~1~
The relative ease with which I had so long passed for the real Karl Armstadt had lulled2 me into a feeling of security. But now that my disguise had been penetrated3, my old fears were renewed. True, the weigher's records had seemingly cleared me, but I knew that Grauble had seen the weak spot in the German logic4 of the stupid official, who had so lightly dismissed Katrina's accusations5. Moreover, I fancied that Grauble had guessed the full truth and connected this uncertainty6 of my identity with the seditious tenor7 of the suggestions I had made to him. Even though he might be willing to discuss rebellious8 plans with a German, could I count on him to consider the treasonable urging coming from a man of another and an enemy race?
So fearing either to confess to him my identity or to proceed without confessing, I postponed9 doing anything. The sailing date of his fifth trip to the Arctic was fast approaching; if I was ever to board a vessel10 leaving Berlin I would need von Kufner's permission. Marguerite reported the growing cordiality of the Admiral. Although I realized that his infatuation for her was becoming rather serious, with the confidence of an accepted lover, I never imagined that he could really come between Marguerite and myself.
But one evening when I went to call upon Marguerite she was "not at home." I repeated the call with the same result. When I called her up by telephone, her secretary bluntly told me that the Princess Marguerite did not care to speak to me. I hastened to write an impassioned note, pleading to see her at once, for the days were passing and there was now but a week before Grauble's vessel was due to depart.
In desperation I waited two more days, and still no word came. My letters of pleading, like my calls and telephone efforts, were still ignored.
Then a messenger came bearing a note from Admiral von Kufner, asking me to call upon him at once.
"I have been considering," began von Kufner, when I entered his office, "the request you made of me some time ago to be permitted to go in person to make a survey of the ore deposits. At first I opposed this, as the trip is dangerous, but more recently I have reconsidered the importance of it. As others are now fully12 able to continue your work here, I can quite conceive that your risking the trip to the mines in person would be a very courageous13 and noble sacrifice. So I have taken the matter up with His Majesty14."
With mocking politeness von Kufner now handed me a document bearing the imperial seal.
I held it with a trembling hand as I glanced over the fateful words that commissioned me to go at once to the Arctic.
My smouldering jealousy15 of the oily von Kufner now flamed into expression. "You have done this thing from personal motives16," I cried. "You have revoked17 your previous decision because you want me out of your way. You know I will be gone for six months at least. You hope in your cowardly heart that I will never come back."
Von Kufner's lips curled. "You see fit," he answered, "to impugn19 my motives in suggesting that the order be issued, although it is the granting of your own request. But the commission you hold in your hand bears the Imperial signature, and the Emperor of the Germans never revokes20 his orders."
"Very well," I said, controlling my rage, "I will go."
~2~
Upon leaving the Admiral's office my first thought was to go at once to Marguerite. Whatever might be the nature of her quarrel with me I was now sure that von Kufner was at the bottom of it, and that it was in some way connected with this sudden determination of his to send me to the Arctic, hoping that I would never return.
But before I had gone far I began to consider other matters. I was commissioned to leave Berlin by submarine and that too by the vessel in command of Captain Grauble, whom I knew to be nursing rebellion and mutiny in his heart. If deliverance from Berlin was ever to come, it had come now. To refuse to embrace it would mean to lose for ever this fortunate chance to escape from this sunless Babylon.
I would therefore go first to Grauble and determine without delay if he could be relied on to make the attempt to reach the outer world. Once I knew that, I could go then to Marguerite with an invitation for her to join me in flight--if such a thing were humanly possible.
But recalling the men who had done so much to fill me with hope and faith in the righteousness of my mission, I again changed my plan and sought out Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar and arranged for them to meet me that evening at Grauble's quarters.
At the hour appointed I, who had first arrived at the apartment, sat waiting for the arrival of Zimmern. When he came, to my surprise and bewildered joy he was not alone, for Marguerite was with him.
She greeted me with distress21 and penitence22 in her eyes and I exulted23 in the belief that whatever her quarrel with me might be it meant no irretrievable loss of her devotion and love.
We sat about the room, a very solemn conclave24, for I had already informed Grauble of my commission to go to the Arctic, and he had sensed at once the revolutionary nature of the meeting. I now gave him a brief statement of the faith of the older men, who from the fulness of their lives had reached the belief that the true patriotism25 for their race was to be expressed in an effort to regain26 for the Germans the citizenship27 of the world.
The young Captain gravely nodded. "I have not lived so long," he said, "but my life has been bitter and full of fear. I am not out of sympathy with your argument, but before we go further," and he turned to Marguerite, "may I not ask why a Princess of the House of Hohenzollern is included in such a meeting as this?"
I turned expectantly to Zimmern, who now gave Grauble an account of the tragedy and romance of Marguerite's life.
"Very well," said Grauble; "she has earned her place with us; now that I understand her part, let us proceed."
