Alien Devices: Tesla joins crew to prevent alien zombie apocalypse (The Secret War Book 2) (17 page)

As Will stepped into the room, Tesla pushed forward, making his
way quickly towards the rotating ball on the left wall. Tesla was closely
followed by Abigail.

“Wait up there!” Will called out to them, in vain.

Cursing all educated boffins, Will snapped out orders to set a
watch and have half of the guard come inside. He figured they could at least
conserve their lanterns. If it was some sort of trap, he would still have half
his fighters outside the room.  

Will hurried to catch up to the two Scholars who had already reached
the wall. They were pointing up at something, chattering away like kids at a
party. He also realized that he could hear them. Whatever swallowed the sound
in the passage, it was different in this room.

“You see how they have used the tension?” Tesla was saying to
Abigail. “When fully powered, it must pull on the very fabric of the Aether
itself! How very elegant,” He looked to Will like a man who'd seen heaven.

“So what are we looking at?” Will interrupted them.

“Ah, Captain.” Tesla acknowledged him absently, his attention
still on the ball. “What you are looking at is clearly a trans-dimensional
displacer.” Tesla chewed his abundant mustache in absent habit as he studied
it. “Can it really be so simple?” he said out loud.

Will noticed that the dial needle of the small box around
Tesla's neck was moving. Will pulled out his own and looked down at it to see
the needle jerk up and fall back again, over and over. 

“The sickness detectors are going off,” Will said to Tesla
tightly.

“It is only an insignificant reading,” Tesla waved a hand
absently. “Nothing that can harm us unless we stay here for a very, very long
time. They seemed to have found a way to reduce emissions greatly.”

“What Tesla was saying, Will, is that this is more than a power
room,” Abigail explained excitedly.

“This,” she pointed at the ball, “is actually what provides the
vessel’s motive force. It is akin to one of your ship’s impellers if you like.
Only instead of pulling air through an induction ring, and then out in a jet stream
which pushes the ship, this pushes against the fabric of the universe itself.
Is not that extraordinary?” She stared up at the ball, enraptured.

Will looked up at it. He could not quite see the universe as a
piece of cloth, much less how a big sparkly ball like that could push it. Will
had already decided that he would rather not stay here any longer than needed,
despite Tesla's reassurance about what his plague boxes showed.  

“So, is this your power thingamabob here or not?” Hunting Owl
asked them bluntly. Will gathered that this was something important to them, but
there was a time and a place to sight-see. Now would not be it, Will reckoned.

Tesla gestured at a row of tubes set into holes in the lower
part of the alcove between themselves and the ball. Two of them showed a small
green light on their tops.

“Oh,” Tesla said to Will carelessly, his attention still on the
ball.  “Doubtless these are the generators. The lights most likely show which
ones are still working. We must be very careful removing one of them.”

“All right,” Will said. He turned to Abigail. “Can you and
Tesla get one of them yourselves or do you need help? I want to move from here
quick as we can. There is still your father to look for.” He reminded her.

“As I am here,” came a deep voice from behind them, “perhaps I
may be of assistance?”

Will whirled around, gun coming up. He saw a tall, bearded, white
man in a bush jacket step towards them from the shadows. The ginger haired man
smiled, and held out his arms towards Abigail.

“Abigail. You've come,” he said simply.

“Father!” Abigail cried running towards him.

Chapter 18

W
ill watched the reunion of daughter and
father with a feeling of disquiet.
He signaled Saira to come over to him.
She sashayed across the room and leaned her head close to Will.

“Before you ask,” Saira whispered to Will, “No I do not know
where he came from! Sebastian and I searched this room most thoroughly. The
room was completely bare; there was nowhere to hide. We found no possible
hiding places, and there was no sign that anyone had been in the room.  He was
not here, I swear it!”

“I was afraid that you would say that,” Will sighed unhappily. 
Smiling at Will, Abigail was bringing the man back towards them. Will smiled
back at Abigail.

