Chapter 56

JACK ENTERED BEN’S cabin later that evening and found him reading in a chair with an oil lamp close by and a blanket thrown over his legs.

“Jack,” he greeted, putting down his book and removing his spectacles. “I’m glad to see you have your sea legs under you.”

“Marginally,” Jack said. “It’s been an eventful day. I’ve been drinking Hancock’s foul ginger water like it was fine, aged brandy.”

“You’re restless, my boy,” Ben noted. “Pour yourself a real drink and come sit by the fire. Then you can tell me what’s on your mind.”

Jack did as he was told. He found great comfort in Ben’s presence and enjoyed his counsel. Ben never seemed to judge him or his level of intelligence. In Ben’s mind, there was no such thing as stupid or meaningless questions, so Jack knew that he could come to Ben with anything on his mind.

Tonight, it was the stone. He needed to know more. They had barely touched the surface before they set sail.

“Tell me more about the stone.” Jack settled down on a chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and stretched out his long legs. “Tell me what you know about the science of it.”

“The concept originated in the eighth century with an Islamic alchemist named Gerber,” Ben began. “He analyzed each element in terms of the four basic qualities of hotness, coldness, dryness, and moistness, and he thought that every metal was a combination of these four principles—two of them on the inside and two on the outside.

“Gerber further thought that by rearranging its basic qualities, the metal could be converted from one to another. This chemical process would result in the creation of a substance, which came to be called an ‘elixir.’

“Gold and silver could be hidden in alloys and ores and extracted by the appropriate physical or chemical treatment—and Geber believed that the Philosopher's Stone may have been inspired by such knowledge. The elixir has the same ability to perfect any substance. When applied to or ingested into the human body, the elixir cures diseases and extends life, as you have seen.”

“I have not seen it extend life,” Jack argued.

“But you have seen it heal,” Ben countered, gesturing to Jack’s shoulder.

“Can Nora be killed?”

“Yes, of course, as you would be able to be.” Jack’s eyes snapped up to meet Ben’s. “A well-placed bullet between the eyes will kill her just as sure as it would kill me. It is eternal life, not immortality. However, you likely will not get sick—or remain so for long—and if you were injured, your healing time would be much shorter than an average human being’s, as you have seen firsthand. That is what makes the stone so valuable, my boy. Imagine not getting ill, not being susceptible to influenza or other ailments, being able to heal an army, to restore legions of soldiers to their best health and keep them in that condition—an invincible army, Jack.”

“Is that what Rogan wants? To build an army?”

“I cannot say for sure. Nora knows better than I. I can only postulate,” Ben sighed. “I know it is what I might want. The stone cannot be in the hands of someone with evil intent when there are possibilities such as that.”

“Why not destroy it?”

“As much as the stone is a curse, it is also a blessing. Nora believes this stone is destined to heal a great many people centuries from now. I don’t know how many people, and I do not know what sort of plague it will be. But if we destroyed the stone, we would sentence part of the future to death.”

“Have you considered that it is not up to us to change the future?” Jack asked. He rose and began to wander about the cabin. Ben traveled with many of his books and instruments. A man of science was never without his essential tools, it seemed.

“I have only considered that the stone should not be in the hands of a madman. On that, I am sure we can agree.”

Jack put his hands in his pockets and looked out into the night. He wasn’t sure what to think. Every new piece of information seemed more unbelievable than the last.

“You think we are insane, don’t you, Jack?”

Jack turned back to Ben, his hands in his pockets, and rocked back on his heels. “Think of it, sir, eternal life? It sounds like a children’s bedtime story.”

“You will maintain your youth until something strong enough to kill you does. You are not invincible.”

“Of course not, sir. That would be inconceivable.”

“You’re jesting now. You are cynical, Jack. Why did you decide to stay?”

“Because I believe that she needs help, and I am in a position to provide it,” Jack replied. He began to wander the room aimlessly again, head bowed. He liked to move while he talked with Ben. “I am not a scientist, Ben. I know Nora used something to help heal my shoulder, and it appeared to have done that quickly. Her own wounds have already started to disappear. That is what I know. I trust my eyes. I do not put blind faith in the mere words of others.”

