6. Adventures on Land and at Sea

Christmas comes and goes, marked only by Ned’s anger at being kept from his family. On the morning of New Year’s Day, Conseil joins you on the submarine’s platform. “Happy New Year, Professor,” he says.

“What do you mean by happy, Conseil?” you say sadly. “Do you mean that this year will bring us to the end of our imprisonment?”

“I don’t know how to answer that,” admits Conseil.

You have traveled 11,340 miles, or 5,250 leagues, under the sea. You are within sight of the Papuan coasts. Captain Nemo sends you a short message. He is going to leave the Pacific and enter the Indian Ocean through the dangerous Strait of Torres.

This stretch of water is wide but full of small islands and underwater rocks. Many ships have sunk beneath the strait’s waters. Captain Nemo keeps to the surface, and the Nautilus moves slowly forward. You, Ned, and Conseil stand on the platform, watching the breaking waves of a furious sea.

Ned points ahead. “I hope the captain is sure of what he’s doing. I see pieces of coral that would rip the hull open with the slightest touch!”

To avoid some underwater rocks, the Nautilus makes a sharp turn and aims toward the Island of Gilboa. But moments later, the ship grinds to a shuddering halt. You, Ned, and Conseil are slammed to the platform.

The submarine tilts dangerously to port. Luckily, you all manage to keep a hand on the rail and save yourselves from being thrown into the sea. The Nautilus rocks back to a more neutral position, and the three of you are able to stand again.

Captain Nemo and a crewman climb onto the platform. They talk in their strange language as they peer over the sides of the Nautilus. It is stuck solid. You can see there’s no real damage to the vessel, but it isn’t moving; it’s caught on some coral. Captain Nemo approaches you, as Ned and Conseil cautiously look over the edge.

“An accident?” you ask calmly.

The captain replies smoothly, “An incident.”

Captain Nemo tells you that in five days the moon will be full. The tides will lift the Nautilus free. He and the crewman then climb below, leaving you to tell Ned and Conseil what he has said.

“The moon will free us? You’ve got to be kidding me,” says Ned.

You shrug.

“This piece of iron will never dive again. It is only fit to be sold for its weight,” says Ned. He pauses and adds, “I think the time has come to part company with Captain Nemo.”

The Island of Gilboa is only two miles away, but you argue with Ned about the dangers of trying to escape. The island is not like Europe or America. You don’t know whether people live there, or if they will be friendly.

Ned urges you to ask the captain if the three of you can at least take the small boat to the island to do some real hunting. Conseil agrees with Ned. He says he longs to walk on solid ground and eat something—anything—other than seafood.

You already fear Captain Nemo. He seems to be hiding some dangerous secrets, and you don’t want him to think you’ve become a problem. But you do trust Conseil’s opinion, and a hunting trip could help lessen Ned’s anger. Will you keep your friends happy and ask Captain Nemo? Or will you play it safe and not risk angering him? What will you choose to do?