The Steampunk Detective (13 page)

“What on Earth–.” Mr Bell started.

They made their way to the corner of the building. The door of the building Jack had approached earlier lay wide open. Doctor Moran lay sprawled in the doorway. Two of his creatures were hunched over him. Another had its mouth attached to his throat.

“Oh no,” Scarlet said, turning her face.

“The creatures have turned on him,” Mr Harker said.

Jack felt sick. He had no cause to like the doctor, but he also had no wish to see anyone killed. At that moment the creatures looked up and saw Jack and the others watching them.

They let out a roar.

“Time we got out of here,” Mr Bell said.

They turned and ran towards the entry to the compound. Jack slid the wooden plank across and opened the gate. They looked back into the compound and saw a dozen of the creatures curiously examining the environment outside their cells. A few of them looked in their direction. They started loping towards them.

“Quickly!” Mr Harker urged.

They hurried through the gate and pulled them closed.

“They won’t lock,” Jack said.

“Hopefully they won’t need to,” Mr Bell said. “With a little luck those creatures will take hours to work out how to get through them and we’ll be long gone by then.”

They ran down the dirt road away from the compound. After they turned a corner and it seemed safe, they slowed to a walk. Mr Harker suggested they make their way to the coast. From there they might be able to hail a passing boat. They started scrambling through the undergrowth.

“Which reminds me,” Mr Bell continued. “Who are you, young man, and how on earth did you find us?”

Jack quickly explained how he came to be on the island. By the time he finished, Scarlet’s eyes were quite wide open with amazement.

“I’ve never heard such an incredible tale,” she said.

“A little too incredible, if you ask me,” Jon Harker said, frowning.

Jack felt his face growing red. “Are you calling me a liar?”

“All I’m saying is that it seems a little far fetched.”

“Then how did I get here?”

“You may be in partnership with the Nazis.”

Jack felt like yelling at the older man. “To begin with, I don’t even know what a Nazi is. And why would I be trying to help you escape?”

“That’s a ridiculous accusation, Mr Harker,” Scarlet said angrily. “Jack and Mr Doyle have been helping me to find my father.” She clenched her fists. “And they are both men of honour.”

“Jon,” Mr Bell began patiently. “I’m sure this young man is a friend. In fact, we might still be stuck in that lab if it weren’t for his help.”

“You know we’ve had a leak within the society,” Jon Harker said.

“I know,” Mr Bell said. “But Jack has nothing to do with that. And besides,” he added, “the Nazis now know the truth about Phoenix.”

Mr Harker’s mouth fell open. “You can’t have told them.”

“They threatened my daughter,” Mr Bell said. “I had no other choice.”

Mr Harker grabbed him by the collar. “How dare you –.”

“Unhand my father,” Scarlet cried.

“It’s alright, Scarlet,” Joseph Bell said, gripping the other man’s arm. “Jon just needs to calm down.”

Jon Harker slowly released Bell. “You know what you’ve done, Joseph? You may have just brought about the end of the world.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” Joseph Bell replied, but he still looked worried.

“The Nazis will now have the ultimate weapons at their disposal,” Mr Harker said. “It’s only a matter of time before they use them.”

Jack felt like he was watching a game of ping pong.

“I’ve only got one question for the time being,” Jack said. “What exactly is a Nazi?”

“A political party,” Mr Bell explained. They were drawing nearer the sea now. A stiff onshore breeze was blowing cold air in their direction. “In Germany they are known as the National Socialist German Workers' Party. We have anglicized their name as the Nazi party.”

“And who are they?” Scarlet asked.

“Fanatics,” Mr Bell said shortly. “A political force within Germany bent on achieving ultimate power. Their leader is a man named Anton Drexler.”

“And how do you know all this?” Scarlet continued. “What is your connection with them, father? You must tell me what’s going on.”

Mr Bell looked ashamed. “I’m sorry I have lied to you, Scarlet. It seems I’ve spent my entire lifetime doing just that.”

“Then you must start telling the truth,” Scarlet said.

Mr Harker looked annoyed. “Telling the truth is what has caused all these problems.”

They scrambled up a grassy embankment. As they came over the rise they saw a small cove before them. The sun now lay low in the sky. The wind howled as it blew over them. Making their way down to the beach, they saw the mainland only a few miles away. Jack and the others looked out across the water.

