Ch. 19
We headed for the helm, and Captain brought searched through the periscope to asses our surroundings. "It's the carnival," I could hear the shock in Captain's voice, "My God, we must locate that bomb." I could not agree more, for I knew of Venice's carnival. I knew with all the people centralized, it would be that much easier to destroy them!
"We can go no further, captain," Ishmael said, and Captain moved forward, "All ahead, stop." I could hear the top of the ship scraping against the bridges and winced, poor Nautilus. We walked down to the opening doors and where the rest of the League assembled. The divers were ready aside the other men there in case they were needed. I grinned at them, though I do not think they saw. I had run ahead, and saw Maitreya, we had a new joke now. He would protect himself whenever I walked by, mostly playfully.
The ramps lowered, but I chose to not get in the divers way by cutting across to once more meet the League and just jumped down with Maitreya. I hurried through the men and heard Captain as he walked down saying to Ishmael, "Deploy the divers beneath the city. The explosives must be found."
"Aye aye, Captain," Ishmael said. I met them below and took my position at Captain's left hand side. "The city is vast. It could be anywhere," Mina said with worry in her voice. "What about Skinner?" Sawyer asked, and I smiled at his good question. What about Skinner?
"I'd be alert for his treachery," Dorian said. Ouch. That one hurt. I suppose I really am the only one who is uneasy about his conviction…
An explosion made me gasp, only to see the sky light up with fireworks. I pressed a hand to my heart to stop its wild beatings from fear. I could hear the partygoers cheering as the fireworks continued. "Bloody carnival," Mr. Q. said, and I could not have agreed more.
"God, I feared the worst," Mina said, to which I also had to agree. "It's all right. We still have..." Sawyer started, only to stop as the ground shook violently. I am ashamed to say I tumbled, and landed at someone's legs. I looked up quickly and saw Henry's shocked stare. He grabbed my arm and picked me up as he stared wildly around. "The buildings are falling like dominoes!" Lalit called frantically from the crows nest. "We're too late!" Mina whispered, and my eyes widened in fear.
I saw Mr. Q. run to the corner of one of the closest building. He stared down the lane and turned towards us again, "There must be more than one bomb. Nemo! The bombs are at the city's center. We must take out one key building," he yelled as he ran towards us. Henry's hand, stayed wrapped on my arm as we moved to listen to what was being said.
"Yes!" Captain cried in understanding, "Get ahead and destroy the next building!" Sawyer turned as he said, "We can interrupt the chain!" Captain nodded, "With a beacon place at the exact coordinates, I could launch a rocket and take out the domino."
Suddenly Sawyer was running back to the Nautilus, "Well that's ridiculous. We'd never get there in time!" Dorian said, looking smug. "There would be no room for error, but I tell you it could work!" Captain told him. Suddenly Henry spoke, and it sounded like it was in desperation, "What are you talking about, Gray's right!"
"I'm an immortal sir, not a gazelle. How can we outrun this?" Dorian asked looking annoyed. Suddenly an engine was roaring. I knew that sound, it was the Automobile! Suddenly the Automobile was speeding down the ramp. It spun to a stop and Sawyer was there, saying, "Care for a spin?"
Mina and Mr. Q. rushed forward to jump into the Automobile. Henry's hand dropped from my arm and figuring he would follow them I ran to Captain's side, ready for instruction. Despite wanting to go, I knew my place was by his side, and I would not give that up for anything.
Dorian, Mina, Mr. Q., and Sawyer were seated in the Automobile, and I had a bad feeling it was the last time I would see. "Come on Jekyll, get in," Mr. Q. said. "I'll need coordinates," Captain reminded them. "Can you track this?" Mr. Q. asked. "Of course," Captain told him. "Then this'll be your target. Launch when you see the flare," Mr. Q. told him.
"Right," Captain said, and headed for the ramp, I followed him quickly. Looking back, I saw the Automobile rushed forward and then seized to a stop. My mouth dropped open. That fool had flooded it! I sighed in annoyance, as he looked shocked. Mr. Q. looked annoyed and jumped out of the car to try to push it. I grabbed Captain's sleeve and he turned, I pointed to the Automobile and he nodded.
