Part 8 (1/2)
”And you claim as your defense that the automaton slew Dr. Saxon?”
”Yes.” I didn't like how Darwin was smiling through this line of questions.
”Tell me what happened to James, every detail. Leave nothing out.”
I gave Darwin the full version of events, just like I'd given the Metros after my initial apprehension. The old man's smile broadened in the telling.
”That old scallywag! He did it!”
”Did what?”
”Years back we had a debate. The subject was whether the functions of the organic mind could be replicated through inorganic means. The invention of the difference engine sparked our debate and Saxon was convinced that he could create a self-reliant, independently powered brain. I was fascinated, but countered that true self-reliance was no different from perpetual motion, and thus unlikely due to the second law of thermodynamics, or natural entropy. Really we were interested in immortality. How old are you?”
”Thirty.”
”If you survive to your twilight years you will find that mortality dominates your thoughts. It is why middle-aged men pursue young girls, or grand adventure, and why the elderly seek the bosom of the church. We need an avenue to avoid the inevitable conclusion of our lives.”
”So Dr. Saxon built his brain?”
”If what you say is true, yes. The next piece of the puzzle is to determine how smart she is.”
”No,” I countered. ”The next piece of the puzzle is finding her.”
”I already have her.”
I had no response to this. Darwin continued.
”You were right to confide in Nouveau. As far as engineers are concerned, no living man is his equal. His talents are wasted in the art community.”
I took my hands off my tea cup and let them rest in my lap, closer to my guns. What next? Ambush? Darwin observed my gesture and shook his head.
”There is no cause for fear, I am not your enemy. I have Nouveau cloistered in a safe location. Also, I've moved his closest a.s.sociates and a poor unfortunate s.l.u.t-house porter who inadvertently stumbled upon Nouveau's exit.”
”So you paid my bail? You put down ten thousand pounds?”
”I have more money than time to spend it. Anyway, what I require transcends money. Dr. Saxon's secret could be the answer to immortal life. To creating the animate from the inanimate. Dr. Saxon's secret is G.o.d's secret and right or wrong, finding it is more important than the petty money concerns of mankind.”
”Why did you release me?”
Darwin smiled again. Lord G.o.d how I hated that smug grin.
”Call it a joke. A spirited ruse. I'm not the only one after Saxon's secret. My, let's say 'compet.i.tion,' plays a fierce game and I needed him distracted from my moves.”
”So I'm your p.a.w.n?”
”Don't underestimate yourself, Mr. Fellows. You're not a p.a.w.n. p.a.w.ns move forward in predictable steps. They are sacrificial, defensive, of little value except in numbers. No, you are a bishop. Firing off at strange angles, appearing behind the enemy formation, charging, retreating, charging again. You're definitely my bishop.”
Rage filled me. I'm no man's toy and no man's patsy. ”This is my life, Darwin!”
The door behind me clicked open. I did not have to turn to know Stevens was looming behind me.
”Yes, it is your life, and if I win this game, your life will be your reward. If I lose your life will be forfeited by an a.s.sa.s.sin's bullet or a hangman's noose, though you seem much harder to kill then anyone a.s.sumed. Do you understand your part in this?”
”No.”
”You are here to make my compet.i.tor fail, nothing more. Turn away from Saxon's machine, and focus on undermining my opponent.”
”And who is your opponent? Who am I up against?”
Darwin laughed and slapped his knee.
”You should know, Mr. Fellows. You shot his nephew.”
Oh s.h.i.+te! Pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Everyone knew Owens was connected, a family hire though no one knew whose family. If Darwin's opponent was matched in resources, was bright enough to cross wits with the genius naturalist that could only mean...
”My opponent, your opponent, is Lord Barnes, Mr. Fellows. Happy hunting!”
Seven.
Jolly Fellows is declared Persona Non Grata I sat in the evening train willing it to go faster. Go, go, go, get me to Mary's place. The walls of my little world were closing in and the more I saw, the more I knew about the danger posed to myself and anyone in my proximity.
Lord Barnes was, is, the greatest thief catcher to ever live. London bears no secrets to this man. His tracking me was more a question of when than if.
The train arrived and I sprinted past ushers and porters and commuters. I sprinted past the regular folk on their way to regular spouses and children and sit-down dinners.
Mary's flat was cleaned out and turned over, just like my flat, just like Saxon's. China cups were smashed, the easel and chairs were rendered into sticks and stacked in the room's center. All like before. I went to the bedroom and found another torn mattress, shredded clothing and a note pinned to the wall by a gold pen knife.
The cards don't belong to you.
Neither does the girl. Stop by the office tonight. -B The front door creaked in the next room. I unholstered my Colt, thought better of it, and unholstered the Engholm too.
Saucy Jack was creeping into the living room with a giant butcher's knife clenched in his fist. I nudged the bedroom door open to greet him.
”Oy!” I yelled.
Jack took a step towards me with blade raised and murder in his eyes. That's when he noticed the guns I had pointed at his face and Tom Johnson.
”You see any of this take place?” I motioned my head to the destroyed furniture.
”I didn't do that,” he said.
”Not my question, mate. Did you see who did this?”
He shook his head. The room suddenly stunk of p.i.s.s and not my own I a.s.sure you. I motioned to the knife.
”That for me?”