a journey in other worlds-第52章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
propelled itself as with a spring。 The quadrupeds had also
sometimes wings； and their bones were hollow； like those of
birds。 Whether this great motive and lifting power was the
result of the planet's size and the power of gravitation； or
whether some creatures had in addition the power of developing a
degree of apergetic repulsion to offset it； as they suspected in
the case of the boa…constrictor that fell upon Cortlandt on
Jupiter； they could not absolutely ascertain。 Life was far less
prolific on Saturn than on Jupiter； doubtless as a result of its
greater distance from the sun； and of its extremes of climate；
almost all organic life being driven to the latitudes near the
equator。 There were； as on Jupiter； many variations from the
forms of life to which they were accustomed； and adaptations to
the conditions in which they found themselves； but； with the
exception of the strange manifestations of spirit life； they
found the workings of the fundamental laws the same。 Often when
they woke at night the air was luminous； and they were convinced
that if they remained there long enough it would be easy to
devise some telegraphic code of light…flashes by which they could
communicate with the spirit world； and so get ideas from the host
of spirits that had already solved the problem of life and death；
but who were not as yet sufficiently developed to be able to
return to the earth。 One day they stopped to investigate what
they had supposed to be an optical illusion。 They observed that
leaves and other light substances floated several inches above
the surface of the water in the pools。 On coming to the edge and
making tests； they found a light liquid； as invisible as air；
superimposed upon the water； with sufficient buoyancy to sustain
dry wood and also some forms of life。 They also observed that
insects coming close to the surface and apparently inhaling it；
rapidly increased in size and weight； from which they concluded
it must throw off nitrogen； carbon； or some other nourishment in
the form of gas。 The depth upon the water was unaffected by
rain； which passed through it； but depended rather on the
condition of the atmosphere； from which it was evidently
condensed。 There seemed also to be a relation between the amount
of this liquid and the activity of the spirits。 Finally； when
their ammunition showed signs of running low； they decided to
return to the Callisto； go in it to the other side of the planet；
and resume their investigations there。 Accordingly； they set out
to retrace their steps； returning by a course a few miles to one
side of the way they had come； and making the cave their
objective point。 Arriving there one evening about sunset； they
pitched their camp。 The cave was sheltered and comfortable； and
they made preparation for passing the night。
〃I shall be sorry；〃 said Ayrault； as they sat near their fire；
〃to leave this place without again seeing the bishop。 He said we
could impress him anywhere； but it may be more difficult to do
that at the antipodes than here。〃
〃It does seem；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃as though we should be missing
it in not seeing him again； if that is possible。 Nothing but a
poison…storm brought him the first time； and it is not certain
that even in such an emergency would he come again uncalled。〃
〃I think；〃 said Ayrault； 〃as none of the spirits here are
malevolent； they would warn us of danger if they could。 The
bishop's spirit seems to have been the only one with sufficiently
developed power to reappear as a man。 I therefore suggest that
to…morrow we try to make him feel our thought and bring him to
us。〃
CHAPTER VII。
THE SPIRIT'S SECOND VISIT。
Accordingly； the next morning they concentrated their minds
simultaneously on the spirit； wishing with all their strength
that he should reappear。
〃Whether he be far or near；〃 said Ayrault； 〃he must feel that；
for we are using the entire force of our
minds。〃
Shadows began to form； and dancing prismatic colours appeared；
but as yet there was no sign of the deceased bishop； when
suddenly he took shape among them； his appearance and
disappearance being much like that of stereopticon views on the
sheet before a lantern。 He held himself erect； and his
thoughtful； dignified face had the same calm expression it had
worn before。
〃We attracted your attention；〃 said Ayrault； 〃in the way you said
we might； because we longed so to see you。〃
〃Yes；〃 added Bearwarden and Cortlandt； 〃we felt we MUST see you
again。〃
〃I am always at your service；〃 replied the spirit； 〃and will
answer your questions。 With regard to my visibility and
invisibility〃he continued； with a smile； 〃for I will not wait
for you to ask the explanation of what is in your mindsit is
very simple。 A man's soul can never die； a manifestation of the
soul is the spirit； this has entity； consciousness； and will； and
these also live forever。 As in the natural or material life； as
I shall call it； will affects the material first。 Thus； a child
has power to move its hand or a material object； as a toy； before
it can become the medium in a psychological seance。 So it is
here。 Before becoming visible to your eyes； I； by my will； draw
certain material substances in the form of gases from the ground；
water； or air around me。 These take any shape I wishnot
necessarily that of man； though it is more natural to appear as
we did on earthand may absorb a portion of light； and so be
able to cast a shadow or break up the white rays into prismatic
colours； or they may be wholly invisible。 By an effort of the
will； then； I combine and condense these gaseswhich consist
principally of oxygen； hydrogen； nitrogen； and carboninto
flesh； blood； water； or anything else。 You have already learned
on earth that； by the application of heat； every solid and every
liquid substance； which is solid or liquid simply because of the
temperature at which you find it； can be expanded into gas or
gases； and that by cold and pressure every gas can be reduced to
a liquid or a solid。 On earth the state of a substance； whether
solid； liquid； or gaseous； depends simply upon those two
conditions。 Here neither thermal nor barometric changes are
required； for； by mastering the new natural laws that at death
become patent to our senses； we have all the necessary control。
It requires but an effort of my will to be almost instantly
clothed in human form； and but another effort to rearrange the
molecules in such a way as to make the envelope visible。 Some
who have been dead longer； or had a greater natural aptitude than
I； have advanced further； and all are learning； but the
difference in the rate at which spirits acquire control of
previously unknown natural laws varies far more than among
individuals on earth。
〃These forms of organic life do not disintegrate till after
death； here in the natural state they break down and dissolve
into their structural elements in full bloom； as was done by the
fungi。 The poisonous element in the deadly gust； against which I
warned you； came from the gaseous ingredients of toadstools；
which but seldom； and then only when the atmosphere has the
greatest affinity for them； dissolve automatically； producing a
death…spreading wave； against which your meteorological
instruments in future can warn you。 The slight fall you noticed
in temperature was because the specific heat of these gases is
high； and to become gas while in the solid state they had to
withdraw some warmth from the air。 The fatal breath of the
winged lizardsor dragons； as you call themresults from the
same cause； the action of their digestion breaking up the fungus；
which does not kill them； because they exhale the poisonous part
in gaseous form with their breath。 The mushrooms dissolve more
easily； the natural separation that takes place as they reach a
certain stage in their development being precipitated by
concussion or shock。
〃Having seen that； as on earth； we gain control of the material
first； our acquisitiveness then extends to a better understanding
and appreciation of our new senses； and we
