CHAPTER XVI
An Osnomian Marriage
Seaton awoke, hot and uncomfortable, but with a great surge of joy inhis heart--this was his wedding day! Springing from the bed, he releasedthe full stream of the "cold" water, filling the tank in a few moments.Poising lightly upon the edge, he made a clean, sharp dive, and yelledin surprise as he came snorting to the surface. For Dunark had made goodhis promise--the water was only a few degrees above the freezing point!After a few minutes of vigorous splashing in the icy water, he rubbedhimself down with a coarse towel, shaved, threw on his clothes, andlifted his powerful, but musical, bass voice in the wedding chorus from"The Rose Maiden."
_"Rise, sweet maid, arise, arise, Rise, sweet maid, arise, arise, 'Tis the last fair morning for thy maiden eyes,"_
he sang lustily, out of his sheer joy in being alive, and was surprisedto hear Dorothy's clear soprano, Margaret's pleasing contralto, andCrane's mellow tenor chime in from the adjoining room. Crane threw openthe door and Seaton joined the others.
"Good morning. Dick, you sound happy," said Crane.
"Who wouldn't be? Look what's doing today," as he ardently embraced hisbride-to-be. "Besides, I found some cold water this morning."
"Everyone in the palace heard you discovering it," dryly returned Crane,and the girls laughed merrily.
"It surprised me at first," admitted Seaton, "but it's great after afellow once gets wet."
"We warmed ours a trifle," said Dorothy. "I like a cold bath myself, butnot in ice-water."
All four became silent, thinking of the coming event of the day, untilCrane said:
"They have ministers here, I know, and I know something of theirreligion, but my knowledge is rather vague. You know more about it thanwe do, Dick, suppose you tell us about it while we wait."
Seaton paused a moment, with an odd look on his face. As one turning thepages of an unfamiliar book of reference, he was seeking the answer toCrane's question in the vast store of Osnomian information received fromDunark. His usually ready speech came a little slowly.
"Well, as nearly as I can explain it, it's a funny kind of amixture--partly theology, partly Darwinism, or at least, making a fetishof evolution, and partly pure economic determinism. They believe in aSupreme Being, whom they call the First Cause--that is the nearestEnglish equivalent--and they recognize the existence of an immortal andunknowable life-principle, or soul. They believe that the First Causehas decreed the survival of the fittest as the fundamental law, whichbelief accounts for their perfect physiques...."
"Perfect physiques? Why, they're as weak as children," interruptedDorothy.
"Yes, but that is because of the smallness of the planet," returnedSeaton. "You see, a man of my size weighs only eighty-six pounds here,on a spring balance, so he would need only the muscular development of aboy of twelve or so. In a contest of strength, either of you girls couldeasily handle two of the strongest men upon Osnome. In fact, the averageOsnomian could stand up on our Earth only with the greatest difficulty.But that isn't the fault of the people; they are magnificently developedfor their surroundings. They have attained this condition by centuriesof weeding out the unfit. They have no hospitals for the feeble-mindedor feeble-bodied--abnormal persons are not allowed to live. The samereasoning accounts for their perfect cleanliness, moral and physical.Vice is practically unknown. They believe that clean living and cleanthinking are rewarded by the production of a better physical and mentaltype...."
"Yes, especially as they correct wrong living by those terriblepunishments the Kofedix told us about," interrupted Margaret.
"That probably helps some. They also believe that the higher the typeis, the faster will evolution proceed, and the sooner will mankind reachwhat they call the Ultimate Goal, and know all things. Believing as theydo that the fittest must survive, and thinking themselves, of course,the superior type, it is ordained that Mardonale must be destroyedutterly, root and branch. They believe that the slaves are so low in thescale, millions of years behind in evolution, that they do not count.Slaves are simply intelligent and docile animals, little more thanhorses or oxen. Mardonalians and savages are unfit to survive and mustbe exterminated.
"Their ministers are chosen from the very fittest. They are thestrongest, cleanest-living, and most vigorous men of this clean andvigorous nation, and are usually high army officers as well asministers."
