Hestruckoutapathobliquetotheroomandpacedtoandfro，strugglingwithintolerablevastimpressions。
Thethingshehadderivedfromthecylindersandthethingshehadseen，conflicted，confusedhim。
Itseemedtohimthemostamazingthingofallthatinhisthirtyyearsoflifehehadnevertriedtoshapeapictureofthesecomingtimes。"Weweremakingthefuture，"hesaid，"andhardlyanyofustroubledtothinkwhatfutureweweremaking。Andhereitis！"
"Whathavetheygotto，whathasbeendone？HowdoIcomeintothemidstofitall？"Thevastnessofstreetandhousehewaspreparedfor，themultitudesofpeople。Butconflictsinthecityways！Andthesystematisedsensualityofaclassofrichmen！
HethoughtofBellamy，theheroofwhoseSocialisticUtopiahadsooddlyanticipatedthisactualexperience。
ButherewasnoUtopia，noSocialisticstate。
Hehadalreadyseenenoughtorealisethattheancientantithesisofluxury，wasteandsensualityontheonehandandabjectpovertyontheother，stillprevailed。
Heknewenoughoftheessentialfactorsoflifetounderstandthatcorrelation。Andnotonlywerethebuildingsofthecitygiganticandthecrowdsinthestreetgigantic，butthevoiceshehadheardintheways，theuneasinessofHoward，theveryatmospherespokeofgiganticdiscontent。Whatcountrywashein？StillEnglanditseemed，andyetstrangely"un—English。"Hismindglancedattherestoftheworld，andsawonlyanenigmaticalveil。
Heprowledabouthisapartment，examiningeverythingasacagedanimalmightdo。Hefeltverytired，feltthatfeverishexhaustionthatdoesnotadmitofrest。
Helistenedforlongspacesundertheventilatortocatchsomedistantechoofthetumultshefeltmustbeproceedinginthecity。
Hebegantotalktohimself。"Twohundredandthreeyears！"hesaidtohimselfoverandoveragain，laughingstupidly。"ThenIamtwohundredandthirty—threeyearsold！Theoldestinhabitant。Surelytheyhaven’treversedthetendencyofourtimeandgonebacktotheruleoftheoldest。Myclaimsareindisputable。Mumble，mumble。IremembertheBulgarianatrocitiesasthoughitwasyesterday。’Tisagreatage！Haha！"Hewassurprisedatfirsttohearhimselflaughing，andthenlaughedagaindeliberatelyandlouder。Thenherealisedthathewasbehavingfoolishly。"Steady，"hesaid。"Steady！"
Hispacingbecamemoreregular。"Thisnewworld，"hesaid。"Idon’tunderstandit。__Why？__……
Butitisall__why！__"
"IsupposetheycanflyanddoallsortsofthingsLetmetryandrememberjusthowitbegan。"
Hewassurprisedatfirsttofindhowvaguethememoriesofhisfirstthirtyyearshadbecome。Herememberedfragments，forthemostparttrivialmoments，thingsofnogreatimportancethathehadobserved。Hisboyhoodseemedthemostaccessibleatfirst，herecalledschoolbooksandcertainlessonsinmensuration。Thenherevivedthemoresalientfeaturesofhislife，memoriesofthewifelongsincedead，hermagicinfluencenowgonebeyondcorruption，ofhisrivalsandfriendsandbetrayers，oftheswiftdecisionofthisissueandthat，andthenofhis，lastyearsofmisery，offluctuatingresolves，andatlastofhisstrenuousstudies。Inalittlewhileheperceivedhehaditallagain；dimperhaps，likemetallonglaidaside，butinnowaydefectiveorinjured，capableofre—polishing。Andthehueofitwasadeepeningmisery。
Wasitworthre—polishing？Byamiraclehehadbeenliftedoutofalifethathadbecomeintolerable。
Herevertedtohispresentcondition。Hewrestledwiththefactsinvain。Itbecameaninextricabletangle。
