{"id":47,"date":"2021-04-06T15:52:36","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T19:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/doctormoreau\/?post_type=chapter&p=47"},"modified":"2022-02-02T09:29:55","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T14:29:55","slug":"chapter-10-the-crying-of-the-man","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/chapter\/chapter-10-the-crying-of-the-man\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 10: The Crying of the Man","rendered":"Chapter 10: The Crying of the Man"},"content":{"raw":"As I drew near the house I saw that the light shone from the open door of my room; and then I heard coming from out of the darkness at the side of that orange oblong of light, the voice of Montgomery shouting, \u201cPrendick!\u201d I continued running. Presently I heard him again. I replied by a feeble \u201cHullo!\u201d and in another moment had staggered up to him.\r\n\r\n\u201cWhere have you been?\u201d said he, holding me at arm\u2019s length, so that the light from the door fell on my face. \u201cWe have both been so busy that we forgot you until about half an hour ago.\u201d He led me into the room and sat me down in the deck chair. For awhile I was blinded by the light. \u201cWe did not think you would start to explore this island of ours without telling us,\u201d he said; and then, \u201cI was afraid\u2014But\u2014what\u2014Hullo!\u201d\r\n\r\nMy last remaining strength slipped from me, and my head fell forward on my chest. I think he found a certain satisfaction in giving me brandy.\r\n\r\n\u201cFor God\u2019s sake,\u201d said I, \u201cfasten that door.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cYou\u2019ve been meeting some of our curiosities, eh?\u201d said he.\r\n\r\nHe locked the door and turned to me again. He asked me no questions, but gave me some more brandy and water and pressed me to eat. I was in a state of collapse. He said something vague about his forgetting to warn me, and asked me briefly when I left the house and what I had seen.\r\n\r\nI answered him as briefly, in fragmentary sentences. \u201cTell me what it all means,\u201d said I, in a state bordering on hysterics.\r\n\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s nothing so very dreadful,\u201d said he. \u201cBut I think you have had about enough for one day.\u201d The puma suddenly gave a sharp yell of pain. At that he swore under his breath. \u201cI\u2019m damned,\u201d said he, \u201cif this place is not as bad as Gower Street, with its cats.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cMontgomery,\u201d said I, \u201cwhat was that thing that came after me? Was it a beast or was it a man?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t sleep to-night,\u201d he said, \u201cyou\u2019ll be off your head to-morrow.\u201d\r\n\r\nI stood up in front of him. \u201cWhat was that thing that came after me?\u201d I asked.\r\n\r\nHe looked me squarely in the eyes, and twisted his mouth askew. His eyes, which had seemed animated a minute before, went dull. \u201cFrom your account,\u201d said he, \u201cI\u2019m thinking it was a bogle.\u201d\r\n\r\nI felt a gust of intense irritation, which passed as quickly as it came. I flung myself into the chair again, and pressed my hands on my forehead. The puma began once more.\r\n\r\nMontgomery came round behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. \u201cLook here, Prendick,\u201d he said, \u201cI had no business to let you drift out into this silly island of ours. But it\u2019s not so bad as you feel, man. Your nerves are worked to rags. Let me give you something that will make you sleep. That<\/i>\u2014will keep on for hours yet. You must simply get to sleep, or I won\u2019t answer for it.\u201d\r\n\r\nI did not reply. I bowed forward, and covered my face with my hands. Presently he returned with a small measure containing a dark liquid. This he gave me. I took it unresistingly, and he helped me into the hammock.\r\n\r\nWhen I awoke, it was broad day. For a little while I lay flat, staring at the roof above me. The rafters, I observed, were made out of the timbers of a ship. Then I turned my head, and saw a meal prepared for me on the table. I perceived that I was hungry, and prepared to clamber out of the hammock, which, very politely anticipating my intention, twisted round and deposited me upon all-fours on the floor.\r\n\r\nI got up and sat down before the food. I had a heavy feeling in my head, and only the vaguest memory at first of the things that had happened over night. The morning breeze blew very pleasantly through the unglazed window, and that and the food contributed to the sense of animal comfort which I experienced. Presently the door behind me\u2014the door inward towards the yard of the enclosure\u2014opened. I turned and saw Montgomery\u2019s face.\r\n\r\n\u201cAll right,\u201d said he. \u201cI\u2019m frightfully busy.\u201d And he shut the door.\r\n\r\nAfterwards I discovered that he forgot to re-lock it. Then I recalled the expression of his face the previous night, and with that the memory of all I had experienced reconstructed itself before me. Even as that fear came back to me came a cry from within; but this time it was not the cry of a puma. I put down the mouthful that hesitated upon my lips, and listened. Silence, save for the whisper of the morning breeze. I began to think my ears had deceived me.\r\n\r\nAfter a long pause I resumed my meal, but with my ears still vigilant. Presently I heard something else, very faint and low. I sat as if frozen in my attitude. Though it was faint and low, it moved me more profoundly than all that I had hitherto heard of the abominations behind the wall. There was no mistake this time in the quality of the dim, broken sounds; no doubt at all of their source. For it was groaning, broken by sobs and gasps of anguish. It was no brute this time; it was a human being in torment!\r\n\r\nAs I realised this I rose, and in three steps had crossed the room, seized the handle of the door into the yard, and flung it open before me.\r\n\r\n\u201cPrendick, man! Stop!\u201d cried Montgomery, intervening.\r\n\r\nA startled deerhound yelped and snarled. There was blood, I saw, in the sink,\u2014brown, and some scarlet\u2014and I smelt the peculiar smell of carbolic acid. Then through an open doorway beyond, in the dim light of the shadow, I saw something bound painfully upon a framework, scarred, red, and bandaged; and then blotting this out appeared the face of old Moreau, white and terrible. In a moment he had gripped me by the shoulder with a hand that was smeared red, had twisted me off my feet, and flung me headlong back into my own room. He lifted me as though I was a little child. I fell at full length upon the floor, and the door slammed and shut out the passionate intensity of his face. Then I heard the key turn in the lock, and Montgomery\u2019s voice in expostulation.\r\n\r\n\u201cRuin the work of a lifetime,\u201d I heard Moreau say.\r\n\r\n\u201cHe does not understand,\u201d said Montgomery. and other things that were inaudible.\r\n\r\n\u201cI can\u2019t spare the time yet,\u201d said Moreau.\r\n\r\nThe rest I did not hear. I picked myself up and stood trembling, my mind a chaos of the most horrible misgivings. Could it be possible, I thought, that such a thing as the vivisection of men was carried on here? The question shot like lightning across a tumultuous sky; and suddenly the clouded horror of my mind condensed into a vivid realisation of my own danger.","rendered":"

