第19章

"Ifwecouldstopthemanotherhour！"criedthemaninyellow。

"Nothingcanstopthemnow，"saidtheoldman。

theyhavenearahundredaeroplanesinthefirstfleet。"

"Anotherhour？"askedGraham。

"Tobesonear！"saidtheWardLeader。"Nowthatwehavefoundthoseguns。Tobesonear——。

Ifoncewecouldgetthemoutupontheroofspaces。"

"Howlongwouldthattake？"askedGrahamsuddenly。

"Anhour——certainly。"

"Toolate，"criedtheWardLeader，"toolate。"

"Isittoolate？"saidGraham。"Evennow——。

Anhour！"

Hehadsuddenlyperceivedapossibility。Hetriedtospeakcalmly，buthisfacewaswhite。"Thereisonechance。Yousaidtherewasanaeropile——？"

"OntheRoehamptonstage，Sire。"

"Smashed？"

"No。ItisIyingcrosswaystothecarrier。Itmightbegotupontheguides——easily。Butthereisnoaeronaut——。"

GrahamglancedatthetwomenandthenatHelen。

Hespokeafteralongpause。"Wehavenoaeronauts？"

"None。"

"Theaeroplanesareclumsy，"hesaidthoughtfully，"comparedwiththeaeropiles。"

HeturnedsuddenlytoHelen。Hisdecisionwasmade。"Imustdoit。"

"Dowhat？"

"Gotothisflyingstage——tothisaeropile。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"

"Iamanaeronaut。Afterall——。Thosedaysforwhichyoureproachedmewerewasted。"

Heturnedtotheoldmaninyellow。

puttheaeropileupontheguides。"

Themaninyellowhesitated。

"Whatdoyoumeantodo？"criedHelen。

"Thisaeropile——itisachance——。"

"Youdon’tmean——？"

"Tofight——yes。Tofightintheair。Ihavethoughtbefore——。Anaeroplaneisaclumsything。

Aresoluteman——！"

"But——neversinceflyingbegan——"criedthemaninyellow。

"Therehasbeennoneed。Butnowthetimehascome。Tellthemnow——sendthemmymessage——toputitupontheguides。"

Theoldmandumblyinterrogatedthemaninyellow，nodded，andhurriedout。

HelenmadeasteptowardsGraham。Herfacewaswhite。"But——Howcanonefight？Youwillbekilled。"

"Perhaps。Yet，nottodoit——ortoletsomeoneelseattemptit——。"

Hestopped，hecouldspeaknomore，hesweptthealternativeasidebyagesture，andtheystoodlookingatoneanother。

"Youareright，"shesaidatlastinalowtone。

"Youareright。Ifitcanbedone……

mustgo。"

ThosedaysfornotaltogetherHemovedasteptowardsher，andshesteppedback，herwhitefacestruggledagainsthimandresistedhim。

"No，"shegasped。"Icannotbear——。Gonow。"

Heextendedhishandsstupidly。Sheclenchedherfists。"Gonow，"shecried。"Gonow。"

Hehesitatedandunderstood。Hethrewhishandsupinaqueerhalf—theatricalgesture。Hehadnowordtosay。Heturnedfromher。

Themaninyellowmovedtowardsthedoorwithclumsybelatedtact。ButGrahamsteppedpasthim。

HewentstridingthroughtheroomwheretheWardLeaderbawledatatelephonedirectingthattheaeropileshouldbeputupontheguides。

ThemaninyellowglancedatHelen’sstillfigure，hesitatedandhurriedafterhim。Grahamdidnotoncelookback，hedidnotspeakuntilthecurtainoftheante—chamberofthegreathallfellbehindhim。Thenheturnedhisheadwithcurtswiftdirectionsuponhisbloodlesslips。

