Professional Documents
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The New Lovecraft Circle
The New Lovecraft Circle
The New Lovecraft Circle
S H A D O W S OVER INNSMOUTH
T H E N E W LOVECRAFT CIRCLE
The New
Lovecraft
Circle
Edited by
Robert M. Price
B A L L A N T I N E B O O K S
NEW 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 19%.
"Preface" copyright o 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 lait and
Iru Welcome Tenants. 1964, appears here b y permission o f the author. Ramsey Campbell.
" 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 rhe ÍJfe. 1961. appears
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
" 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 Cryft of CibiiAu »19.
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 : Tola of rAr CrAuUui M j ihoi 1 3 . 1 9 ? J .
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 .
" 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 C.VIiutiiii
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 .
" 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 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 .
"IX:ad Giveaway*copyright o 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 -
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 .
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 1996 by lohn
C l a s b y f o r this c o l l e c t i o n .
" 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 Crypi of Cihathu 124. Lam-
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 .
" 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 fimuumr. September
1977. appears here b y permission o f the author. Richard A Lupoff.
" 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 EKhmp fir Odpieji *>.
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 if Cihulhu tlS. Saint lohn's Eve
1987. appears here b y permission o f the author. T h o m a s Ligotti.
" 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 t,in Out Annual.
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 Eldruth T®Vi 1 7 . 1 9 8 1 . a p p e a r s h r r e
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 .
" 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
Myatiy A f i i p c i n r . 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 .
" 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 Dearhreafm 12.
S u m m e r 1987. appears b y permission o f the author. Stephen M a r k Rainey.
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
Dediča led to
my beloved Carol,
who shares with Asenaih White
both beauty and wisdom beyond
her years, but with none of
the bad stuff!
Contents
P r e f a c e by Ramsey Campbell ix
D e m o n i a c a l by David Sutton 50
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
Ramsey Campbell
Merseyside, England
12 M a y 1 9 9 3
Introduction
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 fic-
t 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 Love-
craft'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 else-
w 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 In-
s 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 contributed
t h e m u l t i v o l u m e Revelations of Glaaki, 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 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 Ponape
Scripture a n d the Xanthu Tablets, 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 re-
s e a r c h e r s ) w a s really t h e Necronomicon enciphered. Lumley added
t h e m y s t e r i o u s Cthaat Aquadingen a n d l o a c h i m F e e r y ' s Notes upon
the 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 Al-
h 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 al-
m 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.
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 fa-
m 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 . "
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 of
the Cthulhu Mythos 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 read-
ers! 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 of
Lovecraftian 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 writ-
ers 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.
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 fiction (some
o f the c o n t e n t s o f C a m p b e l l ' s New Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos and
B e r g l u n d ' s Disciples of Cthulhu) 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 skele-
t 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 on
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 Europe.
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 of the
Cthulhu Mythos. 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 of the iMke
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. 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 Is-
l 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 » 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
first 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 Writings in
Horror and the Supernatural, 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
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 huge
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 Supernatural
Stories, 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
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 Best
Horror Stories 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, a p p e a r e d in t h e
n e w e d i t i o n o f Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos. He c o n t i n u e d m i n i n g ( o r
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 .
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 har-
m 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.
You have no doubt seen Lupoff's 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 the
Cthulhu Mythos, 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 " (from
Chrysalis « 2 ) a p p e a r s in m y a n t h o l o g y The Dumvich Cycle (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 of Fantasy &
Science Fiction, 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
Cycle ( C h a o s i u m , Inc., 1 9 9 3 ) .
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 fic-
t 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 Fugue
Devil 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 Tales
of Lovecraftian Horror S2 d u n e , 1 9 8 8 ) .
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
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 Brichester
Weekly News 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
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 Sev-
e 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 val-
leys. 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 drowned
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 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
6 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 living-
r 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 news-
p 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, by P i c o della
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 Red Dragon—
hey, Revelations of Glaaki; 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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 at-
t 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.
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
14 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
45 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 is-
land. 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 .
T H E S T O N E O N T H E I S L A N D 19
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
20 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
24 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 lat-
ter 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."
28 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
30 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 di-
r 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.
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 re-
t 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 sil-
v 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
32 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 repre-
s 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 some-
thing 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 .
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 :
T H E S T A T E M E N T OF O N E IOH N G I B S O N 35
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 , al-
m 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 . . .
