Out of Time: . (Steamside Chroncles Book 1)

by Symon A Sanderson

  “You’ve been hurt, your hands are blistered. They don’t look too bad, but we should treat them as soon as possible. What happened down in that basement?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it later. Right now I think we should get out of here.

  Jacob nodded his agreement and as Kate was helping him to his feet they heard several loud whistles. Moments later the yard was flooded with constables. Kate made sure Jacob was as comfortable as possible, before taking the boy to one of the constables and informing him who he was, and to let Sir Edward Riordan know as soon as possible.

  Kate had dressed Jacob’s wound as best as she was able before getting him to his feet and leading him back to the entrance. The police had already formed a line passing buckets of water along it when three engines, one with a steam operated pump, turned into the yard. Kate instantly recognised the first as a fire engine. It has bright red bodywork, a long brass funnel at the front and piston rod, cylinder and flywheel at the back. The other two vehicles whilst also having similar funnels and paint work were large oblong boxes. Kate realised they contained water and they watched as hoses were attached, gauges checked and levers pulled.

  The flywheel started spinning round and after only a few moments water started coming out of the hoses, slowly at first and then Kate was surprised at the efficiency of the operation as gallons of water started to douse the fire.

  They reached the safety of the street and both slumped down onto the pavement against a terraced house opposite the yard. Jacob looked for Mia Jennings, but there was no sign of her. Kate checked Jacob’s wound and wiped the blood from his face, despite numerous protestations from him. Kate smiled to herself. Doctors really did make the worst patients, she thought. They watched as the fire, blurred in the mixture of smoke and mist, was slowly brought under control.

  Another carriage entered the now busy street. Kate and Jacob watched as it pulled up next to them and the imposing figure of Sir Edward Riordan stepped out onto the pavement. He glared angrily at the pair of them before heading towards the yard, barking orders at everyone who came near him.

  Kate, Jacob and Grace made their way to a cab at the end of the street, whose driver had been watching the efforts to put out the fire. They were about to set off when the door opened and Riordan climbed in.

  “My men have told me you handed Lord Cargill’s son over to them,” he looked at the dishevelled state of the pair and the blood covering Jacob’s shoulder and arm, before glancing down at Grace. “It seems as though his rescue nearly cost you dearly.”

  Kate stared at Riordan as she thought she heard his attitude toward Jacob soften. She thought he was about to apologise when Jacob started to speak.

  “You owe a huge debt of gratitude to Miss Lockwood,” Kate felt herself shrink back into the seat as Riordan’s eyes drilled into her. “Without her, all would have been lost,” Jacob was looking at Grace as he spoke. He went on to tell Riordan how they had methodically uncovered the clues as to Graces’ whereabouts, the rescue of her and Lord Cargill’s son and everything Finch had told him about Alice. Jacob told Riordan that Finch was left handed and to take special note of his cane. When Jacob had finished, Riordan looked down to see Kate’s hand resting on Jacob’s arm. Riordan shifted uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat.

  “I shall instruct the driver to take you to my personal physician,” Riordan continued. Jacob was about to argue but Sir Edward stopped him in his tracks, “I admit he’s only the second-best surgeon in London, but you will still be in excellent hands,” he glanced at Kate before his eyes settled on Grace. “All of you.”

  Kate was sure a slight smile ghosted across Riordan’s face as he rose and climbed out of the carriage.

  “I owe you a great debt,” he said to Jacob as he closed the carriage door. His eyes turned to Kate, “both of you. But do try not to destroy any costermonger’s wagons on your way to Harley Street.”

  Riordan gave the driver instructions and told him not to spare the whip. The carriage turned and made its way unnoticed through the crowds which had gathered to watch the fire. Kate silently watched Jacob as he looked out of the window towards the ruined yard until the brougham pulled onto the main road and the yard was out of sight. Jacob’s gaze fell to the floor of the carriage as he shifted in his seat trying to get comfortable, Grace sprawled out on his lap. Kate gently took hold of Jacob’s hand and squeezed. Jacob shifted his gaze to Kate, smiled and squeezed back.

