Me, I continuedthestoryandreadhowthemannowenteringthroughthebrokendoor, discovers a strangeandterribleanimalofthekindsooftenfoundintheseoldstories.
Hestrikesit, anditfallswithsuch a crythathehastoclosehisearswithhishandshereagain, I stopped.
Therecouldbenodoubt.
Thistime.
I didhear a distantsoundverymuchlikethecryofananimalinthestory.
I triedtocontrolmyselfsothatmyfriendwouldseenothingofwhat I feltwasnotcertainthathehadheardthesound.
Althoughhehadclearlychangedinsomeway, hehadslowlymovedhischairsothat I couldnotseehim.
Well, I didseethathislipsweremovingasifhewerespeakingtohimself.
Hisheadhaddroppedforward, but I knewhewasnotasleep, forhiseyeswereopenandhewasmovinghisbodyfromsidetoside.
I beganreadingagainandquicklycameto a partofthestorywhere a heavypieceofironfallson a stonefloorwith a ringingsound.
Thesewordshadjustpassedmylipswhen I heardclearly, butfromfaraway, a loud, ringingsound, asifsomethingofironhadindeedfallenheavilyupon a stonefloorAuras.
Ifanirondoorhadclosed, I lostcontrolofmyselfcompletelyandjumpedupfrommychair.
ASHAstillsatmoving a littlefromsidetoside.
Hiseyeswereturnedtothefloor.
I rushedtohischairas I placemyhandonhisshoulder.
I feltthathiswholebodywastrembling, sicklysmiletouchedhislips.
Hespokein a low, quickandnervousvoice, asifhedidnotknow I wasthere.
Yes, hesaid.
I hearditmanyminutes, manyhours, manydaysHave I heardit, But I didnotdaretospeak.
Wehaveputherlivinginthevote.
Did I notsaythatmysensesweretoostrong?
I heardherfirstmovementsmanydaysago, yet I didnotdaretospeak.
Andnowthatstory, butsoundswerehers.
Oh, whereshall I run?
She's coming, Comingtoaskwhy I puthertheretoosoon.
I hearherfootstepsonthestairs.
I heretheheavybeatingof a hearthere.
Hejumpedupandcriedasifyouweregivinguphissoul.
I tellyou, shenowstandsatthedoor.
Thegreatdoortowhichhewaspointingnowslowlyopened.
Itwastheworkoftherushingwind, perhaps, butno.
Outsidethatdoor, a shapedidstandthetallfigureinitsgraveclothesoftheLadyMadelineofRussia.
Therewasblooduponherwhitedressandthesignsof a terribleeffortstoescape.
Whereuponeverypartofherthinform.
For a momentsheremainedtremblingatthedoor.
Then, with a lowcry, shefellheavilyinuponherbrotherinherpainAsshedied.
Atlast, shecarriedhimdownwithherdowntothefloor.
Hetoowasdead.
Killedbyhisownfear.
I rushedfromtheroom.
I rushedfromthehouse I ran.
Thestormwasaroundmeinallitsstrength.
As I crossedthebridge, Suddenly a wildlightmovedalongthegroundofmyfeetand I turnedtoseewhereitcouldhavecomefromfoot.
OnlythegreatHouseanditsdarknesswerebehindme.
Thelightwasthatofthefullmoonof a bloodredmoonwhichwasnowshiningthroughthatbreakinthefrontwall.
Thatcrack, which I thought I hadseenwhen I firstsawthepalace.
Thenonly a littlecrack.
Itnowwidenedas I watchedAh, strongwindcamerushingoverme.
Thewholefaceofthemoonappeared.
I sawthegreatwallsfallingapart.
Itwas a longandstormisshoutingsoundandthedeepblacklakecloseddarklyoverallthatremainedofthehouse.