when the sleeper wakes-第39节
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these things will be changed。〃 Ostrog〃
〃That is our hope。 That is the hope of the world。
But Ostrog will not do it。 He is a politician。 To him
it seems things must be like this。 He does not mind。
He takes it for granted。 All the rich; all the influential;
all who are happy; come at last to take these miseries
for granted。 They use the people in their politics;
they live in ease by their degradation。 But you
you who come from a happier ageit is to you the
people look。 To you。〃
He looked at her face。 Her eyes were bright with
unshed tears。 He felt a rush of emotion。 For a moment
he forgot this city; he forgot the race; and all
those vague remote voices; in the immediate humanity
of her beauty。
〃But what am I to do? 〃 he said with his eyes upon
her。
〃Rule;〃 she answered; bending towards him and
speaking in a low tone。 〃Rule the world as it has
never been ruled; for the good and happiness of men。
For you might rule ityou could rule it。
〃The people are stirring。 All over the world the
people are stirring。 It wants but a wordbut a
word from youto bring them all together。 Even
the middle sort of people are restless unhappy。
〃They are not telling you the things that are
happening。 The people will not go back to their
drudgerythey refuse to be disarmed。 Ostrog has
awakened something greater than he dreamt ofhe
has awakened hopes。〃
His heart was beating fast。 He tried to seem judicial;
to weigh considerations。
〃They only want their leader;〃 she said。
〃And then? 〃
〃You could do what you would;the world is
yours。〃
He sat; no longer regarding her。 Presently he
spoke。〃 The old dreams; and the thing I have
dreamt; liberty; happiness。 Are they dreams?
Could one manone man? 〃 His voice sank and ceased。
〃Not one man; but all mengive them only a
leader to speak the desire of their hearts。〃
He shook his head; and for a time there was silence。
He looked up suddenly; and their eyes met。 〃I
have not your faith;〃 he said。〃 I have not your youth。
I am here with power that mocks me。 Nolet me
speak。 I want to donot rightI have not the
strength for thatbut something rather right than
wrong。 It will bring no millenium; but I am resolved
now that I will rule。 What you have said has
awakened me。 。 。 。 You are right。 Ostrog must
know his place。 And I will learn。 。 。 。 One
thing I promise you。 This Labour slavery shall end。〃
〃And you will rule?〃
〃Yes。 Provided。 There is one thing。〃
〃
Yes? 〃
〃
That you will help me。〃
〃I!a girl!〃
〃Yes。 Does it not occur to you I am absolutely
alone? 〃
She started and for an instant her eyes had pity。
〃Need you ask whether I will help you?〃 she said。
She stood before him; beautiful; worshipful; and her
enthusiasm and the greatness of their theme was like
a great gulf fixed between them。 To touch her; to
clasp her hand; was a thing beyond hope。 〃Then
I will rule indeed;〃 he said slowly。 〃I will rule…〃
He paused。 〃With you。〃
There came a tense silence; and then the beating
a clock striking the hour。 She made him no answer。
Graham rose。
Even now;〃 he said; 〃Ostrog will be waiting。 〃He
hesitated; facing her。 〃When I have asked him certain
questions。 There is much I do not know。 It may
be; that I will go to see with my own eyes the things
of which you have spoken。 And when I return?〃
〃I shall know of your going and coming。 I will
wait for you here again。〃
He stood for a moment regarding her。
〃I knew;〃 she said; and stopped。
He waited; but she said no more。 They regarded
one another steadfastly; questioningly; and then he
turned from her towards the Wind Vane office。
CHAPTER XIX
OSTROG S POINT OF VIEW
Graham found Ostrog waiting to give a formal account
of his day's stewardship。 On previous occasions he
had passed over this ceremony as speedily as possible;
in order to resume his aerial experiences; but now he
began to ask quick short questions。 He was very
anxious to take up his empire forthwith。 Ostrog
brought flattering reports of the development of
affairs abroad。 In Paris and Berlin; Graham
perceived that he was saying; there had been
trouble; not organised resistance indeed; but
insubordinate proceedings。 〃After all these years;〃
said Ostrog; when Graham pressed enquiries;
〃the Commune has lifted its head again。 That
