The Untold Tales of Dolly Williamson: An Occult Steampunk Thriller: Prequel to The Guild Chronicles (The Guild Chronicles: A Steampunk Fantasy Book Series 0)

by J. M. Bannon

  Gerrard looked and observed through the portal inside the bronze sphere the glass orb was held in a set of prongs suspending it in the center, within the glass the swirling smoke could be seen.

  “Now I throw this switch and we now bypass the conductor through this chamber” Hume patted the bronze sphere. “To get the spirit essence into et viventem perpetua, the machine of everlasting life, we need to approximate what is going on inside the ampule’s soul serum. To do this, I will now pump a gaseous coagulation agent, this gives the immaterial spirit something to cling to in the material world," He turned a faucet handle and pressed a button and a pump reciprocated pushing a pinkish fume into the chamber.

  “Gerrard go lie down, you look if you might keel over from the boredom of this technical session,"

  “No, please continue this is a once in a lifetime treatment I want to see how you are doing it," replied Gerrard, he was not bored he was just tired.

  Hume pushed a button causing green lights around the floor to signal the others to man their stations “I begin now.” Hume smiled, “This reminds me of the early days when we first began experimenting,” said Hume. The hall filled with the thrum of dynamos and the calls of men as they read off the variables from gauges and levels. Pumps started to recirculate the ichor.

  “The electrodes will be pressed into the orb causing it to crack mixing the aether gas and spirit, after an initial reaction the electrodes would have current applied and conduct the medium into the chamber.” Hume watched through the thick glass portal, and the pinkish mist of the aether gas he hand-operated a micrometer that slowly pressed the electrode prongs against the orb surface. He peered in to see when cracks appeared in the glass then with a sudden pop the orb shatter instantly starting the reaction. Hume lunged to the initiation button as fast as he could. His palm slammed down on the button. Current coursed through the viewing chamber and the spirit form could be seen to coagulate then catch on the current running from bottom to top. See how the essence caught on the current then was pulled up and out of the chamber?” Hume asked.

  “I didn’t. You blocked the view to the window.”

  “Hume what do you think the punishment is for conducting untried experiments on the Emperor?” asked Gerrard.

  “I am not sure but I would beg for leniency on Crocus’ behalf,” said Hume, as he isolated the gas to the chamber and waited for it to clear. The spirit energy was induced into the ichor recirculation loop that flowed through the tub and would be absorbed by the Emperor. The Guild Master signaled to shut down the current and the dynamo system He opened his pocket watch and squinted to make out the numbers on the watch face in the dim gaslight.

  “Gerrard, he will need to soak for an hour then figure an hour to prepare your treatment why don’t you have a rest in your office until then.”

  Saint-Yves couldn’t argue with the advice from his friend.

  1:00 PM Chilton House City of London

  “What’s this I hear Strathmore is designated the Trustee on the Moya trust?” barked Oscar Owens as he stormed into Lester Chilton’s office unannounced, without even a cursory knock at the door.

  Lester looked up from the documents he was reviewing, “Yes Oscar, the wills of both Emilio and Hernando Moya were explicit that all the bequests and their estates were to be entrusted to Mr. Strathmore and managed in the New York Office.”

  “There must be something awry with the documents, have you advised our solicitors to review them?” huffed Owens.

  “Why are you so upset about this?” asked Chilton.

  “The Moya family has been long-standing clients and managed by this office for decades. Lester, they were your father’s client for God’s sake, why are we losing them?” Owen’s fired on his younger partner.

  Lester stood up and leaned over his desk. “Owens, we’re not losing them they are transferring to our office in America. It’s natural they be managed from that part of the world most of the holdings are over there.” Owens was surprised by the heat in the tone of Chilton’s voice. “Oscar, I want this whole affair with the Moyas behind us. If we were to take issue with the currently drawn documents, the trust could be put into question by half the people in Portugal looking to grab a share of the fortune. We would watch the estate dwindle and spend our days in court with every frivolous claim. Let it go quietly to New York.”