Hesawtheskythroughtheventilatorpinkwithdawn。Anoldpersuasioncameoutofthedarkrecessesofhismemory。"Imustsleep，"hesaid。Itappearedasadelightfulrelieffromthismentaldistressandfromthegrowingpainandheavinessofhislimbs。Hewenttothestrangelittlebed，laydownandwaspresentlyasleep。
Hewasdestinedtobecomeveryfamiliarindeedwiththeseapartmentsbeforeheleftthem，forheremainedimprisonedforthreedays。Duringthattimenoone，exceptHoward，enteredhisprison。Themarvelofhisfatemingledwithandinsomewayminimisedthemarvelofhissurvival。Hehadawakenedtomankinditseemedonlytobesnatchedawayintothisunaccountablesolitude。Howardcameregularlywithsubtlysustainingandnutritivefluids，andlightandpleasantfoods，quitestrangetoGraham。Healwaysclosedthedoorcarefullyasheentered。Onmattersofdetailhewasincreasinglyobliging，butthebearingofGrahamonthegreatissuesthatwereevidentlybeingcontestedsocloselybeyondthesoundproofwallsthatenclosedhim，hewouldnotelucidate。
Heevaded，aspolitelyaspossible，everyquestiononthepositionofaffairsintheouterworld。
AndinthosethreedaysGraham’sincessantthoughtswentfarandwide。Allthathehadseen，allthiselaboratecontrivancetopreventhimseeing，workedtogetherinhismind。Almosteverypossibleinterpretationofhispositionhedebated——evenasitchanced，therightinterpretation。Thingsthatpresentlyhappenedtohim，cametohimatlastcredible，byvirtueofthisseclusion。Whenatlengththemomentofhisreleasearrived，itfoundhimprepared。
Howard’sbearingwentfartodeepenGraham’simpressionofhisownstrangeimportance；thedoorbetweenitsopeningandclosingseemedtoadmitwithhimabreathofmomentoushappening。Hisenquiriesbecamemoredefiniteandsearching。Howardretreatedthroughprotestsanddifficulties。Theawakeningwasunforeseen，herepeated；ithappenedtohavefalleninwiththetrendofasocialconvulsion。
"ToexplainitImusttellyouthehistoryofagrossandahalfofyears，"protestedHoward。
"Thethingisthis，"saidGraham。"YouareafraidofsomethingIshalldo。InsomewayIamarbitrator——Imightbearbitrator。"
"Itisnotthat。Butyouhave——Imaytellyouthismuch——theautomaticincreaseofyourpropertyputsgreatpossibilitiesofinterferenceinyourhands。
Andincertainotherwaysyouhaveinfluence，withyoureighteenthcenturynotions。"
"Nineteenthcentury，"correctedGraham。
"Withyouroldworldnotions，anyhow，ignorantasyouareofeveryfeatureofourState。"
"AmIafool？"
"Certainlynot。"
"DoIseemtobethesortofmanwhowouldactrashly？"
"Youwereneverexpectedtoactatall。Noonecountedonyourawakening。Noonedreamtyouwouldeverawake。TheCouncilhadsurroundedyouwithantisepticconditions。Asamatteroffact，wethoughtthatyouweredead——amerearrestofdecay。
And——butitistoocomplex。Wedarenotsuddenly——whileyouarestillhalfawake。"
"Itwon’tdo，"saidGraham。"Supposeitisasyousay——whyamInotbeingcrammednightanddaywithfactsandwarningsandallthewisdomofthetimetofitmeformyresponsibilities？AmIanywisernowthantwodaysago，ifitistwodays，whenI
awoke？"
Howardpulledhislip。
"Iambeginningtofeel——everyhourIfeelmoreclearly——asenseofcomplexconcealmentofwhichyouarethesalientpoint。IsthisCouncil，orcommittee，orwhatevertheyare，cookingtheaccountsofmyestate？Isthatit？"
"Thatnoteofsuspicion——"saidHoward。
"Ugh！"saidGraham。"Now，markmywords，itwillbeillforthosewhohaveputmehere。Itwillbeill。Iamalive。Makenodoubtofit，Iamalive。
Everydaymypulseisstrongerandmymindclearerandmorevigorous。Nomorequiescence。Iamamancomebacktolife。AndIwantto__live———__"
"__Live！__"
