THE WAVE.

An Egyptian Aftermath.

BY

ALGERNON BLACKWOOD.

Author of 'Education of Uncle Paul,' 'A Prisoner in Fairyland' Etc.

MACMILLAN AND CO LIMITED St Martin's Street LONDON. 1916

TO

M. S.=K.

EGYPT'S FORGETFUL AND UNWILLING CHILD.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER LINKS

PART I

PART II

PART III

PART IV

CHAPTER I.

Since childhood days he had been haunted by a Wave.

It appeared with the very dawn of thought, and was his earliest recollection of any vividness. It was also his first experience of nightmare: a wave of an odd, dun colour, almost tawny, that rose behind him, advanced, curled over in the act of toppling, and then stood still. It threatened, but it did not fall. It paused, hovering in a position contrary to nature; it waited.

Something prevented; it was not meant to fall; the right moment had not yet arrived.

If only it would fall! It swept across the skyline in a huge, long curve far overhead, hanging dreadfully suspended. Beneath his feet he felt the roots of it withdrawing; he shuffled furiously and made violent efforts; but the suction undermined him where he stood. The ground yielded and dropped away. He only sank in deeper. His entire weight became