The Moon Pool | Page 9

it,' said Stanton positively.
"'Why do you say that?' I asked.
"'I--don't know,' he answered hesitatingly. 'But something tells me so.
Throck,' he went on half earnestly, half laughingly, 'the purely
scientific part of me is fighting the purely human part of me. The
scientific part is urging me to find some way to get that slab either
down or open. The human part is just as strongly urging me to do
nothing of the sort and get away while I can!'
"He laughed again--shamefacedly.
"'Which shall it be?' he asked--and I thought that in his tone the human
side of him was ascendant.
"'It will probably stay as it is--unless we blow it to bits,' I said.
"'I thought of that,' he answered, 'and I wouldn't dare,' he added soberly
enough. And even as I had spoken there came to me the same feeling
that he had expressed. It was as though something passed out of the
grey rock that struck my heart as a hand strikes an impious lip. We
turned away--uneasily, and faced Thora coming through a breach on
the terrace.
"'Miss Edith wants you quick,' she began--and stopped. Her eyes went
past me to the grey rock. Her body grew rigid; she took a few stiff steps
forward and then ran straight to it. She cast herself upon its breast,
hands and face pressed against it; we heard her scream as though her

very soul were being drawn from her--and watched her fall at its foot.
As we picked her up I saw steal from her face the look I had observed
when first we heard the crystal music of Nan-Tauach --that unhuman
mingling of opposites!"
CHAPTER IV
The First Vanishings
"We carried Thora back, down to where Edith was waiting. We told her
what had happened and what we had found. She listened gravely, and
as we finished Thora sighed and opened her eyes.
"'I would like to see the stone,' she said. 'Charles, you stay here with
Thora.' We passed through the outer court silently--and stood before
the rock. She touched it, drew back her hand as I had; thrust it forward
again resolutely and held it there. She seemed to be listening. Then she
turned to me.
"'David,' said my wife, and the wistfulness in her voice hurt me--'David,
would you be very, very disappointed if we went from here--without
trying to find out any more about it--would you?'
"Walter, I never wanted anything so much in my life as I wanted to
learn what that rock concealed. Nevertheless, I tried to master my
desire, and I answered--'Edith, not a bit if you want us to do it.'
"She read my struggle in my eyes. She turned back toward the grey
rock. I saw a shiver pass through her. I felt a tinge of remorse and pity!
"'Edith,' I exclaimed, 'we'll go!'
"She looked at me again. 'Science is a jealous mistress,' she quoted. 'No,
after all it may be just fancy. At any rate, you can't run away. No! But,
Dave, I'm going to stay too!'
"And there was no changing her decision. As we neared the others she
laid a hand on my arm.

"'Dave,' she said, 'if there should be something--well--inexplicable
tonight--something that seems--too dangerous--will you promise to go
back to our own islet tomorrow, if we can--and wait until the natives
return?'
"I promised eagerly--the desire to stay and see what came with the
night was like a fire within me.
"We picked a place about five hundred feet away from the steps leading
into the outer court.
"The spot we had selected was well hidden. We could not be seen, and
yet we had a clear view of the stairs and the gateway. We settled down
just before dusk to wait for whatever might come. I was nearest the
giant steps; next me Edith; then Thora, and last Stanton.
"Night fell. After a time the eastern sky began to lighten, and we knew
that the moon was rising; grew lighter still, and the orb peeped over the
sea; swam into full sight. I glanced at Edith and then at Thora. My wife
was intently listening. Thora sat, as she had since we had placed
ourselves, elbows on knees, her hands covering her face.
"And then from the moonlight flooding us there dripped down on me a
great drowsiness. Sleep seemed to seep from the rays and fall upon my
eyes, closing them--closing them inexorably. Edith's hand in mine
relaxed. Stanton's head fell upon his breast and his body swayed
drunkenly. I tried to rise--to fight against the profound desire for
slumber that pressed on me.
"And as I fought, Thora raised her head as though listening; and turned
toward the gateway. There was infinite despair in her face--and
expectancy. I