Read Online Captain Nemo: The Fantastic History of a Dark Genius by Kevin J. Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

Marie inside.   She looked searchingly at Nemo, then over at Verne in outright surprise.   “So you are really going, Jules?   I hope you are not just doing this as a lark.”
    “We might not be back for three years.”   Verne’s voice was raw, as if he could barely believe it himself.   He squared his shoulders.
    She sighed and looked at Nemo.   “André, I wish there was some other way to help you.   I just could not think of --”   Her voice broke as, leaning toward him, she whispered, “You must come back home.”
    He took one step closer.   “Caroline, you have saved my life.   You’ve given me a chance -- and I promise I will come back to you.”
    “So will I!” Verne said.
    “I will remember you,” Caroline said, fighting back tears.   “Both of you.   That is a promise.”   She embraced Verne and then Nemo -- perhaps for just a little longer -- and stepped back to take a long look at them, as if she were making a daguerreotype in her mind.   On impulse, she snatched two ribbons from her hair.   “Take these and think of me.”   She handed a red one to Nemo, a green one to Verne.   “I wish I had thought of something else to give you.”
    Nemo accepted his and kissed her on the cheek, feeling his lips burn; she moved, wanting more, but then Verne also tried to be gallant, taking her hand like a fancy lord and kissing it as he blushed.
    “Be safe, both of you, and watch over each other.”   As if it required the last of her composure, she forced a smile.   “Remember, you promised me a coral necklace.”   Caroline hurried back inside her house before sorrow overwhelmed her, murmuring, “Oh, why did I not plan for this better?”
    Nemo and Verne stood disconcerted for several minutes before they walked together toward the docks.   Each tied the precious hair-ribbon around his wrist, where he could see it every day.   Verne sniffed it, trying to catch a scent of Caroline’s perfume.
    Passing the dock guard and stating their business, they crossed a creaking gangplank onto the deck of the ship that would be their world for the next several years.
    #
    At dawn the Coralie weighed anchor, cast off her mooring ropes, and sailed down the Loire toward the ocean.
     

    x

     

    Pierre Verne awoke as usual, breakfasted on croissants, berries, and soft cheese served by his wife, and then strode off with a long-legged gait to his business offices.   Every day the same, all of life in its place.  
    At midmorning, though, his younger son Paul came running through town with an urgent message from Sophie Verne.   Jules had disappeared.   Pierre threw himself into the problem with all the forthrightness and sturdy determination reserved for his daily routine, his legal challenges, and any other business he conducted.
    At first, he believed it was a false alarm, that Jules had gotten some crazy notion into his head.   The young man was flighty and irresponsible, with his head in the clouds; he would have to buckle down and get serious if ever he was to become an attorney.   Today, Jules must have climbed out of bed at dawn and gone to follow his imagination without bothering to let anyone know.   He often skipped his breakfast.
    Pierre didn’t doubt the scheme was some unwise idea concocted by that shipbuilder’s son.   Despite Pierre Verne’s obvious disapproval, the two young men remained incomprehensibly attached to one another.   And he understood even less why the daughter of Monsieur Aronnax chose to associate with such a pair.   Jules, at least, came from a respectable home -- but that Nemo boy . . .
    With a scowl and a sigh, he shut the doors of his law offices, though he still had much to do, thanks to the legal matters attending the Cynthia disaster.   Pierre suspected he would be back within an hour, Jules dragged home from his absentminded truancy and punished for his own good.   Then Sophie would be calmed again, and all would return to normal.
    Scowling, he marched