h. p. lovecraft - beyond the wall of sleep

8/3/2019 H. P. Lovecraft - Beyond the Wall of Sleep

1/6

B e y o n d t h e W a l l o f S l e e p

b y H . P . L o v e c r a f t

Written 1919P ub li sh ed O ct o be r 1 91 9 i n P in e C on es , Vo l. 1 , N o. 6 , p . 2 -1 0I h a ve o f te n w on d er e d i f t h e ma jo ri ty o f ma n ki n d e ve r p a us e t o r e fl e ct u p o n t h eo c ca s io n al l y t i ta n ic s i gn i fi c an c e o f d r ea ms , a n d o f t h e o b sc u re wo r ld t o w hi c hthey belong. Whilst the greater number of our nocturnal visions are perhaps no

mo re t ha n f ai nt a nd f an ta st ic r ef le ct io ns o f o ur w ak in g e xp er ie nc es - F re ud t ot h e c o nt r ar y w it h h i s p u er i le s y mb o li s m - t he re a re s ti l l a c er ta i n r ema i nd e r w h o se i mmu n d a n e an d e t h e re a l c h a ra c t e r p er mi t o f n o o r d i na r y i n t e rp r e t at i o n , a n dw hose vaguely exciting and disquietin g effect suggests possible minute glimps esinto a sphere of mental existence no less important than physical life, yets e pa r at e d f r om t h at l if e b y a n a l l b u t i mp a ss a bl e b a rr ie r. F ro m my e xp er i en ce Icannot doubt but that man, w hen lost to terrestrial consciousness, is indeeds oj ou rn in g i n a no th er a nd u nc or po re al l if e o f f ar d if fe re nt n at ur e f ro m t he l if ew e k n ow , a n d o f w hi c h o n ly t h e s l ig h te s t a n d mo s t i n d is t i nc t me mo ri es l i ng er a f te r w a ki n g. F ro m t h o s e b l u r r ed a n d f r a g me n t a r y me mo r ie s w e ma y i n fe r mu c h , y e t

prove little. We may guess that in dreams life, matter, and vitality, as theearth know s such things, are not necessarily constant; and that time and spacedo n ot exist as our w aking selves comprehend them. Sometimes I believe that thisl e ss ma te ri al l if e i s o ur t ru er l if e, a nd t ha t o ur v ai n p re se nc e o n t heterraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon.I t w as f ro m a y ou th fu l r ev er y f il le d w it h s pe cu la ti on s o f t hi s s or t t ha t I a ro seo ne a ft er no on i n t he w in te r o f 1 90 0- 01 , w he n t o t he s ta te p sy ch op at hi cinstitution in w hich I served as an intern w as brought the man w hose case hasever since haunted me so unceasingly. H is name, as given on the records, w as JoeS la te r, o r S la ad er , a nd h is a pp ea ra nc e w as t ha t o f t he t yp ic al d en iz en o f t heC a ts k il l Mo u nt a in r eg i on ; o n e o f t h os e s t ra n ge , r ep e ll e nt s c io n s o f a p r imi ti veC ol on ia l p ea sa nt s to ck w ho se i so la ti on f or n ea rl y t hr ee c en tu ri es i n t he h il lyf a st n e ss e s o f a l i t t le - t ra v e le d c o u nt r y si d e h a s c au s e d t h em t o s in k t o a k i nd o f

barbaric degeneracy, rather than advance w ith their more fortunately placedbrethren of the thickly settled districts. A mong these odd folk, w ho corresponde xa c tl y t o th e de c ad e nt el e me n t o f " wh i te t r as h " i n t h e S o ut h , l a w a n d mo r al sare non-existent; and their general mental status is probably below that of any

other section of native A merican people.J o e S l at e r, w h o c a me t o t h e i n s t i t u t i o n i n t h e v i g i l a n t c u st o d y o f f o u r s t a t e

policemen, and w ho w as described as a highly dangerous character, certainlypresented no evidence of his perilous disposition w hen I first beheld him.T h o u gh w e l l a b o v e t h e mi d d l e s t a t ur e , a n d o f s o me w ha t b r a wn y f r ame , h e w a s g i v e nan absurd appearance of harmless stupidity by the pale, sleepy blueness of hissmall w atery eyes, the scantiness of his neglected and never-shaven grow th of y el lo w b ea rd , a nd t he l is tl es s d ro op in g o f h is h ea vy n et he r l ip . H is a ge wa su n k n o wn , s i n c e a mo n g h i s k i n d n e i t he r f a mi l y r e c or d s n o r p e r ma n e n t f a mi l y t i e sexist; but from the baldness of his head in front, and from the decayedcondition of his teeth, the head surgeon w rote him dow n as a man of about forty.F ro m t h e me d ic a l a n d c o ur t do c ume n ts w e l e ar n ed a l l t h at c o ul d b e g a th e re d o f

his case: this man, a vagabond, hunter and trapper, had alw ays been strange inthe eyes of his primitive associates. H e had habitually slept at night beyondt he o rd in ar y t ime , a nd u po n w ak in g w ou ld o ft en t al k o f u nk no wn t hi ng s i n ama nn er s o b iz ar re a s t o i ns pi re f ea r e ve n i n t he h ea rt s o f a n u ni ma gi na ti ve


