The Moon Pool A. Merritt (pdf ebook reader .txt) š
- Author: A. Merritt
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Had that overpowering sleepā āand now I confess that my struggle against it had been largely inspired by fear that it was the abnormal slumber which Throckmartin had described as having heralded the approach of the Dweller before it had carried away Thora and Stantonā āhad that sleep been after all nothing but natural reaction of tired nerves and brains?
And that last vision of the golden-eyed girl bending over Larry? Had that also been a delusion of an overstressed mind? Well, it might have been, I could not tell. At any rate, I decided, I would speak about it to OāKeefe once we were alone againā āand then giving myself up to the urge of buoyant well-being I shouted like a boy, stripped and joined the two in the pool. The water was warm and I felt the unwonted tingling of life in every vein increase; something from it seemed to pulse through the skin, carrying a clean vigorous vitality that toned every fibre. Tiring at last, we swam to the edge and drew ourselves out. The green dwarf quickly clothed himself and Larry rather carefully donned his uniform.
āThe Afyo Maie has summoned us, Doc,ā he said. āWeāre toā āwellā āI suppose youād call it breakfast with her. After that, Rador tells me, weāre to have a session with the Council of Nine. I suppose Yolara is as curious as any lady ofā āthe upper world, as you might put itā āand just naturally canāt wait,ā he added.
He gave himself a last shake, patted the automatic hidden under his left arm, whistled cheerfully.
āAfter you, my dear Alphonse,ā he said to Rador, with a low bow. The dwarf laughed, bent in an absurd imitation of Larryās mocking courtesy and started ahead of us to the house of the priestess. When he had gone a little way on the orchid-walled path I whispered to OāKeefe:
āLarry, when you were falling off to sleepā ādid you think you saw anything?ā
āSee anything!ā he grinned. āDoc, sleep hit me like a Hun shell. I thought they were pulling the gas on us. Iā āI had some intention of bidding you tender farewells,ā he continued, half sheepishly. āI think I did start āem, didnāt I?ā
I nodded.
āBut wait a minuteā āā he hesitated. āI had a queer sort of dreamā āā
āWhat was it?ā I asked eagerly.
āWell,ā he answered slowly, āI suppose it was because Iād been thinking ofā āGolden Eyes. Anyway, I thought she came through the wall and leaned over meā āyes, and put one of those long white hands of hers on my headā āI couldnāt raise my lidsā ābut in some queer way I could see her. Then it got real dreamish. Why do you ask?ā
Rador turned back toward us.
āLater,ā I answered, āNot now. When weāre alone.ā
But through me went a little glow of reassurance. Whatever the maze through which we were moving; whatever of menacing evil lurking thereā āthe Golden Girl was clearly watching over us; watching with whatever unknown powers she could muster.
We passed the pillared entrance; went through a long bowered corridor and stopped before a door that seemed to be sliced from a monolith of pale jadeā āhigh, narrow, set in a wall of opal.
Rador stamped twice and the same supernally sweet, silver bell tones ofā āyesterday, I must call it, although in that place of eternal day the term is meaninglessā ābade us enter. The door slipped aside. The chamber was small, the opal walls screening it on three sides, the black opacity covering it, the fourth side opening out into a delicious little walled gardenā āa mass of the fragrant, luminous blooms and delicately colored fruit. Facing it was a small table of reddish wood and from the omnipresent cushions heaped around it arose to greet usā āYolara.
Larry drew in his breath with an involuntary gasp of admiration and bowed low. My own admiration was as frankā āand the priestess was well pleased with our homage.
She was swathed in the filmy, half-revelant webs, now of palest blue. The corn-silk hair was caught within a wide-meshed golden net in which sparkled tiny brilliants, like blended sapphires and diamonds. Her own azure eyes sparkled as brightly as they, and I noted again in their clear depths the half-eager approval as they rested upon OāKeefeās lithe, well-knit figure and his keen, clean-cut face. The high-arched, slender feet rested upon soft sandals whose gauzy withes laced the exquisitely formed leg to just below the dimpled knee.
āSome giddy wonder!ā exclaimed Larry, looking at me and placing a hand over his heart. āPut her on a New York roof and sheād empty Broadway. Take the cue from me, Doc.ā
He turned to Yolara, whose face was somewhat puzzled.
āI said, O lady whose shining hair is a web for hearts, that in our world your beauty would dazzle the sight of men as would a little woman sun!ā he said, in the florid imagery to which the tongue lends itself so well.
A flush stole up through the translucent skin. The blue eyes softened and she waved us toward the cushions. Black-haired maids stole in, placing before us the fruits, the little loaves and a steaming drink somewhat the colour and odor of chocolate. I was conscious of outrageous hunger.
āWhat are you named, strangers?ā she asked.
āThis man is named Goodwin,ā said OāKeefe. āAs for me, call me Larry.ā
āNothing like getting acquainted quick,ā he said to meā ābut kept his eyes upon Yolara as though he were voicing another honeyed phrase. And so she took it, for: āYou must teach me your tongue,ā she murmured.
āThen shall I have two words where now I have one to tell you of your loveliness,ā he answered.
āAnd also thatāll take time,ā he spoke to me. āEssential occupation out of which we canāt be drafted to make these fun-loving
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