Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty

At the moment when the nugget shuddered, the voices of every individual merged into a single cry, like a terrible roar from the crowd. Everyone looked at the same direction together.What happened?Everyone is being tricked by hallucinations?Or did the meteor actually move?If it did move, what was the reason?Didn't the land gradually lose its strength?Doesn't this make this priceless treasure finally roll into the sea? "Such a strange end to such an event," reminded Mrs. Arcadia Walker. "Perhaps not the worst possible outcome," replied Mr. Seth Stanford. "It would be for the best," said Francis Gordon even more exaggeratedly.

No, everyone is right.The bolide continued to slide gradually towards the sea.The ground is undoubtedly getting softer.If this movement of the golden ball is not stopped, it will eventually roll up to the edge of the plateau, and sink in the abyss of the sea. Everyone was stunned, and more or less mixed with disdain for this land, it is really not commensurate with such an extraordinary burden!What a pity!The meteor fell on this island, and not on the basalt cliffs of the immovable Greenland coast.If it was there, the billions of gold wouldn't be finished forever for greedy humans! Yes, the meteor is sliding.Perhaps it was only a matter of hours, or, even less, of minutes, if the plateau should suddenly give way under its immense weight.

The near catastrophe made everyone cry out, and how thrilling was M. de Schneck's cry!Farewell to this unique opportunity to make his country rich all over the world!Farewell to this bright future that has enriched all citizens of Greenland! As for Mr. Dean Forsyth and Dr. Hudson, one fears for their sanity.They stretched out their arms in despair, and shouted for help, as if the shooting star would really be saved. There was a more conspicuous movement of the bolide, which at last drove them mad.Dr. Hudson broke through the defense line of the guards regardless of the danger of his life, and rushed towards the golden ball.

He can't go any further.He was suffocated by the hot air.After running a hundred steps, he suddenly staggered and fell to the ground. Mr. Dean Forsyth would be glad, alas for his rival, and alas for any rivalry!But Mr. Dean Forsyth, who had been a man of integrity before he was a fanatical astronomer, was restored to his nature by an overwhelming feeling.The man-made hatred was like a nightmare that disappeared when he woke up, and it disappeared in an instant, leaving only the memories of the past in his heart.Therefore, Mr. Dean Forsyth flew past without thinking and reflex-may he live forever! ——Rescue old friends in distress instead of gloating over the death of opponents.

But he couldn't do what he wanted, and just rushed to Dr. Hudson's side, dragged him back a few meters, and was suffocated by the heat of the raging fire, and fell beside his friend, unconscious. Luckily Francis Gordon sprang up from behind him, and Mr. Seth Stanford followed closely without hesitation.Mrs. Arcadia Walker, it may be imagined, would not stand on the sidelines. "Seth! . . . Seth! . . . " she cried instinctively, as if her ex-husband's imminent disaster had frightened her. A few brave spectators followed, all of whom had to crawl on the ground with handkerchiefs over their mouths.Because the air was so hot it was hard to breathe.At last they crept up to Mr. Forsyth and Dr. Hudson, and lifted them up, and carried them back to the side of the impassable line, which would have burned their insides.

Fortunately, the two people who suffered from meng lang were rescued in time, and after people's intensive care, they finally woke up.But alas!But helplessly watching their hopes shattered! The bolide did continue to slide slowly, either because it moved on the slope itself, or because its surface gradually collapsed under the weight.The bolide's center of gravity is near the ridge of the cliff.On the other side of the sharp ridge, there is a cliff that plunges straight into the sea. Everyone was very excited, shouted everywhere, and ran around inexplicably.Some—Mr. Sean Stanford and Mrs. Arcadia Walker among them—flew across the sea, lest they fail to see a single detail of the disaster.

But, again, there was a moment of hope.The golden ball is not moving! ... However, only for a moment.Suddenly there was a terrible crackling sound... The rock couldn't hold on, and the meteor sank into the sea. The crowd shouted loudly, but there was no echo from the shore, because the shouts were drowned out at that moment by an explosion louder than a thunderbolt.At this time, the air wave was raging, sweeping across the island with overwhelming momentum.The audience was blown to the ground, no one was spared. The bolide just exploded.Seawater seeps into the countless holes of this golden sponge from thousands of pores on its surface.As soon as the water hits the hot metal, it vaporizes in an instant.So the meteor exploded like an overheated boiler.Now its fragments fell back into the waves in bunches with a deafening whistling.

This violent explosion caused the sea to surge.A monstrous huge wave rushed to the coast, and then fell aggressively.Those daredevils who had approached the beach before all ran away in fright, trying desperately to run up to the top of the slope.This is not accessible to everyone.Some of them became wild animals with fear, so far as to push Mrs. Arcadia Walker away, then seize her again, and throw her to the ground.If the raging waves rush to the beach again, she will be swept away! ... But Mr. Seth Stanford was watching her.Seeing that there was no hope of saving her, he still risked his life to rush to rescue her.There will undoubtedly be two sacrifices instead of one...

No, Mr. Seth Stanford caught up with the young woman at last, leaning himself against a rock so hard that he could withstand the terrible back wave.Many tourists immediately rushed to rescue them and brought them back.They were finally saved. If Mr. Seth Stanford was not unconscious, Mrs. Arcadia Walker was.Thanks to everyone's good attention and careful nursing, she soon regained consciousness.As soon as she opened her mouth, she asked her ex-husband first: "It's thanks to you that I was saved." She held his hand tightly and gave him a tender and grateful look. That magical fireball was far less lucky than Mrs. Arcadia Walker, and it couldn't escape the tragic fate!Now, its fragments are buried in the sea, where no one can reach.Even if it were possible to bring such a mass back from the unfathomable ocean by superhuman effort, that hope should be abandoned.In fact, countless fragments flew out from the core of that blasted nugget, which had been scattered in the sea.Mr. de Schneck, Mr. Forsyth, and Dr. Huddleson searched the seashore for the tiniest fragment, in vain.No, there is nothing left of the 578.8 billion, and the magical fireball has disappeared, and there is no trace of it anymore.Mr. Seth Stanford went to rescue the young woman.