the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第6章
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diplomatically expressed a fear as to his own royal trustworthiness； but it
did not anger him； since the charge was not a direct one； but what he did
not know was of the heavy chest and Bududreen's desire to win the price
of the girl and yet be able to save for himself a chance at the far greater
fortune which he knew lay beneath that heavy oaken lid。
Both men had arisen now and were walking across the beach toward a
small； native canoe in which Muda Saffir had come to the meeting place。
They were out of earshot before either spoke again； so that what further
passed between them Sing could not even guess； but he had heard enough
to confirm the suspicions he had entertained for a long while。
He did not fish for gulls that day。 Bududreen and Muda Saffir stood
talking upon the beach； and the Chinaman did not dare venture forth for
fear they might suspect that he had overheard them。 If old Sing Lee
knew his Malays； he was also wise enough to give them credit for
knowing their Chinamen； so he waited quietly in hiding until Muda Saffir
had left； and Bududreen returned to camp。
Professor Maxon and von Horn were standing over one of the six
vats that were arranged in two rows down the center of the laboratory。
The professor had been more communicative and agreeable today than for
some time past； and their conversation had assumed more of the
familiarity that had marked it during the first month of their acquaintance
at Singapore。
〃And what of these first who are so imperfect？〃 asked von Horn。
〃You cannot take them into civilization； nor would it be right to leave
them here upon this island。 What will you do with them？〃
Professor Maxon pondered the question for a moment。
〃I have given the matter but little thought；〃 he said at length。 〃They
are but the accidents of my great work。 It is unfortunate that they are as
they are； but without them I could have never reached the perfection that I
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am sure we are to find here；〃 and he tapped lovingly upon the heavy glass
cover of the vat before which he stood。 〃And this is but the beginning。
There can be no more mistakes now； though I doubt if we can ever
improve upon that which is so rapidly developing here。〃 Again he passed
his long； slender hand caressingly over the coffin…like vat at the head of
which was a placard bearing the words； NUMBER THIRTEEN。
〃But the others； Professor！〃 insisted von Horn。 〃We must decide。
Already they have become a problem of no small dimensions。 Yesterday
Number Five desired some plantains that I had given to Number Seven。 I
tried to reason with him； but； as you know； he is mentally defective； and
for answer he rushed at Number Seven to tear the coveted morsel from
him。 The result was a battle royal that might have put to shame two
Bengal tigers。 Twelve is tractable and intelligent。 With his assistance
and my bull whip I succeeded in separating them before either was killed。
Your greatest error was in striving at first for such physical perfection。
You have overdone it； with the result that the court of mystery is peopled
by a dozen brutes of awful muscularity； and scarcely enough brain among
the dozen to equip three properly。〃
〃They are as they are；〃 replied the professor。 〃I shall do for them what
I canwhen I am gone they must look to themselves。 I can see no way
out of it。〃
〃What you have given you may take away；〃 said von Horn； in a low
tone。
Professor Maxon shuddered。 Those three horrid days in the
workshop at Ithaca flooded his memory with all the gruesome details he
had tried for so many months to forget。 The haunting ghosts of the
mental anguish that had left him an altered manso altered that there were
times when he had feared for his sanity！
〃No； no！〃 he almost shouted。 〃It would be murder。 They are〃
〃They are THINGS；〃 interrupted von Horn。 〃They are not human
they are not even beast。 They are terrible； soulless creatures。 You have
no right to permit them to live longer than to substantiate your theory。
None but us knows of their existenceno other need know of their passing。
It must be done。 They are a constant and growing menace to us all； but
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THE MONSTER MEN
most of all to your daughter。〃
A cunning look came into the professor's eyes。
〃I understand；〃 he said。 〃The precedent once established； all must
perish by its edicteven those which may not be grotesque or bestial
even this perfect one；〃 and he touched again the vat； 〃and thus you would
