The flames had released ammonia from the metal Von Holtz had made. That had roused Tommy. But it did not give him strength. It is impossible to say where Tommy’s strength came from, when somehow he crawled to the clutch lever, with the engine roaring steadily above him, and got one hand on the lever, and edged himself up, and up, and up, until he could swing his whole weight on that lever. That instant of dangling hurt excruciatingly, too, and Tommy saw only that the drum began to revolve swiftly, winding the chain upon it, before his grip gave way.
And the chain came winding in and in from nowhere, and the tall laboratory filled more and more thickly with smoke, and lurid flames appeared somewhere, and a rushing sound began to be audible as the fire roared upward to the inflammable roof, and the engine ran thunderously..
Then, suddenly, there was a shape in the middle, of the laboratory floor. A huge globular shape which it hurt the eyes to look upon. It became visible out of nowhere as if evoked by magic amid the flames of hell. But it came, and was solid and substantial, and it slid along the floor upon small wheels until it wound up with a crash against the winding drum, and the chain shrieked as it tightened unbearably-and the engine choked and died.
Then a door opened in the monstrous globe. Two figures leaped out, aghast. Two ragged, tattered, strangely armed figures, who cried out to each other and started for the door. But the girl stumbled over Tommy and called, choking, to her father. Groping toward her, he found Smithers. And then Tommy smiled drowsily to himself as soft arms tugged bravely at him, and a slender, glorious figure staggered with him to fresh air.
«It’s Von Holtz,» snapped Denham, and coughed as he fought his way to the open. «I’ll blast him to hell with these things we brought back…
That was the last thing Tommy knew until he woke up in bed with a feeling of many bandages and an impression that his lungs hurt.
Denham seemed to have heard him move. He looked in the door.
«Hullo, Reames. You’re all right now.»
Tommy regarded him curiously until he realized. Denham was shaved and fully clothed. That was the strangeness about him. Tommy had been watching him for many days as his clothing swiftly deteriorated and his beard grew.
«You are, too, I see,» he said weakly. «I’m damned glad.» Then he felt foolish, and querulous, and as if he should make some apology, and instead said, «But five dimensions does seem extreme. Three is enough for ordinary use, and four is luxurious. Five seems to be going a bit too far.»
Denham blinked, and then grinned suddenly. Tommy had admired the man who could face so extraordinary a situation with such dogged courage, and now he found, suddenly, that he liked Denham.
«Not too far,» said Denham grimly. «Look!» He held up one of the weapons Tommy had seen in that other world, one of the golden-colored truncheons. «I brought this back. The same metal they built that wagon of theirs with. All their weapons. Most of their tools-as I know. It’s gold, man! They use gold in that world as we use steel here. That’s why Jacaro was ready to kill to get the secret of getting there. Von Holtz enlisted him.»
«How did you know-» began Tommy weakly.
«Smithers,» said Denham. «We dragged both of you out before the lab went up in smoke. He’s going to be all right, too. Evelyn’s nursing both of you. She wants to talk to you, but I want to say this first: You did a damned fine thing, Reames! The only man who could have saved us, and you just about killed yourself doing it. Smithers saw you swing that clutch lever with three bullets in your body. And you’re a scientist, too. You’re my partner, Reames, in what we do in the fifth dimension.»
Tommy blinked. «But five dimensions does seem extreme…»
«We are the Interdimensional Trading Company,» said Denham, smiling. «Somehow, I think we’ll find something in this world we can trade for the gold in that. And we’ve got to get there, Reames, because Jacaro will surely try to make use of that catapult principle you worked out. He’ll raise the devil; and I think the people of that Golden City would be worth knowing. No, we’re partners. Sooner or later, you’ll know how I feel about what you’ve done. I’m going to bring Evelyn in here now.»
He vanished. An instant later Tommy heard a voice-a girl’s voice. His heart began to pound. Denham came back into the room and with him was Evelyn. She smiled warmly upon Tommy, though as his eyes fell blankly upon the smart sport clothes she was again wearing, she flushed.
«My daughter Evelyn,» said Denham. «She wants to thank you.»
And Tommy felt a warm soft hand pressing his, and he looked deep into the eyes of the girl he had never before spoken to, but for whom he had risked his life, and whom he knew he would love forever. There were a thousand things crowding to his lips for utterance. He had watched Evelyn, and he loved her- «H-how do you do?» said Tommy, lamely. «I’m-awfully glad to meet you.»
But before he was well he learned to talk more sensibly.