Chapter 23

The ambulance was worse for the wear. Anna slowly walked around the vehicle. Bullet holes were scattered along the doors and rear fender. Resting her hand against the fender, she leaned down to inspect the gas tank. There were a few dents but there didn't appear to be any holes and she didn't smell any gasoline. "I wonder if it even runs," she remarked.

Bovier lifted the hood and looked at the engine, "Everything looks alright. Try and start it," he said.

Anna got in the driver's seat, "Okay, crank it," she said. Bovier grasped the crank and yanked it around. The engine whined and sputtered. He gave it another crank. Anna heard the engine start to turn over, "Almost, try again," she yelled from the driver's seat. Bovier wiped the sweat from his forehead and cranked it again. The ambulance roared to life. Bovier's head poked around the hood a big smile on his face. Anna motioned for him to close the hood and get in. Once he was in the passenger's seat Anna put it in gear and started back.

As they rumbled up to the cart, Anna hid a smile at the expression on Jarlaxle's and Artemis' faces when they saw the motor vehicle. As they loaded Jacques into the ambulance Anna knew she needed to get Jarlaxle and Artemis out of France. If she was going to find a way to get them back to their own time she needed her grandmother's knowledge of the Fae, which meant she needed to get them into United States. They needed to find out why Faery was a different realm and why there were no records of the Fae ever living among humans. She also needed to find out if Jarlaxle was the same as the Fae that lived in Faery. He didn't quite fit what she had learned about the Fae. What if Jarlaxle was different from the Fae that her grandmother had told her about? She didn't want to think about what that might mean. If Jarlaxle was not Fae that meant all the magical races in his world were going to die. She didn't know if the disease they had seen was responsible but it seemed likely since there hadn't been any survivors that she knew of, except for Jarlaxle. Why hadn't the elf gotten sick?

She didn't know why the puzzle box had brought them back to her time, but there had to be reason. If the disease started in her world perhaps the answer was here as well.

Checking Jacques stiches to see if there was any bleeding, Anna asked, "Bovier, do you know how to drive this?" If Jacques stiches opened while they were traveling he could bleed to death. She needed to monitor him carefully.

"Yeah, I helped my dad once in a while and he taught me," Bovier said. Anna climbed into the back and sat beside Jacques while Bovier got in the driver's seat. Thankfully the ambulance was open allowing them to move between the front and back of the vehicle. At least this way she could keep an eye on both Jacques and Bovier. She had never seen Bovier drive and wasn't entirely confident in his skill, but she didn't have a choice. Jacques' life was still in danger.

As the ambulance bounced along the road, Jarlaxle moved to the passenger's seat. Watching the boy operate the motor vehicle had the elf's full attention.

"What are you doing?" the drow asked as Bovier shifted gears.

"I am shifting gears," He replied smiling, pleased to be able to talk about the motorcar.

"Gears?" Artemis asked leaning over the seats to get a better look. He knew how gears worked but had never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined anything like this motor vehicle.

"Yes, the lower gears have more power but less speed and the higher gears allow you to travel at a faster pace. There is also a gear for backing up," Bovier said as he warmed to the subject. Jarlaxle continued to question the boy about the ambulance for the better part of an hour.

Losing interest, Artemis sat opposite of Anna and looked at Jacques. He idly wondered if the boy's father would survive. It wasn't often that someone endured what Jacques had and lived to tell about it. He had been surprised that Anna had been able to finish removing the leg. When she had been in Faerun she had been a frightened bundle of nerves, but here in this world full of blood and death she was like a different person. He wondered if she actually was related to him. If they were related that meant that at some point he would have fathered a child. The thought brought a scowl to his face. All his life Artemis Entreri had been alone. He preferred it that way. He watched the drow grill the boy about the motorcar. Why couldn't he rid himself of the pesky elf? Originally he had stayed close to drow because Jarlaxle had been the only reason that the other drow hadn't killed him during his stay in Menzoberranzan. He still didn't understand why Jarlaxle had decided to travel with him. He knew the dark elf had wanted to expand his control to the surface world but it still didn't explain why Jarlaxle had stayed with him all this time. The dark elf was different from the others of his kind. Unlike other drow Jarlaxle prided himself on only killing when necessary.

He wondered why he hadn't killed the drow. There had been enough opportunities, yet something had stayed his hand. Had he gotten used to the drow's constant chatter?

Anna steadied Jacques as they rolled over a particularly deep rut and quickly checked the stiches. The ambulance didn't have anything to soften the ride as they bounced over ruts and debris. There were no roads, and the rough ground made for painfully slow traveling. Anna wondered how much gas was in the tank. Hopefully there was enough to last until they reached the hospital.

