Chap.3
The doors once again opened, halting the conversation to a standstill. This time the one who entered was not a man, but a woman. Dressed conservatively, covered from head to toe with a red scarf wrapped around her neck, she gazed around the room before implying, "Am I late?"
"A woman's prerogative, Mrs. Harker," M said with a chuckle, making me glare. I was never late to any engagement, and I had been a woman since my thirteenth year! Not only that, but if she was the Harker M had been talking of, she was an accomplished enough chemist to be in the League! Quatermain obviously was not about to accept this though, and said," Please tell me this is Harker's wife,
with a sick note." I looked at him in disbelief, all women are not pathetic housewives, you twit.
"Sick would be a mild understatement," Mrs. Harker said as she walked in, "My husband's been dead for years." She told him, matter-of-factly. M took over then, "Gentlemen, Mrs. Wilhelmina Harker. Mina's prior acquaintance with a reluctant League member may prove useful." He explained, leaning on a chair as all eyes turned toward him.
"I'm waiting to be impressed," Quatermain stated, in Mrs. Harker's direction. M would not be stopped though, "The fate of the world is at stake. There are two more members to recruit. The clock hands turn, gentlemen." My disbelief was back, I looked at M annoyed, how I wished to ask him why he thought his voice so pleasant. Ask who had deluded him and caused him to speak oh so very much. Alas, as is my fate, I could only turn towards Skinner as he said, "Kicking us out already? A moment ago, it was sherry and giggles," while walking towards the door as he flipped up his colar.
I grinned once more, hidden behind my cloth and followed closely behind Captain. No one spoke until we had made it out of the tight brick hallways and could see the automobile from the top of the stairs. I grinned, seeing Ishmael leaning against it, and checked to make sure Captain was covered with the umbrella again. I glanced at the other League members, and my grin grew at the shock on their faces, especially Quatermain's who said, "What in God's name is that?"
"I call it an automobile," Captain answered them. "Yeah, but what is it?" Skinner asked in a snappish way, making me glare softly at him. He did not have to be so impatient. Not that it mattered; it was not as though Captain would spill the Automobiles secrets here in the middle of a crowded street with many witnesses. He answered his question instead with, "The future, gentlemen, the future." We had made it down the steps, and he said, "This is my first mate-"
"Call me Ishmael," Ishmael told them, then motioned towards the car, "Please."
That is how we ended up in the Automobile, Mrs. Harker, Skinner, and then Quatermain in the back. While Ishmael drove and Captain sat in the passenger seat. I was in-between the two, sitting on the spot usually reserved for an arm's rest. I had pulled my legs up to my chest and hugged my knee's in an attempt not to hinder Ishmael's driving. Not for the first time, I was grateful for the smaller stature of a woman that was mine, my own. The air felt thick and constricted in the tiny space, and I could already tell it would not be a pleasant ride…
As we drove through the dark London streets, I spoke quietly with Captain through my hands, and he answered thusly in the same manner:
"What do you think?" I signed my question inconspicuously. "An odd lot, no doubt, however it is not that odd in relation to your own endeavors." He signaled back, and he was smiling as he did. Though he could not see it, I smiled. I think he read it in my eyes though, for his smile grew. Our smiles fell as we ended our conversation, staring ahead at the passing street.
"So how did M get you?" Skinner asked, most likely to break the suffocating silence, and I turned to watch as he turned his head towards Quatermain. "None of your business," Quatermain replied gruffly, looking annoyed. Mrs. Harker joined in the conversation then, leaning towards Quatermain, "You're a little testy, Mr. Q." Mr. Q. … I liked that, it would make things easier in the long run, when I eventually had to speak to him through written word. I had a good feeling he would not know my signs…
Mr. Q. leaned towards Mrs. Harker challengingly, "Mrs. Harker, I doubt if you measure danger the way I do." Mrs. Harker leaned in even closer, meeting the challenge, "And I imagine you with quite the library, Mr. Quatermain. All those books you must have read merely by looking at their covers." Mr. Q. would not give up however, "I've had women along on past exploits and found them to be, at best, a distraction." He grinned, thinking he won. "Do I distract you?" Mina asked," not to be beat. "My dear girl, I've buried two wives and many lovers and I'm in no mood for more of either," Mr. Q told her, only to have Skinner jump in excitedly, "You can send them my way-"
"-Skinner, shut up." Mr. Q. said, and the conversation seemed to drop. I turned back around and raised my eyebrows at Captain, and his expression seemed to match my own. An unconventional, not well put together team this League was indeed. Could something so thrown together really function?