  Mia Jennings had decided that as she had just killed a man and still had the murder weapon in her possession, that her presence at the crime scene would be too tempting for the local constabulary. She had slipped unnoticed down a side alley and watched as the fire engines entered the yard. From her vantage point she saw Kate, Jacob and his daughter get into the waiting carriage before it pulled away down the street. Mia pushed herself against a wall as the carriage passed. Now was not the time for explanations. That could wait until the furore had died down.

  She waited until the last constable had passed her before making her way onto the main road and hailing a cab.

  “Where to Miss?” asked the driver.

  Mia took out an envelope from her jacket pocket and flicked through a large bundle of bank notes before replying, “Claridge's please.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Kate and Jacob had been taken straight to Harley Street where Riordan’s doctor was already waiting. The surgery had been straightforward and by the following day, Jacob had been sent home. Kate had stayed at Harley Street the whole time, refusing all advice to go home. Kate was relieved when they left, and not just because Jacob was making a recovery. The servants, having pieced together a version of what had happened, and seeing the state of Kate and her clothing, had fussed over her incessantly. The burn marks on her hands and legs were found to be superficial and were treated easily. She was glad not to be the centre of attention any longer. Kate had given instructions to the maid how to make the lemon mixture for Grace. With a little reticence a pan full was made and given to Grace, who had quickly showed signs of recovery.

  When they arrived back at St. Giles Square, Ivy explained that whilst cleaning Laura’s room she had found a letter addressed to Jacob. She handed him the unopened envelope. Jacob read the letter several times before handing it back to Kate. In it she explained exactly what had happened the night of Alice’s death. She apologised to Jacob, admitting she did not expect understanding or forgiveness, and then resigned.

  “Do you blame her for anything?” Kate had asked.

  “No. Of course not,” Jacob had replied, “I’m sure we could have worked something out,” he screwed the letter up and threw it onto the fire.

  The following day, Kate and Jacob were joined at breakfast by Grace, who had made a recovery of her own. They had nearly finished when Ivy announced they had a visitor. Jacob stood as Mia Jennings walked into the room and introduced herself.

  “I expect you have some questions,” she said.

  “I do indeed,” said Jacob. “Let’s go into my study,” he turned to Ivy, who was busy clearing the table, “Would you mind looking after Grace for a short while?”

  Ivy beamed at the request, “Of course not, Doctor McKinley.”

  Kate, Jacob and Mia entered the study and as soon as the door was closed Jacob began, “I owe you a huge debt of thanks. If you hadn’t shot Finch I would surely be dead,” he said as he sat on the corner of his desk. “Why…?”

  Mia held her hand up and interrupted, “Let me try to explain. I was only twelve years old when my father and I were taken by force and brought to an old pumping station in North London. That was ten years ago. In that time the station has been rebuilt into the huge complex it is now. My father was responsible for some of the most advanced designs in weapons, security and automatons,” Mia stood in front of the fire and warmed her hands.

  “I seem to be fortunate in that I have inherited my father’s inventiveness for engineering. He died two years ago and I was given a s
tark choice: continue his work or end up in the Thames. Since then I have taken control of every project in the factory, from upgrading the security automatons to the most secret of projects,” she turned and faced Jacob.

  “I admit I had been relatively happy with the arrangement until I heard of the deaths of protestors and police alike in the demonstration by the steamworms I designed. I demanded to know who had changed the programming, but I was warned off. When I heard of the kidnap and death of Lord Ashbury’s son and the kidnap of Lord Cargill’s son and then your daughter I knew the end for me had come. When Amos Coleman arrived my mind was already made up. It was he who gave me your address.”

  Jacob raised his eyebrows in surprise.

  “I escaped from the factory and went to the authorities,” continued Mia. “They didn’t believe me until reports started coming in about explosions in West Ham. I assumed Mr Coleman had completed what he had set out to do. I then came here to tell you what I knew, but you had already left. Whilst I was at the factory I’d heard several rumours about the kidnaps and had a good idea where they had been taken. I went straight to the yard and that’s where I found you.”

