第4章

"Aboutfourteen。"

"Idon’tunderstand。"

"Veryprobablynot。Oursocialorderwillprobablyseemverycomplextoyou。Totellyouthetruth，I

don’tunderstanditmyselfveryclearly。Nobodydoes。

Youwill，perhaps——byeandbye。WehavetogototheCouncil。"

Graham’sattentionwasdividedbetweentheurgentnecessityofhisinquiriesandthepeopleinthepassagesandhallstheyweretraversing。ForamomenthismindwouldbeconcentrateduponHowardandthehaltinganswershemade，andthenhewouldlosethethreadinresponsetosomevividunexpectedimpression。Alongthepassages，inthehalls，halfthepeopleseemedtobemeninthereduniform。Thepalebluecanvasthathadbeensoabundantintheaisleofmovingwaysdidnotappear。Invariablythesemenlookedathim，andsalutedhimandHowardastheypassed。

Hehadaclearvisionofenteringalongcorridor，andtherewereanumberofgirlssittingonlowseatsandasthoughinaclass。Hesawnoteacher，butonlyanovelapparatusfromwhichhefanciedavoiceproceeded。

Thegirlsregardedhimandhisconductor，hethought，withcuriosityandastonishment。Buthewashurriedonbeforehecouldformaclearideaofthegathering。HejudgedtheyknewHowardandnothimself，andthattheywonderedwhohewas。ThisHoward，itseemed，wasapersonofimportance。ButthenhewasalsomerelyGraham’sguardian。Thatwasodd。

Therecameapassageintwilight，andintothispassageafootwayhungsothathecouldseethefeetandanklesofpeoplegoingtoandfrothereon，butnomoreofthem。Thenvagueimpressionsofgalleriesandofcasualastonishedpassers—byturningroundtostareafterthetwoofthemwiththeirred—cladguard。

Thestimulusoftherestorativeshehadtakenwasonlytemporary。Hewasspeedilyfatiguedbythisexcessivehaste。HeaskedHowardtoslackenhisspeed。Presentlyhewasinaliftthathadawindowuponthegreatstreetspace，butthiswasglazedanddidnotopen，andtheyweretoohighforhimtoseethemovingplatformsbelow。Buthesawpeoplegoingtoandfroalongcablesandalongstrange，frail—lookingridges。

Andthencetheypassedacrossthestreetandatavastheightaboveit。Theycrossedbymeansofanarrowbridgeclosedinwithglass，soclearthatitmadehimgiddyeventorememberit。Thefloorofitalsowasofglass。FromhismemoryofthecliffsbetweenNewQuayandBoscastle，soremoteintime，andsorecentinhisexperience，itseemedtohimthattheymustbenearfourhundredfeetabovethemovingways。Hestopped，lookeddownbetweenhislegsupontheswarmingblueandredmultitudes，minuteandfore—

shortened，strugglingandgesticulatingstilltowardsthelittlebalconyfarbelow，alittletoybalcony，itseemed，wherehehadsorecentlybeenstanding。A

thinhazeandtheglareofthemightyglobesoflightobscuredeverything。Amanseatedinalittleopen—

workcradleshotbyfromsomepointstillhigherthanthelittlenarrowbridge，rushingdownacableasswiftlyalmostasifhewerefalling。Grahamstoppedinvoluntarilytowatchthisstrangepassengervanishinagreatcircularopeningbelow，andthenhiseyeswentbacktothetumultuousstruggle。

Alongoneoftheswifterwaysrushedathickcrowdofredspots。Thisbrokeupintoindividualsasitapproachedthebalcony，andwentpouringdowntheslowerwaystowardsthedensestrugglingcrowdonthecentralarea。Thesemeninredappearedtobearmedwithsticksortruncheons；theyseemedtobestrikingandthrusting。Agreatshouting，criesofwrath，screaming，burstoutandcameuptoGraham，faintandthin。"Goon，"criedHoward，layinghandsonhim。

Anothermanrusheddownacable。Grahamsuddenlyglanceduptoseewhencehecame，andbeheldthroughtheglassyroofandthenetworkofcablesandgirders，dimrhythmicallypassingformslikethevansofwindmills，andbetweenthemglimpsesofaremoteandpallidsky。ThenHowardhadthrusthimforwardacrossthebridge，andhewasinalittlenarrowpassagedecoratedwithgeometricalpatterns。

