07 New Arrivals

Something was amiss. Maria was aware the demeanor of the captain and crew changed. The current practice suggested heightened alert. Nautilus did not remain topside for long and Nemo sailed the boat with hatches open to replenish air. Nemo did not confine her to her cabin but conversation became stilted. He did not allow her to go topside when he and Iravan took readings.

It continued in such a manner for a week. Maria felt something was about to happen, when Nemo did confine her to her cabin. There were intermittent bursts of energy followed by pauses.

After one such bout, Nautilus rested. The hatches remained open but Nemo ordered the beacon lights extinguished. He allowed Maria to go to the lounge but ordered the panels closed. As she read a book, he played his organ.

Early the following morning, Nemo once again confined Maria to her cabin. She felt the energy of assault. What did Nemo pursue? As she pondered the matter, she felt Nautilus hit a ship. Instead of reversing or passing through the ship on a level plane, Nautilus listed horribly to the starboard side. It caused many items to toss about wildly in Maria's cabin. It took several moments before Nautilus corrected its pitch.

Iravan came for Maria and beckoned her to follow. Something was wrong. He led her to a cabin where a couple of crewmembers tended to an injured man. He suffered major head trauma. Maria took over the bandaging process.

Nemo arrived and asked, "Do your skills know a way to save him?"

Maria replied, "I don't believe so. I'll sit with him." She held the man's hand and smiled reassuringly. Tacitly, everyone understood the man would not survive. Ten minutes later, the man took a breath as his eyes rolled back into his head. There was a final exhalation and the grip released. Maria folded the man's arms across his chest.

Nemo said, "We will make preparations for our friend. Miss Saunders, we bury our dead on the sea floor. I do not expect that you should attempt to join us, as you have never before used an underwater suit."

Maria said, "I understand. You'll see to it he's taken care of?"

"Of course," Nemo said. "Return to your cabin for now."

"Yes sir."

Not locked in this time, but Maria saw no sense to roam about the ship. Iravan explained they were readying for the procession. While Nautilus was topside replenishing its air, he cautioned her not to go above, as it was foggy and the outer deck slippery.

"I'll straighten things up here," Maria said. "Go on. I'll be alright."

About half an hour passed and Maria finished restoring the room to order. She opened her cabin door but heard no sign of the crew. From what she had observed of previous treks along the sea floor, she knew it a time consuming process.

There was little to do except tend to her sewing. She left open her door to avoid a buildup of carbon dioxide in her cabin. After about three hours, she heard signs that the crew returned. There was a flurry of unexpected activity and for a moment, the lights diminished. Had some accident occurred?

After a while, the lights returned. Nemo entered with some concern and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Quite," said Maria. "I trust whatever repairs were needed is tended to?"

Nemo asked, "Repairs?"

"The lights," said Maria. "They didn't function for a while. Well, no matter. All is in good order, I'm sure."

Nemo shook his head and said, "We found three men topside."

Maria said, "Really? Wherever did they come from?"

"Survivors from a warship," replied Nemo. "They have been secured for now. They did not bother you?"

Maria said, "I stayed here, just as you instructed, because it's foggy outside. Did they board?"

Nemo said, "I did not think they entered the boat."

Maria asked, "Are they dangerous?"

"Only time will tell," said Nemo. "They were on board the Abraham Lincoln, which was pursuing us."

Maria said, "Ah, that's a fine frigate. Undoubtedly, Captain Farragut was in command. He's a cunning man – assuming, of course, that you didn't sink him."

Nemo said, "You fancy this man."

Maria said, "Father always spoke in high regard of him. I'm sure he gave you a merry chase. Pity, though, for I'm sure he has little appreciation for your tactics. Given the choice of fisticuffs or dueling pistols, he'd prefer the pistols. Well, I'm sure that I don't have to tell you to use caution with his men."

Nemo said, "I will see to that. For now, they are secured in the brig. If you're up to it, would you mind helping the cook?"

"Yes, of course," said Maria. "I'm sorry you were worried." Did he instinctively understand that she needed to do something to take her mind off things? Maria went to the galley and helped Senthil with dinner preparations.

For two days, Nemo said nothing of the strangers. Maria knew the crew was on heightened alert, seeming to look after her out of concern. It suggested to her the strangers could not be trusted but still aboard the boat for some reason.

Iravan came for her and escorted Maria to one of the ballast holds. He said, "The captain wishes for you to indulge in any trinkets you like. Tonight, he would like to dine with you and the new arrivals in the lounge."

When he opened the door, Maria gasped. She had never seen such treasure. Nemo must have amassed it during his underwater excursions. Iravan said, "This has no worth to us. We prefer free living and full stomachs. We use it as ballast."

To have anything she wanted! Iravan seemed interested in helping her make selections. Nemo was going to set a fine table and wanted her to look noble. Maria was unaccustomed to such fine jewelry. Yet Iravan characterized it as mere ballast.

Back at her cabin, Maria looked for a dress suitable to the occasion. She had one red dress made from sea fabric. While she had promised to shower no more than once a week, she remembered Nemo saying she could make an exception on rare occasion if the situation warranted.