CHAPTERXIV

THECOMINGOFTHEAEROPLANES

TwomeninpalebluewereIyingintheirregularlinethatstretchedalongtheedgeofthecapturedRoehamptonstagefromendtoend，graspingtheircarbinesandpeeringintotheshadowsofthestagecalledWimbledonPark。Nowandthentheyspoketooneanother。TheyspokethemutilatedEnglishoftheirclassandperiod。ThefireoftheOstrogiteshaddwindledandceased，andfewoftheenemyhadbeenseenforsometime。Buttheechoesofthefightthatwasgoingonnowfarbelowinthelowergalleriesofthatstage，cameeverynowandthenbetweenthestaccatoofshotsfromthepopularside。Oneofthesemenwasdescribingtotheotherhowhehadseenamandownbelowtheredodgebehindagirder，andhadaimedataguessandhithimcleanlyashedodgedtoofar"He’sdowntherestill，"saidthemarksman。

"Seethatlittlepatch。Yes。Betweenthosebars。"

Afewyardsbehindthemlayadeadstranger，faceupwardtothesky，withthebluecanvasofhisjacketsmolderinginacircleabouttheneatbulletholeonhischest。Closebesidehimawoundedman，withalegswathedabout，satwithanexpressionlessfaceandwatchedtheprogressofthatburning。Giganticbehindthem，athwartthecarrierlaythecapturedaeropile。

"Ican’tseehimnow，"saidthesecondmaninatonofprovocation。

Themarksmanbecamefoul—mouthedandhigh—

voicedinhisearnestendeavourtomakethingsplainAndsuddenly，interruptinghim，cameanoisyshoutingfromthesubstage。

"What’sgoingonnow，"hesaid，andraisedhimselfononearmtostareatthestairheadsinthecentralgrooveofthestage。Anumberofbluefigureswerecomingupthese，andswarmingacrossthestagetotheaeropile。

"Wedon’twantallthesefools，"saidhisfriend。

"Theyonlycrowdupandspoilshots。Whataretheyafter？"

"Ssh！——they’reshoutingsomething。"

Thetwomenlistened。Theswarmingnew—comershadcrowdeddenselyabouttheaeropile。ThreeWardLeaders，conspicuousbytheirblackmantlesandbadges，clamberedintothebodyandappearedaboveit。Therankandfileflungthemselvesuponthevans，grippingholdoftheedges，untiltheentireoutlineofthethingwasmanned，insomeplacesthreedeep。Oneofthemarksmenkneltup。"They’reputtingitonthecarrier——that’swhatthey’reafter。"

Herosetohisfeet，hisfriendrosealso。"What’sthegood？"saidhisfriend。"We’vegotnoaeronauts。"

"That’swhatthey’redoinganyhow。"Helookedathisrifle，lookedatthestrugglingcrowd，andsuddenlyturningtothewoundedman。"Mindthese，mate，"hesaid，handinghiscarbineandcartridgebelt；andinamomenthewasrunningtowardstheaeropile。ForaquarterofanhourhewasaperspiringTitan，lugging，thrusting，shoutingandheedingshouts，andthenthethingwasdone，andhestoodwithamultitudeofotherscheeringtheirownachievement。Bythistimeheknew，whatindeedeveryoneinthecityknew，thattheMaster，rawlearnerthoughhewas，intendedtoflythismachinehimself，wascomingevennowtotakecontrolofit，wouldletnoothermanattemptit。"Hewhotakesthegreatestdanger，hewhobearstheheaviestburden，thatmanisKing，"sotheMasterwasreportedtohavespoken。Andevenasthismancheered，andwhilethebeadsofsweatstillchasedoneanotherfromthedisorderofhishair，heheardthethunderofagreatertumult，andinfitfulsnatchesthebeatandimpulseoftherevolutionarysong。Hesawthroughagapinthepeoplethatathickstreamofheadsstillpouredupthestairway。"TheMasteriscoming，"shoutedvoices，"theMasteriscoming，"andthecrowdabouthimgrewdenseranddenser。Hebegantothrusthimselftowardsthecentralgroove。"TheMasteriscoming！""TheSleeper，theMaster！""GodandtheMaster！"roaredtheVoices。

