L. Frank Baum (2 page)

"Then there's Tesla," said the boy.

The Demon laughed.

"There is Tesla, to be sure," he said. "But what of him?"

"Why, he's discovered a powerful light," the Demon gave an amused
chuckle, "and he's in communication with the people in Mars."

"What people?"

"Why, the people who live there."

"There are none."

This great statement almost took Rob's breath away, and caused him to
stare hard at his visitor.

"It's generally thought," he resumed, in an annoyed tone, "that Mars
has inhabitants who are far in advance of ourselves in civilization.
Many scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to signal
us for years, only we don't understand their signals. And great
novelists have written about the Martians and their wonderful
civilization, and—"

"And they all know as much about that little planet as you do
yourself," interrupted the Demon, impatiently. "The trouble with you
Earth people is that you delight in guessing about what you can not
know. Now I happen to know all about Mars, because I can traverse all
space and have had ample leisure to investigate the different planets.
Mars is not peopled at all, nor is any other of the planets you
recognize in the heavens. Some contain low orders of beasts, to be
sure, but Earth alone has an intelligent, thinking, reasoning
population, and your scientists and novelists would do better trying to
comprehend their own planet than in groping through space to unravel
the mysteries of barren and unimportant worlds."

Rob listened to this with surprise and disappointment; but he reflected
that the Demon ought to know what he was talking about, so he did not
venture to contradict him.

"It is really astonishing," continued the Apparition, "how little you
people have learned about electricity. It is an Earth element that has
existed since the Earth itself was formed, and if you but understood
its proper use humanity would be marvelously benefited in many ways."

"We are, already," protested Rob; "our discoveries in electricity have
enabled us to live much more conveniently."

"Then imagine your condition were you able fully to control this great
element," replied the other, gravely. "The weaknesses and privations
of mankind would be converted into power and luxury."

"That's true, Mr.—Mr.—Demon," said the boy. "Excuse me if I don't
get your name right, but I understood you to say you are a demon."

"Certainly. The Demon of Electricity."

"But electricity is a good thing, you know, and—and—"

"Well?"

"I've always understood that demons were bad things," added Rob, boldly.

"Not necessarily," returned his visitor. "If you will take the trouble
to consult your dictionary, you will find that demons may be either
good or bad, like any other class of beings. Originally all demons
were good, yet of late years people have come to consider all demons
evil. I do not know why. Should you read Hesiod you will find he says:

'Soon was a world of holy demons made,
Aerial spirits, by great Jove designed
To be on earth the guardians of mankind.'"

"But Jove was himself a myth," objected Rob, who had been studying
mythology.

The Demon shrugged his shoulders.

"Then take the words of Mr. Shakespeare, to whom you all defer," he
replied. "Do you not remember that he says:

'Thy demon (that's thy spirit which keeps thee) is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable.'"

"Oh, if Shakespeare says it, that's all right," answered the boy. "But
it seems you're more like a genius, for you answer the summons of the
Master Key of Electricity in the same way Aladdin's genius answered the
rubbing of the lamp."

"To be sure. A demon is also a genius; and a genius is a demon," said
the Being. "What matters a name? I am here to do your bidding."

Familiarity with any great thing removes our awe of it. The great
general is only terrible to the enemy; the great poet is frequently
scolded by his wife; the children of the great statesman clamber about
his knees with perfect trust and impunity; the great actor who is
called before the curtain by admiring audiences is often waylaid at the
stage door by his creditors.

So Rob, having conversed for a time with the glorious Demon of
Electricity, began to regard him with more composure and less awe, as
his eyes grew more and more accustomed to the splendor that at first
had well-nigh blinded them.

When the Demon announced himself ready to do the boy's bidding, he
frankly replied:

"I am no skilled electrician, as you very well know. My calling you
here was an accident. So I don't know how to command you, nor what to
ask you to do."

"But I must not take advantage of your ignorance," answered the Demon.
"Also, I am quite anxious to utilize this opportunity to show the world
what a powerful element electricity really is. So permit me to inform
you that, having struck the Master Key, you are at liberty to demand
from me three gifts each week for three successive weeks. These gifts,
provided they are within the scope of electricity, I will grant."

Rob shook his head regretfully.

"If I were a great electrician I should know what to ask," he said.
"But I am too ignorant to take advantage of your kind offer."

"Then," replied the Demon, "I will myself suggest the gifts, and they
will be of such a character that the Earth people will learn the
possibilities that lie before them and be encouraged to work more
intelligently and to persevere in mastering those natural and simple
laws which control electricity. For one of the greatest errors they
now labor under is that electricity is complicated and hard to
understand. It is really the simplest Earth element, lying within easy
reach of any one who stretches out his hand to grasp and control its
powers."

Rob yawned, for he thought the Demon's speeches were growing rather
tiresome. Perhaps the genius noticed this rudeness, for he continued:

"I regret, of course, that you are a boy instead of a grown man, for it
will appear singular to your friends that so thoughtless a youth should
seemingly have mastered the secrets that have baffled your most learned
scientists. But that can not be helped, and presently you will become,
through my aid, the most powerful and wonderful personage in all the
world."

"Thank you," said Rob, meekly. "It'll be no end of fun."

"Fun!" echoed the Demon, scornfully. "But never mind; I must use the
material Fate has provided for me, and make the best of it."

"What will you give me first?" asked the boy, eagerly.

"That requires some thought," returned the Demon, and paused for
several moments, while Rob feasted his eyes upon the gorgeous rays of
color that flashed and vibrated in every direction and surrounded the
figure of his visitor with an intense glow that resembled a halo.

