Chapter 20 Chapter 8 The Appeal from Space

Biel.Captain Marthale was leaving the Balsac expedition team, especially Jeanne.One can imagine the sadness of Morna.But he set off without hesitation. He was a soldier, used to obeying orders unconditionally. Despite their haste, it took them nine days to reach Segusicano, 450 kilometers away.They arrived there late at night on February 22.The next morning, he reported to the commander of the fortress, Xie Erren, and gave him the orders of the commander of Seth Abang. Commander Scherren read the document three times in succession, and became more and more amazed: he did not understand what was going on.

What a fool!He finally shouted that it was incomprehensible that he should go to Sikasso to transfer people to Timbuktu! That is to say, you had no prior notice of our coming here, Commander? absolutely not! But the lieutenant who gave me the order said that there was a riot in Timbuktu. It's the first time I've heard it.Captain Binol, who came from Timbuktu yesterday, said nothing about the situation in this regard.However, we cannot comment on it for the time being, because if there is an order, it must be carried out.But, what the hell!I didn't know in advance that you were going to come here, and it will be difficult for you to leave on time in the short term.

Indeed, it was difficult to find means of transportation and sufficient food and grass when unprepared.Eight days later, on March 2nd, Captain Marthare's men boarded the ship bound for the lower reaches of the Niger. It is the end of the dry season and the river is very shallow, making it difficult for boats to travel.They remained on the road for two full weeks, and on the seventeenth of March Marsare's party disembarked at the port of Kabala in Timbuktu. When Martharei reported to the commander of the fortress, Captain Alexel, the latter also looked at him strangely.The head of the regiment declared that there were no riots in this area, and he never asked for reinforcements.Moreover, it was very incomprehensible why Captain Set Abang sent a hundred cavalry that he didn't need without prior notice.

This is really strange.Captain Martharei wondered: Was he deceived by forged documents?However, what are you doing to lie to them?The answer is obvious: to get rid of the disarmed Balsac expedition.In Timbuktu, as in Segusicano, he found out nothing about Lieutenant Racourt.What's more, about the Sudanese Volunteer Corps, although it was mentioned in the order of Commander Set Abang, no one knew about it. However, after some careful research, the order of Captain Set Abang did not find any flaws, and it is still valid.Captain Martharei and his men were settled.The text of the order was sent to his maker, and only he could verify the authenticity.However, it was a thousand kilometers away from Timbuktu to Bamako, and Captain Marsare had to wait patiently for a reply from there.Fortunately, at the end of March, a captain named Bi Liyi arrived here.He was a classmate of Marthares at the Military Academy in Saint-Cyr, and the two old friends were very affectionate when they met, so that time passed a little faster for Captain Marthares.

Captain Biriyi was sent to Timbuktu for a two-year term.He brought a lot of boxes, and his friend opened them one by one, and some boxes were full of experimental instruments.If it weren't for his military uniform, Billie would certainly have been recognized as a scientist who loved science and paid special attention to the latest achievements in the scientific world, especially in electricity.It can be said that one is a representative of the scientific community and the other is a representative of the military community.There were often friendly arguments between the two men because of differences in point of view.They teased each other and nicknamed each other: a library mouse, a saber wielder.

One day, a few days after Billie's arrival, Marthales, going to his lodgings, met him in the yard assembling some sort of machine. You came just in time, Billie said.I'll show you an interesting thing. this one?Maltharei asked, pointing to the machine.It was a device consisting of two batteries, an electromagnet, a glass cylinder with metal shavings and a copper bar several meters high. That's it.You see this gadget, but it is a mysterious invention.This is a wireless telegraph receiver. I seem to have heard about this.Martharei became interested.Are you all set? done!Bi Liyi shouted, there are two people in the world who want to go together.One is Marconi in Italy [Note] He found a way to launch Hertzian waves into space, have you heard of Hertzian waves?Stubborn soldiers.

[Note] Marconi (1874︱1937): Italian engineer who specialized in the development of radio equipment.In 1901, the transmission of long-distance radio signals was first realized on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, yes, Marthalay replied, learned in school, and, I also heard about this Marconi when I was in Europe, so what about the other inventor? French physicist Branly.What a miracle he invented the receiver! What is your machine? receiver.Brownlee found that iron filings were originally bad conductors, but under the action of Hertzian waves, they became good conductors.Connect this earpiece with iron filings to a circuit composed of ordinary batteries, and there will be no current, because iron filings are poor conductors.Do you understand?

right.You go on. When the copper strip called the antenna receives the Hertzian waves, the earpiece becomes a good conductor and there is current in the circuit.Do you understand all this?Saber. Understood, old pedant, go ahead. Here's to the storyteller in front of you: I, too, invented a little thing.Combined with Brownlee's invention, it is possible to make the paper tape on the Morse telegraph move.When the hammer was struck, the current was cut off, the Morse telegraph stopped working, and a dot appeared on the paper tape.The receiving work of the antenna is non-stop, and of course the telegraph will not stop working.In this way, a series of dot and line symbols appeared on the paper tape, which could be read by any operator.

For example, you? I can too. Why did you bring such a fine machine to such a desolate place? I'll assemble the transmitter tomorrow.I want to be the first to engage in radio communication in Sudan, so I brought these machines here.I can assure you that there is no precedent in this whole of Africa.You think, if you can talk to Bamako directly from here Captain Biriyi stopped suddenly, his eyes were wide open, and his half-open mouth showed a surprised expression.It turned out that his sensitive ears heard a slight dada sound on the machine. What happened to you?Captain Martha Rai felt strange.

