The Morlocks

“It may seem odd to you, but it was two days before I could follow up the new-found clue in what was manifestly the proper way. I felt a peculiar shrinking from those pallid bodies. They were just the half-bleached colour of the worms and things one sees preserved in spirit in a zoological museum. And they were filthily cold to the touch. Probably my shrinking was largely due to the sympathetic influence of the Eloi, whose disgust of the Morlocks I now began to appreciate.

“You may find it odd, but two days passed before I could pursue the new clue in the obviously proper way. I felt a strange revulsion toward those pale bodies. They were just the partly bleached color of worms and other creatures preserved in alcohol in a zoological museum. And they felt disgustingly cold to the touch. My revulsion was probably largely due to the influence of the Eloi’s feelings. I was now beginning to understand their disgust at the Morlocks.

“The next night I did not sleep well. Probably my health was a little disordered. I was oppressed with perplexity and doubt. Once or twice I had a feeling of intense fear for which I could perceive no definite reason. I remember creeping noiselessly into the great hall where the little people were sleeping in the moonlight—that night Weena was among them—and feeling reassured by their presence. It occurred to me even then, that in the course of a few days the moon must pass through its last quarter, and the nights grow dark, when the appearances of these unpleasant creatures from below, these whitened Lemurs, this new vermin that had replaced the old, might be more abundant. And on both these days I had the restless feeling of one who shirks an inevitable duty. I felt assured that the Time Machine was only to be recovered by boldly penetrating these mysteries of underground. Yet I could not face the mystery. If only I had had a companion it would have been different. But I was so horribly alone, and even to clamber down into the darkness of the well appalled me. I don’t know if you will understand my feeling, but I never felt quite safe at my back.

“The next night I did not sleep well. Perhaps I was a little unwell. Confusion and doubt weighed on me. Once or twice I felt intense fear without any clear reason. I remember creeping silently into the great hall, where the little people slept in the moonlight. Weena was among them that night, and their presence reassured me. Even then, I realized that within a few days the moon would pass through its last quarter. The nights would grow dark. Then those unpleasant creatures from below might appear more often, those pale Lemurs, the new vermin that had replaced the old. And on both those days, I felt the uneasiness of someone avoiding an unavoidable duty. I was certain I could recover the Time Machine only by boldly exploring these underground mysteries. Yet I could not face the mystery. If only I had had a companion, things would have been different. But I was so horribly alone. Even climbing down into the dark well terrified me. I don’t know if you will understand how I felt, but I never felt quite safe from something behind me.”

“It was this restlessness, this insecurity, perhaps, that drove me farther and farther afield in my exploring expeditions. Going to the south-westward towards the rising country that is now called Combe Wood, I observed far-off, in the direction of nineteenth-century Banstead, a vast green structure, different in character from any I had hitherto seen. It was larger than the largest of the palaces or ruins I knew, and the façade had an Oriental look: the face of it having the lustre, as well as the pale-green tint, a kind of bluish-green, of a certain type of Chinese porcelain. This difference in aspect suggested a difference in use, and I was minded to push on and explore. But the day was growing late, and I had come upon the sight of the place after a long and tiring circuit; so I resolved to hold over the adventure for the following day, and I returned to the welcome and the caresses of little Weena. But next morning I perceived clearly enough that my curiosity regarding the Palace of Green Porcelain was a piece of self-deception, to enable me to shirk, by another day, an experience I dreaded. I resolved I would make the descent without further waste of time, and started out in the early morning towards a well near the ruins of granite and aluminium.

“Perhaps my restlessness and insecurity drove me farther and farther afield on my exploring expeditions. I headed southwest toward the rising ground now called Combe Wood. Far away, in the direction of nineteenth-century Banstead, I noticed a vast green structure unlike any I had seen before. It was larger than the largest palaces or ruins I knew, and its front had an Eastern appearance. The front had the shine and pale bluish-green colour of a certain kind of Chinese porcelain. This different appearance suggested a different purpose, and I felt inclined to press on and explore. But it was getting late, and I had spotted the building after a long, tiring round of exploration. So I decided to leave the adventure until the next day and returned to little Weena’s welcome and caresses. But the next morning, I saw clearly enough that my curiosity about the Palace of Green Porcelain was self-deception. It let me put off, for another day, an experience I dreaded. I decided to make the descent without wasting any more time. Early that morning, I set out toward a well near the ruins of granite and aluminium.”

