when the sleeper wakes-第14部分

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〃This　way；〃　whispered　the　voice；　and　he　began

crawling　along　the　gutter　through　the　trickling　thaw；

pressing　himself　against　the　wall。　They　continued

along　it　for　some　minutes。　He　seemed　to　pass　through

a　hundred　stages　of　misery；　to　pass　minute　after　minute

through　a　hundred　degrees　of　cold；　damp；　and　exhaustion。　

In　a　little　while　he　ceased　to　feel　his　hands　and

feet。



The　gutter　sloped　downwards。　He　observed　that

they　were　now　many　feet　below　the　edge　of　the　buildings。　

Rows　of　spectral　white　shapes　like　the　ghosts

of　blind…drawn　windows　rose　above　them。　They　came

to　the　end　of　a　cable　fastened　above　one　of　these　white

windows；　dimly　visible　and　dropping　into　impenetrable

shadows。　Suddenly　his　hand　came　against　his　guide's。



〃Still！〃　whispered　the　latter　very　softly。



He　looked　up　with　a　start　and　saw　the　huge　wings

of　the　flying　machine　gliding　slowly　and　noiselessly

overhead　athwart　the　broad　band　of　snow…flecked　grey…blue　

sky。　In　a　moment　it　was　hidden　again。



〃Keep　still；　they　were　just　turning。〃



For　awhile　both　were　motionless；　then　Graham's

companion　stood　up；　and　reaching　towards　the　fastenings　

of　the　cable　fumbled　with　some　indistinct　tackle。



〃What　is　that？　〃　asked　Graham。



The　only　answer　was　a　faint　cry。　The　man　crouched

motionless。　Graham　peered　and　saw　his　face　dimly。

He　was　staring　down　the　long　ribbon　of　sky；　and

Graham；　following　his　eyes；　saw　the　flying　machine

small　and　faint　and　remote。　Then　he　saw　that　the

wings　spread　on　either　side；　that　it　headed　towards

them；　that　every　moment　it　grew　larger。　It　was　following　

the　edge　of　the　chasm　towards　them。



The　man's　movements　became　convulsive。　He

thrust　two　cross　bars　into　Graham's　hand。　Graham

could　not　see　them；　he　ascertained　their　form　by　feeling。　

They　were　slung　by　thin　cords　to　the　cable。　On

the　cord　were　hand　grips　of　some　soft　elastic　substance。　

〃Put　the　cross　between　your　legs；〃　whispered　

the　guide　hysterically；　〃and　grip　the　holdfasts。

Grip　tightly；　grip！〃



Graham　did　as　he　was　told。



〃Jump；〃　said　the　voice。　〃In　heaven's　name；

jump！〃



For　one　momentous　second　Graham　could　not

speak。　He　was　glad　afterwards　that　darkness　hid　his

face。　He　said　nothing。　He　began　to　tremble　violently。　

He　looked　sideways　at　the　swift　shadow　that

swallowed　up　the　sky　as　it　rushed　upon　him。



〃Jump！　Jumpin　God's　name！　Or　they　will　have

us；〃　cried　Graham's　guide；　and　in　the　violence　of　his

passion　thrust　him　forward。



Graham　tottered　convulsively；　gave　a　sobbing　cry；

a　cry　in　spite　of　himself；　and　then；　as　the　flying

machine　swept　over　them；　fell　forward　into　the　pit　of

that　darkness；　seated　on　the　cross　wood　and　holding

the　ropes　with　the　clutch　of　death。　Something

cracked；　something　rapped　smartly　against　a　wall。

He　heard　the　pulley　of　the　cradle　hum　on　its　rope。

He　heard　the　aeronauts　shout。　He　felt　a　pair　of　knees

digging　into　his　back。。。。　He　was　sweeping

headlong　through　the　air；　falling　through　the　air。　All

his　strength　was　in　his　hands。　He　would　have

screamed　but　he　had　no　breath。



He　shot　into　a　blinding　light　that　made　him　grip

the　tighter。　He　recognised　the　great　passage　with

the　running　ways；　the　hanging　lights　and　interlacing

