We have settled our terms with Mr Sparrow.   He will assist us to reach Tabor Island, and we hope also Lt Pellew.  I believe he will assist us in earnest, since he also needs to reach the island in order to find his own ship, and we share an interest in subduing Wu Chang.  In return, he will have some liberty of the ship, and we will release him when we have concluded our exploration, and we will allow him to salvage some other (pirate) ship if circumastances require us to take one.  I do not actually trust Mr Sparrow to keep his word for honour's sake, but I hope we can keep his interests aligned with our own for as long as we need him.  He has declared that we will reach the point of passage within 2 days. 

The man seems friendly, if decidedly free in his manner and prone to wild tales.  He has been answering our questions about what we might find on the Island.  There are some sites noted on the maps which must be considered.  Lt Pellew's copy of the Chinese map indicates "Dragon" on the East shore, while the Flinders and Ayreton maps suggest a volcanically active vent.  It is tempting to accept the white men's more reasonable explanation, but since we of the League have met dragons more than once, we have no excuse to be unprepared for meeting one here.  I am rather more concerned about "Giant Wasps".  They are noted in about the same area on three maps, so I expect there is something to it.  I asked Mr Sparrow about it, thinking they could be as large as six inches long.  He not only confirmed that he had seen them, he also indicated they were rather about two or three feet long.  Even if (given his predeliction for tall tales), they were only half that, that is a very large stinging, biting, predatory insect, and they might well come in swarms.  I earnestly hope we can simply avoid them, but I'd rather be prepared with some defence.


Friday,1 April, 1875

Several of us have been occupied with contriving some new clothing for Mr Sparrow, as most of his was destroyed by the fire of the kite which brought him to our deck.  We appropriated some spare linen from among the gentlemen, but it was necessary to make trousers and a shirt for him out of salvaged canvas and some plain calico.  We very carefully did not give him any garments from among the uniform stores of the sailors or the marines--we would all like to be able to spot him and keep him out of places he has no business going.  That effort was helped by giving Mr Sparrow one of Lt Wooster's gaudy evening waistcoats--the ones Mr Caine is always trying to stop him from wearing.  It's about as discreet as a displaying peacock. 

I am trying to keep the children to their schooling routine, but the anticipation of all aboard is communicated to them through the very air.  They are also continuing to ask questions about the battle with the pirates two days ago.  While they are accustomed to the theory of fighting and defence, we have had few encounters with enemies in recent years, and this is the first time in their young memories that they have seen true violence.  Caroline had a bad dream last night, and when I came into their room in response to her cry, I found Robert at her side, speaking softly with her.  Violet was standing nearby, but allowing them to comfort one another.  Violet told me that while Robert has not had any evident nightmares, he is scarcely sleeping.  He seems prone to my sort of wakefulness anyhow, but he seems to be deliberately keeping himself awake.  He told me that he doesn't want any pirate ships to sneak up on us, so he is listening for them.  We all put on our dressing gowns, and I took them up above decks to see that the sailors were alert and keeping watch all around.  Today, I heard the children revisiting the action in the schoolroom.  Octavia is very proud of her Papa for flying to the pirate ship and sinking it, and she declares him invulnerable, but I believe she, like Robert and Caroline, has some anxieties she cannot quite articulate. 

At least Caroline has recovered her hearing completely.  When I put cotton wadding in their ears during the fighting, Caroline would not leave it in.  She has been speaking very loudly for the past two days.  I must ask Wilhelmina to make the children their own hearing protectors at first opportunity.


Saturday, 1 May, 1875
(early morning)

Last night we had a disturbance in Wilhelmina's quarters, and for once I cannot fault her for causing it.  We were visited by that insufferable dragon-fey-boy creature.  I am told it first addressed Wilhelmina in a dream, but by the time I arrived at Wilhelmina's hatch, it was right there in her room, wrestling with George.  My efforts to shoot it were thwarted by the vigour of their struggles.  The dragon, though mostly in the form of a boy, had sprouted very large claws, and was clawing ghastly gouges into poor George's arms.  Our George kept his hold, and was steadily strangling the creature.  Wilhelmina was stabbing at it with her fighting knives, and Owen had his teeth buried in its ankle and was pulling and twisting fiercely.  All at once, the figure of the boy ruptured, and a flurry of paper confetti flew up in our faces and settled all about the room.

Others of the party came running.  I thought them belated, until they told me that several of them had been in the dream with Wilhelmina and fighting the dragon there.  A strange sort of fight, to be sure, but well within the bounds of what I have come to expect.

