The valley of eyes unseen
as a statue, and as handsome. He was only a servant in this valley of
Olympians, but he had a face that in any drawing room in Europe would
have forced the eyes of every man and woman upon him like a magnet.
At somewhere near eight o'clock, he brought his evening meal to the
main hall, laid it on the low table, and began to eat. I withdrew to
my bedchamber as if to sleep, though I'd not yet eaten my own supper,
which I was in the habit of taking about nine. After a while I became
conscious of a curious stillness in the large room. I crept to the
doorway and peeped between the curtain and the marble jamb. To-night
the great hanging lamp had been lit, and was filling the place with a
soft fragrance usual with the luminant oils used in the valley, and by
the light of this lamp I could see my gaoler quite clearly--could see
his face and the uncommonly languid expression it wore. The man was
dozing. Two minutes later he was asleep, and five after that, I knew
from the deep stupor he had fallen into that his food had been drugged.
So far so good. Now to get out. I rapidly searched him for the keys
of the building. They were not on him. Nor could I find them in his
quarters. I made a swift exploration of the whole place, but so far as
escape went, I seemed to be no better off with my gaoler insensible
than before: the main door, and the one other door at the back of
the house, were locked, and far too strong to be forced. However,
the drugging of the attendant proved that friends were stirring for
me--very capable friends at that, for the tampering with this man's
food could only have been effected by extreme craft and daring; and I
must apparently possess myself to sit down and wait to be rescued.
The hours dragged on, each seeming a week. I was getting desperate. I
watched that attendant's face for any sign of returning consciousness,
and had he given it, I veritably believe I should have strangled him
in cold blood. But he remained quite motionless, sprawling on the
couch where he had eaten, and at last, to my inexpressible relief, I
heard a gentle grating sound in the front of the house. A moment later
the main door came ajar. I stared at the form that sidled through
the opening, but though his face seemed curiously familiar to me, I
couldn't recognise him at first. His skin was of the usual fairish
tint of the valley, his lawn robes might have been the garments of any
casual passer-by in the street, and if his hair was a little straighter
than that commonly seen about the city, it was at least cut to the
common pattern. Yet for all the cosmetics and pomatums he had lavished
on himself, I'm much afraid his low stature and high cheekbones would
always militate against Lo Eng looking like a genuine native of Hellas.
'My master's wish, sir,' he said, in his quaintly exact English, 'is
that you should follow me at thirty paces without seeming to follow.'
In an instant I had darted into my bedchamber and snatched up the very
small bundle I purposed to take on my flight, and had followed Lo Eng
into the open air. There was no sound, no sign of movement; I think
I have mentioned that it was rare for the citizens of the valley to
be abroad long after nightfall, and it was now, I judge, about eleven
o'clock. Even the sentries outside the house appeared to have been
withdrawn, but as I stole across the courtyard I saw this was not so.
I couldn't understand at first those white heaps lying on the marble
flags; then I saw they were my guardians. Whoever had attended to the
drugging had carried out the work comprehensively and well.
The light was uncertain, but I had no difficulty in keeping Lo Eng's
swiftly retreating figure in view. At last he stopped, and when I came
up with him I found two litters waiting. These we entered and resumed
our rapid journey across the city and out towards the plain beyond;
soon, peeping through the curtains, I saw we had come to the outskirts,
and some while after that we were clear of houses altogether. The
bearers halted. As I climbed out of my litter I saw them drop
simultaneously with their faces to the earth. A figure had emerged from
a grove of fruit trees, approaching us, and a moment later Saunders
Philipson was grasping my hand; he bade the bearers withdraw, then
began to speak, hurriedly and earnestly.
'Listen closely, Mirlees,' he said, 'for everything depends on speed.
If you are to leave this valley you must leave immediately. Are you
prepared to risk it?'
'Anything is to be preferred to my last week,' I said.
He laid his hand on my shoulder. 'I am to blame for that,' he said,
'I who brought you here. But then--ah, it was all so vague and
uncertain--how could I know? However, that is past. I am doing what
I can to make amends. Believe me, Mirlees, it is not without risk to
myself that I am helping you to get back to your own world. When the
populace learn that you are gone, fear of invasion from without may
overwhelm even their devotion to me, and if both the people and the
Nine turn against me, I am like to lose kingdom and life in an hour.
After Poyning and you broke into the tomb, Kalliboas went straight over
to the party of Kalliphanes, and worked for the death of you both.
But'--here Philipson passed his hand over his brow, as if recollecting
something he would have been glad to forget--'there were powers in
this valley greater than those of Kalliboas. My rival's faction have
made great head, none the less, and at this moment my fate actually
swings in the balance. However, I am prepared for either destiny. Many
times you risked your life helping me to a kingdom, Mirlees, and I will
cheerfully risk mine helping you out of it. Now, as to affairs in the
outer world. When you reach Chungking, show this seal to En Chin, and
he will hand over the launch to you--it may be of service. Here is a
signed deed of gift which makes you the possessor of that boat and such
monies as still stand to my credit in the Bank of Cathay. There will
be more than enough to repay you for the time you have spent on this
adventure, though your services to me not all the money in Asia could
requite. But one thing--as you value your life, be constantly on guard.
