We adjourned to my room and I finished telling her about Bradan and the jeebees. I wanted to know all about the future, but she said she wasn't allowed to talk about it. Instead she told me a bit about her life and ambitions while she changed into one of my dresses that fit her better.
She said, "If I'm going to be here for an extended stay, I will need to recharge my things eventually. They require electricity."
"We have our house lights wired. Will that work?"
"Unfortunately not. All my devices take what we call aircraft power."
"What is that?"
"120 Volts, 400 Hertz, 3 phase."
"I don't know what that means, but I'm sure Felix could fix you up with something. Once you feel like you fit in, we can go back and talk with him."
"I feel like I'm a little girl playing dress-up. I believe I can walk around now without people staring at me."
"You may earn an extra glance or two just because you are new to the neighbourhood."
Bradan and Felix were almost finished putting the lab back into its usual state of disarray when we returned with Mary. Gwen explained what she needed.
He said, "I can work up a power converter for you. I excelled at them during my apprenticeship. I just need a day to determine what happened today."
I said, "While talking with Gwen, I remembered where I had seen this kind of thing before. How much of this is made with jeebee parts?"
"Less than a quarter of it. I told you I had to work hard to get the latest devices. It wasn't easy to convince the army that I could make them useful... How could you tell?"
Mary said, "You would think that he'd learned his lesson in Amsterdam."
He replied, "It saved me a lot of work not having to build the more intricate assemblies."
I asked, "Did you know the jeebees use these rings like we use pneumatic tubes?"
He said, "I thought I had removed those parts."
Gwen said, "Don't remove them now. I'd like to go home eventually."
He said, "I'd like to get you home too."
I handed Bradan a burlap bag that previously had potatoes in it. He went to a corner where he had placed the jeebee pistols and put them into it while we talked. The sun was setting when we headed home. I was sure that my mother had put fresh sheets on the guest bed and fluffed the pillows. She liked to make my visitors feel like family.
• February 11
Gwen sat on my bed. "I suppose I should look for a job and a place of my own to stay until your cousin fixes his time machine. What are your plans for today?"
"My plans are to show you around the town, but first I want to show you my bracelet collection."
I pulled out my jewellery box and sat down next to her. She gasped and pointed to a gold Irish cross pendant. "Where did you get that?"
"It's a family heirloom. My mother gave it to me when I turned 16."
"What is on the back?" she asked.
I turned it over and looked. "Just the maker's mark and the number 27."
She reached behind her neck and removed a necklace with a pendant that looked exactly like mine. "My mother gave me this one when I turned 16 as well. As you see, it bears the same markings."
"We looked at each other, stunned, for a few seconds. "Do you know what this means?" She asked.
"To be sure, I am going to be a mother and have a daughter!"
"Not only that, but you will be my many times great-grandmother."
I let her put her necklace back on before I hugged her tightly. She returned the hug and we sat on my bed embracing for a while. When we separated, I noticed she had been crying too.
I said, "Seeing as you are family, you are welcome to stay with us whenever and however long as you'd like."
She smiled and replied, "Thank you, Grandma."
"Don't even... I am not old enough yet!" I grabbed my pillow and hit her with it. "Let's have breakfast and go shopping. I can't have my very great-granddaughter going around in my hand-me-downs."
She whispered, "We must keep this as our secret or people will think we are insane."
I laughed and said, "Many already have that opinion of me."
Breakfast was interesting. We each insisted on being the one who cooked. In the end, we both made breakfast and had enough for another meal. My family was pleased with the wide selection that we had created. My mother and sister were especially happy to be waited on for a change. We even cleaned up the table and washed the dishes. I didn't know if it was cooperation or competition, but it didn't seem as much of a chore as usual.
The trip to town was fun. My father drove us there. Gwen and I would sit quietly, then look at each other and burst out laughing. My father would look over at us and we'd pretend like nothing had happened. He let us off at the East end of town. Gwen was impressed on how easy it was for Bradan to get out of the Felix's convertible wagon.
My father reminded us that he would be waiting inside the pub at one o'clock and we should not be late. I quietly explained to Gwen that meant we should show up there no earlier than two o'clock. I led the way to a small brick building where a police constable stood.
I said, "This is our first stop. Bradan, I need that bag you filled yesterday."
I smiled and said, "Gwen, 'tis going to be a wonderful surprise for you."
I continued, "Good Morning, Constable. Is the Superintendent busy?"
He said, "Anybody but you, I'd tell to come back after morning tea."
I smiled. "That's sweet of both of you. We don't want to impose."
"Let me guess... You found some more of the grey things and exterminated them."
"I'd like to introduce Gwendoline MacGowan. She's the one who as she says 'pulled our fat out of the fryer'."
"It's nice to make your acquaintance, Miss MacGowan. If you ladies will follow me, we'll be getting on with your business."
He escorted us inside and down the hallway to the lone office. The door had 'Superintendent Murphy' painted on the glass. He knocked and then opened the door without waiting for a response. The Superintendent motioned for us to enter and the Constable closed the door behind us.
