Music Welcome to snoozecast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find thesatsnewscast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by The Nautilus. Tonight we'll read the next part to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne. In the last episode, Professor Aranax panics about the oxygen levels in the cell, which must be diminishing. To his relief, he realizes that there is a novel system of ventilation on the vessel. Painfully hungry, the men await their next meal impatiently. They shout, but nobody answers. When, after two hours, the door finally opens. Ned attacks the person who comes inside. Aaron acts as shocked to hear the stranger addressing him politelyitely in perfect French and yet clearly known as a native speaker. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now, take a few deep breaths. some moments of silence, the commander of the mysterious vessel we were held captive on spoke. Gentleman said he, in a calm and penetrating voice, I speak French, English, German, and Latin equally well. I could therefore have answered you at our first interview, but I wish to know you first, then to reflect. The story told by H1, entirely agreeing in the main points, convinced me of your identity. I bowed ascent. It was not a question that the commander put to me. Therefore, there was no answer to be made. He continued the conversation in these terms. You have doubtless thoughts, sir, that I have delayed long in paying you this second visit. The reason is that your identity recognized, I wished to weigh maturely what part to act towards you. I have hesitated much. Most annoying circumstances have brought you into the presence of a man who has broken all the ties of humanity. You have come to trouble my existence. Unintentionally, said I, unintentionally, replied the stranger, raising his voice a little. Was it unintentionally that the Abraham Lincoln and pursued me all over the seas? Was it unintentionally that you took passage in this frigate? Was it unintentionally that your cannonballs rebounded off the plating of my vessel? And was it unintentionally that Mr. Ned Land struck me with his harpoon. I detected a restrained irritation in these words, but to these recriminations I had a very natural answer to make, and I made it. Sir, said I, no doubt you are ignorant of the discussions which have taken place concerning you in America and Europe. You do not know that divers' accidents caused by collisions with your submarine machine have excited public feeling in the two continents. I will emit the theories without number by which it was sought to explain that of which you alone possess the secret. But you must understand that in pursuing you over the high seas of the Pacific, the Abraham Lincoln believed itself to be chasing some powerful sea monster of which it was necessary to rid the ocean at any price. A half-smile curled the lips of the commander. Then, in a comertone, Miss Your Aeronaxe, he replied, dare you affirm that your frigate would not as soon have pursued and canonated a submarine boat as a monster. This question embarrassed me for certainly Captain Farragut might not have hesitated. He might have thought his duty to destroy a condriveance of this kind as he would a gigantic narwhal. You understand then, sir? Continue the stranger that I have the right to treat you as enemies? I answered nothing purposely, for what good would it be to discuss such a proposition when force could destroy the best arguments? I have hesitated some time, continued the commander. obliged me to show you hospitality if I chose to separate myself from you. I should have no interest in seeing you again. I could place you upon the deck of this vessel, which has served you as a refuge, and I could sink beneath the waters and and forget that you had ever existed. Would not that be my right? It might be the right of a savage, I answered, but not that of a civilized man. Professor replied the commander quickly, I am not what you call a civilized man. I have done with society entirely for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not therefore obey its laws, and I desire you never to elude them before me again. This was said plainly, a flash of anger and disdain kindled in the eyes of the unknown, and I had a glimpse of a terrible past in the life of this man. Not only had he put himself beyond the pale of human laws, but he had made himself independent of them free in the strictest acceptation of the word.

Quite beyond. human laws. But he had made himself independent of them, free in the strictest acceptation of the word, quite beyond their reach, who then would dare to pursue him at the bottom of the sea, when on its surface he defied all attempts made against him. What vessel could resist the shock of his submarine monitor? No man could demand from him an account of his actions. God, if he believed in one, his conscience, if he had one, were the soul judges to whom he was answerable. These reflections crossed my mind rapidly, whilst the stranger personage was silent, absorbed, and as if wrapped up in himself, I regarded him with fear mingled with interest, as doubtless edipists regarded this thing. After rather a long silence, the commander resumed the conversation. I have hesitated, said he, but I have thought that my interest might be reconciled with that pity to which every human being has a right. You will remain on board my vessel, since my fate has cast you there. You will be free, and in exchange for this liberty I shall only impose one single condition, your word of honor to submit to it will suffice." Speak, sir. I answered. I suppose this condition is one which a man of honor may accept. Yes, sir, it is this. It is possible that certain events unforeseen may oblige me to consign you to your cabins for some hours or some days, as the case may be. As I desire never to use violence, I expect from you more than all the others a pass of obedience. In thus acting, I take all the responsibility, I acquit you entirely, for I make it an impossibility for you to see what ought not to be seen. Do you accept this condition?

