II
"Excuse me? Pardon me sir. Sir?"
A hand on Silver's shoulder startled him from his current situation of sorrow and grief. He raised his head at the one attempting to raise the rest of his attention.
"Here, you look like you could use this."
Seeing a soft tissue in front of him, he coughed and sat up straight. He swiped the cloth from the man's grasp with a raised eyebrow and wiped both eyes then sniffled. As if no show of emotion or thought of Jim's current situation was present, he focused all attention on the man with the same expression he always bore when his person was in the attempt of communication. His mechanical eye was closed and real eye narrow with the eyebrow above that raised and lips pursed.
"M' name's Tom."
"John Silver," replied Silver.
Voices down the hall where Jim was taken moments ago caused Silver to jump to his feet and rush to the entrance down the hall. His mechanical eye scanned every nook and cranny for sign of the voices. One of them sounded like Livesey. He was sure it was Livesey.
Two squid like men walked out of a room, tentacles waving into the room. Visitors to relatives they appeared to be. Visitors to relatives who appeared to be quite happy as they made their way down the hall and from the hospital.
His hopes up for nothing and an aching heart pounding, Silver trudged to the chair and plopped himself into the seat. Once again, he buried his face in his palms.
"I wouldn't worry about your son," said Tom, looking down on Silver's distress. "David is a medical genius. Granted he is only twenty seven—"
"How old?" cried Silver, his head shooting upward and the rest of his body following him. His hands and arms flailed about in over exaggeration. "Tha's jus' a boy! I gave Jim up ta a boy. Wha' was I thinkin'? Wha' is someone at twenty seven doin' cutting inta another man's body? Are ye mad for hiring him? Ye don' jus' hire a man fresh outta medical school. Ye should have tol' me he was fresh outta school—"
"Actually, Dr. David Livesey has been working here since he was twenty four," interrupted Tom as he shuffled through several portfolios and set them on the main desk. "He finished high school when he was sixteen and was accepted in to the Interstellar Medical Academy that following term. He's the youngest ever on record to be accepted. What should have been at least a decade of schooling he finished eight years later at age twenty four. Top of his class and highly recommended by every educator there, David could find work on any planet or galaxy. When I asked him why here, he simply told me 'Tom, this is a main space port. What reason more should I tell you my reason for working here?' I had to agree with him though."
"But...eh…but," Silver tried finding the words, yet he himself didn't know what he wanted to say.
Giving up on all forms of communication, he sat himself, once again in the chair and turned his attention down the long hallway.
"While you're staring into nothing but an empty hall, I ask that you kindly fill out these," said Tom, presenting the Cyborg with a stack of papers.
Silver looked curiously at the papers in his lap. Paperwork. He dreaded paperwork. It was unnecessary. Once it was filled out and looked over once it was never looked at again. Nothing was more dreaded than paperwork. He flipped through the dozen or so pages quickly, his mouth opening and remaining agape at the amount.
"An' wha' is this for?" he asked.
"We need information about your son," replied Tom, filling out his own set of paperwork before him on the desk.
"A dozen pages of it?" wondered Silver.
Tom nodded. "Yeah."
Sighing in disgust, Silver laid the papers flat in front of him and reached for the pen. He knew plenty about Jim. Two months with a man causes one to learn quite a bit about him. He knew Jim's age and favorite color and how to make a solar surfer from pieces of metal and how to ride a solar surfer and his favorite dish and that he hated Bonzabeast Stew and he was a talented young man at the helm of a longboat and he was cunning and brave and honest and true and resourceful and emotional and lost and didn't know how to pick fights and did what was right rather than what was smart and Morph liked him and he enjoyed eating purps like it was his favorite meal and he finished every task given to him and—
But as Silver read what information was needed, he began to realize something. These papers weren't looking for his personality or talents or favorite food or color or right from wrong and they certainly did not ask if pink protoplasms liked him. No, these papers asked for birth date and description and height and weight and previous injuries or medical conditions and allergies and blood type and home planet and race and parents.
"I wouldn't worry about your son." "We need information about your son."
Tom's voice spoke in his head. "Son". He thought Jim was his son and Silver himself thought he was his father. Going through and reading the paperwork and what was asked of him, Silver realized he wasn't Jim's father. He knew he wasn't Jim's father. Why didn't he say something sooner though? He knew when it came out of Tom's mouth that he wasn't Jim's father. Something about Jim being called his son felt natural to him like his own name. He wasn't Jim's father.
Name: Hawkins, James
Age: 15
Race: human being
Eye Color: blue
Hair Color: brunette
Home: Montressor
Blood Type: human
That was it. That was all he knew of Jim Hawkins. A father would know his son's birthday and height and weight and previous injuries. He would have been there healing every injury, and he would know if his son was allergic to anything or not.
"I'm not his father," Silver told himself. "I'm not his father."
Tom's head lifted from the papers. His eyes wandered the room then on Silver. "Did you say something?"
"I'm not his father," whispered Silver.
"Oh, my mistake," replied Tom. He pointed his forefinger at the Cyborg. "I thought you were. Why, the manner you were carrying on about David's age and the hysterics you pulled when you entered and all the tears—you seemed like you were his father. Theoretically, only a father would care for someone like that." Tom raised an eyebrow but waved it off. "Well, how much do you have completed? Clearly you would have had to get to know the boy for making me think you were his father."
Ashamed, Silver raised the first page and only page of the papers. He did not want to see this man's reaction at how little he knew of Jim.
"Oh, well then," Tom's voice began very dryly and unimpressed. "Do you know someone who does know a thing or two about him?"
"His mother lives on Montressor," replied Silver.
"Then go get her. She should be here anyway. It is her son," said Tom.
"Yes, right. Her son," agreed Silver, mostly to himself.
He stood and gave one last hopeful glance down the hall. Nothing. There never would be anything it seemed. Nothing more could he do however. He unwillingly gave up Jim to a complete stranger who claimed he would do his best to take care of him when he was twenty seven years old. There was nothing he could do. Jim was back where he belonged and out of his hands. He needed to be in his mother's hands now.
Without a sound but clicking and whirling from a few mechanical parts, Silver left the building. He stood outside the hospital staring into the abyss of people. Unlike before, he saw the many peoples this time.
A concern whine sounded in his ear. Morph was staring at the doors.
"C'mon Morphy. We can't do anything," Silver told him.
Morph whined as he settled himself on Silver's shoulder.
Sighing again, Silver began forward. His mechanical leg was killing him, but he was hardly aware of the pain anymore. He weaved his way in and out of the crowds as he retraced his steps to the longboat. Shamed was the only word he found to describe him. Here he was thinking he was Jim Hawkins' father and it took paperwork for him to realize he wasn't. Paperwork was more dreaded than before. He knew he hated paperwork.
As he passed into the docks, the people lessened and he had more time to listen to the crowds behind him. He wondered what was happening to Jim at that very moment. He wondered if Jim was even alive anymore. The lad's arm concerned him and the head injury frightened him nearly to death. Men who had taken impacts like that to he the head were known to have gone mad or become changed forever. Silver once knew a man, a grown man who thought he was three years old again after having taken a nasty impact to the head.
