![]() On the other side of the mountain men would be working, feeding the guano to the conveyor-belt that rumbled away through the bowels of the rock, but on this side no one was allowed and no one was necessary. ![]() There was no other sound, no other movement, no other life apart from the watch at the ship's wheel, the trusty working at the crane, and Doctor No, seeing that all went well. The morning breeze feathered the deep-water anchorage, still half in shadow beneath the towering cliffs, the' conveyor-belt thudded quietly on its rollers, the crane's engine chuffed rhythmically. ![]() A narrow rocky track, made by the feet of the workers, led down the other side and round the bulge of the cliff. It would be about six o'clock, the dawn of a beautiful day. Perhaps even now they were watching the scout groups far out at sea locating the fish. Far above him the cormorants were wheeling round the guanera. Clouds tinged with golden pink were trailing away towards the horizon. Then Bond sat down and meticulously went over the photograph that was in his brain.īond looked up at the sky. If he missed, he would be torn to shreds on the fence.īelow, on the jetty, to the left and to leeward of the drifting smoke of the guano dust, stood the tall, watchful figure of Doctor No. I see by your garb that you are a person of progressive ideas, like those of my honorable association.He would have to let go with one arm to stoop and get within range. Pick strong men with sound hearts We would not have them collapse halfway up, heh heh. Another mechanism struck a gong on the hour.ĭetail a squad of the guard to ascend the tower by the stairs, keeping on a level with us as the lift bears us aloft. The bucket wheel drove a gear train connected to the shafts of the four clocks on the four sides of the tower. At the bottom of their travel, the buckets tipped, spilling their water into the trough, whence it ran to the sump. As each bucket filled, the escapement released the wheel, allowing it to rotate just far enough to bring an empty bucket under the spout. Water ran from this reservoir through a pipe to a large wheel bearing a circle of buckets. The shaft driven by the horse mill on the ground floor rotated, driving the pump that raised water from the sump to the reservoir above. On the clockwork floor, the machinery was in full noisy operation. Well, heh heh, one stalwart soldier ought to suffice. Will you kindly mind your business, whilst I. I believe I was conversing with Master Jorian, when you cut in, Amazluek, said Vegh. No offense to Messires Karadur and Jorian, but it were risky to entrust yourself to the car without a bodyguard. Your Majesty said one of the gentlemen-a tall, thin man with a pointed gray beard. īorai, potbellied, gray-bearded, and kilted, bowed to Jorian, mumbled something that Joriancould not hear, and shot a slit-eyed glare at Karadur. Pray explain this to me, good Master Jorian. We have not been up here in years, heh, heh, said King Ishbahar, raising his voice to be heard above the clatter and splashing. Soliciting a new member already, eh, Vegh? said the tall, thin grandee with the pointed gray beard. When I see thee cozening an innocent young foreigner. We would speak to him of plans for the city, and where better to discuss such things than this lofty eyrie, whence it is spread out below us like a map? You, too, Master Jorian, to answer technical questions. It were inconsiderate to ask one of your years to climb thirty flights, so you shall ride with us. A plump, trousered man a little older than Jorianaddressed him.ĭoctor Karadur he said. The king waddled over to a window, where to Borai he pointed out various things below, talking animatedly. The soldiers, red-faced, sweating, and gasping, filed into the clockwork chamber after him.Įxcuse me, my lords, said Jorian. The squad of guardsmen clattered up the stairs, keeping pace with the lift.Īt the top, the king got off the lift, which wobbled as his weight left it, and wheezed his way up to the clockwork floor. He jerked his cords, and the lift rose, groaning. Like the tower, Saghol, the ground-floor lift attendant, had been cleaned up for the occasion. Naturally, he would prefer to enlist you in his-Īh, well, we cannot diet down in time for this ride. This is Lord Amazluek, stasiarch of the Kilts.
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