The Tale of Amaretto

Nineteenth Grain

In Which a Frantic Ride is Take and a Discussion Is Had...

Alice looked at Amaretto and a small smile crossed her lips. "We are currently headed towards Piccadilly Quarter. Chances are there aren't that many IronMen around there, so we won't have to worry that much. Another thing is that we have a safe house there."

Amaretto looked at Alice with a quirk in her eyebrow. "Did you just say a safe house?"

Alice continued to smile. "A girl has to have some secrets about her. If not, then what good is she at running a household?"

Amaretto felt the pit of her stomach lurch for a minute and then thought about it. Much to her chagrin, she kept quiet about Alice's remark about secrets. In her eyes, it had nothing to do with running a household and Amaretto was sure of it. Amaretto looked at her aunt who merely smiled and looked heavenward as she took another sip from her flask. Amaretto stared at her aunt for a moment and then said, "Is that flask like your bag?"

Katherine finished her sip and turned a bemused look back at Amaretto. "Pardon me?"

"You know," said Amaretto before she lowered her voice, "A bottomless void."

Katherine looked at her god-daughter and then smiled and gave Amaretto a wink. "You know, sometimes I wish it was." That said, she turned to look out of the window once more and watch at the passing scenery.

Amaretto decided to watch the scenery as well and was not at all impressed by what she saw. There was a distinct lack of what she liked to even call scenery in the first place, but she was not one to generally complain. Tall brick buildings stood side by side in row after unimpressive row of bland architecture. Occasionally they passed sprawling manses and beautiful statuary, only to have it swallowed again by the depressive row houses and buildings. People walked along the street minding their own business and other carriages barreled by at their own paces and speeds. She knew that if she didn't look away, there was a high chance that they were not going to get anywhere.

Katherine suddenly spoke in a rather bored voice, "Piccadilly, isn't that near Westminster?"

Alice nodded her head. "Of course, it is, but then again where did you think we were going?"

Katherine continued to look out the window and then said, "It appears that that road is currently closed at this moment in time."

Alice looked at Katherine rather sourly. "How on earth can they close a ward? London hasn't closed wards down in the city since the plague swept through." Almost as if the question from her mouth were the cause, the lorry halted in an abrupt stop. Alice and Johanna all tumbled forward in a heap on top of Amaretto and Katherine. There was nothing that they could do about the fact that they were being tossed around like a sack of potatoes. Amaretto shrieked at Alice hurtled towards her at the speed of gravity.

Alice tried to grab at her hat with very much success and then looked around furiously. She pounded on the top of the cab and then said, "What on earth man! Why did you stop so abruptly?"

At this they heard the voice of the cab driver from up above. "Sorry ma'am, but it appears as if the road is closed."

Alice blinked in confusion which then gave away to anger. "What are you talking about?" She sputtered as Johanna peered out of the window to get a better look.

"It appears he is right," said Johanna emotionless pulling her head back into the carriage. "There is a rather large contingent of IronMen in the middle of the street and they have closed off the entrance to Piccadilly."

Alice's mouth fell open and she looked at Katherine. "How on earth did you know?" Her voice was filled with incredulity.

Katherine looked back and then said, "They had placed a sign in the road. It was in such an out of the way place, I know that the driver missed it, so I mentioned it."