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 THE COSMIC CODE
A Journey to the Origin of the
Universe
Dr. Sophie Domingues-Montanari

This book has been translated into English from the

original French version.
 To my son Adam, your unquenchable thirst for
knowledge amazes me every day. May this book
inspire you to continue your exploration of the world.
 Table of Contents
Prologue
THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
The Foundations of the Universe
The Universe in Numbers
The Pillars of Cosmology
The Major Components of the Universe
The Key Cosmic Structures
The Four Fundamental Forces
Cosmic Mysteries That Defy Cosmology
The Origin of the Universe
Dark Matter
Dark Energy
Eternal Expansion or Cosmic Collapse
Critical Density
The Nature of Spacetime
Black Holes
Gravity and Quantum Mechanics
EVOLUTION OF COSMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
History of Cosmology
The Early Steps of Cosmology
The Copernican Revolution
The Dawn of Astrophysics
Modern Cosmology
Current Research in Cosmology
Research on the Cosmic Scale
Research on the Infinitely Small
Mysteries and Challenges of Current Research
INFORMATION THEORY AND THE UNIVERSAL CODE
Introduction to Information Theory
The Origins of Information Theory
Fundamental Concepts
Practical Applications
The Role of Information in the Origin of Life
The Necessary Conditions for the Emergence of Life
DNA: The Digital Code of Life
Implications of Life in the Cosmic Context
Concept of Cosmic DNA
Introduction to the Concept of Cosmic Code
Mathematics: Foundations of the Universe
The Role of Information in the Formation of the Universe
Cosmological Information Theory
BIG BANG AND QUANTUM INFORMATION
The Discovery of the Big Bang
The Big Bang: Keystone of the Cosmic Code
Early Theories of the Universe
The Era of Edwin Hubble
The Contribution of Georges Lemaître
The Discovery of Microwave Background Radiation
 The Theory of Primordial Nucleosynthesis
Cosmic Inflation: A Complement to the Big Bang
The Primordial Quantum Field
Definition of the Primordial Quantum Field
Quantum Fluctuations and Their Origin
The Cosmic Microwave Background
Concept of Quantum Information
Basic Principles in Quantum Mechanics
Quantifying Quantum Information
Deciphering Primordial Quantum Information
Tools for Measuring Fluctuations
How to Decipher the Fluctuations
The Black Hole Information Paradox
THE QUEST FOR A COSMIC CODE
The Unified Field Theory
Introduction to the Theory of Everything
The Foundations of the Unified Field Theory
Current Approaches to a Theory of Everything
Experiments and Observations
Quantum Information-Based Models
Introduction to QIBMs
The Holographic Principle
Quantum Entanglement
Gauge Invariance
The Role of the Observer
 Current QIBMs Hypotheses
Challenges in QIBMs Research
The Fundamental Mathematical Code
Cognitive Ecological Models
The Power of Symmetries
Calabi-Yau Spaces
Non-Commutative Geometries
The Challenges of Research
AT THE ORIGINS: BEFORE THE BIG BANG
Before the Big Bang Encoded in Cosmic Information
Research on Before the Big Bang
Conservation of Cosmic Information
Revelation Through Fossil Radiation
Cosmic Cryptography
The Role of Future Cosmological Instruments
Theories and Speculations about Before the Big Bang
The Void
The Multiverse
Parallel Universes
The Cyclical Model
The Loop Models
The Simulation Hypothesis
Code of Reality
CONCLUSION
Recapitulation of Key Ideas
Unresolved Questions
Limitations and Challenges
Reflections on Our Place in the Universe
References
Prologue

What was there in the beginning? Absolute nothingness, a blank

canvas ready to embrace the mysterious laws that would shape our
Universe? Through these pages, we will navigate from the farthest
reaches of space, where stars are born and die, to the inaccessible
depths of dark matter and dark energy.

We will delve into the concept of the Cosmic Code, defined as a

subtle and intricate language with which the Universe has written its
story from the Big Bang to the present day. This code serves as the
keystone of our world, a set of rules governing everything from the
formation of subatomic particles to the trajectories of galaxies in the
vast cosmic ocean. We will seek to decipher these elusive
connections.

This journey will also introduce us to brilliant minds, from ancient

philosophers to modern quantum physicists, all united in their quest
for understanding. We will explore how their discoveries have
upended our perception of reality, revealing unsuspected dimensions
and invisible forces at play.

This work is an invitation to curiosity, wonder, and ultimately, a

profound understanding of ourselves as beings within this
extraordinary cosmos.
 1
The Mysteries of the Universe
This first chapter takes us on a fascinating exploration of the
Universe, a journey to discover the cosmic foundations and enigmas
that defy our understanding. We will first reveal the immensity of
space through staggering numbers: the incalculable number of stars,
vast distances measured in light-years, and the unfathomable scale
of cosmic time. We will examine elusive phenomena such as dark
matter, which, though mysterious, plays a crucial role in the
structure of the Universe. The study of cosmic singularities,
exoplanets, and quantum-level phenomena will enrich our
understanding of this vast cosmos.

Next, we will explore the fundamental pillars of cosmology - space,

matter, energy, and time - each playing an essential role in the
universal dynamics. We will also address the major components of
the Universe, from baryonic matter, constituting our visible reality, to
mysterious dark energy. Electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, and
other forms of energy will reveal the complexity and diversity of the
Universe.

Finally, we will confront the great mysteries of cosmology, such as

the origin of the Universe or the debate between eternal expansion
and cosmic collapse. We will study the critical density of the
Universe, the nature of space-time, the paradoxes of black holes,
and the quest to unify gravity with quantum mechanics. This chapter
is an invitation to explore, question, and marvel at our Universe,
bringing us closer to answers to the deepest questions of our cosmic
existence.
The Foundations of the Universe

In the unfathomable depths of the Universe, hundreds of billions of

stars twinkle while light-years separate them from their earthly
observers. Time itself stretches over billions of years, as mysteries
like dark matter and dark energy continue to defy our
understanding. In this section, we will dive into the abyss of these
staggering cosmic numbers, explore the pillars of cosmology - space,
matter, energy, and time - and examine the key elements and
structures that make up the Universe.

The Universe in Numbers

The Number of Stars

Our galaxy, the Milky Way, houses approximately 100 billion stars.
This means that there are more stars in our galaxy than there are
grains of sand on all the beaches of Earth. And the Milky Way is just
one of hundreds of billions of galaxies populating the observable
Universe.

Light-Years
Light travels at an astonishing speed of 299,792,458 meters per
second. Yet, despite its swiftness, the Universe is so vast that some
of its parts would remain beyond the reach of light within a single
human lifetime.

A light-year is the distance that light travels in one year,

approximately 9.461 trillion kilometers. The observable Universe
spans billions of light-years, meaning that even at the speed of light,
it would take billions of years to traverse it from end to end. The
nearest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri, is about 4.24 light-years
away. When we observe stars in the sky, we see their light as it was
years or even thousands of years ago.

Cosmic Time
The age of the Universe is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years,
although a recent study from the University of Ottawa challenges
this figure, potentially doubling this age to 26.7 billion years.

In any case, this means that the Universe has existed for a nearly
unimaginable period of time. During these billions of years, galaxies
formed, stars shone and faded away, and planets like Earth emerged
to host life. This cosmic time scale reminds us of our ephemeral
place in the history of the Universe.

Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Cosmic numbers also reveal profound mysteries. Approximately 27%
of the Universe consists of dark matter, an invisible and enigmatic
form of matter that exerts a gravitational influence on ordinary
matter. Additionally, about 68% of the Universe is made up of dark
energy, a mysterious force that accelerates the expansion of the
Universe. These numbers remind us that most of the Universe is still
unknown and unexplored by science.

The Dimensions of the Observable Universe

The observable Universe, the part of the Universe we can detect
through our telescopes, spans approximately 93 billion light-years in
diameter. This means that the light emitted by objects at the edge of
the observable Universe took 13.8 billion years to reach us. This
raises fascinating questions about what lies beyond our observable
horizon, what we cannot yet see or comprehend.
Cosmic Singularities
Cosmic numbers also confront us with enigmatic phenomena such as
black holes. At the heart of some of these cosmic monsters lies a
singularity, a point of infinite density where the laws of physics as
we know them cease to apply. These strange objects are the product
of the gravitational collapse of massive stars, and they are both
terrifying and captivating.

Exoplanets
Our solar system has eight planets, but there are billions upon
billions of stars in the Universe, each potentially having its own
planetary system. Astronomers have discovered thousands of
exoplanets, worlds located outside our solar system. These
discoveries raise questions about the possibility of other forms of life
and our place in the Universe.

The Quantum Scale

Finally, let's delve into the world of the infinitely small. At the
quantum scale, numbers take an even stranger turn. Subatomic
particles, such as quarks and electrons, defy our intuition and follow
strange rules of quantum mechanics. Here, vastness reduces to
uncertainties and probabilities, creating a fascinating contrast with
the vast expanse of the Universe.

The Pillars of Cosmology

Space - The Theater of the Universe

Space is the backdrop for everything that exists. It is much more
than the apparent void between celestial bodies; it is the very
structure of the Universe. Albert Einstein revolutionized our
understanding of space with his theory of general relativity.
According to this theory, space and time are intrinsically linked in an
entity called space-time. Space-time can curve under the influence
of matter and energy, thus creating the force of gravity.

Matter - The Building Blocks of Reality

Matter constitutes the very fabric of the Universe. Everything we
see, touch, and feel is made of matter. Atoms are the basic building
blocks of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons. But
matter extends beyond tangible objects; it also encompasses
subatomic particles, from elusive neutrinos to the mysterious Higgs
bosons, responsible for giving mass to other particles.

Beyond ordinary matter, there is an even more enigmatic

component: dark matter. Although it does not interact with light, it
exerts a significant gravitational influence, maintaining the cohesion
of galaxies and galaxy clusters. Its exact nature remains one of the
greatest mysteries in cosmology.

Energy - The Driving Force of the Universe

Energy is the driving force of the Universe. It takes many forms,
from the kinetic energy of a moving comet to the gravitational
potential energy of a star on the brink of exploding into a supernova.
Einstein's famous equation, E=mc², reveals the deep connection
between matter and energy, indicating that matter can be converted
into energy and vice versa.

Energy also underlies the four fundamental forces of the Universe:

gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak
nuclear force. These forces govern the interaction of all particles in
the Universe, from entire galaxies to the tiniest subatomic particles.
Time - The Continuous Flow
Finally, time, a mysterious dimension that flows inexorably, is the
stage upon which the drama of the Universe unfolds. It measures
changes, evolutions, and interactions between matter and energy.
According to Einstein's relativity, time is not an absolute entity but
rather a flexible dimension that can vary with velocity and gravity.

Time also lies at the heart of fundamental cosmological questions.

