Hard At Work

: JUNITER
: A Journey In Other Worlds

In a few moments Ayrault returned with pencils, a pair of

compasses, and paper.



"Let us see, in the first place," said Deepwaters, "how long the

journey will take. Since a stone falls 16.09 feet the first

second, and 64+ feet the next, it is easy to calculate at what

rate your speed would increase with the repulsion twice that of

the ordinary traction. But I think this would be too slow. It
/> will be best to treble or quadruple the apergetic charge, which

can easily be done, in which case your speed will exceed the

muzzle-velocity of a projectile from a long-range gun, in a few

seconds. As the earth's repulsion decreases, the attraction of

mars and Jupiter will increase, and, there being no resistance,

your gait will become more and more rapid till it is necessary to

reverse the charge to avoid being dashed to pieces or being

consumed like a falling star by the friction in passing through

Jupiter's atmosphere. You can be on the safe side by checking

your speed in advance. You must, of course, be careful to avoid

collisions with meteors and asteroids but if you do, they will be

of use to you, for by attracting or repelling them you can change

your course to suit yourself, and also theirs in inverse ratio to

their masses. Jupiter's moons will be like head and stern lines

in enabling you to choose the part of the surface on which you

wish to land. With apergy it is as essential to have some heavy

body on which to work, within range, as to have water about a

ship's propellers. Whether, when apergy is developed,

gravitation is temporarily annulled, or reversed like the late

attraction of a magnet when the current is changed, or whether it

is merely overpowered, in which case your motion will be the

resultant of the two, is an unsettled and not very important

point; for, though we know but little more of the nature of

electricity than was known a hundred years ago, this does not

prevent our producing and using it."



"Jupiter, when in opposition," he continued, "is about

380,000,000 miles from us, and it takes light, which travels at

the rate of 190,000 miles a second, just thirty-four minutes to

reach the earth from Jupiter. If we suppose the average speed of

your ship to be one- five-hundredth as great, it will take you

just eleven days, nineteen hours and twenty minutes to make the

journey. You will have a fine view of Mars and the asteroids,

and when 1,169,000 miles from Jupiter, will cross the orbit of

Callisto, the fifth moon in distance from the giant planet. That

will be your best point to steer by."



"I think," said Ayrault, "as that will be the first member of

Jupiter's system we pass, and as it will guide us into port, it

would be a good name for our ship, and you must christen her if

we have her launched."



"No, no," said Deepwaters, "Miss Preston must do that; but we

certainly should have a launch, for you might have to land in the

water, and you must be sure the ship is tight."



"Talking of tight ships," said Bearwarden, passing a decanter of

claret to Stillman, "may remind us that it is time to splice the

'main brace.' There's a bottle of whisky and some water just

behind you," he added to Deepwaters, "while three minutes after I

ring this bell," he said, pressing a button and jerking a handle

marked '8,' "the champagne cocktails will be on the desk."



"I see you know his ways," said Stillman to Bearwarden, drooping

his eyes in Deepwaters's direction.



"Oh, yes, I've been here before," replied Deepwaters. "You see,

we navy men have to hustle now-a-days, and can't pass our time in

a high-backed chair, talking platitudes."



At this moment there was a slight rumbling, and eight champagne

cocktails, with the froth still on, and straws on a separate

plate, shot in and landed on a corner of the desk.



"Help yourselves, gentlemen," said Bearwarden, placing them on a

table; "I hope we shall find them cold."



"Do you know," said Deepwaters to Ayrault, while rapidly making

his cocktail disappear, "the Callisto's cost with its outfit will

be very great, especially if you use glucinum, which, though the

ideal metal for the purpose, comes pretty high? I suggest that

you apply to Congress for an appropriation. This experiment

comes under the 'Promotion of Science Act,' and any bill for it

would certainly pass."



"No, indeed," replied Ayrault; "the Callisto trip will be a

privilege and glory I would not miss, and building her will be a

part of it. I shall put in everything conducive to success, but

will come to the Government only for advice."



"I will send a letter to all our ambassadors and consuls," said

Stillman, "to telegraph the department anything they may know or

learn that will be of use in adjusting the batteries, controlling

the machine, or anything else, and will turn over to you in a

succinct form all information that may be relevant, for without

such sorting you would be overwhelmed."



