The Cone by H.G. Wells

The Cone by H.G. Wells
Section [1 | 2]

, cones

I'll

flames

throats,

? --pillars

pillars

pipes,

'll

" but every now_and_then ," said Raut, " you get burst fire and smoke there "

" the cone 's not fixed , 's hung chain from lever , and balanced equipoise you shall see nearer else , of_course , there 'd way getting fuel into_the thing every now_and_then the cone dips, and out comes the flare "

" I_see ," said Raut looked over his shoulder " the moon gets brighter ," he_said

" come along ," said Horrocks abruptly , gripping his shoulder again , and moving him suddenly towards the railway crossing and then came one of_those swift incidents, vivid , but rapid that_they leave one doubtful and reeling half - way across , Horrocks's hand clenched upon him like vice , and swung him backward and through half - turn , so_that looked the line and there chain lamp -lit carriage windows telescoped swiftly came towards them , and_the red and yellow lights engine grew larger and larger , rushing down upon them grasped what this meant, turned his face Horrocks, and pushed with all his strength against the arm that held him back between_the rails the struggle did_not last moment just certain was_that Horrocks held him there , certain was_it that had_been violently lugged out danger

" out_of_the way ," said Horrocks with gasp , as_the train came rattling , and_they stood panting by_the gate into_the ironworks

" I_did_not see coming," said Raut, still , even in_spite of_his own apprehensions, trying to_keep appearance ordinary intercourse

Horrocks answered with grunt " the cone ," he_said , and then , one who recovers himself , " i_thought you_did_not hear "

"I didn't," said Raut

"I wouldn't have_had you run over then for_the world ," said Horrocks

" for moment I lost nerve ," said Raut

Horrocks stood for half minute , then turned abruptly towards the ironworks again " see how fine these great mounds of_mine , these clinker -heaps, look in_the night ! that truck yonder , above there ! goes, and out -tilts the slag see the palpitating red stuff sliding down the slope as_we get nearer , the heap rises and cuts the blast furnaces see the quiver above the big one not that way ! this_way , between_the heaps that goes to_the puddling furnaces, but i_want show you the canal first " he_came and took Raut by_the elbow , and they went along side side Raut answered Horrocks vaguely what , asked himself , had really happened on_the line ? was deluding himself with_his own fancies, had Horrocks actually held him back in_the way of_the train ? had just been within ace being murdered ?

suppose this slouching, scowling monster did know anything ? for minute two then Raut was really afraid for_his life , but the mood passed reasoned with himself after all , Horrocks might_have heard nothing any rate , had pulled him out_of_the way in_time his odd manner might_be due to_the mere vague jealousy had shown once before he_was talking now of_the ash -heaps and_the canal "Eigh ? " said Horrocks

" what ? " said Raut " rather ! the haze in_the moonlight fine ! "

" our canal ," said Horrocks, stopping suddenly " our canal moonlight and firelight immense you 've never seen ? fancy that ! you 've spent too many your evenings philandering Newcastle there I tell you , for real florid quality ---- but you shall see Boiling water . "

as_they came out_of_the labyrinth clinker -heaps and mounds coal and ore , the noises of_the rolling- mill sprang upon them suddenly , loud , near , and distinct three shadowy workmen went and touched their caps Horrocks their faces were vague in_the darkness Raut felt futile impulse address them , and before he_could frame his words they passed into_the shadows Horrocks pointed to_the canal before them now : weird - looking place seemed , in_the blood - red reflections of_the furnaces the hot water that cooled the tuyres came into_it , some fifty yards --a tumultuous , almost boiling affluent , and_the steam rose from_the water silent white wisps and streaks, wrapping damply about_them , incessant succession ghosts coming black and red eddies, white uprising that made the head swim the shining black tower of_the larger blast - furnace rose overhead out_of_the mist , and its tumultuous riot filled their ears Raut kept away from_the edge of_the water , and watched Horrocks

" here it_is red ," said Horrocks, " blood - red vapour red and hot sin ; but yonder there , where the moonlight falls on_it , and drives across the clinker -heaps, it_is white death "

Raut turned his head for moment , and then came back hastily to_his watch Horrocks " come along to_the rolling-mills," said Horrocks the threatening hold was not evident that_time , and Raut felt little reassured but all the same , what earth did Horrocks mean about " white death " and " red sin " ? coincidence , perhaps ?

