The Indigo King - James A. Owen [94]
“What do you think, fellows?” Jack asked, cradling the small bottle in his hands. “How do we get it out?”
“Bert simply threw the scarab brooch,” said John. “Maybe you should toss it into the water.”
“And what if it just sinks?” Jack retorted. “Then where will we be?”
Hank grabbed the bottle out of Jack’s hands, and before the others could stop him, he had dashed it against the stones in the shallows. But they realized at once that Hank had done exactly the right thing. The tiny boat, immersed in the water, was beginning to grow.
It took less than a minute for the toy boat to grow into a full-size, functional vessel. It resembled a small Portuguese caravel, with room enough for the companions and their bags, and at the front was the carved representation of a scarlet dragon.
John and Jack nearly cheered at the sight of it. A Dragonship had considerably more meaning for them than it did the others, who were nevertheless still very impressed by the appearance of the instant boat.
“It gave you just what you needed most,” Chaz said to Jack. “We just didn’t know it at the time.”
“Thank God,” Jack replied, casting his eyes skyward. “And I mean that literally.”
Chaz got in first, still carrying the bag that held the unconscious Archimedes, followed by Jack, then John. Hugo got in next and extended his hand to Hank.
“I’m sorry, fellows,” Hank told the others, “but this is as far as I go.”
“It’s an adventure!” Hugo said brightly. “We’re searching for the Holy Grail, don’t you see? This is the first Crusade!”
Hank smiled blackly and folded his arms. “I understand your excitement and enthusiasm, Hugo,” he said. “I felt the same way when I first got here. But I’ve been here for too many months, and seen more than I wanted. And I think I’ve had my fill of adventuring.”
“There’s a chance this will all change, you know,” Jack pointed out. “That’s what we’re trying to do, anyway.”
Hank glanced over his shoulder at the rising clouds of smoke that were darkening an already blackened sky, then up at the haloed sun that was nearly in full eclipse. “I always remain hopeful, but in this case, I think the game’s already been called,” he said bleakly. “If this isn’t the end of the world, it’s a damn good imitation. And at this point, I think all I can do is try to stay at the edges of the chaos, and record what I can, before …” He let the words trail off.
“Can’t you go back?” Hugo implored. “With the watch?”
“The what?” asked Hank. “I don’t even know how I got here, much less how I’m going to get home.”
“The watch,” Hugo repeated. “The one that Sam Clemens gave you, that allows you to travel in time.”
Hank looked at the professor as if he were crazy, then chuckled wryly. “I’d say you were losing your marbles, if we weren’t where we are. If, by some miracle, you ever come across one of those watches, let me know, will you?”
Hugo turned and looked pointedly at John, who opened up the bag he was carrying. “Maybe you can find it yourself,” John said, removing the Serendipity Box and handing it to Hugo, who handed it to Hank. “Open that and tell us what you see.”
Obediently Hank lifted the lid and smiled in confused surprise. “You’ve been having me on the whole time, haven’t you?” he asked as he took out the small silver pocket watch that was inside the box. “What does the dragon represent?”
“Hope,” said John. “It represents hope.”
“How does it work?”
John shook his head. “I don’t know. But we were told—by you, actually—that it will let you travel in time.”
“There’s a note underneath,” Hank said. “It reads, ‘Midnight takes you back.’”
“The rest is up to you, it seems,” said Hugo, clapping Hank on the shoulder. “Remember us to Sam, won’t you?”
“Verne,” Jack said suddenly. “That’s what we need to ask of you, Hank. Remember us to Jules Verne.”
“Okay,” Hank agreed, still uncertain of what he was being asked or expected to do. “How do I contact him?”
“I think you’ll see him when you leave this place,” Jack told him, “in