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
65 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 re-
m 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
T H E S T A T E M E N T OF O N E IOH N G I B S O N 39
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
40 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 wis-
d 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 ever-
r 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-
T H E S T A T E M E N T OF O N E IOH N G I B S O N 41
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 no
account 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 . . . .
42 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 Fa-
t 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
44 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 -
T H E S T A T E M E N T OF O N E IOH N G I B S O N 45
|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.)
46 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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, ngh!
Hyuh, hyuh, wagl, tilling ai gha! 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 AME-
V U O D FESF.OD K N E O B TEHCSF.J S E I M SEID! No, 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 , one
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 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
48 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 .
» » »
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 le-
g 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 1 9 3 7 , not 1 9 3 6 , as M r . Derleth
q u i r k i l y had it in Dark Things—though 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 insuffi-
c 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
T H E S T A T E M E N T OF O N E I OH N G I B S O N 49
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 not
encouraged
Demoniacal
David S u t t o n
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.
D E M O N I A C A L 53
II
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 . "
54 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
D E M O N I A C A L 57
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 him . . . licking rapturously with its
invisible, quivering lips!
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-
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
58 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
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 . . .
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, the Cihaat Aquadingen, the German
Unaussprechlichen Kulten—and, 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 re-
t 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 , af-
t 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
64 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T 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
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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
T H E KISS OF B U G G - S H A S H 67
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
T H E KISS OF B U G G - S H A S H 71
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 occultist
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 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 . . .
T H E KISS OF B U G G - S H A S H 73
I V
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 fin-
gers, 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 re-
versed T h i r d Sathlatta!
76 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 has-
t e n s to H i s b i d d i n g - . .
H 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 help-
less, 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
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 levin-
b 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 pecu-
liarly 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 sta-
bles, 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
T H E S 1.1T H E R E R F R O M T H E SI.IM E 79
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 S 1.1T H E R E R F R O M T H E SI.IM E 81
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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 meaning
b e h i n d h i s apparently 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 fluid into a
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, 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 un-
m 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
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 irre-
sistibly 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 , al-
t 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 sense—lightning flashes, but—UGUG! YIG! BIAH! YOO-
HOO have mercy—I . . . UNIFY THE FORCES . . . Yubbleglub and
Cobble-nobbin—gods of night, WOW!... HELL FIRE AND TITANIC
FOOF ... FARB SAVE ME ... THE EIGHT-NODED FLAMING
EYE—OR IS IT AN EYE' OOOO aaaa 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 S 1.1T H E R E R F R O M T H E SI.IM E 85
Lin C a r t e r
A 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
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 -
wiz-
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 Se-
c 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 D O O M O F Y A K T H O O B 87
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 shudder-
i 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
STATEMENT O F H A R L O W SLOAN
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 myste-
r 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 F R O M O U T S I D E 91
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 re-
t 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 re-
gain 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
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 -
T H F. F 1 S H F. R S FROM O U T S I D E 93
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 af-
ter 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 dis-
g 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 at-
t 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 . . .
94 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L 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 .
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 , flapping shapes
t h a t circled and s w o o p e d like e n o r m o u s fishing-birds, 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 se-
crets 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
96 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 Poly-
n 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 unhealthily
flushed, 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 ar-
tifacts, 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 O U T S I D E 9 7
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 leather-
tough 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 fol-
lowing 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.
98 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 of
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. 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 , Yo-
gash 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
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 O U T S I D E 101
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, semi-
apterous 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.
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 O U T S I D E 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 —
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
104 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
106 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 pil-
g 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."
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-
THE KEEPER OF THE FLAME 107
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
108 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 blas-
p 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.
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 dis-
t 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
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 :
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 utili-
ties 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:
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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T 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 blaz-
i 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 languages,
none o f which Miss Peabody understood. 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, shub, and na-
garta. 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 .
D E A D G I V E A W A Y 115
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 any-
t 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 " !
Ill
IV
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.
124 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
VI
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 sab-
b 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 for-
saken 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 , get-
t 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
126 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 pages
open for photographs.
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 chil-
d 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 .
Those W h o Wait
J a m e s Wade
F 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
e x p l o r e and subdue. He w h o steps beyond these borders walks
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 .
130 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
" 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:)
T H O S E W H O W A I T 131
( 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 )
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 dis-
c 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 Wendigo,
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 t i t a n i c a n d repulsive
134 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 o f Abdul
A l h a z r e d , Unaussprechlichen Ktilten by V o n J u n z t , Liber Ivonis, and
De Vermis Mysteriis 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 .