“Follow my lead,” he whispered to Saira out of the corner of
his mouth. “I will want your truth sense here. Stay sharp!”

“Father,” Abigail said, “These are my friends. They saved my
life. Without them I never would have found you. This is Captain William Hunting-Owl
and Arms master Saira Brighton of the airship Wind Dancer, and of course you
know Tesla.” She placed her hand on the man's shoulder, “This is my father,
Lord Robert Hadley.” 

“Nikola!” Lord Hadley exclaimed, holding out his hand. “I am so
glad you came!”

“How could I not, Robert?” Tesla smiled and clasped the offered
hand. “You worried your daughter here quite a lot. You worried all of us.”
Tesla said disapprovingly.

“It seemed necessary,” Lord Hadley said. He shrugged Tesla's
comment off. “I was afraid that my inquires in Hong Kong had drawn unwelcome
attention. I was warned most darkly about a deadly, white woman searching for
me.”

“A Russian woman named Petrov?” Will interrupted.

“All I was told was that the locals called her the White Death,
if you can imagine anyone called such an absurd name.” Hadley spread his hands
in explanation. “I was also told that she was searching for me. Normally, of
course, I would not concern myself with such nonsense. There was a strange man
skulking around at my hotel.”

“I am sorry that I could not wait for you, Abigail.” Hadley
frowned and took Abigail's hand in his. “I would have messaged, but I was
certain you were en-route by that time. Nor did I judge it wise to leave any
clearer message at the hotel. I had every faith that you would decipher what I
left you.” He patted her hand, beaming. “And here you are.” He seemed to
hesitate for a moment, and then turned to face Tesla.

“I also owe you an apology as well, Nikola,” Lord Hadley said. “I
am sorry if I alarmed you unduly. I know how incredibly busy you are. You were
very kind to come all this way. While there is no danger,” Hadley waved his
free hand at the floating ball, “the journey was worth it, as you can see”

“Yes, it is all quite extraordinary,” Tesla said. “There is
certainly no need for apologies, Robert. You certainly have proved yourself.  I
dare say that Smothers will have to drink that flagon after all.”

“I had forgotten all about that bet!” Hadley said, with a laugh
that sounded hollow to Will's ear.

“Yes, I suppose he will, I suppose he will,” Hadley repeated.
He stared off into space for a moment, as if listening to a voice that only he
could hear. Hadley turned towards Will and Saira, acknowledging them with an
imperious nod of his head. Will noted that he didn't extend his hand.

“Captain Hunting Owl,” Hadley said, “Arms Master Brighton. My
thanks for all that you have done for my daughter. Whatever she has promised
you, rest assured that I will pay it, and add a most generous sum as well!”
Abigail frowned deeply at her father's words, but did not speak.

“No need, Lord Hadley,” Will drawled. “Your daughter is an
exceptional woman.” He gave Hadley the patented Hunting Owl grin. Will already disliked
the man, Abigail's father or no. Will hooked his thumbs in his gun belt and
slumped his shoulders, looking as non-threatening as possible.

“Seems that you were in a bit of a spot yourself,” Will
continued easily. “What happened to your camp outside, if you do not mind my
asking?”

“Raiders!” Hadley replied, his face serious. “Their airship
appeared early one morning. There was only a small crew of workers I hired back
in Hong Kong. We were outnumbered from the beginning. When it was clear that
they were going to carry the day, I made my way here. I had already moved some
supplies as I was spending most of my time here studying the engine.”

“I did not know that by letting the doorway close I was locking
myself in,” Hadley confessed. “I must say that I am glad to see you all, if for
no other reason than that the tins were running somewhat low.”

“Well, we have a pretty good cook on Dancer,” Will nodded. “I
am sure that we find you something much better than tins.”

“Dancer'?” Lord Hadley asked.   Hadley paused, a look of confusion
passing over his face.

“
Wind Dancer
is my air ship,” Will explained patiently,
while giving Abigail a questioning look. She was looking at her father in
concern. “I'm sure that you're eager to get out of this place for a while.”
Will continued. He waved a hand at the surrounding swirls of color.  

