The Sayers of the Law

Then something cold touched my hand. I started violently, and saw close to me a dim pinkish thing, looking more like a flayed child than anything else in the world. The creature had exactly the mild but repulsive features of a sloth, the same low forehead and slow gestures.

Then something cold touched my hand. I jumped violently and saw a dim, pinkish thing close beside me. It looked more like a skinned child than anything else in the world. The creature had the same gentle but repulsive features as a sloth, the same low forehead and slow movements.

As the first shock of the change of light passed, I saw about me more distinctly. The little sloth-like creature was standing and staring at me. My conductor had vanished. The place was a narrow passage between high walls of lava, a crack in the knotted rock, and on either side interwoven heaps of sea-mat, palm-fans, and reeds leaning against the rock formed rough and impenetrably dark dens. The winding way up the ravine between these was scarcely three yards wide, and was disfigured by lumps of decaying fruit-pulp and other refuse, which accounted for the disagreeable stench of the place.

As the first shock of the change in light passed, I could see my surroundings more clearly. The small, sloth-like creature stood staring at me. My guide had vanished. I was in a narrow passage between high walls of lava, a crack in the tangled rock. On either side, heaps of sea-mat, palm leaves, and reeds were woven together and leaned against the rock. They formed rough dens that were too dark to see into. The winding path up the ravine between the dens was barely three yards wide. It was littered with lumps of rotting fruit pulp and other refuse, which explained the unpleasant stench.

The little pink sloth-creature was still blinking at me when my Ape-man reappeared at the aperture of the nearest of these dens, and beckoned me in. As he did so a slouching monster wriggled out of one of the places, further up this strange street, and stood up in featureless silhouette against the bright green beyond, staring at me. I hesitated, having half a mind to bolt the way I had come; and then, determined to go through with the adventure, I gripped my nailed stick about the middle and crawled into the little evil-smelling lean-to after my conductor.

The little pink sloth-creature was still blinking at me when my Ape-man reappeared at the entrance to the nearest den. He beckoned me inside. As he did, a slouching monster wriggled out of a den farther up this strange street. It stood up, a featureless silhouette against the bright green beyond, and stared at me. I hesitated, half tempted to run back the way I had come. But I was determined to go through with the adventure. I gripped the middle of my nailed stick and crawled into the small, foul-smelling lean-to after my guide.

It was a semi-circular space, shaped like the half of a bee-hive; and against the rocky wall that formed the inner side of it was a pile of variegated fruits, cocoa-nuts among others. Some rough vessels of lava and wood stood about the floor, and one on a rough stool. There was no fire. In the darkest corner of the hut sat a shapeless mass of darkness that grunted “Hey!” as I came in, and my Ape-man stood in the dim light of the doorway and held out a split cocoa-nut to me as I crawled into the other corner and squatted down. I took it, and began gnawing it, as serenely as possible, in spite of a certain trepidation and the nearly intolerable closeness of the den. The little pink sloth-creature stood in the aperture of the hut, and something else with a drab face and bright eyes came staring over its shoulder.

The space was semicircular, shaped like half a beehive. Against the rocky wall on the inner side was a pile of different fruits, including coconuts. Rough containers made of lava and wood stood on the floor, and one sat on a rough stool. There was no fire. In the darkest corner of the hut sat a shapeless mass of darkness. It grunted “Hey!” as I came in. My Ape-man stood in the dim light of the doorway and held out a split coconut to me. I crawled into the other corner and squatted down. I took the coconut and began gnawing it as calmly as I could. I was somewhat afraid, and the den was almost unbearably stuffy. The little pink sloth-creature stood in the hut’s entrance. Something else, with a dull-colored face and bright eyes, stared over its shoulder.

“Hey!” came out of the lump of mystery opposite. “It is a man.”

“Hey!” came a voice from the mysterious lump across from me. “It’s a man.”

“It is a man,” gabbled my conductor, “a man, a man, a five-man, like me.”

“It is a man,” my guide chattered, “a man, a man, a five-man, like me.”

