The Indigo King - James A. Owen [13]
“It doesn’t have everything about anything,” Fred concluded, “but …”
“It has something about everything,” Jack finished for him. “Brilliant.”
“I think so too,” Fred agreed. “I never go anywhere without mine. Grandfather Tummeler published it, like he did with the Geographica. It’s only been printed once, but Grandfather says something like this takes time to find an audience.”
“Pardon my asking,” said John, “but you don’t seem to talk in quite the same way as your father and grandfather. You’re a bit more …”
“Educated?” guessed Fred.
“I was going to say ‘articulate,’” said John, “but yes, educated will do.”
Fred looked over his shoulder to where Uncas was coordinating some sort of effort involving coiled wires under the chassis of the Howling Improbable.
“I studied with Stephen under Charys, and Solomon Kaw, and even Samaranth himself,” said Fred. “I always thought that maybe, just maybe, if an animal could make himself learn everything it was possible to learn, then I could make my grandfather proud of me. I even hoped … I thought maybe …”
“Maybe what, Fred?” Jack asked.
The little mammal shifted his feet and would have blushed, if not for his fur. “I thought it might be possible that if I could become a good enough scholar, I might even be able to become a Caretaker myself. Like Charles. Like you.”
John and Jack looked at each other, then smiled at Fred. “I think you’d make a very good Caretaker,” Jack told the badger. “A very good one indeed.”
* * *
“We’ve formulated a plan,” Uncas announced finally.
“Excellent,” said John. “What is it?”
“We’re goin’ back t’ the Archipelago and getting more help,” said the badger.
“What!” exclaimed John and Jack together.
“You’ve been doing … things around your vehicle for an hour,” said John. “And after all this, the best you can manage is to give up?”
“We’re not giving up,” huffed Uncas. “But an animal has to know the difference between fight an’ flight. And we wasn’t prepared to handle something like this.”
“What do you usually do?”
“Well, t’ be honest,” Uncas said sheepishly, “this be th’ first time we ever went out on a job.”
“The first time?” exclaimed Jack.
“Yes,” said Uncas. “In truth, the whole reason the squad was formed was for this one night, and after fourteen years, we’re, uh … we’re really not sure what t’ do.”
The little animal looked as if it might burst into tears at any second. Jack sighed heavily and sat down next to him.
“Fourteen years,” said John. “You’ve really been waiting fourteen years for this mission, tonight?”
“Yes,” said Uncas. “The Prime Caretaker is going to be very disappointed.”
“The what?” asked John.
“Th’ Prime Caretaker,” said Uncas.
“I’m the Caretaker Principia,” John said.
“Not the Caretaker Principia,” said Uncas, “the Prime Caretaker.”
“Do you mean Bert?”
“The Far Traveler? No. He is a friend to us all, but he is not the Prime Caretaker. The Frenchman is.”
“Frenchman?” asked John. “Do you mean …”
“Never mind who arranged for you to be here,” said Jack. “You are still exactly what we’d hoped for. If you appeared here, in Oxford, you must have a means of crossing the Frontier.”
“We does indeed,” said Uncas. “Every principle in the service of th’ New Republic is equipped with a Dragon’s Feather.” He gestured at the cab of the Howling Improbable, where a bright silver case was fastened above the steering mechanism.
“Well then,” said Jack, “let’s get back to Paralon, posthaste. We can consult with Aven and Artus, and then go together to see the Cartographer. Between us all, we should be able to sort this all out and rescue Hugo from wherever—whenever—he is.”
The badgers all let out a whoop and a cheer. “Rescue Squad!” Uncas shouted joyfully. “Clear the site! We’re going home!”
As the animals rejoiced, John and Jack gave a last look at the doorway.
“We