第5章

Hestruckoutapathobliquetotheroomandpacedtoandfro，strugglingwithintolerablevastimpressions。

Thethingshehadderivedfromthecylindersandthethingshehadseen，conflicted，confusedhim。

Itseemedtohimthemostamazingthingofallthatinhisthirtyyearsoflifehehadnevertriedtoshapeapictureofthesecomingtimes。"Weweremakingthefuture，"hesaid，"andhardlyanyofustroubledtothinkwhatfutureweweremaking。Andhereitis！"

"Whathavetheygotto，whathasbeendone？HowdoIcomeintothemidstofitall？"Thevastnessofstreetandhousehewaspreparedfor，themultitudesofpeople。Butconflictsinthecityways！Andthesystematisedsensualityofaclassofrichmen！

HethoughtofBellamy，theheroofwhoseSocialisticUtopiahadsooddlyanticipatedthisactualexperience。

ButherewasnoUtopia，noSocialisticstate。

Hehadalreadyseenenoughtorealisethattheancientantithesisofluxury，wasteandsensualityontheonehandandabjectpovertyontheother，stillprevailed。

Heknewenoughoftheessentialfactorsoflifetounderstandthatcorrelation。Andnotonlywerethebuildingsofthecitygiganticandthecrowdsinthestreetgigantic，butthevoiceshehadheardintheways，theuneasinessofHoward，theveryatmospherespokeofgiganticdiscontent。Whatcountrywashein？StillEnglanditseemed，andyetstrangely"un—English。"Hismindglancedattherestoftheworld，andsawonlyanenigmaticalveil。

Heprowledabouthisapartment，examiningeverythingasacagedanimalmightdo。Hefeltverytired，feltthatfeverishexhaustionthatdoesnotadmitofrest。

Helistenedforlongspacesundertheventilatortocatchsomedistantechoofthetumultshefeltmustbeproceedinginthecity。

Hebegantotalktohimself。"Twohundredandthreeyears！"hesaidtohimselfoverandoveragain，laughingstupidly。"ThenIamtwohundredandthirty—threeyearsold！Theoldestinhabitant。Surelytheyhaven’treversedthetendencyofourtimeandgonebacktotheruleoftheoldest。Myclaimsareindisputable。Mumble，mumble。IremembertheBulgarianatrocitiesasthoughitwasyesterday。’Tisagreatage！Haha！"Hewassurprisedatfirsttohearhimselflaughing，andthenlaughedagaindeliberatelyandlouder。Thenherealisedthathewasbehavingfoolishly。"Steady，"hesaid。"Steady！"

Hispacingbecamemoreregular。"Thisnewworld，"hesaid。"Idon’tunderstandit。__Why？__……

Butitisall__why！__"

"IsupposetheycanflyanddoallsortsofthingsLetmetryandrememberjusthowitbegan。"

Hewassurprisedatfirsttofindhowvaguethememoriesofhisfirstthirtyyearshadbecome。Herememberedfragments，forthemostparttrivialmoments，thingsofnogreatimportancethathehadobserved。Hisboyhoodseemedthemostaccessibleatfirst，herecalledschoolbooksandcertainlessonsinmensuration。Thenherevivedthemoresalientfeaturesofhislife，memoriesofthewifelongsincedead，hermagicinfluencenowgonebeyondcorruption，ofhisrivalsandfriendsandbetrayers，oftheswiftdecisionofthisissueandthat，andthenofhis，lastyearsofmisery，offluctuatingresolves，andatlastofhisstrenuousstudies。Inalittlewhileheperceivedhehaditallagain；dimperhaps，likemetallonglaidaside，butinnowaydefectiveorinjured，capableofre—polishing。Andthehueofitwasadeepeningmisery。

Wasitworthre—polishing？Byamiraclehehadbeenliftedoutofalifethathadbecomeintolerable。

Herevertedtohispresentcondition。Hewrestledwiththefactsinvain。Itbecameaninextricabletangle。

Hesawtheskythroughtheventilatorpinkwithdawn。Anoldpersuasioncameoutofthedarkrecessesofhismemory。"Imustsleep，"hesaid。Itappearedasadelightfulrelieffromthismentaldistressandfromthegrowingpainandheavinessofhislimbs。Hewenttothestrangelittlebed，laydownandwaspresentlyasleep。