rid yourself of rival suitors。 But no！〃 he went on in a high； trembling voice。
〃I shall not be led to thus compromise myself； and be thwarted in my
cherished plan。 Be this one what he may he shall wed my daughter！〃
The man had raised himself upon his toes as he reached his climax
his clenched hand was high above his head his voice fairly thundered out
the final sentence； and with the last word he brought his fist down upon
the vat before him。 In his eyes blazed the light of unchained madness。
Von Horn was a brave man； but he shuddered at the maniacal ferocity
of the older man； and shrank back。 The futility of argument was apparent；
and he turned and left the workshop。
Sing Lee was late that night。 In fact he did not return from his
fruitless quest for gulls until well after dark； nor would he vouchsafe any
explanation of the consequent lateness of supper。 Nor could he be found
shortly after the evening meal when Virginia sought him。
Not until the camp was wrapped in the quiet of slumber did Sing Lee
returnstealthy and mysteriousto creep under cover of a moonless night
to the door of the workshop。 How he gained entrance only Sing Lee
knows； but a moment later there was a muffled crash of broken glass
within the laboratory； and the Chinaman had slipped out； relocked the door；
and scurried to his nearby shack。 But there was no occasion for his
haste no other ear than his had heard the sound within the workshop。
It was almost nine the following morning before Professor Maxon and
von Horn entered the laboratory。 Scarcely had the older man passed the
doorway than he drew up his hands in horrified consternation。 Vat
Number Thirteen lay dashed to the floorthe glass cover was broken to a
million piecesa sticky； brownish substance covered the matting。
Professor Maxon hid his face in his hands。
〃God！〃 he cried。 〃It is all ruined。 Three more days would have〃
〃Look！〃 cried von Horn。 〃It is not too soon。〃
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Professor Maxon mustered courage to raise his eyes from his hands；
and there he beheld； seated in a far corner of the room a handsome giant；
physically perfect。 The creature looked about him in a dazed；
uncomprehending manner。 A great question was writ large upon his
intelligent countenance。 Professor Maxon stepped forward and took him
by the hand。
〃Come；〃 he said； and led him toward a smaller room off the main
workshop。 The giant followed docilely； his eyes roving about the room
the pitiful questioning still upon his handsome features。 Von Horn turned
toward the campong。
Virginia； deserted by all； even the faithful Sing； who； cheated of his
sport on the preceding day； had again gone to the beach to snare gulls；
became restless of the enforced idleness and solitude。 For a time she
wandered about the little compound which had been reserved for the
whites； but tiring of this she decided to extend her stroll beyond the
palisade； a thing which she had never before done unless accompanied by
von Horn a thing both he and her father had cautioned her against。
〃What danger can there be？〃 she thought。 〃We know that the island
is uninhabited by others than ourselves； and that there are no dangerous
beasts。 And； anyway； there is no one now who seems to care what
becomes of me； unlessunlessI wonder if he does care。 I wonder if I
care whether or not he cares。 Oh； dear； I wish I knew；〃 and as she
soliloquized she wandered past the little clearing and into the jungle that
lay behind the campong。
As von Horn and Professor Maxon talked together in the laboratory
before the upsetting of vat Number Thirteen； a grotesque and horrible
creature had slunk from the low shed at the opposite side of the campong
until it had crouched at the flimsy door of the building in which the two
men conversed。 For a while it listened intently； but when von Horn urged
the necessity for dispatching certain 〃terrible； soulless creatures〃 an
expression of intermingled fear and hatred convulsed the hideous features；
and like a great grizzly it turned and lumbered awkwardly across the
campong toward the easterly； or back wall of the enclosure。
Here it leaped futilely a half dozen times for the top of the palisade；
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and then trembling and chattering in rage it ran back and forth along the
base of the obstacle； just as a wild beast in captivity paces angrily before
the bars of its cage。
Finally it paused to look once more at the senseless wood that barred
its escape； as though measuring the distance to the top。 Then the eyes
roamed about the campong to rest at last u
