The Land of the Changing Sun Part 4

"Now listen," he went on, as the instrument gripped Johnston's flesh and the rubber tube began to twist and move as if charged with electricity.

The American held his breath. A sound as of water being forced through channels that were choked, mingled with a wheezing sound like wind escaping from a broken bellows came from the bell.

"Your frame is all right," said the medical man, as he released the trembling American, "but you have long believed in the weakness of your heart and it has, on that account, become so. You must banish all fear from your thoughts. You perhaps know that we have a place specially prepared for those who are not physically sound. I am sorry that you do not stand a better examination."

Tradmos regarded the American with a look of sympathy as he gave him a chair and then rang a bell on the table. Thornd.y.k.e looked up sleepily, as an attendant entered with a couple of parcels, and glanced wonderingly at his friend's white face and bloodshot eyes.

"What's the matter?" he asked; but Johnston made no reply, for the captain had opened the parcels and taken out two suits of silken clothing.

"Put them on," he said, giving a suit of gray to Johnston and one of light blue to Thornd.y.k.e. "We shall leave you to change your attire, and I shall soon come for you."

Chapter IV.

In a few minutes the captain returned and found his prisoners ready to go with him. Thornd.y.k.e looked exceedingly handsome in his glossy tights, close-fitting sack-coat, tinsel belt and low shoes with buckles of gold.

The natural color had come back into his cheeks, and he was exhilarated over the prospect of further adventure.

It was not so, however, with poor Johnston; his spirits had been so dampened by the physician's words that he could not rally from his despondency. His suit fitted his figure as well as that of the Englishman, but he could not wear it with the same hopeful grace.

"Cheer up!" whispered Thornd.y.k.e, as they followed the captain through a long corridor, "if we are on our way to the stake or block we are at least going dressed like gentlemen."

Outside they found the streets lined with spectators eagerly waiting to see them pa.s.s. The men all had suits like those which had been given the captives, and the women wore flowing gowns like those of ancient Greece.

"These are the common people," whispered Thornd.y.k.e to Johnston, "but did you ever dream of such perfect features and physiques? Every face is full of merriment and good cheer. I am curious to see the royalty."

Johnston made no reply, for Captain Tradmos turned suddenly and faced them.

"Stand here till I return," he said, and he went back into the house.

"Where in the deuce do you think we are?" pursued Thornd.y.k.e with a grim smile.

"Haven't the slightest idea," sighed Johnston, and he shuddered as he looked down the long white street with its borders of human faces.

Thornd.y.k.e was observant.

"There is not a breath of air stirring," he said; "and yet the atmosphere is like impalpable delicacies to a hungry man's stomach.

Look at that big tree, not a leaf is moving, and yet every breath I draw is as fresh as if it came from a mountain-top. Did you ever see such flowers as those? Look at that ocean of orchids."

"They think we are a regular monkey-show," grumbled the American. "Look how the crowd is gaping and shoving and fighting for places to see us."

"It's your legs they want to behold, old fellow. Do you know I never knew you had such knotty knee-joints; did you ever have rheumatism? I wish I had 'em; they wouldn't put me to death--they would make me the chief attraction in the royal museum." Thornd.y.k.e concluded his jest with a laugh, but the face of his friend did not brighten.

"You bet that medical examination meant something serious," he said.

"Pooh!" and the Englishman slapped his friend playfully on the shoulder.

"Since I have seen that vast crowd of well-developed people, and remember what that medicine man said, I have made up my mind that we are going to be separated." Poor Johnston's lip was quivering.

"Rubbis.h.!.+ but there comes the captain; put on a bold front; talk up New York; tell 'em about Chicago and the Fair, and ask to be allowed to ride in their Ferris Wheel--if they ain't got no wheel, ask 'em when the first train leaves town."

"This is no time for jokes," growled Johnston, as Tradmos returned.

