Dawn of Steam: Gods of the Sun (13 page)

Our historian for occult matters and ancient civilizations, Miss Penn, has told us a great deal about the Incas who once held this land – and some small notes about the once-colorful civilizations of their neighbors as well. This seems to have only limited bearing upon our current mission for the most part. The significant portion where it does cross over: this valley is not only important to the current people, but its fertile land also was once so vital to these Incas that it is thought they may have built a great city near here somewhere. During the times the Spanish were first exploring this land, it was one of the sites where they thought they might find the mythical City of Gold, just as the Spanish sought many things which we now know to be mere myths. It was never found, but they did find fertile land here, along with natives who were more peaceable and easily subdued than some they had encountered.

We are unsure what kind of deal York may have made to have been able to settle in here, but we have found their dirigible near the top of the high ground where a city overlooking this fertile valley may be, though it is hard to be certain. There is, of course, also the constant explorer's lure, that maybe those who have gone through the ruins before may have missed some great treasure. So it is here, at least according to the rumors amongst the Spanish who come here most often, according to Miss Penn. Many believe that with enough exploration, some new riches and artifacts may be found in those ruins. Miss Larkin, too, has suggested that this site, of which we have only the vaguest of rumors, is a place which is still poorly explored by the Spanish.

There may be here such treasure as might purchase York the respectability he needs to bribe his way to a good name once again, elsewhere, if not in England. Dr. Bowe's stories of this region also speak of some treasures being kept within those ruins – though there were also many dangers and obstacles to deter the curious and foolish in his account – so in this, all sources seem agreed. Miss Bowe confirms that there is much of interest there, but strongly suggests leaving it alone. Even so, she is guiding us, as before, for she believes that this will further vindicate her father's accounts and tales as true, which remains a goal for her.

So far, we have found only a few sentries in British – or rather, colonial – dress. I would guess that either the locals do not much care for the intruders’ presence, and allow minimal interruption, or no deal was made, and the Spanish landholder simply cannot do anything about people with well-armed men with a dirigible and English resources.

Either way, while the landholders here could do little about it, it would limit the movement of York's men. We eliminated those we've run across today without making our presence obvious. We have so far eluded notice from the natives as well, though Miss Penn's presence on this expedition, a chaperone being a necessity on trips with our guide, has made it difficult at times. She also wishes very much to see this ancient city for herself after learning something of it in her apparent studies of such places about the world in myth and fact. Though she is fair at moving quietly, she is still not nearly so athletic or trained as Eddy,
Miss Bowe, or even myself.

I must also report, for
those who may come after us, should negotiations with the Spanish break down once more, that it is unseasonably cold here, just as I am sure Mr. Toomes and his men have reported in New Orleans. It is only March, so surely things will change, but so near to spring and so far south, I had expected something more than the merely temperate climes we have found ourselves in.
(8)

I will hopefully have more information to report soon regarding York and our pending rescue attempts.

Sincerely,

Gregory Conan Watts

(
7) Again, it bears repeating that as Dr. Bowe said, ‘There is No El Dorado.’ No expedition has ever found it. Some things are just myths dreamed up by greedy men. –C B-W

(
8) For more information, see the report
Tambora and Her Effects: Mother England and Daughter Colonies, Sea and Air Trade.
HR Herbert and JW Fromer, compilers. HM Trade Office. Republished for Scholarly use, Oxford Press, 1824. Pamphlet Number 24-546 -C B-W

From the journals of Gregory Conan Watts,

March 4th, 1816

Peru

13º12'S 72º27' W

We have been terribly efficient, in the truest sense of the word. Eddy and Miss Bowe have scouted ahead in turns, and we have made good progress. We have found some few sentries, but none who had time to even scream a warning. Most of them did not even have time to realize they were dead or dying. I know these men were traitors to the Crown or mercenaries associated with terrible people, but I still have difficulty reconciling how easily my companions kill, then move onto the next man.

It seems New Orleans has changed me more than I had realized, for always before, I was able to see the enemy in the war as faceless hordes out to destroy our way of life. In America, I admired my companions’ grace and ease in removing those hunting us. Now, I cannot help but pause – and wonder what kind of men these might have been that they came to this path. Evil men, traitors, perhaps, but I cannot help but realize now they were men. It gives me a whole new admiration in some ways, of those we have called heroes for winning battles and defeating our enemies, but also a chill in thinking of the people who can reconcile that path in their own minds.

For now, there is no reassurance, no leadership, simply a realization of what must be done so that any of us will even have the choice to possibly return home again. I wonder, when that time comes, and choice is mine, will I wish to return, as I have thought of so much, or will Sir James somehow make us a company of adventurers again, out for something greater than ourselves? I cannot imagine that even he could do so, especially as much as he has been diminished in the minds of so many of our troop.

At least for that last matter, I have found reconciliation in my own mind. The burden of leadership is a heavy one. That Sir James was not the leader in the field everyone thinks does not diminish the decisions he made, the guidance he gave, or his reassurance to young men, some of whom would never return. While he was not at the front as he claimed, his inspiration was no less. He has also been calm under fire in my company, standing up to the possibility of death without a metal suit protecting him, so I cannot doubt his courage. And while the armor may have been the reason he caught the attention of this Shogun of Japan, England still agreed to allow him to undertake the mission for his skill as a leader and diplomat.

