by J M Bannon
"You didn't marry," challenged Lilith.
"No, I did not. I made choices based on my circumstances and while I enjoy teaching you, a family life would have been more to my liking,” said Levy.
"I need to go to the toilet,” Lilith stood up and walked to the lobby of the hotel where they had fancy indoor plumbing. An old woman was in attendance, cleaning the porcelain and fussing over a room that was already immaculate.
When she came out from the toilet stall the attendant had already turned on the faucets and was mixing the water in the sink to get a good temperature for hand washing. Lilith took extra time washing up with a washing guard looking over her shoulder. The older woman handed her a towel. Lilith dried her hands and returned the towel to the old woman.
"You have beautiful hair… and eyes," the woman said, making eye contact then looking down at a plate on the sink with loose change sitting on it. Lilith foraged in her handbag for a tip. Grasping her purse, Lilith removed a large roll of francs. The old lady stared at the roll, it was likely a month's wage for her. Lilith scrunched her mouth in dissatisfaction as the towel maid continued giving her sad eyes. Lilith found a coin and dropped it onto the plate.
"Merci,"
Lilith walked out of the bathroom taking care to look for her chaperone. Levy had her back to her, so she made her way out to the cobblestone street then scurried across the street to the train station. She had planned this for weeks. Purchasing the ticket for the 12:05 p.m. train to Paris, Lilith double-timed it through the station and on to the platform, she was officially on an adventure and felt aware of everyone as a possible agent looking to report her to her Father. She would ride the train through the afternoon and then check into the Saint George Hotel for the first night of her holiday in Paris.
"Pardon Monsieur, where is my carriage?” The man looked at her then reviewed her ticket. "Follow me this way to the first class cabin," offered the conductor. The doors to each compartment opened from the outside. "This is cabin number 12 Mademoiselle," the conductor held the door for her. "Any bags?" he queried.
Lilith froze. Did he suspect something? She stood there, her mouth agape. "I can carry your bags and put them onto the luggage rack," he pointed to the metal racks over the seat, "I think it is too high for the Mademoiselle,"
She responded, "I have no bags, Merci.”
Lilith took her seat and made herself comfortable. The conductor hovered, looking at Lilith, then her handbag. Ugh, another one with their hand out. Again, she took out the wad of cash and searched for her change purse.
"May I suggest that you give me one of those five-franc notes and I will give you change? Then I would put the bulk of that cash on my person and not in a handbag. Too easy for some Parisian cutpurse to steal your money," said the conductor.
"Sound advice I am sure, but you treat me as if I have never been to Paris before." Lilith replied.
* * *
2:40 p.m. Palazzo Corsini, Rome Italy
Caiaphas walked into the library of Palazzo Corsini, his student Gerrard was reading from the Grimore Astraktas in its original Latin.
He looked over the boy's shoulder "Mark your place I have a different lesson for you. You are officially a teenager today and I want to give you a special present," said Caiaphas.
The boy stopped his studies, closed the book and turned to his mentor.
"You can ask me any question, just one, but you may ask anything, and I will truthfully answer it," offered the man.
The boy turned and looked at the old hairless man. Caiaphas experienced a strange sensation as the boy stared at him before confirming, "You will truthfully answer and fully explain what I ask? No silly riddles, or questions answered with a question?" said the dark-skinned boy. Caiaphas could sense his frustration and sometimes he pushed the boy by making him find answers on his own.
"You have my promise.”
"I want to know of your true nature,” the boy demanded.
Caiaphas shuddered inside but showed no emotion. The boy's question showed that he was indeed the one he needed, and the boy was learning fast. He could have asked why he couldn't go into the basement, or why he was the only student being trained; or one of a myriad of other things that would catch a teenagers curiosity, but not Gerrard. It was time.
"I am not of this world, Gerrard. I am older than you can imagine and before I came to this world, I was an explorer. There was a band of us and just as you become wiser, more experienced as you learn, the four of us had our minds opened to the true nature of being -through our exploratory pursuits. I am not referring to foreign lands or worlds, but alternate realities. Upon our return from our travels, my companions and I made exhaustive efforts to help our fellows understand that what they thought was true was only partially so. What we showed them from our explorations brought fear and challenged what they had built our society on. The leadership told us we could no longer take these voyages as it risked their way of life.
I was unable to stop adventuring Gerrard. For I knew, I had only just found the bank of the river. I would not be content until I sought out and found the source of that river. The authorities took my need to explore as a challenge. So my three companions and I, were branded outcasts and as a punishment for our disobedience we were banished.
Here on Earth, I am powerful, my grasp and control of the arcane is vast. That which is me is not the man you see. This mortal form is one of my puppets, one of many human forms I manipulate on this physical plane," He felt his answer was satisfactory, "I am surprised you didn't ask me why you are here?"
"I am here to learn how to use my power. I can feel something growing, an energy and you promised you would teach me," said Gerrard. He then switched to unspoken communication and pushed his thoughts into Caiaphas' mind. < You will eventually, have to tell me why you need me. >
What impressed Caiaphas was that Gerrard knew not to project his thoughts into the head of the man standing beside him, but down into the sub-basement where the true form of Caiaphas resided, in a vast pool of fetid soup.
