The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (52 page)

The silence was broken by Oberleutnant Ziegenhals murmuring in German to Lahn who answered him promptly. Jerard knew Lahn was translating what he had just said by the shocked expression blooming on the Oberleutant’s face. The man spoke in German again and this time to Von Ulric.

“Phillips, Konrad has said what I am thinking. Something...evil is following you.”

Jerard slowly shook his head no. “I do not think so Sir. The explosion that we think these pieces have something to do with happened before I ever even heard of this ship. I was hired as the replacement Captain. I think it may be a bit far fetched to assume that someone sabotaged my Vickers. And
then
knew for certain I would be cashiered out of Her Majesty’s Service. And
then
sabotaged this ship so that I would be hired here.”

Von Ulric shrugged. “Is possible. There are not so many airship captains, maybe twenty in Europe.”

“No.” This time Jerard shook his head firmly. “I cannot believe that Tash or anyone else on this ship would have anything to do with the death of Daniel Mather.” But suddenly Jerard was not so sure.

“Daniel Mather?” Von Ulric asked.

“The former Captain.” Jerard did not want to talk about Mather but there were other questions he could ask, things he did want explained. “So, Fred, I believe you wanted to tell me something? Something about these...” Jerard waved at the two boxes.

“Clock parts.” Randal finished for his Captain. “There’re clock parts that were probably part of a timing mechanism that set off a small bomb attached to the clamps holding the Vickers’ big bomb.”

Jerard was a little confused. “If you could prove that there was sabotage why was I court marshalled? And Von Ulric, what have you to do with this?” Surely the Germans would not have set things up to drop a bomb on their own people, Jerard finished in his head.

“Let me start from the beginning Captain.” Fred said solemnly. “You remember when the accident happened we immediately flew back to the base field?”

Jerard nodded and motioned for Fred to continue.

“Well Sir we were all arrested, not just you Sir.”

“I did know that, it was about the only thing I was told.” Jerard said trying to hold down the remembered anger.

“They put us all in separate rooms and we were first questioned by our own officers and then they brought the German officers in and questioned us.”

Jerard sat up at that. “They brought the Germans in? I was never questioned by any Germans. Why...” Jerard trailed of.

"There was a lot of confusion Captain but we can tell you what we think.”

“We?”

“Yes Sir, most of the crew, Freidrik here and the Rittmeister. When the questioning was over we were allowed to return to the ship. The crew and I compared notes and apparently the same thing happened to all of us. Sir, we all thought it strange that no one asked us about the accident. They just kept asking us questions about you, about your reactions Sir and...about your loyalty Captain.”

“I see.” Jerard said slowly.

“Captain, I want you to know that, to the man, we all defended you. None of us could figure out why they weren’t asking about the accident and even worse in Duncan’s case they wouldn’t even listen to what he said about the bomb just falling out. He tried to show them the little parts and begged them to look at bomb bay to see how the clamps were missing. Duncan said it was sabotage from the start. They just wouldn’t listen.

“Duncan...Duncan McWhorter?” Jerard said half out loud, he was trying to remember the man.

“Yes Sir, our new bombardier. It was his first trip out with us."

Jerard nodded, and gestured to Fred to continue. He now remembered Mr. McWhorter, the fiery young Scotsman with the large chip on his shoulder. It was a little amazing that the man had spoken up for an Englishman. But Jerard was glad he had for all the good it did.

“Well Sir, it was while Duncan was telling us what he found and what he thought, that we were called together and informed that you were being court-martialed for gross incompetence.” Fred paused and looked at Jerard’s stony face in sympathy before continuing.

“None of us could believe what we were hearing, most of us demanded to be present at your trial. They refused us Sir and confined us to the ship. You have to understand Captain, we were desperate Sir. So I took the little parts and sneaked off the ship. There weren’t any guards you see and we weren’t really issued orders...just told to stay put. I went and found Freidrik and told him the whole story.”

“Personal interpretation of orders again Mr. Randal?” Jerard said, not knowing whether to laugh or sigh at Fred’s proclivity to interpret things to suit himself.

Fred grinned. “Something like that Captain.

