14 A Walk in the Rain

CHAPTER 14 A Walk in the Rain The next morning, the 19th of February, Ned entered my room. I expected this visit. He looked very disappointed. "Well, sir?" he said. "Well, Ned. We lost the chance again," I said. I tried to act disappointed for his sake. "Yes," Ned said. "That captain decided to stop at exactly the time we planned on leaving his ship."

"I know. He had business at his banker's." "His banker's!" Ned exclaimed. "Well, I guess I could say his 'special spot.' By that I mean the ocean bed. His riches are safer there than in chests on land." I then told Ned about last night. I was hoping he would change his mind about leaving the ship. Instead, he just showed disappointment that he had not been able to take a walk on the battlefield ofVigo himself. "Well, never mind about last night," Ned said. "We still have tonight." "What direction is the Nautilus going?" I asked. "I don't know," replied Ned. "We'll find out at noon." Ned returned to Conseil. I dressed and went to the saloon. The direction on the compass wouldn't please Ned. We were turning our backs on Europe. For myself, I was not really sorry. I was able

to return to my work with some level of calmness. That night at about eleven o'clock, I received an unexpected visit from Captain Nemo. He asked me if I would like to see the ocean underworld at night. "I warn you, the way will be tiring. We shall have far to walk. And we will have to climb a mountain. The roads are not well kept." I didn't have to think long. "I'm ready!" We dressed in our diving suits with the help of crew members. I noticed this was a walk for the captain and me alone. I thought briefly about how angry Ned would be that he once again hadn't been invited on an adventure. But I didn't have time to worry over that. In a few moments, we were ready. "Where are our electric lamps?" I asked. "They will be useless," the captain replied. I didn't think I had heard him right but I

couldn't question him. The captain's head disappeared into a metal case. With a few more snaps and pulls, the two of us were both walking on the bottom of the Atlantic. It was almost midnight and the waters were very dark. But the captain pointed out in the distance a reddish spot about two miles from the Nautilus. I had no idea what it was or why it was there. I only knew we were heading toward it. As we walked, I could hear a pattering above my head. It took me a moment to figure out the sound. Rain! It was rain hitting the waves hard in the middle of a storm! I couldn't help but laugh at the odd idea. We continued on. I noticed the soil becoming stony. The red light in the distance became brighter. I tried to make stories up in my mind for where we were going. I could tell Captain Nemo had traveled this path often. I followed him. I knew he would get us there safely. It was one in the morning when we arrived at

the first slopes of the mountain. But to get to them, we had to climb over an area of dead trees. These trees, which had no leaves or sap, had toppled over. They were mixed with seaweed and other ocean life, and seemed impossible to pass. I followed my guide, who never seemed to get tired. We climbed rocks and used a stick to jump over cracks and holes. Two hours after leaving the Nautilus, we had crossed the line of trees and saw the top of the mountain a hundred feet above our heads. The signs of ocean life around me made my blood run cold. There were giant lobsters moving their claws toward us. Huge crabs pointed at us like guns. Large antennae blocked our way, making me feel as if I was where I didn't belong. When we made it through, we were on the first platform. The sights before me were surprising. Everything was man-made instead of natural. There were huge piles of rocks, shaped like castles and temples. Instead of ivy seaweed,

there were vegetable plants. But what was this place? Who put these stones there? Where had Captain Nemo brought me? We continued on to the top. I looked down the side we had just climbed. My eyes looked over a large lit-up space. In fact, the mountain was a volcano. This peak was spitting out red-hot lava in a rain of stones and liquid. The area was lit up like a torch. I followed the mass of red with my eyes, watching as it fell below. What I saw made me shake my head. There, destroyed and ruined, lay a town. Its roofs were open to the sky and its temples had fallen. There were sunken walls, empty streets, and ports that had once held ships on the borders of the ocean. Where was I? I had to know! I tried to speak, but Captain Nemo stopped me with a wave of his hand. He picked up a piece of chalk stone, walked to a black rock, and traced one word: ATLANTIS