Galaxy Science Fiction Novel 05 S. Fowler Wright The World Below 1930

JHE WORLD
I BELOW
A SEQUEL TO THE AMPHIBIANS
Galaxy
S. Fowler Wright
The Current GALAXY Science Fiction Novel . . .
THE WORLD BELOW

by
S. FOWLER WRIGHT
*********
C[ Sequel to THE AMPHIBIANS, this masterpiece by
a master of science fiction continues the adventures
of the Time Traveler in Earth's inconceivably remote
future . . . the world as strangely different from ours
as ours is from the world of dinosaurs!
(( You'll find here, too, the incredibly alien life of
ages yet to come . . . including the Amphibian

Woman, that alluringly feminine yet fascinatingly un-
knowable being who is probably the most enigmatic
female character in all science fiction.
C[ If you missed the first volume, you can order it
from World Editions, Inc., 105 West 40th Street,
New York 18, at 25 ( a copy — no mailing or han-
dling charge. Or you can read THE WORLD BELOW

as a complete new story, which it is.
CT A beauty, let us add, considered by experts as
one of the greatest science fiction novels ever
written.
GALAXY Science Fiction Novel No. 5
The World Below

The COMPLETE Book Version, Unabridged
*•
A pulse-pumping, mind-prodding sequel to THE

AMPHIBIANS . just as haunting as that
. .
masterpiece of Earth’s far-distant future
By
S. FOWLER WRIGHT
WORLD EDITIONS, INC.

105 WEST 40TH STREET
New York 18, N. Y.
Copyright, 1930 by Longmans, Green & Co.
Copyright, 1949 by Shasta Publishers
All rights In this book are reserved. It may not be used for dramatic,
motion-, or talking-picture purposes without written authorization from
the holder of these rights. Nor may the book or part thereof be repro-
duced In any manner whatsoever without permission In writing, except
for brief quotations embodied In critical articles and reviews. For
Information address SHASTA PUBLISHERS, 5525 South Blacks tone
Avenue, Chicago 37, Illinois, U. 9. A*
Published by Arrangement with,

Shasta Publishers
Printed In the United States of America

Foreword
The World Below is justly fa- man is sent into the world of the
mous as the outstanding science- future — a man combining possibili-
fiction book written between H. G. ties of action, spirit, and intellect,
Wells’s earlier imaginative ro- although tainted by the bad ethical
mances and Olaf Stapledon’s future background of his time and there—
histories. 'It can be read as a science- he meets two widely divergent
fiction thriller, for it is a marvelous- branches of the human race: the
ly rich compound of unbounded Dwellers and the Amphibians. The
background imagination and fan- Dwellers are giants in body and in-
tastic adventure. In sheer alien con- tellect, with a brilliant and ruthless
cept it is almost unparalleled in super-science, but are fatigued and

fantastic fiction. And yet Mr. gradually dying out. The Amphib-
Wright’s restraint, his poise, his ians, on the other hand, although
logic so successfully counterbalance equal to the Dwellers mentally,
his powerful imagination that his have stressed quietism, and despite
marvels, although all the more their intense spirituality and har-
alien, remain completely plausible. mony with nature, lack strength for
No one will soon forget the cab- action. They no longer reproduce,
bage-whips, the parasitic grass, or and numbers are limited and
their
the Amphibian itself. increased by laws which are beyond
Yet The World Below like Mr. the hero’s understanding. Thus,
Wright’s other fantastic books, is man, as the Dwellers know, has
more than a thriller. It is a serious reached another of his cyclic degen-
examination of that problem of eration points. It now remains for
fatigue and degeneration in man the primitive from the 20th cen-
which has resulted from his one- tury, after he has been cleansed by
sided growth and lack of harmony the superior ethics of both Dwellers
with the universe. A 20th century and Amphibians, to offer a syn-
GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL '

7
thesis of human capabilities beyond glimpse of David Lindsay's A Voy-
the power of the hyperspecialized age to Arcturus. But the strongest
future men, even though he still re- influence on The World Below is
mains inferior to both within their from the Italian poet Dante. The
own specializations. It is within his hero’s descent, the Amphibians psy-
power from the 20th cen-
to return chopomp, the various hells, the
tury with a woman, and start a new legalistic vulture-men, the satires on
race of man. the brilliant but wicked lizards, and
Throughout The World Below the Killers, all recall the Inferno. It
the reader who is historically is thus no Mr. Wright
surprise that
minded will catch reminiscences of is a Dante and is soon to
scholar,
The Time Machine, which Mr. publish a translation of The Divine
Wright mentions, and possibly a Comedy,
8 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

Chapter One
COUNCIL
HE had had from end
T
night fallen to wall fallen in to
blackness while we still lay end, but the ashes were burning
in the rock-cleft. with a paler flame, so that it
still,
The ashes of the central build- showed like a white bow in the
ings glowed with a pale blue light darkness.
and an occasional flame would rise There were no stars; the night
up and lick across them like a had clouded while we slept—-for
ghostly tongue. I lay long in a sleep of utter weari-
The long curve of the living- ness and exhaustion, both of mind
.THE WORLD BELOW 9

and body; and so, I think, in her endeavor to find some crevice in
own way, my
companion.
did the surface-world, of which I al-
But I waked
length, with a
at ready knew something, where I
dim sense of peril ended, and the might hope that my insignificance
short pause of security which is so would save me?
precious to those who walk in dan- If those whom I had come to
gerous ways, but conscious also of seek survived at all, was I not more
thirst and hunger, and of the likely to discover them under such
shadow of great events, of which conditions, than among those
the significance was beyond my whom I had seen squeezing the
knowing. juice from the living bodies of the
I lay for some time in silence, Killers, as casually as a cook stones
pondering the strange things I had^ raisins ?
seen; reviewing —not without some I thought thus, my com-

While
mental discords —my judgment of panion’s mind gave no sign, nor
the Bat-wings, and the fate to had heard any movement from
I
which it had cast them, and won- her. With a sudden start of terror
dering vainly what new marvels I imagined that she were no longer
of terrors might be before us, when beside me. It was in that panic fear
we should penetrate the subterran- that I realized how greatly I had
ean world of which we were about come to depend upon her; alike
_
equally ignorant. upon her body for its vigor, and

As became aware that the
I lay I upon her mind for its counsel. And
night was chilly, though, being beyond this I knew that there was
cloudy, it was less so than we had a spiritual quality in our intimacy,
experienced previously. But I was through which I was able to face
suffering from a lowered vitality, the shadows of the unknown world
and though my wounds were trivial of the distant future with some-
I was conscious of the throbbing thing of her own serenity,
of my scalded foot, and that my
right shoulder was both stiff and T WAS a simple action to reach
painful. I out to feel where she lay be-
I then fell into a mood of de- side me, and yet my hand delayed
pression, in which I saw very vivid- it.
ly the folly of the adventure which Partly I may have been deterred
we had undertaken. How could we by the atmosphere of aloof virgin-
hope to penetrate undetected into ity which always made me diffident
the domain of the Dwellers ? There of any physical contact, partly it
was no sanity in the supposition. was that I dreaded to test my fear,
If I wished to live till the year of as a man with a coward’s mind
my exile were over, should I not may leave a letter unopened, know-

ing that it may hold the news of ment, before I should be fit for
his ruin. another year. If necessary, I could
At last, I felt across the narrow continue living, and in some
space which had divided us as we measure of activity, for a much
lay and watched the concluding longer period. But I have been
drama of our adventure, and with giving you of my own energy so
a sense of measureless relief my freely that, if we continue in this
hand touched lightly for a mo- way, I shall be exhausted in a much
ment on the smoothness of the soft shorter time. Then I must return
warm fur. to my own place and people, as the
food on which you rely and the —
—
H
her,
ER mind
realised the
opened
mood
and crossed it with the gaiety
I
instantly,
showed
Dwellers also is of no use to me.
I ask
should
this —
continue
is it better
to share
that we
the
with which she ever faced the strength I have, or should we find
thought of peril. Then with the — food for your body, and so regu-
subtle distinction which she always lateour movements in future that
drew between myself and the body we can make it self-supporting?”
in which I lived —
she asked me, “Is I answered, though my body
it more trouble than usual? Has it ached for the vitality on which it
no gratitude for the rest you have had learnt to rely, "I think that it
given it?” will be wiser for us to conserve the

I answered, "It is rested by strength you have, which we may
sleep, but has gone without food need in days to come, when there
long beyond its accustomed time. may be no means of renewal. But
It can do this while it shares your it will make important differences,
vitality, but the need
afterward for which there must be allowance
re-asserts with increased ur-
itself in the plans we form. I am used
gency. It is cold also, and, as you to sleeping at short intervals, be-
know, it has suffered recent dam- cause my accustomed day is only
age, which it needs rest to repair.” about a quarter the length of that
She replied, “I can give you which you now have; and even
strength, if you need it, and if you though I obtain regular and suit-
think it wise; but consider. able food, I shall still be incapable
"Wehave resolved on an adven- of the rapid and prolonged exer-
ture of which 'we do not know the tions which I have endured with
length or the end. Of myself, I the stimulus of your hand to help
should continue in the ordinary me.
course without food for about four "It appears to me that we must
months, after which I should re- commence our enterprise by pene-
quire a time of rest and nourish- trating one of the tunnels that open
THE WORLD BELOW 11

on to the opal pavement. It is true thought, had you wished to do so.
that there must be other means of "It appears to me that you first
access inland,by which the Dwell- elect your own preference, and
ers emerge in die daytime, but then call upon your mind to furnish
there are two reasons against at- arguments to support it. It is not
tempting to use them. One is that bound to do this, and it knows that
we do not know their location, and you rely upon it to suggest any
though they may be nearer, it is serious danger or difficulty which
equally possible that they may be might impel you to alter your de-
more distant. The other is more cision, but, no less, it understands
serious. We are told that the your wish, and that if there be any
Dwellers come up through the insufficient arguments to justify your

land passages, and descend by those choice it is expected to find them.
which are on the lower level. By Like your body, it is separate from
choosing the latter, and following yourself, and may even work with-
behind them when the night has out your own awareness, but it is
fallen, we may reasonably hope that of a readier loyalty.
we shall be able to enter their "I think, had you for any reason
abodes without encounteringany desired to adventure into the moun-
who are coming in the opposite di- tains, that your mind would have
rection. In addition to these reasons, been quick to suggest that you
it occurs to me that the country could travel in greater security on
inland is of an extremely forbid- the surface if you should avoid the
ding and mountainous formation, paths which you have traversed al-
and though the Dwellers are able ready, where the Dwellers would
to traverse it, it might be absolute- be*most likely to seek you. It would
ly impossible for us to do so.” have used the argument of the un-
known distance in an exactly con-
Y COMPANION answered trary way, and it would not have
with her usual equanimity, "It failed to remind you that the
is a choice which must be made, tunnel which you have already ex-
and your decision contents me. But plored contained no possible hid-
I notice a quality in your reason- ing-place, so that an alternative
ing which must, I suppose, intro- passage could not be worse, and
duce the adventure of your life to might be better. It would have re-
many avoidable difficulties. I think called that the whole length of the
the arguments which you gave me opal pavement is without any pos-
were good, but they did not cover sible cover: that the bridge would
all the considerations which might be difficult for you to traverse in
influence such a decision, and of the darkness, while the Frog-
which I feel sure you could have mouths would be dangerous in the

day: and that you have already been least some public space, populated
discovered once in the tunnel, so by the Dwellers, and where con-
that it is at least possible that a cealment for ourselves would be
watch has been set to take you difficult, if not impossible. Your
there, should you again invade it. imagination may be correct, and it
"I could give you many more is a possibility for which we must
arguments of the same kind, but I be prepared. But in your mind it is
am not resisting your plan. I am less a possibility than an expecta-

only interested in a method of de- tion, forwhich there is no sufficient
cision which has, at least, the merit ground whatever. Yet you had im-
that it can operate more speedily agined it so confidently that I had
than mine is easily able to do.” difficulty in separating it from the
facts you had shown me.
HAD not thought her to be "I thought of this very long, and
I slow of decision when the need I see that your life is so brief, and
was urgent, but I felt that she had so confusingly occupied, that you
more to tell me, and I kept my are obliged to proceed through a
mind open and receptive. labyrinth of assumptions by which
"You slept very long,” her you hope to reach the thing you
thought continued, "and I con- wish more rapidly than would
sidered these things, after my own otherwise be possible. But in this
method. I first collected in my mind case, I cannot see that the assump-
all that I have known of the tion has any basis of probability.
Dwellers from the beginning, and "I know, from what you have
of the things you have told me. I shown me already, that you come of
added that which I know of your a race which has lived only on the
own character and capacities. From earth’s surface, and any cave or
these facts I endeavored to deduce tunnel by which you enter it im-
a method by which we could suc- plies the approach to a confined and
ceed in our objects, if we be not narrow space, so that when you
already too late. I made littleprog- attempt to visualize the condition of
ress, for the facts are few and in- a race which lives under the sur-
sufficient. But I made progress to face, your imagination is of a
this extent, that I realized that we cave, and not of a country.
are supposing some things which "Now if the interior of the earth
we do not know. be completely solid, or nearly so,
"In particular, you have shown thisimagination may be quite ac-
me your mind, and I have seen that curate.But is it? Neither of us
you visualize an end to these tun- knows. Wedo know from your
nels which opens into a hall, a own experience that the tunnels
chamber, or a large passage, or at go down for many miles, though
THE WORLD BELOW 13

we do not know their ultimate possibleto imagine tiers of hol-
depth. That suggests that there lowed space in which such areas
must be some reason for so deep might be many times repeated, but
a penetration. To make such tunnels the artificial creation of such tiers
must have been a great labor. To would require an amount of labor
descend and ascend them continual- which appears stupendous and the
ly must be an unceasing toil. There dumping on the earth’s surface of
must be some compensating advan- excavated material to an incredible
tage in the depth which is reached. volume.”
The hollowness of the interior She responded, "All that you
would supply it. But there might think appears reasonable, and part
be quite different reasons. We know is new to my mind. It would help
that there are areas of great heat us greatly if we knew whether the
that lie closely under the surface. Dwellers are a numerous race, but
There are parts of the ocean floor of this I am able to tell you little.
where this heat causes eruptions. "Before the time of the Great
Such areas may be of great extent. War, we believe that they dwelt on
They may render it difficult or im- the surface only, or, at least, until
possible to live under the surface a comparatively short period before
till a greater depth is reached. True, it. Up to that time, for reasons into
the tunnels must penetrate this which I must not now enter, being
region, on and it
this supposition, irrelevant, we knew little of them,
must therefore have been found or they of us. That was about eleven
possible to render them heat-proof. thousand years ago.
"We have one other fact. The "We know that they are bi-
Dwellers reach the surface at very sexual, like the race from which
distant points. But this has no cer- you come. We suspect that their
tain significance.’’ bodies age and decay, and are re-
placed by others, but of this we
ANSWERED, ”1 see the point have no certain knowledge.
I you make, and I agree that I "In all the time I mention I can-
was inclined to a too-hasty assump- not recall having seen more than
tion. Also, it enters my mind that two hundred of their men and three
ifthe earth be indeed hollow at a of their women. We do not suppose
depth of a few hundred miles, and that they exist in these proportions.
an inner surface be land only, it Our observation of the sea-creatures
must be of far greater extent, not is that they cannot dwell in peace
merely than this continent, but than together unless their females are at
the whole of the solid land of the least equally numerous, but we have
earth’s surface as I knew it, and as seen those only who first negotiated
it appears to be today. It is also the treaty with our Leaders, of

which you have been told, and such suming nothing, so that we may un-
as have been in attendance at the derstand the true significance of the
fish-tanks. Of these I mention, I facts that meet us.
cannot recall that more than thirty "But our first purpose must be
have been seen any one period.
at to gain the entrance of the tunnel
As the centuries have passed, there by which we propose to descend.
has been a gradual change. But this To do this we may retrace the path
might only mean that they have we came. But is this necessary?
exchanged to other duties. I have "Our Leaders wished to recover
never seen one that showed signs the body which we are now seeking,
of age, nor that was less than full- and for that reason they had to go
grown. The eight which we saw last as far north as the second tunnel.
night I had not seen previously.” "They may have had other rea-
sons, but, if so, I do not know
ANSWERED, "But, even in the them. If we choose to explore the
I absence of more direct evidence, one by which you descended, the
the works which we have seen sug- distance must be much shorter
gest that they are a numerous race. across the wide valley which lies be-
"The protective belt which sur- neath us, and the way does not ap-
rounds the continent cannot be less pear impracticable. The crossing of
than five thousand miles in length, the farther and the descent of
hills,
and itwas twelve miles in breadth the cliffs, may be

difficult and in
at the point at which we crossed it. this strange world there may be
Even for giants such as they, it dangers in a new way of which we
would be an impossible task for a can have no foresight. It is certain-
small community. Then we see that ly shorter. It will avoid the long
they patrol the coast, which must be transit of the opal path which is
the work of many.” perilous if they should be watching
She replied, "That is also prob- to take us. But I do not pretend
able, though not certain. We do not that I think it the safer way. It is
know that they patrol the whole the doubt that calls me.”
coast. This region may be their I answered, "I do not think it
headquarters, as I believe it to be. the safer way either. I have lost the
The work you mention is great, but axe on which you have seen that I
so are their skill and knowledge. relied for any defense I could make
Their methods may be beyond our against the creatures which threat-
imagination. Or they may have ened me. I have also lost my knap-
worked through the agency of sub- sack, and with it all the necessities
ject creatures. I carried, except such small things
"It seems that we have little as my pockets held. I have a dam-
certainty. Our safety must be in as- aged arm, and a lame foot, I think
THE WORLD BELOW 15

that I shall be unable to move more She answered generously, "You'
than slowly, however urgent the are too good for the body in which
call. But if you are not afraid to you live. I have the javelin still,
venture with one so useless beside and, as I said before, we will pass
you, it is the doubt of the unknown in peace, or there will be one that
way that calls me also.” will sorrow.”

Chapter Two
THE UNKNOWN WAY
DID not ask, for I remembered formed to feed your body when
I our compact, and I closed my next we may, will give it no
mind securely against her doubt of strength beforehand. It is in my
ifiy welfare, but there are times, mind, also, that the food of the
with thought as with the spoken Killers would hardly please you, if
word, when silence is of an equal we could find it amid the ashes.
significance. “Beyond this, I think that the

“It is in my mind,” she told me, Dwellprs may return very early to
“that the intention which we have resume their investigation of events
THE WORLD BELOW 17

which (I hope) are still of some burned, for our vice of curiosity led
mystery to them, and that it is well us backward to view it, and she
that we should be clear of this showed me that the bodies which it
place before the darkness leaves contained were charred beyond
us.” recognition.
Again I felt the silk-soft palm in Then we made for the gap in the
mine, and the slim webbed fingers barrier of the burning ashes where
closing, and again the current of the gate had been, and left that
her finer life possessed and thrilled desolation behind us for ever.
me. As we passed out, our steps were
It was a reluctant pleasure, since lighted for some distance by the
I had realized the concealed repug- glow from the line of smouldering
nance with which she touched me, ashes beside us, but the darkness be-
but my need was too great, and the came denser at every yard as we
wisdom of her action, in our com- turned from it to cross the plateau.
mon interest, too evident for me to Yet she went on swiftly, and, in the
refuse. confidence that her hand supplied,
"I am stronger now,” I replied, I found no difficulty while the level
after a time, "shall we start?” and ground continued. When the path
side by side we let ourselves down fell roughly I held back to a slower
into the darkness. pace, and even then I stumbled
Clear of the shelter which had frequently. "Can you not see at
protected us, was conscious of a
I all?” she asked, "for if we can do
thin cold rain, and of a chilling no better than this our plan must be
wind from the north, which pene- altered. We have eighty miles to
trated the leather rags that I had no cover before the dawn, if we are to
longer the means of stitching to- reach the valley woods while the
gether, and made me glad to move night-time cloaks us.”
my stiffened limbs as rapidly as I I answered, "I cannot see when
could, while we crossed the enclo- the darkness is absolute, and you
sure, towhere the still-smouldering go forward as though the day were
ruins gave a dim, unearthly light round you. I suppose that other
from both before and behind us. creatures are like me in this, or how
I drank again at the pool-side, would the darkness aid us? Can
while my companion dived for a your eyes see when there is no light
moment in the cool darkness. We whatever?”
passed near enough to the great
tank for her to see that there was no HE replied, "When there is no
longer any water within it. To this S light whatever, I can see
end, the Dwellers must have taken nothing that is more than a few
some action while the fire still yards away, but within that space

—
it is not my eyes only, it is my say, waded, through herbage such
whole body that perceives what is as we had encountered on the
around it. I do not see, but I know. previous day, making our progress
My body is too much alive to walk slow and heavy, but always her
into any tree that confronts it. But buoyant vitality sustained me.
we must do something. If you Once we found the ground fall-
would keep your mind blank and ing precipitously before us, and
ready, I think I could show you discovered that we were on the
always .for a few steps before us.” bank of a river. We could not tell
This we tried, and for many its width, and my

companion's sug-
hours we went forward with the way gestion that we
should swim it
visible to me for about three yards found me unwilling. Bearing left-
ahead, and, beyond that, blackness. ward, we continued beside it for
It was difficult, and very tiring, for some miles, and then found it had
neither of us could think at all, but left us. It was about here that we
we made good progress. Steadily began to feel touches as of light
she kept me
aware of things before hands on the face, in a place where
me, but more than once my own trees were frequent. I was fright-
mind wavered, and in a moment I ened at first, till I realized that
was stumbling in the darkness. And they were only trailing leaves
the darkness did not lift at all. creepers, I thought, but they were
There came a cold and steady rain, really the trees themselves, as we
without wind, which descended saw when the daylight came.
straightly upon us. My rags were
quickly drenched, and for the most
part of the remaining night this
rain continued pitilessly.
BUT the real horror of the night
was at the last.
the ground had been
For some time
flat and bare,
Our way was often very rough, soft from the rain, which had now
and in the darkness we could not ceased, but easy to traverse, so that
choose it. We could only go for- we increased our pace, and were .
ward directly, and take what came. making good progress, when we
For the most part we descended, found our feet sinking in a shak-
but not regularly. The ground we ing bog, from which we pulled
crossed was not cultivated in any them with difficulty. Then it was
evident way, nor was it enclosed or firmer again, and then softer at
protected —
or not till we had times, till we were in a swamp
crossed the lake, and that was later. which became worse as we went
At times we walked on a prickly forward. For a moment we stopped,
growth of some kind that was too and I found myself in darkness, as
dose and stiff for our feet to break my companion's mind asked me,
it. Often we walked, or, I might "Shall we not go back, if we can?
THE WORLD BELOW 19

—
If we sink deeply in such slime we It was fortunate that our minds
cannot swim or live. Nor can either were in closest touch at the mo-
of us think clearly while I show you ment, or the second’s interchange
the way. If we move from the of thought might have been a half-
straight line ahead we should re- second later, and there my life
member our turns. Shall I lead you would, I suppose, have ended.
only?” Her own mind was alert to give
I agreed, and we turned back, me the indications that her sight
as we thought, with exactness. In- supplied, when it suddenly changed
deed, must have been so at first,
it to a great doubt, paused on the
for she saw the marks we had left, brink of consternation, recovered
but it was unexpectedly difficult. I to the high gaiety with which it
was in darkness now, following was accustomed to encounter peril,

the guidance of her hand, and con- shot me a thought-swift warning,
tent to think that her own sight reverted to its poised serenity, and
and thought were concentrated on closed from me entirely; and, in
getting us clear of the swamp, the slow process of words the
when I suddenly felt her sinking warning that she gave was this
beside me. "We come here of good right,
Cool, but urgent, her mind fearing none, and we mean no
called "I have no footing;
me, harm to any. Therefore we move
pull.” Iwas up to my ankles in the in security. Our minds are serene
slime, and found my foot slipping and friendly, and we walk at peace
from beneath me as I leant away with all things. If you doubt or
from her. (For I had been at her fear we are both lost entirely. As
left hand previously, but when we your body fought the Killers with
turned bade we had changed hands, the axe for both of us, so my
not positions, and I was now on mind fights for both now. You
her right*) A step ahead, it was must help now, as I helped then.
firmer ground. A struggle to the I have passed you the javelin, for
right, and she had footing once there is no use for weapons here,
more. Then I went in deeply. After and I must not hold it. All is well.
that we moved as best we might. Be quite sure to believe it. Step as
One only at a time, and feeling I guide you. Jump when I call on
each step carefully. I lost sense of you, I will tell you just how far.
direction entirely. And it was there Separate now.”
—or nearly there — that the dawn
found us.
But that was after
not hope to describe
—
it,
well, I can-
but I must
THE
knew
whole thought was instant,
in the same moment I
and
on which we
that
that
tell it as best I can. walked was swaying beneath us.