Howard’sfacelitwithanidea。HecametowardsGrahamandspokeinaneasyconfidentialtone。
"TheCouncilsecludesyouhereforyourgood。
Youarerestless。Naturally——anenergeticman！
Youfinditdullhere。Butweareanxiousthateverythingyoumaydesire——everydesire——everysortofdesire……Theremaybesomething。Isthereanysortofcompany？"
Hepausedmeaningly。
"Yes，"saidGrahamthoughtfully。"Thereis。"
"Ah！__Now！__Wehavetreatedyouneglectfully。"
"Thecrowdsinyonderstreetsofyours。"
"That，"saidHoward，"Iamafraid——。But——"
Grahambeganpacingtheroom。Howardstoodnearthedoorwatchinghim。TheimplicationofHoward’ssuggestionwasonlyhalfevidenttoGrahamCompany？Supposeheweretoaccepttheproposal，demandsomesortof__company__？Wouldtherebeanypossibilitiesofgatheringfromtheconversationo？thisadditionalpersonsomevagueinklingofthestrugglethathadbrokenoutsovividlyathiswakingmoment？
Hemeditatedagain，andthesuggestiontookcolour。
HeturnedonHowardabruptly。
"Whatdoyoumeanbycompany？"
Howardraisedhiseyesandshruggedhisshoulders。
"Humanbeings，"hesaid，withacurioussmileonhisheavyface。
"Oursocialideas，"hesaid，"haveacertainincreasedliberality，perhaps，incomparisonwithyourtimes。Ifamanwishestorelievesuchatediumasthis——byfemininesociety，forinstance。Wethinkitnoscandal。Wehaveclearedourmindsofformulae。
Thereisinourcityaclass，anecessaryclass，nolongerdespised——discreet——"
Grahamstoppeddead。
"Itwouldpassthetime，"saidHoward。"ItisathingIshouldperhapshavethoughtofbefore，but，asamatteroffact，somuchishappening——"
Heindicatedtheexteriorworld。
Grahamhesitated。Foramomentthefigureofapossiblewomanthathisimaginationsuddenlycreateddominatedhismindwithanintenseattraction。Thenheflashedintoanger。
"NoI"heshouted。
Hebeganstridingrapidlyupanddowntheroom。
"Everythingyousay，everythingyoudo，convincesme——ofsomegreatissueinwhichIamconcerned。
Idonotwanttopassthetime，asyoucallit。Yes，I
know。Desireandindulgencearelifeinasense——
andDeath！Extinction！InmylifebeforeIsleptIhadworkedoutthatpitifulquestion。Iwillnotbeginagain。Thereisacity，amultitude——。AndmeanwhileIamherelikearabbitinabag。"
Hisragesurgedhigh。Hechokedforamomentandbegantowavehisclenchedfists。Hegavewaytoanangerfit，hesworearchaiccurses。Hisgestureshadthequalityofphysicalthreats。
"Idonotknowwhoyourpartymaybe。Iaminthedark，andyoukeepmeinthedark。ButIknowthis，thatIamsecludedherefornogoodpurpose。
Fornogoodpurpose。Iwarnyou，Iwarnyouoftheconsequences。OnceIcomeatmypower——"
Herealisedthattothreatenthusmightbeadangertohimself。Hestopped。Howardstoodregardinghimwithacuriousexpression。
"ItakeitthisisamessagetotheCouncil，"saidHoward。
Grahamhadamomentaryimpulsetoleapupontheman，fellorstunhim。Itmusthaveshownuponhisface；atanyrateHoward’smovementwasquick。Inasecondthenoiselessdoorhadclosedagain，andthemanfromthenineteenthcenturywasalone。
Foramomenthestoodrigid，withclenchedhandshalfraised。Thenheflungthemdown。"WhatafoolIhavebeen！"hesaid，andgavewaytohisangeragain，stampingabouttheroomandshoutingcurses。
Foralongtimehekepthimselfinasortoffrenzy，ragingathisposition，athisownfolly，attheknaveswhohadimprisonedhim。Hedidthisbecausehedidnotwanttolookcalmlyathisposition。Heclungtohisanger——becausehewasafraidofFear。
