w o r k i n g o n f o o d p r o c e s s o r s . B u t e v e n that part o f t h e M a c r o t e c h s c h e m e w a s s h o r t l y to f a i l — a n d in an e q u a l l y u n l i k e l y and f a r f e t c h e d m a n n e r .

D i g it: A s A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u and G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z sat in t h e l o u n g e w o r k i n g o u t t h e details o f t h e key w o r d s e c u r i t y s c h e m e , Tarq u i n A r m b r u s t e r I V and his h o s t s were still seated in t h e cafeteria, sipp i n g c o f f e e , s m o k i n g cigars, and c a r r y i n g o n a c o n v e r s a t i o n c o n s i s t i n g o f j u s t the type o f s m a l l talk t h a t s u c h n e w b u s i n e s s a c q u a i n t a n c e s w o u l d indulge in u n d e r the c i r c u m s t a n c e s . O n e o f t h e M a c r o t e c h e x e c u t i v e s r e m a r k e d o n T a r k ' s classical n a m e . A r m b r u s t e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e was d e s c e n d e d f r o m a n c i e n t o l d e a r t h R o m a n nobility. H e was o n e o f a f a m i l y that had p r o d u c e d R o m a n s e n a t o r s , Italian d o g e s , a n d C a t h o l i c p o p e s . A m o n g h i s illustrio u s a n c e s t o r s , T a r q u i n m e n t i o n e d — y e s , y o u g u e s s e d it! And just as Tarquin Armbruster w o r d s . Pope

Innocent

the Sixth,

IV spoke those

portentous

G o l d a and A m y h o v e i n t o e a r s h o t .

A g a i n A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u ' s face sagged f o r t h e b a r e s t i n s t a n t . G o l d a hissed, " Q u i c k , A m y ! W h a t ' s y o u r p r o j e c t ? " " U h — h i g h tech food processors. B u t — " "Vera Hruba Ralston!" "Instant communication." " A m y , that's it! G r a b y o u r p a r t n e r . Y o u two a n d T a r k i e and I h a v e g o t to have a private c o n f e r e n c e , f a s t ! " M e r e h o u r s later, T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r IV, G o l d a

Abramowitz,

A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u , a n d A l e x a n d e r U l i a n o v were a b o a r d Clare

Winger

Harris

the

a n d that little s h i p was m a k i n g its w a y f r o m D i n -

g a n z i c h t b a c k to S t a r r e t t a n d H o l l y w o o d - b e t w e e n - t h e - S t a r s . It had t a k e n s o m e d o i n g t o h i r e A l - K h n e m u and U l i a n o v away f r o m M a c r o t e c h Associates. Basically, T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r had o f -

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

323

fered I h e m fat p a y c h e c k s , full s u p p o r t f o r t h e i r research p r o j e c t s , and a m a j o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n in a n y p r o d u c t t h e y d e v e l o p e d in b e h a l f o f Colossal Galactic. G e t t i n g t h e m away f r o m D i n g a n z i c h t , physically, had b e e n an e q u a l c h a l l e n g e . M a c r o t e c h d i d n ' t w a n t to let t h e m go. T h e r e w a s n o legal w a y t h e c o r p o r a t i o n c o u l d s t o p A m y a n d A l e x f r o m leaving, b u t t h e y used e v e r ) ' bit o f m o r a l s u a s i o n , e c o n o m i c a r m t w i s t i n g , and psychological pressure available. Biff C o n n a u g h t e v e n t r i e d p u l l i n g a g u n , believe it o r n o t . B u t w h e n A m y t h r e a t e n e d to blurt o u t t h e real m e a n i n g o f t h e " P . H . " in P. H . " B i f f " C o n n a u g h t w i t h h e r d y i n g b r e a t h , B i f f s u b s i d e d . C y n d o r a V e x m a n n tried s o m e o f h e r h y p n o t i c - c o n d i t i o n i n g t y p e m a n i p u l a t i o n , b u t A m y a n d A l e x were o n t h e i r guard a g a i n s t t h a t a n d C y n d o r a c o u l d n ' t b r i n g it o f f . T h e r e was even a squabble at the Dinganzicht portal a b o u t cust o m s a n d a s t r o g a t i o n c l e a r a n c e s , b u t T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r had t h e r i g h t c o m b i n a t i o n o f n e r v e a n d s m a r t s to get t h e m t h r o u g h t h a t . S o here w a s t h e Clare

Winger

Harris

shussing merrily along, the

yellow, c e r i s e , a n d g r e e n o f F o r n a x 1 3 8 2 b e h i n d it, t h e m e t a l l i c s h a p e o f S t a r r e t t l o o m i n g in its r a d a r - t e l e s c o p e , a n d its f o u r o c c u p a n t s c h a t t i n g in t h e c a b i n w h i l e t h e s h u t t l e c o a s t e d a l o n g . A m y and A l e x m a i n l y l i s t e n e d ; f o r all their e n g i n e e r i n g k n o w h o w a n d s c i e n t i f i c p r o w e s s , t h e y felt t h e m s e l v e s t o b e p l a n e t b o u n d r u b e s in t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e s e m e m b e r s o f t h e i n t e r s t e l l a r set. " I don't really u n d e r s t a n d , T a r q u i n , w h y you're s o interested in this i n s t a n t a n e o u s c o m m u n i c a t i o n p r o j e c t . A r e y o u p l a n n i n g to give u p flix f o r t h e c o m m o b u s i n e s s ? " Tarquin

peered

through

the s p a c e t e l e s c o p e a t

Starrett.

He

t u r n e d a n d relit a s o g g y , h a l f - s m o k e d Flavana P e r f e c t o . " D a r l i n g , let m e tell you s o m e t h i n g . G o l d a dear, y o u are a w o n d e r f u l p r o d u c t i o n c h i e f , you k n o w all a b o u t o l d m o v i e s and all a b o u t n e w flix. You a r e t e r r i f i c a t y o u r j o b p l u s h a v i n g the prettiest g r e e n skin and w h i t e f u r o f anybody I know, Golda." Golda

flushed

blue (that's h o w F o r m a l h a u t i a n s b l u s h or

flush).

" W e w e r e g o i n g to D i n g a n z i c h t f o r s o m e help with t h e special effects. W i t h t h e W h a t e l e y twins. T h a t isn't w h a t we g o t . " " D a r l i n g , " T a r q u i n said, " w h a t w e g o t h e r e , I tell you, is w o r t h thirty yukky monsters. No, thirty thousand."

324

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

" I k n o w y o u really m e a n that, T a r q u i n . You always s t a r t s o u n d i n g like a c h a r a c t e r o u t o f Yiddish t h e a t e r w h e n you're s i n c e r e , w h i c h isn't o f t e n . " " G o l d a , y o u c a n say s u c h a t h i n g to m e , to T a r q u i n A r m b r u s ter IV?" " B u t w h a t g o o d will a s u p e r space telegraph d o Colossal G a l a c t i c ? " " G o l d a s w e e t h e a r t , listen to an o l d m a n w h a t has s e e n it all, t h i n g s t h a t w o u l d m a k e y o u b l u s h like c o b a l t . G o l d a , w h e n w e m a k e a s h o w , like Suicide

Ranch,

s t a r r i n g B u c k L o n g a b a u g h , m a y h e rest in

p e a c e p o o r B u c k . H o w m a n y t i m e s did w e sell Suicide

Ranch,

m a n y planets, d o y o u r e m e m b e r ? A n d f o r h o w m u c h

gelt?"

to h o w

" T h a t o n e I k n o w , T a r k . W e ' v e s o l d it a h u n d r e d eleven t i m e s . T h e flik m a d e p r o d u c t i o n c o s t s o n t h e s i x t y - t h i r d sale, total n u t o n t h e n i n e t y - s i x t h . N o w it's a n i c e little m o n e y - m a k e r . " T a r q u i n d r e w o n his P e r f e c t o , b l e w a p e r f e c t s m o k e r i n g , and w i n k e d in t h e d i r e c t i o n o f A m y and A l e x a n d e r . " A n d b y the t i m e w e finish

selling Suicide

Ranch,

Golda sweetheart, how many times do

y o u t h i n k we c a n sell it? A h u n d r e d fifty? T w o h u n d r e d ? B e f o r e it's t o o o l d a n d c r e a k y and w e g o t t o p u t it o n the a r t - h o u s e c i r c u i t w h i c h pays, m a y m y worst e n e m i e s m a k e o n l y a r t - h o u s e

fliks.

practically

nothing?" " I g u e s s a b o u t two h u n d r e d . " " B u t if w e d i d n ' t h a v e to wait f o r S t a r r e t t to visit e a c h w o r l d ? I f w e c o u l d s e n d h o l o i m a g e s like t h e o l d teewee p i x , o n l y i n s t a n t l y n o t at light s p e e d , d a r l i n g ? I f w e c o u l d offer, say. The Dumvich

Horror

all

at o n c e t o e v e r y b o d y w h i l e it's b r a n d new? I f w e c o u l d m a k e f o r it a galaxy-wide simultaneous premiere with spotlasers a n d celebrities on e v e r y civilized planet in t h e g a l a x y — h o w m a n y t i m e s c o u l d w e sell it then? H a h ? " G o l d a o p e n e d h e r lips to answer, b u t b e f o r e she c o u l d get a syllable out, Tarquin continued. " D o n ' t i n t e r r u p t y o u r elders, d a r l i n g . T h i n k o f m e , an o l d m a n . S o o n I'll b e d e a d a n d g o n e , s o let m e talk please while I c a n . T h o u s a n d s o f p l a n e t s w e c o u l d sell t o , t h o u s a n d s . W h a t will w e m a k e f r o m The Dunwich

Horror

I'll tell y o u , G o l d a , a f o r t u n e . A positive f o r t u n e .

T h a t ' s w h y I h i r e d t h e s e two b i g d o m e s , you s h o u l d p a r d o n my b l u n t n e s s Dr. A l - K h n e m u , Dr. U l i a n o v .

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

325

" S o ! " T a r q u i n l e a n e d b a c k in h i s c h a i r a n d g r i n n e d . " W h a t d o y o u t h i n k o f that, h e y ? "

C h - c h - c h J u n i o r f o u n d i t s e l f b a c k inside S t a r r e t t a n d felt a p l e a s a n t s e n s a t i o n that it m i g h t have k n o w n as the w a r m t h o f h o m e c o m i n g , had it e v e r h e a r d o f s u c h a t h i n g . T h e little s h i p Clare

Winger

Harris

e n t e r e d S t a r r e t t via K a s p a k Portal and t h e n s k i m m e d its way a c r o s s t h e c e n t e r o f the t i n c a n t o w a r d H o l l y w o o d - b e t w e e n - t h e - S t a r s . En r o u t e , t h e s h u t t l e z i p p e d t h r o u g h t h e n u l l - g z o n e a n d bits o f C h - c h - c h J u n i o r w e r e s c r a p e d o f f , r e a t t a c h i n g t h e m s e l v e s to C h - c h c h S e n i o r , t r a n s f e r r i n g their r e c o l l e c t i o n s w i t h t h e m . S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , bits o f C h - c h - c h S e n i o r a d h e r e d to the r o u g h s u r f a c e o f t h e

Harris

( s a i d r o u g h n e s s c o n s i s t i n g o f J u n i o r ! ) a n d r e m a i n e d with t h e s h i p a s it d r o p p e d t o w a r d t h e wall o f t h e w o r l d . T h e Harris

m a d e b e r t h at H o l l y w o o d - b e t w e e n - t h e - S t a r s ,

mid-

w a y b e t w e e n M i x M e s and I.ugosi L a g o o n . T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r I V and

Golda Abramowitz,

Amy 2-3-4 Al-Khnemu

and

Alexander

U l i a n o v , set o u t f o r T a r q u i n ' s office to talk b u s i n e s s . T h e y d i d n ' t e v e n l o o k b a c k a s t h e y m o v e d away f r o m t h e Harris.

T h e y d i d n ' t see t h e

t r a n s l u c e n t l y t h i n , g r e e n i s h c o a t i n g slide f r o m the s h u t t l e a n d b e g i n to slither a c r o s s t h e g r o u n d . T h e y d i d n ' t see t h e g r e e n i s h s t u f f , t h a t initially r e s e m b l e d n o t h ing m o r e than a cloudlet o f thin, b l o w i n g dust m o v i n g across a drought-parched swamp-bed. C h - c h - c h J u n i o r felt i t s e l f p i c k i n g u p t h e m e n t a l

emanations

o f t h e n u m e r o u s c a r p e n t e r s a n d t e c h n i c i a n s , lighting o p e r a t o r s and camerapersons, costumers, directors, assistant directors, makeup men and w o m e n , set m o v e r s , s o u n d - e f f e c t s o p e r a t o r s , m u s i c i a n s , h o l o m i x ers, s c e n t - a n d - t a s t e sprayers, a n i m a l h a n d l e r s , a n i m a l s , a c t o r s , e x t r a s , a n d h a n g e r s - o n w h o p o p u l a t e d t h e C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c lot. Bits o f w h a t l o o k e d like dust, b l o w i n g in w h a t s e e m e d an o t h e r wise unpredictable, even undetectable, breeze, moved here a n d there a r o u n d t h e lot. O n e w i s p o f d u s t s w i r l e d t h r o u g h the M i s k a t o n i c U n i v e r s i t y lib r a r y s e t , t h e n s w i r l e d away a n d r e j o i n e d a larger c l o u d l e t o f t h e o d d l y g r e e n i s h stuff.

326

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N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

O n t h e s e t , J o s e p h i n e J o n e s c o n s u l t e d her

chronotempometer

a n d yelled p e r e m p t o r i l y , " T i m e ! Places, p l e a s e ! " G a z a d e Lure a s S a l l y S a w y e r set h e r s e l f b e h i n d t h e o l d - f a s h i o n e d N e w England librarian's desk. K a r l o s Karch, l o n g o v e r c o a t h a n g i n g to his h i g h - s h o e d ankles, t o o k p o s i t i o n a t t h e c a s t - i r o n d o o r . H e faced b a c k t o w a r d G a z a , a l o o k o f d e s p e r a t i o n o n his d i s t o r t e d , a l m o s t a c r o m e g a l o u s features. G a z a t h r e w her h a n d s in the a i r and s c r e a m e d . K a r l o s l u r c h e d t o w a r d her. G a z a s c r e a m e d again a n d p o i n t e d t o w a r d Karch and t h e c a s t i r o n gate. J o s e p h i n e J o n e s signaled d i r e c t i o n s . C a m e r a s rolled. G a z a leaped a c r o s s her desk a n d h e a d e d away f r o m

Karlos,

t o w a r d t h e d a r k alcove that r e p r e s e n t e d the o p e n i n g to the l i b r a r y ' s vault. She disappeared through the alcove and out o f camera range. K a r l o s K a r c h halted in p u z z l e m e n t . J o s e p h i n e J o n e s yelled, " C u t ! C u t ! W h a t the hell's t h e m a t t e r w i t h G a z a ? W h a t ' s her b l o c k i n g ? D o e s n ' t a n y b o d y here k n o w a n y t h i n g ? " Karch t u r n e d b a c k to face J o s e p h i n e . H i s eyes w i d e n e d in h o r r o r . T h e sight that h e b e h e l d , m o v i n g t o w a r d t h e s e t , was o n e that had b e e n seen b e f o r e b y t h e h u m a n i m a g i n a t i o n , first by t h e s t r a n g e s c r i v e n e r o f C o l l e g e Hill in the city o f P r o v i d e n c e o n o l d e a r t h . It w a s a sight t h a t had b e e n r e p r o d u c e d in t h e i m a g i n a t i o n s o f the g e n e r a t i o n s o f readers w h o p e r u s e d the p r o s e o f that scrivener. It w a s a v i s i o n that h a d c h a l l e n g e d — a n d

defied!—the

pens,

brushes, a n d hands o f generations o f illustrators a n d sculptors w h o had a t t e m p t e d to r e n d e r in i n k , oil, o r c l a y t h e v i s i o n a s the g a u n t d r e a m e r had d e s c r i b e d it. It w a s W i l b u r W h a t e l e y ' s u n n a m e d f r a t e r n a l t w i n , t h e twin w h o had r e s e m b l e d o l d L a v i n i a W h a t e l e y ' s a l i e n m a t e m o r e n e a r l y t h a n h e did t h e pitiful a l b i n o L a v i n i a ! K a r l o s Karch's voice r a n g o u t . T h a t v o i c e w h i c h had c h i l l e d m y r iads o f t h r i l l - s e e k e r s , a r m i e s o f a u d i e n c e s w h o had c o m e , o v e r t h e years, to a s s o c i a t e the v e r y n a m e K a r l o s Karch with s h u d d e r i n g , chilli n g , p a r a l y z i n g fear and r e v u l s i o n . B u t n e v e r , n e v e r in a c a r e e r that had s p a n n e d b o t h d e c a d e s and l i g h t - y e a r s had K a r c h delivered a l i n e t h e w a y he u t t e r e d t h e s e words:

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

327

" O h , o h , my G a w d , t h a i h a l f f a c e — t h a i h a f f face o n top o f i t . . . t h a i face with t h e red eyes a n ' c r i n k l y a l b i n o hair, an n o c h i n , like t h e W h a t e l e y s . . . an o c t o p u s , c e n t i p e d e , s p i d e r k i n d o ' t h i n g with a haffs h a p e d m a n ' s face o n t o p o f it, a n ' it l o o k s like W i z a r d W h a t e l e y o n l y it's y a r d s a n d yards a c r o s t . . . ! " A n d Ihe thing, the n a m e l e s s m o n s t r o s i t y that l u r c h e d and

oozed

t h r o u g h t h e b a r s o f the c a s t - i r o n d o o r , r e s p o n d e d ! " Y g n a i i h ygnaiih

...

thflthkh'ngha

...

Yog-Sothoth!

Y'bthnk

...

...

h'ehye-

n'grkdl'lh!" T h e m o n s t e r b i l l o w e d a n d b u l g e d , s w e l l i n g to e n g u l f a l m o s t t h e e n t i r e s e t . K a r l o s Karch, s c r e a m i n g hideously, w a s e n g u l f e d , disa p p e a r i n g u t t e r l y b e n e a t h the t e n t a c l e s , claws, gullets, eyes, fangs, s p e c k l e s , t y m p a n u m - l i k e disks, and i n d e s c r i b a b l y h o r r i f y i n g m i s c e l laneous organs o f C h - c h - c h Junior. l o s e p h i n e J o n e s b o l t e d f r o m h e r d i r e c t o r ' s chair, l e a p e d to o n e c a m e r a operator after another, c o m m a n d i n g each o f them frantically to keep rolling, keep rolling, w h a t e v e r m i g h t h a p p e n a n d a t w h a t e v e r c o s t to life, l i m b o r e x p e n s i v e s t u d i o - o w n e d

equipment—keep

rolling! O n l y w h e n the s h o o t i n g was o v e r a n d a d e g r e e o f c a l m — a very s m a l l d e g r e e o f c a l m , it s h o u l d be n o t e d — h a d r e t u r n e d to t h e set, were t h e c a m e r a s finally s h u t o f f . T h e r e n o w a s s e m b l e d t h e cast a n d c r e w o f The Dunwich

Horror.

K a r l o s K a r c h , still in full W i l b u r W h a t e l e y m a k e u p and c o s t u m e , sat as b e s t h e c o u l d in a p r o p l i b r a r y c h a i r . O p p o s i t e h i m , q u i t e indist i n g u i s h a b l e e x c e p t in size f r o m its f o r m e r h o r r i f y i n g a p p e a r a n c e , sat W i l b u r ' s twin b r o t h e r , C h - c h - c h J u n i o r . S o m e h o w , a m o n g J u n i o r ' s a p p a r e n t l y l i m i t l e s s p o w e r s o f s e l f - s h a p i n g and c o l o r a t i o n , was t h e a b i l i t y to e x p a n d o r c o n t r a c t i t s e l f to a n y desired d e n s i t y o r size. J u n i o r w a s n o w precisely the s a m e size ( a l t h o u g h n o t the s a m e s h a p e ) as K a r l o s K a r c h . M a r t i n v a n B u r e n M a c T a v i s h , t h e c o p y o f the Dunwich

Horror

s c r i p t literally s h r e d d e d in his h a n d s , p a c e d b a c k a n d f o r t h , u n a b l e to k e e p a s e a t . " I t ' s g r e a t ! " M a r t i n kept r e p e a t i n g . " I t ' s g r e a t ! It's s t u p e n d o u s ! It wasn't w h a t I w r o t e , b u t w e c a n w o r k a r o u n d it! It's the m o s t g l o r i o u s l y g r o s s and t e r r i f y i n g s c e n e e v e r filmed, t a p e d , c r y s t a l l e d o r a c t e d live! O h , e v e n t h e o l d b o y h i m s e l f would have loved it. H e w o u l d have loved it!

355 T H E

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C I R C L E

" Y o u s p l e n d i d o l d m o n s t e r , h o w e v e r t h e hell y o u m a n a g e d that, I love y o u ! " A n d M a r t i n v a n B u r e n M a c T a v i s h ran to t h e m o s t h i d e o u s m o n ster in t h e h i s t o r y o f C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c o r a n y o f the s t u d i o s in a n y o f t h e H o l l y w o o d s in h i s t o r y and gave it a m i g h t y h u g a n d a r e s o u n d i n g kiss s m a c k in the c e n t e r o f o n e o f its m o s t d i s g u s t i n g ( b u t u n d e s c r i b able) organs.

T\vo weeks later ( S t a r r e t t s t a n d a r d c a l e n d a r ) The was

Dunwich

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finished. "Rvo m o n t h s later the A l - K h n e m u / U l i a n o v I n s t a n t a n e o u s C o m -

m u n i c a t o r was p u t o n s a l e by C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c E n t e r p r i s e s U n l i m i t e d , a wholly-owned subsidiary o f Colossal Galactic Studios. T h e first b i g p r o m o t i o n c a r r i e d o u t t h r o u g h t h e n e w c o m m u n i c a t i o n s system was the initial release o f t h e C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c p r o d u c t i o n o f The

Dunwich

Horror,

s t a r r i n g K a r l o s K a r c h , G a z a d e Lure,

N'efertiti L o g a n a n d , m a k i n g its h o l o f i i k s d e b u t , t h e newest

and

greatest h o r r o r s t a r in h i s t o r y , billed ( f o r o b v i o u s r e a s o n s ) as the p r o tege o f t h e v e t e r a n K a r c h — C h - c h - c h J u n i o r . The Dunwich

Horror

o p e n e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y o n 4 , 8 8 8 p l a n e t s . It

had t h e largest s i n g l e - p e r f o r m a n c e a u d i e n c e o f a n y p r o d u c t i o n in t h e h i s t o r y o f the galaxy, a n d was the biggest m o n e y - m a k e r as well.

T h e r e w a s a h u g e p a r t y o f c e l e b r a t i o n o n t h e G a l a c t i c lot. J u n i o r , o f c o u r s e , w a s wildly l i o n i z e d . A m y 2 - 3 - 4 A l - K h n e m u a n d A l e x a n d e r U l i a n o v floated a b o u t , b e m u s e d . G a z a d e Lure m a d e a pass a t K a r l o s Karch w h o b r u s h e d h e r o f f a n d c a r r i e d a plate o f hors

to

d'oeuvres

s h a r e with his w i f e o f s o m e t w e n t y - s i x years. T h e r e was hardly a lull in t h e c o u r s e o f t h e party, b u t a t o n e p o i n t t h e n o i s e level a n d frenetic a c t i v i t y did lessen a b i t . It w a s a t this p o i n t that G o l d a A b r a m o w i t z u s e d h e r t o w e r i n g g r e e n - s k i n n e d prese n c e to b e a t a p a t h to t h e s i d e o f t h e c h e e r f u l l y g l o a t i n g T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r IV. " T a r q u i n , " G o l d a asked sweetly, " n o w that The Dunwich

Horror

has

m a d e us o n e o f the biggest f o r t u n e s in t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e u n i v e r s e — "

L I G H T S !

C A M E R A !

S H U B - N I G G U R AT H !

329

"Us?" T a r q u i n i n t e r r u p t e d her. " U s ? W h a t ' s t h i s us b u s i n e s s ? I o w n C o l o s s a l G a l a c t i c , d a r l i n g , d o n ' t forget." "All r i g h t , " G o l d a went o n u n d a u n t e d . " N o w that you o w n o n e o f t h e biggest f o r t u n e s in the h i s t o r y o f the u n i v e r s e , scattered over s o m e 4 , 8 8 8 p l a n e t s . . . tell m e , T a r k i e , h o w are y o u g o i n g to c o l l e c t it?" Tarquin A r m b r u s t e r IV blanched. In fact, t h e r e was a way. B u t that w a s a n o t h e r m a t t e r , and t h e telling o f it is a n o t h e r story.

Saucers from Yaddith R o b e r t M. P r i c e

I h , I've little d o u b t t h a t y o u will believe m e , M r . T u r r o w . A n d 1 s u s p e c t m o s t o f y o u r readers will give m y s t o r y c r e d e n c e a s well. B u t to b e p e r f e c t l y frank, n o r e p u t a b l e n e w s p a p e r w o u l d listen to the first five w o r d s o f m y tale. O n l y a t a b l o i d s u c h a s y o u r s w o u l d e v e n give it a s e c o n d l o o k . N o w please d o not m i s u n d e r s t a n d m e , sir, I a m n o less g r a t e f u l to you f o r this o p p o r t u n i t y , b u t w e are b o t h a d u l t s , are w e n o t ? W e b o t h k n o w h o w little c o m m e r c i a l j o u r n a l i s m n e e d have t o d o w i t h t r u t h . S o e v e n i f y o u d o n o t believe m e , it is all t h e s a m e . 1 c a n s c a r c e l y believe it m y s e l f . P e r h a p s it will take o n a greater a i r o f r e a l i t y if 1 s p e a k o f it a n d get it o u t in t h e a i r b e t w e e n us, eh M r . T u r r o w ? D i s c u s s i n g s o m e t h i n g always s e e m s to . . . Well, yes, 1 will get o n w i t h it. I s u p p o s e o n e m u s t place the b e g i n n i n g o f the affair b a c k m e r e l y a f e w weeks a g o . M y c i r c l e , e v e r d e d i c a t e d t o t h e e x p a n s i o n o f its h o r i z o n s , h a d applied i t s e l f with d i l i g e n c e to t h e s t u d y o f this and t h a t field o f a r c a n e k n o w l e d g e . H o w well 1 c a n recall h o w o l d Elkhart, t h e a r t i s t a m o n g us, had e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h T i b e t a n M a n d a l a s . H i s canvases

were d a m n a b l y suggestive o f q u e s t i o n s

beyond

mortal

i m a g i n a t i o n to f r a m e , m u c h less to a n s w e r . O u r p r o l o n g e d m e d i t a t i o n o n t h e s e w i n d o w s to d e e p e r recesses o f the m i n d finally served b u t to i n c r e a s e o u r F a u s t i a n thirst to k n o w w h a t lay

beyond.

Preus, e v e r the r e l i g i o u s seeker h i m s e l f , suggested t h a t o u r g r a i l

S A U C E R S

F R O M

Y A I) D IT H

331

o f ultimate knowledge was obtainable only through certain doctrines a n d rites s u p p r e s s e d o v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s b y c h u r c h a u t h o r i t i e s . In fact it was f o r t h e d i s c o v e r y a n d e x p o s i t i o n o f s u c h g n o s t i c a l fantasies t h a t P r e u s h i m s e l f had b e e n first e x p e l l e d f r o m d i v i n i t y s c h o o l , t h e n a c t u a l l y e x c o m m u n i c a t e d , m a n y years b e f o r e . B u t all o f u s had n o t i c e d o n l y t o o readily the g l e a m o n e c a t c h e s in the eye o f Ihe f a n a t i c . It s e e m e d an u n s p o k e n c o n s e n s u s that w h a t e v e r h i d d e n t r u t h s m i g h t lie d o w n t h e p a t h s P r e u s had t r o d , w e w o u l d as s o o n pass t h e m by. E x p a n d i n g reality w a s o n e t h i n g , a f t e r all, b u t leaving it b e h i n d w a s quite another. If Preus' p r o p o s a l w a s received with a d i s t i n c t c o o l n e s s . B a r l o w ' s u r g i n g s to f o l l o w h i m i n t o w h a t he c a l l e d t h e " l e f t h a n d e d p a t h " o f T a n t r i c m y s t i c i s m were d i s p a t c h e d with all the s p e e d that p o l i t e n e s s a l l o w e d . For n o n e o f u s w a s willing to t h r o w o v e r h i s i n h e r i t e d m o r a l c o d e s for t h e q u e s t i o n a b l e p u r s u i t s w h i c h s e e m e d s o c o m p l e t e l y to h a v e e n t h r a l l e d o u r friend. S e e i n g o u r r e l u c t a n c e , h e q u i c k l y a d d e d t h a t o f c o u r s e he o n l y k n e w o f s u c h p r a c t i c e s f r o m his reading. Finally t h e r e w a s St. J o s h u a , w h o s e p h i l o s o p h i c a l v i e w s

ran

t o w a r d the m u n d a n e . A n a d h e r e n t o f Russell, Ayer, a n d t h e positivists, h e was m e r e l y t o l e r a n t o f the rest o f us, I s u s p e c t . T h e g r o u p was, as y o u c a n see, h e t e r o g e n e o u s , c o m p a n i o n s k e p t t o g e t h e r b y o l d s c h o o l ties a n d o v e r l a p p i n g i n t e r e s t s here a n d there. All o f u s did s h a r e a thirst f o r k n o w l e d g e , a s well as an a c h e o f frust r a t i o n s i n c e n o n e o f us was a n y c l o s e r to o u r goal o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t . At last I m y s e l f b r o a c h e d a s u g g e s t i o n . I had o f late taken k e e n interest in t h e m i n d - e x p a n d i n g p o t e n t i a l o f c e r t a i n d r u g s . T h e w r i t i n g s o f H u x l e y a b o u t m e s c a l i n e had i n t r i g u e d m e n o little, a n d it w a s this a v e n u e d o w n w h i c h I w o u l d h a v e o u r g r o u p t u r n . All s e e m e d w i l l i n g a t least to c o n s i d e r it, if yet c o n c e r n e d to k n o w w h a t p r e c a u t i o n s m i g h t b e taken f o r s a f e t y ' s s a k e . S u c h c o n c e r n s were, o f c o u r s e , m y o w n a s well, and I a s s u r e d m y c o m p a n i o n s that I w o u l d a t t e m p t , as far as I m i g h t , to c h a r t p r o b a b l e c o u r s e b e f o r e w e e m b a r k e d in e a r n e s t . T h e

our

conversation

s o o n t u r n e d d o w n o t h e r a v e n u e s . It s e e m e d to m e that t h e o t h e r s felt o n l y m i l d interest in m y p r o p o s a l , c e r t a i n l y n o t h i n g to c o m p a r e w i t h t h e e x c i t e m e n t t h a t I had b e g u n to feel. E v e n t u a l l y t h e m e e t i n g a d j o u r n e d , a n d 1 h u r r i e d h o m e , lost in t h o u g h t . I d e c i d e d I had b e s t seek t h e advice o f p h y s i c i a n s . B u t given t h e

332

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

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c o n t r o v e r s i a l n a t u r e o f o u r e n v i s i o n e d e x p e r i m e n t , I would h a v e to take especial c a r e in c h o o s i n g d o c t o r s w h o s e c o n f i d e n c e I c o u l d t r u s t . At length I o b t a i n e d the n a m e s o f two local a u t h o r i t i e s . T h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n s to the m e d i c a l j o u r n a l s i m p l i e d that t h e y m i g h t b e s y m p a t h e t i c to the k i n d o f e x e r c i s e w e were c o n s i d e r i n g . In fact, as I read b e t w e e n t h e lines, I saw, o r i m a g i n e d I saw, r e a s o n to believe t h a t o n e d o c t o r had a l r e a d y tried s u c h e x p e r i m e n t s h i m s e l f . H i s allus i o n s were s o vague, yet s o suggestive! Alas, this m a n , a Dr. M a r t i n R h a d a m a n t h u s , was c u r r e n t l y t r a v e l i n g a b r o a d . His o f f i c e s a t t h e m e d i c a l c o l l e g e w h e r e h e t a u g h t were s o m e w h a t evasive as to e i t h e r t h e e x a c t l o c a t i o n o r the d u r a t i o n o f h i s s a b b a t i c a l j o u r n e y s . T h i s I c o u l d well u n d e r s t a n d , h o w e v e r i r k s o m e t h e fact, s i n c e few p r o f e s s i o n s are s o h a r r o w i n g a n d t i r e s o m e as his. H e m u s t n e e d his s o l i t u d e as m u c h a s he desired it. T h e o t h e r specialist I had c h o s e n w a s not a t e a c h e r b u t an a c t i v e p r a c t i t i o n e r . Dr. P h i n e a s W h i t m o r e b y n a m e . A t l e n g t h 1 s u c c e e d e d in m a k i n g an a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h h i m . It was to b e a s i m p l e p h y s i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n , o n t h e pretext t h a t I feared I w a s e v i d e n c i n g

initial

s i g n s o f a p a r t i c u l a r n e r v o u s c o n d i t i o n in w h i c h t h e d o c t o r w a s k n o w n to speciali/.e. G i v e n his w i d e r e p u t a t i o n , it w a s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t the first available o p e n i n g w a s yet two weeks away. I was a s s u r e d t h a t two weeks was in t r u t h an u n u s u a l l y b r i e f t i m e to wait, a n d t h a t n o r m a l l y o n e waited m o n t h s to s e e Dr. W h i t m o r e . I w a s a p p r o p r i ately, a n d g e n u i n e l y , e x p a n s i v e in m y t h a n k s and h u n g u p . T w o w e e k s ! S h o r t e n o u g h by a n y u s u a l r e c k o n i n g , to be sure. Yet t h e t h i r s t f o r k n o w l e d g e w h i c h possessed m e was n o w s o c o n s u m i n g — a n d all t h e m o r e s i n c e n o w a c o n c r e t e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r its s a t i s f a c t i o n s e e m e d w i t h i n r e a c h — t h a t t w o w e e k s s e e m e d like a s m a n y years! B e f o r e o n e w e e k was o u t , 1 was ready to act i m p e t u o u s l y . 1 would take a m o d i c u m o f t h e d r u g myself, c o m e w h a t m a y . After all, H u x l e y a n d o t h e r s had t r i e d it, a n d w i t h w h a t risk? Surely, I had b e e n o v e r c a u t i o u s u p to this p o i n t , a n d w o u l d b e m e r e l y f o o l i s h , e v e n c o w ardly, t o d e l a y f u r t h e r . T h e very n i g h t o f t h e s e d e l i b e r a t i o n s witnessed m y first e x p e r i m e n t with the d r u g . 1 was c h a r g e d with a s e n s e o f e x p e c t a n c y a n d , I d o n o t m i n d a d m i t t i n g , a g o o d deal o f a n x i o u s apprehension. H a v i n g t a k e n a s m a l l d o s e I settled m y s e l f in a w e l l - s t u f i e d a r m -

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chair, placed s o as to face t h e large p i c t u r e - w i n d o w . M y t h i n k i n g w a s t h a t visual s t i m u l a t i o n m i g h t s e r v e as a catalyst f o r t h e p e r c e p t u a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n I e x p e c t e d . A n d i w a s n o t d i s a p p o i n t e d . As H u x l e y had p r e d i c t e d , o r d i n a r y o b j e c t s s o o n b e g a n t o take o n a k i n d o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y a s p e c t . T h e y s e e m e d to g a i n n e w d e p t h a n d t h e n to s h i n e f o r t h in h u e s o n l y d i s t a n t l y akin to their m u n d a n e c o l o r s — s o m e h o w m o r e vivid a n d b r i l l i a n t . At t h e s a m e t i m e , all s e e m e d fairly t r a n s l u c e n t , a s if m a d e o f p r e c i o u s s t o n e s . T h o u g h I h a d read several d e s c r i p t i o n s o f this very e x p e r i e n c e , b o t h in s c i e n t i f i c j o u r n a l s and in t h e a c c o u n t s o f t h e m y s t i c s , n o n e o f my studies c o u l d h a v e p r e p a r e d m e f o r the i n d e s c r i b a b l e b e a u t y o f this p a n o r a m a ! H o w the m o s t c o m m o n things might be utterly transfigured! N e x t I b e g a n to n o t i c e the a u d i t o r y effects. D i d I h e a r a s u b t l e w h i s t l i n g o r w h i r r i n g ? It s o u n d e d m e c h a n i c a l , yet m u s i c a l .

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s o u n d was positively u n e a r t h l y . In fact, it is p u z z l i n g t h a t t h o u g h I c a n recall it distinctly, I c a n in n o w i s e i m a g i n e h o w to c o n v e y it by h u m m i n g or whistling. N o s o o n e r had the weird t o n e s b e g u n to s o u n d t h a n m y a t t e n t i o n w a s d r a w n to an i n d e f i n a b l e d i s t u r b a n c e o f t h e air, j u s t a b o v e t h e trees w h i c h d i v i d e d m y l o t f r o m the a d j a c e n t p r o p e r t y . It w a s s o m e t h i n g like the sight o f a u t u m n leaves c a u g h t u p f o r a f e w s e c o n d s in a w h i r l w i n d . Yet as far a s I c o u l d see, n o t h i n g w a s b e i n g p r o p e l l e d in the w i n d . A n d , strictly s p e a k i n g , t h e r e was n o w i n d . As I said, it l o o k e d to b e a d i s t u r b a n c e , a s p i n n i n g in t h e a i r itself. T h i s m o t i o n c e n t e r e d a b o u t a n e x p a n s e several y a r d s a c r o s s . I d i m l y r e c a l l w o n d e r i n g w h a t n a t u r a l p h e n o m e n o n it m i g h t b e that w a s s o m e t a m o r p h o s i z e d in m y a f f e c t e d p e r c e p t i o n . In less t i m e t h a n it has taken to d e s c r i b e m y v a g u e i m p r e s s i o n s , t h e s p i n n i n g h a d c o m m e n c e d m o v i n g in my d i r e c t i o n . I felt that I m i g h t be in danger, b u t that given m y p r e s e n t m e n t a l d i s o r i e n t a t i o n , this m i g h t b e s i m p l y a n o t h e r h a l l u c i n a t i o n . B e i n g n o w a b l e to view t h e u n c a n n y p h e n o m e n o n m o r e clearly, I o b s e r v e d that t h e s p i n n i n g s e e m e d c o n f i n e d to a ring. T h o u g h t h e m o t i o n s e e m e d r a p i d , i n c r e d i b l y r a p i d , it w a s n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y v i o l e n t o r f o r c e f u l . W h a t m i g h t it b e like a t the c e n t e r , I w o n d e r e d ? S o help m e , w i t h the t h o u g h t itself, m y p e r s p e c t i v e c h a n g e d s o t h a t f o r the b r i e f e s t i n s t a n t I s e e m e d actually to o c c u p y the c e n t e r o f

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t h e w h i r l i n g . I c o u l d see m y h o u s e , m y w i n d o w , e v e n m y chair, ihe

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m e n t u n t i l t h e s c e n e c h a n g e d yet a g a i n . N o w I s e e m e d to b e lying prone atop a platform of s o m e material a n d design quite u n k n o w n to m e . T h e h a u n t i n g s o u n d w a s still d i s c e r n i b l e , b u t m u c h

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f a i n t l y now, a n d m u f f l e d in t o n e . At first I s a w n o t h i n g , yet I did n o t fear a n y h a r m h a d b e e n d o n e to m y s i g h t , f o r s u c h m i s t y r a d i a n c e was a p p a r e n t as o n e " s e e s " in a d a r k e n e d r o o m . It w a s n o t the a b s o l u t e b l a c k n e s s o f s p a c e , the dark a n d c o m p l e t e o b l i v i o n o f t h e blind. A f e w m o m e n t s passed in this m a n n e r , and I b e g a n to w o n d e r if p e r h a p s m y m e t a b o l i s m had s o m e h o w d a m p e n e d the e f f e c t o f t h e d r u g s o that I w o u l d r e m a i n u n d e r t h e p r e s e n t , r a t h e r m u n d a n e , hall u c i n a t i o n f o r the d u r a t i o n o f the e x p e r i m e n t . B u t 1 n e e d h a v e feared n o s u c h e v e n t u a l i t y , for s o o n two s h a p e s b e g a n to take f o r m in t h e d a r k n e s s , a l m o s t as if t h e d u s k i t s e l f were g a t h e r i n g i n t o a t a n g i b l e a s p e c t . As t h e o u t l i n e s g r e w m o r e and m o r e d i s t i n c t , m y h e a r t r a c e d . For now, certainly, I w a s b e g i n n i n g to get w h a t I h a d b a r g a i n e d for! Here were a p p a r i t i o n s f r o m b e y o n d

w a k i n g reality, albeit

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c o n j u r e d w r a i t h s f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f m y o w n m i n d . A s tall a s a m a n t h e y were, the two c r e a t u r e s , yet a n t h r o p o m o r p h i c in n o o t h e r r e spect at all. I f I m u s t e m p l o y t h e c a t e g o r i e s to w h i c h w e a r e a c c u s t o m e d , let m e say t h e y w e r e p e r h a p s . . . i n s e c t o i d . Even to d e s i g n a t e t h e m s o is radically m i s l e a d i n g , b u t let m e not linger u p o n t h e p o i n t lest I r o b m y tale o f w h a t e v e r p l a u s i b i l i t y r e m a i n s . It was i n e v i t a b l y futile for m e to try to discern the e x p r e s s i o n s that crossed faces o f s o alien a m i e n , but s o m e intuition told m e that t h e m o n s t e r s w e r e a s s t a r t l e d by m y a p p e a r a n c e a s I was b y theirs. I f a n y t h i n g , t h e y s e e m e d m o r e agitated. As s t r a n g e as it m a y s o u n d , I did not feel p a r t i c u l a r l y a l a r m e d . After all, I r e a s o n e d , t h i s is my h a l l u c i n a t i o n . It s e e m e d to m e as if I were t h e h o s t , a n d they, t h e figm e n t s o f m y s u p e r c h a r g e d i m a g i n a t i o n , w e r e m y guests. F o r s o m e p e r i o d o f i n d e t e r m i n a b l e l e n g t h , 1 passed i n t o a n allb u t - o b l i v i o u s s t a t e . D u r i n g t h i s t i m e , I had b u t the faintest s e n s a t i o n s o f w h a t w e n t o n a r o u n d m e , o r better, within

me. In retrospect I

w o u l d c o m p a r e it to r e p o r t s I had read o f h o w a m a n u n d e r the influe n c e o f s o m e d r u g s will gain a h e i g h t e n e d s e n s i t i v i t y to his o w n

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h e a r t - r a t e a n d a u t o n o m i c n e r v e f u n c t i o n s . Yet that w a s not q u i t e w h a t I e x p e r i e n c e d in that pit o f l e a d e n t o r p o r . R a t h e r I felt t h a t s o m e h o w I w a s b e i n g p r o b e d , e v e n , yes, dissected a n d r e c o n s t r u c t e d ; t h a t p a r t s o f m e were b e i n g r e m o v e d a n d r e p l a c e d , as o n e m i g h t a d j u s t t h e p a r t s o f a n a u t o m o b i l e e n g i n e a n d replace its fuels and l u b r i c a n t s . Yet all t h e s e are b u t l o o s e a n a l o g i e s that i l l - a p p r o x i m a t e m y s e n s a t i o n s . I s e e m to r e m e m b e r r e f l e c t i n g t h r o u g h the c l o u d s

of

n e a r - u n c o n s c i o u s n e s s w h e t h e r this were w h a t it felt like t o die. Perh a p s s o , for j u s t t h e n I lapsed into t h o r o u g h o b l i v i o n .

II W h e n 1 c a m e to myself, I n o t i c e d with a p r o f o u n d s e n s e o f r e l i e f t h a t I was still in m y chair, a n d had s c a r c e l y e v e n s h i f t e d p o s i t i o n . I was, I c o n f e s s , a b i t s u r p r i s e d t h a t fully t h e w h o l e n i g h t had passed. I had c o m m e n c e d m y e x p e r i m e n t a n h o u r o r t w o b e f o r e s u n s e t , and n o w t h e s u n w a s j u s t a b o u t to rise. Yet I had a n t i c i p a t e d the p o s sibility that m y t i m e p e r c e p t i o n m i g h t b e affected, s o I w a s n o t d i s t u r b e d . I s e e m e d o t h e r w i s e t o b e q u i t e u n a f f e c t e d . M y o n l y disc o m f o r t was my i m p a t i e n t and c h i l d i s h d e s i r e to tell s o m e o n e , a n y one, o f m y adventures o f the night just past. T h e club would n o t m e e t a g a i n till t h e first o f t h e m o n t h , a n d I had a w e e k to wait b e f o r e m y a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h Dr. W h i t m o r e . H o w to c o n t a i n m y e n t h u s i a s m in the m e a n t i m e ? I was a l m o s t g r a t e f u l to have the u s u a l r o u n d o f b a nal c h o r e s to o c c u p y m e f o r a f e w h o u r s e a c h day, a n d s o m e h o w I passed t h e w e e k w i t h o u t e x p l o d i n g with m y s e c r e t . H o w d i f f i c u l t it was, t h o u g h , to p r e t e n d interest in the s i m p l e m i n d e d m a t t e r s I m u s t d i s c u s s with m y e v e r y d a y a c q u a i n t a n c e s . H o w I w i s h e d to tell even t h e m o f m y f o r b i d d e n j o u r n e y s i n t o i n n e r s p a c e , and o f t h o s e weird deni/.ens o f m y o w n s u b c o n s c i o u s ! B u t I d i d n o t c a r e to r i s k the o d d stares a n d w h i s p e r e d r e m a r k s s u c h w o r d s would p r o m p t if s p o k e n to the wrong people. Finally t h e d a y c a m e for m e to call u p o n D r . W h i t m o r e . As I sat v a c a n t l y leafing t h r o u g h o n e o f the o l d b o o k s left o n the w a i t i n g r o o m table, I w o n d e r e d h o w well I would b e able to m a i n t a i n

the

p r e t e n s e o f a n e r v o u s a i l m e n t . C o u l d I k e e p it u p l o n g e n o u g h to d e tect s o m e h i n t o n Dr. W h i t m o r e ' s part o f his o p e n n e s s to d i s c u s s m y

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h a l l u c i n a t o r y e x p e r i e n c e s ? T h e initial e x p e r i m e n t had n o t b e e n rep e a t e d , for t h e o d d t h o u g h i l l u s o r y physical s e n s a t i o n s I had u n d e r g o n e c a u s e d m e to p u t o f f f u r t h e r a t t e m p t s p e n d i n g the p h y s i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n f o r w h i c h I was n o w w a i t i n g . I n d e e d , w h a t had o r i g i n a l l y served s i m p l y as t h e pretext f o r m y visit w a s n o w a m a t t e r o f real interest to m e . I s e e m e d in g o o d , a t least p a s s a b l e h e a l t h , b u t m i g h t n ' t t h e d r u g h a v e had u n e x p e c t e d s i d e effects? I w o u l d s o o n find o u t , as t h e d o o r n o w o p e n e d , r e v e a l i n g t h e r e c e p t i o n i s t , dressed in a u n i f o r m s o c r i s p l y w h i t e it a l m o s t s e e m e d to s h i n e . R e s p o n d i n g to the call o f m y n a m e , I rose a n d f o l l o w e d her d o w n t h e hall to o n e o f t h e e x a m i n a t i o n r o o m s , w h e r e I w o u l d wait ( b u t a m o m e n t , s h e a s s u r e d m e ) for the d o c t o r . In s u r p r i s i n g l y f e w m o m e n t s . D r . W h i t m o r e h i m s e l f a r r i v e d . H e was a m a n o f m e d i u m h e i g h t , s o m e w h a t s t o o p e d , a n d b e a r i n g a b i t o f a p a u n c h , l u s t past m i d d l e age, his h a i r a n d b e a r d were wellg r a v e d , b u t t h e lines o f his face s e e m e d to reflect m o r e care t h a n age. W e e x c h a n g e d a few p l e a s a n t r i e s , a n d I b e g a n to lie a s c o n v i n c i n g l y a s I c o u l d a b o u t m y i n v e n t e d s y m p t o m s . I s p o k e in g e n e r a l i t i e s , and h o p e d I had t h e skill to p h r a s e m y data s o it would s o u n d m o r e like t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s t h a n a list o f t e x t b o o k s y m p t o m s . Fortunately, h e s e e m e d satisfied a f t e r o n l y a few q u e s t i o n s , and b e g a n the tests. S o m e t i m e later, I lay o n the e x a m i n a t i o n t a b l e w a i t i n g f o r h i m to r e t u r n w i t h a c h a r t c o n t a i n i n g t h e results. Finally, W h i t m o r e r e t u r n e d , still s c a n n i n g t h e s h e e t as h e s t e p p e d i n t o t h e r o o m . I sat u p a t t e n t i v e l y a n d w a i t e d f o r h i m to s h o w the mild p u z z l e m e n t t h a t all d o c t o r s e v i d e n c e w h e n their v a r i o u s p r o b e s yield n o t h i n g to justify' t h e p a t i e n t ' s c o m p l a i n t s . S u r e e n o u g h , n o t h i n g s e e m e d w r o n g with m e physically. I w a s relieved a t this news, b u t a n x i o u s , t r y i n g t o hit u p o n a d i p l o m a t i c w a y to reveal the t r u e c o n c e r n o f m y visit, to p r o c u r e h i s a d v i c e , p e r h a p s even his s u p e r v i s i o n , for f u r t h e r e x p e r i m e n t s by m y s e l f a n d m y f r i e n d s . B u t t h e n h e s p o k e a g a i n . It s e e m e d t h a t the o n l y a i l m e n t h e r e was a t y p o g r a p h i c a l failure o n m y p r e v i o u s m e d i c a l r e c o r d s . A c c o r d i n g to t h e files I had s u p p l i e d h i m , m y b l o o d w a s listed as TYpe O, w h e r e a s t h e b l o o d w o r k he h i m s e l f had d o n e o n m e s h o w e d it to b e TYpe A. Flad I n o t n o t i c e d this e r r o r m y s e l f ? I f s o , w h y had I n o t had it c o r r e c t e d b e f o r e n o w ? It w o u l d c e r t a i n l y have c a u s e d s o m e d a n g e r -

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o u s m i s c h i e f had an a c c i d e n t r e n d e r e d m e u n c o n s c i o u s and in n e e d o f a t r a n s f u s i o n . B u t I w a s t o o o v e r c o m e to a n s w e r h i m . I c o u l d o n l y t h i n k b a c k with f r o z e n h o r r o r to the p e c u l i a r p h y s i c a l s e n s a t i o n s o f m y . . . h a l l u c i n a t i o n ? F o r until

now my blood

had been

Type

O!

