Copper Fingers

Chapter 2. The People of Nursery Hill

Benji sipped his coke and moved closer to the air vent, cool air blasting on his face. "Ahhhh."

Mr. Hindge coughed and spilled some of his drink as he shuffled in his armchair.

"So. What were you going to tell me, about the Clocksouls or what ever you called them."

"Well I know you don't know much about the legend but hasn't someone told you at least something about the, the people."

"Nope. Didn't even know anyone lived up there."

"Well... They're not exactly people."

"What is there some sort of old ghost story about that hill."

"No...Some thing a lot more interesting then that, and I never actually believed the stories until me and my friends saw something that made me think twice about the myths."

"Well before you tell me what happened, can you please tell me the legends."

"Oh. Right. Yeah sorry."

"Well in the year 1888..."

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Nursery Hill, 1888

Mrs. Nolan scribbled furiously. Drawing diagrams, and writing notes. She had worked late into the night, for that very evening she had finally came up with the solution. She dipped her fountain pen into the ink pot and continued working. "I've done it!" She said to herself. She straightened her spectacles and held her work book up to the light of the fire burning in the furnace. Then exhausted, fell asleep on her desk.

"Mrs. Nolan! Mrs. Nolan!"

"Oh!" Mrs. Nolan gasped, waking up. "Oh. Hello dear. I'll come and make some breakfast now. Are the other children awake Penny?"

"No just me!" The woman and the young child headed outside of the old convict hut that was now Mrs. Nolan's workshop.

Once all the children were fed and were off playing, Mrs. Nolan made herself a cup of tea and headed out to her workshop.

The widow studied her diagram. "Project Tombi commences... Now."

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"So, then what? She starts building a very advanced robot like thing. Doesn't sound like a very exciting story to me."

"Well, that's just the beginning. Towards the end of the year, Bess Nolan has completed what she names 'Tombi', a copper, clock work human."

"Why exactly did Bess create 'Tombi'?"

"To entertain the children. He could play the piano, dance and interact with the kids. You see, he had little wires in his feet that vibrated when the children walked, and he would walk in their direction. Later on Mrs. Nolan created more machines. Fern, Frosty, Tinsel..."

"Oh, these are the Clocksouls!' Benji nodded thoughtfully. "The thing is." He said. "Legend has it, the Clocksouls still roam today, but they've changed. They're evil."

"And you believe this?"

"Well I didn't until..."

"Right. Right. You and your friends saw something, that's what you were going to tell me in the first place." Benji shivered at the thought of what he witnessed. "I'll tell you later, its to creepy."

"Benji. Its not real! Ok! Maybe the Clocksouls were real but they certainly aren't around today. Who would of wound them up?"

"Dad... They wind each other up."