by Anthology
Over the fuselage Croft looked down. The hangar was a little shed beneath him. The cluster of watchers were a group of ants. A vast elation filled his breast. Once more his efforts were crowned with complete success. With no more than some minor changes, he felt that his mastery of the Palosian atmosphere was assured. He altered the inclination of his vanes and began sliding swiftly down, gliding gracefully back to a rolling stop at the end.
"My friend!" cried Robur, running up. He caught Jason's hand as Croft climbed out, and stood clinging to it.
And though an hour before Croft would have been well satisfied with such recognition, he became aware now of hunger for something else. Naia—it was her praise, her congratulations, he wished. He turned his head, seeking her presence, and found it, and gasped.
For Naia of Aphur had changed since he left. No more was she a glowing girl in her fluttering garments; instead, she stood before him, habited like himself, in a smaller suit of brown, which clung to her graceful limbs and supple torso like a loosely fitted skin. Gone even were the masses of her golden hair, veiled under a helmet of brown.
But as he met them, her blue eyes were the same. And they were fired with a light of excited anticipation. "Again!" she cried. "Again—and this time I shall go with you, Jason—I would fly!"
"Naia! My cousin!" Robur started forward a pace in instinctive protest.
"Nay." She wheeled upon him, stamping a small foot incased in the soft, brown leather. "Nay, Robur, I shall be the first woman in all Tamarizia to fly." She stretched out slender, appealing arms. "Jason—is there not place between your wings for me?"
"Yes." There was something, almost a veiled suggestion of wider meaning in her words, and Croft caught it as he gave her his hand. "Come," he said, as Robur fell back, and caught her under the arms, lifting her lightly up, until her foot gained a supporting hold and she climbed to her place in the pit of the fuselage.
And then, settling himself once more in position, Croft cried to his men, and once more the engine roared.
Once more the plane advanced, jolting, tipping a little, swaying to the slight irregularities of the ground it ran ahead. Croft moved a lever. The obedient monster answered. The desert fell away beneath. Up, up, Jason of earth and Naia of Aphur, daughter of Ga, and child of Palos, swam toward a brightening sky of pink and gold. Up and up. Once more he stole a sidelong glance at his companion's face. It was lifted, tilted a little back—its blue eyes closed.
"Naia!" Croft spoke to her above the motur's roar.
She lifted her lids, met his somewhat anxious regard, and smiled. And from him she let her gaze wander over the whole vast panorama of desert and mountain and the Central Ocean, blue and green and black and gold, with a froth on the nearer waves like a fringe of white to their shadowed flanks as it caught the light, and Himyra—the red city beginning to glow as Sirius shot his shafts against its ruddy walls, and like a dull chain, supporting the red jewel of the city on the breast of Aphur, the yellow Na, outlined as far as the eye could reach by a band of shimmering green.
And suddenly her breast lifted, her lips parted, and she began to sing—to sing as she had once cried to Croft that the birds she envied sand as they rose against the morning—gladly—clearly—freely as a bird itself might sing.
So sang Naia of Aphur, between Himyra and the sun.
After that Croft taught her how to fly. Having once yielded, he could not well again refuse.
But the promise to teach her she exacted that same morning after they had returned to the palace. Robur ran off to tell Gaya concerning the success of the trial flight, and Naia dared Croft to bathe.
"You will surely teach me to fly?" she said almost as soon as they floated side-by-side.
"No. This morning I yielded because of your great desire to be the first woman of Palos to take to the air. In that I was not altogether wise. Again I would not dare."
"Yet and you yielded to my desire in the matter of this morning, your excuse should be the same in yielding to me again no less. Ah, Jason"—her hand crept out and lay upon his arm—"now I I know the feeling of a bird when it rises and sings from pure joy, for the first time in my life, and the knowledge thrills me. I would know it again, because—" She broke off with a little, gasping breath.
"Because of what?" Croft turned his head and looked into her eyes.
"Because," said she very slowly, "it is to me as though I was no longer mortal—as though I had in some way left the body—cast off al the weight of the flesh."
