November 3, 2023 • 26 mins
"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a classic science fiction adventure novel written by the French author Jules Verne. First published in 1870, the novel is set in the 19th century and follows the thrilling journey of Captain Nemo and his remarkable submarine, the Nautilus.The story is narrated by Professor Pierre Aronnax, a renowned marine biologist who, along with his loyal servant Conseil and harpoonist Ned Land, is taken aboard the Nautilus after their ship is attacked and sunk by an enigmatic and reclusive captain known as Captain Nemo. Nemo is a mysterious and enigmatic character who shuns contact with the outside world and chooses to live beneath the sea, exploring its depths in his advanced and technologically advanced submarine.As the protagonists join Nemo on his undersea adventures, they discover a breathtaking and fantastical world beneath the waves. They encounter a wide variety of marine life, explore hidden underwater landscapes, and even witness the lost city of Atlantis. The novel explores themes of exploration, the wonders of the natural world, and the consequences of unchecked technology."20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is not only an exciting adventure story but also a reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature, as well as the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific and technological progress. Jules Verne's vivid descriptions of the undersea world and the captivating character of Captain Nemo have made this novel a timeless classic in the genre of science fiction and adventure literature. It continues to captivate readers with its sense of wonder and imagination, as well as its exploration of the mysteries of the deep sea.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
This is a liberyvox recording. Allliberyvox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer,please visit libreyvox dot org. Recording by
Reynard twenty thousand Leagues under the Seaby Jules Verne, second part, Chapter
(00:26):
eighteen, The Devilfish. For somedays the Nautilus kept fearing away from the
American coast. It obviously didn't wantto frequent the waves of the Gulf of
Mexico or the Caribbean Sea. Yetthere was no shortage of water under its
keel, since the average depth ofthese seas is one thousand, eight hundred
(00:50):
meters. But these waterways, strewnwith islands and plowed by steamers, probably
didn't agree with Captain Nemo. OnApril sixteen, we raised Martinique and Guadaloupe
from a distance of about thirty miles. For one instant I could see their
lofty peaks. The Canadian was quitedisheartened, having counted on putting his plans
(01:15):
into execution in the Gulf, eitherby reaching shore or by pulling alongside one
of the many boats flying a coastaltrade from one island to another. An
escape attempt would have been quite feasible, assuming ned Land managed to seize the
skiff without the captain's knowledge, Butin mid ocean it was unthinkable. The
(01:38):
Canadian conseil and I had a prettylong conversation on this subject. For six
months we had been prisoners aboard theNautilus. We had fared seventeen thousand leagues,
and as ned Land put it,there was no end in sight.
So he made me a proposition Ihadn't anticipated. We were to ask Captain
(02:00):
Nemo this question straight out. Didthe captain mean to keep us on board
his vessel permanently? This measure wasdistasteful to me. To my mind,
it would lead nowhere. We couldhope for nothing from the Nautilus's commander,
but could depend only on ourselves.Besides, for some time now the man
(02:23):
had been gloomier, more withdrawn,less sociable. He seemed to be avoiding
me. I encountered him only atrare intervals. He used to take pleasure
in explaining the underwater wonders to me. Now he left me to research and
no longer entered the lounge. Whatchanges had come over him? From what
(02:47):
cause? I had no reason toblame? Myself? Was our presence on
board, perhaps a burden to him. Even so, I cherished no hopes
at the man and would set usfree. So I begged Ned to let
me think about it before taking action. If this measure proved fruitless, it
(03:08):
could arouse the captain's suspicions, makeour circumstances even more arduous, and jeopardize
the Canadian's plans. I might addthat I could hardly use our state of
health as an argument. Except forthat drooling ordeal under the ice bank at
the South Pole, we had neverfelt better, neither Ned Conseil nor I.
(03:32):
The nutritious food life, giving airregularly, routine and uniform temperature kept
illness at bay. And for aman who didn't miss his past existence on
land, for a captain Nemo,who was at home here, who went
where he wished, who took pathsmysterious to others, if not himself,
(03:53):
in attaining his ends, I couldunderstand such a life. But we ourselves
hadn't severed all ties with humanity.For my part, I didn't want my
new and unusual research to be buriedwith my bones. I had now earned
the right to pen a definitive bookon the sea and sooner or later I
(04:14):
wanted that book to see the lightof day there once more. Through the
panels, opening into these Caribbean waters, ten meters below the surface of the
waves, I found so many fascinatingexhibits to describe in my daily notes.
Among other zoofytes, there were Portuguesemen of war, known by the name
(04:35):
Versalia pelagica, like big oblong bladderswith a pearly sheen, spreading their membranes
to the wind, letting their bluetentacles drift like silken threads to the eye,
delightful jellyfish to the touch, actualnettles that ooze a corrosive liquid.
(04:57):
Among the articulates, there were analidworms one and a half metres long,
furnished with a pink prebossis, equippedwith one thousand, seven hundred organs of
locomotion, snaking through the waters,and as they went, throwing off every
gleam in the solar spectrum. Fromthe fish branch, there were manta rays,
(05:18):
enormous cartilaginous fish ten feet long andweighing six hundred pounds, their pectoral
fin triangular, their mid backs slightlyarched, their eyes attached to the edges
of the face at the front ofthe head. They floated like wreckage from
a ship, sometimes fastening onto ourwindows like opaque shutters. There were American
(05:42):
triggerfish, for which nature has groundor only black and white pigments, feather
shaped gobies that were long and plump, with yellow fins and jutting jaws.
