\"Aboutfourteen。\"
\"Idon’tunderstand。\"
\"Veryprobablynot。Oursocialorderwillprobablyseemverycomplextoyou。Totellyouthetruth，I
don’tunderstanditmyselfveryclearly。Nobodydoes。
Youwill，perhaps——byeandbye。WehavetogototheCouncil。\"
Graham’sattentionwasdividedbetweentheurgentnecessityofhisinquiriesandthepeopleinthepassagesandhallstheyweretraversing。ForamomenthismindwouldbeconcentrateduponHowardandthehaltinganswershemade，andthenhewouldlosethethreadinresponsetosomevividunexpectedimpression。Alongthepassages，inthehalls，halfthepeopleseemedtobemeninthereduniform。Thepalebluecanvasthathadbeensoabundantintheaisleofmovingwaysdidnotappear。Invariablythesemenlookedathim，andsalutedhimandHowardastheypassed。
Hehadaclearvisionofenteringalongcorridor，andtherewereanumberofgirlssittingonlowseatsandasthoughinaclass。Hesawnoteacher，butonlyanovelapparatusfromwhichhefanciedavoiceproceeded。
Thegirlsregardedhimandhisconductor，hethought，withcuriosityandastonishment。Buthewashurriedonbeforehecouldformaclearideaofthegathering。HejudgedtheyknewHowardandnothimself，andthattheywonderedwhohewas。ThisHoward，itseemed，wasapersonofimportance。ButthenhewasalsomerelyGraham’sguardian。Thatwasodd。
Therecameapassageintwilight，andintothispassageafootwayhungsothathecouldseethefeetandanklesofpeoplegoingtoandfrothereon，butnomoreofthem。Thenvagueimpressionsofgalleriesandofcasualastonishedpassers—byturningroundtostareafterthetwoofthemwiththeirred—cladguard。
Thestimulusoftherestorativeshehadtakenwasonlytemporary。Hewasspeedilyfatiguedbythisexcessivehaste。HeaskedHowardtoslackenhisspeed。Presentlyhewasinaliftthathadawindowuponthegreatstreetspace，butthiswasglazedanddidnotopen，andtheyweretoohighforhimtoseethemovingplatformsbelow。Buthesawpeoplegoingtoandfroalongcablesandalongstrange，frail—lookingridges。
Andthencetheypassedacrossthestreetandatavastheightaboveit。Theycrossedbymeansofanarrowbridgeclosedinwithglass，soclearthatitmadehimgiddyeventorememberit。Thefloorofitalsowasofglass。FromhismemoryofthecliffsbetweenNewQuayandBoscastle，soremoteintime，andsorecentinhisexperience，itseemedtohimthattheymustbenearfourhundredfeetabovethemovingways。Hestopped，lookeddownbetweenhislegsupontheswarmingblueandredmultitudes，minuteandfore—
shortened，strugglingandgesticulatingstilltowardsthelittlebalconyfarbelow，alittletoybalcony，itseemed，wherehehadsorecentlybeenstanding。A
thinhazeandtheglareofthemightyglobesoflightobscuredeverything。Amanseatedinalittleopen—
workcradleshotbyfromsomepointstillhigherthanthelittlenarrowbridge，rushingdownacableasswiftlyalmostasifhewerefalling。Grahamstoppedinvoluntarilytowatchthisstrangepassengervanishinagreatcircularopeningbelow，andthenhiseyeswentbacktothetumultuousstruggle。
Alongoneoftheswifterwaysrushedathickcrowdofredspots。Thisbrokeupintoindividualsasitapproachedthebalcony，andwentpouringdowntheslowerwaystowardsthedensestrugglingcrowdonthecentralarea。Thesemeninredappearedtobearmedwithsticksortruncheons；theyseemedtobestrikingandthrusting。Agreatshouting，criesofwrath，screaming，burstoutandcameuptoGraham，faintandthin。\"Goon，\"criedHoward，layinghandsonhim。
Anothermanrusheddownacable。Grahamsuddenlyglanceduptoseewhencehecame，andbeheldthroughtheglassyroofandthenetworkofcablesandgirders，dimrhythmicallypassingformslikethevansofwindmills，andbetweenthemglimpsesofaremoteandpallidsky。ThenHowardhadthrusthimforwardacrossthebridge，andhewasinalittlenarrowpassagedecoratedwithgeometricalpatterns。