T H O S E W H O W A I T 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.
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 extra-
terrestrials 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 in f r i g h t
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.
136 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 through the
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 Renaunt turned
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. Listen-
i 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 .
138 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 .
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.
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 W H O W A I T 147
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 was
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 learned to fly," e x p l a i n e d Ihe p r o f e s s o r , " f r o m 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
150 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 ahead of us, a titanic shadow had blotted out the stars, a
shadow whose blurred outlines seemed a hideous caricature of the hu-
man form, and from the space where the head appeared to be, there
shimmered with an unholy light what seemed to be two great green
stars!
And the Thing was moving, 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 ter-
ror 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 .
152 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 All-
Hallows' 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! God of the Winds! Thou Who walkest on the
Winds—adorainus 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 Earth; Thou Who hast vanquished
the sky—adoratnus 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 N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
again that the Supreme Purpose may be fulfilled. Id! hi! Ithaqua! Ai! Ai!
Ithaqua cfayak vulgtmm vugtlagln vulgtmm. Ithaqua flitaghn! Ugh!
hi! hi! 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 inde-
scribable c h a o s o f the elements.
"la! Azathoth! 1,1! Yog-Sothoth! hi! Cthulhu! hi! Cthugha!"
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 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 shudder-
ingly. 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
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
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 terri-
ble, 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 pas-
s 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 .
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 lit-
tle 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 .
160 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 -
T H E K E E P E R OF DARK P O I N T 161
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.
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
T H E KEEPER OF DARK POINT 165
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 pur-
s 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.
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 ef-
f 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
168 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
170 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 dis-
t 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 .
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 TVe-
wallen 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
174 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
t h e b l a c k , m a t t e r l e s s s p a c e s b e t w e e n the s t a r s ; o f c a t a c l y s m i c b a t t l e s
w h i c h r e s u l t e d in c e r t a i n o f t h e O l d O n e s b e i n g i m p r i s o n e d on
young, newly-formed planets o f which Earth was but one. Moreover,
the u n k n o w n author claimed such imprisonment did n o t imply
d e a t h . E v e n w i t h the passing o f m i l l i o n s o f years, d u r i n g w h i c h m a n y
r a c e s i n h a b i t e d the E a r t h , o n l y o n e o f which was h u m a n , t h e y re-
m a i n e d in a s o r c e r o u s s l u m b e r in h i d d e n a n d i n a c c e s s i b l e p l a c e s ,
a w a i t i n g the t i m e w h e n they m i g h t rise a g a i n .
F u r t h e r m o r e , in a d d i t i o n to t h e s e b e i n g s , t h e r e was m e n t i o n o f
o t h e r s , n a m e l e s s e n t i t i e s w h i c h dwelt o u t s i d e o f n o r m a l s p a c e - t i m e
c o n t i n u a but which could enter the k n o w n universe through a n u m -
b e r o f secret p o r t a l s p r o v i d e d the c o r r e c t i n c a n t a t i o n s and r i t u a l s
were p e r f o r m e d .
T o w a r d s the e n d o f the b o o k , t h e r e was an a b r u p t c h a n g e in t h e
w r i t i n g w h e r e s o m e u n k n o w n , a n d m o r e m o d e r n , h a n d had p e n n e d
w h a t a p p e a r e d t o b e an a d d e n d u m . W h i l e the i n d i v i d u a l letters were
a m o r e r e c e n t f o r m o f E n g l i s h , t h e w o r d s t h e m s e l v e s were in t h e style
o f a p e r i o d o f at least t w o h u n d r e d years earlier. T h e s e f e w pages d e -
tailed the e r e c t i o n o f D a r k P o i n t L i g h t w h i c h h a d e v i d e n t l y r e p l a c e d
a m u c h o l d e r s t o n e t o w e r o n t h e s a m e site. W h e t h e r t h e s t r u c t u r e
was e v e r i n t e n d e d as a c o n v e n t i o n a l l i g h t h o u s e was u n c l e a r a l t h o u g h
f r o m t h e n a r r a t i v e we w e r e r e l u c t a n t l y f o r c e d to t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t
its p r i m a r y p u r p o s e w a s s o m e t h i n g far m o r e a l i e n a n d sinister. T h e r e
were p e c u l i a r a l i g n m e n t s d r a w n i n t o its d e s i g n and l o c a t i o n w h i c h
suggested t h a t t h e b u i l d i n g s t o o d a t the focal p o i n t o f o n e o f the p o r -
tals m e n t i o n e d in t h e earlier text. F o r c e n t u r i e s , it s e e m e d , t h e Tre-
w a l l e n s h a d b e e n g u a r d i a n s o f t h e a n c i e n t k n o w l e d g e a n d , in m o r e
m o d e r n t i m e s . K e e p e r s o f D a r k P o i n t Light. lust w h a t t h a t e n t a i l e d
was far f r o m c l e a r f o r the w r i t e r a s s u m e d t h a t a n y r e a d e r o f t h e
m a n u s c r i p t w o u l d b e familiar with t h e details o f this post.
