The Whisperer in Darkness Page #5

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Surgical? Henry, you don't mean...

This is madness!

No, it's true.

The human body cannot make the journey,

but in their care, the human mind

can venture to the most

distant corners of the universe.

They surgically extract the brain and

suspend it in a fluid-filled cylinder

they have ingeniously engineered.

Freed from the constraints of your

biological frailty, the mind lives on

in an experience far beyond

anything accessible to mere man.

No, Henry. I can't believe this.

Of course not.

Go over to the hutch there

and remove the cloth.

What are these?

Not "what,"Albert, but "who."

These contain?

Yes, Albert. Three are human.

The rest are, well... in the cave in

Round Hill there are beings of all sorts,

from more interesting places.

We can connect them to sensory

apparatus you literally cannot imagine.

Place the one marked B-67 onto the table.

Good.

Now, connect the tube into the recess.

There on the side.

Excellent.

Please, connect the other devices as well.

Excellent. That will engage the device...

Look, Akeley, I'm not falling for some

spectacular parlour trick with a radio...

Nor do we expect you to, Mr. Wilmarth.

I don't mean to alarm you.

I am a human being, like yourself.

My brain is in the cylinder and I see,

speak and hear through these ingenious vibrators.

My body is being properly vitalised

and cared for in a storage facility

not far from here.

Do you understand?

Excellent.

Soon Mr. Akeley and I will

leave here on an incredible journey.

We hope you will join us.

Do you mean to say that your brain, that this...

That's right.

I met them years ago in the

Himalaya and helped them in various ways.

In return, they rewarded me with

experiences few men have ever had.

You... wanted this?

Think about it, Mr. Wilmarth.

Do you understand what it

means when I say I have been

on thirty

seven celestial bodies

- planets, dark stars,

even objects purely outside

the curved cosmos of space and time?

Of course you do.

And of course, you cannot.

You travel in space and survive?

The cylinders are made for such a purpose.

Further, My brain is immune

from disease here, and even age.

And my body is perfectly

preserved if I ever wanted it again.

But I doubt that I will.

We will talk some more

tomorrow about you coming with us.

I hope you will.

The visitors are eager to

know men of knowledge, like you.

It may seem strange at first to meet them,

but I know you'll be above minding that.

I think Mr. Noyes, the man who brought

you up in his automobile, he'll come too.

No doubt you recognised his voice

from the recordings Henry sent you.

That was Noyes, on the recordings!

It is completely painless.

When the devices are disconnected,

one merely drops off into a deep sleep

with vivid and fantastic dreams.

Of course, it's up to you,

but I hope you'll consider it.

But for the moment, would you be

so good as to disconnect me?

Mr. Akeley, I expect you to treat our guest well.

Good night, Mr. Wilmarth.

I'm afraid all this excitement has taken

its toll on me and I should like to rest.

Take the lamp with you.

Just leave the machines where they are.

A bit shocking, isn't it?

Never mind. Sleep on it.

Good night, Albert.

Yes,

good night, Henry

He lacks imagination, and his spirit is weak.

He is not worthy of N'gah-Kthun.

To us he's no more interesting

than your goldfish in a bowl.

But this is an outrage! This is not

how it was presented to me. I demand-

You're in no position to make demands.

You wouldn't be here at all

if it weren't for Davenport!

We can eliminate him for you, if you wish.

He may still be of use to you

in this night's great business.

The opening of the passage may yet

be smoothed by the use of a sacrifice.

Go.

Long have we waited for

the opening of the passage.

That most sacred duty falls to

me and I will not give it up.

I know the cost, and it is

my honour to serve the Mi-Go.

And if this Wilmarth stands in my way,

I will eliminate him.

Never have I heard such a misguided speech.

We work with the Mi-Go for the

betterment of the human race.

You would presume to travel to Yuggoth only

for your own gain of knowledge from beyond!

Insignificant fool! Have you truly

learned nothing from your masters?

By their will alone you are kept alive,

and by my continued patient indulgence.

I am the opener of the gate

and you will not dictate to me!

It would be no difficulty to eliminate him.

I can do it tonight if you command it.

This discussion itself distracts us

from greater matters that cannot wait.

I won't listen to any...

Do you really dare to defy us?

Please! I never meant to offend...

Mr. Noyes, please stop!

He's right:
Eliminating

Wilmarth was never part of the bargain.

I don't mean to question your authority,

but never did anyone tell me...

You don't know what devotion means.

Clearly neither of you has

faith in our great purpose.

But not to worry, my dear, dear friend,

I shall show you the meaning of faith now!

Go upstairs and get Wilmarth.

Don't let them see you. Run.

I can't just leave Mr. Akeley in there...

I... can't.

I can't.

Wait...

Mr. Noyes,

Wilmarth's gone! He must have jumped from

the upstairs window and fled!

I couldn't see him nowhere...

I told you to make sure he stayed here.

Imbecile!

Daddy, I just saw a strange

man running towards the bridge.

Hannah, what are you doing here?

I told you to stay inside at home.

That's Wilmarth. Let's go.

Right.

Hannah, stay here.

The girl said he was heading for the bridge.

Maybe we can cut him off...

We have more important matters to attend to.

The time is now.

You, bring him to the ritual.

If he resists, kill him.

Henry?

Henry Akeley? Is it you?

Can you hear me?

Who the devil are you?

Oh God, no!

I wired you not to come here.

I warned you.

But earlier tonight

you said that we should join them.

Earlier tonight?

What do you mean?

We've never spoken.

But we...

Something's wrong. I don't feel well.

I can't feel my legs.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Henry, they've...

Good god, no!!!

I'm so sorry.

They've really done it?

My brain, my mind?

Yes.

What about my body?

I... I don't know.

He said they store them somewhere...

Wilmarth, don't believe anything they've told you.

They want to get to you, like they got to me.

We know too much. Masterson

warned me not to interfere.

They're going to do something terrible.

What will they do?

Masterson said they were "digging a tunnel".

But I can't remember...

My God, Wilmarth, what have they done?!

Digging a tunnel? What kind of tunnel? To where?

George! Why didn't I listen to him?

Think, Akeley! Try to remember!

At least he's safely away from here!

Akeley! What tunnel?

Masterson warned me. My god,

Wilmarth, you never should have come here!

Akeley, what tunnel? You've got to remember!

You can't believe them!

It's not a literal tunnel.

They're going to open the spirit-door!

What do you mean?

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