"And I," said Deepwaters, "will order the commanders of our

vessels to give you a farewell salute at starting, and to pick

you up in case you fail. When you have demonstrated the

suitability of apergy," he continued, "and the habitability of

Jupiter and Saturn--,which, with their five and eight moons,

respectively, and rings thrown in, must both be vastly superior

to our little second-rate globe--we will see what can be done

towards changing our orbit, and if we cannot swing a little

nearer to our new world or worlds. Then we'll lower, or rather

raise, the boats in the shape of numerous Callistos, and have a

landing-party ready at each opposition, while a man or two can be

placed in charge of each projectile to bring it back in ballast.

Thus we may soon have regular interplanetary lines."



"As every place seems to have been settled from some other," said

Cortlandt, "I do not see why, with increased scientific

facilities, history should not repeat itself, and this be the

point from which to colonize the solar system; for, for the

present at least, it would seem that we could not get beyond

that."



"As it will be quite an undertaking to change the orbit, said

Deepwaters, "we shall have time meanwhile to absorb or run out

all inferior races, so that we shall not make the mistake of

extending the Tower of Babel."



"He is putting on his war-paint," said Stillman, "and will soon

want a planet to himself."



"I see no necessity for even changing the orbit," said

Bearwarden, "except for the benefit of those that remain. If

this attempt succeeds, it can doubtless be repeated. An increase

in eccentricity would merely shorten the journey, if aphelion

always coincided with opposition, which it would not."



"Let us know how you are getting on," said Deepwaters to Ayrault,

"and be sure you have the Callisto properly christened. Step

lively there, landlubbers!" he called to Stillman; "I have an

appointment at Washington at one, and it is now twenty minutes

past twelve. We can lunch on the way."



Ayrault immediately advertised for bids for the construction of a

glucinum cylinder twenty-five feet in diameter, fifteen feet high

at the sides, with a domed roof, bringing up the total height to

twenty-one feet, and with a small gutter about it to catch the

rain on Jupiter or any other planet they might visit. The sides,

roof, and floor were to consist of two sheets, each one third of

an inch thick and six inches apart, the space between to be

filled with mineral wool, as a protection against the intense

cold of space. There were also to be several keels and supports

underneath, on which the car should rest. Large, toughened

plate-glass windows were to be let into the roof and sides, and

smaller ones in the floor, all to be furnished with thick shades

and curtains. Ayrault also decided to have it divided into two

stories, with ceilings six and a half to seven and a half feet

high, respectively, with a sort of crow's nest or observatory at

the top; the floors to be lattice- work, like those in the

engine-room of a steamer, so that when the carpets were rolled up

they should not greatly obstruct the view. The wide, flat base

and the low centre of gravity would, he saw, be of use in

withstanding the high winds that he knew often prevailed on

Jupiter.



As soon as possible he awarded the contract, and then entering

his smart electric trap, steered for Vassar University along what

was the old post-road--though its builders would not have

recognized it with its asphalt surface, straightened curves, and

easy grades--to ask his idol to christen the Callisto when it

should be finished.



Starting from the upper end of Central Park, he stopped to buy

her a bunch of violets, and then ran to Poughkeepsie in two

hours.



Sylvia Preston was a lovely girl, with blue eyes, brown hair, and

perfect figure, clear white skin, and just twenty. She was

delighted to see him, and said she would love to christen the

Callisto or do anything else that he wished. "But I am so sorry

you are going away," she went on. "I hate to lose you for so

long, and we shall not even be able to write."



"Why couldn't we be married now," he asked, "and go to Jupiter

for our honeymoon?"



"I'm afraid, dear," she answered, "you would be sorry a few years

hence if I didn't take my degree; and, besides, as you have asked

those other men, there wouldn't be room for me."



"We could have made other arrangements," he replied, "had I been

able to persuade you to go."



"Won't you dine with us at Delmonico's this evening, and go to

the play?" she asked. "Papa has taken a box."



"Of course I will," he said, brightening up. "What are you going

to wear?"



"Oh, I suppose something light and cool, for it's so hot," she

answered.



"I'll go now, so as to be ready," he said, getting up and going

towards the door to which Sylvia followed him.



A man in livery stood at the step of the phaeton. Ayrault got in

and turned on the current, and his man climbed up behind.



On turning into the main road Ayrault was about to increase his

speed, when Sylvia, who had taken a short cut appeared at the

wayside carrying her hat in one hand and her gloves in the other.



"I couldn't let you go all by yourself," she said. "The fact is,

I wanted to be with you."



