CHAPTER III
_Strange Destination_
When Dick opened his eyes, there was a feeling of motion to the bed. Thestrangeness of the ceiling overhead drew his attention. It was notcanvas, but shiny metal, almost purple in tint.
Suddenly he sat up. Dolores lay beside him. As his eyes cleared of thelingering mist, objects in the room became plainer. They were in aluxuriously equipped cabin.
Dolores slowly opened her eyes. A moment later she sat up beside him.Glancing through the porthole, beyond the bed, she turned away with agroan.
"We _are_ under water! And deep! I can't see a thing but strange bluelight."
When Dick joined her, his forehead puckered in a frown. "No, Dolores. Itdoesn't look like water, it looks more like--No! _It can't be!_"
For several minutes there was silence while he gazed through theopening. Dolores had lost interest in the outside and was examining thefittings of the cabin. It had everything that could be desired in afirst class hotel room, and many little toilet articles besides.
Suddenly Dick turned away. "_It's true!_ We're in the air--_or aboveit_! Dolores, this ship is an _aircraft_!"
"Never mind, Dick, this room is _beautiful_! Whether we're flying orswimming, this is the nicest room I ever had. It has _everything_, and_look_ at the dressing table!"
Dick sat down in amazement, a smile slowly spreading over his face.Dolores was happy--wherever they were. The room was all that mattered.But he couldn't understand why Morquil had gassed them, and put them onboard unconscious. _He_ would have enjoyed seeing the new ship.
When a knock sounded at the door, Dolores was unpacking her clothes forthe first time since they left the _Primrose_. Turning the knob, Morquilstepped in.
"I'm sorry, Dick, that I had to use gas, but I knew the people would beafraid of boarding this ship. John McCarthy is down in the power roomalready, examining the machines, but some of the others are upset aboutthe transfer from the island. I hope you don't feel resentful?"
"No, Morquil. We're satisfied. If you don't believe it--look at Dolores.She decided to like this room the minute she saw it, and is unpackingalready."
The worried expression disappeared from the strange man's face. "I hadthe cabins equipped for women, as I know they are particular about suchthings."
"Would you like to see the ship? It will be your home for a long time,and you might as well get acquainted. I'm sorry that no one but myselfunderstands English, but you will have ample time to learn our languageduring the voyage. You must speak it fluently by the time we arrive."
As they started out, Dolores dropped the dress she was holding, to jointhem. Curiosity overcame the desire to straighten out her clothes.
Entering a wide passage, they turned to the right. It ended abruptly ina room with several comfortable chairs. Three tables occupied the centerin uneven positions, the underparts filled with metal-covered books.Two men of Morquil's race looked up at their approach.
Dick returned their friendly smile. When Dolores smiled they appearedembarrassed; but truly greatly pleased. Barrow noticed that one of themwas examining a book in English; the illustrations seemed to fascinatehim.
A narrow passage, beyond the main cabin, led to the control room wherethree men sat in swivel chairs. The instrument board was a marvel toDick, and he watched for several minutes. It would require months tounderstand even a small portion of the gauges.
The ship was built with two decks, and a large hold beneath the lowerfloor which contained the machinery. The strange men were quartered onthe lower level, with the exception of Morquil. His cabin was next tothe one occupied by the Barrows. The McCarthys were on the opposite sideof the passage, in a room slightly smaller than the one allotted to Dickand his wife.
The quarters of the remainder of the party were smaller, but still quitecomfortable; all located farther back on the same passage.
* * * * *
Morquil was proud of the ship, and displayed each section with pride. Heopened every cupboard door, and showed them through all of the cabins.They were stopped for a while, when they met Mrs. Yarbro, trying todispel her fear of the strange craft. The others appeared to be takingtheir new quarters for granted, and settling down for the trip.
The main cabin was toward the front of the ship, while the dining roomwas at the rear; the staterooms on the passage between. One stairway ledto the lower level, from just back of the control room, another from thedining saloon. A ramp beneath the rear stairway led to the hold of theship. When they started down, Dolores returned to her cabin. Herinterest ended on the upper decks.
Dick spotted John, bending over one of the machines, so engrossed thathe didn't hear their approach. One of the crew stood nearby, watching.
When McCarthy saw Barrow, he nearly burst with enthusiasm. "This is thegreatest thing I've ever seen! Why, it almost _talks_! Do you know, thislittle machine actually picks up the orders from the control room, and_adjusts every machine down here_! Darned if I don't think it's got abrain!"
When Morquil led the way toward the front of the hold, John was stillengrossed in the apparatus. "He will be a valuable man to you, Dick, andcan solve many problems that you would otherwise have to do yourself. Hewill make an able assistant."
Passing by the heavy machinery, they approached an enclosed section,which appeared to be of recent installation. Stepping through thedoorway, Morquil threw a switch which lighted every corner, then watchedexpectantly as Dick examined the strange objects. It appeared to be acolony of metal beehives, with covered passages between.
"It is our home, Dick. This room contains everything in miniature thatyou will see when we arrive. Each of the smaller domes house thirtythousand people, the large one three times that number. We are born,live our lives, and die beneath these metal ceilings. It will be yourjob to care for them.
"Everything beneath these domes is exactly as it is in our cities,except that the machines are dummies. This model room was installed soyou could study our civilization during the trip. When you arrive youwill be ready to start work.
"You, and you only will have a key. You may bring any member of yourparty here that you desire, but it is not necessary for them tounderstand the entire civilization. There are only six cities, includingthe large one, where you and John McCarthy will be located. The othermen will each have one dome under their control.
"It is easy to travel back and forth, and you may gather together at anytime, although each of you will have duties in different sections. Whileyou are overseeing the work in the smaller cities John can look afterthe capital. Upon your arrival in Yorpun you will take complete chargeof all mechanical work. It will be your responsibility from then on."
As Dick slipped the key in his pocket, he felt the weight of a countrysettle slowly on his shoulders. Two hundred and ten thousandpeople--entirely dependent upon _his_ control of the machines.
Where could this settlement be? They had sailed darn near to the end ofthe world in the _Primrose_, and now they were going even farther. Fromthe way the metal domes covered the cities, it might be at the southpole, and still be habitable.
By the time they returned to the main cabin, it was dinner time. It waspast mid-day when he regained consciousness, and Dick was hungry.
Mrs. McCarthy was knitting a sweater for her husband, while three of thestrange men watched in amazement. Her knitting needles seemed to holdthem spellbound. The other members of Dick's party were sitting aroundtrying to decide what to do. But the sound of the dinner gong, made themforget their worries.
Dick had to go down to the hold and call John, who was still watchingthe master machine. If he hadn't been dragged away, he would have spentthe night examining the strange device.
The meal was simple, but they all enjoyed it. It seemed to dispel thegloom from the party, and they appreciated McCarthy's jokes. There werefifteen of Morquil's race in the crew, and all but the men at thecontrols joined them.
Knives and forks stood at the places s
et for the passengers, broughtfrom the supplies on the _Primrose_, but the crew ate with long narrowspoons. Table silver was evidently unknown to this race of people.
After dinner Morquil called them to the main cabin, and for the firsttime told about the destination. All that had kept them from losing hopelong before, was his promise of greater comfort and luxury than theycould hope for in their native land.
"I know that some of you resent the fact that you were unconscious whileput aboard this ship. But I know you would hesitate to come of your ownaccord. One woman said that she wouldn't go on an _undersea_ ship, andshe would be more afraid of this.
"You will be amazed to know that we are now leaving the atmosphere ofthe earth that you have always known. _Our destination is on a differentplanet!_"
Wanted—7 Fearless Engineers! Page 3