~~~~~~
The landing bay vibrated with the hum from the Celeste’s engines. The bay filled with the blue glow of the levitators. The levitators shook the silo’s walls, and rattled the gantries. Slowly, the ship lifted off. The catwalks strained against their mounts.
No match for the spacecraft’s manna generators, the bolts and connections snapped. Bolts popped and the walks fell to the bay floor. Cables pulled the gantries off the walls. The load hardly stressed the ship’s engines. Ignoring the extra load, the Celeste climbed seeking altitude.
The Celeste lifted off its cradle. Halfway up the silo, the cables snapped and the gantries toppled. The load dropped and the generators surged.
The ship slammed into the silo dome. She picked up the dome and burst out of the landing bay. Momentum carried her over the top. She blasted into air carrying the silo dome.
Somewhere in the recesses of her mechanical brains, her mental wheels whirled and the gears turned. The computations finished at the speed of light and her electronic gears registered a possible collision.
A forgotten safety system aborted the launch. The levitators powered down to land, and the dome slipped off.
The dome caught the control tower and the ship capsized. The dome rolled over the abandoned offices of Thornmocker Organics.
The great ship crashed into the dome and the levitators went out.
The dome collapsed under the spacecraft’s full weight. It rolled. The Celeste listed and the dome flipped. It tipped over and poured the ship out. She slid out of the cracked dome.
Just for a second, the Celeste teetered on the edge of the silo. Without the weight of the supertanker holding it down, the dome rocked backwards, caught the ship again, and tipped her into the bay.
Slowly at first, the ship slid back into the landing bay. Inexorably, she picked up speed. She ripped abandoned warehouses from their foundations, and bounced off the landing bays moors.
The metal ripped and the screeching rolled over Nodlon. Warning sirens sounded, and fire alarms across the city went off.
The Celeste quivered, and she disappeared into the bay.
Deep within the landing bay, the Celeste’s generators had had enough, and she exploded.
The Crucible
“Am I alive?”
“Yes, Shotgun,” said Jack. “You are very much alive.”
“Can I rephrase the question?” Shotgun asked, “Is this the afterlife?”
“No,” said Gumshoe. “If this was the afterlife, I’d feel better.”
“Why can’t I see anything?” Shotgun asked.
Jack cast a blue ball, and lit the crucible. “Is that better?”
“It’s a crucible. They used these once for smelting ore. I flew all of us into it to shield us from the blast.” Good move, Jack! It took the blast, but are we imprisoned in it?
“Is everybody here?” Jack asked. “Is everyone all right?”
“My leg’s broken, I think,” said Adam. “It’s all twisted round.”
“No, that’s my leg,” said Jones. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“York.” Gumshoe jostled the sergeant, “York.” He felt for a pulse.
“What hit me?” York cracked an eyelid.
“I’d guess it was this smelting crucible,” said Jack. “It probably saved our lives. I levitated everyone and dove into it.”
“Can we get out?” asked a dwarf. He eyebrows shot up, and he searched for a friendly face. “If we’re trapped, we can’t breathe. We’ll die.”
Gumshoe pulled out his caster and flipped it open. “No signal. We can’t call for help.” The Inspector pocketed his caster. “Jack, can you levitate the crucible?”
“No, old man, it’s way too heavy. I’ve already tried while you were sleeping off our little ride. The crucible looked like a diving bell from the air. I thought it would take the blast, so I flew everyone into it and covered us with a magical shield. The Celeste blasted us across the factory, and the crucible landed on top of us.”
“Why didn’t the blast kill us?” Jones asked.
“Mr. Clay’s magic,” York answered. “He’s got some tricks up his sleeve, and that’s for sure. He’s already had me flying with him, and he can throw up magic shields that’ll reflect any death ray.”
“Now, I’m not sure I’d go that far,” said Jack. “My shields may have saved our lives, but it was probably just dumb luck.”
“Face it, boss, humble pie just isn’t you.”
“If you can’t lift the crucible, Jack, this dwarf here is right.” Gumshoe searched the dwarf’s uniform for a name. “Son, what’s your name?”
“Ian Murphy, sir,” said the dwarf. “What am I doing here?”
“What’s your last recollection, Ian?” asked the Inspector.
The dwarf smiled uneasily and looked around the crucible at the faces staring back at him in the pale blue glow of Jack’s illusion. “I, uh,” his Adam’s apple rocked up and down, and he hung his head. “I made an appointment with a doctor.”
“Let me guess,” said Gumshoe. “Was it Dr. Balaam at New Gem?”
“Yes sir,” said the dwarf, looking up. “How did you know?”
“It’s a long story, Ian,” Gumshoe rubbed his neck. “It’s not going to do either of us any good to tell it unless we can get out of here. For now, save your breathe.”
“It’s a terrible cock-up,” said Jack. “I’m sorry, old-man. I shouldn’t have got us trapped in this thing.”
