When Night Came

“Now, indeed, I seemed in a worse case than before. Hitherto, except during my night’s anguish at the loss of the Time Machine, I had felt a sustaining hope of ultimate escape, but that hope was staggered by these new discoveries. Hitherto I had merely thought myself impeded by the childish simplicity of the little people, and by some unknown forces which I had only to understand to overcome; but there was an altogether new element in the sickening quality of the Morlocks—a something inhuman and malign. Instinctively I loathed them. Before, I had felt as a man might feel who had fallen into a pit: my concern was with the pit and how to get out of it. Now I felt like a beast in a trap, whose enemy would come upon him soon.

“Now I seemed to be in an even worse position than before. Until now, the hope of eventually escaping had kept me going. The only exception was my night of anguish over the loss of the Time Machine. But these new discoveries shook that hope. Until now, I had thought the little people’s childlike simplicity was merely an obstacle. Some unknown forces also stood in my way, but I only had to understand those forces to overcome them. But the Morlocks had a sickening quality that added something entirely new: something inhuman and evil. I instinctively loathed them. Before, I had felt like a man who had fallen into a pit. My only concern had been the pit and how to escape from it. Now I felt like an animal caught in a trap, knowing its enemy would soon arrive.”

“The enemy I dreaded may surprise you. It was the darkness of the new moon. Weena had put this into my head by some at first incomprehensible remarks about the Dark Nights. It was not now such a very difficult problem to guess what the coming Dark Nights might mean. The moon was on the wane: each night there was a longer interval of darkness. And I now understood to some slight degree at least the reason of the fear of the little Upperworld people for the dark. I wondered vaguely what foul villainy it might be that the Morlocks did under the new moon. I felt pretty sure now that my second hypothesis was all wrong. The Upperworld people might once have been the favoured aristocracy, and the Morlocks their mechanical servants: but that had long since passed away. The two species that had resulted from the evolution of man were sliding down towards, or had already arrived at, an altogether new relationship. The Eloi, like the Carlovignan kings, had decayed to a mere beautiful futility. They still possessed the earth on sufferance: since the Morlocks, subterranean for innumerable generations, had come at last to find the daylit surface intolerable. And the Morlocks made their garments, I inferred, and maintained them in their habitual needs, perhaps through the survival of an old habit of service. They did it as a standing horse paws with his foot, or as a man enjoys killing animals in sport: because ancient and departed necessities had impressed it on the organism. But, clearly, the old order was already in part reversed. The Nemesis of the delicate ones was creeping on apace. Ages ago, thousands of generations ago, man had thrust his brother man out of the ease and the sunshine. And now that brother was coming back—changed! Already the Eloi had begun to learn one old lesson anew. They were becoming reacquainted with Fear. And suddenly there came into my head the memory of the meat I had seen in the Underworld. It seemed odd how it floated into my mind: not stirred up as it were by the current of my meditations, but coming in almost like a question from outside. I tried to recall the form of it. I had a vague sense of something familiar, but I could not tell what it was at the time.

“The enemy I feared may surprise you. It was the darkness of the new moon. Weena had planted this fear with remarks about the Dark Nights that I had not understood at first. Now it was not so hard to guess what the coming Dark Nights might mean. The moon was waning. Each night, the darkness lasted longer. And now I understood, at least a little, why the little Upperworld people feared the dark. I wondered vaguely what terrible evil the Morlocks might commit under the new moon. I felt fairly sure now that my second theory was entirely wrong. The Upperworld people might once have been the privileged aristocracy, and the Morlocks their servants who operated machinery. But those days were long past. The two species that had evolved from humanity were moving toward an entirely new relationship. Or perhaps they had already reached it. The Eloi, like the Carlovignan kings, had declined into beautiful but useless creatures. They still held the earth only because the Morlocks allowed them to. After countless generations underground, the Morlocks had finally come to find the sunlit surface unbearable. And I concluded that the Morlocks made the Eloi’s clothes and supplied their everyday needs. Perhaps an old habit of service had survived. The Morlocks did this just as a standing horse paws the ground, or a man enjoys killing animals for sport. Ancient needs, long gone, had left their mark on the body. But clearly, the old order had already been partly reversed. The downfall of those delicate beings was approaching fast. Ages ago, thousands of generations ago, humans had driven their fellow humans out of comfort and sunshine. And now those fellow humans were coming back, changed! Already the Eloi had begun to learn an old lesson again. They were becoming familiar with Fear once more. And suddenly I remembered the meat I had seen in the Underworld. The way that memory entered my mind seemed strange. It did not seem to arise from the flow of my thoughts. Instead, the memory came almost like a question from outside. I tried to remember the meat’s shape. I had a vague sense of something familiar, but at the time I could not identify it.”

“Still, however helpless the little people in the presence of their mysterious Fear, I was differently constituted. I came out of this age of ours, this ripe prime of the human race, when Fear does not paralyse and mystery has lost its terrors. I at least would defend myself. Without further delay I determined to make myself arms and a fastness where I might sleep. With that refuge as a base, I could face this strange world with some of that confidence I had lost in realising to what creatures night by night I lay exposed. I felt I could never sleep again until my bed was secure from them. I shuddered with horror to think how they must already have examined me.

“Still, however helpless the little people were before their mysterious Fear, I was made differently. I came from our own age, when the human race is in its prime. In our age, Fear does not paralyze us, and mystery has lost its terrors. I, at least, would defend myself. Without further delay, I decided to make weapons and a secure shelter where I could sleep. With that shelter as my base, I could face this strange world with some of my lost confidence. I had lost that confidence on realizing what creatures I was exposed to night after night. I felt I could never sleep again until my bed was safe from those creatures. I shuddered with horror at the thought of how they must already have examined me.”

“I wandered during the afternoon along the valley of the Thames, but found nothing that commended itself to my mind as inaccessible. All the buildings and trees seemed easily practicable to such dexterous climbers as the Morlocks, to judge by their wells, must be. Then the tall pinnacles of the Palace of Green Porcelain and the polished gleam of its walls came back to my memory; and in the evening, taking Weena like a child upon my shoulder, I went up the hills towards the south-west. The distance, I had reckoned, was seven or eight miles, but it must have been nearer eighteen. I had first seen the place on a moist afternoon when distances are deceptively diminished. In addition, the heel of one of my shoes was loose, and a nail was working through the sole—they were comfortable old shoes I wore about indoors—so that I was lame. And it was already long past sunset when I came in sight of the palace, silhouetted black against the pale yellow of the sky.

“I wandered along the Thames valley that afternoon, but found nothing that seemed beyond the Morlocks’ reach. All the buildings and trees seemed easy for such skilled climbers to climb. Judging by their wells, the Morlocks must have been that skilled. Then I remembered the tall spires of the Palace of Green Porcelain and the polished gleam of its walls. That evening, I carried Weena on my shoulder like a child and headed up the hills to the southwest. I had estimated the distance at seven or eight miles, but it must have been closer to eighteen. I had first seen the place on a damp afternoon, when distances look deceptively short. Also, the heel of one shoe was loose, and a nail was working through the sole. These were comfortable old shoes I wore indoors, and the damage made me limp. So it was already long past sunset when the palace came into view, outlined in black against the pale yellow sky.”

“Weena had been hugely delighted when I began to carry her, but after a while she desired me to let her down, and ran along by the side of me, occasionally darting off on either hand to pick flowers to stick in my pockets. My pockets had always puzzled Weena, but at the last she had concluded that they were an eccentric kind of vases for floral decoration. At least she utilised them for that purpose. And that reminds me! In changing my jacket I found…”

“Weena had been thrilled when I began to carry her. But after a while she asked me to put her down and ran along beside me. Now and then she darted off to either side to pick flowers to put in my pockets. My pockets had always puzzled Weena. But she had finally decided they were an odd kind of vase for displaying flowers. At least, she used my pockets for that purpose. And that reminds me! When I changed my jacket, I found…”

The Time Traveller paused, put his hand into his pocket, and silently placed two withered flowers, not unlike very large white mallows, upon the little table. Then he resumed his narrative.

The Time Traveller paused and reached into his pocket. He silently placed two withered flowers on the little table. The flowers looked rather like very large white mallows. Then he continued his story.

“As the hush of evening crept over the world and we proceeded over the hill crest towards Wimbledon, Weena grew tired and wanted to return to the house of grey stone. But I pointed out the distant pinnacles of the Palace of Green Porcelain to her, and contrived to make her understand that we were seeking a refuge there from her Fear. You know that great pause that comes upon things before the dusk? Even the breeze stops in the trees. To me there is always an air of expectation about that evening stillness. The sky was clear, remote, and empty save for a few horizontal bars far down in the sunset. Well, that night the expectation took the colour of my fears. In that darkling calm my senses seemed preternaturally sharpened. I fancied I could even feel the hollowness of the ground beneath my feet: could, indeed, almost see through it the Morlocks on their ant-hill going hither and thither and waiting for the dark. In my excitement I fancied that they would receive my invasion of their burrows as a declaration of war. And why had they taken my Time Machine?

