The professor scratched his salt-and-pepper beard thinking for a few moments. “I’ve an idea for a material that might work well for this, I think I can create a mockup for initial trials in a few days.”
“Miss Brandywine, I wanted to thank you for hiring the protection for the Chinese Girl’s School. Tsang Mei Yan told me yesterday she has had no more run-ins with the Hop Sings.”
“Tsang Mei Yan and the girls will be much safer once we acquire a proper school building and at a location outside of Chinatown. I will get Sigmund on that as soon as we leave here.”
“It really is wonderful that you’re doing this for the girls,” Helena could’ve sworn Doyle winked at her when he said the last sentence. Was that a twinkle in his eye? She thought.
The professor had been busy making sketches on another blackboard before asking, “Doyle, Helena was there anything else?”
Doyle cleared his throat, “No Mister Wizard, I need to get back out on the streets. There is a serial killer, and the newspapers are having a field day,” Doyle said putting his leather helmet on. “Good day Miss Helena, I hope you have a wonderful week.” The Detective started snaking out of the workshop.
Helena caught herself watching Doyle leave a smile raising the corners of her lips as most improper thoughts crossed her mind. Once the Detective had gone, and Helena pulled her mind out of the sewers, she began speaking once again, “I did have a few questions for you Professor. How well did you know my parents?”
The professor stopped sketching placing the chalk on the board, he turned slowly, he knew this day would come he just hadn’t expected it today. “I knew them very well, I was your father’s professor at University. I worked with your grandfather on many projects and knew your mother from the day she was born.”
“Was my mother a witch?”
“She could bend magical energy to her will. I hate the term witch it has such negative connotations and historically has been used to label and persecute people who were considered outsiders.”
“What happened to my mother?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows. Your Mother was searching for ways to find your father, and she disappeared.”
“So, she’s not dead?”
“I don’t know. If she was bending magical energy that she was unaccustomed to no one can estimate the side effects, the outcome or the price.”
“Was my father a witch? Could he bend magical energy to his will?” correcting herself.
“Not that I know of. He was an engineer, a scientist, and an explorer. Your father and mother made a wonderful couple.”
“How did he die?”
“Honestly, we are not sure how. He and his party disappeared while on an expedition in the South Pacific. He was very secretive about where he went, and what he searched for. He simply told everybody he was going to the South Pacific. All contact from him or his party has been lost since. Searchers scoured the South Pacific looking for him, but no one seemed to know anything about him or his expedition. I think he lied, I don’t think his true destination was the South Pacific, he used that as a red herring to throw everyone off his true destination. Once he went missing, we had no idea where to search.”
“He might still be alive?”
“I seriously doubt it. Your father’s been missing over ten years. I think he would’ve returned to you and your mother if he was able, don’t you?”
“Everyone just gave up on him?”
The question struck a nerve. He slammed the flat of his hand on the desk next to the chalkboard, “I’ve never given up hope! Many of the items I create are so one day I can mount an expedition to find him and bring his body home. However, until I discover where to search, I’ve nowhere to begin. Bessie, Doyle’s motorized bicycle, your goggles, and the flying machine I invented so one day I can go search for your father.”
“I don’t know what to say. Friday started simple enough and here it is Monday, and my world is changing. I had hoped you would throw me a line, give me a direction.”
“Helena, motivation to do anything has to come from within. Whatever you decide to do it will be your choice. Some things can’t be decided for you.”
“I don’t like that answer at all.”
“You’ll like this even less, I do fear a war brewing. If we are going to avoid annihilation, we will need someone to work with all parties. Someone to represent science, magic, religion, legendary creatures, and the common people. We need a peacemaker.”
Doldrums:
Helena was sure she had more questions for The Wizard, she loved that name, she just wished that the rogue Doyle hadn’t come up with it. How did Doyle know professor Merryall? After Helena’s suggestion of the armor, the professor seemed strangely distracted, not wanting to distract him further Helena, went in search of her companions to return home before dark. The last thing she wanted was a recurrence of the previous night, having the smug Doyle rescue her once more was more than she could bear.
Lane navigated the busy streets, low cloud cover kissing the tops of the buildings. However, the sun was on the horizon and the orange glow reflected off the low clouds creating the most beautiful colors between yellow and dark purple she had ever witnessed. She felt she could reach out and touch the colors as they headed west driving up Union Street towards the heights. She let her mind wander for the four minutes it took to go from the Wizard’s workshop to home.
Upon reaching the estate she left Lane and Sigmund to attend to things, Helena needed to think. She went to the study where this little adventure had started a few days earlier. She found that the room had been cleaned while she had been absent, the violin set on the sofa table bow lying next to it
