A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting1 out McCarthy's violent speech. The rattling2 typewriter in the next room was abruptly3 stilled. The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences. Absolute dense4 stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises. In his astonishment5 McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk. It hit the floor, spilled, rolled away; but noiselessly, as would the inkstand in a moving picture.
To have one's world thus suddenly stricken dumb, to be transported orally from the roar of a city to the peace of a woodland or a becalmed sea is certainly astonishing enough.
But this silence was particularly terrifying to both McCarthy and Jack6 Warford, though neither would have been able to analyze7 the reason for its weirdness8. For silence is in reality a composite of many lesser9 noises. In a woodland almost inaudible insects hum, breezes blow, leaves and grasses rustle10; at sea the tiny waves lap the sides and equally tiny breaths of air stir the cordage; within the confines of the human shell the mere11 physical acts of breathing, swallowing, winking12, the mere physical facts of the circulation of the blood, the beating of the heart, produce each its sound.
Even a man totally deaf feels the subtle influence of these latter physical phenomena13. And underneath14 all sound, perceptible alike to those who can hear and those who can not, are the vibrations15 that accompany every activity of nature as the manifestations17 of motion or of life. An ordinary deep silence is not so much an absence of sound as an absence of accustomed or loud sound. And in that unusual hush18 often for the first time a man becomes acutely aware of the singing of the blood in his ears.
But this silence was absolute. All these minor19 sounds had been eliminated.
For a moment Boss McCarthy stared; then shoved back his chair with a violent motion, and rose. He was like a shadow on a screen. The filching20 from the world of one element of its every-day life had unexpectedly rendered it all phantasmagoric.
As McCarthy shouted, and no sound came; as he moved from behind his desk, and no jar accompanied his heavy footfall, he appeared to lose blood and substance, to become unreal. As no sound issued from his contorted face, So it seemed that no force would follow his blow, were he to deliver one.
He stumbled forward, dazed and groping as though he were in the dark, instead of merely in silence; a striking example in the uncertainty22 of his movements of how closely our senses depend on one another.
Jack spoke23 twice, then closed his lips in a grim straight line. He held his elbows close to his sides, and looked ready for anything.
A look of mild triumph illumined Percy Darrow's usually languid countenance24. He stepped quickly to the wall, and turned the button of the incandescent25 globe. The light instantly glowed. At this he nodded twice more. From his pocket he drew a note-book and pencil, wrote in it a few words, and handed it to the dazed and uncertain boss.
"I was right," Darrow had scrawled26. "This proves it. It's by no means the end. Better be good."
McCarthy's bulldog courage had recovered from its first daze21. He began to see that this visitation was not entirely27 personal, but extended also to his two companions. This relieved his mind, for he had suspected some strange new apoplexy.
"Did you expect this?" he wrote.
Darrow nodded.
Together the three ghosts left the phantom28 office, and glided29 down the phantom halls. Other ghosts in various stages of alarm were already making their way down the stairs. Some of them spoke, but no sound came. One woman, her eyes frightened, reached out furtively30 to touch her neighbor, apparently31 to assure herself of his reality. Urged by an uncontrollable impulse, a man thrust his hand through the ground glass of an office door. The glass shivered, and crashed to the tile floor. The pieces broke--silently. It was as though the man had been the figure in a cinematograph illusion. He stared at his cut and bleeding hand. The woman who had touched the man suddenly threw back her head and screamed. They could see her eyes roll back, her face change color, could discern the straining of her throat. No sound came.
At this a panic seized them. They rushed down the stairs, clambering over one another, pushing, scrambling32, falling. A mob of a hundred men fought for precedence. Blows were struck. No faintest murmur33 of tumult34 came from their futile35 heat. It might have been the riot of a wax-works in a vacuum.
They fell into the lower hallway, and fought their way to the street, and stood there dazed and staring, a strange, wild-eyed, white-faced, bloody36 crew. The hurrying avenue stopped to gaze on them curiously37, gathering38 compact in a mob that blocked all traffic. Policemen pushed their way in and began roughly to question--and to question in real audible words.
But for the space of a full minute these people stood there staring upward, drinking in the blessed sound that poured in on them lavishly39 from the life of the street; drinking deep gulps40 of air, as though air had lacked.
Darrow, and with him Jack Warford, had descended41 more leisurely42. Before leaving the building Darrow placed the flat of his hands over his ears, and motioned Jack to do the same. Thus they missed the stunning43 effect of receiving the world of noise all at once; as a man goes to a bright light from a dark room. Furthermore, Darrow returned several times from the sound to the silence, trying to determine where the line of demarcation was drawn44. Then, motioning to Jack, he began methodically to make his way through the crowd.
This proved to be by no means an easy task. Rumors45 of all sorts were afoot. Some bold spirits were testing a new sensation by venturing into the corridor of the building. The police were undecided as to what should be done. One or two reporters were already at hand, investigating. McCarthy, his assurance returned, was conversing46 earnestly with a police captain.
Percy Darrow, closely followed by Jack, managed to worm his way through the crowd, and finally debouched on Broadway.
"What was it? What struck us?" demanded Jack. "Do you know?"
