Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven
Since then, Bolide has been fully understood, at least in terms of thought, people already know it well.Determined its orbit, velocity, volume, mass, nature and value.It can no longer even cause uneasiness, because it is always in orbit and can never fall to the earth.Wouldn't it be natural for the public to turn their backs on this elusive meteor that has lost its mystery?
True, there were still a few astronomers in those observatories who occasionally caught a glimpse of the golden ball flying over their heads, but they too soon turned their heads to explore other problems of the universe.
It is a pity that Mr. Dean Forsyth and Dr. Hudson were not calmed by the growing indifference around them.They are still so desperately observing the bolide-their bolide! — Enthusiastic to the point of madness.They were there every time it passed, and even if it only nodded on the horizon, they put their eyes on the eyepiece of this or that telescope.
The weather has been excellent, which regrettably accommodates their propensity to see the wandering star twelve times every twenty-four hours.Whether or not it fell to Earth, its unusual features—features that made it unique and forever famous—increased their desire to be declared the sole discoverer.
Under these conditions, reconciliation between the two opponents is simply a pipe dream.On the contrary, the wall of enmity between them was getting higher and higher every day.Mrs. Hudson and Frances Gordon understood this all too well.The latter no longer doubted that his uncle would use all means in his power to oppose the marriage.And the former is not sure whether her husband will be so docile when the big day comes.There is no room for fantasy anymore.It seems that the marriage was cancelled, not to say that it was implicated, but it also seemed to be postponed, and it is likely to be in the foreseeable future.This made the fiancée sad and disappointed, and Miss Lulu and Mitz were furious.
However, it is destined that this already very serious situation will become more complicated.On the night of May 11th, Mr. Dean Forsyth was putting his eyes on the eyepiece as usual, when suddenly, with a choked cry, he stepped aside, went back to write something on the paper, and stepped away again. Come and go back.And so he went on and on with the trick until the meteor disappeared behind the horizon.At this moment Mr. Forsyth's face was waxy, and his breathing was so difficult that Omicron thought his master was ill, and rushed over to attend to him.But Mr. Forsyth waved him out of the way, and with a drunken stagger he ducked into the studio and locked himself inside.
No one saw Mr. Dean Forsyth after that.He did not eat or drink for more than 30 hours.Francis forced the door open once, but the door was only opened a crack, and the young man saw through the crack that his uncle was so weak, thin and pale, and his eyes were so frantic, that he froze at the door. .
"What do you want?" said Mr. Forsyth.
"But, uncle!" cried Francis, "you have been shut up for twenty-four hours! You must at least allow us to bring you something to eat!"
"I want nothing but silence and quiet," replied Mr. Forsyth. "I beg you to do me a favor by leaving me alone."
This answer not only expressed an unshakable will, but also had a kind of warmth that Francis was not used to, and Francis did not have the courage to persist.And it was very difficult to persist, because the astronomer closed the door after saying these few words that day.So his nephew had no choice but to walk away without understanding anything.
On the morning of May 13th—two days before the wedding—Frances related this new trouble for the twentieth time to Mrs. Hudson, who listened and sighed.
"I really don't understand at all," she concluded. "It makes one think Mr. Forsyth and my husband have gone completely mad."
"What!" cried Francis, "your husband! . . . Has something happened to the Doctor?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Hudson, "these gentlemen are exactly the same, as if by agreement, except that my husband's seizures were a little later. He only locked himself in his office yesterday morning. Who has been since then?" We won't see him either, and you can imagine our anxiety."
"What a bewilderment!" cried Francis.
"What you've told me about Mr. Forsyth makes me think they've discovered something about their damned meteor at the same time. I don't think it's going to do their minds any favors."
"Ah! If only I could decide! . . . " broke in Lulu.
"What will you do, my dear little sister?" asked Francis Gordon.
"What am I going to do? That's not easy. I'm going to send this nasty golden ball far away, far away...so far away that even the best telescope can't find it."
Perhaps the disappearance of the bolide would really calm Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Hudson.Who knows, maybe after the shooting star is gone, their absurd jealousy will be cured?
But that possibility doesn't seem to be happening.The bolide will still be there on the day of the wedding, and it will be there after the wedding, and it will always be there, because it keeps on the same path.
