第6章

"Yes，"repliedNicholl。

"Verywell，"continuedMichelArdan，"theScientificCommissionassembledintheprojectileoftheGunClub，afterhavingfoundedtheirargumentonfactsrecentlyobserved，decideunanimouslyuponthequestionofthehabitabilityofthemoon——

`_No！_themoonisnothabitable。’"

ThisdecisionwasconsignedbyPresidentBarbicanetohisnotebook，wheretheprocessofthesittingofthe6thofDecembermaybeseen。

"Now，"saidNicholl，"letusattackthesecondquestion，anindispensablecomplementofthefirst。Iaskthehonorablecommission，ifthemoonisnothabitable，hassheeverbeeninhabited，CitizenBarbicane？"

"Myfriends，"repliedBarbicane，"Ididnotundertakethisjourneyinordertoformanopiniononthepasthabitabilityofoursatellite;butIwilladdthatourpersonalobservationsonlyconfirmmeinthisopinion。Ibelieve，indeedIaffirm，thatthemoonhasbeeninhabitedbyahumanraceorganizedlikeourown;thatshehasproducedanimalsanatomicallyformedliketheterrestrialanimals：butIaddthattheseraces，humanandanimal，havehadtheirday，andarenowforeverextinct！"

"Then，"askedMichel，"themoonmustbeolderthantheearth？"

"No！"saidBarbicanedecidedly，"butaworldwhichhasgrownoldquicker，andwhoseformationanddeformationhavebeenmorerapid。

Relatively，theorganizingforceofmatterhasbeenmuchmoreviolentintheinteriorofthemoonthanintheinterioroftheterrestrialglobe。Theactualstateofthiscracked，twisted，andburstdiscabundantlyprovesthis。Themoonandtheearthwerenothingbutgaseousmassesoriginally。Thesegaseshavepassedintoaliquidstateunderdifferentinfluences，andthesolidmasseshavebeenformedlater。Butmostcertainlyourspherewasstillgaseousorliquid，whenthemoonwassolidifiedbycooling，andhadbecomehabitable。"

"Ibelieveit，"saidNicholl。

"Then，"continuedBarbicane，"anatmospheresurroundedit，thewaterscontainedwithinthisgaseousenvelopecouldnotevaporate。

Undertheinfluenceofair，water，light，solarheat，andcentralheat，vegetationtookpossessionofthecontinentspreparedtoreceiveit，andcertainlylifeshoweditselfaboutthisperiod，fornaturedoesnotexpendherselfinvain;andaworldsowonderfullyformedforhabitationmustnecessarilybeinhabited。"

"But，"saidNicholl，"manyphenomenainherentinoursatellitemightcramptheexpansionoftheanimalandvegetablekingdom。

Forexample，itsdaysandnightsof354hours？"

"Attheterrestrialpolestheylastsixmonths，"saidMichel。

"Anargumentoflittlevalue，sincethepolesarenotinhabited。"

"Letusobserve，myfriends，"continuedBarbicane，"thatifintheactualstateofthemoonitslongnightsandlongdayscreateddifferencesoftemperatureinsupportabletoorganization，itwasnotsoatthehistoricalperiodoftime。

Theatmosphereenvelopedthediscwithafluidmantle;vapordepositeditselfintheshapeofclouds;thisnaturalscreentemperedtheardorofthesolarrays，andretainedthenocturnalradiation。Light，likeheat，candiffuseitselfintheair;henceanequalitybetweentheinfluenceswhichnolongerexists，nowthatatmospherehasalmostentirelydisappeared。

AndnowIamgoingtoastonishyou。"

"Astonishus？"saidMichelArdan。

"Ifirmlybelievethatattheperiodwhenthemoonwasinhabited，thenightsanddaysdidnotlast354hours！"

"Andwhy？"askedNichollquickly。

"Becausemostprobablythentherotarymotionofthemoonuponheraxiswasnotequaltoherrevolution，anequalitywhichpresentseachpartofherdiscduringfifteendaystotheactionofthesolarrays。"

"Granted，"repliedNicholl，"butwhyshouldnotthesetwomotionshavebeenequal，astheyarereallyso？"

"Becausethatequalityhasonlybeendeterminedbyterrestrialattraction。Andwhocansaythatthisattractionwaspowerfulenoughtoalterthemotionofthemoonatthatperiodwhentheearthwasstillfluid？"

