The Island at the Top of the World Page #5

The river flows to the sea,

which means there is a passage

from the crater to the bay.

Come on.

Look, the water's running out.

- Come on.

- Where to?

Wherever the water went.

Look!

Do not worry.

I have sailed this way many times.

It's not this I'm worried about.

It's them.

Will they never give up?

I can't understand why the bowmen

haven't been shooting.

They do not have to.

- They only wait to see us die.

- Freyja.

It's taught in the sagas that the bay

is guarded by sea beasts.

We cannot escape.

- Killer whales.

- What do we do now?

Anything we can.

Here comes the other one.

Hold on, everybody!

The Hyperion!

And heaven be praised,

our old friend the captain.

My compliments, Captain.

You keep an excellent table.

And you're an excellent shot.

You saved our lives.

- Thank you.

- An unexpected pleasure.

Since I landed two days ago,

I've been trying to save my own.

But getting out of here,

that's going to be quite a problem.

- Isn't it, Captain?

- I have the solution.

My ship may be battered and torn,

but the mind that conceived it,

that still functions.

As you see, the ship has lost much

gas, but it retains some buoyancy.

So if we reduce sufficiently

the weight, then it will rise.

How would you reduce the weight?

Abandon the motors.

The propellers are broken anyway.

The gondola too.

Strip the ship of everything

that weights it down.

What have we then?

- A free balloon.

- By Jove!

- It'd carry us across the bay.

- If we can reach the pack ice...

We shall go farther than that.

The prevailing wind is to the south.

If it holds,

we should drift to Greenland.

When we reach the coast,

we descend

and proceed on foot

to the nearest habitation.

Capt. Brieux, you are

a very remarkable man.

I've always felt so.

- Sir Anthony.

- This is a bit much, isn't it?

Hardly the time for ceremonies.

Let's be off.

Please, Sir Anthony,

this is a moment to be savoured.

Once more, we stand on the threshold

of a great adventure.

To my Hyperion.

May she rise.

Like a phoenix

from the ashes of despair.

And soar like Man's imagination

to Greenland and beyond.

The Hyperion.

- Now, let's get going, shall we?

- Of course, Monsieur.

I will show you now

the ingenious arrangements

I've made for our departure.

Perhaps you have observed

that I've cut loose the gondola.

The ship is now attached to it

by a single cable.

So also the motors and the tail.

This section, too,

linked to the ship only by a cable.

When I slip these cables,

the gondola, the motors

and the tail detach themselves,

and we rise.

Are you sure?

You will see.

Now, gentlemen, if you will assist me.

The gondola.

The motors and the tail.

When I say three,

pull with all your force.

Right.

- Permission to proceed, Monsieur?

- What?

Oh, yes, yes, yes, proceed.

Very well.

One...

...two...

...three!

Well, Sir Anthony.

It worked perfectly.

Once again, Captain,

I underestimated you.

I'm turning in. I haven't had a

good night's sleep since England.

- Sir Anthony.

- Hmm?

Take a look.

Campfires.

So they're still waiting for us.

It's a pity we'll have to disappoint them.

What is it?

You look frightened.

- A little.

- No, you mustn't be. It's all over.

We're safe now.

I know.

It is not that.

What, then?

It is the world beyond our mountains,

your world.

Our world isn't really so different.

It's bigger,

and everything moves faster.

We live by clocks and machines

instead of tides and seasons.

You'll get used to it.

And be happy.

Because you'll be surrounded

by people you love and who love you.

I wish my father could be with us.

I know.

But his home is Astragard.

His heart will always be here.

Mine is with you.

Ivarsson.

When does the first ship

leave Greenland in the spring?

Usually, the beginning of April.

So with luck, we should be back

in England in about six weeks.

I should not count on it, Monsieur.

The wind has changed.

We are drifting back to the land.

Well, can't something be done?

I cannot command the wind, Monsieur.

- We're rising.

- Got draft.

The wind against the cliffs.

What happens

when we get to the top?

Everybody out. Quick.

It's true that the gods were angry,

but it was The Godi who did wrong

by leading the people

to hatred and to violence.

I'm glad they recognise that.

The prisoners may go in peace

on this condition,

that they swear a sacred oath.

Never to reveal the existence

of this sacred island.

That's fair enough.

To ensure that the oath

be honoured for all time,

we must demand one thing.

Well, go on. What is it?

That you leave a hostage here.

Your son.

I refuse to discuss it any further.

How could they imagine

I would leave you behind?

- Those are their terms!

- I will not permit it.

Without a hostage,

none of us will leave.

- Blasted! Then I'll be the hostage.

- I don't think so, Sir Anthony.

As a matter of fact,

everything's already been arranged.

And very satisfactorily

for everybody, I think.

Are you sure it's what you want?

Are you sure

you want to be left behind?

Yes, I'm sure.

This is a chance no archaeologist

could turn down.

Not only to study the past,

but to relive it. Here it all is.

Hidden behind mist for 1,000 years,

and I haven't scratched the surface.

Besides, who says

I'm being left behind?

We archaeologists take a longer view.

Whole civilisations

have vanished before, you know.

The day may come

when this might be Man's last refuge.

Good luck.

Goodbye, my friends!

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