Hewasdestinedtobecomeveryfamiliarindeedwiththeseapartmentsbeforeheleftthem，forheremainedimprisonedforthreedays。Duringthattimenoone，exceptHoward，enteredhisprison。Themarvelofhisfatemingledwithandinsomewayminimisedthemarvelofhissurvival。Hehadawakenedtomankinditseemedonlytobesnatchedawayintothisunaccountablesolitude。Howardcameregularlywithsubtlysustainingandnutritivefluids，andlightandpleasantfoods，quitestrangetoGraham。Healwaysclosedthedoorcarefullyasheentered。Onmattersofdetailhewasincreasinglyobliging，butthebearingofGrahamonthegreatissuesthatwereevidentlybeingcontestedsocloselybeyondthesoundproofwallsthatenclosedhim，hewouldnotelucidate。

Heevaded，aspolitelyaspossible，everyquestiononthepositionofaffairsintheouterworld。

AndinthosethreedaysGraham’sincessantthoughtswentfarandwide。Allthathehadseen，allthiselaboratecontrivancetopreventhimseeing，workedtogetherinhismind。Almosteverypossibleinterpretationofhispositionhedebated——evenasitchanced，therightinterpretation。Thingsthatpresentlyhappenedtohim，cametohimatlastcredible，byvirtueofthisseclusion。Whenatlengththemomentofhisreleasearrived，itfoundhimprepared。

Howard’sbearingwentfartodeepenGraham’simpressionofhisownstrangeimportance；thedoorbetweenitsopeningandclosingseemedtoadmitwithhimabreathofmomentoushappening。Hisenquiriesbecamemoredefiniteandsearching。Howardretreatedthroughprotestsanddifficulties。Theawakeningwasunforeseen，herepeated；ithappenedtohavefalleninwiththetrendofasocialconvulsion。

"ToexplainitImusttellyouthehistoryofagrossandahalfofyears，"protestedHoward。

"Thethingisthis，"saidGraham。"YouareafraidofsomethingIshalldo。InsomewayIamarbitrator——Imightbearbitrator。"

"Itisnotthat。Butyouhave——Imaytellyouthismuch——theautomaticincreaseofyourpropertyputsgreatpossibilitiesofinterferenceinyourhands。

Andincertainotherwaysyouhaveinfluence，withyoureighteenthcenturynotions。"

"Nineteenthcentury，"correctedGraham。

"Withyouroldworldnotions，anyhow，ignorantasyouareofeveryfeatureofourState。"

"AmIafool？"

"Certainlynot。"

"DoIseemtobethesortofmanwhowouldactrashly？"

"Youwereneverexpectedtoactatall。Noonecountedonyourawakening。Noonedreamtyouwouldeverawake。TheCouncilhadsurroundedyouwithantisepticconditions。Asamatteroffact，wethoughtthatyouweredead——amerearrestofdecay。

And——butitistoocomplex。Wedarenotsuddenly——whileyouarestillhalfawake。"

"Itwon’tdo，"saidGraham。"Supposeitisasyousay——whyamInotbeingcrammednightanddaywithfactsandwarningsandallthewisdomofthetimetofitmeformyresponsibilities？AmIanywisernowthantwodaysago，ifitistwodays，whenI

awoke？"

Howardpulledhislip。

"Iambeginningtofeel——everyhourIfeelmoreclearly——asenseofcomplexconcealmentofwhichyouarethesalientpoint。IsthisCouncil，orcommittee，orwhatevertheyare，cookingtheaccountsofmyestate？Isthatit？"

"Thatnoteofsuspicion——"saidHoward。

"Ugh！"saidGraham。"Now，markmywords，itwillbeillforthosewhohaveputmehere。Itwillbeill。Iamalive。Makenodoubtofit，Iamalive。

Everydaymypulseisstrongerandmymindclearerandmorevigorous。Nomorequiescence。Iamamancomebacktolife。AndIwantto__live———__"

"__Live！__"

Howard’sfacelitwithanidea。HecametowardsGrahamandspokeinaneasyconfidentialtone。

"TheCouncilsecludesyouhereforyourgood。

Youarerestless。Naturally——anenergeticman！

Youfinditdullhere。Butweareanxiousthateverythingyoumaydesire——everydesire——everysortofdesire……Theremaybesomething。Isthereanysortofcompany？"

