THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 1 THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT By William Hope Hodgson Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 2 WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT (1877 - 1918) William Hope Hodgson "Mr. Hodgson's new novel (Carnacki the ghost-finder) comprises half-a-dozen of the From The Blue Magazine, November 1907. "creepiest" experiences imaginable. ... Read after nightfall in a dimly lighted room IT WAS a dark, starless night. We were becalmed in the peopled with uneasy shadows, Northern Pacific. Our exact position I do not know; for the sun these tales carry with them a had been hidden during the course of a weary, breathless week, haunting atmosphere of terror by a thin haze which had seemed to float above us, about the and an ever-present sense of the height of our mastheads, at whiles descending and shrouding the unknown powers of darkness ... Mr. Hope Hodgson plays deftly surrounding sea. on the strings of fear, and his new novel stamps him a With there being no wind, we had steadied the tiller, and I was fascinating panic-monger with a the only man on deck. The crew, consisting of two men and a quick eye for all the sensational boy, were sleeping forrard in their den; while Will--my friend, possibilities of ghost-lore. and the master of our little craft--was aft in his bunk on the port - The Bookman (1913) side of the little cabin. "... generally considered to be one of the major authors of Suddenly, from out of the surrounding darkness, there came a supernatural horror fiction" hail: - E. F. Bleiler "Schooner, ahoy!" "The supreme master of supernatural horror in science The cry was so unexpected that I gave no immediate answer, fiction." because of my surprise. - Sam Moskowitz Hodgson ran away from his It came again--a voice curiously throaty and inhuman, calling mother and clergyman father at from somewhere upon the dark sea away on our port broadside: an early age, eventually getting apprenticed at sea. He lasted as a "Schooner, ahoy!" seafarer for eight years; in 1899, he quit life as a sailor "Hullo!" I sung out, having gathered my wits somewhat. "What passionately hating it and are you? What do you want?" accusing those around him of frequent brutality. While he had "You need not be afraid," answered the queer voice, having been at sea, he had taken up judo probably noticed some trace of confusion in my tone. "I am only and photography as hobbies. an old man." That year, he opened a Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 3 England. It was called the W.H. back to me with any significance. Hodgson School for Physical Culture. His first writing "Why don't you come alongside, then?" I queried somewhat experiences were articles of snappishly; for I liked not his hinting at my having been a trifle bodybuilding with photographs he had taken of himself. He also shaken. wrote articles deploring the seafaring life. And, too, he "I--I--can't. It wouldn't be safe. I--" The voice broke off, and lectured on tropical storms using there was silence. slides he had taken himself by way of illustration. "What do you mean?" I asked, growing more and more astonished. "Why not safe? Where are you?" He had his first short fiction success in 1905 with "A tropical I listened for a moment; but there came no answer. And then, a horror", one of his many stories of sea-encounters with The sudden indefinite suspicion, of I knew not what, coming to me, I Weird. stepped swiftly to the binnacle, and took out the lighted lamp. At the same time, I knocked on the deck with my heel to waken Hodgson's short stories were Will. Then I was back at the side, throwing the yellow funnel of popular successes, but he light out into the silent immensity beyond our rail. As I did so, I achieved only critical successes with his novels like The boats of heard a slight, muffled cry, and then the sound of a splash as the "Glen Carrig" (1907), The though someone had dipped oars abruptly. Yet I cannot say that I house on the borderland (1908), saw anything with certainty; save, it seemed to me, that with the and The ghost pirates (1909). first flash of the light, there had been something upon the waters, Starting in 1910, he wrote the where now there was nothing. Carnacki stories for The Idler magazine whose editors greatly "Hullo, there!" I called. "What foolery is this!' appreciated his work. Six were collected into Carnacki the But there came only the indistinct sounds of a boat being pulled ghost-finder. Following popular away into the night. tradition, they were re-edited to appear as chapters in a Then I heard Will's voice, from the direction of the after scuttle: continuing novel. "What's up, George?" Modern critics complain of an uneven quality in the stories and "Come here, Will!" I said. suggest that he was just knocking them off to support "What is it?" he asked, coming across the deck. himself while writing his epic, The nightland (1912). Again, I told him the queer thing which had happened. He put several despite critical enthusiasm, his epic was a financial failure so he questions; then, after a moment's silence, he raised his hands to chose not to write another novel. his lips, and hailed: In his stories and novels, he is "Boat, ahoy!" especially praised for conveying the protagonist's horror and for From a long distance away there came back to us a faint reply, sustaining a sense of threat. and my companion repeated his call. Presently, after a short Living in the south of France at period of silence, there grew on our hearing the muffled sound of the outbreak of WWI, he oars; at which Will hailed again. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 4 commissioned in the artillery. He was badly hurt in a horsing This time there was a reply: accident in 1916 and was discharged. Incredibly, he was "Put away the light." able to fully recover and he re- enlisted. He was killed by a shell "I'm damned if I will," I muttered; but Will told me to do as the at Ypres, Belgium in 1918. voice bade, and I shoved it down under the bulwarks. In 1947, Arkham House "Come nearer," he said, and the oar-strokes continued. Then, reprinted his Carnacki stories when apparently some half-dozen fathoms distant, they again along with three others found in his papers. ceased. The Carnacki stories followed "Come alongside," exclaimed Will. "There's nothing to be the evolution of a new branch of frightened of aboard here!" Detective stories, the scientific detective whereby machines and "Promise that you will not show the light?" lab tests contribute to the investigations more than pure "What's to do with you," I burst out, "that you're so infernally reason or footwork. While Dr. afraid of the light?" John Thorndyke (by R. Austin Freeman) became the best "Because " began the voice, and stopped short. example of this school, there was yet another extension of this "Because what?" I asked quickly. branch developing. Algernon Blackwood wrote his stories of Will put his hand on my shoulder. Dr. John Silence, the psychic physician (1907 - 1908) who assists those suffering from "Shut up a minute, old man," he said, in a low voice. "Let me various paranormal tackle him." manifestations. He leant more over the rail. Carnacki is a middle ground between these two types. "See here, Mister," he said, "this is a pretty queer business, you Hodgson previously had written coming upon us like this, right out in the middle of the blessed on subjects upon which he was Pacific. How are we to know what sort of a hanky-panky trick an authority. Here, tho not an occultist, he attempts realism by you're up to? You say there's only one of you. How are we to making seemingly learned know, unless we get a squint at you--eh? What's your objection to references to different occult the light, anyway?" procedures and to modern apparatus, like the electric As he finished, I heard the noise of the oars again, and then the pentacle for defence and his voice came; but now from a greater distance, and sounding beloved camera for investigation extremely hopeless and pathetic. of the unusual situations into which he was invited. "I am sorry--sorry! I would not have troubled you, only I am hungry, and--so is she." The voice died away, and the sound of the oars, dipping irregularly, was borne to us. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 5 back! We'll keep the light hidden, if you don't like it." He turned to me: "It's a damned queer rig, this; but I think there's nothing to be afraid of? There was a question in his tone, and I replied. "No, I think the poor devil's been wrecked around here, and gone crazy." The sound of the oars drew nearer. "Shove that lamp back in the binnacle," said Will; then he leaned over the rail and listened. I replaced the lamp, and came back to his side. The dipping of the oars ceased some dozen yards distant. "Won't you come alongside now?" asked Will in an even voice. "I have had the lamp put back in the binnacle." "I--I cannot," replied the voice. "I dare not come nearer. I dare not even pay you for the--the provisions." "That's all right," said Will, and hesitated. "You're welcome to as much grub as you can take--" Again he hesitated. "You are very good," exclaimed the voice. "May God, Who understands everything, reward you--" It broke off huskily. "The--the lady?" said Will abruptly. "Is she--" "I have left her behind upon the island," came the voice. "What island?" I cut in. "I know not its name," returned the voice. "I would to God--!" it began, and checked itself as suddenly. "Could we not send a boat for her?" asked Will at this point. "No!" said the voice, with extraordinary emphasis. "My God! No!" There was a moment's pause; then it added, in a tone which seemed a merited reproach: "It was because of our want I ventured--because her agony tortured me." Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 6 "I am a forgetful brute," exclaimed Will. "Just wait a minute, whoever you are, and I will bring you up something at once." In a couple of minutes he was back again, and his arms were full of various edibles. He paused at the rail. "Can't you come alongside for them?" he asked. "No--I dare not,' replied the voice, and it seemed to me that in its tones I detected a note of stifled craving--as though the owner hushed a mortal desire. It came to me then in a flash, that the poor old creature out there in the darkness, was suffering for actual need of that which Will held in his arms; and yet, because of some unintelligible dread, refraining from dashing to the side of our little schooner, and receiving it. And with the lightning- like conviction, there came the knowledge that the Invisible was not mad; but sanely facing some intolerable horror. "Damn it, Will!" I said, full of many feelings, over which predominated a vast sympathy. "Get a box. We must float off the stuff to him in it." This we did--propelling it away from the vessel, out into the darkness, by means of a boathook. In a minute, a slight cry from the Invisible came to us, and we knew that he had secured the box. A little later, he called out a farewell to us, and so heartful a blessing, that I am sure we were the better for it. Then, without more ado, we heard the ply of oars across the darkness. "Pretty soon off," remarked Will, with perhaps just a little sense of injury. "Wait," I replied. "I think somehow he'll come back. He must have been badly needing that food." "And the lady," said Will. For a moment he was silent; then he continued: "It's the queerest thing ever I've tumbled across, since I've been fishing." "Yes," I said, and fell to pondering. And so the time slipped away--an hour, another, and still Will Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 7 for sleep out of him. The third hour was three parts through, when we heard again the sound of oars across the silent ocean. "Listen!" said Will, a low note of excitement in his voice. "He's coming, just as I thought," I muttered. The dipping of the oars grew nearer, and I noted that the strokes were firmer and longer. The food had been needed. They came to a stop a little distance off the broadside, and the queer voice came again to us through the darkness: "Schooner, ahoy!" "That you?" asked Will. "Yes," replied the voice. "I left you suddenly; but--but there was great need." "The lady?" questioned Will. "The--lady is grateful now on earth. She will be more grateful soon in--in heaven." Will began to make some reply, in a puzzled voice; but became confused, and broke off short. I said nothing. I was wondering at the curious pauses, and, apart from my wonder, I was full of a great sympathy. The voice continued: "We--she and I, have talked, as we shared the result of God's tenderness and yours--" Will interposed; but without coherence. "I beg of you not to--to belittle your deed of Christian charity this night," said the voice. "Be sure that it has not escaped His notice." It stopped, and there was a full minute's silence. Then it came again: "We have spoken together upon that which--which has befallen us. We had thought to go out, without telling any, of the terror Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 8 to-night's happenings are under a special ruling, and that it is God's wish that we should tell to you all that we have suffered since--since--" "Yes?" said Will softly. "Since the sinking of the Albatross." "Ah!" I exclaimed involuntarily. "She left Newcastle for 'Frisco some six months ago, and hasn't been heard of since." "Yes," answered the voice. "But some few degrees to the North of the line she was caught in a terrible storm, and dismasted. When the day came, it was found that she was leaking badly, and, presently, it falling to a calm, the sailors took to the boats, leaving--leaving a young lady--my fiancee--and myself upon the wreck. "We were below, gathering together a few of our belongings, when they left. They were entirely callous, through fear, and when we came up upon the deck, we saw them only as small shapes afar off upon the horizon. Yet we did not despair, but set to work and constructed a small raft. Upon this we put such few matters as it would hold including a quantity of water and some ship's biscuit. Then, the vessel being very deep in the water, we got ourselves on to the raft, and pushed off. "It was later, when I observed that we seemed to be in the way of some tide or current, which bore us from the ship at an angle; so that in the course of three hours, by my watch, her hull became invisible to our sight, her broken masts remaining in view for a somewhat longer period. Then, towards evening, it grew misty, and so through the night. The next day we were still encompassed by the mist, the weather remaining quiet. "For four days we drifted through this strange haze, until, on the evening of the fourth day, there grew upon our ears the murmur of breakers at a distance. Gradually it became plainer, and, somewhat after midnight, it appeared to sound upon either hand at no very great space. The raft was raised upon a swell