"Iwanttoseemoreofthat，"criedGraham，resisting。

"No，no，"criedHoward，stillgrippinghisarm。

"Thisway。Youmustgothisway。"Andthemeninredfollowingthemseemedreadytoenforcehisorders。

Somenegroesinacuriouswasp—likeuniformofblackandyellowappeareddownthepassage，andonehastenedtothrowupaslidingshutterthathadseemedadoortoGraham，andledthewaythroughit。

Grahamfoundhimselfinagalleryoverhangingtheendofagreatchamber。Theattendantinblackandyellowcrossedthis，thrustupasecondshutterandstoodwaiting。

Thisplacehadtheappearanceofanante—room。Hesawanumberofpeopleinthecentralspace，andattheoppositeendalargeandimposingdoorwayatthetopofaflightofsteps，heavilycurtainedbutgivingaglimpseofsomestilllargerhallbeyond。Heperceivedwhitemeninredandothernegroesinblackandyellowstandingstifflyaboutthoseportals。

Astheycrossedthegalleryheheardawhisperfrombelow，"TheSleeper，"andwasawareofaturningofheads，ahumofobservation。Theyenteredanotherlittlepassageinthewallofthisante—chamber，andthenhefoundhimselfonaniron—railedgalleryofmetalthatpassedroundthesideofthegreathallhehadalreadyseenthroughthecurtains。Heenteredtheplaceatthecorner，sothathereceivedthefullestimpressionofitshugeproportions。Theblackinthewaspuniformstoodasidelikeawell—trainedservant，andclosedthevalvebehindhim。

ComparedwithanyoftheplacesGrahamhadseethusfar，thissecondhallappearedtobedecoratewithextremerichness。Onapedestalattheremoteend，andmorebrilliantlylitthananyotherobject，wasagiganticwhitefigureofAtlas，strongandstrenuous，theglobeuponhisbowedshoulders。Itwasthefirstthingtostrikehisattention，itwassovast，sopatientlyandpainfullyreal，sowhiteandsimple。Saveforthisfigureandforadaisinthecentre，thewideflooroftheplacewasashiningvacancy。Thedaiswasremoteinthegreatnessofthearea；itwouldhavelookedamereslabofmetalhaditnotbeenforthegroupofsevenmenwhostoodaboutatableonit，andgaveaninklingofitsproportions。Theywerealldressedinwhiterobes，theyseemedtohavearisenthatmomentfromtheirseats，andtheywereregardingGrahamsteadfastly。Attheendofthetableheperceivedtheglitterofsomemechanicalappliances。

Howardledhimalongtheendgalleryuntiltheywereoppositethismightylabouringfigure。Thenhestopped。ThetwomeninredwhohadfollowedthemintothegallerycameandstoodoneitherhandofGraham。

"Youmustremainhere，"murmuredHoward，"forafewmoments，"and，withoutwaitingforareply，hurriedawayalongthegallery。

"But，__why？"__beganGraham。

HemovedasiftofollowHoward，andfoundhispathobstructedbyoneofthemeninred。"Youhavetowaithere，Sire，"saidthemaninred。

__"Why？"__

"Orders，Sire。"

"Whoseorders？"

"Ourorders，Sire。"

Grahamlookedhisexasperation。

"Whatplaceisthis？"hesaidpresently。"Whoarethosemen？"

"TheyarethelordsoftheCouncil，Sire。"

"WhatCouncil？"

"__The__Council。"

"Oh！"saidGraham，andafteranequallyineffectualattemptattheotherman，wenttotherailingandstaredatthedistantmeninwhite，whostoodwatchinghimandwhisperingtogether。

TheCouncil？Heperceivedtherewerenoweight，thoughhowthenewcomerhadarrivedhehadnotobserved。Theymadenogesturesofgreeting；theystoodregardinghimasinthenineteenthcenturyagroupofmenmighthavestoodinthestreetregardingadistantballoonthathadsuddenlyfloatedintoview。