* * * * *
An attendant announced the coming of the Karfedix and his son, to paythe call of state. After the ceremonious greetings had been exchanged,all went into the dining hall for darprat. As soon as the meal was over,Seaton brought up the question of the double wedding that kokam, and theKarfedix was overjoyed.
"Karfedix Seaton," he said earnestly, "nothing could please us more thanto have such a ceremony performed in our palace. Marriage between suchhighly-evolved persons as are you four is wished by the First Cause,whose servants we are. Aside from that, it is an unheard-of honor forany ruler to have even one karfedix married beneath his roof, and youare granting me the privilege of two! I thank you, and assure you thatwe will do our poor best to make the occasion memorable."
"Don't do anything fancy," said Seaton hastily. "A simple, plain weddingwill do."
Unheeding Seaton's remark, the Karfedix took his wireless from its hookat his belt and sent a brief message.
"I have summoned Karbix Tarnan to perform the ceremony. Our usual timefor ceremonies is just before koprat--is that time satisfactory to you?"
Assured that it was, he turned to his son.
"Dunark, you are more familiar than I with the customs of ourillustrious visitors. May I ask you to take charge of the details?"
While Dunark sent a rapid succession of messages, Dorothy whispered toSeaton:
"They must be going to make a real function of our double wedding, Dick.The Karbix is the highest dignitary of the church, isn't he?"
"Yes, in addition to being the Commander-in-Chief of all the Kondalianarmies. Next to the Karfedix he is the most powerful man in the empire.Something tells me, Dottie, that this is going to be SOME ceremony!"
As Dunark finished telegraphing, Seaton turned to him.
"Dorothy said, a while ago, that she would like to have enough of thattapestry-fabric for a dress. Do you suppose it could be managed?"
"Certainly. In all state ceremonials we always wear robes made out ofthe same fabric as the tapestries, but much finer and more delicate. Iwould have suggested it, but thought perhaps the ladies would prefertheir usual clothing. I know that you two men do not care to wear ourrobes?"
"We will wear white ducks, the dressiest and coolest things we havealong," replied Seaton. "Thank you for your offer, but you know how itis. We should feel out of place in such gorgeous dress."
"I understand. I will call in a few of our most expert robe-makers, whowill weave the gowns. Before they come, let us decide upon the ceremony.I think you are familiar with our marriage customs, but I will explainthem to make sure. Each couple is married twice. The first marriage issymbolized by the exchange of plain bracelets and lasts four karkamo,during which period divorce may be obtained at will. The children ofsuch divorced couples formerly became wards of the state, but in mylifetime I have not heard of there being any such children--all divorcesare now between couples who discover their incompatibility beforechildren are conceived."
"That surprises me greatly," said Crane. "Some system of trial-marriageis advocated among us on Earth every few years, but they all so surelydegenerate into free love that no such system has found a foothold."
"We are not troubled in that way at all. You see, before the firstmarriage, each couple, from the humblest peasantry to the highestroyalty, must submit to a mental examination. If they are marrying forany reason at all other than love, such as any thought of trifling inthe mind of the man, or if the woman is marrying him for his wealth orposition, he or she is summarily executed, regardless of station."
No other questions being
asked, Dunark continued:
"At the end of four karkamo the second marriage is performed, which isindissoluble. In this ceremony jeweled bracelets are substituted for theplain ones. In the case of highly-evolved persons it is permitted thatthe two ceremonies be combined into one. Then there is a third ceremony,used only in the marriage of persons of the very highest evolution, inwhich the 'eternal' vows are taken and the faidon, the eternal jewel, isexchanged. As you are all in the permitted class, you may use theeternal ceremony if you wish."
"I think we all know our minds well enough to know that we want to bemarried for good--the longer the better," said Seaton, positively."We'll make it the eternal, won't we, folks?"
"I should like to ask one question," said Crane, thoughtfully. "Doesthat ceremony imply that my wife would be breaking her vows if shemarried again upon my death?"
