The next letter carries in its margin the words, “Turned east, following Cook instruc.” Once again consulting the Research Library files, I found that Captain James Cook had indeed passed this same section of sea in 1773 on his return voyage to England. What is more interesting is the fact that the following year the captain, usually a dead-accurate navigator, spent some considerable time wandering about in the area between 40 and 50 degrees latitude, and 120 and 130 degrees longitude. Certainly he could not have been
32
Some Notes Concerning a Green Box
there searching for something, as the area is as desolate a stretch of ocean as exists on this world.
The next legible note reads, “129 W, Bob discouraged, turning back w. current.” This can only mean that Professor Nolan did indeed expect to find something in this empty piece of sea and, as one would anticipate, he had not. Also, the reverse side of the letter contains the admonition, “coord wrong? check Sydney Bulletin.” At the time, this reference held no meaning for me.
There remained only one last notation of any consequence, and I have come to regard that one as the key to the entire baffling matter. It is at once the clearest and most mystifying of them all, and consists of three parts. The words, “check Lvcrft ref,” some cryptic symbols in Professor Turner’s hand, and one word, written underneath:
“CTHULHU”
The reference to a “Lvcrft” puzzled me utterly, until I chanced to mention it to a fellow student. He informed .me that my “Lvcrft” was possibly H. P. Lovecraft, a writer of the 20’s and 30’s who wrote weird-fantastic stories. Searching out an index of the man’s work,- I was both surprised and pleased to encounter a tale containing mention of the odd word “Cthulhu,” entitled The Call of Cthulhu. Procuring a book containing the indicated story, I read it with what was at first avid interest. My interest quickly flagged. I was disappointed! Here I had thought I had unearthed some potentially great scientific discovery which for some unknown reason certain parties were trying to suppress, when in actuality all I was doing was wasting my time with the childish fantasies of two grown scholars who presumably should know better!