“Shut up!” said the voice from the dark, and grunted. I gnawed my cocoa-nut amid an impressive stillness.

“Shut up!” said a voice in the dark, then grunted. I gnawed on my coconut in the deep silence.

I peered hard into the blackness, but could distinguish nothing.

I stared into the darkness, but couldn't make out anything.

“It is a man,” the voice repeated. “He comes to live with us?”

“It is a man,” the voice repeated. “He comes to live with us?”

It was a thick voice, with something in it—a kind of whistling overtone—that struck me as peculiar; but the English accent was strangely good.

The voice was thick, with a strange whistling overtone. But the English accent was surprisingly good.

The Ape-man looked at me as though he expected something. I perceived the pause was interrogative. “He comes to live with you,” I said.

The Ape-man looked at me as if he expected something. I realized his pause was a question. “He’s coming to live with you,” I said.

“It is a man. He must learn the Law.”

“It is a man. He must learn the Law.”

I began to distinguish now a deeper blackness in the black, a vague outline of a hunched-up figure. Then I noticed the opening of the place was darkened by two more black heads. My hand tightened on my stick.

I began to make out a deeper patch of darkness, the vague outline of a hunched figure. Then I noticed two more dark heads blocking the opening. My hand tightened on my stick.

The thing in the dark repeated in a louder tone, “Say the words.” I had missed its last remark. “Not to go on all-fours; that is the Law,” it repeated in a kind of sing-song.

The thing in the dark repeated more loudly, “Say the words.” I had missed its last remark. “Do not go on all fours. That is the Law,” it repeated in a sing-song voice.

I was puzzled.

I was puzzled.

“Say the words,” said the Ape-man, repeating, and the figures in the doorway echoed this, with a threat in the tone of their voices.

“Say the words,” the Ape-man repeated. The figures in the doorway echoed his words, their voices threatening.

I realised that I had to repeat this idiotic formula; and then began the insanest ceremony. The voice in the dark began intoning a mad litany, line by line, and I and the rest to repeat it. As they did so, they swayed from side to side in the oddest way, and beat their hands upon their knees; and I followed their example. I could have imagined I was already dead and in another world. That dark hut, these grotesque dim figures, just flecked here and there by a glimmer of light, and all of them swaying in unison and chanting,

I realized I had to repeat this idiotic formula. Then the craziest ceremony began. The voice in the dark began chanting a mad litany, line by line, and the rest of us repeated it. As they chanted, they swayed from side to side in the strangest way and beat their hands on their knees. I followed their example. I could have imagined I was already dead and in another world. There was the dark hut and the grotesque, shadowy figures, touched here and there by a glimmer of light. All of them were swaying together and chanting,

And so from the prohibition of these acts of folly, on to the prohibition of what I thought then were the maddest, most impossible, and most indecent things one could well imagine. A kind of rhythmic fervour fell on all of us; we gabbled and swayed faster and faster, repeating this amazing Law. Superficially the contagion of these brutes was upon me, but deep down within me the laughter and disgust struggled together. We ran through a long list of prohibitions, and then the chant swung round to a new formula.

And so the prohibitions moved from these foolish acts to things I then thought were the wildest, most impossible, and most indecent imaginable. A kind of rhythmic excitement came over us all. We chanted and swayed faster and faster, repeating this amazing Law. On the surface, I had caught the excitement of these brutes, but deep inside me laughter and disgust struggled together. We went through a long list of prohibitions, and then the chant turned to a new formula.

And so on for another long series, mostly quite incomprehensible gibberish to me about Him, whoever he might be. I could have fancied it was a dream, but never before have I heard chanting in a dream.

And so it went on for another long stretch. Most of it was gibberish to me, about Him, whoever he was. I could have imagined it was a dream, but I had never heard chanting in a dream before.

“His is the lightning flash,” we sang. “His is the deep, salt sea.”

“His is the lightning flash,” we sang. “His is the deep, salt sea.”

