Dawn of Steam: Gods of the Sun (28 page)

Part of the faith in him may have come from that presumption of service, but even knowing that he is not the hero he pretended to be in battle, he remains a servant of Crown and country and a brave and capable man. If he can still lead us to our goals, some of which have far more to do with diplomacy than wondrous technology, then I will follow him and keep the faith. Despite the obvious misgivings and the need for some time to reconcile, I believe that people's minds will come around. Once he is on his feet and speaking again, Sir James may be able to help persuade the reluctant and regain some faith, now with honesty and strength of character instead of assumptions.

I will at least hope so, for even though I still long for England, its comforts, a bed of my own, and most particularly your company, dear Cordelia, I cannot now imagine not having some of these people about me as we venture forward. Without any of their number, we would not have achieved all that we have, and we would likely not be here at all. They are still extraordinary people, and in their own fashions and mine, I would like to think I could count on some of them as friends, even if I likely never would have encountered most of these people without these strangest of circumstances.

There is still certainly no guarantee, and for right now, Eddy, Mr. Franzini, Miss Penn, and Miss Bowe are all in doubt. Until Sir James has recovered somewhat and had a chance to speak to those who will speak to him, I dare not even broach the question of the future. I shall hope that his health will allow Sir James to withstand the difficulties he will certainly face ahead, both in explaining himself and in whatever may lie next.

I will also acknowledge that should his recovery stall – or his experiences haunt him so badly that he cannot continue – it is possible we will be forced to admit failure and return home, if that is even permitted. That would not be the worst of fates, for we have already found and accomplished a great deal, but this is already not the outcome we had hoped for at all.

I am still hopeful in some part of me that even wounded and challenged as we have been, we might still accomplish and see a great deal more. I will admit that after all of this, we would then doubtless go through more difficult times. I also know that this acute homesickness I feel will only grow worse, but I set out with hard work in mind and a goal for myself. I do not wish to return home with anything less than full success.

I do not think I will ever be so comfortable with fame and fortune as Sir James, and I would gladly fade back into society with you by my side, my love, and let my pictures and words carry the fame for me. I wish simply that I might be noted for my deeds for only so long as it takes for your good father to allow me back across the doorstep, this time bearing a ring.

My love, always,

Gregory Conan Watts

From the journals of Gregory Conan Watts,

July 8th, 1816

33º51' S 151º12

We have settled in well here, showing the first real signs of recovery. Sir James is able to sit up again. He feeds himself most of the time, though he still has bouts of weakness and fatigue that can come upon him without warning. His constitution has been most sorely taxed, so I cannot fault him for this. He has said a few words, mostly in thanks, and he has listened to the accounts of our travels. As of yet, he has not volunteered to speak of his own ordeals or what he may have learned of York and his future, and until he is willing to speak of that, I will not ask.

Likewise, we have not spoken about the plans for the future. Unavoidably, however, he did make certain that we knew the truth of the matter. He clearly worries for what the others will think or say now. After his sister's explanation and our answers to his brief questions, he sat in silence and thought for a long period of time. I wonder what will come of it, and currently in seeing him, my mind cycles through hope and dread alike.

My own injuries are healing well. My ribs have healed almost entirely. With another couple of weeks, they should be almost fully mended, if a bit vulnerable. Thankfully, we have not had any trouble while here. Apparently York and his fellows were either able to travel further afield than Australia, landed in the wilderness (may they be eaten by something), or have found themselves in one of the settlements far enough away that we do not receive regular news of them here.

Mr. Franzini has left this specific colony with a group of men. I do not know if he intends to be away long. He may seek to find enough fortune among the settlements that he might not need to return with us at all. For now, it is simply a matter of time. At the very least, some of the men of this town seem more comfortable speaking with us now that he is no longer counting himself among our number, for he seems to have given many of them much the same impression he left upon me in our earliest meetings. Despite this, he has proven his worth many times over, and I have some small hope he might return for those times when we travel to places he has contacts enough to work with us.

If he mourns, it is also possible that he must come to terms with his own failure to predict that the harlot had somehow armed herself. He was unable to save Mrs. Fisher, which would certainly greatly trouble me. For all the time I have traveled with him, Mr. Franzini has been inconsistent, but fairly often presented himself as a gentleman and may fancy himself such. Certainly inability to protect a woman, which is part of a man's duty, is difficult enough alone. That he allowed h
imself to be overcome by a harlot and prisoner is further shame he must find peace for in himself.

So far, though he has been questioned, h
e was not certain how Larkin had armed herself with the small knife she used, or how she caught them by surprise. She had moved quickly, striking when he had briefly turned his back to begin escorting her along her way to the facilities. Then, when he had been struck over the back of the head, obviously, Mrs. Fisher had been attacked before she could scream. Certainly the Captain still blames Mr. Franzini for some part, and he may not be the only one. For now, it is probably best he has left us, and for all his use, in reflection, I am not certain if it would be better if he returned or not for the peace of our company.

Of Miss Penn and Miss Bowe we have not heard a word. The day after the funeral, they simply left. My best clue to their whereabouts was that Miss Bowe said something about the Koori. Even having read Dr. Bowe's
The Friendliest People on Earth,
describing a great variety of Australian peoples, I am still not certain if this refers to an individual tribe or a wider part of the natives of the land. There remains a great deal unknown, and I certainly have no interest in going searching for them.

