“Those ships stop at the Isthmus of Panama, and you have to cross over that neck of land to catch a ship on the other side.”
“Any idea how much the passage would cost?” Alden asked.
“About two hundred dollars per person to go around the Horn. More like three hundred dollars to cross over the isthmus.”
His heart sank. Even if he wanted to take Isaac to California, he didn’t have enough money for both of them to travel.
Lowell lowered his voice. “My brother commands a clipper ship calledPharosthat leaves in the morning for California. Won’t matter if it’s sunny or snowing.”
“I don’t have enough money for the boy and me to both sail.”
Lowell tugged on his jacket sleeves. “If you are willing to work, I might be able to get you passage.”
“We’re willing to work as hard as we can.”
“Meet me down at Lewis Wharf before daybreak,” Lowell said. “And pack light.”
“Thank you.”
He didn’t have to ask Isaac about this new journey. It seemed the boy was going to achieve his dream of going to California after all.
Chapter 14
Harvard College
January 1854
Victor rattled the iron gates that led into Harvard Yard until the gatekeeper stepped up to speak with him. The man was clearly exasperated, his long sigh more like a groan. “You again.”
“Of course it’s me,” Victor said. “I’m not going to stop until you let me speak to my brother.”
“It’s not for me to say whether or not you can go to his room.”
Victor wanted to slap the man silly, preferably with something like a frying pan. They’d had this conversation repeatedly during the two weeks the students and professors were away on holiday—and in the week since they’d been back—but the guard refused to listen to him.
“I can’t obtain permission if you won’t let me inside.”
“Maybe you’ll change your mind and send your brother a message. Or at least give me his name.”
An icy raindrop splashed on Victor’s face, and he flicked it away. “I want to surprise him.”
“It’s my job to snuff out surprises.” The guard’s eyes narrowed. “And people who try to climb the fence.”
“If you’d unlock it, I wouldn’t need to climb.”
The man stepped away without another word. Victor rattled the gate again, shouting for him to come back, but the guard ignored him.
His arms crossed over his coat, he stepped under the nearby tree where he’d spent much of the last three weeks waiting for Alden to walk through the gate. He’d failed in his repeated attempts to climb the fence, and he’d failed to even catch a glimpse of Alden and Isaac.
The sunlight faded as he watched the gate, and rain began to pour from the sky, veiling the iron slabs before him with a hazy gray. Isaac was behind the gate, protected by this imbecile who refused to let Victor pass. Perhaps Alden had even told the man to keep him locked out.
But they wouldn’t keep him out forever. Eventually he’d find a way to get in.
He stood up a little straighter under the tree, a new idea forming in his mind. He could go straight to the police chief of this little town and tell him that Alden Payne was harboring a runaway. Then he’d smirk at the keeper when the chief demanded he unlock the gates. Perhaps he’d tell the chief that the gatekeeper was collaborating with Alden to steal his slave.
He stepped away from the tree, intent on finding the station until he heard the clamoring of a dozen voices, laughing and shouting as if they had more drink than sense running through their brains.
Victor smiled when he saw the large group of students dressed in long coats and bowler hats round the corner. Perhaps he wouldn’t need the police chief after all.
