Chapter Four
'Hold on tight!' Lars said, when the elevator plunged into the ocean, descending from the station above water. For a few moments, the four Baudelaires really had to hold on to the bars on the walls of the elevator, as the currents were very strong closer to the surface. But as they descended into the darkness of the deep, the noises and the shaking were greatly diminished.
'Are we there yet?' Violet asked. The Baudelaires had nothing but unpleasant memories of their previous underwater experiences, and they were not looking forward to doing it again. It still bewildered them that they were at sea, of all places, and it was disturbing to think of all the events that led them to that elevator that descended into the dark sea.
'The elevator is slowing down. We're almost there!' said Lars, and he was speaking the truth. Not five minutes later, the elevator entered a secondary, underwater section of the Anwhistle Aquatics, this came as a surprise to the Baudelaires, as they had seen nothing like it during their first travels around that area. They could see all kinds of sea creatures swimming by through the elevator's transparent thick glass windows. Jellyfish, squids, all kinds of fish. But before they had time to appreciate the view, the elevator entered the secondary Anwhistle Aquatics.
'It's
all been rebuilt, you know.' Lars said, as the elevator stopped. The doors opened, and the Baudelaires got out of it. They could not believe their eyes, as they were in an underwater corridor with transparent walls and ceiling, supported by metal pillars.
A whole new part of the Anwhistle Aquatics had unfolded before their eyes. Several submarines could be seen, attached to the underwater station. It was like an underwater harbor of submarines. There even was an imponent, golden, extravangant submarine that just
had to belong to Elizabeth Anwhistle.
'How could we have not seen this before?' Violet asked, amazed at the level of technological advance of the station.
'We didn't exactly have the time to look around in the
Queequeg, Violet.' Klaus said, approaching the transparent wall with Sunny and Beatrice in tow. Lars approached them. Then, a loud, sharp noise was heard. Lars quickly removed a walkie-talkie from his coat.
'Yes, Captain? Over.' said Lars, responding to the call. Then Elizabeth Anwhistle's voice was heard. 'Lars, there is a ship with technical problems requesting permission to approach the station. The ship is called
Mary Celeste. Over.'
'
Mary Celeste? Never heard of it. Let's have them wait, captain. I don't think it's safe for us to make contact with other vessels at this time, Over.' said Lars. Elizabeth's voice sounded again, 'I think you're right. Bring the kids back, I want everyone aboard the surface station. Also, children, do you see my submarine? He's something isn't he? Over.'Lars handed the walkie-talkie to Violet. 'Yes. It's very beautiful, I'd love to enter it.'
'Maybe sometime you will! Now come, the lot of you, it's dinner time! Over and out!' and the signal went dead; Elizabeth had finished the communication. Lars put the walkie-talkie back into his pocket, and went back into the elevator with the Baudelaires.
'A shame we couldn't go to the harbor area. I was planning on letting you all aboard the
Davy Jones, Elizabeth's submarine.' said Lars with playful smile on his face.
'That's ok, Lars. We're all starving either way.' Klaus said. He wasn't that much interested about the submarines as he was about deep sea research, and that was he hoped to take a look at, although he did feel amazed by the true grandeur of the Anwhistle Aquatics. When Fernald, Fiona's brother and the hook-handed henchman of Olaf's admitted to burning the Anwhistle Aquatics inside
The Carmelita, neither Klaus nor any of his sisters ever imagined they would ever visit the station.
'I'll bring you here later, don't worry.' said Lars after the elevator's doors closed shut. Violet noticed that the elevator was much above the ocean floor, and that it could still go even deeper than they were. This triggered her curiosity, but Violet only wanted to get back to the surface. It was dark and cold there, because sunlight had a hard time reaching such depths.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the surface station, and when the doors opened, they revealed Elizabeth Anwhistle, who was ready to reception them properly this time.
'Hi, Baudelaires! I'm sorry I was too busy when we first met. Lars, you can go fetch the boys for me, please? I want to walk with the children.' said Elizabeth. Lars merely nodded, and walked away from them.