\"Iwanttoseemoreofthat，\"criedGraham，resisting。
\"No，no，\"criedHoward，stillgrippinghisarm。
\"Thisway。Youmustgothisway。\"Andthemeninredfollowingthemseemedreadytoenforcehisorders。
Somenegroesinacuriouswasp—likeuniformofblackandyellowappeareddownthepassage，andonehastenedtothrowupaslidingshutterthathadseemedadoortoGraham，andledthewaythroughit。
Grahamfoundhimselfinagalleryoverhangingtheendofagreatchamber。Theattendantinblackandyellowcrossedthis，thrustupasecondshutterandstoodwaiting。
Thisplacehadtheappearanceofanante—room。Hesawanumberofpeopleinthecentralspace，andattheoppositeendalargeandimposingdoorwayatthetopofaflightofsteps，heavilycurtainedbutgivingaglimpseofsomestilllargerhallbeyond。Heperceivedwhitemeninredandothernegroesinblackandyellowstandingstifflyaboutthoseportals。
Astheycrossedthegalleryheheardawhisperfrombelow，\"TheSleeper，\"andwasawareofaturningofheads，ahumofobservation。Theyenteredanotherlittlepassageinthewallofthisante—chamber，andthenhefoundhimselfonaniron—railedgalleryofmetalthatpassedroundthesideofthegreathallhehadalreadyseenthroughthecurtains。Heenteredtheplaceatthecorner，sothathereceivedthefullestimpressionofitshugeproportions。Theblackinthewaspuniformstoodasidelikeawell—trainedservant，andclosedthevalvebehindhim。
ComparedwithanyoftheplacesGrahamhadseethusfar，thissecondhallappearedtobedecoratewithextremerichness。Onapedestalattheremoteend，andmorebrilliantlylitthananyotherobject，wasagiganticwhitefigureofAtlas，strongandstrenuous，theglobeuponhisbowedshoulders。Itwasthefirstthingtostrikehisattention，itwassovast，sopatientlyandpainfullyreal，sowhiteandsimple。Saveforthisfigureandforadaisinthecentre，thewideflooroftheplacewasashiningvacancy。Thedaiswasremoteinthegreatnessofthearea；itwouldhavelookedamereslabofmetalhaditnotbeenforthegroupofsevenmenwhostoodaboutatableonit，andgaveaninklingofitsproportions。Theywerealldressedinwhiterobes，theyseemedtohavearisenthatmomentfromtheirseats，andtheywereregardingGrahamsteadfastly。Attheendofthetableheperceivedtheglitterofsomemechanicalappliances。
Howardledhimalongtheendgalleryuntiltheywereoppositethismightylabouringfigure。Thenhestopped。ThetwomeninredwhohadfollowedthemintothegallerycameandstoodoneitherhandofGraham。
\"Youmustremainhere，\"murmuredHoward，\"forafewmoments，\"and，withoutwaitingforareply，hurriedawayalongthegallery。
\"But，__why？\"__beganGraham。
HemovedasiftofollowHoward，andfoundhispathobstructedbyoneofthemeninred。\"Youhavetowaithere，Sire，\"saidthemaninred。
__\"Why？\"__
\"Orders，Sire。\"
\"Whoseorders？\"
\"Ourorders，Sire。\"
Grahamlookedhisexasperation。
\"Whatplaceisthis？\"hesaidpresently。\"Whoarethosemen？\"
\"TheyarethelordsoftheCouncil，Sire。\"
\"WhatCouncil？\"
\"__The__Council。\"
\"Oh！\"saidGraham，andafteranequallyineffectualattemptattheotherman，wenttotherailingandstaredatthedistantmeninwhite，whostoodwatchinghimandwhisperingtogether。
TheCouncil？Heperceivedtherewerenoweight，thoughhowthenewcomerhadarrivedhehadnotobserved。Theymadenogesturesofgreeting；theystoodregardinghimasinthenineteenthcenturyagroupofmenmighthavestoodinthestreetregardingadistantballoonthathadsuddenlyfloatedintoview。
