the land of the changing sun-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


h　was　now　gashed　with　dazzling；　vivid；　electric　flashes。　Thorndyke　looked　over　the　vast　roof。　He　was　alone。　He　walked　to　the　western　parapet　to　get　a　broader　view。

The　clouds　had　increased　till　almost　a　third　of　the　heavens　were　obscured　by　the　madly　whirling　blackness。　There　was　a　rumble　in　the　cloud；　or　beyond　it；　like　thunder；　and　yet　it　was　not；　unless　thunder　can　be　attuned；　for　the　sound　was　like　the　music　of　a　great　orchestra　magnified　a　thousand…fold。　The　grand　harmony　died　down。　There　was　a　blinding　flash　of　electricity　in　the　clouds；　and　the　Englishman　involuntarily　covered　his　eyes　with　his　hands。　When　he　looked　again　the　blackness　was　covering　the　sun。　For　a　moment　its　disk　showed　blood…red　through　the　fringe　of　the　cloud　and　then　disappeared。　Total　darkness　fell　on　everything。

The　silence　was　profound。　The　very　air　seemed　stagnant。

Then　the　wind　overhead；　by　some　unseen　force；　was　lashed　into　fury；　and　all　the　sky　was　filled　with　whirlpools　of　deeper　blackness。　Suddenly　there　was　a　flash　of　soft　golden　light；　this　was　followed　by　streams　of　pink；　of　blue　and　of　purple　till　the　whole　heavens　were　hung　with　banners；　flags；　and　rain…bows　of　flame。　Again　darkness　fell；　and　it　seemed　all　the　deeper　after　the　gorgeous　scene　which　had　preceded　it。　Thorndyke　strained　his　sight　to　detect　something　moving　below；　but　nothing　could　be　seen；　and　no　sound　came　up　from　the　motionless　crowds。

Behind　him　he　heard　a　soft　footstep　on　the　stone　tiling。　It　drew　nearer。　A　hand　was　being　carefully　slid　along　the　parapet。　The　hand　reached　him　and　touched　his　arm。

It　was　the　princess。　〃Ah；　I　have　at　last　found　you；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　saw　you　in　the　lightning；　but　lost　you　again。〃

He　put　his　arm　round　her　and　drew　her　into　his　embrace。　He　tried　to　speak；　but　uttered　only　an　inarticulate　sound。

〃I　could　not　possibly　come　earlier；〃　she　apologized；　nestling　against　him　so　closely　that　he　could　feel　the　quick　and　excited　beating　of　her　heart。　〃My　father　kept　me　with　him　till　only　a　moment　ago。　Captain　Tradmos　will　be　here　soon。〃

〃When　do　we　start？〃　he　asked。

〃That　is　the　trouble；〃　she　replied。　〃We　had　counted　on　getting　away　in　the　darkness；　before　the　display　of　lightning；　but　there　is　more　danger　now。　If　our　flying…machine　were　noticed　the　search…　lights　would　be　turned　on　us　and　we　would　be　discovered　at　once。〃

〃But　even　if　we　get　safely　away　in　the　darkness　when　could　we　return？〃

〃Oh；　that　would　be　easy；〃　she　replied。　〃As　soon　as　the　fete　is　over；　commerce　will　be　resumed　and　the　air　will　be　filled　with　air…ships　that　have　been　delayed　in　their　regular　business；　and；　in　the　disguises　which　I　have　for　us　both；　we　could　come　back　without　rousing　suspicion。　We　could　alight　in　Winter　Park　and　return　home　later。〃

〃What　is　Winter　Park？〃

〃You　have　not　seen　it？　You　must　do　so；　it　is　one　of　the　wonders　of　Alpha。　It　is　a　vast　park　enclosed　with　high　walls　and　covered　with　a　roof　of　glass。　Inside　the　snow　falls；　and　we　have　sleighing　and　coasting　and　lakes　of　ice　for　skating。　It　was　an　invention　of　the　king。　The　snowstorms　there　are　beautiful。〃

Thorndyke's　reply　was　drowned　in　a　harmonious　explosion　like　that　of　tuned　cannon；　this　was　followed　by　the　chimes　of　great　bells　which　seemed　to　swing　back　and　forth　miles　overhead。

〃Listen！〃　whispered　Bernardino；　〃father　calls　it　'musical　thunder；'　and　he　declares　that　it　is　produced　in　no　other　country　but　this。〃

〃It　is　not；　he　is　right。〃　And　the　heart　of　the　Englishman　was　stirred　by　deep　emotion。　He　had　never　dreamed　that　anything　could　so　completely　chain　his　fancy　and　elevate　his　imagination　as　what　he　heard。　The　musical　clangor　died　down。　The　strange　harmony　grew　more　entrancing　as　it　softened。　Then　the　whole　eastern　sky　began　to　flush　with　rosy；　shimmering　light。

