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ForhoursIwaited,tilltheeastgrewgreyandthestarsfaded,andthegreyturnedtoroseatelightedgedwithgold.Iheardamoaningandsawastormofsandstirringamongtheantiquestonesthoughtheskywasclearandthevastreachesofdesertstill.Thensuddenlyabovethedesert'sfarrimcametheblazingedgeofthesun,seenthroughthetinysandstormwhichwaspassingaway,andinmyfeveredstateIfanciedthatfromsomeremotedepththerecameacrashofmusicalmetaltohailthefierydiscasMemnonhailsitfromthebanksoftheNile.MyearsrangandmyimaginationseethedasIledmycamelslowlyacrossthesandtothatunvocalplace;thatplacewhichIaloneoflivingmenhadseen. InandoutamongsttheshapelessfoundationsofhousesandplacesIwandered,findingneveracarvingorinscriptiontotellofthesemen,ifmentheywere,whobuiltthiscityanddweltthereinsolongago.Theantiquityofthespotwasunwholesome,andIlongedtoencountersomesignordevicetoprovethatthecitywasindeedfashionedbymankind.TherewerecertainproportionsanddimensionsintheruinswhichIdidnotlike.Ihadwithmemanytools,anddugmuchwithinthewallsoftheobliteratededifices;butprogresswasslow,andnothingsignificantwasrevealed.WhennightandthemoonreturnedIfeltachillwindwhichbroughtnewfear,sothatIdidnotdaretoremaininthecity.AndasIwentoutsidetheantiquewallstosleep,asmallsighingsandstormgatheredbehindme,blowingoverthegreystonesthoughthemoonwasbrightandmostofthedesertstill.
Iawakenedjustatdawnfromapageantofhorribledreams,myearsringingasfromsomemetallicpeal.Isawthesunpeeringredlythroughthelastgustsofalittlesandstormthathoveredoverthenamelesscity,andmarkedthequietnessoftherestofthelandscape.OncemoreIventuredwithinthosebroodingruinsthatswelledbeneaththesandlikeanogreunderacoverlet,andagaindugvainlyforrelicsoftheforgottenrace.AtnoonIrested,andintheafternoonIspentmuchtimetracingthewallsandbygonestreets,andtheoutlinesofthenearlyvanishedbuildings.Isawthatthecityhadbeenmightyindeed,andwonderedatthesourcesofitsgreatness.TomyselfIpicturedallthespendoursofanagesodistantthatChaldaeacouldnotrecallit,andthoughtofSarnaththeDoomed,thatstoodinthelandofMnarwhenmankindwasyoung,andofIb,thatwascarvenofgreystonebeforemankindexisted. AllatonceIcameuponaplacewherethebedrockrosestarkthroughthesandandformedalowcliff;andhereIsawwithjoywhatseemedtopromisefurthertracesoftheantediluvianpeople.Hewnrudelyonthefaceofthecliffweretheunmistakablefacadesofseveralsmall,squatrockhousesortemples;whoseinteriorsmightpreservemanysecretsofagestooremoteforcalculation,thoughsandstormshadlongeffacedanycarvingswhichmayhavebeenoutside.