girders。　They　rushed　upward　and　by　him。　He　had

a　momentary　impression　of　a　great　circular　aperture

yawning　to　swallow　him　up。



He　was　in　the　dark　again；　falling；　falling；　gripping

with　aching　hands；　and　behold！　a　clap　of　sound；　a

burst　of　light；　and　he　was　in　a　brightly　lit　hall　with　a

roaring　multitude　of　people　beneath　his　feet。　The

people！　His　people！　A　proscenium；　a　stage　rushed

up　towards　him；　and　his　cable　swept　down　to　a　circular　

aperture　to　the　right　of　this。　He　felt　he　was　travelling　

slower；　and　suddenly　very　much　slower。　He

distinguished　shouts　of　〃Saved！　The　Master。　He　is

safe！〃　The　stage　rushed　up　towards　him　with　rapidly　

diminishing　swiftness。　Then。



He　heard　the　man　clinging　behind　him　shout　as　if

suddenly　terrified；　and　this　shout　was　echoed　by　a

shout　from　below。　He　felt　that　he　was　no　longer

gliding　along　the　cable　but　falling　with　it。　There　was

a　tumult　of　yells；　screams　and　cries。　He　felt　something　

soft　against　his　extended　hand；　and　the　impact

of　a　broken　fall　quivering　through　his　arm。　。　。



He　wanted　to　be　still　and　the　people　were　lifting

him。　He　believed　afterwards　he　was　carried　to　the　

platform　and　given　some　drink；　but　he　was　never　sure。

He　did　　not　notice　what　became　of　his　guide。　When

his　mind　was　clear　again　he　was　on　his　feet；　eager

hands　were　assisting　him　to　stand。　He　was　in　a　

big　alcove；　occupying　the　position　that　in　his　previous

experience　had　been　devoted　to　the　lower　boxes。　If　

this　was　indeed　a　theatre。



A　mighty　tumult　was　in　his　ears；　a　thunderous　roar；

the　shouting　of　a　countless　multitude。〃　It　is　the

Sleeper！　The　Sleeper　is　with　us！〃



〃The　Sleeper　is　with　us！　The　Masterthe

Owner！　The　Master　is　with　us。　He　is　safe。〃



Graham　had　a　surging　vision　of　a　great　hall　crowded

with　people。　He　saw　no　individuals；　he　was　conscious

of　a　froth　of　pink　faces；　of　waving　arms　and　garments；

he　felt　the　occult　influence　of　a　vast　crowd　pouring

over　him；　buoying　him　up。　There　were　balconies；

galleries；　great　archways　giving　remoter　perspectives；

and　everywhere　people；　a　vast　arena　of　people；　densely

packed　and　cheering。　Across　the　nearer　space　lay

the　collapsed　cable　like　a　huge　snake。　It　had　been

cut　by　the　men　of　the　flying　machine　at　its　upper　end；

and　had　crumpled　down　into　the　hall。　Men　seemed

to　be　hauling　this　out　of　the　way。　But　the　whole

effect　was　vague；　the　very　buildings　throbbed　and

leapt　with　the　roar　of　the　voices。



He　stood　unsteadily　and　looked　at　those　about　him。

Someone　supported　him　by　one　arm。　〃Let　me　go

into　a　little　room；〃　he　said；　weeping；　〃a　little　room；〃

and　could　say　no　more。　A　man　in　black　stepped　forward；　

took　his　disengaged　arm。　He　was　aware　of

officious　men　opening　a　door　before　him。　Someone

guided　him　to　a　seat。　He　staggered。　He　sat　down

heavily　and　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　he　was

trembling　violently；　his　nervous　control　was　at　an　end。

He　was　relieved　of　his　cloak；　he　could　not　remember

how；　his　purple　hose　he　saw　were　black　with　wet。

People　were　running　about　him；　things　were　happening；　

but　for　some　time　he　gave　no　heed　to　them。



He　had　escaped。　A　myriad　of　cries　told　him　that。

He　was　safe。　These　were　the　people　who　were　on　his

side。　For　a　space　he　sobbed　for　breath；　and　then　he

sat　still　with　his　face　covered。　The　air　was　full　of