〃My　father　calls　this　the　'Ideal　Dawn　of　Day；'〃　whispered　Bernardino。　〃See　the　faint　golden　halo　near　the　horizon；　that　is　where　the　sun　is　supposed　to　be。〃

〃How　is　it　done？〃　asked　the　Englishman。

〃Few　of　our　people　know。　It　is　a　secret　held　only　by　the　king　and　half　a　dozen　scientists。　The　whole　thing；　however；　is　operated　by　two　men　in　a　room　in　the　dome　of　the　palace。　The　musician　is　a　young　German　who　was　becoming　the　wonder　of　the　musical　world　when　father　induced　him　to　come　to　us。　I　have　met　him。　He　says　he　has　been　thoroughly　happy　here。　He　lives　on　music。　He　showed　me　the　instrument　he　used　to　play；　a　little　thing　he　called　a　violin；　and　its　tones　could　not　reach　beyond　the　limits　of　a　small　room。　He　laughs　at　it　now　and　says　the　instrument　that　father　gave　him　to　play　on　has　strings　drawn　from　the　centre　of　the　earth　to　the　stars　of　heaven。〃

The　rose…light　had　spread　over　the　horizon　and　climbed　almost　to　the　zenith；　and　with　the　dying　booming　and　gentle　clangor　it　began　to　fade　till　all　was　dark　again。

〃Captain　Tradmos　ought　to　be　here　now；〃　continued　the　princess；　glancing　uneasily　toward　the　stairway。　〃We　may　not　have　so　good　an　opportunity　as　this。〃

Ten　minutes　went　by。

〃Surely；　something　has　gone　wrong；〃　whispered　Bernardino。　〃I　have　never　seen　the　darkness　last　so　long　as　this；　besides；　can't　you　hear　the　muttering　of　the　people？〃

Thorndyke　acknowledged　that　he　did。　He　was　about　to　add　something　else；　but　was　prevented　by　a　loud　blast　from　the　trumpet　in　the　tower。

Bernardino　shrank　from　him　and　fell　to　trembling。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　asked。　〃The　trumpet！〃　she　gasped；　〃something　awful　has　happened！〃

A　moment　of　profound　silence；　then　the　murmuring　of　the　crowd　rose　sullenly　like　the　moaning　of　a　rising　storm；　a　search…light　flashed　up　in　the　gloom　and　swept　its　uncertain　stream　from　point　to　point；　but　it　died　out。　Another　and　another　shone　for　an　instant　in　different　parts　of　the　city；　but　they　all　failed。

〃Something　awful　has　happened；〃　repeated　Bernardino；　as　if　to　herself；　〃the　lights　will　not　burn！〃

〃Had　we　not　better　go　down？〃　asked　Thorndyke　anxiously；　excited　by　her　unusual　perturbation。

For　answer　she　mutely　drew　him　to　the　eastern　parapet。　Far　away　in　the　east　there　still　lingered　a　faint　hint　of　pink；　but　all　over　the　whole　landscape　darkness　rested。

〃See！〃　she　exclaimed；　pointing　upward；　〃the　clouds　are　thinning　over　the　sun；　and　yet　there　is　no　light。　What　can　be　the　matter？〃

At　that　juncture　they　heard　soft　steps　on　the　roof　and　a　voice　calling：

〃Bernardino！　Princess　Bernardino！〃

〃It　is　Tradmos；〃　she　ejaculated　gladly；　then　she　called　out　softly：

〃Tradmos！　Tradmos！〃

〃Here！〃　the　voice　said；　and　a　figure　loomed　up　before　them。　It　was　the　captain。　He　was　panting　violently；　as　if　he　had　been　running。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked；　clasping　his　arm。

〃The　sun　has　gone　out；〃　he　announced。

A　groan　escaped　her　lips　and　she　swayed　into　Thorndyke's　arms。

〃The　clouds　are　thinning　over　the　sun；　yet　there　is　no　light。　The　king　is　excited；　he　fears　a　panic！〃

〃Has　such　a　thing　never　happened？〃　asked　Thorndyke。

〃An　hundred　years　ago；　then　thousands　lost　their　lives。　As　soon　as　the　people　suspect　the　cause　of　the　delay　they　will　go　mad　with　fear。〃

〃What　can　we　do？〃　asked　the　princess；　recovering　her　self…　possession。

〃Nothing；　wait！〃　replied　Tradmos。　〃This　is　as　safe　a　place　as　you　could　find。　Perhaps　the　trouble　may　be　averted。　Look！〃

The　disk　of　the　veiled　sun　was　aglow　with　a　faintly　trembling　light；　but　it　went　out。　The　silence　was　profound。　The　populace　seemed　unable　to　grasp　the　situation；　but　when　the　light　had　flickered　over　the　black　face　of　the　sun　once　more　and　again　expired；　a　sullen　murmur　rose　and　grew　as　it　passed　from　lip　to　lip。