"Why don't you go to the markets and pick out candies," Caiaphas took out his wallet and handed the boy some lira. "You have shown me with the question that you asked today, you are quite the apt pupil. I have been remiss as a tutor, having not known how fast you have progressed with thought projection," he finished.
"I'm not a boy who wishes to play and eat lollies. I am here to learn and become one that can master the power I feel growing. Each day that I gain an answer to that control, it creates two more questions," said the youth.
"Everything will be fine Gerrard. You may as well know, that my design for you is to become the harbinger of a new age, not just here on earth but across the multiverse. I will teach you how to become an explorer, just like I used to be and how to pierce the fabric of reality; to see and go beyond the realms of mortals.
12
Tuesday the 19th of March
8:20 a.m. Denver City
Denver City didn't have an aerodrome, hell it wasn't even a town not too long ago. He had been wire typed by a Detective Adolphus Williamson that the Peregrine had stopped to take on coal in Saint Louis and would arrive in two days' time. Elmore questioned what they might need to deal with an airship landing in his reply wire-type.
His British counterpart responded, “open field marked for landing is required and a hearty beefsteak to discuss the case over,” Elmore already like this gent. He informed them the town would set up a tent designating a landing location and light a signal fire between the branches of the Platte River and Cherry Creek near the outskirts of town.
Elmore had witnessed a lot on the range, much o
f it not fit for mixed company, but this day would be one he would share for some time. In fact, everyone in Denver City planned to come out to see the mighty airship land. It didn't land per se, the Peregrine was massive, like nothing he had seen before. Smoke billowed from three smokestacks and a smaller airship came down from the bigger ship that circled the city and filled the air with the noise of its propellers.
Elmore came out of the tent as the smaller vessel settled in front of the tent. The first to disembark was a gentleman with a full beard wearing a bowler hat and a fine suit.
"Who might be Marshal Quentin?" the man queried.
Raising his hand and walking up to the landing party, "That's me, sir, I suspect you must be Detective Adolphus Williamson," said Elmore giving the man a hearty handshake. Williamson had a high forehead, dark curly hair and an infectious smile that poked out of his bushy beard.
"Please, call me Dolly, the sooner you get used to that being my nickname the easier it will be when this pack of lasses say Dolly and I answer." said the bearded man with a Scottish lilt to his speech. "May I introduce Constable Rose Marie Caldwell. The two of us will be the primary contacts, with myself being the commanding officer for the Metropolitan Police," announced Dolly.
"That's him saying when it comes time to reprimand me you should report it to him," Rose said sticking out a kid glove covered hand to the Marshal. He grasped her hand and gave it a firm shake that the raven-haired woman returned.
This was the infamous White Witch of London, the foremost paranormal detective in the world's biggest city. She was decked out in men's western gear but instead of gun belts the harness on her midriff was fitted with pouches, instruments, and vials. She gave Elmore a cute smile that he returned with a smirk. He rubbed his three-day growth of beard and blurted out, "if I’d known you were all so fetching I would have cleaned up."
"What and deprive us of that raw western look we expect. We came to see the wild and woolly west. Besides, I am not known to be one who keeps to social standards," replied Rose.
"I have to say from what I've read in the newspapers you may belong out here more than in the city," Elmore replied looking to the other woman in pants and leather aviator gear.
"This is our airship pilot and a friend of mine, Captain Reidun Falk," introduced Rose.
"The Valkyrie doesn't need much introduction around here. What brings you back to this part of the World?" asked the Marshal.
"A faster ship than I left in," She said with a smile.
"Well, let me be clear, as the Lawman in these parts, that if the rumors are true, then there will be no fist fights or carriage races through town. Denver city has no interest in becoming notorious like Deadwood," declared Elmore.
The group looked at the Captain as if this was news to them.
"Seems the only thing faster than my ship is the rumor mill," she shrugged, not offering more.
"Captain Falk is not here in any official capacity, other than she commands the Peregrine.
"You're all here as guests on my invitation and you will be extended every courtesy, however, you will be expected to obey the law," Elmore met Reidun's eyes.
Dolly stepped in, "Marshal, I am here as requested, to observe and report. We will allow you to conduct all law enforcement affairs and ask for guidance as we are unfamiliar with your system of law. I would also like to introduce Doctor Lorelei von Traube, Guild Alchemist and a member of our team."
"Pleased to meet you, Ma'am. Did I hear the name correctly? von Traube? Any relation to the Alchemist Traube, who sells the liver conditioning and headache pills?"
The joy vanished from Lorelei's face, "Yes, that is my Father, but I am a scientist and conduct alchemical research.”
"Well, I'll be damned, no wonder you run around with a girl's name, Detective. You are riding with the most spectacular pack of ladies I have ever met, the fastest woman alive, a doctor that has her name in every medicine cabinet in the country, and the White Witch of London. I can't figure out how the hell you got this line up on your dance card and I know there must be some mistake, that you all are gathered here on the edge of civilization, to help me unravel a mystery in a one horse town," mused Elmore as he was hit with the gravity of the situation.
