The Lightning Lord

by Anthony Faircloth

  “Ah, Captain. You will be continuing your journey, correct?”

  Grimm nodded without looking up.

  “Ah, yes, and your flight will take you east?”

  “Actually, south and east. We are headed to Africa,” he said. “I am plotting the course now. The air currents are not so good for this, but I will make it happen.”

  A scuff at the door caused them both to turn. Joseph stood just outside. “Pardon sir,” he said to the Captain, “but I wanted to report that the ladder and telescope are stored and secure.”

  “Thank you, Master Joseph. You may return to your duties in the engine room.”

  Joseph bowed, “Yes, sir.” He turned to go then stopped. “Oh, sir, I thought you should know, before I left the observation deck I could see smoke coming from other buildings. Apparently, a breeze moved the sparks around, the whole place is on fire.”

  Grimm nodded, “Very well, thank you for the report.”

  Tesla shook his head. “All gone, it is all gone. I have nothing.”

  “No, no, monsieur, you have your life and that is a great deal, mon ami.”

  “Yes, well, I suppose it is.”

  Both men were quiet for several minutes. Grimm continuing calculations and plotting their voyage to the Dark Continent, while Tesla paced, his chin in his hand. Then, the scientist seemed to come to a decision.

  “Captain, before we get too far I would like to remain in Aspen.”

  Grimm glanced up, looking for confirmation in the man’s face. Finding it, he leaned over to a brass tube, “Engine room, change course 180 degrees and take us back to Aspen. Mr. Tesla would like to disembark.”

  “Change course 180 degrees, aye,” said, Parry. “Damn, I would have liked to have picked the egg heads brain about upgrading the Daedalus’ systems.”

  Tesla walked to the tube and Grimm stepping back to give the man access. “Mr. Parry, once I get re-established, perhaps you could send me diagrams of the ships systems and I could ‘hatch’ some ideas from my egg-head.”

  Grimm grimaced at the bad joke. After too long of a pause, Parry spoke, “Eh, my apologies, sir. I didn’t know ... well, anyway, yes, once you get settled please let me know and I will have a copy of the ships systems sent to you. Much appreciation.”

  Tesla smiled at the engineer’s discomfort.

  An hour later, they all stood at the bottom of the ship’s cargo ramp. Mister Tesla carried a small duffle Persi had put together for him. The bag contained a change of clothes from Boot’s closet and a coat from the same. Morris had packed some simple foodstuffs and placed it in a tin, along with a flask of brandy.

  “My heart cannot express my thanks at your generosity. I have a few things at a friend’s room here in town but other than that ...” he hefted the bag.

  “Well, Nikola, please let us know when you get settled,” Persi said, “Boots and I are always looking for new devices that enhance our ability to excel.” She handed him a calling card. “This is how you can get in touch with us.”

  Tesla bowed, “Thank you again.”

  “What are your plans?” Parry asked.

  “Well, I am going east to meet with Edison. I will present my work with alternating current, show him the gain in efficiency, and arrange a partnership.”

  “That is all?” Captain Grimm said, smiling.

  “Yes,” Tesla replied matter-of-factly.

  Grimm stuck his hand out, “Well then, good luck. From all I have heard of Edison, he may not like your approach, but he will like your tenacity.”

  Tesla looked at Boots, “Be careful, Duke Narcissa is a focused man and a visionary. If he has developed our technology as a weapon, he has a plan. If he has a plan, he will do anything to carry it out.”

  Boots shook Tesla’s hand, “We will keep our eyes open, thank you.”

  He bowed to Persi, “Had I more time,” he winked, “who knows.”

  Persi felt her face heat up, then chided herself for succumbing to such a churlish attempt. “Yes,” she said and slipped her arm through Boots, “unfortunately we will never know.”

  He smiled and bowed, “Yes, all is as it should be.” He threw his bag over his shoulder and strode off.

  After he was gone, Boots reached into his waist pocket and pulled his watch. “Well then, as long as we are here, perhaps we should stock up for our trip.”

