A day had passed since the meeting on the beach and it was almost night: the first stars had already sprung up in the sky, but on the horizon there was still a blue halo. The buildings of Sydney were illuminated, as were the streets. The bowler hat guy was stationed on the roof of the building in front of the one where Helena and the other castaways from ARK lived, like every night since he'd started secretly keeping an eye on them. He was lying on the edge of the roof, using his black cape as a blanket, so as to be less visible in the dark. With binoculars, he watched with Doris the four survivors' flat through the windows and a radio placed next to him broadcast all their conversations, recorded by a microphone that Doris had hidden in the house a few weeks earlier. During the eavesdropping, he kept a packet of peanuts and a bottle of water within his reach. Mike didn't like lying down and staying motionless for so many hours every night: by now he had his elbows and knees peeled and sore all the time, his muscles were numb and he'd never exactly had an athlete's physique... but he comforted himself thinking that it would be worth it. Maybe. Sooner or later.
He trusted that, one day, details that could help him understand how to find ARK would leak from the chats of Helena, Rockwell and the other two. However, at the same time, he lived in paranoia and in fear of having already lost precious information because of that damn radio: it was a model of the 70s which he'd repaired as best he could with the help of an antiques shop owner. Now it worked, but it was still fifty years old: there was a constant risk that, out of the blue, it would go nuts in various ways and he could never tell whether it would start working again immediately. Even at that moment, when his four targets were not saying anything special to each other, Mike was as tense as ever for fear that the radio would abandon him. He'd already tried asking DOR-15 if she had a radio among her devices, but the bowler hat had replied that, had she really been equipped with a radio, they would've already had much less difficulty in the past. Mike swore that the first thing he'd do, once he found the island, would be to shatter that radio to take revenge for all the anxiety it had given him. Or maybe he'd have it crashed by a dinosaur, just to stay on topic. Or perhaps...
«Careful, Mike: it looks like Edmund Rockwell is carrying out an unusual study in his room» Doris said suddenly.
The bowler hat guy was suddenly brought back to the real world after that little distraction and had a small jolt of fright. He was tempted to protest to Doris at first, but he didn't: the operation had priority. So he pointed the binoculars at the window of the two men's bedroom and zoomed in. The old narcissist who was never quiet was studying what looked like a map with an absorbed air. The radio made a loud hum due to interference, but Mike ignored it: he was extremely focused. He tried to distinguish the drawings, but eventually gave up and grunted, frustrated:
«Damn it, Doris! Do something useful! You have a digital super-eye, use it! Read what British Santa's looking at for me!»
«Executing» Doris replied.
The mechanical bowler hat buzzed for a few seconds, before stating:
«He is examining a nautical chart of the Pacific Ocean»
«Is that so? Huh...»
Mike looked more attentively and noticed that, in fact, Rockwell was tinkering with a compass and a ruler. And his eyes were constantly flitting from the map to a yellowed sheet of paper with worn edges. There were writings, but Rockwell partly covered them, blocking Mike's view. However, although he himself admitted he wasn't one of the smartest men in the world, he was able to join the dots: if Rockwell was studying a map to trace a route using an inscription, that had to be...
«Doris, it's them! The coordinates of the prehistoric island!» he cried out, ecstatic, lowering his binoculars.
«It is the most plausible hypothesis, the odds that those are the coordinates of ARK are close to one hundred percent» confirmed DOR-15.
Then, both the man and the bowler hat began to strive to distinguish the entry on that sheet they'd been seeking like it was the Holy Grail, but it was useless: either Rockwell covered half of it with his elbow or with one hand, or his shadow cast by the lamp on the desk obscured the page. Mike growled, increasingly frustrated. He was so close, but still so far from his goal... suddenly, the door to the bedroom opened and Helena Walker stepped in, moved towards the British chemist with her arms crossed and stared at him with an expression straddling reproach and concern. Rockwell ignored her, clearly on purpose to provoke her. Mike stroked his mustache with one hand, intrigued:
«I guess a nice sparkling show's about to begin...» he murmured, grinning.
