the land of the changing sun-第5部分

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rade　till　he　was　overcome　with　exhaustion。

〃I　never　felt　better　in　my　life；〃　he　said　falteringly；　but　it　seemed　to　him　that　every　nerve　and　muscle　in　his　frame　was　withering　through　fear。　His　tongue　felt　clumsy　and　thick　and　his　knees　were　quivering　as　with　ague。

〃Stand　still；〃　ordered　the　physician　sternly；　and　Johnston　was　further　humiliated　by　having　Tradmos　sympathetically　catch　hold　of　his　arm　to　steady　him。

〃Your　people　are　far　advanced　in　the　sciences；〃　went　on　the　physician　coldly；　〃but　there　are　only　a　few　out　of　their　number　who　know　that　the　mind　governs　the　body　and　that　fear　is　its　prime　enemy。　Five　minutes　ago　you　were　eating　heartily　and　had　your　share　of　physical　strength；　and　yet　the　mere　thought　that　you　are　now　to　know　the　actual　condition　of　your　most　vital　organ　has　made　you　as　weak　as　an　infant。　If　you　kept　up　this　state　of　mind　for　a　month　it　would　kill　you。

〃Now　listen；〃　he　went　on；　as　the　instrument　gripped　Johnston's　flesh　and　the　rubber　tube　began　to　twist　and　move　as　if　charged　with　electricity。　The　American　held　his　breath。　A　sound　as　of　water　being　forced　through　channels　that　were　choked；　mingled　with　a　wheezing　sound　like　wind　escaping　from　a　broken　bellows　came　from　the　bell。

〃Your　frame　is　all　right；〃　said　the　medical　man；　as　he　released　the　trembling　American；　〃but　you　have　long　believed　in　the　weakness　of　your　heart　and　it　has；　on　that　account；　become　so。　You　must　banish　all　fear　from　your　thoughts。　You　perhaps　know　that　we　have　a　place　specially　prepared　for　those　who　are　not　physically　sound。　I　am　sorry　that　you　do　not　stand　a　better　examination。〃

Tradmos　regarded　the　American　with　a　look　of　sympathy　as　he　gave　him　a　chair　and　then　rang　a　bell　on　the　table。　Thorndyke　looked　up　sleepily；　as　an　attendant　entered　with　a　couple　of　parcels；　and　glanced　wonderingly　at　his　friend's　white　face　and　bloodshot　eyes。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　but　Johnston　made　no　reply；　for　the　captain　had　opened　the　parcels　and　taken　out　two　suits　of　silken　clothing。

〃Put　them　on；〃　he　said；　giving　a　suit　of　gray　to　Johnston　and　one　of　light　blue　to　Thorndyke。　〃We　shall　leave　you　to　change　your　attire；　and　I　shall　soon　come　for　you。〃



Chapter　IV。

In　a　few　minutes　the　captain　returned　and　found　his　prisoners　ready　to　go　with　him。　Thorndyke　looked　exceedingly　handsome　in　his　glossy　tights；　close…fitting　sack…coat；　tinsel　belt　and　low　shoes　with　buckles　of　gold。　The　natural　color　had　come　back　into　his　cheeks；　and　he　was　exhilarated　over　the　prospect　of　further　adventure。

It　was　not　so；　however；　with　poor　Johnston；　his　spirits　had　been　so　dampened　by　the　physician's　words　that　he　could　not　rally　from　his　despondency。　His　suit　fitted　his　figure　as　well　as　that　of　the　Englishman；　but　he　could　not　wear　it　with　the　same　hopeful　grace。

〃Cheer　up！〃　whispered　Thorndyke；　as　they　followed　the　captain　through　a　long　corridor；　〃if　we　are　on　our　way　to　the　stake　or　block　we　are　at　least　going　dressed　like　gentlemen。〃

Outside　they　found　the　streets　lined　with　spectators　eagerly　waiting　to　see　them　pass。　The　men　all　had　suits　like　those　which　had　been　given　the　captives；　and　the　women　wore　flowing　gowns　like　those　of　ancient　Greece。

〃These　are　the　common　people；〃　whispered　Thorndyke　to　Johnston；　〃but　did　you　ever　dream　of　such　perfect　features　and　physiques？　Every　face　is　full　of　merriment　and　good　cheer。　I　am　curious　to　see　the　royalty。〃

