Latest / Classic Adventure Books Collection / 07 - Baron Trump's Marvellous Underground Journey
Transcript
- Chapter seven, Our first night in the underworld, and how it was followed by the first break of day, Bulgar's warning, and what it meant we fall in with an inhabitant of the world within a world his name, and calling mysterious return of night, the land of beds, And how our new friend provided one for us. So heavy with sleep did my eyelids become at last that I knew that it must be night in the outer world. And so we halted, and I stretched myself at full length on that marble floor, which, by the way, was pleasantly warm beneath us, and the air, too, was strangely comforting to the lungs, there being a complete absence of that smell of earth and odor of dampness so common in vast subterranean chambers. My sleep was long continued and most refreshing. Vulgar was already awake. However, when I sat up and tried to look about me, he began tugging at the string which I had fastened to his collar, as if he wanted to lead me somewhere. So I humored him and followed along. After, to my delight, he led me straight to a pool of deliciously sweet and cold water. Here we drank our fill, and, after a very frugal breakfast on some dried figs, set out again on our journey along the Marble Highway. Suddenly, to my more than joy, the faint and uncertain light of the place began to strengthen. Why, it seemed almost as if the day of the upper world were about to break, So delicate were the various hues in which the ever increasing light clothed itself. Then, as if a frightened at its own increasing glory, it would fade away again, almost a gloom. Ere many moments again this faint and mysterious glow would return, beginning with the softest yellow, then changing to a dozen different tints, and, like a fickle made uncertain which to wear, put all aside and down the lily's garb vulgar, and I wandered along the Marble Highway, almost afraid to break the stillness so deep that it seemed to me as if I could hear those sportive rays of light in their play against the many colored rocks arching this mighty corridor. Now, as the Marble Highway swept around in a graceful curve, a dazzling flood of light burst upon us. It was sunrise in the world within a world. Whence came this flood of dazzling light, which now caused the sides and arching roof to glow and sparkle, as if we had suddenly entered one of Nature's vast door houses of polished gems. Shading my eyes with my hand, I looked about me in order to try and solve the mystery. It did not take me long to understand at all. Know, then, dear friends, that the seedlings, domes, and arched rules of this underground world were fretted with a metal of greater hardness than any known to us children of sunshine. Its seams ran hither and thither like the veins of gignantic leaves, and at certain hours, currents of electricity from some vast internal reservoir of nature's own building streamed through these metal traceeries until they glowed with a heat so white as to give off the flood of dazzling light of which I have already spoken. The current never came with a sudden rush or burst, but began gently and timidly, so to speak, as if feeling its way along. Hence the beautiful tints that had always preceded sunrise in this lower world, and made it so much like the coming and going of our glorious sunshine. The marble highway now divided, and the two halves of the fork, curving away to the right and left, enclosed a small but exquisitely ornamented perk, or pleasure ground, I might call it, Provided with seats of some dark wood beautifully polished and carved, this park was ornamented with four fountains, each springing from a crystal basin and spreading out into a feathery spray that glistened like whirling snow in the dazzling white light. As Vulgar and I directed our steps toward one of the benches with the intention of taking a good rest, a low growl from him warned me to be on the alert. I gave a second look. A human being was seated on the bench beside myself. As I was with curiosity to come face to face with this inhabitant of the underworld, the first we had met, I made a halt, determined to ascertain, if possible, whether he was quite harmless before accosting him. He was small in stature and clad entirely in black, a sort of loose flowing robe, much like a Roman toga. His head was bare, and what I could see if it was a round, smooth and rosy, with about as much hair, or rather fuzz upon it as the head of an infant six weeks old. His face was hidden by a black fan, which he carried in his right hand, and the uses of which you will learn later on. His eyes were shielded from the intense glare of the light by a pair of colored glass gulls. As he raised his hand between me and the light, I couldn't help catching my breath. I could see right through it. The bones were as clear as amber. His head, too, was only a little less opaque. Suddenly, two words from Don Fum's men script flashed through my mind, and I exclaimed, joyously, vulgar, We're in the land of the transparent folk. At the sound of my voice, the little man arose and made a low bow, lowering his fan to his breast where he held it. His baby face was ludicrously sad and solemn. Yes, sir Stranger, said he in a low musical voice. Thou art indeed in the land of the micam and geese. Make a man in the land of the transparent folk, called also Goggleland. But if I should show THEE my heart, thou wouldst see that. I am deeply pained to think that I should have been the first to bid THEE welcome. For no, sir, stranger, that thou speakest with Master hold Soul, the court depressor, the saddest man in all goggle Land. And by the way, sir, permit me to offer THEE a pair of goggles for thyself and also a pair for thy four footed companion, for our intense white light would blind THEE both in a few days. I thanked Master Cold Soul very warmly for the goggles, and proceeded to set one peristrite my nose and to tie the other in front of Bulgar's eyes. I then, in most courteous manner, informed Master Cold Soul who I was, and begged him to explain the cause of his great sadness. Well thou must know, little Baron, said he, after I had taken his seat beside