2/6

populace. N ot that his form of language w as at all unusual, for he never spokesave in the debased patois of his environment; but the tone and tenor of hisutterances w ere of such mysterious w ildness, that none might listen w ithouta p pr e he n si o n. H e h i ms e lf w as g e ne ra l ly a s t e rr i fi e d a n d b a ff l ed a s h i s a u di t or s,a nd w it hi n a n h ou r a ft er a wa ke ni ng wo ul d f or ge t a ll t ha t h e h ad s ai d, o r a tleast all that had caused him to say w hat he did; relapsing into a bovine,h a ll -a mi a b le n o rma l it y l i ke t h a t o f t h e o t h er h i l ld w el l e rs .A s S l at e r g r e w o l d er , i t a p p ea r ed , h i s ma t u t i na l a b e r ra t i o n s h a d g r a d ua l l yi nc re as ed i n f re qu en cy a nd v io le nc e; t il l a bo ut a mo nt h b ef or e h is a rr iv al a tthe institution had occurred the shocking tragedy w hich caused his arrest by theauthorities. O ne day nearnoon, after a profound sleep begun in a w hiskeydebauch at about five of the previous afternoon, the man had roused himself mostsuddenly, w ith ululations so horrible and unearthly that they brought severaln ei gh bo rs t o h is c ab in - a f il th y s ty w he re h e d we lt wi th a f ami ly a sindescribable as himself. Rushing out into the snow , he had flung his arms alofta n d co mme nc ed a s er ie s o f l ea ps d ir ec tl y u pw ar d i n t he a ir ; t he w hi le s ho ut in gh i s d e te r mi n at i o n t o r e ac h s o me " b ig , b i g c a bi n w i th b r ig h tn e ss i n t h e r o of a n dwa ll s a nd f lo or a nd t he l ou d q ue er mu si c f ar a wa y. " A s t wo me n o f mo de ra te s iz es o u gh t t o r e st r a in h i m, h e h a d s t ru g gl e d w i th ma n ia ca l f or c e a nd f ur y , s cr e ami n gof his desire and need to find and kill a certain "thing that shines and shakesa n d l a u g h s ." A t l e n g t h , a f t e r t e mp o r ar i l y f e l li n g o n e o f h i s d e t ai n e rs w i th a

sudden blow , he had flung himself upon the other in a demoniac ecstasy of blood-thirstiness, shrieking fiendishly that he w ould "jump high in the air andburn his w ay through anything that stopped him."F ami ly a nd n ei gh bo rs h ad n ow f le d i n a p an ic , a nd w he n t he mo re co ur ag e ou s o f t h e m r e t u rn e d, S la t er w as g o ne , l e av i ng b e hi n d a n u n re c og n iz a bl e p u lp -l i ke t h in gt h at h a d b e en a l i vi n g ma n b ut a n h ou r b e fo r e. N o ne o f t h e mo u n t ai n e e rs h a dd a re d t o pu r su e hi m, a nd i t i s l i ke l y t h at t h ey w ou l d h av e w el c ome d hi s de a t hfromt he cold; but w hen several mornings later they heard his screams from adistant ravine they realized that he had somehow managed to survi ve, and thath is r emo va l i n o ne w ay o r a no th er w ou ld b e n ec es sa ry . T he n h ad f ol lo we d a n a rme ds e a r ch i n g - pa r t y , w h o s e p u r p o se ( w h a t e v e r i t ma y h a v e b e e n o r i g in a l l y) b e c amethat of a sheriff's posse after one of the seldom popular state troopers had byaccident observed, then questioned, and finally joined the seekers.

