Journey to the Heart of Luna - Andy Frankham-Allen [9]
Nathanial stepped inside the Sovereign, and looked around. A corridor led aft and forward. A thick-set man in lieutenant’s uniform stood there, and saluted the captain as he entered behind Nathanial. Folkard returned the salute.
“It is agreeable to see you again, Lieutenant Bedford.”
“And you, sir.” Bedford addressed the leading seaman. “See that the door is secured once Professor Stone’s luggage is safely aboard.”
As Bedford gave his orders, Folkard stepped up to Nathanial, who remained by the door, looking out at the dirigible which seemed so small now. “How are you holding up, Professor?”
“I…” Nathanial shook his head. “Surprisingly well, Captain,” he said, turning to Folkard with a smile. Although his legs felt a little weak, all in all Nathanial felt quite exhilarated by the little adventure. “But I fear my hat will fair less well.”
“Quite so, your hat is by the board now.”
“It was a gift from Edwin, that’s my youngest brother, when I left London,” Nathanial said. He made a note that he would surely have to replace the hat before returning home. Edwin would be most displeased to learn his favoured brother had lost the gift he had taken so long to save up for. Nathanial gathered himself together, pleased by the look on Folkard’s face. The man seemed surprised. “Yes, Captain, I believe you misjudged my character.”
“Indeed, you are quite the bully trap, sir. I am willing to be proven wrong if it benefits the mission ahead.”
A compliment. “I thank you, Captain; I hope to remain a source of constant surprise to you.”
“Yes, I think you will.” That said, the captain looked away. “Lieutenant, would you please show our guest to his cabin?” he asked of his second-in-command, then looked back at Nathanial. “We shall dine after a banyan, and then we shall discuss the mission ahead.”
“Very good, Captain Folkard,” Nathanial said, wondering what was meant by a banyan. He supposed he would have plenty of time to learn all the naval terms, after all, even with the power of the Sovereign at Folkard’s command, it would still take the best part of the day before they reached Luna. Folkard offered Nathanial his hand, which he gladly accepted.
“Welcome aboard HMAS Sovereign, Professor Stone,” the captain said with a smile. Although there was humour behind it, for the first time since they had met it seemed the captain was no longer mocking him.
Perhaps they would grow to be friends after all, Nathanial considered, as Bedford approached to lead him to his appointed cabin.
Chapter Two
Journey to the Moon
1.
EXCERPT 2.
“Beyond the Inner Worlds: The Journal of Professor Nathanial Stone” (Published July 2011, by Chadwick Press.)
Saturday April 13th, 1889.
I never truly believed this day would come; certainly I never courted such an event. I suppose my work, and my presence here now, puts me alongside the pioneers who brought us into the aether in the first instance. It has barely been twenty years since Edison built that first aether flyer, and to think of all the advances in that time. I have grown up in a world where travel in the infinite vastness of space is a reality, and yet when I was born it was barely a dream, the forum of those of the creative bent.
Practical aether travel as we know it today all began with Professor Etienne Moreau, who in 1860 hypothesised that the aether, like the matter and energy throughout the universe, was not evenly distributed. If it was instead affected by its interaction with matter, it might be distributed in vortices, thin patches, and even compacted clumps. He also theorised that interaction of matter, energy and aether indicated that it was possible for each to be used to manipulate the other. Just as matter could be burned to release energy, and energy expanded to move matter, so could matter be used to grip or grasp the aether, and energy used to manipulate it.
Thomas Edison, an American inventor, fell into discussions with Moreau about his