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Pegasus, v. 2, issue 1, Summer 1943
Page 8
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Pegasus perceived that the bottom of the well had the likeness of a floor made of massive blocks of stone, hewn and fitted securely and with care. And there were graven into the stone divers signs, like unto some manner of writing; and the twain essayed to uncover the stone that they might understand the purport of the writing. And there was also carvan the image of some thing, much worn with age and past the divingin of any man to say what manner of thing it might be save that the shape of it bore the semblance of a living creature. And Evos studied the doubtful signs and the image for a space; and he said: "This writing is beyond all my lore, and I cannot tell the meaning of it, save that it is haply an incantation against some evil. And it may be that this image is a symbol of the evil, but I know not; neither can I understand its nature. But this I know: there is an evil in this place, and it is not good to call it forth. Let us turn and go back to the city, and seek water elsewhere." And Kadu replied: "Here shall we find water. The King hath commanded it." And Evos said: "I have no more to say." And at Kadu's command they were drawn up again. And Kadu said to his soldiers: "Go now, certain of you, and fetch hither men from the quarries, the cutters of stone; and bid them bring tools," And as he commanded, so was it done; and they let down the cutters of stone into the well, and they commenced to hew the rock. For three days the cutters of stone hewed the bottom of the well and Kadu kept watch with his soldiers, and Evos waited at the mouth of the well, for a boding of ill lay heavy within him. And on the afternoon of the fourth day the watchers heard the laborers cry aloud in terror, and a grating noise as of rocks grinding together, and again a single cry, but multiplied an hundredfold, echoing and re-echoing like the voice of one crying out in some vast cavern. And they heard the manifold echoes of splashing and then only silence. And approaching in fear the rim of the well they looked down, but saw not the light of torches, but only blackness. And the ropes where to the baskets were fastened were taut, as if the baskets hung free; and they laid hold of the ropes and drew up the baskets empty. And those gathered in the tower spake together in awe concerning that which lay beneath, conceiving that they stood above some abyss, and questioning what might abide therein. And even came, and darkness, and no man durst remain in the tower. And they stood on the hill without the tower, keeping watch; and the constellations arose in the east and passed slowly across the sky, and the gibbous moon rose red, and paled with the passing of time. And anon they that kept watch heard a sound within the tower; and they listened, fearing what it might portend. And it seemed to them that they heard a gurgling and lapping as of water, growing louder, then 5
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Pegasus perceived that the bottom of the well had the likeness of a floor made of massive blocks of stone, hewn and fitted securely and with care. And there were graven into the stone divers signs, like unto some manner of writing; and the twain essayed to uncover the stone that they might understand the purport of the writing. And there was also carvan the image of some thing, much worn with age and past the divingin of any man to say what manner of thing it might be save that the shape of it bore the semblance of a living creature. And Evos studied the doubtful signs and the image for a space; and he said: "This writing is beyond all my lore, and I cannot tell the meaning of it, save that it is haply an incantation against some evil. And it may be that this image is a symbol of the evil, but I know not; neither can I understand its nature. But this I know: there is an evil in this place, and it is not good to call it forth. Let us turn and go back to the city, and seek water elsewhere." And Kadu replied: "Here shall we find water. The King hath commanded it." And Evos said: "I have no more to say." And at Kadu's command they were drawn up again. And Kadu said to his soldiers: "Go now, certain of you, and fetch hither men from the quarries, the cutters of stone; and bid them bring tools," And as he commanded, so was it done; and they let down the cutters of stone into the well, and they commenced to hew the rock. For three days the cutters of stone hewed the bottom of the well and Kadu kept watch with his soldiers, and Evos waited at the mouth of the well, for a boding of ill lay heavy within him. And on the afternoon of the fourth day the watchers heard the laborers cry aloud in terror, and a grating noise as of rocks grinding together, and again a single cry, but multiplied an hundredfold, echoing and re-echoing like the voice of one crying out in some vast cavern. And they heard the manifold echoes of splashing and then only silence. And approaching in fear the rim of the well they looked down, but saw not the light of torches, but only blackness. And the ropes where to the baskets were fastened were taut, as if the baskets hung free; and they laid hold of the ropes and drew up the baskets empty. And those gathered in the tower spake together in awe concerning that which lay beneath, conceiving that they stood above some abyss, and questioning what might abide therein. And even came, and darkness, and no man durst remain in the tower. And they stood on the hill without the tower, keeping watch; and the constellations arose in the east and passed slowly across the sky, and the gibbous moon rose red, and paled with the passing of time. And anon they that kept watch heard a sound within the tower; and they listened, fearing what it might portend. And it seemed to them that they heard a gurgling and lapping as of water, growing louder, then 5
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