The Sensaurum and the Lexis

by Richard Dee

  “Inside the room,” Jackson said, “there is an alcove, hidden from the door. A bed is within and a velvet curtain draws across, for privacy.”

  “Then that is perfect. Jessamine, you can draw the curtain so that Jackson may work undisturbed. Now away and prepare. Let Fairview know when you are ready, he will transport you.”

  Once they were alone, Jackson gave voice to his thoughts. “I might not see what is occurring, but I will know. Alyious, rest him in peace, told me this would happen, if we got involved.”

  She put her arm around him. “You have to accept it’s part of my job, it means nothing. I’ve had to before, you knew that, and I expect that I will have to again. It’s not the same as what we do.”

  “Even so, I cannot stand nearby and listen to you cavorting with that old fool, or anyone else for that matter.”

  “Then I don’t want you to be involved at all. Jackson, I care about you deeply, we will discuss this when the matter is resolved and we are all safe.”

  Jackson noticed that the word love was not included in either of their words, even though he realised that it was how he felt.

  “Get us gone then,” said Fairview, when they reported to him. “And good hunting. I will take you by mobile to the rear of the place and you can hop over the wall. I will wait for your return.”

  As they drove past the entrance, the gate was shut tight, a light burned in the gatehouse. “So Rodney has not started his night shift,” remarked Jackson. “Why has the place not been overrun by soldiers, or the Watch come to that?”

  “A long and terrible tale,” said Fairview. “As Sir Mortimer has said, Nethersole has powerful friends; we are not sure if they are his allies or whether he holds sensitive information about them, but they support his freedom and hamper the investigations. We cannot move against him until we have such overwhelming evidence that nobody could argue against.”

  “Then how much more has to happen before he can be stopped?”

  “If we can provide absolute proof of his wrongdoing, perhaps his friends will see the light and melt away. That is why we need a box. Together with the papers you have already found, that should be enough.”

  They came in over the waste ground and past the washroom where Jackson had hidden; it seemed so long ago now. The walls were no obstacle to them, they had sat on the tops and watched for a few moments before descending, to their surprise the place seemed deserted. Jackson had expected the Prosthesium to be better guarded, perhaps Rodney has realised that his lair was known and was in the process of moving out. Or maybe he felt secure with his backing from on high. From their vantage point they could see a light in the corner room, the Professor was in residence. Jackson had been hoping that he was not, his stomach fluttered and he felt bile rise in his throat.

  Whatever the reason for the deserted yard, they had to move. Quickly they descended to ground level. The yard was deserted; they crossed to the side door. It opened to their tools; silently they passed through the machine filled room, where the shaft still spun and up the stairs to the corner room.

  The two crept along the corridor; the laboratorium was ahead of them. This was the moment when Jackson’s loyalties were to be put to the ultimate test. Jessamine had come to mean so much to him, he could hardly bear to watch her go inside, knowing what would happen. “Good luck,” he whispered. “I hate what you have to do but love you for doing it.” She smiled and pecked him on the cheek.

  “Whilst I do this, my mind will be blank; I will take no pleasure, that only comes from being with you. Give me a few minutes, then follow me in when you hear the noise of the curtain.”

  Jackson nodded. “Once I have the box, I will wait for you in the washroom, whistle when you are nigh.”

  Jessamine nodded and opened the door. “Who’s there?” said the Professor. “Leave me in peace or I will call for help.”

  “Hush,” said Jessamine, in a soft whisper, “I have been sent to amuse you.” The door was pushed shut but did not completely close. Jackson could hardly hear her talking to the Professor, it sounded like she was enticing him towards his bed. Jackson listened for the sound of the curtain being pulled. When he heard it swish across, he stole into the room, trying to block his ears to the sounds coming from behind the thick velvet curtain.

  He quietly took one of the boxes from its hook and using the leather harness he hoisted it onto his back. Carefully, he made his way out of the door. Now he had to wait for Jessamine and they both had to get out of the place unnoticed. He went down the stairs and made his way back to the washroom. There he waited, poised to climb to the hiding place he had used before; should anyone come in.

