the land of the changing sun-第8章

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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　curs！　My　lungs　weak！　Strike　my　chest　with　all　your　might。　Does　it　not　sound　like　the　king's　thunder？　Strike；　I　say！〃　and　as　the　enfeebled　American　struck　his　bare　breast　he　cried：Harder；　harder！　Pooh；　you　are　a　child；　see　this；　and　this；〃　and　he　emphasized　his　words　with　thunderous　blows　on　his　resounding　chest。

〃But　it　has　been　so　for　a　century；〃　he　panted；　〃hundreds　have　been　unjustly　buried　alive　here。　The　king　thinks　it　is　not　murder　because　they　die　of　starvation。　I　have　stumbled　over　the　bones　of　giants　here　in　the　dark　lands；　and　have　met　dying　men　that　are　stronger　than　the　king's　athletes。〃

〃What；　are　there　others　here？〃　gasped　the　American。

The　Alphian　was　silent　in　astonishment。

〃Why；　where　did　you　come　from？〃　he　asked；　after　a　pause。

〃From　New　York　City。〃

〃I　don't　know　of　it；　and　yet　I　thought　I　knew　of　all　the　places　inside　the　great　endless　wall。〃

Johnston　was　mystified　in　his　turn。　〃It　is　not　in　your　country　your　world；　or　whatever　you　call　it。　It　is　far　away。〃

〃Ah；　under　the　white　sun！　In　the　'Ocean　Country；'　and　the　world　of　fierce　winds　and　disease。　And　you　are　from　there。　I　had　heard　of　it　before　they　banished　me；　but　two　days　since　I　came　across　a　dying　man；　away　over　there。　He　was　huddled　against　the　wall；　and　had　fallen　and　killed　himself　in　his　efforts　to　climb　back　to　food　and　light。

〃I　saw　him　die。　He　told　me　that　he　had　come　from　your　land　when　he　was　a　child。　His　trouble　was　the　lungs　and　he　had　fallen　off　to　a　skeleton。　He　talked　to　me　of　your　wide　ocean　land。　Is　it；　indeed　so　great？　And　has　it　no　walls　about　it？〃

〃No；　it　is　surrounded　by　water。〃

〃I　cannot　understand；〃　and；　after　a　pause；　in　which　Johnston　could　hear　the　great　fellow's　heart　beating；　he　continued；　〃That　must　be　the　Heaven　the　man　spoke　about。　And　beyond　the　water　is　it　always　dark　like　this；　and　do　they　banish　people　there　as　the　king　has　us？〃

〃No；　beyond　are　other　countries。　But　is　there　no　chance　for　us　to　escape　from　here？〃

The　Alphian　laughed　bitterly。　〃None。　What　were　you　banished　for？〃

〃I　hardly　know。〃

〃Hold　out　your　arm。　There；〃　as　he　grasped　Johnston's　arm　in　a　clasp　of　iron；　〃I　see；　you　are　undeveloped；　unfitnone　but　the　healthy　and　strong　are　allowed　to　live　in　Alpha。　It　is　right；　of　course；　but　it　is　hard　to　bear。　But　I　must　lie　down。　I　am　wearied　with　constant　rambling。　I　am　nervous　too。　I　fell　asleep　awhile　ago　and　dreamt　I　heard　all　my　friends　in　a　great　clamoring　body　calling　my　name；　'Branasko！'　and　then　I　awoke　and　cried　for　help。〃

As　he　spoke　he　sank　with　a　sigh　to　the　ground　and　rested　his　head　on　his　elbows　and　knees　and　seemed　asleep。　The　American　sat　down　beside　him；　and；　for　a　long　time；　neither　spoke。　Branasko　broke　the　silence；　he　awoke　with　a　start　and　eyed　his　companion　in　sleepy　wonder。

〃Ugh；　I　dreamt　again；〃　he　grunted；　〃are　you　asleep？〃

〃No；〃　was　Johnston's　reply。　〃I　am　hungry　and　thirsty　and　cannot　sleep。〃

〃So　am　I；　but　we　must　wait　till　it　is　lighter；　then　we　can　go　in　search　of　food。　When　I　was　a　boy　I　learned　to　catch　fish　in　pools　with　my　hands　and　it　has　prolonged　my　life　here。　When　the　light　comes　again；　I　shall　show　you　how　I　do　it。〃

〃Then　the　day　does　break？　I　thought　it　was　eternally　dark　here。〃

〃It　does　not　get　very　light；　because　we　are　behind　the　sun；　but　it　is　lighter　than　now；　for　we　get　the　sun's　reflection；　enough　at　least　to　keep　us　from　falling　into　the　chasms。〃

Branasko　lowered　his　head　to　his　knees　and　slept　again；　but　the　American；　though　wearied；　was　wakeful。　Several　hours　passed。　The　Alphian　was　sleeping　soundly；　his　breathing　was　very　heavy　and　he　had　rolled　down　on　his　side。

Far　away　in　the　east　the　darkness　gradually　faded　into　purple；　and　then　into　gray；　and　slowly　hints　of　pink　appeared　in　the　skies。　It　was　dawn。　Johnston　touched　his　companion。　The　man　awoke　and　looked　at　him　from　his　great　swollen　eyes。

