Chapter 13

“At will?” I asked.

“Yes, Auntie Surprise.”

“Okay. Plot where we are on a chart,” I said.

“That’s easy. I did that this morning. 47.037333, 39.105034. I wrote it on the chart.

Zoe said, “She’s right. I watched her ... I thought she was just playing with a sextant.”

“SV Basilisk would be harder and its at 43.953974, -86.455545“

“Gimme a minute,” I said. I called Junior.

“Junior ... lat and lon of the Basilisk?”

“You don’t know? Ask your watch.”

“Thanks,” I hung up. “As close as Junior could guess ... Tyke is right.”

“The tipi is located 44.017775, -86.472103“

Another call.

“Junior ... sorry ... location of the tipi.”

“What?”

“44.017775, -86.472103“

“How do you know that?”

“A historical site?”

“I didn’t need to know that.”

That got the interest of everyone on the boat.

“Historical?” asked Mary.

“Junior got laid.”

“In the tipi?”

“Yup.”

I knew the next question, “Albert.”

Six flickered.

“Holy shit ... she’s pregnant. It’s a girl.”

“The succession is secure!” Mary said.

“He’s not an Austin,” said Four.

“Succession is through the mother,” Mary said.

“What if the first born is male?” asked Six.

“The Watch Holder is the ruler.” Mary was adamant.

And the argument went on and on ... through the night and into the next morning...

... When Tyke said, “You argue too much. You lot go find my daddy.” She pointed her finger at each of the several Powers that Be ... and then the portal ... and they went.

“Have a seat ... fifteen minutes.” She told the leftovers.