It was two weeks to a day when the four on the earth, after having
seen very little of each other in the meanwhile, got together for
the purpose of finishing their "revelation" to the Sanusians.
"Mr. Van Emmon and I," stated Billie coolly, as they put on their
bracelets, "have been trying to decide upon the best way of telling
them how to obtain fire."
Neither Smith nor the doctor showed that he noticed her "Mr. Van
Emmon." Evidently the two were still unreconciled.
"I argue," remarked the geologist, "that the simplest method will be
a chemical one. There's lots of ways to produce fire spontaneously,
with chemicals; and this woman Rolla could do it easily."
Billie indulged in a small, superior smile. "He forgets that all
these chemical methods require pure chemicals. And you don't find
them pure in the natural state. You've got to have fire to reduce
them with."
"What's your proposition, then?" from the doctor.
"Optics!" enthusiastically. She produced a large magnifying-glass
from her pocket. "All we have to do is to show Dulnop--he's
something of a mineralogist--how to grind and polish a piece of
crystal into this shape!"
Van Emmon groaned. "Marvelous! Say, if you knew how infernally hard
it is to find even a small piece of crystal, you'd never propose
such a thing! Why, it would take years--Mrs. Van Emmon!"
Smith also shook his head. "Neither of you has the right idea. The
easiest way, under the circumstances, would be an electrical one."
He paused, frowning hard; then vetoed his own plan. "Thunder; I'm
always speaking first and thinking afterward. I never used to do
it," accusingly, "until I got in with you folks. Anyhow, electricity
won't do; you've got to have practically pure elements for that,
too."
"Guess it's up to you, doc," said Billie. And they all looked
respectfully toward their host.
He laughed. "You three will never learn anything. You'll continue to
think that I'm a regular wonder about these things, but you never
notice that I merely stay still and let you commit yourselves first
before I say anything. All I have to do is select the one idea
remaining after you've disproved the rest. Nothing to it!"
He paused. "I'm afraid we're reduced to the spark method. It would
take too long to procure materials pure enough for any other plan.
Friction is out of the question for such people; they haven't the
patience. Suppose we go ahead on the flint-and-spark basis."
They went at once into the familiar trance state. Nightfall was
approaching on the part of Sanus in which they were interested.
Smith and Van Emmon came upon Dulnop and Corrus as they were talking
together. The herdsman was saying:
"Lad, my heart is heavy this night." Much of his usual vigor was
absent. "When I were passing Cunora's field this day, some of the
masters came and drove me over to her side. I tried to get away, and
one threatened to kill. I fear me, lad, they intend to force us to
marry!"
"What!" fiercely, from the younger.
Corrus laid a hand upon his arm. "Nay, Dulnop; fear not. I have no
feeling for thy Cunora; I may marry her, but as for fathering her
children--no!"
"Suppose," through set teeth, "suppose They should threaten to kill
thee?"
"I should rather die, Dulnop, than be untrue to Rolla!"
The younger man bounded to his feet. "Spoken like a man! And I tell
thee, neither shall I have aught to do with Rolla! Rather death than
dishonor!"
Next moment silence fell between them; and then Van Emmon and Smith
noted that both men had been bluffing in what they had said. For,
sitting apart in the growing darkness, each was plainly in terror of
the morrow. Presently Corrus spoke in a low tone:
"All the same, Dulnop, it were well for me and thee if the secret of
the flowing blossom were given us this night. I"--he paused,
abashed--"I am not so sure of myself, Dulnop, when I hear Their
accursed buzzing. I fear--I am afraid I might give in!"
At this Dulnop broke down, and fell to sobbing. Nothing could have
told the investigators so well just how childlike the Sanusians
really were. Corrus had all he could do to hold in himself.
"Mownoth!" he exclaimed, his eyes raised fervently. "If it be thy
will to deliver us, give us the secret this night!"
Meanwhile, in Rolla's hut, a similar scene was going on under the
doctor's projected eye. Cunora lost her nerve, and Rolla came near
to doing the same in her efforts to comfort the other.
"They are heartless things!" Rolla exclaimed with such bitterness as
her nature would permit. "They know not what love is: They with
their drones and their egg-babes! What is family life to Them?
Nothing!
"Somehow I feel that Their reign is nearly at an end, Cunora.
Perhaps the great secret shall be given us to-night!"