'Now what did you think about the
underwater Anwhistle Aquatics? Isn't it amazing?' she asked, eager to know every thought the Baudelaires had when they looked at the station down under. '
'It is amazing, yes. I'd love to know how it was all built.' Violet said, as such masterpiece of engineering fascinated her beyond all else.'Well, that's a secret, you know. Not many people know how to do it, and we'd like to keep it that way. We don't want our enemies building similar stations around the world. This station has gone from a marine biology and rhetoric advice central to a para-military station. We are preparing for
war.'
'
War?' the four Baudelaires asked in unnison. They suddenly stopped, and Elizabeth had to stop and turn to look at them.
'Yes. War. We are the guardians of the sugarbowl, Baudelaires. We are keeping it safe in the Shivery Shrine, so that no one will use it's power.' Elizabeth said. 'If anyone tries to obtain it...They will die, simply put. There is a trap that no one, and I
mean no one, survive, should they try to obtain it. There is only
one way to remove the bowl from the Shrine, and I am not authorized to inform you.' Elizabeth was very serious, almost tense, as if she was talking to adults, not two teenagers, a small child and an infant. Looking at her expression, the Baudelaires silenced.
'Now, now. There's nothing to worry about. We're a fortress. Now let's go, there are two people I want you four to meet.' Elizabeth started walking, and the Baudelaires followed. It may have been an impression, but the Baudelaires could swear the above-water Anwhistle Aquatics felt less warm, almost as if had lost some of it's power during their short-lived trip to the underwater section of the station.
'I'm really sorry I couldn't join you, down in the underwater sector. It's that ship over there...' and here Elizabeth pointed to a ship in the distance, as she walked by another panoramic wide window. 'They are having technical difficulties and have requested our assistance, but we have a zero tolerance policy. They may be our enemies coming for the bowl. Either way, should they come too close, our cannons will take care of them.
No one enters the Anwhistle Aquatics without my order and permission. Not even... Nevermind, I'm bragging!' and here Elizabeth laughed ostensively, almost as if she was trying to convince the Baudelaires she was really laughing. The Baudelaires all shared an embarrassed look behind Elizabeth's back, as she led them through the corridor. Then, two crew members appeared, coming from an adjacent corridor. Elizabeth stopped laughing, and stumped rapidly towards the two subordinates.
'
You! Go back to your stations, your shift is not over yet! And
you!' she shouted, pointing at the second subordinate, who was simply put, terrified down to the last hair on his head. 'I thought I told you to change! That vest is
obscene it's so ugly!'
'It was a gift from my girlfriend, Captain!' said the volunteer, almost in tears. '
Go change! And break up with your girlfriend! There can be no romantic involvements aboard this station!'
'S-Sorry, I-I'll change, I'll change!' said the volunteer, and the two ran off and uickly disappeared.
'That was bit...
harsh, wasn't it, Captain?' Klaus said.
'
Harsh? Did he take a second to consider how harsh my eyes would take such an ugly vest? Did he? I don't think so! Oh drat, this has put me off my tea mood. I need coffee!' and saying this, Elizabeth banged on a door. It opened, to reveal a volunteer wearing pajamas with dolphin print. He held a cup of coffee on his hand, and it was full.
'Y-yes, captain?'
'Give me that!' Elizabeth grabbed the cup of coffee and signaled the Baudelaires to follow her, which they did, after taking a second to look at the dumbfounded volunteer at the doorstep.
'How can I be safe if I don't have coffee? It's hilarious!' and Elizabeth started laughing frantically again, this time, a real laughter. During the series of unfortunate events that were their lives, the Baudelaires had met all kinds of eccentric people, but when it came to sheer weirdness, Elizabeth Anwhistle took the cake, and the Baudelaires having met a young woman by the name of Cindry Fulfillment, and her aunt and uncle, and an old man named Mortimer Montague, this was saying something.
After a few more twists and turns, they arrived at a double set of doors with a sign that read '
Safety ALWAYS!' and a stack of flyers on how to do everything safely. There was a lot of noise inside, characteristic of a place where a lot of people go to eat in, but when
Elizabeth opened the doors and all eyes went to her, everyone silenced.
'What is it? Get back to your eating, men! But do it
safely!' she shouted, the tone in her voice indicating
another order.
'Now, you must come sit with me, Baudelaires. That is my special table over there.' Said Elizabeth, walking towards a big rectangular table separate from all the others. Three men were sitting at the table, and one of them was Lars Gabriel.
