Agatha H. and the Clockwork Princess

Krosp frowned. “No troops at all?”

“That’s a stroke of luck,” Lars said.

“I suspect that Sturmhalten is putting up more resistance than the Baron expected,” Wooster said thoughtfully. “The whole giant lady thing, you know.”

Krosp nodded. “That won’t last though. The Baron’s strength comes from paying attention to the details. We’ve got to get out before he gets here.”

Wooster concurred. “But once we’re gone,” he said to Lars, “your people should be safe.”

Lucrezia laughed. “Oh yes. Just tell him that I threatened to kill you all if you betrayed me.”

Lars looked at her askance. “That seems a bit much.”

They crested a small ridge, and below them were the caravan grounds. The circus wagons were indeed all hitched up. The horses stamped their feet. A few tenders were busy in the distance checking harnesses.

Wooster stopped. “Where is everyone?”

Lars pointed. A crowd could be seen at the center of the array of wagons. “Pre-travel meeting. Whenever there’s a possibility of trouble, Master Payne assigns places down the road where we can all meet up.” He glanced back at the town and the airships floating overhead. “I think trouble on the road’s a pretty safe bet this time,” he said ruefully.

They came up to the three Jagers, who were looking uncharacteristically glum. Dimo was talking.

“Hyu two eediots gots to take care uf Miss Agatha, now.”

“Yes, Dimo,” the other two replied.

“And youselves!”

Maxim and Ognian looked even more miserable. “Ve try.”

Krosp frowned. “Dimo? You’re staying?”

The green Jager nodded. “Yaz. Ve saw tings dot de Baron must know about. Geistervimmin in der tunnels. Hive Engines—”

“No!” Lucrezia snapped. “I don’t want anyone going to Klaus!”

Dimo looked surprised. “But Lady, diz iz a lucky break for hyu.”

Lucrezia blinked. Dimo continued. “Diz iz impawtent hinformation. De Baron may be after hyu, but he hates vasps and der revenants. Ven he hears dis, he’ll go after der ghost ladies, not hyu.”

Lucrezia thought furiously. “But... but he’ll kill you.”

Dimo frowned. “Vot? No he von’t. Oggie vas de vun who ate all his—”

“Shoddop ’bout dot!” Ognian interjected.

“The Baron’s troops are shooting townspeople! If they’ll do that—”

Surprisingly, all of the Jagers grinned. “Ho! Iz dot all? Dun vorry ’bout dot! Dey’s using stun bullets and ‘C’ Gas.”

“What!”

Maxim nodded. “Ho yez! Hyu ken hear der difference ven dey shoots, eef hyu knowz vat to listen for.”

Wooster broke in. “They are standard issue for police actions, M’Lady.”

Tarvek might still be alive, Lucrezia realized. How inconvenient.

“So Hy vill buy hyu time—”

“No!” Lucrezia screamed in frustration. “You serve me and I forbid it! You’ll tell the Baron nothing!”

The next question came only because Dimo had been a free agent for over ten years. As it was, it surprised him as much as it did Lucrezia. “But... vy?”

She stared at him. Furiously, she opened her mouth—

“Yes.” The terrifyingly familiar voice said. “Tell them why.”

From the wagon in front of them, Klaus Wulfenbach stepped forward. From the other wagons, doors slammed open and dozens of armed soldiers began to pour forth and encircle them. “I would certainly like to know.”

Lucrezia stared at him, frozen by a cascade of emotions, of which both guilt and fear played a large part.

In the distance, Lars saw the circus members being quickly hustled off by a squad of soldiers.

Klaus stared down at her. He was used to reading people, but the reactions he was seeing on the face of the Heterodyne girl seemed inexplicable. “My spotters saw my son’s flying machine, even though he is still back aboard Castle Wulfenbach. I can only assume that he sent his Mr. Wooster here to rescue you from me.”

Klaus ran his eye about the scene. Unsurprisingly, the British agent had vanished. He wouldn’t get far. Klaus turned back to the girl. “It seemed a reasonable guess that you would turn up here.”

Klaus paused. “But perhaps you do not need ‘rescuing.’ At least, not from me.” His features softened a bit. “You are Bill Heterodyne’s child. You were raised by Punch and Judy, two of the best people I ever knew. My son... believes in you. Most importantly, you seem to have been raised away from the influence of your mother and her family.” That got a reaction. A small twitch in the left eye. Interesting.

“If you are indeed innocent, then step forward now. It would be best for you—” Klaus paused, “—For everyone, if you joined me willingly.”

A hush fell over the scene. The soldiers had paused. They were all watching and listening.

Klaus spoke gently, but clearly. “Yes, you will be guarded. This town is infested with a heretofor undiscovered type of revenant. Until I know what has happened here, until it is controlled, I trust no one.” He firmed up his voice, and it rang out. “I can be ruthless, but I try to be fair. What is your decision?”

“I...” The fate of Europa teetered upon the edge of a knife. “I...”

“Agatha,” Zeetha stepped from around Lars. “This is the best thing we could have hoped for. Why are—”

“YOU!” The shout of surprise swung every eye back to Klaus, who was staring at Zeetha like he’d seen a ghost. “Djorok’ku skifandias von?”

Zeetha jerked like she’d been punched in the stomach. “Ah... ah... Zur bakken Skiff?”

“Kar!” The Baron roared, “Mor bakken Skiff!” He pointed a finger. “Braka na Zantabr—!”

What he had been about to say was lost, as at this point, a bug flew into his mouth. Klaus choked, and his eyes went wide. “Gak!”

Lucrezia smiled tightly and slipped the activated hive enginette back under her jacket. “Got you!” she whispered.

Up on the wagon, Klaus’ face was turning red, and he dropped to his knees while clawing at his throat.

Lucrezia strode forward. “Why are you all just standing around? Can’t you see he’s choking? ” A flustered looking soldier made a halfhearted attempt to block her. “Let me through! I can help him! He wanted us to work together!”

“Where’s the damn doctor?” The trooper yelled. A Captain ran up. “They’re all in that twice-cursed town!” He ostensibly drew his side arm. “Okay, Lady—” he hesitated, “—Heterodyne. He was giving you the benefit of the doubt... Earn it.”

Lucrezia ignored him and knelt down beside the now convulsing Baron. Several of the soldiers leaned in.

“Get back! Give him air,” Lucrezia cried. She began a showy, but useless massaging of the throat area, while under her breath, she was counting. On a normal wasp, the nerve fusion process only took seconds, if it successfully worked at all. There was no guessing how long this experimental specimen—

With a gasp, Klaus drew in a great lungful of air and collapsed. With a sigh, Lucrezia released the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding in.

Klaus began to breath normally. Well done, Herr Doktor Snarlantz, she thought admiringly, requiescat in pace.

“The blockage is gone!” she announced loudly. “He’s going to be all right!” She deftly loosened a few buttons on his coat. “Let’s just give him a little more air and let him rest for a minute.” The Captain nodded, but held his gun steadily upon her.