round the moon-第16章
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carried into the domain of wonders! they felt that weight was
really wanting to their bodies。 If they stretched out their
arms; they did not attempt to fall。 Their heads shook on
their shoulders。 Their feet no longer clung to the floor of
the projectile。 They were like drunken men having no stability
in themselves。
Fancy has depicted men without reflection; others without shadow。
But here reality; by the neutralizations of attractive forces;
produced men in whom nothing had any weight; and who weighed
nothing themselves。
Suddenly Michel; taking a spring; left the floor and remained
suspended in the air; like Murillo's monk of the _Cusine des Anges_。
The two friends joined him instantly; and all three formed a
miraculous 〃Ascension〃 in the center of the projectile。
〃Is it to be believed? is it probable? is it possible?〃
exclaimed Michel; 〃and yet it is so。 Ah! if Raphael had seen us
thus; what an ‘Assumption' he would have thrown upon canvas!〃
〃The ‘Assumption' cannot last;〃 replied Barbicane。 〃If the
projectile passes the neutral point; the lunar attraction will
draw us to the moon。〃
〃Then our feet will be upon the roof;〃 replied Michel。
〃No;〃 said Barbicane; 〃because the projectile's center of
gravity is very low; it will only turn by degrees。〃
〃Then all our portables will be upset from top to bottom; that
is a fact。〃
〃Calm yourself; Michel;〃 replied Nicholl; 〃no upset is to be
feared; not a thing will move; for the projectile's evolution
will be imperceptible。〃
〃Just so;〃 continued Barbicane; 〃and when it has passed the
point of equal attraction; its base; being the heavier; will
draw it perpendicularly to the moon; but; in order that this
phenomenon should take place; we must have passed the neutral line。〃
〃Pass the neutral line;〃 cried Michel; 〃then let us do as the
sailors do when they cross the equator。〃
A slight side movement brought Michel back toward the padded
side; thence he took a bottle and glasses; placed them 〃in
space〃 before his companions; and; drinking merrily; they
saluted the line with a triple hurrah。 The influence of these
attractions scarcely lasted an hour; the travelers felt
themselves insensibly drawn toward the floor; and Barbicane
fancied that the conical end of the projectile was varying a
little from its normal direction toward the moon。 By an inverse
motion the base was approaching first; the lunar attraction was
prevailing over the terrestrial; the fall toward the moon was
beginning; almost imperceptibly as yet; but by degrees the
attractive force would become stronger; the fall would be more
decided; the projectile; drawn by its base; would turn its cone
to the earth; and fall with ever…increasing speed on to the
surface of the Selenite continent; their destination would then
be attained。 Now nothing could prevent the success of their
enterprise; and Nicholl and Michel Ardan shared Barbicane's joy。
Then they chatted of all the phenomena which had astonished them
one after the other; particularly the neutralization of the laws
of weight。 Michel Ardan; always enthusiastic; drew conclusions
which were purely fanciful。
〃Ah; my worthy friends;〃 he exclaimed; 〃what progress we should
make if on earth we could throw off some of that weight; some of
that chain which binds us to her; it would be the prisoner set
at liberty; no more fatigue of either arms or legs。 Or; if it
is true that in order to fly on the earth's surface; to keep
oneself suspended in the air merely by the play of the muscles;
there requires a strength a hundred and fifty times greater than
that which we possess; a simple act of volition; a caprice;
would bear us into space; if attraction did not exist。〃
〃Just so;〃 said Nicholl; smiling; 〃if we could succeed in
suppressing weight as they suppress pain by anaesthesia;
that would change the face of modern society!〃
〃Yes;〃 cried Michel; full of his subject; 〃destroy weight; and
no more burdens!〃
〃Well said;〃 replied Barbicane; 〃but if nothing had any weight;
nothing would keep in its place; not even your hat on your head;
worthy Michel; nor your house; whose stones only adhere by
weight; nor a boat; whose stability on the waves is only caused
by weight; not even the ocean; whose waves would no longer be
equalized by terrestrial attraction; and lastly; not even the
atmosphere; whose atoms; being no longer held in their places;
would disperse in space!〃
〃That is tiresome;〃 retorted Michel; 〃nothing like these
matter…of…fact people for bringing one back to the bare reality。〃
〃But console yourself; Michel;〃 continued Barbicane; 〃for if no
orb exists from whence all laws of weight are banished; you are
at least going to visit one where it is much less than on the earth。〃
〃The moon?〃
〃Yes; the moon; on whose surface objects weigh six times less
than on the earth; a phenomenon easy to prove。〃
〃And we shall feel it?〃 asked Michel。
〃Evidently; as two hundred pounds will only weigh thirty pounds
on the surface of the moon。〃
〃And our muscular strength will not diminish?〃
〃Not at all; instead of jumping one yard high; you will rise
eighteen feet high。〃
〃But we shall be regular Herculeses in the moon!〃 exclaimed Michel。
〃Yes;〃 replied Nicholl; 〃for if the height of the Selenites is
in proportion to the density of their globe; they will be
scarcely a foot high。〃
〃Lilliputians!〃 ejaculated Michel; 〃I shall play the part
of Gulliver。 We are going to realize the fable of the giants。
This is the advantage of leaving one's own planet and
over…running the solar world。〃
〃One moment; Michel;〃 answered Barbicane; 〃if you wish to play
the part of Gulliver; only visit the inferior planets; such as
Mercury; Venus; or Mars; whose density is a little less than
that of the earth; but do not venture into the great planets;
Jupiter; Saturn; Uranus; Neptune; for there the order will be
changed; and you will become Lilliputian。〃
〃And in the sun?〃
〃In the sun; if its density is thirteen hundred and twenty…four
thousand times greater; and the attraction is twenty…seven times
greater than on the surface of our globe; keeping everything in
proportion; the inhabitants ought to be at least two hundred
feet high。〃
〃By Jove!〃 exclaimed Michel; 〃I should be nothing more than a
pigmy; a shrimp!〃
〃Gulliver with the giants;〃 said Nicholl。
〃Just so;〃 replied Barbicane。
〃And it would not be quite useless to carry some pieces of
artillery to defend oneself。〃
〃Good;〃 replied Nicholl; 〃your projectiles would have no effect
on the sun; they would fall back upon the earth after some minutes。〃
〃That is a strong remark。〃
〃It is certain;〃 replied Barbicane; 〃the attraction is so great
on this enormous orb; that an object weighing 70;000 pounds on
the earth would weigh but 1;920 pounds on the surface of the sun。
If you were to fall upon it you would weigh let me see about
5;000 pounds; a weight which you would never be able to raise again。〃
〃The devil!〃 said Michel; 〃one would want a portable crane。
However; we will be satisfied with the moon for the present;
there at least we shall cut a great figure。 We will see about
the sun by and by。〃
CHAPTER IX
THE CONSEQUENCES OF A DEVIATION
Barbicane had now no fear of the issue of the journey; at least
as far as the projectile's impulsive force was concerned; its
own speed would carry it beyond the neutral line; it would
certainly not return to earth; it would certainly not remain
motionless on the line of attraction。 One single hypothesis
remained to be realized; the arrival of the projectile at its
destination by the action of the lunar attraction。
It was in reality a fall of 8;296 leagues on an orb; it is true;
where weight could only be reckoned at one sixth of terrestrial
weight; a formidable fall; nevertheless; and one against which
every precaution must be taken without delay。
These precautions were of two sorts; some to deaden the shock
when the projectile should touch the lunar soil; others to delay
the fall; and consequently make it less violent。
To deaden the shock; it was a pity that Barbicane was no longer
able to employ the means which