by Logan Jacobs
While we stood in the middle of the floor and tried to figure out what to do next, a very old man with a stooped back and wispy white hair appeared from one of the distant doorways and shuffled toward us. As he worked his way along the marble floor, I had time to study the tailored black jacket and pants that he wore, the bright white shirt, and the striped tie that had to be made of silk. I also spotted a pin on his lapel, but it was only when he stopped in front of us and peered at us from beneath a single wispy eyebrow that I could see the pin had the same horse and lion figures that were carved into the door.
“Mr. Darwin and Mr. Theriot to see Mr. Riley,” Darwin announced when the man didn’t say anything.
The eyebrows waggled, but the old man remained silent. He managed to turn around without falling over, and he started to shuffle back across the floor, though this time he appeared to be aiming for the staircase itself. When neither of us moved right away, the old man stopped and looked back, and I could have sworn I heard a snort as well. With a shrug, Darwin trotted after the old man and I followed after the ex-trooper.
My guess was right, and the old man started the laborious climb up the stairs. I looked at Darwin, who shrugged again, and I wondered if our guide would be offended if I simply scooped him up and carried him to the top. While I tried to guess his weight and pondered how much damage he might inflict with his boney fists, we made it to the top of the stairs where we paused to catch our breaths. Well, while our guide caught his breath. Darwin and I looked around the grand entryway some more until the stoop backed man started to move again.
Our destination was a wood panelled room with a fireplace big enough to roast an entire cow, a thick blue carpet that muffled every step, heavy drapes that blocked out all sunlight, and a large collection of leather high back armchairs and drink tables. Some of the chairs had been arranged into groups of three or four, but most were carefully positioned to protect the occupant from unwanted conversation and none of the solo chairs faced the door. In fact, the only way to tell which chairs were in use was to check for the top edge of the newspaper that could be seen over the backs of the occupied chairs.
Another elderly man moved quietly among the tables, dispensing coffee into china cups and accepting whispered instructions from the depths of the chairs. The two elders met at an empty space between tables and a few hand signs were exchanged. The man with the coffee pot nodded and then our guide retreated toward another door. Darwin and I started to follow but the coffee pot man held up a hand then pointed us toward a group of four chairs tucked behind a collection of potted palms. Two men sat in the chairs, caught up in an intense conversation, to judge by their expressions. We started toward them, and I saw one of the men glance in our direction. A few more whispered words followed and then the second man stood up and left before I could get a good look at him.
“You must be Genevieve’s friends,” the remaining man declared softly as he stood up and shook our hands. “I’m Joker Riley.”
“Charles Darwin and Hex Theriot,” Darwin replied just as quietly.
We all sat down and the coffee pot man appeared out of nowhere with two more clean cups, which he placed on the tables next to us and then filled with a steaming black liquid. He swept up the other visitor’s cup and shuffled away before anyone could make any requests.
“Viv didn’t tell me much,” Riley confessed. “Just that you’re interested in the train.”
There was a bit of the ‘aw shucks’ element to Riley’s voice and appearance. Though he was in his mid-forties, he still had a touch of baby fat around his cheeks and chin, and a lock of blonde hair that fell across his forehead in defiance of the hair gel he’d used to smooth out the rest of his locks. He was clean-shaven and pink-cheeked, and his suit was just a smidge too big for his frame. No doubt Joker Riley had convinced a lot of people that he was really just a harmless guy, but the dark gray eyes revealed a hard and calculating mind. I had a feeling that despite the setting, Joker Riley had little patience for tact or subtlety.
“We were hoping to catch a ride on it the next time it leaves for Willsport,” I replied.
Riley grinned wide enough to reveal a missing tooth near the back of his mouth, which only added to his country bumpkin persona. He shook his head, as if he’d just heard something unbelievable, then took a sip of his steaming coffee.
“Surely Viv explained that we’re not taking passengers,” Riley drawled after he had carefully placed his cup back on the table.
“She mentioned that,” Darwin noted. “But she also said you were a businessman and you would be willing to listen to any serious proposals.”
Riley considered that for a moment then sighed.
“She’s right about that,” Riley conceded. “But here’s the thing about trains. They can only pull so much weight at a time, and while we’re working to improve our engine’s performance, it still has limitations that we need to consider carefully before each trip.”
I glanced at Darwin and hoped he knew what the heck Riley was trying to say.
“So you’re working with one of the smaller engines,” Darwin sniffed.
Riley tested another grin, but it looked more strained this time. The two older men stared at each other for several heartbeats before the sound of a log falling in the fireplace jolted everyone.
“The problem, from my perspective,” Riley continued, “is that for every passenger I take on, I have to leave something else behind, like coal, or a cow. Maybe even one of my employees. So, if you’re going to convince me that I need to place you on that train, then you have to offer something really good.”
“We can help protect the train along the way,” I suggested.
“I have guards already,” Riley pointed out. “And they know what they’re doing.”