"Far from it. Numbers of our men are killed every karkam. Their wives,if of marriageable age, are expected to marry again. Then, too, you knowthat most Kondalian men have several wives. No matter how many wives orhusbands may be linked together in that way, it merely means that afterdeath their spirits will be grouped into one. Just as in yourchemistry," smiling in comradely fashion at Seaton, "a varying number ofelements may unite to form a stable compound."
* * * * *
After a short pause, the speaker went on:
"Since you are from the Earth and unaccustomed to bracelets, rings willbe substituted for them. The plain rings will take the place of yourEarthly wedding rings, the jeweled ones that of your engagement rings.The only difference is that while we discard the plain bracelets, youwill continue to wear them. Have you men any objections to wearing therings during the ceremony? You may discard them later if you wish andstill keep the marriage valid."
"Not I! I'll wear mine all my life," responded Seaton earnestly, andCrane expressed the same thought.
"There is only one more thing," added the Kofedix. "That is, about themental examination. Since it is not your custom, it is probable that thejustices would waive the ruling, especially since everyone must beexamined by a jury of his own or a superior rank, so that only one man,my father alone, could examine you."
"Not in a thousand years!" replied Seaton emphatically. "I want to beexamined, and have Dorothy see the record. I don't care about having herput through it, but I want her to know exactly the kind of a guy she isgetting."
Dorothy protested at this, but as all four were eager that theythemselves should be tested, the Karfedix was notified and Dunarkclamped sets of multiple electrodes, connected to a set of instruments,upon the temples of his father, Dorothy, and Seaton. He pressed a lever,and instantly Dorothy and Seaton read each other's minds to the minutestdetail, and each knew that the Karfedix was reading the minds of both.
After Margaret and Crane had been examined, the Karfedix expressedhimself as more than satisfied.
"You are all of the highest evolution and your minds are all untaintedby any base thoughts in your marriage. The First Cause will smile uponyour unions," he said solemnly.
"Let the robe-makers appear," the Karfedix ordered, and four women, hungwith spools of brilliantly-colored wire of incredible fineness and withpeculiar looms under their arms, entered the room and accompanied thetwo girls to their apartment.
As soon as the room was empty save for the four men, Dunark said:
"While I was in Mardonale, I heard bits of conversation regarding animmense military discovery possessed by Nalboon, besides the gas whosedeadly effects we felt. I could get no inkling of its nature, but feelsure that it is something to be dreaded. I also heard that both of thesesecrets had been stolen from Kondal, and that we were to be destroyed byour own superior inventions."
The Karfedix nodded his head gloomily.
"That is true, my son--partly true, at least. We shall not be destroyed,however. Kondal shall triumph. The discoveries were made by a Kondalian,but I am as ignorant as are you concerning their nature. An obscureinventor, living close to the bordering ocean, was the discoverer. Hewas rash enough to wireless me concerning them. He would not revealtheir nature, but requested a guard. The Mardonalian patrol interceptedthe message and captured both him and his discoveries before our guardcould arrive."
"That's easily fixed," suggested Seaton. "Let's get the Skylark fixedup, and we'll go jerk Nalboon out of his palace--if he's stillalive--bring him over here, and read his mind."
"That might prove feasible," answered the Kofedix, "and in any event wemust repair the Skylark and replenish her supply of copper immediately.That must be our first consideration, so that you, our guests, willhave a protection in any emergency."
The Karfedix went to his duties and the other three made their way tothe wrecked space-car. They found that besides the damage done to thehull, many of the instruments were broken, including one of theobject-compasses focused upon the Earth.
"It's a good thing you had three of them, Mart. I sure hand it to youfor preparedness," said Seaton, as he tossed the broken instruments outupon the dock. Dunark protested at this treatment, and placed thediscarded instruments in a strong metal safe, remarking:
"These things may prove useful at some future time."
"Well, I suppose the first thing to do is to get some powerful jacks andstraighten these plates," said Seaton.
"Why not throw away this soft metal, steel, and build it of arenak, asit should be built? You have plenty of salt," suggested Dunark.
"Fine! We have lots of salt in the galley, haven't we, Mart?"
