Білий корабель

           Andthefloorofthepalaceisofglass,underwhichflowthecunninglylightedwatersoftheNarg,gaywithgaudyfishnotknownbeyondtheboundsoflovelyCathuria." 

           ThuswouldIspeaktomyselfofCathuria,buteverwouldthebeardedmanwarnmetoturnbacktothehappyshoreofSona–Nyl; forSona–Nylisknownofmen,whilenonehatheverbeheldCathuria. 

           Andonthethirty-firstdaythatwefollowedthebird,webeheldthebasaltpillarsoftheWest. Shroudedinmisttheywere,sothatnomanmightpeerbeyondthemorseetheirsummits—whichindeedsomesayreacheventotheheavens. Andthebeardedmanagainimploredmetoturnback,butIheededhimnot; forfromthemistsbeyondthebasaltpillarsIfanciedtherecamethenotesofsingersandlutanists; sweeterthanthesweetestsongsofSona–Nyl,andsoundingmineownpraises; thepraisesofme,whohadvoyagedfarfromthefullmoonanddweltintheLandofFancy. SotothesoundofmelodytheWhiteShipsailedintothemistbetwixtthebasaltpillarsoftheWest. Andwhenthemusicceasedandthemistlifted,webeheldnottheLandofCathuria,butaswift-rushingresistlesssea,overwhichourhelplessbarquewasbornetowardsomeunknowngoal. Soontoourearscamethedistantthunderoffallingwaters,andtooureyesappearedonthefarhorizonaheadthetitanicsprayofamonstrouscataract,whereintheoceansoftheworlddropdowntoabysmalnothingness.