Her hand pulled me quickly to the of water, and beyond it a level
still
left,and we ran up something that of woodland of great trees, the

moved from under us like a tread- extentof which, from the low
mill —
if we had been on the out-
. ground on which we stood, we
side of the wheel —
jumped at last, could not determine.
landed on something smooth and The few trees that surrounded
slippery, like that which we had us were of a different character.
left, and having — the thought Most of them were of the kind
crossed me^-a living softness. that had touched us in the night
Then I caught my foot, stumbled, so weirdly. They had trunks of a
recovered, jumped again, clambered livid white, not more than eight
a few yards of rising ground, feet high, from the top of which
slimy enough, but firm also, and a cluster of rising boughs rayed
felt the soft touch on my cheek outward. On the length of these
_
that I had felt before, and knew there were no leaves, but large
that trees were round us. flowers of a very brilliant scarlet
We went on for a hundred only, while at the end of every
yards, while the ground sloped up- bough grew a cluster of long rib-
ward. Then it commenced to fall bon-like leaves of a bright green,
away, and we stopped at once. that hung downward, almost to
There we stayed, and there, at last, the ground in the still air, or flut-
the dawn found us, still distant tered very lightly when the wind
from the cover which we had stirred them. I was not sure whether
aimed to reach in the darkness. I thought them beautiful, or
We were on a narrow twisting strange only. I had an unreasonable
tongue of land, perhaps fifty yards feeling that they were unfriendly.
broad by two-hundred long, the
conformation of which had be- N THE hollow of one of these
trayed us to the swamp in the dark- I tree-tops, where the branches
ness. On the left hand it merged rose, there sat a duck-billed bird,
into bog and water, with occasional of a halcyon blue color, and of the
islands of verdure, and scattered size, and somewhat of the shape,
trees. On the right hand was the of a partridge. As the dawn wi-
deep water of the great lake that dened, it rose and flew outward, not
we had seen from the mountains crossing the lake, but going up the
two days before. mid-water, to the right where the
The sun had not yet appeared lake extended for many miles, grad-
above the ridge of higher ground ually widening.
that ran between us and the sea, "It does not fear us at all,” I
but the faint light of dawn was remarked to my companion, before

sufficient to show us a mile-width it rose to leave us.
THE WORLD BELOW 21

"I made peace in the night with began to roll over, that I became
all things,” she answered, "come aware of that on which we were
and see. You will know that it was walking.
needful.” "I knew that he had already de-
I walked with her to the end cided to spill us in the mud, so
of the tongue of land on which we that he should reach .us the more
stood, and, where and
the lake easily, and that if the others should
swamp were mingling, there were combine against us we should be
huge shapes that wallowed in the helpless. They are the Dwellers'
mud like gigantic tadpoles, but creatures, not of the sea, and for
with two fore-limbs, short and a moment I almost had the doubt
thick, and ending in a row of claws which would have destroyed us.
of great length. A hippopotamus But I think I have not ruled the
would have been small beside monsters that the oceans hold for
them, the most part of the head so long, to lose my body at last in
was a large-toothed mouth, flat and such talons. Also, you did well.
shallow, with one down-curving "A javelin, such as this, is a
tusk, growing like a hook from the cunning weapon, and I had joy
center of the upper jaw. There were when I used it, but I think that
two large circular eyes, on the top our ways of peace are greater than
of the flat head. those which you are designed to
"They were lying closely,” she practice.
told me, "in the deeper mud. We "You see the monster that still
were walking on or slipping be- has his tusk hooked on to that pro-
tween them for some time before jecting root, to steady him while
I knew they were living. he slept in the shallow? It was in
"It was only as one of them the edge of his eye-socket that your
waked to consciousness of us, and foot caught when you stumbled.”

Chapter Three
THE PERIL OF THE LAKE
W i
utes
WATCHED
thans lazily
the
for some min-
while the giant levia-
moved themselves from
mud-shallows to the deeper
they were really as formidable as
my companion had supposed them,
when I noticed that one of them,
who had moved out a short dis-
water. They seemed half-asleep, tance, had sunk his head, and raised
and very slow, and somewhat his tail, as duck does when it feeds
clumsy, as they did so, with no under water.

life in the flat unlustred eyes, and Suddenly his tail waggled in an
a thought crossed me as to whether uncontrolled excitement, and in an
THE WORLD BELOW 23

instant a dozen of these huge crea- and the lake for many miles on
tures had flung themselves at the the right. If we try to go round
spot. on either hand, I have little doubt
Those that were already in the that we shall be observed from the
deeper water drove like huge tor- heights behind us, where the
pedoes toward it. Dwellers will be patrolling.
Those that were still in the shal- "If we hide through the’ day,
lows propelled themselves at al- we shall have a long way to go
most equal speed with huge claw- over the low land, which we have
grips and flapping tails through proved to be an evil path in the
mud and water. darkness, and to cross the hills be-
So great was the converging rush yond may be still more difficult.
that the spot at which they aimed Besides that, the delay is misfor-
was splashed bare for an instant, tunate, for we should not arrive
and we saw that tusks and claws at the tunnel-entrance at the be-
were tearing up the muddy bottom ginning of the night, as we had
in chase of something that was planned to do.”
burrowing deeply to avoid them. I replied, "Can we not swim
The next moment something of a the lake?” and surprised a thought
dirty- white color, and of the size of relief and wonder in the mind
of a small cow —but we could not that heard me.
see clearly —was dragged out and She answered, "I could, of
tom to pieces. course,do so very easily. I should
Then with contented grunts, and swim under the water, and land
a switching of great tails, they beneath the cover of the trees upon
swam out phalanx-shape into the the farther bank. But I supposed
deep water, where they dived to- that you could only swim on the
gether, and the still lake gave no surface,if at all, and that in any
sign of their presence. case the distance would be beyond

It was after this that my com- your power.”
panion closed her mind from me,
as she would do when a doubt
came which she could not quickly
answer.
THE answer
her contempt of
annoyed me,
was always hurtful, friend-

capacity
my
for
physical
At last she told me, "It is in my ly and entirely reasonable though

mind that we have done wrongly I knew it to be, and I had always
to come this way. The morning is accounted myself an accomplished

here, and we have not reached the swimmer.
forest which should be our imme- I said, "I have swum longer dis-
diate safety. Between us and it the tances. I can swim under water for
swamp is extending far on the left, a short time, if necessary; but one

of usswimming on the surface will tempt of every eye that beheld
be far less conspicuous than two them. To be modest is to be in-
walking on the bank and we shall conspicuous. It is to follow the
be out of sight very much sooner. mode. By that test my present
Besides that, if we are seen and clothes reached the last extreme of
chased, we shall have a far better indecency.
opportunity of escaping.” had no means of stitching them
I
I do not think^ my reply quite further,and the rough usage they

satisfied her. I saw that she thought had received had already caused
I was illustrating the habit of col- such damage that they would dis-
lecting all the available arguments pense with me, if I did not dis-
for a course that I had pre-chosen, pense with them very promptly.
of which she had already accused I considered temperature, but the
me, but after a moment she an- sun was already gaining power, and
swered equably, "It is far best, if I knew how warm it became on the
you are sure that you can do it; lower levels in the daytime.
and for myself it is far pleasanter.
If we are going that way, it is
foolish to stand here longer, where
we may be observed that much
UNDER I
the surface
had found the tunnel to be
of a comfortable warmth.
I knew that
more easily. I took off my boots, and knew

"But can you swim in those rags, that the operation was final. A sole
or will you not at last discard already tied with string on the
them?” previous was now entirely
day
I think that most people would loose. The other was scarcely better.
have hesitated, as I did. I could The uppers were leaving me by
not swim such a distance encum- successive details. My socks what —
bered by the clothes I was wearing. was left of them were clotted —
I could make them into a bundle with dirt and blood.
in such a way that they would not My companion watched the
impede me too greatly. All my in- gradual revelation with amused and
stinctswere against their abandon- lively eyes, but she hid her thoughts
ment. There were still a few things from me as it proceeded.
in the pockets which I greatly In the end, public opinion was
valued—my old clasp-knife—some too strong for me. All my life I
matches — some cord — note book a had made myself grotesque in the
(but had made no use of
I so this, ugliest garments by which the hu-
far)—some small —a scissors razor, man form can be hidden, because
and a quantity of spare blades. But my fellow-men required this sym-
Iknew that the rags I wore in this bol of modesty.
new world exposed me to the con- Here I was conscious of a differ-
THE WORLD BELOW 25

'
ent verdict, and the slave crouched had a strong desire to call on
I
instinctively to the crack of a new her for the vitality of which I was
whip. learning to rely too absolutely, but
On
a sudden impulse, I resolved against this I fought with a stub-
to leave them. born wish to show her that I was
I wrapped my small possessions not entirely incapable, even in an
in my waistcoat, which was still a unfamiliar element.
fairly sound garment, I tied it se- For a moment she stayed quietly
curely. Then I threaded a piece of beside me, sliding through the
cord through the button-holes, water at the same pace as myself,
which I fastened round my waist, but without apparent effort, while
so that the little parcel could be she rose sufficiently to view the
easily carried behind me. scene around her.
I made of the boots and other "Look back,” she suggested sud-
garments a bundle which I resolved denly, and I changed a stroke which
to sink in the lake, so that there was becoming wearier than I was
should be no sign left of our pres- willing to recognize, so that I might
ence, and we dived into the water turn my eyes to the distant heights
together. behind us.
The lake was smooth,
and the
water was not too cold to be pleas- SEARCHED them, but could
ant. It became clear and very deep I see nothing of interest. Once I
as we left the bank behind us. I thought that there was a flicker of
swam strongly at first, rejoicing in flame on the hillside, but it was
the morning freshness of sun and too minute and far off for any
air and water, and buoyed by the certainty, and the next moment I
exhilaration of my companion’s had lost it entirely.
mind. But a time came when I "I’m your sight is not
afraid
looked with doubt at the distance much even in daylight,” she
use,
of the wooded headland which we considered, "but please swim as low
had agreed to make our objective. as you are able, for the Dwellers
The shore was far off, but yet I may not be equally deficient.
seemed to have made no progress "There is one who has scraped
to the one before us. together all the ash and litter of
My comrade swam beneath, but the burning, and it has flamed up
not closely. In the delight of her afresh.”
recovered element she dived and I changed to the breast-stroke,
rose, and swam beneath and round and she sank to three feet under
me, with a speed and ease that did the surface, as I answered, "I sup-
nothing to encourage me to satis- pose they will make an end of it

faction with my clumsier efforts. entirely. Is it because of the For-

bidden Thing, and do they, I won- more than a few moments your
der, wrongly blame the Killers for body would become useless beyond
using it? repair,and you would die out of
"I cannot understand why they it entirely? and did you know this
should object to fire so strongly. when you offered to swim so far
In the world from which I come across the surface?"
there are so many inventions less "It true enough,” I answered,
is
useful and with greater potentiali- "but have no intention of drown-

I
ties of mischief; ahd their own ing. In my world, we live danger-

works show that their engineering ously in many ways, and when there
skill and practice is advanced be- is sufficient necessity we take such
yond the knowledge of my contem- risks as we must, and we have con-
poraries.” tempt for those who will not take
She answered, "Perhaps it is only them.”
that they do not wish the creatures "It is very well,” she replied,
that they allow to live on the sur- with a mocking gaiety of mind
face to develop knowledge. I can which would not quieten, "but the
only guess, as you can. But we are contempt of your fellow-men is a
likely to learn many things before somewhat distant eventuality; and
the next dawn comes, though we as I desire your company when we
may not see it.” invade the tunnel of the Dwellers,
I hope you may decide that the risk
DID not answer, for a trailing will still be sufficient if you swim
I growth water-weed
of had in some other direction.”
caught my and I kicked
left leg, I replied, "I am swimming to
free with difficulty. The next mo- the nearest point at which we can
ment I was surrounded by the land,and at the best pace I can. I
floating growth, and I was some do not know what better I can do,
moments under water before I unless I am to sink to the bottom.
could release myself sufficiently to But if you can give me any reason
continue. why should not swim in this di-
I
My
companion regarded me with rection I shall be genuinely glad to
the merriment which my bodily have it.”
difficultiesalways prompted, only She said, "I can give you two,
now was more irrepressible, be-
it and they are both rather good ones.
cause she was intoxicated by the Let me show you them as I see
joyous freedom that the water gave them.”
her, after so long an absence from She then gave me a most un-
her accustomed environment. welcome vision of a mass of float-
"Is it really so,” she asked, "that ing weed through which to swim
if you were below the surface for would be hopeless, and downward,
THE WORLD BELOW 27

through clear water below it — for she been alone, I knew that she
it was not rooted — to where our would have dived beneath die
acquaintances of the morning lay weeds at once, without a second
scatteredon the lake-floor, with glance or thought for the creatures
wide unwinking eyes looking up- that laybelow her.
ward, doubtless for the capture of She had left now, and I swam
any prey which might be caught in back for a short distance, and then
the green snare above them. I do turned on my back, and floated on
not think it needs excuse that the the sunny water, glad of the rest,
sight appalled me. We were in the but becoming increasingly fright-
very middle of the lake, and I was ened as I reflected that at any mo-
tired already. ment I might find myself in die
"How far do the weeds extend?" grip of those wide flat jaws. I un-
I asked. derstood why these beasts had their
"I cannot say. It is farther than eyes so flatly placed, as I recalled
I can see. If ydu will turn and rest that unwelcome vision. How far
for a minute, I will find out which could their sight extend to the sur-
way we can best attempt to go face of the lake above them? Were
round them. But swim quietly back- they resting oblivious of such small
ward, for you will not wish to rouse things as I, that might be sum-
our friends below while I am ab- ming in the water, or did they
sent. I know that when you meet watch there, as a kestrel hovers,
any strange thing your first ready to rush upward at the first
thought is to fear, and then to sight of their expected prey?

fight it, but as your axe is gone, I was somewhat reassured, as the
and you would not find it easy to moments lapsed, by a shoal of sil-
reach your clasp-knife, I suggest very fish which passed me. They
that you should not take the risk were as long as salmon, but much
of rousing them.” slimmer, and they swam in a long
I agreed very heartily, although line two or three broad, straight to-
I knew that she mocked me, and, ward the place of danger which I
indeed, the idea of using an axe was avoiding. They, at least, had
in the water to defend myself from no cause for fear, unless they were
such an attack was sufficiently too stupid to know, or sufficiently
comic, as she telepathically visual- agile to avoid it.
ized it to me.
ND
The fact was that
in her natural element the idea of
any living thing within it provok-
now she was
A "It
me:
is
then she was again beside
not very far round on the

ing either fear or hostility had re- left, and there is clear water for a
gained its normal absurdity. Had long way forward: There is a cold

spring at the bottom when we have companion, and she gave me a sight
rounded the weed. The water there of herself as she lay with lifted
is purer than the lake itself, and fur on the lake-floor, and let the
I am desirous to bathe in it. If you cold stream go through it. But, for
Swim on, I shall catch you up very the most part, I tried to think of
quickly. But we will stay together distant or abstract things, to turn
till we are clear of this place.” my mind from the weariness which
We swam on, by side, in
side now made every stroke an impos-
silence. I was already aware that I sible effort.
must conserve my strength to the Then a swell came from the left
utmost, if I were to reach the shore hand, as though a large boat were
unaided. After a short distance, the passing at no great distance.
weed ruCeded so that we were able I looked round in wonder, but
to approach the shore obliquely, for a moment I could see nothing
and then it disappeared from be- to cause it.
fore us, and again we could head Then a huge black body rose
straight forward. from the water, like an enormous
It was here that my companion porpoise, and turned a somersault
left me. I knew that she was in which sent a heavier swell across
some doubt as she did so, for she the level surface of the lake.
asked me whether I would not pre- My stroke quickened without
fer to float only, till she could re- conscious effort as I beheld it. But
join me. But I was anxious to get at the first moment I was not great-
forward while my strength lasted, ly frightened. It was evident that

and I had caught a glimpse of her itdid not pursue me, and my course
mind, from which I knew how was not toward it. Fortunately, I
keenly she desired and needed her called my companion, and the an-
intended pleasure, so I answered swer, "I am coming now,” was
only, "I will go on. You will catch unperturbed in its promptness. I
me easily. The farther I leave the had an instant’s vision of her, as
beasts behind us, the better pleased the loose fur contracted, and the
I am. But you will keep your mind slim swift body shot forward,
open, in case there should be any-
thing to let you know.”
"Surely," she answered, and the
next instant had left me.
BMyUT the next minute was rapid
in thought
mind
and action.
"There
called urgently,
The headland was nearer now, is another one that has risen
and it was with the hope that the nearer.”
struggle would soon be over that I "They may not see you while
settled down to swim the remain- they are on the surface. Their eyes
ing distance. Once I called to my look upward only.”
THE WORLD BELOW 29

"They may do so, as they roll in I was dimly conscious that the
theirgambols I think they have— first qf the rushing beasts was upon
done so now. They are both com- me, and that it dived slightly as it
ing.” came, so that it should snap at me
"I am coming quickly.” from below. I saw the wide flat
"It is useless. What can you do shovel-jaws open to take me, and
against them?” then two things happened. Almost
The two huge brutes were racing into the mouth of the gaping jaws
over the surface in their competi- she came between us she had —
tion to me, with a speed
secure swum at least three times the dis-
which would have left a motor- tance that our opponents had cov-
boat behind very quickly. I could ered —and at the same instant the
not doubt that in twenty seconds second monster charged sideways
they would be quarrelling over my into its rival in its eagerness to get
divided body. a share of the expected dainty.
They were afraid of her, clearly.
M Y TERROR
to
must destroy me.
warned her only
avoid the danger which
They both recoiled for a moment.
But it was clear also that they
regarded me as a prey of which she
"Refuse fear,” she called back, had no right to deprive them.
"it is that which gives them power On they came again from differ-
to destroy you.” ent sides, and into their very teeth
But fear I must, and as she real- she swam to thwart them.
ized it, I think —though I am not Even so, had they been capable
sure — that there was a second dur- of concerted action, I do not see
ing which her own mind faltered. how she could have saved me. But
But if so, it was for an instant only. she was cooler, swifter, more agile,
Then she realized the full peril of with a mind that mocked them and
the moment, and her courage rose bewildered. Nor was she content
to meet it. with defensive movements only, but
Cool and and very urgent,
swift, as either would draw back for a
she thrust forward the full force moment, she followed the retreated
of her mind to overcome the panic mouth as though she dared it to
which had possessed me, "I shall harm her, as no doubt she did.
be first. Swim on. Listen. You are How it would have ended I can-
safe if you hear me. You must stop not say, but at that moment fate
thinking. Give your mind to mine, interposed to help us. We were
and I can save you. Do not think Still a hundred yards from the
at all, but believe it. It is everything shore, when the ground beneath us
that you do this.” shallowed, and they pursued us no
The rest is a dream only. further.

We climbed out into a place of was exhausted also. Anyway she
shade and of mossy softness, but I gave me no thought, but remained
was too exhausted to regard it. in silence beside me.
Where I sank I lay. Perhaps, she After a time I slept.
THE WORLD BELOW 31

Chapter Four
THE SILENCE IN THE WOOD
W
with
HEN I waked, she was
ting looking into the water
brooding eyes in
sit-
which
saw
me
"I
that I was awake, and offered
her mind in a moment.
am glad,” she thought, "that
amusement flickered more than I saved you, and I think that the
once as I watched them, but which Leaders will approve it; but of this
seemed, for the most part, to be I cannot be as certain as I gladly
puzzled by some thoughts for which would be.
she could find no solving. "As we were made companions
She looked at me at last, and in this enterprise, it seemed that it

was right to do so. But it is a law for which I have no excuse of
of our kind that, as no creatures weakness to offer. I do not think
in all the oceans will dare to harm another man would have left you,
us, so we do not interfere between as I did. You think I showed cour-
them. Were we to withhold their age because I interposed to save
prey from them, I cannot say that you, at some risk to myself.
our immunity would continue. It "Whether there was risk I do
is a thing so fundamental that from not know; nor how great it may
the beginning I have never known have been; but I think you showed
it attempted. We cannot be as one a greater courage, being what you
of themselves, and above them also. are, to go forward alone, and that,
It comes to me again, as I have not to save my life, but to give me

thought before, that you are like a a needless pleasure, against which
seed <$f death to the world I know, you might have protested reason-
and the end is beyond my dream- ably.
ing." "But we have still a long way to
I answered, "I owe you the debt go before evening, and we shall
of my life, and I cannot tell at how do well to face the remainder of
great a risk you have saved it. But the journey, the difficulties of
I do not wish you to do things for which we cannot tell till we meet
me of which the consequences may them.”
be beyond our understanding. While we conversed in this way,
"I thought to show you that I I had been observing the scene
could cross the lake unaided, and around me. We
had landed upon
I have only made my weakness the edge of a forest of a more
more evident. I think it may be varied luxuriance than that in
right that I should go alone in fu- which we had rested upon the
ture; for when you called upon higher land two nights before.
me first not to fear, I am aware Here, as elsewhere, I saw no sign
that I failed you, and I suppose it of grass, nor of any similar
was from that that the danger be- straight-bladed growth, but the
came so imminent.” ground was covered by mosses, very
deep and soft, and close-creeping
HE answered, "That is true; herbage of other kinds in many
S and by my code it may be right shades of green and yellow. The
to say that you failed me, where it trees were of many beautiful and
was beyond the power of your unfamiliar forms, some of great
body (which is' truly contemptible) size and height, but not too crowd-
to do otherwise. But I have thought, ed to show their contours, nor the
and see that by your own code I sky between them. Their foliage
failed you for my pleasure only, was of shades that varied from the
THE WORLD BELOW 33

palest yellow to the deepest gold, of whiteness, like the palest petals
with infrequent hints of red, and of the Californian poppy. At the
there was one broad-spreading bush root of many of ’the leaves there
which was entirely of a beetroot was a smooth-skinned tawny fruit,
crimson. of the size of a loganberry. Open-
It was very still — for the coming ing it, I found that it was a fruit
storms of which I had been told very certainly, containing a juicy
might bring rain in the night, but pulp, and *in the midst a single
did not yet disturb the peace of slender seed, of the size and shape
the daytime —
and of a beauty at of that of a lettuce. I tasted it cau-
which my breath paused for a mo- tiously, and found it delicious. My
ment, and of which I cannot hope companion watched me with a
to tell you. friendly but unconcealed amuse-
But I was not looking for ment.
beauty. The need tor beauty is con- After a time, she gave the glance
tinual, and for food is intermittent by which I knew that she wished
only. Yet the last is the more urg- our minds to communicate.
ent while it remains unsatisfied. "You have really no means of
It is true that man cannot live knowing," she asked, "whether
by bread alone, but it is equally so they may assist or kill 'you? Is this
that he cannot live long without it. because you are in a world of
I remembered our compact that I strangeness, or are you accustomed
should be self-supporting in future. to this exciting uncertainty?”
I knew the swiftness with which I replied, "I have senses of taste
my companion considered it natural and scent, which warn me that
to travel. I was aware of the im- many things are unfit for eating,
portance, not merely of reaching but they are not entirely reliable.
the tunnel-entrance by nightfall, but The creatures of my kind depend
of doing so in such condition that largely upon tradition, as their own
we should be prepared at once to lives are too short to acquire much
explore it. I looked round in a nat- knowledge —and as, even were it
ural anxiety to discover some means otherwise, they would doubtless die
of nourishment. in the experimental stages of ob-
I saw nothing to encourage hope, taining it —
and we eat such things
except that there was a curious as our ancestors have eaten before
fruit-like formation upon the hang- us.
ing branches of a tree behind us. "Here, my only method is to
choose such substances as appear
HE
T were very
leaves of this tree
long and narrow, and of so
light a yellow as to give an effect
most
known
like to those which I have
to be wholesome,
a small portion. If
and eat
the taste be

good, and no ill consequence fol- est belief that we benefit from
low, in a few hours I can eat more them.
freely.” "It follows that such poisons are
"Your lives may be short,” she prepared in great quantities, and
said, "but, at least, they lack dull- are readily procurable.
ness. How shall you go bad, if it "There is a custom among us of
should chance to be a wrong thing mixing one or other of these poi-
that you are now eating?” sons in the food or drink of an ac-
I controlled an impulse of irrita- quaintance or relation whose life
tion before I answered, "I shall might be terminated to our advan-
not go bad, for I am testing the tage, Probably this custom is not
food very carefully. But I shall be very general, but that is difficult to
the more careful because of the judge, as it is practiced very quiet-
thoughts you have, and I may keep ly, owing to a law which provides
you here in consequence till you are that the neck of a successful poi-
tired of waiting. There are many soner shall be broken, after an in-
ways of going bad for those who terval of some weeks, during which
eat the wrong things, and none of they are kept alive in great mental
them is pleasant.” agony.” ("Do you mean that an
"If your kind can avoid such unsuccessful poisoner would be
poisons through their traditions, treated with comparative leniency?”
how do you know of the effects of her mind "Yes,” I
interpolated.
many?" she asked me. replied, "our laws always encour-
age incompetence.” ) However many
T WAS ever so, when we com- of these cases may escape notice,
I menced exchange of thought it is usual to detect a few every
upon the world I had left, that year.
the starting-point was quickly out "The one who is considered to be
of sight behind us. the most likely to have committed
"There are a variety of very poi- the crime is then arrested, and all
sonous substances, either vegetable the available evidence is so arranged

or mineral abstracts, which can be as (if possible) to prove his guilt.
mixed with food or drink without But strict proof is not necessary
easy detection. As our bodies fre- for a conviction in such cases, the
quently break down through defec- practice being that the degree of
tive construction, or our own proof required is in an inverse
misuses, or from unavoidable hard- ratio to the repellent nature of the
ships, before their final dissolution, crime committed.
we employ men to repair them and ”1 suppose that the great ma-
they make use of these poisons in jority of those who are convicted
minute quantities, and in the hon- are guilty, although, owing to the
THE WORLD BELOW 35

way in which these trials are con- as of the Bat-wing kind, though
ducted, and the nature of the your race is, at least collectively,
evidence which is accepted as con- of a stupidity which it must be hard
clusive, it would be a very simple to rival throughout the ages.
matter for anyone of average intel- "But tell me this. You have
ligence to poison another in such a shown me already that there are
way that suspicion would fall upon many other species of animals
some other member of the house- which dwell in your world, and
hold, and it is not reasonable to which you consider to be inferior,
suppose that this is never attempt- because you have the power to de-
ed successfully. stroy them — Surely no conclusive
“But my mind wanders, reason !
— Do they also suffer from
"At these trials it is usual to the same disability, or are they
announce in public the nature of better able to select their approp-
the poison used, the quantities re- riate foods?”
quired, the methods by which they
may be procured, their effects, and ANSWERED, conscious of the
the ease or difficulty with which I derision which laughed within
they may afterwards be detected, her, and not without a
entirely
and these particulars are distrib- flicker of satisfaction, as I recog-
uted throughout the nation, so that nized that the ellipses of my
anyone desiring to poison another thought confused her.
need not be hindered by ignorance "It is true that for one species
of such essential details. to have the power of destruction
"There is also, every year, a large over anotheris a practical suprem-
number of people who destroy their acy,and I may have impressed my

own bodies, although we have thought upon you in that way with-
(grotesquely enough) a law pro- out careful differentiation. To ad-
hibiting this practice —and here, at mit it absolutely would be to place
least, we discourage incompetence, the germ of a disease which we
for we can only punish those who might be unable to conquer as be-
fail, the rest being beyond the side or above us.
reach of our cruelties —and a pro- "We do consider that we are
portion of these people use poisons supreme of earthly creatures, but
to effect their purpose, so that you we could assert this supremacy on
will see that there is no difficulty widely different grounds . , .
in obtaining knowledge of the "As to your first question, die

effect of such substances.” physical senses of the lower ani-
“I think,” she replied, “that my mals are more acute than our own,
Leader showed the accuracy of her because they depend entirely upon
judgment when she classified you them.

