The Moon Pool
Da Costa, who had come by either of us, now me on the arm.
"Doctair Goodwin," he said, "can I see you in my cabin, sair?"
At last, then, he was going to speak. I him.
"Doctair," he said, when we had entered, "this is a thing that has to Olaf. Veree strange. An' the of Ponape, they have been very much excite' lately.
"Of what they I know nothing, nothing!" Again that quick, of himself. "But this I have to tell you. There came to me from Ranaloa last month a man, a Russian, a doctair, like you. His name it was Marakinoff. I take him to Ponape an' the there they will not take him to the Nan-Matal where he wish to go—no! So I take him. We in a boat, wit' much up. I him there wit' the an' the food. He tell me to tell no one an' pay me not to. But you are a friend an' Olaf he much upon you an' so I tell you, sair."
"You know nothing more than this, Da Costa?" I asked. "Nothing of another expedition?"
"No," he his vehemently. "Nothing more."
"Hear the name Throckmartin while you were there?" I persisted.
"No," his were as he answered but the had again into his face.
I was not so sure. But if he more than he had told me why was he to speak? My and later I from it by the to O'Keefe.
"A Russian, eh," he said. "Well, they can be nice, or damned—otherwise. Considering what you did for me, I I can look him over the Dolphin up."
Next we Ponape, without incident, and the Suwarna and the Brunhilda had in the harbour. Upon the and of the natives, when we among them for and to us, I will not dwell. It is to say that no payment we offered a single one of them to go to the Nan-Matal. Nor would they say why.
Finally it was that the Brunhilda should be left in of a half-breed Chinaman, Da Costa and Huldricksson and trusted. We her long-boat up with my and food and equipment. The Suwarna took us around to Metalanim Harbour, and there, with the of sea in the water us, and the up out of the mangroves, a mile from us, left us.
Then with Huldricksson our small sail, and Larry at the rudder, we the that into the depths, and at last into the that Throckmartin, on his map, had marked as that which, Nan-Tauach and its islet, Tau, to the gate of the place of mysteries.
And as we entered that we were by a silence; a so intense, so—weighted that it to have substance; an that and and still from us—the living. It was a stillness, such as might the long of millions into the grave; it was—paradoxical as it may be—filled with the of life.
Standing in the of the Great Pyramid I had something of such silence—but such as this. Larry it and I saw him look at me askance. If Olaf, in the bow, it, too, he gave no sign; his eyes, with again the of ice them, the us.
As we passed, there upon our left of black blocks, cyclopean, fifty or more, here and there by the of their foundations.
In of us the out and the canal. On our right the of Tau, and and set with a cold, mathematical that me with awe, by. Through I of dark and of great that to and us, as we passed. Somewhere there, hidden, were the seven that the moon fire upon the Moon Pool.
Now we were among the and, sail down, the three of us pushed and the through their and branches. The noise of our the like a profanation, and from the came murmurs—forbidding, sinister. And now we were through, on a little open space of shadow-filled water. Before us the of Nan-Tauach, gigantic, broken, old; through which had passed men and of earth's dawn; old with a weight of years that pressed upon the that looked upon it, and yet was in some way—menacingly defiant.
Beyond the gate, from the portals, a of slabs, a giant's indeed; and from each of it the high that were the Dweller's pathway. None of us spoke as we the and it upon a half-submerged pier. And when we did speak it was in whispers.
"What next?" asked Larry.
"I think we ought to take a look around," I in the same low tones. "We'll climb the here and take a about. The whole place ought to be plain as day from that height."
Huldricksson, his alert, nodded. With the we up the blocks.
To the east and south of us, set like children's in the of the sea, of islets, none of them more than two square miles of surface; each of them a perfect square or its protecting walls.
On none was there of life, save for a great that here and there, and in the beyond.
We our upon the on which we stood. It was, I estimated, about three-quarters of a mile square. The sea it. It was an basalt-sided open cube, and it two other open cubes. The the and second was paved, with here and there a and long benches. The hibiscus, the tree, and a number of small had place, but only to its loneliness.