“Jack, you did the right thing. The Celeste would surely have killed us if we’d been aboard, and the blast should have killed us anyway.”
“Would it have been so bad to go straight away?” Shotgun asked. “If we’re trapped here without air, we’ll suffocate in a few minutes.”
“Don’t panic.” Jack cast more light and revealed more of the crucible. He searched the crucible’s walls. Upside down, the tell-tale stains of rust ran upwards to the bottom now over their heads. There was no sign of a crack or a drain.
He knelt at the edge of the bell and studied the floor. The floor was asphalt., grey with age, and riddled with cracks filled with gravel.
“I’ve an idea.” Jack said, “Stand back folks.”
Carefully, he conjured water and dew appeared on the pavement. Going to need more than that, Jack. He laid a hand on the asphalt and willed water to rise. A tingling sensation ran down his arm.
Slowly the water came. It flowed up through the cracks in the asphalt and under the crucible’s lip. There he froze it. Willing the magic to flow, he drew water out of the clay far below and through the floor. Seconds passed and then minutes. The ice built up and froze in place.
The asphalt sagged under the weight, but Jack spread the weight of his icy anchors until the ice nearly ran around the crucible.
About him, he felt the other’s eyes on him. They shifted to the center to escape the cold.
“Will it move?”
He didn’t catch who asked the question. He redoubled his focus and let the magic draw the water from the ground.
The crucible popped from the floor. The walls pinged. The ice cracked.
“Yes,” a chorus of cheers arose. “You can do it, Jack.”
“Shush, don’t jinx it.” He redoubled his effort and the ice pushed one side into the air. He lifted one edge three feet, and then formed a tunnel in the ice.
“Go, go, go,” he grunted. “I’ve got to hold it.”
They just stood there for a second.
Gumshoe slapped one of the officers. “You heard the man, move!” He herded the police officers, Shotgun, and the black dwarves out.
“That’s it, Jack,” said Gumshoe. “I’m going. You’re the last.”
“Go old-man, I’m right behind you.”
The Inspector dove into the hole, and scrambled through. The Inspector’s wingtips disappeared.
Jack concentrated on freezing the ice, and he plunged after his friend. Out of the kettle and into t
he pitch black. His light shined through the ice and cast a faint blue glow several yards around the crucible. Pitch darkness covered the vast factory all about them.
“Don’t go wandering off,” said Gumshoe. “Remember that pit is around here. Jack can you give us some more light?”
“Yes, just give me a minute.” He pushed to his feet and stretched. “I’ve just run a marathon.” He huffed, “well, five miles anyway. That much magic takes something out of me.” He pushed up his sleeves and cast a full bore illusion of lamps lighting the area. A blue twilight filled the chamber.
“Super, straddling precarious!” Shotgun flinched.
They looked up and gasped. The Celeste’s broken hull teetered on a gantry over their heads.
“If that was sitting on us, we’d still be trapped.”
“Evidently, providence is still with us, Jack,” said Gumshoe. He patted the dust off his fedora.
“Inspector,” said York, “I’ve got a signal on my caster.” Without waiting for a reply, he called for help.
Jack took in the Celeste and the shattered remains of the factory. “What a mess? What is it the Black Dwarf wants?”
“The next time you see this black dwarf, boss, do us a favor and drop the boom on him before he drops another spacecraft on us.”
“Shotgun, we still don’t know anything about him.”
“What’s to know, boss? He tried to kill us, and he very nearly succeeded.”
“Yeah, but we haven’t got anything to show for it.”
“Not quite son,” said Gumshoe. “We know who is responsible for the Zodiac crimes. We know he calls himself the Black Dwarf, and that’s not all we know.”
“Oh, what else?” Jack crossed his arms. “If you’re going to say he’s got magic, maybe he has magic, and maybe not. I’ve got eyes too. He didn’t do anything especially magical that I could see. High tech can explain all his tricks. He may be using some kind of advanced power pack, levitators, and a blaster.”
“Jealous, Jack?” Gumshoe lifted an eyebrow. “No, I was about to say something completely different. I think it’s important.”
“Don’t keep us waiting old-man,” said Jack. “Spit it out.”
“You Jack,” said Gumshoe. “You’re the key to this somehow. The Black Dwarf addressed you, remember? He called you something.” Gumshoe stopped and pushed his fedora with a finger.
“Phaedra’s son,” said Shotgun.
“Yes, so I’m Phaedra’s son. It’s not a secret. It’s in my bio on Clay-net. I’m a celebrity. People are always trying to meet me, get my autograph, or share something with me.”
“He wasn’t after your autograph, Jack.”
“So? He’s a criminal. He’s a psycho. Maybe he wants to kill a celebrity to add the score to the notches on his belt.”
“No, Jack, you’re just pretending. He was after you. He wanted you, and only you. The rest of us were just a distraction.”