"Those that are allowed to live ing the small parcel of my re-
wildly, through our indifference, maining possessions, and drying
or in parts of the earth which we them as well as I was able, their
have not yet populated, appear to importance to me being too great
avoid unwholesome food without for my mind to be seriously affect-
difficulty. But if they cause us any ed by the knowledge that she re-
annoyance we are able to show our garded them as a humorous -
superiorityby cunningly mixing evidence of my inferiority to every

poison with some attractive sub- other created thing, though she ad-
stance, by eating which they die mitted very frankly that die Dwell-
very miserably.” ers were not entirely exempt from
"I am glad to think,” she an- a corresponding necessity.
swered, "that there are some parts Now I made up my bundle again,
of your earth which are still clean,” and having eaten freely of the
and then she received my thought strange fruit, I expressed my readi-
in silence as it continued. ness to explore the golden lights
"But must qualify my thought
I and shadows of the forest that lay
There are numerous
to this extent. before us.
species of animals which we have
subdued to our own purposes, and
that we confine around us, either
that they may do work on our be-
W E HAD agreed that I should
now depend upon my own
vitality, even though our progress
half, or that we may eat their must necessarily be slower in con-
bodies, or both, and there is a sequence, butI rose and went for-
diminished ability to avoid poison- ward very buoyantly, and though

ous substances among these crea- I knew that she was restraining
tures, as their lives approximate her natural pace to keep beside me,
more nearly to the condition of I was well content to feel that I
those who keep them But this — was moving with a lightness and
touches on much which would be energy which she could not have
long to explain, and I see that you expected from any previous expe-
do not understand fairly, if I give rience. There may have been some
you the facts only.” exhilarating quality in the food
She answered, "It is a wonder- which I had just eaten, but, apart
ful world, and a very hideous. But from that possibility, I had rested
I have much to ask concerning well, the air was pleasantly warm*
these creatures that dwell with you, and I had a sense of unaccustomed
and that you eat when they die. freedom from the rags which I
For the time, let us leave it.” had discarded.
While we had conversed in this Had there been a hard surface
way, I had been occupied in open- beneath us, I might have regretted
THE WORLD BELOW 3*

the impulse on which I had left There was no moving life in the
my boots —though would it have trees, nor in the air, nor in the
been equally correct to say that moss beneath us. I searched, and
they lefthad me— but the
moss if I could have found the smallest
was soft and deep, and though it insect, I think it would have
gave a curious tingling sensation broken the spell which oppressed
(which I forgot subsequently), it me, as I realized the isolation in
was otherwise a very soft and pleas- which we moved.
ant carpet on which to tread. I stood, and hesitated. I was
The wood which we were now ashamed of my thought, but at last
entering must have stretched (as I I gave it. "I do not want to go
calculated) for about forty miles farther.”

along the great valley which lay "Do you feel it?” she answered.
within the ridge of coastwise hills "I felt it sooner,”
which we had to reach and cross "It is not that I fear,” I an-
to gain our objective. It was prob- swered, "there seems no cause to
ably about ten miles wide at the fear in so great a peace, but I find
point at which we were attempting it hard to go forward.”
to pass it. "Yes,” she said, "the Dwellers
We had gone about half-a-mile may not be here, but I think that
at a very quick walk, the trees not they have left their wills to protect
being sufficiently close to obstruct it. It is a new thing to me. Shall
us seriously, when my companion we yield, and turn, or resist it?”
asked me if there were nothing
that occurred to me as unusual in HESITATED for a moment, for
the scene around us. I I felt a curious disinclination to
had not thought of anything.
I go farther, beneath which there
I had been occupied by the beauty was a stubborn unwillingness to
and variety of the frees which we turn back with so little of reason
were passing, but as she asked I to justify it.
feltit, and shuddered. "It must be a long way round,”

"Yes,’’ I said, "it is the silence.” I thought at last, "and it might be
She answered, "Silence is good; even more perilous. You shall de-
but it is the cause of the silence. cide.”
The trees live, but they do not She answered "Then we readily,
move. I think that wind is for- will go forward. I will go first, if
bidden. Besides the trees and the you will, because I am the more
moss, it seems that we are the only sensitive to the power against
creatures that live.” which we shall be contending, and
And I knew, as her thought I may also be more resolute to re-
reached me, that she was right. sist it.
3a GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

"I know that you were trying to upon the assertion of my own will,
decide in this way, though you and if, at the first challenge, we
found it hard to do so. confess defeat without effort, in
''My own decision is not because what confidence may we continue?
it is a long way round, which is of We have this to think also. The
little moment, nor because it may Dwellers have much knowledge
be more dangerous to take that which is not ours, and many pow-
way, for it may be less so, which ers, but of the issue of such a con-
ismore probable. But I think that neither we nor they have had
flict
thesewere not your reasons. They any experience.

were only those which your mind "I supposed that the meeting of
supplied, as best it might, to sup- last night would resolve it, for I
port your preference. believed that my own people had
"You know, as I do, that there determined to go straight forward,
may be great danger if we go for- and that the Dwellers were resolute
ward, though you cannot under- not to move aside to allow it. But
stand what it may be. Therefore the appearance of the lizards be-
you fear it. But you have within tween them caused my people to
you a spirit which has been trained own will, and the issue
halt of their
to conflict by the conditions of your was not contested in that way.”
life, and which is reluctant to turn
aside from a chosen path, and espe-

cially so when the danger is not
immediately evident, nor physically
THEN she went forward, and I
followed closely behind her.
Peace was round us, and a dream-
apparent. like beauty, golden-green, and deep
"My own reason is different. I blue sky where the trees showed
feel that these woods are held by it. The stillness could be felt.
a power which will turn us back, As the body feels when a great
if it be sufficient to do so. I sup- wind meets it, so that, though it
pose this power to derive from the stoop against it, it can make no
Dwellers, because I know them to headway, so was the pressure
be supreme in these regions, and against my mind to hold me back-
I cannot think that there could be ward. ,
any other whose wills could con- Mycompanion gave me no
tend against my own so stubbornly, thought, and I saw her go on slow-
But it is in my thought that if we ly, but with no sign of effort.
accept defeat here we may as well As the pressure increased against

abandon our attempt at once. It is me, my heart began to beat very
your nature to depend upon weap- violently. I became sick with ter-
ons for your protection, and you ror. I forced each limb forward
have none. It is mine to depend with difficulty, as though there
THE WORLD BELOW 39

were a weight that dragged it back- "We may suppose what we will,”
ward. I concentrated my thought she answered happily, "and we may
on the fear that if she should leave be right one time in a hundred, but
me I should be lost entirely, and what use is there in that ? And
Strove with a despairing energy to such thoughts seem to me to be of
lessen the gap between us, as it a great folly, for by suchmeans
threatened to widen. And then, you make those against whom you
suddenly, I knew that the pressure should contend the more formid-
ceased, and she looked back with able. You defeat yourself. You are
laughing eyes, and a mind which frightened by a new thing. It is
was elate with victory. new to me also, but it is no more

The trees here became very wonderful than are many of the
dense, so that we could not see far invisible powers of which you have
ahead, and there were many of the told me, which are known to your
fruit-bearing bushes, such as that own kind, and of which even the
on which I had fed before, that —
Dwellers for all I know may be —
grew between them. I had a sense ignorant.”
of great exhaustion, which I think I answered, though still unable
she shared also, and we sat down to rise to her own mood, "I know
and rested. that you are right when you say
I saw
that she was elated that that I defeat myself, for it is the
we had not been turned by this weakness of my kind to do so. Even
obstacle, but I found myself less in our wars, it is only rarely that a
responsive to her mood than usual. battle is fought out to the extrem-
I felt that we were confronted by ity of either side, but a moment
powers which were entirely beyond comes when the spirit of confidence
our calculation, and against which dies in one side or the other, and
we could make no effectual provi- it retires or surrenders. Often, it is
sion. I even doubted our present found afterwards that its opponents
success. were dispirited also, and that the
defeated could have been the vic-
<<QJUPPOSE,” I suggested sud- tors had they endured for a short
O dcnly "that while we think time longer.
we are vigors, we are caught in a "But your comparison with the
trap which we cannot break? Sup- powers of my own world gives me
pose a new danger were to confront encouragement. In our last
little
us, how could w'e flee backward war it was considered necessary to
through the stubborn wall we have prevent people from crossing from
passed? Suppose that it is a circle one country to another. To effect
through which return may be more this a wire fence was erected along
difficult than the entrance?'’ the boundary. It looked harmless,
4» GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

and easy to pass. Those who or a doubt only, but will rise above
touched it died instantly, as by it when a cause confronts them.
lightning. To an earlier generation You are at least clear from the bar-
itwould have seemed incredible. barisms of your own time, which
How can we tell by what incredible- appear to be such by your own
seeming horrors the Dwellers may it is a marvel that any
telling that
be able to protect their territories?” of you remain alive to endure them.
She answered buoyantly, *'I agree And you can take courage from
with what you think, though not the thought that the Dwellers are
with the mood it induces. You are not of your kind.”
exactly right that we cannot tell, did not answer further, for I
I
and it is useless to speculate. But was now rested, and had eaten free-
the moment is ours, and I am con- ly, and with the physical comfort
tent to have a mind untroubled. the mood was passing, but I had
"Why is it that your mind and less confidence than she in the
body are alike in this, that they Dwellers, and a greater fear than
will fear when there is no cause, I had felt before.
THE WORLD BELOW 41

Chapter Five
THE TEMPLE
N OW the
again,
character.
trees
and
They appeared
of
were thinner
a changing
to be a
These leaves were many yards in
length, of the width of a finger,
and of an almost incredible light-
larger variety of those which we ness. The air was quiet, but not
had encountered during the pre- with the unreasonable stillness of
vious night. Light and graceful the area of that forbidding will,
they rose around us, with a crown and when a light wind moved, the
of spreading boughs from which leaves were lifted like a woman’s
long ribbon-leaves fell thickly. hair, and blown aside, so that the

showed nakedly
straight slim trunks Do you not hear that it is at once
between them. monotonous and many-toned, as all
Always these light leaves mur- sound should be? Would not even
mured with a stealthy whispering such as you are shrink to violate it
sound, so like to speech that I with the intolerable noises of the
had a feeling that there were wo(jds speech you practice?’’
which I almost heard, which I I did not answer, for her mind
should catch if I should listen more left me as it ceased its protest, and
carefully. I began to imagine that we went forward in silence, soothed
they were urgent to warn or to drowsiness of thought by this
threaten. monotony of multitudinous sounds,
I turned to my
companion’s mind till the trees ceased, and I was sud-
were casting,
to break the spell they denly conscious that my companion
and found her receiving it with a was left behind, and that her
like pleasure to that with which thought was urgent and anxious to
she bathed in the cold springs of call me.
the lake-floor.
Her mind paused reluctantly HOUGHTS that pass from
from its enjoyment to answer me mind to mind are swifter than
when I queried in wonder how she speech, a thousand times, and more
should find a delight which ap- luminous. So it was that we had
proached to ecstasy in such a way, mutually realized in a moment -that
when I had understood that the which would have been beyond the
sounds of speech, and (I supposed) ready apprehension of human inter-
all noise, were a barbarism that re- course.
pelled her. She stood back because she was
She answered, "You confuse confronted by a wall of blackness,
things the most opposite. Is the where I saw sunlight, and a level
beauty of bird or beast increased if lawn. It was not darkness that she
itbe torn open? The sea is full of saw, as that of night, but a black-
sound, and like the wind it has ness as of a curtain, gross and
many voices, which it contains palpable.
within itself, as the air contains When she knew that the way was
them. These voices are as the very clear to me, and that it held no
basis of life to every sea-born thing. visible menace, she decided instant-
Even dead shell cannot forget
a ly to go forward."We will hold
them. The unending murmur of our purpose of boldness, as the bet-
these leaves soothes me with de- ter hope both of success and of
light, while it arouses longing to safety. I will see with your mind, as
return to the ocean-depths where you saw with mine in the night-
there is neither noise nor stillness. time.’’
THE WORLD BELOW 43

I agreed, and we joined hands, after an interval of irresolution that
and went on together. at last she told me. "I’m afraid.
Now, as we had found before, I have doubted whether we should
it is the disadvantage of this meth- go forward. There is a mystery here
od of helping another mind that it which awes me, whereas the un-
hinders thought, so that I went on known, or the perilous, has allured
with my will fixed on conveying me always. I have thought back-
that which I saw to my companion, ward as far as mind will reach, and
and could not reflect, or even won- the feeling new. But, after this, I
is
der, without some blurring of the thought that we have taken a new
vision which I was transmitting. road with minds aware of its dan-
The forest which we had left ger, We
may come through harm-
swept a wide forward curve on less, or with broken bodies, or, for
either hand around a level plain, on all we know, we may be destroyed

which was a circular building which by forces which are beyond experi-
must have been more than a mile in ence or imagination. But there is
diameter. It consisted of a series of one thing that remains to our own
platforms, each receding from the wills, that if we fail we may do so
one below. There were many of conscious either of a 'bold or of a
these, each about four feet higher craven failure. Having lived so
than the last, and the central ele- long, I have no will to perish with
vation must have been considerable, shame in my thoughts. You have
though the extent of the building walked when your sight failed, and
dwarfed it. In color it was I can surely do so. We will go for-
opalescent, reminding me of the ward together, and you can give me

pavement which I had first encoun- the sight I need, unless a greater
tered, but it was of such extent and urgency should require you. It may
such beauty, that the comparison is be that the darkness will pass, as
one of kind only. did the pressure.
So far as I could see from that "But, perhaps, you are yourself
position, it was crowned by a level unwilling to continue with a com-
platform. It was entirely silent: no rade so helpless? If you would
life moved nor was visible. rather that we turn aside, or that
you go forward alone, I am con-
A LL this I
panion,
showed to my com-
who received it without
interruption as we paused for me to
tent for it to be as you
I answered readily,
content to go on together.
will.”
"I am
I
well
do not
view it, but when the survey was share or understand your feeling.
completed, and I would have con- So far as I can see them, the plat-
tinued our advance, I found her forms are quiet and vacant, and
slow to follow, and it was only nothing warns me of danger. It is

a strange thing that you cannot see, we found another similar platform
and may be ominous. But we have to traverse. The outer edge of each
chosen a dangerous search, and we curved very slightly upward, not
are little likely to reach success if more than a few inches, like the
we turn from shadows. To do so, low rim of a gigantic saucer. It
would be (it is your own thought) was nothing, proportionately, to the
to defeat ourselves, before any dimensions of the platforms them-
hostile movement should avail to selves, but was enough to make me
thwart us. Let us at least go round wonder how they were drained,
the base of the building until we when the rain fell. Then I won-
find whether the other side be alike. dered whether rain wete allowed
We might do this without penetrat- to fall in that solitude. Looking
ing the space within which you can- closely, I noticed, at the foot of the
not see.” next wall, that there was a space
She answered, "Not by my will. of an inch or two between its ap-
For the fear is less since my resolu- parent base and the platform be-
tion denied it; and how do we neath it.
know that the higher platforms
may not show
which we seek? Or that
may not avail
us the entrance
my
when we gain them?”
sight A PART from these apertures,
which gave to each of the cir-
cular walls an appearance of being
But her sight did not return, and unsupported, there was no opening
though I was able to convey the anywhere, as of door or win-
scene so that she walked confident- dow, nor sign of joint nor divi-
ly, yet our minds could not divert sion in the whole extents of walls
to die exchange of other thoughts or platforms.
— indeed, scarcely think at
could, The colors before and beneath us
all,without reducing her to a dark- were of innumerable variety, and of
ness which was not merely such as deep and glowing intensities,
I had experienced on the previous changing continually as we ad-
night, but blackness absolute and vanced. They changed, but did not
unrelieved. flicker,nor sparkle. We
walked on
We went straight upward from lakes of frozen fire, that faded as
one circular platform to another, we advanced to the quiet green

finding no change whatever. We on an English sunset when the mists
walked on surfaces as smooth as are windless. Here,I thought, might
polished granite, in some places of be the place of the birth of sunsets.

a milky opaqueness, at others of Sometimes the approaching wall
deep and multi-colored transparen- would show a violet color of an
cies. Always before us was a wall intensity which I had neither seen
of the same substance: climbing it, nor imagined, but this color was
THE WORLD BELOW 45

never beneath our feet, nor could where we found a new reason for
we reach it closely, for as we ap- pausing. Beneath us lay the penul-
proached, it always changed and timate terrace which we had noticed
faded, if fading it could be called to be so much wider than the
which was most often into a blue of others.
more than peacock brilliance. But Where we had crossed it in
it was dull to the violet light which ascending there had been no other
had preceded. difference.But here I looked upon
the body of one of the Dwellers,
O WE climbed unhindered, till who lay face-downward before us.
S we traversed a much wider She did not lie on the flat sur-
platform than those below, and face, but in a shallow depression,
knew was before
that the last wall hollowed to the shape of her body,
us. Itwas higher than the previous which was half beneath and half
ones had been, and we mounted it above the surface of the platform
with some difficulty. We then saw on which she lay. It fitted her as
a circular space of a diameter of though it were a mould in which
about two hundred yards, and of she had been cast. It fitted her
an absolute flatness. It seemed that arms, that lay stretched straight and
there was nothing more than the wide above her head. The whole at-
sides had shown already to reward titude was one of grief or adoration.
surface at the center — so small a We watched, and saw no move-
thing. A tiny point of light on the ment.
surface at the centre — so small a
point. As we walked toward it I E WALKED aside for some
expected it to show more largely, distance, before climbing
but it did not do so. When we down to the platform on which she
stood within a few yards, which lay.Having done this, I looked to-
was the nearest that we dared to ward her, and saw that she was now
venture, it was still too small for the standing. We remained motionless.
eye to measure. It was a point with- We could merely watch. If she saw
out magnitude. I cannot say that it us there could be no escape nor eva-
was embedded in, or that it lay sion. We could not exchange
upon, the surface. I cannot say that thought, for my mind was occupied
itwas red or yellow: it was fire. It in conveying to my companion the
did not change or sparkle. vision of what I saw, but she con-
We stood there for a long time. trived to let me know that it was
I had no thoughts that I can trans- as inexplicable to her as to me, and
late to words. I have none now. I remembered that she had told me
At last, we continued our way that she had never seen more than
to the farther side of the platform. three women among the Dwellers,

although she supposed them to be sand, but all the substance of that
more numerous. hollow showed the violet light of
The one we now saw stood up- which I have told before, and
right, showing a girlish slimness, though it did not flash nor shine in-
her great size neutralized by the to the eyes as sunlight does, but
parity of her surroundings. She was was, as it were, buried within the
gazing towards the point of light, stone that contained was
it, yet it
her arms held down before her, and of such intensity that my sight was
the joined hands twisting as in an lost as I saw it, and for some mo-
extremity of controlled emotion. ments after I turned away I shared
Unlike the male Dwellers, she my companion’s blindness.
had hair on her head, abundant, It was inevitable that we should
though not long. It was golden- take much longer in our descent
brown in color, and extended down than had the Dweller, whose stride
the spine, a narrow lifted ridge. from platform to platform was so
Otherwise the body was hairless. from our shorter steps, yet
different
The back was the brown of a burnt when we arrived again on the level
biscuit, changing in front to rich ground she was still there, and had
cream-color. Otherwise, she might turned to face the temple (if such it
have been a woman of today or were) with thrown-back head, and
yesterday, with the grace and sym- uplifted arms, and an expression as
metry of a Grecian statue. of one who has been hopelessly re-
So, for a time, she stood, and pulsed, and yet makes one more
then turned, and descended. appeal, not with expectation, but be-
As I watched her do so, I b& cause it is intolerable to turn away,
came conscious that she could see and to admit defeat which is final.
no more than my companion. For

though she walked confidently T MAY be convenient here to
enough down what to her were no I explain certain facts regarding
more than very wide and shallow the Dwellers of which I learnt later,
stairs, I saw her twice put a foot and They had, in
in gradual ways.
forward, as with an instant’s doubt, the course numerous millen-
of
to feel the slight flange which rose niums, developed bodies which were
at the edge of each platform. immune from disease, and (in com-
parison with our own) from acci-
B EFORE we descended farther,

we walked to the edge of the
dental injury also. So far as their
experience showed, there was no
hollow in which she had lain, and physical deterioration, nor any rea-
I had an impression of the enor- son why they should not continue
mous mould of a human form, as indefinitely. Yet their solution of
though it had been pressed in wet the problem of longevity proved in-
TH* WORLD BELOW 47

ferior to that which had been population of other portions of the
evolved by the Amphibians, in an earth’s surface, in the course of
unforeseen way. In our own race, we which many
of them were de-
know that the desire of life may stroyed, and which remained as a
persist in a body which is both old continuing menace when the actual
and organically defective, and that conflict ceased.
the brain is usually the last strong-
hold of a
ly
vitality
surrendered.
which
Their
was opposite. A time would come
is reluctant-
experience THEY the
were prolonged
had learned
lives of
that
their
indefinitely,
though
women
their
when the body functioned, but the power of procreation did not con-
mind grew weary. Year by year, an tinue, and they had first observed,
increasing lethargy would be suc- immediately after the war of which
ceeded by a more active desire for I have spoken, that the children
death, till the slow operation of thatwere born were males in a con-
their own will-power would destroy siderable majority. They were not
their bodies through the misery of alarmed at this circumstance, which
its final centuries. To the young, those who specialized in such mat-
this would appear in-
condition ters assured them to be of a tem-
credible,and they would confidently porary character, either because (as
boast that they would resist it suc- some held) their males had been
cessfully, but, sooner or later, it weakened in strife, and their bold-
would inevitably descend upon estand strongest killed, and it was
them. (they said) a natural law that the
Such was their individual doom: young should be of the sex of the
as a race they lived under a darker weaker half of the community; or
shadow. When it became evident (as others held) because the spirits
that they had so far overcome the of the dead were reincarnated, so
threats of disease and decay that that, in time of warfare, an excess
the individual might continue in- of male births was a natural con-
definitely, they had naturally been sequence of the fatalities which
concerned rather by the fear that preceded them. With all their wis-
there might be an ultimate conges- dom they could not resolve this
tion of population, than that the question with certainty. They were
race should fail in fecundity. But not even agreed as to whether there
this fear had not been acute, be- were any necessary relation between
cause they were then engaged in the births and deaths that occurred
exploiting a new, and seemingly al- among them, or whether, should
most limitless, subterranean terri- they cease entirely to die, new
tory. Also, they passed through a spirits could be incarnated indefi-
period of warfare with the inhuman nitely from the Unseen.

