Part 1, Chapter 1, Monster or Man?
The year 1866 will always be remembered for a strange event.
For months, sailors around the world were reporting an odd sight.
Each of them saw something that was faster and bigger than any sea animal.
Sometimes it even looked like it was lit up.
The object had been seen by too many people to say that it wasn't real.
The mystery did indeed exist.
In April of 1867, a large ship was hit by the beast.
The accident scared everyone.
Finally, people wanted to find this monster who ruled the seas.
It was at this time that I first heard about it.
I had spent the last six months doing research in the United States.
I was studying the ocean and sea life.
My work was very respected by other scientists.
People wanted to hear what I thought about the beast.
I could only think of two choices.
This thing could be a monster that we had never heard of, or it could be some kind of ship.
I didn't think anyone could have built such a ship without others knowing about it.
After learning everything I could about this strange object, I decided that it must be some new sea creature.
After all, how do we know what lives deep within the ocean waters?
We can only guess.
Maybe the appearance of this creature was no more than an accident.
After much thought, I formed an answer.
The animal must be a narwhal or unicorn of the sea.
But it would be much bigger than a usual narwhal.
No, this one would be ten times that size, and its horn would be six times stronger.
Moving at just twenty miles per hour, the beast would become a monster that could control the waters and anything in them.
Word of the beast spread around the world quickly.
It was decided that a large ship should set out in search of the beast.
The Abraham Lincoln left as soon as possible.
But just when we were ready to meet the monster, the monster disappeared.
Two months went by without anyone seeing it.
The Abraham Lincoln returned without news.
Finally, word came from a steamer leaving San Francisco.
The monster had been seen.
The Abraham Lincoln was to set sail once again.
It was just three hours before the boat was ready that I received a letter.
To Mr. Aranax, Professor of the Museum of Paris.
Sir.
If you would like to join the Abraham Lincoln on this journey, the government of the United States would be happy to have you.
Commander Farragut has a cabin ready for you.
Sincerely yours, J.B.
Hobson, Secretary of Marine.
I put down the letter.
I now knew that I must hunt down the monster.
I forgot how tired I was.
I didn't give a thought to my friends or my work.
I just wanted to leave and begin my search.
Consail, my servant, came with me on all my travels.
I liked him, and he liked me.
He never asked where we were going or how long we would stay.
Besides this, he was a healthy young man.
I could count on him to help me load and lift things.
With Consail's help, I packed my bags.
Upon arriving at the Abraham Lincoln, I met the man in charge of the trip.
"'I am Pierre Aranax,' I said.
I held out my hand to shake his.
"'Are you Commander Farragut?'
I asked.
The man bowed and smiled.
"'Your cabin is ready for you.'
I followed him, looking at the ship as we passed each part.
It was a good boat in which to begin looking for the creature.
The Abraham Lincoln could go very quickly.
Of course, it would never be as fast as the monster.
The rooms on board, including my cabin, would be fine for the next several days.
A crowd of people at the dock sent us off.
They cheered and wished us luck in finding the beast.
The boat soon reached high speed, and we pushed full steam into the dark waters of the Atlantic.
