Part 23 (1/2)

Approval and derision seemed mingled in the cries that greeted the appearance of the little prince.

”Quiet them if you can, Miela,” I said. ”Speak to them.”

I steadied the boy with my hand, and he stood there unafraid, a st.u.r.dy, manly little figure.

Miela raised her voice and began speaking. The shouts partially ceased, then suddenly a stone struck the parapet almost in front of us.

A sudden rage possessed me. I fumbled at the cylinder I held. It was very much like a little hand flashlight, and seemed to have a k.n.o.b at my thumb.

Miela stopped speaking and turned to me.

”There--press that, Alan. Careful! Aim it there! See! Over there against those palms.”

I held the thing up and pointed it toward the huge royal palms, aiming at their graceful fronds high over the heads of the people. My hand pressed the k.n.o.b; the little cylinder seemed to thrill in my grasp. A tiny beam of light shot out-quite plainly visible--a green, shading into red. It struck the palm branches, and silently yet rapidly, as though they were under some giant blow-torch, they shriveled, crackled, and burst into flame.

Miela's fingers bit into my arm. ”Enough, Alan! Stop!”

My thumb yielded to the upward pressure of the tiny k.n.o.b against it, and abruptly the light vanished. A narrow swath had been cut through the palms--a furrow of death plowed by the pressure of my thumb against a bit of metal!

The crowd had frozen into the immobility of terror. Now, as the dreaded ray vanished as suddenly as it had sprung forth, they turned with cries of fright to escape. No one had been hurt. I shuddered as I realized now that many girls had been in the air, and through no thought or skill of mine had they escaped.

”Speak to them, Alan,” Miela cried. ”There must be no panic. Here must they stay and listen to what you have to say. Speak to them; stop them now.”

I handed her the cylinder, lest the diabolical thing spit forth again its fire from my unskillful fingers, and leaped to the top of the parapet.

”Stop!” I shouted at the top of my voice. ”Stop--all of you! At once!”

I waved my arms violently: I knew my words meant nothing, but my voice carried far. The excitement continued. But a few stopped and stared at me; then others, and gradually there was less confusion.

Miela turned and shouted something to the girls on the rooftop. Instantly they spread their wings and flew, down, circling close over the heads of the people.

”Wait, Alan. A moment now and there will be quiet. The girls are telling them not to fear, but to wait and listen to what you have to say.”

Miela stood now upon the parapet top, with the little prince between us.

She had concealed the tiny metal cylinder in her belt; her open palms were flung out before her, and her wings, spread and flapping slowly, raised her on tiptoe. Every line of her graceful body was tense; her att.i.tude bespoke power, dominance, authority. And then she began to talk in a voice vibrant with emotion. Once she laid her hand lightly upon the curly head of the little boy, and a tremulous, uncertain cheer answered her from below.

”I have told them of the king's death, Alan,” she said a moment later, ”and that here is their little king standing before them; And now, of you--what shall I say?”

”Tell them that until the king is older, I--the man from earth--shall rule them as regent. Tell them if they obey me all will be well, for I shall rule them wisely.”

I stood while Miela translated this amid dead silence from the crowd. As she finished I raised myself to full height and stared down at them threateningly.

”But if there is trouble--if any one defies my authority--then, Miela, tell them I shall use the light-ray, for I shall brook no interference.”

The silence from below continued.

I spread my hands out before me and smiled.

”But there will be no trouble. I am with the Light Country, heart and soul. Its interests are my interests, for I have married one of its women, and now I too am one of its people.

”Tao shall be overthrown--tell them that, Miela. The Twilight People never again shall threaten our cities. If more land is wanted by our people of the Light Country, tell them they shall have it. All the land they desire shall be theirs. For when Tao is vanquished I shall build great cars such as he is building, and all who wish may go to my earth peacefully, and we will make them welcome as I have been made welcome here.”