Time Castaways_The Mona Lisa Key by Liesl Shurtliff

Author:Liesl Shurtliff [Shurtliff, Liesl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure, General, time travel, Fantasy & Magic, Transportation, Railroads & Trains, family, Alternative Family
ISBN: 9780062568175
Google: il9DDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-09-18T14:38:32+00:00

14

Within the Walls

Matt searched for days for anything having to do with the Mona Lisa key or the phrase video et taceo, but he found nothing even remotely helpful. He practically turned Wiley’s library upside down, nearly dismantling the entire Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in search of the information. He looked in Latin history and language books, French history books, art history books, books and articles about the Mona Lisa, articles about famous keys, but nothing surfaced.

The captain didn’t seem too worried, though, however much it worried Matt, and he continued to use the compass as though no danger were imminent. Ruby asked if they could go see Queen Elizabeth, but Captain Vincent said it was best that they travel back in time a little more gradually, in order to help Matt adjust to travel and combat time sickness. Ruby was sorely disappointed but didn’t argue. She had grown to respect the captain a great deal, perhaps the most out of any of them. She continued to practice the sword every day and had gotten so good that Matt had to admit he was starting to become a little bit intimidated by her.

And so the Vermillion traveled, mostly within the United States and the twentieth century, moving back a decade or two at a time. Sometimes their time travels involved a mission, like disrupting a train or bank robbery or rescuing passengers off a sinking ship. They even intercepted a store robbery in a small town in Texas by the famous Bonnie and Clyde! The manager was so grateful he gave them all free sarsaparilla, which Matt learned was a drink that tasted a lot like root beer.

The Vermillion’s transformations were always a surprise and always trapped or tricked Ruby in one way or another. When the Vermillion transformed into a little red roadster, she ended up on the windshield, clinging for dear life as Wiley swerved and slammed on the brakes, and when it turned into a tugboat, she somehow ended up on top of the mast.

“I don’t think the Vermillion likes me all that much,” said Ruby after she’d ended up in the coal bunker of a steam engine and came out completely covered in soot.

“Oh, she’s just teasing you, Miss Ruby,” said the captain. “She has a sense of humor, you know.”

“Does she?” said Ruby. “Well, she needs to work on her comedic timing, in my opinion.”

The captain laughed. “I’m sure she’ll make a note and try to improve herself next time.”

Matt sort of appreciated the Vermillion’s antics and almost believed it was for his benefit, not to entertain him necessarily, though it certainly did, but to hide his time sickness. He still struggled with dizzy spells and nausea, usually right after travel, though it could hit at any time, and he didn’t want the others to notice. He didn’t want the captain to think he couldn’t handle the missions.

Sometimes they had no mission and just went places—many of which were as foreign as Paris or any other country for three city kids who had barely traveled beyond their own state lines.

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