The Inventor's Son

Chapter 3: In Which a Plot Most Foul Comes to Light

ETHAN EXAMINED IT by the light from the drawing room window. It was a series of photographs, taken one after another with what must have been a high-speed shutter of some sort. "Oh, my God, Inspector Huntington! It's my father! He's got some sort of message on this! He sent Sam with a secret message!"

"Dear me, whatever is the matter? Aren't we going to your uncle's office?" Sophia asked as she descended the staircase in her jacket and hat and gloves and parasol. "For goodness sakes, Ethan! You know better than to take apart your father's toy in the drawing room!"

"Mrs. Ballard, I daresay that your son-in-law's 'toy' has more yet to reveal, such as the whereabouts of Marcus Stanwood," Liam told her.

Ethan bit his lip again. "I have a feeling that these photographs were taken in rapid succession. How are we to view them in rapid succession as well? Unless, that's what these are for..." Ethan pointed to the cogs that the ribbon wound itself around.

"Let the Sam-thing show you what to do," Liam suggested.

Ethan nodded and quickly wrapped the ribbon back around the cogs. Then, he closed up Sam's back casing. "Sam, show me the photographs you took of Father."

Sam's mechanical chest opened and a beam of light shone out. The pictures projected onto the clear glass doors of Sophia's curio cabinet. Ethan hissed, "No good! Wait, I've got it!" He shut the drapes behind the sofa so that the parlor turned dark. "Alright, Sam, project the pictures onto the drapes."

And in silence, the three of them watched a colorless image of Marcus. It looked like he was seated on the Underground, and Sam must have been positioned across from him. He did not speak. Instead, he turned notebook pages filled with large bold letters, holding each one up only long enough for Ethan to read them, then flashing the next one.

"My dear son Ethan," his signs began. "Please forgive me. I tried to stop your uncle. But he is seized with madness. He wishes to use my helicopter design. To drop explosives upon London and other targets in the future. He speaks of making the world a better place. But he cannot use violence to achieve his ends. He has another inventor helping him. He was one of my professors at Cambridge. He is even madder than my brother. He has melded mechanical parts onto humans. He is no doubt sending one of those 'Superior Soldiers' after me at this moment. I can only try to lead him away from you."

"Sweet Jesus," Liam muttered.

Marcus continued his story with the pages. "I am sending SAM to you. He will serve you now as he has served me since I built him. He has information and abilities that can help you. I am sending him to find Liam Huntington. Liam, now I must take you up on your offer. Please protect my son. Sophia, I can only hope that Ethan has learned some of the things you wanted to teach him. I am sorry I scoffed at it so much before. Jane once said something about bells and magic. Try to teach Ethan about it, if you can."

Ethan swallowed air and found his eyes getting blurry. He blinked quickly so he could read the rest. "Ethan, I am ashamed beyond anything I've ever felt at my failure to keep you safe. To involve you in this terrible trouble. Now, you must take THE ROAD OF MARTYRS. You must destroy this film after viewing it. If it is ever found, I fear it will be used against you if I fail to stop Malcolm. You must take the prototype out of the shed. Pack it up and LEAVE LONDON. Take the movement before you go. DO NOT GO TO YOUR UNCLE! DO NOT EVEN SPEAK TO HIM! I will be leaving clues to my whereabouts so that we may eventually reunite. Above all, my beloved son, DO NOT DIE! It is not important if I perish. IF YOU DIE ALL WILL BE LOST!!"

The film ran out. Ethan realized that his vision from the Dark Mirror had been completely accurate! He was bewildered by how his father came to blows with his dear twin brother over this madness.