"Anyway," said Francis conclusively, "we'll see, and in forty-eight hours they'll have to make a final decision, and then we'll know what to do."
And when he got back to the house in Elizabeth Road, he could really believe that, at least for the moment, the incident would not have serious consequences.Mr. Dean Forsyth was indeed no longer avoiding people, and he had swallowed a good meal in silence.He was very tired, and was now soundly asleep after a good meal, while Omekron went out to do his master's errands.
"Did you see my uncle before he fell asleep?" Francis asked the old maid.
"Like seeing you, my boy," replied the latter, "because I serve him his meals."
"Is he hungry?"
"Like a hungry wolf, ate the whole lunch. Scrambled eggs, cold roast beef, potatoes, pudding and fruit. Nothing left."
"how is he?"
"Not too bad, but he's ghostly white, and his eyes are red. I tell him to wash his eyes in breech, but he doesn't seem to hear at all."
"Didn't he say anything about me?"
"Not about you, not about anyone. He just ate and didn't talk, and then sent the clone boy to the Weston Standard, and then went to bed."
"To the Weston Standard!" cried Francis, "to inform them of his work, I'll bet. And now the papers are going to fight again! As if there wasn't enough going on." !"
The next morning Francis read with dismay the message Mr. Dean Forsyth had sent to the Weston Standard.He understood that fate had provided new nourishment for this rivalry which had destroyed his happiness.When he found the two opponents again, this frustration increased unabated.At the same time as the Standard published Mr. Dean Forsyth's Chronicle, the Weston Morning Gazette published a similar message from Dr. Hudson.So the fierce struggle continues, and neither of the two fighters has ever been slightly better than the other!
The chronicles of the two astronomers begin exactly the same, but conclude quite differently.This difference of opinion would inevitably lead to controversy, which might be of some use, in helping to adjudicate the two adversaries when the need arises afterwards.
At this same moment, the whole of Weston and the whole world knew the amazing news announced by the astronomers of Elizabeth Road and Morris Road. It was at once the subject of some of the most animated comments from people in both hemispheres.
Could there be more exciting news than this?Is the public excitement justified?We leave it to the readers to judge for themselves.
Mr. Dean Forsyth and Dr. Sidney Hudson first describe how their persistence in observation led to the discovery of an unmistakable disorder in the motion of bolides.Its orbit had been due north and south until then, but now it is slightly to the northeast-southwest.On the other hand, its distance from the ground was also found to vary significantly.The long range has been slightly, but undeniably, reduced without speeding up.From these observations, and from calculations made therefrom, the two astronomers concluded that the meteor would not follow a perpetual orbit, but would necessarily fall to the Earth, where and on the date of its impact. It can be determined.
In these points Mr. Forsyth and Dr. Huddleson agree, but in the rest they do not.
The erudite calculations of this one led him to predict that the bolide would fall on the southern tip of Japan on June 28; happened somewhere.
This is how astronomers collaborate with each other!Let the public choose!
However, the public has little choice at the moment.What interests them is that the little star will fall with its trillions of wealth wandering in space, which is the most fundamental.As for other issues, whether in Japan or Patagonia, no matter where, this trillion-trillion wealth can always be found.
The aftermath of such an event, the economic turmoil that such an incredible windfall was bound to cause, was the subject of everyone's conversation.In general, the rich were distressed by the thought that their possessions would become worthless, and the poor were enthralled by the false prospect of a share of the fat.
As for Francis, he was truly hopeless.What use are these billions of trillions of wealth to him?The only treasure he desired was his dear Jenny.This is a treasure infinitely more precious than the bolide and its hideous wealth.
He ran to the house on Morris Road.The ominous news was known there, too, and the lamentable consequences of it were well understood.Now add material interests to professional self-esteem, and there is bound to be a violent and irreparable quarrel between the two madmen who claim the planets for themselves.
How many times did Frances sigh as he held the hands of Mrs. Huddleson and her lovely daughters!How many times did the furious Lulu stomp her feet in anger!How many more tears were shed by charming Jenny!Not even her sister, mother, and fiancé could hold back her tears, although her fiancé solemnly pledged his fidelity and swore that if necessary he would wait for her until at last the fabulous shooting star The master spent the last sou of these 578,800,000,000 francs.It was a rash oath, quite obvious, and to take such an oath was to be condemned to be a bachelor for life.
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