"Wonder where the Russian can be?" asked Larry.
I my head. There was no of life here. Had Marakinoff gone—or had the Dweller taken him, too? Whatever had happened, there was no of him us or on any of the our range of vision. We the of the gateway. Olaf looked at me wistfully.
"We start the search now, Olaf," I said. "And first, O'Keefe, let us see the is here. After that we will set up camp, and while I unpack, you and Olaf search the island. It won't take long."
Larry gave a look at his service and grinned. "Lead on, Macduff," he said. We our way up the steps, through the and into the square, I to a fire of scientific and with a that O'Keefe's analysis might be true. Would we the moving and, if so, would it be as Throckmartin had described? If so, then Larry would have to admit that here was something that of and would not explain; and the test of the whole would be passed. But if not—And there us, the of setting it from its of basalt, was the moon door!
There was no it. This was, in very deed, the portal through which Throckmartin had pass that he called the Dweller. At its was the curious, cup-like which, my friend had told me, the opening door swung.
What was that portal—more than was sphinx? And what it? What did that stone, of ages-old of time opening out into alien, vistas, hide? It had cost the world of science Throckmartin's great brain—as it had cost Throckmartin those he loved. It had me to it in search of Throckmartin—and its had upon the of Olaf the Norseman; and upon what thousands upon thousands more I wondered, since the that had it had with their knowledge?
What it?
I out a hand and touched the surface of the slab. A passed through my hand and arm, and as unpleasant; as of electric the very of cold. O'Keefe, watching, my action. As his rested on the his with astonishment.
"It's the door?" he asked. I nodded. There was a low from him and he pointed up toward the top of the stone. I the and saw, above the moon door and on each of it, two of rock, a in diameter.
"The moon door's keys," I said.
"It to look so," answered Larry. "If we can them," he added.
"There's nothing we can do till moonrise," I replied. "And we've none too much time to prepare as it is. Come!"
A little later we were our boat. We it, set up the tent, and as it was now but a hour to I them me and make their search. They off together, and I myself with opening some of the I had with me.
First of all I took out the two Becquerel ray-condensers that I had in Sydney. Their would and to the any light upon them. I had them most useful in making analysis of vapours, and I that at Yerkes Observatory results had been from them in the of the for the same purpose.
If my of the slab's were correct, it was that with the only a nights past the full we light on the to open the rock. And as the through the seven by Throckmartin would be too weak to the Pool, we enter the free from any of its tenant, make our and go the moon had so that the in the would that necessary to keep the portal from closing.
I took out also a small spectroscope, and a other for the analysis of light and the of metal and liquid. Finally, I put my medical kit.
I had and these O'Keefe and Huldricksson returned. They reported of a at least ten days old the northern of the court, but that no of others ourselves on Nan-Tauach.
We prepared supper, ate and talked a little, but for the most part were silent. Even Larry's high were not in evidence; a dozen times I saw him take out his and look it over. He was more than I had him. Once he into the tent, about a and out another which, he said, he had got from Da Costa, and a half-dozen of cartridges. He passed the gun over to Olaf.
At last a in the the moon. I up my and the medical kit; Larry and Olaf each a that was part of my equipment, and, with our electric pointing the way, walked up the great stairs, through the enclosures, and to the stone.
By this time the moon had and its light full upon the slab. I saw pass over it as of phosphorescence—but so were they that I not be sure of the truth of my observation.
We set the in place. Olaf I to the door and watch for the of its opening—if open it should. The Becquerels were set three-inch tripods, I had with to them to fast to the rock.
I one and a over the boss; descended; sent Larry up to watch it, and, the second ladder, the other in its place. Then, with O'Keefe on his perch, I on mine, and Olaf's upon the moon door, we our vigil. Suddenly there was an from Larry.
"Seven little lights are to on this stone!" he cried.
