by Jay Noel
Kai was sure his own quiet demeanor must have struck Geller as strange compared to the other boisterous dignitaries. His suspicion was confirmed when the stalwart bodyguard with dark skin remained standing behind the seated merchant in the dining hall. Kai had tried his best to socialize with the foreigners, but he didn't understand the subject matter of their meaningless discussions.
Kai tried to wear an earnest smile as he slowly approached Geller's chair while remaining careful of the dark bodyguard's movements. Geller himself looked uneasy, and Kai was eager to get on with it. How the next few moments unfolded would dictate his next move.
“Honorable Master Geller,” Kai greeted with a bow. “I thank you again for your hospitality and for taking the time to meet with me.”
Geller motioned for him to sit, which he respectfully declined with a slight wave. Kai noticed the guard move slightly, and the tension was building even as the ocean's breaking waves sang a peaceful lullaby around them.
“I know you requested we meet in private.” Geller pointed to his mercenary. “But Kamau goes where I go. I hope you can appreciate my safety measures. In my line of work, it's necessary.”
Kai nodded. “Understood.” He swallowed the urge to leap across the table and strike Kamau in the neck with the blade of his hand.
“Your men said you had a message directly from Emperor Hideaki himself,” Geller said with one eyebrow raised. “I am but a lowly merchant, and to be addressed by your mighty ruler is a great honor.”
Kai glared at Kamau once more before saying, “My Lord is preparing for an inevitable Iberian invasion.”
Kamau shifted once again behind Geller's seat, and Kai felt the bodyguard's reciprocal hunger to kill.
“I have heard such rumors of Nihon leading the Sun Nation once again,” said Geller. “If a simple merchant can catch wind of Nihon's expansion, you can be sure Iberian spies have reported these events to their ruler as well.”
Kai ignored Geller's warning and controlled his voice as he continued. “Emperor Hideaki feels it is important for you to understand the balance of power in this world is now solely in the hands of the Sun Nation. With the fall of Russiya, now no one stands in Iberia's way.”
Geller's eyes narrowed. “The kingdoms of Nubia would disagree, but I understand what you're saying.” He looked up at the bodyguard. “Right Kamau?”
Kamau kept his arms crossed and his eyes on Kai.
“This boy is important, and Nihon is willing to pay you handsomely for him.” Kai still didn't know why this child was so vital to the world, but he pretended to be in on their secret. “Nihon's motives are honorable. My king knows of your distaste for the Iberians.”
Kamau's arms uncrossed and lay at his sides. This made Kai nervous, and he prepared for Geller's man to charge at him at any moment. Kai had come to dinner unarmed, as the merchant's soldiers confirmed with a revolting body search before being allowed to enter the gates. However, the bodyguard wore holstered revolvers around his belt, which Kamau made sure Kai could see.
Kai said, “On board my ship are several crates of gold, worth more than ten million ibers. If you give me the boy, you can have all of it. This is Emperor Hideaki's private offer.”
Geller cleared his throat. “Do you know why Marcel is valuable to your king and to the other leaders of those that are represented here?”
Kai was thrown off for a moment.
“I can see you don't.” Geller smirked. “If you did, you would see how laughable your ruler's offer is.”
Kai stepped back, feeling as if he had been slapped in the face. “Master Geller, you dishonor Emperor Hideaki's benevolence with those words.”
Kamau drew his pistol level with Kai's chest. Kai decided to play along and threw his hands up in surrender.
“Marcel might only be a child, but he has the power to put any nation on equal footing with Iberian technology,” Geller said. “The boy talks to machines, and what would you know, the machines talk back to him! This is why your emperor is willing to circumvent my little process.”
Kamau brought his weapon down, and Kai did the same with his hands.
Geller continued, “I am a greedy businessman with maybe a shred of decency. I will not sell the boy to Iberia. I refuse to do business with those people. Other than that one caveat, profit is my sole purpose in all of these matters. I appreciate your offer, but I respectfully decline. I hope you are able to gather more resources for the auction in two days, as several suitors here are willing to give me more than double Emperor Hideaki's offer.”
