Drowned Wednesday(72)

‘This is a one-shot bottle,’ he said. ‘Paired to one here. It can send only a single word, which is already in it. All you have to do is pull out the cork and the message will go. As soon as we get it, we’ll come in for the rendezvous. Also, if anything happens to us and we can’t pick you up, the bottle will crumble to dust.’

‘Thanks,’ said Arthur. He turned his head to look sideways at the globe. The arched door was still there, about fifteen feet away. ‘Doctor Scamandros, this membrane thing in the Immaterial Wall — does that mean there’ll be air on the other side of the door?’

‘Probably. But not certainly.’

‘Have you got one of those clothespeg charms? You know, the ‘thousand and one breaths’ thing?’

‘I fear not, Arthur. Has the one Wednesday’s Dawn provided already failed?’

Arthur nodded and looked at the globe again.

‘It’s not far,’ said Suzy, correctly guessing that Arthur was worried about the distance underwater from the submersible to the door. ‘Bound to be air on the other side, even if we have to go up for it.’

‘Providing the water doesn’t dissolve us or burn us,’ said Arthur. He knew he was procrastinating, but he couldn’t help it. ‘And what if there’s a trap, like you were talking about before?’

‘Nah, you’re right,’ said Suzy. ‘Why bother, if you’re inside a whale?’

‘I hope you’re right,’ said Arthur. ‘Or I’m right. Okay, I guess we’d better get going.’

He picked up his rat nose and rat tail and started to put them on.

‘Are these things waterproof, by the way?’

‘Hmm?’ asked Doctor Scamandros, who was looking at the dome wall again.

‘Are they waterproof?’

‘Of course! I am a marine sorcerer, remember. Every charm and spell I have made since I signed on to the Moth has been highly resolute in the face of dissolution by the universal solvent!’

‘So they’re not exactly waterproof,’ said Suzy, while Arthur was still trying to work out what Scamandros had said. ‘How long will they stand up to a good soaking?’

A ship tattoo that was sailing across Scamandros’s face suddenly hit a rock and sank, though it did manage to launch its boats, which rowed away towards his chin.

‘It is very unusual to demand complete waterproofing,’ sniffed Scamandros. ‘I would expect these charms to withstand an immersion of four or five hours in normal seawater. Less in this noxious brew. It is the paper, of course, that is most at risk, though woollen yarn, once sodden, is also —’ ‘Thank you, Doctor,’ interrupted Arthur. ‘If we’re going, let’s go.’

Better to get this part over with, he thought. At least I’ll be out of this metal coffin …

‘There is an escape chamber towards the stern,’ said Longtayle. ‘You’ll have to go out one at a time.’

‘I’ll go first!’ said Suzy.

‘No, you won’t,’ said Arthur. ‘I’ll go first this time. It’s my responsibility.’

Suzy shrugged and tipped her hat, allowing Arthur to go ahead of her to the rear bulkhead door.

The submersible was longer than Arthur had thought. Having only seen from the conning tower to the bridge, he was surprised by how much corridor they had to go along, and how many doors they went through. But they encountered only one other Rat, waiting for them at a door marked DORSAL ESCAPE AFT. Arthur was surprised to see it was Gunner’s Mate First Watkingle.

‘Did you volunteer?’

Watkingle grinned, which looked rather fearsome on a four-foot-tall rat.

‘Always volunteer, that’s my motto, sir,’ he said. ‘None of this ‘don’t get into trouble’ namby-pamby stuff. Why, when I think of the things I might ’ave missed —’

‘Thank you, Watkingle,’ said Longtayle quellingly. ‘Show Lord Arthur and Miss Suzy to the escape chamber.’

‘Aye, aye,’ said Watkingle. He turned his head slightly so Longtayle couldn’t see and winked at Arthur before undogging the door and opening it. The chamber beyond was like a very small shower stall with a hatch in the ceiling instead of a showerhead. On the side of the hatch were two handles. One was painted yellow and one painted red. A brass plaque on the hatch said in inch-high letters PULL YELLOW. WAIT FOR IMMERSION TO THE RED LINE. PULL RED.

‘The procedure for emergency evacuation from the craft is simple and straightforward,’ lectured Watkingle in a singsong voice. ‘First, you will enter the chamber and close the door behind you. It will automatically latch and cannot be reopened from inside. Second, grasp the yellow handle with one paw and pull. This will open a valve and water will enter the chamber. Third, when the water level reaches the red line painted around the wall of the chamber, take a normal breath. Do not take many breaths or take a deep breath. Then, grasp the red handle with one paw and pull. This will open the exit hatch. Fourth, kick off from the floor and swim out. Understood?’