Ill It w a s with s o m e p u z z l e m e n t t h a t W h i t m o r e d i s m i s s e d m e , a s m i g h t well b e i m a g i n e d , s i n c e m y d u m b f o u n d e d

stupor

seemed

s c a r c e l y w a r r a n t e d by h i s m i l d r e b u k e . If I s u f f e r e d f u r t h e r s y m p t o m s o f m y ( p r e t e n d e d ) m a l a d y , I w a s t o let h i m know, but o t h e r w i s e h e c o u l d suggest n o t h i n g . H o w 1 l o n g e d m o r e t h a n e v e r to c o n f i d e in t h e d o c t o r — y e t h o w i m p o s s i b l e t h a t had n o w b e c o m e ! W h a t e v e r h i s disp o s i t i o n r e g a r d i n g d r u g e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n , W h i t m o r e w a s a f t e r all an alienist a n d c o u l d hardly b e e x p e c t e d to d o o t h e r t h a n take m y f a b u l o u s tale as e v i d e n c e o f p a r a n o i d d e l u s i o n o n m y p a r t . A n d , i n d e e d , m i g h t it not be? B u t , no, t a k i n g a m o m e n t to r e g a i n m y c o m p o s u r e a f t e r leaving the b u i l d i n g , I satisfied m y s e l f t h a t m y m e m o r y a n d m y s a n i t y w e r e alike i n t a c t . M y b l o o d t y p e had

f o r m e r l y b e e n as t h e

r e c o r d s i n d i c a t e d , j u s t a s s u r e l y a s it was n o w o t h e r w i s e . S o m e h o w t h e i m p o s s i b l e had h a p p e n e d . l u s t how, I c o u l d n o t g u e s s . Still less could

I imagine

what c o n n e c t i o n

my

hallucinatory

experiment

m i g h t h a v e with the c h a n g e , t h o u g h c e r t a i n l y c o n n e c t i o n t h e r e was. A n d w i t h this t h o u g h t t h e r e r o s e a n e w in m y s o u l t h e thrill o f h o p e . T r a u m a t i c it had b e e n , b u t was not t h e p r e s e n t m y s t e r y p r o o f e n o u g h t h a t s o m e h o w I had b e e n right? D i d 1 n o t h o l d a t least t h e seeds t h a t m i g h t yet b l o s s o m i n t o t h a t full o c c u l t k n o w l e d g e t h a t t h e c l u b had s o u g h t , u p till now, in v a i n ? N o d o u b t I did, a n d n o t e v e n t h e i n stincts o f foreboding c a u t i o n which n o w stirred could m a k e

me

pause. W i t h two weeks yet r e m a i n i n g b e f o r e the n e x t s c h e d u l e d m e e t i n g o f o u r c i r c l e , 1 c o n s i d e r e d t w o a l t e r n a t i v e s . It w o u l d b e s i m p l e e n o u g h , o f c o u r s e , to call a r o u n d and g a t h e r m y c o l l e a g u e s f o r a special s e s s i o n . G o d , given w h a t I m i g h t tell t h e m , n o n e o f t h e m would m i n d ! Yet at t h i s p o i n t t h e r e w o u l d a c t u a l l y b e little to tell. T h e r e w a s b u t the b a r e e x p e r i e n c e itself, w h i c h still c o n f o u n d e d m e ( t h o u g h it had c o m e to f r i g h t e n m e less s i n c e t h e r e s e e m e d to b e n o d a m a g e to

338

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N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

m y h e a l t h ) . M y tale w o u l d c a u s e n o s m a l l stir, to b e s u r e , but I felt I m u s t b e able to m a k e it m o r e intelligible, if I w a s to a s s u r e the c i r c l e t h a t m y c o u r s e o f investigation s h o u l d b e their o w n . I h o p e d I n e e d n o t face f u r t h e r r e v e l a t i o n s a l o n e . A n d s o I d e c i d e d u p o n the s e c o n d a l t e r n a t i v e ; I w o u l d u s e t h e rem a i n i n g days to research as best I c o u l d t h e p h y s i o l o g i c a l

marvel

w h i c h had b e f a l l e n m e . I had little e n o u g h k n o w l e d g e o f m e d i c i n e , b u t r e s e a r c h i n t o o b s c u r e byways w a s n o t h i n g n e w to m e , a n d m y b r i e f s t u d y o f the m e d i c a l j o u r n a l s p r e p a r a t o r y to m y m e e t i n g with Dr. W h i t m o r e had a c q u a i n t e d m e with at least a few o f the m a j o r p e riodicals

in t h e field. W i t h l u c k , I h o p e d to find s o m e p r e c e d e n t o r

p a r a l l e l to m y o w n c a s e . W h e t h e r c o n n e c t e d to h a l l u c i n a t o r y t r a n c e states o r n o , h a d t h e r e b e e n a n y r e p o r t e d c a s e s o f . . . h o w would it b e designated . . . ? " O r g a n i c transposition"? T h e day following m y decision, I b e t o o k myself t o the nearby u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y a n d s o u g h t the h e l p o f t h e r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i a n . T h e s e l f - a s s u r e d c o m p e t e n c e o f this fellow, a b e s p e c t a c l e d g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t in his late t w e n t i e s , gave m e h o p e that m y s e a r c h m i g h t a t least b e c o m p r e h e n s i v e if n o t fruitful. Yet u n d e r the g u i d a n c e o f the y o u n g m a n , I s o o n realized just h o w f o r m i d a b l e was the task I had set m y self. T r u l y the l i t e r a t u r e was vast and I hardly k n e w w h e r e to b e g i n . It was d i f f i c u l t to m a k e the s u b j e c t o f m y i n t e r e s t a d e q u a t e l y u n d e r s t o o d , b u t a t l e n g t h the y o u n g s c h o l a r g r a s p e d t h a t I was c o n c e r n e d n e i t h e r with o r g a n i c d e g e n e r a t i o n d u e t o i n b r e e d i n g n o r with o r d i n a r y d e f o r m a t i o n . O n c e h e had s o m e idea as to the g o a l o f m y c u r i o s i t y h e was, h e said, i n c l i n e d to d i s c o n t i n u e t h e s e a r c h . H e w a s as g o o d as c e r t a i n that his i n d i c e s and files o f a b s t r a c t s c o n t a i n e d n o t h i n g o n s o outre

a s u b j e c t . However, an a c q u a i n t a n c e o f his w a s

p r e s e n t l y e n r o l l e d in the u n i v e r s i t y ' s m e d i c a l s c h o o l , a n d h e would t r y to p r e v a i l u p o n h i m to m a k e a few i n q u i r i e s . I was q u i t e g r a t e f u l f o r this k i n d gesture, d o u b t f u l t h o u g h I w a s t h a t a u g h t c o u l d c o m e o f it. Still, I gave the s t u d e n t m y a d d r e s s and ' p h o n e s o t h a t I m i g h t b e r e a c h e d in t h e u n l i k e l y e v e n t that s o m e t h i n g s h o u l d t u r n up. N e e d l e s s to say, I w a s duly a m a z e d w h e n b u t a f e w d a y s later t h e call c a m e . M y s u r p r i s e , m y s h o c k , was i n c r e a s e d a h u n d r e d f o l d as I r e c o g n i z e d the n a m e o f m y caller. T h e m e d i c a l s t u d e n t had related m y r e q u e s t to n o n e o t h e r t h a n the s a m e Dr. M a r t i n R h a d a m a n t h u s w h o m I had believed to be o n s a b b a t i c a l a b r o a d . It

S A U C E R S

F R O M

Y A I) D IT H

339

s e e m e d r a t h e r that he had stayed s e c l u d e d in the a r e a , i s o l a t e d f r o m m o s t s o c i a l a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l c o n t a c t s , in o r d e r to p u r s u e s o m e special r e s e a r c h e s n o r m a l l y p r e c l u d e d by the d e m a n d s o f his t e a c h i n g . N o n e t h e l e s s , the s t u d e n t , s o m e s o r t o f t e a c h i n g a s s i s t a n t o r a p p r e n t i c e I g a t h e r e d , had b e e n a b l e to a p p r o a c h h i m w i t h m y s t r a n g e i n q u i r y , a n d h e h a d taken an i n t e r e s t in it. I c o n s i d e r e d m y s e l f f o r t u n a t e to have s o a r o u s e d his c u r i o s i t y o n s o i d i o s y n c r a t i c a m a t t e r , t h o u g h a t the t i m e I s i m p l y c r e d i t e d it to t h e p o l i t e g e n e r o s i t y o f t h e t r u e p r o f e s s i o n a l w h o feels b o u n d to s h a r e w h a t k n o w l e d g e h e has. Yet h i s v e r y s e c l u s i o n a r g u e d that s u c h a p p r o a c h a b i l i t y was n o t his u s u a l m a n n e r . I f h e h a d s o m e p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t in m y case, I c o u l d n o t i m a g i n e its n a t u r e , n o r d i d it t h e n o c c u r t o m e to d o s o . At a n y r a t e , it s e e m e d t h a t R h a d a m a n t h u s ' s o w n r e s e a r c h had o n c e led h i m o n a p a t h o f t a n g e n t i a l c r o s s - r e f e r e n c e s w h i c h disclosed m a t e r i a l r e l e v a n t to w h a t I h a d , h e said, i n g e n i o u s l y n a m e d " o r g a n i c t r a n s p o s i t i o n s . " T h e a c c o u n t he had u n c o v e r e d was c o n t a i n e d in a s e v e n t e e n t h - c e n t u r y G e r m a n w o r k o n , o f all t h i n g s , a s t r o n o m y and a s t r o l o g y ! It was e n t i t l e d Die Geschichte the Planets,

Den

Planeten,

o r History

of

by a r a t h e r o d d fellow n a m e d F.berhard Ket/.er. H e hailed

f r o m Schleswig-Holstein, and might have been a m o n k or perhaps a r e s i d e n t t u t o r in t h e Prussian c o u r t . N o s u b s t a n t i a l b i o g r a p h i c a l d a t a had s u r v i v e d , save that derived f r o m t h e b o o k itself, to wit t h a t Ket/er c l a i m e d , like J o h a n n e s Kepler,

to have heard

the "music o f

the

s p h e r e s . " Only, u n l i k e t h e m o r e f a m o u s t h o u g h e q u a l l y e c c e n t r i c Kepler, h e had n o t liked w h a t he h a d h e a r d . Instead o f the celestial harm o n y i m a g i n e d b y D a n t e a n d d e s c r i b e d by Kepler, Ket/.er h a d ranted o f a c r a s h i n g c a c o p h o n y as m a d s p h e r e s rolled b l i n d l y o n c o l l i s i o n c o u r s e s , v e e r i n g c r a z i l y t h r o u g h o v e r l a p p i n g p l a n e s and d i m e n s i o n s . T h e t i m e m u s t c o m e , h e said, w h e n all w o u l d h e a r t h e s c r e e c h i n g d i n , a n d w h e n t h i s t i m e c a m e . D o o m s d a y , t h e final c o l l i s i o n , would b e at h a n d . W h a t h a d this l u n a c y t o d o w i t h m y quest? S i m p l y that Ket/er had set d o w n a n y c u r i o u s r e p o r t s t h a t r e a c h e d h i m if t h e y s e e m e d to h i s d e r a n g e d m i n d to a b e t his t h e o r y , and t h e s h e e r s t r a n g e n e s s o f a r e p o r t w a s liable to m a k e it qualify. T h e p a r t i c u l a r a c c o u n t to w h i c h Dr. R h a d a m a n t h u s had r e f e r e n c e was t h e s t o r y o f two b r o t h e r s in W e s t p h a l e n w h o c l a i m e d to have had an u n u s u a l " m e e t i n g " o n t h e i r

340

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

w a y b a c k from V e s p e r s o n e e v e n i n g . T h e y said t h e y had b e e n a c c o s t e d o n the p a t h b y s h i n i n g " a n g e l s o f G o d " w h o c a u s e d t h e m to g o to s l e e p , b u t a s l e e p filled w i t h s t r a n g e d r e a m s . A n d w h e n t h e y a w o k e , t h e y s w o r e that t h e y had s h a r e d o n e d r e a m w h i c h s e e m e d to h a v e c o m e true. T h e a n g e l s had r e m o v e d a n d e x c h a n g e d m e m b e r s o f b o t h b r o t h e r s ' b o d i e s , s o t h a t e a c h n o w p o s s e s s e d the h a n d s a n d eyes o f t h e o t h e r ! T h e y called o n t h e village p r i e s t to bear w i t n e s s that t h e o d d c h a n g e had in fact t a k e n p l a c e . T h e i r e y e s , naturally, had b e e n t h e s a m e c o l o r f r o m b i r t h , s o the h a n d s m u s t tell the story. M o d e r n fingerprinting

t e c h n i q u e s w o u l d have m a d e s h o r t w o r k o f t h e m y s -

tery, b u t an e q u a l l y e f f e c t i v e m e t h o d w a s available. O n e b r o t h e r w a s k n o w n to h a v e lost a finger and t h e first j o i n t o f a n o t h e r in a r e c e n t w o o d w o r k i n g m i s h a p , yet this fellow's h a n d s were n e w l y w h o l e , w h i l e his d i s m a y e d b r o t h e r n o w evidenced

the other's

mutilation!

The

finger a n d j o i n t were m i s s i n g , with n o sign o f r e c e n t i n j u r y . O f c o u r s e , R h a d a m a n t h u s a v e r r e d , t h e h i s t o r i c a l value o f s u c h tales w a s nil, the v e r i f i c a t i o n s t a n d a r d s o f o r a l folk t r a d i t i o n b e i n g w h a t t h e y always h a v e b e e n . If o n e cared to l o o k f o r t h e m , e v e n m o r e s p e c t a c u l a r e p i s o d e s w e r e to b e f o u n d in l i t e r a t u r e f r o m t h e s a m e p e riod, r a n g i n g f r o m r a i n f a l l s o f b l o o d t o a p p a r i t i o n s o f the V i r g i n , and all w e r e alike f a n c i f u l . B u t h e m e n t i o n e d this o n e s i n c e it did c o m e c l o s e r t h a n a n y a c t u a l m e d i c a l c a s e h i s t o r y to t h e s o r t o f p h e n o m e n o n w h i c h i n t e r e s t e d m e . In fact, I m i g h t s t u d y the l e g e n d f o r m y s e l f i f I w i s h e d , s i n c e h e h i m s e l f had r u n a c r o s s it in t h e u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y n o t very l o n g a g o . I t h a n k e d t h e g o o d d o c t o r effulgently, h a n g i n g u p o n l y a f t e r t h e g r o s s t e m e r i t y (I a d m i t ) o f a s k i n g w h e t h e r I m i g h t c o n t a c t h i m a g a i n . T o m y s u r p r i s e h e w a s m o s t w i l l i n g , s h o u l d the n e e d a r i s e . O f c o u r s e , I still had in m i n d my o r i g i n a l m o t i v e o f s e e k i n g his c o u n s e l o n m y d r u g r e s e a r c h . I had by n o w c o n c l u d e d that D r . W h i t m o r e w a s q u i t e i n n o c e n t o f t h e type o f e x p e r i e n c e I had u n d e r g o n e . B u t fort u n e , I s u p p o s e d , had g u i d e d m e to t h e o n l y r e m a i n i n g a u t h o r i t y in this e s o t e r i c

field.

N e e d l e s s t o say, I lost n o t i m e in r e t u r n i n g to t h e library. T h e h e l p f u l fellow with w h o m I had p r e v i o u s l y s p o k e n w a s n o t o n duty, else I w o u l d h a v e t h a n k e d h i m f o r his fruitful a s s i s t a n c e . S o I set to w o r k l o c a t i n g the v o l u m e and s e c u r i n g a G e r m a n to English d i c t i o -

SAUCERS

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YADDITH

341

n a r y . M y s t u d y o f the l a n g u a g e lay m a n y years in the past, a n d at a n y r a t e m y m e r e l y c o n v e r s a t i o n a l G e r m a n w o u l d o n l y get m e started o n w h a t p r o m i s e d to b e a difficult, r a m b l i n g text. Ket/.er's w o r k had b e e n r e p r i n t e d o n l y a d e c a d e o r s o a g o in a p r e s t i g i o u s series o n the h i s t o r y o f s c i e n c e . G r a t i f i e d at this c o n v e n i e n c e , still I m u s e d h o w o d d a c h o i c e for i n c l u s i o n in t h e s e r i e s this t o m e o f s u p e r s t i t i o n s e e m e d . T h e text was left u n t r a n s l a t e d , t h o u g h m o d e r n t y p e - f a c e m a d e it c o n s i d e r a b l y e a s i e r to read t h a n t h e o r i g i nal heavy b l a c k letter s c r i p t w o u l d h a v e b e e n . A n d t o p i c a l s u b d i v i s i o n s w e r e i n d i c a t e d by t h e editor's italics. T h i s d e v i c e m a d e it fairly easy to l o c a t e m y p a s s a g e . O n c e 1 had f o u n d it, it t u r n e d o u t n o t to b e t o o d i f f i c u l t to d e c i p h e r , s i n c e R h a d a m a n t h u s had a l r e a d y s u m m a r i z e d its c o n t e n t s fairly c l o s e l y o v e r the ' p h o n e . B u t I n o t i c e d h e r e a n d t h e r e an i n t e r e s t i n g d e t a i l — o b s c u r i t i e s t h a t a n y c a s u a l r e a d e r w o u l d n e g l e c t , b u t w h i c h a s s u m e d s i n g u l a r i m p o r t a n c e to m e . It s e e m e d t h a t t h e t w o p e a s a n t s had not d e s c r i b e d t h e i r s u p r a m u n d a n e v i s i t o r s in a n y detail, p e r h a p s b e c a u s e they c o u l d

not.

R a t h e r they had c a l l e d t h e m " a n g e l s " b e c a u s e their arrival w a s sign a l l e d by t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f a " h a l o in the air"!

I looked up the appro-

p r i a t e e n d n o t e , b u t t h e a n n o t a t o r w a s a t a l o s s to e x p l a i n this d e t a i l . In t h e m a n n e r o f all u n i m a g i n a t i v e c o m m e n t a t o r s , he suggested textual c o r r u p t i o n o r a p r i n t i n g e r r o r in t h e o r i g i n a l e d i t i o n . I, however, k n e w d i f f e r e n t l y , f o r had I n o t seen s u c h a " h a l o , " o r s p i n n i n g c i r c l e , m y s e l f ? Here it was, t h e n ; t h e s a m e invisible c r a f t c o n t a i n i n g v i s i t o r s f r o m . . . w h e r e ? G r e a t m y s t e r i e s r e m a i n e d ; i n d e e d , I had g l i m p s e d , a s it were, o n l y the tip o f t h e i c e b e r g . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e r e w a s n a u g h t e l s e to d o n o w b u t b r e a k t h e n e w s o f my d i s c o v e r i e s to t h e g r o u p , w h o s e n e x t m e e t i n g w a s o n l y days away.

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W i t h o l d E l k h a r t ' s late arrival, o u r n u m b e r w a s c o m p l e t e . E x p e c t a n t f a c e s all t u r n e d in m y d i r e c t i o n , my c o m p a n i o n s in e s o t e r i c a sat a b o u t the s p a c i o u s s t u d y : Barlow, P r e u s , S t . J o s h u a , E l k h a r t . A s w a s o u r c u s t o m , w e r o t a t e d o u r place o f m e e t i n g e v e r y m o n t h with t h e result t h a t w e n o w a s s e m b l e d in B a r l o w ' s h o m e . Yet it was plain t h a t I m e a n t to take t h e lead this e v e n i n g , a n d m y d e m e a n o r gave m e t h e

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a s p e c t o f h o s t . Eagerly I r e c o u n t e d m y e x p e r i m e n t , m y e n c o u n t e r s with D r s . W h i t m o r e a n d R h a d a m a n t h u s , a n d m y r e s e a r c h , o c c a s i o n ally d o u b l i n g b a c k t o fill in a n e c e s s a r y d e t a i l o r t w o . M y f r i e n d s were, as I had e x p e c t e d , q u i t e a s t o n i s h e d that t h i n g s h a d p r o c e e d e d

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r a p i d l y in t h e m o n t h g o n e by, w h e n t h e y had e x p e c t e d s i m p l y to h e a r w h e t h e r I had s e c u r e d a n y able s u p e r v i s o r , s h o u l d a n y o f u s c o n t e m p l a t e t a k i n g the d r u g . A n d here I had a l r e a d y taken it, w i t h o u t s u p e r v i s i o n , a n d w i t h t h e m o s t b i z a r r e a n d u n f o r e s e e n results! I h a l f - s u s p e c t e d f r o m t h e l o o k s o f o n e o r two t h a t they h a r d l y k n e w w h e t h e r to credit m y s t r a n g e tale. W a s I s u g g e s t i n g that t h e w h o l e g r o u p e m b a r k o n t h e v o y a g e I had u n d e r t a k e n ? Yes, I a n s w e r e d , I was, for did it n o t s e e m I had s u c c e e d e d in m a k i n g the first s t e p s t o w a r d t h a t g o a l o f a r c a n e k n o w l e d g e t h a t had s o l o n g e l u d e d us? F u r t h e r , I a v e r r e d , I n o w felt s u r e t h a t R h a d a m a n t h u s w a s o u r m a n , t h a t h e c o u l d b e t r u s t e d to guide u s a n d to take a s c i e n t i f i c interest in o u r e n d e a v o r s . W i t h t h e g r o u p ' s p e r m i s s i o n I would a p p r o a c h h i m c a n d i d l y with o u r p r o p o s a l . W i t h this s u g g e s t i o n all s e e m e d in a c c o r d save the religious f a n a t i c Preus, w h o was s u d d e n l y h a v i n g s e c o n d t h o u g h t s . F o r d e s p i t e h i s wild flirt a t i o n s w i t h u n o r t h o d o x m y s t i c i s m s , h e r e m a i n e d verv m u c h the P u r i t a n in h i s b e h a v i o r . A n d h e c o u l d n o t , h e said, c o u n t e n a n c e t h e u s e o f drugs. P r e u s w a s o b d u r a t e in the f a c e o f o u r a t t e m p t s to c o n v i n c e h i m , a l l o w i n g h i m s e l f at l e n g t h to b e w o n o v e r by t h e r e a s o n i n g o f St. l o s h u a a n d myself. W e p o i n t e d o u t that w e w o u l d b e u s i n g t h e d r u g in an a l m o s t m e d i c i n a l m a n n e r , to r e a w a k e n d o r m a n t s e n s e f u n c t i o n s that e v o l u t i o n had a t r o p h i e d . H e n c e f o r t h P r e u s was willing, h o w e v e r r e l u c t a n t l y , to g o a l o n g . T h e n e x t s t e p w a s to b e m i n e a s I s o u g h t R h a d a m a n t h u s ' s help. W e resolved to m e e t again t h e v e r y n e x t w e e k , w e h o p e d w i t h t h e d o c t o r a d d e d to o u r n u m b e r . T h e rest o f the e v e n i n g s e e m e d a n t i c l i m a c t i c a s we tried t o d i s c u s s b o o k s read in the last m o n t h . A n d c o n v e r s a t i o n w o u l d r e t u r n again and again to m y v i s i o n a n d its a f t e r m a t h . I m p a t i e n t e x p e c t a n c y had c o n s u m e d u s all: we were like child r e n o n C h r i s t m a s Eve. T h e following day I telephoned Dr. R h a d a m a n t h u s . Assuming I w o u l d reach o n l y his a n s w e r i n g s e r v i c e , I w a s u n p r e p a r e d to h e a r his o w n v o i c e o n the line. I n c r e d i b l y , h e w a s q u i t e willing to i n t e r r u p t h i s

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w o r k f o r a visit t h a t v e r y a f t e r n o o n . I c o u l d call o n h i m at his h o m e , a large b r o w n s t o n e a d j a c e n t to the u n i v e r s i t y c a m p u s . His r e s i d e n c e w a s easily l o c a t e d , and I p r e s s e d u p o n the d o o r b e l l a b o u t 4 o ' c l o c k t h a t a f t e r n o o n . R h a d a m a n t h u s h i m s e l f m e t m e at t h e d o o r , a n o t h e r s u r p r i s e s i n c e I i m a g i n e d h e m u s t leave s u c h c h o r e s to s e r v a n t s in o r d e r to c o n c e n t r a t e o n his s a b b a t i c a l s t u d i e s . O n c e i n side, 1 r e m o v e d h a t a n d c o a t , d r a p i n g t h e m o n t h e b a n n i s t e r a s m y h o s t i n d i c a t e d . I t u r n e d for m y first g o o d l o o k at Dr. R h a d a m a n t h u s . H e was a tall m a n , p r o b a b l y t e n d i n g a b i t to t h i n n e s s , t h o u g h h i s d r e s s i n g g o w n o b s c u r e d the details o f h i s

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shaven, had the a l m o s t f a t h e r l y a s p e c t that s e r v e s d o c t o r s well in w i n n i n g t h e i r p a t i e n t s ' c o n f i d e n c e s . I n d e e d , his m a n n e r s e e m e d a bit t o o p a t e r n a l , a l m o s t p a t r o n i z i n g , as h e w e l c o m e d m e a n d b a d e m e f o l l o w h i m i n t o his s t u d y . T h e r o o m was large and w e l l - l i t , with b o o k c a s e s l i n i n g e v e r y wall, t h o u g h n o t t o a u n i f o r m h e i g h t , s i n c e t h e c a s e s did not m a t c h , h a v i n g m o s t likely b e e n a c q u i r e d a n d a d d e d o n e by o n e o v e r t h e years as n e e d e d . B u t if t h e r o o m l a c k e d s y m m e t r y , still it w a s neat, e v e r y b o o k in place, with p a p e r s and j o u r n a l s n e a t l y s t a c k e d . I f Dr. R h a d a m a n t h u s had b e e n e n g a g e d in s c h o l a r l y l a b o r s this a f t e r n o o n , t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g to s h o w it. S e a t e d b e h i n d his desk, h e f o l d e d his h a n d s in h i s lap a n d b r o k e t h e s i l e n c e . " W h a t is it you w a n t o f m e ? A n d . . . o h , did y o u find t h e Ket/.er v o l u m e ? " I felt slightly e m b a r r a s s e d at his first w o r d s . I had i n t e r r u p t e d h i m , o n e i m p o s i t i o n already, and was m a k i n g ready to a s k yet a n o t h e r favor. M y i n t e n t i o n , t h e n , was o b v i o u s , s o I r e a s o n e d I had b e s t b e as f r a n k as he had b e e n . "Yes, D o c t o r , I h a v e read it, a n d with m u c h i n t e r e s t — m o r e t h a n y o u m i g h t guess, a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t . A n d to tell the t r u t h , t h a t is w h y I've taken t h e l i b e r t y to i m p o s e o n y o u r t i m e in this f a s h i o n . A g a i n , forgive m e , b u t . . . . " " B u t y o u y o u r s e l f h a v e had s u c h an e x p e r i e n c e as that d e s c r i b e d by the two p e a s a n t s l o n g ago, have you n o t ? " " W h y , yes! Yes, i n d e e d I have.

D o c t o r . . . " I stammered, consider-

a b l y s h o c k e d by his p r e s c i e n c e . " T e l l m e , h o w did y o u b r i n g a b o u t t h e . . . h a l l u c i n a t i o n ? O r did you? Did the experience perhaps c o m e u p o n you uninvited?"

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b y my use o f t h e d r u g , b u t

t h a t I d i d n o t , c o u l d n o t have, e x p e c t e d the a m a z i n g p h y s i c a l a f t e r m a t h o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t . W a s it p o s s i b l e for m e s c a l i n e to e f f e c t s u c h a c h a n g e in t h e b o d y ? S u r e l y n o t h i n g I h a d r e a d w o u l d lead o n e to t h i n k s o , a n d it w a s h a r d to i m a g i n e . " N o , n o , y o u a r e q u i t e right; n o m e r e d r u g o f w h a t e v e r k i n d c o u l d c a u s e the c h a n g e you have u n d e r g o n e . 1 s e e by y o u r line o f q u e s t i o n i n g that y o u d i d n o t read q u i t e far e n o u g h in Ketzer. Yet I c a n see h o w y o u w o u l d m i s s it. T h e o l d a s t r o l o g e r ' s w o r k lacked m u c h in t h e w a y o f o r g a n i z a t i o n . W h a t o f t h e n a m e ' Y a d d i t h ' ? " M y b l a n k s t a r e was s u f f i c i e n t reply, and h e c o n t i n u e d . " K e t z e r w r o t e in r a t h e r veiled f a s h i o n o f c e r t a i n d i s t a n t r e a l m s , w h e t h e r o f o u t e r o r i n n e r s p a c e h e did n o t say, and I a m n o l o n g e r s u r e t h e r e is a n y ultim a t e d i f f e r e n c e . O n e o f t h e s e r e a l m s h e n a m e d ' Y a d d i t h , ' all t h e m o r e r e m a r k a b l y f o r t h e d i f f i c u l t y o f r e n d e r i n g this w o r d i n

German,

w h e r e a s y o u k n o w o u r ' t h ' s o u n d is l a c k i n g . " I w o n d e r e d

momen-

tarily h o w h e w o u l d k n o w h o w t h e w o r d was p r o n o u n c e d . Had h e i n d e p e n d e n t i n f o r m a t i o n ? " S u c h r e a l m s are s o m e t i m e s o p e n e d to m e n , to t h o s e w h o c a n m a k e t h e m s e l v e s ready by v a r i o u s m e a n s . " " B u t D o c t o r R h a d a m a n t h u s , s u r e l y n o t all t h o s e w h o have taken m e s c a l i n e have e x p e r i e n c e d w h a t I have e x p e r i e n c e d . I f m e r e d r u g t a k i n g were the key . . . " H e waved his h a n d as i f to b r u s h aside m y w o r d s like a c o b w e b . " B u t y o u have p r e p a r e d the g r o u n d by y o u r v a r i o u s o c c u l t res e a r c h e s o v e r t h e years, as have y o u r f r i e n d s , f r o m w h a t you tell m e . " Little m o r e w o u l d h e say, b u t h e had said q u i t e e n o u g h f o r m e to p u z z l e over. I f n o t h i n g else, it w a s o b v i o u s t h a t f r o m o u r first c o n t a c t h e had k n o w n far m o r e t h a n h e told m e . I n d e e d h e s e e m e d to k n o w t o o m u c h , a b o u t t h e m y s t e r y i t s e l f as well as m y i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h it. P e r h a p s this fact s h o u l d have a l a r m e d m e , b u t i n s t e a d it fueled t h e fire o f m y e x c i t e m e n t . A n d w i t h his last c o m m e n t h e had v i r t u a l l y asked m y i n t e n d e d favor f o r m e . "Yes, D o c t o r , t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e g r o u p have, a s you say, p r e p a r e d t h e m s e l v e s , a n d n o w they are willing to j o i n m e in p l u m b i n g w h a t e v e r t r u t h m a y lie in t h i s d i r e c t i o n . " I o u t l i n e d o u r plan t o h i m , a n d h e readily a s s e n t e d to s u p e r v i s e us, to m y g r e a t relief. T i m e and place were set, a n d I d e p a r t e d , s c a r c e l y able t o a s s i m i l a t e all I had h e a r d that a f t e r n o o n .

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V I had still n o t s o r t e d t h i n g s o u t c o m p l e t e l y w h e n the six o f u s g a t h e r e d at m y h o m e t h e n e x t week. B u t I felt s u r e all would s o o n e n o u g h b e c l e a r to m e — b o t h the m y s t e r y o f R h a d a m a n t h u s h i m s e l f a n d t h e d e e p e r t r u t h s I had s p e n t s o m a n y years in pursuit o f . A s t h i n g s t u r n e d o u t , I was r i g h t . O u r c h a i r s w e r e a r r a n g e d in a c i r c l e in the v e r y s a m e r o o m f r o m w h i c h I had e m b a r k e d o n m y s t r a n g e p i l g r i m a g e o n l y a m o n t h earlier. All o f us were e x c i t e d , P r e u s p e r h a p s a bit m o r e a p p r e h e n s i v e t h a n t h e rest, B a r l o w the m o r e e a g e r , b u t we w e r e all ready to b e g i n . D o c t o r R h a d a m a n t h u s had s u p p l i e d e a c h o f u s with o u r o w n d o s e o f t h e d r u g , w h i c h w e s h o u l d all take t o g e t h e r o n signal, s o to facilitate a collective a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s experience. R h a d a m a n t h u s himself, o f c o u r s e , t o o k n o m e s c a l i n e and sat o u t s i d e t h e circle, h i s c h a i r a g a i n s t o n e wall, where h e had a c l e a r v i e w b o t h o f t h e g r o u p and o f the p i c t u r e w i n d o w . T h i s last was m y s u g g e s t i o n . I r e a s o n e d that o n l y s o c o u l d w e k n o w h o w m u c h o f w h a t e v e r t r a n s p i r e d w a s i n t e r n a l and h o w m u c h e x t e r n a l reality. I f s o m e o n e w h o had n o t t a k e n t h e d r u g saw a n y o f t h e p h e n o m e n a I had seen t h r o u g h that w i n d o w , t h e n w e w o u l d k n o w f o r c e r t a i n w h e t h e r the d r u g - i n d u c e d m e n t a l s t a t e acted as " b a i t " for s o m e b e i n g s m o r e real t h a n h a l l u c i n a t o r y f a n t a s i e s . W h a t I r e f r a i n e d f r o m telling t h e d o c t o r was that I, t o o , i n t e n d e d to o b s e r v e w h a t h a p p e n e d w i t h o u t b e n e f i t o f the d r u g . I w o u l d b u t p r e t e n d to take it a n d s e e f o r m y s e l f w h a t t r a n s p i r e d . W o u l d I still s e e w h a t t h e o t h e r s saw? T h e m o m e n t c a m e , a n d with it a flash o f g u i l t y p a n i c . W h a t m i g h t I have recklessly led m y c o m p a n i o n s i n t o ? Well, n o m a t t e r — t h e y had t a k e n t h e d o s e a n d I c o u l d o n l y wait to see w h a t f o l l o w e d . In a m a t t e r o f m i n u t e s , p e r h a p s a q u a r t e r o f a n h o u r , it b e g a n . T h e u n earthly, sibilant whistling . . . did I s e e it? Yes! T h e v e r y a i r b e g a n to s p i n in a h u g e r i n g , this t i m e a b o v e o u r h e a d s . T h e n it was n o h a l l u c i n a t i o n , w h a t e v e r e l s e it m u s t b e c a l l e d . W o u l d to G o d it had b e e n ! D a r e I risk a g l a n c e o v e r t o w a r d w h e r e R h a d a m a n t h u s was s e a t e d ? If h e n o t i c e d , h e w o u l d have to d e t e c t m y s u b t e r f u g e . Yet I s u p p o s e d it did n o t really m a t t e r . I c r a n e d my n e c k to l o o k , a n d . . . w h e r e b u t a m o m e n t b e f o r e R h a d a m a n t h u s had sat in a p o s t u r e o f a t t e n t i v e c o n c e r n , n o w t h e r e l o o m e d o n e o f t h e i n s e c t o i d b l a s p h e m i e s I had

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seen in m y v i s i o n last m o n t h ! A n d this t i m e I had t a k e n n o d r u g ! G o d , I m u s t rise and tlee! B u t the s t r e n g t h had d r a i n e d o u t o f m e , d r i v e n f o r t h by the m a g n i t u d e o f m y s h o c k . As I felt m y s e l f f a i n t i n g , I t h o u g h t at least to turn b a c k and c a t c h a g l i m p s e o f m y f r i e n d s , b u t t o o late. B l a c k n e s s swallowed m e , t h i s t i m e the w h o l e s o m e d a r k n e s s o f merciful unconsciousness.

W h e n I c a m e to myself, m y first s i g h t w a s o f R h a d a m a n t h u s ' s n o w e m p t y c h a i r . D r e a d i n g w h a t I s h o u l d n e x t see, I p u l l e d m y s e l f to m y k n e e s a n d t u r n e d a r o u n d to face a n i g h t m a r e m o r e h i d e o u s t h a n a n y b r e d by fevered sleep. F o r a m i d s c a t t e r e d c h a i r s a n d s m e a r s o f b l o o d stood a b o m i n a t i o n . To describe the indescribable the m i n d grasps w i l d l y at the m o s t i m p r o b a b l e c o m p a r i s o n s . W h a t I s a w r e s e m b l e d the cross-linked cage o f a child's " j u n g l e g y m " ; the revolting structure was a s a g g i n g c o m p o s i t e o f h u m a n l i m b s a n d t r u n k s l i n k e d in a m a z e o f insanity. H e r e a f o r e a r m e n d e d a t the w r i s t in a n o t h e r ' s c h e s t , t h e r e a h e a d s p r o u t e d f r o m the s m a l l o f a b a c k ; eyes s t a r e d o u t singly f r o m s h o u l d e r s o r h a n d s ! W o r s e yet, n o s e a m o r b r e a k a g e o f s k i n w a s visible; the s t a g g e r i n g castle o f flesh l o o k e d a s if it had g r o w n as I n o w saw it! D e a r Savior, i f I c o u l d b u t tear f r o m my m e m o r y t h e sight o f t h e t o r t u r e d f a c e s o f F.lkhart, P r e u s , and the o t h e r s , g r o w i n g n o w from thighs a n d a b d o m e n s , staring blindly from e m p t y sockets, s c r e a m i n g silently from m o u t h s without vocal chords! R e a s o n fled m y m i n d , as it m u s t w h e n r e a s o n has fled the world. All I k n e w was that this q u i v e r i n g m i s c e g e n a t i o n m u s t o u t r a g e n a t u r e n o longer. I h a l f - r a n , h a l f - s t a g g e r e d f r o m t h e r o o m , d o w n t h e stairs, a n d o n t o the p o r c h w h e r e lay s t a c k e d w o o d for t h e

fireplace,

a n d . . . m y axe! All I did, I did u n d e r i n s t i n c t ' s d i c t a t e s , p a u s i n g o n l y later to c o n t e m p l a t e m y a c t i o n s . S e i z i n g the axe, I b o u n d e d b a c k u p i n t o t h e r o o m w h e r e the t h i n g t h a t had b e e n my f r i e n d s still t o t t e r e d a n d flailed in a g o n y . 1 d e t e r m i n e d t h a t it s h o u l d d o s o n o l o n g e r . P o o r Barlow, Preus, S t . J o s h u a , E l k h a r t ! T h e y s h o u l d have p e a c e , e v e n if t h e p e a c e o f e v e r l a s t i n g o b l i v i o n ! S o I s w u n g t h e axe, again a n d a g a i n , h e w i n g and h a c k i n g with a f u r v I had n o t believed m y s e l f c a p a b l e o f . B u t o f c o u r s e it was t h e s t r e n g t h o f the m a d , for t h a t is w h a t I w a s in t h a t m o m e n t . S c r e a m s filled the air, b u t I n o w realize t h e y m u s t h a v e been m i n e .

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( S i t d o w n , M r . T u r r o w ! I a s s u r e you m y b l o o d l u s t has q u i t e s p e n t itself! All I ask is t h a t y o u listen to the r e s t . ) W h e n I had f i n i s h e d , I a n d e v e r y t h i n g in t h e r o o m w e r e v i r t u a l l y a f l o a t in b l o o d . B u t at least n o t h i n g i n d i c a t e d t h a t a s h o r t t i m e b e f o r e , t h e r o o m had c o n t a i n e d a s t r u c t u r e o f living flesh k n i t t e d s o m e h o w f r o m f o u r h u m a n b o d i e s . O n l y pieces, s m a l l pieces, r e m a i n e d . N o w I realize this to have b e e n a m i s t a k e . F o r t h e r e is n o l o n g e r a n y e v i d e n c e o f w h a t really h a p p e n e d . O n e c o u l d p r o v e n o m o r e t h a n t h a t a m a n w e n t m a d a n d b u t c h e r e d f o u r m e n . B u t as I say, I was n o t t h i n k i n g c l e a r l y t h e n , n o t t h i n k i n g at all. N o r w a s I w h e n e x h a u s t i o n b a d e m e c o l l a p s e o n m y b e d in t h e n e x t r o o m . T h e w h o l e n i g h t I s l u m b e r e d o b l i v i o u s l y in the m i d s t o f t h a t c h a r n e l h o u s e . W h e n c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e t u r n e d , s o d i d the k n o w l e d g e o f w h a t I h a d d o n e . P e r h a p s all that saved m e f r o m final g i b b e r i n g i n s a n i t y was the d e t a c h m e n t I felt, as if a n o t h e r had c o m m i t t e d

the

atrocity, f o r as I have said, w h e n I a c t e d I w a s n o t myself. I sat u p in b e d and t h o u g h t for q u i t e s o m e t i m e . I r e s o l v e d to c o m p l e t e t w o tasks that day, m o s t likely to b e my last d a y o f f r e e d o m . I d r e s s e d quickly, e d g e d m y w a y with tightly c l o s e d eyes t h r o u g h t h e n e x t r o o m , its a i r r e e k i n g o f b l o o d , a n d finally r e a c h e d the d o o r . D e s c e n d i n g the stairs, I d e p a r t e d f o r t h e u n i v e r s i t y library. I o n l y h o p e d I m i g h t e v a d e c a p t u r e l o n g e n o u g h to find s o m e c l u e e x p l a i n i n g the n i g h t m a r e in w h i c h I n o w f o u n d m y s e l f . S o o n I had Ketzer's n e f a r i o u s History

of the Planets

open before

m e o n c e a g a i n . S u r e e n o u g h , just a s R h a d a m a n t h u s ( o r w h a t e v e r h e had b e e n ) t o l d m e , t h e r e w a s t h e m e n t i o n o f " Y a d d i t h , " a n d h e r e w a s m y a n s w e r , a t least t h e b e g i n n i n g o f it. I r e p l a c e d t h e b o o k a n d left t h e c a m p u s , i n t e n t u p o n d i s c h a r g i n g m y s e c o n d e r r a n d , a n d that is w h e n I c a m e to s e e you, M r . T u r r o w . M y s t o r y m u s t b e aired, and f r o m y o u r p a p e r ' s r e p u t a t i o n I j u d g e d y o u the o n l y o n e likely to a i r it. A n d I h o p e that y o u will. N o w I h a v e d o n e all I m a y do, and c a n o n l y await m y fate. P e r h a p s t h e p o l i c e will find m e , b u t , m o r e likely, they

will. F o r y o u see, M r . T u r r o w , this is

w h a t I read: that w h e n a way had b e e n o p e n e d to t h a t o t h e r realm, c o n t a c t s c o u l d be m a d e , a n d t r u t h s o u g h t a n d f o u n d . B u t o p e n i n g s m i g h t a l s o b e m a d e from

the other

side, a s p r e s u m a b l y had h a p p e n e d

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in the c a s e o f t h e two G e r m a n b r o t h e r s . A n d in e i t h e r case, t h o s e f r o m Yaddith were j u s t as c u r i o u s as w e . T h e y , n o less t h a n we, w e r e — a r e — i n c l i n e d to . . . shall w e say experiment?

A n d n o w I, t h e

s e e k e r for t r u t h , find m y s e l f in the p o s i t i o n o f a l a b o r a t o r y a n i m a l w h o t h r o u g h c a r e l e s s n e s s h a s e s c a p e d , a n d I believe t h e y will n o t b e l o n g in finding m e .

Vastarien T h o m a s Ligotti

W

ithin the b l a c k n e s s o f his s l e e p a f e w lights b e g a n to g l o w like

c a n d l e s in a c l o i s t e r e d c e l l . T h e i r i l l u m i n a t i o n w a s u n s t e a d y

a n d d i m , i s s u i n g f r o m n o d e f i n i t e s o u r c e . N o n e t h e l e s s , h e n o w disc o v e r e d m a n y s h a p e s b e n e a t h t h e s h a d o w s : tall b u i l d i n g s

whose

rooftops nodded groundward, wide buildings whose facades seemed to f o l l o w the c u r v e o f a s t r e e t , d a r k b u i l d i n g s w h o s e w i n d o w s and d o o r w a y s tilted like b a d l y h u n g p a i n t i n g s . A n d e v e n if h e f o u n d h i m s e l f u n a b l e to fix h i s o w n l o c a t i o n in t h i s s c e n e , h e k n e w w h e r e h i s d r e a m s had delivered h i m o n c e m o r e . Even as t h e w a r p e d s t r u c t u r e s m u l t i p l i e d in his v i s i o n , c r o w d i n g t h e lost d i s t a n c e , h e p o s s e s s e d a s e n s e o f i n t i m a c y w i t h e a c h o f t h e m , a peculiar knowledge o f the spaces within t h e m a n d o f the streets w h i c h coiled t h e m s e l v e s a r o u n d their m a s s . O n c e a g a i n he k n e w t h e d e p t h s o f their f o u n d a t i o n s , w h e r e an o b s c u r e life s e e m e d to e s t a b lish itself, a secret c i v i l i z a t i o n o f e c h o e s

flourishing

among groaning

walls. Yet u p o n his p r o b i n g m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y i n t o s u c h i n t e r i o r s , c e r tain difficulties p r e s e n t e d t h e m s e l v e s : stairways that w a n d e r e d o f f c o u r s e i n t o u s e l e s s p l a c e s ; c a g e d e l e v a t o r s that urged u n w a n t e d s t o p s o n t h e i r p a s s e n g e r s ; t h i n l a d d e r s a s c e n d i n g i n t o a m a z e o f shafts and c o n d u i t s , the d a r k valves and a r t e r i e s o f a petrified and m o n s t r o u s organism. A n d h e k n e w that e v e r y c o r n e r o f this c o r r o d e d w o r l d w a s p r o lific with c h o i c e s , e v e n if they h a d to b e m a d e b l i n d l y in a p l a c e w h e r e

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c l e a r c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d a h i e r a r c h y o f possibilities were l a c k i n g . F o r there m i g h t be a r o o m w h o s e shabby and soundless d e c o r exudes a d e s o l a t e s e r e n i t y w h i c h a t first a t t r a c t s the visitor, w h o t h e n d i s c o v e r s c e r t a i n figures e n v e l o p e d in plush f u r n i t u r e , figures t h a t d o n o t m o v e o r s p e a k b u t o n l y stare; a n d , c o n c l u d i n g that t h e s e weary m a n n i k i n s h a v e exercised a b i z a r r e i n d u l g e n c e in repose, the visitor m u s t p o n d e r t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s : to l i n g e r o r to leave? E l u d i n g t h e c l a u s t r a l e n c h a n t m e n t s o f s u c h r o o m s , his g a z e n o w r o a m e d t h e streets o f this d r e a m . H e s c a n n e d t h e a l t i t u d e s b e y o n d t h e h i g h s l o p i n g roofs: t h e r e t h e stars s e e m e d to b e n o m o r e t h a n silv e r y c i n d e r s w h i c h s h o w e r e d u p f r o m the m o u t h s o f g r e a t c h i m n e y s a n d c l u n g to s o m e t h i n g d a r k a n d d e n s e l o o m i n g a b o v e , s o m e t h i n g t h a t closed in u p o n e a c h b l a c k h o r i z o n . It a p p e a r e d to h i m that c e r tain h i g h t o w e r s n e a r l y b r e a c h e d t h i s s a g g i n g b l a c k n e s s , s t r e t c h i n g t h e m s e l v e s n i g h t w a r d to a t t a i n t h e farthest possible r e m o v e f r o m t h e w o r l d below. A n d t o w a r d t h e p e a k o f o n e o f t h e highest t o w e r s h e s p i e d vague s i l h o u e t t e s that m o v e d h e c t i c a l l y in a b r i g h t w i n d o w , t w i s t i n g a n d l e a n i n g u p o n the glass like s h a d o w - p u p p e t s in t h e fever o f s o m e m a d dispute. T h r o u g h t h e m a z y s t r e e t s his v i s i o n slowly g l i d e d , a s if c a r r i e d a l o n g b y a sluggish d r a f t . D a r k e n e d w i n d o w s reflected the b e a m s o f stars and s t r e e t l a m p s ; lighted w i n d o w s , h o w e v e r d i m their glow, b e t r a y e d s t r a n g e s c e n e s w h i c h were left b e h i n d l o n g b e f o r e t h e i r lull m y s t e r y c o u l d o v e r w h e l m t h e d r e a m i n g traveller. F i e w a n d e r e d i n t o t h o r o u g h f a r e s m o r e r e m o t e , s o a r i n g past c l u t t e r e d g a r d e n s a n d c r o o k e d g a t e s , d r i f t i n g a l o n g s i d e an expansive wall t h a t s e e m e d to b o r d e r an abyss, a n d floating over b r i d g e s t h a t a r c h e d a b o v e the b l a c k purling waters o f canals. N e a r a c e r t a i n street c o r n e r , a place o f s u p e r n a t u r a l c l a r i t y and stillness, he s a w t w o figures s t a n d i n g b e n e a t h t h e c r y s t a l l i n e glaze o f a l a m p e n s c o n c e d h i g h u p o n a wall o f c a r v e d s t o n e . T h e i r

shadows

were p e r f e c t c o l u m n s o f b l a c k n e s s u p o n the livid p a v e m e n t ; t h e i r f a c e s were a pair o f faded m a s k s c o n c e a l i n g p r o f o u n d s c h e m e s . A n d t h e y s e e m e d to have lives o f their o w n , w i t h n o a w a r e n e s s o f

their

d r e a m i n g o b s e r v e r , w h o w i s h e d o n l y t o live with t h e s e s p e c t e r s and k n o w their d r e a m s , to r e m a i n in t h i s p l a c e w h e r e e v e r y t h i n g w a s t r a n s f i x e d in the o r d e r o f the u n r e a l .

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N e v e r again, it s e e m e d , c o u l d h e b e f o r c e d to a b a n d o n this realm o f beautiful shadows.

V i c t o r K e i r i o n a w o k e w i t h a b r i e f c o n v u l s i o n o f his l i m b s , as i f h e had b e e n c h a o t i c a l l y s c r a m b l i n g to b r e a k his fall f r o m an i m a g i n a r y h e i g h t . F o r a m o m e n t h e held his eyes c l o s e d , h o p i n g to p r e s e r v e t h e d i s s i p a t i n g e u p h o r i a o f the d r e a m . Finally h e b l i n k e d o n c e o r twice. M o o n l i g h t through a curtainless window allowed h i m the image o f h i s o u t s t r e t c h e d a r m s a n d his s o m e w h a t twisted h a n d s . R e l e a s i n g h i s a w k w a r d h o l d o n the e d g e o f t h e s h e e t e d m a t t r e s s , h e rolled o n t o h i s b a c k . T h e n h e g r o p e d a r o u n d u n t i l his l i n g e r s f o u n d t h e c o r d d a n gling f r o m t h e light a b o v e t h e b e d . A s m a l l , barely f u r n i s h e d r o o m appeared. He pushed h i m s e l f up a n d reached toward the painted metal n i g h t s t a n d . T h r o u g h t h e s p a c e s b e t w e e n his fingers h e s a w t h e pale g r a y b i n d i n g o f a b o o k and s o m e o f t h e d a r k letters t o o l e d u p o n its c o v e r : V, S, R, N . S u d d e n l y h e w i t h d r e w his h a n d w i t h o u t t o u c h i n g t h e b o o k , for t h e m a g i c a l i n t o x i c a t i o n o f the d r e a m had died, a n d h e feared t h a t he w o u l d n o t b e able to revive it. Freeing h i m s e l f f r o m t h e c o a r s e b e d c o v e r s , he sat a t the e d g e o f t h e m a t t r e s s , e l b o w s r e s t i n g o n his legs and h a n d s l o o s e l y f o l d e d . H i s h a i r a n d eyes w e r e pale, h i s c o m p l e x i o n r a t h e r g r a y i s h , s u g g e s t i n g t h e c o l o r o f c e r t a i n c l o u d s o r that o f l o n g c o n f i n e m e n t . T h e s i n g l e w i n d o w in t h e r o o m w a s o n l y a f e w s t e p s away, b u t h e kept h i m s e l f f r o m a p p r o a c h i n g it, f r o m e v e n g l a n c i n g in its d i r e c t i o n . H e k n e w e x a c t l y w h a t h e w o u l d s e e a t that t i m e o f n i g h t : tall b u i l d i n g s , wide b u i l d ings, d a r k b u i l d i n g s , a s c a t t e r i n g o f s t a r s a n d lights, a n d s o m e lethargic m o v e m e n t in the s t r e e t s below. In s o m a n y ways t h e c i t y o u t s i d e t h e w i n d o w was a s e m b l a n c e o f t h a t o t h e r place, w h i c h n o w s e e m e d i m p o s s i b l y far o f f and inaccessible. B u t the likeness w a s e v i d e n t o n l y to his i n n e r v i s i o n , o n l y in t h e r e c o l l e c t e d i m a g e s h e f o r m e d w h e n his eyes were c l o s e d o r o u t o f f o c u s . It w o u l d b e d i f f i c u l t t o c o n c e i v e o f a c r e a t u r e f o r w h o m

this

w o r l d — i t s b a r e f o r m seen with o p e n e y e s — r e p r e s e n t e d a c o v e t e d paradise. N o w standing before the window, his hands tearing into the

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pockets of a papery bathrobe, he saw that something was missing f r o m t h e v i e w , s o m e c r u c i a l p r o p e r t y t h a t w a s d e n i e d to t h e stars a b o v e a n d the streets below, s o m e u n e a r t h l y e s s e n c e n e e d e d to save t h e m . T h e w o r d unearthly

r e v e r b e r a t e d in the r o o m . I n t h a t place

a n d a t t h a t h o u r , the p a r a d o x i c a l a b s e n c e , the m i s s i n g quality, b e c a m e clear to h i m : it w a s t h e e l e m e n t o f the u n r e a l . F o r V i c t o r K e i r i o n b e l o n g e d to t h a t w r e t c h e d s e c t o f s o u l s w h o believe t h a t t h e o n l y value o f this w o r l d lies in its p o w e r — a t c e r t a i n t i m e s — t o suggest a n o t h e r w o r l d . Nevertheless, t h e place h e n o w s u r veyed t h r o u g h t h e h i g h w i n d o w c o u l d n e v e r b e a n y t h i n g b u t t h e m o s t g a u z y p h a n t o m o f that o t h e r place, n o t h i n g save a s h a d o w ) ' m i m i c o f t h e a n a t o m y o f t h a t great d r e a m . A n d a l t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e i n d e e d t i m e s w h e n o n e m i g h t be deceived, i s o l a t e d m o m e n t s w h e n a gift f o r d i s g u i s e t r i u m p h s , t h e i m p e r s o n a t i o n c o u l d n e v e r be p e r f e c t o r lasting. N o t r u e c h a l l e n g e to the r i c h u n r e a l i t y o f V a s t a r i e n , w h e r e ever)' shape suggested a thousand others, every s o u n d disseminated e v e r l a s t i n g e c h o e s , e v e r y w o r d f o u n d e d a world. N o h o r r o r , n o j o y was t h e e q u a l o f t h e a b y s m a l l y v i b r a n t s e n s a t i o n s k n o w n in this place t h a t was elsewhere, this s p e l l b i n d i n g retreat w h e r e all e x p e r i e n c e s were i n t e r w o v e n to c o m p o s e f a n t a s t i c t e x t u r e s o f feeling, a fine and d a r k t r a c e r y o f l i m i t l e s s p a t t e r n s . F o r e v e r y t h i n g in the u n r e a l p o i n t s to the i n f i n i t e , a n d e v e r y t h i n g in Vastarien w a s u n r e a l , u n b o u n d e d by the t a n g i b l e lie o f e x i s t i n g . Even its m o s t h u m b l e a s p e c t s p r o c l a i m e d this t r u t h : w h a t d o o r , h e w o n d e r e d , in a n y o t h e r world c o u l d i m p l y the a b u n d a n t and s t r a n g e possibilities t h a t b e l o n g e d to t h e e n t r a n c i n g d o o r s in t h e d r e a m ? T h e n , as h e f o c u s e d his eyes u p o n a d i s t a n t part o f the city, h e recalled a p a r t i c u l a r d o o r , o n e o f the least suggestive o b j e c t s h e had e v e r c o n f r o n t e d , i n t i m a t i n g little o f w h a t lay b e y o n d .

