Chapter 25 — The Grand Lunar

           Thepenultimatemessagedescribes,withoccasionallyelaboratedetail,theencounterbetweenCavorandtheGrandLunar,whoistherulerormasterofthemoon.Cavorseemstohavesentmostofitwithoutinterference,buttohavebeeninterruptedintheconcludingportion.Thesecondcameafteranintervalofaweek.

           Thefirstmessagebegins:“AtlastIamabletoresumethis—”itthenbecomesillegibleforaspace,andafteratimeresumedinmid-sentence.

           Themissingwordsofthefollowingsentenceareprobably“thecrowd.”Therefollowsquiteclearly:“greweverdenseraswedrewnearthepalaceoftheGrandLunar—ifImaycallaseriesofexcavationsapalace.Everywherefacesstaredatme—blank,chitinousgapesandmasks,eyespeeringovertremendousolfactorydevelopments,eyesbeneathmonstrousforeheadplates;andundergrowthofsmallercreaturesdodgedandyelped,andhelmetfacespoisedonsinuous,long-jointednecksappearedcraningovershouldersandbeneatharmpits.Keepingawelcomespaceaboutmemarchedacordonofstolid,scuttle-headedguards,whohadjoinedusonourleavingtheboatinwhichwehadcomealongthechannelsoftheCentralSea.Thequick-eyedartistwiththelittlebrainjoinedusalso,andathickbunchofleanporter-insectsswayedandstruggledunderthemultitudeofconveniencesthatwereconsideredessentialtomystate.Iwascarriedinalitterduringthefinalstageofourjourney.