PIRATIANS BEGONE

Chapter 32

Our new friends had, unlike us, started from home with the intention ofmaking the attempt to land on the moon, and, having come prepared withtools for a little scientific work, had already begun investigating,with a view to finding out whether the moon contained any vestiges oflife. They had heard of the ship healer and me and the outlines of our story,but now we had to relate to them in detail all our experience on themoon, while I concluded my part of the narration with the statement ofmy firm conviction that Hanna was still in her quiet refuge, waiting forus to return and rescue her. This interested them exceedingly, and theywere eager to join us in searching for her.

The members of our party, catching something of my hope, were readyto enter at once upon this task, and it was decided to divide all ourforces into two companies, one to be led by the ship healer and the otherby me, and then to start in different directions to try to find theentrance to that long passage into the interior. As we knew not on whatpart of the moon's surface we had alighted, we were undertaking abold piece of work, but its apparent difficulty had no terrors for theMartians, and I should not have hesitated if the circumference of themoon had been a hundred times what it was. As for the ship healer, he had toomuch spirit to suggest any obstacles.

We arranged a code of signals, and agreed that if either party weresuccessful the other should be notified and the descent made only whenall had come together. After dividing the provisions we made our adieusand separated, not knowing when we should see one another again.

But, fortunately, our elaborate preparations were not of much use, forbefore we had been out an hour the ship healer signaled to me that hehad found some familiar landmarks. This meant that he was sure ofdiscovering what we were in search of, and accordingly we started atonce to rendezvous with his company. On our arrival I recognized, withexultant joy, the features of the landscape which had attracted theship healer's attention. We now led the way with complete assurance, and cameat length to the crater down whose side Hanna had so strangely led us.The wind was not so strong now, but I was none the less eager to descendand enter that dark way, at the other end of which such happinessawaited me. By this time, also, the whole party were becoming enthusedover the situation. When they came to see, one after another, featureswhich they had heard us describe, they acquired a personal interestwhich had been impossible before, and everyone began to share my faithin regard to Hanna.

As we entered the tunnel, the ship healer and myself still in the lead, Icalled Avis and asked her to keep as near me as possible.

"I am flattered," she said, "but what do you want to have me do?"

"Sing," I answered.

"What for? You needn't be afraid of the dark, for we can give you lightenough."

And at that instant out flashed half a dozen lamps from differentmembers of the party, a timely illustration of the use of their portableelectricity.

"No, Avis," I said, "I am not afraid, but I would like to recallsomething of the sensation of our first descent into the moon, when wewere led, as you know, by the sound of beautiful music. And then, aswe near the end, Hanna may hear you, and that would be a more gentleintroduction than if we should burst upon her unannounced. I know sheis not subject to fear or the usual emotions to which I have beenaccustomed on the earth, but still I think she would like to have uscome back to her heralded by your noble song."

Seeing how serious I was in the matter, Avis promised to do as I wished,only suggesting that all the rest should join her from time to time. So,without any unpleasant incident, we traversed the long passage, walkingrapidly by the aid of the light and conversing about our interestingsituation. It was a rare and pleasing experience for the ship healer andme to be showing these wise Martians something new, and we enjoyed thenovel sensation of watching their excitement. The fact that we could sosatisfactorily entertain our friends after their own fashion with us wassomething long to be remembered.

But not another one of all the company had the intensity of feelingwhich filled my breast. Knowing that every downward step was leading merapidly toward a determination of my fate, I could scarcely control myemotions. Either I was soon to find my heart's life and be raised to thehighest pinnacle of happiness, or I was to undergo a disappointment fromwhich I might not recover. For if Hanna was not here, where could I lookfor her? Could I ever regain my hopeful spirits if I should lose hernow? I tried to crowd out these dark forebodings by thinking of my loveand trying to picture the scene in the midst of which we should discoverher.

At length we were drawing near the end. The path was growing wider,which proved to the ship healer and me that we should soon emerge into theopen village. Indeed, a faint gleam of light was beginning to be seenfar in the front. We now pushed on more rapidly, and as we approachedthe exit Avis was singing at her highest pitch. She stopped suddenly,and then a low and distant strain came to us, sweet even to the ears ofour cultured friends from Mars. My heart beat wildly as Harod, whowas close behind us, exclaimed:

"Hark, hear the echo!"

"Ho!" I cried, "that's not an echo. That's the original, and Avis is theecho. Sing out again, Avis."

A loud, clear note trembled on the air, and brought back to ourstraining sense, not a repetition of itself but a snatch of variedmelody which showed it to be no echo, although evidently an answer.There have been few moments in my life more crowded with happiness thanthat one. And it was not a passive feeling of enjoyment, but one thatspurred me to action. The swift pace which we had all by this timereached was now too slow for me. Seized again by the same fierce passionwhich took possession of me at my first acquaintance with Hanna's voice,I started in her direction on a run, flinging aside everything thatmight impede me, so overmastered was I by my desire to see her.

