“I’ve been worried about you, Jeremy, and the feeling intensified last night till I could hardly stand it.” Nemeth admitted at last. “That’s why I stopped by even though it’s so busy at my shop the day before the festival.”
“You were worried about me?”
“Yes of course! In fact it’s… well, I’ve been feeling like I needed to come see… I mean…” the man stuttered.
Jeremy sat back in surprise. He’d never seen Nemeth nonplussed about anything.
“Are you feeling all right, sir?” he asked his boss.
Nemeth chuckled ruefully.
“Fiasca said I was obsessed,” he admitted. His voice went falsetto and he raised his hands as he imitated his fiancé. ‘Nothing but Jeremy, Jeremy all day long!’ he sing-songed. Jeremy choked so he wouldn’t laugh. For a moment the man had sounded exactly like Fiasca.
Ffip sat forward.
“Excuse me, sir, if you don’t mind my interrupting,” she put in.
“I don’t mind,” said Nemeth, smiling at her.
“You say you’ve been thinking about Jeremy a lot lately?”
“Well I wouldn’t put it that way.”
“Yes, I know. What I mean is; you’ve felt compelled to stay by his side?”
Nemeth frowned again.
“I wouldn’t put it that way either.”
“Then how would you put it?”
The man scratched his head.
“Let me, my dear,” said Halbernon turning to Nemeth. “For days the thought of Jeremy and how he’s doing has been entering your mind, correct?”
“Like I said it was worse last night but how did you know that?” Nemeth said, looking startled.
“What took you so long to come over then, mister?” demanded Halbernon, clicking his fingers.
“I apologize for waiting,” Nemeth chuckled, his voice dry. “In my defense I’ll tell you that my fiancé has been very… uh, opposed to the idea. My ex-fiancé, I should say.”
“Your ex-fiancé?” Jeremy put in. “Forgive me, sir, but I hope I didn’t cause any trouble between you and Fiasca?”
“Well to be honest, Jeremy, you did. To begin with I had a difficult time getting her to admit she’d ever spent any time with you at all. I could tell she wasn’t being truthful. That didn’t go over well with me. Then, whenever I brought you up she grew incensed. She yelled at me, whined, went on a tirade against you, and finally ordered me to never mention your name again.”
“She didn’t like that your mind wasn’t on her,” muttered Mars.
“What was that, Mars?”
“Sorry; didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”
“But I kept noticing how little you thought of her nonetheless. Your face is no good at hiding what you think, my friend.”
“Fiasca and Jeremy and I…” said Mars, his voice thick with hesitation, “have some history.”
Nemeth sighed.
“I asked her to marry me, and I’m not the sort of man that gets engaged and then drops the girl. But somehow after hearing her tone and remembering the looks on your face, Mars, and yes; the loss of Jeremy here… Well, I realized that she wasn’t who I’d thought she was; seeing so clearly that she was lying to me, especially. With her new attitude she made me feel as if I was nothing and she wanted to rule me. When she perceived that my opinion of her had changed. I never needed to break things off between us. She left me in a fury. At least she acted more angry than hurt.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” said Jeremy.
“She damaged my shop.”
“What?” Jeremy dropped his spoon.
“She threw a fit like I’ve never seen. She knocked over shelves, ripped feed bags, and broke a glass window, too. I lost almost a quarter of a room full of stock. She couldn’t reach my other two shop rooms before I stopped her. She said I deserved it for wasting months out of her life.”
Jeremy just shook his head.
“I’ve got my workers finishing up the cleaning today, but no one can replace inventory and analyze my stock needs like you, Jeremy. I’ll go all the way and tell you that if you want your old job back, it’s yours.”
Jeremy sighed.
“Thank you, sir, but I can’t.”
“Why is that, if I may ask? I went to your room to check on you and it was empty. I’ve asked around and no one has seen you in town. From what I can tell you’re homeless and jobless. What’s preventing you from working for me now that Fiasca has left both of us behind? You won’t see her at the shop any more, I can guarantee.”
