the land of the changing sun-第10章

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〃Yes；　and　this　time　it　is　white；　like　old　Sol's　natural　smile；　but　isn't　it　clear？　It　seems　to　me　that　I　could　see　to　the　end　of　the　earth　in　that　light。　I　want　to　know　how　he　does　it。〃

〃How　who　does　it？〃

〃Why；　the　king；　of　course；　it　is　his　worksome　sort　of　invention；　but　we　must　keep　civil　tongues　in　our　heads　when　we　are　dealing　with　a　man　who　can　color　the　very　light　of　the　sun。〃

They　were　walking　back　toward　the　great　rotunda；　and；　as　they　entered　the　conservatory；　the　crowds　of　men　and　women　stared　at　them　curiously。　They　had　paused　to　inspect　the　statue　of　a　massive　stone　dragon　when　a　young　officer　in　glittering　uniform　approached　and　addressed　Johnston。

〃Follow　me；〃　he　said　simply；　〃it　is　the　king's　command。〃

The　American　started　and　looked　at　Thorndyke　apprehensively。

〃Go；〃　said　the　latter；　〃don't　hesitate　an　instant。〃

Poor　Johnston　had　turned　white。　He　held　out　his　hand　to　Thorndyke；　〃Shake；〃　he　said　in　a　whisper；　not　intended　for　the　ears　of　the　officer；　〃I　don't　believe　that　we　shall　meet　again。　I　felt　that　we　were　to　be　parted　ever　since　that　medical　examination。〃

Thorndyke's　face　had　altered；　an　angry　flush　came　in　his　face　and　his　eyes　flashed；　but　with　an　effort　he　controlled　himself。

〃Tut；　tut；　don't　be　silly。　I　shall　wait　for　you　round　here；　if　there　is　any　foul　play　I　shall　make　some　one　suffer　for　it。　You　can　depend　on　me　to　the　end；　we　are　hand　in　hand　in　this　adventure；　old　man。〃



Chapter　VII。

Johnston　followed　his　guide　to　a　flying　machine　outside。　He　hesitated　an　instant；　as　the　officer　was　holding　the　door　open；　and　looked　back　toward　the　conservatory；　but　he　could　not　see　Thorndyke。

〃Where　are　you　taking　me？〃　he　asked　desperately。　But　the　officer　did　not　seem　to　hear　the　question。　He　was　motioning　to　a　tall　man　of　athletic　build　who　wore　a　dark　blue　uniform　and　who　came　hastily　forward　and　pushed　the　American　into　the　machine。　Through　the　open　door　Johnston　saw　Thorndyke's　anxious　face　as　the　Englishman　emerged　from　the　conservatory　and　strode　toward　them。　The　two　officers　entered　and　closed　the　glass　door。

Then　the　machine　rose　and　Johnston's　spirits　sank　as　they　shot　upward　and　floated　easily　over　the　humming　crowd　into　the　free　white　light　above　the　smokeless　city。　The　poor　captive　leaned　on　the　window…sill　and　looked　out。　There　was　no　breeze；　and　no　current　of　air　except　that　caused　by　their　rapid　passage　through　the　atmosphere。

Up；　up；　they　went；　till　the　city　seemed　a　blur　of　mingled　white　and　gray；　and　then　the　color　below　changed　to　a　vague　blue　as　they　flew　over　the　fields　of　the　open　country。

The　first　officer　took　a　glass　and　a　decanter　from　a　receptacle　under　a　seat；　and；　pouring　a　little　red　fluid　into　the　glass；　offered　it　to　the　American。

〃Drink　it；〃　he　said；　〃it　will　put　you　to　sleep　for　a　time。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　be　drugged。〃

〃The　journey　will　try　your　nerves。　It　is　harmless。〃

〃I　don't　want　it；　if　I　take　it；　you　will　have　to　pour　it　down　my　throat。〃

The　officer　smiled　as　he　put　the　glass　and　decanter　away。　Faster　and　faster　flew　the　machine。　They　had　to　put　the　window　down；　for　the　current　of　air　had　become　too　strong　and　cool　to　be　pleasant。　The　color　of　the　sunlight　changed　to　green；　and　then　at　noon；　from　the　zenith；　a　glorious　red　light　shimmered　down　and　veiled　the　earth　with　such　a　beautiful　translucent　haze　that　the　poor　American　for　a　moment　almost　forgot　his　trouble。

The　afternoon　came　on。　The　sunlight　became　successively　green；　white；　blue；　lavender；　rose　and　gray。　The　sun　was　no　longer　in　sight　and　the　gray　in　the　west　was　darkening　into　purple；　the　last　hour　of　the　day。　Night　was　at　hand。　Johnston's　limbs　were　growing　stiff　from　inaction；　and　he　had　a　strong　desire　to　speak　or　to　hear　one　of　the　officers　say　something；　but　they　were　dozing　in　their　respective　corners。　The　moon　had　risen　and　hung　far　out　in　space　overhead；　but　they　seemed　to　be　leaving　it　behind。　Later　he　felt　sure　of　this；　for　its　light　gradually　became　dimmer　and　dimmer　till　at　last　they　were　in　total　darknessdarkness　pierced　only　by　the　powerful　search…light　which　threw　its　dazzling；　trumpet…shaped　rays　far　ahead。　But；　search　as　he　would　in　the　direction　they　were　going；　the　unfortunate　American　could　see　nothing　but　the　ever…receding　wall　of　blackness。

