And how was I going to get word to Wigmere now? "Don't worry, Snuffles. We'll find him."
Somehow.
"You wait here. I have to collect a few things, and then we'll go find your brothers."
Supplies. I needed supplies. The last time I'd faced the Serpents of Chaos, I'd been in a tomb with Egyptian artifacts loaded with ancient magic at hand. I would have no such help on the Dreadnought.
But what to bring, exactly? What would be the most effective weapons?
I dashed to my small carrel in the reading room and pulled my curse-removal kit from behind a bookshelf. I turned it upside down and dumped all the contents onto the floor. I sorted through them for a moment, wondering if there was anything there I could use. The problem was, Chaos was given to wielding modern weapons, such as guns, and I didn't have anything to counteract them.
I snagged the atropaic wand that I'd used to undemonize Isis, which I had been meaning to return to it's display case for ages. It was shaped like a throw stick and might have some potential. That was all I found. Stuffing it into my bag, I hurried into the reading room. One of Miss Sharpe's books lay open on one of the tables. Miss Sharpe! The rope! That could be an effective weapon.
Wishing I had a second pair of gloves to put over my first pair, I gingerly pulled the rope from the hiding place where I'd stashed it. I hesitated a moment, then quickly undid two of the knots, releasing even more of the malignant spirit's power, ensuring it would be a most formidable weapon, then I dropped it into my bag.
Hmmm. I wondered where Father kept his shotgun. That would be a comfort, no doubt. But that was silly. Where on earth would I hide it?
My next destination was the Egyptian exhibit. Chaos had the staff, and although I had a Blood of Isis amulet to protect me, no one else did. I wanted to collect the amulets from the mummies so at least a few others would have some protection. Grateful that the bodies had the power to move only at night, I plucked off the amulets and stuffed them into my bag. I paused again, searching the room for anything else that might prove useful. I spied a small collection of execration figures. Those had come in most handy back in the Valley of the Kings. I stuffed one into my carpetbag. And then I was out of time.
Except, once again, I had no money for cab fare. Bother! I was going to have to get a job if I was going to keep this up. Or ask Wigmere to cover some of my expenses, like the board of directors covered some of Father's. For now, there was really only one source to tap for the funds. I would rather have not brought him into this—I still hadn't forgiven him for the night before—but I felt that I had no choice.
I burst into Stilton's office. "Hullo again," he said.
"Hullo again, Stilt—I mean, Tefen."
He beamed at the use of his code name, which was exactly what I had been hoping for.
"What can I do for you now?"
"Actually, it's funny you should ask. I need a ride, and I'm afraid I haven't any money for a cab. May I"—the next word stuck in my throat—"borrow cab fare? I'll pay it back, I promise!" I rushed to add.
Just as I had feared, Stilton was immediately on alert. "But of course. Although if you're going somewhere, Mestafet and I should accompany you."
"I really don't think that will be necessary, Stil—Tefen. It's not like last night when I was out so late. It's morning and I'll be out and about in broad daylight. I'll be perfectly safe, I'm sure."
He began shaking his head no before I had even finished speaking. "I don't think so, Miss Theo. Trouble does seem to follow you around, and that's why you have us. To look after you."
Oh, bother. I'd so hoped because Stilton was a Black Sunner that he wouldn't be hindered by the same sort of hang-ups about safety that other grownups had. Clearly, I'd been wrong. "Wouldn't that get you into trouble with Weems?"
Stilton's face clouded a moment. "Yes. Most likely. But I can handle him."
"Actually," I said, thinking fast, "I have something else, something even more important, I need you to do."
His eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yes. I need you to get to Inspector Turnbull and tell him that he will be able to find Nigel Bollingsworth at the Royal Albert Docks later on this morning."
"Bollingsworth! Really? Is he involved in all this?"
"Yes. But I haven't got time to explain it all now. Can you do it?"
"Yes, miss." Stilton lifted his hand to his forehead, saluting me.
Was that a Black Sun thing? Or was he just overeager?
He stood up and began fishing cab fare out of his pocket.
"Then," I continued, "go directly to Somerset House to the Antiquarian Society on the third floor. Ask to see Lord Wigmere. A wretched little beast of a secretary named Boythorpe will try to stop you, but ignore him and speak only to Wigmere."
Stilton nodded, absorbing every detail.
"Then, when you see Wigmere, tell him ... Chaos is rising. Have you got that?"
"Chaos is rising," he repeated.
"Excellent. Then tell him I've gone to the Dreadnought at the Royal Albert Docks, and he'll know what to do from there. Oh, and let him know about Bollingsworth, too."
"Is that all?"
"Yes. Now repeat it back to me."
When he had, I took the cab fare he held out to me. "I will pay it back," I promised, then hurried from the room.
I ran smack into Clive Fagenbush.
"You were eavesdropping!" I hissed at him.
"No, I wasn't. I do work with the man. As I told you before, he owes me a report."
I had meant to ask Stilton about Fagenbush's prowling, but all the tumult of the past two mornings had chased it out of my head. However, I didn't have time to deal with that now—I had to get down to the docks.
Fagenbush eyed my carpetbag. "And where are you going in such a hurry?"
"None of your business," I shot back at him. "Now, excuse me." And off I went to the west entrance to meet Snuffles.
"Wot took you so long?" Snuffles asked, nearly hopping from foot to foot.
"Sorry. I had to collect some things. Now, let's go find a cab."
I hoisted my bag and marched across the street toward the corner. It was late enough in the morning that most everyone was at work, so it didn't take too long to get a cab to stop.
The driver squinted at me suspiciously and made me pay him up-front. With a sigh I did, then got into the cab and settled myself onto the seat.
Snuffles climbed in after me, but instead of getting on the seat opposite, he sat right up next to me so that our arms were nearly touching.
I remembered him wiping his nose on his sleeve earlier and scooted over a bit.
He scooted closer again, but before I could reposition myself, there was a slap of the reins. As the cab lurched forward, the door opened and a tall, thin man stepped from the running board into the cab.
He lifted the tattered top hat from his head and we came face to face with the Grim Nipper.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A Grim Task
"YOU AND YOUR BROTHERS are hard men to find," the Grim Nipper told Snuffles, who shrank next to me.
"What have you done with Will?" I demanded, as if I had been the one who had accosted him.
"Nothing. I was hoping you might be able to tell me where he's gone."
"I don't know." I tried to keep my face from showing the panic I was feeling.
The Grim Nipper turned his watery blue eyes to Snuffles. "And you?"
Snuffles shook his head.
"Ah, now, that is too bad. You see, if I can't find your brother and convince 'im to come back to work for me, I'm afraid I'll 'ave to take you as compensation. I'm owed something for all me training of your brother, aren't I?" He reached into his coat pocket and began jiggling some coins he had in there.