The Emerald Key - By Christopher Dinsdale Page 0,60
barely handle two.”
“Because,” he smiled, “it’s time to go borrow something else, and this time it’s going to be a lot bigger than a book.”
Chapter 16
Like the Pied Piper of Hamlin, Jamie led the fourteen Irish orphans down to a small beach located in the deserted southwest corner of Montreal. Jamie explained his audacious plan to the teenagers as they marched along the gravelly shore. No one was being forced to come along. At this point, he gave them all the choice to return to the orphanage, because in a moment it would be too late to turn back. To Jamie’s surprise, not one hesitated in agreeing to help him.
Mr. Kessler had arranged the midnight rendezvous with his friend on the beach. The children could hear the gentle rumble of the Lachine rapids only a few hundred feet upstream from where they stood. Boats would rarely sail this close to the dangerous hazard, especially at night, so the orphans were safe from being seen. After what had happened to Beth on the roof of the parliament building, Jamie was not going to take any more chances.
All eyes turned toward the river as the bows of four huge canoes quietly materialized from the moonless gloom. The crafts glided silently through the water until their pointed bows ground up gracefully onto the gravelly beach. The bowmen jumped out and secured their craft while the men in the stern climbed forward to join their mates on dry land. Jamie approached the tallest of the men. He fit Mr. Kessler’s description perfectly.
“I’m Jamie Galway. You must be John Rice.”
The faint moonlight made it difficult to see, but Jamie could discern his giant-like frame, broad face, and long, braided hair. The man’s hand engulfed Jamie’s like that of a hungry shark swallowing a minnow.
“I am. Call me Big John.” He looked over at the children, noticing their fair skin and freckles. “Are there any sick among you?”
Jamie shook his head. “You have my word that they are all healthy. They’ve been out of quarantine for months.”
“I have a ship leaving Kahnewake in two hours time. It’s heading to Kingston to pick up timber for export, but we can drop you off at Prescott along the way. Mind if I ask what you are doing with fourteen children?”
Jamie smiled. “I’m taking them on a tour of Canada West. We hear it’s beautiful this time of year.”
Big John raised an eyebrow. “A tour?”
“What did Mr. Kessler say was the reason for our need of transportation?” asked Jamie.
“He wouldn’t tell me, but he said it was important that I pick you up at night, and that there were to be no questions asked. Being a friend, you’d think he’d trust me with the reason to start your, um, tour, in the dead of night.”
“Perhaps he’s being a friend by choosing not to tell you,” countered Jamie.
“That’s not good enough.”
“I can share this with you, Big John. Someone tried to kill one of these innocent orphans yesterday, and I don’t know why. An unseen departure was the only way I could ensure everyone’s safety.”
Big John looked over to the children. “Attempted murder? All right, now I understand the secrecy. Just tell me this. You or these children haven’t done anything illegal, have you?”
“Not yet.”
He laughed. “That’s good. As long as it wasn’t you that burned down the House of Parliament yesterday.”
“I swear to you it was not I that burned down the House of Parliament. Seeing that beautiful library go up in flames actually brought tears to my eyes.”
“Just tell me we won’t get into any trouble with the law by letting you on my ship. I have permits that need renewing at the end of the year.”
“You won’t have to worry about a thing from the law.”
“If I find out that you’ve been lying to me, you and your orphans will be in more trouble than you can possibly imagine.”
“I understand.” Jamie passed him an envelope. “Here is your payment for services rendered.”
Big John held up his hand, refusing to take the money. “I owed Mr. Kessler a big favour and he cashed it in on you. Keep the money. My ship isn’t Queen Victoria’s royal yacht. Do we have a deal?” Big John stuck out his hand.
Jamie clasped it. “We have a deal.”
“The only thing you need to worry about is feeding your young sightseers for two days until we reach Prescott.”
Big John Rice turned the worn wooden wheel with the affection of a proud parent as