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 HOLIDAY WAS TERMINATED

 

However, with the progressive removal of {the comet} Gallia {from the Sun}, the cold increased significantly. Already the temperature was lowered more than 42 degrees below the ice point. Under these conditions, mercury thermometers could not be used because the mercury solidifies at 42 degrees. The alcohol thermometer from the ”Dobryna” was thus put into use, and its column fell to 53 degrees below that of ice.

 

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 Israel}!

 

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 Gallia returned to the earth, the Galliens would arrive there at full complement.

 

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 Gallia’s solar revolution, captain Servadac wanted, not without reason, that they celebrate it with a certain solemnity.

 

"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 Gallia revolving in space, if not with the naked eye, given its small size and its distance, at least with the aid of glasses and telescopes. A sort of scientific link attaches us to the earth, and Gallia is still part of the solar world.

 

"I approve, captain," replied Count Timascheff. It is absolutely certain that the observatories must be very busy with the new comet. From Paris, Petersburg, Greenwich, Cambridge, Cape Town, from Melbourne, I imagine that powerful glasses are often focused on our asteroid.

 

"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 Gallia. Let us think of those who are thinking of us, and for the 1st of the terrestrial January, let us share our communal feelings with them.

 

"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 Gallia would have been established already a long time ago. They know the elements of the new comet.  They know what trajectory it travels in space,  they have determined where and how it must meet the earth. At what precise point of the ecliptic, in which second of time in the same location, it will come again to shock the terrestrial globe, all this is certainly calculated with mathematical precision. So it is the certainty of this return encounter which should especially concern their minds. I go even further, and I dare to say that, on earth, precautions have been taken to mitigate the disastrous effects of a new shock, --if, indeed, it was possible to take them! "

 

In speaking thus, lieutenant Procope had to be correct, because he was so logical. The return of Gallia, perfectly calculated, was certainly paramount over any other earthly concerns. We should expect Gallia less to desire than to fear its approach. It is true that Galliens, while wanting this meeting could only worry about the consequences of a new shock. If on earth, as the lieutenant Procope believed, steps had been taken to mitigate the disaster, was it not suited to do so also on Gallia? This is what ought to be examined later.

 

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 Gallia. It was therefore decided that the day would begin with a grand luncheon and finish with a grand promenade on the ice on the shore of the Gourbi island. They would return by torchlight, that is at night, in light of torches which were to be manufactured using ingredients found in the cargo of the "Hansa"/{which would be bought from the Jew}.

 

"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 Gallia we must reckon following the Gallien calendar."

 

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 Italy, were seated before a luncheon such as never had been  made on the surface of Gallia. For the main dish Ben-Zouf and the cook of the "Dobryna" had surpassed themselves. A certain dish of stewed partridges, in which vegetables had been replaced by a "curry" capable of dissolving the taste buds of the tongue and mucous membranes of the stomach, was a piece triumphant. As for the wines, from the reserves of the "Dobryna", they were excellent. French and Spanish wines were drunk in honor of their countries of origin, and Russia was in no way forgotten, thanks to a few bottles of kummel.

 

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 Bordeaux or Burgundy that they had come to drink, because its disk  only dimly lit and did not warm up the space at all.

 

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 Island, without essaying to venture onto it, because with dark arriving, they needed to consider their return.

 

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 Gallia the first day of the terrestrial year,  a day so joyously commenced!