"Yes, nearly a hundred pounds. We are stocked for emergencies, with twoyears' supply of food, you know."
* * * * *
Dunark's eyes opened in astonishment at the amount mentioned, in spiteof his knowledge of earthly conditions. He started to say something,then stopped in confusion, but Seaton divined his thought.
"We can spare him fifty pounds as well as not, can't we, Mart?"
"Certainly. Fifty pounds of salt is a ridiculously cheap price for whathe is doing for us, even though it is very rare here."
Dunark acknowledged the gift with shining eyes and heartfelt, but notprofuse, thanks, and bore the precious bag to the palace under a heavyescort. He returned with a small army of workmen, and after making teststo assure himself that the power-bar would work as well through arenakas through steel, he instructed the officers concerning the work to bedone. As the wonderfully skilled mechanics set to work without a singleuseless motion, the prince stood silent, with a look of care upon hishandsome face.
"Worrying about Mardonale, Dunark?"
"Yes. I cannot help wondering what that terrible new engine ofdestruction is, which Nalboon now has at his command."
"Say, why don't you build a bus like the Skylark, and blow Mardonale offthe map?"
"Building the vessel would be easy enough, but X is as yet unknown uponOsnome."
"We've got a lot of it...."
"I could not accept it. The salt was different, since you have plenty.X, however, is as scarce upon Earth as salt is upon Osnome."
"Sure you can accept it. We stopped at a planet that has lots of it, andwe've got an object-compass pointing at it so that we can go back andget more of it any time we want it. We've got more of it on hand nowthan we're apt to need for a long time, so have a hunk and get busy,"and he easily carried one of the lumps out of his cabin and tossed itupon the dock, from whence it required two of Kondal's strongest men tolift it.
The look of care vanished from the face of the prince and he summonedanother corps of mechanics.
"How thick shall the walls be? Our battleships are armed with arenak thethickness of a hand, but with your vast supply of salt you may have itany thickness you wish, since the materials of the matrix are cheap andabundant."
"One inch would be enough, but everything in the bus is designed for afour-foot shell, and if we change it from four feet we'll have toredesign our guns and all our instruments. Let's make it four feet."
>
Seaton turned to the crippled Skylark, upon which the first crew ofKondalian mechanics were working with skill and with tools undreamed-ofupon Earth. The whole interior of the vessel was supported by a complexfalsework of latticed metal, then the four-foot steel plates and themighty embers, the pride of the great MacDougall, were cut away asthough they were made of paper by revolving saws and enormous powershears. The sphere, grooved for the repellers and with the members,braces, and central machinery complete, of the exact dimensions of theoriginals, was rapidly moulded of a stiff, plastic substance resemblingclay. This matrix soon hardened into a rock-like mass into which thedoors, machine-gun emplacements, and other openings were carefully cut.All surfaces were then washed with a dilute solution of salt, which theworkmen handled as though it were radium. Two great plates of platinumwere clamped into place upon either side of the vessel, each plateconnected by means of silver cables as large as a man's leg to thereceiving terminal of an enormous wireless power station. The currentwas applied and the great spherical mass apparently disappeared, beingtransformed instantly into the transparent metal arenak. Then indeed hadthe Earth-men a vehicle such as had never been seen before! A four-footshell of metal five hundred times as strong and hard as the strongestand hardest steel, cast in one piece with the sustaining frameworkdesigned by the world's foremost engineer--a structure that noconceivable force could deform or injure, housing an inconceivablepropulsive force!
* * * * *
The falsework was rapidly removed and the sustaining framework waspainted with opaque varnish to render it plainly visible. At Seaton'ssuggestion the walls of the cabins were also painted, leavingtransparent several small areas to serve as windows.
The second work-period was drawing to a close, and as Seaton and Cranewere to be married before koprat, they stopped work. They marveled atthe amount that had been accomplished, and the Kofedix told them:
"Both vessels will be finished tomorrow, except for the controllinginstruments, which we will have to make ourselves. Another crew willwork during the sleeping-period, installing the guns and other fittings.Do you wish to have your own guns installed, or guns of our pattern?You are familiar with them now."