I set the bag down on the Superintendent's desk and said, "Bradan buried the bodies outside Felix's Greenhouse."
He mused, "I wonder if anything will grow over them."
"I haven't heard about it, but it wouldn't surprise me if Felix tried to use them as plant food," I replied.
He dumped the three jeebee pistols on his desk. "So three less of them running about is worth 75 pounds."
"75 pounds! Is that a lot now?" asked Gwen.
I stated, "A dressmaker earns about one pound each week, so 'tis a lot."
The Superintendent looked at me and asked, "How would you like that?"
I addressed Gwen, "It's your bounty. Would you like a cheque, paper money, gold coins, or thousands of pence?"
"Could I get it in gold coins?" she asked.
"Going to put it in the cookie jar for a rainy day, huh?" he said.
She said, "That's right, but I don't want to cause you any inconvenience."
Superintendent Murphy wrote out a cheque, opened his door, and called down the hallway. "Sergeant! Grab the constable, go to the bank, and exchange this cheque for gold sovereigns. Be sure to get a few quid in smaller coins as I suspect the ladies are doing a bit of shopping today."
He addressed me, "Is it safe to presume your automaton is waiting outside for you ladies?"
"He is waiting, to be sure." I replied.
"It makes me feel better with you two having so much money with you."
I didn't bother to say that I protected Bradan rather than the other way around. Bradan was good for intimidating most men though. Few people wanted to fight with a ten-foot tall machine carrying a rifle.
The policemen left and returned with two small bags. They showed us their contents. One had seven quid in assorted coins. The other had the rest of her bounty in gold sovereigns. Gwen looked in the bags and smiled. I looked around the off
ice, but didn't see what I was looking for.
I asked the Superintendent, "Where is the donation jar?" I looked at Gwen, "I always leave something for the men injured in the line of duty."
Gwen gave me a puzzled look and I held up a hand with my fingers spread out. She reached into the one bag and took out five gold sovereigns. The Superintendent had managed to find the jar hidden in one corner of his office by then. She dropped the coins in as he expressed his appreciation and explained how thankful the families were for our generosity.
We spent the rest of the morning shopping. I can't recall how many dresses she looked at; always in bright colours. She only bought two. The same went for shoes. She said that she travelled light. She talked me into accepting a pair of shoes with a flower print and two-inch brass heels. They cost more than I would have paid, however I could not refuse a gift offered sincerely. As far as sensible undergarments, she bought none. Only the lightest, sheerest, or most expensive appealed to her.
I expected Bradan to be burdened with uncountable bags filled with new clothes. That's what I did to him when I came back home from Wimbledon. Instead he was carrying sacks of groceries. Gwen offered to make one of her favourite meals for my family and it required a lot of fresh ingredients. We were heading to the pub when a group of men blocked the sidewalk.
I said, "Hello, Sean."
"Good afternoon, ladies."
"What mischief are you up to today?"
"We aren't here for mischief. We are here for justice. That automaton of yours scares our children and we don't want it in town, except in small pieces."
"That's not true. The children love Bradan. He spins the roundabout for them whenever they ask. They say he is also fun with the teeter-totter. As far as justice, take your complaints to the royal constabulary."
"They are idiots and fools."
"But they help keep the peace. You should try to be more like them."
"You can't tell us what to do! I will not be bossed around by a woman!"
Gwen said, "We are not defenceless women."
He looked at her with disdain. "We know her reputation. She shoots paper targets that are far away."
I smiled. "I forgot to introduce you to my new friend. She's a soldier of fortune. These guys work at the mill just South of town making rocking chairs."
One guy replied, "We aren't doing those anymore. The boss has us making love-seats now."
I explained, "They are worried that automatons like Bradan will take their jobs away."
Gwen added, "I wouldn't buy a love-seat made by a machine. It needs to have the warmth only a person can bestow."
He said, "You two ladies can't stop us with your lies."
"Can two police constables, a sergeant, and two ladies stop you?" I asked.
He looked back at me. "What nonsense are you talking about now?"
"Try looking behind you," I replied.
"You can't fool me that easily."
I stifled a laugh. "I would suggest you ask one of your friends to check, but they've run out on you."
"What! This isn't over!"
The Sergeant spoke up. "Actually, it is. You can apologise to the ladies and swear never to bother them again or you can go in front of the judge for disturbing the peace... again."
"You have to catch me first," he said and took off running across the street.
He was a fast runner, but not fast enough. Gwen shot him in his butt and he toppled over; face-first with his arms swinging wildly.
"I had it on the lowest setting. His legs are numb, but otherwise he is okay," she explained.
"That's a right useful pistol you have there," said the Sergeant.
Gwen said, "Some people don't handle progress well. If he only realised that were he to lose his job to a machine, his children would have four new jobs operating, building, maintaining, and improving it when they grew up."
Even with the distraction, we arrived at the pub shortly after one o'clock. Gwen and I got Bradan settled before I went in to talk with my father. I had to explain the etiquette of pubs to Gwen. Children were allowed to fetch their fathers, otherwise no women allowed during the day. I was just going to let him know we were taking the wagon for a little bit.