Verylowandsand-chokedwereallthedarkaperturesnearme,butIclearedonwithmyspadeandcrawledthroughit,carryingatorchtorevealwhatevermysteriesitmighthold.WhenIwasinsideIsawthatthecavernwasindeedatemple,andbeheldplainsignsoftheracethathadlivedandworshippedbeforethedesertwasadesert.Primitivealtars,pillars,andniches,allcuriouslylow,werenotabsent;andthoughIsawnosculpturesorfrescoes,thereweremanysingularstonesclearlyshapedintosymbolsbyartificialmeans.Thelownessofthechiselledchamberwasverystrange,forIcouldhardlykneelupright;buttheareawassogreatthatmytorchshowedonlypartofitatatime.Ishudderedoddlyinsomeofthefarcorners;forcertainaltarsandstonessuggestedforgottenritesofterrible,revoltingandinexplicablenatureandmademewonderwhatmannerofmencouldhavemadeandfrequentedsuchatemple.WhenIhadseenallthattheplacecontained,Icrawledoutagain,avidtofindwhatthetemplesmightyield. Nighthadnowapproached,yetthetangiblethingsIhadseenmadecuriositystrongerthanfear,sothatIdidnotfleefromthelongmooncastshadowsthathaddauntedmewhenfirstIsawthenamelesscity.InthetwilightIclearedanotherapertureandwithanewtorchcrawledintoit,findingmorevaguestonesandsymbols,thoughnothingmoredefinitethantheothertemplehadcontainedtheroomwasjustaslow,butmuchlessbroad,endinginaverynarrowpassagecrowdedwithobscureandcrypticalshrines.AbouttheseshrinesIwaspryingwhenthenoiseofawindandmycameloutsidebrokethroughthestillnessanddrewmeforthtoseewhatcouldhavefrightenedthebeast.
Themoonwasgleamingvividlyovertheprimitiveruins,lightingadensecloudofsandthatseemedblownbyastrongbutdecreasingwindfromsomepointalongthecliffaheadofme.Iknewitwasthischilly,sandywindwhichhaddisturbedthecamelandwasabouttoleadhimtoaplaceofbettershelterwhenIchancedtoglanceupandsawthattherewasnowindatopthecliff.Thisastonishedmeandmademefearfulagain,butIimmediatelyrecalledthesuddenlocalwindsthatIhadseenandheardbeforeatsunriseandsunset,andjudgeditwasanormalthing.Idecideditcamefromsomerockfissureleadingtoacave,andwatchedthetroubledsandtotraceittoitssource;soonperceivingthatitcamefromtheblackorificeofatemplealongdistancesouthofme,almostoutofsight.Againstthechokingsand-cloudIploddedtowardthistemple,whichasIneareditloomedlargerthantherest,andshewedadoorwayfarlesscloggedwithcakedsand.Iwouldhaveenteredhadnottheterrificforceoftheicywindalmostquenchedmytorch.Itpouredmadlyoutofthedarkdoor,sighinguncannilyasitruffledthesandandspreadamongtheweirdruins.Soonitgrewfainterandthesandgrewmoreandmorestill,tillfinallyallwasatrestagain;butapresenceseemedstalkingamongthespectralstonesofthecity,andwhenIglancedatthemoonitseemedtoquiverasthoughmirroredinunquietwaters.IwasmoreafraidthanIcouldexplain,butnotenoughtodullmythirstforwonder;soassoonasthewindwasquitegoneIcrossedintothedarkchamberfromwhichithadcome. Thistemple,asIhadfanciedfromtheoutside,waslargerthaneitherofthoseIhadvisitedbefore;andwaspresumablyanaturalcavernsinceitborewindsfromsomeregionbeyond.HereIcouldstandquiteupright,butsawthatthestonesandaltarswereaslowasthoseintheothertemples.OnthewallsandroofIbeheldforthefirsttimesometracesofthepictorialartoftheancientrace,curiouscurlingstreaksofpaintthathadalmostfadedorcrumbledaway;andontwoofthealtarsIsawwithrisingexcitementamazeofwell-fashionedcurvilinearcarvings.AsIheldmytorchaloftitseemedtomethattheshapeoftheroofwastooregulartobenatural,andIwonderedwhattheprehistoriccuttersofstonehadfirstworkedupon.Theirengineeringskillmusthavebeenvast.ThenabrighterflareofthefantasticflameshowedthatformwhichIhadbeenseeking,theopeningtothoseremoterabysseswhencethesuddenwindhadblown;andIgrewfaintwhenIsawthatitwasasmallandplainlyartificialdoorchiselledinthesolidrock.Ithrustmytorchwithin,beholdingablacktunnelwiththeroofarchinglowoveraroughflightofverysmall,numerousandsteeplydescendingsteps.Ishallalwaysseethosestepsinmydreams,forIcametolearnwhattheymeant.AtthetimeIhardlyknewwhethertocallthemstepsormerefootholdsinaprecipitousdescent.Mymindwaswhirlingwithmadthoughts,andthewordsandwarningofArabprophetsseemedtofloatacrossthedesertfromthelandthatmenknowtothenamelesscitythatmendarenotknow.YetIhesitatedonlyforamomentbeforeadvancingthroughtheportalandcommencingtoclimbcautiouslydownthesteeppassage,feetfirst,asthoughonaladder.