"Our own, please. They are slower and less efficient than yours, but weare used to them and have a lot of X-plosive ammunition for them,"replied Seaton, after a short conference with Crane.
After instructing the officers in charge of the work, the three returnedto the palace, the hearts of two of them beating high in anticipation.Seaton went into Crane's room, accompanied by two attendants bearing hissuitcase and other luggage.
"We should have brought along dress clothes, Mart. Why didn't you thinkof that, too?"
"Nothing like this ever entered my mind. It is a good thing we broughtalong ducks and white soft shirts. I must say that this is extremelyinformal garb for a state wedding, but since the natives are ignorant ofour customs, it will not make any difference."
"That's right, too--we'll make 'em think it's the most formal kind ofdress. Dunark knows what's what, but he knows that full dress would beunbearable here. We'd melt down in a minute. It's plenty hot enough asit is, with only duck trousers and sport-shirts on. They'll look greeninstead of white, but that's a small matter."
Dunark, as best man, entered the room some time later.
"Give us a look, Dunark," begged Seaton, "and see if we'll passinspection. I was never so rattled in my life."
They were clad in spotless white, from their duck oxfords to the whiteties encircling the open collars of their tennis shirts. The two tallfigures--Crane's slender, wiry, at perfect ease; Seaton'sbroad-shouldered, powerful, prowling about with unconscious, felinesuppleness and grace--and the two handsome, high-bred, intellectualfaces, each wearing a look of eager happiness, fully justified Dunark'sanswer.
"You sure will do!" he pronounced enthusiastically, and with Seaton'sown impulsive good will he shook hands and wished them an eternity ofhappiness.
"When you have spoken with your brides," he continued, "I shall bewaiting to escort you into the chapel. Sitar told me to say that theladies are ready."
Dorothy and Margaret had been dressed in their bridal gowns by Sitar andseveral other princesses, under the watchful eyes of the Karfedirherself. Sitar placed the two girls side by side and drew off to surveyher work.
"You are the loveliest creatures in the whole world!" she cried.
They looked at each other's glittering gowns, then Margaret glanced atDorothy's face and a look of dismay overspread her own.
"Oh, Dottie!" she gasped. "Your lovely complexion! Isn't it terrible forthe boys to see us in this light?"
There was a peal of delighted laughter from Sitar and she spoke to oneof the servants, who drew dark curtains across the windows and pressed aswitch, flooding the room with brilliant white light.
"Dunark installed lamps like those of your ship for you," she explainedwith intense satisfaction. "I knew in advance just how you would feelabout your color."
Before the girls had time to thank their thoughtful hostess shedisappeared and their bridegrooms stood before them. For a moment noword was spoken. Seaton stared at Dorothy hungrily, almost doubting theevidence of his senses. For white was white, pink was pink, and her hairshone in all its natural splendor of burnished bronze.
In their wondrous Osnomian bridal robes the beautiful Earth-maidensstood before their lovers. Upon their feet were jeweled slippers. Theirlovely bodies were clothed in softly shimmering garments that left theirrounded arms and throats bare--garments infinitely more supple than thefinest silk, thick-woven of metallic threads of such fineness that theindividual wires were visible only under a lens; garments that floatedand clung about their perfect forms in lines of exquisite grace. Forblack-haired Margaret, with her ivory skin, the Kondalian princess hadchosen a background of a rare white metal, upon which, in complicatedfigures, glistened numberless jewels of pale colors, more brilliant thandiamonds. Dorothy's dress was of a peculiar, dark-green shade,half-hidden by an intricate design of blazing green gems--the strange,luminous jewels of this strange world. Both girls wore their long, heavyhair unbound, after the Kondalian bridal fashion, brushed until it felllike mist about them and confined at the temples by metallic bandsentirely covered with jewels.
Seaton looked from Dorothy to Margaret and back again; looked down intoher violet eyes, deep with wonder and with love, more beautiful than anyjewel in all her gorgeous costume. Unheeding the presence of the others,she put her dainty hands upon his mighty shoulders and stood on tiptoe.
