a-merritt_the-moon-pool.csv

text,label
"I the thing on the Moon Path for two month I have be on the d’Entrecasteaux Islands gather datum for the conclude chapter of my book upon the flora of the volcanic island of the South Pacific . the day before I have reach Port Moresby and have see my specimen safely store on board the Southern Queen . as I sit on the upper deck I think , with homesick mind , of the long league between I and Melbourne , and the long one between Melbourne and New York . it be one of Papua ’s yellow morning",merritt
"when she show herself in her sombrest , most baleful mood . the sky be smoulder ochre . over the island brood a spirit sullen , alien , implacable , fill with the threat of latent , malefic force wait to be unleash . it seem an emanation out of the untamed , sinister heart of Papua herself — sinister even when she smile . and now and then , on the wind , come a breath from virgin jungle , laden with unfamiliar odour , mysterious and menacing . it be on such morning that Papua whisper to you",merritt
"of her immemorial ancientness and of her power . and , as every white man must , I fight against her spell . while I struggle I see a tall figure stride down the pier ; a kapa - kapa boy follow swinge a new valise . there be something familiar about the tall man . as he reach the gangplank he look up straight into my eye , stare for a moment , then wave his hand . and now I know he . it be Dr. David Throckmartin—“Throck "" he be to I always , one of my",merritt
"old friend and , as well , a mind of the first water whose power and achievement be for I a constant inspiration as they be , I know , for score other . coincidentally with my recognition come a shock of surprise , definitely — unpleasant . it be Throckmartin — but about he be something disturbingly unlike the man I have know long so well and to whom and to whose little party I have bid farewell less than a month before I myself have sail for these sea . he have marry only a few week before",merritt
", Edith , the daughter of Professor William Frazier , young by at least a decade than he but at one with he in his ideal and as much in love , if it be possible , as Throckmartin . by virtue of her father ’s training a wonderful assistant , by virtue of her own sweet , sound heart a — I use the word in its olden sense — lover . with his equally youthful associate Dr. Charles Stanton and a swedish woman , Thora Halversen , who have be Edith Throckmartin ’s nurse from babyhood , they",merritt
"have set forth for the Nan - Matal , that extraordinary group of island ruin cluster along the eastern shore of Ponape in the Carolines . I know that he have plan to spend at least a year among these ruin , not only of Ponape but of Lele — twin centre of a colossal riddle of humanity , a weird flower of civilization that blossom age before the seed of Egypt be sow ; of whose art we know little enough and of whose science nothing . he have carry with he unusually complete equipment for the work he",merritt
"have expect to do and which , he hope , would be his monument . what then have bring Throckmartin to Port Moresby , and what be that change I have sense in he ? hurry down to the low deck I find he with the purser . as I speak he turn , thrust out to I an eager hand — and then I see what be that difference that have so move I . he know , of course by my silence and involuntary shrink the shock my close look have give I . his eye fill ;",merritt
"he turn brusquely from the purser , hesitate — then hurry off to his stateroom . ""   ' e look rather queer — eh ? "" say the purser . "" know ' I m well , sir ? seem to ' ave give you quite a start . "" I make some reply and go slowly up to my chair . there I sit , compose my mind and try to define what it be that have shake I so . now it come to I . the old Throckmartin be on the eve of his venture just",merritt
"turn forty , lithe , erect , muscular ; his control expression one of enthusiasm , of intellectual keenness , of — what shall I say — expectant search . his always question brain have stamp its vigor upon his face . but the Throckmartin I have see below be one who have bear some scare shock of mingled rapture and horror ; some soul cataclysm that in its climax have remould , deep from within , his face , set on it seal of wed ecstasy and despair ; as though indeed these two have come to he hand",merritt
"in hand , take possession of he and depart leave behind , ineradicably , their link shadow ! yes — it be that which appal . for how could rapture and horror , Heaven and Hell mix , clasp hand — kiss ? yet these be what in close embrace lie on Throckmartin ’s face ! deep in thought , subconsciously with relief , I watch the shoreline sink behind ; welcome the touch of the wind of the free sea . I have hope , and within the hope be an inexplicable shrinking that I would meet Throckmartin at",merritt
"lunch . he do not come down , and I be sensible of deliverance within my disappointment . all that afternoon I lounge about uneasily but still he keep to his cabin — and within I be no strength to summon he . nor do he appear at dinner . Dusk and night fall swiftly . I be warm and go back to my deck - chair . the Southern Queen be roll to a disquieting swell and I have the place to myself . over the heaven be a canopy of cloud , glow faintly and testify to the",merritt
"moon ride behind it . there be much phosphorescence . fitfully before the ship and at her side arise those strange little swirl of mist that swirl up from the Southern Ocean like breath of sea monster , whirl for an instant and disappear . suddenly the deck door open and through it come Throckmartin . he pause uncertainly , look up at the sky with a curiously eager , intent gaze , hesitate , then close the door behind he . "" Throck , "" I call . "" come ! it ’ goodwin . "" he make his",merritt