〃It　is　day；〃　he　yawned；　rising　and　stretching　himself。

〃But　the　sun　is　not　in　sight。〃

〃No；　it　shows　itself　only　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　and　then　but　for　a　few　minutes。　We　must　go　now　and　search　for　food。　I　will　show　you　how　to　catch　the　eyeless　fish　in　the　black　caverns　over　there。〃　And　he　led　the　American　into　the　blackness　behind　them。　Every　now　and　then；　as　they　stumbled　along；　Johnston　would　look　longingly　back　toward　the　faint　pink　light　that　shone　above　the　high　black　wall。　But　Branasko　hastened　on。

Presently　they　came　to　the　edge　of　a　black　chasm　and　the　American　was　filled　with　awe；　for；　from　the　seemingly　fathomless　depths；　came　a　great　roaring　sound　like　that　of　a　mighty　wind　and　the　air　that　came　from　it　was　hot；　though　pure　and　free　from　the　odor　of　gas。

〃What　is　this？〃　he　asked。

〃They　are　everywhere；〃　answered　Branasko；　〃if　it　were　not　for　their　hot　breathing　the　Land　of　the　Changing　Sun　would　be　cold　and　damp。〃

〃Then　the　sun　does　not　give　out　heat？〃

〃No。〃

〃It　is　cold？〃

〃I　believe　so；　I　have　never　thought　much　about　it。〃

The　American　was　mystified；　but　he　did　not　question　farther；　for　Branasko　was　carefully　lowering　himself　into　the　hot　gulf。

〃Follow　me；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　cross　it　to　reach　the　caves。　I　will　guide　you。　I　have　been　over　this　way　before。〃

〃But　can　we　stand　the　heat？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　when　we　get　used　to　it；　it　is　invigorating。　I　perspire　in　streams；　but　I　feel　better　afterward。　Come　on。〃

Branasko's　head　only　was　above　the　ground。　〃I　am　standing　on　a　ledge；〃　he　said。　〃Get　down　beside　me。　Fear　nothing。　It　is　solid；　besides；　what　does　it　matter？　You　can　die　but　once；　and　it　would　really　be　better　to　fall　down　there　into　the　internal　fires　than　to　starve　slowly。〃

Johnston　shuddered　convulsively　as　he　let　himself　down　beside　Branasko。　His　foot　dislodged　a　stone。　With　a　crash　it　fell　upon　a　lower　ledge　and　bounded　off　and　went　whizzing　down　into　the　depths。　Both　men　listened。　They　heard　the　stone　bounding　from　ledge　to　ledge　till　the　sound　was　lost　in　the　internal　roaring。

〃It　is　mighty　deep；〃　said　Johnston。

〃Yes；　but　follow　me；　we　cannot　stop　here；　we　must　go　along　this　ledge　till　we　get　to　the　point　where　the　chasm　is　narrow　enough　to　jump　across。　I　have　done　it。〃

〃The　American　held　to　his　companion　with　one　hand　and　the　rock　with　the　other；　and　they　slowly　made　their　way　along　the　narrow　ledge；　pausing　every　now　and　then　to　rest。　At　every　step　the　path　grew　more　perilous　and　narrower；　and　the　cliff　on　their　left　rose　higher　and　higher；　till　the　reflected　light　of　the　sun　had　entirely　disappeared。　At　certain　points　the　hot　wind　dashed　upon　them　as　furiously　as　the　whirling　mist　in　〃The　Cave　of　Winds〃　at　Niagara　Falls。　Once　Johnston's　foot　slipped　and　he　fell；　but　was　drawn　back　to　safety　by　the　strong　arm　of　the　Alphian。

〃Be　careful；　hold　to　the　cliff's　face；〃　warned　Branasko　indifferently；　and　he　moved　onward　as　if　nothing　unusual　had　occurred。　Presently　they　reached　a　point　where　a　narrow　boulder　jutted　out　over　the　chasm　toward　the　opposite　side；　and　Branasko　cautiously　crawled　out　upon　it。　When　he　had　got　to　its　end；　Johnston　could　not　see　him　in　the　gloom；　but　his　voice　came　to　him　out　of　the　roaring　of　the　chasm。

〃I　can　see　the　other　side；　and　am　going　to　jump。〃　An　instant　later；　the　American　heard　the　clatter　of　the　Alphian's　shoes　on　the　rock；　and　his　grunt　of　satisfaction。　Then　Branasko　called　out：　〃Come　on；　crawl　out　till　you　feel　the　end　of　the　rock；　and　then　you　can　see　me。〃

In　great　trepidation　the　American　slowly　crawled　out　on　the　narrow　rock。　Below　him　yawned　the　hot　darkness；　above　hung　that　black　ominous　canopy　of　nothingness。　Slowly　he　advanced　on　hands　and　knees；　every　moment　feeling　the　sharp　rock　growing　narrower；　till　finally　he　reached　the　end。　He　looked　ahead。　He　could　but　faintly　see　the　ledge　and　Branasko's　tall　form　silhouetted　upon　it。

〃See；　this　is　where　you　have　to　alight；〃　cried　the　Alphian。　〃Jump；　I　will　catch　you！〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　shall　topple　over　when　I　stand　up；〃　replied　the　American。　〃The　rock　is　narrow　and　my　head　is　already　swimming。　I　fear　I　cannot　reach　you。　It　is　no　use。〃

〃Tut；　tut！〃　exclaimed　Branasko。　〃Stand　up　quickly；　and　jump　at　once。　Do