第17章

CHAPTERXXII

THE：STRUGGLEINTHECOUNCILHOUSE

AsAsanoandGrahamhurriedalongtotheruinsabouttheCouncilHouse，theysaweverywheretheexcitementofthepeoplerising。"ToyourWardsToyourWards！"Everywheremenandwomeninbluewerehurryingfromunknownsubterraneanemployments，upthestaircasesofthemiddlepath—atoneplaceGrahamsawanarsenaloftherevolutionarycommitteebesiegedbyacrowdofshoutingmen，atanotheracoupleofmeninthehatedyellowuniformoftheLabourPolice，pursuedbyagatheringcrowd，fledprecipitatelyalongtheswiftwaythatwentintheoppositedirection。

Thecriesof"ToyourWards！"becameatlastacontinuousshoutingastheydrewneartheGovernmentquarter。Manyoftheshoutswereunintelligible。"Ostroghasbetrayedus，"onemanbawledinahoarsevoice，againandagain，dinningthatrefrainintoGraham’searuntilithauntedhim。ThispersonstayedclosebesideGrahamandAsanoontheswiftway，shoutingtothepeoplewhoswarmedonthelowerplatformsasherushedpastthem。HiscryaboutOstrogalternatedwithsomeincomprehensibleordersPresentlyhewentleapingdownanddisappeared。

Graham’smindwasfilledwiththedin。Hisplanswerevagueandunformed。Hehadonepictureofsomecommandingpositionfromwhichhecouldaddressthemultitudes，anotherofmeetingOstrogfacetoface。Hewasfullofrage，oftensemuscularexcitement，hishandsgripped，hislipswerepressedtogether。

ThewaytotheCouncilHouseacrosstheruinswasimpassable，butAsanometthatdifficultyandtookGrahamintothepremisesofthecentralpost—office。

Thepost—officewasnominallyatwork，buttheblue—

clothedportersmovedsluggishlyorhadstoppedtostarethroughthearchesoftheirgalleriesattheshoutingmenwhoweregoingbyoutside。"EverymantohisWard！EverymantohisWard！"Here，byAsano’sadvice，Grahamrevealedhisidentity。

TheycrossedtotheCouncilHousebyacablecradle。AlreadyinthebriefintervalsincethecapitulationoftheCouncillorsagreatchangehadbeenwroughtintheappearanceoftheruins。Thespurtingcascadesoftherupturedseawater—mainshadbeencapturedandtamed，andhugetemporarypipesranoverheadalongaflimsylookingfabricofgirders。TheskywaslacedwithrestoredcablesandwiresthatservedtheCouncilHouse，andamassofnewfabricwithcranesandotherbuildingmachinesgoingtoandfrouponit，projectedtotheleftofthewhitepile。

Themovingwaysthatranacrossthisareahadbeenrestored，albeitforoncerunningundertheopensky。ThesewerethewaysthatGrahamhadseenfromthelittlebalconyinthehourofhisawakening，notninedayssince，andthehallofhisTrancehadbeenonthefurtherside，wherenowshapelesspilesofsmashedandshatteredmasonrywereheapedtogether。

Itwasalreadyhighdayandthesunwasshiningbrightly。Outoftheirtallcavernsofblueelectriclightcametheswiftwayscrowdedwithmultitudesofpeople，whopouredoffthemandgatheredeverdenseroverthewreckageandconfusionoftheruins。Theairwasfulloftheirshouting，andtheywerepressingandswayingtowardsthecentralbuilding。Forthemostpartthatshoutingmassconsistedofshapelessswarms，buthereandthereGrahamcouldseethatarudedisciplinestruggledtoestablishitself。Andeveryvoiceclamouredfororderinthechaos。"ToyourWards！EverymantohisWard！"

