Venera Dreams

by Claude Lalumiere

  At that point, shamefully, I lost consciousness.

  I awoke in a luxurious four-poster bed, with silk sheets. My room was opulent, with a large open window that let in sounds I could not quite identify. My personal effects had been brought here, neatly arranged by the wall to my right. I was tended to by a trio of nurses who refused to answer any of my questions or even speak to me. They were rather forceful, though, and I was not allowed to rise from bed or even peel back the sheets.

  My head was heavy, and there was a throbbing ache where my wrist had been stabbed. The nurses would not let me examine or even see my wound. When they appeared confident that I was subdued to their will, one of them left the room. She returned quickly — before I could devise how to outwit my stern keepers — with my three Secret Dragon companions in tow.

  Both Azure Tiger and Celestial Griffon bore evidence of the recent fight, but Lunar Dragon was as poised and immaculate as ever. Azure Tiger winked at me as Celestial Griffon, hands concealed in his cloak and held tight against his chest, addressed me: “Karim Khalil! Welcome to the Forbidden City! The Zhengde Emperor is most pleased with you, and we are all in your debt. Had you not stepped in to save the emperor, he would have died on our watch. You have safeguarded the honour of the Secret Dragon of Imperial Power as well as the life of our emperor and the stability of the state. We are both honoured and shamed by your valour and your sacrifice, and we hope our gift will go some way toward acknowledging our gratitude and admiration.”

  I was confused. “Sacrifice?”

  “Before I explain fully, Karim Khalil, let me show you my hands.” When Celestial Griffon revealed his ungloved hands, I gasped. Both of them were made entirely of metal, with gears and buttons that hinted at multiple functions. Prior to this Chinese mission, I believed Venera to be the most technologically advanced society in the world, but I now I know that China is at least our match.

  Celestial Griffon nodded to my attendants. They peeled back the silk sheets; my wounded hand was heavily bandaged. One of the three nurses took off the bandages. In lieu of my left hand was a mechanical appendage very similar to those of Celestial Griffon.

  “I lost my hands saving the previous emperor’s life. These hands, alas, do not provide the sensual pleasure of flesh, but they are better than a stump, by far. In some ways, they are superior to biological hands. The Zhengde Emperor insisted that you be granted this gift. When you are ready, I will teach you its use.”

  My mind raced with the things I had to report. I realized this was an opportune moment to gather more intelligence, but I was not in a state to trust my rhetorical skills. I feigned even more shock and disorientation than I was feeling and begged to be left alone.

  “Of course,” both men said in unison, while Lunar Dragon subtly bowed her head to me. They left, as did my three attendants.

  I rushed to inspect my bags. As I suspected, they had been searched. I counted six autopigeons, but I knew there should have been seven. What would my hosts make of this machine? Would they believe it to be no more than an automaton, a toy? Or did they already realize that I am a spy? That this technology — extrapolated by Veneran scientists from the secret notebooks Leonardo da Vinci smuggled into Venera, far from the intolerant eyes of the Catholic Church — allowed communication across great distances?

  For a moment, I forgot about my new mechanical hand; it obeys my mental commands so naturally. I will take up Celestial Griffon’s offer to teach me about this wondrous technology. If our scientists can unlock its secrets, it will be a boon to Venera.

  I activated an autopigeon and spoke into it in our coded language. Once I am done with this report, I will set the bird’s coordinates for the headquarters of the Vermilion Eye and activate its flight mechanism.

  I will report again as soon as I learn more about the Emperor’s designs on Venera.

  May the Vermilion Eye be ever vigilant!

  Much has changed in the three days since my last autopigeon message. If I have not reported before now it is because, when I returned from training in the use of my new hand with Celestial Griffon, I found that my entire supply of autopigeons had been purloined. However, there is no need to send more, as I am now en route to Venera and hope to arrive not much later than this autopigeon. How I came to retrieve the bird is a crucial part of my report.

  For the entire day following the discovery of the confiscation, I was on edge, expecting to be arrested at any moment. Yet my hosts continued to treat me as an ally, and I could detect no hint in their behaviour that they suspected anything. Their gift of this new mechanical hand, for example, displayed both gratitude and trust. It is an astonishing piece of medical engineering and, even with only very little training, a formidable weapon.

