The Hymn Beneath the Stones

"Is it not clear?" I demanded, having discoursed at length upon the method, then with deliberate care did I seal the lantern's valve, lest its light wander forth untamed.
"But I am not assured," quoth Li, "I have heard that the women of London are whiter than the driven snow, equal in nature and desire."
I rose from my seat and stood afore him, lantern in hand.
"Now," said I, "herein lies the new complication."
"Nay! This is the climax! This is the manner by which thou dost restore thy reputation as a Man! Thou, nay! We are most fortunate; more fortunate than Cornell-he who was hanged. And Cornell, more fortunate still than Dosden, who was crucified alive within the temple of Our Lady of Welshman-and yet remains alive unto this day!"
Li, his gaze fixed upon the coffin before him, glanced askance at me, and I strove to don a visage most resolute, that he might find courage to sanctify himself anew.
"Dost... dost I dare? But this is too swift... too swift..."
It is no trifling matter, and each soul must endure their own passage... I truly know the torment of his fear, shadowed as it is by the dark embraces of the earth.
"Thou shalt be interred but one day," I declared with firmness, "nay, not a day. A single night. At the sixth hour thou shalt be recovered."
I turned and advanced toward the coffin of death-upright it stood, of pine wood tall and steadfast, a small silver cross affixed at its head. I opened it, revealing the interior bare and unadorned, fitting and proper; here do mortals find their final rest, yea? Perhaps I shall join within three years hence!
I faced about, raised my lantern once more, and unsealed its valve a fraction further, hoping that the light I bestowed might quell Li's trembling heart for his ritual purification. The hands of the clock neared the seventh hour, twilight deepening, as I drew near:
"The time hath come, Li," I proclaimed, "Prepare thyself!"
I heard his breath, mingling with the air, warm and faint. He propped himself and strove to stand; I was forbidden to touch him until he had entered the coffin.
"Forgive me, Master Leontiy," he spoke, "might I have a moment's reprieve?" His cheeks paled.
"Hasten!" I commanded. "Wait-I must fetch thy burial shroud."
I departed briefly to the upper chamber to retrieve the shroud from the vault; upon my return, Li was already within his bier, arms set and leaned-his posture truly that of the dead-once more I entered the sepulcher's chamber and approached. I confess, his stance was dreadful indeed, though I had beheld more than a hundred souls this past year, yet Li's perfection chilled me to the marrow: verily a corpse lying within his coffin!
"Well then, Li, recount to me thy journey back to the surface, walking upon two feet!" I whispered, binding his head... his mouth was already sealed, bound fast unto his brow. I needed not adjust his pose, for it was immaculate.
So I dragged and closed the coffin, ascended to summon three hooded brethren from the Monastery-they would tend to his side...
For some thirty-six minutes they were absent, returning at last to me waiting outside the House of Burial. As ever, their report was given in the same measured cadence:
"The coffin is duly interred."
Then they departed, leaving me alone.
I ventured forth into the burial yard, treading carefully over untended grasses, seeking-and at length finding-Li's grave-those buried alive were marked by stones wrought of marble mingled with steatite-thus I could discern it even sans inscription...
No sound issued forth; he neither writhed nor wailed as do many subterranean witnesses. I waited briefly, thought it near the eighth hour... until-when I deemed all truly still, and my own fears lessened that his terror might overwhelm-at last I resolved to leave him.

A passing thought crossed my mind of Cornell's fate, for he crept before his appointed time and found the noose. I wished no other to share Cornell's end, though he was far baser than Li; moreover, Li protested his innocence in the slaying of noblewomen-the controversy endures. Yet, I pray he doth not creep forth ere his appointed hour. I dwell in the House of Burial only when one is interred alive-thus my presence here is but formality.

The phenomenon came at the hour of four before dawn, when I lay awake with half a cup of coffee, a smoldering cigarette, and the pages of Veloz.

I read in peace as was my wont, until a groan arose from the burial ground. Its volume was faint but clear, and I thought it came from beneath the earth, but no, no-it was not from below! I am accustomed to the moans of those beneath the soil, and well acquainted to distinguish sound of surface and subterranean realms. And as foreseen, this was unlike. I resolved to set down my magazine, rise, and stealthily slip outside with wary tread-grave robbers had oft appeared of late. In my right pocket, I clasped my pistol, prayers upon my lips, whilst the lantern on my left arm cast its full luminous breath. Out into the burial yard I stepped, weaving through brambles and pressing upon the grass, scrutinizing and watching, moving from tomb to tomb, until I reached Li's plot. I heard a crash thence, followed by moans, soft yet distinct. Drawing near with mounting dread, heart thumping in the silence save for that pained sound.

Three meters from the grave-I witnessed it-suddenly the earth before the headstone undulated like waves freshly cast; I halted, thrust my lantern forward, and saw-fingers emerging from the soil. I asked myself, "Li?" hoping the fingers would stir in reply. They did not. I dared to approach half a pace more; the groaning welled anew. Upon hearing it, hesitation fled-I dashed, stumbling, to the shed and seized a spade... I would save him! Li could not endure! He would not endure Here I saw what was meant for mine eyes... The shed bore a window facing the burial grounds... tombstones loomed dark and stark in the night, save Li's-the marker for those buried alive glowed faint beneath the moonlight's kiss-and I saw it clear whilst rummaging for the spade...

The light dimmed by the glass, yet I doubted the figure was a thief.
I could not discern its form more clearly, and could only guess it was a tall shadow, busy pouring phosphorescence upon Li's grave, listening or gazing somewhere as the groans rose anew from the plot. Again the earth rolled, waves breaking, phosphor scattered toward his resting place.
I retreated from the window, unbelieving, smiting myself to awaken from this nightmare! The dark silhouette lingered- I dared not leave the shed; perchance it had seen me when my lantern's beam fell upon it... it knew of my presence?

Steeling my courage, I peered once more, parted the curtain while praying sacred hymns, hoping it marked me not; but ill fate, for I was ensnared by darkness with gas exhaled into the air, visions fair and blossoming from realms unknown and never experienced by me-organ music sweet, rhythmic, and haunting, and so forth. When I emerged from the shadow through narrow space and starry night, the clock proclaimed the eighth hour. The spade still in my arm; I perceived the lost and unused had vanished. The door left ajar, I sank in bewilderment, then rose with care. My steeds were bridled.

I glanced toward the window-three robed clerics had gathered, their gaze fixed upon Li's grave. Swiftly I approached. As I arrived, one turned, then spoke in flat tone: "This one is burnt."
My eyes widened at once; blood surged to my brain, nerves clogged as with suffocating bind.
"Did you not keep watch?" the middle one demanded.
I stepped forward, answering, "I was awake the whole night," then bowed my head.
"Nonsense!" he snapped, then returned to his tasks.
Yea, what transpired last eve was more than a mere fantastical cliché. For plainly I saw the coffin ajar; scores of human scratch marks marred the door, and a corpse, unrecognizable save by name-Li-yet his eyes rolled back, mouth agape casting forth green luminescent dust. The robed men forbade my approach.
"Draw not near," said one, "let the rest be our concern!"
"This hath happened ere my redemption?" I demanded, trembling.
"Indeed, Lenny Nalder," was the curt reply.
The one in the midst joined after his companion's words:
"You should not have slept!" he chided, reproach heavy in his voice.
Yet I mastered my passion and dared to speak: "I slept, for last night the Devil crept forth and sang unto me!"