Chapter XVI Created at 11/15/2007 9:00:30 PM EST

Note: Interjections, not tranlatable, are retained in French in italics!

[…] as in book current version

{…} as in original magazin version

Red points of difficulty in translation

Green corrections in translation

 

IN WHICH CAPTAIN SERVADAC AND BEN-ZOUF LEAVE AND RETURN AS THEY THEY HAD LEFT

That was true. Since he had undertaken his honest trade of coastal traffic, Isac Hakhabut had sold with false weights. Knowing [the man]/{his miserable condition}, that will not astonish anybody. But the day when the seller had become a buyer, his improbity had been turned against him {like he who spits at the sky}. The principal instrument of his fortune was this balance, a quarter false, as was recognized, thus allowing the professor to resume his calculations, and re-establish them on a correct basis.

When, on the earth, this balance marked a weight of one kilogram, the object actually weighed only seven hundred and fifty grams. Therefore, for the weight which it had indicated for Gallia, it was necessary to subtract a quarter. It is thus understood that the calculations of the professor, being based on a mass of the comet too high by a quarter, could not agree with the true positions of Nérina, since it was the mass of Gallia which influenced it.

Palmyrin Rosette, satisfied to have thrashed Isac Hakhabut conscientiously, immediately went back to finish the work with Nérina.

How much, after this scene, Isac Hakhabut was ridiculed, that is understood! Ben-Zouf did not cease repeating to him that he would be charged of selling with false weight, that he would be prosecuted, and that he would be summoned to court.

"But where and when?" [he]/{the Jew} asked.

"On the earth, with our return, old rascal! " Ben-Zouf replied gracefully.

[The frightful fellow]/{the Jew} had to confine himself in his dark hole, and not let himself be seen any more than the least bit possible.

Two months and half still separated the Galliens from the day when they hoped to meet the earth. Since October 7, the comet had returned to the zone of the telescopic planets, the same place where it had captured Nérina.

By November 1, half of this zone in which these asteroids revolve, whose origin is due probably due to the bursting of some planet which revolved between Mars and Jupiter, had fortunately been crossed. During this month, Gallia was going to traverse an arc of forty million leagues on its orbit, while moving closer to seventy-eight million leagues from the sun.

The temperature again became bearable, -- approximately ten to twelve degrees below zero. [However, no symptom of a thaw yet appeared.] The surface of the sea remained immutably frozen, and the two ships, perched on their pedestal of ice, overhung the abyss.

It was then that the question of the English, relegated to the small island of Gibraltar, was put up for discussion. There was never any doubt that that they had survived the extreme cold of the Gallien winter with impunity.

Captain Servadac treated this question with a point of view which lived up to his generosity. He said that, despite their bad reception at the time of the visit of the "Dobryna", it was advisable to resume communication with them, to bring them up to date with everything of which they were undoubtedly unaware. The return to the earth, which after all would result in a new collision, offered several extreme dangers. It was thus necessary to warn these Englishmen and to urge them to face these dangers together.

Count Timascheff and Lieutenant Procope shared the opinion of Captain Servadac absolutely. This therefore was a question of humanity which could not leave them indifferent.

But how to arrive, at that time, at the small island of Gibraltar?

By sea obviously, that is, taking advantage of the solid support that its frozen surface still provided.

It was, moreover, the only manner of travelling from one island to the other, because, after the thaw arrived, no other kind of communication would be possible. Indeed, one could not now count on either the schooner or the tartan. As for the steam-launch, using it for this purpose would have meant consuming the few tons of the coal that had been carefully placed in reserve in the event that the settlers should return to the island of Gourbi.

There was as well the dinghy, which had been already transformed into sledge with a sail. They knew already the conditions of speed and safety with which it had accomplished the journey from "Hot-Land" to Formentera.

But it needed wind to move, and the wind was felt no more on the surface of Gallia. Perhaps after the thaw, with the vapors which would develop in the summer temperature, might not new disturbances occur in the Gallien atmosphere? One might even fear this. But then the calm was absolute, and the dinghy could not get to the small island of Gibraltar.

There remained the possibility of making the trip on foot, or rather by skating. The distance was considerable, --approximately [a hundred leagues]/{400 kilometres}. Could one try to cross it under these conditions?