Whatcouncilcoulditbethatgatheredthere，thatlittlebodyofmenbeneaththesignificantwhiteAtlas，secludedfromeveryeavesdropperinthisimpressivespaciousness？Andwhyshouldhebebroughttothem，andbelookedatstrangelyandspokenofinaudibly？Howardappearedbeneath，walkingquicklyacrossthepolishedfloortowardsthem。Ashedrewnearhebowedandperformedcertainpeculiarmovements，apparentlyofaceremoniousnature。
Thenheascendedthestepsofthedais，andstoodbytheapparatusattheendofthetable。
Grahamwatchedthatvisibleinaudibleconversation。
Occasionally，oneofthewhite—robedmenwouldglancetowardshim。Hestrainedhisearsinvain。
Thegesticulationoftwoofthespeakersbecameanimated。Heglancedfromthemtothepassivefacesofhisattendants……WhenhelookedagainHowardwasextendinghishandsandmovinghisheadlikeamanwhoprotests。Hewasinterrupted，itseemed，byoneofthewhite—robedmenrappingthetable。
TheconversationlastedaninterminabletimetoGraham’ssense。HiseyesrosetothestillgiantatwhosefeettheCouncilsat。Thencetheywanderedatlasttothewallsofthehall。Itwasdecoratedinlongpaintedpanelsofaquasi—Japanesetype，manyofthemverybeautiful。Thesepanelsweregroupedinagreatandelaborateframingofdarkmetal，whichpassedintothemetalliccaryatidaeofthegalleries，andthegreatstructurallinesoftheinterior。Thefacilegraceofthesepanelsenhancedthemightywhiteeffortthatlabouredinthecentreofthescheme。Graham’seyescamebacktotheCouncil，andHowardwasdescendingthesteps。Ashedrewnearerhisfeaturescouldbedistinguished，andGrahamsawthathewasflushedandblowingouthischeeks。Hiscountenancewasstilldisturbedwhenpresentlyhereappearedalongthegallery。
\"Thisway，\"hesaidconcisely，andtheywentoninsilencetoalittledoorthatopenedattheirapproach。
Thetwomeninredstoppedoneithersideofthisdoor。
HowardandGrahampassedin，andGraham，glancingback，sawthewhite—robedCouncilstillstandinginaclosegroupandlookingathim。Thenthedoorclosedbehindhimwithaheavythud，andforthefirsttimesincehisawakeninghewasinsilence。Thefloor，even，wasnoiselesstohisfeet。
Howardopenedanotherdoor，andtheywereinthefirstoftwocontiguouschambersfurnishedinwhiteandgreen。\"WhatCouncilwasthat？\"beganGraham。
\"Whatweretheydiscussing？Whathavetheytodowithme？\"Howardclosedthedoorcarefully，heavedahugesigh，andsaidsomethinginanundertone。Hewalkedslantingwaysacrosstheroomandturned，blowingouthischeeksagain。\"Ugh！\"
hegrunted，amanrelieved。
Grahamstoodregardinghim。
\"Youmustunderstand，\"beganHowardabruptly，avoidingGraham’seyes，\"thatoursocialorderisverycomplex。Ahalfexplanation，abareunqualifiedstatementwouldgiveyoufalseimpressions。Asamatteroffact——itisacaseofcompoundinterestpartly——yoursmallfortune，andthefortuneofyourcousinWarmingwhichwaslefttoyou——andcertainotherbeginnings——havebecomeveryconsiderable。
Andinotherwaysthatwillbehardforyoutounderstand，youhavebecomeapersonofsignificance——ofveryconsiderablesignificance——involvedintheworld’saffairs。\"
Hestopped。
\"Yes？\"saidGraham。
\"Wehavegravesocialtroubles。\"
\"Yes？\"
\"Thingshavecometosuchapassthat，infact，isadvisabletosecludeyouhere。\"
\"Keepmeprisoner！\"exclaimedGraham。
\"Well——toaskyoutokeepinseclusion。\"
Grahamturnedonhim。\"Thisisstrange！\"hesaid。
\"Noharmwillbedoneyou。\"
\"Noharm！\"
\"Butyoumustbekepthere——\"
\"WhileIlearnmyposition，Ipresume。\"
\"Precisely。\"
\"Verywellthen。Begin。Why__harm？__\"
\"Notnow。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Itistoolongastory，Sire。\"