Sixteen decimeter mackerel with short, sharpteeth, covered with small scale and related
to the albacore species. Next cameswarms of red mullet couteted in gold stripes
(06:08):
from head to tail, their shiningfins, all aquiver genuine masterpieces of jewelry,
formerly sacred to the goddess Diana,much in demand by rich romans,
and about which the old saying goes, he who catches them doesn't eat them.
Finally, adorned with emerald ribbons anddressed in velvet and silk, golden
(06:30):
angelfish passed before our eyes like courtiersin the paintings of Veronaisy. Spurred gilt
heads stole by with their swift thoracicfins. Thread herring fifteen inches long were
wrapped in their phosphorescent glimmers. Graymullets thrashed the sea with their big fleshy
tails, red salmons seem to mowthe ways with their slicing pectorals, and
(06:55):
silver moonfish, worthy of their name, rose on the horizon of the waters
like the whitish reflection of many moons. How many other marvelous new specimens I
still could have observed if little bylittle the nautilus hadn't settled to the lower
strata. Its slanting fins drew itto depths of two thousand and three and
(07:17):
a half thousand metres. There,animal life was represented by nothing more than
sea lilies, starfish, delightful crinoidswith bell shaped heads like little chalices on
straight stems, top shell snails,blood red tooth shells, and Fissuella snails,
a large species of coastal mollusc.By April twenty we had risen to
(07:44):
an average level of one thousand,five hundred metres. The nearest land was
the island group of the Bahamas.Scattered like a batch of cobblestones over the
surface of the water. There,high underwater cliffs reared up. There eight
walls made of craggy chunks arranged likebig stone foundations, among which their gaped
(08:05):
black caves so deep our electric rayscouldn't light them to the far ends.
These rocks were hung with huge weeds, immense sea tangle, gigantic fucus,
a genuine trellis of water plants fitfor a world of giants. In discussing
(08:26):
these colossal plants, Conseail ned andI were naturally led into mentioning the sea's
gigantic animals. The former were obviouslymeant to feed the latter. However,
through the windows of our almost motionlessnautilus, I could see nothing among these
long filaments other than the chief articulatesof the division bracchi eura, long legged
(08:52):
spider crabs, violet crabs, andsponge crabs unique to the waters of the
Caribbean. It was about eleven o'clockwhen ned Land drew my attention to a
fearsome commotion out in this huge seaweedwell. I said, these are real
devilfish caverns, and I wouldn't besurprised to see some of those monsters here.
(09:13):
About what Conseil put in squid,ordinary squid from the class keffler poder
no, I said, devilfish oflarge dimensions. But friend Land is no
doubt mistaken, because I don't seea thing that's regrettable. Conseil answered,
(09:35):
I'd like to come face to facewith one of those devilfish I've heard so
much about, which can drag shipsdown into the depths. Those beasts go
by the name of Crake Fake morelike it, the Canadian replied, sarcastically,
Krakens. Conseil shot back, finishinghis word without wincing at his companion's
(09:56):
witticism. Nobody will ever make mebelieve. Ned Land said that such animals
exist, Why not, Conseil replied, We sincerely believed in masters narwhale.
We were wrong, Conseil, nodoubt. But there are others with no
(10:16):
doubts who believe to this day,probably Conseil. But as for me,
I'm bound and determined not to acceptthe existence of any such monster till I've
dissected it with my own two hands. Yet, Conseil asked me, doesn't
Master believe in gigantic devilfish? Yikes? Who in hades ever believed in them?
(10:41):
The Canadian exclaimed. Many people needmy friend, I said, no,
fishermen, scientists maybe pardon me,ned fishermen and scientists. Why I
to whom you speak, Conseil said, with the world's straightest face. I
(11:03):
recalled perfectly seeing a large boat draggedunder the waves by the arms of a
cathlopod. You saw that, theCanadian asked, yes, Ned, with
your own two eyes, with myown two eyes, where may I ask?
And sat marlow. Conseil returned,unflappably. In the harbor, Land
(11:26):
said sarcastically. No, in achurch, Conseil replied, in a church,
The Canadian exclaimed, yes, Ned, my friend, it had a
picture that portrayed the devilfish in question. Oh good, ned, Land exclaimed,
with a burst of laughter. MisterConseil put one over on me.
