CHAPTERI

INSOMNIA

Oneafternoon，atlowwater，Mr。Isbister，ayoungartistlodgingatBoscastle，walkedfromthatplacetothepicturesquecoveofPentargen，desiringtoexaminethecavesthere。HalfwaydowntheprecipitouspathtothePentargenbeachhecamesuddenlyuponamansittinginanattitudeofprofounddistressbeneathaprojectingmassofrock。Thehandsofthismanhunglimplyoverhisknees，hiseyeswereredandstaringbeforehim，andhisfacewaswetwithtears。

HeglancedroundatIsbister’sfootfall。Bothmenweredisconcerted，Isbisterthemoreso，and，tooverridetheawkwardnessofhisinvoluntarypause，heremarked，withanairofmatureconviction，thattheweatherwashotforthetimeofyear。

"Very，"answeredthestrangershortly，hesitatedasecond，andaddedinacolourlesstone，"Ican’tsleep。"

Isbisterstoppedabruptly。"No？"wasallhesaid，buthisbearingconveyedhishelpfulimpulse。

"Itmaysoundincredible，"saidthestranger，turningwearyeyestoIsbister’sfaceandemphasizinghiswordswithalanguidhand，"butIhavehadnosleep———nosleepatallforsixnights。"

"Hadadvice？"

"Yes。Badadviceforthemostpart。Drugs。Mynervoussystem……Theyareallverywellfortherunofpeople。It’shardtoexplain。Idarenottake……sufficientlypowerfuldrugs。"

"Thatmakesitdifficult，"saidIsbister。

Hestoodhelplesslyinthenarrowpath，perplexedwhattodo。Clearlythemanwantedtotalk。Anideanaturalenoughunderthecircumstances，promptedhimtokeeptheconversationgoing。"I’veneversufferedfromsleeplessnessmyself，"hesaidinatoneofcommonplacegossip，"butinthosecasesIhaveknown，peoplehaveusuallyfoundsomething——"

"Idaremakenoexperiments。"

Hespokewearily。Hegaveagestureofrejection，andforaspacebothmenweresilent。

"Exercise？"suggestedIsbisterdiffidently，withaglancefromhisinterlocutor’sfaceofwretchednesstothetouringcostumehewore。

"ThatiswhatIhavetried。Unwiselyperhaps。I

havefollowedthecoast，dayafterday——fromNewQuay。Ithasonlyaddedmuscularfatiguetothemental。

Thecauseofthisunrestwasoverwork——trouble。

Therewassomething——"

Hestoppedasiffromsheerfatigue。Herubbedhisforeheadwithaleanhand。Heresumedspeechlikeonewhotalkstohimself。

"Iamalonewolf，asolitaryman，wanderingthroughaworldinwhichIhavenopart。Iamwifeless——

childless——whoisitspeaksofthechildlessasthedeadtwigsonthetreeoflife？Iamwifeless，Ichildless——Icouldfindnodutytodo。Nodesireeveninmyheart。OnethingatlastIsetmyselftodo。

"Isaid，Iwilldothis，andtodoit，toovercometheinertiaofthisdullbody，Iresortedtodrugs。GreatGod，I’vehadenoughofdrugs！Idon’tknowif__you__

feeltheheavyinconvenienceofthebody，itsexasperatingdemandoftimefromthemind——time——

life！Live！Weonlyliveinpatches。Wehavetoeat，andthencomesthedulldigestivecomplacencies——

orirritations。Wehavetotaketheairorelseourthoughtsgrowsluggish，stupid，runintogulfsandblindalleys。Athousanddistractionsarisefromwithinandwithout，andthencomesdrowsinessandsleep。Menseemtoliveforsleep。Howlittleofaman’sdayishisown——evenatthebest！Andthencomethosefalsefriends，thoseThughelpers，thealkaloidsthatstiflenaturalfatigueandkillrest——

blackcoffee，cocaine——"

"Isee，"saidIsbister。

"Ididmywork，"saidthesleeplessmanwithaquerulousintonation。

"Andthisistheprice？"

"Yes。"