It was a r e c t a n g l e o f s m u d g e d glass w i t h i n a n o t h e r r e c t a n g l e

of

s c u f f e d w o o d , a b a t t e r e d t h i n g l o d g e d w i t h i n a b r i c k wall a t the b o t t o m o f a s t a i r w a y l e a d i n g d o w n f r o m a c r u m b l i n g s t r e e t . A n d it p u s h e d easily i n w a r d , m e r e l y a d e l i c a t e f o r m a l i t y b e t w e e n t h e u n d e r g r o u n d s h o p and

the outside world. Inside was a n open

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v a g u e l y c i r c u l a r in s h a p e , u n u s u a l in s e e m i n g m o r e like t h e l o b b y o f

V A S T A R I E N

353

an o l d h o t e l t h a n a b o o k s t o r e . T h e c i r c u m f e r e n c e o f the r o o m w a s c o m p o s e d o f crowded bookshelves whose separate sections were j o i n e d to o n e a n o t h e r to c r e a t e an i r r e g u l a r p o l y g o n o f eleven sides, with a l o n g d e s k s t a n d i n g w h e r e a twelfth would have b e e n . B e y o n d t h e d e s k s t o o d a f e w m o r e b o o k s h e l v e s a r r a n g e d in aisles, their m o n o t o n o u s l e n g t h l e a d i n g i n t o s h a d o w s . At t h e

farthest

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this e n d o f t h e s h o p , h e b e g a n h i s c i r c u i t o f t h e shelves, w h i c h a p p e a r e d s o p r o m i s i n g in their a r r a y o f o l d and r u d d y b i n d i n g s , like remnants o f s o m e fabulous a u t u m n . V e r y s o o n , however, t h e p r o m i s e w a s b e t r a y e d and t h e m y s t i q u e o f t h e Librairie

de

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in a c c o r d w i t h his e x p e c t a t i o n s , w a s

s t r i p p e d away to reveal, in his e y e s , a s i d e - s h o w o f c h a r l a t a n r y . F o r this d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t h e h a d o n l y h i m s e l f to b l a m e . M o r e o v e r , h e c o u l d b a r e l y a r t i c u l a t e the n a t u r e o f t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n w h a t h e had h o p e d to find a n d w h a t he a c t u a l l y f o u n d in s u c h places. A s i d e f r o m t h i s h o p e , t h e r e was little basis f o r h i s b e l i e f that t h e r e e x i s t e d s o m e o t h e r a r c a n a , o n e o f a d i f f e r e n t k i n d a l t o g e t h e r f r o m that p r o f fered by t h e b o o k s b e f o r e h i m , all o f w h i c h were s o d d e n with an o b s c e n e reality, falsely h e r m e t i c v e n t u r e s w h i c h c o n s i s t e d o f c i r c l i n g t h e s a m e a b s u r d l a n d s c a p e . T h e o t h e r w o r l d s p o r t r a y e d in t h e s e b o o k s i n e v i t a b l y served as a n n e x e s o f this o n e ; they were i m p o s t o r s o f t h e a u t h e n t i c u n r e a l i t y w h i c h was t h e o n l y r e a l m o f r e d e m p t i o n , h o w e v e r g r u e s o m e it m i g h t a p p e a r . A n d it was this terminal

landscape

t h a t he s o u g h t , n o t t h o s e r i t u a l s o f t h e " w a y " that n e v e r arrives, heave n s o r h e l l s that a r e m e r e p r e t e x t s f o r c i r c u m n a v i g a t i n g the real and r e v e l l i n g in it. F o r h e d r e a m e d o f s t r a n g e v o l u m e s t h a t t u r n e d away f r o m all e a r t h l y light to b e c o m e lost in t h e i r o w n n i g h t m a r e s , pages t h a t p r e a c h e d a n o c t u r n a l s a l v a t i o n , a liturgy o f s h a d o w s , a c a t e c h i s m o f p h a n t o m s . H i s a b s o l u t e : to d w e l l a m o n g t h e r u i n s o f reality. A n d it s e e m e d t o s u r p a s s all p r o b a b i l i t y that t h e r e e x i s t e d 110 p r e c e d e n t for this d r e a m , n o e l a b o r a t i o n o f this v i s i o n i n t o a w o r d , a d e l i r i o u s b i b l e t h a t w o u l d b e t h e b l i g h t o f all o t h e r s — a s c r i p t u r e t h a t w o u l d b e g i n in a p o c a l y p s e and lead its disciple to t h e w r e c k o f all creation. H e h a d , in fact, c o m e u p o n passages in c e r t a i n b o o k s t h a t a p p r o a c h e d t h i s ideal, h i n t i n g to t h e r e a d e r — a l m o s t

admonishing

h i m — t h a t the p a g e b e f o r e his eyes w a s a b o u t to o f f e r a v i e w f r o m t h e

354

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abyss and cast a wavering l i g h l o n d e s o l a t e h a l l u c i n a t i o n s . To ihe

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d r e a m s . B u t s o o n the b e m a z e d v i s i o n a r y w o u l d falter, r e t r a c t i n g t h e p r o m i s e d s c e n e o f a s h a d o w k i n g d o m at t h e e n d o f all entity, p e r h a p s o f f e r i n g an a p o l o g e t i c s f o r this lapse into t h e u n r e a l . T h e w o r k would t h e n o n c e m o r e take u p the u n i v e r s a l t h e m e , d i s c l o s i n g its t r u e purp o s e in b e l a b o r i n g t h e m o s t futile a n d p r o f a n e o f all

ambitions:

p o w e r , w i t h k n o w l e d g e as its d r u d g e . T h e v i s i o n o f a d i s a s t r o u s e n l i g h t e n m e n t , o f a c a t a s t r o p h i c i l l u m i n a t i o n , w a s c o n j u r e d u p in passi n g and t h e n cast a s i d e . W h a t r e m a i n e d w a s i n v a r i a b l y a m e t a p h y s i c s as s y s t e m a t i c a l l y trivial a n d d e b a s e d as t h e physical laws it p u r p o r t e d to t r a n s c e n d , a m a n u a l o u t l i n i n g the p a t h to s o m e h y p o t h e t i c a l s t a t e o f a b s o l u t e glory. W h a t r e m a i n e d lost w a s t h e revelation t h a t n o t h i n g e v e r k n o w n h a s e n d e d in g l o r y ; that all w h i c h e n d s d o e s s o in e x h a u s t i o n , in c o n f u s i o n , and d e b r i s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , a b o o k that c o n t a i n e d e v e n a false g e s t u r e t o w a r d h i s truly e c c e n t r i c a b s o l u t e m i g h t i n d e e d s e r v e his p u r p o s e . D i r e c t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n o f a b o o k s e l l e r to s e l e c t e d c o n t e n t s o f s u c h b o o k s , h e w o u l d s a y : " I have an interest in a c e r t a i n s u b j e c t area, p e r h a p s y o u will s e e . . . that is, I w o n d e r , d o y o u k n o w o f o t h e r , w h a t s h o u l d I say, sources

t h a t y o u would b e able to r e c o m m e n d for m y . . . "

O c c a s i o n a l l y h e w a s r e f e r r e d to a n o t h e r b o o k s e l l e r o r to t h e o w n e r o f a private c o l l e c t i o n . A n d u l t i m a t e l y h e w o u l d be f o r c e d to realize t h a t he had b e e n g r o t e s q u e l y m i s u n d e r s t o o d w h e n h e f o u n d h i m s e l f o n the fringe o f a s o c i e t y d e v o t e d to s o m e strictly d e m o n i c enterprise.

T h e very b o o k s h o p in w h i c h h e was n o w b r o w s i n g r e p r e s e n t e d o n l y t h e m o s t r e c e n t d i g r e s s i o n in a s e a r c h w i t h o u t p r o g r e s s . B u t h e had l e a r n e d to b e c a u t i o u s a n d w o u l d t r y to waste a s little t i m e a s p o s s i b l e in d i s c o v e r i n g if t h e r e was a n y t h i n g h i d d e n f o r h i m h e r e . C e r t a i n l y n o t o n the shelves w h i c h p r e s e n t l y s u r r o u n d e d h i m . " H a v e y o u seen o u r f r i e n d ? " asked a n e a r b y voice, s t a r t l i n g h i m s o m e w h a t . V i c t o r K e i r i o n t u r n e d to face the s t r a n g e r . T h e m a n w a s r a t h e r s m a l l a n d w o r e a b l a c k o v e r c o a t ; h i s hair w a s also b l a c k and fell loosely a c r o s s his f o r e h e a d . Besides his g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e , t h e r e was also s o m e t h i n g a b o u t h i s p r e s e n c e t h a t m a d e o n e t h i n k o f a

VASTA

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355

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crow, a s c a v e n g i n g c r e a t u r e in wait. " H a s h e c o m e o u t o f his h o l e ? " t h e m a n asked, g e s t u r i n g t o w a r d t h e e m p t y d e s k a n d t h e d a r k a r e a b e h i n d it. " I ' m sorry, I haven't s e e n a n y o n e , " K e i r i o n replied. " I o n l y n o w noticed you." " I can't help b e i n g q u i e t . L o o k at t h e s e little feet," the m a n said, p o i n t i n g to a h i g h l y p o l i s h e d p a i r o f b l a c k s h o e s . W i t h o u t t h i n k i n g , K e i r i o n l o o k e d d o w n ; t h e n , feeling d u p e d , h e l o o k e d u p again a t t h e smiling stranger. " Y o u l o o k very b o r e d , " said the h u m a n crow. "I'm sorry?" " N e v e r m i n d . I c a n see that I ' m b o t h e r i n g y o u . " T h e n t h e m a n walked away, his c o a t f l a p p i n g slightly, a n d b e g a n b r o w s i n g s o m e dist a n t b o o k s h e l v e s . " I ' v e n e v e r s e e n you in here b e f o r e , " h e said f r o m across the r o o m . " I ' v e n e v e r b e e n in here b e f o r e , " K e i r i o n a n s w e r e d . " H a v e y o u e v e r read t h i s ? " t h e s t r a n g e r asked, p u l l i n g d o w n a b o o k and h o l d i n g u p its w o r d l e s s b l a c k c o v e r . " N e v e r , " K e i r i o n replied w i t h o u t s o m u c h as g l a n c i n g at

the

b o o k . S o m e h o w this s e e m e d t h e b e s t a c t i o n to take w i t h this c h a r a c ter, w h o a p p e a r e d to be f o r e i g n in s o m e i n d e f i n a b l e way, i n t a n g i b l y alien. " W e l l , y o u m u s t be l o o k i n g f o r s o m e t h i n g s p e c i a l , " c o n t i n u e d t h e o t h e r m a n , r e p l a c i n g the b l a c k b o o k o n its shelf. " A n d I k n o w w h a t that's like, w h e n you're l o o k i n g f o r s o m e t h i n g v e r y s p e c i a l . Have y o u e v e r h e a r d o f a b o o k , an e x t r e m e l y special b o o k , t h a t is n o t . . . yes, t h a t is n o t about

s o m e t h i n g , b u t a c t u a l l y is that s o m e t h i n g ? "

F o r t h e first t i m e t h e o b n o x i o u s s t r a n g e r had m a n a g e d t o i n t r i g u e K e i r i o n r a t h e r t h a n a n n o y h i m . " T h a t s o u n d s . . . " h e s t a r t e d to say, b u t t h e n the o t h e r m a n e x c l a i m e d : " T h e r e h e is, t h e r e h e is. E x c u s e m e . " It s e e m e d t h a t the p r o p r i e t o r — t h a t m u t u a l f r i e n d — h a d

finally

m a d e his appearance and was n o w standing behind the desk, looking t o w a r d his two c u s t o m e r s . " M y friend," said t h e c r o w - m a n

as h e

s t e p p e d with o u t s t r e t c h e d h a n d o v e r to t h e s m o o t h l y bald a n d s o f t l y fat g e n t l e m a n . T h e two o f t h e m briefly s h o o k h a n d s ; t h e y w h i s p e r e d f o r a few m o m e n t s . T h e n the c r o w - m a n was invited b e h i n d t h e desk, a n d — l e d by t h e heavy, u n s m i l i n g b o o k s e l l e r — m a d e h i s w a y i n t o t h e

356

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

d a r k n e s s al Ihe b a c k o f Ihe s h o p . I n a d i s t a n t c o r n e r o f thai d a r k n e s s i h e b r i l l i a n t r e c t a n g l e o f a d o o r w a y s u d d e n l y Hashed into o u t l i n e , a d m i l l i n g I h r o u g h ils frame a large, i w o h e a d e d s h a d o w . Left a l o n e a m o n g ihe w o r t h l e s s v o l u m e s o f t h a t s h o p , V i c t o r K e i r i o n fell t h e sad f r u s t r a t i o n o f ihe u n i n v i t e d , the a b a n d o n e d . M o r e t h a n ever h e h a d b e c o m e i n f e c t e d w i t h h o p e s and c u r i o s i t i e s o f an i n d e t e r m i n a b l e k i n d . A n d h e s o o n f o u n d it i m p o s s i b l e to r e m a i n o u t s i d e that r a d i a n t little r o o m t h e o t h e r two h a d e n t e r e d , and o n w h o s e t h r e s h o l d h e p r e s e n t l y s t o o d in s i l e n c e . T h e r o o m was a c r a m p e d b i b l i o g r a p h i c c u b i c l e w i t h i n stood another cubicle formed by

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d o o r w a y h e c o u l d n o t s e e h o w the i n n e r c u b i c l e m i g h t b e e n t e r e d , b u t h e h e a r d the v o i c e s o f t h e o t h e r s w h i s p e r i n g w i t h i n . S t e p p i n g quietly, h e b e g a n m a k i n g his way a l o n g t h e p e r i m e t e r o f t h e r o o m , h i s eyes v o r a c i o u s l y s c a n n i n g a wealth o f o d d - l o o k i n g v o l u m e s . Immediately

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inter-

p r e t a t i o n a n d i m p a r t e d t h e faith to p r o c e e d . M a n y o f the w o r k s w e r e w r i t t e n in f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s h e did n o t read; s o m e a p p e a r e d to b e c o m p o s e d in c i p h e r s based o n f a m i l i a r c h a r a c t e r s a n d o t h e r s s e e m e d to b e t r a n s c r i b e d in a w h o l l y artificial c r y p t o g r a p h y . B u t in e v e r ) ' o n e o f t h e s e b o o k s he f o u n d an o b l i q u e g u i d a n c e , s o m e f e a t u r e o f m o r e o r less i n d i r e c t s i g n i f i c a n c e : a s t r a n g e n e s s in t h e t y p e f a c e , pages and bindings o f u n c o m m o n texture, abstract diagrams suggesting n o ort h o d o x r i t u a l o r o c c u l t s y s t e m . Even greater a n t i c i p a t i o n was inspired by c e r t a i n i l l u s t r a t e d plates, m y s t e r i o u s d r a w i n g s and e n g r a v i n g s t h a t depicted scenes and situations unlike anything he could name. And s u c h w o r k s a s Cynoihoglys

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s o b i z a r r e , s o r e m o t e f r o m k n o w n texts and treatises o f the e s o t e r i c t r a d i t i o n , t h a t h e felt assured o f the s e n s e o f his q u e s t . T h e w h i s p e r i n g g r e w louder, t h o u g h n o m o r e d i s t i n c t , a s h e e d g e d a r o u n d a c o r n e r o f that i n n e r c u b i c l e a n d a n x i o u s l y n o t e d t h e o p e n i n g a t its far e n d . At t h e s a m e t i m e he w a s d i s t r a c t e d , for n o a p p a r e n t r e a s o n , by a s m a l l g r a y i s h v o l u m e l e a n i n g w i t h i n a g a p b e -

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t w e e n l a r g e r and m o r e garish t o m e s . T h e little b o o k had b e e n set u p o n t h e highest s h e l f , m a k i n g it n e c e s s a r y f o r h i m to s t r e t c h h i m self, as if o n an u p r i g h t t o r t u r e r a c k , to reach it. T r y i n g n o t to give away his p r e s e n c e b y the s o u n d s o f his p a i n , h e finally s e c u r e d t h e a s h e n - c o l o r e d o b j e c t — a s pale as his o w n c o l o r i n g — b e t w e e n t h e tips o f his first t w o fingers. M u t e l y h e s t r a i n e d to slide it q u i e t l y f r o m its place; this act a c c o m p l i s h e d , h e s l o w l y s h r u n k d o w n to his o r i g i n a l s t a t u r e a n d l o o k e d i n t o t h e b o o k ' s b r i t t l e pages. It s e e m e d to b e a c h r o n i c l e o f s t r a n g e d r e a m s . Yet s o m e h o w t h e passages h e e x a m i n e d were less a r e c o l l e c t i o n o f u n r u l e d v i s i o n s t h a n a t a n g i b l e i n c a r n a t i o n o f t h e m , n o t m e r e r h e t o r i c b u t t h e t h i n g itself. T h e u s e o f l a n g u a g e in the b o o k w a s a r r a n t l y u n n a t u r a l a n d t h e b o o k ' s a u t h o r u n k n o w n . I n d e e d , the text c o n v e y e d the i m p r e s s i o n o f s p e a k i n g f o r i t s e l f a n d s p e a k i n g o n l y to itself, the w o r d s

flowing

to-

g e t h e r like s h a d o w s that w e r e cast by n o f o r m s o u t s i d e t h e b o o k . B u t a l t h o u g h this v o l u m e a p p e a r e d to b e c o m p o s e d in a v e r n a c u l a r o f m y s t e r i e s , its w o r d s d i d inspire a s u r e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d c r e a t e d in t h e i r r e a d e r a visceral a p p r e h e n s i o n o f t h e world they d e s c r i b e d , e x i s t i n g i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m it. C o u l d this truly b e the i n v o c a t i o n o f Vast a r i e n , that i m p r o b a b l e world to w h i c h t h o s e g n a r l e d letters o n t h e f r o n t o f the b o o k a l l u d e d ? A n d was it a w o r l d a t all? R a t h e r t h e u n r e a l e s s e n c e o f o n e , all n a t u r a l e l e m e n t s purged b y an o c c u l t p r o c e s s o f e x t r a c t i o n , all days distilled i n t o d r e a m s a n d n i g h t s i n t o n i g h t m a r e s . E a c h passage he e n t e r e d in t h e b o o k b o t h e n c h a n t e d and appalled h i m with i m a g e s a n d i n c i d e n t s s o f r e a k i s h a n d c h a o t i c that h i s u s u a l s e n s e o f t h e s e t e r m s d i s i n t e g r a t e d a l o n g w i t h e v e r y t h i n g else. R a m p a n t o d d i t y s e e m e d to be t h e rule o f t h e r e a l m ; i m p e r f e c t i o n b e c a m e the source o f the miraculous—wonders o f deformity and marvels o f m i s c r e a t i o n . T h e r e w a s h o r r o r , u n d o u b t e d l y . B u t it w a s a h o r r o r u n c o m p r o m i s e d b y a n y feeling o f lost j o y o r t h w a r t e d r e d e m p t i o n ; rather, it w a s a d e l i v e r a n c e b y d a m n a t i o n . A n d if V a s t a r i e n was a n i g h t m a r e , it was a n i g h t m a r e t r a n s f o r m e d in s p i r i t by t h e u t t e r a b s e n c e o f refuge: n i g h t m a r e m a d e n o r m a l . " I ' m sorry, I d i d n ' t see that you had drifted in h e r e , " said t h e b o o k s e l l e r in a h i g h t h i n v o i c e . H e had j u s t e m e r g e d f r o m t h e i n n e r c h a m b e r o f t h e r o o m and w a s s t a n d i n g with a r m s f o l d e d a c r o s s h i s w i d e c h e s t . " P l e a s e d o n ' t t o u c h a n y t h i n g . A n d m a y I take that f r o m

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y o u ? " T h e r i g h t a r m o f t h e b o o k s e l l e r r e a c h e d o u t , t h e n r e t u r n e d to its f o r m e r place w h e n the m a n with the pale eyes d i d not r e l i n q u i s h the merchandise. " I t h i n k I w o u l d like to p u r c h a s e it," said K e i r i o n . " I ' m s u r e I would, i f . . . " " O f c o u r s e , if the price is r e a s o n a b l e , " f i n i s h e d the b o o k s e l l e r . " B u t w h o k n o w s , y o u m i g h t n o t b e able to u n d e r s t a n d h o w v a l u a b l e t h e s e b o o k s c a n b e . T h a t o n e . . . " he said, r e m o v i n g a little pad and p e n c i l f r o m inside his j a c k e t and s c r i b b l i n g briefly. H e r i p p e d o f f t h e t o p s h e e t a n d h e l d it u p f o r the w o u l d - b e b u y e r to see, t h e n c o n f i d e n t l y p u t away all w r i t i n g m a t e r i a l s , as if that w o u l d b e t h e e n d o f it. "But

there

must

be s o m e

latitude

for

bargaining,"

Keirion

protested. " I ' m a f r a i d n o t , " a n s w e r e d the b o o k s e l l e r . " N o t w i t h s o m e t h i n g t h a t is t h e o n l y o n e o f its k i n d , as are m a n y o f t h e s e v o l u m e s . Yet t h a t o n e b o o k y o u are h o l d i n g , that s i n g l e c o p y . . . " A h a n d t o u c h e d the b o o k s e l l e r ' s s h o u l d e r and s e e m e d to s w i t c h o f f his v o i c e . T h e n t h e c r o w - m a n s t e p p e d i n t o t h e aisleway, his eyes fixed

u p o n t h e o b j e c t u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n , a n d asked: " D o n ' t y o u

find

t h a t the b o o k is s o m e w h a t . . . d i f f i c u l t ? " "Difficult," repeated Keirion. " I ' m not sure

I f you m e a n t h a t

t h e l a n g u a g e is s t r a n g e , I w o u l d have to a g r e e , b u t — " " N o , " i n t e r j e c t e d t h e b o o k s e l l e r , " t h a t ' s n o t w h a t h e m e a n s at all." " E x c u s e us f o r a m o m e n t , " said t h e c r o w - m a n . T h e n both men went back into the inner r o o m , where they whisp e r e d f o r s o m e t i m e . W h e n the w h i s p e r i n g c e a s e d , the b o o k s e l l e r c a m e f o r t h a n d a n n o u n c e d that t h e r e had b e e n a m i s t a k e . T h e b o o k , w h i l e s o m e t h i n g o f a c u r i o s i t y , was w o r t h a g o o d deal less t h a n t h e p r i c e e a r l i e r q u o t e d . T h e r e v i s e d e v a l u a t i o n , while still costly, w a s n e v e r t h e l e s s w i t h i n t h e m e a n s o f this p a r t i c u l a r buyer, w h o agreed a t o n c e to pay.

T h u s b e g a n V i c t o r K e i r i o n ' s p r e o c c u p a t i o n with a c e r t a i n b o o k and a c e r t a i n h a l l u c i n a t e d world, t h o u g h to m a k e a d i s t i n c t i o n

between

t h e s e two p h e n o m e n a u l t i m a t e l y s e e m e d an e r r o r : the b o o k , i n deed, d i d n o t m e r e l y d e s c r i b e t h a t s t r a n g e world b u t , in s o m e o b -

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s c u r e f a s h i o n , w a s a t r u e c o m p o s i t i o n o f the t h i n g itself, its v e r y f o r m incarnate. E a c h d a y t h e r e a f t e r h e s t u d i e d t h e h y p n o t i c e p i s o d e s o f the little b o o k ; e a c h night, a s h e d r e a m e d , h e c a r r i e d o u t shapeless e x p e d i t i o n s i n t o its f a n t a s t i c t o p o g r a p h y . T o all a p p e a r a n c e s it s e e m e d he had d i s c o v e r e d the s u m m i t o r abyss o f the u n r e a l , that p a r a d i s e o f e x h a u s t i o n , c o n f u s i o n , a n d d e b r i s w h e r e reality e n d s a n d w h e r e o n e m a y dwell a m o n g its r u i n s . A n d it w a s n o t l o n g b e f o r e h e f o u n d it n e c e s s a r y to revisit that t w e l v e - s i d e d s h o p , i n t e n d i n g to q u e s t i o n t h e o b e s e b o o k s e l l e r o n t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e b o o k and u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y l e a r n i n g t h e t r u t h o f h o w it c a m e to b e s o l d . W h e n he arrived at t h e b o o k s t o r e , s o m e t i m e in t h e m i d d l e o f a g r a y i s h a f t e r n o o n , V i c t o r K e i r i o n was s u r p r i s e d to find that t h e d o o r , w h i c h had o p e n e d s o freely o n his p r e v i o u s visit, w a s n o w firmly

l o c k e d . It w o u l d n o t e v e n rattle in its f r a m e w h e n h e n e r v o u s l y

p u s h e d a n d p u l l e d o n the h a n d l e . S i n c e t h e i n t e r i o r o f the s t o r e was l i g h t e d , h e t o o k a c o i n f r o m

his p o c k e t a n d b e g a n

tapping

o n t h e glass. Finally, s o m e o n e c a m e f o r w a r d f r o m t h e s h a d o w s o f the back room. " C l o s e d , " the b o o k s e l l e r p a n t o m i m e d o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e glass. " B u t . . . " K e i r i o n a r g u e d , p o i n t i n g to his w r i s t w a t c h . "Nevertheless," the wide m a n shouted. T h e n , after scrutinizing the disappointed

patron, the bookseller unlocked

the d o o r

and

o p e n e d it far e n o u g h to c a r r y o n a b r i e f c o n v e r s a t i o n . " A n d w h a t is it I c a n d o for y o u ? I ' m c l o s e d , s o you'll h a v e to c o m e s o m e o t h e r time i f — " " I o n l y w a n t e d to ask y o u s o m e t h i n g . D o you r e m e m b e r

the

b o o k t h a t I b o u g h t f r o m you n o t l o n g ago, the o n e — " "Yes, I r e m e m b e r , " replied t h e b o o k s e l l e r , as if q u i t e p r e p a r e d f o r t h e q u e s t i o n . " A n d let m e say that I was q u i t e i m p r e s s e d , as o f c o u r s e w a s . . . the other man." " I m p r e s s e d ? " Keirion repeated. " F l a b b e r g a s t e d is m o r e the w o r d in his case," c o n t i n u e d

the

b o o k s e l l e r . " H e said t o m e , ' T h e b o o k h a s f o u n d its reader,' and w h a t could I do but agree with h i m ? " " I ' m a f r a i d I don't u n d e r s t a n d , " said K e i r i o n .

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T h e b o o k s e l l e r b l i n k e d and said n o t h i n g . After a f e w m o m e n t s h e reluctantly explained: "I was hoping that b y n o w you would understand. H e h a s n ' t c o n t a c t e d you? T h e m a n w h o w a s in here that d a y ? " "No, why should he?" T h e bookseller blinked again a n d said: "Well, I s u p p o s e there's n o r e a s o n y o u n e e d t o s t a n d o u t there. It's getting v e r y c o l d , d o n ' t y o u feel it?" T h e n h e closed t h e d o o r a n d p u l l e d K e i r i o n a little to o n e s i d e o f it, w h i s p e r i n g : " T h e r e ' s j u s t o n e t h i n g I w o u l d like to tell y o u . I m a d e n o m i s t a k e t h a t d a y a b o u t the p r i c e o f that b o o k . A n d it w a s t h e p r i c e — i n f u l l — w h i c h w a s p a i d by t h e o t h e r m a n , d o n ' t a s k m e a n y t h i n g else a b o u t h i m . T h a t p r i c e , o f c o u r s e , m i n u s t h e s m a l l a m o u n t t h a t y o u y o u r s e l f c o n t r i b u t e d . 1 d i d n ' t c h e a t a n y o n e , least o f all him.

H e w o u l d have b e e n h a p p y to pay e v e n m o r e t o get t h a t b o o k

i n t o y o u r h a n d s . A n d a l t h o u g h I ' m n o t e x a c t l y s u r e o f his r e a s o n s , I t h i n k y o u s h o u l d k n o w that." " B u t w h y d i d n ' t h e s i m p l y p u r c h a s e the b o o k f o r h i m s e l f ? " asked Keirion. T h e b o o k s e l l e r s e e m e d c o n f u s e d . " I t was o f n o u s e to h i m . Perh a p s it w o u l d h a v e b e e n b e t t e r if y o u h a d n ' t g i v e n y o u r s e l f away w h e n h e asked y o u a b o u t t h e b o o k . H o w m u c h y o u knew." " B u t I d o n ' t k n o w a n y t h i n g , a p a r t f r o m w h a t I've r e a d in t h e b o o k itself. I c a m e here to

find—"

" — N o t h i n g , I ' m afraid. You're t h e o n e w h o s h o u l d b e telling m e , v e r y i m p r e s s i v e . B u t I ' m n o t asking, d o n ' t m i s u n d e r s t a n d . A n d t h e r e ' s n o t h i n g m o r e I c a n tell you, s i n c e I've a l r e a d y v i o l a t e d e v e r y p r e c e p t o f d i s c r e t i o n . T h i s is s u c h an e x c e p t i o n a l case, t h o u g h . V e r y i m p r e s s i v e , if in fact y o u are t h e r e a d e r o f that b o o k . " R e a l i z i n g that, at best, h e had b e e n led into a d i a l o g u e o f mystific a t i o n , and p o s s i b l y o n e o f lies, V i c t o r K e i r i o n h a d n o regrets w h e n t h e b o o k s e l l e r held t h e d o o r o p e n for h i m to leave. B u t b e f o r e very m a n y days, a n d e s p e c i a l l y n i g h t s , h a d passed h e l e a r n e d w h y t h e b o o k s e l l e r had b e e n s o i m p r e s s e d w i t h h i m , a n d w h y t h e c r o w l i k e s t r a n g e r had b e e n s o g e n e r o u s : t h e b e s t o w e r o f t h e b o o k w h o was b l i n d to its mysteries. I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h o s e days, t h o s e n i g h t s , h e l e a r n e d t h a t the s t r a n g e r h a d given o n l y s o that h e m i g h t p o s s e s s t h e t h i n g h e c o u l d gain in n o o t h e r way, t h a t h e was r e a d i n g t h e b o o k with b o r r o w e d eyes a n d s t e a l i n g its s e c r e t s f r o m the soul o f

VASTA

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ils rightful reader. At last it b e c a m e c l e a r w h a t was h a p p e n i n g to h i m throughout those strange nights o f dreaming. O n e a c h o f t h o s e n i g h t s t h e s h a p e s o f V a s t a r i e n slowly p u s h e d t h r o u g h t h e o b s c u r i t y o f his s l e e p , a vast l a n d s c a p e e m e r g i n g f r o m its o w n p r o f o u n d s l u m b e r and d r i f t i n g f o r t h from a place w i t h o u t n a m e or dimension. And as the crooked m o n u m e n t s b e c a m e manifest o n c e again, they s e e m e d to e x p a n d and s o a r h i g h a b o v e h i m , d r a w i n g h i s v i s i o n t o w a r d t h e m . Progressively t h e s c e n e a c q u i r e d n u a n c e a n d art i c u l a t i o n ; s t e a d i l y t h e c r e a t i o n b e c a m e d e n s e a n d i n t r i c a t e w i t h i n its b l a c k w o m b : t h e s t r e e t s were s i n u o u s e n t r a i l s w i n d i n g t h r o u g h t h a t d a r k b o d y , a n d e a c h edifice w a s t h e j u t t i n g b o n e o f a s k e l e t o n h u n g with a t h i n m u s c u l a t u r e o f s h a d o w s . B u t j u s t as his v i s i o n r e a c h e d o u t to e m b r a c e fully t h e m y s t e r i o u s a n d j a g g e d f o r m o f t h e d r e a m , it all a p p e a r e d to p u l l away, a b a n d o n i n g h i m o n t h e edge o f a d r e a m l e s s void. T h e l a n d s c a p e w a s r e c e d i n g , s h r i n k i n g i n t o t h e d i s t a n c e . N o w all h e c o u l d see was a s i n g l e street b o r d e r e d b y t w o c o n v e r g i n g rows o f b u i l d i n g s . A n d a t t h e o p p o s i t e e n d o f that s t r e e t , rising u p taller t h a n the b u i l d i n g s t h e m s e l v e s , s t o o d a g r e a t figure in s i l h o u e t t e . T h i s l o o m i n g c o l o s sus m a d e n o m o v e m e n t or s o u n d but

firmly

dominated the ho-

r i z o n w h e r e t h e s i n g l e r e m a i n i n g street s e e m e d to e n d . F r o m this p o s i t i o n the t o w e r i n g s h a d o w was a b s o r b i n g all o t h e r s h a p e s i n t o its o w n , w h i c h g r a d u a l l y was g a i n i n g in s t a t u r e as t h e l a n d s c a p e w i t h d r e w and d i m i n i s h e d . A n d

the o u t l i n e o f this t i t a n i c

figure

a p p e a r e d to b e that o f a m a n , yet it was a l s o that o f a d a r k a n d d e vouring bird. A l t h o u g h for several n i g h t s V i c t o r K e i r i o n m a n a g e d to a w a k e b e f o r e t h e s c a v e n g e r h a d t h o r o u g h l y c o n s u m e d w h a t was n o t its o w n , t h e r e was n o a s s u r a n c e that he w o u l d always b e able to d o s o and t h a t t h e d r e a m w o u l d n o t pass i n t o the h a n d s o f a n o t h e r . U l t i m a t e l y , h e c o n c e i v e d a n d e x e c u t e d the act t h a t was n e c e s s a r y to k e e p p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e d r e a m h e had c o v e t e d f o r s o long.

Vastarien,

h e w h i s p e r e d as h e s t o o d in the s h a d o w s a n d m o o n l i g h t o f

t h a t b a r e little r o o m , w h e r e a m a s s i v e m e t a l d o o r p r e v e n t e d his esc a p e . W i t h i n t h a t d o o r a s m a l l s q u a r e o f t h i c k glass was i m p l a n t e d s o

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t h a i h e m i g h t b e w a t c h e d b y d a y a n d by n i g h t . A n d t h e r e w a s a n u n b e n d i n g w e b o f heavy wire c o v e r i n g t h e w i n d o w w h i c h o v e r l o o k e d t h e c i t y t h a t was not V a s t a r i e n . N e v e r , c h a n t e d a v o i c e w h i c h m i g h t h a v e b e e n his o w n . T h e n m o r e i n s i s t e n t l y : never,

never,

never....

W h e n t h e d o o r w a s o p e n e d a n d s o m e m e n in u n i f o r m s e n t e r e d t h e r o o m , they f o u n d V i c t o r K e i r i o n s c r e a m i n g to t h e r a u c o u s l i m i t s o f his voice a n d t r y i n g to s c a l e the t h i c k m e t a l m e s h veiling t h e w i n dow, as if h e were d r a g g i n g h i m s e l f a l o n g s o m e u n l i k e l y r o u t e o f libe r a t i o n . O f c o u r s e , t h e y p u l l e d h i m t o t h e floor; t h e y s t r e t c h e d h i m o u t u p o n the b e d , w h e r e h i s w r i s t s a n d a n k l e s w e r e tightly s t r a p p e d . T h e n t h r o u g h t h e d o o r w a y s t r o d e a n u r s e w h o c a r r i e d a s l e n d e r syr i n g e c r o w n e d with a silvery n e e d l e . D u r i n g t h e i n j e c t i o n he c o n t i n u e d to s c r e a m w o r d s w h i c h everyo n e in t h e r o o m had h e a r d b e f o r e , e a c h o u t b u r s t d e v e l o p i n g

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s t a r i n g at its r e s t r a i n e d o c c u p a n t . T h e n o n e o f t h e m p o i n t e d to t h e b o o k a n d initiated a c o n v e r s a t i o n n o w f a m i l i a r to t h e m all. " W h a t s h o u l d w e d o with it? It's b e e n t a k e n away e n o u g h t i m e s already, b u t t h e n there's always a n o t h e r that a p p e a r s . " " A n d there's n o p o i n t to it. L o o k a t t h e s e p a g e s — n o t h i n g , n o t h ing written anywhere." " S o w h y d o e s h e sit r e a d i n g t h e m f o r h o u r s ? H e d o e s n o t h i n g else." " I t h i n k it's t i m e w e told s o m e o n e in a u t h o r i t y . " " O f c o u r s e , w e c o u l d d o that, b u t w h a t e x a c t l y w o u l d w e say? That a certain i n m a t e should be forbidden from reading a certain book? T h a t he becomes violent?" " A n d t h e n t h e y ' l l a s k w h y w e c a n ' t keep t h e b o o k away f r o m h i m o r h i m from t h e b o o k ? W h a t s h o u l d w e say to t h a t ? " " T h e r e w o u l d b e n o t h i n g w e c o u l d say. C a n y o u i m a g i n e w h a t l u n a t i c s w e w o u l d s e e m ? As s o o n as w e o p e n e d o u r m o u t h s , t h a t w o u l d be it f o r all o f us."

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" A n d w h e n s o m e o n e a s k s w h a t Ihe b o o k m e a n s t o h i m , o r even w h a t its n a m e i s . . . w h a t w o u l d be o u r a n s w e r ? " A s if in r e s p o n s e to this q u e s t i o n , a few shapeless g r o a n s a r o s e f r o m t h e c r i m i n a l l y i n s a n e c r e a t u r e w h o was b o u n d to the bed. B u t n o o n e c o u l d u n d e r s t a n d t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e w o r d o r w o r d s that h e u t t e r e d , least o f all h i m s e l f . F o r h e w a s n o w far f r o m his o w n words, buried deep within the d r e a m s o f a place where everything

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t r a n s f i x e d in t h e o r d e r o f t h e u n r e a l ; and w h e n c e , it truly s e e m e d , h e would never return.

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p l a n a t i o n s o f a n u n f o r e s e e n , early t e r m i n a t i o n o f s c h o o l w o r k 1 h o p e h a v e satisfied t h e m ; f o r i d a r e not h i n t a s yet a s to the real cause. Eventually, I realize, 1 m u s t tell t h e m — a n d the w o r l d — o f the fate o f m y r o o m m a t e and closest friend, Howard W e n t w o r t h Anable, w h o d i s a p p e a r e d in the early m o r n i n g o f M a r c h 1 5 , 1 9 2 9 , i n t o the d e n s e l y f o r e s t e d , still w i n t e r - f r o z e n hills that e x t e n d e d west o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y town o f Arkham, M a s s a c h u s e t t s — o r so people believe. H o w m u c h o f t h e " t r u t h " I will reveal r e m a i n s f o r m e to d e c i d e , a s I r u n t h e r i s k o f b e i n g d e c l a r e d m a d as t h a t s i n g u l a r i n d i v i d u a l w h o s e b i z a r r e and l a m e n t a b l e h i s t o r y 1 a m here a b o u t to d i s c l o s e . I a d m i t that r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n us had b e e n s t r a i n e d in t h o s e final m o n t h s , a n

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c o n s e q u e n c e o f his physical and m e n t a l d e t e r i o r a t i o n ; b u t this in n o w a y affected t h e u n d e r l y i n g f o n d n e s s a n d r e s p e c t I had a l w a y s held for him. I f e a r t h a t I h a v e s e e n the last o f m y c o m r a d e ; f o r c e r t a i n e v i d e n c e — c e r t a i n d a m n a b l y c o n c l u s i v e e v i d e n c e , w h i c h for t h e sake o f m a n k i n d ' s c o l l e c t i v e s a n i t y I h e s i t a t e to r e v e a l — i n d i c a t e s that h e has ventured into terrible c o s m i c realms from which n o m o r t a l can ever return.

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D u l y r e q u i r e d t h a i I i n f o r m A n a b l e ' s m o t h e r and g r a n d m o t h e r , w h o live n e a r the c e n t e r o f the o l d c o l o n i a l t o w n , o f m y gravest suspic i o n s ; b u t w i t h o u t g i v i n g away a n y t h i n g o f the s p e c i f i c h o r r o r 1 had o b s e r v e d . T h e A n a b l e s had h a l f - a n t i c i p a t e d a c l i m a x o f this s o r t , and b o r e their g r i e f w i t h a d m i r a b l e Y a n k e e s t o i c i s m . T h e r e e n s u e d a disc r e e t i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w h i c h received n o p u b l i c i t y o t h e r t h a n a s h o r t n o t i c e in t h e Arkham

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T h e p o l i c e t h e o r i z e that A n a b l e w a s f o r c i b l y a b d u c t e d , the b r o k e n w i n d o w a n d t h e d i s o r d e r e d f u r n i t u r e a n d b o o k s in his b e d r o o m s u p p o r t i n g this c o n c l u s i o n . A n a b l e ' s relatives had k n o w n o f his a s s o c i a t i o n with a n u n d e s i r a b l e b a n d o f cultists, w h o , c a m p e d o u t in t h e A r k h a m hills, m a y h a v e t a k e n revenge o n the y o u t h f o r s o m e i m a g i n e d t r a n s g r e s s i o n o f t h e i r laws. S e a r c h p a r t i e s d i s c o v e r e d n o t r a c e o f A n a b l e o r his s u s p e c t e d a b d u c t o r s ( w h o , in a n y e v e n t , m a y h a v e left t h e a r e a m o n t h s b e f o r e ) , a n d a f t e r several days t h e y a b a n d o n e d t h e i r trampings through the woods. N a t u r a l l y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s q u e s t i o n e d m e closely, b u t I was able to d e m o n s t r a t e to t h e i r s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t I k n e w little o f A n a b l e ' s d e a l ings with a n y q u e e r c h a r a c t e r s l i v i n g in t h e hills. T h r o u g h an e x t r e m e effort o f will I m a n a g e d to s u p p r e s s m y feelings o f awful h o r r o r and s h o w o n l y n o r m a l s h o c k and dismay. I n d e e d , until t h e last m i n d s h a t t e r i n g r e v e l a t i o n 1 had d i s m i s s e d A n a b l e ' s r a v i n g s as

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m o r e t h a n a lot o f t h e o s o p h i c a l h o c u s - p o c u s . A r a t i o n a l m a n c o u l d easily have t a k e n his s t r a n g e p r o n o u n c e m e n t t o w a r d t h e e n d as t h e phantasies o f a psychotic. But n o w I k n o w otherwise; a n d because 1 d o 1 m a y m y s e l f fall a v i c t i m to t h o s e s a m e d r e a d f o r c e s t h a t c l a i m e d m y friend. T h e r e f o r e , f o r t h e written r e c o r d , I a m p r e s e n t l y s e t t i n g d o w n , d u r i n g t h e s e days o f early N e w E n g l a n d s p r i n g , w h i l e e v e n t s are still fresh a n d t h e r e is still t i m e f o r m e , an a c c o u n t o f this f r i g h t f u l m a t t e r — o f the madness out o f space.

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versity, w h i c h is n o t H a r v a r d , n o r is it e v e n Ivy L e a g u e , b u t w h o s e u n p a r a l l e l e d r e p u t a t i o n a s a f r e e w h e e l i n g , " p r o g r e s s i v e , " c o - e d instit u t i o n a t t r a c t s u n c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d o r i g i n a l m i n d s w h o care little f o r

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prestige. It is l o c a t e d in t h e g l a m o r o u s o l d , g a m b r e l - r o o f e d t o w n o f A r k h a m , r e n o w n e d a l o n g t h e N o r t h S h o r e as a place e s p e c i a l l y s e n s i tive to a d u m b r a t i o n s o f the p a r a n o r m a l . B o t h h e a n d I e n r o l l e d in an a d v a n c e d c o u r s e in C o l o n i a l A m e r i c a n l i t e r a t u r e . ( M i s k a t o n i c ' s P i c k m a n c o l l e c t i o n o f early A m e r i c a n d o c u m e n t s is j u s t l y f a m o u s f o r its size a n d c o m p l e t e n e s s — s e c o n d o n l y to that o f t h e l o h n C a r t e r H a y L i b r a r y a t B r o w n U n i v e r s i t y in P r o v i d e n c e , R h o d e I s l a n d . ) I w a s i m m e d i a t e l y i m p r e s s e d , as w e r e t h e o t h e r s t u d e n t s a n d P r o f e s s o r Wagg o n e r , b y h i s p r o f o u n d a n d e n c y c l o p e d i c k n o w l e d g e o f the s u b j e c t . A n a b l e b o a s t e d that h e h a d read C o t t o n M a t h e r ' s Magnolia Americana

Christi

in its e n t i r e t y , a n d w o u l d q u o t e l e n g t h y passages f r o m

m e m o r y to i l l u s t r a t e all s o r t s o f n i c e p o i n t s in class d i s c u s s i o n . It a p p e a r e d that h e had d o n e e x t e n s i v e r e s e a r c h f r o m his earliest years i n t o t h e h i s t o r y , folklore, c u l t u r e , a n d a r c h i t e c t u r e o f N e w E n g l a n d . Physically u n o b t r u s i v e o n first s i g h t , A n a b l e really c u t a r e m a r k able figure the m o r e o n e s t u d i e d h i m . H e had a f r a m e s o excessively s p a r e that, a l t h o u g h h e s t o o d an i n c h o r two a b o v e a v e r a g e height, p e o p l e u s u a l l y t o o k h i m to b e m u c h taller. A s p e c t r a l l y p a l e c o m p l e x i o n , set o f f b y s t r i k i n g l y d e e p , i n t e l l i g e n t b r o w n eyes and

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c r o p p e d , m o u s y b r o w n hair, c o m b i n e d to give his face a p e r p e t u a l l y s t a r t l e d e x p r e s s i o n . ( T h a t he w a s f a i r - h a i r e d a n d b l u e - e y e d as a child A n a b l e n e v e r tired o f r e p e a t i n g w h e n I k n e w h i m b e t t e r . ) H e w o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e c l o t h i n g , a d a r k suit w i t h a p l a i n , d a r k k n i t tie b e i n g h i s p r e f e r r e d dress. A l t h o u g h I f r e q u e n t l y e n g a g e d in a c a d e m i c d e b a t e with A n a b l e , I k n e w practically n o t h i n g a b o u t h i m outside the classroom,

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t h a n that h e lived at his f a m i l y ' s h o m e o n Valley S t r e e t . Fellow s t u d e n t s r e m a r k e d that t h e y n e v e r n o t i c e d h i m at a n y o f t h e usual c a m p u s h a u n t s ; r u m o r had it t h a t h e s p e n t his f r e e h o u r s t a k i n g long, s o l i t a r y walks b e y o n d t h e t o w n . Flis r a p i d s t o o p i n g g a i t s o o n b e c a m e his distinctive hallmark. An independent

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c a m p u s "sophisticates," who courted him as s o m e o n e whose eccentricities a n d tastes would have m a d e h i m i m m e d i a t e l y w e l c o m e a m o n g t h e i r s e l e c t circles. Instead, h i s h i g h - h a n d e d d i s d a i n o f t h e i r " i m m a t u r e i n d u l g e n c e s , " as h e p u t it, w o n o n l y t h e i r r e s e n t m e n t . I m y s e l f , b e i n g by n a t u r e m o r e g r e g a r i o u s and e a g e r to b e a c c e p t e d b y t h e

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elite, was a t first given to m i x i n g with the " w i l d s e t " b u t by t h e C h r i s t m a s h o l i d a y s I had g r o w n weary o f their s u p e r f i c i a l p s e u d o - d e c a d e n t t h r i l l - s e e k i n g , a n d c e a s e d a s s o c i a t i n g w i t h t h e m a l t o g e t h e r with t h e start o f t h e s e c o n d t e r m in J a n u a r y . I t h i n k A n a b l e o b s e r v e d this shift in m y s o c i a l p r e f e r e n c e s . H e b e g a n s p e a k i n g to m e o n his o w n initiative a f t e r the h o n o r s A m e r i c a n l i t e r a t u r e class, d e v o t e d to a t h o r o u g h study o f t h o s e classic if largely n e g l e c t e d a u t h o r s — C o o p e r , I r v i n g , a n d C h a r l e s

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B r o w n — o f the e a r l y R e p u b l i c , t h a t we s h a r e d in the n e w t e r m . A c a sual f r i e n d s h i p d e v e l o p e d b e t w e e n us that 1 was pleased to cultivate; f o r I a p p r e c i a t e d in A n a b l e his g e n u i n e e r u d i t i o n a n d s o b r i e t y o f manner—indicative, I sensed, o f a special understanding o f things o u t s i d e t h e o r d i n a r y in life. W e s o o n d i s c o v e r e d t h a t w e held a g o o d m a n y c o m m o n

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t e r e s t s , a s A n a b l e ' s o u t w a r d r e t i c e n c e gave w a y t o a v o l u b l e s t r e a m o f t a l k a b o u t h i m s e l f a n d his i d e a s . I a l r e a d y k n e w h i m to b e an enthusiastic student o f the N e w England scene; now 1 learned the personal side. H o w a r d W e n t w o r t h A n a b l e w a s d e s c e n d e d f r o m a line o f wellto-do Arkham

m e r c h a n t s w h o had n o u r i s h e d d u r i n g t h e days o f

c l i p p e r s h i p s and t h e C h i n a trade; the f a m i l y s i n c e the t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y , however, h a v i n g b e e n r e d u c e d to t h e s t a t e politely k n o w n a s " g e n t e e l poverty." A s a b o y o f n i n e , s o o n a f t e r the d e a t h o f his father, h e had m o v e d w i t h his m o t h e r f r o m h i s f a m i l y ' s A n a w a n A v e n u e m a n s i o n , b u i l t in the 1820s b y his g r e a t - g r a n d f a t h e r . C a p t a i n A d o n i r a m A n a b l e , c e l e b r a t e d in A r k h a m h i s t o r y f o r h i s d a r i n g e x p l o i t s in t h e S o u t h S e a s , to the less t h a n g r a n d n e i g h b o r h o o d o f Valley S t r e e t . ( T h e l o g o f the Miskatonic,

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o n c e ; a d d i n g t h a t h i s p e o p l e were a m o n g t h e v e r y earliest s e t t l e r s o f C a p e C o d . O f h i s f a t h e r A n a b l e r a r e l y s p o k e — a n d t h e n m e r e l y to say t h a t he had w o r k e d for t h e ' p h o n e c o m p a n y . 1 visited A n a b l e a t h i s h o m e , a privilege g r a n t e d to few, a n d w a s m u c h i m p r e s s e d by t h e C h i n e s e plates a n d vases, P o l y n e s i a n w o o d c a r v i n g s , a n d s c r i m s h a w still in t h e f a m i l y ' s p o s s e s s i o n — s u r v i v i n g

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relics o f a m o r e p r o s p e r o u s a g e t h a i s e e m e d s o s a d l y o u t o f place in the u n d i s t i n g u i s h e d , V i c t o r i a n f r a m e h o u s e , d i v i d e d i n t o a p a r t m e n t s , that n o w f o r m e d t h e A n a b l e a b o d e . W i t h n o b r o t h e r s o r sisters o r c o n g e n i a l p l a y m a t e s to divert h i m with t h e usual c h i l d h o o d activities, A n a b l e had g r o w n u p w i t h o n l y t h e m e m o r i e s a n d dust o f t h e past to o c c u p y h i s i m a g i n a t i o n . A v o r a c i o u s reader, h e h a d m a s t e r e d t h e f a m i l y l i b r a r y with its shelves o f m o u l d y E s s e x C o u n t y hist o r i e s and o t h e r q u a i n t , a n t i q u e v o l u m e s . A n a b l e s o m e t i m e s s p o k e w i s t f u l l y to m e o f s o m e d a y r e c o v e r i n g the f a m i l y m a n s i o n

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r e s t o r i n g it to a s e m b l a n c e o f that d e p a r t e d g l o r y o f his f o r e b e a r s . Alas, t h a t shall n e v e r be! A n a b l e d e t e s t e d cats, a n d in h i s y o u t h used to t h r o w r o c k s a t a n y feline s o foolish a s to p r o w l i n t o the A n a b l e b a c k y a r d and w a n d e r w i t h i n r a n g e . H e also h a t e d ice c r e a m , a m a z i n g a s it m a y s e e m t h a t a n y o n e c o u l d b e c o m e n a u s e o u s at e v e n the slightest t a s t e o f this u n i versally loved treat. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , s t a u n c h New E n g l a n d e r t h a t h e was, A n a b l e a d o r e d s e a f o o d — l o b s t e r , c l a m s , fried o r s t e a m e d , m u s s e l s with butter, c o d , s c r o d , sole, f l o u n d e r o r h a d d o c k , c h o w d e r o f t h e B o s t o n variety, h e relished t h e m all. In h i s d e v o t i o n to this v i s i o n o f a purer, h a p p i e r past, h e h a d , with t h e a d v e n t o f his t e e n s a n d less p a r e n t a l s u p e r v i s i o n , b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y d r a w n to t h e c o u n t r y s i d e b e y o n d A r k h a m — t o t h e p i n e , m a p l e , and b i r c h forest t h a t c o v e r s t h e u n d u l a n t , r a v i n e - i n t e r s e c t e d hills a s far as the s p a r s e l y p o p u l a t e d r e g i o n s o f the u p p e r M i s k a t o n i c valley. It had b e e n o n e x t e n d e d w a l k s t h r o u g h the w o o d s that A n a b l e had felt his m o s t exquisite and p o i g n a n t s e n s a t i o n s o f w o n d e r and a d v e n t u r o u s e x p e c t a n c y — c a u g h t especially a t s u n s e t in the vista o f g o l d e n r o o f s o f the t o w n laid o u t b e l o w . T h a t s p r i n g A n a b l e t o o k m e to h i s favorite s p o t f o r v i e w i n g A r k h a m and its s u n s e t e f f e c t s — S a t a n ' s Ledge, an o u t c r o p p i n g o f sedim e n t a r y r o c k o n o n e o f the h i g h e r hillsides ( p a r t o f a vast t r a c t o f p u b l i c l a n d ) , w e l l - n i g h i n a c c e s s i b l e f r o m t h e A r k h a m d i r e c t i o n save f o r a difficult a s c e n t u p its steep s l o p e t h r o u g h u n c o m m o n l y t h i c k v e g e t a t i o n . B e l i e v i n g m e n o t u p to the s t r e n u o u s c l i m b , A n a b l e s u g gested that we r i d e the B o l t o n b u s w h i c h d r o p s o f f p a s s e n g e r s d u r i n g w a r m m o n t h s a t a r o a d s i d e p i c n i c a r e a o n the w e s t w a r d f r i n g e o f t h e hill, where t h e s l o p e is c o n s i d e r a b l y g e n t l e r . F r o m this p i c n i c a r e a t h e ledge w a s b u t a walk o f a h a l f m i l e a l o n g a w e l l - m a r k e d p a t h .

