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Chapter 12 — The Selenite’s Face
Therefollowedanoiselikethesubtlemovementofthewardsofawell-oiledlock.Andthenthereappearedbeforeme,hangingasitseemedinanimmensityofblack,athinbrightline.
“Look!”whisperedCavorverysoftly.
“Whatisit?”
“Idon’tknow.”
Westared.
Thethinbrightlinebecameaband,andbroaderandpaler.Ittookuponitselfthequalityofabluishlightfallinguponawhite-washedwall.Itceasedtobeparallel-sided;itdevelopedadeepindentationononeside.IturnedtoremarkthistoCavor,andwasamazedtoseehisearinabrilliantillumination—alltherestofhiminshadow.Itwistedmyheadroundaswellasmybondswouldpermit.“Cavor,”Isaid,“it’sbehind!”
Hisearvanished—gaveplacetoaneye!
Suddenlythecrackthathadbeenadmittingthelightbroadenedout,andrevealeditselfasthespaceofanopeningdoor.Beyondwasasapphirevista,andinthedoorwaystoodagrotesqueoutlinesilhouettedagainsttheglare.
Webothmadeconvulsiveeffortstoturn,andfailing,satstaringoverourshouldersatthis.Myfirstimpressionwasofsomeclumsyquadrupedwithloweredhead.ThenIperceiveditwastheslenderpinchedbodyandshortandextremelyattenuatedbandylegsofaSelenite,withhisheaddepressedbetweenhisshoulders.Hewaswithoutthehelmetandbodycoveringtheywearupontheexterior.
Hewasablank,blackfiguretous,butinstinctivelyourimaginationssuppliedfeaturestohisveryhumanoutline.I,atleast,tookitinstantlythathewassomewhathunchbacked,withahighforeheadandlongfeatures.
