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Thepanelsclosedoverthisfrightfulview,butthelightsdidn'tgooninthelounge.
InsidetheNautilusallwasgloomandsilence.
Itleftthisplaceofdevastationwithprodigiousspeed,100feetbeneaththewaters.Wherewasitgoing?Northorsouth?
Wherewouldthemanfleeafterthishorribleactofrevenge?
Ireenteredmystateroom,whereNedandConseilwerewaitingsilently.
CaptainNemofilledmewithinsurmountablehorror.
Whateverhehadoncesufferedatthehandsofhumanity,hehadnorighttometeoutsuchpunishment.
Hehadmademe,ifnotanaccomplice,atleastaneyewitnesstohisvengeance!Eventhiswasintolerable.
Ateleveno'clocktheelectriclightscamebackon.Iwentintothelounge.Itwasdeserted.Iconsultedthevariousinstruments.
TheNautiluswasfleeingnorthwardataspeedoftwenty–fivemilesperhour,sometimesonthesurfaceofthesea,sometimesthirtyfeetbeneathit.
Afterourpositionhadbeenmarkedonthechart,IsawthatwewerepassingintothemouthoftheEnglishChannel,thatourheadingwouldtakeustothenorthernmostseaswithincomparablespeed.
Icouldbarelyglimpsetheswiftpassingoflongnosesharks,hammerheadsharks,spotteddogfishthatfrequentthesewaters,bigeaglerays,swarmsofseahorselookinglikeknightsonachessboard,eelsquiveringlikefireworksserpents,armiesofcrabthatfledobliquelybycrossingtheirpincersovertheircarapaces,finallyschoolsofporpoisethatheldcontestsofspeedwiththeNautilus.
Butbythispointobserving,studying,andclassifyingwereoutofthequestion.
Byeveningwehadcleared200leaguesuptheAtlantic.Shadowsgatheredandgloomoverrantheseauntilthemooncameup.
Irepairedtomystateroom.Icouldn'tsleep.Iwasassaultedbynightmares.Thathorriblesceneofdestructionkeptrepeatinginmymind'seye.
Fromthatdayforward,whoknowswheretheNautilustookusinthenorthAtlanticbasin?Alwaysatincalculablespeed!AlwaysamidtheHighArcticmists!
DiditcallatthecapesofSpitzbergenortheshoresofNovayaZemlya?
DiditvisitsuchunchartedseasastheWhiteSea,theKaraSea,theGulfofOb,theLyakhovIslands,orthoseunknownbeachesontheSiberiancoast?I'munabletosay.Ilosttrackofthepassinghours.
Timewasinabeyanceontheship'sclocks.
Ashappensinthepolarregions,itseemedthatnightanddaynolongerfollowedtheirnormalsequence.
IfeltmyselfbeingdrawnintothatstrangedomainwheretheoverwroughtimaginationofEdgarAllanPoewasathome.
LikehisfabledArthurGordonPym,Iexpectedanymomenttoseethat"shroudedhumanfigure,veryfarlargerinitsproportionsthananydwelleramongmen,"thrownacrossthecataractthatprotectstheoutskirtsofthepole!
Iestimate—butperhapsI'mmistaken—thattheNautilus'shaphazardcoursecontinuedforfifteenortwentydays,andI'mnotsurehowlongthiswouldhavegoneonwithoutthecatastrophethatendedourvoyage.
AsforCaptainNemo,hewasnolongerinthepicture.
Asforhischiefofficer,thesameapplied.
Notonecrewmanwasvisibleforasingleinstant.
TheNautiluscruisedbeneaththewatersalmostcontinuously.
Whenitrosebrieflytothesurfacetorenewourair,thehatchesopenedandclosedasifautomated.
Nomorepositionswerereportedontheworldmap.Ididn'tknowwherewewere.
I'llalsomentionthattheCanadian,attheendofhisstrengthandpatience,madenofurtherappearances.