When the elf suddenly stopped questioning Bovier, Anna glanced up curious as to what had finally made him stop talking. The drow's face was turned away from her. He was looking at what was left of the landscape. The only thing he had seen for the past hour had been burnt trees, dirt, and death.

"How far reaching is this destruction?" The dark elf asked, resting his arm on the window sill. He had not seen any signs of life since they left.

Anna's eyes clouded as she looked at the destruction all around them, "There isn't a place on this world that hasn't felt the effect of the Great War," she answered.

The elf looked at her sharply. She was serious. "What of your home?" Jarlaxle asked. He sincerely hoped that this war hadn't robbed him of the treasures this world offered.

"The war hasn't reached American soil, but it still affects us," Anna said.

"How so?" The Jarlaxle asked, unable to hide his relief.

Anna had a feeling that the dark elf's relief didn't have anything to do with her. She glanced over at him and then back at the road. If he wasn't worried about her then why was he relieved?

"We sent over a million soldiers to aid in the war effort. There isn't anyone that I know of that hasn't been effected by that," she said not taking her eyes from the road. Dead silence met her statement.

A million soldiers. The number was mind boggling. Shocked, Jarlaxle leaned back in the seat. He wondered exactly how powerful her country was to have such an army. The more he learned about Anna's world the more it fascinated him.

Artemis stared at her in disbelief, "A million soldiers, do you have any idea how many men that is?" he asked. The idea was ridiculous. He wasn't even sure if it was possible to mobilize an army of that size. Anna looked up and met his eyes, "Yes, I do know how many soldiers that is. America takes up half of a continent," she explained. In the passenger's seat, Jarlaxle started his eyes widening in surprise.

Doubt was clearly visible in Artemis' dark eyes, "How would you move an army of that size?" he demanded.

Anna frowned, "By train or boat," she said.

"By boat?" Artemis scoffed. He knew what a boat was. It would be impossible to transport an army of that size by boat. After all, even the largest boats didn't hold more than sixty men.

Anna looked at him in confusion. Why didn't he think they could transport the men by boat? Her eyes widened as she realized he was judging boats by 14th century standards. "Our boats are a lot bigger than what you are used to," she told him. He didn't look convinced. Anna smiled slightly to herself, he would see for himself soon enough.

"We need to get out of France," Anna suddenly announced drawing curious looks from Artemis and Jarlaxle.

When she didn't elaborate, "If you would kindly explain," the dark elf prompted.

"I was thinking that if the disease started here, maybe we could find an answer," she replied.

"Where might we find answers if not in France?" Jarlaxle asked hiding his impatience.

"America," Anna said wondering how much mischief Jarlaxle might cause once she got him back to the States. "I'm going to take you to my home. My grandmother may be able to help," she told them. The wide smile that spread across the drow's face worried her. What was he thinking?

Artemis shook his head and sat back down. The calculating look in the drow's eyes spelled trouble. He wondered what it would take to rid himself of the dark elf.

"How will we travel to America?" Jarlaxle asked, rolling the strange word around his tongue.

"By boat, though I still have to figure out how to get you and Artemis onboard," she said frowning. She might be able to disguise Artemis, but Jarlaxle was another story. Maybe if she wrapped him in bandages. She glanced at him. But first she would have to get that horrid purple hat away from him. She wondered why he was so fond of it.

Another ambulance came into view. Anna had an idea. "Bovier, get behind that ambulance," she told the boy who immediately turned the wheel and headed toward the other motorcar.

"What is your plan?" Jarlaxle asked.

"I am going to try and sneak in with the other medical personal. As long as they don't see you," she said looking pointedly at the drow, "I don't think they will question our presence." Jarlaxle winked at her as he tipped his hat and then vanished. Anna blinked. How did he do that?

Bovier glanced back just as the elf vanished. "Where did he go?" he asked, voicing Anna's thoughts.

"Why, right here," came the dark elf's voice.

Bovier turned toward the drow's voice. There was nothing there. "Impossible," the boy whispered.

"Oh, it's quite possible. I assure you," Jarlaxle answered. Bovier shook his head and turned his attention back to the rough ground.

More ambulances joined them as they approached the coast. Soon they were just one of many medical transports. No one looked twice at them.

Anna rummaged through the supplies. She smiled as she held up a white doctor's jacket.

"Artemis, put this on. I am going to try and get you in with me," she said. When he didn't answer she said, "Unless you can turn invisible too."

Artemis didn't look happy, but he slid the coat over his clothing. Anna pursed her lips. He scowled back at her. She hoped they didn't look at him too closely.

"There's a check point ahead," Bovier called over his shoulder. Anna leaned over the passenger's seat to get a better look. "This is bad," she said nervously watching the soldiers checking the ambulances. Could they make it through the check point? No, Artemis didn't have any ID, they would get caught. She glanced around trying to figure out what to do. Chaos surrounded them. Ambulances were everywhere, most of them horse drawn. She chewed her lip. Hide in a crowd.