For some hours Hellar and Zimmern explained their reasons for believing the life of the isolated28 German race was evil and defended their faith in the hope of salvation29 through an appeal to the mercy and justice of the World State.
"Of all this I am easily convinced," said Grauble, "for it is but a logically thought-out conclusion of the feeling I have nourished in my blind rebellion. I am ready to go with Herr von Armstadt and surrender my vessel to the enemy; but the practical question is, will our risk avail anything? What hope can we have that we will even be able to deliver the message you wish to send? How are we to know that we will not immediately be killed?"
The hour had come. "I will answer that question," I said, and there was a tenseness in my tone that caused my hearers to look at me with eager, questioning eyes.
"Barring," I said, "the possibility of destruction before I can gain opportunity to speak to some one in authority, there is nothing to fear in the way of our ungracious reception in the outer world--" As I paused and looked about me I saw Marguerite's eyes shining with the same worshipful wonder as when I had visioned for her the sunlight and the storms of the world outside Berlin--"because I am of that world. I speak their language. I know their people. I never saw the inside of Berlin until I was brought here from the potash mines of Stassfurt, wearing the clothes and carrying the identification papers of one Karl Armstadt who was killed by gas bombs which I myself had ordered dropped into those mines."
At these startling statements the older men could only gasp30 in incredulous astonishment31, but Captain Grauble nodded wisely--"I half expected as much," he said.
I turned to Marguerite. Her eyes were swimming in a mist of tears.
"Then your visions were real memories," she cried,--"and not miracles. I knew you had seen other worlds, but I thought it was in some spirit life." She reached out a trembling hand toward me and then shrinkingly drew it back. "But you are not Karl Armstadt," she stammered32, as she realized that I was a nameless stranger.
"No," I said, going to her and placing a reassuring33 arm about her shoulder, "I am not Karl Armstadt. My name is Lyman de Forrest. I am an American, a chemical engineer from the city of Chicago, and if Captain Grauble does not alter his purpose, I am going back there and will take you with me."
Zimmern and Hellar were listening in consternation34. "How is it," asked Hellar, "that you speak German?"
By way of answer I addressed him in English and in French, while he and Zimmern glanced at each other as do men who see a miracle and strive to hold their reason while their senses contradict their logic.
I now sketched35 the story of my life and adventures with a fulness of convincing detail. One incident only I omitted and that was of the near discovery of my identity by Armstadt's former mistress. Of that I did not speak for I felt that Marguerite, at least in the presence of the others, would not relish36 that part of the story. Nor did I wish to worry them with the fear that was still upon me that I had not seen the last of that affair.
After answering many questions and satisfying all doubts as to the truth of my story, I again turned the conversation to the practical problem of the escape from Berlin. "You can now see," I declared, "that I deserve no credit for genius or courage. I am merely a prisoner in an enemy city where my life is in constant danger. If any one of you should speak the word, I would be promptly37 disposed of as a spy. But if you are sincere in your desire to send a message to my Government, I am here to take that message."
"It almost makes one believe that there is a God," cried Hellar, "and that he has sent us a deliverer."
"As for me," spoke38 up Captain Grauble, "I shall deliver your messenger into the hands of his friends, and trust that he can persuade them to deal graciously with me and my men. I should have made this break for liberty before had I not believed it would be fleeing from one death to another."
"Then you will surely leave us," said Zimmern. "It is more than we have wished and prayed for, but," he added, turning a compassionate39 glance toward Marguerite, "it will be hard for her."
"But she is going with us," I affirmed. "I will not leave her behind. As for you and Col Hellar, I shall see you again when Berlin is free. But the risks are great and the time may be long, and if Marguerite will go I will take her with me as a pledge that I shall not prove false in my mission for you, her people."
I read Marguerite's answer in the joy of her eyes, as I heard Col. Hellar say: "That would be fine, if it were possible."
But Zimmern shook his head. "No," he said, as if commanding. "Marguerite must not go now even if it were possible. You may come back for her if you succeed in your mission, but we cannot lose her now; she must not go now,--" and his voice trembled with deep emotion. At his words of authority concerning the girl I loved I felt a resurge of the old suspicion and jealousy.
"I am sorry," spoke up Captain Grauble, "but your desire to take the Princess Marguerite with you is one that I fear cannot be realized. I would be perfectly40 willing for her to go if we could once get her aboard, but the approach of the submarine docks are very elaborately guarded. To smuggle41 a man aboard without a proper permit would be exceedingly difficult, but to get a woman to the vessel is quite impossible."
"I suppose that it cannot be," I said, for I saw the futility42 of arguing the matter further at the time, especially as Zimmern was opposed to it.
