... began to talk. The Mayor had no t intheleastexaggerated.ItappearedthatourPlanetlaysunkinslaverybeneaththeheel of theAerialBoard of Control.Theoratorurgedustoariseinourmight,burstourprisondoorsandbreakourfetters(allhis ... chart‐roomdivan.‘Youwillseein a minute.ʹAs he spoke I became aware of a thin thread of almost intolerablelight, let down from heaven at an immense distance—one verticalhairsbreadth of frozenlightning.‘Thoseareourflankingships,ʹsaidArnottatmyelbow.‘Thatoneisover ... Oh! Can men be allowed to do such things?ʹ Dragomiroffcried,andfellacrossourknees.‘Glass of water, please,ʹ said Takahira to a helmeted shape thatleapedforward.‘Heis a littlefaint.ʹThelightsswitchedoff,andthedarknessstunnedlikeanavalanche.WecouldhearDragomiroff‘steethontheglassedge.Pirolowascomfortinghim.‘Allright,allra‐ight,ʹherepeated.‘Comeandliedown.Comebelowandtakeoffyourmask.Igiveyoumyword,oldfriend,itisallright.They...