He glanced at the radio with a quick apprehensive glance: it was the moment of truth. He immediately went back to spying on the two, just in time to see Helena speak to Rockwell. When the woman opened her mouth, the radio emitted a scratchy buzz for a few minutes, but then began to transmit what the biologist was saying. There was still a slight interference, but what she was saying stood out. Mike breathed a sigh of relief and opened his ears, mentally begging those two to reveal something, anything, to him. The woman started the argument:
«I went to my bedroom and noticed the page torn out from the book was gone. Guess what, I figured out right away where to look for it» Helena insinuated, with a disconsolate sigh.
«Your spirit of observation is sharper than ever» Rockwell pricked her, without taking his eyes off the map.
Helena shook her head:
«Edmund, please, enough. You need to stop! Mei's right: you're so obsessed with ARK that you barely live! You spend three quarters of the day studying medicine and the last quarter just blabbering about your old studies on the island... it's not good for you»
Rockwell adjusted his glasses, irritated:
«Don't you tell me what's good or bad, Helena. You're like a shoemaker presuming to teach a fisherman how to cast nets»
«It's not about that. Now you're furious with me, I know. For the record, I'm not happy about keeping a secret like that for three years: even if you don't believe me, I understand how important it was to you»
«That didn't stop you from passing up on the chance to delve into the clue you found on the Emberfall and denying it to me. Mei-Yin can call me a hypocrite and an egoist as much as she likes, but let's face it, Helena... we've all only cared about our personal gain, in this story, don't you think?»
Helena looked away, clenching her lips:
«Well, not...»
«You let go of all we were... no, all I was about to find out about ARK, because all you wanted was to return to this city. Mei couldn't wait to bask in the illusion of a normal life she could predict and feel safe in. Mister Nerva, for his part, was hoping to escape the wrath of the Arkians. You're no different from me, so you have no right to judge my decision to pick up where I left off»
«That doesn't make any sense: the three of us wanted a normal and calm life, it's everyone's right. You, on the other hand, dream of changing the world and telling everyone that you did it!»
«Hmm... I just might, but it would still be beneficial for everyone: I would have the recognition I deserve and society would know a new era. Thanks to me»
«But apart from that, who said there's something extraordinary over there?»
«Until proven otherwise, it's written in the book you so naively left in a public place»
Helena was stunned and stuttered for a moment, realizing that she'd handed Rockwell a point in his favor. She stared at the floor for a few seconds, unable to find an answer. The chemist noticed that and, at last, he raised his head to look into her eyes, with a mischievous grin:
«I'll tell you more, Helena... when you think about it, you had no reason to bring me here with you. I'd serve you no purpose. So why didn't you tell me what you saw and leave alone, or with Mei-Yin? We would've bid farewell and parted ways, whatever would happen to me was none of your concern. So why did you choose to deny me what was rightfully mine?»
Helena stared at him, upset:
«Are you serious?» she asked.
«I don't think I used an ironic tone or one that sounded like it was» Edmund teased her.
Helena spread her arms, as if she were stating the obvious:
«Edmund, you're my friend! How could I ever leave you on ARK? The barrier was open, it was a chance for all four of us, why not seize it together? Besides, you didn't tell me you wanted to stay!»
Rockwell narrowed his eyes and pointed his compass at her, like an accusing index finger:
«Of course not! I didn't suspect in the slightest that there was something else, because you were hiding everything from me! As far as I knew, the trail of the artifacts had led me to a dead end, after I found that crystal with no apparent purpose on the Apotheosis!»
«Yes, indeed...»
Rockwell didn't let her go ahead:
«I agreed to follow you here because I believed there was nowhere to search, though I knew the solution must be right under my nose. In fact... good grief, when I think it took a young girl's carelessness, three years later, for me to learn that! I would've spent the rest of my life in ignorance, had it been for you…»
Mike shuddered at the genuine resentment and revulsion that the haughty old man delivered in those words. It was irritating, but at the same time it was disturbing. That reproach almost distressed him, he dared not imagine how the biologist was feeling. In fact, Helena looked upset after Rockwell's accusation. She stared into space for long moments, with an indecipherable expression. Mike held his breath, waiting to find out what would happen next. Rockwell looked at Helena with disdain for a few moments, waiting for an answer. When he saw that she remained inert, he adjusted his glasses again with contempt and returned to study the map, as if nothing had happened. But at one point, Helena seemed to snap out of it, she turned to the old Brit, her hands clenched into fists. Mike saw indignation in her eyes, but he also saw a veil of moisture: the woman seemed to be holding back from crying. The bowler hat guy assumed those were tears of anger or frustration and he didn't blame her: that chemist was a really vile man. Helena opened her lips: she was about to answer... Mike was overwhelmed by the suspension, it was like watching a drama where you can never tell how it's going to end... then the radio emitted a loud hum that made him scream in fright. His heart was on the verge of bursting.
