Chapter 24 Chapter 24: A Journey to the Isle of Vermentera

"Fermentra!" Earl Ironmashev and Captain Servadac shouted at the same time. Formentera is a small island in the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.The problem is very clear, the scholar who sent the letter is on this island.But what was he doing there?Are you still alive now? Apparently, it was from this small island that the scholar sent them a message.With this information, he informed them of Gallia's changing location. In any case, it can be seen from the letters brought by the pigeons that he remained at his post until April 1st.This letter, however, differed markedly from the previous two, and did not express any satisfaction.The word "very good" written in Italian, English and Latin has disappeared this time.In addition, the letter also issued a call for help: "The food is about to run out."

Selvadak expressed the above opinion in a few words, and finally said. "My friends, I'm going to save him right away..." "I'll go with you, Captain," said Count Ironmashev. "The last time we went to look for the Balearic Islands, we must have passed near the island of Formentera," said the second mate, Prokop. too small." "No matter how small the island is," said Servadac, "we must find it. Second Officer Prokop, how far is it from here to Vermentera?" "About four hundred and eighty kilometers, Captain. But how are you going to get there?"

"The sea is frozen," said Servadac. "Of course we can't go by boat. But we can use our legs and go skating. What do you think, Count Iron Mashov?" "I think it's okay! Let's go, captain." Count Ironmashev, who was eager to save people, said. "My lord," said Prokop, with a somewhat agitated expression, "I have an idea to suggest to you. But I don't disapprove of your going, but I wish you all the best." "Go ahead, Prokop." "You two are about to leave. But the weather is so cold that the temperature gauge has dropped to -22°C. At the same time, the sky is blowing a bitter southerly wind. Even if you walk 80 kilometers a day, it will take six days to get there. Besides, you need to bring some food, not only for your own food on the road, but also for those who are short on food on the island.”

"We can go with our pockets on our backs," said Servadak.In his view, of course there are difficulties, but they are not insurmountable. "Okay, even if it's not a big problem." Prokop said coldly; "But you must rest a few times on the way! But there is ice and snow everywhere, and you don't have the ability of Eskimos to build a simple shelter on the ice." "We can travel day and night, Second Officer Prokop," said Servadac. "It doesn't take six days. We can reach Vermentera in three, or two days." "Okay, even if you can get there in two days—but in fact, it's impossible. The people on the island may be dying from starvation and cold. How can you bring them back?"

Selvadak didn't know how to answer for a moment.Everyone thinks that this way of doing things is obviously unacceptable.The ice sheet is boundless, and in case of a snowstorm, there is not even a place to hide.The consequences are unimaginable. But Servadac was still eager to save people, and couldn't listen to Prokop's speech at all.Besides, Ben-Zov had already told him that if Count Ironmashev did not dare to make the trip, he would go with him. "What do you think, count?" Servadac asked the count. "However you like to go, let's go." "The people there are suffering from hunger and cold, and life and death are uncertain. We can no longer hesitate."

"You are quite right, Captain," said Timashev, and then turned to Prokop: "Procop, you don't agree with this method. But if there is no other way, then it has to be done. God will come and trust us." Prokop fell into deep thought and made no reply to his words. "If only we could have a sledge!" Ben-Zov said now. "It's not easy to get a sledge?" said Count Ironmashev, "but where are the dogs or deer to pull it?" "Don't we have two horses? It's perfectly fine to use horse-drawn sleds." Ben-Zoff said. "It's too cold for the horses!" said the count.

"It doesn't matter," said Captain Servadac. "We can't hesitate any longer. Let's make a sled! . . . " "We have sledges ready," said Prokop. "Very well, then bring the horse and harness it!" "Don't worry, Captain. We have a surer and quicker way than horse-drawn..." "What way?" Count Ironmashev asked. "By the wind," Prokop replied. It is indeed a good way to use wind power.Americans are using sleds with sails.This kind of sled is comparable to the express train on the American prairie, and can reach 180 kilometers per hour.There is a strong southerly wind here now.If the sail is hung on the sled, it must be able to reach sixty to eighty kilometers per hour.Therefore, a day and a night can be expected to reach the sea near the Balearic Islands and find the small island of Formentera.

