Chapter XII Date prepared: 10/29/2007
4:44:05 PM EDT
{…} “magazine” version
[…] current version
HOW THEY CELEBRATED THE FIRST
OF JANUARY, AND IN WHAT MANNER THE
However, with the progressive
removal of {the comet}
At the same time, the effect
predicted by lieutenant Procope had manifested itself on the banks of the
creek, in which the two vessels had been put in a state of winter storage. The
icy layers, with a
movement, slow but irresistible, had thickened under the hull of
the "Hansa" and the "Dobryna". Near the promontory of rocks
that sheltered them, the schooner and tartan, raised in their basin of ice, had
already reached a level of 50 feet above the Gallian sea.
The "Dobryna", lighter than the tartan, towered somewhat above. No
human force had been able to prevent this work of elevation from being
accomplished.
Lieutenant Procope was very
concerned about the fate of the schooner. All items it contained had been
removed. All that remained was that the shell, the tower and the machinery; but
this shell, in the case of certain eventualities, was it not intended to give
refuge to the small colony? If, on thawing, it broke in a fall impossible to
prevent, and if Galliens were forced to leave the “Hot-Land”, what other vessel
could replace it?
In any event the tartan would
not be possible, menaced as it was and destined to suffer the same fate. The
"Hansa", unfortunately welded in its shell, was already inclined at a
worrying angle. It was dangerous to remain there. However, [Isac]/{the
Jew} did not abandon his cargo, which he wanted to watch day and night.
He felt that his life was in jeopardy, but his goods even more, and [that
Eternal which he invoked at each sentence, he did not mind cursing Him for all
the events that he saw overwhelming him.] / {he kept
cursing and blaspheming.}
In these circumstances,
captain Servadac made a
resolution, and [Isac]/{the Jew} had to comply. While the existence of Isac Hakhabut [was not exactly indispensable] /{could
not have cared less} to the various members of the Gallien colony, his
cargo had an incontestable price. It was necessary above all to prevent a very
imminent disaster. Captain Servadac had initially tried to inspire Isac Hakhabut out of concern for himself. In this he had
not been successful. [Isac]/{the Jew} did
not want to dislodge.
"Stay where you
like," then responded Hector Servadac , "but
your cargo will be carried into the warehouses in the "Hot-Land".
The lamentations which Isac Hakhabut made everyone hear,
however did not influence anyone, and the relocation began during the day of
the 20th of December.
Moreover, [Isac]/{the Jew} could come and live in Nina-Hive and, as
before, monitor his goods, sell, and
traffic, at the prices and weights agreed. No prejudice would be caused him.
Truly, if Ben-Zouf had been allowed to blame his captain, he would had made it for being nice to
this [deplorable trafficker]/{miserable son of
Basically, Isac Hakhabut could not but approve the resolution made by
the Governor General. It safeguarded his interests, it put his goods in a safe
place, and he had nothing to pay for the unloading of the tartan, as it was
"against his will."
During several days, the
Russians and Spaniards were employed actively in this work. Warmly dressed, closely hooded,
they could defy with impunity this low temperature. They only avoided touching
with bare hands any metal objects which they operated in transport. The skin of
their fingers would have been removed, much as if these objects would have been
red-hot, because the effect is absolutely identical to that of a burn. The work
was performed without accident, and the cargo of the "Hansa" was
finally stored in the large galleries of Nina-Hive.
Lieutenant Procope did not
feel reassured until that activity had been completely accomplished.
But then, Isac
Hakhabut, no longer having any reason to remain on his tartan, came to live in
the gallery reserved for his goods. It must be acknowledged that it was not
embarrassing. You could see him very little. He slept near his property, it
nourished him well. A spirit lamp served his more than modest culinary
preparations. The hosts of Nina-Hive had no other relations with him than the
transactions for them to buy, for him to sell. What is certain is that little
by little all the gold and silver from the small colony was coming to a secret
triply locked drawer, for which the key would never leave Isac
Hakhabut.