Whatcouncilcoulditbethatgatheredthere，thatlittlebodyofmenbeneaththesignificantwhiteAtlas，secludedfromeveryeavesdropperinthisimpressivespaciousness？Andwhyshouldhebebroughttothem，andbelookedatstrangelyandspokenofinaudibly？Howardappearedbeneath，walkingquicklyacrossthepolishedfloortowardsthem。Ashedrewnearhebowedandperformedcertainpeculiarmovements，apparentlyofaceremoniousnature。

Thenheascendedthestepsofthedais，andstoodbytheapparatusattheendofthetable。

Grahamwatchedthatvisibleinaudibleconversation。

Occasionally，oneofthewhite—robedmenwouldglancetowardshim。Hestrainedhisearsinvain。

Thegesticulationoftwoofthespeakersbecameanimated。Heglancedfromthemtothepassivefacesofhisattendants……WhenhelookedagainHowardwasextendinghishandsandmovinghisheadlikeamanwhoprotests。Hewasinterrupted，itseemed，byoneofthewhite—robedmenrappingthetable。

TheconversationlastedaninterminabletimetoGraham’ssense。HiseyesrosetothestillgiantatwhosefeettheCouncilsat。Thencetheywanderedatlasttothewallsofthehall。Itwasdecoratedinlongpaintedpanelsofaquasi—Japanesetype，manyofthemverybeautiful。Thesepanelsweregroupedinagreatandelaborateframingofdarkmetal，whichpassedintothemetalliccaryatidaeofthegalleries，andthegreatstructurallinesoftheinterior。Thefacilegraceofthesepanelsenhancedthemightywhiteeffortthatlabouredinthecentreofthescheme。Graham’seyescamebacktotheCouncil，andHowardwasdescendingthesteps。Ashedrewnearerhisfeaturescouldbedistinguished，andGrahamsawthathewasflushedandblowingouthischeeks。Hiscountenancewasstilldisturbedwhenpresentlyhereappearedalongthegallery。

"Thisway，"hesaidconcisely，andtheywentoninsilencetoalittledoorthatopenedattheirapproach。

Thetwomeninredstoppedoneithersideofthisdoor。

HowardandGrahampassedin，andGraham，glancingback，sawthewhite—robedCouncilstillstandinginaclosegroupandlookingathim。Thenthedoorclosedbehindhimwithaheavythud，andforthefirsttimesincehisawakeninghewasinsilence。Thefloor，even，wasnoiselesstohisfeet。

Howardopenedanotherdoor，andtheywereinthefirstoftwocontiguouschambersfurnishedinwhiteandgreen。"WhatCouncilwasthat？"beganGraham。

"Whatweretheydiscussing？Whathavetheytodowithme？"Howardclosedthedoorcarefully，heavedahugesigh，andsaidsomethinginanundertone。Hewalkedslantingwaysacrosstheroomandturned，blowingouthischeeksagain。"Ugh！"

hegrunted，amanrelieved。

Grahamstoodregardinghim。

"Youmustunderstand，"beganHowardabruptly，avoidingGraham’seyes，"thatoursocialorderisverycomplex。Ahalfexplanation，abareunqualifiedstatementwouldgiveyoufalseimpressions。Asamatteroffact——itisacaseofcompoundinterestpartly——yoursmallfortune，andthefortuneofyourcousinWarmingwhichwaslefttoyou——andcertainotherbeginnings——havebecomeveryconsiderable。

Andinotherwaysthatwillbehardforyoutounderstand，youhavebecomeapersonofsignificance——ofveryconsiderablesignificance——involvedintheworld’saffairs。"

Hestopped。

"Yes？"saidGraham。

"Wehavegravesocialtroubles。"

"Yes？"

"Thingshavecometosuchapassthat，infact，isadvisabletosecludeyouhere。"

"Keepmeprisoner！"exclaimedGraham。

"Well——toaskyoutokeepinseclusion。"

Grahamturnedonhim。"Thisisstrange！"hesaid。

"Noharmwillbedoneyou。"

"Noharm！"

"Butyoumustbekepthere——"

"WhileIlearnmyposition，Ipresume。"

"Precisely。"

"Verywellthen。Begin。Why__harm？__"

"Notnow。"

"Whynot？"

"Itistoolongastory，Sire。"