“I’ve got a new job to do.”
“What job?”
Jeremy picked up his spoon again. It seemed that today his team needed to grow in order to complete the mission he’d been given.
“I’m the new Time Mechanic,” he said with a sigh and then a nod in Nemeth’s direction.
Chapter Thirty-Two (In Which Jeremy Has to Convert Two Businessmen)
Convincing Nemeth that he was the Time Mechanic took more effort than it had with Halbernon. Precious time was wasted as Jeremy explained, but his former boss was worth the trouble. He’d been a good employer and almost a friend.
“You think you’re a Time Mechanic?” Nemeth said again, incredulous. “But there’s no such thing. I’ve always felt that History just named a few heroes that to keep a legend alive!”
“No, Time Mechanics were real. I’ve seen them,” said Jeremy.
“Now I’m really concerned about you,” Nemeth said.
It wasn’t until the other people in the room all agreed that Jeremy’s mission was pertinent and they’d joined him that Nemeth stuttered in amazement. He was willing to listen anyway.
“But it can’t be real… I mean, Mars!” Nemeth insisted again as they were moving their chairs to get comfortable in the front room.
“Here,” said Mars, helping Nemeth to sit down. “Just take your time. You get used to it.”
From their spot in the living room a different view could be seen out the window.
“Hey,” said Halbernon a moment later, peeking out at the front yard. “It looks like someone else is arriving.”
They all leaned forward to see who’d come. Kannikey gasped first.
“Oh no!” she cried. “It’s my stepfather come to check up on me! I thought he was just fussing when he said he would do this last night!”
“You mean he told you he might come looking here for you?” asked Ffip.
“There he is getting out of his carriage with that stubborn look on his face!” Kannikey complained instead of answering. “Don’t answer his knock, Mars! He just wants to make me go home!”
“I’m not going to refuse to answer the door, Kannikey,” said Mars. “That’s pointless since he knows we’re in here! Besides, he’s not going to ‘make’ you do anything while I’m around.”
“You’re right! I don’t have to go. I’m an adult, aren’t I?”
“It’s daylight and you’re just visiting friends,” put in Ffip. “Surely he’ll leave when he sees that you’re fine.”
“We had a big argument last night and he forbade me to see Mars again.”
“What does he have against Mars?”
“He says nothing, yet. He says Mars must be vetted to see if he’s an appropriate escort for me.”
Just then her stepfather knocked on the door, but now Mars sat back in his seat looking stubborn.
Jeremy had been thinking and he frowned. He should make use of every situation that arose. His voice firmed when he spoke.
“Mars,” he stated. “Open the door and let the man in.”
“But aren’t you listening to me, Jeremy?” said Kannikey. “He wants to prevent me from coming here!”
Jeremy moved towards the door himself, but Mars jumped to his feet. He reached over and stopped him.
“What’s going on, Jeremy?” he demanded. “Why do you have that look on your face?”
“It’s Kannikey’s stepfather, Mars. Don’t you see? The man’s been involved with the
enemy’s investment. I’ll bet you he knows all about Surebelow and where the warehouses connected to it are located. We won’t have to ride up and down Tonturin’s industrial district trying to find out where our enemies are operating. He could prove very useful.”
Mars blinked in surprise but now Kannikey’s hands flew to her face.
“You’re right!” she gasped. “But Jeremy, why do you sound threatening?”
“I’m not the one that’s a threat to Tonturin. Your stepfather needs to be taught better who to get involved with.”
“But…” she stuttered.
The knock on the door was repeated, louder this time.
“Mars, let him in, I said.” Jeremy’s face was determined.
“Is that an order, Jeremy?” Mars spat in agitation.
Jeremy wrenched his arm from his grasp.
“Yes!” he roared back, “it is! Do what I say, and now! We’re running out of time!”