Jack shivered. He knew nothing about politics, but it sounded like these Nazis were dangerous characters.

“We need to find a boat,” he said. “I doubt any of us could swim that distance.”

“It would be too dangerous at this time of day,” Mr Harker said.

“I agree,” a voice said from behind them. “And far too chilly.”

Jack turned in astonishment at the sound of the voice.

“Mr Doyle!”

Chapter Sixteen

His mentor stood a few feet behind them, looking completely relaxed, holding a cane in his hand. Lucy Harker stood at his side. She ran forward and threw her arms around her father.

Mr Doyle stepped forward and clapped a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “My boy, are you alright?”

“Yes, sir.”

He looked serious. “You are never to do anything like that again.”

“Like what, Mr Doyle?”

“Jumping onto that airship!” He looked annoyed. “You could have gotten yourself killed.”

“I’m...I’m sorry, Mr Doyle,” Jack felt embarrassed. “I thought you’d be pleased to see me.”

“I am,” Ignatius Doyle said. “But you must not risk your life in such a way again.”

His bottom lip quivered.

“Mr Doyle,” Scarlet cut in. “Jack has been invaluable to us. If he had not pursued us when he did, then we probably would have died.”

Mr Doyle swallowed hard and gripped his shoulder. “I’m sure you’ve done a sterling job.”

“The question is,” Joseph Bell interrupted, “how did you get here? And how do we now get off this island?”

“The answer to your first question will require an extended reply,” Mr Doyle explained. “Please allow me to show you the answer to your second question.”

Mr Doyle led them along the beach till they reached the headland. They rounded the rocky outcrop and scrambled across rocks until they reached a small inlet. Jack was starting to find it difficult to navigate in the gathering darkness. The rocks were wet underfoot.

“Do you have a boat, Mr Doyle?” Jon Harker asked.

“Better than that,” Mr Doyle replied.

He led them down over a series of rocks leading almost to the water. Ahead of them, Jack could see a strange egg shaped contraption on a low rocky outcrop. It sat balanced on two skids and had a strange cross shaped structure dangling over the top of it.

The smell of steam wafted across the air to Jack.

“What on earth is that?” Scarlet asked.

“I imagine your father knows the answer to that question,” Mr Doyle replied, turning to the men. “Or Mr Harker. I was able to keep this contraption under control, but only just. A man with more experience would bring about a safer flight.”

“I don’t know how –.” Jon Harker started.

“The time for deceit has ended,” Mr Bell snapped. “It should have ended centuries ago.” He turned to Mr Doyle. “I have experience in flying the helicopter and I will do so if you wish.”

“I do,” Mr Doyle replied.

“Heli…what?” Jack asked.

“Helicopter,” Mr Doyle explained. “The word is adapted by a French word, hélicoptère, which in turn originates from the Greek words ‘helix’ and ‘pteron’ meaning spiral and wing respectively.”

“What does it do?” Jack asked as they neared the enormous contraption.

“It’s a vertical flying machine,” Mr Doyle explained. “Powered by steam, it will carry us across the water to the other side.”

“I have some concerns about that,” Mr Harker said. “I don’t wish to appear troublesome, but it was never intended to carry this much weight.”

“He’s correct,” Mr Bell confirmed. “I doubt it has ever carried so many people.”

Mr Doyle looked past them. “Well, I think we’ll just have to test its capabilities. Friends of yours, are they?”

They turned to see a group of figures in the gathering darkness.

“It’s the creatures from the lab,” Joseph Bell said. “They must have followed us.”

“If you have a weapon, Mr Doyle,” Mr Harker said. “I believe we can take down a few with no problems.”

“No!” Scarlet protested. “They are men. Or they were.”

“We will not shoot them,” Mr Doyle said quietly. “Here. We’re at the machine. Let’s climb aboard and make a getaway while we still can.”

They climbed into the oddly shaped contraption. The interior was much like a large egg flattened at the rear end. Jack could see the engine already alight and hot. The front contained a large window. Before it a control mechanism was set into the floor. There were no seats.

