Chapter 58 - Countdown
Continued
"A bomb," he muttered. The thought struck him like a snakebite. "There's a bomb!"
Lupin scampered to his feet, racing onto the Albatross as fast as his legs could carry him, leaving Sawyer in absolute confusion. He hurried up to where Robur and the others were resting, taking the stairs two at a time. Robur was the one he had to speak to. He saw Nemo was sitting on the floor by Mina in a bad way, and Robur's injuries were too big to miss.
"Lupin, I-" Robur began.
"Leave it. Get off the ship! All of you off- now!" he ordered.
"What are you on about?" Skinner asked.
"I think Fantômas left a bomb. He's going to wipe out the ship," Lupin panted.
"You do know all your crew have been locked in cabins, don't you?" Skinner interjected.
"No," Robur exclaimed. "Lupin, you have to find it. We may not have time to get everyone to safety." Lupin noticed Robur had to lean against the railing for a moment as a dizzy spell claimed him.
Robur tossed Lupin the keys to the doors, knowing he wouldn't be much use in the state that he was in. "Go!"
Lupin caught them with one hand and scooped up a gun from the floor in the other. "Skinner, I need you with me," Lupin instructed. Lupin went to begin searching, not waiting to see if he followed. Fortunately, he did so.
Lupin went straight to the assassin's room. He tried the door, only to find it unlocked. Common sense hit him like a wall, and as if someone had taken over his body, he opened the door very slowly. He stopped after only a few inches. There was a string attached to the handle. Skinner made it over to him as Lupin closed the door carefully.
"What-"
"It's a trap. Fantômas liked using those. He knew we'd look for the bomb. Skinner, wherever you are, get out of the way of the window."
Lupin stepped back, waited but a moment and shot one of the glass windows several times. The glass was reinforced and a single bullet wouldn't do much damage. After a few bullets, it gave way enough. Lupin climbed onto the window ledge and kicked the rest of the glass away. He tossed Skinner the keys.
"Go open the other doors, get the crew out and get them searching." With that, he carefully climbed inside.
Being careful not to cut himself as he slipped inside, Lupin looked around for any signs of a bomb. The string on the door was attached to a series of guns. Opening the door would have fired them.
Lupin untied and deactivated the weapon, should anyone else stumble upon it. He saw a note near the guns.
'Wrong' it said.
"Nice try," Lupin muttered. He left through the door to search the other rooms. Skinner had by this time released most of the crew, as well as Jean and Rene, who for time being decided to help, though Jean was shaky on his feet. There was only Turner unaccounted for. Lupin felt himself getting flustered. Time was running out. He had to take his time. If he rushed, then he'd make a mistake. This wasn't just his own life he was gambling with. Lupin counted to five, forcing himself to settle. He had to think about this, not just search wildly.
Where would he hide a bomb? What part of the ship would he place it to kill Nemo and Robur. He knew they were to fight; he knew where their battleground would be. He'd have it close. Where would no one look? Why would they not? Secure or obscure? Think! What were Fantomas' priorities- what are Robur's priorities? Where would no one-
It struck Lupin that Armand was also unaccounted for. He went to the top corner of the ship and opened the door to the boy's room. It was also unlocked, but Skinner hadn't gotten that far up the ship. He stepped inside to find Turner in a heap, Lupin crouched down beside him, checking for a pulse. He was alive. Lupin took to slapping his cheek until he woke up.
"Where's Armand?" he said as Turner came around.
Turner blinked hard as he pulled himself together. "I don't know- he was in bed. Fantômas' men were here- they've betrayed us!"
Lupin lifted Turner up to his feet. "We know. Get up, either get off the ship or start looking for a bomb. Tell me if you find Armand."
Turner staggered out of the room to help with the search, deciding against asking questions. Lupin froze as though he were held at gunpoint and waited for a moment. He heard a faint ticking in the silence... It came from the bed. Was he imagining it?
No. That was very real.
Within an instant he had the room turned upside down. Lupin snatched the quilt away from the bed, followed by the mattress. There it was. A great big mass of lethal metal tied to the bed frame with rope. He checked the timer: about three minutes. Trying to switch it off wasn't an option. It was too complex of an explosive for anyone on the ship.
Lupin carefully untied it from the frame and raced to find Robur.
"I've got it! Someone get this ship going towards the ocean as fast as she can go. We've got three minutes to our names."
Robur began to shout his orders to his crew who set to work immediately. One of the crew took the helm. The Albatross pulled away from the side of the cliffs and rushed off, leaving half of the League on land. Some of the crew helped Mina into a cabin with Nemo. Skinner joined them soon after with his work done.
