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Atsunrisethenextmorning,February12,theNautilusrosetothesurfaceofthewaves.
Irushedontotheplatform.ThehazysilhouetteofPelusiumwasoutlinedthreemilestothesouth.
Atorrenthadcarriedusfromoneseatotheother.
Butalthoughthattunnelwaseasytodescend,goingbackupmusthavebeenimpossible.
Nearseveno'clockNedandConseiljoinedme.Thosetwoinseparablecompanionshadsleptserenely,utterlyunawareoftheNautilus'sfeat.
"Well,Mr.Naturalist,"theCanadianaskedinagentlymockingtone,"andhowaboutthatMediterranean?"
"We'refloatingonitssurface,Nedmyfriend."
"What!"Conseilputin."Lastnight...?"
"Yes,lastnight,inamatterofminutes,weclearedthatinsuperableisthmus."
"Idon'tbelieveawordofit,"theCanadianreplied.
"Andyou'reinthewrong,Mr.Land,"Iwenton."ThatflatcoastlinecurvingsouthwardisthecoastofEgypt."
"Tellittothemarines,sir,"answeredthestubbornCanadian.
"ButifMastersaysso,"Conseiltoldhim,"thensobeit."
"What'smore,Ned,"Isaid,"CaptainNemohimselfdidthehonorsinhistunnel,andIstoodbesidehiminthepilothousewhilehesteeredtheNautilusthroughthatnarrowpassageway."
"Youhear,Ned?"Conseilsaid.
"Andyou,Ned,whohavesuchgoodeyes,"Iadded,"youcanspotthejettiesofPortSaidstretchingouttosea."
TheCanadianlookedcarefully.
"Correct,"hesaid."You'reright,Professor,andyourcaptain'sasuperman.We'reintheMediterranean.Fine.
Sonowlet'shaveachataboutourlittledoings,ifyouplease,butinsuchawaythatnobodyoverhears."
IcouldeasilyseewhattheCanadianwasdrivingat.
Inanyevent,Ithoughtitbesttolethimhavehischat,andweallthreewenttositnexttothebeacon,wherewewerelessexposedtothedampsprayfromthebillows.
"Now,Ned,we'reallears,"Isaid."Whathaveyoutotellus?"
"WhatI'vegottotellyouisverysimple,"theCanadianreplied.
"We'reinEurope,andbeforeCaptainNemo'swhimstakeusdeepintothepolarseasorbacktoOceania,IsayweshouldleavethisNautilus."
IconfessthatsuchdiscussionswiththeCanadianalwaysbaffledme.
Ididn'twanttorestrictmycompanions'freedominanyway,andyetIhadnodesiretoleaveCaptainNemo.
Thankstohimandhissubmersible,Iwasfinishingmyundersearesearchbytheday,andIwasrewritingmybookonthegreatoceandepthsinthemidstofitsveryelement.
WouldIeveragainhavesuchanopportunitytoobservetheocean'swonders?Absolutelynot!
SoIcouldn'tentertainthisideaofleavingtheNautilusbeforecompletingourcourseofinquiry.
"Nedmyfriend,"Isaid,"answermehonestly.Areyouboredwiththisship?AreyousorrythatfatehascastyouintoCaptainNemo'shands?"
TheCanadianpausedforashortwhilebeforereplying.Then,crossinghisarms:
"Honestly,"hesaid,"I'mnotsorryaboutthisvoyageundertheseas.I'llbegladtohavedoneit,butinordertohavedoneit,ithastofinish.That'smyfeeling."
"Itwillfinish,Ned."
"Whereandwhen?"
"Where?Idon'tknow.When?Ican'tsay.Or,rather,Isupposeitwillbeoverwhentheseseashavenothingmoretoteachus.Everythingthatbeginsinthisworldmustinevitablycometoanend."
"IthinkasMasterdoes,"Conseilreplied,"andit'sextremelypossiblethataftercrossingeveryseaontheglobe,CaptainNemowillbidthethreeofusafondfarewell."