“As evening silence crept over the world, we crossed the hilltop towards Wimbledon. Weena grew tired and wanted to return to the grey stone house. But I pointed out the distant spires of the Palace of Green Porcelain. I managed to make her understand that we were seeking shelter there from her Fear. You know that great stillness that settles over everything before dusk? Even the breeze in the trees stops. To me, that evening stillness always carries a sense of expectation. The sky was clear, distant, and empty except for a few horizontal bands low in the sunset. Well, that night my fears shaped that sense of expectation. In that darkening calm, my senses seemed unnaturally sharp. I imagined I could even feel the hollow space in the ground beneath my feet. I could almost see through the ground to the Morlocks, moving about in their anthill and waiting for darkness. In my excitement, I imagined they would see my invasion of their tunnels as a declaration of war. And why had they taken my Time Machine?”

“So we went on in the quiet, and the twilight deepened into night. The clear blue of the distance faded, and one star after another came out. The ground grew dim and the trees black. Weena’s fears and her fatigue grew upon her. I took her in my arms and talked to her and caressed her. Then, as the darkness grew deeper, she put her arms round my neck, and, closing her eyes, tightly pressed her face against my shoulder. So we went down a long slope into a valley, and there in the dimness I almost walked into a little river. This I waded, and went up the opposite side of the valley, past a number of sleeping houses, and by a statue—a Faun, or some such figure, minus the head. Here too were acacias. So far I had seen nothing of the Morlocks, but it was yet early in the night, and the darker hours before the old moon rose were still to come.

“So we went on in silence, and the twilight deepened into night. The clear blue in the distance faded, and stars appeared one by one. The ground grew dim and the trees black. Weena grew more frightened and tired. I took her in my arms, talked to her, and stroked her gently. Then, as the darkness deepened, she put her arms around my neck and closed her eyes. She pressed her face tightly against my shoulder. So we went down a long slope into a valley. There, in the dim light, I almost walked into a small river. I waded across the river and climbed the opposite side of the valley, past several sleeping houses. We also passed a statue of a Faun, or some similar figure, missing its head. There were acacias here too. So far I had seen no sign of the Morlocks, but it was still early in the night. And the darker hours before the old moon rose were still to come.”

“From the brow of the next hill I saw a thick wood spreading wide and black before me. I hesitated at this. I could see no end to it, either to the right or the left. Feeling tired—my feet, in particular, were very sore—I carefully lowered Weena from my shoulder as I halted, and sat down upon the turf. I could no longer see the Palace of Green Porcelain, and I was in doubt of my direction. I looked into the thickness of the wood and thought of what it might hide. Under that dense tangle of branches one would be out of sight of the stars. Even were there no other lurking danger—a danger I did not care to let my imagination loose upon—there would still be all the roots to stumble over and the tree-boles to strike against. I was very tired, too, after the excitements of the day; so I decided that I would not face it, but would pass the night upon the open hill.

“From the top of the next hill, I saw a dense forest spreading wide and dark before me. The sight made me hesitate. I could see no end to the forest, either to the right or the left. I was tired, and my feet were especially sore. As I stopped, I carefully lowered Weena from my shoulder and sat down on the grass. I could no longer see the Palace of Green Porcelain, and I was unsure which way to go. I looked into the dense forest and thought about what might be hidden there. Under that thick tangle of branches, I would not be able to see the stars. Even if no other danger lurked there, I would still have all the roots to trip over. There would also be tree trunks to bump into. I did not want to let my imagination dwell on what other danger might be lurking. I was also very tired after the day’s excitement. So I decided not to enter the forest, but to spend the night on the open hill.”