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I n d e e d a s c e n i c v i e w p o i n t , Satan's I.edge f o r m e d a level s u r f a c e o f m o d e r a t e e x t e n t , u p o n w h i c h rested g r a n i t e b o u l d e r s a r r a n g e d in a d i s t u r b i n g l y s y m m e t r i c a l p a t t e r n — o n e that n o r e t r e a t i n g ice s h e e t was likely to have left, in my o p i n i o n . Peculiar i d e o g r a p h s ,

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b a d l y e r o d e d , were g r a v e n o n t h e s e i m p o s i n g r o c k s — n o d o u b t t h e w o r k o f the v a n i s h e d I n d i a n s . E t h n o g r a p h e r s had c o n j e c t u r e d t h e m to be o f c a b a l i s t i c o r m a g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , A n a b l e i n f o r m e d m e , b u t w h o c o u l d say for s u r e with s o f e w d i s c e r n i b l e d e t a i l s . A n a l o g u e s are to b e f o u n d o n r o c k s in t h e r e m o t e m o u n t a i n r e g i o n s o f V e r m o n t a n d M a i n e a n d in t h e d e c a d e n t hill c o u n t r y a r o u n d D u n w i c h . At the e n d o f t h e s c h o o l year in J u n e , o u r f r i e n d s h i p

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A n a b l e asked m e if I cared to s h a r e l o d g i n g s with h i m f o r s o p h o m o r e year. " I ' v e n o t i c e d , W i n s o r , " he b e g a n , a s w e sat in t h e Ratty, t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e r e f e c t o r y , o v e r c o f f e e ( h i s heavily l a d e n w i t h s u g a r as w a s h i s c u s t o m ) , " t h a t you're a fairly sensitive fellow. I t h i n k you're s o m e o n e w h o u n d e r s t a n d s , w h o s y m p a t h i z e s . Living with m y m o t h e r and f e e b l e o l d g r a n d m o t h e r w h i l e g o i n g t o c o l l e g e I've f o u n d 'restrictive,' to say the least. It's t i m e I g o t o u t o n my o w n , a n d I d o n ' t m e a n i n t o o n e o f t h e h i d e o u s d o r m i t o r i e s w i t h t h e h e r d . I'd like a c o m p a n i o n — partly for

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r e a s o n s I a d m i t — w h o ' d b e willing to g o halves

with m e o n a p l a c e . " Y o u see, W i n s o r , I feel I ' m o n t h e verge o f m a k i n g a 'rift in t h e h o r i z o n ' s wall,' s o to s p e a k — b u t just w h e r e o r h o w I c a n n o t b e g i n to tell, let a l o n e e x p l a i n t o y o u . It h a s s o m e t h i n g to d o with t h e s e n s e o f a d v e n t u r o u s e x p e c t a n c y t h a t h i t s m e o n o c c a s i o n w h e n e v e r I view s c e n e s o f p a r t i c u l a r a e s t h e t i c a p p e a l , s u c h as o l d g a r d e n s , a n t i q u e h a r b o r s , o r G e o r g i a n steeples t o p p e d w i t h g i l d e d v a n e s . " A n a b l e ' s g r e a t b r o w n eyes g l o w e d , as if h e were g a z i n g at a B u l l f i n c h c u p o l a a n d not at a s t u d e n t c a f e t e r i a . " I ' m a f r a i d that if I b e c o m e t o o a b s o r b e d in m y s e a r c h I m a y lose all s e n s e o f p r o p e r p r o p o r t i o n , a c t rashly. I m a y well n e e d a friend close al h a n d , s o m e o n e s t a b l e w h o s e g o o d j u d g e m e n t I c a n rely o n — a pal s u c h as y o u to p o i n t o u t to m e w h e n I ' m g o i n g astray." F l a t t e r e d by his p r o p o s a l , I w a s n o n e t h e l e s s t a k e n a b a c k b y h i s last c r y p t i c r e m a r k s . M y u n e a s i n e s s m u s t h a v e b e e n o b v i o u s to A n a b l e , for h e s u d d e n l y s h i f t e d b a c k t o t h e m a i n p o i n t . " I ' v e f o u n d d e c e n t f u r n i s h e d r o o m s at 9 7 3 Fiale Street n e a r t h e

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e n d o f t h e t r o l l e y l i n e a t the n o r t h e n d o f t o w n . T h e l o c a t i o n m a y b e far f r o m c a m p u s , b u t t h e t r o l l e y s t o p is j u s t two b l o c k s away. I've b e e n t h e r e o n c e , w h e n I a n s w e r e d t h e ad in the Advertiser.

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lady, M r s . D e l i s i o , w o u l d p r o v i d e m e a l s . I f you're free w e c a n g o take a l o o k r i g h t now." I c o u l d n o t h e l p b u t b e i n t r i g u e d by A n a b l e ' s o f f e r ; here was a u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y to i n c r e a s e o u r i n t i m a c y . His b a f f l i n g c o m m e n t s f o r g o t t e n , I readily a s s e n t e d to e x a m i n e the place. W e d r a i n e d o u r c u p s a n d h e a d e d o u t for t h e t r o l l e y s t o p in f r o n t o f M i s k a t o n i c Hall. T h e b u i l d i n g a t 9 7 3 Hale Street p r o v e d to b e a s m a l l , e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y c l a p b o a r d h o u s e , w h i c h r e t a i n e d m u c h o f its a n t i q u e c h a r m d e s p i t e its o v e r a l l d i l a p i d a t i o n . I was p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r u c k by t h e isolation o f the address, right at the outskirts o f A r k h a m proper. A stretch o f d r e a r y m a r s h land b o r d e r e d the m o d e s t b a c k y a r d . T h e " u p s t a i r s s u i t e " — t w o b e d r o o m s s e p a r a t e d by a c o m m o n sitt i n g r o o m — w a s c l e a n if b a r e a n d severe, c o n t a i n i n g the basic m i n i m u m o f f u r n i t u r e . F r o m t h e w i n d o w s , w h i c h faced t h e rear, o n e c o u l d l o o k o u t o v e r t h e a c r e s o f m a r s h to w h e r e the w o o d e d hillsides rose, brilliant with s p r i n g g r e e n — a n d to S a t a n ' s Ledge, w h i c h A n a b l e p o i n t e d o u t to m e , j u s t v i s i b l e as a g r a y p r o t u b e r a n c e . T h e p r i c e M r s . D e l i s i o c i t e d was o n l y t o o r e a s o n a b l e , a n d w e s i g n e d a year's l e a s e o n t h e s p o t . M r s . D e l i s i o , a n e l d e r l y widow, s e e m e d glad to have e n g a g e d two Yankee boys as l o d g e r s . A n a b l e a n n o u n c e d h i s i n t e n t i o n o f t a k i n g u p r e s i d e n c e f o r the s u m m e r , a g r e e i n g t o p a y the w h o l e r e n t u n t i l I j o i n e d h i m in the fall. H e said t h a t his m o t h e r would probably disapprove, but there was nothing she c o u l d d o . H e r p o l i c y had n e v e r b e e n to o p p o s e h i m w h e n h e w a s a d a m a n t e n o u g h in his w i s h e s — w i t h i n c e r t a i n limits. B e s i d e s , h e had r e c e n t l y s e c u r e d a j o b s t a m p i n g a n d a d d r e s s i n g e n v e l o p e s and d o i n g o t h e r petty tasks f o r a local b o o k s e l l e r , a n d t h u s h e figured h e c o u l d a l m o s t c o v e r this n e w e x p e n s e with his s u m m e r e a r n i n g s .

Ill After t r a n s f e r r i n g m y f e w b e l o n g i n g s to o u r n e w q u a r t e r s o n Hale Street a n d h e l p i n g A n a b l e m o v e h i s p o s s e s s i o n s t h e r e , I r o d e t h e B. & M . h o m e to B o s t o n , n o t e x p e c t i n g t o r e t u r n to A r k h a m u n t i l S e p t e m b e r . I l i n g e r e d briefly a t o u r r e s i d e n c e o n n a r r o w , c o b b l e d

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A c o r n S t r e e t , b e f o r e r e p a i r i n g w i t h m y f a m i l y to o u r h o u s e in W e s t C h o p , o n the island o f M a r t h a ' s V i n e y a r d , f o r t h e s u m m e r . After t h e a c a d e m i c r i g o r s o f t h e past year a t M i s k a t o n i c , I l o o k e d forward to t h e idle m o n t h s o f s a i l b o a t r a c i n g , t e n n i s playing, a n d s u n b a t h i n g . A p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t e e r j o b a t t h e D u k e s C o u n t y H i s t o r i c a l Society, c o n d u c t i n g t o u r s at t h e v e n e r a b l e R i c h a r d C . N o r t o n " R e a d i n g R o o m , " w o u l d f o r m m y e x c u s e f o r useful e m p l o y m e n t . M y father's harpsic h o r d f a c t o r y in C a m b r i d g e had thrived m i g h t i l y in r e c e n t years, and h e was in a p o s i t i o n to s p e n d t h e e n t i r e s u m m e r o n t h e island, m u c h to the d e l i g h t o f the rest o f us, leaving his b u s i n e s s to the care o f j u nior partners. A s I settled i n t o the p l e a s a n t r o u t i n e o f h e a l t h y a t h l e t i c a c t i v i t i e s by d a v ( w h e n not a t the m u s e u m ) a n d gala s o c i a l e v e n t s by n i g h t (in particular the weekly dances at the C a s i n o ) , 1 began sending Anable c h e e r y p o s t c a r d s , u r g i n g h i m to c o m e p a y m e a visit. H i s staying in t h a t s t u f f y a p a r t m e n t all s u m m e r , p u r s u i n g h i s e s o t e r i c r e s e a r c h e s in t h e u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y (in b e t w e e n s t u f f i n g e n v e l o p e s a n d his usual r a m b l e s in t h e c o u n t r y s i d e ) , s t r u c k m e in m y a g r e e a b l e e n v i r o n m e n t as m o r e a n d m o r e d u b i o u s . A c h a n g e o f s c e n e , a little " f u n , " w o u l d b e good for m y scholarly friend. T h e s e a c c o u n t s o f m y idyllic e x i s t e n c e elicited a r e s p o n s e f r o m A n a b l e that p l a i n l y revealed to w h a t an a d v a n c e d d e g r e e h e had alr e a d y b e c o m e i m m e r s e d in t h e o f l b e a t h i s t o r i c a l lore h e had m a d e h i s special p r o v i n c e . ( P u z z l e d a t first b y t h e " 1 7 2 8 " a t the head o f t h e letter, I e v e n t u a l l y realized t h a t A n a b l e — a n t i q u a r i a n that h e w a s — affected to d a t e his c o r r e s p o n d e n c e two h u n d r e d years e a r l i e r . ) H e r e is the c o m p l e t e text. 2 6 June 1728 M y dear W i n s o r : — H o w infinitely g r a t i f y i n g to h e a r from y o u o f y o u r tenn i s a n d d a n c i n g , a n d I d o a p p r e c i a t e y o u r invitation t o c o m e j o i n you in said f r i v o l o u s d i v e r s i o n s . Q u i t e frankly, however, in light o f a n e x c i t i n g d e v e l o p m e n t

here, I am afraid I

haven't the t i m e to i n d u l g e in s u c h t h i n g s . I t h i n k y o u ' l l u n d e r s t a n d w h e n you a b s o r b w h a t I say below. W h i l e you've b e e n b u r n i n g in t h e s u n ( b y t h e way, I

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d o n ' t c a r e t o t a n ) , I've m a d e an i m p o r t a n t d i s c o v e r y . Y o u m a y r e m e m b e r I told y o u that I i n t e n d e d to read all t h e m a terial available a t t h e l i b r a r y o n t h o s e q u e e r I n d i a n i d e o g r a p h s at S a t a n ' s Ledge? ( O f c o u r s e , I a l r e a d y k n e w t h e general b a c k g r o u n d — b u t , I m u s t confess, I was rather weak o n the m o r e r e c e n t h i s t o r y o f t h e f o r m a t i o n . P o s t - C i v i l W a r h i s t o r y has n e v e r really i n t e r e s t e d m e . ) Well, in t h e c o u r s e o f d i g g i n g t h r o u g h the stacks, I c a m e a c r o s s a v e r y c u r i o u s m o n o g r a p h , " S a t a n and H i s W o r k s in L a t t e r - D a y N e w E n g l a n d , " p r i n t e d privately in

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C l a r k e o f A r k h a m , c o n c e r n i n g a n o d d religious s e c t that had a s e t t l e m e n t n e a r Satan's L e d g e in t h e latter part o f the last century. Originally a Shaker splinter group, which

Clarke

b e l o n g e d t o , this m o t l e y a s s o r t m e n t o f p i o u s f a n a t i c s c a m e g r a d u a l l y to fall away f r o m o r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n p r a c t i c e s . It s e e m s t h e m o r e l u n a t i c o f t h e m b e g a n to a s s i m i l a t e e l e m e n t s o f the pagan m y t h s s u r r o u n d i n g S a t a n ' s 1-edge f r o m the f e w s u r v i v i n g I n d i a n s in t h e r e g i o n , and t o o k to h o l d i n g c e r e m o n i e s a t the ledge s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y — " i n w h i c h t h e C h r i s t i a n d e i t y had n o p a r t . " M a n y o f the m e m b e r s , several d o z e n m e n o f all ages, were d i m , s t u p i d folk, d e g e n e r a t e f r o m g e n e r a t i o n s o f i n b r e e d i n g . C l a r k e and o t h e r s w h o c o n t i n u e d in t h e p u r e f a i t h w e r e n a t u r a l l y a l a r m e d by this o m i n o u s c o n v e r sion a m o n g a sizeable portion o f the c o m m u n i t y . T h e apost a t e s g r e w in n u m b e r , a s it d e v o l v e d t h a t s o m e h o w

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g o d s o r " O l d O n e s , " w h i c h t h e y c a l l e d by t h e e x o t i c n a m e s o f " A z a t h o t h , " " N y a r l a t h o t e p , " " Y o g - S o t h o t h , " and " C t h u l h u " ( " a g e n t s o f t h e d e v i l " to C l a r k e ) , w e r e m o r e r e c e p t i v e to their worship than the aloof-from-the-petty-affairs-of-men t r a d i t i o n a l G o d . At last, with the d e f e c t i o n o f t h e c h i e f m i n ister, l o h n G . H a r t n e t t , to t h e n e w " C t h u l h u c u l t , " a s it b e c a m e k n o w n , they b e g a n t o p r a c t i c e the b l a s p h e m o u s faith m o r e o p e n l y , u s i n g the i d e o g r a p h s a p p a r e n t l y to aid

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" c a l l i n g d o w n f r o m the s k y " s o m e m y s t e r i o u s e n t i t y which C l a r k e g u a r d e d l y refers to as " t h e m a d n e s s o u t o f s p a c e . " D u r i n g c e r t a i n t i m e s o f secret w o r s h i p a t n i g h t a m o n g t h e degenerates, Clarke could detect a horribly foul o d o u r e m a -

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n a t i n g f r o m i h e d i r e c t i o n o f i h e ledge, a l o n g with a m u t e d w h i t e g l o w in t h e a t m o s p h e r e a b o v e i t — b u t h e n e v e r tried t o w i t n e s s t h e s e repulsive c e r e m o n i e s f o r himself. W h e n fin a l l y the s i t u a t i o n b e c a m e i n t o l e r a b l e , C l a r k e , as l e a d e r o f t h e f e w m e m b e r s r e m a i n i n g t r u e to t h e o r i g i n a l faith, o r g a n i z e d his f o l l o w e r s into a c a m p a i g n to s u p p r e s s t h e heresy. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , a t this p o i n t in his h i t h e r t o d e t a i l e d n a r r a tive, h e b e c o m e s v a g u e , h i n t i n g m e r e l y that a f t e r a " g r e a t trial," in w h i c h h e and his m e n had to r e s o r t to m e a n s d e rived f r o m the u n c l e a n r i t u a l s o f t h e C t h u l h u i s t s — a n d w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f selected A r k h a m t o w n o f f i c i a l s — t h e y s u c c e e d e d in e r a d i c a t i n g t h e evil. H e is s p e c i f i c a b o u t a " c a t a clysm o f G o d " o c c u r r i n g on O c t o b e r 3 1 , 1 8 7 8 , which utterly d e s t r o y e d the C t h u l h u c u l t — a fire t h a t s w e p t the s e t t l e m e n t and burned t o the g r o u n d every dwelling (tents and

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s h a c k s ) . M o s t p e r i s h e d in t h e c o n f l a g r a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g H a r t n e t t , t h e f e w s u r v i v o r s s c a t t e r i n g i n t o o b l i v i o n . C l a r k e retired to A r k h a m , a b a d l y s h a k e n m a n , b u t his s o l i d f a i t h a l o n g with t h e h e l p o f an alienist, as h e c a n d i d l y a d m i t s , s u s t a i n e d h i m . H e w a r n s o t h e r s o f the d a n g e r s o f d e v i a t i o n f r o m C h r i s t i a n i t y , c l o s i n g w i t h a long, p e d a n t i c s e c t i o n e x t o l l i n g t h e v i r t u e s o f t h e C o n g r e g a t i o n a l C h u r c h to w h i c h in the end he converted. C l a r k e is r e a s o n a b l y p r e c i s e a b o u t the l o c a t i o n o f t h e c o m m u n i t y , and I ' m c o n f i d e n t t h a t I c a n find it s o m e w h e r e t o the west o f Satan's Ledge w h e n I g o l o o k f o r it t o m o r r o w a f t e r w o r k . T h a t fire h e s p e a k s o f m u s t have t h o r o u g h l y eff a c e d the site, s i n c e u n d o u b t e d l y I've passed o v e r it in m y e x p l o r a t i o n a n d n o t n o t i c e d a n y r e m a i n s . I n fifty years t h e forest c a n wholly reclaim a cleared area. I'll lei you k n o w w h a t m y s e a r c h t u r n s u p . U n t i l w e m e e t again, and w i s h i n g y o u l u c k in t h e f o r t h c o m i n g

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c a v a l i e r d i s m i s s a l o f m y i n v i t a t i o n a n d a s p e r s i o n s o n my s u m m e r lifestyle gave w a y to an a m b i v a l e n t s e n s e o f s k e p t i c i s m a n d w o n d e r . T h i s C t h u l h u c u l t b u s i n e s s w a s i n d e e d an i n t r i g u i n g mystery, b u t e v i d e n t l y this T h o m a s C l a r k e was s o m e k i n d o f h a l f - b a k e d r e l i g i o u s c r a n k w h o had m a d e u p m o s t — i f n o t a l l — o f this wild story. ( F u n n y t h a t A n a b l e s e e m e d to a c c e p t t h e n a r r a t i v e a l m o s t at face v a l u e . ) Yet, e v e n if the e l e m e n t o f t r u t h was s m a l l , here was a p e c u l i a r h i s t o r i c a l f o o t n o t e o f t h e s o r t to satisfy A n a b l e ' s l o n g i n g for t h e

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1 July 1 7 2 8 Winsor:— Eureka! S u c c e s s ! F o r g i v e this u n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o u t b u r s t o f e l a t i o n , b u t truly m a r v e l g r o w s u p o n m a r v e l . I've d i s c o v ered w h a t I believe is t h e f o r m e r c u l t site. I'll c o n c e d e m y c o n c l u s i o n isn't based o n a n y d i r e c t e v i d e n c e , for I f o u n d n o c h a r r e d r e l i c s — r a t h e r in a part o f t h e w o o d s a q u a r t e r - m i l e n o r t h w e s t o f Satan's Ledge, w h e r e the trees are relatively sparse, t h e r e s t a n d s a m a k e s h i f t hovel, w h i c h c o u l d

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h a v e b e e n e r e c t e d w i t h i n the last c o u p l e o f w e e k s . 1 c a n tell s o m e o n e is living in it f r o m the r o u g h m a t and s t o r e o f s u p plies i n s i d e . N o , I haven't m e t its i n h a b i t a n t . B u t I've c a u g h t g l i m p s e s o f h i m , an e l d e r l y m a n in tattered, n o n d e s c r i p t g a r m e n t s , in

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h a m l o help m e r u n Ihis fellow to g r o u n d ? I f w e c o u l d o n l y t a l k lo h i m I s u s p e c t h e c o u l d tell u s a f a s c i n a t i n g s t o r y o r t w o a b o u t t h e ledge and t h e i d e o g r a p h s a n d , w h o k n o w s , p e r h a p s t h e cult. S u r e l y a f t e r the 4 t h c e l e b r a t i o n s W e d n e s d a y y o u c o u l d t a k e s o m e t i m e o f f . Possibly t h i s c o m i n g w e e k e n d ? A n x i o u s l y a w a i t i n g y o u r reply, I a m Yr. S e r v t . H . I r e a c t e d to this s e c o n d l e t t e r f r o m A n a b l e , received o n the 3 r d , with a g r e a t d e a l o f c o n f u s i o n . W h e r e b e f o r e h e h a d s i m p l y o u t l i n e d a fanciful if d i s q u i e t i n g s t o r y f r o m a p a m p h l e t in a library, n o w h e had v e n t u r e d i n t o t h e p h y s i c a l reality o f the A r k h a m w o o d s and f o u n d a real m y s t e r y — a n i n n o c u o u s o n e o n the s u r f a c e to m y m i n d a n d yet a t o u c h sinister, if o n e c o u l d credit t h e C l a r k e m o n o g r a p h a t all. R e l u c t a n t to m i s s t h e F i r e m a n ' s B a l l in E d g a r t o w n o n S a t u r d a y n i g h t b u t eager to assist m y f r i e n d , I wired h i m to say that h e c o u l d e x p e c t m e T h u r s d a y , with t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a t I h a d to b e b a c k o n t h e island b y t h e e v e n i n g o f t h e 7 t h . I d e p a r t e d t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e 5 t h , a successful F o u r t h o f July race series b e h i n d m e . U p o n m y arrival A n a b l e i m p a t i e n t l y r u s h e d t h r o u g h t h e civilities a n d d e s c r i b e d his plan to m e . W e w o u l d get u p b e f o r e d a w n , t h e i d e a b e i n g t h a t o u r c h a n c e s o f c a t c h i n g the i n h a b i t a n t o f t h e hovel were b e t t e r t h e e a r l i e r w e r e a c h e d the site. A n inveterate n i g h t o w l w h o s e n a t u r a l t e n d e n c y was to s t a y u p to t h r e e o r f o u r in the m o r n i n g and t h e n sleep well past n o o n , A n a b l e was g r a t e f u l f o r m y p r e s e n c e if o n l y to e n s u r e his w a k i n g u p a t the a p p o i n t e d h o u r . A c c o r d i n g l y , we set t h e a l a r m for 5 a . m . and retired. A n a b l e w a s glad I had b e e n e x e r c i s i n g regularly, s i n c e we w o u l d b e a p p r o a c h i n g t h e ledge by t h e s t e e p r o u t e . A s I w a s w e a r ) ' f r o m traveling m u c h o f t h e d a y — b y ferry, by m o t o r c o a c h , a n d b y t r a i n — I fell a s l e e p i n s t a n t l y o n the b e d m y c h u m had t h o u g h t f u l l y m a d e u p f o r m e . T h e n e x t m o r n i n g a f t e r a breakfast o f c o f f e e a n d c r a c k e r s and c h e e s e ( s t a n d a r d fare f o r A n a b l e ) , w e stole s i l e n t l y f r o m the h o u s e in the h a l f - l i g h t o f a n a l r e a d y w a r m i s h d a y a n d g o i n g a b l o c k east h i t R o u t e 127, the m a i n n o r t h - s o u t h road t h a t follows t h e c o a s t o f t h e N o r t h S h o r e . At this p o i n t in its s i n u o u s c o u r s e , just n o r t h o f A r k h a m , 127 s w i n g s to t h e west a n d r u n s t h r o u g h an u n p o p u l a t e d

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s t r e t c h o f w o o d s , b o r d e r e d by salt m a r s h e s o n its e a s t e r n fringes. ( T h o u g h S a t a n ' s L e d g e w a s o n l y a b o u t a m i l e - a n d - a - h a l f away as t h e c r o w flies f r o m 9 7 3 Hale S t r e e t , t h e s e m a r s h e s p r e v e n t e d u s f r o m r e a c h i n g it directly.) F a r m s had p r o s p e r e d in this r e g i o n as late a s t h e early n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , b u t had g o n e i n t o r a p i d d e c l i n e d u r i n g t h e W a r o f 1 8 1 2 and the succeeding period of e c o n o m i c stagnation. O n e could hardly believe t h a t w h e r e w h i t e p i n e and b i r c h n o w s t o o d o n c e waved fields o f c o r n , b e a n s , t o m a t o e s , and c a r r o t s , a c r e a f t e r a c r e in t h e r o c k y N e w E n g l a n d s o i l . S t o n e walls, in w a n t o f m e n d i n g o r in places s i m p l y h e a p s o f r u b b l e , ran n o w h e r e t h r o u g h t h e trees a n d b r u s h , m u t e test i m o n y to t h e o l d p r o p e r t y l i n e s . W e did n o t k e e p f o r l o n g t o this m a i n t h o r o u g h f a r e , h o w e v e r , b u t s h o r t l y t o o k a left turn o n t o o n e o f t h e o c c a s i o n a l d i r t r o a d s l e a d i n g i n t o t h e f o r e s t i n t e r i o r . W e m u s t have f o l l o w e d this f o r a c o u p l e o f h u n d r e d yards b e f o r e c o m i n g to a fork, w h e r e A n a b l e selected t h e m o r e o v e r g r o w n p a t h ( f o r it n o l o n g e r c o u l d b e p r o p e r l y c a l l e d a r o a d ) . T h o u g h the b r a n c h e s o f t h e trees w e passed u n d e r b l o c k e d m u c h o f t h e little light t h e r e was, A n a b l e n e v e r faltered a n d s h o w e d n o h e s i t a t i o n in his c h o i c e o f d i r e c t i o n w h e n we e n c o u n t e r e d o t h e r f o r k s in t h e c o u r s e o f o u r j o u r n e y . M i d g e s a n d o t h e r flying i n s e c t s p e s t e r e d us, and w e s w a t t e d at t h e s e w i t h o u t m u c h e f f e c t . As t h e g r o u n d r o s e p e r c e p t i b l y , I s t a r t e d to p e r s p i r e . Finally w e were p i c k i n g o u r way a l o n g w h a t was a t b e s t a f a i n t a n i m a l trail in t h e t h i c k o f t h e w o o d s . All at o n c e a s t e e p s l o p e , m o r e n e a r l y a c c u r a t e l y a cliff, e m e r g e d b e f o r e us and w e b e g a n the p r e c i p i t o u s c l i m b A n a b l e had w a r n e d m e a b o u t . A b o v e l o o m e d the g r a y e m i n e n c e o f Satan's 1-edge. After m a n y m i n u t e s o f t o i l w e s t o o d , p a n t i n g o n the flat s u r f a c e o f the l e d g e . T h e s u n w a s a b o v e t h e h o r i z o n b y this t i m e , a n d we a d m i r e d the v i e w o f A r k h a m b e l o w a n d t h e s e a b e y o n d s h i m m e r i n g in t h e d a w n . A lovely s i g h t , b u t n o t h i n g , a v e r r e d A n a b l e , like its a p p e a r a n c e at s u n s e t . Before showing m e the new ideographs and c h e c k i n g for any m o r e r e c e n t c a r v i n g , A n a b l e p o i n t e d o u t in disgust t h e " s i g n s " t h a t o t h e r , u n d e s i r a b l e t y p e s ( c e r t a i n l y n o t o u r m a n ) had left to a d v e r t i s e t h e i r visits. D e b r i s littered the r o c k floor; c i g a r e t t e b u t t s , p a p e r w r a p -

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p e r s , a b e e r b o t t l e o r two, a n d — u p o n part o f t h e ledge c o v e r e d by a s m o o t h layer o f soft e a r t h o r h u m u s — s e v e r a l f l a t t e n e d , t r a n s l u c e n t b a l l o o n s with wide m o u t h s , r e s e m b l i n g t h e hydra o r s o m e

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p r i m i t i v e m a r i n e a n i m a l . ( I had n o t i c e d this s a m e p e c u l i a r d e t r i t u s w a s h e d in great n u m b e r s o n M a r t i n ' s B e a c h n e a r G l o u c e s t e r , w h e r e m y f a m i l y used to s u m m e r in t h e days p r i o r to o u r a c q u i r i n g t h e Vineyard house.) W e s u r v e y e d this s o r r y s p e c t a c l e b u t f o r a m o m e n t b e f o r e A n a b l e d i r e c t e d my a t t e n t i o n to w h a t w a s o f p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e . O n great, m o s t e a s t e r l y b o u l d e r s t o o d o u t f o u r r o w s o f b i z a r r e

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s e q u e n c e o f a l i e n h i e r o g l y p h i c s w h o s e o u t l i n e s v a g u e l y suggested o d d a n i m a l f o r m s r a t h e r t h a n a b s t r a c t c h a r a c t e r s . T h e s e i n c i s e d figu r e s , e a c h six i n c h e s o r s o in h e i g h t , p r o v e d o n c l o s e r i n s p e c t i o n to b e h i g h l i g h t e d b y a d u l l i s h red p i g m e n t g r o u n d i n t o t h e c o n t o u r s . T h e y r a n r o u g h l y in h o r i z o n t a l lines, a b o u t a d o z e n to e a c h line, a s r e g u larly a s t h e i r r e g u l a r s u r f a c e o f t h e g r a n i t e a l l o w e d . A n a b l e c a l c u l a t e d t h a t t h e y had b e e n c r e a t e d o v e r a p e r i o d o f t w o weeks, at the r a t e o f t h r e e o r f o u r a dav. O r i g i n a l , w o r n figures had b e e n c a r v e d o v e r to f o r m a k i n d o f p a l i m p s e s t . O t h e r b o u l d e r s had m a n y fewer i n s c r i b e d m a r k i n g s , we n o t e d . O n c e I had satisfied m y s e l f with m y first v i e w o f t h e s e a s t o n i s h i n g glyphs, A n a b l e led m e d e e p e r i n t o the trees in a n o r t h w e s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n . N a t u r e w a s v e r ) ' m u c h e v i d e n t at this h o u r — a

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h i g h . P e e r i n g c a u t i o u s l y inside, we s a w a t a r p a u l i n a n d b l a n k e t s , a s m a l l c u p b o a r d , an ax, and o t h e r c a m p i n g g e a r . A pile o f a s h e s and b l a c k e n e d w o o d c i r c l e d b y s t o n e s in f r o n t b e s p o k e t h e r e m a i n s o f a fire. N e a r b y o n t h e g r o u n d rested a c h i s e l and m a l l e t , plus a stick o f red c h a l k . " H e l l o , y o u n g fellers," c r i e d a h e a r t y v o i c e . " U p k i n d o f early, a i n ' t you, f o r a n a t u r e w a l k ? " W e b o t h t u r n e d a r o u n d a t o n c e to o b s e r v e , c o m i n g o u t o f a p i n e c o p s e a b o u t fifteen yards to o u r right, a s h o r t , t h i c k l y b u i l t , eld e r l y m a n — s m i l i n g at us a n d tugging a t h i s p a n t s . H e w o r e w h a t a m o u n t e d t o a s u i t o f e a r t h - c o l o r e d rags, and m o r e t h a n a t o u c h o f r e d n e s s r i m m e d his e y e s , the o n l y part o f h i s f a c e v i s i b l e in the great, g r a y m a s s o f h a i r a n d whiskers t h a t c o v e r e d his h e a d . H e r e m i n d e d m e o f the s o r t o f slovenly r u s t i c o n e t r i e d to a v o i d n o t i c i n g l o a f i n g a r o u n d the A r k h a m T r a i l w a y s s t a t i o n . D e s p i t e his d e c r e p i t c l o t h i n g , h e a p p e a r e d to h a v e a r o b u s t p h y s i q u e , a n d s h o w e d n o n e o f t h e falt e r i n g s l o w n e s s o f t h e a g e d as he a d v a n c e d a f e w steps t o w a r d us, t h e n halted. I f not f o r his c h e e r f u l t o n e o f v o i c e a n d i n g r a t i a t i n g m a n n e r , I w o u l d h a v e t h o u g h t h i m a v e r y t h r e a t e n i n g fellow. " W h a t b u s i n e s s h a v e y o u b o y s in this s t r e t c h o f t h e w o o d s ? " h e asked. A n a b l e a n s w e r e d that h e o f t e n t o o k w a l k s in the A r k h a m hills, a n d had d o n e s o m o s t o f h i s life. S h i f t i n g to t h e o f f e n s i v e , m y friend asked in turn w h a t h e w a s d o i n g c a m p i n g in t h e s e p a r t s , a n d w h e t h e r h e had a p e r m i t . " W e l l , m y lad, I m u s t tell you I ' m n o n e w c o m e r to t h i s b e a u t i f u l c o u n t r y , " said h e , l o o k i n g a p p r e c i a t i v e l y a b o u t , " t h o u g h it's b e e n a g o o d m a n y y e a r s s i n c e I set f o o t h e r e — l o n g b e f o r e y o u y o u n g s t e r s were t o d d l i n g a r o u n d n o s i n g i n t o y o u r e l d e r ' s affairs. I was c a m p e d o n this land w h e n a p e r s o n d i d n ' t n e e d a p e r m i t t o set u p a h o u s e . Least w e d i d n ' t b o t h e r with o n e . . . M a y b e t h a t ' s w h y w e had to leave all o f a s u d d e n . " H e c h u c k l e d , e n j o y i n g his private j o k e . A n a b l e a s k e d i f h e had had a n y t h i n g to d o w i t h t h e " S h a k e r " c o m m u n i t y t h a t u s e d to b e l o c a t e d a t this s i t e — a n d was he a r o u n d a t t h e t i m e o f t h e " c a t a c l y s m o f G o d " t h a t had d e s t r o y e d it. " O h , y o u ' v e h e a r d o f that, h a v e you? T h o u g h t f o l k s had h u s h e d t h a t u p ages a g o . N o t s o m e t h i n g p e o p l e in p o l i t e c i r c l e s in A r k h a m w o u l d talk a b o u t , e v e n at t h e t i m e . " A n a b l e said t h a t h e had s t u d i e d t h e C l a r k e m o n o g r a p h , " S a t a n

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a n d H i s W o r k s in L a t t e r - D a y N e w E n g l a n d , " and persisted in h i s questioning. " S o y o u ' v e read that p a c k e t o f lies t h a t p a r s i m o n i o u s prig s l a n d e r e d o u r m e m o r y with

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I say m o r e , w h o b e you? A n d w h o b e y o u r q u i e t f r i e n d ? " M y comrade introduced himself as Howard Wentworth Anable o f A r k h a m , M a s s a c h u s e t t s , a n d m e as h i s fellow M i s k a t o n i c s t u d e n t , E. Phillips W i n s o r . D i d I d e t e c t a h a p p y g l e a m in t h e o l d m a n ' s eye, an a b r u p t p e r k i n g up, at t h e m e n t i o n o f A n a b l e ' s n a m e ? " G l a d to m e e t y o u , M r . A n a b l e , M r . W i n s o r , " h e said, n o d d i n g to e a c h o f us, with a c e r t a i n m o c k d e f e r e n c e . W i t h a n e n t h u s i a s m lacki n g b e f o r e h e said, " H a r p e r is m y n a m e . Jay H a r p e r . " I w a s g r a t e f u l to b e at a d i s t a n c e , as I h a d n o desire t o s h a k e t h e paw o f this u n k e m p t vagabond. " Y e h , I did b e l o n g to t h e s e c t . I w a s a y o u t h t h e n , n o t m u c h o l d e r t h a n y o u b o y s . I n ' 7 6 it was. M y p e o p l e , they c o m e f r o m far u p t h e v a l l e y — o f g o o d s o u n d s t o c k , m i n d y o u . M y g o v e r n o r p r a c t i c e d law w h e n h e wasn't r u n n i n g the g e n e r a l s t o r e — s e n t m e to Yale C o l l e g e f o r a spell, b u t Yale a n d m e d i d n ' t hit it o f f and s o w e p a r t e d c o m p a n y . " I had a h a n k e r i n g to w a n d e r , a n d c a m e to A r k h a m s i n c e I heard t h e m i l l s n e e d e d s t r o n g , h e a l t h y c h a p s like m e . B u t I g u e s s I was t o o late, ' c a u s e 1 c o u l d n ' t find a j o b r i g h t away. In t h e m e a n t i m e , I b e c a m e f r i e n d l y w i t h s o m e o f t h e m e m b e r s o f this religious c o m m u n i t y in t h e hills w h o said it was o k a y f o r m e to m a k e m y h o m e w i t h t h e m — n o t t h a t I was e v e r a d e v o u t c h u r c h g o e r b u t it was a l o t c h e a p e r t h a n staying in l o d g i n g s in t o w n . Later w h e n I g o t a m i l l j o b I k e p t w h e r e I was. I had a w i l d s t r e a k t h e n , and I c a m e to s e e t h a t w h a t t h o s e f o l k s w e r e u p to w a s k i n d o f e x c i t i n g . . . I f t h a t selfr i g h t e o u s b l o c k h e a d T i m C l a r k e h a d n ' t m e d d l e d in b u s i n e s s h e had n o u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f . . . " H a r p e r g l o w e r e d . " S a t a n ' s Ledge, h u h ! C l a r k e with all h i s B i b l e l e a r n i n g c o u l d o n l y figure t h i n g s in C h r i s t i a n t e r m s . W e c a l l e d it b y a m o r e s u i t a b l e n a m e , o f c o u r s e . " H a r p e r s m i l e d wistfully, a d d i n g sadly, " W e l l , i f y o u ' v e read t h a t s t u p i d ' t r e a t i s e ' o f h i s y o u k n o w the u p s h o t . P o o r H a r t n e t t , h e m e a n t n o h a r m . I w a s l u c k y to get away f r o m t h a t b u r n i n g m e s s alive. I w e n t b a c k to D u n w i c h , w h e r e I've w o r k e d e v e r s i n c e f o r W h a t e l e y ' s T r e e S e r v i c e . Never b e e n b a c k to A r k h a m till now." H a r p e r p a u s e d , c a s t i n g his eyes d o w n o n the c h i s e l a n d m a l l e t

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w a i t i n g tor use. A n a b l e asked w h y h e had r e t u r n e d — a n d w h y h e w a s c a r v i n g n e w i d e o g r a p h s — a n d w h a t was their s i g n i f i c a n c e . " N o w , s o n , d o n ' t b e o v e r i n q u i s i t i v e — o n e q u e s t i o n at a t i m e . Let's just say that I ' m i n d u l g i n g m y s e l f in a s h o w o f s e n t i m e n t a l r e m i n i s c e n c e . P r e p a r i n g t h e s t a g e the way we used to b e f o r e p e r f o r m i n g the rituals. I ' m c a r v i n g t h e m f r o m m e m o r y f o r o l d t i m e ' s sake, y o u u n d e r s t a n d . T h e r e ' s n o h a r m in i t — w e w e r e n ' t b o t h e r i n g a n y o n e o u t s i d e t h e c u l t . A s f o r their m e a n i n g , 1 m i g h t tell y o u a n o t h e r t i m e . . . " His t h r o a t y c h u c k l e a l t e r t h i s r e m a r k m a d e m e f l i n c h . " S e e h e r e , lads, m a y b e . . . m a y b e y o u c a n help m e o u t . I f you do, I'll tell y o u s o m e s e c r e t s a b o u t t h e o l d c u l t t h a t f e w p e r s o n s alive t o d a y c o u l d b e g i n to guess at . . . I ' m r u n n i n g l o w o n s u p p l i e s , and w o u l d b e o b l i g e d to y o u if y o u w o u l d b u y m e s o m e g r o c e r i e s . In m y s t a t e I ' m a f r a i d I'd d r a w t o o m u c h u n k i n d l y a t t e n t i o n if I w a s to g o i n t o t o w n myself." H e p u l l e d o u t an o i l y sheet f r o m his j a c k e t , a l o n g with s o m e d o l l a r bills m o r e b r o w n t h a n g r e e n . " H e r e ' s m y list o f w h a t I n e e d , a n d to s h o w y o u h o w m u c h 1 trust y o u b o y s " — h e was l o o k i n g s t r a i g h t a t A n a b l e — " I ' m g i v i n g you t h e m o n e y now, n o c o l l a t eral. D o this f o r m e and c o m e b a c k h e r e in a few d a y s a n d I p r o m i s e I'll tell y o u s o m e tales I t h i n k y o u ' d like to h e a r . . . . " S o saying, h e passed t h e bills to A n a b l e , w h o n o d d e d in a p p a r e n t a s s e n t . lay H a r p e r r e t r i e v e d his chisel a n d m a l l e t , a l o n g with h i s red c h a l k s t i c k , and e s c o r t e d u s b a c k to the ledge, e x p l a i n i n g t h a t h e c o u l d o n l y get his w o r k d o n e t h e r e at o d d h o u r s — w h e n s n o o p s like ourselves were n o t a r o u n d to d i s t u r b h i m . " O u r m y s t e r i o u s c h a r a c t e r - c a r v e r s h o u l d reveal a t h i n g o r two o f real interest, I t h i n k , " d e c l a r e d A n a b l e as w e c l a m b e r e d g i n g e r l y d o w n t h e s l o p e . " D o e s n ' t s e e m to b e a d a n g e r o u s sort e i t h e r — t h o u g h I w a s glad to have you s t a n d i n g by, W i n s o r . M y i m p u l s e is to help o u t t h e o l d geezer, b u y h i m his g r o c e r i e s . T o o b a d you can't stay a r o u n d to see f o r y o u r s e l f w h a t h a p p e n s . " M y r e a c t i o n to o u r m e e t i n g w i t h this q u e e r hill p e r s o n w a s s o m e w h a t less e n t h u s i a s t i c t h a n m y c o m p a n i o n ' s . W h e n I told h i m so, h e s i m p l y l a u g h e d a n d d i s m i s s e d m e as an o l d m a i d . At m y d e p a r t u r e for A r k h a m the n e x t m o r n i n g , A n a b l e r e n e w e d h i s v o w to a p p r i s e m e o f f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t s . M a k i n g t h e r i g h t c o n n e c t i o n s , I was b a c k o n t h e island in s u f f i c i e n t t i m e to a t t e n d t h e F i r e m a n ' s Ball.

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A m o n t h passed b e f o r e I heard f r o m A n a b l e a g a i n , a l o n g e r i n t e r n í t h a n I m i g h t have e x p e c t e d in view o f h i s eager a n t i c i p a t i o n o f r e v e l a t i o n s t o c o m e w h e n I left h i m . Had t h e o l d ruffian d i s a p p e a r e d o n h i m ? O r had H a r p e r ' s tales t u r n e d o u t to b e s o d i s a p p o i n t i n g t h a t A n a b l e w a s a s h a m e d to r e p o r t o n t h e m to m e ? In a n y e v e n t , this H a r p e r c h a r a c t e r was c l e a r l y a d e m e n t e d fool w h o w a s n o t to b e relied u p o n as far as I w a s c o n c e r n e d . A n a b l e ' s l e t t e r ( d a t e d n o r m a l l y for o n c e ) read a s f o l l o w s : August 8 , 1 9 2 8 M y dear W : — P a r d o n t h e delay, b u t I've b e e n s o a b s o r b e d in m a t t e r s h e r e that I've n o t b e e n able to c o n c e n t r a t e l o n g e n o u g h to w r i t e e v e n the briefest n o t e . B e t w e e n the n e c e s s a r y d r u d g e r y o f l i c k i n g e n v e l o p e s at D a w b e r & P y n e and m y c o n f e r e n c e s with H a r p e r , I've h a r d l y had a m o m e n t to e a t o r s l e e p ! L e t m e b e g i n by a s s u r i n g y o u t h a t o u r forest f r i e n d has p r o v e d i n f o r m a t i v e b e y o n d m y wildest i m a g i n i n g s . I r e t u r n e d w i t h t h e g r o c e r i e s two days a f t e r o u r initial e n c o u n t e r , t a k i n g the m o r e r o u n d a b o u t

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s t r u c k m e that A n a b l e m i g h t b e l o s i n g sight o f reality. H i s a c c o u n t o f h i s servility to H a r p e r served t o c o n f i r m m y d i s t r u s t o f that s c r u f f y c r e a t u r e . W h e n 1 w r o t e A n a b l e b a c k , I t o l d h i m as politely a s p o s s i b l e t h a t I d i s a p p r o v e d o f H a r p e r a n d t h a t he o u g h t t o k e e p away f r o m h i m . In reply I g o t a s h o r t n o t e from A n a b l e , p e r v a d e d b y a w o u n d e d , d e f e n s i v e t o n e , s a y i n g t h a t I was r e g a r d i n g the s i t u a t i o n in the w r o n g w a y a n d w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d b e t t e r w h e n h e c o u l d e x p l a i n t h i n g s to m e f a c e to face in t h e fall. T h e r e m a i n d e r o f the s u m m e r passed p l e a s a n t l y for m e . II c u l m i n a t e d s p e c t a c u l a r l y in an a l l - n i g h t yawl, Arethusa,

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in m y m e m o r y , I a n t i c i p a t e d t h e r e t u r n to M i s k a t o n i c a n d r e u n i o n with A n a b l e in a gay, t r o u b l e - f r e e m o o d , the very o p p o s i t e o f t h e o n e I had s u n k i n t o a t the t i m e o f receiving his u n s e t t l i n g letter. V T o say that A n a b l e had s u b t l y c h a n g e d by t h e t i m e I a r r i v e d b a c k in A r k h a m

in m i d - S e p t e m b e r w o u l d b e a n u n d e r s t a t e m e n t . As I

s t e p p e d o f f the B . & M . c o a c h a t the s t a t i o n , h e g r e e t e d m e w i t h an e n e r g y a n d e f f u s i v e n e s s that I w a s w h o l l y u n a c c u s t o m e d t o . H i s u s u ally l a n g u i d b r o w n eyes w e r e a n i m a t e d , a l m o s t m i r t h f u l . H e e x h i b ited n o n e o f t h e s o m b e r d e m e a n o r s o c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f h i m , a n d h i s p a c e was q u i c k e r t h a n ever. " G r e a t and w o n d e r f u l t h i n g s a r e in t h e o f f i n g , W i n s o r , " e x c l a i m e d m y b u o y a n t b u d d y a s w e settled o u r s e l v e s o n t h e trolley. " I ' v e g o t t e n to k n o w o u r friend H a r p e r p r e t t y well in a c o u p l e o f m o n t h s . He's really q u i t e a r e s p e c t a b l e f e l l o w — a d e c e n t , m i d d l e - c l a s s Yankee, and a c o l l e g e m a n to b o o t ( a t least h e was f o r a w h i l e ) . A p i t y h e ' s had hard luck. B u t w i t h a f e w c h a n g e s o f c l o t h i n g I've p r o v i d e d h i m — w e l l , it's m a d e a b i g d i f f e r e n c e , as you'll s e e . . . . " A n a b l e p a u s e d a m o m e n t s l i g h t l y e m b a r r a s s e d . " I have to w a r n you, W i n s o r , t h a t I've a l l o w e d H a r p e r lo use y o u r r o o m , t o s t a y o v e r n i g h t f r o m t i m e to t i m e d u r i n g d a m p w e a t h e r . B u t o f c o u r s e n o w that y o u ' r e b a c k , he'll r e t u r n to the w o o d s f o r g o o d . B e s i d e s , h e n o w has company." I looked quizzical. "Yes, o t h e r s have j o i n e d o u r survivor. T h e r e ' r e p r e s e n t l y several

384

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o f h i s f o r m e r c u l l m e m b e r s living o n Ihe o l d site. T h e y , t o o , h a v e h e a r d t h e c a l l — i n i h e i r d r e a m s just as H a r p e r d i d — a n d have g a t h ered f r o m d i s p a r a t e parts o f ihe c o u n t r y . T h e y ' v e set u p a r e g u l a r s m a l l c a m p — n o t h i n g like o n t h e s c a l e o f t h e o r i g i n a l o f c o u r s e . " I watched the houses b e c o m e sparser as we approached ihe end o f t h e line, a n d f o r t h e first t i m e r e g r e t t e d m y d e c i s i o n to m o v e o u t o f the comparative civilization o f the university d o r m s . I was not at ease as w e t r a m p e d ihe s h o r t l e n g t h o f t h e f r o n t walk and m a r c h e d u p i h e stairs to Ihe s e c o n d floor o f 9 7 3 Hale S t r e e t . A s we e n t e r e d t h e sitting r o o m , a g e n t l e m a n arose f r o m t h e s o f a w h o m I did n o t i m m e d i a t e l y r e c o g n i z e as the b e d r a g g l e d i n d i v i d u a l I had m e t in Ihe w o o d s in Ihe s u m m e r . H i s s h o c k o f hair was c o m b e d , a n d his s t u r d y f r a m e was d e c k e d o u t in a clean c h e c k e d s h i r l , d e n i m trousers, and brand new work boots. T h i s time I shook hands with lay H a r p e r . A p p a r e n t l y h e had b e e n r e a d i n g , f o r n e x t to h i m o n t h e e n d l a b l e and o n t h e s o f a i t s e l f were s c a t t e r e d a n u m b e r o f b a t t e r e d , dirty-looking books. " W e l l , H o w a r d , I t h a n k you again f o r l e t t i n g m e read at y o u r p l a c e . F i n e titles t h e s e b o o k s a r e . It'd b e a s h a m e if I had to s t o r e t h e m in Ihe l e e - p e e w h e r e Ihe m o i s i u r e ' d get a t t h e m . G o o d d a y lo y o u b o t h , " said t h e o l d m a n , p i c k i n g u p h i s j a c k e t and s t r i d i n g o u t the door. I glanced down at o n e o f the m o r e m o d e r n volumes o n the sofa a n d s a w that it w a s t h e s h o c k i n g Goblin

Tower

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the Wanderer,

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Tales in t h e M o d e r n L i b r a r y p o c k e t e d i t i o n . N o t i n g m y l o o k o f d i s t a s t e , A n a b l e m a d e a h a l f - h e a r t e d e f f o r t to allay m y w o r r i e s . " W h i l e w o r k i n g a t D a w b e r & P v n e this s u m m e r , " h e b e g a n , " I had t h e c h a n c e t o s e a r c h t h r o u g h their s t o c k o f s e c o n d h a n d b o o k s . A m a z i n g w h a t they kepi lying a r o u n d in dusty c a r t o n s in ihe a t t i c . B e c a u s e o f t h e i r p o o r c o n d i t i o n I w a s a b l e to p i c k t h e m u p f o r a steal. H a r p e r m a d e a few s u g g e s t i o n s o n w h a l to keep m y eye o u t f o r and c h o o s e . H i s k n o w l e d g e o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e in the field is truly p r o f o u n d . I discovered m o r e interesting works than I t h o u g h t existed. They've b e e n a g r e a t help in filling in t h e gaps in t h e d a l a w e c u l l e d f r o m t h e

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Just b e c a u s e a n a u t h o r w r i t e s ' f i c t i o n ' d o e s n ' t m e a n h e

d o e s n ' t p u t s o m e i m p o r t a n t t r u t h s i n t o his b o o k s , w h e t h e r i n t e n tionally or not. " D o n ' t b e a l a r m e d — w e ' r e n o t o u t to d e s t r o y t h e w o r l d , " he said, s m i l i n g . " I t ' s all s i m p l y a p e r s o n a l c o n c e r n t h a t d o e s n ' t a f f e c t a n y b o d y else." I was n o t p e r s u a d e d by t h e s e a r g u m e n t s to d i s a r m m e . I said n o t h i n g , a n d w e n t i n t o m y b e d r o o m t o a r r a n g e m y effects that had b e e n s h i p p e d in a d v a n c e o f m y a r r i v a l . D e s p i t e h i s initial s h o w o f f r i e n d l i n e s s , A n a b l e displayed little i n t e r e s t in m e o r m y affairs in s u c c e e d i n g weeks, i r e s e n t e d this b e h a v i o r , a n d n o w a n d t h e n told h i m he w a s involved in a lot o f r u b b i s h — b u t he c o n t i n u e d to i g n o r e m e . H a r p e r c a m e to the a p a r t m e n t t w i c e in t h e n e x t m o n t h f o r c o n f e r e n c e s with A n a b l e , held in his r o o m with t h e d o o r s h u t . ( H a d t h e r e b e e n a l o c k o n it I have n o d o u b t h e w o u l d h a v e used it.) M y r o o m m a t e m a d e f r e q u e n t trips to t h e v i c i n i t y o f S a t a n ' s L e d g e — o r s o I a s s u m e d , for h e rarely b o t h e r e d to tell m e o f his p l a n s b e f o r e g o i n g o u t . H e n e v e r asked m e to j o i n h i m . W h e n I v e n t u r e d to m e n t i o n m y f e e l i n g s o f e x c l u s i o n , A n a b l e a s s u r e d m e that h e would reveal w h a t h e a n d H a r p e r were u p to a t the appropriate time. I must remain patient. In a n y e v e n t , I had m y c o u r s e w o r k to a b s o r b m e . " E i g h t e e n t h C e n t u r y G o t h i c k Taste in E n g l a n d , " " L i t e r a t u r e o f t h e R e s t o r a t i o n " ( w i t h an e m p h a s i s o n S h a d w e l l ) , " D i f f e r e n t i a l E q u a t i o n s , " a n d " A m e r i c a n T r a n s c e n d e n t a l i s m " ( t a u g h t b y P r o f e s s o r A l b e r t N. W i l m a r t h w h o s t a r t e d t h e class a w e e k late o w i n g , r u m o r had it, to a n u p s e t t i n g , o v e r n i g h t visit to V e r m o n t s h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e t e r m b e g a n ) k e p t m e i m m e r s e d in m y b o o k s f o r l o n g h o u r s . A n a b l e , o n the o t h e r h a n d , s c a r c e l y o p e n e d a text, h i s d u b i o u s c o l l e c t i o n o f t h e w e i r d f o r m i n g h i s c h i e f r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l . H e o f t e n c u t classes, an e v e n i n g c o u r s e in " M e d i e v a l M e t a p h y s i c s " b e i n g the o n l y o n e he a t t e n d e d faithfully. In s u m , he was n o l o n g e r t h e c o n s c i e n t i o u s s t u d e n t o f the p r e v i o u s year. I feared f o r his s c h o l a r s h i p status. At the a p a r t m e n t A n a b l e a l t e r n a t e d b e t w e e n e x t r e m e s o f m o o d s . E i t h e r h e w o u l d s h u f f l e a b o u t in a s t a t e o f s u p p r e s s e d a g i t a t i o n , o r else w o u l d l o u n g e a r o u n d the s i t t i n g r o o m in his d r e s s i n g g o w n , s u n k in lassitude. In this latter c o n d i t i o n h e s e e m e d to b e d a y d r e a m i n g , u t t e r l y o b l i v i o u s o f m e o r his s u r r o u n d i n g s .

