References

From the correspondence of Captain Will Sparrow

To whom it may concern,

I have had the distinct honour to know Mrs Ruth Sinclair Frazer while she has worked as a First Mate aboard an ocean-going vessel in my command. I have been consistently impressed by both Mrs Frazer's attitude towards her work and her performance on the job. Her interpersonal and communication skills have allowed her to develop productive working relationships with both our crew and our allies.

Mrs Frazer possesses solid listening and decision-making skills which have enabled her to function efficiently in a crisis. She also has the analytical skills to diagnose problems and devise viable solutions. Her ability to remain unflustered during frenzied periods, including but not limited to attack from hostile vessels, proves her ability to work well under pressure. I can most sincerely assure you I have very seldom known a more reliable, trustworthy, or conscientious First Mate.

I recommend her for employment without reservation.

Very sincerely yours,

Captain Will Sparrow
Master of the free trader Jiu Shi
Singapore

From the diary of Lobsang Lu, servant in the household of Admiral The Honble. Sir Miles Naismith

Saturday, 5 June 1875

The Ompahs have built a new ship from the wreckage that is floating in the sea all around us. It looks like something out of a fairy tale book, with striped smoke stacks topped with pink scallops, and four side-paddles painted to look like peppermint candies.

They are ready to return home, but before they left they performed some elaborate ceremonies and adopted Mr O'Flaherty and Albert into their tribe. Mr Wonka and his assistant have agreed to help them find their way home. Mr Wonka may have to perform some wizardry to get them back to the island.

Captain Will Sparrow also said his good-byes, taking the time to speak to several people in person. I overheard Mr O'Flaherty telling him how honoured he (O'Flaherty) is to have been adopted by the Ompahs. He mentioned it again and again, how he's a member of the native tribe of the island. It seemed to annoy Captain Sparrow a bit.

Captain Tiberius is also leaving. Admiral Naismith is allowing him to take Doctor Inescapable Fate back to an American port, to stand trial for acts of piracy against American ships. The Other Mr O'Flaherty is going with him, but he promised Our Mr O'Flaherty he would come visit once this business is finished.

The Admiral has asked me to stay with Lt. Turner, who is accompanying Sir Cosmo's party at least as far as Bombay. He gave me a letter for passage back to Port Victoria if I wish to use it. He also said he could give me references that would get me hired by any household I should like in Bombay. Which would sound like an empty boast from most people, but I've never known the Admiral not to keep his promises.

I told him I have to try to find my mother, and Lady Cowperthwaite seems the best means to do that. If we can't find her, well, then I will think about whether I want to go back to Port Victoria, then.

I hear noise up on deck. I should see if anyone needs me.


Sunday, 6 June 1875

We saw the Dutchman again! It appeared right at sundown to collect souls of those who had died in the battle or drowned after. The Captain and his men hauled the souls out of the water for a while. It was spooky and scary and very interesting. One of the souls they pulled from the water was Wu Chang.

He must really be dead, then.

I felt very odd watching him on the deck with all those others. Knowing that they are all dead, and at least some of it is my fault. What was the word Miss Moriarty used? Oh, yes, sobering. Exactly.

The Captain of the Dutchman came to speak with Lt Turner before the Dutchman left. I tried not to listen at the door, because it is terribly rude. Except then I remembered what Mr Salmalin told me: it is rude to repeat what one has heard, but it is part of a good servant's job to anticipate the needs of those in our care, and we can't do that if we don't listen.

He told the Lieutenant about his father--not just how he died, but also how he lived. He urged the Lieutenant to never lose faith or love for his family. And he told him several times that, "A man can be a good man while also being a pirate. It's not just what you can or can't do, it's about whether you can hold your head high with a clear conscience after."


Monday, 7 June 1875

I heard Mr Salmalin tell Octavia a story this morning. It was very good.

'The Mother of All Creation is a fierce goddess. When demons threatened creation, she attack them, because what mother does not defend her children? The demons were powerful. Some of them came back to life after being killed. When the blood of some demons struck the earth, thousands of new demons were born to join the battle. The Mother of All Creation fought them all, drinking the blood of the demons until they all died. The demon blood drove her mad, and she almost destroyed creation and the gods herself.

'The Lord of the Universe danced for her and told her again and again how much he loved her. The Mother of All Creation was so deeply in love with the Lord of the Universe that her love conquered the madness, and Creation as saved. This is a story we have all heard before, but that is not the end of the story.

'Each day the Mother of All Creation would sit and watch her husband. No matter what he did, she found it fascinating, for nothing could make her happier than to look upon he who she loved more than all else. But one day, while she looked at him, she saw in his heart another woman. A woman so beautiful, sweet, kind, and innocent, that his heart ached for her.

'The Mother of All Creation was in agony! Her beloved loved another! She had been displaced in his affections. In anger and shame she fled from him and his in the wilderness where she could be alone in her grief.

'Without the Mother of All Creation, the world fell into darkness. A great killing cold swept across the land, causing misery, death, and starvation.

'The Lord of the Universe searched high and low, far and wide for his beloved. When he found her he asked, "Why are you crying? Why do you hide your light from us?"

'She would not answer.

