CHAPTER IX
EASTWARD
Returning to the effulgence of the landing field, they found thatpreparations were well under way for their departure. David went at onceto headquarters, where he was to join Mr. Hammond and the otherofficers. Dulcie, dodging her _tuechtiger_ officers, found Red, and hadan earnest talk with him. When they parted, Red was shaking withlaughter, and Dulcie, looking as though she was the kitten and had justeaten one of the canaries, went back to find the bereft Germans, all ofwhom hastened to assure her that they were coming to Americaimmediately.
At last everything was ready, and at one forty-five the ship was walkedout of the hangar. Good-byes were said, thanks exchanged, passengerscounted and they rose, accompanied by cheers, waving handkerchiefs, andthe furious blasts of a brass band. As the Moonbeam gained altitude shewas followed by a giant spotlight that held her in a dazzling arc ofradiance, up, and up, and up until the ray grew dim and was left behind.
Beautiful, bright Friedrichshafen was a memory, and Sunday, thetwentieth of June, was over. David found Dulcie writing in the salon,and whispered, "Has he seen 'em yet?"
"Seen what?" asked Dulcie.
"The menagerie, of course."
"Oh, it's gone," said Dulcie, calmly.
"Gone! Gone where?"
"Well, I hated to bother daddy, it's so bad for his digestion;especially after all those German dinners. So I just farmed every one of'em out. The crew has the marmoset, the reporters have the canaries, Redis taking care of the kitten, and best of all, Doctor Trigg has got thelove birds. So it's all fixed. Pretty clever of me, don't you think?"
"Yes, Dulcie," said David as soon as he could stop laughing. "And I'lltell the world I'm learning about women from you."
"Well," said Dulcie reflectively, "I'm not so bad, at that."
All conditions were perfect for flight, and the Moonbeam sailed gentlyalong through the still clear night. David, standing the first watch,was alone but not lonely. Guiding his ship, planning his future, the"thoughts of youth" were "long, long thoughts," and happy ones.
When Van Arden came to take the wheel, David gave it over reluctantly.He could not sleep. The greatness of their enterprise was growing on himwith every hour; all the marvel of it. Behind and over him were humanbeings; the passengers, officers, and crew, all sleeping serenely andconfidently in this immensity of space. Europe was slipping by beneaththem. Somehow David discovered that its civilization and its eagerinterest in their progress was a comfort, a spiritual safeguard. Now,indeed, they were about to fare into a wild and savage country, wherethere were no hangars, and no materials for repairs. No landing crewswould swarm over the Siberian wastes to seize the ropes and ease thestranger to the earth, should she desire to come. Ahead was Russia! Thefierce recluse of the world, with her ragged mountains and her endlessbarren plains.
Long before dawn, David went again to the control room, where he foundMr. Hammond reading the log.
"We passed over Berlin at three-thirty, David," he remarked. "If airconditions remain good, and we continue making seventy-five miles anhour, I think we can make up some of our lost time today."
"I'm sure of it," replied David, "especially if the wind stays with us."
Monday dawned. It was a glorious soul-shaking dawn that appeared fromnowhere, and without warning drowned the ship in splendor. As Davidwatched, Dulcie came quietly to his side.
"Look, Davie!" she said. "See all those banners of gorgeous color. Don'tthey look like endless lengths of silk, waving and billowing? And thereare little silver ribbons, and all those chiffon clouds. See over therethat deep orange and lavender, shading into rose and blue."
"I'll drop down," said David. "Perhaps the earth is all dressed up,too."
Slowly the Moonbeam lost altitude, sinking gently through the riot ofcolor.
"Very dressy indeed," Dulcie commented, as they gazed down at theordered luxuriance.
"Funny everything over here looks like it had a clean white collar on.Even the woods. And see those farms. See the people waving. I supposethey are shouting, too."
"Look, there's one little speck running for the house," cried Dulcie."I'll bet they have a telephone, and he's gone to tell the neighbors inthe next village about us. See, there is a group of houses away ahead."
"Quite a little settlement. By George, you are right! Look in thesquare. See them come? I am going down a bit closer."
They watched, and Dulcie waved madly. Below, the little toy people wavedtheir arms and hats. Even aprons were torn off and brandished. A fat oldman bowled about, waving and bowing with an air of authority easilydiscernible to the amused watchers above. As the ship passed on,children and dogs followed in a losing race.