"way to I . "" Throck , "" I say , waste no time in preliminary . "" what ’ wrong ? can I help you ? "" I feel his body grow tense . "" I ’m go to Melbourne , Goodwin , "" he answer . "" I need a few thing — need they urgently . and more man — white man — "" he stop abruptly ; rise from his chair , gaze intently toward the north . I follow his gaze . far , far away the moon have break through the cloud . almost",merritt
"on the horizon , you could see the faint luminescence of it upon the smooth sea . the distant patch of light quiver and shake . the cloud thicken again and it be go . the ship race on southward , swiftly . Throckmartin drop into his chair . he light a cigarette with a hand that tremble ; then turn to I with abrupt resolution . "" goodwin , "" he say . "" I do need help . if ever man need it , I do . goodwin — can you imagine yourself in another world , alien",merritt
", unfamiliar , a world of terror , whose unknown joy be its great terror of all ; you all alone there , a stranger ! as such a man would need help , so I need — "" he pause abruptly and arise ; the cigarette drop from his finger . the moon have again break through the cloud , and this time much near . not a mile away be the patch of light that it throw upon the wave . back of it , to the rim of the sea be a lane of moonlight ; a",merritt
"gigantic gleam serpent race over the edge of the world straight and surely toward the ship . Throckmartin stiffen to it as a pointer do to a hidden covey . to I from he pulse a thrill of horror — but horror tinge with an unfamiliar , an infernal joy . it come to I and pass away — leave I tremble with its shock of bitter sweet . he bend forward , all his soul in his eye . the moon path sweep close , close still . it be now less than half a mile away . from",merritt
"it the ship flee — almost as though pursue . down upon it , swift and straight , a radiant torrent cleave the wave , race the moon stream . "" good God ! "" breathe Throckmartin , and if ever the word be a prayer and an invocation they be . and then , for the first time — I see — it ! the moon path stretch to the horizon and be border by darkness . it be as though the cloud above have be part to form a lane — draw aside like curtain or as the",merritt
"water of the Red Sea be hold back to let the host of Israel through . on each side of the stream be the black shadow cast by the fold of the high canopy . and straight as a road between the opaque wall gleam , shimmer , and dance the shine , racing , rapid of the moonlight . far , it seem immeasurably far , along this stream of silver fire I sense , rather than see , something come . it draw first into sight as a deep glow within the light . on and on it",merritt
"sweep toward we — an opalescent mistiness that speed with the suggestion of some wing creature in arrowed flight . dimly there creep into my mind memory of the Dyak legend of the wing messenger of Buddha — the Akla bird whose feather be weave of the moon ray , whose heart be a live opal , whose wing in flight echo the crystal clear music of the white star — but whose beak be of frozen flame and shred the soul of unbeliever . close it draw and now there come to I sweet , insistent tinkling — like",merritt
"pizzicati on violin of glass ; crystal clear ; diamond melt into sound ! now the thing be close to the end of the white path ; close up to the barrier of darkness still between the ship and the sparkling head of the moon stream . now it beat up against that barrier as a bird against the bar of its cage . it whirl with shimmering plume , with swirl of lacy light , with spiral of living vapour . it hold within it odd , unfamiliar gleam as of shift mother - of - pearl . coruscation",merritt
"and glitter atom drift through it as though it draw they from the ray that bathe it . Nearer and nearer it come , bear on the sparkle wave , and ever thin shrink the protect wall of shadow between it and we . within the mistiness be a core , a nucleus of intenser light — veined , opaline , effulgent , intensely alive . and above it , tangle in the plume and spiral that throb and whirl be seven glow light . through all the incessant but strangely order movement of the — thing — these light",merritt
"hold firm and steady . they be seven — like seven little moon . one be of a pearly pink , one of a delicate nacreous blue , one of lambent saffron , one of the emerald you see in the shallow water of tropic isle ; a deathly white ; a ghostly amethyst ; and one of the silver that be see only when the fly fish leap beneath the moon . the tinkle music be loud still . it pierce the ear with a shower of tiny lance ; it make the heart beat jubilantly — and check",merritt
"it dolorously . it close the throat with a throb of rapture and grip it tight with the hand of infinite sorrow ! come to I now a murmur cry , still the crystal note . it be articulate — but as though from something utterly foreign to this world . the ear take the cry and translate with conscious labour into the sound of Earth . and even as it compass , the brain shrink from it irresistibly , and simultaneously it seem reach toward it with irresistible eagerness . throckmartin strode toward the front of the deck ,",merritt
"straight toward the vision , now but a few yard away from the stern . his face have lose all human semblance . utter agony and utter ecstasy — there they be side by side , not resist each other ; unholy inhuman companion blend into a look that none of God ’s creature should wear — and deep , deep as his soul ! a devil and a God dwelling harmoniously side by side ! so must Satan , newly fall , still divine , see heaven and contemplate hell , have appear . and then — swiftly the",merritt
