The Firebird Mystery

by Darrell Pitt

  ‘The worst?’ Paul Harker looked ill. ‘The Phoenix Society is in possession of revolutionary secrets. They must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. It could mean the end of all life on this planet.’

  Shocked silence greeted the statement.

  ‘Bazookas,’ Jack breathed.

  ‘You can’t mean that, Father,’ Lucy said.

  ‘I’m afraid so,’ Paul Harker told her. ‘The Nazis will have untold power at their fingertips once they take control of the Phoenix lab.’

  ‘Then we must stop that from happening,’ Thomas Griffin said. ‘Where is this lab?’

  ‘It’s in the Swiss Alps,’ Mr Bell said.

  ‘We must go there—and we must be prepared for battle.’ Mr Griffin focused on the two men. ‘I trust you gentlemen will assist us?’

  ‘We will,’ Mr Bell confirmed.

  Paul Harker, on the other hand, looked dazed, as if events had moved too quickly for him. He could not hide his sadness. ‘I suppose we must move forward now. The Phoenix Society is no longer a secret and we cannot allow the Nazis to have access to all of its ideas and intelligence.’ He studied the circle of faces around him. ‘You can rely upon me. I just pray we are not too late.’

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The airship was heated, but Jack still felt cold. He had suffered yet another restless night’s sleep. This airship—the Britannia—was much larger than the Lion’s Mane. The cigar-shaped vessel was under the command of Captain Bardle. Beneath its silver balloon hung a three-tiered gondola made of brass and iron.

  Scarlet, her father, the Harker family and Mr Doyle had all taken passage along with a number of MI5 agents, including Griffin, and a contingent of soldiers. They had left an airfield in Manchester with a squadron of other airships. More vessels from France had joined the convoy, while a few Swiss ships were due to meet them at their destination.

  Jack yawned. The sun was still low in the sky. A man in the galley had made him a hot chocolate and Jack cupped his hands around it to keep them warm. The drink was good, but it wasn’t as good as those made by his mother, or Mr Doyle.

  His parents’ caravan at the circus had been a small, horse-drawn affair with a tiny cupboard packed with food supplies. On Monday evenings, after the show was finished, his mother would break out a tin of chocolate powder and heap a quantity into all their mugs. She would add hot milk, producing a sweet concoction that would make his head swim.

  A sting of tears came to Jack’s eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his compass.

  ‘You’re up early,’ a voice said.

  He turned to see Scarlet Bell. She had salvaged a white blouse and a blue pinstripe walking skirt from somewhere. Her vibrant red hair tumbled across her shoulders.

  ‘I couldn’t sleep,’ Jack said. ‘How about you?’

  ‘Not very well,’ the girl admitted. ‘I was quite restless thinking about the day ahead.’ She pushed back her hair. ‘I believe Mr Doyle has spoken to Mr Griffin about those poor men on the island.’

  ‘What do you think will happen to them?’

  ‘I’m not sure. Perhaps the Darwinist League can find a cure for them.’ Scarlet looked down. ‘What do you have there?’

  She had spotted the compass in his hand. Jack explained it had been given to him by his parents before they died.

  ‘What happened to them?’ Scarlet asked.

  Jack tried to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat. Scarlet took his arm and squeezed it.

  ‘I’m awfully sorry,’ she said. ‘That was tactless of me.’

  ‘No, it’s all right.’ He told her about the accident, showing her the locket of his parents. Scarlet said they were a handsome couple. ‘They were so careful,’ Jack continued. ‘They checked the aerial rings and trapeze every day, as well as the nets. How they died will always be a mystery.’

  ‘Sometimes the most painful thing in life is not knowing.’

  ‘It’s just so unfair.’ There were tears in Jack’s eyes now and he didn’t care that Scarlet could see them. ‘I had an argument with my father that morning. I don’t even remember what it was about, but I told him I didn’t want to be in the circus anymore. I didn’t mean it. I was angry.’

  ‘We all say things we don’t mean.’

  ‘I was so stupid. I loved the circus.’

  ‘It sounds like you were very close to your parents. I thought I was close to my father. I’m not sure anymore.’

