by Avell Kro
“No. She had never been off the island and she would not leave until she learned everything from
Papa Lafayette”
Gerard observed the patience of the detective. This man would sit in silence and wait for him to
divulge more. He needed to see the detective’s commitment to stopping the threat.
“Detective, have you ever heard of Nicolas Fouquet?
“No, I haven’t,”
“Nicolas Fouquet was the minister of finance for the Sun King. Louis the XIV. He was a trusted
advisor and very influential in the court.
The Prime Minister, Jules Mazarin passed to the Aether and Nicolas very much wanted the job. He
decided to throw a magnificent party in honor of the King in hope of impressing on the King his
allegiance.
He opened his Chateau to all the court, he invited the greatest minds, he even had a special play
written and directed by Molière in honor of the King. There were endless courses of food, some
never seen before in Europe. After dinner, Fouquet invited the crowds to walk his garden where he
held a fireworks display as grand as there could be.
“Can you guess what happened the next day?” asked Gerrard.
“He got the Job,” said Dolly.
“No. He was arrested for embezzlement of taxes. It’s true he did embezzle, but the King was
complicit in the misuse of the taxes. Fouquet was sent to solitary confinement for the rest of his
years. You see the king did not see his actions as adulation but as a rivalry to his own greatness.”
“Now do you see where Angelica Du Haiti and Nicolas Fouquet made their mistake?” asked the
Guild Master.
“You don’t want some primitive occult to diminish your spiritual science.” said Dolly.
The guild Masters shoulders relaxed and he smiled “Yes, Nicolas and Angelica outshine the master.
That is why we are aligned in our purpose you cannot let a murderer run around freely and the
guild cannot have some primitive witchcraft look more powerful than what we wield. So, I can help you make sure that she does not leave this island alive”
Dolly put his notebook in his jacket and stood up. “Guild Master, that is where you and I are not
aligned. My purpose is to find the criminals and bring them to the Queen’s justice. What is fitting
of the crime is not my business. I leave that to the Judge and the Barristers. I bring the criminal,
the evidence, and the witnesses. It appears to me you have already passed judgment.”
Gerrard had misjudged the Englishman. He was more committed to the principles of his
profession than to what it would take to keep people safe. “Please have a seat Detective. I am sorry
if I misspoke. My command of English may have led to misusing of words. What I mean is that you
have my commitment to capturing Angelica, but you also have my commitment to do everything in
my power to stop her from killing more English.”
“Now please sit down I did promise you the best lunch in London and they have not even taken our
order,” said Saint-Yves. The Detective returned to his seat and that was enough of a sign to the
Guild Master that the door was still open to get the cooperation he would need from the English
Police to act against the murderer of the Moyas and Sir Chilton.
Tuesday the 21st of June
9:30 AM Muster Point A near the Baden Gas Works
9:30 AM Muster Point A near the Baden Gas Works
Dolly was slow to arrive at the scene. Upon finding Keane he quickly got up to speed on the
situation. The operation would go ahead in thirty minutes. He met his fellow Detective east of the
plant at the Woolwich Road muster point. Here, squad one and two would divide up and seize the
north and west gates, while squads from the two other muster points would take the south and
east gates. The police were setting up a cordon to limit traffic into the neighborhood of the works.
Unseasonably hot, the city was nearly unbearable as the humidity caused the coal ash and soot to
hang heavy. This weather would only pump more pressure into an already overpressured boiler,
Dolly hoped they could methodically release that pressure before the proverbial boiler blew up
and hurt someone.
Two duty sergeants discussing the present situation. The area was occupied with police loitering
and talking idly, but the momentum was picking up as Sergeant Eakins issued orders for last-
minute alterations to the positioning of equipment and men. At least twenty constables stood at
the ready. As mounted patrols drew up the horses and formed up to take the front line.
Dol y was in good spirits until he heard protestors had blocked all the entry gates to resist and
impede the right of way. That meant arrests and possible bloodshed.
“Morning Callum Keane, what have you been up to this fine day?” asked Dolly when he met
Detective Keane.
“I’ve been working with Wells here to prepare. In another twenty minutes, we will have groups
ready, I’m aiming to remain with the force for the west and observe the crowd,” replied Keane.
"Sorry for my delay, I have been down at the docks and to the train stations circulating pictures of
my suspect,” added Dolly.
“What picture? let me see it,” requested Keane.
Dol y pul ed out one of the few remaining bills he had in his coat and passed it to Keane. In the
process he felt his pipe, he resolved if they had a half hour before the operation he would enjoy a
smoke.
Keene studied the poster bill it showed a hand sketch of an African woman’s face including the
title;
Wanted for questioning at Scotland Yard
Ms. Angelica Du Haiti
aged 28-34
Notify a constable immediately
Keene looked at Dolly with a peculiar look of shock and apprehension “How did you come to know
this?”