  After what seemed like an age, but was only twenty minutes or so, he heard Jessamine whistle and went outside. She was flushed, her hair dishevelled. “Come on then,” she said, “let’s get out of here.”

  They retraced their steps, with nobody to challenge them they returned to Fairview in short time.

  “Ah good, you have it,” Fairview said when he saw the box. “Oswald will be most pleased.” There was no mention of what Jessamine had been required to do to obtain it. The result had better be worth the effort, and the emotions it has produced in me, thought Jackson as the mobile sped through the streets.

  Jessamine never uttered a word all the way back to the orphanage, Jackson sensed that it would be wrong of him to say much, so he kept silent. Fairview was also quiet, the trip passed in strained silence.

  “I’m away to bathe,” Jessamine said, as soon as they were inside the gates. “I will need to scrub for an hour to remove the memory of that brief encounter.”

  Jackson followed her up the stairs, at her door she turned. “Please keep away from me tonight, Jackson,” she said, and there was a tear in her eye. “I will see you again in the morning.”

  Jackson and Fairview went to see Langdon with the box. They found him with Oswald, deep in discussion. “We have it,” Fairview exclaimed. Oswald practically fainted with excitement.

  “Let me see.” He grabbed the box and scuttled away.

  Jackson was left with Langdon, who paced up and down like one of the fabled felines from the jungles of the Spice Islands. He gazed at Jackson, who was sure he could see all his secrets, even the truth of him and Jessamine. To change the subject, he asked the first question he could think of.

  “Where did you find Oswald?” asked Jackson.

  “I found him at the Palais,” Langdon answered, without breaking stride. “He had invented a few things that seemed useful, built from rubbish and leavings. I offered him a chance to come and work for me, with everything he needed. I gather, from the fact that you have returned with a Sensaurum, that your mission went well.”

  “It was as smooth as anything,” replied Jackson, neglecting to mention his upset. “We thought it strange that the place was unguarded.”

  “I expect you have been told; the man has powerful friends.”

  There was a sudden anguished cry from somewhere in the building. Jackson’s first thought was that Jessamine had been overcome by some sort of grief, then it was repeated, this time they made out the word ‘Useless!’

  “That was Oswald,” said Langdon.

  Oswald entered, his face a mask of pain. “The box is empty,” he said. “The workings have been removed.”

  “Then we are no further forward,” said Langdon. “He has played us for fools; he must have reasoned that after Alyious’s failure, we would be back for another attempt. No wonder it was easy, you were allowed to get to the Professor. He was alone in there. Rodney was waiting to see what we would do.”

  Jackson felt as if his world had turned upside down. Jessamine’s actions had been in vain. It made the whole distasteful episode even more unpalatable. He would have to tell her in the morning, goodness alone knew how she would react.

  “We still must rely on you, Oswald,” said Langdon. You must give me the means to stop Rodney without killing everyone.”

  “I will do my best for you,�
�� replied the scientist.

  Chapter 32

  Jessamine was absent at fast-break, as was Fairview and the other agents, no doubt Langdon had them scouring the city for signs of Rodney and Winstanley. Jackson took a tray with food and Char up to Jessamine’s room. He knocked. “Jessamine, it’s me, with food and Char.” He called.

  The door opened. “Come in” she said. She was dressed in a long gown, buttoned from neck to knee. Her eyes were red from crying. Jackson set the tray down and took her in his arms. Unprotestingly she clung to him. “Can you bear to hold me?” she whispered.

  Jackson kissed her face, her lips. “Of course I can,” he said. He felt her shiver. “Come and eat,” he said. She went to the desk and attacked the food.

  “What news of the box?” she asked. Jackson knew no better way than to tell it straight, get the bad news over with, then reassure her.

  “I’m sorry, it was worthless, the mechanics had been removed,” he told her.

  She laid down her cutlery. “It was all in vain.” She shook her head. “Then I… for nothing.”

