Fit the Twenty-Third
In which Our Heroes fear they are about to be approached by yet another consortium of businessmen, and make the acquaintance of the most annoying Peer of the Realm.
Following the Battle of the Penguins, it was deemed prudent to board the Altes Zuverlässiges Helga promptly, in order to avoid any further avian mishaps. Upon boarding, Mr. Karl and Miss Kingston retired to their respective bunks, in order to recover from their shock and injuries, where they remained for the next few days.
The rest of the team was greeted enthusiastically by one Mikhail Dmitrovich, an Alyeskan of Russian extraction*, who, having recently lost his drinking partner to unconsciousness, invited Team TransAmerica to enjoy several glasses of vodka with him. Dr. Hu, Mr. Laughton, and Mrs. Anderson obliged him, while Mrs. Atwood bundled Miss Carlyle belowdecks and into a serviceable and warm bunk of her own. Nephew Wu, in an attempt to make up for his former behavior, applied himself most industriously to the oversight and care of his Honorable Uncle’s position, including returning the ferret’s collection of shiny objects to their rightful owners.
Due the lateness of the hour, the drinking party adjourned in fairly short order, so that Our Heroes retire for what remained of the night. This turns out to have been a good decision, as they were awakened at about half-past seven o’clock in the morning by a bloodcurdling scream, and the dulcet tones of a cello playing. Weapons drawn, Dr. Hu, Mrs. Atwood, Mrs. Anderson, and Mr. Laughton stepped into the corridor and knocked on the door which appeared to be the source of the disturbance. Said door was opened by a gentleman(?) in an extreme state of undress, and sporting a French flag painted across his chest. A brief and irritating conversation revealed that the gentleman(?) in question was one Percival Cecil Longsworth-Brunfondle, the 4th Earl of Wickhamthorpe, and he might be addressed as “Milord.” He refused offers of assistance, slammed the door, and went about business that is not to speculated about in a Family Game.
That left Our Heroes plenty of time and opportunity—as there was little else to do—to engage in extended conversations with Mr. Dmitrovich and with the engineering staff of the Altes Zuverlässiges Helga. Mr. Laughton found himself enamored with the workings of the steam engine, Dr. Hu with the magical forcefield that contained the works, and Mrs. Anderson with the charmingly unforthcoming, but exceptionally well-informed, Alyeskan. It seems that Mr. Dmitrovich had been following the escapades of various Ellipse teams—and one Philadelphian lady reporter—with great interest. Naturally, Team TransAmerica became increasingly convinced that they were about to be on the receiving end of yet another offer that would be unwise but necessary to refuse. Fortunately, Mr. Dmitrovich’s valet, Evgeny, took pity on his fellow-travelers and revealed that Mr. Dmitrovich was more properly known as His Highness, Captain Lvov, of Her Majesty’s Royal Rangers. This revelation did not exactly reassure Our Heroes, and Evgeny’s helpfulness earned him the task of tattooing a French flag on the nether parts of an inebriated English peer, a task that he accepted with a great deal of sarcasm.
The sighting of a notched fin traveling alongside the ship was almost a relief in comparison. A few shots were fired at the nefarious fish, but none came close enough to matter.
And so, we leave our merry band aboard a very orderly German freighter, with a mad Englishman, an insatiably curious and exceptionally suave Alyeskan prince, and a notorious man-eating shark for companionship on their two-week journey. We shall see who ends up being the best company, in the end.
Quote of the Game: “He makes me want to throw tea in a harbor.”—Mrs. Atwood, referring to Lord Percival Cecil Longworth-Brunfondle, 4th Earl of Wickhamthorpe
*In the world of the American Ellipse, through a series of entertaining but unlikely events, Alaska, (or rather, Alyeska, as it is known) became an independent Grand Duchy ruled by the descendants of a minor Romanov Grand Duke, rather than being sold to the United States.
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January 24th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
[...] Finding themselves with little privacy and less to do, Our Heroes continued their seemingly-endless games of cards, Chinese language lessons, and prying conversations with fellow passengers. Prince Lvov was grilled mercilessly by Mrs. Atwood, Mrs. Anderson, and Dr. Hu (Mr. Lawton being subject to a self-inflicted mal de terre, and Mr. Karl and Miss Kingston were still recovering from their Penguin Ordeal). [...]