The Man Who Rocked the Earth | Page 9

President, "I cannot share the views of Count
von Koenitz. I regard this affair as of the most stupendous importance. Messages or no
messages, extraordinary natural phenomena are occurring which may shortly end in the
extinction of human life upon the planet. A power which can control the length of the day
can annihilate the globe."
"You cannot change the facts," remarked Prince Rostoloff sternly to the German
Ambassador. "The earth has changed its orbit. Professor Vaskofsky, of the Imperial
College, has so declared. There is some cause. Be it God or devil, there is a cause. Are
we to sit still and do nothing while the globe's crust freezes and our armies congeal into
corpses?" He trembled with agitation.
"Calm yourself, mon cher Prince!" said Monsieur Liban. "So far we have gained fifteen
minutes and have lost nothing! But, as you say, whether or not the sender of these
messages is responsible, there is a cause, and we must find it."
"But how? That is the question," exclaimed the President almost apologetically, for he
felt, as did Count von Koenitz, that somehow an explanation would shortly be
forthcoming that would make this conference seem the height of the ridiculous. "I have
already," he added hastily, "instructed the entire force of the National Academy of
Sciences to direct its energies toward the solution of these phenomena. Undoubtedly
Great Britain, Russia, Germany, and France are doing the same. The scientists report that
the yellow aurora seen in the north, the earthquakes, the variation of the compass, and the
eccentricities of the barometer are probably all connected more or less directly with the
change in the earth's orbit. But they offer no explanation. They do not suggest what the
aurora is nor why its appearance should have this effect. It, therefore, seems to me clearly
my duty to lay before you all the facts as far as they are known to me. Among these facts
are the mysterious messages received by wireless at the Naval Observatory immediately
preceding these events."
"Post hoc, ergo propter hoc!" half sneered Von Koenitz.
The President smiled wearily.
"What do you wish me to do?" he asked, glancing round the table. "Shall we remain
inactive? Shall we wait and see what may happen?"

"No! No!" shouted Rostoloff, jumping to his feet. "Another week and we may all be
plunged into eternity. It is suicidal not to regard this matter seriously. We are sick from
war. And perhaps Count von Koenitz, in view of the fall of Berlin, would welcome
something of the sort as an honourable way out of his country's difficulties."
"Sir!" cried the count, leaping to his feet. "Have a care! It has cost Russia four million
men to reach Berlin. When we have taken Paris we shall recapture Berlin and commence
the march of our victorious eagles toward Moscow and the Winter Palace."
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Be seated, I implore you!" exclaimed the President.
The Russian and German ambassadors somewhat ungraciously resumed their former
places, casting at each other glances of undisguised contempt.
"As I see the matter," continued the President, "there are two distinct propositions before
you: The first relates to how far the extraordinary events of the past week are of such a
character as to demand joint investigation and action by the Powers. The second involves
the cause of these events and their connection with and relation to the sender of the
messages signed Pax. I shall ask you to signify your opinion as to each of these
questions."
"I believe that some action should be taken, based on the assumption that they are
manifestations of one and the same power or cause," said Monsieur Liban emphatically.
"I agree with the French Ambassador," growled Rostoloff.
"I am of opinion that the phenomena should be the subject of proper scientific
investigation," remarked Count von Koenitz more calmly. "But as far as these messages
are concerned they are, if I may be pardoned for saying so, a foolish joke. It is
undignified to take any cognizance of them."
"What do you think, Sir John?" asked the President, turning to the English Ambassador.
"Before making up my mind," returned the latter quietly, "I should like to see the
operator who received them."
"By all means!" exclaimed Von Koenitz.
The President pressed a button and his secretary entered.
"I had anticipated such a desire on the part of all of you," he announced, "and arranged to
have him here. He is waiting outside. Shall I have him brought in?"
"Yes! Yes!" answered Rostoloff. And the others nodded.
The door opened, and Bill Hood, wearing his best new blue suit and nervously twisting a
faded bicycle cap between his fingers, stumbled awkwardly into the room. His face was
bright red with embarrassment and one of his cheeks exhibited