She was still plaiting her hair when Iravan arrived to escort her to dinner. Maria tried not to blush when she realized Iravan appreciated what he saw. He composed himself immediately and said, "The others are waiting."

"You're very kind. Thank you."

As Maria entered the lounge, heads turned immediately. Nemo stood and said, "Puis-je présenter Mademoiselle Maria Saunders?" May I present Miss Maria Saunders?

"Enchante," said the oldest stranger.

Maria hid her discomfort at the notion of a conversation in French. Nemo pulled out a chair for her and she sat. The steward professionally served the meal and Nemo spoke in French.

"Professor Pierre Aronnax is the leading terrestrial authority of known sea life," Nemo said. "His companion Mister Conseil is his apprentice. This man is Ned Land, a master harpooner. For now, they will enjoy liberty to move about the boat."

Ned said, "Where has Nemo been hiding you?"

"I'll tolerate no rudeness, Mister Land," Nemo sternly said. "Fortunately for you, Miss Saunders is not entirely fluent in French. She might take exception to your intentions."

Aronnax asked, "May I ask your primary language?"

"English," Maria replied. Continuing in English she said, "Please do forgive me. I shall endeavor to keep up with your conversation."

Ned said, "I'm Canadian. I speak English well enough."

Maria said, "When you have good reason to, I'm sure."

"You're a feisty one," Ned exclaimed.

"My father warned me about men like you," Maria said. "He once keelhauled a man for making inappropriate comments towards me."

Ned casually said, "Oh really? How many times?"

Maria sternly said, "Thrice. After the third haul, there was nothing left of the man. The sharks got him. Somehow, though, I suspect Captain Nemo would dole out a far worse punishment as he uses tactics my father would consider repugnant."

Ned asked, "Nemo's not your father?"

Maria responded, "Whoever said he was?"

Aronnax asked, "May I ask how you came to be aboard the Nautilus."

Maria said, "Captain Nemo rammed the Nautilus into my father's ship."

Ned said, "You're a prisoner like us."

"Not like you," Maria calmly said. "Or did my appearance fail to convey that?"

Nemo said, "Yes, indeed. When Nautilus emerged from the sea, we struck her longboat, by accident of course, for we had no idea she was there. There was an intense fog and we lost sight of the George Washington. We plucked her from the water. Since that time, we have suffered her womanly comments like submersible men."

"Surely you don't mean that," Aronnax said.

Maria said, "Of course he does. We may not understand each other entirely but we do have an understanding."

Nemo said, "Yes indeed."

Ned asked, "So where's your cabin?"

Maria said, "Just look for the one with the stars and stripes."

Nemo laughed, "Ah, the American arrogance! As each day passes, I feel less regret with her rescue. We are not in the habit of picking up castaways."

"You picked us up," said Ned.

"I can easily toss you back into the sea and be done with you," Nemo sternly said.

"Well stuff an apple in my mouth and call me long pig for all I care," Ned said.

Aronnax said, "Ned! That is a horrible thought."

"What? She doesn't know what a long pig is," Ned indignantly said.

Maria calmly said, "Human flesh, torn asunder and roasted on a spit."

Conseil asked, "How does Mademoiselle know this?"

Maria said, "My father brought me on a number of sea voyages."

Ned said, "No captain would allow that."

Maria said, "They do when the admiral tells them to."

"He must be rich," said Ned.

Nemo said, "I shall note your irrational interest in money."

Maria said, "I have an irrational interest in trinkets."

Nemo said, "You are a woman. That is to be expected."

If he expected Maria to respond, she chose not to indulge him. Dinner was quiet for a moment until Ned summoned up courage to speak. He said, "Where's this boat going anyway?"

Nemo said, "Where we must."

This opened up discussion on the prisoner versus guest status. Maria knew escape was impossible. There were no opportunities or resources available for such an endeavor. She listened calmly as Ned espoused his position that he would manage it. Aronnax was curious about studying undersea life. Conseil said very little. Maria noted that Conseil had the odd habit of referring to people in the third person.

While she did not trust Ned's intentions, perhaps he was the means to escape. By herself, there was little hope unless Nemo saw fit to release her safely. That remained unlikely considering his disdain for the land. Maria decided she liked the professor, an intelligent man. If he saw a true opportunity, she had little to fear.

Dinner concluded and Nemo excused himself to tend to his boat. The four guests remained in the lounge. Maria decided that if she were to learn French she had to speak it as often as possible and allow the new arrivals to correct her.

"If you would indulge me," said Maria. "I know I speak your language badly but I need to learn."

Aronnax asked with interest, "What language does the crew speak?"

Maria sighed, "I don't know. It's a strange language, one that I've never before heard."

"Tell me more about how you came to be here," Aronnax said.

Maria related the story in as much detail as she could. Aronnax was interested. While not personally familiar with the George Washington, he knew of the troubles Nemo caused to sailing vessels. Then he recounted the Abraham Lincoln.

"Captain Farragut," Maria said.

"You know him," Ned said.

Maria said, "Yes. My father has sailed with him. I'm sure the idea of hunting sea monsters spurred his interest. He probably enjoyed good sport with the hunt. Did he offer a reward?"

