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The same officer opened the door； and gently pushed Johnston out。 Johnston expected them to follow him； but the door of the machine closed behind him。
〃Stand out of the way；〃 cried out the officer through the window； 〃you may get struck as we rise。〃
Involuntarily Johnston obeyed。 There was a sound of escaping air from beneath the machine； a fierce commotion in the atmosphere which sucked him toward the machine； and then the dazzling search…light blinded him； as the air…ship bounded upward and sailed back over the course it had come。
Johnston stood paralyzed with fear。 〃My God； this is awful！〃 he exclaimed in terror； and his knees gave way beneath him and he sank to the rock。 〃They have left me here to starve in this hellish darkness！〃 He remained there for a moment； his face covered with his hands； then he sprang up desperately； and started to grope through the darkness； he knew not whither。 He stumbled at almost every step； and ran against boulders which bruised his hands and face； and went on till his strength was gone。 Then he paused and looked back toward the direction from which he had come。 It seemed to him that he could see the straight line of mighty black wall above which there was a faint appearance of light。 A lump rose in the throat of the poor fellow； and tears sprang into his eyes。
But what was that？ Surely it was a sound。 It could not have been the wind； for the air was perfectly still。 The sound was repeated。 It was like the moaning of a human voice far away in the dark。 Could it be some one in distress； some poor unfortunate； banished being； like himself？ Again he heard the sound； and this time； it was like the voice of some one talking。
〃Hello！〃 shouted the American； and a cold shudder went over him at the sound of his own husky voice。 There was a dead silence； then； like an echo of his own cry； faintly came the word； 〃Hello！〃
Filled with superstitious fear； the American cautiously groped toward the sound。 〃Hello； there； who are you？〃
〃Help； help！〃 said the voice； and it was now much nearer。
Johnston plunged forward precipitately。 〃Where are you？〃
〃Here；〃 and a human form loomed up before him。
For a moment neither spoke； then the strange figure said： 〃I thought at first that you were some one sent to rescue me； but I see you are alonedamned like myself。〃
〃It looks that way；〃 replied Johnston。
〃When did they bring you？〃
〃Only a moment ago。〃
〃My God； it is awful！ A week ago I did not dream of such a fate as this。 I had enemies。 The medical men were bribed to vote against me。 Am I not strong？ Am I not muscular？ Feel my arms and thighs。〃
He held out an arm and Johnston felt of it。 The muscles were like stone。
〃You are a giant。〃
〃Ah！ you are right； but they reported that there was a taint in my blood。 I was to marry Lallio； the most beautiful creature in our villageMadryl； you know； the nearest hamlet to the home of the Sun。 I was rich； and the best farmer there。 But Lyngale wanted her。 She hated him and spat at him when he spoke against me。 He proved by others that my lungs were weak； and showed them the blood of a slain dog in my fields that they said had come from my lungs。 Ah； they were curs！ My lungs weak！ Strike my chest with all your might。 Does it not sound like the king's thunder？ Strike； I say！〃 and as the enfeebled American struck his bare breast he cried：Harder； harder！ Pooh； you are a child； see this； and this；〃 and he emphasized his words with thunderous blows on his resounding chest。
〃But it has been so for a century；〃 he panted； 〃hundreds have been unjustly buried alive here。 The king thinks it is not murder because they die of starvation。 I have stumbled over the bones of giants here in the dark lands； and have met dying men that are stronger than the king's athletes。〃
〃What； are there others here？〃 gasped the American。
The Alphian was silent in astonishment。
〃Why； where did you come from？〃 he asked； after a pause。
〃From New York City。〃
〃I don't know of it； and yet I thought I knew of all the places inside the great endless wall。〃
Johnston was mystified in his turn。 〃It is not in your country your world； or whatever you call it。 It is far away。〃
〃Ah； under the white sun！ In the 'Ocean Country；' and the world of fierce winds and disease。 And you are from there。 I had heard of it before they banished me； but two days since I came across a dying man； away over there。 He was huddled against the wall； and had fallen and killed himself in his efforts to climb back to food and light。
〃I saw him die。 He told me that he had come from your land when he was a child。 His trouble was the lungs and he had fallen off to a skeleton。 He talked to me of your wide ocean land。 Is it； indeed so great？ And has it no walls about it？〃
〃No； it is surrounded by water。〃
〃I cannot understand；〃 and； after a pause； in which Johnston could hear the great fellow's heart beating； he continued； 〃That must be the Heaven the man spoke about。 And beyond the water is it always dark like this； and do they banish people there as the king has us？〃
〃No； beyond are other countries。 But is there no chance for us to escape from here？〃
The Alphian laughed bitterly。 〃None。 What were you banished for？〃
〃I hardly know。〃
〃Hold out your arm。 There；〃 as he grasped Johnston's arm in a clasp of iron； 〃I see； you are undeveloped； unfitnone but the healthy and strong are allowed to live in Alpha。 It is right； of course； but it is hard to bear。 But I must lie down。 I am wearied with constant rambling。 I am nervous too。 I fell asleep awhile ago and dreamt I heard all my friends in a great clamoring body calling my name； 'Branasko！' and then I awoke and cried for help。〃
As he spoke he sank with a sigh to the ground and rested his head on his elbows and knees and seemed asleep。 The American sat down beside him； and； for a long time； neither spoke。 Branasko broke the silence； he awoke with a start and eyed his companion in sleepy wonder。
〃Ugh； I dreamt again；〃 he grunted； 〃are you asleep？〃
〃No；〃 was Johnston's reply。 〃I am hungry and thirsty and cannot sleep。〃
〃So am I； but we must wait till it is lighter； then we can go in search of food。 When I was a boy I learned to catch fish in pools with my hands and it has prolonged my life here。 When the light comes again； I shall show you how I do it。〃
〃Then the day does break？ I thought it was eternally dark here。〃
〃It does not get very light； because we are behind the sun； but it is lighter than now； for we get the sun's reflection； enough at least to keep us from falling into the chasms。〃
Branasko lowered his head to his knees and slept again； but the American； though wearied； was wakeful。 Several hours passed。 The Alphian was sleeping soundly； his breathing was very heavy and he had rolled down on his side。
Far away in the east the darkness gradually faded into purple； and then into gray； and slowly hints of pink appeared in the skies。 It was dawn。 Johnston touched his companion。 The man awoke and looked at him from his great swollen eyes。
〃It is day；〃 he yawned； rising and stretching himself。
〃But the sun is not in sight。〃
〃No； it shows itself only in the middle of the day； and then bu