But the war ceased, and the years have shown me the dark things of
passed, and the excess of male the time from which you came,
births did not cease, but augmented I have been curious, or repelled; or
continually. Many troubles resulted, I have sympathized or marvelled
many expedients were tried, many only; yet it has been as unreal as is
laws were passed, but this condition a reflection in water. But here I find
persisted. it close, and very terrible. Its. mean-
At this day, while the males and ing is beyond me, but I had not
older females must have numbered imagined that the world could hold
tens and may have numbered hun- such sorrow ... It is strange that
dreds of thousands, there were less we could receive thoughts which
than seventy women of marriage- were not directed to us, but it may
able age alive, and of some two be that when they are cast loose in
score of children there were three such intensity of petition they may
girls only, be received by all who are near
them.”
THE
A
upon
S
feeling
Dweller stood
of
me, settling into a dull
desolation
thus,
came
a I replied, "That is scarcely so,
for I saw only, and her thoughts

were hidden.
despair, which I had no force to She answered, "It may be that
combat. It may have been the atti- you do not receive the thoughts of
tude in which she stood, solitary the Dwellers as easily as we do, or
and silent, in that strange setting, as you receive ours, or there may
the vacant beauty of the temple be- be another cause, but to me her
fore, and the golden circle of the thought was clear and vivid, though
woods behind her, her arms lifted it was formless, being a desire that
in dumb protest against the in- was so strong that it could endure
exorable destiny which overshad- with little hope to support it. I do
owed her. not know for what she asked, but I
It may have been her attitude think she called for help which will
only, or it may have been more not be given. I can show you her
than that, as I realized later. thought.”
For when at last she cast down Then she gave me the prayer
her arms with a gesture of im- which had gained so unexpected an
potence, and turned with bowed audience, and my mind was filled
head, and descended into some at once with a sense of intolerable
cavity of the ground, my com- calamity, and with the cry of one
panion opened her mind toward who knew that the time for hope
me, and the shadow darkened as was over, and who struggled to re-
she did it. Then her thought grew ject a despair which would be be-
dear to this issue "When you
— yond her endurance, so that her
THE WORLD BELOW 49

mind beat lamentably against the descended thirty or forty feet when
repulse of dosed and indifferent we came to the lowest point, the
doors. ground commencing to rise before
us, and at the same time we became
SUPPOSE it to have been be- aware of the entrance to a tunnel
I cause her trouble was of a on our right which sloped down
nature more easily explicable to my- and inward beneath the temple.
self than to my companion that I In dimensions it reminded me of
found in the transmitted thought the tunnels beside the opal path
a more concrete quality than she with which I was already familiar,
had recognized as she received it. but it was otherwise different.

I could not tell the cause of her There was no vertical rod, such as
calamity, or its incidence, but I be- that which had drawn the eyes, and
came aware that it was the im- stayed the pursuit of the Frog-
pending destruction of her race mouths. There was no difference be-
against which she pleaded, and that tween floor and walls, but all were
this was joined in some undisclosed marble-smooth, and hard, and cold.
manner with a personal grief, the They were opalescent, but of a kind
larger shadow being a connected and color which I had not seen
background to the more imminent previously. The sides and roof were
catastrophe. of the dim green of the under-
It was not evident that we were surface of an arching wave, and like
concerned in the troubles of any a wave they curved over, differing
one of the Dwellers, or in their from the upright walls and flat ceil-
general welfare. Indeed, their perils ing of the earlier tunnels. The floor
or preoccupations might contain our gave an impression of dark green
safety. They were alien from, and depths through which we could
might be contemptuously hostile to, have seen to the remoteness of the
my own humanity. Yet the depres- earth's interior, had the faint light
sion of that telepathy would not allowed it.
lift, and it was with a sense of
overhanging tragedy, illogically

enough, that we advanced to inves-
tigate the cavity by which she had
W E HAD ceased to think as we
moved forward, so that I
might once again give to my com-
descended. panion the benefit of the sight she
The ground declined as we ap- lacked, and it must have been my
proached it, becoming a rounded own volition that caused us to take
channel or guttter, down which we a few steps within the entrance of
moved, the temple on our right, and the cavity. But as we did so, her
the surface soon above the level of thought broke sharply across my
our heads on the left. We must have own, "You need show no more: I
50 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOYEL

can see here.” It was a relief that My inclination was to explore the
did not lessen the marvel. She cavity to which we had now come,
showed me that the blackness still but whenI attempted to formulate
fell like a curtain over the very arguments in support of this prefer-
mouth of the cavity, where I looked ence, I knew that I could not do so
out into sunlight, but the gloom conclusively. I was in a state of
within was alike to both of us, and nervous exhaustion, and my courage
in the relief of this renewed sank at the thought of struggling
equality we sat down, not very outward through the belt of the re-
prudently, against the wall of the sisting will, only to front the perils
passage, forgetting its potential dan- of the pathless hills, and the jaws of
gers in the pleasure of needed rest, the waiting Frog-mouths. Though to
and in the necessity of reconsidering descend to the Dwellers might mean
our position. destruction, I was in no mood to
"The question is,” I began im- defer it, but rather to cast myself
mediately, "shall we continue the upon their mercy, with a feeling of
plan we made before we knew that indifference as to what the end
this tunnel existed, or shall we do might be. So that when my comrade
better to attempt to descend it?” indicated her willingness to con-
one question, among sev-
"It is verse again, I was quick to ask her
eral,” my
companion answered, opinion first, to which she assented
"but hard to answer. We have

it is with her usual equanimity.
some facts now of which we were
ignorant when we decided two <<TT is evident,” she began, "that
nights ago. If we exchange our A though we know more than
thoughts at once, we shall make con- we diid, we know so little that all
fusion only. Let us think separately decision must be guessing, and each
till we have each resolved what is new fact, we gain it, can only
as
best, and have made our reasons demonstrate how foolish may have
dear Then, should we
to ourselves. been the choice we made before we
differ, and either prove unable to perceived it. Yet, when the roads
convince the other, I will give way branch, a choice must be made.
very willingly." "The Dwellers may have infor-
I assented to this, knowing it to mation by which they know of our
be unlikely that such a difference movements, or they may be search-
would arise or continue, and we ing for us, in ignorance of where
remained silent for a considerable we are; or they may be entirely un-
time, for my own thoughts were aware or indifferent.
chaotic, and I was anxious not to "In the first case, it seems clear
interrupt the exhaustive logic of the that should we return we are add-
mind beside me. ing useless dangers to a sufficient
THE WORLD BELOW 51

peril, for we must face them, first is of the reservation of a peculiar
or last, and we can gain nothing by and sacred place. I cannot tell
wandering upon the surface before which may be best, but my inclina-
we do so; in the second, we may be tion is to go down.”
more likely to avoid them if we de-
scend here, by an entrance which ap- ANSWERED, "So is mine; and
pears urewatched, and where they do I I can add to your reasons two
not know us to be, than if we re- at least which you have not men-
turn to those with which they al- tioned. The one is that while within
ready know us to be familiar; in the tunnel you have lost the dis-
die third case, it may still be to our ability of the blindness which had
advantage to descend at once, rather hindered us in the surrounding
than to wander farther upon the area; the other, which is more seri-
unfriendly surface of an unfamiliar ous (because I suppose that we

world, I can see that there may be could quickly reach the woods
facts which would make folly of where you would presumably see as
these conclusions. We are certainly before) is that, after this delay, it is
distant from where my Leader’s doubtful whether we

could cross
body was left to their mercy. We the hills before the night falls, and
have no reason to suppose, if it had now that my last remnants of cloth-
been preserved at all, that it has ing have left me, my body is ill-
been conveyed below the surface in adapted to meet either storm or
this direction. We have no reason to frost, and I have less fear of the
suppose that we shall be able to more even temperature of the sub-

penetrate under the surface toward terranean places.
the point from which our search "It is true that this passage is not
should commence more easily than like the one which I first penetrated.
we can do above it. We have no cer- Its slope is less. Its current of up-
tainty that there is any connection ward air is less evident. Its floor is
whatever between this passage and less easy to tread. Its roof does not
those of which we knew previously. give the same measure of light. It
Should we descend, and escape cap- may not be frequently used, and it
ture or destruction, it may still be may lack the stores of food and
that a later day will see us emerge water on which I subsisted. But
with time lost, to no end but the ex- beyond this, all is conjecture. It
perience of an abortive adventure. is a choice of risks, and we agree

This is (he more likely because there as to the one to be chosen.”
is no evidence of traffic to or from So we rose, and went down to-
the entrance, but the whole aspect gether.

Chapter Six
THE DOWNWARD PATH
HAVE often speculated as to also. But so much is still mystery,

I what might have happened had so much conjecture, that even that
we decided differently, and had I may not be certainly true.
ilirvived the dangers of the surface As it was, we went on for some
world, and attempted the penetra- time in an eventless silence, the
tion of one of the seaward tunnels. dark green shadowy smoothness of
Knowing what I do now, I suppose the surface on which we trod slop-
that it must have ended fatally for ing gently downward, the glassy
myself, if not for my companion arch above us becoming gloomier
THI WORLD BELOW S3

as we left the daylight. The idea who have already dealt suitably with
oppressed me that we were actually those he seeks. Do not reply.
traversing a wave’s interior cavity. I
think that had been mentally ex-

I «rilHIS is the message, about
hausted by the prolonged effort of -L which I am troubled, I can-
conveying the scene through which not quickly tell what is right to do.
we had passed to my companion’s I conclude that no reply is desired
mind. because there is either fear or cer-
Once or twice I tried to establish tainty that it would be intercepted,
connection with 'her, but her and understood by the Dwellers,

thoughts were closed against me, and might do harm in ways which
and I gained no more than a knowl- I cannot knew, and might not
edge that she was abstracted and therefore avoid. It may be from the
troubled, and indisposed for con- same cause that the message con-
Then we came to a place
versing. tains no mention of the body of my
where we must needs pause and Leader, though that is the object
consult, for the straight path for which I am here. It may be
ceased. The slope ceased. We stood that this trouble is over; even that
on a path that curved for-
level it is returned already. Yet the ob-
ward, right and left, with a blank jection to any reply being sent indi-
wall before us. Either side we might cates less than complete harmony,
turn, and the choice could scarce- and there may be actual hostility
ly be made in silence. between the Dwellers and ourselves.
I questioned my companion with "From these two questions fol-
thought and eyes. It was too dark low.
for me to see hers, but mine may "If there be dissension between
have been visible to her better sight. the Dwellers and ourselves, and
She answered readily. concealment be useless, how can
"Yes, we must choose; but I have I hope to return openly and in
been concerned with a greater ur- safety? Possibly they may have
gency.As we entered the tunnel my agreed that I shall not be hindered,
mind inquired for my own people, if you remain, though there are
with whom I had been disconnected some improbabilities in this suppo-

since the encounter with the Dwell- sition. So far, I have thought of no
ers which we witnessed together, other.
and though I have learnt nothing "The second question, which is
of their -welfare I found that an greatly the more important, is this.
urgent message is being sent out to Am I right to leave you? Never,
me continually —Return at once. from the remotest memory, have I

Further concealment useless. The known such a doubt to rise, nor can
animal must go to the Dwellers, I tell how to resolve it. Always we

have acted together. Our Leaders that you should accept my desertion
have thought for all, and our will without protest ? When you sup-
has been single.” pose that you can release me in such
The news which she gave had a way, you assume a position of
disconcerted me sufficiently for my —
Deity and of a Deity who could
thoughts to be both confused and alter the essentials of what is right
depressed at the first hearing, and and wrong. It is not your willing-
I cannot say to what protest or re- ness that I should go which con-
proach they might otherwise have cerns me — it is the verdict of my
led me, but to this appeal there own mind.”
could be only one answer possible. I answered, "I have no doubt
"If you feel under the obligation that you are right, and that you have
of the promise that we should ex- rebuked me justly. Yet, no less, I
plore the tunnels of the Dwellers should like to feel that you have
together, there is no need for con- decided with a mind untroubled by
cern on that point, for I release you any thought of'consequence to my-
from it. Even if I should not, I self; for the event, whether you stay
think that your first duty must be or go, beyond forecasting. Either
is
to your own and that the

kind, way may the more dangerous for
:be
news which your message gives has me. It beyond knowing. But
is
altered the whole position so radi- for yourself, it seems evident that
cally that no arrangement could be should you stay you will incur a
binding which was made in ig- needless risk of the anger of the
norance of it.” Dwellers, and must be trembled by
the additional fear that you will
HE answered, "You confuse me have disobeyed your Leaders, and
S with vague thoughts. Let us be
silent," and for some minutes she
may have to face the consequences
of their anger, should you escape
closed her mind. the perils of your present enterprise.
Then she continued, "Your It seems to me that your position
thought is generous, and I should would then be worse even than my
be unfair not to recognize it, but it own, and I cannot willingly agree
is born of conditions which are as that you should incur such dangers
alien from ourselves as are the ways to aid me.”
of the Frog-mouths. If I be under "You think,” she answered,
obligation to you to keep an "after your own kind, and sup-
undertaking which may have pose a fear which I could not feel,
already altered your course, and and a contingency which will not
changed the experiences which you occur. If it be evil that there should
must now encounter, how can it af- be discord of thought between me
fect what is right for me to do, and my people, is it reasonable that
THE WORLD BELOW 55

either side should desire to continue Now, ‘as we gazed, »the left-hand
and perhaps increase it, in a vain side of the leftward passage glowed
quarrel concerning what will have with a sudden redness not twenty
happened ? yards away. The light spread, and
"Should I finally return, I shall spread, along the glassy surface of
give my reasons, and, should they the wall, until it had almost reached
be found insufficient or otherwise, us. It rose up till it neared the
the event must be a source of wis- gloom of the distant roof, of which
dom for all of us. But that must the darkness was not pierced but
wait its time. In which direction was changed to a dusky red. The
shall we go?’’ steel-gray floor was stained also
with a faint reflected redness. The
W E LOOKED to right
along corridors that curved
forward on either hand, and which
and left, glowing color showed the
sage before us
view.
till it
lofty pas-
curved out of
were more nearly of the kind that "Come,” she said, "while the
I had first explored than was the light lasts,” and I knew that, with
tunnel behind us, excepting that the decision made, her mind had
they were level-floored, and were recovered all its buoyant serenity.
not lighted in the same way. As we left the light, it was al-
The walls were vertical: the ceil- ready fading, but others showed
ing flat: the flooring was of the ahead, and we went on
an ever- in
material that looked like polished changing darkness, seldom far from
steel, and was soft to the feet, with some luminosity which was suffi-
which I was already familiar. But in cient to guide us on a plain and un-
place of the dove-grey walls, and impeded way.
the faint opalescence of the roof The colors in the walls were
of my first experience, there was an various, not only in their kind, or
intermittent darkness, broken by in their intensity, area, or dura-
moving fires that glowed, as it had an appearance of
tion, but they
seemed, deep within the substance being of varying distance from us,
of the walls, and changed, and so that we would look at the dark
faded, and revived elsewhere. wall, and see the transient motion
It shows how dulled we had be- of some glowing splendor, as it
come to unfamiliar wonder, or how seemed, a mile within it, and then
concentrated our minds had been an interval of darkness and then a
upon the new problem which had burst of light and color, like an
disturbed us, that we had not ob- open rose, that seemed to be scarce-
served these shifting lights when ly covered by the surface of the
first our eyes must have beheld wall that held it.
them. So we went on until, in no great

we came to an open-
space of time, that now we should be turning aside
ing on the left hand, wide and to face a needless difficulty, without
high as the passage in which we knowing that the passage we left
were, and on the same level, but might not be in every way the more
in an absolute blackness. direct to our purpose.
So we went on, and twice again,
W
come
E
to
WERE
plore it,
of one mind to ex-
for the thought
both of us that if we
had
con-
at similar intervals, did
such a passage, and each time we
attempted it for a few paces, and
we come to
tinued to traverse that in which we recoiled from the resistance of the

were, we must return to the point will that met us.
from which we started, should the But the third time we did not ac-
curve continue. My companion, cept defeat as we had done pre-
whose judgment was far more ac- viously. We considered that these
curate than my own
on such points, passages had appeared at similar
was definite that we had completed intervals, and that it was probable
a quarter of the full circle when that this was the last we should
this side-corridor was reached. So meet, the fourth quarter of the curv-
we decided; not doubting that it ing path returning us to the point
would be lighted in the same man- from which we had started. Faced
ner, and foreseeing no obstacle. I by this probability, we rested
have little doubt, from our later awhile, and then, hand in hand,
experiences, that we were right on that my companion's vitality might
the first point, as we were certainly give me the physical strength I
wrong on the second, for we found needed, so that my will should be

at the first step that we were con- free for the nervous conflict before
fronted by the same withstanding us, we went resolutely into the dark
force that had obstructed our pas- mouth of the cavity.
sage of the sleeping wood, but more
instant and urgent in its application, N THE course of a few steps,
so that we did not attempt to hold I taken with difficulty, as though
our ground, but fell back at the our feet dragged in a heavy sand,
same impulse to consult whether we and our limbs and bodies were
should again adventure against it. pressed against a trammelling and
Recalling our previous decision, resisting garment, we found that we
and our successful effort, I was dis- were in an absolute blackness, so
posed to accept the challenge it that we could not see our steps, and
gave us, but my companion differed. it is doubtful, indeed, whether we
She pointed out that it had then should not have retired at once
resisted the straightforward path from so menacing a prospect, had
which we had resolved to take, but not my inferior power of progres-
THE WORLD BELOW 57

sion caused us to bend our course wonder if I should. wait till its
somewhat to the right, on which morning came. The pressure was
side I was, and as we drew nearer more tolerable while we made no
to the wall we discovered that it effort to move directly forward, and
was of a quality which I may best we crossed the interval of blackness
describe as having an interior quite easily, to com-
find, as my
luminosity. It gave no light to the panion had thought, that the oppo-
passage at all, but standing closely site wall held a corresponding won-
to it we could look into it, as into der.
a glass, yet seeing no reflection of But it was not of any strange or

ourselves, but a vision that held us terrible or momentous scene.
absorbed and silent. At first we saw There was a faint light, as of the
a dark pool, or it might be the late evening, or the very early dawn
shadowed space of a river, but it of a winter day, and snow was fall-
showed no current, nor any motion ing thickly. Bare trees showed dim-
of wind. Strange, fronded trees ly, and one ivied trunk was close,
grew beside it. At some distance, as though we might have reached

there was a touch of moonlight on to touch it, and on the dark berries
the water, but it did not waver. We a pair of hawfinches were feeding.
watched for some time, as though They were so real and close that
expecting something to happen, and itseemed strange that no sound
yet I thought it to be nothing more came as they changed footing with
than a picture of some primeval a flutter of wings, or pulled the
creation.Then it seemed that the sprays apart.
dark surface of the water broke,
and a long snout, as of an alligator,
moved into the lighted space,
sank again very quietly. Nothing
and THAT
my own
was all. It
been a scene from a winter of

day, or of millenniums be-
might have
else. We
watched a long time fur- fore or after.
ther, but nothing changed, unless, And while we gazed, we became
perhaps, the light on the water was aware that something with a heavy
slightly fainter. "Is it real?” I won- tread had entered the passage. We
dered. "No, surely,” she thought, thought it (and rightly) to be one
"I suppose it to be a picture of of the Dwellers. The steps passed
things long past. I do not think it us, and went forward. were of We
to be of the earth of this time. Shall one mind to follow.
we look at the other wall?” Returning to the centre of the
I agreed, though I was reluctant tunnel, we were again in darkness,
to withdraw my gaze from that but “the footsteps led us, and we
primeval night, where I might see found that the resistance against
I knew not what of mystery or of which we had fought had ceased to

trouble us while we followed the behind — our feet making no sounds
unseen feet. Realizingthis, we in- on the soft flooring —when our un-
creased our pace to a run, lest the seen guide turned into a chamber
dividing space should widen, so on the right-hand side of the pas-
that we were but ten or fifteen yards sage.
THE WORLD BELOW 59

Chapter Seven
THE LIVING BOOK
W E
a
proportions.
STOOD
room of
It
at the entrance
(to us)
was
enormous
filled
of
with an
such that I did not suffer from
lack of clothing; the air
and exhilarating. The
my
was fresh
arched
equally-diffused light, of which I entrance to the room had no door,
saw no origin. but the light stayed at the threshold.
Neither, when I considered it Standing on the outer side of the
later, could I observe any appliance entrance, we supposed ourselves to
for the regulation of temperature be unobserved in the darkness.
or ventilation. Yet the warmth was The Dweller that we had fol-

lowed was a woman, like the one It was of the color of a boiled
we had last seen, but her coloring lobster, with many bluish-white
was different. The hair on her head appendages hanging from its sur-
was short, curling, and glossy black. face. They were about an inch in
It extended down the spine in the length, and of the shape of a
same way. The body-color varied dachshund’s ear. As it rolled for-
from a dark bluish-black to the ward they spread out like hands,
softest, palest grays. The effect was to balance and control its motion,
beautiful beyond describing. and when it were
rested those that
Her form was as straight and close to the ground would support
graceful as had been that of the it steadily.
other, nor did it give an impression It was evidently alive, but it had
of great size in a room which was no other features that I could ob-
proportioned to it. It was not she serve, and it appeared equally com-
that was large, but we that were fortable whatever part of its sur-
small. Her body was slim and per- face was uppermost.
fect in its proportions, and her face The was relatively higher
table
was flawless, yet where the other than those to which we are accus-
bad given an impression of youth, tomed, and there was no chair or
there was here an atmosphere of other seat in the room.
age incalculable. I cannot say from The Dweller remained standing,
what it came, unless from one thing as though her attention were fixed
only. Her eyes were intolerably upon the red globule before her. I
tired, turned to my companion to convey
my wonder, but she gave me a
A S SHE entered the

had an object about the
of a football perched on her left
room she
size
quick thought that she was trying
to follow what was happening, and
did not wish for distraction, so I
shoulder. There was a table in the looked quietly round the room
center, of a transparent blue sub- while I waited.
stance. It had three legs which The wall on the side on which
joined in a twisted knot, and then we stood, and those to right and
spread out. I noticed that these legs left, were blank of all but color,
moved so that the table adjusted which was blue, of a very delicate-
itself to her as she approached it, ly-beautiful tint, which I had not
but whether this movement was seen previously, evidently designed
sentient or mechanical I could not to harmonize with the coloring of
tell. She extended her left arm to its occupant.
the surface of the table, and the The farther wall was of the
object on her shoulder rolled slow- same nature as those we had
ly down. passed in the passage, having a
THE WORLD BELOW 61

living picture within —
it if living ences, or their suitability might be
itcould be called, which was an lost.
epitome of desolation.
It
at least
showed far
to a far greater
than did those into which
more plainly,
distance,
we had
or
THE articles in the
few. There was a wide shelf at
the center of the left-hand wall, on
room were
looked before. It was a scene of a which were stacked a number of

frozen river, which itself must have flat boards which were probably
been half-a-mile in width, and of pictures, or material for them, for,
an endless solitary frozen plain be- to the right of the table, there was
yond it. The sky was frosty blue an easel, such as would have looked
and cloudless. natural enough, apart from its size,
There were no trees nothing — in a studio of our own day, with

but the silent frozen river, and the a similar board upon it, on which
silent frozen snow. a picture of the frozen desolation
I had a perception that it had was half completed.
lain thus for many centuries, life- There were various smaller ar-
less, windless, and unchanging, ticles ranged beneath the shelf, of
and that it was in some inexplic- which I could not understand the
able way akin to the one who ap- nature or utility.
peared to have selected it to I returned my attention to my

companion her, and that within it companion, to find her ready for
lay the explanation of the weari- conversing. She said, "I cannot
ness in her eyes. learn much, as the thoughts which
But its desolation was less than are passing are not meant for us,
hers, for it must have ended at but it seems that there is something
some time in the earth’s history. here similar to your own device,
Though it might have endured for of which you have told me. I know
millenniums, yet the time had come that you have a method of record-
when the- earth again swung sun- ing ideas and facts by means of
ward, and the warmth found it. marks on retentive substances, so
But for the weariness from which that the knowledge of, them may
she suffered there was no hope at remain, though the brain in which
all. they originated be ended, and that,
Following this impression, it by this means, you have partly
occurred to me as a natural thing overcome one of the defects of your
that, if reflections of the earth’s individual mortality. It seems to
changing past were used as mural me that this method must be sub-
decorations, such scenes and pe- ject to great disadvantages, as it
riods would be preferred as would must be even easier for such as you
show little or very gradual differ- are to make marks which will be
«2 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

false, or the. record of foolish imag- she now apparently finished, and
ination, than to be accurate in fact, then stood for some time gazing
and wise in deduction; and, as you at the half-painted picture, and at
have no authority to distinguish the scene from which it was taken.
between them, your children must Her method of painting was dif-
often be induced to foolishness, or ferent from our own in this par-
misled to disaster. Possibly the con- one part of the picture
ticular, that
fusion may be so great that they was finished, but ended
entirely
from any continuing
are distracted abruptly at a blank which was not
path,and the result is the inconse- touched at all.
quent and abortive activities of After a time, she resumed her
mind and body to which you are work, and the reason of this be-
so largely accustomed. came evident. She painted with a
"However that may be. it ap- long pencil terminating in a small
pears that the Dwellers have de- flat pad, of a surface of two or
vised a somewhat similar method of three square inches, and this she
recording the facts they accumulate, dipped into saucers of various
or the theories which they formu- semi-liquid colors which were ar-
late, such as is more suited to their ranged upon a wide ledge of the
greater longevity, and their supe- easel below the picture. There
rior intelligence. could only have been black and
"This which we one of
see is white and shadows of blue and
their books — a living creature of a gray that were needed, but the
kind, designed to store the thoughts pad was dipped many times, and
that are given to it, and to convey touched lightly with a finely point-
diem at later periods to any in- ed instrument in her left hand, till
quiring mind. She whom we now at last she was satisfied, and it was
see is both the custodian and the pressed upon the surface of the
compiler of these volumes, and I picture, to whichit added a fur-
gather that she is now placing on ther rectangle of finished work.

record the events in which we 'have The picture was then touched
so lately participated.” slightly with another pad, appar-
ently to blend the added portion
W
the room,
HILE I
tion, the
received this explana-
Dweller had crossed
and picked up a metal
perfectly with the earlier work, and
the same process was resumed.
It was slow to watch, but my
article of a brass color, and of the companion was of an unhurried

shape of a figure eight, which she mind, and it is my own disposition
laid flatly on the ground, and with- to go cautiously when in doubt. I
in one of the loops of which she was neither willing to leave this
placed the living ball, with which scene for a further risk of the dark
THE WORLD BELOW 43

passage, nor to face a crisis by re- the impression of her body, which
vealing ourselves in the room, and sank down within it. She
partly
so we and watched in the outer
sat lay face forward, her head turned
darkness. It was not a very long from us, arms
her extended
vigil, for the artist appeared to straightly above her head. Lying
weary, laid down her tools, hesi- so, she stretched for half the length
tated, walked toward the scene of the room. There was no sound
which she had been painting, stood of breathing, and we could not tell
gazing at it for some time in si- whether she slept, but after watch-
lence, and then lay down beneath ing for some time longer we were
it, where it appeared that the floor of one mind to adventure a further
rose in a smooth curve, a few feet investigation.
above the surrounding level. Very quietly we entered the room
This surface gave "way gently to together.
<4 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEll

Chapter Eight
THE TREATY
T WAS with a common impulse mind. It. rebuffed any attempt to

I of curiosity that we first went' explain our own presence, or what
towards ‘the living book which was we being evidently unable,
were,
resting motionless within the metal or forbidden, to accept information
circle.It had no distinguishable except from the official librarian,
features, and I cannot tell how it but as we were more anxious to
became aware of our existence, but obtain information than to impart
it was its function to respond to it, we had no objection to this, and,
the approach of any inquiring as we found it a cause of confu-
THE WORLD BELOW 65

sion to question it together, my of electricity, and of a current suffi-
companion generously gave the cient to overcome a much larger
preference to my own curiosities, creature than that which it now
and composed her mind to receive imprisoned.
the replies which
it should give me. "Are you impervious to elec-
was led to ask, as I per-
W
tricity?’’ I
E learnt that it was the last ceived her indifference to this new
volume of the official His- danger.
tory of the Dwellers, its record ex- "No,” she replied, "of course
tending back for about two hun- not. How could we live without it?
dred years, and it would have been But we can naturally control the
quite willing to begin at chapter quantity which we receive. Other-
one of that period, and go on for wise our bodies would be continu-
a week, had we been willing for it ally exposed to the risk of a sudden
to do so. When it understood that destruction. Are you so liable?”
it was required to select specific in- I said that I was certainly not
formation in response to my ques- immune from such danger, and it
tions, it assented, rather sulkily, added a new peril to our investiga-
though I soon realized that its tions if the Dwellers were accus-
function was limited to supplying tomed to use it or other forces of
the actual information which it unknown potentialities, in such a
possessed. It was unable to give manner. She agreed, but assured
any explanation or comment be- me that she could give warning
yond anything which it had re- very easily, now that she knew of
ceived with the facts. To any this additional infirmity of my
question which went outside its pe- body, as she could always tell the
riod, or beyond its province, it re- quantity and direction of any elec-
turned no answer. Even of the way tric force which might be in her
to the library from which had it neighborhood.
come it had no knowledge, though I was puzzled to think that the
it wished to be returned to its ac- Dwellers should expose so valuable

customed shelf. It knew, however, a record to the risk of destruction
that it must not venture to cross as a penalty for its own disobe-
the metal circle which now con- dience, and this made me somewhat
fined it, under penalty of a swift scepticalof the accuracy of my
destruction. companion’s explanation, but I
My companion perceived the learnt afterwards that the effect
reason for this, as she was aware, would merely have been that a new
without touching it, that the metal volume would have been com-
was heavily charged with some menced. These creatures are only
petrifying force having the vigor kept alive until they have received
U GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

as much information as they are Even of the place or nature of the
capable of retaining, and are then Bureau it mentioned the living book
slaughtered. The information which was entirely ignorant.
they contain being permanently Little as it was, it was sufficient
available, as that of a gramo-
is to suggest that I should be very
phone record,and the minds that foolish to place myself in the hands
hold it being more surely and easily of the Dwellers, unless I were com-
stored when they are dead, than in pelled to do so. I realized, as I had
a living state. not done previously, that my posi-
tion was that to which, in my own
H
at
AVING
our disposal,
realized the character
and limitations of the record
I asked first con-
time, the human race had reduced
all the other living creatures on the
earth’s surface, and that the Dwell-

cerning the safety of the two ers, however justly they might act
friends whom I had come to seek. to each other, would probably con-
I had to repeat the question in sider it an absolute duty to put me
many forms before obtaining any to death or torture if they could
response, but I finally obtained this gain any knowledge, obtain any ad-
information,which was obviously vantage to themselves, or even avert
the only record which had been some trivial inconvenience, by so
made, and the extent of the help many men, and nearly
doing, as all
which was here available. women, would subject a mouse to

a violent or lingering death for
Two Primitives of the False -Skin no greater reason than that it had
Age were captured by the 42nd annoyed them by a sound in the
Coast Patrol. One was of a venom- night.
ous kind. They were received by
the Bureau of Prehistoric Zoology.
The body
suffering
of one was found to be
from microbic disease be-
H AVING
obtain
realized that I could
no further information
on the subject of my own search,
yond sterilization, and was scrapped I —
remembered none too soon
by the Vivisection Department. that my companion must be equally
The other was transferred to the urgent to learn of the one for
Experimental Section, after the whom she was seeking, and of the
usual method. events which had occasioned the
recall which had reached her, and
That was all. The fate of one I inquired accordingly, and re-
of those who had preceded me was ceived this answer:
sufficiently indicated, and that of
the other was, at the best, enig- Article 5. In consideration of
matic; but I could learn no more. the foregoing, the body of the
THE WORLD BELOW 67

Amphibian will be delivered at the other minds, such as is commonly
F/sbgates, at once ,
and uninjured. experienced in the exercise of the
The one who is seeking it will be ordinary functions of the human
allowed, and, if needful, assisted body.
to return in safety, provided that The treaty (omitting the fifth
such return be made before the clause already given) was this:
third sunset, and that she shall not
have entered the Sacred Places. The Article 1 The Leaders of the
.
Primitive shall remain. He shall be Amphibians pledge themselves and

treated with such kindness as cir- their nation, without reservation or
cumstances admit, and, if healthy exception, that they will not hence-
and quiet shall be transferred to
,
forivard, or any of them, invade
an appropriate Reservation. But if the continent of the Dwellers,
he be in any way diseased he may either above, at, or under the sea-
be dealt with according to the na- level, unless or except as may be
ture of his infirmity, and as the mutually agreed hereafter.
protection of the community may Article 2. The Leaders of the
require. Otherwise, unless he be Amphibians shall appoint two of
violent or intractable, he shall not their number, and the Dwellers
be slaughtered, either for food or shall appoint two of their number,
for any other purpose, except in to conferand agree upon the times
the ordinary course, and at such at and the conditions if any on
period as is usual. which the Amphibians or any of
them may enter or remain upon
1
was information
Certainly there the surface of the territory of the
here, and warning, and some mys- Dwellers, or any part thereof.
tery also.Our thought was single Article 3. The Amphibians
that this must be the purport of pledge themselves that they will
an agreement that must have been not give any aid, assistance, or in-
made between the Amphibians and formation, active or passive, to the
the Dwellers since the commence- Antipodeans, or hold any com-
ment of our expedition, and we munications with them, except, if
were alike in desiring to learn the at all, at the desire of the Dwellers,
other clauses of the treaty, before and to obtain information on their
we considered our course of action. behalf.
These were very promptly given, Article 4. The Amphibians will
forI believe that these living books forthwith institute and, maintain a
were so constituted that they de- complete of observation
service
rived a positive physical pleasure upon the coast of the Antipodeans,
from such thought-transference as and upon all aerial movements
would convey their contents to above or from their coasts, with

such of communication as
relays ually and physically qualified to do.
shall convey all such information Article 8. The Amphibians are
to the Dwellers at the least possible entitled to communicate with the
intervals of time after the observa- member of their nation who is now
tion of such movements. on the territory of the Dwellers
Article 5. (Already given). for the purpose of recalling her,
Article 6. Should the Amphib- but not otherwise, nor shall they
ian who is now landed have in- invite or receive any communication
vaded, or invade, the Sacred Places, from her while she remain upon
or should she remain hidden in the any part of that territory or within
land until after ^ the time of the it, nor with the Primitive who was
third sunset, or should she neglect her companion.

or refuse to return by or before the Article 9. This treaty is made
time stated, then the Dwellers shall in honor, verity, and goodwill,
be free to deal with her as may ap- without guile and without duress,
pear just to them, or as their safety each nation contracting freely„ and
or interests may and the
require, on its own territory, that which is
Amphibians shall none the less past being ‘'forgotten as though it
carry out the first four Articles of had not been; by the six acting
this treaty, as though she should Leaders of the Amphibians, and,
have returned safely. on behalf of the Dwellers, by the
Article 7. In the event of the High Council of Five, and by the
successful resuscitation of the body device of the Aged Ones, all equal-
of the Amphibian Leader and of ly, severally, and unanimously as-

her assent to this clause, and pro- senting thereto, in the Audience of
vided that the Amphibian now on Space, and in the Light of the
the territory of the Dwellers shall Perpetual Stars.
have returned in safety whether
within the' period stated in Article
5, or later by the clemency of the
Dwellers, then, and in these events,
the Leaders of the Amphibians
HAD I been alone I might have
delighted the source of this
information by requiring its repeti-
severally and on behalf of their tion several times, for it contained
nation and of every member there- much which required exactness of
of, do pledge themselves actively memory for its consideration, and
to assist the Dwellers against the it suffered from the defect of all
Antipodeans, in the hostilities now treaties since the world began, that
impending, to the full extent of the effort to avoid possibilities of
their national and individual capaci- ambiguity or evasion results in an
ties, according to their natures, and added obscurity, so that they are
by such means as they are spirit- much more vulnerable to miscon-
THS WORLD BELOW 69

struction, as they are more diffi- an earlier age, as something to be
cult to readily comprehend, than killed and eaten. In some parts of
are simpler and more straightfor- my own world there are savages so
ward documents. But my compan- degraded in type that they will eat
ion intimated at once that she the decrepit members of their own
could recall itand she
as required, race, or strangers who wander into
proposed that we should retire into their territory, but they are regard-
the comparative security of the ed as the lowest specimens of their
darkness while we considered it to- kind.
gether. "In the experience of my own
This we opened my
did, and I time it is not usual to find excep-
mind man-
to her at once in this tional brutality such as this to be
ner, "There is much in what we allied with any high level of in-
have heard which must be clearer telligence,and it occurs to my mind
to you than it is to me, but it is that the Dwellers have not shown
evident that some larger issue of any conspicuous ability in discover-
impending warfare has assisted ing our movements, and that when
your nation to adjust their differ- I was actually captured by one of
ences with the Dwellers, and that them, I escaped very easily.
you have no further need for con- "So far am I from deciding to
cealment, or cause to continue our- place myself in their power that I
enterprise. On the contrary, your am resolved to outwit them. I sup-
safety lies in a prompt and open pose from what we have heard that
return to your own people. one of my friends has already be-
"But my position is different. come a victim of their cruelty. The
Your people have abandoned me other I am resolved to rescue, if he
to the Dwellers, and it appears be still After that, I hope
living.
that, if I fall into their hands, I to find some means of concealment
shall lose my liberty at the least, and sustenance on the surface, to
and be exposed to death, or even which I shall return, until the time
torture, or the foulest outrage, as come when I shall be able to rejoin
caprice, or self-interest, or curiosity the civilization that you deride, but
may suggest. which offers a peace and security
"For though you appear to re- which I am never likely to find
gard the Dwellers as of superior among the barbarous cruelties
mentality to myself, they do not which you esteem so lightly.’’
demonstrate this by brutalities, such

as
to
it
my
appears may have been
friends already, and which
can only regard a being whom they
fatal
M Y COMPANION
mind from me when
finished, but only for a short time,
closed her
I had
know to have reached them from and then answered quietly. "I think

I understand something of the feel- by anger or fear, or, perhaps, by
ing from which your thoughts had other feelings, for I can see that
their origin, and at the injustice the thought that we were about to
to myself and to my nation which part was among the disturbances
you have implied Iam not angered that suspended your capacity to
our minds
at all, but I think that think to any useful purpose.
have never been so far apart since "First, it is by no means clear
first I met you. that I can return in safety, or at all.
“There was not a single thought How do you know that I have not
which you showed me which was invaded the Sacred Places, or even
not either false or foolish, and it that we are not now within them?
is easy to believe that you come of I think we may be.
a species which devour each other, “Second,there would, in any
though there are few created thing case,be no occasion for us to part
so base as to do this, in all the seas immediately, should we remain un-
that I have known until I came in discovered. The third sunset is still
contact with you.” distant.

"Third, my
people have done
WAS startled by the unexpected- nothing to cause you to fall into
I ness of this rebuke, the justice the hands of the Dwellers, which
of which
I did not realize, but you are still free to avoid if you
my mind was cooled by contact are able. They have been careful
with one which declined to rise to to make a treaty which gives you
its temperature, and I replied in a a measure of protection which you
somewhat different mood, "I should could not otherwise have secured
be sorry to be unfair to your na- should you be captured. have We
tion, and especially to yourself, explained already that you could
from whom I have had nothing but not come with us, being physically
a loyal comradeship which I have unfit to endure existence in the only
done little to merit. I know that territory we control, or in the waters
my mind was troubled and indig- to which we are native, were we
nant, though it seems to me
still willing to have you, and were we
that I had cause for such feelings. able to remove you from the place
But if you think differently, can that you have chosen to enter.
you not show me in what I have "Fourth, you are unjust to the
deserved your censure?” Dwellers, and forgetful of things
"Yes,” she replied, “I think I which you have told me of your
can do that very easily, but it is own kind.
the more interesting to me to ob- “You have told me that your
serve how entirely the use of your own race will destroy other crea-
reason ceases when you are moved tures without shame, not only for
THE WORLD BELOW 71

—
their own food, or safety (in which to understand by what arguments
you would not yourself say that this asserted superiority could be
they are wrong), but merely for maintained.
the pleasure which they derive "Is it by your power to cause
from inflicting misery upon those the deaths of others? Then a dis-
who have done them no injury, or ease-germ (as you have yourself
for the gratification of curiosity, or admitted) may be greater than you.
in the hope of some material ad- "Is it by conduct? But you have
vantage resulting to themselves or shown me that you work violence,
their fellows. fraud, and cruelty among your-
"More than this, with an unnat- selves, and against the creatures
ural baseness, they will even accept around you.
service from, or make such profes- "Is it by wisdom? Have you dis-
sions of friendship as will gain the covered a way of life which is more
confidence of, other creatures, safe, more leisured, more healthy,
which they will not then hesitate more in harmony with your sur-
to betray and murder, as caprice rounding conditions, than that of
or self-interest may incline them. the creatures which you despise and
You have told me that you habit- destroy? Are their conditions more
ually destroy creatures whose affec- abject than are those of the dis-
tion and you have gained,
loyalty ordered and disastrous lives of
when they become old and infirm, which you have told me, where
or are injured by accident, readily you crowd together in disease and
persuading yourselves that you do dirt, inexplicably separated from
these things out of kindness, al- the land which supplies you with
though you do not desire that you the food which your bodies need
should be dealt with in a similar so continually?
manner when your own body shall "As are the vermin which you
show evidence that its vigor is de- trap and kill without mercy, so, and
creasing. less than so, and rightly less than
so, must you be to the Dwellers.
< *~\7’OU have shown you justify "You are not of their world.
-I. these things in your own You came unasked. You may bring
minds by arguing that you are of strange disease. You may produce
such superior nature that the wel- discord in a thousand ways. Your
fare, or existence, of all other crea- mind is indignant and hostile,
tures is of comparative triviality. merely at the assurance that they
"But even though such conduct will deal with you in patient jus-
could be condoned by a demonstra- tice, after inquiry has been held
tion of superiority, or would be or, it may be, at the worst, with
consistent therewith, it is difficult that expediency which is the basis

of the civilization from which you them in the most menial ways.
come.” They are fed with regularity, and
without their own exertion; they
ANSWERED quickly, for my are protected from inclement
I mind responded to hers with weather. We may even risk our
more thoughts than I could easily own lives to guard them from the
control for transference, "I see that murderous attacks of other beasts
you have judged more reasonably of prey. Finally, they probably die
than I was able to do. My mind with less pain, and with far less
was moved by fear, under which of fear and foreboding, than will
influence its reactions are instinc- be the lot of those who minister
tive rather than There
rational. is to,and then destroy them.
much in your thoughts which is is true that we do these things
"It
true, as it reflects upon my own for our own ends, and they owe us
kind, and there is much also that no gratitude, but it is also true that,
might be urged in defence or ex- apart from these things, they would
tenuation of conduct which appears not exist at all, nor is it true that
to you so monstrous. But there are we are regardless of their well-be-
questions of practical urgency also ing nor indifferent to their suffer-
which must be and the occa-faced, ing. Some may be, but many are
sion isone for explanation
scarcely not.
or argument concerning abstract or "I am
not sure but that the
distant things. heavier indictment against us may
"Yet one thing I should like to we give them death at
be, not that
show you. You may reflect adverse- which comes to all, but that
last,
ly upon our treatment of living we deny them life while living. It

creatures of other kinds than our is an inevitable result of their pro-
own, and your thought may not be tected lives, that they have degener-
far from mine, but were you one ated in intelligence and character,
of ourselves, you would be faced and compare very poorly with those
by issues which are not simple to of their kind that have retained
decide, and by conditions which theirfreedom in remoter places.
are not easy to alter. "Further, it appears evident that,
"It is true, for the most part, with rare and doubtful exceptions,
of the domestic animals that we they have no understanding or pre-
eat, that we work for them all their monition of death, and are in this
Jives in a willing servitude, which respect happier than ourselves.
is the price we pay for the right to "You have asked why we should
kill them at last. We build their consider that we are greater than
houses; we prepare their food; we the other creatures around us. I
heal their diseases; we wait upon agree that a superior capacity for
THE WORLD BELOW 73

successful violence is a poor argu- them, and of the methods we use,
ment in support of such a claim, isa natural consequence.
nor should I urge it. Nor should "I am not sure that this thought
I urge that our conduct of life is does not bring us nearer to under-
superior, for there is a barrier di- standing the difference between my
viding their mentalities from ours kind and other animals than would
that no man has been able to cross, any of the three tests you proposed.
and I should confuse assumption All animals have an inherited fear
with evidence: nor can I, for the of pain or damage to their bodies,
same reason, and for others also, and this leads them to such actions
claim thatwe are of greater wis- or reactions as will conserve their
dom than they. Greater knowledge lives, but it is a curious thought
we may have, but it is of the race that, since the hidden beginning of
rather than the individual, and it created things, no one can have had
would be a poor ground for such a any inherited experience of death,
claim, at the best. of which we know by observation
"If I should seek to support such only. Our parents were alive at our
a plea, I would rather urge the conceptions and births, as were all
difficulty of the conditions against their ancestors before them, and

which we contend, than the extent our direct inherited experience
to which we triumph. could be no different were they all
"Our ancestors broke from their alive and immortal. But the ac-
environment, and may have shown cumulated observations and records
a doubtful wisdom in so doing. But of the race familiarize us with the
having so broken, we are confront- nature of death — at least in its
ed with difficulties from which the physical 'consequences and teach —

restof the creation is free. If our us from our earliest
its inevitability,
conduct be worse, our circumstances years. In his eyes foreknowledge of

are more treacherous. death, that is the burden, and per-
haps the glory, of our kind; and
** T)UT there is another differ- that which may divide us furthest
ence. Most creatures, though from those who have been content
we may not prematurely destroy to obey the laws of their creation.
them, are even shorter-lived than It is a curious fact that such ani-
we. They lack the assistance of our mals as we may allow to associate
inventions for recording knowledge, with us in any intimacy must share
and, to some extent, handing it to some extent this difference, be
down to our children. So far as we it height or depth, which divides
can judge, they have no substitute us from the rest of our creation. A
for these, and their individual ig- lion cannot sin: but a dog can.
norance of our purpose to destroy
"
—Butperhaps I weary you with

details which are beyond your in- pink. All men whose skins are of
terest?” thiskind believe it to be an evi-
dence of every kind of superiority
HE answered, "No, for I would —and how the darker cannibals
S gladly know more of these may treat their domestic animals it
things, were there time for the is somewhat unfortunate that I do

learning, though we must leave not know.”
them now. For it seems that the Her mind replied with a sudden
more our thoughts exchange, the ripple of
merriment. "I suppose
more nearly do our minds approach you But let us turn from these
jest.
to a common point. It may be that things, and consider what next we

we both see truly, though the same shall do, and how quickly. For time
things may appear different. Look- is short before I must take decision
ing from a distant point, I see the as to whether I shall return within
outlines of your existence as you the limit fixed. Yet much may be
cannot easily do. Knowing it more done, if we are fortunate, in the
closely,you are aware of dangers space remaining; and, as you said
and fertilities which I overlook, in your anger, the Dwellers are
seeing only the contours of the not quick to discover us. Yet I
mountain peaks, and of the depths think you err when you make light
which divide them. of our peril. Are there no vermin
"But there is one thought in in your own buildings, which you
which you may take some comfort. might disregard for more urgent
You have told me that your kind, matters, butwhich you would de-
or some of them, will eat their stroy very easily at the allotted
fellow-men when occasion offers. time, or should occasion arise to do
The Dwellers are, at the worst, so so?”
entirely incapable of such conduct, I said, "Yes, there are; yet some
that you may reasonably hope that of them have found craft by which
there will be a similar measure of they continue, and so must we also.
difference between your own treat- But, first, cannot wer
learn some-
ment of your domestic animals, and thing more from this book which
that which you will receive from we have borrowed so easily? For
them, should you be captured or myself, I am determined to seek my
surrender to them.” friend, till I know of his death,
I replied, "I should be glad to or have found him. He may be
think so; but the fact is that the near us now, or he may be a thou-
practice I mentioned is almost en- sand miles away, or in depths be-
tirely confined to men with darker yond our imaginations. What can
skins than mine. I have, as you we tell, with so little to guide our
observe, a light skin, tinged with guessing? And for you, if we can
THE WORLD BELOW 75

