The Gadgeteer

Chapter 28

THE OLD MAN moved fast. By the time Arabeth walked out of the police station he was already a full block ahead. Walking quickly, her mother's words chose an odd time to echo through her head: 'a lady may walk quickly, but must never be seen to be in a hurry.' As usual, she ignored the edicts that made little sense in the real world.

The cab was still waiting outside. Arabeth held a finger up in front of her lips to signal the driver to silence as she jogged to catch up to her target. He nodded in response and pulled another sandwich out of a box under his seat.

She slowed as she came to walk beside her great godfather. "Good afternoon, Mr. Ballantine."

"Good afternoon, Arabeth. What business are we engaged in today?"

"That is always a good question. I was going to ask you that precise thing."

He chuckled. "I moved here over fifty years ago. Have I told you that story?"

"You have, sir. Five times, but it's never the same twice."

"Retelling affords one the opportunity to add without obsequious attention to detail," he said.

"I've seen. The layering sometimes shifts the entire meaning of a story. Which details would you add today?"

They were nearing a park, and he pointed at the grass. "Let's recumb here. I have had quite enough excitement for one day." He immediately sat and leaned back on his elbows. "Perfect."

Arabeth made a mental note to donate a bench to this park later. She had nothing against sitting on the grass, but she was tired. If she sat for long, she'd need a nap.

Clement sat up.

"No story today, I think. How is my god granddaughter? Why do you look distressed?" he said, softly patting her hands.

"You were at the station on purpose," she said. "Could we be looking for information on the same thing?"

"It's a good place to catch up on area politics without getting involved in them. You just have to scrub out their slant. Tell me, what's on your mind?"

"I know why someone killed Dawson," she blurted. "But I don't know who or how to prove it."

"Oh? Was he being nosey or something?"

"He was a policeman. It's his job to be nosey." She defended Dawson's choice. He was doing his job, and he was good at it.

"Fine, nosey without being smart at the same time."

"No, I think he found out about the automaton."

"That seems fairly obvious. Where's the question in this?" Clement said.

"He died not long before that automaton started terrorizing Blastborn. Afterwards, it tried to drop itself in the sea, but I stopped it. It didn't have anything that could have killed Dawson attached to it. Who would bring farm equipment into the city to kill him?"

"You did what?"

"Oh, right. I decapitated one of the automatons. That's how I know what they do," she explained.

Clement stared, his expression unreadable.

She shook her head and continued. "Then I found where they're being made."

"I am assuming you've come up with a plan of some sort." He smiled.

"Between the people it's already hurt and the bigger scheme to push us all into war, there is a solution. I can stop them, but I need to build a few things."