the coming race-第26章

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nd　struggle…　become　dormant　or　annulled　in　a　society　which　aims　at　securing　for　the　aggregate　the　calm　and　innocent　felicity　which　we　presume　to　be　the　lot　of　beatified　immortals；　neither；　on　the　other　hand；　have　I　the　wish　to　represent　the　commonwealths　of　the　Vril…ya　as　an　ideal　form　of　political　society；　to　the　attainment　of　which　our　own　efforts　of　reform　should　be　directed。　　On　the　contrary；　it　is　because　we　have　so　combined；　throughout　the　series　of　ages；　the　elements　which　compose　human　character；　that　it　would　be　utterly　impossible　for　us　to　adopt　the　modes　of　life；　or　to　reconcile　our　passions　to　the　modes　of　thought　among　the　Vril…ya；…　that　I　arrived　at　the　conviction　that　this　people…　though　originally　not　only　of　our　human　race；　but；　as　seems　to　me　clear　by　the　roots　of　their　language；　descended　from　the　same　ancestors　as　the　Great　Aryan　family；　from　which　in　varied　streams　has　flowed　the　dominant　civilisation　of　the　world；　and　having；　according　to　their　myths　and　their　history；　passed　through　phases　of　society　familiar　to　ourselves；…　had　yet　now　developed　into　a　distinct　species　with　which　it　was　impossible　that　any　community　in　the　upper　world　could　amalgamate：　and　that　if　they　ever　emerged　from　these　nether　recesses　into　the　light　of　day；　they　would；　according　to　their　own　traditional　persuasions　of　their　ultimate　destiny；　destroy　and　replace　our　existent　varieties　of　man。

It　may；　indeed；　be　said；　since　more　than　one　Gy　could　be　found　to　conceive　a　partiality　for　so　ordinary　a　type　of　our　super…terrestrial　race　as　myself；　that　even　if　the　Vril…ya　did　147appear　above　ground；　we　might　be　saved　from　extermination　by　intermixture　of　race。　　But　this　is　too　sanguine　a　belief。　　Instances　of　such　'mesalliance'　would　be　as　rare　as　those　of　intermarriage　between　the　Anglo…Saxon　emigrants　and　the　Red　Indians。　　Nor　would　time　be　allowed　for　the　operation　of　familiar　intercourse。　　The　Vril…ya；　on　emerging；　induced　by　the　charm　of　a　sunlit　heaven　to　form　their　settlements　above　ground；　would　commence　at　once　the　work　of　destruction；　seize　upon　the　territories　already　cultivated；　and　clear　off；　without　scruple；　all　the　inhabitants　who　resisted　that　invasion。　　And　considering　their　contempt　for　the　institutions　of　Koom…Posh　or　Popular　Government；　and　the　pugnacious　valour　of　my　beloved　countrymen；　I　believe　that　if　the　Vril…ya　first　appeared　in　free　America…　as；　being　the　choicest　portion　of　the　habitable　earth；　they　would　doubtless　be　induced　to　do…　and　said；　〃This　quarter　of　the　globe　we　take；　Citizens　of　a　Koom…Posh；　make　way　for　the　development　of　species　in　the　Vril…ya；〃　my　brave　compatriots　would　show　fight；　and　not　a　soul　of　them　would　be　left　in　this　life；　to　rally　round　the　Stars　and　Stripes；　at　the　end　of　a　week。

I　now　saw　but　little　of　Zee；　save　at　meals；　when　the　family　assembled；　and　she　was　then　reserved　and　silent。　　My　apprehensions　of　danger　from　an　affection　I　had　so　little　encouraged　or　deserved；　therefore；　now　faded　away；　but　my　dejection　continued　to　increase。　　I　pined　for　escape　to　the　upper　world；　but　I　racked　my　brains　in　vain　for　any　means　to　effect　it。　　I　was　never　permitted　to　wander　forth　alone；　so　that　I　could　not　even　visit　the　spot　on　which　I　had　alighted；　and　see　if　it　were　possible　to　reascend　to　the　mine。　　Nor　even　in　the　Silent　Hours；　when　the　household　was　locked　in　sleep；　could　I　have　let　myself　down　from　the　lofty　floor　in　which　my　apartment　was　placed。　　I　knew　not　how　to　command　the　automata　who　stood　mockingly　at　my　beck　beside　the　wall；　nor　could　I　ascertain　the　springs　by　which　were　set　in　movement　the　platforms　that　supplied　the　place　of　stairs。　　The　knowledge　how　148to　avail　myself　of　these　contrivances　had　been　purposely　withheld　from　me。　　Oh；　that　I　could　but　have　learned　the　use　of　wings；　so　freely　here　at　the　service　of　every　infant；　then　I　might　have　escaped　from　the　casement；　regained　the　rocks；　and　buoyed　myself　aloft　through　the　chasm　of　which　the　perpendicular　sides　forbade　place　for　human　footing！