Captain Servadac volunteered for this task. [Twenty-five to thirty leagues]/{100 to 200 kilometres} per day, that is approximately [two leagues]/{8 kilometres} per hour, that was nothing to embarrass a man trained in the exercise of ice-skating. In eight days, he could thus have returned to the "Hot-Land" after having visited Gibraltar. He did not require any more than a compass to guide him, a certain quantity of cold meat, and a small stove with spirits-of-wine to make coffee. This enterprise then, a little hazardous, appealed to his adventurous spirit.

Count Timascheff and Lieutenant Procope insisted on taking his place, or else to accompany him. But Captain Servadac thanked them. In the event of misfortune, it was necessary that the Count and the Lieutenant were with the "Hot-Land". Without them, what would become their companions at the time of the return?

Count Timascheff had to yield. Captain Servadac would accept only one companion, his faithful Ben-Zouf. He thus asked if the thing suited him.

"If that suits me, name of a hillock for Pete's sake! " Ben-Zouf exclaimed. "If that suits me, my captain! Such an opportunity to revive the legs! And then, do you think that I would have let you go alone! "

The departure was decided for the following day November 2. Certainly, the desire to be helpful to the English, the need to fulfill a duty of humanity was the first motive which Captain Servadac obeyed. But perhaps another thought had germinated in the brain of the Gascon. He had not yet communicated it to anyone, and, undoubtedly, he wanted to say nothing to Count Timascheff.

At all events, Ben-Zouf understood that there was "some other mischief involved", when, the day before of the departure, his captain said to him:

"Ben-Zouf, would it be possible for you to find something in the general store to make a Tricolor? "

"Yes, my captain," answered Ben-Zouf.

"Well, make this flag without your being seen, put it in your bag and carry it "

Ben-Zouf did not ask anything further, and obeyed. Now, what was this project of Captain Servadac, and why did he not wish to share it with his companions?

Before saying it, it is advisable to note here a certain psychological phenomenon, which, if not belonging to the category of the celestial phenomena, was none the less very natural, - -being given the weaknesses of humanity.

Since Gallia approached the earth, perhaps Count Timascheff and Captain Servadac, by an opposing movement, tended to separate one from the other. It was possible that it happened almost without their knowledge. The memory of their ancient rivalry, so completely forgotten during these twenty-two months of a common existence, returned little by little to their spirit, and from their spirit to their heart. When finding themselves on the terrestrial sphere, would not these companions of adventure become again the rivals of the past? To have been a Gallien, one is not less a man. Mme. L... was perhaps still free , -- and, indeed, it would have been insulting for her to doubt that!...

Lastly, in any case, voluntarily or not, a certain coldness had resumed between the count and the captain. One could notice, moreover, that there never had been a real intimacy between them , but only that friendship which resulted from the circumstances in which they were found.

This said, here was the project of Captain Servadac, --which perhaps would have created a new rivalry between Count Timascheff and himself. This is why he had wanted to keep it secret .

This project -- it is necessary to agree-- was quite worthy of the whimsical brain in which it had been born.

One knew that the English, riveted to their rock, had continued to occupy the island of Gibraltar on behalf of England. They had been right, if this station returned to the earth in good condition. At least, their occupation of it could not be disputed.

However, opposite Gibraltar stood the islet of Ceuta. Before the shock collision, Ceuta belonged to the Spanish and commanded one side of the strait. But Ceuta, abandoned, would returned to its first occupant. Therefore, to go to the rock of Ceuta, to take possession of it in the name of France , to plant the French flag there, is what seemed ideally suited to Captain Servadac.

"Who knows," he said, "what will happen if Ceuta does not arrive properly at its destination on the earth and does not command any significant part of the Mediterranean? Well, the French flag, planted on this rock, will justify the claims of France! "

And this is why, without saying anything, Captain Servadac and his orderly Ben-Zouf left for the conquest .

It will be agreed, moreover, that Ben-Zouf was well made to understand his captain. To conquer a piece of rock for France! To play a prank on the English! It was his business!

It was after the departure, at the foot of cliff, when, farewells ended, and the two conquerors found themselves alone, that Ben-Zouf was informed of the projects of his captain.

And then it seemed that the old refrains of regiment returned to him to the memory, because, with a superb voice, he started to sing:

The sun, rising,
Throw to us its oblique rays!
Bang! Battalion Africa,
Bang! The Zéphyrs forward!

Captain Servadac and Ben-Zouf, warmly dressed, the orderly wearing his back pack and carrying the small equipment of the voyage, both with skates on their feet, launched out on the immense white surface and soon lost sight of the heights of "Hot-Land".