The age of the Universe is a crucial measure that allows us to trace
the history of the Universe from the Big Bang. However, time itself
could have properties yet unknown, and theories like string theory
suggest additional temporal dimensions beyond our current
understanding.

The Major Components of the Universe

Baryonic Matter: The Fundamental Building

Blocks
At the core of our Universe lies baryonic matter, a category of matter
composed of subatomic particles called baryons. Baryons include
protons, neutrons, and similar particles. Everything we can see,
touch, and feel in the Universe, from Earth to stars and galaxies, is
made up of baryonic matter. This matter forms the very fabric of our
daily reality.

Atoms, which are in turn composed of nuclei of protons and

neutrons surrounded by orbiting electrons, are the elementary
building blocks of baryonic matter. The entirety of the chemistry,
biology, and physics we know arises from the complex interaction of
atoms and their constituents.
Dark Matter: The Invisible Enigma
Yet, the Universe harbors a profound mystery: dark matter. About
27% of the Universe's composition consists of this mysterious
substance that doesn't shine, reflect light, or produce
electromagnetic signals that we can directly detect. So, why do we
talk about it?

Dark matter is invisible, but it is far from insignificant. Its existence

is deduced from its gravitational influence on the observable
ordinary matter. It plays a crucial role in the formation of cosmic
structures, acting as an invisible skeleton that guides the distribution
of baryonic matter. Without it, galaxies, stars, and even our own
solar system would not have formed in the same way.

Scientists have been searching for decades to unravel the mystery of

dark matter, understand its nature, and directly detect it. So far, it
remains elusive, but its influence is undeniable.

Dark Energy: The Mysterious Force of

Expansion
The Universe has yet another surprise in store: dark energy.
Approximately 68% of the Universe is composed of this enigmatic
form of energy that appears to push galaxies apart from each other,
causing large-scale expansion of the Universe. Dark energy is
somewhat like an invisible cosmic force that counteracts gravity,
preventing the Universe from collapsing in on itself.

The concept of dark energy is a relatively recent revelation in

cosmology, and much remains to be discovered about its
fundamental nature. Nonetheless, its existence reminds us that the
Universe is permeated by invisible and mysterious forces that shape
its destiny.
Electromagnetic Radiation: The Light of the
Universe
When we gaze at the night sky, we are confronted with a multitude
of shining points, each brilliant star emitting light that has traveled
for years, even thousands of years, to reach our eyes. This light is a
form of electromagnetic radiation, a fundamental manifestation of
energy in the Universe.

Electromagnetic radiation propagates in the form of photons,

elementary particles of light. It spans the entire electromagnetic
spectrum, from visible light to X-rays to radio waves. By detecting
different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, astronomers can
study the Universe, from distant planets to black holes.

Cosmic Radiation: Particles from Afar

Beyond visible light lies cosmic radiation, a stream of subatomic
particles originating from distant space. Cosmic rays are primarily
composed of protons and charged atomic nuclei, but they can also
include electrons and other particles. They travel vast distances at
considerable energies, possibly emanating from distant sources like
supernovas or black holes.

Cosmic rays interact with Earth's atmosphere, creating a cascade of

secondary particles that can be detected on the ground. Studying
cosmic rays provides us with valuable insights into the energy and
violent phenomena occurring in the Universe.

Kinetic Energy: The Perpetual Motion of Stars

and Planets
Kinetic energy is a form of energy associated with motion. In the
Universe, this energy is ubiquitous because everything, from planets
orbiting stars to stars moving within galaxies, is in constant motion.

The laws of celestial mechanics describe how kinetic energy governs

the movements of celestial objects. This energy is essential to the
dynamics of the Universe, dictating the trajectories of comets,
asteroids, planets, and stars.

Gravitational Potential Energy: The Force of

Attraction
Gravitational attraction is a fundamental force that governs the
Universe, from the fall of an apple to the orbit of planets around the
Sun. This force is intimately connected to gravitational potential
energy, which is the energy stored in an object due to its position
relative to another massive object.

Gravitational potential energy is responsible for the formation of

planetary systems, galaxies, and even galaxy clusters. It plays a
crucial role in the large-scale structure of the Universe, creating
cosmic filaments and spiderweb-like structures that connect
galaxies.

Thermal Energy: The Heat of the Universe

Thermal energy is a form of energy associated with the heat and
temperature of objects. In the Universe, heat is omnipresent, from
blazing stars to the hot remnants of supernovas. Thermal energy is
responsible for nuclear fusion at the core of stars, the emission of
infrared radiation, and the creation of vast clouds of hot gas.

This cosmic heat shapes the environment of stars and planets,

influencing the formation of stellar systems and celestial bodies. It
also contributes to the thermal history of the Universe, marked by
events such as the Big Bang and the subsequent cooling of the
expanding Universe.
The Key Cosmic Structures

Galaxies: The Jewels of the Universe

Galaxies are the fundamental entities of our cosmos, vast cosmic
islands composed of billions, or even trillions, of stars, gas, dust, and
dark matter. They vary in size, shape, and composition, creating an
incredible mosaic of diversity.

Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is a majestic spiral, containing a

myriad of stars and solar systems, including our own. Elliptical
galaxies, shaped like spheres, and irregular galaxies, with chaotic
contours, showcase the infinite variety of galactic forms.

Galaxy Clusters: Celestial Confluences

Galaxies are not randomly scattered in the Universe, but they cluster
into groups called clusters, which are immense gatherings of
galaxies bound together by gravity. These clusters can contain
hundreds or thousands of galaxies and are among the most massive
structures in the Universe.

The gravity within these clusters is so intense that it warps

spacetime itself, creating gravitational lenses that amplify and distort
light from distant objects. Galaxy clusters are fascinating cosmic
laboratories that help us understand the distribution of matter on a
large scale in the Universe.

Cosmic Voids: Spans of Strangeness

If galaxy clusters are the dense nodes of the Universe, cosmic voids
are its empty spaces. They are vast expanses of space nearly devoid
of galaxies and visible matter. However, despite appearing empty,
they are anything but insignificant.
Cosmic voids result from the expansion of the Universe, which has
created bubbles where the density of matter is very low. They are
essential for understanding the large-scale structure of the Universe,
as they serve as a backdrop against which galaxy clusters stand out.
Cosmic voids also remind us of the incredible expanse of the
Universe and the importance of dark matter in the formation of
cosmic structures.

Cosmic Filaments: The Routes of the Universe

To connect these massive cosmic structures, the Universe is
threaded with cosmic filaments, gigantic spiderweb-like structures
that serve as celestial highways. These filaments are composed of
hot gas, dark matter, and galaxies intertwined in a complex network.

Cosmic filaments act as highways for matter and energy, allowing

galaxies to move and interact throughout the Universe. They are
also sites of active star formation, where new stars are born within
vast clouds of gas and dust.

Galaxy Superclusters: Colossal Structures

Beyond galaxy clusters, galaxy superclusters stand as the largest
structures in the observable Universe. They are formed by multiple
galaxy clusters connected by cosmic filaments, creating complexes
on a staggering scale.

The nearest galaxy supercluster to us, the Virgo Supercluster, houses

the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy, among others. These
immense cosmic structures exert gravitational influence on the
surrounding galaxies, contributing to shaping the distribution of
matter on a large scale.
Cosmic Walls: Celestial Barriers
Finally, cosmic walls are massive structures surrounding cosmic
voids, creating a distinct boundary between regions rich in galaxies
and relatively empty spaces. These walls are composed of galaxies,
dark matter, and intergalactic gas and can extend over hundreds of
millions of light-years.

Cosmic walls play a key role in the formation and evolution of

galaxies by concentrating matter in their dense regions. They result
from the complex interplay between gravity and the expansion of
the Universe.

The Four Fundamental Forces

Gravity
Gravity is the force that attracts all objects with mass. It is
responsible for objects falling on Earth, the motion of planets around
the Sun, and the formation of galaxies. Despite its familiarity, gravity
is the weakest of the fundamental forces and surprisingly the least
understood.

Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is the force that acts between charged particles.
This force creates light, binds atoms together to form molecules, and
is responsible for nearly all phenomena encountered in everyday life,
from electricity to radio waves.

Weak Nuclear Interaction

This force is responsible for certain types of radioactivity and plays a
crucial role in the nuclear fusion process that powers the Sun.
Although weak, the weak nuclear interaction has a profound impact
on the Universe, influencing, for example, the formation of elements
in stars.

Strong Nuclear Interaction

It is the force that holds nucleons (protons and neutrons) together in
the atomic nucleus. It is the strongest of the four forces, but its
effect is confined to very small distances within the nucleus.

Cosmic Mysteries That Defy

Cosmology

The Universe holds captivating mysteries that continue to challenge

human understanding. From the cosmic cataclysm of the Big Bang to
the intriguing enigmas of dark matter and dark energy, as well as
the singularities of black holes and the challenges of unifying gravity
and quantum mechanics, cosmology invites us on a fascinating
intellectual journey. At the heart of this quest, brilliant minds strive
to uncover the secrets of the Universe, raising profound questions
that touch on our understanding of the origin, structure, and fate of
the Universe itself. In this section, we will explore these cosmic
mysteries, examining bold theories and intriguing discoveries that
gradually illuminate the cosmic unknown.

The Origin of the Universe

The Big Bang, that incredible cosmic cataclysm at the origin of
everything we know, continues to inspire fascination and puzzlement
among scientists and cosmic enthusiasts. While we can trace cosmic
time back to moments after this event, the precise instant of the Big
Bang remains elusive, leaving us in the shadow of the unknown.
Questions abound: Was there a "before" the Big Bang? Or did this
event mark the absolute beginning of all that exists?

Yet, within this darkness, brilliant minds in cosmology and theoretical

physics have crafted several bold theories to attempt to shed light
on the mystery of the Universe's origin. These theories invite us on a
fascinating intellectual journey to understand the ins and outs of this
exceptional moment.

One of the most intriguing theories is that of the "cosmic bounce."

According to this idea, the current Universe we observe is the result
of a dramatic collapse and compression of a previous Universe.
Imagine this as an endless cycle where one Universe dies to give
birth to another. In this scenario, the Big Bang is not an absolute
beginning but rather a transition between two cosmic eras. However,
this theory raises profound questions. How could one Universe
collapse to give rise to another? What mechanisms are at play in this
mysterious process? And most importantly, how could we test these
abstract ideas to find tangible evidence?

Another captivating hypothesis comes from "brane cosmology,"

where the Universe is conceived as a "brane" immersed in a
multidimensional space. According to this view, the Big Bang
resulted from a collision between two branes, one from our Universe
and the other from a neighboring Universe, causing a colossal
release of energy that gave birth to our cosmos. But, just like the
cosmic bounce theory, this theory presents significant challenges.
How can we test these abstract concepts that seem so distant from
our daily experience?

