Read A Pleasure to Burn for Free Online Page B

the file card. He was one of the authors in the Great Burning of 2265.”
    â€œHow ignorant of me.”
    â€œThat’s all right,” she said. “Have you heard much of him?”
    â€œHe had some interesting barbarian ideas on death,” said Lantry.
    â€œHorrible ones,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “Ghastly.”
    â€œYes. Ghastly. Abominable, in fact. Good thing he was burned. Unclean. By the way, do you have any of Lovecraft?”
    â€œIs that a sex book?”
    Lantry exploded with laughter. “No, no. It’s a man.”
    She riffled the file. “He was burned, too. Along with Poe.”
    â€œI suppose that applies to Machen and a man named Derleth and one named Ambrose Bierce, also?”
    â€œYes.” She shut the file cabinet. “All burned. And good riddance.” She gave him an odd warm look of interest. “I bet you’ve just come back from Mars.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?”
    â€œThere was another explorer in here yesterday. He’d just made the Mars hop and return. He was interested in supernatural literature, also. It seems there are actually ‘tombs’ on Mars.”
    â€œWhat are ‘tombs’?” Lantry was learning to keep his mouth closed.
    â€œYou know, those things they once buried people in.”
    â€œBarbarian custom. Ghastly!”
    â€œ Isn’t it? Well, seeing the Martian tombs made this young explorer curious. He came and asked if we had any of those authors you mentioned. Of course we haven’t even a smitch of their stuff.” She looked at his pale face. “You are one of the Martian rocket men, aren’t you?”
    â€œYes,” he said. “Got back on the ship the other day.”
    â€œThe other young man’s name was Burke.”
    â€œOf course. Burke! Good friend of mine!”
    â€œSorry I can’t help you. You’d best get yourself some vitamin shots and some sun-lamp. You look terrible, Mr.—?”
    â€œLantry. I’ll be good. Thanks ever so much. See you next Hallows’ Eve!”
    â€œAren’t you the clever one.” She laughed. “If there were a Hallows’ Eve, I’d make it a date.”
    â€œBut they burned that, too,” he said.
    â€œOh, they burned everything,” she said. “Good night.”
    â€œGood night.” And he went on out.
    Â 
    O H, HOW CAREFULLY HE WAS BALANCED in this world! Like some kind of dark gyroscope, whirling with never a murmur, a very silent man. As he walked along the eight o’clock evening street he noticed with particular interest that there was not an unusual amount of lights about. There were the usual street lights at each corner, but the blocks themselves were only faintly illuminated. Could it be that these remarkable people were not afraid of the dark? Incredible nonsense! Everyone was afraid of the dark. Even he himself had been afraid, as a child. It was as natural as eating.
    A little boy ran by on pelting feet, followed by six others. They yelled and shouted and rolled on the dark cool October lawn, in the leaves. Lantry looked on for several minutes before addressing himself to one of the small boys who was for a moment taking a respite, gathering his breath into his small lungs, as a boy might blow to refill a punctured paper bag.
    â€œHere, now,” said Lantry. “You’ll wear yourself out.”
    â€œSure,” said the boy.
    â€œCould you tell me,” said the man, “why there are no street lights in the middle of the blocks?”
    â€œWhy?” asked the boy.
    â€œI’m a teacher, I thought I’d test your knowledge,” said Lantry.
    â€œWell,” said the boy, “you don’t need lights in the middle of the block, that’s why.”
    â€œBut it gets rather dark,” said Lantry.
    â€œSo?” said the boy.
    â€œAren’t you afraid?” asked Lantry.
    â€œOf what?” asked the