Chapter 12 — The Selenite’s Face

           Ifoundmyselfsittingcrouchedtogetherinatumultuousdarkness.ForalongtimeIcouldnotunderstandwhereIwas,norhowIhadcometothisperplexity.IthoughtofthecupboardintowhichIhadbeenthrustattimeswhenIwasachild,andthenofaverydarkandnoisybedroominwhichIhadsleptduringanillness.ButthesesoundsaboutmewerenotthenoisesIhadknown,andtherewasathinflavourintheairlikethewindofastable.ThenIsupposedwemuststillbeatworkuponthesphere,andthatsomehowIhadgotintothecellarofCavor’shouse.Irememberedwehadfinishedthesphere,andfanciedImuststillbeinitandtravellingthroughspace.

           “Cavor,”Isaid,“cannotwehavesomelight?”

           Therecamenoanswer.

           “Cavor!”Iinsisted.

           Iwasansweredbyagroan.“Myhead!”Iheardhimsay;“myhead!”

           Iattemptedtopressmyhandstomybrow,whichached,anddiscoveredtheyweretiedtogether.Thisstartledmeverymuch.Ibroughtthemuptomymouthandfeltthecoldsmoothnessofmetal.Theywerechainedtogether.Itriedtoseparatemylegsandmadeouttheyweresimilarlyfastened,andalsothatIwasfastenedtothegroundbyamuchthickerchainaboutthemiddleofmybody.

           IwasmorefrightenedthanIhadyetbeenbyanythinginallourstrangeexperiences.ForatimeItuggedsilentlyatmybonds.“Cavor!”Icriedoutsharply.“WhyamItied?Whyhaveyoutiedmehandandfoot?”

           “Ihaven’ttiedyou,”heanswered.“It’stheSelenites.”

           TheSelenites!Mymindhungonthatforaspace.