“Yes, I know Marius Quine,” he said.
“Is he here now?” Belamie asked, looking around as though he might appear out of thin air, which certainly Matt knew Marius Quine could do, but did not think he would at this particular moment.
“No,” Matt said. It wasn’t really a lie, Matt didn’t think. He wasn’t Marius Quine, truly. Not yet. Marius Quine was his future self, not himself at present.
Belamie turned back to Jia. “You. You said you knew where the Aeternum was?”
Jia nodded. “I do, and we can help you to get it.”
“But you must promise not to harm any of us,” Matt said.
Belamie looked between Jia and Matt. “If you know where the Aeternum is, then I assume you are also seeking it, in which case why should I trust you? I’m not interested in sharing it. Not with you anyway.”
Matt knew his mom was speaking about Vincent and their plans to get the Aeternum together. The very thought made him want to vomit.
“What we seek is none of your business,” Jia said boldly. “The point is we do know what you seek and we’re the only ones who can lead you to it. It’s up to you. You can choose to follow us and agree to our terms or kill us all and continue your quest on your own. But I can promise you, you won’t find what you’re looking for. Not without us.”
Matt held his breath. He was not sure he agreed with the bargain Jia was offering. Watching his mother-not-mother, he wasn’t entirely certain she wouldn’t kill them all, just to get the compass. She was staring at it now. He could practically hear the thoughts going round inside her head.
Aeternum or compass?
Finally Belamie seemed to come to a decision. She removed the sword from Uncle Chuck and the dagger from Haha. Matt and the others let out a collective breath. Haha put down his hands and backed away until he was next to Gaga, who grasped his hand with both of hers. Uncle Chuck rolled over and got to his feet. “Whew,” he said, brushing a hand over his forehead. “Geez Louise! For a moment there I thought you were really going to skewer me!”
“I still could,” Belamie said with cool indifference. “Now what are your terms?”
“First, you must promise not to harm any of us,” Jia said.
Belamie nodded. “And second?”
“You must promise not to steal the compass,” Matt added.
Belamie’s mouth tightened. “Fine,” she said between gritted teeth. “I won’t harm any of you, and I won’t steal the compass, even though it is mine.”
“Promise,” Jia said.
“On my honor as a time pirate.”
Matt knew that his mother, Belamie Hudson, would never break her word, but he had a feeling that Captain Bonnaire’s honor as a time pirate was somewhat watery, especially knowing that she was in league with Vincent at this time, and even more especially when he saw her glance at his compass with a fierce possessiveness. He needed a stronger assurance than just her word as a time pirate, a promise she would never dare break.
“Promise on the graves of your parents,” Matt said.
Belamie flinched as though he’d just pricked her with a needle. Her eyes widened. “How do you . . . how dare you . . .”
“Your parents drowned in a shipwreck,” Matt said solemnly. “You went back in time and tried to save them, only to be the cause of the very storm that ended their lives. This is the main reason you want the Aeternum, isn’t it?”
The color drained from Belamie’s face, as well as all her bravado. She looked more like a little girl just then, one who’d been slapped hard in the face and was about to cry. Matt almost regretted bringing it up, but he knew it was necessary.
“I promise on the graves of my parents,” she said. “I will not harm any of you, and I won’t steal the compass.”
Matt nodded, satisfied. Belamie recovered herself, drew the mask over her emotions. “Well, then, let’s get on with it. Where’s the Aeternum?”
“China,” Jia said automatically.
“China,” Belamie repeated. “Why?”
“I should think that would be obvious to you,” Jia said. “The insignia for the Aeternum is a Chinese character.”
Matt nodded. Yes, that was smart thinking. He wasn’t sure what game Jia was playing, but he could play along. Clearly she’d thought this through in ways he had not. “It’s in Quine’s letter,” he added.
“We must go to China,” Jia continued. “We must visit the Kangxi emperor. He knows things about the Aeternum. About its effects.” She made a brief glance at Matt then, and he knew she was speaking more to him. In the storm, before his family had disappeared, she kept saying they needed to go to China. Where was this coming from? What did she know? Why hadn’t she said anything before now?
“I’ve already been to China,” Belamie said impatiently. “More than once. And I’ve tried to speak to the Kangxi emperor. I’ve tried to speak to several emperors. It’s impossible. The emperor lives in the Forbidden City. No one is ever allowed inside the Forbidden City, and even if we could get inside, we wouldn’t get anywhere near the emperor. He’s too heavily protected. No one sees him without an express invitation.”
“That is where I can help,” Jia said, a slight smile on her face.
Belamie scoffed. “You think you will be able to get us an invitation? Why? Because you are Chinese? Don’t be naïve, girl. Very few of his subjects are allowed to see him. He’s practically a god to his people.”
“It’s not because I’m Chinese,” Jia said calmly. “Emperor Kangxi is my father.”
17Quejing
Matt stared at Jia. He was trying to process the words that had just come out of his friend’s mouth, but they weren’t computing. He didn’t understand. Jia had told him she was an orphan, that she had grown up in an orphanage in China. Was she lying then or now? Maybe she was lying now to convince his mom. That had to
