Copper Cove

by Robert Dahlen

  “Damn you, Elgin!” I screamed. “Let me go!”

  “Why? Will you be late for supper?”

  “Someone’s going to destroy the Express! The tracks have been rigged!”

  “You’ve been reading those two-shilling fiction magazines, haven’t you?” Elgin shook her head.

  I dug in my heels as best as I could. “We have to stop the train!”

  “We can discuss this after I turn you in.” The enforcer smiled. “I’m looking forward to—”

  Elgin stopped and gaped as another automation rushed past her. It resembled a hedgehog, with dozens of silver spikes with dulled cork tips on its back. It stopped and turned, and half a dozen spikes shot out, flying over my head.

  “Looks like the aim needs some work.” Elgin and I both glanced over at the guilder who was walking up to us. He was short, with an impressive beard, and holding his own panel. “Dwan Serki, Fellowship enforcer,” he said. “We’ve got a multiple Wells Act violator here.”

  “What?” Elgin gaped at Serki.

  “You must be Claudette Elgin. I’ve heard about—”

  Elgin marched up to him. “What the Hell are you doing here?”

  “We received an anonymous tip at the guildhall that Miles here was trying to stow away on the train. I was sent to try to round her up.”

  “How dare you! She’s mine!”

  Serki raised an eyebrow. “We should be working together to get the renegade crafters off our streets.”

  “I don’t need anyone’s help!” Elgin screamed, her face redder than a bottle of tomato catsup. It was quite obvious at that point that she had become distracted.

  As the Coptopus pulled me nearer, I drew the Verne’s Drainer from my toolbelt. I was about to touch the automaton, and I knew that if I did, I was done for. I stretched my free arm out as far as I could, until the drainer was in contact with the Coptopus’ eye.

  There was a loud cheer from the platform. In the corner of my eye, I saw Elgin and Serki pause their heated discussion and glance over. I knew that meant that the Express had started its trip, and I gave thanks for the distraction as I activated the drainer.

  There was a tremendous blue flash. I saw the light in the Coptopus’ eyes fade away, and I felt the drainer shudder as it absorbed the dwimm from the automaton. The Coptopus slumped, its tentacles drooping, and the cords that had held me fell slack. I tucked the drainer away; it would have to be discharged in the next two hours, but I had bigger concerns.

  I looked over at the enforcers as I worked myself loose of the cords. Elgin’s screaming was on the verge of incoherence, and Serki seemed to be in a daze. I started to stand, but stopped as the ground shook.

  The Velessan Express was coming, its black engine all a-gleam. I knew I had to board it somehow.

  I ran towards the tracks. I glanced back over my shoulder and saw Serki, his eyes widening. He tapped his panel as I ran past his hedgehog, and I gave the automaton a swift kick, knocking it on its back. I felt a faint twinge of guilt as it wriggled its legs helplessly; in an odd way, the hedgehog was rather cute.

  “She’s getting away!” Serki shouted as he desperately worked the controls on his panel.

  “I can see that!” Elgin screamed. She lifted her panel and smacked Serki on the head. As he dropped to his knees, she tossed her panel aside and ran towards me.

  The train was rolling slowly as I reached the tracks. I have to do this, I thought. For Sophie. I crouched and jumped, barely grabbing the railing on the rear of the caboose. I squeezed it tightly, holding on desperately, catching my breath.

  “Stop!” Elgin shouted as she ran up to the tracks. She reached for my legs. “You won’t get away, you—”

  “Oh, shut up!” I snapped. I swear, I am not a violent person despite my flashes of temper, but I couldn’t let Elgin stop me, not when Sophie was in danger. I drew my foot back and kicked Elgin hard in the chest. She toppled over with a shriek as the Express began to pick up speed. The noise of the train drowned out her swearing as I pulled myself onto the caboose’s rear platform.

  I took a deep breath, laying one hand on the platform’s railing to steady myself. I looked ahead, and I realized that I was one of the handful of people to see Copper Cove receding into the distance while on the first trip of the Velessan Express. On top of that, I had the best view.