"I love you, Dick. Now and always, here or at home or anywhere in theUniverse. We'll never be parted again," she whispered, and her ownbeloved violin had no sweeter tones than had her voice.
A few minutes later, her eyes wet and shining, she drew herself awayfrom him and glanced at Margaret.
"Isn't she the most beautiful thing you ever laid eyes on?"
"No," Seaton answered promptly, "she is not--but poor old Mart thinksshe is!"
* * * * *
Accompanied by the Karfedix and his son, Seaton and Crane went into thechapel, which, already brilliant, had been decorated anew with evengreater splendor. Glancing through the wide arches they saw, for thefirst time, Osnomians clothed. The great room was filled with thehighest nobility of Kondal, wearing their heavily-jeweled, resplendentrobes of state. Every color of the rainbow and numberless fantasticpatterns were there, embodied in the soft, lustrous, metallic fabric.
As the men entered one door Dorothy and Margaret, with the Karfedir andSitar, entered the other, and the entire assemblage rose to its feet andsnapped into the grand salute. Moving to the accompaniment of strangemartial music from concealed instruments, the two parties approachedeach other, meeting at the raised platform or pulpit where KarbixTarnan, a handsome, stately, middle-aged man who carried easily hishundred and fifty karkamo of age, awaited them. As he raised his arms,the music ceased.
It was a solemn
and wonderfully impressive spectacle. The room, ofburnished metal, with its bizarre decorations wrought in scintillatinggems; the constantly changing harmony of colors as the invisible lampswere shifted from one shade to another; the group of mighty noblesstanding rigidly at attention in a silence so profound that it was anutter absence of everything audible as the Karbix lifted both arms in asilent invocation of the great First Cause--all these things deepenedthe solemnity of that solemn moment.
When Tarnan spoke, his voice, deep with some great feeling, inexplicableeven to those who knew him best, carried clearly to every part of thegreat chamber.
"Friends, it is our privilege to assist today in a most notable event,the marriage of four personages from another world. For the first timein the history of Osnome, one karfedix has the privilege of entertainingthe bridal party of another. It is not for this fact alone, however,that this occasion is to be memorable. A far deeper reason is that weare witnessing, possibly for the first time in the history of theUniverse, the meeting upon terms of mutual fellowship and understandingof the inhabitants of two worlds separated by unthinkable distances oftrackless space and by equally great differences in evolution,conditions of life, and environment. Yet these strangers are actuated bythe spirit of good faith and honor which is instilled into every worthybeing by the great First Cause, in the working out of whose vastprojects all things are humble instruments.
"In honor of the friendship of the two worlds, we will proceed with theceremony.
"Richard Seaton and Martin Crane, exchange the plain rings with DorothyVaneman and Margaret Spencer."
They did so, and repeated, after the Karbix, simple vows of love andloyalty.
"May the First Cause smile upon this temporary marriage and render itworthy of being made permanent. As a lowly servant of the all-powerfulFirst Cause I pronounce you two, and you two, husband and wife. But wemust remember that the dull vision of mortal man cannot pierce the veilof futurity, which is as crystal to the all-beholding eye of the FirstCause. Though you love each other truly, unforeseen things may comebetween you to mar the perfection of your happiness. Therefore a time isgranted you during which you may discover whether or not your unions areperfect."
A pause ensued, then Tarnan went on:
"Martin Crane, Margaret Spencer, Richard Seaton, and Dorothy Vaneman,you are before us to take the final vows which shall bind your bodiestogether for life and your spirits together for eternity. Have youconsidered the gravity of this step sufficiently to enter into thismarriage without reservation?"
"I have," solemnly replied the four, in unison.
"Exchange the jeweled rings. Do you, Richard Seaton and Dorothy Vaneman;and you, Martin Crane and Margaret Spencer; individually swear, here inthe presence of the First Cause and that of the Supreme Justices ofKondal, that you will be true and loyal, each helping his chosen one inall things, great and small; that never throughout eternity, in thoughtor in action, will either your body or your mind or your consciousspirit stray from the path of fairness and truth and honor?"
