CHAPTERI
INSOMNIA
Oneafternoon，atlowwater，Mr。Isbister，ayoungartistlodgingatBoscastle，walkedfromthatplacetothepicturesquecoveofPentargen，desiringtoexaminethecavesthere。HalfwaydowntheprecipitouspathtothePentargenbeachhecamesuddenlyuponamansittinginanattitudeofprofounddistressbeneathaprojectingmassofrock。Thehandsofthismanhunglimplyoverhisknees，hiseyeswereredandstaringbeforehim，andhisfacewaswetwithtears。
HeglancedroundatIsbister’sfootfall。Bothmenweredisconcerted，Isbisterthemoreso，and，tooverridetheawkwardnessofhisinvoluntarypause，heremarked，withanairofmatureconviction，thattheweatherwashotforthetimeofyear。
\"Very，\"answeredthestrangershortly，hesitatedasecond，andaddedinacolourlesstone，\"Ican’tsleep。\"
Isbisterstoppedabruptly。\"No？\"wasallhesaid，buthisbearingconveyedhishelpfulimpulse。
\"Itmaysoundincredible，\"saidthestranger，turningwearyeyestoIsbister’sfaceandemphasizinghiswordswithalanguidhand，\"butIhavehadnosleep———nosleepatallforsixnights。\"
\"Hadadvice？\"
\"Yes。Badadviceforthemostpart。Drugs。Mynervoussystem……Theyareallverywellfortherunofpeople。It’shardtoexplain。Idarenottake……sufficientlypowerfuldrugs。\"
\"Thatmakesitdifficult，\"saidIsbister。
Hestoodhelplesslyinthenarrowpath，perplexedwhattodo。Clearlythemanwantedtotalk。Anideanaturalenoughunderthecircumstances，promptedhimtokeeptheconversationgoing。\"I’veneversufferedfromsleeplessnessmyself，\"hesaidinatoneofcommonplacegossip，\"butinthosecasesIhaveknown，peoplehaveusuallyfoundsomething——\"
\"Idaremakenoexperiments。\"
Hespokewearily。Hegaveagestureofrejection，andforaspacebothmenweresilent。
\"Exercise？\"suggestedIsbisterdiffidently，withaglancefromhisinterlocutor’sfaceofwretchednesstothetouringcostumehewore。
\"ThatiswhatIhavetried。Unwiselyperhaps。I
havefollowedthecoast，dayafterday——fromNewQuay。Ithasonlyaddedmuscularfatiguetothemental。
Thecauseofthisunrestwasoverwork——trouble。
Therewassomething——\"
Hestoppedasiffromsheerfatigue。Herubbedhisforeheadwithaleanhand。Heresumedspeechlikeonewhotalkstohimself。
\"Iamalonewolf，asolitaryman，wanderingthroughaworldinwhichIhavenopart。Iamwifeless——
childless——whoisitspeaksofthechildlessasthedeadtwigsonthetreeoflife？Iamwifeless，Ichildless——Icouldfindnodutytodo。Nodesireeveninmyheart。OnethingatlastIsetmyselftodo。
\"Isaid，Iwilldothis，andtodoit，toovercometheinertiaofthisdullbody，Iresortedtodrugs。GreatGod，I’vehadenoughofdrugs！Idon’tknowif__you__
feeltheheavyinconvenienceofthebody，itsexasperatingdemandoftimefromthemind——time——
life！Live！Weonlyliveinpatches。Wehavetoeat，andthencomesthedulldigestivecomplacencies——
orirritations。Wehavetotaketheairorelseourthoughtsgrowsluggish，stupid，runintogulfsandblindalleys。Athousanddistractionsarisefromwithinandwithout，andthencomesdrowsinessandsleep。Menseemtoliveforsleep。Howlittleofaman’sdayishisown——evenatthebest！Andthencomethosefalsefriends，thoseThughelpers，thealkaloidsthatstiflenaturalfatigueandkillrest——
blackcoffee，cocaine——\"
\"Isee，\"saidIsbister。
\"Ididmywork，\"saidthesleeplessmanwithaquerulousintonation。
\"Andthisistheprice？\"
\"Yes。\"
Foralittlewhilethetworemainedwithoutspeaking。
\"YoucannotimaginethecravingforrestthatI
