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light-years which separates our solar system from the world of fixed stars is
a solitude empty of worlds, but that a few million dark bodies may be situated
there, such large ones that our solar system may revolve around them. For
there is nothing to prove that luminous and non-luminous cosmic bodies cannot
also revolve around an extinguished dark star, provided it be large enough.
"From all this," Flitmore now concluded, "you see that dark bodies, as well as
inhabitable ones, must exist a-plenty.
God grant that we shall find such a one in due time and be able to make a
happy landing upon it."
XXXII LEFT WITHOUT AIR!
THE weird journey of the
Sannah with the comet had already lasted five months, and Toliman was still so
far off that it could not be said when they would reach it. Lord Flitmore's
food machine was now being put into action more frequently, so that the
dwindling stores of foodstuffs might be preserved as long as possible. It
produced a very nourishing, strengthening, and agreeable food, which, however,
could not long take the place of foods grown by nature.
"Unfortunately your supposition about Amina's speed is proving to be wrong,"
Flitmore said one day to Schulze.
"Quite so," replied the Professor, "I overestimated it considerably. When you
have no sure data for a calculation, it is easy to go wrong tenfold, and a
hundredfold when such amazing figures are involved."
"A poor consolation," sighed the Englishman, "but what is even more disturbing
is that I also figured too optimistically when I thought my oxygen stores
would last for eleven months: we haven't been under way half that time and
they are all empty but for one small chamber; as for ozone, that is altogether
gone."
"How much longer will the air last us?" asked Munch-hausen.
Lord FIrtmore shrugged his shoulders. "With the greatest economy, and I mean
the very greatest, three weeks;
then we are done for."
"Let's economize!" said the Captain, drily.
"That we shall; but we are due for bad times and who knows whether all our
economizing will do any good!"
From now on the meagre remains of oxygen were so scrupulously rationed that
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the air in the
Sannah was all but worthless.
The consequences were soon to be seen: only the most imperative activity was
engaged in, for the unfortunates felt themselves overwhelmed by dullness and
sleepiness. They lay around, sniffing for air, and surrendered to the leaden
stupor that held them in its grip; for they consumed less of the precious air
while asleep.
The more they hungered for air, the less appetite they had for food or drink.
Pallid and haggard as ghosts, they dragged themselves through the rooms,
seeking better air;
but everywhere it was used up and poisoned.
No longer from day to day, but from hour to hour, their torments increased,
and those on watch had a hard time fighting off sleep, so as to be able in
turn to arouse their choking comrades, who otherwise would never have risen
again!
"Invent something that will produce artificial oxygen or make the exhausted
air fresh again!" the Captain panted. "I'm at the end of my rope. Lord
Flitmore!"
Flitmore smiled feebly and sadly and looked at Mitzie, who lay back in her
chair with closed eyes, gasping convulsively. "If only I could! If God does
not help us, we are lost. But help must come soon.
I have estimated that at the rate we are using it up now, the oxygen will last
us another four days. We can't go on like this; we absolutely must have better
air, there is no time to lose. We must put an end to this economy. I am
resolved upon distributing in the next twenty-four hours all that is left of
our stores. Then we shall at least live again, one last time. What comes after
that is in the hands of the Almighty!"
With these words, Flitmore slipped away to open the ventilator which was to
let the condensed oxygen course through the only room that was still occupied.
The Lady raised herself as in a dream and left the room
with lagging footsteps.
Hank, who felt uneasy, followed her. He found her in a room where the two
chimpanzees lay choking on the floor:
much as they hated to do it, they had had to remove the apes so that they
would not also contribute towards breathing away the last bit of air from
their human companions in
misery.
"What are you thinking of ?" Hank asked the Lady.
She looked at him wearily: "What do I matter? The main thing is to preserve
the life of the men until God sends them relief. I will not rob them of their [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]