The 1st of January of the terrestrial
calendar approached. In a few days a year would have passed since the meeting
of the terrestrial globe and the comet, since this shock which had separated 36
human beings from their fellow creatures. In any case, not one person was
missing so far. Under these new climactic conditions, their health had remained
perfect. A gradually decreasing temperature, but without abrupt reversals, with
no alternatives, we can even add without drafts, had caused not even a cold.
So, there is nothing more healthy than the climate of
the comet. All could believe that if the professor's calculations were correct,
if
Although this first day of
the year was not the day of renewal of the Gallien year, and that day only
commenced the second half of
"We must not
allow," he said to Count Timascheff and lieutenant Procope, "that our
companions should be disengaging themselves from things of the earth. They must
meet again one day the terrestrial globe, and, even if such return should not
have occurred, it would have been useful to cling to the old world, at least in
memory. There, they
celebrate the renewal of the year, we will also on the comet. This simultaneity
of feelings is a good thing. We must not forget that they must remember those of us on
earth. At various points of the globe, one should have been able to see
"I approve,
captain," replied Count Timascheff. It is absolutely certain that the
observatories must be very busy with the new comet. From
"It must be very popular
there," replied captain Servadac, and I would be surprised if many
magazines and newspapers did not keep the public on both continents aware of
all the facts and gestures of
"Do you think,"
said lieutenant Procope then, "that those on earth occupy themselves with
the comet that has struck there? I believe like you, but I would add that it is
driven by reasons other than scientific interest or a sense of curiosity. The
observations which our astronomer has delivered to us would have been made on
the earth, of course, and with no less accuracy. The ephemeris of
In speaking thus, lieutenant
Procope had to be correct, because he was so logical. The return of
At any event, it was decided
that one would celebrate the fête on the 1st of January. The Russians themselves had
to unite with the French and Spanish, although their calendar does not assign
to that date the renewal of the terrestrial year. [1] [Footnote 1: There is a
difference of eleven days between the French and Russian calendars.]
Christmas arrived. The
anniversary of the birth of Christ was celebrated religiously. Only [Isac]/{the Jew} that day seemed to hide himself yet more
stubbornly in his dark retreat.
During the last week of the
year, Ben-Zouf was very busy. He worked to contrive an attractive program. The
pleasures could not be so very varied on
"If the luncheon is
remarkably good," said Ben-Zouf, the promenade will be remarkably
cheerful, and they do not need more! "
The composition of the menu
was therefore an elaborate affair. Concerning this the frequent communications
between the orderly of captain Servadac and the cook of the “Dobryna”
provided, in short, an intelligent fusion of the methods of Russian and French
cuisine.
On the evening of December
31, everything was ready. The cold dishes, canned meat, game pies, galantines
and others bought cheaply from [Isac]/{the
Jew} Hakhabut, were already laid out on the large table of the vast
room. The hot dishes were to be prepared the following morning in the lava heated ovens.
That evening, they considered
a question about Palmyrin Rosette. Should they invite the Professor to take
part in solemn repast? Yes, no doubt, they should invite him. Would he accept
the invitation? That was more than doubtful.
Nevertheless, the invitation
was made. Captain Servadac
had wanted to climb to the observatory himself; but Palmyrin
Rosette used to receive the unwelcome so poorly, he preferred to send him a
note.
It was the young Pablo who
took charge of the letter of invitation, and he soon returned with a response
of the following lines:
"Palmyrin Rosette has
nothing to say anything other than this: Today, it is the 125th of June, and
tomorrow it will be the 1st of July, as expected on
It was a refusal,
scientifically given, but it was a refusal none the less.
On the 1st of January, one
hour after sunrise, French, Russians, Spaniards, and little Nina, who
represented
It was, as Ben-Zouf had
hoped--, all very good and very merry.
At dessert, a toast, raised
to a common homeland, to the old spheroid, to the "return to the
Earth" joined with such hurrahs, as Palmyrin Rosette must have heard in
the heights of his observatory.
The luncheon finished, there
were still three major daylight hours remaining. The sun then passed at the
zenith--a sun that could never have distilled the vintages of
All guests clothed themselves
warmly from head to toe for a trip that was to last until the night. They were
braving harsh weather, but with impunity in the air so calm.