The night was now far spent and but four days remained in which to complete my preparations for departure. In this labour Zimmern and Hellar could be of no service and I therefore took my leave of them, lest I should not see them again. "Within a year at most," I said, "we may meet again, for Berlin will be open to the world. Once the passage is revealed and the protium traffic stopped, the food stores cannot last longer. When these facts are realized by His Majesty and the Advisory43 Council, let us hope they will see the futility of resisting. The knowledge that Germany possesses will increase the world's food supply far more than her population will add to the consumptive demands, hence if reason and sanity44 prevail on both sides there will be no excuse for war and suffering."
~3~
And so I took my leave of the two men from whose noble souls I had achieved my aspirations45 to bring the century-old siege of Berlin to a sane46 and peaceful end without the needless waste of life that all the world outside had always believed would be an inevitable47 part of the capitulation of the armoured city.
I now walked with Marguerite through the deserted48 tree-lined avenues of the Royal Level.
"And why, dear," I asked, "have you refused to see me these five days past?"
"Oh, Karl," she cried, "you must forgive me, for nothing matters now--I have been crazed with jealousy. I was so hurt that I could see no one, for I could only fight it out alone."
"And what do you mean?" I questioned. "Jealous? And of whom could you be jealous, since there is no other woman in this unhappy city for whom I have ever cared?"
"Yes, I believe that. I haven't doubted that you loved me with a nobler love than the others, but you told me there were no others, and I believed you. So it was hard, so very hard. The Doctor--I saw Dr. Zimmern this morning and poured out my heart to him--insisted that I should accept the fact that until marriage all men were like that, and it could not be helped. But I never asked you, Karl, about other women; you yourself volunteered to tell me there were no others, and what you told me was not true. I must forgive you, for now I may lose you, but why does a man ever need to lie to a woman? I somehow feel that love means truth--"
"But," I insisted, "it was the truth. I bear no personal relation to any other woman."
She drew back from me, breathing quickly, faith and doubt fighting a battle royal in her eyes. "But the checks, Karl?" she stammered; "those checks the girl on the Free Level cashes each month, and worse than that the check at the Jeweller's where you bought a necklace for twenty thousand marks?"
"Quite right, there are such checks, and I shall explain them. But before I begin, may I ask just how you came to know about those checks? Not that I care; I am glad you do know; but the fact of your knowledge puzzles me, for I thought the privacy of a man's checking account was one of the unfair privileges that man has usurped49 for himself and not granted to women."
"But I did not pry50 into the matter. I would never have thought of such a thing until he forced the facts upon me."
"He? You mean von Kufner?"
"Yes, it was five days ago. I was out walking with him and he insisted on my going into a jewellery store we were passing. I at first refused to go as I thought he wished to buy me something. But he insisted that he merely wanted me to look at things and I went in. You see, I was trying not to offend him."
"Of course," I said, "there was no harm in that. And--"
"The Admiral winked51 at the Jeweller. I saw him do that; and the jeweller set out a tray of ruby52 necklaces and began to talk about them, and then von Kufner remarked that since they were so expensive he must not sell many. 'Oh, yes,' said the Jeweller, 'I sell a great number to young men who have just come into money. I sold one the other day to Herr von Armstadt of the Chemical Staff,' and he reached for his sales book and opened it to the page with a record of the sale. He had the place marked, for I saw him remove a slip as he opened the book."
"Rather clever of von Kufner," I commented; "how do you suppose he got trail of it?"
"He admitted his trailing quite frankly," said Marguerite, "for as soon as we were out of the shop, I accused him of preparing the scene. 'Of course,' he said, 'but I had to convince you that your chemist was not so saintly as you thought him. His banker is a friend of mine, and I asked him about von Armstadt's account. He is keeping a girl on the Free Level and evidently also making love to one of better caste, or he would hardly be buying ruby necklaces.' I told von Kufner that he was a miserable53 spy, but he only laughed at me and said that all men were alike and that I ought to find it out while I was young--and then he asked if I would like him to have the young woman's record sent up from the Free Level for my inspection54. I ordered him to leave me at once and I have not seen or heard from him since, until I received a note from him today telling me of the Royal order for you to go to the Arctic."
I first set Marguerite's mind at ease about the checks to Bertha by explaining the incident of the geography, and then told the story of Katrina and the meeting in the café, and the later affair of Holknecht and the necklace.
"And you will promise me never to see her again?"
"But you have forgotten," I said, "that I am leaving Berlin in four days."
"Oh, Karl," she cried, "I have forgotten everything--I cannot even remember that new name you gave us--I believe I must be dreaming--or that it is all a wild story you have told us to see how much we in our simplicity56 and ignorance will believe."
"No," I said gently, "it is not a dream, though I could wish that it were, for Grauble says that there is no hope of taking you with me; and yet I must go, for the Emperor has ordered me to the Arctic and von Kufner will see to it that I make no excuses. If I once leave Berlin by submarine with Grauble I do not see how I can refuse to carry out my part of this project to which I am pledged, and make the effort to reach the free world outside."
