_VOX POPULI_
“In my morning’s walk I culled a handful of flowers, some with
thorns, which I found made the smooth stalks easier to carry.”
(+Giranoli.+)
From time immemorial it has been the custom to celebrate every special
occasion with a more or less gorgeous feast, at which, especially from
the eighteenth to the twentieth century, men drank to intoxication, and
not only those who had over-indulged but the majority of those who were
sober, were not considered sociable or properly educated if they could
not narrate coarse, trivial and lewd stories, and turn every innocent
expression to obscenity during the whole course of the evening; but in
these times, when everything is chemically made and repasts partaken
of under hygienic conditions both as regards morals and intellect, the
food is wholesome and sustaining, and the conversation, instead of
leaving a sear on the minds of those obliged to sit and listen to it,
is good and elevating, and leaves no objectionable taste and feeling.
Thus, when Dennis, Gilbert and Ross followed the usual custom and
celebrated the discovery by a banquet, at which all the subjects of
the harmless joke in the shed were present, the gathering was a great
success and those who sat down rose again afterwards with thoughts and
lips as pure as before dining, and the event recalled nothing but
pleasant and wholesome memories later.
In all the years of the world’s history human nature has on the whole
gradually improved, but there are certain traits which are embedded
in the hearts of men and do not reflect happily on an otherwise
enlightened age. One of these quickly asserted itself. Directly it
became known that the lost secrets of the _Regina_ had at last been
found, many people belittled them, and though they knew how important
was the discovery they held up the matter to the most unseemly
ridicule. Even when faced with the question of the proof in the
validity of history, they averred positively that gravity could not
be overcome; that nothing could travel through limitless space and be
under perfect human control, and because these cavillers had no part
or share in the discovery, they sneeringly declared there was neither
discovery nor honour in the resuscitation of the ship, and they had
many followers, for people are like sheep and must be led; such as
these cast slights and doubts on the honours and attainments of others
as being beneath their notice till perchance similar honours come
within their own reach, to be grasped with delight and paraded before
all men as being exclusive, difficult of attainment, and having the
hall-mark of high honour.
Thus it came about that sceptics innumerable rose up and discounted
all proofs of the _Regina’s_ power. No proof could be sufficiently
strong to convince them, short of making them a present of the vessel,
for which they could not very well ask though they wanted it all the
same; others also professed incredulity unless the whole of the secrets
were laid bare before them, and when this proposal was treated with
derision, they said the owners were afraid of the consequences, knowing
the matter would not bear investigation.
In former times—particularly about the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries—the British government dealt with matters so slowly that in
many cases the need for action had passed long before the decision to
act had been arrived at, and when this action was by time rendered
unnecessary or perhaps impossible, further consideration was indulged
in to countermand the previous decision, the pros and cons of which
took up so much time that when the fiat had gone forth that no action
was necessary, the time had then come round for a decisive move to be
made. All this used to please the heads of the government in those
days, for they gloried in what was then called ‘red tape,’ which was a
term understood to mean refusing to grant what was needed when wanted,
and compelling acceptance when neither wanted nor necessary. This was
the essence of parliament in times past and business of world-wide
importance would readily be put aside indefinitely, in order that some
hundreds of members could debate at length on more urgent questions,
such as “When expecting friends to tea on the Terrace, are members
compelled to take a parliamentary bath first, and are towels a suitable
costume in which to vote or entertain?”
Fortunately ‘red tape’ had rolled away with the old order of things;
the government was now alive to the country’s interests, and the
officials were almost always first in the field, often before the
ordinary people had realised the necessity for action. This was proved
by the hurried meeting that was called after the discomfited deputation
had left Dennis, when one of the chief officials was deputed to go
alone, on the assumption that one might find out more and be more
confidentially treated than a deputation. Solomon Magson was therefore
selected because he was one of the smartest of officials, though he
suffered from _caput inflatum_, which is a disease especially prevalent
amongst the young though it has been known to attack those of maturer
age, as in this case.
Solomon at once called upon the friends at the shed and introduced
himself, demanding full particulars or forbidding the use of the
vessel. At this Dennis laughed derisively, saying, “My dear Solomon
Magson, as you put it that way we can only point out to you that not
all the opposition in the world could prevent it, as I will prove to
you. Will you kindly take hold of this bar?” and he handed a bar of
steel to his visitor and asked Gilbert to de-atomise it; instantly the
bar dropped like a melting candle and became a pool of liquid steel.