ThecablecarriedthemintoahallwhichGrahamrecognisedastheante—chambertotheHalloftheAtlas，aboutthegalleryofwhichhehadwalkeddaysagowithHowardtoshowhimselftothevanishedCouncil，anhourfromhisawakening。Nowtheplacewasemptyexceptfortwocableattendants。ThesemenseemedhugelyastonishedtorecognisetheSleeperinthemanwhoswungdownfromthecrossseat。

"WhereisHelenWotton？"hedemanded。"WhereisHelenWotton？"

Theydidnotknow。

"ThenwhereisOstrog？ImustseeOstrogforthwith。Hehasdisobeyedme。Ihavecomebacktotakethingsoutofhishands。"WithoutwaitingforAsano，hewentstraightacrosstheplace，ascendedthestepsatthefurtherend，and，pullingthecurtainaside，foundhimselffacingtheperpetuallylabouringTitan。

Thehallwasempty。Itsappearancehadchangedverygreatlysincehisfirstsightofit。Ithadsufferedseriousinjuryintheviolentstruggleofthefirstoutbreak。Ontherighthandsideofthegreatfiguretheupperhalfofthewallhadbeentornawayfornearlytwohundredfeetofitslength，andasheetofthesameglassyfilmthathadenclosedGrahamathisawakeninghadbeendrawnacrossthegap。Thisdeadened，butdidnotaltogetherexcludetheroarofthepeopleoutside。

"Wards！Wards！Wards！"theyseemedtobesaying。Throughittherewerevisiblethebeamsandsupportsofmetalscaffoldingsthatroseandfellaccordingtotherequirementsofagreatcrowdofworkmen。Anidlebuildingmachine，withlankarmsofredpaintedmetalthatcaughtthestillplasticblocksofmineralpasteandswungthemneatlyintoposition，stretchedgauntlyacrossthisgreentintedpicture。Onitwerestillanumberofworkmenstaringatthecrowdbelow。Foramomenthestoodregardingthesethings，andAsanoovertookhim。

"Ostrog，"saidAsano，"willbeinthesmallofficesbeyondthere。"ThelittlemanlookedlividnowandhiseyessearchedGraham’sface。

TheyhadscarcelyadvancedtenpacesfromthecurtainbeforealittlepaneltotheleftoftheAtlasrolledup，andOstrog，accompaniedbyLincolnandfollowedbytwoblackandyellowcladnegroes，appearedcrossingtheremotecornerofthehall，towardsasecondpanelthatwasraisedandopen。

"Ostrog，"shoutedGraham，andatthesoundofhisvoicethelittlepartyturnedastonished。

OstrogsaidsomethingtoLincolnandadvancedalone。

Grahamwasthefirsttospeak。Hisvoicewasloudanddictatorial。"WhatisthisIhear？"heasked。

"Areyoubringingnegroeshere——tokeepthepeopledown？"

"Itisnonetoosoon，"saidOstrog。"Theyhavebeengettingoutofhandmoreandmore，sincetherevolt。Iunder—estimated——"

"Doyoumeanthattheseinfernalnegroesareontheway？"

"Ontheway。Asitis，youhaveseenthepeople——

outside？"

"Nowonder！But——afterwhatwassaid。Youhavetakentoomuchonyourself，Ostrog。"

Ostrogsaidnothing，butdrewnearer。

"ThesenegroesmustnotcometoLondon，"saidGraham。"IamMasterandtheyshallnotcome。"

OstrogglancedatLincoln，whoatoncecametowardsthemwithhistwoattendantsclosebehindhim。"Whynot？"askedOstrog。

"Whitemenmustbemasteredbywhitemen。

Besides——"

"Thenegroesareonlyaninstrument。"

"Butthatisnotthequestion。IamtheMaster。I

meantobetheMaster。AndItellyouthesenegroesshallnotcome。"

"Thepeople——"

"Ibelieveinthepeople。"

"Becauseyouareananachronism。YouareamanoutofthePast——anaccident。YouareOwnerperhapsofhalfthepropertyintheworld。ButyouarenotMaster。YoudonotknowenoughtobeMaster。"

