The Gadgeteer Box Set

by Gin Hollan

  The other door opened and Melanie and Graham hurried into the crowd and away toward the stairwell at the end of the hall.

  "We're going to have to go the other way. The guards are focused this way."

  They hurried back to the other side. Arabeth eased the door open enough to squeeze through. Sam followed and wrapped his arm protectively around her shoulders as they rushed down the hall.

  // Chapter 22 //

  AT THE BASE of the stairs, the chaos continued as people streamed out into the corridors. Someone grabbed Arabeth's jacket and she looked. Kennen.

  "Where are they?" she asked.

  "This way." He kept hold of her sleeve but she refused to let go of Marble. Holding Sam's hand with her one free hand, they wove through the crowd.

  Emergency crews arrived, asking where to go, and hotel staff were talking with the people evacuating. It wouldn't take long to find out there was no fire.

  They ran down the hall, slowing as the crowds thinned. To anyone watching it might look odd that they’d left the emergency area instead of going to see what was happening, but the way they were dressed and packed, it was clear they wanted out of the city. They weren't alone, but they seemed to be the only ones ready for it.

  "Hurry. I don't want to get locked up again," Kennen said.

  "A fake fire alarm would get you locked up?" Sam asked.

  Kennen shook his head but said nothing.

  "You started a real fire?!" Melanie stopped walking.

  "Relax. Two pieces of paper in a metal bin. It's still a miracle I didn't get caught." He waved her to keep walking. "So let's not get stupid now."

  "Stupid? Are you saying—?”

  "Melanie, later." Arabeth turned and gave her a look.

  With a glare, Melanie punched Kennen on the arm as she passed him.

  "Wait, what about Davin?" Arabeth asked.

  "Oh right—Clara took her from the stable when the alarm went off," Kennen said. "Here. The crystals." He held out a large bag with a single sling-strap. "She said she's keeping the wagon as her fee for helping you with this."

  "Fair enough," Arabeth said, not caring about the wagon. The canopy was beautiful. It would have made a beautiful addition to her house, as a tapestry.

  Kennen ducked down a narrow hall, into shadows and lanterns. Turns came more often and the air felt damp as the roof became lower and rougher, as though carved from the ground itself.

  Arabeth kept a tight grip on Marble, fearing that the fox would be stepped on if she were allowed to walk with them.

  "What were you doing way back here, Mel?" Arabeth asked.

  "I wasn't back here—what are we doing here?" Melanie replied.

  "Avoiding the other cameras," Kennen whispered. "Trust me, I know these passages."

  The corridor started to improve again, walls smoothing back to the flat sheen of the main area. Kennen stopped and stood next to the wall, waving everyone to do the same before peering around the corner. He visibly relaxed and leaned out.

  "We're here," he said, waving to Clara. "Over here."

  "Not a minute too soon. Someone take this," she said as she walked to the group, holding out the lead rope for Davin.

  Sam took the line. "Where now?"

  Melanie bumped Arabeth with her elbow to get her attention. "That room in your house, with the shielding.... I would give anything to be there right now."

  "What's wrong?" Arabeth asked, matching her low volume.

  "There are so many voices right now."

  "Hang on," Arabeth said, putting her backpack down and rummaging through her satchel with her free hand. "I had something that would help. Where did I put it?"

  "We don't have time, ladies," Clara snapped.

  Melanie nodded at Arabeth. She grabbed her backpack again and jogged to catch up.

  The hall turned sharply to the right and returned to being short and narrow, and soon became little more than a carved-out tunnel.

  Clara pulled out two long, dark metal bands and held them out toward Sam.

  "If you don't mind, you each need to wrap one around a wrist," she said. "Our blood protects us, but Graham and Kennen have no such defense."

  "I…. Is that true?" Kennen asked.

  He was rewarded with an eye roll and a sigh from Clara.

  Arabeth stared at Clara a moment, trying to decide if it was a lie. She’d taken two untested people home via the shuttles a month earlier, and they seemed fine. Then again, they were from Blastborn. Maybe the one who sent her to escort them had tested them first.