Then things took place on board, which, to say the least, were singular, in which ought

not to be seen by people who were not placed beyond the pale of social laws, amongst the surprises which the future was preparing for me, this might not be the least. We accept, I answered. Only I will ask your permission, sir, to address one question to you. One only. Speak, sir. You said that we should be free on board. Entirely, I ask you then,

what you mean by this liberty, just the liberty to go, to come, to see, to observe,

even all that passes here save under rare circumstances, the liberty in short which we enjoy

ourselves, my companions, and I. It was evident that we did not understand one another. A pardon me, sir, I resumed, but this liberty is only what every prisoner has of pacing is prison. It cannot suffice us. It must suffice you, however. What? We must renounce forever seeing our country, our friends, our relations again? Yes, sir. But two renounce that unindurable, worldly yoke which men believe to be liberty is not perhaps so painful as you think. Well, exclaimed Nedland, never will I give my word of honor not to try to escape. I did not ask for your word of honor, Masterland, answered the commander, coldly. Sir, I replied, beginning to get angry in spite of myself, you abuse your situation towards us. It is cruelty. No sir, it is clemency. You are my prisoners of war. I keep you, when I could, by a word, plunge you into the depths of the ocean. You attacked me. You came to surprise the secret which no man in the world must penetrate. The secret of my whole existence. And you think that I am going to send you back to that world which must not know me no more? Never. In retaining you, it is not you who my guard. It is myself. These words indicated a resolution taken on the part of the commander against which no arguments would prevail. No, sir. I've rejoined. You give us simply the choice between life and death? Simply. My friends said I. To a question thus put, there is nothing to answer, but no word of honor binds us to the master of this vessel. Nonser answered the unknown. Then, in a gentler tone, he continued, Now permit me to finish what I have to say to you. I know you miss your air in acts. You and your companions will not, perhaps, have so much to complain of in the chance which has bound you to my fate. You will find amongst the books which are my favorite study, the work which you have published on the depths of the sea. I have often read it. You have carried out your work as far as terrestrial science permitted you, but you do not know all. You have not seen all. Let me tell you then, Professor, that you will not regret the time passed on board my vessel. You are going to visit the land of marvels. These words of the commander had a great effect upon me. I cannot deny it. My weak point was touched, and I forgot, for a moment, that the contemplation of these sublime subjects was not worth the loss of liberty. Besides, I trusted to the future to decide this grave question, so I contended myself with saying, by what name ought I address you? Sir, replied the commander, I am nothing to you but Captain Nemo, and you and your companions are nothing to me but the passengers of the Nautilus. Captain Nemo called, a steward appeared, the captain gave him his orders in that strange language which I did not understand. Then turning towards the Canadian and Konsei, a repast awaits you in your cabin, said he, be so good as to follow this man. And now, Mr. Aeronax, our breakfast is ready.

Permit me to follow this man. And now, Mr. Aeronax, our breakfast is ready. Permit me to lead the way. I am at your service, Captain. I followed Captain Nemo, and as soon as I had passed through the door I found myself in a kind of passage, lighted by electricity, similar to the waste of a ship. After we had proceeded it does in yards, a second door opened to perform me. I then entered a dining room, decorated and furnished in severe taste. High oak and side boards, inlaid with ebony, stood at the two extremities of the room, and upon their shelves glittered China, porcelain, and glass. The plate on the table sparkled in the rays which the luminous ceiling shed around, while the light was tempered and softened by exquisite paintings. In the center of the room was a table which lay laid out. Captain Nemo indicated the place I was to occupy. The breakfast consisted of a certain number of dishes, the contents of which were furnished by the sea alone, and I was ignorant of the nature and mode of preparation of some of them.

