Sigmund Shaw: A Steampunk Adventure

by Mark C. King

  Just around the front of the building, heading down the side where the rope was, there were a few crates that were stacked close to the building But they looked like they had just enough room to fit a person behind them. Sigmund dashed over, sucked in his breath, and squeezed into the space between the crates and the building. The waiting felt like forever, but was probably only five minutes, until the guard came down the side of the building. Sigmund held his breath as the guard walked by, hearing his steps on the dry earth. Once around the front of the building and out of earshot, Sigmund squeezed back out from behind the crates and moved quickly to his rope. As he got close, he could see that it was still there and let out a sigh of relief. Climbing the wall, he didn’t pause at the top but immediately descended the other side. Once on the ground outside the wall, it took a few moments to get the grappling hook undone, but he was able to retrieve it. It would be best if no one knew he had been there. Of course the inside guard knew that someone was there. So strange.

  Taking a deep breath, he ran from the wall back to the hiding spot he was at earlier. Once there, he looked around, watching and listening for any signs of alarm. They never came. Not wanting to risk another trip on the water, considering how nerve racking it was the first time, he decided to walk to Vauxhall station and catch a train to London Bridge. He planned to return to Sutton’s office, show him the cube, and plan their next steps.

  * * *

  Jeremiah Maxwell absently wondered how many loops he made around the factory on any given night. To get this guard position took some doing and money, but now that he had it, he would use it to the full advantage. He probably could have gotten it quicker but he needed to be careful not to draw too much attention to himself. If it was found out who his real employer was – the Coal Union – his life would likely be over.

  It was a precarious situation to be sure but not an unfamiliar one for Jeremiah. While in the army he had faced life and death situations on multiple occasions and always came out unscathed. He was a talented soldier, but after escaping unharmed time and again he couldn’t help but feel a bit indestructible. Things always seemed to go his way. After his service in the army he found himself back in London without proper employment. His peers wanted him to do something respectable, like a clerk or a factory foreman, but Jeremiah couldn’t stand the tedium that those jobs entailed. He only thought about those careers if he had trouble falling asleep at night. It was a friend of his who directed him to the Coal Union, or really, the other way around. The Coal Union had its public face, its owners, stakeholders, lawyers, and so forth; but it also had a private side, a side that made things happen that needed to happen. This was the type of job that Jeremiah was well suited for. Not only was he a proven fighter but he also had the uncanny ability to fit in wherever he was. He was equally comfortable, and welcomed, at a dark riverside bar, or at tea with aristocrats. Circumstances never got the better of Jeremiah. It was this talent that helped him survive as an orphan, being able to talk his way out of situations as often as he had to fight. Not an enviable childhood by any stretch of the imagination but one that led him to a life that he now quite enjoyed.

  His current assignment was to find out all he could about the amalgam cubes and Grimkraken’s plans. The Coal Union was desperate, these cubes could mean the end of the need for coal. So far, Jeremiah had considered his results mildly successful. He was able to get ahold of some of the designs for the machines and pass them to his contacts, but the cube process itself still eluded him. Even after the time he had spent here he still wasn’t sure where the process was even kept. But the nighttime watch shift helped him to be able to look around without being watched himself.

  A couple more circuits and then he would start searching again for the hidden process documents. As Jeremiah walked down one of the dim paths, surrounded by crates and various tools, he looked up at the large war machines and couldn’t help but think about how quickly one became unimpressed. When these machines were first built he couldn’t imagine a more remarkable vehicle. Now as he passed them, he hardly looked their way. The briefly extraordinary had quickly become ordinary. And these were nothing compared to what was in the back of the factory which also lost its luster. The only items that hadn’t lost their ability to impress – or inspire fear – were four large crates carefully segregated from the rest of the factory contents. If operational –

  His thoughts were interrupted by a noise. Probably a mouse, as the factory had its fair share of critters. The sound reached his ears again – this time it sounded like a door. He approached the corner of the office section and as he turned he caught sight of someone standing near the lab entrance. Many ideas ran through his mind in the second or two that they stared at each other. His first thought was that the outside watchman, Henry, had come inside for some reason, but that couldn’t be right, this man was not in uniform. One of the scientists? No, that wasn’t right either, the entire work crew had left a while earlier. Was it Grimkraken himself? He was known to stop in at all hours for who knows what reasons, but no, this person wasn’t Grimkraken either. The last thought he had was that this was an outsider – maybe police, maybe military – it didn’t matter to Jeremiah, it was almost certainly someone not working for Grimkraken. In the back of his mind he knew that Grimkraken had more opposition than just the Coal Union, but he hadn’t really prepared himself to run in to one of them. Thinking quickly, he decided that the Coal Union could use all the help they could get. If this man was working for someone who was against Grimkraken then he was welcome to whatever he wanted.

  Without a word, Jeremiah nodded at the man, turned, and walked back the way he came letting the visitor go free.

  * * *

  Sigmund entered the back of the Academy and quickly went to Richard Sutton’s office. As expected, Sutton was still there waiting for any word of whether Sigmund was successful or not. When Sigmund arrived he was visibly relieved. Zachary ran across the room and jumped onto Sigmund’s chest and climbed to his shoulder.

  “It’s nice to see you too, Zachary.” Sigmund said with a smile.

  Sutton asked how it had gone and Sigmund told him the whole adventure, even about the interior guard who saw him and then let him go. Sutton thought the same thing as Sigmund, that it must have been a case of mistaken identity in Sigmund’s favor.

  Opening his bag Sigmund pulled out the apparatus that he’d taken and the cube. He set it up on a work table along the wall and then demonstrated the device. Sutton’s eyes grew wide and once the device was deactivated, he started to pace the room in a state of near hysteria. Sutton exclaimed, “This can’t be happening! This is the greatest invention of our time and it is going to be hidden away and used to slaughter. Absolutely intolerable!”

  Evidently the actual experience of the device had as strong an effect on Sutton as it did on Sigmund. Sigmund stated, “I believe we have enough proof to go forward.”

  Sutton thought for a moment, then, “If we get it to the right people, then yes. But it is a difficult situation, even with the cube. We still can’t tie it to Grimkraken other than with your word, which, no offense, will not stand up against that of the Defence Minister.”

  Sigmund nodded, that was true. They both fell to silence as they thought things over. Even Zachary seemed to be in quiet contemplation on Sigmund’s shoulder.

  Finally, Sigmund said, “I’m going to leave the cube and apparatus here. It’s far safer with you than with me. Richard, you do what you can with your contacts. I have a couple contacts myself that I would like to involve.”

  “What are you going to do?” asked Sutton.

  “I’m going to force the issue.”

  24.

  Harry Thorpe approached the door as nervous as he’d ever been in his life. The greyness of dusk was enhanced by a heavy fog that rolled in. The light from the house’s windows lost its luster as it fought through the watery curtain. How did he allow Sigmund to talk him into this? It had not sounded great earlier in the day when
Sigmund laid out the plan and now in the darkened evening, about to knock on the door of Christoph Grimkraken, newly appointed Defence Minister, it sounded much, much worse.

  Sigmund had returned the previous night at some point, while Harry was asleep, but in the morning, Harry heard about all that Sigmund had been up to, how he had visited Richard Sutton, broke into Grimkraken’s factory at Battersea, and now trying to prevent a possible war. Harry reflected on his simple life – never would he envision himself as part of anything like this.

  The Grimkraken home was a large house with a small estate surrounding it. It had an austere look to it, everything in its place. A home of a strict gentleman, thought Harry. On the doorstep Harry gave his clothes one last inspection. He was wearing his best suit, a suit he hadn’t worn since his wife’s funeral. It felt old. Sigmund assured him that it would lend an air of respectability.

  Without daring to think anymore, for fear that he would think his way into a retreat, he gave a solid three knocks on the door. He hoped and prayed that no one would answer but after a moment he heard footsteps and the door opened. A man in servant’s attire answered, “May I help you?”

  Harry replied curtly, as if talking to a servant was below him – all part of his act – and said, “You could start by inviting me in. Did you plan on leaving me on the doorstep all night?”

  Seemingly accustomed to such people, the servant said blandly, “I beg your pardon, sir. Please step inside.” He opened the door wide for Harry.

  Once in, the servant continued in the same bland voice, “Your name, sir?”

  “I am Mr. Pratt. I’m here to see the Defence Minister on an urgent matter. Please show me to him immediately.”

  “I apologize, but I’m afraid that the minister is not in currently. May I take a message before you leave?”

  Harry knew that Grimkraken was not at home as that was part of Sigmund’s plan. It was important to arrive before him and get invited to wait. Harry, in a near dumbfounded rage exclaimed, “Leave a message with you? My good sir, are you privy to government secrets? Do you have the knowledge to decide on the lives of others? No, sir! You do not. This is a message for the Defence Minister only and I am to wait until he arrives. Now where can I sit down?”

  The bland servant showed a little emotion at this last outburst. Whether he was impressed or insulted, Harry couldn’t tell, but Harry stared at him with the most impatient look he could muster.

  It seemed like the servant was wrestling with what to do. Harry worried that he would call the authorities. Eventually the servant said, “This way, sir, you can await in his study.”

  “Very well.”

  The servant showed Harry to a room with a closed door. The servant entered first and lit an oil lamp that was resting on a large desk. Once lit, Harry took in the room. It was of moderate size, had a window behind the desk, bookshelves, a dormant fireplace, and a free standing world globe. There was a large chair behind the desk and a few smaller ones in front of it – one of the smaller ones is what the servant offered and then exited the room when Harry sat down. He listened as the servants footsteps faded, then rose up from the chair and hurried to the window. He released the latch and pushed it open. From below the window Sigmund stood up and asked in a whisper, “How did it go?”

  “I’m not sure. I can’t help but think that the servant is going off to get a gun.”

