THE BURIED CITY
Tony clutched Tina and started. Anna's father looked at his daughter in
a puzzled way.
"Who is Tony and what do you mean?" he asked.
Then poor little Anna's heart sank. She had given away her friend's
secret!
Tony balanced himself on his toes, squatting, ready to run. He saw
Anna burst into tears, heard her pour out her whole story.
"He is such a poor little boy, Papa!" she wept. "He is so hungry and
cold! But I promised I would not tell and now ... oh...."
She sobbed pitifully. Her father held her close.
"There, my darling, don't cry," he said. "Tony is a bad boy. Come, let
us go out there to him and...."
Tony did not wait to hear more. With Tina clasped tightly he ran. He
ran as fast as his legs would carry him, out, on to the main road.
He saw Vesuvius towering above, a terrible giantess puffing on a
poisonous pipe! Would she ever again break out in anger?
The wind blew. It had started to rain. The night was so black.
His legs ached. But he must run, run far away from Anna's father. He
could never, never go back again. Now he was really a thief. He was
running away with Tina!
The little dog began to shiver in his arms. He stopped for a moment,
took off his coat, and wrapped it around the animal.
The rain came down harder and harder. Finally, Tony found a haystack,
and the boy and dog cuddled down for the night.
Early morning brought a blue sky. The rain was gone. The Bay shone
and the smoke from Vesuvius sailed straight up in a thin grey line.
[Illustration: THE APPIAN WAY
_Photo by Courtesy of Italian Tourist Information Office_]
But Tony awoke in a fever. Tina stood beside him, her tail beating a
pleasant tune on the ground. Her sweet, white face smiled down at him.
Why did he not jump up and play with her as he always did in the
morning? Why did her little god lie so still?
Tony's dark eyes sparkled unnaturally. There were red patches on either
cheek.
For a moment he could not remember where he was. Then it all came back
to him. Anna! Anna's father!
He had stolen Tina! He was a thief!
He sat up suddenly. Perhaps they were already looking for him.
He shivered and put on his coat. It was damp. Tina barked joyfully. They
were going for a walk!
It was a long walk! Miles and miles. Hours and hours. Tony's head
throbbed. His feet ached. Tina's tongue swept the ground.
At last they reached the buried city of Pompeii. Its ruins are now the
most famous in the world. Tourists visit it every day. Tony knew this.
He stood beside a wall and began to beg.
"I die of hunger!" he whined.
[Illustration: POMPEII]
It was a lie. Tony felt too ill to eat. But he wanted to buy food for
Tina.
He screwed up his face and added in English, "Poor leetle boy!"
[Illustration: HOUSE OF THE VETTI: POMPEII]
"Go away from here!" roared a guide. "And take that dog with you!"
Tony scampered. He knew that dogs are not allowed in Pompeii. He
crouched beside a fence. When the guide's back was turned, he slipped
under the fence.
He was inside the gates. He was in Pompeii. Really inside the gates
of Pompeii! Standing upon the long, silent streets, in the shadow of
stately ruins.
Columns and statues stood like graceful ghosts. It was a place to
impress any child. To Tony, light-headed with fever, it was a wonder
and a dream.
A guide came along, leading a party of tourists through the streets.
To Tony his voice droned like a swarm of bees.
"It was a city of pleasure and wealth," said the guide. "Tinkling
fountains played. Painted chariots clattered over the cobble-stones.
Boys and girls laughed and sang."
Tony saw it, felt it, heard it all!
"See the tracks of the chariots in the pavements," droned the guide's
voice. "The plumbing was so good that the fountains are still running
today."
Tony followed them through restored palaces, courtyards, wine shops.
Some of the houses had four dining rooms--one for each season: Spring,
Summer, Fall, and Winter. Before one house was the word "Have." This
means "Welcome" in Greek. The Fascists say this when they salute.
In the old Roman Bath was a case with images like mummies. The guide
entered the building with his tourist train--a train of human question
marks.
Tony followed. He hid in a dark corner so they would not see him.
"Here we have the forms of some of the ancient people found in the
ruins," explained the guide. "They are, however, only hollow forms.
They have been surrounded by lava."
"What is lava, Mama?" squeaked a tourist child.
"Hush!" said the mother.
[Illustration: A STREET IN POMPEII
_Photo by Courtesy of Italian Tourist Information Office_]
"I want some if it is to eat!" howled the child.
"Lava," said the guide, "is the fiery fluid which comes out of a
volcano during an eruption. When it cools it hardens and becomes
like rock."
"I don't want to eat any!" decided the child.
"Here is the form of a dog," went on the guide.
"I want a 'hot dog,' Mama!" whined the child.
They finally left the building. Tony heard the child's irritable voice
far down the street. He came out from his corner. The building was
empty.
He looked at the strange, rock-covered images. The little dog was about
the size of Tina. He shivered. He went outside. The sun had dropped
behind a hill. He could see Vesuvius puffing, puffing on her pipe.
"Oh, you--you wicked one!" He shook his fist at the mountain.
His head began to spin. The streets were more silent than ever, for
the sight-seers had all gone. Tall columns, like black knights, stood
guard over the buried city.
Tony had heard the guide say that at a certain hour the gates would
close. Was that hour now past? Was he locked in the deserted city,
alone? Trapped, like victims of the volcano so long ago?
He felt ill. He was burning with fever. He started toward the gate,
squeezing Tina until she grunted.
Then, all at once, his legs seemed to disappear beneath him and he
sank to the earth.
The ruins of Pompeii whirled all about him. Vesuvius blew a great
column of smoke in his face, and he knew no more!