Kai felt great relief in Geller's refusal.
“I understand, Master Geller. I will indeed attempt to make a serious bid for the boy. In the name of Emperor Hideaki.”
Geller looked satisfied, and Kamau holstered his sidearm. “Until then, my invitation to you remains. If you should change your mind, I will make sure you have proper lodging here at my estate.”
Kai couldn't help glaring in Kamau's direction. “I will not trouble you any longer, Master Geller. You shall not see me until the day of the auction.”
They exchanged slight head bows before Kai exited the dining hall. When he went through the guarded iron gates of the castle, he found his entire body covered in cool perspiration. The rushing sound of the ocean below was inviting, and Kai decided he would bathe in the tropical waters before retiring for the night.
Killing Geller and taking the boy was fulfilling Hideaki's orders. Beheading Kamau, however, would be a pleasure.
MARCEL HAD NOTED THAT HIS room was in the western tower, one level above the floor with all the artifacts. Guards lined the corridors everywhere he went, so escape seemed impossible. After spending most of the day studying all of the exhibits, he felt exhausted. Kamau was his shadow, being replaced by another guard in the evening. Later that night, Kamau returned, and Marcel was surprised to find himself relieved to be in his presence again.
“You must get sleep.” Kamau pointed to the elaborate four poster bed. “Tomorrow is a big day.”
Marcel tugged on his sleeping gown. It was at least two sizes too large. “What's tomorrow?”
Kamau went over to help lift him onto the high bed. “Master Geller will give you another broken piece of machinery for you to fix. Important people from all over the world will be there to watch you work.”
“What kind of machine?”
“I think it is a steam car. Maybe a roadster.”
Marcel put his head on the soft pillow, and his eyes felt heavy. A spasm of bravery and delirium came over him. “Why should I do this? I don't like being here. Can't you help me escape?”
The words flew from his mouth, and Marcel immediately regretted it. Kamau was the closest thing to a friend he had, but the bodyguard was still loyal to Geller. In fact, it was Kamau who foiled his first attempt at freedom only days ago, but he hoped the bodyguard would change his allegiance.
Kamau's eyes narrowed. “You know I cannot do that.”
“They want me to create things to kill people,” Marcel said, his eyes threatening tears. “My mother wouldn't want me doing this.”
Kamau shook his head. “You have a gift. You have the power to create new technologies that could help any of these nations defend themselves against invaders.”
Marcel didn't care about other nations' sovereignty.
“Will I ever see my mother?” he asked.
“I don't know.”
Marcel's heart lost its rhythm, and it took his breath away.
“Maybe someday,” Kamau said with a quick grin.
Kamau extinguished the gas lantern sitting on a small table near the bed. The room contained large windows, but a heavy curtain covered them. Only the small flickering of a candle sitting on another table near the door provided enough light for Marcel to see Kamau turn and walk towards the door.
“A guard will be outside.” Kamau bent over to blow out the candle, but he straightened up again. “You want to let this candle die on its own?”
Mar
cel pulled the light sheet up over his chest. He was too upset to answer. Although asking for Kamau's help was the longest of long shots, he still felt betrayed. Any glimmer of hope was gone forever. Despite wanting to defy Geller, he knew once he saw the broken machine tomorrow, it would be too irresistible to not lay his hands on it to fix it.
Without saying a word, Kamau pinched the flame with his fingers, extinguishing the candle and allowing the night to consume the room.
MOST OF KAI'S CREW HAD retired for the night by the time he reached his ship. The sailor he considered his lieutenant gave him a quick nod before heading to the lower deck.
Kai's body felt energized after swimming in the shallow waters near the pier, and his mind was already sharp with focus. After returning to his ship, he strolled along the side of the vessel. His eyes wandered to the planks stained with blood. He never did confirm if the fat man's name was Ako, and even now he decided not to pray for the man's soul. Spirits failed to haunt him, as he believed his strength protected him from their curses.