Andsuddenlyquiteclosetohimweretheblackuniformsoftherevolutionaryguard，andforthefirstandlasttimeinhislifehesawGraham，sawhimquitenearly。Atall，darkmaninaflowingblackrobe，withawhite，resolutefaceandeyesfixedsteadfastlybeforehim；amanwhoforallthelittlethingsabouthimheldneitherearsnoreyesnorthoughts……ForallhisdaysthatmanrememberedthepassingofGraham’sbloodlessface。Inamomentithadgoneandhewasfightingintheswayingcrowd。Aladweepingwithterrorthrustagainsthim，pressingtowardsthestairways，yelling"Clearfortheaeropile！"Thebellthatclearstheflyingstagebecamealoudunmelodiousclanging。

WiththatclanginginhisearsGrahamdrewneartheaeropile，marchedintotheshadowofitstiltingwing。Hebecameawarethatanumberofpeopleabouthimwereofferingtoaccompanyhim，andwavedtheiroffersaside。Hewantedtothinkhowonestartedtheengine。Thebellclangedfasterandfaster，andthefeetoftheretreatingpeopleroaredfasterandlouder。Themaninyellowwasassistinghimtomountthroughtheribsofthebody。Heclamberedintotheaeronaut’splace，fixinghimselfverycarefullyanddeliberately。Whatwasit？Themaninyellowwaspointingtotwoaeropilesdrivingupwardinthesouthernsky。Nodoubttheywerelookingforthecomingaeroplanes。That——presently——thethingtodonowwastostart。Thingswerebeingshoutedathim，questions，warnings。Theybotheredhim。Hewantedtothinkabouttheaeropile，torecalleveryitemofhispreviousexperience。Hewavedthepeoplefromhim，sawthemaninyellowdroppingoffthroughtheribs，sawthecrowdcleftdownthelineofthegirdersbyhisgesture。

Foramomenthewasmotionless，staringatthelevers，thewheelbywhichtheengineshifted，andallthedelicateappliancesofwhichheknewsolittle。Hiseyecaughtaspiritlevelwiththebubbletowardshim，andherememberedsomething，spentadozensecondsinswingingtheengineforwarduntilthebubblefloatedinthecentreofthetube。Henotedthatthepeoplewerenotshouting，knewtheywatchedhisdeliberation。

Abulletsmashedonthebarabovehishead。Whofired？Wasthelineclearofpeople？Hestooduptoseeandsatdownagain。

Inanothersecondthepropellerwasspinning，andhewasrushingdowntheguides。Hegrippedthewheelandswungtheenginebacktoliftthestem。

Thenitwasthepeopleshouted。Inamomenthewasthrobbingwiththequiveroftheengine，andtheshoutsdwindledswiftlybehind，rusheddowntosilence。

Thewindwhistledovertheedgesofthescreen，andtheworldsankawayfromhimveryswiftly。

Throb，throb，throb——throb，throb，throb；uphedrove。Hefanciedhimselffreeofallexcitement，feltcoolanddeliberate。Heliftedthestemstillmore，openedonevalveonhisleftwingandsweptroundandup。Helookeddownwithasteadyhead，andup。OneoftheOstrogiteaeropileswasdrivingacrosshiscourse，sothathedroveobliquelytowardsitandwouldpassbelowitatasteepangle。Itslittleaeronautswerepeeringdownathim。Whatdidtheymeantodo？

Hismindbecameactive。One，hesawheldaweaponpointing，seemedpreparedtofire。Whatdidtheythinkhemeanttodo？Inamomentheunderstoodtheirtactics，andhisresolutionwastaken。Hismomentarylethargywaspast。Heopenedtwomorevalvestohisleft，swunground，endontothishostilemachine，closedhisvalves，andshotstraightatit，stemandwind—screenshieldinghimfromtheshot。Theytiltedalittleasiftoclearhim。Heflunguphisstem。