It　became　a　threatening　roar；　broken　by　an　occasional　cry　of　pain　and　a　dismal　groan　of　terror。　There　was　a　crash　as　if　a　mountain　had　been　burst　by　explosives。

〃The　swinging　bridge　has　been　thrown　down！〃　said　Tradmos。

Light　after　light　flashed　up　in　different　parts　of　the　city；　but　they　were　so　small　and　so　far　apart　that　they　seemed　to　add　to　the　darkness　rather　than　to　lessen　it。

〃The　moon；　it　will　rise！〃　cried　the　princess。

〃It　cannot；〃　said　Tradmos　in　his　beard；　〃at　least　not　for　several　hours。〃

〃They　will　kill　my　father；〃　she　said　despondently；　〃they　always　hold　him　responsible　for　any　accident。〃

〃They　cannot　reach　him；〃　consoled　Tradmos。　〃He　is　safe　for　the　present　at　least。〃

〃Is　it　possible　to　make　the　repairs　needed？〃

〃I　don't　know。　When　the　accident　happened　long　ago　the　sun　was　just　rising。〃

〃Has　it　stopped？〃

〃I　think　not；　it　has　simply　gone　out；　the　electric　connection　has；　in　some　way；　been　cut　off。〃

The　tumult　seemed　to　have　extended　to　the　very　limits　of　the　city；　and　was　constantly　increasing。　The　smashing　of　timber　and　the　falling　of　heavy　stones　were　heard　near　by。

Tradmos　leaned　far　over　the　parapet。　〃They　are　coming　toward　us！〃　he　said；　〃they　intend　to　destroy　the　palace；　we　must　try　to　get　down；　but　we　shall　meet　danger　even　there。〃



Chapter　XIII。

Johnston　and　Branasko　looked　down　at　the　great　ball　of　light　below　them　in　silent　wonder。　Johnston　was　the　first　to　speak。　He　pointed　to　the　four　massive　cables　which　supported　the　sun　at　each　corner　of　the　platform　and　extended　upward　till　they　were　enveloped　in　the　darkness。

〃They　hold　us　up；〃　he　said；　〃where　do　they　go　to？〃

〃To　the　big　trucks　which　run　on　the　tracks　near　the　roof　of　the　cavern；　the　endless　cables　are　up　there；　too；　but　we　can　not　see　them　with　this　glare　about　us。〃

〃We　can　see　nothing　of　Alpha　from　here；〃　remarked　Johnston　disappointedly；　〃we　can　see　nothing　beyond　our　circle　of　light。〃

〃I　should　like　to　look　down　from　this　height　at　night；〃　said　the　Alphian。　〃It　would　be　a　great　view。〃

〃What　is　this？〃　Johnston　went　to　one　side　of　the　platform　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　spokes　of　a　polished　metal　wheel　shaped　like　the　pilot…wheel　of　a　steamboat。　Branasko　hastened　to　him。

〃Don't　touch　it；〃　he　warned。　〃It　looks　as　if　it　were　to　turn　the　electric　connection　off　and　on。　If　the　sun　should　go　out；　the　consequences　would　be　awful。　The　people　of　Alpha　would　go　mad　with　fear。〃

The　American　withdrew　his　hand；　and　he　and　Branasko　walked　back　to　the　centre　of　the　platform。　Johnston　uttered　an　exclamation　of　surprise。　〃The　light　is　changing。〃

And　it　was；　for　it　was　gradually　fading　into　a　purple　that　was　delightfully　soothing　to　the　eye　after　the　painful　brightness　of　a　moment　before。

〃I　understand；〃　said　the　Alphian；　〃we　are　running　very　slow　and　are　only　now　about　to　approach　the　great　wall；　for　purple　is　the　color　of　the　first　morning　hour。〃

〃But　how　is　the　light　changed？〃　asked　Johnston　curiously。

〃By　some　shifting　of　glasses　through　which　the　rays　shine；　I　presume；〃　returned　the　Alphian；　〃but　the　mechanism　seems　to　be　concealed　in　the　walls　of　the　globe。〃

Not　a　word　was　spoken　for　an　hour。　They　had　lain　down　on　the　platform　near　the　iron　railing　which　encompassed　it；　and　Branasko　was　dozing　intermittently。　Again　the　light　began　to　change　gradually。　This　time　it　was　gray。　Johnston　put　out　his　hand　to　touch　Branasko；　but　the　Alphian　was　awake。　He　sat　up　and　nodded　smiling。　〃Wait　till　the　next　hour；〃　he　said；　〃it　will　be　rose…　color；　that　is　the　most　beautiful。〃

Slowly　the　hours　dragged　by　till　the　yellow　light　showed　that　it　was　the　sixth　hour。　Branasko　had　been　exploring　the　vast　interior　below　and　came　back　to　Johnston