CHAPTERXXII
THE：STRUGGLEINTHECOUNCILHOUSE
AsAsanoandGrahamhurriedalongtotheruinsabouttheCouncilHouse，theysaweverywheretheexcitementofthepeoplerising。"ToyourWardsToyourWards！"Everywheremenandwomeninbluewerehurryingfromunknownsubterraneanemployments，upthestaircasesofthemiddlepath—atoneplaceGrahamsawanarsenaloftherevolutionarycommitteebesiegedbyacrowdofshoutingmen，atanotheracoupleofmeninthehatedyellowuniformoftheLabourPolice，pursuedbyagatheringcrowd，fledprecipitatelyalongtheswiftwaythatwentintheoppositedirection。
Thecriesof"ToyourWards！"becameatlastacontinuousshoutingastheydrewneartheGovernmentquarter。Manyoftheshoutswereunintelligible。"Ostroghasbetrayedus，"onemanbawledinahoarsevoice，againandagain，dinningthatrefrainintoGraham’searuntilithauntedhim。ThispersonstayedclosebesideGrahamandAsanoontheswiftway，shoutingtothepeoplewhoswarmedonthelowerplatformsasherushedpastthem。HiscryaboutOstrogalternatedwithsomeincomprehensibleordersPresentlyhewentleapingdownanddisappeared。
Graham’smindwasfilledwiththedin。Hisplanswerevagueandunformed。Hehadonepictureofsomecommandingpositionfromwhichhecouldaddressthemultitudes，anotherofmeetingOstrogfacetoface。Hewasfullofrage，oftensemuscularexcitement，hishandsgripped，hislipswerepressedtogether。
ThewaytotheCouncilHouseacrosstheruinswasimpassable，butAsanometthatdifficultyandtookGrahamintothepremisesofthecentralpost—office。
Thepost—officewasnominallyatwork，buttheblue—
clothedportersmovedsluggishlyorhadstoppedtostarethroughthearchesoftheirgalleriesattheshoutingmenwhoweregoingbyoutside。"EverymantohisWard！EverymantohisWard！"Here，byAsano’sadvice，Grahamrevealedhisidentity。
TheycrossedtotheCouncilHousebyacablecradle。AlreadyinthebriefintervalsincethecapitulationoftheCouncillorsagreatchangehadbeenwroughtintheappearanceoftheruins。Thespurtingcascadesoftherupturedseawater—mainshadbeencapturedandtamed，andhugetemporarypipesranoverheadalongaflimsylookingfabricofgirders。TheskywaslacedwithrestoredcablesandwiresthatservedtheCouncilHouse，andamassofnewfabricwithcranesandotherbuildingmachinesgoingtoandfrouponit，projectedtotheleftofthewhitepile。
Themovingwaysthatranacrossthisareahadbeenrestored，albeitforoncerunningundertheopensky。ThesewerethewaysthatGrahamhadseenfromthelittlebalconyinthehourofhisawakening，notninedayssince，andthehallofhisTrancehadbeenonthefurtherside，wherenowshapelesspilesofsmashedandshatteredmasonrywereheapedtogether。
Itwasalreadyhighdayandthesunwasshiningbrightly。Outoftheirtallcavernsofblueelectriclightcametheswiftwayscrowdedwithmultitudesofpeople，whopouredoffthemandgatheredeverdenseroverthewreckageandconfusionoftheruins。Theairwasfulloftheirshouting，andtheywerepressingandswayingtowardsthecentralbuilding。Forthemostpartthatshoutingmassconsistedofshapelessswarms，buthereandthereGrahamcouldseethatarudedisciplinestruggledtoestablishitself。Andeveryvoiceclamouredfororderinthechaos。"ToyourWards！EverymantohisWard！"