"Bidusafondfarewell?"theCanadianexclaimed."Youmeanbeatustoafare–thee–well!"
"Let'snotexaggerate,Mr.Land,"Iwenton.
"Wehavenothingtofearfromthecaptain,butneitherdoIshareConseil'sviews.
We'reprivytotheNautilus'ssecrets,andIdon'texpectthatitscommander,justtosetusfree,willmeeklystandbywhilewespreadthosesecretsallovertheworld."
"Butinthatcasewhatdoyouexpect?"theCanadianasked.
"Thatwe'llencounteradvantageousconditionsforescapingjustasreadilyinsixmonthsasnow."
"GreatScott!"NedLandputin."Andwhere,ifyouplease,willwebeinsixmonths,Mr.Naturalist?"
"Perhapshere,perhapsinChina.YouknowhowquicklytheNautilusmoves.
Itcrossesoceanslikeswallowscrosstheairorexpresstrainscontinents.Itdoesn'tfearheavilytraveledseas.
Whocansayitwon'thugthecoastsofFrance,England,orAmerica,whereanescapeattemptcouldbecarriedoutjustaseffectivelyashere."
"ProfessorAronnax,"theCanadianreplied,"yourargumentsarerottentothecore.
Youtalkwayoffinthefuture:'We'llbehere,we'llbethere!'
Me,I'mtalkingaboutrightnow:wearehere,andwemusttakeadvantageofit!"
IwashardpressedbyNedLand'scommonsense,andIfeltmyselflosingground.Inolongerknewwhatargumentstoputforwardonmybehalf.
"Sir,"Nedwenton,"let'ssupposethatbysomeimpossibility,CaptainNemoofferedyourfreedomtoyouthisveryday.Wouldyouaccept?"
"Idon'tknow,"Ireplied.
"Andsupposeheaddsthatthisofferhe'smakingyoutodaywon'teverberepeated,thenwouldyouaccept?"
Ididnotreply.
"AndwhatthinksourfriendConseil?"NedLandasked.
"YourfriendConseil,"thefineladrepliedserenely,"hasnothingtosayforhimself.
He'sacompletelydisinterestedpartyonthisquestion.
Likehismaster,likehiscomradeNed,he'sabachelor.
Neitherwife,parents,norchildrenarewaitingforhimbackhome.
He'sinMaster'semploy,hethinkslikeMaster,hespeakslikeMaster,andmuchtohisregret,hecan'tbecountedontoformamajority.
Onlytwopersonsfaceeachotherhere:Masterononeside,NedLandontheother.
Thatsaid,yourfriendConseilislistening,andhe'sreadytokeepscore."
Icouldn'thelpsmilingasConseilwipedhimselfoutofexistence.Deepdown,theCanadianmusthavebeenoverjoyedatnothavingtocontendwithhim.
"Then,sir,"NedLandsaid,"sinceConseilisnomore,we'llhavethisdiscussionbetweenjustthetwoofus.I'vetalked,you'velistened.What'syourreply?"
Itwasobviousthatthematterhadtobesettled,andevasionsweredistastefultome.
"Nedmyfriend,"Isaid,"here'smyreply.
Youhaverightonyoursideandmyargumentscan'tstanduptoyours.
ItwillneverdotocountonCaptainNemo'sbenevolence.
Themostordinarygoodsensewouldforbidhimtosetusfree.
Ontheotherhand,goodsensedecreesthatwetakeadvantageofourfirstopportunitytoleavetheNautilus."
"Fine,ProfessorAronnax,that'swiselysaid."
"Butoneproviso,"Isaid,"justone.Theopportunitymustbetherealthing.
Ourfirstattempttoescapemustsucceed,becauseifitmisfires,wewon'tgetasecondchance,andCaptainNemowillneverforgiveus."
"That'salsowellput,"theCanadianreplied.
"Butyourprovisoappliestoanyescapeattempt,whetherithappensintwoyearsortwodays.