No-one was much inclined to sleep again--it was nearing dawn.  Before we had even sorted ourselves out of Wilhelmina's room, Mr Sparrow arrived to tell us that we were approaching the portal to the Island.

Since he has told us the passage could be rough, I have confined the children to the nursery, and the only way to keep them there is to stay with them myself, along with Violet and Daru.  The children are trying to look through the port all at once to see where we are going, but there is little to see as yet.  I can hear the hands securing all the hatches.  The Selene is to go first through the passage, since we have Mr Sparrow aboard, and the Foxglove will follow with Lt Wooster at the wheel.  Lt Wooster seems to think he can do it, and Mr Sparrow seems to believe him, but none of the attempts at explanation have made the least sense.  Wilhelmina has been drawing all sorts of peculiar diagrams, but I'm half convinced that she is having me on.


(continued,  morning)
We have survived the passage through the “crease in the map” with no great difficulty save the complaints of the children at being confined.  It was a strange sensation—it was as though we went over a waterfall in a river, but the water looked flat before us and behind us.  Our friends aboard the Foxglove say they saw the Selene sail ahead, under a sort of shimmering arch similar to a rainbow, and then just disappear.  It was not so rough a ride as I expected, and I am disappointed that I couldn't see it, but I am told that the passage is sometimes more hazardous, and conditions are not easily predictable.  The way back, according to Captain Sparrow, is more difficult.

Tabor Island is close at hand.

From a long way off, I could see a huge statue, presumably the "Colossus" or "Heathen Idol" marked on the Flinders and Ayreton maps. 
So far, we have seen no sign of the Arabis, nor of Sir Philip’s contingent.  We are continuing to sail around the island, going North along the West shore, if the sun is any more reliable than the compass.


(continued, midday)
Ahead we can see HMS Skylark anchored.  Mrs Salmalin has received a communiqué from Maj Powell in the form of a seagull.  It would appear that Major Powell prefers to ally himself with us more than with Sir Philip.  So we have learned that Sir Philip is leading an expedition there on the island, and that they have an encampment on shore near where the Skylark is anchored.  Sir Philip, if Mrs Salmalin interprets the message correctly, was trying to convince Maj Powell to attack us through some mystical means, while Maj Powell made every effort to dissuade any such attack.  The message suggested that there is another Mystic in their party, by the name of Mrs Domokos.

Sir Cosmo will be taking one of the longboats over to the Skylark shortly to deliver the new orders from Admiral Naismith.  Wilhelmina will go along to see her mother, if she is indeed there, and so I will go, and George and Mr MacGyver as well. 


(continued, late evening)
Nothing ever goes quite as planned, but today’s events have been particularly surprising.

Sir Cosmo’s delivery of the new orders at least went smoothly.  The Skylark’s captain was perplexed, but obedient, when instructed to send no communication whatsoever to the encampment on the island.

Mrs Voach was not aboard, nor were Sir Philip, Maj Powell, nor anyone else apart from the ship's crew.

We returned to the Selene and joined the others preparing for a visit to the encampment at the fringe of the jungle ashore.

We had scarcely made landfall in the boats when something completely unexpected occurred.  We found our party accompanied by Mr Bernard MacGreggor and Sgt Robert Frazer, as well as Mrs Salmalin's great aunt, Mrs Hethalyn Heywood, visible and audible to all, and physically tangible.  They had manifested these forms as soon as they arrived at the island with us, and they were as surprised and puzzled as anyone.  It was more than a little unnerving, especially since they were plainly not really alive-- they did not breathe, they had no pulse, and they were no warmer than the temperature of the air.  

We had little time to discuss this discovery, as members of Sir Philip’s expedition came out to meet us.  We were greeted with a decent degree of courtesy by Maj Powell and by the Rev Parslo Parslo, the gentleman Antiquarian who is leading the expedition’s excavations.

When we were conducted farther to Sir Philip’s Admistrative tent, he made a ridiculous pretence of surprise at our arrival, and of being too busy to stop and speak to us.  When Sir Cosmo presented the new orders, however, his suppressed fury became more evident.  He was outraged that Sir Miles had authorized Sir Cosmo and Sir Spencer to take the Skylark off to search for the Arabis. 