The trip was made without incident. The time of the route was divided by a few stops, during which rest and food were taken together. The temperature had again become bearable, even during the night, and just three days after their departure, November 5, the two heroes arrived a few kilometers from the island of Ceuta.

Ben-Zouf was ebullient. If an attack had had to be given, the honest soldier only asked to be formed in column, and "even in square" to repel the enemy cavalry.

It was morning. The rectilinear direction had been accurately held by the compass and had been followed exactly from the start. The rock of Ceuta appeared at five or six kilometers, in the midst of the solar irradiation, over the western horizon.

The two adventure seekers were anxious to set foot on the rock.

Suddenly, at a distance of approximately three kilometers, Ben-Zouf, [who had a very piercing sight], stopped and said:

"My captain, look there!"

"What is there, Ben-Zouf? "

"Something which stirs up on the rock ."

"Let us advance ", answered Captain Servadac.

Two kilometers were crossed in a few minutes. Captain Servadac and Ben-Zouf, moderating their speed, stopped again.

"My captain."

"Well, Ben-Zouf?"

"There is positively a man on Ceuta, and who is making great gestures at us. He seems to be stretching his arms like a man who awakes after having slept too long."

"Mordioux! exclaimed Captain Servadac, "Could we have arrived too late? "

Both still advanced, and soon Ben-Zouf exclaimed:

"Ah! my captain, it is a telegraph! "

It was, indeed, a telegraph, similar to those of semaphores, which functioned on the rock of Ceuta.

"Mordioux! the captain exclaimed, but if there is a telegraph, someone has put it there!"

" Unless," said Ben-Zouf, on Gallia telegraphs grow as trees! "

"And if it is moving, then there is somebody making it move!"

"Pardieu! "

Hector Servadac, very disappointed, looked to the north. Here, at the edge of the horizon, was the Rock of Gibraltar, and it seemed to Ben-Zouf, like him, that a second telegraph, installed at the top of the small island, answered the interpellations of the first .

"They occupied Ceuta, exclaimed Captain Servadac, and our arrival is now announced to Gibraltar! "

"Then, my captain?...

"Then, Ben-Zouf, we need to swallow our project of conquest and put on a brave face!"

"However, my captain, if they are only five or six English to defend Ceuta?..."

"No, Ben-Zouf," answered Captain Servadac, "we were anticipated, and, unless my arguments persuade them to yield the place to us, there is nothing to do. "

The discomfited Hector Servadac and Ben-Zouf had arrived at the foot of the rock. At this moment, a sentinel sprang out, as if he had been pushed by a spring.

"Who goes there?

"Friends! France!"

"England! "

These words were exchanged first. Then four men appeared on the upper part of the island.

"What do you want?" asked one of the men, who belonged to the garrison of Gibraltar.

"I wish to speak with your superior," answered Captain Servadac.

"The commander of Ceuta? "

"The commander of Ceuta, since Ceuta has already a commander ."

"I will inform him,", answered the English soldier. A few moments after, the commander of Ceuta, in full dress, advanced to the top of the rocks of his small island.

It was Major Oliphant in person.

There was no more possible doubt. This idea that Captain Servadac had to occupy Ceuta, the English had also had , but they had carried it out before them. The rock occupied, they dug there a station which was made into a solid casemate. Food and fuel were transported there, in the boat of the commander of Gibraltar, before the sea had been solidified by the cold.

Thick smoke coming from the same rock proved that one could make a good fire during the Gallien winter and that the garrison had not suffered from its rigors. And, indeed, these English soldiers presented a reassuring plumpness, and, although he perhaps he did not want to acknowledge it, Major Oliphant had slightly fattened.

Moreover, the English of Ceuta were not too isolated, as at most four leagues or more separated them from Gibraltar. Either while crossing the old strait, or while using the telegraph, they remained in constant communication

It even should be added that Brigadier Murphy and Major Oliphant had not needed to interrupt their game of chess. Their moves, extensively prepared, were transmitted by the telegraph.

In this, the two honorable officers imitated the two American clubs which, in 1846 [sic - 1844], in spite of rain and storm, played "telegraphically" a famous game of chess between Washington and Baltimore.

It is needless to add that Brigadier Murphy and Major Oliphant were still playing the same game begun at the time of the first visit of Captain Servadac to Gibraltar.

However, the major frostily awaited what the two foreigners wanted of him.

