The Flowering of the Strange Orchid by H.G. Wells
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there_will_be alot of leaves there, and those little things coming out here are aerial rootlets ."

"They look to_me like little white fingers poking out_of_the brown," said his housekeeper ."I don't like them ."

" why_not ? "

"I don't know .They look like fingers trying to_get at you . I_can't help my likes and dislikes ."

"I don't know for certain, but I don't think there_are any orchids I_know that_have aerial rootlets quite like that .It may_be my fancy, of_course . you_see they_are alittle flattened at_the ends ."

"I don't like 'em," said his housekeeper, suddenly shivering and turning away ." I_know it's very silly of me--and I'm very sorry, particularly as_you like the thing so_much .But I_can't help thinking of_that corpse ."

"But it may not be that particular plant .That was merely aguess of_mine ."

His housekeeper shrugged her shoulders ."Anyhow I don't like it," she said .

Wedderburn felt alittle hurt at her dislike to_the plant .But that did_not prevent his talking to her about orchids generally, and this orchid in_particular, whenever he_felt inclined .

" there_are such queer things about orchids," he_said one day; "such possibilities of surprises . you_know, Darwin studied their fertilisation, and showed that_the whole structure of an ordinary orchid flower was contrived in_order_that moths might carry the pollen from plant to plant .Well, it seems that_there_are lots of orchids known the flower of_which cannot possibly be used for fertilisation in_that way . some_of_the Cypripediums, for instance; there_are no insects known that_can possibly fertilise them, and some_of_them have never been found with seed ."

"But how do they form new plants ? "

"By runners and tubers, and_that kind of outgrowth . that_is easily explained .The puzzle is, what_are the flowers for ?

"Very likely," he added, "_my orchid may_be something extraordinary in_that way . if_so I_shall study it . I_have often thought of making researches as Darwin did .But hitherto I_have_not found the time, or something else has happened to_prevent it .The leaves are beginning to unfold now . I_do wish you_would come and_see them ! "

But she said that_the orchid-house was so hot it gave her the headache .She had seen the plant once again, and_the aerial rootlets, which were now some_of_them more than afoot long, had unfortunately reminded her of tentacles reaching out after something; and_they got into her dreams, growing after her with incredible rapidity . so_that she had settled to her entire satisfaction that she_would not see that plant again, and Wedderburn had to admire its leaves alone .They were of_the ordinary broad form, and adeep glossy green, with splashes and dots of deep red towards the base he_knew of no other leaves quite like them .The plant was placed on alow bench near the thermometer, and close by was asimple arrangement by_which atap dripped on_the hot-water pipes and kept the air steamy .And he spent his afternoons now with some regularity meditating on_the approaching flowering of_this strange plant .

And at last the great thing happened .Directly he entered the little glass house he_knew that_the spike had burst out, although his great _Paloeonophis Lowii hid the corner where his new darling stood . there_was anew odour in_the air, arich, intensely sweet scent, that overpowered every_other in_that crowded, steaming little greenhouse .

Directly he noticed this he hurried down to_the strange orchid .And, behold ! the trailing green spikes bore now three great splashes of blossom, from_which this overpowering sweetness proceeded .He stopped before them in an ecstasy of admiration .

The flowers were white, with streaks of golden orange upon_the petals; the heavy labellum was coiled into an intricate projection, and awonderful bluish purple mingled there with_the gold .He could_see at once that_the genus was altogether anew one . and_the insufferable scent ! How hot the place was ! The blossoms swam before his eyes .

he_would see if_the temperature was right . he_made astep towards the thermometer .Suddenly everything appeared unsteady .The bricks on_the floor were dancing up and down .Then the white blossoms, the green leaves behind them, the whole greenhouse, seemed to sweep sideways, and then in acurve upward .

* * * * *

At half-past four his cousin made the tea, according to_their invariable custom .But Wedderburn did_not come in for_his tea .

" he_is worshipping that horrid orchid," she told herself, and waited ten minutes ."His watch must_have stopped . i_will go and call him ."

She went straight to_the hothouse, and, opening the door, called his name . there_was no reply .She noticed that_the air was very close, and loaded with an intense perfume .Then she saw something lying on_the bricks between_the hot-water pipes .

For aminute, perhaps, she stood motionless .

he_was lying, face upward, at_the foot of_the strange orchid .The tentacle-like aerial rootlets no longer swayed freely in_the air, but were crowded together, atangle of grey ropes, and stretched tight, with their ends closely applied to_his chin and neck and hands .

She did_not understand .Then she saw from under one_of_the exultant tentacles upon his cheek there trickled alittle thread of blood .

With an inarticulate cry she ran towards him, and tried to pull him away from_the leech-like suckers .She snapped two of_these tentacles, and their sap dripped red .

Then the overpowering scent of_the blossom began to_make her head reel .How they clung to him ! She tore at_the tough ropes, and he and_the white inflorescence swam about her .She felt she was fainting, knew she_must not .She left him and hastily opened the nearest door, and, after she had panted for amoment in_the fresh air, she had abrilliant inspiration .She caught up aflower-pot and smashed in_the windows at_the end of_the greenhouse .Then she re-entered .She tugged now with renewed strength at Wedderburn's motionless body, and brought the strange orchid crashing to_the floor .It still clung with_the grimmest tenacity to its victim .In afrenzy, she lugged it and him into_the open air .

Then she thought of tearing through_the sucker rootlets one by one, and in another minute she had released him and was dragging him away from_the horror .

he_was white and bleeding from adozen circular patches .

The odd-job man was coming up the garden, amazed at_the smashing of glass, and saw her emerge, hauling the inanimate body with red-stained hands .For amoment he thought impossible things .

"Bring some water ! " she cried, and her voice dispelled his fancies .When, with unnatural alacrity, he returned with_the water, he_found her weeping with excitement, and with Wedderburn's head upon her knee, wiping the blood from_his face .

"What's the matter ? " said Wedderburn, opening his eyes feebly, and closing them again at once .

"Go and tell Annie to_come out here to_me, and then go for Dr .Haddon at once," she said to_the odd-job man so soon as he brought the water; and added, seeing he hesitated, " i_will tell you all about_it when_you come back ."

Presently Wedderburn opened his eyes again, and, seeing that he_was troubled by_the puzzle of_his position, she explained to him, "You fainted in_the hothouse ."

" and_the orchid ? "

" i_will_see to_that," she said .

Wedderburn had lost a good_deal of blood, but beyond that he had suffered no very great injury .They gave him brandy mixed with some pink extract of meat, and carried him upstairs to bed .His housekeeper told her incredible story in fragments to Dr .Haddon ."Come to_the orchid-house and_see," she said .

The cold outer air was blowing in through_the open door, and_the sickly perfume was almost dispelled .Most of_the torn aerial rootlets lay already withered amidst anumber of dark stains upon_the bricks .The stem of_the inflorescence was broken by_the fall of_the plant, and_the flowers were growing limp and brown at_the edges of_the petals .The doctor stooped towards it, then saw that one_of_the aerial rootlets still stirred feebly, and hesitated .

The next morning the strange orchid still lay there, black now and putrescent .The door banged intermittently in_the morning breeze, and all the array of Wedderburn's orchids was shrivelled and prostrate .But Wedderburn himself was bright and garrulous upstairs in_the glory of_his strange adventure .

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