Tradmos motioned to something that in the distance looked like a carriage, but which turned out to be a flying machine. It rose gracefully and glided over the ground and settled at their feet. It was large enough to seat a dozen people, and there was a little gla.s.s-windowed compartment at the end in which they could see "the driver," as he was termed by Tradmos. The mysterious machinery was hidden in the woodwork overhead and beneath.

"Get in," said the captain, and the door flew open as if of its own accord. Thornd.y.k.e went in first and was followed by the moody American.

"Let up on the ague," jested Thornd.y.k.e, nudging his friend with his elbow; "if you keep on quivering like that you may shake the thing loose from its moorings and we'd never know what became of us."

Johnston scowled, and the officer, who had overheard the remark, smiled as he leaned toward the window and gave some directions to the man in the other compartment.

"You both take it rather coolly," he remarked to Thornd.y.k.e. "I took a man and a woman over this route several years ago and both of them were in a dead faint; but, in fact, you have nothing to fear. We never have accidents."

"It is as safe as a balloon, I suppose, and we are at home in them,"

said the Englishman, with just the hint of a swagger in his tone.

"But your balloons are poor, primitive things at best," returned Tradmos in his soft voice. "They can't be compared to this mode of travel, though, of course, our machines would not operate in your atmosphere."

"Why not?" impulsively asked the Englishman. "I thought----"

But he did not conclude his remark, for they were rising, and both he and Johnston leaned apprehensively forward and looked out of one of the windows. Down below the long lines of people were silently waving their hats, scarfs and handkerchiefs as the machine swept along over their heads. As they rose higher the scene below widened like a great circular fan, and in the delicate roselight, the whole so appealed to Thornd.y.k.e's artistic sense that he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed:

"Glorious! Superb! Transcendent!" and he directed Johnston's attention to the wonderful pinkish haze which lay over the view toward the west like a vast diaphanous web of rosy sunbeams.

"You ask why our air-s.h.i.+ps would not operate in your atmosphere," said the captain, showing pleasure at Thornd.y.k.e's enthusiasm. "It is simple enough when you have studied the climatic differences between the two countries. You have much to contend with--the winds, for instance, the heat and cold, etc.; this is the only known country where the winds are subjugated. I have never been in your world, but from what I have heard of it I am not anxious to see it. Your atmosphere and climate are so changeable and so diverse in different localities that I have heard your people spend much of their time in seeking congenial climes. I think it was a man who came from London that claimed he once had a cold--'a bad cold,' I think he called it. It was a standing joke in the royal family for a long time, and he heard so much about it that he tried to deny what he had said!"

Johnston glanced at the speaker non-plussed, but the captain was looking at Thornd.y.k.e.

"Your climate is delightful here now," said the Englishman; "is it so long at a time?"

"Perpetually; it is regulated every moment, and every year we perfect it in some way."

"Perfect it?"

"Yes, of course, why not? If it ever fails to be up to the usual high standard, it is owing to neglect of those in charge, and neglect is punished severely."

Thornd.y.k.e's eyes sought those of the American incredulously. Seeing which Tradmos looked amused.

"You doubt it," he smiled. "Well, wait till you have been here longer.

The fact is, any one born in our climate could not live in yours. The king experimented on a man who claimed to have only one lung, but who had two sound ones when he was cut open. Well, the king sent him to China, or America, or some such place, and he wheezed himself to death in a week by your clocks. The weather was too fickle for him. Our system has been perfected to such an extent that we live four lives to your one, and our fruits and vegetables are a hundred per cent. better than those in other countries."

"What is the name of your country?" asked Thornd.y.k.e, feeling that he was not losing anything by his boldness.

"Alpha."

"Where is it located?"

"I don't know." Tradmos looked out at the window for a moment as if to ascertain that they were going in the right direction, then he fixed his dark eyes on Thornd.y.k.e and asked hesitatingly:--

"I never thought--I--but do you know where your country is located?"

"Why, certainly."