第5章
Nevermindthebabies。They"rebetterdead——Out，beforetheLightandtheHotSmoke!"
ThePrincess"sfirstclearfearlesscall(Melissahadfoundher)
roseanddrummedthroughalltheframes。"LaReineleveult!
Swarm!Swar-rm!Swar-r-rm!"
TheHiveshookbeneaththeshatteringthunderofastuck-downquiltbeingtornback。
"Don"tbealarmed，dears，"saidtheWax-moths。"That"sourwork。
Lookup，andyou"llseethedawnoftheNewDay。"
LightbrokeinthetopofthehiveastheQueenhad，prophesied——nakedlightontheboiling，bewilderedbees。
Sacharissaroundedupherrearguard，whichdroppedheadlongofftheframe，andjoinedthePrincess"sdetachmentthrustingtowardtheGate。Nowpanicwasinfullblast，andeachsoundbeefoundherselfembracedbyatleastthreeOddities。Thefirstinstinctofafrightenedbeeistobreakintothestoresandgorgeherselfwithhoney；buttherewerenostoresleft，sotheOdditiesfoughtthesoundbees。
"Youmustfeedus，orweshalldie!"theycried，holdingandclutchingandslipping，whilethesilentscaredearwigsandlittlespiderstwistedbetweentheirlegs。"ThinkoftheHive，traitors!TheHolyHive!"
"Youshouldhavethoughtbefore!"criedthesoundbees。，"StayandseethedawnofyourNewDay。"
TheyreachedtheGateatlastoverthesoftbodiesofmanytowhomtheyhadministered。
"On!Out!Up!"roaredMelissainthePrincess"sear。"FortheHive"ssake!TotheOldOak!"
ThePrincessleftthealighting-board，circledonce，flungherselfatthelowestbranchoftheOldOak，andherlittleloyalswarm——youcouldhavecovereditwithapintmug——followed，hooked，andhung。
"Holdclose!"Melissagasped。"Theoldlegendshavecometrue!
Look!"
TheHivewashalfhiddenbysmoke，andFiguresmovedthroughthesmoke。Theyheardaframecrackstickily，sawitheavedhighandtwirledroundbetweenenormoushands——ablotched，bulged，andperishedhorrorofgreywax，corruptbrood，andsmalldrone-cells，allcoveredwithcrawlingOddities，strangetothesun。
"Why，thisisn"tahive!Thisisamuseumofcuriosities，"saidtheVoicebehindtheVeil。ItwasonlytheBeeMastertalkingtohisson。
"Canyoublame"em，father？"saidasecondvoice。"It"srottenwithWax-moth。Seehere!"
Anotherframecameup。Afingerpokedthroughit，anditbrokeawayinrustlingflakesofashyrottenness。
"NumberFourFrame!Thatwasyourmother"spetcombonce，"
whisperedMelissatothePrincess。"Many"sthegoodeggI"vewatchedherlaythere。"
"Aren"tyouconfusingpodhocwithpropterhoc？"saidtheBeeMaster。"Wax-mothonlysucceedwhenweakbeesletthemin。"A
thirdframecrackledandroseintothelight。"Allthisisfulloflayingworkers"brood。Thatneverhappenstillthestock"sweakened。Phew!"
Hebeatitonhiskneelikeatambourine，anditalsocrumbledtopieces。
Thelittleswarmshiveredastheywatchedthedwarfdrone-grubssquirmfeeblyonthegrass。Manysoundbeeshadnursedonthatframe，wellknowingtheirworkwasuseless；buttheactualsightofevenuselessworkdestroyeddisheartensagoodworker。
"No，theyhavesomerecuperativepowerleft，"saidthesecondvoice。"Here"saQueencell!"
