The Ruins of the Lost World

by C K Burch

  “What would you have done with it?” Karaang asked, gently lifting the honey.

  “I'm rather unsure,” Jack mused. “Healed the sick, perhaps. Brought benefit to those whose lives were made to suffer due to untold illnesses, mental and physical. I'd not given much heavy consideration to that, I'd been more intent upon discovering if it were real. I dreamed such large dreams, and yet, I feel doing so would have been in vanity. Charity done for the means of making my name. What sort of sin would that be, I wonder? Pride?”

  “I am unfamiliar with this notion of sin, but pride, sister, is something that all struggle with.”

  Jack turned to view the sight of her brother being lifted into the back of the jeep, and sighed.

  Karaang continued. “Is this where we part?”

  Nodding her head, Jack smiled. “I'm ever so grateful for your help. Thank you, for helping me save my friend, and for giving me insight into your ways. I would dearly love to stay further, but...well, unfortunately I must attend to one of my brother's messes. This shall be the last time I clean up after him, and then...who knows? Perhaps I'll make my journeys about the world, see the places I've always dreamt of. But, for now, yes. And thank you, again, thank you. I am in your debt.”

  But as Jack took a step backwards to indicate her retreat, Karaang held out her free hand. “Wait one moment, sister. There is something the Bandara would give to you out of gratitude for your ways.”

  Jack paused out of curiosity, and Karaang retrieved the blue keystone from her pouch. She delicately extended the gift towards Jack, inviting her to take it.

  Confused, Jack simply stared at it. “But, but, but it's yours,” she stammered.

  Karaang smiled. “It is in fact, and you have done my people a great honor to return it, but perhaps it was not meant to be returned. Once upon a time, our ties with humanity were severed, for the protection of the Amrita. But who knows what the gods meant for in allowing the stone of Hanuman to remain outside of our boundaries, if we were meant to be truly cut off from your kind forever? I believe it would do the Bandara well to renew our relations with modern humans, or at least with one such as yourself.” Karaang leaned forward and practically dropped the keystone in Jack's grasp.

  Dawning realization. “You want me to return?”

  Karaang nodded. “Return to us as your time allows, sister, and we shall sing to you the histories of Shambhala, of the gods and our people, so that you might learn from us as we shall learn from you.” She bowed.

  Jack smiled. She cried. “Okay. I shall.” And she bowed in return.

  Dust placed his hand on her shoulder. “Now would you say it was worth it?”

  “I would say yes,” she replied, and wiped more tears from her eyes as she collected herself. “Now we get to claim our reward and escape.”

  “Sounds good.” He turned to the crewman at the jeep. “Alright, you, let's get – ”

  Jack cleared her throat.

  Dust stopped. “Sorry, Captain, got ahead of myself.”

  Jack smiled. She pointed. “You, sit in the back and make sure my brother doesn't bounce out of the vehicle as we go. I'll take the driver's seat and lead us back from whence we came.”

  Jack, Dust, and Cairn all climbed into the jeep as Jack took the driver's seat. It seemed only fitting. As she turned the engine over – which, after a brief cough, finally gave in – Cairn leaned forward and nudged Dust with his elbow. “Some day this has been, innit guv?”

  Dust grinned. “Helluva day, kid. Helluva day.”

  They gave one last wave to the Bandara, who waved at them in turn, a farewell of understanding and gratitude. Then they pulled forward, and drove off to return to the Venture.

  ***

  Three weeks later, once again in Cairo, Dust McAlan found himself back in his chamber, reading the Cairo Messenger, contemplating recent events and the note that a new season of air derby was shortly to begin. It being the slow season for work, it might be sensible to enter the races for a bounty. Then again, after Jack had presented him with the check for his efforts, he felt more than secure in the status of his coffers.

  Upon leaving the lost world, the jeep had emerged at Kalatop, where the Venture had been dutifully awaiting their return. But as they had resituated themselves back on board, a confused crew had asked out loud why they had returned so soon. Noting this, Jack inquired as to how long they had been away from the ship. “Only over an hour,” one man had said, and all of them were astonished to hear of it.