Foralittlewhilethetworemainedwithoutspeaking。

"YoucannotimaginethecravingforrestthatI

feel——ahungerandthirst。Forsixlongdays，sincemyworkwasdone，mymindhasbeenawhirlpool，swift，unprogressiveandincessant，atorrentofthoughtsleadingnowhere，spinningroundswiftandsteady——"

Hepaused。"Towardsthegulf。"

"Youmustsleep，"saidIsbisterdecisively，andwithanairofaremedydiscovered。"Certainlyyoumustsleep。"

"Mymindisperfectlylucid。Itwasneverclearer。

ButIknowIamdrawingtowardsthevortex。

Presently——"

"Yes？"

"Youhaveseenthingsgodownaneddy？Outofthelightoftheday，outofthissweetworldofsanity——

down——"

"But，"expostulatedIsbister。

Themanthrewoutahandtowardshim，andhiseyeswerewild，andhisvoicesuddenlyhigh。"Ishallkillmyself。Ifinnootherway——atthefootofyonderdarkprecipicethere，wherethewavesaregreen，andthewhitesurgeliftsandfalls，andthatlittlethreadofwatertremblesdown。Thereatanyrateis……sleep。"

"That’sunreasonable，"saidIsbister，startledattheman’shystericalgustofemotion。"Drugsarebetterthanthat。"

"Thereatanyrateissleep，"repeatedthestranger，notheedinghim。

IsbisterlookedathimandwonderedtransitorilyifsomecomplexProvidencehadindeedbroughtthemtogetherthatafternoon。"It’snotacert，youknow，"

heremarked。"There’saclifflikethatatLulworthCove——ashigh，anyhow——andalittlegirlfellfromtoptobottom。Andlivesto—day——soundandwell。"

"Butthoserocksthere？"

"Onemightlieonthemratherdismallythroughacoldnight，brokenbonesgratingasoneshivered，chillwatersplashingoveryou。Eh？"

Theireyesmet。"Sorrytoupsetyourideals，"saidIsbisterwithasenseofdevil—may—careishbrilliance。

"Butasuicideoverthatcliff（oranycliffforthematterofthat），really，asanartist——"Helaughed。

"It’ssodamnedamateurish。"

"Buttheotherthing，"saidthesleeplessmanirritably，"theotherthing。Nomancankeepsaneifnightafternight——"

"Haveyoubeenwalkingalongthiscoastalone？"

"Yes。"

"Sillysortofthingtodo。Ifyou’llexcusemysayingso。Alone！Asyousay；bodyfagisnocureforbrainfag。Whotoldyouto？Nowonder；

walking！Andthesunonyourhead，heat，fag，solitude，allthedaylong，andthen，Isuppose，yougotobedandtryveryhard——eh？"

Isbisterstoppedshortandlookedatthesuffererdoubtfully。

"Lookattheserocks！"criedtheseatedmanwithasuddenforceofgesture。"Lookatthatseathathasshoneandquiveredthereforever！Seethewhitespumerushintodarknessunderthatgreatcliff。Andthisbluevault，withtheblindingsunpouringfromthedomeofit。Itisyourworld。Youacceptit，yourejoiceinit。Itwarmsandsupportsanddelightsyou。

Andforme——"

Heturnedhisheadandshowedaghastlyface，bloodshotpallideyesandbloodlesslips。Hespokealmostinawhisper。"Itisthegarmentofmymisery。

Thewholeworld……isthegarmentofmymisery。"

IsbisterlookedatallthewildbeautyofthesunlitcliffsaboutthemandbacktothatfaceofdespairForamomenthewassilent。

Hestarted，andmadeagestureofimpatientrejection。

"Yougetanight’ssleep，"hesaid，"andyouwon’tseemuchmiseryouthere。Takemywordforit。"

Hewasquitesurenowthatthiswasaprovidentialencounter。Onlyhalfanhouragohehadbeenfeelinghorriblybored。Herewasemploymentthebarethoughtofwhichwasrighteousself—applause。Hetookpossessionforthwith。ItseemedtohimthatthefirstneedofthisexhaustedbeingwascompanionshipHeflunghimselfdownonthesteeplyslopingturfbesidethemotionlessseatedfigure，anddeployedforthwithintoaskirmishinglineofgossip。