As usual, all conversation stopped when I entered the pub. My father was at a table with another man. I checked out the bottle they were sharing. I said, "This is older than I am. It must be very good."
My father laughed and said, "When you get as old as it, you can try a very small glass."
"I just dropped in to say we were taking the wagon to the train station and will be back shortly."
"You needn't be in a rush because of me. Go show your airship to your new girlfriend."
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I said, "I love you," and strolled out of the pub.
I told Gwen, "We have plenty of time so I'd like to show you my airship."
"Your own airship? You are kidding, right?"
"I'm serious. 'Tis in a hangar just outside town by the train station."
It didn't take long for us to get there. I sent Bradan to see the engineer about the noises he was making while we went across the tracks to the hangar. We had the doors open when one of the guards came up to us.
I said, "This is Benjamin. In addition to his job updating the train schedules, he also tends to the Clover."
I turned to him. "This is my friend Gwendoline. I was going to show her my airship while Bradan gets his gears checked. Has anything interesting happened lately. "
Benjamin said, "They wired the hangar for electric lights a few months ago after one of your aviators, I forgot which one, suggested it. He said it would make it easier to steer it if he could see where the walls were."
Gwen asked, "You have aviators too?"
"I have two of them. They do all the flying while I attend to business."
Benjamin pulled down on a knife switch and dozens of lights that were placed near the ground shown dimly along the edges of the hangar. They also reflected along my airship showing its shape with dots.
Gwen asked, "Are they in town waiting on your summons?"
"Of course not. I send a telegram to my employers giving my travel details and they dispatch them. The pilots have her prepared by the time I arrive."
Benjamin added, "They get here at least four hours before you to make sure everything is ship-shape."
Gwen asked, "Do you use it just for business?"
"Mostly, but I went to a competition in Aberdeen in September, we had a family vacation in Amsterdam last October before the exhibition closed, and we had a friends and family weekend shopping trip to London in December.
"Aren't we going inside it?"
"Not today. We need the steam engine running to turn on the lights inside her. "
I thanked Benjamin and he turned out the lights. We were about to close the doors when two men came up.
One said, "I told you she'd come here."
The other asked Gwen, "What did you do to Sean?"
Benjamin said, "You men get out of here. And watch where you point those rifles lest you blow us all to kingdom come."
The first one walked over to Benjamin and stuck his rifle into the guard's chest. "Is this better, old man. You just mind your own business. This is between us and the women."
I went to step between the two men and settle things peacefully. I didn't want to get in the paper again for having to shoot a person. It was possible that he could shoot my airship as he fell and that would be worse news. I wouldn't mind being mentioned near the back page of the paper for settling a dispute quietly though.
I woke up on my back. My head hurt like it never had before. I wondered what I had done this time. I said, "I don't feel good."
Gwen said, "At least you feel something. I was worried that you might never wake up."
"What happened?"
"Most people ask where they are first. Leave it to my very great-grandmother to be different," she replied.
"Okay, where
am I?"
"You are lying on your bed in your house and the doctor says you need to stay still until she says otherwise."
"I think I can manage that. Can you tell me in short sentences why I am laying still?"
She answered, "The doctor said so."
"Okay, wrong question. Let's get back to my first one. In short sentences, what happened?"
"You tried to intervene in an argument. A man's rifle went off by accident. You were grazed along your forehead. I shot the two men before they could run far. The guard raised the alarm. Your father arrived with what seemed like half of the townspeople. He was yelling at the man in a strange language."
"That would be Gaelic. My father says that English is not a fit language to express emotions or a really good curse."
"Well, he beat the man who shot you senseless. It took three men to pull him away. I brought you home. Your father went for a doctor. I watched her examine you."
"How do I look?"
"Not so good. The doctor wanted to shave your head. I threatened to shoot her if she tried. So your hair is caked with blood, but that will wash out. You were unconscious for hours. Now you are awake."
"I don't think I'm ready to be awake just yet."
• February 12
My first thoughts were, "Why do I always get hurt so badly that I pass out? Why can't I get shot in the arms or leg instead?" I considered sleeping some more when I smelled something good.
I opened my eyes and saw Gwen holding a slice of toast under nose. My mother said, "I told you that would wake her up. She loves jam on her toast."
She looked at me, "The doctor said all you get is soup so enjoy the smell. I'll be right back with some."
I tried to get a bite of the toast, but either Gwen was too fast, I was too slow, or both.
Felix and Mary were my next visitors of the morning. He told Gwen she could pick up the power converter this evening. They had brought some kind of potted plant. It looked like a cactus. I wasn't very talkative, but Mary and Gwen were. I just listened and smiled.
I had a nap before my girlfriends dropped by. They brought pretty flowers and candy. Gwen took the candy before I could and put it on my dresser far away from me. I introduced them to Gwen and the five of them conversed for hours about things we would all do when I was better.
Fianna Kelly Versus the Jeebees: A Collection of Steampunk Stories Page 21