ThecablecarriedthemintoahallwhichGrahamrecognisedastheante—chambertotheHalloftheAtlas，aboutthegalleryofwhichhehadwalkeddaysagowithHowardtoshowhimselftothevanishedCouncil，anhourfromhisawakening。Nowtheplacewasemptyexceptfortwocableattendants。ThesemenseemedhugelyastonishedtorecognisetheSleeperinthemanwhoswungdownfromthecrossseat。
"WhereisHelenWotton？"hedemanded。"WhereisHelenWotton？"
Theydidnotknow。
"ThenwhereisOstrog？ImustseeOstrogforthwith。Hehasdisobeyedme。Ihavecomebacktotakethingsoutofhishands。"WithoutwaitingforAsano，hewentstraightacrosstheplace，ascendedthestepsatthefurtherend，and，pullingthecurtainaside，foundhimselffacingtheperpetuallylabouringTitan。
Thehallwasempty。Itsappearancehadchangedverygreatlysincehisfirstsightofit。Ithadsufferedseriousinjuryintheviolentstruggleofthefirstoutbreak。Ontherighthandsideofthegreatfiguretheupperhalfofthewallhadbeentornawayfornearlytwohundredfeetofitslength，andasheetofthesameglassyfilmthathadenclosedGrahamathisawakeninghadbeendrawnacrossthegap。Thisdeadened，butdidnotaltogetherexcludetheroarofthepeopleoutside。
"Wards！Wards！Wards！"theyseemedtobesaying。Throughittherewerevisiblethebeamsandsupportsofmetalscaffoldingsthatroseandfellaccordingtotherequirementsofagreatcrowdofworkmen。Anidlebuildingmachine，withlankarmsofredpaintedmetalthatcaughtthestillplasticblocksofmineralpasteandswungthemneatlyintoposition，stretchedgauntlyacrossthisgreentintedpicture。Onitwerestillanumberofworkmenstaringatthecrowdbelow。Foramomenthestoodregardingthesethings，andAsanoovertookhim。
"Ostrog，"saidAsano，"willbeinthesmallofficesbeyondthere。"ThelittlemanlookedlividnowandhiseyessearchedGraham’sface。
TheyhadscarcelyadvancedtenpacesfromthecurtainbeforealittlepaneltotheleftoftheAtlasrolledup，andOstrog，accompaniedbyLincolnandfollowedbytwoblackandyellowcladnegroes，appearedcrossingtheremotecornerofthehall，towardsasecondpanelthatwasraisedandopen。
"Ostrog，"shoutedGraham，andatthesoundofhisvoicethelittlepartyturnedastonished。
OstrogsaidsomethingtoLincolnandadvancedalone。
Grahamwasthefirsttospeak。Hisvoicewasloudanddictatorial。"WhatisthisIhear？"heasked。
"Areyoubringingnegroeshere——tokeepthepeopledown？"
"Itisnonetoosoon，"saidOstrog。"Theyhavebeengettingoutofhandmoreandmore，sincetherevolt。Iunder—estimated——"
"Doyoumeanthattheseinfernalnegroesareontheway？"
"Ontheway。Asitis，youhaveseenthepeople——
outside？"
"Nowonder！But——afterwhatwassaid。Youhavetakentoomuchonyourself，Ostrog。"
Ostrogsaidnothing，butdrewnearer。
"ThesenegroesmustnotcometoLondon，"saidGraham。"IamMasterandtheyshallnotcome。"
OstrogglancedatLincoln，whoatoncecametowardsthemwithhistwoattendantsclosebehindhim。"Whynot？"askedOstrog。
"Whitemenmustbemasteredbywhitemen。
Besides——"
"Thenegroesareonlyaninstrument。"
"Butthatisnotthequestion。IamtheMaster。I
meantobetheMaster。AndItellyouthesenegroesshallnotcome。"
"Thepeople——"
"Ibelieveinthepeople。"
"Becauseyouareananachronism。YouareamanoutofthePast——anaccident。YouareOwnerperhapsofhalfthepropertyintheworld。ButyouarenotMaster。YoudonotknowenoughtobeMaster。"