"Naia! Thou knowest?"
"Aye—since the last time you called me to you. Come and I shall show you, Jason." She turned and dived.
Croft followed. Down, down, he followed her gleaming form through the clear water. And then lost, buried deep in its liquid embrace, screened from all observation by the play of the sun upon its surface, she turned still closer to him, and for the first time since old Zud's blunder had brought misunderstanding she offered him her scarlet mouth.
From that kiss man and woman came up gasping almost as to a new birth. "Ah, Acquor, Acquor," Naia panted, "thou has caught thy little fish at last."
"Fear not, little fish," said Croft in a voice which quivered, "I shall not eat you, but—this time I shall surely hold you fast."
"And you will teach me to fly?" There was witchery in Naia's words and in her smile.
"Yes," said Croft in open surrender. "And Zitu pity me if aught befall thee."
"Nay, I will be careful," Naia sobered. "And—and—"
"And what—is there something more, beloved?" Croft questioned softly.
"Nay." She lowered her eyes. "I must go fasten my girdle about me lest we be late for the morning's meal." She swam toward the sunken steps.
And suddenly Croft knew. In one swift stroke he overtook her. "Beloved, beloved," he whispered to her, "on the day the new light comes to Himyra I shall once more fasten thy girdle with Azil's seal."
"The new light—" The fires in her blue eyes quickened. "Aye, Jason, I would wear it in the new light," she said as, side-by-side, they clambered from the pool.
Half an hour later, Croft met Gaya, and she stopped him. "Wise man, and one of great wisdom, are you, Jason, as Robur, my husband, tells me, saying, accompanied by Naia, you have conquered the air." She put out her hand.
Croft took it. He bent toward her. "Hark you, Gaya, my sweet friend," he said, speaking softly. "The air is nothing. I have conquered something else."
"What mean you?" Gaya questioned.
"That Naia of Aphur, on the day the new light comes, will wear my seal," Croft told her.
"Zitu," she exclaimed, smiling, "you have spoken, then, at last. Wise man I have confessed you, yet to me you have seemed most blind in this as most men are with women. Glad though am I for you both. But now she was in my chamber, and radiant as Ga. She declared you would teach her to fly, and easily deceived as I was, I thought it that."
Chapter Fourteen
It was now over five weeks since the relief expedition had sailed to Bithur from Himyra, and no word had come from Zitra since. Croft willed himself to the scene, and soon learned why nothing had been heard. The expedition had met with disaster; Mazzer had loosed her whole horde upon Jadgor's forces, and the Mazzerians had been armed by Zollaria and led by Zollaria's men. Croft listened in to a conference between a slightly wounded and greatly chastened Jadgor and Medai of Bithur. Jadgor was now willing to turn to the Mouthpiece of Zitu for suggestions and aid—but more than that, this setback had restored his former first loyalty to Tamarizia.
Learning what supplies Jadgor would ask for, Croft immediately set about to install a crash program so that much would be ready before Jadgor's messengers arrived with their requests. Work proceeded at a dizzying pace.
Meanwhile, the day of the great carnival came—the carnival whose high point would be the bringing of light to Himyra. Although to Croft's mind a minor event at this moment, he demonstrated the plane, to the cheers of the watchers. Then came the first public bas
eball game on Palos, once to which all the watchers responded enthusiastically, as the team from the foundry clashed with the team from the airplane shop, ending with a three-to-one victory for the Founders. This brought the festivities to an intermission, since not until dusk would the lights be turned on.
Blue men of Mazzer with torches began moving about the vast circuit of the arena, lighting hundreds of oil flares. Blue girls with skins of tabur hide on their naked backs and shoulders, and metal cups in their hands, began threading the tiers of seats selling a mild, light wine. Venders of fruits and conserves for the women, and baked meats and wheaten cakes plied an active trade. In the rear of Robur's box was spread a table, and a meal was served. And before its beginning Magur, high priest of Aphur, arrived. To him Croft and Naia rose side-by-side and bowed. Naia into her companion's face and flushed from throat to eyes. Magur's coming meant she was to pledge herself to Croft before al the assembled men and women of Aphur, once the new light came on.