  ‘Because of the Phoenix Society?’

  ‘How could he keep such a thing secret from me? He’s been lying to me all these years.’

  ‘I don’t think he had a choice,’ Jack said.

  ‘I still love him.’ Scarlet gazed into the distance. ‘I always will, but I think I might go away when all this is done.’

  ‘Go? Where to?’

  ‘I don’t know. The Brinkie Buckeridge books have been so inspiring to me. I want to start making my own life. I want to make the world a better and fairer place.’

  ‘For women?’

  ‘For everyone. HG Wells, the writer, has been an ardent supporter for women’s rights, as well as science and education. If you improve the lot of women, you improve the entire society.’

  A bell chimed.

  ‘That must be breakfast.’ Scarlet brightened up. ‘Come along, Jack. Healthy mind, healthy body and all that.’

  Jack realised he was famished. He gave the compass and photograph a quick polish before pocketing them and following Scarlet to the galley. The room was full of people eating and drinking. A dozen tables ran parallel across the middle of the room. A few soldiers were wolfing down porridge. Mr Doyle and the others had assembled around a table at the end. They looked up as Scarlet and Jack arrived.

  ‘Good morning, you pair,’ Mr Griffin said. ‘I was just about to detail our line of attack.’

  Jack sat opposite Scarlet. She flashed him a smile and he felt wobbly at the knees.

  ‘We have been in communication with the Swiss government,’ Mr Griffin said. ‘They have agreed to give us full cooperation during this crisis.

  ‘We will make a targeted assault on the Phoenix compound. Our initial goal is to determine the status of the complex. If the Phoenix scientists are still in control of it, then we expect to negotiate a peaceful settlement. If the Nazis have taken over, we will still attempt a peaceful resolution, but we must be prepared to use force, if necessary.

  ‘Mr Harker and Mr Bell have agreed to show us to the entrance of the compound. MI5 and the military will take over from there.’

  ‘What is the role of the German government?’ Mr Harker asked.

  ‘There is still friction between our two countries,’ Mr Griffin said. ‘The German government has agreed to cooperate with us, but we must remember the Nazis have enormous power in Germany.’

  ‘How have they become so influential so quickly?’ Scarlet asked.

  Thomas Griffin gave her a smile. ‘It’s wonderful to see a woman interested in politics.’

  Scarlet tossed back her hair. ‘Really?’

  ‘We do have minds,’ Lucy Harker said. ‘Some of us even know how to use them.’

  ‘Sorry, ladies.’ Mr Griffin looked chastised. ‘I know you both have keen intellects.’

  ‘I accept your apology,’ Scarlet said.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Many people in Germany believe they lost the war because of the ineptitude of their leaders. They think they would have won the war if their government had not surrendered.’

  ‘Germany has grown in power since the war,’ Mr Doyle remarked.

  ‘Everyone has helped the country rebuild. A stable German government is to everyone’s advantage.’

  ‘And if Germany should become…unstable?’ Scarlet asked.

  Thomas Griffin appeared grim. ‘The Nazis would seize the opportunity and Anton Drexler would be in charge of the whole country. He, or his second-in-command, a man by the name of Adolf Hitler.’

  A number of pings rang out over the in
tercom.

  ‘That means we’re starting to descend,’ Mr Griffin explained. ‘Could you all please suit up as if you were leaving the ship?’ He added, ‘Just in case.’

  Everyone filed out to their cabins. Jack followed Mr Doyle.

  ‘What did Mr Griffin mean?’ Jack asked. ‘When he said, “just in case”.’

  ‘We may be heading into a battle.’ Mr Doyle grimaced. ‘Anything could happen. We might find ourselves lost in the snow if the airship is attacked. Best be rugged up.’

  Jack wondered about a worse possibility than being lost in the snow. One spark, for instance, could cause the combustible hydrogen to explode and—boom.

  He returned to his cabin and pulled a large white coat on over his normal clothing. The airship was diving quickly. His ears popped. He joined Mr Doyle on the observation deck. The sun had risen over the hills, but it had begun to lightly snow. The landscape below was a violent sea of valleys and mountains. The valleys were verdant, while the mountains thrust upwards in spectacular elevations of rock and ice.