The visitor was visibly astonished, but remarked, loftily, “Ah, yes!
gentlemen, but that is a trick; it is, of course, steel specially
prepared for the experiment; it is very pretty!”
“No, it is the ordinary best steel, as you will find if you analyse it.
Take a bottleful of it; you will notice it runs like quicksilver, but
there is this difference, that neither by heat, cold, nor anything you
can bring to bear on it will it alter and become solid again; till we
give it the power of cohesion,” said Dennis, “it will remain fluid as
water.”
“You _say_ so, but it is obvious I cannot test it here,” and he gave a
superior smile.
“You are still unconvinced?” asked Ross.
“I have seen no substantial proof as yet,” he replied; “gravity is not
affected.”
“Here is another bar,” said Dennis, “we will cut this in two and make
one half light and the other heavy,” saying which the bar was broken
and the roof being open, it was placed on end, instantly to shoot up
like a rocket with a whizzing scream, to become white-hot and fall
into dust; the other portion was placed on the same spot and the
current reversed, when the bar sank into the earth like water and
vanished. Again the supercilious official smiled and observed: “Very
entertaining, very! I see you have plenty of pretty experiments for
visitors.”
“Not convinced yet?” asked Dennis, brusquely.
“I fear not!” the visitor smiled.
“Just stand here, please, opposite the vessel,” said Dennis, drawing
him from the end of the shed, at the same time giving a nod to Ross,
who passed up the ladder and inside. “You shall have full proof,” he
continued, as he walked away.
Instantly the visitor rose like a lark half-way up the shed, when
several vessels passing in the air slowed up in curiosity, so Ross
closed the roof and steel shutters and then sent the sceptical Magson
up to the top, where he floated about gently, bobbing his head against
the glass after the manner of a gas balloon.
“How dare you take such a liberty!” he cried, angrily.
“You asked for proof, and you’ve got it!” replied Ross, now on the
outer deck, where Gilbert and Dennis joined him.
“I will have your vessel destroyed!” Magson shouted, shaking his fist
towards them in a fury, which exertion brought his back up to the roof
and he narrowly escaped turning upside down. With a struggle, he got
the right way up again, and the effort to keep so absorbed most of his
attention.
“You must see, Solomon Magson,” said Ross, “that if everything and
every living soul approached the ship, one and all could be made so
light as they came within its zone, that they would float off into
space or, if we reversed the current, so heavy that they would be
disintegrated or de-atomised into powder with the shock, and sink
through the ground. We don’t do that to you as it would kill you,
whereas we only wish to give you the positive proof you ask for, and if
we made you lighter still and opened the roof, you would continue to
rise until we had sent you out of the earth’s atmosphere, long before
which you would be asphyxiated, as you are aware.”
“Let me down, instantly!” he bellowed.
“And as it is,” continued Ross, ignoring the interruption, “we have
merely altered your specific gravity by scientific means and unless
we restored it you would remain that distance from the ground all
your life; even when you were dead and your body became less buoyant,
you would have to be buried on the top of a monument, or it would be
difficult to keep you down.”
“I insist on coming down!”
“You do not understand me. I was trying to prove that you cannot insist
on anything.”
“But I will come down!”
“You still fail to grip the point of the argument,” said Ross,
imperturbably; “you cannot insist, you have no will, you are powerless.”
For some minutes there was no sound save the slight tapping of Magson’s
head against the roof, as he bobbed up and down and felt his way all
round the shed, floating like a swan. Ross was quite unmoved, and his
two friends were enjoying the situation too much to make any remark,
and wondered what Ross would do next, for he was not the man to submit
to insolence. However, after waiting a few minutes he descended the
ladder and resumed his interrupted work, Dennis and Gilbert doing the
same, all apparently unconscious of their floating audience of one, who
was obtaining a splendid bird’s-eye view of everything.
“Please let me down!” at length came a submissive voice from above.
“That’s decidedly better!” commented Ross, stopping work and looking
upward; “and you are quite convinced that the _Regina_ has some
semblance of power, and that notwithstanding your dictum?”
“Perfectly!”
Ross did not reply, but went inside and a few moments later, Solomon
Magson was standing beside them, a milder and wiser man, and by
tacit consent the escapade was not alluded to, but a very different
representative of the government was now present; the new Solomon
Magson paid the three owners considerable deferential respect.
“What do you intend doing?” he began; “you surely will not let such a
beautiful vessel be unused.”
“By no means,” replied Gilbert, “we have already arranged a voyage
aloft.”
“You will give the results to science, of course?”
“That is our intention,” replied Gilbert.
“Have you decided on your destination?” asked Magson.
“We thought that after being unused for so long, it would be best
to take only a short voyage this time,” replied Dennis, “so we have
decided to go to Bona.”
“Would it be too much for me to ask permission to be one of the party?”
inquired Magson, eagerly.
“I fear it would not be possible,” said Dennis. “We shall make a few
trials in the earth’s atmosphere, but that will necessarily limit
the speed, or we should suffer from the heat of friction, but in the
journey beyond there might be danger. We cannot be sure that everything
will be in working order for rapid transit outside the atmosphere, so
we three are taking our lives in our hands and risking it, but we dare
not endanger others.”
“I will gladly take my chance with you,” said the former sceptic, all
his resentment gone and now as enthusiastic as they.
“We dare not,” answered Dennis.
“Three are few to negotiate a vessel of this size; I should be useful,”
he persisted.
“I am very sorry, but it would not be possible,” replied Dennis.
Magson was deeply disappointed but accepted the decision and continued,—
“When you start you will make it known, I suppose, as many people will
follow your course with glasses.”
“And many will say we have not been, but have merely hidden ourselves,”
laughed Ross, scornfully, instantly regretting having put it that
way, fearing Magson might perhaps take the remark as personal; but
the latter responded, “No doubt of that. It would be better if you
could state your course first and then by adhering to it, you would
substantiate your statements.”
“We shall do that, certainly,” assented Dennis; and after a little more
conversation Magson left, feeling that his visit had not been entirely
unprofitable in that he had added to his circle of friends and also
considerably reduced the swelling in his head.
The three friends discussed the projected journey at great length,
referring to the papers in the _Regina’s_ safe in order to compare the
arrangements made and the stores required on the previous expeditions,
but these did not help them very materially, for since that time many
of the things taken had become obsolete, and many improvements had been
made for curtailing labour.
The engines having been built for petroleum would answer for the newer
‘breezol,’ which is made from waste products and has an enormous
explosive force, with the advantage of being non-explosive and
non-inflammable under the ordinary conditions of storage. The older
compressed petroleum was taken away and cubes of ‘breezol’ substituted;
these cubes were very small, each representing one gallon, which was
equal to twelve or fourteen gallons of petroleum, and sufficient cubes
were stored to give ten years’ continuous work on all the engines, even
with extravagant use.
In the cuisine of the vessel several alterations had to be made,
for cooking was now almost obsolete, so the ranges and other former
appliances and fittings were taken out to adapt the galley to the
present wants, the modern food requiring little or no preparation,
being composed almost entirely of the chemical constituents necessary
to maintain the body in full health and vigour. Few people, therefore,
need the same kind of food, each person’s formula being in the hands
of a medical man. The doctors are responsible to the public, each
practitioner having a limited number of patients in a certain district,
in which he must reside, each person paying him an annual fee regulated
by statute. For this the doctor has to examine the person at fixed
periods, and analyse his blood when necessary in order to supply the
lacking chemicals to re-establish his health. Both doctor and patient
have their obligations; if the patient becomes worse the case can, if
desirable, be reported to a referee who, if he finds the illness is
not running its course but has been aggravated by a wrong formula,
gives the patient an order to deduct a certain amount from the doctor’s
fee. On the other hand, if the patient is at fault, by neglecting
his doctor’s orders, or by such actions on his part as tend to bring
on avoidable illness, or reduce his mental or physical strength, or
minimise his chances of recovery, or in any way make him an unhealthy
citizen, he is fined and put upon a rigid course of living till he
recovers, during which he has to pay his doctor an extra heavy fee. By
these means doctors understand their patients, who work so well with
them as a rule that serious illness is now unknown, for toxins are met
with antitoxins, and chemistry has become such a fine art that at the
first sign of failing health chemicals can be given to counteract the
illness and restore the normal conditions, and doctors can cure almost
everything short of actual dissolution.
