In the instant of realization1, as I stood near, death-stricken, where I had stopped, I felt the whole room shake and tremble as the torrent2 leaped upon the wheel with a flinging shock, heard a clanking screech3 rise from the monster as it turned, slowly at first, but quickly gathering4 speed under the awful pressure; heard one last bubbling scream waver up from the depths and die within the narrow vault5; then all sense was whelmed and numbed6 in the single booming crash of water.
Already, indeed, the choked water, hurled7 high by the paddles, was gushing8 through the opening in cascades9 upon the floor. How long would the ancient rafters and beams and walls resist the terrible pressure?
I had no thought or desire to escape. What had taken me long to describe, all passed in a few seconds. But Providence10, that here included so many actors in the tragedy in one common ruin, had not writ11 my sentence, and my young suffering soul it spared to this dark world of memories.
Insatiable yet, however, it claimed a last victim.
He came running back now, breathing hateful triumph in the lust12 of his wickedness—came to gloat over the work of his evil hands.
I heard him splash into the water that poured from the wheel—dance in it—laugh and scream out:
“Tit for tat, and the devil pipes! Caught in his own net! You, there, in the dark! Do you hear? Where are you? Where?—my arms hunger for you!”
“Man or fiend?” I shrieked14 above the thunder of the water. “Down on your knees! It is the end for both of us! Down, and weep and pray—for I believe, before God, you have just murdered your son!”
There was a brief fearful pause; he seemed to be listening—then, without preface or warning, there came a sudden surging crash, deafening15 and appalling16 and I thought “Is it upon us?”
Still I stood unscathed, though a cracking volley of sounds, rending17 and shattering, succeeded the crash, and one wild, dreadful cry that pierced through all. Then silence fell, broken only by the smooth, washing sweep of a great body of water through the channel below.
Silence fell and lapped me in a merciful unconsciousness; for, with the relaxing of the mental pressure I went plump down upon the floor where I stood and lay in a long faint.
* * * * * *
When I came to myself a dim wash of daylight soaking through the blurred18 window had found my face as I lay prone19 upon the boards, and was crawling up to my eyes like a child to open them. An ineffable20 soft sense of peace kept still my exhausted21 limbs in the first waking moments, and only by degrees occurred to me the horror and tragedy of the previous night.
Still I made no attempt to rise, hoping only in forlorn self-pity that death would come to me gently as I lay and take me by the hand, saying: “With the vexing22 problems of life you need nevermore trouble yourself.”
All around, save for the deep murmur23 of water, was deathly quiet, and I prayed that it might remain so; that nothing might ever recall me to weariful action again.
Slowly and feebly I gathered myself together to rise. But a second moan dissipated the selfish shadow and stung me to some reluctant action.
Leaning upon my hand I looked about me and could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw the walls and rafters of the fateful room stretching about me unaltered and unscathed. The crash, that had seemed to involve all in one splintering ruin, had left, seemingly, no evidence of its nature whatsoever25. Only, for a considerable distance from the mouth of the cupboard, the floor was stained with a sop26 of water; and, not a dozen feet from me, huddled27 in the darkest of it, lay a heaped and sodden28 mass that stirred and sent forth29 another moan as I looked.
Painfully, then, I got upon my feet and stole, with no sentiment but a weak curiosity, to the prostrate30 thing. It was as if I had died and my dissatisfied ghost postponed31 its departure, seeking the last explanation of things. Thus, while my soul was sensitive to the least expression of the tragedy that absorbed it, in the human world outside it seemed no longer to feel an interest.
And here, under my eyes, was tumbled the latest grim victim of this house accursed—the engineer of much diabolical32 machinery33 mangled34 by the demon35 he had himself evoked36. What a pitiful, collapsed37 ruin, that, for all its resourcefulness, could only moan and suffer!
Only a thin thread of crimson38 ran from the corner of his mouth, and where it had made during the night a little pool on the floor under his head it looked like ink.
