The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (41 page)

"Next!" the odious dwarf of a man rapped out.

Smoothly Gaspe deposited the coded report in front of the operator. "Send this post haste Sir" he replied urbanely.

The operator squinted a the message title and addressee. "This will be expensive Sir in light of recent tensions..."

"Do I look as if money is an object to my wishes Sir!" With a calculated arrogance Gaspe flipped open his cloak and fished out the golden pocket watch in his waistcoat. Depressing the catch the ingenious device hissed open with a minute puff off compressed gas. Armstrong Klein powered devices were not easily made so small. The possession of one would mark him out as a man of means; assuming this fellow was not more than, say, half as stupid as he looked. Thankfully the operator took the hint and set about transmitting the lengthy report to his Marshal’s false address.

Returning to the poster Gaspe read its headlines. “Der Thurm zu Babel” as performed by the Joachin Kornfeild Opera Company, coming to the Royal Theater Copenhagen for its first performance outside of the German principalities. Privately he was not a fan of German composers as a rule but Wagner was the exception. Apparently the great Herr Wagner was working upon a grand epic. Should this business finish on time, he would make plans to actually see it. But this operatic offering? Pah! He had more pressing matters for his attention.

He was about to dismiss the poster entirely when a line of small print near its end caught his eye. Here among the listed sponsors of the troop was that hated name "Starblower Ltd." With growing amazement he saw that they had supplied the opera troop with their footwear. Smiling to himself he took the dates of the up coming performances down in his pocket note pad. What would be more natural for a contingent of one of the sponsors to spend an evening at one of their own events, he reasoned. And if they did not plan to attend, he had a thought on how to get them there. A public forum like that would be an ideal place to engineer a confrontation between Carstares and the impetuous Renaurd.

“Sir? Your message has been dispatched.” The gnome like telegrapher announced.

“Good” he grunted in return and snatched up his receipt of transmission at the same time as he flung down the payment. His agile mind was focused on how best to implement his idea as he turned to leave. But the operator hadn’t finished with him and raised his voice once more.

“Sir! Herr Gaspe! A moment please! It seems you have a message waiting for you. Please wait while I transcribe it Sir!”

A message? So swiftly? But from whom? Gaspe wondered. Tapping his foot impatiently on the ground he checked his pocket watch once more. Not because he needed to, but out of a sense of theater for anyone observing him.

Impatiently grabbing the proffered message paper; he scanned it rapidly.

++ MARQUISE THEY PLAN A DECEPTION. THE SHOPKEEPER IS POSING AS THE PATRON OF THIS SHIP WHO IS INJURED. SUGGEST REVEALING THIS TO CAUSE THEM TO BE DETAINED AT THE OPTIMUM MOMENT. ++ALABASTER++

Interesting, so the elusive ‘Mr. Starblower’ had declined to personally intervene in this affair, had he? Evidently the English money grubber had had enough of the crown agents dragging his assets across Europe. The Major could appreciate that, maybe there was a chance of dealing with this Starblower another day. The implication seemed that he was more interested in his own comfort and desire than helping his country.

Alabaster had made a reasonable point. Unmasking such a deception might ground the Soul of Discretion just where they needed it to be. But why was he making the report at all? Jade should have passed this on post haste or at least commented on it before detailing Alabaster to send it. Gaspe was worried, indirectly it was another indicator that the worthy Jade was losing his focus, he had to be extracted as soon as possible.
Before
he became a liability to the success of the whole operation.

In any event, it provided a stronger opportunity for the idea he had just begun to consider. If ‘Starblower/Carstares’ was invited to the Theater where an altercation with Renaurd ensued...then the resulting confusion might be just the distraction he needed to retrieve his men. It would be an added bonus to see Carstares struck down while ignominiously posing as another man. Not to mention that the initial reports of ‘Starblower’s death’ would send a minor shock wave through English financial world. This in turn would further destabilize the British Empire’s ability to act in the coming European conflict. Gaspe did not bother to stop the evil smile spreading across his face as he left the telegraph office and added another task to his list.

An hour or so later he exited the grand frontage of the Royal Danish Theater with a very satisfied smile. The reservation of two boxes had cost him quite a bit, but the cost would be doubly worth it. He just wished he dared to attend himself to watch Renaud carry out the insult that would lead to the duel.