moon path fade ! the cloud sweep over the sky as though a hand have draw they together . up from the south come a roaring squall . as the moon vanish what I have see vanish with it — blot out as an image on a magic lantern ; the tinkling cease abruptly — leave a silence like that which follow an abrupt thunder clap . there be nothing about we but silence and blackness ! through I pass a trembling as one who have stand on the very verge of the gulf wherein the man of the Louisades,merritt
"say lurk the fisher of the soul of man , and have be pluck back by sheer chance . Throckmartin pass an arm around I . "" it be as I think , "" he say . in his voice be a new note ; the calm certainty that have sweep aside a wait terror of the unknown . "" now I know ! come with I to my cabin , old friend . for now that you too have see I can tell you”—he hesitated—“what it be you see , "" he end . as we pass through the",merritt
"door we meet the ship ’s first officer . Throckmartin compose his face into at least a semblance of normality . "" go to have much of a storm ? "" he ask . "" yes , "" say the mate . "" probably all the way to Melbourne . "" Throckmartin straighten as though with a new thought . he grip the officer ’s sleeve eagerly . "" you mean at least cloudy weather — for”—he hesitated—“for the next three night , say ? "" "" and for three more , "" reply the mate . "" thank God",merritt
"! "" cry Throckmartin , and I think I never hear such relief and hope as be in his voice . the sailor stand amazed . "" thank God ? "" he repeat . "" thank — what d’ye mean ? "" but Throckmartin be move onward to his cabin . I start to follow . the first officer stop I . "" your friend , "" he say , "" be he ill ? "" "" the sea ! "" I answer hurriedly . "" he ’s not use to it . I be go to look after he",merritt
". "" doubt and disbelief be plain in the seaman ’s eye but I hurry on . for I know now that Throckmartin be ill indeed — but with a sickness the ship ’s doctor nor any other could heal . II "" dead ! all dead ! "" he be sit , face in hand , on the side of his berth as I enter . he have take off his coat . "" Throck , "" I cry . "" what be it ? what be you fly from , man ? where be your wife — and",merritt
"Stanton ? "" "" dead ! "" he reply monotonously . "" dead ! all dead ! "" then as I recoil from him—“all dead . Edith , Stanton , Thora — dead — or bad . and Edith in the Moon Pool — with they — draw by what you see on the moon path — that have put its brand upon I — and follow I ! "" he rip open his shirt . "" look at this , "" he say . around his chest , above his heart , the skin be white as pearl .",merritt
"this whiteness be sharply define against the healthy tint of the body . it circle he with an even cincture about two inch wide . "" burn it ! "" he say , and offer I his cigarette . I draw back . he gesture — peremptorily . I press the glowing end of the cigarette into the ribbon of white flesh . he do not flinch nor be there odour of burn nor , as I draw the little cylinder away , any mark upon the whiteness . "" feel it ! "" he command again . I place",merritt
"my finger upon the band . it be cold — like frozen marble . he draw his shirt around he . "" two thing you have see , "" he say . "" it — and its mark . see , you must believe my story . goodwin , I tell you again that my wife be dead — or bad — I do not know ; the prey of — what you see ; so , too , be Stanton ; so Thora . how — "" tear roll down the seared face . "" why do God let",merritt
"it conquer we ? why do he let it take my Edith ? "" he cry in utter bitterness . "" be there thing strong than God , do you think , Walter ? "" I hesitate . "" be there ? be there ? "" his wild eye search I . "" I do not know just how you define God , "" I manage at last through my astonishment to make answer . "" if you mean the will to know , work through science — "" he wave I aside impatiently . "" science , "" he",merritt
"say . "" what be our science against — that ? or against the science of whatever devil that make it — or make the way for it to enter this world of our ? "" with an effort he regain control . "" goodwin , "" he say , "" do you know at all of the ruin on the Carolines ; the cyclopean , megalithic city and harbour of Ponape and Lele , of Kusaie , of Ruk and Hogolu , and a score of other islet there ? particularly , do you know of the Nan -",merritt
"Matal and the Metalanim ? "" "" of the Metalanim I have hear and see photograph , "" I say . "" they call it , do n’t they , the Lost Venice of the Pacific ? "" "" look at this map , "" say Throckmartin . "" that , "" he go on , "" be Christian ’s chart of Metalanim harbour and the Nan - Matal . do you see the rectangle mark Nan - Tauach ? "" "" yes , "" I say . "" there , "" he say , "" under those wall be",merritt
"the Moon Pool and the seven gleam light that raise the Dweller in the Pool , and the altar and shrine of the dweller . and there in the Moon Pool with it lie Edith and Stanton and Thora . "" "" the Dweller in the Moon Pool ? "" I repeat half - incredulously . "" the thing you see , "" say Throckmartin solemnly . a solid sheet of rain sweep the port , and the Southern Queen begin to roll on the rise swell . Throckmartin draw another deep breath of relief , and draw aside a",merritt
"curtain peer out into the night . its blackness seem to reassure he . at any rate , when he sit again he be entirely calm . "" there be no more wonderful ruin in the world , "" he begin almost casually . "" they take in some fifty islet and cover with their intersect canal and lagoon about twelve square mile . who build they ? none know . when be they build ? age before the memory of present man , that be sure . ten thousand , twenty thousand , a hundred thousand year ago —",merritt