“Little Weena ran with me. She danced beside me to the well, but when she saw me lean over the mouth and look downward, she seemed strangely disconcerted. ‘Good-bye, little Weena,’ I said, kissing her; and then putting her down, I began to feel over the parapet for the climbing hooks. Rather hastily, I may as well confess, for I feared my courage might leak away! At first she watched me in amazement. Then she gave a most piteous cry, and running to me, she began to pull at me with her little hands. I think her opposition nerved me rather to proceed. I shook her off, perhaps a little roughly, and in another moment I was in the throat of the well. I saw her agonised face over the parapet, and smiled to reassure her. Then I had to look down at the unstable hooks to which I clung.

“Little Weena ran with me. She danced beside me to the well. But when she saw me lean over the opening and look down, she seemed strangely upset. ‘Good-bye, little Weena,’ I said, kissing her. Then I put her down and began feeling over the low wall around the opening for the climbing hooks. I must admit I was rather hasty, for I feared I might lose my courage! At first she watched me in amazement. Then she gave a heartbreaking cry, ran to me, and began pulling at me with her little hands. I think her resistance only strengthened my resolve to go on. I shook her off, perhaps a little roughly, and a moment later I was inside the well’s narrow opening. I saw her anguished face above the low wall and smiled to reassure her. Then I had to look down at the unsteady hooks I was clinging to.

“I had to clamber down a shaft of perhaps two hundred yards. The descent was effected by means of metallic bars projecting from the sides of the well, and these being adapted to the needs of a creature much smaller and lighter than myself, I was speedily cramped and fatigued by the descent. And not simply fatigued! One of the bars bent suddenly under my weight, and almost swung me off into the blackness beneath. For a moment I hung by one hand, and after that experience I did not dare to rest again. Though my arms and back were presently acutely painful, I went on clambering down the sheer descent with as quick a motion as possible. Glancing upward, I saw the aperture, a small blue disc, in which a star was visible, while little Weena’s head showed as a round black projection. The thudding sound of a machine below grew louder and more oppressive. Everything save that little disc above was profoundly dark, and when I looked up again Weena had disappeared.

“I had to climb down a shaft perhaps two hundred yards deep. I climbed on metal bars sticking out from the sides of the shaft. These were designed for a creature much smaller and lighter than me, so I soon became cramped and tired. And not just tired! One of the bars suddenly bent under my weight and almost swung me off into the darkness below. For a moment I hung by one hand, and after that experience I did not dare rest again. Though my arms and back soon hurt badly, I kept climbing down the steep shaft as quickly as possible. Looking up, I saw the opening as a small blue disc, with a star visible in it. Little Weena’s head appeared as a round black shape at the edge. The thudding of a machine below grew louder and more oppressive. Everything except that little disc above was completely dark, and when I looked up again Weena had disappeared.”

“I was in an agony of discomfort. I had some thought of trying to go up the shaft again, and leave the Underworld alone. But even while I turned this over in my mind I continued to descend. At last, with intense relief, I saw dimly coming up, a foot to the right of me, a slender loophole in the wall. Swinging myself in, I found it was the aperture of a narrow horizontal tunnel in which I could lie down and rest. It was not too soon. My arms ached, my back was cramped, and I was trembling with the prolonged terror of a fall. Besides this, the unbroken darkness had had a distressing effect upon my eyes. The air was full of the throb and hum of machinery pumping air down the shaft.

“I was in terrible discomfort. I thought about trying to climb back up the shaft and leaving the Underworld alone. But even as I considered climbing back up, I kept going down. At last, to my immense relief, I dimly saw a narrow opening in the wall, a foot to my right. I swung myself into the opening and found a narrow, level tunnel where I could lie down and rest. The rest came not a moment too soon. My arms ached, my back was cramped, and I was trembling after so long spent terrified of falling. Besides, the constant darkness had strained my eyes. The air was filled with the throbbing and humming of machinery pumping air down the shaft.”

“I do not know how long I lay. I was roused by a soft hand touching my face. Starting up in the darkness I snatched at my matches and, hastily striking one, I saw three stooping white creatures similar to the one I had seen above ground in the ruin, hastily retreating before the light. Living, as they did, in what appeared to me impenetrable darkness, their eyes were abnormally large and sensitive, just as are the pupils of the abysmal fishes, and they reflected the light in the same way. I have no doubt they could see me in that rayless obscurity, and they did not seem to have any fear of me apart from the light. But, so soon as I struck a match in order to see them, they fled incontinently, vanishing into dark gutters and tunnels, from which their eyes glared at me in the strangest fashion.