HeglancedatLincolnagain。"Iknownowwhatyouthink——Icanguesssomethingofwhatyoumeantodo。Evennowitisnottoolatetowarnyou。Youdreamofhumanequality——ofasocialisticorder——

youhaveallthoseworn—outdreamsofthenineteenthcenturyfreshandvividinyourmind，andyouwouldrulethisagethatyoudonotunderstand。"

"Listen！"saidGraham。"Youcanhearit——asoundlikethesea。Notvoices——butavoice。Doyoualtogetherunderstand？"

"Wetaughtthemthat，"saidOstrog。

"Perhaps。Canyouteachthemtoforgetit？Butenoughofthis！Thesenegroesmustnotcome。"

TherewasapauseandOstroglookedhimintheeyes。

"Theywill，"hesaid。

"Iforbidit，"saidGraham。

"Theyhavestarted。"

"Iwillnothaveit。"

"No，"saidOstrog。"SorryasIamtofollowthemethodoftheCouncil——。Foryourowngood——

youmustnotsidewithdisorder。Andnowthatyouarehere——。Itwaskindofyoutocomehere。"

LincolnlaidhishandonGraham’sshoulder。

AbruptlyGrahamrealizedtheenormityofhisblunderincomingtotheCouncilHouse。Heturnedtowardsthecurtainsthatseparatedthehallfromtheantechamber。

TheclutchinghandofAsanointervened。

InanothermomentLincolnhadgraspedGraham’scloak。

HeturnedandstruckatLincoln’sface，andincontinentlyanegrohadhimbycollarandarm。Hewrenchedhimselfaway，hissleevetorenoisily，andhestumbledback，tobetrippedbytheotherattendant。

Thenhestruckthegroundheavilyandhewasstaringatthedistantceilingofthehall。

Heshouted，rolledover，strugglingfiercely，clutchedanattendant’slegandthrewhimheadlong，andstruggledtohisfeet。

Lincolnappearedbeforehim，wentdownheavilyagainwithablowunderthepointofthejawandlaystill。Grahammadetwostrides，stumbled。AndthenOstrog’sarmwasroundhisneck，hewaspulledoverbackward，fellheavily，andhisarmswerepinnedtotheground。AfterafewviolenteffortsheceasedtostruggleandlaystaringatOstrog’sheavingthroat。

"You——are——aprisoner，"pantedOstrog，exulting。

"You——wereratherafool——tocomeback。"

Grahamturnedhisheadaboutandperceivedthroughtheirregulargreenwindowinthewallsofthehallthemenwhohadbeenworkingthebuildingcranesgesticulatingexcitedlytothepeoplebelowthem。

Theyhadseen！

Ostrogfollowedhiseyesandstarted。HeshoutedsomethingtoLincoln，butLincolndidnotmove。A

bulletsmashedamongthemouldingsabovetheAtlasThetwosheetsoftransparentmatterthathadbeenstretchedacrossthisgapwererent，theedgesofthetornaperturedarkened，curved，ranrapidlytowardstheframework，andinamomenttheCouncilchamberstoodopentotheair。Achillygustblewinbythegap，bringingwithitawarofvoicesfromtheruinousspaceswithout，anelvishbabblement，"SavetheMaster！""WhataretheydoingtotheMaster？"

"TheMasterisbetrayed！"

AndthenherealisedthatOstrog’sattentionwasdistracted，thatOstrog’sgriphadrelaxed，and，wrenchinghisarmsfree，hestruggledtohisknees。

InanothermomenthehadthrustOstrogback，andhewasononefoot，hishandgrippingOstrog’sthroat，andOstrog’shandsclutchingthesilkabouthisneck。

