Suspense

: BOOK II

When the balloon had reached an elevation of about 2,500 yards,

Lieutenant Procope determined to maintain it at that level. A wire-work

stove, suspended below the casing, and filled with lighted hay, served

to keep the air in the interior at a proper temperature.



Beneath their feet was extended the basin of the Gallian Sea. An

inconsiderable speck to the north marked the site of Gourbi Island.

Ceuta and G braltar, which might have been expected in the west, had

utterly disappeared. On the south rose the volcano, the extremity of the

promontory that jutted out from the continent that formed the framework

of the sea; whilst in every direction the strange soil, with its

commixture of tellurium and gold, gleamed under the sun's rays with a

perpetual iridescence.



Apparently rising with them in their ascent, the horizon was

well-defined. The sky above them was perfectly clear; but away in the

northwest, in opposition to the sun, floated a new sphere, so small that

it could not be an asteroid, but like a dim meteor. It was the fragment

that the internal convulsion had rent from the surface of the comet,

and which was now many thousands of leagues away, pursuing the new orbit

into which it had been projected. During the hours of daylight it

was far from distinct, but after nightfall it would assume a definite

luster.



The object, however, of supreme interest was the great expanse of the

terrestrial disc, which was rapidly drawing down obliquely towards them.

It totally eclipsed an enormous portion of the firmament above, and

approaching with an ever-increasing velocity, was now within half its

average distance from the moon. So close was it, that the two poles

could not be embraced in one focus. Irregular patches of greater or

less brilliancy alternated on its surface, the brighter betokening the

continents, the more somber indicating the oceans that absorbed the

solar rays. Above, there were broad white bands, darkened on the side

averted from the sun, exhibiting a slow but unintermittent movement;

these were the vapors that pervaded the terrestrial atmosphere.



But as the aeronauts were being hurried on at a speed of 70 miles

a second, this vague aspect of the earth soon developed itself into

definite outlines. Mountains and plains were no longer confused, the

distinction between sea and shore was more plainly identified, and

instead of being, as it were, depicted on a map, the surface of the

earth appeared as though modelled in relief.



Twenty-seven minutes past two, and Gallia is only 72,000 miles from the

terrestrial sphere; quicker and quicker is the velocity; ten minutes

later, and they are only 36,000 miles apart!



The whole configuration of the earth is clear.



"Europe! Russia! France!" shout Procope, the count, and Servadac, almost

in a breath.



And they are not mistaken. The eastern hemisphere lies before them

in the full blaze of light, and there is no possibility of error in

distinguishing continent from continent.



The surprise only kindled their emotion to yet keener intensity, and it

would be hard to describe the excitement with which they gazed at the

panorama that was before them. The crisis of peril was close at hand,

but imagination overleaped all consideration of danger; and everything

was absorbed in the one idea that they were again within reach of that

circle of humanity from which they had supposed themselves severed

forever.



And, truly, if they could have paused to study it, that panorama of

the states of Europe which was outstretched before their eyes, was

conspicuous for the fantastic resemblances with which Nature on the one

hand, and international relations on the other, have associated them.

There was England, marching like some stately dame towards the east,

trailing her ample skirts and coroneted with the cluster of her little

islets; Sweden and Norway, with their bristling spine of mountains,

seemed like a splendid lion eager to spring down from the bosom of the

ice-bound north; Russia, a gigantic polar bear, stood with its head

towards Asia, its left paw resting upon Turkey, its right upon Mount

Caucasus; Austria resembled a huge cat curled up and sleeping a watchful

sleep; Spain, with Portugal as a pennant, like an unfurled banner,

floated from the extremity of the continent; Turkey, like an insolent

cock, appeared to clutch the shores of Asia with the one claw, and the

land of Greece with the other; Italy, as it were a foot and leg encased

in a tight-fitting boot, was juggling deftly with the islands of Sicily,

Sardinia, and Corsica; Prussia, a formidable hatchet imbedded in the

heart of Germany, its edge just grazing the frontiers of France; whilst

France itself suggested a vigorous torso with Paris at its breast.



All at once Ben Zoof breaks the silence: "Montmartre! I see Montmartre!"