  It was 2 PM when the Daedalus finally dropped its mooring cables and ascended into the cool afternoon sky. Boots stood with Captain Grimm on the maneuvering deck, watching the city shrink as Parry increased speed to full.

  “Our leaving is timely,” Grimm said. “The local captains say a hard blow is on its way and Aspen will probably be buried tomorrow.”

  “And the facility, the Duke’s laboratory.” Boots said.

  Grimm nodded. “As long as we have seen the last of the daylight vampires, I am satisfied.”

  “Indeed,” said Boots.

  Grimm collapsed the speaking tube. “Why does a man do such a thing? The Nos, they are bad enough, but giving them the power to walk in daylight, this is ludicrous.”

  “Agreed,” Boots said, “This Duke Narcissus is dangerous. He must be stopped.”

  “And when you say, ‘stopped’ you mean?” Grimm asked.

  “Permanently, I mean permanently. He cannot be allowed to be free.”

  Persi stepped onto the deck and walked toward the men, throwing her arms wide. “A glorious day, gentlemen, is it not?”

  “One would be hard pressed to argue it,” Boots agreed.

  “How long will it take us to get to our destination, Captain?” Persi asked.

  “Twelve to fifteen days, if the weather is not against us. Perhaps ten days, if all goes well, but this is not likely, especially for the ocean crossings, and the winds are against us on our crossing to Africa.”

  “Well, we will have to pray the Duke does not arrive and implement his plan before we arrive.”

  Boots reached out and took her hand, “Remember, beloved, he has less than a twenty-four-hour lead on us. And the Daedalus is no slouch in the speed department.”

  “Certainement pas,” Captain Grimm said. “She is as fast as they get, except for the smaller military couriers.”

  “Well, it must do, I suppose. I sent an aethergram to the agency telling them of our plans, and suggesting they mobilize any assets in Africa that might at least provide intelligence for us when we arrive.”

  “Good work, my dear.” Boots said.

  “Our first stop will be in Pensacola, Florida,” Grimm said. “We can pick up any final supplies before crossing the Gulf of Mexico for Caracas, Venezuela. We should arrive in Florida in thirty hours or so. Until then, enjoy the trip.”

  Chapter 35 – To Pensacola, Florida

  The Nightwalkers awoke just before sunset and met in the ship’s dining area. Persi and Boots filled them in on the rescue of Nikola Tesla, the odd behavior of the Nosferatu, including their demise from the sun, and the destruction of the Duke’s facility.

  “The Nosferatu were awake -- in full sunlight?” Jane asked, her face a combination of amazement and horror.

  “No, not awake,” Boots said, “They were engaged in hunting Tesla in full sunlight.”

  “This is ...,” Jane said, words failing her.

  “It is an abomination,” Aiyana said. “I could feel their pain, they were tortured.” She paused briefly as skin rippled across her face, then spat out, “This Duke Narcissa must be ended.”

  “Aiyana, control yourself.” Jane said with a smile, her voice polite but firm.

  Aiyana glanced up looking around, as if she just remembered she was with people.

  “Please, forgive me,” she said.

  “Think nothing of it, we had similar thoughts,” Persi said, pouring each a cup of tea, an herbal blend Aiyana had made with ingredients acquired by Morris. She told Persi it would help with the development of the babies.

  “You will not capture him and make him face your legal judgment?” J
ohn asked.

  “I believe we have enough proof of evil doing that we need not waste valuable time and tax payer money in a trial with an obvious outcome,” Boots said. “But also, we have been given the authority to ... remove such men without a trial if we deem it necessary.”

  John nodded, “It is a good rule, most effective.” He looked at the others in the way they did when they conducted that mysterious inner dialogue. “Then we will help. He has attacked our people and through his actions, killed at least twenty of them.”

  “At least? We counted nineteen dead from ... solar poisoning,” Persi said.

  Aiyana would not look at them.

  “Aiyana,” Jane said, reaching over and tapping her hand, “tell them.”

  “Oh yes, please tell us, if Jane’s tone is an indicator it has all the earmarks of ruining our day,” Persi said, her voice tinged with annoyance. She leaned in, “Please stop holding things back from us. We continue to be upfront with you and you continue to hide things from us.”