HeglancedatLincolnagain。"Iknownowwhatyouthink——Icanguesssomethingofwhatyoumeantodo。Evennowitisnottoolatetowarnyou。Youdreamofhumanequality——ofasocialisticorder——
youhaveallthoseworn—outdreamsofthenineteenthcenturyfreshandvividinyourmind，andyouwouldrulethisagethatyoudonotunderstand。"
"Listen！"saidGraham。"Youcanhearit——asoundlikethesea。Notvoices——butavoice。Doyoualtogetherunderstand？"
"Wetaughtthemthat，"saidOstrog。
"Perhaps。Canyouteachthemtoforgetit？Butenoughofthis！Thesenegroesmustnotcome。"
TherewasapauseandOstroglookedhimintheeyes。
"Theywill，"hesaid。
"Iforbidit，"saidGraham。
"Theyhavestarted。"
"Iwillnothaveit。"
"No，"saidOstrog。"SorryasIamtofollowthemethodoftheCouncil——。Foryourowngood——
youmustnotsidewithdisorder。Andnowthatyouarehere——。Itwaskindofyoutocomehere。"
LincolnlaidhishandonGraham’sshoulder。
AbruptlyGrahamrealizedtheenormityofhisblunderincomingtotheCouncilHouse。Heturnedtowardsthecurtainsthatseparatedthehallfromtheantechamber。
TheclutchinghandofAsanointervened。
InanothermomentLincolnhadgraspedGraham’scloak。
HeturnedandstruckatLincoln’sface，andincontinentlyanegrohadhimbycollarandarm。Hewrenchedhimselfaway，hissleevetorenoisily，andhestumbledback，tobetrippedbytheotherattendant。
Thenhestruckthegroundheavilyandhewasstaringatthedistantceilingofthehall。
Heshouted，rolledover，strugglingfiercely，clutchedanattendant’slegandthrewhimheadlong，andstruggledtohisfeet。
Lincolnappearedbeforehim，wentdownheavilyagainwithablowunderthepointofthejawandlaystill。Grahammadetwostrides，stumbled。AndthenOstrog’sarmwasroundhisneck，hewaspulledoverbackward，fellheavily，andhisarmswerepinnedtotheground。AfterafewviolenteffortsheceasedtostruggleandlaystaringatOstrog’sheavingthroat。
"You——are——aprisoner，"pantedOstrog，exulting。
"You——wereratherafool——tocomeback。"
Grahamturnedhisheadaboutandperceivedthroughtheirregulargreenwindowinthewallsofthehallthemenwhohadbeenworkingthebuildingcranesgesticulatingexcitedlytothepeoplebelowthem。
Theyhadseen！
Ostrogfollowedhiseyesandstarted。HeshoutedsomethingtoLincoln，butLincolndidnotmove。A
bulletsmashedamongthemouldingsabovetheAtlasThetwosheetsoftransparentmatterthathadbeenstretchedacrossthisgapwererent，theedgesofthetornaperturedarkened，curved，ranrapidlytowardstheframework，andinamomenttheCouncilchamberstoodopentotheair。Achillygustblewinbythegap，bringingwithitawarofvoicesfromtheruinousspaceswithout，anelvishbabblement，"SavetheMaster！""WhataretheydoingtotheMaster？"
"TheMasterisbetrayed！"
AndthenherealisedthatOstrog’sattentionwasdistracted，thatOstrog’sgriphadrelaxed，and，wrenchinghisarmsfree，hestruggledtohisknees。
InanothermomenthehadthrustOstrogback，andhewasononefoot，hishandgrippingOstrog’sthroat，andOstrog’shandsclutchingthesilkabouthisneck。
Butnowmenwerecomingtowardsthemfromthedais——menwhoseintentionshemisunderstood。Hehadaglimpseofsomeonerunninginthedistancetowardsthecurtainsoftheantechamber，andthenOstroghadslippedfromhimandthesenewcomerswereuponhim。Tohisinfiniteastonishment，theyseizedhim。TheyobeyedtheshoutsofOstrog。