Conseilcouldn'tcoaxasinglewordoutofhimandfearedthat,inafitofdeliriumwhileundertheswayofaghastlyhomesickness,Nedwouldkillhimself.
Sohekeptadevotedwatchonhisfriendeveryinstant.
Youcanappreciatethatundertheseconditions,oursituationhadbecomeuntenable.
Onemorning—whosedateI'munabletospecify—Iwasslumberingnearthefirsthoursofdaylight,apainful,sicklyslumber.
Wakingup,IsawNedLandleaningoverme,andIheardhimtellmeinalowvoice:
"We'regoingtoescape!"
Isatup.
"When?"Iasked.
"Tonight.Theredoesn'tseemtobeanysupervisionleftontheNautilus.You'dthinkatotaldazewasreigningonboard.Willyoubeready,sir?"
"Yes.Wherearewe?"
"Insightofland.Isawitthroughthemistsjustthismorning,twentymilestotheeast."
"Whatlandisit?"
"I'venoidea,butwhateveritis,therewe'lltakerefuge."
"Yes,Ned!We'llescapetonighteveniftheseaswallowsusup!"
"Thesea'srough,thewind'sblowinghard,butatwenty–milerunintheNautilus'snimblelongboatdoesn'tscareme.Unknowntothecrew,I'vestowedsomefoodandflasksofwaterinside."
"I'mwithyou."
"What'smore,"theCanadianadded,"iftheycatchme,I'lldefendmyself,I'llfighttothedeath."
"Thenwe'lldietogether,Nedmyfriend."
Mymindwasmadeup.TheCanadianleftme.
Iwentoutontheplatform,whereIcouldbarelystanduprightagainstthejoltsofthebillows.
Theskieswerethreatening,butlandlayinsidethosedensemists,andwehadtoescape.
Notasingleday,orevenasinglehour,couldweaffordtolose.
Ireturnedtothelounge,dreadingyetdesiringanencounterwithCaptainNemo,wantingyetnotwantingtoseehim.WhatwouldIsaytohim?
HowcouldIhidetheinvoluntaryhorrorheinspiredinme?No!
Itwasbestnottomeethimfacetoface!Besttotryandforgethim!Andyet...!
Howlongthatdayseemed,thelastIwouldspendaboardtheNautilus!Iwaslefttomyself.NedLandandConseilavoidedspeakingtome,afraidtheywouldgivethemselvesaway.
Atsixo'clockIatesupper,butIhadnoappetite.Despitemyrevulsion,Iforceditdown,wantingtokeepmystrengthup.
At6:30NedLandenteredmystateroom.Hetoldme:
"Wewon'tseeeachotheragainbeforewego.Atteno'clockthemoonwon'tbeupyet.We'lltakeadvantageofthedarkness.Cometotheskiff.ConseilandIwillbeinsidewaitingforyou."
TheCanadianleftwithoutgivingmetimetoanswerhim.
IwantedtoverifytheNautilus'sheading.Imademywaytothelounge.Wewereracingnorth–northeastwithfrightfulspeed,fiftymetersdown.
Itookonelastlookatthenaturalwondersandartistictreasuresamassedinthemuseum,thisunrivaledcollectiondoomedtoperishsomedayinthedepthsoftheseas,togetherwithitscurator.
Iwantedtoestablishonesupremeimpressioninmymind.
Istayedthereanhour,baskingintheauraoftheceilinglights,passinginreviewthetreasuresshiningintheirglasscases.ThenIreturnedtomystateroom.
ThereIdressedinsturdyseafaringclothes.
Igatheredmynotesandpackedthemtenderlyaboutmyperson.Myheartwaspoundingmightily.Icouldn'tcurbitspulsations.
MyanxietyandagitationwouldcertainlyhavegivenmeawayifCaptainNemohadseenme.
Whatwashedoingjustthen?Ilistenedatthedoortohisstateroom.Iheardthesoundoffootsteps.CaptainNemowasinside.Hehadn'tgonetobed.
