23? ((Aegri somnia))

The next day, January 10, the Nautilus continued his march on the fence, but with a
extraordi-nary speed, I estimated that no less than thirty-five miles per hour. It was such
the speed of its propeller, that could not nor-Guir their laps or count.
Thinking that wonderful electric agent, in addition to the Nautilus movement, light
and heat, protected from all external attack and transformed into a holy ark nin-gun
defiler could play without being struck, I admire-tion knew no bounds, and apparatus
I went back to inge-neer who had created.
We marched directly westward and 11 Jan-ro Cape Wessel had before,
1350 located long and 100 north, which forms the eastern tip of the Gulf of
Carpentaria. The reefs were still numerous, but as more dispersed, and were
indicated on the map with extreme precision. The Nautilus easily avoided the
Money breakers to port, and the Victoria reefs to-starboard is located at 1300
length about parallel 10, we followed rigorously.
On January 13, arrived in the Timor Sea, we passed near the island of that name, 1220
in length. The island, whose surface is super-thousand, six hundred twenty-five square miles, is
ruled by rajas. These princes claim to be children of co-codrilos, ie, have the most
High origin which can aspi-rar a human. Their scaly ancestors abound in
rivers of the island and are subject to a particular veneration. It protects them, they are mothers, they
flatter, they are fed, they are offered an offering young girls. Pity the extranje-ro
who dares to lay hands on these sacred lizards!
But the Nautilus had nothing to do with ugly-les encouraged. Timor was visible only one
instant, at noon, when the second set position. Also, I could only glimpse the
Rotti small island, part of the group, whose Shoes-res have gained in
Malaysian markets re-solid reputation of beauty.
From that point, the direction of Nautilus inflexio-no latitude to the southwest.
Toward the ocean In-doctor he stood. Where you going to take Captain Nemo's fantasy?
Does it would lead to the coasts of Asia or towards Europe? Determinations little
likely a man who shunned inhabited continent. ¿Descend therefore to the
South? Would you spend the Cape of Good Hope and the Horn to the Antarctic pole?
Or go back to those seas of the Pacific where his Nautilus could find a
easy and independent navigation? It was this something that only the future po-DRIA say.
Having skirted the pitfalls of Cartier, Hibernia, Seringapatam and Scott,
last efforts of the solid against the liquid element element, on January 14 we
We found-beyond any vestige of land. The speed of the Nautilus was reduced
considerably, and very capricious in his behavior, he sailed alternately
in Inmer-sion and surface.
During this period of the trip, Captain Nemo gave interesting experiments
on various sea temperatures in different layers. Under normal conditions, these
Data are obtained by instruments rather com-volved. The information
they seek are at least dubious, whether temperature sensor whose crystals
often break under the pressure of the water, whether apa-times based on the variation of
metal resistance to electrical currents. The results thus obtained can not be
be controlled with sufficient rigor. But Captain Nemo could afford to go it
to seek the same temperature in the deep sea, and thermometer, put in
communi-cation with various liquid layers, gave him as so immediate
surely requested grades.
This is how, as it were overloading their deposits, and descending obliquely
Through its Tilted-Swim planes, the Nautilus reached on three depths,
four, five, seven, nine and ten thousand meters, and the final results of his experiments-do
was that under all la-tudes, the sea, at a depth of one thousand meters, had a
constant temperature of four degrees and a half.
I continued these studies with the keenest interest. Captain Nemo put in them a
true passion. Often I wondered what purpose he came to these
observations. It is made in benefit of others? It was probably so,
So sooner or later, the results of their lock-jos must perish with him in a sea
ignored. Unless I go to me the result of their studies. But that would mean
admit that my strange journey would have a TERMI-no, and that term was not looking.
Either way, Captain Nemo gave me to know al-UNPACKING data he obtained about
densities of water in major seas of the globe. Such communicates-ing deduced
something interesting I personally, do not be scientific-nia.
It was on the morning of January 15, when I was pa-seando with Captain by
platform. He asked if I knew the different densities of sea waters. You
I answered negatively, precisándole science lacked rigorous observations
on this point.
? I made those comments, and I can certify the accuracy of the same.
? Well, but the Nautilus is a world apart, and the secrets of the sages do not reach the
earth.
? You are right, professor? He said after a few moments of silence ?. It is,
indeed a world apart. It's so foreign to Earth as the planet
accompanied on his trip around the sun. Never-known works shall sages
Saturn or Jupiter. Without em-ever, and since chance has linked our lives, I will
co-municarle the result of my observations.
? I hear you, captain.
? You know, Professor, that sea water is denser than fresh water. But this
density is not uniform. Indeed, if the unit is to represent the density of water
sweet, we would find one twenty-eight thousandths for the Atlantic, one twenty-six
thousandths to the Pacific, half past one thousandths for Mediterra-neo ...
