United States or Ecuador ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Then I shall make them believe. Here, now, this very hour, I shall make them know the truth. And they, my own people, shall I save from sorrow, misery and death." She turned to the Chemist and spoke rapidly. "My husband, will you send Oteo now, up into the city. Him will you tell to have others spread the news. All who desire an end to Targo's rule, shall come here at once.
For a long time he lay, drifting along with his thoughts and wondering whether he were asleep or awake. Then all at once he knew he was not asleep. His eyes were open; before him stood the forest trees at the river's edge. And at the foot of one of the trees he could see the figure of Oteo, sitting hunched up with his head upon his hands, fast asleep.
The Chemist smiled and nodded, and the Very Young Man was about to slip it into the pocket of his robe when Reoh hastily reentered the room, followed by Oteo. The youth was breathing heavily, as though he had been running, and on his face was a frightened look. "Bad; very bad," said the old man, in a tone of deep concern, as they came through the doorway.
The girl was obviously terror-stricken by the experiences she had undergone. Oteo put his arm across her shoulders, and spoke to her reassuringly. "Where is Jack?" Lylda asked anxiously. "And my father and Aura?" The Big Business Man thought her face looked years older than when he had last seen it.
"She'll do it," the Very Young Man murmured, staring at the doorway through which Lylda had disappeared. "She can do anything." The Chemist rose to his feet. "I'll send Oteo. Will you wait here gentlemen? And will you have some of the drugs ready for Lylda? You have them with you?" The men nodded. "How about Lylda carrying the drugs?" asked the Very Young Man. "And what about her clothes?"
Aura, with a cry, pushed several of the others back; Oteo and Eena, frightened, started down the declivity. "We must get smaller!" the Big Business Man reiterated. The panic was growing among them all. Above their excited cries the Doctor's voice rose. "Stand still all of you. If we move even a few steps we can never get small and hope to find him."
"You have your lessons," said the Chemist. "But, my father, it is so very lonely without mother," protested the boy. The Chemist smiled gently. "Afraid, little son, to stay with Oteo?" "He's not afraid," said the Very Young Man stoutly. The little boy looked from one to the other of them a moment silently. Then, calling Oteo's name, he ran across the roof and down into the house.
Oteo led them swiftly into a side street to avoid the dense crowd around the park. Making a slight detour they came back to it again much nearer the palace now and approached from behind a house that fronted the open space near the palace. "Friend of the Master his house!" Oteo explained as he knocked peremptorily at a side door. They waited a moment, but no one came.
The Chemist motioned to his companions, and with obvious reluctance on the part of the Very Young Man they left, followed by Oteo. On the way back the city seemed quiet abnormally so. The streets were nearly deserted; what few pedestrians they met avoided them, or passed them sullenly. They were perhaps half-way back to the Chemist's house when the Very Young Man stopped short.
They took the seats he offered and looked around them curiously. "There is the clock we spoke of," said the Chemist, indicating one of the larger instruments that stood on a pedestal in a corner of the room. "Reoh will explain it to you." Their host addressed the Chemist. "From Oteo I hear the news to-day is bad?" he asked with evident concern. "I am afraid it is," the Chemist answered seriously.
Word Of The Day