Captain Nemo_ The Fantastic History Of A Dark Genius Part 27

Torn by even greater political strife back in Ankara, Caliph Robur had threatened further executions. He insisted that Nemo's team work to complete the construction as fast as humanly possible. Nemo held the stubborn man's bloodl.u.s.t at bay only by emphasizing how the loss of more good workers would cause further delays.

Nemo had grown cold inside, feeling the guilt on his conscience, no matter how much Auda tried to soothe him. He had lost an innocent comrade because of this warlord's mad ambitions. Any enthusiasm he'd had for the project had been killed with the same scimitar that had murdered Conseil. Even after such a long time at Rurapente, Nemo had never accepted his fate, had never believed in the caliph's barbarous ambitions. But he would have to do something soon.

The Nautilus Nautilus functioned perfectly. Once Nemo had demonstrated the vessel's capabilities, Robur could easily convince his Sultan of its necessity. All political power would s.h.i.+ft. With such a clear triumph over conservative Caliph Barbicane, Robur would once again become a favorite in the Sultan's court. functioned perfectly. Once Nemo had demonstrated the vessel's capabilities, Robur could easily convince his Sultan of its necessity. All political power would s.h.i.+ft. With such a clear triumph over conservative Caliph Barbicane, Robur would once again become a favorite in the Sultan's court.

Nemo knew the warlord would never keep his promises of rewarding his captive experts with freedom, though. He could see it in Robur's dark, calculating eyes.

His twenty-five remaining engineers were already aboard the Nautilus, Nautilus, a full crew. Food and supplies had been stored in the sub-marine's chambers. The men had said farewell to their families, because Robur had announced his intention to explore the Mediterranean on this trial voyage. Accompanied by his most trusted guards, the caliph meant to be gone for a full week. a full crew. Food and supplies had been stored in the sub-marine's chambers. The men had said farewell to their families, because Robur had announced his intention to explore the Mediterranean on this trial voyage. Accompanied by his most trusted guards, the caliph meant to be gone for a full week.

At the edge of the docks, Caliph Robur sat on his stallion as if he intended to bring his big horse aboard the vessel. When the warlord saw Nemo walking toward the launch site under escort, he dismounted and handed the reins to a servant. He motioned to a troop of white-robed guards who climbed through the hatch down into the armored sub-marine. Smiling above his pointed beard, Robur stood proudly beside Nemo, congratulating his chief engineer. Nemo wanted to spit at him.

"We will now depart and explore the realm beneath the seas," Robur shouted for all the gathered workers to hear. "We will journey into unknown territories, and when I return, all of the Ottoman Empire -- in fact, the entire world -- will know the power and terror of this invincible wars.h.i.+p. The Turks shall once again be masters of the Mediterranean."

Nemo scanned the slaves and workers. Though they cheered on cue, many seemed agitated in a strange way. The warlord remained oblivious to the changed mood -- Robur had never heeded the feelings or motivations of the people who were forced to serve him.

Then, even in his red haze of resentment, a relieved grin broke across Nemo's face as he recognized beautiful, long-haired Auda pus.h.i.+ng through the crowd. He'd known she would come. His wife clutched little Jules's hand in her own and made her way to the dock. In her other hand, she grasped a bouquet of flowers.

"Wait!" she called in Turkish. "I must give these to my husband. It is a tradition from his home country."

The guards let her pa.s.s, and she hurried forward. After years of knowing Auda so well, Nemo could read the concern in her sepia eyes. "Take these flowers, my husband," she said, using French this time. While Robur could still understand her, the guards could not. "Put them in your stateroom and think of me on your journey."

Then she bowed formally to the caliph himself, though her eyes remained as hard as flint. "It is my way of offering prayers to Allah," she said. "A gift of beauty for my husband."

Robur gruffly nodded to her. "Take the flowers from your woman, Engineer, and get aboard. I am anxious to be off."

Concerned, Nemo took the bouquet from her trembling hand -- perhaps she was afraid for him on this trial journey? But Auda had not shown such fear on his other test voyages. Why now?

Impatient, Robur gestured for him to climb through the hatch into the vessel, then rapidly followed, scrambling down the metal rungs. The hatch clanged shut with a sound like a coffin lid closing.