Each of these hypotheses offers a unique perspective on the origin

of our Universe, opening the door to potentially revolutionary
discoveries. Yet, despite these fascinating ideas, the Big Bang
remains a mystery in many ways. Scientists continue to seek direct
and indirect evidence to confirm or refute these theories.
Observations of the primordial Universe, signals from the cosmic
microwave background, and experiments conducted in particle
accelerators are all ways to probe the depths of the cosmos and
illuminate the darkness of the Big Bang.

Dark Matter
Imagine you are watching a horse race, but the horses are invisible,
with only their effects on the track being perceptible. This is
somewhat what astrophysicists feel when they study dark matter,
one of the most intriguing mysteries of the Universe.

As mentioned earlier, about 27% of the Universe is made up of this

invisible substance, which exerts gravitational force on the ordinary
matter we can see. Yet, despite its cosmic ubiquity, dark matter
remains elusive. It hides in the shadows, eluding the inquisitive
gazes of scientists.

Astrophysicists have hypothesized that dark matter could be

composed of exotic particles, such as axions or neutralinos. These
particles, if they exist, interact with ordinary matter extremely
discreetly, evading our most sensitive detectors.

However, dark matter does not merely defy our attempts at direct
detection; it also sculpts the Universe itself. Its vast invisible
reservoirs guide the formation of galaxies, influencing how they
rotate and interact with one another. It acts like a mysterious
invisible hand, directing the cosmic dance of the stars.

One of the main quests of modern cosmology is to unveil the secret

of dark matter. How does it form? What is its true nature? Is it made
up of exotic particles or something we haven't even imagined yet?
These questions, among the most enigmatic in science, remain
unanswered.

To try to understand dark matter, scientists conduct experiments

deeply buried underground, hoping to capture one of these elusive
particles. They design ultra-sensitive detectors, cool crystals to
temperatures close to absolute zero, and scrutinize the cosmos for
indirect clues.

The hunt for dark matter is a formidable challenge, but it could

reveal some of the Universe's best-kept secrets. Discovering its
profound nature could not only overturn our current theories but
also shed light on how the Universe itself is constructed.

Dark Energy
Just like dark matter, dark energy remains one of the great
cosmological mysteries. Nearly two-thirds of the Universe is
composed of this mysterious invisible force that pushes everything
away from everything else, causing cosmic expansion at a
staggering rate, yet we still know nothing about its profound nature.

This phenomenon was revealed through meticulous astrophysical

observations, including the observation of distant supernovas.
Imagine it as if someone were pressing the accelerator pedal of
cosmic expansion.

What makes dark energy so captivating is that we know nothing

about what it is. Scientists have put forth various hypotheses in an
attempt to unravel this mystery. One of the most common theories is
that of the cosmological constant, a form of energy that fills even
empty space. In other words, there is dark energy everywhere, even
where we thought there was nothing.

But each answer raises new questions. Why does this energy exist in
the first place? Why did it begin to influence the Universe so
dominantly relatively recently, instead of acting from the very
beginning of time? These are questions that scientists are still trying
to answer.

To better understand this enigmatic phenomenon, imagine the

Universe as an immense spider's web, with galaxies as beads
connected by invisible threads. Dark energy, like a subtle wind,
gently blows and gradually moves these cosmic beads away from
each other. This phenomenon, known as accelerated expansion, was
unexpectedly discovered, shaking the world of cosmology.

Experiments conducted by teams of dedicated scientists equipped

with space observatories and sophisticated telescopes have allowed
us to measure the impact of dark energy on the Universe. Their
discoveries have radically altered our view of the cosmos. We have
come to realize that the Universe is not just expanding, but that this
expansion is accelerating, thus defying the laws of gravity as we
understood them.

Dark energy not only pushes galaxies apart; it also plays a crucial
role in the Universe's balance. If this force were different from what
it is, our Universe could be radically different, perhaps even
incompatible with life as we know it. Therefore, understanding this
puzzle is crucial for unraveling the secrets of our existence.

Eternal Expansion or Cosmic Collapse

The future of the Universe has long been a matter of concern for
cosmologists. Two extreme scenarios emerge: eternal expansion and
cosmic collapse, each offering a fascinating vision of what might
come to pass.

In the scenario of eternal expansion, the Universe continues to

expand endlessly. This means that galaxies keep moving away from
each other, and the space between them becomes increasingly vast.
As this expansion continues, the Universe gradually becomes colder
and darker. Stars burn out and fade away, plunging the Universe into
deep darkness. It's a fate where time itself seems to stretch to
infinity.

Conversely, the scenario of cosmic collapse envisions a fate where

gravity eventually prevails over expansion. In this vision, everything
that makes up the Universe begins to converge toward a central
point, like a gigantic cosmic whirlpool. This convergence would
ultimately imply a final collapse, where all the matter and energy of
the Universe would gather into one point, creating a singularity. This
scenario is sometimes referred to as the "Big Crunch," in contrast to
the Big Bang that gave birth to our Universe.

Currently, observations and available data suggest that eternal

expansion is the most likely fate of our Universe. However, this
question is far from settled and sparks lively debate among
cosmologists.

Critical Density
The Universe in which we live appears to be perfectly balanced
between two opposing forces: gravity, which pulls matter toward it,
and expansion, which pushes everything apart. This delicate balance
is known as "critical density."

Imagine for a moment that the Universe is like a cosmic scale,

delicately calibrated. If this scale were to tilt slightly in favor of
density, gravity would prevail over expansion. Galaxies, stars, and all
matter would inevitably collapse in on themselves, plunging the
Universe into cosmic collapse. This might resemble a grand cosmic
implosion, where everything returns to a central point.

Conversely, if this cosmic scale were to tip slightly toward

underdensity, then expansion would be the dominant force. Galaxies
would move further and further apart irreversibly, causing an eternal
expansion of the Universe. In this scenario, the Universe would be a
vast, cold, and dark space, with galaxies scattered like pearls in the
wind.

The most intriguing fact is that our Universe seems to balance on

the narrow line of critical density, like a cosmic tightrope walker on a
taut wire. Why this precarious balance? Why does the Universe seem
to choose this delicate path between collapse and eternal
expansion?
This is one of the great mysteries that captivate the curious minds of
cosmology. This question pushes us to contemplate the initial
conditions of the Universe and the physical laws that govern it. Is it
the result of chance, or the outcome of a meticulously orchestrated
cosmic plan?

The Nature of Spacetime

Spacetime, that strange concept that unites the dimensions of space
and time into a single entity, lies at the heart of some of cosmology's
deepest questions. Yet, despite all the remarkable advances in
science, it remains a fascinating enigma in many respects.

According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, matter and

energy warp spacetime around them, thereby creating the
gravitational force we are familiar with. Imagine the Universe as a
large, elastic surface. Massive objects like planets or stars are placed
on this surface. Their mass causes a deformation in the surface,
much like placing a weight on a trampoline, creating a dip. This
deformation in space attracts other objects toward it, much like
rolling a ball on the trampoline; it rolls toward the dip. This is what
we observe with gravity in the Universe. Massive objects curve
spacetime around them, affecting how other objects move,
attracting them toward each other.

However, many questions remain. Why do matter and energy deform

spacetime in this particular way? Are there details in this
deformation that we do not yet understand? Moreover, how does
spacetime behave at the smallest particle level of the Universe?

Finally, there is the question of the origin of spacetime. How and

why did the Universe adopt this specific spacetime structure? Was
there an initial moment when spacetime emerged, and if so, what
mechanisms were at play at that time? These questions remain
exciting subjects of scientific research.
Black Holes
Black holes, those fascinating cosmic objects, remnants of the
gravitational collapse of massive stars, are both wonders of physics
and unfathomable mysteries of the Universe.

One of the most mysterious features of black holes is their incredible

gravitational power, which is so intense that nothing, absolutely
nothing, not even light, can escape their grasp. Imagine yourself
approaching one of these cosmic monsters. You get closer and
closer, but at a certain point, you reach a point of no return, a place
where gravitational attraction becomes irresistible. This is the
famous "event horizon" of a black hole, a threshold beyond which
everything that enters is doomed to vanish into nothingness forever.

But what makes black holes even more captivating is their interior,
called the "singularity," which is a point where the laws of physics as
we know them cease to apply. Einstein's equations show that the
density inside a black hole becomes infinite, which means that the
laws of physics fail to describe what happens at its core. It's as if
space and time deform to reach unimaginable extremes.

Furthermore, black holes are at the center of the information loss

puzzle. When matter is drawn into a black hole, what happens to it?
According to our current rules, this information should be lost
forever. However, this would contradict the fundamental principle of
information conservation in physics, which states that information
can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only change form.

Scientists also wonder how black holes initially form. Are they truly
born from the gravitational collapse of massive stars, as we think, or
are there other mechanisms at play?

Thus, thinking about black holes is to confront astonishing

paradoxes. They contradict our classical notions of reality, challenge
information conservation, and spark heated debates among
physicists.
Gravity and Quantum Mechanics
The unification of Einstein's general relativity and quantum
mechanics is one of the most intriguing and captivating mysteries in
contemporary physics.

These two theories, each remarkably precise in its own domain,

have been rigorously tested and successfully demonstrated in their
respective contexts. Einstein's general relativity provides us with an
accurate description of gravity on a large scale, explaining how
matter curves spacetime and influences the trajectories of massive
objects, from planets to galaxies. On the other hand, quantum
mechanics is exceptionally precise in describing the behavior of
subatomic particles, where concepts like superposition and
entanglement are essential for understanding their nature.

However, when attempting to combine these two theories to gain a

complete view of the Universe at all scales, conflicts arise. In
particular, they appear to contradict each other when applied to
extreme situations, such as near gravitational singularities within
black holes or during the early moments of the Big Bang. At these
scales, the laws of physics as we know them seem to lose their
validity, and current theories fail to provide a coherent and unified
explanation.

This contradiction is captivating, and theoretical physicists are

tirelessly working to develop a theory of "quantum gravity" that
could reconcile these seemingly contradictory perspectives.

Imagine this as the search for a Universal language of physics, a

dialect that could explain phenomena at all scales, from the smallest
to the largest. This exciting research has already led to new theories
and innovative perspectives, but it is far from resolved. Its resolution
could not only revolutionize our understanding of the Universe but
also pave the way for major technological and scientific
advancements.
In conclusion, this first chapter has guided us through a cosmic
odyssey, unveiling the vastness of the Universe, its enigmatic
phenomena, and its fundamental components. We have explored the
vast expanses of space, the mysterious nature of dark matter, the
curiosities of cosmic singularities, and much more. At every turn, we
have encountered questions that push the boundaries of our
understanding and invite us to contemplate our place in this
incredible cosmos.