Hepausedmeaningly。

"Yes，"saidGrahamthoughtfully。"Thereis。"

"Ah！__Now！__Wehavetreatedyouneglectfully。"

"Thecrowdsinyonderstreetsofyours。"

"That，"saidHoward，"Iamafraid——。But——"

Grahambeganpacingtheroom。Howardstoodnearthedoorwatchinghim。TheimplicationofHoward’ssuggestionwasonlyhalfevidenttoGrahamCompany？Supposeheweretoaccepttheproposal，demandsomesortof__company__？Wouldtherebeanypossibilitiesofgatheringfromtheconversationo？thisadditionalpersonsomevagueinklingofthestrugglethathadbrokenoutsovividlyathiswakingmoment？

Hemeditatedagain，andthesuggestiontookcolour。

HeturnedonHowardabruptly。

"Whatdoyoumeanbycompany？"

Howardraisedhiseyesandshruggedhisshoulders。

"Humanbeings，"hesaid，withacurioussmileonhisheavyface。

"Oursocialideas，"hesaid，"haveacertainincreasedliberality，perhaps，incomparisonwithyourtimes。Ifamanwishestorelievesuchatediumasthis——byfemininesociety，forinstance。Wethinkitnoscandal。Wehaveclearedourmindsofformulae。

Thereisinourcityaclass，anecessaryclass，nolongerdespised——discreet——"

Grahamstoppeddead。

"Itwouldpassthetime，"saidHoward。"ItisathingIshouldperhapshavethoughtofbefore，but，asamatteroffact，somuchishappening——"

Heindicatedtheexteriorworld。

Grahamhesitated。Foramomentthefigureofapossiblewomanthathisimaginationsuddenlycreateddominatedhismindwithanintenseattraction。Thenheflashedintoanger。

"NoI"heshouted。

Hebeganstridingrapidlyupanddowntheroom。

"Everythingyousay，everythingyoudo，convincesme——ofsomegreatissueinwhichIamconcerned。

Idonotwanttopassthetime，asyoucallit。Yes，I

know。Desireandindulgencearelifeinasense——

andDeath！Extinction！InmylifebeforeIsleptIhadworkedoutthatpitifulquestion。Iwillnotbeginagain。Thereisacity，amultitude——。AndmeanwhileIamherelikearabbitinabag。"

Hisragesurgedhigh。Hechokedforamomentandbegantowavehisclenchedfists。Hegavewaytoanangerfit，hesworearchaiccurses。Hisgestureshadthequalityofphysicalthreats。

"Idonotknowwhoyourpartymaybe。Iaminthedark，andyoukeepmeinthedark。ButIknowthis，thatIamsecludedherefornogoodpurpose。

Fornogoodpurpose。Iwarnyou，Iwarnyouoftheconsequences。OnceIcomeatmypower——"

Herealisedthattothreatenthusmightbeadangertohimself。Hestopped。Howardstoodregardinghimwithacuriousexpression。

"ItakeitthisisamessagetotheCouncil，"saidHoward。

Grahamhadamomentaryimpulsetoleapupontheman，fellorstunhim。Itmusthaveshownuponhisface；atanyrateHoward’smovementwasquick。Inasecondthenoiselessdoorhadclosedagain，andthemanfromthenineteenthcenturywasalone。

Foramomenthestoodrigid，withclenchedhandshalfraised。Thenheflungthemdown。"WhatafoolIhavebeen！"hesaid，andgavewaytohisangeragain，stampingabouttheroomandshoutingcurses。

Foralongtimehekepthimselfinasortoffrenzy，ragingathisposition，athisownfolly，attheknaveswhohadimprisonedhim。Hedidthisbecausehedidnotwanttolookcalmlyathisposition。Heclungtohisanger——becausehewasafraidofFear。

PresentlyhefoundhimselfreasoningwithhimselfThisimprisonmentwasunaccountable，butnodoubtthelegalforms——newlegalforms——ofthetimepermittedit。Itmust，ofcourse，belegal。ThesepeopleweretwohundredyearsfurtheroninthemarchofcivilisationthantheVictoriangeneration。Itwasnotlikelytheywouldbeless——humane。Yettheyhadclearedtheirmindsofformulae！Washumanityaformulaaswellaschastity？

