round the moon-第32章
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occupied by the projectile； an oblique position with regard to
the lunar disc； our rockets； in slightly altering its direction；
might turn it from the moon instead of drawing it nearer？〃
〃Just so；〃 replied Michel。
〃Let us wait； then。 By some inexplicable influence； the
projectile is turning its base toward the earth。 It is probable
that at the point of equal attraction； its conical cap will be
directed rigidly toward the moon； at that moment we may hope
that its speed will be _nil_； then will be the moment to act；
and with the influence of our rockets we may perhaps
provoke a fall directly on the surface of the lunar disc。〃
〃Bravo！〃 said Michel。 〃What we did not do； what we could not do
on our first passage at the dead point； because the projectile
was then endowed with too great a speed。〃
〃Very well reasoned；〃 said Nicholl。
〃Let us wait patiently；〃 continued Barbicane。 〃Putting every
chance on our side； and after having so much despaired； I may
say I think we shall gain our end。〃
This conclusion was a signal for Michel Ardan's hips and hurrahs。
And none of the audacious boobies remembered the question that
they themselves had solved in the negative。 No！ the moon is not
inhabited； no！ the moon is probably not habitable。 And yet they
were going to try everything to reach her。
One single question remained to be solved。 At what precise
moment the projectile would reach the point of equal attraction；
on which the travelers must play their last card。 In order to
calculate this to within a few seconds； Barbicane had only to
refer to his notes； and to reckon the different heights taken on
the lunar parallels。 Thus the time necessary to travel over the
distance between the dead point and the south pole would be equal
to the distance separating the north pole from the dead point。
The hours representing the time traveled over were carefully
noted； and the calculation was easy。 Barbicane found that this
point would be reached at one in the morning on the night of the
7th…8th of December。 So that； if nothing interfered with its
course； it would reach the given point in twenty…two hours。
The rockets had primarily been placed to check the fall of the
projectile upon the moon； and now they were going to employ them
for a directly contrary purpose。 In any case they were ready；
and they had only to wait for the moment to set fire to them。
〃Since there is nothing else to be done；〃 said Nicholl； 〃I make
a proposition。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Barbicane。
〃I propose to go to sleep。〃
〃What a motion！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan。
〃It is forty hours since we closed our eyes；〃 said Nicholl。
〃Some hours of sleep will restore our strength。〃
〃Never；〃 interrupted Michel。
〃Well；〃 continued Nicholl； 〃every one to his taste； I shall go
to sleep。〃 And stretching himself on the divan； he soon snored
like a forty…eight pounder。
〃That Nicholl has a good deal of sense；〃 said Barbicane；
〃presently I shall follow his example。〃 Some moments after his
continued bass supported the captain's baritone。
〃Certainly；〃 said Michel Ardan； finding himself alone； 〃these
practical people have sometimes most opportune ideas。〃
And with his long legs stretched out； and his great arms folded
under his head； Michel slept in his turn。
But this sleep could be neither peaceful nor lasting； the minds
of these three men were too much occupied； and some hours after；
about seven in the morning； all three were on foot at the same instant。
The projectile was still leaving the moon； and turning its
conical part more and more toward her。
An explicable phenomenon； but one which happily served
Barbicane's ends。
Seventeen hours more； and the moment for action would have arrived。
The day seemed long。 However bold the travelers might be； they
were greatly impressed by the approach of that moment which
would decide all either precipitate their fall on to the moon；
or forever chain them in an immutable orbit。 They counted the
hours as they passed too slow for their wish； Barbicane and
Nicholl were obstinately plunged in their calculations； Michel
going and coming between the narrow walls； and watching that
impassive moon with a longing eye。
At times recollections of the earth crossed their minds。 They saw
once more their friends of the Gun Club； and the dearest of all；
J。 T。 Maston。 At that moment； the honorable secretary must be
filling his post on the Rocky Mountains。 If he could see the
projectile through the glass of his gigantic telescope； what
would he think？ After seeing it disappear behind the moon's
south pole； he would see them reappear by the north pole！
They must therefore be a satellite of a satellite！ Had J。 T。
Maston given this unexpected news to the world？ Was this the
_denouement_ of this great enterprise？
But the day passed without incident。 The terrestrial
midnight arrived。 The 8th of December was beginning。
One hour more； and the point of equal attraction would
be reached。 What speed would then animate the projectile？
They could not estimate it。 But no error could vitiate
Barbicane's calculations。 At one in the morning this speed
ought to be and would be _nil_。
Besides； another phenomenon would mark the projectile's
stopping…point on the neutral line。 At that spot the two
attractions； lunar and terrestrial； would be annulled。
Objects would 〃weigh〃 no more。 This singular fact； which had
surprised Barbicane and his companions so much in going； would
be repeated on their return under the very same conditions。
At this precise moment they must act。
Already the projectile's conical top was sensibly turned toward
the lunar disc； presented in such a way as to utilize the whole
of the recoil produced by the pressure of the rocket apparatus。
The chances were in favor of the travelers。 If its speed was
utterly annulled on this dead point； a decided movement toward
the moon would suffice； however slight； to determine its fall。
〃Five minutes to one；〃 said Nicholl。
〃All is ready；〃 replied Michel Ardan； directing a lighted match
to the flame of the gas。
〃Wait！〃 said Barbicane； holding his chronometer in his hand。
At that moment weight had no effect。 The travelers felt in
themselves the entire disappearance of it。 They were very near
the neutral point； if they did not touch it。
〃One o'clock；〃 said Barbicane。
Michel Ardan applied the lighted match to a train in
communication with the rockets。 No detonation was heard in
the inside； for there was no air。 But； through the scuttles；
Barbicane saw a prolonged smoke； the flames of which were
immediately extinguished。
The projectile sustained a certain shock； which was sensibly
felt in the interior。
The three friends looked and listened without speaking； and
scarcely breathing。 One might have heard the beating of their
hearts amid this perfect silence。
〃Are we falling？〃 asked Michel Ardan； at length。
〃No；〃 said Nicholl； 〃since the bottom of the projectile is not
turning to the lunar disc！〃
At this moment； Barbicane； quitting his scuttle； turned to his
two companions。 He was frightfully pale； his forehead wrinkled；
and his lips contracted。
〃We are falling！〃 said he。
〃Ah！〃 cried Michel Ardan； 〃on to the moon？〃
〃On to the earth！〃
〃The devil！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； adding philosophically；
〃well； when we came into this projectile we were very doubtful
as to the ease with which we should get out of it！〃
And now this fearful fall had begun。 The speed retained had
borne the projectile beyond the dead point。 The explosion of
the rockets could not divert its course。 This speed in going
had carried it over the neutral line； and in returning had done
the same thing。 The laws of physics condemned it _to pass
through every point which it had already gone through_。 It was
a terrible fall； from a height of 160；000 miles； and no springs
to break it。 According to the laws of gunnery； the projectile
must strike the earth with a speed equal to that with which it
left the mouth of the Columbiad； a speed of 16；000 yards in the
last second。
But to give some figures of comparison； it has been reckoned
that an object thrown