Silver made his way down the dock he was renting and climbed into the little longboat. His head tilted to the side and eyes narrowed in curiosity at the three chests toward the bow. He couldn't recall if those were there or not before. They may have been. Yes, they were there before. He recalled cursing at them when he lay Jim gently down. Or was that the engine he was cursing?
Shrugging it off, he sat himself at the engine and squeezed the bridge off his nose. There was another problem. Mrs. Hawkins ran the Benbow Inn, but the Benbow Inn was burned to the ground and that was the only place he knew how to find on Montressor. He didn't really feel like running around a planet in search of one woman, but it was Jim's mother and the lad would want his mother when or if he woke and if the lad did die then she would—.
No, no, no. He needed to stop thinking about Jim dying. Every other thought seemed to revolve around Jim dying and Morph's fluster in his ear was rather beginning to irritate him.
"Wha' is it Morph?" he asked.
Morph continued his fluster in Silver's ear.
Humoring him, Silver turned his head to the pink blob.
Once he knew his master's attention was drawn, Morph floated to the chests and made a blinking arrow to the side of the chest furthest from Silver.
"Wha' did ye find Morphy?" wondered Silver, his curiosity once again drawn toward the wooden chests.
He leaned forward in curious observance and found himself traveling the short distance from one end of the longboat to the other. A string of pearls hung from the chest and was lighted by Morph's arrow.
"Int'resting," he noted to himself.
The chest was opened and he frowned. Morph went into another fluster while he simply frowned. Gold and crystals and the loot of a thousands worlds. It all seemed less exciting than it was an hour ago when he first saw it. The other two chests contained the loot as well. None of it appealed to him anymore. He may very well have been the wealthiest man on the spaceport or in that part of the galaxy, but he didn't feel wealthy and rich. He felt poor and useless.
Shaking his head and turning away, the three chests were shut. He started the engine then began his way to Montressor.
John Silver stood on an abandoned street facing a pile of rubble that had been burned to the ground two months ago. The blackened wood lay strewn about. Melted metals mixed among the pile. The pavement was marked black by the charcoals. He stood taller than the pile at his highest point and the highest point came only to his shoulders.
A prick of guilt jabbed him in the arm. Before, this pile of ruble was simply the place where Billy Bones fled. Now, this pile of ruble was all that remained of not only an inn but a home as well. Everything Jim had when he was a child and growing up was destroyed. There may have been a gift from his father that was now destroyed because of him and his lifelong obsession for treasure he had no care for. He knew Jim didn't speak much about his father when they prepared meals, but when Jim did mention him he knew it hurt the lad so. Speaking of someone he wanted to please and become son to only to have that man walk out on him hurt him deeply.
Silver's eyes turned to the mechanism that was his right hand. An image came into his head. It was an image of a man and his son at the helm of a ship. The man set his arm around his son's shoulders. The son had both arms and legs and eyes as they should have been, but all that was about to change when—
"Stop it," he told himself as he shook the thoughts from his head. "There's no need ta dwell on the past John. Wha' happened happened and ye can't do a blasted thing about it."
He decided it was worth and attempt to rummage through the rubble to see what he could find. He felt more useful attempting to search for items of the past. A few things looked promising. One item may have once been a picture frame he believed and Morph agreed with him, however there was no contents in the may have been frame. A couple pots and pans survived the flaming heat and he thought it would be worth a try to cook with them. One never knew what tastes could ensue with pans that had been through a fire. There may be a good smokey flavor to any meat. He wouldn't know until he got the guts to try it.
"Wha' ye got there Morphy?" he asked as Morph's usual fluttering about the wreckage stopped suddenly.
Tripping over a few pieces along the journey, Silver made his way down to what was the old garden.
"It's a seat Morph," he noted with sarcastic enthusiasm.
But, Morph being the smart little pink blob he was, floated closer. His eyes became huge as he observed the metal seat. All around the metal, circles overlapped each other and holes were made by some of these circles. The little seat was quite beautiful. Moss began to grow around it adding color. As he floated around and observed, something caught his eyes. There was one hole bigger than the rest and ever since he saw his reflection in the golden sphere, his little mind was attracted to all things with shiny circles.
The pink blob moved his eyes from side to side then wiggled his way into the hole. He could transform himself into anything and sneaking was one of his favorite games.
"Now Morphy, I'm not gonna have ta fish ye outta there am I?" asked Silver, having seen his pet disappear into the little cube. "Remember th' last time ya tried this? Ye got stuck and I had ta go and blast it apart 'cause ye wanted ta know wha' was down those zig zagged cracks and ye decided that ye had ta wiggle yer way down all thirteen of them at once."
Thankfully, Morph did appear from the cube again, however, he appeared in his usual pink blob and through the top of the cube.
Presently being the more curious one of the two, Silver slowly stepped forward as his eyes scanned the distance. Morph didn't suddenly pick up the adventures of sneaking by himself. The Cyborg knelt on his good leg and peeked his head into the cube. A grin of satisfaction widened across his face as he found himself peering at papers with words.
There were two definitions of treasure hunting. One was the typical, literal translation of treasure hunting and the other was historical, documentation treasure hunting. Papers in a locked in a hidden cube was historical documentation treasure hunting.
He once again scanned the distance for any more signs of life beside him and Morph. Slowly and adding dramatic effect, he curled his mechanical fingers one at a time as he dug them into the cube and stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth. He raised his hand from the cube and turned his eyes to the words.
Sarah and I finally married today. After four years of being with her, we finally married and I couldn't be a happier man.
"Wha' th' blazes!" cried Silver as he shoved the piece of paper closer to his face.
"Oo," came Morph from the other side of the paper.
Silver turned the paper around. This was no paper. It was an image of a handsome young man dressed in his best clothes holding a woman wearing a white dress in her arms. The woman had blue eyes, but the man is what struck Silver the most. The man looked nearly exactly like Jim.
As he looked into the cube, his mouth opened and remained agape. These were not simple historical papers. These were photographs and under the photographs was a book.
He reached for the book. A sigh of awe escaped him as eyes widened in sadness and he felt himself sit flat on his rump. The cover of the book had the names Sarah and Leland scripted onto it and an image of the couple asleep in each others arms. Flipping through the book gave Silver sight to two teenagers and their journey together. Under each photograph were the date the image was captured and a description of what the image was. The journey continued through birthdays, high school, graduation, a few years of college, the first ship, settlement on a new planet, building he house, marrying, laughter, joy, tears, random photos, and most of the images were taken by the couple themselves. Either Sarah or Leland Hawkins had her or his arm cut off. Most of the time, the two were kissing or cuddling.
Struck wonder and confusion ran circles through Silver's mind. Jim told him his father was "the taking off and never coming back sort" and yet here his father was laughing and smiling with his mother. He knew it was Jim's father. In half the images, he saw Jim Hawkins, especially the embarrassing high school pictures.