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. Evi-
d 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
T H E K E E P E R OF DARK P O I N T 179
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 al-
t 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 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 liter-
ally 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 al-
t 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 di-
r 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
182 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 real-
ized 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 for-
m 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
184 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 lumi-
nescence; a greenish, phosphorescent glow which highlighted the wa-
t 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 . "
T H E K E E P E R OF DARK P O I N T 185
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 tor-
m 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 filling
the entire aperture.
T H E K E E P E R OF DARK P O I N T 187
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 vi-
c 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 booming
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 frag-
m 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 towards u n g u e s s a b l e re-
g i o n s b e y o n d all h u m a n i m a g i n a t i o n .
T h e m o n s t r o u s s h a p e o f the last K e e p e r o f D a r k P o i n t Light, its
g r o t e s q u e b u l k filling t h e r o o m with a h o r r i d plasticity. E v e r y t h i n g
a b o u t that f r i g h t f u l o u t l i n e had b e e n o d d l y i n d i s t i n c t w i t h b u t o n e
e x c e p t i o n . T h e h e a d p e r c h e d d i s t o r t e d l y o n t h a t b l o a t e d b o d y had
b e e n t h a t o f a w o m a n and I knew, with a loathsome certainty, it
had been that of Ashton's mother!
T h e Black Mirror
J o h n Glasby
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 any-
o 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 at-
t 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 ar-
c 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.
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 faith-
fully 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 the o u t s k i r t s o f T o r p o i n t w h i c h had lain un-
t e n a n t e d and a b a n d o n e d f o r a l m o s t fifty years. H i s arrival there
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 vil-
lage 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 sinis-
ter 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 al-
c 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
192 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 ,
T H E B L A C K M I R R O R 193
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 ,
T H E B L A C K M I R R O R 195
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
196 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 fol-
lowed 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 ) - fig-
u 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 . Per-
h 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
T H E B L A C K M I R R O R 197
" 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 -
226
T H E B L A C K M I R R O R
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 , al-
t 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 al-
leys 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 vol-
u 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
200 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
T H E B L A C K M I R R O R 201
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.
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. No
longer could he doubt that w h a t h e had w i t n e s s e d d u r i n g 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.
202 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 .
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 .
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
T H E B L A C K M I R R O R 207
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 vil-
lagers 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
210 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 blas-
p 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 see-
i 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
212 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L 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
T H E B L A C K M I R R O R 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.
214 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 read-
ings 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 disappear-
a 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
216 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
T 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
I'VE C O M E TO TALK W I T H YOU A G A I N 219
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
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 -
T H E H O W L E R IN T H E DARK 227
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
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 C e n t u r y that t h e Norman-French
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
T H E H O W L E R IN T H E DARK 229
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.
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 .
Ill
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 .
236 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 real-
ized 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 vis-
ited 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 cav-
e 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,
T H E H O W L E R IN T H E DARK 237
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 an-
c 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 his-
t 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 . . . . "
T H E H O W L E R IN T H E DARK 239
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 re-
dresser. 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 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 -
242 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 se-
cret 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 of
T H E H O W L E R IN T H E DARK 243
I V
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 re-
vealed 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 ter-
r 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 -
T H E H O W L E R IN T H E DARK 245
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 .
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 .
T H E H O W L E R IN T H E DARK 247
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!
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 . . . ľ
"I understand," 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
252 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
"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 si-
l 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."
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 gray-
i 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 vic-
t 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 driv-
i n g the l o n g w a y ' r o u n d . "
260 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
" 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 re-
solve 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.
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 Pa-
cific. 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 re-
garded 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 . "
264 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 librar-
ies 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 fu-
riously 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 .