Everyone froze at the rage in his voice. Silence fell in the room, which made the third knock sound like the man outside was pounding the door with a mallet. Nemeth just sat staring with fascination at his former assistant. Mars shook his head, squared his shoulders and opened the door. While he and Stedland were murmuring their greetings Jeremy moved another chair from the kitchen to the front room. Once the chairs were arranged in a circle Jeremy gestured the others to their feet just as Mars turned with Stedland and showed him into the room. Jeremy took control of the conversation right away.
“No, Kannikey,” he commanded. “Stand in place. You’re not going anywhere.”
The semi-polite expression that had been on Stedland’s face slipped. The man moved towards his stepdaughter, but Jeremy growled again.
“One moment, sir,” he said.
“Excuse me?” Stedland demanded.
“Kannikey can’t go home like a dutiful daughter right now. I need her.”
“You need her? What is this?”
“Something you should be included in. I need you too.”
“What? I…”
“Mars; make introductions.”
“Blast it Jeremy, stop ordering me around!”
Jeremy’s eyes burned in his direction.
“Oh, fine then! Stedland, allow me to introduce everyone. Nemeth I’m sure you know.”
“Good morning, Stedland.”
“Nemeth, but what are you doing here? Is this some sort of…”
“Later, sir,” Jeremy interrupted. “Mars keep on.”
“This is Halbernon. He’s a botanist of great age and experience from our nearby College.”
“I wouldn’t say ‘great’ age,” muttered the old man. “How do you do, sir?”
“Good morning,” Stedland bowed stiffly.
“This is Ffip, a talented engineer from Tetoross.”
“I’ve met this young lady before. She was a guest in my home.”
“Right, I forgot,” Mars frowned as he paused at who was next around the circle. She was quiet as she stared at Stedland. “Kannikey you can get at in a little while,” he went on. “What do you think this is anyhow? Your stepdaughter’s perfectly safe with me, and she’s old enough to choose her own friends, if you care to know what I think!”
“Of course you would think that, young man. But I, as her father, have the right to object.”
“Stepfather,” Kannikey corrected.
Stedland looked about to argue but Mars turned him towards the last person in the room.
“And this,” said Mars at last, “is Jeremy. He’s an extremely annoying, stubborn-as-a-rock-know-it-all who’s never bothered to live up to his full potential. He’s also the reason we’re all gathered here.”
Jeremy was shaken for a moment from his overwhelming purpose. What did Mars mean by that? He looked at Mars startled even as he bowed in Stedland’s direction.
“How are you, Sir,” he said.
“Your name is Jeremy?”
“Yes it is.”
“And you’re detaining Kannikey for some reason?”
Jeremy sighed.
“Kannikey’s free to leave as soon as we’re done with this conversation. You too, I suppose.”
“You suppose? What do you mean by that?”
“Let’s all just sit down if you don’t mind. I’ve got something important to talk about; a threat towards all the people of Tonturin. Our city is in great danger and we’re the only ones who can prevent it!”
After several moments of Jeremy’s earnest explaining neither Nemeth nor Stedland looked at all convinced.
“You say Tonturin is being threatened by some ‘terrible poison’ that’s to be released in the air somehow?” repeated Stedland. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Well if it were easy to do, don’t you think cities would’ve been conquered before by using such a method?” put in Halbernon with excitement. “That’s why these enemies Jeremy’s talking about are so clever!”
“And what ‘enemies’ are those?” sneered Stedland, sounding even more skeptical.
“The ones who’ve grown the poison, of course;” said Halbernon, “and before you ask, yes, there is poison involved here. I’ve seen it for myself.”
“And you’re a botanist, you say.”
“I’m an expert in my field. There’s poison, for certain. Now will you listen?”
“If this threat is so real then why not tell the authorities; or try to evacuate Tonturin?”
“I couldn’t risk being detained when the authorities refused to believe me,” put in Jeremy. “I’m the only one who sees the enemies behind this, you see. I’m the one who knows there’s a threat without doubt. There are two reasons why we can’t try to evacuate Tonturin. One is that our enemies will notice the second we try and adjust their plans or threaten Tonturin later. Two is simple. All of the populace would still be outdoors in the street even as they were leaving town. They’d be presenting themselves as the exact same target.”