Hishearerseemedtohavelapsedintoapathy；

hestareddismallyseaward，andspokeonlyinanswertoIsbister’sdirectquestions——andnottoallofthoseButhemadenosignofobjectiontothisbenevolentintrusionuponhisdespair。

Inahelplesswayheseemedevengrateful，andwhenpresentlyIsbister，feelingthathisunsupportedtalkwaslosingvigour，suggestedthattheyshouldreascendthesteepandreturntowardsBoscastle，allegingtheviewintoBlackapit，hesubmittedquietly。

Halfwayuphebegantalkingtohimself，andabruptlyturnedaghastlyfaceonhishelper。"Whatcanbehappening？"heaskedwithagauntillustrativehand。

"Whatcanbehappening？Spin，spin，spin，spin。Itgoesroundandround，roundandroundforevermore。"

Hestoodwithhishandcircling"It’sallright，oldchap，"saidIsbisterwiththeairofanoldfriend。"Don’tworryyourself。Trusttome。"

Themandroppedhishandandturnedagain。TheywentoverthebrowinsinglefileandtotheheadlandbeyondPenally，withthesleeplessmangesticulatingeverandagain，andspeakingfragmentarythingsconcerninghiswhirlingbrain。AttheheadlandtheystoodforaspacebytheseatthatlooksintothedarkmysteriesofBlackapit，andthenhesatdown。Isbisterhadresumedhistalkwheneverthepathhadwidenedsufficientlyforthemtowalkabreast。HewasenlarginguponthecomplexdifficultyofmakingBoscastleHarbourinbadweather，whensuddenlyandquiteirrelevantlyhiscompanioninterruptedhimagain。

"Myheadisnotlikewhatitwas，"hesaid，gesticulatingforwantofexpressivephrases。"It’snotlikewhatitwas。Thereisasortofoppression，aweight。

No——notdrowsiness，wouldGoditwere！Itislikeashadow，adeepshadowfallingsuddenlyandswiftlyacrosssomethingbusy。Spin，spinintothedarknessThetumultofthought，theconfusion，theeddyandeddy。Ican’texpressit。Icanhardlykeepmymindonit——steadilyenoughtotellyou。"

Hestoppedfeebly。

"Don’ttrouble，oldchap，"saidIsbister。"IthinkIcanunderstand。Atanyrate，itdon’tmatterverymuchjustatpresentabouttellingme，youknow。"

Thesleeplessmanthrusthisknucklesintohiseyesandrubbedthem。Isbistertalkedforawhilewhilethisrubbingcontinued，andthenhehadafreshidea。

"Comedowntomyroom，"hesaid，"andtryapipe。

IcanshowyousomesketchesofthisBlackapit。Ifyou’dcare？"

Theotherroseobedientlyandfollowedhimdownthesteep。

SeveraltimesIsbisterheardhimstumbleastheycamedown，andhismovementswereslowandhesitating。

"Comeinwithme，"saidIsbister，"andtrysomecigarettesandtheblessedgiftofalcohol。Ifyoutakealcohol？"

Thestrangerhesitatedatthegardengate。Heseemednolongerclearlyawareofhisactions。"I

don’tdrink，"hesaidslowly，comingupthegardenpath，andafteramoment’sintervalrepeatedabsently，"No——Idon’tdrink。Itgoesround。Spin，itgoes——spin——"

Hestumbledatthedoorstepandenteredtheroomwiththebearingofonewhoseesnothing。

Thenhesatdownabruptlyandheavilyintheeasychair，seemedalmosttofallintoit。Heleantforwardwithhisbrowsonhishandsandbecamemotionless。

Presentlyhemadeafaintsoundinhisthroat。

Isbistermovedabouttheroomwiththenervousnessofaninexperiencedhost，makinglittleremarksthatscarcelyrequiredanswering。Hecrossedtheroomtohisportfolio，placeditonthetableandnoticedthemantelclock。

"Idon’tknowifyou’dcaretohavesupperwithme，"hesaidwithanunlightedcigaretteinhishand——

hismindtroubledwithadesignofthefurtiveadministrationofchloral。"Onlycoldmutton，youknow，butpassingsweet。Welsh。Andatart，Ibelieve。"

