Chapter 1
Three years after Susan left Lucy and Edmund were asked to undertake a mission. They had to go back to England and bring their cousin Eustace back to Narnia. So they went back and Edmund decided to have some fun and went to see the recruiting officer.
Edmund handed his aunts ID to the man and the man asked, "Are you sure you're eighteen?"
Edmund smiled and said, "Why? Do I look older?"
The soldier looked down at the ID and asked, "Alberta Scrubb?"
Edmund laid on the charm thickly saying, "It's a typographical error. It is supposed to be Albert A. Scrubb."
Lucy took her time coming in and said, "Edmund, you are supposed to be helping me with the groceries."
The soldier handed the ID back and said, "Better luck next time, ay, squirt?"
Edmund looked at Lucy and asked, "Squirt? He barely had 2 years on me! I am a king. I've fought wars and I've led armies."
Lucy patted his arm and said, "Not in this world."
Edmund just rolled his eyes and said playfully, "Yeah, instead I'm stuck here. Doing battles with Useless Clarence Scrubb. If anyone so deserve the name. Come on then."
Meanwhile at the Scrubb house Eustace was writing in his diary: Dear Diary It is now day 253 since my ratchet cousins Edmund and Lucy invaded our house. Not sure how much longer I can cope living with them. Hard to share my things. If only one could treat relatives like one who treat insects, all my problems would be solved. I could simply put them in a jar. Pin them to my wall?
Suddenly Lucy's voice breaks through, "I'm home! Hello?"
Note to self. Investigate legal ramifications of impaling relatives.
Downstairs the radio was playing, "And that concludes the war news from the western front."
Lucy tried to be optimistic saying, "Hi, Uncle Harold. I've tried to find some carrots but all they had were turnips again. Should I start making soup? Aunt Alberta is on her way home." When she got no answer she called again. "Uncle Harold?"
Then Eustace put his two scents in and said, "Father, Edmund's making faces at you."
Edmund looked at Eustace and said, "Why, you little..."
Eustace suddenly looked at his father and screamed, "Father, he's going to hit me."
Before anything could be done Lucy called, "Edmund look, it's from Susan." And she help up a letter.
Susan's letter read: I do wish you were here with us. It is such an adventure. But nothing like our times in Narnia. America is very exciting. Only we never see father. He works so very hard. I was invited to the British consul's tea party this week by a naval officer. Who happens to be very handsome. I think he fancies me. It seems that the Germans have made the crossing difficult right now. Times are hard. Mother hopes you both won't mind another few months in Cambridge. If you do stay that is.
Edmund suddenly said, "Another few months? How will we survive? You're lucky. At least you've got your own room. I'm stuck with mullet mouth."
Lucy quietly said, "Susan and Peter are the lucky ones. Off on adventures. One here, one in Narnia."
Edmund replied, "Yeah. They are the oldest we are the youngest. We don't matter as much." Edmund turned to a picture on the wall and asked, "Lucy, have you seen this ship before?"
Lucy just said, "Yes, its very Narnian looking isn't it?"
Edmund just said, "Yeah. Just another reminder that we're here not there."
Eustace suddenly opened the door and started to say, "There once was two orphans who wasted their time believing in Narnian nursery rhymes."
Edmund got up and said, "Please let me hit him!"
Lucy also stood up and said, "No."
Edmund turned to him and asked, "Don't you ever knock?"
Eustace just said, "It's my house. I do as I please. You're just guests. And you should stop talking gibberish, you might be called insane." Then he turned to the picture and said, "What's so fascinating about that picture anyway? It's hideous."
Edmund turned to look at the picture and said, "You won't see it from outside of the door."
Then Lucy said, "Edmund look, looks like the water is actually moving."
Eustace looked at it and said, "What rubbish, see? That's what happens when you read all those fancy little novels and fairy tales of yours."
Edmund smiled at Lucy and started saying, "There once was a boy called Eustace, who read books for facts which were useless."
Eustace jumped back in and said, "People who read fairy tales are always sort of becoming a hideous burden compared to people like me. I read books with real information."
Edmund spoke in outrage, "A hideous burden? I haven't seen you lift a finger since we've been here. I hope you won't mind I tell your father it was you who stole Aunt Alberta's sweets?"
Eustace cried out, "Liar?"
Edmund just said, "Really?"
Lucy cried in delight, "Edmund, the painting!"
Edmund ignored Lucy saying, "I found them under your bed. And you know what? I've licked every one of them!"
Eustace suddenly cried out, trying to wipe his mouth "Ew! I'm infected with you!" Then he saw water pouring out of the painting and cried out, "What is going on here?"
Edmund finally smiled and asked, "Lucy, do you think..."
Eustace panicked some more saying, "This is some kind of a trick. Stop or I'll tell mother. Mother!" When he received no answer he walked forward and said, "I'll just smash the whole thing." Then he reached out for the picture but Edmund and Lucy tried to stop him.
Suddenly they all were in water swimming up to the surface. When they reached the surface, Lucy was grabbed around the waist and heard a voice say, "It's alright! I got you."
Lucy grabbed his face and kissed him then called out, "Edmund, it is Caspian."
Then Caspian called out, "You're safe now."