  Poor Darjeeling chirped softly. She was terrified, and her claws were knotted up in my shirt as she held on tight. “You should try to enjoy this,” I said as I scratched her between her ears. “I wish I could.”

  I pivoted towards the caboose’s rear door and knocked on it. I wasn’t sure what I should do, but the plan that made the most sense was to find Sophie as quickly as I could and work with her to stop the train. The door opened, and two men in Double-C robes glared at me. “What the devil are you doing out there?” one growled.

  “Just keeping an eye on the tracks,” I said smoothly. They glanced at each other, and I added, “Fellowship journeyman first class. Had an accident with my robe, and no time to change.”

  The first guilder nodded. “Better get in,” he said.

  I thanked him as I stepped inside. “Where’s the privy?”

  “Two cars up.” He pointed to the far side of the caboose, and I saw the door there. “There’ll probably be a line to be the first to use that too.”

  “Let’s hope it’s not too long.” I squeezed my way through the narrow caboose and to the door.

  There had been some debate about whether or not there should be doors between cars on the Express, but the Ministry finally went along with it for safety purposes. However, getting through those doors was a tricky business, as to cross between cars, you had to step outside them. I held my breath as I moved onto the space between the caboose and the next car, as the railings that would keep me from tumbling into the sea below me seemed quite small and flimsy, even though they were neither.

  I breathed a soft sigh of relief as I stepped into the next car, which was being used to carry freight and mail and was unoccupied. There would be more of these cars on future trips, but it was just the one car this time, and I passed through it quickly.

  Another nerve-wracking passage between cars led me to the kitchen; I received some odd looks as I apologetically made my past the stoves and chefs, emerging into the dining room. The food during this trip was being brought to the other cars, so there was just one person sitting at the tables. She was in the red and gold of the Fellowship, taking a quick tea break.

  She looked up at me as I walked past. “Excuse me?” she said.

  “Privy run.” I managed a grin.

  “You’re dressed rather oddly, if you’ll forgive my saying so.”

  “Ah. I’m with the Double-C. Bit of a problem with grease. No time to change.”

  “Happens to all of us.” The guilder fixed her stare on Darjeeling. “That’s unusual.”

  “Watching her for a friend. My pardon.” I hurried through the car, feeling her eyes on me until I passed through the doors.

  The next three cars were for regular passenger travel, though they had been specially decorated for the premiere trip. I was able to hurry through them, except for one near-collision with a sprite pushing a pastry cart. I only had to get through two more cars before I reached the engine, and I was starting to worry as I had not yet seen Sophie. Had something happened to her? I doubted I could convince the engineers of the threat they faced without her help.

  I stepped into the next car. It was one of the luxury coaches, where people were mingling, chatting, flirting and drinking. There was an open bar, and tables with impressive spreads of food and punch bowls. The car was crowded with nobles, city officials and celebrities, most of whom I recognized from the Courant. I found myself thinking that I was in too low of an income bracket to be near most of these passengers.

  A number of people stopped and stared at me as I worked my way past. Several of them cooed over Darjeeling. I smiled politely as I fought my way towards the far end
of the car.

  “What ho!” I stopped as I saw Alcroft, spectacles in place. “You made it after all, Miles!” he said, louder than I would have liked.

  “Lucky me.” I smiled weakly.

  “Sophie will be pleased to see you. She kept saying you had insisted there was something—”

  “Oh, look at the riffraff.” Lady Greenbrae glared at me. “This car is not for the likes of you, crafter.”

  I sighed. “Look, if you want me to fix your bloody myrmidon—”

  “Tabitha Miles?” A thin woman with a pinched face rose from her cushioned seat. I recognized her and, somehow, kept myself from launching some choice insults. “The renegade?” said Palmyra Dalrymple, head of the Clockwork Consortium.

  “Fancy meeting you here.” I forced a chuckle. “Will you look at the time—”

  “What is she doing here!” A brawny man with a severe haircut glared at me. I knew who he was - Stanton Overton, who had founded the Fellowship of Brass. “With those tools!”

  “Just looking for the privy?” I smiled weakly.

  “She’s up to no good, I’m sure,” Dalrymple said with a faint sneer.

  “Not in the slightest! Renegade crafters cannot be trusted!” Overton was turning purple as he leapt to his feet. He was in rather good shape for someone his age.

  “She’ll wreck the train!” Lady Greenbrae said. “Just like she did my beautiful myrmidon!”

  “Arrest her!” Overton thundered.

  “Pleasure seeing you again,” I said to Alcroft as I dashed past him, heading for the far door. Two bartenders jumped out and lunged for me, but I stepped aside just in time and they crashed into each other.

  A pair of railway constables, who’d been enjoying their whiskies, started to rise from their chairs, but Overton pushed past them. “We’ve got you this time, Miles!” he yelled.

  I stopped at the door and started to wrestle with it. Overton came up behind me, his arms raised. I spun to the side and brought up a knee, getting him in a rather unpleasant spot. He bent over and gurgled in agony. I threw the door open, slammed it shut in the constables’ faces as I hurried out, and dashed to the next car.

  My eyes widened as I stepped inside quietly. This car, the one just behind the engine, was where the party was in full swing. A man in a black vest with a guitar and a redhaired woman with a violin were playing in a corner near me, filling the air with a delightfully gloomy duet. Sprite interns in perfectly tailored suits were everywhere, pouring tea and passing around biscuits. And by the far door, to my initial surprise, were Lady Sylvetta Travers and her bosom companion, Lord Oceanio.

  The two had made their fortune as partners in the tea business, and had invested part of it in the rail line, the Courant, and other worthy causes. Lord Oceanio was tall and devilishly handsome enough that no one ever considered complaining that he always went hatless; his wit and charm were the talk of the Crescent Sea. Lady Sylvetta was a force of nature, possessed of endless energy and jokes, with an unswerving love of adventure and tea. She looked splendid in her red and black gown, as did Lord Oceanio in his matching waistcoat, and her teacup hat was pinned to her bright red hair at a perfectly jaunty angle.

  I had read endlessly of their exploits in the Courant; they were among the few nobles I actually liked. I was so shocked to see them in the flesh that it took me a moment to realize they were in the midst of an interview, and who the reporter they were speaking with was. “Sophie!” I shouted. “Sophie!”

  Her jaw dropped. She spun to face me, juggling her notepad and pen. “Tabitha?” she exclaimed.

  The crowd politely parted as I sprinted up to her. “Sophie!” I said quietly.

  Lady Sylvetta stared at me for a moment. “Is this the woman you were telling me about?”

  “Yes,” Sophie said. “Tabitha Miles. She’s the one—”

  “A pleasure.” Lady Sylvetta extended her hand.

  “Likewise,” I said as we shook hands. “Sophie—”

  “Might we get you a cup of tea?” Lord Oceanio asked, shaking my hand in turn.

  “There’s no time!”

  Lord Oceanio raised an eyebrow. “My dear, there’s always time for tea.”

  “Listen to me, all of you!” I tried not to shout. “We have to stop the train. We have to.”

  “And ruin such a delightful party?” Lady Sylvetta cast a disappointed glare at me.

  “The interns would be so disappointed,” Lord Oceanio said. “They’ve been looking forward to this for weeks.” He and Lady Sylvetta sadly shook their heads in unison.

  I sighed loudly. “A generator on the tracks ahead has been rigged to explode, like the lamp outside of Strom’s office! We’ll go into the sea if we don’t stop this train!”

  “Oh gods!” Sophie’s hands flew to her mouth.

  “Excuse me,” Lady Sylvetta said. “Could you please try not to cause a panic? It’s quite unseemly.” She calmly sipped her tea.

  “And the tea dueling starts in ten minutes,” Lord Oceanio added.

  “No! I’m serious!” I pointed at my tool belt. “I’m a crafter! I can sense these things!”

  “That must come in handy when one’s kettles need repair,” Lady Sylvetta mused.

  “I have to get into the engine room! Please!”

  Lady Sylvetta eyed me as if I might be mad, and for all she knew, I was. “Sophie?” she asked. “I know you well enough to ask you this. Do you trust this woman?”