All that remained was to draw the players together. Despite what he had said previously to Renaurd it seemed he would have to avail himself of Gyldenfeldt once more. Perhaps he ought to give Renaurd the task of informing the baron his services would be required? It would be a salve to Renaurd's ego and make the junior officer think he was far more important than the pawn he was.

It was a pity that the crew of the Soul Of Discretion was getting suspicious of his maneuvering this soon. On a high note though, Gaspe had to admit to himself that the the over all plan had developed far beyond his expectations. Never the less it was still going to be tricky getting Doctor Nordstrom from here to Hamburg. That was where he desired to make a great show of revealing him as a defector. That city’s international reputation ensured that the great powers of Europe sit up and take notice. Oh how embarrassing for British! Especially when the, would-be rescuers of the Discretion were just a short way behind. How sad that their failure would be writ large upon the world’s stage, and with them just far enough away to be completely helpless. Such an ending to this subterfuge would be the perfection he was striving for!

Striding into the small rented apartment Gaspe shared with his men; he cast off his coat at Corbin who was the first to respond to his dramatic entrance. As the man fumbled with it he bellowed; “Renaurd! Attend me!”

The would be duelist entered the apartment’s hall-way from a side bedroom, his face far too bland to be anything other than furious at such an abrupt summoning. Perfect, Gaspe thought, now to exalt him when he is expecting more incivility.

“Ah Renaurd, I have thought again about your suggestion. I want you to compose and dispatch a missive to that Danish slug Gyldenfeldt. Tell him to direct our pursuers to accompany him here to Copenhagen. I don’t care how he does it but it is imperative that he and our tenacious shopkeeper Carstares attend the opera upon this date.” Gaspe thrust the reservations into his aide’s hands.

Renaurd glanced at the elaborately engraved paperwork in his hands. “We shall be attending the opera Major?” He queried, his face and tone still perfectly neutral.

“
You,
Sir, at least, shall be. I suspect that the occupants of the next box will draw your attention and in due course your sword, yes?”

Renaurd smiled as he read the other names on the reservation list. “Oh, yes Sir, I think there is likely to be a regrettable misunderstanding given the nature of this gathering.” He replied with a just a hint of satisfaction entering his tone. “What of yourself? Will you not be there for the performance?”

“As much as I would like too, I shall be otherwise occupied. I think it is time to retrieve Jade and Granite from their cover.”

“That is sooner that you desired, is it not Sir?” Corbin commented hanging the Major’s greatcoat on the stand by the door.

“It is somewhat, but I think we are sufficiently close to
‘der fatherland’
to achieve our goals. The confusion surrounding the death of a fake Phineas Starblower will strand the Discretion for some time. ”

Renaurd looked puzzled. “A fake Phineas Starblower Major? Whatever do you mean?”

“The devious Colonel Carstares is, it seems, masquerading as the owner of the Soul of Discretion. Whatever his reason for this, it provides us with an even greater opportunity to distract and discredit the British government. Deal with him for me Renaurd, then we can make our way overland almost to the very border before they get underway once more.”

“Overland would be the less conspicuous route Sir. But Phillips is known to be creative...” Corbin commented to his superior.

Gaspe clicked his teeth together thoughtfully. It was true that eliminating Carstares would take the brains from the British operation but as his man observed, Phillips was present, and the damned man was uncommonly lucky. How he had escaped the ‘malfunction’ that had been arranged for his ship was an infuriating puzzle! Had the devices Gaspe planted worked as desired, Phillips should have crashed after ditching his bomb load onto Rurberg during the International Air Competition. Gaspe never trusted to luck, but he recognized it as the whore it was, always ready to change the dice unexpectedly.

Gaspe shrugged. “Very well, pass the message on to our crew in Maribo to have the
“Amerie”
fueled and ready. If Phillips manages something so that we need speed rather than stealth we shall have it available to us,
ja
?” He said a shade ironically.

“As ever Sir, you have every angle covered.” Renaurd stated a trifle sarcastically.

