CHAPTER XXXIX.
AMONG THE DRUNKARDS.
I remember once to have stood on the edge of Niagara's great whirlpool,but not more fearful did its seething waters then seem than did thesemi-human whirl into which I had now been plunged. Whether my guide hadbeen aware of the coming move that separated us I never knew, but, ashis words were interrupted, I infer that he was not altogether ready topart from my company. Be this as it may, he disappeared from sight, and,as by a concerted move, the cries of the drunkards subsided instantly. Ifound myself borne high in the air, perched on a huge hand that wascarried by its semi-human comrades. It seemed as though the contents ofthat vast hall had been suddenly thrown beneath me, for, as I lookedabout, I saw all around a sea of human fragments, living, moving partsof men. Round and round that hall we circled as an eddy whirls in arock-bound basin, and not less silently than does the water of an eddy.Then I perceived that the disjointed mass of humanity moved as a spiral,in unison, throbbing like a vitalized stream, bearing me submissively onits surface. Gradually the distance between myself and the center stonelessened, and then I found that, as if carried in the groove of agigantic living spiral, I was being swept towards the stone platform inthe center of the room. There was method in the movements of thedrunkards, although I could not analyze the intricacies of their complexreel.
Finally I was borne to the center stone, and by a sudden toss of thehand, in the palm of which I was seated, I was thrown upon the raisedplatform. Then in unison the troop swung around the stone, and I foundmyself gazing on a mass of vitalized fragments of humanity. Quickly afigure sprung upon the platform, and in him I discerned a seeminglyperfect man. He came to my side and grasped my hand as if he were afriend.
"Do not fear," he said; "obey our request, and you will not be harmed."
"What do you desire?" I asked.
He pointed to the center of the stone, and I saw thereon many gigantic,inverted fungus bowls. The gills of some had been crushed to a pulp, andhad saturated themselves with liquid which, perhaps by a species offermentation, had undergone a structural change; others were as yetintact; others still contained men intently cutting the gills intofragments and breaking the fruit preparatory to further manipulation.
"You are to drink with us," he replied.
"No," I said; "I will not drink."
"Then you must die; to refuse to drink with us is to invite death."
"So mote it be; I will not drink."
We stood facing each other, apparently both meditating on the situation.
I remember to have been surprised, not that the man before me had beenable to spring from the floor to the table rock on which I stood, butthat so fair a personage could have been a companion of themonstrosities about me. He was a perfect type of manhood, and wasexquisitely clothed in a loose, flowing robe that revealed andheightened the beauty of his symmetrical form. His face was fair, yetsoftly tinted with rich, fresh color; his hair and beard were neatlytrimmed; his manner was polished, and his countenance frank andattractive. The contrast between the preternatural shapes from amongwhom he sprung and himself was as between a demon and an angel. Imarveled that I had not perceived him before, for such a one should havebeen conspicuous because so fair; but I reflected that it was quitenatural that among the thousands of grotesque persons about me, oneattractive form should have escaped notice. Presently he spoke again,seemingly having repented of his display of temper.
"I am a friend," he said; "a deliverer. I will serve you as I haveothers before you. Lean on me, listen to my story, accept my profferedfriendship."
Then he continued: "When you have rested, I will guide you in safetyback to upper earth, and restore you to your friends."
I could not resist his pleasing promise. I suddenly and unaccountablybelieved in his sincerity. He impressed me with confidence in histruthfulness, yes, against my better judgment, convinced me that he mustbe a friend, a savior. Grasping him by the hand I thanked him for hisinterest in a disconsolate wanderer, and assured him of my confidence.
"I am in your hands," I said; "I will obey you implicitly. I thank you,my deliverer; lead me back to surface earth and receive the gratitude ofa despairing mortal."
"This I will surely do," he said; "rest your case in my hands, do notconcern yourself in the least about your future. Before acquiescing inyour desire, however, I will explain part of the experiences throughwhich you have recently passed. You have been in the control of an evilspirit, and have been deceived. The grotesque figures, the abnormalbeings about you, exist only in your disordered imagination. They arenot real. These persons are happy and free from care or pain. They livein bliss inexpressible. They have a life within a life, and the outwardexpression that you have perceived is as the uncouth hide and figurethat incloses the calm, peaceful eye of a toad. Look at their eyes, notat their seemingly distorted forms."
I turned to the throng and beheld a multitude of upturned faces mildlybeaming upon me. As I glanced from eye to eye of each countenance, therepulsive figure disappeared from my view, and a sweet expression ofinnocence was all that was disclosed to me. I realized that I had judgedby the outer garment. I had wronged these fellow-beings. A sense ofremorse came over me, a desire to atone for my short-sightedness.
"What can I offer as a retribution?" I asked. "I have injured thesepeople."
"Listen," was the reply. "These serene intelligences are happy. They areas a band of brothers. They seek to do you a kindness, to save you fromdisaster. One hour of experience such as they enjoy is worth a hundredyears of the pleasures known to you. This delicious favor, an hour ofbliss, they freely offer you, and after you have partaken of theirexquisite joy, I will conduct you back to earth's surface whenever youdesire to leave us." He emphasized the word, desire.
"I am ready," I replied; "give me this promised delight."
The genial allurer turned to the table rock behind us, and continued:
"In these fungus bowls we foment the extract of life. The preciouscordial is as a union of the quintessential spirits of joy, peace,tranquillity, happiness, and delight. Could man abstract from ecstasythe thing that underlies the sense that gives that word a meaning, hisproduct would not approach the power of the potent liquids in thesevessels."
"Of what are they composed?" I asked.
"Of derivatives of the rarest species of the fungus family," heanswered. "They are made by formulae that are the result of thousands ofyears of experimentation. Come, let us not delay longer the hour ofbliss."
Taking me by the hand, my graceful comrade led me to the nearest bowl.Then on closer view I perceived that its contents were of a deep greencolor, and in active commotion, and although no vapor was apparent, adelightful sensation impressed my faculties. I am not sure that Iinhaled at all,--the feeling was one of penetration, of subtile, magicabsorption. My companion took a tiny shell which he dipped into thestrange cauldron. Holding the tiny cup before me, he spoke the one word,"Drink."
Ready to acquiesce, forgetful of the warning I had received, I graspedthe cup, and raised it to my lips, and as I did so chanced to glance atmy tempter's face, and saw not the supposed friend I had formerlyobserved, but, as through a mask fair in outline, the countenance of anexulting demon, regarding me with a sardonic grin. In an instant he hadchanged from man to devil.
I dashed the cup upon the rock. "No; I will not drink," I shouted.
Instantly the cavern rung with cries of rage. A thousand voices joinedas by accord, and simultaneously the throng of fragments of men began torevolve again. The mysterious spiral seemed to unwind, but I could notcatch the method of its movement. The motion was like that of anuncoiling serpent bisected lengthwise, the two halves of the bodyseeming to slide against each other. Gradually that part of the cavernnear the stone on which I stood became clear of its occupants, and atlast I perceived that the throng had receded to the outer edge.
Then the encircling side walls of the amphitheater became visible, andas water sinks into sand, the medley of fragments of
humanitydisappeared from view.
I turned to my companion; he, too, had vanished. I glanced towards theliquor cauldrons; the stone was bare. I alone occupied the gigantichall. No trace remained to tell of the throng that a short timepreviously had surrounded and mocked me.
Desolate, distracted, I threw myself upon the stone, and cursed mymiserable self. "Come back," I cried, "come back. I will drink, drink,drink."