Sothisisstillthequestion:ifapromisingopportunitycomesup,wehavetograbit."
"Agreed.Andnow,Ned,willyoutellmewhatyoumeanbyapromisingopportunity?"
"OnethatleadstheNautilusonacloudynightwithinashortdistanceofsomeEuropeancoast."
"Andyou'lltrytogetawaybyswimming?"
"Yes,ifwe'recloseenoughtoshoreandtheship'safloatonthesurface.No,ifwe'rewelloutandtheship'snavigatingunderthewaters."
"Andinthatevent?"
"InthateventI'lltrytogetholdoftheskiff.Iknowhowtohandleit.We'llstickourselvesinside,undothebolts,andrisetothesurface,withoutthehelmsmaninthebowseeingathing."
"Fine,Ned.Stayonthelookoutforsuchanopportunity,butdon'tforget,oneslipupwillfinishus."
"Iwon'tforget,sir."
"Andnow,Ned,wouldyouliketoknowmyoverallthinkingonyourplan?"
"Gladly,ProfessorAronnax."
"Wellthen,Ithink—andIdon'tmean'Ihope'—thatyourpromisingopportunitywon'teverarise."
"Whynot?"
"BecauseCaptainNemorecognizesthatwehaven'tgivenupallhopeofrecoveringourfreedom,andhe'llkeeponhisguard,aboveallinseaswithinsightofthecoastsofEurope."
"I'mofMaster'sopinion,"Conseilsaid.
"We'llsoonsee,"NedLandreplied,shakinghisheadwithadeterminedexpression.
"Andnow,NedLand,"Iadded,"let'sleaveitatthat.Notanotherwordonanyofthis.Thedayyou'reready,alertusandwe'rewithyou.Iturnitallovertoyou."
That'showweendedthisconversation,whichlaterwastohavesuchseriousconsequences.
Atfirst,Imustsay,eventsseemedtoconfirmmyforecasts,muchtotheCanadian'sdespair.
DidCaptainNemoviewuswithdistrustintheseheavilytraveledseas,ordidhesimplywanttohidefromthesightofthoseshipsofeverynationthatplowedtheMediterranean?
Ihavenoidea,butusuallyhestayedinmidwaterandwelloutfromanycoast.
EithertheNautilussurfacedonlyenoughtoletitspilothouseemerge,oritslippedawaytothelowerdepths,although,betweentheGreekIslandsandAsiaMinor,wedidn'tfindbottomevenat2,000metersdown.
Accordingly,IbecameawareoftheisleofKarpathos,oneoftheSporadesIslands,onlywhenCaptainNemoplacedhisfingeroveraspotontheworldmapandquotedmethisversefromVirgil:
EstinCarpathioNeptunigurgitevates
CaeruleusProteus...*
*Latin:"ThereinKingNeptune'sdomainbyKarpathos,hisspokesman/isazure–huedProteus..."Ed.
ItwasindeedthatbygoneabodeofProteus,theoldshepherdofKingNeptune'sflocks:anislandlocatedbetweenRhodesandCrete,whichGreeksnowcallKarpathos,ItaliansScarpanto.
ThroughtheloungewindowIcouldseeonlyitsgranitebedrock.
Thenextday,February14,Idecidedtospendafewhoursstudyingthefishofthisislandgroup;butforwhateverreason,thepanelsremainedhermeticallysealed.
AfterdeterminingtheNautilus'sheading,InotedthatitwasproceedingtowardtheancientislandofCrete,alsocalledCandia.
AtthetimeIhadshippedaboardtheAbrahamLincoln,thiswholeislandwasinrebellionagainstitstyrannicalrulers,theOttomanEmpireofTurkey.
ButsincethenIhadabsolutelynoideawhathappenedtothisrevolution,andCaptainNemo,deprivedofallcontactwiththeshore,washardlythemantokeepmeinformed.
SoIdidn'talludetothiseventwhen,thatevening,Ichancedtobealonewiththecaptaininthelounge.
Besides,heseemedsilentandpreoccupied.
