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Updated: May 2, 2025
And when their eyes had become accustomed to the rolling mist, they saw a great lake, and pouring into it from high above was a mighty waterfall. "Mercy!" ejaculated the Alphian, in great alarm. "If this is salt water we are lost. All Alpha will come to an end!" "What do you mean?" And Johnston wondered if Branasko's trials and struggle could have turned his brain.
"We need sleep," said the Alphian, when their clothing was dry, "and it may be a long time before we get a chance to get it. Let us lie down in the shadow of that rock and rest." Johnston consented, and, lying down together, they soon dropped asleep. They slept soundly. Johnston was the first to awake. He felt so refreshed that he knew he must have been unconscious several hours.
"Call him to us," she said eagerly, and the American went down to the Alphian. As they entered together, Branasko uncovered his dishevelled head and bowed most humbly. "You look tired and sick and hungry; have you eaten anything today?" she asked. "Not in two days," he replied. The princess called to a frightened maid who was wringing her hands in a corridor.
Hundreds of square miles and thousands of well organized people living under the light of an artificial sun!" The Alphian looked at him astonished. "Is it not so in your country?" he asked. Johnston smiled. "The great sun that lights the outer world is as much greater than that ball of light as Alpha is greater than a grain of sand. But this surely is the greatest achievement of man.
I never cared before. If I should happen to fall, go back to where we met, it is safer there without a guide than here." Without another word Branasko hurled himself forward. Johnston held his breath in horror, for Branasko's foot had slipped as he jumped. The Alphian had struck the opposite ledge, but not with his feet, as he intended.
A moment later a great bell overhead rang mellowly; the colossal sphere trembled and rocked and then rose and swung easily forward like the car of a balloon. "We are rising," said the Alphian, in a tone of superstitious awe. Johnston said nothing. There was a cool, sinking sensation in his stomach and his head was swimming. Branasko, however, was in possession of all his faculties.
As far as the eye could reach, within the arc of their vision, they could see fitful lights flashing up, here and there, and going out again. And then they heard faint sounds of crashing masonry and the condensed roar of human voices, which seemed to come from above rather than from below. The Alphian turned. "I cannot stand the cold," he said. Johnston followed him.
Slowly he advanced on hands and knees, every moment feeling the sharp rock growing narrower, till finally he reached the end. He looked ahead. He could but faintly see the ledge and Branasko's tall form silhouetted upon it. "See, this is where you have to alight," cried the Alphian. "Jump, I will catch you!" "I am afraid I shall topple over when I stand up," replied the American.
"The sun cannot be far away now," remarked the Alphian. "Is it not lighted?" "I presume not; I think it comes through in darkness. The light is saved for its passage over Alpha." "Would it not be as safe for us to attempt to walk through the tunnel to the palace of the king?" "Never; it would be over fifty miles in utter darkness.
"How did you get back here?" For reply Johnston parted the fern leaves and pointed to the lank figure of the tall Alphian, who lay curled up on the grass as if asleep. "He brought me in that flying-machine there; but he has spent all his strength in trying to manage the thing, which was out of order, and now he is helpless. Twice we came within an inch of sinking down into the internal fires.
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