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I fell c o m p a s s i o n f o r h i m j u s l o n c e w h e n he a n n o u n c e d t o m e t h a t h i s m o t h e r had had t o sell two o r n a t e l y c a r v e d , J a c o b e a n c h a i r s t h a t had b e e n in the f a m i l y for g e n e r a t i o n s in o r d e r t o b u y a n e w ref r i g e r a t o r . H e m o p e d f o r a week, and I was g e n u i n e l y s o r r y f o r h i m . VI W h e n , o u t o f k i n d n e s s , I asked A n a b l e if h e c a r e d to a c c o m p a n y m e to a H a l l o w e e n p a r t y t h e 3 1 s t , h e s h o o k h i s h e a d . " I a p p r e c i a t e y o u r c o n c e r n f o r my s o c i a l life, W i n s o r , " he a n s w e r e d , " b u t I ' m a f r a i d I ' m g o i n g to b e b u s y w i t h H a r p e r a n d his f r i e n d s t h a t n i g h t . You m i g h t say we have a p a r t y o f o u r o w n to att e n d in o b s e r v a n c e o f the H a l l o w m a s . If it t u r n s o u t as I have e v e r y e x p e c t a t i o n it will, I c a n a s s u r e y o u — a t l o n g last, m y d e a r f e l l o w — o f a complete and satisfactory explanation." O f w h a t A n a b l e did n o t s p e c i f y — a n d I did n o t i n q u i r e f u r t h e r . T h e t r u t h is, I h a d b e c o m e i n t i m i d a t e d b y A n a b l e ' s a c t i o n s . I faced t h e p a i n f u l fact t h a t by n o w h e was n o t in h i s r i g h t m i n d — h e was alr e a d y far g o n e in his i n v o l v e m e n t in t h e s e o u t l a n d i s h pursuits, and it w o u l d d o n o g o o d to c o n f r o n t h i m head o n . R e c a l l i n g his i n j u n c t i o n to m e to help h i m r e t a i n his " s e n s e o f p r o p o r t i o n , " I resolved a t t h a t m o m e n t to g o o n H a l l o w e e n to Satan's L e d g e , w h e r e s u r e l y h e and his unsavory c o m p a n i o n s would be congregating, and observe their g o i n g s - o n in s e c r e t . T h i s w o u l d be a risky b u s i n e s s to be c e r t a i n , b u t I felt given A n a b l e ' s evasiveness that 1 had to o b t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n

first-

h a n d , assess h o w d a n g e r o u s this e v i d e n t l y revived c u l t w a s to h i m . I n o l o n g e r h a d c o n f i d e n c e in h i s p r o m i s e o f r e v e l a t i o n . D u r i n g t h e w e e k p r i o r to the 31st, A n a b l e s p e n t m o r e and m o r e t i m e away f r o m 9 7 3 H a l e S t r e e t , p r e s u m a b l y with his c o m r a d e s in t h e f o r e s t hills. W h e n I r e t u r n e d to t h e a p a r t m e n t a f t e r classes, h e would b e g o n e . I w o u l d b e in b e d a s l e e p b e f o r e h e c a m e b a c k , his closed d o o r in t h e m o r n i n g t h e o n l y i n d i c a t i o n h e h a d d o n e s o . I s a w h i m o n c e o r t w i c e , and t h e n fleetingly. T h e d a y b e f o r e H a l l o w e e n 1 n o t i c e d a b r o w n b a g o n the s i t t i n g r o o m d e s k . A n a b l e m u s t h a v e b r o u g h t it in e a r l i e r t h a t a f t e r n o o n . T h i n k i n g it c o n t a i n e d g r o c e r i e s , I casually l o o k e d i n s i d e . T o m y s u r prise I f o u n d a c u r i o u s a s s o r t m e n t o f c h e m i c a l s in glass j a r s as m i g h t

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b e l o n g to a b o y ' s c h e m i s t r y s e t : u n i o d i z e d salt, s u l p h u r , i r o n

filings,

c o m p o u n d s o f cobalt, m a g n e s i u m , nickel, zinc, a n d mercury. A m o n g his other solitary c h i l d h o o d pastimes, I r e m e m b e r e d Anable o n c e saying that h e had b e e n p a s s i o n a t e l y d e v o t e d to c h e m i s t r y . Was this e v i d e n c e o f a r e s u r g e n c e o f i n t e r e s t in that h o b b y ? Again, I hesitated to a s k . That Wednesday around 3 when I got back from

Miskatonic,

A n a b l e w a s p a c i n g a b o u t t h e sitting r o o m , a s i n t e n s e l y a g i t a t e d a s I had e v e r s e e n h i m . H e s c a r c e l y a c k n o w l e d g e d

my entry. " T h e

d r e a m s , W i n s o r , the m a g n i f i c e n t d r e a m s , " he e x c l a i m e d a n d r u s h e d i n t o his r o o m . A n h o u r later A n a b l e e m e r g e d d r e s s e d in his w o r n w i n t e r c o a t a n d c a r r y i n g h i s sack o f c h e m i c a l s . " P l e a s e b e a r with m e , " h e p l e a d e d , h i s b r o w n eyes b e g g i n g m y u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a s h e ran o u t . F o r a s e c o n d I s o f t e n e d and f o r g o t m y a n n o y a n c e w i t h h i m , o v e r c o m e b y a s u r g e o f p i t y for the fellow. I s h o u l d not really b l a m e A n a b l e f o r his d e p l o r a b l e s t a t e — H a r p e r and his d i s r e p u t a b l e c u l t i s t s were t h e o n e s r e s p o n s i b l e . T h e y had t a k e n in m y u n w o r l d l y f r i e n d with their e l a b o r a t e C t h u l h u m u m b o - j u m b o . I f I c o u l d c a t c h t h e m this n i g h t c a u s i n g h i m any h a r m , psychological o r otherwise, I would b l o w the whistle o n t h e m in a m i n u t e a n d call in the A r k h a m a u t h o r i t i e s . I h a d a l r e a d y c o n f i d e d m y fears to M r s . A n a b l e , w h o agreed t h a t h e r son w a s u n d e r bad influences. Leaving a t d u s k f o r m y party, I d r o v e the m o d e l ) D u e s e n b e r g m y f a t h e r had g i v e n m e f o r m y b i r t h d a y e a r l i e r in t h e m o n t h

into

A r k h a m c e n t e r . A p a p e r b a g with c u t - o u t eyes w o u l d s e r v e m e a s a s i m p l e c o s t u m e . I s p e n t several a g r e e a b l e h o u r s d r i n k i n g c i d e r and b o b b i n g for apples a t t h e Z e t a Psi h o u s e , t h e n set o u t o n t h e s e r i o u s mission o f m y Halloween night. S i n c e it would be h o p e l e s s for m e t o try in the d a r k to f o l l o w t h e forest trail A n a b l e had led m e o n in the s u m m e r , let a l o n e scale t h e steep s l o p e to t h e ledge, I decided to take the m o r e r o u n d a b o u t r o u t e o f m y o r i g i n a l visit there. Besides, n o w that I was in p o s s e s s i o n o f a m o t o r c a r , d i s t a n c e was n o o b s t a c l e . 1 h e a d e d i n l a n d o u t M i s k a t o n i c Avenue, which r u n s a l o n g t h e river, to where it hits t h e B o l t o n Road. T h e m o o n had r i s e n , and t h e b e a m s o f m y h e a d l a m p s i l l u m i n a t e d t h e a u t u m n leaves s w i r l i n g and e d d y i n g in t h e c o l d breeze. A n e x h i l a r a t i n g

415 T H E

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and m a g i c a l air s u f f u s e d t h e l a n d s c a p e . I n h i g h spirits f r o m t h e q u a n tity o f cider I had i m b i b e d , I a p p r o a c h e d this u n c e r t a i n

rendezvous

free o f a n y a p p r e h e n s i o n . It was a l m o s t a lark. M y w a t c h s h o w e d a little past 11 b y t h e t i m e I p a r k e d a t the p i c n i c area. In t h e m o o n l i g h t w i t h f o l i a g e above t h i n n e r t h a n in w a r m e r m o n t h s , I had n o t r o u b l e l o c a t i n g t h e p a t h to Satan's I.edge. I k e p t to this at first, b u t n o t w i s h i n g to e n c o u n t e r possible s e n t i n e l s , I strayed to t h e left a n d b e g a n a c a u t i o u s c i r c l i n g m o v e m e n t t h r o u g h

the

w o o d s , w h i c h w e r e d e n s e e n o u g h to a f f o r d a d e q u a t e c o n c e a l m e n t . I was able t o m a k e m y w a y w i t h a m i n i m u m o f s t u m b l i n g as I w o r k e d u p to g r a d u a l l y h i g h e r g r o u n d . I w a s a c u t e l y a w a r e o f t h e n o i s e s in the b r u s h and t r e e s — t h e rustle o f s w a y i n g b o u g h s , t h e t r i c k l e o f a d i s t a n t s t r e a m , an o w l h o o t , a j a y ' s cry. B u t s o o n I heard a n o t h e r s o u n d , a n u n f a m i l i a r o n e , a s o f t , r h y t h m i c m o a n i n g , as i f the forest itself w a s b r e a t h i n g . A h e a d o f m e I b e g a n to c a t c h g l i m p s e s t h r o u g h t h e b r a n c h e s a n d of

flickering,

undergrowth

b o b b i n g p o i n t s o f l i g h t — b u t it w a s t o o late in t h e

s e a s o n for fireflies. T h e y s e e m e d to b e r e c e d i n g a t t h e s a m e r a t e a s I a d v a n c e d . As I c o n t i n u e d m y slow, u p w a r d p r o g r e s s , 1 realized t h a t t h e s e were

flames—candle

flames.

As 1 a p p r o a c h e d n e a r e r still, I

c o u l d perceive that e a c h c a n d l e w a s held b y a d i m h u m a n f o r m . A h a l f - d o z e n m e n were w a l k i n g in I n d i a n file t o w a r d s Satan's L e d g e — f o r n o w at last in t h e f a i n t light o f t h e m o o n a n d c a n d l e s I c o u l d m a k e o u t the r o u g h , C y c l o p e a n b o u l d e r s o n t h e ledge's i n n e r r i m . I lay d o w n b e h i n d a fallen b i r c h t r u n k a b o u t t h i r t y y a r d s away, n o t d a r i n g to g o closer. T h e group proceeded across the rock

floor

o f the ledge and

a r r a n g e d i t s e l f v e r y d e l i b e r a t e l y in a s e m i - c i r c l e in f r o n t o f a n d f a c i n g t h e g r e a t e a s t e r l y b o u l d e r with its g r a v e n i d e o g r a p h s . F r o m m y l o w v a n t a g e p o i n t I had an u n o b s t r u c t e d view o f this s c e n e . All o f t h o s e in this s t r a n g e p r o c e s s i o n ( t h o u g h I c o u l d o n l y see their b a c k s ) a p p e a r e d t o b e e l d e r l y folk, e x c e p t f o r o n e — f r o m his h u r r i e d , s t o o p i n g gait I c o u l d n o t m i s t a k e A n a b l e . T h e a i r was c u r i o u s l y still o n t h e ledge, t h e flames s t i r r i n g h a r d l y at a l l — a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g w o o d s n o w s e e m e d u n n a t u r a l l y q u i e t , the c o n t i n u o u s , m o n o t o n o u s c h a n t i n g the o n l y s o u n d . A b r u p t l y the c u l t i s t s c r o u c h e d d o w n , b o w e d b e f o r e t h e r o c k . O n e figure r e m a i n e d s t a n d i n g — t h e m a s s o f h a i r a n d b e a r d m a r k e d

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h i m a s H a r p e r . H e m o v e d to t h e c e n t e r o f the s e m i - c i r c l e , set d o w n h i s c a n d l e b y the b o u l d e r ' s base, a n d d r e w f r o m h i s j a c k e t a n o b j e c t t h a t I t h o u g h t a t first w a s t h e m a l l e t — b u t it w a s a pipe, f o r he raised it t o his m o u t h a n d b l e w t h r e e , l o w l o a t h s o m e n o t e s . T h e o t h e r s c e a s e d t h e m o r o n i c c h a n t i n g i n s t a n t l y in r e s p o n s e .

Harper

next

p u l l e d f r o m his j a c k e t a s m a l l , g l i t t e r i n g c o n t a i n e r , a n d s t a r t e d m e t h o d i c a l l y t o m a r c h a r o u n d b e h i n d t h e h u d d l e d g r o u p and s c a t t e r a p o w d e r y s u b s t a n c e f r o m it w i t h his

fingertips.

S o o n e m p t y i n g its

c o n t e n t s , h e w i t h d r e w a n o t h e r a n d repeated the p r o c e s s , a n d s o f o r several j a r s u n t i l h e had covered the l e n g t h o f t h e s e m i - c i r c l e and e n c l o s e d t h e b a n d f r o m o n e edge o f the g r e a t b o u l d e r to the other. T h u s were t h e c h e m i c a l s A n a b l e h a d p u r c h a s e d p u t to use. D o n e with t h i s s e e m i n g l y p o i n t l e s s r i t u a l . H a r p e r r e j o i n e d t h e c o n g r e g a n t s , s q u a t t i n g d o w n with t h e m at o n e e n d o f t h e i r s e m i circle. T h e y t h e n raised t h e i r h e a d s in u n i s o n to t h e r o c k a n d c o m m e n c e d t o p o u r o u t , as i f r e a d i n g t h e b l a s p h e m o u s glyphs,

an

u n c o u t h s t r i n g o f syllables in a l a n g u a g e t h a t n o t o n l y b o r e n o relat i o n to E n g l i s h b u t to n o s a n e h u m a n t o n g u e o n this p l a n e t . "Cthulhu

fhtagn,"

they recited o v e r and over.

W i t h t h e c r y o f "la, la, Shub-Niggurath,"

a n i n d e s c r i b a b l y foetid

o d o r swept d o w n u p o n m e f r o m t h e d i r e c t i o n o f the ledge. I a l m o s t s w o o n e d a s I closed m y eyes in d i s g u s t . M y n a u s e a s t e m m e d n o t o n l y f r o m t h e g h a s t l y s t e n c h itself, b u t from the s u d d e n r e m e m b r a n c e o f A n a b l e ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f c e r t a i n e v e n t s o u t l i n e d in C l a r k e ' s

mono-

graph. Here these crazed c u l t i s t s — a n d m y brash f r i e n d — w e r e reena c t i n g an u n h o l y c e r e m o n y o f the s o r t p r a c t i c e d fifty years a g o o n this s p o t ! I t r e m b l e d , n o l o n g e r t h e b o l d s p y o f a s h o r t t i m e b e f o r e . I had barely m a s t e r e d m y n a u s e a , t h e vile o d o r h a v i n g passed w i t h i n m o m e n t s , w h e n I o p e n e d m y eyes to see, a t o p t h e g r a v e n boulder, a shrouded h u m a n

figure—who

must have scaled the rock

f r o m b e h i n d a n d e m e r g e d in t h e i n s t a n t I had t h e m s h u t . A g r e a t w i n d had s p r u n g u p and w h i s t l e d a n d h o w l e d a r o u n d this a p p a r i t i o n , b l o w i n g his i m m a c u l a t e w h i t e r o b e in b i l l o w s a n d n e a r l y e x t i n g u i s h i n g t h e flames o f the c a n d l e s o f the w o r s h i p p e r s c l u s t e r e d b e l o w h i m . E m a n a t i n g a b r i l l i a n t g l o w o f p u r e s t w h i t e , this l u m i n o u s , lithel i m b e d b e i n g glided d o w n t h e nearly v e r t i c a l g r a n i t e face to the ledge floor,

w h i l e the h i d e o u s glyphs b u r n e d a d a r k red as i f r e f l e c t i n g

h i s r a d i a n c e . I c o u l d c l e a r l y discern his d a z z l i n g f e a t u r e s — h e w a s

390

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s m o o t h - f a c e d , d e l i c a t e l y b o n e d , a n d b o y i s h , w i t h t h e a l m o n d eyes o f a n a n t i q u e p h a r a o h . F r o m h i s c r o w n l u x u r i a n t , silken, g o l d h a i r flowed

as i f e l e c t r i c a l l y c h a r g e d . I w a s m o r e in awe t h a n f r i g h t e n e d —

i n d e e d o v e r c o m e b y the u n e a r t h l y b e a u t y o f t h i s p e r s o n a g e . I w a s transfixed. O n e o f the c r o u c h e d celebrants r o s e — i t was A n a b l e — a n d app r o a c h e d this e x q u i s i t e , g o d - l i k e c r e a t u r e . H a r p e r a n d the rest rem a i n e d p r o s t r a t e . A n a b l e knelt b e f o r e h i m a n d raised his face and c l a s p e d h i s h a n d s in s u p p l i c a t i o n . T h e g o r g e o u s y o u t h b e g a n

to

speak, to m u r m u r to A n a b l e , b u t t h e w i n d had built to s u c h a f r a n t i c p i t c h t h a t I c o u l d catch n o t h i n g , t h o u g h I believe h e w a s u s i n g F.nglish. After c o m m u n i n g w i t h A n a b l e f o r w h a t s e e m e d like a e o n s , h e b e n t o v e r a n d e m b r a c e d a n d e n v e l o p e d m y friend in his w a v e r i n g folds. T h e y blended into o n e writhing, a m o r p h o u s mass, Anable inv i s i b l e in t h e v o l u m i n o u s r o b e — t h e n t h e y a l m o s t p o u r e d b a c k t o t h e g r a v e n r o c k a n d b e g a n effortlessly to a s c e n d its s t e e p face. At this p o i n t I c o u l d e n d u r e it n o l o n g e r . I l u r c h e d f o r w a r d f r o m m y h i d i n g place and ran s c r e a m i n g , " A n a b l e ! O h , H o w a r d ! W a t c h o u t ! " P e r h a p s e m b o l d e n e d by m y liquor, p e r h a p s d r i v e n by s o m e m a d , selfless i n s t i n c t , I h a s t e n e d to t r y to save m y c h u m . D a m n t h e risk! W h a t had I to fear a f t e r all f r o m a h a l f - d o / e n o l d p e o p l e , w h o m I c o u l d fast o u t r u n i f n e e d be? As f o r t h e fragile fellow w h o had s w a l lowed u p m y f r i e n d , I w a s s u d d e n l y o v e r w h e l m e d with r a g e a n d h a t r e d f o r h i m . I d i d n ' t k n o w w h e t h e r to k i s s it o r kill it! All t h a t m a t t e r e d was r e s c u i n g m y c o m p a n i o n f r o m his willowy c l u t c h e s . Incredibly, I s u c c e e d e d in m y i m m e d i a t e a t t e m p t to c a u s e disr u p t i o n . T h e c e l e b r a n t s t u r n e d a r o u n d in b e w i l d e r m e n t , t h e n h u r r i e d to t h e i r feet, e x t i n g u i s h i n g their t a p e r s , a n d raced o f f in p a n i c i n t o t h e w o o d s as 1 c h a r g e d t h e m , b r a n d i s h i n g a s t o u t b i r c h l i m b and wearing m y paper bag mask for added effect. T h e white-robed youth h e s i t a t e d , t h e n l o w e r e d the i n e r t f o r m o f m y f r i e n d gently to t h e r o c k floor,

finally

m o u n t i n g the b o u l d e r again a n d swiftly d i s a p p e a r i n g

o v e r its top e d g e — h e w o u l d have a difficult c l i m b d o w n the s t e e p slope beyond. O n l y H a r p e r o f the fleeing c u l t i s t s p a u s e d . " C u r s e you, boy," h e b e l l o w e d . " Y o u ' v e s p o i l e d his i n i t i a t i o n . W o e b e to you, m y l a d ! " T h e n h e s l i p p e d with t h e rest i n t o the d a r k n e s s . G u i d e d b y t h e m o o n l i g h t , I r u s h e d to w h e r e A n a b l e lay p r o n e o n

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the rock. He was stunned and babbling: " T h e Great Old Ones

...

Cthulhu's Ledge . . . I was s o close . . . Azathoth." Sheer nonsense, o f course. F r i g h t e n e d that the C t h u l h u i s t s m i g h t r e g r o u p a n d c o m e a f t e r u s o n c e r e c o v e r i n g f r o m their s u r p r i s e , 1 h o i s t e d A n a b l e to h i s feet, first a s c e r t a i n i n g t h a t h e w a s in n o p a i n . To m y r e l i e f 1 f o u n d h i m a m b u l a t o r y and was able to lead h i m b y the p a t h q u i c k l y b a c k t o the p i c n i c g r o u n d s a n d t h e s a f e t y o f m y M o d e l J. D u r i n g t h e frenzied drive b a c k to A r k h a m , A n a b l e c o n t i n u e d his wild m u t t e r i n g s . At first i n c o h e r e n t , he a b r u p t l y b e g a n to s p e a k in lucid s e n t e n c e s , albeit rapidly a n d with a terrific intensity, h i s b r o w n eyes glazed. "Yes, W i n s o r , I h a v e m e t t h e O l d O n e s ' a v a t a r . . . w h o told m e o f m a r v e l s b e y o n d the g a l l i n g l i m i t a t i o n s o f t i m e a n d s p a c e as w e c o n ceive o f t h e m . I l e a r n e d w h e r e H e n r i R o u s s e a u had o b t a i n e d h i s m o d e l s f o r the j u n g l e c r e a t u r e s in t h a t c u r i o u s a n d u n s e t t l i n g p a i n t i n g o f his, ' T h e C h i l d r e n o f the K i n g d o m . ' A n d the p r i m i t i v e t r i b e s o f G u a t e m a l a and the D u t c h East I n d i e s a r c h i p e l a g o a r e n o t t h e o n l y r e p o s i t o r i e s o f s e c r e t s that would drive the m a s s o f m a n k i n d m a d if t h e y were k n o w n . T h e w o o d s o f N e w Jersey, j u s t a f e w m i l e s f r o m t h e Pest Z o n e e u p h e m i s t i c a l l y called N e w York City, c o n t a i n c r e e p i n g , i n s i d i o u s , e l d r i t c h h o r r o r , w h i c h t h r e a t e n s a t a n y m o m e n t to e r u p t a n d s p e w o v e r t h e l a n d ( a result I w o u l d n ' t m i n d s e e i n g if it m e a n t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h a t hatefiil b u r g ) . N o r e v e n are t h e C o n n e c t i c u t s u b urbs s a f e . . . " I l e a r n e d , t o o , o f t h o s e d a r k a n d d a n g e r o u s f o r c e s that Hop and flounder

a t t h e galaxy's r i m . . . T h i s g o e s i n f i n i t e l y b e y o n d m a n ' s fee-

b l e m o r a l i t y . W e ' r e n o m o r e s i g n i f i c a n t t h a n t h e least b a c t e r i a l s c u m in t h e larger s c h e m e o f t h e u n i v e r s e . T h e O l d O n e s have spared u s w o r t h l e s s w r e t c h e s s o far b e c a u s e w e c o u n t for s o little. T h e y m a y a p p e a r ' m a l i g n ' to c e r t a i n s e l f - b l i n d e d e a r t h - g a z e r s , b u t a r e in fact i n d i f f e r e n t — e x c e p t to t h e o c c a s i o n a l e x c e p t i o n a l i n d i v i d u a l , to w h o m T h e y m a y give the o p p o r t u n i t y f o r the realization o f a n d tion

participa-

in t h e a w e s o m e s e c r e t s o f t i m e and s p a c e . T h e r e is a c h a n c e f o r

h u m a n t r a n s c e n d e n c e . M a n y h e a r t h e call, b u t few will h e e d it and b e c h o s e n , la! la! Slmb-Niggurath,

the Goat with a Thousand Young!"

At this last b u r s t o f i n s a n i t y A n a b l e trailed o f f a g a i n i n t o g i b b e r ish, o n l y to c r y a m i n u t e later: " O h b u t , W i n s o r , you f o o l ! S o m u c h

392

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N E W

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m o r e c o u l d I have f o u n d out, u n i m a g i n a b l e w o n d e r s , if y o u h a d n ' t i n t e r r u p t e d . D a m n y o u ! " W i t h this i m p r e c a t i o n he lapsed i n t o p e r m a n e n t s i l e n c e , s l u m p e d d o w n in the s e a t b e s i d e m e . H i s l a c k o f g r a t i t u d e s t u n g , b u t I c o u l d h a r d l y j u d g e h i m h a r s h l y in the c i r c u m s t a n c e s . S u r e l y n o w it was essential that h e s e v e r all ties w i t h H a r p e r a n d c o m p a n y , w h o had b r o u g h t h i m to this w o e f u l c o n d i t i o n . B a r e l y c o n s c i o u s o r a b l e to walk, A n a b l e with my h e l p staggered u p t h e s t a i r s a n d i n t o his r o o m w h e r e I eased h i m o n t o his b e d . T h a n k G o d o u r d r e a d f u l H a l l o w e e n n i g h t was over.

VII A n a b l e s p e n t t h e n e x t several weeks in a s t a t e o f u t t e r c o l l a p s e . Naturally, t h e m o r n i n g a f t e r o u r h a r r o w i n g m i s a d v e n t u r e a t S a t a n ' s Ledge, I n o t i f i e d M r s . A n a b l e that h e r son h a d taken s e r i o u s l y ill, s p a r i n g her t h e w o r s t o f t h e details. S h e a r r a n g e d f o r the f a m i l y d o c t o r to c o m e to e x a m i n e h i m at t h e a p a r t m e n t as s o o n as p o s s i b l e . D r . M a c D o n a l d c o u l d find n o s i g n s o f physical i n j u r y , b u t in light o f m y g u a r d e d a c c o u n t c o n c l u d e d that A n a b l e m u s t have suffered

some

k i n d o f severe n e r v o u s s h o c k t h a t had r e n d e r e d h i m p o w e r l e s s . W h e n a f t e r t w o days A n a b l e did regain c o n s c i o u s n e s s , h e was t o o w e a k to s p e a k o r get a b o u t o n h i s o w n . It w a s c l e a r that he c o u l d n o l o n g e r rem a i n a t 9 7 3 Hale S t r e e t . W i t h t h e a i d o f s t a l w a r t Dr. M a c D o n a l d , I s u c c e e d in t r a n s f e r r i n g A n a b l e in m y vehicle to his f a m i l y ' s Valley Street h o m e . M r s . D e l i s i o , tearfully w a t c h i n g the d o c t o r and m e c a r r y t h e p a t i e n t o u t s i d e , r e m a r k e d w h a t a pity t h a t s u c h a p o l i t e , m a n nerly young m a n should be so grievously afflicted. M r s . A n a b l e w a s r e l u c t a n t t o c a l l in t h e a u t h o r i t i e s , b u t s h e w o r r i e d a b o u t t h e c u l t i s t s w h o h a d h a r m e d h e r s o n l u r k i n g still in t h e w o o d s , a n d r e q u e s t e d t h a t I and s o m e f r i e n d s s c o u t a r o u n d the Satan's Ledge a r e a . A week after Halloween, I persuaded three classmates—Messrs. Hailblum, Sullivan, and K l e i n — t o

accompany

m e o n a " b i r d w a l k " ( s u c h was m y e x c u s e ) d u r i n g t h e d a y to see if H a r p e r a n d c o m p a n y were a r o u n d o r n o t . In the c o u r s e o f o u r bird sighting, I discovered n o trace o f h u m a n habitation o t h e r than the d i s c a r d e d g a r b a g e . P e r h a p s with t h e o n s e t o f c o l d e r w e a t h e r t h e y had d i s p e r s e d , r e t u r n i n g to their p l a c e s o f o r i g i n . Nevertheless, a clever w o o d s m a n like H a r p e r c o u l d easily e v a d e d e t e c t i o n and s u r v i v e t h e

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w i n t e r o u t d o o r s if he had t o . M r s . A n a b l e w a s relieved to h e a r m y r e p o r t t h a t they had a p p a r e n t l y p u l l e d u p s t a k e s a n d d e p a r t e d . 1 visited A n a b l e a t least o n c e a w e e k d u r i n g h i s c o n f i n e m e n t a t h o m e . S i t t i n g b y h i s b e d s i d e , I filled h i m in o n c a m p u s n e w s a n d t h e p r o g r e s s o f m y c o u r s e s — c a r e f u l n o t to m e n t i o n t h e c u l t o r S a t a n ' s Ledge o r t h e d i s t u r b i n g d o i n g s H a l l o w e e n night. T h o u g h c a p a b l e o f s p e a k i n g f o r b r i e f i n t e r v a l s ( a c c o r d i n g to h i s m o t h e r ) , A n a b l e c h o s e to keep s i l e n t at t h e s e i n t e r v i e w s . I n d e e d , he o f t e n c l o s e d h i s e y e s , a s i f o v e r c o m e b y w e a r i n e s s , and t u r n e d h i s head to t h e wall a w a y f r o m m e . W h e n his l u m i n o u s b r o w n eyes w e r e o p e n , t h e y s e e m e d t o s t a r e at m e , as i f w i t h — c o u l d it b e ? — r e s e n t m e n t . I w a s g e n e r o u s not to take this as a p e r s o n a l slight, b u t r a t h e r a t t r i b u t e d it t o t h e g r a v e m e n t a l strain h e had u n d e r g o n e , p e r h a p s c o u p l e d with a r e s u m p t i o n o f t h a t n a t u r a l r e s e r v e t h a t s h u t o u t e v e n his best f r i e n d . A n a b l e ' s physical health d i d i m p r o v e steadily, h o w e v e r , a n d h e r e g a i n e d s u f f i c i e n t s t r e n g t h to walk u n a s s i s t e d b y t h e e n d o f N o v e m ber. B y e a r l y D e c e m b e r h e c o u l d leave the h o u s e o n s h o r t trips. B u t , h a v i n g a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a v e r s i o n to c o l d w e a t h e r , a g g r a v a t e d b y h i s present weakened condition, Anable could not remain outside for v e r y l o n g . T h i s was o n e f o r t u n a t e c o m p l i c a t i o n , for h e h a d b e g u n to e x p r e s s a d e s i r e t o revisit t h e ledge, s o M r s . A n a b l e c o n f i d e d to m e . S h e did n o t w i s h h i m to r e t u r n to t h e s c e n e o f his t r a u m a t i c e x p e r i e n c e , a n d m a d e m e p r o m i s e to d o e v e r y t h i n g in m y p o w e r to p r e v e n t him from doing so. His m e n t a l s t a t e , alas, d i d not c h a n g e m u c h f o r t h e b e t t e r . A n a b l e c o n t i n u e d to b e w i t h d r a w n a n d a p a t h e t i c — a s if h e had e x p e n d e d all t h e t r e m e n d o u s e n e r g y that had b e e n b u i l d i n g w i t h i n h i m

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s u m m e r in o n e s h o t that H a l l o w e e n n i g h t , with n o n e left to s u s t a i n h i m f o r the rest o f the year. T h e d e a n o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y s h o w e d h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h e n h e a l l o w e d A n a b l e to take i n c o m p l e t e s in his fall s u b j e c t s , a t n o p e n a l t y to his s c h o l a r s h i p s t a t u s . W h e n 1 r e t u r n e d to A r k h a m f o l l o w i n g the C h r i s t m a s v a c a t i o n , 1 was pleased to find A n a b l e had r e s u m e d r e s i d e n c e in o u r Hale S t r e e t a p a r t m e n t . His g r e e t i n g w a s effusive, yet s o m e h o w p e r f u n c t o r y , lacki n g t h e w a r m t h o f t h e p r e v i o u s r e u n i o n s . At least h e was d i s p l a y i n g m o r e liveliness. " A h , W i n s o r , " h e e x c l a i m e d , " t r u s t y o u e n j o y e d the

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to m y studies a t M i s k a t o n i c — w h i c h I c a n tell you I ' m eager to d o . An invalid's e x i s t e n c e is a terrific b o r e . " A s f o r the c u l t b u s i n e s s , let m e p u t y o u r m i n d to rest o n all t h a t . You n e e d n ' t feel a n x i o u s f o r m e a n y m o r e . I realize n o w I was f o o l i n g with f o r c e s t h a t n o p e r s o n with his wits a b o u t h i m s h o u l d e v e r get m i x e d u p i n . I'd b e c o m e s o i m m e r s e d in a r c a n e lore, shall w e say, t h a t I'd lost all p e r s p e c t i v e — j u s t a s I w a r n e d y o u I m i g h t . I h a v e l o a d m i t y o u were c o r r e c t to b e s u s p i c i o u s o f H a r p e r . H e was l u r i n g m e i n t o the midst o f a sinister 'cosmic c o n s p i r a c y ' — b u t you showed up o u t o f t h e b l u e a n d saved m e in the n i c k o f t i m e . I ' m t h r o u g h with it n o w f o r g o o d , believe m e . I'll n o t b r i n g u p t h e s u b j e c t a g a i n — a n d I'll a p p r e c i a t e it if you w o n ' t say a n y t h i n g a b o u t it e i t h e r . Let's forget a b o u t it. It's in the past." S o , instead o f a t r u t h f u l e x p l a n a t i o n o f w h a t he had b e e n i n volved in, A n a b l e gave m e this a s s u r a n c e o f his r e f o r m . Well, b y Ihis p o i n t I k n e w m o r e t h a n I cared to a b o u t this C t h u l h u c u l t a n d w a s satisfied that it was all a lot o f m y s t e r i o u s , m y s t i c a l c l a p t r a p that had dazzled and m i s g u i d e d m y friend. I was c o n t e n t to let the m a t t e r d r o p , h o p e f u l that this was i n d e e d t h e e n d o f it. U n s t e a d y o n his feet as h e still was, A n a b l e w a s n o n e t h e l e s s a b l e to get to a n d f r o m classes o n h i s o w n via t h e trolley. H e a p p l i e d h i m s e l f m o r e d u t i f u l l y to h i s studies t h a n in t h e first t e r m , yet I s e n s e d his h e a r t w a s n o t really in h i s w o r k . O n m o r e t h a n o n e o c c a s i o n I c a u g h t h i m g a z i n g o u t t h e s i t t i n g r o o m w i n d o w t o w a r d Satan's Ledge. A n d m o r e t h a n o n c e , I s u s p e c t , he a t t e m p t e d to walk to t h e ledge by t h e direct, steep r o u t e — b u t t h e ice and s n o w m u s t have t h w a r t e d h i m . W h e n he asked m e to drive h i m to t h e p i c n i c a r e a o f f t h e B o l t o n R o a d , I r e f u s e d . H e g l a r e d at m e f o r a s e c o n d , t h e n s u b s i d e d i n t o a d i s a p p o i n t e d sulk. U n w i l l i n g , I s u p p o s e , to a p p e a r t o o k e e n o n t h e i d e a o f a r e t u r n j o u r n e y , h e n e v e r b r o u g h t it u p a g a i n . A s t h e b l e a k w i n t e r t e r m w o r e o n , A n a b l e m a d e less a n d less o f an effort to be s o c i a b l e . Listless f o r l o n g s t r e t c h e s , he also d i s p l a y e d a t t i m e s a c e r t a i n restlessness. H e gave u p all p r e t e n s e o f m a k i n g c o n versation, except on the m o s t m u n d a n e , essential topics. " P a s s the s a l t " w a s a b o u t t h e m o s t h e w o u l d say to M r s . D e l i s i o o r m e . I forb o r e , m o r e s o r r o w e d t h a n angered b y h i s r u d e b e h a v i o r . O b v i o u s l y h e had far to g o m e n t a l l y b e f o r e c o m p l e t e r e c o v e r y . D e s p i t e m y

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c a u s e d h i m to s l e e p fitfully, b u t h i s elated e x p r e s s i o n s e e m e d t o b e l i e t h e n o t i o n t h a t they had b e e n in a n y w a y d i s t u r b i n g . H e w o u l d n o t c o m m e n t on the c o n t e n t o f these dreams. O n e n i g h t late in t h e m o n t h , a f t e r r e t u r n i n g f r o m a r u s h p a r t y a t t h e K a p p a Sig h o u s e , I c o u l d hear A n a b l e t h r o u g h his b e d r o o m d o o r t a l k i n g in his s l e e p . Pressing m y ear to the d o o r , I c o u l d m a k e o u t t h e f o l l o w i n g s n a t c h e s . " H e p r o m i s e s to c o m e again . . . S a t a n ' s Ledge t o o f a r . . . m u s t t r y o n e m o r e t i m e . . . I c a n n o t fail H i m . . . H e shall n o t fail m e . . . c h a n t t h e D h o l f o r m u l a . . . N y a r l a t h o t e p . . . . " 1 was p r o f o u n d l y a l a r m e d to recogni/.e t h e s o r t s o f w o r d s and p h r a s e s h e h a d not m o u t h e d s i n c e o u r d e l i r i o u s ride b a c k to A r k h a m o n t h a t H a l l o w e e n n i g h t . At last I had to face t h e fact t h a t A n a b l e ' s d e r a n g e m e n t w a s m o r e s e r i o u s and lasting t h a n 1 had g u e s s e d . A d o c t o r w h o s p e c i a l i z e d in m e n t a l d i s o r d e r s w o u l d p r o b a b l y have to b e c o n s u l t e d s o o n . B u t e v e n t s m o v e d t o o swiftly for m e t o a c t — a n d , in r e t r o s p e c t , 1 d o u b t if it w o u l d have a f f e c t e d the u l t i m a t e t r a g i c outcome. T h e u n f o r t u n a t e c l i m a x , w h e n it c a m e , d i d n o t c a t c h m e e n t i r e l y o f f g u a r d . S i n c e A n a b l e h a d a b a n d o n e d e v e n an o u t w a r d s h o w o f n o r m a l i t y , I was p r e p a r e d t o a c t f o r c e f u l l y if I had t o . It w a s a chilly w i n t e r e v e n i n g , a T h u r s d a y , with n o sign in t h e a i r o f the f o r t h c o m i n g s p r i n g , that 1 sat o n the s o f a c h e c k i n g o v e r m y n o t e s f o r a p a p e r o n S h a d w e l l ' s u s e o f irony. V a c a t i o n was o n l y a w e e k away. I w a s feeling q u i t e relaxed a f t e r M r s . D e l i s i o ' s d e l i c i o u s s p a g h e t t i d i n n e r . A n a b l e had retired to his r o o m f r o m w h i c h s h o r t l y h e e m e r g e d w e a r i n g his h e a v y o v e r c o a t . "I'm

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m e to a c c o m p a n y h i m o u t s i d e . W h e n w e r e a c h e d t h e street h e t u r n e d t h e w r o n g w a y — n o r t h t o w a r d 127 and t h e w o o d s . I h u r r i e d a f t e r h i m as he b r o k e i n t o a r u n o n the s l i p p e r y p a v e m e n t . I easily o v e r t o o k h i m in his s e m i - d e b i l i t a t e d c o n d i t i o n . W h e n h e i g n o r e d m y c o m m a n d to h a l t , I had n o r e c o u r s e b u t to s e i z e h i m and w r e s t l e h i m g e n t l y i n t o a d r i f t a t the s i d e o f t h e r o a d . " I m u s t get o u t t o n i g h t . . . I m u s t b r e a k t h r o u g h t h e G a t e . . . I m u s t m e r g e with H i m . . . leave m e a l o n e , " h e p a n t e d as we s t r u g g l e d . W h e n A n a b l e realized t h e f u t i l i t y o f f u r t h e r resistance, I let h i m u p and h e r e l u c t a n t l y r e t u r n e d with m e to t h e h o u s e . W e were b o t h s o a k e d f r o m r o l l i n g a r o u n d in the wet s n o w — i t w a s l u n a c y to s t a y o u t a n y l o n g e r with the t e m p e r a t u r e falling sharply. A n a b l e was w h e e z i n g , g a s p i n g for b r e a t h . I g n o r i n g his i m p r e c a t i o n s a g a i n s t m e , I a s s u r e d h i m that it w a s in h i s best interest n o t to g o to the ledge c o n s i d e r i n g his p o o r h e a l t h in this w e a t h e r at this t i m e o f night. A n a b l e , f u r i o u s , s t o r m e d i n t o h i s r o o m and s l a m m e d t h e d o o r . I kepi vigil in the s i t t i n g r o o m to n e a r m i d n i g h t , t h e n w e n t to b e d m y s e l f . I did n o t k n o w w h a t t i m e it was w h e n I a w o k e (I c o u l d n o t s e e m y a l a r m in the d a r k ) , b u t I s o o n realized w h a t t h e c a u s e o f m y w a k i n g u p had b e e n — a h i g h w i n d that rattled t h e p a n e s had b l o w n o v e r t h e t r a s h c a n s in the yard b e n e a t h my w i n d o w . T h e w i n d s o u n d e d l o u d e r t h a n it s h o u l d — a s i f its s o u r c e were f r o m w i t h i n t h e b u i l d i n g . I s t u m b l e d o u t i n t o t h e sitting r o o m to i n v e s t i g a t e . J u d g i n g by t h e g r e a t w h i s t l i n g n o i s e c o m i n g f r o m A n a b l e ' s r o o m I c o n c l u d e d that h e had t o h a v e h i s w i n d o w wide o p e n . A b o v e t h e w h i n e , w h i c h w a s like n o n a t u r a l w i n d I had e v e r h e a r d , I c o u l d d i s t i n g u i s h a h i g h - p i t c h e d b u t forceful voice b e h i n d A n a b l e ' s d o o r that I k n e w c o u l d n o t b e m y r o o m m a t e ' s . " Y o u know, H o w a r d A n a b l e , that the N e w E n g l a n d w o r l d y o u h a v e l o v e d a n d c h e r i s h e d f r o m b i r t h is o n l y the s u m o f t h e m a r velous s u n s e t cities you have gazed u p o n ( f r o m a h e i g h t ) in y o u r d r e a m s . T h e s e h a v e you y e a r n e d f o r w i t h s u c h k e e n f r u s t r a t i o n all y o u r years. A n c i e n t A r k h a m , i n s u l a r I n n s m o u t h , r u m o u r - s h a d o w e d K i n g s p o r t , B o s t o n a n d its g h o u l - i n f e s t e d N o r t h E n d , P r o v i d e n c e and its jeweller's c o n v e n t i o n s , t h e s e are b u t e p h e m e r a l t r a n s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e real p l a c e s y o u have s o far o n l y d i m l y g l i m p s e d — b a s a l t - t o w e r e d

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filled

stillness.

VIII U n d e r s t a n d a b l y , I d i d n o t l i n g e r in t h a t h o u s e o f h o r r o r . I s p e n t t h e rest o f t h a t n i g h t a n d t h e n e x t at M i s k a t o n i c i n t h e d o r m s u i t e o f Messrs. H a i l b l u m , Sullivan, a n d Klein. I r e m a i n e d in A r k h a m

only

f o r a s l o n g as I h a d to, t o c a l m M r s . D e l i s i o ( w h o h a d a p p a r e n t l y n o t w i t n e s s e d t h a t last, s o u l - b l a s t i n g v i s i o n i n t h e s k y ) , t o s p e a k w i t h M r s . A n a b l e a n d t o the police suggesting the t h e o r y thai A n a b l e had b e e n s p i r i t e d o f f b y t h e c u l t m e m b e r s i n t o t h e hills a n d p o s s i b l y b e yond. There was n o keeping the authorities out o f the matter

this

time. As already stated, I withdrew to Boston for the r e m a i n d e r o f the t e r m , a r r a n g i n g to take m y e x a m s after v a c a t i o n . I spent t h e bulk o f m y vacation time c o m p o s i n g the above narrative. T h e r e is o n e m o r e t h i n g . In A p r i l w h e n I r e t u r n e d t o A r k h a m , I v i s i t e d M r s . D e l i s i o to s e t t l e m y a f f a i r s w i t h h e r . S h e h a d

already

agreed to t e r m i n a t i n g m y lease s h o r t o f t h e a p p o i n t e d year, a n d I w i s h e d lo p a y h e r s o m e f a i r c o m p e n s a t i o n . ( I n s u r a n c e h a d c o v e r e d t h e d a m a g e d w i n d o w . ) A f t e r n e g o t i a t i o n s h a d b e e n c o n c l u d e d as a f f a b l y as p o s s i b l e u n d e r t h e s o l e m n c i r c u m s t a n c e s , s h e gave m e

a

sealed e n v e l o p e that she had f o u n d a m o n g Anable's effects b e f o r e t h e i r r e m o v a l . It h a d m y n a m e o n it, a n d c o n t a i n e d a h a s t i l y s c r i b bled note.

3/15/29

W i n s o r |it b e g a n ] : B y t h e t i m e y o u r e a d t h i s I'll b e f a r b e y o n d y o u r m e d dling reach. Despite your best efforts to interfere I should s o o n b e riding t h r o u g h t h e intergalactic void o n the b a c k o f a hypoencephalic centipede, frolicking with the

night-

gaunls and g h o u l s — o r s o m e such. I regret you won't

be

j o i n i n g m e h e r e , as i n f a c t y o u a r e n ' t w o r t h y t o t r a n s c e n d t h e m u n d a n e h u m a n w o r l d — t h e m u n d a n e h u m a n world whose e c o n o m y w i t h i n a f e w m o n t h s , it's b e e n m y p r i v i l e g e t o l e a r n f r o m H i m , is i n f o r a d i f f i c u l t p e r i o d . Y o u a n d y o u r k i n d a r e

T H E

M A D N E S S

O U T

OF

SPACE

399

g o i n g l o suffer, and 1 can't say I feel v e r y s o r r y f o r y o u . E n j o y w h a t will p r o b a b l y p r o v e to b e y o u r last s u m m e r o n t h e isl a n d . B e f o r e w a r n e d that h a r d t i m e s lie a h e a d . Yrs.—HWA T h u s read H o w a r d W e n t w o r t h A n a b l e ' s l a s t — a n d c e r t a i n l y m o s t unfathomable—communication

t o m e a n d to the world; t h e

final

t e s t a m e n t o f a o n c e n o b l e m i n d s t o l e n away f r o m its rightful place a m o n g m e n by a c o s m i c evil that s u r e l y d e s e r v e s , as I trust m y pitiful a c c o u n t has d e m o n s t r a t e d , the e p i t h e t , " t h e m a d n e s s o u t o f s p a c e . "

Aliah Warden Roger J o h n s o n

W

i t c h c r a f t is a n e v e r - p r e s e n t t h e m e in the h i s t o r y o f t h e c o u n t y o f Essex. It is like a s i n i s t e r d r u m - b e a t b e l o w t h e e v e n t e n o r

o f life, o f t e n u n h e a r d b u t a l w a y s felt. I was aware, o f c o u r s e , o f t h e g r e a t w i t c h c r a f t trials held in the s i x t e e n t h a n d s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r i e s and o f

the i n f a m o u s c a r e e r o f M a t t h e w H o p k i n s , t h e

soi-disam

" W i t c h f i n d e r - G e n e r a l , " b u t I little s u s p e c t e d that b e h i n d these painted devils t h e r e l u r k e d s o m e t h i n g d e e p e r , darker, a n d i n f i n i t e l y

more

terrible. Late in the year o f 1 9 0 2 I w a s invited to call u p o n a M r . G i l e s C h a t e r , a C h e l m s f o r d s o l i c i t o r , o n a m a t t e r w h i c h h a s n o r e l e v a n c e to m y story. W h a t is relevant is t h e fact that 1 a c c e p t e d the i n v i t a t i o n , f o r it was a t M r . C h a t e r ' s office that I m e t f o r the first t i m e A l i a h W a r d e n . M y b u s i n e s s was s o o n c o n c l u d e d , a n d M r . C h a t e r h a d j u s t p o u r e d f o r m e a glass o f e x c e l l e n t M a d e i r a w i n e — o f w h i c h I was v e r y f o n d — w h e n his clerk e n t e r e d t h e o f f i c e a n d d i f f i d e n t l y a n n o u n c e d

that

t h e r e was a g e n t l e m a n to s e e h i m , a M r . W a r d e n . "Aliah W a r d e n ? " c r i e d m y h o s t . " T h e n s h o w h i m in, by all m e a n s . H e m a y care to j o i n us in a glass o f w i n e . " T h e e l d e r l y m a n w h o f o l l o w e d the c l e r k into t h e office was a very s i n g u l a r p e r s o n a g e . T o b e g i n w i t h , h e was n o t , in fact, as o l d a s h e first a p p e a r e d , t h o u g h his h a i r w a s q u i t e w h i t e a b o v e a w i d e face that was lined with wrinkles. He and Mr. Chater greeted each other cordially, a n d w h e n I w a s i n t r o d u c e d to h i m I t o o k caretul, b u t , I trust, u n o b t r u s i v e , n o t e o f his c u r i o u s a p p e a r a n c e . His legs were t h i n ,

A LI A H

W A R D E N

401

v e r y t h i n , and gave t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f b e i n g l o n g e r t h a n t h e y a c t u a l l y were, in s h a r p c o n t r a s t to his s q u a t , r o u n d t o r s o . T h e y were m a r k e d l y b o w e d , however, a n d h e c a r r i e d his t r u n k b e n t f o r w a r d at a s h a r p angle from his hips. T h i s s t r a n g e bodily configuration

of curves

a n d angles a m o u n t e d q u i t e to a d e f o r m i t y , a n d w a s largely r e s p o n sible for the impression o f age that h u n g a b o u t h i m . His hands a n d feet were large, flat a n d s q u a r e — t h e h a n d s in p a r t i c u l a r havi n g o n e r e m a r k a b l e s i n g u l a r i t y : t h e r e were s m a l l b u t d i s t i n c t

flanges

o f l o o s e s k i n b e t w e e n the b a s e s o f the fingers. T h e large, r o u n d head was placed d i r e c t l y u p o n the s t o c k y t o r s o , w i t h o u t a n y s i g n o f a neck, a n d s e e m e d to b e a l m o s t split in two by t h e w i d e ,

flat-lipped

mouth.

T h e eyes b u l g e d u n c o m f o r t a b l y b e n e a t h t h e lashless lids, a n d t h e l o w f o r e h e a d , the s m a l l e a r s a n d the b a c k o f t h e v e r y large s t i f f c o l l a r were a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y c o v e r e d by t h e s h o c k o f w h i t e hair. T h i s h a i r w a s in i t s e l f r a t h e r p e c u l i a r , f o r it w a s w o r n l o n g , in t h e style o f t h i r t y o r f o r t y y e a r s ago; I perceived t h a t it was o f a r a t h e r c o a r s e , t h i c k t e x t u r e a n d o f a q u i t e lifeless s h a d e o f w h i t e . Physically, at least, M r . W a r d e n was h a r d l y a p r e p o s s e s s i n g

figure.

M r . C h a t e r ' s v o i c e i n t e r r u p t e d m y t h o u g h t s : " I a m s u r e you will e x c u s e us f o r a f e w m i n u t e s , " h e said. " M r . W a r d e n is s h o r t l y to retire f r o m his p r a c t i c e o v e r in W r a b l e y , a n d w e have a r r a n g e d that m o s t o f h i s b u s i n e s s will b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o m e . T h e r e are j u s t a f e w p a p e r s to b e s i g n e d n o w , a n d t h e n the t h i n g is d o n e . D o n ' t g o , h o w e v e r , f o r I u n d e r s t a n d that y o u h a v e c e r t a i n i n t e r e s t s in c o m m o n , and I s h o u l d like y o u to k n o w e a c h o t h e r b e t t e r . " M r . W a r d e n p u r s e d his w i d e lips a n d t h e n s m i l e d . " M y p r a c t i c e is v e r y s m a l l t h e s e days," h e r e m a r k e d . " T h e taw and the i n h a b i t a n t s o f W r a b l e y have little to d o w i t h e a c h o t h e r . " T h e interests that were s h a r e d by this strange little m a n and m e centered u p o n the study o f that m i s t y r e g i o n o f learning where psychology, a n t h r o p o l o g y and c o m p a r a t i v e religion overlap. B e f o r e the cheerful fire in o u r g o o d host's o f f i c e , we d r a n k M a d e i r a w i n e and talked a g o o d deal about witchcraft, devil worship and

magic, w h i l e M r . C h a t e r

s m i l e d and puffed stolidly at his pipe. I recall Aliah W a r d e n r e m a r k i n g at o n e s t a g e , " M a t t h e w H o p k i n s was a fraud, s i r — a charlatan. In, that is to say, his c a p a c i t y as a w i t c h - f i n d e r . Ah, h e was a c u n n i n g devil. W h a t better m a s k c o u l d a f o x a s s u m e t h a n that o f a h u n t e r ? " I had barely t i m e to c o n s i d e r t h i s p r o v o c a t i v e q u e s t i o n b e f o r e t h e

402

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

c l o c k s t r u c k five, a n d I realized that I m u s t b e o f f to t h e railway s t a t i o n , and t h e n c e b a c k to L o n d o n , w h e r e I w a s to d i n e with s o m e f r i e n d s t h a t e v e n i n g . B e f o r e I left the s o l i c i t o r ' s o f f i c e , however, M r . W a r d e n e x t e n d e d to m e an i n v i t a t i o n to call u p o n h i m at s o m e f u t u r e t i m e at his h o u s e in W r a b l e y , a n d m a d e a r e m a r k — f l a t t e r i n g , I f e a r — to t h e e f f e c t that he w a s a l w a y s pleased to c o n v e r s e u p o n his f a v o r i t e s u b j e c t w i t h o n e w h o was b o t h intelligent and k n o w l e d g e a b l e . I gladly a c c e p t e d t h e i n v i t a t i o n , f o r the s t r a n g e o l d m a n had p r o v e d to b e b o t h c h a r m i n g a n d e l o q u e n t , a n d 1 s u s p e c t e d t h a t his c u r i o u s e x t e r i o r m a s k e d a w h i m s i c a l , if g r i m , s e n s e o f h u m o r , w h i c h a p p e a l e d to m e . It w a s a r r a n g e d t h a t I s h o u l d s p e n d a w e e k e n d with

him

t o w a r d s t h e e n d o f J a n u a r y . " I have t r e a s u r e s in m y h o u s e , " h e said a s w e s h o o k h a n d s . " T h i n g s that will s u r p r i s e y o u . " I d i d not d o u b t it.

