After a time Mr. Parham’s interest in the psychic1 transparency of the human eyelid2 gave way to his perception of a very unusual flow of ectoplasm from the medium. It had begun quite normally as a faint self-luminous oozing3 from the corners of the mouth, but now it was streaming much more rapidly than it had ever done before from his neck and shoulders and arms and presently from the entire front of his vaguely4 outlined body. It was phosphorescent — at first with a greenish and then with a yellowish-green tint5. It came so fast that either by contrast Williams seemed to shrink and shrivel, or else he did actually shrink and shrivel.
It was impossible to decide that; this outflow of matter was so arresting. This Mr. Parham felt was worth seeing. He was glad he had come. There was enough ectoplasm now to choke Sir Titus. Well might Sir Bussy, lost somewhere in the black darkness close at hand, whisper, “Gaw.” The stuff was already animated6 matter. It did not merely gutter7 and flow and hang downward, in the spiritless, tallowlike forms it had hitherto assumed. It was different. It had vital force in it. It was not so much slimy as glassy. Its ends lifted and pointed8 out towards the observers like bulging9 pseudopodia, like blind animalcul?, like searching fingers, like veiled phantoms10.
“EH!” said Sir Titus. “This beats me.”
Hereward Jackson was muttering to himself and shivering.
It was strange stuff to watch. Its blunt protrusions touched and flowed into one another. They quivered, hesitated, and advanced. With an astounding12 rapidity they grew. What were delicate tendrils an instant ago were now long fingers and now blunt lumps. They were transparent13, or at least translucent14, and one saw streams of whitish and faintly tinted15 matter flowing within them, as one sees in a microscope the protoplasm of an amoeba streaming about in its body. They grew, they coalesced16 more and more.
A few seconds or a few moments since, for it was difficult to measure the time this dim process was taking, the forms of these protrusions had been tentacular17, fungoid, branchingly obtuse18. Now they were coalescing19, running together and becoming blunter and more closely involved and more and more one consolidated20 lumpish labouring aggregation21. The coming and going of the swirling22 currents within grew faster and more interwoven. The colouring became stronger. Streaks24 of red and purple, exquisite25 lines of glistening26 white and bands of a pale creamy colour became distinguishable. A sort of discipline in these movements was presently apparent.
With a shock it came into Mr. Parham’s head that he was seeing bones and nerves and blood vessels27 hurrying to their appointed places in that swimming swirl23. But was this possible? Why did he FEEL these were living structures? For they carried an immense conviction to his mind. As he peered and marvelled28 this internal circulation of the ectoplasm grew dim. A film was extending over it. At first it was perplexing to say why that swirling vesicle should be dimmed and then came the realization29 that an opaque30 skin was forming upon the whole boiling ectoplasmic mass. It became more and more opaque, opaque at last as a body. The process so stirred Mr. Parham to behold31, his own nerves and arteries32 thrilled with such response, that he felt almost as though he himself was being made.
Shape, a recognizable form, was now imposed upon this growth. At first merely the vague intimation of head and shoulders. Then very rapidly the appearance of a face, like a still slightly translucent mask in the front of the head lump, and then hair, ears, a complete head and shoulders rising as it were out of the chest of the collapsed33 medium; plainly the upper part of a strange being whose nether34 limbs were still fluid and dim. A cold handsome face regarded the watchers, with a firm mouth and slightly contemptuous eyes.
And yet it had a strange resemblance to a face that was very familiar indeed to Mr. Parham.
“This is beyond me altogether,” said Sir Titus.
“I never hoped for anything like this,” said Hereward Jackson.
Mr. Parham was altogether absorbed in the vision and by the mystery of its likeness36. Sir Bussy was no longer equal to “Gaw.”
In another moment, as it seemed, or another half hour, the newcomer was completed. He was of medium height, slenderer and taller than Napoleon the First but with something of the same Byronic beauty. He was clothed in a white silken shirt, wide open at the neck and with knee breeches, grayish stockings and shoes. He seemed to shine with a light of his own. He took a step forward, and Williams dropped like an empty sack from his chair and lay forgotten.
“You can turn up the lights,” said a firm, clear, sweet, even voice, and stood to see its orders obeyed.
It became evident that Sir Titus had been preparing a surprise. From his chair he bent37 forward, touched a button on the floor, and the room was brightly lit by a score of electric lamps. As the darkness changed to light one saw his body bent down, and then he brought himself back to a sitting position. His face was ghastly white and awestricken; his vast forehead crumpled38 by a thousand wrinkles. Never was skeptic39 so utterly40 defeated; never was unbeliever so abruptly41 convinced. The visitant smiled and nodded at his confusion. Hereward Jackson stood beside Sir Titus, paralyzed between astonishment42 and admiration43. Sir Bussy also was standing44. There was a livelier interest and less detachment in his bearing than Mr. Parham had ever seen before.
“For some years I have been seeking my way to this world,” said the Visitant, “for this world has great need of me.”
Hereward Jackson spoke45 in the silence and his voice was faint.
“You have come from another world?”
“Mars.”
They had nothing to say.