These chemicals are given in the place of food, in the form of wafers
or flexible capsules which are easily swallowed, or if actual meals are
wanted, these are supplied chiefly in various kinds of chemical eggs,
meat, fruit, vegetables, etc., all in air-tight capsules which are only
broken just before use.
All goods formerly of linen, being now made of wood pulp, very soft yet
exceedingly strong, and white, and capable of great compression, are
burnt when soiled, and three or four changes of this highly antiseptic
clothing can be carried in a small, thin, very light box in the vest
pocket. Each member of the expedition, therefore, carried his own food,
toilet and wardrobe about with him, all suited to his own particular
taste and requirements. Consequently, after getting their formulæ
corrected, our travellers-to-be laid in a store of such things as
they needed, which left much unoccupied space in the vessel. They did
not require a crew, as the vessel was now capable of being controlled
by one person if necessary, and their united knowledge was such as
to enable them to keep everything in excellent order with little
expenditure of time and labour.
In this instance it was fortunate for science that none of the three
was married, or unforeseen difficulties would have arisen, for it is
doubtful if their wives would have consented to their hubbies jaunting
off to other worlds, and it is equally doubtful if they would have
accompanied their partners, in which case this story would never
have been written. Women are not the meek, down-trodden creatures
historians would have us believe they had been some decades back. Long
ago they had risen as one woman in revolt at their so-called slavery
and subjection to man. Demanding and obtaining an active part in the
government of the country they had, to some extent, lost much of that
womanliness and feminine lovableness which had formerly been considered
amongst the chief attributes and attractions of the sex.
They had also so strongly resented the relinquishing of their own names
for that of the men they married that few of them could be persuaded
to marry at all. The men, however, insisted, and sought help from the
state, and it was made an indictable offence for a woman to refuse to
marry the man she loved if he offered her marriage. Even that did not
answer, and the whole world was agitated; men became frantic whilst
women stood by, pensive, longing, loving and lovable, but resolutely
refusing to hear the voice of the charmer, charmed he never so wisely.
Finally, the difficulty was to a certain extent overcome by the men
owning that for the woman to sink her name in that of a husband on
marriage really _did_ show a marked inferiority to him and was a gross
libel on the universal belief that she was in every way the ‘better
half.’ From this time matters improved, and on the passing of a special
law entitling wives to retain their maiden names, a few of them here
and there were induced to marry, mostly against their will, when a
fresh difficulty arose which stopped all further marriages. The wives
declared they were the better halves, and that married couples should
be named “wife and husband”; their partners as firmly contending that
as they were by nature constituted bread-winners the expression should
be “husband and wife.”
It often happens that when disputants are right, yet both at opposites,
and neither will give way, the only bridge is a compromise; so in
this case the difficulty was bridged by the husband saying “husband
and wife,” whilst the wife referred to a married couple as “wife and
husband.”
This important matter settled, all went amicably, and the terms “Mrs.”
and “Mr.” were dealt with in the same manner, though these have
now fallen almost into disuse, whilst the mention of man—as a mere
man—being the “lord and master of creation,” was attended with so much
angry discussion as to have sunk into oblivion long ago. Formerly
also, for ages, every newspaper and book was filled with stories of
how poor, deluded, unwilling and powerless men were dragged by women
to the altar, but for some time past the true statement of things has
prevailed—as truth always will prevail eventually—and instead, it is
painfully evident every day how deceitful men are, and how they get
women so into their toils as to marry the men out of sheer goodness of
heart, merely to put an end to their manly importunities.
As our three heroes were ignorant of the joys of running in double
harness, they were reckless of their lives, no one would have them,
so what happened affected no one; they did not shrink, therefore,
from risking themselves in the _Regina_, which had already absorbed
all their affections. So one night, without any public warning, they
entered the shed, fastened the door and slid aside the roof; boarding
the vessel, they made all secure, and amidst great excitement, the
switch was moved and in uncanny obedience the vessel slowly rose.
Several airships had for some days been hovering over the shed in the
hope of finding out how the vessel was manipulated, and now, as she
rose silently and steadily like some majestic thing of life, these
watching craft drew nearer, telepathing the news that the _Regina_
had at last risen as though from the dead. Quickly others approached,
but nothing was to be seen on the outside save her well-known form,
her silver-like plates glistening in the moonlight. Higher and higher
she rose, the other vessels also rising till they reached their limit
and the air became so rarefied that their vanes could no longer meet
the proper resistance. Then a strange thing happened, about which
all the people had heard and read, but which needed to be seen to
be appreciated fully; the great ship remained quite stationary,
uninfluenced by gravity. Then she came a little lower and stopped;
then again lower, as the owners were testing her condition.