  I spent much time in the stimulating company of Azure Tiger. It weighed heavily on me that I could not be honest with him when his friendship appeared to be so true.

  On my final day in the Forbidden City, I finally once again met with the Zhengde Emperor himself. The sun had barely risen, and a young man came to fetch me, informing me that the emperor required my presence immediately. I made myself presentable, and the court attendant led me outside, to a large rectangular building, which at first glance I took to be stables.

  I was not prepared for what awaited me inside. In addition to Zhengde himself, there were over one hundred people in attendance, all of them sporting the crest of the Secret Dragon of Imperial Power on their vestments. Azure Tiger, ever jovial, winked at me. Celestial Griffon and Lunar Dragon each acknowledged my arrival with a subtle nod. Zhengde was deep in conversation with two very animated Secret Dragons, inspecting the reason why we were gathered in this building: a giant airship!

  I estimate that it was forty feet high, ninety feet long, and fifty feet wide. Its design incorporated all sorts of navigational aids, such as rotors, wings, flippers, and the like. It was decorated in the usual gaudy Chinese manner, in gold and vermilion — yes, the same colours so favoured in Venera, but here in China to a more masculine and harsh effect. The cannons mounted on the deck were visible from the ground. Other cannons sprouted from portholes. There was no mistaking the purpose of this vessel: it was a war machine. Our own scientists have been working on perfecting the maestro’s secret designs for various types of aircraft, but we have not attempted anything on this scale. This vessel could easily transport a military force of at least two hundred fighters, in addition to supplies and arms. Inwardly, I shuddered at Zhengde’s probable plans for the Venera expedition. And me with no way to warn you of the incoming invading force!

  After a few minutes, Zhengde took notice of me and signalled for me to come join him.

  “My honoured and valorous friend, Karim Khalil! My household has been treating you well, I hope?” Without giving me time to respond, Zhengde pressed on: “Allow me to introduce Enchanted Fox of the Stars and Water Stone of the Infinite Ocean, the two men responsible for the marvel of Chinese ingenuity before us, the Sky Dragon of Imperial Power.” The two men bowed as I realized that the Zhengde Emperor was perhaps not as gullible as I had previously believed.

  “Come,” Zhengde said, “let us tour this great vessel!”

  A wide ramp, allowing up to seven persons, shoulder-to-shoulder, led up to the insides of the ship. Joining us as we scaled inside were the two builders of the Sky Dragon and my three companions from the land-dragon; each of these senior Secret Dragons was flanked by a retinue of five lower-ranking Dragons.

  As soon as we were all aboard, Azure Tiger leaned in close to me, laughing, patting my back as if we were sharing a jest, but the words he whispered were far from comical. “Karim Khalil, my brother, I know you are a spy for Venera. I confiscated your cache of little automata to keep your secret safe. Please trust me, and hang back with my entourage. What is going to happen will be swift and confusing. But do not interfere, and you will be in no danger. I will not let any harm come to you.”

  Before I could fully digest Azure Tiger’s unexpected pronouncement,
the ship hummed, trembled, and rose into the air.

  From the panicked looks on the faces of Enchanted Fox and Water Stone, I knew this was not planned. Zhengde shouted: “Explain this!”

  Azure Tiger bowed his head toward Celestial Griffon’s retinue. All five of Celestial Griffon’s men drew their knives on him. They managed to cut him but failed to kill him.

  Azure Tiger hissed, “Hang back, Karim!” I did as I was instructed, but in truth I had little choice. Azure Tiger’s men blocked me from the action. Besides, I knew neither the meaning nor the stakes of what was happening — and this was not my conflict. Furthermore, I was no match for any Secret Dragon, of whatever rank. On the land-dragon, when I saved Zhengde, I had acted by reflex and survived only because of dumb luck.

  Lunar Dragon, along with her retinue, moved to protect Zhengde and the scientists. She looked at me intently, and I could see her register the bewilderment on my face. She nodded at me, as if she had come to some conclusion.

