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Chapter 25 — The Grand Lunar
“IwillownthatIamstillbynomeansinduratedtothepeculiareffectoftheSeleniteappearance,andtofindmyself,asitwere,adriftonthisbroadseaofexcitedentomologywasbynomeansagreeable.JustforaspaceIhadsomethingverylikewhatIshouldimaginepeoplemeanwhentheyspeakofthe‘horrors.’Ithadcometomebeforeintheselunarcaverns,whenonoccasionIhavefoundmyselfweaponlessandwithanundefendedback,amidstacrowdoftheseSelenites,butneverquitesovividly.Itis,ofcourse,asabsolutelyirrationalafeelingasonecouldwellhave,andIhopegraduallytosubdueit.Butjustforamoment,asIsweptforwardintothewelterofthevastcrowd,itwasonlybygrippingmylittertightlyandsummoningallmywill-powerthatIsucceededinavoidinganoutcryorsomesuchmanifestation.Itlastedperhapsthreeminutes;thenIhadmyselfinhandagain.
“Weascendedthespiralofaverticalwayforsometime,andthenpassedthroughaseriesofhugehallsdome-roofedandelaboratelydecorated.TheapproachtotheGrandLunarwascertainlycontrivedtogiveoneavividimpressionofhisgreatness.Eachcavernoneenteredseemedgreaterandmoreboldlyarchedthanitspredecessor.Thiseffectofprogressivesizewasenhancedbyathinhazeoffaintlyphosphorescentblueincensethatthickenedasoneadvanced,androbbedeventhenearerfiguresofclearness.Iseemedtoadvancecontinuallytosomethinglarger,dimmer,andlessmaterial.
“Imustconfessthatallthismultitudemademefeelextremelyshabbyandunworthy.
