“I’ll come with you,” Silas offered. Sev didn’t answer, just nodded.
THEY made their way back to the cart, Sev silent and scowling. Silas tried a few times to make small talk to no avail. He and Sev had just turned a major corner in their new friendship. He didn’t agree completely with what Sev had done to Fervis, but he could understand his friend’s anger. Silas kept considering Heph’s warning about Sev’s darkness. Then he remembered what Heph had told him just before Sev’s show. “Carrington’s gone,” Silas said as they lifted the first of the bodies.
“What?” Sev asked, his head snapping up.
“He’d been in the tower with Banwall. They were using rifles, shooting at Fervis’s men from above. Fervis shot at the tower, and we saw someone fall. Heph returned to the tower to repair his leg and found Carrington’s body.”
“Carrington too? We’re not goin’ t’have anyone left fer this revolution. I hope Fervis is rotting in hell.” Sev lifted another body by the arms, while Silas grabbed the legs. “How’s Kildeggan handlin’ all this?”
“Not well.” The cart filled up quickly, and they started back through the city. “He feels like this is all his fault.”
“He told ye that?”
“No.” Silas shook his head. “But I’ve known him a long time now. I can tell.”
“This isn’t his fault at all.” Sev bowed his head. “It’s mine.”
“Sev, don’t say that.”
“It’s true. Wave and Annie never would’ve gotten mixed up with yer outfit if it wasn’t fer me. And Fervis would never’ve attacked yer city if I hadn’t gotten mixed up with yer outfit. Carrington’d still be alive and all these poor kids.”
“Seven, all these children chose to be a part of this. And they made that choice knowing full well that it would be dangerous, that death was a possibility.”
“Did they really, Silas? Remember what ye said about the adventure? About the reality not seemin’ that real?”
“Yes. I remember.”
“Yeah. Well, we’re all facin’ reality right now.” Sev’s words were heavy, cold. The friends reached the top of the stairway leading down to the lot and carefully descended the steps with their corpse-laden cart. Pulling it to a stop close to the pyre, Silas and Sev unloaded the grisly burden. Rat, Tesla, and Midnight had the lot cleared, and they joined Sev and Silas to help.
“Rat, why don’t ye run up t’Cheapside and get the rest o’the kids back here? They should know what happened here. They should realize what’s at stake.” Sev rubbed the back of his neck.
“Do you really think that wise?” Heph asked as he arrived carrying his mentor’s body. He’d thrown a sheet over the old scientist’s broken form.
“They have a right t’know,” Sev stated. Rat didn’t wait for any more arguments; he didn’t take his orders from Kildeggan.
“I suppose there’s some truth to that,” Heph allowed. He placed the body on the ground and knelt beside it. “Good-bye, old friend,” he whispered and placed a metal hand on the sheet, bowing his head. The rest of them did the same. After a moment, Heph stood and scooped up the bundle, heaving it onto the pyre. “This has been a dark day indeed.”
Their cart empty, Sev and Silas guided it back toward the steps and the city for another trip. Sev stopped and addressed Kildeggan. “I’m sorry about all this, Hephaestus. If ye want me out o’here, I’ll understand.”
“No, Seven. No. This was an awful tragedy.” Heph squeezed Sev’s shoulder. “But you’ve been a great asset to our cause. I wouldn’t think of it.”
“I appreciate that, Heph.”
“Besides, this wasn’t your fault.”
“It wasn’t yers either,” Sev stated seriously. “We need t’pick ourselves up and get back in th’game.”
“Well said, my friend. Well said.” Heph patted Sev. “Come on. Let’s get our home cleaned up.” Sev nodded. He and Heph joined Silas at the cart before returning to the task at hand.
“Come on, Nikky.” Midnight motioned to Tesla. “Let’s lend a hand. My heart’s all warm and fuzzy now. I need to load some dead people on a cart for perspective.” Midnight’s flippancy didn’t surprise Silas in the least. Only that man could crack wise after an ordeal like they’d just gone through.