Marguerite turned on me with a bitter laugh. "The free world," she cried, "your world. You are going back to it and leave me here. You are going back to your own people--you will not save Germany at all--you will never come back for me!"
"You are very wrong," I said gently. "It is because I have known you and known such men as Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar that I do want to carry the message that will for ever end this sunless life of your imprisoned57 race."
"But," cried Marguerite, "you do not want to take me; you could find a way if you would--you made the Emperor do your bidding once--you could do it again if you wanted to."
"I very much want to take you; to go without you would be but a bitter success."
"But have you no wife, or no girl you love among your own people?"
"No."
"But if I should go with you, the people of your world would welcome you but they would imprison58 me or kill me as a spy."
"No," and I smiled as I answered, "they do not kill women."
~4~
During four brief days that remained until Capt. Grauble's vessel was due to depart my every hour was full of hurried preparations for my survey of the Arctic mines. Clothing for the rigours and rough labour of that fearful region had to be obtained and I had to get together the reports of previous surveys and the instruments for the ore analyses that would be needed. Nor was I altogether faithless in these preparations for at times I felt that my first duty might be thus to aid in the further provisioning of the imprisoned race, for how was I to know that I would be able to end the state of war that had prevailed in spite of the generations of pacifist efforts? At times I even doubted that this break for the outer world would ever be made. I doubted that Capt. Grauble, though he solemnly assured us that he was ready for the venture, was acting59 in good faith. Could he, I asked, persuade his men to their part of the adventure? Would not our traitorous60 design be discovered and we both be returned as prisoners to Berlin? Granted even that Grauble could carry out his part and that the submarine proceeded as planned to rise to the surface or attempt to make some port, with the best of intentions of surrendering to the World State authorities, might not we be destroyed before we could make clear our peaceful and friendly intentions? Could I, coming out of Germany with Germans prove my identity? Would my story be believed? Would I have believed such a story before the days of my sojourn61 among the Germans? Might I not be consigned62 to languish63 in prison as a merely clever German spy, or be consigned to an insanity64 ward18?
At times I doubted even my own desire to escape from Berlin if it meant the desertion of Marguerite, for there could be no joy in escape for me without her. Yet I found small relish in looking forward to life as a member of that futile65 clan66 of parasitical67 Royalty68. Had Germany been a free society where we might hope to live in peace and freedom perhaps I could have looked forward to a marriage with Marguerite and considered life among the Germans a tolerable thing. But for such a life as we must needs live, albeit69 the most decent Berlin had to offer, I could find no relish--and the thought of escape and call of duty beyond the bomb proof walls and poisoned soil called more strongly than could any thought of love and domesticity within the accursed circle of fraudulent divinity.
There was also the danger that lurked70 for me in Holknecht's knowledge of my identity and the bitterness of his anger born of his insane and stupid jealousy.
Rather than remain longer in Berlin I would take any chance and risk any danger if only Marguerite were not to be left behind. And yet she must be left behind, for such a thing as getting a woman aboard a submarine or even to the submarine docks had never been heard of. I thought of all the usual tricks of disguising her as a man, of smuggling71 her as a stowaway72 amidst the cargo73, but Grauble's insistence74 upon the impossibility of such plans had made it all too clear that any such wild attempt would lead to the undoing75 of us all.
If escape were possible with Marguerite--! But cold reason said that escape was improbable enough for me alone. For a woman of the House of Hohenzollern the prison of Berlin had walls of granite76 and locks of steel.
The time of departure drew nearer. I had already been passed down by the stealthy guards and through the numerous locked and barred gates to the subterranean77 docks where Grauble's vessel, the Eitel 3, rested on the heavy trucks that would bear her away through the tunnel to the pneumatic lock that would float her into the passage that led to the open sea.
My supplies and apparatus78 were stored on board and the crew were making ready to be off. But three hours were left until the time of our departure and these hours I had set aside for my final leave-taking of Marguerite. I hastened back through the guarded gates to the elevator and was quickly lifted to the Royal Level where Marguerite was to be waiting for me.
With fast beating and rebellious heart I rang the bell of the Countess' apartment. I could scarcely believe I heard aright when the servant informed me that the Princess Marguerite had gone out.
I demanded to see the Countess and was ushered79 into the reception-room and suffered unbearably80 during the few minutes till she appeared. To my excited question she replied with a teasing smile that Marguerite had gone out a half hour before with Admiral von Kufner. "I warned you," said the Countess as she saw the tortured expression of my face, "but you would not believe me, when I told you the Admiral would prove a dangerous man."
"But it is impossible," I cried. "I am leaving for the Arctic mines. I have only a couple of hours; surely you are hiding something. Did you see her go? Did she leave no word? Do you know where they have gone or when they will return?"