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discover whether we have yet in- ly as possible intothe lighted room,
truded into one of the Sacred Places I do not think was really
that this
to which the treaty alludes, it may necessary, but gave us a sense of
it
make a vital difference to the action secrecy to interrogate the red globe
which you should take for your own from the shorter distance, and ap-
security.” peared to reduce the risk that our
She answered, "Let us try,” and thoughts would disturb the mind
we rose, and moved again as quiet- of the sleeper.
7* GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

Chapter Nine
THE FLAME OF LIFE
F )R a long time we asked ques-

tions to which we could obtain
no answer, or not such as conveyed
geography. Neither was
volume.
Its
it
records evidently assumed a

a first
any meaning to us. mass of knowledge which we did

We tried to learn the extent and not possess.
depth of the domain of the Dwell- We made progress of a kind
ers,and the location of the Reserva- when it occurred to me that it
tions in which my friend might be would give us some indication of

confined. But the book was not a the probable extent of die subter-
THE WORLD BELOW 77

ranean world if we could learn its they live, and how many are their
population. deaths (for as they are born, I sup-
"How many are there of the pose that they may die also), we
nation of the Dwellers?’’ I queried. can then judge how numerous they
There was no answer, may be, but from their births only
"How many were there last we cannot.”
year?” This we tried, but only to be
No answer came. met again with silence, or with
"Have you any records of popu- baffling answers.
lation?" By persistence and variety in the
It seemed as though there were form of queries we obtained allu-
a mental impulse of hesitation, but sion to "those of the Great Leth-
still no answer came. argy,” and to "The Desire of the
"How many children were born Darkness,” but nothing more defi-
last year?” it occurred to me to nite. In a final desperation I tried
ask. to obtain information by means of
The answer was immediate. It inquiry as to their customs of mar-
was reported to the Council of riage, and at last obtained abstracts
Five that three boys had been born from the report of a very lengthy
in the Great Nursery, and one in trial or debate, which threw a
the Place of Renunciation. sombre and uncertain light upon
"And how many girls?” I re- the information which we bad ob-
plied, in a natural supposition that tained already.
this information was incomplete,
but there was no answer.
I then went back, querying from
year to year, getting for each year
M
First,
AINLY,
of
it
argument
consisted of a duel
who was evidently male, and

between The
a similar answer but with a total whom we supposed to be the

that increased as the years receded, head of the Council of Five and —
and with a record of male births the Elected One, who was a
only, till, at ten years’ distance, the woman.
reply came It was evident from the moods
It was reported to the Council of both that the matter with which
of Five that eight boys had been they dealt was of a tragic and over-
born in the Great Nursery, and whelming importance, though there
twenty-four boys and one girl in could hardly have been a greater
the Place of Twilight. contrast than was shown in the
would have asked further, but
I styles of their controversy.
my companion interposed with The thoughts of The First were
reason. ”1 think that we are learn- slow, deliberate, weighty, solemn,
ing little. If it can tell how long yet with an extremity of urging

which almost amounted to suppli- shall cross the Blue Darkness, nor
cation. Those of the Elected One enter into the Place of Twilight.
were swift, insistent, passionate, We will not appear at the Feasts of
crowding thought on thought, in the Inner Moon, nor Mimes
at the
protest, defiance, and vindication. of the Recollections. we
Should
They were impatient with the in- rejoice in our seats on the Upper
tolerance of youth, and bold with Slopes, knowing that we had
the arrogant assurance of immortal- doomed our daughters to be less
ity. than we?”
It appeared that the First One
put forward a
for the
new method of life
women of their kind, or
for their descendants, pleading that
THE First One answered
the same deliberation as before,
but with a cold one de-
finality, as
with
its adoption was essential to the livering a judgment from which

continuance of the race of the no appeal could be made. "For
Dwellers. six months’ time, unless you sooner
But with a fierce scorn she re- there no man will come
pelled it
— "Do you think that
yield,
near you.
is
If you are rebellious

women will consent to be as un- longer, we shall use such force as
colored and alike as men? Or that may be needed that our wills may
they will conceal themselves in dead conquer, and thereafter there will
hangings, as in some savage in- be nothing of the Place of Twi-
fancy of the world?” light, nor of the Blue Darkness,
He answered slowly, "It is only nor of the Place of Preparation.
this, thatyou will be alone if you "If your seats be in the Upper
will not. If you will not that your Slopes at the time of the Great As-
daughters do these things to save sembly, are not these seats made by
our race from extinction, then you the hands of men ?
will be alone in your own places. "Are they not known as the
No man will come to you. It is al- Given Places?
ready resolved that all shall take "That which we give we can
this vow, if you refuse to aid us.” take.
The reply came with a swift de- "If there be any wisdom among
rision. "And would they keep it for you, all these things may continue;
a score of sunsets? Is there a man but for your daughters is a differ-
in the Lower Places that would not ent way.”
come if I should call him? But it His thought smote the mind de-
is the thing which we have resolved cisively, as a doom relentless and
also. It is no threat to us. Till we unescapable, but it did not daunt
have the girl, there isno man shall the courage nor abase the mockery
come near us. There is no man of the thought that met it. "You
THE WORLD BELOW 79

threaten that which is beyond your She stood forward from a group
power, nor do we fear, nor believe of women, vital as herself, multi-
you. In six months’ time you will colored in their nudity. But she
not waste the Blue Darkness nor stood out from them like a living
the Place of Twilight, for if we do flame, the ruddy orange of her hair
not have the girl by the next new continuing in a lengthened ridge
moon, we will ourselves destroy along the spine, dividing the fire-
them. Tell your young men that. hued back that softened forward
Tell them that we shall uproot the to a paler gold.
Wilderness and the Five Ap-
proaches.
will
threaten;
they
You may
refrain?
but will they act?
counsel;
You
but
may THERE lips, for
was no Speech from her
their
out too swiftly for words, but they
thoughts leapt
"You are old and weary of life, were parted in mocker}', and her
but we have learnt by your failure. eyes were alight with defiance, as
But we will not resign our cus- The First leaned forward from his
toms either in the Choosing of high throned seat, and threw out
Males, or in the Rites of the Prep- sudden hands of pleading as he
arations. Shall our daughters be increased the intensity of the
less than we? Or shall we degrade thought with which he assailed
ourselves that others may come after her.
us? We are ourselves the race, and "You boast that you will not die,
it is in ourselves that it shall con- as we have boasted before you.
tinue.” You boast that you will not tire.
At this point, as a book may be Are there no women in the Place
illustrated, so the thought changed of Forgetting? Are there not those
to picture, and we had a moment’s among them that are as vigorous
sight of the protagonists as they as yourself, and with a beauty that
had appeared as these thoughts may last for millenniums? Yet love
were contended. cannot allure them. If those that
They were in a lighted space in have been dearest approach, they
a hall of vast and shadowy gloom, regard them with indifferent eyes.
so that even their giant forms were We show them birth, and they are
dwarfed by its proportions. They not awakened.
were in the midst of a great as- They see death, and have no care
sembly, through and over which to avoid it.
there was a diffused light, coming "Look at myself!” he rose up —

from no visible source, so that the from the throne, and stood erect,
gloom deepened on every side to- strong, active, as though he were
wards the vaulted roof, and the an ivory statue of perpetual youth
invisible distance of the walls. — "is there one of the young men

who seek the Place of Twilight and so in turn shall the two that
”
who is more strong or more grace- are younger
ful ? —One whom could not over-
I
come with my hands in the Place T WAS at this point that my

of Trials? Will it not still be so I comrade interrupted, not impa-
for a millennium of the years to tiently, but with a quick suggestion
be —And for another —and an- that the discussion to which we
other? were attending was of no immedi-
"And yet l know. I have heard ate assistance, and when I assented
the call that will grow louder. I somewhat reluctantly for I had —
have felt the desire of the Silence been more interested than she in
— and it will grow, though today the situation which was revealed
it be powerless. It will conquer, —
by the disputation she went on
though today it be impotent. to suggest that the book we were
"As you boast today, have we consulting so industriously was not
not boasted before you? likely to contain anything of a
"We thinks to last in the Per- greater value.
petual Places, but the night will She added, "I think that we are
find us, even as on the rain-
it falls not merely wasting time, but in-
drenched roof of the world, where curring a needless peril. I think
our ancestors once crouched and that there is little doubt that we
shivered. have penetrated into the Sacred
"We have conquered cold. We Places where the Dwellers did not
have defeated darkness. We have wish us to enter, and it may be
tamed heat till it licks our feet like that we have already encountered
a fawning dog. We have resisted the reason for this reluctance. It is
corruption. But there is a night of not likely that they would wish this
the soul that falls across the pro- information as to the condition of
cession of unending years, against their nation to be known, even to
which, one by one, we fight a their friends, and still less that
battle> that is always lost. there should be any possibility that
". . . And every year our race itmight be carried farther to those
declines, and our women-children who are at enmity with them. There
are fewer. may be other things which might
"Therefore, each for each, shall be learnt which would be still
you take the Males of our choos- more to their detriment. It might
ing, forgetting the Caprice of be fatal to both of us should we
Choice, and the Seven Grounds of be discovered in this occupation,
Rejection. Therefore shall the girl while we have little hope of any
go not to the Place of Preparation, resulting gain, for it is not the his-
but to the toil of the fish-tanks, tory of past days which we need
THE WORLD BELOW 81

to know, but rather the place where come either from the surface world/
your friend is confined, the means or from one of the other passages
of secret approach, the method by that we had passed. The latter was
which he may be freed, and the the more probable supposition. But
safest road of escape to the outer which passage should we prefer?
world when we have released him.” And how far should we explore it
I answered, "You are right, as before turning back and attempting

you usually are. But we have a the other?
proverb that we may as well be
hanged for a sheep as a lamb,
which appears applicable to our
present circumstances. If our move-
THE search
even should
for such a library,
it exist, might be
as difficult as for the ultimate des-
ments and occupation be within tination at which we were aiming.
the knowledge of the Dwellers, our I saw also that time had become
prospect of escape is already too of greater importance to my com-
small to be interesting. If they panion than to myself. I had still
have no knowledge, as yet, of the best part of the year before me.
where we are, I suggest that we She had days only, if she were to
may do well to discover the library return within the limit fixed by the
from which this volume had ap- treaty. To both of us it might be
parently been taken, where there of the greatest moment to escape
may be other books of a more di- unseen from the Sacred Places, if
rect utility.” these were really they. For myself,

My companion assented, though there was the consideration that,
doubtfully. "It is an added risk, for should she return within the allot-
an uncertain gain; yet it is true that ted period, I should be left with-
if we turn back now, we have very out the aid of her counsel, or the
little to set against the certain peril support of her vitality.
which we have incurred by pene- It was under the influence of
trating into these secret places. Nor these thoughts that I suggested,
have we any guidance to direct our "Suppose we wait here for a time,
search in subterranean ways, the watching from the farther side of
extent of which may be greater the passage. It may be that she will
even than we have previously an- wake, and herself return the book
ticipated —and even the search for to the library, and we would fol-
the library which we suppose to low unseen. Otherwise, we might
exist does not appear to be a very follow her in any other direction
simple enterprise.” which she might take, which would
I knew that. The librarian, if be as likely to bring us to some
such she were, had followed us definite issue, as wandering blind-
down the passage, and must have ly in the darkness of these passages

—and we know how much easier is sense of a hazard won with which
the walking when she goes before I rejoined my companion in the
us. But if she should sleep beyond outer darkness.
our patience we will search our- For (have I not said already?)
selves without further waiting.” the darkness in the passage was
My companion answered, still absolute. Even immediately in front
doubtfully, "I don’t think it likely of the open doorway, the darkness
that she brought the book simply fell like a curtain.
to return it, for why then should Here arises an issue on which I
she not have given it the informa- am in two minds continually. In
tion where it was, without bringing this strange world we were con-
it here at all? But it may be so. stantly surrounded by phenomena
It shall be as you will.” which were not explicable by any
knowledge I possessed, nor consis-
BEFORE vigil, I
into the lighted room,

we commenced our
made a further venture
for I had
tent with any previous experiences.
So was it here. I was accustomed
to light that invaded darkness and
seen that both water and food (the gradually died
its source was
as
breadlike cake which I had found was light which
distanced, but here
when first I ventured below the was sharply defined in its area
Surface) were among the articles which ended evenly and abruptly.
that stood against the left-hand To explain this is necessary for my
wall, and the chance was too good narrative. But that necessity is in-
to lose. cidental. We were surrounded by
I have wondered since, in the phenomena which were equally
light of these experiences, how far new, but which were entirely irrele-
the furtive lives of those creatures vant. Sometimes I was able to
who exist behind the skirting- imagine an explanation: sometimes
boards of our houses are to be not. Sometimes the cause became
either pitied or envied. I fed, as clear subsequently, Or was told to
mouse feeds, venturing audaciously me. I should like to tell of all these
for bedside crumbs while a light things, but I have a tale to tell also.
Still and the fear, real
burns, I am of one mind to turn aside,
enough, and with sufficient cause, and of another mind to go forward.

which came as I watched the huge But I see that if I would reach the
form that might rise at any mo- conclusion at which I aim, I must
ment and chase me with a mon- restrain my desire to wander.
strous hand
outstretched, must be We sat for some time in the
off-set by the satisfaction that the darkness against the opposite wall
meal gave to the alertness of my watching the form of the Dweller,
physical being, and to the joyous who did not move, and was still
THE WORLD BELOW 83

apparently sleeping. There was no on which my companion suggested
means of judging the passage of that I should use die time in sleep,
time, but it was long since I had which I required at shorter inter-
slept, and after the meal I had to vals than herself, while she would
confess to an increasing drowsiness, watch for us both.
84 •ALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

Chapter Ten
VISIONS
DO not know how long I slept, Rising with this purpose, our
I but suppose it to have been for eyes were first attracted to the wall
many hours. I waked to find that 'behind us in which was depicted
nothing had changed. Invigorated one of those living scenes with
by rest, I was quite willing to agree which we had already become
that we
should wait no longer, but familiar.
proceed at once upon our own in- Strange and wonderful as they
vestigations of this overbearing en- then seemed, I have since realized
vironment. that there were many simpler-seem-
THE WORLD BELOW 85

ing things around me which are less should wish to know what would
easily explicable. happen next month you must watch
Knowing, as we do, that light or return at that interval, to observe
travels through space, bearing the it.
vision of that which was, to the I tried to place my hand on the

infinite distances, and that we our- wall, expecting to encounter some
selves can behold the stars of earlier substance of a glassy smoothness,
millenniums in positions which they but 1 felt no physical contact what-
have long ceased to occupy, it is ever —only an inability to move my
not difficult to understand that the hand farther forward.
Dwellers must have discovered a Mycompanion, more sensitive
process by which such visions could than myself to any neighbouring
be deflected pr reflected back to the substance, could only tell me that
earth from which they originated, she had an impression as of a
and that it was the past history of transparent solidity, but of a sub-
the earth which was unfolded stance which she had never pre-
through the walls of these dark viously encountered.
and (as we subsequently realized) was another point of interest,
It
seemingly unending corridors. for which I have no explanation,
that these scenes, or pictures, were
THE substance of the walls on

which these scenes were
played excited but did not gratify
dis-
not continuous, nor were they di-
vided sharply from one another, but
the outlines would become faint
my curiosity. The effect was as and blurred, till they were no more
though looking through a dark than faintly-colored mist, which, as
mirror which gave a moving scene we continued to move beside it,
on a large scale. The impression would again show blurred outlines

was not as is that of a moving pic- that would develop, farther on, into
ture, but of great actual distances a quite different scene.
opening before us. Or, in another The view which we now beheld
place, the view might be blocked was that of a sunny downland, un-
immediately by rising ground, by fenced and green, beside which we
trees, or by buildings. There did might not have paused but for the
not appear to be any selection either sight of a mass of rock, the
of place or time. They were not memento doubtless of some volcanic
scenes of dramatic moment, or of or glacial activity, which rose from
selected beauty; they were not seen the level green. was flat-sided at
It
from any position of special ad- its nearest view, and a figure
They appeared to develop
vantage. crouched before it, with his back to-
same rate that they had done
at the ward us, but somewhat sideways.
in original fact, so that, if you He was man-like in shape and

size, quite naked, olive-green in disappear with a series of zig-zag
color, with a round blue patch, of rushes when the man sat back sud-
the size of a tea-plate, stained or denly.
painted between his shoulders. It But he had only paused to con-
may have been a mark of honor, sider his work. He showed his face
or a sign of servitude, or of merely now, low, broad, angular, but not
ornamental significance. His hair, uncomely, or unintelligent, having
which was thickly coarse, and very prominent black brows that
black, was drawn over one shoul- balanced the sharp projecting tusk-
der in a heavy plait. like teethat the mouth-corners.
He sat back now to survey his
WAS
H E on doubled
sitting
legs, the feet showing clear-
ly. They were strangely long, and
work, with eyes that were yellow
and very bright. He was evidently
absorbed in it, to the exclusion of
slender. The middle toe was the other consciousness. As he sat and
longest, and ended in a strong considered it, he bent round a flex-
curving claw. ible leg and scratched his belly

He was carving on the face of absently with the long central toe.
the rock with some rude tool that It was not a human action. I could
I could not see plainly. He was so see what he had drawn now. It
absorbed in his work that a small was a bird, in shape somewhat like
bird,which was hovering restless- a hen, of the old-English game-
and slipped
ly near, took courage, fowl breed, not with the distorted
into a thorny gorse-like bush, lankiness of the show-pen mon-
which grew against the stone, strosities which succeeded it. But
doubtless to the rescue of eggs that it had an impression of great size,
were chilling. I cannot say that it and, rudely though it was drawn,
was gorse. It was not in flower. the head and beak had an expres-
But die grass might have grown sion of vulture-like rapacity. There
on the downs of my own time. I were no spurs on its legs.
saw the fragile blue of harebells And then we saw the bird itself,
among it, and only one plant, a advancing quietly over the down
clover-like copper-colored herbage, behind him.
which I could not recognize. Yet It must have been eight or nine
tiae man, if such I may call him, feet in height, possibly more. It
was strange enough, and so was a was obviously stalking him, mov-
small rabbit-like creature, with a ing with careful slowness, foot by
long tail, which
thick at the root, foot, its neck stretched before it,
slapped the ground as moved, it itsgreat beak half-open, its wings

which was feeding nearer and (which were short, and showed a
nearer to the silent figure— only to mass of fluffy feathers, somewhat
THE WORLD BELOW •7

—
like those of an ostrich) lifted, but short, the speed so great, that it
not moving. was difficult to say which was pur-

He was absorbed in his work suing the other. thought that if
I
again, and appeared unaware of
.
the man increased his speed but a
the approaching danger. I felt an trifle he would be on the flying
impulse to call, to warn him. It heels of his pursuer. In fact, that

was all so near, so real, watching happened. The bird knew it, and
the sunny scene, and seeing the was a half-second
tried to turn, but
grass move as the wind stirred it. too had been previously.
late, as it
The great bird was within The man had leapt on to its back.
twenty yards now, a greedy antici- Its beak was twisted round to tear
pation in the eyes that never left him, but his two hands gripped the
the prey they were stalking. I knew scraggy feathered throat and held
that the lifted wings and the it off. The long neck jerked desper-
stretched neck were in a tremor of ately. But the man’s grip was in-
anticipation for the final rush, when exorable. It found that, with all its
itshould have crept so near that to wrenching, it could not break clear:
attempt escape would be hopeless. with all its efforts it could not get
Would nothing warn him? Had its beak near enough to tear him.
those long, queer flexible legs the Balancing on one leg, it raised
power to outdistance such
a crea- the other to pull him off, as a hen
ture? Or had he any means of de- scratches her eye. An olive-green
fense should the warning come? thigh reddened where a long claw
caught it, but then the man’s leg,
THE— twenty yards were ten now

and the rush came. It was
too swift and sudden for the eye
that
was
seemed so strangely flexible,
twisted round the attacking
limb, and had gained control of
to follow, and yet it failed of its the danger.
object. The bird’s impetus simply The bird staggered, and its leg
dashed against the bare rocks, on came to ground again. As it did
which itself was depicted. The ex- so, I saw the man reach up his
—
pected victim had he really heard other foot, the long central claw
the approach and feigned his catching in the skinny throat, just
ignorance till the last second? below where he had gripped it be-
had leapt straight upward, more, I neath the beak. He drove it in, and
thought, like a kangaroo than a tore downward. The bird plunged
man, touched a moment upon the violently. Bird and man came to
top of the stone, and descended the ground together in a flurry of
upon the farther side. feathers. Then the man leapt clear.
The bird rushed round it. So He leapt far forward, over'its head,
did the man. The circuit was so a bound of twenty feet, if not

thirty, with a head that looked back been time for many changes since
as he did so. But the bird did not then.
follow. Itwhere it had fallen.
lay Then I caught sight tif my com-
Blood poured from the opened panion’s foot, with its central toe.
throat, a bright scarlet on die green A grotesque resemblance struck me
grass. The legs kicked, and were between the two feet. Had I wit-
Still. nessed a link which connected her
The man came back cautiously. through the changing millenniums
The bird had died just beneath the with my earlier humanity? No,
picture which he had made. He there was no other resemblance.
looked from one to the other, and The idea was absurd.
his gaze was troubled. He picked Yet I gave her the thought when
up the head, and raised it with the she asked it, though I meant it for
*
limp neck till it was at the height her amusement only.
of his shoulder. He appeared to She took it with an abstract
compare it with his drawing, and seriousness, pausing before she an-
was not contented. swered, "You are giving me new
It was only after this that he thoughts, as you often do. The re-
showed consciousness of his own semblance seems slight, and the
wound. There was a long gash on connection unlikely. What is the
the side of the thigh, and the blood shape of a foot, considered beside
ran to his foot. Probably it was the other differences ? In many ways
not deep. He jumped twice, and we are less unlike to each other
the bleeding increased. He threw than is either to the creature we
back his and his mouth
head, have been watching. But I have not
opened widely. We supposed that thought of these changes. In many
he was calling loudly, though we centuries there has been little dif-
could hear nothing. He did this ference in the sea-creatures. Perhaps
several times. such changes take place more rap-
Then he sat down by the dead idly on the land. Yet there have
bird, and waited. been changes in the sea, enough
W ! STOOD there for a

minutes longer, but nothing
happened, and we passed on.
I was puzzled by the sight of
few
to show that such things are,
"And if they be, they must have
been in every grade of difference,
and in others beyond thought or
counting. Can we, who are the
creatures different from anything thoughts of God, imagine what He
of which bone or fossil had told had not thought? Must it not be,
us, and yet seeming to be of an if we think it?”
earlier world than mine. But per- I answered, "I cannot follow
haps they were later. There had that. To the thinking of my kind,
THE WORLD BELOW 89

we are, in part at least, alien from, She replied, "You may be right.
and displeasing to our Creator, I have no opinion on that. For, to
Whose thoughts are very different me, your thought has no mean-
from ours." ing.”