feel——ahungerandthirst。Forsixlongdays，sincemyworkwasdone，mymindhasbeenawhirlpool，swift，unprogressiveandincessant，atorrentofthoughtsleadingnowhere，spinningroundswiftandsteady——\"
Hepaused。\"Towardsthegulf。\"
\"Youmustsleep，\"saidIsbisterdecisively，andwithanairofaremedydiscovered。\"Certainlyyoumustsleep。\"
\"Mymindisperfectlylucid。Itwasneverclearer。
ButIknowIamdrawingtowardsthevortex。
Presently——\"
\"Yes？\"
\"Youhaveseenthingsgodownaneddy？Outofthelightoftheday，outofthissweetworldofsanity——
down——\"
\"But，\"expostulatedIsbister。
Themanthrewoutahandtowardshim，andhiseyeswerewild，andhisvoicesuddenlyhigh。\"Ishallkillmyself。Ifinnootherway——atthefootofyonderdarkprecipicethere，wherethewavesaregreen，andthewhitesurgeliftsandfalls，andthatlittlethreadofwatertremblesdown。Thereatanyrateis……sleep。\"
\"That’sunreasonable，\"saidIsbister，startledattheman’shystericalgustofemotion。\"Drugsarebetterthanthat。\"
\"Thereatanyrateissleep，\"repeatedthestranger，notheedinghim。
IsbisterlookedathimandwonderedtransitorilyifsomecomplexProvidencehadindeedbroughtthemtogetherthatafternoon。\"It’snotacert，youknow，\"
heremarked。\"There’saclifflikethatatLulworthCove——ashigh，anyhow——andalittlegirlfellfromtoptobottom。Andlivesto—day——soundandwell。\"
\"Butthoserocksthere？\"
\"Onemightlieonthemratherdismallythroughacoldnight，brokenbonesgratingasoneshivered，chillwatersplashingoveryou。Eh？\"
Theireyesmet。\"Sorrytoupsetyourideals，\"saidIsbisterwithasenseofdevil—may—careishbrilliance。
\"Butasuicideoverthatcliff（oranycliffforthematterofthat），really，asanartist——\"Helaughed。
\"It’ssodamnedamateurish。\"
\"Buttheotherthing，\"saidthesleeplessmanirritably，\"theotherthing。Nomancankeepsaneifnightafternight——\"
\"Haveyoubeenwalkingalongthiscoastalone？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Sillysortofthingtodo。Ifyou’llexcusemysayingso。Alone！Asyousay；bodyfagisnocureforbrainfag。Whotoldyouto？Nowonder；
walking！Andthesunonyourhead，heat，fag，solitude，allthedaylong，andthen，Isuppose，yougotobedandtryveryhard——eh？\"
Isbisterstoppedshortandlookedatthesuffererdoubtfully。
\"Lookattheserocks！\"criedtheseatedmanwithasuddenforceofgesture。\"Lookatthatseathathasshoneandquiveredthereforever！Seethewhitespumerushintodarknessunderthatgreatcliff。Andthisbluevault，withtheblindingsunpouringfromthedomeofit。Itisyourworld。Youacceptit，yourejoiceinit。Itwarmsandsupportsanddelightsyou。
Andforme——\"
Heturnedhisheadandshowedaghastlyface，bloodshotpallideyesandbloodlesslips。Hespokealmostinawhisper。\"Itisthegarmentofmymisery。
Thewholeworld……isthegarmentofmymisery。\"
IsbisterlookedatallthewildbeautyofthesunlitcliffsaboutthemandbacktothatfaceofdespairForamomenthewassilent。
Hestarted，andmadeagestureofimpatientrejection。
\"Yougetanight’ssleep，\"hesaid，\"andyouwon’tseemuchmiseryouthere。Takemywordforit。\"
Hewasquitesurenowthatthiswasaprovidentialencounter。Onlyhalfanhouragohehadbeenfeelinghorriblybored。Herewasemploymentthebarethoughtofwhichwasrighteousself—applause。Hetookpossessionforthwith。ItseemedtohimthatthefirstneedofthisexhaustedbeingwascompanionshipHeflunghimselfdownonthesteeplyslopingturfbesidethemotionlessseatedfigure，anddeployedforthwithintoaskirmishinglineofgossip。
Hishearerseemedtohavelapsedintoapathy；
hestareddismallyseaward，andspokeonlyinanswertoIsbister’sdirectquestions——andnottoallofthoseButhemadenosignofobjectiontothisbenevolentintrusionuponhisdespair。
Inahelplesswayheseemedevengrateful，andwhenpresentlyIsbister，feelingthathisunsupportedtalkwaslosingvigour，suggestedthattheyshouldreascendthesteepandreturntowardsBoscastle，allegingtheviewintoBlackapit，hesubmittedquietly。
Halfwayuphebegantalkingtohimself，andabruptlyturnedaghastlyfaceonhishelper。\"Whatcanbehappening？\"heaskedwithagauntillustrativehand。
\"Whatcanbehappening？Spin，spin，spin，spin。Itgoesroundandround，roundandroundforevermore。\"
Hestoodwithhishandcircling\"It’sallright，oldchap，\"saidIsbisterwiththeairofanoldfriend。\"Don’tworryyourself。Trusttome。\"
Themandroppedhishandandturnedagain。TheywentoverthebrowinsinglefileandtotheheadlandbeyondPenally，withthesleeplessmangesticulatingeverandagain，andspeakingfragmentarythingsconcerninghiswhirlingbrain。AttheheadlandtheystoodforaspacebytheseatthatlooksintothedarkmysteriesofBlackapit，andthenhesatdown。Isbisterhadresumedhistalkwheneverthepathhadwidenedsufficientlyforthemtowalkabreast。HewasenlarginguponthecomplexdifficultyofmakingBoscastleHarbourinbadweather，whensuddenlyandquiteirrelevantlyhiscompanioninterruptedhimagain。
\"Myheadisnotlikewhatitwas，\"hesaid，gesticulatingforwantofexpressivephrases。\"It’snotlikewhatitwas。Thereisasortofoppression，aweight。
No——notdrowsiness，wouldGoditwere！Itislikeashadow，adeepshadowfallingsuddenlyandswiftlyacrosssomethingbusy。Spin，spinintothedarknessThetumultofthought，theconfusion，theeddyandeddy。Ican’texpressit。Icanhardlykeepmymindonit——steadilyenoughtotellyou。\"
Hestoppedfeebly。
\"Don’ttrouble，oldchap，\"saidIsbister。\"IthinkIcanunderstand。Atanyrate，itdon’tmatterverymuchjustatpresentabouttellingme，youknow。\"
Thesleeplessmanthrusthisknucklesintohiseyesandrubbedthem。Isbistertalkedforawhilewhilethisrubbingcontinued，andthenhehadafreshidea。
\"Comedowntomyroom，\"hesaid，\"andtryapipe。
IcanshowyousomesketchesofthisBlackapit。Ifyou’dcare？\"
Theotherroseobedientlyandfollowedhimdownthesteep。
SeveraltimesIsbisterheardhimstumbleastheycamedown，andhismovementswereslowandhesitating。
\"Comeinwithme，\"saidIsbister，\"andtrysomecigarettesandtheblessedgiftofalcohol。Ifyoutakealcohol？\"
Thestrangerhesitatedatthegardengate。Heseemednolongerclearlyawareofhisactions。\"I
don’tdrink，\"hesaidslowly，comingupthegardenpath，andafteramoment’sintervalrepeatedabsently，\"No——Idon’tdrink。Itgoesround。Spin，itgoes——spin——\"
Hestumbledatthedoorstepandenteredtheroomwiththebearingofonewhoseesnothing。
Thenhesatdownabruptlyandheavilyintheeasychair，seemedalmosttofallintoit。Heleantforwardwithhisbrowsonhishandsandbecamemotionless。
Presentlyhemadeafaintsoundinhisthroat。
Isbistermovedabouttheroomwiththenervousnessofaninexperiencedhost，makinglittleremarksthatscarcelyrequiredanswering。Hecrossedtheroomtohisportfolio，placeditonthetableandnoticedthemantelclock。
\"Idon’tknowifyou’dcaretohavesupperwithme，\"hesaidwithanunlightedcigaretteinhishand——
hismindtroubledwithadesignofthefurtiveadministrationofchloral。\"Onlycoldmutton，youknow，butpassingsweet。Welsh。Andatart，Ibelieve。\"
Herepeatedthisaftermomentarysilence。