"Butit"stuckedawayamong——Whatonearthhascometothelittlewretches？Theyseemtohavelosttheinstinctofcell-building。"
Thefatherhelduptheframewherethebeeshadexperimentedincircularcell-work。Itlookedlikethepittedhead，ofadecayingtoadstool。
"Notaltogether，"thesoncorrected。"There"soneline，atleast，ofperfectlygoodcells。"
"Mywork，"saidSacharissatoherself。"I"mgladMandoesmejusticebefore——"
Thatframe，too，wassmashedoutandthrownatopoftheothersandthefoulearwiggyquilts。
Asframeafterframefollowedit，theswarmbeheldtheupheaval，exposure，anddestructionofallthathadbeenwellorilldoneineverycrannyoftheirHiveforgenerationspast。Therewasblackcombsooldthattheyhadforgottenwhereithung；orange，buff，andochre-varnishedstore-comb，builtasbeeswereusedtobuildbeforethedaysofartificialfoundations；andtherewasalittle，white，frailnewwork。Thereweresheetsonsheetsoflevel，evenbrood-combthathadheldinitstimeunnumberedthousandsofunnamedworkers；patchesofobsoletedrone-comb，broadandhigh-shouldered，showingtowhatmarksthemalegrubwasexpectedtogrow；andtwo-inchdeephoney-magazines，empty，butstillmagnificent，thewholegummedandgluedintotwistedscrap-work，awryonthewires；half-cells，beginningsabandoned，orgrandiose，weak-walled，compositecellspiecedoutwithrubbishandcappedwithdirt。
Goodorbad，everyinchofitwassoriddledbythetunnelsoftheWax-moththatitbrokeincloudsofdustasitwasflungontheheap。
"Oh，see!"criedSacharissa。"TheGreatBurningthatOurQueenforetold。Whocanbeartolook？"
Aflamecrawledupthepileofrubbish，andtheysmeltsingeingwax。
TheFiguresstooped，liftedtheHiveandshookitupsidedownoverthepyre。AcascadeofOddities，chipsofbrokencomb，scale，fluff，andgrubsslidout，crackled，sizzled，poppedalittle，andthentheflamesroaredupandconsumedallthatfuel。
"Wemustdisinfect，"saidaVoice。"Getmeasulphur-candle，please。"
TheshelloftheHivewasreturnedtoitsplace，alightwassetinitsstickyemptiness，tierbytiertheFiguresbuiltitup，closedtheentrance，andwentaway。Theswarmwatchedthelightleakingthroughthecracksallthelongnight。AtdawnoneWax-mothcameby，flutteringimpudently。
"TherehasbeenamiscalculationabouttheNewDay，mydears，"
shebegan；"onecan"texpectpeopletobeperfectallatonce。
Thatwasourmistake。"
"No，themistakewasentirelyours，"saidthePrincess。
"Pardonme，"saidtheWax-moth。"Whenyouthinkoftheenormousupheaval——callitgoodorbad——whichourinfluencebroughtabout，youwilladmitthatwe，andwealone——"
"You？"saidthePrincess。"Ourstockwasnotstrong。Soyoucame——asanyotherdiseasemighthavecome。Hangclose，allmypeople。"
Whenthesunrose，VeiledFigurescamedown，andsawtheirswarmatthebough"sendwaitingpatientlywithinsightoftheoldHive——ahandful，butpreparedtogoon。
THEBEESANDTHEFLIES
AFARMERoftheAugustanagePerusedinVirgil"sgoldenpage，ThestoryofthesecretwonFromProteusbyCyrene"ssonHowthedanksea-godsowedtheswainMeanstorestorehishivesagainMorebriefly，howaslaughteredbullBreedshoneybythebellyful。
TheegregiousrusticputtodeathAbullbystoppingofitsbreath:
DisposedthecarcassinashedWithfragrantherbsandbranchesspread。
And，havingthusperformedthecharm，Satdowntowaitthepromisedswarm。
Norwaitedlong……TheGodofDayImpartial，quickeningwithhisrayEvilandgoodalike，beheldThecarcass——andthecarcassswelled!
BigwithnewbirththebellyheavesBeneathitsscreenofscentedleaves；
Pastanydoubt，thebullconceives!
ThefarmerbidsmenbringmorehivesTohousetheprofitthatarrives；
Preparesonpan，andkeyandkettle，Sweetmusicthatshallmake"emsettle；
Butwhentocrowntheworkhegoes，Gods!Whatastinksaluteshisnose!
Wherearethehonesttoilers？
WhereThegravidmistressoftheircare？
Abusyscene，indeed，hesees，Butnotasignorsoundofbees。
WormsoftheripergraveunhidByanykindlycoffinlid，Obsceneandshamelesstothelight，Seetheininsatiateappetite，Throughputridoffal；whileaboveThehissingblow-flyseekshislove，Whoseoffspring，suppingwheretheysupt，Consumecorruptiontwicecorrupt。
WITHTHENIGHTMAIL
ASTORYOF2000A。D。
(Togetherwithextractsfromthemagazineinwhichitappeared)