several times, and then we were in smooth water, and the noise of the breakers was behind. "When the morning came, we found that we were in a sort of great lagoon; but of this we noticed little at the time; for close Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 9 large sailing-vessel. With one accord, we fell upon our knees and thanked God; for we thought that here was an end to our perils. We had much to learn. "The raft drew near to the ship, and we shouted on them to take us aboard; but none answered. Presently the raft touched against the side of the vessel, and, seeing a rope hanging downwards, I seized it and began to climb. Yet I had much ado to make my way up, because of a kind of grey, lichenous fungus which had seized upon the rope, and which blotched the side of the ship lividly. "I reached the rail and clambered over it, on to the deck. Here I saw that the decks were covered, in great patches, with grey masses, some of them rising into nodules several feet in height; but at the time I thought less of this matter than of the possibility of there being people aboard the ship. I shouted; but none answered. Then I went to the door below the poop deck. I opened it, and peered in. There was a great smell of staleness, so that I knew in a moment that nothing living was within, and with the knowledge, I shut the door quickly; for I felt suddenly lonely. "I went back to the side where I had scrambled up. My--my sweetheart was still sitting quietly upon the raft. Seeing me look down she called up to know whether there were any aboard of the ship. I replied that the vessel had the appearance of having been long deserted; but that if she would wait a little I would see whether there was anything in the shape of a ladder by which she could ascend to the deck. Then we would make a search through the vessel together. A little later, on the opposite side of the decks, I found a rope side-ladder. This I carried across, and a minute afterwards she was beside me. "Together we explored the cabins and apartments in the after part of the ship; but nowhere was there any sign of life. Here and there within the cabins themselves, we came across odd patches of that queer fungus; but this, as my sweetheart said, could be cleansed away. "In the end, having assured ourselves that the after portion of the vessel was empty, we picked our ways to the bows, between the ugly grey nodules of that strange growth; and here we made a further search which told us that there was indeed none aboard but ourselves. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 10 the ship and proceeded to make ourselves as comfortable as possible. Together we cleared out and cleaned two of the cabins: and after that I made examination whether there was anything eatable in the ship. This I soon found was so, and thanked God in my heart for His goodness. In addition to this I discovered the whereabouts of the fresh-water pump, and having fixed it I found the water drinkable, though somewhat unpleasant to the taste. "For several days we stayed aboard the ship, without attempting to get to the shore. We were busily engaged in making the place habitable. Yet even thus early we became aware that our lot was even less to be desired than might have been imagined; for though, as a first step, we scraped away the odd patches of growth that studded the floors and walls of the cabins and saloon, yet they returned almost to their original size within the space of twenty-four hours, which not only discouraged us, but gave us a feeling of vague unease. "Still we would not admit ourselves beaten, so set to work afresh, and not only scraped away the fungus, but soaked the places where it had been, with carbolic, a can-full of which I had found in the pantry. Yet, by the end of the week the growth had returned in full strength, and, in addition, it had spread to other places, as though our touching it had allowed germs from it to travel elsewhere. "On the seventh morning, my sweetheart woke to find a small patch of it growing on her pillow, close to her face. At that, she came to me, so soon as she could get her garments upon her. I was in the galley at the time lighting the fire for breakfast. "Come here, John,' she said, and led me aft. When I saw the thing upon her pillow I shuddered, and then and there we agreed to go right out of the ship and see whether we could not fare to make ourselves more comfortable ashore. "Hurriedly we gathered together our few belongings, and even among these I found that the fungus had been at work; for one of her shawls had a little lump of it growing near one edge. I threw the whole thing over the side, without saying anything to her. "The raft was still alongside, but it was too clumsy to guide, and I lowered down a small boat that hung across the stern, and in this we made our way to the shore. Yet, as we drew near to it, I became gradually aware that here the vile fungus, which had Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 11 horrible, fantastic mounds, which