The Golden Owl (Clockwork Calico Book 1)

by Lana Axe

  “Shoo, now!” the man shouted. “Out of here!” He swatted a hand at her as he reached down to help the woman back to her feet.

  This was no time to hang around. Slipping the necklace loose with her claw, she dropped it on the woman’s back. Dashing across the street, she waved her tail at Emmit. The mouse got the message and followed. Together they raced toward the factory, the spider kicking all the while. Outside her window, Cali shook the automaton and clamped down harder, hoping to still its constant thrashing. It didn’t work.

  Entering the window with Emmit close behind, Cali tried to speak through a mouthful of spider.

  “Gamp bebbid oose,” she said.

  “I didn’t quite catch that,” Emmit replied.

  Spitting out the spider, she quickly clamped a paw over it, pressing down with all her weight. “I can’t let it loose,” she said. “It’s too tough for me to break it, and if I let it run free, there’s no telling what trouble it will cause in here.”

  “Let me see,” the mouse replied. “Maybe it has an off switch.” Running his mousey fingers over the metal, he found a small switch on the spider’s back. Holding his breath, he flipped it to the opposite position. He sighed with relief as the spider ceased its struggling and fell dormant.

  “I’m glad that was an off switch and not a ‘go crazy’ switch,” Cali commented, meowing with laughter.

  “Cali? Is that you?” a voice called from the front door.

  Surprised by the sudden sound, Emmit nearly fell off the windowsill. Cali’s ears perked up. She recognized the voice.

  “It’s Lionel,” she told the mouse.

  Trotting toward the door, she greeted her friend, rubbing her face against his legs. She hadn’t expected him to return so soon. Yet here he was, hard at work on the new locking mechanism.

  Running back to the window, she retrieved the spider and dropped it at Lionel’s feet. With a mrrrowww she called his attention to it.

  “What have you got there?” he wondered. The last gift she’d delivered had been a half-dead shrew. Adjusting his glasses, he examined the metallic device. “Hmmm,” he commented, carrying the spider to his work table. Setting it amongst the clutter, he searched for the correct tool. Finding it, he said, “Let’s see what we’ve got.”

  As Cali sat silent, Lionel opened the spider’s back, revealing the inner workings. Gears and springs were nestled inside, the faint scent of burnt oil causing her nose to wrinkle. Lionel reached for a magnifying glass and pinned it to his glasses. Several minutes of careful inspection passed. Cali laid down at his feet, wondering what he was thinking.

  Eventually he reached for a second tool, a slender rod of metal with a star-shaped end. Inserting it in the spider, he worked at it for a moment before removing a small gear. “I knew it,” he said. He gazed at the gear for a moment before holding it out toward Cali. “This right here is a proprietary gear,” he announced.

  Cali wasn’t sure what that meant. She stared at him blankly, awaiting an explanation.

  Lionel was happy to oblige. “These symbols right here are the mark of none other than Jamison Morcroft. This is his patented gear mechanism. It uses wound springs for power in addition to a special oil.” Frantically he began prying apart the metal creature’s head. “Just as I thought,” he said. A tiny light blinked inside. “That right there is how it sees. Not anywhere near as well as you, Cali, but good enough for its purpose.”

  Meowing, Cali tried to tell him to go on with his explanation. Asking him directly wasn’t an option, and her curiosity was not yet satisfied. If only humans could understand the speech of animals.

  Lionel set the spider aside and replaced his tools amid the clutter. Cali feared she would not get her explanation. She padded back to the windowsill and sat next to Emmit while Lionel went back to work on the door.

  A gentle rapping from the rear entrance could only mean one thing. Cali sprang back to her feet, anxious to hear what Lionel would say to his sister.

  “How was your trip?” Florence asked as she stepped inside. “Did you get the parts you needed?”

  “Sure did,” Lionel replied. “I’d like to see anyone break into this door now.” Holding up his index finger, he stepped outside and pulled the door shut. “Flip that switched to the armed position,” he called from the other side.

