Chapter XI: A Mysterious Disappearance

When Grandon regained consciousness it was daylight. His first thought was for the girl who lay face downward beside him. As he lifted her tenderly in his arms he gave silent thanks, for she was breathing, though ever so slightly.

Presently she opened her eyes and, for a moment, there was a startled expression in them as she glimpsed her strange surroundings.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"I haven't the slightest idea," replied Grandon. "I have no knowledge of Zarovian geography."

"A prince, and you know naught of geography? That is indeed strange. Do they not teach it in your country?"

"I am fairly well acquainted with the geography of the planet Earth--Terra--on which I was born, but the inhabitants of that world know practically nothing regarding the geography of this one because of your cloud-filled atmosphere."

She looked up at him in amazement.

"But you wear the garments and insignia of the royal house of Uxpo. Moreover, you very closely resemble a prince of that house. Tell me, quickly, who are you?"

"Tam Robert Grandon, of Terra."

His disclosure seemed to startle her.

"Grandon, of Terra?" she cried. "Ah, I recall the name. A Grandon, of Terra, was recently acclaimed Prince of Uxpo. It was said that he came in fulfillment of a prophecy from another world. And you are he. Truly the pranks of fortune are most amazing! Yesterday I made war on you; to-day I look to you for protection."

"You made war on me?" he exclaimed, startled in his turn. "May I ask who you are?"

"Can it be that you do not recognize me?"

Grandon was puzzled. There was something strangely familiar about that girlish face.

"I am Vernia, of Reabon," she said simply.

It all came to him in a flash. The lifelike painting in the shrine at the marble quarries, the kowtowing slaves, his own narrow escape from the lash after lingering too long in contemplation of that beautiful vision.

"How did you happen to be wandering alone and unarmed in the fern forest?" he asked.

"I did not set out alone. When I started away from the camp I was accompanied by my four guards, and was armed with a tork and scarbo. Zueppa sent a messenger from the front to inform me that your men had broken through our lines and were headed for the camp. He advised me to leave at once, saying that the guards would conduct me to a safe place until your army had been overcome. I followed Zueppa's counsel, but had gone only a short distance when the traitorous guards disarmed me, and informed me that I was their prisoner.

"The varlets were about to bind my hands when the giant reptile appeared on the scene. Though the guards were traitors they were brave men, for they stood their ground to do battle with the monster. He killed the foremost man with a single snap of his jaws. A second man met a like fate, almost before I could realize what had happened. I believe he killed and devoured all four of them, although I am not certain, as I turned and ran through the forest. Soon I heard the monster following me, and tried to make my way to the pass, where I knew the battle was raging, but the storm came, I lost my bearings completely, and at length brought up at the river's edge, where I fainted when I saw those terrible jaws poised above me. I presume that I should have been devoured then and there had the reptile not already eaten my guards."

* * * * *

"Who is Zueppa?"

"He is one of my officers--a good commander and an excellent strategist."

"He may be a good soldier, but he is unquestionably a first class liar."

"I don't understand."

"My men did not break through your lines at all until after the storm had struck, and then only in small, scattered groups."

"Then Zueppa was implicated in the plot. But who could have planned it, and for what purpose?"

"That, I am unable to tell you."

He looked at her so long and so searchingly that she grew uneasy.

"Of what are you thinking?" she asked.

"I was wondering what fate you would have meted out to me had your men captured me yesterday."

She smiled, dimpling adorably.

"I should probably have had you beheaded."

"And now--"

"If we reach Reabon in safety I shall make you supreme commander over all my armies."

"Why?"

"As your reward for saving the life of the princess."

"I ask no reward for that, nor could I accept it, much as I appreciate the honor."

"It is the second highest office in the greatest nation of Zarovia, an office second only to my own. Why, any emperor on the globe would be glad to exchange his position for it."