"Ah! ? I thought ?, so you venture in the Mediterranean! "
? ... One eighteen thousandths for the Ionian and one twenty-nine thousandths for
the Adriatic.
Decidedly, the Nautilus did not avoid the fre-states of Europe seas, and it inferred
that might lead? maybe soon? to more civilized continents. I thought Ned
Land would very much welcome this information.
For several days, our days were spent in all experiments
classes, both on the gra-two water salinity at different depths as
on its electrification, color and transparency. And in all these studies Captain
Nemo he deployed in-geniosidad such as kindness towards, / me. But then, for several
consecutive days, I never saw him again and remained isolated on board.
On 16 January, the Nautilus seemed to fall asleep around me-ters just below the surface. Their
electrical appliances did not work, and her motionless propeller let him wander to the dictates of
current. I assumed that the crew handled the interior repairs made
necessary by the violence of the mechanical movements of the machine.
My colleagues and I then witnessed a cu-rious show. The
observatories were dis-covered room, and as the lantern of the Nautilus was off
Queen-ba a vague darkness amid the waters. The sky, stormy and covered
thick clouds, gave an insuffi-cient clarity to the first layers of the ocean.
I watched the sea state under these conditions, where the largest fish
They appeared as just drawn shadows, when the Nautilus was found suddenly
Light floods-do. I thought at first that he had PowerOn-dido the beacon, but
quick observation I made my mistake recog-cer.
The Nautilus floated in the midst of a phosphor layer in the darkness, became
dazzling. The phenomenon was caused by myriads of luminous animals whose brightness
it was increasing to slide on the metal hull of the apparatus. Then I noticed a series
lightning amid the bright layers as molten lead castings in one
oven or metallic masses brought to incandescence, so that, by contrast,
some stop-light areas in the dark cyan means abolishing fiery darkness. No
luminosity that was very different from the continuous irradiation of our lighting
usual; it had an intensity and unusual movement. It seems a bright light!
And it was alive, since radiating from an infinite-ing agglomerated pelagic Diatomaceous of
miliary noctilucae, see-daderos globules of diaphanous jelly, armed with a scourge
thready, from which he has come to count to twenty-five thousand on foot
Cubic water. Its luminosity was reinforced with own flashes of jellyfish,
in the arteries, the aurelias, of dates and other phosphorescent zoófltos, impregnated
ceding the pro-organic materials of spawning fish and decomposed by the sea,
and perhaps the mucus secreted by the fish.
During several hours the Nautilus bathed in that light. Our fascination became even
more intense to see large marine animals evolve as salamanders. I saw there,
means that fire does not burn, a quick and elegant porpoises, indefatigable clowns
the seas, and some sailboats istióforos or swords, three meters long, of whom
is said to herald the hurricanes, which hit, sometimes, our crystals with their
a formidable sword. Then they appeared smaller fish, including many triggerfish,
es-cómbridos jumpers, and many others who nasones bordered of dazzling colors and
winding the luminous water.
It was a prodigious, dazzling spectacle of that phenomenon, whose intensity might
It was increased by Algu-na atmospheric disturbance. Was he perhaps triggering
a storm on the ocean surface? If so, the Nautilus, a few meters
depth, no sin-aunt and his anger rocked peacefully in the calm waters.
And continued our journey, always enlivened by Som-na new wonder. Conseil
He observed and classified his zoo-fitos, its articulated their shellfish and fish. The days
pa-Saban quickly and no longer had me. Meanwhile, Ned was busy trying to
vary the diet on board. We were a true snails, already accustomed to our
ca-parazón. So I can say that it is easy to become a perfect spiral. So
we were adapted as a world-CIA had come to seem easy and natural,
but just because we could imagine a different life existed on the surface of
the earth, when came a acon-tecimiento that would remind us of the strange
our situation.
On 18 January, 1050 Nautilus was long and 150 south latitude. The
weather was stormy and rough and tough sea. The wind was blowing hard from the East. In
low for several days, the barometer announced storm. He had gone up to the
platform when the latter taking its measurements hour angles.
I expected to hear, as usual, everyday phrase. But that day that sentence was replaced
the other no less incom-understandable. Almost immediately I saw Captain Nemo appear,
who, equipped with a telescope, he scanned the horizon. For some minutes, the captain
He stood in contemplation. Then he lowered his glass and exchanged a few words
his second, who seemed gripped by a emo-tion which tried in vain to
contain. Captain Nemo, more master of himself, remained calm. Gave the PRINT-sion that
He opposed some objections to what was in the will-second, judging at least by the difference
between the tone and gestures of both.