"Bovier, we can't go this way. We won't get past the check point," she said hoping that Jacques would remain unconscious until they reached the hospital. There were so many vehicles that they were at a standstill. "Change seats with me, I have an idea," Anna said. Bovier switched seats with her. "You'll need to keep an eye on your dad. If you see any bleeding tell me immediately, okay?" she said putting the ambulance in reverse.

"We are to hide in a crowd?" Jarlaxle's disembodied voice said from behind her.

"That's my hope," Anna said turning towards him only to find herself talking to an empty seat. She scowled at the empty seat. An invisible finger turned her face back to the road, "Really, what will they think if you are talking to yourself?" the elf laughed. Anna looked forward but the scowl didn't leave her face. What had she gotten herself into?

Bovier crawled carefully over his dad to take a seat in the back of the ambulance . He sat down and then yelped as invisible hands pushed him back. He had forgotten all about the drow. "You're still here?" he gasped, staring at the empty seat.

"Indeed," the elf replied dryly. Bovier shook his head staring at the empty seat.

"Where are you?" Bovier said not wanting to sit on the elf again. An invisible pulled him down to the seat.

Anna felt the feather from the elf's hat brush against her as he moved to the passenger's seat.

"What are you going to do?" Artemis asked resting his hand on the back of her seat.

"The first thing I need to do is get us out of this chaos," she said beginning to work her way through the spider web of ambulances coming towards them. "There's a village nearby called Calais," she said concentrating on getting around some skittish horses. "We should be able to steal a boat and cross the channel ," she explained.

"And how do you plan on stealing a boat?" Artemis asked. He couldn't visualize Anna stealing anything. She glanced back at him and then turned her attention forward again, "I'm going to need your help," she told him.

"What makes you think I will help you?" Artemis demanded. Anna growled in exasperation, "Why do you always have to be so difficult?" she shot back.

"It's a gift he has been blessed with since birth," Jarlaxle laughed.

Anna remained silent until they were in the clear and then put the vehicle in neutral and then rounded on Artemis, "Are you going to help me or not?" She growled. Artemis glared at her, "What reason would I have to help you?" he growled back. The dangerous look in the assassin's dark eyes had reduced grown men into quivering masses of fear. Anna glared right back at him.

"Do you want to stay in France?" She asked, her eyes glittering angrily, "if so you can get out right now."

Artemis Entreri was not a man that you crossed. His hand shot forward, closing around her throat, "I have killed men for far less," he snarled. Anna was so angry that she didn't even think as she growled, "Do you think I want to be labeled a deserter? Do you think I want to throw away everything I have worked for? Do you think I wanted to have my life thrown into chaos?"

The hand on her throat loosened its grip, "Then why don't you walk away?" Artemis asked. Anna sighed, "Because I care about you and I care about Jarlaxle. I can't stand the thought of something happening to either of you. I can't turn a blind eye as an entire race dies out. If there is something I can do, I have to try."

Artemis leaned forward, his cold eyes bored into hers, "How do you know that you can stop any of this?" he demanded. Her answer didn't sit well with him.

"I don't know, but if I don't try I couldn't live with myself," she answered staring into his eyes. Artemis stared at her for a long moment and then released her. He had wanted to throttle her, but found to his surprise he had enjoyed arguing with her. She had guts. No brains. But she had guts he grudging admitted to himself.

"You should be wiser in your choice of friends," he told her as he leaned back in the seat. She was a fool to want to help him or the drow. Though the dark elf seemed fixated on her right now, Jarlaxle would kill her without hesitation if he thought it would benefit him. Artemis could easily kill her. He had threatened her on several occasions yet she still wanted to help. Why did she care about them?

"What exactly do you want me to do?" Artemis asked.

"I want you to help me steal a boat, sail cross dangerous waters, and then impersonate a doctor to sneak aboard a ship to going to America," she answered.

Artemis' eyebrows shot up and small cold smile played along his lips, "You do realize what will happen if we are caught," he remarked.

Anna looked him directly in the eyes and said, "They will either kill us or throw us in a French prison to never be heard from again."

"And you are willing to take that kind of risk?" Artemis asked.

"Yes," Anna answered without the slightest hesitation.

The invisible dark elf laughed in delight and leaned forward to kiss her. "Why are you kissing me again?" she shrieked jerking away and glaring at the empty passenger's seat.

Author's Note: Hmmm…this chapter turned out quite different than I expected. What did you think?

General zargon: I don't know…I'm still up in the air about killing off Jacques. I am working on the characters. Any better?