Chapter Eleven
WAR
DO not think that I should We had not gone many yards

I have been content to leave the from the lighted doorway, and we
argument, for it was ever our way withdrew against the wall in a com-
to continue through disagreement mon impulse of silence.
or , misunderstanding until we had The steps were evidently those
arrived at a point of harmony, but of another of the Dwellers, and
that,at the moment, we both be- as he passed without apparently
came aware of steps that were ap- becoming aware of our presence in
proaching to meet us. the darkness, and continued along
THE WORLD BELOW 91

the passage, we should probably fronted by another youth, of his
have gone on our purposed way, own age, who came from
the oppo-
as soon as the dangers of detection and with an appear-
site direction,
were over, had he not turned in at ance of haste and excitement, such
the open doorway, on seeing which as I had not observed among these
we were at one in our inclination people previously.
to return sufficiently to observe He commenced speaking imme-
what would happen. diately, and, as he did so, the
We were well content that we Librarian arose from her couch so
had done this, when we observed instantly and so quietly as to lead
him go to the living ball, and bend me to wonder whether she had been
down beside it, putting a hand to asleep at all.
the ground after removing the im- The messenger assailed her mind
prisoning ring, on which it began as she rose with a pressure of
at once to clamber up the slanting thought of which I could feel the
arm, turning over with a ball-like impact, though I could not inter-
motion, and perching on his shoul- pret it clearly, and appeared to be
der, in the manner which we had unable to avoid supplementing it
observed already. with a useless triplication of speech
W
height
[
NOTICED
comer
that the new-
was much less in
were the Dwellers,
than
either man or woman, that we had
and gesture. His auditor surveyed
his excitement with a cool detach-
ment which emphasized the
lenniums of years that divided
them. When he had finished, she
mil-
observed previously, and from this, took back the book from his wait-
and other youthful indications, it ing companion, and gave it an
was not difficult to understand that obviously quieter and briefer narra-
we were watching a youth who had tive. Then she lay down again,
not yet gained his full gigantic while the two youths left the cham-
stature. ber together, taking the book with
The sleeping figure did not stir, them.
nor did he address himself to her, It was doubtless their excited
and I suppose that he would have condition that caused them to move
gone on to the library to which so rapidly that we had to quicken
the book was to be returned (for' to a run to keep within sound of
we had been right in this supposi- their footsteps.
tion, as the event proved, except- They led us back to the end of
ing only that it was the work of a the passage, and then along the
subordinate, and not of the Librar- curving way, till we came to the
ian herself), hut that, ashe turned next of the dark openings — the one
to leave the chamber, he was con- that led directly opposite to that by

which we had entered beneath the and widened, as a double door slid
temple. We followed them along backward on either hand.
it for about a quarter of a mile, They went in through this door,
finding it was in all respects alike and we followed to the entrance,
to the other, being entirely dark, secure in the fact that no light fell
but having similar scenes develop- outward. It rose up like a wall of
ing within its walls continually. purple transparency where the door
Had I been alone, I think that I had opened, but it did not pene-
could hardly have controlled my trate the darkness in which we
curiosity concerning some of them stood.
— for I kept sufficiently close to Looking inward we saw, on
the wall to observe them as we either hand, high and low, long
hurried past —but I was too con- tiers of racks on which such living
scious of the useless folly of lin- books as that which we had already
gering to make such a suggestion seen were ranged in close and or-
to my companion. derly rows. They were of somewhat
-
I had short glimpses of a scoter different sizes, usually about twice

of scenes which I had no time to that of a man’s head, but more like
consider, and which left no clear a large marble in the hands of
impression, but of a bewildering those who owned them.
variety of landscapes, and once of The space between the shelves
a tossing windswept sea, beneath was wide enough for the two
a clouded moon. I caught no sight Dwellers to move side by side, and
of human life, except once only, was more than proportionately
when I thought there was a distant lofty; yet, by reason of its length,
string of horsemen trailing wearily it had an effect of narrowness.
along a muddy trampled road, but Down this alley the bearer of
the scene was obscured by a storm the living history strode for a few
of hail, and before could be sure
I paces, to put it in its place on the
of what I had seen, it had been rack to which it belonged, his
left behind. friend moving beside him. My
companion’s mind called me,
OLLOWING in the wake of "Come quickly,” and together we
the two youths, we moved crossed the threshold.
without and kept so near-
difficulty, As in our own libraries, the low-
ly behind them that it became nec- est tierof books was close to the
essary to stop very abruptly when ground. There was just room be-
they halted in the darkness. neath the rack for us to stand in
We heard them turn to the left- comfort. We were under it in a
hand wall and then a vertical line moment.
of fuchsia-colored light showed As we reached this shelter, they
,THE WORLD BELOW 93

turned back. They went out, and ghostly minds. Each room has its
the sliding doors closed behind own aroma. You may wander with
them. closed eyes into the divinity sec-
tion, but you will know at once
DISLIKED the closing of those that you are not in that of fiction
doors. It reminded of one me or biography. The atmosphere in a
that had closed three nights ago in room devoted to sporting books is
the darkness. My companion read different from that of one which
my mind with some amusement. is occupied with medical subjects.
"It was your proposal," she sug- That is so with dead books; but
gested. these were living. Living books on
"But I don’t like being shut in.” either side, clamoring to be read,
"How can it matter, till we want and we could not read them. Their
to get out?” she answered. "Why desire met ours, but we had no key
will you always worry over troubles to their treasures. They would each
you haven’t got? We wanted to answer to the right question, but
find the place, and here it is. We having no knowledge of what they
wanted to get into it, and here we contained, we asked of each in turn
are. Even though we should worry for that which it could not give,
later, when we may want to get and an unwilling silence rebuffed
out, we ought to be glad now. Let us.
us be glad that wt are undisturbed, Faced by this dilemma, we de-
and see what knowledge we can cided to seek the one book which
acquire which may aid us.” we knew, and gain the information
Her coolness made my fears which it had received since last we
seem foolish (as, indeed, they probed it.
were), and was
a recovered
it in We found it without difficulty,
serenity that I joined her mind to about forty yards along on the sev-
my own in exploring the store- enth tier on the left hand. We both
house of knowledge which we had recognized it, high above us though
penetrated so strangely. it was, for these books were not
Weemerged from our cover, alike. They were all of the same
and walked along the lofty aisle color, lobster-red, but the shades
between the racks pigmies whose—
hands would scarcely reach to the
varied with each.
little swaying hands
They all
that
had the
turned
second shelf, and whose heads did and balanced the living globes, but
not reach to the first one. there was a difference in each: a
It was a strange sensation. Even difference of personality. They
in a library of dead books there is were subtly individualized by the
an atmosphere of knowledge, and kind of knowledge which they
of the presence of many forgotten, contained.

O WE came to the one of which ion descended to the surface of the
S we knew something already, water, and commenced to take off
and received the last record which its contents through the tail. Or-
we had seen communicated to it. ders were given for the Blue Fire
It was brief and colorless, com- to be used, which was done twice,
pared to the evident excitement but with only partial success, so
and long report of the mind which that seven Dwellers are dead. Be-
had brought it, but it was sufficient- fore noon, it ivas observed that life
ly momentous, even to me, and was extinct in its main cell, and
more so when my companion (who its companion retreated. Report was
had already followed much of it, made to the laboratories; from
and on some points had learnt which orders were issued for the
more details than were in the re- sufficient flaying of two thousand
corded narrative) had explained it of the grey-skinned males.
to me. It ran thus:
T WAS clear from this, even to
At one fifth after dawn on (here I me, that war was commenced
followed a symbol of date, which against the Dwellers by some alien
conveyed no meaning to my mind) species; but the record was exas-
the fourteenth patrol, on reaching perating in its brevity, and puz-
the coast-ridge, observed two Anti- zling in the particulars which it
podeans approaching from the east. supplied, so that I turned to my
After skirting the protective belt companion for explanation.
for some distance, one of them at- She answered me readily, though
tempted to turn into it, lost bal- not without a suggestion that we
ance,and recovered with difficulty were wasting time over matters that
They then soared to a height of . . !did not directly concern us.
(about four miles) when one of "Of the last sentence I can give
them drew backward, and charged no explanation, but the remainder
the belt at a very high speed. It is clear enough, excepting only that
fell when
the most part of its bulk I do not know how or why there
was over the belt, but so that its 6hould have been any deaths to
tail lay in the sea. It was then in- the Dwellers. We knew already
spected as closely as possible, and that war was recommencing be-
was seen to be disabled, but not tween the Antipodeans and them-
dead. It was observed to be differ- selves, which could only mean that
ently formed from any previously they are being attacked, as it is not
seen, so that it was less damaged likely that they would attempt to
than would have been anticipated cross the sea or air to assail the
from so great a fall. It was pre- Antipodeans, would be
which
sumed to be dying, as its compan- absurd. Why should they? It would
THE WORLD BELOW n

be too unpleasant. The Dwellers of the earth, they appear to find it
cannot travel under water, and necessary to control, or have access

even we avoid the surface around to, some portion of the surface;
the coasts of the Antipodeans. or, at least, they are unwilling to
Some of my nation have seen the resign it. Obviously, they could not
Dwellers experimenting with the hold it in safety or comfort, if the
Blue Fire, though I have not. That Antipodeans were always likely to
was many centuries ago. It moves be feeding upon them.”
about like a living thing. The re- "I wish,” I answered, "you
port suggests to my mind that the would give me some explanation,
result of the attack is not entirely or sight, of what these Antipodeans
satisfactory to the Dwellers, though are, when many things might be
it has resulted in the destruction of clearer to me. The Dwellers do not
one of their enemies. But if we appear to me as creatures who
allow our minds to be occupied by would be easily eaten, or who lack
these events, which do not concern means of defense. I suppose that
us, we are making them detrimen- these creatures, which have 'the
tal rather than helpful.” power of flight (which the Dwell-
I answered, "But, surely, they ers do not attempt?) must be as
are of interest to you, because of formidable in mind as they appear
the alliance you have mentioned, to be huge in body.”
for which I suppose that your own "They are certainly large,” she
nation might suffer, should the answered, "but I can say little as
Dwellers fail in the conflict.” to their minds. I am not sure that
they have any. They are not easy
BUT this suggestion did

turb her.
not per- to understand. But
them as they
I can show you
appeared in the mind

when he
"It is difficult to imagine how of the messenger, report-
we could suffer,” she replied, "for ed of this fighting."
though we might, in theory at least Then she gave my mind a vision
be attacked on the Grey Beaches, of sunlit space, with some white
it could not be done without our cumulus clouds drifting below, and
having ample time to vacate them, of a flying insect nothing more—
and we could retire, were the need than that.
sufficient, to ocean depths,
the It had three pairs of transparent
where we could dwell for ever, and horizontal wings, and beetle-like,
where neither side could pursue copper-colored wing-cases, stiffly
us. but moving occasionally, as

lifted,
"The position of the Dwellers though to steer or balance the fly-
is different. Although they have ing form.
made their homes within the body It seemed small to me, because

there was no standard of compar- Then the scene blurred, as
ison in that high void,and because though the narrator’s mind had
I had a mind which assumed the failed to picture its report, and
smallness of insects. cleared again to show it lying be-
It drew —
back hovered flew — neath a hail of blue lightning.
forward at its utmost speed, with Only, the shafts of light did not
wing-beats too swift to follow flash and cease, but remained visi-
checked in its flight with an in- ble, like blue whiplashes, striking
credible suddenness, as though it and recoiling around their disabled
had struck an invisible obstacle victim. I could not see from where
and fell headlong. they came.
Beneath this attack, the gauze-
Y MIND followed it as it like wings shrivelled and disap-
fell, and
it was only as the peared. The long tail lashed out,
earth rushed upward to meet it beating the water to tempest.
that I was aware that it was of But when the lightnings struck
such a size that an elephant might the still-lifted wing-sheath es, or the
have traveled as a flea on its
* back. lustrous head, they slipped off
_
Though it fell headlong, it did not harmlessly; andwhen some of them
turn over in the air, but appeared attempted to penetrate beneath the
to be steadied from the tail. sheathes, they were not repelled,
Though it was so huge, and fell but appeared to be drawn in
from so great a height, it was not against their own
by a force
wills,
destroyed by the impact. It was not which they resisted vainly, though
even broken. It lay with wings some made a better struggle than
spread flatly over such a growth of others,and disappeared very slowly.
glossy leaves as I had seen on my Then
I was aware of another of
first morning with the pink tongues these monstrous insects flying low
licking upward between them. over the water. As it neared the
There was no height of cliff at conflict, its head drew back into a
this point. Compared with the neck-like collar, which shone with
monster’s bulk, the shore showed a metallic lustre, similar to that of
no great shelving. It lay with a the wing-sheathes. The front pair
long tail in the water, and the end of sheathes lifted and adjusted
afloat on a calm sea. their positions, till they formed a
But though it was unbroken, it vertical shield to the advancing
did not appear uninjured. It had a monster.
curiously flattened appearance, and The blue lightnings, under no
though the tail moved at times, visible controls, grouped and ad-
the rest of the body appeared un- vanced through the air to meet their
able to do so. new adversary.
THE WORLD BELOW *7

Swiftly as an eyelid winks, a I was stopped from further ob-
glow of petunia-red appeared and servation by the impatience of my
faded on the polished sheathes. companion’s mind.
Instantly, the lightnings separat- "Shall we not seek the things
ed, and drew back. They reminded that more nearly concern us?” she
me, grotesquely enough, of a pack suggested.
of dogs that had brought a beast I agreed, but added, “I am
to bay which they would not leave, puzzled by what I have seen, and
but lacked the strength to pull it would take you little time to
down. explain it, if you are able to do so.

Then, almost too swiftly for Are these great bulks alive? Or do
sight to follow, they struck — all, I they contain smaller living crea-
thought, at one spot beneath the tures that control them, as did an
withdrawn head. As they did so, airship in the world of the past
the petunia light glowed again, and that I left?”
in the same instant they recoiled, She answered, "Why not both?
writhing curiously, as though sen- And if both, why should you sup-
tient and damaged. pose that the smaller will control
After that, they disappeared en- the greater?” And when she saw
tirely. that her thought confused my mind
Freed from the annoyance of for a moment, she went on, "You
these attacks, the fallen monster know that I have a body which is
lay quiet. The convulsions of its entirely mine, and which is clear
tail ceased. of any alien life; and I know that
The rescuer, still almost upon the you have a body over which you
surface of the water, turned its have little influence, except in some
head seaward, and twined its tail of its muscular activities, because
around that of its companion. a countless number of separate
lives are within you, and do not
O IT remained for some time, accept your authority. You have
S with rapidly-beating wings, shown me that you dp not control
stationary above the water. While the actions of a single corpuscle of
it did so, its bulk appeared to in- your blood, and were you able,
crease, while that of the. fallen ap- you have not the requisite knowl-
peared to lessen, so that it lay edge to enable you to do so in-
flatter than before, and its tail be- telligently.
came flabby. "But why should there not be

When they parted, the one lay such separate smaller life existing
inert, with no further sign of life, either in subordination, or in con-
while the other rose heavily, as trol, of a larger physical body, and
though sated by a full meal. yet able to sever connection witfa-
9B GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

out loss of vitality, as the dominant cated by what we have seen. I can
will may direct?” only tellyou that they dominate
"The idea you give me,” I an- the most part of the world, and
swered, "is as that of a living ship, that their dead bodies are so fre-
which is by the crew
yet controlled quently lying on the shores of the
it carries. Are
the Antipodeans lands they inhabit as to suggest that
really of kind?”
this they must be very short-lived. But
"I cannot tell you that,” she re- they are too antipathetic for us to
plied, "I only showed you that you land on those shores, or have any
were assuming more than is indi- dealings with them.”
THE WORLD BELOW 99

Chapter Twelve
THE FATE OF TEMPLETON
W HATEVER
conflict
interest
lie in the spectacle
might
of Titanic
which we had witnessed, it
we had known
moment were
that already. If the
propitious, there
were the greater reason for acting
was of little direct assistance to our swiftly, and when we found that
present purpose. It showed that the there was nothing further to be
Dwellers might be sufficiently oc- gained from the one volume which
cupied by more important matters we had been able to interrogate,
to be unlikely to give much atten- we resolved to cut the knot of our
tion to our escape or capture, but difficulty by a systematic inquiry,

from corridor to corridor, for any in his right hand, in which some-
record of the Vivisection Depart- thing of the size of a large rat was
ment, which had been mentioned as squirming.
dealing with one, at least, of those There was a row of five large
for whom I was searching. jars upon the table before him, into
Even then, our inquiry might the first of which he plunged the
have been long arrd difficult, had object of his attention, holding it
we not obtained an immediate re- immersed for about half-a-minute,

sponse from an index, which was and withdrawing it in a half-
almost beside us, at the entrance drowned condition.
to the library, from which point
we had resolved to commence our SAW it clearly as it came out,
inquiry. I and recognized the red hair of
It replied, "The 92nd on the Templeton with a shock of horror.
14th row, in the Hall of Dead Instantly, the proportions of the
Books, contains a plan of the Level room were changed by my knowl-
of the Inquirers, which includes edge of the identity of the victim.
the Bureau of Prehistoric Zoology, I recognized in the naked man the
and the Places of Vivisection. The giant form of a Dweller, and be-
plan is that of the 28th of the came aware of the huge size of the
Lower Levels, below the Division. row of jars before him.
The 73rd book on the 2nd tier on I watched Templeton, now hang-
the left-hand side of the 83rd cor- ing limply in the pincers, plunged
ridor contains an account of all into a second, third, and fourth of
vivisections during the last five these jars, being raised to the level
moons.” of the operator’s eyes, and inspect-
We went at once to the latter ed carefully after each immersion.
bode, as it was the nearer, and it But the fourth inspection was more
was here that we gained the first prolonged than the others, and after
sight —at least in picture of one — making it the Dweller turned to
of those whose absence had brought another table, and laid his victim,
me on this strange adventure. still in the grip of the pincers,
After we had inquired through upon was let into
a yellow disc that
much detail, sometimes fascinating its surface. Aslimp body
the
in its enigmatic suggestions, some- touched the metal it was galvanized
times repellent in its exhibitions of into an activity that kicked and
what appeared to me to be a very writhed with a furious impotence.
callous brutality, we were shown a Lifted again, it was plunged into a
table,by the side of which, as I globe of light of a white inten-
thought at the first glance, a naked sity, against which its body showed
man stood with a pair of pincers transparent, every organ, every in-
THE WORLD BELOW 101

ternal movement in lung, and ing body in the jaws of half-a-
artery, and intestine, being clearly dozen pig-like animals to whom it
indicated. had been thrown for their fatten-
It appeared that this test had ing. My companion recognized the
confirmed the unfavorable indica- repulsion that disturbed my mind
tions of the fourth immersion, for with a puzzled wonder, and a sym-
the body was now withdrawn from pathetic curiosity.
the light, and thrown carelessly "I wish,” she thought, "that I
into a mesh-sided tray upon the could understand the feeling which
floor, in whidi a number of non- moves you.”
human creatures of unfamiliar "I wish,” I answered, "that I
kinds were heaped and

already could understand how you can re-
squirming. The Dweller pressed a ject all violence as evil, and yet
stud with his foot, and the tray condone such actions.”
slid from the room. I did not fol- "I condone nothing,” she re-
low it further. plied, with a friendly coolness

I felt almost physically sick with which tended to reduce the tem-
repulsion from the brutality which perature of my own thoughts. "I
I had witnessed, as I waited while am not concerned to defend or
my companion’s mind continued to condemn. I am merely curious of
receive the picture. your own repulsion. Your fellow-

After a short time, she broke primitive introduced a body which
connection also and addressed her- is diseased or defective. It is so
self to me. seriously so that the Dwellers, after
"We now know,” she thought, a patient examination, do not think
"the fate of at least one of your it either fit to continue, or to be
companions, and it must be a cause used for their own foo<i, and they
of satisfaction to you that you have therefore use it for the fattening
pursued your inquiries successfully, of healthier creatures. What better
and that you are relieved of further could they do? If you identify
trouble by the fact that he had a yomself w'ith him, should you not
body which was not worth preserva- be grateful for the trouble to which
tion.” they went?”
"I felt sure that they were about I paused a moment, knowing
to destroy him,” I answered, "and that the query required something
could not endure to look longer. better than a random answer, and
How did they do it?” the pause lengthened to silence.
Feeling might still remain, but
HE showed me an instant’s pic- judgment answered too plainly.
S ture of the scene as her mind I had forgotten once again that
had followed it. I saw his still-liv- we were alien and inferior crea-

tures, of an uninvited coming. Did judgment. You regard your own
not my own race feed one living violence to others as more tolerable
animal to another in their zoologi- than is theirs to you. This to me
cal reservations? Would they have appears as though you make asser-
taken the preliminary trouble to tion of your own inferiority. But
examine the body of such a crea- I do not know . . . Shall we inquire
ture? When they decided to reduce further as to the fate of your sec-
the number of the tame and trust- ond friend?”
ing doves in their capital city, had "Will you do it for me?” I an-
they sufficient care or intelligence swered. "I do not wish to see it.”
to select the weaker or diseased for She assented mutely, and after a
destruction? short interval she reported the suc-
Did they not kill and torture cess of her investigation.
countless thousands of other crea- "Your second friend is alive and
tures, even including those that happy. His body has been cleaned
they had bred and trained to friend- and improved. I cannot discover
ship, to gratify curiosity or to gain more, as there is no record of the
some possible advantage to them- intentions of those who are dealing
selves in combating the diseases that with him, but only of the facts
their vices earned? which are past already. But I think
Could that which I had seen be you would do well to leave him,
properly described as vivisection of and inquire no further. Shall we
any kind? Such things might be; not return to the surface together,
and I had little confidence that the where you may find some place of
Dwellers would hesitate to practice hiding, and perhaps of a perma-
such infamies, but, in fact, I had nent security?”
not seen them. "I cannot do that,” I answered
definitely. ”1 could not return to
ANSWERED simply, "Iwas say that I have learnt that he is
I unreasonable, and you have living, and made no effort to reach

taught me wisdom, as you do so him.”
often.” My thought reacted more sharp-
"I am less sure of that,” she ly to her suggestion because I
answered doubtfully, "for there is feared the adventure as I had not
something in_your mind by which done previously, and was aware

my own is confused and baffled. I that, should I hesitate,coward- my
can neither understand it, nor be ice might be the harder to conquer.
sure that you are entirely in error. "Did you ascertain how far distant
We stand aloof from violence, as he has been taken?”
you do not, nor do the Dwellers. I suppose she quickly recognized
But you have two standards of the finality of my decision, for she
THE WORLD BELOW 103

made no further protest, but an- tive which must appear fictitious,
swered quietly, in any case, to the obtuse and un-
"He appears to be immediately imaginative. It is not everyonewho
beneath though at a great^pth.
us, can realize that the human mind
But we shall have to iijqdSfe of the has no power of invention, nor
other book of which we were told, that it is impossible to add to that
to learn the way by which we may which is infinite.
reach him.” We went down in vision for

"Let us do it quickly, ” I re- five hundred miles by one continu-
plied, for the thought of Temple- ing spiral, seeing glimpses of in-
ton writhing in the clutch of the explicable things on many levels,
giant pincers, while the Dweller until we came to a place in which
gazed upon him and decided, were two colonies
of the older
coolly and judicially, upon his de- Dwellers, each attempting to post-
struction, would not leave my mind, pone the weariness of years by ac-
and I was eager to be diverted by tivities of the mind, and who were
action. known (by the nearest synonyms in
our language) as the Seekers of
W E found
Books
the Hall of the
end of that in
at the
which we were. The dead books
Dead Wisdom, and
ence. I write
the Seekers of Sci-
science
knowledge because the impression
rather than
were a livid white, and, for the I received was similar to that which
most part, the little hands had has degraded the use of the for-
withered and fallen. They lay mer word, so that its implication is
round them in a dry dust, or hung of the assertion of speculative
shrivelling from those that had not theories with a dogmatism equal
been long dead. to that of the theologians whom
We found the book we sought it despises, and with a lack of
without difficulty, and though it imagination and spiritual percep-
did not react to our queries with tion which insures that scientific
the urgent impatience of the living, hand-books of one decade become
its responses were mechanically the derision of the next.
prompt and accurate. We ascertained and memorized
I do not tell all that we learnt as very carefully the passages by which
we searched the pages of this book, the descending spiral could be
such as the maps of the reverse reached, and the ways which must
surface of the interior, and stranger be taken when we left it. We could
things on which I am entirely si- not discover whether they were the
lent, because we did not actually channels of crowded traffic, or
see them, and they are too incred- lonely as the dark tunnels which
ible to be lightly added to a narra- we had already penetrated, but we

had gained much in having learnt been drawn aside to observe a
the way by which we must go, and movement among the books at the
our next task was to find an exit farther side of the library.
from the library. It was foolish in itself, and dis-
We should have pursued this astrous in its consequence, but the
purpose, and might have continued sight which drew us was sufficient-
the adventure together, and com- ly curious to be some excuse for
pleted it successfully, had we not our error.
THE WORLD BELOW 105

Chapter Thirteen
SEPARATION
N A large room, or recess, at the their way to this tank, into which,
I side of the library, there was they plunged, and floated with an
a tank completely covering its floor, appearance of satisfaction, work-
and to a depth of about three
filled, ing their hands in such a way that
feet, with a watery liquid, slightly they turned over continually, in a
tinged with carmine. very comical manner.
An arrangement of gently-slop- It required no very great pene-
ing boards had enabled the books tration to see that this was a place
of several tiers of shelves to make of refreshment, or nourishment,

which was needed to maintain their for me. I never did take the
vitality, but it was one which they thoughts of the Dwellers with quite
could not reach without an inter- the same ease with which I re-
vening danger. ceived those of the Amphibians.