Anineo"clockofagustywinternightIstoodonthelowerstagesofoneoftheG。P。O。outwardmailtowers。MypurposewasaruntoQuebecin"PostalPacket162orsuchotherasmaybeappointed"；andthePostmaster-Generalhimselfcountersignedtheorder。Thistalismanopenedalldoors，eventhoseinthedespatching-caissonatthefootofthetower，wheretheyweredeliveringthesortedContinentalmail。ThebagslaypackedcloseasherringsinthelonggreyunderbodieswhichourG。P。O。stillcalls"coaches。"FivesuchcoacheswerefilledasIwatched，andwereshotuptheguidestobelockedontotheirwaitingpacketsthreehundredfeetnearerthestars。
Fromthedespatching-caissonIwasconductedbyacourteousandwonderfullylearnedofficialMr。L。L。Geary，SecondDespatcheroftheWesternRoute——totheCaptains"Room(thiswakesanechoofoldromance)，wherethemailcaptainscomeonfortheirturnofduty。Heintroducesmetothecaptainof"162"——CaptainPurnall，andhisrelief，CaptainHodgson。Theoneissmallanddark；theotherlargeandred；buteachhasthebroodingsheathedglancecharacteristicofeaglesandaeronauts。Youcanseeitinthepicturesofourracingprofessionals，fromL。V。RautschtolittleAdaWarrleigh——thatfathomlessabstractionofeyeshabituallyturnedthroughnakedspace。
Onthenotice-boardintheCaptains"Room，thepulsingarrowsofsometwentyindicatorsregister，degreebygeographicaldegree，theprogressofasmanyhomeward-boundpackets。Theword"Cape"
risesacrossthefaceofadial；agongstrikes:theSouthAfricanmid-weeklymailisinattheHighgateReceivingTowers。
Thatisall。Itremindsonecomicallyofthetraitorouslittlebellwhichinpigeon-fanciers"，loftsnotifiesthereturnofahomer。
"Timeforustobeonthemove，"saysCaptainPurnall，andweareshotupbythepassenger-lifttothetopofthedespatch-towers。
"Ourcoachwilllockonwhenitisfilledandtheclerksareaboard。"
"No。162"waitsforusinSlipEofthetopmoststage。Thegreatcurveofherbackshinesfrostilyunderthelights，andsomeminutealterationoftrimmakesherrockalittleinherholding-downslips。
CaptainPurnallfrownsanddivesinside。Hissingsoftly，"162"
comestorestaslevelasarule。FromherNorthAtlanticWinternose-cap(wornbrightasdiamondwithboringthroughuncountedleaguesofhail，snow，andice)totheinsetofherthreebuiltoutpropeller-shaftsissometwohundredandfortyfeet。Herextremediameter，carriedwellforward，isthirty-seven。Contrastthiswiththeninehundredbyninety-fiveofanycrackliner，andyouwillrealizethepowerthatmustdriveahullthroughallweathersatmorethantheemergencyspeedoftheCyclonic!
Theeyedetectsnojointinherskinplatingsavethesweepinghair-crackofthebow-rudder——Magniac"srudderthatassuredusthedominionoftheunstableairandleftitsinventorpennilessandhalf-blind。ItiscalculatedtoCastelli"s"gullwing"curve。
Raiseafewfeetofthatallbutinvisibleplatethree-eighthsofaninchandshewillyawfivemilestoportorstarboarderesheisundercontrolagain。Giveherfullhelmandshereturnsonhertracklikeawhip-lash。Cantthewholeforward——atouchonthewheelwillsuffice——andshesweepsatyourgooddirectionupordown。Openthecompletecircleandshepresentstotheairamushroom-headthatwillbringherupallstandingwithinahalfmile。
"Yes，"saysCaptainHodgson，answeringmythought，"Castellithoughthe"ddiscoveredthesecretofcontrollingaeroplaneswhenhe"donlyfoundouthowtosteerdirigibleballoons。Magniacinventedhisruddertohelpwar-boatsrameachother；andwarwentoutoffashionandMagniachewentoutofhismindbecausehesaidhecouldn"tservehiscountryanymore。Iwonderifanyofuseverknowwhatwe"rereallydoing。"
"Ifyouwanttoseethecoachlockedyou"dbettergoaboard。It"sduenow，"saysMr。Geary。Ienterthroughthedooramidships。
Thereisnothingherefordisplay。Theinnerskinofthegas-tankscomesdowntowithinafootortwoofmyheadandturnsoverjustshortoftheturnofthebilges。Linersandyachtsdisguisetheirtankswithdecoration，buttheG。P。O。servesthemrawunderalickofgreyofficialpaint。Theinnerskinshutsofffiftyfeetofthebowandasmuchofthestern，butthebow-bulkheadisrecessedforthelift-shuntingapparatusasthesternispiercedfortheshaft-tunnels。Theengine-roomliesalmostamidships。Forwardofit，extendingtotheturnofthebowtanks，isanaperture——abottomlesshatchatpresent——intowhichourcoachwillbelocked。Onelooksdownoverthecoamingsthreehundredfeettothedespatching-caissonwhencevoicesboomupward。Thelightbelowisobscuredtoasoundofthunder，asourcoachrisesonitsguides。Itenlargesrapidlyfromapostage-stamptoaplaying-card；toapuntandlastapontoon。
Thetwoclerks，itscrew，donotevenlookupasitcomesintoplace。TheQuebeclettersflyundertheirfingersandleapintothedocketedracks，whilebothcaptainsandMr。Gearysatisfythemselvesthatthecoachislockedhome。Aclerkpassestheway-billoverthehatchcoaming。CaptainPurnallthumb-marksandpassesittoMr。Geary。Receipthasbeengivenandtaken。
"Pleasantrun，"saysMr。Geary，anddisappearsthroughthedoorwhichafoothighpneumaticcompressorlocksafterhim。
"A-ah!"sighsthecompressorreleased。Ourholding-downclipspartwithatang。Weareclear。
CaptainHodgsonopensthegreatcolloidunderbodyportholethroughwhichIwatchover-lightedLondonslideeastwardasthegalegetsholdofus。Thefirstofthelowwintercloudscutsoffthewell-knownviewanddarkensMiddlesex。OnthesouthedgeofitIcanseeapostalpacket"slightploughingthroughthewhitefleece。ForaninstantshegleamslikeastarereshedropstowardtheHighgateReceivingTowers。"TheBombayMail，"saysCaptainHodgson，andlooksathiswatch。"She"sfortyminuteslate。"
"What"sourlevel？"Iask。
"Fourthousand。Aren"tyoucominguponthebridge？"
Thebridge(letuseverpraisetheG。P。O。asarepositoryofancientesttradition!)isrepresentedbyaviewofCaptainHodgson"slegswherehestandsontheControlPlatformthatrunsthwart-shipsoverhead。ThebowcolloidisunshutteredandCaptainPurnall，onehandonthewheel，isfeelingforafairslant。Thedialshows4300feet。"It"ssteepto-night，"hemutters，astierontierofclouddropsunder。"Wegenerallypickupaneasterlydraughtbelowthreethousandatthistimeo"theyear。Ihateslatheringthroughfluff。"
"SodoesVanCutsem。Lookathimhuntin"foraslant!"saysCaptainHodgson。Afoglightbreakscloudahundredfathomsbelow。
TheAntwerpNightMailmakeshersignalandrisesbetweentworacingcloudsfartoport，herflanksblood-redintheglareofSheernessDoubleLight。ThegalewillhaveusovertheNorthSeainhalf-an-hour，butCaptainPurnallletshergocomposedly——nosingtoeverypointofthecompassassherises。
"Fivethousand-six，sixthousandeighthundred"——thedip-dialreadserewefindtheeasterlydrift，heraldedbyaflurryofsnowatthethousandfathomlevel。CaptainPurnallringsuptheenginesandkeysdownthegovernorontheswitchbeforehim。
ThereisnosenseinurgingmachinerywhenEolushimselfgivesyougoodknotsfornothing。Weareawayinearnestnow——ournosenotchedhomeonourchosenstar。Atthislevelthelowercloudsarelaidout，allneatlycombedbythedryfingersoftheEast。
Belowthatagainisthestrongwesterlyblowthroughwhichwerose。Overhead，afilmofsoutherlydriftingmistdrawsatheatricalgauzeacrossthefirmament。Themoonlightturnsthelowerstratatosilverwithoutastainexceptwhereourshadowunderrunsus。BristolandCardiffDoubleLights(thosestatelilyinclinedbeamsoverSevernmouth)aredeadaheadofus；forwekeeptheSouthernWinterRoute。CoventryCentral，thepivotoftheEnglishsystem，stabsupwardonceintensecondsitsspearofdiamondlighttothenorth；andapointortwooffourstarboardbowTheLeek，thegreatcloud-breakerofSaintDavid"sHead，swingsitsunmistakablegreenbeamtwenty-fivedegreeseachway。
Theremustbehalfamileoffluffoveritinthisweather，butitdoesnotaffectTheLeek。
"Ourplanet"sover-lightedifanything，"saysCaptainPurnallatthewheel，asCardiff-Bristolslidesunder。"Iremembertheolddaysofcommonwhiteverticalsthat"udshowtwoorthreehundredfeetupinamist，ifyouknewwheretolookfor"em。Inreallyfluffyweathertheymightaswellhavebeenunderyourhat。Onecouldgetlostcominghomethen，an"havesomefun。Now，it"slikedrivingdownPiccadilly。"
Hepointstothepillarsoflightwherethecloud-breakersborethroughthecloud-floor。WeseenothingofEngland"soutlines:
onlyawhitepavementpiercedinalldirectionsbythesemanholesofvariouslycolouredfire——HolyIsland"swhiteandred——St。
Bee"sinterruptedwhite，andsoonasfarastheeyecanreach。
BlessedbeSargent，Ahrens，andtheDuboisbrothers，whoinventedthecloud-breakersoftheworldwherebywetravelinsecurity!