Hewasluggedadozenyardsbeforeherealisedthattheywerenotfriends——thattheyweredragginghimtowardstheopenpanel。Whenhesawthishepulledback，hetriedtoflinghimselfdown，heshoutedforhelpwithallhisstrength。Andthistimetherewereansweringcries。
Thegripuponhisneckrelaxed，andbehold！inthelowercorneroftherentuponthewall，firstoneandthenanumberoflittleblackfiguresappearedshoutingandwavingarms。TheycameleapingdownfromthegapintothelightgallerythathadledtotheSilentRooms。Theyranalongit，sonearweretheythatGrahamcouldseetheweaponsintheirhands，ThenOstrogwasshoutinginhiseartothemenwhoheldhim，andoncemorehewasstrugglingwithallhisstrengthagainsttheirendeavourstothrusthimtowardstheopeningthatyawnedtoreceivehim。"Theycan’tcomedown，"pantedOstrog。"Theydaren’tfire。
It’sallright。""We’llsavehimfromthemyet。"
ForlongminutesasitseemedtoGrahamthatingloriousstrugglecontinued。Hisclotheswererentinadozenplaces，hewascoveredindust，onehandhadbeentroddenupon。Hecouldheartheshoutsofhissupporters，andonceheheardshots。Hecouldfeelhisstrengthgivingway，feelhiseffortswildandaimless。Butnohelpcame，andsurely，irresistibly，thatblack，yawningopeningcamenearer。
Thepressureuponhimrelaxedandhestruggledup。HesawOstrog’sgreyheadrecedingandperceivedthathewasnolongerheld。Heturnedaboutandcamefullintoamaninblack。Oneofthegreenweaponscrackedclosetohim，adriftofpungentsmokecameintohisface，andasteelbladeflashed。
Thehugechamberspanabouthim。
Hesawamaninpalebluestabbingoneoftheblackandyellowattendantsnotthreeyardsfromhisface。
Thenhandswereuponhimagain。
Hewasbeingpulledintwo，directionsnow。Itseemedasthoughpeoplewereshoutingtohim。Hewantedtounderstandandcouldnot。Someonewasclutchingabouthisthighs，hewasbeinghoistedinspiteofhisvigorousefforts。Heunderstoodsuddenly，heceasedtostruggle。Hewaslifteduponmen’sshouldersandcarriedawayfromthatdevouringpanel。
Tenthousandthroatswerecheering。
HesawmeninblueandblackhurryingaftertheretreatingOstrogitesandfiring。Liftedup，hesawnowacrossthewholeexpanseofthehallbeneaththeAtlasimage，sawthathewasbeingcarriedtowardstheraisedplatforminthecentreoftheplace。Thefarendofthehallwasalreadyfullofpeoplerunningtowardshim。Theywerelookingathimandcheering。
Hebecameawarethatasortofbody—guardsurroundedhim。Activemenabouthimshoutedvagueorders。Hesawcloseathandtheblackmoustachedmaninyellowwhohadbeenamongthosewhohadgreetedhiminthepublictheatre，shoutingdirections。
Thehallwasalreadydenselypackedwithswayingpeople，thelittlemetalgallerysaggedwithashoutingload，thecurtainsattheendhadbeentornaway，andtheante—chamberwasrevealeddenselycrowded。Hecouldscarcelymakethemannearhimhearforthetumultaboutthem。"WherehasOstroggone？"heasked。
Themanhequestionedpointedovertheheadstowardsthelowerpanelsaboutthehallonthesideoppositethegap。Theystoodopenandarmedmen，bluecladwithblacksashes，wererunningthroughthemandvanishingintothechambersandpassagesbeyond。
ItseemedtoGrahamthatasoundoffiringdriftedthroughtheriot。Hewascarriedinastaggeringcurveacrossthegreathalltowardsanopeningbeneaththegap。