Two cartloads later, Rat returned with most of the children who had fled. Nearly all of the remains had been removed from the city. Heph explained the situation to his young allies. Tears followed. For many of the children, it was like they’d lost brothers and sisters. In some cases they had. Heph assured them the danger had passed, that their city was safe once again, but they needed help cleaning it up. There wasn’t much left to do, but they set to work, dragging the few remaining bodies, loading carts.
Some of the dwellings had been destroyed beyond repair. David, Julia, and Maddy organized a group to attend to the homes that were salvageable, cleaning them, fixing them. Muriel wasn’t sure if anyone would be hungry with the smell of roasting flesh still tainting the air of the undercity, but she gathered some children and set to work cooking a lovely vegetable soup just in case. Much to her surprise, a fair number of hungry children visited her home.
To everyone’s great surprise, Faraday returned soon after the children. “I didn’t think I’d see you again, old man,” Tesla greeted him snidely.
“Mind your tongue, boy,” Faraday barked. “I had to come back. We weren’t finished, and I have a work ethic. I don’t abandon a job halfway through.”
“That’s a bit thin,” Rat observed. “After the ration of shite ye gave us?”
“I did a bit of research while I was above. There may be something to your claims, after all. I met with the queen.”
“Ye were only gone a few hours,” Sev said. “Ye can just arrange an audience with the queen at the drop of a hat?”
“I’m the Director of the Ministry of Invention. I often need to brief Her Majesty on current projects, budgetary needs, and the like. Only I’d noticed that Fairgate was never far from her side, and beyond the most basic of polite conversation, the queen deferred to his opinion. I had to explain my recent absence, but it appeared to stand up to Her Majesty’s scrutiny. I reviewed some newspaper articles as well. If you know what you’re looking for, and can read between the lines, then there are some disturbing and rather glaring inconsistencies.”
“So you’ve returned of your own free will?” Heph asked.
“That I have. Under the pretense that I’m working on a spectacular wedding gift for the esteemed couple.” The old scientist shot them a sly grin. Silas thought it was the first time he’d seen anything but a scowl on the man’s face.
“It’s good to have you, sir.” Heph extended a hand in welcome.
“I’d say it’s fortunate I decided to return, given the state of things,” he answered, looking around without shaking Heph’s hand.
“Yes. Well, excellent.” Heph clapped his hands as though he hadn’t been ignored by the old scientist. “Tesla, can I have a word? I’ve had some ideas about a special project.”
“Of course. We should discuss a new design for that door as well,” Tesla responded.
“I intend to oversee its construction and installation myself. I’m also going to have to establish a twenty-four-hour guard rotation.” The tinkerer, the scientist, and the child genius walked off discussing various projects.
With the cleaning well under way, Midnight took his leave with the intent of taking some men to Fervis’s Fantastic Footwear Factory. Silas wondered what Midnight’s plans were for the place. Sev opened his mouth, glanced at Silas, and closed it. Was Sev afraid to ask the same question in front of him? Silas wondered, but said nothing. “Would you send word to the Duke of Sutherland? Let him know what happened down here. About Jeffries—Carrington, I mean. I’m afraid I won’t be visiting the surface for a bit,” Silas explained.
“I’m sure I can find some time to see him,” Midnight purred with a lascivious smile on his face.
“Yes.” Silas swal
lowed uncomfortably. “Well…. Thank you.”
“I’ll be in touch,” Midnight informed them. “Rat, sorry about your bird.”
“Thanks, Nibs.” Rat closed up after that, remaining silent for quite a while. Silas and Sev let him be, knowing the boy needed to deal with things in his own time.
21
THE entire population of the undercity worked almost without pause for the better part of two weeks before the city was restored completely. The new door system required a series of locks to be open on a three-panel system, making it virtually impenetrable, with an added surprise. If any of the combination locks were set improperly, an alarm would sound within the city and ether gas would be pumped into the tunnel, knocking out the intruders. In addition, a rotation of four guards remained by the door at all times.
Tesla and Faraday never left the warehouse. They even slept and took their meals in the slightly scorched building. Like at the door, rotating crews of children assisted the scientists throughout the day. Heph visited the facility frequently, sending all but Tesla and Faraday away while he was within. David and Timson spent much of their time in or near the warehouse.