  Florence obeyed and took two steps away from the odd looking device. “Ready,” she called back.

  Lionel tried the knob, which would not turn completely thanks to the lock. But it didn’t end there. He shoved against it with all his weight, diving at it and kicking it. The door didn’t budge, but a small ball bearing jostled loose, tumbling its way along a series of crooked ramps.

  Cali and Florence watched, their heads following the motion of the ball as it dropped all the way to the wooden floor. It landed with a plunk, striking a small lever that neither of them had noticed previously. The lever clicked on, a bright blue light surrounding the edges of the door. Lionel could see the light from his side as well.

  “It works!” he shouted. A thin blue current blinked to life, sparks dancing and flying in all directions. “Anyone who touches that will wish they hadn’t,” he said with pride. “You can switch it off with the lever behind the lamp.”

  Florence examined the wall, and sure enough, there was a small lever sticking out behind the lamp. With a flick of the switch, the lights vanished, rendering the door safe once again.

  Lionel stepped back inside, his arms wide, a broad smile on his face.

  “That’s all well and good for the apartment,” Florence pointed out, “but what about when you’re out in the streets? He could still send his men to grab you again.”

  “I’ve solved that too with a personal beacon,” Lionel said, smiling. “It works similar to Cali’s recall device. Except instead of alerting me, it sounds a siren that can be heard a mile away. It also sends out an electric charge that will stun anyone who lays hands on me.”

  “Will it stun you as well?” she asked, concerned.

  “Not at all,” he said. “You know how you can rub your feet on the carpet and give someone a good shock?”

  “Yes,” she replied, remembering how he used to delight in playing that trick on her when they were children.

  “You can touch yourself all day long, and it doesn’t shock you. It only shocks when you touch the other person.”

  “If I remember correctly, it shocks both people,” she stated. “And it’s quite uncomfortable.” Her worry for her brother was genuine. He was a brilliant man, but he could get in a hurry and not think things all the way through.

  “I said it wouldn’t stun me,” he replied. “It will shock me, but only a little. I’d let you touch it, but I don’t want to hurt you. Trust me, though. It works exactly as I’ve intended it to.”

  Her lips turned downward, but she decided to accept him at his word. All of his inventions were a secret, even to her. He would never fully explain how it worked, and she wouldn’t ask. His business was his own, and she had little interest in gears and levers.

  “Let me show you what Cali found,” Lionel said, changing the subject. Lifting the spider off his table, he held it out to his sister.

  Florence took the contraption in her gloved hand and wrinkled her brow. “What is it?” she asked.

  “A spider,” he replied.

  Jumping backward, she dropped the metal arachnid to the ground.

  “Not a real one,” he said, laughing. Stooping low, he retrieved the gadget and placed it back on the table. “Morcroft crafted it. It’s made to steal things.”

  “How do you know?” she asked.

  Cali’s ears perked up. Finally she was about to have her question answered.

  “I know it’s him because his name and patent number are engraved on one of the gears,” Lionel explained. “It has a primitive brain, one I designed years ago. It has room for only the tiniest program, though.”

  “What did Morcroft program it to do?” she wondered, her eyes
lingering on the metal spider.

  “Find and retrieve is the simplest answer,” Lionel replied. “I designed these to retrieve components for watchmakers. They’re small and delicate enough for such work. Morcroft has altered the design. Now it looks for coins and jewels.”

  “How do you know?” she asked.

  “Because it’s my design,” he replied. “I can see the changes he’s made.” Lifting the spider, he pointed to three tiny rivets. Still blinking, the small white light searched for its treasure. When he held it near a tool, one of the rivets reflected the light. Moving it near the lamp, it reflected two rivets. Holding it up to Florence’s emerald earring, the third rivet lit up, and a triangular beam shot across the mechanical brain.

  Gasping, Florence placed her hand on her heart. “That’s amazing,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything so strange.”

  “And criminal,” Lionel added. “Not only did he steal my design, he’s using these things to pilfer money and jewels from unsuspecting citizens.”