'The Lord of the Universe said, "Who has hurt you? Tell me who it is, and I will hunt him to the ends of eternity and punish him!"

'She cried louder and hid her face.

'The Lord of the Universe was desperate. He prostrated himself on the ground and begged her to tell him what was wrong.

'The Mother of All Creation looked at him, and he saw such agony in her eyes, that he felt the very life going out of him. Then she said, "You love another more than me. How can I live knowing that?"

'The Lord of the Universe was confused. "Who told you this lie?" he asked.

'"I saw it in your own heart!" she answered, and then showed him what she had seen.

'The Lord of the Universe saw the beautiful, kind, sweet, and loving woman that had been in his heart. And he laughed. He could not help but laugh as he said, "But I do not love another woman. Can't you see? The woman in my heart is you!"

'And when he took her hand, and looked into her eyes, and pulled her into such a tight embrace, that they became one creature: Ardhanarishvara--the god who is half male, half female. And then the Mother of All Creature understood.

The Mother of All Creation saw herself as the fierce, black-skinned mother of time, who brought death to the land so that new life could be born in it's place. She was the deadly guardian of all creation who struck such fear into even the sun and all the stars in heaven that they burned eternally. She did not see herself as beautiful, or sweet, or kind.

'But the Lord of the Universe, who loved her above all things, saw all of the good in her. To him, she was always beautiful, always loving, always kind, always gentle. She was capable of great destruction, but she did it for love, and because of that, he saw her in all these ways.

'None of us can see ourselves as we truly are, none of us can imagine what great heights we can reach. But sometimes when we look into the eyes of someone who loves us, we catch a glimpse for just a moment of how wonderful we can be. The wise man strives to live up to the vision his beloved hold of him.'

After he finished the story, Octavia said, "I understand, Papa. Thank you." And then she asked to play the up-up game.

I never heard that story before. I wonder if Mr Salmalin knows any more?

From the diary of Major Alfred Powell, Military Attaché to the British Resident of Perak, formerly of the Duke of Clarence's Own (37th and 39th) Lancers

Saturday, 5 June 1875

I have accepted an offer from Captain Clarke of HMS Foremost and am now bound for Singapore. I will have several days to prepare my report to Lord Beckett, High Commissioner of the Malay Colonies. How does one say, diplomatically, that your superior ordered you to accompany him on a fool's errand that required him to abandon his post, journey a quarter of the way around the globe, commit several felonies and betrayals, and then get lost at sea?

And what will we put in the official report to London? "Last seen being pulled down into Purgatory through a mystical vortex?" I don't think that would look good in the Colonial News column of the Times.

I am a bit worried about what has been happening in Perak while we've been away. The District Collector and the Chief Magistrate, who Sir Philip left in charge, are perfectly capable of performing their normal duties, but how have they gone about filling in for the Resident during his absence? Will Lord Beckett leave them to it while we wait for London to appoint a new resident, or will he send someone there to take over? Will I be sent back to resume my duties as Military Attaché, or am I to be sent elsewhere? Or simply sent packing?

We can be thankful that the artifacts have been scattered again. If previous incidents are an indication, they will not resurface for years. I am very glad that I will not have to report that Captain Nemo, notorious enemy of the Empire, is in posession of the Star of Victory. Unfortunately, I do have to report that Captain Nemo is alive and his submersible warship still operational. I wonder if Admiral Naismith will even allude to Nemo's appearance at the Battle of the Bay of Bengal, or is he going to continue to pretend not to have noticed?

I am also relieved that Miss Moriarty is no longer in possession of the Book of Annihilation. I am torn about how much of that to report. It is disguised so very well, and one would not want the wrong sorts of persons to gain control of it. What it really needs is a proper guardian as well as a disguise. Of course, a millenia-old dragon is quite capable of guarding against almost anything. Except, perhaps, and extremely bright young boy who is descended from both dragons and the demon Ravanna. Who is currently teamed up with his half-sister, who is descended from the aforementioned demon, and frost giants, and appears to be a chosen vessel of a goddess of destruction.

Which is why I will be writing to the Lord High Warlock's office yet again to strongly urge them to assign someone to guard Sir Cosmo. We really wish to keep Lady Cowperthwaite on our side, or at least on the side of someone who is terribly loyal to our side.

I am going to miss Sir Cosmo's little band. There is nothing quite so invigorating as verbally fencing with Mrs Salmalin---except, perhaps, to watch her seethe with suspicion and gall. On the other hand, her lack of self-confidence is a bit wearying. Fortunately she is balanced rather nicely. Mrs Frazer and Miss Moriarty have more than enough spare confidence for the lot of them.

I really would like some time to study with Mr Salmalin and Mr Moriarty. The interesting way they have melded asthete mysticism with thugee arcana is quite fascinating. A proper study of their methods could advance the cause of organized magery no end.

Speaking of losses to organized magery, I am also a bit disappointed to say farewell to Mr Wonka. I hope that he and the Ompah Loompahs have a safe journey. Just as I wish the League safe voyage to Bombay, where I trust that those gaping holes in the hulls of Selene and Foxglove will be properly repaired.

I will await with great interest the news coming out of Bombay in the coming weeks.

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