But I had already those my to out with a lustre. Swiftly the the to and increase, and as they did so the seven small circles like out of the dusk, and with a queer—curdled is the best word I can to it—radiance to me.
Beneath me I a faint, and then the voice of Huldricksson:
"It opens—the turns—"
I to climb the ladder. Again came Olaf's voice:
"The stone—it is open—" And then a shriek, a of and pity, of and despair—and the of through the me!
I to the ground. The moon door was wide open, and through it I a of a with a faint, light like dawn. But of Olaf I see—nothing! And as I stood, gaping, from me came the of a rifle; the of the at Larry's into fragments; he to the ground, the in his hand once, twice, into the darkness.
And the moon door to slowly, slowly into its place!
I toward the with the wild idea of it open. As I my hands against it there came at my a and an and Larry under the impact of a that had itself at his throat. He at the lip of the cup at the of the slab, upon its curve, and rolled with that which had him, kicking and writhing, through the portal into the passage!
Forgetting all else, I to his aid. As I I the of the moon door my side. Then, as Larry a fist, it upon the temple of the man who had with him and rose from the to his feet, I past me a whisper; about as though some giant's hand had me—
The end of the no longer opened out into the square of Nan-Tauach. It was by a solid of stone. The moon door had closed!
O'Keefe took a step toward the us. There was no mark of with the walls; the into the as closely as a mosaic.
"It's all right," said Larry. "But if there's a way in, there's a way out. Anyway, Doc, we're right in the we've been for—so why worry?" He at me cheerfully. The man on the groaned, and he to his him.
"Marakinoff!" he cried.
At my he moved aside, the so I see it. It was Russian, and just as its was one of and intellect.
The strong, with developed, the dominant, high-bridged nose, the with their more than of cruelty, and the lines of the a black, pointed all gave that here was a the ordinary.
"Couldn't be else," said Larry, in on my thoughts. "He must have been us over there from Chau-ta-leur's all the time."
Swiftly he ran hands over his body; then erect, out to me two wicked-looking magazine pistols and a knife. "He got one of my through his right forearm, too," he said. "Just a wound, but it him his rifle. Some arsenal, our little Russian scientist, what?"
I opened my medical kit. The was a one, and Larry looking on as I it.
"Got another one of those condensers?" he asked, suddenly. "And do you Olaf will know to use it?"
"Larry," I answered, "Olaf's not outside! He's in here somewhere!"
His dropped.
"The you say!" he whispered.
"Didn't you him when the opened?" I asked.
"I him yell, yes," he said. "But I didn't know what was the matter. And then this jumped me—" He paused and his widened. "Which way did he go?" he asked swiftly. I pointed the passage.
"There's only one way," I said.
"Watch that bird close," O'Keefe, pointing to Marakinoff—and pistol in hand his long and away. I looked at the Russian. His were open, and he out a hand to me. I him to his feet.
"I have heard," he said. "We follow, quick. If you will take my arm, please, I am yet, yes—" I his without a word, and the two of us set off the after O'Keefe. Marakinoff was gasping, and his weight pressed upon me heavily, but he moved with all the will and that were in him.
As we ran I took note of the tunnel. Its were and polished, and the light to come not from their surfaces, but from them—giving to the an of and depth; them in a way—spacious. The passage turned, twisted, ran down, again. It came to me that the light that the was out by points the stone, from the points and spread upon their faces.
There was a from Larry ahead.
"Olaf!"
I Marakinoff's arm closer and we on. Now we were fast to the end of the passage. Before us was a high arch, and through it I a dim, shifting as of with rainbows. We the portal and I looked into a that might have been from that of the Jinn King that the magic of Kaf.
Before me O'Keefe and a dozen in of him, Huldricksson, with something in his arms. The Norseman's were at the of a shining, lip of a pool. And upon this like a eye, seven of light—one of them amethyst, one of rose, another of white, a fourth of blue, and three of emerald, of silver, and of amber. They each upon the surface, and I that these were the seven of radiance, which the Dweller took shape—now but of their when the full energy of the moon through them.
