CHAPTER III
THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER
They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick. His ears hummed; his stomach rose. He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back. After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail. The aeroplane of the Sorcerer had disappeared.
The eagles bore Raphael swiftly toward a cloud which lay in the distance above the ocean. As they drew near, the cloud changed, and land appeared rising fresh and green out of the sea. On this land the boy made out a great palace of white marble.
‘Is this the Sorcerer’s castle?’ Raphael shouted into his friend’s ear.
‘IS THIS THE SORCERER’S CASTLE?’ RAPHAEL SHOUTED
Empyrean nodded.
First the eagles flew round the castle from left to right, and Raphael marveled that there were no doors, no windows in this strange building. All he saw were blind walls which towered heavenward, a huge pillar of cream-white stone.
When the eagles had circled the building three times, they flew directly across the top. On the roof was an immense court surrounded by walls and shaped like the inside of a saucer. Within this bowl lay the aeroplane of the Sorcerer. Raphael saw figures running about on the roof.