W h e n t h e a p p o i n t e d d a y a r r i v e d I p a c k e d m y s u i t c a s e a n d set o f f f o r Liverpool Street S t a t i o n . M y feelings, a s I b o a r d e d t h e t r a i n f o r M a l d o n , were d i s t i n c t l y c h e e r f u l , for m y w o r k o f late had b e e n p r o s a i c to t h e e x t e n t o f b e i n g b o r i n g , a n d I w e l c o m e d the t h o u g h t o f leaving t h e t h r o n g e d a n d d i r t y s t r e e t s o f L o n d o n f o r a few days. I n W r a b l e y , t h e air would be clean, a n d miles o f m a r s h l a n d would separate m e from t h e m e t r o p o l i s . I l o o k e d f o r w a r d , t o o , to t h e e r u d i t e c o n v e r s a t i o n o f Aliah W a r d e n . L o n g b e f o r e m y t r a i n r e a c h e d M a l d o n , however, I b e g a n to feel t h a t 1 h a d seen e n o u g h o f t h e Essex M a r s h e s . I had f o r g o t t e n h o w v e r y b l e a k a n d h o w very flat is this r e g i o n w h i c h is n o t q u i t e land a n d n o t q u i t e sea. T h e g l i s t e n i n g m u d - f l a t s s e e m e d s o m e h o w s i n i s t e r in t h e i r i s o l a t i o n , a n d t h e few l o n e l y f a r m s and d e c r e p i t c l a p b o a r d h o u s e s o n l y s e e m e d to e m p h a s i z e t h e l o n e l i n e s s . It was hard to realize t h a t I was little m o r e t h a n t h i r t y m i l e s f r o m the greatest city in t h e world. M a l d o n is an e n c h a n t i n g little t o w n , a s m a l l b u t b u s y p o r t . T h e r e was a c h e e r f u l n e s s a b o u t t h e place t h a t d a y t h a t raised my s p i r i t s , and I felt that, a f t e r all, I had m a d e n o m i s t a k e in leaving L o n d o n . U n t i l , t h a t is, I hailed a c a b a n d i n s t r u c t e d the d r i v e r to take m e to W r a b l e y . His a n s w e r was n o t e n c o u r a g i n g . " I ' l l take you, sir," h e said, " b u t I c a n ' t t h i n k why you would w a n t to g o t h e r e . ' T i s t h e m o s t d e s o l a t e h o l e . "

A L I A H

W A R D E N

403

I e x p l a i n e d t h a i I was v i s i t i n g a f r i e n d t h e r e . At t h a t , his m a n n e r b r i g h t e n e d a little. " W o u l d that b e M r . W a r d e n , sir? Ah, he's a n i c e g e n t l e m a n — i f a b i t o d d . B u t I w o n ' t hear a w o r d a g a i n s t h i m . H e a l w a y s a s k s f o r m e w h e n h e w a n t s a c a b f r o m M a l d o n . " T h e c a b b i e was s i l e n t f o r a m o m e n t , b r o o d i n g , w h i l e t h e h o r s e s p a w e d i r r i t a b l y a t the c o b b l e s . " S t i l l a n d all," he said, " I d o n ' t take b a c k w h a t I said a b o u t W r a b l e y . T h e place is r u n d o w n s o m e t h i n g r o t t e n , a n d s o are the p e o p l e . H u h . R o t t e n ! Yes, I r e c k o n that's the r i g h t w o r d . S t i l l — " ( h e gave a h a l f - s m i l e ) " i f you're visiting t h e r e I m u s n ' t p u t y o u off. G e t in, sir, a n d I'll d r i v e you there." A s we travelled a l o n g the n o r t h b a n k o f t h e estuary, s k i r t i n g t h e j a g g e d reed-filled inlets, it s e e m e d that t h e l a n d s c a p e b e c a m e m o r e d e s o l a t e . T h e m e r e flatness o f t h e l a n d m a d e it difficult to j u d g e dist a n c e s , a n d I was s u r p r i s e d w h e n s u d d e n l y t h e d r i v e r p o i n t e d ahead with his whip a t a low, j a g g e d p r o m i n e n c e and said, " T h e r e ' s M u r rell H i l l , sir. W e ' l l be in the village s h o r t l y . " I s o o n realized t h a t t h e hill w a s c o v e r e d in b u i l d i n g s — i n d e e d , it was h e r e that Aliah W a r d e n had h i s h o u s e — a n d that it w a s this that gave it that c u r i o u s rugged appearance. T h e village, o r r a t h e r t o w n , had h a r d l y spread at all o n

the

l a n d w a r d side, b u t r a t h e r s e e m e d to h u d d l e a b o u t the little c r e e k , where

the

weatherboarded

buildings

leaned

precariously

upon

e a c h o t h e r . We a p p r o a c h e d f r o m t h e west, h o w e v e r , e n t e r i n g d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e c o b b l e d r o a d that ran o v e r t h e l o w hill. T h e h o u s e s w e r e v e r y large, s u g g e s t i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e w e a l t h , b u t it s o o n b e c a m e e v i d e n t that t h i s w e a l t h m u s t h a v e b e e n s p e n t l o n g ago, f o r m o s t o f t h e b u i l d i n g s were in s a d l y p o o r repair. O n l y two o r t h r e e h o u s e s s u r vived in g o o d c o n d i t i o n — t h e s e a n d a s o l i t a r y p u b l i c b u i l d i n g , a h a l l o f s o m e k i n d , w h o s e d o r i c p o r t i c o b o r e the s i n g l e w o r d " D a g o n , " in d i s c r e t e R o m a n letters. T h e cab pulled u p b e f o r e one o f the better houses, a n d the driver c l i m b e d d o w n a n d o p e n e d t h e d o o r f o r m e . " T h i s is the place, sir," h e said. " M r . W a r d e n ' s h o u s e . " A s I paid h i m t h e agreed fare, I c o u l d n o t h e l p o b s e r v i n g t h a t even h e r e t h r e e w i n d o w s o f t h e e i g h t in the n o t u n h a n d s o m e f r o n t a g e lacked c u r t a i n s . W i t h s o m e m i s g i v i n g s , I lifted t h e heavy b r a s s d o o r - k n o c k e r . M y w e l c o m e , however, was a s c o r d i a l as I c o u l d h a v e w i s h e d .

404

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N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

Aliah W a r d e n g r e e t e d m e effusively, a l m o s t h o p p i n g a l o n g the hallw a y i n h i s e a g e r n e s s . T h i s c u r i o u s m o v e m e n t u n l o c k e d a d o o r in m y m i n d , and 1 realized with a start w h a t I had u n c o n s c i o u s l y r e c o g n i z e d at o u r first m e e t i n g — t h a t A l i a h W a r d e n , physically, b o r e a rem a r k a b l e r e s e m b l a n c e to a frog.

I was strongly reminded o f Tenniel's

d e p i c t i o n o f the f r o g - g a r d n e r in Through

the Looking

Glass,

and I was

u n a b l e to restrain a s m i l e , w h i c h , fortunately, m y h o s t m i s i n t e r p r e t e d . "Ah," h e said, " y o u a r e l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to s e e i n g m y treasures? All in g o o d t i m e , my d e a r fellow. First, I t h i n k , a glass o f wine, a n d t h e n s o m e t h i n g to e a t . " It a p p e a r e d that M r . W a r d e n w a s his o w n c o o k a n d h o u s e k e e p e r , a n d h e s u g g e s t e d t h a t w h i l e h e p r e p a r e d a m e a l f o r m e I m i g h t care to i n s p e c t his c o l l e c t i o n o f b o o k s a n d v a r i o u s objects

d'art

w h i c h he had

a c c u m u l a t e d d u r i n g his d e l v i n g s i n t o w h a t he c a l l e d " t h e w o r l d ' s m o s t fascinating pastime." Here were t r e a s u r e s indeed. O n e large r o o m was a l m o s t e n tirely t a k e n u p by his library, a n d I s o o n realized t h a t t h e m a n m u s t b e p o s s e s s e d o f l e a r n i n g far b e y o n d a n y t h i n g I had s u s p e c t e d . I s a w S c o t ' s Discoverie of

Witchcraft,

of Witchcraft,

S t e a r n e ' s Confirmation

M a t h e r ' s Magnolia

Christi

Americana,

and and

Discovery others—

n u m e r o u s o t h e r s — w i t h w h i c h I w a s familiar, b u t m a n y o f the b o o k s were q u i t e u n k n o w n

to m e , while o t h e r s I had l o n g b e l i e v e d

to

be fabulous, having no existence outside the imaginations o f certain perverse cultists. T h e r e were handwritten titles as Cultes Mysteriis.

des

Goules,

volumes, bearing

Unaussprechlichen

Kulten

and De

such Vermis

A h ! A n d here was a title that I r e c o g n i z e d , t h o u g h I had

n e v e r t h o u g h t that b o o k a c t u a l l y e x i s t e d . T h e v o l u m e was b o u n d in s c a r r e d a n d s t a i n e d leather, and p r i n t e d in t i n y b l a c k l e t t e r c h a r a c t e r s , a n d o n its s p i n e w a s the o n e w o r d Necronomicon.

T h e t i t l e page gave

t h e i n f o r m a t i o n that this " t r e a t i s e " w a s t h e w o r k o f o n e A b d u l ElH a z r e d , t r a n s l a t e d i n t o English b y J o h n Dee, D o c t o r , in t h e Year o f G r a c e 1 6 0 5 . M y h o s t , it s e e m e d , was a very s u r p r i s i n g m a n i n d e e d , a n d o n e v e r ) ' l e a r n e d in d a r k a n d m y s t e r i o u s m a t t e r s . O n e p a r t i c u lar n a m e p r i n t e d in fine gold c h a r a c t e r s o n b l a c k leather, c a u g h t m y a t t e n t i o n . I k n e w f r o m m y h i s t o r y lessons a t s c h o o l that

Sir

G e o f f r e y d e L a c y had f o u g h t b e s i d e t h e C o n q u e r o r a t F l a s t i n g s , and t h a t in the year 1 0 6 7 h e had b e e n g r a n t e d t h e m a n o r and t h e e a r l d o m o f A s h t o n in

D e r b y s h i r e , w h i c h m a n o r b e c a m e the c i t y

of

A L I A H

405

W A R D E N

A s h l o n d e Lacy. I k n e w n o l h i n g o f a n y i n t e r e s t o n t h e o l d w a r r i o r ' s p a r t in m a t t e r s o f d e m o n o l o g y , and yet here was his n a m e a b o v e t h e Latin title: De Poientiae the b o o k

Deorum

Aiu/quorum.

Curious. I took

f r o m its s h e l f a n d g l a n c e d at the t i t l e p a g e . T h i s

edi-

t i o n . it a p p e a r e d , was r e v i s e d a n d t r a n s l a t e d f r o m the Latin in t h e year 1 7 6 3 by o n e T h o m a s D a s h w o o d M o r l e y , w h o c a l l e d h i m s e l f Frater

Medramae—a

B r o t h e r o f M e d m e n h a m . I b e g a n to p e r u s e its

contents. I was gazing w i t h s o m e awe a t o n e o f the d i a b o l i c a l e n g r a v i n g s w h i c h illustrated t h e b o o k , w h e n I b e c a m e s u d d e n l y a w a r e o f A l i a h W a r d e n , s t a n d i n g b e h i n d m e a n d p e e r i n g o v e r my s h o u l d e r . " I n t e r e s t i n g , sir, is it n o t ? " h e said. T h e r e was a p e c u l i a r t o n e to his v o i c e . " T h a t is a r a t h e r fanciful r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f o n e o f t h e D e e p O n e s , a c r e a t u r e t h a t d e L a c y c l a i m e d to have m e t and c o n v e r s e d w i t h . T h e D e e p O n e s , y o u know, a r e t h e l e g e n d a r y s e r v a n t s o f D a g o n , t h e fishgod o f the P h i l i s t i n e s . " H e p a u s e d , b u t b e f o r e I c o u l d c o m p o s e m y s e l f and p u t t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t w a s in m y m i n d a b o u t the pillared H a l l o f D a g o n t h a t s t o o d u p o n this v e r y hill, h e had t u r n e d o v e r a few pages, a n d was s p e a k i n g a g a i n . " T h i s set o f c h a r a c t e r s , sir, is a p a e a n to t h e t r a n s c e n d e n t a l K i n g d o m o f V o o r . It is w r i t t e n in t h e letters o f the Aklo, w h i c h a r e said to b e a r e v e l a t i o n f r o m c e r t a i n d a r k f o r c e s to their c h o s e n a p o s tles. N o t m a n y u n i n i t i a t e d have s e e n t h o s e letters. You a r e a privileged

m a n , sir. Privileged." W i t h

that, he closed

the b o o k

and

m o t i o n e d m e i n t o t h e n e x t r o o m w h e r e m y m e a l awaited m e . A s I had h a l f - s u s p e c t e d , it c o n s i s t e d p r i n c i p a l l y o f fish. T h e p i c t u r e o f t h e D e e p O n e had i m p r e s s e d m e c o n s i d e r a b l y , f o r t h e c r e a t u r e it depicted a p p e a r e d s o m e h a l f - w a y b e t w e e n a m a n and a frog, h a v i n g d i s t i n c t l y b a t r a c h i a n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , b u t s t a n d i n g alm o s t e r e c t , like a m a n . D e s p i t e the fact that it was clad in a long, dia p h a n o u s r o b e , and w a s a d o r n e d with v a r i o u s p r i m i t i v e , if r i c h , a c c o u t r e m e n t s , t h e t h i n g , in its overall a p p e a r a n c e , r e m i n d e d

me

m o r e than anything o f Aliah Warden.

" T h e m a r s h l a n d s , " said m y h o s t , as I reclined c o m f o r t a b l y in an a r m chair, with a p o s t - p r a n d i a l cigarette, " h a v e l o n g b e e n the h a u n t o f w i t c h e s . T h e y are s o isolated, you see, a n d t h e i r p e o p l e a r e a c c u s t o m e d

406

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

to u n c o v e r the s e c r e t s b o t h o f t h e l a n d and o f the sea. T h e y are, o n e m i g h t say, a m p h i b i o u s . " H e s t o p p e d s h o r t f o r a m o m e n t , and I h a l f f a n c i e d that I s a w a f a i n t b l u s h b e n e a t h t h e g r a y p a l l o r o f his w r i n kled face. " W h a t o f W r a b l e y , i t s e l f ? " I a s k e d . " T h e place s e e m s s o d e s o l a t e , so decrepit." " H a h ! Y o u m a y well ask! H a l f t h e h o u s e s a r e d e s e r t e d — y o u h a v e o n l y to g o d o w n to the w a t e r f r o n t t o see w h a t I m e a n . T h e t i m b e r s are r o t t e n , t h e walls are c r a c k e d , t h e w i n d o w s are b r o k e n . A n d yet, p e o p l e live h e r e , t h o u g h y o u would n o t see m a n y o f t h e m , f o r t h e y will h a v e n o t h i n g to d o with f o r e i g n e r s . O h , yes, W r a b l e y is in E n gland, b u t d o not d e l u d e y o u r s e l f that it is of E n g l a n d . T h e a l l e g i a n c e h e r e is to s o m e t h i n g m u c h o l d e r a n d far m o r e p o w e r f u l . I.et m e tell y o u o f D a g o n , f o r h e is t h e t r u e m a s t e r h e r e . " A g a i n , the o l d m a n p a u s e d , a n d s e e m e d s o m e h o w to b e ill at ease. T h e n , bracing himself, he continued: "His minions, the Deep Ones, are m e n t i o n e d in m a n y texts, s o m e o f w h i c h m a y b e f o u n d o n t h e s e shelves. It b e c o m e s plainer t h e m o r e o n e reads that it is the s u p r e m e test o f t h e s e c r e a t u r e s , t h e d u t y f o r which they are b o r n a n d b r e d , to d o n o t h i n g less t h a n precipitate the final A r m a g e d d o n . A n d that, sir, is f a c t . F a c t ! " His voice was low a n d husky, a n d his e x p r e s s i o n a r r e s t i n g . I b e g a n to fear for t h e m a n ' s sanity. " W h e n the stars a r e in their a p p o i n t e d places, t h e n shall D a g o n lead his s e r v a n t s to the living t o m b o f the O n e b e f o r e w h o m e v e n h e is as n o t h i n g and less t h a n n o t h i n g , a n d t h e r e t h e y shall r e m o v e the seal t h a t b i n d s h i m , and he shall rise in all his m a j e s t y a n d t e r r o r , a n d o p e n the c o s m i c gate to t h e u n s p e a k a b l e and u n k n o w a b l e t h i n g s t h a t lurk outside. C t h u l h u ! G r e a t C t h u l h u ! See h e r e , h e r e ! T h e w o r d s o f D a s h w o o d M o r l e y , as he w r i t e s o f the return of the terrible Priest-God." I stared at the passage to w h i c h h e p o i n t e d , o n e o f M o r l e y ' s " r e v i s i o n s " to o l d d e Lacy's b o o k . S o s t a r t l e d w a s I that it w a s several s e c onds before I could c o m p r e h e n d the insane words. H e k n o w s T h e m b u t d i m l y , yet H i s is t h e m o s t u r g e n t task o f all, for w h e n the stars shall b e in their set p l a c e s , a n d t h e t i m e s b e t w e e n b e a s t h e t i m e s t h a t were, and are, a n d shall b e , t h e n shall H e b e a w o k e n , a n d t h e p r i s o n i n g Seal

be

A L I A H

W A R D E N

407

l i f t e d . T h e n i h e D e e p O n e s shall b e a s o n e w i t h t h e i r M a s ters, a n d T h e y o u t s i d e shall b e freed o n c e m o r e to p o s s e s s T h e i r especial R e a l m . After d a y c o m e s n i g h t , and a f t e r n i g h t , day. Ia! T h e i r d a y shall be y o u r n i g h t . T h e y s l e e p n o w , b u t w h e r e you a r e . T h e y were, and w h e r e y o u a r e n o w . T h e y shall be. " F o r m a n y u n t o l d a e o n s , " said W a r d e n , breathlessly, " C t h u l h u h a s l a i n b e n e a t h the S e a l o f the O l d O n e s , far u n d e r t h e o c e a n , s l e e p i n g a n d d r e a m i n g foully, b u t t h e stars are a p p r o a c h i n g t h e i r p r o p e r p o s i t i o n s , a n d t h e god is restless. T h e D e e p O n e s have n o t b e e n idle in p r e p a r i n g his way. I give you w a r n i n g ! " T h e o l d m a n gulped, and p e e r e d a r o u n d h i m n e r v o u s l y . T h e n h e s t e a d i e d himself, b u t I c o u l d s e e that t h e r e was a t w i t c h o r tic a f f e c t i n g the lid o f his p r o t u b e r a n t left eye. " W i t c h c r a f t , I said, and w i t c h e s they are, b u t in W r a b l e y they w o r s h i p a d a r k e r devil t h a n e v e r that f o o l l a m e s c o u l d h a v e i m a g i n e d ! T h e D e e p O n e s may, p e r h a p s , b e c o n s i d e r e d a s a parallel d e v e l o p m e n t to m a m m a l i a n life. F o r c e n t u r i e s , o u r s a i l o r s have told tales o f i n t e l l i g e n t life in the sea. N o n s e n s e ! said s o m e . M e r m a i d s , said others. M e r m a i d s ! Hah! If o n l y they k n e w . . . . " T h e D e e p O n e s , y o u see, have i n t e r b r e d with h u m a n b e i n g s . " " M y d e a r s i r ! " I p r o t e s t e d . " T h i s is o u t l a n d i s h ! Q u i t e a b s u r d . Mere superstition." " N o , n o ! " he replied, w a r m l y . " I t is t r u t h , sir. T r u t h ! O h , it h a s h a p p e n e d in m a n y p l a c e s — i n i s l a n d s o f t h e w a r m s o u t h e r n seas, and in t h e civili/.ed w o r l d , t o o . In E n g l a n d , at Gate's Quay, a n d at W y v e r n , a n d h e r e . H a h ! Yes, h e r e , a t W r a b l e y ! H e r e ! " He

was

working

himself

up

now, s w e a t i n g

profusely,

and

t h e t w i t c h w a s m o r e m a r k e d . N o w t h a t it was w e t , his c r u s t y skin s e e m e d s o m e h o w c u r i o u s l y scaly, a n d h i s eyes b u l g e d h o r r i b l y . I w a s t o o taken a b a c k to i n t e r r u p t h i m , and h e c o n t i n u e d ,

stammering

rather. " B a c k — o h , h u n d r e d s o f years b a c k — i n t h e e a r l y s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y , t h e b o o k s say . . . T h e p e o p l e here d o n ' t r e m e m b e r w h e n , y o u see, b u t they r e m e m b e r

what!

T h e t h i n g t h a t Jabe/. M a r t y r

brought back with him from beyond the Indies—the thing that

408

T H E

N E W

L O V E C R A F T

C I R C L E

h e c a l l e d h i s w i f e . W h y w e r e t h e s a i l o r ' s c h i l d r e n n o t s e e n again w h e n t h e y r e a c h e d m a t u r i t y ? It was t h e n , I tell you, t h e n t h a t t h e d e c l i n e set in . . . O h , yes, this town had b e e n an i m p o r t a n t m a r i t i m e c e n t r e ; it was a b o r o u g h , b u t w h e r e is its g l o r y n o w ? G o n e

with

t h e c o m i n g o f t h e o u t s i d e r s ! Fish, fish b e c a m e t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h e t o w n . Fish, that t h e m e n o f M a l d o n and

Lowestoft

c o u l d n e v e r m a t c h . B u i they d i d n ' t sell it, you see; t h e y a t e it. A n d t h e y k e p t t h e m s e l v e s to t h e m s e l v e s . F l a h ! D o you k n o w why t h e m e n o f t h e m a r s h e s s h u n W r a b l e y , as t h e y have d o n e for c e n t u r i e s ? A n d w h a t g o e s o n in t h a t Flail o f D a g o n , w h i l e the c h u r c h is e m p t y ? / k n o w . And

why do the townsfolk

look

only half-human

F T h e old m a n

s e e m e d n e a r to c o l l a p s i n g w i t h h i s i n s a n e e x h a u s t i o n . I was a l o n e with a m a d m a n in t h e d a r k n e s s o f a w i n t e r n i g h t , a n d I s h u d d e r e d a t the t h o u g h t . He noticed, and smiled grimly. " L o o k at m e ! " he c o m m a n d e d . "Look

at me! A m I n o t living p r o o f o f hell h e r e o n earth?

O h , D a g o n ! W h y have y o u delayed s o l o n g ? W h y t o r m e n t m e , w h e n w h e t h e r I will o r n o t I m u s t s o o n g o to j o i n m y b r o t h e r s b e n e a t h t h e w a t e r s and p r e p a r e f o r the t r i u m p h that is to c o m e ? " H e w a s r a c k e d s u d d e n l y by u n c o n t r o l l a b l e s o b s ;

tears

filled

his h u g e e y e s ,

and

h i s n a r r o w s h o u l d e r s s h u d d e r e d . T h e m a n was m a d ! Utterly, i n c u r ably m a d ! T h e n h e s a w t h e e x p r e s s i o n o n m y face, a n d his o w n s h o w e d a n g e r . " Y o u d o n ' t b e l i e v e ! " h e cried. " F l a h ! I'll s h o w y o u ! I had m y p r i d e o n c e , a n d w h y d o y o u t h i n k I h a v e s o m u c h h a i r o n this v e n e r a b l e head, w h e n I c o u l d n o t g r o w a beard ever? See, see, u n b e l i e v e r ! " Shockingly, inexorably, he demonstrated the very truth o f the ins a n i t y o f t h i s w o r l d . W e live o u r lives in a m i s t , and w h e n it is lifted, b e it o n l y f o r a s e c o n d , s t a r k h o r r o r is r e v e a l e d . W h e n I s a w w h a t I saw, I lied in awe and disgust f r o m that h a u n t e d h o u s e in t h a t h a u n t e d t o w n . I ran, s t u m b l i n g a n d t o t t e r i n g f r o m W r a b l e y , until I reached the outskirts o f Maldon, a n d there I collapsed, exhausted, a n d lay u n d e r a h e d g e u n t i l d a y b r e a k , w h e n I m i g h t c a t c h the

first

t r a i n h o m e to L o n d o n , safety, a n d sanity. Even now, I c a n feel o n l y fear and h o r r o r f o r t h e c r e a t u r e t h a t I left, c o l l a p s e d , t w i t c h i n g and m o a n i n g , as in a fit, in that h o u s e o n M u r r e l l Hill, f o r w h a t I s a w was this: A l i a h W a r d e n p u t h i s h a n d , h i s w e b b e d h a n d , to h i s h e a d , and

A L I A H

W A R D E N

409

o f f h i s b e n e v o l e n t m o p o f w h i t e hair. I h a r d l y h e a r d h i m a s

lifted

h e m u t t e r e d , " I had m y p r i d e , a n d I w a s h u m a n , o n c e . . . " F o r I saw, a n d r e a l i z e d h o r r i b l y , t h a t the grey, closely little be

covered ears

gills.

were

with coarse, two

icthyic

rudimentary

scales, growths

bald while that

skin behind might

of his head and or

below might

was his not

The Last Supper Donald R. Burleson

T

h e place had a hellish a p p e a r a n c e o n a n i g h t like this. M y h e a r t was q u i c k e n e d b o t h by the p h a n t a s m a l l a n d s c a p e a n d b y t h e

p r o s p e c t o f t h e a w e s o m e l y s i g n i f i c a n t and d a r k l y a p p r o p r i a t e deed w h i c h lay a h e a d . T h i s was P r e s c o t t Village B u r i a l G r o u n d — o n e

of

t h o s e a n c i e n t a n d o b s c u r e New E n g l a n d g r a v e y a r d s o f w h i c h

no

a e s t h e t i c a l l y sensitive g h o u l c o u l d fail to b e f o n d , lying a s it did o n a r u t t e d and little-travelled r o a d , w i t h a w e e d - b a n k e d and s o m b r e l o o k i n g river

flowing

sluggishly b e h i n d t h e b a c k m o s t s t o n e f e n c e ,

a n d w i t h n o t h i n g o n e i t h e r s i d e save u n t e n a n t e d a n d d r e a r ) ' s t r e t c h e s o f rocky terrain. T h e graveyard i t s e l f w a s a g h o u l ' s d e l i g h t , e x t e n d i n g a c o n s i d e r able d i s t a n c e b a c k f r o m t h e gate by t h e r o a d , and from t h e r i c k e t y w o o d e n s h a c k u s e d b y the n i g h t w a t c h m a n — b a c k o v e r s a b l e u n d u l a t i o n s o f s p a r s e l y g r a s s - c o v e r e d g r o u n d s p o t t e d at c l o s e i n t e r v a l s by t o m b s t o n e s w h i c h were at first t h e m a r k e r s o f relatively r e c e n t i n t e r m e n t s , b u t w h i c h b e c a m e , as o n e p r o g r e s s e d t o w a r d the b a c k , o l d e r a n d m o r e i l l - p r e s e r v e d , until in a d a r k c o r n e r farthest r e m o v e d f r o m t h e r o a d the s t o n e s b e c a m e t h o s e b l a c k slate relics w h i c h

marked,

with t h e i r a r c h a i c i n s c r i p t i o n s a n d p o n d e r o u s c a r v i n g s , the s l u m b e r i n g places o f t h e town's e a r l y settlers. T h i s m o s t a n c i e n t c o r n e r w a s to m e a r t i s t i c a l l y the m o s t pleasi n g , e s p e c i a l l y with a h a z y s k y a b o v e t h e m o u n d - h o v e r i n g willows, a n d especially with a f a i n t l y s o u g h i n g w i n d w h i c h stirred t h e trees i n t o a slight b u t c h a r m i n g a n i m a t i o n . B u t , q u i t e a p a r t f r o m s u c h

T H E

LAST

S U P P E R

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aesthetic considerations, I must confess that the newer portions o f this q u a i n t n e c r o p o l i s were o f m o r e d i r e c t a n d p r a c t i c a l m e a n i n g to m e , b e c a u s e in t h e i m m e m o r i a l b a c k m o s t graves w h o s e slate m a r k e r s b o r e i n s c r i p t i o n s b e l o n g i n g to the e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y , t h e r e w a s n o w n o t h i n g o f which a questing ghoul could make a morsel. T h e nearer a n d m o r e r e c e n t graves had i n d e e d k n o w n d e f i l e m e n t n o t o n l y by m e b u t by a n u m b e r o f m y c o m p a n i o n s o f k i n d r e d a p p e t i t e . It was b e c a u s e o f the u n t i m e l y d e a t h o f o n e o f t h o s e n o c t u r n a l p r a c t i t i o n e r s o f p r o f a n a t i o n , in fact, t h a t m y s u r v i v i n g friends a n d I had c o m e h e r e o n this special n i g h t , had c o m e f o r u n c o m m o n feastings. G h o u l s w e all were, w i t h s u c h an u n h o l y k i n s h i p o f s y m p a t h e t i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t we h a d n e v e r e v e n d i s c u s s e d t h e p a r t i c u l a r n i g h t o n which we m u s t g a t h e r in s o l e m n c o n c l a v e — w e had s i m p l y k n o w n , a n d had c o m e . W e were u n s e e n , b u t w e w e r e p r e s e n t . T h e o n l y v i s i b l e m o t i o n in all this g l o o m y s c e n e w a s t h e b o b b i n g o f the light as t h e v e n e r a b l e n i g h t w a t c h m a n m a d e his r o u n d s , s h u f fling p h l e g m a t i c a l l y a l o n g t h e paths a m o n g t h e graves a n d t a k i n g c o p i o u s pulls at the b o t t l e which h e kept, w e well k n e w , c l o s e a t h a n d . W e w a t c h e d in m o r b i d a n d q u i e t a m u s e m e n t f r o m o u r v a r i o u s d a r k h i d i n g p l a c e s — h e r e b e h i n d a large g n a r l e d o a k , t h e r e b e h i n d an esp e c i a l l y b r o a d slab, t h e r e again in the s h a d o w o f a m o u n d , e v e r y w h e r e c o n c e a l m e n t w a s offered. D r a w i n g o c c a s i o n a l l y i n t o d e e p e r s h a d o w as the light s w u n g near, w e w a t c h e d t h e p e r a m b u l a t i n g

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ure, w a t c h e d even a s he s t e p p e d past the v e r ) ' g r a v e w h o s e c o m p e l l i n g interest had d r a w n u s t o g e t h e r . T h i s w a s t h e g r a v e o f R o w l e y A m e s , w h o m w e had all k n o w n and revered o v e r m a n y years o f f o r b i d d e n p l e a s u r e - t a k i n g : R o w l e y A m e s , w h o s e v i r t u o s i c c o m m a n d o f t h e art o f g h o u l e r y m y c o m p a n i o n s a n d I c o u l d o n l y regard with p r o f o u n d r e s p e c t a n d , in t r u t h , g e n u i n e a w e . H e had b e e n the M a s t e r , a n d a y o u n g p e r s o n o f n e c r o p h a g o u s i n c l i n a t i o n c o u l d d o n o b e t t e r t h a n to s t u d y at t h e s i d e o f this inspiri n g and i n s p i r e d n o c t u r n a l lurker, o b s e r v i n g a n d i m i t a t i n g h i m as h e d e l i b e r a t e d u p o n the t i m e a n d place o f h i s c o n q u e s t , e x h u m e d s o m e c a r e f u l l y c h o s e n s u b j e c t f r o m t h e c h a r n e l e a r t h , a n d s p e n t the n e x t h o u r i m m e r s e d in u n h a l l o w e d r e n d i n g a n d c h e w i n g , as o n l y a truly gifted artist m i g h t . I had l e a r n e d m u c h f r o m h i m m y s e l f , a n d I was h e r e t o n i g h t , a s were m y c o l l e a g u e s , to p a y g r a t e f u l last r e s p e c t s — n o t t h e insipid

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m e m o r i a l s o f his i d i o t i c a l l y c o n v e n t i o n a l f u n e r a l weeks b e f o r e , b u t t h e o n e s i n g l e , special t r i b u t e that we c o u l d b e s t lavish u p o n h i m . W e had all u n d e r s t o o d f r o m t h e o u t s e t , naturally, that t h e u n i q u e t r i b u t e to be paid R o w l e y A m e s m u s t c o n s i s t o f o u r g a t h e r i n g at his g r a v e f o r o n e w h o l l y r e m a r k a b l e feast: the e a t i n g o f h i s o w n l o n g m o n s t r o u s l y nourished carcass. O f c o u r s e it w o u l d b e a s y m b o l i c act; t h e r e were fully twelve o f us, t h e r e m a i n d e r o f a c o r p s e - d e v o u r i n g c o v e n m i n u s its e r s t w h i l e leader, a n d f o r e a c h o f u s his b o d y , e s p e c i a l l y w a s t e d as it was b y h i s final

illness, w o u l d p r o v i d e o n l y a t o k e n i n g e s t i o n — b u t it would b e

e n o u g h , a n d it w o u l d b e , we felt, t h e o n e w a y h e w o u l d h a v e w a n t e d to b e r e m e m b e r e d . W e had waited, by c o m m o n tacit u n d e r s t a n d i n g , several w e e k s f o r a p r o p e r p u t r e s c e n c e , a n d n o w it w a s t i m e . " O n l y t h e m a n o f intellect a n d j u d g m e n t , " the g a s t r o n o m e r B r i l l a t - S a v a r i n h a s r e m i n d e d us, " k n o w s h o w t o eat." I w a t c h e d with s o m e i m p a t i e n c e f r o m m y p o i n t o f c o n c e a l m e n t , as I k n e w t h e o t h e r s were w a t c h i n g , while the s h u f f l i n g

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b e a r e r c o m p l e t e d his r o u n d s a n d r e t u r n e d to t h e d e c r e p i t s h a c k n e a r t h e f r o n t gate. B e f o r e l o n g h e had c o l l a p s e d i n t o the usual a l c o h o l i c stupor, and w e e m e r g e d f r o m t h e s h a d o w s to get o n with o u r affair. U n d e r a pallid m o o n w e g a t h e r e d at t h e g r a v e o f R o w l e y A m e s a n d e x c h a n g e d s i l e n t b u t k n o w i n g g l a n c e s . T h e g r a v e was s i t u a t e d n o t , o f c o u r s e , in the b a c k m o s t a r c h a i c c o r n e r w h i c h h a d s o a p p e a l e d to his s e n s e o f a e s t h e t i c c h a r m , b u t r a t h e r in t h e n e w e r s e c t i o n a m i d s t a c t u a l f o r m e r r e c i p i e n t s o f his n o c t u r n a l a t t e n t i o n s . I n d e e d , it was i r o n i c t h a t the two graves flanking his o w n were graves w h i c h , a s it h a p p e n e d , his h a n d s a n d teeth had o n c e defiled. A n d n o w it was h i s t u r n — w e had c o m e to p a y h i m the u l t i m a t e t r i b u t e . W o r d s c a n scarcely c o n v e y the e a g e r n e s s , t h e titillation, the s e n s e o f r e v e r e n t i a l awe with w h i c h w e delved i n t o t h e foul e a r t h , t u r n i n g an o c c a s i o n a l f u r t i v e eye o v e r the s h o u l d e r to see that w e were u n o b s e r v e d , o r i n d u l g i n g in an o c c a s i o n a l a p p r e c i a t i v e g l a n c e a t t h e wan m o o n l i t s k y f o r m i n g , with the p h a n t a s m a l willows o v e r h a n g i n g m o s s y stones, s o g h a s t l y a s e t t i n g for o u r a n t i c i p a t e d d e e d . W e fairly d r o o l e d in that a n t i c i p a t i o n , o u r m o u t h s w o r k i n g a n d m o v i n g a s if already b u s y at d e l e c t a b l e s u b t e r r a n e o u s pleasures. A s w e w o r k e d feverishly to u n c o v e r h i s c o f f i n , my u p p e r m o s t t h o u g h t was s o m e t i m e s my respect f o r m y o l d M a s t e r a n d s o m e t i m e s s i m p l y the g u s t a t o r y ecstasy

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t h a i was to c o m e with the d e v o u r i n g o f o n e w h o h i m s e l f had fed u p o n c o u n t l e s s u p h e a v e d b o x e s o f c a r r i o n delight. A n d in the m i d s t o f s u c h m u s i n g s I felt my h a n d reach a hard s u r f a c e t h r o u g h t h e c l a m m y soil, a n d k n e w that the feast w a s to c o m m e n c e f o r t h w i t h . W h e e z i n g a n d p a n t i n g with the e x e r t i o n , w e lifted the c o f f i n u p o n t o level g r o u n d a n d g a t h e r e d a b o u t it in a c i r c l e o f a n x i o u s faces. T h e r e in t h a t c h a r n e l s c e n e o f s p e c t r a l , s i c k l y m o o n , m o r b i d l a n d s c a p e , and s i g h i n g n i g h t w i n d , we were g a t h e r e d , his faithful s t u d e n t s in u n s p e a k a b l e a r t s , ready to b e h o l d h i s m i a s m a l r e m a i n s , to a d m i r e , to p a r t a k e . W e m o u t h e d c e r t a i n b l a s p h e m o u s l i t a n i e s a p p r o p r i a t e to t h e c e r e m o n i o u s n e s s o f the o c c a s i o n , and p r i e d o p e n the c a s k e t . It t o o k u s a few s e c o n d s to u n d e r s t a n d w h a t w e were s e e i n g . B y w h a t u n t h i n k a b l e p r o c e s s I d o n o t k n o w — b u t by s o m e i n c o n c e i v able o r g a n i c p r o c e s s , he lived! H e lived'. R o w l e y A m e s was a n i m a t e , s t i r r i n g — t h o u g h fiaggingly, a s i f h e were n o w d y i n g a n e w . B u t it was n o t this fact, in itself, t h a t s e n t u s p r e c i p i t a t e l y s c a t t e r i n g in r e v u l s i o n a n d d i s m a y — n o t t h e m e r e fact o f his o d d r e a n i m a t i o n o r the h o l l o w , s a r d o n i c laugh w i t h w h i c h h e g r e e t e d u s a s t h e c o f f i n lid was raised. W e m i g h t h a v e b e e n glad, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , to e x p e r i e n c e s u c h u n a n t i c i p a t e d , u n i m a g i n a b l e r e u n i o n with o u r M a s t e r — c e r t a i n l y o u r r e a c t i o n would n o t n o r m a l l y h a v e b e e n to disp e r s e h e a d l o n g i n t o the n i g h t a n d leave t h a t s c e n e at t h e g r a v e site w h i c h a r e p o r t e r would d e s c r i b e w i t h s o m u c h disgust in t h e newsp a p e r t h e f o l l o w i n g day. N ' o — w h a t s e e m e d i n s u p p o r t a b l e to us, rather, w a s t h e fact t h a t t h e c o n s u m m a t e g h o u l R o w l e y A m e s lay t h e r e in his coffin with a h i d e o u s l y b l o a t e d b e l l y b u t w i t h m o s t o f the rest o f t h e sinewy, w o r m y m a s s o f his b o d y l o a t h s o m e l y g n a w e d away. T h e w r e t c h had waited, t o o , t h o u g h n o t q u i t e s o l o n g as w e , a n d , w r i t h i n g i n t o q u e e r a n i m a t i o n in his c o f f i n , had eaten

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b o v e S c r a n t o n , t h e S u s q u e h a n n a is n a r r o w e r a n d m o r e w i n d ing, a n d it is far m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g a s it s w i t c h b a c k s its w a y f r o m

t h e n o r t h w e s t o u t o f N e w York t h a n is t h e s l o w e r and m o r e stately p a r t o f the river to t h e s o u t h . It flows t h r o u g h l a n d t h a t f o r a h i g h l y p o p u l a t e d s t a t e is s o m e t i m e s s u r p r i s i n g l y p r i m i t i v e , a n d it is n o t t o o difficult, were you to travel its l e n g t h t h r o u g h the hills o f n o r t h c e n tral P e n n s y l v a n i a , to c o m e to o n e o f a d o z e n o r m o r e s m a l l t o w n s , t o w n s w i t h s o m e t i m e s o n l y t w e n t y o r s o h o u s e s , with p e r h a p s a s t o r e a n d a c h u r c h — t o w n s t h a t t i m e a n d p r o g r e s s s e e m to have i g n o r e d o r f o r g o t t e n . A n d the p e o p l e w h o live in t h e m o r a r o u n d t h e m , w h i l e n e v e r o v e r t l y u n f r i e n d l y , f o r r e a s o n s o f their o w n keep to t h e m s e l v e s a n d d o n o t s e e m to c a r e m u c h for the rest o f the world. A b o v e S k i n n e r ' s Eddy, G a r l o c k ' s B e n d was s u c h a t o w n . I g r e w u p o n a f a r m just a f e w m i l e s d o w n s t r e a m , and my first m e m o r i e s o f it are as lazy a n d s l o w as the s u m m e r h e a t in the g r e e n hills. It is a g h o s t t o w n now, j u s t a b u n c h o f tired a n d w o r n o u t b u i l d i n g s , s o m e o f them leaning precariously—rotted w o o d on rotten foundations. B u t w h e n I w a s y o u n g it w a s vital a n d as p r o s p e r o u s a s s u c h a s m a l l t o w n s o o u t o f the way c o u l d p o s s i b l y b e . It was the river t h a t did it. It w a s the river a n d the t h i n g that h a p p e n e d in the river t h a t t o o k the spirit o u t o f t h e t o w n and c a u s e d its p e o p l e to, 1 don't k n o w , t o j u s t m o v e a w a y — o n e family, s o m e t i m e s t w o f a m i l i e s at a t i m e . A n d t h e n t h e y w e r e all g o n e . T h e t o w n w a s abandoned.

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G a r l o c k s B e n d w a s r i g h t on the river, o r o n a swell o f it ( w e locals with t y p i c a l P e n n s y l v a n i a D u t c h e n t h u s i a s m a c t u a l l y called it a lake, a l t h o u g h it w a s o n l y j u s t a very wide, s l o w s p o t w h e r e t h e river c a m e t h r a s h i n g o u t o f the tight hills, c a l m i n g quickly, d e e p e n i n g , and w i d e n i n g ) , a n d t h e c h u r c h was tight d o w n a g a i n s t t h e water, s h a d e d a n d c o o l e d b y a s t a n d o f large s y c a m o r e . T h e y were t h i n g s to l o o k a t f r o m a piece d o w n s t r e a m — t h e trees, the t o w n , the c h u r c h , a n d t h e h i g h hills b e h i n d t h e w h o l e o f it. T h e y were t h i n g s that c o u l d m a k e y o u love G a r l o c k ' s B e n d . W e were o n e o f the first f a m i l i e s to m o v e away, and a l t h o u g h I a m s u r e we fussed a b o u t it, w e c h i l d r e n were n e v e r told why w e left. T h e r e was s o m e vague talk a b o u t m y f a t h e r g e t t i n g a j o b d o w n in H a r r i s b u r g , b u t I t h o u g h t w i t h o u t e v e r s a y i n g it that t h e r e w a s s o m e o t h e r r e a s o n . In t h e w e e k o r ten days b e f o r e o u r d e p a r t u r e m y pare n t s s e e m e d q u i t e a g i t a t e d , e s p e c i a l l y s o m y father. O f t e n they would s t o p t a l k i n g if w e c a m e n e a r t h e m , o r t h e y w o u l d c h a n g e the s u b j e c t , t a l k i n g a little t o o fast a n d a little t o o loudly. A n d w e were in t h o s e last f e w days s t e r n l y f o r b i d d e n to g o a n y w h e r e n e a r the river. T h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g s o u r g e n t in t h a t c o m m a n d that w e n e v e r q u e s t i o n e d it. Anyway, we left. I w o u l d have m u c h p r e f e r r e d to s t a y in t h o s e f a m i l i a r hills n e a r t h e f r i e n d s o f all m y y o u t h , b u t I had t h e fickle i n a t tentive m i n d o f a y o u n g s t e r , a n d s o o n I had s o m e n e w p l a y m a t e s d o w n in H a r r i s b u r g . Bit b y b i t I c a m e to realize t h a t G a r l o c k ' s B e n d was n o t t h e o n l y place in t h e world. Bit b y bit I p u t it o u t o f m y m i n d . N o w I a m a m a t h e m a t i c i a n by p r o f e s s i o n . In c e r t a i n n a r r o w c i r cles I a m q u i t e well k n o w n . A n d s o it w a s n o t a t all u n u s u a l f o r m e to find m y s e l f invited to l e c t u r e this past s u m m e r session a t S t a u n t o n , a s m a l l liberal arts c o l l e g e just a d o z e n o r s o m i l e s d o w n river f r o m G a r l o c k ' s B e n d . I would o n c e a g a i n , b y l u c k y c h a n c e , visit the l a n d o f m y y o u t h . A n d w h i l e I m i g h t n e v e r have r e t u r n e d solely t o visit m y h o m e t o w n , I was h a p p y l o avail m y s e l f o f t h e c h a n c e , n o w that it seemed so convenient. Curiously, after I accepted the position, and starting almost at t h e moment

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t u r n . I q u i c k l y c a m e to t h e p o i n t that I c o u l d not get G a r l o c k ' s B e n d o u t o f m y m i n d . A n d as I r e m e m b e r e d t h i n g s l o n g a g o c h i l d i s h l y d i s m i s s e d , a s I r e m e m b e r e d t h e river, I had s t r a n g e ,

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feelings o f u n e a s i n e s s , o f u n b a l a n c e , o f distaste e v e n , b e g i n to g r o w w i t h i n m e . It was, t h e w h o l e o f it, a c u r i o u s m i x o f p l e a s u r e a n d d i s p l e a s u r e , o f delight and d r e a d , a n d had I k n o w n w h a t was in s t o r e f o r m e , I w o u l d h a v e yielded t o t h e s e s u d d e n m i x e d and m o s t l y u n h a p p y feelings a n d stayed away. I wish I had. W h e n you visit G a r l o c k ' s B e n d y o u drive d o w n o u t o f e x t r e m e l y h i g h hills to t h e valley below. A s the d e s c e n t b e g i n s , y o u c o m e s u d d e n l y out o f t h e t h i c k g r e e n forest, and t h e w h o l e o f the valley t h e n s e e m s to o p e n u p . A n d y o u c a t c h g l i m p s e s o f the t o w n n o w a n d again at o v e r l o o k s a s t h e n a r r o w r o a d c u r l s d o w n w a r d , v a g u e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e c h u r n i n g a n d t h r a s h i n g o f t h e r a p i d l y falling river, i n t o t h e valley far b e l o w . I s t o p p e d at several o f t h e s e o v e r l o o k s t h e d a v I a r r i v e d , for pleas u r e a t first b e c a u s e I h a d n o t even s e e n the t o w n in s o m e f o r t y years, a n d never

f r o m t h a t v a n t a g e p o i n t , a n d t h e n I s t o p p e d b e c a u s e I felt

m y s e l f d r a w n to the o v e r l o o k s . It was as if I w a n t e d to t a k e in t h e w h o l e o f the t o w n b e f o r e I c a m e to it. As if I w a n t e d to revisit at o n c e all o f m y lost past. B u t n o t h i n g t h a t I c o u l d s e e f r o m t h e h i g h hills told m e a n y t h i n g but that the town was indeed deserted, decrepit, downfallen. 1 was o v e r c o m e with s u d d e n feelings o f h o p e l e s s n e s s , o f s a d n e s s , o f a strange kind o f loneliness. And 1 was astonished at the intensity o f t h e s e feelings. W h e n I had c o m e d o w n o u t o f t h e hills, I d r o p p e d o f f t h e m a i n h i g h w a y o n t o t h e o l d dirt road t h a t c r a w l e d a l o n g the river, past t h i c k s t a n d s o f h e m l o c k and t h i n s c r a g g l y b r u s h , until it c a m e to G a r l o c k ' s B e n d , a n d t h e n I m a d e m y way c a r e f u l l y d o w n the o n l y street o f t h e s i l e n t little t o w n . It w a s like d r i v i n g b a c k w a r d s i n t o t i m e . I e a s e d m y c a r a r o u n d t h e d e b r i s t h a t w a s s t r e w n a b o u t h a p h a z a r d l y . It l o o k e d a s i f no o n e had e v e n been

on M a i n S t r e e t f o r years. I parked just o p p o -

site the r e m a i n s o f Miller's, G a r l o c k ' s B e n d ' s o n l y h a r d w a r e s t o r e . T h e S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g s I had s p e n t t h e r e with m y f a t h e r ! A n d n o w t h e r o o f o f t h e f r o n t p o r c h had fallen d o w n , and the large p i c t u r e w i n d o w w a s b r o k e n . I c o u l d h a r d l y see i n t o the b u i l d i n g , b u t it s e e m e d p r o b a b l e to m e that l o o t e r s h a d taken all they p o s s i b l y c o u l d , a n d t h e n t i m e and t h e d u s t had g o t t e n t h e b e t t e r o f w h a t was left. I spent a n h o u r o r m o r e just walking the length o f that desolate

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town, peering into a n y window, any nook o r cranny that I might, s u d d e n little i n s i g h t s , like m e m o r i e s p r i c k i n g a t m y c o n s c i o u s n e s s , like l o n g f o r g o t t e n m e l o d i e s . It w a s a bittersweet p a s t i m e . S u d d e n l y , t h e r e it was. O f f a h e a d o f m e in the d i s t a n c e , d o w n tight t o the e d g e o f the water, t h e c h u r c h o f all m y y o u t h . In e v e r y o n e o f m y f a n t a s i e s c o n c e r n i n g G a r l o c k ' s B e n d I always c a m e again to the c h u r c h . It had b e e n the c e n t e r o f s o m u c h that I r e m e m b e r e d with p l e a s u r e . S o o n I w a s s t a n d i n g d o w n b y the water, l o o k i n g u p t h r o u g h t h e trees at t h e d o u b l e d o o r s and the w o o d e n c r o s s j u s t above t h e m . T h e church s o m e h o w seemed new and clean. I r e m e m b e r noting h o w curious t h a t was, a n d h o w s m a l l a n d t i m i d t h e w h o l e o f it m a d e m e feel. T h e o n l y n o t i o n I h a d o f s o u n d was the g e n t l e l a p p i n g o f t h e river. N'o o t h e r s o u n d . I.ong years b e f o r e I had c l i m b e d t h e f e w s t e p s b e f o r e the church dozens o f times and more. Hundreds o f times. And n o w c i r c u m s t a n c e s had c h a n g e d m e s o c o m p l e t e l y t h a t I m a r v e l e d a t h o w like an i n t e r l o p e r I felt m y s e l f t o b e . A l s o , I had a c u r i o u s s e n s e o f w h i m s y b e c a u s e o f the p o o r c o n d i t i o n o f the steps. O d d , I t h o u g h t , t h a t I m i g h t g o c r a s h i n g t h r o u g h a n d b r e a k an a r m o r a leg. T h e t h o u g h t m a d e m e d o u b l y c a u t i o u s b e c a u s e had s u c h a t h i n g h a p p e n e d it w o u l d h a v e b e e n d r e a d f u l — f r o m all t h a t I h a d s e e n I w a s c e r t a i n t h e r e w a s n o o n e a r o u n d in all t h a t d e s o l a t i o n to r e s c u e m e . 1 moved carefully through the old building, conscious o f the dust, t h e u b i q u i t o u s dust, a n d t h e m o r d a n t smells o f the p a s t . It is c u r i o u s h o w s m e l l s a l o n e c a n pull lost m e m o r i e s b a c k i n t o o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s w i t h a s w i f t n e s s that a s t o n i s h e s . T h e s m e l l s o f t h a t o l d church took m e quickly and completely. I s o o n f o u n d m y s e l f s i t t i n g in t h e d u s t y pew t h a t o u r f a m i l y had u s e d l o n g ago, and 1 a d m i t t o b e i n g a l m o s t o v e r c o m e w i t h n o s t a l g i a . I d o n o t k n o w h o w l o n g I sat t h e r e , lost in t h o s e m e m o r i e s o f m y y o u t h . S o m e t e n s o f m i n u t e s at least. It w a s t h e n s o q u i e t I c o u l d hear t h e stillness o f t h e place r i n g i n g in m y e a r s . A n d it s e e m e d to m e , lost a s I w a s in all that stillness, t h a t i f I really listened, if I really tried to hear, just vaguely a n d f a r a w a y I could

hear, with p r i s t i n e clarity, the v o i c e s o f m y folks a n d m y f r i e n d s

o f l o n g a g o , s i n g i n g all the o l d s o n g s . I w a n t e d t o w e e p , as d o w e all a t s u c h t i m e s I s u s p e c t , for m y lost i n n o c e n c e .

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H o w t e m p o r a l life s u d d e n l y s e e m e d to m e . I was b r o u g h t r o u n d r a t h e r quickly. I had

t h o u g h t m y s e l f to b e

totally a l o n e — i n t h a t silent c h u r c h and in that f o r g o t t e n t o w n . I n e v e r w o u l d have d r e a m e d it c o u l d b e o t h e r w i s e . B u t s u d d e n l y , f r o m s o m e w h e r e in t h e c e l l a r o f the c h u r c h , just b e n e a t h m e , I d i s t i n c t l y heard a l o w h e a v y t h u d , as if s o m e t h i n g o f e x t r e m e w e i g h t had j u s t fallen. A f e w s e c o n d s o f u t t e r s i l e n c e and t h e n I h e a r d t h e t h i n g s l a m again, m o r e c l e a r l y still. A n d t h e n o n c e m o r e . T o say that I w a s s t a r t l e d b y thai k n o c k i n g w o u l d b e s o m e t h i n g o f an u n d e r s t a t e m e n t . B u t I r e m e m b e r t h a t at the t i m e I w a s o n l y slightly f r i g h t e n e d . T h e r e are t i m e s in o u r lives w h e n w i t h o u t r e a s o n w e act f o o l ishly, e v e n i r r a t i o n a l l y . W e d o t h i n g s w e c o u l d n o t p o s s i b l y later e x p l a i n . Now

I k n o w h o w i r r a t i o n a l w a s m y n e x t a c t ; then

it s e e m e d to

m e to b e the m o s t n a t u r a l t h i n g in t h e w o r l d to do. At t h e t i m e m y i m m e d i a t e and o n l y t h o u g h t was that I s h o u l d g o d o w n i n t o the c e l l a r and find t h e s o u r c e o f t h e n o i s e . Never m i n d t h e fact t h a t I w a s a l o n e and in a t o t a l l y isolated p l a c e — a place w h e r e t h e r e c o u l d be n o s t r a n g e s o u n d s , a p l a c e w h e r e t h e r e c o u l d n o t p o s sibly b e a n y t h i n g to make

such noises.