"Wasn't that fun?" said Dulcie. "You are nice, Davie. It is sounderstanding of you to know how they feel. That is the thrill thatcomes once in a lifetime for a lot of those people. And they wanted usto know how glad they were to see us."
"Of course they did, and now they are telephoning ahead to othervillages, and getting no end of a kick out of us. I will sail as low asI can, so they can see us plainly. They'll be watching for us all alongthe way. Do you know, miss, that it is time for breakfast? Where do yousuppose the commander is?"
"I'll get him," said Dulcie, "and then we'll eat."
She ran off as Van Arden, giving intangible signs of just having eaten agood meal, came in to take his turn at the wheel.
Mr. Hammond was already eating a substantial breakfast, arguing hotlythe while about politics with Wally, who displayed a positive genius forsaying infuriating things in an innocent and courteous manner. Mr.Hamilton and his secretary sat by a window, where Mr. Hamilton drankblack coffee and ate unbuttered toast while he gazed spellbound at theshifting panorama below. Doctor Sims, at a table by himself, drankstrong tea and read a treatise filled with unwholesome looking chartsand figures. At a table with Dr. Forsythe and the correspondents, DoctorTrigg sat listening to the rapid fire of wit and slang and mildprofanity which flashed from one to the other. They were full ofanecdotes of their stay in Friedrichshafen, and the tales did not losein the telling. But all stopped talking to greet David as he came in.
"'Morning, captain!"
"Hi, captain, what's our next thrill?"
"David, how are you?"
Dulcie smiled. David was liked by everyone. No one could resist hisbrilliant smile, his thick rumpled hair that never would stay flat, histall muscular body with its reassuring look of power. And David's eyes,with their little laugh creases at the corners, were straight and verytrue.
He came in, greeting everyone at once with a manner which made each onefeel that the pleasant word was especially his. It was characteristicthat he noticed Doctor Sims sitting alone, and took a place at histable.
The doctor responded to David's pleasant good-morning with a growl whichwas almost cheerful. Doctor Trigg and the star reporter, a keen-looking,gray-haired man, soon joined them. Doctor Sims closed his book with abaffled air. He never got enough time for research work, and he laidmost of his interruptions to Doctor Trigg. Drat the man; he was alwaysclose by, ready to chat. Chat--who wanted to chat? What if they had beenclassmates in the long ago, and co-educators ever since? Why, by all thetest tubes in the world, should a man as learned and profound as wasDoctor Trigg in his chosen sphere, why should he want to chat?
Doctor Sims did not wait. He leaped upon his quarry.
"Yar-r-r-r-r-r," he quoth forcibly. "Yar-r-r, Martin! What is yourlatest discovery this morning? More enthusiasm? More youthful prodigies,or more astonishing propensities? Let's hear 'em, and get it over with."
"Why, no, Sims, I can't say that I have anything profound or of specificvalue to offer for your consideration today."
"How did you like Friedrichshafen, Doctor Sims?" asked the starreporter. He was a friendly man.
"Wonderful, wonderful!" said Doctor Sims. "I ransacked the city andmiles of its environs. I found rich returns for my labor."
>
"He's a collector," explained Doctor Trigg to the reporter.
"Epitaphs," added Doctor Sims proudly.
"Ep--" said the reporter, and stopped.
"Precisely," said Doctor Trigg. "Ep-itaphs. On monuments, you know:
'Here lieth the body of Israel Jones, Till Judgment Day shall uncover his bones'."
"A very poor imitative effort on your part," said Doctor Simscaustically.
"It was just a sort of sample," Doctor Trigg defended his effort. "Iwill be willing to wager one of these excellent doughnuts that theseyoung men, collectively, have never read six epitaphs in their lives."
"I haven't," confessed David, his sunny smile full on Doctor Sims'gloomy countenance. "I bet they are interesting. You could sure get akick out of some of them. Like collecting stamps."
"Much more enthralling, much more appealing." Doctor Sims pushed backhis teacup and book. "It's like this: Paleontologists have found thatfrom the most remote antiquity--"
Doctor Trigg interrupted. "Nicholas," he said, "it is a pity to embarkon a subject of such widespread interest at so inauspicious a moment,when you will certainly be obliged to discontinue your discourse beforeyou have voiced a tenth of your thesis. Let me advise you to reserveyour dissertation for a time when these young men will have finishedtheir duties and be free to assure you a couple of hours ofuninterrupted attention."
He looked solemnly at the reporter, who looked solemnly back.
"That would be better, doctor, if you don't mind. I'd hate to miss it,and I've got to dash off pretty soon, and make out my reports."