The Nautilus Nautilus's front chamber consisted of a raised bridge deck made of anodized metal plates. Corrugated steel steps dropped down to the main control deck where workers manned the apparatus. Wide plate-gla.s.s portholes showed a forward view, as if through the eyes of a fish; side windows also looked out upon the undersea world.

Within the main body of the sub-marine boat, private cabins for Nemo and the crew members lined the hull. A large sitting room and salon -- which Robur intended to use as his throne room -- filled the central section of the Nautilus. Nautilus. On the lower deck were supply closets and a dressing room complete with undersea suits and bra.s.s helmets, as well as a double-lock door to allow egress beneath the water. The engine room, with propulsion screws and pounding pistons, was crowded into the narrow aft chambers.

Nemo deposited Auda's flowers on the table in his cabin and hurried back to complete preparations for submerging. By now, his European crew was well-practiced, and he merely gave the orders to rea.s.sure them. He took his formal place at the bridge controls. Robur stood next to him, domineering, as if he meant to take the helm as soon as he had observed Nemo's piloting skills.

The sub-marine's engines started. Electricity pulsed through the motors; the crew tested the rudders. Finally, the ballast tanks were opened as the Nautilus Nautilus drifted free of the dock. drifted free of the dock.

The metal deck hummed beneath them. Solid and st.u.r.dy, the undersea vessel showed no distress as water filled the tanks, and the ocean rose above the porthole windows until it swallowed the ridged upper hull. The Nautilus Nautilus sank, and then moved forward. sank, and then moved forward.

Away from direct sunlight, the bridge deck darkened. "Lights," Nemo said. Brilliant cones of white illumination stabbed into the water as they proceeded through the mouth of the cove into the Mediterranean.

Robur gasped with childlike glee at the new world beyond the thick portholes. He saw confused fish swimming about, rocky outcroppings far below on the ocean bed, waving tendrils of seaweed.

"Marvelous, Engineer." Robur startled him by clapping a firm hand on Nemo's shoulder. "My ambitious dream has come true."

Nemo considered guiding them down the Turkish coast to where they would find the rusted wreckage of the gigantic cannon Columbiad Columbiad -- just to show the caliph evidence of his hubris and his technological folly. -- just to show the caliph evidence of his hubris and his technological folly.

"You need never have doubted us," he answered, trying hard to keep the vindictive tone out of his voice. The round, terrified face of slain Conseil swam in front of him.

The caliph and two guards observed Nemo closely, studying the man's every movement to learn how to pilot the Nautilus Nautilus. Nemo wondered how soon the caliph would consider his crew obsolete -- and what Robur would do to them then.

They traveled all day, covering many leagues under the sea faster than any sailing s.h.i.+p. Propelled by the Nautilus Nautilus's powerful engines and ignoring the vagaries of wind or water currents, they could choose their own direction.

The muscular guards eventually relaxed. After all, where could Nemo and his men go? They could never escape. Robur soon insisted that he take the helm on his own, giving Nemo no choice but to relinquish command. He pretended to do so willingly, feigning weariness. "I'll retire for a while and rest, Caliph."

In his cabin Nemo sat down, his thoughts in a turmoil. He stared at the bouquet Auda had insisted on giving him. He smiled at the thought of his wife and their boy Jules, fastening on the one shred of pleasure remaining to him. Although he had never surrendered the place in his heart he would always hold for Caroline, his first love, he adored Auda and their son. They had made him happy during what would otherwise have been an impossible time.

He sniffed the flowers -- and discovered something strange around a thick stem at the center. She had folded and wrapped a thin sc.r.a.p of brown paper which matched the color of the twigs. Curious, Nemo unraveled the sc.r.a.p and found that she had written him a note in tiny letters, painstakingly translated into French. He held his breath as he read, feeling cold horror grow within him.

"Nemo, my love, Robur intends to kill you and your men on this voyage. He no longer has any use for you. He does not realize, though, that it is already too late for him. While he is gone during these seven days, my father's troops will sweep down from the mountains and overthrow Rurapente. The Sultan has issued an order for Robur's execution.

"Protect yourself. Stay on your guard and be prepared to fight when the caliph makes his move. My father has promised me safety -- yes, all along I have been his spy at Rurapente, and I have sent regular reports via the shepherds on the plateau, who are my allies.