seemed almost to quiver, as with a quiet life, when the wind blew across them. Here and there it took on the forms of vast fingers, and in others it just spread out flat and smooth and treacherous. Odd places, it appeared as grotesque stunted trees, seeming extraordinarily kinked and gnarled--the whole quaking vilely at times. "At first, it seemed to us that there was no single portion of the surrounding shore which was not hidden beneath the masses of the hideous lichen; yet, in this, I found we were mistaken; for somewhat later, coasting along the shore at a little distance, we descried a smooth white patch of what appeared to be fine sand, and there we landed. It was not sand. What it was I do not know. All that I have observed is that upon it the fungus will not grow; while everywhere else, save where the sand-like earth wanders oddly, path-wise, amid the grey desolation of the lichen, there is nothing but that loathsome greyness. "It is difficult to make you understand how cheered we were to find one place that was absolutely free from the growth, and here we deposited our belongings. Then we went back to the ship for such things as it seemed to us we should need. Among other matters, I managed to bring ashore with me one of the ship's sails, with which I constructed two small tents, which, though exceedingly rough-shaped, served the purpose for which they were intended. In these we lived and stored our various necessities, and thus for a matter of some four weeks all went smoothly and without particular unhappiness. Indeed, I may say with much of happiness--for--for we were together. "It was on the thumb of her right hand that the growth first showed. It was only a small circular spot, much like a little grey mole. My God! how the fear leapt to my heart when she showed me the place. We cleansed it, between us, washing it with carbolic and water. In the morning of the following day she showed her hand to me again. The grey warty thing had returned. For a little while, we looked at one another in silence. Then, still wordless, we started again to remove it. In the midst of the operation she spoke suddenly. "'What's that on the side of your face, dear?' Her voice was sharp with anxiety. I put my hand up to feel. "'There! Under the hair by your ear. A little to the front a bit.' My finger rested upon the place, and then I knew. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 12 "'Let us get your thumb done first,' I said. And she submitted, only because she was afraid to touch me until it was cleansed. I finished washing and disinfecting her thumb, and then she turned to my face. After it was finished we sat together and talked awhile of many things for there had come into our lives sudden, very terrible thoughts. We were, all at once, afraid of something worse than death. We spoke of loading the boat with provisions and water and making our way out on to the sea; yet we were helpless, for many causes, and--and the growth had attacked us already. We decided to stay. God would do with us what was His will. We would wait. "A month, two months, three months passed and the places grew somewhat, and there had come others. Yet we fought so strenuously with the fear that its headway was but slow, comparatively speaking. "Occasionally we ventured off to the ship for such stores as we needed. There we found that the fungus grew persistently. One of the nodules on the maindeck became soon as high as my head. "We had now given up all thought or hope of leaving the island. We had realized that it would be unallowable to go among healthy humans, with the things from which we were suffering. "With this determination and knowledge in our minds we knew that we should have to husband our food and water; for we did not know, at that time, but that we should possibly live for many years. "This reminds me that I have told you that I am an old man. Judged by the years this is not so. But--but--" He broke off; then continued somewhat abruptly: "As I was saying, we knew that we should have to use care in the matter of food. But we had no idea then how little food there was left of which to take care. It was a week later that I made the discovery that all the other bread tanks--which I had supposed full--were empty, and that (beyond odd tins of vegetables and meat, and some other matters) we had nothing on which to depend, but the bread in the tank which I had already opened. "After learning this I bestirred myself to do what I could, and set to work at fishing in the lagoon; but with no success. At this I Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 13 to me to try outside the lagoon, in the open sea. "Here, at times, I caught odd fish; but so infrequently that they proved of but little help in keeping us from the hunger which threatened. It seemed to me that our deaths were likely to come by hunger, and not by the growth of the thing which had seized upon our bodies. "We were in this state of mind when the fourth month wore out. When I made a very horrible