| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft: from the mindless Other Gods from Outside, whose soul and messenger
is the crawling chaos Nyarlathotep. Their jealous hiding of the
marvellous sunset city shewed clearly that they did not wish Carter
to reach it, and it was doubtful how they would regard a guest
whose object was to see them and plead before them. No man had
ever found Kadath in the past, and it might be just as well if
none ever found it in the future. Such rumours as were told about
that onyx castle of the Great Ones were not by any means reassuring.
Having thanked the orchid-crowned High-Priest, Carter left the
temple and sought out the bazaar of the sheep-butchers, where
the old chief of Celephais' cats dwelt sleek and contented. That
 The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Coxon Fund by Henry James: ago," Mrs. Mulville went on, "that she asked me to ask you if you
wouldn't come and see her. Then at last she spoke of your knowing
about the idea of the Endowment."
I turned this over. "Why on earth does she want to see me?"
"To talk with you, naturally, about Mr. Saltram."
"As a subject for the prize?" This was hugely obvious, and I
presently returned: "I think I'll sail to-morrow for Australia."
"Well then--sail!" said Mrs. Mulville, getting up.
But I frivolously, continued. "On Thursday at five, we said?" The
appointment was made definite and I enquired how, all this time,
the unconscious candidate had carried himself.
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