  “You are right, of course, it is just that Aiyana, does not think the same as we,” John pointed between him and Jane. “Sometimes, she doesn’t understand what she feels until later, as is the case now.” He finished by nodding to Aiyana.

  “I ...” she cleared her throat, “When I said the humans had captured nineteen Nosferatu, it was not accurate. The picture I received would be better translated as many, not a specific number. I gave the number based on what I felt ‘many’ meant, and what I heard from local Keepers.”

  “The Nightwalkers in charge of them?” Boots asked.

  “Yes,” Aiyana said.

  “So ... there are more Nos back at the Duke’s facility?” Boots asked.

  “I don’t think so, I had a dream last night, born of the gift. I saw our people, contained in ...” she shrugged, “cans, each to its own can, and wherever they were, they were moving.”

  Persi looked at Boots. “An airship?” she asked.

  “Very likely I’m afraid,” Boots said. “In which case means the Duke still has either the beginnings of a supernatural security force, or an army.”

  “If he can control them,” Jane said, taking a sip of her tea. “You told us the Nos were still hunting like animals, just in the daylight.”

  “This is true,” Boots said. “I have no evidence the Duke has achieved any type of control, however, it is what I would do. Why attempt something so incredibly dangerous as trap Nosferatu, unless you thought you could tame them?” He cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair. “This brings up another point I have been thinking about. Why didn’t the Nightwalker guardians, ‘Keepers’ I think you called them, free the Nos on their own?”

  John, Jane and Aiyana looked at each other, communicating.

  “Another secret?” Persi said, dropping her hands in her lap. “Really people, how can we recommend you to our president if you cannot trust us?”

  “We have told you already, in a way,” Jane said. “Remember when I spoke of the Dark Ones?”

  Persi and Boots nodded.

  “There was a strong influence in the Duke’s stronghold, so much that the Keepers could not approach.”

  The two agents stared, not understanding.

  “Have you ever been a situation where evil was present and your hair stood up, or perhaps you got goose flesh?”

  They nodded again.

  “Imagine it that feeling was physically painful, like having your skin ripped from your body, slowly.”

  Boots continued his stare while Persi’s eyes went wide and she shivered.

  “Well,” Boots said, “I can see why that would deter them.”

  “Yes,” said John, “Besides, the Duke was able to catch a Nosferatu, many Nosferatu. What would stop him from catching a Nightwalker? We don’t know how he managed it.”

  “Yes, I see your point,” Boots said, “Then we must learn more of these Dark Ones if we are to encounter them. I will send an aetherpost to the agency and get them researching. Perhaps they can have something for us when we reach Florida.”

  “A splendid idea, Boots, my love.” Persi said, clapping her hands.

  “Thank you, my dear, always anxious to please,” he said with a wink.

  “Hmm,” she said with a flutter of her eyelashes. “Well, perhaps some food? Mister Morris?

  ****

  In Pensacola, Florida, the sun was bright as the Daedalus approached. The ground crew awaited them at the mooring tower near the Plaza Ferdinand VII. Once tied off, and the brow tower rolled into place, Persi and Boots disembarked along with Captain Grimm and Morris. The captain went to the maintenance hangar in an attempt to secure a part needed by the engineer to finish the repairs made by the ex-cook’s sabotage. Morris thought he could purchase a few consumables, and feed for the animals.

  Persi took Boots arm and they began to stroll toward the Field Superintendent’s Office where they were told the Communications Office was located. As they approached the door, a short thin man in a well-tailored, if not slightly out of date suit, approached them carrying a valise.

  “Mr. Beacon?” he asked to Boots. His lips twitched and his left shoulder had a chronic shrug, as if he had put his skin on recently and it just wasn’t fitting well.

  “Yes,” Boots answered.

  “Ahh, good, I am Christopher Gringle, from the Agency.” His accent had a slight southern draw but it was obvious that he was a man of books and not recently pulled from the farm. “I was told to meet you here this afternoon. I must say you are exactly on time.”