«No! No, no no no no! Traitor! You can't do this to me! Not now!» he yelled.
«It looks like a signal detection issue» Doris noted.
Sitting cross-legged and holding the radio on his lap, Mike began to give it repeated taps on the sides, tilting the antenna in various directions. Nothing doing: the only result was weaker or more intense buzzing. Everything was about to end ruinously. However, after a bit he started to hear something... the signal was returning. Finding hope again, Mike insisted on hitting the radio and reorienting the antenna, until the frequency became stable and transmitted...
«Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us…»
«What the heck... argh! That's right, you piece of junk, pray! I'm about to send you to radio hell!» yelled Mike.
He threw two more furious punches, causing the radio to buzz:
«…the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement…»
«Work! Work!»
He bent the antenna almost in an arc and the channel changed. There was interference, then Mike began to distinguish words...
«Come on... come on...»
Finally, the buzzing stopped and...
«Well, Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam: I was a drab little crab, once… now I know I can be happy as a clam, because I'm beautiful, baby!»
«Hey... what a neat tuneful voice... wait a minute, what am I thinking? Stop messing around, stupid box!»
The punch he threw afterwards was so violent that the impact went up the nerves of his arm to his elbow, causing him to whine in a squeaky voice. But he finally made it: the radio emitted a very annoying whistle, and then returned to transmitting the survivors' voices. Just in time to hear Rockwell say:
«Now I have everything I need: I triangulated the location of ARK and traced the route, I just have to go there»
Mike gasped, pervaded by adrenaline: that statement was the sign that everything was about to change. If there was ever a time to open his ears well, it was now. Putting the radio back on the ground in a hurry, he got back in position and brought the binoculars to his eyes. He got a little alarmed when he saw that the two had left the bedroom, but he calmed down immediately: he could still hear them. He tried not to go into paranoia by repeating to himself that maybe he hadn't missed much, apart from a response in kind from Helena, and waited to find out what would happen now.
§
Helena was almost on the verge of throwing up her hands: by now it was all too evident that nothing she said would make Rockwell see reason. The childish resentment he harbored for her was too bitter and his determination to return to ARK was too earnest. There was no way for her to make him understand how absurd the idea was, but the fact that he'd used the coordinates to chart a route showed that he'd gotten real. And, if there was one thing she'd learnt from Rockwell's tales from his youth, no matter how exaggerated and distorted they were, it was that Edmund knew exactly how to orient himself and use maps: there was no doubt he'd located ARK correctly. All that separated the chemist from the prehistoric island was the Pacific... and one last, desperate attempt on her part to make him change his mind. So, just as Rockwell was putting on a sleeveless jacket hanging from the coat rack to go out, the biologist sprang towards the ceramic bowl where she kept all the keys, grabbed the door key and held it tight, stepping away from the entrance. Edmund glared at her:
«I hope this is a childish prank, Helena» he hissed.
«No, Edmund. I'm more serious than ever» she said, keeping calm.
«What's happening here?» Mei's voice intervened.
Helena turned around and saw that the Chinese warrior had come out of the women's bedroom, with her usual circumspect look. She wore a tank top and shorts and was barefoot: she was getting ready to go to bed. The Beast Queen stopped at the threshold of the living room and crossed her arms, looking at Helena and Edmund. When she saw Rockwell in a jacket and with a map in his hand and the biologist holding the key of the house, her expression quickly went from surprised to worried, and then returned cautious as always. By looking at her, Helena was sure she could see the tension in the muscles of her slender, but well-toned arms and legs.
«You're having a disagreement about that island, are you not?» asked Mei, sarcastically.
«We sure are: this is ridiculous!» complained Rockwell.
At that moment, the bathroom door opened and Gaius, who'd returned from work shortly before and had taken a shower, came out wearing a bathrobe and sandals. With his hair and beard still wet and messy, the Roman approached Mei and looked at everyone, perplexed.
«I heard you arguing even with the sound of water, what is all this bustle?» he asked, almost naively.
