CHAPTER XXXIV
THE DECISION
"Giants!" exclaimed the Doctor, staring across the country towardsOrlog. There was dismay in his voice.
The Big Business Man, standing beside him, clutched at his robe. "Howmany do you make out; they look like three to me."
The Doctor strained his eyes into the dim, luminous distance. "Three, Ithink--one taller than the others; it must be Jack." His voice was alittle husky, and held none of the confidence his words were intended toconvey.
Lylda was upon her feet now, standing beside the Chemist. She staredtowards Orlog searchingly, then turned to him and said quietly, "It mustbe Jack and Aura, with Loto." She stopped with quivering lips; then withan obvious effort went on confidently. "It cannot be that the God youbelieve in would let anything happen to them."
"They're coming this way--fast," said the Big Business Man. "We'll knowin a few moments."
The figures, plainly visible now against the starry background, were outin the open country, half a mile perhaps from the lake, and wereevidently rapidly approaching Arite.
"If it should be Targo's men," the Big Business Man added, "we must takemore of the drug. It is death then for them or for us."
In silence the six of them stood ankle deep in the water waiting. Themultitude of little people on the beach and in the nearby city streetswere dispersing now. A steady stream was flowing up the steps from thebeach, and back into the city. Five minutes more and only a fringe ofthose in whom frenzy still raged remained at the water's edge; a few ofthese, more daring, or more unreasoning than the others, plunged intothe lake and swam about the giants' ankles unnoticed.
Suddenly Lylda gave a sigh of relief. "Aura it is," she cried. "Can younot see, there at the left? Her short robe--you see--and her hair,flowing down so long; no man is that."
"You're right," said the Big Business Man. "The smallest one on thisside is Loto; I can see him. And Jack is leading. It's all right;they're safe. Thank God for that; they're safe, thank God!" The ferventrelief in his voice showed what a strain he had been under.
It was Jack; a moment more left no doubt of that. The Big Business Manturned to the Chemist and Lylda, where they stood close together, andlaying a hand upon the shoulder of each said with deep feeling: "We haveall come through it safely, my friends. And now the way lies clearbefore us. We must go back, out of this world, to which we have broughtonly trouble. It is the only way; you must see that."
Lylda avoided his eyes.
"All through it safely," she murmured after him. "All safeexcept--except my father." Her arm around the Chemist tightened. "Allsafe--except those." She turned her big, sorrowful eyes towards thebeach, where a thousand little mangled figures lay dead and dying. "Allsafe--except those."
It was only a short time before the adventurers from Orlog arrived, andLoto was in his mother's arms. The Very Young Man, with mixed feelingsof pride at his exploit and relief at being freed from so grave aresponsibility, happily displayed Aura to his friends.
"Gosh, I'm glad we're all together again; it had me scared, that's afact." His eye fell upon the beach. "Great Scott, you've been having afight, too? Look at that." The Big Business Man and the Doctor outlinedbriefly what had happened, and the Very Young Man answered in turn withan account of his adventures.
Aura joined her sister and Loto. The Chemist after a moment stood apartfrom the others thinking deeply. He had said little during all theevents of the afternoon and evening. Now he reached the inevitabledecision that events had forced upon him. His face was very serious ashe called his companions around him.
"We must decide at once," he began, looking from one to the other, "whatwe are to do. Our situation here has become intolerable--desperate. Iagree with you," his glance rested on the Big Business Man an instant;"by staying here we can only do harm to these misguided people."
"Of course," the Big Business Man interjected under his breath.
"If the drugs should ever get out of our possession down here,immeasurable harm would result to this world, as well as causing our owndeaths. If we leave now, we save ourselves; although we leave the Oroidsruled by Targo. But without the power of the drugs, he can do onlytemporary harm. Eventually he will be overthrown. It is the best way, Ithink. And I am ready to leave."
"It's the only way," the Big Business Man agreed. "Don't you think so?"The Doctor and the Very Young Man both assented.
"The sooner the better," the Very Young Man added. He glanced at Aura,and the thought that flashed into his mind made his heart jumpviolently.