Then,contrarytocustom,heorderedthatbothpanelsintheloungebeopened,andgoingfromtheonetotheother,hecarefullyobservedthewaterymass.Forwhatpurpose?
Ihadn'taguess,andformypart,Ispentmytimestudyingthefishthatpassedbeforemyeyes.
AmongothersInotedthatsandgobymentionedbyAristotleandcommonlyknownbythenamesealoach,whichisencounteredexclusivelyinthesaltywatersnexttotheNileDelta.
Nearthemsomesemiphosphorescentredporgyrolledby,avarietyofgiltheadthattheEgyptiansrankedamongtheirsacredanimals,laudingtheminreligiousceremonieswhentheirarrivalintheriver'swatersannouncedthefertilefloodseason.
Ialsonoticedsomewrasseknownasthetapiro,threedecimeterslong,bonyfishwithtransparentscaleswhosebluishgraycolorismixedwithredspots;they'reenthusiasticeatersofmarinevegetables,whichgivesthemanexquisiteflavor;hencethesetapiroweremuchindemandbytheepicuresofancientRome,andtheirentrailsweredressedwithbrainsofpeacock,tongueofflamingo,andtestesofmoraytomakethatdivineplatterthatsoenrapturedtheRomanemperorVitellius.
Anotherresidentoftheseseascaughtmyattentionandrevivedallmymemoriesofantiquity.
Thiswastheremora,whichtravelsattachedtothebelliesofsharks;astheancientstellit,whentheselittlefishclingtotheundersidesofaship,theycanbringittoahalt,andbysoimpedingMarkAntony'svesselduringtheBattleofActium,oneofthemfacilitatedthevictoryofAugustusCaesar.
Fromsuchslenderthreadshangthedestiniesofnations!
IalsoobservedsomewonderfulsnappersbelongingtotheorderLutianida,sacredfishfortheGreeks,whoclaimedtheycoulddriveoffseamonstersfromthewaterstheyfrequent;theirGreeknameanthiasmeans"flower,"andtheyliveuptoitintheplayoftheircolorsandinthosefleetingreflectionsthatturntheirdorsalfinsintowateredsilk;theirhuesareconfinedtoagamutofreds,fromthepallorofpinktotheglowofruby.
Icouldn'ttakemyeyesoffthesemarinewonders,whenIwassuddenlyjoltedbyanunexpectedapparition.
Inthemidstofthewaters,amanappeared,adivercarryingalittleleatherbagathisbelt.Itwasnocorpselostinthewaves.
Itwasalivingman,swimmingvigorously,sometimesdisappearingtobreatheatthesurface,theninstantlydivingagain.
IturnedtoCaptainNemo,andinanagitatedvoice:
"Aman!Acastaway!"Iexclaimed."Wemustrescuehimatallcost!"
Thecaptaindidn'treplybutwenttoleanagainstthewindow.
Themandrewnear,andgluinghisfacetothepanel,hestaredatus.
Tomydeepastonishment,CaptainNemogavehimasignal.Thediveransweredwithhishand,immediatelyswamuptothesurfaceofthesea,anddidn'treappear.
"Don'tbealarmed,"thecaptaintoldme.
"That'sNicolasfromCapeMatapan,nicknamed'IlPesce.'
*He'swellknownthroughouttheCycladesIslands.Abolddiver!
Waterishistrueelement,andhelivesintheseamorethanonshore,goingconstantlyfromoneislandtoanother,eventoCrete."
*Italian:"TheFish."Ed.
"Youknowhim,captain?"
"Whynot,ProfessorAronnax?"
Thissaid,CaptainNemowenttoacabinetstandingnearthelounge'sleftpanel.
NexttothiscabinetIsawachestboundwithhoopsofiron,itslidbearingacopperplaquethatdisplayedtheNautilus'smonogramwithitsmottoMobilisinMobili.
Justthen,ignoringmypresence,thecaptainopenedthiscabinet,asortofsafethatcontainedalargenumberofingots.
