Part 21 (1/2)

”At least it won't be run by those fellows.” Fergusson jerked a thumb at the oncoming hors.e.m.e.n.

Caroline came running back with an armload of twigs and dried gra.s.ses. Fergusson and Nemo arranged the balloon, tying more of its cords to the bushes. They built the campfire into a towering blaze that belched smoke, hot flames, and heated air into the sky. By the time the bonfire burned at its peak, the hors.e.m.e.n bore down upon them so close that the adventurers could hear the hoofbeats and the shouts.

”It's time,” Nemo said. ”We dare not wait any longer.”

The three of them each took hold of a separate part of the balloon and stretched the opening over the flames. The hot air was like a heavy breath that blew into the sagging sack.

”It's not filling fast enough,” Caroline said.

”Just be grateful the leftover hydrogen didn't burst into flames, eh?” Fergusson said, looking up into the wide mouth of the battered silk sack.

Nemo strained against the ropes to hold the opening over the rippling hot air. ”The gas is much too diluted for that.” He watched the torn holes in the balloon sack, wis.h.i.+ng he had taken the time to seal them the night before, but now the hot air filled the dying Victoria Victoria faster than it could leak out again. faster than it could leak out again.

The black-robed raiders snarled, and the three companions could see teeth flas.h.i.+ng in their cruel mouths. Several of the men had drawn long swords, ready to ride down and lop off the heads of those who had ruined their slave raid.

But now the Victoria Victoria bobbed upward, standing straight. Though its sides remained crinkled, it had become buoyant, straining at the ropes. bobbed upward, standing straight. Though its sides remained crinkled, it had become buoyant, straining at the ropes.

”Caroline, climb up,” Nemo said, helping her. ”Careful not to burn your hands.” Without arguing, she scrambled onto the tattered netting that held the sack together. The fire continued to roar, and the revived Victoria Victoria strained upward like a restless spirit. strained upward like a restless spirit.

”Doctor, you're next,” Nemo said as he took the dagger and slashed one of the ropes opposite Fergusson. The long-legged explorer did his best to climb onto the sack.

Released from one of its tethers, the hot air balloon bent sideways, and Nemo slashed the second cord. As he leaped onto the netting himself, he cut the remaining rope so that the Victoria Victoria's carca.s.s rose into the air, no more than fifty feet above the ground -- but buoyant enough.

The hors.e.m.e.n arrived, livid with rage at seeing the balloon escape again. They fired their guns, puncturing the Victoria Victoria twice more, but air currents carried the revived balloon over the broad river that flowed gently to the sea. twice more, but air currents carried the revived balloon over the broad river that flowed gently to the sea.

”Hang on,” Nemo said, and they all clutched the ropes as their hot air balloon drifted low across the Senegal. It spun around like a top, letting Nemo see in all directions. He watched the black-clad raiders come to an abrupt halt at the muddy bank. Snarling and cursing, they shot impotently into the sky.

Although the cooling air leaked out of the sack, the desperate explorers approached the opposite sh.o.r.e swiftly enough. As Nemo looked toward the western bank, he saw that a cavalry troop of uniformed men -- British, from the looks of them -- had ridden out to intercept the balloon.

The Victoria Victoria kissed the water twice, dragging their feet in the turgid current, forcing the three to crawl higher onto the sagging sack. The balloon continued to bob across the water, buoyed by a slight breeze, then struck the mud on the far side and dragged them across the flatlands as the British troops advanced to meet them. kissed the water twice, dragging their feet in the turgid current, forcing the three to crawl higher onto the sagging sack. The balloon continued to bob across the water, buoyed by a slight breeze, then struck the mud on the far side and dragged them across the flatlands as the British troops advanced to meet them.

When the exhausted Victoria Victoria finally came to rest, the travelers sank into the folds of silk and panted with sheer relief. Within moments, the British troops galloped up in formation, smartly dressed, cleaner and healthier than anyone the travelers had seen in five weeks. finally came to rest, the travelers sank into the folds of silk and panted with sheer relief. Within moments, the British troops galloped up in formation, smartly dressed, cleaner and healthier than anyone the travelers had seen in five weeks.

Nemo didn't stand to greet them: His knees were too shaky and his muscles too weak from the exertions they had endured.

The British captain peered down at the mustachioed explorer in the mud, and tipped his hat. ”Doctor Fergusson, I presume?”

Fergusson smiled so that his mustache curved upward like a black cat's tail. He glanced over at Nemo and Caroline. ”Yes, sir -- Fergusson, and friends.”

Part VII

Robur the Conqueror

i

Paris, 1854.

Though he had been home for half a year now, still Nemo could not relax.