“I come from the Red Planet, the planet of blood and virility,” said the Visitant, and then, after a queer still moment that was drenched46 with interrogation, he delivered a little speech to them.
“I am the Master Spirit who tries and who cleanses47 the souls of men. I am the spirit of Manhood and Dominion48 and Order. That is why I have come to you from that sterner planet where I rule. This world is falling into darkness and confusion, into doubt, vain experiments, moral strangeness, slackness, failure of effort, evasion49 of conflict, plenty without toil50, security without vigilance. It has lacked guidance. Voices that might have given it guidance have found no form of utterance51. Vague and foolish dreams of universal peace tempt35 the desires of men and weaken their wills. Life is struggle. Life is effort. I have come to rouse men to their forgotten duties. I have come to bring not peace but a sword. Not for the first time have I crossed the interplanetary gulf52. I am the disturber of those waters of life that heal the souls of men. I am the banner of flame. I am the exaltation of history. I breathed in Sargon, in Alexander, in Genghis Khan, in Napoleon. Now I come among you, using you as my mask and servants. This time it is the English who are my chosen people. In their turn. For they are a great and wonderful people still — for all their inexpressiveness. I have come to England, trembling on the brink53 of decadence54, to raise her and save her and lead her back to effort and glory and mastery.”
“You have come into the world to STAY?” Hereward Jackson was profoundly respectful but also profoundly puzzled. “Master!— are you MATTER? Are you earthly matter? Are you flesh and blood?”
“Not as much as I am going to be. But that shall soon be remedied. My honest Woodcock here will see I get some food downstairs and make me free of his house. Meat — sound meat in plenty. At present I’m still depending in part upon that fellow’s nasty ectoplasm. I’m half a phantom11 still.”
He glanced ungratefully at Carnac Williams, who, having contributed his best, lay flat as an empty sack now upon the shaded floor of the cabinet. No one went to his assistance.
Hereward Jackson stooped forward peering. “IS HE DEAD?” he asked.
“Phew! the channels one must use!” said the Master Spirit with manifest aversion. “Don’t trouble about HIM. Leave him, poor Sludge. He can lie. But you I have need of. You will be my first colleagues. Woodcock, my Crassus, the commissariat?”
“There’s food downstairs,” said Sir Bussy slowly and grudgingly55 but evidently unable to disobey. “There’ll be one or two menservants up still. We can find you meat.”
“We’ll go down. Wine, have you? Red wine? Then we can talk while I eat and drink and put real substance into this still very sketchy56 body of mine. All night we’ll have to talk and plan the things we have to do. You three and I. You brought me, you invoked57 me, and here I am. No good scowling58 and doubting now, Sir Titus; your days of blatant59 denial are past. So soon as I’m equal to it you shall feel my pulse. Which door goes down? Oh! that’s a cupboard, is it?”
Hereward Jackson went across to the door upon the passage and opened it. The passage seemed larger and more brightly lit than Mr. Parham remembered it. Everything indeed seemed larger. And that light contained rays of an intense and exalting60 hopefulness. The two other men followed the Master Spirit as he went. They were dumbfounded. They were astounded61 and docile62.
But someone was missing! For some moments this shortage perplexed63 the mind of Mr. Parham. He counted Sir Bussy, One, Sir Titus, Two, and Hereward Jackson, Three. But there had been another. Of course!— Himself! Where was he?
His mind spun64 round giddily. He seemed to be losing touch with everything. Was he present at all?
And then he perceived that imperceptibly and incomprehensibly, the Master Spirit had incorporated him. He realized that an immense power of will had taken possession of him, that he lived in a new vigour65, that he was still himself and yet something enormously more powerful, that his mind was full and clear and certain as it had never been before. Mutely these others had accepted this stupendous and yet unobtrusive coalescence66.
“We must talk,” said a voice that was his own voice made glorious, and a fine white hand came out from him, shaking its fingers, and motioned the others on.
And they obeyed! Marvelling67 and reluctant, perhaps, but they obeyed.
收听单词发音 |
1
psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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eyelid
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| n.眼睑，眼皮 | |
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oozing
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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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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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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translucent
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| adj.半透明的；透明的 | |
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tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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coalesced
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| v.联合，合并( coalesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tentacular
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| adj.有触手的 | |
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obtuse
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| adj.钝的；愚钝的 | |
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coalescing
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| v.联合，合并( coalesce的现在分词 ) | |
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consolidated
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| a.联合的 | |
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aggregation
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| n.聚合，组合；凝聚 | |
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swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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25
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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arteries
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| n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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skeptic
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| n.怀疑者，怀疑论者，无神论者 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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42
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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44
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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45
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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46
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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47
cleanses
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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49
evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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50
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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51
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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52
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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53
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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54
decadence
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| n.衰落，颓废 | |
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55
grudgingly
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56
sketchy
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| adj.写生的，写生风格的，概略的 | |
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57
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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58
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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blatant
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| adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的 | |
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exalting
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| a.令人激动的，令人喜悦的 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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coalescence
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| n.合并，联合 | |
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marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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