For my part, I had carefully looked in the direction scrutinized by Captain Nemo,
without seeing anything but the clear line of the horizon where the sky and sea blur.
Captain Nemo walked from one end to the other platform without looking at me, perhaps without
me. His step was se-guro, but less regular than usual. He stopped occasionally
when and arms crossed over his chest, obser-vaba the sea. What could look at that
immense space? The Nautilus was several hundred miles from the coast more
close.
The second had taken the telescope with which interrogates-ba stubbornly to the horizon.
Then he began to pace, showing signs of nervous agitation that contrasted with
the serenity of his boss.
It seemed that the mystery would be cleared quickly, as a command of Captain Nemo, the
machine developed a printing ma-yor power to the propeller faster rotation.
At that time, the second again drew atten-tion of the captain. It suspended its
walk and went again to the point indicated spyglass, watching stopped-mind.
Very intrigued, I went down the hall and came back bearing the telescope that I used to use.
Taking as support for the glass the projection formed by the lantern, I was about to
ob-preserve my time indicated point when, even before he could apply
eye relief, I was brutally ripped the hand tool.
I turned to see Captain Nemo before me, but a Captain Nemo unrecognizable. His
physiognomy was transfigured. His eyes shone with a dark gleam under his brow
frun-acid. Half discovered the mouth clenched teeth. His body, tense; his fists,
closed, and his head, folded between his shoulders, denounced the violence of hatred
He exhaled him. He was motionless. He had dropped my glass of hand and rolled to
his feet.
Was I who unwittingly provoked this fit of anger? Did he think that
incomprehensible character-BIA has surprised me a secret forbidden guests
Nautilus?
No. No, I should be the recipient of his hatred, since not look at me, and attention
still stubborn-mind she concentrated in that impenetrable point on the horizon.
Captain Nemo at last regained control of himself. His face, so deeply
He altered, regained its usual lime-ma. After directing his second a few words in his
incomprehensible language, turned to me and said in a rather imperious tone:
? Lord Aronnax, you'll reclaim the COMPLIANCE-to of one of the commitments
it has made me.
? What is it, Captain?
? Both you and your companions must accept that enclose them until such time
I deem appropriate in-turn our freedom.
? We are in your hands? I replied, staring ?. But I can ask you a
question?
? No, sir.
Given this response, there was no discussion, but to obey, because all resistance had
It has been impossible.
I went down to the cabin of Ned Land and Conseil and informed them of the determination of
Captain. It is easy to imagine the reaction of Canada to this communication. But not so
There was even time for explanations. Four crewmen were waiting for us at
the door and led us to the cell where we had spent our first night
aboard the Nautilus.
Ned Land wanted to protest, but the door closed behind him in reply.
? Could you explain to Mr. why that is and why? ? He asked Conseil.
I referred to my colleagues what happened, what surpris-she gave them as much as me and left them
two candles.
I could not take my mind the memory of the strange fi-physiognomy of Captain Nemo and,
plunged into an abyss of refle-Connections, I lost in the most absurd hypotheses, incapable of
meet two logical ideas, when Ned Land pulled me out of my concentration to say, in a tone
surprise, the almuer-zo was served.
In fact, the table was set, which proved that the ca-whistle Nemo ordered
serve while doing accelerate the progress of the Nautilus.
? Could I give the Lord advice? ? Conseil said.
Yes, boy.
? The one who eats. It is prudent to do so, because we do not know-what might happen.
You're right, Conseil.
? Unfortunately? Said Ned Land? They have given us the menu board.
? Friend Ned? Replied Conseil ?, Why then say if we had stopped fasting!
This reasoning was enough to silence the harpoon.
We sat at the table and ate in silence. I ate very little. Conseil was forced
so, as a precaution, and Ned Land, despite his protests, wasted no bite. Barely
-we had finished lunch when the lumi-noso plunging into a faded balloon
total darkness.
Ned Land was soon asleep, and, to my surprise, Conseil also fell into a
deep slumber. -Ba ask me what it was that had been causing him that imperious
need to sleep when I felt invaded by a heavy drowsiness, I
It was close my eyes against my will. I was seized by a strange hallucination.
It was obvious that we had put in some soporific food substance. So, do not
the pri-inflict enough pressure to conceal Captain Nemo's projects, but
also it had to narcotizarnos.
I heard the sound of hatches shut. Shortly after the cease-ba slight movement
produced by rolling waves, which seemed to indicate that the Nautilus was submerged.
It was impossible to resist me sleep. My breathing was due-litaba. I felt a mortal cold freeze
my increasingly heavy limbs, as if paralyzed. My eyelids heavy as
lead, closed on the eyes. A morbid dream, po-blado of hallucinations, is
It took all my being. Gradually they disappeared visions, and I was
sumi-do a complete annihilation.