O n t he t hi rd d ay S la te r wa s f ou nd u nc on sc io us i n t he h ol lo w o f a t re e, a nd t ak ent o t h e n e ar es t j ai l , w he re a l ie ni s ts f ro mA l b an y e xa mi n ed h i m a s s o o n a s h i ss e n s e s r e t u r ne d . T o t h e m h e t o l d a s i mp l e s t o ry . H e h ad , h e s a i d, g o n e t o s le e po n e af t e r no o n ab o u t s u n d o wn a f te r dr i n k i ng mu c h l i q uo r . H e h a d a w ak e n ed t o f i n dhimself standing bloody-handed in the snow before his cabin, the mangled corpseo f h is n ei gh bo r P et er S la de r a t h is f ee t. Ho rr if ie d, h e h ad t ak en t o t he wo od si n a v a gu e e f fo r t t o e s ca p e f ro m t h e s ce n e of w h at mu s t h av e b e en h i s c r ime .Beyond these things he seemed to know nothing, nor could the expert questioningo f h is i nt er ro ga to rs b ri ng o ut a s in gl e a dd it io na l f ac t.T h at n i g h t S la t er s l ep t q u ie t ly , a n d t h e n e xt mo r ni n g h e a wa k en e d w it h n os i ng u la r f e at u re s a ve a c e rt a in a l te r at i on o f e xp r es si o n. D oc t or B a rn a rd , w hohad been w atching the patient, thought he noticed in the pale blue eyes ac er ta in g le am o f p ec ul ia r q ua li ty , a nd i n t he f la cc id l ip s a n a ll b ut

imp e rc e pt i bl e t i gh t en i ng , a s i f o f i n te l li g en t d e te rmi n at i on . B u t w he nquestioned, Slater relapsed into the habitual vacancy of the mountaineer, andonly reiterated w hat he had said on the preceding day.O n t h e t h ir d mo r ni n g o c cu r re d t h e f i rs t o f t h e ma n ' s me n t al a t t a ck s . A ft e r s omeshow of uneasiness in sleep, he burst forth into a frenzy so pow erful that thec o mb in ed e ff or ts o f f ou r me n w er e n ee de d t o b in d h im i n a s tr ai gh tj ac ke t. T hea l i e ni s t s l i s t e ne d w i t h k e en a t t e n t io n t o h i s w o r ds , s i n c e t h ei r c u r i os i t y h a d

been aroused to a high pitch by the suggestive yet mostly conflicting andi n co h er e nt s t or i es o f h i s f a mi l y a n d n e ig h bo rs . S la t er r av e d f or u p wa rd o f f if te en mi n ut e s, b a bb l in g i n h i s b a ck wo o ds d i al e ct o f g r ee n e d if i ce s o f l i gh t ,oceans of space, strange music, and shadow y mountains and valleys. But most of a l l d i d h e d w el l u p o n s o me my s t e r io u s bl a z i n g e n t i t y t h a t sh o o k a n d l au g h e d a n dmocked at him. This vast, vague personality seemed to have done him a terrible

w ro ng , a nd t o k il l i t i n t ri ump h a nt r e v en g e wa s h i s p ar a mo u nt d e si r e. I n o r de r to reach it, he said, he w ould soar through abysses of emptiness, burning everyobstacle that stood in his w ay. Thus ran his discourse, until w ith the greatests u d d e n ne s s he c e as e d . T h e f i r e o f ma d n e s s d i e d fr o m h i s e y e s, a n d i n d u l l w o n de r


3/6

he looked at his questioners and asked w hy he w as bound. D r. Barnard unbuckledthe leather harness and did not restore it till night, w hen he succeeded in

persuading Slater to don it of his ow n volition, for his ow n good. The man hadn o w a dmi t t ed t h a t h e s o me ti me s t a lk e d q u ee r ly , t h ou g h h e k n ew n o t w h y.W i th i n a w e ek t w o mo r e at t a c k s a p p e ar e d , b u t f ro m t h e m t h e d o c to r s l e ar n e dl it tl e. O n t he s ou rc e o f S la te r' s v is io ns t he y s pe cu la te d a t l en gt h, f or s in ceh e c ou ld n ei th er r ea d n or wr it e, a nd h ad a pp ar en tl y n ev er h ea rd a l eg en d o r f ai r y- ta l e, h i s g o rg eo u s i ma g er y w as q u it e i n exp l ic a bl e . T h at i t c o ul d n o t c o mef ro m a n y k n o wn my t h o r r o ma n c e w a s ma d e e s p ec i a l l y c l e a r b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h eu n fo r tu n at e l u n a t ic e xp r e ss e d h i ms e lf o n ly i n h i s o wn s i mp le ma n ne r. H e r av e d o f things he did not understand and could not interpret; things w hich he claimed tohave experienced, but w hich he could not have learned through any normal orc o n n e c te d n a r r a t i o n . T h e a l i e n i st s s o o n a g r e e d t h a t a b n o r ma l d r ea ms w e re t h efoundation of the trouble; dreams whose vividness could for a time completelyd o mi n at e t h e w ak i ng mi nd o f t h is b a si c al l y i n fe ri o r ma n . W it h d u e f o rma li tySlater w as tried for murder, acquitted on the ground of insanity, and committedto the institution w herein I held so humble a post.I h a ve s a id t h at I a m a c o ns t an t s p ec u l at o r co n c er n i ng d r ea m- li fe , a nd f ro m t h i sy o u ma y j u dg e o f t h e e a ge r ne s s w i th w hi c h I a p pl i ed my s e lf to t he st u d y o f t h enew patient as soon as I had fully ascertained the facts of his case. H e seemedt o s e n se a c e r ta i n f r i en d l i n es s i n me , b o r n n o d ou b t o f t h e i n te r e s t I co u l d n o t