him on the bench, that we, the loving subjects of Queen Galaxa, whose royal heart is almost run down, excuse these tears. Living as we do in this beautiful world, so unlike the one you inhabit, which our wise men tell us, is built strange, to say, on the very outside of the Earth's crust, where it is most exposed to the full sweep of blinding snow, freezing blast, pelting hail, drowning rain, and choking dust. Living as we do, I say, in this vast temple by nature's own hands, builded were disease is unknown, and where our hearts run down like clocks that may have but one winding, we are prone a last to be too happy, to laugh, too much, to spend too much time in idle gaiety, chattering the time away like thoughtless children, amused with baubles, delighted with tinsel nothings. Know, then, little Baron, that mine is the business to check this gaiety, to put an end to this childish believe, to depress our people's spirits lest they run too high. Hence my garb of inky hue, my rueful countenance, my frequent outflowing of tears, my voice ever a tuned to sadness. Excuse me, little Baron, my fans slipped, then, didst see through me? I would not have thee sea my heart to day for some way or other I cannot bring it to a slow pace. It is dreadfully unruly. I assured him that I had not seen through him as yet. And now, dear friends, I must explain that, by the laws of the Micamenkies, each man, woman and child must wear in their garments a heart shaped opening on their breast directly over their hearts, with a correspond in one at the back, so that, under certain conditions, when the law allows it, each may have the right to take a look at his neighbor's heart and see exactly how it is beating, whether faster or s law, whether throbbing or leaping, or whether pulsating naturally. But this privilege is only accorded, as I have said, under certain conditions. Hence, to shut off inquisitive glances, each my tamenki is allowed to carry a black fan with which to cover the heart shaped opening above described, and in this way conceal his or her feelings to a degree, I say, to a degree, for I may as well tell you right here that falsehood is unknown, or more correctly stated, impossible, in the land of the transparent ful, for the reason that so wondrously clear, limpid and crystal like are their eyes. The slightest attempt to say one thing while they are thinking another royals and clouds them as if a drop of milk had fallen into a glass of the purest water. As I sat gazing at this strange little being seated on the bench there beside me, I recalled the conversation which I had had with a learned Russian at slow Richagutsk, said he, speaking of his people, we are all born with light hair, brilliant eyes, and pale faces, for we have sprung up under the snow. And I thought to myself, how delighted, how entranced he would have been to look upon this curious being, borne not under the snow, but far under the surface of the earth. Were in these vast chambers of this world within the world, this strange folk had, like plants grown in a dark, deep cellar, gradually parted with all their coloring, until their eyes glowed like orbs of pure crystal, until their bones had been bleached to amber clearness, and their blood coursed colorless through colorless veins. While sitting there, following out the strain of thought, the clear white light suddenly begun to flicker and to play fantastic tricks upon the walls by dancing in garbs of ever changing hues. Now brightest yellow, now palest green, now glorious purple, now deepest crimson. Ah little Baron exclaimed Master Coldsaw, that was an uncommonly short day. Rise, Please, I made haste to obey. Whereupon he touched a spring, and the bench opened in the center, disclosing two very comfortable beds. In a few moments, night will be upon us, continued the Mcamenkey. But how SEO is that we have not been taken by surprise? I should explain to thee little baron that, owing to the capricious manner on which our river of light is apt both to begin and to see slowing, we are never able to tell how long a day or a night will prove to be. This is what we call twilight in thy world. I suppose day goes out with a terrible bang. For our wise men tell us that nothing can be done in the upper world without making a noise. That your people really love noise, and that the man who makes the greatest noise is considered the greatest man. Owing to the fact, little Baron, that no and goggleland can tell how long the day will last, or how long it may be necessary to sleep. Our laws permit no one to set any exact time when a thing shall be done, or to exact any promise to do this or that on a certain day, for bless thy soul, that they may not be ten minutes long. Hence we say, if tomorrow be over five hours long, come to me at the beginning of the sixth hour. And we never wish each other a plain good night, but say good night as long as it lasts. What's more, little baron as Knight is apt to come upon us this way unawares. By law. All the beds belong to the state. No one is allowed to own his own bed, For when night overtakes him, he may be at the other end of the city, and some other subject of Queen Galaxa may be in front of his door. And no matter where night may overtake him micamemki, he is sure to find a bed. There are beds everywhere. By touching his spring, they dropped from the walls. They pull out like drawers. There are under the tables and the divans, in the perks, in the market place, by the roadside benches, bins, boxes, barrels, and barrels. By pressing his spring may in an instant be transformed into beds. It is the land of beds, little Baron, but ah, I behold the twilight goes to its end. Good night, as long as it lasts. And with this Master Coltzell stretched himself out and began to snore, having first carefully covered up the two holes in the front and back of his garment so that I shouldn't have a chance to take a peep through him in case I should wake up first. Bulger and I were right glad to lay our limbs on a reel bed, although from the way my four footed brother followed his tail around and around, I could see that he wasn't particularly delighted with the softness of the couch. End of Chapter seven