the moon pool-第10章

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and　never　a　heartache　after　that　wasn't　a　pleasant　one；　and

never　a　real　purpose　in　life　until　I　took　the　king's　shilling

and　earned　my　wings；　something　over　thirtyand　that's　me

Larry　O'Keefe。〃



〃But　it　was　the　Irish　O'Keefe　who　sat　out　there　waiting

for　the　banshee；〃　I　laughed。



〃It　was　that；〃　he　said　somberly；　and　I　heard　the　brogue

creep　over　his　voice　like　velvet　and　his　eyes　grew　brooding

again。　　〃There's　never　an　O'Keefe　for　these　thousand　years

that　has　passed　without　his　warning。　　An'　twice　have　I　heard

the　banshee　callingonce　it　was　when　my　younger　brother

died　an'　once　when　my　father　lay　waiting　to　be　carried　out

on　the　ebb　tide。〃



He　mused　a　moment；　then　went　on：　〃An'　once　I　saw　an

Annir　Choille；　a　girl　of　the　green　people；　flit　like　a　shade　of

green　fire　through　Carntogher　woods；　an'　once　at　Dun…

chraig　I　slept　where　the　ashes　of　the　Dun　of　Cormac　Mac…

Concobar　are　mixed　with　those　of　Cormac　an'　Eilidh　the

Fair；　all　burned　in　the　nine　flames　that　sprang　from　the　harp…

ing　of　Cravetheen；　an'　I　heard　the　echo　of　his　dead　harp…

ings〃



He　paused　again　and　then；　softly；　with　that　curiously

sweet；　high　voice　that　only　the　Irish　seem　to　have；　he　sang：





Woman　of　the　white　breasts；　Eilidh；

Woman　of　the　gold…brown　hair；　and　lips　of　the　red；　red　rowan；

Where　is　the　swan　that　is　whiter；　with　breast　more　soft；

Or　the　wave　on　the　sea　that　moves　as　thou　movest；　Eilidh。











CHAPTER　VIII



Olaf's　Story



THERE　was　a　little　silence。　　I　looked　upon　him　with　wonder。

Clearly　he　was　in　deepest　earnest。　　I　know　the　psychology

of　the　Gael　is　a　curious　one　and　that　deep　in　all　their　hearts

their　ancient　traditions　and　beliefs　have　strong　and　living

roots。　　And　I　was　both　amused　and　touched。



Here　was　this　soldier；　who　had　faced　war　and　its　ugly

realities　open…eyed　and　fearless；　picking；　indeed；　the　most

dangerous　branch　of　service　for　his　own；　a　modern　if　ever

there　was　one；　appreciative　of　most　unmystical　Broadway；

and　yet　soberly　and　earnestly　attesting　to　his　belief　in　ban…

shee；　in　shadowy　people　of　the　woods；　and　phantom　harpers！

I　wondered　what　he　would　think　if　he　could　see　the　Dweller

and　then；　with　a　pang；　that　perhaps　his　superstitions　might

make　him　an　easy　prey。



He　shook　his　head　half　impatiently　and　ran　a　hand　over

his　eyes；　turned　to　me　and　grinned：



〃Don't　think　I'm　cracked；　Professor；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　not。

But　it　takes　me　that　way　now　and　then。　　It's　the　Irish　in　me。

And；　believe　it　or　not；　I'm　telling　you　the　truth。〃



I　looked　eastward　where　the　moon；　now　nearly　a　week

past　the　full；　was　mounting。



〃You　can't　make　me　see　what　you've　seen；　Lieutenant；〃　I

laughed。　　〃But　you　can　make　me　hear。　　I've　always　wondered

what　kind　of　a　noise　a　disembodied　spirit　could　make　with…

out　any　vocal　cords　or　breath　or　any　other　earthly　sound…

producing　mechanism。　　How　does　the　banshee　sound？〃



O'Keefe　looked　at　me　seriously。



〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　show　you。〃　From　deep　down　in

his　throat　came　first　a　low；　weird　sobbing　that　mounted

steadily　into　a　keening　whose　mournfulness　made　my　skin

creep。　　And　then　his　hand　shot　out　and　gripped　my　shoulder；

and　I　stiffened　like　stone　in　my　chairfor　from　behind　us；

like　an　echo；　and　then　taking　up　the　cry；　swelled　a　wail　that

seemed　to　hold　within　it　a　sublimation　of　the　sorrows　of

centuries！　　It　gathered　itself　into　one　heartbroken；　sobbing

note　and　died　away！　　O'Keefe's　grip　loosened；　and　he　rose

swiftly　to　his　feet。



〃It's　all　right；　Professor；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　for　me。　　It　found

meall　this　way　from　Ireland。〃



Again　the　silence　was　rent　by　the　cry。　　But　now　I　had　lo…

cated　it。　　It　came　from　my　room；　and　it　could　mean　only　one

thingHuldricksson　had　wakened。



〃Forget　your　banshee！〃　I　gasped；　and　made　a　jump　for　the

cabin。



Out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye　I　noted　a　look　of　half…sheep…

