CHAPTER X
THE CAPTURE OF RAPHAEL
Raphael walked down the hill toward the city of the Sorcerer, and came shortly to a macadam road which he followed cautiously, ready to hide if anything should pass. He had not gone far when a truck clattered by with two strange creatures on the driving seat. They were not men, though curiously like them in figure.
They were tall, and were dressed in dark gray jumpers. Their hands were covered with what appeared to be black gloves, and their feet were cased in metal shoes. But the heads of these creatures astonished Raphael most: the faces were gray with two glassy eyes set under round projecting foreheads, the noses were thick and short, the chins dropped away rapidly below the mouth. They appeared to have no ears, but each wore a matting of rope hair. These evidently were the servants of the Sorcerer.
Raphael tried to hide as the truck lumbered by, but the creatures drove past without looking at him. This encouraged the boy and he walked more boldly. Gæa would look after him.
On each side of the highway rose large billboards shutting out the view of the plain. Welcome to Mechana, stood out in large letters beside the portrait of a mechanical man, and there were others: Mechanicos Drink Mozzo Oil, the Health Fluid. Keeps Out Rust, the Enemy of Long Life. While a few bore the more terrifying legend, Does the Repair Shop Frighten You? Use U-Kant-Beat-It on the Joints. Below this the following letter was painted in red, ‘I have used U-Kant-Beat-It for ten years and can still kiss my big toe.’ It was signed Mechanus, the Giant Sorcerer.
Why, thought Raphael, this is just like Uniontown.
He was entering the city now where there were sidewalks. Tall buildings rose on each side casting their shadows over the thoroughfare which teemed with automobiles and heavy trucks. Mechanical men passed him in a steady stream. If they only knew that I had come to destroy them, they might look at me, mused the boy.
He began to grow confused. Streets ran every which-way. The tall skyscrapers shut out the afternoon sun. It must be late, thought Raphael. I wonder where I am? He could ask no one. Probably no one would understand him.
Raphael was worried and walked faster. Turning a corner suddenly, he nearly bumped into four mechanical men who were blocking the sidewalk. One of them was much larger than the others. Raphael gasped, went pale, and half turned to run. Before him stood the creature that had stolen Cassandra—the Giant Sorcerer.
‘Hello, there,’ called the Sorcerer. ‘Don’t run. It won’t do any good. I’ve been waiting for you the last ten minutes. Come here, I won’t hurt you.’