Chapter 9: Ruins and Memories
Dr. sweet place boats made of hats on the water, each boat have a candle on it. Rourke hand his hat to the doctor making it another boat. "Seven hours ago, we started this expedition...with 200 of the finest men and women I've ever known. We're all that's left." The team face down to mourn their lost comrades, "I won't sugar-coat it, gentleman. We have a crisis on our hands." He hold Helga's shoulder, "But we've been up this particular creek before...and we've always come through, paddle or no paddle. I see no reason to change that policy now" Rourke walk to the entrance ahead. "From here on in, everyone pulls double duty. Everyone drives, everyone works." Rourke faces Milo "Looks like all our chances for survival...rest with you, Mr. Thatch. You and that little book." Milo's eye land on the book he received from his grandfather, they have come so far with no way to turn around. "We're all gonna die." Said Mrs. Packard.
"OK, people. Saddle up." Rourke clap his crew to work. "Lieutenant, I want this convoy moving five minutes ago." Helga places Jim inside the convoy, the boy remains unconscious. "He will be fine, stay with him." Rourke comforts Helga. "Moliere, you're on point. No, Vinney, Audrey's taking the oiler. You know the rules. I want you 50 yards...behind that truck at all times. And, Packard, put out that cigarette…." "Beep. Beep beep. Beep." Rourke were interrupted when Milo beeping the horn on his vehicle. Rourke squeak off the horn "Are you sure you've checked out this class of vehicle?" "Uhh…." "Can you drive a truck?" Milo enters the truck, "Pfft! Heh heh. Of course I can drive a truck. I mean, sure, you got your steering...and your gas and your brake...and, of course, this metal, uh, looking... thing." Rourke stares at Milo. "OK, so it was a bumper car at Coney Island... but it's the same basic principle!" Rourke sighs before he left Milo behind. Milo obviously unable to drive a truck, his vehicle walks like an old lady on stairs. "Come on!" Drivers are impatience on Milo's speed "Can I walk on foot?" said Mrs. Packard. Finally, the crew just tie Milo's truck behind Mole's digger.
"Uhh. . . " Jim opens his eyes, he was in a kind of vehicle. "Wakie wakie, cabin boy?" Helga is sitting next to Jim. "What happen? Are we . . . did I just see my Dad?" Jim runs to the curtain behind the truck, he falls over behind the driver's seat when his leg got trapped by his long hair. " Hold on there, Rapunzel." Rourke smile at the boy from the driver's seat. "Here, let me take care of it, princess." Helga crabs the boy to seat in front of her.
Helga gently trims off the long hair, Jim is a bit nervous when the woman tries to shoot him now holding a pair of scissors behind his neck. Helga's attention lands on Jim's ear "Your earring," Jim takes off the earring, the empty mount reminds him of the day he sees his father gone for good. Helga hand the brunette a silver loop, "You'd better cover it with something." Jim saw a name on the loop "Who's Thomas?" he asks. "My little brother, he never returns from the frontline." Helga holds the loop in her hand. "I'm sorry." Jim said, Helga smile and shake her head, "Seems we're all familiar to empty seats at supper." She looks at Rourke. Helga place the loop on Jim's ear, she continues to trim the boy's hair.
"Here you go!" Helga tie up a rat tail for Jim, she fails to stop herself from a drop of tear in her left eye, the brunette looks too familiar of her lost family member. The crew set camp next to the ruin of a temple. "Jimmy, you'd better check on the Dopplers, they are dead worry on you." Rourke give Jim a bag of supplies, "you will be assisting the cook during the expedition, the Captain mentioned you're experienced in kitchen work." That reminds Jim the first time being assigned as cabin boy, this time he accepts it gratefully. Jim left the truck and walk to Amelia's tent. "Don't get personal, Lieutenant. No one can replace Thomas." Said Rourke, "it's just a trinket." Helga answers with a low voice.
"Jim! You're alive!" Delbert hugs the boy with all his strength. "Mr. Hawkins, I have many questions regarding you and your father who once lead this expedition." Amelia faces Jim with a straight posture, she had many unanswered questions from what she sees in the expedition, and they all strangely point to her cabin boy. "But now, I'd let you rest on your own." She decides to find the answer with her eyes instead of interrogating a teen "You will share a tent with Mr. Thatch, you will report duty to Mr. Cookie early in the morning.". Jim head to Milo's tent, the light is still on. "Reading late?" Jim asks, Milo opens the tent and let the boy in. "Yeh. . . Yeah!" He clears a place for the brunette, "After all, I'm not too fluent with this gibberish." Milo shows Jim the journal. "My mom taught me Montressean when I'm young, I thought it's just gibberish she made up for fun." Jim remembers the language from his father's prints and journals. "Your mother, you mean Sarah Hawkins?" Milo knows Jim's mother. Jim is surprise that Milo have connections with his family. "Sarah, heh. . Mrs Hawkins. Use to babysits me." Sarah watches Milo during his childhood, until she moves out with Pleiades. "She assisted the translation back then, along with Mr. Hawkins." Milo begins to form the picture. Sarah Hawkins, major assistant of the founders of the expedition, somehow mastered Atlantean from her husband, and she passes it on to her son. Jim and Milo spent time in the journal, until they finally consumed by tiredness.