Neither of us spoke as we hastened along, scarcely daring to turn on a flashlight to guide us. But well enough we knew our destination—the base of the ventilating flue, where we had concealed the climbing tackle by which we hoped to reach the Overworld.
In a straight line, this point was not far; but, in order to avoid detection, we had to circle miles out of our way, through obscure and little-used corridors. Hence hours passed before we had approached the safety point. And then, for a few minutes, we had to face a greater peril. Separating us from the ventilation flue was a stretch of a more frequented avenue, from which neither of us might easily escape.
Yet, there being no choice, we faced the danger resolutely, and, trusting to our disguise, stepped boldly out of hiding.
Emerging into the wider thoroughfare, we found the people crowding back and forth excitedly; but, fortunately, none seemed to take notice of us. The "scootscoots" rushed hither and thither as crazily as ever, several of them missing us by inches; while a newsgirl raced here and there squeaking furiously, "Latest Screamer! Buy the latest Screamer! Super-super-super-extra-extra-extra! Great revolution! Luma the Illustrious abdicates! Thuno Flâtum restored to power! Super-super-super-extra-extra-extra!"
"Super-extra-extra! Buy the latest Blare!" I heard from another side. "War with Zu breaks out again! Thuno Flâtum sends troops to the depths! Huge turnover! Subterrain attacks renewed! Buy the latest Blare! Super-extra-extra!"
As if to emphasize the truth of these words, we caught a glimpse of marching helmeted forms, hundreds upon hundreds, tramping with a prancing military motion along a side-gallery, while over them the green and vermilion banners demonstratively waved.
At the same time, a turn in the gallery enabled us to glance into the mile-deep vastness of a prodigious chasm, such as we had seen on arriving in the Underworld. Far beneath us, in the eerie depths, we observed multitudes of tiny forms, drawn up in military columns and regiments; while from the walls of the abyss, great shafts of lightning, white and violet and orange and green, began to dart to the accompaniment of portentous thunders.
But all these sounds and sights were swept from our consciousness by demonstrations of a still more alarming nature. Straight toward us, from down the gallery, a swarm of Third Class citizens came flocking, thousands deep, wielding spears and ropes and clubs, while they hoarsely shouted.
"Down with Luma the Illustrious! Down with Luma! Grab the traitor! Tear him to bits! Gouge out his heart! Turn him over! Down with him! Down with him! Down with him!"
"Quick!" I whispered to Clay, and we slid across the avenue and into a smaller gallery which, a few yards farther on, gave access to the ventilating flue.