“I do not know how long I lay there. A soft hand touching my face woke me. I jumped up in the darkness, grabbed my matches, and quickly struck one. I saw three hunched white creatures quickly retreating from the light. They were like the one I had seen above ground in the ruins. These creatures lived in what seemed to me complete darkness. Their eyes were unusually large and sensitive, just like the pupils of deep-sea fish. Their eyes reflected light in the same way, too. I have no doubt the creatures could see me in that absolute darkness. They did not seem afraid of me except for the light. But as soon as I struck a match to see them, they fled at once. They vanished into dark channels and tunnels, where their eyes glared at me in the strangest way.

“I tried to call to them, but the language they had was apparently different from that of the Overworld people; so that I was needs left to my own unaided efforts, and the thought of flight before exploration was even then in my mind. But I said to myself, ‘You are in for it now,’ and, feeling my way along the tunnel, I found the noise of machinery grow louder. Presently the walls fell away from me, and I came to a large open space, and striking another match, saw that I had entered a vast arched cavern, which stretched into utter darkness beyond the range of my light. The view I had of it was as much as one could see in the burning of a match.

“I tried to call to them, but their language apparently differed from that of the Overworld people. So I had to rely entirely on my own efforts. Even then, I was thinking of fleeing before exploring. But I told myself, ‘You are in for it now.’ As I felt my way along the tunnel, the noise of machinery grew louder. Soon the walls opened out, and I reached a large open space. I struck another match and saw that I had entered a vast cavern with an arched roof. The cavern stretched into total darkness beyond the reach of my light. I could see only as much of the cavern as a burning match allowed.”

“Necessarily my memory is vague. Great shapes like big machines rose out of the dimness, and cast grotesque black shadows, in which dim spectral Morlocks sheltered from the glare. The place, by the bye, was very stuffy and oppressive, and the faint halitus of freshly-shed blood was in the air. Some way down the central vista was a little table of white metal, laid with what seemed a meal. The Morlocks at any rate were carnivorous! Even at the time, I remember wondering what large animal could have survived to furnish the red joint I saw. It was all very indistinct: the heavy smell, the big unmeaning shapes, the obscene figures lurking in the shadows, and only waiting for the darkness to come at me again! Then the match burnt down, and stung my fingers, and fell, a wriggling red spot in the blackness.

“Of course, my memory is vague. Huge shapes like large machines rose out of the gloom and cast grotesque black shadows. In those shadows, faint, ghostly Morlocks sheltered from the glare. The place, by the way, was very stuffy and oppressive. A faint smell of freshly spilled blood hung in the air. Some way down the central passage stood a little white metal table, set with what looked like a meal. The Morlocks, at least, were meat eaters! Even then, I remember wondering what large animal could have survived to provide the red cut of meat I saw. Everything was very indistinct: the heavy smell, the huge, puzzling shapes, the repulsive figures lurking in the shadows. Those figures were just waiting for darkness so they could come at me again! Then the match burned down and stung my fingers. It fell into the darkness, a wriggling red spot.”

“I have thought since how particularly ill-equipped I was for such an experience. When I had started with the Time Machine, I had started with the absurd assumption that the men of the Future would certainly be infinitely ahead of ourselves in all their appliances. I had come without arms, without medicine, without anything to smoke—at times I missed tobacco frightfully!—even without enough matches. If only I had thought of a Kodak! I could have flashed that glimpse of the Underworld in a second, and examined it at leisure. But, as it was, I stood there with only the weapons and the powers that Nature had endowed me with—hands, feet, and teeth; these, and four safety-matches that still remained to me.

“I have since thought about how badly prepared I was for such an experience. When I set off in the Time Machine, I made an absurd assumption. I assumed the people of the Future would certainly be infinitely ahead of us in all their equipment. I had brought no weapons, no medicine, and nothing to smoke. At times I missed tobacco terribly! I had not even brought enough matches. If only I had thought to bring a Kodak camera! I could have photographed that glimpse of the Underworld in a second and studied the picture at my leisure. But as things stood, I had only the weapons and abilities Nature had given me: hands, feet, and teeth. Besides those, I had just four safety matches left.”

“I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low. It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty. Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour. I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me. I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing. The sense of these unseen creatures examining me was indescribably unpleasant. The sudden realisation of my ignorance of their ways of thinking and doing came home to me very vividly in the darkness. I shouted at them as loudly as I could. They started away, and then I could feel them approaching me again. They clutched at me more boldly, whispering odd sounds to each other. I shivered violently, and shouted again—rather discordantly. This time they were not so seriously alarmed, and they made a queer laughing noise as they came back at me. I will confess I was horribly frightened. I determined to strike another match and escape under the protection of its glare. I did so, and eking out the flicker with a scrap of paper from my pocket, I made good my retreat to the narrow tunnel. But I had scarce entered this when my light was blown out and in the blackness I could hear the Morlocks rustling like wind among leaves, and pattering like the rain, as they hurried after me.