Butnowmenwerecomingtowardsthemfromthedais——menwhoseintentionshemisunderstood。Hehadaglimpseofsomeonerunninginthedistancetowardsthecurtainsoftheantechamber，andthenOstroghadslippedfromhimandthesenewcomerswereuponhim。Tohisinfiniteastonishment，theyseizedhim。TheyobeyedtheshoutsofOstrog。

Hewasluggedadozenyardsbeforeherealisedthattheywerenotfriends——thattheyweredragginghimtowardstheopenpanel。Whenhesawthishepulledback，hetriedtoflinghimselfdown，heshoutedforhelpwithallhisstrength。Andthistimetherewereansweringcries。

Thegripuponhisneckrelaxed，andbehold！inthelowercorneroftherentuponthewall，firstoneandthenanumberoflittleblackfiguresappearedshoutingandwavingarms。TheycameleapingdownfromthegapintothelightgallerythathadledtotheSilentRooms。Theyranalongit，sonearweretheythatGrahamcouldseetheweaponsintheirhands，ThenOstrogwasshoutinginhiseartothemenwhoheldhim，andoncemorehewasstrugglingwithallhisstrengthagainsttheirendeavourstothrusthimtowardstheopeningthatyawnedtoreceivehim。"Theycan’tcomedown，"pantedOstrog。"Theydaren’tfire。

It’sallright。""We’llsavehimfromthemyet。"

ForlongminutesasitseemedtoGrahamthatingloriousstrugglecontinued。Hisclotheswererentinadozenplaces，hewascoveredindust，onehandhadbeentroddenupon。Hecouldheartheshoutsofhissupporters，andonceheheardshots。Hecouldfeelhisstrengthgivingway，feelhiseffortswildandaimless。Butnohelpcame，andsurely，irresistibly，thatblack，yawningopeningcamenearer。

Thepressureuponhimrelaxedandhestruggledup。HesawOstrog’sgreyheadrecedingandperceivedthathewasnolongerheld。Heturnedaboutandcamefullintoamaninblack。Oneofthegreenweaponscrackedclosetohim，adriftofpungentsmokecameintohisface，andasteelbladeflashed。

Thehugechamberspanabouthim。

Hesawamaninpalebluestabbingoneoftheblackandyellowattendantsnotthreeyardsfromhisface。

Thenhandswereuponhimagain。

Hewasbeingpulledintwo，directionsnow。Itseemedasthoughpeoplewereshoutingtohim。Hewantedtounderstandandcouldnot。Someonewasclutchingabouthisthighs，hewasbeinghoistedinspiteofhisvigorousefforts。Heunderstoodsuddenly，heceasedtostruggle。Hewaslifteduponmen’sshouldersandcarriedawayfromthatdevouringpanel。

Tenthousandthroatswerecheering。

HesawmeninblueandblackhurryingaftertheretreatingOstrogitesandfiring。Liftedup，hesawnowacrossthewholeexpanseofthehallbeneaththeAtlasimage，sawthathewasbeingcarriedtowardstheraisedplatforminthecentreoftheplace。Thefarendofthehallwasalreadyfullofpeoplerunningtowardshim。Theywerelookingathimandcheering。

Hebecameawarethatasortofbody—guardsurroundedhim。Activemenabouthimshoutedvagueorders。Hesawcloseathandtheblackmoustachedmaninyellowwhohadbeenamongthosewhohadgreetedhiminthepublictheatre，shoutingdirections。

Thehallwasalreadydenselypackedwithswayingpeople，thelittlemetalgallerysaggedwithashoutingload，thecurtainsattheendhadbeentornaway，andtheante—chamberwasrevealeddenselycrowded。Hecouldscarcelymakethemannearhimhearforthetumultaboutthem。"WherehasOstroggone？"heasked。

Themanhequestionedpointedovertheheadstowardsthelowerpanelsaboutthehallonthesideoppositethegap。Theystoodopenandarmedmen，bluecladwithblacksashes，wererunningthroughthemandvanishingintothechambersandpassagesbeyond。