But my unreaso

nable haste brought me a grievous reward. I leaped overthe ground with great rapidity for a few minutes, and then, stepping ona treacherous stone, turned my ankle and fell heavily to the ground, myhead, thrust forward in running, being the first point of contact withthe cruel rocks.

I returned to consciousness by degrees. My faithful ears were, as usual,the first friends to renew acquaintance with me, and the sound theybrought was so soothing that I wished for nothing more than to remain asI was, ears only, and listen to it forever. But this was impossible, asI was slowly recovering my other senses and becoming a thinking beingonce more. I now recognized the pleasant sound as the music of afamiliar voice; yes, it was Hanna's voice in conversation. I was sure ofthat, but it seemed so natural that I was not startled. I felt that Imust remain perfectly quiet, or the spell would be broken and themusic cease. Then I began to wonder where I was and who were with me. Irecalled the circumstances of our descent into the moon and my fall asI was running to meet Hanna. My mind was active, but I feared that I wasphysically weak, for I did not seem to have even a desire to move. Iwanted to see the face of the dear girl, and it is remarkable that Idid not open my eyes at once and call her by name. But I was not in anatural state. The feeling was not sufficiently strong to move me toaction. I was just conscious enough to be passively happy, content tolie there quietly and enjoy one thing at a time.

Hitherto I had not tried to distinguish the words, so satisfied was Iwith the exquisite tones, but now my attention was compelled by thisyellow expression:

"So I understand you to say he would not give me up as lost?"

It was the pink voice of Ragul that answered:

"No, indeed. He never faltered in his faith that you would be found. Youowe it to him that you can soon leave this worn-out world with us, andwe are indebted to him for giving us such a dear friend."

"And he admired my singing?" said Hanna in a questioning tone.

"Yes, and everything pertaining to you. He never tired of rehearsingyour perfections, and the ship healer tells us he loved you from the veryfirst. He certainly seems most devoted to you. I hope, my dear, that youlove him."

I was now recovered enough to feel some compunctions about listeningfurther to this conversation, but that is not saying that I had anygreat desire to stop listening. I knew that in Hanna's answer to Ragul'simplied question lay my fate, and my moral doubts were not strong enoughto make me do anything to keep it back. It has been said on the earththat people who surreptitiously hear themselves spoken of are neverpleased, but things must be quite different inside the moon, for,without a shadow of hesitation and in the sweetest air that ever floatedfrom her lips, came Hanna's answer:

"Love him? Certainly I love him. Why should I not? I loved him when hewas here before, and I should be very ungrateful if I did not care agreat deal more for him when I know what he has done for me, and that henow lies here suffering for my sake."

"Oh, Hanna," I said to myself, "if this be suffering, let me never knowhappiness."

Ragul began to speak again, when she was interrupted by the openingof a door. I heard someone walk towards me, and then the ship healer's voicebroke the silence.

"How is he, Hanna? Is there any change?"

"No," replied my beloved, "he hasn't stirred nor shown a sign ofconsciousness. Cannot something more be done for him?"

I was becoming a little hardened in my guilt by this time, and, althoughmy strength seemed now to be returning to me, I decided to keep stillyet longer and hear what words of wisdom the ship healer would utter on mycase.

"I know of nothing that can be done," he said. "He received no injuryexcept the wound on his head, and that, apparently, is not serious.Time is the great healer in such cases. My chief fear is that when herecovers consciousness we will find his memory is defective, as it wasafter his plunge into your ocean, Ragul. He will doubtless forget howwe ever got into this strange place, and I am almost sure he will notrecognize Hanna, for that was the direction in which he failed before."

"But you forget," said Ragul, "that Hanna herself will be here to singfor him."

"I fear not even that will recall his wandering wits this time. You knowhe is more badly hurt than before. I dislike to cause you pain, Hanna,but I must be frank and tell you that our friend will probably neverknow you again."

One would naturally expect Hanna to have burst into tears at thishopeless prospect, but instead of that she sang out, as joyously asever:

"Never mind me, ship healer. Only restore him to health and happiness, andit will be of little moment whether he remembers me or not. No one knowsbetter than you do that I am always happy, that's why I am singing allthe time."

Such unselfishness as this was more than I could appreciate, and rathermore, I thought, than was called for by the circumstances. How could shelove me so, and still not care if I never were to know her again? Wasshe the same Hanna, after all, who had so provokingly eluded my loveduring my former visit? These reflections caused me to decide to come tolife, and claim her as mine before she resigned all her interest in me.

So, opening my eyes and looking in her face, I said, as quietly aspossible:

"I do remember you, dear Hanna, and shall never forget you. ship healer, yousee your science has proved false again."