  “I’m sorry.” He went to her and took her hands, kissing the palms.

  “You were right to tell me straight,” she said. “Does Langdon know?”

  “He was with me when Oswald told him.”

  “Then his anger will be terrible, he thinks of us all as his children, despite his cold demeanour. What hurts us hurts him. I hope he does not get the Professor alone. We need some good fortune; it seems as if nothing is going well for us.”

  Later that day, they were in the classroom when Clarry arrived. “Well good after, everyone,” he said. “Jessamine, can you fetch Oswald and Sir Mortimer? I have a gift.”

  While they were called he disappeared. Two minutes later, when they had both arrived, he was back and with a flourish, he presented Oswald with a box. The wire spring jutting from the top was a little bent but otherwise, it looked to be in perfect condition.

  “How did you get one of these?” asked the scientist.

  “My pride was hurt; I was ashamed that I had lost sight of the man at the terminus,” Clarry replied. “I sent my men out to look for nothing else but a man with a box around his neck, looking like a speaker instrument with a large spring sticking from the top. Not an object that you would expect to see, I’m sure you’d agree. Anyhow, one of my boys spotted a man, lurking near to a bank. He was dressed in a heavy coat, with this device hanging and swinging, large as life. The boy sent his runner to find me and we managed to nab the man. I was as gentle with him and the box as I could be. When we grabbed him, he was trying to push this lever on the side. I have him in the mobile, well trussed, if you’d like a word?”

  “Well done, Clarry,” said Langdon. He slapped him on the back. “Bring him inside. Perhaps we should talk to him.”

  Within minutes, the man was bought in and tied to a chair in the Gymnazien, guarded by Patching. He looked unremarkable, yet defiant. Someone had clearly been involved in preparing him for questioning. He was bruised and bloodied around the face. Oswald went to him and spoke to Patching. The soldier moved the man’s head so that Oswald could look for the tell-tale scar.

  “Is there a mark on his neck, Oswald?” asked Langdon.

  “No, sir,” answered the scientist.

  “Now then,” said Langdon, “tell me all you know about this device and its uses.”

  “Never,” replied the man, shaking his head. His expression was firm. “Kill me now and have done with it.”

  “You are loyal and I admire that, but your master is misguided, tell us all and we can help you.”

  Again, the man shook his head. “I will say nothing, you can beat me again if you wish. It will not be as bad anything that Winstanley will deal out. He will find me if I talk, then enjoy throwing me to the porkers. If I’m lucky, I will be dead when they start to feed.”

  “Very well,” said Langdon. “I will waste no more time on you. You are free to go. Untie him, Patching, let him loose. You can tell Winstanley that you said nothing.”

  “What?” the man looked distressed. “Are you insane? If I return without the box and Winstanley finds out I have been a captive, the result will be the same.”

  “But you can tell him that you said nothing. I’m sure he is like me, an honourable man who will take your word.”

  The man was quaking. “He’ll never believe me.”

  “Then you have a dilemma, the only way you live is if you tell us everything you know. We will not kill you; we can keep you safe here till all this is resolved. We will return. Think on it.”

  Within an hour, Oswald announced he had a report to make. “It’s a good job Clarry restrained the man from pulling the lever,” he said. “It releases a control which destroys the contents, by creating an imbalance in the statics field. I found that there is a switch on the top, which turns the machine on and off. It’s a marvel of design.” He demonstrated the operation of the switch; then, removing the cover, how to disconnect the power supply.

  “That’s very good; we can stop a captured man destroying the evidence. More importantly, can you decipher its workings?”

  “Oh certainly,” he replied. “I think that I have found the method used to generate the signal, though not the complexity of it, at least not enough to explain how it controls the subject. I suspect that the filament is encoded with a representation of the Professor’s voice. As I said, it works on the brain as a mesmeriser would.”

  “Enough, Oswald, can you produce your own version of the apparatus?”

  He smiled triumphantly. “I believe that I can produce a tone which will cancel the signal from this apparatus, without killing the person.”

