Nigracxa Mallumo (Wretchedly Black Darkness)
an excerpt

Nigracxa Mallumo (Wretchedly Black Darkness)

de Simmon KEITH (by Simmon Keith)

Petro trovis sin (Peter found himself) en mallumo (in darkness). Estis la plej malluma senlumeco (It was the darkest darkness), kiun li iam ajn spertis (that he had ever experienced). La manko de brileco (The lack of brightness) timige rapidigis lian koron (quickened his heart with fear), kiel benzino antauxenigas auxton (like gasoline makes a car go forward). Nigro (Blackness). Nigrego (Intense blackness). Nigracxo (Wreched blackness)!

"Ho, miaj dioj (Oh, my gods), savu min (save me)!" Estis senpena elvocxo (It was an involuntary outburst), eble senpensa (perhaps thoughtless). La vortoj nur elfluis (The words just flowed out) malgraux lia timo (despite his fear), aux, plej versxajne (or, most probably), pro ili (because of them). Li sciis ke krio (He knew that an outcry), nur atentigus aliajn estajxojn (would just alert other beings) pri lia cxeesto (of his presence), kaj li kutime emis (and he ordinarily was inclined) resti silenta (to remain silent), sed lia timo tenis lin (but his fear held him) en siaj tentakloj (in its tentacles). Tiel li konis timon (in that way he knew fear), kiel beston (like an animal), kiel monstron (like a monster) de la profundaj (from the deep), malpuraj (dirty), subakvaj kavoj (underwater caves) en nigra oceano (in a black sea) de antikva fantazia mondo (of an ancient, fantasy world). Lia timo strangulis lin (His fear strangled him), tiel forte ke li (so stronly that he) dum momento dubis (doubted for a moment) ke la elvocxo estis de vi (that the outcry was from him). Lia korgxo estis tiel stretcxita (His throat was so tight) ke la kredis sian vocxon esti (that he believed his voice to be) la vocxo de strangulo (the voice of a stranger), strangulata strangulo (a strangled stranger). Li penis movi sin (He tried to move himself) for de la vocxo (away from the voice) por ke la estajxoj (so that the being) ne trovu lin (wouldn't find him) kun la kriinto (with the one who cried out). Tamen (However), preskaux tuj (almost immediately) li ekbatis sian kapon (he hit hit head) kontraux muron (against a wall) de malseka, sxlima roko (of wet, slimy rock).

"Oj (Ow)!" kriis la vocxo denove (the voice cried again). Cxi-foje, li konstatis ke (This time, he realized that) gxi apartenas al li (it belonged to him). "Estu silenta (Be silent)," li flustris al si (he whispered to himself). Lia kapo doloris lin (His head was hurting him), sed la malsekeco de la muro (but the wetness of the wall) iom trankviligis lin (calmed him down a bit). Ne nur estis la mallumo (It wasn't just the darkness) kiu timigis lin (which scared him), sed la manko de sentoj (but the absence of senses). Li tusxis la muron (He touched the wall), palpis gxin per siaj longaj fingroj (groped it with his long fingers). Li gustumis la likvidon (He tasted the liquid). Gxi gustis kiel akvo (It tasted like water), sed kun sulfuro (but with sulfur). Gxi estis varma (It was warm). Kaj estis varma likvido (And there was warm liquid) sur lia kapo (on his head), kiu, laux lia kredo (which he believed), estis akvo (was water) . Tial li ne rimarkis (For that reason, he didn't notice) ke gxi estis sango fluanta (that there was blood flowing) el lia doloranta kapo (out of his hurting head).

Se Petro scius pri la sango (If Peter had known about the blood), li pli timus (he would've been more fearful) pri tio ol sia vocxo (about that than his voice). Li ofte auxdis rakontojn (He often heard stories) pri estajxoj (about beings) kiuj logxas en mallumaj lokoj (which live in dark places). Kaj li time kredis ilin (And he fearfully believed them) malgraux la mokoj (despite the mockings) de siaj samagxuloj (of his peers). Jam antaux kelkaj jaroj (Already a few years past) la geknaboj je lia agxo (The kids his age) cxesis kredi tiajn rakontojn (stopped believing those kinds of stories). Pro la manko de pruvo (Because of the lack of proof), ili konstatis ke la rakontoj (they figured out that the stories) estis malveraj timigiloj (were false scare tactics) utilaj por obeigi infanojn (useful to make children behave).