The enemies who tracked us up from the sea may have lost sight of us,
but they have not forgotten. They will wait years for vengeance if
necessary, and it is possible that watchers have been left at the last
point to which they followed us, on the chance of our returning by the
same way. You may even deem it safer to avoid Chungking altogether--to
strike northward for the Koko Nur route across Mongolia--that I must
leave to your own judgment. But wherever you go, as soon as you enter
the known world again, beware of the Holy Brotherhood of Shigatse!'
'That's well enough,' I said, 'but I have to get to the known world
first. I seem to remember that the trek this way was tremendously
difficult, even with a party of us to help one another.'
At this moment there was a sound of footsteps approaching. Philipson
drew me swiftly in under the shadow of the orchard, and we waited, with
held breath. Then I felt him give my arm a gentle squeeze.
'Friends,' he muttered. 'All's well. Come with me.'
I followed him out on to an open plot of grass land, where we found two
men carrying between them something like an enormous cigar. This they
laid on the ground, and one of them turned and came towards me with
outstretched hand.
'After many days, Mirlees,' said Stephen Poyning. 'You've just got
out?'
'Not half an hour ago.'
'It's my first night loose too. I've put it to good use. Philipson
didn't want to take more servants into his confidence than he could
help, so I went with Ah Sing for this.'
He pointed to the cigar-shaped object, which I now saw was a folded
pair of wings of the largest type, fitted with that peculiar "carapace"
above the hinges.
Philipson had stooped in silence, and was examining the structure all
over.
'You should be a skilled flier by now, Mirlees?' he said briskly,
looking up.
'Pretty fair with the wings of the school. I've never used this
pattern.'
'Kneel down here, and I will show you the difference. These are harder
at first, but afterwards there is no comparison--they will carry you
far faster, and the greater wing-purchase will give you longer rests.
On these wings, barring accidents, you should get over the worst of
the heights before daylight. Then the dawn-wind will set in from
due west--your very course--and blow steadily all day, as it almost
invariably does at this time of year. With the help of that and the
power you should get so far across by sunset as to be well down off the
ridges and over a spot where you may risk resting in the open. As soon
as you come into inhabited country again, burn the wings and make your
way on foot. There--it's risky enough, but our people have often done
as much and more. What do you say?'
'How about the cold?'
'I have prepared for that. Here is one of the suits used by our own
fliers when they go over the heights. Once you have put it on you must
get out of this valley quickly, however, or the heat of it may overcome
you.'
'And the power?'
'That is quite easy. This lever sets it in action, this connects it
with the rib; both are moved by the right hand reaching up, the arm
flexed double.'
Simple as the device obviously was, I didn't care to trust my life to
it without trial. Philipson noticed my hesitation.
'Never fear, Mirlees,' he said. 'You shall take a preliminary turn
here--but it must be a short one. If you do not think you can manage
the wings, come down again, and I will hide you until I can devise
other means for your departure.'
'And you, Philipson?' I said. 'You remain here?'
His voice sank to a solemn whisper. 'It is my destiny,' he said. 'I
remain for good or ill. My servants also--they are already married to
women of my people.'
'And you, Poyning?'
'I have not changed, Mirlees,' he said. 'I shall never change.'
I shook the both of them by the hand, then called up the Chinese
servants and bade them good-bye also. Philipson helped me into the
suit, a light garment but astonishingly warm, which fitted close to the
body all over, leaving nothing exposed but the mask of the face; round
my waist were strung my little bundle, a parcel of food, a packet of
rough silver, and a flint with which I was to burn the wings when they
had served my purpose. The latter were then opened out and strapped to
my shoulders, and everything was ready for the attempt.
Despite the ghastly experiences of my imprisonment, I felt surprisingly
vigorous and alert, whipped up, I've no doubt, by excitement; and
though I found these heavier wings were indeed harder to use than the
unpowered type--particularly when it was a question of first getting up
from earth--I managed to rise on a light puff of wind and swept round
once or twice with fair ease. The power was easy to manipulate in the
extreme. I had barely moved the second lever when I heard something
swing into place with a sharp clink and felt the wings suddenly begin
to flap without any help from my arms. Though I had seen this pattern
of wing before and speculated long on its secret, I must admit my
first experience of it at close quarters filled me with the utmost
stupefaction. That strange power-box, emitting nothing but a faint
clutter which was almost drowned in the rustle of the wings themselves,
was working strongly and steadily within two feet of my head, yet not
for all the wealth in the world could I more than vaguely guess how.
Amazement gave way almost at once to confidence. It was incredible,
of course, that I should really be able to cross tremendous ranges
of mountains on this apparatus, yet I know that at that moment I was