海底兩萬(wàn)里 第172期 第12章 一切都用電(5)

From the earth? I said, my voice going up on the word.

陸地上的?我著重地說。

We'll say coal from the seafloor, if you prefer, Captain Nemo replied.

就說是海底的煤炭吧。尼摩船長(zhǎng)回答。

And you can mine these veins of underwater coal?

您可以在海底開采煤曠嗎?

You'll watch me work them, Professor Aronnax. I ask only a little patience of you, since you'll have ample time to be patient.

阿龍納斯先生，您將會(huì)看到我開采。我只請(qǐng)您忍耐些時(shí)候，因?yàn)槟袝r(shí)間，可以等待一下。

Just remember one thing: I owe everything to the ocean; it generates electricity, and electricity gives the Nautilus heat, light, motion, and, in a word, life itself.

我單單請(qǐng)您注意這點(diǎn)：我什么都是取自海洋, 利用海洋發(fā)電，供給諾第留斯號(hào)熱、光、動(dòng)力，簡(jiǎn)單一句話。電給諾第留斯號(hào)生命。

But not the air you breathe?

但電不能供給您呼吸的空氣吧?

Oh, I could produce the air needed on board, but it would be pointless, since I can rise to the surface of the sea whenever I like.

呵!我也可以制造空氣供我消費(fèi)，但沒有什么必要，因?yàn)槲腋吲d時(shí)，我可以隨便浮到海面上來。

However, even though electricity doesn't supply me with breathable air, it at least operates the powerful pumps that store it under pressure in special tanks.

但是，電雖不供給我可以呼吸的空氣，它可以發(fā)動(dòng)強(qiáng)大的抽氣機(jī)，把空氣送人特殊的密封室。

which, if need be, allows me to extend my stay in the lower strata for as long as I want.

這樣，我可以根據(jù)需要停留在海底深處，時(shí)間要多久就多久。

Captain, I replied, I'll rest content with marveling. You've obviously found what all mankind will surely find one day, the true dynamic power of electricity.

船長(zhǎng)，我回答，我只有佩服，您顯然是找到了人類將來可能找到的東西，那就是真正的電的力量。