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
270 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 liv-
i 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
THE HORROR ON THE BEACH 271
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 un-
real. 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 be-
t 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
272 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 re-
q 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 in c e r t a i n forbidden and well-sequestered
t o m e s , s u c h as t h e De Vermis Mysteriis o f Ludvig P r i n n , and even
w o r s e , t h e Necronomicon 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
THE HORROR ON THE BEACH 273
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 ter-
r 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.
276 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 re-
m 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 HORROR ON THE BEACH 277
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 Whisperers, i n styl-
ized lettering and t h e w o r d s Wimerland, San Francisco a n d the d a t e
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 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' and 'Erich
Zann,' 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 to—
Elektra, L o n d o n , E p i c . "
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
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. W H I S P E R E R S 283
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 ? "
284 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 ei-
t 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 wire-
r 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 dis-
t 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
T H F. W H I S P E R E R S 289
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 figure
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 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 affir-
mative 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 .
292 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 El-
der 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 flashing, 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
filigreed chain. Beside 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.
294 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
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
there
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.
296 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C 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 re-
m 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 ! 297
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 fi-
n 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
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 talk-
ing 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 matter-duplicators—did they e v e r ! — a n d the whole
Lurleen Luria fiasco.
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.
302 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 " ti-
tle, 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 ! C A M E R A ! S H U B - N I G G U R AT H ! 303
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 harle-
quin 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 in
Heaven—thai h a f f f a c e on 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 Dunwich
Horror 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 Clare
Winger Harris. 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 ! C A M E R A ! S H U B - N I G G U R AT H ! 305
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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 buy-
i 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 T H E N E W 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 .
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.
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 turned
L I G H T S ! C A M E R A ! S H U B - N I G G U R AT H ! 311
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
L I G H T S ! C A M E R A ! S H U B - N I G G U R AT H ! 313
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 Winger Harris was b e a r i n g s t u d i o head
T a r q u i n A r m b r u s t e r I V and p r o d u c t i o n c h i e f G o l d a Abramowitz
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 the w e s t e r n
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 ! C A M E R A ! S H U B - N I G G U R AT H ! 315
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 al-
Hazred."
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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T 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 try-
i 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 tenta-
cles 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
Sara Algood.
Verree Teasdale.
Butterfly McQueen.
Anna May Wong.
Jane Darwell.
L I G H T S ! C A M E R A ! S H U B - N I G G U R AT H ! 321
Dorothy Gislt.
Dtpe Velez.
Lynn 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, Storm Over Lisbon,
a n d Murder in the Music Hall, 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 not
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 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 lit-
tle 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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 , Tar-
q 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, sip-
p 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 classi-
cal 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 illustri-
o 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 IV spoke those portentous
w o r d s . Pope Innocent the Sixth, 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 the
Clare Winger Harris 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
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 .
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 , chill-
i 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
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 d'oeuvres to
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 pres-
e 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
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 allu-
s 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.
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 . This
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 .
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 dis-
c 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.
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 well-
g 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 -
S A U C E R S F R O M Y A I) D IT H 337
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 dis-
p 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.
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 for-
t 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 FROM YADDITH 341
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 sig-
n 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 tex-
tual 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.
I V
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 so
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 flir-
t 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 chil-
d 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
S A U C E R S F R O M Y A I) D IT H 343
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
350 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 sil-
v 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 .
V A S T A RIH N 351
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.
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 room
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 point from
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 Grimoires, 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, heav-
e 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.
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 RIH N 355
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 -
V A S T A RIH N 357
" 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
358 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 whis-
p 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.
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 es-
c 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
362 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 lib-
e 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 sy-
r 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 every-
o 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 the
t h e m e o f his u n j u s t c o n f i n e m e n t : h o w t h e m a n he had m u r d e r e d w a s
u s i n g h i m in a h o r r i b l e way, a w a y i m p o s s i b l e to e x p l a i n o r m a k e
c r e d i b l e . T h e m a n c o u l d n o t read the b o o k — t h e r e , that book—and
was s t e a l i n g the d r e a m s w h i c h t h e b o o k had s p a w n e d . Stealing
my dreams, h e m u m b l e d s o f t l y a s the d r u g b e g a n to take effect. Steal-
ing my...
T h e g r o u p r e m a i n e d a r o u n d the b e d f o r a f e w m o m e n t s , s i l e n t l y
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."
VASTARIEN 363
F riends a n d f a m i l y have w o n d e r e d at m y a b r u p t r e t u r n f r o m c o l -
lege a full w e e k b e f o r e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e Easter v a c a t i o n . Ex-
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 unhappy
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.