Herepeatedthisaftermomentarysilence。

Theseatedmanmadenoanswer。Isbisterstopped，matchinhand，regardinghim。

Thestillnesslengthened。Thematchwentout，thecigarettewasputdownunlit。Themanwascertainlyverystill。Isbistertookuptheportfolio，openedit，putitdown，hesitated，seemedabouttospeak。

"Perhaps，"hewhispereddoubtfully。Presentlyheglancedatthedoorandbacktothefigure。Thenhestoleontiptoeoutoftheroom，glancingathiscompanionaftereachelaboratepace。

Heclosedthedoornoiselessly。Thehousedoorwasstandingopen，andhewentoutbeyondtheporch，andstoodwherethemonkshoodroseatthecornerofthegardenbed。Fromthispointhecouldseethestrangerthroughtheopenwindow，stillanddim，sittingheadonhand。Hehadnotmoved。

Anumberofchildrengoingalongtheroadstoppedandregardedtheartistcuriously。Aboatmanexchangedcivilitieswithhim。Hefeltthatpossiblyhiscircumspectattitudeandpositionseemedpeculiarandunaccountable。Smoking，perhaps，mightseemmorenatural。Hedrewpipeandpouchfromhispocket，filledthepipeslowly。

"Iwonder，"……hesaid，withascarcelyperceptiblelossofcomplacency。"Atanyratewemustgivehimachance。"Hestruckamatchinthevirileway，andproceededtolighthispipe。

Presentlyheheardhislandladybehindhim，comingwithhislamplitfromthekitchen。Heturned，gesticulatingwithhispipe，andstoppedheratthedoorofhissitting—room。Hehadsomedifficultyinexplainingthesituationinwhispers，forshedidnotknowhehadavisitor。Sheretreatedagainwiththelamp，stillalittlemystifiedtojudgefromhermanner，andheresumedhishoveringatthecorneroftheporch，flushedandlessathisease。

Longafterhehadsmokedouthispipe，andwhenthebatswereabroad，hiscuriositydominatedhiscomplexhesitations，andhestolebackintohisdarklingsitting—room。Hepausedinthedoorway。Thestrangerwasstillinthesameattitude，darkagainstthewindow。Saveforthesingingofsomesailorsaboardoneofthelittleslate—carryingshipsintheharbour，theeveningwasverystill。Outside，thespikesofmonkshoodanddelphiniumstooderectandmotionlessagainsttheshadowofthehillside。SomethingflashedintoIsbister’smind；hestarted，andleaningoverthetable，listened。Anunpleasantsuspiciongrewstronger；becameconviction。Astonishmentseizedhimandbecame——dread！

Nosoundofbreathingcamefromtheseatedfigure！

Hecreptslowlyandnoiselesslyroundthetable，pausingtwicetolisten。Atlasthecouldlayhishandonthebackofthearmchair。Hebentdownuntilthetwoheadswereeartoear。

Thenhebentstilllowertolookupathisvisitor’sface。Hestartedviolentlyandutteredanexclamation。

Theeyeswerevoidspacesofwhite。

Helookedagainandsawthattheywereopenandwiththepupilsrolledunderthelids。Hewassuddenlyafraid。Overcomebythestrangenessoftheman’scondition，hetookhimbytheshoulderandshookhim。"Areyouasleep？"hesaid，withhisvoicejumpingintoalto，andagain，"Areyouasleep？"

Aconvictiontookpossessionofhismindthatthismanwasdead。Hesuddenlybecameactiveandnoisy，strodeacrosstheroom，blunderingagainstthetableashedidso，andrangthebell。

"Pleasebringalightatonce，"hesaidinthepassage。

"Thereissomethingwrongwithmyfriend。"

Thenhereturnedtothemotionlessseatedfigure，graspedtheshoulder，shookit，andshouted。Theroomwasfloodedwithyellowglareashisastonishedlandladyenteredwiththelight。Hisfacewaswhiteasheturnedblinkingtowardsher。"Imustfetchadoctoratonce，"hesaid。"Itiseitherdeathorafit。Isthereadoctorinthevillage？Whereisadoctortobefound？"