“Oh, quite right, your ship,” Hadley replied, his eyes blinking
dazedly in his bearded face. “No Captain, I have no interest in leaving here.
This may be difficult for you to understand, but all the knowledge of the
universe is here. All knowledge, Captain. I have dedicated my life to serving
it, to learning from it.” Will was about to respond that it would still be here
after dinner when Chang walked up to them.

“Robert,” Chang said to Hadley looking up at him.

“Tsi,” Hadley said in surprise. “Abigail didn't tell me you
were here as well!”  Will noted that the two certainly seemed to be on a
first-name basis. That said maybe Chang had been telling at least part of the
truth. Still, they also seemed a little stiff for lovers, or at least Lord
Hadley did to Will's eye.

“You vanished, Robert,” Chang said simply. “I had to come
looking for you. I am glad to see that you are alright.” She laid a hand on his
arm, searching his face. “You are alright, yes?”

“I am now.” Hadley smiled and patted her hand. Will noticed
that Hadley seemed to stare off into space for a moment. He moved such that
Chang's hand fell away from his arm. A strange thing for a man to do to his
lover Will thought.

“Now, if you will excuse me,” Lord Hadley said to Chang. He
turned back to Tesla and Abigail.  “I would like to show you some of the things
I have discovered. It seems that we have vastly misunderstood the nature of the
beings we call the 'Invaders'.” Hadley walked the two of them over towards the
ball, leaving Chang standing with Will and Saira. Will watched them go, the
uneasy feeling growing inside him.

“Captain,” Chang said to him, “we should return to your ship as
soon as we can.” Will looked at the crime boss carefully. The moving, colored
lights from the floating ball made her face appear like a mask.

“I do not disagree with you, Chang,” Will said slowly, “But I
would like to know why you say so.” Will had already decided that he wanted to
spend as little time here as possible. There was something about the place that
screamed at him to be gone. He shook his head to try to clear the stench of
decaying flesh that clung everywhere.

“Cap'n? What is it?” Saira looked at him in inquiry.

“Sorry,” Will said. “Afraid that the stench is making it hard
for me to think.” He had experienced worse on battle fields, but this seemed to
get under his skin somehow.  The Arms Master frowned at this in puzzlement.

“The smell of sulfur is very strong,” Saira remarked, “I do not
like it either.” She shot a look at Chang. “Nor do I like to agree with her but
in this, I must agree. There is something very. . .evil here.” The Arms master
gripped her rifle tighter, her eyes darting around the room.

“It is very dangerous to us,” Saira said. “We only have
Abigail's father's word that we are alone in this place and I feel that he is
not right.” Chang nodded her head in agreement.

“It is this place,” the crime boss said. “I fear that it is too
dangerous to us to stay here too long.”

“I was planning on leaving soon as we can,” Will replied. His
mouth tightened as he looked at Chang.  “If I find that you have held something
back from me on me though, and it bites us,” he said to her, his hand drifting
down to the butt of his revolver. “We will have that discussion, I promise you.” 
Will's patience with the woman's hints and evasions was worn out. 

“Then we should go soon,” Chang answered him calmly. Tiku,
Saira's second-in-command of the Tigers walked up to them, her face a study of
concern.

“Arms Master, Captain” Tiku said in greeting, while sparing a
glance at Chang, “Can I have a word alone?” Chang took the hint and moved off
to stand by herself.

“What is it, Tiku?” Will asked.

“Some of the others are complaining of headaches,” Tiku said,
frowning as if in pain. “Tell the truth I am having it too. Some of the worst
ones are having trouble walking in a straight line more than a few steps.” She
sighed, rubbing her forehead.  “I feel as if someone is trying to pound my head
with an ax. It's gotten worse since we entered this room. I fear it is going to
reduce our readiness. My brother used to work in a mine. Is this some kind of
bad air?” She lowered her hand looking from one of them to the other
anxiously.  

