Islands in the Air | Page 6

I did not begrudge, if the thing only proved a success. But how could such a thing succeed?
I roamed about over the great artificial island, looking over the wonderful oscillators, condensers, transformers, and so on. I knew their office but vaguely, knowing only that they transmitted the power to operate the gravity deflector. Their number and size were bewildering surrounded as they were by diverse other machinery whose nature I could not guess.
At each corner and in its center the island rested on a solid copper pier ten feet in height and about a foot in diameter, and at the points of contact on the island itself were magnet-like apparatus. On the ground near each pier was a dynamo whose current was supplied by a central power-house. There were also many amplifiers and projectors of peculiar construction. The whole fabric beneath my feet with its network of wires and steel and machinery was so heavy that the idea of projecting it into the sky and holding it there suspended like a great captive balloon without the aid of gas or lifting wings appalled me. Only my faith in the Professor's uncanny power made me hope it might succeed.
Not a plane was to be seen in the sky save Greta's which kept diving and circling far above us, and it was still too early for the curious crowds from town. Except the workmen, the Professor and myself there was not a soul in sight. The Professor confided to me that he was glad we were alone. I understood. If the thing should fail he would save himself from the ridicule of the world.
When all was in readiness the Professor, looking very grave and a little pale, beckoned to me silently, and I followed him up the ladder on board the island. He had just been over the whole thing thoroughly and had given last minute instructions to his engineers.
"If anything happens, Bob," he said quietly, "Greta will pick us up with the plane. But I don't look for anything untoward to happen," he added confidently.
We paused near the center of the island. The Professor gave a final look around and over this marvelous child of his brain.
"God, how I wish McCann were here to share the glory with us," he said sadly. "Poor McCann, some dire tragedy must have overtaken him. I would give anything now to recall my harsh words."
Then he put a whistle to his lips and blew shrilly. For the fraction of a second nothing happened, then the fabric beneath us trembled. There was a hiss, a sputter, an upward flash of fire, a shower of sparks through the frame-work, a drone of the dynamos, like the hum of a million bees, and we began to move. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, then we shot upward with sickening suddenness. Up, up we went on a level keel. I felt but a slight tremor and only the rush of air proclaimed that we were rushing heavenward with terrible speed.
The Professor grabbed me and hugged me in a frenzy of joy, for the time being too much overcome to speak. And all I could do was to stare at him in speechless wonder. Suddenly he drew back and touched a button on the corner mast. Instantly our motion was arrested. The island rocked gently a few times, then came to rest without a jar. The altimeter showed us to be up one thousand feet. Looking down through the steel work I saw the workmen staring up at us. There we rode in the air as steady as a duck on a millpond, sustained by the invisible force of gravitation.
Greta landed her plane, rushed up and embraced her brother.
"Oh, Gustave," she cried, "I did not think you could do it--I am so sorry that I ever doubted you; that I--" She paused as she looked away a dark shadow in her eyes.
"Never mind," said the Professor.
"Oh, Bob, isn't this wonderful?" she said turning to me.
"It is more than that. At a time like this, words fail us."
"I am wondering whether I dare try a little stunt," said the Professor. "And do you folks know that we could go on up to the moon if we wanted to?" he added mysteriously. "But enough for today. We will return to the earth. I see other and greater marvels just ahead of us."
As the girl and I gazed in awe at this remarkable man he manipulated the machinery again and we descended slowly and easily landing exactly on the points of the piers. The workmen clustered around their employer showering him with congratulations.

The Professor Triumphant
WELL, that night I couldn't sleep for thinking of that wonderful exploit and the fact that the Professor hinted at other wonders hidden up his sleeve. Would man ultimately conquer