Chapter 26 Chapter 10 Hallucinations

The situation has changed unexpectedly!We are no longer stranded here.What will be the consequences? ... At about the intersection of the 39th meridian and the 89th parallel we were immobilized.Now the current is taking us to the South Pole again... So, at first, there was a lot of joy, followed by a sense of dread of the unknown - and, how uncertain! ... Probably only Dirk Peters was overjoyed at the thought of going on the road again.He was determined to find his poor Pym on this road! . . . But how different thoughts passed through the minds of his other companions! Indeed, Captain Lan Guy had given up all hope of saving his countrymen.It is certain that William Guy and his five sailors left Zalar Island less than eight months ago...but where did they take refuge? ... In thirty-five days we covered a distance of nearly four hundred nautical miles without finding any sign.My compatriot Morley once boldly assumed that the Polar Continent was about a thousand miles wide.Even if they reach the polar continent, which part should we choose as the scope of our search? ...If the end of the earth's axis is bathed in the ocean, and a layer of ice armor is about to cover the abyss, aren't the survivors of the "Jenny" also swallowed by the abyss now? ...

Now that all hope had been lost, it was incumbent upon Captain Lan Gaye to lead the crew back north and cross the Antarctic Circle while the season permitted.And now we're being led south... After the initial reaction I spoke of above, fear quickly took over again at the thought of the current carrying the iceberg in this direction. And please be mindful of the fact that although we are no longer stranded, we still have to endure long winters and encounters with whalers hunting between the Orkney Islands, New George Island, and the Sandwich Lands The opportunity is bound to be missed.

The impact made our iceberg afloat again.But when they collided, many items were thrown into the sea: the stone guns of the "Halle Brena", anchors, anchor chains, part of the mast and spars.The supplies on board, thanks to the precautionary measures taken the day before, were stockpiled, and after an inventory, it can be said that there is almost no loss.If this collision destroys all our stored materials, how unimaginable our situation will be! ... Bearings were taken in the morning, and Captain Lan Guy concluded that our iceberg was heading downstream to the southeast.There doesn't appear to be any change in the direction of the water flow.It was one of the other huge blocks of moving ice that never stopped going in this direction that hit the mountainside to the east of us.The two icebergs were now one, one iceberg, moving at two knots an hour.

Interestingly, the direction of the water flow has remained the same.From the large ice floes, it has been directing free-flowing sea water in the direction of the Antarctic.According to Morley, there is a vast Antarctic continent.If this is the case, then the current is traveling around the continent. Alternatively, a wide strait bisects the continent and provides a passage for such a large amount of running water and the large ice floes that drift on the water.Is that so? ... I think we will have a conclusion on this very soon.At the current speed of two nautical miles per hour, it is estimated that thirty hours will be enough to reach the axis point where the earth's meridians meet.

Whether the current is passing through Antarctica, or whether there just happens to be a landmass there that we can land on, is another question. When I spoke of this with the bosun, he answered me: "Then what can be done, Mr. Georin? If the water flows through the South Pole, we pass through it; if the water does not flow through it, we cannot pass through it!  … We can't help ourselves, we can't go wherever we want...a big ice block is not a ship, it has neither sail nor rudder, it is wherever the current takes it! " "I agree with that, Heligly, so I have an idea of ​​getting two or three men into the boat..."

"You always have that idea! . . . You just hold on to the boat! . . . " "Of course. If there is indeed a piece of land somewhere, it's not very likely that the people on the 'Jenny'..." "Docking here, isn't it? Mr. Geolin . . . it's four hundred miles from Zalar Island! . . . " "Not necessarily, bosun! . . . " "Forget it! If you will allow me to put it bluntly: if land will appear, it will not be until it appears, and your reasoning will be useful. Our captain will consider how it is appropriate, and don't forget that time is short. We Can't stay too long in this area, all in all, this iceberg will take us neither in the direction of the Falkland Islands, nor in the direction of the Kerguelen Islands. It doesn't matter, as long as we can get out with another iceberg, Isn’t that enough? The most important thing is to cross the polar circle before winter turns it into an insurmountable moat!”