(11:48):
Actually he's right, I said,I've heard about that picture. But the
subject it portrays is taken from alegend, and you know how to rate
legends in matters of natural history.Besides, when it's an issue of monsters,
the human imagination always tends to runwild. People not only claimed these
(12:09):
devilfish couldrag ships under, but acertain olause Magnus tells of a caflopod a
mile long that looked more like anisland than an animal. There's also the
story of how the Bishop of Trondheimset up an altar one day on an
immense rock. After he finished sayingmass, this rock started moving and went
(12:30):
back into the sea. The rockwas a devilfish, and that's everything we
know, the Canadian asked, No, I replied Another bishop, Pontopidian of
Bergen, also tells of a devilfishso large a whole cavalry regiment could maneuver
on it. They sure did goon, those old time bishops, ned
(12:54):
Land said. Finally, the naturalistsof antiquity mentioned some monster with mouths as
big as a gulf, which weretoo huge to get through the straits of
Gibraltar. Good work men, theCanadian put in. But in all these
stories is that any truth? Concilasked, none at all, my friends,
(13:16):
at least in those that go beyondthe bounds of credibility and fly off
into fable or legend. Yet forthe imaginings of these storytellers, there had
to be, if not a cause, at least an excuse. It can't
be denied that some species as quidand other devilfish, are quite large,
though still smaller than cetaceans Aristotle.But the dimensions of one squid at five
(13:41):
cubits or three point one meters ourfishermen frequently see specimens over one point eight
meters long. The museums in Triesteand Montpellier have preserved some devilfish carcasses measuring
two meters. Besides, according tothe calculations of naturalists, one of these
(14:03):
animals, only six feet long,would have tentacles as long as twenty seven
which is enough to make a fearsomemonster. Does anybody fish for from nowadays?
The Canadian asked, if they don'tfish for them, sailors, at
least cite them. A friend ofmine, Captain Paul Boss of LaHave,
(14:24):
has often sworn to me that heencountered one of these monsters of colossal size
in the seas of the East Indies. But the most astonishing event, which
proves that these gigantic animals undeniably exist, took place a few years ago in
eighteen sixty one. What event wasthat ned Land asked just this. In
(14:46):
eighteen sixty one, to the northeastof Tenerif, and fairly near the latitude
where we are right now, thecrew of the gunboat Alecto spotted a monstrous
squid swimming in their waters. CommanderBougier approached the animal and attacked it with
blows from harpoons and blasts from rifles, but without much success because bullets and
(15:09):
harpoons crossed its soft flesh as ifit were semi liquid jelly. After several
fruitless attempts, the crew managed toslip a noose around the mollusk's body.
The noose slid as far as thecaudal fins and came to a halt.
Then they tried to haul the monsteron board, but its weight was so
(15:30):
considerable that when they tugged on therope, the animal parted company with its
tail, and deprived of this adornment, it disappeared beneath the waters. Finally,
an actual event, ned Land,said, an indisputable event, my
gallant ned Accordingly, people had proposednaming this devil's fish Boujia's squid. And
(15:54):
how long was it? The Canadianasked? Didn't it measure about six meters,
said consul, who were stationed atthe window and examining anew the crevices
in the cliff precisely, I replied, wasn't its head? Conseil went on,
crowned by eight tentacles that quivered inthe water like a nest of snakes
(16:14):
precisely. Weren't its eyes prominently placedand considerably enlarged, yes, Conseil.
And wasn't its mouth a real parrot'sbeak, but a fearsome size? Correct?
Conseil, Well, with all duerespect to master, Conseil replied serenely.
(16:34):
If this isn't Bouge's squid, it'sat least one of his close relatives.
I stared at conseil ned Land rushedto the window. What an awful
animal, he exclaimed. I staredin my turn, and couldn't keep back
a movement of revulsion. Before myeyes. There quivered a horrible monster,
(16:56):
worthy of a place amongst the mostfar fet teratological legends. It was a
squid of colossal dimensions, fully eightmeters long. It was traveling backward with
tremendous speed, in the same directionas the Nautilus. It gazed with enormous,
staring eyes that were tinted sea green. Its eight arms or more accurately
(17:22):
feet, were rooted in its head, which has earned these animals the name
kephalapod. Its arms stretched the distancetwice the length of its body, and
were writhing like the serpentine hair ofthe furies. You could plainly see its
two hundred and fifty suckers, arrangedover the inner sides of its tentacles and
shaped like semiperic capsules. Sometimes thesesuckers fastened onto the lounge window by creating
(17:51):
vacuums against it. The monster's mouth, a beak made of horn and shaped
like that of a parrot, openthen closed vertically. Its tongue, also
of horn substance, and armed withseveral rows of sharp teeth, would flick
it out from between these genuine shears. What a freak of nature a bird's
(18:14):
beak on a mollusk. Its bodywas spindle shaped and swollen in the middle,
a fleshy mass that must have weighedtwenty thousand to twenty five thousand kilograms.
Its unstable color would change with tremendousspeed as the animal grew irritated,
passing successively from bluish gray to reddishbrown. What was irritating this mollusc,
(18:38):
no doubt, the presence of thenautilus, even more fearsome than itself,
and which it couldn't grip with itsmandibles or the suckers on its arms.
And yet what monsters these devilfish are? What vitality. Our crazer has given
them what vigor in their movements thanksto their owning a triple heart. Chance
(19:00):
had placed us in the presence ofthis squid, and I didn't want to
lose this opportunity to meticulously study sucha kefler pod specimen. I overcame the
horror that its appearance inspired in me, picked up a pencil and began to
sketch it. Perhaps this is thesame as the Alecto's Conseil said, can't
(19:21):
be. The Canadian replied, becausethis one's complete while the other lost its
tail. That doesn't necessarily follow,I said. The arms and tails of
these animals grow back through regeneration,and in seven years the tail on bougie
of squid has surely had time tosprout again. Anyhow, NED shot back.