"AllthemorereasonIshouldbeginatonce。YousayIamapersonofimportance。WhatwasthatshoutingIheard？Whyisagreatmultitudeshoutingandexcitedbecausemytranceisover，andwhoarethemeninwhiteinthathugecouncilchamber？"

"Allingoodtime，Sire，"saidHoward。"Butnotcrudely，notcrudely。Thisisoneofthoseflimsytimeswhennomanhasasettledmind。Yourawakening。

Nooneexpectedyourawakening。TheCouncilisconsulting。"

"Whatcouncil？"

"TheCouncilyousaw。"

Grahammadeapetulantmovement。"Thisisnotright，"hesaid。"Ishouldbetoldwhatishappening。

"Youmustwait。Reallyyoumustwait。"

Grahamsatdownabruptly。"IsupposesinceI

havewaitedsolongtoresumelife，"hesaid，"thatI

mustwaitalittlelonger。"

"Thatisbetter，"saidHoward。"Yes，thatismuchbetter。AndImustleaveyoualone。Foraspace。

WhileIattendthediscussionintheCouncil。

Iamsorry。"

Hewenttowardsthenoiselessdoor，hesitatedandvanished。

Grahamwalkedtothedoor，triedit，founditsecurelyfastenedinsomewayhenevercametounderstand，turnedabout，pacedtheroomrestlessly，madethecircuitoftheroom，andsatdown。Heremainedsittingforsometimewithfoldedarmsandknittedbrow，bitinghisfingernailsandtryingtopiecetogetherthekaleidoscopicimpressionsofthisfirsthourofawakenedlife；thevastmechanicalspaces，theendlessseriesofchambersandpassages，thegreatstrugglethatroaredandsplashedthroughthesestrangeways，thelittlegroupofremoteunsympatheticmenbeneaththecolossalAtlas，Howard’smysteriousbehaviour。Therewasaninklingofsomevastinheritancealreadyinhismind——avastinheritanceperhapsmisapplied——ofsomeunprecedentedimportanceandopportunity。Whathadhetodo？Andthisroom’ssecludedsilencewaseloquentofimprisonment！

ItcameintoGraham’smindwithirresistibleconvictionthatthisseriesofmagnificentimpressionswasadream。Hetriedtoshuthiseyesandsucceeded，butthattime—honoureddeviceledtonoawakening。

Presentlyhebegantotouchandexaminealltheunfamiliarappointmentsofthetwosmallroomsinwhichhefoundhimself。

Inalongovalpanelofmirrorhesawhimselfandstoppedastonished。Hewascladinagracefulcostumeofpurpleandbluishwhite，withalittlegreyshotbeardtrimmedtoapoint，andhishair，itsblacknessstreakednowwithbandsofgrey，arrangedoverhisforeheadinanunfamiliarbutgracefulmanner。Heseemedamanoffive—and—fortyperhaps。Foramomenthedidnotperceivethiswashimself。

Aflashoflaughtercamewiththerecognition。"TocallonoldWarminglikethis！"heexclaimed，"andmakehimtakemeouttolunch！"

Thenhethoughtofmeetingfirstoneandthenanotherofthefewfamiliaracquaintancesofhisearlymanhood，andinthemidstofhisamusementrealisedthateverysoulwithwhomhemightjesthaddiedmanyscoreofyearsago。Thethoughtsmotehimabruptlyandkeenly；hestoppedshort，theexpressionofhisfacechangedtoawhiteconsternation。

Thetumultuousmemoryofthemovingplatformsandthehugefacadeofthatwonderfulstreetreasserteditself。Theshoutingmultitudescamebackclearandvivid，andthoseremote，inaudible，unfriendlycouncilorsinwhite。Hefelthimselfalittlefigure，verysmallandineffectual，pitifullyconspicuous。Andallabouthim，theworldwas——strange。

CHAPTERVII

INTHESILENTROOMS

PresentlyGrahamresumedhisexaminationofhisapartments。Curiositykepthimmovinginspiteofhisfatigue。Theinnerroom，heperceived，washigh，anditsceilingdomeshaped’，withanoblongapertureinthecentre，openingintoafunnelinwhichawheelofbroadvansseemedtoberotating，apparentlydrivingtheairuptheshaft。Thefainthummingnoteofitseasymotionwastheonlyclearsoundinthatquietplace。Asthesevansspranguponeaftertheother，Grahamcouldgettransientglimpsesofthesky。Hewassurprisedtoseeastar。