As I drew near the house I saw that the light shone from the open door of my room; and then I heard coming from out of the darkness at the side of that orange oblong of light, the voice of Montgomery shouting, \u201cPrendick!\u201d I continued running. Presently I heard him again. I replied by a feeble \u201cHullo!\u201d and in another moment had staggered up to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere have you been?\u201d said he, holding me at arm\u2019s length, so that the light from the door fell on my face. \u201cWe have both been so busy that we forgot you until about half an hour ago.\u201d He led me into the room and sat me down in the deck chair. For awhile I was blinded by the light. \u201cWe did not think you would start to explore this island of ours without telling us,\u201d he said; and then, \u201cI was afraid\u2014But\u2014what\u2014Hullo!\u201d<\/p>\n

My last remaining strength slipped from me, and my head fell forward on my chest. I think he found a certain satisfaction in giving me brandy.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor God\u2019s sake,\u201d said I, \u201cfasten that door.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been meeting some of our curiosities, eh?\u201d said he.<\/p>\n

He locked the door and turned to me again. He asked me no questions, but gave me some more brandy and water and pressed me to eat. I was in a state of collapse. He said something vague about his forgetting to warn me, and asked me briefly when I left the house and what I had seen.<\/p>\n

I answered him as briefly, in fragmentary sentences. \u201cTell me what it all means,\u201d said I, in a state bordering on hysterics.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nothing so very dreadful,\u201d said he. \u201cBut I think you have had about enough for one day.\u201d The puma suddenly gave a sharp yell of pain. At that he swore under his breath. \u201cI\u2019m damned,\u201d said he, \u201cif this place is not as bad as Gower Street, with its cats.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMontgomery,\u201d said I, \u201cwhat was that thing that came after me? Was it a beast or was it a man?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t sleep to-night,\u201d he said, \u201cyou\u2019ll be off your head to-morrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stood up in front of him. \u201cWhat was that thing that came after me?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