"I do."
"I pronounce you married with the eternal marriage. Just as the faidonwhich you each now wear--the eternal jewel which no force of man,however applied, has yet been able to change or deform in anyparticular; and which continues to give off its inward light withoutchange throughout eternity--shall endure through endless cycles of timeafter the metal of the ring which holds it shall have crumbled in decay:even so shall your spirits, formerly two, now one and indissoluble,progress in ever-ascending evolution throughout eternity after the basematerial which is your bodies shall have returned to the senseless dustfrom whence it arose."
* * * * *
The Karbix lowered his arms and the bridal party walked to the doorthrough a double rank of uplifted weapons. From the chapel they were ledto another room, where the contracting parties signed their names in aregister. The Kofedix then brought forward two marriagecertificates--heavy square plates of a brilliant purple metal,beautifully engraved in parallel columns of English and Kondalianscript, and heavily bordered with precious stones. The principals andwitnesses signed below each column, the signatures being deeply engravedby the royal engraver. Leaving the registry, they were escorted to thedining hall, where a truly royal repast was served. Between courses thehighest nobles of the nation welcomed the visitors and wished themhappiness in short but earnest addresses. After the last course had beendisposed of, the Karbix rose at a sign from the Karfedix and spoke, hisvoice again agitated by the emotion which had puzzled his hearers duringthe marriage service.
"All Kondal is with us here in spirit, trying to aid us in our poorattempts to convey our welcome to these our guests, of whose friendshipno greater warrant could be given than their willingness to grant us theprivilege of their marriage. Not only have they given us a boon thatwill make their names revered throughout the nation as long as Kondalshall exist, but they have also been the means of showing us plainlythat the First Cause is upon our side, that our age-old institution ofhonor is in truth the only foundation upon which can be built a racefitted to survive. At the same time they have been the means of showingus that our hated foe, entirely without honor, building his race upon afoundation of bloodthirsty savagery alone, is building wrongly and mustperish utterly from the face of Osnome."
His hearers listened, impressed by his earnestness, but plainly notunderstanding his meaning.
"You do not understand?" he went on, with a deep light shining in hiseyes. "It is inevitable that two peoples inhabiting worlds so widelyseparated as are our two should be possessed of widely-varying knowledgeand abilities, and these strangers have already made it possible for usto construct engines of destruction which shall obliterate Mardonalecompletely...." A fierce shout of joy interrupted the speaker and thenobles sprang to their feet, saluting the visitors with upraisedweapons. As soon as they had reseated themselves, the Karbix continued:
"That is the boon. The vindication of our system of evolution is easilyexplained. The strangers landed first upon Mardonale. Had Nalboon metthem in honor, he would have gained the boon. But he, with the savagerycharacteristic of his evolution, attempted to kill his guests and stealtheir treasures, with what results you already know. We, on our part, inexchange for the few and trifling services we have been able to renderthem, have received even more than Nalboon would have obtained, had hisplans not been nullified by their vastly superior state of evolution."
The orator seated himself and there was a deafening clamor of cheeringas the nobles formed themselves into an escort of honor and conductedthe two couples to their apartments.
Alone in their room, Dorothy turned to her husband with tears shining inher beautiful eyes.
"Dick, sweetheart, wasn't that the most wonderful thing that anybodyever heard of? Using the word in all its real meaning, it wasindescribably grand, and that old man is simply superb. It makes meashamed of myself to think that I was ever afraid or nervous here."
"It sure was all of that, Dottie mine, little bride of an hour. Thewhole thing gets right down to where a fellow lives--I've got a lump inmy throat right now so big that it hurts me to think. Earthly marriagesare piffling in comparison with that ceremony. It's no wonder they'rehappy, after taking those vows--especially as they don't have to takethem until after they are sure of themselves.
"But we're sure already, sweetheart," as he embraced her with all thefeeling of his nature. "Those vows are not a bit stronger than the oneswe have already exchanged--bodily and mentally and spiritually we areone, now and forever."