"They have found their Paradise," I remarked, as we watched them.
"And I shall find mine there as well," said Ramon almost reverently.
"Amen!" I said. "I only hope and pray that you may, Ramon." And now we are approaching the end.
I have gone through a great many tense moments in my adventurous life; I have been under many nerve strains, and I have more than once had that strange sensation that is best described as having one's heart in one's throat. But never, in all my years of exploration and of discovery, of venturing among savage tribes, of hunting savage beasts, of running rapids, —even of being shipwrecked—have I felt so keyed up, so nervous, so tense, so shaky-kneed, as on that eventful morning when Ramon announced that he was ready for his spectacular experiment.
Everything was in readiness. The new prism had been carefully placed beside the other one, adjusted until we could see the village and the houses through it, although it was not sufficiently powerful to reveal the people plainly. We had sent the Cholos off in order that they might not by any chance see what took place, and, in their terror, desert me. Ramon had attired himself in his poncho, his sandals and his head-band, and all that remained to be done was for him to take his place behind the prism and draw the bow across the violin strings.
Somehow, I felt as if I was taking part in an execution. And, as is so often the case when one is under the stress of great emotions, I remember the thought crossed my mind that Ramon was about to act as his own executioner, and that I considered it rather humorous. Ramon, however, seemed brighter, happier, more elated than at any time. He was confident, sure, convinced that in the twinkling of an eyelid, he would find himself beside the woman he loved.
Never was Christian martyr more exalted, more happy at taking the step into the unknown, for, like the martyrs, Ramon believed implicitly that his final step would lead directly to his eternal happiness.
And seeing him thus, knowing how he felt, realizing how much it meant to him, and remembering the reward that awaited him if he was successful, I could not be sorry for him and could not be selfish enough to grieve at the thought of losing him.
"I'd better say adios, amigo," he said, as he took his place, violin in hand. "If all goes well, as I know it will, you'll see me down there in the village within a few seconds. And—" he laughed boyishly, "don't forget what I promised you—a kiss blown to you from the loveliest, most adorable lips on earth. You don't know how you are being honored and rewarded, my friend. The kiss of a princess—of the Sumak Nusta, is a most precious thing, a priceless gift, even if it is thrown to you and not bestowed in person. But, seriously, amigo mio, my very dear good friend, the one and only regret I have is that I must bid farewell to you. It is not yet too late. Will you not alter your decision? Will you not go with me? It was for that I made this prism of such size—because I hoped that, at the last moment, you might join me. It is large enough to transform us both, my friend."
I shook my head and I fear my eyes were wet. I loved Ramon deeply, and now that I was about to lose him, I fully realized how much I valued his companionship and friendship. But even so, I could not accept his offer. I had no beautiful woman awaiting me in the village. Though I might, though I knew I would, find it intensely interesting and of the greatest scientific value, I also knew, however, that I would never he happy unless I could publish my discoveries to the world, that to live the rest of my days among Indians would he most unpleasant. And—I am almost afraid to admit it, for it was a rather childish and unworthy attitude—I knew I should he miserable in the presence of the consummated love and happiness of Ramon and Kora. To be near such complete happiness, to see them, watch them, hear them, would, I knew, make me very lonely, very miserable, very blue, for I would continually be mentally comparing their state with my own solitary, loveless condition.
So, with an unsteady but determined voice, I again refused to join Ramon, and grasped his outstretched hand. He gripped my hand firmly. Then, in a sudden impetuous movement, drew me to him, threw his arms about me, patted me on the back and kissed my unshaven cheek in the fervent Spanish salute of farewell.
"Now, amigo, will you please do me the last favor?" smiled Ramon, though I noticed a suspicious moisture in his eyes. "Take a peep through the prism, and watch for the coming of Kora. When she appears, let me know. Are you ready?"
I nodded and glanced into the crystal. The people were dispersing from their morning sun-dance, the musicians were leaving. Then I saw the Indians gather, their eyes turned toward the palace. My heart beat hard and fast. I felt weak, cold, almost ready to scream. Then from the palace door Kora appeared. I hardly recognized my own voice as I turned toward Ramon. "She is coming!!" I said hoarsely. "She—"
"Adios, then, my beloved friend!" cried Ramon joyously. "Go thee with God always. I go—I go to my beloved!"
I saw the flash of his bow through mist-dimmed eyes. As if in a trance I heard the swiftly rising, wailing note of his violin. As from a vast distance I heard the sonorous twang from the prism. And then I seemed to be losing consciousness; I felt smothered, blinded, and as if sinking into a bottomless abyss.
