Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Page 5
7. A Priceless Treasure
One day, you’re enjoying a little time outside on the submarine’s platform. In the distance, you see a range of mountains about two thousand feet high. You consult your map and learn that you’re nearing the Island of Ceylon off the Indian Peninsula.
Captain Nemo joins you on the platform. He glances at your map and says, “The Island of Ceylon is famous for its pearl fisheries.”
You’ve read about the pearl fisheries and would like to see them. But you worry about the captain’s reaction. He seems unstable lately. Asking him for favors might not be a wise choice. You don’t know how he will react. He may lock you up again—or worse!
But then, he also knows that you are a scientist and are curious about all marine life. He might expect you to want to see the fisheries. Will you ask for this favor? Or is it better left unsaid? What will you choose to do?
Ask to see the pearl fisheries.
Remain silent.
“That’s interesting,” you say, not wanting to ask the captain for any favors.
“I thought you would think so,” replies Captain Nemo. It seems as if he is waiting for you to say more.
You say nothing but turn to walk away.
“How long have you been planning your escape, Mr. Arronax?” he asks
“What?”
“Don’t lie to me!” thunders Captain Nemo, as anger fills his eyes.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you protest. “I am not planning an escape.”
“Your lack of interest says otherwise.” The captain signals with his hand, and you are surrounded by stony-faced crewmen.
“The pearl fisheries are a wonder any scientist would want to see,” Captain Nemo hisses.
You gasp as you realize your fatal mistake. It was out of character for you to remain silent. He knows your mind has changed about him.
“If escape is your wish, we will not stand in your way,” says the captain.
Ned and Conseil emerge on the platform to join you, led by a few more of Nemo’s men.
The captain gives an order, and you feel strong hands push you from behind. You tumble helplessly into the dark and waiting waves, and then you watch as the Nautilus disappears beneath the ocean
You and your companions swim for hours, for days even. But there is no hope. Your limbs grow numb and your strength fades. Saltwater fills your mouth as you struggle against the ocean waves. Soon, the cold, dark water swallows you, and you disappear below the waves forever.
Try again.
Your curiosity gets the better of you. You ask the captain to see the fisheries.
To your surprise, he agrees. Captain Nemo looks out over the waves. “By the way, there will be sharks.”
The wind lifts your hair, and you shiver.
You find Conseil and Ned in the drawing room, talking excitedly about visiting the pearl fishery. The captain has already told them the news.
“Can you give us any details?” asks Conseil.
You give Conseil and Ned a quick lesson in pearls.
“Can there be more than one pearl per oyster?” Ned asks you.
“Yes. In fact, there’s a rumor about one oyster that contained no less than one hundred sharks.”
“Sharks?” asks Conseil.
You laugh nervously. “Did I say sharks? I meant pearls. It wouldn’t make sense for an oyster to have sharks in it.” You laugh again.
“What’s going on?” asks Ned.
You shift uncomfortably. “Well, Ned, are you afraid of sharks?”
“I’m a harpooner. It’s my job not to be.”
“It’s not a matter of harpooning them from the safety of your boat.”
Understanding suddenly dawns on Ned’s face. “Then you mean...”
“Exactly,” you say.
“We’d better bring a good harpoon,” says Ned. “Sharks turn on their bellies to seize you and—”
“I get it,” you say. The way Ned says the word “seize” makes your stomach flip.
Conseil’s face is white. He gives you a shaky smile.
***
The next day, you meet Captain Nemo in the drawing room. He takes you up to the platform. Ned, Conseil, and five crewmen wait for you there. They’ve prepared the boat and loaded the diving suits. Captain Nemo explains that you’ll be able to get closer to the pearl fishery in the small boat than you would with the submarine.
You, Captain Nemo, Ned, and Conseil take your places at the stern. One crewman mans the tiller, and the others pull at the oars. Soon you’re gliding out over the ocean.
When you’ve rowed within five miles of the coast of the Island of Manaar, Captain Nemo rises from his seat. He makes a motion to his crew, and they drop anchor. The water is only about a yard deep.
With the help of the crewmen, you and your companions put on your heavy diving suits. None of the crewmen will be going with you.
You feel a twinge of unease. You feel even more nervous when Captain Nemo says you won’t be bringing your lights, either.
He grins. “The sun will light our way. Besides, if we use lights here, the brightness may attract the more dangerous creatures of this coast.”
“Are we at least bringing guns?” you ask. Ned and Conseil already have their helmets on and can’t hear your conversation.
Captain Nemo laughs. “What for?” He hands you a knife. “Put this in your belt. It’s a strong blade.” He clamps his helmet on before you can protest. You glance at Ned. At least he has his harpoon.
The crewmen clamp on your helmet. Captain Nemo waves you forward. Soon you’re beneath the ocean’s surface. You walk downhill for less than an hour to reach the oyster banks, where pearl oysters live by the millions. Captain Nemo points to an enormous heap of oysters. Ned hurriedly stuffs a net full of them.
