Around the World in 100 Days
Page 25
Harry grinned and shook his head incredulously. “Well. There’s no question that Annie Laurie will become a household name. She clearly knows how to appeal to her readers.”
“Someone told me that, since her dispatches began appearing in the Graphic, the paper’s circulation has nearly doubled.”
“What does she say about us?” asked Johnny.
“She says,” replied Harry, “that we were the cleverest and most amusing of companions, and that, when we make our next journey, she will insist upon coming with us.”
“Our next journey?” said Charles.
“To test the new, improved model,” said Johnny.
“What sort of improvements do you mean to make?”
“Actually,” said Harry, “we were thinking of building an entirely new and revolutionary sort of vehicle. It will consist of a large covered wagon—”
“A covered wagon?”
“Yes, and it will pulled by a giant steam-powered mechanical man.”
“Ho, ho. Very amusing.”
“Well, I wasn’t certain you’d understand if I told you we’re going to use a Stirling engine.”
“I know what a Stirling engine is,” said Charles, a bit indignantly.
“Really? Then perhaps you’ll explain it to me.”
“It’s . . . well, it’s an engine that . . . that was designed by Stirling.”
“Thank you for that insight.”
“You’re welcome. See here, Harry, are you looking for investors?”
“Don’t tell me your father wants to get into the motorcar business.”
“No. Despite everything, he’s still convinced that cars are unreliable and impractical. But I have some money of my own, and I’d like to help finance your new, improved model.”
“Are you certain? There’s no guarantee that you’d make back your investment, you know.”
“I’m willing to take that risk.”
Harry glanced at him in surprise. “I believe you’ve learned a new word, Charles.”
“Risk, you mean?”
“Yes.” Harry scratched his head thoughtfully. “Has it ever occurred to you,” he said, “how some people—your father, for instance—are like locomotives? Their mind travels on a single set of tracks—tracks that were laid down, often very long ago, by someone else. And then others are like motorcars; they choose their own path.”
Now Charles was the one to look surprised. “That’s actually a rather profound thought, Harry.”
“Yes, it is, isn’t it? I’ve had a number of them lately. It must be all that meditation I’ve been doing.” Harry got to his feet. “Well, that’s enough thinking. Time to get back to work. Here.” He thrust his shovel into Charles’s hands. “If you really want to be a partner in this business, old chum, you’ll have to start from the ground up.”