Slowly I opened my eyes. My head reeled, my eyes burned, every muscle of my body ached. Then full consciousness swept over me. I remembered Ramon, the sound of his violin's note, the twang of the agonized prism. What had happened? What had rendered me insensible? With an effort I raised my head and glanced about. From head to foot I was covered with a fine white powder. Coughing, sneezing, tears streaming down my cheeks from my irritated eyes, I stared. Ramon had vanished! There, where he had been standing, lay his violin and its bow. He had gone! What had been his fate? I leaped to my feet, scarcely aware of the agonies the movement cost me. I must look through the prism, must see if he was with Kora.
The next instant I staggered back. The prism had vanished! There was its stand, there was the metallic adjusting device. But not a trace of the prism remained! Dazed, uncomprehending, realizing only that I could not see my friend, could not learn his fate, I cursed, raved, groaned. Then slowly, gradually, my brain began to function properly. With a great effort I controlled myself, calmed myself. What had happened? What had become of the prism? Why had I lost consciousness?
Then it came to me, dawned upon me! Ramon's prism, the one he had used, had been too close to the other. What short-sighted, stupid fools we had been! The note from the violin had affected both prisms. By the narrowest of margins, by the sheerest piece of good luck, I had not been in line with the prism. Had I remained looking at the village, had I not stepped aside, I, too, would have been transformed, utterly destroyed or reduced to a microscopic being! I had come within a hair's breadth of joining Ramon, despite my own wishes. And no doubt it was my proximity to the line of activity that had resulted in my being bereft of my senses temporarily. Or again, it may have been the choking, irritating cloud of dust that had enveloped me. Probably I shall never know. But of one thing was certain. I could never learn how Ramon had fared, I could never see him beside Kora, I could never see her blow that promised kiss to me. But they would never know it. They would be unaware that I could not fulfill my promise.
Then I laughed hoarsely, hysterically, as I thought of that other pledge I had given Ramon, of my promise to destroy all vestiges of the Manabinite. I had no need to do that now. The matter had been taken from my hands. As far as I knew, not a fragment of the mineral larger than a pea existed.
Almost reverently, I picked up Ramon's violin and bow. As I did so I saw that the strings had vanished from both. They, too, had been of animal matter; they, too, had been reduced.
Slowly, with bowed head, I stumbled to my hut. It was all over. Ramon had gone. Never would I see him, never would I hear his voice again.
And never would I know his fate. Never would I be certain whether he had been utterly destroyed or whether he still lived, supremely happy, with his beloved Kora, his Sumak Nusta.
THE END.
About the Author
Alpheus Hy
att Verrill, known as Hyatt Verrill, (1871-1954) was an American archaeologist, explorer, inventor, illustrator and author. He was the son of Addison Emery Verrill (1839–1926), the first professor of zoology at Yale University. Hyatt Verrill wrote on a wide variety of topics, including natural history, travel, radio and whaling. He participated in a number of archaeological expeditions to the West Indies, South, and Central America. He travelled extensively throughout the West Indies, and all of the Americas, North, Central and South. Theodore Roosevelt stated: "It was my friend Verrill here, who really put the West Indies on the map.” During 1896 he served as natural history editor of Webster's International Dictionary., and he illustrated many of his own writings as well. During 1902 Verrill invented the autochrome process of natural-color photography. Among his writings are many science fiction works including twenty six published in 'Amazing Stories' pulp magazines.
Other works by A. Hyatt Verrill
Into the Green Prism
Beyond the Green Prism
The Golden City: A Tale of Adventure in Unknown Guiana
The Boy Adventurers: In the Land of the Monkey Men
The Treasure of the Golden God
Through the Andes
The Inner World
Magazine Appearances:
The Bridge of
When the Moon Ran Wild (by Ray Ainsbury)
Beyond the Pole
Through the Crater's Rim
The Man Who Could Vanish
The Plague of the Living Dead
The Voice from the Inner World
The Ultra-Elixir of Youth
The Astounding Discoveries of Doctor Mentiroso (by H. Hyatt Verrill)
The Psychological Solution
The King of the Monkey Men
The World of the Giant Ants
Death From the Skies
Vampires of the Desert
Dirigibles of Death
The Feathered Detective
The Non-Gravitational Vortex
Monsters of the Ray
A Visit to Suari
When the Moon Ran Wild
The Exterminator
The Death Drum
The Mummy of Ret-Seh
The Flying Head
The Ghostly Vengeance
Table of Contents
Into the Green Prism
By A. Hyatt Verrill
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI (Continued)
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
About the Author
Into the Green Prism Page 16