Hisimaginationsettoworktosuggestthingsthatmightbedonetohim。Theattemptsofhisreasontodisposeofthesesuggestions，thoughforthemostpartlogicallyvalid，werequiteunavailing。"Whyshouldanythingbedonetome？"

"Iftheworstcomestotheworst，"hefoundhimselfsayingatlast，"Icangiveupwhattheywant。

Butwhatdotheywant？Andwhydon’ttheyaskmeforitinsteadofcoopingmeup？"

HereturnedtohisformerpreoccupationwiththeCouncil’spossibleintentions。HebegantoreconsiderthedetailsofHoward’sbehaviour，sinisterglances，inexplicablehesitations。Then，foratime，hismindcircledabouttheideaofescapingfromtheserooms；

butwhithercouldheescapeintothisvast，crowdedworld？HewouldbeworseoffthanaSaxonyeomansuddenlydroppedintonineteenthcenturyLondon。

Andbesides，howcouldanyoneescapefromtheserooms？

"Howcanitbenefitanyoneifharmshouldhappentome？"

Hethoughtofthetumult，thegreatsocialtroubleofwhichhewassounaccountablytheaxis。Atext，irrelevantenoughandyetcuriouslyinsistent，camefloatingupoutofthedarknessofhismemory。ThisalsoaCouncilhadsaid：

"Itisexpedientforusthatonemanshoulddieforthepeople。"

CHAPTERVIII

THEROOFSPACES

Asthefansinthecircularapertureoftheinnerroomrotatedandpermittedglimpsesofthenight，dimsoundsdriftedinthereby。AndGraham，standingunderneath，wrestlingdarklywiththeunknownpowersthatimprisonedhim，andwhichhehadnowdeliberatelychallenged，wasstartledbythesoundofavoice。

Hepeeredupandsawintheintervalsoftherotation，darkanddim，thefaceandshouldersofamanregardinghim。Whenadarkhandwasextended，theswiftvanstruckit，swungroundandbeatonwithalittlebrownishpatchontheedgeofitsthinblade，andsomethingbegantofalltherefromuponthefloor，drippingsilently。

Grahamlookeddown，andtherewerespotsofbloodathisfeet。Helookedupagaininastrangeexcitement。

Thefigurehadgone。

Heremainedmotionless——hiseverysenseintentupontheflickeringpatchofdarkness，foroutsideitwashighnight。Hebecameawareofsomefaint，remote，darkspecksfloatinglightlythroughtheouterair。Theycamedowntowardshim，fitfully，eddyingly，andpassedasideoutoftheuprushfromthefan。Agleamoflightflickered，thespecksflashedwhite，andthenthedarknesscameagain。Warmedandlitashewas，heperceivedthatitwassnowingwithinafewfeetofhim。

Grahamwalkedacrosstheroomandcamebacktotheventilatoragain。Hesawtheheadofamanpassnear。Therewasasoundofwhispering。Thenasmartblowonsomemetallicsubstance，effort，voices，andthevansstopped。Agustofsnowflakeswhirledintotheroom，andvanishedbeforetheytouchedthefloor。"Don’tbeafraid，"saidavoice。

Grahamstoodunderthevan。"Whoareyou？"

hewhispered。

Foramomenttherewasnothingbutaswayingofthefan，andthentheheadofamanwasthrustcautiouslyintotheopening。HisfaceappearednearlyinvertedtoGraham；hisdarkhairwaswetwithdissolvingflakesofsnowuponit。Hisarmwentupintothedarknessholdingsomethingunseen。Hehadayouthfulfaceandbrighteyes，andtheveinsofhisforeheadwereswollen。Heseemedtobeexertinghimselftomaintainhisposition。

ForseveralsecondsneitherhenorGrahamspoke。

"YouweretheSleeper？"saidthestrangeratlast。

"Yes，"saidGraham。"Whatdoyouwantwithme？"

"IcomefromOstrog，Sire。"

"Ostrog？"

