Read Online Around the World in 100 Days by Gary Blackwood - Free Book Online

risking my own skin for the sake of a machine.”
    Harry gave him a stern glance. “See here, Hardiman. Let’s get one thing straight right from the beginning. The Flash is more than just a machine. Johnny and I have put a devil of a lot of sweat and blood into building her, and we’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means risking our own skins. If you’re not willing to do the same, you may as well get out now.”
    Charles took a moment to adjust his hat and his tie before answering. “I’m willing,” he said, coolly. “Up to a point.” He opened his portmanteau and drew out a leather-bound diary and a fountain pen. Checking his pocket watch, he made a note of the time, then consulted a small 1891 calendar printed in the front of the diary. “We left the Reform Club—rudely—at ten-fifteen A.M. on Thursday, the sixth of August.” He counted ahead one hundred days. “So. In order to win this bet of yours, you and of course your machine—sorry, your more -than-a-machine—must appear at the foot of the Club steps no later than ten-fifteen A.M. on the fourteenth of November. Correct?”
    â€œIs that calendar days or elapsed days? We’ll lose a day when we cross the Pacific Ocean, you know.”
    â€œIf we get that far.”
    â€œOh, we’ll get that far, I promise you.”
    â€œAccording to my father, you are to have one hundred calendar days.”
    Harry nodded. “All right. Just so I know where we stand. I hope I can trust you to keep an accurate count of the days.”
    â€œOf course.”
    Though Harry had his doubts, he kept them to himself. As irksome as young Hardiman was, there was no point in antagonizing the boy. Like it or not, they were stuck with him for the next one hundred days. Well, actually, only ninety-nine. But Harry feared that they would be very long ones.

EIGHT In which
    THE STEAM CAR MAKES A GOOD SHOWING AND HARRY MAKES A FRIEND
    H arry knew a good deal about steamships, but it was mainly their size and weight and speed and construction that interested him. He knew nothing at all about traveling on one; he had let his father make those arrangements. Phileas Fogg had booked passage for him and his companions on the steamship Aurania , which departed from the port of Liverpool at noon on the eighth of August.
    The distance from London to Liverpool was no more than two hundred miles and they had two full days before the ship sailed; barring a major breakdown, they were sure to make it. With that in mind, Harry drove slowly and carefully—for perhaps half an hour. Once they were out of the city, with the open road ahead of them, he felt an irresistible urge to see what the Flash could do and he pulled out the throttle—not all the way; though he might be impetuous, he was not a complete fool.
    The car leaped forward like a horse who feels the sting of the driver’s whip. Harry laughed gleefully. “She’s got muscle, Johnny, and plenty of it!”
    Johnny could be nearly as inscrutable as Phileas Fogg, but Harry thought he detected a smile on his friend’s lopsided face. “Just don’t strain her muscles.”
    Harry consulted the cyclometer on the dashboard. “Ten miles down! Only twenty-four thousand nine hundred ninety to go!” Happy to be really rolling at last, he burst into a chorus of “Chucka-roo-choo-choo,” a rollicking music-hall song.
    Charles Hardiman, holding his hat tightly on his head, peered over the seat back. “How fast are we going?” he asked, sounding a little anxious.
    Harry shrugged. “There’s no way of telling, unless we time her. Does your watch have a second hand?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œStart timing when I say ‘go’.” When the last digit on the cyclometer hit zero, he called, “Go!” When it rolled around to zero again, he said, “Stop!”
    â€œOne minute, fifty