"Where is it?" Robur asked, resting one arm on his injured side.
"Under Armand's bed. It's an ugly piece of work. You'll have to drop it in the ocean. I don't know how big the explosion will be."
Robur snarled to himself at hearing Fantômas' intentions. "Have you seen Armand?"
"No, not yet, I haven't seen Zenith either. I'll search as soon as I can."
Robur nodded but he looked uneasy.
He and Lupin went to inspect the bomb. Robur's jaw dropped. "Something that size wouldn't leave so much as a plank of wood untouched. Can you carry it?"
"Yes, Captain. It's safe to the touch."
"Then follow me. We'll take it to the back of the ship. I'll make sure your path stays clear."
"You need to be careful," Lupin pointed out as he carefully dragged the bomb out from under the bed and picked it up. Robur said nothing but forced his arm away from the injury that he was holding subconsciously.
The wind from the speed the ship flew at was unbearable. Robur's crewman who'd been at the helm left for one of the cabins. Robur took over and stayed inside the glass cage which surrounded the helm. It was difficult for Lupin to walk with the bomb with the strength behind the wind. He had to carry it in both arms. Lupin made it to the glass case and sheltered behind it, trying to ignore the pain in his wrist.
He shook the hair out of his face. Lupin could see that they were well clear of the cliffs. He looked at the timer. They had only one minute and ten seconds left.
"I'll bring her speed down so you can get out there. Get that thing off my ship," Robur ordered.
Lupin nodded and stepped out into the icy breeze. As he went to the edge, he gripped onto the railing. With one arm he lifted the explosive onto the railing and pushed it overboard. It fell, taking the cruel ticking with it.
"Get her turning around. We still have to get out of the way of the explosion," Lupin exclaimed as he made his way into the glass casing with Robur. Robur was already bringing her up to speed. Orders and instructions flew across the ship, the crew so well-practised in their roles. Everyone else remained hidden in different cabins. The winds deafened Lupin, which meant they were going at an impressive rate. He stared at the patch of water the bomb had landed in. Any moment now. He knew it wouldn't be long. He hoped they were out of range, that was if the water didn't dampen the charges-
The explosion felt like it had knocked Lupin's teeth out. He and Robur ducked out of instinct. The noise was indescribable. The water shot into the air like a giant spearhead. The water hit the air and landed on the back of the ship like rain. The glass case kept them dry.
"By Jove," Lupin muttered, standing up. "Fantômas certainly wasn't messing about."
Robur let the Albatross slow down and brought back alongside the cliff. His ship acted upon his every wish with incredible agility. When the ship stopped, Robur groaned and leaned against the glass. He felt dreadfully dizzy.
"You really need to stop thinking you're made of iron," Lupin pointed out. "Come on, we'll get you patched up."
"Somebody, help!" Lupin heard Armand cry.
Robur's face paled, "Armand." Just like that, his own needs became irrelevant, non-existent. With the ship safe once more, Robur dragged himself towards his son and disappeared out of sight. Lupin went over to Nemo and Mina, who had taken refuge in Armand's cabin. He needed to know how Nemo was. The captain was awake. Mina was keeping him sat up as he was coughing and holding his throat. Lupin helped to hold him in place.
"Fantômas-" he coughed.
"Rest easy, Nemo. He left. I'm sorry I wasn't able to stop him," Lupin said.
"You lied to me," he croaked, trying to get up; his annoyance was very clear.
"I think not," Lupin pointed out.
Mina stepped in for him. "No, Captain. Lupin has been truthful. Though I think it's time we all had our answers."
Lupin nodded grimly. "Soon. Head to the saloon. You ought to keep out of the cold. Mrs Harker, I expect we will need your help in dealing with the wounded."
*Meanwhile*
Even with the wounds covered, Zenith was really beginning to struggle. Armand knew it. Only moments before the Albatross had been speeding about to get rid of a bomb. Armand had to hold onto the railing and Zenith to make sure neither of them was caught by the wind. Armand used himself to cover Zenith out of instinct when the bomb exploded. The seawater had drenched him. The cold was unbearable and he could feel himself shivering.
He tried to keep Zenith awake but he was starting to drop off to sleep. Armand bit his lip, he didn't know what to do. The thief was getting weaker. Now the panic was over he needed someone to treat this wound.
"Someone help!" he shouted.
Footsteps sounded, but when he looked up he saw a man he did not recognise. "Get back! Who are you?" he shouted, picking up the scissors again. He was quite a scrawny man with brown hair and facial hair. No, he definitely hadn't seen him before. He didn't know who he was meant to trust anymore.
