THE WHOOMANGS
Thoroughly by their across the seas, the Radio Man and his two companions—the ant-man, Doggo, and the beautiful, golden-furred Vairking maiden, Quivven—wished to land at once, without waiting to what particular of Cupia them. But the entire area appeared to be wooded.
150
Accordingly the to a above the ground and then just the at a slow of speed, a watch for a landing place. They had not long to wait, for presently they a road the trees; and, after on more speed and this road for a of stads, they came to a large a from the road, to them to settle to the ground.
The party upon the silver-green sward, and the three then through the to the road, which proved to be of dirt, although well-traveled.
Myles remarked, “This must be some very out-of-the-way part of my country; for all of our are of concrete, a material to the with which I the together in making our in Vairkingi.”
Quivven shuddered. “Please don’t me of my city,” she piteously; then in a more tone: “But that is us. Let us it and the future. You were speaking of roads?”
“Yes,” Myles replied. “The fact, that this road is not of that it is not a main highway, but the that it is well-worn that it is considerably. Let us therefore wait for some passer-by who can tell us where we are.”
At this point Doggo produced a and stylus, and wrote, “Let me in on this.”
Cabot transcribed, in Porovian short-hand, an account of the conversation. Meanwhile the girl the the road.
151
While Doggo was reading the manuscript, Quivven called Cabot’s attention to the trees and shrubs. “How different they are from those in Vairkingia,” she remarked.
“That is to be expected,” Myles answered, “for your land and mine are by across which no or pass and live. Thus it is that the two support the same of life. Come, I will point out to you some of the more common of our flora.”
He had in mind to her the red-knobbed lichen-tree; and the bush, the heart-shaped of which are put to so many by the Cupians; and the herb, the of which are used for anaesthesia; and the and yellow wild flowers. But although he for a hundred or so along the road, he was unable to a single of these very common of Porovian vegetation.
“It is strange,” he to himself. “When I want to the common plants of Cupia, I nothing but plants, and yet I’ll that if I were to go out in search of for my garden at Lake Luno, I should nothing but tartan, saffra, lichen-trees, and dandelions.”
The mention of Luno Castle his with a jerk. Here he was at last, after many adventures, on the same with his Lilla and his Kew. He had come here to them, if it were not too late, from Yuri the and his bees. Now that he was of his loved ones, he to worry about their safety a great more than before.
But this for Lilla was out-weighed by a of Lilla. What would she say to his two allies? Doggo, the ant-man, was a of a which Cabot had to from the of Poros; for, as he had asserted, there can be no peace on any continent, which is by more than one of beings.
152
And Quivven, the golden-furred Vairking maiden, would be more difficult to explain. She was beautiful, by Cupian standards. She was more nearly the same as Myles than was his own wife, Lilla. She and Myles talk together, by the radio-sense of Lilla. In these circumstances, it was possible that the Princess Lilla would Quivven with open arms, or be to her.
At this point, his was by Doggo him the note:
If we are to passers-by, do you not think it would be well to return to the plane and secure our rifles, so as to protect ourselves in case the passers-by should prove to be hostile?
Myles his assent, and Quivven of their intentions. She, being nearer to the point where they had entered the road, through the at once, and they after her.
Just as Myles and Doggo were through the in the wake of the one, they an ahead. Redoubling their efforts, they the in an instant, and a most sight!
Perched upon the airship, like a of vultures, were about a dozen huge, bat-winged, green reptiles, each with a wing-spread of ten-feet; and one of these the of Quivven tight in its claws.
Without a moment’s for his own safety, the earth-man the Vairkingian which at his side, and at the which the girl. Doggo close behind, his angrily.
But they the plane, the into the air and over the trees to the northward, Quivven’s an of despair, and one little a farewell.
153
The next move was obvious. Myles and Doggo to their places in the and after. It was an easy to overtake the clumsy-winged saurians, but not so easy to decide what to do after them. The so close together their were to fire on them for of Quivven. The girl was as yet unharmed, so the only thing to do to be to and watch for some opportunity to a rescue.
Thus the for without event. Myles was in an for the safety of his little friend, but his did not keep his scientific mind from about the green which he was following. He had read about such in books on as a child. These were pterodactyls.
