Ellis had been surprised to see the cab waiting outside Kerring’s Mercantile at the edge of a square that was suddenly, or so it seemed to him, very busy. After his initial confusion at the Former Baron’s turn of phrase he had assumed that, by ‘cab’, he had meant some kind of horse and cart, and indeed many such were in evidence around the square, heading off to who knew where at surprising speed, but this was not what was waiting for them. Instead, there was something that vaguely resembled a car, open at the sides, covered in pipes and verdigris, with an impatient looking driver in the front. The engine was running and a cloud of steam, tinted a faint green, was billowing out of its rear. It sounded like an old propeller-driven aeroplane.
“Come along now, you two,” the Former Baron said, waving his arms towards the strange vehicle, “hurry up! This fellow charges by the minute, you know.”
Ellis followed the Former Baron’s orders and squeezed into the back of the cab, with Siren sitting awkwardly beside him. Von Spektr sat opposite, somehow managing to make his side of the cab look spacious. He said something to the driver and then the cab was off, driving slowly out of the square, beeping its horn the whole time to scare off pedestrians and then picking up speed as it got onto one of the streets descending the hill. Ellis watched with fascination as the rickety old houses shot by. The city looked very different now it was full of people and vehicles and businesses.
“Ah, it is good to have everything back to normal, don’t you think, Siren, my dear?”
Siren did not appear to be paying attention. She had been staring out at the passing street, just like Ellis, and when the Former Baron spoke she jerked her head towards him and uttered a puzzled “hmm?” before answering, “Oh, sorry. I was miles away. Actually I preferred it when it was quiet. There’s a reason why I took to the ocean.”
“Oh?” the Former Baron asked with a slightly disinterested tone, “is that so?” Then we really must find a way to get your ship back, mustn’t we?” He smiled and Siren looked away again. Ellis wondered what was going through her mind. Was she still thinking about their conversation in the stock room? She had been about to tell him something about her family, but now it seemed unlikely that she would be so ready to confide in him. He tried to push the thoughts out of his mind and turned his attention back on Von Spektr.
“So, how were you able to rescue us? What happened?”
“That is an interesting story, most interesting indeed! You see, whilst I was browsing through Kerring’s wares and starting to feel the effects of the drug in the tea, which I had barely sipped and so affected me less than it did yourself and Siren, I realised what must be happening. I was able to rush over to his pharmaceutickals cabinet and imbibe an appropriate antidote before the drug could put me asleep completely. Then, knowing that I would be unable to fight Kerring or that cat of his without assistance and being sharp enough to realise that you and Siren must already have been unconscious, I slipped out the front door and began to search for some Knights.”
“And what happened to Kerring?”
“Ah, well, as far as I can tell he left his shop – it was locked, you see – and was off arranging a meeting with his buyers, that is whoever it was he intended to sell you to. I’ve given the Knights a complete description and they are going to have someone watch over the shop. With any luck, they’ll be able to find out just who those buyers might be.”
“Will they arrest him?”
“Oh, goodness, no! There’s not enough room in the dungeons to keep everyone who kidnaps someone else locked up, besides, the dungeons are so leaky nowadays, he’d be out in no time and angrier than ever. No, all they can offer is the information, but that is helpful enough in its own way.”
“Am I really that valuable?”
“You are the first connection this city has had to your world in ten thousand years. You are the goal of most of the study of Hypostatick Philosophy! The insights that you offer, why, they are so astounding! If I hadn’t met you in the street, I’d be in half a mind to have bought you myself!”
Ellis gave the Former Baron an appraising look, wondering if the man could have been that callous and cold. The conclusion he came to was worrying. He probably could.
“You are still going to help me get home, right? And not just so you can go there yourself?”
“Of course, Elvira, of course. I’m not going to interfere with that, besides, I’ll probably get enough information from that experiment alone.”
“Did you get the parts you needed?”
“Yes, I was able to sneak them out with me before I left.” He opened up his jacket and, as well as revealing a very stained shirt, he was able to point out several variously shaped brass parts he had shoved into his jacket pockets. “I’ll have the machine ready by this evening, I should imagine, then we shall see if it can take you back to your world.” He finished off with another of his thin grins and Ellis wondered if he really did mean everything he was saying, or if that scientific greed which lay under the surface was the true nature of the man. His eyes drifted back to the streets, but his mind lay entirely elsewhere.
It didn’t take long for the cab to reach Tentacle Lane. Everyone climbed out and the Former Baron grudgingly paid for the fare with a large number of ancient copper coins. Then they watched it drive off up the street again, leaving them standing on the cobbles, wreathed in awkward silence.
“I suppose I should go,” Siren began at last, “I need to find some other means of employment so that I can get my ship back.”