Throb，throb，throb——pause——throb，throb——

hesethisteeth，hisfaceintoaninvoluntarygrimace，andcrash！Hestruckit！Hestruckupwardbeneaththenearerwing。

Veryslowlythewingofhisantagonistseemedtobroadenastheimpetusofhisblowturneditup。Hesawthefullbreadthofitandthenitsliddownwardoutofhissight。

Hefelthisstemgoingdown，hishandstightenedonthelevers，whirledandrammedtheengineback。Hefeltthejerkofaclearance，thenoseofthemachinejerkedupwardsteeply，andforamomentheseemedtobeIyingonhisback。Themachinewasreelingandstaggering，itseemedtobedancingonitsscrew。Hemadeahugeeffort，hungforamomentonthelevers，andslowlytheenginecameforwardagain。Hewasdrivingupwardbutnolongersosteeply。Hegaspedforamomentandflunghimselfattheleversagain。Thewindwhistledabouthim。Onefurthereffortandhewasalmostlevel。Hecouldbreathe。Heturnedhisheadforthefirsttimetoseewhathadbecomeofhisantagonists。Turnedbacktotheleversforamomentandlookedagain。Foramomenthecouldhavebelievedtheywereannihilated。

Andthenhesawbetweenthetwostagestotheeastwasachasm，anddownthissomething，aslenderedge，fellswiftlyandvanished，asasixpencefallsdownacrack。

Atfirsthedidnotunderstand，andthenawildjoypossessedhim。Heshoutedatthetopofhisvoice，aninarticulateshout，anddrovehigherandhigherupthesky。Throb，throb，throb，pause，throb，throb，throb。

"Wherewastheotheraeropile？"hethought。"Theytoo——。"Ashelookedroundtheemptyheavenshehadamomentaryfearthatthismachinehadrisenabovehim，andthenhesawitalightingontheNorwoodstage。Theyhadmeantshooting。Toriskbeingrammedheadlongtwothousandfeetintheairwasbeyondtheirlatter—daycourage。Thecombatwasdeclined。

Foralittlewhilehecircled，thenswoopedinasteepdescenttowardsthewestwardstage。Throbthrobthrob，throbthrobthrob。Thetwilightwascreepingonapace，thesmokefromtheStreathamstagethathadbeensodenseanddark，wasnowapillaroffire，andallthelacedcurvesofthemovingwaysandthetranslucentroofsanddomesandthechasmsbetweenthebuildingswereglowingsoftlynow，litbythetemperedradianceoftheelectriclightthattheglareofthewayoverpowered。ThethreeefficientstagesthattheOstrogitesheld——forWimbledonParkwasuselessbecauseofthefirefromRoehampton，andStreathamwasafurnace——wereglowingwithguidelightsforthecomingaeroplanes。AshesweptovertheRoehamptonstagehesawthedarkmassesofthepeoplethereon。Heheardaclapoffranticcheering，heardabulletfromtheWimbledonParkstagetweetthroughtheair，andwentbeatingupabovetheSurreywastes。

Hefeltabreathofwindfromthesouth—west，andliftedhiswestwardwingashehadlearnttodo，andsodroveupwardheelingintotherareswiftupperair。

Throbthrobthrob——throbthrobthrob。

Uphedroveandup，tothatpulsatingrhythm，untilthecountrybeneathwasblueandindistinct，andLondonspreadlikealittlemaptracedinlight，likethemeremodelofacitynearthebrimofthehorizon。

Thesouth—westwasaskyofsapphireovertheshadowyrimoftheworld，andeverashedroveupwardthemultitudeofstarsincreased。

Andbehold！Inthesouthward，lowdownandglitteringswiftlynearer，weretwolittlepatchesofnebulouslight。Andthentwomore，andthenanebulousglowofswiftlydrivingshapes。Presentlyhecouldcountthem。Therewerefourandtwenty。Thefirstfleetofaeroplaneshadcome！Beyondappearedayetgreaterglow。

