Kitabı oku: «Путешествие к центру Земли / A Journey to the Centre of the Earth», sayfa 5

“And why?” said my uncle ironically.

“All the theories of science demonstrate it.”

“The theories say that, do they?” replied the Professor in the tone of a meek disciple. “Oh! Unpleasant theories! They will not hinder us, won’t they?”

“Yes; it is perfectly well known that the internal temperature rises one degree for every 70 feet in depth; so there must be a temperature of 360,032 degrees at the centre of the Earth. Therefore, all the substances that compose the body of this Earth must exist there in a state of incandescent gas²⁹.”

“So, Axel, it is the heat that troubles you?”

“Of course it is. If we reach a depth of thirty miles, the temperature will be more than 2372 degrees.”

“This is my decision,” replied Professor Liedenbrock. “Neither you nor anybody else knows with any certainty what is going on in the interior of this globe, since not the twelve thousandth part of its radius is known. Many geologists say that the interior of the globe is neither gas nor water, nor any of the heaviest minerals. You see, Axel, the condition of the terrestrial nucleus is absolutely unknown. There is no proof at all for the internal heat; my opinion is that there is no such thing, it cannot be; besides we shall see for ourselves, and, like Arne Saknussemm, we shall know exactly what is there.”

“Very well, we shall see,” I replied. “Yes, we shall see; that is, if it is possible to see anything there.”

“And why not? But silence, do you hear me? Silence upon the whole subject; tell nobody that we are going to discover the centre of the Earth.”

7

Thus ended our conversation and I came out of my uncle’s study. I made for the banks of the Elbe³⁰, where the steamer lands its passengers.

“It is quite absurd!” I cried, “There is no sense about it. The whole thing is non-existent.”

I followed the banks of the river and passed the town. I reached the Altona road³¹. Shortly I noticed my little Gräuben; she was bravely returning to Hamburg.

“Gräuben!” I cried.

The young girl stopped. Ten yards more, and I joined her.

“Axel!” she cried surprised. “What! Have you come to meet me? What is the matter?”

“What is the matter, Gräuben?” I cried.

In a couple of minutes my pretty girl was fully informed of everything. For a time she was silent.

At last she said, “Axel!”

“My dear Gräuben.”

“That will be a splendid journey!”

I jumped at these words.

“Yes, Axel, a journey worthy of the nephew of a savant!”

“What, Gräuben, won’t you dissuade me from such an undertaking?”

“No, my dear Axel, and I want to go with you.”

“Is that quite true?”

“It is true.”

Ah! I was disconcerted, and, if I must tell the whole truth, I was ashamed.

“Gräuben, we will see whether you will say the same thing tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, dear Axel, I will say what I say today.”

After all, I thought, the kalends of July are a long way off, and between this and then many things may take place which will cure my uncle of his desire to travel underground.

It was night when we arrived at the house in Königstrasse.

“Come, Axel, come, you miserable wretch,” my uncle cried when he saw me. “Your boxes are not packed, and my papers are not arranged; where’s the key of my carpet bag?”

My voice failed. Scarcely could my lips utter the words:

“Are we really going?”

“Of course, you unhappy boy! The day after tomorrow, early.”

I could hear no more. I fled for refuge into my own little room.

All hope was now at an end. I spent an awful night. Next morning I woke up early. But could I resist the sweet voice which was always music to my ears, saying, “My dear Axel?”

“Ah! My dear Axel,” said Gräuben. “Your uncle is a bold philosopher, a man of immense courage, and you must remember that his blood flows in your veins. He will no doubt succeed. My dear Axel, it is a grand thing to devote yourself to science!”

Her words revived me. Yet I refused to believe we could start. I drew Gräuben into the Professor’s study.

“Uncle, is it true that we will go?”

“Why do you doubt?”

“Well, I don’t doubt,” I said, not to vex him; “but, I ask, what need is there to hurry?”