A horrible fancy came into my head that Moreau, after animalising these men, had infected their dwarfed brains with a kind of deification of himself. However, I was too keenly aware of white teeth and strong claws about me to stop my chanting on that account.

A horrible thought came to me. After turning these men into animals, Moreau had infected their stunted brains with a kind of worship of himself. But I was too aware of the white teeth and strong claws around me to stop chanting because of that.

At last that song ended. I saw the Ape-man’s face shining with perspiration; and my eyes being now accustomed to the darkness, I saw more distinctly the figure in the corner from which the voice came. It was the size of a man, but it seemed covered with a dull grey hair almost like a Skye-terrier. What was it? What were they all? Imagine yourself surrounded by all the most horrible cripples and maniacs it is possible to conceive, and you may understand a little of my feelings with these grotesque caricatures of humanity about me.

At last the song ended. I saw sweat shining on the Ape-man’s face. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and I could see the figure in the corner more clearly. The voice had come from that figure. It was the size of a man, but seemed covered in dull gray hair, almost like a Skye-terrier. What was it? What were they all? Imagine yourself surrounded by all the most horrible cripples and maniacs you can imagine. Then you may understand a little of how I felt, surrounded by these grotesque caricatures of humanity.

“He is a five-man, a five-man, a five-man—like me,” said the Ape-man.

“He is a five-man, a five-man, a five-man, like me,” said the Ape-man.

I held out my hands. The grey creature in the corner leant forward.

I held out my hands. The gray creature in the corner leaned forward.

“Not to run on all-fours; that is the Law. Are we not Men?” he said.

“Do not run on all fours. That is the Law. Aren't we Men?” he said.

He put out a strangely distorted talon and gripped my fingers. The thing was almost like the hoof of a deer produced into claws. I could have yelled with surprise and pain. His face came forward and peered at my nails, came forward into the light of the opening of the hut and I saw with a quivering disgust that it was like the face of neither man nor beast, but a mere shock of grey hair, with three shadowy over-archings to mark the eyes and mouth.

He reached out with a strangely twisted talon and gripped my fingers. It was almost like a deer’s hoof extended into claws. I could have yelled with surprise and pain. He leaned forward to peer at my nails, bringing his face into the light at the hut’s entrance. I trembled with disgust when I saw that his face was neither human nor animal. It was just a mass of gray hair, with three dark arches marking his eyes and mouth.

“He has little nails,” said this grisly creature in his hairy beard. “It is well.”

“He has small nails,” said the grisly creature through his hairy beard. “That is good.”

He threw my hand down, and instinctively I gripped my stick.

He threw my hand down, and I instinctively gripped my stick.

“Eat roots and herbs; it is His will,” said the Ape-man.

“Eat roots and herbs. It is his will,” said the Ape-man.

“I am the Sayer of the Law,” said the grey figure. “Here come all that be new to learn the Law. I sit in the darkness and say the Law.”

“I am the Sayer of the Law,” said the grey figure. “All who are new come here to learn the Law. I sit in the darkness and say the Law.”

“It is even so,” said one of the beasts in the doorway.

“That’s right,” said one of the beasts in the doorway.

“Evil are the punishments of those who break the Law. None escape.”

“Those who break the Law face terrible punishments. No one escapes.”

“None escape,” said the Beast Folk, glancing furtively at one another.

“No one escapes,” said the Beast Folk, glancing secretly at one another.

“None, none,” said the Ape-man,—“none escape. See! I did a little thing, a wrong thing, once. I jabbered, jabbered, stopped talking. None could understand. I am burnt, branded in the hand. He is great. He is good!”

“None, none,” said the Ape-man. “None escape. Look! I did a little thing, a wrong thing, once. I jabbered, jabbered, stopped talking. No one could understand. I was burned, branded on the hand. He is great. He is good!”

“None escape,” said the grey creature in the corner.

“No one escapes,” said the grey creature in the corner.

“None escape,” said the Beast People, looking askance at one another.

