A Journey in Other Worlds [131]
but,
remembering that their friends must by this time be waiting, they
shut off the repulsion from the earth.
"We need not apply the apergy to the earth until quite near,"
said Ayrault, "since a great part of the top speed will be taken
off by the resistance of the atmosphere, especially as we go in
base first. We have only to keep a sufficiently strong repulsion
on the dome to prevent our turning over, and to see that our
speed is not great enough to heat the car."
When about fifty miles from the surface they felt the expected
check, and concluded they had reached the upper limits of the
atmosphere. And this increased, notwithstanding the decrease in
their speed, showing how quickly the air became dense.
When about a mile from the earth they had the Callisto well in
hand, and allowed it to descend slowly. The ground was already
black with people, who, having learned where the Callisto was to
touch, had hastened to Van Cortlandt Park.
"I am overjoyed to see you," said Sylvia, when she and Ayrault
met. "I had the most dreadful presentiment that something had
gone wrong with you. One afternoon and evening I was so
perplexed, and during the night had a series of nightmares that I
shall never forget. I really believed you were near me, but your
nature seemed to have changed, for, instead of its making me
happy, I was frightfully distressed. The next day I was very
ill, and unable to get up; but during the morning I fell asleep
and had another dream, which was intensely realistic and made me
believe--yes, convinced me--that you were well. After that dream
I soon recovered; but oh, the anguish of the first!"
Ayrault did not tell her then that he had been near her, and of
his unspeakable suffering, of which hers had been but the echo.
Three weeks later a clergyman tied the knot that was to unite
them forever.
While Sylvia and Ayrault were standing up to receive the
congratulations of their friends, Bearwarden, in shaking his
hand, said:
"Remember, we have been to neither Uranus, nor Neptune, nor
Cassandra, which may be as interesting as anything we have seen.
Should you want to take another trip, count me as your humble
servant." And Cortlandt, following behind him, said the same
thing.
Shortly after this, Sylvia went up-stairs to change her dress,
and when she came down she and Ayrault set out on their journey
together through life, amid a chorus of cheers and a shower of
rice.
Cortlandt then returned to his department at Washington, and
Bearwarden resumed his duties with the Terrestrial Axis
Straightening Company, in the presidential chair.
End
remembering that their friends must by this time be waiting, they
shut off the repulsion from the earth.
"We need not apply the apergy to the earth until quite near,"
said Ayrault, "since a great part of the top speed will be taken
off by the resistance of the atmosphere, especially as we go in
base first. We have only to keep a sufficiently strong repulsion
on the dome to prevent our turning over, and to see that our
speed is not great enough to heat the car."
When about fifty miles from the surface they felt the expected
check, and concluded they had reached the upper limits of the
atmosphere. And this increased, notwithstanding the decrease in
their speed, showing how quickly the air became dense.
When about a mile from the earth they had the Callisto well in
hand, and allowed it to descend slowly. The ground was already
black with people, who, having learned where the Callisto was to
touch, had hastened to Van Cortlandt Park.
"I am overjoyed to see you," said Sylvia, when she and Ayrault
met. "I had the most dreadful presentiment that something had
gone wrong with you. One afternoon and evening I was so
perplexed, and during the night had a series of nightmares that I
shall never forget. I really believed you were near me, but your
nature seemed to have changed, for, instead of its making me
happy, I was frightfully distressed. The next day I was very
ill, and unable to get up; but during the morning I fell asleep
and had another dream, which was intensely realistic and made me
believe--yes, convinced me--that you were well. After that dream
I soon recovered; but oh, the anguish of the first!"
Ayrault did not tell her then that he had been near her, and of
his unspeakable suffering, of which hers had been but the echo.
Three weeks later a clergyman tied the knot that was to unite
them forever.
While Sylvia and Ayrault were standing up to receive the
congratulations of their friends, Bearwarden, in shaking his
hand, said:
"Remember, we have been to neither Uranus, nor Neptune, nor
Cassandra, which may be as interesting as anything we have seen.
Should you want to take another trip, count me as your humble
servant." And Cortlandt, following behind him, said the same
thing.
Shortly after this, Sylvia went up-stairs to change her dress,
and when she came down she and Ayrault set out on their journey
together through life, amid a chorus of cheers and a shower of
rice.
Cortlandt then returned to his department at Washington, and
Bearwarden resumed his duties with the Terrestrial Axis
Straightening Company, in the presidential chair.
End