We asked to see Mrs Voach, who shortly conducted us to her own tent (she was at least as eager as the rest of us to get away from Sir Philip).  She offered us tea, including a long explanation of the source and characteristics of the particular blend.  She seems quite fixated upon tea, as once she was upon...less gentle things.  I would scarcely have recognised her, her conduct is so very different from all I have previously observed.  She was in good health and spirits, as far as any of us could see.  She was quite astonished to see Wilhelmina, and perhaps she was touched that her sometimes-estranged daughter would come so far to find her. 

 We were given a tour of  the site by the Rev Parslo Parslo.  He was selected by Sir Philip to excavate and translate.  We have learned that this man is a onetime schoolfellow of Lt Wooster, and he is about as sensible as that would suggest.  He does seem to know his business regarding the ruins and the translations of their inscriptions.  He doesn't seem to wonder why the Resident of Perak would be interested in these things--I expect his own interest in the subject is so compelling that he thinks everyone must find it fascinating.  He also mentioned a Library, and of course Wilhelmina was afire to see it.

We didn't have a chance to see that however, for our explorations were interrupted.  A loud crashing, as of a very large animal tearing though the trees, was coming from the jungle inland.  Then I heard gunfire, and Sgt Frazer's voice raised in alarm.  My first concern was that the giant wasps might be bigger than Capt Sparrow had indicated.  It was worse than that, however.  Moments after I first heard the sounds, Mr Salmalin was seen arcing over the trees in a trajectory clearly not of his own choosing.  He was heard to call out, "Raise Power!" as he flew past. 

I began to round up the members of our party as the Mystics, including Maj Powell, took up Mr Salmalin's suggestion.

I was trying to locate and gather everyone, both of the excavation group and the League,  in case retreat should prove necessary.  We heard a hostile-sounding bellow from the forest:  "Where is the Celestial Maiden?!"  I immediately found Mrs Voach, taking her by the arm and escorting her to one of the launches.  I gave firm instructions to the boatmen to take her to the Selene, not to the Skylark.  I added the Reverend and a number of the other non-League personnel.  I turned to try to gather our own party, and found that many had run headlong toward the crashing.  Typical.  The Mystics were seated in the sand.  Inspector MacGreggor and my own Mr Frazer had the decency to heed me and stay to help guard the Mystics.

Sir Philip and Mrs Domokos were still unaccounted for. 

I could not see anything of the battle, as it was obscured by trees and I was fully occupied with evacuating the defenceless excavation staff.  From what I heard, our partisans were not having an easy time of it.  This was confirmed when Mr O'Flaherty went sailing off thought the air much as Mr Salmalin had before him.  Inspector MacGreggor went off to search for them.

A break in the noise came after a time, and the Mystics moved their line forward.  I found it very trying to keep to my task when everyone else was going toward a serious danger.

At last, we were victorious.  The only sight I saw of the enemy was a brief moment as he flew upward into the sky, propelled there by some action of the Mystics.  He was quite a huge man, perhaps twice the size of Mr O'Flaherty.  Imagine my surprise later, when a distressed and very muddy Mrs Salmalin informed me that the man had been her former husband Captain William Forrester, missing and presumed dead, and that he had been transformed into the Fist of Shiva.  The explanation only got more confusing from there, as she was extremely agitated. 

There were more immediate concerns now.  Sir Cosmo was severely injured, and Mrs Cuthbert was only barely able to keep him with us.  Mr Salmalin and Mr O'Flaherty had managed to return from their distant hard landings under their own power, but only just barely.  Sgt Frazer was apparently unconscious--only Mrs Cuthbert could tell us that he would probably awaken in time, as he was indistinguishable from a corpse in the not-quite-alive body.  Everyone had contusions and bruises, except for myself and the Mystics, and they were entirely exhausted.  Inspector MacGreggor emerged from the jungle with Sir Philip and Mrs Domokos--he had found them trying to make an escape by a small boat at the river.

We were joined onshore by two longboats full of Marines, led by a chagrined Lt Lochsley.  He was glad we had prevailed, but sorry to have not been at hand to help.  From what I heard, all the prowess of his men would have availed nothing, as the foe was entirely impervious.  Every type of attack, be it hand, blade, projectile, electricity, or magic, simply bounced off.  Wilhelmina managed to obscure his vision by means of glue in the eyeholes of his helmet.  The Mystics slowed him by Mrs Salmalin’s cleverness in mystically drawing all the nearby water into the soil under the enemy’s feet, creating instant quicksand and mud, and being a very heavy fellow, he sank at once.  Even so, he was not stopped, and did not drown in the mud, though he was deep under it for some time, digging about under the ground.