Thinking he had an idea of what went wrong between the happy couple, Silver frantically flipped through the rest of the book. Not discovering what it was he searched for, he tipped the cube over allowing everything to fall out. Another book was lying among the photos and images.
"Thank th' heavens," he noted to himself.
Clearly, it was not the birth of James Pleiades Hawkins that ruined the happy couple's life. Pasted to the front of the book and under Jim's name was the image of huge, blue eyed boy chewing on his father's coat strings and looking forward with an expression of innocence.
Beside him, Silver heard Morph gasp in delight. He chirped and settled himself on the image of Jim.
"Get off Morphy," Silver told him, shaking the book.
Morph glared, but did settle himself in the air.
On the first blank page of the book were Sarah and Leland. Both were glowing and he had his arms around her belly. Behind them appeared to be a celebration. Balloons and streamers were hung about. Through the next few pages, Sarah's belly grew in size and the glowing smiles increased save for the occasion image of Sarah threatening her husband with the kitchen knife not to take the picture. Silver found himself chuckling at those images. Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn indeed.
With the flip of one page, Silver found the world at a sudden stop. There, on that page, was the image of a blue bundle. Inside that blue bundle was a baby. The baby's eyes were shut but his dark brown hair and little nose and round face were unmistakable. That was the first image of Jim ever to be captured.
Silver felt a small grin widen across his face. The boy who caused his soft spot to become his heart was once just a tiny bundle in a blue blanket. On the adjacent page was all the information about the day Jim was born and what he looked like and how much he weighed and his namesakes. Apparently, Jim was born April 27, 1731 at half past seven in the morning. He was named after his grandfather on his father's side of the family. And the little bundle was just shy of six pounds.
Turning through the pages, Silver watched at the little bundle became a toddler and the toddler became a child and the child became blank pages, yet, through the passing years he watched Jim's eyes sadden and look on with longing as Leland became less and less in the images. The last image was of Jim tinkering with his solar surfer. He couldn't have been more than twelve or eleven years old.
Twelve or eleven years old. Thinking of those years in his life, Silver's eyes lowered only for a moment to his right hand then eyes closed and the hands shut the other book.
Rummaging through the pile, he discovered something and his question as to who kept these hidden away may have been answered. The loose photos were mostly of Leland and taken from odd angles with small fingers generally over the lens. There were images of Leland tinkering with his ship and preparing dinner and sitting in his cluttered office by himself and sleeping on the sofa by himself and sitting by himself. Being by himself was the common theme. While the images became without little fingers and odd angles into clear, mature images, Leland's expressions were annoyed, unamused, and bored.
Jim took the pictures of his father so it was he who kept this little cube of memories of the past. And it was also him who wrote the lists among the photos. The lists included what his father's favorite meals were and talents and activities and how to make his father proud and what not to do for it made his father upset. And, like the mature images, the handwriting matured and names of the lists matured as well. The lists became the exact number of minutes Leland was home to the exact amount of words father spoke to his son to how often the three of them sat at the table together.
Reading these small numbers, Silver began to understand why Jim was moody and quiet. He was such a talented young lad with a dark past. Everything he did was for his father. The day Leland walked out on them was the day Jim simply did whatever it was he wanted when he wanted and how he wanted. If the images of Jim Hawkins did continue past the day his father left there would have been a sudden change in him. Once huge blue eyes that looked on with some joy and a glowing smile would have become a frown and eyes that turned away from everything. Silver was glad the images did not continue.
Frowning also knowing he was not going to find Sarah Hawkins here, Silver quickly collected the photo books and images. He placed them in the cube, shut the cube, and walked back to the longboat with the cube in his arms. Not far down the way was a small cluster of buildings that had to be the town. Someone had to know where he could find Sarah. She wouldn't be far and he knew that.
Both unusually quiet, Silver and Morph traveled the short distance into the heart of town. Morph was unusually quiet and behaving himself. He simply sat on his shoulder with his eyes low and little arms close to his body.
"Are ye excited ta meet Jim's mother?" Silver asked in the hopes of trying to get some attention form Morph.
Instead, Morph transformed into and image of Jim sitting on Silver's shoulder.
Silver sighed and turned his head to the direction in front of him. He chose not to say anything, but understood why Morph was behaving in the manner he was. Morph wanted Jim and that was clear and simple.
Again, both quiet, Silver docked in what he believed to be the heart of the little town. It was a nice, quiet, quaint little town. The buildings were of all the same tin shingle and wooden frames. Each one rose and fell with the land and followed the cliff to the gorge below them.
The companions began the short wander around the main part of town in search of the most populated building which just happened to be another inn. Did all innkeepers have contact with each other as closely as spacers did? If so then perhaps Sarah Hawkins was inside working. He rather hoped she was inside working. The sooner he found her, the better it would be.
He noticed he was more limping than walking now and thought it may have been a good thought to let that Livesey look over his leg when he returned to the hospital and after Jim was well on the path to recovery of course.
"Here goes," Silver mutter to himself as he turned the doorknob and entered.
Standing just past the door he made note it was a decent place to stay. He would have stayed there. The main room was cut in half. To the right was all the tables and dining area and to the left were armchairs and a lit fire and the stairs to the inn. The main room must have been the center of the building since a balcony traced the room and doors were evenly spaced out. Above them, the ceiling was clear glass to allow what light there was on Montressor to shine in.
He gave a shrug and located himself to the right where a desk and a young man sat. For once, the man was not a human. He was green skinned and had one single eye in the center of his forehead and fiery red hair sprawling about his body. His hands contained three fingers and he was a bigger gentleman, but that may have been for the shell on his back.
"Good day," greeted Silver, as politely as he possibly could having noticed there was no Sarah Hawkins in the room. The man at the desk raised his head. "Is there a Mrs. Hawkins around here?"
"Not since her inn burned down and her young felon of a son went off with the astronomer," replied the man.
Silver's eye reddened and his fists clenched at the wording used to describe Jim. "I don' suppose ye know where a humble Cyborg like myself could find her?"
"She's on the space port awaiting her son's return. I believe she has a job working as a maid at the Blue Droubloon tavern."
"Thank ye very much," Silver said delighted and hurried his way out of the little inn before he strangled the man in his mechanical hand.
Referring to Jim as a felon in front of him was not wise if one valued his life. He knew Jim was a troublemaker, but how much trouble could the lad cause? Honestly, the lad was fifteen years old and how much trouble could a fifteen year old boy cause?
Well, then again, he did always manage to end up in Scroop's claw and it did take two to start a fight. At least, in the beginning it took two to start a fight. The rest of the times Jim found himself at the mercy of Scroop's claw, he hardly believed the lad had anything to do with it other than starting something with Scroop in the beginning.
"Morphy, how much trouble do ye think Jimbo can cause?" he asked curiously. Morph simply looked at Silver with his own sort of confusion. "Yer right Morphy, tha' wasn't a very intelligent question."
