by Gin Hollan
“Alas, I'm not sure I can break away right now…." He looked at a desk with scattered graph paper covering half, and metal bits on the other. “My current work is... critical.”
"It's just for a half day. He needs your expertise in light and luminosity to solve his current dilemma. As well as the calibrator," she said, making a face.
"Technically, it's a spanner, but that makes your point I suppose." He glanced at Melanie. "You may as well come in. We see you there."
Melanie inched forward but stopped.
The four stood in a tight circle, talking low.
“We need to leave – all of us,” Graham said. “This place is going to fall apart slowly enough for the intelligent to get out in time, but irreversibly. I will explain later, and no, you can’t change my mind.”
"What do you mean?" Melanie asked, eyes wide.
A set of strong, steady footsteps thudded across the dirt floor getting dramatically louder as they wove past the sound buffering panels.
"Another unscheduled visitor," Graham grumbled as he stood tall and turned to face the entrance. Sam pulled Arabeth behind him and did the same.
"Well, how are my favourite Makers doing tonight? Any new widgets, doomahickeys, or thingamabobs today?" An unreasonably tall, thin, well-tanned man in a four piece suit stepped into the light. Immediately behind him were three others, also in suits, though much less expensive, and much less tall and tan.
This would be Tanner Stein, she realized, and he wasn't tanned. That was his natural skin tone. His diction was flawless. His posture stood him taller than he actually was. Arabeth caught herself standing up taller, well-centred over her heels, as she'd been taught. She could match him in education, manners, and bearing, but she doubted that would be useful right now.
She peered around Sam to see Graham and Melanie, both of whom had changed their posture to be somewhat on guard.
"I said, what is new here? Surely the new girl has something to offer. A mannered guest knows to bring something on the first visit." He seemed to stare right through Sam to her.
Suddenly Graham reached over, took her hand and pulled her out of from behind Sam.
"I'm sorry, Sir. This is my fiancé. She snuck in. It won't happen again."
Sam said nothing, matching the posture and bearing of the other man.
Arabeth pulled her hand free, rubbing her arm. This shuttling around was embarrassing. What was he thinking?
"This is why we don't hire the married ones," he growled. "Why didn't you tell me you were engaged?"
"It happened all of a sudden, at a dinner last week," he said, blushing. "Her father hasn't given his blessing yet."
"So, it's not confirmed. Good. Miss Barnes, I hope you'll consider rebuffing his advances and staying on here, after your colleagues have briefed you. I need every gadgeteer I can get, and to have the two preeminent practitioners of the area under the same roof, metaphorically, is ideal. Working, not playing, Mister Halister. We can talk about the matter of your romantic entanglement later."
"I understand, Sir."
Melanie looked surprised, but no more than the rest of the people gathered.
"Miss Barnes, right now we need to talk about the manner of your work engagement. Follow me," Tanner Stein said.
He turned to talk to the people he’d arrived with and fired off his commands concisely and clearly. His military bearing was undeniable as he pivoted back to her on his heel. Not willing to admit she was intimidated in the least, Arabeth smirked and stepped forward to give a slight bow. Nothing subservient, just polite. Graham’s revelation would no doubt bear out, but she was curious. There was no doubt he was an enemy, but there was no cause for enmity at this phase of their acquaintance. Besides, she still had one of her listening devices stashed away.
"Engaged?" Melanie mouthed the question as Arabeth walked over.
"And you're fired, Miss Trelane. We are a serious company, working on serious projects. I don't have time for games, whether she’s your best friend or not."
"Wait, Sir. What?" she sputtered.
Graham nodded, looking amused, but Arabeth wasn't sure what to think.
"Amund, take Miss Trelane and Mr Hicks to the exit. Miss Trelane,” he held a hand out. “Your coin, please."
// Chapter 32 //
Arabeth followed Tanner Stein to a small, well-lit office. Glancing at one of the lanterns, she frowned. There was no flame, just a hard white stone in the middle, radiating light.
"Miss Barnes, no doubt you've heard that people are increasingly calling on the government to regulate your industry. There is a rumour that they’ll require Gadgeteers to be licensed through them and only work on government sanctions projects. My government is planning no such limitations." He slammed his fist down on his desk to get her attention. “The man I work for, Sebastian, would offer any defecting gadgeteer immunity from the crimes of their predecessors, and a generous work allowance if they were to come into his employ.”
Arabeth said nothing, still trying to decide if he was playing a twisted game, or believed the things he was saying.
" I understand you are the one who disarmed the automaton. It was sent in by someone with too much time on their hands and no sense of propriety. Well, and a weakness for cash. That aside, we believe that modernization is the only way to support the growing population. You've been taught my country is the enemy, but I ask you, when is the last time you heard of an invading force on your soil? Your people have been exiled, forbidden to walk even the other areas of your own country."
“We’re in exile?”
"Correct. There was a war, and your progenitors committed crimes worthy of their deaths, your exile, and a complete re-write of the history books.”