And, smile at the absurdity as others might, nothing could induce the

worthy orderly to surrender his belief that he could actually make out

the features of his beloved home.



The only individual whose soul seemed unstirred by the approaching earth

was Palmyrin Rosette. Leaning over the side of the car, he kept his eyes

fixed upon the abandoned comet, now floating about a mile and a half

below him, bright in the general irradiation which was flooding the

surrounding space.



Chronometer in hand, Lieutenant Procope stood marking the minutes and

seconds as they fled; and the stillness which had once again fallen upon

them all was only broken by his order to replenish the stove, that the

montgolfier might retain its necessary level. Servadac and the count

continued to gaze upon the earth with an eagerness that almost amounted

to awe. The balloon was slightly in the rear of Gallia, a circumstance

that augured somewhat favorably, because it might be presumed that if

the comet preceded the balloon in its contact with the earth, there

would be a break in the suddenness of transfer from one atmosphere to

the other.



The next question of anxiety was, where would the balloon alight? If

upon terra firma, would it be in a place where adequate resources for

safety would be at hand? If upon the ocean, would any passing vessel be

within hail to rescue them from their critical position? Truly, as the

count observed to his comrades, none but a Divine Pilot could steer them

now.



"Forty-two minutes past!" said the lieutenant, and his voice seemed to

thrill through the silence of expectation.



There were not 20,000 miles between the comet and the earth!



The calculated time of impact was 2 hours 47 minutes 35.6 seconds. Five

minutes more and collision must ensue!



But was it so? Just at this moment, Lieutenant Procope observed that the

comet deviated sensibly in an oblique course. Was it possible that after

all collision would not occur?



The deviation, however, was not great; it did not justify any

anticipation that Gallia would merely graze the earth, as it had done

before; it left it certain that the two bodies would inevitably impinge.



"No doubt," said Ben Zoof, "this time we shall stick together."



Another thought occurred. Was it not only too likely that, in the fusion

of the two atmospheres, the balloon itself, in which they were being

conveyed, would be rent into ribbons, and every one of its passengers

hurled into destruction, so that not a Gallian should survive to tell

the tale of their strange peregrinations?



Moments were precious; but Hector Servadac resolved that he would adopt

a device to secure that at least some record of their excursion in solar

distances should survive themselves.



Tearing a leaf from his note-book, he wrote down the name of the comet,

the list of the fragments of the earth it had carried off, the names

of his companions, and the date of the comet's aphelion; and having

subscribed it with his signature, turned to Nina and told her he must

have the carrier-pigeon which was nestling in her bosom.



The child's eyes filled with tears; she did not say a word, but

imprinting a kiss upon its soft plumage, she surrendered it at once, and

the message was hurriedly fastened to its neck. The bird wheeled round

and round in a few circles that widened in their diameter, and quickly

sunk to an altitude in the comet's atmosphere much inferior to the

balloon.



Some minutes more were thus consumed and the interval of distance was

reduced to less than 8,000 miles.



The velocity became inconceivably great, but the increased rate of

motion was in no way perceptible; there was nothing to disturb the

equilibrium of the car in which they were making their aerial adventure.



"Forty-six minutes!" announced the lieutenant.



The glowing expanse of the earth's disc seemed like a vast funnel,

yawning to receive the comet and its atmosphere, balloon and all, into

its open mouth.



"Forty-seven!" cried Procope.



There was half a minute yet. A thrill ran through every vein. A

vibration quivered through the atmosphere. The montgolfier, elongated

to its utmost stretch, was manifestly being sucked into a vortex. Every

passenger in the quivering car involuntarily clung spasmodically to its

sides, and as the two atmospheres amalgamated, clouds accumulated in

heavy masses, involving all around in dense obscurity, while flashes of

lurid flame threw a weird glimmer on the scene.



In a mystery every one found himself upon the earth again. They could

not explain it, but here they were once more upon terrestrial soil; in

a swoon they had left the earth, and in a similar swoon they had come

back!



Of the balloon not a vestige remained, and contrary to previous

computation, the comet had merely grazed the earth, and was traversing

the regions of space, again far away!