Ned said, "He owes me two thousand dollars."

Maria said, "Now that's a sum of money."

Aronnax asked, "Do you believe your father survived?"

Maria said, "It depends. George Washington continued sailing but even I could tell she was foundering. I think they call it momentum. Captain Nemo seems interested in having some survivors return to shore. The stories heighten fear and dread. That's a tactical advantage. If ships just disappeared, it would take a long time before people took notice."

Ned scoffed, "Do you even know where we are right now?"

"No," Maria said. "Do you?"

Ned said, "Show me where he keeps the charts and I'll point it out to you."

Maria said, "Ah must be a part of your plan to escape. He once asked me if I knew how to read charts. I don't know how to, not with the skill of a real sailor."

Aronnax said, "Pity."

"This room has a great view," said Maria. She walked over to the panel and opened it. While the others were new, they were aware of the window. Aronnax took delight in explaining the various types of sea life swimming about. Ned left in a huff.

Conseil said, "Mister Land is more concerned with freedom."

Aronnax said, "We may not have charts but we can tell by the sea life we are in the Pacific Ocean, specifically in the region of the Sea of Japan. Of course, we already knew this considering the fate of the Abraham Lincoln but we have already traveled many leagues from our original position."

Maria said, "This boat travels very quickly when it wants. If you open that door that appears to be a cupboard, it will reveal a posted chart. Whenever Nautilus comes up for air, they take a position reading and the first officer notes it on that chart."

"Miss Saunders," said Iravan as he arrived. He continued, "The captain wishes to see you."

Maria said, "Very well. Please excuse me, Professor, Mister Conseil."

Maria had never been to Nemo's private cabin but any concerns of impropriety were relieved when Nemo offered her a chair and Iravan remained. He was interested in after dinner conversation with the guests.

"Professor Aronnax is conflicted," said Maria.

Nemo asked, "How so?"

Maria said, "He desires escape but he's deeply fascinated with what he can learn. I think his apprentice will stay with him. He's too subservient to do anything on his own."

"What about Mister Land?"

Maria said, "We both have a problem. I don't trust him as a man and you don't trust him as a sailor."

"Why tell me this?"

Maria said, "If it's his intent to escape, no matter how futile an effort that is, he will try at every opportunity he can seize. I don't think I like the idea of him trying to use me in a deceitful manner."

Nemo laughed, "You wouldn't go with him."

Maria said, "I'm not sure his intentions would be entirely honorable in that regard."

Iravan said, "We should be done with him."

Nemo said, "There may come a time when we will. For now, I must put up with his tantrums. I have plans for Professor Aronnax yet if I dispose of Mister Land prematurely then the professor will be disinclined to accept my purpose for him. Thank you Miss Saunders. Iravan, if you would please escort her back to her cabin."

It was an honest conversation. There was no point in lying. Nemo had a way of ascertaining the truth. He hoped to gain something with Maria's presence at dinner. Was it to find out more about the new arrivals or more about her?

Iravan appeared heightened in awareness to the situation. Perhaps he did not want the newcomers to know which cabin belonged to Maria. Belong – that was an interesting concept. She decided it was hers for as long as it suited Nemo.

As Maria tried handing Iravan the jewels, he said, "No. The captain wishes for you to keep them."

"It just doesn't seem right," said Maria. "They belong to him."

Iravan said, "They belong to you now."

"Sometimes he is too kind," said Maria. "Would he have really let me drown?"

"Fate precluded that possibility," said Iravan. "He was not the first one out of the hatch."

"I see," Maria said. "It is not my intention to provoke his anger."

"Good night," said Iravan, and he took his leave.

The next morning, Maria realized that the newcomers were not joining the crew in the mess hall. Nemo thought that they should eat apart from the crew and dispatched stewards to bring food to their cabins. Maria did not benefit from friendship with the crew due to the language barrier, but she imagined it would be lonely if she simply ate in her cabin.

Nemo flatly said, "I would have."

Maria said, "What?"

"Let you drown," Nemo said. "I thought I made that perfectly clear. We are not in the habit of retrieving castaways."

"You just rescued three," Maria said.

Nemo said, "Yes. I have learned from you that perhaps there may be some benefit to retrieving certain castaways. Once I learned their identities, I became most interested in Professor Aronnax. However, he would not remain if his companions were returned to the sea. The Nautilus needed fresh air and we needed to bury a friend."

Maria said, "It's too bad that you can't just simply stick up a hollow reed and draw in the air. Then you wouldn't need to surface at all. The castaway problem is solved."

"Like a straw," said Nemo, deep in thought.

Maria said, "I can see this somehow makes sense to your engineering brilliance."

Nemo said, "Not a reed. Yes, your presence requires certain consideration because you are a distraction. At times, you make interesting contributions."

Maria said, "I'm not sure how to take that."

Nemo said, "Today you shall be free to converse with Professor Aronnax. He has much to learn but he also has much to teach – if this pleases you, of course."

Maria said, "I think I'd like that."

Nemo said, "I need not remind you to be cautious in regards to Mister Land but somehow feel compelled to do so anyway."

"All is in good order," Maria smiled.