At dawn, with a cool mist slinking around the riverfront districts, Nemo gazed up at the painted building that overlooked the Seine. Three stories tall, the structure had gray siding and white shutters, and stone steps leading up to a tall, narrow door. Over the lintel hung a bright sign: ”ARONNAX, MERCHANT, Paris Offices.”

Only a month after she had returned from Africa, Caroline had purchased the expensive left-bank property across from Notre Dame, where gulls flew around the spires, arches, and gargoyles. Boats pa.s.sed along the river, ducking under bridge after bridge. Caroline's main office stood directly on the water, across from the Tuileries Gardens, not far from the impressive Bourbon Palais.

Nemo could not argue with her decision to move her s.h.i.+pping offices to Paris. Both in business ac.u.men and in her creative arts, Caroline had made herself into a person to be reckoned with. But the thought of having her so close to him, and still so unavailable, tore his heart with conflicting emotions.

Six years had pa.s.sed since the Forward Forward's departure, and she still had received no word from Captain Hatteras. The Arctic explorer had not sent her so much as a single letter.

But the law was the law. Nemo had to wait one more year for her. That was how it must be, though in his heart he felt that he and Caroline had made vows and commitments to each other that outweighed any mere certificate. . . .

Perhaps it was a consequence of having encountered danger so many times, having faced death at each other's sides. Perhaps the exquisite agony of being so close for five long weeks had worked their secret emotions to a fever pitch. When he and Caroline boarded a northbound British naval s.h.i.+p at the mouth of the Congo and sailed for England, Nemo could pretend no longer.

Caroline's eyes flashed at him like star sapphires, and she flushed when their glances met. He could read her thoughts and desires as if she'd written them down and handed him a secret note. The British sailors treated Dr. Fergusson as a hero, and the captain welcomed the explorer to his table, but Nemo and Caroline were often left to themselves.

On a still, moonless night filled with stars over a sea of gla.s.s, Nemo slipped into Caroline's cabin. She welcomed him without words, only kisses . . . and did not ask him why he had waited so long.

They had a full month together as the s.h.i.+p cruised toward the English Channel along the African coast, past the Straits of Gibraltar and along the edge of Portugal. The two of them remained discreet, though they fooled neither the sailors, nor the captain, who viewed Caroline as precious cargo. Only Dr. Samuel Fergusson, who spent every waking moment editing and rewriting his journals for publication, was completely oblivious.

Nemo and Caroline cherished every moment.

But as they approached France again, they looked at each other with dread and indecision. While Nemo had nothing to lose -- no reputation, no standing in society -- Madame Caroline Hatteras owned a successful s.h.i.+pping company and was married to a man who had a proud and respected name.

”We will have to wait, Caroline,” Nemo said as they stood together at the bow of the s.h.i.+p, looking at the approaching English coastline. ”We'll have to pretend. Again.”

Caroline's eyes shone with tears like crystal. ”It doesn't matter to me anymore, Andre. We both know the captain won't be coming back from his voyage to find the Northwest Pa.s.sage. Why should we delay, when we love each other? We have already wasted the best years of our lives apart.”

”Because it would make all the difference in the world -- and you know it. In a year, we can be together, and people will cheer. No one will blame you. I am an adventurer with my own mantle of fame, as well as Emperor Napoleon's blessing, and you are a successful businesswoman.” He narrowed his eyes and clasped her hand earnestly. ”But if we flaunt our love now, Caroline, I will be seen as a scoundrel, and you as an adulteress.” She turned away, but Nemo gripped her hand more tightly. ”You know it as well as I do.”

She nodded, but refused to let her tears fall. ”That is why we must make the most of every moment together now.”

When they returned to Paris, with the public watching, time had dragged on. Nemo steeled himself to avoid the woman he loved as much as possible. He would not tempt her further . . . or himself. That would only make the wait more unbearable for both of them.

To Nemo, being near Caroline was like playing with fire, and he found it impossible to drive her from his thoughts. The sea pa.s.sage to Zanzibar and the balloon journey across Africa held memories even more joyful than his carefree childhood on the Loire. And the voyage home had been heaven.

But now Caroline would be right here. In Paris. Close. Too close Too close. It was going to be a very long year. . . .

Once back in France, Nemo had grown restless. He often walked the streets before dawn, wide awake with memories and dreams, trying not to think of Caroline. At twenty-six, he should have been at the height of his ambitions. Yet he found his civilized life dreary, without adventure or goals.

In the early morning he enjoyed watching shopkeepers crank out their awnings, fish sellers set up their stalls with baskets of herring, mussels, and trout. He stopped in front of Caroline's new offices, just staring, thinking about her. So early in the day, he knew she couldn't see him. . . .