 There were, as my uncle said, some 5,000 miles between ourselves and the center of the earth. But there, perhaps, I should first remind you who I am. My name is Harry Lawson, and my uncle is none other than that brilliant scientist, Professor von Hardwig of Hamburg. You may recall that he determined we should follow in the footsteps of a certain Anna Sacknessen, a 16th century alchemist, who had made a lone journey to the center of the earth.