Of the men, only the heads showed; but the dog was full figure; she was
sitting, apparently on a pedestal, her tongue was lolling out of her
mouth and her face of that gentle intelligence which only the Australian
shepherd is heir to. That is all--no more--nothing. If we had hoped to
discover anything through her medium we were disappointed. Instead of
clearing up, the whole thing had grown deeper.
I have said that it was the last night I was to have Jerome. I didn't
know it then. Jerome went out early in the morning. I went to bed. I
was not afraid in the daylight. I was certain now that the danger was
localised. As long as I kept out of that apartment I had nothing to
fear. Nevertheless, the thing was magnetic. A subtle weirdness pervaded
the building. I did not sleep soundly. I was lonely; the isolation was
crowding on me. In the afternoon I stepped out on the streets.
I have spoken of my experience with the conductor. On this day I had the
certainty of my isolation; it was startling. In the face of what I was
and what I had seen it was almost terrifying. It was the first time
I thought of sending for Hobart. I had thought I could hold out. The
complete suddenness of the thing set me to thinking. I thought of
Watson. It was the last phase, the feebleness, the wanness, the inertia!
He had been a far stronger man than I in the beginning.
I must cable Fenton. While I had still an ego in the presence of men, I
must reach out for help. It was a strange thing and inexplicable. I was
not invisible. Don't think that. I simply did not individualise. Men
didn't notice me--till I spoke. As if I was imperceptibly losing the
essence of self. I still had some hold on the world. While it remained I
must get word to Hobart. I did not delay. Straight to the office I went
and paid for the cable.
CANNOT HOLD OUT MUCH LONGER. COME AT ONCE.--HARRY.
I was a bit ashamed. I had hoped. I had counted upon myself. I
had trusted in the full strength of my individuality. I had been
healthy--strong--full blooded. On the fullness of vitality one would
live forever. There is no tomorrow. It was not a year ago. I was eighty.
It had been so with Watson. What was this subtle thing that ate into
one's marrow? I had read of banshees, lemures and leprechauns; they were
the ghosts and the fairies of ignorance but they were not like this. It
was impersonal, hidden, inexorable. It was mystery. And I believed that
it was Nature.
I know it now. Even as I write I can sense the potency of the force
about me. Some law, some principle, some force that science has not
uncovered.
What is that law that shall bridge the chaos between the mystic and the
substantial? I am standing on the bridge; and I cannot see it. What is
the great law that was discovered by Dr. Holcomb? Who is the Rhamda? Who
is the Nervina?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account