"Justso，"repliedNicholl;"andwhocansaythatthemoonhasalwaysbeenasatelliteoftheearth？"

"Andwhocansay，"exclaimedMichelArdan，"thatthemoondidnotexistbeforetheearth？"

Theirimaginationscarriedthemawayintoanindefinitefieldofhypothesis。Barbicanesoughttorestrainthem。

"Thosespeculationsaretoohigh，"saidhe;"problemsutterlyinsoluble。Donotletusenteruponthem。Letusonlyadmittheinsufficiencyoftheprimordialattraction;andthenbytheinequalityofthetwomotionsofrotationandrevolution，thedaysandnightscouldhavesucceededeachotheronthemoonastheysucceedeachotherontheearth。Besides，evenwithouttheseconditions，lifewaspossible。"

"Andso，"askedMichelArdan，"humanityhasdisappearedfromthemoon？"

"Yes，"repliedBarbicane，"afterhavingdoubtlessremainedpersistentlyformillionsofcenturies;bydegreestheatmospherebecomingrarefied，thediscbecameuninhabitable，astheterrestrialglobewillonedaybecomebycooling。"

"Bycooling？"

"Certainly，"repliedBarbicane;"astheinternalfiresbecameextinguished，andtheincandescentmatterconcentrateditself，thelunarcrustcooled。Bydegreestheconsequencesofthesephenomenashowedthemselvesinthedisappearanceoforganizedbeings，andbythedisappearanceofvegetation。Soontheatmospherewasrarefied，probablywithdrawnbyterrestrialattraction;thenaerialdepartureofrespirableair，anddisappearanceofwaterbymeansofevaporation。Atthisperiodthemoonbecominguninhabitable，wasnolongerinhabited。

Itwasadeadworld，suchasweseeitto—day。"

"Andyousaythatthesamefateisinstorefortheearth？"

"Mostprobably。"

"Butwhen？"

"Whenthecoolingofitscrustshallhavemadeituninhabitable。"

"Andhavetheycalculatedthetimewhichourunfortunatespherewilltaketocool？"

"Certainly。"

"Andyouknowthesecalculations？"

"Perfectly。"

"Butspeak，then，myclumsysavant，"exclaimedMichelArdan，"foryoumakemeboilwithimpatience！"

"Verywell，mygoodMichel，"repliedBarbicanequietly;"weknowwhatdiminutionoftemperaturetheearthundergoesinthelapseofacentury。Andaccordingtocertaincalculations，thismeantemperaturewillafteraperiodof400，000years，bebroughtdowntozero！"

"Fourhundredthousandyears！"exclaimedMichel。"Ah！I

breatheagain。ReallyIwasfrightenedtohearyou;Iimaginedthatwehadnotmorethan50，000yearstolive。"

BarbicaneandNichollcouldnothelplaughingattheircompanion’suneasiness。ThenNicholl，whowishedtoendthediscussion，putthesecondquestion，whichhadjustbeenconsideredagain。

"Hasthemoonbeeninhabited？"heasked。

Theanswerwasunanimouslyintheaffirmative。Butduringthisdiscussion，fruitfulinsomewhathazardoustheories，theprojectilewasrapidlyleavingthemoon：thelineamentsfadedawayfromthetravelers’eyes，mountainswereconfusedinthedistance;andofallthewonderful，strange，andfantasticalformoftheearth’ssatellite，theresoonremainednothingbuttheimperishableremembrance。

CHAPTERXIX

ASTRUGGLEAGAINSTTHEIMPOSSIBLE

ForalongtimeBarbicaneandhiscompanionslookedsilentlyandsadlyuponthatworldwhichtheyhadonlyseenfromadistance，asMosessawthelandofCanaan，andwhichtheywereleavingwithoutapossibilityofeverreturningtoit。Theprojectile’spositionwithregardtothemoonhadaltered，andthebasewasnowturnedtotheearth。

Thischange，whichBarbicaneverified，didnotfailtosurprisethem。

Iftheprojectilewastogravitateroundthesatelliteinanellipticalorbit，whywasnotitsheaviestpartturnedtowardit，asthemoonturnsherstotheearth？Thatwasadifficultpoint。