And in such fashion was it done. Two heralds with silver trumpets appeared in scarlet livery, the color of Robur's house. From the front of Robur's box they blew a blast.
And on that signal the arena attendants began running to and fro extinguishing all lights. Over the arena night came down as one by one the oil flares died.
Croft gave a final glance to the woman at his side—to her face, her form, to her dress of purple and gold. He had asked her to put it on. It was the garment she had worn on the first formal occasion in which she had ever seen her take part. And its colors were the same as the auric colors of that astral form of hers which he had seen. Taking her hand he led her quite to the front of the box. There on either side had been placed one of Tamarizia's first two arcs. And in the back of the box was the controlling switch. And miles away in the mountains men were waiting for the signal of a flare on Himyra's walls to release the power. Already one had gone to see that the flare was lit. And a captain was without to carry word when it shone forth.
Now suddenly he appeared.
Croft closed the switch.
A click—a hiss—the crackling ignition of incandescent carbon—a rising glow in the darkness—then—light—clear, radiant light!
Light that flared up and wavered and steadied and shone on Naia of Aphur, sheathed in purple and gold.
A babble of sound, a cheer of acclaim.
The trumpets of the heralds rang out.
Jason stepped forward and took his place close by Naia's side.
Magur, the high priest, arose, robed in his vestments of azure, accompanied by two temple boys. Each bore a silver goblet on a tray of the same metal that sparkled under the light.
Magur lifted a silver stave crowned with the cross ansata. "Who cries to Magur?" his voice rang out.
"A maid who would pledge herself and her life to the man of her choosing, O Prince of Zitu," Robur replied.
"The man is present?"
"Aye, he stands beside her," Robur declared.
"Who sponsors this woman?"
"I, Robur of Aphur, her cousin—child of the sister of her who gave her life."
"Come then in the name of Zitu," Magur said, and advanced to face the arena, back of Naia and Croft.
"Naia of Aphur—thou woman, and being woman, sister of Ga, and hence priestess of that shrine of life which is eternal, the guardian of the fire of life which is eternal—is it thine intent to pledge thyself to this man, who stands now at thy side?"
"Aye," said Naia of Aphur clearly.
"And thou, Jason, known as the Mouthpiece of Zitu, whom Zitu has inspired with his wisdom, even as no other man, do thou accept this pledge, and with it the woman herself, to make her in the fulness of time thy bride, to cherish her and cause her to live as a glory to the name of woman, to whom all men may justly give respect?"
"Aye, so I pledge, by Zitu, and Azil, giver of life," said Jason.
"Then take this, maid of Aphur." Magur drew from his robe a looped silver cross and placed it in her hands. "Hold it and guard it, look upon it as a symbol of that life eternal that you shall be kept eternal, and which, taken from the hands of Azil the angel, shall be transmuted within thee into the life of men."
Turning, he took the goblets from their bearers and poured wine from one to the other and back. One he extended to Naia and one to Croft.
"Drink," he said. "Let these symbolize thy two bodies, the life of which shall be united from this time in purpose. Drink and may Zitu bless thee in that union which comes into existence by his intent."
Jason raised his goblet. "I drink of thee deeply."
Naia set her goblet to her lips. "And I of thee."
Then, and then only, Croft took that medallion of silver ringed with red stones, which Zitra had burned against his breast. And lifting the golden girdle which cinctured Naia's body above the hips, he pinned it once more upon it, so that it flashed like a scarlet eye, beneath the newborn light.
Magur lifted his stave. "Azil's seal has he set upon her. Let it speak to al men's sight."
"Hail! Hail! Mouthpiece of Zitu. Hail! Hail! Hail! Naia, maid of Aphur!" From the vast arena a roar of acknowledgment and approbation tore its way upward in the night.
So as it seemed ended Himyra's greatest holiday; so for Croft and Naia began a new phase of life. Yet though she had never seemed nearer, dearer to him, the Mouthpiece of Zitu was vaguely disturbed as they rode back to the palace through the still pleasure-making crowds. Everything seemed very peaceful, very auspicious. But he could not rid his mind of the picture which had troubled him for a week—the picture of a burning village—of blue men leaping in savage exultation of a beaten army's rout.
