Speaking of the Devil, by the beginning of Chapter 15 the Guide points out
to the Man that a certain luminosity is already beginning to manifest. In
Mr. Cater's scheme of things, this is accounted for by the breakup of soft,
invisible particles which release visible particles ( when they break up ):
A ZONE OF LIGHT DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH
" Oh ! for one glimpse of light, a ray of sunshine!"
In reply to this my mental ejaculation, my guide said: " Can not you
perceive that the darkness is becoming less intense ?"
" No," I answered, " I can not; night is absolute."
" Are you sure?" lie asked. " Cover your eyes with your hand, then uncover
and open them." I did so and fancied that by contrast a faint gray line was
apparent.
" This must be imagination."
" No; we now approach a zone of earth light; let us hasten on."
" A zone of light deep in the earth! Incomprehensible! Incredible!" I
muttered, and yet as we went onward and time passed the darkness was less
intense. The barely perceptible hue became gray and somber, and then of a
pearly translucence, and although I could not distillgttish the outline of
objects, yet I unquestionably perceived light.
" I am amazed! What can be the cause of this phenomenon ? What is the nature
of this mysterious halo that surrounds us?" I held my open hand before my
eyes, and perceived the darkness of my spread fingers.
" It is light, it is light," I shouted; " it is really light!" And from near
and from far the echoes of that subterranean cavern answered back joyfully,
" It is light, it is light!"
I wept in joy, and threw my arms about my guide, forgetting in the ecstasy
his clammy cuticle, and danced in hysterical glee and alternately laughed
and cried. How vividly I realized then that the imprisoned miner would give
a world of gold, his former god, for a ray of light.
" Compose yourself; this emotional exhibition is all evidence of weakness;
an investigator should neither become depressed over a reverse, nor unduly
enthusiastic over a fortunate discovery."
But we approach the earth's surface ? Soon I will be back in the sunshine
again."
" Upon the contrary, we have been continually descending into the earth, and
we are now ten miles or more beneath the level of the ocean."
···
To: Members
From: Dharma/Dean