  As they put the wristbands on, Clara retrieved a long, flat metal bar two inches wide, similar to the one she'd used to unlock the room where Melanie had been detained, only older, thicker. Rougher.

  Inserting it into an unassuming groove in the wall caused a series of heavy metal thunks. As Clara withdrew the bar, a small section of the tunnel wall opened. As they walked in, lights turned on and a short, wide area opened up in front of them, with a polished marble floor in light and dark checkerboard squares.

  "It’s an actual checkerboard," Arabeth chuckled. It had been too dim in the other places she’d been to catch the subtle sheen shift that made the tiles look like this.

  Clara gave her a half-smile.

  "What is this place?" Melanie asked.

  "Walk in the rest of the way, if you don't mind," Clara said, returning to the entrance. When Davin was all the way in as well, she pulled a lever and the door swung shut, settling into place with a solid thud.

  A railway track ran along the far side. There was no train waiting this time.

  To the left was a lounge area, with soft chairs and a few small tables, and a kitchen area. As the lights went up, a spectrum of colours shone out in a soft glow all around the room.

  That part was different from the other two train stations Arabeth had been at. This one seemed designed to be an actual stopover, so people wouldn’t have to venture into Owen if they didn’t want to. Clara walked slowly toward the kitchen.

  "Inspired by the underground rail systems that ended slavery and started full-scale non-organic contraband exchanges, one of the kings started intercepting shipments and, at a Continental Leadership summit, said he believed they should be made into public transport systems to bring to good use something that was otherwise only evil," Clara said as she walked over to a panel on the wall. When she flipped the cover open, it revealed a series of buttons. She pressed four of them and shut the panel again.

  "The other countries were shamed into agreeing, but some others in positions of power saw this turn toward the common good as an opportunity to line their pockets," she continued. "The rails never made it into public use, mostly because it was underground, had no boundaries marked, and no one knew which countrymen were financially responsible for which part of the process. Although it was most likely their slaves that did the work, who paid for them to be built and maintained was in great dispute and war broke out over which country owned the lines.”

  Clara paused. “You've been told a lot of things, but this is how the war really started, and why it must remain our family's dying secret." She turned to look at the three men, as though Arabeth and Melanie's compliance went without asking. "Am I understood, gentlemen?"

  "Sure," Sam said, hesitant but nodding. The other two agreed.

  "It wasn't about the crystals?" Melanie asked, staring at the ones growing out of the walls.

  "They didn't help the situation, but seriously, have you noticed anything significant since your exposure? You're not spitting fireballs or breaking sonic barriers, are you?"

  Melanie laughed. "No, but I think I am going a little crazy."

  Clara walked over and patted Melanie on the arm. "See? Who goes to war over that?"

  "Why didn't they track the expenses of running the rails and split the cost?" Arabeth wondered.

  "You really are sheltered back there." Clara laughed. "What the crystals do and don't do has been thoroughly debated, but the one thing everyone can agre
e on is their use in communication relays." She looked directly at Melanie. "It's quiet here, isn't it?"

  Melanie look startled then laughed. "How did you know?"

  "You've got the look. There is a tint to your skin that your friends would probably say wasn't there before the crystal field."

  Melanie bristled, crossing her arms and looking away.

  "Relax. We can talk without fear of someone listening in on our conversation here. The crystals block as well as transmit, based on their pattern," Clara said. "Go ahead—ask them."

  Melanie looked at Arabeth. She nodded then shrugged.

  "It felt rude to say anything," Arabeth said, feeling a little defensive. "I thought it might pass."

  "But when we get home, people will notice. I have enough trouble fitting in already."

  Arabeth's gut knotted. She wasn't ready to go home. "Clara, someone blasted through the mountain and was sending automatons through that were causing people to attack each other. I need to find out who's behind it."