Inwatchingthecourseoftheprojectiletheycouldseethatonleavingthemoonitfollowedacourseanalogoustothattracedinapproachingher。Itwasdescribingaverylongellipse，whichwouldmostlikelyextendtothepointofequalattraction，wheretheinfluencesoftheearthanditssatelliteareneutralized。

SuchwastheconclusionwhichBarbicaneveryjustlydrewfromfactsalreadyobserved，aconvictionwhichhistwofriendssharedwithhim。

"Andwhenarrivedatthisdeadpoint，whatwillbecomeofus？"

askedMichelArdan。

"Wedon’tknow，"repliedBarbicane。

"Butonecandrawsomehypotheses，Isuppose？"

"Two，"answeredBarbicane;"eithertheprojectile’sspeedwillbeinsufficient，anditwillremainforeverimmovableonthislineofdoubleattraction————"

"Iprefertheotherhypothesis，whateveritmaybe，"interruptedMichel。

"Or，"continuedBarbicane，"itsspeedwillbesufficient，anditwillcontinueitsellipticalcourse，togravitateforeveraroundtheorbofnight。"

"Arevolutionnotatallconsoling，"saidMichel，"topasstothestateofhumbleservantstoamoonwhomweareaccustomedtolookuponasourownhandmaid。Sothatisthefateinstoreforus？"

NeitherBarbicanenorNichollanswered。

"Youdonotanswer，"continuedMichelimpatiently。

"Thereisnothingtoanswer，"saidNicholl。

"Istherenothingtotry？"

"No，"answeredBarbicane。"Doyoupretendtofightagainsttheimpossible？"

"Whynot？DooneFrenchmanandtwoAmericansshrinkfromsuchaword？"

"Butwhatwouldyoudo？"

"Subduethismotionwhichisbearingusaway。"

"Subdueit？"

"Yes，"continuedMichel，gettinganimated，"orelsealterit，andemployittotheaccomplishmentofourownends。"

"Andhow？"

"Thatisyouraffair。Ifartillerymenarenotmastersoftheirprojectiletheyarenotartillerymen。Iftheprojectileistocommandthegunner，wehadbetterramthegunnerintothegun。

Myfaith！finesavants！whodonotknowwhatistobecomeofusafterinducingme————"

"Inducingyou！"criedBarbicaneandNicholl。"Inducingyou！

Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"

"Norecrimination，"saidMichel。"Idonotcomplain，thetriphaspleasedme，andtheprojectileagreeswithme;butletusdoallthatishumanlypossibletodothefallsomewhere，evenifonlyonthemoon。"

"Weasknobetter，myworthyMichel，"repliedBarbicane，"butmeansfailus。"

"Wecannotalterthemotionoftheprojectile？"

"No。"

"Nordiminishitsspeed？"

"No。"

"Notevenbylighteningit，astheylightenanoverloadedvessel？"

"Whatwouldyouthrowout？"saidNicholl。"Wehavenoballastonboard;andindeeditseemstomethatiflighteneditwouldgomuchquicker。"

"Slower。"

"Quicker。"

"Neitherslowernorquicker，"saidBarbicane，wishingtomakehistwofriendsagree;"forwefloatisspace，andmustnolongerconsiderspecificweight。"

"Verywell，"criedMichelArdaninadecidedvoice;"thentheirremainsbutonethingtodo。"

"Whatisit？"askedNicholl。

"Breakfast，"answeredthecool，audaciousFrenchman，whoalwaysbroughtupthissolutionatthemostdifficultjuncture。

Inanycase，ifthisoperationhadnoinfluenceontheprojectile’scourse，itcouldatleastbetriedwithoutinconvenience，andevenwithsuccessfromastomachicpointofview。CertainlyMichelhadnonebutgoodideas。

Theybreakfastedthenattwointhemorning;thehourmatteredlittle。

Michelservedhisusualrepast，crownedbyagloriousbottledrawnfromhisprivatecellar。Ifideasdidnotcrowdontheirbrains，wemustdespairoftheChambertinof1853。Therepastfinished，observationbeganagain。Aroundtheprojectile，ataninvariabledistance，weretheobjectswhichhadbeenthrownout。Evidently，initstranslatorymotionroundthemoon，ithadnotpassedthroughanyatmosphere，forthespecificweightofthesedifferentobjectswouldhavecheckedtheirrelativespeed。

