"Lowell Howard Morrow - Islands in the Air" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrow Lowell Howard)

flowers. At each corner and in the center were airplane beacons the same as ours, but they were of a
brilliant hue and artistic design.

A Catastrophe

I rubbed my eyes with a trembling hand. What had come over me to cause this hallucination? I had
thought so much about this sky island business, had lost so much sleep over it that the thing was getting
the best of my reason. I surely was seeing things. That green island over there soaring into the blue was a
mirage, a fantasy of a disordered brain. I resolved to get a grip on myself and quit this business before it
was too late. But as I stared again the mirage persisted mockingly, grew plainer and finally ceased its
upward flight and came to rest. It was then that I suddenly discerned a figure bobbing about near the
corner masthead--a small man with a bristling black beard. I caught my breath with a gasp. My God, I
was beholding no mirage but the devilish handiwork of Professor Stiener's rival--Van Beck!

With sickening force the hot truth surged over me--Van Beck had stolen a march on us, after all. He had
photographed the blue print the day Greta landed him in her plane. He had broken into the office, and the
report that he had gone abroad was a lie and a blind. He had stolen the Professor's secret and improved
it. True to form he was about to rob the Professor of the fruits of victory. The thing was unthinkable but
there was the evidence before my eyes.

And now as I looked closer I saw another man on the green island. His back was toward me and he was
crouched over some sort of a machine. He seemed to be working over Van Beck's directions, for I saw
the latter run up to him every little while and gesticulate excitedly.

All this time the Professor was still running about making everything secure for his coming test. At last he
paused and looked around with an air of satisfaction. All was ready. And then I observed him suddenly
catch sight of his sky neighbor. I saw his face grow white as chalk, and he stood for a moment rigid as a
statue. Then he placed a hand to his head in a dazed sort of way. Suddenly I saw him stagger forward,
grip a large lever and cast his eyes in my direction. I thought he was about to try out the lateral act, to
come over to me and discuss Van Beck's startling appearance in our field. In another moment I saw that
his island was indeed moving laterally, but not in my direction. He was rushing toward Van Beck!

Overhead Greta was soaring and dipping and circling gracefully. I believed that she had not witnessed the
advent of Van Beck and his island. I knew she was keeping an eye on her brother; that she would swoop
down and rescue him should anything go wrong. It was evident that the Professor was about to board his
rival and demand an explanation. In the present state of his mind I feared a battle between the two
scientific geniuses--a battle that would bring death and ruin to our cause. Then I saw that Van Beck's
island was moving--that he was coming on to meet the Professor!

"My God they have both gone crazy!" I exclaimed aloud.

And so it seemed. Even through the glasses I could see that they were rushing along at tremendous
speed, but as they drew near each other Van Beck gave evidence that he did not wish to commit suicide,
did not wish to fight. Evidently he was but seeking to show the Professor that he could equal and
duplicate any feat of his. He raised his island, only to be followed swiftly by the angry Professor. Van
Beck shot down lower, and again the Professor followed him.

By this time Greta was flying low above the Professor, and by her gestures and the agonized expression
on her face I understood that she was imploring him to check his onward flight, to back away from his
foe and seek safety on the plane. But the Professor waved her back with a horrible grimace and turned