Theseatedmanmadenoanswer。Isbisterstopped，matchinhand，regardinghim。
Thestillnesslengthened。Thematchwentout，thecigarettewasputdownunlit。Themanwascertainlyverystill。Isbistertookuptheportfolio，openedit，putitdown，hesitated，seemedabouttospeak。
\"Perhaps，\"hewhispereddoubtfully。Presentlyheglancedatthedoorandbacktothefigure。Thenhestoleontiptoeoutoftheroom，glancingathiscompanionaftereachelaboratepace。
Heclosedthedoornoiselessly。Thehousedoorwasstandingopen，andhewentoutbeyondtheporch，andstoodwherethemonkshoodroseatthecornerofthegardenbed。Fromthispointhecouldseethestrangerthroughtheopenwindow，stillanddim，sittingheadonhand。Hehadnotmoved。
Anumberofchildrengoingalongtheroadstoppedandregardedtheartistcuriously。Aboatmanexchangedcivilitieswithhim。Hefeltthatpossiblyhiscircumspectattitudeandpositionseemedpeculiarandunaccountable。Smoking，perhaps，mightseemmorenatural。Hedrewpipeandpouchfromhispocket，filledthepipeslowly。
\"Iwonder，\"……hesaid，withascarcelyperceptiblelossofcomplacency。\"Atanyratewemustgivehimachance。\"Hestruckamatchinthevirileway，andproceededtolighthispipe。
Presentlyheheardhislandladybehindhim，comingwithhislamplitfromthekitchen。Heturned，gesticulatingwithhispipe，andstoppedheratthedoorofhissitting—room。Hehadsomedifficultyinexplainingthesituationinwhispers，forshedidnotknowhehadavisitor。Sheretreatedagainwiththelamp，stillalittlemystifiedtojudgefromhermanner，andheresumedhishoveringatthecorneroftheporch，flushedandlessathisease。
Longafterhehadsmokedouthispipe，andwhenthebatswereabroad，hiscuriositydominatedhiscomplexhesitations，andhestolebackintohisdarklingsitting—room。Hepausedinthedoorway。Thestrangerwasstillinthesameattitude，darkagainstthewindow。Saveforthesingingofsomesailorsaboardoneofthelittleslate—carryingshipsintheharbour，theeveningwasverystill。Outside，thespikesofmonkshoodanddelphiniumstooderectandmotionlessagainsttheshadowofthehillside。SomethingflashedintoIsbister’smind；hestarted，andleaningoverthetable，listened。Anunpleasantsuspiciongrewstronger；becameconviction。Astonishmentseizedhimandbecame——dread！
Nosoundofbreathingcamefromtheseatedfigure！
Hecreptslowlyandnoiselesslyroundthetable，pausingtwicetolisten。Atlasthecouldlayhishandonthebackofthearmchair。Hebentdownuntilthetwoheadswereeartoear。
Thenhebentstilllowertolookupathisvisitor’sface。Hestartedviolentlyandutteredanexclamation。
Theeyeswerevoidspacesofwhite。
Helookedagainandsawthattheywereopenandwiththepupilsrolledunderthelids。Hewassuddenlyafraid。Overcomebythestrangenessoftheman’scondition，hetookhimbytheshoulderandshookhim。\"Areyouasleep？\"hesaid，withhisvoicejumpingintoalto，andagain，\"Areyouasleep？\"
Aconvictiontookpossessionofhismindthatthismanwasdead。Hesuddenlybecameactiveandnoisy，strodeacrosstheroom，blunderingagainstthetableashedidso，andrangthebell。
\"Pleasebringalightatonce，\"hesaidinthepassage。
\"Thereissomethingwrongwithmyfriend。\"
Thenhereturnedtothemotionlessseatedfigure，graspedtheshoulder，shookit，andshouted。Theroomwasfloodedwithyellowglareashisastonishedlandladyenteredwiththelight。Hisfacewaswhiteasheturnedblinkingtowardsher。\"Imustfetchadoctoratonce，\"hesaid。\"Itiseitherdeathorafit。Isthereadoctorinthevillage？Whereisadoctortobefound？\"
THETRANCE