“The mere words of others are moving nations now,” Ben countered. “Mere words are stirring a rebellion. They are bringing war to the Colonies, and very soon.” Ben rubbed his eyes then returned his glasses to his face. “I am weary about the state of things. Patriots are gathering more and more openly now. Tensions and expectations are running high and Boston is a tempest. A fire is being stoked that is about to burn out of control. I am not a supporter of the King but leaving for Europe is the best choice now. There is talk that maybe my gift of persuasion might help sway the French to the Colonists’ cause, as John Adams is not proving to be effective in that vein.”

Ben pushed his spectacles up further on his nose and regarded his guest. “I am not a fighter like you, Jack. I am no warrior, now or ever, and I believe the pen is mightier than the sword. Independence from the crown is important, but King George is no Lord Rogan, and keeping the stone from him is everything.”

Jack stopped moving and turned back to Ben. “Why have you not taken the elixir, Ben? Why are you not going to live forever?”

“It’s not meant for me,” Ben replied. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a cigar. Jack refused his offer of one. Ben lit the match and puffed until the end burned brightly.

“This is not something that you will use to heal another,” Ben continued. “Not at this point in time—and certainly not everyone you come across—no matter how much you may want to help them. The stone would be drained in a decade, assuming you mastered the process of extracting the elixir, a task I have not yet achieved. I have thought about it, I admit. I have wondered if I have so much more to offer this life that could justify my taking it. But my path is different than yours, Jack. I travel another road, and I can be more useful to you in other ways.”

“Such as?”

“Secession from the crown means forming a new government—a provisional government for now, but with a more perfect union to come. There will be rules set for how the government functions, how the military functions. That, I think, is where I could help you. I could create the position for a specific advisor within the military of the new and lasting government, one highly placed official who knows of your existence and has special instructions should you ever need to contact him throughout time.”

Jack smirked and crossed his arms. “So, you would turn us into myths right from the beginning.”

Jack enjoyed these conversations with Ben. He may not believe in eternal life, but he appreciated Ben’s seemingly well-thought-out plans. A special military officer assigned specifically to him and Nora? It all seemed so absurd. Perhaps this all was really just one of his elaborate dreams.

But he knew that it was no dream. He was not imaginative enough to have created a woman like Nora.

“Whispered among some, yes. But the person responsible would know you are very real, and whether you choose to contact him would be up to you. Some in his job, I imagine, would go their whole career without ever having met you. Others might play a large role—in theory, of course. The point is, I could draft you as a military officer right in the beginning, and you could have a special rank with special resources.”

“I cannot imagine any resources other than weapons and money that we would need.”

“Because they haven’t been invented yet, Jack. Who can say what man will dream up in two centuries? Carts that fly, ships that sail under water, houses that light up at night and cool down when it’s hot outside.”

“Carts that fly,” Jack murmured, picking up his glass and staring into the amber liquor. “That might not be so strange.”

Ben hesitated, then brought his own glass to his lips and sipped. “And why is that?”

Jack looked over at Ben and sighed. He already told Nora, so he might as well share his bizarre ability with Ben.

“All my life, I’ve had dreams, strange dreams,” he be-gan, finally sitting down. “I’ve known Nora from the time I was a small boy. I’ve been dreaming of her and the others since
I was old enough to remember. A battle. I follow her through a manor as she fights her way to freedom. I knew her face and her voice before I even met her. Why? Why me?

“When we were in New York, I dreamed her death—at least, I think she died. I was running through tunnels underground, and I could hear a voice that wasn’t hers in my ear telling me where to go to find her. Metal carts that fly went right into buildings so tall they touched the clouds. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“It will when the time comes,” Ben said. “I think you’re destined to take the elixir, Jack. In fact, I’m sure of it. Why you? Because you’re special. You have a way of looking at the world others do not. You’re brave, a warrior unmatched by any I’ve seen. You possess the strength and keen intellect Nora needs to complete her quest. You were born for Nora. Something great touched you a long time ago, and the time has come for you to step forward and fulfil your destiny.”

“Am I to save the world then?” Jack said with a half laugh.

“Part of it maybe, who can say?” Ben countered. “You’re worthy, or you wouldn’t have been chosen.”

Jack laughed, shook his head, downing the rest of his drink. “Eternal life.”

“You have to believe first,” Ben said. “You have to believe with every fiber of your being. Once you do, you’ll truly be ready.”