human
What is that machine? continued Michel Ardan.
gpt
Is it one of the bodies of space which our projectile keeps within its attraction, and which will accompany it to the moon?
human
What astonishes me, said Nicholl,
gpt
Nicholl, replied Barbicane, after a moment's reflection,
human
I do not know what the object is, but I do know why it maintains our level.
gpt
And why?
human
Because we are floating in space, my dear captain, and in space bodies fall or move (which is the same thing) with equal speed whatever be their weight or form; it is the air, which by its resistance creates these differences in weight. When you create a vacuum in a tube, the objects you send through it, grains of dust or grains of lead, fall with the same rapidity. Here in space is the same cause and the same effect.
gpt
Just so, said Nicholl,
human
Ah! fools that we are!
gpt
Why that expletive?
human
Because we might have filled the projectile with useful objects, books, instruments, tools, &c. We could have thrown them all out, and all would have followed in our train. But happy thought! Why cannot we walk outside like the meteor? Why cannot we launch into space through the scuttle? What enjoyment it would be to feel oneself thus suspended in ether, more favoured than the birds who must use their wings to keep themselves up!
gpt
Granted, said Barbicane,
human
Hang the air, to fail so inopportunely!
gpt
But if it did not fail, Michel, your density being less than that of the projectile, you would soon be left behind.
human
Then we must remain in our car?
gpt
We must!
human
Ah!
gpt
What is the matter,
human
I know, I guess, what this pretended meteor is! It is no asteroid which is accompanying us! It is not a piece of a planet.
gpt
What is it then?
human
It is our unfortunate dog! It is Diana's husband!