"the last more likely . "" all these islet , Walter , be square , and their shore be frown seawall of gigantic basalt block hew and put in place by the hand of ancient man . each inner waterfront be face with a terrace of those basalt block which stand out six foot above the shallow canal that meand between they . on the islet behind these wall be time - shatter fortress , palace , terrace , pyramid ; immense courtyard strew with ruin — and all so old that they seem to wither the eye of those",merritt
"who look on they . "" there have be a great subsidence . you can stand out of Metalanim harbour for three mile and look down upon the top of similar monolithic structure and wall twenty foot below you in the water . "" and all about , string on their canal , be the bulwarked islet with their enigmatic wall peer through the dense growth of mangrove — dead , desert for incalculable age ; shun by those who live near . "" you as a botanist be familiar with the evidence that a vast shadowy continent exist in",merritt
"the Pacific — a continent that be not rent asunder by volcanic force as be that legendary one of Atlantis in the Eastern ocean.1 my work in Java , in Papua , and in the Ladrones have set my mind upon this Pacific lose land . just as the Azores be believe to be the last high peak of Atlantis , so hint come to I steadily that Ponape and Lele and their basalt bulwark islet be the last point of the slowly sink western land cling still to the sunlight , and have be the last refuge and sacred",merritt
"place of the ruler of that race which have lose their immemorial home under the rise water of the Pacific . "" I believe that under these ruin I might find the evidence that I seek . "" my — my wife and I have talk before we be married of make this our great work . after the honeymoon we prepare for the expedition . Stanton be as enthusiastic as ourselves . we sail , as you know , last May for fulfilment of my dream . "" at Ponape we select , not without difficulty , workman to",merritt
"help we — digger . I have to make extraordinary inducement before I could get together my force . their belief be gloomy , these Ponapeans . they people their swamp , their forest , their mountain , and shore , with malignant spirit — ani they call they . and they be afraid — bitterly afraid of the isle of ruin and what they think the ruin hide . I do not wonder — now ! "" when they be tell where they be to go , and how long we expect to stay , they murmur . those",merritt
"who , at last , be tempt make what I think then merely a superstitious proviso that they be to be allow to go away on the three night of the full moon . would to God we have heed they and go too ! "" "" we pass into Metalanim harbour . off to our left — a mile away arise a massive quadrangle . its wall be all of forty foot high and hundred of foot on each side . as we draw by , our native grow very silent ; watch it furtively , fearfully . I",merritt
"know it for the ruin that be call Nan - Tauach , the ' place of frown wall . ' and at the silence of my man I recall what Christian have write of this place ; of how he have come upon its ' ancient platform and tetragonal enclosure of stonework ; its wonder of tortuous alleyway and labyrinth of shallow canal ; grim masse of stonework peer out from behind verdant screen ; cyclopean barricade , ' and of how , when he have turn ' into its ghostly shadow , straightway the merriment of guide be hush",merritt
"and conversation die down to whisper . '   "" he be silent for a little time . "" of course I want to pitch our camp there , "" he go on again quietly , "" but I soon give up that idea . the native be panic - stricken — threaten to turn back . ' no , ' they say , ' too great ani there . we go to any other place — but not there . ' "" we finally pick for our base the islet call Uschen - Tau . it be close to",merritt
"the isle of desire , but far enough away from it to satisfy our man . there be an excellent camping - place and a spring of fresh water . we pitch our tent , and in a couple of day the work be in full swing . "" iii the Moon Rock "" I do not intend to tell you now , "" Throckmartin continue , "" the result of the next two week , nor of what we find . later — if I be allow , I will lay all that before you . it be sufficient",merritt
"to say that at the end of those two week I have find confirmation for many of my theory . "" the place , for all its decay and desolation , have not infect we with any touch of morbidity — that be not Edith , Stanton , or myself . but Thora be very unhappy . she be a swede , as you know , and in her blood run the belief and superstition of the Northland — some of they so strangely akin to those of this far southern land ; belief of spirit of mountain and forest",merritt
"and water werewolf and being malign . from the first she show a curious sensitivity to what , I suppose , may be call the ' influence ' of the place . she say it ' smell ' of ghost and warlock . "" I laugh at she then — "" two week slip by , and at their end the spokesman for our native come to we . the next night be the full of the moon , he say . he remind I of my promise . they would go back to their village in the morning ;",merritt
"they would return after the third night , when the moon have begin to wane . they leave we sundry charm for our ' protection , ' and solemnly caution we to keep as far away as possible from Nan - Tauach during their absence . half - exasperate , half - amuse I watch they go . "" no work could be do without they , of course , so we decide to spend the day of their absence junket about the southern islet of the group . we mark down several spot for subsequent exploration , and on",merritt