Theyweregoldingots.Andtheyrepresentedanenormoussumofmoney.Wherehadthispreciousmetalcomefrom?Howhadthecaptainamassedthisgold,andwhatwasheabouttodowithit?
Ididn'tpronounceaword.Igaped.
CaptainNemotookouttheingotsonebyoneandarrangedthemmethodicallyinsidethechest,fillingittothetop.
AtwhichpointIestimatethatitheldmorethan1,000kilogramsofgold,inotherwords,closeto₣5,000,000.
Aftersecurelyfasteningthechest,CaptainNemowroteanaddressonitslidincharactersthatmusthavebeenmodernGreek.
Thisdone,thecaptainpressedabuttonwhosewiringwasincommunicationwiththecrew'squarters.
Fourmenappearedand,notwithoutdifficulty,pushedthechestoutofthelounge.
ThenIheardthemhoistituptheironcompanionwaybymeansofpulleys.
JustthenCaptainNemoturnedtome:
"Youweresaying,Professor?"heaskedme.
"Iwasn'tsayingathing,Captain."
"Then,sir,withyourpermission,I'llbidyougoodevening."
Andwiththat,CaptainNemoleftthelounge.
Ireenteredmystateroom,verypuzzled,asyoucanimagine.Itriedinvaintofallasleep.
Ikeptsearchingforarelationshipbetweentheappearanceofthediverandthatchestfilledwithgold.
Soon,fromcertainrollingandpitchingmovements,IsensedthattheNautilushadleftthelowerstrataandwasbackonthesurfaceofthewater.
ThenIheardthesoundoffootstepsontheplatform.Irealizedthattheskiffwasbeingdetachedandlaunchedtosea.ForaninstantitbumpedtheNautilus'sside,thenallsoundsceased.
Twohourslater,thesamenoises,thesamecomingsandgoings,wererepeated.Hoistedonboard,thelongboatwasreadjustedintoitssocket,andtheNautilusplungedbackbeneaththewaves.
Sothosemillionshadbeendeliveredtotheiraddress.Atwhatspotonthecontinent?WhowastherecipientofCaptainNemo'sgold?
ThenextdayIrelatedthenight'seventstoConseilandtheCanadian,eventsthathadarousedmycuriositytoafeverpitch.MycompanionswereasstartledasIwas.
"Butwheredoeshegetthosemillions?"NedLandasked.
Tothisnoreplywaspossible.AfterbreakfastImademywaytotheloungeandwentaboutmywork.
Iwroteupmynotesuntilfiveo'clockintheafternoon.
Justthen—wasitduetosomepersonalindisposition?
—Ifeltextremelyhotandhadtotakeoffmyjacketmadeoffanmusselfabric.
Aperplexingcircumstancebecauseweweren'tinthelowlatitudes,andbesides,oncetheNautiluswassubmerged,itshouldn'tbesubjecttoanyriseintemperature.Ilookedatthepressuregauge.
Itmarkedadepthofsixtyfeet,adepthbeyondthereachofatmosphericheat.
Ikeptonworking,butthetemperaturerosetothepointofbecomingunbearable.
"Couldtherebeafireonboard?"Iwondered.
IwasabouttoleavetheloungewhenCaptainNemoentered.Heapproachedthethermometer,consultedit,andturnedtome:
"42°centigrade,"hesaid.
"I'vedetectedasmuch,Captain,"Ireplied,"andifitgetsevenslightlyhotter,wewon'tbeabletostandit."
"Oh,professor,itwon'tgetanyhotterunlesswewantitto!"
"Youmeanyoucancontrolthisheat?"
"No,butIcanbackawayfromthefireplaceproducingit."
"Soit'soutside?"
"Surely.We'recruisinginacurrentofboilingwater."
"Itcan'tbe!"Iexclaimed.
"Look."
Thepanelshadopened,andIcouldseeacompletelywhiteseaaroundtheNautilus.
Steamingsulfurousfumesuncoiledinthemidstofwavesbubblinglikewaterinaboiler.