“We’ve made it here all the way from York,” I replied. “So I think you’d agree we know what we’re doing, too.”
“And I’ve worked security around a train before,” Darwin added.
“In the pre-magic era, I’m sure,” Riley said dismissively. “And while it’s impressive that you’ve made it this far, you still haven’t given me a reason to put you on that train. For all I know, you’re here because you got lucky, not because you’re any good. And no, before you ask, I don’t want to hear the story of everything you survived to get here.”
The country bumpkin identity had disappeared as Riley spoke. Gone was the slight slouch and the easy drawl as the man who sat across from us shifted into someone with a more dangerous air. But if he expected Darwin or I to be intimidated, he was sorely disappointed.
“We do have something your current guards don’t,” I declared as I eased my hand into my pocket.
Riley looked unimpressed as he sat back in his chair, still stiff and radiating impatience with the whole meeting.
“Go ahead, show me,” Riley sighed. “Let’s see what sort of magical trinket you have. I can promise you I’ve probably seen a dozen just like it before.”
I drew my hand from my pocket and held out the Colt revolver for Riley’s inspection. The man didn’t gasp, but his eyes went round and for a moment, he actually looked surprised. And then his business instincts kicked in, and I could see his mind start to work through the possibilities.
“Now this does change things,” Riley murmured as he gave us another grin though this one definitely looked more calculating.
“Thought it might,” I replied as I tucked the gun out of sight again.
I finally looked toward Darwin and saw the shocked expression on his face. Not that I could blame him. I had taken a huge risk producing the gun in this relatively public place, and we had no way of knowing how Riley would react. But I’d dealt with money men like Riley all my life, and I’d been willing to bet that he would see more profit in using the guns for his own purpose than in turning us in to the local mage. If the sparkle in Riley’s eyes were any indication, I’d say I’d just won that bet.
Chapter 4
“I’ve heard
rumors that there were still some available,” Riley murmured as he did a quick scan of the other members. Apparently satisfied that no one else had seen the gun, he leaned forward again and studied the two of us.
“Will you let us ride the train?” I persisted.
“Answer a few questions first,” Riley insisted. “I’m assuming that Mr. Darwin here is the source.”
Darwin and I glanced at each other, and then we both shrugged.
“Some of them,” Darwin admitted.
“Some?” Riley reiterated. “Even more interesting. How many are we talking about?”
“Enough to keep your train safe and enough people who know how to use them,” I noted.
Riley did a quick calculation in his head, then sat back in the chair. He gazed toward the fireplace for several moments, then nodded at whatever decision he had reached.
“How many people are we talking about?” Riley asked.
“Four people, two horses, and one dog,” I supplied.
Riley did another quick calculation then pulled a pen and a pad of paper from his jacket.
“And all four of you will be armed and know how to use those firearms?” Riley pressed. “Will you all be using the same weapons?”
“Some are for longer range,” I admitted. “Which could be very useful if the train needed defending from mutants or such.”
“You can use them even if the train is in motion?” the businessman continued.
“Absolutely,” I assured him though I wasn’t quite sure how well that would work.
Riley must have caught something in my voice, because he looked over at Darwin for confirmation. The ex-trooper gave a sharp nod and Riley paused to consider yet more possibilities.
“Why do you want to go to Willsport?” the businessman asked. “It’s not very large, at least, not as large as Scranton-Barre, and the money that’s there is all in cattle ranches and the coal mines.”
“Why is the train going there?” I replied with a shrug.
“For the cattle and coal,” Riley smirked. “But I don’t see either of you digging in the mines. And while you might be comfortable on a ranch, I don’t think that’s in your plans either.”
“We’re heading west,” the ex-trooper interjected.
“West?” Riley mused. “That has possibilities. Our long-term goal is to rebuild the coast to coast service that once spanned this continent.”
I know I gaped at him at that point. It was one thing to restart a small, local line without drawing the ire of the Magesterium, but to somehow imagine that the red robes would allow the construction of such a large rail line was unbelievable. Suicidally delusional, really.
“Services like yours would go a long way toward making that a reality,” Riley added when neither Darwin nor I responded. “You would be well paid and have your choice of places along the route to call home. There’s plenty of land, if you’re interested in that, and I’m sure we could arrange some investment opportunities in the company as well.”
“That’s… something to think about,” I muttered.
Riley looked at the ex-trooper, and I was surprised to see that Darwin appeared to be considering the offer.
“It is something to think about,” the businessman agreed a moment later as he started to write in the small notebook. “But before I make any firm offers of employment, I think it’s only fair to see if you can deliver on your claims. Take this note to my secretary, and she’ll provide you with the passes you’ll need to board the train. We’re scheduled to leave at ten in the morning, but you should be there at least an hour beforehand.”
Riley tore the page from his notebook, folded it twice, then handed it over to me. I slipped it into my pocket without reading it, though I was definitely going to check it out as soon as we stepped outside the doors of the Balmoral Club.