“I was afraid to push my way among all this machinery in the dark. Only in my last glimpse of light did I discover that I was running low on matches. Until that moment, I had never thought I needed to save them. I had wasted almost half the box amazing the Overworlders, who had never seen fire before. Now, as I said, I had four left. While I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine. Long, thin fingers felt over my face, and I noticed a strange, unpleasant smell. I thought I heard a crowd of those dreadful little beings breathing around me. I felt someone gently pulling the matchbox from my hand, while other hands behind me tugged at my clothes. The feeling of these unseen creatures examining me was unpleasant beyond description. In the darkness, I suddenly became painfully aware of how little I knew about their thoughts and habits. I shouted at them as loudly as I could. They pulled back in surprise, but then I could feel them approaching again. They grabbed at me more boldly, whispering strange sounds to one another. I shivered violently and shouted again, my voice sounding rather harsh and strained. This time my shout did not frighten them as much. They made a strange laughing noise as they came back at me. I admit I was terribly frightened. I decided to light another match and escape under the protection of its glare. I lit the match and used a scrap of paper from my pocket to keep the flame burning longer. With that light, I managed to retreat to the narrow tunnel. But I had barely entered the tunnel when my light was blown out. In the darkness, I could hear the Morlocks hurrying after me. They rustled like wind among leaves, and their footsteps pattered like rain.”

“In a moment I was clutched by several hands, and there was no mistaking that they were trying to haul me back. I struck another light, and waved it in their dazzled faces. You can scarce imagine how nauseatingly inhuman they looked—those pale, chinless faces and great, lidless, pinkish-grey eyes!—as they stared in their blindness and bewilderment. But I did not stay to look, I promise you: I retreated again, and when my second match had ended, I struck my third. It had almost burnt through when I reached the opening into the shaft. I lay down on the edge, for the throb of the great pump below made me giddy. Then I felt sideways for the projecting hooks, and, as I did so, my feet were grasped from behind, and I was violently tugged backward. I lit my last match … and it incontinently went out. But I had my hand on the climbing bars now, and, kicking violently, I disengaged myself from the clutches of the Morlocks, and was speedily clambering up the shaft, while they stayed peering and blinking up at me: all but one little wretch who followed me for some way, and well-nigh secured my boot as a trophy.

“In a moment, several hands grabbed me. There was no mistaking that they were trying to drag me back. I lit another match and waved it in their dazzled faces. You can hardly imagine how sickeningly inhuman they looked! They had pale, chinless faces and huge, lidless, pinkish-grey eyes, and they stared, blinded and bewildered. But I promise you, I did not stop to look. I backed away again, and when my second match went out, I lit my third. The match had almost burned down when I reached the opening into the shaft. I lay down at the edge because the pounding of the great pump below made me dizzy. Then I felt to the side for the hooks sticking out from the wall. As I did, hands grabbed my feet from behind and violently dragged me backward. I lit my last match … and it immediately went out. But my hand was on the climbing bars now. Kicking violently, I broke free from the Morlocks’ grip and quickly scrambled up the shaft. They stayed below, peering and blinking up at me. All except one little wretch, who followed me partway and very nearly took my boot as a trophy.

“That climb seemed interminable to me. With the last twenty or thirty feet of it a deadly nausea came upon me. I had the greatest difficulty in keeping my hold. The last few yards was a frightful struggle against this faintness. Several times my head swam, and I felt all the sensations of falling. At last, however, I got over the well-mouth somehow, and staggered out of the ruin into the blinding sunlight. I fell full upon my face. Even the soil smelt sweet and clean. Then I remember Weena kissing my hands and ears, and the voices of others among the Eloi. Then, for a time, I was insensible.

“That climb seemed endless to me. In the last twenty or thirty feet, I was overcome by terrible nausea. I could barely keep my grip. The last few yards were a terrifying struggle against feeling faint. Several times my head spun, and I felt all the sensations of falling. At last, though, I somehow climbed over the rim of the well and staggered out of the ruins into blinding sunlight. I fell flat on my face. Even the soil smelled sweet and clean. Then I remember Weena kissing my hands and ears, and hearing the voices of others among the Eloi. Then, for a while, I was unconscious.”