Itisonlyintheterriblephantasmsofdrugsordeliriumthatanyothermancanhavesuchadescentasmine.Thenarrowpassageledinfinitelydownlikesomehideoushauntedwell,andthetorchIheldabovemyheadcouldnotlighttheunknowndepthstowardwhichIwascrawling.Ilosttrackofthehoursandforgottoconsultmywatch,thoughIwasfrightenedwhenIthoughtofthedistanceImusthavebetraversing.Therewerechangesofdirectionandofsteepness;andonceIcametoalong,low,levelpassagewhereIhadtowrigglemyfeetfirstalongtherockyfloor,holdingtorchatarm'slengthbeyondmyhead.Theplacewasnothighenoughforkneeling.Afterthatweremoreofthesteepsteps,andIwasstillscramblingdowninterminablywhenmyfailingtorchdiedout.IdonotthinkInoticeditatthetime,forwhenIdidnoticeitIwasstillholdingitabovemeasifitwereablaze.Iwasquiteunbalancedwiththatinstinctforthestrangeandtheunknownwhichhadmademeawandereruponearthandahaunteroffar,ancient,andforbiddenplaces. Inthedarknessthereflashedbeforemymindfragmentsofmycherishedtreasuryofdaemoniclore;sentencesfromAlhazredthemadArab,paragraphsfromtheapocryphalnightmaresofDamascius,andinfamouslinesfromthedeliriousImageduMondeofGauthierdeMetz.Irepeatedqueerextracts,andmutteredofAfrasiabandthedaemonsthatfloatedwithhimdowntheOxus;laterchantingoverandoveragainaphrasefromoneofLordDunsany'stales--"Theunreveberateblacknessoftheabyss."OncewhenthedescentgrewamazinglysteepIrecitedsomethinginsing-songfromThomasMooreuntilIfearedtorecitemore:
Areservoirofdarkness,blackAswitches'cauldronsare,whenfill'dWithmoon-drugsinth'eclipsedistill'dLeaningtolookiffootmightpassDownthro'thatchasm,Isaw,beneath,Asfarasvisioncouldexplore,Thejettysidesassmoothasglass,Lookingasifjustvarnish'do'erWiththatdarkpitchtheSeatofDeathThrowsoutuponitsslimyshore. Timehadquiteceasedtoexistwhenmyfeetagainfeltalevelfloor,andIfoundmyselfinaplaceslightlyhigherthantheroomsinthetwosmallertemplesnowsoincalculablyfarabovemyhead.Icouldnotquitestand,butcouldkneelupright,andinthedarkIshuffledandcrepthitherandthitheratrandom.IsoonknewthatIwasinanarrowpassagewhosewallswerelinedwithcasesofwoodhavingglassfronts.AsinthatPalaeozoicandabysmalplaceIfeltofsuchthingsaspolishedwoodandglassIshudderedatthepossibleimplications.Thecaseswereapparentlyrangedalongeachsideofthepassageatregularintervals,andwereoblongandhorizontal,hideouslylikecoffinsinshapeandsize.WhenItriedtomovetwoorthreeforfurtherexamination,Ifoundthattheywerefirmlyfastened.