And it was back to the Space Port John Silver and Morph traveled. Fortunately, Silver knew where Blue Droubloon was since it was a mere street down from the dock RLS Legacy was occupying before the mess happened. The tavern had a very fine rum, wine drink they offered, and it was his job working there before he found out about the Legacy. It was only ironic that Sarah Hawkins worked there now. She had more reason to work there than he did. Every day she could look out the window and await the ship's and her son's return back to her arms.
Silver slumped into his seat as he groaned aloud. He bit his lower lip and eyes narrowed. He wasn't Jim's father but Sarah was his mother. How was he supposed to tell a woman who raised Jim and waited for the ship to return with him perfectly healthy that her son was severely injured and how was he supposed to tell her it was he who led the pirates onto the ship in the first place? He was the sort of man who avoided emotions at all costs and here he was having to tell a mother of her son. By the time he told Sarah that her son was injured her son could very well be dead.
Rolling his eyes, Silver decided it was best to avoid that topic of conversation until he was in front of Sarah. Thinking about him was beginning to make him nervous. He just decided it was best to tell Sarah without having prepared a prior speech. He always believed that words spoken from the heart and soul and mind of a man were important and simply telling Sarah about Jim with whatever words came from his mouth was about the easiest way to tell her. There was no simple way to tell any mother that her son was severely injured.
Once again, Silver docked and paid the man the usual shilling fee.
Morph flew in front of his face and transformed into one of the treasure chests.
"I'm not gonna worry about it jus' yet Morphy. Best not assume tha' we're stayin' here all tha' long. We don' even know if Jimbo is alive," Silver told him but the last few words Morph must have understood because he immediately transformed back into his normal self and looked on with huge eyes. Silver sighed. "'Sides, I don' think anyone would wan' ta search through a few rusty, old chests."
With a few steps forward, Silver leaned on his left side, for his right leg was more sore than before. His handy arm now a cane, they marched forward down a street.
The Blue Droubloon was not a difficult tavern to locate. It wasn't called Blue Droublooon for nothing. The entire exterior of the building was painted with several different hues of blue, the base being a royal blue and pale blue lining all windows, doorways, and balconies with all sorts of blues splattered about. The building itself began small on the base then went out round and came together at the top resembling a round diamond. On the top of the building were four gold posts coming together at the center and a sphere resembling a droubloon on top of that. Sure, the building looked ridiculous but the food was delicious.
"I can't do this Morphy," Silver declared a foot from the door.
He sat himself on a bench beside the door and between the window.
Morph transformed into a mini Jim Hawkins who folded his arms and raised an eyebrow.
Silver couldn't help the chuckle. Too often a time Jim would stand like that when he demanded something of Jim. Morph recreated it perfectly. A smile widened across his face.
Back to his normal form, Morph stuck his head against the glass window and peeked inward. His tongue stuck out of his mouth as he panted and little pink tail wagged back and forth in excitement.
Silver leaned over and stuck his head next to Morph's. Inside the tavern, the lunch crowd was just beginning to settle it seemed. Every table was occupied, but most of the tables were piled with dirty dishes and the glasses were empty. The room was just one of the three levels of service. Two balconies wound around the room and on top each other. He once witnessed a brawl began on the bottom level and carried its way over all three levels. Never before had such an amusing sight be seen by his eyes. He watched from the kitchen doors while drying dishes and whistling a lovely tune.
Morph gasped in delight then float past Silver's head in a whirl before entering the blue building.
"No, Morphy!" cried Silver. He grumbled as he got back on his own two feet. "Morphy, get back here! Now!"
He entered through the tavern's door and scanned over the patrons finishing their lunch with his mechanical eye. Ironically, Morph appeared the same pink color as he did in life with his eye, which was fortunate because Morph delighted in running off when he felt it was appropriate. He both cursed and loved Morph's free spirit. The pink blob among the warm oranges and yellows of body heat was across the room flying around in a circle and finally settled on what appeared to be a hand of some sort. From the distance, it appeared to be a human hand.
Limping forward with both eyes open, he headed for the back of the room. He found he wasn't prepared for Morph's sudden companion. A young woman stood the bar with barrels behind her and glasses beside that. Her blue eyes looked at Morph lovingly and a joyful grin was wide upon her face. The small, petit body leaned against the back counter. Her thin hair was pulled behind her head with a familiar colored bluish green band. Little fingers moved up and down under Morph's belly causing him to giggle and rub against her cheek.
Silver's mind went blank as he stood in the center of the room. Sarah Hawkins was in front of them and her son was about twenty minutes away from her and she was so very unaware of his situation. At the moment, she seemed happy, yet worried and anxious. Her world was about to shatter without her knowing it, but things were all right at the moment. To Silver, she seemed as though she was wearing a mask, setting up a strong, impenetrable façade to the world when inside she was pained horribly. She didn't appear to be the sort of woman who easily showed emotion to even her family. Jim mentioned his mother was a hard shell to crack, but Silver didn't think that hard shell was visible from where he stood.
With a deep, quivering breath, Silver stepped forward. As if the heavens were supporting his cause, half the bar stools were suddenly available as he approached them. He heaved himself onto one of them. Sarah not yet having noticed him, he coughed and gagged, swallowing the unpleasant taste of vomit back into the bowels of his stomach. He didn't know it was possible for nerves to cause a man to become sick. He heard about it, but personally did not experience it until now.
"What can I get for you sir?" a female's voice asked.
Silver raised his head and stared into the smiling face of Sarah Hawkins. His eyes lowered as he recognized the smile on her face was passed down to her son. But, as she looked on him, a certain curiosity came about her. He noticed her eyes moving across all visible Cyborg mechanisms he possessed, but did her best not to visually show more than subtle glances now and then.
Of course, as always, Morph ruined the odd moment as he moved from Sarah's hand to Silver's shoulder and everything suddenly became a living hell as the shape shifter suddenly became Jim Hawkins with his hands in pockets and smiling.
A gasp erupted from Sarah's mouth as the color from her face was lost. She gazed at this image of her son with longing and regret and uneasiness. Her forefinger reached out and brushed the metamorphic Jim's head.
Morph returned to his old self and sat on Silver's shoulder.
Silver found no emotion but a creasing forehead and narrow eyes and pursed lips.
"Am I to presume you are Mrs. Hawkins?" he asked.
"Yes," replied Sarah.
"I have news of yer son," said Silver.
To his breaking heart, Sarah's face brightened with joy. A wide smile went from ear to ear. She appeared to be floating on a cloud as her pressed palms went across the smile on her face. He couldn't do this. He couldn't crush this woman's joy. Curse him. He had gone completely soft and there was no turning back.
"Have they returned? Did Jim find the treasure? Is Delbert going to find his eternal place among the pantheon of explorers?" asked Sarah, her voice speaking with laughter.
"When are ye free ta leave?" replied Silver.
"Right now," said Sarah. "Lunch is over with. I can leave now."