'Captain Elizabeth, I brought them as you asked.' Lars said, standing up. The two other men immitated him.
'Good. Violet, Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice Baudelaires, these are Wayne, the baticeer, and Will, the head of the V.F.D. Sailors.'
Wayne was tall, dark-haired, and he wore goggles, and all his t-shirt and overalls were dark, including his gloves and boots. He removed his goggles, and smiled at the Baudelaires. Beatrice, always interested in clothes and fashion, noticed a bat printed on Wayne's t-shirt. She did not know why, but she liked Wayne almost immediately.
'Hi, I'm Wayne. I train bats amongst other things. It's nice to finally meet the four of you. Our Volunteer Factual Dispatch is filled with your adventures, Baudelaires.' he said. Violet would not have used the word 'adventures' to describe their lives, but she didn't feel the need to point it out, as Wayne seemed like a good person.
Next to him, was Will, who was also tall, brown-haired, with brown eyes. he wore a bandana on his head, and a large jacket, also in dark colors.
'Nice to meet you, Baudelaires.'
'Please, sit, the lot of you. I've ordered a special meal of all the lobster you can eat!' said Elizabeth, finishing her coffee. 'More coffee, STAT!' she raised her cup into the air, and a volunteer ran past her, grabbing the cup and running into the kitchen. A few seconds later, he arrived with a refill.
'Thanks! Now go finish your meal!' Elizabeth shouted, and some dining crew members giggled.
'Is there anything you would like to ask, Baudelaires?' Elizabeth asked, so politely that it was hard to believe it was
her asking.
'Yes, Elizabeth. How are you related to Gregor, Ike and Josephine Anwhistle?' Klaus asked. He could not wait any longer. How come he had never heard of Elizabeth before?
Immediately after asking, Klaus regreted it. Elizabeth's face took a disturbed expression, and so did the other three men's.
'I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...' Klaus began to apologize, but Elizabeth stopped. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and started talking.
'I know you lived with Josephine. She was my aunt by marriage. I spent my summers at Lake Lachrymose, with my uncle Ike and her, when I was in training school.'
'Elizabeth...' Will started to speak, and placed his hand on hers.
'It's ok, Will, they
have to know!' she said, removing her hand from his. 'My father, Gregor Anwhistle, he built the old Anwhistle Aquatics to research on the Medusoid Mycelium's potential as a weapon against our enemies, the fire starters. What he did not know, back when he started, is that the fire-starting side of V.F.D. is the least of our concerns when there is a
question mark on our radar.'
'Captain Widdershins and his stepson burned down Anwhistle Aquatics to prevent the research on the mycelium from advancing. I promised I would get my hands on both of them. Fernald escaped me. He's still somewhere out there, I think. Now, the Captain...' Elizabeth looked tense, almost as if she was about to tell a horrible secret.
'When Captain Widdershins disappeared from the
Queequeg, during your visit to the Gorgonean Grotto, why do you think he left?' she asked the Baudelaires. Such question caught them off guard, an expression which here means 'surprised them deeply'.
'I don't know. We thought he was taken by someone else, maybe one the enemies of V.F.D.' Klaus said. He hadn't thought of Captain Widdershins in a long time, because he reminded Klaus of Fiona, and hers was a painful memory to revisit.
'What if I said that
I entered the Queequeg and convinced him to leave with me?' Elizabeth said, looking seriously at the Baudelaires.
'You...You did what?' Violet asked. That revelation was almost too much too bear.
'Yes. It was me. I was on the run from...
it with the
Davy Jones, when I noticed the
Queequeg on my radar.
It was right behind me. I had to to take a risk, and I convinced him to come with me, along with that cook, Phil.'
'It was you?' Neither Klaus nor Violet, or Sunny could believe Elizabeth's words. 'Yes. I had to do it. The Great Unknown was right behind me, and I needed to get my hands on Captain Widdershins, and on some information he withheld.' Elizabeth said, looking at the Baudelaires straight in the eye. 'My father, Gregor Anwhistle, he died in the fire that day.'
Elizabeth looked down at the table, her mind dwelling on memories she did not like to think about. The fire at Anwhistle Aquatics was disastrous for many people, for reasons to many to count and elaborate on. Elizabeth then resumed her narration.