“Still, if you’re so convinced there’s such a danger to our city I’d think you’d try. You’re just working these things up in your mind and confusing my stepdaughter and these other people in the process.”
“Look at it this way, then. Imagine you have a barn full of grain threatened by a rat. Which is easier— moving all the grain or just hunting down the rat?”
“And you’re the cat, I suppose,” sneered Stedland.
Jeremy sighed.
“This conversation isn’t getting us anywhere,” Jeremy said. “I’ll have to try something else. Everyone stand up, right where you’re at in this circle.”
Stedland looked amazed as all the others complied so promptly and finally he joined them, shaking his head. Jeremy went on.
“Now, take a hold of each other’s hands.”
“Blast it, Jeremy!”
“Shut up, Mars and give me your hand.”
A second later Jeremy chuckled. “Ow,” he complained.
“That’s what you deserve,” said Mars.
“I deserve to have my fingers almost broken? I can’t be much use then.”
“You’re not much use now, are you?”
“Whatever it is you mean by that is a conversation for another time. Everyone, now that we’re ready, close your eyes,” said Jeremy.
Jeremy sighed in satisfaction when they obeyed him, although he could tell that Stedland’s cooperation in such unusual proceedings would only last a few seconds. At least the man had Kannikey on one hand and Ffip on the other. Jeremy concentrated and felt satisfaction when they all began to freeze like a statue and their hands were the bond unbreakable. One by one he replayed the visions that he’d seen, except for the one that showed he, Mars, Kannikey and Ffip in vulnerable situations, the one where he and Mars played in the streets of Tonturin as boys, and last, the one which revealed the steam source under the horse statue in the center of Tonturin. He’d never reveal that secret. He showed only the visions related to the threats they were facing. They saw the hidden fields being pur
chased and the weeping sisters from Tetoross, they saw the contraband in the box under the tiles on the rooftop, they saw QuRellon arriving in town and the warehouse with a steam eagle, and they saw the painter’s studio and the two signs being painted about Surebelow. Last he showed them all the first vision he’d seen, with the previous Time Mechanics in a line, followed by the first Time Mechanic getting the rules. He even showed them the Time Mechanic teams from the past.
When he released them he nodded into their stunned faces.
“I’m the new Time Mechanic, and I’ve got a mission to complete,” he stated. “The threat begins in Tonturin. Once our enemies complete their plans here they’ll be empowered to take over the other ten cities. We must stop them, now while they’re relatively harmless and before we lose this chance. Help me save our time from becoming a horrifying chapter in history!”
Chapter Thirty-Three (In Which Jeremy Declares Himself a Figurative Feline)
It was Kannikey that protested first.
“But Jeremy, I still don’t understand!” she cried. “Those visions are so vague. How can you even be sure who the enemies are and what their plans are?”
“Being attacked and poisoned by Serrin might’ve convinced me who my enemies are,” he said in a dry tone.
“But Surebelow… why are you so set against that? Didn’t Halbernon say it was harmless?”
“Of course it’s harmless!” sputtered Stedland, waking up at her words. “I’ll hear nothing against Surebelow! It’s a fine product that will bring great benefit to Tonturin.”
“Don’t you understand what Surebelow is, Kannikey?”
“Halbernon said it was the antidote,” she replied.
“The antidote!” bellowed Stedland, “To what?”
Jeremy could see, in looking at the ring of faces sitting in their chairs around him in Mars’ front room, that they really didn’t understand what was going on. But after all, he’d had time to think about his visions and they hadn’t.
“Stedland and Nemeth; please give me just a few more minutes to explain,” he asked with a small bow.
“This is all ridiculous!” spouted Stedland, but Kannikey took hold of his arm.
The Time Mechanic Page 23