Near him lay a great jagged block of wood green with slime. I crept to the cupboard opening and looked down.
The wheel was gone!
Then I knew what had happened. The house had triumphed over the stubborn monster that had so long proved its curse. At the supreme39 moment the vast dam had yielded and saved the building. It had gone, leaving not a trace of wreckage40 but this—this, and the single torn fragment that had struck down the wretch41 who set it in motion—had gone, bearing away with it in one boiling ruin the crushed and twisted bodies of the last two victims of its insensate fury.
But one further sign was there of its mighty42 passing—a ragged43 rent a foot square driven through the very wall of the house within the vault.
And here a thin shaft44 of light came in and fell, like the focus of an awful eye, full upon the miniature where it lay nailed, face upward, upon the axle—fell, also, upon that empty niche45 in the brickwork where once had stood the treasure for which Jason had given his life.
I turned to the shattered man, leaned over him, touched him. He gave a gasp46 of agony and opened his eyes. The white stare of horror was in them and the blood ran faster from his mouth.
“Water!” he cried, with a dry, clacking sound in his throat.
I hurried from the room, although he called after me feebly not to leave him, drew a jugful48 from the tap in the kitchen and returned. I heard no sound in the house. A glimmer49 of flood came in through the gaping50 door to the yard. No immediate51 help was possible in the rising of that direful morning after the storm. I was alone with my many dead.
I put the jug47 to his lips and he sucked down a long, gluttonous52 draught53. Then he looked at me with eager inquiry54 breaking through his mortal torment55.
“My chest is all broken in,” he said, straining out his voice in bitter anguish56. “When I move the end will come. Quick!—you said something—at the last moment—what was it?”
“That I believed it was your son you sent to his death down there.”
“I have no son. Once—yes—but he died—was poisoned—or drowned.”
“Oh! God forgive this man!” I cried, lifting my face in terror, and in that sick moment inspiration, I think, was given me.
“He never died. He was saved, to grow up a hopeless cripple, and that was he you murdered last night.”
“Oh, man,” I cried, “are you praying? Take grace of repentance58 and humble59 your wicked soul at the last. I can’t believe you innocent of a share in the wretchedness of this wretched house. I am the only one left of it—broken and lost to hope, but I forgive you—do you understand?—I forgive you.”
“I never killed the boy,” he muttered in a low, suffering tone, and with his eyes still closed.
“Will you tell me all you know about it? If you are guiltless, be merciful as you hope for mercy.”
“Modred found the cameo—picked it up—he told me himself—in this very room—where—your father must have dropped it.”
“He—the old man—that night—accused me of stealing it. It was the first—I’d heard of it. Presently—he fell asleep—in his chair. I thought I would—seize the opportunity to—look for it over the house—quietly. Finding myself—outside—the boy’s room—I went in to see—how—he—was getting on. He was awake—and—there was the very thing—in his hand. I asked him how—he had come by it. He told me. I demanded it—of him—said—your father had—promised it me. Nothing—availed—availed.”
He was gasping62 and panting to such a degree that I thought even now he would die, leaving the words I maddened for unspoken. Brutally64, in my torment, I urged him on.
“He—wouldn’t give it up. I rushed at him—he put it in his mouth—and—as I seized him, tried to swallow it—and choked. It had stuck at—the entrance to his gullet. In a few moments—in his state he was too—weak to expel it—he was dead. Perhaps—I might have saved him—but the trinket—the beautiful trinket!”
My heart seemed scarcely to beat as I listened. At last I knew the truth—knew it wicked and inhuman65; yet—thank God—less atrocious than I had dreaded66.
“But afterward,” I whispered—“afterward?”