"I think you need to sit down and write all this down so you can see where you are contradicting yourself. How can I work freely with that history in everyone’s mind as they work with me? How can I assess the veracity of your claims when I know nothing of you or your country, except to know that you are sending out automatons that drive people mad," Arabeth was taken aback by his charade. "And using my city as your testing ground." And he was selling her the same lie she’d been told by everyone except her grandfather. She wasn’t buying it this time either.
"For that, I do apologize. We were led to believe that…"
"Don't say it," Arabeth cut him off. "You can't bargain your way out of the truth. There is no rationale that will bring me to forgive what you've done to my city, to my friends, my family, regardless of what any great-grandparent of mine may have done." She stepped back, closer to the door. If the explosives went off while she was in here, she'd be trapped. She was a long way from the exit.
"Alright, then I must assume you intend to subvert any work I put you to."
"That would seem obvious, yes."
He put a hand to his chin, as though thinking. "How might I motivate you to do otherwise?"
She felt her jaw clench. This was starting to feel like a conversation with her mother.
"Hiring me is the wrong idea, if keeping this place secret is one of your mandates," she snapped. "Too many people know my work, and will be looking for me to continue it. As well, every minute I remain in your employ, I learn more about you operations and methods. That being said, I am keenly interested in staying alive."
"You may not understand, but my aim is not to kill. Were you to work here, I would let you leave unharmed."
"Eventually."
"Exactly."
Arabeth looked at the man, considering how much information she could get in the time she had. She may be the distraction, but that wasn't her concern. The risk was in timing the devices, and Graham was an expert at that. What he couldn't have accounted for was this man accosting her, or Arabeth taking this potentially one-shot chance at getting into his head. Were they still placing his explosives, or had the decided to wait?
"I'm not sure how you can view yourself as a benevolent leader, when your very work prevents the peace you cl
aim to want." Arabeth started hoping for a rumble, a bang, anything to signal she could run. She was going to lose her composure soon. She was certain, based on the slight tremble in her right hand.
"You will remember the name Tanner Stein, Miss Barnes. Mark my words. And if you wouldn't mind, move away from the door. We still have things to discuss."
Arabeth's cheek twitched but she didn't move. How quickly could she get the door open, and run out of his range? Before she could so much as blink, Stein blocked her path. Fast travel was a benefit of long legs, she supposed.
"You hear me, but you aren't listening, Miss Barnes. This is a means to an end. I know your little city is a soft spot in the hearts of those running this backwards country. You should be grateful I haven't done more than I have. Now I won't have to hurt anyone else. Keeping you here will get your parent's attention, which will in turn get the Capital's attention. Money is what makes the world go around. I've gone to a lot of work to make my point in a way you people understand."
"You think interfering with a couple south-shore bankers is going to get attention?"
"I'm talking about steam works and automatons. Do you think the rest of the world doesn't look here and laugh?"
"We are one city, and walled in by a mountain. Why are you attacking us instead of the capital?"
"You know you're the favourite sister, don't you?"
"What do you mean?" her confusion coupled with her anger, mixing her thoughts up thoroughly.
"This city is a legend, even among your own countrymen. If I can capture it, the rest will follow."
He looked smug, aggressive. She found herself backing up, into the wall. It was true. She'd never met anyone who'd crossed the mountain and come back. She'd never seen pictures, or heard more than ghost stories. Did that matter?
"Tell me, if you're so sophisticated, how is it that you so desperately need the external validation of others in authority?" She was throwing words at him without thinking. She had to get out of the cave. Graham's timers had to be running out any second now.
That made him pause and his complexion went a deep red.
"Ah, so there's the truth of it," she murmured.
He raised his arm up, as though to strike her. Arabeth flinched away but raised one arm to block his hit. He stopped just short of hitting her and instead grabbed her arm.
Seeing his side unprotected, Arabeth pulled a lipstick-sized cylinder out of her jacket pocket and jabbed hard. He pulled back, jerking her off-balance. She pushed the arm forward and twisted it up against his thumb, breaking his grip.
Stein's other arm whipped forward to grab for her, but she ducked and reached for the door. As she opened it, the ground shook violently, knocking her sideways. Regaining her feet, she ran forward and covered her ears against the rush of sound and chaos from the explosives. Dust and rocks fell in every direction.
She looked as she ran, hoping to catch her bearings. The roof ran up high as it went deeper into the mountain. All she had to do was head into the short end. She fully intended to be on the right side of this mountain when that happened.
Her friends should be clear of the area already.
"Marble," she called out. She had to make sure Marble made it out safely. If she'd followed Arabeth to Tanner's office, she should be close.
As she reached a wall, she slowed enough to turn without slamming into it. Something grabbed her collar from behind, nearly pulling her off her feet.
"You won't get away this easy," she recognized Tanner's voice.
Turning to face him she's screamed as loud as she could to make him hesitate. Within seconds she had hit him several times in vulnerable locations and slapped a pair of wrist restraints on.
"What have you done?" he yelled, profanities soon following as he walked, pulling at the restraints as she ran.
She saw the door leading out of the mountain wide open and ran for it. The guards would've made their exit already, but she would have to risk getting caught just to survive.