ItseemedtoGrahamthatasoundoffiringdriftedthroughtheriot。Hewascarriedinastaggeringcurveacrossthegreathalltowardsanopeningbeneaththegap。

Heperceivedmenworkingwithasortofrudedisciplinetokeepthecrowdoffhim，tomakeaspaceclearabouthim。Hepassedoutofthehall，andsawacrude，newwallrisingblanklybeforehimtoppedbybluesky。Hewasswungdowntohisfeet；someonegrippedhisarmandguidedhim。Hefoundthemaninyellowcloseathand。Theyweretakinghimupanarrowstairwayofbrick，andcloseathandrosethegreatredpaintedmasses，thecranesandleversandthestillenginesofthebigbuildingmachine。

Hewasatthetopofthesteps。Hewashurriedacrossanarrowrailedfootway，andsuddenlywithavastshoutingtheamphitheatreofruinsopenedagainbeforehim。"TheMasteriswithus！TheMaster！

TheMaster！"Theshoutsweptathwartthelakeoffaceslikeawave，brokeagainstthedistantcliffofruins，andcamebackinawelterofcries。"TheMasterisonourside！"

Grahamperceivedthathewasnolongerencompassedbypeople，thathewasstandinguponalittletemporaryplatformofwhitemetal，partofaflimsyseemingscaffoldingthatlacedaboutthegreatmassoftheCouncilHouse。Overallthehugeexpanseoftheruins，swayedandeddiedtheshoutingpeople；

andhereandtheretheblackbannersoftherevolutionarysocietiesduckedandswayedandformedrarenucleioforganisationinthechaos。UpthesteepstairsofwallandscaffoldingbywhichhisrescuershadreachedtheopeningintheAtlasChamber，clungasolidcrowd，andlittleenergeticblackfiguresclingingtopillarsandprojectionswerestrenuoustoinducethesecongestedmassestostir。Behindhim，atahigherpointonthescaffolding，anumberofmenstruggledupwardswiththeflappingfoldsofahugeblackstandard。ThroughtheyawninggapinthewallsbelowhimhecouldlookdownuponthepackedattentivemultitudesintheHalloftheAtlas。Thedistantflyingstagestothesouthcameoutbrightandvivid，broughtnearerasitseemedbyanunusualtranslucencyoftheair。Asolitaryaeropilebeatupfromthecentralstageasiftomeetthecomingaeroplanes。

"WhathadbecomeofOstrog？"askedGraham，andevenashespokehesawthatalleyeswereturnedfromhimtowardsthecrestoftheCouncilHousebuilding。Helookedalsointhisdirectionofuniversalattention。Foramomenthesawnothingbutthejaggedcornerofawall，hardandclearagainstthesky。Thenintheshadowheperceivedtheinteriorofaroomandrecognisedwithastartthegreenandwhitedecorationsofhisformerprison。Andcomingquicklyacrossthisopenedroomanduptotheveryvergeofthecliffoftheruinscamealittlewhitecladfigurefollowedbytwoothersmallerseemingfiguresinblackandyellow。Heheardthemanbesidehimexclaim"Ostrog，"andturnedtoaskaquestion。Butheneverdid，becauseofthestartledexclamationofanotherofthosewhowerewithhimandalankfingersuddenlypointing。Helooked，andbeholdtheaeropilethathadbeenrisingfromtheflyingstagewhenlasthehadlookedinthatdirection，wasdrivingtowardsthem。Theswiftsteadyflightwasstillnovelenoughtoholdhisattention。

Neareritcame，growingrapidlylargerandlarger，untilithadsweptoverthefurtheredgeoftheruinsandintoviewofthedensemultitudesbelow。Itdroopedacrossthespaceandroseandpassedoverhead，risingtoclearthemassoftheCouncilHouse，afilmytranslucentshapewiththesolitaryaeronautpeeringdownthroughitsribs。Itvanishedbeyondtheskylineoftheruins。

