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Centauri, issue 2, Winter 1944
Page 16
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Page 16 -Secret of Atlantis- I made the discovery July 14, 1943, two days before the little spat with Rhoda. While examining some enlarged photoprints of the queer monoliths on Easter Island, I happened to notice, at the base of one grotesque statue, an odd design, carved deeply in the gray stone. It fascinated me, and I drew a copy of it on a sheet of paper, wondering what alien secrets lurked in that strange pattern. It resembled vaguely a swastika, with numerous transverse lines. I worked at the thing for several minutes; added a few strokes, and suddenly found myself seeing not the sheet of white paper, but the table beneath it. At first I blamed my eyes. I invented any number of explanations for the phenomenon, but the fact remained; by staring at the design for a second or so I could see through it; see objects beyond it. Startled and amazed, I tried again. This time the table and wall vanished, and I saw part of the front lawn! The magnitude of the thing stunned my imagination. I should have been afraid of what had happened, but I wasn't. I was eager to explore its mysteries. Natural laws unknown to man? Black magic? A secret the men of Atlantis had left for future races? The odd statues had had a purpose, after all . . . I did not speculate long on the cause. I was interested in results. A new toy. Fascinating possibilities unfolded before me. I would mock science - - its rigid laws and restrictions. I snatched another sheet and began a second design. Could it be duplicated? I tried. I have always had a nack for drawing, and I used it well that day. I walked across my study to the wall facing the street and placed the second sketch against the plaster, about head high. As I gazed at the mosaic the dark lines and white background seemed to blur and fade into gray nothingness. Then, slowly, certain objects took shape before me. The street became visible. For a long time I stared through that impossible window. I saw people on the sidewalk; my favorite tobacco shop. It happened that I was out of cigarettes, and I remembered suddenly that I hadn't a smoke for hours. This while looking through that strange design. I suppose the desire for nicotine had something to do with what occurred. For, in a few seconds I noticed, to my utter horror and amazement, that the tobacco shop seemed to be moving nearer! Then I realized that I was moving toward the tobacco shop! The shock of this discovery shattered the vision, and the sheet of paper swirled before my eyes. I fell into a chair, trembling. Had I floated through the magic window? I hadn't walked - - that was final; I hadn't moved a muscle, yet I had been nearer. Had my spirit - - my ego - - been wafted beyond the wall, leaving my body behind? The problem was maddening. Hallucination? Hardly. All had been too vivid, too soul-shaking with stark reality. Why, I'd been so near the tobacco shop I'd seen the kind expression on old Reeves' whiskered face! Had anyone seen me? There my speculations ended. I would try again and
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Page 16 -Secret of Atlantis- I made the discovery July 14, 1943, two days before the little spat with Rhoda. While examining some enlarged photoprints of the queer monoliths on Easter Island, I happened to notice, at the base of one grotesque statue, an odd design, carved deeply in the gray stone. It fascinated me, and I drew a copy of it on a sheet of paper, wondering what alien secrets lurked in that strange pattern. It resembled vaguely a swastika, with numerous transverse lines. I worked at the thing for several minutes; added a few strokes, and suddenly found myself seeing not the sheet of white paper, but the table beneath it. At first I blamed my eyes. I invented any number of explanations for the phenomenon, but the fact remained; by staring at the design for a second or so I could see through it; see objects beyond it. Startled and amazed, I tried again. This time the table and wall vanished, and I saw part of the front lawn! The magnitude of the thing stunned my imagination. I should have been afraid of what had happened, but I wasn't. I was eager to explore its mysteries. Natural laws unknown to man? Black magic? A secret the men of Atlantis had left for future races? The odd statues had had a purpose, after all . . . I did not speculate long on the cause. I was interested in results. A new toy. Fascinating possibilities unfolded before me. I would mock science - - its rigid laws and restrictions. I snatched another sheet and began a second design. Could it be duplicated? I tried. I have always had a nack for drawing, and I used it well that day. I walked across my study to the wall facing the street and placed the second sketch against the plaster, about head high. As I gazed at the mosaic the dark lines and white background seemed to blur and fade into gray nothingness. Then, slowly, certain objects took shape before me. The street became visible. For a long time I stared through that impossible window. I saw people on the sidewalk; my favorite tobacco shop. It happened that I was out of cigarettes, and I remembered suddenly that I hadn't a smoke for hours. This while looking through that strange design. I suppose the desire for nicotine had something to do with what occurred. For, in a few seconds I noticed, to my utter horror and amazement, that the tobacco shop seemed to be moving nearer! Then I realized that I was moving toward the tobacco shop! The shock of this discovery shattered the vision, and the sheet of paper swirled before my eyes. I fell into a chair, trembling. Had I floated through the magic window? I hadn't walked - - that was final; I hadn't moved a muscle, yet I had been nearer. Had my spirit - - my ego - - been wafted beyond the wall, leaving my body behind? The problem was maddening. Hallucination? Hardly. All had been too vivid, too soul-shaking with stark reality. Why, I'd been so near the tobacco shop I'd seen the kind expression on old Reeves' whiskered face! Had anyone seen me? There my speculations ended. I would try again and
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