“I see Phillips that we both have navigators that bend rules.” Von Ulric interjected. “My sympathy for you. Freidrik brought Herr Randall to me and he repeated the story. I was in a rage that your officers did not listen to your men. I was certain that there was an accident, I did not believe that you were incompetent.” The Rittmeister’s voice carried echoes of anger. “I took this evidence to my own superiors. They did not listen to me. I was told it was not my concern. I was told...” Von Ulric trailed off. His face was a mask of sorrow as he took a deep breath before continuing.

“I was told to destroy the evidence and if I speak of it again I would be sent to clean latrines in the airship hangar. I am sorry Phillips for being a coward, I have a long regretted that I did not speak for honor. I was told that this was a political matter and it was finished. For what worth it has, the important people know that you were made the scapegoat.”

“Thank you Herr Von Ulric.” Jerard said and stood up. He held out his hand to the German. “I appreciate what you did and I do not blame you.” The men shook hands and offered each other small sad smiles.

Jerard sat back down and spoke what was on his mind. “I was angry for a long time and I am glad that I have this opportunity to come to terms with the whole ordeal. If you think about it, making me the scapegoat solved a lot of political problems. It is better that the German people see a single villain in me than think that all Englishmen are evil...or incompetent. It was for the greater good.”

“Nein! You are wrong! It is
not
the right thing to do to strip an honorable man of his honor for the purpose of a lie! Both of our peoples took the easy way out. If they had listened to me, and to your Duncan, then maybe the real villain would be found. We were not allowed to investigate!”

“So we have no idea of who might have done this then.” Jerard watched every one shake their heads no except for Von Ulric who looked thoughtful.

After a moment the German picked up Randal’s box of parts and dumped them on the table. He began separating out what appeared to be duplicate parts into one pile and then assembled the first pile. As Jerard watched in fascination the internal workings of a clock seemed to form before his eyes. But as he looked closely he could see that there were extra things attached. He opened his mouth to say something but Fred Randal caught his eye and shook his head no.

When Von Ulric seemed satisfied with the tiny contraption he moved it to the side and repeated his actions on Jerard’s box of parts. While Jerard’s box did not hold as many little pieces it did not appear to have any duplicates. To his eye this clock looked more complete and did not have as many ‘extra’ things arranged around the sides. The Rittmeister sat very still and studied the two devices. A full minute passed before he picked out several pieces from the Discretion’s clock and fitted them into the one found on the Vickers.

“Oh!” Jerard exclaimed. “How can that be? How can the pieces from one clock fit into another?”

Von Ulric looked up at Jerard and grinned. “Ah, I see you know something about clocks, ja?”

“Well, I don’t.” Fred said. “Can one of you explain?”

“Clock making is an art form. Each piece is cut with precision to fit with another piece. The way the pieces are cut and fitted is like a signature for a clock maker because no two makers do things in the same way. That is why if a clock needs repair you have to take it to the one who made it.”

“Hm.” Replied Fred. “So what I see here is the same person made both of these clocks.”

“Precisely.” Von Ulric stated. “But there is more. Clock parts also differ from country to country. If Phillips here studied with an English clockmaker he would be able to put these pieces together like I did but it would have taken a great deal longer. This is not from an English clock maker.”

“Then who? Where?” Jerard was getting excited now.

“I did not know for sure until I saw the pieces from this vessel. But this...” Von Ulric picked up the largest gear. The one one he had removed from one clock and placed into the Vickers clock. “This is French, it is too big and the brass is rubbish. The French do not make good brass.”

“But how do you know for sure?” Fred asked.

Von Ulric chuckled. “I was not always Rittmeister of an airship. I used to make bombs.”

Jerard was stunned he could not believe that this man, who had been talking of honor, was in the past a saboteur. It was the lowest form deception he could think of.

“Do not look so shocked Phillips. I was what you would call an expert, not a saboteur, I mostly took apart other people’s bombs. It is how I know so much about clocks and detonation devices.”

Jerard nodded. He felt quite embarrassed that what he had been thinking had shown up so clearly on his face. “So you also believe that both of these contraptions were made by the same person?”