Hence it was with no pleasure that an hour after their return from the arena, while yet the city flared and rang with the carnival life of the people, a palace guard brought word to him from Robur, asking his presence at once.
Nor when he had followed to the audience chamber of the palace was he surprised to meet a man with drawn face, and eyes a trifle haggard—a man wearing Bithur's green and silver circle, who rose now and saluted him with flat palm forward, and burst into hurried, excited speech.
"Mouthpiece of Zitu, Bithur is sore assailed—her armies beaten, the aid Aphur sent her largely destroyed. In the name of Bithur and of Tamarizia, Jadgor, president of the nation, now at Atla, sends me to you and to Robur of Aphur, his son, to speak what is in his heart."
Chapter Fifteen
Jason went to Bithur. Naia remained behind. In the week before the celebration of their former betrothal they had so planned. Now, with the red and silver seal of Azil once more glowing in her girdle, Naia did not object.
Seven days later he entered Bithra, the capital of Bithur, and left it inside an hour, heading east along the Bith between banks where a tropic vegetation came down to the water's edge, and the mighty flood of waters swept in a turgid current between banks of trees.
Morning brought him close to Atla, as the pilot taken on at Bithra declared. Also it brought attack of a sort. From the banks as they advanced the galley was suddenly greeted by a flight of slithering shafts. Most of them, thanks to the range, fell into the water, but one or two reached the deck. Croft, who lined a company of riflemen he had hastily mobilized and brought with him on either side of the galley, replied with a crashing volley as the galley advanced. So after that, meeting flights of arrows with bullets, he progressed, reaching a bend from which the gates in the city wall spanned the river's flood and flinging the flag of Aphur into view before the sentries on the walls.
The gates swung open. The galley ran through. The gates were closed again. The galley tied to a quay below the brown palace Croft had visited in his astral presence, he marched off with his men. A procession was debouching from the palace gate. It came toward him quickly. He recognized Jadgor and Medai in the van. He halted his company and waited. The others came on. Five paces before him they halted.
"Hai! Mouthpiece of Zitu," Jadgor greeted him. "Thy coming is welcome. What word from Aph
ur and my son?"
"Aphur sends men and weapons to Bithur," Jason responded. "As for Robur, son of Jadgor, he remains in Himyra to speed the departure for Bithur of all that may be required."
"It is well," said Jadgor. "Return with us to the palace where all things may be explained. Medai of Bithur greets you in Bithur's name."
Medai bowed deeply. The guards behind him and Jadgor turned. Followed by Croft's company they retraced their steps until the palace was gained.
And there in the room, Croft, Medai and Jadgor sat down. The latter eyed his former adviser and friend. "You are looking wondrous well," he said."
"Yes," Croft again inclined his head. "Thanks largely to Robur, Jadgor's son. But more of that later, Jadgor. Inform me how matters stand."
Jadgor shrugged. "It would appear to go not so well with the things in my hands as with your plans. From the first was the extent of this matter with Mazzer misjudged; and in addition there is a fault in these motors of yours, when not controlled by the builder's mind. Wherefore they failed when most needed at times, and were by sheer force of numbers overborne. As a result the blue flood of Mazzer laps even now against Atla's walls on all sides."
"Yet breaks against them," said Jason.
"Aye as yet," Jadgor replied.
"And shall break utterly," Croft went on. "Of this defect in the motors already I have learned, in the same way in which I have learned other things in the past, as Jadgor knows. Wherefore his messenger came not to Himyra as a surprise, and for seven suns before his coming, Robur, Jadgor's son and I prepared." He broke off and watched the Aphurian closely.
But Jadgor merely nodded as he responded: "Say on."
"Among those things which have been completed since my return to Himyra," Croft resumed, "is one which flies in the air. Riding upon it a man may cast down such bombs as were used at the taking of Niera in the Zollarian war."