CHAPTER XI
CAPTAIN ALDEN STANDS REVEALED
Hardly had the trembling Arab salaamed and departed in terror of soul,knowing not what fearful events might be impending, when Bohannanappeared. The smile on the Master's lips, the sternly calculatingexpression in his eyes, faded into something as near astonishment asthis strange man ever felt, when the major exclaimed:
"Well, faith now, what d'you think? The most improbable thing you canimagine!"
"What may that be, Major?"
"It's not what it may be, it's what it _is_ that's astonishing me.We've got a stowaway aboard us!"
"Stowaway? Impossible!"
"True, nevertheless. Manderson has just now routed him out of thestarboard storage-room, near the reserve petrol-tank."
"Hm! Who is he?"
Bohannan shrugged stout shoulders.
"Don't know yet. He's still dopy. Just coming out of the effects ofthe lethalizing gas."
"Ah, yes, yes, I see. One of the former crew, I suppose. This isquite inexcusable. That a man should have been overlooked and leftaboard--it won't do, Major. Kloof was responsible for that room. Kloofwill have to suffer. Any other news?"
"Travers, the New Zealander, is wounded."
"Badly?"
"I'm afraid he's hard hit, sir."
"Well, I'll have a look at him and at this stowaway. Where are they,now?"
"In the lazaret, I suppose you call it. Though what a hospital is,aboard an air-liner, blest if I know!"
"Sick-bay, we'll call it. Problems rising already. A stowaway--ratherodd, I must say. Still, as a problem, it's not hard to solve. Nothingsimpler than dropping a man overboard."
"You--surely, you wouldn't do that!" ejaculated the major, startled.His rubicund face grew round with amazement.
"That remains to be seen. Come, let's have a look at him!"
Together they went out into the brightly lighted main corridor, nearthe ladder to the upper gallery, turned to the right and walked aft.A door, just a little abaft the chartroom and, opposite the Master'scabin, gave a glimpse of the as yet unoccupied smoke-room. Asternof this, they passed the dining-saloon with its long table andits swivel-chairs. Beyond several stateroom doors they came to thetransverse corridor at the other side of which, directly facing themain corridor, the engine-room door opened.
Entering the engine-room, they found themselves in a brightly lightedcompartment fifteen feet wide by twenty-six feet, seven inches long.This compartment contained six Norcross-Brail engines, each capableof developing 1,150 H.P. The engines were in charge of Auchincloss andtwo assistant engineers, who had all six engines filling the room witha drowsy drone, like ten billion bees humming themselves to sleep insome mysterious hive.
So nicely adjusted was every part, so accurately true was every shaft,bearing, gear, that practically no vibration could be noted. Thevoice, in ordinary tones, carried perfectly; and yet in that smallspace nearly 7,000 H.P. were being produced and transmitted to thepropellers and to the storage batteries that operated helicopters andcompressed-air system, as well as the lighting-plant of the air-liner.
As the two men entered the engine-room, the Master nodded toAuchincloss. He stood a moment gazing at the brightly flecked metal ofthe engines, the gleaming walls--hollow and filled with noninflammablehelium gas of great lifting power--the men on watch over all thissplendid mechanism. Then he passed between engines No. 4 and No. 5,toward the aft wall of the compartment.
Four doors opened in the bulkhead, there. Two communicated withstorerooms, one opened into the passage that led to the aftobservation pit, the fourth gave access to the sick-bay. This door theMaster slid back. Followed by the major he passed through.
A small but fully equipped hospital met their eyes. Cots,operating-table, instrument-cases, sterilizers, everything wascomplete. Immaculate cleanliness reigned. On two of the cots, men werelying.
Beyond, Captain Alden--still fully dressed--was sitting on a whitemetal chair. The captain's face was still concealed by the celluloidmask, but a profound pallor was visible on the lower portion of hisright cheek and along his left jaw. The set of that jaw showed aninvincible obstinacy that bespoke rebellion.
Dr. Lombardo, a dark-skinned Florentine, who had been talking withCaptain Alden, turned at the Master's entrance into the sick-bay.Already Lombardo had put on a white linen jacket. Though he had notyet had time to change his trousers, he nevertheless presented asemi-professional air as he advanced to meet the newcomers.
"I'm glad you're here, sir," said he to the Master. "There's troubleenough, already."
"Stowaway?" The Master advanced to the nearer cot.
"Yes, sir. Perhaps not voluntarily so. You know how he was found."
"Such oversight is inexcusable!" The Master leaned down and shook theman by the shoulder. "Come, now!" he demanded. "What's your name?"Curiously he looked at the stranger, a man of great strength, withlong arms and powerful, prehensile hands that reminded one of anape's.
