# XXII: The Casting of the Shadow explained — The Moon Pool > Chapter companion for The Moon Pool by A. Merritt. ## What happens Rador tricks Serku into lifting the Shadow, allowing the group to escape through the portal. Serku is killed, and Rador, Larry, Olaf, and Dr. Goodwin flee in a damaged corial, pursued by Lugur. They reach a dead end but find a hidden passage, escaping into darkness. ## Themes in this chapter ### Science vs. the Supernatural Larry rationalizes the seemingly supernatural events (Shadow, corial) as natural phenomena not yet understood, contrasting with Olaf's supernatural fears. ### Sacrifice and Redemption Rador sacrifices Serku and risks his life for the group's escape; Olaf seeks vengeance for his wife, hoping for redemption through the white maiden. ### Duality of Human Experience The chapter contrasts Larry's optimism and rationalism with Olaf's despair and belief in old gods, highlighting different responses to crisis. ## Character check-ins ### Rador Tricks Serku, kills him, and leads the escape through the Shadow portal, navigating the damaged corial and finding a hidden passage. ### Larry O'Keefe Saves Rador with a quick shot, comforts Olaf, and attempts to shoot Lugur before being stopped by Rador. ### Olaf Huldricksson Grieves for his wife Helma, expresses despair about the Shining Devil, and is comforted by Larry's reassurances. ### Dr. Walter T. Goodwin Observes the escape, notes the damage to the corial, and follows Rador into the hidden passage. ### Lugur Leads the pursuit of the escapees, seen in a pursuing shell scanning the slopes. ### Lakla Mentioned as the one Rador hopes to reach before the Portal closes; her frog-men are referenced. ## Key lines > Now truly is my heart wrung, for there are few I would less like to see dance with the Shining One than you, Serku,” he ended, softly. Rador expresses genuine regret that Serku might be forced to dance with the Shining One. _Rador's feigned sympathy to manipulate Serku._ > “Snappy work, Rador!” It was Larry speaking. “But they cut the end off your bus all right!” Larry compliments Rador's quick action but notes the corial's rear was damaged. _Larry's colloquial praise and observation of the damage._ > “Buck up, Olaf!” he said. “We’ve got a good fighting chance. Once we link up with Lakla and her crowd I’m betting that we get your wife⁠—never doubt it! The baby⁠—” he hesitated awkwardly. Larry encourages Olaf, promising they will rescue his wife once they join Lakla. _Larry's attempt to boost Olaf's morale despite the uncertain situation._ > “Why, Olaf, suppose you took a Fijian when the war was on and set him suddenly down in London with autos rushing past, sirens blowing, Archies popping, a dozen enemy planes dropping bombs, and the searchlights shooting all over the sky⁠—wouldn’t he think he was among thirty-third degree devils in some exclusive circle of hell? Sure he would! And yet everything he saw would be natural⁠—just as natural as all this is, once we get the answer to it.” Larry argues that Murian wonders are natural phenomena, like modern technology would seem supernatural to an outsider. _Larry's rationalization of the supernatural as misunderstood science._ > “The Yndling ⁠—she is of the de Dode ,” he half whispered, “of the blessed dead. For her I have no fear and for her vengeance will be given me. Ja! But my Helma⁠—she is of the dead-alive⁠—like those we saw whirling like leaves in the light of the Shining Devil⁠—and I would that she too were of de Dode ⁠—and at rest.” Olaf says his child is among the blessed dead, but his wife is among the living dead, and he wishes she were at rest. _Olaf's despair over his wife's fate and his turn to old gods for vengeance._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxii-the-casting-of-the-shadow - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_pool_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters