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岩岛奇遇 an adventure n ind rck02（第1页）

latterwasaremarkablylargeandbeautifulanimal，entirelyblack，andsagacioustoanastonishingdegree。Inseakingofhisintelligence，mywife，whoatheartwasnotalittletincturedwithsuerstition，madefrequentallusiontotheancientoularnotion，whichregardedallblackcatsaswitchesindisguise。Notthatshewaseverseriousuonthisoint-andImentionthematteratallfornobetterreasonthanthatithaens，justnow，toberemembered。

Pluto-thiswasthecatsname-wasmyfavoriteetandlaymate。Ialonefedhim，andheattendedmewhereverIwentaboutthehouse。ItwasevenwithdiffcultythatIcouldreventhimfromfollowingmethroughthestreets。

Ourfriendshilasted，inthismanner，forseveralyears，duringwhichmygeneraltemeramentandcharacter-throughtheinstrumentalityoftheFiendIntemerance-had（Iblushtoconfessit）exeriencedaradicalalterationfortheworse。Igrew，daybyday，moremoody，moreirritable，moreregardlessofthefeelingsofothers。Isufferedmyselftouseintemeratelanguagetomywife。Atlength，Ievenofferedherersonalviolence。Myets，ofcourse，weremadetofeelthechangeinmydisosition。Inotonlyneglected，butill-usedthem。ForPluto，however，Istillretainedsufficientregardtorestrainmefrommaltreatinghim，asImadenoscruleofmaltreatingtherabbits，themonkey，oreventhedog，whenbyaccident，orthroughaffection，theycameinmyway。Butmydiseasegrewuonme-forwhatdiseaseislikeAlcohol！-andatlengthevenPluto，whowasnowbecomingold，andconsequentlysomewhateevish-evenPlutobegantoexeriencetheeffectsofmyilltemer。

Onenight，returninghome，muchintoxicated，fromoneofmyhauntsabouttown，Ifanciedthatthecatavoidedmyresence。Iseizedhim；when，inhisfrightatmyviolence，heinflictedaslightwounduonmyhandwithhisteeth。Thefuryofademoninstantlyossessedme。Iknewmyselfnolonger。Myoriginalsoulseemed，atonce，totakeitsflightfrommybodyandamorethanfiendishmalevolence，gin-nurtured，thrilledeveryfbreofmyframe。Itookfrommywaistcoat-ocketaen-knife，oenedit，grasedtheoorbeastbythethroat，anddeliberatelycutoneofitseyesfromthesocket！Iblush，Iburn，Ishudder，whileIenthedamnableatrocity。

Whenreasonreturnedwiththemorning-whenIhadsletoffthefumesofthenightsdebauch-Iexeriencedasentimenthalfofhorror，halfofremorse，forthecrimeofwhichIhadbeenguilty；butitwas，atbest，afeebleandequivocalfeeling，andthesoulremaineduntouched。Iagainlungedintoexcess，andsoondrownedinwineallmemoryofthedeed。

Inthemeantimethecatslowlyrecovered。Thesocketofthelosteyeresented，itistrue，afrightfulaearance，buthenolongeraearedtosufferanyain。Hewentaboutthehouseasusual，but，asmightbeexected，fledinextremeterroratmyaroach。Ihadsomuchofmyoldheartleft，astobeatfrstgrievedbythisevidentdislikeontheartofacreaturewhichhadoncesolovedme。Butthisfeelingsoongavelacetoirritation。Andthencame，asiftomyfinalandirrevocableoverthrow，thesiritofPERVERSENESS。Ofthissirithilosohytakesnoaccount。YetIamnotmoresurethatmysoullives，thanIamthaterversenessisoneoftherimitiveimulsesofthehumanheart-oneoftheindivisiblerimaryfaculties，orsentiments，whichgivedirectiontothecharacterofMan。Whohasnot，ahundredtimes，foundhimselfcommittingavileorasillyaction，fornootherreasonthanbecauseheknowsheshouldnot?Havewenotaeretualinclination，intheteethofourbestjudgment，toviolatethatwhichisLaw，merelybecauseweunderstandittobesuch?Thissiritoferverseness，Isay，cametomyfnaloverthrow。Itwasthisunfathomablelongingofthesoultovexitself-toofferviolencetoitsownnature-todowrongforthewrongssakeonly-thaturgedmetocontinueandfnallytoconsummatetheinjuryIhadinficteduontheunoffendingbrute。Onemorning，incoolblood，Isliedanooseaboutitsneckandhungittothelimbofatree；-hungitwiththetearsstreamingfrommyeyes，andwiththebitterestremorseatmyheart；-hungitbecauseIknewthatithadlovedme，andbecauseIfeltithadgivenmenoreasonofoffence；-hungitbecauseIknewthatinsodoingIwascommittingasin-adeadlysinthatwouldsojeoardizemyimmortalsoulastolaceit-ifsuchathingwereossible-evenbeyondthereachoftheinfnitemercyoftheMostMercifulandMostTerribleGod。