c o nc e al , a n d t h e g e nt l e ma n ne r i n w h ic h I q u es t io n ed h i m. N ot t h at h e e v er recognized me during his attacks, w hen I hung breathlessly upon his chaotic b utc o smi c wo rd -p ic tu re s; b ut h e k ne w me i n h is q ui et h ou rs , wh en h e w ou ld s it b yh is b ar re d w in do w w ea vi ng b as ke ts o f s tr aw a nd w il lo w, a nd p er ha ps p in in g f or t h e mo u nt a i n f r ee d om h e c o ul d n e ve r a g ai n e n jo y . H is f a mi l y n e ve r c al l ed t o s eeh i m; p r o b a b l y i t h a d f o u n d a n o t he r t e mp o r a ry h e a d, a f t er t h e ma n n e r o f d e c a d e ntmountain folk.B y d e gr e es I c o mme n ce d t o f ee l a n o v er wh e lmi n g w on d er a t t h e ma d a n d f a nt a st i cc o nc e pt i on s o f J o e S l at e r. T h e ma n h i ms el f w as p it ia bl y i nf er io r i n me n ta l it ya nd l an gu ag e a li ke ; b ut h is g lo wi ng , t it an ic v is io ns , t ho ug h d es cr ib ed i n a

barbarous disjointed jargon, w ere assuredly things w hich only a superior or evene xc ep t io n al b ra i n c o ul d c o nc e iv e H ow , I o ft e n a s ke d my s el f , c o ul d t h e s t o l idimagination of a Catskill degenerate conjure up sights w hose very possession

a rg ue d a l ur ki ng s pa rk o f g en iu s? H ow c ou ld a ny b ac kw oo ds d ul la rd h av e g ai ne d s omu c h a s a n i d ea o f t h os e g l it t er i ng r e al ms o f s u p er n al r a d ia n c e a nd s p a ce a b o u tw hi ch S la te r r an te d i n h is f ur io us d el ir iu m? M or e a nd mo re I i nc li ne d t o t he

belief that in the pitiful personality w ho cringed before me lay the disorderednucleus of something beyond my comprehension; something infinitely beyond thecomprehension of my more experienced but less imaginative medical and scientificcolleagues.A n d ye t I co u l d e xt r a ct n o t h in g d e f in i t e f r o m t h e ma n . T h e s u m o f a ll myi n ve s ti g at i on w as , t h at i n a k i nd o f s e mi -c or po re al d re am- li fe S la te r w an de re dor floated through resplendent and prodigious valleys, meadow s, gardens, cities,and palaces of light, in a region unbounded and unknow n to man; that there hew as no peasant or degenerate, but a creature of importance and vivid life,mo v i ng pr o ud l y a n d d o mi n an t ly , a n d c h ec k ed o n ly b y a c e rt a in d e ad l y e n emy , w ho

seemed to be a being of visible yet ethereal structure, and w ho did not appeart o b e o f h uma n s ha pe , s in ce S la te r n ev er r ef er re d t o i t a s a ma n , o r as a u g htsave a thing. This thing had done Slater some hideous but un named w rong, w hicht h e ma ni ac ( if ma n ia c h e w er e ) y e ar n ed t o a v en g e.F ro m t h e ma nn er i n w hi ch S la te r a ll ud ed t o t he ir d ea li ng s, I j ud ge d t ha t h e a ndthe luminous thi ng had met on equal t erms; that in his dream existence th e manw a s h i ms e lf a l u mi n o u s t h i n g o f t h e s a me r a c e a s h i s e n e my . T h is i mp r e s s i o n w a ssustained by his frequent references to flying through space and burning allt h a t i mp e d e d h i s p r o g r e s s . Ye t t h e s e c o n c e p ti o n s w e r e f o rmu l a t ed i n r u s t ic w o r dsw holly inadequate to convey them, a circumstance w hich drove me to thec o nc l us i on t h at i f a d r ea m w o r ld i n de e d e xi s te d , o r al l a n g ua g e w as n o t i t smedium for the transmission of thought. Could it be that the dream soulinhabiting this inferior body w as desperately struggling to speak things w hich

the simple and halting tongue of dullness could not utter? Could it be that Iw as f ac e t o f ac e w it h i n te l le ct u al e ma n at i on s w hi c h w ou l d e xp l ai n t h e my s te r y i f I c o ul d b u t le a rn t o d i sc o ve r a nd r e ad t h e m? I d i d n o t t e ll t h e o l de r p h ys i ci a nso f t h es e t h in g s, f o r mi d dl e a g e i s s k ep t ic a l, c y ni c al , a n d d i si n cl i ne d t o a c ce p t