«Edmund's decided he wants to go back to ARK at all costs, since now he knows what to look for and where» Helena explained.
Mei shrugged, closing her eyes:
«Well, let him go. I don't see how this is our problem»
Rockwell had a subdued sarcastic laugh:
«This is one of the rare times I approve of Mei's opinion. Won't you listen to her, Helena? You always hang on her every word…»
Helena ignored his provocation and shook her head, putting her hands on her hips. Nerva scratched his neck with his gaze bowed, to hide his slightly embarrassed expression:
«Ad insulam redire... this is folly» he commented.
Helena seized that opportunity and nodded. At that point, she tried improvising a new argument, using one of Rockwell's weaknesses she knew best: pride.
«That's right! Edmund, this idea is bloody insane! Since when have you started making rash decisions? On ARK you were always one step ahead of everyone, you said so yourself! And it was always you who said that a place like that requires maximum organization. You can't just walk out of here and cross half the ocean... you don't even know how to do that!»
Rockwell crossed his arms, with a smile:
«Of course I do: I'll pay some fishermen to escort me to the coordinates I'll provide them with. Don't you know how many simpletons would be willing to perform the twelve labors of Hercules, for a fistful of extra coins?»
Helena rolled her eyes, snorting:
«Oh, please, Edmund! Even if you do succeed, you'll still have to deal with ARK. Just because you were lucky the first time, there's no way you can tell it will be so the second. We all know that place has nasty surprises around every corner»
Mei nodded:
«Absolutely. I had a pack of beasts admired by everyone, Nerva had a whole army, and we still lost everything overnight»
Gaius, in support of the Beast Queen's words, added:
«You are taking a leap in the dark to pursue something you do not know, outside of the pages of a book. If I were you, I would not risk so much for such an ephemeral promise»
At that point, there was silence. Helena gave Rockwell a pleading look, hoping that their joint efforts would be enough to get to him. The British chemist let his contemptuous gaze roam from her to the others all the time, with a thoughtful attitude. Helena had a feeling he was looking for another pretext to turn the tide in his favor: Rockwell was the most skilled manipulator she knew... and she knew that because she would've never suspected it, if Mei hadn't made it clear to her over those three years. Eventually, the chemist's expression seemed to relax. Edmund put his hands behind his back and looked down, pursing his lips:
«Do you know what saddens me, albeit rather mildly?» he asked.
«I don't care» Mei replied right away, almost aggressively.
Edmund ignored her and went ahead:
«Think about it: you all have a good reason to go back to ARK. Isn't that so, Helena?»
The biologist figured out in a second what he was getting at and felt helpless: she knew he was right on all accounts. Rockwell made his move:
«You want to uncover the secret of ARK at least as much as I do, you admitted it yourself. Of course, you're mainly driven by mere scientific curiosity, rather than by a noble dream like mine. Nonetheless, this wish unites us. Deep down, you regret not daring, three years ago. Your conscience is just waiting for an opportunity to get you back there, don't hide it!»
Helena felt torn for a few seconds, before being able to answer:
«I'm still convinced I made the smartest move. But I can't say you're wrong, Edmund: I'd still like to know why the Arkian ecosystem is so anomalous»
Rockwell gave her a smug smile, before turning his gaze to the Roman:
«As for you, Gaius, you're not indifferent to what you did to the Arkians, are you? Your honor's still stained with the blood you shed in the name of Mars, right?»
The centurion closed his eyes and tightened his lips. But then he crossed his arms and shook his head:
«That is true, I am still ashamed of declaring war on those folk and almost enslaving them. It would be the greatest relief of my life to have their forgiveness, but I can tell the difference between dreams and reality. And in reality, the greatest service I could deliver to the natives of the island was to leave, never to return»
Finally, the chemist looked at Mei, but words seemed to fail him. The warrior, seeing his hesitation, stated:
«Exactly, I have no reason to go back to that nightmare. All I got was another war I had to fight in, even though it had nothing to do with me. I was given nothing but doubts and suffering, just like when I lived in China. Here I have everything I need and I'll never give it up»
Edmund was indifferent for a while, but then he gave her a mischievous smile:
«I realize that... but wouldn't you do it even to repay your best and only friend?»
«What?» asked Helena and Mei.