Huldricksson and on the lip of the Pool that which he held—and I saw that it was the of a child! He set it there so gently, over the and a hand into the water. And as he did so he and against the little that him. Instantly the moved—and over the into the blue. Huldricksson his over the stone, hands clutching, arms down—and from his a long-drawn, heart-shrivelling of pain and of that in it nothing human!
Close on its wake came a from Marakinoff.
"Catch him!" the Russian. "Drag him back! Quick!"
He forward, but he clear the distance, O'Keefe had too, had the Norseman by the and him backward, where he and sobbing. And as I Marakinoff I saw Larry over the lip of the Pool and his with a hand; saw the Russian into it with in his cold eyes.
Then I myself into the Moon Pool, and there, sinking, was a little and fixed, terror-filled looked into mine; and slowly, slowly—vanished! And I that this was Olaf's Freda, his yndling!
But where was the mother, and where had Olaf his babe?
The Russian was to speak.
"You have there, yes?" he asked, pointing toward my medical that I had and with me the the passage. I and it out.
"Hypodermic," he ordered next, curtly; took the syringe, it with its one one-hundredth of a dosage, and over Huldricksson. He rolled up the sailor's half-way to the shoulder. The arms were white with of that that I had on Throckmartin's where a of the Dweller had touched him; and his hands were of the same whiteness—like a pearl. Above the line of white, Marakinoff the needle.
"He will need all his can do," he said to me.
Then he into a about his and from it a small, of what to be lead. He opened it and let a of its on each arm of the Norwegian. The liquid and to spread over the skin much as oil or on water does—only more rapidly. And as it spread it a over the and little of rose from it. The Norseman's with agony. His hands clenched. The Russian gave a of at this, a little more of the liquid, and then, closely, again and back. Huldricksson's ceased, his upon Larry's knee, and from his arms and hands the withdrew.
Marakinoff and us—almost benevolently.
"He will all right be in five minutes," he said. "I know. I do it to pay for that of mine, and also we will need him. Yes." He to Larry. "You have a like a kick, my friend," he said. "Some time you pay me for that, too, eh?" He smiled; and the quality of the was not reassuring. Larry looked him over quizzically.
"You're Marakinoff, of course," he said. The Russian nodded, no at the recognition.
"And you?" he asked.
"Lieutenant O'Keefe of the Royal Flying Corps," Larry, saluting. "And this is Dr. Walter T. Goodwin."
Marakinoff's brightened.
"The American botanist?" he queried. I nodded.
"Ah," Marakinoff eagerly, "but this is fortunate. Long I have to meet you. Your work, for an American, is most excellent; surprising. But you are in your of the of the Angiospermae from Cycadeoidea dacotensis. Da—all wrong—"
I was him with heat, for my from the Cycadeoidea I to be my triumph, when Larry in upon me rudely.
"Say," he spluttered, "am I or are you? What in of a place and time is this to start an like that?
"Angiospermae, is it?" Larry. "HELL!"
Marakinoff again him with that air of benevolence.
"You have not the scientific mind, friend," he said. "The poonch, yes! But so has the mule. You must learn that only the is important—not you, not me, not this"—he pointed to Huldricksson—"or its sorrows. Only the fact, it is, is real, yes. But"—he to me—"another time—"
Huldricksson him. The big had to his and with Larry's arm supporting him. He out his hands to me.
"I saw her," he whispered. "I saw mine Freda when the swung. She there—just at my feet. I her up and I saw that mine Freda was dead. But I hoped—and I maybe mine Helma was here, too, So I ran with mine yndling—here—" His voice broke. "I maybe she was not dead," he on. "And I saw that"—he pointed to the Moon Pool—"and I I would her and she might live again. And when I my hands within—the life left them, and cold, cold, ran up through them into my heart. And mine Freda—she fell—" he his eyes, and his on O'Keefe's shoulder, stood, by that to tear at his very soul.