  Langdon slapped Oswald on the back. “Well done,” he said. “Carry on with your endeavours. I will take this information to the few ministers that I feel I can trust.” He thought for a moment. “Jackson, you and Jessamine come with me, you can explain all that you have seen on your travels. We can show them the boxes we have, explain their purpose. Perhaps we can persuade them to let me act.”

  Chapter 33

  The journey would only take a few moments. Jackson was looking forward to entering the halls of government; he had seen them from a distance looming over the city. As with flying, he never imagined that he would be meeting ministers. They stopped in traffic; a large lorry was ahead of them. Another came up behind and stopped. They were stuck, unable to move. Then there was a knock on the window. A man stood, brandishing a gas-gun, pointed at Langdon’s head. “Open the door,” he said. “Make no attempt to stop me.”

  Another man opened the rear door on the other side, he too was armed. “Follow the lorry in front,” he said to Langdon, “if you want to live. My master wishes a few words.” Both men squeezed into the mobile. The lorry ahead moved off and there was a jolt as the one behind them nudged them forward. “Keep up,” said the man. Langdon had the look of anger as he complied.

  They drove in silence, the gas-guns never wavering, for several minutes. There was no chance for Langdon to turn off and what was the use? Eventually, they turned from the road and down a lane. “Stop here,” said the man. “Get out.” As they emerged, they were surrounded by a crowd of blank-faced automata, who parted to let them through. There, facing them, was Winstanley, Professor Aldithley and a masked man, who had the bearing and suiting of Rodney Nethersole.

  “Welcome all,” said the masked man. “I’m the Master of Automata, thank you for coming to see me. I wish to talk to you.”

  “Not that we had much choice,” remarked Langdon. “And why the theatricals, when we all know who you are, Rodney Nethersole.”

  The Master inclined his masked face. “You are correct; however the mask does more than just hide my face and lend a, dare I say it, air of menace. No, the Professor had made me this, it includes a device that amplifies my voice. I can use it to control my automata, watch.”

  He turned to the blank-faced men around him, his voice boomed, its volume raised by the working
s of the mask. “Guards, march forward two steps,” he said. As one they did so.

  “You see,” he said, in a tone which had reverted to normal, “it is both stylish and practical. As you know who I am, let me guess, you are Mortimer Langdon, and these two,” he indicated Jackson and Jessamine, “I have seen before. They came to me under false pretences. I assume it was they who broke into my offices and stole my papers. I recall you claimed to be representing the Ladies who Lunch.”

  “Hello, lass,” said the Professor to Jessamine, an evil grin on his face. “I remember fondly our last meeting.”

  Jessamine glared at him, Jackson made a move and the guns pointed. “Not so fast,” said Winstanley. “It does you credit but your lover would not wish to see your blood pouring onto the ground.” Jackson stayed still but, in his head, he vowed to gain revenge.

  “Winstanley,” said the Master, “search the mobile, see if they have anything interesting inside.”

  He then looked straight at Jackson. “Am I right, was it you who stole the papers on the Sensaurum?”

  Jackson nodded. “Yes, that was I.”

  The Master smiled. “Very clever, or very lucky. I suppose your knowledge of the place came in handy. By the way, I knew who you are, who your parents were. I imagine that is why you also took the report on the event that started my rise to power?”

  Jessamine and Langdon looked blankly at Jackson. The Master saw their confusion and laughed.

  “He has not told you? He found the report on the accident that killed his parents; they used to work in the Prosthesium you know. Tell me, lad, was it curiosity or some morbid fascination?”

  “Yes, I took it,” replied Jackson. “I wanted the answers that I never got when I was a lad. Except, of course, that it was no accident. You lied about it, created the problem, then closed the door and walked away, shifting the blame onto a dead man. I know not the reason for it yet, wealth and power I would imagine. I will not rest until I find out all the truth.”

  “Well that’s an interesting idea, you’ll never know for sure, will you?” said the Master. “But if it helps you to believe that—” Before he had chance to say more, Winstanley placed the boxes before him.