Two men sat in the center of the main deck and kept guard. Kai waved to them before heading down a narrow stairway. He followed it all the way to the bottom to check on the crates of gold. The door to the vault was secured with a heavy padlock, and Kai was the only one with the key. With quick and swift movements, he unlocked the door and inspected the sealed crates.
Geller had refused to negotiate this evening, leaving Kai only one course of action to take. He would go back to Geller's fortress tomorrow evening with gold and bribe one of his guards to divulge the boy's exact location. Then he would steal the child away and kill anyone who got in his way. He hoped to kill Geller in the process, but a showdown with Kamau was inevitable.
This would be a most satisfying mission after all.
Kai felt his lips curl into a smirk as he left the room and locked the door with his key. Tonight, he would sleep soundly in his private quarters. At first light, Kai planned on doing his normal meditation and exercises, exactly as he started any ordinary day. He was sure Geller had assigned guards to watch him now.
Let them watch. It did not matter. No one was going to stop him from taking Marcel Bouvier back to Nihon.
ENAPAY WAS RIGHT. ZEN FOUND that the small city of Hunza possessed luxurious accommodations, if a person was willing to pay for it. It had been an easy two-and-a-half days of travel, and the swampland wasn't as perilous as Enapay had originally planned. After leaving the passenger car behind, the locomobile felt much lighter and faster. Hunza was a mere four hours away from their final destination, Caru.
When Enapay had suggested they stop in Hunza, even Neva agreed. They were hungry, as their provisions ran out, and Zen desperately wanted to take a bath. Their first stop was a large tavern on the outer part of town. It was empty save for a handful of patrons enjoying their expensive meals. Zen devoured several plates of cooked meat and several hot rolls of bread.
They found an ornate bath house in the main downtown area. The hostess took Neva to the women's section of the building. Enapay and Zen were led to another wing where they got out of their dirty clothes and wore only large towels into a room filled with invigorating steam. Large tubs filled with hot water for bathing awaited them, and it felt good to get the sand and grime off their bodies.
Zen's stitched up leg wound was no longer swollen, and even Enapay looked surprised at how quickly the gash had healed. Zen gave credit to the Nabeho surgeon and medicine man for their work, and he was thankful he hadn't re-injured his thigh when their locomobile was struck by the grenade in Mexihco.
Zen didn't feel any remorse about spending some of his Nabeho gold during the quick respite in Hunza. The food, bath, and new clothes were well worth it. His clean cream-colored shirt was loose fitting, and his tan trousers needed no alterations, thankfully. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he hardly recognized himself. He chuckled at the sight of his long straight hair settling on his shoulders. Toksu was right, he did look a little like a Nabeho with his hair removed from its knot.
When they reunited back at the locomobile, they all seemed energized and ready to get back onto the dirt highway. The land here was home to some vegetation, and Zen smelled the ocean.
Neva offered to drive, and Zen was happy to get a chance for a little more sleep before reaching Caru. Enapay said something about being relieved their quick visit was without incident, and went on about the last time he came through Hunza and stole a small chest filled with gold bars. The last thing Zen remembered hearing before falling asleep on the floor of the cabin was Enapay telling Neva about being run out of town by a local mobster.
When they came to a jerky stop, Zen pulled himself up and noticed it was nearing dawn outside. He thought that he had dozed off only for a few minutes, but he apparently had napped much longer.
“Where are we?” Zen rubbed his eyes.
Neva was still in the pilot's seat. “We're here.”
Enapay was up, scanning the street in front of them through the open windshield. “It will be light soon. Let's find a good place to park and head into town once the markets open.”
The fog of deep sleep lifted, and Zen felt alert and ready. “The markets? Why? Are we going shopping?”
Neva pointed to Zen's leather pouch near his backpack. “You still have some gold left?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We're going to need it,” she said, her eyes focusing on the road ahead of them.
Zen was still perplexed. “For what purpose?”