"AreyougoingtoliftforTheShamrock？"asksCaptainHodgson。
CorkLight(green，fixed)enlargesaswerushtoit。CaptainPurnallnods。Thereisheavytraffichereabouts——thecloud-bankbeneathusisstreaked。withrunningfissuresofflamewheretheAtlanticboatsarehurryingLondonwardjustclearofthefluff。
Mail-packetsaresupposed，undertheConferencerules，tohavethefive-thousand-footlanestothemselves，buttheforeignerinahurryisapttotakelibertieswithEnglishair。"No。162"
liftstoalong-drawnwailofthebreezeinthefore-flangeoftherudderandwemakeValencia(white，green，white)atasafe7000feet，dippingourbeamtoanincomingWashingtonpacket。
ThereisnocloudontheAtlantic，andfaintstreaksofcreamroundDingleBayshowwherethedrivenseashammerthecoast。A
bigS。A。T。A。liner(SocieteAnonymedesTransportsAeriens)isdivingandliftinghalfamilebelowusinsearchofsomebreakinthesolidwestwind。LowerstillliesadisabledDanesheistellingthelinerallaboutitinInternational。OurGeneralCommunicationdialhascaughthertalkandbeginstoeavesdrop。
CaptainHodgsonmakesamotiontoshutitoffbutcheckshimself。
"Perhapsyou"dliketolisten，"hesays。
"ArgolofSt。Thomas，"theDanewhimpers。"Reportownersthreestarboardshaftcollar-bearingsfused。CanmakeFloresasweare，butimpossiblefurther。ShallwebuysparesatFayal？"
Thelineracknowledgesandrecommendsinvertingthebearings。TheArgolanswersthatshehasalreadydonesowithouteffect，andbeginstorelievehermindaboutcheapGermanenamelsforcollar-bearings。TheFrenchmanassentscordially，cries"Courage，monami，"andswitchesoff。
Thenlightssinkunderthecurveoftheocean。
"That"soneofLundt&Bleamers"boats，"saysCaptainHodgson。
"Serves"emrightforputtingGermancomposintheirthrust-blocks。Shewon"tbeinFayalto-night!Bytheway，wouldn"tyouliketolookroundtheengine-room？"
IhavebeenwaitingeagerlyforthisinvitationandIfollowCaptainHodgsonfromthecontrol-platform，stoopinglowtoavoidthebulgeofthetanks。WeknowthatFleury"sgascanliftanything，astheworld-famoustrialsof"89showed，butitsalmostindefinitepowersofexpansionnecessitatevasttankroom。
Eveninthisthinairthelift-shuntsarebusytakingoutone-thirdofitsnormallift，andstill"162"mustbecheckedbyanoccasionaldowndrawoftherudderorourflightwouldbecomeaclimbtothestars。CaptainPurnallprefersanoverliftedtoanunderliftedship；butnotwocaptainstrimshipalike。"WhenI
takethebridge，"saysCaptainHodgson，"you"llseemeshuntfortypercentoftheliftoutofthegasandrunherontheupperrudder。Withaswoopupwardinsteadofaswoopdownward，asyousay。Eitherwaywilldo。It"sonlyhabit。Watchourdip-dial!
Timfetchesherdownonceeverythirtyknotsasregularlyasbreathing。"
Soisitshownonthedip-dial。Forfiveorsixminutesthearrowcreepsfrom6700to7300。Thereisthefaint"szgee"oftherudder，andbackslidesthearrowto6000onafallingslantoftenorfifteenknots。
"Inheavyweatheryoujockeyherwiththescrewsaswell，"saysCaptainHodgson，and，unclippingthejointedbarwhichdividestheengine-roomfromthebaredeck，heleadsmeontothefloor。
HerewefindFleury"sParadoxoftheBulk-headedVacuum——whichweacceptnowwithoutthought——literallyinfullblast。ThethreeenginesareH。T。&T。assisted-vacuoFleuryturbinesrunningfrom3000totheLimit——thatistosay，uptothepointwhenthebladesmaketheair"bell"——cutoutavacuumforthemselvespreciselyasover-drivenmarinepropellersusedtodo。"162"s"
Limitislowonaccountofthesmallsizeofherninescrews，which，thoughhandierthantheoldcolloidThelussons，"bell"
sooner。Themidshipsengine，generallyusedasareinforce，isnotrunning；sotheportandstarboardturbinevacuum-chambersdrawdirectintothereturn-mains。
Theturbineswhistlereflectively。Fromthelow-archedexpansion-tanksoneithersidethevalvesdescendpillarwisetotheturbine-chests，andthencetheobedientgaswhirlsthroughthespiralsofbladeswithaforcethatwouldwhiptheteethoutofapowersaw。Behind，isitsownpressureheldinleashofspurredonbythelift-shunts；beforeit，thevacuumwhereFleury"sRaydancesinviolet-greenbandsandwhirledturbillonsofflame。ThejointedU-tubesofthevacuum-chamberarepressure-temperedcolloid(noglasswouldendurethestrainforaninstant)andajuniorengineerwithtintedspectacleswatchestheRayintently。Itistheveryheartofthemachine——amysterytothisday。
EvenFleurywhobegatitand，unlikeMagniac，diedamulti-millionaire，couldnotexplainhowtherestlesslittleimpshudderingintheU-tubecan，inthefractionalfractionofasecond，strikethefuriousblastofgasintoachillgreyish-greenliquidthatdrains(youcanhearittrickle)fromthefarendofthevacuumthroughtheeduction-pipesandthemainsbacktothebilges。Hereitreturnstoitsgaseous，onehadalmostwrittensagacious，stateandclimbstoworkafresh。
Bilge-tank，uppertank，dorsal-tank，expansion-chamber，vacuum，main-return(asaliquid)，andbilge-tankoncemoreistheordainedcycle。Fleury"sRayseestothat；andtheengineerwiththetintedspectaclesseestoFleury"sRay。Ifaspeckofoil，ifeventhenaturalgreaseofthehumanfingertouchthehoodedterminals，Fleury"sRaywillwinkanddisappearandmustbelaboriouslybuiltupagain。Thismeanshalfaday"sworkforallhandsandanexpenseof，onehundredandseventy-oddpoundstotheG。P。O。forradium-saltsandsuchtrifles。
"Nowlookatourthrust-collars。Youwon"tfindmuchGermancompothere。Full-jewelled，yousee，"saysCaptainHodgsonastheengineershuntsopenthetopofacap。Ourshaft-bearingsareC。M。C。(CommercialMineralsCompany)stones，groundwithasmuchcareasthelensofatelescope。TheycostL837apiece。Sofarwehavenotarrivedattheirtermoflife。Thesebearingscamefrom"No。97，"whichtookthemoverfromtheoldDominionofLightwhichhadthemoutofthewreckofthePersewaeroplaneintheyearswhenmenstillflewwoodenkitesoveroilengines!