"I have been made Prince of Uxpo," replied Grandon, "under my own name and because of my deeds in behalf of that kingdom. I should rather be the tiniest twinkling star in the heavens than the most beautiful and brilliant planet."

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand."

"Planets shine by reflected light--stars by virtue of their own brilliancy. As your general I should merely reflect the greatness that is yours."

His answer seemed to displease her, for her manner became icy.

"Perhaps you should prefer to continue the war."

"Infinitely. But pray, let us hold to our truce for the present. Until we can reach the safety of our own countries we are allies, you know."

"Rather, I am your prisoner of war, for I am wholly in your power. You place me under obligation to you, then spurn my offer of reward. Pray, tell me why you risked your life to save mine."

"It was an impulse that I cannot explain, even to myself. I must admit that when I swam to your assistance I did not even know you were a woman. I thought you a boy soldier of the Reabonian army."

Could this man do naught save rouse her resentment? Womanlike, she had been angling for a statement that might serve to placate her hurt pride. Truly, she thought, this Grandon of Terra lacked courtliness of manner and smoothness of speech. After all, he was only a rough soldier who had won the crown of Uxpo with his keen blade. A rough soldier and plain spoken, yet gentle and thoughtful of her every comfort as he was careless of the effect of his words on her vanity. To this girl who had received naught but adulation from the men of her world, he was an inexplicable enigma.

* * * * *

"We talk much and get nowhere," she said wearily, "I am both hungry and thirsty. Do you not feed your prisoners of war?"

They walked inland through barren country to the foot of a lofty perpendicular cliff. Through a narrow fissure they caught a glimpse of greenery beyond, so they hurried between the frowning rock walls and at last emerged on level ground.

They were on the border of a small inland lake, the water of which was as clear as crystal. Ferns, mosses and fungi grew all about its borders in luxurious profusion, but what aroused Grandon's interest and curiosity most was the appearance of the bottom of the lake, which was plainly visible.

It was covered with hundreds of odd, grotesque growths--upright fluted columns with thick branches of the same pattern curving upward from the trunks like the arms of candelabra. On the tips of the branches were great clusters of brilliantly-hued fruitlike globes in an endless variety of form and color. The effect of the entire lake bottom was like that of a thousand rainbows fused into one.

A look of terror came into the eyes of the girl.

"Now I know only too well where we are," she said. "This must be one of the submarine gardens of the terrible flying grampites. I have heard some of our hardiest mariners tell of these gardens and the horrible creatures who guard them."

"Let us eat and drink, first, then talk of the grampites afterward," said Grandon. "They may be dangerous creatures, but they will have to go some to outclass that reptile."

A clear, cold spring, bubbling from the rock wall satisfied their thirst, after which Grandon cut some spore-pods from a near-by fern and split them with his knife. They were in prime condition, and made a most pleasing meal for the famished wayfarers.

"It must be," Grandon remarked, "that these underwater fruits are especially delectable morsels, if men risk their lives for them."

"They are, and of a flavor that excels anything else that grows on Zarovia."

"I will gather some for you," said Grandon, removing his heavy trappings. "They should be easily plucked."

"No, no!" she cried. "Please don't go. You may be seen and killed by the grampites."

He laughed at her fears, and stripped down to his loin cloth. Then, taking his long knife between his teeth, he plunged into the clear water. Swimming from cluster to cluster, he found one that suited his fancy, and cut the thick stem.

As he did so, he saw a black shadow move swiftly across the surface of the lake above him. It puzzled him not a little, for he had seen no living creature other than his companion when he entered the water. He reached the surface with a few powerful strokes, and made for the point where he had left the girl, but the spot was deserted.

An awful fear gripped him. Was it the shadow of a flying grampite he had seen, and was the girl now in the clutches of one of these dreaded creatures? She could not have walked far away in those few seconds. He called loudly, again and again, but there was no answering cry.

Vernia had disappeared as completely and mysteriously as if the earth had opened and swallowed her up.