CHAPTER XII
THE START
On the evening of November 4th, 1923, the four friends again assembledat the Scientific Club for the start of their momentous adventure. TheDoctor was the last to arrive, and found the other three anxiouslyawaiting him. He brought with him the valise containing the ring and asuitcase with the drugs and equipment necessary for the journey. Hegreeted his friends gravely.
"The time has come, gentlemen," he said, putting the suitcase on thetable.
The Big Business Man took out the ring and held it in his handthoughtfully.
"The scene of our new life," he said with emotion. "What does it hold instore for us?"
"What time is it?" asked the Very Young Man. "We've got to hurry. Wewant to get started on time--we mustn't be late."
"Everything's ready, isn't it?" asked the Banker. "Who has the belts?"
"They're in my suitcase," answered the Very Young Man. "There it is."
The Doctor laid the ring and handkerchief on the floor under the lightand began unpacking from his bag the drugs and the few small articlesthey had decided to try and take with them. "You have the food andwater," he said.
The Big Business Man produced three small flasks of water and six flat,square tins containing compressed food. The Very Young Man opened one ofthem. "Chocolate soldiers we are," he said, and laughed.
The Banker was visibly nervous and just a little frightened. "Are yousure you haven't forgotten something?" he asked, quaveringly.
"It wouldn't make a great deal of difference if we had," said theDoctor, with a smile. "The belts may not contract with us at all; we mayhave to leave them behind."
"Rogers didn't take anything," put in the Very Young Man. "Come on;let's get undressed."
The Banker locked the doors and sat down to watch the men make theirlast preparations. They spoke little while they were disrobing; thesolemnity of what they were about to do both awed and frightened them.Only the Very Young Man seemed exhilarated by the excitement of thecoming adventure.
In a few moments the three men were dressed in their white woolenbathing suits. The Very Young Man was the first to be fully equipped.
"I'm ready," he announced. "All but the chemicals. Where are they?"
Around his waist he had strapped a broad cloth belt, with a number ofpockets fastened to it. On his feet were felt-lined cloth shoes, withhard rubber soles; he wore a wrist watch. Under each armpit was fastenedthe pouch for carrying the drugs.
"Left arm for red vials," said the Doctor. "Be sure of that--we mustn'tget them mixed. Take two of each color." He handed the Very Young Manthe tin boxes.
All the men were ready in a moment more.
"Five minutes of eight," said the Very Young Man, looking at his watch."We're right on time; let's get started."
The Banker stood up among them. "Tell me what I've got to do," he saidhelplessly. "You're going all but me; I'll be left behind alone."
The Big Business Man laid his hand on the Banker's shoulderaffectionately. "Don't look so sad, George," he said, with an attempt atlevity. "We're not leaving you forever--we're coming back."
The Banker pressed his friend's hand. His usual crusty manner was quitegone now; he seemed years older.
The Doctor produced the same spoon he had used when the Chemist made hisdeparture into the ring. "I've kept it all this time," he said, smiling."Perhaps it will bring us luck." He handed it to the Banker.
"What you have to do is this," he continued seriously. "We shall alltake an equal amount of the drug at the same instant. I hope it will actupon each of us at the same rate, so that we may diminish uniformly insize, and thus keep together."
"Gosh!" said the Very Young Man. "I never thought of that. Suppose itdoesn't?"
"Then we shall have to adjust the difference by taking other smalleramounts of the drug. But I think probably it will.
"You must be ready," he went on to the Banker, "to help us on to thering if necessary."
"Or put us back if we fall off," said the Very Young Man. "I'm going tosit still until I'm pretty small. Gracious, it's going to feel funny."
"After we have disappeared," continued the Doctor, "you will wait, say,until eleven o'clock. Watch the ring carefully--some of us may have tocome back before that time. At eleven o'clock pack up everything"--helooked around the littered room with a smile--"and take the ring back tothe Biological Society."
"Keep your eye on it on the way back," warned the Very Young Man."Suppose we decide to come out some time later to-night--you can'ttell."
"I'll watch it all night to-night, here and at the Museum," said theBanker, mopping his forehead.
"Good scheme," said the Very Young Man approvingly. "Anything mighthappen."
"Well, gentlemen," said the Doctor, "I believe we're all ready. Come on,Will."
The Big Business Man was standing by the window, looking out intently.He evidently did not hear the remark addressed to him, for he paid noattention. The Doctor joined him.
Through the window they could see the street below, crowded now withscurrying automobiles. The sidewalks were thronged withpeople--theater-goers, hurrying forward, seeking eagerly their evening'spleasure. It had been raining, and the wet pavements shone with long,blurred yellow glints from the thousands of lights above. Down thestreet they could see a huge blazing theater sign, with the name of apopular actress spelt in letters of fire.
