Agatha H. and the Airship City

“So far, Herr Baron. Though he does say that he was alone.”

Klaus scowled. “Yes, that’s what I would expect the son of Jurgen Wheelwright to say.”

The boy spoke up. “It… It was all my fault, Herr Baron.”

“I expect it was. Why were you here?”

“I wanted to see a Hive Engine, sir. Everyone knows the story about how you defeated a dragon from Mars that captured Lucrezia Mongfish and spit out Slaver wasps and turned her into Von Pinn and I wanted to see what could do that.”

Klaus’ jaw snapped shut. A massive hand thoughtfully rubbed his nose, incidentally concealing a smile. “I’d have given a lot to see that myself,” he conceded. He turned serious and leaned down until his face was inches from Itto’s. “You will never mention to Mistress Von Pinn how she used to be Lucrezia Mongfish. She wouldn’t like it. She wouldn’t like it at all. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Herr Baron,” the boy whispered.

“Good.” The Baron straightened up. “You will now assist me in sorting out this mess.” Itto looked astonished, then quickly snapped to attention. “Yes sir, Herr Baron!”

Klaus nodded. “And while you’re working, tell me this story.” Itto took a deep breath, but Klaus held up his hand and turned to the waiting footmen. “Katz? Tell the Blue Level Kitchen Master that young DuMedd is on grease trap duty until further notice.”

The footman smirked and bowed slightly. “Yes, Herr Baron.” Klaus’ voice caught him broadside as he straightened up. “As is your entire squad if you fail to catch him and his companions!”

Katz gave a strangled “glurk!” and he and his squad swirled out of the room and were gone.

“Theo? I hear people running.”

Sleipnir slumped against a wall, panting. “I think we’re goin’ down, boyo.”

“What we need is a place to hide.” They rounded a corner. Theo brightened. “Wait! I know where we are! That’s an empty lab! Come on!”

“What if someone is in it?” Agatha asked.

“Relax!” Theo said as he pulled out his keys. “We’ll use the old ‘Mimmoth Catcher’ routine. It works every time!”

The keys proved unnecessary, as the door was unlocked. Theo straightened his outfit, ran a hand through his hair, and briskly knocked three times before quickly opening the door. “Excuse us,” he sang out, “mimmoth exterminators. Don’t let us disturb—” He stopped dead.

Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, who had been hauling the twisted remains of his flying machine up onto a massive workbench, paused, hanging onto the pulley chain with a nostalgic look upon his face. “Wow. Does that ever take me back.” He eyed the frozen Theo. “You’re in trouble. You need a place to hide. Probably from my father.” His lip curled. “I should have known none of you would talk to me unless you needed something.”

Theo glared. “Well if you hadn’t told Von Pinn that you were too busy to see anyone—”

Gil looked surprised. “What?”

Theo plowed on: “You’re obviously far too important to associate with us anymore, so we’ll just—” As he turned away, Gil grabbed Theo’s arm. Theo tried to shrug him off and found instead that he couldn’t move his arm at all. A startled glance at Gil’s facade showed the faraway look that meant his brain was racing.

He focused on Theo. “Did you get any of my letters?”

Theo blinked. “No,” he said slowly. “Did you get any of ours?”

He then hissed in pain at the viselike grip on his arm as a look of fury filled Gil’s face. “Someone was intercepting them” he growled. “I don’t know who, or how, but I will!” Suddenly his face cleared and he noticed Theo’s distress. He released his arm. “How many of you are there?”

“Um, five.”

“Right! Into the cracking vat, I’ll get the rest!”

He swung open the door to reveal the astonished face of Sleipnir. “Gil!”

“Sleipnir! We’ll talk later! Everybody into the vat!”

Sleipnir took a step into the lab and then stopped dead. “Whoof! What is that smell?”

“Ah! There’s this girl, a Miss Clay—”

He turned and found himself face to face with a furious Agatha who grabbed his shirtfront and shook him like a terrier shaking a rat. “I have had quite enough of your public opinions about how I smell, Herr Wulfenbach!” She snarled, and so saying, she hauled off and smacked him across the face. “I’ll face that Von Pinn again before I take any help from you!”

Before the stunned young man could say anything, she was off down the corridor at a dead run.

“No! Wait!” Gil pulled himself to the doorway. “Because of your redesign of the engine—” She was gone. He turned to Theo, who had an amused look on his face. “Because of her redesign, I can use this great new fuel additive, but it really stinks and I—”

Theo patted him on the shoulder. “You still have that fine touch with the ladies, I see.” The others grinned.

“GET IN THE VAT!” Gil snapped

Agatha stomped along muttering to herself. “—and then we’ll see how he likes smelling that! Get me to a chemical lab and I’ll brew up something that will make that pompous jerk wish he’d never been born!”

Having got that off of her chest, Agatha surfaced from her thoughts, took note of her surroundings and stopped dead. She was in a dimly lit side corridor. A part of her brain had noted that there had been fewer and fewer people in the corridors she had passed through, and for some time now, she had traveled alone. She briefly considered turning around, but rationalized that as she had no idea where she was, retracing her steps could only aid any lingering pursuers.

She pushed on, through long winding corridors lined with sealed and locked hatchways, and the occasional large space filled with enigmatic machinery, which hissed and gurgled as she passed. There were no signs, no labels, and nobody else. Initially she would have avoided another person, but now she was actively calling out, trying to find anyone at all. At yet another unlabeled crossways, she stopped and glared at where, logically, a sign should have been.

“This is ridiculous. Somebody must come through here.” No one, however, conveniently did so.

She passed a series of open store-rooms. Dimly lit vaults full of drums and bales. She turned a corner and saw a light wink out from a doorway halfway down the long corridor. Someone was here! Agatha broke into a run and called out, “Hello? Please wait, I’m lost. Hello?” But there was no answer, and indeed, no sign of anyone when she reached the doorway in question.

“I know I saw a light,” Agatha muttered to herself. She reached around and found the power switch in the usual place and threw it. There was a snap, and the room filled with the harsh white glare of the overhead lamps. Agatha was taken aback. This light was different from the dimmer, more golden light she’d seen. The room was filled with giant spools containing bolts of the crusty, metallic fabric that sheathed Castle Wulfenbach. There was no sound. Agatha felt herself beginning to get annoyed. She stepped in and looked around. The idea that she had been mistaken never entered her head. She came to the end of an aisle of spools, turned, and stared.

Laid out on the floor of the aisle was a collection of debris that was obviously out of place. Such untidiness was doubly shocking after the neatness and order that was rigorously maintained everywhere else aboard the great airship. Agatha was about to go when she noticed that in the middle of the pile was a large ship’s lamp. On a hunch, she went over to it and gently touched the metal hood, snatching her hand back at the heat. There was someone here!

Quickly she stood and looked about. She took a step and noticed the ringing sound her foot made upon the deck. She’d heard nothing like that as she approached, so unless the mysterious garbage collector was wearing naught but socks upon their feet, there was nowhere else to go but—