The Land of the Changing Sun Part 24

He held a like instrument to the one used by Waldmeer, and through it spoke:--"Venus, one of the great stars, has been shaken from the firmament. It fell in the suburbs of Telmantio, and many lives were lost."

That was all, and the figure vanished. Presently Waldmeer reappeared.

He seemed to be standing nearer the pit, for the entire background was aflame; volumes of black smoke now and then hid him from view, and a thick shower of ashes and small stones were falling round him. He spoke, but his voice was drowned in a deafening explosion, and the whole landscape about him seemed afire. In the semi-darkness hundreds of protectors could be seen struggling in the rushing water, moving stones and building a dam. Waldmeer again faced his far-off audience and spoke:--"Prince Marentel has turned the course of the stream. All now depends on the success or failure of his final test with explosives, which will take place in about half an hour."

"We ought to go outside again," suggested Bernardino, as Waldmeer's image disappeared; "my father might want us."

Seeing no one in the king's apartment, they pa.s.sed through it to the balcony. Half the sky was now covered with mingled fog and smoke, and the sun could be seen only now and then. A drizzling rain was falling--a rain that brought down clots of ashes and soot. But this made no difference to the throngs in the now muddy and slippery streets. They stood shivering in damp and soiled clothing, their blearing eyes fixed hopelessly on the lowering signs in the west. Johnston noticed a bent figure crouched against a wall beneath them. It was Branasko.

"Who is it?" inquired the princess.

"Branasko, the companion of my adventures," he replied.

"Call him to us," she said eagerly, and the American went down to the Alphian.

As they entered together, Branasko uncovered his dishevelled head and bowed most humbly.

"You look tired and sick and hungry; have you eaten anything today?" she asked.

"Not in two days," he replied.

The princess called to a frightened maid who was wringing her hands in a corridor.

"Give this man food and drink at once," she ordered, and Branasko, with a grateful bow and glance, withdrew. Johnston followed him to the door.

"Fear nothing," he said. "If the danger pa.s.ses we are safe; the king has promised to pardon me, and he will do the same for you."

"There is no hope for any of us," replied Branasko grimly; "but I do not want to die with this gnawing in my stomach; adieu."

"If the worst comes, is there any chance for us to escape from here to the outer world?" the Englishman was asking the princess when Johnston turned back to them.

"For a few hundred, yes,--by the sub-water ships, but for all, no; and, then, my father would not consent to rescue a part and not the whole of his subjects. He would not try to save himself or any of his family."

The clouds still covered the sun; but on the eastern sky its rays were shining gloriously. Ever and anon there sounded from afar a low rumbling as if the earth were swelling with heat.

Johnston left the two lovers together and went to the door of the Electric Auditorium, and over the heads of the breathless crowd he watched the great mirror. After a few moments Waldmeer appeared and spoke:

"Prince Marentel is operating with great difficulty. A large quant.i.ty of his explosives has been injured by water, but he hopes there is enough left intact to serve his purpose. The final explosion will soon take place. The greatest peril hangs over Alpha."

Waldmeer's reflection was becoming in-distinct, and sick at heart the American elbowed his way through the muttering crowd into the corridor.

Here he met Branasko, and together they walked back to Thornd.y.k.e and the princess, who were mutely watching the signs in the east. Just then the sun slowly emerged from the cloud.

"Look!" cried Bernardino in horror. "The cloud is not moving; the sun has not stopped! It is going down and we shall soon be in utter darkness. Oh, it is awful--to die in this way!"

The king had just returned, and he over-heard her words. He came hastily to the edge of the balcony, and gazed at the sun. The others held their breath and waited. His face became more rigid; he swayed a little as he turned to her.

"You are right, my daughter," he groaned; "it is going down; the cowardly dogs in the east have deserted their posts. It is going down!

It will sink into a tunnel filled with water, and the light of Alpha will be extinguished forever. We are undone! Say your prayers, my child, your prayers, I tell you, for an Infinite G.o.d is angry at our pretensions!"

"Don't despair, father," and Bernardino put her arms gently round the old man's neck. "You understand the solar machinery; could you not stop the sun?"

The eyes of the old man flashed. He seemed electrified as he drew himself from her embrace and looked anxiously over the bal.u.s.trade to a flying-machine in the street below.

"I might reach the east in time," he cried; "yes, you are right, I was acting cowardly. The fastest air-ship in Alpha is ready, and Nanleon can drive it to its utmost speed. If the worst comes, I shall see you no more, good-bye!" He kissed her brow tenderly, and her eyes filled as he hastened away. Down below they saw him spring lightly into the gold-mounted car, and the next instant the graceful vessel rose above the palace roof and sped like an arrow across the sky toward the east.

A faint cheer broke from the lips of the crowd which seemed suddenly to take new hope from the king's departure. Some of them waved their hats and scarfs, and many watched the air-ship till it had disappeared in the murky distance.

"He may not get there in time!" cried the princess; "it seems to be going down faster than it ever did before, and he has a great distance to go."

The little party on the balcony were silent for a long time. Presently Bernardino turned her tearful eyes to the face of Thornd.y.k.e.