She hastily ran into the backroom and before Silver could process her leaving, was at his side. The glow around her person increased.
Silver attempted a smile and motioned for her to follow. He felt he was going to vomit on the pavement as the two walked from the tavern.
While he walked to the right, Sarah stood still, wondrously gazing at the empty dock.
"This way lass," called Silver.
"Am I to presume you knew Jim?" wondered Sarah.
Silver blinked heavily as his mind returned to the present. "Wha'?"
"Did you know my son?" Sarah asked again.
"Aye," replied Sliver slowly.
"He wasn't too much trouble was he?" wondered Sarah, her joy fading to a slight amount of fear.
"Th' lad was a bit of a handling in th' beginning, bu' he got more brains inta tha' thick head of his," replied Silver.
Sarah sighed in relief as she set her palm over her chest. "Good, I was worried he would receive severe punishment for his rebelling. I hate to admit I tried everything and gave up on him."
"Oh, I considered givin' up on him a few times," admitted Silver. He swallowed the disgust that emerged from his stomach again. "I took th' lad under my charge since th' cap'n set him there."
"How rude of me," said Sarah. "My name is Sarah."
"John Silver," replied the Cyborg. "I was th' cook on th' ship and Jimbo's mentor."
"Jimbo?" Sarah said curiously. She looked at him with a tilted head and wonder. "And he lets you call him that?"
"Yeah," replied Silver.
Shrugging, Sarah looked in front of her person. Her head and eyes turned all about. Buildings of all sorts were around them, not the docks. Perhaps the crew was already docked and sitting in a tavern with their victorious wealth. She was excited to see her son again. Despite the stress and pain from dealing with him and his run in with the police before he left, she felt she loved him more. Not having him in her life everyday made her realize that she couldn't lose Jim and appreciated all the rebelling. It was too quiet and life was boring without her son. While he was away, she had time to think herself what went wrong and why Jim did it all. After Leland left them, she fell into her own small, quiet state of depression and melancholy leaving her eleven year old son to himself. She understood it was part her own fault for never being tough enough on Jim. Because she loved to see him happy, she allowed him to get away with whatever it was he wanted and gave him anything. By the time she realized what her son had become, it was too late and they fell apart.
All that was about to change now. Once Jim had time to recover and rest from his travels, she would sit down with him and establish a few new rules. Curfew was going to be no later than ten o'clock at night on school nights and eleven on days of rest. To keep him in school, she would plan surprise visits before and after class to make sure he was there and if he wasn't there, it would result in a week of grounding and helping out with the new inn that would be in construction soon. Jim would be allowed to build one and only one Solar Surfer for his own use, and only once a week for an hour would he have the freedom to go wherever it was he did. The remaining time, his flying device would be locked away. After returning from school, she would check his pack and, if there was work to be done, personally over see that it was done. Any fights at school meant a month of being grounded. A failing grade equaled one week of grounding and a hiring of a tutor. More chores were going to be established for him to learn responsibility. And of course, they would be staying with Delbert so there were plenty of chores to be done.
Simply thinking of these new ground rules, Sarah felt a smile of satisfaction widen across her face. It was right time she became Jim's mother and father. She knew he would hate these rules, but she also hoped he would understand them. Before he left, he sounded as though he was ready to change. He did tell her he knew he kept messing everything up and he wanted to make it right. Telling her that he would make her proud was obviously telling her that he was going to change. She was prepared to negotiate with Jim if his new rules were not to his liking as long as he didn't whine or complain. Yes, things were going to change between both of them and they would change for the better.
"Mrs. Hawkins."
Sarah blinked and the world came back into focus. She looked at the hand motioning her to enter through a door Silver opened for her. Quickly, she walked inside. This plain room with chairs wasn't exactly what she was expecting for a celebration, but this must have been the waiting room for service to the parties.
Tom raised his head from the desk. He motioned to Sarah. "Is this his mother?"
"I haven't told her yet," said Silver.
"Oh," replied Tom, lowering his head. He looked upon Sarah, feeling sorry for her and his eyes were saddened. "Come with me."
The joy fading from her Sarah felt her heart skipping a few beats but increasing speed. Ever since she met this man who sailed with Jim, not one smile was on his face. And now, a question of her being a mother from a man who seemed saddened, frightened her. Something was wrong with Jim.
Hesitantly, the two followed Tom through a door behind the desk he sat. The room appeared to be an office with comfortable chairs and a huge window behind the table. Warm, rich mahogany ceilings and floors was the first indication it was an office. The books and neat shelves with portfolios was the other indication.
"Well, the paperwork is right here," said Tom, placing his palm on the table.
"Any news of him?" Silver asked.
Tom shook his head. "Nothing."
"News of who?" wondered Sarah.
"And I'm going to leave now," said Tom, hastily walking across the room and shutting the door.
Silver sat in one of the comfortable armchairs. His breathing was unusually slow for his racing heart and quivering body. "Mrs. Hawkins, Sarah, please sit down."
As she sat in the other armchair, Sarah's body began quivering. Her eyes narrowed and forehead creased. She realized something. "You two are the only one's who returned from the ship aren't you?" Silver nodded. "What is this place?"
"It's a hospital," said Silver.
"Where's Jim?" Sarah asked so softly that only the consonants were audible.
Silver drew a deep breath through his tunneled lips. He shut his eyes and pulled the bandana from his head. Moistening his lips, did not look at Sarah Hawkins as he spoke. "This morning, I brought th' lad here. On Treasure Planet… I commanded a band of… Th' Legacy had pirates… Plans went astray… Soft spot… I went soft… Jim…"
Cursing himself, Silver found this was more difficult than he expected. He was trying to tell Sarah in a round about way. After all his years alive, he should have known he was never a man of roundabouts and backdoors-unless it benefited him-to avoid the truth. The truth was the truth and the worse the truth was the easier it was just to simply say.
John Silver turned to a pale faced, hardly breathing mother and told her like it was. "I led a band of pirates. We were after th' treasure ourselves. Rumors went around tha' th' ship was sailing for treasure an' I convinced th' Doc tha' my men and I were trusty enough ta sail ta Heaven an' back. We laid low until th' lad overheard my plans of mutiny. Everything wen' wrong after tha'. The Cap'n, Doc, and Jim managed ta get themselves ta th' planet's surface. Th' only problem was tha' Morph here was th' map Jim grabbed instead of th' real treasure map. When th' lad returned ta th' Legacy ta retrieve th' map, he found himself caught by Scroop. Now, I lef' Scroop on watch on th' ship ta keep him away from Jimbo. Tha' spider nearly killed th' poor lad more than once and Jimbo didn' do anything ta deserve it but th' firs' time. Scroop threw th' lad around an' banged him up pretty good. He gave him a broken arm. Th' little soft spot I had for th' lad ruined me. I found meself takin' him back ta th' ship for some good healing time. Having betrayed th' lad more than once and giving him good reason not ta trust me, Jim wanted nothing more than ta get rid of all of us. I shoulda kept him more close at my side. Scroop broke th' same arm below his shoulder so th' boy's arm is in three pieces. I ran Jimbo ragged and th' lad finally gave in ta his fear and pain. We found th' treasure, blah, blah, blah. In th' centroid where th' treasure was kep' hidden away, I found th' lad sitting agains' Flint's own sloop."