"the morning of the third day set forth along the east face of the breakwater for our camp on Uschen - Tau , plan to have everything in readiness for the return of our man the next day . "" we land just before dusk , tired and ready for our cot . it be only a little after ten o’clock that Edith awaken I . ""   ' listen ! ' she say . ' lean over with your ear close to the ground ! ' "" I do so , and seem to hear , far , far",merritt
"below , as though come up from great distance , a faint chanting . it gather strength , die down , end ; begin , gather volume , fade away into silence . ""   ' it ’ the wave roll on rock somewhere , ' I say . ' we ’re probably over some ledge of rock that carry the sound . ' ""   ' it ’ the first time I ’ve hear it , ' reply my wife doubtfully . we listen again . then through the dim rhythm , deep beneath we , another sound come",merritt
". it drift across the lagoon that lie between we and Nan - Tauach in little tinkle wave . it be music — of a sort ; I will not describe the strange effect it have upon I . you ’ve feel it — "" "" you mean on the deck ? "" I ask . Throckmartin nod . "" I go to the flap of the tent , "" he continue , "" and peer out . as I do so Stanton lift his flap and walk out into the moonlight , look over to the other islet and",merritt
"listening . I call to he . ""   ' that ’ the queer sound ! ' he say . he listen again . ' Crystalline ! like little note of translucent glass . like the bell of crystal on the sistrum of Isis at Dendarah Temple , ' he add half - dreamily . we gaze intently at the island . suddenly , on the seawall , move slowly , rhythmically , we see a little group of light . Stanton laugh . ""   ' the beggar ! ' he exclaim . ' that ’ why they want",merritt
"to get away , be it ? do not you see , Dave , it ’ some sort of a festival — rite of some kind that they hold during the full moon ! that ’s why they be so eager to have we keep away , too . ' "" the explanation seem good . I feel a curious sense of relief , although I have not be sensible of any oppression . ""   ' let ’s slip over , ' suggest Stanton — but I would not . ""   ' they ’re a difficult lot as",merritt
"it be , ' I say . ' if we break into one of their religious ceremony they ’ll probably never forgive we . let ’s keep out of any family party where we have not be invite . ' ""   ' that ’s so , ' agree Stanton . "" the strange tinkling rise and fall , rise and fall — ""   ' there ’ something — something very unsettling about it , ' say Edith at last soberly . ' I wonder what they make those sound with . they frighten I half to death ,",merritt
"and , at the same time , they make I feel as though some enormous rapture be just around the corner . ' ""   ' it ’ devilish uncanny ! ' break in Stanton . "" and as he speak the flap of Thora ’s tent be raise and out into the moonlight stride the old swede . she be the great Norse type — tall , deep - breast , mould on the old viking line . her sixty year have slip from she . she look like some ancient priestess of Odin . "" she stand there",merritt
", her eye wide , brilliant , stare . she thrust her head forward toward Nan - Tauach , regard the move light ; she listen . suddenly she raise her arm and make a curious gesture to the moon . it be — an archaic — movement ; she seem to drag it from remote antiquity — yet in it be a strange suggestion of power . twice she repeat this gesture and — the tinkling die away ! she turn to we . ""   ' go ! ' she say , and her voice seem to come",merritt
"from far distance . ' go from here — and quickly ! go while you may . it have call — ' she point to the islet . ' it know you be here . it wait ! ' she wail . ' it beckon — the — the — ' "" she fall at Edith ’s foot , and over the lagoon come again the tinkling , now with a quick note of jubilance — almost of triumph . "" we watch beside she throughout the night . the sound from Nan - Tauach continue until about an hour",merritt
"before moon - set . in the morning Thora awoke , none the bad , apparently . she have have bad dream , she say . she could not remember what they be — except that they have warn she of danger . she be oddly sullen , and throughout the morning her gaze return again and again half - fascinatedly , half - wonderingly to the neighbouring isle . "" that afternoon the native return . and that night on Nan - Tauach the silence be unbroken nor be there light nor sign of life . "" you will",merritt
"understand , Goodwin , how the occurrence I have relate would excite the scientific curiosity . we reject immediately , of course , any explanation admit the supernatural . "" Our — symptom let I call they — could all very easily be account for . it be unquestionable that the vibration create by certain musical instrument have definite and sometimes extraordinary effect upon the nervous system . we accept this as the explanation of the reaction we have experience , hear the unfamiliar sound . Thora ’s nervousness , her superstitious apprehension , have work she up to a",merritt
"condition of semi - somnambulistic hysteria . science could readily explain her part in the night ’s scene . "" we come to the conclusion that there must be a passageway between Ponape and Nan - Tauach know to the native — and use by they during their rite . we decide that on the next departure of our labourer we would set forth immediately to Nan - Tauach . we would investigate during the day , and at evening my wife and Thora would go back to camp , leave Stanton and I to spend the night on the",merritt
"island , observe from some safe hiding - place what might occur . "" the moon wane ; appear crescent in the west ; wax slowly toward the full . before the man leave we they literally pray we to accompany they . their importunity only make we more eager to see what it be that , we be now convince , they want to conceal from we . at least that be true of Stanton and myself . it be not true of Edith . she be thoughtful , abstracted — reluctant . "" when the man be out",merritt