But our journey does not end here. Every discovery opens doors to
new inquiries, every answer leads us to deeper mysteries. The
Universe continues to challenge and awe us, and it is in the spirit of
relentless exploration that we turn to the next chapter: "Evolution of
Cosmological Research."

In this chapter, we will delve into the fascinating history of

cosmology, from its philosophical beginnings to its most recent
scientific advances. We will follow the journey of scientists and
thinkers who have shaped our understanding of the Universe. We
will discover how technology, theory, and observations have evolved
hand in hand to unveil the secrets of the Universe. Get ready to be
inspired by the triumphs and challenges of those who have devoted
their lives to deciphering the codes of the Universe. The journey
continues, and each new piece of knowledge brings us closer to
understanding the ultimate mysteries of our cosmic existence.
 2
Evolution of Cosmological
Research
The cosmos, with its countless galaxies, stars, and planets, has
fascinated humanity since time immemorial. The study of the
Universe and its origins dates back to the dawn of civilization, where
the first sky watchers mapped constellations and crafted myths to
explain celestial phenomena. However, cosmology as a scientific
discipline has come a long way since its humble beginnings.

This second chapter explores the evolution of cosmological research,

a journey through the ages that will take us from ancient philosophy
to modern cosmology. We will examine how ideas about the nature
of the Universe have evolved over time, how scientists have
developed tools to explore the cosmos, and how our understanding
of the Universe has been profoundly transformed over the past
centuries.

The first part will immerse us in the early cosmological conceptions

of ancient civilizations, from cosmogonies to the geocentric theories
of Aristotle and Ptolemy. We will then trace the evolution of
cosmological thought through the scientific revolutions of the
Renaissance and the modern era, exploring the contributions of
Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, and many others, leading to the
emergence of Einstein's relativistic cosmology in the 20th century.

The second part will take us into the exciting world of contemporary
cosmology. We will discover the recent theories and discoveries that
have revolutionized our view of the Universe, from the discovery of
the expansion of the Universe to intriguing notions of dark matter
and dark energy. We will also explore cutting-edge instruments and
observatories that allow us to probe the far reaches of the
observable Universe.

This journey through the history of cosmology and current research

will show us how much our understanding of the Universe has
evolved and continues to evolve. It will also reveal the profound
mysteries that remain, inspiring researchers to continue their
explorations to uncover the secrets of the Universe in which we live.

History of Cosmology

The history of cosmology is a fascinating saga that spans millennia,

where humanity has sought to unravel the mysteries of the Universe
and understand its own place within this celestial infinity. From early
mythological beliefs to scientific revolutions, this quest for
knowledge has evolved over time, shaping our perception of the
Universe and our understanding of the laws that govern it. In this
section, we will journey back in time to explore the evolution of
cosmological ideas, from ancient civilizations to modern cosmology,
discovering great thinkers, revolutionary theories, and key moments
that have marked this extraordinary intellectual voyage.

The Early Steps of Cosmology

Ancient World Cosmologies

The exploration of the stars and celestial bodies has a long history
dating back to the dawn of humanity. Long before the invention of
writing and historical records, our ancestors gazed at the heavens
with fascination and curiosity. The earliest astronomical
observations, though undocumented in archives, can be traced back
hundreds of thousands of years when hominids like Homo erectus
and Homo habilis contemplated the night sky.

However, the earliest astronomical records we possess date back to

ancient civilizations that left a valuable imprint on the history of
astronomy. Peoples such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians,
and Chinese recorded their celestial observations, creating archives
that bear witness to their growing understanding of the cosmos.
These ancient astronomers recorded stellar positions, lunar phases,
and remarkable astronomical events with surprising precision.

One of the most visible forms of these prehistoric astronomical

observations is the construction of megalithic monuments, such as
the famous Stonehenge in England. These massive structures were
often carefully aligned with astronomical landmarks, such as the
rising or setting of the Sun at specific times of the year. They likely
served to mark crucial seasonal events like solstices and equinoxes.

Observations of lunar and solar cycles were fundamental to the

development of early calendars. Ancient civilizations like the
Egyptians and Sumerians created calendars based on lunar phases
and the Sun's positions in the sky. These calendars were essential
for agriculture, planning religious and civic activities, as well as
navigation.

Prehistoric astronomical observations also played a major role in the

creation of myths and legends. Ancient cultures often linked celestial
movements to gods and heroes, giving rise to rich and complex
mythological narratives. For example, the constellations we know
today were often associated with mythic stories, making them easier
to memorize and transmit.

Despite the absence of sophisticated astronomical instruments,

ancient astronomers were remarkably accurate in their observations.
They meticulously tracked the movements of planets, stars, and the
Moon, allowing them to predict eclipses and other remarkable
celestial phenomena with precision.
In summary, ancient astronomical observations bear witness to
humanity's timeless curiosity about the cosmos. These sky watchers
not only laid the foundations of astronomical science but also left a
profound mark on our culture, our understanding of time, and our
relationship with the infinite Universe that surrounds us.

Antiquity: When the Stars Marked Time

Throughout the centuries, ancient civilizations laid the groundwork
for what would become modern cosmology. In an era when
sophisticated telescopes and space probes were still distant dreams,
the peoples of antiquity demonstrated creativity and ingenuity in
exploring the mysteries of the cosmos.

Among these civilizations, the Babylonians stand out from the 8th
century BCE onward. They developed a remarkable understanding of
astronomy using simple instruments like sighting rods to observe the
paths of planets and stars. But what truly set them apart was their
ingenious use of mathematical astronomy, including rudiments of
trigonometry. These skills allowed them to predict the complex
movements of celestial bodies with astonishing accuracy. They
recorded these observations on clay tablets, creating a valuable
celestial database. This method was particularly clever for its time,
as other peoples used more fragile papyrus or parchment. By
engraving cuneiform signs on clay using styluses, they created
extremely durable records meant to be passed down to future
generations. This approach was intimately tied to their belief in
communication with celestial deities, making their quest for cosmic
understanding a sacred act.

On the other side of the Mediterranean world, the Egyptians

integrated their pursuit of understanding into the heart of their
colossal monuments. The pyramids, built over 4,500 years ago, were
aligned with remarkable precision with respect to stars and
constellations, demonstrating their advanced knowledge of
astronomy. They used simple but ingenious tools, such as gnomons,
to measure the shadows cast by the Sun, offering extraordinary
precision in determining the positions of celestial bodies. For the
Egyptians, these alignments were not just technical achievements
but also paths for the souls of pharaohs, deified in death, to journey
to the heavens and become immortal stars. This unique fusion of
science, art, and religion imparts to the pyramids a deep mystical
and symbolic character, bearing witness to the sophistication of this
ancient civilization.

However, it was in ancient Greece in the 6th century BCE that

cosmology took a decisive turn. Greek thinkers like Thales,
Anaximander, and Pythagoras began to develop theories about the
nature of the Earth and the stars. These philosophers made use of
sophisticated instruments such as the astrolabe to make precise
measurements of star and planet positions. Their complex geometric
models were the result of meticulous visual observations and
elaborate mathematical calculations, marking the beginning of a
rational and scientific approach to understanding the Universe.

Thales, considered by many as one of the first pre-Socratic

philosophers, was one of the first to ponder the nature of the
Universe. Although his ideas didn't directly address the shape of the
Earth or its position in the Universe, his quest for a rational
explanation of natural phenomena laid the foundations of scientific
thinking.

Anaximander, a student of Thales, continued this exploration by

proposing the bold idea that the Earth was a distinct celestial body
suspended in space, rather than an island floating on water. He also
developed theories about species evolution and the formation of
worlds, visionary ideas for his time.

Pythagoras, famous for his geometry theorem, is an iconic figure in

ancient cosmology. At that time, the prevailing belief was in a flat
and immobile Earth, occupying a central place in a cosmos
composed of concentric spheres. However, Pythagoras suggested a
revolutionary idea: that of a spherical, rotating Earth suspended in
space. He based his reasoning on geometric and mathematical
observations. Although his ideas were influential, it would take
several centuries before indisputable empirical confirmation of
Earth's sphericity and rotation was achieved. Nevertheless, he had
already laid the groundwork for an intellectual revolution that would
transform our perception of the cosmos.

Moreover, Pythagoras was the first to consider that the Universe

might be governed by a numerical code or some form of underlying
mathematical structure. He firmly believed in an ordered Universe
based on mathematical principles. Fascinated by numbers, he
regarded them as the key to understanding everything in the
Universe. For him, numbers possessed profound properties and
meanings, and he was convinced that mathematical relationships
could be used to describe and understand natural phenomena. This
belief led him to explore the connections between mathematics and
philosophy, resulting in significant mathematical discoveries.

In parallel, Democritus and his mentor Leucippus developed the

atomic theory, which posited that the entire Universe was composed
of indivisible atoms in constant motion. This revolutionary view of
matter and the Universe laid the groundwork for later ideas about
the structure of matter in the history of cosmology.

Thus, across ages and civilizations, humanity continued its quest to

unlock the secrets of the Universe, using creativity, ingenuity, and
reason to illuminate the celestial darkness and lay the foundations
for modern cosmology.

The Dawn of Heliocentrism

During the period from the 6th century BCE to the 3rd century CE,
the exploration of the mysteries of the Universe gave rise to a
variety of cosmological thoughts. At the heart of this era, we
encounter a prominent figure: Aristotle, who lived in the 4th century
BCE. His writings in natural philosophy left an indelible mark on
Western thought for centuries. Aristotle posited that the Earth
occupied the center of the Universe, with all celestial bodies in orbit
around it in concentric spheres. This geocentric view of the Universe,
supported by apparent observations, would dominate Western
cosmology for over a thousand years. However, within this
geocentric perspective, intellectual daring began to sprout. In the
3rd century BCE, Aristarchus of Samos formulated a revolutionary
theory: what if the Sun were the true center of the Universe, not the
Earth? Aristarchus thus developed an innovative heliocentric model,
but his idea was largely overlooked at the time, despite its historical
significance.

Another important figure of this period was Eratosthenes, an

astronomer and mathematician of the 3rd century BCE. In 240 BCE,
he made a remarkably accurate estimate of Earth's circumference
using mathematical methods and by observing the shadows cast by
the Sun, definitively proving that the Earth is round. This discovery
marked the beginning of a new era in cosmological research,
confirming the crucial importance of precise observations and
calculations in understanding our planet and the Universe
surrounding us.

In the 2nd century CE, Claudius Ptolemy, a Greek philosopher,

published the "Almagest," a work detailing the geocentric model
precisely based on apparent observations and mathematical
calculations that corresponded well with observed celestial
movements. This work earned widespread acceptance, notably by
the medieval Catholic Church. This acceptance greatly influenced the
cosmological thinking of the time, and this geocentric model, which
placed Earth at the center of the Universe, prevailed in Western
thought for many centuries.