Johnston　made　no　reply；　for　Captain　Tradmos　turned　suddenly　and　faced　them。

〃Stand　here　till　I　return；〃　he　said；　and　he　went　back　into　the　house。

〃Where　in　the　deuce　do　you　think　we　are？〃　pursued　Thorndyke　with　a　grim　smile。

〃Haven't　the　slightest　idea；〃　sighed　Johnston；　and　he　shuddered　as　he　looked　down　the　long　white　street　with　its　borders　of　human　faces。

Thorndyke　was　observant。

〃There　is　not　a　breath　of　air　stirring；〃　he　said；　〃and　yet　the　atmosphere　is　like　impalpable　delicacies　to　a　hungry　man's　stomach。Look　at　that　big　tree；　not　a　leaf　is　moving；　and　yet　every　breath　I　draw　is　as　fresh　as　if　it　came　from　a　mountain…　top。　Did　you　ever　see　such　flowers　as　those？　Look　at　that　ocean　of　orchids。〃

〃They　think　we　are　a　regular　monkey…show；〃　grumbled　the　American。　〃Look　how　the　crowd　is　gaping　and　shoving　and　fighting　for　places　to　see　us。〃

〃It's　your　legs　they　want　to　behold；　old　fellow。　Do　you　know　I　never　knew　you　had　such　knotty　knee…joints；　did　you　ever　have　rheumatism？　I　wish　I　had　'em；　they　wouldn't　put　me　to　deaththey　would　make　me　the　chief　attraction　in　the　royal　museum。〃　Thorndyke　concluded　his　jest　with　a　laugh；　but　the　face　of　his　friend　did　not　brighten。

〃You　bet　that　medical　examination　meant　something　serious；〃　he　said。

〃Pooh！〃　and　the　Englishman　slapped　his　friend　playfully　on　the　shoulder。

〃Since　I　have　seen　that　vast　crowd　of　well…developed　people；　and　remember　what　that　medicine　man　said；　I　have　made　up　my　mind　that　we　are　going　to　be　separated。〃　Poor　Johnston's　lip　was　quivering。

〃Rubbish！　but　there　comes　the　captain；　put　on　a　bold　front；　talk　up　New　York；　tell　'em　about　Chicago　and　the　Fair；　and　ask　to　be　allowed　to　ride　in　their　Ferris　Wheelif　they　ain't　got　no　wheel；　ask　'em　when　the　first　train　leaves　town。〃

〃This　is　no　time　for　jokes；〃　growled　Johnston；　as　Tradmos　returned。　Tradmos　motioned　to　something　that　in　the　distance　looked　like　a　carriage；　but　which　turned　out　to　be　a　flying　machine。　It　rose　gracefully　and　glided　over　the　ground　and　settled　at　their　feet。　It　was　large　enough　to　seat　a　dozen　people；　and　there　was　a　little　glass…windowed　compartment　at　the　end　in　which　they　could　see　〃the　driver；〃　as　he　was　termed　by　Tradmos。　The　mysterious　machinery　was　hidden　in　the　woodwork　overhead　and　beneath。

〃Get　in；〃　said　the　captain；　and　the　door　flew　open　as　if　of　its　own　accord。　Thorndyke　went　in　first　and　was　followed　by　the　moody　American。　〃Let　up　on　the　ague；〃　jested　Thorndyke；　nudging　his　friend　with　his　elbow；　〃if　you　keep　on　quivering　like　that　you　may　shake　the　thing　loose　from　its　moorings　and　we'd　never　know　what　became　of　us。〃

Johnston　scowled；　and　the　officer；　who　had　overheard　the　remark；　smiled　as　he　leaned　toward　the　window　and　gave　some　directions　to　the　man　in　the　other　compartment。

〃You　both　take　it　rather　coolly；〃　he　remarked　to　Thorndyke。　〃I　took　a　man　and　a　woman　over　this　route　several　years　ago　and　both　of　them　were　in　a　dead　faint；　but；　in　fact；　you　have　nothing　to　fear。　We　never　have　accidents。〃

〃It　is　as　safe　as　a　balloon；　I　suppose；　and　we　are　at　home　in　them；〃　said　the　Englishman；　with　just　the　hint　of　a　swagger　in　his　tone。

〃But　your　balloons　are　poor；　primitive　things　at　best；〃　returned　Tradmos　in　his　soft　voice。　〃They　can't　be　compared　to　this　mode　of　travel；　though；　of　course；　our　machines　would　not　operate　in　your　atmosphere。〃