I acknowledged that they were good, but they had a peculiar flavor, which I easily became accustomed to. These different dishes appeared to me to be rich in phosphorus, and I thought they must have a marine origin. Captain Nemo looked at me. I asked him no questions, but he guessed my thoughts, and answered of his own accord the questions which I was burning to address to him. The greater part of these dishes are unknown to you, he said to me. However, you may partake of them without fear. They are wholesome and nourishing. For a long time I have renounced the food of the earth, and I am never ill now. My crew who are healthy are fed on the same food. So, said I, all these eatables are the produce of the sea? Yes, Professor. The sea supplies all my wants. Sometimes I cast my nets in tow, and I draw them in ready to break. Sometimes I hunt in the midst of this element, which appears to be inaccessible to man, and quarry the game which dwells in my submarine forests. My flocks, like those of Neptune's old shepherds, graze fearlessly in the immense prairies of the ocean, I have a vast property there which I cultivate myself and which is always sown by the hand of the creator of all things. I can understand perfectly, sir, that your net's furnish excellent fish for your table. I can also understand that you hunt a aquatic game in your submarine forests. But I cannot understand at all how a particle of meat, no matter how small, can figure in your bill a fair. This, which you believe to be meat-professor, is nothing else than filet of turtle. Here are also some dolphins' livers, which you take to be regu of pork. My cook is a clever fellow who excels in dressing these various products of the ocean, taste all these dishes. Here is a preserve of sea cucumber. Here is a cream of which the milk has been furnished by the sataycha, and the sugar by the great fugus of the North Sea, and lastly permit me to offer you some preserve of anemone, which is equal to that of most delicious fruits. I tasted more from curiosity than as a connoisseur, whilst Captain Nemo enchanted me with his extraordinary stories. You like the sea, Captain? Yes, I love it. The sea is everything. It covers seven tents of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion. It is the living infinite." As one of your poets has said. In fact, Professor, nature manifests herself in it by her three kingdoms, Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal. The sea is the vast reservoir of nature. The globe began with sea, so to speak, and who knows if it will not end with it. In it is supreme tranquility. The sea does not belong to despots. Upon its surface men can still exercise on just laws, fight, tear one another to pieces, and be carried away.

But at thirty feet below its level, their rain ceases, their influence is quenched, and their power disappears. Ah, sir, live, live in the bosom of the waters, There only is independence. There I recognize no masters.

There I am free." Captain Nemo suddenly became silent in the midst of this enthusiasm by which he was quite carried away. For a moment he paced up and down, much agitated, then he became more calm, regained his accustomed coldness of expression and turning towards me. Now, Professor, said he, If you wish to go over the Nautilus, I am at your service. Captain Nemo Rose, I followed him. A double door contrived at the back of the dining room opened, and I entered a room equal in dimensions to that which I had just quitted. It was a library. High pieces of furniture of black, violent ebony inlaid with brass, supported upon their wide shelves a great number of books uniformly bound.