The captain leads on. You follow him down a steep hill and into a dark canyon full of waving plants that drown out the sun’s rays. The canyon ends in a circular pit. Captain Nemo points to an object in the pit. You squint through the gloom and realize you’re seeing a giant oyster—it must weigh at least 600 pounds!
You can’t image the pearl that must be inside that oyster. It would be a treasure beyond belief. You want it for yourself; should you reach into the oyster to search for the pearl? Or do you let Captain Nemo take the lead—even if it means he will claim the treasure as his own? What will you choose to do?
Let Nemo search for the pearl.
Search for the pearl yourself.
The shell is open just a crack. You quickly reach in before Captain Nemo can protest. You feel under the oyster’s membrane and find something solid. It’s a pearl about the size of a coconut. You guess it could be worth millions of dollars! Or it would be, if you could pull the huge pearl from the giant creature.
As you get a firm grip on the treasure, disaster strikes. The oyster’s shell closes, clamping down on your arm. The pressure is intense, and you scream inside your helmet. You feel as if your arm is about to snap in two.
Ned and Conseil hurry to you and tug on your arm, trying to yank it free. It doesn’t budge.
Through blinding pain, you glimpse the captain. He looks disappointed. You aren’t sure whether it’s due to your selfish actions or the fact that he will not be able to save you.
You know it’s too far to the boat. You will run out of air before help ever arrives.
After nearly an hour of struggling, you give up hope. No amount of tugging and prying has loosened your arm from the oyster’s grip. Your friends must now save themselves before their air tanks run empty.
With many angry hand gestures, you convince your friends to leave without you. Conseil is the last to go. You see the tears welling in his eyes, but you also see that he has realized your fate.
Try again.
The shell is open a crack, but you decide to wait and watch. Captain Nemo slides his dagger carefully into the opening. This will prevent the oyster from closing all the way. With his other hand, he raises the membrane that forms a cloak for the giant creature.
Between the folds, you glimpse a pearl the size of a coconut. It’s round, clear, and shiny. You reach out to touch it, but Captain Nemo stops you. He removes his dagger, and the oyster shell snaps shut. You think you understand. This treasure should remain where it is.
You follow Captain Nemo back through the dark and winding canyon. You walk for about ten minutes, and then the captain suddenly stops and motions for you to get down. You crouch beside a deep crack in the rock wall and peer through to the other side.
A shadow appears and sinks toward the ocean floor. Your heart pounds at the thought of a shark encounter. Your hand slides to the knife in your belt, just to make sure it’s still there.
But it’s not a shark. It’s a man—a native fisherman collecting oysters. You look up and see the bottom of his canoe. He holds a stone between his feet to help him dive more quickly. A rope extends from the stone to the canoe. The fisherman lets the stone drop at the bottom, fills his net with oysters, and then swims to the surface. He hauls the stone up to the canoe to begin the process all over again.
An enormous shark appears from the shadows. It swims straight at the fisherman with its jaws wide open. The fisherman dives to the side to avoid the shark. He gets slammed in the chest by the shark’s tail. He’s knocked out cold and drifts toward the sea floor. The shark makes another run, turning on its back to prepare for the feast.
Beside you, Captain Nemo rises, dagger in hand. He walks straight at the shark. Just as it’s about to cut the poor fisherman in two, the shark senses a new foe and turns toward the captain.
It rushes straight at him. Captain Nemo stands his ground until the last second, then throws himself to the right and plunges the knife deep into the shark’s side.
Blood rushes from the shark’s wound, staining the sea around it. You can see nothing of the fight through the awful red cloud.
Captain Nemo is flung to the ground. The shark circles with its jaws yawning wide. Quick as thought, Ned leaps forward with his harpoon and launches it at the beast. The shark rocks the water with dreadful fury before finally lying still.
Captain Nemo goes to the fisherman, scoops him up and kicks for the surface. You, Ned, and Conseil follow. You help the captain get the fisherman back into his boat. The captain and Conseil take turns pounding on the fisherman’s chest. At last he coughs and splutters, throwing up the seawater he took into his lungs.
The fisherman scrambles back at seeing four copper heads leaning over him. Captain Nemo draws a bag of pearls from his side and presses it into the terrified fisherman’s hand. The fisherman watches you in awe as you sink back beneath the waves.
On the walk back to your own boat, you’re more confused than ever. Captain Nemo claims to hate humanity, yet he not only saved the fisherman, he gave him a small fortune.
8. European Waters
It is dawn, and the Nautilus floats on the surface of the Mediterranean Sea. You, Ned, and Conseil are alone on the platform.
Ned breaks the silence. “We need to talk,” he says.
You know instantly what he’s going to say. He wants to speak of escape. A knot forms in your stomach.
“Listen,” says Ned. “We’re in European waters now. Before our crazy captain drags us to the bottom of the Polar Seas or worse, I want to leave the Nautilus.”