PresentlyhefoundhimselfreasoningwithhimselfThisimprisonmentwasunaccountable，butnodoubtthelegalforms——newlegalforms——ofthetimepermittedit。Itmust，ofcourse，belegal。ThesepeopleweretwohundredyearsfurtheroninthemarchofcivilisationthantheVictoriangeneration。Itwasnotlikelytheywouldbeless——humane。Yettheyhadclearedtheirmindsofformulae！Washumanityaformulaaswellaschastity？
Hisimaginationsettoworktosuggestthingsthatmightbedonetohim。Theattemptsofhisreasontodisposeofthesesuggestions，thoughforthemostpartlogicallyvalid，werequiteunavailing。"Whyshouldanythingbedonetome？"
"Iftheworstcomestotheworst，"hefoundhimselfsayingatlast，"Icangiveupwhattheywant。
Butwhatdotheywant？Andwhydon’ttheyaskmeforitinsteadofcoopingmeup？"
HereturnedtohisformerpreoccupationwiththeCouncil’spossibleintentions。HebegantoreconsiderthedetailsofHoward’sbehaviour，sinisterglances，inexplicablehesitations。Then，foratime，hismindcircledabouttheideaofescapingfromtheserooms；
butwhithercouldheescapeintothisvast，crowdedworld？HewouldbeworseoffthanaSaxonyeomansuddenlydroppedintonineteenthcenturyLondon。
Andbesides，howcouldanyoneescapefromtheserooms？
"Howcanitbenefitanyoneifharmshouldhappentome？"
Hethoughtofthetumult，thegreatsocialtroubleofwhichhewassounaccountablytheaxis。Atext，irrelevantenoughandyetcuriouslyinsistent，camefloatingupoutofthedarknessofhismemory。ThisalsoaCouncilhadsaid：
"Itisexpedientforusthatonemanshoulddieforthepeople。"
CHAPTERVIII
THEROOFSPACES
Asthefansinthecircularapertureoftheinnerroomrotatedandpermittedglimpsesofthenight，dimsoundsdriftedinthereby。AndGraham，standingunderneath，wrestlingdarklywiththeunknownpowersthatimprisonedhim，andwhichhehadnowdeliberatelychallenged，wasstartledbythesoundofavoice。
Hepeeredupandsawintheintervalsoftherotation，darkanddim，thefaceandshouldersofamanregardinghim。Whenadarkhandwasextended，theswiftvanstruckit，swungroundandbeatonwithalittlebrownishpatchontheedgeofitsthinblade，andsomethingbegantofalltherefromuponthefloor，drippingsilently。
Grahamlookeddown，andtherewerespotsofbloodathisfeet。Helookedupagaininastrangeexcitement。
Thefigurehadgone。
Heremainedmotionless——hiseverysenseintentupontheflickeringpatchofdarkness，foroutsideitwashighnight。Hebecameawareofsomefaint，remote，darkspecksfloatinglightlythroughtheouterair。Theycamedowntowardshim，fitfully，eddyingly，andpassedasideoutoftheuprushfromthefan。Agleamoflightflickered，thespecksflashedwhite，andthenthedarknesscameagain。Warmedandlitashewas，heperceivedthatitwassnowingwithinafewfeetofhim。
Grahamwalkedacrosstheroomandcamebacktotheventilatoragain。Hesawtheheadofamanpassnear。Therewasasoundofwhispering。Thenasmartblowonsomemetallicsubstance，effort，voices，andthevansstopped。Agustofsnowflakeswhirledintotheroom，andvanishedbeforetheytouchedthefloor。"Don’tbeafraid，"saidavoice。
Grahamstoodunderthevan。"Whoareyou？"
hewhispered。
Foramomenttherewasnothingbutaswayingofthefan，andthentheheadofamanwasthrustcautiouslyintotheopening。HisfaceappearednearlyinvertedtoGraham；hisdarkhairwaswetwithdissolvingflakesofsnowuponit。Hisarmwentupintothedarknessholdingsomethingunseen。Hehadayouthfulfaceandbrighteyes，andtheveinsofhisforeheadwereswollen。Heseemedtobeexertinghimselftomaintainhisposition。
ForseveralsecondsneitherhenorGrahamspoke。
"YouweretheSleeper？"saidthestrangeratlast。
"Yes，"saidGraham。"Whatdoyouwantwithme？"
