The Emerald Key - By Christopher Dinsdale Page 0,59

up from Lake Ontario, I bet the escarpment would appear to be a mountain. A canal would have to go up and over it to reach the shores of Lake Erie.”

Mr. Kessler smiled. “My thoughts exactly.”

Beth eagerly leaned over the book. “A canal carrying a boat over a mountain! Fantastic! But why are they wanting to build another canal if one already exists?”

Mr. Kessler examined the book. “According to this recent publication, the original canal is in dire need of repair. The company that owns the Welland Canal wants to make the system more efficient so that larger ships can pass between the two lakes. They also want to increase their revenues by using the water in the canal to power local factories. To achieve their goals, they decided that they might as well start from scratch and build a brand new canal. It would take some brilliant engineering to pull it off, but if they could build it, the company would stand to make a great deal of money.”

“And that now explains my brother’s sketches. Ryan is an excellent engineer. He helped design a repair to an old aqueduct back in Ireland. I’m thinking that he was trying to help someone on board the Carpathia with a problem associated with the building of the new canal. See these lines coming out the bottom of each rectangle? I bet those are the pipes that will bleed water from the bottom of the highest locks in order to help power the factories at the bottom of the escarpment.”

“So Ryan drew a sketch of the Welland Canal just before he reached Montreal,” summarized Beth. “What do we do now, Jamie?”

“We follow the only lead we have. We go to St. Catharines, the town located at the bottom of the Welland Canal, and see if we can track him down.”

“And how do we get to St. Catharines?”

“Leave that to me,” said Mr. Kessler, smiling. “I have a friend who owes me a favour.”

They all stood up from the table. Beth leaned down and lifted Colin to his feet. Mr. Kessler extended his hand to each of them. “It’s been a pleasure to meet each and every one of you. Jamie, I wish you all the best in finding your brother Ryan.”

Jamie nodded. “And thank you for your help once again, Mr. Kessler. We would not be planning to go to St. Catharines if it wasn’t for your assistance. Before we go, could I ask for just one more small favour?”

“Certainly, Jamie. Name it.”

“Can I buy a copy of that newspaper you showed us yesterday, the one with the headline from Toronto?”

Mr. Kessler went behind the counter and retrieved the paper. “It’s a day-old paper, so please, keep it. No charge.”

Jamie tucked it under his arm. “Thank you so much.”

“Now could I ask for one more small favour from you?” asked the bookseller.

“Anything,” replied Jamie.

“Could I just look at your ancient text one last time?”

Jamie smiled, reached into his leather bag, removed the Book of Galway, and passed it to the old bookseller. Mr. Kessler sighed happily as he carefully turned each page of text and admired the glorious masterpiece. He carefully closed the book and passed it back to Jamie.

“Now I am a happy man,” he murmured.

After saying their good-byes, the young travellers stepped out into the blinding morning sunshine. The store owners were busy raising their awnings and preparing for the new business day. Pedestrians carefully worked their way along the rickety wooden sidewalks. Everyone was buzzing about the razed House of Parliament, still smouldering in the centre of the city. The smoke from the massive fire hung in the morning air like a fine fog. Jamie pulled Beth and Colin into a bakery doorway.

“Where are we going?” asked Beth.

“We go back to your hideout near the docks and sleep.”

“Sounds good to me,” agreed Beth, who yawned and looked ready for a nap after being up all night with Jamie. “Then what?”

“How quickly can you round up a dozen strong, smart orphans?”

She looked at him. “Do they have to be boys?”

“Not necessarily. They just have to be the best.”

She brightened. “Sneak them out of the orphanages without anyone knowing?”

“Yes.”

“It would be harder in the daytime than it would be at night.”

“Tonight is fine. How fast can you do it?”

“Before midnight,” she said, confidently.

“Good. After the sun sets this evening, go get me those orphans.”

She crossed her arms. “Are you going to tell me why you need a dozen more orphans? You can