they went and stood behind the puddlers for little while , and then through_the rolling-mills, where amidst incessant din the deliberate steam - hammer beat the juice out_of_the succulent iron , and black , half - naked Titans rushed the plastic bars, like hot sealing- wax , between_the wheels, " come ," said Horrocks Raut's ear ; and_they went and peeped through_the little glass hole behind the tuyres, and saw the tumbled fire writhing in_the pit of_the blast - furnace left one eye blinded for while then , with green and blue patches dancing across the dark , they went to_the lift by_which the trucks ore and fuel and lime were raised to_the top of_the big cylinder

and out upon_the narrow rail that overhung the furnace Raut's doubts came upon him again was_it wise to_be here ? Horrocks did know -- everything ! what he_would , he_could_not resist violent trembling right under foot was sheer depth seventy feet it_was dangerous place they pushed truck fuel to_get to_the railing that crowned the thing the reek of_the furnace , sulphurous vapour streaked with pungent bitterness , seemed make_the distant hillside Hanley quiver the moon was riding out now from among drift clouds, half - way the sky above the undulating wooded outlines Newcastle the steaming canal ran away from below them under indistinct bridge , and vanished into_the dim haze of_the flat fields towards Burslem

" that 's the cone I've been telling you ," shouted Horrocks; " and , below that , sixty feet fire and molten metal , with_the air of_the blast frothing through like gas soda - water "

Raut gripped the hand - rail tightly , and stared down at_the cone the heat was intense the boiling of_the iron and_the tumult of_the blast made thunderous accompaniment Horrocks's voice but the thing had to_be gone through now perhaps , after all .

" in_the middle ," bawled Horrocks, " temperature near thousand degrees _you were dropped into_it . flash into flame like pinch gunpowder candle put your hand out and feel the heat of_his breath why , even here I've seen the rain - water boiling off the trucks and_that cone there 's damned sight too hot for roasting cakes the top side 's three hundred degrees "

" three hundred degrees ! " said Raut

" three hundred centigrade , mind ! " said Horrocks " it_will boil the blood out you time "

"Eigh ? " said Raut, and turned

" boil the blood out you . , you don't ! "

" let ! " screamed Raut " let arm ! "

with one hand clutched at_the hand - rail , then with both for moment the two men stood swaying then suddenly , with violent jerk , Horrocks had twisted him from_his hold clutched Horrocks and missed , his foot went back into empty air ; mid- air twisted himself , and then cheek and shoulder and knee struck the hot cone together

clutched the chain by_which the cone hung, and_the thing sank infinitesimal amount struck circle glowing red appeared about him , and tongue flame , released from_the chaos within , flickered towards him intense pain assailed him at_the knees, and he_could smell the singeing of_his hands raised himself to_his feet , and tried climb the chain , and then something struck his head black and shining with_the moonlight , the throat of_the furnace rose about him

Horrocks, he_saw , stood above him one_of_the trucks fuel on_the rail the gesticulating was bright and white in_the moonlight , and shouting, " fizzle , you fool ! fizzle , you hunter women ! you hot - blooded hound ! boil ! boil ! boil ! "

suddenly caught handful coal out_of_the truck , and flung deliberately, lump after lump , Raut

"Horrocks ! " cried Raut "Horrocks ! "

clung, crying, to_the chain , pulling himself from_the burning of_the cone each missile Horrocks flung hit him his clothes charred and glowed , and struggled the cone dropped, and rush hot , suffocating gas whooped out and burned round him swift breath flame

his human likeness departed from_him when_the momentary red had passed , Horrocks saw charred , blackened , its head streaked with blood , still clutching and fumbling with_the chain , and writhing agony --a cindery animal , inhuman , monstrous creature that began sobbing, intermittent shriek

abruptly at_the sight the ironmaster's anger passed deadly sickness came upon him the heavy odour burning flesh came drifting to_his nostrils his sanity returned him

" god have mercy upon ! " cried "O god ! what have I done ? "

he_knew the thing below him , save that_it still moved and felt , was already dead man -- that_the blood of_the poor wretch must_be boiling in_his veins intense realisation of_that agony came to_his mind , and overcame every_other feeling for moment stood irresolute , and then , turning to_the truck , hastily tilted its contents upon_the struggling thing that had once been man the mass fell with thud , and went radiating over the cone with_the thud the shriek ended , and boiling confusion smoke , dust , and flame came rushing towards him passed , he_saw the cone clear again