Muriel had wanted to construct a tent to serve as a mess hall in the lot outside the warehouse, but the lingering ghost of the funeral pyre prevented that from happening. Indeed, most people refused to linger anywhere near the area, though it had been extinguished and cleaned thoroughly for over a week. So she continued to cook in her home with a team of junior chefs. She’d had to add more tables inside and out to accommodate all the new recruits as well as the old. People in the city seemed to be sticking together in groups of two or more with greater frequency since the terrible events of the attack, as if they craved human contact, valued their social interactions just a little bit more. Maybe because they realized they could lose anyone in the coming battle.
It was at Muriel’s, a bit after the proper dinner hour, that Sev found David and Timson sitting together and conversing in low tones.
“All right, mates?” Sev sat across the table from them.
“Oy, Sev.”
“Hello, sir. Good day?” Timson asked.
“Fair enough.” Sev shrugged. “How’re you fellas gettin’ on?”
“Oh, right side up as a billiard ball, sir.”
Sev shook his head, amused by Timson’s constant use of odd phrases and nonsensical words. “What’s on the menu tonight, then?” Sev looked toward the kitchen, sniffing.
“Potato stew, I think,” David answered.
“Vegetables again, is it?” Sev asked.
“Yes, sir. I’m afraid so, sir. It seems that Miss Muriel isn’t quite over that sticky wicket with the ruins.” Timson shook his head. “Oh, and also the hullabaloo with Mr. Fervis.”
“Yes, well. I don’t s’pose any of us’ll get over that any time soon.” Sev didn’t mind potato stew. Muriel was a magician with veg. He almost didn’t miss meat. Almost.
“Speaking of,” David interjected. “How’s our Rat?”
“Been better, but he’s comin’ round. He’s been swearin’ like a sailor, and he punched a fella fer bumpin’ in t’him down the warehouse.”
“Oh dear,” Timson gasped. “That poor young man.”
“No.” Sev shook his head. “That’s a good sign. He’s actin’ more like himself by the day. It’s when he’s quiet and nonviolent that ye really have t’worry.”
“Oh. I see. Well, top-notch, then, sir. Glad to hear it.” Julia and Muriel interrupted their conversation with a tray full of steaming bowls of soup and fresh bread. “Good evening, Miss Muriel. This looks simply scrumply-lish.”
“Thank you, Timson. I think.” She passed a bowl to each of them. “All right, Sev?”
“Well, thanks. You?”
“Just fine. Eat up. You’ve all been working like steam engines. You have to keep your strength up,” Muriel advised. Sev noticed her smiling proudly as they all tucked in. The little things like a good meal and Muriel’s pleasure made everything seem a bit more hopeful.
She didn’t linger long, bustling off to make sure someone else received a decent meal. Sev really was quite pleased with the stew. It was very hearty, very satisfying. He ate happily until he remembered something. “Oy, David.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s this rumor about Kildeggan’s secret project?”
“Oh, it’s no rumor, sir,” Timson jumped in. “He and Mr. Tesla are working on something quite confidential. Everything else is scattered about higgledy-piggledy, but Mr. Kildeggan’s project is contained all neat and smart beneath a canvas tarp, sir.”
“Any idea what it is? I won’t breathe a word.”
“Nah,” David said. “He always makes certain everyone’s well out of the warehouse and the doors are closed before they even start to discuss it.”
“So no one knows anythin’ at all?” Sev asked.
“Nope,” David responded and tucked back into his soup.
“That’s not exactly true, sir,” Timson added.
“What?” David dribbled soup in his surprise.
“Isn’t it?” Sev asked.
“Well,” Timson said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I had a look under the tarp, sir.”
“You didn’t.” David’s tone was scandalized.
“I did, sir.”
“Go on, then, Timson. Spill.” Sev leaned over the table.