All the ships around were kept in position only by the full power of
their motors, many slowly sinking, unable to sustain the high altitude;
yet here was the _Regina_ actually repeating before their very eyes
what had made her famous in history; actually playing with gravity,
silent as a bird on its nest.
Throughout all creation there seems to be instilled a dread of that
which is not understood; and this awful stillness in mid-air quickly
spread a great fear and dread amongst the craft around, and the
watchers became first nervous, then alarmed and finally in a panic,
when their motors suddenly stopped and the ships slowly sank, gradually
becoming heavier till they nearly reached the earth, when each occupant
received this message, telepathed from the _Regina_: “We are proving
to you that the _Regina_ can overcome gravity, and we could force you
disintegrated through the earth to your destruction. In one minute from
now, your weight will be made normal, so prepare your vanes and motors
for the plane you are now in, lest your machinery break and you shoot
upward to the plane you left on the release of pressure.”
True to promise the ships found themselves released, and most of them
sailed away to what they considered a safe distance, but they were
brought back by the _Regina_, then let go again, as her repulsive
forces were reversed and became attractive.
Then the _Regina_ put on her whole six search-lights, almost blinding
every one by the sudden glare, and soared upwards, shedding long
trails of light like a meteor; smaller and smaller she grew, then
vanished. Then again the light was seen in the distance and then
darkness; and again the vessel was seen travelling outside the earth’s
atmosphere like a falling star and was gone; round she came again and
then encircled the earth within the atmosphere, then traversed the
length and breadth of England, finally hovering over Derwent for a
few moments, lighting up the whole city with a blinding glare, and,
with her lights still on, she slowly settled into her shed. For a few
minutes the brilliant lights shot upward for miles into the sky through
the top of the building, when the roof slid over and all was hidden
from view.
Ten minutes later the three occupants came out of the shed to be
received by crowds of curious folk who, late as it was, had been drawn
to the spot and who asked all manner of questions, and as they looked
upward they saw fast-racing airships gathering from all quarters of the
sky, their lights forming a miniature milky-way.
This flight had been anticipated by the government, who had whetted
everybody’s curiosity, for with commendable business despatch, the
instant the news of the discovery became known, the whole history
of the _Regina_ was set up in type and printed in pamphlet form,
the brochures being on sale within twenty-four hours, and enormous
quantities were disposed of by the government booksellers, the later
ones containing Solomon Magson’s official report, which was so
eulogistic that people purchased fresh copies and the printers could
scarcely keep up with the demand.
Even before the flight, almost every child in the street knew the
story, yet to find the vessel had actually departed and was already in
space, kept people up to watch and roused those already sleeping to
excited wakefulness, for every one wanted to see the actual exploiting
of the wonder of ages.
Almost overcome by their experiences, the three men of the hour made
their way with difficulty through the throng to their home, giving
instructions that none were to be admitted, for though no one could
enter the grounds by the gates, many airships had deposited their
occupants inside and all wanted to have a few words, but once in the
shelter of the house, the three were safe from the crowd of inquirers.
“My dear friends,” exclaimed Dennis, with much feeling, “what a lucky
day it was when we entered on this business!” and he could say no more.
“What an awful power there is in that ship! It is overwhelming to think
of!” said Gilbert, fervently. “And how awe-inspiring to travel outside
this blessed earth and air, where angels are supposed to dwell. Oh!
Dennis, it is good to live and I thank you from my very soul!”
“And I, too, Dennis!” concurred Ross. “I thought I should have died
with awe or fear or joy—I don’t know which it was—to see our own old
earth revolving, and the atmosphere throbbing and moving like a sea. I
can never be sufficiently thankful!”
“Nor I!” agreed Dennis. “It has been the dream of my life! and to think
that generations should have been passed over and that _I_ should be
the one to see the long-lost secrets laid bare. We have a good deal to
be thankful for, our present sanity even, and we ought to thank Him who
made us and all creation, for giving us the privilege of seeing outside
this wonderful world and bringing us home again in safety with our
reason unimpaired, for this last is perhaps the greatest blessing of
all!”