(19:42):
If it isn't this fellow, maybeit's one of those. Indeed,
other devilfish had appeared at our starboardwindow. I counted seven of them.
They provided the Nautilus with an escort, and I could hear their beaks gnashing
on the sheet iron hull. Wecouldn't have asked for a more devoted following.
(20:03):
I continued sketching these monsters kept pacein our waters with such precision.
They seemed to be standing still,and I could have traced our outlines in
miniature on the window. But wewere moving at a moderate speed. All
at once the nautilus stopped. Ajolt made it tremble through its entire framework.
(20:26):
Did we strike bottom? I asked, In any event, we're already
clear, the Canadian replied, becausewe're afloat. The nautilus was certainly afloat,
but it was no longer in motion. The blades of its propeller weren't
churning the waters. A minute passed, followed by his chief officer. Captain
(20:47):
Nemo entered the lounge. I hadn'tseen him for a good while. He
looked gloomy to me, without speakingto us, without even seeing us,
perhaps, He went to the panel, stared at the devilfish, and said
a few words to his chief officer. The latter went out. Soon the
panels closed, the ceiling lit up. I went over to the Captain an
(21:15):
unusual assortment of devilfish, I toldhim, as carefree as a collector in
front of an aquarium. Correct,mister naturalist, he answered me, And
we're going to fight them at closequarters. I gaped at the captain.
I thought my hearing had gone badat close quarters, I repeated, Yes,
Sir, our propeller is jammed.I think the horn covered mandibles of
(21:40):
one of these squid are entangled inthe blades. That's why we aren't moving.
And what are you going to do? Rise to the surface and slaughter
the vermin? A difficult undertaking,correct. Our electric bullets are ineffective against
such soft flesh where they don't meetenough resistance to go off. But we'll
(22:03):
attack the beast with axes and harpoons, Sir, the Canadian said, if
you don't turn down my help,I accept it. Missed the Land,
We'll go with you, I said, and we followed Captain Nemo, heading
to the central companionway. There,some ten men were standing by for the
assault, armed with boarding axes.Conseil and I picked up two more axes.
(22:27):
Ned Land seized the harpoon. Bythen the nautilus had returned to the
surface of the waves. Stationed onthe top steps, one of the seamen
undid the bolts of the hatch,but he had scarcely unscrewed the nuts.
When the hatch flew up with tremendousviolence, obviously pulled open by the suckers
on a devilfish's arm. Instantly,one of those long arms glided like a
(22:52):
snake into the opening, and twentyothers were quivering above. With a sweep
of the axe, Captain Nemo choppedoff this fearsome tentacle, which slid writhing
down the steps. Just as wewere crowding each other to reach the platform,
two more arms lashed the air,swooped on the seamen stationed in front
of him Captain Nemo, and carriedthe fellow away with irresistible violence. Captain
(23:17):
Nemo gave a shout and leaped outside. We rushed after him. What a
scene. Seized by the tentacle andglued to its suckers, the unfortunate man
was swinging in the air at themercy of this enormous appendage. He gasped,
he choked, he yelled help help. These words pronounced in French,
(23:37):
left me deeply stunned. So Ihad a fellow countryman on board, perhaps
several I'll hear this harrowing plea forthe rest of my life. The poor
fellow was done for who could tearhim from such a powerful grip. Even
so, Captain Nemo rushed at thedevilfish, and with a sweep of the
axe, chewed one more more ofits arms. His chief officer struggled furiously
(24:03):
with the other monsters crawling up theNautilus's sides. The crew battled with flailing
axes. The Canadian conseil and eyesank our weapons into these fleshy masses.
An intense musky odor filled the air. It was horrible. For an instant,
I thought the poor man entwined bythe devilfish might be torn loose from
(24:25):
its powerful suction. Seven arms outof eight had been chopped off, brandishing
its victim like a feather. Onelone tentacle was writhing in the air,
But just as Captain Nemo and hischief officer rushed at it, the animal
shot off a spout of blackish liquid, secreted by a pouch located in its
abdomen. It blinded us. Whenthis cloud had dispersed, the squid was
(24:49):
gone, and so was my poorfellow countryman. What rage then drove us
against these monsters? We lost allself control. Ten or twelve devilfish hauld
overrun the Nautilus's platform and sides,we piled helter skelton into the thick of
those sword off snakes, which dartedover the platform amid waves of blood and
(25:11):
seapear ink. It seemed as ifthese vicious tentacles grew back like the many
heads of hydra. At every thrust, ned Land's harpoon would plunge into a
squid's sea green eye and burst it. But my daring companion was suddenly toppled
by the tentacles of a monster hecould not avoid. Oh, my heart
(25:32):
nearly exploded with excitement and horror.The squid's fierce and beak was wide open
over ned Land. The poor manwas about to be cut in half.