Heperceivedmenworkingwithasortofrudedisciplinetokeepthecrowdoffhim，tomakeaspaceclearabouthim。Hepassedoutofthehall，andsawacrude，newwallrisingblanklybeforehimtoppedbybluesky。Hewasswungdowntohisfeet；someonegrippedhisarmandguidedhim。Hefoundthemaninyellowcloseathand。Theyweretakinghimupanarrowstairwayofbrick，andcloseathandrosethegreatredpaintedmasses，thecranesandleversandthestillenginesofthebigbuildingmachine。
Hewasatthetopofthesteps。Hewashurriedacrossanarrowrailedfootway，andsuddenlywithavastshoutingtheamphitheatreofruinsopenedagainbeforehim。"TheMasteriswithus！TheMaster！
TheMaster！"Theshoutsweptathwartthelakeoffaceslikeawave，brokeagainstthedistantcliffofruins，andcamebackinawelterofcries。"TheMasterisonourside！"
Grahamperceivedthathewasnolongerencompassedbypeople，thathewasstandinguponalittletemporaryplatformofwhitemetal，partofaflimsyseemingscaffoldingthatlacedaboutthegreatmassoftheCouncilHouse。Overallthehugeexpanseoftheruins，swayedandeddiedtheshoutingpeople；
andhereandtheretheblackbannersoftherevolutionarysocietiesduckedandswayedandformedrarenucleioforganisationinthechaos。UpthesteepstairsofwallandscaffoldingbywhichhisrescuershadreachedtheopeningintheAtlasChamber，clungasolidcrowd，andlittleenergeticblackfiguresclingingtopillarsandprojectionswerestrenuoustoinducethesecongestedmassestostir。Behindhim，atahigherpointonthescaffolding，anumberofmenstruggledupwardswiththeflappingfoldsofahugeblackstandard。ThroughtheyawninggapinthewallsbelowhimhecouldlookdownuponthepackedattentivemultitudesintheHalloftheAtlas。Thedistantflyingstagestothesouthcameoutbrightandvivid，broughtnearerasitseemedbyanunusualtranslucencyoftheair。Asolitaryaeropilebeatupfromthecentralstageasiftomeetthecomingaeroplanes。
"WhathadbecomeofOstrog？"askedGraham，andevenashespokehesawthatalleyeswereturnedfromhimtowardsthecrestoftheCouncilHousebuilding。Helookedalsointhisdirectionofuniversalattention。Foramomenthesawnothingbutthejaggedcornerofawall，hardandclearagainstthesky。Thenintheshadowheperceivedtheinteriorofaroomandrecognisedwithastartthegreenandwhitedecorationsofhisformerprison。Andcomingquicklyacrossthisopenedroomanduptotheveryvergeofthecliffoftheruinscamealittlewhitecladfigurefollowedbytwoothersmallerseemingfiguresinblackandyellow。Heheardthemanbesidehimexclaim"Ostrog，"andturnedtoaskaquestion。Butheneverdid，becauseofthestartledexclamationofanotherofthosewhowerewithhimandalankfingersuddenlypointing。Helooked，andbeholdtheaeropilethathadbeenrisingfromtheflyingstagewhenlasthehadlookedinthatdirection，wasdrivingtowardsthem。Theswiftsteadyflightwasstillnovelenoughtoholdhisattention。
Neareritcame，growingrapidlylargerandlarger，untilithadsweptoverthefurtheredgeoftheruinsandintoviewofthedensemultitudesbelow。Itdroopedacrossthespaceandroseandpassedoverhead，risingtoclearthemassoftheCouncilHouse，afilmytranslucentshapewiththesolitaryaeronautpeeringdownthroughitsribs。Itvanishedbeyondtheskylineoftheruins。