THETRANCE

Thestateofcatalepticrigourintowhichthismanhadfallen，lastedforanunprecedentedlengthoftime，andthenhepassedslowlytotheflaccidstate，toalaxattitudesuggestiveofprofoundrepose。Thenitwashiseyescouldbeclosed。

HewasremovedfromthehoteltotheBoscastlesurgery，andfromthesurgery，aftersomeweeks，toLondon。Buthestillresistedeveryattemptatreanimation。Afteratime，forreasonsthatwillappearlater，theseattemptswerediscontinued。Foragreatspacehelayinthatstrangecondition，inertandstillneitherdeadnorlivingbut，asitwere，suspended，hangingmidwaybetweennothingnessandexistence。

Hiswasadarknessunbrokenbyarayofthoughtorsensation，adreamlessinanition，avastspaceofpeace。

Thetumultofhismindhadswelledandrisentoanabruptclimaxofsilence。Wherewastheman？

Whereisanymanwheninsensibilitytakesholdofhim？

"Itseemsonlyyesterday，"saidIsbister。"I

rememberitallasthoughithappenedyesterday——

clearerperhaps，thanifithadhappenedyesterday。"

ItwastheIsbisterofthelastchapter，buthewasnolongerayoungman。Thehairthathadbeenbrownandatrifleinexcessofthefashionablelength，wasirongreyandclippedclose，andthefacethathadbeenpinkandwhitewasbuffandruddy。Hehadapointedbeardshotwithgrey。Hetalkedtoanelderlymanwhoworeasummersuitofdrill（thesummerofthatyearwasunusuallyhot）。ThiswasWarming，aLondonsolicitorandnextofkintoGraham，themanwhohadfallenintothetrance。AndthetwomenstoodsidebysideinaroominahouseinLondonregardinghisrecumbentfigure。

ItwasayellowfigureIyinglaxuponawater—bedandcladinaflowingshirt，afigurewithashrunkenfaceandastubbybeard，leanlimbsandlanknails，andaboutitwasacaseofthinglass。Thisglassseemedtomarkoffthesleeperfromtherealityoflifeabouthim，hewasathingapart，astrange，isolatedabnormality。

Thetwomenstoodclosetotheglass，peeringin。

"Thethinggavemeashock，"saidIsbister"I

feelaqueersortofsurpriseevennowwhenIthinkofhiswhiteeyes。Theywerewhite，youknow，rolledup。Cominghereagainbringsitallbacktome。

"Haveyouneverseenhimsincethattime？"askedWarming。

"Oftenwantedtocome，"saidIsbister；"butbusinessnowadaysistooseriousathingformuchholidaykeeping。I’vebeeninAmericamostofthetime。"

"IfIrememberrightly，"saidWarming，"youwereanartist？"

"Was。AndthenIbecameamarriedman。Isawitwasallupwithblackandwhite，verysoon——atleastforamediocreman，andIjumpedontoprocess。

ThosepostersontheCliffsatDoverarebymypeople。"

"Goodposters，"admittedthesolicitor，"thoughI|

wassorrytoseethemthere。"I

"Lastaslongasthecliffs，ifnecessary，"exclaimedIsbisterwithsatisfaction。"Theworldchanges。

Whenhefellasleep，twentyyearsago，IwasdownatBoscastlewithaboxofwater—coloursandanoble，old—fashionedambition。Ididn’texpectthatsomedaymypigmentswouldglorifythewholeblessedcoastofEngland，fromLand’sEndroundagaintotheLizard。

Luckcomestoamanveryoftenwhenhe’snotlooking。"

Warmingseemedtodoubtthequalityoftheluck。

"Ijustmissedseeingyou，ifIrecollectaright。"

"YoucamebackbythetrapthattookmetoCamelfordrailwaystation。ItwascloseontheJubilee，Victoria’sJubilee，becauseIremembertheseatsandflagsinWestminster，andtherowwiththecabmanatChelsea。"

"TheDiamondJubilee，itwas，"saidWarming；

"thesecondone。"

"Ah，yes！AttheproperJubilee——theFiftyYearaffair——IwasdownatWookey——aboy。Imissedallthat……Whatafusswehadwithhim！Mylandladywouldn’ttakehimin，wouldn’tlethimstay——

helookedsoqueerwhenhewasrigid。Wehadtocarryhiminachairuptothehotel。AndtheBoscastledoctor——itwasn’tthepresentchap，buttheG。P。beforehim——wasathimuntilnearlytwo，with，meandthelandlordholdinglightsandsoforth。"