Chapter　XXVII。


One　day；　as　I　sat　alone　and　brooding　in　my　chamber；　Taee　flew　in　at　the　open　window　and　alighted　on　the　couch　beside　me。　　I　was　always　pleased　with　the　visits　of　a　child；　in　whose　society；　if　humbled；　I　was　less　eclipsed　than　in　that　of　Ana　who　had　completed　their　education　and　matured　their　understanding。　　And　as　I　was　permitted　to　wander　forth　with　him　for　my　companion；　and　as　I　longed　to　revisit　the　spot　in　which　I　had　descended　into　the　nether　world；　I　hastened　to　ask　him　if　he　were　at　leisure　for　a　stroll　beyond　the　streets　of　the　city。　　His　countenance　seemed　to　me　graver　than　usual　as　he　replied；　〃I　came　hither　on　purpose　to　invite　you　forth。〃

We　soon　found　ourselves　in　the　street；　and　had　not　got　far　from　the　house　when　we　encountered　five　or　six　young　Gy…ei；　who　were　returning　from　the　fields　with　baskets　full　of　flowers；　and　chanting　a　song　in　chorus　as　they　walked。　　A　young　Gy　sings　more　often　than　she　talks。　　They　stopped　on　seeing　us；　accosting　Taee　with　familiar　kindness；　and　me　with　the　courteous　gallantry　which　distinguishes　the　Gy…ei　in　their　manner　towards　our　weaker　sex。

And　here　I　may　observe　that；　though　a　virgin　Gy　is　so　frank　in　her　courtship　to　the　individual　she　favours；　there　is　nothing　that　approaches　to　that　general　breadth　and　loudness　of　manner　which　those　young　ladies　of　the　Anglo…Saxon　race；　to　whom　the　149distinguished　epithet　of　'fast'　is　accorded；　exhibit　towards　young　gentlemen　whom　they　do　not　profess　to　love。　　No；　the　bearing　of　the　Gy…ei　towards　males　in　ordinary　is　very　much　that　of　high…bred　men　in　the　gallant　societies　of　the　upper　world　towards　ladies　whom　they　respect　but　do　not　woo；　deferential；　complimentary；　exquisitely　polished…　what　we　should　call　'chivalrous。'

Certainly　I　was　a　little　put　out　by　the　number　of　civil　things　addressed　to　my　'amour　propre；'　which　were　said　to　me　by　those　courteous　young　Gy…ei。　　In　the　world　I　came　from；　a　man　would　have　thought　himself　aggrieved；　treated　with　irony；　'chaffed'　（if　so　vulgar　a　slang　word　may　be　allowed　on　the　authority　of　the　popular　novelists　who　use　it　so　freely）；　when　one　fair　Gy　complimented　me　on　the　freshness　of　my　complexion；　another　on　the　choice　of　colours　in　my　dress；　a　third；　with　a　sly　smile；　on　the　conquests　I　had　made　at　Aph…Lin's　entertainment。　　But　I　knew　already　that　all　such　language　was　what　the　French　call　'banal；'　and　did　but　express　in　the　female　mouth；　below　earth；　that　sort　of　desire　to　pass　for　amiable　with　the　opposite　sex　which；　above　earth；　arbitrary　custom　and　hereditary　transmission　demonstrate　by　the　mouth　of　the　male。　　And　just　as　a　high…bred　young　lady；　above　earth；　habituated　to　such　compliments；　feels　that　she　cannot；　without　impropriety；　return　them；　nor　evince　any　great　satisfaction　at　receiving　them；　so　I　who　had　learned　polite　manners　at　the　house　of　so　wealthy　and　dignified　a　Minister　of　that　nation；　could　but　smile　and　try　to　look　pretty　in　bashfully　disclaiming　the　compliments　showered　upon　me。　　While　we　were　thus　talking；　Taee's　sister；　it　seems；　had　seen　us　from　the　upper　rooms　of　the　Royal　Palace　at　the　entrance　of　the　town；　and；　precipitating　herself　on　her　wings；　alighted　in　the　midst　of　the　group。

Singling　me　out；　she　said；　though　still　with　the　inimitable　deference　of　manner　which　I　have　called　'chivalrous；'　yet　not　without　a　certain　abruptness　of　tone　which；　as　addressed　to　the　weaker　sex；　Sir　Philip　Sydney　might　have　termed　'rustic；'　〃Why　do　you　never　come　to　see　us？〃　150　While　I　was　deliberating　on　the　right　answer　to　give　to　this　unlooked…for　question；　Taee　said　quickly　and　sternly；　〃Sister；　you　forget…　the　stranger　is　of　my　sex。　　It　is　not　for　persons　of　my　sex；　having　due　regard　for　reputation　and　modesty；　to　lower　themselves　by　running　after　the　society　of　yours。〃

