Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen

Greenland means "green land".For this snow-covered country, the name "White Land" would be more appropriate.It is so named only because of an ironic anecdote of its namer.Its name was Red Eric, a sailor in the tenth century.His red might be the same thing as Greenland's green.Perhaps, in the final analysis, this Scandinavian wants his countrymen to resolve to colonize this green far north.But he was not very successful.This alluring name failed to impress the colonists in the slightest.Therefore, including the local indigenous people, the population of Greenland has not exceeded 10,000 people so far.

It must be admitted that if there is a place on earth that is completely unsuitable for receiving a bolide worth 5788 billion, it will be this country.Among the large group of passengers who came to Ubernivik driven by curiosity, there must be more than one person who had this idea.Would it not have been just as easy for the bolide to fall on Dominion, a few hundred leagues south, or on the vast plains of America?How convenient it would be to find bolides in those places! ... No, it is precisely this inaccessible and inhospitable place that is to become the stage on which this unforgettable event will be enacted!

Seriously, some precedents need to be revisited.Haven't some bolides already landed in Greenland?Didn't three iron blocks weighing twenty-four tons each be found on the Island of Disgo, Nordenschio?Most likely meteorites, they are still on display in a museum in Stockholm. Fortunately, if J.B.K. Lovinsay is not mistaken, the bolide will land in a fairly accessible place.And it was August, with temperatures rising above freezing.The land in some places can also be used to prove that the ironic nickname "Green Earth" given to this new continent is true.Some gardens have several vegetable trees and certain grasses.Inland, botanists can only harvest moss.On the coastline, after the ice melted, some pastures appeared, and one could raise a small number of domestic animals, of course, not hundreds or even bulls and cows, but some chickens and goats, all of which had that kind of Endurance unique to the countryside, and don't forget the reindeer and the dogs that thrive on "people".

After the summer, which lasted no more than two or three months, winter returned, bringing with it endless nights and sharp, freezing air currents from the extreme regions, and terrible storms.Above the surface that covers the ground, a gray dust called ice dust swirls and swirls, which is a thing full of microorganisms. If the meteor fell inland of the land, it must belong to Greenland. The city of Ubernivik is not only located on the seashore, but also surrounded by the sea. It is an island in the middle of an archipelago scattered along the coast.The island was less than ten leagues in circumference, but provided the sky bombs with a narrow and small target.If the sky bomb failed to hit its target with mathematical accuracy, it would miss its target and the vastness of the Baffin Sea would drown it.And these extreme northern seas are very deep, and the detectors have to probe one thousand or two kilometers before bottoming out. Then go to this deep abyss to fish for a large gold nugget weighing about 900,000 tons.

Such a possibility could not help worrying Mr. de Schneck, who had more than once confided his secret worries to Seth Stanford, whom he had met during this voyage.But there was so little to do against this danger that one had to rely on the calculations of the scientist J. B. K. Lovinsey. The scourge that M. de Schneck dreaded, Frances Gordon and Jenny Huddleson, on the contrary, saw as a happy solution.The bolide is gone, and the two people on whom their happiness depends have nothing more to ask for, not even to name the meteor after them, and this is a great step towards the reconciliation they have longed for day and night .

It is highly doubtful that the passengers of the Mozick, and of the dozen or so other national steamships that were moored at Ubernivik at the time, shared the same views as the two young men. .Since those people came here from a long distance for this reason, they must see something before they are willing to give up. In any case, it wasn't the dark night that prevented them from getting what they wanted.Among these eighty days, half of them are before the summer solstice, and half are after the summer solstice.During this period, the sun never rises or sets at such latitudes, so if, as J.B.K. Hand over the canopy, you can see clearly, you can visit that bolide as much as you can.

From the second day after arriving, the bustling crowd of all kinds of people dispersed and circled around the cabins in Ubernivik.The first of these raised a white flag emblazoned with the Greenlandic Red Cross.Never have the men and women of Greenland seen so many flocking to their far shores. These Greenlanders are rather peculiar characters.They are all short or of medium build, thick and strong, with short legs, slender hands, and even the muscle attachment points are very slender; their complexion is pale and yellow, their faces are broad and flat, they have almost no noses, and their eyes are brown and slightly upward. Hanging, black and stiff hair, has been scattered to the face.They are slightly similar to seals, they have the gentle face of seals, and they also have a layer of gelatin to protect them from the cold.Men and women dress the same: boots, trousers or hood.And those women, when they were young, were all graceful and smiling; their hair was combed up into a crested hair, and they wore exotic clothes of foreign cloth, decorated with colorful ribbons.Their custom of tattooing flowers, which was very popular in the past, has now disappeared under the influence of missionaries.However, these tribes still love singing and dancing, which is their only entertainment and pastime.They drank water and ate seals and edible dogs, fish and berries.In short, Greenlanders lead a miserable life.