\"AllthemorereasonIshouldbeginatonce。YousayIamapersonofimportance。WhatwasthatshoutingIheard？Whyisagreatmultitudeshoutingandexcitedbecausemytranceisover，andwhoarethemeninwhiteinthathugecouncilchamber？\"
\"Allingoodtime，Sire，\"saidHoward。\"Butnotcrudely，notcrudely。Thisisoneofthoseflimsytimeswhennomanhasasettledmind。Yourawakening。
Nooneexpectedyourawakening。TheCouncilisconsulting。\"
\"Whatcouncil？\"
\"TheCouncilyousaw。\"
Grahammadeapetulantmovement。\"Thisisnotright，\"hesaid。\"Ishouldbetoldwhatishappening。
\"Youmustwait。Reallyyoumustwait。\"
Grahamsatdownabruptly。\"IsupposesinceI
havewaitedsolongtoresumelife，\"hesaid，\"thatI
mustwaitalittlelonger。\"
\"Thatisbetter，\"saidHoward。\"Yes，thatismuchbetter。AndImustleaveyoualone。Foraspace。
WhileIattendthediscussionintheCouncil。
Iamsorry。\"
Hewenttowardsthenoiselessdoor，hesitatedandvanished。
Grahamwalkedtothedoor，triedit，founditsecurelyfastenedinsomewayhenevercametounderstand，turnedabout，pacedtheroomrestlessly，madethecircuitoftheroom，andsatdown。Heremainedsittingforsometimewithfoldedarmsandknittedbrow，bitinghisfingernailsandtryingtopiecetogetherthekaleidoscopicimpressionsofthisfirsthourofawakenedlife；thevastmechanicalspaces，theendlessseriesofchambersandpassages，thegreatstrugglethatroaredandsplashedthroughthesestrangeways，thelittlegroupofremoteunsympatheticmenbeneaththecolossalAtlas，Howard’smysteriousbehaviour。Therewasaninklingofsomevastinheritancealreadyinhismind——avastinheritanceperhapsmisapplied——ofsomeunprecedentedimportanceandopportunity。Whathadhetodo？Andthisroom’ssecludedsilencewaseloquentofimprisonment！
ItcameintoGraham’smindwithirresistibleconvictionthatthisseriesofmagnificentimpressionswasadream。Hetriedtoshuthiseyesandsucceeded，butthattime—honoureddeviceledtonoawakening。
Presentlyhebegantotouchandexaminealltheunfamiliarappointmentsofthetwosmallroomsinwhichhefoundhimself。
Inalongovalpanelofmirrorhesawhimselfandstoppedastonished。Hewascladinagracefulcostumeofpurpleandbluishwhite，withalittlegreyshotbeardtrimmedtoapoint，andhishair，itsblacknessstreakednowwithbandsofgrey，arrangedoverhisforeheadinanunfamiliarbutgracefulmanner。Heseemedamanoffive—and—fortyperhaps。Foramomenthedidnotperceivethiswashimself。
Aflashoflaughtercamewiththerecognition。\"TocallonoldWarminglikethis！\"heexclaimed，\"andmakehimtakemeouttolunch！\"
Thenhethoughtofmeetingfirstoneandthenanotherofthefewfamiliaracquaintancesofhisearlymanhood，andinthemidstofhisamusementrealisedthateverysoulwithwhomhemightjesthaddiedmanyscoreofyearsago。Thethoughtsmotehimabruptlyandkeenly；hestoppedshort，theexpressionofhisfacechangedtoawhiteconsternation。
Thetumultuousmemoryofthemovingplatformsandthehugefacadeofthatwonderfulstreetreasserteditself。Theshoutingmultitudescamebackclearandvivid，andthoseremote，inaudible，unfriendlycouncilorsinwhite。Hefelthimselfalittlefigure，verysmallandineffectual，pitifullyconspicuous。Andallabouthim，theworldwas——strange。
CHAPTERVII
INTHESILENTROOMS
PresentlyGrahamresumedhisexaminationofhisapartments。Curiositykepthimmovinginspiteofhisfatigue。Theinnerroom，heperceived，washigh，anditsceilingdomeshaped’，withanoblongapertureinthecentre，openingintoafunnelinwhichawheelofbroadvansseemedtoberotating，apparentlydrivingtheairuptheshaft。Thefainthummingnoteofitseasymotionwastheonlyclearsoundinthatquietplace。Asthesevansspranguponeaftertheother，Grahamcouldgettransientglimpsesofthesky。Hewassurprisedtoseeastar。