4/6

n e w i d e a s. B e s i d es , t h e h e a d o f t h e i n s ti t u t i on h a d b u t l a t e l y w ar n e d me i n h i spaternal w ay that I w as overw orking; that my mind needed a rest.I t h a d l o ng b e e n my b e l i ef t h a t h u ma n t h o u g h t c o n s i s t s b as i c a l l y o f a t o mi c o r mo le cu l ar mo t io n , c o nv e rt i bl e i n to e t he r w av e s o r r a di a n t e n er g y l i ke h e at ,l i gh t a n d e l ec tr ic i ty . T hi s b el i ef h ad e ar ly l ed me t o c o n te mp l at e t h e

possibility of telepathy or mental communication by means of suitable apparatus,a n d I h a d i n my c o ll e g e d a y s p r e p ar e d a s et o f t r a n s mi t t i ng a n d r e c ei v i n gi n s t r u me n t s s o me w h at s i mi l a r t o t h e c u mb r o u s d ev i c e s e mp l o ye d i n w i re l e sst e le g ra p hy a t t h at c r ud e , p r e- ra d io p e ri o d. T h es e I h a d t e st e d w it h af e l l o w- s t u d en t , b u t a c h i e v i n g n o r e s u l t , h a d s o o n p a c k e d t h e m a w a y w i th o t h er scientific odds and ends for possible future use.

N ow, in my intense desire to probe into the dream-life of Joe Slater, I soughtthese instru ments again, and spent several days in repairing them for action.W h en t h e y w e re c o mp l et e o n c e mo re I mi s se d n o o p po r tu n it y f o r t h ei r t r ia l . A te ac h o ut bu rs t o f S la te r' s v io le nc e, I w ou ld f it t he t ra ns mi tt er t o h is f or eh ea da n d t h e r e c ei v e r t o my o wn , c on s t a n t l y ma k i n g d e l i ca t e a d j us t me n t s f o r v a r i o ush yp ot he ti ca l w av e- le ng th s o f i nt el le ct ua l e ne rg y. I h ad b ut l it tl e n ot io n o f h owthe thought-impressions w ould, if successfully conveyed, arouse an intelligentr es p on s e i n my b ra in , b ut I f el t c er ta in t ha t I c ou ld d et ec t a nd i nt er pr et t he m.A c c or d i n g ly I c o n t i n u e d my e xp e ri me n t s , t h o u g h i n f o r mi n g n o o n e o f t h e i r n a t u re .

I t w as o n t he t we nt y- fi rs t o f F eb ru ar y, 1 90 1, t ha t t he t hi ng o cc ur re d. A s I l oo k back across the years I realize how unreal it seems, and sometimes w onder if oldD oc to r F en to n w as n ot r ig ht w he n h e c ha rg ed i t a ll t o my e xc it ed i ma gi na ti on . Ir ec al l t ha t h e l is te ne d w it h g re at k in dn es s a nd p at ie nc e w he n I t ol d h im, b u ta ft er wa rd g av e me a n er ve -p ow de r a nd a rr an ge d f or t he h al f- ye ar 's v ac at io n o nw hi ch I d ep ar te d t he n ext we ek .T ha t f at ef ul n ig ht I w as w il dl y a gi ta te d a nd p er tu rb ed , f or d es pi te t hee xc el l en t c a re h e h a d r ec e iv e d, J o e S l at e r w as u n mi s ta k ab l y d y in g . P e rh a ps i tw a s h i s mo u n t a i n fr e e d o m t h a t h e mi s s e d , o r p e r ha p s t h e t u r mo i l i n h i s b r ai n h a dgrow n too acute for his rather sluggish physique; but at all events the flame of v it al it y f li ck er ed l ow i n t he d ec ad en t b od y. He w as d ro ws y n ea r t he e nd , a nd a sd ar kn es s f el l h e d ro pp ed o ff i nt o a t ro ub le d s le ep .I d i d n o t s t ra p o n t h e st r a i g h t ja c k e t a s w as c u st o ma r y w h e n h e s l e pt , s i n ce I