Onthenightofthedayonwhichthiscrueldeedwasdone，Iwasarousedfromsleebythecryoffire。Thecurtainsofmybedwereinfames。Thewholehousewasblazing。Itwaswithgreatdiffcultythatmywife，aservant，andmyself，madeourescaefromtheconfagration。Thedestructionwascomlete。Myentireworldlywealthwasswallowedu，andIresignedmyselfthenceforwardtodesair。

Iamabovetheweaknessofseekingtoestablishasequenceofcauseandeffect，betweenthedisasterandtheatrocity。ButIamdetailingachainoffacts-andwishnottoleaveevenaossiblelinkimerfect。Onthedaysucceedingthefire，Ivisitedtheruins。Thewalls，withoneexcetion，hadfallenin。Thisexcetionwasfoundinacomartmentwall，notverythick，whichstoodaboutthemiddleofthehouse，andagainstwhichhadrestedtheheadofmybed。Thelasteringhadhere，ingreatmeasure，resistedtheactionofthefre-afactwhichIattributedtoitshavingbeenrecentlysread。Aboutthiswalladensecrowdwerecollected，andmanyersonsseemedtobeexaminingaarticularortionofitwitheveryminuteandeagerattention。Thewords“strange！”，“singular！”andothersimilarexressions，excitedmycuriosity。Iaroachedandsaw，asifgraveninbasreliefuonthewhitesurface，thefgureofagiganticcat。Theimressionwasgivenwithanaccuracytrulymarvellous。Therewasaroeabouttheanimalsneck。

WhenIfrstbeheldthisaarition-forIcouldscarcelyregarditasless-mywonderandmyterrorwereextreme。Butatlengthrefectioncametomyaid。Thecat，Iremembered，hadbeenhunginagardenadjacenttothehouse。Uonthealarmoffre，thisgardenhadbeenimmediatelyfilledbythecrowd-bysomeoneofwhomtheanimalmusthavebeencutfromthetreeandthrown，throughanoenwindow，intomychamber。Thishadrobablybeendonewiththeviewofarousingmefromslee。Thefallingofotherwallshadcomressedthevictimofmycrueltyintothesubstanceofthefreshly-sreadlaster；thelimeofwhich，hadthenwiththefames，andtheammoniafromthecarcass，accomlishedtheortraitureasIsawit。

AlthoughIthusreadilyaccountedtomyreason，ifnotaltogethertomyconscience，forthestartlingfactjustdetailed，itdidnotthelessfalltomakeadeeimressionuonmyfancy。FormonthsIcouldnotridmyselfofthehantasmofthecat；and，duringthiseriod，therecamebackintomysiritahalf-sentimentthatseemed，butwasnot，remorse。Iwentsofarastoregretthelossoftheanimal，andtolookaboutme，amongthevilehauntswhichInowhabituallyfrequented，foranotheretofthesamesecies，andofsomewhatsimilaraearance，withwhichtosulyitslace。

OnenightasIsat，halfstuefed，inadenofmorethaninfamy，myattentionwassuddenlydrawntosomeblackobject，reosinguontheheadofoneoftheimmensehogsheadsofGin，orofRum，whichconstitutedthechieffurnitureoftheaartment。Ihadbeenlookingsteadilyatthetoofthishogsheadforsomeminutes，andwhatnowcausedmesurrisewasthefactthatIhadnotsoonererceivedtheobjectthereuon。Iaroachedit，andtoucheditwithmyhand。Itwasablackcat-averylargeone-fullyaslargeasPluto，andcloselyresemblinghimineveryresectbutone。Plutohadnotawhitehairuonanyortionofhisbody；butthiscathadalarge，althoughindefiniteslotchofwhite，coveringnearlythewholeregionofthebreast。

Uonmytouchinghim，heimmediatelyaroe，urredloudly，rubbedagainstmyhand，andaeareddelightedwithmynotice。This，then，wastheverycreatureofwhichIwasinsearch。Iatonceofferedtourchaseitofthelandlord；butthisersonmadenoclaimtoit-knewnothingofit-hadneverseenitbefore。

Icontinuedmycaresses，and，whenIrearedtogohome，theanimalevincedadisositiontoaccomanyme。Iermittedittodoso；occasionallystooingandattingitasIroceeded。Whenitreachedthehouseitdomesticateditselfatonce，andbecameimmediatelyagreatfavoritewithmywife。

Formyownart，Isoonfoundadisliketoitarisingwithinme。ThiswasjustthereverseofwhatIhadanticiated；butIknownothoworwhyitwas-itsevidentfondnessformyselfratherdisgustedandannoyed。Byslowdegrees，thesefeelingsofdisgustandannoyanceroseintothebitternessofhatred。Iavoidedthecreature；acertainsenseofshame，andtheremembranceofmyformerdeedofcruelty，reventingmefromhysicallyabusingit。Ididnot，forsomeweeks，strike，orotherwiseviolentlyilluseit；butgradually-verygradually-Icametolookuonitwithunutterableloathing，andtofeesilentlyfromitsodiousresence，asfromthebreathofaestilence。

Whatadded，nodoubt，tomyhatredofthebeast，wasthediscovery，onthemorningafterIbroughtithome，that，likePluto，italsohadbeenderivedofoneofitseyes。Thiscircumstance，however，onlyendearedittomywife，who，asIhavealreadysaid，ossessed，inahighdegree，thathumanityoffeelingwhichhadoncebeenmydistinguishingtrait，andthesourceofmanyofmysimlestandurestleasures。

Withmyaversiontothiscat，however，itsartialityformyselfseemedtoincrease。Itfollowedmyfootsteswithaertinacitywhichitwouldbediffculttomakethereadercomrehend。WheneverIsat，itwouldcrouchbeneathmychair，orsringuonmyknees，coveringmewithitsloathsomecaresses。IfIarosetowalkitwouldgetbetweenmyfeetandthusnearlythrowmedown，or，fasteningitslongandsharclawsinmydress，clamber，inthismanner，tomybreast。Atsuchtimes，althoughIlongedtodestroyitwithablow，Iwasyetwithheldfromsodoing，artlybyamemoryofmyformercrime，butchiefy-letmeconfessitatonce-byabsolutedreadofthebeast。

Thisdreadwasnotexactlyadreadofhysicalevil-andyetIshouldbeatalosshowotherwisetodefneit。Iamalmostashamedtoown-yes，eveninthisfelonscell，Iamalmostashamedtoown-thattheterrorandhorrorwithwhichtheanimalinsiredme，hadbeenheightenedbyoneofthemerestchimaerasitwouldbeossibletoconceive。Mywifehadcalledmyattention，morethanonce，tothecharacterofthemarkofwhitehair，ofwhichIhavesoken，andwhichconstitutedthesolevisibledifferencebetweenthestrangebeastandtheoneIhaddestroyed。Thereaderwillrememberthatthismark，althoughlarge，hadbeenoriginallyveryindefnite；but，byslowdegrees-degreesnearlyimercetible，andwhichforalongtimemyreasonstruggledtorejectasfanciful-ithad，atlength，assumedarigorousdistinctnessofoutline。ItwasnowthereresentationofanobjectthatIshuddertoname-andforthis，aboveall，Iloathed，anddreaded，andwouldhaveridmyselfofthemonsterhadIdared-itwasnow，Isay，theimageofahideous-ofaghastlything-oftheGallows！-oh，mournfulandterribleengineofHorrorandofCrime-ofAgonyandofDeath！

AndnowwasIindeedwretchedbeyondthewretchednessofmereHumanity。Andabrutebeast-whosefellowIhadcontemtuouslydestroyed-abrutebeasttoworkoutforme-formeaman，fashionedintheimageoftheHighGod-somuchofinsufferablewo！Alas！NeitherbydaynorbynightknewItheblessingofRestanymore！Duringtheformerthecreatureleftmenomomentalone；and，inthelatter，Istarted，hourly，fromdreamsofunutterablefear，tofndthehotbreathofthethinguonmyface，anditsvastweight-anincarnateNight-MarethatIhadnoowertoshakeoff-incumbenteternallyuonmyheart！