Sed la estajxoj (But the beings) ne nur lokis en rakontoj (not only were located in stories). Ili ja trovigxis (They actually could be found) en mallumaj lokoj (in dark places). Kaj Petro juste timus (And Peter would have been justified to fear) se li scius pri sia sango (if he had known about his blood), cxar tiuj estajxoj (since those beings) kapablis senti sangon (were capable of sensing blood). Ili ne precize flaris (They didn't smell, exactly), sed ili kapablis rimarki (but they were able to notice) odorojn per siaj sentiloj (odors with their smelling aparatus). Laux iliaj spertoj (In their experience), krioj ne cxiam (shouts didn't always) signifas mangxajxon (mean food). Tial (For that reason), Petro ne timu (Peter shouldn't fear) sian vocxon (his own voice). Tamen, sango tre ofte (However, blood quite often) kondukis la estajxojn (lead the beings) al mangxo (to a meal). Kaj mangxon ili ja volis (And it was a meal they really wanted). Dum kelkaj semajnoj (For a couple of weeks) ili restis senmovaj (they had stayed still), sxparantaj forton, atendante (conserving strength, waiting), esperante ke la malsato (hoping that the hunger) baldaux cxesos (would soon cease). Sed la malsato kreskis tiom (But the hunger grew so much) ke ili preskaux pretis (that they were almost ready) vagi supren (to wander upwards), al la luma mondo (to the light world), al la lauxta, brila, dolora mondo (to the loud, bright, hurtful world) por trovi mangxajxon (in order to find food).

Sed nun, sxajnis ke (But now, it seemed that) tia vojagxo (that kind of trip) ne plu necesas (was no longer necessary).

"Rugxa nutrajx' (Red nourishment)," unu flustris al si (one whispered to itself). "Rugxa nutrajx' venis (Red nourishment came). La likvid' de l' viv' (Th' liquid o' life) trinkigxu de ni (should be drunk by us). Ni nutrigxu (We should be nourished) per gxi (by it), ni vekigxu (we should awake), ni vigligxu (we should become alert again), ni refortigxu (we should become strong again). Ni iru al gxi (We should go to it), al la rugxa nutrajx' (to th' red nourishment), al la likvid' de l' viv' (to th' liquid o' life), por trinki (in order to drink), leki (to lick), mardi . . . (to bite . . .) mortigi (to kill)."

"Pensu (Think)," Petro diris al si (Peter said to himself). "Pensu, Petro, pensu (Think, Peter, think)."

Li frotis siajn templojn (He rubbed his temples). Venis al li memoro nubeca (A cloudy memory came to him). Li memoris viron (He remembered a man) kun oficeja kostumo (with a office uniform). Estis lauxta riprocxo (There was a loud reprimand). Lin la viro riprocxis (It was him they scolded). Minaco implikigxis (A threat was implied). Minaco pri . . . (A threat of . . .) pri kio (about what)?

"Mi ne memoras (I don't remember). Kial mi ne memoras (Why don't I remember)? Kion mi faris (What did I do)? Kio okazis (What happened)? Kial mi estas cxi tie (Why am I here), cxi tie en la mallumo (here in the dark)?" Li suspiris (He sighed), penante pensi pli klare (Trying to think more clearly). "Io . . . io fiaskis (Something . . . something went wrong). Ia malbonajxo okazis (Some kind of bad thing happened), pri la projekto (about the project), pri -- (about --)"

Gxuste tiam (Just then), rato kuris (a rat ran) trans liajn piedojn (across his feet).

"Iiiiiiiija (Yaaargh)!" kriis Petro (cried Peter), saltante malantauxen (jumping backwards). "Kio diable estis tio (What the devil was that)?" Gxi tiel surprizis lin (It startled him thus) cxar liaj piedoj (because his feet) estis sen sxuoj (were without shoes). Kiel li ne rimarkis tion (How he hadn't noticed that), li ne sciis (he didn't know). Sed nun (But now) pro la rimarko (because of noticing), li subite trovis ilin malvarmaj (He suddenly found them cold). "Brrr (Burrr)!"