  “This is how it starts, Lester, they take our clients then one day London is reporting to America.”

  “And your name will still be on the door collecting a partner share of the profits, including the fees charged to the Moya estate under Strathmore’s supervision.”

  “Lester, I am not done with this matter.” Owens had no argument Chilton was correct, it was best to not stir the pot. “I have a client waiting but I would like you to think about what I have said...” He closed the door on his way out of Lester’s office.

  Outside in the seating area, a well-dressed oriental man lingered. “Mr. Lin I am Oscar Owens the Managing Partner, please join me in our boardroom.” Jimmy Lin stood up putting his gloves in his hat and shook Owens’ hand. “A pleasure, Mr. Owens you have an impressive office, I must say.”

  The two men settled at the end of the boardroom table. “I went over the documents and there are a few Items I would like to clear up.” While Owens talked, Jimmy set his leather attaché on the table and unlatched the leather clasps removing similar documents. Jimmy beamed.

  “Mr. Lin, Chilton, Owens, and Strathmore, is one of a select few merchant banks that a Monarch calls upon in times of financial strain, we have been fortunate because of our reputation and the work we take on.”

  Jimmy stared at him.

  “What I mean to say is that in the City there are many fine financial institutions that handle trusts and while we are pleased that you desire to work with us I don’t believe we have the right trustee for your situation.”

  “Was there something wrong with the documents, I had them drawn up by Davis and Yorke.” Jimmy knew where this was going he would have fun with the fat man along the way. “Oh no, they are fine solicitors, in fact, Elton Davis started here in our council office. retorted Owens “That is what he told me,” said Jimmy, “then is it that I’m a Chink?”

  “Mr. Lin, Chilton has been banking in Asia for decades with one of the first and now largest offices in Hong Kong” consoled Owens.

  “That is good because I do a lot of business over there and you can help.” Jimmy pulled out a Mahogany box and set it in front of Owens and opened the lid. Nestled inside the velvet lining was a loaf of gold made up of ten 100-gram gold ingots slices. “I have a truck arriving in twenty minutes to deliver Seventeen-hundred-sixty-seven 100 gram ingots to be stored in your vault and to fund these three trusts. So, you don’t have a problem I'm Chinese, the paperwork has been completed by the best solicitor in London and the funding will be here any moment.”

  Jimmy continued, “That leaves only one issue I can think of, You may have heard a rumor, idle gossip of the ignorant. That my partners and I are involved in unscrupulous business. The word you may even be thinking of is gangster, and what if this were true? Now you might think I am a liability to your precious Chilton House, no, on the contrary, I would be an asset. Once the streets of London know you are Master Lo’s Banker no one would be foolish enough to steal from your vaults again. You could leave the door wide open and not one criminal would think to touch a shilling.” He paused,”That’s if the rumors were true.”

  Owen sat for several moments looking at the gold. “Let me get a clerk in here to witness the documents and to inform the doorman to expect the truck.” Owens stuck out his hand to shake Jimmy’s “I want you to know how important your business is to Chilton House. Your bullion will be under my personal attention and stored in the partner vault, only our top clients have this honor and only partners have the combination. Be sure to let your associates know that is how much we value your business.”

  Jimmy shook his hand “You have lived up to your
reputation, Mr. Owens. There is the matter of this one trust,” Jimmy slid the documents across the table.

  “Yes, the White Angel trust. I found that one interesting, and might I suggest that I personally take the role of Trustee?”

  “I couldn’t think of a better person Mr. Owens. As to the first matter of business once the bullion is in your possession I want you to liquidate enough of the gold to pounds’ sterling then fund your investment strategy leaving some cash liquid for the purchase of an appropriate residence.”

  “Consider it done,” Owens replied.