GrahamtransferredhisattentiontoOstrog。Hewassignallingwithhishands，andhisattendantsbusybreakingdownthewallbesidehim。Inanothermomenttheaeropilecameintoviewagain，alittlethingfaraway，comingroundinawidecurveandgoingslower。

Thensuddenlythemaninyellowshouted："Whataretheydoing？Whatarethepeopledoing？WhyisOstrogleftthere？Whyishenotcaptured？Theywilllifthim——theaeropilewilllifthim！Ah！"

Theexclamationwasechoedbyashoutfromtheruins。TherattlingsoundofthegreenweaponsdriftedacrosstheinterveninggulftoGraham，and，lookingdown，hesawanumberofblackandyellowuniformsrunningalongoneofthegalleriesthatlayopentotheairbelowthepromontoryuponwhichOstrogstood。Theyfiredastheyranatmenunseen，andthenemergedanumberofpalebluefiguresinpursuit。Theseminutefightingfigureshadtheoddesteffect；theyseemedastheyranlikelittlemodelsoldiersinatoy。Thisqueerappearanceofahousecutopengavethatstruggleamidstfurnitureandpassagesaqualityofunreality。Itwasperhapstwohundredyardsawayfromhim，andverynearlyfiftyabovetheheadsintheruinsbelow。Theblackandyellowmenranintoanopenarchway，andturnedandfiredavolley。Oneofthebluepursuersstridingforwardclosetotheedge，flunguphisarms，staggeredsideways，seemedtoGraham’ssensetohangovertheedgeforseveralseconds，andfellheadlongdown。Grahamsawhimstrikeaprojectingcorner，flyout，headoverheels，headoverheels，andvanishbehindtheredarmofthebuildingmachine。

AndthenashadowcamebetweenGrahamandthesun。Helookedupandtheskywasclear，butheknewtheaeropilehadpassed。Ostroghadvanished。

Themaninyellowthrustbeforehim，zealousandperspiring，pointingandblatent。

"Theyaregrounding！"criedthemaninyellow。

"Theyaregrounding。Tellthepeopletofireathim。

Tellthemtofireathim！"

Grahamcouldnotunderstand。Heheardloudvoicesrepeatingtheseenigmaticalorders。

Suddenlyovertheedgeoftheruinshesawtheprowoftheaeropilecomeglidingandstopwithajerk。InamomentGrahamunderstoodthatthethinghadgroundedinorderthatOstrogmightescapebyit。

Hesawabluehazeclimbingoutofthegulf，perceivedthatthepeoplebelowhimwerenowfiringupattheprojectingstem。

Amanbesidehimcheeredhoarsely，andhesawthatthebluerebelshadgainedthearchwaythathadbeencontestedbythemeninblackandyellowamomentbefore，andwererunninginacontinualstreamalongtheopenpassage。

AndsuddenlytheaeropileslippedovertheedgeoftheCouncilHouseandfell。Itdropped，tiltingatanangleofforty—fivedegrees，anddroppingsosteeplythatitseemedtoGraham，itseemedperhapstomostofthesebelow，thatitcouldnotpossiblyriseagain。

ItfellsocloselypasthimthathecouldseeOstrogclutchingtheguidesoftheseat，withhisgreyhairstreaming；seethewhite—facedaeronautwrenchingovertheleverthatdrovetheenginealongitsguides。

Heheardtheapprehensivevaguecryofinnumerablemenbelow。

Grahamclutchedtherailingbeforehimandgasped。

Thesecondseemedanage。Thelowervanoftheaeropilepassedwithinanaceoftouchingthepeople，whoyelledandscreamedandtrampledoneanotherbelow。

Andthenitrose。

Foramomentitlookedasifitcouldnotpossiblycleartheoppositecliff，andthenthatitcouldnotpossiblyclearthewind—wheelthatrotatedbeyond。