The Countess shook her head. "I only know," she replied more sympathetically, "that Marguerite seemed very excited all morning. She talked with me of your leaving and seemed very wrought81 up over it, and then but an hour or so ago she rushed into her room and telephoned--it must have been to the Admiral, for he came shortly afterwards. They talked together for a little while and then, without a word to me they went out, seeming to be in a great hurry. Perhaps she felt so upset over your leaving that she thought it kinder not to risk a parting scene. She is so honest, poor child, that she probably did not wish to send you away with any false hopes."
"But do you mean," I cried, "that you think she has gone out with von Kufner to avoid seeing me?"
"I am sorry," consoled the Countess, "but it looks that way. It was cruel of her, for she might have sent you away with hope to live on till your return, even if she felt she could not wait for you."
I strove not to show my anger to the Countess, for, considering her ignorance of the true significance of the occasion, I could not expect a full understanding.
Miserably82 I waited for two hours as the Countess tried to entertain me with her misplaced efforts at sympathy while I battled to keep my faith in Marguerite alive despite the damaging evidence that she had deserted me at the last hour.
I telephoned to von Kufner's office and to his residence but could get no word as to his whereabouts, and Marguerite did not return.
I dared not wait any longer--asking for envelope and paper, I penned a hasty note to Marguerite: "I shall go on to the Arctic and come back to you. The salvation of Berlin must wait till you can go with me. I cannot, will not, lose you."
And then I tore myself away and hastened to the elevator and was dropped to a subterranean level and passed again through the locked and guarded gates.
~5~
As I came to the vessel no one was in sight but the regular guards pacing along the loading docks. I mounted the ladder to the deck. The second officer stood by the open trap. "They are waiting for you," he said. "The Admiral himself is below. He came with his lady to see you off."
I hastened to descend83 and saw von Kufner and Marguerite chatting with Captain Grauble.
"Why the delay?" asked von Kufner. "It is nearly the hour of departure, and I have brought the Princess to bid you farewell. We have been showing her the vessel."
"It is all very wonderful," said Marguerite with a calm voice, but her eyes spoke the feverish84 excitement of a great adventure.
"The Princess Marguerite," said von Kufner, "is the only woman who has ever seen a submarine since the open sea traffic was closed. But she has seen it all and now we must take our leave for it is time that you should be off."
As he finished speaking the Admiral politely stepped away to give me opportunity for a farewell word with Marguerite. Grauble followed him and, as he passed me, he gave me a look of gloating triumph and then opened the door of his cabin, which the Admiral entered.
"I am going with you," whispered Marguerite. "Grauble understands."
There was the sound of a scuffle and a strangled oath. Grauble's head appeared at the cabin door. "Here, Armstadt; be quick, and keep him quiet."
I plunged85 into the cabin and saw von Kufner crumpled86 against the bunk87; his hands were manacled behind him and his mouth stuffed with a cloth.
With an exulting88 joy I threw myself upon the man as he struggled to rise. I easily held him down, and whipping out my own kerchief I bound it tightly across his mouth to more effectively gag him.
Then rolling him over I planted my knee on his back while I ripped a sheet from the bunk and bound his feet.
From without I heard Grauble's voice in command: "Close the hatch." Then I felt the vessel quiver with machinery89 in motion and I knew that we were moving along the tunnel toward the sea.
Grauble appeared again in the door of the cabin. "The mate understands," he said, "and the crew will obey. I told them that the Admiral was going out with us to inspect the lock. But the presence of a woman aboard will puzzle them. I have placed the Princess in the mate's cabin so no one can molest90 her. We have other things to keep us occupied."
With Grauble's help I now bound von Kufner to the staunch metal leg of the bunk and we left him alone in the narrow room to ponder on the meaning of what he had heard.
Outside Grauble led me over to the instrument board where the mate was stationed.
"Any unusual message?" asked Grauble.
"None," said the mate. "I think we will go through without interruption at least until we reach the lock; if anything is suspicioned we will be held up there for examination."
"Do you think the guards at the dock suspected anything?" questioned Grauble.
"It is not likely," replied the mate. "They saw him come aboard, but he spoke to none of them. They will presume he is going out to the lock. The presence of a woman will puzzle them; but, as she was with the Admiral, they will not dare interfere91 or even report the fact."
"Then what do you think we have to fear?" asked Grauble.
"Only the chance that the Admiral's absence may be noted92 at his office and inquiry93 be made."
"Of that the Princess could tell us something," said Grauble. "We will talk with her."
Grauble now led me to the mate's snug94 cabin, where we found Marguerite seated on the bunk, looking very pale and anxious.
"Everything is going nicely, so far," the Captain assured her. "We have only one thing to fear, and that is that inquiry from the Administration Office for the Admiral may be addressed to the Commander of the Lock."
"But how will they know that he is with us?" asked Marguerite. "Will the guards report it?"
"I do not think so," said Grauble, "but does any one at his office know that he came to the docks?"