Doctor Sims looked almost pleased. "All right, all right, and I will getmy recent additions transcribed and cataloged, and the snapshotsdeveloped."
"Just where are we, captain?" asked Doctor Trigg, hastily taking up anew subject.
David explained. "We must be approaching the border of Russia, now," headded. They crowded to the window.
"What wonderful scenery!" exclaimed the star reporter. "It is growingmuch wilder and more rugged. Even those plains over there look harsh,and cold."
They watched a gradual change take place and about ten o'clock they sawahead a city which they knew must be Tilsit, East Prussia. They dippedlow, and went slowly over it, while the populace surged out of buildingsin black masses. They had been heralded by telegram and radio, andcheers went up, and flags were waved. When they hung over the publicsquare, they dropped a bundle of postcards. Dulcie, hoping some childwould pick it up, dropped a handkerchief with an American quarter tiedin the corner.
Winds continued favorable, even and strong, and due east. They were nowgoing seventy-five miles an hour, and were gradually making up some ofthe time lost in the storm over the Atlantic. All conditions seemed sokindly that David actually felt nervous. He watched the instruments, andtested the feel of the wheel every few minutes.
Luncheon came and went.
At about two o'clock, when the passengers were enjoying the passingview, someone exclaimed, "City ahead!"
"It is Dvinsk," said Mr. Hammond. "Friends, we are now crossing theSoviet frontier." He stood watching until the city, some miles to theright, had disappeared.
"We are in Russia," he continued. "Leningrad and Moscow are ahead, butour course lies between them. Viatka is directly in our line of flight,about six hundred miles east of Moscow."
David, still impressed by the size and loneliness of the country theywere entering, slipped on an overall, and went up the ladder leadinginto the hull. He gained the catwalk, and made his cautious way alongthe narrow foothold that ran the entire length of the hull.
Reaching the end of the walk, David looked over the intakes of the fueland water lines, which entered there. Everything was in perfect shape.He went back, and looked into the baggage room and then into the storagerooms for the cartridge-like cases of fuel gas.
Then he went down to Red's cabin. Red was writing postcards, aided andabetted by the kitten.
"Hello, fella!" he cried. "Come up to see me cat? Ain't he a beaut? Youcan tell he's a cat at first glance, small as he is. Now a pup at thatage might turn into anything between a dachshund and a Great Dane. Thoseseem to be the most popular breeds in this country. But a cat--well, acat's a regular cat from its first breath. Just a soft bundle of mews,and scratches, and devilment.
"Did Miss Hammond tell you, now, about how those little German bandsgave her a menagerie? She farmed 'em all out on us. I think she'spartial to me, Dave, because she gave me the kitten. I suggested lettin'Wally take care of the bit of a monkey, but she said she wouldn't 'trustto his finer feelings'. She didn't make it clear whose she meant; justtwinkled those devastatin' eyes at me, and walked off, leavin' me withthis bit of fur. I've named him Trouble. He cries in a loud voice when Ileave him, and I daren't let him out for a second. Imagine those clawssprinting up a gas bag. So I spend most of my idle moments here, just tohearten him. But if you want fun, go see the crew and their share of themenagerie."
"Well, Mr. Hammond will inspect around here some fine day, and then wewill be in wrong," warned David.
"Not a bit! Just the first roar, and Miss Dulcie will slip up the wayshe does, and she will say, 'Why, they are mine, daddy, and these nicemen are keeping them for me,' and I'll bet we will each get a medal."
"Likely to be that way," said David, laughing. "Do you see much of Cramlately?"
"Not so much. He sort of keeps to himself. I cross his path every littlewhile. Gosh, Davie, the truth is I'm tryin' to keep from giving him asock." Red sighed. "He's my one bad dream."
"I don't see why you take him so hard," said David. "You sound as thoughhe had grabbed off your best girl."
"Oh, of course he did that," admitted Red easily. "With their first oilwell. But that's nothing. I always manage to have a few spares. It'snothing like that. He did other things. Well, I won't hit him unless heharms you, David, really tries to do you dirt. It's the nasty way he hasof sayin' things that makes him dangerous. Not so much the things hesays, but the way he says 'em." Red shrugged his shoulders as though torid himself of an unpleasant subject. "Say, how's your little gadgetcomin' on these days?"
David's face lighted.
"It's finished, Red, as far as it can be without a working model. Youknow, I feel as though I had stumbled on something darned good. Gee, Ihope it wins that school prize. Ten thousand dollars! Sounds good,doesn't it?"