“Weena, I was glad to find, was fast asleep. I carefully wrapped her in my jacket, and sat down beside her to wait for the moonrise. The hillside was quiet and deserted, but from the black of the wood there came now and then a stir of living things. Above me shone the stars, for the night was very clear. I felt a certain sense of friendly comfort in their twinkling. All the old constellations had gone from the sky, however: that slow movement which is imperceptible in a hundred human lifetimes, had long since rearranged them in unfamiliar groupings. But the Milky Way, it seemed to me, was still the same tattered streamer of star-dust as of yore. Southward (as I judged it) was a very bright red star that was new to me; it was even more splendid than our own green Sirius. And amid all these scintillating points of light one bright planet shone kindly and steadily like the face of an old friend.

“I was glad to find Weena fast asleep. I carefully wrapped her in my jacket and sat down beside her to wait for the moon to rise. The hillside was quiet and deserted, but now and then, living things stirred in the dark woods. The stars shone above me, for the night was very clear. I found a certain friendly comfort in their twinkling. All the old constellations, however, had disappeared from the sky. The stars’ slow movement, too slight to notice in a hundred human lifetimes, had long since rearranged them into unfamiliar groups. But the Milky Way still seemed to me the same ragged ribbon of stardust as in the old days. To the south, as far as I could tell, was a very bright red star I had never seen before. The red star was even more splendid than our own green Sirius. And among all these twinkling points of light, one bright planet shone warmly and steadily like an old friend’s face.”

“Looking at these stars suddenly dwarfed my own troubles and all the gravities of terrestrial life. I thought of their unfathomable distance, and the slow inevitable drift of their movements out of the unknown past into the unknown future. I thought of the great precessional cycle that the pole of the earth describes. Only forty times had that silent revolution occurred during all the years that I had traversed. And during these few revolutions all the activity, all the traditions, the complex organisations, the nations, languages, literatures, aspirations, even the mere memory of Man as I knew him, had been swept out of existence. Instead were these frail creatures who had forgotten their high ancestry, and the white Things of which I went in terror. Then I thought of the Great Fear that was between the two species, and for the first time, with a sudden shiver, came the clear knowledge of what the meat I had seen might be. Yet it was too horrible! I looked at little Weena sleeping beside me, her face white and starlike under the stars, and forthwith dismissed the thought.

“Looking at these stars suddenly made my own troubles and all the serious concerns of earthly life seem small. I thought of the stars’ unimaginable distance. I thought of their slow, inevitable movement out of the unknown past into the unknown future. I thought of the great cycle traced by the slow wobble of the earth’s axis. That silent cycle had repeated only forty times during all the years I had traveled through. Yet during those few cycles, all human activity, traditions, and complex organizations had been swept out of existence. So had all nations, languages, literature, aspirations, and even the memory of humanity as I knew it. In their place were these frail creatures who had forgotten their noble ancestry, and the white Things I feared. Then I thought of the Great Fear between the two species. For the first time, with a sudden shiver, I clearly understood what the meat I had seen might be. Yet the thought was too horrible! I looked at little Weena sleeping beside me, her face pale and starlike beneath the stars. At once, I dismissed the thought.”

“Through that long night I held my mind off the Morlocks as well as I could, and whiled away the time by trying to fancy I could find signs of the old constellations in the new confusion. The sky kept very clear, except for a hazy cloud or so. No doubt I dozed at times. Then, as my vigil wore on, came a faintness in the eastward sky, like the reflection of some colourless fire, and the old moon rose, thin and peaked and white. And close behind, and overtaking it, and overflowing it, the dawn came, pale at first, and then growing pink and warm. No Morlocks had approached us. Indeed, I had seen none upon the hill that night. And in the confidence of renewed day it almost seemed to me that my fear had been unreasonable. I stood up and found my foot with the loose heel swollen at the ankle and painful under the heel; so I sat down again, took off my shoes, and flung them away.

“Through that long night, I kept my mind off the Morlocks as best I could. I passed the time trying to imagine I could recognize the old constellations in the unfamiliar jumble of stars. The sky stayed very clear, apart from a hazy cloud or two. No doubt I dozed at times. Then, as I continued my watch, a faint glow appeared in the eastern sky, like the reflection of a colorless fire. The old moon rose, thin, pointed, and white. Close behind the moon, dawn came, overtaking it and flooding it with light. Dawn was pale at first, then grew pink and warm. No Morlocks had approached us. In fact, I had seen none on the hill that night. And with the confidence daylight brought, my fear almost seemed to have been unreasonable. I stood up and found that the foot in the shoe with the loose heel was swollen at the ankle. The foot also hurt under the heel, so I sat down again, took off my shoes, and threw them away.”