"Itwasacatalepticrigouratfirst，wasn’tit？"

"Stiff！——whereveryoubenthimhestuck。Youmighthavestoodhimonhisheadandhe’dhavestopped。Ineversawsuchstiffness。Ofcoursethis"

——heindicatedtheprostratefigurebyamovementofhishead——"isquitedifferent。And，ofcourse，thelittledoctor——whatwashisname？"

"Smithers？"

"Smithersitwas——wasquitewrongintryingtofetchhimroundtoosoon，accordingtoallaccounts。

Thethingshedid。Evennowitmakesmefeelall——

ugh！Mustard，snuff，pricking。Andoneofthosebeastlylittlethings，notdynamos——"

"Inductioncoils。"

"Yes。Youcouldseehismusclesthrobandjump，andhetwistedabout。Therewasjusttwoflaringyellowcandles，andalltheshadowswereshivering，andthelittledoctornervousandputtingonside，andhim——starkandsquirminginthemostunnaturalways。Well，itmademedream。"

Pause。

"It’sastrangestate，"saidWarming。

"It’sasortofcompleteabsence，"saidIsbister。

"Here’sthebody，empty。Notdeadabit，andyetnotalive。It’slikeaseatvacantandmarked’engaged。’

Nofeeling，nodigestion，nobeatingoftheheart——notaflutter。__That__doesn’tmakemefeelasiftherewasamanpresent。Inasenseit’smoredeadthandeath，forthesedoctorstellmethateventhehairhasstoppedgrowing。Nowwiththeproperdead，thehairwillgoongrowing——"

"Iknow，"saidWarming，withaflashofpaininhisexpression。

Theypeeredthroughtheglassagain。Grahamwasindeedinastrangestate，intheflaccidphaseofatrance，butatranceunprecedentedinmedicalhistory。

Tranceshadlastedforasmuchasayearbefore——butattheendofthattimeithadeverbeenwakingoradeath；sometimesfirstoneandthentheother。Isbisternotedthemarksthephysicianshadmadeininjectingnourishment，forthatdevicehadbeenresortedtotopostponecollapse；hepointedthemouttoWarming，whohadbeentryingnottoseethem。

"AndwhilehehasbeenIyinghere，"saidIsbister，withthezestofalifefreelyspent，"Ihavechangedmyplansinlife；married，raisedafamily，myeldestlad——

Ihadn’tbeguntothinkofsonsthen——isanAmericancitizen，andlookingforwardtoleavingHarvard。

There’satouchofgreyinmyhair。Andthisman，notadayoldernorwiser（practically）thanIwasinmydownydays。It’scurioustothinkof。"

Warmingturned。"AndIhavegrownoldtoo。I

playedcricketwithhimwhenIwasstillonlyalad。

Andhelooksayoungmanstill。Yellowperhaps。

Butthatisayoungmannevertheless。"

"Andthere’sbeentheWar，"saidIsbister。

"Frombeginningtoend。"

"AndtheseMartians。"

"I’veunderstood，"saidIsbisterafterapause，"thathehadsomemoderatepropertyofhisown？"

"Thatisso，"saidWarming。Hecoughedprimly。

"Asithappens——havechargeofit。"

"Ah！"Isbisterthought，hesitatedandspoke：

"Nodoubt——hiskeephereisnotexpensive——nodoubtitwillhaveimproved——accumulated？"

"Ithas。Hewillwakeupverymuchbetteroff——

ifhewakes——thanwhenheslept。"

"Asabusinessman，"saidIsbister，"thatthoughthasnaturallybeeninmymind。Ihave，indeed，sometimesthoughtthat，speakingcommercially，ofcourse，thissleepmaybeaverygoodthingforhim。Thatheknowswhatheisabout，sotospeak，inbeinginsensiblesolong。Ifhehadlivedstraighton——"

"Idoubtifhewouldhavepremeditatedasmuch，"

saidWarming。"Hewasnotafar—sightedman。Infact——"

"Yes？"

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