They left Nina-Hive, some
chatting, others singing. On the icy strand, each put on his skates and left at
will, some by themselves, some in groups. Count Timascheff, captain Servadac,
and lieutenant Procope stayed together very readily. Negrete and the Spaniards wandered
erratically on the vast plain and took off with an unrivaled speed up to the
last limits of the horizon. Having become very strong in this exercise of
skating, they deployed with extreme zeal the grace which is natural to them.
The sailors of the
"Dobryna", following a custom from the North, were all placed in
queue. A long pole attached under their right arms, maintained them in single
file, until they were out of view, like a train whose rails describe curves of
large radius..
As for Pablo and Nina, arm in
arm, ejecting small cries of joy--two birds which one has given the gift of
flight--they skated with an ineffable grace, sometimes returning to the group
of Captain Servadac, sometimes fleeing again. These young beings summarized in
themselves all the joy and perhaps all the hope of the Gallian world.
We must not forget Ben-Zouf,
fluttering from one to the other with an inexhaustible good humor, always
present, and heedless of the future.
The troupe of skaters,
carried by momentum united on this smooth surface, quickly went fast and
far--far beyond the circular line which enclosed the horizon of
“Hot-Land”. At the rear the layer of rocks disappeared, and then the white
peaks of the cliffs, and then the summit
of the volcano, plumed with ash-forming vapors. Sometimes they would stop to
recover their breath, --only for a moment -- because they feared freezing. Then
they resumed, reaching the coast of Gourbi
The sun already was sinking
to the east, or rather--an effect to which the Galliens had already become
accustomed --it seemed to fall rapidly. These sunsets of the radiant star were made under
peculiar conditions on the contracted horizon. No cloud was colored by the
wonderful nuances that
the last rays give. The eye itself, looking out over this
frozen sea, could not perceive the green flash of light which is projected when
the sun traverses the liquid surface. Here, the sun, widened under refraction,
clearly showed a disc sharply defined at its circumference. It disappeared briskly as if a hatch had
suddenly opened in the ice field, and the night came on immediately.
Before the fall of the day,
captain Servadac gathered all his world and recommended to his companions to cluster around him. They
went as "riflemen", it was necessary to return in a tight platoon, so
as not to get lost in the darkness and return together to “Hot-Land. The
darkness had to be profound, because the moon, in conjunction with the sun, was
lost in its vague irradiation.
The night had come. The stars
did not provide to the Gallien soil more than that "pale clarity"
spoken of by Corneille.
The torches were then lit, and while the porters glided rapidly, their flames,
as a pennant deployed in the breeze, diminished at length at the rear, were
brightened by the speed.
An hour later, the top of the
coastline of “Hot-Land” appeared confused like a huge black cloud on the
horizon. There was no mistake. The volcano dominated the heights and projected
in the shadows an
intense gleam. The reflection of the incandescent lava, made in
the mirror of ice, struck the group of skaters and left lying behind them
limitless shadows.
It was like this for about
half an hour. They quickly approached the coastline, when suddenly a scream was
heard.
It was Ben-Zouf that fostered
this cry. Each one altered
course, biting the ice with skates of steel.
So, by light of the torches,
which were nearly out, they saw that Ben-Zouf had extended his arm toward the
coast.
A scream from all lips, then
replied to that Ben-Zouf had made! ...
The volcano had suddenly
extinguished. The lava which previously fell outside of the upper cone had
ceased to spread. It seemed that a powerful blast must have passed over the crater.
All understood that the
source of fire had dried up. Had the
eruptive matter thus become missing? Would the heat forever be lacking on “Hot-Land”,
and would there no longer be any
opportunity to combat the rigors of the Gallien winter ? Was it therefore
death, and death from the cold?
"Forward!" Shouted the captain Servadac with a loud voice.
The torches were
extinguished. Everyone ran in
profound darkness. They arrived quickly at the shoreline. They
climbed with some difficulty the icy rocks. They rushed into the open gallery,
then into the great hall ...
Darkness
thickening, already a low temperature. The sheet of fire no
longer closed over the vast opening, and, looking outside, lieutenant Procope
could see that the lagoon, previously made liquid by the lava cataract, was solidified by the
cold.
Thus ended on