He had in the at Kuana, of Cupia. He had of pterosaurs, the size of sparrows, in the of Kar. But he had been by Cupian scientists that the larger had long since on Poros.
Whence then these of Quivven?
While thus in speculations, he a closer to the flock, two of them and the plane from sides. Doggo his with a shot; but Myles did not let go of the levers, as he was too close to the tree for safety as it was. Accordingly his got a on the of the fusilage, its and started to in.
But the earth-man the machine high into the air, as his around and at the intruder, which let go its hold, and, with a of pain, through the tree and from view.
154
Myles a of relief, and once more on the of pterosaurs. But this time he at a safe from them; and they, by the of their two comrades, did not attempt any at the plane.
So the continued. Occasionally, the green wings, the two in the catch a of the of Quivven, fast in the of her captor. She was still alive. She did not to be in pain. Once she to her friends above. What would those do with her?
The question was soon to be answered. But it was to be succeeded by many other questions, for a large and looking city ahead. Its was to Cabot. Strange, he that he all the settlements of Cupia! Its was of an unknown type, not the of toy by the Formians, the red-tiled and of the Cupians, but a Greek or Roman.
The was immaterial, however, with the that this was a city of some sort, a city of a high of civilization. The were for it, and thus there was every of the inhabitants—presumably Cupians—rescuing Quivven.
Suppose, however, it was a city. Its and as much. Perhaps this was the long of some Cupian Jamshyd, now by lion and lizard, or by and pterodactyl.
This was not so, however; for, as Cabot nearer, he see that the were in an excellent of repair, with not a among them. No, this was an city, to which the green were their prey. Could it be that the Cupian these as pets, and that this was unknown to the scientists at the Cupian metropolis?
155
Cabot’s were again cut by his over the city. The for an centrally-located edifice, which they entered by one of the upper windows. The plane into a near-by plaza. Making a to the ant-man to the ship, Myles a and cartridges, and a which toward the which the green had entered.
On the way he met pterosaurs, four or five four-legged slate-colored in size from that of a small dog to that of a horse, one large about thirty in length, of insects, and a cat-like creatures; but not a single Cupian. If these were the of the city, where were their masters?
The did not offer to him. In fact, they gave way to him with every of respect and not a little fear. This to that they were all domesticated, so he no to them.
At last he at the which he sought. A wide from the up to its doorway. This of Formia, for the ant-men they were off the had used of the of stairs by the Cupians.
Over the door was an in Porovian characters: “The Palace of the City of Yat.”
This must be Cupia, or old Formia—now by the Cupians—for this was the language of those two races. But then, he reflected, it had also been the language of the Vairkings, across the seas.
Putting an end to his speculations, he up the and entered the building.
The and was with the of animals the earth-man had set upon. Picture to Frank Buck’s circus, the New York zoo, and the gr-ool of Kuana, all in one hall, and then you wouldn’t one-half of it; for very of these assembled the to anything which you, or Myles Cabot, had seen. He paused and the assemblage. There was not a or Cupian present, not an ant-man!
156
At the of the chamber, on a platform, there sat—or, rather, squatted—a pterosaur, must have been at least twenty from to tip. This beast, those which had Quivven, was slate-blue than green. His was square, with a beak, large eyes, and earholes, but no ears.
Four he had, very much like those of a toad, that the of each hand, the which should have been the “little” finger, over his to a of about six feet, and as the other supporting of his wings, which now at his side.
In of this Quivven the Golden Flame, by two of the smaller pterodactyls, and and unafraid. None of the animals appeared to have noticed Cabot’s entrance, so he to wait a moments and size up the doing anything rash.
As he the scene, a some thirty in length and at least a in on to the the slate-colored dragon. This had two and two small arms, none of which it used to help its progression; but in one hand it what appeared to be a of paper, which it with a to the dragon, who in reply, and taking the paper appeared to read it.
This called the attention of the earth-man to the that each of the Alice-in-Wonderland animals about him was with a and stylus. Occasionally one would something on its pad, and then make two with its mouth, at which a small would take the and with it to some other part of the chamber.