"I do not see how they could," replied Marguerite; "he was at his apartment when I called him. He came to me at once, not knowing why I wished to see him. I begged him to take me to see you off. I swore that if he did not I should never speak to him again, and he agreed to do so. He seemed to think himself very generous and talked much of the distinctive95 privilege he was conferring upon me by acceding96 to my request. But he told no one where we were going. He communicated with no one from the time he came to me until we arrived at the vessel. The guards and gate-keepers let us pass without question."
"That is fine," cried Grauble; "von Kufner often stays away from his office for days at a time. Unless some chance information leaks back from the guards, he will not be missed. Our chance of being passed speedily out the lock is good--there is a vessel due to lock in this very day and we could not be held back to block the tunnel. That is why the Admiral was impatient when Armstadt failed to appear; he knew our departure ought not be delayed."
"And what," I asked, "do you propose to do with the Admiral?"
"I suppose we must take him with us as a prisoner," replied the Captain. "Your World State Government would appreciate a prisoner of the House of Hohenzollern."
At this suggestion Marguerite shook her head emphatically. "I do not like that," she said. "Is there not some way to leave him behind?"
"I do not like it either," said Grauble, "because I fear his presence aboard may make trouble among my men. I do not think they will object to deserting with us to the free world. Their life in this service is hopeless enough and this is my fifth trip; they have a belief that the Captain's fifth trip is an ill-fated one; not a man aboard but trembles in the dire97 fear that he will never see Berlin again. They will welcome with joy a proposal to escape with us, but to ask them to make the attempt with the Admiral himself on board as a prisoner is a different thing. These men are cowed by authority and I know not what notions they might have of their fate if they are to kidnap the Admiral."
"But," I questioned, "is there no possible way to leave him behind?"
Grauble sat thinking for a moment. "Yes," he said, "there is one way we might do it. We could shave his beard and clip his hair, dress him in a machinist's garb98 and smear99 his hands and face with grease. Then I could drug him and we could carry him off at the lock and put him in a cell. I would report that one of my men had gone raving100 mad, and I had drugged him to keep him from doing injury to himself and others. It would create no great surprise. Men in this service frequently go mad; and I am provided with a sleep producing drug for just such emergencies."
"Then go ahead," I said.
"But you will lose the satisfaction of delivering him prisoner to your government," smiled Grauble.
"I have no love for the Admiral," I replied, "but I think his punishment will be more appropriately attended to in Berlin. When our escape is known he will indeed have a rather difficult time explaining to His Majesty."
This suggestion of the pompous101 Admiral's predicament if thus left behind seemed to amuse Grauble and he at once led the way back to his own cabin.
Von Kufner was lying very quietly in his bonds and glared up at us with a weak and futile rage. Grauble smiled cynically102 at his prostrate103 chief. "I had thought to take you along with us," he said, "but I am afraid the excitement of the voyage would be unpleasant for you so I have decided104 to leave you at the lock to take our farewell back to His Majesty."
Von Kufner, helpless and gagged was given no opportunity to reply, for Grauble, unlocking his medicine case took out a small hypodermic syringe and plunged the needle into the prisoner's thigh105.
In a few minutes the Admiral was unconscious. The Captain now brought a suit of soiled mechanic's clothes and a clipper and razor, and in a half hour the prim106 Admiral in his fancy uniform had been reduced to the likeness107 of an oiler. His face roughly shaved, but pale and sallow, gave a very good simulation of illness of mind and body.
"He will remain like that for at least twelve hours," said Grauble. "I gave him a heavy dose."
Again we went out, locking the unconscious Admiral in the cabin. "You may go and keep the Princess company," said Grauble, "while I talk with my men and give them an inkling of what we are planning. If there is any trouble at the lock it is better that they comprehend that hope of freedom is in store for them."
Amid tears of joy Marguerite now told me of her belated conception of the desperate plan to induce von Kufner to bring her to the docks to see us depart, and how she had pretended to disbelieve that I was really going and bargained to marry him within sixty days if she could be assured by her own eyes that I had really departed for the Arctic.
As we waited feverishly108 for the first nerve-racking part of the journey to be over, we spoke of the hopes and dangers of the great adventure upon which we were finally embarked109. And so the hours passed.
At last we felt the rumble110 of the motors die and knew that the movement of the vessel had ceased.
~6~
The voice of the mate spoke at the door: "Remain quiet inside," he said, and a key turned and clicked the bolt of the lock. The tense minutes passed. Again the key turned in the door and the mate stuck his head inside. "Come quick," he said to me.
I followed him into Capt. Grauble's cabin, but saw Grauble nowhere.
"Remove your clothing," said the mate, as he seized a sponge and soap and began washing the blackened oil from the hands and face of the unconscious Admiral. "We must dress him in your uniform. The Commander of the Lock has orders to take you off the vessel. We must pass the Admiral off for you. He will never be recognized. The Commander has never seen you."
Obeying, without fully comprehending, I helped to quickly dress the unconscious man in my own clothing. We had barely finished when we heard voices outside.
