Sigmund Shaw: A Steampunk Adventure (24 page)

Sutton thought for a moment, then, “If we get it to the right people, then yes. But it is a difficult situation, even with the cube. We still can’t tie it to Grimkraken other than with your word, which, no offense, will not stand up against that of the Defence Minister.”

Sigmund nodded, that was true. They both fell to silence as they thought things over. Even Zachary seemed to be in quiet contemplation on Sigmund’s shoulder.

Finally, Sigmund said, “I’m going to leave the cube and apparatus here. It’s far safer with you than with me. Richard, you do what you can with your contacts. I have a couple contacts myself that I would like to involve.”

“What are you going to do?” asked Sutton.

“I’m going to force the issue.”

24.

Harry Thorpe approached the door as nervous as he’d ever been in his life. The greyness of dusk was enhanced by a heavy fog that rolled in. The light from the house’s windows lost its luster as it fought through the watery curtain.
How did he allow Sigmund to talk him into this?
It had not sounded great earlier in the day when Sigmund laid out the plan and now in the darkened evening, about to knock on the door of Christoph Grimkraken, newly appointed Defence Minister, it sounded much, much worse.

Sigmund had returned the previous night at some point, while Harry was asleep, but in the morning, Harry heard about all that Sigmund had been up to, how he had visited Richard Sutton, broke into Grimkraken’s factory at Battersea, and now trying to prevent a possible war. Harry reflected on his simple life – never would he envision himself as part of anything like this.

The Grimkraken home was a large house with a small estate surrounding it. It had an austere look to it, everything in its place. A home of a strict gentleman, thought Harry. On the doorstep Harry gave his clothes one last inspection. He was wearing his best suit, a suit he hadn’t worn since his wife’s funeral. It felt old. Sigmund assured him that it would lend an air of respectability.

Without daring to think anymore, for fear that he would think his way into a retreat, he gave a solid three knocks on the door. He hoped and prayed that no one would answer but after a moment he heard footsteps and the door opened. A man in servant’s attire answered, “May I help you?”

Harry replied curtly, as if talking to a servant was below him – all part of his act – and said, “You could start by inviting me in. Did you plan on leaving me on the doorstep all night?”

Seemingly accustomed to such people, the servant said blandly, “I beg your pardon, sir. Please step inside.” He opened the door wide for Harry.

Once in, the servant continued in the same bland voice, “Your name, sir?”

“I am Mr. Pratt. I’m here to see the Defence Minister on an urgent matter. Please show me to him immediately.”

“I apologize, but I’m afraid that the minister is not in currently. May I take a message before you leave?”

Harry knew that Grimkraken was not at home as that was part of Sigmund’s plan. It was important to arrive before him and get invited to wait. Harry, in a near dumbfounded rage exclaimed, “Leave a message with
you
? My good sir, are you privy to government secrets? Do you have the knowledge to decide on the lives of others? No, sir! You do not. This is a message for the Defence Minister only and I am to wait until he arrives. Now where can I sit down?”

The bland servant showed a little emotion at this last outburst. Whether he was impressed or insulted, Harry couldn’t tell, but Harry stared at him with the most impatient look he could muster.

It seemed like the servant was wrestling with what to do. Harry worried that he would call the authorities. Eventually the servant said, “This way, sir, you can await in his study.”

“Very well.”

The servant showed Harry to a room with a closed door.  The servant entered first and lit an oil lamp that was resting on a large desk.  Once lit, Harry took in the room.  It was of moderate size, had a window behind the desk, bookshelves, a dormant fireplace, and a free standing world globe. There was a large chair behind the desk and a few smaller ones in front of it – one of the smaller ones is what the servant offered and then exited the room when Harry sat down. He listened as the servants footsteps faded, then rose up from the chair and hurried to the window. He released the latch and pushed it open. From below the window Sigmund stood up and asked in a whisper, “How did it go?”

“I’m not sure. I can’t help but think that the servant is going off to get a gun.”

Sigmund smiled, “I’m sure you were brilliant, Harry. Now let me help you down.”

Harry climbed out the window, leaning heavily on Sigmund and was relieved when he had his feet on firm ground – firm ground
outside
of the house.

He watched Sigmund climbed in and turn around. Before closing the window, Sigmund said, “Thank you, Harry. Now please leave the way we talked about and go home. If there is trouble, there is no need to involve you any more than I already have.”

Harry nodded, only too eager to leave, and said, “Fare well my lad.” And as he walked away he said to himself, “Please be careful.”

* * *

Although not the most dangerous part of the night, it was the part that worried Sigmund the most. If Harry had gotten into some trouble Sigmund would never forgive himself. But he needed a way into Grimkraken’s house. His face was too recognizable, he would never get past the servant, but Harry was unknown. At best, they had a description of an older man in a suit and a false name. It would be near impossible to figure out who Harry really was.

Sitting in one of the smaller chairs, back to the door, Sigmund prayed that the servant would not return – that would be an interesting conversation. Sigmund checked his watch, 7:30. He didn’t replace the watch to its pocket but kept it in his hand and rubbed the cover with his thumb. His nerves were slowly starting to bother him and he hoped Grimkraken would be along soon.

It was just after eight o’clock when the Defence Minister arrived. Sigmund could hear the door open and the servant greet his master. He was amused to hear the next bit of conversation.

The servant said, “Sir, you have a visitor waiting for you in your study.”

Grimkraken, in an annoyed voice, “A visitor? Who the devil is it?”

The servant responded, “A Mister Pratt, sir. He says he has a message that is urgent for you.”

“Did you say Pratt?” asked Grimkraken in an alarmed tone.