Will had to stop himself from gagging on the stench when he
opened his mouth to reply. It was worse in this room. It also struck him that
no one else seemed to be having the same problem, but then he was not having
headaches either.

He remembered his Spirit teachings from Wovoka, maybe it was a
stench of the evil miasma filling this place. Will could believe it.  Bad air
indeed, he thought. Rather than say that aloud, he answered Tiku, considering
his words with care.

“I do not know, Tiku,” Will said honestly, “But I do not aim to
stay around to find out.” He turned towards Saira. “Now that we have found Lord
Hadley, as well as the power thingamabob, I want us to get ready to move out.
Any reason you can think of to stay?” Saira shook her head vehemently.

“I am also in agreement with leaving soon,” Saira agreed. “As I
said, there is evil here.  Can you not feel it? I can, I tell you!” Saira
turned to Tiku.

“Tell the others to be ready to move out immediately. They can
rest, and eat, but no sleeping. Packs and lights to hand.” the Arms master
ordered. Tiku nodded gratefully and moved off towards the other Tigers.  Saira
looked over at the three Scholars. They were in an animated discussion near the
giant ball. 

“Getting them to leave that may be difficult,” Saira observed
to the Capitan. 

 “Let us go see if we can light a fire under them then,” Will
said. He motioned for Saira to walk with him, leaving Chang standing alone.  

“What is your read on Lord Hadley?” Will whispered to Saira as
they walked.

“I know he is Abigail's father,” Saira replied slowly, “but I
do not like him. Nor do I believe we should trust him. Nor can I 'read' him.
His Spirit is blank to me, so I cannot tell if he is speaking the truth or not.”
Saira shrugged.

“It may be this place,” the Arms Master said. “It feels as if I
am in a deep fog with all my senses dulled, so I do not make much of that. You
do know that the talk of paying us when Abigail had introduced us as friends
was an English insult?”

“Yeah, well it would not be the first time an Englishman
insulted the ‘colored' help,” Will observed wryly. “Could just be that the man
is caught up with his passion for all this,” he gestured around them.

“But you do not believe so,” Saira returned.

“Honestly, I’m not sure that it matters,” Will said. “We have
found Hadley; Tesla says that the power thing it is right here. I say that it
is time for us to git. But I do want an eye kept on both Chang and Lord Hadley
as we leave.” Saira smiled in a way that Will suspected was the last thing a
few souls had ever seen alive. 

“I would do no less,” the Arms Master promised him savagely.

As they came within earshot of the three Scholars, Will could hear
Tesla talking. The Savant seemed unusually agitated.

“Surely you cannot be serious, Robert!” Will heard Tesla
protest.  “How can you even suggest that they are our superiors in any
meaningful way? These beings attacked the human race without any provocation
and slaughtered millions of your fellow men. They nearly made the Earth
uninhabitable! From where I stand, that makes them barbarians at best, no
matter their scientific accomplishments. A truly enlightened race would come to
share and teach, not commit genocide!”

“The way the Spanish did with the American Indians? The way the
British did in India, Malaysia, and Africa?” Hadley asked rhetorically. His
Lordship shook his head in negation.

“No Nikola. History shows us that superior cultures will always
subjugate the inferior; it is natural progression. As for provocation, is the
ant that you step on in your house provocative? I tell you that I have spent
some time now with their works, and we are no higher than ants to them. Imagine
what we may gain from their study!” Hadley held out his hands towards the giant
ball. 

“Study perhaps, Robert,” Tesla conceded, “but I find this. .
.this admiration of yours not only distasteful, but extremely unscientific.” 

“So, I'm thinking that it's more than time we were getting back
up to Dancer,” Will interrupted them without preamble. “Tesla, you were saying
that these cylinder things were what you were wanting, that right? How long
would it take you to get them ready to go?” Tesla's mouth pursed as he got that
faraway look Will was getting used to seeing on the Savant's face.