Captain Nemo_ The Fantastic History of a Dark Genius - Kevin J Anderson [196]
He wrote The Mysterious Island in three substantial volumes. Instead of using average castaways, Verne populated his massive novel with characters taken from Rurapente. An intelligent engineer, Cyrus Harding, led the group, used his ingenuity to build a magnificent house inside a granite cliff. The castaways learned how to smelt iron, domesticate wild animals, even set up a telegraph . . . all the while assisted by a secretive benefactor who came to their aid at appropriate moments, yet never revealed his identity.
At the end of the long novel, after readers had waited month after month during the serialization, they learned the truth: The guardian angel on the mysterious island was none other than an aging and bitter Captain Nemo, who had survived the sinking of the Nautilus and brought his damaged sub-marine boat to a cave beneath the volcano. . . .
By now, Verne had realized his error in not showing the actual demise of Nemo in the first novel. He could not simply let the Nautilus disappear into the treacherous depths, where it was presumed destroyed. To rid himself of this burden forever, Verne depicted quite precisely the death scene of Captain Nemo, a man haunted by the tragic deaths of his wife and young son.
In the final chapters, with the castaways gathered around him on the entombed Nautilus, the captain died aboard his beloved sub-marine boat. To honor Nemo’s final request, the character of Cyrus Harding operated the controls for a final time before disembarking. The castaways watched as the Nautilus sank slowly under the sea, bearing the body of the great Nemo, who was never to be seen again. . . .
When Jules Verne completed the enormous manuscript, including the proud funeral, he at last felt free of André Nemo. He knew he would never see the man again, nor Caroline. As told by Verne, the story was not true . . . but the readers would be satisfied.
“Forgive me, my friends,” he murmured. Though altered and falsified, the account would certainly make a grand story.
He set aside his pen and looked at the thick journal filled with his words. No matter what happened in real life, Verne’s readers would remember Captain Nemo, and his fate, the way the author had told it.
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The true ending of Nemo’s story was quite different from fiction, though.
The Nautilus continued its voyage of discovery through the seas. Forsaking his war against War, Nemo preyed upon no ships, but instead remained content with Caroline’s company. He chose the sub-marine’s course carefully, setting out for his favorite spot on the ocean bottom.
He wanted to show Caroline the pinnacle of mystery and wonder he’d found beneath the waves. Standing with her on the bridge deck, Nemo felt like a romantic character in a storybook as they stared out at the turquoise-lit wonderland.
He looked over at the stiff-backed Englishman at the helm. “Mr. Harding? A progress report?”
Harding consulted his charts. “We should arrive within the hour, Captain.”
Nemo took Caroline’s arm in his. “Come with me to the salon. There is something you must see.”
He led her again to the central salon, where he had cranked shut the iris plates over the wide, circular window, keeping the view hidden. Nemo poured each of them a glass of wine, then gestured for Caroline to sit in the chair beside him. While they waited, he looked into her face, studying the bright blue eyes that were so different from Auda’s deep, dark gaze.
But Auda was gone, as was Caroline’s husband -- and the two of them no longer had any barriers to their lifelong love.
Caroline’s eyes were electric with anticipation. Nemo sipped his wine, smiling as he allowed the suspense to build. He stroked her hair. Before long, he heard the thrumming engines slow. Harding’s hollow-sounding voice came over the speaking