Гипноз

           Then,afterashortinterval,theforminthecornerstirred; andmaypityingheavenkeepfrommysightandsoundanotherthinglikethatwhichtookplacebeforeme. Icannottellyouhowheshrieked,orwhatvistasofunvisitablehellsgleamedforasecondinblackeyescrazedwithfright. IcanonlysaythatIfainted,anddidnotstirtillhehimselfrecoveredandshookmeinhisfrensyforsomeonetokeepawaythehorroranddesolation. 

           Thatwastheendofourvoluntarysearchingsinthecavernsofdream. Awed,shaken,andportentous,myfriendwhohadbeenbeyondthebarrierwarnedmethatwemustneverventurewithinthoserealmsagain. Whathehadseen,hedarednottellme; buthesaidfromhiswisdomthatwemustsleepaslittleaspossible,evenifdrugswerenecessarytokeepusawake. Thathewasright,Isoonlearnedfromtheunutterablefearwhichengulfedmewheneverconsciousnesslapsed. 

           AftereachshortandinevitablesleepIseemedolder,whilstmyfriendagedwitharapidityalmostshocking. Itishideoustoseewrinklesformandhairwhitenalmostbeforeone’seyes. Ourmodeoflifewasnowtotallyaltered. HeretoforeareclusesofarasIknow—histruenameandoriginneverhavingpassedhislips—myfriendnowbecamefranticinhisfearofsolitude. Atnighthewouldnotbealone,norwouldthecompanyofafewpersonscalmhim. Hissolereliefwasobtainedinrevelryofthemostgeneralandboisteroussort; sothatfewassembliesoftheyoungandgaywereunknowntous. 

           OurappearanceandageseemedtoexciteinmostcasesaridiculewhichIkeenlyresented,butwhichmyfriendconsideredalesserevilthansolitude. Especiallywasheafraidtobeoutofdoorsalonewhenthestarswereshining,andifforcedtothisconditionhewouldoftenglancefurtivelyattheskyasifhuntedbysomemonstrousthingtherein.