Mr. Punch gently placed his coat over Adrienne’s shoulders, making sure to see that Fuller—still asleep in his mother’s arms—was also covered.
“But, you will be cold, dear Punch,” Adrienne shivered.
“Nah, I ain’t the sort what gets cold, I ain’t. ‘Sides, I’m much too excited to feel nothin’ but happy.”
Cecil nodded, putting his arm around his wife and child.
“I don’t mean to be the voice of gloom,” Robert began.
“Why not?” Cecil winked. “You always are.”
“But, we’re not quite out of harm’s way yet.” Robert grumbled.
“Sure, we’re not.” Punch shrugged, “but we’re closer than we ever were before.” He pointed to the dock which began to dance with the light of the sunrise on the flickering water. “Soon ‘nough we’ll be on a ship back to England.”
“Assuming that the others join us in time.” Robert frowned.
“Listen, chum, I know we got lots ‘bout which we can fret, but, still, we got to think good thoughts. If we think it’ll happen as we ‘xpect, then it will.”
“Mr. Punch has the right idea.” Cecil nodded. “Gerard and Gamilla have their orders.”
“I know they won’t let us down,” Marjani smiled. “They’ll be here.”
“And what of your friend with Colin?” Robert asked.
“You’ll never find a more determined woman than Mama Routhe, you won’t.” Punch interjected. “’Cept maybe Marjani and Adrienne here.”
“Thank you, dear Punch,” Adrienne grinned.
Marjani blushed.
“And what of Iolanthe and Marie?” Robert scowled. “Are they not determined?”
“Well, sure they are.” Punch sighed. “But, we got the power of good on our side. Listen, Marjani says that Mama Routhe will be here, and I believe her. I was with the lady, I was. She were right kind to us and she understood that she should be here with me nephew at sun-up. Well, it ain’t all sun-up yet. She’ll be here. If it’s the Ogress and the Voodoo lady you’re worried, ‘bout. Well, don’t you think they got other things goin’ on? Don’t forget—Iolanthe’s wounded. No doubt she’s wrapped up in her bed like some kind of old dead woman what’s found in them pointy buildings in Egypt—you know, like what me pa found.”
“A mummy.” Robert smiled slightly.
“Sure, that were it. Only I can’t figure why they’d get such a nice name as that. Adrienne’s a mummy and she’s pretty and nice. Them old dead ladies ain’t so much. But, still. As for Marie—ain’t it a fact that a woman what’s with-child ain’t gonna want to wander around in the cold?”
“I didn’t care to,” Adrienne chuckled, “but, who can tell about Marie?”
“Well, we ain’t gonna think about it.” Punch smiled. “We’re only gonna think good things. You hear?”
Robert nodded.
“Good.” Punch grinned. “I’ll bet ya that Mama Routhe is on her way here right now and that Gerry and Gamilla will be here with Columbia and Toby and me puppet and all our things the next we look over our shoulders.”
“You’re quite right,” Cecil said joyfully, pointing behind Mr. Punch as Gamilla and Gerard came forward in the distance, emerging from the mist of the docks in a cart pulled by a mule.
“There’s my girl,” Marjani sniffed, her eyes filling with tears as she spotted her granddaughter in the cart. “Who’d have ever thought Columbia’d see a fine place like London, England? Who’d have ever thought I would?”
“Well, we’re all gonna.” Punch whooped. “Just as soon as Mama Routhe gets here.”
“Yes,” Robert nodded, turning his head so that Punch would not see his nervous frown. “Just as soon as she gets here.”
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