"The smoke and steam do not seem so voluminous, do you think all will go well?"

The Englishman slowly shook his head. "I don't want to depress you more than you are; but I think at such a time we ought to realize the worst.

It is true, the clouds are not so heavy, and the earth-quakes are less frequent, but, unfortunately, it is owing to the fact that the volume of water has been turned away from the pit into the tunnel. Be prepared for the worst. If your father cannot reach the machinery in the east soon enough, our light will go out; and, worse than that, if Prince Marentel should fail in his next venture with explosives, all hope will be gone."

"I have never desired to live so much as now," she answered, inclining with an air of tenderness toward him. "I never knew what it was to fear death till--till you came to us."

He made no reply. There was a lump in his throat and he could not trust his voice to speech. Branasko and Johnston left them together to go into the Electric Auditorium. They returned in great haste.

"The prince is ready for the explosion," panted Johnston. "Thornd.y.k.e, old man, this is simply awful! It is not like standing up to be shot at, or being jerked through the clouds in a balloon. It seems to me that out there is the endless s.p.a.ce of infinity, and that all the material world is coming to an end. My G.o.d! look at that h.e.l.lish fire, the awful smoke and that black sky! Oh, the blasphemy of a such a paltry imitation of the handiwork of the Creator! We are d.a.m.ned! I say d.a.m.ned, and by a just and angry G.o.d!"

"Don't be a fool," said Thornd.y.k.e, and he threw a warning glance at Bernardino, who, with staring, distended eyes was listening to Johnston.

"No, he is right," she said in a low tone. "I have never seen your world, but I know my people must be woefully wrong. In your land they say men teach things about Infinity and an eternal life for the soul; and that one may prepare for that life by living pure, and in striving to attain a high spiritual state. Oh, why have you not told me about that? It is the one important thing. I have long wanted to know if my soul will be safe at death, but I can learn nothing of my people. They have always tried to rival G.o.d, and, in their mad pursuit of perfection in science, they have been reduced to--this. That black cloud is the frown of G.o.d, hose mad flames may burst forth at any moment and engulf us."

She uttered a low groan and hung her head as if in prayer. Johnston and Thornd.y.k.e were awed to silence. Never had the Englishman loved her as at that moment. She was no longer simply a beautiful human creature, but a divinity, speaking truths from Heaven itself. He felt too unworthy to stand in her presence, and yet his heart was aching to comfort her.

She raised her pallid face heavenward and extended her fair, fragile hands toward the lowering sky and began to pray. "My Creator," she said reverently, childishly, "I have never come to Thee, but they say that people far away from this dark land, under Thy own sun, moon and stars do ask aid of Thee, and I, too, want Thy help. Forgive me and my people.

They have been sinful, and vain, and thoughtless, but let them not perish in utter gloom. Forgive them, O thou Maker of all that exists--thou Creator of pain that we may love joy, Creator of evil that we may know good, turn not from us! We are but thoughtless children--and Thy children--give us time to realize the awful error of our hollow pretensions! Give them all now, at once, if they are to die, that spirit which is awakened in me by the awful majesty of Thy anger! Hear me, O G.o.d!" And with a sob she sank on her knees, clasped her hands and raised them upward. Thornd.y.k.e tried to lift her up, but she shook her head and continued her prayer in silence. A marked change had come over Branasko.

He looked at Johnston and Thornd.y.k.e in a strange, helpless way, and then, in a corner of the balcony the begrimed and tattered man fell on his knees. He knew not the meaning of prayer, but there was something in the reverent att.i.tude of the princess that drew his untutored being toward his Maker. He covered his face with his hands and his s.h.a.ggy head sank to his knees.

Johnston hastened back into the Auditorium. Returning in a moment, he found the Englishman tenderly lifting Bernardino from her knees and Branasko still crouching in a corner.

"What is the news?" asked Thornd.y.k.e.

"Everything is ready for the explosion. The prince seems only waiting because he dreads failure. The people in there are so frightened that they cannot move from their seats."

Just then Branasko raised a haggard face and looked appealingly at the princess. She caught his eye.

"Fear nothing, good man," she said; "the G.o.d of the Christians will not harm us; we are safe in His hands. I felt it here in my heart when I prayed to Him. Oh, why has my father and the other kings of Alpha not taught us that grand simple truth! But before I die I want to leave this dark pit of sin, and look out once into endless, world-filled s.p.a.ce."

A joyous flush came into the face of the Alphian. His fear had vanished.

She had promised him safety. He bowed worshipfully, but he spoke not, for Bernardino was eagerly pointing to the sun.

"Look!" she cried gleefully, with the merry tremolo of a happy, surprised child. "The sun is not moving. Father has been successful! It is a good omen! G.o.d will save us!"

It was true; the sun was standing still. A deep silence was on the city.

The crowds in the street neither moved nor spoke. Without a murmur or complaint they stood facing the frowning west. Suddenly the silence was interrupted by a low volcanic rumble. The earth heaved, and rolled, and far away in the suburbs of the city the spire of a public building fell with a loud crash. A groan swept from mouth to mouth and then died away.