第58章 THE LAST WORDS OF CAPTAIN NEMO(2)

Captain Nemo was there.He had not gone to rest.At every moment Iexpected to see him appear,and ask me why Iwished to fly.

Iwas constantly on the alert.My imagination magnified everything.

The impression became at last so poignant that Iasked myself if it would not be better to go to the Captain's room,see him face to face,and brave him with look and gesture.

It was the inspiration of a madman;fortunately Iresisted the desire,and stretched myself on my bed to quiet my bodily agitation.

My nerves were somewhat calmer,but in my excited brain Isaw over again all my existence on board the Nautilus;every incident,either happy or unfortunate,which had happened since my disappearance from the Abraham Lincoln--the submarine hunt,the Torres Straits,the savages of Papua,the running ashore,the coral cemetery,the passage of Suez,the Island of Santorin,the Cretan diver,Vigo Bay,Atlantis,the iceberg,the South Pole,the imprisonment in the ice,the fight among the poulps,the storm in the Gulf Stream,the Avenger,and the horrible scene of the vessel sunk with all her crew.

All these events passed before my eyes like scenes in a drama.

Then Captain Nemo seemed to grow enormously,his features to assume superhuman proportions.He was no longer my equal,but a man of the waters,the genie of the sea.

It was then half-past nine.Iheld my head between my hands to keep it from bursting.Iclosed my eyes;Iwould not think any longer.

There was another half-hour to wait,another half-hour of a nightmare,which might drive me mad.

At that moment Iheard the distant strains of the organ,a sad harmony to an undefinable chant,the wail of a soul longing to break these earthly bonds.

Ilistened with every sense,scarcely breathing;plunged,like Captain Nemo,in that musical ecstasy,which was drawing him in spirit to the end of life.

Then a sudden thought terrified me.Captain Nemo had left his room.

He was in the saloon,which Imust cross to fly.There Ishould meet him for the last time.He would see me,perhaps speak to me.

Agesture of his might destroy me,a single word chain me on board.

But ten was about to strike.The moment had come for me to leave my room,and join my companions.

Imust not hesitate,even if Captain Nemo himself should rise before me.

Iopened my door carefully;and even then,as it turned on its hinges,it seemed to me to make a dreadful noise.Perhaps it only existed in my own imagination.

Icrept along the dark stairs of the Nautilus,stopping at each step to check the beating of my heart.Ireached the door of the saloon,and opened it gently.It was plunged in profound darkness.

The strains of the organ sounded faintly.Captain Nemo was there.

He did not see me.In the full light Ido not think he would have noticed me,so entirely was he absorbed in the ecstasy.

Icrept along the carpet,avoiding the slightest sound which might betray my presence.Iwas at least five minutes reaching the door,at the opposite side,opening into the library.

Iwas going to open it,when a sigh from Captain Nemo nailed me to the spot.