“I’m a detective Keane, it’s my business is to identify criminals. I’m certain that’s my girl”
“How did you come to know her name her likeness?”
Dol y’s buoyant mood washed away at Keane strange interest in his case. “I obtained intelligence
from sources, multiple confidential sources.”
“It was that Witch, wasn’t it?”
“Oh it is a legitimate corroborated lead, I assure you.“
“I am asking you who? If corroborated who are the two sources, tell me,” demanded Keane.
Dol y had never seen Keene act like this and was reticent in sharing too much. By a foreign office.
What is up with you Keene?”
Keene continued to deliver a cold stare, remaining silent as if he was pondering about what to do
next.
Dol y ripped the bill from Keane's grip. “Don’t you mind who I work with; Rose’s methods are as
reliable as yours.”
Annoyed, Dolly stalked over to the side street where a row of steam-powered paddy wagons lined
up to transport prisoners and one of the new command wagons, the latest in mobile
communication technology. It was grander than a paddy wagon about the size of a mover’s truck
with a wire type and tape clacker. The wagon was capable of splicing into the telegraph wire
system and provide up to the minute communication. Two police clerks were in the back sending
messages back to Scotland Yard and to the other muster points.
The Detective strode up the wooden steps to take a glance at the latest in police communication
machinery. “Hey gents,” He said to the two young cons
tables that were clerking the wire-types.
“Good morning Detective Sergeant,” replied the youthful clerk holding the clacker tape.
“Do you mind not smoking in the van sergeant it’s a little stuffy in here and this is all sensitive
gear,"
“No worries mate," as Dolly turned to step down Keane was right on his heels glaring at him.
“What the fuck Keane you’re on me like a case of the crabs," barked Dolly. Keene just glared at
him. “Are you all right? You look like you need a lie down.”
BOOM! The two men snapped out of the conversation when an ear-shattering blast occurred.
More than just a sound it came with a shock wave that everyone felt in their bones and then was
accompanied by debris showering down across the muster site.
Dolly instinctively pulled himself into the communications truck. Lying on the floor he could hear
the constant patter of dirt and gravel raining down on the top of the communications van.
“What the hell was that?” declared the clerk.
“Wire-type for ambulances and order them to form up at this rally point,” Dolly commanded.
Sergeant Eakins ran up to the communications van. “Wire the other squads to move in
immediately, then request updates.”
“Yes Sir,” The two clerks banged away at the piano keys of the wire type machines.
Williamson had plenty of experience with explosions and bombs, back when he was handling the
Irish Troubles, this one was bigger than anything he had experience. He searched for Keane but
he was gone, likely went towards the blast to discover what had transpired, he desired to do the
same and fol owed suit.
Dol y could see smoke billowing above the metropolis. It had a greenish purple tint in contrast to
the familiar grey smog generated by the hundreds of London’s smokestacks. Somewhere there
was an LQ gas discharge.
Dol y went to the duty sergeant, who under Eakins orders had earlier committed the squads
towards the plant. He was coaxing his men forward “All right, all right, move up lads. Keep it
orderly. Keep yourself calm and let’s enforce the peace.” Twenty coppers with truncheons drawn
moved in lockstep down the lane behind a line of ten horses.
Dol y grabbed Eakin’s arm to get his attention “I need a driver and a carriage”
“Over there, O’Neil is running the motor pool,” answered the sergeant.
The police officer in charge of vehicles was yel ing over the commotion to get steam carriages in
positon behind the police line. “you to saddle up and follow the line in the event they need to toss
in prisoners.” He yelled.
Dol y jumped on the runner board of the steam lorry and clutched the sill to steady himself on the
car. Not that he didn’t wish to walk, but it gave him a view over the patrolmen to observe what
was up ahead. “Just keep moving I’ll let you know if I see anything,” Dolly said through the
passenger window to the two constables inside.
As they closed in on the Works, the air was becoming thick and heavy with soot and smoke from
the explosion and ensuing fires. Out of the haze screams and shrieks were bursting through, then
citizens followed. Some people running, some shuffling, others helping the injured away from the
disaster within the fog. The line of constables broke as they were rushed and overcome not by
rioters but by the injured and dismayed.
Dolly hopped off the wagon and grabbed a young man walking on his own but visibly wounded.
“What happened what did you see?” asked Dolly.
“There was a blast at the gas works. Absolutely horrible, people blown to bits.” said the man
through tears of hysteria. The Detective looked the youth over for severe wounds it was hard to
tell with all the dirt caked blood what wounds the man had. Dol y guided him towards the muster
point. Dol y assume he must be in reasonable health that he could walk and talk. “Keep walking
this way there is help ahead.”