  Dust had leaned in with a sly grin and elbowed Jack. “Supernatural occurrence.”

  An extra five thousand pounds had been added to his check.

  On the flight back, everyone had been so exhausted that little had transpired. The crew who had stayed onboard the Venture had quickly accepted Jack as their new captain, possibly because Ryder had been a thorough fiend in his management, but also probable because Jack truly did have the family money to spend, and as such a better payday was a higher motivation. Thomas had been locked in the brig, much to his indignance once he'd come to; he spent the entire flight there, thrashing about and making a ruckus, quieting down every now and again as Jack would stop in to remind him that Father would certainly not be pleased with his actions, nor his behavior as a gentleman in prison. To his credit, Thomas had quickly become silent – Dust wondered about how beastly their father must be to support such a response.

  Meanwhile, Jack and Cairn had retired to their bunk for most of the trip back, clearly exhausted, but also giddy and happy to be together again without the influence of Thomas ordering the lad about. Once, as Dust had passed by their quarters, he noticed the door propped open, and heard the sounds of cards slapping against the floor, and outrageous protest at the way the deck had been dealt. This had been followed by a child's laughter, giddily proclaiming victory in that particular hand of rummy, accompanied by a sigh of exasperation, and Jack agreeing to one more hand. This had given Dust a bright smile; the two of them made an excellent pair, and in that, he found some joy that they would not be separated again.

  For his part, Dust had, with permission, sampled one of the ship's best bottles of whiskey and nursed it as the Venture had swung around to Cairo before heading back to London. Ruminating on everything that had taken place in the lost world – from the strange energy field that made time pass differently, to the still-living dinosaurs who roamed the world, to the guardians of Shambhala and their unique culture – he recognized that he had spent little time pausing to consider the history and the workings of that land. Which, as he now sat and continued to ponder over this, was regrettable to say the least. The student of history inside him yearned for the opportunity to return to the lost world and have a detailed examination of it, but as a treasure hunter he understood that some opportunities come and go as they are, and if one is fortunate enough to escape the maws of death in such a place, it must be taken for what it is. Still, even as the Venture had touched down at the Cairo airport and he had said his goodbyes to Jack and Cairn, he'd wondered at the idea of the keystone in Jack's possession, and how she might use it to eventually go back...if she ever did. Perhaps he could write to her, and inquire as to what she had learned in her travels someday. But that was no longer his concern.

  To say that their departure had been emotional would be an understatement. Cairn, in all of his youthfulness, had embraced Dust amidst blubbering tears, managing to sputter that he'd had “a right good time” and that he'd follow Dust on any adventure anywheres. Dust, not being too accustomed to dealing with the younger set, felt incredibly bashful and silly at such praise, but he hugged the boy dearly and promised that if there was ever a chance for an extra journey between the two of them, they would have it. Jack, meanwhile, had been outwardly reserved, but her eyes had glistened with held back tears as she'd shaken Dust's hand. She'd thanked him – genuinely – for coming along and ensuring the success of their mission. Dust had accepted none of this, telling Jack that she'd been the one to ensure it, and th
at he'd been only too glad to simply be along for it. And that had been the truth: this woman had more capability in her than he'd seen in anyone in quite some time, and he rightly imagined that even if he had not been along for the ride, she would have seen the day to its end.

  After thinking about all of this, and considering reentry into the Cairo derby, Dust found himself in want of another adventure. After all, he'd been in want for far too long before this had started, and now his prospects seemed as dry as the sands outside. He would need a distraction from the void that had seemed to open up without that pair around him. Derby might not be enough to satisfy his itch. Maybe he'd do better with different advertisement of his services, or maybe he could finance an expedition of his own. There were still artifacts and ruins which he'd personally listed as interests over the course of his life that he had yet to investigate, and with the funds from Jack, he could afford a solo jaunt. Might not be the worst idea.