“No one escapes,” said the Beast People, looking at one another uneasily.

“For every one the want that is bad,” said the grey Sayer of the Law. “What you will want we do not know; we shall know. Some want to follow things that move, to watch and slink and wait and spring; to kill and bite, bite deep and rich, sucking the blood. It is bad. ‘Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men? Not to eat Flesh or Fish; that is the Law. Are we not Men?’”

“Everyone has desires that are bad,” said the grey Sayer of the Law. “We do not know what you will want. We shall know. Some want to follow things that move, to watch and creep and wait and spring. They want to kill and bite, to bite deep and taste the rich flesh, sucking the blood. It is bad. ‘Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men? Not to eat Flesh or Fish; that is the Law. Are we not Men?’”

“None escape,” said a dappled brute standing in the doorway.

“No one escapes,” said a spotted brute standing in the doorway.

“For every one the want is bad,” said the grey Sayer of the Law. “Some want to go tearing with teeth and hands into the roots of things, snuffing into the earth. It is bad.”

“For everyone, the desire is bad,” said the grey Sayer of the Law. “Some want to tear into roots with their teeth and hands, sniffing at the earth. It is bad.”

“None escape,” said the men in the door.

“No one escapes,” said the men in the doorway.

“Some go clawing trees; some go scratching at the graves of the dead; some go fighting with foreheads or feet or claws; some bite suddenly, none giving occasion; some love uncleanness.”

“Some claw at trees. Some scratch at the graves of the dead. Some fight with their foreheads, feet, or claws. Some bite suddenly, without being provoked. Some love filth.”

“None escape,” said the Ape-man, scratching his calf.

“No one escapes,” said the Ape-man, scratching his calf.

“None escape,” said the little pink sloth-creature.

“No one escapes,” said the little pink sloth-creature.

“Punishment is sharp and sure. Therefore learn the Law. Say the words.”

“Punishment is swift and certain. So learn the Law. Say the words.”

And incontinently he began again the strange litany of the Law, and again I and all these creatures began singing and swaying. My head reeled with this jabbering and the close stench of the place; but I kept on, trusting to find presently some chance of a new development.

He immediately began the strange chant of the Law again, and once more all the creatures and I sang and swayed. The jabbering and the stifling stench made my head spin. But I kept going, hoping that soon something new would happen.

“Not to go on all-fours; that is the Law. Are we not Men?”

“Do not walk on all fours. That is the Law. Are we not men?”

We were making such a noise that I noticed nothing of a tumult outside, until some one, who I think was one of the two Swine Men I had seen, thrust his head over the little pink sloth-creature and shouted something excitedly, something that I did not catch. Incontinently those at the opening of the hut vanished; my Ape-man rushed out; the thing that had sat in the dark followed him (I only observed that it was big and clumsy, and covered with silvery hair), and I was left alone. Then before I reached the aperture I heard the yelp of a staghound.

We were making so much noise that I didn't notice the commotion outside. Then someone stuck his head over the little pink sloth-creature and shouted something excitedly. I think he was one of the two Swine Men I had seen, but I didn't catch what he said. Immediately, those at the entrance to the hut disappeared, and my Ape-man rushed out. The thing that had sat in the dark followed him. I only noticed that it was big and clumsy, with silvery hair. I was left alone. Then, before I reached the entrance, I heard a staghound yelp.

In another moment I was standing outside the hovel, my chair-rail in my hand, every muscle of me quivering. Before me were the clumsy backs of perhaps a score of these Beast People, their misshapen heads half hidden by their shoulder-blades. They were gesticulating excitedly. Other half-animal faces glared interrogation out of the hovels. Looking in the direction in which they faced, I saw coming through the haze under the trees beyond the end of the passage of dens the dark figure and awful white face of Moreau. He was holding the leaping staghound back, and close behind him came Montgomery revolver in hand.