"I will take Jules into isolation and protect the families of your men -- but you must not return must not return for at least a year. There is sure to be terrible bloodshed and political confusion. Because you have built this war vessel for an enemy of the Sultan, your life may also be forfeit. for at least a year. There is sure to be terrible bloodshed and political confusion. Because you have built this war vessel for an enemy of the Sultan, your life may also be forfeit.

"Do not worry about me, my husband. Just find me when the time is up. I shall wait for you, counting the days. I will make sure your son never forgets you, and when you return, you will receive the honor and glory you deserve."

Nemo reread the letter through a hot haze of betrayal. He had expected treachery from Caliph Robur, and he vowed again that the evil warlord would not succeed in his mad goals. Robur represented the worst of mankind.

Grim and determined, Nemo knew he would have to rally his crew. They must find a way to outwit the caliph's murderous guards.

When he felt ready to return to the bridge, he looked down and discovered that in his cold fury, he had crushed the delicate flowers in his hands.

viii

Like a metal shark, the Nautilus Nautilus glided through the Mediterranean. The vessel cruised over ribbony ma.s.ses of coral and underwater forests of seaweed. Schools of silvery fish flitted through the glare of the dazzling front lights. The captive crew watched for legendary mer-people, marvelous sunken cities, or frightening sea monsters. glided through the Mediterranean. The vessel cruised over ribbony ma.s.ses of coral and underwater forests of seaweed. Schools of silvery fish flitted through the glare of the dazzling front lights. The captive crew watched for legendary mer-people, marvelous sunken cities, or frightening sea monsters.

Knowing the death sentence Robur had secretly p.r.o.nounced for them, however, Nemo could see no beauty there.

Seeing that the burly guards were occupied and complacent, Nemo took aside Cyrus Harding, whom he had named as his second-in-command, and quietly told the English boatbuilder of Auda's warning. Then, speaking a polyglot of French, English, and Italian, word pa.s.sed among the captive crew. Now vigilant, they began making plans for their defense against Robur's betrayal. Since the senseless execution of poor Conseil, the men had been eager to strike back against the bloodthirsty warlord. . . .

As they journeyed for days, Nemo stood at the helm, silently aware of Caliph Robur and his murderous guards. He watched the caliph's narrow face for any sign of impending treachery. Robur seemed to grow more eager, his motions impatient, as he demanded that Nemo show him every control of the undersea boat. He overheard two guards whispering in Turkish, confident their language could not be understood, as they caressed their scimitar hilts and chuckled about "the true uses of steel."

By the caliph's command, Nemo guided the Nautilus Nautilus south, following the coast of Lebanon toward Egypt. Robur grew agitated and then smugly satisfied, when they reached the northern Egyptian coast. Though de Lesseps's ma.s.sive excavation of the Suez Ca.n.a.l had already been under way for two years, the French engineer had fallen behind schedule. south, following the coast of Lebanon toward Egypt. Robur grew agitated and then smugly satisfied, when they reached the northern Egyptian coast. Though de Lesseps's ma.s.sive excavation of the Suez Ca.n.a.l had already been under way for two years, the French engineer had fallen behind schedule.

Now, the Nautilus Nautilus cruised up and down the coast, watching the trawlers and dredging s.h.i.+ps. Silt from the gargantuan project had turned the water murky. Everyone aboard could see that this supposed threat to the Ottoman Empire would not be completed for many years. Caliph Robur had imagined the speed at which this entire "emergency" would develop. cruised up and down the coast, watching the trawlers and dredging s.h.i.+ps. Silt from the gargantuan project had turned the water murky. Everyone aboard could see that this supposed threat to the Ottoman Empire would not be completed for many years. Caliph Robur had imagined the speed at which this entire "emergency" would develop.

One by one Nemo's crew stared out the window at the embarra.s.singly incomplete trench. Then, with barely concealed bitterness, they returned to their duties tending the sub-marine. Conseil had been slain for no purpose.

Nemo knew what he had to do. He made signals to his men and held brief whispered conversations with a few, who then spread word to the others. He had stalled long enough. It was time for revenge.

Nemo prepared to fight Caliph Robur and his men to the death.