It's working, Billie said, pointing to the machine. is it working?Marthalay sarcastically exclaimed, you are lying, future member of the Academy of Sciences!You know, your machine is unique in Africa.Probably broken. broken!Billie exclaimed with great excitement, it was so bad that I could read it clearly on the tape: Captain Marthare!Captain Marthare! my name?Martharei sneered, what are you kidding! is your name!Billy said convincingly.His astonishment shocked his friend even more. Receiver stopped working.But after a while, it rang again. It's ringing again, said Billie, bending over the tape.look!Now have your address: Timbuktu!

Timbuktu!exclaimed Martharei involuntarily, his whole body trembling with an unspeakable excitement. The receiver stopped again, but the tape was still moving. Jana.Buxton, Billie read the telegram on the tape. Not sure what that means.Malthrai couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, who is kidding me? joke?Billie repeated thoughtfully, how is this possible?Ah!It's starting again!He leaned over the tape?Come and save Ranna.Morna Jana.Morna!Captain Martharei cried out, panting heavily, and unbuttoned his collar. Captive of Blackrant The dada stopped again.Biriyi glanced at his friend, who was pale. What happened to you?he asked with concern. I will explain this to you later, replied Marthares with difficulty, but where is this Blackrant? Before Billie could answer, the receiver rang again. Fifteen degrees fifty minutes north latitude, east longitude The officers leaned over to listen, but waited for a few minutes in vain, the receivers had gone mute. Captain Billie muttered thoughtfully: There is actually a second radio amateur in this desolate country, and he knows you, but what's wrong with you, you look so ugly? Captain Martharei explained the reason for his anxiety in a few words.You know, he admired Jeanne very much.Morna, hoping that one day she will be his wife, and a mysterious call from space that explains Jeanna.Morna is in danger! And she wants me to rescue her!He ended in distress, mixed with a bit of joy at the same time. What's the matter!It's very simple!Bi Liyi said that she should be rescued immediately! certainly!Martharei cried.He saw the possibility of military action and became active.But how? We will study it right away, Biriyi said, as far as I can see, the situation is not serious. First, Miss Morna is not alone. You know they have a radio transmitter, that is, besides those companions, there are A protector who holds a radio transmitter.You can take my word for it, that one must be an amazing person! Captain Martharay lifted his spirits and raised his head. Second, there was no immediate danger threatening Miss Morena's safety.When she sent a telegram to Timbuktu, it meant that she expected that you would still have time to rescue her.Don't worry, good news is waiting for you!Now let's go to the head of the regiment and ask him to send a conquest team to rescue Senator Balsac and Jeanne.Miss Morna. The two captains immediately went to Colonel Alexel, reported to him the wonderful incident that had just happened, and placed in front of him the tape taken from the Morse telegraph. Mr. Balsac is not mentioned here.The head pointed out. No, Billie said.But Mademoiselle Morena was with him. Who told you she wouldn't leave him?The head of the group retorted that I was very clear about the route of the Balsac expedition.Please believe that they will never appear on such a high latitude line.The expedition passed through Wagashegu at 15° 20 north latitude, and ended the investigation at Shay at 15° 30° north latitude, and this mysterious telegram said it was at 15° 50 degrees north latitude. The commander's words awakened the memory of Captain Martharei. You are right, Commander.I remembered that Ms. Morna was going to part with the expedition team two to three hundred kilometers away from Sikasso, and headed northward, probably planning to reach the bank of the Niger River at Gaokan. That's another story.The head of the group also felt uneasy.If you want to rescue Congressman Barsac, because he was sent by the government, you can send a conscript army.But this Miss Morna, she's on a private trip However, Martharei immediately argued that if the order was forged, Barsac and the others would have fallen prey to the bastard who took my place. It's possible, it's possible the leader said suspiciously.In any case, we had to wait for an answer from Bamako. It is over, cried the sullen Marthares, and we shall not let death take the life of the poor man who cried to me for help! There is no question of death here, even if this lady is captured, there is no big problem.Where is this Blackrant?said the head of the delegation. He has given us the latitude. But no longitude.The latitude line you mentioned traverses the Niger River and penetrates into the mysterious desert.I can't send a team out there and have two hundred people risk their lives to save one woman. Why two hundred?Martharei saw that hope was about to burst like a soap bubble, and said aloud, it can be reduced a lot. I don't think so, Captain, have you heard the rumors circulating along the Niger River?Somewhere, according to the Negroes, a country has sprung up with a bad reputation.Possibly, Blackrant is the capital or a city of this country.The line of latitude to which the telegram refers makes this hypothesis more plausible, since such a city is only possible in this unexplored region.Doesn't the English word Blackrant surprise you?I do not think it wise to venture into this unexplored region without sufficient strength. So you don't agree, commander? Unfortunately!There is no way. Captain Martharei insisted on sending out the hundred men he had brought with him.But Commander Alexel was unwavering. Let's wait for new news from Miss Morna.If she could send a telegram once, she must be able to send it again. If not?Because the first time was also interrupted suddenly. The head of the regiment made a gesture to express his great regret, but he could not change his decision. Then I will go alone.Malthrai said firmly. one person? Yes, I ask you for leave, you should never refuse Instead, I'm saying no.Do you think I'll give you permission for such an adventure that's sure to go forever? Then, please allow me to resign. The head of the group did not answer immediately.He glanced at his subordinate and figured it out: he was in a very abnormal mood. You know, captain, the head of the regiment said fatherly: resignation is subject to the approval of the superior, and I have no right to decide.In any case, this needs to think twice!Come to me again tomorrow morning! The officers saluted and left.After saying goodbye to his friends, Marthareus shut himself up in his room, flung himself on the bed, and wept bitterly.