  “Well, our captain is nothing if not punctual.” Persi said, causing the man a slight jerk as he looked at Persi, as if he hadn’t even seen her.

  “Yes, and you must be Ms. Shuttleworth.” He bowed slightly. When he straightened, he thrust the valise at Boots who initially moved his arms in a position shown him by a Shoulin monk, and used to block knife stabs. Seeing it was a brief case however, he altered his stance and accepted the case.

  “Thank you, Mister Gringle. This is the information for which I asked?”

  “Yes, sir, and your welcome to it. I was given it yesterday and since then I have kept it within twelve inches of my person at all times. I was unable to sleep, being woken every hour with horrible dreams. Animals won’t come near me, not even Oxford, my own Siamese.” He held out his hand to display several scratch marks.

  Persi nodded and glanced at Boots, then at the valise.

  “And,” Mister Gringle continued, “about two hours ago, I began to feel bugs crawling all over me. It felt so real that I went over to the doctor’s office, stripped down and made him verify there were no bugs on me. I dressed quickly and left before he restrained me and had me committed.”

  “Have you seen the contents?” Boots asked.

  “Nope, and don’t want to. In fact, I got a wife who needs a new set of spectacles but you couldn’t pay me enough to open it, or to spend any more time with it so ...” He tipped his hat, “I bid you a good day and safe travels.” And before they could ask him another question, he handed Persi a small ring of two keys, turned and nearly ran from their company.

  After he left, Persi and Boots stood for several seconds, looking at the bag which Boots had by the handle and out several inches from his body, looking as though he had just realized it was covered with manure.

  “Well, then,” Persi said.

  “Hmm, yes, well said,” Boots replied.

  “Perhaps the town has a tea room we could adjourn to for a quick peek?” Persi suggested

  “Yes, lets.” Boots said, offering his arm.

  Chapter 36 – Persi and Boots Read a Book

  As it turned out, there was not a tearoom, however they found the restaurant attached to a saloon accommodating. Telling the waitress that they wanted a bit of privacy, she showed them to a table in the back of the room.

  They ordered half a chicken, butterbeans, boiled potatoes and dish made of a kind of greens the waitress called, “collards.” Persi saw grits on the
menu and ordered them also.

  Boots watched as she finished off the grits, most of the chicken and half the vegetables. “Hungry, were we?” he asked.

  “Well, yes,” she said then blushed as she looked around and realized how much food she had eaten. “Apparently I must learn to eat a better breakfast.”

  Boots raised an eyebrow but said nothing, ordering coffee instead. After the waitress removed the dishes, Boots placed the valise on the table and unlocked the latch using the key provided by Persi. He pulled an ancient cracked leather folder, wrapped several times with thin silver chain and ending in a broad flat hook that inserted into a silver hasp on one side of the folder. Together, the hook and hasp held the folder securely closed.

  Finally, Boots removed a new clean white paper envelop carrying the Agencies crest -- a rampant cat standing in a circle created by a large coiled serpent. The snake’s head rose midway up the cat’s body before the feline’s front paw rested on the reptile’s head, as if holding it down. Boots removed the parchment from the envelope and read.

  “Agents Shuttleworth and Beacon.

  We hope this post finds you safe and in good spirits. We received your request for information concerning the Elder gods and have done due diligence in our research given the short time we have had to gather it.

  Suffice it to say there is very little scholarly work from which to acquire the requested information. We have sent you a very old folder of notes said to have been discovered in a tomb in Arabia, and penned by a mad Arab, or some such drivel. Fortunately, for you, our esteemed professors have translated many of the pages, though not all. I believe I heard Arkham Press intends to bind and publish a limited quantity of this work within the year, though I see little reason to do so. The books would not be available to the public, only to other scholarly institutions. I have glanced through the manuscript and believe it to simply be fantastical stories, worse than penny dreadful fluff concerning gates to other realms where these infamous Elder gods’ reside. I suspect the only truth in the matter is that it was penned by a mad man. Having given my opinion however, the papers have been authenticated and the Miskatonic scholars believe the work to be significant to the topic, so it may give you some aid.