The Chemist turned to Lylda. "To leave your people," he said gently, "Iknow how hard it is. But your way now lies with me--with us." He pulledLoto up against him as he spoke.
Lylda bowed her head. "You speak true, my husband, my way does lie withyou. I cannot help the feeling that we should stay. But with you my waydoes lie; whither you direct, we shall go--for ever."
The Chemist kissed her tenderly. "My sister also?" he smiled gently atAura.
"My way lies with you, too," the girl answered simply. "For no man herehas held my heart."
The Very Young Man stepped forward. "Do we take them with us?" Heindicated Oteo and Eena, who stood silently watching.
"Ask them, Lylda," said the Chemist.
Calling them to her, Lylda spoke to the youth and the girl in her nativetongue. They listened quietly; Oteo with an almost expressionlessstolidity of face, but with his soft, dog-like eyes fixed upon hismistress; Eena with heaving breast and trembling limbs. When Lyldapaused they both fell upon their knees before her. She put her handsupon their heads and smiling wistfully, said in English:
"So it shall be; with me you shall go, because that is what you wish."
The Very Young Man looked around at them all with satisfaction. "Thenit's all settled," he said, and again his glance fell on Aura. Hewondered why his heart was pounding so, and why he was so thrilled withhappiness; and he was glad he was able to speak in so matter-of-fact atone.
"I don't know how about you," he added, "but, Great Scott, I'm hungry."
"Since we have decided to go," the Chemist said, "we had better start assoon as possible. Are there things in the house, Lylda, that you care totake?"
Lylda shook her head. "Nothing can I take but memories of this world,and those would I rather leave." She smiled sadly. "There are somethings I would wish to do--my father----"
"It might be dangerous to wait," the Big Business Man put in hurriedly."The sooner we start, the better. Another encounter would only mean moredeath." He looked significantly at the beach.
"We've got to eat," said the Very Young Man.
"If we handle the drugs right," the Chemist said, "we can make the tripout in a very short time. When we get above the forest and well on ourway we can rest safely. Let us start at once."
"We've got to eat," the Very Young Man insisted. "And we've got to havefood with us."
The Chemist smiled. "What you say is quite true, Jack, we have got tohave food and water; those are the only things necessary to our trip."
"We can make ourselves small now and have supper," suggested the VeryYoung Man. "Then we can fill up the bottles for our belts and takeenough food for the trip."
"No, we won't," interposed the Big Business Man positively. "We won'tget small again. Something might happen. Once we get through thetunnels----" He stopped abruptly.
"Great Scott! We never thought of that," ejaculated the Very Young Man,as the same thought occurred to him. "We'll have to get small to getthrough the tunnels. Suppose there's a mob there that won't let us in?"
"Is there any other way up to the forest?" the Doctor asked.
The Chemist shook his head. "There are a dozen different tunnels, allnear here, and several at Orlog, that all lead to the upper surface. ButI think that is the only way."
"They might try to stop us," the Big Business Man suggested. "Wecertainly had better get through them as quickly as we possibly can."
It was Aura who diffidently suggested
the plan they finally adopted.They all reduced their size first to about the height of the Chemist'shouse. Then the Very Young Man prepared to make himself sufficientlysmall to get the food and water-bottles, and bring them up to the largersize.
"Keep your eye on me," he warned. "Somebody might jump on me."
They stood around the house, while the Very Young Man, in the garden,took the drug and dwindled in stature to Oroid size. There were none ofthe Oroids in sight, except some on the beach and others up the streetsilently watching. As he grew smaller the Very Young Man sat downwearily in the wreck of what once had been Lylda's beautiful garden. Hefelt very tired and hungry, and his head was ringing.
When he was no longer changing size he stood up in the garden path. Thehouse, nearly its proper dimensions once more, was close at hand, silentand deserted. Aura stood in the garden beside it, her shoulders pushingaside the great branches of an overhanging tree, her arm resting uponthe roof-top. The Very Young Man waved up at her and shouted: "Be out ina minute," and then plunged into the house.