WithhiseverymovementIimaginedhewouldappearandaskmewhyIwantedtoescape!Ifeltinaperpetualstateofalarm.
Myimaginationmagnifiedthissensation.
Thefeelingbecamesoacute,Iwonderedwhetheritwouldn'tbebettertoenterthecaptain'sstateroom,darehimfacetoface,braveitoutwithwordanddeed!
Itwasaninsaneidea.FortunatelyIcontrolledmyselfandstretchedoutonthebedtosoothemybodilyagitation.
Mynervescalmedalittle,butwithmybrainsoaroused,IdidaswiftreviewofmywholeexistenceaboardtheNautilus,everypleasantorunpleasantincidentthathadcrossedmypathsinceIwentoverboardfromtheAbrahamLincoln:theunderwaterhuntingtrip,theTorresStrait,ourrunningaground,thesavagesofPapua,thecoralcemetery,theSuezpassageway,theislandofSantorini,theCretandiver,theBayofVigo,Atlantis,theIceBank,theSouthPole,ourimprisonmentintheice,thebattlewiththedevilfish,thestormintheGulfStream,theAvenger,andthathorriblesceneofthevesselsinkingwithitscrew...!
Alltheseeventspassedbeforemyeyeslikebackdropsunrollingupstageinatheater.
InthisstrangesettingCaptainNemothengrewfantastically.
Hisfeatureswereaccentuated,takingonsuperhumanproportions.
Hewasnolongermyequal,hewastheManoftheWaters,theSpiritoftheSeas.
Bythenitwas9:30.Iheldmyheadinbothhandstokeepitfrombursting.Iclosedmyeyes.Inolongerwantedtothink.Ahalfhourstilltowait!
Ahalfhourofnightmaresthatcoulddrivemeinsane!
JustthenIheardindistinctchordsfromtheorgan,melancholyharmoniesfromsomeundefinablehymn,actualpleadingsfromasoultryingtoseveritsearthlyties.
Ilistenedwithallmysensesatonce,barelybreathing,immersedlikeCaptainNemointhismusicaltrancethatwasdrawinghimbeyondtheboundsofthisworld.
Thenasuddenthoughtterrifiedme.CaptainNemohadlefthisstateroom.
HewasinthesameloungeIhadtocrossinordertoescape.
ThereIwouldencounterhimonelasttime.Hewouldseeme,perhapsspeaktome!
Onegesturefromhimcouldobliterateme,asinglewordshacklemetohisvessel!
Evenso,teno'clockwasabouttostrike.Itwastimetoleavemystateroomandrejoinmycompanions.
Idarednothesitate,evenifCaptainNemostoodbeforeme.
Iopenedthedoorcautiously,butasitswungonitshinges,itseemedtomakeafrightfulnoise.
Thisnoiseexisted,perhaps,onlyinmyimagination!
IcreptforwardthroughtheNautilus'sdarkgangways,pausingaftereachsteptocurbthepoundingofmyheart.
Iarrivedatthecornerdoorofthelounge.Iopeneditgently.
Theloungewasplungedinprofounddarkness.
Chordsfromtheorganwerereverberatingfaintly.CaptainNemowasthere.Hedidn'tseeme.
EveninbroaddaylightIdoubtthathewouldhavenoticedme,socompletelywasheimmersedinhistrance.
Iinchedoverthecarpet,avoidingthetiniestbumpwhosenoisemightgivemeaway.Ittookmefiveminutestoreachthedooratthefarend,whichledintothelibrary.
IwasabouttoopenitwhenagaspfromCaptainNemonailedmetothespot.Irealizedthathewasstandingup.
Ievengotaglimpseofhimbecausesomeraysoflightfromthelibraryhadfilteredintothelounge.
Hewascomingtowardme,armscrossed,silent,notwalkingbutglidinglikeaghost.