“The Inspector’s right.” Shotgun looked up at the shattered spacecraft. “Maybe you didn’t see it. You were awfully busy in there trying to keep us alive. He focused on you. He attacked York and me only to distract you.”
“Face it; the Black Dwarf didn’t booby trap a supertanker to kill an old detective, a computer hacker, or any of these policemen. He wanted you. He thought if he sent you on a wild goose chase in a giant spacecraft, you wouldn’t see the danger until it was too late.”
“What we’ve learned then is: The Zodiac killer is a black dwarf pretending to have magical power who wants to kill me? Who do you think this guy is? My evil twin?”
All eyes turned towards him. The policemen, the dwarves, Gumshoe, and Shotgun gave him the stare.
“Nonsense fellas,what have I got to do with it?”
“Begging your pardon, Mr. Clay,” said York. “You’re special. Something about you is different, and it’s not just magic.”
“Sergeant, I’ve got a great press agent, but I make it a point not to believe my own advertising.” He jerked a thumb at Shotgun. “I even employ Jiminy Cricket here to help out when my conscience fails me.”
“York’s right,” said Gumshoe. “When the black dwarves ambushed us, I assumed they wanted to stop my investigation. I thought they were trying to put down an old warhorse. Now, I see it wasn’t me they were after. It’s obvious. They were after you then, and they were after you this time. Once they find out you’re alive, they’ll try again.”
No way old man,” Jack twirled, and his cloak wrapped around him. “I don’t believe it. If I’m his target, he’s made a mistake. I’m glad to be his target if I can stand in for some poor, defenseless damsel, but I can’t even seem to stop a black dwarf with a couple of parlor tricks up his sleeve. Why waste his time and resources on me?”
“The Black Dwarf wants you,” said Gumshoe. “He wants something you have, or he wants to stop you from doing something. What we have to do is find out what it is he wants.”
In the distance, the sound of sirens approached.
“Good,” said Gumshoe. “The cavalry has arrived.”
“Since we have no idea what the Black Dwarf wants,” said Jack, “may I suggest we find his lair and make an arrest.”
“An excellent suggestion, Jack,” said Gumshoe. “You do that.”
The End
Epilogue: On the Beach
Evan Labe floated in warm water. The water was deep and wide and salty. Waves lapped gently over him, soaking him, but he knew he was safe. Bobbing in the current, he felt longer waves lift his feet and roll beneath him. He slid down the waves, and swung in the troughs and was pushed over the crest of another and slid down again.
It was fun. He splashed, and paddled the water, but he did not try to swim.
Sensing he was not alone, he knew there were others. Below him swam the denizens of the deep about their errands, and above he heard birds call. He knew he was not the only one.
The stars burned in the firmament, as he sailed along. He wanted to open his eyes to watch the stars, but he knew he could not. He thought he was dreaming.
Overhead the sun rose. Purple faded to pink. Golden rays broke over slate clouds tinged with silver.
It was morning.
He heard the beach. The waves broke on the shore long before he reached it. Closer, the waves crashed over him and he tasted salt. The current pushed him up the beach, and he felt the sand. The undertow dragged him back. For a time, the surf tossed him on the shore.
He grew impatient to end his journey, yet he did not want it to end.
The current left him on warm sand. Soft sand cradled him, and waves rocked him.
Knowing the time had come; he opened his eyes, and blinked. Clouds sailed a blue sky above. A bird circled, and then flew on.
He inhaled and he smelled the sea, fresh, and clean. He breathed again.
He rolled over. Where am I? A wide beach of sand curved in a cove swept up against soft gray stones at the foot of a white cliff. Searching for the meaning of this place, he studied the cliffs, which revealed nothing.
A dwarf in a robe walked down a steep path winding over the cliff face. He wanted to call to the dwarf, but he was still too tired. He tried to push himself up, but his muscles failed him. Rolling over onto his back, he laid on the sand feeling his strength return.
The sand muffled the dwarf’s footfalls. He turned his head, and saw a maiden. She was a dwarf, as he was, but she had no spot upon her brow.
How was her chip removed? He tried to speak.
“Be still, Evan Labe,” she said.
She knelt beside him. “You’ve failed, but not too badly.” She held out a robe, and let it open. “You’re highly favored,” she laughed, “just like everyone.”
She helped him sit up, and put on the robe.
With her gentle ministrations, he gained his feet, and steadied his mind. His benefactor was a tad shorter than he, but she was fairer than anyone he had ever seen.
“You have many
questions, but now is not the time. Follow me and I will be your guide.” Taking his hand, she led him to the south. “We will go up the cliff, where we will live until we have reached the beginning.”
Halting on the sand, she pulled him closer. She kissed his cheek. He blushed and she smiled. Tugging him along, she led him away.
~~~~~~
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The Adventure Continues
Cretaceous Clay & the Ninth Ring