The Big Business Man threw up the window sash and took a deep breath ofthe moist, cool air of the night.
"Good-by, old world," he murmured with emotion. "Shall I see you again,I wonder?" He stood a moment longer, silently staring at the scenebefore him. Then abruptly he closed the window, pulled down the shade,and turned back to the room.
"Come on," said the Very Young Man impatiently. "It's five minutes aftereight. Let's get started."
"Just one thing before we start," said the Doctor, as they gathered inthe center of the room. "We must understand, gentlemen, from the momentwe first take the drug, until we reach our final smallest size, it isimperative, or at least highly desirable, that we keep together. Westart by taking four of the pellets each, according to the memorandaRogers left. By Jove!" he interrupted himself, "that's one thingimportant we did nearly forget."
He went to his coat, and from his wallet took several typewritten sheetsof paper.
"I made three copies," he said, handing them to his companions. "Putthem away carefully; the front pocket will be most convenient, probably.
"It may not be hard for us to keep together," continued the Doctor. "Onthe other hand, we may find it extremely difficult, if not quiteimpossible. In the latter event we will meet at the city of Arite.
"There are two things we must consider. First, we shall be constantlychanging size with relation to our surroundings. In proportion to eachother, we must remain normal in size if we can. Secondly we shall betraveling--changing position in our surroundings. So far as that aspectof the trip is concerned, it will not be more difficult for us to keeptogether, probably, than during any adventurous journey here in thisworld.
"If through accident or any unforeseen circumstance we are separated insize, the one being smallest shall wait for the others. That can beaccomplished by taking a very small quantity of the other drug--probablymerely by touching one of the pellets to the tongue. Do I make myselfclear?" His friends nodded assent.
"If any great separation in relative size occurs," the Doctor went on,"a discrepancy sufficient to make the smallest of us invisible for atime to the others, then another problem presents itself. We must bevery careful, in that event, not to change our position in space--not tokeep on traveling, in other words--or else, when we become the same sizeonce more, we will be out of sight of one another. Geographicallyseparated, so to speak," the Doctor finished with a smile.
"I am so explicit on this point of keeping together," he continued,"because--well, I personally do not want to undertake even part of thisjourney alone."
"You're darn right--me neither," ag
reed the Very Young Man emphatically."Let's get going."
"I guess that's all," said the Doctor, with a last glance around, andfinally facing the Banker. "Good-by, George."
The Banker was quite overcome, and without a word he shook hands witheach of his friends.
The three men sat beside each other on the floor, close to thehandkerchief and ring; the Banker sat in his chair on the other side,facing them, spoon in hand. In silence they each took four of thepellets. Then the Banker saw them close their eyes; he saw the BigBusiness Man put his hands suddenly on the floor as though to steadyhimself.
The Banker gripped the arms of his chair firmly. He knew exactly what toexpect, yet now when his friends began slowly to diminish in size he wasfilled with surprise and horror. For several minutes no one spoke. Thenthe Very Young Man opened his eyes, looked around dizzily for aninstant, and began feeling with his hands the belt at his waist, hisshoes, wrist-watch, and the pouches under his armpits.
"It's all right," he said with an enthusiasm that contrasted strangelywith the tremor in his voice. "The belt's getting smaller, too. We'regoing to be able to take everything with us."
Again silence fell on the room, broken only by the sound of the threemen on the floor continually shifting their positions as they grewsmaller. In another moment the Doctor clambered unsteadily to his feetand, taking a step backward, leaned up against the cylindrical mahoganyleg of the center-table, flinging his arms around it. His head did notreach the table-top.
The Very Young Man and the Big Business Man were on their feet now, too,standing at the edge of the handkerchief, and clinging to one anotherfor support. The Banker looked down at them and tried to smile. The VeryYoung Man waved his hand, and the Banker found voice to say: "Good-by,my boy."
"Good-by, sir," echoed the Very Young Man. "We're making it."
Steadily they grew smaller. By this time the Doctor had become far toosmall for his arms to encircle the leg of the table. The Banker lookeddown to the floor, and saw him standing beside the table leg, leaningone hand against it as one would lean against the great stone column ofsome huge building.
"Good-by, Frank," said the Banker. But the Doctor did not answer; heseemed lost in thought.
Several minutes more passed in silence. The three men had diminished insize now until they were not more than three inches high. Suddenly theVery Young Man let go of the Big Business Man's arm and looked around towhere the Doctor was still leaning pensively against the table leg. TheBanker saw him speak swiftly to the Big Business Man, but in so small avoice he could not catch the words. Then both little figures turnedtowards the table, and the Banker saw the Very Young Man put his handsto his mouth and shout. And upward to him came the shrillest, tiniestlittle voice he had ever heard, yet a voice still embodying thecharacteristic intonation of the Very Young Man.