"You are the sweetest thing that ever lived, and I'll love you

all my days," he said, getting down and helping Sylvia to the

seat beside him. "What a nuisance this fellow behind is!" he

continued--referring to the groom-- "for, though he is a Russian,

and speaks but little English, it is unpleasant to feel he is

there."



"You'll have to write your sweet nothings, instead of saying

them," Sylvia replied.



"For you to leave around for other girls to see," answered

Ayrault with a smile.



"I don't know what your other girls do," she returned, "but with

me you are safe."



Ayrault fairly made his phaeton spin, going up the grades like a

shot and down like a bird. On reaching New York, he left Sylvia

at her house, then ran his machine to a florist's, where he

ordered some lilies and roses, and then steered his way to his

club, where he dressed for dinner. Shortly before the time he

repaired to Delmonico's--which name had become historical, though

the founders themselves were long dead--and sat guard at a table

till Sylvia, wearing his flowers and looking more beautiful than

any of them, arrived with her mother and father, and Bearwarden,

whom they knew very well.



"How are the exams getting on, Miss Preston?" Bearwarden asked.



"Pretty well," she replied, with a smile. "We had English

literature yesterday, and natural history the day before. Next

week we have chemistry and philosophy."



"What are you taking in natural history?" asked Bearwarden, with

interest.



"Oh, principally physical geography, geology, and meteorology,"

she replied. "I think them entrancing."



"It must be a consolation," said Ayrault, "when your best hat is

spoiled by rain, to know the reason why. Your average," he

continued, addressing Sylvia, "was ninety in the semi-annuals,

and I haven't a doubt that the finals will maintain your record

for the year."



"Don't be too sure," she replied. "I have been loafing awfully,

and had to engage a 'grind' as a coach."



After dinner they went to the play, where they saw a presentation

of Society at the Close of the Twentieth Century, which Sylvia

and Ayrault enjoyed immensely.



A few days after the Delmonico dinner, while Bearwarden,

Cortlandt, and Ayrault sat together discussing their plans, the

servant announced Ayrault's family physician, Dr. Tubercle

Germiny, who had been requested to call.



"Delighted to see you, doctor," said Ayrault, shaking hands.

"You know Col. Bearwarden, our President, and Dr. Cortlandt--an

LL. D., however, and not a medico."



"I have had the pleasure," replied Dr. Germiny, shaking hands

with both.



"As you may be aware, doctor," said Ayrault, when they were

seated, "we are about to take a short trip to Jupiter, and, if

time allows, to Saturn. We have come to you, as one familiar

with every known germ, for a few precautionary suggestions and

advice concerning our medicine-chest."



"Indeed!" replied Dr. Germiny, "a thorough knowledge of

bacteriology is the groundwork of therapeutics. It is

practically admitted that every ailment, with the exception of

mechanical injuries, is the direct result of a specific germ; and

even in accidents and simple fractures, no matter what may be the

nature of the bruise, a micro-organism soon announces its

presence, so that if not the parent, it is the inseparable

companion, in fact the shadow, of disease. Now, though not the

first cause in this instance, it has been indubitably proved,

that much of the effect, the fever and pain, are produced and

continued by the active, omnipresent, sleepless sperm. Either

kill the micrococcus or heal the wound, and you are free from

both. It being, therefore, granted that the ills of life are in

the air, we have but to find the peculiar nature of the case in

hand, its habits, tastes, and constitution, in order to destroy

it. Impoverish the soil on which it thrives, before its arrival,

if you can foresee the nature of the inoculation to which you

will be exposed, by a dilute solution of itself, and supply it

only with what it particularly dislikes. For an already

established tubercle requiring rapid action of the blood, such as

may well exist among the birds and vertebrates of Jupiter and

Saturn, I suggest a hypodermic rattlesnake injection, while

hydrocyanic acid and tarantula saliva may also come in well. The

combinations that so long destroyed us have already become our

panacea."



"I see you have these poisons at your fingers' ends," said

Ayrault, "and we shall feel the utmost confidence in the remedies

and directions you prescribe."



They found that, in addition to their medicine-chest, they would

have to make room for the following articles, and also many more:

six shot-guns (three double-barrel 12-bores, three magazine

10-bores,) three rifles, three revolvers; a large supply of

ammunition (explosive and solid balls), hunting-knives,

fishing-tackle, compass, sextant, geometrical instruments, canned

food for forty days, appliance for renewing air, clothing, rubber

boots, apergetic apparatus, protection-wires, aneroid barometer,

and kodaks.



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