〃Why　not？〃　impulsively　asked　the　Englishman。　〃I　thought〃

But　he　did　not　conclude　his　remark；　for　they　were　rising；　and　both　he　and　Johnston　leaned　apprehensively　forward　and　looked　out　of　one　of　the　windows。　Down　below　the　long　lines　of　people　were　silently　waving　their　hats；　scarfs　and　handkerchiefs　as　the　machine　swept　along　over　their　heads。　As　they　rose　higher　the　scene　below　widened　like　a　great　circular　fan；　and　in　the　delicate　roselight；　the　whole　so　appealed　to　Thorndyke's　artistic　sense　that　he　ejaculated：

〃Glorious！　Superb！　Transcendent！〃　and　he　directed　Johnston's　attention　to　the　wonderful　pinkish　haze　which　lay　over　the　view　toward　the　west　like　a　vast　diaphanous　web　of　rosy　sunbeams。

〃You　ask　why　our　air…ships　would　not　operate　in　your　atmosphere；〃　said　the　captain；　showing　pleasure　at　Thorndyke's　enthusiasm。　〃It　is　simple　enough　when　you　have　studied　the　climatic　differences　between　the　two　countries。　You　have　much　to　contend　withthe　winds；　for　instance；　the　heat　and　cold；　etc。；　this　is　the　only　known　country　where　the　winds　are　subjugated。　I　have　never　been　in　your　world；　but　from　what　I　have　heard　of　it　I　am　not　anxious　to　see　it。　Your　atmosphere　and　climate　are　so　changeable　and　so　diverse　in　different　localities　that　I　have　heard　your　people　spend　much　of　their　time　in　seeking　congenial　climes。　I　think　it　was　a　man　who　came　from　London　that　claimed　he　once　had　a　cold'a　bad　cold；'　I　think　he　called　it。　It　was　a　standing　joke　in　the　royal　family　for　a　long　time；　and　he　heard　so　much　about　it　that　he　tried　to　deny　what　he　had　said！〃

Johnston　glanced　at　the　speaker　non…plussed；　but　the　captain　was　looking　at　Thorndyke。

〃Your　climate　is　delightful　here　now；〃　said　the　Englishman；　〃is　it　so　long　at　a　time？〃

〃Perpetually；　it　is　regulated　every　moment；　and　every　year　we　perfect　it　in　some　way。〃

〃Perfect　it？〃

〃Yes；　of　course；　why　not？　If　it　ever　fails　to　be　up　to　the　usual　high　standard；　it　is　owing　to　neglect　of　those　in　charge；　and　neglect　is　punished　severely。〃

Thorndyke's　eyes　sought　those　of　the　American　incredulously。　Seeing　which　Tradmos　looked　amused。

〃You　doubt　it；〃　he　smiled。　〃Well；　wait　till　you　have　been　here　longer。　The　fact　is；　any　one　born　in　our　climate　could　not　live　in　yours。　The　king　experimented　on　a　man　who　claimed　to　have　only　one　lung；　but　who　had　two　sound　ones　when　he　was　cut　open。　Well；　the　king　sent　him　to　China；　or　America；　or　some　such　place；　and　he　wheezed　himself　to　death　in　a　week　by　your　clocks。　The　weather　was　too　fickle　for　him。　Our　system　has　been　perfected　to　such　an　extent　that　we　live　four　lives　to　your　one；　and　our　fruits　and　vegetables　are　a　hundred　per　cent。　better　than　those　in　other　countries。〃

〃What　is　the　name　of　your　country？〃　asked　Thorndyke；　feeling　that　he　was　not　losing　anything　by　his　boldness。

〃Alpha。〃

〃Where　is　it　located？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃　Tradmos　looked　out　at　the　window　for　a　moment　as　if　to　ascertain　that　they　were　going　in　the　right　direction；　then　he　fixed　his　dark　eyes　on　Thorndyke　and　asked　hesitatingly：

〃I　never　thoughtIbut　do　you　know　where　your　country　is　located？〃

〃Why；　certainly。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　where　this　one　is。　We　are　taught　everything；　I　think；　except　geography。〃　Nothing　more　was　said　for　several　minutes；　then　an　exclamation　of　admiration　broke　from　the　Englishman。　The　color　of　the　sunlight　was　changing。　From　east　to　west　within　the　entire　arc　of　their　observation　rolled　an　endless　billow　of　lavend