He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his sandy brown hair, "I'm sorry Doctor, it’s a pleasure and I have to say your father's tablets have made many an early morning bearable after a late night of drinking," finished Elmore as he regained his composure and shook the small doctor's hand. Of the three women, she was dressed conservatively, the only one wearing a skirt. The petite lady returned an energetic smile and spoke with a German accent.
"Marshal it is a pleasure to meet you and while my father's apothecary is renowned, I am here to support Miss Caldwell, and her investigation," said Doctor Traube.
Elmore sensed the fire in her tone, for a woman with a tiny frame he could tell she packed a wallop when fired up.
The Marshal quickly shifted to business. "I would like to get started as soon as possible, maybe we can ride out tomorrow, but first I would like you to look at some stuff I brought back from Harpsichord."
"Marshal, is there any reason why we can't travel by airship to visit the scene?" asked Reidun.
"That would be easier and more efficient, as we have all of our investigative equipment aboard the Peregrine,”added Rose.
Elmore thought for a moment. He had just assumed they would ride out and had planned for extra horses and gear. "You will miss out on the full frontier experience of riding the trail,"
"I've got to say, my friend, I prefer the prospects of a cabin on the Peregrine, whisky in crystal and a galley with a cook, rather than eating jerky and sleeping under the stars," opined Dolly.
"Not an outdoorsman?" asked the Marshal.
Rose and Dolly both chuckled. "The inspector here is one hundred percent born and bred in the city! Be it Glasgow or London, he needs the clanking of carriages and the soot of the smokestacks to feel comfortable," said Rose.
"I think the starlight would keep me awake. I'm a city rat," volunteered Dolly as he took out his pipe and filled it with tobacco.
"Well, I have rooms prepared for you over at the hotel tonight and we have dinner planned to serve up authentic frontier rump steak with all the fixings. I would like us to go over to my office on Larimer Street and review some odd things I found and don't have an inkling of what they might be."
"Righto, let's get over there, laddie and see what you’ve collected and then we can get on to that steak you keep teasing me with," Dolly offered between puffs of his pipe.
Outside the tent, a horse-drawn carriage waited, Elmore had hired it to take his guests into town. His horse was liveried in town, so he hopped into the carriage after holding the doors open for his guests. As the carriage made its way into Denver City Elmore provided them the quick tour. "Denver City is the largest and most prominent town in the newly minted Colorado territory. After all the fuss with Kansas and Nebraska the boys out east parceled up the Indian territories, then The Lode was found at Pikes peak and this town took off. I was selected as Marshal and the seat was placed here along with the federal district court. My deputies and I preside over one hundred thousand square miles, including three major tribes of Indians, who don't always get along, trappers, pioneers, homesteaders, ranchers and every type of miscreant you can imagine who prefer to live on the fringe of society. With all that said, it is a beautiful country,” Elmore concluded.
The carriage pulled up to the Courthouse on Larimer Street. Under going the final stages of construction, it was one of the few brick buildings in town. Elmore guided the party in through the main door of the Courthouse, then down the long hallway to his office. The upper part of the split door read: United States Marshal's Office of the Territory of Colorado, printed in gold leaf on frosted glass. At a formidable desk occupying the majority of the simple open office space, sat a tall heavy-set man. As the group entered the room he stood, revealing the deputy’s
badge on his chest. The walls of the room were decorated by various maps of the territory and adjoining states along with several Wanted posters. “Good afternoon Marshall,” said the deputy.
"Wattsy, these are the folks from England, we will be working in my office, so git on out, we are not to be disturbed. As far as the ride tomorrow, it looks like we will travel by airship, so can you prepare my gear and bring it over to…" Elmore turned to Reidun for guidance.
"Bring the items to the runabout at the mooring and the pilot will get them up to the airship,"
"Got all that?" Quentin said, pointing at Wattsy.
"Sure enough, any of you folks want some coffee? Got a pot brewed," Wattsy threw his thumb over his shoulder towards a pot belly stove in the corner of the office, a blue and white speckled enamel coffee pot sat at the ready.
"What are these, Marshal?" Williamson was looking at the locked rifle rack positioned on the wall next to the door.
"Detective, while we may be on the edge of civilization we do have a few modern amenities. These here are Henry repeating rifles. The most advanced firearm known to man.!” Elmore thought the Scotsman would begin to drool. Elmore walked over to the rack and pulled out a key ring to unlock the chain that ran through the trigger guards of the rifles, releasing one and handing it to the Detective.
"One perk of being the newest office in the territory is we can requisition the latest equipment,"
"And most of it is shit," injected Wattsy pouring a cup of coffee at the stove.
"But not these. Matter of fact I carry one and find it far more reliable than any revolver,
"Not like those crappy volcanic arms they used to make or a muzzleloader," piped in Wattsy.
"It's a repeating rifle, you see the tube here under the barrel? It's what they call a magazine and you load these," the Marshal handed the rifle to Dolly freeing his hands to open a drawer storing ammunition. He removed a wax paper box and drew out a brass and lead bullet. "The rifle fires a forty- four caliber rimfire cartridge. No loading of powder and ball, it's all in this one shell.