When the World Shook: Being an Account of the Great Adventure of Bastin, Bickley and ArbuthnotHaggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider)
Science
When the World Shook: Being an Account of the Great Adventure of Bastin, Bickley and Arbuthnot
Haggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider)
Adventure stories; Science fiction
Now they grew warm again, as indeed we did also—too warm. Then in my
turn I had an idea. I knew that by now the sun would be beating hotly
against the rock of the mount, and suggested to Bickley, that, if
possible, the best thing we could do would be to get them into its
life-giving rays. He agreed, if we could make them understand and they
were able to walk. So I tried. First I directed the Ancient’s attention
to the mouth of the cave which at this distance showed as a white
circle of light. He looked at it and then at me with grave inquiry. I
made motions to suggest that he should proceed there, repeating the
word “Sun” in the Orofenan tongue. He understood at once, though
whether he read my mind rather than what I said I am not sure.
Apparently the Glittering Lady understood also and seemed to be most
anxious to go. Only she looked rather pitifully at her feet and shook
her head. This decided me.
I do not know if I have mentioned anywhere that I am a tall man and
very muscular. She was tall, also, but as I judged not so very heavy
after her long fast. At any rate I felt quite certain that I could
carry her for that distance. Stooping down, I lifted her up, signing to
her to put her arms round my neck, which she did. Then calling to
Bickley and Bastin to bring along the Ancient between them, with some
difficulty I struggled out of the sepulchre, and started down the cave.
She was more heavy than I thought, and yet I could have wished the
journey longer. To begin with she seemed quite trustful and happy in my
arms, where she lay with her head against my shoulder, smiling a little
as a child might do, especially when I had to stop and throw her long
hair round my neck like a muffler, to prevent it from trailing in the
dust.
A bundle of lavender, or a truss of new-mown hay, could not have been
more sweet to carry and there was something electric about the touch of
her, which went through and through me. Very soon it was over, and we
were out of the cave into the full glory of the tropical sun. At first,
that her eyes might become accustomed to its light and her awakened
body to its heat, I set her down where shadow fell from the overhanging
rock, in a canvas deck chair that had been brought by Marama with the
other things, throwing the rug about her to protect her from such wind
as there was. She nestled gratefully into the soft seat and shut her
eyes, for the motion had tired her. I noted, however, that she drew in
the sweet air with long breaths.
Then I turned to observe the arrival of the Ancient, who was being
borne between Bickley and Bastin in what children know as a
dandy-chair, which is formed by two people crossing their hands in a
peculiar fashion. It says much for the tremendous dignity of his
presence that even thus, with one arm round the neck of Bickley and the
other round that of Bastin, and his long white beard falling almost to
the ground, he still looked most imposing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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