  "And why. Knowing why and how to stop them would be good," Graham added, to Arabeth's surprise. It seemed he hadn't cared about being involved in that particular mystery.

  "Kennen, stop picking at the edge of your band," Clara said. "Having most of our extended family behind that mountain has been a necessary evil, and the purpose of it will be clear all too soon. I suppose that means I should give you the lay of the political landscape out here."

  "First I'd like to see proof of kinship. Have you done that yet?" Sam said.

  "Wait, that's right," Melanie said. "What if this is nothing more than a clever way to shuttle us off to an unsavoury end?"

  "She has good reason to suspect anyone she doesn't know, and a few she does," Arabeth paused.

  "All right." Clara sighed again and Arabeth imagined an extensive eye roll accompanied it. The woman went over to a shallow drawer and pulled out something that reminded Arabeth of a tube light. Then she pulled a pin from her hat. "In the name of expediency." Clara pricked the skin on her palm. Blood slowly surfaced. The light was invisible; her blood showed as normal until the tube light highlighted something that shone back silver. "It's a small world behind that mountain. We should test you gentlemen as well, just to be sure."

  She waited as they each found something to draw blood. Only Sam had the silver inter-mingling.

  "Does this mean you're all related?" Graham asked.

  Clara chuckled. "No, it means we all have progenitors with the same susceptibility to the crystals. Our ancestors were part of a scientific trial."

  "You were going to tell us about the different political influencers and power divisions over here. Do you have a map we can work through?" Arabeth asked. "And who would you think our most likely suspect would be?"

  "This is where I tune out. Do you have any food in here?" Graham asked.

  "Apples, in the cupboard over there." She pointed. "There may be other food. Help yourself."

  "Mmm, I'm hungry, too," Melanie said, walking over.

  "Tell me what we need to know," Arabeth said to Clara, sitting at one of the tables.

  "First, coffee," Clara said. "Or tea?"

  "Tea would be great. I don't like over-using painkillers and that’s what coffee is.... Also, it puts me to sleep."

  Clara gave her an odd look.

  "It's related to being an overly active child," she said, wishing they could get back on topic. "I suspect something in it overwhelms my system and I shut down."

  "Is there a map?" Sam asked this time. "One we can take with us."

  "Oh, right. A map." Clara went to a drawer filled with neatly stacked and folded maps and pulled a few out, each labelled for a different region.

  She laid one out flat on the table between the three of them and handed two others to Arabeth. "Put those in your satchel. They're city maps."

  "Oops, and coffee." Clara stood back up again and went to the counter. Pushing a button, a whirring sound preceded the opening of a circle in the counter and a coffee maker rising up out of it. The reservoir sat on the left side and was already filling with water as a clockwork mechanism on the other side scooped grounds into a bowl on the top. The cap shut down over the bowl, making a sealing sound. Soon water was rushing through a narrow hose as if pressurized, into the top where the grounds waited. In less than two minutes Clara and the others had their coffee.

  It seemed like a waste of technology, but the others looked impressed.

  "Where can I get some tea?" Arabeth asked.

  "Ah, right here." She pressed another button. A similar setup rose up out of the counter, but this one was simpler, with a bag of tea dropped into a mug, spoon to one side and a kettle already steaming. Arabeth poured the water, using the spoon to stir. Once the weight of the mug was gone, the kettle sank back under the countertop and a cover slid out to hide it again. "All the conveniences of home," she said softly, stirring the tea bag.

  "Milk is in the refrigerator." Clara pointed to a small white appliance sitting on the far end of the counter.

  With their drinks in hand, they returned to the map, ready to learn what they could. Arabeth pulled her notepad and a pencil out of her bag.

  As forgetful as Clara seemed to be, she had the region’s politics down pat, giving a nuanced overview of regional struggles, power-players, and potential motives for wanting to get to the Blastborn side of the mountain.