"Hey, Doctor!" came the words. "You'll never get here if you don't comenow."
The Doctor looked up abruptly; he evidently heard the words and realizedhis situation. (He was by this time not more than an inch and a half inheight.) He hesitated only a moment, and then, as the other two littlefigures waved their arms wildly, he began running towards them. For morethan a minute he ran. The Very Young Man started towards him, but theDoctor waved him back, redoubling his efforts.
When he arrived at the edge of the handkerchief, evidently he was nearlywinded, for he stopped beside his friends, and stood breathing heavily.The Banker leaned forwards, and could see the three little figures (theywere not as big as the joint of his little finger) talking earnestly;the Very Young Man was gesticulating wildly, pointing towards the ring.One of them made a start, but the others called him back.
Then they began waving their arms, and all at once the Banker realizedthey were waving at him. He leaned down, and by their motions knew thatsomething was wrong--that they wanted him to do something.
Trembling with fright, the Banker left his chair and knelt upon thefloor. The Very Young Man made a funnel of his hands and shouted up:"It's too far away. We can't make it--we're too small!"
The Banker looked his bewilderment. Then he thought suddenly of thespoon that he still held in his hand, and he put it down towards them.The three little figures ducked and scattered as the spoon in theBanker's trembling fingers neared them.
"Not that--the ring. Bring it closer. Hurry--Hurry!" shouted the VeryYoung Man. The Banker, leaning closer, could just hear the words.Comprehending at last, he picked up the ring and laid it near the edgeof the handkerchief. Immediately the little figures ran over to it andbegan climbing up.
The Very Young Man was the first to reach it; the Banker could see himvault upwards and land astraddle upon its top. The Doctor was up in amoment more, and the two were reaching down their hands to help up theBig Business Man. The Banker slid the spoon carefully along the floortowards the ring, but the Big Business Man waved it away. The Bankerlaid the spoon aside, and when he looked at the ring again the BigBusiness Man was up beside his companions, standing upright with themupon the top of the ring.
The Banker stared so long and intently, his vision blurred. He closedhis eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again the little figureson the top of the ring had disappeared.
The Banker felt suddenly sick and faint in the closeness of the room.Rising to his feet, he hurried to a window and threw up the sash. A gustof rain and wind beat against his face as he stood leaning on the sill.He felt much better after a few moments; and remembering his friends, heclosed the window and turned back towards the ring. At first he thoughthe could just make them out, but when he got down on the floor closebeside the ring, he saw nothing.
Almost unnerved, he sat down heavily upon the floor beside thehandkerchief, leaning on one elbow. A corner of the handkerchief wasturned back, and one side was ruffled where the wind from the openedwindow had blown it up. He smoothed out the handkerchief carefully.
For some time the Banker sat quiet, reclining uncomfortably upon thehard floor. The room was very still--its silence oppressed him. Hestared stolidly at the ring, his head in a turmoil. The ring lookedoddly out of place, lying over near one edge of the handkerchief; he hadalways seen it in the center before. Abruptly he put out his hand andpicked it up. Then remembrance of the Doctor's warning flooded over him.In sudden panic he put the ring down again, almost in the same place atthe edge of the handkerchief.
Trembling all over, he looked at his watch; it was a quarter to nine. Herose stiffly to his feet and sank into his chair. After a moment helighted a cigar. The handkerchief lay at his feet; he could just see thering over the edge of his knees. For a long time he sat staring.
The striking of a church clock nearby roused him. He shook himselftogether and blinked at the empty room. In his hand he held an unlightedcigar; mechanically he raised it to his lips. The sound of the churchbells died away; the silence of the room and the loneliness of it madehim shiver. He looked at his watch again. Ten o'clock! Still anotherhour to wait and watch, and then he could take the ring back to theMuseum. He glanced down at the ring; it was still lying by the edge ofthe handkerchief.
Again the Banker fell into a stupor as he stared at the glistening goldband lying on the floor at his feet. How lonely he felt! Yet he was notalone, he told himself. His three friends were still there, hardly twofeet from the toe of his shoe. He wondered how they were making out.Would they come back any moment? Would they ever come back?
And then the Banker found himself worrying because the ring was not inthe center of the handkerchief.
He felt frightened, and he wondered why. Again he looked at his watch.They had been gone more than two hours now. Swiftly he stooped, andlifting the ring, gazed at it searchingly, holding it very close to hiseyes. Then he carefully put it down in the center of the handkerchief,and lay back in his chair with a long sigh of relief. It was all rightnow; just a little while to wait, and then he could take it back to theMuseum. In a moment his eyes blinked, closed, and soon he was fastasleep, lying sprawled out in the big leather chair
and breathingheavily.