Thisdrewhisattentiontothefactthatthebrightlightingoftheseroomswasduetoamultitudeofveryfaintglowlampssetaboutthecornices。Therewerenowindows。AndhebegantorecallthatalongallthevastchambersandpassageshehadtraversedwithHowardhehadobservednowindowsatall。Hadtherebeenwindows？Therewerewindowsonthestreetindeed，butweretheyforlight？Orwasthewholecitylitdayandnightforevermore，sothattherewasnonightthere？

Andanotherthingdawneduponhim。Therewasnofireplaceineitherroom。Wastheseasonsummer，andwerethesemerelysummerapartments，orwasthewholeCityuniformlyheatedorcooled？Hebecameinterestedinthesequestions，beganexaminingthesmoothtextureofthewalls，thesimplyconstructedbed，theingeniousarrangementsbywhichthelabourofbedroomservicewaspracticallyabolished。Andovereverythingwasacuriousabsenceofdeliberateornament，abaregraceofformandcolour，thathefoundverypleasingtotheeye。Therewereseveralverycomfortablechairs，alighttableonsilentrunnerscarryingseveralbottlesoffluidsandglasses，andtwoplatesbearingaclearsubstancelikejelly。Thenhenoticedtherewerenobooks，nonewspapers，nowritingmaterials。"Theworldhaschangedindeed，"hesaid。

HeobservedoneentiresideoftheouterroomwassetwithrowsofpeculiardoublecylindersinscribedwithgreenletteringonwhitethatharmonizedWiththedecorativeschemeoftheroom，andinthecentreofthissideprojectedalittleapparatusaboutayardsquareandhavingawhitesmoothfacetotheroom。A

chairfacedthis。Hehadatransitoryideathatthesecylindersmightbebooks，oramodernsubstituteforbooks，butatfirstitdidnotseemso。

Theletteringonthecylinderspuzzledhim。AtfirstsightitseemedlikeRussian。ThenhenoticedasuggestionofmutilatedEnglishaboutcertainofthewords。

"oiManhuwdbiKin"

forceditselfonhimas"TheManwhowouldbeKing。""Phoneticspelling，"hesaid。Herememberedreadingastorywiththattitle，thenherecalledthestoryvividly，oneofthebeststoriesintheworld。

Butthisthingbeforehimwasnotabookasheunderstoodit。Hepuzzledoutthetitlesoftwoadjacentcylinders。’TheHeartofDarkness，’hehadneverheardofbeforenor’TheMadonnaoftheFuture’——nodoubtiftheywereindeedstories，theywerebypostVictorianauthors。

Hepuzzledoverthispeculiarcylinderforsometimeandreplacedit。Thenheturnedtothesquareapparatusandexaminedthat。Heopenedasortoflidandfoundoneofthedoublecylinderswithin，andontheupperedgealittlestudlikethestudofanelectricbell。Hepressedthisandarapidclickingbeganandceased。Hebecameawareofvoicesandmusic，andnoticedaplayofcolouronthesmoothfrontface。Hesuddenlyrealisedwhatthismightbe，andsteppedbacktoregardit。

Ontheflatsurfacewasnowalittlepicture，veryvividlycoloured，andinthispicturewerefiguresthatmoved。Notonlydidtheymove，buttheywereconversinginclearsmallvoices。Itwasexactlylikerealityviewedthroughaninvertedoperaglassandheardthroughalongtube。Hisinterestwasseizedatoncebythesituation，whichpresentedamanpacingupanddownandvociferatingangrythingstoaprettybutpetulantwoman。BothwereinthepicturesquecostumethatseemedsostrangetoGraham。"Ihaveworked，"saidtheman，"butwhathaveyoubeendoing？"

"Ah！"saidGraham。Heforgoteverythingelse，andsatdowninthechair。Withinfiveminutesheheardhimselfnamed，heard"whentheSleeperwakes，"

usedjestinglyasaproverbforremotepostponement，andpassedhimselfby，athingremoteandincredible。