ish　relief　flit　over　O'Keefe's　face；　and　then　he　was　beside　me。

Da　Costa　shouted　an　order　from　the　wheel；　the　Cantonese

ran　up　and　took　it　from　his　hands　and　the　little　Portuguese

pattered　down　toward　us。　　My　hand　on　the　door；　ready　to

throw　it　open；　I　stopped。　　What　if　the　Dweller　were　within

what　if　we　had　been　wrong　and　it　was　not　dependent　for　its

power　upon　that　full　flood　of　moon　ray　which　Throck…

martin　had　thought　essential　to　draw　it　from　the　blue　pool！



From　within；　the　sobbing　wail　began　once　more　to　rise。

O'Keefe　pushed　me　aside；　threw　open　the　door　and　crouched

low　within　it。　　I　saw　an　automatic　flash　dully　in　his　hand；　saw

it　cover　the　cabin　from　side　to　side；　following　the　swift　sweep

of　his　eyes　around　it。　　Then　he　straightened　and　his　face；

turned　toward　the　berth；　was　filled　with　wondering　pity。



Through　the　window　streamed　a　shaft　of　the　moonlight。

It　fell　upon　Huldricksson's　staring　eyes；　in　them　great　tears

slowly　gathered　and　rolled　down　his　cheeks；　from　his　opened

mouth　came　the　woe…laden　wailing。　　I　ran　to　the　port　and

drew　the　curtains。　　Da　Costa　snapped　the　lights。



The　Norseman's　dolorous　crying　stopped　as　abruptly　as

though　cut。　　His　gaze　rolled　toward　us。　　And　at　one　bound

he　broke　through　the　leashes　I　had　buckled　round　him　and

faced　us；　his　eyes　glaring；　his　yellow　hair　almost　erect　with

the　force　of　the　rage　visibly　surging　through　him。　　Da　Costa

shrunk　behind　me。　　O'Keefe；　coolly　watchful；　took　a　quick

step　that　brought　him　in　front　of　me。



〃Where　do　you　take　me？〃　said　Huldricksson；　and　his

voice　was　like　the　growl　of　a　beast。　　〃Where　is　my　boat？〃



I　touched　O'Keefe　gently　and　stood　before　the　giant。



〃Listen；　Olaf　Huldricksson；〃　I　said。　　〃We　take　you　to

where　the　sparkling　devil　took　your　Helma　and　your　Freda。

We　follow　the　sparkling　devil　that　came　down　from　the

moon。　　Do　you　hear　me？〃　I　spoke　slowly；　distinctly；　striving

to　pierce　the　mists　that　I　knew　swirled　around　the　strained

brain。　　And　the　words　did　pierce。



He　thrust　out　a　shaking　hand。



〃You　say　you　follow？〃　he　asked　falteringly。　　〃You　know

where　to　follow？　　Where　it　took　my　Helma　and　my　little

Freda？〃



〃Just　that；　Olaf　Huldricksson；〃　I　answered。　　〃Just　that！　　I

pledge　you　my　life　that　I　know。〃



Da　Costa　stepped　forward。　　〃He　speaks　true；　Olaf。　　You　go

faster　on　the　Suwarna　than　on　the　Br…rw…un'ilda；　Olaf；　yes。〃



The　giant　Norseman；　still　gripping　my　hand；　looked　at

him。　　〃I　know　you；　Da　Costa；〃　he　muttered。　　〃You　are　all

right。　　Ja！　　You　are　a　fair　man。　　Where　is　the　Brunhilda？〃



〃She　follow　be'ind　on　a　big　rope；　Olaf；〃　soothed　the　Por…

tuguese。　　〃Soon　you　see　her。　　But　now　lie　down　an'　tell　us；　if

you　can；　why　you　tie　yourself　to　your　wheel　an'　what　it　is

that　happen；　Olaf。〃



〃If　you'll　tell　us　how　the　sparkling　devil　came　it　will　help

us　all　when　we　get　to　where　it　is；　Huldricksson；〃　I　said。



On　O'Keefe's　face　there　was　an　expression　of　well…nigh　lu…

dicrous　doubt　and　amazement。　　He　glanced　from　one　to　the

other。　　The　giant　shifted　his　own　tense　look　from　me　to　the

Irishman。　　A　gleam　of　approval　lighted　in　his　eyes。　　He　loosed

me；　and　gripped　O'Keefe's　arm。　〃Staerk！〃　he　said。　〃Ja

strong；　and　with　a　strong　heart。　　A　manja！　　He　comes　too

we　shall　need　himja！〃



〃I　tell；〃　he　muttered；　and　seated　himself　on　the　side　of　the

bunk。　　〃It　was　four　nights　ago。　　My　Freda〃his　voice　shook

〃Mine　Yndling！　　She　loved　the　moonlight。　　I　was　at　the

wheel　and　my　Freda　and　my　Helma　they　were　behind　me。