Hesweptroundinahalfcircle，staringatthisadvancingfleet。Itflewinawedge—likeshape，atriangularflightofgiganticphosphorescentshapessweepingnearerthroughthelowerair。Hemadeaswiftcalculationoftheirpace，andspunthelittlewheelthatbroughttheengineforward。Hetouchedaleverandthethrobbingeffortoftheengineceased。Hebegantofall，fellswifterandswifter。Heaimedattheapexofthewedge。Hedroppedlikeastonethroughthewhistlingair。Itseemedscarceasecondfromthatsoaringmomentbeforehestrucktheforemostaeroplane。

Nomanofallthatblackmultitudesawthecomingofhisfate，nomanamongthemdreamtofthehawkthatstruckdownwarduponhimoutofthesky。Thosewhowerenotlimpintheagoniesofair—sickness，werecraningtheirblacknecksandstaringtoseethefilmycitythatwasrisingoutofthehaze，therichandsplendidcitytowhich"MassaBoss"hadbroughttheirobedientmuscles。Brightteethgleamedandtheglossyfacesshone。TheyhadheardofParis。Theyknewtheyweretohavelordlytimesamongthe"poorwhite"trash。AndsuddenlyGrahamstruckthem。

Hehadaimedatthebodyoftheaeroplane，butattheverylastinstantabetterideahadflashedintohismind。Hetwistedaboutandstruckneartheedgeofthestarboardwingwithallhisaccumulatedweight。

Hewasjerkedbackashestruck。Hisprowwentglidingacrossitssmoothexpansetowardstherim。

Hefelttheforwardrushofthehugefabricsweepinghimandhisaeropilealongwithit，andforamomentthatseemedanagehecouldnottellwhatwashappening。

Heheardathousandthroatsyelling，andperceivedthathismachinewasbalancedontheedgeofthegiganticfloat，anddrivingdown，down；glancedoverhisshoulderandsawthebackboneoftheaeroplaneandtheoppositefloatswayingup。Hehadavisionthroughtheribsofslidingchairs，staringfaces，andhandsclutchingatthetiltingguidebars。

Thefenestrationsinthefurtherfloatflashedopenastheaeronauttriedtorighther。Beyond，hesawasecondaeroplaneleapingsteeplytoescapethewhirlofitsheelingfellow。Thebroadareaofswayingwingsseemedtojerkupward。Hefelthisaeropilehaddroppedclear，thatthemonstrousfabric，cleanoverturned，hunglikeaslopingwallabovehim。

Hedidnotclearlyunderstandthathehadstruckthesidefloatoftheaeroplaneandslippedoff，butheperceivedthathewasflyingfreeonthedownglideandrapidlynearingearth。Whathadhedone？Hisheartthrobbedlikeanoisyengineinhisthroatandforaperilousinstanthecouldnotmovehisleversbecauseoftheparalysisofhishands。Hewrenchedtheleverstothrowhisengineback，foughtfortwosecondsagainsttheweightofit，felthimselfrightingdrivinghorizontally，settheenginebeatingagain。

Helookedupwardandsawtwoaeroplanesglideshoutingfaroverhead，lookedback，andsawthemainbodyofthefleetopeningoutandrushingupwardand……

outward；sawtheonehehadstruckfalledgewiseonandstrikelikeagiganticknife—bladealongthewind—

wheelsbelowit。

Heputdownhissternandlookedagain。Hedroveupheedlessofhisdirectionashewatched。Hesawthewind—vanesgive，sawthehugefabricstriketheearth，sawitsdownwardvanscrumplewiththeweightofitsdescent，andthenthewholemassturnedoverandsmashed，upsidedown，upontheslopingwheels。

Throb，throb，throb，pause。Suddenlyfromtheheavingwreckageathintongueofwhitefirelickeduptowardsthezenith。Andthenhewasawareofahugemassflyingthroughtheairtowardshim，andturnedupwardsjustintimetoescapethecharge——ifitwasacharge——ofasecondaeroplane。Itwhirledbybelow，suckedhimdownafathom，andnearlyturnedhimoverinthegustofitsclosepassage。