The former was surprised, the latter was in a huff. Rockwell nodded:
«Don't forget that you would've never achieved any of this without Helena, you owe her this new life you're so attached to: she gave you her friendship, a way out of ARK and finally taught you how to live in this society that's centuries more advanced than yours. And the roof under which you sleep is hers, which applies to all of us. I know you'd do anything to pay off this debt of gratitude, even go back to the island you hate so much»
Helena couldn't remain silent after such a subtle insinuation, so she immediately intervened in defense of her friend:
«Edmund! Why would you say that? Mei owes me nothing! I helped her because it was right!»
Rockwell shrugged:
«Just like you owed me nothing for the advice, the favors and the intellectual support I offered you, yet you did me this wrong. But Mei's much more honorable than you, isn't she?»
«For the last time, I did you no wrong! Neither with my research on the artifacts, nor by hiding the last clue! Stop it!» exclaimed Helena.
Rockwell simply raised his hands. Mei stared at him with her petrifying gaze, clenching her fists. Finally, after a brief silence, she took a few steps forward, got past Helena and stood right before Edmund, looking him straight in the eye:
«How right you are. I have a debt with Helena and I'd do whatever she asked me to do. Even go back to ARK, though I'd never want to. But you're forgetting something»
«I am? And what's that?» he asked, defiantly.
«Helena will never ask me to go there, because unlike you she's not so crazy as to leave everything behind for an obsession»
Everything went silent again. Helena didn't really know what to say or think: that final confrontation between Edmund and Mei had left her speechless. And she was even more shocked by the fact that she'd become the subject of the most devious argument she'd ever heard. At that point, Mei-Yin turned to her and, cold as ice, she urged her in a nearly threatening tone:
«Give him that key, Helena. If he wants to go and die on the island, it's not up to you to stop him: he's made his choice. And if he's still a friend to you after what he said, you really are the best person I've ever met»
That said, Mei-Yin stepped aside and approached the coffee table in the living room, crossing her arms and watching the biologist, waiting to hear what she'd decide. Helena was still torn and looked at the key to the door in her palm, as if it had the answer to her doubts. Rockwell held out his hand to her, impatient:
«Come on, Helena, listen to her. You needn't worry about me: I know exactly what I want and what I'm doing. It takes much more than the most inhospitable place in the world to hinder my research! It didn't stop me even the first time...»
But the poor woman was still not sure. She couldn't bring herself to let Edmund do something so crazy as if it were nothing. In one last, desperate attempt to find support, she turned to Gaius, but the centurion shook his head:
«I said what I think about this and I am as contrary to his idea as you are. But if that truly is his will, you should respect it. Fate will decide what happens to Rockwell» he solemnly said.
Mei glared at him:
«Fate is a lie, I'm tired of repeating it»
Helena took a deep breath and gave up. She made to hand over the key to Rockwell... but, just before the chemist could take it, the biologist's cell phone, which was on the table, vibrated and lit up. Helena glanced at it instinctively and saw a name she'd not expected: Chloe Webster.
«What?» she murmured.
Rockwell tilted his head and gave her a questioning look. Helena picked up the phone and read the message she'd just received. She couldn't believe her eyes.
«Oh my God... those kids want to go to ARK» she declared, distraught.
«Sorry, what?» asked Rockwell, incredulous.
«They're asking for our help» added the biologist.
Mei snorted, covering her face with one hand:
«Will it ever end?» she asked, disconsolate.
Nerva folded his arms and looked at her with a satisfied smile:
«If I were you, I would change my mind about fate. This cannot be a coincidence. However, this does create a conundrum for us: what are we to do now, Helena?»
The woman's eyes widened:
«Why are you asking me that? There's no conundrum! This is absurd!» she exclaimed.
«Absurd… or an unmissable opportunity to make this official?» grinned Rockwell.
Mei pointed at him an accusing index finger:
«No! Don't you dare! If you involve four kids who have nothing to do with this matter, you've just hit rock bottom»
The British chemist ignored her and insisted:
«Come on, Helena, stop suffocating your scientific spirit! You actually want to make this journey, you know! Keep lying to yourself and one day you'll regret it. And maybe it will be too late. These young people have offered you an unmissable opportunity! Don't you want to solve our unfinished?»