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF SPACE 365
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 suspi-
c 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 dis-
c 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 Advertiser.
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 nothing
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.
II
I m e t H o w a r d A n a b l e o u r f r e s h m a n year a t M i s k a t o n i c Uni-
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 insti-
t 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
366 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 Wag-
g 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 Christi
Americana 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 .
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 sis-
ters 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 his-
t 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 and
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 sedi-
m 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 .
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF SPACE 369
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. T h e land-
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 isola-
tion 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 sit-
t 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
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF SPACE 371
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 harpsi-
c 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 al-
r 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 ten-
n 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
372 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 1879 b y o n e T h o m a s Hazard
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 apos-
t 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 their
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 in
" 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 -
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF SPACE 373
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 fi-
n 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 fiimsy
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 re-
tired 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 ef-
f 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 holiday
races, I a m
Yr. H u m b l e S e r v t . H W A
M y r e a c t i o n to this i n c r e d i b l e m i s s i v e c a n s c a r c e l y b e i m a g i n e d .
A s I s t u d i e d its s u b s t a n c e the initial i n d i g n a t i o n I had felt a t A n a b l e ' s
374 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 outre.
I did n o t have to wait a w e e k b e f o r e h e a r i n g t h e s e q u e l .
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 only
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 its v i c i n i t y a n d a t S a t a n ' s 1 - e d g e — w h e r e I
n e a r l y s u r p r i s e d h i m in t h e a c t o f c a r v i n g fresh ideographs
i n t o t h e r o c k s , in an a p p a r e n t effort to restore t h o s e o b l i t e r -
ated b y weather a n d time. These, when I e x a m i n e d them,
p r o v e d , c r u d e as they were, n o t t o b e m e r e c o p i e s o r t o u r i s t
graffiti—but n e w d e s i g n s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h legible e x i s t i n g
o n e s . I'd e v i d e n t l y i n t e r r u p t e d h i m in the m i d s t o f h i s w o r k ,
b e c a u s e w h e n I r e t u r n e d the n e x t d a y t h e r e were several
m o r e c a r v e d i n t o t h e b r i t t l e g r a n i t e . I've n o t c o m e close
t o c a t c h i n g this i n d i v i d u a l s i n c e o u r n e a r e n c o u n t e r a t t h e
ledge, t r y a s 1 m i g h t — a n d lately I've b e e n t h i n k i n g t h a t
m a y b e it's a bit u n w i s e for m e to a t t e m p t it a l o n e .
T o s p e a k plainly, w o u l d y o u m i n d c o m i n g u p to A r k -
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF SPACE 375
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
376 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 , el-
d 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 fal-
t 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.
I V
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 re-
lied 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 but easier route
f r o m t h e p i c n i c g r o u n d s in light o f my l o a d . A b o t t l e o f
b o o t l e g whiskey I'd i n c l u d e d as a s u r p r i s e did m u c h to e n -
c o u r a g e H a r p e r ' s n a t u r a l g a r r u l o u s n e s s , a n d h e s p o k e to m e
f o r h o u r s a b o u t t h e c u l t w h i l e I l i s t e n e d in w o n d e r . G a d ,
w h a t this m a n k n o w s ! W h a t h e h a s e x p e r i e n c e d ! H a r p e r i n -
f o r m e d m e that h e had h a d vivid d r e a m s , g r o w i n g in persis-
t e n c y , t h a t d r o v e h i m b a c k to t h e s e t t l e m e n t s i t e — a n d in
t h o s e d r e a m s a cultivated young m a n figured prominently.
W h e n I'd said m y n a m e that first m e e t i n g he'd k n o w n i n -
s t a n t l y t h a t it was I he'd s e e n in h i s d r e a m s ! H e i n t e r p r e t s
this a s a sign that I c a n b e o f i n v a l u a b l e s e r v i c e to h i m . W h e n
h e asked f o r my h e l p ( a n d n o t j u s t in s u p p l y i n g h i m w i t h
g r o c e r i e s ) , I readily a g r e e d . F o r g i v e m e f o r n o t b e i n g specific
o n the n a t u r e o f his p u r p o s e s — e v e n I ' m n o t really s u r e — b u t
H a r p e r h a s m a d e it a c o n d i t i o n o f o u r " p a c t " that I c o n f i d e
382 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 .
413 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 re-
f 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 at-
t 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 al-
r 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 .