During this time, the work of Hipparchus also contributed to

astronomy with the development of the first catalog of fixed stars
with precise coordinates. His observations also led to the discovery
of the precession of the equinoxes, a subtle movement of Earth with
implications for understanding long-term astronomical cycles.

Later, in the 5th century, Indian astronomer Aryabhata developed a

heliocentric model of the Universe and calculated the length of a
year with great precision. Although his model wasn't widely accepted
at the time, it reflects the diversity of cosmological ideas across the
world.

The Copernican Revolution

The Renaissance: The Return of Heliocentrism

The beginning of the Renaissance, in the 14th and 15th centuries in
Europe, marked a decisive turning point in the history of cosmology.
This period was characterized by a renewed interest in science and
exploration, the rediscovery of ancient writings, and the questioning
of established ideas.

The artists, scientists, and thinkers of the Renaissance, known as

humanists, advocated the idea that humans were at the center of
the Universe and that they should explore the world with insatiable
curiosity. This philosophy encouraged research and ignited curiosity
and a desire to understand the world around us. Thus, this period
witnessed the flourishing of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo, and Raphael, whose works not only revolutionized art
but also emphasized the importance of careful observation of nature.

A key element of this period was the development of astronomical

instruments such as telescopes and astronomical quadrants, which
allowed for more detailed observations and precise measurements of
celestial positions. These technological advances opened up new
perspectives in the study of the cosmos.

It was in this intellectual ferment that the Polish astronomer Nicolaus

Copernicus presented his innovative vision of the Universe, a true
revolutionary transformation of cosmology, by bringing back into the
scientific spotlight the bold idea of Aristarchus: the heliocentric
model. Thus, in his work titled "De revolutionibus orbium
coelestium" (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres), published
in 1543, Copernicus elaborated and defended the thesis that the
Earth is not the immobile center of the Universe but is in perpetual
motion and orbits around the Sun.

This audacious proposition offered a more elegant explanation for

the apparent movements of the planets, accounting for celestial
observations in a more coherent way than the geocentric model. It
simplified the understanding of astronomical phenomena and
allowed for more accurate predictions of the positions of celestial
bodies in the night sky.

However, the acceptance of this new cosmological vision did not

come without resistance. The Catholic Church, in particular, was
concerned about the theological implications of a heliocentric model,
as it seemed to challenge the special place of Earth in divine
creation. This opposition created a climate of tension between
science and religion at that time, which was already marked by
upheavals such as the Protestant Reformation initiated by Martin
Luther, which, by questioning the authority of the Catholic Church,
also contributed to the diversification of religious and intellectual
viewpoints.

Despite controversies and opposition, Copernicus' heliocentric model

paved the way for a major scientific revolution. His ideas were later
confirmed and developed by other astronomers and mathematicians,
and his vision transformed our understanding of our place in the
Universe, marking a decisive turning point in the history of science.

Later, in the 16th century, the remarkable observations of Tycho

Brahe, a Danish astronomer, marked another major advance in the
field of astronomy, playing an essential role in the scientific
revolution that would follow. Tycho Brahe distinguished himself not
only as a skilled observer but also by making significant
contributions to understanding celestial motions and providing
exceptionally precise data.

On the island of Hven, near Copenhagen, Denmark, Brahe

established his own observatory, named Uraniborg. Equipped with
state-of-the-art instruments for the time, such as precise quadrants
and sextants, this observatory allowed him to measure the positions
of stars and planets with remarkable accuracy.

He embarked on meticulous and systematic astronomical

observations, focusing particularly on the planet Mars. His detailed
observations of Mars revealed a complex trajectory, characterized by
periods of retrogradation during which the planet appeared to
momentarily move backward in the sky relative to the background
stars.

Unlike the heliocentric view advanced by Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho

Brahe advocated a modified geocentric model. According to his
perspective, Earth still occupied a central position in the Universe,
but all other planets orbited around the Sun. This conception was
based on his meticulous observations of planetary positions and
served as an intermediate step between the traditional geocentric
model and the heliocentric model.

Galileo and Kepler: Confirmation through

Observation
At the turn of the 17th century, two eminent cosmologists, Galileo
and Kepler, shed fascinating light on our understanding of the
Universe.

In Italy, Galileo Galilei, a pioneer of astronomical observation, used

his newly improved astronomical telescope. This invention
revolutionized our understanding of the Universe by providing an
unprecedented window into the cosmos.
With his telescope, Galileo made a series of observations that had
profound implications for cosmology. Some of these observations
directly confirmed Copernicus' heliocentric model. For instance,
when he pointed his telescope at Jupiter, Galileo discovered Jupiter's
moons, including Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These celestial
bodies orbiting the giant gas planet provided convincing evidence
that not everything revolved around Earth, strengthening the
credibility of the heliocentric model.

Another major observation by Galileo concerned Venus. He observed

the changing phases of Venus, ranging from the appearance of a full
Venus to a thin crescent. These phases could only be explained by a
heliocentric model, in which Venus orbits the Sun, and Earth and
Venus are at different positions in their orbits around the Sun.

Additionally, Galileo captured the mysterious sunspots using his

telescope. The discovery of these sunspots challenged the traditional
view of a perfect and unchanging Sun, highlighting instead that our
star had variable features. This contradicted established ideas, and
his discoveries laid the foundation for modern astronomy,
underscoring the crucial importance of rigorous observation in
understanding the Universe.

However, in 1633, Galileo faced severe repercussions from the

Inquisition due to his staunch defense of Copernicus' heliocentric
model. The Catholic Church of the time deemed this theory heretical,
and under the threat of torture, Galileo was compelled to publicly
renounce his beliefs and was placed under house arrest for the rest
of his life. Legend has it that as he left the tribunal, Galileo
whispered a famous phrase. According to tradition, Galileo said, "E
pur si muove," which translates to "And yet it moves" in French. This
statement was a silent affirmation of his belief in the heliocentric
theory despite pressure from the Catholic Church to renounce his
convictions.

On the other side of Europe, Johannes Kepler, a German

mathematician and astronomer, tackled the laws of planetary
motion. His three laws, now famous as "Kepler's Laws," laid the
groundwork for celestial mechanics and contributed to confirming
Copernicus' heliocentric model.

Kepler's first law, commonly known as the "Law of Elliptical Orbits,"

was revolutionary. It demonstrated that planets did not follow
perfect circular orbits, as advocated by the traditional view, but
rather elliptical trajectories. This discovery, first published by
Johannes Kepler in 1609 in his work "Astronomia Nova" (The New
Astronomy), shook established beliefs dating back to antiquity and
provided a more precise explanation of planetary motions.

Kepler's second law, also known as the "Law of Equal Areas,"

explained how planets move at varying speeds in their orbits around
the Sun. Specifically, when planets are closer to the Sun (at
perihelion), they move faster, while they slow down as they move
away from the Sun (at aphelion). This law helped understand the
relationship between a planet's speed and its position along its orbit.

Kepler's third law, sometimes called the "Law of Harmonic

Proportions," established a precise mathematical relationship
between a planet's orbital period (the time it takes to complete one
orbit around the Sun) and its average distance from the Sun,
allowing for the quantification of planetary motions and the
prediction of their positions with great accuracy.

Kepler's laws provided a solid mathematical basis for describing

planetary motions and strengthened the validity of the heliocentric
model. They also paved the way for modern celestial mechanics,
eventually leading to the formulation of the laws of Universal
Gravitation by Isaac Newton, which revolutionized our understanding
of celestial physics. Thus, Kepler's contributions were fundamental to
the development of astronomy and science in general.

Therefore, despite controversies and opposition, the Copernican

revolution was underway. Copernicus' heliocentric model, confirmed
by Galileo and Kepler, gradually established itself as the new vision
of the cosmos. This radical transformation of our understanding of
the Universe had a profound impact on scientific and philosophical
thought.

The idea that Earth was not the center of everything but rather a
planet orbiting the Sun shook the very foundations of humanity's
conception of itself. The cosmos no longer revolved around us;
instead, we were now an integral part of this vast solar system, lost
in the immensity of the Universe.

The Copernican revolution paved the way for new discoveries and a
deeper understanding of the laws that govern the Universe. It laid
the foundations for the scientific revolution that characterized the
Renaissance period and paved the way for future advancements in
cosmology.

The Newtonian Era: The Gravitational

Revolution
Born in 1643 in England, Isaac Newton was a visionary
mathematician and physicist who revolutionized our understanding
of gravity and celestial mechanics.

One of his most remarkable achievements was the formulation of

the Universal Law of Gravitation. In 1687, he published his
monumental work titled "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia
Mathematica" (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), often
abbreviated as "Principia." In this work, Newton stated his
fundamental law of gravity, which posits that every object in the
Universe attracts every other object with a force proportional to the
product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance between them. This law, expressed mathematically by
the equation of gravity, laid the foundations for the modern
understanding of gravitational force.
The impact of this discovery was immense. The Universal Law of
Gravitation explained not only the movements of objects on Earth
but also the movements of planets within the solar system. It
provided a solid mathematical framework for describing the orbits of
planets around the Sun, thereby confirming Copernicus' heliocentric
model. From that point on, the laws of physics seemed to govern the
entire Universe, from apples falling from trees to the trajectories of
planets and comets.

Thus, Newton's laws facilitated significant progress in understanding

celestial mechanics. Thanks to his new formulation of gravity,
Newton could explain the complex motions of planets around the
Sun. He described how the Sun's gravitational force acted on
planets, keeping them in orbit while maintaining their equilibrium.

Newton's three fundamental laws, also known as the "Laws of

Motion," were crucial for this advancement. The first law, or the Law
of Inertia, states that an object in motion stays in motion, and an
object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force.
The second law asserts that the force acting on an object is equal to
the product of its mass and acceleration, F = ma. Finally, the third
law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction. These laws helped understand how planets responded to
the Sun's gravity. For example, Newton's first law explained why
planets didn't escape their orbits in a straight line but followed
elliptical paths around the Sun. The second law described how the
Sun's gravitational force affected the speed and trajectory of planets,
while the third law ensured that planets didn't crash into the Sun
due to the equal and opposite reaction exerted by their gravity on
the Sun.