“Careful planning is all, gentlemen.” Gaspe agreed holding Renaurd’s eye. His second was a potential rival for certain now. No matter, let the man plot all he wished and let Jade have his pangs of conscience, if either of them survived the next few days, they would see that they were still just pawns. As was everyone else in this carefully crafted intrigue.

Jerard and Fred stood in the forward observation bubble in nearly identical poses; both were standing with legs slightly spread, arms akimbo and looking down between their feet. Their hats were nearly touching, making it obvious to all that the Captain and the Navigator had worked together for a very long time. The absurdity of their pose was not lost on Mr.. D’Arcey as a small sad smile graced the Frenchman’s face. So too was Mr.. Wallace watching closely, albeit for different reasons.

“No you’re right Fred that's just too risky to land there even with the lateral props dropping us right down. Waterside landing it is.”

A wide grin split Mr.. Wallace’s face. “Aw c’mon Captain! ah kin do it!”

“Of that I have no doubt Mr.. Wallace. However I doubt the local traffic will appreciate it very much. Have you ever seen a horse react to something as large as an airship hovering over it’s head?” Jerard shook his head, trying to hide his own grin. “Not a pretty sight lad!”

“Aye Captain, I can only imagine. Swinging her tail around now Sir.” Wallace said over the chorus of chuckles.

Jerard’s attention was drawn immediately to the doorway of the gondola. One of those chuckles was distinctly feminine. His eyes greeted a very fetching Tash dressed in a simple but elegant dove gray suit. One glove-clad hand covered her mouth while her eyes sparkled in mirth.

“Good Day Madam.” Jerard declared as he doffed his cap and executed a very gentlemanly bow. He knew the bow was not necessary but he felt the need to hide his face lest he betray just how magnificent he thought she looked. It just would not do to gawk at his employer.

Tash replied with a lilting “Good Day Captain” and graceful curtsy.

Just behind Tash stood Colonel Carstares or rather Phineas Starblower. He raised the monocle to one eye and squinted with the other. “I say Captain, aren’t we a bit formal today?”

Snapping a salute to the Colonel Jerard rapped out. “Officer on the bridge!” just for the mischievous fun of it. Randal, D'Arcey and to his surprise Wallace all snapped to attention and saluted reflexively at his shout. The rest of the civilian crew merely looked up startled.

“At ease gentlemen” Carstares drawled “At least you can be, and I am not sure if I have ever been an officer. Miss Smythe-Harris?”

She looked at the Colonel and tapped her lip a moment. “Do you know, I have no idea...” She began.

“Never the less, you cut a dashing figure Sir!” Wallace said gallantly.

Carstares “harrumped” and mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like: “damned monkey suit.” The sharp elbow in his ribs reminded him that this was apparently not proper ‘Starblower’ speech. So he nodded graciously to Mr.. Wallace and took the offending elbow to guide Tash to the settee. He would have to remember to not stand so close the the woman in the future. “Please carry on.” He called to the bridge in general.

The crew turned quickly from the little scene, trying their best not to laugh. “Mr. Jones, did the Danes acknowledge our change of landing site?” Phillips asked quickly, and as businesslike as he could.

“They did Sir and apologized. They did not realize the Discretion was so...large.” Mr.. Jones replied. At least that was what he thought the wireless operator had said. The word actually sounded more like ‘humongous’ or maybe the Danish equivalent.

“We’re in position to land Sir.” Wallace announced as he eased the ships engines fully back.

“And there’s the ground crew Captain, looks like they are ready for us.” Fred announced from the forward dome.

“Drop the forward lines Mr.. D’Arcy, then take us down William.” Phillips said as the central propellers of the Discretion slowly rotated directly upwards.

A few minutes later the gondola shook very gently as the ship came to rest on the docks of Aalborg. “Ship down and secure, Sir.” Wallace said, releasing the control yoke and stepping away from the helm. The satisfaction of a perfect landing writ large upon his face.

Tash got to her feet gracefully and very deliberately offered Carstares her arm. “Are you ready Mr.. Starblower? I believe this is what is called ‘showtime’.”

Chuckling, Carstares got to his feet as well and took Tash’s arm. “I believe your are correct madam, showtime
indeed
.” He offered her a genuine smile. “Shall we?”