Turning northward, they headed across deep water toward the Aegean Sea. Beneath the surface, gigantic underwater mountains rose from the sea floor to form numerous sunwashed islands. Creva.s.ses split their steep sides, filled with colorful fishes that flitted away from the sub-marine's brilliant light. High above, fis.h.i.+ng boats and oyster divers went about their daily routines.

After four days, the tension of wondering when Robur would make his move had reached a peak for Nemo and his men. When the crew finished morning operations, the caliph, resplendent in green turban and brilliant cape, turned to Nemo. "Engineer, I have seen everything this sub-marine boat can do, and it has performed flawlessly. Your work is at last complete." He glanced meaningfully at his nearest guards; their fingers s.h.i.+fted toward the hilts of their scimitars. "Now it is time --"

Nemo was ready for him, though. "Oh, not entirely, Caliph." He held up his hand and feigned a smile. "I have kept one important and marvelous thing until the end. A special surprise for you." Robur scowled, but Nemo offered his most disarming smile, hiding an automatic expression of hatred for the man. "Come, you must see for yourself."

Forcing himself to appear calm, he led the warlord to a closet, which he opened to reveal five diving suits. The bronze helmets were reinforced to hold air pressure and fitted with a thick gla.s.s viewplate. The garment itself was leather and canvas, coated with gutta percha to make it watertight; all the seams were sh.e.l.lacked.

"You have not yet walked on the bottom of the ocean, Caliph. This is the final honor reserved for you: to set foot where no other man, not even your Sultan, has gone." By appealing to Robur's pride, Nemo knew the decision was foreordained. "Surely you cannot pa.s.s up this miracle? We have enough time."

Robur studied the bra.s.s helmets, air tubes, and metal tanks. After a moment's hesitation he stroked his black beard. "Yes, we shall do that." Then he glared at Nemo. "And you you will accompany me, Engineer, to ensure that there is no danger." will accompany me, Engineer, to ensure that there is no danger."

"Why should I wish to harm you, Caliph? Will you not soon reward us for the excellent job we have done?" He studiously looked away from the burly guards. "However, it would be best if I bring one of my men along -- to a.s.sist in case of any technical emergency."

Robur's brows knitted in concern beneath his turban. "Then I will take one of my guards, as well." Nemo shrugged, suppressing a smile. These bald, muscular guards had never fought with anything but a scimitar: they would be completely helpless under the sea.

He trusted Cyrus Harding most among his men, but he would need his second-in-command on board to handle the other part of the plan. Instead, he chose as his companion the German/Sardinian Liedenbrock. "Ach! This should be a fine expedition. And eventful, I hope." He and Liedenbrock looked at each other, and understanding flashed between them. Both knew how much was at stake here. They could not hesitate.

"When we return, Engineer, I will finally set you and all your men free," the caliph said, removing his green turban so that he could wear the reinforced bronze helmet. "Now help me into this suit."

Not believing him for an instant, Nemo lowered the st.u.r.dy metal covering on Robur's head, sealing the bra.s.s collar into its padded gasket. Robur's anxious guards watched. Nemo made no threatening moves as he secured the chest and leg fastenings on the warlord's diving suit, then attached an air hose to the tank of compressed air developed by Conseil before his execution.

Nemo and Liedenbrock donned their own suits, while others a.s.sisted the c.u.mbersome guard, forcing him to leave his curved sword behind. The muscular man did not understand why he couldn't carry the blade inside his heavy, waterproof suit. The impatient caliph commanded him to cooperate so they could go outside and walk on the ocean floor.

Leaving the rest of the Nautilus Nautilus crew with the remainder of the white-clad guards, the four suited men stood inside the small, double-walled exit chamber. Nemo grasped a long, barbed spear from a rack on the wall. In his heavy suit the caliph's guard moved clumsily to grab the weapon away from him. Robur's helmet plate opened. "What is the meaning of taking this weapon, Engineer?" crew with the remainder of the white-clad guards, the four suited men stood inside the small, double-walled exit chamber. Nemo grasped a long, barbed spear from a rack on the wall. In his heavy suit the caliph's guard moved clumsily to grab the weapon away from him. Robur's helmet plate opened. "What is the meaning of taking this weapon, Engineer?"