"of sight around the turn of the harbour , we take our boat and make straight for Nan - Tauach . soon its mighty seawall tower above we . we pass through the water - gate with its gigantic hewn prism of basalt and land beside a half - submerge pier . in front of we stretch a series of giant step lead into a vast court strew with fragment of fall pillar . in the centre of the court , beyond the shattered pillar , rise another terrace of basalt block , conceal , I know , still another",merritt
"enclosure . "" and now , Walter , for the well understanding of what follow — and — and — "" he hesitate . "" should you decide later to return with I or , if I be take , to — to — follow we — listen carefully to my description of this place : Nan - Tauach be literally three rectangle . the first rectangle be the seawall , build up of monolith — hewn and square , twenty foot wide at the top . to get to the gateway in the seawall you pass along the canal",merritt
"mark on the map between Nan - Tauach and the islet name Tau . the entrance to the canal be bid by dense thicket of mangrove ; once through these the way be clear . the step lead up from the landing of the sea - gate through the entrance to the courtyard . "" this courtyard be surround by another basalt wall , rectangular , follow with mathematical exactness the march of the outer barricade . the seawall be from thirty to forty foot high — originally it must have be much high , but there have be subsidence",merritt
"in part . the wall of the first enclosure be fifteen foot across the top and its height vary from twenty to fifty foot — here , too , the gradual sinking of the land have cause portion of it to fall . "" within this courtyard be the second enclosure . its terrace , of the same basalt as the outer wall , be about twenty foot high . entrance be gain to it by many breach which time have make in its stonework . this be the inner court , the heart of Nan - Tauach ! there",merritt
"lie the great central vault with which be associate the one name of live being that have come to we out of the mist of the past . the native say it be the treasure - house of Chau - te - leur , a mighty king who reign long ' before their father . ' as Chan be the ancient ponapean word both for sun and king , the name mean , without doubt , ' place of the sun king . ' it be a memory of a dynastic name of the race that rule the Pacific continent",merritt
", now vanish — just as the ruler of ancient Crete take the name of Minos and the ruler of Egypt the name of Pharaoh . "" and opposite this place of the sun king be the moon rock that hide the Moon Pool . "" it be Stanton who discover the moon rock . we have be inspect the inner courtyard ; Edith and Thora be get together our lunch . I come out of the vault of Chau - te - leur to find Stanton before a part of the terrace study it wonderingly . ""   '",merritt
"what do you make of this ? ' he ask I as I come up . he point to the wall . I follow his finger and see a slab of stone about fifteen foot high and ten wide . at first all I notice be the exquisite nicety with which its edge join the block about it . then I realize that its colour be subtly different — tinge with grey and of a smooth , peculiar — deadness . ""   ' look more like calcite than basalt , ' I say . I touch it and withdraw",merritt
"my hand quickly for at the contact every nerve in my arm tingle as though a shock of frozen electricity have pass through it . it be not cold as we know cold . it be a chill force — the phrase I have use — frozen electricity — describe it well than anything else . Stanton look at I oddly . ""   ' so you feel it too , ' he say . ' I be wonder whether I be develop hallucination like Thora . Notice , by the way , that the block beside it be quite",merritt
"warm beneath the sun . ' "" we examine the slab eagerly . its edge be cut as though by an engraver of jewel . they fit against the neighbouring block in almost a hairline . its base be slightly curve , and fit as closely as top and side upon the huge stone on which it rest . and then we note that these stone have be hollow to follow the line of the grey stone ’s foot . there be a semicircular depression run from one side of the slab to the other . it be as though",merritt
"the grey rock stand in the centre of a shallow cup — reveal half , cover half . something about this hollow attract I . I reach down and feel it . goodwin , although the balance of the stone that form it , like all the stone of the courtyard , be rough and age - worn — this be as smooth , as even surface as though it have just leave the hand of the polisher . ""   ' it ’ a door ! ' exclaim Stanton . ' it swing around in that little cup .",merritt
"that ’ what make the hollow so smooth . ' ""   ' maybe you ’re right , ' I reply . ' but how the devil can we open it ? ' "" we go over the slab again — press upon its edge , thrust against its side . during one of those effort I happen to look up — and cry out . a foot above and on each side of the corner of the grey rock ’s lintel be a slight convexity , visible only from the angle at which my gaze strike it . """,merritt
"we carry with we a small scaling - ladder and up this I go . the boss be apparently nothing more than chisel curvature in the stone . I lay my hand on the one I be examine , and draw it back sharply . in my palm , at the base of my thumb , I have feel the same shock that I have in touch the slab below . I put my hand back . the impression come from a spot not more than an inch wide . I go carefully over the entire convexity , and six",merritt
