While sailing across the large underground ocean, the men are shocked/amazed to witness a fight between two prehistoric beasts: an ichthyosaur and a plesiosaur. Following this, they come across an island which contains a large geyser. Professor Lidenbrock names it-gasp- after his nephew: Axel Island. The men continue on their journey but run into a massive storm with huge waves tossing the raft about and fireballs of lightning streaking around them. One of the fireballs hits the raft, causing a fire which they frantically put out. During the wild storm, the men desperately strap themselves down to avoid being washed overboard and the raft eventually is tossed onto a shore. They at first assume that they've reached the far side of this ocean, but when they consult their compass, they realize that the storm has washed them back the way they came. Lidenbrock is at first angry at this setback, but swiftly decides to push onward. Axel, on the other hand, feels tired and discouraged and wants to go home. As they explore this part of the coastline, they find that it's covered with bones and fossilized prehistoric animals. Among the bones Axel discovers a human skull which is much larger than it should be. The men head inland into a forested area and find it alive with giant insects and other prehistoric life forms including a herd of mastodons. Even Lidenbrock is shaken when he spots what appears to be a humanlike creature more than twelve feet tall, in the trees watching the mastodon herd. Axel isn't sure if he saw the man or not, though considering the skull he found, it seems quite possible. He and the professor spend some time debating the likelihood of the creature being an ape-like man or a man-like ape. Either way, they agree that they should leave the area in case whatever it is, is hostile and aggressive. Returning to exploring the coastline, the trio find a rusty knife and some marks on a rock which they realize were made by Arne Saknussemm. The marks indicate the way Saknussmann went on his journey, into a passageway which they assume will lead them to the center of the earth. By this time, even Axel is all in as they head down the passage. Unfortunately, they come to a section which has been blocked by a a huge boulder in a recent cave in. Hans and Lidenbrock are certain that they won't be able to move the granite rock, or get around it, and it is- surprisingly- Axel who thinks up a way to move it. He suggests that they blast the rock with gun cotton (an explosive) and so they set the charge and then jump on their raft, paddling out of blast range. The explosion successfully removes the granite, but it turns out that under it was not the passage to the center of the earth, but a bottomless pit into which, now that it is unblocked, the sea water begins to rush. The raft is swept along with the water flow through the dark for hours until they eventually find themselves in a volcanic chimney. To their alarm, they realize that it is rapidly filling with water and magma. The heat is terrible as the raft is forced upwards through the chimney... Lidenbrock calmly informs the terrified (sane) other men that this will carry them to the earth's surface. They are eventually ejected from a vent in the volcano they're in although all three have lost consciousness by this time. When they come to, they realize that they're on the volcanic island of Stromboli in the Mediterranean. The island is lush with vegetation, so the men find lots of fruit to eat and they are rescued by some fishermen who assume that the men are shipwreck survivors. The men return to Germany to fame and fortune. Professor Lidenbrock is hailed as the greatest scientist of his age, though he regrets not actually having reached the earth's center. Now successful and confident, Axel marries his beloved Grauben and settles down. Hans, well paid for his professionalism and bravery, eventually returns home to Iceland. One day, while thinking over their amazing journey, Axel suddenly realizes the answer to a question which has been puzzling him and hurries to share it with Lidenbrock. The reason why their compass was pointing in the wrong direction, confusing them as to exactly where they were, was because it was affected by the electricity from the fireball which hit the raft during the lightning storm. The professor immediately realizes that he is right... and that is how the book ends.
Comments
|
About MeI'm a lover of good books, classic movies, and well-written shows (as well as some pretty cheesy ones, to be completely honest). Categories
All
Archives
March 2024
Fun SitesOdds & Ends |