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“I don’t suppose this is the nursery?” Jack asked with a grin.

“Ha,” Jamie said over his shoulder. “Funny scholar you are. No, this is just a storage room. All I keep in here is an old, ah, wardrobe full of my mother’s furs.”

He flung the door wide, and together they entered the room. It was reasonably bare, save for the aforementioned wardrobe to the left, and an old pram on the right. Directly across from the door stood a double bay window, deep and uncurtained—so they could clearly see the silhouette of the figure, hanging from a rope ladder, who was rapping on the sill.

The strange visitor was short, stoutish, and most tellingly, had a tattered, tall, pointy hat perched precariously on his head.

He knocked again, then called to them through the glass. “Will someone please let me in? I’ve flown here all the way from the Archipelago, and my arms are very tired.”

Charles raised an eyebrow and grinned as they all rushed to the window. “No question now. That’s our man Bert right enough.”

“Someone give me a hand inside, will you?” Bert cried as he clutched at the window with one hand and clung to the ladder with the other. “Else I’ll end up a handsome stain on the cobblestones.”

“Bert, I’m so pleased to see you!” said John as he reached out to grasp his mentor’s hands. “But what the devil are you flying? Is it an airplane of some sort?”

“Better!” Bert said with a gleam in his eye. “It’s an old friend, all dressed up to go a-visiting.”

The friends all leaned out the open windows and looked up at a sight both amazing and familiar. It was an airship: part blimp and part airplane. There was an air-filled balloon above an elaborate carriage that had been fitted with propellers. But what was most startling was the carriage itself, which bore a carved masthead.

It was the Indigo Dragon.

Jack let out a whoop, and Charles started clapping Bert on the back so vigorously he nearly lost his hat.

Once they had him safely inside and had anchored the ladder securely around the heavy wardrobe, each of the companions embraced Bert joyfully, and even Jamie gave him a warm, two-handed handshake.

“Old sock, good on you, good on you, I say!” Charles exclaimed happily. “When you said you were hoping to repair her, I never expected anything as grand as this! Well done, Bert!”

“In truth, it was more the craftsmen back on Paralon who did it,” said Bert. “Ordo Maas was able to salvage the dragon itself, but the ship was a loss. Jules had had plans for an airship that Nemo had always wanted to…ah…” He paused, looking hesitantly at Jamie.

“It’s all right, old chap,” Jamie said. “They told me everything. In fact, we’ve had quite the opportunity to get acquainted, your young Caretakers and I.”

“But how did you get here so quickly?” John asked. “It hasn’t been more than a couple of hours since we summoned you.”

“Quickly?” exclaimed Bert. “I’m only sorry it took so long. I was already on the edge of the Frontier, on my way to Oxford to consult with John about a crisis in the Archipelago, when the sextant aboard the Indigo Dragon began to point toward London. That’s when I realized someone had used a Compass Rose. But I scarcely expected to find you at Jamie’s house.”

“That’s a story in and of itself,” said John. “Let’s go downstairs. There’s someone you ought to meet.”

Laura Glue was rolling around on the floor with Aramis when the group came downstairs. Introductions were made, and when she shook hands with Bert, her eyes became the size of saucers.

“The Far Traveler? For really and truly?” She exclaimed. “No one will believe I actually met you.”

“Really?” said Bert, flattered. “And why is that, my dear?”

“Because—whenever you’ve been mentioned, my grandfather shakes his head an’ says your wick isn’t lit. But you don’t look anything like a candle at all.”

John and Jamie let out a burst of laughter, and even Jack chuckled. Charles just smiled grimly and patted Bert on the back. “Look at it this way—at least you didn’t have to share the