"I can guess; in essence," said Percy. "I was pretty sure after last evening's trouble; but this underscores it, proves it. Also, it opens the way."
"What do you mean?"
"Along the lines of these phenomena there are two more things possible. Possible, I say. They might be called certain, were we dealing47 only with theory; but there is still some doubt how the practical side of it may work out."
"I suppose you know what you're talking about," said Jack resignedly. "I don't."
"You don't need to, yet. But here's what I mean. If my theory is correct, we are likely to be surprised still further."
Jack ruminated48; then his engaging young face lighted up with a smile.
"All right," said he; "I'm enlisted49 for the war. What have you got to do with it?"
"I'll explain this much," said Darrow; "more I'll not tell at present, even to you. If one breath should get out that any one suspected--well, this is a man-hunt."
"Who's the man?"
"An enemy of McCarthy."
"Whom you are going to find for him?"
"Perhaps."
"And you were putting up that job for me as part of your pay!"
Percy Darrow smiled slowly.
"As all of my pay--from McCarthy," said he. "I was just bedeviling him."
Jack Warford started to say something, but the scientist cut him short.
"This is bigger than McCarthy," he said decisively. "We are the only people in this city who suspect a human origin of these phenomena. Other men are yet working, and will continue to work, on the supposition that they are the results of some unbalanced natural conditions. The phenomena are, as yet, harmless. It will not greatly injure the city, once it is prepared, to be without electricity or without sound for limited periods. I doubt very much whether the Unknown can continue these phenomena for longer than limited periods. But conceivably this man may become a peril50. He has, if I reason correctly, four arrows in his quiver; the fourth is dangerous. It is our duty to find him before he uses the fourth arrow--if indeed he has discovered the method of doing so. That is always in doubt."
Jack's eyes were shining.
"He may conceivably possess the power to launch the fourth and dangerous arrow, but may withhold52 it unless he believes himself suspected or close pressed. His probable mental processes are obscure. At present he directs himself solely53 against McCarthy." Percy Darrow had been thinking aloud, and realized it with a smile. "This is one of your jobs, fellow detective," said he. "You've got to be a mark for me to think at."
"I wish you'd think a little more clearly," observed Jack. "It sounds interesting, but jumbled54. I feel the way I did when I began to read Greek."
"McCarthy's incidental," observed Darrow in his detached tone.
"Eh?"
"Oh, I thought we might as well worry McCarthy by asking him for that job on the side. It's amusing."
"What do you want me to do?" asked Jack.
"This," said Darrow, with an unusual rapidity of utterance55. "See that thick-set, quick man in gray clothes? He's a policeman. In a moment he'll arrest me."
"Arrest you--why?" demanded Jack, in tones of great astonishment.
"I reason that McCarthy will come to that conclusion. He is beginning to think I have something to do with what he calls his annoyances56. I saw it in his eyes. This last curious manifestation16 came along too pat. You remember, it cut off the dressing-down he was going to give me." Darrow chuckled57 in appreciation59. "Didn't the humor of that strike you?"
"Me? Oh, I was scared," admitted Jack.
"I want you to go home and tell Helen just what happened in the Atlas60 Building. Do not tell her that I believe the phenomena are due to any human agency. Say simply that if it is repeated, and she happens to be within the zone of its influence, to keep calm, and wait. It will pass, and it is not to be feared. Tell her I said so."
"Lord!" cried Jack. "You don't think it's going to happen again!"
"Within the next twenty-four hours," said Darrow.
"Oughtn't we to warn the people?"
"And let our hidden antagonist61 know we are aware of his existence?" inquired Darrow.
"Anything else?"
"No--yes. Buy a gun. If I bring you into any trouble, I'll see you clear. You understand?"
"I do."
"I rely on your being game."
"To the limit," said Jack. "Here comes your friend. Won't this arrest ball things up? Shall I rustle bail62?"
"No," said Darrow. "I want to think. All I need is all the papers. I'll be out by ten to-morrow morning, sure."
"Why are you sure of that?"
"_Because by that hour McCarthy will have disappeared_," said Percy Darrow.
The man in the gray suit, having finished his scrutiny63, lounged forward.
"You are Mr. Darrow," he stated.
"Sure I am, my amiable64 but obvious sleuth," drawled that young man. "Lead on." He nodded a farewell to Jack, and linked his arm in that of the officer. After a few moments he burst into an irrepressible chuckle58.
"The fat, thick-necked, thick-witted, old fool!" said he.
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1
blotting
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| 吸墨水纸 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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weirdness
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| n.古怪，离奇，不可思议 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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filching
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| v.偷（尤指小的或不贵重的物品）( filch的现在分词 ) | |
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daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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incandescent
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| adj.遇热发光的， 白炽的，感情强烈的 | |
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scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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lavishly
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| adv.慷慨地，大方地 | |
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gulps
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| n.一大口（尤指液体）( gulp的名词复数 )v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的第三人称单数 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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ruminated
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| v.沉思( ruminate的过去式和过去分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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52
withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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jumbled
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| adj.混乱的；杂乱的 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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56
annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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57
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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atlas
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| n.地图册，图表集 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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