With a wave of his arm, several men ran forward to push the Automobile. As they tried to get it started, Mr. Q. yelled, "Jekyll come on! We'll need Hyde!" Standing rigid, his face red from stress cried, "No! Hyde will never use me again!" The engine roared to life, and before they disappeared Dorian turned back and said, "Then what good are you?"
Anger burned through me, how dare Dorian say things like that about Henry! It was remarks like that that was ruining Henry's confidence! Without thinking of Captain, I rushed forward and grabbed Henry's arm. He looked down at me with sunken eyes, and I tugged at his arm, pulling him towards the ship.
"Marina, I-"he seemed so aloof, and I hugged his arm tighter as I pulled him along. If only I could speak, I could tell him how very good he was. "-I'm so disgusted at how useless I am…" He muttered, and I shook my head in defiance, if only I could talk. I think I would have confessed to him right there.
I guess it is a good thing I cannot…
I walked with his arm held closely to my chest, giving him no way to escape to a solitude invaded by Hyde. Henry did not need Hyde; he was fine as he was. Even if no one else needed him, I did!
His eyes seemed to finally focus, and he smiled softly down at me with half-lidded, sunken eyes. We were in the hall now, on our way to the helm to meet Captain. We were alone, and the explosions that had shaken the ground beneath our feet outside did nothing to the ground beneath our feet now. "I know I should be ashamed of myself, but my pride is soaring," he muttered, and I hugged him tighter, smiling.
He looked down at me, and his eyes appeared less shrunken, his face was back to its original shade. He smiled down at me, and I returned it brightly. The quiet of the hall was dimming the truth of what was going on outside. "Can I guess what you want to say?" he asked me softly, and I nodded.
"Something like, how I'm more than just Hyde to the League, and that even if they don't find me useful, you do?" he asked softly, and my mouth dropped. How had he known? He smiled, and muttered, "I'm right, then? Heh, you would say that, wouldn't you, Marina?"
Then he embraced me, and for a moment, the world disappeared. No League, or bomb, or waiting Captain. There was just Henry and his warm body holding mine. I heard him whisper something, "Thank you," I think, but I did not hear clearly. I was drunk with his scent, and my hands finally reacted and desperately reached up to clutch his coat tightly.
It could not have been more than a few moments, but as time had slowed, I was not sure. He finally pulled away, and for a moment, I was disorientated. Then my senses returned, and grudgingly I motioned for him to follow me to Captain.
I saw Captain walking as we turned to the way to the launch controls, and only then did I drop Henry's arm and launch myself forward to walk beside him. Ishmael had seen me, I know he had, but he kept quiet about it as he addressed the bombs.
"The collapse has reached the Carnival, Captain," Ishmael reported, "Time's runnin out." Captain stayed stoic as he said, "Turn the tracers to the car's frequency. The rocket must be ready to launch. "Aye aye Captain," Ishmael said as Chapal opened the door and let us through. As we walked, metal clanged and the boat shook. Captain headed for the crow's nest as I stayed with Ishmael and Henry.
The buildings around us must have been falling about, for the Nautilus shook like a leaf on the wind. "We'll be smashed apart!" A panicking Oojam yelled. Ishmael turned on him in fury and said, "Nemo says we stay, we stay!"
I nodded in fierce agreement. Captain's word was final! "He has overtaken the collapse, be ready to launch!" Captain called down from the crows nest. "Launch!" Captain called, and Ishmael pulled the lever.
Finally, the shaking stopped, and the Nautilus stilled. I smiled widely and shook Ishmael's coat sleeve, bouncing happily. They had done it, Venice was saved! I grinned at Henry, who smiled back, and I noticed Oojam looked relieved. "Alright Marina, all's well now. Go and meet them as they return!" Ishmael laughed, and I think he just wanted me to let go of his sleeve. I did so, and hugged him happily, he returned it, laughing at me, and I stuck my tongue out as I let go of him.
I gave the men thumb's up and patted Oojam's shoulder, and looked back at Henry, wondering if he would meet them with me, before running down the hall. "Do you have'ta runeverywhere you go, girl? Dangers over, ya'know!" He was laughing, and I turned as I ran, made a heart with my hands, and placed it over my own, before turning back and making sure my steps stomped as I ran. I could hear all the men laughing at me now, and I grinned as I ran…