"Major Oliphant, I believe?" said Captain Servadac by way of greeting.

"Major Oliphant, Governor of Ceuta ", answered the officer, who added:

"With whom have I the honor to speak?"

"With Captain Servadac, Governor General of "Hot-Land" ."

"Ah! very well," the major answered.

"Sir," then replied Hector Servadac again, would you permit me to be slightly surprised to see you installed in the capacity of commander of what remains of an ancient property of Spain? "

"I allow it to you, Captain."

"Would I dare to ask you of which right?... "

"The right of first occupier."

"It may as well be possible, major Oliphant. But do you not think that the Spaniards, who have become the guests of "Hot-Land", might reclaim it in the future with some reason?... "

"I think not, Captain Servadac."

"And why, please?"

"Because they are the Spaniards who sold this rock of Ceuta freehold to England."

"By contract, Major Oliphant? "

"By contract in good and due form."

"Ah! really?"

"And they have even received in English gold, Captain Servadac, the price of this important transfer."

"So !" cried Ben-Zouf, "that is why Negrete and his companions had so much money in their pockets! "

Indeed, things had passed just as Major Oliphant said. The two officers, one recalls, had secretly made a visit to Ceuta, when the Spaniards were still there. From there this transfer of the island was easy to obtain for the benefit of England.

Therefore, the argument on which Captain Servadac counted a little fell from its own weight. There was complete disappointment of the conqueror and his chief of staff. Therefore he avoided insisting and allowing any suspicion of his projects.

"Can I know", replied Major Oliphant then, "to what I owe the honor of your visit? "

"Major Oliphant," answered Captain Servadac," I came to render service to your companions and to you ."

"Ah!" said the major in the tone of a man who does not need the services of anyone.

"Perhaps, Major Oliphant, you [are not aware of what has happened, and] are ignorant of the fact that the rocks of Ceuta and Gibraltar are coursing through the solar world on the surface of a comet? "

"A comet?" the major repeated with a smile of perfect incredulity

In a few words, Captain Servadac made known the results of the encounter of the Earth with Gallia - - to which the English officer did not even raise an eyebrow. Then he added that almost certainly there were prospects for a return to earth, and that it might be advisable that the people of Gallia put their efforts together to avoid the dangers of the new collision.

"Thus, Major Oliphant, does your small garrison and that of Gibraltar want to emigrate to the "Hot-Land"?...

"I could not thank you too much, Captain Servadac , answered Major Oliphant coldly, but we cannot abandon our post."

"And why? "

"We do not have an order of our government, and the message which we intended for Admiral Fairfax still awaits the passage of the mail."

"But I repeat you that we are no longer on the earth, and that before two months the comet will again have met with the earth! "

"That does not astonish me, Captain Servadac , because England had to do everything to recover it!"

It was obvious that the major did not believe a word of what the captain told him.

"As you wish!" he resumed. "You obstinately want to keep these two stations of Ceuta and Gibraltar?"

"Obviously, Captain Servadac , since they control the entrance to the Mediterranean ."

"Oh! Perhaps there will not be a Mediterranean any more, Major Oliphant! "

"There will always be the Mediterranean, if it suits England! -- But forgive me, Captain Servadac. Brigadier Murphy is just sending me by telegraph his formidable move. You will allow... "

Captain Servadac, twisting his moustache as though to tear it off, returned to Major Oliphant the salute he had received. The English soldiers returned to their casemate, and the two conquerors found themselves alone at the foot of the rocks .

"Eh well, Ben-Zouf? "

"Eh well, my captain! With your permission, a beautiful rotten campaign we made there! "

"Let us go, Ben-Zouf. "

"Let us go, my captain ", answered Ben-Zouf, who did not think any more of singing [the refrain of the Zephyrs of Africa].

And they returned, as they had come, without having had the opportunity to deploy their flag.

No incident announced their return, and, November 9, they stepped on onto the shore of "Hot-Land".

It should be added that they arrived to meet with the furious rage of Palmyrin Rosette! And, frankly, it is necessary to acknowledge that he had some reason!

It will be recalled that the professor had taken a series of observations and calculations of Nérina. However, he had just finished them and finally had all the elements of his satellite!...

But Nérina, which should have reappeared the day before, had not returned over the horizon of Gallia. Undoubtedly captured by some more powerful asteroid, it had escaped while crossing the zone of the telescopic planets!

CHAPTER XVII