  As he thought this, Kalu entered the room. The break from each other had done wonders for their relationship, particularly so once the man had seen the size of the bounty that Dust had placed into their bank account. With money to spend, and less time enclosed with each other, the two of them had gotten along better than they had in weeks. Reflecting this, as Kalu strode in, he had a bright and glorious smile across his face, which as Dust saw this, it became obvious that this was much more than just for his sake. It was a smile Kalu wore whenever introducing potential business, as this always made him as excited as a child.

  “What's up?” Dust asked, setting aside the paper.

  “A reintroduction,” Kalu beamed. He gave a short bow, and gestured behind him.

  Following his entry into the room was Jack and Cairn. Both of them in the past few weeks had transformed: Cairn, very fittingly, was dressed in mostly black, including a buttoned-up shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, and a dark leather jacket slung over one shoulder. His red curls had been combed back stylishly, and a fresh shave on both sides of his head gave him the look of a handsomely devilish rogue. Jack, meanwhile, wore more traditionally adventurous attire, with high-waisted khakis and tall boots, and what appeared to be an intricate brown leather harness across her chest, partially hidden beneath a long leather trenchcoat of the same color. Her hair, too, was swept backwards similar to Cairn's, held back with pins, but a few locks defiantly fell forward across her face, leaving only one eye to be clearly seen. This glinted with mischief and happiness, and as both waltzed into the sitting room, their smiles were that of returning champions to be greeted by the masses.

  Dust, for his part, rose from his chair to greet them thusly. “If I'd known the two of you would be coming back so soon, I would have made myself more presentable. And holy crow, look at you both.”

  “Innit a right proper outfit?” Cairn twirled around, his jacket flying out behind him as he did. “I feel a bit of a ruffian, but in the right sort of way, eh, guv?”

  “Proper. The devil himself wouldn't mess with you, kid.” Dust extended his fist, which Cairn met with his own. Then Dust turned to Jack and tried to dampen how attractive he felt she was. “You, uh, seem to be taking well to the idea of being an airship captain. The look suits you.”

  Jack looked as though she were on top of the world, and could barely contain it. “You think so? I went all in for the look. I figure if I'm going to be operating as a corsair these days, I should own the vision of it.”

  Dust raised his eyebrows. “Treasure hunter for hire? You got the crew on board for that?”

  “Well, a good deal of them were set on disembarking once we met London, which was fine by me. A few stayed and committed to the Venture, and while I've enough to being my enterprise, I'm still looking for a few extra hands. I'm quite confident I'll fill the quota. There's money to be made out there, and I think I've the mind for it.”

  “Speaking of money, did you somehow convince your old man to keep funding all of this? Or have you parted ways with the family inheritance?”

  “Funny you should ask. It seems that Thomas' actions have landed him in quite the stir with Father, who deemed it necessary to teach him a lesson. So I was given a large sum of monies to be well on my way and successful in whatever I choose to do next, while Thomas will have to work for his share of the inheritance. And that might take him some time. As for Father....” Shades of discomfort colored her features. “Well, he seemed more than willing for me to go about my business without the family name attached. My progressive and deviant ways have proven too much for him.”

  Dust frowned. “I'm sorry. That's some grade-A bullshit right there.”

  She waved her hand. “I'm not sorry. I've spent too long chasing his favor, and like as much, I'll not find it by continuing. If anything, should I someday make a name for myself on my own and he comes to his senses, perhaps I'll be in the position of deeming whether or not I'll entertain him. But for now, I shall live as my mother intended me to do, and that will satisfy me more.” Her face betrayed her, however, and the pain of a child being happily cast aside by one of their parents was evident. Still, her spirits seemed high enough, which was the best anyone could ask for in the situation.

  “So,” Dust continued then, “if you're not going by the family name any longer, then how should I refer to you as? Captain Jack?”

  Jack laughed at this. “Dear me, I should sound like a pirate with a name like that! No, no, the captain bit I'll keep, but I've decided that should take my mother's maiden name from here forward. It was van't Hof.”