Helena didn't answer, she just stared at him. Now, a thousand conflicting thoughts were whipping through her head and something sparked inside her. The researcher immediately recognized it: the desire to know. And the spark soon became a flame that hadn't burnt in her soul for three years. And she realized only at that moment that she'd missed it terribly. So, with all eyes on her, Helena typed her answer to the young people. There was no going back.
§§§
«You're right. All right then: we'll go back to ARK»
The radio transmitted Helena Walker's final statement with extraordinary clarity: no signal disturbance and no buzzing. There was no doubting it. Mike was so happy that it almost felt like a dream. He heard in passing Mei-Yin shouting something, but now the bowler hat guy was no longer listening: he turned off the radio, put off his cape and, regardless of the cover, began to literally jump for joy around the roof and to exult deeply:
«Yes! Yes! Yes! It's done, Doris! It's done! Who should I thank? Never mind that, just thank you! Thank you so much! Hurray! Prehistoric island, Mike Yagoobian's coming! All our efforts have paid off!»
«I think your celebration is premature, Mike – protested DOR-15 – We have not acquired the coordinates of ARK yet»
«Who freaking cares? We don't need them anymore!» he laughed.
«Why?»
«What? Can't you see? They will take us there! Why risk our cover by snatching an old sheet of waste paper, when we can follow them secretly to the island and steal the treasure from under their noses?»
«That sounds like a potentially effective strategy»
«Of course it's effective, I made it up! Muhuhuhuhahahahaha! Well, Doris, we deserve to celebrate! Shall we spend some of our savings to get a burger?»
«If this will help strengthen your mental condition, increasing the chances of the plan succeeding, feel free to proceed» Doris replied.
«Hell yeah! I've not had a Big Mac in two years!»
That said, the bowler hat guy picked up all his equipment and ran down the roof, going down the external stairs outside humming.
§
A FEW MINUTES EARLIER...
Chloe was uneasy about Laura that day: after meeting the four survivors the evening before, her friend appeared to be even more thoughtful than usual. Even more than she'd been in the last few days, since she'd found Darwin's encyclopedia. In the morning Chloe had found her to be very absent-minded, before she went to give her French lessons; when she got home, she'd found her exactly as she'd left her. Chloe knew very well that when Laura was like that, something was swirling in her head and she'd spit it out very soon. In fact, she wasn't surprised when, after dinner, Laura sighed tensely, looked at her and the others with a certain embarrassment and asked everyone if they could follow her to the girls' bedroom, announcing that she had something to ask. Chloe already had a vague idea of what it might be, but she knew that saying it right away would make Laura so uncomfortable that she'd get a block out of embarrassment. So she chose to go along with her and asked her, with feigned surprise:
«What is it? Something important?»
Laura pondered with tight lips, before rocking her head and answering:
«In a way. It's about us and our... uh... immediate future» she admitted.
Sam whistled, sarcastically:
«Damn, sounds serious... are you heading off somewhere?» he joked.
«What?!» gasped Jack, alarmed.
Chloe couldn't smother an affectionate little laugh, seeing how he'd immediately gotten nervous hearing that possibility. She always found him and Laura so cute.
«Huh? No, of course not! I never thought of leaving!» exclaimed Laura, disoriented.
«Oh, sorry, I misunderstood» Jack muttered, embarrassed.
«Oh, well... just follow me» Laura said.
Chloe and the others stood up and followed the blonde girl into the girls' bedroom. Laura and Chloe sat on their beds, Jack sat in the desk chair and Sam leaned his back against the wall. When they all got comfortable, the paleontologist breathed another tense sigh and began to speak in an indecisive tone:
«So... yeah, after what happened yesterday at the beach, I've been thinking a lot. After that squabble between Helena and Rockwell, I came up with a certain idea I just can't drive away... it may sound dumb to you, but I've thought carefully about all the pros and cons and...»
Chloe immediately realized that she was beating around the bush as much as she could: it meant that it was something really embarrassing for her, especially to talk about it with them. And she began to worry, when Laura decided to spit it out and her suspicion turned into reality:
«I'll make it short: what if we went to ARK? Rockwell said it first, maybe we can take advantage of it!»
Chloe and the two boys stared at her, stunned and unable to find words. At first Chloe had the impulse to burst out laughing, but then she realized the seriousness with which her friend had made that proposal and felt just dismayed. Laura had made bizarre suggestions in the past, but had never reached such a level of absurdity. Chloe was amazed, so much so that it was one of those rare occasions where she had no ready answer. She didn't really know how to react, whether to belittle the idea as nonsense or to discuss it seriously. It was Sam who broke the silence:
«Wait, what? Are you for real?» he asked.
