The Gadgeteer

Chapter 8

"LET'S WAVE A cab down. We'll get there quicker and nightfall is our advantage with Marble here," Arabeth said as she waved out at a cab driver.

The same driver that dropped them off pulled up, lining the carriage up with Arabeth. He must have guessed they'd need a ride back. She made a mental note to ask his name if she saw him again.

Hicks gave their destination and was about to climb in when Marble zipped up the steps, nearly tripping him, and jumped on the seat next to Arabeth. Hicks sat on the opposite bench, frowning at Marble.

"Does she go everywhere with you?"

"If she wants, so most of the time, yes."

"Interesting. I'm still surprised she's so attached to you. Most foxes hold humans in low regard, even those said to be domesticated."

Arabeth smiled and gave Marble a rub under her chin. "Maybe she stays for the fun. We do get into some interesting situations."

Hicks frowned. "Suuure... do you remember the time I had to send a rope down to pull you out of the olive oil vat? Or when you wound up hanging from the third floor of the Crystal Moon Hotel upside down, wrapped in a bedsheet and rope like you were in a cocoon?"

"I'm undamaged," she scoffed. "That was all part of my learning the tricks of the job."

"What about when you got your arm caught in the steering mechanism of Hanson's dirigible? I bet that twinges when it's cold out." He was serious now.

"That was not work related."

"Your accuracy when assessing risk is relevant."

"I'm fine. And I'll be fine. I have a long life ahead of me, and I don't want it to become dull before it has to be."

He didn't respond.

They rode in what Arabeth felt was a comfortable silence before the carriage stopped. She hopped out and paid the horseman before Hicks even had a chance, then took a moment to look around.

Now where? she wondered. Perhaps a walk to see how the area lay, first. It was a dirty part of the city, with short, ancient buildings. Not even houses, she realized. Within the same small area there was a laundry, a cobbler, a bakeshop, and a fishmonger. She turned a full circle, realizing this was a town within a town.

She'd heard of that - when enough people from a separate, diverse region or country moved in, they tended to congregate and build centralized homes and shops. Judging by the architecture, this place would be... Germanic. How interesting!

Hicks cleared his throat behind her. "Got your bearings?"

"Um, yes." She pointed west, noting the sun was a bit higher than she expected now that they weren't surrounded by trees. "That way, I believe. But...." She dropped to one knee and pulled out a wax bag that held the drawing Dawson had passed her via Matty, then signalled to Marble. "Come here, my dear."

Holding the paper out, she let Marble sniff it. "See if you can find any of the smells on here."

Marble yipped once and turned away, nose high at first, then progressively lower. They followed as she went, slowly. Arabeth would be surprised if they found anything in this area. More likely, it was a fringe place and didn't quite fit in.

She couldn't decide which way to go - they all looked about the same. Marble didn't have that problem, thankfully. As she suspected, they continued west a few blocks when Marble suddenly picked up her pace. They hurried to follow, Arabeth hoping it wasn't simple fox distractibility. They had enough to do without getting sidetracked.