  “Thank you again,” said Jacob, “you saved my life.”

  “Probably mine and Grace’s too,” said Kate. “I doubt Finch would have stopped with you” she said, answering Jacob’s quizzical look.

  Mia smiled and nodded, acknowledging both Jacob’s gratitude and Kate’s observation. “You’re welcome, but there’s another reason I’m here,” Mia turned her attention to Kate, “and it concerns you,”

  “Me? What do you want with me?”

  “I couldn’t help noticing the clothes you were wearing.”

  Kate’s stomach lurched as Mia’s gaze hardened.

  “Can I assume…you’re not from these parts?”

  Kate and Jacob exchanged glances before Kate settled her eyes firmly on Mia. Remembering Jacob’s warning about ending up in Bedlam she decided on a cautious approach. “You could say that,” admitted Kate. “What do you know?”

  Mia sat in one of the leather armchairs adjacent to the hearth and leaned in to feel the warmth of the fire.

  “My father was a genius. He was years, decades ahead of his time. He spent his life searching for a clean, renewable energy source to replace the inefficient, dirty steam power that we have now. He believed that if we could tap into the aether streams that humanity would have a limitless, free supply of power. On one occasion he almost succeeded. One of his experiments tapped into the streams but had an unexpected side effect. Something I can only explain as a doorway was created. He studied it until the day a man came through. He was unconscious, but alive and well. My father was afraid that the authorities would come for him so he moved the man from his workshop to the Imperial Gasworks in Waltham Green. He made sure he was alive and as comfortable as possible before placing him in an area that would ensure his discovery.”

  “Do you know how I can get back?” asked Kate.

  “I believe so, yes. I just need two things, the exact place you arrived and the precise time and date.”

  “The place,” said Jacob, “was the West of London and Westminster Cemetery and as for the time and date it was eleven thirty on the evening of Saturday the eighteenth of November.”

  Mia stared blankly at the fire for only a couple of seconds before saying, “You have just missed an opportunity.”

  Kate’s shoulders slumped and she sat in the chair opposite Mia.

  “Don’t worry, there will be another chance. When you go through the doorway it re-opens after one hour. The time doubles before it opens again and keeps on doubling. One hour becomes two, then four, then eight and so on. If your timing is accurate it opened this morning at six-thirty. The next time will be this coming Thursday at two-thirty in the afternoon. You need to be at the exact same place you came through or you will miss it.”

  “Thank you,” said Kate, hardly able to believe that she could go home.

  “One other thing you should know. If for any reason you should want to come back,” Mia glanced at Jacob, “the whole thing re-sets itself when you go through, one hour, two, four. Do you understand?”

  Kate stared at the floor and nodded.

  “There is one thing I don’t understand,” said Jacob. “You say you were a prisoner, but you had the capacity to escape at any time. Why did you stay?”

  Mia regarded Jacob, unsure of whether to answer. For the first time Jacob detected a nervousness about the young woman.

  “Research into the aether streams is expensive,” she leaned back into the chair and tilted her head towards Kate. “My benefactor is like you, Miss Lockwood. Not from here. He brought me to this country so I could find a way back for him. He gave me everything I asked for without realising I already had the answer. I spent most of my time trying to harness the aether streams. As long as he thought I was working to find him a way back the resources continued. There were other projects, such as the steamworms and security automatons that I believe you have already encountered,” she switched her gaze to Jacob. “They were never designed to be used as they were. That was another reason I decided it was time to leave.”

  “So, who is your benefactor?” asked Jacob.

  “Solomon Polperro,” said Kate, without any emotion. “When we were at his house the other night he admitted he was from the future. I showed him my phone and he recognised Tower Bridge.”

  “He won’t be happy that I’ve left his employ. Perhaps Claridge’s isn’t the least conspicuous place to stay,” Mia stretched her feet in front of the fire, “but it is very luxurious.”

  “What if he comes after you?” asked Jacob.

