Chapter 12 Passapartout Travels on Alone and Grows a Very Long Nose The Carnatic left Hong Kong right on time, but with two empty rooms, ones that should have held Phileas Fogg and Aouda.
The next day, a bleary-eyed passenger with wild and crazy hair stumbled out of his cabin and made his way up on deck.
It was Passapartout.
Three hours after Fix had left him in that awful restaurant, he had woken up still dizzy from the knock to his head.
He called out, the Carnatic, the Carnatic, as if he knew where he had to be.
Barely able to stand, he pulled himself up and stumbled along to the ship.
He fell on the deck just as it was leaving.
Two members of the crew had felt sorry for him and carried him to his cabin.
When Passepartout woke up, it was the middle of the next day.
What will Mr. Fogg say when he sees me this way?
He worried, what in the world happened to me?
At least I have made the boat.
Passepartout got up and started to explore the ship, but he didn't see anyone who looked like either Phileas Fogg or Aouda.
He went into the dining room to see if he could find either of them, but they were not there.
Finally, Passepartout asked a ship's mate if he knew where he could find Phileas Fogg.
"'There's no one by that name on board, sir,' the mate replied.
"'Am I on the Carnatic?'
Passepartout asked.
"'Yes.
On the way to Yokohama?'
Yes.
Passapartout fell into a seat as if struck by lightning.
It was all coming back to him now.
The monsieur must have missed the boat.
Now Passapartout was on his way to Japan without a penny in his pocket.
The trip was to take five or six days, so at least Passapartout had some time to figure out what to do.
When the boat docked in Yokohama, Passapatou stepped slowly off the ship and onto the shore.
He had nothing but fate to guide him as he walked the streets of the Japanese city.
First he explored the European section of town.
There he found many merchants selling their goods.
Next he visited the French and the English consulates to see if they had heard any word from Phileas Fogg.
With no luck there, he continued to explore the city.
What shall I do for food? he asked himself as he walked through the crowded streets.
He looked into the windows of rich and curious shops.
He saw tea houses and wished he had the money to sit down in one.
Passapartout stayed hungry for much of that first day and night as he strolled around the city.
He walked and walked.
He never rested, not even when it turned to night.
By the next morning, poor Passapartout knew he needed to eat soon.
He could sell his watch, but it was very special to him.
He didn't really want to part with it.
After much thought, he decided to try to sing for his supper.
But I am too well dressed for singing, he thought.
I know, I'll trade my clothes for something more Japanese.
He came out of the clothing dealer with a few pieces of silver in his hand and a brand new Japanese costume.
He wore a long coat and a one-sided turban.
I can pretend I'm in a carnival, he thought.
Passapartout entered the first tea house he came upon.
Once he sat down, he ordered some rice with chicken and ate it very quickly.
During his meal he thought that maybe he could find a job on a steamer bound for America instead of singing for food or money.
He thought...
That way I have at least a hope of finding the Monsieur.
Passepartout walked back down toward the wharf.
How will I find a job?
Who will let me on board, dressed as I am?
These and other questions were rolling around in his head when he came upon a clown carrying a large billboard.
It said, Acrobatic Troop, presented by the Honorable William Battlecart.
Don't miss the last show of the long noses, long noses.
We are heading to America.
Going to America, Passapartout said.
That's exactly what I need.
He followed the clown back into the heart of the city.
Fifteen minutes later, Passapartout stopped in front of a large cabin decorated with streamers and painted to show a scene of jugglers.
Passapartout went inside and asked for Mr. Battlecar, who came right out.
"'What do you want?' he asked the butler.
"'I'm a gymnast, a singer, and a performer, sir.
Do you have any need of my skills?'
Passapartout asked.
"'You're a Frenchman?'
Mr. Battlecar asked.
"'Yes.
I'm from Paris, but I've been living in England for many years.
Now I would like to see America,' Passapartout said."
"'Are you strong?'
Mr. Battlecar asked.
'Can you sing, standing on your head, with a top spinning on your left foot and a sword balanced on your right'?
"'Hm!'
Passapartout replied.
"'I think so.'
He remembered how nimble he used to be in his younger days.
In fact, he used to be an acrobat.
"'Well, that's good enough for me.
You're hired.'
He looked at Passapartout.
"'But you'll have to find something—'
Half decent to wear.
That costume you have on looks silly.
Passepartout was happy to have something to do at last.
If he couldn't be Mr. Fogg's butler, at least he could make his way to America and find him there.
It was decided that he would become a long-nose.
They were a special act within the troupe that formed a human pyramid.
This great attraction was the final act of each show.
The crowd started to gather in the afternoon.
People of all different shapes, sizes, and colors filled up the stands.
The musicians were there, too.
They were playing their gongs, tam-tams, flutes, drums, and tambourines.
The acrobats jumped into action.
They rolled, bounced, jumped, and dove, much to the delight of the crowd.
There was a juggler who threw lit candles into the air.
He would blow them out as they passed by his mouth and then light them again, without ever dropping one.
Tightrope walkers crossed thin wires across the stage.
They twirled and jumped without falling.
The main attraction, though, was the long noses.
They were all dressed like the ancient god Tingu, who had a very long nose.
They also had a splendid pair of wings.
Their noses were made of bamboo and were five, six, even ten feet long.
Some were straight, some were curved, and some had funny wards on them.
The acrobats rolled and tumbled with these noses on their face.
It was quite incredible to see.
Mr Battlecar announced the very last act, the human pyramid.
But instead of climbing on one another's backs, the performers were to balance on one another's noses.
Passepartout stood in the center of the ring with his six-foot-long nose attached to his face and multicolored wings on his back.
At least I'll be able to have some supper, he thought as he climbed atop a nose and did his best to balance.
But then, as quickly as they formed the pyramid, they all tumbled to the ground.
Noses came crashing down all around.
Passepartout exclaimed, My monsieur, you're here!
It was true.
Phileas Fogg was sitting in the audience.
He and Aouda had walked by the sign for the show as they were exploring the city and had decided to go inside and watch.
Passepartout, he said, is that you?
Yes, I'm here, I'm here.
Well, said Phileas, let's get you to that steamer, young man.
Phileas, Aouda, and Passapartout left the theater and walked outside.
Mr. Baltacar chased them outside, screaming about how Passapartout had ruined his noses.
Mr Fogg kindly gave him some money to pay for the repairs, and the three made their way to the steamer bound for America.
There was just one thing.
Passepartout had forgotten to take off his own hose.
He wore it and his wings right on board the ship, called the General Grant.