"We must defend ourselves, Caliph," Nemo said in an innocent voice. "We are entering unexplored territory. We do not know what dangers may wait for us beneath the sea. Is it not better to be prepared, than to be slaughtered by a man-eating fish?" He looked intent, making certain he increased the uneasy guard's fear. "Or perhaps a sea monster?"

The caliph grumbled, "Very well, but my guard will carry the weapon himself. Now, let us be off so I can experience the last of the Nautilus Nautilus's wonders."

Nemo forced a tight smile again and looked at Cyrus Harding waiting just outside the airlock hatch. His anger had turned to ice, and he was completely prepared for what he must do. "Yes, Caliph, we will have much to celebrate." The second-in-command gave a curt nod to show that he understood.

The four suited men sealed the airlock chamber. Nemo turned a rotating wheel to open a valve that allowed sea water to pour in. Both the guard and the caliph became frantic at the gus.h.i.+ng flow, but Nemo raised his gloved hand, gesturing for them not to fear. When the water filled the chamber, they stood together for a moment, testing their breathing apparatus and looking through their helmets.

Nemo tasted metallic air in his lungs and again saw a bright vision of the meteorologist lying beheaded on the docks. Conseil had developed these systems, much improved over the crude bladder helmet young Nemo had used to walk under the Loire, when he'd been unable to save his drowning father. . . . With renewed determination, he opened the outer door, and the party stepped out of the sub-marine boat and onto the bottom of the sea.

Nemo's boot sank deep, sending up a cloud of silty mud. For a second he wondered if he had stumbled upon a murky trough of quicksand . . . but then he struck hard rock. With slow, fluid steps, he left footprints that the ocean erased.

Caliph Robur walked beside him like a child, struggling to keep his balance, but soon he was filled with delight and wonder. Liedenbrock followed them, letting himself become accustomed to the suit. The reluctant guard used his harpoon like a walking stick. Nemo watched them every second, ready to strike the moment either man made a mistake or showed any weaknesses.

They pa.s.sed through a garden of olive-green seaweed that waved like ferns around their knees and provided shelter for darting, exotic fish. The ground rose in rippled mounds of volcanic rock mixed with colorful coral like the antlers of a stag.

When Nemo saw the twined coral, he felt another sharp pang. He recalled that long-ago morning when he and Jules Verne had each promised to obtain a coral necklace for the beautiful young Caroline Aronnax. Now he stood looking at a fortune of the substance . . . and he was farther from Caroline than he had ever been -- and far from his wife Auda, as well, who had risked a great deal to warn him of the dangers he faced.

Robur intends to kill us all.

Hidden among boulders, they saw a cl.u.s.ter of giant clams, each one like a wide set of gray lips r.i.m.m.i.n.g a hard sh.e.l.l. Nemo wondered if they might find enormous black pearls inside the crus.h.i.+ng bivalve jaws of the clams.

The explorers were so intent on the mollusks that only Nemo noticed the shadow like a sharp canoe over their heads. He tilted his armored helmet to see the sleek form of a hammerhead shark swimming in search of prey.

The air bubbles escaping from their tanks had attracted the predator. Nemo froze, hoping the shark would swim away, but the hammerhead circled back. Nemo grabbed Liedenbrock's arm to get his attention. Seeing the movement, the caliph looked up and recoiled in astonishment. The guard holding the spear flailed in terror as the shark swam closer.

Nemo bounded forward, the water's embrace forcing him into a slow-motion dance. He wrested the spear out of the befuddled guard's gloved hand, then made certain he had a strong foothold on the rough coral surface.

The hammerhead stroked its angular tail back and forth, propelling itself toward Liedenbrock. As the shark pa.s.sed overhead, Nemo thrust the spear upward with all his might. The barbed tip plunged into the shark's belly. The hammerhead shuddered, but Nemo refused to let go of the spear. He pushed and tugged, using the jagged blade to rip open the fish's abdomen and spill its entrails along with a cloud of red blood.

The shark wheeled away, thras.h.i.+ng as it died. Trembling from the effort, Nemo ripped the spear loose. The air tasted hot and metallic inside his helmet. Liedenbrock stood beside him, poised for further action. The caliph's guard lumbered forward to retrieve the spear. His dark eyes glowered with anger and shame at his own inaction.

