a journey in other worlds-第13节

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Ayrault；　〃when　with　your　ideas　we　may　arrive　at　something
definite；〃　saying　which；　he　left　the　room。
　　　
〃He　seems　very　cynical　in　his　ideas　of　life　and　the　world　in
general；〃　said　Secretary　Stillman；　〃for　a　man　of　his　age；　and　one
that　is　engaged。〃
　　　
〃You　see；〃　replied　Bearwarden；　〃his　fiancee　is　not　yet　a　senior；
being　in　the　class　of　two　thousand　and　one　at　Vassar；　and　so
cannot　marry　him　for　a　year。　　Not　till　next　June　can　this　sweet
girl　graduate　come　forth　with　her　mortar…board　and　sheepskin　to
enlighten　the　world　and　make　him　happy。　　That　is；　I　suspect；　one
reason　why　he　proposed　this　trip。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VII。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HARD　AT　WORK。

　　　
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　globewe　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…roadthough　its　builders　would　not　have