I do not pretend to know the mind of either woman. Miss Penn seems to have resolved her early issues with Miss Bowe, even if she was inspired to hurry this transition along by staying close to the one person Mr. Franzini avoided religiously. No matter the inspiration, the pair seem to be close friends now. They share an interest in the people here, as with the Maori. Miss Penn seems more interested from a scholar's perspective, fascinated by the mysticism of these native cultures, while Miss Bowe, of course, seems more at home among them than she often does
in polite society. Despite this, she always returns to the latter. Perhaps she is just the devout explorer her father obviously was.

I do not know how it is possible, but in all the ground we have covered, the writings have been proven true and with great breadth of knowledge. I have no more doubt that Dr. Bowe has traveled most of the world at one time or another. In fact, he seemed to have done so during his child's earliest days. I cannot quite say the woman's age, but it would take at least all of her life before we met her to encounter as many civilizations as she has. That she claims to know something of Africa and Asia yet is all the more amazing.

That last may soon be put to the test, for our critical diplomatic errand in the forbidden land of Japan will take us to Asia even if we forget all other assignments there. Africa is a long time away yet, and the legends of its dark interiors and thick jungles make it perhaps the most mysterious of all.

For all the dark emotions I have felt in these days, were York and his treachery removed from consideration, I should imagine I would be quite honored to have been included in this trip, to see and document sights of fascination and share that knowledge and the images with my home. Likewise, I remain, when I think on it, filled with a sense of wonder at how large the world is and how many corners remain yet unknown to us.

From the journals of Jillian Coltrane (translated from the original ancient Greek),

July 9th, 1816

For all its insufficiencies, Australia is at least relaxing. We have no appointments, nor visitors other than the Reverend and the Doctor. Both I can greet without a full wardrobe change, twelve minutes restyling my hair, and an entire bottle of degreasing lemon juice – or fear of causing a scandal.

I am sure that somewhere in this little port, there is a fifth son who knows the difference between what I should be wearing and what I am wearing fresh from work. However, the rules seem to be minding one's own business. Everyone is busy minding their own lands and counting their cows and sheep. There are no bored society girls here to cause problems. There is Harriet, and with the new influx of parts or things that can be made into parts, she's easily distracted from being bored. Imagine what straits we'd be in if we had only appropriately 'accomplished' young ladies in the family.

Speaking of accomplishment, you can sit up! Be proud, James. I'm so glad that you're doing well enough to read this now. And you, no doubt, are glad that you can find out what has happened through your usual means. Well, mostly glad. After what you did to the page in question, despite your usual respect for all things written and recorded, we can simply do without my full account of York's offer.

The Doctor is in much higher spirits now that you can eat and talk a little. This is more his speed of things.

You've seen what parts of the party that are here to check in, such as Mr. Watts. Eddy, with whom matters are quite complicated at the moment, is near in location, if not socially. After everything that has happened and everything discovered, he is not quite ready to talk with you yet. But we all will soon. It's important. But I know you can understand that. It's Eddy, and there have been not only lies, but things left unsaid.

I trust Miss Bowe will wander back, and bring Miss Penn along with her. She had yet to lose any of our people, for all she wanders into the wilds.

The Italian is off, somewhere, which is an ominous relief.

Mostly, with the party scattered, and your strength gaining by the day, all I can do is wait and fix what can be fixed. I will repeat what I started: Australia is relaxing.

I will also note, for as many sheep as there are here, the fabric selection is wanting. I think they ship it all home to be milled. The shopping opportunities are most disappointing.

July 11th, 1816

33º51' S 151º12' E

My Dearest Cordelia,

I would wish to write you more of romance, wonders, and scenic splendor, though Australia has only so much of that. Certainly it might be viewed as very beautiful in its own rugged fashion, but not the kind of beauty that has previously led me to photograph landscapes just for you. For the most part, the land I see now is warm and dry, particularly for winter, which the colonists swear this time should be. The lands not far from here are said to be mostly flat, warmer and drier still, and fraught with perils.

Currently, as before, I find I write you most when my mind is troubled. I would never wish to burden you too much with my difficulties. Your health and situation in near exile at times at home gives you plenty of your own concerns, but I find it eases my mind in the fashion of talking to a friend. Certainly you are not only the love of my life, but also my oldest and dearest companion from our childhood days. Remembering your lifelong curiosity about almost everything, whether expressly forbidden a young lady's ears or not, I can only hope that this new trouble of mine does not so much trouble as intrigue you.

We have received a strange letter. It came to us without a signature and without explanation. It bade those of us able to travel to come first to one of the settlements a day's travel from the colony here in Australia, then to a specific address within it. It did not say why. It simply assures us that the trip is not a difficult or dangerous one, so long as we travel with the traders en route between settlements. This relative safety is the only verifiable matter involved. The letter was dropped off anonymously, so we could not even determine anything from some note of the person's description.

Miss Coltrane was particularly intrigued by the letter, claiming she thought there was something familiar to the handwriting. Certainly it bears the wording and marks of a highly educated man, and the phrasing is in perfect King's English, rather than the variant they have found themselves speaking in this remote corner of the world. Miss Coltrane apparently passed the news onto Eddy once I had told her of its arrival, for he showed some interest as well.

Curiosity is winning out. We have been here long enough that some small and easy degree of travel should not be too difficult or injure my ribs too much. We have made arrangements for travel, Miss Coltrane, Miss Wright, Eddy, and myself. It is unlikely that York could have arrived unannounced to be behind this, but we intend to take care. I hope to provide you with answers in my next letter, though as no ships have yet arrived, it will likely be sent together with this.