  I held my breath for a moment. If I couldn’t convince anyone else of how dire the situation was, we would all be doomed. What if Sophie doubted me? What if she thought I was wrong?

  “I trust Tabitha with my life,” Sophie said without hesitation. “We need to stop this train.” If things weren’t so dire, I would have kissed her.

  Lady Sylvetta and Lord Oceanio looked at each other and nodded. “Very well,” Lady Sylvetta said as she reached into her biscuit-shaped handbag and pulled out a small device that looked like a brass rose with a button nestled in the petals. She pointed it at the far door and tapped the button. There was an audible click. “A precaution,” she said. “One never knows when and where Captain Sitronu and her pirate crew will strike.”

  “Thank you.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Would you watch Darjeeling?” I said as I plucked her from my shoulder.

  “Gladly.” Lady Sylvetta took Darjeeling with a smile.

  “We’ll have to explain to the staff later why we’ve locked the door,” Lord Oceanio said.

  “Tell them the tea duelers asked not to be disturbed.” Lady Sylvetta pointed the brass rose at the door to the engine and tapped the button twice. “Do hurry, Tabitha, and best of luck to you.”

  “To us,” Sophie said. “I’m going with her.”

  “Take care, then, my dear.” Lady Sylvetta handed Sophie the rose.

  Sophie nodded as I opened the door. I stepped out between cars and carefully edged aside to make room for her. There was just enough space for the two of us.

  “What’ll we do when we get inside the cab?” Sophie said as she aimed the rose at the door.

  “Talk to the engineers,” I said. “If they won’t listen, figure out where the brake is.”

  “I should be able to do both.” Sophie tapped the button twice, and we heard the faint click. I grabbed the door and swung it open, stepping into the cab. I was so startled by what I saw that I barely remembered to move aside for Sophie.

  The cab had two sliding doors on either side, a simple set of controls below the windshield, and a storage room near the rear. That room had been barricaded by the engineer’s chair, and he was hammering desperately on the door. The sliding door on one side had been wrenched open.

  Two winged figures stood by the controls. Neil gaped at us. Strom’s face flared with anger. “You!” he shouted. “We should have finished you when we had the chance!”

  “Neil!” I said. “Stop the train!”

  “I—” Neil looked back and forth between me and Strom.

 
; “Please! I know you’re not—”

  There was a faint blast. Sophie gasped as she stared through the windshield, and I could see the smoke in the far distance. “It’s too late now,” Neil said.

  “Strom,” Sophie said calmly. “Listen to me.”

  “Why should I?” he said. “When you die, your story dies with you.”

  “No, it won’t. I left my notebook at the Courant.”

  Strom’s eyes widened. “You what?”

  “If I die, the staff there will read it. They’ll all know what happened. Strom…” Sophie’s voice softened. “Is this what you really want? To murder a train full of innocents? Just so you can help cover up a story that’s going to come out anyway?”

  She was bluffing. I knew she was. The notebook was in her handbag. I said nothing, keeping my gaze fixed on Strom.

  “You have blood on your hands already,” Sophie said. “Two lives are more than enough to have been lost.”

  “I…” Strom said.

  “Please. Don’t do this.”

  Even with the noise from the engine, it seemed like the cabin was deathly quiet for a moment before Strom sighed. “You’re right,” he said. “Damn you.” He moved towards the controls.

  Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, Neil had stepped in Strom’s way. “What are you doing!” he said.

  “I’ve made enough mistakes,” Strom said. “I need to prevent another.” He pushed Neil aside and reached for a handle on the panel.

  “No,” Neil said hollowly. “We had a deal, Strom.”

  “The deal’s off for now.”

  “You told me there’d be vengeance! When Whitlock backed out and you asked me to take his place, you said I’d have my revenge!”

  “Farndom…” Neil and Strom turned their heads towards Sophie, who had yanked her hat pin from her hair. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will. This train needs to be stopped now.”

  Neil stepped back from Strom and towards Sophie, his wings—the wings I had helped craft—unfurling. “You want to be the hero?” Neil said, not a trace of emotion in his voice. “Will it help you sell newspapers, then?”