The whole rocky floor, acres in extent, was in motion. Ever so slight it was, like the stirring of molten metal, the heaving of that seemingly solid surface, but horrible in a way that nothing else could be, so contrary was it to the laws which hold this world together. From it beat the pale-green light; and to and fro over the surface thin vapours came and went.
Vaughan stared at the appalling sight in silence for some minutes, his eyes protruding from their sockets, so fascinated that even the trembling of his limbs was stilled. Then, as they watched, the movement ceased, except for one spot at the centre, where the solid rock began to belly upwards in a mound, like a great tumour. It reached a height of perhaps ten feet before its summit fissured, and from the crack a black substance came welling out, flowing down on to the floor around in an inky pool. At the same instant the frightful heat lessened and passed away, to be replaced by a wave of unearthly cold, which froze the sweat upon the livid faces of the watchers on the ledge.
As the black liquid oozed on to the floor of the cave, so it thickened into a jelly-like substance, not spreading out, but piling up into a solid mass, which quivered and writhed incessantly with horrid life. Suddenly Vaughan, who had begun to shudder violently once more, buried his face in Gaunt’s linen sleeve, shutting out the sight he could no longer endure. The doctor shook him off angrily, saying:
“Be still, you fool! It knows you are afraid. Look!”
For the unholy thing below was flowing across the rocky floor towards the wall of the cavern upon which they were perched. It was without form, and changed its shape continually as it moved, but that it was sentient was undeniable, and Vaughan had a vivid impression of a Personality, veiled in the darkness of its substance, which silently mocked the two feeble human creatures opposed to it.
In a moment the great bulk of the thing was massed at the foot of the cliff beneath; then it began to climb, flowing up the rock as easily as it had crossed the level floor. Vaughan uttered a strangled cry, like a stricken animal, and, turning, fled up the tunnel behind them. Gaunt hesitated for a second, then let him go, with a muttered oath, and, stepping to the very brink, coolly faced the abomination crawling up towards him. As it came he felt the icy cold which emanated from it freezing his very limbs, but his hand was perfectly steady as he pointed the metal rod he held downwards at it. Concentrating his will to the uttermost, he began to recite certain ritual words in a firm voice, softly at first, then more loudly, until the tremendous Latin echoed round the great dome above.
The effect was immediate. The thing ceased its upward movement and stopped, clinging to the face of the wall like a gigantic limpet. It had no visible eyes, but the doctor could feel its cold regard searing into his brain, and it was only by a mighty effort that he was able to withstand the frightful power which beat against him. Even now he knew he could not hold it off indefinitely, and so, still chanting in a high, clear voice, he began to walk slowly backwards up the passage. It was slow, painful progress, for he had only one hand free to feel his way along the wall, and after he had gone fifty paces in this fashion, since the thing did not appear to be following him, he reverted to the usual method of progression, and in due course reached the steps leading up to the crypt. By this time the reaction had set in, and even his iron will could not entirely still the trembling of his knees as he climbed.
When he had closed the altar he looked round for Vaughan. An electric torch lay burning on the floor, and by its dim light he could see his colleague’s figure, crouched grotesquely on the steps, his face hidden in his hands. He was sobbing brokenly, and muttering beneath his breath. As he strode towards him Gaunt caught the words: “Jesu! Mary!” With an exclamation of disgust he launched a kick at the prostrate form, and Vaughan rolled over, covering his face with his hands and moaning piteously.
“Judas!” hissed the doctor. “Is this a time to turn your coat again?”
The other writhed towards him, pawing at his feet.
“Mercy, master, mercy!” he moaned.
“Why should I show you mercy?” the doctor went on with withering contempt. “But for me you would not have got ten yards along that passage. And if it had caught you — you know what the end would have been? You would have been lost for ever. I could well have spared you, though your cowardice nearly ruined everything. It was all I could do to hold it back alone; you put my soul in jeopardy. Well, I can forgive that; but almost to wreck our plans — that I find hard to overlook.”
“Forgive me, master! I will not fail again, I swear. I had never seen anything like that before, and it unnerved me utterly. You — you trembled too.”
“My poor mortal flesh may have quaked, but my soul was unafraid. Yours was — that is the difference. Very well, Simon, I will forgive you this time, but not again.”
“Oh, master! There shall be no more turning back.” Vaughan rose on his knees. “I will say the Mass tomorrow.”
“If it comforts you, do so. You have the accessories here? I will serve you.”
“That is an honour, master, which I shall not forget.”
“Very well. Now get up and compose yourself. Take off those things, and join me in a cigarette.”
When they had removed their vestments, and were sitting smoking on the altar steps, Vaughan asked:
“Did it follow you?”
The doctor shook his head.
“I don’t think it often leaves the great cavern. As it was, our visit woke it to quite unusual activity. I imagine that it generally lies dormant.”
“Are you satisfied that it is what we thought — a true monstrosity of the Outer Darkness?”
“I am sure of it — nothing less could have withstood the formula I used. Besides, you felt its power.”
Vaughan nodded gloomily.
“Merlin succeeded, then?” he asked.
Gaunt laughed softly.
“Merlin! What does that name mean to the average man? A benevolent old man — a magician, true, but with a soul as white as his beard! What a lot we have to thank Mallory and Tennyson for, Simon. Little do they know what that being they call Merlin was: one of us, and perhaps the greatest wizard of all time. Yes, he succeeded in doing that which has never been done before or since: he made a gateway through the Veil, there in that very cavern, and admitted one of the horrors which dwell in Outer Darkness. I often wonder what he proposed to do with it. Perhaps he found it more intractable than he had supposed, and, unable to expel it again, bound it to this place.”
“Then it was here before the Abbot pronounced his curse on the Lovells?”
“Undoubtedly. His words, inadvertently phrased in the form of the Osirian ritual, coupled with his intention of ruining the Lovell family, merely served to link their destiny with it.”
“Do you think we shall be able to turn it to our purpose?”
Gaunt frowned.
“First it must be released from its bondage to this family, and neither you nor I can do that.”
“Who, then?”
“Anthony Lovell.”
“That young fool?”
“No one else. I have already begun his training; he does not know to what end, naturally, nor will he until it is too late.”
Chapter VIII
John Hamilton was walking down Fleet Street one afternoon when his soul suddenly rebelled against the tyranny of London. It was the second week in August, and for nearly a month no rain had fallen. The shortage of water was already growing acute, and there was talk of rationing the supplies. Devastating heath fires were daily reported.
In the city the heat was well-nigh intolerable; the dust rose in clouds from the wheels of the roaring traffic, drying Hamilton’s throat, making his eyes smart, and tasting gritty in his mouth. His shoes seemed no protection against the heated pavement; life itself appeared to be a refined torture at that moment.