按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
singularly lightened of its weight。 I found it easy enough to soar from
94
… Page 95…
The Coming Race
the ground； indeed； when the wings were spread it was scarcely possible
not to soar； but then came the difficulty and the danger。 I utterly failed in
the power to use and direct the pinions； though I am considered among my
own race unusually alert and ready in bodily exercises； and am a very
practiced swimmer。 I could only make the most confused and blundering
efforts at flight。 I was the servant of the wings； the wings were not my
servants… they were beyond my control； and when by a violent strain of
muscle； and； I must fairly own； in that abnormal strength which is given
by excessive fright； I curbed their gyrations and brought them near to the
body； it seemed as if I lost the sustaining power stored in them and the
connecting bladders； as when the air is let out of a balloon； and found
myself precipitated again to the earth； saved； indeed； by some spasmodic
flutterings； from being dashed to pieces； but not saved from the bruises
and the stun of a heavy fall。 I would； however； have persevered in my
attempts； but for the advice or the commands of the scientific Zee； who
had benevolently accompanied my flutterings； and； indeed； on the last
occasion； flying just under me； received my form as it fell on her own
expanded wings； and preserved me from breaking my head on the roof of
the pyramid from which we had ascended。
〃I see；〃 she said； 〃that your trials are in vain； not from the fault of the
wings and their appurtenances； nor from any imperfectness and
malformation of your own corpuscular system； but from irremediable；
because organic； defect in your power of volition。 Learn that the
connection between the will and the agencies of that fluid which has been
subjected to the control 104of the Vril…ya was never established by the
first discoverers； never achieved by a single generation； it has gone on
increasing； like other properties of race； in proportion as it has been
uniformly transmitted from parent to child； so that； at last； it has become
an instinct； and an infant An of our race wills to fly as intuitively and
unconsciously as he wills to walk。 He thus plies his invented or artificial
wings with as much safety as a bird plies those with which it is born。 I
did not think sufficiently of this when I allowed you to try an experiment
which allured me； for I have longed to have in you a companion。 I shall
abandon the experiment now。 Your life is becoming dear to me。〃
95
… Page 96…
The Coming Race
Herewith the Gy's voice and face softened； and I felt more seriously
alarmed than I had been in my previous flights。
Now that I am on the subject of wings； I ought not to omit mention of
a custom among the Gy…ei which seems to me very pretty and tender in the
sentiment it implies。 A Gy wears wings habitually when yet a virgin… she
joins the Ana in their aerial sports… she adventures alone and afar into the
wilder regions of the sunless world： in the boldness and height of her
soarings； not less than in the grace of her movements； she excels the
opposite sex。 But； from the day of her marriage she wears wings no
more； she suspends them with her own willing hand over the nuptial couch；
never to be resumed unless the marriage tie be severed by divorce or
death。
Now when Zee's voice and eyes thus softened… and at that softening I
prophetically recoiled and shuddered… Taee； who had accompanied us in
our flights； but who； child…like； had been much more amused with my
awkwardness； than sympathising in my fears or aware of my danger；
hovered over us； poised amidst spread wings； and hearing the endearing
words of the young Gy； laughed aloud。 Said he； 〃If the Tish cannot learn
the use of wings； you may still be his companion； Zee； for you can
suspend your own。〃
96
… Page 97…
The Coming Race
CHAPTER XXI。
I had for some time observed in my host's highly informed and
powerfully proportioned daughter that kindly and protective sentiment
which； whether above the earth or below it； an all…wise Providence has
bestowed upon the feminine division of the human race。 But until very
lately I had ascribed it to that affection for 'pets' which a human female at
every age shares with a human child。 I now became painfully aware that
the feeling with which Zee deigned to regard me was different from that
which I had inspired in Taee。 But this conviction gave me none of that
complacent gratification which the vanity of man ordinarily conceives
from a flattering appreciation of his personal merits on the part of the fair
sex； on the contrary； it inspired me with fear。 Yet of all the Gy…ei in the
community； if Zee were perhaps the wisest and the strongest； she was； by
common repute； the gentlest； and she was certainly the most popularly
beloved。 The desire to aid； to succour； to protect； to comfort； to bless；
seemed to pervade her whole being。 Though the complicated miseries
that originate in penury and guilt are unknown to the social system of the
Vril…ya； still； no sage had yet discovered in vril an agency which could
banish sorrow from life； and wherever amongst her people sorrow found
its way； there Zee followed in the mission of comforter。 Did some sister
Gy fail to secure the love she sighed for？ Zee sought her out； and brought
all the resources of her lore； and all the consolations of her sympathy； to
bear upon a grief that so needs the solace of a confidant。 In the rare cases；
when grave illness seized upon childhood or youth； and the cases； less rare；
when； in the hardy and adventurous probation of infants； some accident；
attended with pain and injury occurred； Zee forsook her studies and her
sports； and became the healer and nurse。 Her favourite 106flights were
towards the extreme boundaries of the domain where children were
stationed on guard against outbreaks of warring forces in nature； or the
invasions of devouring animals； so that she might warn them of any peril
which her knowledge detected or foresaw； or be at hand if any harm had
befallen。 Nay； even in the exercise of her scientific acquirements there
was a concurrent benevolence of purpose and will。 Did she learn any
97
… Page 98…
The Coming Race
novelty in invention that would be useful to the practitioner of some
special art or craft？ she hastened to