"IcomefromOstrog，Sire。"
"Ostrog？"
ThemanintheventilatortwistedhisheadroundsothathisprofilewastowardsGraham。Heappearedtobelistening。Suddenlytherewasahastyexclamation，andtheintrudersprangbackjustintimetoescapethesweepofthereleasedfan。AndwhenGrahampeereduptherewasnothingvisiblebuttheslowlyfallingsnow。
Itwasperhapsaquarterofanhourbeforeanythingreturnedtotheventilator。Butatlastcamethesamemetallicinterferenceagain；thefansstoppedandthefacereappeared。Grahamhadremainedallthistimeinthesameplace，alertandtremulouslyexcited。
"Whoareyou？Whatdoyouwant？"hesaid。
"Wewanttospeaktoyou，Sire，"saidtheintruder。
"Wewant——Ican’tholdthething。Wehavebeentryingtofindawaytoyouthesethreedays。"
"Isitrescue？"whisperedGraham。"Escape？"
"Yes，Sire。Ifyouwill。"
"Youaremyparty——thepartyoftheSleeper？"
"Yes，Sire。"
"WhatamItodo？"saidGraham。
Therewasastruggle。Thestranger’sarmappeared，andhishandwasbleeding。Hiskneescameintoviewovertheedgeofthefunnel。"Standawayfromme，"
hesaid，andhedroppedratherheavilyonhishandsandoneshoulderatGraham’sfeet。Thereleasedventilatorwhirlednoisily。Thestrangerrolledover，sprangupnimblyandstoodpanting，handtoabruisedshoulder，andwithhisbrighteyesonGraham。
"YouareindeedtheSleeper，"hesaid。"Isawyouasleep。Whenitwasthelawthatanyonemightseeyou。"
"Iamthemanwhowasinthetrance，"saidGraham。
"Theyhaveimprisonedmehere。IhavebeenheresinceIawoke——atleastthreedays。"
Theintruderseemedabouttospeak，heardsomething，glancedswiftlyatthedoor，andsuddenlyleftGrahamandrantowardsit，shoutingquickincoherentwords。Abrightwedgeofsteelflashedinhishand，andhebegantap，tap，aquicksuccessionofblowsuponthehinges。"Mind！"criedavoice。"Oh！"
Thevoicecamefromabove。
Grahamglancedup，sawthesolesoftwofeet，ducked，wasstruckontheshoulderbyoneofthem，andaheavyweightborehimtotheearth。Hefellonhiskneesandforward，andtheweightwentoverhishead。Hekneltupandsawasecondmanfromaboveseatedbeforehim。
"Ididnotseeyou，Sire，"pantedtheman。HeroseandassistedGrahamtoarise。"Areyouhurt，Sire？"
hepanted。Asuccessionofheavyblowsontheventilatorbegan，somethingfellclosetoGraham’sface，andashiveringedgeofwhitemetaldanced，fellover，andlayflatuponthefloor。
"Whatisthis？"criedGraham，confusedandlookingattheventilator。"Whoareyou？Whatareyougoingtodo？Remember，Iunderstandnothing。"
"Standback，"saidthestranger，anddrewhimfromundertheventilatorasanotherfragmentofmetalfellheavily。
"Wewantyoutocome，Sire，"pantedthenewcomer，andGrahamglancingathisfaceagain，sawanewcuthadchangedfromwhitetoredonhisfore—
head，andacoupleoflittletricklesofbloodstartingtherefrom。"Yourpeoplecallforyou。"
"Comewhere？Mypeople？"
"Tothehallaboutthemarkets。Yourlifeisindangerhere。Wehavespies。Welearnedbutjustintime。TheCouncilhasdecided——thisveryday——
eithertodrugorkillyou。Andeverythingisready。
Thepeoplearedrilled，thewind—vanepolice，theengineers，andhalftheway—gearersarewithus。Wehavethehallscrowded——shouting。ThewholecityshoutsagainsttheCouncil。Wehavearms。"Hewipedthebloodwithhishand。"Yourlifehereisnotworth——"
"Butwhyarms？"
"Thepeoplehaverisentoprotectyou，Sire。
What？"
Heturnedquicklyasthemanwhohadfirstcomedownmadeahissingwithhisteeth。Grahamsawthelatterstartback，gesticulatetothemtoconcealthemselves，andmoveasiftohidebehindtheopeningdoor。