discovery. One morning, a little before midday. I came off from the ship with a portion of the biscuits which were left. In the mouth of her tent I saw my sweetheart sitting, eating something. "'What is it, my dear?' I called out as I leapt ashore. Yet, on hearing my voice, she seemed confused, and, turning, slyly threw something towards the edge of the little clearing. It fell short, and a vague suspicion having arisen within me, I walked across and picked it up. It was a piece of the grey fungus. "As I went to her with it in my hand, she turned deadly pale; then rose red. "I felt strangely dazed and frightened. "'My dear! My dear!' I said, and could say no more. Yet at words she broke down and cried bitterly. Gradually, as she calmed, I got from her the news that she had tried it the preceding day, and-- and liked it. I got her to promise on her knees not to touch it again, however great our hunger. After she had promised she told me that the desire for it had come suddenly, and that, until the moment of desire, she had experienced nothing towards it but the most extreme repulsion. "Later in the day, feeling strangely restless, and much shaken with the thing which I had discovered, I made my way along one of the twisted paths--formed by the white, sand-like substance-- which led among the fungoid growth. I had, once before, ventured along there; but not to any great distance. This time, being involved in perplexing thought, I went much further than hitherto. "Suddenly I was called to myself by a queer hoarse sound on my left. Turning quickly I saw that there was movement among an Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 14 swaying uneasily, as though it possessed life of its own. Abruptly, as I stared, the thought came to me that the thing had a grotesque resemblance to the figure of a distorted human creature. Even as the fancy flashed into my brain, there was a slight, sickening noise of tearing, and I saw that one of the branch-like arms was detaching itself from the surrounding grey masses, and coming towards me. The head of the thing--a shapeless grey ball, inclined in my direction. I stood stupidly, and the vile arm brushed across my face. I gave out a frightened cry, and ran back a few paces. There was a sweetish taste upon my lips where the thing had touched me. I licked them, and was immediately filled with an inhuman desire. I turned and seized a mass of the fungus. Then more and--more. I was insatiable. In the midst of devouring, the remembrance of the morning's discovery swept into my mazed brain. It was sent by God. I dashed the fragment I held to the ground. Then, utterly wretched and feeling a dreadful guiltiness, I made my way back to the little encampment. "I think she knew, by some marvellous intuition which love must have given, so soon as she set eyes on me. Her quiet sympathy made it easier for me, and I told her of my sudden weakness; yet omitted to mention the extraordinary thing which had gone before. I desired to spare her all unnecessary terror. "But, for myself, I had added an intolerable knowledge, to breed an incessant terror in my brain; for I doubted not but that I had seen the end of one of those men who had come to the island in the ship in the lagoon; and in that monstrous ending I had seen our own. "Thereafter we kept from the abominable food, though the desire for it had entered into our blood. Yet our drear punishment was upon us; for, day by day, with monstrous rapidity, the fungoid growth took hold of our poor bodies. Nothing we could do would check it materially, and so--and so--we who had been human, became- - Well, it matters less each day. Only--only we had been man and maid! "And day by day the fight is more dreadful, to withstand the hungerlust for the terrible lichen. "A week ago we ate the last of the biscuit, and since that time I have caught three fish. I was out here fishing tonight when your Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT 15 the rest, and may God, out of His great heart, bless you for your goodness to a--a couple of poor outcast souls." There was the dip of an oar--another. Then the voice came again, and for the last time, sounding through the slight surrounding mist, ghostly and mournful. "God bless you! Good-bye!" "Good-bye," we shouted together, hoarsely, our hearts full of many emotions. I glanced about me. I became aware that the dawn was upon us. The sun flung a stray beam across the hidden sea; pierced the mist dully, and lit up the receding boat with a gloomy fire. Indistinctly I saw something nodding between the oars. I thought of a sponge--a great, grey nodding sponge-- The oars continued to ply. They were grey--as was the boat--and my eyes searched a moment vainly for the conjunction of hand and oar. My gaze flashed back to the--head. It nodded forward as the oars went backward for the stroke. Then the oars were dipped, the boat shot out of the patch of light, and the--the thing went nodding into the mist. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com