«Well... I guess so» Laura replied, with a shy smile.
«What? But why?» asked Jack, with wide eyes.
Laura spread her arms:
«Well, guys, what do you expect me to say? I live for paleontology, and now I know that there's really a prehistoric island with animals I've been studying my entire life and I even have someone who may guide me! How could I waste such an opportunity?»
«Fine, but even if it made sense… which it doesn't, for the record, why would you ever want to drag us into this? You're the one who studies fossils» Sam disputed.
«Uh... because there are real dinosaurs?» replied Laura, chuckling.
The redhead gave her a warning:
«If you start humming the Jurassic Park main theme, I'll force you to jog with me every morning» he joked.
Jack smiled and let slip a slight laugh, before recomposing himself and turning to Laura, in a supportive tone:
«Seriously, Laura, why would you want us to come?»
Laura blushed a little and shrugged:
«Because... it would be the most incredible adventure of our whole life, what pleasure would it be for me without you? All our trips have always been as awesome as I remember because we were all together! Even more so, I'd like to explore ARK with my best friends»
It warmed Chloe's heart to hear that sweet statement. Their summer "adventures" promptly came to her mind: every year, during the holidays, the four of them organized an itinerary in an exotic or historical destination and visited fascinating places or did nature trails. Each time, the choice and preparation of the trip was almost as much fun as the vacation itself for them. During each of their "adventures", their differences stood out more than ever, but in the end that was precisely what made them such a close-knit group: they supported and, in some ways, completed each other. Chloe understood Laura's hopes and dreams very well, but now it was time to bring her back to the real world. After quickly thinking of a way to make her reflect without spoiling her moment too much, Chloe stood up and went to sit next to her friend, looking at her with an affectionate expression:
«Laura, we appreciate the thought, we really do. And I can imagine how exciting the idea of seeing living fossils can feel to you... but you must also realize all the issues that would imply»
«Well, yes...» murmured Laura, embarrassed.
Chloe went ahead:
«I'm no expert, but honestly, dinosaurs don't exactly look tender and docile... also, keep in mind that leaving ARK is a challenge, according to Helena's story. How hard do you think it would be to stay whole even for a day?»
Laura rolled up her eyes:
«Come on, they're not scaly monsters that think of nothing but killing! It was Hollywood that shoved this trope into your minds»
Sam chuckled:
«For that matter, penguins aren't killer scaly monsters either, but that time in New Zealand there was that one penguin pissed off with life that chased Jack halfway down the beach to peck him»
Chloe gave him a reproachful look - that was definitely not the best of examples. The redhead raised his hands to apologize.
«Anyway, that doesn't change the fact that there's a bunch of issues to consider» Jack said.
The blonde girl raised an index finger and reminded him:
«Well, the four of them made it and I can tell they have a lot of experience. We could follow all their advice or let them help us!»
Chloe shook her head:
«Exactly, Laura, they'd have to help us. Don't you think we'd be a hindrance to them? They'd have to do that sort of treasure hunt Helena and the old Brit argued about and keep us safe at the same time. If something happens to us, whose fault will it be?»
Laura couldn't answer: she bit her lower lip and looked down. Chloe realized that her argument was working, therefore she insisted on that:
«By the way, only Rockwell looked eager to go back there. Yeah, maybe Helena as well, deep down, but not so much. While the Beast Queen and the centurion are obviously not into it. What makes you think that their return to ARK is actually a thing? Maybe they've already made the doctor change his mind and aren't thinking of it anymore. You'll see, in time you'll get over it, too»
Laura looked up and stared at her: she didn't look at all sure of Chloe's reassurance. Jack made a kind attempt to comfort her:
«Don't be sad, at least you know there's a place out there where prehistoric species live! It must be great for a paleontologist, right?»
«I guess so, Jack» murmured Laura, melancholic.