  “Excellent, and one final instruction, the beneficiary is never to learn that I am the source of these funds. If she does and I hear it came from your lips then...well, I’m sure you understand that would be unpalatable for me.,” Jimmy just stared at the old man for a moment before continuing. “Can you put the gold in this box into the vault with the rest of the boxes? For your accounts that will make it one thousand-seven-hundred and seventy-seven ingots.” The clerk knocked at the door. “Mr. Owens I am here to witness and certify signatures.” “Come in, come in,” replied Owens. The clerk opened the box he carried and set out an inkwell, several pens and stamps. The clerk turned to Jimmy Lin. “You can begin signing documents at any time. Do you have a pen?”

  3:00 PM Necronist Guild House Ile de la Cité Paris France

  Guild Master Hume entered Gerrard’s office. Gerrard laid on a chaise lounge with a migraine and arthritic pains in his hands and knees. “How did the Emperor’s treatment go?” inquired Gerrard.

  “Too well. I would say we stripped off fifteen years of aging. Doctor Philas suggested that the Emperor take a sabbatical to Versailles and limit his exposure to the public. I agreed,” advised Hume.

  “It will be interesting to see how long the effects are sustained.” commented Gerrard, his eyes closed as the light intensified the migraine.

  “We have readied the chamber for you brother,” informed Hume.

  “Can you help me up?” Gerrard began lifting himself up but was lacking energy and strength to move. “Yes, brother” Hume helped Gerrard to his feet. His breathing became labored from the exertion.

  As they walked through the mechanical room Gerrard stopped. “Are you alright, we are almost to the chamber,” asked Hume. “I would like to check something, I will meet you inside.” Hume continued down the walkway towards the stairs that led to the tub room. Saint-Yves made his way towards the transfer chamber but ran out of energy. He looked around for someone to help that would not question what he planned to do. “You, technician, give me a hand.”

  With the assistance of the technician, Gerrard made his way back to where he watched Hume transfer the spirits from the orb. The system was switched back to the traditional transfer chamber. The Guild Master opened the transfer chamber that held an ampule. Removing and slipping it into his pocket, he reached inside his jacket and held out the ampule that contained Angelica’s essence. He gazed through it then placed the article between the electrodes in the chamber.

  The technician watched as he changed the vials. “What is your name, Acolyte?”

  “Bertan,” the young Acolyte replied.

  Gerrard closed the chamber, “Please help me into the inner chamber Acolyte.”

  “But I am not permitted inside the sacred chamber,” he replied.

  “I need your assistance. Let me rest my weary body on your shoulder, it will be alright. Acolyte, you have no reason to mention what you think you might have seen,” warned Gerrard.

  When they stepped through the inner door Hume bellowed, “Bertran, what are you doing?”

  “Hume, I asked him to assist me it is not his doing,” Gerrard explained.

  Hume moved to help Gerrard. “Thank you, Acolyte, I will aid the Guild Master from here.”

  Hume whispered to Gerrard, “We must get you treatment quickly your judgment has been affected.”

  “I have suffered from poor judgment prior to the attack, I was just able to cover better when I had energy,” muttered Gerrard.

  Hume assisted Saint-Yves in disrobing placing the garments of the Guild Master on the hanger of the portable valet. While hanging Gerrard’s jacket Hume felt the ampule. He reached into the pocket, recognized the object and the number noted on it while looking back at Saint-Yves to see if he witnessed him discover the ampule. He had not, Gerrard was occupied with steadying himself while removing his clothes. He slid it back into the pocket where he found it.

  Hume assisted Gerrard into the tub. The Guild Master already seemed to be receiving some relief just floating in the ichor.

  Hume secured the tub assuring that the vessel was sealed. The Chamber Master pushed the stand with Saint-Yves clothes as he walked out of the inner chamber and sealed the door. He then removed the ampule from Gerrard’s clothes and walked to the conversion chamber to initiate the process. The vial in the chamber had no number, it had never been entered into inventory. He switched the unrecorded ampule for the numbered selected for the treatment. Safeties were released, cogs engaged and current applied with the push of a button.

  Gerard would be rejuvenated from the life essence of another, but not the one he had planned on.

  Hume slipped the unnumbered ampule into his jacket pocket.