The hundreds of natives living on the island were shocked by the arrival of so many foreigners.When they knew the reason for the influx of people, their astonishment did not diminish.These poor people are no longer ignorant of the value of gold.However, this windfall will not be given to them. If hundreds of millions of gold fall on their land, it will not fill their pockets. Although Greenlanders have pockets on their clothes, this is not Siberia. Nian clothes.Needless to say the reason.So many billions will be hidden in the state safe, and people will not see them come out of the safe according to the custom.However, these indigenous people should not be indifferent to this "big event". Who knows if it will bring some benefits to these poor citizens of Greenland?

In any case, the end of this "big event" is beginning to come. If there were any other ships coming, the port of Ubernevik would not be able to accommodate any more.Besides, with the passing days of August, it was impossible for the ships to be lingering for long at such high latitudes.In September, winter comes, and it brings ice from the Northern Channel.The Baffin Sea will soon be unnavigable.He had to escape, he had to get out of these waters, he had to get ahead of Cape Fairway, or he would suffer, and be trapped by floating masses of ice for seven or eight months in the harsh Arctic winter.

While waiting, intrepid tourists roamed the length of the island.The rocky ground on the island is almost flat, only the middle part is higher, with several bumps raised.The ground is walkable.Here and there were patches of plains carpeted with moss and grass that were more yellow than green.On top of the moss and grass grew small shrubs that would never grow into trees, and a few stunted birches, which did grow on the seventy-second parallel. The sky is usually foggy, with great masses of low-pitched clouds moving across the sky, blown by an easterly wind.The temperature does not exceed ten degrees above zero.Passengers, therefore, were pleased that their ships had heating, etc., and food, for such comforts were not afforded them in this village, and neither in Godhaun nor anywhere else on this coast line There is no way to get those foods at the berthing station.