"Quick, under the bunk," whispered the mate. As I obediently crawled into the hiding place, the mate kicked in after me the remainder of the oiler's clothing which I had been trying to put on and pulled the disarranged bedding half off the bunk the better to hide me. Then he opened the door and several men entered.
"I had to drug him," said Grauble's voice, "because he was so violent with fear when I had him manacled that I thought he might attempt to beat out his brains."
"Let me see his papers," said a strange voice.
After a brief interval111 the same voice spoke again--"These are identical with the description given by His Majesty's secretary. There can be no doubt that this is the man they want, but I do not see how an enemy spy could ever pass for a German, even if he had the clothing and identification. He does not even look like the description in the folder112. The chemists must be very stupid to have accepted him as one of them."
"It is strange," replied the voice of Capt. Grauble, "but this man was very clever."
"It is only that most men are very dull," replied the other voice. "Now I should have suspected at once that the man was not a German. But he shall answer for his cleverness. Let him be removed at once. We have word from the vessel outside that they are short of oxygen, and you must be locked out and clear the passage."
With a shuffling113 of many feet the form of the third bearer of Karl Armstadt's pedigree was carried from the cabin, and the door was kicked shut.
I was still lying cramped114 in my hiding place when I felt the vessel moving again. Then a sailor came, bringing a case from which I took fresh clothing. As I was dressing115 I felt my ear drums pain from the increased air pressure, and I heard, as from a great distance, the roar of the water being let into the lock. From the quiet swaying of the floor beneath me I soon sensed that we were afloat. I waited in the cabin until I felt the quiver of motors, now distinguished116 by the lesser117 throb118 and smoother running, from the drive on the wheeled trucks through the tunnel.
I opened the cabin door and went out. Grauble was at the instrument board. The mate stood aft among the motor controls; all men were at their posts, for we were navigating119 the difficult subterranean passage that led to the open sea.
As I approached Grauble he spoke without lifting his eyes from his instruments. "Go bring the Princess out of her hiding; I want my men to see her now. It will help to give them faith."
Marguerite came with me and stood trembling at my side as we watched Grauble, whose eyes still riveted120 upon the many dials and indicators122 before him.
"Watch the chart," said Grauble. "The red hand shows our position."
The chart before him was slowly passing over rolls. For a time we could only see a straight line thereon bordered by many signs and figures. Then slowly over the topmost roll came the wavy123 outlines of a shore, and the parallel lines marking the depths of the bordering sea. Tensely we watched the chart roll slowly down till the end of the channel passed the indicator121.
Grauble breathed a great sigh of relief and for the first time turned his face towards us. "We are in the open sea," he said, "at a depth of 160 metres. I shall turn north at once and parallel the coast. You had better get some rest; for the present nothing can happen. It is night above now but in six more hours will be the dawn, then we shall rise and take our bearings through the periscope124."
I led Marguerite into the Captain's cabin and insisted that she lie down on the narrow berth55. Seated in the only chair, I related what I knew of the affair at the locks. "It must have been," I concluded, after much speculation125, "that Holknecht finally got the attention of the Chemical Staff and related what he knew of the incident of the potash mines. They had enough data about me to have arrived at the correct conclusion long ago. It was a question of getting the facts together."
"It was that," said Marguerite, "or else I am to blame."
"And what do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean," she said, "that I took a great risk about which I must tell you, for it troubles my conscience. After I had sent for the Admiral and he had promised to come, I telephoned to Dr. Zimmern of my intention to get von Kufner to take me to the docks and my hope that I could come with you. And it may be that some one listened in on our conversation."
"I do not see," I said, "how such a conversation should lead to the discovery of my identity--the Holknecht theory is more reasonable--but you did take a risk. Why did you do it?"
"I wanted to tell him good-bye," said Marguerite. "It was hard enough that I could not see him." And she turned her face to the pillow and began to weep.
"What is it, my dear?" I pleaded, as I knelt beside her. "It was all right, of course. Why are you crying--you do not think, do you, that Dr. Zimmern betrayed us?"
Marguerite raised herself upon her elbow and looked at me with hurt surprise. "Do you think that?" she demanded, almost fiercely.
"By no means," I hastened to assure her, "but I do not understand your grief and I only thought that perhaps when you told him he was angered--I never understood why he seemed so anxious not to have you go with me."
"Oh, my dear," sobbed126 Marguerite. "Of course you never understood, because we too had a secret that has been kept from you, and you have been so apologetic because you feared so long to confide11 in me and I have been even slower to confide in you."
For a moment black rebellion rose in my heart, for though with my reasoning I had accepted the explanation that Zimmern had given for his interest in Marguerite, I had never quite accepted it in my unreasoning heart. And in the depths of me the battle between love and reason and the dark forces of jealous unreason and suspicion had smouldered, to break out afresh on the least provocation127.