He looked me squarely in the eyes, and twisted his mouth askew. His eyes, which had seemed animated a minute before, went dull. \u201cFrom your account,\u201d said he, \u201cI\u2019m thinking it was a bogle.\u201d<\/p>\n

I felt a gust of intense irritation, which passed as quickly as it came. I flung myself into the chair again, and pressed my hands on my forehead. The puma began once more.<\/p>\n

Montgomery came round behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. \u201cLook here, Prendick,\u201d he said, \u201cI had no business to let you drift out into this silly island of ours. But it\u2019s not so bad as you feel, man. Your nerves are worked to rags. Let me give you something that will make you sleep. That<\/i>\u2014will keep on for hours yet. You must simply get to sleep, or I won\u2019t answer for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

I did not reply. I bowed forward, and covered my face with my hands. Presently he returned with a small measure containing a dark liquid. This he gave me. I took it unresistingly, and he helped me into the hammock.<\/p>\n

When I awoke, it was broad day. For a little while I lay flat, staring at the roof above me. The rafters, I observed, were made out of the timbers of a ship. Then I turned my head, and saw a meal prepared for me on the table. I perceived that I was hungry, and prepared to clamber out of the hammock, which, very politely anticipating my intention, twisted round and deposited me upon all-fours on the floor.<\/p>\n

I got up and sat down before the food. I had a heavy feeling in my head, and only the vaguest memory at first of the things that had happened over night. The morning breeze blew very pleasantly through the unglazed window, and that and the food contributed to the sense of animal comfort which I experienced. Presently the door behind me\u2014the door inward towards the yard of the enclosure\u2014opened. I turned and saw Montgomery\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d said he. \u201cI\u2019m frightfully busy.\u201d And he shut the door.<\/p>\n

Afterwards I discovered that he forgot to re-lock it. Then I recalled the expression of his face the previous night, and with that the memory of all I had experienced reconstructed itself before me. Even as that fear came back to me came a cry from within; but this time it was not the cry of a puma. I put down the mouthful that hesitated upon my lips, and listened. Silence, save for the whisper of the morning breeze. I began to think my ears had deceived me.<\/p>\n

After a long pause I resumed my meal, but with my ears still vigilant. Presently I heard something else, very faint and low. I sat as if frozen in my attitude. Though it was faint and low, it moved me more profoundly than all that I had hitherto heard of the abominations behind the wall. There was no mistake this time in the quality of the dim, broken sounds; no doubt at all of their source. For it was groaning, broken by sobs and gasps of anguish. It was no brute this time; it was a human being in torment!<\/p>\n

As I realised this I rose, and in three steps had crossed the room, seized the handle of the door into the yard, and flung it open before me.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrendick, man! Stop!\u201d cried Montgomery, intervening.<\/p>\n

A startled deerhound yelped and snarled. There was blood, I saw, in the sink,\u2014brown, and some scarlet\u2014and I smelt the peculiar smell of carbolic acid. Then through an open doorway beyond, in the dim light of the shadow, I saw something bound painfully upon a framework, scarred, red, and bandaged; and then blotting this out appeared the face of old Moreau, white and terrible. In a moment he had gripped me by the shoulder with a hand that was smeared red, had twisted me off my feet, and flung me headlong back into my own room. He lifted me as though I was a little child. I fell at full length upon the floor, and the door slammed and shut out the passionate intensity of his face. Then I heard the key turn in the lock, and Montgomery\u2019s voice in expostulation.<\/p>\n

\u201cRuin the work of a lifetime,\u201d I heard Moreau say.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does not understand,\u201d said Montgomery. and other things that were inaudible.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t spare the time yet,\u201d said Moreau.<\/p>\n

The rest I did not hear. I picked myself up and stood trembling, my mind a chaos of the most horrible misgivings. Could it be possible, I thought, that such a thing as the vivisection of men was carried on here? The question shot like lightning across a tumultuous sky; and suddenly the clouded horror of my mind condensed into a vivid realisation of my own danger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":251,"menu_order":11,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-47","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/47","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/251"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/47\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/47\/revisions\/48"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/47\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=47"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=47"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/doctormoreau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=47"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}