"time more the chill run through my arm . there be seven circle an inch wide in the curved place , each of which communicate the precise sensation I have describe . the convexity on the opposite side of the slab give exactly the same result . but no amount of touch or of press these spot singly or in any combination give the slight promise of motion to the slab itself . ""   ' and yet — they’re what open it , ' say Stanton positively . ""   ' why do you say that ? ' I",merritt
"ask . ""   ' I — don’t know , ' he answer hesitatingly . ' but something tell I so . Throck , ' he go on half earnestly , half laughingly , ' the purely scientific part of I be fight the purely human part of I . the scientific part be urge I to find some way to get that slab either down or open . the human part be just as strongly urge I to do nothing of the sort and get away while I can ! ' "" he laugh again — shamefacedly . """,merritt
"  ' which shall it be ? ' he ask — and I think that in his tone the human side of he be ascendant . ""   ' it will probably stay as it be — unless we blow it to bit , ' I say . ""   ' I think of that , ' he answer , ' and I would not dare , ' he add soberly enough . and even as I have speak there come to I the same feeling that he have express . it be as though something pass out of the",merritt
"grey rock that strike my heart as a hand strike an impious lip . we turn away — uneasily , and face Thora come through a breach on the terrace . ""   ' Miss Edith want you quick , ' she begin — and stop . her eye go past I to the grey rock . her body grow rigid ; she take a few stiff step forward and then run straight to it . she cast herself upon its breast , hand and face press against it ; we hear her scream as though her very soul be",merritt
"be draw from she — and watch her fall at its foot . as we pick she up I see steal from her face the look I have observe when first we hear the crystal music of Nan - Tauach — that unhuman mingling of opposite ! "" IV the First Vanishings "" we carry Thora back , down to where Edith be wait . we tell she what have happen and what we have find . she listen gravely , and as we finish Thora sigh and open her eye . ""   ' I would like to see",merritt
"the stone , ' she say . ' Charles , you stay here with Thora . ' we pass through the outer court silently — and stand before the rock . she touch it , draw back her hand as I have ; thrust it forward again resolutely and hold it there . she seem to be listen . then she turn to I . ""   ' David , ' say my wife , and the wistfulness in her voice hurt me—‘David , would you be very , very disappointed if we go from here — without try to",merritt
"find out any more about it — would you ? ' "" Walter , I never want anything so much in my life as I want to learn what that rock conceal . nevertheless , I try to master my desire , and I answered—‘edith , not a bit if you want we to do it . ' "" she read my struggle in my eye . she turn back toward the grey rock . I see a shiver pass through she . I feel a tinge of remorse and pity ! ""   ' Edith , ' I exclaim",merritt
", ' we ’ll go ! ' "" she look at I again . ' science be a jealous mistress , ' she quote . ' no , after all it may be just fancy . at any rate , you can not run away . no ! but , Dave , I ’m go to stay too ! ' "" and there be no change her decision . as we near the other she lay a hand on my arm . ""   ' Dave , ' she say , ' if there should be something — well —",merritt
"inexplicable tonight — something that seem — too dangerous — will you promise to go back to our own islet tomorrow , if we can — and wait until the native return ? ' "" I promise eagerly — the desire to stay and see what come with the night be like a fire within I . "" we pick a place about five hundred foot away from the step lead into the outer court . "" the spot we have select be well hidden . we could not be see , and yet we have a clear view of",merritt
"the stair and the gateway . we settle down just before dusk to wait for whatever might come . I be near the giant step ; next I Edith ; then Thora , and last Stanton . "" night fall . after a time the eastern sky begin to lighten , and we know that the moon be rise ; grow light still , and the orb peep over the sea ; swam into full sight . I glance at Edith and then at Thora . my wife be intently listen . Thora sit , as she have since we",merritt
"have place ourselves , elbow on knee , her hand cover her face . "" and then from the moonlight flood we there drip down on I a great drowsiness . Sleep seem to seep from the ray and fall upon my eye , close they — close they inexorably . Edith ’s hand in mine relaxed . Stanton ’s head fall upon his breast and his body sway drunkenly . I try to rise — to fight against the profound desire for slumber that press on I . "" and as I fight , Thora raise her head as",merritt
"though listen ; and turn toward the gateway . there be infinite despair in her face — and expectancy . I try again to rise — and a surge of sleep rush over I . dimly , as I sink within it , I hear a crystalline chime ; raise my lid once more with a supreme effort . "" Thora , bathe in light , be stand at the top of the stair . "" Sleep take I for its very own — sweep I into the heart of oblivion ! "" Dawn be break when I waken .",merritt
"Recollection rush back ; I thrust a panic - stricken hand out toward Edith ; touch she and my heart give a great leap of thankfulness . she stir , sit up , rub daze eye . Stanton lie on his side , back toward we , head in arm . "" Edith look at I laughingly . ' Heavens ! what sleep ! ' she say . memory come to she . ""   ' what happen ? ' she whisper . ' what make we sleep like that ? ' "" Stanton awoke . ""   ' what",merritt
"’s the matter ! ' he exclaim . ' you look as though you ’ve be see ghost . ' "" Edith catch my hand . ""   ' where ’s Thora ? ' she cry . before I could answer she have run out into the open , call . ""   ' Thora be take , ' be all I could say to Stanton . together we go to my wife , now stand beside the great stone step , look up fearfully at the gateway into the terrace . there I tell they what I have see",merritt