Suddenly　they　began　to　descend。　The　officers　awoke　and　stretched　themselves　and　yawned。　One　of　them　opened　the　window　and　Johnston　heard　a　far…off；　roaring　sound　like　that　of　a　multitude　of　skaters　on　a　vast　sheet　of　ice。

Down；　down；　they　dropped。　Johnston's　heart　was　in　his　mouth。

The　machine　suddenly　slackened　in　its　speed　and　then　hung　poised　in　mid…air。　The　rays　of　the　search…light　were　directed　downward　and　slowly　shifted　from　point　to　point。　Looking　down；　the　American　caught　glimpses　of　rugged　rocks；　sharp　cliffs　and　yawning　chasms。

〃How　is　it？〃　asked　the　first　officer；　through　a　speaking…tube；　of　the　driver。

〃A　good　landing！〃　was　the　reply。

〃Well；　go　down。〃　And　a　moment　later　the　machine　settled　on　the　uneven　ground。

The　same　officer　opened　the　door；　and　gently　pushed　Johnston　out。　Johnston　expected　them　to　follow　him；　but　the　door　of　the　machine　closed　behind　him。

〃Stand　out　of　the　way；〃　cried　out　the　officer　through　the　window；　〃you　may　get　struck　as　we　rise。〃

Involuntarily　Johnston　obeyed。　There　was　a　sound　of　escaping　air　from　beneath　the　machine；　a　fierce　commotion　in　the　atmosphere　which　sucked　him　toward　the　machine；　and　then　the　dazzling　search…light　blinded　him；　as　the　air…ship　bounded　upward　and　sailed　back　over　the　course　it　had　come。

Johnston　stood　paralyzed　with　fear。　〃My　God；　this　is　awful！〃　he　exclaimed　in　terror；　and　his　knees　gave　way　beneath　him　and　he　sank　to　the　rock。　〃They　have　left　me　here　to　starve　in　this　hellish　darkness！〃　He　remained　there　for　a　moment；　his　face　covered　with　his　hands；　then　he　sprang　up　desperately；　and　started　to　grope　through　the　darkness；　he　knew　not　whither。　He　stumbled　at　almost　every　step；　and　ran　against　boulders　which　bruised　his　hands　and　face；　and　went　on　till　his　strength　was　gone。　Then　he　paused　and　looked　back　toward　the　direction　from　which　he　had　come。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　could　see　the　straight　line　of　mighty　black　wall　above　which　there　was　a　faint　appearance　of　light。　A　lump　rose　in　the　throat　of　the　poor　fellow；　and　tears　sprang　into　his　eyes。

But　what　was　that？　Surely　it　was　a　sound。　It　could　not　have　been　the　wind；　for　the　air　was　perfectly　still。　The　sound　was　repeated。　It　was　like　the　moaning　of　a　human　voice　far　away　in　the　dark。　Could　it　be　some　one　in　distress；　some　poor　unfortunate；　banished　being；　like　himself？　Again　he　heard　the　sound；　and　this　time；　it　was　like　the　voice　of　some　one　talking。

〃Hello！〃　shouted　the　American；　and　a　cold　shudder　went　over　him　at　the　sound　of　his　own　husky　voice。　There　was　a　dead　silence；　then；　like　an　echo　of　his　own　cry；　faintly　came　the　word；　〃Hello！〃

Filled　with　superstitious　fear；　the　American　cautiously　groped　toward　the　sound。　〃Hello；　there；　who　are　you？〃

〃Help；　help！〃　said　the　voice；　and　it　was　now　much　nearer。

Johnston　plunged　forward　precipitately。　〃Where　are　you？〃

〃Here；〃　and　a　human　form　loomed　up　before　him。

For　a　moment　neither　spoke；　then　the　strange　figure　said：　〃I　thought　at　first　that　you　were　some　one　sent　to　rescue　me；　but　I　see　you　are　alonedamned　like　myself。〃

〃It　looks　that　way；〃　replied　Johnston。

〃When　did　they　bring　you？〃

〃Only　a　moment　ago。〃

〃My　God；　it　is　awful！　A　week　ago　I　did　not　dream　of　such　a　fate　as　this。　I　had　enemies。　The　medical　men　were　bribed　to　vote　against　me。　Am　I　not　strong？　Am　I　not　muscular？　Feel　my　arms　and　thighs。〃

He　held　out　an　arm　and　Johnston　felt　of　it。　The　muscles　were　like　stone。

〃You　are　a　giant。〃

〃Ah！　you　are　right；　but　they　reported　that　there　was　a　taint　in　my　blood。　I　was　to　marry　Lallio；　the　most　beautiful　creature　in　our　villageMadryl；　you　know；　the　nearest　hamlet　to　the　home　of　the　Sun。　I　was　rich；　and　the　best　farmer　there。　But　Lyngale　wanted　her。　She　hated　him　and　spat　at　him　when　he　spoke　against　me。　He　proved　by　others　that　my　lungs　were　weak；　and　showed　them　the　blood　of　a　slain　dog　in　my　fields　that　they　said　had　come　from　my　lungs。　Ah；　they　were　cu