“I heard a scream. It was Edith’s voice. It came to me that she had heard the shots and followed me. I felt every faculty concentrate into a mighty effort. I wrenched myself free from the gripping tentacle and it swept back. I turned to catch Edith, and as I did so slipped⁠—fell.

“The radiant shape above the Pool leaped swiftly⁠—and straight into it raced Edith, arms outstretched to shield me from it! God!

“She threw herself squarely within its splendour,” he whispered. “It wrapped its shining self around her. The crystal tinklings burst forth jubilantly. The light filled her, ran through and around her as it had with Stanton; and dropped down upon her face⁠—the look!

“But her rush had taken her to the very verge of the Moon Pool. She tottered; she fell⁠—with the radiance still holding her, still swirling and winding around and through her⁠—into the Moon Pool! She sank, and with her went⁠—the Dweller!