Andbehold！itwasclearandsoaring，stillheelingsideways，upward，upwardintothewind—sweptsky。

ThesuspenseofthemomentgaveplacetoafuryofexasperationastheswarmingpeoplerealisedthatOstroghadescapedthem。Withbelatedactivitytheyrenewedtheirfire，untiltherattlingwoveintoaroar，untilthewholeareabecamedimandblueandtheairpungentwiththethinsmokeoftheirweapons。

Toolate！Theaeropiledwindledsmallerandsmaller，andcurvedaboutandsweptgracefullydownwardtotheflyingstagefromwhichithadsolatelyrisen。Ostroghadescaped。

Forawhileaconfusedbabblementarosefromtheruins，andthentheuniversalattentioncamebacktoGraham，perchedhighamongthescaffolding。Hesawthefacesofthepeopleturnedtowardshim，heardtheirshoutsathisrescue。Fromthethroatofthewayscamethesongoftherevoltspreadinglikeabreezeacrossthatswayingseaofmen。

Thelittlegroupofmenabouthimshoutedcongratulationsonhisescape。Themaninyellowwasclosetohim，withasetfaceandshiningeyes。Andthesongwasrising，louderandlouder；tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。

Slowlytherealisationcameofthefullmeaningofthesethingstohim，theperceptionoftheswiftchangeinhisposition。Ostrog，whohadstoodbesidehimwheneverhehadfacedthatshoutingmultitudebefore，wasbeyondthere——theantagonist。Therewasnoonetoruleforhimanylonger。Eventhepeopleabouthim，theleadersandorganisersofthemultitude，lookedtoseewhathewoulddo，lookedtohimtoact，awaitedhisorders。HewasKingindeed。Hispuppetreignwasatanend。

Hewasveryintenttodothethingthatwasexpectedofhim。Hisnervesandmuscleswerequivering，hismindwasperhapsalittleconfused，buthefeltneitherfearnoranger。Hishandthathadbeentroddenuponthrobbedandwashot。Hewasalittlenervousabouthisbearing。Heknewhewasnotafraid，buthewasanxiousnottoseemafraid。Inhisformerlifehehadoftenbeenmoreexcitedinplayinggamesofskill。Hewasdesirousofimmediateaction，heknewhemustnotthinktoomuchindetailofthehugecomplexityofthestruggleabouthimlestheshouldbeparalysedbythesenseofitsintricacy。

Overtherethosesquareblueshapes，theflyingstages，meantOstrog；againstOstroghewasfightingfortheworld。

CHAPTERXXIII

WHILETHEAEROLANESWERECOMING

ForatimetheMasteroftheEarthwasnotevenmasterofhisownmind。Evenhiswillseemedawillnothisown，hisownactssurprisedhimandwerebutapartoftheconfusionofstrangeexperiencesthatpouredacrosshisbeing。Thesethingsweredefinite，theaeroplaneswerecoming，HelenWottonhadwarnedthepeopleoftheircoming，andhewasMasteroftheEarth。Eachofthesefactsseemedstrugglingforcompletepossessionofhisthoughts。Theyprotrudedfromabackgroundofswarminghalls，elevatedpassages，roomsjammedwithwardleadersincouncilkinematographandtelephonerooms，andwindowslookingoutonaseethingseaofmarchingmen。Themaninyellow，andmenwhomhefanciedwerecalledWardLeaders，wereeitherpropellinghimforwardorfollowinghimobediently；itwashardtotell。

Perhapstheyweredoingalittleofboth。Perhapssomepowerunseenandunsuspected，propelledthemall。

HewasawarethathewasgoingtomakeaproclamationtothePeopleoftheEarth，awareofcertaingrandiosephrasesfloatinginhismindasthethinghemeanttosay。Manylittlethingshappened，andthenhefoundhimselfwiththemaninyellowenteringalittleroomwherethisproclamationofhiswastobemade。