  ‘Have you been to Switzerland before?’ Jack asked.

  ‘I was here on a case,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘I went to Reichenbach Falls, one of the most famous cataracts in all of Europe.’ The detective seemed uncomfortable. ‘Almost fell from the top.’

  ‘Blimey.’

  ‘It was an interesting crime involving a spanner, a rubber plant and an exploding nun.’

  He proceeded to tell Jack about the case as the airship aimed for a snow-capped mountain range. It descended to the centre of a wide valley and hovered about ten feet over the white surface.

  Looking through the window, Jack saw anchors plunge into the ice and a chain ladder drop. Men climbed down and started securing the airship to rocky points on the ground.

  Soldiers, followed by Mr Griffin, Mr Bell and Mr Harker, made their way onto the ice. They trooped off in the direction of a gorge on the eastern side, disappearing from sight through the crack in the rock face.

  Scarlet and Lucy clattered down the iron walkway to the observation deck.

  ‘...and so if the nun had not exploded at that very instant,’ Mr Doyle concluded, ‘the case would never have been solved.’

  ‘How long do you think they’ll be?’ Lucy asked.

  To Jack’s surprise, she appeared upset. She touched Mr Doyle’s shoulder. Back at the London Metrotower, she had seemed so tough. The woman had transformed into a different person. Jack realised she must be terribly worried about her father.

  ‘There, there, my dear,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘We’ll know soon enough. And you’ve hurt yourself.’

  Lucy gazed down distractedly. Her right leg was bruised. ‘Silly me. I slipped on the steps earlier. I’m not quite myself at the moment.’

  ‘They’re coming back now,’ Scarlet said.

  They turned to the window. Some of the men were trooping towards them. After an eternity, Mr Griffin clambered up the chain ladder and joined them on the viewing platform.

  ‘Looks like nobody’s home,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Come and see some of the novelties we’ve discovered.’

  Everyone had to wear two types of footwear to go outside. The first was a warm boot that slipped over their usual shoes. The second was a snowshoe that reminded Jack of a tennis racket. It had a hardwood frame with rawhide lacing. Jack tripped over his feet when he tried to stand.

  ‘Easy there,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘They take some getting used to.’

  Jack found he was able to clamber about in a rudimentary fashion after a few experimental steps. Everyone appeared identical in their special woolly overcoats. As they made their way to the exit and descended the ladder, Jack for the first time saw the other airships that had joined them. There were at least a dozen vessels, hanging above at various altitudes. A number were British, but he could also see a few French ships and a couple of others he did not recognise. He pointed them out to Mr Doyle.

  ‘Those are the Swiss airships,’ the detective said. ‘They’re smaller than ours, but quick and manoeuvrable.’

  It was bitterly cold. A light breeze swept past as Mr Griffin led them across the valley. They walked on in silence, white flurries falling as they turned into the gorge. Off the track a crack opened up in the rock face. They entered, Mr Griffin leading. The crack widened into a tunnel. Their scuffling echoed across the smooth surface.

  Hey, Jack thought. Our tennis shoes are making a racket. But he did not share his joke with the others. There was a light at the end of the dark passage. Warm air now wafted against his face. They entered a large room, well lit, clean and bare. A number of snowshoes lay to one side. These belonged to the men from the Britannia.

  Jack peered at the ceiling. ‘What are those lights? They’re not gas.’

  ‘Indeed they are not,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘I believe they are operated by an advanced form of galvanism—electrical power.’

  Jack stared up at the lights in fascination. A series of balls about three inches wide were set into the ceiling at intervals of a foot. They cast an even light over the room, unlike gas lamps which flickered and jumped. And this light was far more pure—gas always projected a yellow tinge.

  ‘Quite amazing,’ Scarlet said. ‘What happens if you touch them?’

  ‘I believe they are rather hot,’ Mr Griffin said. ‘Anyway, we’d best keep moving. There is much more to see than this.’

  ‘Amazing,’ Lucy commented. ‘No-one has ever been able to harness electrical power in such a way. The applications would be endless.’

  Mr Griffin gave a short laugh. ‘This is nothing. Follow me.’

