Atmosphere

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

79116

Title

Atmosphere

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set against the irritable heat of Hawaii, this tale explores the psychological toll of a leper colony visible from a white men's settlement. When a white man's romance with a native woman ends in tragedy, the narrator reveals a chilling twist involving the colony's reputation and a father's calculated revenge.

Summary up to 500 words

In Murray Leinster's short story 'Atmosphere,' a group of white men stationed in a Hawaiian settlement are psychologically tormented by the constant sight of the leper colony on the neighboring island of Molokai. The oppressive heat and the visual horror of the colony create a volatile atmosphere that renders the men irritable, superstitious, and unfit for sober thought. Among them is Colin Drew, whose fear of contracting leprosy becomes an obsession; he tests his own sensation by burning his finger with a cigarette, convinced that the loss of feeling is the first sign of the disease. Drew's mental state deteriorates further when he begins a secret romance with Maria, the daughter of Don José, a wealthy local gentleman who has adopted native customs. Their relationship flourishes in the shadows until Drew abruptly breaks it off. Following the breakup, a storm rolls in, and Drew receives a note from Don José stating that Maria has committed suicide. The group travels to Don José's hut to find Maria dead, having stabbed herself to avoid bringing dishonor to her father. Don José reveals that Maria wrote of her impending disgrace, which she believed stemmed from her relationship with a white man. However, the narrator discloses the true nature of Don José's revenge. The gentleman had secretly arranged for Maria to be sent to the leper colony, knowing that her skin would be artificially whitened to mimic the early stages of leprosy. This fabrication allowed Don José to destroy Drew's sanity with fear, proving that the horror across the water was a weapon used to exact vengeance for his daughter's death. The story concludes with the revelation that Don José had merely applied ashes to Maria's fingertips to simulate the silvery scales of leprosy, a cruel trick that successfully drove Drew mad, demonstrating how the environment and human malice can twist reality into a nightmare.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Romance
• Hawaii
• Family Relationships
• Revenge