'You, like many others, have wondered how Fernald lost his hands. It is simple. When he reached for the container that held a sample of the medusoid mycelium, I cut his hands off with my sword. In revenge, Widdershins helped Fernald set the fire to the station, because Fernald couldn't do it alone. We all had to jump for our lives, while the station exploded.'
'When it was all over, the station was gone, and a bunch of our volunteers were taken by the Great Unknown. Whatever happened to them afterwards is another story entirely. I washed up at Briny Beach, unconscious, and the Snicket siblings found me. Yes, I knew Jacques and Kit Snicket.' Elizabeth said in response to the Baudelaire's surprised expressions. Beatrice was particularly excited, because the Baudelaires had told her Kit was her birth mother, and she eagerly anticipated knowing everything she could about her mother, even if Sunny and Violet were excellent adoptive mothers.
'After that, I gathered volunteers from all over the world and had the Anwhistle Aquatics rebuilt in secret. Thankfully, our enemies never found out about the underwater sector, as it is well-hidden in the ocean trench.' Elizabeth said. Her story was heartbreaking, and the Baudelaires felt for the woman who had lost everything, and admired her for making a stand against the injustice of the world and rebuilding her father's station.
'Some of our friends were taken by the Great Unknown as well. Except Kit Snicket, and the Incredibly Deadly Viper.' Klaus said. The thought of his missing friends was like a ghost that haunted him periodically.
'That's terrible.' she said in reply.
'Yes, it is.' Lars said.
'My father knew what the Great Unknown is, and I hoped I could snatch the truth out of Widdershins, but I clearly was wrong. He escaped me, just when I thought I was close enough to finding out the truth. If it is what I think it is, than not a soul is safe, specially at sea.'
The tone of the conversation was heavier and heavier, and realizing this, Elizabeth stood up. 'My, let's cheer up a bit! I haven't even had time to give you your tasks yet!'
'Tasks?' Sunny asked, surprised at this sudden turn of the conversation.
'Yes. You didn't expect to stay at our station without working! If you don't work, you don't eat!' then Elizabeth assumed her order-giving stance, and pointing at each Baudelaire, she assigned them tasks to fulfill.
'You!' She shouted, pointing at Violet. 'I want you to fix my espresso machine!It's been broken for ages!' and looking at Klaus, she shouted, 'You! I need you to organize all the reports and memorandums that the workers have delivered to my room, it's a mess!', and looking at Sunny, she shouted, 'You! I want you to go and help the cook!' and looking at Beatrice, Elizabeth didn't shout.
'You're a baby! I can't have a baby work anyhow! Frustrating! Wait, I know! YOU!' she shouted pointing at Beatrice, 'Keep on being a baby!'
'Um, Elizabeth?' for the first time, Wayne spoke. Elizabeth looked at him.
'I was wondering if I could take Beatrice with me to see the bats. I noticed how she keeps looking at my t-shirt.' he said, smiling. 'Fine by me! I'll return to the bridge, you all go and work, and when lunchtime arrives, we'll all have lunch together, yes?' and saying this, Elizabeth walked away from them and out of the cafeteria. All eyes acompanied her on this. The second she disappeared from sight, all the voices resumed their talking.
'Gee, I hate when the captain shows up. If you make the tiniest noise, she gives you a new order.' said a worker, walking past the Baudelaires.
'Let's go now. We should best not disobbey an order from Elizabeth!' Will said, and the Baudelaires all stood up. They were accostumed to work, and working at Anwhistle Aquatics would be very interesting at the very
least.
'We'll all meet up again later, alright? Violet, Klaus, come this way. Sunny can stay here, the kitchen is through that door, and Wayne will take Beatrice to the Bat Tower.' said Will, and minutes later, the Baudelaires were split all over the station. But before all that, Violet took a last look at the ocean, through the windows of the Anwhistle Aquatics. She could see the ship called
Mary Celeste in the distance, not too far from the station, but far enough that she could not see any activity taking place there. The ship was very quiet, and Violet felt a chill running down her spine. Elizabeth's story, and the creepy ship lurking the sea outside were almost too much to bear. Violet tied her hair with her ribbon and braced herself for some hard work at the station, hoping that her hunch was wrong and that the Mary Celeste was just a normal ship...Which it
wasn't.