Thisdrewhisattentiontothefactthatthebrightlightingoftheseroomswasduetoamultitudeofveryfaintglowlampssetaboutthecornices。Therewerenowindows。AndhebegantorecallthatalongallthevastchambersandpassageshehadtraversedwithHowardhehadobservednowindowsatall。Hadtherebeenwindows？Therewerewindowsonthestreetindeed，butweretheyforlight？Orwasthewholecitylitdayandnightforevermore，sothattherewasnonightthere？
Andanotherthingdawneduponhim。Therewasnofireplaceineitherroom。Wastheseasonsummer，andwerethesemerelysummerapartments，orwasthewholeCityuniformlyheatedorcooled？Hebecameinterestedinthesequestions，beganexaminingthesmoothtextureofthewalls，thesimplyconstructedbed，theingeniousarrangementsbywhichthelabourofbedroomservicewaspracticallyabolished。Andovereverythingwasacuriousabsenceofdeliberateornament，abaregraceofformandcolour，thathefoundverypleasingtotheeye。Therewereseveralverycomfortablechairs，alighttableonsilentrunnerscarryingseveralbottlesoffluidsandglasses，andtwoplatesbearingaclearsubstancelikejelly。Thenhenoticedtherewerenobooks，nonewspapers，nowritingmaterials。\"Theworldhaschangedindeed，\"hesaid。
HeobservedoneentiresideoftheouterroomwassetwithrowsofpeculiardoublecylindersinscribedwithgreenletteringonwhitethatharmonizedWiththedecorativeschemeoftheroom，andinthecentreofthissideprojectedalittleapparatusaboutayardsquareandhavingawhitesmoothfacetotheroom。A
chairfacedthis。Hehadatransitoryideathatthesecylindersmightbebooks，oramodernsubstituteforbooks，butatfirstitdidnotseemso。
Theletteringonthecylinderspuzzledhim。AtfirstsightitseemedlikeRussian。ThenhenoticedasuggestionofmutilatedEnglishaboutcertainofthewords。
\"oiManhuwdbiKin\"
forceditselfonhimas\"TheManwhowouldbeKing。\"\"Phoneticspelling，\"hesaid。Herememberedreadingastorywiththattitle，thenherecalledthestoryvividly，oneofthebeststoriesintheworld。
Butthisthingbeforehimwasnotabookasheunderstoodit。Hepuzzledoutthetitlesoftwoadjacentcylinders。’TheHeartofDarkness，’hehadneverheardofbeforenor’TheMadonnaoftheFuture’——nodoubtiftheywereindeedstories，theywerebypostVictorianauthors。
Hepuzzledoverthispeculiarcylinderforsometimeandreplacedit。Thenheturnedtothesquareapparatusandexaminedthat。Heopenedasortoflidandfoundoneofthedoublecylinderswithin，andontheupperedgealittlestudlikethestudofanelectricbell。Hepressedthisandarapidclickingbeganandceased。Hebecameawareofvoicesandmusic，andnoticedaplayofcolouronthesmoothfrontface。Hesuddenlyrealisedwhatthismightbe，andsteppedbacktoregardit。
Ontheflatsurfacewasnowalittlepicture，veryvividlycoloured，andinthispicturewerefiguresthatmoved。Notonlydidtheymove，buttheywereconversinginclearsmallvoices。Itwasexactlylikerealityviewedthroughaninvertedoperaglassandheardthroughalongtube。Hisinterestwasseizedatoncebythesituation，whichpresentedamanpacingupanddownandvociferatingangrythingstoaprettybutpetulantwoman。BothwereinthepicturesquecostumethatseemedsostrangetoGraham。\"Ihaveworked，\"saidtheman，\"butwhathaveyoubeendoing？\"
\"Ah！\"saidGraham。Heforgoteverythingelse，andsatdowninthechair。Withinfiveminutesheheardhimselfnamed，heard\"whentheSleeperwakes，\"
usedjestinglyasaproverbforremotepostponement，andpassedhimselfby，athingremoteandincredible。