  WEDNESDAY THE 29TH OF JUNE

  10:13 AM Scotland Yard

  Three days had passed since Keane’s funeral and four had gone by since Dolly and Burton resolved the Chilton case. Dolly's face was almost completely healed. He sat outside Commissioner Mayne’s office waiting to prepare for an appointment at 10 Downing Street.

  The door opened and Dolly shot to his feet.

  “You ready Detective?”

  “Yes, ready as I’ll ever be, Sir,” Dolly said tapping the back of his case journal that he held against his chest and wondering why he was called to the Prime Minister.

  “Alright, then I have a carriage out front waiting for us,” advised Mayne.

  Once in the privacy of the carriage, the commissioner was prepared to share more with Dolly. “Apparently, the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have requested an audience directly from you regarding the Chilton Case,” informed Mayne.

  “The bleeding Prime Minister? Do you know specifically why? Is it an interest in the case, the victim, or my performance?” queried Dolly.

  “You did shoot a man who has diplomatic privileges in the country who was assisting you in the capture of a murderer,” replied Commissioner Mayne. Dolly wondered if Mayne was coaching him on an inquiry regarding his behavior and not the case.

  “Well better you shot a Silver Seer than a Guild Master, that could have turned into a full-blown international incident" assured Mayne.

  "Yes, Sir," Dolly replied staring at the floor of the carriage searching for an answer to where this could go. There was the issue of how the Chilton Murder case so gruesomely ended, loose ends like the missing Gold or it could easily be his treatment of diplomats.

  The newspapers have had field day printing stories of reports of spirits invading Lambeth.

  Tell them straight, Dolly and we will get through this.” Mayne explained.

  Welch at the Guardian had been hounding Dolly for an interview on his phantom killer, the columnist’s name for the murderer of Chilton and Moya. Maybe it could be just a talk about managing the press. “Thank you, Sir” Dolly was worried. He was just the right level of authority to be made an example of between the governments. This had to be about the shooting.

  The meeting was held in a drawing room, an informal atmosphere. It was just the four men in attendance: Dolly, the current Prime Minister, Edward Smith-Stanley the 14th earl of Derby, Mayne and his boss the Home Secretary Horatio Walpole.

  “I asked you and Commissioner Mayne to brief the Prime Minister on the particulars of the Chilton case.” said the Home Secretary, addressing Dolly.

  “Before Detective Williamson gets into the case, I would just like to get on the record...” started Mayne.

  “Ther
e’ll be no record of this meeting commissioner” interrupted the Earl of Derby.

  “Yes, Sir…” Mayne was on his back foot. “What I mean to say, Sir, is the Detective is one of our best men when it comes to sousing out the facts of a case and has always shown high character and tact when on a case.”

  “This tact and discipline includes conducting investigations with occultists and shooting French dignitaries,” inserted Derby. There it is.

  “From what the Home Secretary has told me we have a situation that has our national interest at stake and I want to hear your side of this Detective. Everything you know.” Derby continued ignoring Mayne’s appeal.

  “I was called on to investigate the death of Sir Francis Chilton the financier. His body was found at his London home, he had not told his family why he was returning to London and no one knew of his whereabouts for nearly two days. The condition of the body was unlike anything I had seen before and I requested the assistance of Rose Caldwell, a local occultist.”

  “Why did you call on her, may I ask? This city is full of fortune tellers.” the PM queried.

  “We have a history.”

  “The Milton murders,” Walpole injected looking at the Prime Minister in a way that left Dolly with the impression they had discussed them at some point.

  “and I trust her assessments,” Dolly finished his sentence.

  “Go on,” prodded the PM.

  “Over the following fortnight, the body of Señor Emilio Moyo was found at the Carlton in the same condition as Chilton, excuse me, Sir Chilton. Then two bodies were found in the Vault at the Chilton House. In the case of the two guards, they had been shot.

  The Home Secretary requested a meeting where I was introduced to Guild Master Saint-Yves, a French Diplomat, and Guild Master. He shared that a similar murder had occurred in the colony of Haiti to Emilio’s Brother, Hernando and that they suspected a Voodoo Priestess named Angelica du Haiti.