A moment later, I was standing outside the hovel, holding my chair rail, every muscle trembling. In front of me were the clumsy backs of perhaps twenty Beast People. Their misshapen heads were half hidden by their shoulder blades. They were gesturing excitedly. Other half-animal faces stared out of the hovels with questioning looks. I looked in the direction they were facing. Beyond the end of the passage of dens, I saw Moreau coming through the haze beneath the trees. His figure was dark, and his face was a terrible white. He was holding back the leaping staghound. Montgomery came close behind him, a revolver in his hand.

For a moment I stood horror-struck. I turned and saw the passage behind me blocked by another heavy brute, with a huge grey face and twinkling little eyes, advancing towards me. I looked round and saw to the right of me and a half-dozen yards in front of me a narrow gap in the wall of rock through which a ray of light slanted into the shadows.

For a moment I stood frozen in horror. I turned and saw another heavy brute blocking the passage behind me. He was coming toward me, with a huge gray face and twinkling little eyes. I looked around and saw a narrow gap in the rock wall, to my right and about six yards ahead. A ray of light slanted through it into the shadows.

“Stop!” cried Moreau as I strode towards this, and then, “Hold him!”

“Stop!” Moreau shouted as I walked toward this. Then he shouted, “Hold him!”

At that, first one face turned towards me and then others. Their bestial minds were happily slow. I dashed my shoulder into a clumsy monster who was turning to see what Moreau meant, and flung him forward into another. I felt his hands fly round, clutching at me and missing me. The little pink sloth-creature dashed at me, and I gashed down its ugly face with the nail in my stick and in another minute was scrambling up a steep side pathway, a kind of sloping chimney, out of the ravine. I heard a howl behind me, and cries of “Catch him!” “Hold him!” and the grey-faced creature appeared behind me and jammed his huge bulk into the cleft. “Go on! go on!” they howled. I clambered up the narrow cleft in the rock and came out upon the sulphur on the westward side of the village of the Beast Men.

At that, one face turned toward me, then others. Luckily, their beastly minds were slow. I slammed my shoulder into a clumsy monster who was turning to see what Moreau meant. I knocked him forward into another. I felt his hands swing around, trying to grab me, but they missed. The little pink sloth-creature rushed at me, and I slashed its ugly face with the nail in my stick. A moment later, I was scrambling out of the ravine up a steep side path, like a sloping chimney. I heard a howl behind me and cries of “Catch him!” “Hold him!” The grey-faced creature appeared behind me and squeezed his huge body into the cleft. “Go on! go on!” they howled. I climbed up the narrow cleft in the rock and came out onto the sulphur west of the Beast Men’s village.

That gap was altogether fortunate for me, for the narrow chimney, slanting obliquely upward, must have impeded the nearer pursuers. I ran over the white space and down a steep slope, through a scattered growth of trees, and came to a low-lying stretch of tall reeds, through which I pushed into a dark, thick undergrowth that was black and succulent under foot. As I plunged into the reeds, my foremost pursuers emerged from the gap. I broke my way through this undergrowth for some minutes. The air behind me and about me was soon full of threatening cries. I heard the tumult of my pursuers in the gap up the slope, then the crashing of the reeds, and every now and then the crackling crash of a branch. Some of the creatures roared like excited beasts of prey. The staghound yelped to the left. I heard Moreau and Montgomery shouting in the same direction. I turned sharply to the right. It seemed to me even then that I heard Montgomery shouting for me to run for my life.

That gap was very lucky for me. The narrow passage sloped upward at an angle and must have slowed the closest pursuers. I ran across the white space and down a steep slope through scattered trees. I came to a low stretch of tall reeds and pushed through them into dense, dark undergrowth. The ground beneath it was black and wet. As I plunged into the reeds, the first of my pursuers emerged from the gap. I forced my way through the undergrowth for several minutes. Soon the air behind and around me was full of threatening cries. I heard my pursuers making a tumult in the gap up the slope, then crashing through the reeds. Now and then, a branch cracked and crashed. Some of the creatures roared like excited beasts of prey. The staghound yelped to my left. I heard Moreau and Montgomery shouting in the same direction. I turned sharply to the right. Even then, I thought I heard Montgomery shouting for me to run for my life.