the　shouting　of　innumerable　men。



CHAPTER　IX



THE　PEOPLE　MARCH



He　became　aware　of　someone　urging　a　glass　of　clear

fluid　upon　his　attention；　looked　up　and　discovered　this

was　a　dark　young　man　in　a　yellow　garment。　He　took

the　dose　forthwith；　and　in　a　moment　he　was　glowing。

A　tall　man　in　a　black　robe　stood　by　his　shoulder；　and

pointed　to　the　half　open　door　into　the　hall。　This　man

was　shouting　close　to　his　ear　and　yet　what　was　said

was　indistinct　because　of　the　tremendous　uproar　from

the　great　theatre。　Behind　the　man　was　a　girl　in　a

silvery　grey　robe；　whom　Graham；　even　in　this　confusion；　

perceived　to　be　beautiful。　Her　dark　eyes；　full

of　wonder　and　curiosity；…were　fixed　on　him；　her　lips

trembled　apart。　A　partially　opened　door　gave　a

glimpse　of　the　crowded　hall；　and　admitted　a　vast

uneven　tumult；　a　hammering；　clapping　and　shouting

that　died　away　and　began　again；　and　rose　to　a　thunderous　

pitch；　and　so　continued　intermittently　all　the　time

that　Graham　remained　in　the　little　room。　He　watched

the　lips　of　the　man　in　black　and　gathered　that　he　was

making　some　clumsy　explanation。



He　stared　stupidly　for　some　moments　at　these　things

and　then　stood　up　abruptly；　he　grasped　the　arm　of　this

shouting　person。



〃Tell　me　！〃　he　cried。　〃　Who　am　I？　Who　am　I？〃



The　others　came　nearer　to　hear　his　words。　〃Who

am　I？〃　His　eyes　searched　their　faces。



〃They　have　told　him　nothing！〃　cried　the　girl。



〃Tell　me；　tell　me　！〃　cried　Graham。



〃You　are　the　Master　of　the　Earth。　You　are　owner

of　half　the　world。〃



He　did　not　believe　he　heard　aright。　He　resisted

the　persuasion。　He　pretended　not　to　understand；　not

to　hear。　He　lifted　his　voice　again。　〃I　have　been

awake　three　daysa　prisoner　three　days。　I　judge

there　is　some　struggle　between　a　number　of　people　in

this　cityit　is　London？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　the　younger　man。



〃And　those　who　meet　in　the　great　hall　with　the

white　Atlas？　How　does　it　concern　me？　In　some

way　it　has　to　do　with　me。　Why；　I　don't　know。

Drugs？　It　seems　to　me　that　while　I　have　slept　the

world　has　gone　mad。　I　have　gone　mad。〃



〃Who　are　those　Councillors　under　the　Atlas？　Why

should　they　try　to　drug　me？〃



〃To　keep　you　insensible；〃　said　the　man　in　yellow。



〃To　prevent　your　interference。〃



〃　But　_why？__〃



〃Because　__you__　are　the　Atlas；　Sire；〃　said　the　man　in

yellow。　〃The　world　is　on　your　shoulders。　They

rule　it　in　your　name。〃



The　sounds　from　the　hall　had　died　into　a　silence

threaded　by　one　monotonous　voice。　Now　suddenly；

trampling　on　these　last　words；　came　a　deafening

tumult；　a　roaring　and　thundering；　cheer　crowded　on

cheer；　voices　hoarse　and　shrill；　beating；　overlapping；

and　while　it　lasted　the　people　in　the　little　room　could

not　hear　each　other　shout。



Graham　stood；　his　intelligence　clinging　helplessly

to　the　thing　he　had　just　heard。　〃The　Council；〃　he

repeated　blankly；　and　then　snatched　at　a　name　that

had　struck　him。　〃But　who　is　Ostrog？〃　he　said。



〃He　is　the　organiserthe　organiser　of　the　revolt。

Our　Leaderin　your　name。〃



〃In　my　name？　And　you？　Why　is　he　not

here？〃



〃Hehas　deputed　us。　I　am　his　brotherhis

half…brother；　Lincoln。　He　wants　you　to　show　yourself

to　these　people　and　then　come　on　to　him。　That　is

why　he　has　sent。　He　is　at　the　wind…vane　offices　

di