Isawthatthepassagewasalongone,soflounderedaheadrapidlyinacreepingrunthatwouldhaveseemedhorriblehadanyeyewatchedmeintheblackness;crossingfromsidetosideoccasionallytofeelofmysurroundingsandbesurethewallsandrowsofcasesstillstretchedon.ManissousedtothinkingvisuallythatIalmostforgotthedarknessandpicturedtheendlesscorridorofwoodandglassinitslow-studdedmonotonyasthoughIsawit.AndtheninamomentofindescribableemotionIdidseeit. JustwhenmyfancymergedintorealsightIcannottell;buttherecameagradualglowahead,andallatonceIknewthatIsawthedimoutlinesofacorridorandthecases,revealedbysomeunknownsubterraneanphosphorescence.ForalittlewhileallwasexactlyasIhadimaginedit,sincetheglowwasveryfaint;butasImechanicallykeptstumblingaheadintothestrongerlightIrealisedthatmyfancyhadbeenbutfeeble.Thishallwasnorelicofcruditylikethetemplesinthecityabove,butamonumentofthemostmagnificentandexoticart.Rich,vivid,anddaringlyfantasticdesignsandpicturesformedacontinuousschemeofmuralpaintingswhoselinesandcolourswerebeyonddescription.Thecaseswereofastrangegoldenwood,withfrontsofexquisiteglass,andcontainingthemummifiedformsofcreaturesoutreachingingrotesquenessthemostchaoticdreamsofman.
Toconveyanyideaofthesemonstrositiesisimpossible.Theywereofthereptilekind,withbodylinessuggestionsometimesthecrocodile,sometimestheseal,butmoreoftennothingofwhicheitherthenaturalistorthepalaeontologisteverheard.Insizetheyapproximatedasmallman,andtheirfore-legsboredelicateandevidentfeetcuriouslylikehumanhandsandfingers.Butstrangestofallweretheirheads,whichpresentedacontourviolatingallknownbiologicalprinciples.Tonothingcansuchthingsbewellcompared--inoneflashIthoughtofcomparisonsasvariedasthecat,thebullfrog,themythicSatyr,andthehumanbeing.NotJovehimselfhadhadsocolossalandprotuberantaforehead,yetthehornsandthenoselessnessandthealligator-likejawplacedthingsoutsideallestablishedcategories.Idebatedforatimeontherealityofthemummies,halfsuspectingtheywereartificialidols;butsoondecidedtheywereindeedsomepalaeogeanspecieswhichhadlivedwhenthenamelesscitywasalive.Tocrowntheirgrotesqueness,mostofthemweregorgeouslyenrobedinthecostliestoffabrics,andlavishlyladenwithornamentsofgold,jewels,andunknownshiningmetals. Theimportanceofthesecrawlingcreaturesmusthavebeenvast,fortheyheldfirstplaceamongthewilddesignsonthefrescoedwallsandceiling.Withmatchlessskillhadtheartistdrawntheminaworldoftheirown,whereintheyhadcitiesandgardensfashionedtosuittheirdimensions;andIcouldnothelpbutthinkthattheirpicturedhistorywasallegorical,perhapsshowingtheprogressoftheracethatworshippedthem.Thesecreatures,Isaidtomyself,weretomenofthenamelesscitywhattheshe-wolfwastoRome,orsometotem-beastistoatribeofIndians.Holdingthisview,Icouldtraceroughlyawonderfulepicofthenamelesscity;thetaleofamightyseacoastmetropolisthatruledtheworldbeforeAfricaroseoutofthewaves,andofitsstrugglesastheseashrankaway,andthedesertcreptintothefertilevalleythatheldit.Isawitswarsandtriumphs,itstroublesanddefeats,andafterwardsitsterriblefightagainstthedesertwhenthousandsofitspeople--hererepresentedinallegorybythegrotesquereptiles--weredriventochiseltheirwaydownthroughtherocksinsomemarvellousmannertoanotherworldwhereoftheirprophetshadtoldthem.Itwasallvividlyweirdandrealistic,anditsconnectionwiththeawesomedescentIhadmadewasunmistakable.Ievenrecognizedthepassages.