“As you say,” Pete nodded, carrying Giovanni toward the cabin door.
“Wait!” Robert shouted.
“Aw,” Punch frowned.
“There’s no need to throw him in the ocean.” Robert replied excitedly. “If you would, please, just carry him out.”
“Ain’t no trouble to throw him in the sea, Sir.” Pete smiled as Giovanni continued to wriggle in his arms.
Mr. Punch looked at Robert and sighed. “Nah, me chum’s got the right idea. Ain’t good to kill a fella even if he is a rotter like this one.”
“Unhand me!” Giovanni screamed.
Pete was unfazed. “I’ll come back and check on ya when I’m through with him, Sir.” With that, he carried Giovanni out of the cabin, followed by his friends.
Robert, with trembling hands, hurried into the adjoining cabin to look in on Colin who, somehow, managed to stay asleep through the chaos.
“Chum?” Punch chirped, following Robert. “If that bloke were in here, you gotta wonder if Ulrika or any o’ them others is botherin’ our friends.”
“True.” Robert nodded nervously. “How’d that man know to come up here? He said Marjani sent him. That means…”
“Yes, Sir.” Marjani interrupted as she came into the cabin followed by Columbia and Gamilla.
“What’s all this about?” Robert asked.
“Odo.” Gamilla replied. “He done found us.”
“So, both Odo and Giovanni…”
“Yes, Sir.” Marjani replied. “I done tol’ Pete to come up here and see if you gentleman was all right.”
“Who is this Pete?” Punch asked.
“Just a kind man who came to our rescue—along with his friends.” Marjani said.
“Thank God for him.” Robert sighed.
“Only this means that if Odo and the Italian man are onboard, them others is near, too.” Punch grumbled.
“Yes, Sir.” Gamilla said.
“We’ve got to see about Cecil and Adrienne.” Robert gasped.
“And, Gerry and Charles.” Punch added.
“Marjani?” Robert began.
Before he could finish, Marjani nodded. “That’s why we come up. We’ll watch Colin while you look in on the others.”
“I’ll go to Gerry and Charles.” Robert said.
“And, I’ll go to Cecil, Adrienne and Fuller.” Punch nodded, heading for the cabin door.
“Marjani,” Robert interjected. “Pete said that he would return here after dispatching Giovanni…”
“I’ll send him to Mr. Halifax’s cabin and some of his friends below to the valets’.” Marjani answered.
“Thank you.” Robert smiled.
“Let’s go, Chum!” Punch urged.
The two of them raced from the cabin, headed for their respective destinations.
Just as he was about to reach Cecil and Adrienne’s cabin, Punch gasped as he nearly walked into Barbara Allen who lurked in the corridor.
“Brother dear, how is my son?” Barbara grinned.
“You, too?” Punch moaned. “Who else you got on this ship?”
“No need to worry.” Barbara smiled. “Believe it or not, I’m actually on your side. I want you to depart for home.”
“Then, why are you here?” Punch growled.
“Revenge,” Barbara chuckled. “But, curiously not against you and your butcher companion.”
“Against whom, then?” Punch asked. “Charles—for leavin’ ya?”
“No.” Barbara shook her head. “I don’t blame him.”
“Then, what’s this all ‘bout?”
“Ulrika, Giovanni, and Marie.” Barbara answered.
“You want to make them suffer, so you brought them on this ship to harass me chums?”
“Yes,” Barbara nodded. “Don’t worry, you little lunatic. You and your friends are in no danger.”
“Why should I believe ya?” Punch shouted.
“No reason except that it’s true.” Barbara shrugged. “Now, you’d best get in there.” She pointed to Cecil’s cabin. “Before Ulrika gets ahead of herself.”
Punch’s eyes widened.
“Go on,” Barbara smiled. “Just bring her out to me.”
“Barbara, you gotta tell me what you’re doin’.” Punch snorted.
“All in good time.” Barbara winked.
Unsure of what to do, Punch opened the cabin door and darted in. Once inside, he shrieked.
Racing out into the corridor again, he shouted. “They ain’t in there! All of ‘em gone—the baby, too!”
“What?” Barbara squinted—her confusion clearly genuine.
“What about that don’t you understand?” Punch groaned in exasperation.
“That’s not what I planned!” Barbara began to panic.
“Why couldn’t you just leave us alone?” Punch yelled.
“We’ve got to find them.” Barbara took her brother’s arm.
Punch shook her hand off of his elbow.
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere with you!”
“Julian, you must trust me.” Barbara pleaded. “It’s imperative that you do!”
Did you miss Chapters 1-458? If so, you can read them here.
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