s aw t ha t h e w as t oo f ee bl e t o b e d an ge ro us , e ve n i f h e w ok e i n me nt al d is or de r o n ce mo re b e fo re p a ss in g a wa y. B ut I d id p la ce u p on h is h ea d a nd mi ne t he t woends of my cosmic "radio," hoping against hope for a first and last message fromt h e d re am w or ld i n t he b ri ef t ime r ema in in g. I n t he c el l w it h u s w as o ne n ur se ,a mediocre fellow w ho did not understand the purpose of the apparatus, or thinkto inquire into my course. A s the hours w ore on I saw his head droop aw kw ardlyi n s le ep , b ut I d id n ot d is tu rb h im. I my se lf , l ul le d b y t he r hy th mi ca l

breathing of the healthy and the dying man, must have nodded a little later.T he s ou n d o f w ei rd l y ri c me l o dy w a s w h at a r o u se d me . C h or d s, v i br a ti o ns , a n dharmonic ecstasies echoed passionately on every hand, w hile on my ravished sight

burst the stupendo us spectacle ultimate beauty. Walls, columns, and architraveso f l iv in g f ir e b la ze d e ff ul ge nt ly a ro un d t he s po t w he re I s ee me d t o f lo at i na ir , e xt e nd i ng u p wa r d t o a n i n fi n it e ly h i gh v a ul t ed d o me o f i n de s cr i ba b le

s p le n do r. B l en d in g w i th t h is d i sp l ay o f p al a ti a l ma g ni f ic e nc e, o r r at h er ,s u p p l an t i n g i t a t t i me s i n k a l ei d o sc o p ic r o ta t i on , w e re g l i mp s e s o f w i d e p l a in sa n d g r a ce f u l v a l le y s , h i g h mo u n t a i ns a n d i n v i t i n g g ro t t o e s , c o ve r e d w i th e v e r yl o v e ly a t t r ib u t e o f s c e ne r y w h i ch my d e li g h t e d e y e s c o u l d c o n c e iv e o f, y e tf or me d w ho l ly o f s o me g l ow in g , e t he re a l p l as t ic e n ti t y, w hi c h i n c o ns i st e nc y

partook as much of spirit as of matter. A s I gazed, I perceived that my ow nbrain held the key to these enchanting metamorphoses; for each vista w hichappeared to me w as the one my changing mind most w ished to behold. A midst thi selysian realm I dw elt not as a stranger, for each sight and sound w as familiarto me; just as it had been for uncounted eons of eternity before, and w ould bef or l i ke e t er ni t ie s t o c o me .T h en t h e r e sp l e nd e nt a u ra o f my b r ot h er o f l i gh t d r ew n e ar a n d h e ld c o ll o qu yw ith me, soul to soul, w ith silent and perfect interchange of thought. The hour

w as o n e o f a pp r oa c hi n g t ri u mp h , f o r w as n o t my f el l ow -b e in g e sc a pi n g a t l a stf ro m a d eg ra di ng p er io di c b on da ge ; e sc ap in g f or ev er , a nd p re pa ri ng t o f ol lo w t heaccursed oppressor even unto the uttermost fields of ether, that upon it might

be w rought a flaming cosmic vengeance w hich w ould shake the spheres? We floated


5/6

t hu s fo r a l it tl e t ime , w he n I p er ce iv ed a s li gh t b lu rr in g a nd f ad in g o f t heo b j e ct s a ro u n d u s, a s t ho u g h so me f or ce w er e r ec al li ng me t o e a rt h - w he re Il ea st wi sh ed t o g o. T he f or m n ea r me s ee me d t o f ee l a c ha ng e a ls o, f or i tgradually brought its discourse tow ard a conclusion, and itself prepared to quitthe scene, fading frommy sight at a rate somew hat less rapid than that of theo t h e r o b j e ct s . A f e w mo r e t ho u g h t s w e r e e xc h a n ge d , an d I k n e w t h a t t h e lu mi n o u so ne a nd I w er e b ei ng r ec al le d t o b on da ge , t ho ug h f or my b ro th er o f l ig ht i tw ou ld b e t he l as t t ime . T he s or ry p la ne t s he ll b ei ng w el l- ni gh s pe nt , i n l es st h an an ho ur my f el lo w w ou ld b e f re e t o p ur su e t he o pp re ss or a lo ng t he M il ky W ayand past the hither stars to the very confines of infinity.A w e l l- d e fi n e d s h o ck s e p a ra t e s my f in a l i mp r e s si o n o f th e f a di n g s c en e o f l ig h tf ro m m y s u d d e n a n d s o me w h a t s h a me f a ce d a w a ke n i n g a n d s t r ai g h t e ni n g u p i n myc ha ir a s I s aw t he d yi ng f ig ur e o n t he c ou ch mo ve h es it an tl y. J oe S la te r wa si nd ee d a wa ki ng , t ho ug h p ro ba bl y f or t he l as t t ime . A s I l oo ke d mo re c lo se ly , Isaw that in the sallow cheeks shone spots of color w hich had never before been

