Agatha H. and the Airship City

it off. I’m serious. We can’t talk now.” His ears flicked towards the door. “Someone will be here soon.”

Agatha opened her mouth—the cat raised his hand peremptorily.

“Tonight. Your room. Bring something to eat.” He leaned forward. Agatha found herself doing the same. “And be careful around young Wulfenbach. He’s up to something. He knows that you’re a Spark and—”

“WHAT?” The cat looked surprised at Agatha’s outburst. “I am not a Spark,” she said.

The cat frowned. “What? Of course you are!”

Years of worrying about the state of her mental health found voice and Agatha slammed her hand down on the bench, hissing: “Don’t you make fun of me, cat. I—”

The cat swiftly but gently smacked her nose with his paw. Agatha’s mouth snapped shut in surprise. “Shhh,” the cat said, and gestured her closer. Gingerly Agatha leaned in and the cat put its muzzle up to her ear. “You talk in your sleep,” he whispered. Agatha reared back.

Suddenly there was a clack and the door to the corridor swung open. With a fluid motion, the cat flowed off the bench and under a stack of gears leaving Agatha alone. She whirled to face the door and saw Ardsley Wooster, his head discreetly averted, holding forth his large coat. “Good morning, Miss Clay. Master Gilgamesh informed me that you would require a cover-up as well as an escort back to your quarters. This afternoon I am to show you the way to the location of your new duties.”

Klaus Wulfenbach was in a genial mood. He strode down the center of the corridor, marginally aware of the crowd that carefully broke before him and stood aside as he passed. Coming up to a large, reinforced door, he nodded to the Jagermonsters that were lounging before it. The nearest picked up a small book and leafed through it at random, then looked up. “Vat is de sqvare root uf 78675?”

Klaus nodded in approval, thought for a moment, and then replied: “345.”

The Jager carefully checked the book before him and then grinned. “Dot is correctly incorrect. In hyu go.” The other Jager moved and spun the locking wheel on the door until it opened with a chunk.

Klaus stepped inside and waited until the door was shut behind him. He unlocked another door and then entered a small laboratory lit only with red lights. Humming a tune, he removed his greatcoat and began donning protective equipment. A small sound caused him to look over his shoulder and smile genially. “Ah, good afternoon.”

In the center of the room, strapped down to a massive examination table, lay Othar Tryggvassen. His muscles strained against the bonds holding him. When this proved to be useless, his head thumped back against the neckrest and he settled for glaring at the Baron.

Klaus scanned a report in his hands. “Didn’t sleep well? Quite understandable. Today is going to be a very exciting day.”

“You’ll excuse me if I don’t share your enthusiasm, you twisted fiend!”

Klaus shrugged good naturedly. “Quite all right. I’m used to it.” Silence descended, broken only by Klaus quietly humming a waltz as he began to check a row of surgical instruments.

“No matter how you torture me,” Othar declared, “I won’t talk.”

“If only that were true,” Klaus muttered.

Othar stared at his back for several minutes. “So. What is it you want to know?”

Klaus turned, holding a small bone saw. “Why you’re a Spark. What is it that makes you different from other people.”

Othar chewed on his lower lip. “But I… I don’t actually know that.”

Klaus smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Of course you don’t. Neither do I. But I intend to find out.”

Despite himself, Othar looked interested. “How?”

Klaus began holding up a series of drill bits against Othar’s skull. Othar couldn’t help but notice that they were getting progressively larger. “I will destroy selected parts of your brain,” Klaus explained, “until you no longer are a Spark.”

“You ah—” Othar tried to maintain an even tone to his voice. “You can do that?”

Klaus nodded. “Oh yes. Eventually.”

Othar considered this for a moment. “And afterwards?”

Klaus sighed. “Ah. That whole ‘quality of life’ question.” He ran a hand through his mop of hair. “I’m working very hard on that.” He smiled ruefully. “And I’m getting much better.”

Othar strained against his bonds. “But my work!” he shouted. “My mission!”

Klaus activated a device attached to a swing arm that descended from the ceiling. With a whine, a number of blades began spinning. “Yes, a bonus, that.”

“You villain!”

“Yes, yes.” Klaus muttered as he began to position the device above Othar’s head. “Normally, there would be a lot more tests. You’d have a long, productive career working for me while I studied your habits and patterns.”

“But?”

“But I’m afraid that you are far too dangerous.” The device’s whine took on a higher pitch. “Now look up…”

With a clack, the lighting changed from red to white. With a sigh, Klaus moved the device back up and turned it off. He turned towards the door with a frown. “Yes, Boris?”

The Baron’s secretary nodded apologetically. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Herr Baron, but you did tell me to tell you the moment Herr von Zinzer said he had something.”

“Indeed I did.” He looked down at the smaller man who had been cowering behind Boris, his eyes taking in the scene before him. When he realized that the Baron was staring at him, he jerkily brought forth a sheet of paper and extended it before him.

“It’s… um… it’s all here!” The Baron made no move to take the paper, but continued to look at Moloch. The shaking of his hand increased so much that the paper itself rattled. “I… I know what I want to do, but I don’t know where to get some of these materials.” He extended the paper upwards. “It’s all here,” he repeated.

The Baron plucked the paper from Moloch’s hand and studied it. A frown crossed his features and he studied it again. After several seconds he pursed his lips and his massive eyebrows rose and all but disappeared beneath his hair. “Interesting,” he said, like a man bestowing a great compliment. “Very interesting indeed. Yes, some of this will be quite tricky.” He looked down at Moloch with new eyes. “This will take some time to assemble, but I look forward to the results.”

Moloch blinked. “Really?”

Klaus nodded. “Yes. Boris? See that these items are secured, and make sure that I am informed when Herr von Zinzer is ready for the initial test run. I wish to attend.”

Boris looked surprised. “Yes, Herr Baron.”

Klaus handed the paper back to Moloch. “I must say that I was beginning to have my doubts about you, but this… this justifies my original estimates and then some. What was holding you back?”

Moloch started and then shrugged. “Oh, er… it… it was that assistant of mine. I… fired her this morning. She was very distracting.”

Klaus nodded. “I see.” He turned away dismissively. “And now I must—”

Boris cleared his throat apologetically. The Baron’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Yes, Boris?”

“I’m sorry, Herr Baron, but as long as I have your attention… The city council of Hufftberg is still unhappy about the glassworks. They’re really just feeling slighted because Tarschloss got the new university.”

Klaus drummed his fingers on a nearby bench. “Tell them that I will cover the cost of a Corbettite rail terminal if they will supply the labor.”

“But didn’t the Corbettites petition us to place a terminal there already?” Klaus merely looked at him, and the