The Ship Beyond Time (The Girl from Everywhere #2)

 

 

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s a tall order.”

 

“It’s your only way out,” I told her; but that was the wrong tactic. “And I know Slate would consider it a great favor.”

 

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”

 

I hesitated—could I tell her? “A life for a life, you said.”

 

“You’re telling me Captain Slate’s life depends on this?”

 

“Not his,” I said. “Mine. And my mother’s.”

 

Gwen folded her arms and glared at me; behind the anger, pain shifted to regret. What kind of person was she, really? For a long time I thought she’d refuse, but then she waved me away toward my ship. “Get off my ship and send him over.”

 

I climbed down to the Temptation; my father met me at the rail. “Let’s get you out of the cold,” he said, trying to steer me toward the cabin, but I shrugged out of his grip.

 

“No time,” I told him, digging my fingers into the stiff pocket of my trousers. With difficulty, I slid the canteen free and handed it to Slate. “For James. Only a little at a time. Stop when he remembers arriving in Ker-Ys. Then send him over to the Fool.”

 

Slate took the bottle, but he hovered until Lin shooed him away. She held out my red cloak, settling it around my shoulders—I’d left it in the captain’s cabin for my trip to Greece. She’d brought the flask of mercury too. Lin inspected the claw marks on my arm and gently daubed them with the elixir. “What is that?” she said then. “In your pocket?”

 

I sighed; the throbbing pain in my arm was fading fast. “Kashmir gave it to me.”

 

“A strange gift,” she said, turning her attention to my bee sting.

 

“It’s what he had to give at the time.”

 

“You’ll have more time with him.”

 

She said it with such certainty—but was it only a made-up fortune? I looked up into her eyes; her expression was serious. “I know,” I said softly, hoping that could make it true.

 

Lin corked the flask of mercury and held it out to me. “You should take this with you too,” she said. “If he’s hurt, he’ll need it.”

 

I blinked at her. How had she guessed I might go to him? Then again, how could she imagine I wouldn’t? I gave her a wan smile and slipped the bottle into my pocket. Then I went to the rail to face Crowhurst.

 

He smiled when he saw me, but there was something behind it, an edge I hadn’t seen before. “How was Boeotia?”

 

“Enlightening.” A gust made my wet hair crackle; the wind was so cold, I was crowned in frost. “But you know that. You drank from the Mnemosyne.”

 

“Didn’t you?”

 

I looked at him then—at the glint in his eyes. “The price was too high for me. What did you sacrifice, Crowhurst? What have you lost?”

 

“Nothing!” he called back, a touch too loud. “I’ve won, Nixie.”

 

“You knew I could bring the water for Cook.”

 

“I knew you might,” he countered. “I also know you won’t leave.”

 

“I don’t have to. Gwen is taking James back to London. Your gambit failed, Crowhurst. You’ve lost.”

 

“I still have Kashmir!”

 

“I don’t think Blake will let you keep him just to spite me. Would you?” I turned to Blake, and I saw the answer in his face. I smiled grimly. “In fact, there’s only one move left for the both of you, if you want to know if you can change the past.”

 

Blake glanced from me to Crowhurst—he had always had so many questions. “What is it, Miss Song?”

 

“Let us take Dahut. Now, before the storm. Before the myth has a chance to end.”

 

Dahut shifted on her feet. “What does she mean, Father?”

 

Crowhurst ignored her. “Why would I do that?”

 

“Because you can go back to your native time and read the myths about Ker-Ys. You’ll know if the legend is altered. You’ll know what’s possible.”

 

“Go back?” Crowhurst’s jaw worked. Was he considering it? His hand went to the flask at his throat—no . . . to the brass key. “I told you. I can’t go back, not yet. But I have another move.”

 

“What is it?” I asked, but I had my answer when he pulled the chain over his neck.

 

“Call Cook back,” he said; there was a threat in his voice.

 

My heart pounded, but I could not do as he asked. “No.”

 

“Kashmir’s in the pit, Nixie.” Crowhurst gave me a thin smile. “If the town floods, he’ll drown first. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

 

Blake turned to him, eyes wide. “You would flood the town?”

 

“Not if she brings me Cook.” Crowhurst fitted the key to the lock.

 

“You can’t do this!” I called, but he rounded on me.

 

“Prove it!” Crowhurst roared. “Prove we can change things, Nixie!”

 

There was a challenge in his eyes; did he actually want me to stop him? But he was not the one I was trying to save. “You can prove it to all of us!” I cried. “Throw the key into the water!”

 

But Crowhurst only shook his head.