I q u i c k l y f o u n d t h e d o o r to the cellar. It was s t u c k f r o m d i s u s e , b u t with a s e r i e s o f i m p a t i e n t little j e r k s I m a n a g e d to get it o p e n just w i d e e n o u g h to s q u e a k t h r o u g h . I c o u l d o n l y i m a g i n e h o w f o o l i s h I m u s t l o o k , p u l l i n g and fretting a t that c r e p i t a t i n g d o o r , f l u s t e r i n g t h e d r y d u s t that swirled in t h e little shafts o f s u n l i g h t that c a m e t h r o u g h t h e s i m p l e s t a i n e d glass w i n d o w s . T h e r e was o n l y s i l e n c e n o w f r o m b e l o w . S i l e n c e s o l o u d as to alm o s t ring in m y e a r s . T h e little w o o d e n s t e p s d o w n i n t o the c e l l a r w e r e n a r r o w and b a d l y r o t t e d . I t h o u g h t a g a i n o f c r a s h i n g t h r o u g h steps and t h e r e b e i n g n o o n e w h o would e v e r know, no o n e w h o c o u l d a s c r i b e a n e n d to m e . B u t t h e t h o u g h t did n o t s t a y with m e for l o n g , s o d e t e r m i n e d was I. " H e l l o ? " I called. " H e l l o ? Is a n y o n e d o w n t h e r e ? " H o w that

c o u l d b e w a s s o m e t h i n g that did not o c c u r to m e to

w o n d e r a b o u t in m y e x c i t e m e n t . T h e f l o o r a b o v e was c o v e r e d with a t h i n layer o f drv g r a y d u s t w h i c h o n l y I had d i s t u r b e d . All t r a c k s w e r e m i n e . I was i n d e e d a l o n e .

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N o w o n t h e s t e p s 1 n o t i c e d that t h e dust, w h i c h a b o v e was p o w d e r y a n d drv, was a l m o s t b l a c k a n d was o i l y o r e v e n w a x y in t e x t u r e , f r o m t h e d a m p n e s s a n d d e c a y b e l o w t h e g r o u n d level, a n d the a i r w a s m u s t y a n d stale, as if it had b e e n b o t t l e d in f o r years. I m o v e d d o w n t h e stairs carefully. T h e b l a c k d u s t was e v e r y w h e r e . It a l m o s t s e e m e d slipper)', and I h a d n o w i s h to fall. " H e l l o ? " I c a l l e d a g a i n , a n d t h e n , as I b e g a n to realize h o w f o o l i s h t h e t h o u g h t w a s that I m i g h t n o t be a l o n e , s o u n d s o r n o s o u n d s , I s m i l e d a t my i n g e n u o u s n e s s . T h e o n l y light in t h e c e l l a r c a m e f r o m t h e two s m a l l w i n d o w s a t g r o u n d level. T h e y w e r e w r e t c h e d l y d i r t y , b u t t h e r e was c e r t a i n l y light e n o u g h t o see by, and q u i c k l y I w a s s t a n d i n g at t h e b o t t o m o f t h e w o o d e n s t e p s , in a s t a t e o f e x c i t e m e n t n o w a b o u t w h a t I m i g h t find, a n d n o t a little i m p r e s s e d b y m y o w n d a r i n g . T h e walls o f t h e c e l l a r were e v e r y w h e r e m a d e o f c u t s a n d s t o n e . M a s s i v e t h o s e walls, at least a f o o t t h i c k ( j u d g i n g f r o m t h e d e p t h a t t h e w i n d o w s ) , and e v e r y w h e r e g r a y - r e d a n d c o v e r e d with that s a m e oily black patina. And sweating moisture a n d dankness a n d mildew u n t i l the w h o l e o f t h e c e l l a r s e e m e d a d i s m a l wet d u n g e o n . T h e s m e l l was awful. It w a s n o t the h e a l t h y a c r i d s m e l l o f age in t h e r o o m a b o v e — t h i s w a s t h e m u s t y o d o r o f r o t t e n n e s s a n d decay. A n d it s e e m e d to m e t h a t t h e s t e n c h g o t w o r s e a n d w o r s e a s I c l a m b e r e d d o w n the fragile little s t e p s , a l m o s t a s if it were layered like t h i c k n e s s e s o f slate a n d were d e n s e r a t t h e b o t t o m . I l o o k e d c a r e f u l l y a r o u n d t h e r o o m , f o r w h a t I d i d not k n o w . I b e g a n to feel m o r e t h a n a bit u n e a s y n o w b e c a u s e o f t h e s t e n c h and b e c a u s e I c o u l d see n o t h i n g that m i g h t have c a u s e d such k n o c k i n g a s I had h e a r d . I knew, as c l e a r l y as I k n o w I a m o n e d a v to die, that I had heard t h o s e n o i s e s . B u t t h e r e was n o t h i n g very u n u s u a l d o w n there, n o t h i n g that was not c o v e r e d with the d u s t o f a l m o s t a h a l f a c e n t u r y . N o r was t h e r e a sign o f a n y d i s t u r b a n c e . All was as t i m e and

neglect

s h o u l d have m a d e it. A c r o s s t h e r o o m w a s j u s t o n e little t a b l e t h a t I c o u l d see. It w a s t h e o n l y f u r n i t u r e in t h e w h o l e o f the cellar. B u t it w a s at least s o m e t h i n g , s o I m o v e d closer. T h e t a b l e was o r d i n a r y a n d o f little n o t e , b u t b e n e a t h it, c u r i ously, rested a w o o d e n b o x that s e e m e d h a l f full o f set m o r t a r . A few

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s m a l l h a n d l o o l s — a sledge, a trowel, a s m a l l c l a w h a m m e r — l a y c a r e lessly s t r e w n b e s i d e the b o x , e v e r y t h i n g l o n g c o v e r e d w i t h t h e distasteful d u s t . It was o n the n e x t wall, a n d it was the c a u s e o f e v e r y t h i n g . It was the river wall, actually, fairly c l o s e to the table. O n this w a s a c l u m s y b r i c k e d - i n p a t c h s o m e f o u r feet h i g h by t h r e e feet in w i d t h . T h e s a n d s t o n e b l o c k s w e r e p a t c h e d in with a f a c i n g o f o r d i n a r y red b r i c k . T h e t h i n g was q u i t e visible, in spite o f its c o a t i n g o f t h e l o a t h s o m e d u s t , a n d s o u n u s u a l t h a t I felt a very real slash o f fear. I flushed c o l d l y w h e n I saw it. By this t i m e I was s u f f i c i e n t l y o f f b a l a n c e f r o m the

horrible

k n o c k s a n d n a u s e a t e d by t h e p u n g e n t s m e l l s t h a t I was t r e m b l i n g . I s t a r e d at t h e p a t c h for s o m e t i m e b e f o r e d e c i d i n g t h a t I c o u l d b r i n g m y s e l f to e x a m i n e it. I m o v e d closer. T h e r e were s o m e l o o s e b r i c k s a n d a h a l f e m p t y b a g o f c e m e n t o n t h e f l o o r j u s t t o o n e side, a n d a l t h o u g h t h e w h o l e area w a s o b s c u r e d by t h e h e a v y layer o f o p p r e s s i v e d u s t , t h e p a t c h gave e v e r y i n d i c a t i o n o f b e i n g a j e r r y - b u i l t j o b . I c o u l d tell easily t h a t t h e m o r t a r b e t w e e n the b r i c k s w a s not s t r u c k , the fioor in the v i c i n i t y had a p p a r e n t l y n o t b e e n c l e a n e d a f t e r the j o b was

finished,

and s p i l l e d little

piles o f m o r t a r and t h e g e n e r a l c l u t t e r e d l o o k o f the a r e a s u g g e s t e d a t b e s t a s l i p s h o d p i e c e o f w o r k , a t worst a j o b f r a n t i c a l l y u n d e r t a k e n a n d frantically

finished.

T h e b r i c k s w e r e r e c e n t l y b u l g e d , a s if t h e p a t c h had a l m o s t b e e n b u r s t t h r o u g h , a n d where t h e b r i c k s were l o o s e n e d , the g r e a s y d u s t was n o w d a r k e r , e v e n m o r e greasy l o o k i n g , wet l o o k i n g , and it w a s a p p a r e n t to m e that water was leaking t h r o u g h the b r i c k s . A n d t h e n t h e t h i n g h a p p e n e d that I shall n e v e r f o r g e t . At first it w a s n o m o r e t h a n a n a w a r e n e s s t h a t c a m e to m e , a feeli n g t h a t s o m e t h i n g was a m i s s , that s o m e t h i n g w a s n o t right. I rem e m b e r it c a u s e d m e to s t o p all m o v e m e n t a n d listen. A n d t h e n a slight w h i s p e r o f a n o i s e t h a t g r e w a n d g r e w a n d b e c a m e m o r e r e a l — a heavy g u r g l i n g s o u n d it was, a k i n d o f g r i n d i n g o r r u s h i n g , f r o m b e h i n d the wall. It i n c r e a s e d and i n c r e a s e d in i n t e n s i t y u n t i l in t e r r o r I tumbled backwards, a n d then the next thing I knew I was frantically c r a y f i s h i n g a w a y f r o m t h e wall.

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T h e r e was a d e a f e n i n g c r a s h a g a i n s t t h e p a t c h . T h e p a t c h s e e m e d to give,

several i n c h e s a t least, in a s u d d e n

f r i g h t e n i n g b u l g e , t h e result o f the awful s m a s h it e n d u r e d , a n d w a t e r s p u r t e d o u t f r o m o n e side a s if the w h o l e o f it w a s a b o u t to yield to t h e heavy f o r c e in t h e w a t e r . I l u r c h e d b a c k w a r d s crazily, c o n v u l s i n g , a r c h i n g f o r a i r to b r e a t h e , u n t i l I s l a m m e d i n t o the steps. I c o u l d n o t take m y eyes f r o m that h i d e o u s s p u r t i n g water. In t h e s e few s e c o n d s e n o u g h had c o m e t h r o u g h t h e wall to c o v e r the floor. All 1 c o u l d t h i n k o f was that it was a b o u t to b u r s t its w a y c o m p l e t e l y t h r o u g h t h e w e a k e n e d p a t c h a n d e n g u l f m e . I was c o n v i n c e d in that s e c o n d t h a t 1 really w a s a b o u t to die. I t u r n e d and s c r a m b l e d u p t h e o i l y b l a c k steps, t h r u s t m y s e l f viol e n t l y a t the d o o r a n d s t r a i n e d to be t h r o u g h it. M y l u n g s a n d legs a c h e d with p a i n . I r a c e d t h e length o f t h e c h u r c h , a l m o s t vaulted t h e f e w little steps o u t s i d e , a n d s t o p p e d , e x h a u s t e d a n d n a u s e a t e d , j u s t s h o r t o f t h e river. 1 g r a b b e d at o n e o f the trees and literally hugged it to k e e p f r o m falling. I w e p t f r o m relief. M y c l o t h i n g was c o v e r e d w i t h b l a c k s l i m y filth f r o m the d u s t and water. M y head was p o u n d i n g , m y flesh c r a w l i n g . F o r s o m e l o n g m o m e n t s all I c o u l d m a n a g e was to c l i n g to t h a t t r e e a n d j u s t g u l p in d e e p d e l i c i o u s l u n g f u l s o f c l e a n , fresh air. H o w g o o d that was! W i t h b e n i g n i n d i f f e r e n c e , a g u s t o f w i n d m a d e a d e e p swirl o f a wave o n t h e lake, a n d t h e n w a s g o n e . Still 1 c l u n g to the tree. A s 1 c a m e r o u n d a n d b e g a n to b r e a t h e a b i t m o r e easily, 1 k n e w that s o m e h o w I was free o f w h a t e v e r it was that had m a d e the great and terrible k n o c k i n g 1 had heard, that I had h e a r d and even felt the p o w e r o f . I was o u t s i d e t h e c h u r c h , and I was free. Essentially that is w h a t h a p p e n e d to m e t h e d a y 1 w e n t i n t o t h e c h u r c h a t G a r l o c k ' s B e n d . I have n o t s h o r t e n e d o r e m b e l l i s h e d t h e d e t a i l s . All o f it is t r u t h . I s a w n o t h i n g . T h e r e were n o g h o s t i e s o r ghoulies, n o hairy antlered monstrosities

from

God alone

knows

w h e r e , t r y i n g to s w a l l o w m e u p o r w r e n c h away m y i m m o r t a l soul. I n e v e r saw a n y t h i n g . B u t all t h e s a m e I h e a r d t h e n o i s e s . 1 e n d u r e d that awful s t e n c h . A n d 1 saw the wall give. S o m e t h i n g was down there. Something.

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Still h o l d i n g o n t o t h e t r e e I b e g a n t o c a l m . I g r e w less f r i g h t e n e d . I l o o k e d u p at t h e d o o r s to the c h u r c h , the c r o s s a b o v e t h e m , t h e m o t i o n l e s s b r a n c h e s . All o f it a p p e a r e d s o s e r e n e a n d s o w h o l e s o m e . A n d w i t h t h e s e t t i n g s u n at the e n d o f the valley and the a b s o l u t e stillness o f the lake, the g h o s t t o w n o f G a r l o c k ' s B e n d s e e m e d to m e to b e a l m o s t i n n o c e n t . B u t I c o u l d n e v e r a g a i n believe t h a t . I knew.

I k n e w for c e r t a i n .

A c h i n g a l m o s t as if I had b e e n p h y s i c a l l y b e a t e n , I l i m p e d w e a r i l y u p M a i n S t r e e t past all t h e a b a n d o n e d b u s i n e s s e s and h o m e s , this t i m e all b u t o b l i v i o u s to the u t t e r a n d c o m p l e t e d e s o l a t i o n o f t h e t o w n . I sat f o r s o m e m i n u t e s in my c a r , still in s o m e t h i n g o f a daze. N o w t h a t I n o l o n g e r needed a d r e n a l i n e , it left m e and I w a s s u d d e n l y completely exhausted. A n d t h e n , in awe o f all that had h a p p e n e d , feeling very a l o n e and v e r y o l d , I e a s e d the c a r i n t o gear, pulled o u t o n t o t h e p a t h e t i c little d e b r i s - c l u t t e r e d s t r e e t , a n d left G a r l o c k ' s B e n d forever. I did g o to S t a u n t o n . I taught t h e s u m m e r s e m i n a r a s I had i n t e n d e d . I s a w n o p o i n t in d o i n g o t h e r w i s e . W h e n I was n o t t e a c h i n g I t h o u g h t a g r e a t d e a l a b o u t w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d to m e , a b o u t w h a t had c a u s e d t h e a w e s o m e n o i s e s , a b o u t the t e r r o r s I felt s o t h o r o u g h l y . T h o s e t e r r o r s were r e p l a c e d with a n g e r , a n d t h e n in t i m e w i t h a k i n d o f sad a c c e p t a n c e . I d e c i d e d to k e e p m y s t o r y to myself. I was a f r a i d , I s u p p o s e , t h a t n o o n e w o u l d believe m e . A n d in t h e e n d I had n o p r o o f o f a n y t h i n g . T h e n o n e day, j u s t a few days s h o r t o f t h e e n d o f t h e classes and m y p r o p o s e d r e t u r n to P i t t s b u r g h , I was s i t t i n g in the O a k G r o v e , e n j o y i n g m y usual l u n c h o f hard c h e e s e and g o o d b r e a d . S t a u n t o n is a fairly w e a l t h y s c h o o l , and s o t h e g a r d e n s o f t h e O a k G r o v e a r e well k e p t . It is n o t u n u s u a l to s e e a w h o l e g r o u p o f w o r k e r s — p r u n i n g , w e e d i n g , p l a n t i n g — k e e p i n g to t h e i r tasks, l a u g h i n g a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s , b u t all the while i n e v i t a b l y w o r k i n g . II is t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a D u t c h e t h i c , a n d it is still t y p i c a l o f the area. O n e o f t h e oldest o f t h e crew, however, I had b e e n feeling f o r several n o o n t i m e s , had b e e n d o i n g his best to keep his eyes o f f me, b u t with little success. O n c e o r twice I c a u g h t h i m in a d o w n r i g h t stare, and while he q u i c k l y looked away and avoided my glance, it w a s a p p a r e n t that h e had a d e e p interest in me. I w a s m o r e i n t r i g u e d than irritated. O n this p r e s e n t d a v h e s e e m e d as if he c o u l d a v o i d m y c o m p a n y

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110 longer, a n d al Ihe l u n c h b r e a k he c a m e a n d sat o n ihe b e n c h j u s t o p p o s i t e m i n e , u n p a c k e d h i s b u c k e t very slowly a n d precisely, and s t a r e d at m e w h i l e h e c h e w e d r e s o l u t e l y o n w h a t a p p e a r e d to b e a sandwich o f Lebanon bologna. I s e n s e d his e x q u i s i t e s h y n e s s a n d k n e w that t h e first m o v e had to c o m e f r o m m e . " F i n e a f t e r n o o n , " I tried. He nodded. And then, with a wry smile, " I think I k n o w you," he said. " I t h i n k you m u s t b e E u g e n e L e v e n t r y ' s o l d e s t b o y . " I w a s s t u n n e d . " H o w in t h e w o r l d did y o u k n o w t h a t ? " I c r i e d . " A n d w h o are you a n y h o w ? " "Aach, you wouldn't r e m e m b e r

m e , " h e said, his voice

thick

P e n n s y l v a n i a D u t c h . Fie s h o o k h i s h e a d slowly. " Y o u were j u s t a little fella w h e n y o u left h e r e . Y o u w o u l d n ' t k n o w m e a t all. I ' m A m o s M y ers. I k n e w y o u r daddy." " O f course," I cried. " O { c o u r s e I r e m e m b e r you." " I knew

y o u w a s h i s boy," h e s a i d . H e s m i l e d b r o a d l y a n d c a m e

a n d s a l b y m y side. Flis b i g p a w o f a h a n d a l m o s t c r u s h e d m i n e w i t h e n t h u s i a s m as we g r e e t e d e a c h other. T h e n b e g a n a c o n v e r s a t i o n t h a t lasted for o v e r an h o u r . T h e P e n n s y l v a n i a D u t c h a r e very o r d e r l y a n d very p o l i t e , a n d s o w e b e g a n by d e a l i n g with all the usual p l e a s a n t r i e s . I asked o f his h i s t o r y and h e asked o f m i n e . I l e a r n e d that his n e p h e w , A a r o n M y e r s , had j u s t f r i g h t e n e d the w h o l e f a m i l y by h a v i n g a heart a t t a c k . F i e was related by m a r r i a g e to m y s e c o n d c o u s i n o n m y f a t h e r ' s s i d e , o v e r to S k i n n e r ' s Eddy, a n d did I k n o w that h e had g o n e all t h r o u g h c o l l e g e and was an a n i m a l d o c t o r ? H e was c o m i n g a r o u n d , t h o u g h , a n d g o i n g l o live, t h a n k t h e G o o d L o r d . F o r m y part I revealed to A m o s , b e c a u s e h e g e n u i n e l y s e e m e d to w a n t to k n o w , t h a t m y p a r e n t s were b o t h d e a d , t h a t I w a s a l o n e , that I had n e v e r m a r r i e d . D u r i n g all o f t h a t I w a s d e c i d i n g to a b a n d o n m y r e t i c e n c e and b r i n g u p t h e s u b j e c t o f G a r l o c k ' s B e n d . S o m e h o w I c a m e to feel as if I had lo. M a y b e b e c a u s e h e k n e w m y father. " I ' v e b e e n t e a c h i n g h e r e all s u m m e r , " I b e g a n . " I , u h , I w e n t to G a r l o c k ' s B e n d w h e n I first a r r i v e d . " I hesitated for just a f e w m o m e n t s a n d t h e n a d d e d , " I visited the c h u r c h . " H e s t o p p e d w o r k i n g o n the s a n d w i c h . " T h e r e is s o m e t h i n g in that c h u r c h , " I said carefiilly, " t h a t d o e s n o t like p e o p l e . "

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H e w a s q u i e l f o r s o m e m o m e n t s . T h e m u s c l e s in h i s face s e e m e d to t i g h t e n . H e p u t d o w n t h e s a n d w i c h . " Y o u s h o u l d n o t h a v e g o n e t h e r e , " h e said quietly. " T h a t p l a c e is s h u n n e d . " " I ' m s o r r y , " I said. " T h e r e is n o w a y I c o u l d h a v e k n o w n t h a t . I've b e e n away f r o m G a r l o c k ' s B e n d f o r s o m a n y years." A n d t h e n it all c a m e o u t . T h e w h o l e o f it. S o o n I c o u l d not s t o p a n d did n o t w a n t t o stop. I t o l d h i m a b o u t t h e a w e s o m e h e a v y k n o c k i n g , a b o u t t h e h i d e o u s o d o r s in that cellar, a n d I tried to d e s c r i b e f o r h i m t h e t e r r o r I felt w h e n I was c o n v i n c e d I was a b o u t to d i e . " B u t I n e v e r saw a n y t h i n g , " I c o n c l u d e d , e m b a r r a s s e d , a l m o s t a s i f a p o l o g i z i n g . " I n e v e r s a w a thing." T h e w h o l e o f A m o s ' s b o d y c a m e r o u n d as h e t u r n e d s t i f f - n e c k e d to stare at m e f o r at least a m i n u t e . H e l o o k e d v e r ) ' grave. " N e v e r s a w a n y t h i n g ? N o o n e e v e r s a w a n y t h i n g , " he said finally. " N o o n e e v e r saw

nothing." H e sat quietly. 1 c o u l d tell t h a t h e w a s d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r it w a s

p r o p e r . I w a s e s s e n t i a l l y a s t r a n g e r , and that m a d e c o n f i d i n g in m e a v e r y large v e n t u r e for h i m . W h e n h e b e g a n , I t h o u g h t at first that h e s o u n d e d u n c o n c e r n e d , as if h e were d e s c r i b i n g s o m e t h i n g t h a t had affected h i m o n l y f r o m a d i s t a n c e . A s if o v e r t h e years it had b e c o m e a s o r t o f fairy tale. S o m e t h i n g he t o o k p l e a s u r e in telling to w o r t h y s t r a n g e r s , like a s o l d i e r m i g h t rehearse a b a t t l e o f little u l t i m a t e i m p o r t a n c e . I was w r o n g . W h e n h e had finished r e t e l l i n g it for m e , h e was w e e p i n g , w e e p i n g f o r his lost town and h i s lost f r i e n d s , a n d f o r m u c h m o r e t h a n t h a t , a n d I k n e w that I h a d s o m e o n e w h o u n d e r s t o o d , far b e t t e r t h a n I e v e r c o u l d , w h a t was h a p p e n i n g a n d w h a t had

happened so m a n y

years b e f o r e a t G a r l o c k ' s B e n d . " W e k n e w s o m e t h i n g w a s t h e r e , t h o u g h , " h e b e g a n . " W e k n e w it, r i g h t e n o u g h . S o m e t h i n g u n r e a l . W e k n e w it w h e n J o e M i c h a e l s w a s t r a p p e d in t h e lake j u s t a little ways f r o m M i l l e r ' s H a r d w a r e . S u s p e n d e d o u t t h e r e like s o m e t h i n g d o w n u n d e r the w a t e r h a d h i m by t h e legs a n d w o u l d n ' t let g o . H e was w a i s t d e e p in the water, o u t m a y b e fifteen feet from t h e s h o r e , a n d j u s t held t h e r e . " A m o s w a s g e t t i n g i n t o the s t o r y n o w , e a s i n g i n t o it as h e m i g h t p u t o n a glove, a n d telling it slowly a n d c o m p l e t e l y . " A n d h i m yelling o u t c r a z y a t first a n d t h e n later b a b b l i n g like a

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b a b y a b o u t h o w h e w a s g o i n g to die. A b o u t w h a t t h e t h i n g w a s d o i n g to h i m u n d e r the water. A n d why d i d n ' t w e h e l p h i m . W h a t e v e r it w a s kept a h o l d o n h i m for a n i g h t and a m o r n i n g . A S u n d a y m o r n i n g . " H e t u r n e d his b o d y again s o that h e c o u l d see m e . " I t w a s m o c k i n g us, h o l d i n g h i m like t h a t . It w a s an

unholy

t h i n g , a n d I'll n e v e r forget it. O l d l o e was s t u c k o u t in the water, r i g h t in the

floodlights

we had p u t o n h i m t h a t n i g h t a n d all. H e w a s just

held t h e r e , like I s a i d . All t h e m e n o n s h o r e , w a t c h i n g , feeling h e l p l e s s b e c a u s e w e c o u l d n ' t d o n o t h i n g . W e c o u l d n ' t save l o e . We tried, hard. W e g o t n o w h e r e . T h e n w e g o t to j u s t sitting t h e r e , w a i t i n g , n o t even m o v i n g hardly. Just s t a r i n g a t h i m in the water. A n d h i m m o t i o n l e s s n o w . A n d o f f to t h e c h u r c h t h e w o m e n had g o n e , and they were s i n g i n g h y m n s . S i n g i n g h y m n s peaceftil like. F o r l o e , y o u see. T h a t was a l o t o f years ago, a n d I r e m e m b e r it just as clear." It s e e m e d to m e that h e w a s b r e a t h i n g h e a v i e r now, and s i g h i n g a lot. " W e l l , " h e said, a n d t h e n s t o p p e d . H e s t r a i n e d a r o u n d to l o o k a t m e again, " I d o n ' t s u p p o s e that y o u r d a d d y told y o u a n y o f this." I s h o o k m y head. " N o , I d i d n ' t t h i n k s o , " h e said. H e was q u i e t f o r a l o n g t i m e . " L a t e in the m o r n i n g the t h i n g , w h a t e v e r it was, s t a r t e d to pull h i m d o w n , a n d o n e o f t h e m e n killed o l d l o e . lust as it t o o k h i m u n d e r . " His eyes were g l i s t e n i n g n o w with t h e m e m o r y o f it, his h a n d s g o i n g in h o p e l e s s little c i r c l e s , and I c o u l d n o t h e l p b u t w o n d e r h o w h i s life had b e e n c h a n g e d , to r e m e m b e r s o d e e p l y and m o u r n s o d e e p l y a f t e r s o m a n y years. "With a shotgun." " M y G o d , " I said. " W h a t c o u l d we do? Let it take h i m ? It was his best f r i e n d t h a t killed h i m . B u t a n y o f us would o f d o n e it. N o n e o f u s w o u l d o f let it get h i m u n d e r the w a t e r alive." A m o s s h r u g g e d . " A n d t h e n t h e r e wasn't even n o t h i n g to s h o w that o l d l o e w a s e v e r o u t t h e r e . T h e w a t e r w a s q u i e t , a n d h e was g o n e . " " T h a t ' s a h o r r i b l e story," 1 m a n a g e d , a n d s o m e h o w I felt m o r e c o n c e r n f o r l o e M i c h a e l s , g o n e n e a r l y fifteen years, t h a n for m y s e l f a n d m y o w n tale. " I t s e e m s s o unfair." " I t ' s t r u e , " h e s a i d . " I t ' s a t r u e story." H e w a s q u i e t f o r a few m o m e n t s . " W e l l , that j u s t sort o f t o o k t h e h e a r t o u t o f t h e t o w n . S o m e p e o p l e d i d leave, like I said." H e p a u s e d .

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" Y o u r d a d d y l o o k his family." Ho m a n a g e d a s m i l e a n d reached o v e r a n d patted m y leg g e n t l y . " T h o s e w h o stayed s h u n n e d the river. Completely. And no o n e told anyone outside Garlock's Bend. T h a t m a y s e e m f o o l i s h now, b u t it's the t r u t h . II w a s s o r t o f like a s i c k n e s s o r a disease w e all s h a r e d , a n d d i d n ' t w a n t a n y o n e to h e a r o f . " " I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t to say." " W e l l , t h a t a i n ' t t h e w h o l e o f t h e story. N o t f o r m e anyway. N o t by a l o n g s h o t . O t h e r t h i n g s s t a r t e d to h a p p e n . A n d n o b o d y c a n b e s u r e , b u t it s e e m e d like t h e r e w e r e s o m e , s o m e t u n n e l s s o r t of, and t h e . . . hell, I d o n ' t know, the

thing...

"Ah,look,"I said."You..." " N o , " h e s a i d . " N o . I w a n t to tell y o u . It j u s t s o u n d s s o . . . " H e t o o k a l o n g b r e a t h . S o m e m i n u t e s passed. I had t h e c u r i o u s f e e l i n g o f b e i n g h i g h in t h e a i r l o o k i n g d o w n a t t h e two o f us, s i t t i n g o n t h a t little b e n c h in t h e s u n l i g h t , f o r all t h e w o r l d like two p e o p l e in c a s u a l c o n v e r s a t i o n . All r o u n d us in the O a k G r o v e s t u d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s were w a l k i n g , t a l k i n g , full o f t h e i r o w n p l e a s u r e s and p r o b l e m s , o b l i v i o u s to w h a t w e were s a y i n g . " O n e o f t h e t u n n e l s w a s in t h a t h o u s e u p t h e r e , " h e said p o i n t i n g , " u p o n C e d a r Hill, and a n o t h e r w a s d o w n s t r e a m in the valley. Bad t h i n g s h a p p e n e d in t h o s e h o u s e s . " H e pulled o u t a h u g e red h a n d k e r c h i e f and w i p e d h i s eyes. " T h e n . . . T h e n m y wife and son H a r o l d . " H e b e g a n t o s h a k e violently. " A h - h , G o d , " h e w a i l e d , " h e w a s o n l y f o u r ! " H e w e p t f o r a few moments. " W e l l , " he said finally, " t h e y c o m e u p m i s s i n g , see, a n d I c o u l d n ' t find t h e m f o r a c o u p l e o f days a n d I w a s j u s t c r a z y o v e r it." H e w a s h e a v i n g now, h e a v i n g with the a n g u i s h o f h i s story, a n d w e e p i n g o p e n l y , a n d w i p i n g h i s eyes with t h o s e g r e a t g n a r l e d h a n d s . " B i l l M i l l e r a n d L u t h e r A m e i g h , a b o u t t h r e e days a f t e r that even, found them." I w a n t e d s o b a d l y to say t h e r i g h t t h i n g , b u t I c o u l d

find

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words. " F o u n d t h e m by a c c i d e n t , " h e said, " d o w n in t h e c e l l a r o f t h e c h u r c h . B y a b i g b u s t e d o u t place in t h e wall." He paused once m o r e . S o m e h o w w h e n h e b e g a n to s p e a k again it w a s a l m o s t m a t t e r - o f -

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factly, a l m o s t as if h e were d e n y i n g that a n y o f it had a c t u a l l y e v e r happened. " T h e y h a d g o n e d o w n t h e r e f o r some

reason. I don't know." He

s h r u g g e d . " W h y w o u l d n ' t they? A n d t h e y w e r e . . . T h e y . . . " H e s h o o k h i s head again in t h a t s t i f f way he h a d . " T h e m e n , they w o u l d n ' t let m e down there." S u d d e n l y h e w a s w r i n g i n g his h a n d s . " I w a n t e d to get t h e m , I s w e a r 1 did. T h e y were m y family. B u t t h e y w o u l d n ' t let m e . " H e had to s t o p a g a i n f o r a f e w m o m e n t s . " A a c h , mister, listen," he said t u r n i n g t o w a r d s m e . " I wanted

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r e a l l y . . . T h e y w a s m y . . . It w a s s o . . . I t . . H e w a s s o b b i n g freely n o w . 1 f o u n d m y s e l f h o l d i n g the h a n d o f this s t r a n g e r , w e e p i n g also. W e e p i n g for h i m , w e e p i n g for his kin, w e e p i n g for t h e t e a r s o f t h i n g s . " W e l l , " h e said, s u m m o n i n g h i m s e l f , " t h e y g o t s o m e g u y s to g o d o w n t h e r e , d o n ' t ask m e how. T h e y was just w h i t e w i t h fear. B u t they w e n t . A n d t h e n they j u s t p u s h e d e v e r y t h i n g i n t o the h o l e , t h e b i g b l o c k s , s o m e b i g r o c k s t h e y b r o u g h t d o w n , the m u d . Everything,

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p u s h e d it all i n . T h e y p u t t h e s a n d s t o n e b l o c k s b a c k . A n d t h e n they b r i c k e d it all u p . Fast." H e w i p e d his eyes a g a i n and s t u f f e d his h a n d k e r c h i e f b a c k i n t o h i s o v e r a l l p o c k e t . " S o m e grave," h e said bitterly. H e sat q u i e t l y f o r a f e w m o m e n t s , a n d I d i d n o t speak. " I really did t r y to g o d o w n there," he said coldly. " I ' m s u r e y o u did," I said. I was s t u n n e d by w h a t I had h e a r d , hardly a b l e t o c o m p r e h e n d h o w h e felt a s h e finished t a l k i n g o r m u s t have felt s o m a n y years b e f o r e . T h e r e was n o t h i n g I c o u l d say to h i m . I l o o k e d u p , s t a r t l e d a t t h e idle w h i s t l i n g o f a passerby. " W e l l , " h e said finally, " w e figured to d a m u p t h e n a r r o w s d o w n b e l o w t o w n e n o u g h to flood at least the c h u r c h t u n n e l . A n d I c a n ' t e v e n say why. W e s p e n t m o s t o f o n e d a y d o i n g t h a t . S e e m s f o o l i s h n o w . It w a s s o m e t h i n g to d o , I guess. You k n o w h o w y o u get." Again h e t u r n e d his b o d y to face m e . " M o r e o f it g o t o u t t h e n . A n d p e o p l e really u p a n d left a f t e r t h a t . I guess t h e y figured e n o u g h w a s e n o u g h . " I l i s t e n e d t o h i s story, h a r d l y able to believe it and yet n o t a b l e to disbelieve it. I h e a r d h i m say s o m e t h i n g a b o u t l o c k i n g d o o r s

to

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h o m e s n o o n e w o u l d ever e n t e r a g a i n . A n d t h e t o w n e m p t y i n g f o r e v e r w i t h o u t a w o r d to a n y o n e o u t s i d e G a r l o c k ' s B e n d a b o u t t h e t h i n g that w a s o u t in the lake. B u t n o w I o n l y v a g u e l y h e a r d w h a t h e was saying t h r o u g h h i s final tears. I was t r y i n g to deal, o n e last s a d t i m e , with all t h e m e m o r i e s t h a t his s t o r y o f s o l o n g a g o b r o u g h t b a c k to m e . I relived o n c e again t h e a w e s o m e t h u m p s , t h e c r u m p l e d p a t c h , a n d t h e filthy smells o f r o t . O n c e a g a i n I c l u n g in d e s p e r a t i o n to t h a t t r e e o u t s i d e t h e c h u r c h , h e a v i n g f o r fresh air, awed by t h e b i t t e r i r o n y o f t h e q u i e t lake and t h e g r e e n s u m m e r hills. A n d I r e m e m b e r e d t h a t s u d d e n d e e p s w i r l in the w a t e r . H o w i n n o c e n t a n d h o w like a g u s t o f a i r it had s e e m e d to be.

T h e Spheres Beyond Sound (Threnody) Mark R a i n e y

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n e v e r k n e w m y f a t h e r ' s f a t h e r . M y p a r e n t s had b e e n city d w e l l e r s s i n c e l o n g b e f o r e I w a s b o r n , t h o u g h b e f o r e t h e m , all o u r g e n e r a -

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p a l a c h i a n M o u n t a i n s o f V i r g i n i a . G r a n d f a t h e r lived in the o l d h o u s e a t o p C o p p e r P e a k , w h i c h m y f a t h e r ' s f a m i l y had i n h a b i t e d s i n c e its i n c e p t i o n in this l a n d . I h a d n e v e r b e e n to t h e place b e f o r e , t h o u g h o v e r the c o u r s e o f m y life, the s t o r i e s b i r t h e d there, t h e p i c t u r e s , and m y D a d ' s r e l a t e d m e m o r i e s had c o m b i n e d to c r e a t e a m e n t a l i m a g e t h a t I c a m e to find was n o t far o f f the m a r k in reality. G r a n d f a t h e r w a s dead a n d b u r i e d now. His h o u s e a n d p r o p e r t y were d e s t i n e d to be s o l d , a fact t h a t s o m e h o w did n o t settle to m y liki n g . M y p a r e n t s ' a t t i t u d e that the p l a c e had o u t l a s t e d a n y p r a c t i c a l value s e e m e d p e c u l i a r , a s m y D a d had lived t h e r e t h r o u g h h i s a d o l e s c e n c e and g e n e r a l l y r e f l e c t e d o n t h o s e days with s o m e d e g r e e o f aff e c t i o n . Yet, e v e n so, his r e l u c t a n c e to t a l k m u c h a b o u t his f a m i l y h i n t e d a t w h a t I s o m e t i m e s t o o k t o be s h a m e . T h e r e a s o n s f o r this I n e v e r q u e s t i o n e d ; b u t I n o w f o u n d m y s e l f p o n d e r i n g w h a t life in t h e m o u n t a i n s m u s t h a v e b e e n like and w h a t s e c r e t s the a n c i e n t dwelli n g m u s t h i d e . O v e r two c e n t u r i e s o f h i s t o r y had b e e n s e e n f r o m its windows. Few p e o p l e , e v e n t h o s e t h a t live a m o n g t h e m , c o n s i d e r the Appalachian M o u n t a i n s mysterious o r oppressive. Unlike the Rockies, o r t h e wilds o f C a n a d a , t h e A p p a l a c h i a n s d o n o t h a r b o r m a n y g r a v e

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t h r e a t s to m a n — t h e r e are few d a n g e r o u s a n i m a l s , the w e a t h e r is u s u ally m o d e r a t e , a n d p o c k e t s o f p o p u l a t i o n a r e g e n e r a l l y n o t t o o few o r far b e t w e e n . H o w e v e r , as w i t h all wild t e r r a i n , t h e r e a r e c o r n e r s left t h a t m e n s e l d o m travel. C o p p e r P e a k lies in t h e w e s t e r n a r m o f V i r ginia, a m i d a r a n g e o f t r e a c h e r o u s l y steep, d e n s e l y w o o d e d ridges. T h e n e a r e s t t o w n to o u r f a m i l y p l a c e is twelve m i l e s away, a little h a m l e t called B a r r e n C r e e k that n e s t l e s in the valley b e t w e e n C o p p e r Peak, T h u n d e r K n o b a n d M o u n t S i g n a l . T h e r e is o n l y o n e road o n C o p p e r Peak, w h i c h leads f r o m t h e h o u s e to t h e h i g h w a y i n t o t o w n ; in t h e last ten years, it has fallen i n t o disuse as m y G r a n d f a t h e r ' s h e a l t h p r e c l u d e d h i m traveling e v e n t h o s e m i l e s i n t o B a r r e n C r e e k . I h a v e n e v e r q u i t e u n d e r s t o o d h o w h e e x i s t e d ; h e d i d hire a m a n to d e liver f o o d and o t h e r n e c e s s i t i e s o n c e a week, a n d to b r i n g h i s m a i l f r o m t h e B a r r e n C r e e k Post Office, b u t I c a n n o t i m a g i n e a m a n o f h i s years a n d f a i l i n g h e a l t h s u b s i s t i n g in s u c h an i s o l a t e d e n v i r o n m e n t . N o n e t h e l e s s , he s e e m e d to thrive there, a n d m y f a t h e r w a s n e v e r c o m p e l l e d to s u g g e s t h i s r e l o c a t i n g . After G r a n d f a t h e r ' s d e a t h , I t o o k it to h e a r t to visit t h e o l d h o u s e , k n o w i n g that if m y p a r e n t s s o l d it, m y c h a n c e w o u l d p r o b a b l y b e g o n e forever. I w a s d u e f o r a w e e k ' s v a c a t i o n f r o m m y b u s i n e s s , s o after m i n i m a l consideration, 1 decided that C o p p e r Peak was where I w o u l d s p e n d it. I d r o v e a l o n e f r o m m y W a s h i n g t o n , D C r e s i d e n c e , with a set o f m a p s a n d w r i t t e n d i r e c t i o n s p r o v i d e d b y m y father. T h e m o u n t a i n o u s c o u n t r y s i d e a l o n g I n t e r s t a t e 8 1 filled my view t h r o u g h t h e b e t t e r p a r t o f the trip; s o u t h w e s t o f R o a n o k e , t h e r o a d rose and t h e g r e e n m o u n t a i n s t u r n e d to steeper, r o c k - w a l l e d towers. W h e n I t u r n e d o f f t h e I n t e r s t a t e o n t o t h e s i n g l e l a n e h i g h w a y into B a r r e n C r e e k , I f o u n d myself entering a picturesque, q u a i n t world of pastures a n d woods, o c c a s i o n a l f a r m h o u s e s , a n d rare drivers p a s s i n g in the o p p o s i t e dir e c t i o n . B a r r e n C r e e k lay a few m i l e s west o f a s m a l l

community

called A i k e n M i l l , w h i c h I j u d g e d to b e very w e a l t h y b y the s i z e and style o f m o s t o f the h o u s e s I passed. After t h e t o w n , t h e road narr o w e d , and 1 f o u n d m y s e l f a l o n e in a t h i c k l y w o o d e d , r a p i d l y rising c o u n t r y s i d e t h r o u g h w h i c h the road s n a k e d and c u r l e d . B e t w e e n Aiken Mill a n d Barren Creek, 1 did not e n c o u n t e r a single car going in e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n .

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B a r r e n C r e e k has a p o p u l a t i o n o f a b o u t two h u n d r e d p e o p l e . T h e " t o w n " c o n s i s t s o f several s m a l l b u i l d i n g s o n e i t h e r s i d e o f t h e r o a d , i n c l u d i n g a b a n k , a p o s t o f f i c e ( a m o b i l e h o m e p a i n t e d red, w h i t e and b l u e ) , a tiny g r o c e r y s t o r e , a n d a g r e a s y - s p o o n diner. A few o f t h e t o w n s f o l k were a b o u t , m o s t o f t h e m o l d t i m e r s with m i s s i n g teeth, w e a r i n g T - s h i r t s a n d faded overalls. S e v e r a l o f t h e m waved as 1 passed, to w h i c h I r e s p o n d e d in k i n d . T h e n , a m i l e o r s o b e y o n d this s t r i p o f u r b a n i z a t i o n , a gravel r o a d t u r n e d to t h e r i g h t a n d disa p p e a r e d i n t o t h e w o o d s h i g h a b o v e m e . C h e c k i n g m y d i r e c t i o n s to b e s u r e , 1 s l o w e d and t u r n e d in, realizing 1 had at last a r r i v e d a t m y destination. T h e road w a s little m o r e t h a n an e r o d e d rut d o w n t h e m o u n t a i n s i d e t h a t had b e e n p o u r e d o v e r with gravel. At places, t h e hill g r e w s o steep t h a t m y tires s p u n and s p a t r o c k , and I b e g a n to t h i n k t h a t I m i g h t not b e able to take t h e c a r all the w a y to t h e t o p . B u t m y J a p a n e s e c o u p e p r o v e d i t s e l f a s t u r d y little a n i m a l , a n d a t last m y asc e n t g r e w m o r e s h a l l o w and less b u m p y . A h e a d o f m e , a p a t c h o f daylight m a r k e d a b r e a k in f o l i a g e . 1 passed over a r i c k e t y w o o d e n b r i d g e beneath which ran a spidery, shallow s t r e a m , identified b y m y father's d i r e c t i o n s as B a r r e n C r e e k , w h o s e s o u r c e lay o n this v e r y m o u n t a i n . A n d t h e n , j u s t b e y o n d , I c a u g h t m y first sight o f t h e A s b e r r y H o u s e , seat o f m y p a t e r n a l l i n e a g e , h o m e o f m y father's f a t h e r ' s f a t h e r s . At first I was s u r p r i s e d by h o w s m a l l it s e e m e d . T h e f e w p h o t o g r a p h s I'd s e e n m a d e it a p p e a r larger, o r p e r h a p s s e e i n g it a m i d t h e r e a r i n g trees c r e a t e d a d i f f e r e n t s e n s e o f scale t h a n d i d t h e t i n y p r o p o r t i o n s o f a p i c t u r e . B u t t h e a t m o s p h e r e o f t h e place was m u c h a s I i m a g i n e d it: s o m e w h a t d a r k b e n e a t h the s h e l t e r i n g b r a n c h e s , w i t h an u n d e f i n e d b u t p r o m i n e n t s m e l l o f a g e a b o u t t h e place, c a r r i e d o n an early s p r i n g b r e e z e . T h e weedy, u n k e m p t grass that passed f o r a lawn d i s a p p e a r e d into t h i c k wiry b r a m b l e s a f e w feet f r o m the h o u s e in e a c h d i r e c t i o n , a s if b e i n g c o n s u m e d by a n i n e v i t a b l e , c r e e p i n g veget a t i o n . T h e house's w o o d e n s i d i n g w a s s t a i n e d and s p e c k l e d w i t h lichen. Still, the b u i l d i n g a p p e a r e d s o u n d , and s e e m e d like a n a t u r a l p a r t o f the t r a n q u i l e n v i r o n m e n t . 1 c o u l d i m a g i n e m y D a d as a boy, playi n g in w h a t w o u l d have b e e n a w e l l - t r i m m e d yard, with s m o k e c u r l ing from the c h i m n e y a n d the a r o m a o f s o m e splendid meal being

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c o o k e d d r i f t i n g a c r o s s t h e c l e a r i n g . A g a i n , I felt a p a n g o f d i s m a y t h a t s u c h a f u n d a m e n t a l relic o f o u r past w o u l d s o o n be e i t h e r in t h e h a n d s o f o t h e r s yet u n k n o w n , o r m o r e likely, d e m o l i s h e d a n d rep l a c e d b y s o m e sterile piece o f a r c h i t e c t u r e as s o m e b o d y ' s idea o f a s u m m e r h o m e . F o r a vain m o m e n t , I e n t e r t a i n e d the i d e a that I m i g h t b u y the place; m y p r o f e s s i o n a s a g r a p h i c artist s u p p o r t e d m e a d e q u a t e l y , but I c o u l d barely a f f o r d m y s i n g l e a p a r t m e n t in

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m u c h less an a d d i t i o n a l piece o f p r o p e r t y I w o u l d visit o n l y i n f r e quently. I w o u l d n e v e r b e able to live h e r e , for n o w h e r e n e a r b y c o u l d I s e c u r e e m p l o y m e n t s u i t a b l e to m y t a l e n t s . D u r i n g t h a t first a f t e r n o o n , I b e g a n to f a m i l i a r i z e m y s e l f n o t o n l y with the h o u s e b u t with t h e s u r r o u n d i n g land. After u n p a c k i n g , I i m m e d i a t e l y set o u t walking, h o p i n g t o m a k e t h e m o s t o f t h e rem a i n i n g s u n l i g h t . I s o o n d i s c o v e r e d several o v e r g r o w n trails t h a t m u s t h a v e b e e n s t r u c k b y m y f o r e f a t h e r s o v e r t h e past two c e n t u r i e s . F o l l o w i n g o n e o f t h e m , I c a m e t o find the s m a l l s p r i n g f r o m w h i c h B a r r e n C r e e k s p o u t e d , a s h o r t d i s t a n c e a b o v e the h o u s e . T h e s t r e a m w o u n d d o w n the m o u n t a i n s i d e , m o s t l y parallel to t h e gravel r o a d ; I f o l l o w e d it f o r a t i m e u n t i l I c a m e to a s h e e r d r o p o f f o f at least a h u n d r e d feet, w h e r e t h e water leapt into s p a c e a n d p l u m m e t e d i n t o t h e valley b e l o w . In t h e s u m m e r , t h i s s t r e a m all b u t d r i e d u p , h e n c e its n a m e w h i c h had b e e n c o i n e d by s o m e f a m i l y m e m b e r in t h e late 1700's. T h e s c e n e w a s s o q u i e t l y i m p r e s s i v e , s o s t i m u l a t i n g to m y c i t y - n u m b e d nerves, t h a t I k n e w I somehow

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e n t s to retain the rights to this w o n d e r f u l t r a c t o f land. U p o n r e t u r n i n g to the h o u s e , I d e c i d e d to b e g i n a b r i e f e x a m i n a t i o n b e f o r e I s t a r t e d t h i n k i n g a b o u t d i n n e r . M y D a d had given m e t h e keys, a s h e and M o m had b e e n h e r e s h o r t l y a f t e r G r a n d f a t h e r ' s d e a t h to r e m o v e a f e w valuables a n d g e n e r a l l y s t r a i g h t e n t h e p l a c e u p . I had n o idea w h a t they had t a k e n t h a t m i g h t have b e e n o f i n t e r e s t to m e , b u t happily, I f o u n d a wealth o f i n t e r e s t i n g p a r a p h e r n a l i a r e m a i n i n g , f r o m o l d f u r n i t u r e , to b o o k s , to p h o t o g r a p h s , t o a n u m b e r o f s t r i n g e d m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s that a p p e a r e d h a n d - m a d e . H a n g i n g in t h e little b a c k r o o m was a m a n d o l i n , a c l a s s i c a l guitar, two v i o l i n s a n d a d u l c i m e r , all b e a u t i f u l l y finished a n d in fine c o n d i t i o n . I t o o k this r o o m to b e a w o r k s h o p , w h e r e m y g r a n d f a t h e r m u s t have m a d e t h e s e i n s t r u m e n t s h i m s e l f . In the tiny d e n , I f o u n d s o m e e x c e p t i o n ally o l d b o o k s , an a n t i q u e r a d i o , a n d a r e e l - t o - r e e l a u d i o tape m a -

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c h i n e t h a i l o o k e d to b e o f e a r l y 1 9 6 0 ' s s t o c k — a p p a r e n t l y t h e m o s t m o d e r n piece o f e l e c t r o n i c s in the w h o l e h o u s e . F o r t u n a t e l y , I did h a v e e l e c t r i c i t y , r u n n i n g w a t e r ( b o t h hot a n d c o l d ) , and a n i n d o o r toilet, s o life o v e r the c o m i n g w e e k w o u l d n o t p r o v e a p a r t i c u l a r hardship. D a r k n e s s fell early, and s o o n t h e w o o d s c a m e alive w i t h t h e s o u n d s o f i n s e c t s a n d n i g h t b i r d s , s o m e t h i n g to which I was e n t i r e l y u n a c c u s t o m e d . I sat d o w n a t a b o u t seven o ' c l o c k to a d i n n e r t h a t c o n s i s t e d o f s o m e s a n d w i c h e s I had p a c k e d a n d a t h e r m o s o f iced tea. T h e k i t c h e n had b e e n m o r e o r less c l e a n e d o u t , a n d I figured that t o m o r r o w I w o u l d visit t h e little s t o r e in B a r r e n C r e e k and p i c k u p a f e w n e c e s s a r y i t e m s . W h i l e I ate, I paged t h r o u g h s o m e o f t h e b o o k s I had f o u n d that l o o k e d i n t e r e s t i n g , i n c l u d i n g a c o u p l e o f v o l u m e s o n local h i s t o r y ( c o u r t e s y t h e Aiken Mill P u b l i c L i b r a r y — s o m e o n e in m y f a m i l y had n o t b e e n a b o v e s t e a l i n g ) , an o r i g i n a l 19th c e n t u r y c o p y o f The Abolitionist

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completely absorbed me, for they consisted o f prints and drawings o f i m a g i n a t i v e l y stylized s u b j e c t s : lizards, b i r d s , fish, s k e l e t o n s ( a n i m a l a n d h u m a n ) , and s t r a n g e , m o n s t r o u s - l o o k i n g t h i n g s o n e m i g h t e x p e c t from a s c i e n c e - f i c t i o n m o v i e . B u t w h e n I b e g a n s k i m m i n g t h e text, I d i s c o v e r e d t h a t this b o o k was by n o m e a n s a " n o r m a l " g u i d e to m u s i c t h e o r y . U p o n finding l i n e s that r e a d , " . . . v i b r a t i o n s o f this e x a c t f r e q u e n c y a n d v o l u m e a r e r e q u i r e d to c o m p l e t e the s u m m o n i n g p r o c e s s . . . " a n d , " . . . by a s s i m i l a t i n g t h e p e r f e c t p i t c h e s a n d t o n e s , t h e v e r ) ' e s s e n c e o f p r i m a l p o w e r m a y b e a c h i e v e d . . . " I d e c i d e d to start r e a d i n g t h e b o o k f r o m the b e g i n n i n g . I s o o n f o u n d that t h e s t r a n g e i l l u s t r a t i o n s were p e r f e c t l y c o m plementary t o the written contents. T h e author's basic premise was t h a t m u s i c c o u l d o p e n u p g a t e w a y s to o t h e r e x i s t e n c e s — n o t j u s t in t h e m i n d , b u t in the physical world. N o w f o r m e , m u s i c is i n d e e d a s p i r i t u a l e x p e r i e n c e . It m a y b e h y p n o t i z i n g o r v i o l e n t l y s t i m u l a t i n g . I

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listen to a n d a p p r e c i a t e all k i n d s o f m u s i c , f r o m folk, to j a z z , to classical, to h a r d c o r e r o c k . W h e n I w a s younger, n o t h i n g d e l i g h t e d m e m o r e t h a n to sit f o r h o u r s w e a r i n g m y h e a d p h o n e s , c a r r i e d away by the power o f music. Zann's contention was that certain c o m b i n a t i o n s o f tones could actually alter s p a c e — t h a t the correct m o d u l a t i o n o f frequency could even reach into the realm o f death . . . and beyond. N e e d l e s s to say, m y first r e a c t i o n was t h a t I was r e a d i n g p u r e fantasy, b u t as I read f u r t h e r , the details b e c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y t e c h n i c a l and b e y o n d m y grasp, l e a d i n g m e to believe t h a t t h e s e ideas were m e a n t to b e r e g a r d e d as f a c t u a l . T h i s b o o k kept m e o c c u p i e d well i n t o t h e late h o u r s o f the e v e n i n g . Even t h o u g h t h e r e was m u c h that I s i m p l y c o u l d n o t c o m p r e h e n d , t h e r e was a c e r t a i n s e n s e o f s o b r i e t y in t h e w r i t i n g that held my interest. I f o u n d m y s e l f a l m o s t s h a k i n g with e x c i t e m e n t as I read this passage:

. . . I have s e e n the p o w e r w h i c h the f o l l o w i n g s t r a i n s will s u m m o n . T h e r h y t h m and c a d e n c e a r e e x t r e m e l y vital. T h e s w i t c h f r o m 3/4 to 7/8 t i m e s i g n a t u r e f o l l o w e d by t h e 5/3 l i n e illustrated below must be instantaneous, without

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a n d 3 5 d e c i b e l s f o r the s u m m o n s to b e e f f e c t e d . D e p e n d i n g u p o n a t m o s p h e r i c c o n d i t i o n s , results m a y b e seen, if t h e p r o c e s s is c o m p l e t e d flawlessly, f r o m w i t h i n t h r e e m i n u t e s to o n e hour.