Where was Marble? Had she run out when the explosions started?
"Marble," she called out as loud as she could. Would she know which way to go? "Marble, over here!" Arabeth yelled again.
A dusty grey fox stood to put her front paws on Arabeth's legs. Snatching her up, Arabeth put her in the satchel and hurried outside. Nothing looked familiar.
Stein wouldn't be far behind. Thankfully, there were no guards in sight. She looked for a place to hide, to think. The woods here had been cut down, leaving a large clear-cut area.
Checking the sky, Arabeth wished she had a sun to guide her. She needed to go east. Turning to the right, she hoped that would take her east.
A mental inventory reminded her that on this side of the mountain range, she was mapless and in enemy territory. Her only food was the dried chicken and dehydrated fruit in her bag. She had no water.
If she could find her way to a city with one of the underground transports, she could get home quickly and undetected. She had to choose. Follow the mountain and look for a tunnel, or risk taking the next road she found and hope it led to a city.
The odds of finding a way back to the other side were better than finding a checkerboard housing area in some city, if other transports used the same housing pattern for recognition. She didn't know. The biggest problem was that she'd need water soon, and there may well be a stream along the way, but in a city she'd have no trouble getting provisions.
Odds of finding a way back to the other side were better than finding a checkerboard housing area, if other transports used the same housing pattern for recognition. She didn't know. The problem was that she'd need water soon, and there may well be a stream along the way, but in a city she'd have no trouble getting provisions.
There was one flaw to that idea – her money was foreign. She'd be identified and caught before she even had a chance to take a sip.
It seemed a hike through the woods, hoping for a tunnel and a stream, was her only option. She needed to find one before it got dark out, or a safe place to wait for dawn.
She stopped and gently lifted Marble out of the satchel. Rummaging through, she looked for something that could act as a makeshift water carrier. There was an empty water bladder in the bottom, but it was small. "It's better than nothing," she reminded herself.
Stories of monsters and beasts from her childhood started to crowd in at the edge of her mind. Her only blade was a utility knife used for simple tasks, not survival. She was about to find out just how good the steel of her homeland was.
Arabeth checked Marble over, seeing if she was injured in any way. Marble was small, but the extra eight pounds would add up over time. If she could walk with her and maybe catch the odd mouse along the way, her food would last longer.
"Let's find a way home, Marble," she rubbed the fox behind an ear and stood again. A thought struck her. She was from a family of spies, whether they thought she was up to the job or not. Maybe she could be useful on this side of the hill.
Her heart jolted in her chest, causing her to step back. She could find civilization, make contact, scout it out. Getting home would be faster if she found a checkerboard, anyway. It might even be safer. She looked out at the path leading away from the mountain.
Step one - break the big goal down into smaller steps. The first thing was to look like a local. Then she'd sell a couple of her gadgets for food and shelter. She had some interesting things in her bag. After that, she'd have a day or so to find this region's checker board. While she did, she'd learn about the region and bring that information home.
They'd stopped this incursion. Her city was safe again. She could take anything life threw at her, as long as that were true. She was good as a bounty hunter, even if the job didn’t last long. She would find who sent that man, and she would find a way to keep them from ever trying again.
The sun had set, though. Tomorrow would be soon enough to start. It would have to be.
// Keep reading for a preview of Book 2 //
&
nbsp; BOOK 2 – The Crystal Curse (Preview)
// Chapter 1 //
Arabeth stood and stretched. A long, uncomfortable night of not-quite sleeping on the hard-packed forest floor left her with kinks and aches that only a hot bath would cure. She pulled her pocket watch out and wound it, staring at the action of the miniature gears a moment out of habit.
She and Marble had barely escaped with their lives. Had the others made it out? Darn Graham and his inclination to solve everything with explosives! At least it was… solved. The tunnel was definitely closed now.
Behind them stood an immense cliff wall, and where the cavern exit had once been was now only rubble and dust. A portion of the mountain had slid down adding to the debris, as though to protest and protect.
She put her watch away. Now, in the early sun, she took a long look around. There was one narrow dirt road leading into a forest of thin, tall trees, reaching great heights, but with short pointy needles where broad leaves normally were. These were the trees of true wilderness.
As a feeling of helplessness tugged at her, she blocked it, thinking through the logic of this problem. If getting back home was the goal, she needed to follow the mountain north, but directions north and south were heavily over-grown. The only path out was a long dirt road through the trees, directly away from the mountain.
If her goal was something else… well, she didn’t have enough information to do something else yet, did she?
Her gut tensed a moment - had Sam, Melanie, and Graham made it out of the cave? They must have. They were the ones who collapsed the cavern, setting explosive charges off to prevent an enemy incursion. From this side, that didn't actually seem to be a risk. They must have gone the other way out.
Marble looked none-the-worse for the experience, at least. Arabeth reached down and picked the little fox up, curling her arms around to hold her close. They had a few provisions, due to her habit of packing dried chicken for Marble, and fruit for herself. Her stomach grumbled at the thought. Not yet, she grumbled back.