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
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF S P A C E 416
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 rela-
t 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 reen-
a 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 , lithe-
l 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 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 ap-
p 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 re-
m 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.n-
glish. 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 in-
v 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 dis-
r 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
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF S P A C E 418
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 lu-
cid 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 . . .
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 re-
m 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
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF SPACE 393
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 .
p r o t e s t s , h e c o n t i n u e d to r e a d t h o s e trashy, evil b o o k s by C h a m b e r s ,
Bierce, a n d o t h e r s .
T h e n in F e b r u a r y the d r e a m s c a m e . I b e g a n to hear h i m c r y i n g
o u t u n i n t e l l i g i b l y in h i s sleep. After o n e p a r t i c u l a r l y b a d n i g h t he a p -
p e a r e d l o o k i n g e x t r e m e l y h a g g a r d — a n d yet o d d l y e x h i l a r a t e d , h i s
eyes flashing with a light I had n o t s e e n s i n c e b e f o r e his c o l l a p s e .
When 1 probed h i m , h e a d m i t t e d that " d i s t r e s s i n g " d r e a m s had
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 going out, Winsor—into town, to my mother's," he
announced.
1 o f f e r e d h i m a lift in m y m o t o r . H e d e c l i n e d . I insisted o n leav-
i n g with h i m , s e e i n g h i m to t h e t r o l l e y s t o p . G r u d g i n g l y , he a l l o w e d
396 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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
T H E M A D N E S S O U T OF SPACE 397
S o m e o n e — s o m e m a d m a n — h a d plainly c l a m b e r e d up f r o m the
yard b e l o w i n t o A n a b l e ' s w i n d o w ! Had H a r p e r o r o n e o f his c u l t c o -
horts returned? 1 switched on the lamp on the end table. Looking o u t
t h e s i t t i n g r o o m w i n d o w I c o u l d see t h a t M r s . D e l i s i o had t u r n e d o n
t h e light i l l u m i n a t i n g the b a c k - y a r d .
" I a m the G a t e , " c o n t i n u e d the wailing v o i c e . " T h e G a t e t h a t
s t a n d s o p e n , ready to receive y o u . D a r e you e n t e r ? C o m e , come
now...
1 h a d had e n o u g h o f l i s t e n i n g to this m a d drivel. I k n o c k e d o n
A n a b l e ' s d o o r , t h e n tried to o p e n it a n d f o u n d that s o m e heavy
o b j e c t — p o s s i b l y the b e d — b l o c k e d it. 1 t h r e w m y s h o u l d e r r e p e a t -
edly a g a i n s t the d o o r , but it b u d g e d n o t a n i n c h . T h e w i n d had i n -
c r e a s e d its d a e m o n i c s c r e a m — I could no longer make out that
p i p i n g v o i c e w h o s e y o u t h f u l o w n e r I n o w knew, o n l y the thuds o f
b o o k s a n d f u r n i t u r e s t r i k i n g t h e floor.
W i t h a s t r e n g t h b o r n o f f r a n t i c frenzy, I b u r s t t h r o u g h , d i s l o d g -
i n g w h a t e v e r w a s b e h i n d the d o o r . 1 was i m m e d i a t e l y o v e r w h e l m e d
by a l o a t h s o m e s t e n c h , w h i c h c a u s e d m e to reel b a c k in n a u s e a — b u t
n o t b e f o r e I s a w a large, w h i t e , f l o w i n g , v i s c o u s m a s s leap t h r o u g h
a n d shatter the u p p e r panes o f the sash window. T h e flying shards o f
glass m i r a c u l o u s l y m i s s e d m e , as I d a s h e d f o r w a r d i n t o A n a b l e ' s
empty, suddenly odor-free r o o m — t o the d a m a g e d window. 1 looked
d o w n , e x p e c t i n g to see A n a b l e a n d his a b d u c t o r in a h e a p in the yard
b e l o w . B u t t h e o n l y p e r s o n v i s i b l e w a s M r s . D e l i s i o in her d r e s s i n g
g o w n a n d s h a w l , r u s h i n g o u t t h e b a c k d o o r a t t h e s o u n d o f t h a t final
c r a s h o f glass a n d w o o d . B e l o w t h e w i n d o w , o t h e r t h a n the t o p p l e d
t r a s h c a n s a n d d e b r i s , there was nothing on the ground! In the next
moment I looked up—looked up toward Satan's Ledge—looked up into
425 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
a winter's sky that was alive with motion in unimagined space filled
with transcendent whiteness. In utter 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
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 hav-
i 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.