present. The lips, too, seemed unusual, being tightly compressed, as if by thef or ce o f a s tr on ge r c ha ra ct er t ha n h ad b ee n S la te r' s. T he w ho le f ac e f in al ly

began to grow tense, and the head turned restlessly w ith closed eyes.I did not rouse the sleeping nurse, but readjusted the slightly disarrangedheadband of my telepathic "radio," intent to catch any parting message thed re ame r mi gh t h av e t o d el iv er . A ll a t o nc e t he h ea d t ur ne d s ha rp ly i n my

d i r e ct i o n a n d t he e y e s f e ll o p e n , c a us i n g me t o s t a re i n b l a nk a ma z eme n t a t w h a tI b eh el d. T he ma n w ho h ad b ee n J oe S la te r, t he C at sk il l d ec ad en t, w as g az in g a tme w it h a p a ir o f l u mi n o u s , e xp a n d i n g e y e s w h os e b l u e s e e me d s u b t l y t o h a v ed ee pe ne d. N ei th er ma ni a n or d eg en er ac y w as ` vi si bl e i n t ha t g az e, a nd I f el t

beyond a doubt that I w as view ing a face behind w hich lay an active mind of highorder.A t t h is j u n c tu r e my b r ai n b e ca me a wa r e o f a s t ea d y e xt e rn a l i n fl u en c e o p er a ti n gu p o n i t . I c l o s ed my e y e s t o c o n c e nt r a t e my t h o u g h t s mo r e p ro f o u n dl y a n d wa srew arded by the positive know ledge that my long-s ought mental message had c omea t l a st . E a ch t r an s mi t te d i d ea f o rme d r ap i dl y i n my mi n d , a n d t h o ug h n o a c t ua llanguage w as employed, my habitual association of conception and expression w ass o gr e at t ha t I s e eme d t o b e r e ce i vi n g t h e me s sa g e i n o r di n ar y E n gl i sh ." Jo e S la te r i s d ea d, " c ame t he s ou l- pe tr if yi ng v oi ce o f a n a ge nc y f ro m b e y o n d

the w all of sleep. My opened eyes sought the couch of pain in curious horror,but the blue eyes w ere still calmly gazing, and the countenance w as stilli nt el li ge nt ly a ni ma te d. " He i s b et te r d ea d, f or h e w as u nf it t o b ea r t he a ct iv ei n t e ll e c t o f c o s mi c e n t i t y . H i s g r o s s b o d y c o u l d n o t u n d e r g o t h e n e e d e da d j u st me n ts b e tw ee n e t he re a l l i fe a nd p l an e t l i fe . H e w as t o o mu c h a n a n ima l,t o o l i t tl e a ma n ; y e t i t i s t h r o u g h h i s d ef i c i e n cy t h a t y o u h a v e c o me t odiscover me, for the cosmic and planet souls rightly should never meet. H e has

been in my torment and diurnal prison for forty-tw o of your terrestrial years." I a m a n e nt it y l ik e t ha t w hi ch y ou y ou rs el f b ec ome i n t he f re ed om o f d re aml e sss le ep . I a m y ou r b ro th er o f l ig ht , a nd h av e f lo at ed wi th y ou i n t he e ff ul ge ntv al le ys . I t i s n ot p er mi tt ed me t o t el l y ou r w ak in g e ar th -s el f o f y ou r r ea ls e lf , b u t w e a r e a l l r o ame r s o f v a s t s p a ce s a n d t r a v e le r s i n ma n y a g e s . Ne xty ea r I ma y b e d we ll in g i n t he Eg yp t wh ic h y ou c al l a nc ie nt , o r i n t he c ru el

e mp i re o f T sa n C ha n w hi c h i s t o c o me t h r e e t h ou s a nd y e a r s h e nc e . Yo u a n d I h a v edrifted to the w orlds that reel about the red A rcturus, and dw elt in the bodiesof the insect-philosophers that craw l proudly over the fourth moon of Jupiter.H ow l it tl e d oe s t he e ar th s el f k no w l if e a nd i ts e xt en t! H ow l it tl e, i nd ee d,o ug ht i t t o k no w f or i ts o wn t ra nq ui li ty !"O f the oppressor I cannot speak. Y ou on earth have unw ittingly felt its distant