  He opened the door and they found themselves on a platform overlooking a cavern almost half a mile across. Larger lights were set into the ceiling throughout the immense cave filled with strange contraptions.

  ‘Alice,’ Mr Griffin said. ‘Welcome to Wonderland.’

  Jack didn’t know where to look. He saw a helicopter, similar to the one they had travelled in earlier, but larger. A submersible lay, like a discarded toy, against a wall. It was twice as big as anything he had seen in picture books. He recognised a small steamer designed for space flight. A row of cannons studded its side. In front of the steamer, three lines of insect-like machines stood like silent sentries.

  ‘Incredible,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘Simply incredible.’

  ‘It really is,’ Scarlet said, ‘like being in Aladdin’s cave.’

  ‘And this is only the first chamber,’ Mr Griffin said.

  ‘There are others?’ Mr Doyle asked.

  ‘At least four,’ Mr Griffin replied. ‘As well as a mass of laboratories and testing chambers. It might take months to explore this place.’

  A bang emanated from the far end of the cavern.

  ‘That sounded like a shot,’ Mr Doyle said.

  ‘Wait here,’ Mr Griffin commanded.

  He hurried down the stairs to the base of the observation platform. One of the soldiers weaved his way through the mass of strange devices towards him. More shots rang out. The men had an animated conversation before the soldier turned and raced back.

  ‘It seems we were wrong about the Nazis,’ Mr Griffin told them upon his return. ‘They have been hiding in one of the far chambers and have sprung a surprise attack. We need to evacuate you immediately.’

  They hurried outside. Jack felt his heart pounding as they tried to race across the sea of whiteness. The shoes really were a nuisance. Mr Griffin produced a signalling mirror and started sending a message to the Britannia as they ran. In response, the airship men hung a series of blue and red flags from the balloon.

  ‘They’re warning the other ships,’ Mr Griffin puffed.

  They were almost back to the Britannia when the hillside moved. A tremor vibrated underfoot.

  ‘What was that?’ Scarlet asked.

  ‘I have no idea,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘But I don’t think it’s anything good.’

  Soldiers poured from the Britannia. More airships were descending into the valley. Jack and th
e others waited until the soldiers had disembarked before they started up the ladder. The ground shuddered again as a low rumble emanated around them.

  Is it an earthquake? Jack wondered. It feels like the whole planet is moving.

  They scrambled up the ladder, dragged their heavy coats off and made their way to the bridge. Captain Bardle was busy giving directions for cast off.

  ‘What’s happening, Captain?’ Mr Griffin asked.

  ‘We’re lifting off to make room for the other airships,’ Bardle said. ‘We’ll move to another location.’

  The ship started to ascend as another low rumble echoed.

  ‘Look!’ Scarlet cried.

  She pointed to the snow-covered field below. The snow was shooting upwards as if something was breaking through. Here and there, geysers of snow spat into the air as if fired from a gun.

  An enormous copper beam, bent in three places, cracked through the white. Four other girders appeared, attached to a square metal contraption. The beams waved about the air, clenching and unclenching.

  I know what that looks like, Jack thought. But that’s impossible.

  ‘It’s a hand!’ he said in amazement.

  ‘Surely not,’ Mr Doyle gasped.

  No-one could speak. As the airship ascended, another hand broke the surface. A head—a huge spherical box angled to a narrow chin—smashed through the snow. A single glowing eye, red and pulsating, filled the middle of the face. A ring of iron encompassed the cranium like a halo.

  The giant climbed out of the landscape, shaking ice off as it clambered to its feet. It was like a skeleton, but with pulleys and levers to give it motion. Steam and smoke belched from a dozen squat chimneys scattered across the creature.

  ‘It’s enormous,’ Scarlet said, open-mouthed.

  ‘At least a hundred feet tall,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘Possibly larger.’

  The metal monster gazed at the array of descending airships. Its eye focused on the Britannia.

  ‘It’s spotted us!’ Lucy cried.

  The Britannia was zooming up the valley. The metal giant was positioned to its right. It lurched towards the airship, snatching at the vessel. Its fingers fell short.

  They felt the airship surge.