  Azure Tiger leapt into the brawl between Celestial Griffon and his men. Two among the traitorous retinue were already dead. Celestial Griffon was down on one knee, bleeding from several gashes. He twirled his mechanical hand: small metallic whips springing from his fingers slashed at the air, keeping his attackers at bay. Azure Tiger shouted a sharp one-word command, and the traitors stepped down. Celestial Griffon winced; he looked up at his fellow Secret Dragon. “You are responsible for this?” In answer Azure Tiger attacked the wounded Celestial Griffon, deftly evading the deadly whips, and killed him with one blow.

  The emperor screamed in terror.

  “Silence, you disgraceful pup!” Azure Tiger removed one layer of robes to reveal the colour and crest of the Terrestrial Phoenix of Utopian Anarchy. His retinue and the three survivors among Celestial Griffon’s all did the same.

  Azure Tiger shifted his attention to Lunar Dragon. “You and your men are outnumbered.” On cue, yet more Terrestrial Phoenixes appeared from the halls on all sides. “I do not wish to shed any more blood, save to rid China of the disgraceful Zhengde.” The emperor whimpered. “Surrender the emperor, the scientists, and the Sky Dragon, and leave Karim Khalil with us, and you can either join us or abandon ship with your lives intact.”

  Lunar Dragon responded: “It was no accident, then, that you were not killed by the Terrestrial Phoenix aboard the land-dragon.”

  “A cautious ruse, should the assassination attempt fail, so that I should not lose my position in Zhengde’s entourage and within the Secret Dragon. Had it not been for Karim’s interference … but he acted with valour. He is a good man.”

  “When did the Terrestrial Phoenix recruit you, Azure Tiger?”

  “You misunderstand, Lunar Dragon. I founded the Terrestrial Phoenix after this ridiculous whelp took the throne. I am the Terrestrial Phoenix.”

  Lunar Dragon betrayed no emotional reaction. “What do you want?”

  “I no longer want China, although at one time I thought I did. Now, I will be satisfied with ridding the world of the shame Zhengde has brought upon us all. Then I want to bring this ship to Venera — we are already en route to the Mediterranean — and negotiate a good future for me and my men with the gift of this technology. Imagine! A flying ship powered entirely by the light of the sun! Able to be piloted by a single man — or woman.” Azure Tiger bowed his head to Lunar Dragon. “It can even pilot itself once its destination is set! What nation would not want this treasure! Along with its inventors. There are no equals to Water Stone and Enchanted Fox in all of China, nor, I wager, in the rest of the world!”

  From behind Lunar Dragon’s men, Water Stone spoke up: “What makes you believe we would collaborate with you, traitor?”

  “Because you would rather stay alive. You are Secret Dragons, yes, but you were recruited as scientists, not true warriors. This is not an insult. We each have our roles to play. Accept your lot. Help prevent more bloodshed.”

  Lunar Dragon shouted: “Raging Whirlwind of Tiger Claws!” She and her men were suddenly transformed into barely visible death-dealing tornadoes. The Terrestrial Phoenixes tried to fight back, but they could not withstand such an assault.

  Azure Tiger scowled. “Unbeatable Blows of Furious Steel!” He joined the fray.

  The resulting violence was both swift and gory. I blinked and suddenly the only people left standing were myself in a far corner; the whimpering Zhengde, protected by Lunar Dragon; and Azure Tiger facing Water Stone and Enchanted Fox.

  Enchanted Fox spat blood. “We may be scientists, but we were still trained as true Secret Dragons; the two of us can overcome you.”

  “If you fight me, you will die. Look at all the dead around us. It is too much already. Do not sacrifice yourselves needlessly. The world should not be robbed of your great minds.”

  In response, the two scientists converged on Azure Tiger. I did not even see him move, yet his two opponents slunk to the ground, dead.

  Azure Tiger turned to Lunar Dragon. “I do not want to fight you, old friend. Surrender Zhengde to his final fate and join me in Venera. You have heard Karim’s tales; it is a wondrous land, one deserving of loyalty.”

  “Did you not just say there had been enough death? Surrender yourself, and we shall turn this ship back toward the capital.”