Onthesideoftheterrestrialspherenothingwastobeseen。

Theearthwasbutadayold，havingbeennewthenightbeforeattwelve;andtwodaysmustelapsebeforeitscrescent，freedfromthesolarrays，wouldserveasaclocktotheSelenites，asinitsrotarymovementeachofitspointsaftertwenty—fourhoursrepassesthesamelunarmeridian。

Onthemoon’ssidethesightwasdifferent;theorbshoneinallhersplendoramidinnumerableconstellations，whosepuritycouldnotbetroubledbyherrays。Onthedisc，theplainswerealreadyreturningtothedarktintwhichisseenfromtheearth。

Theotherpartofthenimbusremainedbrilliant，andinthemidstofthisgeneralbrilliancyTychoshoneprominentlylikeasun。

Barbicanehadnomeansofestimatingtheprojectile’sspeed，butreasoningshowedthatitmustuniformlydecrease，accordingtothelawsofmechanicalreasoning。Havingadmittedthattheprojectilewasdescribinganorbitaroundthemoon，thisorbitmustnecessarilybeelliptical;scienceprovesthatitmustbeso。

Nomotivebodycirculatingroundanattractingbodyfailsinthislaw。Everyorbitdescribedinspaceiselliptical。AndwhyshouldtheprojectileoftheGunClubescapethisnaturalarrangement？

Inellipticalorbits，theattractingbodyalwaysoccupiesoneofthefoci;sothatatonemomentthesatelliteisnearer，andatanotherfartherfromtheorbaroundwhichitgravitates。Whentheearthisnearestthesunsheisinherperihelion;andinheraphelionatthefarthestpoint。Speakingofthemoon，sheisnearesttotheearthinherperigee，andfarthestfromitinherapogee。Touseanalogousexpressions，withwhichtheastronomers’languageisenriched，iftheprojectileremainsasasatelliteofthemoon，wemustsaythatitisinits"aposelene"atitsfarthestpoint，andinits"periselene"atitsnearest。Inthelattercase，theprojectilewouldattainitsmaximumofspeed;andintheformeritsminimum。Itwasevidentlymovingtowarditsaposeleniticalpoint;andBarbicanehadreasontothinkthatitsspeedwoulddecreaseuptothispoint，andthenincreasebydegreesasitnearedthemoon。

Thisspeedwouldevenbecome_nil_，ifthispointjoinedthatofequalattraction。Barbicanestudiedtheconsequencesofthesedifferentsituations，andthinkingwhatinferencehecoulddrawfromthem，whenhewasroughlydisturbedbyacryfromMichelArdan。

"ByJove！"heexclaimed，"Imustadmitwearedown—rightsimpletons！"

"Idonotsaywearenot，"repliedBarbicane;"butwhy？"

"Becausewehaveaverysimplemeansofcheckingthisspeedwhichisbearingusfromthemoon，andwedonotuseit！"

"Andwhatisthemeans？"

"Tousetherecoilcontainedinourrockets。"

"Done！"saidNicholl。

"Wehavenotusedthisforceyet，"saidBarbicane，"itistrue，butwewilldoso。"

"When？"askedMichel。

"Whenthetimecomes。Observe，myfriends，thatinthepositionoccupiedbytheprojectile，anobliquepositionwithregardtothelunardisc，ourrockets，inslightlyalteringitsdirection，mightturnitfromthemooninsteadofdrawingitnearer？"

"Justso，"repliedMichel。

"Letuswait，then。Bysomeinexplicableinfluence，theprojectileisturningitsbasetowardtheearth。Itisprobablethatatthepointofequalattraction，itsconicalcapwillbedirectedrigidlytowardthemoon;atthatmomentwemayhopethatitsspeedwillbe_nil_;thenwillbethemomenttoact，andwiththeinfluenceofourrocketswemayperhapsprovokeafalldirectlyonthesurfaceofthelunardisc。"

"Bravo！"saidMichel。"Whatwedidnotdo，whatwecouldnotdoonourfirstpassageatthedeadpoint，becausetheprojectilewasthenendowedwithtoogreataspeed。"

"Verywellreasoned，"saidNicholl。

"Letuswaitpatiently，"continuedBarbicane。"Puttingeverychanceonourside，andafterhavingsomuchdespaired，ImaysayIthinkweshallgainourend。"