Sail is out of the question.Prokop has just said that the sled is also readily available.Because there is a traffic boat on the Dobrina, which is three to four meters long and can carry five or six people.If it is used to modify it, two iron bars are installed on the bottom of the boat to make it look like a skate, and it can slide on the ice.And this work is not too laborious, only a few hours is enough.The ice surface is as smooth as a mirror, without any deep grooves or pits. Once the sails are full of wind, isn't it like flying?In addition, a small tent can be built with wood on the sled, and people sitting in it can keep out the cold.Therefore, as long as you wear more clothes, bring enough food and medicine, and bring a small alcohol stove, you will be safe on the way back and forth. "

This is really a wonderful way, both fast and practical.There is, however, one problem that remains to be resolved. Now the wind is blowing from the south, so of course the journey going is smooth, but what will we do when we return? "It doesn't matter." Selvadak shouted, "It's good to be able to solve the problem of going. As for the return trip, let's talk about it later!" Although this sled cannot travel against the wind like a boat can by relying on the rudder to withstand the headwind, it may be able to slightly go around the direction of the wind and move forward obliquely.Its two iron rods bite the ice tightly, and at least it can drive with the back wind.So, on the return trip, if the wind doesn't change, it might be able to head into the wind.Exactly how, only when the time comes.

The mechanics on the Dobrina, with a few sailors, set to work immediately.A nimble sled was quickly converted.They fitted the little traffic boat with two iron bars that curved slightly upward near the bow.And set up a simple wooden tent, supported by two iron plates like sculls on both sides of the wooden tent to prevent it from being blown down by the wind.At last food, utensils, and bedding were placed in the sledge. At this time, the second mate of Prokop proposed to replace Count Ironmashev.The reason is simple: to control the sails and control the course requires a skilled sailor like him.But three people cannot go together, because if there are several people who need to be brought back, the sled will not be able to accommodate them.