“Your secretary would be at the D.M. building?” Darwin asked.
“Indeed,” Riley agreed as he started to write another note. “Top floor, just follow the signs for Riley Capital. Now, you should use the back entrance. There were a few malingerers this morning by the main entrance but the police finally cleared the rest of the area.”
The businessman ripped the second note from his notebook and handed it to Darwin without folding it. The ex-trooper read it, then folded it and placed it into his pocket.
“I must admit,” Riley declared as he picked up his still steaming cup of coffee, “this was a much better meeting than I anticipated. I look forward to seeing you on the platform tomorrow morning.”
Clearly dismissed, Darwin and I nodded to the Scrantonite as we stood up and then walked back toward the door. None of the other members even looked at us as we passed, though the coffee man appeared near the door and opened it for us. We stepped onto the marble of the hallway and the door was closed behind us. Our guide didn’t reappear, so Darwin and I strode back toward the entry hall and then down the grand staircase before we saw another person.
Our guide waited by the massive front doors, and when we were halfway across the checked field, he slowly opened the door on the right. As with his partner upstairs, he still refused to speak even when we both tried to thank him. He waited until we were across the threshold, then closed the door behind us. The heavy wood thudded as it slipped into place, and both Darwin and I turned to study it once more.
“Ah, I knew that was familiar,” Darwin said with a nod as he studied the stone over the door. “No one provokes me with impunity. It’s the motto for the Royal Scots and is part of the Scottish royal arms. It also appears on the sigil for Balmoral Castle.”
“Balmoral Castle?” I asked.
“One of the royal residences of the kings and queens of England,” Darwin mused. “Or it was. Doubt if that’s still true.”
“So what did your note say?” I asked as we started toward the steps to the street.
“Just that the guard should let us into the D.M. building to consult with a Tessa Darling,” the ex-trooper replied. “What about yours?”
I pulled the note from my pocket as we stepped onto the sidewalk and unfolded it. I was relieved to see that it didn’t contain any instructions for our arrest or that Tessa Darling should keep us busy while our rooms at the inn were raided.
“It says that we should be provided passes for four people, two horses, and one dog on tomorrow’s train and that any appropriate and necessary actions should be taken to ensure that’s possible. He’s got a couple of notes here on how that might be done.”
“I guess that was a good idea, pulling the revolver out like that, though I wished you would have warned me ahead of time,” Darwin sighed as we scanned the street for another carriage.
“I didn’t plan on showing it to him,” I assured him. “In fact, I wasn’t sure if I should even carry it, but after yesterday, it seemed like a good idea. And then, when we were sitting there with him, it seemed like the only way we could convince him to let us on board. I was pretty certain he would be more interested in the guns and how he could use them instead of worrying about the Magesterium.”
“That may be true,” the ex-trooper replied as a carriage pulled up to the curb, “but that’s a dangerous position to take in this world. I’ve seen what those red robed bastards can do when they decide to go to war.”
“Well, it got us on the train,” I asserted as we climbed inside.
Darwin told the driver our destination and the carriage pulled away from the curb with a snap of the reins. Neither of us said anything during the ride to the D.M. building, though whenever I glanced at Darwin, I could tell he was considering something. It was a long fifteen minutes, but the carriage finally came to a stop and I peered out the window at the now familiar park.
“They still have the front side blocked off,” the driver informed me as I opened the door. “This is the best I can do.”
“It’s fine,” I replied as I stepped onto the sidewalk and pulled out some coins to hand to the driver. “We were told to go to the back door anyway.�
�
The driver tipped his hat to us, then pulled back into traffic. Darwin and I both studied the park and buildings on the other side of the street, but it looked like Riley was correct. I could see the portable barricades in place around the front of the building, and a much smaller group of protesters walking in a circle. The locals were still missing from the park, but I didn’t see any protesters hanging around the back door, either.
“I think we’re in the clear,” I declared as we darted across the street. “Let’s get our passes and get out before they turn up.”
“That’s a plan I can agree with,” Darwin huffed as we climbed over the snow that had been cleared from the sidewalk and left in a mound along the street.
“So what did you think of Riley’s offer?” I asked as nonchalantly as I could manage as I skidded on a patch of ice just on the other side of the snow.
“Which offer would that be?” Darwin said just as nonchalantly as he stepped carefully onto the concrete.
“The job offer,” I replied. “You know, ride the rails, shoot the bad guys, protect the passengers from the big, bad world.”
The ex-trooper waited until we both had our footing and were walking carefully across a partially cleared path toward the back entrance before he responded.
“It’s a good offer,” Darwin mused. “For me, anyway. But I’m not the one with the Magesterium on my tail.”
“You’re thinking about it,” I said in surprise, though I shouldn’t have been, not after the speculative look he’d had on his face at the Balmoral Club.
“Maybe,” Darwin admitted. “I’m an old man, Hex, in a world I don’t really belong in anymore. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t know that I can make the trip all the way to the west coast.”