  “Morcroft is a wealthy man,” Florence pointed out. “Why would he need to steal money?”

  “Beats me,” Lionel answered.

  Cali glanced over at Emmit, a look of understanding passing between them. Morcroft didn’t need the money at all. He was preparing for something else—something much bigger.

  Beams of silver moonlight glinted off Cali’s brass fittings, giving her an otherworldly glow. Pacing outside the window, she strained her ears, listening for any sign of Emmit. When he finally showed himself, he was licking at his paws.

  “You’re late,” she scolded.

  “Dinner took longer than expected,” he replied with a shrug. “It’s not like we need to hurry over to Morcroft’s. Unless you’ve figured out a way to disarm his explosives.”

  “I have some news,” Cali said. “I spoke to Nellie, and she saw one of the spiders—”

  “Wait, Nellie who?” Emmit asked.

  “She’s the black-and-white horse who pulls the carriage with the tassels on the roof,” Cali explained.

  “Oh, I see,” the mouse replied. “Please, go on.”

  “Nellie saw one of the spiders go into Morcroft’s workshop, and it wasn’t the workshop we knew about. He has a second one.”

  Emmit’s eyebrows shot up. “Lead the way then.”

  Skulking along beneath the moonlight, Cali kept close to the walls. There were several people out this night, all of them dressed in their finest. A princess from a remote island on the Sapphire Sea had come to Ticswyk, and a grand moonlight ball was planned in her honor. Princess Kaleyani would spend the evening surrounded by the citizens of Ticswyk, and Cali had a feeling that Morcroft would be there as well. With any luck his workshop would be left unattended, giving her and Emmit plenty of time to have a look around.

  Following Nellie’s directions to the workshop, the calico did her best to stay out of sight. There could be no delays, even by people who wanted to admire her. She saw many individuals looking at her with interest, but there was no time to stop. Her heart yearned for simpler times, when a cat could just be a cat. But tonight she had to be more. Lionel hadn’t given her such amazing abilities to sit around idle.

  Not only was her dearest friend in danger, all of Ticswyk could be Morcroft’s target. It was up to Cali to figure it out before the sinister man could make his move. Luckily she was not alone. She had Emmit, who had proved his worth many times over. Resourceful and intelligent, Cali couldn’t have asked for a better companion.

  Travel proved slower than Cali liked. She grew impatient, and darted between the legs of couples as they strolled along the street. Emmit had to hold onto her tail to keep the pace and stay safe. More than one person stumbled, thanks to Cali’s weaving in and out. But the calico never slowed nor looked back. Tripping people was sometimes unavoidable when a cat needed to get where she was going.

  Since the carriages were operating late tonight, crossing the street took some time. Darting across wasn’t an option. They had to wait until the way was clear. The clock at Exhibition Center chimed the hour, each clang echoing in her ears. Time was wasting, and she was still blocks away from the workshop.

  Finally, the crowds dispersed, most of them having reached their destination. This corner of the city was virtually deserted, leaving Cali and Emmit free to prowl straight to Morcroft’s door.

  “I should have known this place,” Emmit commented.

  “Why’s that?” Cali asked.

  “Over there is the creamery,” he said, pointing across the street. “I go by there at least once a week to look for scraps.” He paused to sniff the air. “Of course, I’m usually behind the building. I can’t recall being on this particular street before.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Cali said. “We’re here now.” Making use of her mechanical eye, she scanned the workshop door for any sign of weakness. At its base was a tiny flap, large enough for a mechanical spider to make its way inside. Indicating the flap with her claw, she said, “There’s our entry.” Grinning, she added, “Small enough for a mouse.” She was certainly glad she hadn’t chosen someone larger for her ally.

  Gathering his courage, Emmit stepped forward and pressed his weight against the flap. It held fast. “The spiders must have some sort of key,” he said.

  “I see the lock,” Cali said. Her mechanical eye zoomed in on a small opening, big enough for a metal spider’s leg. A cat’s claw could fit as well. Unsheathing one claw, she inserted the tip into the small keyhole. Working at the lock the way Emmit had done before, she heard a soft click. “Now try,” she told him.

