History Keepers: Nightship to China by Dibben Damian

his eye was sore. He saw a small craft with navy blue sails approaching the mainland. It was Galliana’s yacht, the
Kingfisher
, and he could see her standing at the prow. There was a gentleman with her, in a top hat – Jupitus Cole.
    Jake frowned. ‘Why’s he here?’ he said to himself, his spirits plummeting still further. He watched as the boat docked at the pier. When the pair disembarked, Jake noticed that Jupitus was carrying a heavy crate. They headed towards the town and disappeared from view.
    ‘Nathan,’ Jake called quietly to his friend, who had fallen asleep in the corner. The American opened his eyes and sat up. ‘They’re coming.’
    Jake tucked in his shirt, combed back his hair and tried to clean his face with his skull-and-crossbones scarf. It didn’t make much difference: he still looked dreadful.
    ‘
I
do the talking,’ said Nathan, smartening himself up. ‘This is
my
mess.’
    Jake shook his head. ‘
I
was the one who came here in the first place.’
    Voices came from beyond the door. Jupitus had started talking – in slightly broken French – but Galliana soon took over. She was completely fluent and spoke with authority. Whatever she was saying must have been reasonable, as Poing de Fer seemed to put up no fight at all; his tone became almost jovial.
    Five minutes later there was a clinking of keys and the door swung open. Jake froze as Jupitus entered, eyes cold and mirthless.
    ‘Your parents leave within the hour,’ he spat contemptuously to Jake. ‘I believe they would like to speak to you before they go.’
    ‘Mr Cole’ – Nathan beamed – ‘may I start by saying, this is clearly not as bad as it looks.’
    ‘You may do nothing of the sort,’ snapped Jupitus. ‘Your jangling voice is unwelcome at the best of times, but before breakfast it is unendurable.’
    ‘Jangling?’ Nathan shrugged to himself. ‘That has quite a pleasant ring.’
    ‘Mr Cole, I’m so sorry,’ Jake began. He had a whole speech worked out. ‘I am completely to blame—’
    Jupitus silenced him with a hiss. ‘I have even less interest in
your
point of view. I’d conserve your energies for those you have hurt the most.’ He turned and left. Jake and Nathan eyeballed each other and followed him out.
    Galliana was waiting, equally stony-faced. Jake had never seen her dressed so soberly – almost like a schoolteacher – and with such attention to period detail (where clothes were concerned, she tended to be as eccentric as her friend Rose). Jake offered her a smile, but she ignored him.
    ‘
Merci
, Monsieur Poing de Fer,’ she said, turning to the sheriff. ‘
C’était un plaisir, comme toujours
. . .’ She patted the crate that Jupitus had brought from the boat. It contained nine ancient-looking bottles of golden-brown liquid. Jake guessed that she had used them to bribe him.
    Jupitus led the way back to the pier, where Galliana’s boat, with its distinctive dark blue sails, was waiting. Nathan attached the skiff he’d brought over to its stern, and they set off for the island. Not a word was spoken for the entire journey.
    As they approached the quay, Jake saw that a group of people had gathered there. Usually the departure of agents on missions to distant lands and times was a cheery affair. This time, the
Escape
was being prepared for his parents’ journey in almost total silence.
    Mr and Mrs Djones stood at the front. It was a shock seeing them dressed in modern clothes again – Alan in his corduroy trousers and Miriam in an old woolly jumper and a denim skirt over leggings. Next to them was a piece of luggage that always seemed to presage bad news: a red suitcase, bulging in readiness for the journey.
    Galliana’s boat docked, and she and Jupitus stepped ashore, followed by the boys. Jake felt everyone’s eyes on him; Yoyo was also watching from a distance, her tight-lipped mother standing guard next to her. Topaz, waiting with Nathan’s equally concerned parents on the quayside,