Thestateofcatalepticrigourintowhichthismanhadfallen，lastedforanunprecedentedlengthoftime，andthenhepassedslowlytotheflaccidstate，toalaxattitudesuggestiveofprofoundrepose。Thenitwashiseyescouldbeclosed。
HewasremovedfromthehoteltotheBoscastlesurgery，andfromthesurgery，aftersomeweeks，toLondon。Buthestillresistedeveryattemptatreanimation。Afteratime，forreasonsthatwillappearlater，theseattemptswerediscontinued。Foragreatspacehelayinthatstrangecondition，inertandstillneitherdeadnorlivingbut，asitwere，suspended，hangingmidwaybetweennothingnessandexistence。
Hiswasadarknessunbrokenbyarayofthoughtorsensation，adreamlessinanition，avastspaceofpeace。
Thetumultofhismindhadswelledandrisentoanabruptclimaxofsilence。Wherewastheman？
Whereisanymanwheninsensibilitytakesholdofhim？
\"Itseemsonlyyesterday，\"saidIsbister。\"I
rememberitallasthoughithappenedyesterday——
clearerperhaps，thanifithadhappenedyesterday。\"
ItwastheIsbisterofthelastchapter，buthewasnolongerayoungman。Thehairthathadbeenbrownandatrifleinexcessofthefashionablelength，wasirongreyandclippedclose，andthefacethathadbeenpinkandwhitewasbuffandruddy。Hehadapointedbeardshotwithgrey。Hetalkedtoanelderlymanwhoworeasummersuitofdrill（thesummerofthatyearwasunusuallyhot）。ThiswasWarming，aLondonsolicitorandnextofkintoGraham，themanwhohadfallenintothetrance。AndthetwomenstoodsidebysideinaroominahouseinLondonregardinghisrecumbentfigure。
ItwasayellowfigureIyinglaxuponawater—bedandcladinaflowingshirt，afigurewithashrunkenfaceandastubbybeard，leanlimbsandlanknails，andaboutitwasacaseofthinglass。Thisglassseemedtomarkoffthesleeperfromtherealityoflifeabouthim，hewasathingapart，astrange，isolatedabnormality。
Thetwomenstoodclosetotheglass，peeringin。
\"Thethinggavemeashock，\"saidIsbister\"I
feelaqueersortofsurpriseevennowwhenIthinkofhiswhiteeyes。Theywerewhite，youknow，rolledup。Cominghereagainbringsitallbacktome。
\"Haveyouneverseenhimsincethattime？\"askedWarming。
\"Oftenwantedtocome，\"saidIsbister；\"butbusinessnowadaysistooseriousathingformuchholidaykeeping。I’vebeeninAmericamostofthetime。\"
\"IfIrememberrightly，\"saidWarming，\"youwereanartist？\"
\"Was。AndthenIbecameamarriedman。Isawitwasallupwithblackandwhite，verysoon——atleastforamediocreman，andIjumpedontoprocess。
ThosepostersontheCliffsatDoverarebymypeople。\"
\"Goodposters，\"admittedthesolicitor，\"thoughI
wassorrytoseethemthere。\"I
\"Lastaslongasthecliffs，ifnecessary，\"exclaimedIsbisterwithsatisfaction。\"Theworldchanges。
Whenhefellasleep，twentyyearsago，IwasdownatBoscastlewithaboxofwater—coloursandanoble，old—fashionedambition。Ididn’texpectthatsomedaymypigmentswouldglorifythewholeblessedcoastofEngland，fromLand’sEndroundagaintotheLizard。
Luckcomestoamanveryoftenwhenhe’snotlooking。\"
Warmingseemedtodoubtthequalityoftheluck。
\"Ijustmissedseeingyou，ifIrecollectaright。\"
\"YoucamebackbythetrapthattookmetoCamelfordrailwaystation。ItwascloseontheJubilee，Victoria’sJubilee，becauseIremembertheseatsandflagsinWestminster，andtherowwiththecabmanatChelsea。\"
\"TheDiamondJubilee，itwas，\"saidWarming；
\"thesecondone。\"
\"Ah，yes！AttheproperJubilee——theFiftyYearaffair——IwasdownatWookey——aboy。Imissedallthat……Whatafusswehadwithhim！Mylandladywouldn’ttakehimin，wouldn’tlethimstay——