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e x i s t i n g in o t h e r universes.

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a b o o k a n d if he had given its c o n t e n t s a n y c r e d e n c e , i s u p p o s e d t h e s u b j e c t m i g h t have m e r e l y i n t r i g u e d h i m , as it did m e , e s p e c i a l l y given his a p p a r e n t i n t e r e s t in m u s i c . U p o n c h e c k i n g t h e f r o n t o f t h e b o o k , I l e a r n e d it h a d b e e n p u b l i s h e d b y an i n d e p e n d e n t

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P u t t i n g the b o o k aside, I f o u n d t h a t m y i m a g i n a t i o n had b e e n t h r u s t i n t o h i g h gear, a n d b e i n g a l o n e in this o l d h o u s e s u d d e n l y s e e m e d a chilling prospect. W h e n I at last b e g a n to p r e p a r e m y s e l f for b e d , I f o u n d m y h e a r i n g to b e u n n a t u r a l l y sensitive, s u c h as i n s t i n c t i v e l y h a p p e n s w h e n d a n g e r is p r e s e n t . M y c h a i r legs s c r a p e d the b a r e w o o d e n floor w i t h s h o c k i n g v o l u m e , s e n d i n g a h a r s h s h i v e r u p m y s p i n e . I s t o p p e d and held m y b r e a t h f o r a m o m e n t , half e x p e c t i n g to h e a r . . . s o m e t h i n g . . . o t h e r t h a n t h e c a c o p h o n y o f the n i g h t c r e a t u r e s in t h e w o o d s . W h e n I h e a r d n o t h i n g f u r t h e r , I s o f t l y w e n t to t h e b e d r o o m , m a d e the h u g e , o a k - f r a m e d b e d w i t h fresh l i n e n s f r o m the c l o s e t , s l i p p e d o u t o f m y c l o t h e s , and b u r i e d m y s e l f d e e p in t h e c o v e r s , leaving the living r o o m light o n a n d the d o o r c r a c k e d s o I w o u l d n ' t b e e n g u l f e d by t h e t o t a l darkness of the mountain night. I a w o k e early, to an a b s o l u t e l y b r i l l i a n t m o r n i n g , u n a b l e t o rem e m b e r w h e n I had d r i f t e d o f f to s l e e p . I had s l e p t heavily and peacefully, s o it s e e m e d , a n d I n o w felt r e f r e s h e d , f r e e o f the o d d a n x i e t y w h i c h had g r i p p e d m e d u r i n g the e v e n i n g . M o r n i n g b i r d s c h i r p e d o u t s i d e m y w i n d o w , in h a p p y c o n t r a s t to the e e r i e wails o f t h e n i g h t c r e a t u r e s . In t h e d a y l i g h t , the h o u s e t o o k o n a fresh n e w p e r s p e c t i v e , a n d s o m e o f m y p r e v i o u s e n t h u s i a s m f o r t h e locale ret u r n e d . I w a s h u n g r y , a n d realizing I had n e x t to n o t h i n g in t h e h o u s e to e a t , left i m m e d i a t e l y f o r t h e g e n e r a l s t o r e in B a r r e n C r e e k . T h e t o w n w a s p r a c t i c a l l y d e s e r t e d a t this h o u r , b u t the s t o r e w a s o p e n . T h e p r o p r i e t o r , a M r . Avery, g r e e t e d m e c h e e r f u l l y e n o u g h , a s k i n g m e f r o m w h e r e a b o u t s I c a m e . W h e n I told h i m I w a s t h e g r a n d s o n o f T i m o t h y Asberry, he merely shrugged, a n d offered his c o n d o l e n c e s . A p p a r e n t l y , G r a n d f a t h e r wasn't a part o f a n y c l o s e - k n i t g r o u p o f locals; m y family, like m a n y o f t h e b a c k c o u n t r y dwellers, had valued its p r i v a c y a n d s e l d o m g a t h e r e d with n e i g h b o r s . W h e n I r e t u r n e d to t h e h o u s e , I fixed a large b r e a k f a s t o f b a c o n , e g g s and t o a s t ; a f t e r e a t i n g , I let m y a t t e n t i o n r e t u r n to t h e w e i r d

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v o l u m e o f M a u r i c e Z a n n . I n Ihe g o l d e n d a y l i g h t , il n o l o n g e r s e e m e d a w a r p e d , d r e a d f u l r e c o r d i n g o f f a c t u a l d a t a , b u t a fanciful r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f s o m e w r i t e r ' s b i z a r r e i m a g i n a t i o n . I d e c i d e d that, f o r t h e m o r n i n g , I w o u l d forget it, e x p l o r e s o m e m o r e o f t h e m o u n t a i n , and c o n d u c t a m o r e t h o r o u g h s e a r c h o f the h o u s e . T h e r e w o u l d still b e a h o s t o f relics f r o m m y g r a n d f a t h e r ' s day, a n d b e f o r e , that w o u l d h e l p m e p u t t o g e t h e r a m o r e c o m p l e t e p i c t u r e o f my h e r i t a g e . A b o u t t e n o ' c l o c k , I set o u t w a l k i n g , h e a d i n g n o r t h , in t h e d i r e c t i o n o p p o s i t e yesterday's e x p e d i t i o n . I d i s c o v e r e d a w o r n trail that led a l o n g t h e crest o f C o p p e r Peak, a n d I f o l l o w e d it, t a k i n g in the e x h i l a r a t i n g v i e w o f the s u r r o u n d i n g valleys a n d s l o p e s . O f f to t h e east, far b e l o w m e , I c o u l d see a f e w t i n y b u i l d i n g s , w h i c h I t o o k to b e B a r r e n C r e e k . F u r t h e r b e y o n d lay Aiken M i l l , a larger c o m m u n i t y , b u t still s e p a r a t e d f r o m " c i v i l i z a t i o n " by a tall, k n o b b y ridge. A b o u t h a l f a m i l e f r o m the h o u s e , I c a m e u p o n a f l a t t e n e d a r e a b e n e a t h a c a n o p y o f l i m b s , and to my s u r p r i s e , f o u n d it to be a s m a l l g r a v e y a r d . T h e r e were m a y b e t w o d o z e n m a r k e r s o f v a r y i n g s h a p e s a n d sizes, all o f t h e m w e a t h e r e d with age, m o s t o f t h e m n e a r l y o b s c u r e d b y c r e e p i n g f l o r a . I s t r o l l e d i n t o t h e i r m i d s t , n o t i n g the e n g r a v e d n a m e s t h a t w e r e still legible: N i c h o l a s A s b e r r y ,

1761-1834;

Stuart Asberry ( m y namesake), 1 8 2 0 - 1 9 1 4 ; Suzette Asberry Washington, 1 8 2 3 - 1 9 0 2 ; James Druid Asberry, 1 8 9 5 - 1 9 3 8 ; Sarah Collins A s b e r r y , 1 8 1 1 - 1 8 9 9 . 1 f o u n d m y s e l f m i l d l y excited, f o r here lay m y direct a n c e s t o r s , t h o s e w h o s e n a m e s I m i g h t h a v e h e a r d o n l y in passi n g over t h e years. Flere, t h e past s u r r o u n d e d m e , in the v e r y e a r t h w h i c h c o n t a i n e d the b l o o d o f m y p r o g e n i t o r s . M y p a r e n t s had not told m e s p e c i f i c a l l y w h e r e m y g r a n d f a t h e r was b u r i e d . " I n o u r f a m i l y plot, in t h e m o u n t a i n s , " D a d m e r e l y had said. N o w I w o n d e r e d . . . I let m y eyes rove a m o n g t h e s t o n e s , s e e k i n g . T h e n , in a far c o r n e r , s t a n d i n g a l o n e . . . yes, a fresh m a r k e r a b o v e a p a t c h o f n e w l y t u r n e d e a r t h . I a p p r o a c h e d it, positive o f w h a t I would

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I was c o r r e c t . T i m o t h y C a d d e n Asberry, m y f a t h e r ' s f a t h e r , b o r n in 1 9 1 0 . T h e r e m a i n s o f s o m e flowers d r o o p e d n e x t to t h e o b e l i s k like s t o n e , p r o b a b l y t h o s e w h i c h m y p a r e n t s had placed here u p o n G r a n d f a t h e r ' s b u r i a l . T h i n s h o o t s o f grass w e r e just b e g i n n i n g to b u r s t f r o m the m o u n d o f e a r t h , a n d b r o w n s p o t s o f m o l d had b r o k e n

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o u t o n t h e g r a n i t e . I s t o o d t h e r e f o r a t i m e , n o t q u i t e s u r e if I s h o u l d g r i e v e , o r o f f e r a prayer. Finally I m u r m u r e d a low, " R e s t in peace," f i n d i n g n o t h i n g w i t h i n m y s e l f w o r t h c o n v e y i n g to the d e a d . T h e n I t u r n e d a n d left the graveyard, feeling vaguely d i s c o n c e r t e d a n d a little c o n t u s e d . 1 d i d n ' t k n o w why. F o r a t i m e , I w a n d e r e d aimlessly, a t last f i n d i n g m y s e l f b a c k a t t h e w a t e r f a l l I'd d i s c o v e r e d the p r e v i o u s day. T h e a i r was q u i e t and still, a n d g a z i n g a t the tiny h o u s e s a n d g r e e n s l o p e s in the d i s t a n c e , I c a m e to realize t h a t s o m e o d d s t r a i n o f m u s i c s e e m e d t o b e r u n n i n g t h r o u g h m y h e a d . It w a s low, h a r m o n i o u s and p l e a s a n t , b u t a l t o g e t h e r u n f a m i l i a r . I a m n o t a c o m p e t e n t s o n g w r i t e r , a n d it s e e m e d s t r a n g e that s o m e t h i n g I was s u r e I'd n e v e r h e a r d b e f o r e w o u l d w e a v e its w a y f r o m m y u n c o n s c i o u s . F o r a w h i l e l o n g e r , I s t o o d m u s i n g , t h e n s t a r t e d b a c k for t h e h o u s e . I d e c i d e d I w o u l d m a k e a light s n a c k a n d t h e n sift t h r o u g h a c o u p l e o f t h e c l o s e t s I had s e e n . I had t o a d m i t to m y s e l f t h a t s u d d e n l y I had b e c o m e f a s c i n a t e d b y the past; u n t i l recently, I had always b e e n a m b i v a l e n t a b o u t life b e f o r e m y t i m e . O c c a s i o n a l l y , w h e n D a d w o u l d s p e a k a b o u t his past, m y c u r i o s i t y w o u l d be s l i g h t l y a r o u s e d , b u t i m m e d i a t e l y f o r g o t t e n w h e n I r e t u r n e d to m y o r d i n a r y affairs. Here, I s u p p o s e d , with little e l s e to o c c u p y m y m i n d , t h e past l o o m e d l a r g e r a n d m o r e tantalizing. By t h e t i m e I r e a c h e d the h o u s e , m y e n t h u s i a s m f o r d e l v i n g i n t o its c l o s e t s a n d c u p b o a r d s had p e a k e d . I built a s u b s t a n t i a l h a m and c h e e s e s a n d w i c h f o r l u n c h , c h a s e d it with a glass o f iced tea, and t h e n w e n t to the b e d r o o m to b e g i n m y f o r a g i n g . M y p a r e n t s had p a c k e d away m o s t o f the c l o t h e s a n d i n c i d e n t a l p e r s o n a l i t e m s . B u t I s o o n c a m e u p o n m a n y n e a t little artifacts, s u c h as a n a n c i e n t s h a v i n g kit c o m p l e t e with b r u s h a n d s t r a i g h t razor, a slightly r u s t e d p o c k e t w a t c h , a n d a few b o t t l e s o f a g e - o l d c o l o g n e , m o s t l y still lull. T h e r e were s o m e m o r e b o o k s s t a c k e d in a c o r n e r , i n c l u d i n g a Bible, a d i c t i o n a r y , s o m e t h i n g called The Boys,

Encyclopaedia

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a n d a world atlas, all at least f o r t y years o l d . A n d t h e n I s p i e d

s o m e c a r t o n s that i m m e d i a t e l y c a u g h t m y i n t e r e s t — a n u m b e r o f s i x i n c h reel t a p e s f o r the m a c h i n e I had s e e n in t h e o t h e r r o o m . I pulled t h e s e f r o m their c o r n e r ,

finding

f o u r in all, e a c h labeled with faded

b l a c k i n k in c r a b b e d s c r i p t , w h i c h I a s s u m e d to b e G r a n d f a t h e r ' s .

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"Rvo o f t h e m were s e r m o n s r e c o r d e d a t a local c h u r c h , w h i c h G r a n d f a t h e r m u s t h a v e a t t e n d e d , o n e was a r a d i o s h o w f r o m 1 9 6 4 , a n d t h e last w a s labelled " Z a n n , " r e c o r d e d in 1 9 6 6 . I i m m e d i a t e l y t o o k t h i s o n e i n t o the living r o o m , f o u n d t h e t a p e m a c h i n e in t h e c o r n e r , a n d p r o c e e d e d to set it u p for listening. I prayed t h e m a c h i n e w o u l d w o r k a f t e r h o w e v e r m a n y years o f disuse. U p o n p l u g g i n g it in, I f o u n d that e v e r y t h i n g s e e m e d to w o r k well e n o u g h . T h e reels b e g a n t u r n i n g , a n d I s t o o d a n x i o u s l y w a i t i n g as hissing a n d c r a c k l i n g s o u n d e d o v e r t h e s m a l l s p e a k e r . T h e n , a voice began, w h i c h I knew immediately was m y grandfather's: a slow, d e e p d r a w l with a p r o n o u n c e d s o u t h e r n V i r g i n i a a c c e n t , n o t u n l i k e m y D a d ' s . T h e v o i c e s o u n d e d tentative a n d s o m e w h a t

ner-

v o u s , p e r h a p s d u e to i n e x p e r i e n c e with t a l k i n g to a m a c h i n e . W h a t h e said w a s this:

1 a m m a k i n g this r e c o r d i n g to test a f e w o f t h e p a s s a g e s f r o m t h e Z a n n text, o n pages 121 t h r o u g h 128 o f The Spheres yond

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o f B a r r e n C r e e k , V i r g i n i a , I a m m a k i n g this r e c o r d i n g w i t h t h e help o f m y n e i g h b o r s , J o h n E u b a n k s , Fred W h a r t o n , Ray P h i l i p p e and Bill Miller. I a m m a k i n g this r e c o r d i n g f r o m m y b a c k y a r d , f a c i n g the crest o f t h e m o u n t a i n . U h , w e h a v e p r a c t i c e d select verses, o r u h , lines o u t o f t h e b o o k , b u t this will b e t h e first c o m p l e t e p e r f o r m a n c e o f w h a t Z a n n calls, u h , the s u m m o n s . M y n e i g h b o r s and m y s e l f have all read t h e text, a n d w e believe t h a t if w e f o l l o w t h e d i r e c t i o n s , as set d o w n by the writer, w e will a c t u a l l y e x p e r i e n c e the, u h , revel a t i o n s h e has f o r e s e e n . I h a v e d e c i d e d to r e c o r d t h i s a c t i v i t y o n m y r e c o r d e r . . . w e d o n ' t h o n e s t l y k n o w w h a t to e x p e c t , but if w e s h o u l d b e successful, t h e n it is possible t h e r e m a y b e s o m e d a n g e r . Z a n n ' s text i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e , u h , e x i s t e n c e s , u h , o n t h e o t h e r s i d e are not n e c e s s a r i l y m a l e v o l e n t , b u t they are d e s t r u c t i v e in n a t u r e , like a s h a r k in t h e o c e a n . T h e m e a n s to s e n d b a c k t h e , u h , results o f a s u m m o n i n g a r e p r i n t e d o n p a g e s 135 t h r o u g h 137 o f t h e text, a n d this part w e have played in full at several p r a c t i c e m e e t i n g s .

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A s I have said, I believe t h e w r i t e r o f this b o o k is s i n c e r e , f o r the s i m p l e r e a s o n t h a t I h a v e h a d p r o o f . T w o m o n t h s ago, I t o o k m y fiddle u p to t h e graveyard and played t h e p i e c e o n pages 3 9 a n d 4 0 — t h e p r e l u d e to o p e n i n g the b a r r i e r o f d e a t h . A s 1 played, as s u r e l y as I ' m s i t t i n g h e r e now, I s a w t h e c o r r u p t e d b o d i e s o f m y relatives a p p e a r a n d s t a n d a r o u n d m e , as s o l i d a s t h e e a r t h u n d e r m y feet. A s I w a s s o f r i g h t e n e d , I q u i t playing, a n d they v a n i s h e d , b u t o n t w o o c c a s i o n s , 1 have g o n e b a c k to the graveyard a n d h e a r d w e i r d m u s i c , t h o u g h t h e r e was n o o n e t h e r e to b e playing it. I b e lieve it was an a n s w e r o f a k i n d to the i n v i t a t i o n I played. B u t I haven't r e s p o n d e d . A n d I d o n ' t g o b a c k to t h e graveyard anymore.

N o w I felt a t r e m e n d o u s s u r g e in m y h e a r t , a c o m p l e t e d i s b e l i e f o f w h a t I w a s h e a r i n g . B u t I c o n t i n u e d t o listen, hypnoti/.ed b y t h e fear in t h e l o w v o i c e o n the t a p e , n o t s u r e n o w i f m y g r a n d f a t h e r were w h o l l y o f s o u n d m i n d . I c o u l d s e n s e that h e w a s t e r r i f i e d o f p r o c e e d i n g with this plan o f h i s . . . yet t h e l o n g i n g to unveil t h e m y s t e r i e s o f M a u r i c e Z a n n ' s b o o k s o o u t w e i g h e d h i s fear t h a t h e w a s willing to risk u n k n o w a b l e consequences. T h e r e c a m e a series o f tonal pluckings a n d w h i n i n g s as t h e g r o u p t u n e d their i n s t r u m e n t s — p r o b a b l y t h e v e r y s a m e o n e s that h u n g in t h e s m a l l w o r k s h o p n e x t to t h e living r o o m . A c o u p l e o f u n f a m i l i a r v o i c e s said s o m e t h i n g i n c o m p r e h e n s i ble, and m y grandfather spoke again: It's g e t t i n g d a r k now, a n d w e ' r e a b o u t to s t a r t . I will a d m i t t h a t all o f us are pretty afraid, b u t w e believe that t h e t h i n g s w e m i g h t learn are s o i n c r e d i b l e and s o i m p o r t a n t that t h e y w a r r a n t w h a t e v e r risk. 1 t h i n k f r o m w h a t we've l e a r n e d s o far, w e will b e safe. T h e r e w a s a p a u s e a n d m o r e b a c k g r o u n d voices. T h e n ,

my

g r a n d f a t h e r ' s voice said, " S o , y o u r e a d y ? " a n d a f t e r a m o m e n t , a s u d den d i s c o r d a n t j a n g l e rattled f r o m t h e s p e a k e r . Harsh p l u c k i n g and fiat s t r u m m i n g e c h o e d t h r o u g h w h a t m u s t have b e e n a still m o u n tain n i g h t m o r e t h a n t w e n t y - f i v e years a g o . T h e n o i s e s e e m e d to h a v e

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110 r h y t h m o r m e l o d y . I n s e c t - l i k e c h i r p s a r p e g g i o e d u p a n d d o w n u n k n o w n scales, b a s s t h u m p s j u m p e d f r o m o n e t i m e s i g n a t u r e to a n o t h e r , w i t h o u t a n y p a t t e r n o r s t r u c t u r e . . . s o it s e e m e d . W h a t I was h e a r i n g s o u n d e d m o r e like a r a n d o m b a n g i n g o f i n s t r u m e n t s by i n e x p e r i e n c e d h a n d s t h a n a c o m p l e x l a t t i c e w o r k o f m u s i c h o l d ing s o m e d e e p - h i d d e n

power. B u t as I l i s t e n e d f u r t h e r , I c a u g h t

strains o f s o m e unearthly h a r m o n y occasionally breaking the chaotic dissonance.

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s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t s , b u t o f d e e p w o o d w i n d s o r b r a s s y pipes. T h e h a r m o n i c o v e r t o n e s o f t h e m a n d o l i n , guitar, v i o l i n a n d

dulcimer

were p r o d u c i n g s o u n d s u n l i k e a n y I had e v e r h e a r d , e v e n in the m o s t radical o f electronic fusion. B e y o n d this c a c o p h o n y , a d e f i n i t e m e l o d y s e e m e d to c o m e t o gether, b u t a t s u c h d i s t a n c e a s t o b e d r o w n e d by the b r a s h o r c h e s t r a t i o n . I t u r n e d t h e v o l u m e u p o n t h e m a c h i n e , s t r a i n i n g to c a t c h t h e s e q u e n c e o f t h e evasive n o t e s . I b e g a n t o get d i s t o r t i o n o v e r t h e speaker, but I shut m y e a r s to t h e p a i n , c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n l y o n w h a t l u r k e d b e n e a t h . Y e s . . . s o m e sort o f m e l o d y w a s f o r m i n g , c o m b i n i n g in a r i a s o f t h i n , r e e d - l i k e w h i s t l e s and lower, rich t o n e s t h a t c o u l d only be blown from a French horn. A n d t h e n , b e y o n d that, a n o t h e r d i s t i n c t t u n e , b u t s o faint as to b e lost in t h e c r a s h i n g o f i n s a n e s t r i n g s . I sat t h e r e f o r a t i m e , s e p a rated f r o m m y s u r r o u n d i n g s b y a spell o f m e s m e r i z i n g power. M y t h o u g h t s s e e m e d to dissolve, a n d I a l l o w e d m y s e l f l o b e a b s o r b e d a m i d r a w e n e r g y t h a t e x p l o r e d e v e r ) ' r e a l m o f ecstasy, tranquility, h o r r o r , a n d agony. S u d d e n l y , it w a s over. I sat f a c i n g t h e rear w i n d o w o f m y G r a n d f a t h e r ' s h o u s e , p e e r i n g t o w a r d t h e d e p t h s o f t h e forest. T h e r e w a s a c l a t t e r from t h e s p e a k e r as t h e m u s i c i a n s lowered t h e i r i n s t r u m e n t s a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y b r e a t h e d e x h a u s t e d s i g h s . F o r a full two m i n u t e s , n o t h i n g f u r t h e r issued e x c e p t a soft sigh o f breeze a n d a f e w c r i c k e t s b e g i n n i n g t h e i r c h o r u s for the e v e n i n g . At last o n e o f t h e b a c k g r o u n d v o i c e s said, " W h a t is it? A n y t h i n g ? " M y g r a n d f a t h e r m u m b l e d s o m e t h i n g low. T h e n , " N o . N o t h i n g . " I waited a g a i n a s s i l e n c e r e t u r n e d , p i c t u r i n g the g r o u p o f m e n l o o k i n g a b o u t e x p e c t a n t l y , p r o b a b l y with f e a r - w i d e n e d eyes, their

sweaty

p a l m s t r e m b l i n g . T h e n , G r a n d f a t h e r said, " W i n d ' s p i c k i n g u p . " S u r e e n o u g h , the d r o n e o f t h e breeze w a s g r o w i n g s t r o n g e r . It

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r o s e and fell several t i m e s , w h i s t l i n g by t h e m i c r o p h o n e t h a t p r o b a b l y sat u n p r o t e c t e d s o m e w h e r e n e a r the players. B u t still, n o t h i n g m o r e could be heard except for the increasing chatter from the forest. A l m o s t five m i n u t e s w e n t by w i t h o u t a w o r d f r o m a n y o f the m e n . T h e n , G r a n d f a t h e r abruptly said: Well, l o o k s like n o t h i n g is h a p p e n i n g . . . s o far. G u e s s we'll h a v e to wait a n d see. T h e b o o k said it c o u l d take a little w h i l e , I guess, i f t h e w e a t h e r is n o t c o n d u c i v e to p i c k i n g u p t h e m e s s a g e . I'd t h i n k t h e s e are o p t i m u m

conditions

...

sky's clear, it's p r e t t y c o l d . . . s o u n d really c a r r i e s . W i n d ' s h o l d i n g , I'd say b e t w e e n five a n d ten m i l e s p e r h o u r . I s u p p o s e we c o u l d have d o n e s o m e t h i n g i n c o r r e c t l y . . . d a m n e d p i e c e o f m u s i c a i n ' t m e a n t to b e played by h u m a n h a n d s . . . b u t it s u r e s e e m e d like w e did it. O u t s i d e , here in my o w n t i m e , the a f t e r n o o n s u n was well o n its w a y i n t o the west. It w o u l d b e d a r k w i t h i n the h o u r . I felt a s h i v e r run u p m y s p i n e . A g u s t o f c h i l l w i n d had s w i r l e d t h r o u g h t h e h o u s e . T o save tape, I'll s h u t o f f f o r t h e m o m e n t and c o m e b a c k a t t h e first sign o f a n y t h i n g h a p p e n i n g . Still d a m n e d p e c u l i a r . . . a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g . N o t h i n g at all. T h e r e was a c l i c k a s the t a p e was s h u t o f f all t h o s e y e a r s a g o . A n o t h e r c l i c k f o l l o w e d as it w a s t u r n e d b a c k o n s o m e i n d e t e r m i n a t e t i m e later. It's b e e n t h i r t y m i n u t e s n o w . N o sign o f a n y t h i n g u n u s u a l . T h e c r i c k e t s a r e g o i n g n u t s , a s you c a n hear, b u t a p a r t f r o m that, everything seems normal. Pretty disappointing,

but

also k i n d o f a relief. M a y b e it's b e t t e r if n o t h i n g h a p p e n s . I g u e s s it a i n ' t r i g h t for C h r i s t i a n m e n to fool a r o u n d w i t h powers that only the Lord should k n o w about. 'Course, I s u p p o s e there's a l o t this f a m i l y ' s d o n e that a i n ' t c o n s i d e r e d r i g h t and t r u e . ( G r a n d f a t h e r c h u c k l e d . ) It's c o m m o n k n o w l edge

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a s m a l l sin c o m p a r e d to m e s s i n g a r o u n d w i t h t h e p o w e r s that be. I f r o w n e d . I w o n d e r e d if t h e A s b e r r y s ' " s h a d y "

side—moon-

s h i n i n g — h a d b e e n t h e s o u r c e o f m y D a d ' s d i s c o m f o r t in s h a r i n g h i s f a m i l y ' s past w i t h m e . M y f a t h e r w a s a d e c e n t and p r o u d m a n , a n d I g u e s s it w o u l d b e like h i m to feel a s e n s e o f guilt c o m i n g f r o m a b a c k g r o u n d o f less t h a n u p r i g h t s t a n d i n g . H a v i n g b r o k e n f r o m his r u r a l m o l d and successfully e s t a b l i s h e d h i m s e l f in a n u r b a n e n v i r o n m e n t , I c o u l d s e e h o w the s i m p l e — a n d i l l i c i t — l i f e his f a m i l y led m i g h t h a v e d e v e l o p e d i n t o a sore p o i n t w i t h h i m . N o w , t h o u g h , I w o n d e r e d if t h e r e m i g h t b e o t h e r s e c r e t s m y f a m i l y had k e p t h i d d e n . . . d a r k e r t h i n g s . . . o c c u l t t h i n g s . P e r h a p s t h e m u s i c o f M a u r i c e Z a n n was o n l y o n e s u c h e x a m p l e . M i g h t this o l d f a m i l y h a v e b e e n delving i n t o u n k n o w n , f o r b i d d e n lore s i n c e b e f o r e they settled h e r e f r o m the O l d W o r l d ? I have always c o n s i d e r e d m y s e l f r a t i o n a l a n d w e l l - e d u c a t e d , reas o n a b l y w i s e in t h e ways o f t h e world. Still, t h e p u r e l y intuitive s i d e o f m y n a t u r e felt t h e s t i r r i n g s o f s o m e p r i m a l d r e a d ; i n s t i n c t had o v e r r i d d e n r e a s o n , l e a v i n g m e c o n t u s e d and u n c o m f o r t a b l e . T h e w o o d s a n d w i l d e r n e s s w h i c h I had f o u n d s o c h a r m i n g a n d restful n o w s e e m e d f r a u g h t w i t h m y s t e r i e s less t h a n i n v i t i n g . A n o t h e r c o u p l e o f c l i c k s c a m e f r o m t h e player. T h e n , m y G r a n d f a t h e r ' s voice s a i d : F o r t y - f i v e m i n u t e s now. Still n o t h i n g . T h e b o y s a n d m e a r e s t a r t i n g to b r e a t h e a little easier now. J o h n ' s g o n e i n s i d e to m a k e c o f f e e . W e c a n s u r e u s e it a f t e r this. I g u e s s it's b e t t e r this way. M a y b e w e m e s s e d u p , o r m a y b e t h e L o r d just said it a i n ' t to be. Anyway, i f n o t h i n g h a p p e n s in the n e x t few m i n utes, I t h i n k we'll all s l e e p m u c h b e t t e r t o n i g h t . After this, I r e c k o n I'll b e f o r g e t t i n g all a b o u t w h a t h a p p e n e d b e f o r e . I'll p u t that b o o k away and n e v e r b o t h e r with it a g a i n . I s h o u l d n e v e r h a v e t a k e n it f r o m D a d d y in the first p l a c e .

S o , t h e b o o k had b e e n in the f a m i l y e v e n b e f o r e m y g r a n d f a t h e r . Interesting.

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Well, u n l e s s s o m e t h i n g h a p p e n s t o n i g h t , I m i g h t a s well give u p o n this r e c o r d i n g . I ' m p r e t t y tired . . . all o f us a r e right w o r n o u t , m a t t e r o f f a c t . It's b e e n h a r d w o r k . S o for now, I'll b e e n d i n g all this u p . . . u h , unless t h e n e e d arises s o m e t i m e later. S o . . . s i g n i n g o f f . Grandfather ended o n that uncertain note. There was nothing else o n t h e t a p e , w h i c h d i s a p p o i n t e d m e , as I had h o p e d f o r at least s o m e e x p l a n a t i o n o r c o m m e n t a r y o n t h e n i g h t ' s activities. T h e i r att e m p t had s u r e l y b e e n a failure, and I f o u n d n o t h i n g in the h o u s e to suggest a n y f u t u r e e f f o r t to r e p r o d u c e the e x p e r i m e n t . A n d n o t h i n g m y s t e r i o u s s e e m e d to h a v e befallen m y g r a n d f a t h e r in t h e i n t e r v e n i n g years. A n d w h a t o f this w h o l e p r e m i s e , I w o n d e r e d to m y s e l f . C o u l d I place a n y s t o c k in t h e c o n c e p t s my g r a n d f a t h e r had

sought—and

f a i l e d — t o prove? S u r e l y n o t , I t h o u g h t . T h e r e h a d i n d e e d b e e n s o m e u n u s u a l , elusive d e p t h to t h e m u s i c o n t h e tape, b u t surely, n o t h i n g t h a t c o u l d c o n v i n c e m e o f its m y s t i c a l p o w e r . M y g r a n d f a t h e r s o u n d e d like an i n t e l l i g e n t m a n , with a m o d i c u m o f f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n . I w o n d e r e d j u s t w h a t h i s e x p e r i e n c e in t h e graveyard had b e e n that e n c o u r a g e d h i m to s e e k the greater p o w e r revealed in Z a n n ' s text. H a d h e m e r e l y suffered s o m e f r i g h t e n i n g m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f h i s o w n i m a g i n a t i o n ? F r u s t r a t i o n b e g a n to tear a t m e , f o r it s e e m e d that this m y s t e r y was d e s t i n e d to die with n o p r o m i s e o f resolve. D e c i p h e r i n g t h e t e c h n i c a l c o n c e p t s in The Sound

Spheres

Beyond

w a s c o m p l e t e l y b e y o n d m y ability.

T h e r e had to b e s o m e o t h e r w a y o f g a t h e r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n . Possibly, the n e i g h b o r s that had aided m y g r a n d f a t h e r ' s p e r f o r m a n c e — t h e y c o u l d b e o f a s s i s t a n c e if t h e y were still alive a n d o f s o u n d memory. T h e n I r e m e m b e r e d the s t r a n g e t u n e t h a t had e n t e r e d m y head w h i l e I w a s w a l k i n g f r o m t h e graveyard. Flad n o t G r a n d f a t h e r s p o k e n o f h e a r i n g s u p e r n a t u r a l m u s i c w h e n h e h a d g o n e there? C o u l d I h a v e s h a r e d s u c h an e x p e r i e n c e h e r e , m o r e t h a n t w e n t y - f i v e years a f t e r t h e fact? S u d d e n l y , I realized I h a d to r e t u r n to the w o o d s to see if t h e same thing might h a p p e n again. Late a f t e r n o o n was c r e e p i n g o v e r the m o u n t a i n , b u t 1 c a l c u l a t e d

444

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I c o u l d easily get to the c e m e t e r y and b a c k b e f o r e d a r k ; a n d p e r h a p s t o m o r r o w , I c o u l d s e a r c h for t h e m e n t h a t had a c c o m p a n i e d

my

g r a n d f a t h e r o n t h e t a p e . M a y b e t h e r e was yet h o p e for this v e n t u r e . I d i s c o n n e c t e d t h e t a p e m a c h i n e a n d r e t u r n e d t h e reel to its c a r t o n . T h e n 1 set o u t walking, c a r r y i n g a flashlight j u s t in c a s e d a r k n e s s fell u p o n m e s o o n e r t h a n e x p e c t e d . T h e worst h a z a r d w o u l d be t h e steep d r o p o f f n e a r the trail. Yet, it s e e m e d that s o m e t h i n g a b o u t n a t u r e had b e e n stirred u p by t h e m u s i c o n the tape. S i n c e I w a s a c h i l d , I have s e l d o m felt the thrill o f fear, t h e s e n s e o f f o r e b o d i n g cast by t h e u n k n o w n . T h a t feeling w a s u p o n m e now, and t h o u g h I w a s s k e p t i c a l o f it, I a l s o held f o r it a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f r e s p e c t . It d i d n ' t take m e l o n g to reach m y d e s t i n a t i o n . T h e graveyard was i m m e r s e d in a p o o l o f s h a d o w a s the s u n d r o p p e d b e y o n d t h e wall o f trees; b u t I s e n s e d s o m e t h i n g d i f f e r e n t , an a t m o s p h e r e I had n e v e r felt b e f o r e . S m a l l w h i r l p o o l s o f w i n d were flitting a m o n g t h e g r a v e s t o n e s , lifting e a r t h and d e a d foliage i n t o w r i t h i n g d a n c e s in m i d a i r . S t r a n g e d a r k p a t c h e s g r e w h e r e a n d t h e r e that were n o t s h a d o w s . A l o w r u m b l e issued f r o m t h e g r o u n d , as if s o m e t h i n g

huge

were s t i r r i n g f r o m sleep. A n d f r o m the air, m y e a r s d e t e c t e d

the

faintest o f t o n a l wails m i x e d with t h e w h i s t l e o f t h e b r e e z e . I listened carefully, finally m a n a g i n g to p i c k o u t a d i s t i n c t , h a r m o n i o u s b l e n d ing o f tones from the b a c k g r o u n d j u m b l e o f s o u n d s . N o n e o f t h e s e e l e m e n t s was s p e c t a c u l a r o r e v e n b l a t a n t . T h e y e a c h c o m b i n e d to c r e a t e a s e n s e o f a w r y a t m o s p h e r e , a s u b t l e ness.

wrong-

B u t m y c o n s c i o u s m i n d n o w perceived that u n n a t u r a l influ-

e n c e s were at w o r k h e r e , f o r t h e s e p h e n o m e n a c o u l d n o t p o s s i b l y b e o r d i n a r y a c t s o f n a t u r e . I k n e w n o w t h a t the m u s i c o f M a u r i c e Z a n n was, in fact, t h e s o u r c e . How? W h y ? T h e o r i g i n a l a t t e m p t by m y g r a n d f a t h e r had failed. W h a t conditions could have changed that allowed m y thoughtless p l a y i n g o f the t a p e t o s u m m o n w h a t e v e r t h i n g — o r

things—appeared

to b e s t r u g g l i n g i n t o existence? I had b e e n s o c u r i o u s t h a t I had n e v e r c o n s i d e r e d t h e possibility o f t h e m u s i c h a v i n g s o m e m y s t i c a l e f f e c t . W h a t t h e hell was g o i n g to h a p p e n ? I left the g r a v e y a r d , r u n n i n g d o w n the p a t h t h a t led to the w a t e r fall. All I c o u l d t h i n k o f n o w w a s g e t t i n g away f r o m this p l a c e . B e h i n d m e , a weird, w i l d s h r i e k s u d d e n l y t o r e i n t o t h e f o r e s t ; s o m e t h i n g a n i m a l i s t i c , s u b - h u m a n . It w a s j o i n e d by a n o t h e r , t h e n

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a n o t h e r , like a g h a s t l y c h o i r o f a g o n i z e d voices. S o m e t h i n g b e n e a t h m y feet b o o m e d d e e p l y ; t h e n the g r o u n d s h o o k s o v i o l e n t l y I w a s s u r e t h e s u r f a c e had b e e n r e n t a n d t h a t n o w t h e d e n i z e n s o f t h e u n d e r w o r l d w o u l d b e c r a w l i n g o u t o f their b l a z i n g pits. M o r e chilling cries

from

t h e graveyard s e n t m e r u n n i n g e v e n faster, d o w n

toward the house which I considered m y o n l y retreat. S u d d e n l y , b e f o r e 1 realized it, I h a d r e a c h e d t h e p r e c i p i c e w h e r e t h e s t r e a m p i t c h e d i n t o space. I c a u g h t the t r u n k o f a s m a l l tree just in t i m e to save m e h u r t l i n g o v e r t h e edge, b u t nearly d i s l o c a t i n g m y s h o u l d e r in t h e p r o c e s s . A s t a b o f p a i n halted m e in m y t r a c k s . T h e n , m y eyes c a u g h t s o m e t h i n g m o v i n g in the valley below. T h e s u n had j u s t r e a c h e d t h e h o r i z o n , and o n this s i d e o f the m o u n t a i n , f a c i n g east, o n l y s h a d o w filled t h e d e p t h s b e l o w . B u t in t h a t d a r k n e s s , s o m e t h i n g e v e n darker, s o m e t h i n g g i g a n t i c , s e e m e d to b e c r a w l i n g a c r o s s t h e fioor o f the valley. M y eyes riveted o n that m a s s o f b l a c k n e s s , its i m m e n s i t y m e s m e r i z i n g m e . M y lungs s t o p p e d w o r k i n g , and for a m o m e n t , I felt I w a s falling; s o m e h o w , I was able to k e e p h o l d i n g o n t o that tree. It w a s t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t saved m e . F r o m the w o o d s b e h i n d m e , t h e r e n o w c a m e a m u l t i t u d e

of

s h u f f l i n g s a n d s c r a p i n g s , as o f m a n y b o d i e s m o v i n g t h r o u g h t h e f o liage. G u t t e r a l g r o a n s and h o a r s e c r i e s drifted

t h r o u g h the

dark

woods toward m e . A surge o f panic sent m e flying b a c k from the edge a n d d o w n t h e trail a g a i n , m y way g u i d e d o n l y by an instinctive u r g e to e s c a p e . T h e w o o d s had g r o w n nearly pitch b l a c k , and I c o u l d n o t see t h e trail. T w i c e I s l a m m e d i n t o h i d d e n trees, luckily avoiding b e i n g i m paled o n b r o k e n b r a n c h e s . Reeling f r o m t h e force o f the i m p a c t s , I r e a c h e d o u t to find s u p p o r t . . . and g r i p p e d a m o i s t , m u d d y l i m b t h a t s e e m e d to h a n g t o o l i m p l y f r o m s o m e t h i n g u n s e e n . T h e n , to m y h o r ror, that l i m b m o v e d o f its o w n a c c o r d , and I felt s o m e t h i n g hard and firm take h o l d o f m y wrist. I j e r k e d m y a r m b a c k purely b y reflex; a n d as I did, a shrill wail e x p l o d e d f r o m the s h a d o w y f o r m in front o f me. I l a u n c h e d m y s e l f past it a n d b e g a n m y flight a n e w d o w n t h e t r e a c h e r o u s path, blindly h o p i n g to reach the h o u s e w i t h o u t killing myself. M a n y t i m e s in n i g h t m a r e s I have f o u n d m y s e l f fleeing f r o m s o m e t e r r i b l e threat. A s o f t e n as n o t , m y c a r is m y r e f u g e , f o r in m o bility t h e r e is h o p e o f safely. I w a s n o w living o n e o f m y n i g h t m a r e s , a n d m y o n e g o a l was to get to m y car and e s c a p e f r o m this t e r r i b l e

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m o u n t a i n . A n d like in s o m a n y d r e a m s , the d a r k n e s s e n g u l f e d m e , slowing m e down, o b s c u r i n g m y path. I c a n n o t count h o w m a n y t i m e s I lost m y f o o t i n g o r was s n a g g e d by g r a s p i n g b r a n c h e s . S o m e h o w , I at last r e a c h e d t h e h o u s e , the k i t c h e n light g l o w i n g invitingly. W i t h p r o f o u n d b u t t e m p o r a r y relief, I p u s h e d m y w a y in t h r o u g h t h e b a c k d o o r , s l a m m i n g it b e h i n d m e , a n d l e a n i n g heavily a g a i n s t it. I d i d n ' t c a r e a b o u t the f e w b e l o n g i n g s I had b r o u g h t with m e . M y o n l y c o n c e r n n o w w a s to find my keys a n d get a w a y f r o m h e r e with all p o s s i b l e haste. F r o m o u t s i d e , I c o u l d h e a r t h e restless c h a t t e r o f t h e n i g h t c r e a t u r e s , m o r e u r g e n t t h a n usual, a n d their c h i r p s a n d b u z z i n g s s p u r r e d m e o n . I r a n i n t o the b e d r o o m , f o u n d m y keys o n t h e b e d s i d e table. G r a b b i n g t h e m u p , I t u r n e d and ran o u t t h e f r o n t d o o r , n o t b o t h e r i n g to t u r n o f f the lights o r lock t h e h o u s e . T h e m o m e n t I s h a k i l y i n s e r t e d t h e key i n t o t h e c a r d o o r , I heard a g r a t i n g r u m b l e f r o m the w o o d s j u s t a b o v e t h e h o u s e . L o o k i n g u p , I c o u l d s e e the t o p s o f the d a r k trees s h a k i n g and p i t c h i n g b a c k and f o r t h . T h e wailing s o u n d s r e t u r n e d , d r i f t i n g d o w n f r o m the d a r k n e s s , d r a w i n g s t e a d i l y n e a r e r . A l u m p o f t e r r o r r o s e in m y t h r o a t , for it n o w s e e m e d t h e r e w a s n o w a y I c o u l d get d o w n t h e m o u n t a i n in t i m e to e s c a p e w h a t e v e r was c o m i n g . I j e r k e d t h e car d o o r o p e n w i t h a b u r s t o f f r e n z i e d s t r e n g t h , slid i n t o the s e a t a n d willed m y h a n d to c a r e f u l l y i n s e r t t h e key into t h e i g n i t i o n . I s o m e h o w a c c o m p l i s h e d this o n t h e first a t t e m p t , fired u p t h e e n g i n e , and flipped o n the h e a d l i g h t s . T h e car faced the s i d e o f t h e h o u s e , a n d c a u g h t in the b e a m s o f t h e h e a d l i g h t s s t o o d a figure w h o s e a p p e a r a n c e n e a r l y s t o p p e d m y h e a r t . It w a s a p a r o d y o f a m a n , o r had o n c e b e e n a m a n . II s t o o d faci n g m e o n two s p i n d l y legs, its b o d y a m a s s o f d a r k , m o s s - c o v e r e d e a r t h . T w o b l a c k e n e d eye pits g a p e d f r o m its m u d - e n c r u s t e d s k u l l , e m p t y , b u t s e e m i n g l y p o s s e s s e d o f s i g h t . F o r a l o n g m o m e n t , it did not move, o n l y stood there apparently regarding me. T h e n , at either c o r n e r o f the h o u s e , two s i m i l a r figures a p p e a r e d , b o t h f a c i n g m e , b u t m a k i n g n o m o v e in m y d i r e c t i o n . T h e n , o u t o f t h e e m p t y air, I h e a r d the m a d s t r a i n s o f t h a t m y s t i cal m u s i c , and to m y s h o c k a n d b e w i l d e r m e n t , t h o s e c o r r u p t e d b o d ies b e g a n to w h i r l and leap, s p i n n i n g a n d p i r o u e t t i n g in a g r o t e s q u e , fiery d a n c e . A n d at t h a t m o m e n t , a b o v e the r o o f o f t h e h o u s e , a g r e a t

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m a s s o f b l a c k n e s s rose i n t o the n i g h t sky, b l o c k i n g t h e g l i t t e r i n g stars t h a t had j u s t b e g u n to a p p e a r . T h e n i g h t fell u t t e r l y still; n o w i n d c u t a c r o s s t h e m o u n t a i n t o p , n o insect c h i r p e d . O n l y the n o t e s o f t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l m u s i c f l o a t e d i n t o t h e sky. T h e w h i r l i n g f i g u r e s ceased t h e i r d a n c i n g and d r o p p e d to t h e i r b o n y k n e e s , p r o s t r a t i n g

them-

selves b e f o r e t h e b l a c k s h a p e t h a t h o v e r e d o v e r t h e h o u s e . I b e g a n to perceive a t t h e far r e a c h e s o f m y s e n s e s the w i s t f u l n o t e s o f m y g r a n d father s stringed cacophony. A s I sat t h e r e , t h e features o f the h u g e t h i n g b e f o r e m e g r a d u a l l y c a m e i n t o f o c u s . 1 c o u l d see w h a t a p p e a r e d to b e thick, a r t h r o p o d i c legs, do/.ens o f m e t e r s l o n g , a n d in t h e m i d s t o f the s o l i d c e n t r a l m a s s , a m y r i a d o f tiny, f l i c k e r i n g lights g r o u p e d in d e n s e b u n c h e s . It was a g i g a n t i c s p i d e r - l i k e t h i n g with a t h o u s a n d eyes w h i c h glared d o w n a t m e a s if r e a d y to p o u n c e . T h e w o r s h i p p i n g c o r p s e s b e g a n a n e w wailing c h o r u s . A s the glare o f t h o s e t h o u s a n d eyes b o r e d o w n o n m e , I realized w h y m y g r a n d f a t h e r ' s o r i g i n a l p e r f o r m a n c e h a d failed to s u m m o n this entity, w h e r e a s the playing o f the t a p e h a d s u c c e e d e d : I had t u r n e d t h e v o l u m e o n t h e m a c h i n e u p to c a t c h t h e s u b t l e u n d e r t o n e s o f the m u s i c . T h e lower, m o s t s u b t l e e l e m e n t s o f the " l i v e " p e r f o r m a n c e o n a c o u s t i c i n s t r u m e n t s had failed to r e a c h t h e v o l u m e p r e s c r i b e d in t h e Z a n n text. Yet the v e r ) ' s a m e m u s i c , played a t a h i g h e r d e c i b e l level h a d b e e n in t h e e x a c t r a n g e to c o m p l e t e t h e s u m m o n i n g process. T h e n a n o t h e r c o l d fear seized m e — d u e t o t h e failure o f his att e m p t , G r a n d f a t h e r h a d not r e c o r d e d t h e passage with w h i c h to ret u r n the e x t r a - d i m e n s i o n a l t e r r o r to its rightful p l a c e . T h e r e w a s n o w a y to s e n d the t h i n g b a c k ! Now, strange whispers, voices

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p l a n e o f t i m e a n d space b e g a n to swirl t h r o u g h t h e a i r a r o u n d m e like b u z z i n g b e e s . P a n i c m o t i v a t e d m y h a n d , a n d 1 s l a m m e d t h e g e a r lever i n t o r e v e r s e and s p u n t h e s t e e r i n g wheel, t u r n i n g m y c a r d o w n t h e r o a d away f r o m the h o u s e . In m a d fury, t h e car s c r e a m e d and b u c k e d o v e r the p o t - h o l e d r o a d , several t i m e s n e a r l y s k i d d i n g into t h e w o o d s o n e i t h e r side. 1 did n o t s l o w d o w n t h o u g h , f o r t h e fear o f s m a s h i n g m y s e l f i n t o a tree was n o t nearly s o real a s t h e o t h e r w o r l d l y t h r e a t I was leaving b e h i n d .

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At last, I r e a c h e d t h e b o t t o m o f t h e m o u n t a i n and sent m y c a r hurtling d o w n the winding highway toward Barren Creek, not looki n g i n t o the r e a r v i e w m i r r o r to s e e w h a t m i g h t b e f o l l o w i n g . T h e m u s i c and w h i s p e r i n g faded f r o m m y h e a r i n g , t h o u g h m y t e r r o r did not s u b s i d e . O n c e , w h i l e s p e e d i n g d o w n a l o n g , c u r v i n g d e c l i n e that a l l o w e d m e a b r i e f view o f C o p p e r P e a k , I s w o r e I saw a p o r t i o n o f t h e s k y b l o c k e d o u t by a g i g a n t i c , s p i d e r - l i k e s h a p e r e s t i n g o n t o p o f the m o u n t a i n . B u t the road c u r v e d again, a n d C o p p e r P e a k slipped o n c e a n d f o r all b e y o n d m y line o f s i g h t . In A i k e n M i l l , I s t o p p e d to fill m y gas t a n k , w h i c h had fallen d a n g e r o u s l y close to e m p t y . A s I n e r v o u s l y p u m p e d the g a s o l i n e i n t o m y car, m y eyes d a r t e d r e p e a t e d l y d o w n t h e r o a d w h e n c e I c a m e , h a l f e x p e c t i n g t o see s o m e c r a w l i n g , p i t c h - b l a c k s i l h o u e t t e

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f r o m t h e d i s t a n c e . B u t n o t h i n g a p p e a r e d , a n d I p a i d the n e r v o u s l o o k i n g a t t e n d a n t w h o m u s t have t h o u g h t I had e s c a p e d f r o m t h e n e a r b y C a t a w b a S a n a t o r i u m . B y t h e t i m e I r e a c h e d I n t e r s t a t e 8 1 to h e a d b a c k h o m e , I had seen n o t h i n g m o r e , a n d t h e t e r r o r that c o n s u m e d m e slowly b e g a n to a b a t e . A n d yet for m e , the real fear lies a h e a d . W h a t e v e r the m u s i c o f M a u r i c e Z a n n s u m m o n e d m u s t still l u r k o n t h e f r i n g e s o f t h i s w o r l d , s o m e w h e r e in t h e m o u n t a i n s a r o u n d B a r r e n C r e e k . T h e o n l y w a y to s e n d it b a c k is by playing the p r o p e r m u s i c a l a r r a n g e m e n t s f r o m Spheres

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s e e m s to be at m y o l d f a m i l y h o u s e . Even i f I c o u l d find t h e r i g h t passage, s o m e o n e w h o c o u l d read m u s i c w o u l d have to play t h e p i e c e . A s it is, I have b e e n u n a b l e t o find that b o o k , o r a n y r e c o r d o f s u c h a b o o k a t a n y l i b r a r y o r b o o k s t o r e , e v e n t h o s e that I called in P r o v i d e n c e . A n d I will never, n e v e r r e t u r n to that place in the m o u n t a i n s , at a n y t i m e , f o r a n y r e a s o n . I h a v e u r g e d my p a r e n t s to sell t h e h o u s e , b u t to a v o i d g o i n g t h e r e a t all c o s t s . O f c o u r s e , I d i s c u s s e d n o t h i n g a b o u t the e v e n t s that had t r a n s p i r e d t h e r e w i t h my father, yet a s i r r a t i o n a l as I m u s t have s o u n d e d , h e s e e m e d to a c c e p t m y w o r d s w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n — a n d with a s t r a n g e a p p e a r a n c e o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g . A s I said, h o w e v e r , t h e real t e r r o r f o r m e has yet to m a n i f e s t itself. For surely, t h o s e a n i m a t e d c o r p s e s w e r e t h o s e o f m y o w n relatives, t h e i r e t e r n a l s o u l s s o m e h o w d r a w n b a c k to their wasted b o d i e s . Even n o w , t h e y m u s t d a n c e and w o r s h i p t h a t b l a c k o v e r l o r d o f d e a t h w h i c h Z a n n ' s m u s i c c a l l e d f r o m b e y o n d . T h u s I h a v e sealed m y fate.

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f o r m y o w n b l o o d l i n e c a l l s lo m e : a t t i m e s , 1 c a n hear t h o s e d e m o n i c n o t e s p o u n d i n g in m y e a r s , as if t h e l o n g - d e a d A s b e r r y s b e c k o n m e to j o i n t h e m . W h a t e v e r p a r a d i s e m i g h t await o t h e r s in t h e life a f t e r this, i k n o w it is n e v e r m e a n t for m e ; f o r as l o n g as that b l a c k s p i d e r r e m a i n s f r e e in this world, t h e gate to the o t h e r s i d e is b l o c k e d and g u a r d e d . Eventually, m y t i m e will c o m e ; I will t h e n b e c o m e o n e o f t h o s e d a m n e d , d a n c i n g p a r o d i e s t h a t b e w a i l t h e i r fate a n d b o w t o t h e d e m o n master from the d i m e n s i o n beyond death.