Maurice Leblanc

“ A second series of ordeals was before her, more terrible than the first.
“There's death all about us,” she said.
He tried to smile:
“You are talking like the people of Sarek. You have the same fears...”
“They were right to be afraid. And you yourself feel the horror of it all.”
She rushed to the door, drew the bolt, tried to open it; but what could she do against that massive, iron-clad door?
Stephane seized her by the arm:
“One moment.... Listen.... It sounds as if...”
“Yes,” she said, “it's up there that they are knocking... above our heads... in Francois' cell...” ”

“ One idea flashed through the confusion of her mind: had she not sought to hasten Stephane's release because of what she knew of this man's love for her? And was it not an unworthy curiosity that had prompted her to make the attempt? A horrible idea, which she at once rejected, saying:
“No, I had to come. It is fate which is persecuting us.”
“Don't believe it,” said Stephane. “Everything will come right.”
“Too late!” said she, shaking her head.
“Why? How do we know that Francois has not left his cell? You yourself thought so just now....” ”

“ Francois....”
But there was no one at the upper opening, from which the ladder was still hanging by one of its hooks, well out of reach.
Veronique bent over the sea. At this spot, the swell of the cliff did not project as much as elsewhere; and she saw, in between the foam-topped reefs, a little pool of still, water, very calm and so deep that she could not see the bottom. She thought that death would be gentler there than on the sharp-pointed rocks and, yielding to a sudden longing to have done with it all and to avoid a lingering agony, she said to Stephane:
“Why wait for the end? ”

“ Then there was a sound like a sudden stoppage of machinery, followed by a violent jolt, and the whole wicket was covered. It was becoming impossible for them to stand erect.
They lay down on the slanting floor, bracing their feet against the granite edge.
Two more jerks occurred, each time pushing the upper end still higher. The top of the inner wall was reached; and the enormous mechanism moved slowly forward, along the ceiling, towards the opening of the cave. They could see very plainly that it would fit this opening exactly and close it hermetically, like a draw-bridge. ”

“ Nothing can separate a mother and son who have been brought together again.”
“We have found each other in death; we shall be united in death. I wish it might be at once! I don't want him to suffer!”
The agony was too great. With an effort she released her hands from Stephane's and made a movement to fling herself down. ”

“ But she immediately threw herself back against the draw-bridge, with a cry of amazement which was echoed by Stephane.
Something had passed before their eyes and disappeared again. It came from the left.
“The ladder!” exclaimed Stephane. “It's the ladder, isn't it?”
“Yes, it's Francois,” said Veronique, catching her breath with joy and hope, “He is saved. He is coming to rescue us.”
At that moment, the wall of torment was almost upright, vibrating implacably beneath their shoulders. The cave no longer existed behind them. The depths had already claimed them ”

“ They were dying in the accomplishment of a task unknown to themselves, to make up a total, so to speak, and for the fulfilment of absurd prophecies, of imbecile intentions, such as the orders given by the barbarian gods and formulated by fanatical priests. ”

“ VERONIQUE'S estimate was correct, provided that the door opened outwards and that her enemies were at once revealed to view. She therefore examined the door and suddenly observed that, against all logical expectation, it had a large strong bolt at the bottom. Should she make use of it? ”