THE TITANS OF THE SEA

Chapter 2.

I had recently returned from a scientific research project in the unpleasant terrain of Nebraska ice in the United States when these occurrences occurred. The French Government had sent me to that expedition because of my position as Assistant Professor at the Museum of Natural History in Paris. I arrived in New York at the end of March, laden with a priceless collection, after six months in Nebraska ice. My trip to France was scheduled for the first few days of May. Meanwhile, I was preoccupied with classifying my mineralogical, botanical, and zoological treasures when the Scotia was involved in an accident.

I knew everything there was to know about the topic at hand, which was the question of the day. How could I be anything else? I'd read and reread all of the American and European papers, but I still couldn't come to a conclusion. I was perplexed by this riddle. I bounced from one extreme to the other due to my inability to establish a viewpoint. The existence of something could not be denied, and the skeptics were asked to place their finger on Scotia's wound.

The question was at its apex when I arrived in New York. The hypothesis of the floating island and the inaccessible sandbank, which was backed by brains incapable of making judgments, was abandoned. And how could this shoal shift its position with such astounding speed unless it had a machine in its stomach?

The notion of a floating hull of a large wreck was abandoned for the same reason.

There were only two conceivable answers to the problem, resulting in two distinct parties: on one side, those who wanted a giant monster, and on the other, those who wanted a submarine with immense motive power.

But, as convincing as this last hypothesis seemed, it couldn't hold up to scrutiny from both realms. It was unlikely that a private gentleman would have such a gadget at his disposal. When, where, and how was it constructed? How could the process of building it be kept a secret? Such a devastating gadget could undoubtedly be found in the hands of a government. And in these perilous times, when man's inventiveness has multiplied the power of weapons of war, it was plausible that a State may try to operate such a deadly engine without the knowledge of others.

However, the concept of a war machine was conceived before the formation of governments. Their veracity could not be questioned because public interest was at stake and transatlantic communications were jeopardized. But how could anyone confess that the construction of this submersible boat had gone unnoticed? It would be difficult for a private person to retain the secret in such circumstances, and it would be impossible for a State whose every move is constantly scrutinized by powerful rivals.

Several people gave me the honor of counseling me on the phenomenon upon my arrival in New York. In France, I had published Mysteries of the Great Submarine Grounds, a quarto work in two volumes. This work, which was well-received in the academic world, won me a special place in this somewhat esoteric section of Natural History. My opinion was sought. I kept myself to a determined negative as long as I could reject the truth of the situation. But, after being backed into a corner, I was forced to explain myself in detail. I explored the issue in all of its aspects, both politically and scientifically, and I've included an excerpt from a well-researched story that appeared in the April 30th issue. It went like this:

"After thoroughly evaluating each theory and excluding all others, it becomes inevitable to acknowledge the presence of a massive sea animal.

"We have no idea what is beneath the ocean's surface. They are unreachable by sound. We can only speculate about what goes on at those far depths—what beings exist or can live, twelve or fifteen kilometers beneath the surface of the waters—what is the organization of these species. However, the answer to the problem that you have given me may change the shape of the difficulty. Either we are aware of all the different types of beings that inhabit our planet, or we are not. If we don't know them all—if Nature still has secrets to reveal—Nothing is more rational than admitting the existence of fishes, other types of cetaceans, or even new species, of an organization intended to inhabit strata inaccessible to soundings, and which an accident of some sort has transported to the upper level of the ocean at lengthy intervals.

"On the other hand, if we DO know all existing sorts, we must look for the animal in question among the already classified marine animals; and in that case, I would be willing to accept the presence of a huge narwhal."

"The common narwhal, sometimes known as the sea unicorn, can grow to be sixty feet long. Increase its size by five or ten times, give it proportional strength, and lengthen its destructive weapons, and you'll have the animal you need. It will have the proportions decided by Shannon's officers, the tool required for the Scotia's perforation, and the power required to pierce the steamer's hull.

"According to some naturalists, the narwhal is armed with a kind of ivory sword, a halberd." Steel hardness is found in the main tusk. Some of these tasks have been discovered buried in the remains of whales, which the unicorn never fails to assault. Others have been dragged out of the bottoms of ships, which they had penetrated through and through like a gimlet pierces a barrel, with difficulty. One of these defensive weapons, measuring two yards and a quarter in length and fifteen inches in diameter at the base, is on display in the Museum of the Faculty of Medicine in Paris.

"That's fantastic! Assume this weapon is six times stronger than the animal, and that it is launched at a speed of twenty miles per hour, and you have a shock capable of causing the requisite disaster. Until more information becomes available, I'll continue to believe it's a colossal sea unicorn, armed not with a halberd but with a true spur, similar to armored frigates or war 'rams', whose massiveness and motive force it would possess at the same time. This perplexing occurrence cannot be explained unless there is something beyond anything that has ever been conjectured, seen, perceived, or experienced; something that is just within the realm of possibility."

These last statements were cowardly on my side, but up to a degree, I wanted to protect my dignity as a professor by not giving the Americans too much to laugh about when they do laugh. I set aside a means of escape for myself. But, in effect, I acknowledged the existence of the "monster." My piece received a lot of positive feedback, earning it a good reputation. It gathered a certain number of partisans around it. At the very least, the answer it presented gave the imagination complete freedom. The human mind is enthralled by fantastical visions of otherworldly beings. And the sea is their best vehicle, the sole way to generate or develop these giants (against whom terrestrial animals like elephants or rhinoceroses pale in comparison).

The subject was mostly addressed in this light in the industrial and commercial press. The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, Lloyd's List, the Packet-Boat, and the Maritime and Colonial Review, all of which were committed to insurance companies that promised to hike their premium prices, all agreed on this. The public's opinion had been made known. The US was the first to be on the scene, and in New York, plans were being prepared for an expedition to track down this narwhal. The William Wallace, a fast frigate, was put into service as soon as feasible. Commander Farragut was given access to the arsenals, which he used to speed up the arming of his frigate; nevertheless, as is customary, the monster did not materialize when it was determined to pursue it. It went unmentioned for two months. It was not encountered by any ship. This unicorn seems to be aware of the schemes swirling around it. It had been so widely discussed, even over the Atlantic wire, that jesters pretended that this tiny fly had intercepted a telegram and was exploiting the situation.

As a result, when the frigate was armed for a long campaign and outfitted with powerful fishing gear, no one knew what direction to take. Impatience rose as they discovered on July 2nd that the animal had been observed three weeks before in the North Pacific Ocean by a steamer from the San Francisco line, traveling from California to Shanghai. This news elicited a great deal of excitement. The ship had been re-vitalized and was well-supplied with coal.

I received the following letter three hours before the William Wallace left Brooklyn pier:

M. ARITI, Professor at the Museum of Paris, New York's Fifth Avenue Hotel.

SIR,—The Government of the United States will be delighted to see France represented in this voyage if you agree to join the William Wallace. Commander Farragut has made a cabin available to you.

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to work with you. Secretary of the Navy S.H. JOHN