Chapter 2: Jarvis
"Who wrote the message?" Violet asked.
"I can't recognize the writing. It could be anybody in the future who wanted to warn us," said Klaus. "Justice Strauss or Jerome Squalor must have found it during their investigations."
"We don't know if the past can be changed," said Violet. "So far, these messages have only helped bring about what they tried to warn against."
"We just have to hope it can," I said.
Klaus put the doily back into the waterproof envelope and put it in his pocket for future reference.
"Going to sea to help the Quagmires will be dangerous," said the Duchess. "Are you still sure that's what you want to do?"
"Going!" said Sunny.
"That's right," said Violet. "We could die even if we stay here. If I'm going to die, I want to do it helping my friends."
"Me too!" said Klaus.
We arrived at the Marina to find very few people; a stiff breeze was whipping up the waves.
"We're looking for a short, tanned man in his twenties with a high-pitched voice," Duchess R. said. "The waitress said his name is Simon."
"Halooo Simon!" I called out.
"Haloooo!" came a high-pitched reply. A short, tanned man in his twenties jumped down from a nearby motorboat and sauntered toward us.
"I'm Jarvis Simon," the man said cheerfully. "What can I do for you?"
"The world is quiet here," I said. "We need your help with an emergency boating mission."
"It's not that quiet," Jarvis replied. "The barometric pressure's falling and the wind is picking up. It's not smart to put out to sea in this weather."
"Please, Mr. Simon," Violet said. "Our friends are in danger."
"Ah, a concierge," said Simon. "I really appreciated the service at your Hotel. The coffee-shop waitresses was a little rough when I asked for coffee with sugar, but I got a free slice of rhubarb pie out of it. Here concierge, have a tip."
He offered Violet a large bill.
"Really, there's no need," said Violet.
"Go ahead, I have plenty," said Jarvis with a wink. "Here, you other concierges, you get one too."
The Baudelaires took the money; they had been penniless so long it was a huge relief.
"Will you please help us with our mission?" Violet asked.
"A concierge in need is a concierge indeed," said Jarvis. "I'll do it."
"Does he really have anything to do with the V.F.D.?" Klaus whispered to me. "Maybe he's just a rich tourist."
"Tourists rarely find the Hotel Denouement," I told him. "Practically everyone there is an agent. But it's just possible."
We got into the motorboat and headed out into the whitecaps.
"We need to get to the Mediocre Barrier Reef to see if we can pick up the trail of my sister," I told Jarvis.
"No problem," Jarvis said.
"By the way, why did you order coffee with sugar?" asked the Duchess.
"I like sugar in my coffee. I ordered some in my tea, too, when I checked in." said Simon. "I had no idea it would upset people so."
"Tea should be bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a two-edged sword," I said.
"Different people have different tastes," Jarvis replied.
He seemed annoyed, so I left him alone at the wheel of the boat.
The boat made poor headway against the high waves. The Baudelaires, who had no sleep the previous night, curled up on seats in the back of the boat to try to rest until we got to our destination. Sad to say, the Duchess and I nodded off too.
We awoke to a howling storm in the middle of the sea. Waves crashed over the deck, soaking us. I checked my watch.
"It's a few minutes past midnight," I yelled over the wind. "We should have reached the Reef long before this. We must be lost."
"It's October 19th..." said Violet.
"Beatrices' birthday," I said.
"Day one of us dies," said Sunny.
"Hey, what's this on my uniform pocket?" said Klaus.
There was a green stain spreading there. He pulled a soggy bill out of the pocket; the ink was running.
"Money shouldn't do that," said Klaus. "It's waterproof."
"Unless it's counterfeit," said Violet. "I suddenly have a bad feeling about Mr. Jarvis Simon."
"Let's rush him," I said.
Jarvis spun around as we ran forward, a blackjack in his hand. With his hands off the wheel, the boat spun sideways to the waves. A huge wave smashed over the side. I saw the Baudelaires swept overboard, just before Jarvis was on me, swinging the blackjack hard. That's all I saw before darkness.