Chapter 38 - The Tables Turn
Island X, 30th September

Robur watched with fury as the two automobiles sped away in the distance, carrying their captain and first mate away to safety. The Mysterious Men's Mission had failed. All that was left were the bodies that the vampire had left behind and the fortress which once again lay destroyed.

But how?! How had they known that he was even behind it?! Was it due to him putting that flag down? No, it couldn't be, for he put it up only hours before the League had arrived in Belgium. Lupin had assured him there was no trail for the League to follow which tied them to the Island. Had Lupin lied to him? Whatever the reasoning, there had been some sort of mistake which would now cost the world dearly.

His first mate, Tom Turner approached Robur cradling an injured hand, dripping with blood. The Englishman was forty six years of age, with broad shoulders, though shorter in leg length. He had a large characteristic head which still sprouted a good amount of black hair. Turner was a man of iron, just like Robur.
"Do you plan to follow them, Mr Robur?" he asked.
"No, it would do little good. We've failed… Go have yourself patched up and then meet me on the Albatross. The invisible man caused her to crash and I don't know the extent of the damage."

Robur had no time to further that thought. He turned upon hearing Fantômas calling out to him. Robur excused himself and hurried to meet him, unsure of what was wrong. Fantômas was out of breath as he made it within speaking distance to him.

"Robur, you must hurry. Armand is injured," Fantômas called out.
Robur closed the distance. "What? How bad is it?" Robur demanded.

Fantômas bent over, supporting himself by placing his hands on his thighs. "I'm not sure- a shot in the leg, I think."
"By who?! Where is he?"
"I saw the League pulling away from them. Zenith found him. They're both in Zenith's room."

Robur was about to hurry off, but Fantômas straightened up. "You should know. Champeau is caring for the wound for the time being."
"Champeau?!"
"He was the first I came across. Armand really didn't have the time for me to look for someone better."

With the briefest of nods in Fantômas's direction, Robur took off. He hoped with all his might that it would not have serious consequences. His son was everything to him. If he had been hurt then it would no doubt be the League's doing. If this was the case then Robur would not take it lying down. Injuring his son, a child at that, for revenge was unacceptable. If the League wanted a war they were sure as sunrise going to get one.

But of all the people to care for his son! Champeau was friends with the man who had tried to kill him and Armand. What if he tried something now right under Zenith's nose? Something as simple as a dirty needle could kill him.

Robur made it to Zenith's door within a few minutes, chest heaving with exhaustion. He didn't consider knocking as he opened the door wide. Zenith was sat in a chair beside Armand, who was lying on the bed asleep for the time being. Zenith was watching Champeau carefully.

The nurse noticed the suspicion, but he did not hesitate in his work of cleaning the wound ready for sewing. Zenith was ill, that was clear to see, but he looked to be enduring it for Armand's sake. Armand did not appear to look any better, he was soaked with sweat and rain, with a pale complexion. The amount of bloodied blankets and dressings didn't escape his notice.

"Robur, there's something I have to tell you-" Zenith started.
"I'm sure it can wait a moment. What happened here?"

"Would one of you mind getting me some more water, please?" Champeau asked, unafraid of cutting into the conversation.

Zenith reluctantly got up at the nurse's request and left. He gave Robur a pleading look, a glance that warned him to keep an eye on Champeau. Zenith gestured for Robur to have his chair as he left. The unintentional pain that Champeau caused by treating the wound seemed to bring Armand back around. As Zenith left, Armand woke up, his chest shuddering as his injury made itself known to him. Robur knew from experience how badly it would hurt now that it was being seen to.

"Armand," Robur muttered in alarm. He grimaced at the sight of the injury his son had collected.
"Da?" Armand mewled, turning his head to see him.
"It's me, Armand. Easy now, lie still," Robur said softly. He stroked his son's damp and dirty hair, comforting him as best he could. "I've got you," Robur found himself repeating as if more to himself than his son.

Armand clamped his eyes shut as Champeau continued to work. The boy's hand wandered down to his injury but Robur stopped him. He took hold of his son's hand. Armand held on tight to his father, trying to manage the pain. Robur encouraged him to hold on to him. Robur could tell he was weakened, he expected a much fiercer reaction to the pain than this.

As Champeau continued to work, Robur had to keep both of Armand's arms well out of the way as the pain became more outgoing.
"I'm sorry, Armand. I'll be as quick as I can," the nurse explained.
"Have you nothing to help him?" Robur asked, his voice heavy.
Champeau took it as a threat. "I sent someone to get some for me. I haven't been able to leave him." The look on his face suggested it had been serious. Perhaps it still was. He had lost a lot of blood.

Armand opened his eyes and looked down to see what the nurse was doing. He began to try to sit up and his eyes grew wide, his breathing becoming jittery.

Robur let go of one of his hands and took him by the cheek, turning his head. "Eyes on me, my boy, not that. You're going to be alright. Take some deep breaths for me."