Theyareashiningreprooftoalllow-gradeGerman"ruby"
enamels，so-called"boort"facings，andthedangerousandunsatisfactoryaluminacompoundswhichpleasedividend-huntingownersandturnskipperscrazy。Therudder-gearandthegaslift-shunt，seatedsidebysideundertheengine-roomdials，aretheonlymachinesinvisiblemotion。Theformersighsfromtimetotimeastheoilplungerrisesandfallshalfaninch。Thelatter，casedandguardedliketheU-tubeaft，exhibitsanotherFleuryRay，butinvertedandmoregreenthanviolet。Itsfunctionistoshunttheliftoutofthegas，andthisitwilldowithoutwatching。Thatisall!Atinypump-rodwheezingandwhiningtoitselfbesideasputteringgreenlamp。Ahundredandfiftyfeetaftdowntheflat-toppedtunnelofthetanksavioletlight，restlessandirresolute。Betweenthetwo，threewhite-paintedturbine-trunks，likeeel-basketslaidontheirside，accentuatetheemptyperspectives。Youcanhearthetrickleoftheliquefiedgasflowingfromthevacuumintothebilge-tanksandthesoftgluck-glockofgaslocksclosingasCaptainPurnallbrings"162"
downbythehead。Thehumoftheturbinesandtheboomoftheaironourskinisnomorethanacotton-woolwrappingtotheuniversalstillness。Andwearerunninganeighteen-secondmile。
Ipeerfromtheforeendoftheengine-roomoverthehatch-coamingsintothecoach。Themail-clerksaresortingtheWinnipeg，Calgary，andMedicineHatbags；butthereisapackofcardsreadyonthetable。
Suddenlyabellthrills；theengineersruntotheturbine-valvesandstandby；butthespectacledslaveoftheRayintheU-tubeneverliftshishead。Hemustwatchwhereheis。Wearehard-brakedandgoingastern；thereislanguagefromtheControlPlatform。
"Tim"ssparkingbadlyaboutsomething，"saystheunruffledCaptainHodgson。"Let"slook。"
CaptainPurnallisnotthesuavemanwelefthalfanhoursince，buttheembodiedauthorityoftheG。P。O。Aheadofusfloatsanancient，aluminum-patched，twin-screwtrampofthedingiest，withnomorerighttothe5000-footlanethanhasahorse-carttoamodernroad。Shecarriesanobsolete"barbette"conningtower——asix-footaffairwithrailedplatformforward——andourwarningbeamplaysonthetopofitasapoliceman"slanternflashesontheareasneak。Likeasneak-thief，too，emergesashock-headednavigatorinhisshirt-sleeves。CaptainPurnallwrenchesopenthecolloidtotalkwithhimmantoman。TherearetimeswhenSciencedoesnotsatisfy。
"Whatunderthestarsareyoudoinghere，yousky-scrapingchimney-sweep？"heshoutsaswetwodriftsidebyside。"DoyouknowthisisaMail-lane？Youcallyourselfasailor，sir？Youain"tfittopeddletoyballoonstoanEsquimaux。Yournameandnumber!Reportandgetdown，andbe——!"
"I"vebeenblownuponce，"theshock-headedmancries，hoarsely，asadogbarking。"Idon"tcaretwoflipsofacontactforanythingyoucando，Postey。"
"Don"tyou，sir？ButI"llmakeyoucare。I"llhaveyoutowedsternfirsttoDiskoandbrokeup。Youcan"trecoverinsuranceifyou"rebrokeforobstruction。Doyouunderstandthat？"
Thenthestrangerbellows:"Lookatmypropellers!There"sbeenawulli-wadownbelowthathasknockedusintoumbrella-frames!
We"vebeenblownupaboutfortythousandfeet!We"realloneconjuror"swatchinside!Mymate"sarm"sbroke；myengineer"shead"scutopen；myRaywentoutwhentheenginessmashed；and……and……forpity"ssakegivememyheight，Captain!Wedoubtwe"redropping。"
"Sixthousandeighthundred。Canyouholdit？"CaptainPurnalloverlooksallinsults，andleanshalfoutofthecolloid，staringandsnuffing。Thestrangerleakspungently。
"WeoughttoblowintoSt。John"swithluck。We"retryingtoplugthefore-tanknow，butshe"ssimplywhistlingitaway，"hercaptainwails。
"She"ssinkinglikealog，"saysCaptainPurnallinanundertone。
"CalluptheBanksMarkBoat，George。"Ourdip-dialshowsthatwe，keepingabreastthetramp，havedroppedfivehundredfeetthelastfewminutes。
CaptainPurnallpressesaswitchandoursignalbeambeginstoswingthroughthenight，twizzlingspokesoflightacrossinfinity。
"That"llfetchsomething，"hesays，whileCaptainHodgsonwatchestheGeneralCommunicator。HehascalleduptheNorthBanksMarkBoat，afewhundredmileswest，andisreportingthecase。
"I"llstandbyyou，"CaptainPurnallroarstothelonefigureontheconning-tower。
"Isitasbadasthat？"comestheanswer。"Sheisn"tinsured。
She"smine。"
"Mighthaveguessedasmuch，"muttersHodgson。"Owner"sriskistheworstriskofall!"
"Can"tIfetchSt。John"s——notevenwiththisbreeze？"thevoicequavers。
"Standbytoabandonship。Haven"tyouanyliftinyou，foreoraft？"
"Nothingbutthemidshiptanks，andthey"renonetootight。Yousee，myRaygaveoutand——"hecoughsinthereekoftheescapinggas。
"Youpoordevil!"Thisdoesnotreachourfriend。"WhatdoestheMarkBoatsay，George？"
"Wantstoknowifthere"sanydangertotraffic。Saysshe"sinabitofweatherherself，andcan"tquitstation。I"veturnedinaGeneralCall，soeveniftheydon"tseeourbeamsomeone"sboundtohelp——orelsewemust。ShallIclearourslings？Holdon!Hereweare!APlanetliner，too!She"llbeupinatick!"
"Tellhertohaveherslingsready，"crieshisbrothercaptain。
"Therewon"tbemuchtimetospare……Tieupyourmate，"heroarstothetramp。
"Mymate"sallright。It"smyengineer。He"sgonecrazy。"
"Shunttheliftoutofhimwithaspanner。Hurry!"
"ButIcanmakeSt。John"sifyou"llstandby。"
"You"llmakethedeep，wetAtlanticintwentyminutes。You"relessthanfifty-eighthundrednow。Getyourpapers。"
APlanetliner，eastbound，heavesupinasuperbspiralandtakestheairofushumming。Herunderbodycolloidisopenlandhertransporter-slingshangdownliketentacles。Weshutoffourbeamassheadjustsherself——steeringtoahair——overthetramp"sconning-tower。Thematecomesup，hisarmstrappedtohisside，andstumblesintothecradle。Amanwithaghastlyscarletheadfollows，shoutingthathemustgobackandbuilduphisRay。ThemateassureshimthathewillfindanicenewRayallreadyintheliner"sengine-room。Thebandagedheadgoesupwaggingexcitedly。Ayouthandawomanfollow。Thelinercheershollowlyaboveus，andweseethepassengers"facesatthesalooncolloid。
"That"saprettygirl。What"sthefoolwaitingfornow？"saysCaptainPurnall。
Theskippercomesup，stillappealingtoustostandbyandseehimfetchSt。John"s。Hedivesbelowandreturns——atwhichwelittlehumanbeingsinthevoidcheerlouderthanever——withtheship"skitten。Upflytheliner"shissingslings；herunderbodycrasheshomeandshehurtlesawayagain。Thedialshowslessthan3000feet。TheMarkBoatsignalswemustattendtothederelict，nowwhistlingherdeath-song，asshefallsbeneathusinlongsickzigzags。
"KeepourbeamonherandsendoutaGeneralWarning，"saysCaptainPurnall，followingherdown。Thereisnoneed。Notalinerinairbutknowsthemeaningofthatverticalbeamandgivesusandourquarryawideberth。
"Butshe"lldrowninthewater，won"tshe？"Iask。"Notalways，"
ishisanswer。"I"veknownaderelictup-endandsiftherenginesoutofherselfandflickerroundtheLowerLanesforthreeweeksonherforwardtanksonly。We"llrunnorisks。Pithher，George，andlooksharp。There"sweatherahead。"
CaptainHodgsonopenstheunderbodycolloid，swingstheheavypithing-ironoutofitsrackwhichinlinersisgenerallycasedasasmoking-roomsettee，andattwohundredfeetreleasesthecatch。Wehearthewhirofthecrescent-shapedarmsopeningastheydescend。Thederelict"sforeheadispunchedin，starredacross，andrentdiagonally。Shefallssternfirst，ourbeamuponher；slideslikealostsouldownthatpitilessladderoflight，andtheAtlantictakesher。
"Afilthybusiness，"saysHodgson。"Iwonderwhatitmusthavebeenlikeintheolddays？"
Thethoughthadcrossedmymind，too。Whatifthatwaveringcarcasshadbeenfilledwiththemenoftheolddays，eachoneofthemtaught(thatisthehorrorofit!)that，afterdeathhewouldverypossiblygoforevertounspeakabletorment？
Andscarcelyagenerationago，we(oneknowsnowthatweareonlyourfathersre-enlargedupontheearth)，we，Isay，rippedandrammedandpithedtoadmiration。
HereTim，fromtheControlPlatform，shoutsthatwearetogetintoourinflatorsandtobringhimhisatonce。
Wehurryintotheheavyrubbersuits——theengineersarealreadydressed——andinflateattheair-pumptaps。G。P。O。inflatorsarethriceasthickasaracingman"s"flickers，"andchafeabominablyunderthearmpits。GeorgetakesthewheeluntilTimhasblownhimselfuptotheextremeofrotundity。Ifyoukickedhimoffthec。p。tothedeckhewouldbounceback。Butitis"162"thatwilldothekicking。
"TheMarkBoat"smad——starkravin"crazy，"hesnorts，returningtocommand。"Shesaysthere"sabadblow-outaheadandwantsmetopullovertoGreenland。I"llseeherpithedfirst!Wewastedhalfanhourfussingoverthatdeadduckdownunder，andnowI"mexpectedtogorubbin"mybackallroundthePole。WhatdoesshethinkaPostalpacket"smadeof？Gummedsilk？Tellherwe"recomingonstraight，George。"
GeorgebuckleshimintotheFrameandswitchesontheDirectControl。NowunderTim"slefttoeliestheport-engineAccelerator；underhisleftheeltheReverse，andsowiththeotherfoot。Thelift-shuntstopsstandoutontherimofthesteering-wheelwherethefingersofhislefthandcanplayonthem。Athisrighthandisthemidshipsengineleverreadytobethrownintogearatamoment"snotice。Heleansforwardinhisbelt，eyesgluedtothecolloid，andoneearcockedtowardtheGeneralCommunicator。Henceforthheisthestrengthanddirectionof"162，"throughwhatevermaybefall。
TheBanksMarkBoatisreelingoutpagesofA。B……C。Directionstothetrafficatlarge。Wearetosecureall"looseobjects"；
hoodupourFleuryRays；and"onnoaccounttoattempttoclearsnowfromourconning-towerstilltheweatherabates。"
Under-poweredcraft，wearetold，canascendtothelimitoftheirlift，mail-packetstolookoutforthemaccordingly；thelowerlaneswestwardarepittingverybadly，"withfrequentblow-outs，vortices，laterals，etc。"
Stillthecleardarkholdsupunblemished。Theonlywarningistheelectricskin-tension(IfeelasthoughIwerealace-maker"spillow)andanirritabilitywhichthegibberingoftheGeneralCommunicatorincreasesalmosttohysteria。
Wehavemadeeightthousandfeetsincewepithedthetrampandourturbinesaregivingusanhonesttwohundredandtenknots。
Veryfartothewestanelongatedblurofred，lowdown，showsustheNorthBanksMarkBoat。Therearespecksoffireroundherrisingandfalling——bewilderedplanetsaboutanunstablesun——helplessshippinghangingontoherlightforcompany"ssake。Nowondershecouldnotquitstation。
Shewarnsustolookoutfortheback-washofthebadvortexinwhich(herbeamshowsit)sheisevennowreeling。
Thepitsofgloomaboutusbegintofillwithveryfaintlyluminousfilms——wreathinganduneasyshapes。Oneformsitselfintoaglobeofpaleflamethatwaitsshiveringwitheagernesstillwesweepby。Itleapsmonstrouslyacrosstheblackness，alightsontheprecisetipofournose，pirouettesthereaninstant，andswingsoff。Ourroaringbowsinksasthoughthatlightwerelead——sinksandrecoverstolurchandstumbleagainbeneaththenextblow-out。Tim"sfingersonthelift-shuntstrikechordsofnumbers——1:4:7:——2:4:6:——7:5:3，andsoon；forheisrunningbyhistanksonly，liftingorloweringheragainsttheuneasyair。Allthreeenginesareatwork，forthesoonerwehaveskatedoverthisthinicethebetter。Higherwedarenotgo。Thewholeuppervaultischargedwithpalekryptonvapours，whichourskinfrictionmayexcitetounholymanifestations。Betweentheupperandlowerlevels——5000and7000，hintstheMarkBoat——wemayperhapsboltthroughif……Ourbowclothesitselfinblueflameandfallslikeasword。Nohumanskillcankeeppacewiththechangingtensions。Avortexhasusbythebeakandwedivedownatwo-thousandfootslantatanangle(thedip-dialandmybouncingbodyrecordit)ofthirty-five。Ourturbinesscreamshrilly；thepropellerscannotbiteonthethinair；Timshuntstheliftoutoffivetanksatonceandbysheerweightdrivesherbulletwisethroughthemaelstromtillshecushionswithjaronanup-gust，threethousandfeetbelow。