Oxygen and Aromasia

by Claës Lundin

translated by Bertil Falk

Chapter 23 part 1; part 3
Chapter 24
appear in this issue.

Chapter 23: The Wonderful Chest

part 2 of 3

One day, when Oxygen was sitting in his studio in a deeper part of the tunnel — he never wanted to return to the sapphire cave — the telephone line from the mouth of the tunnel on Greenskerry announced that a person wanted to talk to him about an important matter.

Oxygen hastened, as soon as he could leave his work, up to the surface of the earth, where he had not been seen very much lately. There he found Hemispherion, with whom he often had met during his time as weather-manufacturer and for whom he felt great respect.

“I’ve come to ask you for assistance,” the old man said. “A rumor goes that my space-globe, which some time ago through a most regrettable incident was released from my laboratory, would have been seen this morning being adrift on the Baltic Sea between the island of Stångskär and Greenskerry.

“I know that it must be impossible, for my space-ball cannot possibly be affected by any attractive force and has consequently not fallen to earth or onto any other celestial body. It’s long gone, far outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

“However, I want to know what could have given rise to this absurd rumor. I’ve left my work for a while and flown here. I haven’t seen a trace of my globe, but when I gazed out over the surface of the sea and below it — as you can see my diving suit is with me — I found a strange object on the sea bed, near Stångskär.”

“And what was it?”

“Some kind of chest of old-time appearance. It was squeezed in between two cliffs, and it’s stuck so tightly that it’s impossible for me to get it out.”

“What do you want to do with that old trash?” Oxygen exclaimed.

“Well, it could be fun to find out the chest’s content. It seems to be hundreds of years old. It might as well involve certain advantages to the person who brings the find to light. Do you want to assist me?

“I didn’t know to whom I could turn in this neighborhood. The inhabitants of Stångskär have all flown down to Svartbåden, where there’s a big Baltic herring meeting. It’s ridiculous that here among the skerries people still have a special liking for herring.”

“I’m very busy, but for old friendship’s sake, I’ll go with you to the spot where the chest is. Do you also know if we’ll have a calm sea? I cannot pay attention to the weather conditions down in the tunnel even though they were once the object of my care.”

“I haven’t made any observations today,” said Hemispherion.

“Well, it won’t keep us,” Oxygen said. “But I’ll pick up my diving suit from the tunnel and at the same time ask some of my colleagues to assist us.”

This was soon accomplished, and the group flew first to Stångskär then dived down to the sea bed. After a search they caught sight of the chest that Hemispherion had discovered.

Oxygen and his co-workers immediately set about to release the chest from its place between the two cliffs. It was not easy. Not until after quite strenuous efforts did they succeed in prying the chest loose without damaging it.

“It’s a very strange form,” Hemispherion called out through a mouthpiece attached to his diving suit in communication with the diving helmets of the group. ”What might this box contain? My curiosity is on tenterhooks.”

It was as if the learned outer space traveler were unable to master his impatience, but Oxygen reminded him that the find to begin with had to be brought ashore, and this would perhaps not be an easy task. It was already dark night and a storm was causing the sea to run with furious violence against the cliffs where they would attempt to land.

This disembarkation was extremely laborious and not less dangerous. Over and over again the struggling men were in danger of being crushed by the waves and the storm between the breakers. All the same, they did not let their find go, though it seemed at every second to try to tear itself away from them. The chest was awfully heavy and difficult to handle.

The strength of old Hemispherion was almost exhausted, and he might have been drawn out to sea and stayed there, had not the strong hand of Oxygen assisted him over and over again. But Oxygen helped not only Hemispherion but also his collaborators, and devoted his thought and strength to supporting them while carrying the chest.

The severity of the storm only seemed to animate his courage. He had played with rainy weather and still he had never, he acknowledged to himself, been able to manufacture something of the same power as this.

Furthermore, his day as a bad weatherman was over. Now he was just an earth-piercer, but this night it seemed as if he enjoyed fighting the tempest and the waves far away from his work down in the tunnel. He wished to convince himself that the unfortunate outcome of his love for Aromasia had not shattered his determination or weakened his strength.

* * *

Proceed to Chapter 23, part 3...