“I feel as if I had been dreaming!” exclaimed Ross; “it is difficult
to realise that the _Regina_ has really taken us so far; it is not yet
morning. How beautifully she acts! a child could work her, once the
force and switches are understood, thanks to your revered ancestor—may
his bones rest in peace—for writing all down so clearly.”
“Yes,” agreed Gilbert, “now we have got it at our fingers’ ends we can
keep the description in the safe where it was, for we could manipulate
her blindfold. It was a capital idea of yours, Dennis, for us to take
turns at everything, because we are able to fit in anywhere in an
emergency and relieve each other.”
“It is much the best, I think,” assented Dennis, “for as our interests
are now one, we are bound, in justice to ourselves and each other,
and in view of our united safety, to be able each to manage the whole
business right through.”
“We must have gone through the atmosphere at a great speed,” said
Gilbert. “I tested the casing and it was not even warmed, so we are
fairly heat-proof. We will have the ship stored with food for a long
time and then sail off to Bona. Shall we risk ourselves straight there,
or have a few shorter flights first in order to get our heads a little?”
“I should say, go straight away,” said Ross, eagerly. “I think we can
work her in perfect safety and she is as good and manageable a ship as
could be.”
“I think so, too,” agreed Dennis, “and we are all almost childishly
anxious to go off again.”
“I am, anyway!” said Ross, laughing, “so we’ll turn in and sleep the
sleep of the just, if not too tired and excited, and begin preparation
to-morrow.”
With that they all retired to rest; but the experiences of the evening
had been too sensational for quiet slumber, and the following morning
each had to confess to having had but fitful sleep.
The arrangements went on apace, and a few days later, the stores being
packed safely, all was ready for the flight to beautiful and beneficent
Bona.
“I think it would be a good plan to use ether-wave every day, say
at six o’clock p.m., and let all our messages be sent to every
wave-apparatus on the whole earth,” said Dennis, when discussing final
arrangements.
“But we shall have them all sending to us, and that would be a
nuisance,” objected Ross.
“That won’t do!” replied Dennis. “We can have a set earth-time for
general news, and the instruments so arranged that only Greenwich and
the chief government newspaper can communicate with the ship, between
which and these two points there should be facilities for news at any
time if necessary. The _Times_ would therefore be able to publish such
of the special information as they and Greenwich might consider of
interest to the general public.”
This being arranged, a special photograph was taken of Bona in order
that the adventurers could decide as to which portion of the planet
they should alight upon, so that their progress could be watched
from earth. After much consideration it was decided to aim straight
for the valley called the “Kidney,” because of its shape. This was
unmistakable, and according to careful calculation, the airship should
be visible in London till some time after they had landed on Bona, for
they would go straight, uninfluenced by the earth’s rotation, and thus,
providing glasses could distinguish what would in comparison be a speck
on Bona’s disc, her flight and settling might be seen by almost every
one in England.
It was decided that plenty of notice should be given, so that those
who wished to note the flight should have opportunity for preparation,
and the 13th of June, fourteen days later, was fixed for the journey,
particulars being at once sent all over the world by the ship’s
wave-apparatus, the code used being that issued by the government for
universal use.
By the 10th of June, air-craft began to assemble from all parts, and
large as Derwent was, the whole resources of the city were taxed to the
utmost to provide for the visitors.
Most of the modern ships are, of course, adapted for remaining in
the air at various altitudes if anchored, their vanes revolving at
sufficient speed to keep them fairly stationary. The anchors are of
various forms, the more usual being attached to a flexible steel cord,
giving a fine line of enormous strength; the anchors being small
tubes which give out their air on contact, thus instantly creating a
perfect vacuum; atmospheric pressure on the outside of the tube and an
automatic grip inside, pin the tube with very great force to the ground
or any other object on which it falls, more than sufficient to restrain
any airship from straying; a light current transmitted on the wire
moves a slide, allows air to enter the tube, and instantly the whole is
released without injury to the object on which it has been allowed to
fall.