GrahamtransferredhisattentiontoOstrog。Hewassignallingwithhishands，andhisattendantsbusybreakingdownthewallbesidehim。Inanothermomenttheaeropilecameintoviewagain，alittlethingfaraway，comingroundinawidecurveandgoingslower。
Thensuddenlythemaninyellowshouted："Whataretheydoing？Whatarethepeopledoing？WhyisOstrogleftthere？Whyishenotcaptured？Theywilllifthim——theaeropilewilllifthim！Ah！"
Theexclamationwasechoedbyashoutfromtheruins。TherattlingsoundofthegreenweaponsdriftedacrosstheinterveninggulftoGraham，and，lookingdown，hesawanumberofblackandyellowuniformsrunningalongoneofthegalleriesthatlayopentotheairbelowthepromontoryuponwhichOstrogstood。Theyfiredastheyranatmenunseen，andthenemergedanumberofpalebluefiguresinpursuit。Theseminutefightingfigureshadtheoddesteffect；theyseemedastheyranlikelittlemodelsoldiersinatoy。Thisqueerappearanceofahousecutopengavethatstruggleamidstfurnitureandpassagesaqualityofunreality。Itwasperhapstwohundredyardsawayfromhim，andverynearlyfiftyabovetheheadsintheruinsbelow。Theblackandyellowmenranintoanopenarchway，andturnedandfiredavolley。Oneofthebluepursuersstridingforwardclosetotheedge，flunguphisarms，staggeredsideways，seemedtoGraham’ssensetohangovertheedgeforseveralseconds，andfellheadlongdown。Grahamsawhimstrikeaprojectingcorner，flyout，headoverheels，headoverheels，andvanishbehindtheredarmofthebuildingmachine。
AndthenashadowcamebetweenGrahamandthesun。Helookedupandtheskywasclear，butheknewtheaeropilehadpassed。Ostroghadvanished。
Themaninyellowthrustbeforehim，zealousandperspiring，pointingandblatent。
"Theyaregrounding！"criedthemaninyellow。
"Theyaregrounding。Tellthepeopletofireathim。
Tellthemtofireathim！"
Grahamcouldnotunderstand。Heheardloudvoicesrepeatingtheseenigmaticalorders。
Suddenlyovertheedgeoftheruinshesawtheprowoftheaeropilecomeglidingandstopwithajerk。InamomentGrahamunderstoodthatthethinghadgroundedinorderthatOstrogmightescapebyit。
Hesawabluehazeclimbingoutofthegulf，perceivedthatthepeoplebelowhimwerenowfiringupattheprojectingstem。
Amanbesidehimcheeredhoarsely，andhesawthatthebluerebelshadgainedthearchwaythathadbeencontestedbythemeninblackandyellowamomentbefore，andwererunninginacontinualstreamalongtheopenpassage。
AndsuddenlytheaeropileslippedovertheedgeoftheCouncilHouseandfell。Itdropped，tiltingatanangleofforty—fivedegrees，anddroppingsosteeplythatitseemedtoGraham，itseemedperhapstomostofthesebelow，thatitcouldnotpossiblyriseagain。
ItfellsocloselypasthimthathecouldseeOstrogclutchingtheguidesoftheseat，withhisgreyhairstreaming；seethewhite—facedaeronautwrenchingovertheleverthatdrovetheenginealongitsguides。
Heheardtheapprehensivevaguecryofinnumerablemenbelow。
Grahamclutchedtherailingbeforehimandgasped。
Thesecondseemedanage。Thelowervanoftheaeropilepassedwithinanaceoftouchingthepeople，whoyelledandscreamedandtrampledoneanotherbelow。
Andthenitrose。
Foramomentitlookedasifitcouldnotpossiblycleartheoppositecliff，andthenthatitcouldnotpossiblyclearthewind—wheelthatrotatedbeyond。
Andbehold！itwasclearandsoaring，stillheelingsideways，upward，upwardintothewind—sweptsky。
