Agatha H. and the Airship City

Klaus nodded. “Yes, decorative, but evidently damaged. Held in contempt by those she worked with. Obviously not what we are looking for.” An unexpected movement caught Klaus attention. Gil was removing his waistcoat. “What are you doing?”

Gil nodded towards the unconscious girl. “I was just going to cover her up.”

Klaus nodded approvingly. “Commendable, but your waistcoat will do little. Here.” Effortlessly he lifted Moloch, stripped off his greatcoat and handed it over. “I’m sure they’ll not mind.”

Gil looked up as he tucked the coat over Agatha. “Oh?”

Klaus stood up. “Yes, it all falls into place. The girl was truly upset at Beetle’s death. Her soldier lover had recently returned home and her agitation was enough to trigger a breakthrough, and he built this clank for her.”

Gil arched an eyebrow. “Lover?”

Klaus frowned at Gil. “You don’t find the fact that the girl is running about in a machine shop in her underwear to be unusual? Red Fire, boy, what sort of laboratory did you maintain at school?”

Gil blushed. The Jagersoldiers guffawed. “Father! Please!”

The faintest hint of a smile twitched at the edge of Klaus’ mouth. “Very well. What would you do now?”

Gil gratefully turned to the question. He gestured to the two figures on the floor. “Ideally? Talk to them, but what with the C-Gas, we must assume that they’ll be out for at least thirty-six hours. So…” He thought for a second and then wheeled about to face the silent clank. “Examine the device?”

Klaus sighed. “No, no no! You must get your priorities straight. Examining the clank is important, but it can wait.” He gestured to the room at large. “What is missing here?” He pointed to Moloch. “This fellow is still travel-stained. The shop is not run by the girl…”

Gil nodded. “The owner! Her parents, the Clays. Where are they?”

One of the Jagermonsters who had been sent to search the house stepped forward. “Dere ain’t nobody else in de house, Herr Baron.”

Klaus nodded. “They’ll tell you much, when you find them.” Klaus had turned away and was examining the workbench with professional interest.

Gil frowned. “Well that should be easy enough.”

Klaus had found a set of micrometers and was evidently impressed by the workmanship. “Yes, no doubt,” he said absently, he found the case and turned it over until he found the maker’s mark, and Gil knew that he was memorizing the information.

The Empire always needed good toolmakers. If he was any judge of workmanship, the Clays would find themselves hired as well. Gil sensed there was something different about his father now, but was unsure as to what it was. One would never use the word “slumped” when thinking about Klaus Wulfenbach, but the energy he had exhibited earlier in the morning seemed diminished.

Gil continued. “The clank will be transported to the University and your new Spark—”

Klaus had carefully replaced the tools on the workbench and turned back to his son. “Both of them will return with us to Castle Wulfenbach.”

Gil blinked. “The girl as well?”

“Yes. If they are indeed lovers, she’ll be an additional lever. If she is merely an exhibitionist, we’ll send her back.”

“Her parents might not like that.”

Klaus walked outside and surveyed the neighborhood. “They’ll take her back anyway.”

Gil followed him outside. “That’s not what I meant. Father, what’s wrong? You seem… disappointed.”

Klaus nodded. “I am. I was hoping for something… interesting. All we have here is a sordid little tale of revenge and manipulation, set up and solved.” He took a deep breath and stretched, then clapped his son on the back, to the surprise of all present. “But it was a good bit of morning exercise and he is a new Spark, and those are always useful. However, while it is fortuitous, it is hardly urgent.” He then dropped his hand and began to stride down the street. He called back over his shoulder, “I must finish consolidating our takeover of the town. I’m sure you can finish up here on your own.”

Caught by surprise, several of the Jagers who had been stationed outside pelted up alongside the Baron, the eldest said, “I vill assign you two—”

Klaus waved him off. “I will go by myself. Let the people see that I can.”

The Jagers stopped and watched as the Baron strode around the corner and out of sight. The senior Jager muttered, “Hokey, fine, diz iz vun a dose moods, izit?” He turned to two of the soldiers with him. “Dey make great coffee back vhere der Baron is going. Go get me some. Und dun let him see hyu.”

The two monstermen looked offended, slung their weapons over their shoulders and, faster then one would think possible, scaled the building across the street and were silently leaping across the rooftops. Shaking his head, the officer returned to a fuming Gilgamesh.

“Oh thank you, sir. Yes I’m sure that even I can deal with this.” Gil sighed. “Well, let’s get started.”

Gil and the senior Jager entered the building. As the elder soldier got his first whiff of the interior, he started, and looked around in surprise. Gil noticed. “Something wrong, Gunther?”

The Jagermonster looked at him blankly. One of the younger soldiers piped up. “D’pipple who liff here. Dey schmell fonny.”

Almost faster than Gil could follow, Gunther scooped up a chunk of lead pipe and threw it at the younger soldier, catching him between the eyes. He blinked. “Ow. Vat for hyu—?”

Gunther roared at him, stunning him into silence. “Hey! Hyu iz in schombodies howz! Iz not goot manners to say dey schmells fonny!” The rest of the Jagersoldiers gawped at the elder monster in astonishment. This was a new one.

Gil bore down on the younger soldier. “‘Funny’? Like how?”

Gunther glared at the younger monster over Gil’s shoulder. The recipient of this glare was nonplussed. Lying was easy, but it was always good to know what you were lying about. “Um… ahh… like… like machines or someting?”

Gunther nodded in satisfaction and spoke up. “Vell, dey iz mechanics, you dumbkoff!”

Gil looked unconvinced. He pointed to Agatha. “Does she smell ‘funny’?”

The Jagers clustered around and leaned forward. “She schmells goot.”

Gil nodded. “All right, I—”

Another Jager interrupted him. “She schmells really goot.” The others joined in. “Really really goot.”

Gil flushed and turned away. “Yes, yes, that’s quite enough! Now get that wagon ready.”

Reluctantly the soldiers began unloading machinery from the Clays’ wagon. Gil failed to notice Gunther still kneeling by Agatha’s side, a stunned look on his hirsute face as he remembered a large familiar face he had seen on his way here. Absently, his hand clutched at a small object on a chain around his neck…

Quickly he snapped back to attention and approached Gil. “Hey. Hyu vants me to get schome of her clothing und schtuff? Or ve gun let her run around the kessel in her undervear?” The accompanying leer suggested that this last would be a fine idea.

Again Gil reddened and turned away. “Yes. I mean, yes, as in go get her some clothing.” He looked over at Moloch. “And see if there’s anything of his lying around as well.”

Turned away, he missed the look of satisfaction that crossed Gunther’s face. “Hokay, your loss, boss.”

Meanwhile others were preparing to load Agatha and Moloch into the wagon. “Don’t drop him on his head, he’s a schmott guy.” A loud thump followed. “Vell, at least dat vasn’t his head.”

An argument broke out over Agatha. “I vant to pick op de gurl.”

“No! Hyu vay too clumsy. I peek op de gurl.”