Guto da sango (A drop of blood) falis de lia kapo (fell from his head) sur lian piedon (onto his food) kun varma pezeco (with warm weight). "Ahx (Ack)!" li kriis (he yelled), kredante ke la rato (believing that the rat) denove tusxis lian piedon (had again touched his foot). Sed la sento restis (But the feeling remained). La densa likvido (The thick liquid) malrapide fluis malsupren (slowly flowed down). Gxi tre gxenis lin (It bothered him a lot), komencante juki lin (starting to make him itch). Kun malkontenta grunto (With an incontent grunt), li kauxris por grati (he crouched to scratch) sian piedan hauxton (the skin of his foot). Tuj post tusxi gxin (Immediately after touching it) li rimarkis (he noticed), kial li gxenigxis (why he was bothered). Io estis sur lia piedo (Something was on his foot), kaj nun sur liaj fingroj (and now on his fingers). Li venigis fingron (He brought a finger) al sia nazo (to his nose). La odoro estis fereca (The smell was like iron). Dum li flaris gxin (While he smelled it), penante kompreni (trying to comprehend), alia guto da sango (another drop of blood) glitis malsupren laux lia frunto (slid down his forehead) kaj falis sur lian manon (and fell onto his hand). Li levis la manon (He lifted his hand) al la frunto (to his forehead) kaj trovis tie (and found there) pli da sango (more blood). Li palpis lian hararon (He felt his hair), trovis gxin gluece malseka (found it gluey-moist). Post iom da palpado (After some feeling around) li trovis la vundon (he found the wound) kaj sakris pro doloro (and swore from pain).

"Damne (Damn it)! Damninda muro (Damn wall), vi vundis min (you wounded me)!" Li tusxis la vundon (He touched the wound) kaj tremetis (and winced). Li retusxis kaj tuj (He retouched it and immediately) forgesis la doloron (forgot the pain). Se li ne estus en tiel mallumo loko (If he hadn't been in such a dark place), oni povus vidi lian palecon (one could've seen his paleness). Li subite memoris (He suddenly remembered) la rakonton pri la estajxoj (the story about the beings), pri la mallumujaj vagantoj (about the wanderers of the dark), la monstroj (the monsters) de la subtera mallumo (of the underground darkness).

"Mi estas mortonta (I'm dead meat)," li diris (he said) iom tro trankvile (a little too calmly). "Mi estos mortinta (I'll be dead)." La sono de lia koro (The sound of his heart) batis en liaj oreloj (beat in his ears). "Mi mortos (I'm gonna die)." Lia timo fikse tenis lin (His fear held him fast). La tentakloj de timo (The tentacles of fear) denove cxirkauxis lin (surrounded him again) kaj premis (and squeezed), premis gxis aero (squeezed until air) ne plu restis en liaj pulmoj (no longer remained in his lungs).

Lauxta bruo surprizis lin (A loud noise surpised him) el lia stulteco (out of his stupor). Li penis krii (He tried to cry out), sed neniu sono (but no sound) eliris lian korgxon (escaped his throat). Li anstataux enspiris (Instead, he inhaled), kaj tenis la aeron (and held the air) en siaj pulmoj (in his lungs). Li sin tenis senmova (He held himself motionless), senbrua (noiseless), sen ia ajn plano (without any kind of plan). La bruo sonis denove (The noise sounded again.). Petro kredis gxin esti (Peter believes it to be) bato kontraux metalo (hammering against metal). Gxi venis denove (It came again) kaj denove, ritme (and again, rhythmically) gxis fine sonis (until finally came the sound of ) metalajxo falanta sur plankon (something metal falling onto the floor.

Knar (Creak)! Metalo skrapis kontraux metalo (Metal scraped against metal). Pum (Boom)! Gxi sonis kiel granda pordo (It sounded like a big door). La sono ehxis (The sound echoed) kvazaux tra longa koridoro (as if through a long hallway). Kaj jen pasxoj auxdeblaj (And then footsteps were audible), kiuj sxajne venis (which seemingly were coming) pli kaj pli proksimaj (closer and closer). Petro kauxris (Peter crouched), esperante ke la rato jam forkuris (hoping that the rat had already run off). Li ne volis surprizigxi (He didn't want to be startled) kaj denove krii (and shout again). Kiu aux kio venis (Whoever or whatever was coming), tiu aux tio (that one or that thing) povis esti, nu . . . (could be, well . . .) Petro forpusxis la penson (Peter pushed the thought away) kaj spiris kiel eble plej kvieta (and breathed as quietly as possible). Vocxo auxdeblis (A voice could be heard). Li auxdis du vocxojn (He heard two voices).