Five days had passed since the arrival of the Mozick.On this day, the morning of August 16th, the last ship was spotted in the waters of Ubernivik.It was a steamboat sailing past the islands of the archipelago to anchor, with the fifty-one-star flag of the United States of America flying from the corner of its stern square sail. Needless to say, this ship brought another group of good-natured people to the place where astronomical events took place.They were late, but since the golden ball was still rotating due to gravity in the atmosphere, this group of people was not late. About eleven o'clock in the morning, the steamer "Oregon" dropped anchor in the middle of this small fleet.A skiff immediately left the ship, and carried a passenger ashore, no doubt in more haste than his traveling companions. As soon as rumors spread, he turned out to be an astronomer at the Boston Observatory, Mr. Walff.He was going to the head of government's house.The man did not hesitate to inform M. de Schneck immediately.So the representative went to the house with the flag flying from the roof. But I'm so anxious, what if Fire Meteor sneaks away from everyone?Could it have slipped off, as Francis Gordon had wished, to some other nearby heaven? On this point, everyone will be relieved soon. J. B. K. Lovinsey has drawn an accurate conclusion through calculations that Mr. Walff came all the way just as a representative of his boss to see the fall of the bolide. It was the sixteenth of August, so three times twenty-four hours would have to wait before the bolide would rest on the land of Greenland. "Unless it sinks to the bottom of the sea! . . . " murmured Francis Gordon, who was alone with the thought and the hope expressed to himself. However, whether this major event will come to such an end, we will have to wait three days before we can see the outcome.Three days, that's okay, but sometimes it's long and long, especially in places like Greenland.If anyone thinks this is a place for drinking and drinking, it is simply too much.As a result, everyone is bored and contagious yawns dislocate the jaws of these idle tourists. The time did not seem so long to one of the tourists, who must have been Mr. Seth Stanford, for he had made up his mind to be an Earthrunner.Wherever there is something special to watch, he is willing to run there.He is used to solitude and solitude, and, as it is said, is good at "keeping himself company." The monotony of these last few days of waiting had been tiresome, and Mr. Stanford had had the sole benefit of it—there was such an injustice in the world itself. Mr. Seth Stanford strolled on the beach and watched the passengers of the "Oregon" disembark and disembark.At this moment, a small boat sent a lady to the beach. He caught a glimpse of the lady and stopped abruptly. Seth Stanford couldn't believe his eyes, stepped forward, and said in a tone of surprise but not the slightest displeasure: "Mrs. Arcadia Walker, if I'm not mistaken?" "Mr. Stanford!" replied the female passenger. "I did not expect to see you again on this remote island, Mrs. Arcadia." "Me too, Mr. Stanford." "How are you, Mrs. Arcadia?" "Very good, great!" They had nothing more to say, so they chatted like two old acquaintances who just met by chance. Mrs. Arcadia Walker raised her finger to space and asked: "It hasn't fallen yet?" "No, don't worry! Not yet, but it won't be delayed any longer." "I'll go there, then!" said Mrs. Arcadia Walker triumphantly. "Same as me," replied Mr. Seth Stanford. There can be no doubt that these two gentlemen, two people of high society (not to mention two old friends), were driven by the same curiosity to meet together on this beach in Ubernivík. Why not?Indeed, Mrs. Arcadia Walker could not find even the shadow of her ideal in Mr. Seth Stanford, and perhaps her ideal person did not exist at all.The "electric shock" feeling of love at first sight described in the novel has never sparked in her.It is precisely because there is no such legendary spark.No one, therefore, had done anything to excite her gratitude and thereby seize her heart. She had experienced firsthand that marriage was not for her, nor for Mr. Seth Stanford.But she had a crush on a man who wouldn't be her husband, and a man who remembered his ex-wife as a smart, chic, divorced immaculate woman. When they parted without complaint, he, Mr. Seth Stanford, traveled him.She, Mrs. Arcadia, traveled hers.Out of curiosity, both of them came to this Greenland.Why did they pretend not to know each other?Is there anything more vulgar than to submit to prejudices and stereotypes?After the first few words of the conversation, Mr. Stanford was at the beck and call of Mrs. Arcadia Walker, and she was more than happy to enlist the help of Mr. Seth Stanford.Now they talk only about the astronomical phenomenon that is about to be resolved. As time went by, the nervousness and excitement of those curious people who gathered on this distant coast increased day by day, and everyone was uneasy, especially the main parties, among them, besides the country of Greenland, there were several dicks. Ann Forsyth and Dr. Sidney Hudson, because they asserted themselves as parties. "I wish it fell on the island!" thought Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Hudson. "Don't miss it!" the head of the Greenland government thought. "Don't fall on our heads!" A few cowards added inwardly. Indeed, being too close or too far are the only two annoying points. Nothing happened on August 16th and 17th, and it passed smoothly.To make matters worse, the weather turned bad and the temperature started to drop significantly.Perhaps, winter will come earlier.The mountains along the coast are already covered with snow.The wind blowing from the side of the mountain was so sharp and piercing that one had to take refuge in the saloon of the steamer.It would be better not to linger in such latitudes, as soon as the curiosity of these troublemakers is satisfied, they will voluntarily set off to the south. Perhaps, only the two opponents who insisted on safeguarding the so-called "their rights" would be willing to stay with that baby.A man so mad was capable of anything, and Francis Gordon, thinking of his dear Jenny, was troubled by the dismal prospect of this long winter layoff. During the night of August 17th and 18th, a storm raged over the archipelago.Twenty hours earlier, astronomers in Boston had observed the bolide slowing down.However, the wind and rain are violent, which inevitably makes people wonder whether the storm is about to blow away the bolide. The storm showed no sign of subsiding during the day on August 18, and was so disturbing during the first hours of the ensuing night that the captains of the ships at anchor were anxious. However, around midnight on August 18th and 19th, the storm apparently weakened gradually.From five o'clock in the morning, all the passengers took the opportunity to ask someone to take them ashore.Isn't August 19 the date that the meteor will fall? This is the time.At seven o'clock, only a muffled sound was heard.It was so strong that the island shook at its very roots. ... After a while, a native ran to the house where M. de Schneck lived.He brings great news. ... The bolide has landed on the tip of Uber Nevik Island's northwest.