Chapter 11

The whole problem with Olaf went rather calmly with the organization at first. They didn't figure that he was much of a real threat. And, even though he wasn't required to, Lemony enlisted Daniel and Samantha's help in compiling a file of papers and evidence about that night and Olaf's other activities. Beatrice agreed to keep it safe in the library.

Lemony and his siblings and friends all kept on the lookout for Olaf, since they all had suspicions that he could do some real harm.

After several months, more members of V.F.D. began disappearing without a trace; even their belongings were gone. It wasn't long until somebody that the friends knew also disappeared. One day, the crew or a small submarine that Kit had helped build, the Queequeg, reported that a young man from their crew, Fernald, had gone missing. There wasn't necessarily any evidence that there wasn't any foul play involved, but Kit still felt obligated to investigate, so she journeyed to the spot where he was last seen.

The day that she reached that spot was very cloudy, but Kit had no trouble seeing that there was nothing suspicious around the submarine that she was in. However, she was a determined woman and had nothing else to do that day, so she sent a message to Jacques and Lemony, telling them of her decision to stay for a little longer to make sure everything was okay.

For an hour or two she stayed there, playing cards and reading the Volunteer Factual Dispatch to pass the time. Then, halfway through an article about the newest volunteer technology, she realized that she had left the radar off. Not wanting to miss anything, she flicked the "on" switch. As soon as she did, she found that another vehicle was approaching her submarine at a dangerously fast pace. Her radar told her that it was a V.F.D. submarine, so she turned on her radio and tried to hail it.

"Hello," she said into the radio. "Who's there?" The submarine on the radar did not respond.

"Is this thing on?" she asked again, tapping the radio with her finger. She didn't see anything wrong with the radio or the radar, which showed that the other submarine was heading straight for her. Soon she had visual contact. She was bracing herself for impact when the submarine veered off course at the last second. Even before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the radio finally came on.

"Kit Snicket," the raspy voice said. "You are a problem; prepare to be dealt with!" Just a second later, there was a tremendously loud noise and an explosion which rocked the boat. Her brown hair flew about her face as she brought the submarine to the surface. She managed to send a message just before a second explosion hit the sub and Kit blacked out.

Suprising news can either be good, like the earlier news of the engagements of the Snicket siblings' friends, or bad. Usually it's very clear what type of news it is when one reacts to it. If it is good, the person might smile, or, it they are very tall, they might jump for joy and bump their heads on the ceiling. But more often than not, the unexpected news is bad. People who are unfortunate enough to receive this type of news might frown or burst into tears, depending on the severity of the bad news.

Lemony and Jacques were riding in one of the new helicopters that were veing tested for flaws by the volunteers. They were in rather good spirits, since the feel of flight is exhilarating. As they were laughing and having a rare moment of brotherly togetherness, a message came in on a piece of paper nearby Jacques.

"Well," Lemony said happily. "At least we know that works! What is it, Jacques?"

Jacques' face fell as he read the words on the paper. The news on that piece of paper wasn't good or bad; it was catastrophic.

"Get this helicopter turned around," Jacques said quickly. "We have to go. Now."

Hearing the sense of urgency in his brother's voice, Lemony knew not to question his brother. He convinced the pilot to turn around and pick up a medic from a nearby outpost. As they were rushing across the water, Jacques finally told Lemony about the note.

"It's Kit," he said quietly. "I think she's in trouble." He handed Lemony the note. It said:

PLZ HLP ME. OLF HRE. KS.

"Oh, no," whispered Lemony. "Not Kit... We have to help her."

"That's where we're going," Jacques said gently, putting his hand on Lemony's shoulder. "We'll find her. She's the best submarine pilot around. She'll be okay."

"We have arrived," the pilot said over the intercom. "We have visual contact."

Lemony and Jacques hurriedly turned to the window, searching for any sign of their sister. The amphibious helicopter landed on the water, and the brothers gasped at what they saw. A few yards away from them were the battered remains of a small submarine. It was scorched and dented and there were several small flames remaining on it. Hanging halfway out of the top hatch was the form of a woman as battered as the submarine she rode in.

Kit was immediately brought back to the medical wing of the V.F.D. headquarters. She stayed unconscious for days while the doctors treated her horrible burns. One of her brothers was always at her side, and the Baudelaires and Quagmires soon came and visited her, too. Sarah would bring the most fragrant flowers to put next to Kit's bed, and the Quagmires made meals and brought them to Jacques and Lemony so they wouldn't have to leave their sister's side.

The doctors eventually said that Kit would recover, but there would be scarring on her arms and legs, and her hands would always have to be covered to protect them, because they would never fully heal.

One quiet afternoon three days after Kit's incident with the submarine, Lemony was sitting with Beatrice in Kit's room. They were putting the evidence of Kit's encounter in the Snicket file when Kit suddenly awoke with a loud scream.

"Help!" she yelled, suddenly jerked back to consciousness. "Don't hurt me! Get away from my submarine!" She fell back on her bed, gasping for air.

Lemony leaned over her bed while the others rushed into the room, alarmed. "Quiet, Kit," he said gently. "It's just me, Lemony, your brother. What happened."

"Oh, Lemony!" she cried, bursting into tears. "I was... And he was... Oh, Lemony!" She could barely talk through her sobs. "I was so scared!"

"Please," pleaded Jacques. "Just tell us what happened."

As she told them what happened, her eyes were wide open with fear and her breathing was irregular. She began to glance around at her surroundings, like the IV in her arm and the bandages all over her hands.

"Olaf," she said. "He wants the file! Jacques, he knows that it could hurt him!" She looked frantically at her brothers, the Quagmires, and the Baudelaires. "He'll kill us! He'll kill us if we don't give it to him! Oh, Lemony, I'm so scared!" She fell back on her pillow, breathing heavily. The doctors, concerned about Kit's health, ushered the visitors out of the room.