I ran to his rescue, butCaptain Nemo got there first. His axe
disappeared between the two enormous mandibles,and the Canadian miraculously saved stood and plunged
(25:53):
his harpoon all the way into thedevilfish's triple heart. Tit for Tata,
Nemo told the Canadian, I owedit to myself. Ned bowed without answering
him. This struggle had lasted aquarter of an hour. Defeated, mutilated,
battered to death, the monsters finallyyielded to us and disappeared beneath the
(26:15):
waves, red with blood. Motionlessby the beacon, Captain Nemo stared at
the sea that had swallowed one ofhis companions, and large tears streamed from
his eyes. End of Chapter eighteen, recorded by Reynard
This is a liberyvox recording. Allliberyvox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer,please visit libreyvox dot org. Recording by
Reynard twenty thousand Leagues under the Seaby Jules Verne, second part, Chapter
(00:26):
eighteen, The Devilfish. For somedays the Nautilus kept fearing away from the
American coast. It obviously didn't wantto frequent the waves of the Gulf of
Mexico or the Caribbean Sea. Yetthere was no shortage of water under its
keel, since the average depth ofthese seas is one thousand, eight hundred
(00:50):
meters. But these waterways, strewnwith islands and plowed by steamers, probably
didn't agree with Captain Nemo. OnApril sixteen, we raised Martinique and Guadaloupe
from a distance of about thirty miles. For one instant I could see their
lofty peaks. The Canadian was quitedisheartened, having counted on putting his plans
(01:15):
into execution in the Gulf, eitherby reaching shore or by pulling alongside one
of the many boats flying a coastaltrade from one island to another. An
escape attempt would have been quite feasible, assuming ned Land managed to seize the
skiff without the captain's knowledge, Butin mid ocean it was unthinkable. The
(01:38):
Canadian conseil and I had a prettylong conversation on this subject. For six
months we had been prisoners aboard theNautilus. We had fared seventeen thousand leagues,
and as ned Land put it,there was no end in sight.
So he made me a proposition Ihadn't anticipated. We were to ask Captain
(02:00):
Nemo this question straight out. Didthe captain mean to keep us on board
his vessel permanently? This measure wasdistasteful to me. To my mind,
it would lead nowhere. We couldhope for nothing from the Nautilus's commander,
but could depend only on ourselves.Besides, for some time now the man
(02:23):
had been gloomier, more withdrawn,less sociable. He seemed to be avoiding
me. I encountered him only atrare intervals. He used to take pleasure
in explaining the underwater wonders to me. Now he left me to research and
no longer entered the lounge. Whatchanges had come over him? From what
(02:47):
cause? I had no reason toblame? Myself? Was our presence on
board, perhaps a burden to him. Even so, I cherished no hopes
at the man and would set usfree. So I begged Ned to let
me think about it before taking action. If this measure proved fruitless, it
(03:08):
could arouse the captain's suspicions, makeour circumstances even more arduous, and jeopardize
the Canadian's plans. I might addthat I could hardly use our state of
health as an argument. Except forthat drooling ordeal under the ice bank at
the South Pole, we had neverfelt better, neither Ned Conseil nor I.
(03:32):
The nutritious food life, giving airregularly, routine and uniform temperature kept
illness at bay. And for aman who didn't miss his past existence on
land, for a captain Nemo,who was at home here, who went
where he wished, who took pathsmysterious to others, if not himself,
(03:53):
in attaining his ends, I couldunderstand such a life. But we ourselves
hadn't severed all ties with humanity.For my part, I didn't want my
new and unusual research to be buriedwith my bones. I had now earned
the right to pen a definitive bookon the sea and sooner or later I
(04:14):
wanted that book to see the lightof day there once more. Through the
panels, opening into these Caribbean waters, ten meters below the surface of the
waves, I found so many fascinatingexhibits to describe in my daily notes.
Among other zoofytes, there were Portuguesemen of war, known by the name
(04:35):
Versalia pelagica, like big oblong bladderswith a pearly sheen, spreading their membranes
to the wind, letting their bluetentacles drift like silken threads to the eye,
delightful jellyfish to the touch, actualnettles that ooze a corrosive liquid.
(04:57):
Among the articulates, there were analidworms one and a half metres long,
furnished with a pink prebossis, equippedwith one thousand, seven hundred organs of
locomotion, snaking through the waters,and as they went, throwing off every
gleam in the solar spectrum. Fromthe fish branch, there were manta rays,
(05:18):
enormous cartilaginous fish ten feet long andweighing six hundred pounds, their pectoral
fin triangular, their mid backs slightlyarched, their eyes attached to the edges
of the face at the front ofthe head. They floated like wreckage from
a ship, sometimes fastening onto ourwindows like opaque shutters. There were American
(05:42):
triggerfish, for which nature has groundor only black and white pigments, feather
shaped gobies that were long and plump, with yellow fins and jutting jaws.
Sixteen decimeter mackerel with short, sharpteeth, covered with small scale and related
to the albacore species. Next cameswarms of red mullet couteted in gold stripes
(06:08):
from head to tail, their shiningfins, all aquiver genuine masterpieces of jewelry,
formerly sacred to the goddess Diana,much in demand by rich romans,
and about which the old saying goes, he who catches them doesn't eat them.
Finally, adorned with emerald ribbons anddressed in velvet and silk, golden
(06:30):
angelfish passed before our eyes like courtiersin the paintings of Veronaisy. Spurred gilt
heads stole by with their swift thoracicfins. Thread herring fifteen inches long were
wrapped in their phosphorescent glimmers. Graymullets thrashed the sea with their big fleshy
tails, red salmons seem to mowthe ways with their slicing pectorals, and
(06:55):
silver moonfish, worthy of their name, rose on the horizon of the waters
like the whitish reflection of many moons. How many other marvelous new specimens I
still could have observed if little bylittle the nautilus hadn't settled to the lower
strata. Its slanting fins drew itto depths of two thousand and three and
(07:17):
a half thousand metres. There,animal life was represented by nothing more than
sea lilies, starfish, delightful crinoidswith bell shaped heads like little chalices on
straight stems, top shell snails,blood red tooth shells, and Fissuella snails,
a large species of coastal mollusc.By April twenty we had risen to
(07:44):
an average level of one thousand,five hundred metres. The nearest land was
the island group of the Bahamas.Scattered like a batch of cobblestones over the
surface of the water. There,high underwater cliffs reared up. There eight
walls made of craggy chunks arranged likebig stone foundations, among which their gaped
(08:05):
black caves so deep our electric rayscouldn't light them to the far ends.
These rocks were hung with huge weeds, immense sea tangle, gigantic fucus,
a genuine trellis of water plants fitfor a world of giants. In discussing
(08:26):
these colossal plants, Conseail ned andI were naturally led into mentioning the sea's
gigantic animals. The former were obviouslymeant to feed the latter. However,
through the windows of our almost motionlessnautilus, I could see nothing among these
long filaments other than the chief articulatesof the division bracchi eura, long legged
(08:52):
spider crabs, violet crabs, andsponge crabs unique to the waters of the
Caribbean. It was about eleven o'clockwhen ned Land drew my attention to a
fearsome commotion out in this huge seaweedwell. I said, these are real
devilfish caverns, and I wouldn't besurprised to see some of those monsters here.
(09:13):
About what Conseil put in squid,ordinary squid from the class keffler poder
no, I said, devilfish oflarge dimensions. But friend Land is no
doubt mistaken, because I don't seea thing that's regrettable. Conseil answered,
(09:35):
I'd like to come face to facewith one of those devilfish I've heard so
much about, which can drag shipsdown into the depths. Those beasts go
by the name of Crake Fake morelike it, the Canadian replied, sarcastically,
Krakens. Conseil shot back, finishinghis word without wincing at his companion's
(09:56):
witticism. Nobody will ever make mebelieve. Ned Land said that such animals
exist, Why not, Conseil replied, We sincerely believed in masters narwhale.
We were wrong, Conseil, nodoubt. But there are others with no
(10:16):
doubts who believe to this day,probably Conseil. But as for me,
I'm bound and determined not to acceptthe existence of any such monster till I've
dissected it with my own two hands. Yet, Conseil asked me, doesn't
Master believe in gigantic devilfish? Yikes? Who in hades ever believed in them?
(10:41):
The Canadian exclaimed. Many people needmy friend, I said, no,
fishermen, scientists maybe pardon me,ned fishermen and scientists. Why I
to whom you speak, Conseil said, with the world's straightest face. I
(11:03):
recalled perfectly seeing a large boat draggedunder the waves by the arms of a
cathlopod. You saw that, theCanadian asked, yes, Ned, with
your own two eyes, with myown two eyes, where may I ask?
And sat marlow. Conseil returned,unflappably. In the harbor, Land
(11:26):
said sarcastically. No, in achurch, Conseil replied, in a church,
The Canadian exclaimed, yes, Ned, my friend, it had a
picture that portrayed the devilfish in question. Oh good, ned, Land exclaimed,
with a burst of laughter. MisterConseil put one over on me.
(11:48):
Actually he's right, I said,I've heard about that picture. But the
subject it portrays is taken from alegend, and you know how to rate
legends in matters of natural history.Besides, when it's an issue of monsters,
the human imagination always tends to runwild. People not only claimed these
(12:09):
devilfish couldrag ships under, but acertain olause Magnus tells of a caflopod a
mile long that looked more like anisland than an animal. There's also the
story of how the Bishop of Trondheimset up an altar one day on an
immense rock. After he finished sayingmass, this rock started moving and went
(12:30):
back into the sea. The rockwas a devilfish, and that's everything we
know, the Canadian asked, No, I replied Another bishop, Pontopidian of
Bergen, also tells of a devilfishso large a whole cavalry regiment could maneuver
on it. They sure did goon, those old time bishops, ned
(12:54):
Land said. Finally, the naturalistsof antiquity mentioned some monster with mouths as
big as a gulf, which weretoo huge to get through the straits of
Gibraltar. Good work men, theCanadian put in. But in all these
stories is that any truth? Concilasked, none at all, my friends,
(13:16):
at least in those that go beyondthe bounds of credibility and fly off
into fable or legend. Yet forthe imaginings of these storytellers, there had
to be, if not a cause, at least an excuse. It can't
be denied that some species as quidand other devilfish, are quite large,
though still smaller than cetaceans Aristotle.But the dimensions of one squid at five
(13:41):
cubits or three point one meters ourfishermen frequently see specimens over one point eight
meters long. The museums in Triesteand Montpellier have preserved some devilfish carcasses measuring
two meters. Besides, according tothe calculations of naturalists, one of these
(14:03):
animals, only six feet long,would have tentacles as long as twenty seven
which is enough to make a fearsomemonster. Does anybody fish for from nowadays?
The Canadian asked, if they don'tfish for them, sailors, at
least cite them. A friend ofmine, Captain Paul Boss of LaHave,
(14:24):
has often sworn to me that heencountered one of these monsters of colossal size
in the seas of the East Indies. But the most astonishing event, which
proves that these gigantic animals undeniably exist, took place a few years ago in
eighteen sixty one. What event wasthat ned Land asked just this. In
(14:46):
eighteen sixty one, to the northeastof Tenerif, and fairly near the latitude
where we are right now, thecrew of the gunboat Alecto spotted a monstrous
squid swimming in their waters. CommanderBougier approached the animal and attacked it with
blows from harpoons and blasts from rifles, but without much success because bullets and
(15:09):
harpoons crossed its soft flesh as ifit were semi liquid jelly. After several
fruitless attempts, the crew managed toslip a noose around the mollusk's body.
The noose slid as far as thecaudal fins and came to a halt.
Then they tried to haul the monsteron board, but its weight was so
(15:30):
considerable that when they tugged on therope, the animal parted company with its
tail, and deprived of this adornment, it disappeared beneath the waters. Finally,
an actual event, ned Land,said, an indisputable event, my
gallant ned Accordingly, people had proposednaming this devil's fish Boujia's squid. And
(15:54):
how long was it? The Canadianasked? Didn't it measure about six meters,
said consul, who were stationed atthe window and examining anew the crevices
in the cliff precisely, I replied, wasn't its head? Conseil went on,
crowned by eight tentacles that quivered inthe water like a nest of snakes
(16:14):
precisely. Weren't its eyes prominently placedand considerably enlarged, yes, Conseil.
And wasn't its mouth a real parrot'sbeak, but a fearsome size? Correct?
Conseil, Well, with all duerespect to master, Conseil replied serenely.
(16:34):
If this isn't Bouge's squid, it'sat least one of his close relatives.
I stared at conseil ned Land rushedto the window. What an awful
animal, he exclaimed. I staredin my turn, and couldn't keep back
a movement of revulsion. Before myeyes. There quivered a horrible monster,
(16:56):
worthy of a place amongst the mostfar fet teratological legends. It was a
squid of colossal dimensions, fully eightmeters long. It was traveling backward with
tremendous speed, in the same directionas the Nautilus. It gazed with enormous,
staring eyes that were tinted sea green. Its eight arms or more accurately
(17:22):
feet, were rooted in its head, which has earned these animals the name
kephalapod. Its arms stretched the distancetwice the length of its body, and
were writhing like the serpentine hair ofthe furies. You could plainly see its
two hundred and fifty suckers, arrangedover the inner sides of its tentacles and
shaped like semiperic capsules. Sometimes thesesuckers fastened onto the lounge window by creating
(17:51):
vacuums against it. The monster's mouth, a beak made of horn and shaped
like that of a parrot, openthen closed vertically. Its tongue, also
of horn substance, and armed withseveral rows of sharp teeth, would flick
it out from between these genuine shears. What a freak of nature a bird's
(18:14):
beak on a mollusk. Its bodywas spindle shaped and swollen in the middle,
a fleshy mass that must have weighedtwenty thousand to twenty five thousand kilograms.
Its unstable color would change with tremendousspeed as the animal grew irritated,
passing successively from bluish gray to reddishbrown. What was irritating this mollusc,
(18:38):
no doubt, the presence of thenautilus, even more fearsome than itself,
and which it couldn't grip with itsmandibles or the suckers on its arms.
And yet what monsters these devilfish are? What vitality. Our crazer has given
them what vigor in their movements thanksto their owning a triple heart. Chance
(19:00):
had placed us in the presence ofthis squid, and I didn't want to
lose this opportunity to meticulously study sucha kefler pod specimen. I overcame the
horror that its appearance inspired in me, picked up a pencil and began to
sketch it. Perhaps this is thesame as the Alecto's Conseil said, can't
(19:21):
be. The Canadian replied, becausethis one's complete while the other lost its
tail. That doesn't necessarily follow,I said. The arms and tails of
these animals grow back through regeneration,and in seven years the tail on bougie
of squid has surely had time tosprout again. Anyhow, NED shot back.
(19:42):
If it isn't this fellow, maybeit's one of those. Indeed,
other devilfish had appeared at our starboardwindow. I counted seven of them.
They provided the Nautilus with an escort, and I could hear their beaks gnashing
on the sheet iron hull. Wecouldn't have asked for a more devoted following.
(20:03):
I continued sketching these monsters kept pacein our waters with such precision.
They seemed to be standing still,and I could have traced our outlines in
miniature on the window. But wewere moving at a moderate speed. All
at once the nautilus stopped. Ajolt made it tremble through its entire framework.