A while later, as we were nearing the East London docks, Skinner seemed to perk back up again and said, "Oi Nemo, answer a question, will ya?" Captain turned to stare at him with raised brows, "What can I help you with, Mr. Skinner?" I had turned to look at him too, my chin resting on my shoulder for support. Skinner's black glasses turned and despite knowing there was nothing but invisible eyes behind them, I knew they were staring straight at me. "Why's it ya got the girl dressed as a lad and posing as your apprentice? I mean, if you're gonna have a girl at your shoulder, ya might as well show her off!"
Several things happened in a very few seconds the moment Skinner finished talking. I knew as soon as he disclosed his knowledge he had been the touch in the meeting, which made my eyes widen in horror and disgust. How dare that impudent man touch me without permission?! A second later Mr. Q. and Mrs. Harker were staring at me wide-eyed, Mr. Q muttering, "Another lass?" in disbelief, no doubt. Another second later and Ishmael slammed the brakes of the car, making us all jerk forward. It was not much, but it rattled the confusion in the car further. Ishmael and Captain were yelling at the same time, both towards Skinner:
"How dare you assume I would-"
"Captain's been takin care of her since she was-"
Then everything seemed to stop. For me at least, as my fist knocked him into the seat, sending his black glasses askew as he bounced back. I was panting heavily, so angered I could hardly breath. I pulled my hand back to punch him again when Captain yelled, "Marina, cease!" My hand fought my obedience until finally, it fell. The noises of Mr. Q's question's, Mrs. Harker's muttering my name, and Skinner's colorful language as Ishmael continued to chastise him disappeared as I turned to Captain and signed my dilemma.
"He touched my chest in the meeting hall!" I signed so quickly Captain made me repeat it. He stared at my hands, then at my eyes, "I see," he said, then nodded. I turned to Skinner who was staring again, his glasses back in place, and punched him again. His glasses were gone again, and he did not retrieve them. I was left staring at the white that was where the back of his head had been covered, for his eyes were still invisible. "Are you bloody crazy?!" he asked, only not so nicely.
I glared at him, and ripped the hat and cloth off my head, revealing my long brown braid, as Ishmael began to drive once again. "So it is a girl," Mr. Q. said. I glared at him, and knowing the fool could not read my hands grabbed at the paper in my bag and my modified quill and scrawled, "I am a she, not an 'it' you insufferable toad!" I handed him the paper before turning back to Skinner, whose mouth was open in confusion, "Why you writing what you're saying?" he asked. "Obviously she is a mute, Mr. Skinner." Mrs. Harker told him. I nodded and scrawled quickly, "Captain found me at sea and raised me. I am truly his apprentice and if you ever touch me or insinuate what you have again I'll" I wrote a well-placed threat. One I had always wanted to use, but never had the chance to before. I will not repeat it, for it is a foul thing, but it did the ticket.
I handed Skinner the paper and Mrs. Harker's eyebrows rose as she read over his shoulder, "Interesting." She said, but I do not know if it was the good interesting or not. Skinner's head rose, "You can't actually do-"I shifted my look to say, 'Would you like to bet on it?' and he gave a nervous laugh, "Right-o then, nice to meet ya- Marina?" I nodded, and held my hand out to shake. He must have been surprised, because it took him a moment to grasp it. I refused to let him raise my hand, I would be an equal while we were acquaintances, or there would be a very dark road before us.
He laughed when he could not shift my hand, and pumped it strongly, as I did. We broke apart and I turned to Mrs. Harker, holding out my hand to her as well. She was taken aback, and I was sure not to shake her hand hard, and let go quickly. I turned then to Allen Quatermain, and stuck my hand out. I was actually surprised when he gripped my hand painfully tightly, so I squeezed back as hard as I could. Our hands did not move, and he said, "Nice to meet you, boy," he said with a challenging smirk. I returned it, nodding my head with a tilt and mouthed the words, "You too, toad."
Through some miracle, he was able to read those three simple words on my lips. Finally, our hands shook, and parted. We stared at each other for a moment, he annoyed, me cross, our smirks gone. "Deranged little psycho," he finally said, and I signed some very bad things at him, which earned a slap on the arm from Captain as he said, "Marina!" in alarm. I stuck out my tongue and turned around, hugging my knees to me once more. Skinner was laughing, Allen was chuckling, and Mrs. Harker was silent. I was not quite sure what had happened completely. The air in the car seemed less dense though, and it was easier to breathe…