“Ja, I do. The clocks had different functions, this one...” Von Ulric pointed to the parts from the Vickers device. “...was attached to an explosive device. But the one from this ship, I am not so sure, I can say there was no bomb attached. I think maybe it was used to stop something or maybe open something at a certain time.”

Jerard sighed, Von Ulric had nailed it and confirmed the theory Jerard had put forth to Nichols several days ago. “I believe it opened a steam valve.”

Von Ulric nodded slowly. “Ja that would certainly be easy to do. Did you find a solid arm or heavy string?”

“Twine.”

“Well that’s just great!” Fred Randal said. “Don’t suppose you know who set this one up, do you Cap?”

“No.”

“We do have a frenchie on board...”

“That’s enough Fred, you’re out of line. But it couldn’t have been D'Arcey any way, he wasn’t here. He was hired just before I was to replace one of the injured crewmen.”

As if on cue the speaking grill blared out: “Mr. D'Arcey to the bridge, Second Engineer D'Arcey to the bridge please.”

Jerard nearly laughed as all of the Germans jumped to their feet, startled nearly out of their clothes. Each of them seemed to be reaching for weapons that weren’t present as they looked around with wide eyes.

“On my way Mr. Wallace.” Said the speaking grill.

“Mein Got!” Von Ulric uttered.

“I’m sorry about that gentlemen. I guess we here are all used to the speaking grills.

Von Ulric shook his head and laughed. “I think we need another round. And then Phillips you will show me this speaking grill, ja?”

“Ja!” Jerard said and got to his feet, scooping up the bottle of schnapps.

As Jerard was pouring the last glass D'Arcey entered the room from the galley. He was walking fast, obviously in a hurry to answer Wallace’s summons. “Mr. D'Arcey!” Jerard called out.

D'Arcey jerked to a halt. “Ah Captain, here you are, I was just going to the...” He trailed off, as if in shock, his eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Mr. D'Arcey? Are you alright?”

“Oui Captain. I was...I was startled to find you here Sir. What may I do for you?”

“Oh it wasn’t me that called, it was Wallace on the bridge. I just wanted to tell you that when you were finished with Mr. Wallace to stop back here and meet some friends of mine.”

“Oui Captain, I shall return as soon as possible!”

“Go on then, see what Wallace wants.”

“Oui Captain!” D'Arcey nearly shouted and saluted Jerard. He turned on his heel and seem to run from the room.

“How odd.” Fred said softly, echoing Jerard’s thought.

“Shall we drink to the speaking grill?” Von Ulric quipped.

“How about to modern inventions?” Jerard replied and raised his glass.

Jules D'Arcey heard the toast being said behind him as he desperately tried to walk normally towards the bridge. His heart was pounding so hard that for the first time in his life he thought he might faint. Does nothing ever go as planned? He was supposed to be left as the senior officer on the ship and then the Captain had decided to stay back. And on top of that guards were posted! And now this! Three German officers blocking the exit. Oh but fate is cruel! It just had to be Von Ulric didn’t it, someone that might recognise him?

God would this ever be finished? He hadn’t slept since Stavanger, every time he lay down the faces of the people he had come to respect swam before his eyes. He felt like Judas betraying his friends for thirty pieces of silver. Deep breath, he told himself, stay calm.

D'Arcey reached the bridge anteroom to find Mr. Wallace lounging in the doorway. “How may I assist you Mr. Wallace?” He said, gratified that his voice sounded so calm and even.

“Guess you saw the Captain?”

“I did Sir, but he told me to carry on as it was you who summoned me.”

Wallace grinned. “Aye, ‘twas me Sir. Since the Cap is busy with his guests he told me to call you if I be needin’ anything. So I called.”

“Oui?” D'Arcey said, a little annoyed at the young Scotsman.

“It’s them again.” Wallace said and gestured with his head toward the open door of the anteroom.

D'Arcey turned and looked into the darkness outside. He could barely see three figures standing at the bottom of short ramp. “Who iz it?” He said, feigning confusion. He knew exactly who it was and he had been expecting them. He supposed it was a stroke of luck that Phillips was not standing here, either way their little fête for tonight was canceled.

“It’s those customs blokes again. I didn’t let ‘em aboard ship an’ I’m suggestin’ that you don’t either.”