He turned away from her not bearing to witness the expression on her face as he spoke these words, but continued softer.
"I never told th' lad he was outta it for two days after Scroop got ta him. I found him sittin' there after he collapsed. Th' lad was burnin' with a light fever and his arm was killing him. I found his forearm, where it was firs' broken, was black and red. It looked like little bruises. For th' record, when I tol' ye his arm is in three pieces, Scroop's claw snapped th' lad's bone. Where it was broken, there those little marks were was where it was broken. And because th' lad had a fever—" Silver shut his mouth and his eyes. He wasn't going to mention it to her. "After, Benny got the sloop working again, Jim, th' crazy robot, and Morphy headed on our way outta the portal and back ta th' surface of th' planet. I don' know how, but Scroop got in th' ship with us. He threw Jim off th' boat. Half of Jim's face was bruised bloody and black. I got him here through th' portal and wha' happened on Treasure Planet remains a mystery ta me. Jim's been here since near of ten in th' morning. I'm not gonna lie Mrs. Hawkins, when I got Jim here, th' lad was dying. I don' know wha' condition he's in now."
"He'll be okay," Sarah's voice whispered, consonants being the only sound that came through.
Coughing, Silver sat up and turned his head to the right where the paperwork sat. "Ida done it meself, but I don' know tha' much about th' technicals of th' lad."
Sarah nodded her head. She swallowed hard as she turned her body to the table. Her quivering hand reached for the pen. All her focus was to filling out the information presented before her.
Silver watched as this woman somehow wrote rather legibly as she filled out the information. He saw the tears that formed in her eyes caused no need for her to blink. The emotionless appearance she kept since the entered the hospital remained on her face, but in those blue eyes he saw the pain and anguish she was feeling. He told her her son was dying and it was by his doing. She said nothing on the matter and probably did so because she would fall into her emotion in front of him. He couldn't blame her for not wanting to show any emotion. He himself fought as well to keep his feelings for Jim behind his eyes, but he managed to keep it from behind his eyes.
Watching the necklace that hung below her chest pulse, he knew he heart was thundering. She was apparently well aware of the pulsing necklace to, for her left hand reached up and held the heart in a tight clasp.
Unable to sit there any longer, Silver stood and limped to the window. He didn't care that his leg was killing him. The cane was enough support and the more he limped the better it felt. It was stupid, but he couldn't just sit still and wait. He paced the distance of the window back and forth, his eyes wandering across the faces of those who were so very unaware of what was happening. As he paced, his thoughts loomed on Treasure Planet. He began to wonder whatever came of Delbert and Amelia and the rest of the pirates. Scroop was out there somewhere and with the boatload of treasure. If that prevented the spider from ever coming in contact again then so be it. He had three chests of gold sitting in a longboat twenty minutes away and if he wanted to get to Treasure Planet again he knew the heading. South by southwest and a heading of 2100, not to mention he recognized a few of the astronomical landmarks along the way. As long as the planet remained intact and the trap not sprung, more treasure waited.
The creaking of the door caused both Sarah and Silver to whip their heads around.
Young David Livesey did not look at them as he shut the door. There was information on his face as he approached them. The information was not pleasing. He did not look at either of them as he stopped moving forward. His lips were pursed and eyes narrow as he thought. Finally, he did raise his head and look at them.
For a moment, Silver's sickly worry left him. The young man's eyes were as shade of royal violet. Both of them were. He didn't know how he missed that before.
"Are you Mrs. Hawkins?" Livesey asked.
Sarah gave a subtle nod of her head.
Livesey turned his attention to Silver. "And you are his father?"
"More of his mentor," admitted Silver.
"The truth is the truth and there is no saying it easy. Believe me, I've spent the past three years trying to beat around the honest truth. I've found that beating around it hurts more than saying it," said Livesey. "First of all, he is alive."
A quivering breath escaped Sarah's lungs as she pressed her palms together over her lips. The breath seemed to be the only air she held in her lungs for the past hour and was finally released in a relieved sigh.
Silver, however, did not hold his breath. There was more.
"His life comes with a cost and that cost is his left arm and part of his skull," added Livesey.
Like two ghosts, Silver and Sarah turned their attention to him. Neither one was breathing, and both sets of eyes gazed with wide orbs.
"The impact against his head cracked his skull in two places: one being the center of his forehead to his temple and the other against his left eye. His arm was gangrenous and it was climbing up his arm as well as blood poisoning. The blood poisoning reached his shoulder and carried gangrene with it," explained Livesey. He sighed and shook his head. He squeezed the bridge of his nose. "I need to know if you can afford to keep him alive."
"What do you mean?" asked Sarah.
"To keep him alive his skull needs to be replaced with a substance you can afford and even the cheapest metal is going to be expensive. The medicines he is going to require to survive this process are not a droubloon or two. Not to mention if you wish to give him a mechanical arm to replace his left one—the whole process of it is expensive as it requires measurements, certain metals, highly intelligent wiring, and more expensive medicines," said Livesey. "If you cannot afford these, please do not lie to me. Too many times I've seen a mother or brother or father try to save someone's life and give up every last item owned to pay for it. In the end, the one who was given the gift of life is left on the streets with the family begging for money or hated in the future. I've had the tragedy of hearing that one of my patients killed himself because he couldn't live with the knowledge that his parents sold his younger siblings to slavery to pay for his life. It's better to simply let go if this is not an option."
"I jus' wan' ta know," Silver's voice called from across the room. "Wha' material would ye recommend?"
Livesey looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Did you not hear me?"
"If ye can't see I kinda have a reason ta be askin," said Silver, raising his right arm.
"It's a titanium, osmium base with a silver coating the outside. It's mostly silver though," replied Livesey. "The price is outrageous. For a case like it, his head and arm cost more than building a house from ground up. Yes this is a mining planet, but osmium is rare to come by and it's expensive."
Sarah suddenly choked and pressed her face into her palms. She did not care that they heard her bawling and wailing and choking on tears. For the past few minutes as she was being told this information the pain was increasing inside her and now there was no hiding it.
"There, there. Tha's all right Sarah. Everything's going ta be all right," Silver said as he limped toward her and rubbed her back.
"I don't have the money," Sarah told him between gasps. "I don't have anything."
Silver raised her head with his real hand. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and dried her tears for her. Both hands were set on her shoulders. "An' where did I jus' come from?"
"Treasure Planet," replied Sarah.
"It's not called Treasure Planet for nothing," Silver told her as his hand reached into his pocket.
He produced his fist in front of Sarah's face and a smile widened across his face as he opened his palm.