Butinalittlewhileheknewthosetwopeoplelikel。

intimatefriends。

Atlasttheminiaturedramacametoanend，andthesquarefaceoftheapparatuswasblankagain。

Itwasastrangeworldintowhichhehadbeenpermittedtosee，unscrupulous，pleasureseeking，energetic，subtle，aworldtooofdireeconomicstruggle；

therewereallusionshedidnotunderstand，incidentsthatconveyedstrangesuggestionsofalteredmoralideals，flashesofdubiousenlightenment。Thebluecanvasthatbulkedsolargelyinhisfirstimpressionofthecitywaysappearedagainandagainasthecostumeofthecommonpeople。Hehadnodoubtthestorywascontemporary，anditsintenserealismwasundeniable。Andtheendhadbeenatragedythatoppressedhim。Hesatstaringattheblankness。

Hestartedandrubbedhiseyes。Hehadbeensoabsorbedinthelatter—daysubstituteforanovel，thatheawoketothelittlegreenandwhiteroomwithmorethanatouchofthesurpriseofhisfirstawakening。

Hestoodup，andabruptlyhewasbackinhisownwonderland。Theclearnessofthekinetoscopedramapassed，andthestruggleinthevastplaceofstreets，theambiguousCouncil，theswiftphasesofhiswakinghour，cameback。ThesepeoplehadspokenoftheCouncilwithsuggestionsofavagueuniversalityofpower。AndtheyhadspokenoftheSleeper；ithadnotreallystruckhimvividlyatthetimethathewastheSleeper。Hehadtorecallpreciselywhattheyhadsaid。

Hewalkedintothebedroomandpeeredupthroughthequickintervalsoftherevolvingfan。Asthefansweptround，adimturmoillikethenoiseofmachinerycameinrhythmiceddies。Allelsewassilence。

Thoughtheperpetualdaystillirradiatedhisapartments，heperceivedthelittleintermittentstripofskywasnowdeepblue——blackalmost，withadustoflittlestars。

Heresumedhisexaminationoftherooms。Hecouldfindnowayofopeningthepaddeddoor，nobellnorothermeansofcallingforattendance。Hisfeelingofwonderwasinabeyance；buthewascurious，anxiousforinformation。Hewantedtoknowexactlyhowhestoodtothesenewthings。Hetriedtocomposehimselftowaituntilsomeonecametohim。

Presentlyhebecamerestlessandeagerforinformation，fordistraction，forfreshsensations。

Hewentbacktotheapparatusintheotherroom，andhadsoonpuzzledoutthemethodofreplacingthecylindersbyothers。Ashedidso，itcameintohismindthatitmustbetheselittleapplianceshadfixedthelanguagesothatitwasstillclearandunderstand—

ableaftertwohundredyears。Thehaphazardcylindershesubstituteddisplayedamusicalfantasia。Atfirstitwasbeautiful，andthenitwassensuous。HepresentlyrecognizedwhatappearedtohimtobeanalteredversionofthestoryofTannhauser。Themusicwasunfamiliar。Buttherenderingwasrealistic，andwithacontemporaryunfamiliarity。TannhauserdidnotgotoaVenusberg，buttoaPleasureCity。WhatwasaPleasureCity？Adream，surely，thefancyofafantastic，voluptuouswriter。

Hebecameinterested，curious。Thestorydevelopedwithaflavourofstrangelytwistedsentimentality。

Suddenlyhedidnotlikeit。Helikeditlessasitproceeded。

Hehadarevulsionoffeeling。Thesewerenopictures，noidealisations，butphotographedrealities。Hewantednomoreofthetwenty—secondcenturyVenusberg。

Heforgotthepartplayedbythemodelinnineteenthcenturyart，andgavewaytoanarchaicindignation。Herose，angryandhalfashamedathimselfforwitnessingthisthingeveninsolitude。Hepulledforwardtheapparatus，andwithsomeviolencesoughtforameansofstoppingitsaction。Somethingsnapped。Avioletsparkstungandconvulsedhisarmandthethingwasstill。WhenheattemptednextdaytoreplacetheseTannhausercylindersbyanotherpair，hefoundtheapparatusbroken