Hebecameawareofthreeothersrushingtowardshim，awareoftheurgentnecessityofbeatingabovethem。Aeroplaneswereallabouthim，circlingwildlytoavoidhim，asitseemed。Theydrovepasthim，above，below，eastwardandwestward。Farawaytothewestwardwasthesoundofacollision，andtwofallingflares。Farawaytothesouthwardasecondsquadronwascoming。Steadilyhebeatupward。

Presentlyalltheaeroplaneswerebelowhim，butforamomenthedoubtedtheheighthehadofthem，anddidnotswoopagain。Andthenhecamedownuponasecondvictimandallitsloadofsoldierssawhimcoming。

Thebigmachineheeledandswayedasthefearmaddenedmenscrambledtothesternfortheirweapons。Ascoreofbulletssungthroughtheair，andthereflashedastarinthethickglasswind—screenthatprotectedhim。Theaeroplaneslowedanddroppedtofoilhisstroke，anddroppedtoolow。Justintimehesawthewind—wheelsofBromleyhillrushinguptowardshim，andspunaboutandupastheaeroplanehehadchasedcrashedamongthem。Allitsvoiceswoveintoafeltofyelling。Thegreatfabricseemedtobestandingonendforasecondamongtheheelingandsplinteringvans，andthenitflewtopieces。

Hugesplinterscameflyingthroughtheair，itsenginesburstlikeshells。Ahotrushofflameshotoverheadintothedarklingsky。

"__Two！__"hecried，withabombfromoverheadburstingasitfell，andforthwithhewasbeatingupagain。

Agloriousexhilarationpossessedhimnow，agiantactivity。Histroublesabouthumanity，abouthisinadaquacy，weregoneforever。Hewasamaninbattlerejoicinginhispower。Aeroplanesseemedradiatingfromhimineverydirection，intentonlyuponavoidinghim，theyellingoftheirpackedpassengerscameinshortgustsastheysweptby。Hechosehisthirdquarry，struckhastilyanddidbutturnitonedge。Itescapedhim，tosmashagainstthetallcliffofLondonwall。FIyingfromthatimpactheskimmedthedarklinggroundsonearlyhecouldseeafrightenedrabbitboltingupaslope。Hejerkedupsteeply，andfoundhimselfdrivingoversouthLondonwiththeairabouthimvacant。TotherightofhimawildriotofsignalrocketsfromtheOstrogitesbangedtumultuouslyinthesky。Tothesouththewreckageofhalfadozenairshipsflamed，andeastandwestandnorththeairshipsfledbeforehim。Theydroveawaytotheeastandnorth，andwentaboutinthesouth，fortheycouldnotpauseintheair。Intheirpresentconfusionanyattemptatevolutionwouldhavemeantdisastrouscollisions。Hecouldscarcelyrealizethethinghehaddone。Ineveryquarteraeroplaneswerereceding。

Theywerereceding。Theydwindledsmallerandsmaller。Theywereinflight！

HepassedtwohundredfeetorsoabovetheRoehamptonstage。Itwasblackwithpeopleandnoisywiththeirfranticshouting。ButwhywastheWimbledonParkstageblackandcheering，too？ThesmokeandflameofStreathamnowhidthethreefurtherstages。Hecurvedaboutandrosetoseethemandthenorthernquarters。FirstcamethesquaremassesofShooter’sHillintosightfrombehindthesmoke，litandorderlywiththeaeroplanethathadlandedanditsdisembarkingnegroes。ThencameBlackheath，andthenunderthecornerofthereektheNorwoodstage。OnBlackheathnoaeroplanehadlandedbutanaeropilelayupontheguides。Norwoodwascoveredbyaswarmoflittlefiguresrunningtoandfroinapassionateconfusion。Why？Abruptlyheunderstood。Thestubborndefenceoftheflyingstageswasover，thepeoplewerepouringintotheunder—waysoftheselaststrongholdsofOstrog’susurpation。Andthen，fromfarawayonthenorthernborderofthecity，fullofgloriousimporttohim，cameasound，asignal，anoteoftriumph，theleadenthudofagun。Hislipsfellapart，hisfacewasdisturbedwithemotion。