  Two political groups said it wasn't smart to lock the exiles away by themselves, where they could plot and scheme revenge, and should have been wiped out. Others agreed, but thought there should be oversight. Only one group thought they should be left alone; that they’d be suffering enough by being separated from the rest of civilization, and living in the fabricated fear of plague and war. And then there were several with hidden agendas, many claiming to give Blastborn no second thought. No one trusted those opinions, Clara was sure.

  The people of their own country held all of these views as well, but stronger, and it caused rallies and protests here and there.

  "The man claiming responsibility for the automaton said it was sent as an experiment on us, using us as nothing more than guinea pigs," Arabeth said.

  "Hmm, that would imply he was part of a group from Talran, Radburn, or Kethwent," Clara said. "They are keenly interested in mental sciences and don't think of Blastborn citizens as human. You can find them here, here, and here." She used a pencil to circle the areas.

  "How is it you have the same blood as us, but you're here?" Sam asked.

  "That's a long story. Suffice it to say that I take great care to not bleed in front of other people, and I have people here who are loyal."

  "Frog in a frying pan, right," Melanie said. "You're accustomed to the risk. Trust is easily broken; I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing anyone who knows can turn with the right motivation."

  "Thank you for your concern," Clara said, dismissing the thought. "Now, back to the plan. The three groups, in order of likelihood." She wrote their names along the side of the map. "Start with the Bartons of Kethwent." She circled a large spot. "I can get you to the next city over."

  "Send Graham and Melanie home first."

  Silence hung in the air a moment.

  "That's great," Graham said. "That's exactly perfect. I have a couple experiments in progress that I may be able to salvage."

  "Not me. I'm not going back." Melanie crossed her arms and sat. "Now that we have a direction, I want to see this through."

  Graham glared at her as though betrayed but said nothing.

  "I can unhook one of the cars and send you on your own. It's all right," Clara said with a smirk. "One of you should go back to let friends and family know you're safe, anyway."

  "There's no conductor?" Sam asked.

  Clara smiled. "These are run by switches and paths. Once it's set and the train is in motion, it won't stop unless there's a track interruption somewhere along the route."

  Just then a train with four cars raced in and came to a whistling stop.
Steam poured out from both sides and when it halted, a door to each car opened to reveal two rows of double seats.

  "Do you know what you're going to do once you find them?" Clara asked.

  Arabeth paused. 'Stop them' was a weak plan, but it was all she had right now.

  "I think our objective should be to gather evidence and take it to our government. We don't want to start an actual war, but we need them to take some form of action," Sam said.

  "Always the cop," Melanie said. "I hope you have a plan B."

  "Spies," Arabeth said softly. "My family sees me as unsuited to work as a spy. If I trust them, I need a more 'me' way to do this."

  The others stopped and stared at her.

  "What would that be?" Melanie asked. "You can't mean...."

  "Prove they are vulnerable too, and use that to motivate a cease-fire," Arabeth said. "What is the point of my gadgeteering and work as a bail enforcement specialist if I can't stop the occasional high-level criminal as well as the low-lives?"

  "That's like a process server saying they’re going to negotiate an international treaty based on marshmallow revenue shortfalls," Clara said. "You need a real plan."

  "We're miles ahead of where we were, but we still lack the information needed to formulate a solid plan," Arabeth said, sighing.

  // Chapter 23 //

  "HAVE ANY OF you ridden in these before?"

  "I have," Arabeth said. "It had unmatched speed and a smooth ride, but I was nauseous the entire time."

  "But wait, why is Kennen coming with us?" Melanie asked.

  "He's as good as dead after his fire alarm stunt," Sam reminded her.

  Arabeth smiled wryly at Kennen. "It's a good thing you are predisposed to adventure."

  He simply nodded.

  "Graham first," Clara said as she went to unhitch the first car.

  It only took a moment to uncouple the car and slide it forward.

  "In you go." Clara waved him in. "Do up the safety strap."

  She walked to the front of the car and unlocked a panel. Curious, Arabeth walked over to watch. The panel was a maze of flexible copper lines and valves, with an alphabetical labelling system.