The Gadgeteer Box Set

by Gin Hollan

  "You have this memorized?"

  "I use it a lot," she explained. "And there's a diagram in one of the other drawers in the kitchen, if you need one later."

  "That seems like a given," Sam said.

  "Here's the part you won't like…." Clara smirked. "To get it started, you have to bleed into this diode. Two drops, so don't go stabbing yourself to do this. It just has to get down to the base to complete the ignition connection."

  "Whoa, that's pretty specific," Melanie said.

  "It's the silver, right?" Arabeth asked.

  Clara nodded. "Climb in, Graham. It's ready. Sit in the middle, since you're travelling alone."

  Graham didn't look at the others as he climbed in, a determined expression on his face as he strapped himself into the seat. A moment later the door shut on its own and he raced away, into the tunnel.

  "Okay, now to get you the diagram and send you on your way."

  "What about Davin?" Arabeth asked.

  "Her transport is a little trickier," Clara said. "She'll travel a bit slower, so I'll have to send you all first, then her. Wait when you get there."

  "Yes," Arabeth said as she did up the safety strap.

  "Okay, close your door. I'll see you another day, cousin." Clara did a mock salute and led Davin to the end of the shuttle cars.

  The tinted window made it difficult to see, but a shape that could only be Clara walked to the front of the train.

  This was the same thing Arabeth’s god-grandfather had done on her first voyage. There must be a control panel up there, she realized.

  A moment passed, and nothing happened. As that moment stretched, Arabeth unbuckled her seat belt and went to see what the problem was.

  Clara was muttering and occasionally cursing. Arabeth walked to the front of the train.

  "What's the matter?" she asked.

  "I can't select Kethwent. It's been blocked or removed from the system, somehow."

  "How far is Sharadaon from there? I rode this train system from Blastborn to Sharadaon less than three weeks ago."

  Clara's head snapped around to look at her. “Sharadaon? What possessed you to go there?"

  "It was a mercy mission. Someone had been kidnapped and I brought them home. I can't help wondering if there's a connection."

  "I hate to be the one to point out the obvious, but these two incidents might be related. Nothing goes on for decades, and then in the space of a few weeks this happens. I'm a little disappointed in you. Let's get you close to Sharadaon. That'll put you on native soil, at least."

  "No, the others need to go home first. I am accustomed to relative danger. Other than Sam, everyone else would be a liability."

  "Including Kennan?"

  "I don't understand his motives. Trust is going to be difficult for me."

  "Well, none of you can stay here. Strap in. I'll try to get you close."

  "You can't fix it?"

  Clara shook her head.

  "It's supposed to be hardwired into every train. I don't know how they altered it. Or whom. I'm hesitant to trust it at all, truth be told."

  "Wait. Whoever changed this will expect you to send us there. Send us somewhere less likely, but still reasonable. Even if it takes us a week to walk home, it's better than riding into a trap."

  "True. Good thinking. Get in," Clara said.

  "Where will you send us?" Melanie asked.

  "I won't know until I get a better look at the options. Get in. I have to go work on my alibi. You figure out the connection between the kidnapping and the automaton incursion."

  That was the question, Arabeth knew. How were the kidnapping and the attacks related? They needed more information.

  * * *

  "Where are we?" Arabeth asked. "Can anyone see a sign?"

  The others simply shook their heads. They'd stopped walking to let Davin graze and Marble hunt and no one felt like talking. The long ride to the middle of nowhere had certainly provided time for reflection. Isolated in those small train pods with nothing but a sheet of tempered glass between them and the occasional burrowing rodent and rushing wind simply amplified their current confusion or clarity.

  She'd trusted Clara when she said Zebakiah would send them into serious trouble, but wasn't she sending them to somewhere civilized? It was supposed to be another city, or at least a town. This place wasn't even on the map as far as she could tell. Flat land. There was nothing as far as the eye could see. Even her mountains were out of sight.

  Maybe she was looking at this wrong. She opened the map and looked for Kethwent.