Technological advancements in the Newtonian era also greatly

contributed to our understanding of the Universe. Progress in the
construction of terrestrial telescopes allowed for more precise
observations of celestial bodies, with improved resolution and
observational capabilities.
Another random document with
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real sacrifice, of course, but she says she is willing to make it.
Waiting won’t help anybody. It will only stretch out the quarreling and
misery. So, as we see it, it is simply plain common sense, our
marrying now. And we shall marry now, just as soon as we can. You
can’t stop us—no one can.”
Reliance was silent. She would have liked to say much, to continue
her protest—but how could she? The essential fact in this statement
was beyond contradiction. Neither Townsend nor Cook would ever
consent to such a marriage—she knew it. What Bob Griffin had just
said was common sense and nothing else. And yet, conscious of the
responsibility forced upon her, she did not entirely surrender. She
made one more plea.
“Oh, Esther,” she begged, “are you sure you care enough to—to go
through with this? Not just now, but later, all your life? No matter if it
means doin’ without all the fine things you have been used to, bein’
poor perhaps—and—”
“Hush! Yes, Auntie, I am sure.”
Her aunt wrung her hands. “Well,” she groaned, “I give up. I have
said my say, I guess. I have done what I could. The dear Lord knows
I hope we will none of us be too sorry in the years to come.”
She walked across the room, stood there a moment and then turned.
Her manner now was brisk and businesslike.
“There!” she said. “The milk is spilled. No use tryin’ to pick it up or
talk about it. What are your plans? Where is the weddin’ to be?”
Esther looked at Bob and it was Bob who answered.
“We haven’t decided that exactly,” he said. “All this decision of ours
is so sudden that we haven’t had time to plan much of anything. My
horse and buggy are out at the gate. I am going to take Esther over
to my cousin’s house in South Denboro to-night. I shall go home.
Then, in the morning, she will meet me at the station and we will take
the early train for Boston. As soon as we can—sometime to-morrow,
of course—we shall be married. Then, if I can get a stateroom and
passage on the steamer, we shall—”
“Hush! Wait, wait, wait! Let me understand this plan. You aren’t going
to be married until to-morrow—in Boston? You were goin’ to go away
from Harniss without bein’ married?”
Bob stared at her. “I told you,” he said, slowly, “that I should take
Esther to my cousin’s house in South Denboro. I shall leave her
there and go home. Look here, Miss Clark, I don’t quite understand
what you mean by—”
“Oh, hush! Mercy on us, what children you two are, after all. I am not
worried about you. I know you are all right, both of you. But I am
worried about what everybody else will say. Haven’t you lived long
enough to know that the average person is only too delighted to get
a chance to say a mean thing? Haven’t you heard what has been
said about other young idiots in this town who have— Oh, but there!
They shan’t have the chance to say them about you. I’ll see to that.
Esther, take off your things. Bob, you keep yours on, for I shall want
you to go out on an errand in a minute.... Dear, dear, dear! If we only
had more time. Esther, when did your uncle expect to be back from
Ostable?”
“Why, I don’t know exactly. Not until late; he said that to me.”
“Late! Well, I wish I knew how late. Tell me, will he know you have
come here?”
“I suppose Varunas, if he is up, will tell him I sent my bag here.”
“Yes, of course. And he will come chasin’ down here first thing. You
didn’t tell him you were leavin’ him for good?”
“No. I meant to write him a letter telling him why I could not live with
him any longer and how terribly I felt at leaving him, although I knew
it was right. But I wanted to see Bob first. I shall write that letter this
evening, at South Denboro.”
“No, you won’t. You will write it right here in this house. That is one of
the things you must do before you go to South Denboro. And it is
important; but not as important as somethin’ else.”
“Auntie!... How strange you look—and act. What is it?”
“Strange! I feel strange—but I haven’t got time to think about it. Oh,
dear, dear! I ought to go out and open that post office this minute.
Esther, come into the front room with me. Mr. Griffin will excuse us, I
guess. He’ll have to. Come.”
She hurried her niece into the little parlor, a room of course almost
never used. Bob, left in the sitting-room, heard the clink of a lamp
chimney and the scratch of a match. Then the hum of hurried
conversation. Esther’s voice rose in an exclamation, apparently in
expostulation, but her aunt’s sharp command hushed it to silence. A
few minutes later Reliance hurried out.
“She’s writin’ the note to her Uncle Foster,” she explained, quickly.
“Poor thing, it will be terribly hard to do. As for him, when he reads it
— Well, I mustn’t think about him now. For the rest, she will do it.
She agreed with me that it may be best. Whether she agreed or not
it would be done just the same. I know it is best.”
Bob shook his head.
“If I knew what this was all about,” he began, with a shrug, “I—”
“You’re goin’ to learn. It is just this: You aren’t goin’ to be married in
Boston to-morrow—or to-morrow anywhere else. You are goin’ to be
married to-night, right here in this sittin’ room, by a Harniss minister.
You are goin’ to be married right here where I can see it done, and
be a witness to it. Then, if anybody dares to say anything out of the
way, they’ll have me to reckon with.... Don’t stop to argue about it;
neither of us have got time for that. I must go out and open the office
and you must chase right up to Ezra Farmer’s house—Ezra’s the
town clerk, probably you know him—and get the license or certificate
or whatever is necessary.... Don’t talk! Don’t!”
Bob did talk, of course, but not for long. Reliance’s sharp, to the
point sentences convinced him that she was right. Gossip—a certain
kind of gossip—would be smothered before it was uttered if he and
Esther were married there and then, with her aunt as witness. And, if
Esther was willing, surely he was. In a daze he listened to Miss
Clark’s final instructions.
“That Farmer man,” she said, “may sputter a little about givin’ you
the certificate. It’s past his office hours and he may want to use that
as an excuse to put you off. The real trouble is that he will be afraid
of what Foster Townsend will say to him to-morrow. Don’t let him
scare you a mite. And, if worse comes to worst offer him four or five
times his regular fee. That will stiffen his backbone—if I know Ezra.”
She was flying about the sitting-room, trying to untie her apron
strings with shaking fingers, and chattering continuously.
“Better not leave your horse and team out here,” she said. “Some of
the mail-time crowd will be sure to see it and want to know why. Take
it up to the livery stable and leave it there.... No, I tell you what to do.
Drive it right through my yard and hitch it out in the dark back of the
hen house. You can walk to Farmer’s; it’s only a little way.... I’ll
attend to the minister myself.... Now is there anything else? I haven’t
had any supper, but never mind that. Before you go you might see to
the tea kettle; it’s boilin’ all over the stove.... I’ll shut up the post office
at half past eight to-night and I’ll be in a little while after that, minister
and all.... I wonder now if— But there, I can’t stop. Don’t let Esther
worry or get frightened. Everything will be all right. What a mercy I
sent Millard away! I must have had a message from heaven, I guess,
when I did that.... Be sure and make Farmer give you that
certificate.... If there is anything else.... Well, if there is it will have to
wait. I’ll be back just as soon as I can. Don’t worry.”
 CHAPTER XXI
AT precisely eight-thirty she turned the key in the side door of the
post-office building, and, hurrying to the sidewalk, almost ran along
it. Twenty minutes later, when she reëntered the yard, she was not
alone. She was shooing before her, as she might have shooed a
stray chicken, a thin young man, who wore eyeglasses and whose
cheeks were ornamented with a pair of sidewhiskers of the kind
much affected at that date by theological students or youths active in
the Y. M. C. A. The irreverent laity called such whiskers “fire
escapes.”
The young man was the Reverend Mr. Barstow and he was the
newly called minister of the Baptist chapel in Harniss. He had lived in
the village less than a month. Consequently his acquaintance in the
community was limited and his awe of the great Foster Townsend
not yet overpowering. Reliance had chosen him with this fact in
mind. Mr. Colton, the big mogul’s own parson, would have found
some excuse for refusing to marry a niece of that mogul to any one,
without being first assured of his patron’s presence or consent. To
suggest that he perform a ceremony uniting her to a grandson of
Elisha Cook would have been like suggesting that he commit
suicide.
But the Reverend Mr. Barstow was not aware that he was being
shooed into danger by the bustling, energetic woman behind him. He
was young and callow and innocent and, although the haste with
which he had been dragged from his study in the parsonage seemed
peculiar, the thought of the fee he was to receive was very pleasing.
It was his first wedding in Harniss. There had been two funerals, but
funerals were not remunerative.
Miss Clark ushered him into the little sitting-room. Bob and Esther
were there. Both were rather pale and nervous, Esther especially so.
Neither had before met the new minister and Reliance performed the
introductions. Then she turned to Griffin.
“Did you get it?” she asked, breathlessly. “Would he give it to you?”
Bob produced from his pocket a folded document.
“I got it, finally,” he said, with a smile. “It took considerable
persuasion and an extra five dollar bill, but here it is.”
Reliance glanced it over. “Seems to be all right,” she observed. “I’ve
never had any experience with such things, but I guess it is.”
“Oh, it is. When I gave him Esther’s name you should have seen his
eyes open. He all but refused then. To hear him talk you would have
thought Captain Townsend was—”
“Sshh!” hastily and with a glance at the minister. “Well then, I guess
we are all ready to go ahead. Where do you want them to stand, Mr.
Barstow? Or had you rather be married in the parlor, Esther?”
Esther shook her head. “No, Auntie,” she said. “I like this room
better. It is more like home than the parlor to me. If Bob—or you—
don’t mind I had rather it were here.”
Bob, of course, did not mind and said so. Reliance glanced about the
apartment.
“Oh, dear!” she sighed. “I wish I had had time to pick up a little and to
get a few flowers—or somethin’. But there! I haven’t had time to get
my breath scarcely, have I? Is everything ready? Then I guess you
can go right ahead, Mr. Barstow.”
The reverend gentleman—he had already examined the marriage
certificate which Griffin handed him—stepped forward. Bob and
Esther stood facing him. Reliance stood further back, in the shadow.
It was, of course, the simplest of ceremonies. And soon over. The
minister’s prayer was longer than all the rest. As he prayed Reliance
stepped back farther and farther from the lamplight. The tears were
streaming down her face, but she wiped them hastily away and at
the “Amen” ran forward, beaming, her hands outstretched. She threw
her arms about the bride’s neck and kissed her.
“The Lord bless you, dear,” she cried. “I hope he’ll bless both of you
always. And I know he will. Young man,” turning to Bob, “I’m goin’ to
kiss you, too. I’m an old maid and, if I can’t go to my own weddin’, I
expect to be kissed at other folks’s.... There!”
Mr. Barstow lingered but a few minutes. To tell the entire truth he
received no pressing invitation to remain. After he had gone
Reliance turned to the wedded pair.
“I don’t want to hurry you a bit,” she said. “Heaven knows I don’t! But
it is almost ten o’clock and—well, if anybody should come here to-
night, they had better not find you. It will be just as easy to explain
after you have gone as before. You know what I mean, of course.”