The　moon　was　behind　us　and　the　Brunhilda　was　like　a　swan…

boat　sailing　down　with　the　moonlight　sending　her；　ja。



〃I　heard　my　Freda　say：　'I　see　a　nisse　coming　down　the

track　of　the　moon。'　And　I　hear　her　mother　laugh；　low；　like　a

mother　does　when　her　Yndling　dreams。　　I　was　happythat

nightwith　my　Helma　and　my　Freda；　and　the　Brunhilda

sailing　like　a　swan…boat；　ja。　　I　heard　the　child　say；　'The　nisse

comes　fast！'　And　then　I　heard　a　scream　from　my　Helma；　a

great　screamlike　a　mare　when　her　foal　is　torn　from　her。　　I

spun　around　fast；　ja！　　I　dropped　the　wheel　and　spun　fast！　　I

saw〃　He　covered　his　eyes　with　his　hands。



The　Portuguese　had　crept　close　to　me；　and　I　heard　him

panting　like　a　frightened　dog。



〃I　saw　a　white　fire　spring　over　the　rail；〃　whispered　Olaf

Huldricksson。　　〃It　whirled　round　and　round；　and　it　shone　like

like　stars　in　a　whirlwind　mist。　　There　was　a　noise　in　my

ears。　　It　sounded　like　bellslittle　bells；　ja！　　Like　the　music

you　make　when　you　run　your　finger　round　goblets。　　It　made

me　sick　and　dizzythe　hell　noise。



〃My　Helma　wasindeholdewhat　you　sayin　the　mid…

dle　of　the　white　fire。　　She　turned　her　face　to　me　and　she

turned　it　on　the　child；　and　my　Helma's　face　burned　into　my

heart。　　Because　it　was　full　of　fear；　and　it　was　full　of　happi…

nessof　glaede。　　I　tell　you　that　the　fear　in　my　Helma's　face

made　me　ice　here〃he　beat　his　breast　with　clenched　hand

〃but　the　happiness　in　it　burned　on　me　like　fire。　　And　I　could

not　moveI　could　not　move。



〃I　said　in　here〃he　touched　his　head〃I　said；　'It　is　Loki

come　out　of　Helvede。　　But　he　cannot　take　my　Helma；　for

Christ　lives　and　Loki　has　no　power　to　hurt　my　Helma　or　my

Freda！　　Christ　lives！　　Christ　lives！'　I　said。　　But　the　sparkling

devil　did　not　let　my　Helma　go。　　It　drew　her　to　the　rail；　half

over　it。　　I　saw　her　eyes　upon　the　child　and　a　little　she　broke

away　and　reached　to　it。　　And　my　Freda　jumped　into　her

arms。　　And　the　fire　wrapped　them　both　and　they　were　gone！　　A

little　I　saw　them　whirling　on　the　moon　track　behind　the

Brunhildaand　they　were　gone！



〃The　sparkling　devil　took　them！　　Loki　was　loosed；　and　he

had　power。　　I　turned　the　Brunhilda；　and　I　followed　where

my　Helma　and　mine　Yndling　had　gone。　　My　boys　crept　up

and　asked　me　to　turn　again。　　But　I　would　not。　　They　dropped

a　boat　and　left　me。　　I　steered　straight　on　the　path。　　I　lashed

my　hands　to　the　wheel　that　sleep　might　not　loose　them。　　I

steered　on　and　on　and　on



〃Where　was　the　God　I　prayed　when　my　wife　and　child

were　taken？〃　cried　Olaf　Huldrickssonand　it　was　as　though

I　heard　Throckmartin　asking　that　same　bitter　question。　　〃I

have　left　Him　as　He　left　me；　ja！　　I　pray　now　to　Thor　and　to

Odin；　who　can　fetter　Loki。〃　He　sank　back；　covering　again

his　eyes。



〃Olaf；〃　I　said；　〃what　you　have　called　the　sparkling　devil

has　taken　ones　dear　to　me。　　I；　too；　was　following　it　when　we

found　you。　　You　shall　go　with　me　to　its　home；　and　there　we

will　try　to　take　from　it　your　wife　and　your　child　and　my

friends　as　well。　　But　now　that　you　may　be　strong　for　what　is

before　us；　you　must　sleep　again。〃



Olaf　Huldricksson　looked　upon　me　and　in　his　eyes　was

that　something　which　souls　must　see　in　the　eyes　of　Him　the

old　Egyptians　called　the　Searcher　of　Hearts　in　the　Judgment

Hall　of　Osiris。



〃You　speak　truth！〃　he　said　at　last　slowly。　　〃I　will　do　what

you　say！〃



He　stretched　out　an　arm　at　my　bidding。　　I　gave　him　a　sec…

ond　injection。　　He　lay　back　and　soon　he　was　sleepi