ThisconclusionwasasignalforMichelArdan’shipsandhurrahs。

Andnoneoftheaudaciousboobiesrememberedthequestionthattheythemselveshadsolvedinthenegative。No！themoonisnotinhabited;no！themoonisprobablynothabitable。Andyettheyweregoingtotryeverythingtoreachher。

Onesinglequestionremainedtobesolved。Atwhatprecisemomenttheprojectilewouldreachthepointofequalattraction，onwhichthetravelersmustplaytheirlastcard。Inordertocalculatethistowithinafewseconds，Barbicanehadonlytorefertohisnotes，andtoreckonthedifferentheightstakenonthelunarparallels。Thusthetimenecessarytotraveloverthedistancebetweenthedeadpointandthesouthpolewouldbeequaltothedistanceseparatingthenorthpolefromthedeadpoint。

Thehoursrepresentingthetimetraveledoverwerecarefullynoted，andthecalculationwaseasy。Barbicanefoundthatthispointwouldbereachedatoneinthemorningonthenightofthe7th—8thofDecember。Sothat，ifnothinginterferedwithitscourse，itwouldreachthegivenpointintwenty—twohours。

Therocketshadprimarilybeenplacedtocheckthefalloftheprojectileuponthemoon，andnowtheyweregoingtoemploythemforadirectlycontrarypurpose。Inanycasetheywereready，andtheyhadonlytowaitforthemomenttosetfiretothem。

"Sincethereisnothingelsetobedone，"saidNicholl，"Imakeaproposition。"

"Whatisit？"askedBarbicane。

"Iproposetogotosleep。"

"Whatamotion！"exclaimedMichelArdan。

"Itisfortyhourssinceweclosedoureyes，"saidNicholl。

"Somehoursofsleepwillrestoreourstrength。"

"Never，"interruptedMichel。

"Well，"continuedNicholl，"everyonetohistaste;Ishallgotosleep。"Andstretchinghimselfonthedivan，hesoonsnoredlikeaforty—eightpounder。

"ThatNichollhasagooddealofsense，"saidBarbicane;

"presentlyIshallfollowhisexample。"Somemomentsafterhiscontinuedbasssupportedthecaptain’sbaritone。

"Certainly，"saidMichelArdan，findinghimselfalone，"thesepracticalpeoplehavesometimesmostopportuneideas。"

Andwithhislonglegsstretchedout，andhisgreatarmsfoldedunderhishead，Michelsleptinhisturn。

Butthissleepcouldbeneitherpeacefulnorlasting，themindsofthesethreemenweretoomuchoccupied，andsomehoursafter，aboutseveninthemorning，allthreewereonfootatthesameinstant。

Theprojectilewasstillleavingthemoon，andturningitsconicalpartmoreandmoretowardher。

Anexplicablephenomenon，butonewhichhappilyservedBarbicane’sends。

Seventeenhoursmore，andthemomentforactionwouldhavearrived。

Thedayseemedlong。Howeverboldthetravelersmightbe，theyweregreatlyimpressedbytheapproachofthatmomentwhichwoulddecideall——eitherprecipitatetheirfallontothemoon，orforeverchaintheminanimmutableorbit。Theycountedthehoursastheypassedtooslowfortheirwish;BarbicaneandNichollwereobstinatelyplungedintheircalculations，Michelgoingandcomingbetweenthenarrowwalls，andwatchingthatimpassivemoonwithalongingeye。

Attimesrecollectionsoftheearthcrossedtheirminds。TheysawoncemoretheirfriendsoftheGunClub，andthedearestofall，J。T。Maston。Atthatmoment，thehonorablesecretarymustbefillinghispostontheRockyMountains。Ifhecouldseetheprojectilethroughtheglassofhisgigantictelescope，whatwouldhethink？Afterseeingitdisappearbehindthemoon’ssouthpole，hewouldseethemreappearbythenorthpole！

Theymustthereforebeasatelliteofasatellite！HadJ。T。

Mastongiventhisunexpectednewstotheworld？Wasthisthe_denouement_ofthisgreatenterprise？

Butthedaypassedwithoutincident。Theterrestrialmidnightarrived。The8thofDecemberwasbeginning。

Onehourmore，andthepointofequalattractionwouldbereached。Whatspeedwouldthenanimatetheprojectile？