It was evident that they did. Griffin nodded.
“I am perfectly willing to explain—to Captain Townsend or any one
else,” he said, emphatically. “And so is Esther. We are not ashamed
of what we have done.”
Esther was looking at her aunt. She understood, perhaps even more
clearly than did Bob, the thought in Reliance’s mind. She knew what
sort of scene would follow Foster Townsend’s arrival.
“Oh, Auntie,” she cried, distressfully, “this is terrible for you. If we go
away before—before he comes—you will have to tell him, and he will
blame you, and—and— No, I can’t let you. I won’t. Bob and I will
stay—and wait.”
Reliance shook her head. “Indeed you will not wait,” she declared.
“There is nothing to be gained by it. What is done is done, and
nobody,” with a momentary smile, “even the great Panjamdrum of
this part of creation can change it.... Besides,” she added, with a
sudden shake in her voice, “I want somethin’ pleasant to remember
when I think of this evenin’. I have seen you married, Esther, and I
want to see you and—how queer it seems to say that—your
husband leave this house happy. I don’t want to remember your
leavin’ it in the middle of a fight. Don’t worry about me. The letter you
have written your uncle will tell him almost everything and I shall tell
him the rest.... There! Now you must go. Bob, go out and get your
horse and buggy.”
Bob went. When he reëntered the sitting-room, he found that Miss
Clark had cleared a space on the center table and had placed
thereon three plates, three glasses of milk, and a chocolate cake.
“I almost forgot that you two hadn’t had a mouthful to eat since
dinner,” she explained. “I haven’t either, but I’d forgotten that, too. I
only wish I could offer you somethin’ worth while, but I haven’t got it
and there isn’t time, anyway. I baked this cake yesterday. It is a real
nice receipt, but I was in a hurry and it fell in the bakin’. I’m ashamed
to give it to you, but it’s somethin’, anyhow.... Oh, I know you don’t
feel like eatin’. Neither do I, so far as that goes. But I’ll eat a piece of
your weddin’ cake if I choke with every swallow. So must you.
Please!”
So they ate a little of the cake and drank the milk. Then Reliance
shooed them, as she had shooed the Reverend Barstow, out to the
buggy which Bob had brought to the door. He shook hands with her.
“I can’t thank you for what you have done, Miss Clark,” he began,
“but—”
She interrupted. “You can stop callin’ me Miss Clark,” she declared.
“That’s one thing you can do. I’m your Aunt Reliance now, same as I
am Esther’s, and I shan’t let you forget it. Take good care of her,
won’t you? She’s a precious girl and you are a lucky young man.”
The parting with Esther was harder for them both. Reliance tried her
best to make it cheerful.
“There, there, dearie,” she said, as Esther sobbed on her shoulder,
“don’t cry—don’t cry. You have done the right thing, you’ve got a
good husband and I know you are goin’ to be happy. Write to me
often, won’t you? Just as soon as you get to Boston and again as
soon as you know what your plans are. And be sure and tell me
where to write you.... Now don’t cry any more.”
Bob helped his wife into the buggy. From its seat she leaned down
for a final word.
“Auntie,” she begged, “you will tell Uncle Foster why I did this, won’t
you? You will tell him I do love him and—”
“Yes, yes. I’ll tell him everything. And I’ll see that he gets your
letter.... Good-by. God bless you both.... Be sure and write me to-
morrow from Boston.... Good-by.”
The buggy rolled out of the yard. She stood there, looking and
listening. She heard Bob get down, open the big gate, close it behind
the carriage. Then the sound of the horse’s hoofs moved off up the
road.
Reliance waited until the sound died away. Then she turned and
reëntered the sitting-room. Sitting down in the rocker, she laid her
arms upon the center table, beside the empty glasses and the plate
of cake, dropped her head upon them—and wept.
 CHAPTER XXII
SHE did not sit there long. For a few minutes only she permitted
herself the luxury of tears. Then she rose, cleared away the remains
of the impromptu wedding feast, hastened out to the kitchen, bathed
her face in the cold water from the pump, dried it on the roller towel,
patted her hair into place, and returned to the sitting-room. There
was another interview in store for her that night, she was sure of it,
and it was likely to be the hardest trial of all. She must be ready. So
she sat down again in the rocker and tried to plan exactly what she
should say to Foster Townsend when he came, demanding his
niece.
She had been sitting there for perhaps twenty minutes when she
heard his step upon the walk. She did not wait for him to knock, but
opened the door at once.
“Come in, Foster,” she said.
He did not bid her good evening, nor did he speak until he had
crossed the threshold. He glanced about him, strode to the door of
the room adjoining, looked in there, and turned back.
“Where is she?” he asked, sharply.
Reliance faced him bravely.
“She isn’t here, Foster,” she replied.
“Bosh! Of course she is here. Come, come! don’t fool with me.
Where is she?”
“I am not fooling, Foster. Esther isn’t here. She has been here, but
she has gone.”
He stared at her. The expression upon her face caught and held his
attention. He took a step toward her.
“Gone!” he repeated. “Gone where?... What do you mean?”
“I am goin’ to tell you what I mean. There is a lot to tell. Foster, I—
Oh, dear!” desperately, “I don’t know where to begin. This is harder
even than I thought it was goin’ to be. Foster, you must be patient.”
She had frightened him now. She heard him catch his breath.
“What is the matter with you?” he demanded. “What—!” Then his
tone changed. He leaned toward her, his hand upon the center table.
“Say, Reliance,” he whispered, anxiously, “you are fooling, aren’t
you? She is in this house, isn’t she? Look here, if she is hiding from
me—if she has got the idea that I am mad with her or anything like
that—why, she needn’t be. We had a row, she and I, up at the house
this noon; maybe she told you about it, I don’t know. Well, that’s all
right. I— Here! Why do you keep looking at me like that?... What is
that thing?”
Reliance was proffering him an envelope which she had taken from
the bosom of her dress. He gazed at it, then snatched it from her
hand.
“Eh?” he gasped. “It’s from her, isn’t it? What is she writing me letters
for?... Good God, woman, what has happened? Where is she? Why
don’t you tell me?”
Reliance shook her head.
“Read your letter first,” she said. “It will tell you almost everything
and I will try and tell you the rest.... Oh, Foster,” in an irrepressible
burst of agonized sympathy. “I am so sorry for you.”
She did not wait to see him open the envelope, but ran into the
kitchen and closed the door behind her. She remained there for
perhaps ten minutes, it seemed much longer to her. When she
reëntered the sitting-room he was seated in the rocker, the letter
which Esther had written him dangling in his limp fingers, and upon
his face a look which wrung her heartstrings. She came toward him
and laid her hand upon his shoulder.
“I am so sorry for you, Foster,” she said again.
He scarcely seemed to notice her presence. He did not speak.
“You have read the letter?” she faltered, after a moment.
He heard her then and straightened in the chair.
“I have read it,” he muttered. “Yes, I’ve read it.”
“Well—you see? It is done now and we can’t change it. So—”
He threw her hand from his shoulder and rose to his feet, crumpling
the letter in his fist as he did so. He snatched his hat from the floor
where it had fallen.
“Change it!” he growled, between his teeth. “We’ll see whether we
can change it or not. If that low-lived son of a skunk thinks he has
got me licked I’ll show him he is mistaken. He has made a fool of her
with his slick tongue, but he hasn’t married her yet, and it’s a long
time between now and morning.... Get out of my way!”
He would have pushed her aside but she clung to his arm.
“Wait—wait!” she begged. “You must wait. You don’t understand. He
has married her. They were married an hour ago. She is his wife.”
He stopped short. She still clung to him, but, as he made no move to
go, she loosed her hold. When she looked up into his face she was
shocked and alarmed.
“Foster—Foster!” she urged. “Please—please! Come and sit down.
Let me tell you all about it. There is so much to tell. You can’t do
anything. It is too late. No one could have stopped it. I tried my best,
but— Oh, please sit down and listen!”
She led him toward the chair. He sat and, bending forward, leaned
his head upon his hands.
“Go ahead,” he groaned. “I’m listening.”
She told him the whole story, beginning with her learning from Millard
of his experience the night of the accident, of her early morning call
upon the Campton girl, of her long talk with Esther, at the big house
and afterward there at the cottage. Then she went on to tell how
Esther and Bob Griffin had come to say good-by, how she had
argued and pleaded to shake their determination to go away
together that very night. Then of the marriage.
“What could I do?” she pleaded, desperately. “They wouldn’t listen.
They would go. There was only one thing I saw that must be done
and I did it. I saw them married, legally married by a Harniss minister
right in this very room. We’ve got that to be thankful for—and it’s a
lot. There can’t be any gossip started, for I can nail it before it starts.
Foster, as I see it, all you can do—all any of us can do—is make the
best of it. Tell the whole town you think it is all right, even if you are
sure it is all wrong. And it isn’t all wrong. It is terribly hard for you to
give her up to somebody else, but you would have had to do it
sometime. And she has got a good husband; as sure as I stand here
I do believe that.”
She finished. Still he sat there, his head upon his hands. She
ventured once more to put her hand upon his shoulder.
“If you knew how I have been dreadin’ your comin’ here to-night,”
she said, wearily. “If you only knew! If only somebody else could
have told you. But there wasn’t any one else; I had to do it. You poor
man! I—I— Oh, dear! What a world this is! Foster, you will believe I
am sorry, won’t you?”
He drew a deep breath. Then, placing his hands upon the chair arm,
he slowly lifted his big body and stood erect. His face was haggard,
his eyes heavy, he looked, so she thought, as if he had been through
a long sickness. And the tone in which he spoke was hollowed and,
at first, listless.
“Sorry!” he repeated. “Sorry! Humph!... Yes, I guess so. You are
sorry and so is she—she says so in her letter. I suppose that
damned cub she has run away with is sorry, too. Yes, you are all
sorry, but not so sorry but what you could do the thing, play the dirty
trick you meant to play all along.... All right! All right!” with sudden
savageness. “She will be sorrier by and by. Let her go to the devil.
She has started that way already. Let her go. And you, and the gang
who will come tiptoeing around to-morrow telling me how sorry they
are, may go with her.... Well, you have said all you wanted to,
haven’t you? I can go home now, I suppose—eh?”
She stepped back. “Yes,” she agreed, sadly. “I guess you can, if you
want to. I was afraid you would take it this way; it is natural you
should, I guess. I hope, though, by and by, when you have had time
to think it all over, you may be a little more reconciled and, maybe,
not quite so bitter. What has happened isn’t really any one’s fault.
You must see that; you will by and by. You couldn’t have stopped it; I
couldn’t; nobody could. It just happened, same as lots of things
happen to us poor humans. Whether we like ’em or not doesn’t seem
to make a bit of difference. They happen, just the same.”
He turned on her, looked her over from head to foot. “Good Lord
A’mighty!” he sneered. “Good Lord! I have lived a good many years
and I thought I had run afoul of about every kind of cussedness there
was, but this beats ’em all. Isn’t there any limit? Wasn’t it bad enough
to play the hypocrite when there was something to be gained by it,
when it helped me to keep my eyes shut to what was going on
behind my back? Wasn’t that enough, without playing it now?
Nobody’s fault! Huh! It was somebody’s fault—oh, yes! It was mine