AshedidsoHowardappeared，alittletrayinonehandandhisheavyfacedowncast。Hestarted，lookedup，thedoorslammedbehindhim，thetraytiltedside—
ways，andthesteelwedgestruckhimbehindtheear。
Hewentdownlikeafelledtree，andlayashefellathwarttheflooroftheouterroom。Themanwhohadstruckhimbenthastily，studiedhisfaceforamoment，rose，andreturnedtohisworkatthedoor。
"Yourpoison！"saidavoiceinGraham’sear。
Thenabruptlytheywereindarkness。Theinnumerablecornicelightshadbeenextinguished。Grahamsawtheapertureoftheventilatorwithghostlysnowwhirlingaboveitanddarkfiguresmovinghastily。
Threekneltonthevan。Somedimthing——aladderwasbeingloweredthroughtheopening，andahandappearedholdingafitfulyellowlight。
Hehadamomentofhesitation。Butthemannerofthesemen，theirswiftalacrity，theirwords，marchedsocompletelywithhisownfearsoftheCouncil，withhisideaandhopeofarescue，thatitlastednotamoment。Andhispeopleawaitedhim！
"Idonotunderstand，"hesaid，"Itrust。Tellmewhattodo。"
ThemanwiththecutbrowgrippedGraham’sarm。
"Clamberuptheladder，"hewhispered。"Quick。
Theywillhaveheard——"
Grahamfeltfortheladderwithextendedhands，puthisfootonthelowerrung，and，turninghishead，sawovertheshoulderofthenearestman，intheyellowflickerofthelight，thefirst—comerastrideoverHowardandstillworkingatthedoor。Grahamturnedtotheladderagain，andwasthrustbyhisconductorandhelpedupbythoseabove，andthenhewasstandingonsomethinghardandcoldandslipperyoutsidetheventilatingfunnel。
Heshivered。Hewasawareofagreatdifferenceinthetemperature。Halfadozenmenstoodabouthim，andlightflakesofsnowtouchedhandsandfaceandmelted。Foramomentitwasdark，thenforaflashaghastlyvioletwhite，andtheneverythingwasdarkagain。
Hesawhehadcomeoutupontheroofofthevastcitystructurewhichhadreplacedthemiscellaneoushouses，streetsandopenspacesofVictorianLondon。
Theplaceuponwhichhestoodwaslevel，withhugeserpentinecablesIyingathwartitineverydirection。
Thecircularwheelsofanumberofwindmillsloomedindistinctandgiganticthroughthedarknessandsnowfall，androaredwithavaryingloudnessasthefitfulwhitelightsmoteupfrombelow，touchedthesnoweddieswithatransientglitter，andmadeanevanescentspectreinthenight；andhereandthere，lowdown！
somevaguelyoutlinedwind—drivenmechanismflickeredwithlividsparks。
Allthisheappreciatedinafragmentarymannerashisrescuersstoodabouthim。Someonethrewathicksoftcloakoffur—liketextureabouthim，andfasteneditbybuckledstrapsatwaistandshoulders。Thingsweresaidbriefly，decisively。Someonethrusthimforward。
Beforehismindwasyetclearadarkshapegrippedhisarm。"Thisway，"saidthisshape，urginghimalong，andpointedGrahamacrosstheflatroofinthedirectionofadimsemicircularhazeoflight。Grahamobeyed。
"Mind！"saidavoice，asGrahamstumbledagainstacable。"Betweenthemandnotacrossthem，"saidthevoice。And，"Wemusthurry。"
"Wherearethepeople？"saidGraham。"Thepeopleyousaidawaitedme？"
Thestrangerdidnotanswer。HeleftGraham’sarmasthepathgrewnarrower，andledthewaywithrapidstrides。Grahamfollowedblindly。Inaminutehefoundhimselfrunning。"Aretheotherscoming？"
hepanted，butreceivednoreply。Hiscompanionglancedbackandranon。Theycametoasortofpathwayofopenmetal—work，transversetothedirectiontheyhadcome，andtheyturnedasidetofollowthis。Grahamlookedback，butthesnowstormhadhiddentheothers。
"Comeon！"saidhisguide。Runningnow，theydrewnearalittlewindmillspinninghighintheair。