The man drew to a halt at the outburst and crouched down. "It's Armand, isn't it?" he said quietly. Armand didn't reply. "My name is Henry Jekyll. I'm a doctor... Do you think I can see your friend there? He needs help- and so do you."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" he demanded, raising the scissors in the air slightly.
Jekyll couldn't find an answer. "You're going to have to trust me, Armand. Let me help."
"Armand?!" Robur called, searching desperately for his son.
"Here, Da, hurry!"
Robur almost bumped into Jekyll as he turned around the corner of the cabin. The captain looked at the doctor, then to Zenith and finally Armand, who was holding onto a pair of scissors. He quickly put the puzzle pieces together. Robur stepped past Jekyll and knelt down close to his son, gently pulling him away from Zenith. Jekyll didn't hesitate to set to work on saving him.
"It's alright, my boy. Let Jekyll help him." Armand didn't fight against him, but his attention never left Zenith. Robur looked down to the pair of scissors in his son's cold hand. Robur offered to take them. He looked his son in the eye and brought a gentle hand to his red cheek. "You don't need those anymore, my boy. It's all finished. It's all over, trust me."
"If I trusted you before you'd be dead!" he shouted, tears filling his eyes.
"I know and I am sorry, Armand, but the danger has passed now. Please, give the scissors… There we go… Good lad."Armand gave them up with trembling hands. Robur took the scissors and dropped them behind him. Robur tried not to let the pain he was in show. His son took priority.
Armand didn't notice him holding off a wince. He just sat in a daze. He stared at Zenith with drooping eyelids and his lip trembled; his eyes became moist with tears. He could hold out no longer. He fell into Robur's arms, his body shuddering as he wept.
Robur wrapped his arms around him tightly, resting a hand on the back of his head. He rubbed his back to try to warm him. Robur let his head rest on top of his. "I'm so sorry, my lad," he whispered. He knew his decision to fight the League had taken its toll on him. It was the very opposite of what he wanted.
"No… No. It. It's not your fault." Armand hiccuped after a moment. "I just-"
It had been too much for him. Robur held him close until he began to calm down. The captain could feel himself growing wearier. No, he couldn't take ill in front of his son. He was upset enough.
Turner, though not in the best condition himself, came over with a blanket. He handed it to Robur, who wrapped it around his son's shivering frame. The first mate looked at Robur and could see that he was struggling. He gestured for the captain to let him take Armand. Robur nodded.
"Come on, my lad. Turner's going to take you inside. You don't need to worry anymore."
The first mate helped Armand up. He whimpered as he put pressure on his leg. Robur turned slightly, so he couldn't see the cut on his back. That was the last thing Armand needed to see tonight. Turner took up most Armand's weight to help him limp to the saloon.
Robur saw Jekyll was almost ready to move Zenith. He carefully got to his feet and put some of the crew at Jekyll's disposal. Jekyll only needed them to get Zenith onto a stretcher and inside. As Robur watched Zenith being carried away into the saloon, he saw Jean, Robert and Rene, Nyctalope's friends, leaving the ship. Whether or not they returned was another matter. Though a few minutes later they returned, practically carrying Nyctalope. He looked battered, but would hopefully heal soon enough.
Once Robur was left alone, he let some of his pain show through. He hissed as he tried to stop some of the blood leaving his body. He couldn't afford for anyone to see him feeling so weak. The pain was proving to be unbearable, so Robur stayed as still as he could.
For a while, no questions were asked about what was to happen between the two groups. The League made their way onto the Albatross, somewhat reluctantly. Neither side was fully trusting of the other. They were waiting for answers. With everyone, including the League's automobile onboard, Robur had the ship take to the air, leaving the cliffs behind them. The Albatross wasn't to go far, only high in the air and out of sight. If the battle resumed later? Robur simply did not know.
With Nyctalope and Zenith being seen to by Jekyll and Mina, Robur leaned against the railing, wincing as he held onto his side. He was developing a headache, the kind that intensified rhythmically with his pulse. He needed rest. It was then Sawyer came close to him with Quatermain. They knew that Robur needed help, though he didn't want to admit it. Sawyer came over somewhat sheepishly.
"You alright?"
"I'll be fine," he muttered, clearing his throat. He stood up straight as though to prove it. That was until he felt himself wobble. Sawyer grabbed his arm to steady him.
"Like hell you are. Come on, Jekyll can help."
Robur didn't have much choice. He walked by himself, but Sawyer stayed right beside him, should he need assistance. "Thank you," Robur mumbled.
Robur secretly felt he'd rather stay outside and bleed than go into that saloon.