Lord Ironmashev insisted on going.Captain Servadac felt that Prokop was right, so he had to persuade him to stay.The dangers encountered on the road must be unimaginable. As long as the wind is a little stronger, the sled may not be able to withstand it.And in case Selvadak can't come back soon, the earl can manage everything here.In the end, the count had to follow his advice and agreed to stay. As for Selvadak himself, he was unwilling to be replaced by anyone no matter what.He felt that the scholar was undoubtedly French.As a French officer, it is his bounden duty to help his compatriots. On the morning of April 16, everything was ready.Captain Servadac and Second Officer Prokop were about to leave.The temperature has dropped to -25°C. Everyone saw that the two of them were going to fight against the severe cold in the vast ice field, and their hearts were extremely heavy.Ben Yizoff was even more choked up.Russian sailors and Spaniards shook hands with them.Earl Ironmashv held them tightly in his arms, not wanting them to leave.Little Nina went up to them and kissed them twice, big tears rolling down her cheeks.With a feeling of reluctance, the two of them boarded the boat and set up the sails.I saw that the boat seemed to have spread two huge wings, and disappeared into the white sky after a few minutes. A mizzensail and a jib were attached to the sled.The jib is hung horizontally so that the wind coming from behind creates more thrust.The speed of the sled was very fast, at least forty-eight kilometers per hour.There was a small window at the back of the wooden tent, through which Prokop's second officer could poke his head out and adjust the course of the sled according to the direction pointed by the compass. The sled moved very smoothly, without even the slight vibration that is common in trains.It weighs much less on Gallia than it does on Earth, so there's less wobbling and jolting when gliding.Because of this, its speed is ten times faster than that of a sled on Earth.Captain Servadac and Second Officer Prokop sometimes felt as if they were flying over the ice in an airship.The iron bars under the sled brought up fine ice slag on the ice, forming a white smoke and trailing behind them. There was a vast expanse of white everywhere on the ice, empty and silent.Looking up, it is really desolate.But this scene has a kind of poetic and picturesque feeling, which blew different feelings in the hearts of Servadac and Prokop.Facing the vast ice field, they fell into the imagination of the people from the angle of art and the angle of science.When the sun was setting and the sledge cast an unusually large shadow on the ice, when night fell on this desert, they were suddenly driven by an inexplicable feeling, and they clung to each other tightly, and their hands didn't know it. felt held together. The night was so dark that you couldn't see your fingers, and the moon didn't come out, because it was a new moon since yesterday.There are countless bright and dazzling stars shining on the clear sky.Even without a compass, Prokop could determine with unerring accuracy the direction the sled was headed, based on the newly-appearing Polaris near the horizon.The reader must know that no matter how far Gallia is from the sun at present, this distance is insignificant compared with those distant stars. Of course, Galia's distance from the sun is now considerable.On this point, the scholar's last letter has clearly pointed out.It was precisely this problem that Prokop's second officer was considering at the moment.As for Captain Servadac, he was thinking of his compatriot at stake. According to Kepler's second law, from March 1 to April 1, Galia's speed in its orbit has decreased by 80 million kilometers.Its distance from the sun has increased by 128 million kilometers, and it is now almost in the asteroid region between Mars and Jupiter.The fact that Nainina was drawn to Galia in the scholar's letter is proof.This asteroid was discovered not long ago by people on Earth.In short, Galia has been following the established law, away from the sun.If Gallia was in an elliptical orbit, the scholar might be able to calculate the parameters of that orbit and predict exactly when it would reach its aphelion.The so-called aphelion is the maximum distance between it and the sun. Once it passes there, Gallia will gradually approach the sun again.In this way, people can know exactly how many days there are in a year on Gallia planet. When Prokop was considering these questions, Wu suddenly lit up.Captain Servadac conferred with him and concluded that they had traveled at least four hundred kilometers since their departure.It was therefore decided to furl part of the sails and reduce the speed of the sled.The weather was very cold, they forgot everything, and searched forward on the ice field. The ice field is empty, not even a small rock hill. "Have we deviated a little to the west of Vermentera?" Servadac said, looking at the map. "Possibly," replied Prokop. "I followed the direction of the island, as I do at sea. Now just go on." "Just do what you want!" said Captain Servadac. "There must be no time wasted!" Prokop adjusted the direction of the sled so that it faced the northeast.Standing on the sled against the biting cold wind, Selvadak was engrossed in observing the nearby sea.He did not pay attention to whether there was smoke from cooking, because the unfortunate scholar might not only be short of food, but also short of fuel.What he pays attention to is whether there are rocky hills protruding from the sea. Suddenly, his eyes sparkled, and he pointed to a small spot in the distance and shouted: "There! There!" On the horizon, a pylon-like building appeared on the horizon where the sky and the ice field meet. Second Officer Prokop picked up the binoculars. "Yes, there it is..." he said. "It's a survey mark." The sled was still six kilometers away.So they spread the sails again, and went at full speed. The two were so excited that they couldn't say a word.That pylon has become increasingly clear.It was not long before the rocks beneath the pylons became clear. As Selvadak expected, there was no smoke above the island.The weather is so cold, it is unpredictable whether the people there will die or live.Perhaps the last thing they saw was a dead grave. Ten minutes later, they were only one kilometer away from the island. Prokop put away his sails, and with the help of inertia, he slid towards the island. Lieutenant Servadac's heart was pounding. Above the pylon, a piece of blue muslin fluttered in the wind—a mutilated French flag! The sled stopped near a rock.The island is small in size, only half a kilometer in circumference.This is the only remnant of the Balearic Islands after that catastrophe. There was a cabin under the pylon, with the shutters ajar. Captain Servadac and Prokop's second mate jumped off the sled, climbed up the steep rock, and rushed to the cabin. Selvadak pushed the door with his hand.The door is bolted. "Come on, second officer, let's push and see together!" Selvadak said. As they spoke, the two of them leaned against the door with their shoulders, pushed hard, and pushed the rather dilapidated door open. The room was dark and silent. The people living in this wooden house may have left early, or they may have died in it. Servadac pushed open the window, and a ray of sunlight streamed into the room. The hearth was cold, and only a few ashes remained. There is a bed in the corner, and a person is lying on the bed. Selvadak walked over and cried miserably. "He must have froze to death, starved to death." The second officer bent down and looked at it carefully. "He's still alive!" He opened a vial and applied a little cardiotonic to the patient's lips. After a while, the patient sighed slightly and said softly: "Galia?" "Yes! . . . yes! . . . !" said Servadac, "this is . . . " "This is my comet!" The patient passed out again. Selvadak said to himself: "I know the man. But where have I seen him?" The inside of the house is very simple, and it is impossible to snatch him from the hands of death under such circumstances.Captain Servadac and Second Officer Prokop then decided to take him away at once.In just a few minutes they lifted the dying scholar onto the sled, along with some experiments, observation equipment, clothes, paper, books, and a broken door board that served as a blackboard for calculations. The wind direction has changed from south to northeast, luckily!They hoisted their sails, and in an instant the last remaining island of the Balearic Islands was lost in a cloud of smoke. On April 19, thirty-six hours later, the unconscious scholar was carried into the hall of the cave.In the past few days, everyone has been eagerly looking forward to the safe return of the two warriors.Now, seeing the two of them returning home successfully, they all cheered for them in unison.