I should admit that what Heligley said was very insightful. On the orders of Captain Lan Guy, and under the supervision of the first mate, preparations for the winter were made.During this process, I had the opportunity to climb to the top of the iceberg several times.I sit on the highest point of the iceberg, keep the binoculars close to my eyes, and keep inspecting the spring.From time to time, floating icebergs pass by, blocking the circular horizon.Sometimes it is covered by a few clouds and becomes blurred. The position I occupied was a hundred and fifty feet above sea level, and I estimated that the field of vision was more than twelve nautical miles.On the vast expanse of the sky, until now, no outline of any distant object had been outlined.

Captain Lan Guy also climbed this peak on two occasions to measure the sun's height. On January 30th, the results of azimuth measurement are as follows: Longitude: West longitude 67 degrees 19 minutes. Latitude: 89 degrees 21 minutes south latitude. From this measured data, two conclusions can be drawn: First, the current has moved us nearly 24 degrees to the southeast since our last longitude position. Second, the iceberg is now only about forty nautical miles from the Antarctic. During the day, most of the goods were transported into a wide depression.This place was discovered by the boatswain on the east slope, and in the event of a new collision the chests and casks would be safe.The cooking stove, which the sailors helped Endicott place between two great blocks of ice, would secure the stove.Several tons of coal were piled nearby.

The various tasks were carried out smoothly, and there was no one to criticize and find fault, and no one to mutter.It could be seen that the crew kept silent on purpose.They obeyed Captain Lan Guy and his mate because there was nothing they were ordered to do that did not require immediate action.But as time goes by, doesn't discouragement take hold of them again? ... The authority of their superiors has not been disputed yet, but won't they be disputed in a few days? . . . The boatswain's peace of mind is self-evident.And Master Hardy; and maybe two or three old crewmen, if you don't count Mardin Holt...  As for the others, especially those recruited in the Falkland Islands, who saw the endlessness of this disastrous expedition, could they restrain the desire to seize the boat and escape without permission? ...

In my opinion, as long as our iceberg is drifting, there is no need to worry about this possibility, because the speed of the boat will not exceed the iceberg.But if the iceberg were to run aground again, if the iceberg hit the shore of a continent or an island, what would these unscrupulous people not do to escape their dreadful winter life? ... That's what we talked about over lunch.Both Captain Lan Guy and Jem West agreed on the notion that as long as the great floating mass of ice continued to move, the hunters and their mates would make no attempt.Of course, it's best not to let your guard down at all times.Hearne is so reassuring and well-founded that he must be watched closely at all times.

