“Pandora’s box,” said Tovey. “Someone engineered these keys, knowing full well the locations of these cracks in the mirror, and where they might lead. They obviously knew enough to lead you here with that one around your neck, and to think I was somehow involved in that is rather unsettling. Then they hid these others in artifacts that all seemed to find their way to the British Museum—at least two of them. I wonder why?”
“Three. The other key I mentioned, the one given to another agent of the Watch, is also associated with a location, and it was in the British Museum library, hidden in the cover of the Lindisfarne Gospels.”
“How very interesting. Where does it lead us?”
“That I do not know. I wish they had told me everything.”
“Well, might we now assume that the remaining keys are also hidden in artifacts within that museum?” Tovey walked to the end of the hall in that drafty corridor of thought.
“We might assume that, but confiscating and inspecting everything in that museum would be difficult. Now that I know the Rosetta Stone is there intact, it’s imperative I get to that key somehow. It looks like that box brought my ship here for more than one good reason.”
“I understand,” said Tovey. “Here we have two keys in hand, and we know of two more—one in the hand of an unknown agent of the Watch, whoever that may be, and one possibly still in the British Museum, in the Rosetta Stone. That leaves three more completely unaccounted for. How, may I ask, are you certain there were only seven?”
Elena smiled. “Remember that box I told you and the professor about in our last meeting?”
“Ah yes, the box that contained a scroll with my name on it—a little message, just for you.”
“Yes, the box we found at Delphi. The box that brought this ship here to the 1940s, ostensibly to find keys that could only be located on this time line…. Well… I went over it with a fine toothed comb, and a good magnifying glass. Come to find out—it has a hidden drawer. She got up, and to Tovey’s amazement, revealed the hidden compartment behind the moveable bulkhead, where the Red Phone was safely installed. There, sitting beside the telephone, was the box, and touching it she shortly revealed a small hidden drawer.
“Have a look for yourself,” said Elena, a gleam in her eye.
“My,” said Tovey. “One for each key…” He was looking at a series of small imprints in the material making up the base of that drawer. There were seven, each depression in the shape of a key.
“My key fits very nicely here,” Elena pointed to the second recessed area. “I thought it might be in the number one position, but it only fits here, in the number two spot. I suspect all the others have a place here as well.”
“Why not see where our newest arrival fits in,” Tovey suggested.
Elena smiled. “Yes, why not?”
Part XI
Presentiment
Chapter 31
Admiral Kurita had every reason to believe he would soon be returning to the South Pacific. After all, the Siberians had no navy to speak of, and surely all these rumors about a demon ship, Mizuchi, were exaggerated. Yet, when Yamamoto had selected him for command here, the senior Admiral had given him a foreboding warning.
“What I will tell you now is known only to a very few,” he said. “Hiryu was not sunk as a result of damage sustained in the Pearl Harbor attack. It was sunk by the Siberians.”
“The Siberians? How is that possible? They have no navy. Was it a submarine?”
“A rocket attack—fired from a ship we have yet to set eyes upon. This is the same ship that damaged Mutsu and Chikuma, and when you get to the Home Islands, I order you to personally inspect the damage put on those ships.”
“I do not understand. A rocket attack? Then the rumors flying about the fleet are true? Mizuchi is real?”
“Very true, and very real, though I do not encourage fear mongering. We do not know how they came to possess such a ship, but the fact that it exists is enough.” Yamamoto would, of course, never reveal the whole truth concerning the existence of that ship, for he could still scarcely believe it himself. “Its primary weaponry is rocketry, and they are fast, lethal, and have a very long range. They can strike your ships from well beyond the range of your battleships’ biggest guns, and well over the horizon—and from what we have seen, these rockets have deadly accuracy—they never miss their targets.”
That was very sobering talk, particularly when coming from the Fleet Admiral, and Kurita took a moment to let it settle. Then he set his jaw, determined. “What are my orders?” he asked.
“First do as I have instructed. See the damage on Mutsu. You are being promoted from 7th Cruiser Division to commander of the 1st Battleship Division. That division will now be composed of our two newest ships, Satsuma and Hiraga. They are presently at Urajio, but will move to Sapporo as the heart of the close escort force for the 7th Division troop transports. Those troops are going to Karafuto to deal with the Siberians that have landed on the northern end of that island. Adequate cruisers and destroyers will be added to support this mission.”
“It should pose no difficulties.”
“Unless Mizuchi appears. You must be very diligent. Scout well, and to aid that effort, I am attaching a very special ship to your task force, the cruiser Takami.”
Kurita inclined his head. “I know most every cruiser in the fleet, Admiral, but I have not yet heard of this one.”
“That is because it is a very secret ship, something entirely new. Do not think that the Siberians and Russians are the only ones who have developed this new rocket technology….”
“I see. This Takami also has such weapons?”
“It does, though it was designed as a fleet defense ship. Most of its rockets are meant to be used against enemy aircraft, or against the rocket weapons this Mizuchi flings against your ships.”
“Ah! Then it can shoot down the enemy rockets?”
“This is what we hope. But Kurita, this is very secret. It will be the first time Takami enters combat, the first real test of its capabilities. Nothing is to be said about this ship. Understand? It will operate well ahead of your fleet, beyond your forward horizon. Keep it there, and do not interfere with its operations. You will receive encrypted communication via the special radio set that has been transported to your flagship. A member of Takami’s crew will operate that equipment, and report directly to you. Coordinate carefully with Takami. It is commanded by a Captain Harada, and I ask you to heed his experience and judgment. He is specially trained in the use of these new weapons.”
“Another secret project,” said Kurita. “A pity this ship was not with you in the Koro Sea…” Kurita realized he probably should not have said that, but Yamamoto raised a hand, as if to say all was well.
“That was my responsibility—my fault. Hara fought well, but we should not be surprised that the American Navy fares better than its Army did on the Philippines. There they were taken by complete surprise, yet they endured four months, unlike the British in Hong Kong and Singapore, or the hapless Dutch colonies. Do not underestimate the Americans—they will be our fiercest and most capable opponent in this war, and each and every battle holds the possibility that we will lose good men, planes, and even ships. Last December, when we sailed for Pearl Harbor, we had six fleet carriers, six more light carriers, and the two scout carriers. We lost both of those in the Gilberts, and now we have lost half our fleet carriers and a third of our light carriers. This is war, but thankfully, we have also done much harm to the enemy. We destroyed their battleships at Pearl Harbor, for what they were worth, and we have also sunk at least four of their best fleet carriers.”