"Jes, gxi apartenas (Yes, it belongs) al la subvoja firmao (to the subway company)." diris unu el ili (said one of them).

"Do ni ne estu cxi tie (So we shouldn't be here)."

"Sed neniu de la firmao (But no one from the company) venis cxi tien (has come here) dum multaj jaroj (for many years). Sxajnas -- (It seems --)"

"Sed (But)!" la alia ekprotestis (the other began to protest).

"-- ke ili forgesis (that they have forgotten) pri gxi (about it)," finis la lauxtulo (finished the loud one).

"Sed ili povus reveni (But they could come back), cxu ne (right)?" Timo estis evidenta (Fear was evident) en lia vocxo (in his voice).

"Cxu vi vere kredas (Do you really believe) ke ili revenos (that they will come back)?" Pacienco disigxis de lia vocxo (Patience dissipated from his voice). "Vi vidis la seruron (You saw the lock). Gxi rustigxis (It rusted) antaux kelkaj jaroj (a few years ago). Neniuj venos (Nobody is going to come)."

Finfine (At long last) Petro ekpovis vidi (Peter was able to see) etan lumon (a small light). Gxi movigxis kiel posxlampo (It moved like a flashlight) en la mano (in the hand) de piediranta homo (of a walking person). Li iom trankviligxis (That calmed him a bit). La vocxoj jam kuragxigis lin (The voices had already encouraged him), sed vidi ilin (but to see them) ecx pli maltimigis lin (calmed his fears even more). Li ekstaris (He stood up).

"Nu, bone (Well, okay)." Lia timo sxajne ankoraux restis (Seemingly, his fear remained). "Sed kial ni devis veni (But why did we have to come)? Cxi tie (Here) mi sentas min malkomforta (I feel uncomfortable). Cxu ni ne povus (Couldn't we) sercxi aliloke (look elsewhere)?"

"Stultulo (Imbecile)!" La vocxon akompanis (The voice was accompanied by) sono de manplato (the sound of palm) kontraux kapo (against head).

"Oj (Ow)! Kial vi batis min (Why did you hit me)?" La sonoj de piedoj cxesis (The sounds of feet stopped).

"Idioto (Idiot)! Cxu mi ne klarigis al vi (Didn't I explain to you ) ke cxi tiaj estajxoj (that these kinds of beings) logxas nur en mallumo (live only in darkness)?"

"Nu, jes (Well, yes). Sed -- (But --)"

Lia vocxo (His voice) igxi pli lauxta (became louder). "Prizonanoj logxas (Prisoners live) en prizono, cxu (in prison, right)?"

"Jes, sed -- (Yes, but --)"

"Fisxoj nagxas en akvo (Fish swim in water)," Li pauxzis moke (He paused mockingly), "Cxu (Right)?"

"Jes, sed -- (Yes, but --)"

"Sed nenio (But nothing)!" Manplato denove frapis kapon (Palm again hit head). "Estajxoj de mallumo (Beings of dark) logxas en mallumo (live in darkness)!"

Nur eta grunto estis la respondo (Only a small grunt was the reply). La sono de piedoj (The sounds of feet) rekomencis proksimigxi (resumed coming closer). Petro (Peter) ne tre atente auxskultis (hadn't listened very attentively) iliajn vortojn (to their words). Li nur gxojigxis (He was just filling with joy) pro la cxeesto (because of the presence) de aliaj homoj (of other people). Se li auxskultintus (If he had been listening), li ne tiel kuragxus (He would not have been so brave). Sed dank' al lia malatento (But thanks to his inattentiveness), li komencis sukcesi transiri la kavon (was was beginning to succeed at crossing the cave). Li malfacile movis sin (He moved with difficulty) en la direkto de la vocxoj (in the direction of the voices), cxar la kava planko (since the cave floor) estis malseka (was wet) kaj kovrita de sxlima koto (and covered with slimey mud). De tempo al tempo (From time to time) lia piedo trovis akran rokon (His foot found a sharp rock) kaj Petro devis (and Peter had to) pli zorge repasxi (restep, more carefully). Pasxon post pasxo (Step by step) li proksimigxis al la koridoro (he got closer to the hallway). Li preskaux pretis (He was almost ready) voki ilin (to call out to them) kiam sono distris lin (when a sound distracted him).

