The Mammoth Book of New Jules Verne Adventures (41 page)

With my regards,

Herbert Fix

Letter # 21

21 October 1872

Dear Elizabeth,

The warrant is not yet here. I write in haste and frustration. It turns out that Phileas Fogg intended to leave Bombay for Calcutta via the Great Peninsular railway. I was at the point of stepping into another train carriage, when Fogg’s servant Passepartout arrived breathless, hatless, barefoot, and bearing the marks of a scuffle.

Though I fear you’ll reproach me for my rudeness, I confess that I eavesdropped on the conversation between him and his master. The Frenchman had lost his shoes and barely escaped after violating the sanctity of a heathen pagoda on Malabar Hill — which is forbidden to Christians (or, at any rate, to anyone wearing shoes).

I was, as I said, on the point of stepping into the train carriage when I realized that, rather than waiting for the warrant from England — which might not reach us in time — I could simply find the temple and give the heathen priests the name and destination of their transgressor. Then
they
could press charges.

You see, the British authorities are extraordinarily careful never to offend the native religions — it is part of keeping control over this great uncivilized mob — and therefore, what that fool Passepartout did was an offence before British law. I’ll get a warrant for that crime, too, then meet them at Calcutta, and have both men properly arrested.

I will write to you soon and announce the date of my return home with the reward money.

Yours, in haste,

Herbert Fix

Letter #25

25 October 1872

Calcutta, British India

Dear Elizabeth,

At last Fogg and his servant have arrived. I was in some anxiety that something had befallen them in the jungle as they crossed the subcontinent. I could not stop thinking of the thief and all those bank notes rotting away in the verdant wildness of India, and my reward unclaimed! I was truly in despair — but now they’ve arrived at last, and the magistrates had them arrested at the train. Everything was going so well.

Unfortunately, Fogg bought his way out of the situation by posting an exorbitant bail of £2,000, as if it were nothing.

Two thousand pounds —
the same amount that could have made the two of us comfortable for so long, thrown out like so much rubbish!

As I’ve said before, money that one has not earned is easy to discard.

Sadly, it appears that the thief will escape once more, and I must continue my relentless pursuit, even if it takes me all the way around the world. He is boarding the
Rangoon,
which lays at anchor and is to depart in an hour for Hong Kong.

I have no choice but to follow, despite your half dozen letters imploring me to come home, which I recently collected from the consulate. I’m a little puzzled as to how you seem to be sending your letters ahead to my next destination. Perhaps you believe the extravagant story of a trip around the world in eighty days. Yes, doubtless it’s been published in every newspaper in England, and it appeals to your romantic female imagination. I must dissuade you from continuing for soon the thief will stop his travels and your charming letters will be lost forever in some city to which I’ll never travel.

And still the warrant hasn’t caught up with me. Bureaucracy can be truly exasperating.

My greatest worry now is that Fogg is flinging money about with such abandon that the reward — being a fixed percentage of the recovered money — is shrinking visibly before my eyes.

I’m sure it will still be enough to make you happy.

I shall get him in the British colony of Hong Kong. Fogg and Passepartout are now travelling with a beautiful and clearly genteel young lady they picked up somewhere in the jungles of India. I suspect an elopement, and though you might call it unworthy of me — considering that we also eloped — I should be able to arrest Fogg for
that,
too, because elopement, until sanctified by marriage, can be prosecuted as a crime. I will question Passepartout for details about this woman.

Yours,

Herbert Fix.

Letter #37

6 November 1872

Hong Kong

Elizabeth,

We arrived in Hong Kong after much adventure. In your letters you expressed the wish that you could join me in my pursuit. You must realize that this travelling abroad, though exhilarating for a man, would be much too demanding for a delicate woman such as yourself. You are much happier at home.

Just before we landed we met with a hurricane, the greatest storm I’ve ever seen. It was as if the heavens themselves were on my side, whipping the seas and the wind into frenzy to delay us. And while I was gripped by the most horrible nausea, I hoped we’d have to turn and run before the squall, which would slow our journey to Hong Kong. This made it more likely the warrant would arrive, and would also disrupt whatever plans this scoundrel has for escaping the law.

Alas, the vessel braved it, and we made landfall shortly after.

Meanwhile, I learned that the relatives of the mysterious woman are not likely to chase Fogg for besmirching her honour. Aouda is a mere native, despite her pale skin — an Indian princess, whom Passepartout and Fogg supposedly rescued from being burned with her husband’s body, a barbarous tradition of immolation. Now she is travelling with them.

They have already reserved berths on the
Carnatic,
which was scheduled to depart tomorrow for Yokohama. But I met Passepartout on his way from the quay to his master’s hotel, and he told me the
Carnatic
has unexpectedly changed its departure time to this evening instead. The Frenchman was in a great hurry to tell Fogg about it, but I waylaid the simple-minded and naive servant and got him intoxicated in an opium den, a very common establishment in these parts.

The man will sleep for at least a day, till long after the
Carnatic
has sailed. I am sure Fogg will not leave without his man. If my plan succeeds in delaying them, I shall go to the embassy and see if there are any forwarded letters from you.

Yours,

Herbert Fix

Letter #45

14 November 1872

Yokohama, Japan

Elizabeth,

Once more I write in haste. Fogg, having missed the
Carnatic,
engaged a small sail boat, the
Tankedere —
and he allowed me to travel with him. He does not even suspect that I am his nemesis! And Passepartout refuses to believe his master might be a thief. Either he is a wily accomplice, or a fool.

It is maddening to be so near him for so long and yet not to have the warrant that would stop him in his tracks. But there is nothing for it, as we’re no longer in British territory. My only hope now is that he’ll indeed go around the world in such a fashion hoping to confuse pursuers. I shall arrest him as soon as he lands in England again. Fogg intends to pursue travel to America aboard the
General Grant.

I’ve already engaged a cabin in the
General Grant,
and I’ve now read the latest batch of your letters which, if you’ll forgive me, are rather tiresome in your insistence that I return to you at once. I have a job to do. Despite the rate at which this scoundrel is spending the stolen money, think of the renown his capture will bring me, and how much easier it will make my rise in the world.

Only minutes ago I saw Passepartout being dragged into the boat by Fogg. Passepartout wore a most extraordinarily fanciful oriental uniform, with wings and a false nose which would have sufficed for a family of twelve. People on deck say this is a costume worn in theatre for the glory of some god or other. Foolish native habits and abominable idolatry, of course, and one wonders how even a Frenchman could bear to mix himself in it.

While I take a moment to catch my berth, let me tell you something about Yokohama. It is a city of good size, and the native quarter is lit by many-coloured lanterns. There are astrologers everywhere using fine telescopes. Scientific instruments to enhance their superstition. Most ironic. For fun, I thought about having a horoscope cast for you — an unusual and exotic gift — but I had no time to delay. I must catch Fogg.

Sincerely,

Herbert Fix

Letter #64

3 December 1872

San Francisco, United States of America

Elizabeth,

We are in San Francisco, the wild city of 1849, with its bandits, incendiaries, and assassins who all came here in the Gold Rush. The city looks more civilized than you’d expect, with a lofty tower in the town hall and a whole network of streets and avenues. It also has a Chinese town, that you’d swear came from China itself.

We found ourselves caught in the middle of some incomprehensible political rally — a dispute for the post of Justice of the Peace involving two men — and soon it turned into a brawl. I could not make head nor tail of it, nor why anyone would seek to harm anyone else over such a silly squabble. I think these Americans are just hot-tempered.

In the turmoil, I actually protected Fogg from what might have been a disabling blow. Don’t worry. Other than my clothes, nothing was hurt. Fogg insisted on buying me new garments, which are of a quality and cut to which even your parents could not object.

In your latest letters you reproached me for my “despicable Opium plot.” I must say that you simply don’t understand the business of men. Some deeds, though unpleasant, are necessary. Don’t concern yourself about the matter any further.

You’ll be heartened to know I’m now wholeheartedly working to speed Fogg’s travel. Indeed, now that the thief is heading back to England, I am more than glad to help him. The sooner he gets there, the sooner I can arrest him. (And be back home with you, of course.)

And now we are to catch a train on the Pacific Railroad, headed for New York, from where we shall sail for London. I must rush to the train, so I don’t lose sight of Fogg.

Herbert Fix

Letter #70

11 December 1872

New York, United States

Elizabeth,

Sorry for not writing for two days. Ran out of paper. You’d never believe what we’ve done in our trip across the United States. We rushed over a bridge mere moments before it collapsed, and in the process we’d stoked up such a head of steam that we didn’t even stop until we’d passed the station! Then there was a herd of animals so large that they impeded the movement of the train. We had to wait until the beasts moved before the train could pass. Only imagine! The Americans call them buffalo, though Fogg said that such a classification is absurd. Not sure why.

The wonders of this continent. This world.

At one point, Fogg nearly engaged in a gunfight duel with another passenger, but they were interrupted by an attack from the savage Sioux, who kidnapped three passengers, including Passepartout — which, naturally, necessitated a rescue. Afterward, we caught an express train at Omaha station. Fogg, apparently imagining the demons of justice after him, is not fond of sightseeing, only rushing onward and onward. All the better, for that means I’ll collect my reward sooner.

Now we’ve reached New York at last — but alas the vessel in which we expected to cross the Atlantic sailed forty-five minutes before our arrival. Fogg will no doubt find some boat to purchase or coerce. I very much fear there’s not much money left out of the £50,000 he stole, but I shall still reap fame for apprehending him. Wouldn’t you like to be the wife of a hero?

Herbert Fix

Letter #80

21 December Friday

Liverpool

Elizabeth,

We have made landfall, and I served Phileas Fogg with the warrant, but — how could misfortune befall me so? After all my labours, after pursuing him round the world, I am not to enjoy success. Despite every indication, it appears that Fogg is not the thief after all, for the man who actually stole the £50,000 was apprehended three days ago, whilst I was travelling.

Worse, that upstart Passepartout punched me when he learned my true purpose in accompanying them on their long journey. Now I am bruised and tired, humiliated, disappointed — but at least I’m home, where doubtless you’ll be waiting for me.

Herbert Fix

[On
embossed letterhead identifying it as belonging to the law firm of Everingham, Entwhistle and Brown — on the fireplace mantel of Fix’s home.]

London,

18 December 1872

Dear Mr Herbert Fix,

This letter serves to notify you that your wife, the honourable Elizabeth Rose Merryweather Fix, has returned to her parents’ home and is suing you for divorce on the grounds of abandonment.

Our client has further instructed us to inform you that she did not object to your poverty or even your low upbringing, but she cannot forgive your obsession with career at the expense of her peace of mind and felicity. She further instructs us to inform you that you married her under false pretences, always having characterized your marriage as a love match, when it is clear you love nothing more than your reputation and the pursuit of your own ambitions.

Lord and Lady Merryweather advise you to pose no argument and seek no reconciliation with their daughter, as they have the means to see you dismissed from your employment.

Sincerely,

Nigel Entwhistle, Esquire.

THE ADVENTURERS’ LEAGUE by Justina Robson