  Giving the flap a push, it swung open with ease. “What am I looking for in there?” he asked.

  “First, a way for me to get in,” Cali said. “Then we can search the place together.” She didn’t want him in there alone too long. It was likely to be dangerous, and without her there to protect him, the mouse might come to harm. “If you don’t find anything within three minutes, come back here and let me know.”

  “Will do,” Emmit said. After a few deep breaths, he stepped inside the flap. Machines whirred and puffed, the scent of burnt oil nearly gagging him. His whiskers twitched while his beady eyes scanned the perimeter. There was no sign of a dog, thankfully, nor was there the scent of dog food anywhere nearby. He moved slowly, keeping his steps as quiet as possible. It wasn’t until his head began to throb that he realized he’d been holding his breath. As quietly as he could, he let out the breath and tried to keep himself calm.

  Like the other workshop, this one appeared to have no windows. There was another door, but it was wooden, and positioned where it could lead only to another room or hallway, not the outside. How was Cali to get inside? A glance upward revealed a vent, but Emmit had no way to remove the metal covering.

  Returning to the door, he squeaked, “There’s no other way in. You’ll have to try to force the door.”

  “Do you think that’s wise?” she replied. “We know about the explosives on the other door only because you saw them installed. This one could be rigged as well.”

  She made a valid point. “The only other way I saw was a vent, but I can’t get to it. You’d have to remove the cover from the inside.”

  “It’s worth a try,” she said. “Where do you think it lets out?”

  “There has to be a duct attached somewhere on the top of the building,” Emmit told her. “I think the vent is meant to let out some of the foul air from the shop.”

  Great, Cali thought, remembering the scent of the sewers the mouse had led her through on their first journey together. “I’ll check the roof,” she said. “Wait for me.”

  Skirting the workshop’s perimeter, Cali kept herself close to the bricks. There could be security devices out here, and she didn’t want to be spotted. It could take a few minutes to find some evidence against Morcroft, and the last thing she needed was to set off an alarm.

  A convenient drainpipe attached to the corner of the building made a perfect ladder. Sinkin
g her metal claws into the pipe, she bounded upward. In three strides, she was on the flat roof. The vent’s outlet rose only a foot above the roof in the shape of an upside-down L. She knew she wouldn’t have any trouble getting inside. It was just wide enough for a cat.

  Hopping inside, she slowed her descent by clinging to the metal with her claws. The racket caught Emmit’s attention, and he stepped cautiously inside the workshop to see if it was Cali. When her purple eye gleamed at him from behind the vent cover, he knew she had found her way inside. With a rattle and a clang, she kicked her enhanced rear legs at the cover, shaking it loose from the wall. It clattered to the floor, skidding along with a metallic scratching sound. The little mouse cringed as it slid past him.

  Cali hopped down from the high vent and landed silently on the concrete floor. “Not a bad way to go,” she said.

  Emmit thought it could have been quieter, considering their need for stealth. But he kept that opinion to himself and began searching. A quiet click caught his attention, and he froze in place.

  “Did you hear that?” he asked. A second sound, clunking and heavy, as if a machine were flopping over and over resonated through the room.

  “What was that?” Cali asked, despite knowing Emmit didn’t have the answer.

  They didn’t have to wait long to find out. Sliding through the wooden door on three wheels was a small man crafted of bronze. Cast in a permanent crouched position, he looked entirely uncomfortable. But this man had no sense of comfort or pain. He was not alive by any sense of the word. No more than an automaton, he was built as a sentry and nothing more.

  Cali and Emmit scrambled to the corner of the room, knowing the sentry must be avoided at all costs. Its single eye at the center of its head projected a slender ray of red light as it scanned the workshop for any sign of movement. They watched as it charted a path from one end to the other, turning to repeat the scan again and again.

  “We’ll have to time our movements so that thing doesn’t spot us,” Cali said. She wasn’t about to let this simple machine keep her from her goal.