“Well. Mr. Tesla and Mr. Faraday were engaged in an animated discussion over the shoulder rifles for Mr. Prometheus.” Timson paused and looked around. Sev wasn’t at all shocked that Timson had referred to a currently inanimate clockwork man as “mister.” Satisfied no one was listening, he leaned back toward Sev and David. “I crept over and had a smidge of a peek under the tarp. It was a fair bit of jiggery-pokery. I couldn’t tell what it was supposed to be, but it was powered by one of Mr. Tesla’s new Electro-batteries.” David and Sev stared at Timson. “Sirs,” Timson added.
“That’s pretty brave, Timson.” Sev was impressed.
“Thank you, sir.” Timson shot a smug glance at David, who rolled his eyes.
“Well, I should be off. Me and Silas are trying t’work out how t’build those grenade-guns that Fervis’s men had. Evenin’, fellas.” Sev cleared his dishes before he left Muriel’s.
AS SEV headed for Silas’s flat, he ran over the things Timson had said about Kildeggan’s secret project powered by the Tesla-Faraday battery. That meant they’d perfected the invention, which meant Prometheus would be that much closer to completion. It didn’t give him any more idea what Kildeggan had going on, though.
His thoughts drifted to Rat. Sev was happy his friend had started feeling good enough to be ornery and alienate people again. Rat hadn’t left the undercity; like the rest of them, he was committed to making sure they were prepared for the assault on the palace. During all the insanity and intensity, Sev had forgotten that Henry was left above ground. Shit, he thought. The poor little bugger. He hoped his little owl wasn’t starving, sick, or dead. It would be all his fault. His feet moved a little faster to Silas’s. Sev was going to have to let Silas know he couldn’t stay. He needed to get back to retrieve Henry. Sev cursed himself for his irresponsibility. He ran up the steps calling Silas’s name.
“Sev, what’s wrong?” Silas asked, stepping from the kitchen.
“I have t’leave. Go above.”
“But I’ve put tea on. What’s happened now?”
“It’s Henry!” Sev exclaimed. “I have t’get up there and check on ’im. Bring him back if I can.”
“Calm down. Calm down. Read this.” Silas had a letter in his hand and held it out to Sev.
“What’s this?” Sev grabbed the envelope.
“Just read it.”
Sev did. He spread the paper open. It was a letter from Midnight. Sev read over the sheets of parchment. Midnight, by some sort of legal trickery, had managed to convince someone that he was Fervis’s cousin and that the man had left his assets to Midnight, making him the
new owner of Fervis’s Auto-Cobblery. The letter also detailed the plan to convert the factory into an armory and firearm manufacturing plant. He’d already hired in engineers and tinkerers to convert the space. The whole thing was a little bit of ironic beauty. Midnight assured them Fervis’s personal army had been dealt with, which seemed intentionally vague to Sev. The villain made a point to mention that he had retained Fervis’s young workforce and that he was paying them a competitive wage and also offering to provide for their health and well-being. The first shipments of firearms, armor, and ammunition would be reaching Undertown in a few days. At the end of the letter was a postscript. Sev read it happily.
Tell Seven Mr. Xiang is seeing after Henry. The bird is well cared for. No worries.—12. Sev looked up from the letter. “When did this arrive?”
“Not sure exactly. Heph passed it along today. I’d say no earlier than yesterday.” Silas fixed tea for them and handed Sev a steaming cup.
“The man’s a bloody genius.” Sev accepted the tea and blew over it.
“It’s a bit off-putting as well, though.” Silas sat down and sipped his tea.
“How so?” Sev sat down, still looking over Midnight’s words.
“Well, you entered very concerned about Henry.”
“Aye.”
“So it’s either an amazing bit of coincidence, or he’s shrewd enough to anticipate your concerns about your owl. I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with that man knowing so much about you.” Silas’s expression was drawn, troubled.
“Cheer up, mate,” Sev consoled his friend. He patted Silas’s leg. “It’s a big coincidence, isn’t it? We’ve been down here focused on our work. He’s up top, thinkin’ about up top concerns. Xiang probably tended t’Hank the whole time. Don’t get fussed.”
“You’re right, I’m sure,” Silas agreed. “I just don’t understand that man or his motives. It all leaves me a bit off-kilter.”
“That’s puttin’ it mildly.” Sev shot his friend a smile. “I’m just glad Henry’s all right.”
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