“There was a plan,” he moaned, and his speech came with difficulty, “inspired me. I dissuaded—your father—from encouraging—any inquiry. A post-mortem, I knew—would lay open the secret—and lose me—the cameo. He was buried—on my certificate. I got—the man—George White—under my thumb—fed him on fire—lent him money—made him—my tool. One dark—stormy—night—we opened the grave—the coffin67. The devil—lent a hand. A new grave—had to be dug—a foot away. It was only—necessary—to—make a hori—horizontal opening—in the intervening soil. I had—my tools—and sliced open the dead boy’s throat—and found what I wanted. Only the sexton knew. Nothing—afterward—would persuade—the mad fool—that the boy—hadn’t been buried alive—and that—I—hadn’t murdered him. Only his fear—of me—kept his mouth—shut. This is—the truth.”
He lay quite still, exhausted with his long, cruel effort. I touched him gently with my hand.
“As I hope for rest myself,” I said, “I forgive you, now that you have spoken, for all this long, hideous68 misery69. The treasure you staked against your soul is passed in fire and water and lost forever. Nothing remains70 to you here; and, for the future—oh, pray, man, pray, while there is time!”
My voice broke in a sob71. He strove to lift himself, leaning upon his hand, and immediately his mouth was choked with blood.
“That way he went. The waters have him now—him, and my brother Jason, who was on the wheel also when you raised the hatch. God knows, their bodies may be miles away by this time.”
He looked up at me with an awful expression; then, without another word, dragged himself inch by inch along the floor to the pit mouth and, reaching it, looked down—and immediately a great sputtering73 cry burst from him:
“Who put that there?—that? the miniature? I gave it to—who did it, I say? It’s a trick! My soul burns—it burns already! Tear it off! My own portrait—Minna!”
Thus and in such manner I heard my mother’s name spoken for the first time; felt the awful foundering74 truth burst upon my heart. Uttering it, the soul of this fearful man tore free with a last dying scream of agony, and he dropped upon his face over the threshold of the running vault.
One moment, fate-stricken, I heard in the silence the heavy drip of something going pattering down into the pit—the next, darkness overwhelmed and the world ceased for me.
Did I ever see Zyp again? I know that some one came to me, lying entranced in a long, sick dream, who bore her resemblance, at least, and who spoke63 gentle words to me and put cold, sweet drink to my lips. But, when I woke at last, she was not there—only a kind, soft woman, a ministering nurse, who moved without noise, and foresaw all my fretful wants.
If she came, she went and left no trace; and I know in my heart I am never to see her more.
And here, month by month, I sit alone in the old haunted, crazy place—alone with my memories and my ghosts and my ancient fruitless regrets.
Dolly and my father—the doctor, and those other two, found far away, welded in a dead embrace, and crushed and dinted one into the other—the fair and the ugly, all, all gone, and I am alone.
I am not thirty, yet my hair is white and it is time I was gone.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
realization
|
|
| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
screech
|
|
| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
numbed
|
|
| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
gushing
|
|
| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
cascades
|
|
| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
writ
|
|
| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
lust
|
|
| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
paralysis
|
|
| n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
appalling
|
|
| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
rending
|
|
| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
blurred
|
|
| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
prone
|
|
| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ineffable
|
|
| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
vexing
|
|
| adj.使人烦恼的，使人恼火的v.使烦恼( vex的现在分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
whatsoever
|
|
| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
sop
|
|
| n.湿透的东西，懦夫；v.浸，泡，浸湿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
sodden
|
|
| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
postponed
|
|
| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
diabolical
|
|
| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
mangled
|
|
| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
demon
|
|
| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
evoked
|
|
| [医]诱发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
collapsed
|
|
| adj.倒塌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
wreckage
|
|
| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
niche
|
|
| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
jug
|
|
| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
jugful
|
|
| 一壶的份量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
glimmer
|
|
| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
gluttonous
|
|
| adj.贪吃的，贪婪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
torment
|
|
| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ashen
|
|
| adj.灰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
repentance
|
|
| n.懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
implored
|
|
| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
brutally
|
|
| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
inhuman
|
|
| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
coffin
|
|
| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
stifled
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
sputtering
|
|
| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
foundering
|
|
| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
ecstasy
|
|
| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |