Chapter 4 Axel Worries About the Future I was not as excited by this trip as my uncle was.
In fact, I was frightened and did not want to go.
The risks were too great.
We might never return.
I might never see my groudman again.
For Uncle Lidenbrock, though, there was only excitement.
This journey would lead to the greatest scientific discovery ever.
He insisted we keep our journey a secret.
You're certain that someone would try to steal our glory?
Uncle, I said, do you really think that anyone else would attempt this journey?
Definitely, he said.
Who would refuse?
Every scientist would jump at the chance.
How do we know it's not a practical joke, I asked.
How do we know that it's real?
At first I thought I had upset my uncle.
He looked angry, but then he smiled.
I guess we will soon find out, he said.
If my uncle was a different person, he might have winked.
His smile showed his good spirits.
But what if the volcano was still active?
It would be very dangerous to walk into a volcano that's about to erupt.
I was trying to find any excuse that might change his mind.
Once again, we won't know until we get there, Uncle Leidenbrock said.
You must remember, Axel, that more volcanoes in the world are quiet than active.
The odds are in our favor that it will be extinct.
Stavitz has not erupted since the year 1219.
But, Uncle, I said.
What about the theory that the earth's core is boiling hot?
At 200,000 degrees, everything, rock, gold, silver, turns to gas.
We would be fine for the first hundred feet, but the heat will increase farther on.
How could we know what happens at the Earth's core?
Uncle Leidenbrock asked.
We have only explored a very small portion of it.
Theories are only theories until they are proved true.
Some scientists, including myself, think that it is not true that the Earth's core is boiling hot.
As always, it was impossible to argue with my uncle.
"'Despite his strange ways, Uncle Eden Brock was good to me.
He let me live with him while I went to the university.
He included me in his research projects.
I knew that I was lucky to work with such a brilliant scientist.
If only our work kept us safely home!'
Don't you see the opportunity that we have, Axel?
My uncle put his hand on my arm.
Out of all these theories made by all the scientists, we will be the ones to find the truth.
Yes, I said.
I was starting to feel his excitement.
We can do this.
We can be the first.
I left his study confident that we would succeed.
Unfortunately, this feeling did not last.
While my uncle thought he could never make a wrong step, I worried about each and every one.
It did not take long before I was back to worrying about what might happen.
By the time I reached Graubin, I was in a state of panic.
She noticed immediately that something was troubling me.
Axel, she said sweetly, what is wrong?
Although I had promised Uncle Edenbrock that I would tell no one, I could keep no secrets from Grauben.
I gave her all the details.
Oh, Haxel, she said.
She touched her fingertips to my cheek.
It will be a wonderful journey.
I almost jumped a mile.
A wonderful journey?
Did I hear her correctly?
Listen to me, Grelvin said.
She knew I was nervous and was just trying to calm me down.
You are the nephew of a great man.
You are just as worthy as he is.
This is your opportunity to prove yourself.
This will be a great adventure.
But, Grelvin, I said, I thought you would try to stop me.
It is going to be a dangerous journey, you know.
I know, dear Axel, it will be hard, but you will learn so much.
When you return, you will be able to tell the world all the incredible things that you have seen.
You will be the first, and you should be proud.
I wish I had the same opportunities as you.
I was shocked and amazed.
Not only was Grauben not trying to stop me, she was actually excited for me.
Graubin's faith restored me.
She loved me and wanted me to go on this journey.
More and more I realized how lucky I was to have Graubin in my life.
I was still scared, but I felt stronger thanks to her love.
When I returned home, my uncle was busy packing.
There were many men walking through the house.
They were carrying in supplies and helping to pack.
My uncle's two suitcases and boxes of equipment were in the hallway.
Martha was rushing about, trying to get things done.
Uncle Lidenbrock was directing everyone.
Uncle, I said, I was only gone a few hours.
How did you get so much done so quickly?
We are leaving, my boy, Lidenbrock said.
We're leaving the day after tomorrow, at the crack of dawn.
There's so much to do.
Why must we hurry?
I asked.
Do we have to leave so soon?
Do you think it is easy to get to Iceland?
We have a long train ride, then we must find a boat to take us to the island, which is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Once there, we must hike to the volcano, and we must do it all before July.
We do not have much time.
But it is only May 26th, I started to say.
Axel, why aren't you helping?
My uncle said, cutting off my words, you must organize your things.
We must leave on time.
The next day, more and more supplies arrived.
The men strapped them down to a wagon as my uncle supervised.
Everything was prepared to take us to the train station.
The next morning, we got to the train station at dawn.
I was very tired.
My night had been filled with nightmares of dark tunnels and endless pits.
I was very glad that Grauben came along to see us off.
But I worried it would be the last time we saw each other.
As always, my Grauben did a fine job of calming me down.
She kissed me on the cheek, then said, I will make a promise to you, Axel.
You are leaving a fiancée here in Germany, but you will come back to a wife.
When you return, I will marry you.
With that, I gave Grauban a long hug, and we were off.