  "Melanie, you say you can hear conversations that are way outside your physical range. Can you try that, varying the distance?" she asked.

  "I can try. You want me to start close and move out? I'm not sure I can tell direction."

  "I know this is all new to you. If it doesn't work out, that's fine. Just imagine what you want to have happen," Arabeth suggested.

  "I have to try. I know, I know." Melanie sighed and stood very still, closing her eyes. As Melanie turned slowly in place, Arabeth imagined her as a radar dish seeking a signal.

  Facing the same way as Melanie, Arabeth noticed a glint on the horizon. It shone for a few minutes then passed.

  "What was that?" she muttered, stepping forward.

  "Do you see something?" Sam asked.

  Arabeth pointed. "I'm not sure. There was a light or something for a moment."

  Melanie opened her eyes, frowning. "I think I may have done that."

  "What? How?" Arabeth asked.

  "There were voices coming from there, but they shut a window."

  "Does that even make sense?" Sam asked.

  "No, of course not, but that's what happened."

  "Then that's the way we go. We're just looking for civilization at this point," Arabeth reminded them.

  Nodding, Sam lifted his pack. "Let's get to it, then."

  "This heat is insane. How did they get used to it?" Melanie said, picking hers up as well. "I'm assuming they are accustomed, since they live here."

  "Frog in a frying pan—turn the heat up slowly and they don't notice it," Sam said.

  "Mel, what were they saying before they shut the window?" Arabeth wondered, picking up Marble and putting her on Davin's back as they started walking.

  "It was really hard to understand. It was still our language, but with a really strong accent and a lot of strange words thrown in."

  "Try," Sam said.

  "I am trying," she snapped back.

  "Is it easier when you stand still?" Arabeth asked.

  "Easier when I don't have to look where I'm going."

  "Hmm, I wonder if Davin is broke to ride," Arabeth said. "There’s an easy way to find out. Hold my pack, Sam."

  "You're going to climb on a strange horse?" Melanie sputtered.

  "We're not unknown to her, and she's short. If she bucks me off, at least it's flat and relatively rockless."

  Arabeth set Marble on the ground with a quick pet, then took Davin's lead rope and tied the end to the halter, making reins. Flipping the rein over the mare's head, she stood near her withers and pulled the line to turn Davin's head to her. The mare responded immediately, understanding what to do. Arabeth pulled the far side, and was pleased that Davin again understood without hesitating. Next, she pressed her fingers into the mare's side, where her legs would be, checking if Davin would give to the pressure, or follow the instinct to push into pressure. Davin stepped away.

  "What are you doing?" Melanie asked, frowning.

  "Improving my odds," Arabeth said. "Even a trained horse needs to know you understand the cues from the ground, too." She lifted both reins together and slowly pulled them back towards Davin's tail, as though she were sitting. Davin took a step back. "She's trained for riding—rudimentary riding, at least. I won't know more until I'm up there."

  "You're going to do that later, right?" Sam said.

  "Well, yes...." She took up the slack in both reins, and adjusted them so t
he near rein held Davin's head turned toward her slightly but not enough to put the horse off-balance when Arabeth got on. She hopped a couple times, watching Davin's expression. No change. She took a bit of mane in her left hand along with the reins and jumped up, hanging across. Davin's ears twitched, but again, she stayed calm.

  Arabeth swung a leg over and sat up slowly. "Walking is all we need," she said to Davin, rubbing the side of her neck. She squeezed her legs lightly and again Davin knew what she meant by it. Atop the horse walking slowly ahead, Arabeth grinned. She felt good, being back on a horse.

  "Hey, wait up," Melanie called as she and Sam walked faster to keep up.

  Arabeth lifted the reins and leaned back slightly, cuing Davin to stop.

  "You're glowing." Melanie laughed.

  "Instant happy—just add horse." Sam laughed too.

  "All right, Mel, hop up." She pulled the lead rope over Davin's head and stepped back.

  "Hop where now?"

  "Think of her as the exception to the 'all ponies are mean' rule. Davin's a sweetheart," Arabeth said.

