[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

But when we asked Naani whether she had an unusualness in this matter, she
could discover none; and we could but take note curiously of that which
affected my habits; and which truly I set to the attracting of her spirit; for
I had mind that she did be somewheres out that way in the darkness of the
world; but yet was this no more than to suppose, as you perceive.
And the Master Monstruwacan wrote a study of this matter of the Northwardness
of my turning; and it was set out in the HourSlips of the Tower of
Observation; and so it came to be copied by the HourSlips of the great cities,
and made much comment, and much calling up to me through the home instruments;
so that with this, and the speech that went about concerning my powers to
hear, I was much in talk, and diversely pleased and oft angered by overmuch
attention and importunity.
And now, whilst I pondered this matter in all my spirit and being, how that I
should some way come to Naani, there befell a very terrible thing. And in this
Page 33
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
wise must I tell it:
It was at the seventeenth hour, when all the millions of the Mighty Pyramid
slept, that I was with the Master
Monstruwacan in the Tower of Observation taking my due turn. And sudden, I
heard the thrilling of the aether all about me, and the voice of Naani in my
soul, speaking. And I sent the MasterWord into the darkness of the world, and
presently, I heard the solemn answer beating steadfastly in the night; and
immediately I called to Naani with my brainelements, to know what thing
troubled her in her sleep.
And her voice came into my spirit, weak and far and faint, and so that scarce
I could make to hear the words.
Yet, in a while I gathered that all the peoples of the Lesser Redoubt were in
very deadly trouble; for that the
EarthCurrent had failed suddenly and mightily; and they had called her from
her sleep, that she might listen whether we answered their callings by the
Instrument; but, indeed, no calling had come to us.
And they who had been of late so joyful, were now grown old with sorrow in but
an hour or two; for they feared that the fresh coming of the EarthCurrent had
been but the final flicker and outburst before the end.
And, even in this short while of our speech, did it seem to me that the voice
of Naani grew further off from me; and I felt like to have broken my heart
with the trouble of this thing.
And through all that remained of that sleeptime, did I converse with Naani, as
might two lovers who shall presently part forever. And when the cities awoke,
the news went throughout them, and all our millions were in sorrow and
trouble.
And thus was it for, maybe, a little month; and in that time had the voice of
Naani grown so weak and faroff that even I that had the NightHearing, could
scarce make real its meaning. And every word was to me a treasure and a touch
upon my soul; and my grief and trouble before this certain parting drove me
that I could not eat, neither have rest; and this did the Master Monstruwacan
take upon him to chide and correct; for that, The Night Land
IV. THE HUSHING OF THE VOICE
30
if any were to help, how should it be done if I that had the NightHearing, and
heard even now that the recording Instruments were dumb, came to illhealth.
And because of this, and such wisdom as was mine, I made to eat and order my
life that I might have my full powers. Yet was this beyond all my strength;
for, presently, I knew that the people of the Lesser Pyramid were threatened
by the monsters that beset them; and later I had knowledge from faint, far
words whispered in my brain, that there had been a fight with an outside Force
that had harmed many in their minds; so that in madness they had opened the
gate and had run from the Lesser Pyramid, out into the darkness of the Lands
about them; and there had their physical bodies fallen to the monsters of
those Lands; but of their souls who may know?
And this, we set assuredly to the failure of the EarthCurrent, which had
robbed them of all force and power;
so that, in those few weeks all life and joy of living had left them; and
neither hunger nor thirst had they, much, nor any great desire to live; but
yet a new and mighty fear of death. And this doth seem very strange.
And, as may be thought, all this made the Peoples of the Great Redoubt think
newly of the EarthCurrent that issued from the  Crack" beneath the Pyramid;
and of their latter end; so that much was writ in the HourSlips concerning
this matter; yet in the main to assure us that we ourselves might each be free
from a disturbed heart; though some went foolishly to the other event, and
spoke of a speedy danger to us, likewise; as is ever the way. But the truth of
our own case lay, maybe, somewhere between.
And all the HourSlips were full also of imaginings of the terror of those poor
Page 34
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
humans out in the darkness of the world, facing that end which must come upon
all, even upon our mighty Pyramid; though, as most would believe, so far away
in some future eternity, that we have no cause to trouble.
And there were sad poems writ to the peoples of that Lesser Redoubt, and
foolish plans set about to rescue them; but none to put them to effect; and no
way by which so great a thing might be done; and doth but show how loosely
people will speak out of an oversecurity. Yet to me, there had come a certain
knowledge that I
must make the adventure, though I achieved naught save mine own end. Yet, it
were better to cease quickly, than that I should feel, as now I did feel.
That same night, in the Eighteenth Hour, there was a great disturbance in the
aether about the Mighty
Pyramid; and I was awakened suddenly by the Master Monstruwacan; that I might
use my gift of the
NightHearing to hearken for the throbbing of the MasterWord, which they had
thought to come vaguely through the Instruments; but no one of the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]