In the afternoon, during the crew break, I had another conversation with Dirk Peters. I came to the top of the iceberg again, sitting in my old place.Captain Lan Guy and the mate went to the buoyancy line at the bottom of the iceberg to benchmark.Within a twenty-four hour period, two benchmarks are measured to determine whether the draft is increasing or decreasing.That is, to determine whether the elevated center of gravity is at risk of causing another rollover. After sitting for half an hour, I saw the half-breed boy walking up the ice slope from a distance. Did he, too, come to survey the horizon, to the farthest point, in the hope of discerning a landmass? ...Or—which seemed more likely—he wanted to tell me a plan for the rescue of Arthur Pym? We've only exchanged three or four words with each other since the iceberg relocated. The half-breed came to me, stopped, and looked around at the sea, looking for what I was also looking for.Of course, this thing that I haven't found at all, he hasn't found either... Two or three minutes passed, and he still didn't speak to me.He's so preoccupied I wonder if he saw me... Finally, he leaned on a piece of ice.I thought he was going to talk to me about his old subject again.it's not true. "Mr. Georin," he said to me, "do you remember... in your cabin on the Halle Brena... I told you about that... Orca event……" How could I not remember it! ...that frightening scene, he was the main actor.Not a single word of what he told me has ever faded from my memory. "I told you," he went on, "Parker's name wasn't Parker . . . his name was Ned Holt . . . he was the brother of Martin Holt . . . " "I know, Dirk Peters," I replied, "but why bring up this poignant subject again? . . . " "Why, Mr. Georin? . . . It's not that . . . you've never revealed a little bit to anyone? . . . " "I haven't talked to anyone!" I said decisively. "How could I be so reckless and rash to reveal your secret? ... This secret should never come out of our mouths ... this The secret is dead between you and me..." "Dead...yes...dead!" murmured the half-breed, "then...but...you know what I mean...it seems...someone among the crew...someone knew...someone probably knew something ..." Then I remembered that the boatswain had told me that Hearne had once been talking to Martin Hoot and had run over him.During the conversation, Hearne urged Marl Holt to ask the half-breed under what circumstances his brother died on the Orca.I connect these two things.Had part of the secret been revealed, or was Dirk Peters just taking it for granted that he was so frightened? ... "Speak clearly." I said. "Please understand me, Mr. Georin...I don't know how to put it...Yes...Yesterday...I've been thinking about it since yesterday...Yesterday, Martin Holt put I pulled aside... far away from the others... told me he wanted to talk to me..." ...the Orca' thing? ..." "Yes, about the Orca...and his brother Ned Holt!...This is the first time...he's said the name...that man's name in front of me...but ...we have been sailing together for almost three months..." The mulatto's voice changed so much I could barely hear it. "Please see what I mean..." he went on, "it seems to me that in Martin Holt's mind... no!... I can never be mistaken... there seems to be doubts..." "Go on, Dirk Peters! . . . " I cried aloud. "What did Martin Hoot ask you?" I clearly realized that Hearn reminded Mardin Holt of this question.It occurred to me, however, that the half-breed would be better off knowing nothing about this disturbing and inexplicable intervention of the hunter-fisher.I was determined not to reveal anything to him. "Did he ask me anything, Mr. Georin? . . . " he replied, "He asked me . . . if I remembered Ned Holt aboard the Orca . . . In combat, or in shipwreck... Is he among those thrown at sea with Captain Barnard... At last... May I tell him how his brother died... Ah! how ……how……" The half-breed uttered these words with great disgust, showing how much he hated himself! "And how did you answer Mardin Hoult, Dirk Peters? . . . " "Didn't say anything... didn't say anything!" "You should be sure that Ned Holt was killed in the wreck of the brig..." "I can't say it... please understand me... I can't say it...these two brothers look so much alike! . . . Seeing Mardin Hoult . . . I see Ned Hoult!  … ...I was terrified...I escaped..." The half-breed made a jerk and straightened up.I put my head in my hands and began to meditate... I have no doubt that it was Hearne who instigated these long-overdue questions from Mardin Hoot about his brother... since I never mentioned it to anyone Just a word, so, did the hunters get hold of Dirk Peters' privacy while in the Falklands? ... After all, what was Hearne's purpose in instigating Martin Hoult to question the half-breed? ...what is its true intention? ...was he just trying to get rid of his hatred for Dirk Peters?Because Dirk Peters was the only one among the Falkland sailors who was always on the side of Captain Lan Guy, and he prevented Hearne's accomplices and Hearne himself from taking the boat... Do you expect to split the sail master and make him his own accomplice? ... In fact, didn't he need Mardin Hoth when he sailed across this sea in a small boat?Martin Hoult was one of the best sailors on the Hallebrena; where Hearn and his gang, if they were the only ones, might have run aground, Mardin Hoult would have sailed successfully...  … You see, my mind just got bogged down in a series of assumptions.The situation was already complicated enough, but now it has become complicated. I looked up again, and Dirk Peters was no longer with me.He said what he had to say, and at the same time made sure that I hadn't revealed his secret, and then slipped away without me noticing.It was getting late, and I took one last look at the sky before stepping down the iceberg.I have mixed feelings in my heart, and I am anxiously waiting for the next day like every day. As night came, the usual security measures were maintained, and no one was allowed to stay outside the barracks—except the half-breed, who remained behind to guard the boat. I was exhausted mentally and physically, and fell asleep.I slept next to Captain Lan Guy while the mate was on guard outside.I slept next to the mate when Captain Lan Guy went to take the mate's place. The next day, January 31st, early in the morning, I pushed back the canvas of the tent... How frustrating! The sky is full of fog—and not the kind of mist that can be dispelled by the brilliance of the rising sun, not the mist that can be dissipated under the influence of air currents... No!It was a yellowish, musty fog, as if this Antarctic January had become a northern hemisphere fog.In addition, we measured a significant drop in temperature, which may be a precursor to the onset of Antarctic winter.From the misty sky seeped thick bubbles of water vapor, and our icebergs were lost in the bubbles.This dense fog does not resolve into rain, but rather a cotton that sticks to the horizon... "Fatal accident," said the boatswain to me, "if land appears in the sea we pass, it may be invisible!" "How are we drifting? . . . " I asked. "Faster than yesterday, Mr. Georin. The captain has had it sounded, and he reckons it won't be less than three or four knots." "Then what conclusion can be drawn from this, Heligly? . . . " "I have come to the conclusion that, since the current has gained so much force, we are probably drifting to where the sea narrows... If ten or fifteen miles later land appears on our port or starboard side, I wouldn't be surprised..." "This is probably the wide strait that divides the Antarctic continent into two, right?" "Yes... at least our captain thinks so." "Since he has this opinion, Heligly, isn't he going to try it out, and dock on this or the other side of the strait?" "How?..." "Use a dinghy..." "Take a risk with the boat in this fog!" cried the bosun, throwing his arms out, "think about it, Mr. Georyn! . . . can we drop anchor and wait for it? . . . No? So, the biggest possibility is that the boat will never be seen again!...Ah!...It would be great if the "Halle Brena" was still there!..." well!Our "Halle Brenane" will not be lost and recovered! ... It is very difficult to go up the mountain in this semi-condensed water vapor.I desperately climbed to the top of the iceberg.Who knows, maybe when the sun clears, I will vaguely see land in the east or west? ... An impenetrable gray mantle covers this sea.I stood on the top of the mountain, trying to see through the cover, but to no avail. I stood there with the northeast wind blowing.The wind tends to increase, and it may tear through the thick fog... However, on the free-flowing sea, strong winds push new fog to accumulate.Under the dual effects of airflow and water current, we drifted faster and faster, and I felt as if the iceberg was trembling... Then suddenly I entered the realm of hallucinations--the same strange hallucinations that must have confused Arthur Pym's head... It seemed to me that I was becoming one with this incredible figure! ... I feel that I have finally seen the scenery he once saw! ...This thick fog that cannot be torn apart, in the eyes of his madman, isn't it just a fog curtain stretching across the sky! ...I seek out the glorious beams that dot the sky from east to west! ... I am looking for the incredible red flame at the top of the beam! ... I searched for the shimmering spaces and the shimmering waters, the waters illuminated by the rays that emanate from the depths of the ocean! ... I am looking for the boundless waterfall, flying down quietly from the top of the huge high wall directly into the clouds! ... I am looking for a wide gap; behind the gap, under the strong air current, there is a chaotic scene that is floating and indistinct! ... I am looking for the snow-white giant, the Antarctic giant! ... 308 Ah" Finally, reason prevailed again.Daydreams, delusions of vision and delusions fade away, and I descend back to the barracks. Spent the whole day in this situation.Not once did the barrier of fog open before our eyes.The iceberg had moved about forty nautical miles since the day before.If it had crossed the apex of the Earth's axis, we probably would never have known!