ThesuspenseofthemomentgaveplacetoafuryofexasperationastheswarmingpeoplerealisedthatOstroghadescapedthem。Withbelatedactivitytheyrenewedtheirfire，untiltherattlingwoveintoaroar，untilthewholeareabecamedimandblueandtheairpungentwiththethinsmokeoftheirweapons。
Toolate！Theaeropiledwindledsmallerandsmaller，andcurvedaboutandsweptgracefullydownwardtotheflyingstagefromwhichithadsolatelyrisen。Ostroghadescaped。
Forawhileaconfusedbabblementarosefromtheruins，andthentheuniversalattentioncamebacktoGraham，perchedhighamongthescaffolding。Hesawthefacesofthepeopleturnedtowardshim，heardtheirshoutsathisrescue。Fromthethroatofthewayscamethesongoftherevoltspreadinglikeabreezeacrossthatswayingseaofmen。
Thelittlegroupofmenabouthimshoutedcongratulationsonhisescape。Themaninyellowwasclosetohim，withasetfaceandshiningeyes。Andthesongwasrising，louderandlouder；tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。
Slowlytherealisationcameofthefullmeaningofthesethingstohim，theperceptionoftheswiftchangeinhisposition。Ostrog，whohadstoodbesidehimwheneverhehadfacedthatshoutingmultitudebefore，wasbeyondthere——theantagonist。Therewasnoonetoruleforhimanylonger。Eventhepeopleabouthim，theleadersandorganisersofthemultitude，lookedtoseewhathewoulddo，lookedtohimtoact，awaitedhisorders。HewasKingindeed。Hispuppetreignwasatanend。
Hewasveryintenttodothethingthatwasexpectedofhim。Hisnervesandmuscleswerequivering，hismindwasperhapsalittleconfused，buthefeltneitherfearnoranger。Hishandthathadbeentroddenuponthrobbedandwashot。Hewasalittlenervousabouthisbearing。Heknewhewasnotafraid，buthewasanxiousnottoseemafraid。Inhisformerlifehehadoftenbeenmoreexcitedinplayinggamesofskill。Hewasdesirousofimmediateaction，heknewhemustnotthinktoomuchindetailofthehugecomplexityofthestruggleabouthimlestheshouldbeparalysedbythesenseofitsintricacy。
Overtherethosesquareblueshapes，theflyingstages，meantOstrog；againstOstroghewasfightingfortheworld。
CHAPTERXXIII
WHILETHEAEROLANESWERECOMING
ForatimetheMasteroftheEarthwasnotevenmasterofhisownmind。Evenhiswillseemedawillnothisown，hisownactssurprisedhimandwerebutapartoftheconfusionofstrangeexperiencesthatpouredacrosshisbeing。Thesethingsweredefinite，theaeroplaneswerecoming，HelenWottonhadwarnedthepeopleoftheircoming，andhewasMasteroftheEarth。Eachofthesefactsseemedstrugglingforcompletepossessionofhisthoughts。Theyprotrudedfromabackgroundofswarminghalls，elevatedpassages，roomsjammedwithwardleadersincouncilkinematographandtelephonerooms，andwindowslookingoutonaseethingseaofmarchingmen。Themaninyellow，andmenwhomhefanciedwerecalledWardLeaders，wereeitherpropellinghimforwardorfollowinghimobediently；itwashardtotell。
Perhapstheyweredoingalittleofboth。Perhapssomepowerunseenandunsuspected，propelledthemall。
HewasawarethathewasgoingtomakeaproclamationtothePeopleoftheEarth，awareofcertaingrandiosephrasesfloatinginhismindasthethinghemeanttosay。Manylittlethingshappened，andthenhefoundhimselfwiththemaninyellowenteringalittleroomwherethisproclamationofhiswastobemade。