is the real nature of the struggle; to be explicit。〃
But order had been restored in these cities。 Graham;
the more deliberately judicial for the stirring emotions
he felt; asked if there had been any fighting。 〃A
little;〃 said Ostrog。 〃In one quarter only。 But the
Senegalese division of our African agricultural police
the Consolidated African Companies have a very well
drilled policewas ready; and so were the aeroplanes。
We expected a little trouble in the continental cities;
and in America。 But things are very quiet in America。
They are satisfied with the overthrow of the Council
For the time。〃
〃 Why should you expect trouble?〃 asked Graham
abruptly。
〃There is a lot of discontentsocial discontent。〃
〃The Labour Company?〃
〃You are learning;〃 said Ostrog with a touch of
surprise。 〃Yes。 It is chiefly the discontent with the
Labour Company。 It was that discontent supplied
the motive force of this overthrowthat and your
awakening。〃
〃Yes? 〃
Ostrog smiled。 He became explicit。 〃We had to
stir up their discontent; we had to revive the old ideals
of universal happinessall men equalall men
happyno luxury that everyone may not share
ideas that have slumbered for two hundred years。 You
know that? We had to revive these ideals; impossible
as they arein order to overthrow the Council。 And
now〃
〃Well? 〃
〃Our revolution is accomplished; and the Council
is overthrown; and people whom we have stirred up
remain surging。 There was scarcely enough
fighting 。 。 。 We made promises; of course。 It is
extraordinary how violently and rapidly this vague
out…of…date humanitarianism has revived and spread。
We who sowed the seed even; have been astonished。
In Paris; as I saywe have had to call in a little
external help。〃
〃And here? 〃
〃There is trouble。 Multitudes will not go back
to work。 There is a general strike。 Half the
factories are empty and the people are swarming in the
Ways。 They are talking of a Commune。 Men in silk
and satin have been insulted in the streets。 The blue
canvas is expecting all sorts of things from you。。。。
Of course there is no need for you to trouble。 We
are setting the Babble Machines to work with counter
suggestions in the cause of law and order。 We must
keep the grip tight; that is all。〃
Graham thought。 He perceived a way of asserting
himself。 But he spoke with restraint。
〃Even to the pitch of bringing a negro police;〃 he
said。
〃They are useful;〃 said Ostrog。 〃They are fine
loyal brutes; with no wash of ideas in their heads
such as our rabble has。 The Council should have had
them as police of the Ways; and things might have been
different。 Of course; there is nothing to fear except
rioting and wreckage。 You can manage your own
wings now; and you can soar away to Capri if there
is any smoke or fuss。 We have the pull of all the
great things; the aeronauts are privileged and rich; the
closest trades union in the world; and so are the
engineers of the wind vanes。 We have the air; and the
mastery of the air is the mastery of the earth。 No one of
any ability is organising against us。 They have no
leadersonly the sectional leaders of the secret
society we organised before your very opportune
awakening。 Mere busy bodies and sentimentalists they
are and bitterly jealous of each other。 None of them is
man enough for a central figure。 The only trouble will
be a disorganised upheaval。 To be frankthat may
happen。 But it won't interrupt your aeronautics。
The days when the People could make revolutions are
past。〃
〃I suppose they are;〃 said Graham。 〃I suppose
they are。〃 He mused。 〃This world of yours has
been full of surprises to me。 In the old days we
dreamt of a wonderful democratic life; of a time when
all men would be equal and happy。〃
Ostrog looked at him steadfastly。 〃The day of
democracy is past;〃 he said。 〃Past for ever。 That
day began with the bowmen of Crecy; it ended when
marching infantry; when common men in masses
ceased to win the battles of the world; when costly
cannon; great ironclads; and strategic railways became
the means of power。 To…day is the day of wealth。
Wealth now is power as it never was power before
it commands earth and sea and sky。 All power is for
those who can handle wealth。。。。 You must
accept facts; and these are facts。 The world for the
Crowd! The Crowd as Ruler! Even in your days
that creed had been tried and condemned。 To…day it