  Sam folded his hands together and stood palms-up at Davin's side. "Put your foot here. I'll lift you."

  Melanie waved him off. "I'm not that short." She hopped a few times and jumped up, laying across Davin's back before she slid her leg around and sat up.

  "Try to 'hear' things while we walk," Arabeth said.

  Melanie took hold at the base of Davin's mane, belying her nerves. "I'll try."

  Within half an hour they'd gotten close enough to tell that their destination was a small town. "Kethwent," Sam said, pointing out a sign.

  Fruit trees started to dot the landscape. There was a small lake.

  A group of three people walked towards them and as they drew near, they went directly to Melanie.

  "Are you well? Why are you on the back of a beast instead of using a convenience?" they asked Melanie, completely ignoring Sam and Arabeth.

  "I'm fine, just a little sore."

  "We were concerned. Gregor said your speech was stilted," a tall, thin blond man said.

  "It's hard to concentrate up here. I'm not keen on horses."

  With a smile, Arabeth stepped up to introduce them.

  "Is there a place we can rest, and get food and water for the horse?" she asked.

  "Yes, of course there is," said an older woman dismissively. "Let's get you to the castle. A room is being made ready, and it's not safe out here."

  Arabeth looked behind them, wondering what could be a hazard in the wide open, dry-dirt flats aside from tripping and knocking yourself out, then wondered if the hazards were in the fruit trees they would soon be surrounded by.

  "A place is being readied for your people as well, of course."

  Arabeth frowned then nearly laughed. Melanie, being on horseback and still dressed in her city clothes, was a good deal more regal than either Sam or Arabeth, who dressed for convict chases and, in this case, spelunking and wilderness. Her rough manner was tempered by a perpetual headache.

  "Thank you." She smiled lightly. "And the horse, I presume."

  "Of course, madam."

  Soon, five others joined them. These men were armed and wary, looking outward, away from the group as they walked in a circle around them. Sam shrugged lightly when Arabeth caught his eye.

  // Chapter 24 //

  INSIDE THE well-appointed mansion, Arabeth was allowed to stay with Melanie, but Sam was sent to the servants’ quarters and to put Davin in her stall. They were led to the top floor, down a long hallway. The apricot-coloured walls seemed odd to Arabeth. If they hadn't been offset by white doors on both sides of the hall, it would have been too much.

  Halfway down the hall, their guide turned and rapped lightly on a pair of glass French doors. They were met with a gruff male voice yelling, "Just get in here."

  "You'll have to excuse him. He's been sleep-deprived ever since our other Seer passed away. I'm sure he's actually quite happy that you're here."

  The guide pulled the doors open and stood back to let them enter. The first thing that struck Arabeth was the enormous number of windows. They weren't tall, but they did line both exterior walls. Except for a black glass tube about four feet wide that went from floor to ceiling, a large wooden desk and chair off in a windowless corner, and an oriental screen blocking what looked to be a sleeping area, the room was empty of all adornments.

  "Not your fault, I'm sure, but it's about time someone was sent. I can't be living like this, no matter who he is." The man's voice seemed to be coming from the tube in the centre.

  There was a click and the man walked around toward them. Slim, with jaundiced skin hanging off his bones, his eyes seemed to glow golden as he limped forward. As he neared, a smell came off him like old cabbage. Arabeth suppressed a shudder and immediately her heart went out to him. Marble whimpered and went to sit by the door.

  He was about their age, she realized. There was no disease she knew of that did this to a person, so it had to be the job.

  "Melanie, I don't think this is the job for you after all," she whispered.

  "Let's get you trained up fast. How long have you been a Seer?" he asked.

  Melanie shook her head. "A Seer?”

  He frowned. "You're not that new, are you? They sent someone with no training at all?" He seemed to gather energy from the air around him, looking suddenly powerful, and angry.

  "Wait," Arabeth said. "No one sent us. We were looking for a way to get back to our homeland and got lost. Melanie saw something this direction, so we came this way."