Sam moved away from the wall and, followed by Jack, he was about to leave the room when, all of a sudden, Laura made a new proposal:
«What if we asked for Helena's opinion? We have her number»
Chloe and the others opened their eyes wide, incredulous. Chloe knew Laura could be a tenacious girl when she wanted to, but she usually remained so within the limits of reason. This time, however, she just wouldn't give up, even if an idea like visiting ARK was just crazy. She had to be really determined... and Chloe couldn't decide whether it was admirable or alarming. Sam shook his head vigorously:
«Oh, no! Forget it! She's already done much more than most people would be willing to do for you, don't push your luck: even her patience must have a limit»
Jack nodded, worried:
«Sam's right, Laura: let sleeping dogs lie. You might be let down in the end…»
Laura sighed:
«Had I truly wanted to let sleeping dogs lie, I would never have gone as far as looking for her and asking her for the truth. Now we're too deep into this, we might as well get to the bottom of it. Isn't that right?»
«Come on, this is nuts!» snorted Sam, annoyed.
«I think it's worth a shot» she insisted.
Chloe tried to ponder, but she found no more useful arguments to appease Laura's enthusiasm. Eventually, she decided that only one option remained: the risky one. So she decided to give her friend a chance, but made it clear what she was likely to face:
«Are you really sure about this, Laura?»
«More than ever» she replied, staring at her seriously.
Chloe nodded:
«All right, then. Now I'll give you my phone: you write down what you think is most suitable. Be ready for a refusal, though... or something much worse, you can never tell. You're still going to ask her to escort you to the most dangerous place on Earth»
Laura closed her eyes and took a long deep breath, but nodded:
«I'm ready. If she snaps at me, I'll have brought that on myself. I'll apologize to her and we'll never talk about it again, I promise»
«I don't like this at all» complained Jack, worried.
«It's okay, Jack, I'll take responsibility for this – Laura reassured him, with a warm smile – Anyway, I have one last request»
«Sure thing» Sam said.
«In the remote and surreal case Helena accepts... I wish you guys would come with me to ARK. I mean seriously: if I set foot on the prehistoric island, I want to do it alongside you»
Chloe looked at the two boys and immediately exchanged knowing looks with Sam. She knew the redhead was taking it for granted even more than she was that Helena would tell Laura to screw off, so pretending to agree out of courtesy would help their friend feel better. Jack, on the other hand, looked insecure, but from his gaze Chloe sensed that he'd be truly willing to do Laura such a favor out of altruism. So, without further ado, they nodded:
«Why, of course, Laura. This and more» Jack smiled, in an almost noble tone.
The paleontologist smiled and thanked them, very excited; Chloe noticed a touch of commotion in her eyes. At that point she passed the phone to Laura and they watched her type a message. She paused to think several times, sometimes staying motionless like a statue, before sending the fateful request for help to the biologist with a trembling hand. Laura returned Chloe's cell phone and crossed both her legs and her arms, waving her foot nervously.
«This is it, one way or another» she said.
«Jeez, this is going to be rough…» Sam whispered.
Jack recommended Laura let them know them as soon as Helena replied, before following the redhead into the boys' bedroom. Contrary to Chloe's expectations, they didn't have to wait more than five minutes: her cell phone vibrated and tinkled on her nightstand, causing Laura to gasp with anxiety. Chloe called Sam and Jack loudly and the two rushed in.
«So? Did she tell you to fuck off?» asked Sam, pessimistically.
Chloe resisted the temptation to step on his foot to scold him. Laura ignored him and opened the message, as the three of them watched her holding their breath... and the blonde opened her eyes wide, beginning to breathe heavily. The boys were alarmed:
«Laura, what did she say?»
The paleontologist slowly looked up, ecstatic:
«I can't believe it... she said yes!»
«What?!» gasped Sam, distraught.
«And not only that: she said that all four of them will come!»
«Incredible! How can this be?» asked Jack, incredulous.
«Fuck if I know!» reacted Laura, on the verge of shedding tears of joy.
Chloe was simply stunned. The only thing she'd never had expected had happened. Now the point of no return had been passed and the three of them, as Laura's friends, had made a commitment. Therefore she sighed, still busy processing what she'd just learnt, and declared:
«We gave you our word, Laura. It's decided»
Jack scratched his neck, stunned:
«Well, I certainly didn't think such a thing would ever happen to me... but I won't back down»
The joy and enthusiasm on Laura's face were indescribable. The blonde held back the excitement no longer and began to pant with a wide jubilant smile, her eyes on her friends. Sam put his hands in his hair, shocked:
«Oh my God... we're going to ARK» he said.