Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 473

Robert gasped and rubbed his eyes, certain that he was hallucinating.  He stared toward the billows of smoke which burst forth from the ship and, realizing that what he was seeing was real, ran forward with tears in his eyes.

“Thank God!”  Robert cried as he reached toward Marjani.  Marjani quickly placed a slumbering Colin into Robert’s arms. 

“Colin, Colin!”  Robert sobbed as he hugged the child.  He looked up.  Marjani, Gamilla, Columbia, I’m so glad to see you.”

“I done saved the Toby Dog,”  Columbia said proudly, her little face covered in soot.  She held the dog close to her stomach.  He was panting, but unharmed.  “And, Gamilla’s got Uncle Punch’s puppet in that basket there.”

“You’re such a good girl, Columbia.”  Robert said happily.  “Thank you so much.”

He looked at Marjani, “So, he reached you in time?  Where is he?  Just behind you?”

“Who?”  Marjani asked.

“The Duke.”  Robert’s eyes widened. 

“No, Sir.”  Marjani shook her head sadly.

Gamilla shook her head as well.  “We done crawled on our hands and knees.  How Marjani managed it with the baby, I’ll never know, but she had the thought that if we crawled, we’d stay clear of the smoke.”

“Grandmama’s smart.”  Columbia chirped. “She could feel where the fire was and she found a way ‘round it.”

“But, they went in to look for you.”  Robert continued, his face growing ghostly pale.

“They?”  Marjani asked.

“His Grace and Marie Laveau.”  Robert nodded.

“Marie Laveau?” Gamilla squawked.

“It’s rather a long explanation, but she’s helping us.”  Robert sighed.

“The world’s gone mad,”  Gamilla grumbled.

“We didn’t see them, Sir.”  Marjani replied gravely.

“So, he’s still in there?”  Robert moaned. 

Robert and Marjani locked eyes as they both had the same thought—the Great Man of the Rocks would meet his end in fire.

“He’ll be fine, Sir.”  Marjani spoke up.

“Yes, he will.”  Robert nodded, handing Colin to Marjani.

“What you doin’?”  Marjani asked.

“I’m going to find Mr. Punch.”  Robert said firmly.  “Now, listen to me.  Mr. Halifax and the others are on the pier, waiting.  You can find them there.  Join them, please.”

“You won’t get in there and make it out alive, Sir.”  Marjani replied.  “Please don’t go in.”

“I must.”

“Let me go with you,”  Gamilla volunteered.

“No, Gamilla.”  Robert shook his head.

“Pete!”  Marjani shouted—spotting her new friend across the deck of the ship.

Pete ran over.  “There you is!”

“We’re fine, Pete.”  Marjani nodded.  “But, the Duke is still trapped.”

“As is our friend.”  Robert added, purposefully neglecting to mention that the “friend” was Marie Laveau.

Pete nodded. 

“I’m going to get them.”  Robert said.

“Not without me you ain’t.”  Pete smiled.

“I can’t ask you to do that.”  Robert argued.

“You ain’t askin’.  I’m tellin’.”  Pete replied earnestly.

“You’d best not fight him,”  Marjani winked.

“Fine.”  Robert nodded.  “I’ll need your strength.  Thank you.”

“Where they at?”  Pete asked.

“Somewhere on the first deck.”  Robert snorted.  “I’m not sure where.”

“We’ll find ‘em.”  Pete said gently.

“I hope so.”  Robert inhaled. “I hope so.”

Did you miss Chapters 1-472?  If so, you can read them here.