Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Preparation

Thus ended this unforgettable conversation, and I was still very excited. I left my uncle's study as if in a nightmare, and because the air in Hamburg's roads was not fresh enough, I turned towards the banks of the Elbe. Do I believe everything I just heard?Am I convinced by Professor Riedenbroek?Is his decision to go to the center of the earth true?Was what I just heard the ramblings of a madman, or the scientific deduction of a great genius?Which of these words are reliable?Which ones are wrong? I wandered among a thousand competing hypotheses, still unable to come to a conclusion.

I remember, however, that I was persuaded, though my enthusiasm was now fading; and I should have liked to be off at once, so that I would have no time to think about it.Yes, I should have had the courage to pack my bags then. But after an hour, I had become less agitated, and I seemed to have risen from the depths of the earth to the surface. "It's absurd!" I cried. "It's meaningless. What a ridiculous plan! No—I must have had a bad dream." I was walking along the banks of the river, having already left the town, and then I walked on the road to Altona on a whim, and soon my sanity came to my senses, because I was sure that my little Grauben I am walking towards Hamburg in high spirits.

"Grauban!" I shouted as soon as I saw her. The girl stopped, apparently surprised to hear her name being called on the road. I walked about ten steps, and I was standing beside her. "Aksai!" she exclaimed in amazement, "Oh! You came to see me. I know." But she obviously noticed something special about my expression—uneasy and anxious. "What's wrong?" She asked, grabbing my hand. A few words from me were enough to make her understand everything.She was silent for a few minutes, whether her heart was beating like mine or not, but her hand that I held did not tremble.We walked about a hundred steps together, and then she said:

"Axai!" "Well, dear Grauben." "It's got to be a great trip." After hearing these words, I couldn't help being surprised. "Yes, Aksai, don't live up to the title of nephew of a scientist. It's a good thing for a person to use great things to make himself outstanding." "What, Grauban, won't you prevent me from taking part in this expedition?" "No, dear Aksai, if a girl won't cause you any trouble, I will go with you and your uncle." "Are you telling the truth?" "It's the truth."

Oh, how incomprehensible is the heart of a girl!If they are not the most timid, they are the most courageous!This girl is encouraging me to take part in this crazy expedition, and unafraid to take the risk myself.Although she is urging me to do it - but she does love me. I was panicked, and at the same time I had to admit I was ashamed. "Well, Grauben," I replied, "we'll see if you say the same thing tomorrow." "Tomorrow, dear Aksai, my words will be exactly the same as today." We walked arm in arm, neither of us saying a word.Everything that happened that day put me in a very emotional state.I thought to myself: "Anyway, July is still early. For this underground expedition, uncle has to treat his mania. Many things will happen during this time!"

It was night when we reached the Corniche, and I figured my uncle had gone to bed and Marta had just finished cleaning the dining room. But I underestimated my uncle's impatience; I saw him bustling about, giving orders to the many workmen who were unloading at the door; "Come on, Axel," he called as soon as he saw me, "quick, your bag isn't packed, my identity card isn't in order, the key to my bag isn't there, and my rubber boots aren't there yet." Didn't send it!" I was so taken aback that I couldn't speak clearly: "Shall we go now?"

"Of course, you silly boy, go out for a walk now, don't stay by my side!" "Are we leaving now?" I repeated feebly. "Yes, first of all you need to know that you are leaving the day after tomorrow." I couldn't listen any more and I fled into my little room.There was no doubt about it; my uncle had spent all afternoon gathering up the things necessary for the expedition, and the gravel road was heaped with rope ladders, torches, flasks, picks, iron-tipped rods, etc., enough for ten men to carry. ! I had a horrible night.I was woken up early the next morning.I have decided not to open the door.But how could I resist that soft cry: "Dear Aksai!"

I came out, hoping my insomnia-pale face and red eyes would change Graubin's mind. "Ah, dear Axel," she said, "I know you are better now, and last night has calmed you down." "Calm down!" I said to myself.I suddenly ran to the mirror.Well, I'm not as ill as I thought I was.I can not believe it. "Axel," said Grauban, "I have spoken at length to my patron. He is a great man, full of courage, and so are you. He has laid down his plans and hopes, why he hopes I have been told how he achieved his purpose, and how he hoped to achieve it. I am sure he will succeed. Oh, dear Axel, how nice it would be for a man to devote himself to science! Mr. Lidenbrock and his What an honor will be given to his companions! When you return, Aksai, you will be equal to him, free to say, free to do, free to..."

She stopped talking suddenly, her little face flushed red.Her words cheered me up.But I still hesitate.I dragged her to the professor's study. "Uncle," I said, "are we really going soon?" "Of course, what's the matter?" "Well, I just wonder why we're in such a hurry." "It's time! Time flies by!" "Today is only May 26, we have to wait until the end of June..." "Aren't you so stupid that you don't even know it's going to take us a while to get from here to Iceland? If you hadn't walked out like a fool just now, I was going to take you to the Lyffindor office. It is the only shipping company handling the voyage from Copenhagen to Reykjavik."

"Then, uncle?" "Well, if we wait until the 22nd of June, we shall be too late to see the shadow of Skadanlis on the notch of Snaef; so we should get to Copenhagen as soon as possible, and see what we What can you see. Go and pack your bags!" What else is there to say?I was escorted back to my room by Grauban.It was she who packed in a small suitcase the clothes and other things necessary for my travels.She was no more agitated this time than if I were to come or go, and her little hands performed their task without haste, while she talked to me calmly and hopefully.She fascinated me, but also irritated me.Sometimes I couldn't help losing my temper, but she just pretended not to see and continued to work quietly.

The last belt was finally on too, so I went down the stairs. During this entire day, paraphernalia, weapons, and electrical appliances all arrived.Poor Marta was too dazed. "Has the master lost his mind?" she asked me. I nod. "Is he going to take you with him?" I repeated what I just said. "Where are you going?" I point to the center of the earth. "To the cellar?" "Going down, to a deeper place." I said, and finally I couldn't hold back anymore. Night came unexpectedly early. "Tomorrow morning," said the uncle, "we are starting at six." At ten o'clock, I fell on the bed like a log.But in the middle of the night, I was afraid again.I dream of many abysses.I was literally in a coma.I felt as if being dragged into hollows and quicksand by the rough hands of the professor.I fell quickly from the infinite height of the cliff.I seem to have been falling endlessly. At five o'clock in the morning, I woke up tired and excited.I went downstairs into the dining room to find my uncle already gorging himself at the table.The sight disgusted me, but Grauben was there too.I didn't say a word, and I couldn't eat. At half past five, there was the sound of wheels turning outside.A large carriage was already at the door to take us to Altona station.After a while, the carriage was full of uncle's luggage. "Where's your luggage?" he asked me. "Ready." I stammered. "Get your luggage down quickly, or you'll keep us from getting on the train!" It seemed impossible to change my fate.I went upstairs to my room again, and slid my bag down the stairs, followed by me. Uncle is solemnly entrusting the management of the house to Grauban.The beautiful darling was as calm as ever, but when her sweet lips touched my cheeks, she couldn't hold back the tears. "Grauban!" I yelled. "Go, dear Aksai," said she, "you leave your betrothed now, but when you come back you will see your wife." I hugged her tightly with my arms for a moment, then sat down in the carriage.Marta and she stood at the door waving our last farewell, and the two horses immediately galloped towards Altona.

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