Agatha H. and the Airship City

Klaus frowned. “Unlikely. We keep records on the families of all established Sparks, and there are none unaccounted for. As for detecting a potential breakthrough amongst the general populace, even I have yet to develop a sure test for that. What else can you tell me?”

Gil thought for a moment while leaping from the wall. “It wasn’t constructed at the University. So a foundry or a machine shop off-campus. Only they’d have the necessary tools. But if he’s a newcomer to town—”

Klaus interrupted: “Shops can be rented. What about the man himself?”

A series of overturned carts, shouting peddlers, and items strewn about the streets indicated they were entering a market district. Gil vaulted over a load of spring onions. “He’s been wronged by someone. Someone he can’t touch through normal channels.” He grimaced. “Most likely us.”

Klaus nodded grimly. “Yes, the timing is perfect. Beetle is dead at our hands —”

“He threw a bomb at me.”

“Someone here is very upset.” They raced through Beetle Fountain Square, with its spitting statues. Pigeons clattered upwards around them, their clockwork mechanisms almost inaudible over the sound of their wings. Suddenly one of the birds froze and dropped to the ground, where, Gil suddenly noted, dozens more lay. Obviously the events of the last day had interfered with the pensioners whose daily job it was to wind them. “Many people are going to be upset, Father.”

“Beetle was loved by the populace,” Klaus admitted. “But more in the abstract. He did not interact with the general populace on a day-to-day basis. Therefore our question is who would be so upset that it would trigger a breakthrough?” He grinned wolfishly. “That is the mystery, and soon enough we shall know the answer!”

Adam and Lilith hurried through the meager crowd in front of the shops along Market Street. Their dark clothing, while a bit somber, did not stand out as much as their size. However people in the district were used to the oversized couple, and no longer gave them much thought. Adam looked glum. Lilith, being able to give voice to her annoyance, was more animated in her displeasure. “Fruitless!” she grumbled. “We’ve wasted a good part of yesterday and an entire night thanks to those stupid Jagerkin and no one knew anything about the locket or the thieves.” She looked at the dawn sky with trepidation. “We must leave the city at once and get as far away as possible. I’m guessing that we have a week at best before…”

A subtle change of the pressure on her arm caused her to look at her husband in annoyance. “Adam, you’re not listening to a word I’m—”

This was all too true, as Adam’s head had snapped back at a booming noise that was getting closer. Effortlessly he swept up the startled Lilith and hurled them both to one side just as the clank, its smokestack pouring forth clouds of black smoke thundered past them. Raising themselves up, they were just in time to see a squad of Jagermonsters fly past, howling. Purely by chance, Adam’s eyes locked with that of an older Jager, who grinned widely at them before running on.

Sweat started out on Adam’s forehead. Lilith pulled herself up, her eyes wide with realization. “Was that… That was Herr Ketter’s tractor!” The full ramifications of what they had seen caused her face to go white. “Agatha!” she cried.

Agatha was furiously scrubbing her hands in the big zinc tub when a pained groan came from the figure on the floor. She was a bit unsure about what she should do. Normally, of course, she’d have summoned the Watch, but as the only law enforcement lay in the hands of the Wulfenbachs, she’d decided that it would be easiest to wait for Adam and Lilith to return. She had hoped they would do so before the man had revived, but obviously it was not to be. She decided to go on the offensive. “Finally waking up, eh?”

Moloch rolled over and tried to move his arms, but found them tied behind him. He sagged in despair. “Ow. My face. Ow.”

Agatha came over and grasped his chin and examined the lump there. “It’s not broken. You’ll live.” She hefted the wrench she held in her other hand menacingly. “But I’ll smack you again unless you tell me what you did here.”

Moloch looked at her ruefully. “I woke you up. Not really a morning person, are you?”

“No, I mean, why did you bring me down to the shop? Why did you trash the place?”

Moloch looked genuinely surprised. “I did not! You were already here asleep on that bench and the place looked like this when I got here. Even the door was open.”

Agatha frowned. “Then who—?”At that moment the great doors swung open and the doorway was filled by an enormous clank that stepped within the forge and paused. Agatha dropped her wrench. Moloch tried to scramble away, but got tangled in the coil of rope, and he tumbled backwards. A small part of Agatha’s brain noted with alarm that Moloch had managed to surreptitiously slip his bonds.

Before he could disentangle himself, the clank’s arm snapped out and the metal hand snatched the soldier up, kicking and squealing. It swung him up towards its sensors and a bright flash filled the gloomy shop accompanied by Moloch’s scream of terror. Several seconds of whirring and clicking within the depths of the machine suddenly resulted in an array of green lights blooming across its front. A small bell rang and the arm gently swung Moloch down and offered him to a bewildered Agatha, who backed away. As she did so, the machine followed her, jogging its hand encouragingly. Agatha shook her head. “What? What do you want?”

Moloch caught her attention. It was obvious that he was being squeezed rather tightly, if the way his eyes were bugging out was any indication. “Help,” he whispered.

Agatha blinked. “I… ah… down! Put him down.”

Gently the device deposited a shaken Moloch onto the floor of the shop, dinged twice, and ceased all movement. Agatha and Moloch stared at it for a moment, but it did nothing else. Moloch turned towards Agatha. “What is this thing?”

Agatha shrugged. “I don’t know.” Suddenly her eyes narrowed as she examined the device. The core was certainly familiar though, wasn’t that Herr Ketter’s—?

The sound of breaking glass caused both of them to turn. Agatha saw the small hole in the west window. Moloch saw the small metal container that landed on the floor and spun about on its weighted base, a small windup key ticking gently. As Agatha murmured “What in the world—” Moloch yelled in his loudest battlefield voice, “C-GAS!”

Agatha just had time to look up and ask, “What’s—” Before a cloud of gas exploded upwards, filling the room and enveloping them both.

Five minutes later, a Jagermonster stuck a furry face around the open front door and sniffed the air. Satisfied, he stepped forward. “C-Gas has dispersed, Herr Baron. C’mon in.”

Several Jagermonsters and the Wulfenbachs entered the shop. Outside, two of the tall brass clanks flanked the doorway. At a silent signal from the elder soldier, a runner was sent off to check on the Jagers that had encircled the building.

The Baron and his son moved towards the two crumpled figures on the floor. Klaus turned towards the senior Jagersoldier. “Check the rest of the building. Bring anyone you find. Unharmed.”

“Jah, Herr Baron.” With quick motions of his hands, he sent half of the squad into the main house.

Gil turned about and examined the layout of the shop. His brows rose at several of the heavier pieces of machinery. “Nice set up.” He gestured at the quiescent clank. “This could easily have been built here.”

Klaus had knelt down and turned Moloch over onto his back. He smiled in satisfaction. “So this is our new Spark.”

“It could be the girl, Father.”

Klaus sniffed. “Hmf. Don’t you recognize her?”

With a feeling of embarrassment, Gil glanced at the scantily clad girl. She was tall, and full-figured, and her long reddish-blonde hair covered her face. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he knelt by her side. He gently brushed the hair from her face. There was a smear of grease across her small nose. “The student assistant in Beetle’s lab! Miss… Clay.” He glanced at a delivery wagon which had “CLAY MECHANICAL” neatly painted along the side. “I see.”