Robur steadied himself and focused on appearing reassuring. It made it easier for him to calm his son that way. This was how Armand was used to him appearing and how he needed him to seem when he needed his father most. Robur was always cool in such situations and this could be no exception.

"I'm almost done," Champeau reassured him.

Armand tried to lean further over to his father but Robur moved closer instead, settling his hand in his soaked forehead while the other still held his wrists. "Keep still, my lad."

" Zenith alright?" Armand managed. "He was unconscious before."
"I'm sure Zenith is fine," Robur replied. So thoughtful, always worrying about others before he worried about himself. Robur smiled gently down at him.

It wasn't long after that Zenith reappeared with a bowl of hot water which he gave to Champeau.
"Nice to see you awake, lad," Zenith smiled.
Armand tried to smile back at him but pain interrupted him.

Champeau checked the temperature of the water and proceeded to further rip Armand's trouser leg more than he already had. Armand began to doze off but he whimpered. Robur didn't stop him from sleeping. He knew it was better for him this way.

Zenith gave the water to Champeau then stepped aside. "Robur, I have to talk to you, it really cannot wait."
"Go on."
"They've got Lupin."
"What? Who has?"
"The League. This is what I've been trying to tell you."

Robur's grimaced. "Tell me everything, Zenith. What happened?"
"Hyde came after me but I managed to lose him. I followed the League after a minute and saw Armand in front of them. He'd froze. I don't think he knew if it was safe to run. I distracted the League and gave him time to get to safety. I was about to leave but I saw Lupin was unconscious and wounded. I tried to save him but they overwhelmed me. I've failed him and I don't know if Nemo will stay true to his word."

"The League is stronger than we could ever be. Do not blame yourself. But what do you mean by Nemo's word?"
"Before he rendered me unconscious, he told me to tell you not to follow. He swore he'd care for Lupin and release him, but if we were to follow, he'd kill him."
Zenith paced a little "I'm not even at the sum of our problems yet. Did you know Quatermain's alive?"
"That's impossible," Robur retorted.
"Tell that to him. He was in the automobile with the rest of them. Somehow, they've got their leader back."

Robur sat in silence, thinking hard. "Let's worry about Lupin first. Tell some of the men to start a search - he might have gotten away."
Zenith nodded "Already done." He glanced to Champeau, "but I'd best check everyone is secure."
"They're in the cells where I left them when I was looking after Jean," Champeau said flatly, not looking up from his work. He sighed and chewed his lip in concern "Make sure he's alright for me."

"I will," Zenith said curiously. With a nod from Robur, he left.

The captain stayed where he was, staring at his resting son. He stayed like that for a while, tangled in his grim thoughts. Deeply concerned for his son and terrified for Lupin. What was Nemo planning? There was no way in which Nemo wouldn't exact some sort of revenge on his second in command, was there? Would Lupin's kindness towards Nemo save him? He could only hope Lupin could look after himself.

It didn't take the nurse long to clean, seal and bandage Armand's wound. "There," Champeau sighed. "I've done what I can. That will hold it for now, but you should get him to the mainland-"
"What are you talking about?" Robur asked gruffly, looking up at the young man.

"I'm only a nurse, Robur. I'm not all that used to mending bullet holes. I've bought us some time, a few days at the most, but Armand needs a doctor- a good one if you want him to walk unhindered. He will need medicine but the explosion looks to have hit most of the supplies. If we can get him to France then my father will be able to help. He's a very skilful physician. Besides, at the moment the island is no place for him to heal. The risk of infection will multiply tenfold if he stays here," Champeau explained.

"You certainly didn't have this trouble with bullet holes when Nyctalope was shot," Robur pointed out.
"No, because his wound was small. The bullet hadn't buried itself as far into his body. It hit the metal in his chest. This is different. Captain, please do not think I am doing this to spite you. I want Armand to heal just as much as you do but here is not the place for him to stay," Champeau answered coolly. He knew that Robur was annoyed. It was no good taking offence. With everything that had happened over the last few weeks, he was sure to be untrusting of Nyctalope's friend.

Robur restrained himself as Zenith returned for a second time.

"The three of them are secure. Admittedly Jean is in a bad way but stable from what I can tell."
"I'd best go to see to the Albatross then. Once I know it is secure, I'll move Armand onboard. I'll have to see what damage those swine did first," Robur said. He looked at Champeau. "We need to get to France, though it will have its difficulties. If you're done here I'll send someone to take you back to Degains."

Champeau nodded in half-hearted thanks.

"Robur go and do what you need to do. I'll keep an eye on Armand," Zenith replied.
"I want to quickly check your head while you're here, Zenith," Champeau added.

With one last look at Armand's sleeping form, Robur left. He refused to rest until the Albatross was fixed and Armand was on his way to his best chance of recovery. Robur hoped to be able to find Lupin on the island. He didn't dare imagine what Nemo would do if he had the opportunity.

It was a race against time, and with that grim thought in the front of his mind, he hurried to his ship.