"Good enough," said Red, "but none too good. You know I've a sense forengines, and everything that concerns them and I'm telling you, you'vegot a great thing there."
"I think so, Red. I'm like you; I feel pretty sure of it. I didn't havethat feeling for any of the other things I rigged up. I didn't seem tohave much interest in them, though they worked. You know, they are usinga couple of them back at the plant, right now. But this is different.From the minute the principle of the thing flashed into my mind, I likedit. And think what it would mean to dirigible transportation!"
"I'll say! It ought to increase the average speed of a dirigible fifteento twenty per cent."
"If it works," hedged David cautiously.
"Oh, it'll work! If we hadn't come on this trip you could have tried itout before this, couldn't you?"
"It will keep, and there will be plenty of time. It could be made intwenty-four hours, if necessary," said David.
"Well, don't let anything happen to the plans, and keep them under yourhat," advised Red.
"You bet," said David. "Do you know that we are over Russia now?"
"Yeah! We crossed the frontier while I was down in an egg looking at anengine. One of those engineers is bugs on geography, and he spoutedenough facts about Russia to fill a book. I'll say they have some madlooking country, haven't they? But not many people so far. Towns kind ofscattered."
"Wait a day or two," David prophesied. "I have a hunch that this isCentral Park to what's ahead. Can you leave the cat long enough to lookthings over a bit?"
Red assented, and felt exploringly under his pillow. He brought ou
t asmall can.
"God help me, I even have to steal condensed cream for me cat!" he said.
Monday evening passed uneventfully. During the night the Moonbeamencountered a skirmish of winds which she rode so evenly that there wasscarcely any discomfort on the ship. The instruments, however, as wellas radio reports from Irkutsk, Chita, and Chabarovsk in Siberia warnedthem of thick and uncertain weather ahead.
Viatka was passed at ten minutes after ten Tuesday morning; and withdaylight appeared the grim, austere peaks of the Ural Mountains. As thelight became clearer, the mountains emerged from their enveloping fogsand reared their bleak monstrous crests as though reaching for thepassing ship. The panorama was of surpassing grandeur. At ten-thirtythey sailed over the city of Kisel. Here they approached as low as wassafe, and dropped several sacks of mail.
Cold biting winds from the Arctic buffeted them. Overcoats, sweaters andmufflers appeared, but the elements could not keep the awed sightseersfrom the windows, where they watched the slow march of the Titans below.Their speed was reduced for safety's sake here, for the winds were moreand more uncertain. The mountains covered a vast space, but the generaltrend of the range was northeast, the direction that the Moonbeam wasgradually following. About the base of the mountains were dark blots offorests, but they covered little of the great areas, bald, repellent,and threatening, that looked from the ship as though carved of solidstone.
They passed several tiny hamlets. To their surprise, the inhabitantsobserved the ship with unfeigned terror. They left their huts, looked,and one and all took refuge in the surrounding woods. With the glassesit was easy to see their terror as they fled, mothers carrying babies,and small children being dragged ruthlessly away to safety by agitatedfathers.
"What fools!" said Wally to Dulcie.
"I don't think so at all," she replied hotly. "I suppose in their placeyou would know all about us by instinct? I am just as sorry for them asI can be."
The squally winds over the mountains were beginning to be very apparent.They could feel the Moonbeam struggle against the intermittent gusts.Later the wind settled into a steady gale. The five great engines weredoing their utmost, but the ship hung in the air as though anchored.David raised her to a higher altitude, but at three thousand feet abovethe mountains the wind still tore with a velocity against which theycould make no headway. He dropped back and tried a southerly direction,but met with heavy squalls. Resuming their first course, he held theMoonbeam steady, her nose to the blast. Finally the wind, while keepingits intensity, began to come in gusts. Between them, David worked theship north, turning nose on when the hurricane redoubled its fury.Slowly, with infinite care and patience, he maneuvered the ship highabove the rough mountains, until he saw the plains far below.
With the stone peaks of the mountains past, he dropped down to twothousand feet, where he found comparatively smooth sailing. Working hisway, he steered the Moonbeam at an angle which brought her into thecourse she had left hours before. The wind still blew hard, but the shipagain made headway against it.
As they proceeded into lower country, plains appeared, many of themdotted over with clusters of lakes, some vast in size, others tinypools. It was bitterly cold. They were well north of sixty degreeslatitude, which runs just south of Seward, Alaska. During the night theytouched the Arctic Circle.