This　speech　was　received　with　evident　approval　by　the　young　Gy…ei　in　general；　but　Taee's　sister　looked　greatly　abashed。　　Poor　thing！…　and　a　PRINCESS　too！

Just　at　this　moment　a　shadow　fell　on　the　space　between　me　and　the　group；　and；　turning　round；　I　beheld　the　chief　magistrate　coming　close　upon　us；　with　the　silent　and　stately　pace　peculiar　to　the　Vril…ya。　　At　the　sight　of　his　countenance；　the　same　terror　which　had　seized　me　when　I　first　beheld　it　returned。　　On　that　brow；　in　those　eyes；　there　was　that　same　indefinable　something　which　marked　the　being　of　a　race　fatal　to　our　own…　that　strange　expression　of　serene　exemption　from　our　common　cares　and　passions；　of　conscious　superior　power；　compassionate　and　inflexible　as　that　of　a　judge　who　pronounces　doom。　　I　shivered；　and；　inclining　low；　pressed　the　arm　of　my　child…friend；　and　drew　him　onward　silently。　　The　Tur　placed　himself　before　our　path；　regarded　me　for　a　moment　without　speaking；　then　turned　his　eye　quietly　on　his　daughter's　face；　and；　with　a　grave　salutation　to　her　and　the　other　Gy…ei；　went　　through　the　midst　of　the　group；…　still　without　a　word。　


Chapter　XXVIII。


When　Taee　and　I　found　ourselves　alone　on　the　broad　road　that　lay　between　the　city　and　the　chasm　through　which　I　had　descended　into　this　region　beneath　the　light　of　the　stars　and　sun；　I　said　under　my　breath；　〃Child　and　friend；　there　is　a　look　151in　your　father's　face　which　appals　me。　　I　feel　as　if；　in　its　awful　tranquillity；　I　gazed　upon　death。〃

Taee　did　not　immediately　reply。　　He　seemed　agitated；　and　as　if　debating　with　himself　by　what　words　to　soften　some　unwelcome　intelligence。　　At　last　he　said；　〃None　of　the　Vril…ya　fear　death：　do　you？〃

〃The　dread　of　death　is　implanted　in　the　breasts　of　the　race　to　which　I　belong。　　We　can　conquer　it　at　the　call　of　duty；　of　honour；　of　love。　　We　can　die　for　a　truth；　for　a　native　land；　for　those　who　are　dearer　to　us　than　ourselves。　　But　if　death　do　really　threaten　me　now　and　here；　where　are　such　counteractions　to　the　natural　instinct　which　invests　with　awe　and　terror　the　contemplation　of　severance　between　soul　and　body？〃

Taee　looked　surprised；　but　there　was　great　tenderness　in　his　voice　as　he　replied；　〃I　will　tell　my　father　what　you　say。　　I　will　entreat　him　to　spare　your　life。〃

〃He　has；　then；　already　decreed　to　destroy　it？〃

〃'Tis　my　sister's　fault　or　folly；〃　said　Taee；　with　some　petulance。　　〃But　she　spoke　this　morning　to　my　father；　and；　after　she　had　spoken；　he　summoned　me；　as　a　chief　among　the　children　who　are　commissioned　to　destroy　such　lives　as　threaten　the　community；　and　he　said　to　me；　'Take　thy　vril　staff；　and　seek　the　stranger　who　has　made　himself　dear　to　thee。　　Be　his　end　painless　and　prompt。'〃

〃And；〃　I　faltered；　recoiling　from　the　child…　〃and　it　is；　then；　for　my　murder　that　thus　treacherously　thou　hast　invited　me　forth？　　No；　I　cannot　believe　it。　　I　cannot　think　thee　guilty　of　such　a　crime。〃

〃It　is　no　crime　to　slay　those　who　threaten　the　good　of　the　community；　it　would　be　a　crime　to　slay　the　smallest　insect　that　cannot　harm　us。〃

〃If　you　mean　that　I　threaten　the　good　of　the　community　because　your　sister　honours　me　with　the　sort　of　preference　which　a　child　may　feel　for　a　strange　plaything；　it　is　not　necessary　to　kill　me。　　Let　me　return　to　the　people　I　have　left；　and　by　the　chasm　through　which　I　descended。　　With　a　slight　help　from　you　I　152might　do　so　now。　　You；　by　the　aid　of　your　wings；　could　fasten　to　the　rocky　ledge　within　the　chasm　the　cord　that　you　found；　and　ha