Both Nemo and Caliph Robur looked with contempt at the burly man, but Nemo surrendered the weapon without argument. He wouldn't need it for what he had in mind anyway. He gestured for the men to begin the return trek to the Nautilus Nautilus, whose lights gleamed in the distance like a lighthouse beacon. The dissipating blood from the shark would attract other aquatic predators . . . and Nemo had enough human enemies right beside him.

Aboard the Nautilus Nautilus, after he'd waited long enough for the underwater party to be far away, Cyrus Harding sounded the alarm. The other crew members had been primed, and they reacted to the emergency, pointing toward one of the ballast chambers. Harding raised his voice in false panic. "Sabotage! Sabotage, mates! Someone's in the ballast rooms!"

The confused guards sensed the urgency, but they understood little. Harding could have spoken in perfect Turkish after so many years at Rurapente, but he stumbled over the foreign words with feigned confusion, explaining little. A loud siren and a flas.h.i.+ng beacon fl.u.s.tered the well-muscled guards even more.

The Englishman ran toward the rear ballast chambers, and three of the five remaining guards stormed after him, drawing their scimitars. While the other crew members scrambled about, faces filled with mock terror, Harding flung open the metal bulkhead door. He pointed in alarm.

The three guards plunged inside, swords raised, ready for battle with saboteurs -- and Harding slammed the metal door, sealing them into the ballast chambers. Then, coldly and without remorse, the British boatbuilder opened the valves and filled the sealed room with cold sea water.

The trapped guards shouted and hammered their sword hilts on the other side of the door. Harding stood stony-faced. These men had executed Conseil without mercy and would have happily dispatched every member of the Nautilus Nautilus crew. The followers of Caliph Robur deserved to drown. crew. The followers of Caliph Robur deserved to drown.

The other Europeans turned on the remaining guards, overwhelming them. One of the engineers had retrieved the scimitar left behind by Robur's bodyguard; now the men threw themselves at the white-clad guards, using metal bars and equipment to fight for their lives. They knocked the curved swords away from Robur's men and retrieved the blades for themselves. Their enthusiasm and anger ran unchecked.

By the time Cyrus Harding went to meet them, turning deaf ears to the final cries of the drowning men inside the ballast chamber, the caliph's murderous guards had already been slain with their own swords. They lay in pools of blood on the Nautilus Nautilus deckplates. deckplates.

After the successful revolt, the captive crew members stood in shock, drenched in sweat. Blood spattered the uniforms Caliph Robur had forced them to wear, identifying them as prisoners of Rurapente. The long silence extended for more than a minute.

Finally, without a word or sign from Cyrus Harding, the men let out a loud cheer that signified their victory and their freedom at last after so many long years held hostage. Now the Nautilus Nautilus belonged to them. belonged to them.

Harding went back to the helm and stared out the thick windows, watching for his captain to return.

Nemo waited until they approached the Nautilus Nautilus. The running lights from the sub-marine boat shone out, overpowering the s.h.i.+mmering illumination from the sun far above.

He moved his gloved hand in a secret signal to Liedenbrock. Nemo fumbled inside a wide pocket in his underwater suit and withdrew the long knife he had secreted there. He stepped in front of their captor and turned so that his eyes, dark with hatred, could stare through the viewing plate at Robur's scarred face. He had waited long years for this moment.

When Robur saw the knife, a burst of bubbles evacuated from his air tank as the caliph flailed backwards, clumsily trying to get away. Nemo gracefully slid forward and slashed the air hose behind Robur's bra.s.s helmet. Helpless, the warlord struggled, but to no avail.

Air poured from the severed hose the way blood had sprayed from Conseil's neck. Nemo watched impa.s.sively as the once-powerful caliph fought to breathe . . . but all of his air bled away. Gratified, thinking of the years of oppression he and the other captives had suffered, Nemo watched every moment and felt no sympathy whatsoever. . . .

Liedenbrock struck at the same moment, cutting the guard's air hose with another knife. As the burly man lumbered about in confusion, the pressurized air propelled him like a jet, knocking him forward and off balance. In desperation, the guard swung his spear, but the metallurgist sidestepped the jagged blade, then plucked the weapon from the guard's gloved hand as if it were a welcome gift.

Liedenbrock lowered the spear and thrust it into his enemy's chest, killing him instantly. Nemo regretted that extra bit of violence, because now it would take longer to repair the valuable watertight suit.