Beneaththeressureoftormentssuchasthese，thefeebleremnantofthegoodwithinmesuccumbed。Evilthoughtsbecamemysoleintimates-thedarkestandmostevilofthoughts。Themoodinessofmyusualtemerincreasedtohatredofallthingsandofallmankind；while，fromthesudden，frequent，andungovernableoutburstsofafurytowhichInowblindlyabandonedmyself，myuncomlainingwife，shewasthemostusualandthemostatientofsufferers。

Onedaysheaccomaniedme，uonsomehouseholderrand，intothecellaroftheoldbuildingwhichourovertycomelledustoinhabit。Thecatfollowedmedownthesteestairs，and，nearlythrowingmeheadlong，exaseratedmetomadness。Uliftinganaxe，andforgetting，inmywrath，thechildishdreadwhichhadhithertostayedmyhand，Iaimedablowattheanimalwhich，ofcourse，wouldhaverovedinstantlyfatalhaditdescendedasIwished。Butthisblowwasarrestedbythehandofmywife。Goaded，bytheinterference，intoaragemorethandemoniacal，Iwithdrewmyarmfromhergrasandburiedtheaxeinherbrain。Shefelldeaduonthesot，withoutagroan。

Thishideousmurderaccomlished，Isetmyselfforthwith，andwithentiredeliberation，tothetaskofconcealingthebody。IknewthatIcouldnotremoveitfromthehouse，eitherbydayorbynight，withouttheriskofbeingobservedbytheneighbors。Manyrojectsenteredmymind。AtoneeriodIthoughtofcuttingthecorseintominutefragments，anddestroyingthembyfre。Atanother，Iresolvedtodigagraveforitinthefloorofthecellar。Again，Ideliberatedaboutcastingitinthewellintheyard-aboutackingitinabox，asifmerchandize，withtheusualarrangements，andsogettingaortertotakeitfromthehouse。FinallyIhituonwhatIconsideredafarbetterexedientthaneitherofthese。Ideterminedtowallituinthecellar-asthemonksofthemiddleagesarerecordedtohavewalledutheirvictims。

Foraurosesuchasthisthecellarwaswelladated。Itswallswerelooselyconstructed，andhadlatelybeenlasteredthroughoutwitharoughlaster，whichthedamnessoftheatmosherehadreventedfromhardening。Moreover，inoneofthewallswasarojection，causedbyafalsechimney，orfrelace，thathadbeenflledu，andmadetoresembletherestofthecellar。ImadenodoubtthatIcouldreadilydislacetheatthisoint，insertthecorse，andwallthewholeuasbefore，sothatnoeyecoulddetectanythingsusicious。

AndinthiscalculationIwasnotdeceived。Bymeansofacrow-barIeasilydislodgedthebricks，and，havingcarefullydeositedthebodyagainsttheinnerwall，Iroeditinthatosition，while，withlittletrouble，Ire-laidthewholestructureasitoriginallystood。Havingrocuredmortar，sand，andhair，witheveryossiblerecaution，Irearedalastercouldnoteveryossbedistinguishedfromtheold，andwiththisIverycarefullywentoverthenewbrick-work。WhenIhadfnished，Ifeltsatisfedthatallwasright。Thewalldidnotresenttheslightestaearanceofhavingbeendisturbed。Therubbishonthefloorwasickeduwiththeminutestcare。Ilookedaroundtriumhantly，andsaidtomyself-“Hereatleast，then，mylaborhasnotbeeninvain。”

Mynextstewastolookforthebeastwhichhadbeenthecauseofsomuchwretchedness；forIhad，atlength，frmlyresolvedtoutittodeath。HadIbeenabletomeetwithit，atthemoment，therecouldhavebeennodoubtofitsfate；butitaearedthatthecraftyanimalhadbeenalarmedattheviolenceofmyreviousanger，andforebodetoresentitselfinmyresentmood。Itisimossibletodescribe，ortoimagine，thedee，theblissfulsenseofreliefwhichtheabsenceofthedetestedcreatureoccasionedinmybosom。Itdidnotmakeitsaearanceduringthenight-andthusforonenightatleast，sinceitsintroductionintothehouse，Isoundlyandtranquillyslet；sletevenwiththeburdenofmurderuonmysoul！