I fought again to conquer these dark forces, for I had many times forgiven her even the thing which suspicion charged. And as I struggled now the sound of Marguerite's words came sweeping128 through my soul like a great cleansing129 wind, for she said--"The secret that I have kept back from you and that I have wanted so often to tell you is that Dr. Zimmern is my father!"
~7~
In the early dawn of a foggy morning we beached the Eitel 3 on a sandy stretch of Danish shore within a few kilometres of an airdome of the World Patrol. A native fisherman took Grauble, Marguerite and myself in his hydroplane to the post, where we found the commander at his breakfast. He was a man of quick intelligence. Our strange garb was sufficient to prove us Germans, while a brief and accurate account of the attempted rescue of the mines of Stassfurt, given in perfect English, sufficed to credit my reappearance in the affairs of the free world as a matter of grave and urgent importance.
A squad130 of men were sent at once to guard the vessel that had been left in charge of the mate. Within a few hours we three were at the seat of the World Government at Geneva.
Grauble surrendered his charts of the secret passage and was made a formal prisoner of state, until the line of the passage could be explored by borings and the reality of its existence verified.
I was in daily conference with the Council in regard to momentous131 actions that were set speedily a-going. The submarine tunnel was located and the passage blocked. A fleet of ice crushers and exploring planes were sent to locate the protium mines of the Arctic. The proclamation of these calamities132 to the continued isolated existence of Germany and the terms of peace and amnesty were sent showering down through the clouds to the roof of Berlin.
Marguerite and I had taken up our residence in a cottage on the lake shore, and there as I slept late into the sunlit hours of a July morning, I heard the clatter133 of a telephone annunciator. I sat bolt upright listening to the words of the instrument--
"Berlin has shut off the Ray generators134 of the defence mines--all over the desert of German soil men are pouring forth135 from the ventilating shafts--the roof of Berlin is a-swarm with a mass of men frolicking in the sunlight--the planes of the World Patrol have alighted on the roof and have received and flashed back the news of the abdication136 of the Emperor and the capitulation of Berlin--the world armies of the mines are out and marching forth to police the city--"
The voice of the instrument ceased.
I looked about for Marguerite and saw her not. I was up and running through the rooms of the cottage. I reached the outer door and saw her in the garden, robed in a gown of gossamer137 white, her hair streaming loose about her shoulders and gleaming golden brown in the quivering light. She was holding out her hands to the East, where o'er the far-flung mountain craigs the God of Day beamed down upon his worshipper.
In a frenzy138 of wild joy I called to her--"Babylon is fallen--is fallen! The black spot is erased from the map of the world!"
The End
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1
erased
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| v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除 | |
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lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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3
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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9
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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10
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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14
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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17
revoked
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| adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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impugn
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| v.指责，对…表示怀疑 | |
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revokes
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| v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的第三人称单数 ) | |
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21
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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22
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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25
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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26
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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27
citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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28
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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29
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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30
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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31
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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32
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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34
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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35
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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36
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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37
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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38
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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39
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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40
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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41
smuggle
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| vt.私运；vi.走私 | |
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42
futility
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| n.无用 | |
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43
advisory
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| adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询 | |
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44
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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45
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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46
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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47
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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48
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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49
usurped
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| 篡夺，霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权 | |
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50
pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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51
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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52
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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53
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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54
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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55
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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56
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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57
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
imprison
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| vt.监禁，关押，限制，束缚 | |
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59
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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60
traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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61
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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62
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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63
languish
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| vi.变得衰弱无力，失去活力，（植物等）凋萎 | |
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64
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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65
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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66
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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67
parasitical
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| adj. 寄生的(符加的) | |
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68
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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69
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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70
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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71
smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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72
stowaway
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| n.（藏于轮船，飞机中的）偷乘者 | |
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73
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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74
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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75
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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76
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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77
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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78
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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79
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
unbearably
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| adv.不能忍受地，无法容忍地；慌 | |
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81
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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82
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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83
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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84
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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85
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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86
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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87
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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88
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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89
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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90
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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91
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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92
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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93
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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94
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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95
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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96
acceding
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的现在分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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97
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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98
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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99
smear
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| v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑 | |
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100
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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101
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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102
cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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103
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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104
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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105
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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106
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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107
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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108
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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109
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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110
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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111
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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112
folder
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| n.纸夹，文件夹 | |
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113
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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114
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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115
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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116
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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117
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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118
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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119
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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120
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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121
indicator
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| n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器 | |
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122
indicators
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| （仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号 | |
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123
wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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124
periscope
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| n. 潜望镜 | |
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125
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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126
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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127
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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128
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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129
cleansing
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| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
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130
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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131
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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132
calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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133
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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134
generators
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| n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司 | |
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135
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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136
abdication
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| n.辞职；退位 | |
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137
gossamer
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| n.薄纱，游丝 | |
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138
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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