The gold and crystals shined in Sarah's tear filled eyes. Altogether, her eyes shined and brightened. Not believing it, she reached her trembling hand toward the gold and set her palm on the treasure. She felt the cold crystals and smooth coins. A smile slowly widened across her face as she looked at Silver and his smile grew wider at her face.
"Excuse me, did you say 'Treasure Planet'?" asked Livesey.
"Th' loot of a thousand worlds," added Sliver, presenting his hand to Livesey. "Jus' how many handfuls do ye need to fix Jim's arm up with that fancy silver o' yars?"
"Bullshit," Livesey replied as he approached and swiped a gold coin and emerald crystal from Silver's hand. The young doctor hurried to a lantern and placed his palm under and glass. "This is a real gold droubloon and crystal. I am a collector of precious stones. This stone alone can pay for the metal needed to mend his head and your handful is enough for the surgery to set the metal in his head."
Silver looked at his handful then at Livesey. He pointed at his hand. "This be a handful of treasure from Treasure Planet and it's only enough ta pay for a little surgery?"
"I told you, this entire process is not cheap," reminded Livesey.
Sarah's hope for her son's life left her with the sigh. Her head slumped into her arm that was on the table.
"I possess three chests worth of handfuls," added Silver and Morph transformed into the longboat with the three chests.
"If you can give me the proof I can take measurements right away," said Livesey.
"Th' proof is a twenty minute walk away," said Silver. "Would ye like me ta go and get it?"
"Yes!" cried Sarah.
"Then I'll be right back," Silver told them.
Before leaving, he set the handful of treasure in Livesey's hand leaving the young doctor in a state of awe as he examined the treasure.
Sniffling, Sarah wiped her eyes once again with Silver's handkerchief. She hardly believed this was happening. There was treasure. All the times telling Jim that it was just stories became truth. Treasure Planet did exist; it was shining in the doctor's hand that was going to save her son's life. She never expected her son's dream of finding Treasure Planet to save his own life.
"How is he?" she found herself asking.
"Who?" wondered Livesey, going cross-eyed as he raised a ruby to the sunlight. Snapping out of it, he set the crystal on his table and sat beside the handful. "Your son. Right. Well, right off the beginning of the beast's tale he's borderline starving and dehydrated. Some of his blood is still poisoned and I need to get rid of it." He peeked over the finished medical paperwork. "Fifteen. Huh, I thought he was older than that."
"His father leaving him when he was eleven aged him," said Sarah.
"That's good. He's had no severe past injuries or medical conditions I should be aware of. Allergic to peanuts is he?" continued Livesey.
Sarah smiled. "Yes and he cried the day we discovered he couldn't eat peanuts. He used to love roasted peanuts but one day he got so dreadfully ill when he ate one. Nowadays he prefers a fresh purp."
"Well, he's a bit underweight for his height and most likely weighs less than you put down, but other than that simple fix, medically he's quite well," said Livesey.
"How is he right now?" Sarah asked softly.
Livesey put the paperwork on the table once more. As he inhaled, his mouth moved to the right side of his face. His violet eyes searched around the room for nothing in particular. "Um, well." His lips moved into words with no sounds protruding from his mouth. His head rocked from side to side as he thought about this. "Obviously, and I don't meant to say these things as crudely as I will, but I say it like it is, I took his arm off already and to accommodate the little mechanical update I'll take his shoulder off to make my life and his a little easier. I left his bony skull in one piece and have blocked all blood from getting to his brain. He's out cold on his own doing right now, but I'm going to have to give him a deep sedative before I begin poking through his body. I say deep that I need to measure his body weight before I do this because he needs to be nearly dead for me to put him back together. He cannot have hardly any blood flow going through him and the recovery afterward is not going to be simple either."
"What may I expect?" wondered Sarah.
"How about I just tell you when I know that he's survived this process," suggested Livesey.
Sarah nodded. Her hand reached up to her locket as if her hand was used to doing such a thing. All of this still seemed like such a dream to her. Here she was listening to a man who had just told her her son's arm was removed and was going to be replaced with a metal arm and she did nothing but calmly sit and listen. If this was truly happening she would have been crying and heartbroken and emotionally instable, yet here she was just sitting here. And, apparently, to pay for all this John Silver, the Cyborg Billy Bones warned them of, was in the process of retrieving three chests of gold from Treasure Planet. None of this seemed real. It couldn't be real. Between portals and spiders attacking her son and a man with violet eyes—
"How are your eyes violet?" she abruptly asked, disrupting her thoughts.
Livesey raised his arms and shoulders as he shrugged. "I was born this way. I've always had violet eyes."
"How old are you?" wondered Sarah.
"Twenty seven," replied Livesey and before she could go off on another rampage about his age he didn't care to hear again, he continued. "I began formal schooling when I was three and graduated high school when I was sixteen. At sixteen, I was also accepted into the Interstellar Medical Academy being the youngest accepted and the youngest to graduate at twenty four. What takes at least ten years, I did in eight. Not only did I take on the physician course but I took on surgeon as well. If you don't know, physicians are those who deal with the medicines and surgeons deal with cutting off limbs and removing bullets and the actual surgery. Why did I pick Montressor Space Port to work you are going to ask? Think about it. This is one of the three busiest Space Ports in the entire galaxy. Why not work at a busy port? I don't know why the medical world spoke to me but it just did.
"Do I have parents? No, I don't. My father died when I was seventeen. He was captain of his own ship RLS Indigo Eye. Yes, the ship was named after my mother because my mother died giving birth to my younger brother when I was four and her eyes were the color of an indigo dye. And Tom is my little brother for the record. Yes, I am married man and happy father. My wife's name is Claire and we have twin boys Harry and Benji. They are three. My graduation gift from medical school was the two of them since they were born the day after I graduated. Don't ask how I managed to give myself twin boys while going through medical school. Just in case you are wondering, they don't have my violet eyes. They have their mother's hazel eyes and red hair. Could you imagine that combination? Red hair and violet eyes. Aweful.
"So, how are you holding up?"
Sarah shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I don't know." She allowed a small unsure laugh escape her lungs. "I was just told my son is dying and going to have his arm replaced with silver and here I sit unemotional."
"It always begins like that. Things will turn for the worst later," said Livesey. "Hm? Where is that old Cyborg?"
He walked to his window and pulled open the glass before sticking his head out to observe the passing by walkers. Not sure what to exactly look for, he shrugged and turned back around. Anyway, there was a nice, cool, fresh breeze blowing through the room. The room where he was previously and destined to return smelled of death and foul, rotting flesh unfortunately. The sooner he could get this boy fixed up and resting in his own room the better.
"We're here! We're here!"
A miniature of John Silver floated through the window and settled himself in Livesey's face.