  “When, not if,” said Mia. “I haven’t shown him all of my inventions. He’ll find that I am… reluctant to work for him again.”

  They talked for the rest of the morning and eventually Mia, declining the offer of lunch, pushed herself up off the chair and said her goodbyes.

  ***

  Amos Coleman saw the secret service agent sitting on a cast iron bench reading a newspaper. As he joined him on the bench the man lowered his paper and looked up at the enormous structure made of steel and glass which dominated the top of Sydenham Hill.

  “The Crystal Palace, it’s quite a sight, wouldn’t you say?” said the man.

  Amos lifted his head to look, his eyes squinting in the bright morning sunshine that reflected from the wall of glass.

  “Please explain why the Nydrolium is not in our possession,” asked the agent.

  “I tracked down the cylinders to an old pumping station in west Ham,” said Amos. “It’s a huge complex, a research facility and aircraft hangar all rolled into one. They were already pumping the gas into two nacelles when I got there. I tried to stop them. I managed to create a little mess but it only slowed them down.”

  “Yes,” said the agent, “we heard about your escapades. As did the rest of London I suspect. Where is it now?”

  “Most of the remaining cylinders were taken on board. They launched and headed north. I don’t have a destination.”

  “Most?”

  “A Royal Aerial Fleet ship arrived and attacked the factory. There wasn’t much in the way of resistance. The last thing I saw was a line of prisoners being led towards the airship and the remaining gas being taken on board.”

  “I see. That is most unfortunate.”

  “Bullshit! You don’t give a damn about the Nydrolium. This whole scenario has been engineered because you have a traitor in your midst and you have no idea who it is. You wanted me to find out for you.”

  “Did you?” asked the agent, giving up any pretence.

  “A man called Henry Collins, a friend of yours I believe. The last time we spoke he had every intention of killing me.”

  “Yet here you are, Mr Coleman, all safe and sound.”

  “More by luck than good judgement,” Amos rolled forward and stood up. “You have your man, you don’t need me anymore.”

  “O
n the contrary, Mr Coleman, we need you more than ever,” the agent folded his newspaper neatly into half and then half again before placing it on the bench in the space Amos had just vacated. “You see, we have our traitor, but not his paymasters. We want you to find out who he is working for.”

  “After our last meeting I doubt he would tell me.”

  “We will pay you a very generous sum of money not to mention free passage back to the States. Besides,” for the first time during the conversation the agent looked directly at Amos, “it’s not just about the money, is it?”

  “What do you mean?” asked Amos.

  “Ursula Marchford was the captain of the airship that took off from that factory. I understand you have some unfinished business with her. We may be able to help.”

  Amos sighed and pushed his hands as far as they would go into his coat pockets. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Your instructions are inside the newspaper,” said the agent as he stood up, “Along with your first payment.”

  “What about Lord Ashbury? Does he just walk free?”

  “He’s not our concern, Mr Coleman. However,” the agent glanced down at the newspaper on the bench, “the newspapers seem to have ensured a scandal will break that can’t be ignored. Good day Mr Coleman.”

  Amos watched the agent walk towards the Crystal Palace before sitting back down on the bench. He picked the newspaper up and a light brown envelope landed on his lap. He tucked it into his coat and unfolded the newspaper. The headline consisted of three words; “Lord Ashbury arrested.” Amos folded the paper and decided to read the rest back at his hotel.

  ***

  In the time since Mia Jennings had told her how to get home Kate had wrestled with her emotions. Ever since she had arrived she had wanted to get back. Now the day of her return had arrived the nervous pit in her stomach had started to churn again, but this time for very different reasons. She spent the morning with Jacob and Grace and found saying goodbye to Grace far harder than she thought it would. Eventually she gathered her burned uniform into a bag Jacob had given her, and changed into a dress that she hoped would not attract too much attention in her own world. Jacob asked Ivy to look after Grace and walked with Kate slowly back to the West of London and Westminster Cemetery. Kate walked between the two mausoleums before turning to look at Jacob. He was dressed in a grey jacket and trousers with a bowler hat to match, his right arm still in a sling.