presence - you w ho w ithout know ing idly gave the blinking beacon the name ofA l go l , t h e D e mo n - St a r I t i s t o me e t a nd c o n q ue r t h e o p p r e ss o r t ha t I h a v e v ai n l ystriven for eons, held back by bodily encumbrances. Tonight I go as a N emesis

bearing just and blazingly cataclysmic vengeance. Watch me in the sky close bythe D emon-Star." I c an no t s pe ak l on ge r, f or t he b od y o f J oe S la te r g ro ws c ol d a nd r ig id , a nd t hec oa rs e b ra in s a re c ea si ng t o v ib ra te a s I w is h. Yo u h a ve be e n my o nl y f ri en d o n

t h i s p l a n et - t h e o n l y s o u l t o s e n s e a nd s e e k f o r me w i th i n t h e r e pe l le n t f o rmw hi c h l i es o n t h is c o uc h . W e s h al l me e t ag a in - p e rh a ps i n t h e sh i ni n g mi s t s o f O ri on 's S wo rd , p er ha ps o n a b le ak p la te au i n p re hi st or ic A si a, p er ha ps i nunremembered dreams tonight, perh aps in some other form an eon hence, w hen the


6/6

solar syste m shall have been sw ept aw ay."A t this point the thought-w aves abruptly ceased, the pale eyes of the dreamer -o r c a n I sa y d e ad ma n ? - c o mme n ce d t o g l az e f i sh i ly . I n a h a lf -s t up o r I c r os s edo ve r t o t he c ou ch a nd f el t o f h is wr is t, b ut f ou nd i t c ol d, s ti ff , a nd

pulseless. The sallow cheeks paled again, and the thick lips fell open,disclosing the repulsively rotten fangs of the degenerate Joe Slater. Is hi ve re d, p ul le d a b la nk et o ve r t he h id eo us f ac e, a nd a wa ke ne d t he n ur se . T he n Il e ft t h e c el l a n d w en t s i le n tl y t o my r o o m. I h a d a n i n s ta n t a nd u n a c co u n ta b l ec r a vi n g f o r a s l e ep w h o se d r e ams I s h o u l d n o t r eme mb e r.T he c li ma x? W ha t p la in t al e o f s ci en ce c an b oa st o f s uc h a r he to ri ca l e ff ec t? Ih a v e me r e l y s e t d ow n c er t a i n th i n g s a p p e al i n g t o me a s f a c t s, a l l o wi n g y o u t oc o ns t ru e t h em a s y ou w il l. A s I h av e a lr ea dy a dmi tt ed , my s up er io r, o ld D oc to r F en to n, d en ie s t he r ea li ty o f e ve ry th in g I h av e r el at ed . He v ow s t ha t I w as

broken dow n w ith nervous strain, and badly in need of a long vacation on fullpay w hich he so generously gave me. H e assures me on his professional honor thatJ o e S l at e r w as b u t a l o w- g ra d e p a ra n oi a c, w ho s e f a nt a st i c n o ti o ns mu s t h a v e c o mef ro m t h e c ru d e h er e di t ar y f o lk - ta l es w hi c h c i rc u la t ed i n e v en t h e mo s t d e c a d en to f c ommu ni ti es . Al l t hi s h e t el ls me - y et I c an no t f or ge t wh at I s aw i n t he s kyo n t h e n i gh t a ft e r S la t er d i ed . L e st y o u t h in k me a b i a se d w i tn e ss , a n o th e r p e nmust add this final testimony, w hich may perhaps supply the climax you expect. Iw il l q uo te t he f ol lo wi ng a cc ou nt o f t he s ta r N ov a P er se i v er ba ti m f ro m t h e p a ge s

o f t h a t e mi n e n t a s t r o n o mi c a l a u t h or i t y , P r o fe s s or Ga r re t t P . S e rv i s s:" On F eb ru a ry 2 2 , 1 9 01 , a ma r v e l ou s n e w s t a r w a s d i s c o ve r e d b y D o c t o r A nd e r s o n o f E di nb ur gh , n ot v er y f ar f ro m A lg ol . No s ta r h ad b ee n v is ib le a t t ha t p oi nt

before. Within tw enty-four hours the stranger had become so bright that ito ut sh on e C ap el la . I n a w ee k o r t wo i t h ad v is ib ly f ad ed , a nd i n t he c ou rs e o f afe w mo nt hs i t w as h ar dl y d is ce rn ib le w it h t he n ak ed e ye ."

1998-1999 William JohnsLast modified: 12/18/1999 18:45:30

h. p. lovecraft - beyond the wall of sleep

Documents