Enapay plopped down onto the co-pilot's chair. “I'm going to see if I can find someone who can give us a layout of Geller's castle. Knowing what kind of folks I'll be dealing with, money is the only language they understand.”
Zen grabbed the bag from his satchel, tossed it across the cabin to Enapay, and smiled at Neva. “Let's go save your Machine Boy.”
THE MAZE-LIKE MARKETPLACE WAS BUSY, but DePaul was easily able to lead his group through the buzzing crowds and navigate to an old associate's place in the northwest corner of the open center. His friend was Anton, an ex-Francian patriot who had fought the losing war against Iberian occupation. He commanded a light artillery division and took a keen interest in DePaul's early work in developing smaller cannons that were quicker and easier to mobilize. During a skirmish near Francia's southern border that it shared with Iberia, a shell blast left Anton alive, but without his left leg.
Anton's storefront was plain, with only a young lanky man at the front greeting potential customers. There were no signs, nor any products advertising Anton's specialty. With Azincaya being the land of anarchy, all the criminals knew if you needed to get special contraband in this part of the world, you came to Anton's store in Caru.
Before addressing Anton's adolescent employee outside, DePaul motioned for Lopez and Orsini to bring his heavy crate forward. It was always a good idea to bring a little offering when asking for an important favor. Simon stood at his side as if he were keeping watch.
DePaul approached and leaned forward. “Tell Anton that Lionel is here to see him.”
The young man nodded and scurried away into a doorway leading to the small brick building.
“Professor, what's in here?” Lopez asked as he pointed to the cargo crate at his feet. “It's heavy.”
“It's a gift. Never visit old friends without one,” replied DePaul, his white brows dancing.
The employee came back out from the building with a smile on his face. “Master Anton is eagerly waiting for you in his office. Please follow me.”
Lopez let out a low grunt as he and Orsini each lifted an end of the heavy box and followed the man and DePaul through the open doorway. Simon was the last to enter, signaling to his uncle that no one was following them. DePaul was led to the end of a dark corridor. The young man knocked twice and opened the heavy wooden door before allowing DePaul to enter the large office first.
Anton was already standing, his posture straight and smile wide. His hair was long and thinning on to
p, and his gray mustache twitched when DePaul gave his old friend a quick embrace.
“Leg's still working,” Anton said with a grin. He lifted his left pant leg up and showed off the tiny moving gears and minuscule mechanisms clicking and spinning. “Miracle of science, huh?”
DePaul helped design Anton's biomech leg, which started above the knee and went all the way down to the foot. The alternative would have been a wooden leg, which had sent Anton into a depression while in the infirmary. DePaul and two other engineers had designed the prosthetic, and its original design was still in use all over Europa more than ten years later. Simon had taken a keen interest in bio-mechanical work, and his surgical expertise led to new scientific possibilities that DePaul wished he had more time to explore.
“Excellent. I'm glad. It has been a long time,” said DePaul as he took the seat directly in front of Anton's desk.
Anton moved gracefully as he offered the other chairs to the rest of the crew and took his own seat. “What brings you to Caru this time of the year? The mosquitoes? The oppressive humidity?”
DePaul ordered Orsini to show Anton the contents of their crate. Anton lifted himself up from his seat to inspect its contents, the flash of his white teeth broadening at the sight of new weapons that would bring a nice healthy profit to his business.
“These are new. I call them choke bombs,” DePaul explained. “Non-lethal. You wind them up, adjusting the length to detonation, and with an explosion comes a nice gas cloud capable of knocking five or six full grown men out for ten minutes. It's a nice way to clear an area without making a mess.”
Anton's approval was easy to see on his squarish face. He pushed back his greasy dark hair from his eyes and relaxed into his leather chair. “They will be easy to sell. Although, most of my customers enjoy making messes.” He leaned in. “What can I do for you, my friend?”
DePaul drummed his fingers on the old desk. “A famous smuggler lives here in Caru. I hear he owns the largest estate in town, overlooking the sea.”