“Oh, yes, of course!” the Former Baron exclaimed, raising a finger into the air in an over-exaggerated gesture of remembrance, “I forgot about your fee.” He began rummaging through his jacket pocket and pulled out another handful of coins. “Would two thousand shillings be enough, do you think?”
Siren’s eyes bulged noticeably, “Two thousand! Are you sure, Franck? I mean, that is an awful lot of money and I didn’t really do all that much and, well, it was you who rescued me in the end so-”
“You did kill that loathsome Grinder and I think El Diablo and I would be dead by now if not for that. Yes, yes, I think two thousand shillings should be sufficient.” He handed over the coins to the very stunned pirate, then stepped back , brushed a strand of grey hair out of his eyes and added, “would you like some tea, at all?”
She smiled and, despite Ellis’ gestures of refusal behind the Former Baron’s back, she replied, “Yes, that would be nice.”
The tea was noticeably devoid of swimming things this time around. Instead, several creatures floated on the surface, clearly dead. Ellis was not sure which sight was more disturbing. He left his cup untouched.
Siren had sniffed hers quickly beforehand, trying not to draw attention, but succeeded in making the Former Baron laugh wildly for a minute anyway. “No, my dear, I have not spiked your drink. I have nothing to gain by drugging either of you.”
Ellis was not so much reassured as perturbed. The focus on what the Former Baron had to gain was clear and suddenly he found himself remembering just what those spindly hands had felt like the first time they had clasped down on his wrists and dragged him through the city streets. Shadow, he was finally realising, was not just a dangerous place. It was full of sinister undercurrents and he was no longer sure who he could really trust.
They sat in silence for a while, with the Former Baron and Siren sipping their tea whilst Ellis tried not to drift off in his seat.
“Once we’ve finished this,” Von Spektr announced suddenly, “I’ll head down to the laboratory and start working on this machine. If you want to rest in the guest room, again, Elton, then feel free.”
Siren drained her cup and gazed through the dusty film over the window at what could be seen of the sky. “I should probably get going, then. I’m not going to find any work just sitting around here.” She rose from her seat, but somehow the Former Baron moved quicker and was standing in the doorway before she could reach it.
“Well, actually, now that you mention it, there is some work you could do for me.”
Siren raised an eyebrow, “How can I help? You don’t need escorting again do you? The Grinders have all gone, for now.”
“Oh, no, no, no, nothing like that, no! What I’d be looking for is more of a general, personal security service.”
“Isn’t this place already ‘warded’?” Ellis asked.
“Yes, it is, but our little visit to Kerring will, very soon, start attracting a different kind of attention from that which I am used to. You see, nobility trying to assassinate you is one thing, all very standard and predictable, but men of a philosophickal bent, seeking the very goal of all their endeavours? Why that is another thing entirely, my dear boy, and they will see through my current defences quite easily. I’m going to need something more, and when you fought that Grinder last night, my dear, you demonstrated that you had just what I’m looking for.”
“Do you really think you’re in that much danger, just because of me?” Ellis asked, quite shocked.
The Former Baron wheeled around and glared at him intensely. Suddenly Ellis knew he was seeing a side of the man which was seldom visible. His eyes were bulging and quivering, his hands were shaking – he looked angry and scared, like a cornered animal, and it was a terrifying sight.
“You just don’t seem to get it, do you?” he yelled, “You are invaluable! After today there will be countless men desperate to see you, to perform tests on you, to use what you know to get out of this godforsaken city and see blue skies and everyone one of them, every single one will be willing to kill you, and me, and even this pretty one here for the privilege. This is serious, Ellis, my boy, really and truly serious and your disbelief, your otherworldly arrogance, is not going to save you!” He turned once more to face Siren, who was cringing slightly, and his tone changed back instantly to his usual, slightly rambling, politeness, “But she might, oh yes! Siren could keep us both quite safe, of that I’m very sure.”
“Listen, Franck, I have some skills, there’s no denying it, but I’m best on a ship and when there’s treasure involved. I’m not sure I’m really any good for… this.”
“Oh you’ll be perfect, I’ve no doubt, and if you want treasure, this,” he pointed to Ellis, “this boy is perhaps the greatest treasure known to Hypostatick Philosophy,” Ellis blushed, “but if that’s not enough, I have a lot of money and I can get your Ebony Crest.”
At that Siren’s eyes lit up and she gave him a full, open grin, “In that case, you are on, old man!”
“Excuse me,” the Former Baron objected, “I’m only a hundred and seventeen! My grandfather lived to be two hundred and thirty five.”
“What about your father?” Ellis enquired.
“Oh, he was boiled to death at forty seen. We all told him not to anger the chef…”
AUTHOR COMMENT: This is another odd little episode really - more character dialogue than actual event. It is, nonetheless, revealing about the Former Baron and sets the scene for the events to come, which are going to get increasingly interesting over the next several weeks.
ReplyDeleteNext Week: Ringing in His Ears.