ThemanintheventilatortwistedhisheadroundsothathisprofilewastowardsGraham。Heappearedtobelistening。Suddenlytherewasahastyexclamation，andtheintrudersprangbackjustintimetoescapethesweepofthereleasedfan。AndwhenGrahampeereduptherewasnothingvisiblebuttheslowlyfallingsnow。

Itwasperhapsaquarterofanhourbeforeanythingreturnedtotheventilator。Butatlastcamethesamemetallicinterferenceagain；thefansstoppedandthefacereappeared。Grahamhadremainedallthistimeinthesameplace，alertandtremulouslyexcited。

"Whoareyou？Whatdoyouwant？"hesaid。

"Wewanttospeaktoyou，Sire，"saidtheintruder。

"Wewant——Ican’tholdthething。Wehavebeentryingtofindawaytoyouthesethreedays。"

"Isitrescue？"whisperedGraham。"Escape？"

"Yes，Sire。Ifyouwill。"

"Youaremyparty——thepartyoftheSleeper？"

"Yes，Sire。"

"WhatamItodo？"saidGraham。

Therewasastruggle。Thestranger’sarmappeared，andhishandwasbleeding。Hiskneescameintoviewovertheedgeofthefunnel。"Standawayfromme，"

hesaid，andhedroppedratherheavilyonhishandsandoneshoulderatGraham’sfeet。Thereleasedventilatorwhirlednoisily。Thestrangerrolledover，sprangupnimblyandstoodpanting，handtoabruisedshoulder，andwithhisbrighteyesonGraham。

"YouareindeedtheSleeper，"hesaid。"Isawyouasleep。Whenitwasthelawthatanyonemightseeyou。"

"Iamthemanwhowasinthetrance，"saidGraham。

"Theyhaveimprisonedmehere。IhavebeenheresinceIawoke——atleastthreedays。"

Theintruderseemedabouttospeak，heardsomething，glancedswiftlyatthedoor，andsuddenlyleftGrahamandrantowardsit，shoutingquickincoherentwords。Abrightwedgeofsteelflashedinhishand，andhebegantap，tap，aquicksuccessionofblowsuponthehinges。"Mind！"criedavoice。"Oh！"

Thevoicecamefromabove。

Grahamglancedup，sawthesolesoftwofeet，ducked，wasstruckontheshoulderbyoneofthem，andaheavyweightborehimtotheearth。Hefellonhiskneesandforward，andtheweightwentoverhishead。Hekneltupandsawasecondmanfromaboveseatedbeforehim。

"Ididnotseeyou，Sire，"pantedtheman。HeroseandassistedGrahamtoarise。"Areyouhurt，Sire？"

hepanted。Asuccessionofheavyblowsontheventilatorbegan，somethingfellclosetoGraham’sface，andashiveringedgeofwhitemetaldanced，fellover，andlayflatuponthefloor。

"Whatisthis？"criedGraham，confusedandlookingattheventilator。"Whoareyou？Whatareyougoingtodo？Remember，Iunderstandnothing。"

"Standback，"saidthestranger，anddrewhimfromundertheventilatorasanotherfragmentofmetalfellheavily。

"Wewantyoutocome，Sire，"pantedthenewcomer，andGrahamglancingathisfaceagain，sawanewcuthadchangedfromwhitetoredonhisfore—

head，andacoupleoflittletricklesofbloodstartingtherefrom。"Yourpeoplecallforyou。"

"Comewhere？Mypeople？"

"Tothehallaboutthemarkets。Yourlifeisindangerhere。Wehavespies。Welearnedbutjustintime。TheCouncilhasdecided——thisveryday——

eithertodrugorkillyou。Andeverythingisready。

Thepeoplearedrilled，thewind—vanepolice，theengineers，andhalftheway—gearersarewithus。Wehavethehallscrowded——shouting。ThewholecityshoutsagainsttheCouncil。Wehavearms。"Hewipedthebloodwithhishand。"Yourlifehereisnotworth——"

"Butwhyarms？"

"Thepeoplehaverisentoprotectyou，Sire。

What？"

Heturnedquicklyasthemanwhohadfirstcomedownmadeahissingwithhisteeth。Grahamsawthelatterstartback，gesticulatetothemtoconcealthemselves，andmoveasiftohidebehindtheopeningdoor。

