The Man in the Cavern
A
s the of the clock died out across the Plains of Ofrid, a man opened his on the away and saw for the time the place in which he had one hundred years.
He with neither but with a of wonder. He slowly from the great upon which he had and allowed his attention to about the place in which he himself.
In the opposite the there was set a full length and as the man he saw himself for the time; a tall, broadly-muscled of proportions. Completely naked, his was as perfection in every detail.
For a moments, the man at the as though it to someone else. Then he spoke musingly. "You did your work well, Portox, my friend."
The of his own voice him but not so much so as the of the words. A touched his face. Who was Portox? And what work had he done? What place was this—and for that matter, who was he himself, this which looked at him from the mirror?
The questions were he that he the answers. Yet they would not come of his mind.
He had little time to this at that moment he aware of a second presence in the room. He turned. A man just the open door.
The one at the other with an that left no room for self-consciousness shame. "Who are you?" he asked.
"My name is John Pride," the man answered. He was a man of and though there was wonder and in his voice he himself with a dignity. "And now," he added, "may I ask you the same question?"
The man looked at his own and for the time of its nudity. He around the room and saw a of across a chair by the bed. He over and the and put it on. As he was the rich around his he looked at John Pride and said, "I do not know. I do not know."
John Pride said, "I have what I would in this cavern—wondered through the years. Only in my did I tell myself that a human—or a creature—awaited me here. But now I this is true."
The man his visitor with a that any them. John Pride noted this with and respect. The man said, "Won't you be seated?" and when his guest was comfortable, him with a smile. "Perhaps there are some we should talk over."
"Perhaps there are. You say you do not know your own name?"
"That only to up my ignorance. I am not only of my identity but I haven't the of what this place is—where it is—or how I came here."
It was John Pride's turn to stare. While doing so, he the man keenly. He saw and an that him. There was something almost in the clean lines of the he had and in the face. These with what he already knew, him and he to approach this with an open mind and not play the role of the cynic. It was time to go ahead.
John Pride said, "First, are you aware that there is another in this mansion—or was?"
"I did not know this was a mansion. It only one room."
"It is an set in the forest."
"This other one—?"
"A very old man. He died as I here tonight."
"You do not know his name or how came he here?"
"I have a idea."
The man's in thought. "A while ago you said you have through the years as to what you would in this room. That you were aware of its existence."
"True. Perhaps at this point I had tell you the complete story—as much of it as I know."
"I would be in your debt."
"No, I will be the last of a very old obligation."
With that, John Pride took from his pocket a small leather book. He it gently, almost with affection, and said, "This was my father's notebook. In it, is an account of this affair, put by my great and through the line. When my father died he it in my hand saying it an and personal and it was my as well as his.
"I have read the account of what many times and with your permission I will put it into my own words. Then, when I am done, I will give you the book and the will be over so as I and my family are concerned."
John Pride had settled in his chair and was just to when the man up a hand. "Just one moment—please," he said, and a look of came upon his face. Then he on and his took the of a rhyme:
"An ape, a boar, a stallion,
A land the stars.
A virgin's feast, a beast,
A prison without bars."
He and added: "I don't know why I was to that at just this moment but there is something about it. Strange in that I have a it was to me at some long time in the past. I that it is very to me. Yet I know not who me the what it means."
"That is in this book and I I know how it entered your mind and memory. I too, that I how you are able to with me though you know nothing of this land or this room," John Pride said quietly.
"Then tell me!"
"I think it that I start at the than give you the piece-meal. That way, your mind will be able to and to judge."
"I your pleasure," the man said with he to conceal.
"Very well," John Pride said, his with a far-away look.