"before sleep have drown I . and together then we run up the stair , through the court and to the grey rock . "" the slab be close as it have be the day before , nor be there trace of its having open . no trace ? even as I think this Edith drop to her knee before it and reach toward something lie at its foot . it be a little piece of gay silk . I know it for part of the kerchief Thora wear about her hair . she lift the fragment . it have",merritt
"be cut from the kerchief as though by a razor - edge ; a few thread run from it — down toward the base of the slab ; run on to the base of the grey rock and — under it ! "" the grey rock be a door ! and it have open and Thora have pass through it ! "" I think that for the next few minute we all be a little insane . we beat upon that portal with our hand , with stone and stick . at last reason come back to we . """,merritt
"Goodwin , during the next two hour we try every way in our power to force entrance through the slab . the rock resist our drill . we try explosion at the base with charge cover by rock . they make not the slight impression on the surface , expend their force , of course , upon the slighter resistance of their covering . "" Afternoon find we hopeless . night be come on and we would have to decide our course of action . I want to go to Ponape for help . but Edith object that this would",merritt
"take hour and after we have reach there it would be impossible to persuade our man to return with we that night , if at all . what then be leave ? clearly only one of two choice : to go back to our camp , wait for our man , and on their return try to persuade they to go with we to Nan - Tauach . but this would mean the abandonment of Thora for at least two day . we could not do it ; it would have be too cowardly . "" the other choice be",merritt
"to wait where we be for night to come ; to wait for the rock to open as it have the night before , and to make a sortie through it for Thora before it could close again . "" our path lie clear before we . we have to spend that night on Nan - Tauach ! "" we have , of course , discuss the sleep phenomenon very fully . if our theory that light , sound , and Thora ’s disappearance be link with secret religious rite of the native , the logical inference be that the",merritt
"slumber have be produce by they , perhaps by vapour — you know as well as I , what extraordinary knowledge these Pacific people have of such thing . or the sleep might have be simply a coincidence and produce by emanation either gaseous or from plant , natural cause which have happen to coincide in their effect with the other manifestation . we make some rough and ready but effective respirator . "" as dusk fall we look over our weapon . Edith be an excellent shot with both rifle and pistol . we have decide that my wife",merritt
"be to remain in the hiding - place . Stanton would take up a station on the far side of the stairway and I would place myself opposite he on the side near Edith . the place I pick out be less than two hundred foot from she , and I could reassure myself now and then as to her safety as it look down upon the hollow wherein she crouch . from our respective station Stanton and I could command the gateway entrance . his position give he also a glimpse of the outer courtyard . "" a faint",merritt
"glow in the sky herald the moon . Stanton and I take our place . the moon dawn increase rapidly ; the disk swam up , and in a moment it be shine in full radiance upon ruin and sea . "" as it rise there come a curious little sighing sound from the inner terrace . Stanton straighten up and stare intently through the gateway , rifle ready . ""   ' Stanton , what do you see ? ' I call cautiously . he wave a silence hand . I turn my head to look at Edith .",merritt
"a shock run through I . she lie upon her side . her face , grotesque with its nose and mouth cover by the respirator , be turn full toward the moon . she be again in deep sleep ! "" as I turn again to call to Stanton , my eye sweep the head of the step and stop , fascinated . for the moonlight have thicken . it seem to be — curdle — there ; and through it run little gleam and vein of shimmer white fire . a languor pass through I . it be not",merritt
"the ineffable drowsiness of the precede night . it be a sapping of all will to move . I try to cry out to Stanton . I have not even the will to move my lip . goodwin — I could not even move my eye ! "" Stanton be in the range of my fix vision . I watch he leap up the step and move toward the gateway . the curdle radiance seem to await he . he step into it — and be lose to my sight . "" for a dozen heart beat there be silence",merritt
". then a rain of tinkling that set the pulse race with joy and at once check they with tiny finger of ice — and ring through they Stanton ’s voice from the courtyard — a great cry — a scream — fill with ecstasy insupportable and horror unimaginable ! and once more there be silence . I strove to burst the bond that hold I . I could not . even my eyelid be fix . within they my eye , dry and aching , burn . "" then Goodwin — I first see the — inexplicable ! the",merritt
"crystalline music swell . where I sit I could take in the gateway and its basalt portal , rough and broken , rise to the top of the wall forty foot above , shatter , ruin portal — unclimbable . from this gateway an intenser light begin to flow . it grow , it gush , and out of it walk Stanton . "" Stanton ! but — God ! what a vision ! "" a deep tremor shake he . I wait — wait . v into the Moon Pool "" goodwin , "" Throckmartin go on at last",merritt