"Ssssss (Ssssss)!" Vrrr, vrr, vrr (Whirrr, whirr, whirr). "Ssssss . . . (Sssss . . .)"

Petro turnis sian kapon (Peter turned his head) kaj auxskultis (and listened). Estis io tie (There was something there) en la mallumo (in the dark) kun li (with him). Gxi sonis serpenteca (It sounded snakelike), sed la sonoj ankaux estis masxinecaj (but the sound was machine-like, as well). Nun (Now) li auxdis gxin (he heard it) cxe la alia flanko (on his other side).

"Sssss (Sssss)!" Vrrr, vrrr, vrrr, vrrr (Whirrr, whirrr, whirrr, whirrr). "Sss sss sssss (Sss sss sssss)." Cxk-hxhx sxsxsx, cxk-hxhx sxsxsx , cxk (Chik-khkha shshsh, chik-khkha shshsh, chook)!

Petro ekkuris (Petro took off), sed tuj falis (but immediately fell) en koton (into the mud). Malantaux li (Behind him) venis pli da sonoj (came more sounds), kaj cxiu sono proksimigxis (and each sound was getting closer).

"Ssss (Ssss)!" Ft ft ft tsss (Ft ft ft tsss), ft ft ft tsss (ft ft ft tsss).

Timo brulis lian internon (Fear burned his insides). Lia brusto stretcxigxis (His chest tightened). Nun (Now) li estis certa (he was certain) pri sia antauxa timo (of his previous fear). Morton li ne povis eviti (death was not something he could avoid). Li fermis siajn okulojn (He closed his eyes) kaj atendis (and waited). Larmo (A tear) fluis el okulo (leaked out of an eye) dum li silente ploris (while he silently cried). Finfine (At long last), je la fino (at the end), la finajxo venis (the finale had come) fini lin (to finish him).

"Tie (There)!" kriis lauxta vocxo (shouted the loud voice). Gxi estis freneze gaja (It was crazily cheerful), sed samtempe kolera (but angry at the same time). "Kaj tie (And there)!

"Jen neto (Here's a net)!" ofertis la timema vocxo (offered the fearful voice).

"Forgesu la netojn (Forget the nets)! Postkuru ilin (Run after them)!"

Multe da bruoj (Lots of noise) eksplodis cxirkaux li (exploded around him). Serpente macxinaj sonoj disigxis (snakey machine sounds scattered) dum piedoj kuris (while feet ran) post ili (after them). Krioj kaj (Shouts and) nekompreneblaj elvocxoj (inexplicable vocalizations) malproksimigxis (got farther away) sed iliaj ehxoj (but their echos) restis dum multaj sekundoj (stayed for many seconds).

Petro tremis dum minutoj (Peter trembled for minutes). Finfine li ekkuragxis (Finally, he worked up the courage) malfermi la okuloj (open his eyes). Tio ne multe helpis (That didn't help much), cxar la mallumo (because the darkness) ankoraux estis profunda (was still profound). Li ekstaris (He stood up). Kiam neniu sono sekvis (When no sound followed), li rekomencis movigxi (he resumed moving) en la direkto (in the direction) de la koridoro (of the corridor). Li timis ke (He feared that) li ne plu memorus (he would no longer remember) kiel tien iri (how to get there), sed baldaux liaj manoj (but soon his hands) trafis muron (hit a wall). Iom da palpado (A bit of groping around) kondukis lin al (lead him to) vertikala trancxo (a vertical cut) en la roko (in the rock), kiu evidente estis (which was evidently) la komenco de la koridoro (the beginning of the hallway).

"Fu (Phew)!" Petro elspiris (Peter exhaled) kaj ripozis dum momento (and rested for a moment) antaux eniri la koridoron (before entering the corridor) gvidantan al la supergrunda mondo (leading to the world above ground).

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