Presently the ground gave rich and oozy under my feet; but I was desperate and went headlong into it, struggled through kneedeep, and so came to a winding path among tall canes. The noise of my pursuers passed away to my left. In one place three strange, pink, hopping animals, about the size of cats, bolted before my footsteps. This pathway ran up hill, across another open space covered with white incrustation, and plunged into a canebrake again. Then suddenly it turned parallel with the edge of a steep-walled gap, which came without warning, like the ha-ha of an English park,—turned with an unexpected abruptness. I was still running with all my might, and I never saw this drop until I was flying headlong through the air.

Soon the ground became soft and muddy under my feet. But I was desperate and rushed straight in. I struggled through the knee-deep mud and came to a winding path among tall canes. The sounds of my pursuers faded away to my left. At one point, three strange pink animals hopped away as I approached. They were about the size of cats. The path ran uphill across another open space covered with a white crust, then plunged into another thicket of canes. Suddenly, the path turned sharply to run along the edge of a steep-sided gap. The gap appeared without warning, like a sunken ditch in an English park. I was still running with all my might. I never saw the drop until I was flying headfirst through the air.

I fell on my forearms and head, among thorns, and rose with a torn ear and bleeding face. I had fallen into a precipitous ravine, rocky and thorny, full of a hazy mist which drifted about me in wisps, and with a narrow streamlet from which this mist came meandering down the centre. I was astonished at this thin fog in the full blaze of daylight; but I had no time to stand wondering then. I turned to my right, down-stream, hoping to come to the sea in that direction, and so have my way open to drown myself. It was only later I found that I had dropped my nailed stick in my fall.

I landed on my forearms and head among thorns, then got up with a torn ear and a bleeding face. I had fallen into a steep ravine, full of rocks and thorns. Wisps of mist drifted around me, rising from a narrow stream that wound down the center. I was astonished to see this thin fog in the full blaze of daylight, but I had no time to wonder. I turned right and headed downstream, hoping to reach the sea and drown myself there. Only later did I discover that I had dropped my nailed stick when I fell.

Presently the ravine grew narrower for a space, and carelessly I stepped into the stream. I jumped out again pretty quickly, for the water was almost boiling. I noticed too there was a thin sulphurous scum drifting upon its coiling water. Almost immediately came a turn in the ravine, and the indistinct blue horizon. The nearer sea was flashing the sun from a myriad facets. I saw my death before me; but I was hot and panting, with the warm blood oozing out on my face and running pleasantly through my veins. I felt more than a touch of exultation too, at having distanced my pursuers. It was not in me then to go out and drown myself yet. I stared back the way I had come.

Soon the ravine narrowed for a stretch, and I carelessly stepped into the stream. I jumped out again quickly because the water was almost boiling. I also noticed a thin, sulfurous scum drifting on the swirling water. Almost immediately, the ravine turned, revealing the hazy blue horizon. Closer to shore, countless points on the sea flashed in the sunlight. I saw my death before me. But I was hot and panting, with warm blood oozing down my face and running pleasantly through my veins. I also felt more than a little exhilarated at having left my pursuers behind. I could not bring myself to go out and drown just yet. I stared back the way I had come.

I listened. Save for the hum of the gnats and the chirp of some small insects that hopped among the thorns, the air was absolutely still. Then came the yelp of a dog, very faint, and a chattering and gibbering, the snap of a whip, and voices. They grew louder, then fainter again. The noise receded up the stream and faded away. For a while the chase was over; but I knew now how much hope of help for me lay in the Beast People.

I listened. The air was completely still except for the hum of gnats and the chirping of small insects hopping among the thorns. Then I heard a very faint dog’s yelp, chattering and gibbering, the crack of a whip, and voices. The sounds grew louder, then faded again. The noise moved away upstream and died out. For a while, the chase was over. But now I knew how much hope I had of getting help from the Beast People.