"It's no use questioning him, sir," put in Lombardo, while the majorpeered curiously at Alden and at the other cot where a man was lyingwith a froth of bright, arterial blood on his lips. Though this manwas suffering torment, no groan escaped him. A kind of gray shadow hadsettled about eyes and mouth--the shadow of the death angel's wings.
"It's no use, sir," repeated the doctor. "He hasn't recoveredconsciousness enough, yet, to be questioned. When he does, I'llreport."
"Do so!" returned the Master, curtly. "I hardly think we need use muchceremony in disposing of him." He turned to the other cot. "Well, sir,how about this man?"
"I'm--all right, sir," weakly coughed the wounded New Zealander. Hetried to bring a hand to his forehead, but could hardly lift itfrom the sheet. The doctor, with compressed lips, slightly shook anegativing head, as the Master raised interrogative brows.
"Serious," Lombardo whispered. "Shot through the right lung. Bulletstill there. Severe internal hemorrhage. I may be able to operate,with Daimamoto assisting, but only in case the patient rallies. Wereally need a nurse, on this expedition. Medically speaking, we'reshort-handed. However, I'll do my best, sir."
"I know you will," answered the Master. He stood a moment gazing downat the New Zealander, with stern face and tight mouth. This man on thecot had already given much for the expedition, and might give all. Notwithout blood and suffering--death, perhaps--was the Master's dream tocome to its fruition. After a moment, the Master turned away. He facedCaptain Alden.
"Your wound not yet dressed?" demanded he.
"No, sir, not yet."
"And why not, pray?"
"He's simply refused all attention, whatever!" put in the doctor.
"I have a reason, sir," Alden proffered.
"No reason can overrule my orders!" the Master exclaimed. "I commandedyou to report to Dr. Lombardo for treatment."
"Nevertheless, sir, I refuse--"
"Insubordination will not be condoned, sir!"
"My reason is valid. When you have heard it, you will understand."
"State your reason, sir!"
"I decline--here."
For a long moment the eyes of the Master met those of Captain Alden,that strangely peered out at him through the eyeholes of the pink,celluloid mask. Bohannan and the doctor stood by, curiously observingthis conflict of two wills. Silence came, save for the droning purrof the engines, the buffeting gusts of wind along the fuselage, theslight trembling of the gigantic fabric as it hurled itself eastwardthrough the high air of night.
"This is inexcusable," said the Master, crisply. "I give you one lastchance. Either permit treatment, or consider yourself under arrest."
"Before you proceed to such lengths," the captain replied, "I ask onefavor of you."
"What favor?"
"Two minutes alone with you, sir."
"Come with me!"
The Master turned and left the sick-bay. Alden rose, weakly enough,and followed him. As the door opened and closed again, the engineshummed louder, then sank again to the
ir dull murmur. Bohannan remainedwith the doctor.
"Well, faith, can you beat that?" exclaimed the major. "There's anEthiopian in the woodpile, sure enough. Something strange, here, I'mthinking! Something damned strange here!"
"Is there anything here that _isn't_?" asked Lombardo, with an oddlaugh, as he turned back to the cot where lay the dying New Zealander.
Alone in his cabin with Captain Alden, the Master faced theinsubordinate member of his crew with an expression of hardimplacability. The captain stood there determinedly confronting him.His right hand held to the table for support. His left sleeve wassodden with blood; the left arm, thrust into the breast of his coat,was obviously numbed, paralyzed.
"Well, sir, what have you to say for yourself?" coldly demanded theMaster.
"I repeat that I cannot--and will not--submit myself to any medicalattention from any member of this expedition."
"This is dangerous ground you're treading!" the Master exclaimed. Hisvoice had deepened, grown ominous. "You understood perfectly well theconditions of the undertaking--unquestioning obedience to my orders,with life-and-death powers in my hands, to punish insubordination."
"I understand all that, sir," answered the captain. "I understand itnow. Nevertheless, I repeat my refusal to obey."
"By Allah! There must be some deep cause here!" ejaculated the Master,his eyes smoldering. "I intend to work my will, but I am a man ofreason. You are entitled to a hearing state your objection, sir. Speakup!"
The captain's answer was to raise his right hand and to loosen thecords securing the celluloid mask. As the Master watched, steadyinghis nerves against the shock of what he felt must be a nameless horrorunderneath, Alden tore away the mask and threw it upon the table.
"Here is my reason, sir," said he very quietly, "for not permittingLombardo, or any other man here, to dress my wound."
"Good God!" exclaimed the Master, shaken clean out of his aplomb. Theshock he had expected had come to him, but in far other guise thanhe had counted on. With clenched fists and widening eyes he peered atAlden.
The face he now suddenly beheld, under the clear white light of thecabin, was not the hideous, mangled wreck of humanity--The Kaiser'sMasterpiece--he had expected to see.
No--far, and very far from that!
It was the face of a woman. One of the most beautiful women his eyesever had rested on.
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