O. Henryana

<h3 class="title">A Lunar Episode</h3> <p>The scene was one of supernatural weirdness. Tall, fantastic mountains reared their seamed peaks over a dreary waste of igneous rock and burned-out lava beds. Deep lakes of black water stood motionless as glass under frowning, honeycombed crags, from which ever and anon dropped crumbled masses with a sullen plunge. Vegetation there was none. Bitter cold reigned and ridges of black and shapeless rocks cut the horizon on all sides. An extinct volcano loomed against a purple sky, black as night and old as the world.</p> <p>The firmament was studded with immense stars that shone with a wan and spectral light. Orion’s belt hung high above.</p> <p>Aldebaran faintly shone millions of miles away, and the earth gleamed like a new-risen moon with a lurid, blood-like glow.</p> <p>On a lofty mountain that hung toppling above an ink-black sea stood a dwelling built of stone. From its solitary window came a bright light that gleamed upon the misshapen rocks. The door opened and two men emerged locked in a deadly struggle.</p> <p>They swayed and twisted upon the edge of the precipice, now one gaining the advantage, now the other.</p> <p>Strong men they were, and stone rolled from their feet into the valley as each strove to overcome the other.</p> <p>At length one prevailed. He seized his opponent, and raising him high above his head, hurled him into space.</p> <p>The vanquished combatant shot through the air like a stone from a catapult in the direction of the luminous earth.</p> <p>“That’s three of ’em this week,” said the Man in the Moon as he lit a cigarette and turned back into the house. “Those New York interviewers are going to make me tired if they keep this thing up much longer.”</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />