第18章

Hemadeclawingmotionswithhishands。"Isay！"heexclaimed，"Mr。Laurier。Look’ere——Iwant——aboutthatButteridgemachine——。"

Mr。Laurier，sittingonanadjacenttable，withamagnificentgesture，arrestedthediscourseoftheflat—voicedman。"What’sHEsaying？"saidhe。

ThenthewholecompanyrealisedthatsomethingwashappeningtoBert;eitherhewassuffocatingorgoingmad。Hewasspluttering。

"Look’ere！Isay！’Oldonabit！"andtremblingandeagerlyunbuttoninghimself。

Hetoreopenhiscollarandopenedvestandshirt。Heplungedintohisinteriorandforaninstantitseemedhewaspluckingforthhisliver。Thenashestruggledwithbuttonsonhisshouldertheyperceivedthisflattenedhorrorwasinfactaterriblydirtyflannelchest—protector。InanothermomentBert，inastateofirregulardecolletage，wasstandingoverthetabledisplayingasheafofpapers。

"These！"hegasped。"Thesearetheplans！……Youknow！Mr。

Butteridge——hismachine！Whatdied！Iwasthechapthatwentoffinthatballoon！"

Forsomesecondseveryonewassilent。TheystaredfromthesepaperstoBert’swhitefaceandblazingeyes，andbacktothepapersonthetable。Nobodymoved。Thenthemanwiththeflatvoicespoke。

"Irony！"hesaid，withanoteofsatisfaction。"RealrightdownIrony！Whenit’stoolatetothinkofmaking’emanymore！"

4

TheywouldallnodoubthavebeeneagertohearBert’sstoryoveragain，butitwasitthispointthatLauriershowedhisquality。

"No，SIR，"hesaid，andslidfromoffhistable。

HeimpoundedthedispersingButteridgeplanswithonecomprehensivesweepofhisarm，rescuingthemevenfromtheexpositoryfinger—marksofthemanwiththeflatvoice，andhandedthemtoBert。"Putthoseback，"hesaid，"whereyouhad’em。Wehaveajourneybeforeus。"

Berttookthem。

"Whar？"saidthemaninthestrawhat。

"Why，sir，wearegoingtofindthePresidentoftheseStatesandgivetheseplansovertohim。Ideclinetobelieve，sir，wearetoolate。"

"WhereisthePresident？"askedBertweaklyinthatpausethatfollowed。

"Logan，"saidLaurier，disregardingthatfeebleinqniry，"youmusthelpusinthis。"

ItseemedonlyamatterofafewminutesbeforeBertandLaurierandthestorekeeperwereexamininganumberofbicyclesthatwerestowedinthehinderroomofthestore。Bertdidn’tlikeanyofthemverymuch。TheyhadwoodrimsandanexperienceofwoodrimsintheEnglishclimatehadtaughthimtohatethem。That，however，andoneortwootherobjectionstoanimmediatestartwereoverruledbyLaurier。"ButwhereISthePresident？"BertrepeatedastheystoodbehindLoganwhilehepumpedupadeflatedtyre。

Laurierlookeddownonhim。"HeisreportedintheneighbourhoodofAlbany——outtowardstheBerkshireHills。Heismovingfromplacetoplaceand，asfarashecan，organisingthedefencebytelegraphandtelephonesTheAsiaticair—fleetistryingtolocatehim。Whentheythinktheyhavelocatedtheseatofgovernment，theythrowbombs。Thisinconvenienceshim，butsofartheyhavenotcomewithintenmilesofhim。TheAsiaticair—fleetisatpresentscatteredallovertheEasternStates，seekingoutanddestroyinggas—worksandwhateverseemsconducivetothebuildingofairshipsorthetransportoftroops。Ourretaliatorymeasuresareslightintheextreme。Butwiththesemachines——Sir，thisrideofourswillcountamongthehistoricalridesoftheworld！"

Hecameneartostrikinganattitude。"Weshan’tgettohimto—night？"askedBert。

"No，sir！"saidLaurier。"Weshallhavetoridesomedays，sure！"

"Andsupposewecan。’tgetaliftonatrain——oranything？"

"No，sir！There’sbeennotransitbyTanoodaforthreedays。

Itisnogoodwaiting。Weshallhavetogetonaswellaswecan。"

"Startin’now？

"Startingnow！"

"But’owabout——Weshan’tbeabletodomuchto—night。"

"Mayaswellridetillwe’refaggedandsleepthen。Somuchcleargain。Ourroadiseastward。"

"Ofcourse，"beganBert，withmemoriesofthedawnuponGoatIsland，andlefthissentenceunfinished。

Hegavehisattentiontothemorescientificpackingofthechest—protector，forseveraloftheplansflappedbeyondhisvest。

5

ForaweekBertledalifeofmixedsensations。Amidstthesefatigueinthelegspredominated。Mostlyherode，rodewithLaurier’sbackinexorablyahead，throughalandlikealargerEngland，withbiggerhillsandwidervalleys，largerfields，widerroads，fewerhedges，andwoodenhouseswithcommodiouspiazzas。Herode。Lauriermadeinquiries，Laurierchosetheturnings，Laurierdoubted，Laurierdecided。NowitseemedtheywereintelephonictouchwiththePresident;nowsomethinghadhappenedandhewaslostagain。Butalwaystheyhadtogoon，andalwaysBertrode。Atyrewasdeflated。Stillherode。Hegrewsaddlesore。Laurierdeclaredthatunimportant。Asiaticflyingshipspassedoverhead，thetwocyclistsmadeadashforcoveruntiltheskywasclear。OncearedAsiaticflying—machinecameflutteringafterthem，solowtheycoulddistinguishtheaeronaut’shead。Hefollowedthemforamile。Nowtheycametoregionsofpanic，nowtoregionsofdestruction;herepeoplewerefightingforfood，heretheyseemedhardlystirredfromthecountrysideroutine。TheyspentadayinadesertedanddamagedAlbany。TheAsiaticshaddescendedandcuteverywireandmadeacinder—heapoftheJunction，andourtravellerspushedoneastward。Theypassedahundredhalf—heededincidents，andalwaysBertwastoilingafterLaurier’sindefatigableback……

ThingsstruckuponBert’sattentionandperplexedhim，andthenhepassedonwithunansweredquestioningsfadingfromhismind。

Hesawalargehouseonfireonahillsidetotheright，andnomanheedingit……

Theycametoanarrowrailroadbridgeandpresentlytoamono—railtrainstandinginthetrackonitssafetyfeet。Itwasaremarkablysumptuoustrain，theLastWordTrans—ContinentalExpress，andthepassengerswereallplayingcardsorsleepingorpreparingapicnicmealonagrassyslopenearathand。Theyhadbeentheresixdays……

Atonepointtendark—complexionedmenwerehanginginastringfromthetreesalongtheroadside。Bertwonderedwhy……

Atonepeaceful—lookingvillagewheretheystoppedofftogetBert’styremendedandfoundbeerandbiscuits，theywereapproachedbyanextremelydirtylittleboywithoutboots，whospokeasfollows:——

"DeysebeenhangingaChinkindosewoods！"

"HangingaChinaman？"saidLaurier。

"Sure。Dersleuthsgothimrubberin’derrail—roadsheds！"

"Oh！"

"Doseguysdonewasecartridges。Deysehunghimanddeypulledhislegs。Deysedoin’allderChinksdeycanfinedatweh！Deyain’ttakin’norisks。AllderChinksdeycanfine。"

NeitherBertnorLauriermadeanyreply，andpresently，afteralittleskilfulexpectoration，theyounggentlemanwasattractedbytheappearanceoftwoofhisfriendsdowntheroadandshuffledoff，whoopingweirdly……

Thatafternoontheyalmostranoveramanshotthroughthebodyandpartlydecomposed，lyingnearthemiddleoftheroad，justoutsideAlbany。Hemusthavebeenlyingthereforsomedays……

BeyondAlbanytheycameuponamotorcarwithatyreburstandayoungwomansittingabsolutelypassivebesidethedriver’sseat。

Anoldmanwasunderthecartryingtoeffectsomeimpossiblerepairs。Beyond，sittingwitharifleacrosshisknees，withhisbacktothecar，andstaringintothewoods，wasayoungman。

Theoldmancrawledoutattheirapproachandstillonall—foursaccostedBertandLaurier。Thecarhadbrokendownovernight。

Theoldman，saidhecouldnotunderstandwhatwaswrong，buthewastryingtopuzzleitout。Neitherhenorhisson—in—lawhadanymechanicalaptitude。Theyhadbeenassuredthiswasafool—proofcar。Itwasdangeroustohavetostopinthisplace。

Thepartyhadbeenattackedbytrampsandhadhadtofight。Itwasknowntheyhadprovisions。Hementionedagreatnameintheworldoffinance。WouldLaurierandBertstopandhelphim？Heproposeditfirsthopefully，thenurgently，atlastintearsandterror。

"No！"saidLaurierinexorable。"Wemustgoon！Wehavesomethingmorethanawomantosave。WehavetosaveAmerica！"

Thegirlneverstirred。

Andoncetheypassedamadmansinging。

AndatlasttheyfoundthePresidenthidinginasmallsaloonupontheoutskirtsofaplacecalledPinkervilleontheHudson，andgavetheplansoftheButteridgemachineintohishands。

CHAPTERXI

THEGREATCOLLAPSE

1

Andnowthewholefabricofcivilisationwasbendingandgiving，anddroppingtopiecesandmeltinginthefurnaceofthewar。

Thestagesoftheswiftanduniversalcollapseofthefinancialandscientificcivilisationwithwhichthetwentiethcenturyopenedfollowedeachotherveryswiftly，soswiftlythatupontheforeshortenedpageofhistory——theyseemaltogethertooverlap。

Tobeginwith，oneseestheworldnearlyatamaximumwealthandprosperity。Toitsinhabitantsindeeditseemedalsoatamaximumofsecurity。Whennowinretrospectthethoughtfulobserversurveystheintellectualhistoryofthistime，whenonereadsitssurvivingfragmentsofliterature，itsscrapsofpoliticaloratory，thefewsmallvoicesthatchancehasselectedoutofathousandmillionutterancestospeaktolaterdays，themoststrikingthingofallthiswebofwisdomanderrorissurelythathallucinationofsecurity。Tomenlivinginourpresentworldstate，orderly，scientificandsecured，nothingseemssoprecarious，sogiddilydangerous，asthefabricofthesocialorderwithwhichthemenoftheopeningofthetwentiethcenturywerecontent。Tousitseemsthateveryinstitutionandrelationshipwasthefruitofhaphazardandtraditionandthemanifestsportofchance，theirlawseachmadeforsomeseparateoccasionandhavingnorelationtoanyfutureneeds，theircustomsillogical，theireducationaimlessandwasteful。Theirmethodofeconomicexploitationindeedimpressesatrainedandinformedmindasthemostfranticanddestructivescrambleitispossibletoconceive;theircreditandmonetarysystemrestingonanunsubstantialtraditionoftheworthinessofgold，seemsathingalmostfantasticallyunstable。Andtheylivedinplanlesscities，forthemostpartdangerouslycongested;theirrailsandroadsandpopulationweredistributedovertheearthinthewantonconfusiontenthousandirrevelantconsiderationshadmade。

Yettheythoughtconfidentlythatthiswasasecureandpermanentprogressivesystem，andonthestrengthofsomethreehundredyearsofchangeandirregularimprovementansweredthedoubterwith，"Thingsalwayshavegonewell。We’llworrythrough！"

Butwhenwecontrastthestateofmanintheopeningofthetwentiethcenturywiththeconditionofanypreviousperiodinhishistory，thenperhapswemaybegintounderstandsomethingofthatblindconfidence。Itwasnotsomuchareasonedconfidenceastheinevitableconsequenceofsustainedgoodfortune。Bysuchstandardsastheypossessed，thingsHADgoneamazinglywellforthem。Itisscarcelyanexaggerationtosaythatforthefirsttimeinhistorywholepopulationsfoundthemselvesregularlysuppliedwithmorethanenoughtoeat，andthevitalstatisticsofthetimewitnesstoanameliorationofhygienicconditionsrapidbeyondallprecedent，andtoavastdevelopmentofintelligenceandabilityinalltheartsthatmakelifewholesome。Thelevelandqualityoftheaverageeducationhadrisentremendously;andatthedawnofthetwentiethcenturycomparativelyfewpeopleinWesternEuropeorAmericawereunabletoreadorwrite。Neverbeforehadtherebeensuchreadingmasses。Therewaswidesocialsecurity。Acommonmanmighttravelsafelyoverthree—quartersofthehabitableglobe，couldgoroundtheearthatacostoflessthantheannualearningsofaskilledartisan。Comparedwiththeliberalityandcomfortoftheordinarylifeofthetime，theorderoftheRomanEmpireundertheAntonineswaslocalandlimited。Andeveryyear，everymonth，camesomenewincrementtohumanachievement，anewcountryopenedup，newmines，newscientificdiscoveries，anewmachine！

Forthosethreehundredyears，indeed，themovementoftheworldseemedwhollybeneficialtomankind。Mensaid，indeed，thatmoralorganisationwasnotkeepingpacewithphysicalprogress，butfewattachedanymeaningtothesephrases，theunderstandingofwhichliesatthebasisofourpresentsafety。Sustainingandconstructiveforcesdidindeedforatimemorethanbalancethemaligndriftofchanceandthenaturalignorance，prejudice，blindpassion，and，wastefulself—seekingofmankind。

TheaccidentalbalanceonthesideofProgresswasfarslighterandinfinitelymorecomplexanddelicateinitsadjustmentsthanthepeopleofthattimesuspected;butthatdidnotalterthefactthatitwasaneffectivebalance。Theydidnotrealisethatthisageofrelativegoodfortunewasanageofimmensebuttemporaryopportunityfortheirkind。Theycomplacentlyassumedanecessaryprogresstowardswhichtheyhadnomoralresponsibility。Theydidnotrealisethatthissecurityofprogresswasathingstilltobewon——orlost，andthatthetimetowinitwasatimethatpassed。Theywentabouttheiraffairsenergeticallyenoughandyetwithacuriousidlenesstowardsthosethreateningthings。Noonetroubledovertherealdangersofmankind。They，sawtheirarmiesandnaviesgrowlargerandmoreportentous;someoftheirironcladsatthelastcostasmuchasthewholeannualexpenditureuponadvancededucation;theyaccumulatedexplosivesandthemachineryofdestruction;theyallowedtheirnationaltraditionsandjealousiestoaccumulate;

theycontemplatedasteadyenhancementofracehostilityastheracesdrewcloserwithout。concernorunderstanding，andtheypermittedthegrowthintheirmidstofanevil—spiritedpress，mercenary，andunscrupulous，incapableofgood，andpowerfulforevil。TheStatehadpracticallynocontroloverthepressatall。Quiteheedlesslytheyallowedthistouch—papertolieatthedooroftheirwarmagazineforanysparktofire。Theprecedentsofhistorywereallonetaleofthecollapseofcivilisations，thedangersofthetimeweremanifest。Oneisincredulousnowtobelievetheycouldnotsee。

CouldmankindhavepreventedthisdisasteroftheWarintheAir？

Anidlequestionthat，asidleastoaskcouldmankindhavepreventedthedecaythatturnedAssyriaandBabylontoemptydesertsortheslowdeclineandfall，thegradualsocialdisorganisation，phasebyphase，thatclosedthechapteroftheEmpireoftheWest！Theycouldnot，becausetheydidnot，theyhadnotthewilltoarrestit。Whatmankindcouldachievewithadifferentwillisaspeculationasidleasitismagnificent。

AndthiswasnoslowdecadencethatcametotheEuropeanisedworld;thoseothercivilisationsrottedandcrumbleddown，theEuropeanisedcivilisationwas，asitwere，blownup。Withinthespaceoffiveyearsitwasaltogetherdisintegratedanddestroyed。UptotheveryeveoftheWarintheAironeseesaspaciousspectacleofincessantadvance，aworld—widesecurity，enormousareaswithhighlyorganisedindustryandsettledpopulations，giganticcitiesspreadinggigantically，theseasandoceansdottedwithshipping，thelandnettedwithrails，andopenways。ThensuddenlytheGermanair—fleetssweepacrossthescene，andweareinthebeginningoftheend。

2

ThisstoryhasalreadytoldoftheswiftrushuponNewYorkofthefirstGermanair—fleetandofthewild，inevitableorgyofinconclusivedestructionthatensued。Behinditasecondair—fleetwasalreadyswellingatitsgasometerswhenEnglandandFranceandSpainandItalyshowedtheirhands。NoneofthesecountrieshadpreparedforaeronauticwarfareonthemagnificentscaleoftheGermans，buteachguardedsecrets，eachinameasurewasmakingready，andacommondreadofGermanvigourandthataggressivespiritPrinceKarlAlbertembodied，hadlongbeendrawingthesepowerstogetherinsecretanticipationofsomesuchattack。Thisrenderedtheirpromptco—operationpossible，andtheycertainlyco—operatedpromptly。ThesecondaerialpowerinEuropeatthistimewasFrance;theBritish，nervousfortheirAsiaticempire，andsensibleoftheimmensemoraleffectoftheairshipuponhalf—educatedpopulations，hadplacedtheiraeronauticparksinNorthIndia，andwereabletoplaybutasubordinatepartintheEuropeanconflict。Still，eveninEnglandtheyhadnineortenbignavigables，twentyorthirtysmallerones，andavarietyofexperimentalaeroplanes。BeforethefleetofPrinceKarlAlberthadcrossedEngland，whileBertwasstillsurveyingManchesterinbird’s—eyeview，thediplomaticexchangesweregoingonthatledtoanattackuponGermany。A

heterogeneouscollectionofnavigableballoonsofallsizesandtypesgatheredovertheBerneseOberland，crushedandburntthetwenty—fiveSwissair—ships’thatunexpectedlyresistedthisconcentrationinthebattleoftheAlps，andthen，leavingtheAlpineglaciersandvalleysstrewnwithstrangewreckage，dividedintotwofleetsandsetitselftoterroriseBerlinanddestroytheFranconianPark，seekingtodothisbeforethesecondair—fleetcouldbeinflated。

BothoverBerlinandFranconiatheassailantswiththeirmodernexplosiveseffectedgreatdamagebeforetheyweredrivenoff。InFranconiatwelvefullydistendedandfivepartiallyfilledandmannedgiantswereabletomakeheadagainstandatlast，withthehelpofasquadronofdrachenfliegerfromHamburg，defeatandpursuetheattackandtorelieveBerlin，andtheGermanswerestrainingeverynervetogetanoverwhelmingfleetintheair，andwerealreadyraidingLondonandPariswhentheadvancefleetsfromtheAsiaticair—parks，thefirstintimationofanewfactorintheconflict，werereportedfromBurmahandArmenia。

Alreadythewholefinancialfabricoftheworldwasstaggeringwhenthatoccurred。WiththedestructionoftheAmericanfleetintheNorthAtlantic，andthesmashingconflictthatendedthenavalexistenceofGermanyintheNorthSea，withtheburningandwreckingofbillionsofpounds’worthofpropertyinthefourcardinalcitiesoftheworld，thefactofthehopelesscostlinessofwarcamehomeforthefirsttime，came，likeablowintheface，totheconsciousnessofmankind。Creditwentdowninawildwhirlofselling。Everywhereappearedaphenomenonthathadalreadyinamilddegreemanifesteditselfinprecedingperiodsofpanic;adesiretoSECUREANDHOARDGOLDbeforepricesreachedbottom。Butnowitspreadlikewild—fire，itbecameuniversal。

Abovewasvisibleconflictanddestruction;belowsomethingwashappeningfarmoredeadlyandincurabletotheflimsyfabricoffinanceandcommercialisminwhichmenhadsoblindlyputtheirtrust。Astheairshipsfoughtabove，thevisiblegoldsupplyoftheworldvanishedbelow。Anepidemicofprivatecorneringanduniversaldistrustswepttheworld。Inafewweeks，money，exceptfordepreciatedpaper，vanishedintovaults，intoholes，intothewallsofhouses，intotenmillionhiding—places。Moneyvanished，andatitsdisappearancetradeandindustrycametoanend。Theeconomicworldstaggeredandfelldead。Itwaslikethestrokeofsomediseaseitwaslikethewatervanishingoutofthebloodofalivingcreature;itwasasudden，universalcoagulationofintercourse……

Andasthecreditsystem，thathadbeenthelivingfortressofthescientificcivilisation，reeledandfelluponthemillionsithadheldtogetherineconomicrelationship，asthesepeople，perplexedandhelpless，facedthismarvelofcreditutterlydestroyed，theairshipsofAsia，countlessandrelentless，pouredacrosstheheavens，swoopedeastwardtoAmericaandwestwardtoEurope。Thepageofhistorybecomesalongcrescendoofbattle。

ThemainbodyoftheBritish—Indianair—fleetperisheduponapyreofblazingantagonistsinBurmah;theGermanswerescatteredinthegreatbattleoftheCarpathians;thevastpeninsulaofIndiaburstintoinsurrectionandcivilwarfromendtoend，andfromGobitoMoroccorosethestandardsofthe"Jehad。"ForsomeweeksofwarfareanddestructionitseemedasthoughtheConfederationofEasternAsiamustneedsconquertheworld，andthenthejerry—built"modern"civilisationofChinatoogavewayunderthestrain。TheteemingandpeacefulpopulationofChinahadbeen"westernised"duringtheopeningyearsofthetwentiethcenturywiththedeepestresentmentandreluctance;theyhadbeendragoonedanddisciplinedunderJapaneseandEuropean——influenceintoanacquiescencewithsanitarymethods，policecontrols，militaryservice，andwholesaleprocessofexploitationagainstwhichtheirwholetraditionrebelled。Underthestressesofthewartheirendurancereachedthebreakingpoint，thewholeofChinaroseinincoherentrevolt，andthepracticaldestructionofthecentralgovernmentatPekinbyahandfulofBritishandGermanairshipsthathadescapedfromthemainbattlesrenderedthatrevoltinvincible。InYokohamaappearedbarricades，theblackflagandthesocialrevolution。

Withthatthewholeworldbecameawelterofconflict。

Sothatauniversalsocialcollapsefollowed，asitwerealogicalconsequence，uponworld—widewar。Whereverthereweregreatpopulations，greatmassesofpeoplefoundthemselveswithoutwork，withoutmoney，andunabletogetfood。Faminewasineveryworking—classquarterintheworldwithinthreeweeksofthebeginningofthewar。Withinamonththerewasnotacityanywhereinwhichtheordinarylawandsocialprocedurehadnotbeenreplacedbysomeformofemergencycontrol，inwhichfirearmsandmilitaryexecutionswerenotbeingusedtokeeporderandpreventviolence。Andstillinthepoorerquarters，andinthepopulousdistricts，andevenhereandtherealreadyamongthosewhohadbeenwealthy，faminespread。

3

SowhathistorianshavecometocallthePhaseoftheEmergencyCommitteessprangfromtheopeningphaseandfromthephaseofsocialcollapse。Thenfollowedaperiodofvehementandpassionateconflictagainstdisintegration;everywherethestruggletokeeporderandtokeepfightingwenton。Andatthesametimethecharacterofthewaralteredthroughthereplacementofthehugegas—filledairshipsbyflying—machinesastheinstrumentsofwar。Sosoonasthebigfleetengagementswereover，theAsiaticsendeavouredtoestablishincloseproximitytothemorevulnerablepointsofthecountriesagainstwhichtheywereacting，fortifiedcentresfromwhichflying—machineraidscouldbemade。Foratimetheyhadeverythingtheirownwayinthis，andthen，asthisstoryhastold，thelostsecretoftheButteridgemachinecametolight，andtheconflictbecameequalizedandlessconclusivethanever。

Forthesesmallflying—machines，ineffectualforanylargeexpeditionorconclusiveattack，werehorriblyconvenientforguerillawarfare，rapidlyandcheaplymade，easilyused，easilyhidden。ThedesignofthemwashastilycopiedandprintedinPinkervilleandscatteredbroadcastovertheUnitedStatesandcopiesweresenttoEurope，andtherereproduced。Everyman，everytown，everyparishthatcould，wasexhortedtomakeandusethem。Inalittlewhiletheywerebeingconstructednotonlybygovernmentsandlocalauthorities，butbyrobberbands，byinsurgentcommittees，byeverytypeofprivateperson。ThepeculiarsocialdestructivenessoftheButteridgemachinelayinitscompletesimplicity。Itwasnearlyassimpleasamotor—bicycle。Thebroadoutlinesoftheearlierstagesofthewardisappearedunderitsinfluence，thespaciousantagonismofnationsandempiresandracesvanishedinaseethingmassofdetailedconflict。TheworldpassedatastridefromaunityandsimplicitybroaderthanthatoftheRomanEmpireatitsbest，toassocialfragmentationascompleteastherobber—baronperiodoftheMiddleAges。Butthistime，foralongdescentdowngradualslopesofdisintegration，comesafalllikeafalloveracliff。

Everywhereweremenandwomenperceivingthisandstrugglingdesperatelytokeepasitwereaholdupontheedgeofthecliff。

Afourthphasefollows。ThroughthestruggleagainstChaos，inthewakeoftheFamine，camenowanotheroldenemyofhumanity——

thePestilence，thePurpleDeath。Butthewardoesnotpause。

Theflagsstillfly。Freshair—fleetsrise，newformsofairship，andbeneaththeirswoopingstrugglestheworlddarkens——scarcelyheededbyhistory。

Itisnotwithinthedesignofthisbooktotellwhatfurtherstory，totellhowtheWarintheAirkeptonthroughthesheerinabilityofanyauthoritiestomeetandagreeandendit，untileveryorganisedgovernmentintheworldwasasshatteredandbrokenasaheapofchinabeatenwithastick。Witheveryweekofthoseterribleyearshistorybecomesmoredetailedandconfused，morecrowdedanduncertain。Notwithoutgreatandheroicresistancewascivilisationbornedown。Outofthebittersocialconflictbelowrosepatrioticassociations，brotherhoodsoforder，citymayors，princes，provisionalcommittees，tryingtoestablishanorderbelowandtokeeptheskyabove。Thedoubleeffortdestroyedthem。Andastheexhaustionofthemechanicalresourcesofcivilisationclearstheheavensofairshipsatlastaltogether，Anarchy，FamineandPestilencearediscoveredtriumphantbelow。Thegreatnationsandempireshavebecomebutnamesinthemouthsofmen。Everywherethereareruinsandunburieddead，andshrunken，yellow—facedsurvivorsinamortalapathy。Heretherearerobbers，herevigilancecommittees，andhereguerillabandsrulingpatchesofexhaustedterritory，strangefederationsandbrotherhoodsformanddissolve，andreligiousfanaticismsbegottenofdespairgleaminfamine—brighteyes。Itisauniversaldissolution。Thefineorderandwelfareoftheearthhavecrumpledlikeanexplodedbladder。InfiveshortyearstheworldandthescopeofhumanlifehaveundergonearetrogressivechangeasgreatasthatbetweentheageoftheAntoninesandtheEuropeoftheninthcentury……

4

Acrossthissombrespectacleofdisastergoesaminuteandinsignificantpersonforwhomperhapsthereadersofthisstoryhavenowsomeslightsolicitude。Ofhimthereremainstobetoldjustonesingleandmiraculousthing。Throughaworlddarkenedandlost，throughacivilisationinitsdeathagony，ourlittleCockneyerrantwentandfoundhisEdna！HefoundhisEdna！

HegotbackacrosstheAtlanticpartlybymeansofanorderfromthePresidentandpartlythroughhisowngoodluck。HecontrivedtogethimselfaboardaBritishbriginthetimbertradethatputoutfromBostonwithoutcargo，chiefly，itwouldseem，becauseitscaptainhadavagueideaof"gettinghome"toSouthShields。

Bertwasabletoshiphimselfuponhermainlybecauseoftheseamanlikeappearanceofhisrubberboots。Theyhadalong，eventfulvoyage;theywerechased，orimaginedthemselvestobechased，forsomehoursbyanAsiaticironclad，whichwaspresentlyengagedbyaBritishcruiser。Thetwoshipsfoughtforthreehours，circlinganddrivingsouthwardastheyfought，untilthetwilightandthecloud—driftofarisinggaleswallowedthemup。AfewdayslaterBert’sshiplostherrudderandmainmastinagale。Thecrewranoutoffoodandsubsistedonfish。Theysawstrangeair—shipsgoingeastwardneartheAzoresandlandedtogetprovisionsandrepairtherudderatTeneriffe。Theretheyfoundthetowndestroyedandtwobigliners，withdeadstillaboard，sunkenintheharbour。Fromtheretheygotcannedfoodandmaterialforrepairs，buttheiroperationsweregreatlyimpededbythehostilityofabandofmenamidsttheruinsofthetown，whosnipedthemandtriedtodrivethemaway。

AtMogador，theystayedandsentaboatashoreforwater，andwerenearlycapturedbyanArabruse。HeretootheygotthePurpleDeathaboard，andsailedwithitincubatingintheirblood。Thecooksickenedfirst，andthenthemate，andpresentlyeveryonewasdownandthreeintheforecastleweredead。Itchancedtobecalmweather，andtheydriftedhelplesslyandindeedcarelessoftheirfatebackwardstowardstheEquator。Thecaptaindoctoredthemallwithrum。Ninediedalltogether，andofthefoursurvivorsnoneunderstoodnavigation;whenatlasttheytookheartagainandcouldhandleasail，theymadeacoursebythestarsroughlynorthwardandwerealreadyshortoffoodoncemorewhentheyfellinwithapetrol—drivenshipfromRiotoCardiff，shorthandedbyreasonofthePurpleDeathandgladtotakethemaboard。Soat，last，afterayearofwanderingBertreachedEngland。HelandedinbrightJuneweather，andfoundthePurpleDeathwastherejustbeginningitsravages。

ThepeoplewereinastateofpanicinCardiffandmanyhadfledtothehills，anddirectlythesteamercametotheharbourshewasboardedandherresidueoffoodimpoundedbysomeunauthenticatedProvisionalCommittee。Berttrampedthroughacountrydisorganisedbypestilence，foodless，andshakentotheverybaseofitsimmemorialorder。Hecameneardeathandstarvationmanytimes，andoncehewasdrawnintoscenesofviolencethatmighthaveendedhiscareer。ButtheBertSmallwayswhotrampedfromCardifftoLondonvaguely"goinghome，"vaguelyseekingsomethingofhisownthathadnotangibleformbutEdna，wasaverydifferentpersonfromtheDesertDervishwhowassweptoutofEnglandinMr。Butteridge’sballoonayearbefore。Hewasbrownandleanandenduring，steady—eyedandpestilence—salted，andhismouth，whichhadoncehungopen，shutnowlikeasteeltrap。Acrosshisbrowranawhitescarthathehadgotinafightonthebrig。InCardiffhehadfelttheneedofnewclothesandaweapon，andhad，bymeansthatwouldhaveshockedhimayearago，securedaflannelshirt，acorduroysuit，andarevolverandfiftycartridgesfromanabandonedpawnbroker’s。Healsogotsomesoapandhadhisfirstrealwashforthirteenmonthsinastreamoutsidethetown。TheVigilancebandsthathadatfirstshotplunderersveryfreelywerenoweitherentirelydispersedbytheplague，orbusybetweentownandcemeteryinavainattempttokeeppacewithit。Heprowledontheoutskirtsofthetownforthreeorfourdays，starving，andthenwentbacktojointheHospitalCorpsforaweek，andsofortifiedhimselfwithafewsquaremealsbeforehestartedeastward。

TheWelshandEnglishcountrysideatthattimepresentedthestrangestminglingoftheassuranceandwealthoftheopeningtwentiethcenturywithasortofDureresquemedievalism。Allthegear，thehousesandmono—rails，thefarmhedgesandpowercables，theroadsandpavements，thesign—postsandadvertisementsoftheformerorderwerestillforthemostpartintact。Bankruptcy，socialcollapse，famine，andpestilencehaddonenothingtodamagethese，anditwasonlytothegreatcapitalsandganglioniccentres，asitwere，ofthisState，thatpositivedestructionhadcome。Anyonedroppedsuddenlyintothecountrywouldhavenoticedverylittledifference。Hewouldhaveremarkedfirst，perhaps，thatallthehedgesneededclipping，thattheroadsidegrassgrewrank，thattheroad—trackswereunusuallyrainworn，andthatthecottagesbythewaysideseemedinmanycasesshutup，thatatelephonewirehaddroppedhere，andthatacartstoodabandonedbythewayside。ButhewouldstillfindhishungerwhettedbythebrightassurancethatWilder’sCannedPeacheswereexcellent，orthattherewasnothingsogoodforthebreakfasttableasGobble’sSausages。AndthensuddenlywouldcometheDureresqueelement;theskeletonofahorse，orsomecrumpledmassofragsintheditch，withgauntextendedfeetandayellow，purple—blotchedskinandface，orwhathadbeenaface，gauntandglaringanddevastated。Thenherewouldbeafieldthathadbeenploughedandnotsown，andhereafieldofcorncarelesslytrampledbybeasts，andhereahoardingtorndownacrosstheroadtomakeafire。

Thenpresentlyhewouldmeetamanorawoman，yellow—facedandprobablynegligentlydressedandarmed——prowlingforfood。Thesepeoplewouldhavethecomplexionsandeyesandexpressionsoftrampsorcriminals，andoftentheclothingofprosperousmiddle—classorupper—classpeople。Manyofthesewouldbeeagerfornews，andwillingtogivehelpandevenscrapsofqueermeat，orcrustsofgreyanddoughybread，inreturnforit。TheywouldlistentoBert’sstorywithavidity，andattempttokeephimwiththemforadayorso。Thevirtualcessationofpostaldistributionandthecollapseofallnewspaperenterprisehadleftanimmenseandachinggapinthementallifeofthistime。

Menhadsuddenlylostsightoftheendsoftheearthandhadstilltorecovertherumour—spreadinghabitsoftheMiddleAges。

Intheireyes，intheirbearing，intheirtalk，wasthequalityoflostanddeorientedsouls。

AsBerttravelledfromparishtoparish，andfromdistricttodistrict，avoidingasfaraspossiblethosefesteringcentresofviolenceanddespair，thelargertowns，hefoundtheconditionofaffairsvaryingwidely。Inoneparishhewouldfindthelargehouseburnt，thevicaragewrecked，evidentlyinviolentconflictforsomesuspectedandperhapsimaginarystoreoffoodunburieddeadeverywhere，andthewholemechanismofthecommunityatastandstill。Inanotherhewouldfindorganisingforcesstoutlyatwork，newly—paintednoticeboardswarningoffvagrants，theroadsandstillcultivatedfieldspolicedbyarmedmen，thepestilenceundercontrol，evennursinggoingon，astoreoffoodhusbanded，thecattleandsheepwellguarded，andagroupoftwoorthreejustices，thevillagedoctororafarmer，dominatingthewholeplace;areversion，infact，totheautonomouscommunityofthefifteenthcentury。ButatanytimesuchavillagewouldbeliabletoaraidofAsiaticsorAfricansorsuch—likeair—pirates，demandingpetrolandalcoholorprovisions。Thepriceofitsorderwasanalmostintolerablewatchfulnessandtension。

Thentheapproachtotheconfusedproblemsofsomelargercentreofpopulationandthepresenceofamoreintricateconflictwouldbemarkedbyroughlysmearednoticesof"Quarantine"or"StrangersShot，"orbyastringofdecayingplunderersdanglingfromthetelephonepolesattheroadside。AboutOxfordbigboardswereputontheroofswarningallairwanderersoffwiththesingleword，"Guns。"

Takingtheirrisksamidstthesethings，cyclistsstillkeptabroad，andonceortwiceduringBert’slongtramppowerfulmotorcarscontainingmaskedandgoggledfigureswenttearingpasthim。

Therewerefewpoliceinevidence，buteverandagainsquadsofgauntandtatteredsoldier—cyclistswouldcomedriftingalong，andsuchencountersbecamemorefrequentashegotoutofWalesintoEngland。Amidstallthiswreckagetheywerestillcampaigning。Hehadhadsomeideaofresortingtotheworkhousesforthenightifhungerpressedhimtooclosely，butsomeofthesewereclosedandothersconvertedintotemporaryhospitals，andonehecameuptoattwilightnearavillageinGloucestershirestoodwithallitsdoorsandwindowsopen，silentasthegrave，and，ashefoundtohishorrorbystumblingalongevil—smellingcorridors，fullofunburieddead。

FromGloucestershireBertwentnorthwardtotheBritishaeronauticparkoutsideBirmingham，inthehopethathemightbetakenonandgivenfood，fortheretheGovernment，oratanyratetheWarOffice，stillexistedasanenergeticfact，concentratedamidstcollapseandsocialdisasterupontheefforttokeeptheBritishflagstillflyingintheair，andtryingtobriskupmayorandmayorandmagistrateandmagistrateinaneweffortoforganisation。Theyhadbroughttogetherallthebestofthesurvivingartisansfromthatregion，theyhadprovisionedtheparkforasiege，andtheywereurgentlybuildingalargertypeofButteridgemachine。Bertcouldgetnofootingatthiswork:

hewasnotsufficientlyskilled，andhehaddriftedtoOxfordwhenthegreatfightoccurredinwhichtheseworkswerefinallywrecked。Hesawsomething，butnotverymuch，ofthebattlefromaplacecalledBoarHill。HesawtheAsiaticsquadroncomingupacrossthehillstothesouth—west，andhesawoneoftheirairshipscirclingsouthwardagainchasedbytwoaeroplanes，theonethatwasultimatelyovertaken，wreckedandburntatEdgeHill。Butheneverlearnttheissueofthecombatasawhole。

HecrossedtheThamesfromEtontoWindsorandmadehiswayroundthesouthofLondontoBunHill，andtherehefoundhisbrotherTom，lookinglikesomedark，defensiveanimalintheoldshop，justrecoveringfromthePurpleDeath，andJessicaupstairsdelirious，and，asitseemedtohim，dyinggrimly。Sheravedofsendingoutorderstocustomers，andscoldedTomperpetuallylestheshouldbelatewithMrs。Thompson’spotatoesandMrs。Hopkins’

cauliflower，thoughallbusinesshadlongsinceceasedandTomhaddevelopedaquiteuncannyskillinthesnaringofratsandsparrowsandtheconcealmentofcertainstoresofcerealsandbiscuitsfromplunderedgrocers’shops。Tomreceivedhisbrotherwithasortofguardedwarmth。

"Lor！"hesaid，"it’sBert。Ithoughtyou’dbecomingbacksomeday，andI’mgladtoseeyou。ButIcarn’tarstyoutoeatanything，becauseI’aven’tgotanythingtoeat……Whereyoubeen，Bert，allthistime？"

Bertreassuredhisbrotherbyaglimpseofapartlyeatenswede，andwasstilltellinghisstoryinfragmentsandparentheses，whenhediscoveredbehindthecounterayellowandforgottennoteaddressedtohimself。"What’sthis？"hesaid，andfounditwasayear—oldnotefromEdna。"Shecame’ere，"saidTom，likeonewhorecallsatrivialthing，"arstin’foryouandarstin’ustotake’erin。Thatwasafterthebattleandsettin’ClaphamRiseafire。Iwasfortakin’’erin，butJessicawouldn’t’aveit——andsosheborrowedfiveshillingsofmequietlikeandwenton。Idessayshe’stoleyou——"

Shehad，Bertfound。Shehadgoneon，shesaidinhernote，toanauntandunclewhohadabrickfieldnearHorsham。Andthereatlast，afteranotherfortnightofadventurousjourneying，Bertfoundher。

5

WhenBertandEdnaseteyesononeanother，theystaredandlaughedfoolishly，sochangedtheywere，andsoraggedandsurprised。Andthentheybothfellweeping。

"Oh！Bertie，boy！"shecried。"You’vecome——you’vecome！"andputoutherarmsandstaggered。"Itold’im。Hesaidhe’dkillmeifIdidn’tmarryhim。"

ButEdnawasnotmarried，andwhenpresentlyBertcouldgettalkfromher，sheexplainedthetaskbeforehim。ThatlittlepatchoflonelyagriculturalcountryhadfallenunderthepowerofabandofbulliesledbyachiefcalledBillGorewhohadbegunlifeasabutcherboyanddevelopedintoaprize—fighterandaprofessionalsport。Theyhadbeenorganisedbyalocalnoblemanofformereminenceupontheturf，butafteratimehehaddisappeared，noonequiteknewhowandBillhadsucceededtotheleadershipofthecountryside，andhaddevelopedhisteacher’smethodswithconsiderablevigour。Therehadbeenastrainofadvancedphilosophyaboutthelocalnobleman，andhismindranto"improvingtherace"andproducingtheOver—Man，whichinpracticetooktheformofhimselfespeciallyandhislittlebandinmoderationmarryingwithsomefrequency。Billfolloweduptheideawithanenthusiasmthateventrencheduponhispopularitywithhisfollowers。OnedayhehadhappeneduponEdnatendingherpigs，andhadatoncefallena—wooingwithgreaturgencyamongthetroughsofslush。Ednahadmadeagallantresistance，buthewasstillvigorouslyaboutandextraordinarilyimpatient。

Hemight，shesaid，comeatanytime，andshelookedBertintheeyes。Theywerebackalreadyinthebarbaricstagewhenamanmustfightforhislove。

Andhereonedeplorestheconflictsoftruthwiththechivalroustradition。OnewouldliketotellofBertsallyingforthtochallengehisrival，ofaringformedandaspiritedencounter，andBertbysomemiracleofpluckandloveandgoodfortunewinning。Butindeednothingofthesortoccurred。Instead，hereloadedhisrevolververycarefully，andthensatinthebestroomofthecottagebythederelictbrickfield，lookinganxiousandperplexed，andlisteningtotalkaboutBillandhisways，andthinking，thinking。ThensuddenlyEdna’saunt，withathrillinhervoice，announcedtheappearanceofthatindividual。Hewascomingwithtwoothersofhisgangthroughthegardengate。Bertgotup，putthewomanaside，andlookedout。Theypresentedremarkablefigures。Theyworeasortofuniformofredgolfingjacketsandwhitesweaters，footballsinglet，andstockingsandbootsandeachhadlethisfancyplayabouthishead—dress。Billhadawoman’shatfullofcock’sfeathers，andallhadwild，slouchingcowboybrims。

Bertsighedandstoodup，deeplythoughtful，andEdnawatchedhim，marvelling。Thewomenstoodquitestill。Heleftthewindow，andwentoutintothepassageratherslowly，andwiththecarewornexpressionofamanwhogiveshismindtoacomplexanduncertainbusiness。"Edna！"hecalled，andwhenshecameheopenedthefrontdoor。

Heaskedverysimply，andpointingtotheforemostofthethree，"That’im？……Sure？"……andbeingtoldthatitwas，shothisrivalinstantlyandveryaccuratelythroughthechest。HethenshotBill’sbestmanmuchlesstidilyinthehead，andthenshotatandwingedthethirdmanashefled。Thethirdgentlemanyelped，andcontinuedrunningwithacomicalend—ontwist。

ThenBertstoodstillmeditating，withthepistolinhishand，andquiteregardlessofthewomenbehindhim。

Sofarthingshadgonewell。

Itbecameevidenttohimthatifhedidnotgointopoliticsatonce，hewouldbehangedasanassassinandaccordingly，andwithoutawordtothewomen，hewentdowntothevillagepublic—househehadpassedanhourbeforeonhiswaytoEdna，entereditfromtherear，andconfrontedthelittlebandofambiguousroughs，whoweredrinkinginthetap—roomanddiscussingmatrimonyandBill’saffectioninafacetiousbutenviousmanner，withacasuallyheldbutcarefullyreloadedrevolver，andaninvitationtojoinwhathecalled，Iregrettosay，a"VigilanceCommittee"underhisdirection。"It’swantedabout’ere，andsomeofusaregettin’itup。"Hepresentedhimselfasonehavingfriendsoutside，thoughindeed，hehadnofriendsatallintheworldbutEdnaandherauntandtwofemalecousins。

Therewasaquickbutentirelyrespectfuldiscussionofthesituation。Theythoughthimalunaticwhohadtrampedinto，thisneighbourhoodignorantofBill。Theydesiredtotemporiseuntiltheirleadercame。Billwouldsettlehim。SomeonespokeofBill。

"Bill’sdead，Ijestshot’im，"saidBert。"Wedon’tneedreckonwith’IM。’E’sshot，andared—’airedchapwithasquint，’E’S

shot。We’vesettledupallthat。Thereain’tgoingtobenomoreBill，ever。’E’dgotwrongideasaboutmarriageandthings。It’s’issortofchapwe’reafter。"

Thatcarriedthemeeting。

Billwasperfunctorilyburied，andBert’sVigilanceCommittee（forsoitcontinuedtobecalled）reignedinhisstead。

ThatistheendofthisstorysofarasBertSmallwaysisconcerned。WeleavehimwithhisEdnatobecomesquattersamongtheclayandoakthicketsoftheWeald，farawayfromthestreamofevents。Fromthattimeforthlifebecameasuccessionofpeasantencounters，anaffairofpigsandhensandsmallneedsandlittleeconomiesandchildren，untilClaphamandBunHillandallthelifeoftheScientificAgebecametoBertnomorethanthefadingmemoryofadream。HeneverknewhowtheWarintheAirwenton，norwhetheritstillwenton。Therewererumoursofairshipsgoingandcoming，andofhappeningsLondonward。Onceortwicetheirshadowsfellonhimasheworked，butwhencetheycameorwhithertheywenthecouldnottell。Evenhisdesiretotelldiedoutforwantoffood。Attimescamerobbersandthieves，attimescamediseasesamongthebeastsandshortnessoffood，oncethecountrywasworriedbyapackofboar—houndshehelpedtokill;hewentthroughmanyinconsecutive，irrelevantadventures。Hesurvivedthemall。

Accidentanddeathcamenearthembotheverandagainandpassedthemby，andtheylovedandsufferedandwerehappy，andsheborehimmanychildren——elevenchildren——oneaftertheother，ofwhomonlyfoursuccumbedtothenecessaryhardshipsoftheirsimplelife。Theylivedanddidwell，aswellwasunderstoodinthosedays。Theywentthewayofallflesh，yearbyyear。