On the 12th of June, so many ships had arrived in Derwent that the
business of the city was seriously incommoded; there was scarcely a
free stratum of sky-space left for traffic, the sky was so wedged with
ships of all forms and sizes that the city beneath was completely
darkened, and scores of anchor-lines were constantly snapping by the
moving ships below cutting them, and there was heard on all sides the
twang of breaking wires, some emitting deep, sonorous tones, whilst
others gave out a shrill scream. Often would come fresh arrivals on one
of the higher planes, and on all sides the little suction-tubes were
sinking, to be pushed aside by the vigilant owners of other ships, when
they would sink still lower, perhaps to settle on another vessel, when
the tube would be immovable. If not noticed in time and the line cut,
a second later it would be drawn taut and the double strain would snap
the line of the lower ship, when both vessels would be set adrift. It
was important that some one should be momentarily alert, for tubes were
constantly descending and tubeless lines hauled up to be refitted, any
one of which might injure another craft.
Below the effect was even worse, for the taut wires rose from the
ground every few feet, and in the vicinity of the shed passage between
them was impossible. Hundreds of the aëronauts descended to sleep in
the houses in Derwent and found it impossible to return to their
ships, then too closely packed to descend, and hundreds wished to come
down but were unable to do so and had perforce to stay aloft.
On the morning of the 13th, all traffic in Derwent was stopped, the
lines forming such a network in the streets that passage between them
was actually dangerous, for many of the owners, in order to protect
themselves and their craft from being cast adrift, or providing
anchorage for some other vessel, had placed their lines and steel decks
in electric circuit of sufficient strength to fuse any other line
or tube touching them; and if any person below touched such a line,
certain electrocution followed, and their removal from it was equally
dangerous to those who went to their assistance, so the authorities
‘waved’ to the shed, asking for the _Regina_ to be cast off, the three
friends having taken the precaution of removing there a few days
before, which was a piece of admirable forethought, or the _Regina_
could not have sailed to time, for all approach to the shed had by then
been cut off for twelve hours or more.
It was just before dawn on the 13th, when the message arrived and a few
minutes later the first ‘wave’ was emitted from the _Regina_, telling
all the people that the ship would sail five minutes later. Instantly
all anchors were released and there commenced such a crush in the air
as had never been seen before and, for humanitarian reasons, it is to
be hoped will never be seen again. All rules of right of way, passing,
and air-plane laws went by the board; some powerfully electrified
vessels fused all others that touched them, throwing the weaker
vessels out of action and precipitating them on the vessels below,
which in turn were rendered impotent by the crushing weight and broken
gearing, or by being thrown in sudden contact with others by the shock.
Fortunately only two lives were lost in this dreadful crush, but the
damage was terrible; all but the most powerfully electrified vessels
were scraped clean and smooth as unpainted ships.
In four minutes came a message to clear all space above the shed; but
so tight was the pack that none could get away laterally, and many of
the ships over the shed were already at the highest altitudes to which
their engines had power to lift them, so that they were unable to go
over the others, and the lower ones, though capable of doing so were
equally unable to pass above those wedged higher; but they were soon
to see a demonstration of the _Regina’s_ power which made the aërial
navigators blanch with fear, seasoned to danger as they were.
Punctually to time the roof of the shed slid back, and in the dim
twilight there streamed aloft a blinding light.
In these days of high-voltage electricity, brilliant lights are common
enough, but no one in that vast throng had ever seen so powerful a
glare as that which belched upwards from the shed. It lit up the keels
of the lower vessels, sending their shadows, black as pitch, for miles
into the sky, as it penetrated the higher planes where an opening
permitted, blinding everybody with its awful glare. Nothing could be
seen as yet of the source of light, which was below, and this gave the
shed the semblance of being the opening to the bottomless pit, or as
if a damper had been drawn from the flue of some awful subterranean
furnace.
For a great height above the shed there lay a solid mass of airships in
a closely wedged belt. Over this living, throbbing pack, spotted with
innumerable lights like diamonds, the stars were paling for the dawn
and a faint streak of light showed itself on the eastern horizon. Below
the stratum of ships lay the country, fields and trees made blacker by
the throng of vessels above. Blackest of all was the enormous shed, the
steel-covered walls of which rose up sheer and menacing to a great
height, but now this dark and forbidding-looking building was rendered
doubly black by the awful glare pouring out of its roof.
The message to clear the way not being complied with, the people held
their breath and clutched tightly at one another, or the first thing
which gave them substantial grip, for all the ships’ motors stopped
as though magnetised, whilst the vessels remained perfectly poised
and steady, in their exact positions of the moment. Scarcely had this
been realised when it was seen that all the ships over the shed were
rising bodily, without their relative positions changing by so much as
a hair’s-breadth; becoming lighter and still lighter they rose still
higher as from a well, leaving all those outside them in a solid wall
like a shaft.
