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SHIRLYN AND Romaso’s teasing was not mean-spirited, but it embarrassed me. At least Shirlyn helped me figure out the original color of Valcas’ eyes. All I needed to travel again was a method of transportation. Romaso and I had left the cruise liner back at the harbor, but I had no experience with maneuvering such a massive seacraft. I needed to find a smaller vessel, something like one of the Halls’ motorboats. Not knowing the family well enough to ask for one, and in an attempt to free myself from all of the teasing, I redirected the attention onto the easiest target, Romaso.
“Have you ever seen a boat that has no sails and that you never have to row?” I asked him.
As I hoped, Shirlyn’s face lit up when she heard my question.
Romaso responded sheepishly, “A boat without a sail and with no oar—I, no, I have not seen this.”
Good, I thought. He didn’t remember the cruise liner or motorboats from the harbor. At breakfast Shirlyn said that she’d found him wandering around in the hallway after she woke up. All of Romaso’s memories, except for Shirlyn, seemed to have been deleted from the day before.
“That’s too bad.” I pretended not to notice Romaso staring at the brook while he concentrated on the riddle.
He looked up after a moment. “Where do you find this kind of boat? I would like to see it.”
“Probably at the harbor that Edgar mentioned this morning.” I shrugged.
Romaso turned to Shirlyn. “Papa Hall has this kind of boat?”
Shirlyn winked at me. “Of course he does! It’s nearly time for tea. Let’s go back to the house and ask my father if we can take one of the smaller motorboats for the afternoon.”
“Sounds great.” I grinned.
***
THE HALLS HELD TEA in a second-floor sitting room with an unobstructed view of the gardens. Edgar and I sat across from each other in matching cushioned leather chairs. Shirlyn and Romaso shared a sofa. Edgar apologized on behalf of Elizabeth, who was at a dress fitting.
“I don’t see why each new season requires an updated wardrobe,” he said. “I suppose that’s something I will never understand. So, go on, tell me about your adventures.”
“I took Romaso and Calla through several areas of the house and then out to the brook,” Shirlyn replied.
“That sounds lovely. Are there additional plans for this afternoon?”
“Actually there are,” Shirlyn said in between sips of tea. “Could we borrow one of the smaller motorboats? I’d like to take an auto to the harbor and then take Romaso and Calla out on the water. We’ve done so much walking already today. You know, Father, Romaso has never seen a motorized boat.”
“You have a point there,” Edgar replied. “That would be something completely new to you, wouldn’t it, Romaso?”
Romaso nodded.
“I’ll send a driver with you. Shirlyn, do you think you’ll be able to manage the boat by yourself?” Edgar asked.
I glanced at Shirlyn and gave her an encouraging smile. An additional passenger would make the trip more complicated. It was going to be difficult enough to try to find a way to ditch Shirlyn and Romaso before I traveled to Valcas.
“I think so,” replied Shirlyn.
“I can help too,” I offered. “I’ve spent a lot of time around boats, Jet Skis and other mechanically propelled equipment at my family’s lake in America.”
“You’ll have to tell me more about your family, Calla. I’d like to hear about the Jet Skis,” said Edgar, fascinated.
Mona entered the room and approached Edgar with a small envelope. “Mr. Hall, please excuse me for interrupting. We received a letter.”
“Why thank you, Mona.” Edgar perused the outside of the envelope, but did not open it. “Calla, this appears to be for you.”
My teacup quivered in my hand as I set it down on the tea table. “Thank you,” I stuttered as I reached for the letter.
Someone had typed my name onto the envelope. There was no postage or return address. I tore open the envelope and unfolded the notecard inside to find the following typed message:
Calla, please call. This is very important.
“Is everything all right?” Edgar asked.
“It’s just a reminder,” I said, brushing off the question so that the letter wouldn’t draw further attention. The letter made no sense to me.
“Father, the boat?”
“Yes, yes, I know. You wanted to take our guests to the harbor. Mona, please arrange a driver for Shirlyn and her friends.”
While we waited, I asked Edgar about his inventions. I was still curious whether there was more to his life’s work than time travel.
“You’re an inventor, right? What kinds of projects have you been working on lately?”
Edgar’s eyes lit up; I noticed that they were far less droopy than those of his older self. “Something that’s proving rather difficult, I’m afraid. It’s in its very early stages, but with so much potential. You see, I’m experimenting with an elixir.”
I should have guessed that it would involve tinctures and tonics. “An elixir? What does it do?”
“Calla, you’ve heard of the fountain of youth, correct?”
“Yes. That was a myth, right? No one ever found it.”
“That is true. However, during my travels I was able to gather various reagents that, if mixed with certain futuristic properties, should be able to serve the same purpose.”
“A youth elixir,” I repeated flatly.
“Don’t mention this to Elizabeth, though.” Edgar laughed. “I’m sure she wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace until I provided her with a lifetime supply.”
I stared at Edgar, realizing the significance of his invention and how it could be used, especially by travelers.