As they crossed the final plank, Now I was conscious only of a
which was horizontal, they passed tension of conflict, as when the
over a trap which was so adjusted swords of two duellists meet and
that it would give way if a suffi- hold, and either knows that his life
cient weight were upon it, and re- is staked upon the strength of wrist
sume its position and afterwards, that presses his opponent’s blade.
the weight required to spring was it There was a long minute during
that of a book which was mature which their wills fought in this
and completed. posture, and then it was as though
There was a square vat beneath her blade pressed sideward, inch
this trap, filled with an indigo-col- by inch, the one that met, and inch
ored liquid, into which, as we by inch slid down it.
watched about fifty of these books
hurry over the plank, two fell, their IZE has no absolute meaning.
little hands struggling frantically S It is only relative, and, even
as they slowly sank to the bottom, so, it is of little importance. The
having found a place of death in- smallest insect might control the
stead of the enjoyment to which earth as easily as an elephant,had
they had hurried. either of them the brains to do so,
It was reasonable to assume that though the one be many million
these activities indicated some di- times the size of the other.
recting attendant, and I had little Our protagonist could have
cause for surprise when my com- crushed us both in one hand, but
panion’s thought reached me quiet- I felt that her will had triumphed
ly, "Do not attempt escape. We are against him. Not entirely; for min-
discovered. I think youhad better utes passed, and I knew that they
Can you be serene
leave this to me. still warred with contending
and confident?” Her mind closed thoughts which I could not read,
from me, as we turned to observe but these were rather of the terms
the dreaded form of one of the of treaty than of an unconditioned
Dwellers advancing upon us. hostility.
He stopped as we faced him, and While they fought, I had en-

I knew that my companion had al- deavored to maintain the poise of
ready engaged him in the mental mind which she had asked. I knew
combat on which our lives depend- that I must not think of Temple-
ed. I could not follow their ton. I fixed my attention upon the
thoughts, which were not intended giant form which confronted us.
THE WORLD BELOW 107

He was similar to the others I had he bears, and angered by its cause,
seen, except in one particular. He which does not concern us. He re-
moved with a slight limp, and his fused my will until he thought of
lefthip showed a long downward the Seven Causes of Rejection, and
scar,deepening to an actual pit at his mind wavered.
its lower end, and being black, "But the agreement is this. I
with an aspect of charred wood. It must return at once to my own
showed that their bodies, however people, by a way which will be un-
perfect and enduring, were not ex- observed, which he has shown me,
empt from the danger of accident. telling to none that I have seen
She turned to me at last. him, nor of the things which we
"Come,” her mind said only. have seen and heard since we
"There is an open way.” forced the barrier of silence.
I followed her down a corridor "That was easily agreed; but
which we had not previously pene- your case was more difficult. He
trated, and we came to a doorway would have been willing that you
standing open, by which the at- should return with me, but we
tendant had entered, and to which know that that would not be pos-
he had directed her. As we retreat- sible. He would have agreed that
ed, I saw him bending over the you should escape to the surface,
vat, as though he were unaware of and hide in the mountain caves,
our existence. but I knew that you were resolved
to seek your friend, and I feared
N THE darkness of a passage that, if I should make such an
I such as those with which we agreement for you, you would not
were already familiar, we sat down keep it. He showed me that it is a
together. way of death to go downward, and
"I have made terms,” she com- I was not willing to leave you to
menced at once, "but it was not perish. In the end, I have done
easy to do, and you may not like little, but I have learnt this which
them. We are in the Sacred Places, may aid you. When you have found
as we had thought likely, and if your friend, and have learnt (as I
we should be found here, or should think you will) that you can do
it be known that we have been nothing to aid him, if you can then
here, the thingswe have learnt will make your way to the Place of the
But
certainly cause our destruction. Seekers of Wisdom, you will be in
I have given pledges which must a sanctuary from which none will
be kept, and it will be as though seek to remove you. They will ques-
he had not seen us. I could not tion you of the life you left, and
have done it, were he not apart so long as you can tell them of
from his race, through the wound new things they will be very sure

to keep you in safety. Even beyond it was a needful thing that you
that time, there is a possibility that should go downward? Had I not
they may you to depths
transfer agreed that we should part, I
into which our minds have not in- should have lost all that I have
quired, and of which I know noth- woq for both of us. If our meeting
ing, where you might even find has been a pleasure (as it has to
that some of your own kind are me), shall we spoil it with foolish
existing, as do the Bat-wings, on protest now that it is completing?
an inner surface of the earth.” It will not cease to be, because the
event is Will
it not be actual
over.
H ER mind paused, expectant

receive my pleasure.
Consternation replied —
to
contin-
in our
to recall it?
long as we desire
minds
.
as
Do you not think
. .
too much of your body, and of the

ued, hopeless, and yet protesting. risks which it must take for your
Why had she agreed thus to our service? If you heed it thus it is of
parting ? Had she not herself urged, less use than even so poor a tool
and did she not again suggest, that might be under a control more con-
Brettwas beyond my rescue? Was fident . . .You think of the period
it not her own plan that I should of time which will divide us, should
return to the surface? Two pas- you succeed in that which you have
sions, grief and fear, rose in an attempted, and return to your own
alliance of opposition. She was my people. But is not your presence
one friend in a world in which I here a proof that you are vexed by
was worse than outcast was I to— illusions only? When we consider
part from her for ever? She was time or space, we know that they
the actual physical strength, as she are, and yet we know that they
was the moral confidence, by which are both impossible Were it . . .
I hoped to have overcome the dan- otherwise, would it not be true that
gers and difficulties of the descent if two companions were to turn
— having feared to adventure it in apart for a moment, though they

her company, was I now to go were both immortal, and were to
lonely? continue forward on their different
She realized my mind with a ways, seeking each other for a
sympathy which was without com- million million of aeons, they would
prehension, as one might sympa- be eternally separate, with a sep-
thize with pain who had never felt aration which would increase
it. Perceiving it, she met it with through all eternity? That is evi-
all her strength of will and reason, dent; but it is also incredible . . .
as she had fought the mind of our Can you not learn to become fear-
recent opponent. less of circumstance, so that you
"Did you not say yourself that may find the freedom of living,
THE WORLD BELOW 109

and learn die joy of that liberty?” that life is only good while we re-
So her mind struck, thought for gard it lightly?”
thought, against the confusion of At this she closed her mind, and
the thoughts I showed her. rose, and left me. She gave no sign
Then she added, "I will do that of regret, or of farewell, nor did
which I can to secure the safety of she hasten nor loiter.
the body which you value so great- She left me with no further hope
ly. I will ask my Leaders for their of her vitality to give me strength,
help when I rejoin them. If we or spirit to give me confidence,
should be allied in the war
still with a feeling of loneliness and
which coming, it will be a slight
is despair such as I had not felt be-
thing require it. But does it
to fore, even in this strange and hos-
matter so greatly? Is it not true tile world.

Chapter Fourteen
LOVE AND WAR
O WE parted. Of the months sons, had become an artery of

S that followed I do not write traffic. For many weeks I lived a
in detail for sufficient reason. I did furtive life of lurking peril. I fed
not go straight down, as I had at instant risk of detection, and
hoped to do. Time after time I slept without assurance of safety,
was driven aside to avoid detec- On one Level, I went not only in
tion. Under the stress of war the fear of the Dwellers, but of other
spiral which had been comparative- vermin, larger and better-armed
ly little used, except at certain sea- than myself, that maintained a tol-
THE WORLD BELOW 111

crated, existence in a place that was like substance, ductile to the shape
given over to the incineration of of the body they held — firmly as in
garbage. a vice, and yet with an almost
Once I spent a period which I cushionlike softness.
cannot estimate, without food or
water, in the interior of a machine WAS laid so that I hung a few
of which I did not know the pur- I feet over the edge of a table,
pose, nor how or when it might suspended sideways in the grip-
become active to my destruction. ping jaws.
There I lay, watching with sleep- Expecting that death or mutila-
less vigilance for a moment when tion were only delayed for a mo-
I might hope to escape unnoticed. ment, I found myself roused to a
Concerning much I am silent, vivid consciousness of the moving
because it could be nothing more drama around me. I can see it still,
than a confused narrative of inex- in every detail, as, for several hours,
plicable things. I surveyed it.
During the whole time I was War had invaded the laboratory,
conscious that the war continued, and had become a theatre of
it
and was maintained at an in-

that it operations,the most seriously in-
creasing cost of life and effort. jured bodies in which life still
In the end, when I had passed lingered being brought down this
the Division (at which point the great distance for the facilities
gravitation changes, being about which it provided.

four hundred and fifty miles be- 'Those who had sought to post-
low the surface), and, after many pone the desire of death by search-
delays and deflections, had reached ing for curious knowledge in the
the place I sought in the Lower bodies of other creatures were now
Levels, when
was at the very
I working with a recovered energy
threshold domain of the
of the to repair those of their younger
Seekers of Wisdom, a moment's fellows. Those who had boasted
incautious boldness betrayed me, that their youth was of an invin-
and I was seen and captured. I cible immortality were now being
found myself held in pincers such carried in, broken or maimed or
as those in which I had seen the in divided parts, to be repaired or
writhing body of Templeton, and rejected. And those who were past
was carried thus into the great lab- repair were not cast aside for fire
oratory, and laid aside as my captor or corruption to feed upon them,
was called to a more urgent occu- but the portions of their bodies
pation. which were still sound were used
The pincers were not uncomfort- for the repair of their more light-
able. Their jaws were of a rubber- ly-injured companions, and for this

purpose (if not immediately re- It was in tribute to that dom-
quired) they were hurried into a inating vitality that the attendants
freezing-chamber, if possible be- paused work, the conscious-
in their
fore life had Entirely left them. ness of my own peril left my mind,
I saw a surgeon stoop over a and the dying turned to regard her,
body which had been bitten through as she gave her thought to the
at the waist, so that it was almost surgeon who was bending to ob-
entirely severed, and give a gesture serve her injuries.
of negation, on which it disap-
peared at once in the direction <<rnHE*tide is turned” (and the
from which bodies, or parts of % -L thought was less a speech
bodies were being brought and than a song of victory), "the tide
thawed as they were required for is turned, and we have found the
the repairing of others; muscles, way that will triumph. Eight of
or bones, or missing organs being them we have brought down in the
grafted upon those who retained place of fighting, on the Grey
sufficient life to connect them. ’Beaches of the Amphibians eight —
On the distant surface of the we have brought down, and the
world the fighting must have been rest are scattered . . . Tell the
of a desperate character, for while women from me that everyone who
I was laid and forgotten a
aside is above the Youth of Motherhood
succession wounded, most of
of is to go upward. It is the last order
them with ghastly injuries, were I give them. There are better things
brought in, tilb it seemed that the than the delights of the Five Ap-
ample floor of the laboratory would proaches. Tell them that I have
be too small to contain them. found death, and I do not fear it.”
One of the last was a woman. Her eyes met those of the surgeon
I had only known her before in who was considering her injuries,
a moment's vision, but I could not and her thought was derisive. "Can
forget or mistake that flame of life you not see that I am spoiled be-
as I had seen it assert defiant youth yond your mending? Am I one who
against the deepest laws of the would walk crutched, who have
Universe which conceived it. And been the Center of Circles? You
the flame of life was still there, will pass me very quickly into the
and Still unconquered, though the Place of Freezing. There are two
body was torn and opened, soiled women that follow whom you may
with filth from the upper surface of repair from that which is unin-
the earth which had been the place jured, if you lose no time in the
of its conflict, and discolored in doing. You will not wait till I
places to a sulphurous yellow from die . . .?” I was aware of a note of

the action of its antagonist. protest in the mind of the surgdfcn
THE WORLD BELOW 113

—
tli.il met her own, and was swept her thought swept the other pro-
aside, weak as a bird’s wind in the tests aside to reach the form that
tempest. It was not his protest was behind her. "You who would
alone, but that of all, the injured have come a thousand miles had I
and the attendants, who heard her. called you? Who would have wait-
There was one thought that broke ed to know my pleasure like a
through like a cry of agony, and crouching dog. You have followed
called my attention to a wounded well where the stings were strik-
form from which it came, which ing. Will you follow now where I
had been carried in behind her. lead you?”
"
With a surprise of recognition, I "Yes,” he said, I will gladly
l
knew my captor of the first-night follow.”

he who had called in sleep for that There was no further protest. I
which he would never gain. heard the gates withdrawn, and
But their thoughts were beaten the two litters, with their living
down by the indignation with burdens, passed into the Place of
which she perceived them. "Do Freezing.
you think to thwart my will be- I saw that xons pass, but Love
cause I am fallen?” It seemed that and War will continue.

Chapter Fifteen
RELEASE
REMAINED for several hours the bodies of some of the less hope-
I gripped in that soft inflexible lessly injured with the limbs or
pressure, knowing not what of organs of those who were them-
death or torture or mutilation I selves beyond saving.
must undergo when they had But the time came when the
leisure for my insignificance, and pincers were lifted once again, and
watching with an extraordinary I was aware of the hatefully im-
mental clarity and aloofness the partial eyes which considered my
operations by which they built up destiny. At this extremity of peril
THE WORLD BELOW IIS

I recalled the methods of the Am- There was no hair, long or short,
phibians. Desperately I fought for left upon me. Even my hands
the self-control which could not
I showed an unaccustomed bareness.
gain: desperately I fought to reach I looked round, and I cannot say
some contact the mind on
with what I saw. It is best forgotten.
which my fate But I
depended. I will only say that Harry Brett
failed utterly. was natural for

It was in an opposite cage, and
the creatures he examined to pro- though I called to him, he did not
test and struggle, and the fact did know me. He was quite mad, and
not interest his mind. My thoughts itwas true that he was quite happy.
were nothing to him, and he did Like a child, he enjoyed to watch
not heed them. the color of his flesh change . . .
but I have resolved that I will not
BUT I was more fortunate than

Templeton. Instead of being
immersed in the jars, I was
tell it.
... A Dweller passed before

my cage, thinking slowly and clear-
plunged immediately into the white ly.He inquired for a Primitive of
light which had condemned him. the False-skin Age who was
The sensation was not unpleasant claimed by the Amphibians. With
— might, indeed, be described as a stir of hope I responded.
ecstatic for a mind untroubled. After a moment’s questioning,
My body tingled with life. Looking he allowed my identity. He told
down, I was conscious of a new me, "You are released at the re-
nakedness. I could see everything quest of the Leaders of the Am-
which my body held, and yet phibians. There has been fighting
through them. The activities in on the Grey Beaches, at which they
every vein were transparent. helped us to conquer. They might
I was held there for some time, have had what they would, but
and then lifted out, examined, and they asked for this thing only.” He
plunged back for a further period. looked at me with more curiosity
When I expected to be thrown than contempt, and I knew that he
aside, I was carried, still held in would have cut me open without
that vice-like grip, to a further scruple had he felt free to do so,
room, where I was thrust into one to discover the secret of my im-
of a great number of little cages portance. He went on, "You are to
which lined its walls. be given to the Seekers of Wis-
I considered my andposition, dom. You will be safe with them
was not sure that I plight not come so long as you tell them some new
to envy even the fate of Temple- thing continually ... It needn’t be
ton. The operation I had under- true —
that doesn’t matter,” he
gone had already disfigured me. added more to himself than to me.
lit GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

H
and
E LIFTED me from
and walked on
I trotted
the cage,
at a quiet pace,
behind him.
we know that
long to remain in harmony with
the changes which a generation
many of us live too
I was with the Seekers of Wis- brings. I could not see that their
dom many months, till the year was own methods of life were as far
completed. advanced as they thought them.
During that time I was examined Yet the reactions of their minds
incessantly on every detail of the will not leave me as they learnt of
civilization from which I came. I the filth of our polluted rivers, and
defended it as best I might, and I the pall of our blinded skies.
explained it where I was able. But I must still see, as they saw them,
I found that I knew few things the pity of our neglected land, the
thoroughly, and my explanations folly that leaves our fields half
halted contihually, I met a readier barren while the shadow of starva-
understanding of social life from tion is but ten years distant, the
creatures which were more after my foulness of our congested cities, the
own kind than had been possible insane worship of movement which
to die Amphibian mind, but I was leaves its thousands slain or
still vexed by the contempt with maimed unpitied in our bloody
which my race was regarded. I re- streets . . .
flected that the antipathy which we But to write of these things in

feel for anything which is differ- detailwould be to begin a book
ent from our own customs might when it is time for the ending.
be theirs also, and that they might I lost the count of days, and the
be less than fair to us in conse- time came unlooked-for when the

quence. Brief as our own lives are, year was over . . .
THE WORLD BELOW 117

Chapter Sixteen
RETURN
*< T'VANTBY,” I said, “you might ity, beforejl commenced the experi-
LJ fetch me an overcoat.” ment of travel into the unbelievably
Having been provided with this distant future,
useful garment, I sat once more at The hand was now at seven mih-
the familiar fireside. utes after the hour.
looked at the clock, which had
I had noticed a lump of
I half-
indicated three minutes after eight burnt coal that had poised peril-
when I had shaken hands with the ously over the top bar of the grate
Professor, with a disliked solemn- as I had risen to leave them. It
11 • GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

broke now, as I gazed, and fell asked for an overcoat only. I need
noisily into the ashpan. a skull-cap.”
—
Yes it was the same lire the — But it was not only that I was
same night. It would be no use to so utterly hairless. My face was
tell them. different —younger, and more virile,
And yet I saw that they were and there was a subtle change in
impatient for me to begin, but how the eyes, which I could not define.
could I? How could I expect them It was the face of a stranger.
to believe ? I became conscious also of a

And so much was beyond the bodily alertness and vigor, very dif-
reach of words to tell it. ferent from the physical conditions
"Did you find them?” said the of the earlier evening.
Professor, with a note of suppressed "It may grow,” he answered
anxiety in his voice which would mildly.
have been less surprising from one I don’t think he was hopeful. I
of the others, and which reminded know I wasn't.
me that the question was not mere- "I think you’ve made me a freak
ly of my own adventures. I realized for this world. Perhaps I’d better
lhe different values of that room go back,” I said, thoughtlessly.
from those of the world that I had "Would you go forward again?”
left behind (or ages and ages be- The Professor’s voice was eager.
fore) me. "I don’t know ” I began,
"I’m afraid you won’t see them doubtfully.

again,” I answered. "Templeton is "Isn’t he the principal witness
dead. Brett is insane, and can't live for the defense?" Bryant interpo-
much longer. They are torturing lated. "You need his help against
him horribly. At least, I don’t the charge of doing away with
know whether that is a fair word. Brett and Templeton.”
He enjoys being tortured.” "I think,” said the Professor, "he
Then I told them, in a confused might better be described as the
way, with many interruptions and sole witness for the prosecution.
discursions. Frequently I saw the But I don’t think that we have any
doubt in the eyes of one or other, legal responsibility. They took the
and then they looked at me, and risk freely. Besides, they’re not
something in my appearance caused dead yet — Of course, we’re all
the doubt to die. sorry, but exploration is always

hazardous. Really,” he said serious-
ROSE, and looked in the pier- ly, "we have postponed their deaths
I glass. for a rather long period,”
"Professor,” with a mo-
I said, Certainly, the legal position was
ment’s bitterness, "I shouldn’t have somewhat complicated, but I felt
THE WORLD BELOW 119

that there must be a flaw in the Why hadn’t they gone themselves,
argument somewhere. I couldn’t instead of passing on the risk to
help the retort, "Just as you’ve pro- others? "The police are most
longed the life of my hair for the painstaking in these matters, espe-
same period.” cially when one of their own num-
The Professor was not often dis- ber is concerned. You mustn’t for-
concerted, but this silenced him for get that Templeton was a retired
a moment. Then "But you
he»said, inspector. Why not divert their
have come back, and they have not. minds to the cellar? —
few bricksa
Surely, even you can see the differ- out of place, and a little soil, and
ence.” just a trace of quicklime. They'd
"I would rather see my hair never miss that . . . They’ll dig for
where it used to be.” a week.”
"Hair,” said the Professor, "has I saw that the Professor thought
become a useless parasitic growth, my levity was ill-timed. There was
which we are in process of discard- nothing new in that. But Bryant
ing. You are only ahead of your gave a fresh turn to the discussion.
time.” "You say that Brett isn’t dead? Sup-
"A bald head,” I replied, and pose he comes back while the in-
felt the joke was out of place as I vestigation’s proceeding?"
spoke it. The Professor ignored me, We looked at one another in
and Bryant reverted to the earlier consternation. In the condition in
discussion. "I don’t see how we which I had seen him last he would
can have any legal trouble, though be an awkward fact to explain to
it may be awkard to explain the the official mind. I imagined the
disappearances of two guests in sarcasm of the prosecuting counsel
succession.Mrs. Brett will have as I told my tale in the witness-
something to say. But isn’t there a box. Doubtless, the dock would
law that you can’t accuse anyone follow.
of murder unless you can exhibit The Professor was the only one
a body?’’ who was at all unmoved by the
"I believe that is so,” said the hopeful suggestion.
Professor, with relief in his voice. "He cannot return now. Were
"I suppose that is why they always he doing so, he would have been
dig up the garden." back before tonight.”
"I have no doubt he is dead.” I
HIS young Danby. ”1
T
Not till
roused
"They won’t dig up this one
the bulbs are over."
added,
finished
"Yes,”
think
him when
said the
they had
I saw him.”
Professor,
nearly
"he
"Oh, but they will,” I retorted. will die during the year.” He was
I felt that they deserved that much. the only one of us who was not

—
confused in his tenses. He thought tage over a less experienced ad-
a moment, and then turned to me venturer.’’
seriously. "I regret the capillary He looked for my reply with a
singularity ofwhich you complain, very real anxiety, and I answered
but you will admit that you did not slowly.
go without warning. I am about to "I will write the book willingly,
ask you a further favor. I want you but as to going again well, I —
to write a careful narrative of your wouldn’t do it alone. Perhaps, if
experiences, making it as accurate your daughter Clara would come
as is possible to your journalistic with me . .
mind. For this narrative, if it be ''Clara!” exclaimed the Professor.

written' promptly and clearly, I will "Yes,” I said, "she might . . . I
give you £2000. I shall publish it know her better than you do . . .
— as fiction, if necessary —
and may I’ll think it over.”
recover the money. And so, here is the book. It isn’t
"Afterwards, I hope that, in the all I saw or heard, and it leaves

interests of science, rather than for much unexplained. How can a year
any prospective pecuniary advan- of such experiences be dearly told,
tage, you will consent to explore or crowded into a single volume?
this strange world somewhat fur- But I have
tried to be accurate.
ther. You have shown considerable As adventuring once again
to
adroitness in avoiding its dangers, well, depends on Clara. I’ll ask
it
and you will have a great advan- her now.
... ^Jle
THE WORLD BELOW 121

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JHE WORLD

THE WORLD BELOW

a master of science fiction continues the adventures

of the Time Traveler in Earth's inconceivably remote

future . . . the world as strangely different from ours

as ours is from the world of dinosaurs!

(( You'll find here, too, the incredibly alien life of

ages yet to come . . . including the Amphibian

knowable being who is probably the most enigmatic

female character in all science fiction.

C[ If you missed the first volume, you can order it

from World Editions, Inc., 105 West 40th Street,

New York 18, at 25 ( a copy — no mailing or han-

dling charge. Or you can read THE WORLD BELOW

CT A beauty, let us add, considered by experts as

one of the greatest science fiction novels ever

The World Below

A pulse-pumping, mind-prodding sequel to THE

masterpiece of Earth’s far-distant future

WORLD EDITIONS, INC.

Copyright, 1949 by Shasta Publishers

Published by Arrangement with,

Printed In the United States of America

cept it is almost unparalleled in super-science, but are fatigued and

GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL '

8 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

HE had had from end

.THE WORLD BELOW 9

seen; reviewing —not without some I thought thus, my com-

equally ignorant. upon her body for its vigor, and

10 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

given it?” will be wiser for us to conserve the

THE WORLD BELOW 11

Dwellers come up through the in- sufficient arguments to justify your

12 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

am not resisting your plan. I am less a possibility than an expecta-

THE WORLD BELOW 13

14 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

and itwas twelve miles in breadth the cliffs, may be

THE WORLD BELOW 15

16 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

word, when silence is of an equal we could find it amid the ashes.

significance. “Beyond this, I think that the

THE WORLD BELOW 17

18 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

This we tried, and for many its width, and my

THE WORLD BELOW 19

was in darkness now, following was accustomed to encounter peril,

20 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

left,and we ran up something that of woodland of great trees, the

but the faint light of dawn was remarked to my companion, before

THE WORLD BELOW 21

22 GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

clumsy, as they did so, with no under water.

THE WORLD BELOW 23

sign of their presence. case the distance would be beyond

was always hurtful, friend-

At last she told me, "It is in my ly and entirely reasonable though