Ileanedmyhandagainstoneofthewindows,buttheheatwassogreat,Ihadtosnatchitback.
"Wherearewe?"Iasked.
"NeartheislandofSantorini,professor,"thecaptainansweredme,"andrightinthechannelthatseparatesthevolcanicisletsofNeaKameniandPaleaKameni.
Iwantedtoofferyoutheunusualsightofanunderwatereruption."
"Ithought,"Isaid,"thattheformationofsuchnewislandshadcometoanend."
"Nothingevercomestoanendinthesevolcanicwaterways,"CaptainNemoreplied,"andthankstoitsundergroundfires,ourglobeiscontinuouslyunderconstructionintheseregions.
AccordingtotheLatinhistoriansCassiodorusandPliny,bytheyear19oftheChristianera,anewisland,thedivineThera,hadalreadyappearedintheveryplacetheseisletshavemorerecentlyformed.
ThenTherasankunderthewaves,onlytoriseandsinkoncemoreintheyear69A.D.Fromthatdaytothis,suchplutonicconstructionworkhasbeeninabeyance.
ButonFebruary3,1866,anewisletnamedGeorgeIslandemergedinthemidstofsulfuroussteamnearNeaKameniandwasfusedtoitonthe6thofthesamemonth.
Sevendayslater,onFebruary13,theisletofAphroessaappeared,leavingaten–meterchannelbetweenitselfandNeaKameni.
IwasintheseseaswhenthatphenomenonoccurredandIwasabletoobserveitseveryphase.
TheisletofAphroessawascircularinshape,measuring300feetindiameterandthirtyfeetinheight.
Itwasmadeofblack,glassylavamixedwithbitsoffeldspar.
Finally,onMarch10,asmallerisletcalledRekaappearednexttoNeaKameni,andsincethen,thesethreeisletshavefusedtoformonesingle,selfsameisland."
"Whataboutthischannelwe'reinrightnow?"Iasked.
"Hereitis,"CaptainNemoreplied,showingmeachartoftheGreekIslands."YouobservethatI'veenteredthenewisletsintheirplace."
"Butwillthischannelfilluponeday?"
"Verylikely,ProfessorAronnax,becausesince1866eightlittlelavaisletshavesurgedupinfrontoftheportofSt.NicolasonPaleaKameni.
Soit'sobviousthatNeaandPaleawilljoinindaystocome.
InthemiddleofthePacific,tinyinfusoriabuildcontinents,butherethey'rebuiltbyvolcanicphenomena.Look,sir!
Lookattheconstructionworkgoingonunderthesewaves."
Ireturnedtothewindow.TheNautiluswasnolongermoving.Theheathadbecomeunbearable.
Fromthewhiteithadrecentlybeen,theseawasturningred,acolorationcausedbythepresenceofironsalts.
Althoughtheloungewashermeticallysealed,itwasfillingwithanintolerablestinkofsulfur,andIcouldseescarletflamesofsuchbrightness,theyoverpoweredourelectriclight.
Iwasswimminginperspiration,Iwasstifling,Iwasabouttobecooked.Yes,Ifeltmyselfcookinginactualfact!
"Wecan'tstayanylongerinthisboilingwater,"Itoldthecaptain.
"No,itwouldn'tbeadvisable,"repliedNemotheEmotionless.
Hegaveanorder.TheNautilustackedaboutandretreatedfromthisfurnaceitcouldn'tbravewithimpunity.Aquarterofanhourlater,wewerebreathingfreshaironthesurfaceofthewaves.
ItthenoccurredtomethatifNedhadchosenthesewaterwaysforourescapeattempt,wewouldn'thavecomeoutalivefromthisseaoffire.
Thenextday,February16,weleftthisbasin,whichtalliesdepthsof3,000metersbetweenRhodesandAlexandria,andpassingwelloutfromCerigoIslandafterdoublingCapeMatapan,theNautiluslefttheGreekIslandsbehind.
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