Lady Cowperthwaite managed to inflict the only damage to his person--she broke his little finger by grabbing it and pulling it back with all her strength.  The Mystics' theory is that her connexion with Kali is equal to his connexion with Shiva.  The rest of us are on our own.  The frightful man managed to free himself from the pit and would have done yet greater mischief.  At last Maj Powell conceived a trick for removing him, and he was thrown or perhaps pulled up into the sky.  The spell is supposed to have sent him to “the stars,” so he is not expected to fall back to earth in any ordinary trajectory. 

In the relative lull that followed this melee, some of our partisans stayed onshore to continue aid for the injured who could not yet be moved, and I prepared to return to the Selene to manage our unexpected guests there.

As we approached the ship, in a longboat, I noticed one of the small steam launches coming toward us.  I then noticed who was at the rudder—Master Galen.  Accompanying him—Caroline, Robert, and Octavia.  No adults were visible.  I looked again at the Selene and saw both Daru and Violet standing at the rail, waving and shouting with evident aggravation and anxiety.

I directed the seamen rowing our longboat to intercept the children.  With some difficulty I managed to transfer myself to their launch.  I could see that arguing with them would be a losing proposition.  Galen was adamant that his Mother had forgotten to take her gun, and he must bring it to her.  We would find it very hard going to transfer the children, who were plainly prepared to resist, to the longboat, and I have not learned to pilot the launches myself (an omission shortly to be remedied!).  The safest course, now that the battle was over, was to accompany the children to complete their mission, and then return to the Selene with them as quickly as possible.

As we landed, the children scrambled out onto the shore, heedless of my instructions.   I told them stay with the boat, as the safest place, while I carried the rifle inland.  I had caught ahold of Octavia and Caroline during these negotiations, and Robert stayed when I commanded him to, but Galen was still at liberty and was prepared to go toward the scene of battle on the instant. The Inspector emerged from the undergrowth as we carried out this discussion.

His reaction to my handling of the children was quite insulting.  He implied that I was irresponsible in my efforts to contain them, and that my (rather desperate) proposal to leave them at the boat was insane.  Despite my pique, I was relieved to have another adult on hand.  I gave him the rifle and told him to take it to Lady Cowperthwaite himself, and I would stay with the children on the shore.  Galen took to his heels to search for his parents, entirely ignoring my exhortations.  I admit I found it gratifying to watch the Inspector struggle to keep up with him.  I just hope that if he ever has children of his own, that they will be just as intelligent, lively, and unmanageable as all these, so he can get a taste of the impossibility of his expectations.

At last we moved all our partisans back to our boats.  Sir Philip and Mrs Domokos were on the Skylark, but we kept Mrs Voach with us aboard the Selene.
It took some time to settle the children to sleep--they were quite agitated by the battle.  I would have liked to run them about on the island for a bit of exercise, but it holds who-knows-what hazards still. 

There is talk of sending a party inland as soon as may be, since the hulking Capt Forrester declared that he wanted the Celestial Maiden, because he had the sword but couldn't use it without her.  He left a very distinct trail which we can backtrack quite easily, where I suppose we will find the so-called "Moon blade."  Cooler heads have prevailed, and we will wait until morning, rather than venture into "giant wasp" and "heathen monastery" territory in the dark.

(later...)
Cooler heads are very well, but devious heads and stubborn impulsive heads seem to have an advantage at times.  We just narrowly averted a surreptitious expedition by Sir Cosmo, Mr Salmalin, and Mr O'Flaherty, with the connivance of Sir Spencer.  All those worst injured, thinking they should go off into the unknown jungle in search of this object, without the rest of us. When we apprehended the gentlemen, I was struck by the similarity of the situation to that I faced with the children earlier today.  I was angry enough to tell them so, even though Sir Cosmo is my employer.   For once, Lady Cowperthwaite was in agreement with me--even she was unsettled by Sir Cosmo's near brush with death today. 

When thwarted in the use of the long boat, Mr O'Flaherty dove over the side and swam to the shore.  Fortunately, Sir Spencer and his long boat were ready to hand to follow him and retrieve him when he fainted on the beach.  Mr Caine and Mr Frazer went to help get him dried off and into his bed.

I have stayed awake for some hours, prowling the deck and keeping watch for any further unwise excursions.  It is nearly four o'clock in the morning now, and Sir Cosmo and Mr Salmalin seem to be actually sound asleep.  I hope for a couple of hours' rest before we set out for the more thoroughly planned expedition inland.

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