Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Horror of the Heights
ThereissurelysomethingdivineinmanhimselfthatheshouldrisesosuperiortothelimitationswhichCreationseemedtoimpose—rise,too,bysuchunselfish,heroicdevotionasthisair-conquesthasshown.Talkofhumandegeneration!Whenhassuchastoryasthisbeenwrittenintheannalsofourrace?
"ThesewerethethoughtsinmyheadasIclimbedthatmonstrous,inclinedplanewiththewindsometimesbeatinginmyfaceandsometimeswhistlingbehindmyears,whilethecloud-landbeneathmefellawaytosuchadistancethatthefoldsandhummocksofsilverhadallsmoothedoutintooneflat,shiningplain.ButsuddenlyIhadahorribleandunprecedentedexperience.Ihaveknownbeforewhatitistobeinwhatourneighbourshavecalledatourbillon,butneveronsuchascaleasthis.Thathuge,sweepingriverofwindofwhichIhavespokenhad,asitappears,whirlpoolswithinitwhichwereasmonstrousasitself.Withoutamoment’swarningIwasdraggedsuddenlyintotheheartofone.IspunroundforaminuteortwowithsuchvelocitythatIalmostlostmysenses,andthenfellsuddenly,leftwingforemost,downthevacuumfunnelinthecentre.Idroppedlikeastone,andlostnearlyathousandfeet.Itwasonlymybeltthatkeptmeinmyseat,andtheshockandbreathlessnessleftmehanginghalf-insensibleoverthesideofthefuselage.ButIamalwayscapableofasupremeeffort—itismyonegreatmeritasanaviator.Iwasconsciousthatthedescentwasslower.Thewhirlpoolwasaconeratherthanafunnel,andIhadcometotheapex.