Hedrewanimmensebreath。"Theywin，"heshoutedtotheemptyair；"thepeoplewin！"Thesoundofasecondguncamelikeananswer。AndthenhesawtheaeropileonBlackheathwasrunningdownitsguidestolaunch。Itliftedcleanandrose。

Itshotupintotheair，drivingstraightsouthwardandawayfromhim。

Inaninstantitcametohimwhatthismeant。ItmustneedsbeOstroginflight。Heshoutedanddroppedtowardsit。Hehadthemomentumofhiselevationandfellslantingdowntheairandveryswiftly。Itrosesteeplyathisapproach。Heallowedforitsvelocityanddrovestraightuponit。

Itsuddenlybecameamereflatedge，andbehold！hewaspastit，anddrivingheadlongdownwithalltheforceofhisfutileblow。

Hewasfuriouslyangry。Hereeledtheenginebackalongitsshaftandwentcirclingup。HesawOstrog’smachinebeatingupaspiralbeforehim。Herosestraighttowardsit，wonaboveitbyvirtueoftheimpetusofhisswoopandbytheadvantageandweightofaman。Hedroppedheadlong——droppedandmissedagain！AsherushedpasthesawthefaceofOstrog’saeronautconfidentandcoolandinOstrog’sattitudeawincingresolution。Ostrogwaslookingsteadfastlyawayfromhim——tothesouth。

Herealizedwithagleamofwrathhowbunglinghisflightmustbe。BelowhesawtheCroydenhills。Hejerkedupwardandoncemorehegainedonhisenemy。

Heglancedoverhisshoulderandhisattentionwasarrestedbyastrangething。Theeastwardstage，theoneonShooter’sHill，appearedtolift；aflashchangingtoatallgreyshape，acowledfigureofsmokeandduct，jerkedintotheair。Foramomentthiscowledfigurestoodmotionless，droppinghugemassesofmetalfromitsshoulders，andthenitbegantouncoiladenseheadofsmoke。Thepeoplehadblownitup，aeroplaneandall！AssuddenlyasecondflashandgreyshapesprangupfromtheNorwoodstage。Andevenashestaredatthiscameadeadreport，andtheairwaveofthefirstexplosionstruckhim。Hewasflungupandsideways。

Foramomenttheaeropilefellnearlyedgewisewithhernosedown，andseemedtohesitatewhethertooversetaltogether。Hestoodonhiswind—shieldwrenchingthewheelthatswayedupoverhishead。

Andthentheshockofthesecondexplosiontookhismachinesideways。

Hefoundhimselfclingingtooneoftheribsofhismachine，andtheairwasblowingpasthimandupward。Heseemedtobehangingquitestillintheair，withthewindblowinguppasthim。Itoccurredtohimthathewasfalling。Thenhewassurethathewasfalling。Hecouldnotlookdown。

Hefoundhimselfrecapitulatingwithincredibleswiftnessallthathadhappenedsincehisawakening，thedaysofdoubtthedaysofEmpire，andatlastthetumultuousdiscoveryofOstrog’scalculatedtreachery。

hewasbeatenbutLondonwassaved。Londonwassaved！

Thethoughthadaqualityofutterunreality。Whowashe？Whywasheholdingsotightlywithhishands？Whycouldhenotleavego？Insuchafallasthiscountlessdreamshaveended。Butinamomenthewouldwake……

Histhoughtsranswifterandswifter。HewonderedifheshouldseeHelenagain。Itseemedsounreasonablethatheshouldnotseeheragain。It__must__beadream！Yetsurelyhewouldmeether。Sheatleastwasreal。Shewasreal。Hewouldwakeandmeether。

Althoughhecouldnotlookatit，hewassuddenlyawarethattheearthwasverynear。

End