  He put his hands up to his face, looking worried now. He walked over and grabbed Melanie's arms. "Look, I'd nearly kill for a good, week-long coma. Can you try, just for a day? I'll show you what to do. It's easy, but I need sleep and the king wants hourly reports, even if they say nothing. The grimshaw is only as good as its user, but I'm sure you'll be a quick study. The crystals are fussy about who they pick these days."

  Arabeth watched as they made eye contact and she was sure they were communicating silently. Slowly Melanie nodded.

  "Why hasn't a replacement been sent?" Arabeth asked, breaking the silence.

  "We're not growing on trees, you know," he snapped as he walked back to the tube.

  Melanie turned and put a hand on Arabeth's arm. "He can teach me. He knows what I am and wants to help."

  Arabeth didn't have the heart to dissuade her, for both their sakes. She just nodded. "I'll go see what Sam's doing."

  "Thank you." Melanie smiled, looking excited as she hurried after her new teacher.

  Arabeth waited, not sure she should go. There was a cool feel to the air in the room now. Sebastian had been no threat, but this guy ... he needed Melanie. He'd do everything in his power to see she stayed. His life seemed to depend on it. A few moments later Melanie laughed. That was a good sign.

  Hovering on the edges of Arabeth's mind, she was lost. She couldn't just wander around a mansion for a week while Gregor caught up on his sleep, but she didn't want to abandon her friend here, no matter how well she adapted. Was this more about her, or was it about Melanie? Why am I worried? she wondered. They'd only just arrived. She forced herself to give a light laugh and do a couple shoulder rolls. It was far too soon for that level of paranoia.

  Arabeth went straight back the way they’d come, eager to hear Sam's impression of the people and place.

  "Where do you need to go?" asked one of the women who had met them on the road.

  Arabeth squinted. Why couldn't people just wear nametags, like in hotels? "I'm sorry, what's your name?"

  The woman blushed. "I'm Bernice. And you are?"

  "Arabeth." She stuck to her first name. Giving her second might make her known, if Clara's short recounting of family history was any indicator.

  "Arabeth, can I help you get settled in?"

  Her gut flipped a bit at that. Settle in? No. "Thank you. I would appreciate that. And a small tour, if you have time."

  "Of course. We
want your group comfortable here." Bernice smiled.

  Something about her smile struck Arabeth as dishonest; there was no reflection of it in her eyes, she realized. "You mustn't get a lot of visitors here," she prompted.

  "Only the ones sent by the king."

  "What is so dangerous out on the road that we needed an escort and five guards?"

  "There is nothing. We are surrounded by acres and acres of nothing. It gives Hector's life here meaning, and keeps the king happy. If we hadn't started planting the fruit trees, this would be a large, empty nothing." Bernice heaved a sigh. "I am starved for art. Why did I agree to come here?" The last part was more to herself, Arabeth knew, but she smiled.

  "I realize you came under the service of the new Seer, but while she's here, you will serve this entire household," Bernice said.

  "What makes you think either of us are her servants?" Arabeth asked.

  "Gregor said that.... Well, I'm not sure what he said, now. But she was the one on the horse, while you walked. That seems pretty subservient to me."

  "In fact, Davin is my horse. I traded for her a few days ago when we first arrived in your country. We are all friends, travelling together. None of us is a servant of the other."

  "I'll have to verify this with her, you understand." Bernice sounded skeptical but her expression gave nothing away. "Either way, you will need to work for your keep. We are not a hotel. You are either gainfully employed by the king, or leave. Do you understand?"

  "I don't mind earning my keep, but we won't be leaving without our friend. If you want her here, we're a package deal. I'm sure you understand."

  The two of them stopped walking and turned to face each other. Arabeth was not backing down and she wasn't going to be made a slave of anyone.

  "We will sort this all out when the king arrives tomorrow," Bernice said.

  "Perfect. I've never met your king. He'll be great addition to my travel journal." She pulled her notebook and a pencil out of her satchel. "What's he like?"

  "We do not speak of our king except to relay his instructions."

  Arabeth paused, trying to work out how she should handle this woman's apparent disbelief.