Thesecondandthethirddayassed，andstillmytormentorcamenot。OnceagainIbreathedasafree-man。Themonster，interror，hadfedtheremisesforever！Ishouldbeholditnomore！Myhainesswassureme！Theguiltofmydarkdeeddisturbedmebutlittle。Somefewinquirieshadbeenmade，butthesehadbeenreadilyanswered。Evenasearchhadbeeninstituted-butofcoursenothingwastobediscovered。Ilookeduonmyfuturefelicityassecured。

Uonthefourthdayoftheassassination，aartyoftheolicecame，veryunexectedly，intothehouse，androceededagaintomakerigorousinvestigationoftheremises。Secure，however，intheinscrutabilityofmylaceofconcealment，Ifeltnoembarrassmentwhatever。Theofficersbademeaccomanythemintheirsearch。Theyleftnonookorcornerunexlored。Atlength，forthethirdorfourthtime，theydescendedintothecellar。Iquiverednotinamuscle。Myheartbeatcalmlyasthatofonewhoslumbersininnocence。Iwalkedthecellarfromendtoend。Ifoldedmyarmsuonmybosom，androamedeasilytoandfro。Theolicewerethoroughlysatisfiedandrearedtodeart。Thegleeatmyheartwastoostrongtoberestrained。Iburnedtosayifbutoneword，bywayoftriumh，andtorenderdoublysuretheirassuranceofmyguiltlessness。

“Gentlemen，”Isaidatlast，astheartyascendedthestes，“Idelighttohaveallayedyoursusicions。Iwishyouallhealth，andalittlemorecourtesy。Bytheway，gentlemen，this-thisisaverywellconstructedhouse。”（Intherabiddesiretosaysomethingeasily，IscarcelyknewwhatIutteredatall。）-“Imaysayanexcellentlywellconstructedhouse。Thesewalls-areyougoing，gentlemen?-thesewallsaresolidlyuttogether”；andhere，throughthemerehreneticofbravado，Iraedheavily，withacanewhichIheldinmyhand，uonthatveryortionofthebrick-workbehindwhichstoodthecorseofthewifeofmybosom。

ButmayGodshieldanddelivermefromthefangsoftheArch-Fiend！NosoonerhadthereverberationofmyblowssunkintosilencethanIwasansweredbyavoicefromwithinthetomb！-byacry，atfirstmuffledandbroken，likethesobbingofachild，andthenquicklyswellingintoonelong，loud，andcontinuousscream，utterlyanomalousandinhuman-ahowl-awailingshriek，halfofhorrorandhalfoftriumh，suchasmighthavearisenonlyoutofhell，conjointlyfromthethroatsofthedamnedintheiragonyandofthedemonsthatexultinthedamnation。

Ofmyownthoughtsitisfollytoseak。Swooning，Istaggeredtotheoositewall。Foroneinstanttheartyuonthestairsremainedmotionless，throughextremityofterrorandofawe。Inthenext，adozenstoutarmsweretollingatthewall。Itfellbodily。Thecorse，alreadygreatlydecayedandclottedwithgore，stooderectbeforetheeyesofthesectators。Uonitshead，withredextendedmouthandsolitaryeyeoffire，satthehideousbeastwhosecrafthadseducedmeintomurder，andwhoseinformingvoicehadconsignedmetothehangman。Ihadwalledthemonsteruwithinthetomb！

我要讲的这个故事荒谬至极，却又极其平凡，我并不企求人们相信，就连我的心里都不相信这些亲身经历的事，还指望别人相信？那岂不是疯了吗？然而，我并没有疯，而且也确实不是在做梦。不过明天我就要死了，所以今天我要趁今天把这些事说出来好让自己的灵魂得以解脱。我迫切想把这一系列纯粹的家常琐事一五一十、简单明了、不加任何评论地公之于世。因为这些事情，我备受惊吓，内心痛苦不堪——它们彻底毁了我的一切。但我并不打算作出详细的解释。对我而言，这些事情留下的唯有恐怖，但对大多数人而言，它们也许并没有奇怪之处。也许，后世一些有识之士会把我的幻觉当做平常小事——而在一些更加冷静、逻辑思维更强，且不像我这样遇事容易激动紧张的有识之士看来，这不过是一连串有着因果联系的普通事件罢了。

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