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 real-
ize 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 dis-
t 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.
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, S t e a r n e ' s Confirmation and Discovery
of Witchcraft, M a t h e r ' s Magnolia Christi Americana, and 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 volumes, bearing such
titles as Cultes des Goules, Unaussprechlichen Kulten and De Vermis
Mysteriis. 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 El-
H 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 W A R D E N 405
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 Deorum Aiu/quorum. Curious. I took
the b o o k 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 fish-
god 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 privi-
leged 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 al-
m 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, di-
a 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.
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.
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 in-
s 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
lifted 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
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, bald skin of his head was
closely covered with coarse, icthyic scales, while behind and below his
little ears were two rudimentary growths that might or might not
be gills.
The Last Supper
Donald R. Burleson
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
412 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 lantern-
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 al-
ready 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 fever-
ishly 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
T H E LAST S U P P E R 413
A 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.
T H E C H U R C H AT G A R L O C K ' S B E N D 415
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 plea-
s 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.
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 al-
m 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 .
T H E C H U R C H AT G A R L O C K ' S B E N D 419
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 dis-
tasteful 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 feel-
i 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 re-
m 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.
T H E C H U R C H AT G A R L O C K ' S B E N D 421
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 vio-
l 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.
422 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 .
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
T H E C H U R C H AT G A R L O C K ' S B E N D 425
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."
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 fi-
nal 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
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 dis-
a 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.
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 vege-
t 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, play-
i 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
432 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 re-
p 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 DC,
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 re-
m 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 had to p e r s u a d e m y par-
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 -
T H E S P H E R E S B E Y O N D S O U N D 433
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 b y J o h n B r o w n , w h i c h w a s p r o b a b l y w o r t h a few
dollars, a n d a b o o k o f m u s i c b y o n e M a u r i c e Z a n n e n t i t l e d The
Spheres Beyond Sound. I w a s n o t w e l l - v e r s e d in m u s i c a l t h e o r y , b u t
this v o l u m e c o n t a i n e d s o m e o d d l y f a b u l o u s i l l u s t r a t i o n s that i m m e -
diately c a u g h t m y interest.
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
434 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
F u r t h e r in t h e text, t h e r e w e r e passages r e l a t i n g to o t h e r t y p e s o f
m u s i c a l p o w e r , f r o m h y p n o t i z i n g h u m a n s u b j e c t s to c o m m u n i c a t i n g
with t h e dead. B u t to m e , t h e m o s t a s t o u n d i n g a s p e c t o f all w a s t h e
t h e o r y that c e r t a i n m u s i c a l a r r a n g e m e n t s c o u l d t r a n s c e n d the l i m i t s
o f t i m e and s p a c e to b e h e a r d by things e x i s t i n g in o t h e r universes.
T h e c o n c e p t s o f parallel o r a l t e r n a t e d i m e n s i o n s have b e e n e x p l o r e d
by b o t h s c i e n t i s t s a n d fantasists for years, 1 s u p p o s e , b u t n e v e r had I
seen s u c h a lucid and c a l c u l a t e d thesis o n t h e s u b j e c t as this. After a
t i m e , I b e g a n to w o n d e r w h y m y g r a n d f a t h e r would h a v e o w n e d s u c h
T H E S P H E R E S B E Y O N D S O U N D 435
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 re-
m 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 re-
t 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 lo-
cals; 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
436 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 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 Wash-
ington, 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 pass-
i 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 .
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 Encyclopaedia for
Boys, 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 .
438 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 Be-
yond Sound. I a m T i m A s b e r r y , I live o n C o p p e r P e a k o u t s i d e
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 , reve-
l 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 .
T H E S P H E R E S B E Y O N D S O U N D 439
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 pluck-
ings 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:
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
440 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 through
the chaotic dissonance. I began l o h e a r t o n e s t h a t were n o t of
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
T H E S P H E R E S B E Y O N D S O U N D 441
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 that the A s b e r r y s make the best whiskey outside
F r a n k l i n C o u n t y . . . b u t I r e c k o n in t h e eyes o f G o d that's
442 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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.
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.
T H E S P H E R E S B E Y O N D S O U N D 443
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 wrong-
ness. 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
T H E S P H E R E S B E Y O N D S O U N D 445
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 chill-
ing 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
446 T H E N E W L O V E C R A F T C I R C L E
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 fac-
i 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
T H E S P H E R E S B E Y O N D S O U N D 447
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.