157
Standing very near Myles there was a small and particularly inoffensive-looking animal a beaver. In Cupia Myles would have that it was some of mathlab, for its of antennae.
This looked like a good safe to upon, so he for its pad, which, to his great surprise, the him without demur, together with its stylus.
Remembering the above the doorway, Myles in Porovian shorthand: “Most Excellent King—Myles Cabot, a sojourner, protection for himself and the one who now you. We are from Cupia and Vairkingi respectively. What country is this?”
Then he the paper and twice with his against the of his mouth. Instantly a messenger was at his side. Indicating the with a gesture, he the note to the little reptile, who away with it. Myles passed the and to the from he had it, and then the great to he had written.
This and read the note, while the messenger nigh. Then, a against the with one claw, he on it with a in the other. What he had he to the which him, and upon a of approval, the note and gave it to the little bat, who with it to Myles.
On the paper, in Porovian characters, were the words: “Welcome to Yat, Myles Cabot. You and your are our guests. We know of no country of either Cupia or Vairkingi. This is the land of the Whoomangs, and I am Boomalayla, their king. You have permission to approach the throne.”
158
So that the plants, the roads, the architecture, and the of Cupians and Vairkings! This must be a third the other two. Well, the plane was intact, and King Boomalayla had him that they were guests, so that it was just as well that they had on this Azores of the seas. Reassured, the earth-man his way through the to the of the where he low the monarch.
Little Quivven, with a of surprise, over to him and by his side. Placing one arm around her, he the king.
This beast, after some with his adviser, Myles a note reading as follows: “Our nation was many years ago by a closely yourself. Therefore you are an guest among us. We have long this day. It is true that you have killed the of two of my subjects, and their to a birth. The for this would be to have a death upon your own body. But of your to our great originator, Namllup, I shall your body. Furthermore, I that, like him, you may have no soul, although this can easily be supplied.”
Myles read the note and it to Quivven, then pointed to the materials of the saurian. Instantly two of the him a and stylus.
Thus supplied, he asked the king: “Great ruler, your offer of protection my and the black who them in the public square outside?”
“And how about little me?” asked Quivven, reading over his shoulder.
“He has already his to of us,” Myles, the note to one of the pterosaurs.
Back came the answer from the king: “You and yours shall all be protected. I will now send to your at the wings, and to him into my presence.”
159
But the earth-man up one hand in a of protest, and wrote: “Better not, your majesty, unless you wish a fight. I will send a note, all. You can then it in a with your of guards.”
To this the assented, so Myles to Doggo by one of the a long of the situation. A minutes later, under orders from the king, the of green who had been the original of Quivven with much through one of the overhead, and presently one of them returned on with Doggo.
“What of a gr-ool is this we have got into?” were the ant-man’s words, as Cabot him the and stylus.
“The Great Builder only knows,” his friend replied. “Anyhow they to souls, and have offered us protection.”
Doggo looked skeptical. Just then a messenger over with a note from Boomalayla, reading: “The session is at an end. You will me to the for a conference.”
The king sharply. Instantly all was in the hall. Solemnly the king three times. In the assembled Whoomangs a answer. Then all was and as those without through the doors and those with through the in the above.
Boomalayla and his adviser, and the three travelers from Vairkingi were the only persons—if you can call them all “persons”—left in the chamber. Whereupon the snake, ahead, the way to an anteroom, and draped. There the five on soft tapestries, by a of little and in the conversation. Due to the speed of Porovian shorthand, the “talk” as as if it had been spoken, although Doggo was by not having a which was properly to his claw.
160
“Who are your companions?” the king asked.
So Myles Quivven the Vairking maiden, and Doggo the Formian. Boomalayla that the was Queekle Mukki, minister of the Whoomangs, and wise all his countrymen.
“His is to my soul, although our are unrelated,” the king wrote.
Myles was much perplexed. “How is it,” he inquired, “that such animals as you Whoomangs are able to live at peace with each other?”
“It was not so the days of Namllup,” the replied, “but he gave us and us one people. Our may be unrelated, but our are the same. You and your two are as as any of us; the three of you have a common type of soul.”
Myles was more perplexed. “Who was Namllup?” he asked. “And what means all this talk of souls?”