I also understand why they did not tell us, any more than they told the men
whom he fought alongside. Even had she been permitted to take the field, there would have been those who refused to work with her or let her lead, especially in the beginning. They have had to prove themselves, and even now, having seen all she can do, both in combat, and her ability to restore the suit to working order with Harriet's assistance, I still have difficulty seeing the prim and proper Miss Coltrane as a seasoned war veteran.

I would say that this attitude is natural, but perhaps it is simply normal, which I begin to realize may not be the same thing. Had I not met Miss Bowe and seen all she has done, I imagine it would be even harder to accept now. I think I now also understand some part of Miss Coltrane's occasional dislike for Miss Bowe. In her, she sees the things she has most craved: not simply adventure, but an ability, somehow, to refuse to bow to society. Miss Bowe has forged her own path as Miss Coltrane has never done publicly. But, of course, Miss Coltrane also enjoys the benefits of wealth and society in a way Miss Bowe never has and never will.

At present, so far as I can tell, we are in Miss Bowe's world. She takes no apparent joy in what we are now doing, but also shows no discomfort in her duties, stalking silently through the trees and fields and ending all resistance in our path. Likewise, she seems quite at home in camping in this foreign territory and seems to know how to stretch our supplies and forage for food and water here just as in the colonial frontier. Though I still cannot see any possibility of truth due to the sheer breadth of his stories, I have to wonder what sort of man Dr. Bowe was that he raised such a child.

Eddy, in the meanwhile, is simply Eddy. He takes the field, completely stoic and businesslike, with no hesitation to do whatever it takes to complete the task he is given. In some ways, this is a better mood for him than the silence that followed Sir James's disappearance and the announcement from Miss Coltrane. I should very much dread being York right now if Eddy is the first to reach him, which seems entirely likely, for he is both quite capable and very motivated. At the same time, I am very unsure right now if I would wish to be Sir James, should Eddy be the first to reach him.

From the journals of Gregory Conan Watts,

March 5th, 1816

Peru

13º09'11” S 72º31” W

We have found their base and discovered new problems. They are well fortified, with no obvious weak points. Though in ruins, the city still provides them significant cover. Either there are multiple levels, or the floor has collapsed in places. They also have most of the high ground by merit of holding the city, which makes finding points where Eddy might set up especially difficult. They have multiple rocketry platforms, so we cannot easily drop in on them, and we need to explore further before we can be certain how stable the ground is in any case. It is quite possible that the battle suit would collapse more of this ancient city.

Miss Penn has been pleased in having the opportunity to study the city, even from this distance, but otherwise, we have found little from this vantage point. Eddy and Miss Bowe have been taking turns scouting further and further afield, now that we have found a camp where we do not believe we will be seen. We must find a way to reach their camp without making ourselves vulnerable. It is getting closer and closer to the point where it will be decided we must try one of the sheer rock faces if we are to reach them.

It is little surprise they would have set up so well. I am also spending this time studying all the notes I took regarding York's tactics and tendencies. I hope we might find that place where he has overextended himself in this case, so we might exploit it. Without anything to react to, and with the advisors he has, I am entirely uncertain how helpful that information might be. He has an edge on all of us in command experience. So far, we also have not seen Sir James. He is likely still aboard their craft, which is even more easily guarded, unless they had cause to bring him to the site.

No one said this was going to be easy. Now, after all the traveling and rush to get here, it seems we just need to marshal our patience a little bit longer.

March 7th, 1816

Peru

13º09' S 72º32'18” W

The means of our entry was provided by an unexpected source. While shielded from above, our campsite was discovered by one of the natives. While hostile at first, they calmed significantly when Miss Bowe spoke to them in the local dialect of Spanish. We managed to get through it with no one getting shot, at the very least. It turns out that the locals are quite unhappy with York and his men plundering not only their heritage, but a site they consider to be almost sacred. Though they have made some attempt to force them to leave, so far, their efforts have not met with any success. York and his people are
quite adamant about staying on, hostile, and far better armed than the locals.              

They were able to show us a means of approach of which even Miss Bowe was unaware – little surprise, as she has told us last time she was here, they went with the knowledge and permission of the locals and no opposition to their approach for study. I am curious that none of the locals remember her or her father directly, though they seem to have some recollection of her name – which also calmed them somewhat. She must have been much younger when she was last here.

This other way required scaling some bit of sheer cliff face, though that turned out to be little difficulty. Miss Bowe scrambled up the rocks as easily as I might walk and attached a rope that the rest of us could scale more easily. Even with this, Miss Penn had some trouble climbing, but managed. She did not proceed any further with us while there was still opposition in our way, not being an especially capable combatant and not wishing to be a liability.

Miss Bowe and Eddy jointly removed the sentries from our path, giving us an approach hidden from their camp by the ruins themselves. This meant some impromptu exploration ourselves, moving through the maze-like ruins, unsure if their people might lay around the next corner in their own explorations. Worse yet, we knew that firing a gun here might well prove to be near suicide, for it would announce us and bring them down in numbers on us quickly. As such, because such an event would be quite possibly more deadly to us, if slower, than having them surprise us, Eddy and I kept our guns at our belts. Eddy instead armed himself with a knife of his own. I had not come so prepared, so instead, I settled for one of the hatchets used for preparing our camps. It may have been for the best anyway, as most of my concentration was on using the techniques Eddy had taught me for walking quietly, so any surprise might have led to me firing out of reflex. I also was not sure how quick I would be to knife a man, nor how effectively I might prevent him from screaming.