"I'll never promise I won't try getting out of here!"
"I didn't ask for such a promise, Mr. Land," the commander replied coldly.
"Sir," I replied, flaring up in spite of myself, "you're taking unfair advantage of us!
This is sheer cruelty!"
"No, sir, it's an act of mercy!
You're my prisoners of war!
I've cared for you when, with a single word, I could plunge you back into the ocean depths!
You attacked me!
You've just stumbled on a secret no living man must probe, the secret of my entire existence!
Do you think I'll send you back to a world that must know nothing more of me?
Never!
By keeping you on board, it isn't you whom I care for, it's me!"
These words indicated that the commander pursued a policy impervious to arguments.
"Then, sir," I went on, "you give us, quite simply, a choice between life and death?"
"Quite simply."
"My friends," I said, "to a question couched in these terms, our answer can be taken for granted.
But no solemn promises bind us to the commander of this vessel."
"None, sir," the stranger replied. Then, in a gentler voice, he went on:
"Now, allow me to finish what I have to tell you.
I've heard of you, Professor Aronnax.
You, if not your companions, won't perhaps complain too much about the stroke of fate that has brought us together.
Among the books that make up my favorite reading, you'll find the work you've published on the great ocean depths.
I've pored over it.
You've taken your studies as far as terrestrial science can go.
But you don't know everything because you haven't seen everything. Let me tell you, professor, you won't regret the time you spend aboard my vessel.
You're going to voyage through a land of wonders.
Stunned amazement will probably be your habitual state of mind.
It will be a long while before you tire of the sights constantly before your eyes.
I'm going to make another underwater tour of the world—perhaps my last, who knows?—and I'll review everything I've studied in the depths of these seas that I've crossed so often, and you can be my fellow student.
Starting this very day, you'll enter a new element, you'll see what no human being has ever seen before—since my men and I no longer count—and thanks to me, you're going to learn the ultimate secrets of our planet."
I can't deny it; the commander's words had a tremendous effect on me.
He had caught me on my weak side, and I momentarily forgot that not even this sublime experience was worth the loss of my freedom.
Besides, I counted on the future to resolve this important question.
So I was content to reply:
"Sir, even though you've cut yourself off from humanity, I can see that you haven't disowned all human feeling.
We're castaways whom you've charitably taken aboard, we'll never forget that.
Speaking for myself, I don't rule out that the interests of science could override even the need for freedom, which promises me that, in exchange, our encounter will provide great rewards."
I thought the commander would offer me his hand, to seal our agreement. He did nothing of the sort.
I regretted that.
"One last question," I said, just as this inexplicable being seemed ready to withdraw.
"Ask it, professor."
"By what name am I to call you?"
"Sir," the commander replied, "to you, I'm simply Captain Nemo;* to me, you and your companions are simply passengers on the Nautilus."
*Latin: nemo means "no one."
Ed.
Captain Nemo called out.
A steward appeared.
The captain gave him his orders in that strange language I couldn't even identify.
Then, turning to the Canadian and Conseil:
"A meal is waiting for you in your cabin," he told them.