the moon pool-第73章
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where beyond the cavern ledge had launched them unper…
ceived； stealing up to the farther side of the island and risk…
ing all in one bold stroke。 Well； Lugur； no matter what he
held of wickedness； held also high courage。
The cavern was paved with the dead…alive； the _Akka_ car…
rying them out by the hundreds； casting them into the waters。
Through the lane down which the Dweller had passed we
went as quickly as we could； coming at last to the space
where the _coria_ waited。 And not long after we swung past
where the shadow had hung and hovered over the shining
depths of the Midnight Pool。
Upon Lakla's insistence we passed on to the palace of
Lugur； not to Yolara'sI do not know why； but go there
then she would not。 And within one of its columned rooms；
maidens of the black…haired folks； the wistfulness； the fear；
all gone from their sparkling eyes； served us。
There came to me a huge desire to see the destruction
they had told us of the Dweller's lair； to observe for myself
whether it was not possible to make a way of entrance and
to study its mysteries。
I spoke of this； and to my surprise both the handmaiden
and the O'Keefe showed an almost embarrassed haste to
acquiesce in my hesitant suggestion。
〃Sure；〃 cried Larry； 〃there's lots of time before night！〃
He caught himself sheepishly； cast a glance at Lakla。
〃I keep forgettin' there's no night here；〃 he mumbled。
〃What did you say； Larry？〃 asked she。
〃I said I wish we were sitting in our home in Ireland；
watching the sun go down；〃 he whispered to her。 Vaguely I
wondered why she blushed。
But now I must hasten。 We went to the temple； and here
at least the ghastly litter of the dead had been cleaned away。
We passed through the blue…caverned space； crossed the
narrow arch that spanned the rushing sea stream； and； as…
cending； stood again upon the ivoried pave at the foot of the
frowning； towering amphitheatre of jet。
Across the Silver Waters there was sign of neither Web of
Rainbows nor colossal pillars nor the templed lips that I had
seen curving out beneath the Veil when the Shining One
had swirled out to greet its priestess and its voice and to
dance with the sacrifices。 There was but a broken and rent
mass of the radiant cliffs against whose base the lake lapped。
Long I lookedand turned away saddened。 Knowing even
as I did what the irised curtain had hidden； still it was as
though some thing of supernal beauty and wonder had been
swept away； never to be replaced； a glamour gone for ever；
a work of the high gods destroyed。
〃Let's go back；〃 said Larry abruptly。
I dropped a little behind them to examine a bit of carving
and； after all； they did not want me。 I watched them pacing
slowly ahead； his arm around her； black hair close to bronze…
gold ringlets。 Then I followed。 Half were they over the
bridge when through the roar of the imprisoned stream I
heard my name called softly。
〃Goodwin！ Dr。 Goodwin！〃
Amazed； I turned。 From behind the pedestal of a carved
group slunkMarakinoff！ My premonition had been right。
Some way he had escaped； slipped through to here。 He held
his hands high； came forward cautiously。
〃I am finished；〃 he whispered〃Done！ I don't care what
THEY'LL do to me。〃 He nodded toward the handmaiden and
Larry； now at the end of the bridge and passing on； oblivious
of all save each other。 He drew closer。 His eyes were sunken；
burning； mad； his face etched with deep lines； as though a
graver's tool had cut down through it。 I took a step back…
ward。
A grin； like the grimace of a fiend； blasted the Russian's
visage。 He threw himself upon me； his hands clenching at
my throat！
〃Larry！〃 I yelledand as I spun around under the shock
of his onslaught； saw the two turn； stand paralyzed； then race
toward me。
〃But YOU'LL carry nothing out of here！〃 shrieked Marakinoff。 〃No！〃
My foot； darting out behind me； touched vacancy。 The
roaring of the racing stream deafened me。 I felt its mists
about me； threw myself forward。
I was fallingfallingwith the Russian's hand strangling
me。 I struck water； sank； the hands that gripped my throat
relaxed for a moment their clutch。 I strove to writhe loose；
felt that I was being hurled with dreadful speed onfull
realization cameon the breast of that racing torrent drop…
ping from some far ocean cleft and rushingwhere？ A little
time； a few breathless instants； I struggled with the devil who
clutched meinflexibly； indomitably。
Then a shrieking as of all the pent winds of the universe
in my earsblackness！
Consciousness returned slowly； agonizedly。
〃Larry！〃 I groaned。 〃Lakla！〃
A brilliant light was glowing through my closed lids。 It
hurt。 I opened my eyes； closed them with swords and needles
of dazzling pain shooting through them。 Again I opened
them cautiously。 It was the sun！
I staggered to my feet。 Behind me was a shattered wall of
basalt monoliths； hewn and squared。 Before me was the Pa…
cific； smooth and blue and smiling。
And not far away； cast up on the strand even as I had
been； wasMarakinoff！
He lay there； broken and dead indeed。 Yet all the waters
through which we had passednot even the waters of death
themselvescould wash from his face the grin of triumph。
With the last of my strength I dragged the body from the
strand and pushed it out into the waves。 A little billow ran
up； coiled about it； and carried it away； ducking and bend…
ing。 Another seized it； and another； playing with it。 It floated
from my sightthat which had been Marakinoff； with all his
schemes to turn our fair world into an undreamed…of…hell。
My strength began to come back to me。 I found a thicket
and slept； slept it must have been for many hours； for when
I again awakened the dawn was rosing the east。 I will not tell
my sufferings。 Suffice it to say that I found a spring and some
fruit； and just before dusk had recovered enough to writhe
up to the top of the wall and discover where I was。
The place was one of the farther islets of the Nan…Matal。
To the north I caught the shadows of the ruins of Nan…
Tauach； where was the moon door； black against the sky。
Where was the moon doorwhich； someway； somehow； I
must reach； and quickly。
At dawn of the next day I got together driftwood and
bound it together in shape of a rough raft with fallen creep…
ers。 Then； with a makeshift paddle； I set forth for Nan…
Tauach。 Slowly； painfully； I crept up to it。 It was late after…
noon before I grounded my shaky craft on the little beach
between the ruined sea…gates and； creeping up the giant steps；
made my way to the inner enclosure。
And at its opening I stopped； and the tears ran streaming
down my cheeks while I wept aloud with sorrow and with
disappointment and with weariness。
For the great wall in which had been set the pale slab
whose threshold we had crossed to the land of the Shining
One lay shattered and broken。 The monoliths were heaped
about； the wall had fallen； and about them shone a film of
water； half covering them。
There was no moon door！
Dazed and weeping； I drew closer； climbed upon their out…
lying fragments。 I looked out only upon the sea。 There had
been a great subsidence； an earth shock； perhaps； tilting
downward all that sidethe echo； little doubt； of that cata…
clysm which had blasted the Dweller's lair！
The little squared islet called Tau； in which were hidden
the seven globes； had entirely disappeared。 Upon the waters
there was no trace of it。
The moon door was gone； the passage to the Moon Pool
was closed to meits chamber covered by the sea！
There was no road to Larrynor to Lakla！
And there； for me； the world ended。
End