Several tried to sail out and rise in the shaft to a higher plane, but
their ships were still immovable, their engines and motors unable to
make a single revolution. Those who were sufficiently near to look up
the shaft could see the vessels rise and then float aside over those of
the highest plane, leaving the shaft clear to the sky.
The fact that the _Regina_ had not yet appeared made this demonstration
of her power all the more eerie, for all felt that some awful
influence, more mysterious because unseen, was using the natural force
of gravity with wonderful and irresistible strength in some simple yet
secret manner, and the steady and certain way in which the forces of
nature were used made thousands of the watchers nearly frantic to find
out by what means it was done.
The course clear, very slowly the glittering vessel rose above the
roof of the shed, as steadily as if on wires, and when just above the
building, the roof slid back automatically; up the shaft of ships the
_Regina_ rose, sending out a light so blinding that all the people were
dazzled by it, yet they could see that she had no machinery outside,
and save for a dome and an outer deck round it, her sides were smooth
and free from anything which could hinder her swift passage through the
air.
Not a sound was heard from the vessel, not a tremor disturbed her
poise, as she rose gently and regally like the Queen she was. When at
the top of the shaft she paused, and in forced obedience to her silent
will, the vessels that had previously occupied the shaft re-entered
it and took up their former position exactly, their previous gravity
being restored. The instant the last vessel had floated into place, all
the ships were relieved of that mysterious tension that had stopped
all movement, and there was heard the din of the screams of hundreds
of motors, as the vessels started from where their movements had been
arrested. As those on the upper planes rose and separated to follow the
_Regina_ the lower ones were set free, and sailed out of the dangerous
crush. A few minutes later the _Regina_ was surrounded by scores of
inspecting ships, and as her lights were now out, her beautiful lines
were the admiration of all. Still she stood, motionless as a dead body,
so still and stately, with not a throb or tremor on her gigantic form,
that the people became awed by the uncanny silence and the strange,
mysterious power of gravity-control which she used so perfectly.
So she stood, silent and dignified, her sides dazzlingly white in the
paling twilight. Suddenly, the sun, which had not yet risen to those
on the ground below, came into view at that high altitude, and a ray
of sunlight caught the _Regina’s_ dome, and that same instant, as
though it were the good-bye kiss from earth she had been waiting for,
and was now satisfied, she rose; so slowly that she had gone above
them before those around noticed it. Higher and higher she went, the
ships gradually falling back as their utmost altitudes were reached,
till at last only one remained and watched the _Regina_ mount higher
and still higher till she became a mere speck, then was lost to view
in the rapidly brightening sky, and the solitary attendant commenced
its descent. At that moment a sheet of paper fluttered down from the
_Regina_ close to the ship and there remained perfectly still, gently
floating on the air as on water. Securing it they read,—“Good-bye!
good luck. Keep an eye on us if possible. This is a souvenir of the
_Regina_; may you be able to keep it!”
Of course they could keep it! what an absurd thing to write about!
and it was handed round as they descended, but just as the owner was
passing it to his wife it slipped out of his hand and went fluttering
upwards, then suddenly stopped and remained floating, as before.
Elevating the vessel again they took it in and descended, and again
it floated back the instant the close grip on it was relaxed. Again
they secured it and this time took it into the cabin to examine more
closely, but it flew up to the ceiling and getting in the current of
air there, was wafted out of the window and they saw it float up to its
former position. This was most annoying, and the owner was not going
to trouble further when his wife, recalling the chief secret of the
_Regina_, suggested that the gravity of the paper had been altered to
coincide with the particular pressure of the atmosphere at which it
was found. This being the case, and his being the highest ship afloat,
it was no longer a mere slip of paper, but a precious souvenir. He
therefore rose, and just when he could rise no more he saw the paper a
few yards away, floating as before. This time he placed it under glass,
which he screwed to his table and, descending, proudly exhibited it to
his friends.
In the meantime, the _Regina_, once away from her audience, increased
speed rapidly, and in a few minutes was outside the earth’s atmosphere,
when she shot forward straight at Bona, watched by thousands of eyes;
and through the most powerful telescopes she was seen to settle down as
a tiny spot of light, like a mote in sunbeam, in the very centre of the
still-luminous Bona, in the ‘heart’ of the “Kidney.”