“Yes, sir.”

Sigmund next heard footsteps, quick, heavy, and getting louder. The door was practically thrown open and Grimkraken entered. Sigmund remained seated with his back to the door.

Grimkraken bellowed out, “Who are you? What do you want?”

Sigmund stood and turned around, allowing Grimkraken to see his face. As Grimkraken was trying to figure out why the face looked familiar, Sigmund said, “I would like to talk about amalgam cubes.”

Grimkraken’s face took on a look of recognition.  He now knew who his visitor was.  He continued to stare for a moment to gather his wits.  He finally said, “My word. If it is not Sigmund Shaw.”

“Good evening, Defence Minister.” Sigmund said cordially.

A voice from outside the study, the servant’s, asked, “Is everything alright, sir?

Grimkraken stared at Sigmund for another moment and then said, “Yes, Lawrence. You can leave now.” He turned and closed the study door. Grimkraken walked around his desk and seated himself in the large chair. “So, Mr. Shaw, tell me why I shouldn’t contact the police right now and have you arrested?”

“Because we both know I am not guilty. You were in the room with the German Scientists and you escaped the explosion with the amalgam cube process.” Grimkraken stared coldly but said nothing. “But before we get to that, I would like an answer to a question. I understand much of what is happening but one thing is beyond me. How did you know I was going to be there that night at the hotel? Did Marcus Pratt tell you?”

Grimkraken laughed, “Marcus Pratt was a fool. Once we found out that he was passing messages to outsiders, we of course apprehended him and had him taken care of.”

Ignoring the veiled reference to murder, Sigmund persisted, “If not Marcus, then how did you know?”

“This is quite amusing, Mr. Shaw. You see, I did not know you were going to be there.”

Despite his desire to remain calm, Sigmund couldn’t help gape at the comment. Grimkraken continued, “I had several men in position around the hotel to aid me in my plan. One of them spotted you on the window ledge – he was quite surprised – and even had a rifle pointed at you. If you had made any attempt to enter the room or try to stop me somehow, he would have shot you. As it is, his restraint was impressive. When the bomb went off, you were thrown from the ledge to the street and my man made sure that everyone around, especially the police, knew that you were on the ledge and insinuated that you were the responsible party. Quite an enterprising move by my man. Seeing you on the street, he thought you were dead, which would have been fine – case closed for the police. However, you being alive and having escaped custody has proven to be even more beneficial. You have the world looking for you, The Bomb Bandit, while I’m allowed to focus on other, more important things. It could not have worked out better.”

Sigmund sat in silence for several seconds trying to change his perception of events. The curtains billowed from a night breeze as the leather seat beneath Sigmund creaked as he leaned back. It was all a terrible coincidence – a coincidence that benefitted Grimkraken and his faction. It was infuriating.

Grimkraken interrupted Sigmund’s thoughts and asked, “Tell me, Mr. Shaw, why were you there? It’s obvious that Marcus Pratt gave you information about the meeting but what where you going to do?”

He wondered how much he should tell. But the truth, without specific names, would be the best route. “I was there to verify that the invention was real and then try to steal it.”

“And give it to whom?”

“Marcus Pratt.” Sigmund couldn’t think how any harm could come from this piece of information, Pratt was already dead. “He was going to expose the cube and give it to the world.”

“Who was Marcus working with, for I doubt he was smart enough to do all of this alone?”

Sigmund lied, “I don’t know. I only met him once and the next I heard of him was after you murdered him.” Sigmund noticed that Grimkraken didn’t take offense at this last statement.

Not showing if he believed Sigmund or not, Grimkraken asked, “And what was in it for you? A misguided patriot for the Empire? A simple hired hand?”

“I admit freely that I agree with Marcus’ standpoint, but no, that is not why I did it. He promised to help my niece. She is sick and he knows someone who could help her.”

Grimkraken nodded approvingly and said, “How noble, Mr. Shaw. Perhaps I’ve misjudged you.” He paused, opened a drawer – Sigmund stiffened thinking that it could be a gun – and pulled out a bottle of scotch along with two glasses. “Can I offer you a drink?”

Sigmund wasn’t sure how this conversation would go but being offered a drink was well beyond even his wildest thoughts. He shook his head in refusal.

“Suit yourself, Mr. Shaw, but I will indulge.” He poured the brown liquid into the crystal glass and said, “From what I’ve read in the papers, you were a cab driver before all of this.”

Sigmund nodded, not sure where this was going.

Grimkraken took a sip of his drink and continued, “My father was a cab driver. A horse drawn carriage. I remember enjoying feeding the horse sugar cubes.” He smiled, took another drink and a scowl grew on his face, “I also remember my father being happy serving others. ‘Yes sir’, ‘yes ma’am’ – it was disgusting. He had no ambition. He let those around him with power use him and treat him like a tool, not a person.”

“And this made you bitter towards those in power?” Sigmund asked, thoroughly confused.

“What? No! It made me bitter towards those that allowed themselves to be used by people in power. Those in power have earned the right. If you allow others to treat you as lesser beings, as resources to be used, then that is what you have earned as well. As you can imagine, my opinion of you, a cab driver was not so high. But now you’ve shown me something.” Another drink. “You know, I am starting to think we might be a bit alike, Mr. Shaw.”

There were not many things that could surprise – or anger – Sigmund more. “Excuse me? I think that whiskey has gone to your head. You and I couldn’t be more different.”

Grimkraken shook his head as if correcting a child. “You and I, we do what we find is necessary. I started as the son of a cabbie and now I’m the Defence Minister. You think that happened by accident, or good fortune? It was by me doing what needed to be done in order to achieve my goals.”