helookedsoqueerwhenhewasrigid。Wehadtocarryhiminachairuptothehotel。AndtheBoscastledoctor——itwasn’tthepresentchap，buttheG。P。beforehim——wasathimuntilnearlytwo，with，meandthelandlordholdinglightsandsoforth。\"
\"Itwasacatalepticrigouratfirst，wasn’tit？\"
\"Stiff！——whereveryoubenthimhestuck。Youmighthavestoodhimonhisheadandhe’dhavestopped。Ineversawsuchstiffness。Ofcoursethis\"
——heindicatedtheprostratefigurebyamovementofhishead——\"isquitedifferent。And，ofcourse，thelittledoctor——whatwashisname？\"
\"Smithers？\"
\"Smithersitwas——wasquitewrongintryingtofetchhimroundtoosoon，accordingtoallaccounts。
Thethingshedid。Evennowitmakesmefeelall——
ugh！Mustard，snuff，pricking。Andoneofthosebeastlylittlethings，notdynamos——\"
\"Inductioncoils。\"
\"Yes。Youcouldseehismusclesthrobandjump，andhetwistedabout。Therewasjusttwoflaringyellowcandles，andalltheshadowswereshivering，andthelittledoctornervousandputtingonside，andhim——starkandsquirminginthemostunnaturalways。Well，itmademedream。\"
Pause。
\"It’sastrangestate，\"saidWarming。
\"It’sasortofcompleteabsence，\"saidIsbister。
\"Here’sthebody，empty。Notdeadabit，andyetnotalive。It’slikeaseatvacantandmarked’engaged。’
Nofeeling，nodigestion，nobeatingoftheheart——notaflutter。__That__doesn’tmakemefeelasiftherewasamanpresent。Inasenseit’smoredeadthandeath，forthesedoctorstellmethateventhehairhasstoppedgrowing。Nowwiththeproperdead，thehairwillgoongrowing——\"
\"Iknow，\"saidWarming，withaflashofpaininhisexpression。
Theypeeredthroughtheglassagain。Grahamwasindeedinastrangestate，intheflaccidphaseofatrance，butatranceunprecedentedinmedicalhistory。
Tranceshadlastedforasmuchasayearbefore——butattheendofthattimeithadeverbeenwakingoradeath；sometimesfirstoneandthentheother。Isbisternotedthemarksthephysicianshadmadeininjectingnourishment，forthatdevicehadbeenresortedtotopostponecollapse；hepointedthemouttoWarming，whohadbeentryingnottoseethem。
\"AndwhilehehasbeenIyinghere，\"saidIsbister，withthezestofalifefreelyspent，\"Ihavechangedmyplansinlife；married，raisedafamily，myeldestlad——
Ihadn’tbeguntothinkofsonsthen——isanAmericancitizen，andlookingforwardtoleavingHarvard。
There’satouchofgreyinmyhair。Andthisman，notadayoldernorwiser（practically）thanIwasinmydownydays。It’scurioustothinkof。\"
Warmingturned。\"AndIhavegrownoldtoo。I
playedcricketwithhimwhenIwasstillonlyalad。
Andhelooksayoungmanstill。Yellowperhaps。
Butthatisayoungmannevertheless。\"
\"Andthere’sbeentheWar，\"saidIsbister。
\"Frombeginningtoend。\"
\"AndtheseMartians。\"
\"I’veunderstood，\"saidIsbisterafterapause，\"thathehadsomemoderatepropertyofhisown？\"
\"Thatisso，\"saidWarming。Hecoughedprimly。
\"Asithappens——havechargeofit。\"
\"Ah！\"Isbisterthought，hesitatedandspoke：
\"Nodoubt——hiskeephereisnotexpensive——nodoubtitwillhaveimproved——accumulated？\"
\"Ithas。Hewillwakeupverymuchbetteroff——
ifhewakes——thanwhenheslept。\"
\"Asabusinessman，\"saidIsbister，\"thatthoughthasnaturallybeeninmymind。Ihave，indeed，sometimesthoughtthat，speakingcommercially，ofcourse，thissleepmaybeaverygoodthingforhim。Thatheknowswhatheisabout，sotospeak，inbeinginsensiblesolong。Ifhehadlivedstraighton——\"
\"Idoubtifhewouldhavepremeditatedasmuch，\"
saidWarming。\"Hewasnotafar—sightedman。Infact——\"
\"Yes？\"