The Foster Children of Time

Chapter Twenty-Four: Aftermath

Chapter Twenty-Four

                                       

Tony looked up again and saw one of the Temporal Affairs Agents and Doren tossing a net down over the railing. 

"Grab it, Tony.  We'll pull you up."

"First the girls!" shouted Tony.  Tegwyn and Monique each told a hold of the mesh and were hauled up to the observation platform.  Another net was cast down for Tony.   The Temporal Affairs Agent climbed down and collected the Wolf King, now conscious again but stunned and not struggling.   The Drake continued to lie still on the basement floor.

Caroline hugged Tony as soon as he had clambered onto the observation platform.

"Tony, you are a complete nut.  What were you thinking?"

"I was pretty sure about the trap door from the start.  I knew that the Wolf King's staff didn't disintegrate Farlowe.  It's just a glorified toy, not too different from what we saw in the Time Station arcade.  In fact Mr. Gaudet and I ran into Farlowe in the courtroom a few minutes ago.  He must have been a plant in the worker's camp.  I guess that whole scene when we arrived was just staged to scare us into submission."

"But what about the dragon?"

"I didn't have any idea of what I was getting myself into there, admittedly.  But then I got a look at it.  Look, Caroline!  Don't you recognize it?  From Mr. Wolski's science class?  Uromastyx!  A vegetarian lizard!"

"Vegetarian?  But how could you be sure?"

"Well, I guess I couldn't.  Who knows what the Wolf King did to it.  And it could have crushed Monique with its tail easily, if it were mad enough.  I guess we were all lucky."

"And that Tegwyn..."

"Tegwyn!" cried Vanaya, emerging from the stairs onto the observation platform.  She embraced Tegwyn warmly.  Monique stood nearby, looking a bit lost. 

The Temporal Affairs Agent, Doren, and Garsen stood guard over Sir Penultimate Theorem, Farlowe and the Wolf King, now all held in wrist restraints.  A tall brunette woman in a Temporal Affairs uniform stood before Gaudet, whose hands were now restrained as well.

Another male Agent came down the stairs. 

"Report," directed the female Agent in a stern monotone.

"The last hostile has been subdued.  Situation normalized.  One confirmed casualty, male, mid 60's..."

"Klemens," murmured Tony regretfully.

"...several others wounded, three seriously.  Agent Robinson has begun administering first aid."

"Return and assist Robinson," ordered the woman.

"Understood, Agent Savoy."

"Well, Gloria," said Gaudet in a mock conversational tone, "You're looking stunning as usual."

"Quiet.  And it's Agent Savoy to you.  Furthermore this is certainly no time for levity.  Temp Affairs is prepared to file some serious charges against you, including possible complicity in the mass murder of the previous inhabitants of this so-called kingdom."

"There was no murder, I swear.  The old Kevello, Calendenny — clones cooked up in the Wolf King's lab."

"But still human, regardless of their genesis!"

"Absolutely, but they were not murdered.  Wolfgang was just beginning his genetic experiments at the time, learning as he dabbled.  He was able to alter their features to make them look more like creatures from fairy stories, but they were genetically infirm.  They all died, one after the other, ultimately."