(20:26):
Did we strike bottom? I asked, In any event, we're already
clear, the Canadian replied, becausewe're afloat. The nautilus was certainly afloat,
but it was no longer in motion. The blades of its propeller weren't
churning the waters. A minute passed, followed by his chief officer. Captain
(20:47):
Nemo entered the lounge. I hadn'tseen him for a good while. He
looked gloomy to me, without speakingto us, without even seeing us,
perhaps, He went to the panel, stared at the devilfish, and said
a few words to his chief officer. The latter went out. Soon the
panels closed, the ceiling lit up. I went over to the Captain an
(21:15):
unusual assortment of devilfish, I toldhim, as carefree as a collector in
front of an aquarium. Correct,mister naturalist, he answered me, And
we're going to fight them at closequarters. I gaped at the captain.
I thought my hearing had gone badat close quarters, I repeated, Yes,
Sir, our propeller is jammed.I think the horn covered mandibles of
(21:40):
one of these squid are entangled inthe blades. That's why we aren't moving.
And what are you going to do? Rise to the surface and slaughter
the vermin? A difficult undertaking,correct. Our electric bullets are ineffective against
such soft flesh where they don't meetenough resistance to go off. But we'll
(22:03):
attack the beast with axes and harpoons, Sir, the Canadian said, if
you don't turn down my help,I accept it. Missed the Land,
We'll go with you, I said, and we followed Captain Nemo, heading
to the central companionway. There,some ten men were standing by for the
assault, armed with boarding axes.Conseil and I picked up two more axes.
(22:27):
Ned Land seized the harpoon. Bythen the nautilus had returned to the
surface of the waves. Stationed onthe top steps, one of the seamen
undid the bolts of the hatch,but he had scarcely unscrewed the nuts.
When the hatch flew up with tremendousviolence, obviously pulled open by the suckers
on a devilfish's arm. Instantly,one of those long arms glided like a
(22:52):
snake into the opening, and twentyothers were quivering above. With a sweep
of the axe, Captain Nemo choppedoff this fearsome tentacle, which slid writhing
down the steps. Just as wewere crowding each other to reach the platform,
two more arms lashed the air,swooped on the seamen stationed in front
of him Captain Nemo, and carriedthe fellow away with irresistible violence. Captain
(23:17):
Nemo gave a shout and leaped outside. We rushed after him. What a
scene. Seized by the tentacle andglued to its suckers, the unfortunate man
was swinging in the air at themercy of this enormous appendage. He gasped,
he choked, he yelled help help. These words pronounced in French,
(23:37):
left me deeply stunned. So Ihad a fellow countryman on board, perhaps
several I'll hear this harrowing plea forthe rest of my life. The poor
fellow was done for who could tearhim from such a powerful grip. Even
so, Captain Nemo rushed at thedevilfish, and with a sweep of the
axe, chewed one more more ofits arms. His chief officer struggled furiously
(24:03):
with the other monsters crawling up theNautilus's sides. The crew battled with flailing
axes. The Canadian conseil and eyesank our weapons into these fleshy masses.
An intense musky odor filled the air. It was horrible. For an instant,
I thought the poor man entwined bythe devilfish might be torn loose from
(24:25):
its powerful suction. Seven arms outof eight had been chopped off, brandishing
its victim like a feather. Onelone tentacle was writhing in the air,
But just as Captain Nemo and hischief officer rushed at it, the animal
shot off a spout of blackish liquid, secreted by a pouch located in its
abdomen. It blinded us. Whenthis cloud had dispersed, the squid was
(24:49):
gone, and so was my poorfellow countryman. What rage then drove us
against these monsters? We lost allself control. Ten or twelve devilfish hauld
overrun the Nautilus's platform and sides,we piled helter skelton into the thick of
those sword off snakes, which dartedover the platform amid waves of blood and
(25:11):
seapear ink. It seemed as ifthese vicious tentacles grew back like the many
heads of hydra. At every thrust, ned Land's harpoon would plunge into a
squid's sea green eye and burst it. But my daring companion was suddenly toppled
by the tentacles of a monster hecould not avoid. Oh, my heart
(25:32):
nearly exploded with excitement and horror.The squid's fierce and beak was wide open
over ned Land. The poor manwas about to be cut in half.
I ran to his rescue, butCaptain Nemo got there first. His axe
disappeared between the two enormous mandibles,and the Canadian miraculously saved stood and plunged
(25:53):
his harpoon all the way into thedevilfish's triple heart. Tit for Tata,
Nemo told the Canadian, I owedit to myself. Ned bowed without answering
him. This struggle had lasted aquarter of an hour. Defeated, mutilated,
battered to death, the monsters finallyyielded to us and disappeared beneath the
(26:15):
waves, red with blood. Motionlessby the beacon, Captain Nemo stared at
the sea that had swallowed one ofhis companions, and large tears streamed from
his eyes. End of Chapter eighteen, recorded by Reynard
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie is America's hardest working grassroots activist who has your inside scoop on the biggest news of the day and what's really going on behind the headlines. The founder of Turning Point USA and one of social media's most engaged personalities, Charlie is on the front lines of America’s culture war, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of students on over 3,500 college and high school campuses across the country, bringing you your daily dose of clarity in a sea of chaos all from his signature no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving point of view. You can also watch Charlie Kirk on Salem News Channel