The Shadow Dragons - James A. Owen [118]
“Doubtful,” said Twain. “There are very few of those sheets unaccounted for, and even fewer people trained in making them. So unless you know someone with a magic box that people can just pop in and out of, I’m at a loss.”
“Magic box!” John exclaimed, snapping his fingers. “You’re a genius, Samuel!”
“Was there ever a doubt?” Twain called out as John tore from the room. He looked down at Grimalkin, who was missing his torso. “What did I say?”
John burst through the doors of the conservatory. “Jamie!” he said, panting from exertion. “When you died, who handled your estate?”
“My boys, of course,” Jamie replied. “Why?”
“For your personal belongings, certainly,” said John, “but what about items relating to the Archipelago?”
Jamie shrugged. “I had practically nothing left there in London,” he said. “Only a few papers, and the old wardrobe—and I left those to you, Jack, and Charles.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” said John. “Because we jumped forward in time by going through the Trump, we weren’t there to claim anything.”
“But the wardrobe is still useless without the second one,” said Jamie, “and it’s—”
“Safely in Paralon?” John finished. “Under the control of the Senate, and the new Chancellor?”
“Oh, my stars and garters,” said Jamie.
At that moment, Archimedes flew into the room.
“Archie!” John exclaimed in shock. “You’ve come back! Is the professor—”
“No time, no time!” the owl squawked. “I know who the traitor is!”
Quickly Archimedes related to the Caretakers what he had learned from Captain Johnson, and as he spoke, they became more and more resolved.
“We must talk to Poe,” John said. “Right away!”
The new Dragonships commandeered by the children pulled onto the beach, and the spellbound young warriors began to pour from the holds.
“There are thousands of them!” Charys cried. “How can we do this? How do we fight children?”
“We don’t,” said Jack, looking quickly around the island. “There!” He pointed behind them to one of the cliffs. “They can’t hurt us, and we won’t have to hurt them if we reduce the size of the target.”
The other allies on the ground quickly realized what Jack was referring to, and under the cover of the airships, they swiftly retreated to a narrow isthmus between the cliffs. As Jack had hoped, the masses of children followed.
Once on the other side, the allies would only have to deal with a narrow trickling of the children, rather than all at once.
“How did you learn to do that?” an astonished Nemo asked.
Jack grinned. “You taught me how to do that,” he said. “About a quarter century ago.”
“We’ll still have to fight them,” said Charys. “It’s unavoidable.”
“Not completely,” said Jack. “Artus! It’s time for your secret weapon!”
Artus nodded and grinned, then he signaled to the Elves. They lowered the Blue Dragon’s enormous bulk and opened the hold.
The Tin Man jumped out with surprising agility, and without any instruction, he rushed forward to the narrow pass. Between his bulk, and the gentle sweeps of his ax, he managed to effectively block the advance of the children.
Many stopped, but those who pressed forward received only bruises, and the worst injuries were broken bones.
“That’s incredible!” Nemo declared. “You’re winning the battle without having to fight!”
“Not winning,” said Jack. “Delaying. That may be the best we can do.”
“That is the least you can do,” said a chilling voice beside them. Jack and the others spun around in time to see Kipling and the Shadow King step out of a Trump portal and onto the hilltop. Kipling held a sword, and the Shadow King carried the Spear of Destiny.
“Get into the airship,” Artus said to Nemo and Jack as he stepped forward and drew his sword. “Protect Aven.”
“We’re not leaving you,” Jack began.
“I know that!” said Artus. “But we have to hold on! I believe! Do you?”
“Yes,” said Jack, as he eyed Kipling. “I believe.” But he didn’t climb into the ship, and neither did Nemo or