  “Jacqueline van't Hof,” Dust said, feeling the syllables. “It's got a nice ring to it.”

  “You think so?” she replied, hopeful delight on her face.

  “I do.” He smiled back, and immediately felt self-conscious at how much he'd found himself to miss her in the last couple of weeks. “So, uh, what's got you here in Cairo? Recruiting? I know a few names that you might be interested in for crew.”

  “Well, I obviously came round to visit you,” Jack stated.

  “Of course, and we should all go out to the Santi Cafe for a coffee and a whiskey. My treat.” He looked over at Kalu and nodded to confirm his plans, and that he would return. “But Jack, seriously, crew. What are you looking for? How many? I mean, Cairo is the hotbed for that sort of thing, and I've got the connections you need. And if I don't, I know a guy named Hassan, he will for sure.”

  As they began walking towards the door, Jack took him by the arm. “I imagine you're not really listening to me.”

  “I'm – I'm not?”

  Cairn held up a hand. “Is it cos I'm here? Should I make a leave of it?”

  Jack shook her head. “That's not why – ”

  “What am I not getting?” Dust asked, thoroughly confused.

  Cairn rolled his eyes. “Guv, you're either great at playing coy, or you're daft in the head.”

  Jack giggled and waved off the lad, much to Dust's consternation. At this point in time, he was genuinely overwhelmed with confusion and simply desired some sort of clarity, but felt that if he opened his mouth once more he would only add to the air of confusion. So as they stepped outside into the noonday sun, he refrained from talking until Jack, who still held onto his arm, renewed her speech.

  “What I'm trying to say,” she began indelicately, “as difficult and strange as I find it, is that I've found myself thinking of you often, and that despite my better judgment, I fancy you.”

  Dust's eyebrows shot to the sky. “Me?”

  “You.”

  “How?”

  “How does anyone decide they fancy anyone? McAlan – ”

  “I thought – don't you have others? Aren't you mostly attracted to women?”

  “Good lord,” Jack groaned. “You're making this incredibly difficult.”

  “I think I always do.”

  She stopped, stood in front of him, and put a finger to his lips. “I like you. I do have other partners, and I've discussed this with them. As I said back in the Bandara village, I am mos
tly attracted to women, but the definition of mostly is not always. I found myself yearning for your company in London, and realized what that means for me. So here I am, with Cairn, here to tell you all of this. I figured that would be as good a place as any.”

  Dust's eyes bugged, and he felt his throat go dry. “I'm speechless.”

  Jack, to her credit, laughed and touched his face. “I can tell, and it's rather adorable.”

  He grinned. “So. Uh. Shit. I like you, too. Now what?”

  “Now, should you be interested in the notion, we court, exchange honest words, understand that there is more than one person who is involved with all of this, and generally compose ourselves as decent people would in any other relationship. You don't mind being a decent person, do you?”

  “Not at all.” He blushed and had a thought. “Do I get to meet your other partners?”

  She smiled coyly. “Behave well, and we'll see. Although my primary partner, Selene, she would be who you'd get to visit should all things add up well for us.”

  “Would she, I don't know, even want to meet me?”

  “Oh, yes. She's quite interested in meeting you. I had nothing but good things to say about the stubborn, frustrating, but very handsome and charming treasure hunter I met on the way to Shambhala.”

  “Huh.” He grinned. “What was your plan if it turned out I didn't return your affections?”

  “I didn't have one. I knew you did.”

  “Did not.”

  “Did, in fact.”

  He grumbled. “You know, I don't like being outwitted.”

  She bit her lip and stared into his eyes. “Get used to it.”

  As the three of them stood there, life teeming around them in the shapes and forms of people, wildlife, airships, insects, and the very wind itself, Dust realized that he did, in fact, feel very deeply for her, and despite his previous relationships, very much desired to make a strong attempt towards this. Cairo had always been a place of beginnings for him, and today seemed no exception.