Butinalittlewhileheknewthosetwopeoplelikel。
intimatefriends。
Atlasttheminiaturedramacametoanend，andthesquarefaceoftheapparatuswasblankagain。
Itwasastrangeworldintowhichhehadbeenpermittedtosee，unscrupulous，pleasureseeking，energetic，subtle，aworldtooofdireeconomicstruggle；
therewereallusionshedidnotunderstand，incidentsthatconveyedstrangesuggestionsofalteredmoralideals，flashesofdubiousenlightenment。Thebluecanvasthatbulkedsolargelyinhisfirstimpressionofthecitywaysappearedagainandagainasthecostumeofthecommonpeople。Hehadnodoubtthestorywascontemporary，anditsintenserealismwasundeniable。Andtheendhadbeenatragedythatoppressedhim。Hesatstaringattheblankness。
Hestartedandrubbedhiseyes。Hehadbeensoabsorbedinthelatter—daysubstituteforanovel，thatheawoketothelittlegreenandwhiteroomwithmorethanatouchofthesurpriseofhisfirstawakening。
Hestoodup，andabruptlyhewasbackinhisownwonderland。Theclearnessofthekinetoscopedramapassed，andthestruggleinthevastplaceofstreets，theambiguousCouncil，theswiftphasesofhiswakinghour，cameback。ThesepeoplehadspokenoftheCouncilwithsuggestionsofavagueuniversalityofpower。AndtheyhadspokenoftheSleeper；ithadnotreallystruckhimvividlyatthetimethathewastheSleeper。Hehadtorecallpreciselywhattheyhadsaid。
Hewalkedintothebedroomandpeeredupthroughthequickintervalsoftherevolvingfan。Asthefansweptround，adimturmoillikethenoiseofmachinerycameinrhythmiceddies。Allelsewassilence。
Thoughtheperpetualdaystillirradiatedhisapartments，heperceivedthelittleintermittentstripofskywasnowdeepblue——blackalmost，withadustoflittlestars。
Heresumedhisexaminationoftherooms。Hecouldfindnowayofopeningthepaddeddoor，nobellnorothermeansofcallingforattendance。Hisfeelingofwonderwasinabeyance；buthewascurious，anxiousforinformation。Hewantedtoknowexactlyhowhestoodtothesenewthings。Hetriedtocomposehimselftowaituntilsomeonecametohim。
Presentlyhebecamerestlessandeagerforinformation，fordistraction，forfreshsensations。
Hewentbacktotheapparatusintheotherroom，andhadsoonpuzzledoutthemethodofreplacingthecylindersbyothers。Ashedidso，itcameintohismindthatitmustbetheselittleapplianceshadfixedthelanguagesothatitwasstillclearandunderstand—
ableaftertwohundredyears。Thehaphazardcylindershesubstituteddisplayedamusicalfantasia。Atfirstitwasbeautiful，andthenitwassensuous。HepresentlyrecognizedwhatappearedtohimtobeanalteredversionofthestoryofTannhauser。Themusicwasunfamiliar。Buttherenderingwasrealistic，andwithacontemporaryunfamiliarity。TannhauserdidnotgotoaVenusberg，buttoaPleasureCity。WhatwasaPleasureCity？Adream，surely，thefancyofafantastic，voluptuouswriter。
Hebecameinterested，curious。Thestorydevelopedwithaflavourofstrangelytwistedsentimentality。
Suddenlyhedidnotlikeit。Helikeditlessasitproceeded。
Hehadarevulsionoffeeling。Thesewerenopictures，noidealisations，butphotographedrealities。Hewantednomoreofthetwenty—secondcenturyVenusberg。
Heforgotthepartplayedbythemodelinnineteenthcenturyart，andgavewaytoanarchaicindignation。Herose，angryandhalfashamedathimselfforwitnessingthisthingeveninsolitude。Hepulledforwardtheapparatus，andwithsomeviolencesoughtforameansofstoppingitsaction。Somethingsnapped。Avioletsparkstungandconvulsedhisarmandthethingwasstill。WhenheattemptednextdaytoreplacetheseTannhausercylindersbyanotherpair，hefoundtheapparatusbroken