for being such a blind, innocent jackass as to trust her—and you. Ah-
h!... There, that is enough.”
It was more than enough, it was a little too much. Reliance stepped
between him and the door.
“Foster Townsend,” she cried, “you shan’t go until you take that back,
or at least hear what I have to say about it. You know I’m not a
hypocrite. That is one thing I never have been. And, since you said it
yourself first, you are right, partly right, when you say it was your
fault. If you hadn’t been just what you always have been, so set on
drivin’ everybody along the road you wanted ’em to travel, you and
Esther might not have come to this pass. You couldn’t have stopped
her marryin’ the Griffin boy—I don’t believe all creation could have
done that—but you might have held it off for a while, and saved all
this dreadful business. You couldn’t drive her. Every time you tried it
you got into trouble. And now this! She is a Townsend, just as you
are yourself.”
“Townsend! Bah! She is a Clark, that’s what she is. Her father was a
Townsend and he was a soft-headed fool; but he wasn’t a hypocrite.
She’s a Clark, that’s where the hypocrisy comes from.”
“Stop! You shan’t say that! There wasn’t any hypocrisy at all, on my
part or hers. You know it. I have been honest with you from the very
beginnin’. That day, years ago, when she went to live with you, I
warned you to be careful. I knew you, and I knew her, and I warned
you that you couldn’t force her to draw her every breath just at the
second when you told her to. I had seen you drive and drive her poor
father, and I saw that road end in smash, just as this one has ended.
And you mustn’t call her a hypocrite, either. She has been honest
with you always—except perhaps for those few days when she let
Bob Griffin paint her picture without tellin’ you about it. But have you
played straight and aboveboard with her? You can answer that
yourself, but I tell you she doesn’t think you have. And I tell you the
plain truth when I say that nobody, short of the Almighty himself,
could have stopped what has happened to-night. You be thankful it
happened as it did—here in this house, with a friend—yes, a good
friend, and there’s no hypocrisy about that either—to see it done and
keep every mean mouth in Harniss shut tight. You can be thankful
for that, Foster Townsend, I give you my word I am.”
He was standing there, his hand upon the latch. Now, as she
paused, breathless, the fires of righteous indignation still burning in
her eyes, he carried that hand to his face. A sob shook him.
“Oh, don’t!” he groaned. “For God’s sake, don’t! Let me out of here!
Let me get away—somewhere.”
And then, of all inopportune times, Fate chose that moment to bring
Millard Fillmore Clark upon the scene. The door opened and he
came into the room. He looked at his sister, then at her visitor. His
backbone suppled; his hat was removed with a flourish.
“Well, well!” he exclaimed, in polite surprise. “It is you, ain’t it, Cap’n
Foster. How do you do, sir?” Then, as the possibilities of the situation
crossed his mind, he added, a little more anxiously: “You and
Reliance been havin’ a little talk about—about what you and me
talked about yesterday? I—I thought it was best to tell her, you
understand.”
He might have said more, probably would had the opportunity been
given him. It was not. Foster Townsend’s big hand shot forward,
seized him by the shoulder and threw him headlong from the
doorway. He spun across the room, tripped over the hassock, and
fell sprawling. Before he could rise, or even understand what had
happened to him, Townsend had gone.
 CHAPTER XXIII
THE letter for which Reliance had so anxiously waited came in the
evening mail next day. Esther had written it from Boston. She had
spent the night at the house of Bob’s cousin in South Denboro, and
she and her husband had taken the early train from that station, as
they had planned. They were going at once to the steamship office
to see what arrangements could be made for their passage to
Europe. She would write again as soon as those arrangements were
made. Bob had broken the news to his grandfather and there had
been another distressing scene.
“It is all so dreadful,” wrote Esther, “that I don’t want to think about it
now. Poor Bob! And poor Mr. Cook! And Uncle Foster! And you,
Auntie! I feel as if I must be a wicked, ungrateful girl. He says I am
not and that we have done the only thing that could be done. He is a
dear fellow and I love him. He is sure we will never be sorry and that
by and by everything will be right again. Oh, I hope so!... You will tell
Uncle Foster how sorry I was to leave him, won’t you? Make him
understand just why I had to do it, Aunt Reliance. And then write me
what he says. I will write him as soon as I hear from you that he
cares to have me write. Do you think he will ever forgive me?”
Reliance felt no certainty on this point. She had not seen Foster
Townsend that day. Nor had she heard from him. Varunas came for
the mail, as usual, but he had nothing to tell. “The old man is glum as
an oyster,” he said. “Ain’t hardly spoke a word all day and Nabby
she’s scared he’s goin’ to be sick or somethin’. Say, where’s Esther
gone? I thought likely she was down here to your house, Reliance,
but Millard says she ain’t. He’s struck dumb, too, seems so. What’s
the matter with all hands?”
His question was answered next morning. Where, or from where, the
amazing rumor first came is uncertain. Whether the Reverend Mr.
Barstow told of the marriage ceremony, or Ezra Farmer told of
issuing the certificate—whether the news was first made public in
Denboro, or South Denboro, or there in Harniss, is still but a guess.
And very few guessed or tried. The essential fact was all that
mattered. Within a dozen hours the whole county buzzed. The great
Foster Townsend’s niece had married the grandson of the almost as
famous Elisha Cook. They were married and had run away together
to Boston—to Chicago—to Europe—to nobody knew for certain
where. Mrs. Benjamin Snow said, “Heavens and earth!” when she
heard it. Mrs. Tobias Eldridge said, “My good land of love!” Every
one said something and followed it with: “What will Foster Townsend
do? Has anybody seen him since it happened?”
No one had, for he had kept out of their way. The few who called at
the mansion—Mr. Colton, Captain Ben Snow, and others who had a
claim to close acquaintanceship—were told by the maid or Nabby
Gifford that he was busy with “law papers” and could not see
anybody. Reliance Clark was the next best bet and they hurried to
the post office. Reliance was quite willing to talk, up to a certain
point. Yes, it was true. Esther Townsend was now Mrs. Robert
Griffin. They had been married in her sitting-room by the Baptist
minister and she was present at the wedding. Why the haste? Was it
true that they had run off? Did Foster Townsend know of it before it
happened? Where were they now? All these queries she parried or
answered non-committally. To too-persistent questioners, of a certain
type, she replied in another fashion. “If you are so terribly anxious to
know how Cap’n Townsend takes it,” she observed, “why don’t you
go and ask him? Bob and Esther are married. That much I do know.
And you can advertise it to all creation.”
This was so far the greatest sensation of a sensational season.
Following so closely upon the accident to Seymour Covell it drove
even that and its trail of gossip and surmise from the public mind.
The whisperings concerning Bob Griffin’s part in that accident, or his
responsibility for it, were forgotten. Covell, in the Boston hospital,
was reported to have regained consciousness and to be on the road
to recovery. The question of what he was doing on the lower road—
of who saw him and Griffin there, if indeed any one saw them—
ceased to be debated. Carrie Campton and her parents began to
breathe more easily. So did Millard Clark, although breathing was
practically the only luxury his sister permitted him to indulge in just
then. Millard’s position was hard indeed. To be an inmate of the very
house in which the amazing marriage had taken place, to be as
wildly excited concerning it as every one else, and to be ordered to
hush, or be still, or to mind his own business whenever he dared
venture to hint a request for inside information, was torture indeed
for Mr. Clark. And, worst of all, his orders—orders which, in fear of
Foster Townsend and his sister, he did not dare disobey—were to
say that he knew nothing and keep on saying it. “It is the truth,”
declared Reliance. “You don’t know anything and, so far as I am
concerned, you never will. And, if my shoulder was as lame as yours
is, I don’t think I should run the risk of doin’ anything likely to bring
Cap’n Foster down on me again. He might break your neck next
time.”
Many pairs of eyes were on the watch for the first public appearance
of the big mogul. He would have to show himself sometime and
when he did—how would he look and act? What would he have to
say? They knew already what Elisha Cook was saying. According to
Denboro reports he declared himself to be through with his grandson
for good and all. “He is a fool, let him go his fool way. I’m done with
him.” This, according to gossip, was the proclamation from Cook
headquarters. And the Denboro doctor was reported to have added
that the old man’s sole comfort in the situation was the thought of
Foster Townsend’s fury. “I only wish I was where I could see him
squirm,” chuckled Elisha.
So all Harniss was agog, and rushed excitedly to its windows when,
two days after the elopement, the Townsend span was again seen
trotting majestically along the main road. Varunas, of course, was
driving and his employer sat alone upon the rear seat of the carriage.
He looked heavy-eyed and drawn and tired, that was the consensus
of opinion, but to the bows and hat lifting of those he passed his own
bow was as coolly dignified as ever. It was noon—mail time—and
the group at the post office watched, with bated breath, as he
alighted and walked into the building.
Tobias Eldridge told it all to his wife when he reached home.
“Everybody just stood around, or set on the settee, and looked at
him when he come in,” narrated Tobias. “We didn’t none of us hardly
dast to speak, or so much as say, ‘How are you, Cap’n Foster?’
Didn’t know how he’d take it, you understand. But he was just same
as ever, seemed so. Just as grand and top lofty and off-hand to us
bugs and worms under his feet as if nothin’ had happened. When
somebody—Nathan Doane, seems to me ’twas—spunked up
enough to say ‘Good day,’ he nodded his head and says ‘Good day’
back. Course he must know that every man, woman and child old
enough to talk has been talkin’ about nothing but him and his family
for two days and nights. You’d think he’d realize it and act sort of—
well, fussed and ashamed, but not him, no sir! Darned if it wasn’t
kind of disappointin’! Yes, ’twas so.
“And,” went on Mr. Eldridge, “when he went up to the window after
his mail and Reliance Clark handed it out to him, we was all set to
see how he’d act to her. ’Twas in her house them two was married
and we didn’t know but he’d tell her what he thought of her right
there and then. And what happened? Nothin’!” in high disgust.
“Nothin’ at all! ‘Good mornin’, Foster,’ says she, not lookin’ even so
much as nervous. ‘Mornin’, Reliance,’ he says; grunted it just same
as he’s grunted good mornin’ to her for two year. And that’s all there
was to it. Can you beat that? I don’t know how you’re goin’ to.”
It was an attitude that could not be beaten and reluctantly Harniss
was forced to that realization. At home, when the inevitable callers
came, eager to learn details, ready to offer sympathy and express
indignation at Esther’s wickedness, it was just the same. Foster
Townsend flatly refused to discuss the subject. The Reverend Mr.
Colton ventured to persist a trifle more than the rest.
“Of course, Captain Townsend,” he said, sadly, “we all know the
burden you are bearing. If you knew—I shall be glad to tell you if you
wish to hear—the expressions of sympathy for you which are poured
into my ears, they might perhaps comfort you a little. And the poor,
misguided girl! Ungrateful—yes. But—”
Townsend, who was standing by the chair in the library, a cigar in
one hand and a match in the other, swung about.