Theycouldnotestimateit。ButnoerrorcouldvitiateBarbicane’scalculations。Atoneinthemorningthisspeedoughttobeandwouldbe_nil_。

Besides，anotherphenomenonwouldmarktheprojectile’sstopping—pointontheneutralline。Atthatspotthetwoattractions，lunarandterrestrial，wouldbeannulled。

Objectswould"weigh"nomore。Thissingularfact，whichhadsurprisedBarbicaneandhiscompanionssomuchingoing，wouldberepeatedontheirreturnundertheverysameconditions。

Atthisprecisemomenttheymustact。

Alreadytheprojectile’sconicaltopwassensiblyturnedtowardthelunardisc，presentedinsuchawayastoutilizethewholeoftherecoilproducedbythepressureoftherocketapparatus。

Thechanceswereinfavorofthetravelers。Ifitsspeedwasutterlyannulledonthisdeadpoint，adecidedmovementtowardthemoonwouldsuffice，howeverslight，todetermineitsfall。

"Fiveminutestoone，"saidNicholl。

"Allisready，"repliedMichelArdan，directingalightedmatchtotheflameofthegas。

"Wait！"saidBarbicane，holdinghischronometerinhishand。

Atthatmomentweighthadnoeffect。Thetravelersfeltinthemselvestheentiredisappearanceofit。Theywereveryneartheneutralpoint，iftheydidnottouchit。

"Oneo’clock，"saidBarbicane。

MichelArdanappliedthelightedmatchtoatrainincommunicationwiththerockets。Nodetonationwasheardintheinside，fortherewasnoair。But，throughthescuttles，Barbicanesawaprolongedsmoke，theflamesofwhichwereimmediatelyextinguished。

Theprojectilesustainedacertainshock，whichwassensiblyfeltintheinterior。

Thethreefriendslookedandlistenedwithoutspeaking，andscarcelybreathing。Onemighthaveheardthebeatingoftheirheartsamidthisperfectsilence。

"Arewefalling？"askedMichelArdan，atlength。

"No，"saidNicholl，"sincethebottomoftheprojectileisnotturningtothelunardisc！"

Atthismoment，Barbicane，quittinghisscuttle，turnedtohistwocompanions。Hewasfrightfullypale，hisforeheadwrinkled，andhislipscontracted。

"Wearefalling！"saidhe。

"Ah！"criedMichelArdan，"ontothemoon？"

"Ontotheearth！"

"Thedevil！"exclaimedMichelArdan，addingphilosophically，"well，whenwecameintothisprojectilewewereverydoubtfulastotheeasewithwhichweshouldgetoutofit！"

Andnowthisfearfulfallhadbegun。Thespeedretainedhadbornetheprojectilebeyondthedeadpoint。Theexplosionoftherocketscouldnotdivertitscourse。Thisspeedingoinghadcarrieditovertheneutralline，andinreturninghaddonethesamething。Thelawsofphysicscondemnedit_topassthrougheverypointwhichithadalreadygonethrough_。Itwasaterriblefall，fromaheightof160，000miles，andnospringstobreakit。Accordingtothelawsofgunnery，theprojectilemuststriketheearthwithaspeedequaltothatwithwhichitleftthemouthoftheColumbiad，aspeedof16，000yardsinthelastsecond。

Buttogivesomefiguresofcomparison，ithasbeenreckonedthatanobjectthrownfromthetopofthetowersofNotreDame，theheightofwhichisonly200feet，willarriveonthepavementataspeedof240milesperhour。Heretheprojectilemuststriketheearthwithaspeedof115，200milesperhour。

"Wearelost！"saidMichelcoolly。

"Verywell！ifwedie，"answeredBarbicane，withasortofreligiousenthusiasm，"theresultsofourtravelswillbemagnificentlyspread。ItisHisownsecretthatGodwilltellus！Intheotherlifethesoulwillwanttoknownothing，eitherofmachinesorengines！Itwillbeidentifiedwitheternalwisdom！"

"Infact，"interruptedMichelArdan，"thewholeoftheotherworldmaywellconsoleusforthelossofthatinferiororbcalledthemoon！"

Barbicanecrossedhisarmsonhisbreast，withamotionofsublimeresignation，sayingatthesametime：

"Thewillofheavenbedone！"