Carnacki, The Ghost Finder | Page 8

I fairly pringled all along
my back. I knew that I was going to learn definitely whether whatever
was abroad was dangerous to Life. From the cat there rose suddenly a
hideous caterwaul, that ceased abruptly; and then--too late--I snapped
off the flashlight. In the great glare, I saw that the basket had been
overturned, and the lid was wrenched open, with the cat lying half in,
and half out upon the floor. I saw nothing else, but I was full of the
knowledge that I was in the presence of some Being or Thing that had
power to destroy.
"During the next two or three minutes, there was an odd, noticeable
quietness in the room, and you much remember I was half-blinded, for
the time, because of the flashlight; so that the whole place seemed to be
pitchy dark just beyond the shine of the Pentacle. I tell you it was most
horrible. I just knelt there in the star, and whirled 'round, trying to see
whether anything was coming at me.
"My power of sight came gradually, and I got a little hold of myself;
and abruptly I saw the thing I was looking for, close to the 'water
circle.' It was big and indistinct, and wavered curiously, as though the
shadow of a vast spider hung suspended in the air, just beyond the
barrier. It passed swiftly 'round the circle, and seemed to probe ever
toward me; but only to draw back with extraordinary jerky movements,
as might a living person if they touched the hot bar of a grate.
"'Round and 'round it moved, and 'round and 'round I turned. Then, just
opposite to one of the Vales' in the pentacles, it seemed to pause, as
though preliminary to a tremendous effort. It retired almost beyond the
glow of the vacuum light, and then came straight toward me, appearing
to gather form and solidity as it came. There seemed a vast, malign

determination behind the movement, that must succeed. I was on my
knees, and I jerked back, falling on to my left hand, and hip, in a wild
endeavor to get back from the advancing thing. With my right hand I
was grabbing madly for my revolver, which I had let slip. The brutal
thing came with one great sweep straight over the garlic and the 'water
circle,' almost to the vale of the pentacle. I believe I yelled. Then, just
as suddenly as it had swept over, it seemed to be hurled back by some
mighty, invisible force.
"It must have been some moments before I realized that I was safe; and
then I got myself together in the middle of the pentacles, feeling
horribly gone and shaken, and glancing 'round and 'round the barrier;
but the thing had vanished. Yet, I had learnt something, for I knew now
that the Grey Room was haunted by a monstrous hand.
"Suddenly, as I crouched there, I saw what had so nearly given the
monster an opening through the barrier. In my movements within the
pentacle I must have touched one of the jars of water; for just where the
thing had made its attack the jar that guarded the 'deep' of the 'vale' had
been moved to one side, and this had left one of the 'five doorways'
unguarded. I put it back, quickly, and felt almost safe again, for I had
found the cause, and the 'defense' was still good. And I began to hope
again that I should see the morning come in. When I saw that thing so
nearly succeed, I had an awful, weak, overwhelming feeling that the
'barriers' could never bring me safe through the night against such a
Force. You can understand?
"For a long time I could not see the hand; but, presently, I thought I
saw, once or twice, an odd wavering, over among the shadows near the
door. A little later, as though in a sudden fit of malignant rage, the dead
body of the cat was picked up, and beaten with dull, sickening blows
against the solid floor. That made me feel rather queer.
"A minute afterward, the door was opened and slammed twice with
tremendous force. The next instant the thing made one swift, vicious
dart at me, from out of the shadows. Instinctively, I started sideways
from it, and so plucked my hand from upon the Electric Pentacle,
where--for a wickedly careless moment--I had placed it. The monster

was hurled off from the neighborhood of the pentacles; though--owing
to my inconceivable foolishness--it had been enabled for a second time
to pass the outer barriers. I can tell you, I shook for a time, with sheer
funk. I moved right to the center of the pentacles again, and knelt there,
making myself as small and compact