Conseil nods, agreeing with Ned. You aren’t sure you feel the same way. Captain Nemo does seem unstable at times. But thanks to him, you’ve seen wonders that you never would have before. You’re now writing the most complete study ever done on the ocean depths, and you know you’ll never have an opportunity like this again.
“Is it so bad being on board?” you ask Ned.
Ned takes awhile before answering. “I don’t regret the journey so far. But I’m ready for it to be done.”
“It will be done, some day,” you answer.
Ned’s eyes flash. “When?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it will be done when the seas have nothing more to teach us.” Your argument sounds weak, even to you.
Ned presses on. “So what are you hoping for?”
“Well,” you say, “maybe in six months...”
“Six months!” shouts Ned.
Conseil tells him to keep his voice down.
Ned tries his best, but his temper leaks through his next words. “Mr. Arronax, we’re close to Europe. We should take advantage of this chance while we can. Suppose Captain Nemo offered your freedom today. Would you take it?”
“I don’t know,” you reply.
“What if the offer would never be made again? Then would you?” presses Ned.
His question causes you to pause and think for a moment. You are having the adventure of a lifetime, and you are learning so much. Yet, at the same time, you are a prisoner. Captain Nemo can do whatever he wants with you, whenever he chooses to do so.
Should you convince Ned you are right, that your time aboard the Nautilus should not yet end? Or is he right? Should you begin planning your escape right away? What will you choose to do?
Change Ned’s mind.
Listen to Ned’s plan.
The knowledge you’re gaining aboard the Nautilus is priceless, and you want to keep gathering it. Some day, you will share it with the rest of the world. For now, you must convince Ned to stay.
“Listen to me, Ned,” you say. “I believe we can count on the captain to set us free—but we have to be patient and wait for the right moment.”
Ned’s face turns a deep red. His fists clench at his sides. “You think that maniac is ever going to free us?”
“If we’re well-behaved.”
“Well-behaved?” roars Ned. “Are we children?”
“That’s not what I meant,” you say.
Ned strides forward, his temper in full swing. “What did you mean, then?” His voice cracks with anger.
“Only that we must use our heads,” you say calmly, “and not our fists.”
It is the wrong thing to say. Quick as lightning, Ned’s fist shoots out and connects with your jaw. You feel an explosion of pain. As you flail backward, you grab Ned by the front of his jacket. The two of you tumble helplessly off the platform. You land with a splash in the warm Mediterranean waters.
Conseil jumps in after you, just like he did when you fell from the Abraham Lincoln.
The three of you watch together as the Nautilus sails on without you. By the time anyone realizes you’re not on board, the submarine will be miles away. They probably won’t come back for you, thinking you escaped.
You and your companions swim for hours and hours. But without land in sight, there is no hope. Your limbs grow numb and your strength fades. Saltwater fills your mouth as you struggle against the ocean waves. Soon, the cold, dark water swallows you, and you disappear below the waves forever.
Try again.
You sigh and your shoulders sag. “All right, Ned, you win. We can’t count on Captain Nemo to set us free. We’re close to Europe, and we should try to escape. But our first attempt has to succeed. If we try to escape and fail...” You leave the rest unsaid.
“That’s true, whether it’s two months or two days from now,” says Conseil.
“But if an opportunity presents itself, we will take it. Agreed?” asks Ned.
“Agreed,” you say.
***
Over the next few days, it’s almost as if Captain Nemo somehow overheard your conversation. The Nautilus stays far from shore and spends most of the time under the surface.
One night, you and Captain Nemo are alone in the drawing room. Until this point, the windows have been closed. The captain orders them opened and scans the dark waters.
A man appears outside the window—a diver.
“He must be shipwrecked!” you cry. “We have to save him!”
The man looks straight in at you. Captain Nemo gestures with his hand. The diver answers with a signal of his own. He then kicks off from the side of the submarine and shoots toward the surface.
“He’s fine,” says the captain. “That’s Nicholas Pesca, a well-known Greek diver. He lives more in the water than on land.”
Your jaw drops open. “You know him?”
“Yes,” replies Captain Nemo. He strides to the other side of the room and opens a chest bound with iron. He also opens a safe next to it, filled with gold pieces.
You don’t say a word as you watch the captain place gold piece after gold piece neatly into the chest. When it is full, you estimate the treasure to be worth thousands, maybe millions.
Captain Nemo locks the chest and shuts the safe, then writes an address on the lid. Four crewmen enter the drawing room and push the chest out the door. You hear them hoisting it by pulley up the main ladder. Then, without a word, Captain Nemo leaves you.
You know the diver and the gold must have something to do with each other, but you don’t know what.
That night, as you toss and turn in your bed, you hear the small boat leave the Nautilus. Two hours later, you’re still awake to hear the clank of its return.
The next day, you notice the temperature inside the Nautilus is warmer than usual. You wonder if something is wrong with the heating system.