AshedidsoHowardappeared，alittletrayinonehandandhisheavyfacedowncast。Hestarted，lookedup，thedoorslammedbehindhim，thetraytiltedside—

ways，andthesteelwedgestruckhimbehindtheear。

Hewentdownlikeafelledtree，andlayashefellathwarttheflooroftheouterroom。Themanwhohadstruckhimbenthastily，studiedhisfaceforamoment，rose，andreturnedtohisworkatthedoor。

"Yourpoison！"saidavoiceinGraham’sear。

Thenabruptlytheywereindarkness。Theinnumerablecornicelightshadbeenextinguished。Grahamsawtheapertureoftheventilatorwithghostlysnowwhirlingaboveitanddarkfiguresmovinghastily。

Threekneltonthevan。Somedimthing——aladderwasbeingloweredthroughtheopening，andahandappearedholdingafitfulyellowlight。

Hehadamomentofhesitation。Butthemannerofthesemen，theirswiftalacrity，theirwords，marchedsocompletelywithhisownfearsoftheCouncil，withhisideaandhopeofarescue，thatitlastednotamoment。Andhispeopleawaitedhim！

"Idonotunderstand，"hesaid，"Itrust。Tellmewhattodo。"

ThemanwiththecutbrowgrippedGraham’sarm。

"Clamberuptheladder，"hewhispered。"Quick。

Theywillhaveheard——"

Grahamfeltfortheladderwithextendedhands，puthisfootonthelowerrung，and，turninghishead，sawovertheshoulderofthenearestman，intheyellowflickerofthelight，thefirst—comerastrideoverHowardandstillworkingatthedoor。Grahamturnedtotheladderagain，andwasthrustbyhisconductorandhelpedupbythoseabove，andthenhewasstandingonsomethinghardandcoldandslipperyoutsidetheventilatingfunnel。

Heshivered。Hewasawareofagreatdifferenceinthetemperature。Halfadozenmenstoodabouthim，andlightflakesofsnowtouchedhandsandfaceandmelted。Foramomentitwasdark，thenforaflashaghastlyvioletwhite，andtheneverythingwasdarkagain。

Hesawhehadcomeoutupontheroofofthevastcitystructurewhichhadreplacedthemiscellaneoushouses，streetsandopenspacesofVictorianLondon。

Theplaceuponwhichhestoodwaslevel，withhugeserpentinecablesIyingathwartitineverydirection。

Thecircularwheelsofanumberofwindmillsloomedindistinctandgiganticthroughthedarknessandsnowfall，androaredwithavaryingloudnessasthefitfulwhitelightsmoteupfrombelow，touchedthesnoweddieswithatransientglitter，andmadeanevanescentspectreinthenight；andhereandthere，lowdown！

somevaguelyoutlinedwind—drivenmechanismflickeredwithlividsparks。

Allthisheappreciatedinafragmentarymannerashisrescuersstoodabouthim。Someonethrewathicksoftcloakoffur—liketextureabouthim，andfasteneditbybuckledstrapsatwaistandshoulders。Thingsweresaidbriefly，decisively。Someonethrusthimforward。

Beforehismindwasyetclearadarkshapegrippedhisarm。"Thisway，"saidthisshape，urginghimalong，andpointedGrahamacrosstheflatroofinthedirectionofadimsemicircularhazeoflight。Grahamobeyed。

"Mind！"saidavoice，asGrahamstumbledagainstacable。"Betweenthemandnotacrossthem，"saidthevoice。And，"Wemusthurry。"

"Wherearethepeople？"saidGraham。"Thepeopleyousaidawaitedme？"

Thestrangerdidnotanswer。HeleftGraham’sarmasthepathgrewnarrower，andledthewaywithrapidstrides。Grahamfollowedblindly。Inaminutehefoundhimselfrunning。"Aretheotherscoming？"

hepanted，butreceivednoreply。Hiscompanionglancedbackandranon。Theycametoasortofpathwayofopenmetal—work，transversetothedirectiontheyhadcome，andtheyturnedasidetofollowthis。Grahamlookedback，butthesnowstormhadhiddentheothers。

"Comeon！"saidhisguide。Runningnow，theydrewnearalittlewindmillspinninghighintheair。