Below the Orange antimacassar is a new chapter. It actually features The Knower (plus bonus) as your faithful author seeks to justify that character's prominent position (i.e. he's in the title).
Above the Orange antimacassar is a listing - with links - of the previous chapters.
Our Chapters thus far:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
"Holmes, may I speak with you for a moment?"
"Speak freely Watson, I am quite certain that nothing you have to say will come as a surprise to our guests. A disappointment perhaps, but not a surprise."
Captain Haggard said, "Speak your mind Doctor, please."
"Yes Dr Watson, do speak," said Evan, "Perhaps your old world viewpoint will help me to make up my mind."
"Ans as a new world friend of Yvonne's, allow me to advance an argument on her behalf," said Otis.
Evan stood up, crossed his arms, cleared his throat, turned to look at Sherlock Holmes, then in a slow and deliberate voice said, "You see Mr Holmes, I have all sorts of friends and my friends have all sorts of plans. All for me."
"And does Evan have anything to say?" Holmes said to Evan,
"Yes I do, as you may have guessed, or should I say, "Deduced," Mr Holmes?"
"What I have deduced is that your friends expect you to be concerned about the sort of things a person of your age is often concerned about. But yours is not the sharp anguish of youth. I sense a resigned melancholy."
Captain Haggard looked dumbfounded, Doxy looked very sad, and Otis said, "Evan what is it? Are you ill?"
"I'm quite healthy, Otis. That's one thing I do know..." Evan said, his voice trailing off.
"Well, I could have told you that," I said. "But all I wanted to talk with Holmes about was whether it was too late to wake Edgar. You did say, did you not Holmes, that it was time for the Knower to find out something new about the Scream."
"I did say that, Watson, and the Knower shall know as much as we do. Correct Evan?"
"And when did you figure it out, Mr Holmes?"
"Figure out what?" said Captain Haggard.
"That young Evan here has been aware for some little time that he is to be the next Knower."
"But doesn't that mean..."
"Yes Otis, it means I must remain my actual age while my friends are free to back-date themselves at will, not to mention them being able to make other, more profound changes."
"Not as profound a change as you might expect, said Captain Haggard, "At least in some particulars, and at the same time there are some most surprising differences in other respects. But none of them as big a change as you becoming Knower, Evan. Is there no other worthy candidate aboard this vessel? Why not Otis?"
"Edgar said that the Oligarch needed at least two Knowers aboard, and that being Otis is as good as being the official Knower, if not better. Sorry Otis, I did suggest you."
"Thanks a lot, Evan," said Otis, "I'll remember that if I draw your name for Secret Santa. But as for this 'at least two Knowers aboard,' I beg to differ. I think we'd be better off if all the curious minds that were so inclined were allowed to know what the Knower knows. Why can't we declare that 99% of our official secrets have no business being secrets at all."
"Power," said Doxy, who had been fairly quiet since leaving the comfort zone of The Parade of Homes.
Captain Haggard said, "And if not power, then the avoidance of embarrassment. Evan will make an excellent Knower, because he neither seeks power nor is particularly prone to embarrassment. But Evan, I will not congratulate you. You would know I was lying."
Holmes said, "Then let us congratulate the SS Oligarch."
"Hear, hear," I said, "I propose a toast to your future position Evan, may it be far in the future."
There was knock at the door, and Holmes said, "Timely. I do believe that's the future knocking."
Edgar and Cody stood at the door. "Sorry to be late Mr Holmes," said Edgar, "Cody forgot the combination to his bike."
"Well, my memory should not be a problem for too much longer. Nor yours Edgar."
"As long as we are able to remember Mr Holmes's instructions after we've crossed over, then I shall be satisfied. Are you ready to take over, Evan?"
"You mean right this moment?" said Evan.
"No hurry at all, we have at least an hour of prep work ahead of us," said Cody.
"And then?" said Doxy.
Edgar smiled sadly and said, "Doxy, it is so good to see you, I'm glad you are here to witness Cody and I make our final departure."