  Sigmund smiled, “I’m sure you were brilliant, Harry. Now let me help you down.”

  Harry climbed out the window, leaning heavily on Sigmund and was relieved when he had his feet on firm ground – firm ground outside of the house.

  He watched Sigmund climbed in and turn around. Before closing the window, Sigmund said, “Thank you, Harry. Now please leave the way we talked about and go home. If there is trouble, there is no need to involve you any more than I already have.”

  Harry nodded, only too eager to leave, and said, “Fare well my lad.” And as he walked away he said to himself, “Please be careful.”

  * * *

  Although not the most dangerous part of the night, it was the part that worried Sigmund the most. If Harry had gotten into some trouble Sigmund would never forgive himself. But he needed a way into Grimkraken’s house. His face was too recognizable, he would never get past the servant, but Harry was unknown. At best, they had a description of an older man in a suit and a false name. It would be near impossible to figure out who Harry really was.

  Sitting in one of the smaller chairs, back to the door, Sigmund prayed that the servant would not return – that would be an interesting conversation. Sigmund checked his watch, 7:30. He didn’t replace the watch to its pocket but kept it in his hand and rubbed the cover with his thumb. His nerves were slowly starting to bother him and he hoped Grimkraken would be along soon.

  It was just after eight o’clock when the Defence Minister arrived. Sigmund could hear the door open and the servant greet his master. He was amused to hear the next bit of conversation.

  The servant said, “Sir, you have a visitor waiting for you in your study.”

  Grimkraken, in an annoyed voice, “A visitor? Who the devil is it?”

  The servant responded, “A Mister Pratt, sir. He says he has a message that is urgent for you.”

  “Did you say Pratt?” asked Grimkraken in an alarmed tone.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Sigmund next heard footsteps, quick, heavy, and getting louder. The door was practically thrown open and Grimkraken entered. Sigmund remained seated with his back to the door.

  Grimkraken bellowed out, “Who are you? What do you want?”

  Sigmund stood and turned around, allowing Grimkraken to see his face. As Grimkraken was trying to figure out why the face looked familiar, Sigmund said, “I would like to talk about amalgam cubes.”

  Grimkraken’s face took on a look of recognition. He now knew who his visitor was. He continued to stare for a moment to gather his wits. He finally said, “My word. If it is not Sigmund Shaw.”

  “Good evening, Defence Minister.” Sigmund said cordially.

  A voice from outside the study, the servant’s, asked, “Is everything alright, sir?

  Grimkraken stared at Sigmund for another moment and then said, “Yes, Lawrence. You can leave now.” He turned and closed the study door. Grimkraken walked around his desk and seated himself in the large chair. “So, Mr. Shaw, tell me why I shouldn’t contact the police right now and have you arrested?”

  “Because we both know I am not guilty. You were in the room with the German Scientists and you escaped the explosion with the amalgam cube process.” Grimkraken stared coldly but said nothing. “But before we get to that, I would like an answer to a question. I understand much of what is happening but one thing is beyond me. How did you know I was going to be there that night at the hotel? Did Marcus Pratt tell you?”

  Grimkraken laughed, “Marcus Pratt was a fool. Once we found out that he was passing messages to outsiders, we of course apprehended him and had him taken care of.”

  Ignoring the veiled reference to murder, Sigmund persisted, “If not Marcus, then how did you know?”

  “This is quite amusing, Mr. Shaw. You see, I did not know you were going to be there.”

  Despite his desire to remain calm, Sigmund couldn’t help gape at the comment. Grimkraken continued, “I had several men in position around the hotel to aid me in my plan. One of them spotted you on the window ledge – he was quite surprised – and even had a rifle pointed at you. If you had made any attempt to enter the room or try to stop me somehow, he would have shot you. As it is, his restraint was impressive. When the bomb went off, you were thrown from the ledge to the street and my man made sure that everyone around, especially the police, knew that you were on the ledge and insinuated that you were the responsible party. Quite an enterprising move by my man. Seeing you on the street, he thought you were dead, which would have been fine – case closed for the police. However, you being alive and having escaped custody has proven to b
e even more beneficial. You have the world looking for you, The Bomb Bandit, while I’m allowed to focus on other, more important things. It could not have worked out better.”

  Sigmund sat in silence for several seconds trying to change his perception of events. The curtains billowed from a night breeze as the leather seat beneath Sigmund creaked as he leaned back. It was all a terrible coincidence – a coincidence that benefitted Grimkraken and his faction. It was infuriating.

  Grimkraken interrupted Sigmund’s thoughts and asked, “Tell me, Mr. Shaw, why were you there? It’s obvious that Marcus Pratt gave you information about the meeting but what where you going to do?”

  He wondered how much he should tell. But the truth, without specific names, would be the best route. “I was there to verify that the invention was real and then try to steal it.”

  “And give it to whom?”

  “Marcus Pratt.” Sigmund couldn’t think how any harm could come from this piece of information, Pratt was already dead. “He was going to expose the cube and give it to the world.”