Hischestwasheaving,swellingwithsobs.
AndIheardhimmurmurthesewords,thelastofhistoreachmyears:
"OalmightyGod!Enough!Enough!"
Wasitavowofrepentancethathadjustescapedfromthisman'sconscience...?
Frantic,Irushedintothelibrary.Iclimbedthecentralcompanionway,andgoingalongtheuppergangway,Iarrivedattheskiff.
Iwentthroughtheopeningthathadalreadygivenaccesstomytwocompanions.
"Let'sgo,let'sgo!"Iexclaimed.
"Rightaway!"theCanadianreplied.
First,NedLandclosedandboltedtheopeningcutintotheNautilus'ssheetiron,usingthemonkeywrenchhehadwithhim.
Afterlikewiseclosingtheopeningintheskiff,theCanadianbegantounscrewthenutsstillboltingustotheunderwaterboat.
Suddenlyanoisefromtheship'sinteriorbecameaudible.Voiceswereansweringeachotherhurriedly.Whatwasit?Hadtheyspottedourescape?IfeltNedLandslidingadaggerintomyhand.
"Yes,"Imuttered,"weknowhowtodie!"
TheCanadianpausedinhiswork.Butonewordtwentytimesrepeated,onedreadfulword,toldmethereasonfortheagitationspreadingaboardtheNautilus.Weweren'tthecauseofthecrew'sconcern.
"Maelstrom!Maelstrom!"theywereshouting.
TheMaelstrom!Couldamorefrighteningnamehaverunginourearsundermorefrighteningcircumstances?
WerewelyinginthedangerouswaterwaysofftheNorwegiancoast?
WastheNautilusbeingdraggedintothiswhirlpooljustastheskiffwasabouttodetachfromitsplating?
Asyouknow,attheturnofthetide,thewatersconfinedbetweentheFaroeandLofotenIslandsrushoutwithirresistibleviolence.
Theyformavortexfromwhichnoshiphaseverbeenabletoescape.
Monstrouswavesracetogetherfromeverypointofthehorizon.
Theyformawhirlpoolaptlycalled"theocean'snavel,"whoseattractingpowerextendsadistanceoffifteenkilometers.
Itcansuckdownnotonlyshipsbutwhales,andevenpolarbearsfromthenorthernmostregions.
ThiswaswheretheNautilushadbeensentaccidentally—orperhapsdeliberately—byitscaptain.
Itwassweepingaroundinaspiralwhoseradiuskeptgrowingsmallerandsmaller.
Theskiff,stillattachedtotheship'splating,waslikewisecarriedaroundatdizzyingspeed.Icouldfeeluswhirling.
Iwasexperiencingthataccompanyingnauseathatfollowssuchcontinuousspinningmotions.
Wewereindread,inthelaststagesofsheerhorror,ourbloodfrozeninourveins,ournervesnumb,drenchedincoldsweatasiffromthethroesofdying!
Andwhatanoisearoundourfrailskiff!
Whatroarsechoingfromseveralmilesaway!
Whatcrashesfromthewatersbreakingagainstsharprocksontheseafloor,wherethehardestobjectsaresmashed,wheretreetrunksareworndownandworkedinto"ashaggyfur,"asNorwegiansexpressit!
Whatapredicament!Wewererockingfrightfully.TheNautilusdefendeditselflikeahumanbeing.Itssteelmuscleswerecracking.Sometimesitstoodonend,thethreeofusalongwithit!
"We'vegottoholdontight,"Nedsaid,"andscrewthenutsdownagain!IfwecanstayattachedtotheNautilus,wecanstillmakeit...!"
Hehadn'tfinishedspeakingwhenacrackingsoundoccurred.Thenutsgaveway,andrippedoutofitssocket,theskiffwashurledlikeastonefromaslingintothemidstofthevortex.
Myheadstruckagainstanirontimber,andwiththisviolentshockIlostconsciousness.
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