They followed the shape of the room, terminating at the lower part, in huge couches, covered with brown leather, which were curved to afford the greatest comfort. movable desks made to slide in and out at will allowed one to rest one's book while reading. In the center stood an immense table, covered with pamphlets amongst which were some newspapers, already of old date. The electric light flooded everything. It was shed from four unpolished globes, half sunk of the ceiling. I looked with real admiration at this room, so ingeniously fitted up, and I could scarcely believe my eyes. Captain Nemo said I to my host, who had just thrown himself on one of the couches. This is a library which would do honor to more than one of the continental palaces, and I am absolutely astounded when I consider that it can follow you to the bottom of the seas. Where could one find greater solitude or silence professor? Reply Captain Nemo? Did your study in the museum afford you such perfect quiet? No, sir, and I must confess that it is a very poor one after yours. You must have six or seven thousand volumes here. Twelve thousand, Miss Your Aeronax. These are the only ties which bind me to the earth. But I had done with the world on the day when my notillus plunged for the first time beneath the waters. That day I bought my last volumes, my last pamphlets, my last papers, and from that time I wished to think that men no longer think or write. These books, Professor, are at your service besides, and you can make use of them freely. I think Captain Nemo and went up to the shelves of the library. Works on science, morals, and literature abounded in every language, but I did not see one single work on political economy. That subject appeared to be strictly forbidden. Strange to say, all these books were regularly arranged in whatever language they were written, and this medley proved that the captain of the Nautilus must have read indiscriminately the books which he took up by chance. Sir, said I to the captain. I thank you for having placed this library at my disposal. It contains treasures of science and I shall profit by them. This room is not only a library, said Captain Nemo, it is also a smoking room. A smoking room? I cried. Then one may smoke on board? Certainly. Then, sir, I am forced to believe that you have kept up a communication with Havana. Not any answered the captain, except this cigar miss your air-nax, and though it does not come from Havana, you will be pleased with it if you are a connoisseur. I took this cigar which was offered me. Its shape recalled the London ones, but it seemed to be made of leaves of gold. I lighted it, and drew the first whips with the light of a lover of smoking who has not smoked for two days. It is excellent, but it is not tobacco. No answer to the captain. This tobacco comes neither from Havana nor from the east. It is a kind of seaweed which in nicotine, with which the sea provides me, but somewhat sparingly. that moment, Captain Nemoo opened a door which stood opposite to that by which I had entered the library, and I passed into an immense strong room splendidly lighted. It was a vast four-sided room, 30 feet long, 18 wide, and 15 high, a luminous ceiling. Decorated with light arabesques shed a soft, clear light over all the marvels accumulated in this museum. For it was in fact a museum in which an intelligent and prodigal hand had gathered all the treasures of nature and art, with the artistic confusion which distinguishes a painter's studio. Thirty first-rate pictures uniformly framed, separated by bright drapery, ornamented the walls, which were hung with tapestry of severe design. I saw works of great value, the greater part of which I had admired in the special collections of Europe and in the exhibitions of paintings.

The several schools of the old masters were represented by a Madonna of Raphael, a Virgin of Leonardo da Vinci, a nymph of Corregio, a woman of Titan, an adoration of veronies, an assumption of Marillo, a portrait of Holbein, a monk of Alaskwiz, a martyr of Rivera, and some admirable statues in marble and bronze after the finest antique models stood upon pedestals in the corners of this magnificent museum. amazement, as the captain of the Nautilus had predicted, had already begun to take possession of me. Professor said this strange man, you must excuse the unceremonious way in which I receive

you. said this strange man, you must excuse the unceremonious way in which I receive you and the disorder of this realm. Sir, I answered, without seeking to know who you are, I recognize in you an artist, an amateur, nothing more, sir. Formerly I loved to collect these beautiful works created by the hand of man. I sought them greedily and fared them out, and I have been able to bring together some objects of great value. These are my last souvenirs of that world which is dead to me. In my eyes, your modern artists are already old.

They have two or 3,000 years of existence.

I can found them in my own mind.

Masters have no age.

And these musicians said I, pointing out some works of Weber, Rosini, Mozart, Beethoven,

Heiden, Wagner, and a number of others scattered over a large model piano organ which occupied one of the panels of the drawing room.

These musicians, replied Captain Nemo, are the contemporaries of Orpheus. in the memory of the dead, all chronological differences are effaced.

And I am dead, Professor. As much dead as those of your friends who are sleeping six feet under the earth. an emo was silent and seemed lost in a profound reverie. I contemplated him with deep interest, analyzing in silence the strange expression of his countenance, meaning on his elbow against an ankle of a costly mosaic table, he no longer saw me. He had forgotten my presence. under elegant glass cases fixed by copper rivets were clasped and labeled the most precious productions of the sea, which had ever been presented to the eye of a naturalist.

My delight as a professor may be conceived. you you

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