  Azure Tiger sighed, then lunged at Lunar Dragon. The two disappeared in a blur of movement and colour. When the storm of violence ceased raging, Lunar Dragon lay on the floor, with Azure Tiger kneeling above her, about to deliver a death blow. But he hesitated for a second — enough time for me to push a button in my new mechanical hand and launch a small metal pellet that tore open Azure Tiger’s throat, killing him before he could take Lunar Dragon’s life.

  Even now, I’m not certain why I interfered. Azure Tiger had positioned himself as a potential ally to Venera, and he had never acted as anything but a brother to me — even as he knew that I was lying to him. And yet … Perhaps I ultimately intuited that there was a megalomaniacal streak within Azure Tiger, a charismatic zealotry that I could not trust not to bring death and destruction upon Venera. Or perhaps I’m pathetically trying to justify the most monstrous act I have ever perpetrated.

  Lunar Dragon stood up. She looked at the emperor, who was still sobbing and cowering. I, too, was weeping. My gaze kept darting to Azure Tiger’s corpse.

  “You saved my life, spy from Venera.”

  I wiped my teary eyes and focused on Lunar Dragon. “You knew?”

  “Yes. I always suspected, but when you were convalescing I searched your belongings and took one of your little mechanical birds, intending to show it to Enchanted Fox, but I never had the chance. I presume you use them to report back to your masters?”

  “Something like that. Venera is different from China, though. I do not think of anyone as my master, or mistress.”

  “Can I ask what your plans are for China?”

  “We are peaceful, isolationist. We heard rumours that China might be planning a Veneran excursion. I was sent to investigate.”

  Lunar Dragon gazed at me intently. After a moment, she said: “Twice, you have acted in China’s interests, with courage and without hesitation, at great risk to yourself. We are in your debt. How can we repay you?”

  “Allow me to take this ship back to Venera; I promise that we will not attack you. But then China will not be able to attack us. Without Water Stone and Enchanted Fox, China cannot rebuild this vessel. And faraway Venera shall be safe enough for now.”

  Lunar Dragon once again glanced at the whimpering emperor. For a moment, her contempt for him showed on her usually impassive features. “Granted. And this, too.” Reaching inside her robes, she pulled out the autopigeon she had taken from me. “Farewell, Karim Khalil. You are an honourable man.”

  “Farewell? Are you not coming along? Where can you go?” I leaned against the hull and gazed out through the glass to the outside; we were far, far up in the sky. “You would be welcome in Venera; I believe you would find it to your taste.”
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br />   Lunar Dragon picked up the still-cowering emperor as if he were an infant. “Do not worry about us any longer, Karim Khalil.” I followed her. She opened a hatch. The winds at this altitude were both fierce and cold. Hugging Zhengde to her, she shouted: “Graceful Flight of the Landing Swallow!” and without looking back at me jumped out of the ship. Having witnessed Lunar Dragon’s phenomenal skills, I have no doubt the pair landed safely.

  This solar-powered ship is indeed ridiculously easy to pilot; although it is slower than an autopigeon, hence this final report. I have rid the ship of all the corpses, save Azure Tiger’s, who deserves a proper cremation. The more time elapses, the more I question my judgment. Why did I kill my friend? If not for his interference, Chinese warriors might at this very moment be converging on Venera, mounting an invasion we would be unprepared to repel. May Allah, even if he does not exist, forgive me or at least grant me peace from the confusion and grief that torture me. The sun has set twice since I murdered my friend, and I still have not slept.

  I yearn to be back home. I need to lose myself in decadent revelry and fall into a deep, long, forgetful slumber in the arms of a plump, ripe young Veneran who will wash away from my consciousness my time in China.

  Soon the Sky Dragon of Imperial Power will loom over the skies of beautiful Venera.

  AGENTS OF THE VERMILION EYE

  (AUTUMN 1895)

  THE MISTRESS IS SUMMONED

  In our somewhat dilapidated suite at the Portland Hotel, the International Mistress of Mystery sat back after indulging in a pinch (or three) of vermilion snuff. The unruly mane of her majestic hair haloed her beatific yet stern visage. She darted a satisfied smirk in my direction. There were still a few loose ends to tie up in and profits to be made from “The Affair of the Shanghaied Effete,” but she had caught the Chinatown culprits, collected her fee, and secured a generous bonus for the safe return of the ineffectual but beloved son of our client, the railroad magnate.