“I awakened Weena, and we went down into the wood, now green and pleasant instead of black and forbidding. We found some fruit wherewith to break our fast. We soon met others of the dainty ones, laughing and dancing in the sunlight as though there was no such thing in nature as the night. And then I thought once more of the meat that I had seen. I felt assured now of what it was, and from the bottom of my heart I pitied this last feeble rill from the great flood of humanity. Clearly, at some time in the Long-Ago of human decay the Morlocks’ food had run short. Possibly they had lived on rats and such-like vermin. Even now man is far less discriminating and exclusive in his food than he was—far less than any monkey. His prejudice against human flesh is no deep-seated instinct. And so these inhuman sons of men——! I tried to look at the thing in a scientific spirit. After all, they were less human and more remote than our cannibal ancestors of three or four thousand years ago. And the intelligence that would have made this state of things a torment had gone. Why should I trouble myself? These Eloi were mere fatted cattle, which the ant-like Morlocks preserved and preyed upon—probably saw to the breeding of. And there was Weena dancing at my side!

“I woke Weena, and we went down into the woods, now green and pleasant instead of dark and threatening. We found some fruit for breakfast. Soon we met others of those delicate people, laughing and dancing in the sunlight as though night did not exist. And then I thought again of the meat I had seen. I now felt certain what the meat was. From the bottom of my heart, I pitied this last weak trickle from humanity’s great flood. Clearly, at some point long ago, as humanity declined, the Morlocks’ food had run short. Possibly they had lived on rats and similar vermin. Even now, humans are far less selective about food than they once were, far less selective than any monkey. Their aversion to human flesh is no deep-rooted instinct. And so these inhuman descendants of humans...! I tried to look at the situation scientifically. After all, the Morlocks were less human and more distant from us than our cannibal ancestors three or four thousand years ago. And the intelligence that would have made this situation a torment was gone. Why should I trouble myself? These Eloi were merely fattened cattle. The ant-like Morlocks kept them alive and preyed on them, probably even managing their breeding. And there was Weena dancing at my side!”

“Then I tried to preserve myself from the horror that was coming upon me, by regarding it as a rigorous punishment of human selfishness. Man had been content to live in ease and delight upon the labours of his fellow-man, had taken Necessity as his watchword and excuse, and in the fullness of time Necessity had come home to him. I even tried a Carlyle-like scorn of this wretched aristocracy in decay. But this attitude of mind was impossible. However great their intellectual degradation, the Eloi had kept too much of the human form not to claim my sympathy, and to make me perforce a sharer in their degradation and their Fear.

“Then I tried to shield myself from the growing horror by seeing it as a harsh punishment for human selfishness. Humanity had been content to live in comfort and pleasure at the expense of others’ work. People had made Necessity their guiding principle and excuse, and in time Necessity had caught up with them. I even tried to scorn this miserable, declining aristocracy as Carlyle might have done. But I could not maintain that attitude. However far their intelligence had declined, the Eloi still looked too human for me not to feel sympathy. Their human appearance forced me to share in their degradation and their Fear.

“I had at that time very vague ideas as to the course I should pursue. My first was to secure some safe place of refuge, and to make myself such arms of metal or stone as I could contrive. That necessity was immediate. In the next place, I hoped to procure some means of fire, so that I should have the weapon of a torch at hand, for nothing, I knew, would be more efficient against these Morlocks. Then I wanted to arrange some contrivance to break open the doors of bronze under the White Sphinx. I had in mind a battering ram. I had a persuasion that if I could enter those doors and carry a blaze of light before me I should discover the Time Machine and escape. I could not imagine the Morlocks were strong enough to move it far away. Weena I had resolved to bring with me to our own time. And turning such schemes over in my mind I pursued our way towards the building which my fancy had chosen as our dwelling.

“At that time, I had only vague ideas about what I should do. My first plan was to find a safe shelter and make whatever metal or stone weapons I could. These needs were urgent. Next, I hoped to find some way to make fire, so I could have a torch ready as a weapon. I knew nothing would work better against these Morlocks. Then I wanted to devise some way to break open the bronze doors under the White Sphinx. I was thinking of a battering ram. I believed that if I could get through those doors with a blazing light, I would find the Time Machine and escape. I could not imagine the Morlocks were strong enough to move the Time Machine far away. I had decided to bring Weena with me to our own time. Turning these plans over in my mind, I continued toward the building I had imagined making our home.”