Another victim was wandering towards Dolly clearly looking bewildered, “Sir, continue moving
forward toward the aid station.” The man just stared at him that is when dolly noticed the blood
running from both of his ears. He wrapped his arm around the man and walked him back to the
muster point and handed him off to a constable.
Dolly jogged over to the line of paddy wagons and called out to the sergeant in charge of the pool.
“You need to send more wagons up to help move wounded”
The sergeant turned, blew his whistle and waved the steam lorries forward. Dolly jumped on the
first one and leaned into the passenger window to speak to the driver and his partner. “Drive right
up to the explosion so we can see what is going on. I don’t want you stopping for injured we must
assess the situation, then steam back and let the blokes in the communication truck know the
status.”
“Yes sir,” hollered the driver.
It was slow going, as debris and bodies lay upon the road. Although the dust from the explosion
was clearing it was replaced by an eerie green haze clinging to the ground as they moved closer to
the blast site. This jade mist was not LQ gas; LQ was purple and lighter than air; that alchemical
element was streaking up high into the atmosphere, mixing with the smog that over hung the city
giving it a strange beautiful lavender glow.
Dol y stepped off the steam lorry and climbed over rubble blocking the way. Visibility was about
eight to ten feet in the green dusty smog, Dolly began to make out shapes of people, horses,
wagons, and wounded on the streets. Throughout the soupy fog, the moans and cries of the
wounded came through clear. The initial squad of police was now overwhelmed helping the
victims and the police whistles and yells of frantic officers trying to help came from all directions.
The emerald haze thickened as he closed in on the gas works. Reaching the outer wall, he began to
use it as a guide through the haze to the explosion. Every step of his path was littered with rubble
or gore and being able to feel the rough stone wall grounded him and help to fix his location.
The Detective reached the end of the wall where it turned to go east. At the corner of the
perimeter road that passed between the Lloyd Works and the Baden Gas Works. Dolly looked up
and saw the hulk of the HMS Victoria sitting in its berth. Men scurried on the scaffolding and open
decks. From what he could tell the ship looked undamaged but the same could not be said for the
plant. He could see the damage illuminated by the fires in the crater and both plants. A mere
twenty feet down the road ahead the edge of the blast crater started. At the bottom of the crater
was the exposed underground pipe that transmitted LQ from the gas works to the Aerodrome, it
had ripped open and was spewing purple fumes into the sky. A monumental disaster, having no
knowledge of machinery or alchemy he speculated what it would take to stop such a sizable leak.
What he did have some knowledge in was the evaluation of a bomber’s work. A crater this size and
the damage done to the gas works and the aerodrome facilities looked to his eye to be kegs and
kegs of powder and it had to have been under the street. The explosion had damaged both work
sites, obliterating buildings, damaging tanks and breaching the walls.
Through the gaping hole in the gas works perimeter wall, Dol y could see that the emerald gas was
ema
nating not from the transfer pipe but from damaged tanks on the gas works property. The
green gas had a sickly-sweet smell and taste, like having a mouth and nose ful of licorice. For the
first time he thought if he should breathe in these vapors and what the effect would be on himself
and his colleagues.
As Dol y peered through the fog to the other side of the crater, there appeared to be more
wounded but there was no way to cross to help. The north and west squad were cut off by the
crater and he could not cross. His stomach sank as he finally oriented to where the crater was,
anyone picketing at the north gate was standing on top of the explosion. Earlier estimates were
there were a hundred protesters at that gate, if so then there was a guarantee of one hundred
casualties.
By his assessment, they would need a lot more help, he had observed at least twenty dead and
similar number wounded and unable to move. He yelled to the paddy wagon driver “Go back and
get them to send up more help. Medical help. Have them wire the east road Muster to move up
and get help over to the other side of that crater, have them wire the home office we need the
army here to secure a perimeter and get the fire brigades up here.”
“On, it sir.” The steam lorrie let out a big chuff of steam as he ratcheted the gearing into reverse
and backed out. Dolly couldn’t recall all the orders he just shouted and figured the driver wouldn’t
remember either by the time he got back, but Aekins was a professional on how to get resources
in place to regain control of a situation.
As the steam engine faded he heard another sound approaching from above. A dull hum that grew
in intensity. He looked up to see the HMS Warrior break through the smog overhang to take up
station at the gas works.
That was a good sign for Dolly, it meant that the Army and Air Service would exert an
overwhelming force to quell any further rioting.
The air destroyer shone bright arc lights down at the ground. Dol y could make out sharpshooters
on the midline walkways.
A loud but tinny voice came from the audiophone of the Warrior “This is Captain Archer of Her
Majesties Air Service you are to peaceably disperse and allow the police and fire brigades to assist