"Metamorphic Shapeshifter. I've only heard about them in books," noted Livesey. He placed his palm under Morph until the pink blob happily settled himself in the warm flesh. "According to belief, these creatures are what began life. Human and alien and all race alike came from these protoplasms. This little pink fellow must be millions if not billions of years old. They never age and the only possible mean of destroying them is to melt them. Freezing into a solid mass and then shattering does no good unless this little guy can't thaw out. They learn every day and forget every day. Things of life they find intriguing last longer in there little minds. They don't have a mind of their own truly."
"Ah ha, then ye've never met Morph," Silver's voice called. "Th' little shape shifter has a mind of his own indeed."
"Morph, how appropriate," said Livesey as he rubbed Morph's face.
"Now, if ye will," called Silver, motioning them to approach.
Sarah and Livesey approached the window. To their surprise and delight, Silver stood in a longboat with three chests behind him. Neither was honestly expecting him to be telling the truth. Now, the grand question…
"This be enough for tha' fancy silver?" Silver questioned and one by one opened the chests.
Livesey hardly realized he had leaned over the rail and fell into the longboat and into Silver's lap. He gazed wide eyed at the dazzling, sparkling gold and crystals. It was treasure. It was treasure from Treasure Planet. It was real treasure from Treasure Planet. He grew up on stories of Treasure Planet. Any young lad grew up with the stories of the Loot of a Thousand Worlds, but not any young lad would place his hands in a chest of the loot.
"Ahem, Livesey."
"What?" said Livesey, turning his head about.
"Could ye kindly remove yer rump from me lap?" asked Silver with a chuckle.
Livesey turned his head behind him to discover his torso was lying across the man's thighs and arms and legs hanging off. "Oh, of course," he said as he scrambled to his feet to kneel before one of the chests.
His hands dug into the gold. He identified every amethyst, sapphire, emerald, ruby, and diamond crystal and the droubloons, coins, knives, scepters, and swords. This was all so very real to him. He knew it was real before, but finally being able to touch it in his own two hands was incredible.
"Doctor, can you fix my son?" a small voice called near them like an angel from above.
"Son," said Livesey to himself. "Oh, your son." Although he meant to smack his hand to his head, the crystal came in contact to his forehead rather than his head. "Of course. Yes, this is more than enough for your son. I'd say give me one chest full."
Silver's eyes, including his mechanical one, became huge as his mouth went agape. "An entire chest? Tha's how much money ye need for this little procedure?"
"Yes and to satisfy my own childhood dreams," replied Livesey.
Silver chuckled. "Tha's more like it."
"All this treasure really is fantastic, but I want my son back," Sarah told them.
"Yes, of course. Immediately," Livesey said as he climbed through the window leading to his office.
"When can I see Jim?" wondered Sarah softly.
"Tomorrow," Livesey told her.
"Tamorrow!" Silver cried. The chest he was hauling gently into the office suddenly slipped from his fingers as it dropped on the floor nearly on top of Livesey's foot.
Livesey raised his palms in apology and taking a step back for safe measures on his foot. "I would let you see him now, but I wouldn't want to see my sons like yours is right now."
"I don't care. I just want to see Jim," Sarah said.
"Please trust me. No mother should see her son like this. He's in no condition for you to be seeing him," Livesey told both of them and emphasizing he was speaking to both of them because he turned his head to them as he spoke.
"How bad could it be?" asked Silver. "Come, let's see th' lad an' then we'll be on our merry way for a day."
Livesey heaved a great sigh as he threw his head back. He squeezed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "Look, tomorrow evening is going to be hell as you look upon him for the first time. All right? Have one last night of curiosity—"
"I don' do well with curiosity," Silver warned, his eye beginning to turn a shade of orange. "Either ye let me see Jimbo or I'll let meself see th' lad?"
"Do you want to see someone you care for barely breathing?" asked Livesey. "Do you want to see him bruised and bloody? Do you want to see him with his head halfway cut open and his arm socket? Do you want to have that image stick in your head for as long as you look upon him?"
Silver understood. He lowered his head in defeat.
Sarah also sat overwhelmed in the chair, her head once again in her hand.
"Come back tomorrow evening," Livesey once again requested. He walked to Sarah and set his palm on her shoulder. "Your son will need you more than you will ever know. I suggest you prepare your home for his recovery. Prepare yourself as well. He'll be here for the next three weeks if all goes well. Bring him some comforts from home. Bring him some things that will cheer him up. He's going to need a little life back in him. He is a fifteen year old who is going to have a piece of metal in his head and a mechanical arm. His world is going to temporarily shatter. Life is suddenly going to take a turn for the worst."
"Yer making it sound like th' lad is going ta kill himself," noted Silver. He made a clean gesture toward himself. "He's got me. I know wha' ta do. I'll take good care of th' lad."
"You will help him the most," agreed Livesey. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I need to take a few measurements and prepare a great many things before tomorrow evening. Everything will be all right. You'll see."
Sarah and Silver watched him leave, but only Silver noticed the confident smile Livesey bore while he was speaking to them became a frown of guilt and lack of confidence. Not good was all he thought in his mind. That sudden change of expression as soon as his back began turning was not a good sign. There was more that he didn't tell them about Jim.
"Mr. Silver, am I to expect you to stay a while?" asked Sarah.
Silver stuck his tongue out at being called Mr. Silver. He never cared to be called that; it made him feel much older than he was. Beside him, Morph became a small Sarah and repeated "Mr. Silver" over and over again until Silver shut the pink blob by pressing him between his palms, but, of course, Morphy giggled. "Please, call me John. It is my name after all."
"John then. Are you staying with us?" Sarah asked again.
"Of course," replied Silver quickly.
Sarah heaved a great sigh. "Well then. We have a day to wait and I suppose I should go back to Montressor and prepare."
"An' jus' where are ye keeping th' lad?" wondered Silver.
"Delbert's house. He offered me to stay there while he and Jim were away and until construction of the inn was completed," Sarah told him.
With a nod, Silver went limping to the door. He offered his hand out the door. "Come on then Mrs. Hawkins."
"And please call me Sarah," Sarah told him. "I haven't been Mrs. Hawkins for four years and recently I've been considering return to my maiden name."
"An' tha' being if ye don't mind this ole Cyborg knowing?" asked Silver as he and the lady walked from the hospital.
Not replying and her mind elsewhere, Sarah turned her head. She gazed at the building wondering where inside her son was currently. Nothing yet seemed real to her. How could it? And how was she sure that it was her son and not someone trying to play a cruel trick on her? Beware the Cyborg. Since she saw that this man who supposedly saved her son's life was a Cyborg, she had doubts in him. Yes, Billy Bones meant beware the Cyborg in the context of the treasure map, but John Silver was on the ship where the treasure map was and he did admit that he was the one who was leading the pirates. She was almost certain that he was also the cause for her to lose everything. Yet, somewhere in her, she found reason to trust him. When he spoke of Jim, he spoke with care and fear for what happened to him and worry of what was going to happen to him. And, if there wasn't enough reason to trust him with his words, he did surrender a chest of treasure to patch up Jim. Looking up at him as they climbed into the little longboat, her mind scrambled between trusting him and keeping a weary eye watching her own back.