Then the Demon raised his head and said:

"The thing most necessary to man is food to nourish his body. He
passes a considerable part of his life in the struggle to procure food,
to prepare it properly, and in the act of eating. This is not right.
Your body can not be very valuable to you if all your time is required
to feed it. I shall, therefore, present you, as my first gift, this
box of tablets. Within each tablet are stored certain elements of
electricity which are capable of nourishing a human body for a full
day. All you need do is to toss one into your mouth each day and
swallow it. It will nourish you, satisfy your hunger and build up your
health and strength. The ordinary food of mankind is more or less
injurious; this is entirely beneficial. Moreover, you may carry enough
tablets in your pocket to last for months."

Here he presented Rob the silver box of tablets, and the boy, somewhat
nervously, thanked him for the gift.

"The next requirement of man," continued the Demon, "is defense from
his enemies. I notice with sorrow that men frequently have wars and
kill one another. Also, even in civilized communities, man is in
constant danger from highwaymen, cranks and policemen. To defend
himself he uses heavy and dangerous guns, with which to destroy his
enemies. This is wrong. He has no right to take away what he can not
bestow; to destroy what he can not create. To kill a fellow-creature
is a horrid crime, even if done in self-defense. Therefore, my second
gift to you is this little tube. You may carry it within your pocket.
Whenever an enemy threatens you, be it man or beast, simply point the
tube and press this button in the handle. An electric current will
instantly be directed upon your foe, rendering him wholly unconscious
for the period of one hour. During that time you will have opportunity
to escape. As for your enemy, after regaining consciousness he will
suffer no inconvenience from the encounter beyond a slight headache."

"That's fine!" said Rob, as he took the tube. It was scarcely six
inches long, and hollow at one end.

"The busy lives of men," proceeded the Demon, "require them to move
about and travel in all directions. Yet to assist them there are only
such crude and awkward machines as electric trolleys, cable cars, steam
railways and automobiles. These crawl slowly over the uneven surface
of the earth and frequently get out of order. It has grieved me that
men have not yet discovered what even birds know: that the atmosphere
offers them swift and easy means of traveling from one part of the
earth's surface to another."

"Some people have tried to build airships," remarked Rob.

"So they have; great, unwieldy machines which offer so much resistance
to the air that they are quite useless. A big machine is not needed to
carry one through the air. There are forces in nature which may be
readily used for such purpose. Tell me, what holds you to the Earth,
and makes a stone fall to the ground?"

"Attraction of gravitation," said Rob, promptly.

"Exactly. That is one force I refer to," said the Demon. "The force
of repulsion, which is little known, but just as powerful, is another
that mankind may direct. Then there are the Polar electric forces,
attracting objects toward the north or south poles. You have guessed
something of this by the use of the compass, or electric needle.
Opposed to these is centrifugal electric force, drawing objects from
east to west, or in the opposite direction. This force is created by
the whirl of the earth upon its axis, and is easily utilized, although
your scientific men have as yet paid little attention to it.

"These forces, operating in all directions, absolute and immutable, are
at the disposal of mankind. They will carry you through the atmosphere
wherever and whenever you choose. That is, if you know how to control
them. Now, here is a machine I have myself perfected."

The Demon drew from his pocket something that resembled an open-faced
watch, having a narrow, flexible band attached to it.

"When you wish to travel," said he, "attach this little machine to your
left wrist by means of the band. It is very light and will not be in
your way. On this dial are points marked 'up' and 'down' as well as a
perfect compass. When you desire to rise into the air set the
indicator to the word 'up,' using a finger of your right hand to turn
it. When you have risen as high as you wish, set the indicator to the
point of the compass you want to follow and you will be carried by the
proper electric force in that direction. To descend, set the indicator
to the word 'down.' Do you understand?"

"Perfectly!" cried Rob, taking the machine from the Demon with
unfeigned delight. "This is really wonderful, and I'm awfully obliged
to you!"

"Don't mention it," returned the Demon, dryly. "These three gifts you
may amuse yourself with for the next week. It seems hard to entrust
such great scientific discoveries to the discretion of a mere boy; but
they are quite harmless, so if you exercise proper care you can not get
into trouble through their possession. And who knows what benefits to
humanity may result? One week from to-day, at this hour, I will again
appear to you, at which time you shall receive the second series of
electrical gifts."

"I'm not sure," said Rob, "that I shall be able again to make the
connections that will strike the Master Key."

"Probably not," answered the Demon. "Could you accomplish that, you
might command my services forever. But, having once succeeded, you are
entitled to the nine gifts—three each week for three weeks—so you
have no need to call me to do my duty. I shall appear of my own
accord."

"Thank you," murmured the boy.

The Demon bowed and spread his hands in the form of a semi-circle. An
instant later there was a blinding flash, and when Rob recovered from
it and opened his eyes the Demon of Electricity had disappeared.

There is little doubt that this strange experience befallen a grown man
he would have been stricken with a fit of trembling or a sense of
apprehension, or even fear, at the thought of having faced the terrible
Demon of Electricity, of having struck the Master Key of the world's
greatest natural forces, and finding himself possessed of three such
wonderful and useful gifts. But a boy takes everything as a matter of
course. As the tree of knowledge sprouts and expands within him,
shooting out leaf after leaf of practical experience, the succession of
surprises dulls his faculty of wonderment. It takes a great deal to
startle a boy.

Rob was full of delight at his unexpected good fortune; but he did not
stop to consider that there was anything remarkably queer or uncanny in
the manner in which it had come to him. His chief sensation was one of
pride. He would now be able to surprise those who had made fun of his
electrical craze and force them to respect his marvelous powers. He
decided to say nothing about the Demon or the accidental striking of
the Master Key. In exhibiting to his friends the electrical devices he
had acquired it would be "no end of fun" to mark their amazement and
leave them to guess how he performed his feats.