Mr Harker adjusted controls at the boiler as Joseph Bell seized the steering mechanism. A steady vibration ran through the contraption as a loud pounding emanated throughout the structure. The interior was deafening. Jack and Mr Doyle pulled the door shut as the animal men approached the helicopter.

“We’ll need lift off shortly, gentlemen,” Mr Doyle yelled.

“Almost there,” Mr Harker called back. “Just a few more seconds.”

A pounding emanated from the other side of the door. Soft at first, it quickly increased in intensity as more of the creatures started beating at the metal. One of them rounded the machine and peered in the window. He drew back a fist and hit the glass.

A long crack cut the middle of the pane.

“Joseph,” Mr Harker said. “We need power.”

“Alright,” Joseph Bell said. “I’m applying full power. Try now.”

Jon Harker turned the control mechanism. They heard the
whoop–whoop
of the rotor blades as they whizzed about above the top of the helicopter. The sound of the engine and the moving parts was deafening. The floor beneath them shuddered.

Up, Jack thought. Up!

More of the creature assembled at the front of the helicopter, banging at the windows. Others had drawn back into the darkness, frightened by the noise coming from the machine.

The helicopter tilted backwards, lifted up a few feet and then fell back to earth with a huge thud. Jack, Mr Doyle and Scarlet fell against the bulkhead.

Mr Bell twisted the control and pulled it backwards again and the helicopter lifted off. The flying machine turned until it faced the mainland. Then Mr Bell pushed forward on the control column and a moment later they found themselves over the water.

Jack yelled out with joy and punched the air. Mr Doyle looked at him with surprise, then broke out into a huge smile. They were away from the island.

Mr Doyle leant close to Jack’s ear. “These gentlemen are rather more proficient than myself at controlling this device. During my flight over here, I hit the water twice and almost sunk us.”

“How did you find us?” Jack yelled.

“Later,” Mr Doyle replied.

The helicopter zoomed across the water at a height of about fifty feet. They suddenly heard an enormous
boom
from behind them. Scarlet peered out through a small window set into the rear of the chamber. A red glow flickered across her features.

“It’s the castle,” she yelled. “It’s on fire.”

“I believe the Nazis have destroyed it,” Mr Doyle said.

“You know about the Nazis?” Jack asked.

“A little,” Mr Doyle replied. “I hope to discover more about them shortly.” He made his way to over to Mr Bell and pointed at a place jutting out from the mainland. The man nodded. He swerved the helicopter and a moment later the flying machine met the coast and slowed its forward momentum. It hovered over an open field ringed by trees and slowly descended.

It hit the ground, bounced once or twice and settled. Mr Harker manipulated a few controls and the rotor above them slowed. The sound of the engine died away.

Jack felt like he was slightly deafened.

Mr Doyle opened the door and they all clambered out onto the open grass with a sigh of relief. The rotors came to a complete halt. Jack let out a sigh of relief. There had been times in the last two days when he thought he would not survive. He looked up into the clear black sky above. The stars twinkled. The night lay silent and peaceful around him.

A branch cracked in the undergrowth.

Jack saw something move in the darkness at the base of the trees ringing the field. At first he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Then he realised several figures were running towards them.

“Mr Doyle!” he began. “There are –.”

A voice yelled at them from the darkness.

“Everyone on the ground!” the man ordered. “You’re all under arrest.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jack felt slightly sick as the truck jolted from side to side. After the strangers had pounced on them from the darkness, they were handcuffed and hoods placed over their heads. Anonymous hands had rushed them into the back of a truck. He sat between Mr Doyle and Scarlet.

He was feeling exhausted again. He had not slept well over the last two days and now a bone numbing weariness overtook him. He closed his eyes.

When he awoke, he realised the truck had ground to a halt. A hand grabbed his arm and he found himself being led away from the vehicle and along a tunnel. The only sound was their footsteps echoing up and down the long corridor. He felt roughened stonework underfoot. After a while the tunnel angled upwards.

A metal door clanged as it swung back on its hinges. Jack was propelled forward again and he felt the cuffs removed. A hand dragged the hood off his head.

Two benches jutted up against opposite sides of the room. A table sat in the centre. He saw his companions were already seated, gingerly rubbing their wrists and blinking at the sudden light. Only Mr Doyle looked composed.