CHAPTER IX
THE BURIED CITY
Tony clutched Tina and started. Anna's father looked at his daughter ina 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'ssecret!
Tony balanced himself on his toes, squatting, ready to run. He sawAnna burst into tears, heard her pour out her whole story.
"He is such a poor little boy, Papa!" she wept. "He is so hungry andcold! 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, letus go out there to him and...."
Tony did not wait to hear more. With Tina clasped tightly he ran. Heran as fast as his legs would carry him, out, on to the main road.
He saw Vesuvius towering above, a terrible giantess puffing on apoisonous 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. Hecould never, never go back again. Now he was really a thief. He wasrunning 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 shoneand the smoke from Vesuvius sailed straight up in a thin grey line.
THE APPIAN WAY _Photo by Courtesy of Italian Tourist Information Office_]
But Tony awoke in a fever. Tina stood beside him, her tail beating apleasant 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 themorning? Why did her little god lie so still?
Tony's dark eyes sparkled unnaturally. There were red patches on eithercheek.
For a moment he could not remember where he was. Then it all came backto 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. Theywere going for a walk!
It was a long walk! Miles and miles. Hours and hours. Tony's headthrobbed. His feet ached. Tina's tongue swept the ground.
At last they reached the buried city of Pompeii. Its ruins are now themost 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.
POMPEII]
It was a lie. Tony felt too ill to eat. But he wanted to buy food forTina.
He screwed up his face and added in English, "Poor leetle boy!"
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. Hecrouched beside a fence. When the guide's back was turned, he slippedunder the fence.
He was inside the gates. He was in Pompeii. Really inside the gatesof Pompeii! Standing upon the long, silent streets, in the shadow ofstately ruins.
Columns and statues stood like graceful ghosts. It was a place toimpress any child. To Tony, light-headed with fever, it was a wonderand 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. "Tinklingfountains 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'svoice. "The plumbing was so good that the fountains are still runningtoday."
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." Thismeans "Welcome" in Greek. The Fascists say this when they salute.
In the old Roman Bath was a case with images like mummies. The guideentered the building with his tourist train--a train of human questionmarks.
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 theruins," 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.
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 avolcano during an eruption. When it cools it hardens and becomeslike 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 voicefar down the street. He came out from his corner. The building wasempty.
He looked at the strange, rock-covered images. The little dog was aboutthe size of Tina. He shivered. He went outside. The sun had droppedbehind 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, forthe sight-seers had all gone. Tall columns, like black knights, stoodguard over the buried city.
Tony had heard the guide say that at a certain hour the gates wouldclose. 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 hesank to the earth.
The ruins of Pompeii whirled all about him. Vesuvius blew a greatcolumn of smoke in his face, and he knew no more!