The Ace Of Clubs

The Departure

The DepartureMy gaze flickered to Morton. Should Tony have said that in front of him? We still didn’t know where his loyalties lay.

The day Gardena asked for help with her blackmailer, she told me: Cesare says the Clubbs are the most dangerous Family in the city, much too dangerous to ally with.

Gardena’s oldest brother was a disagreeable fellow, yet possessed keen insight. What did we know about the Clubbs?

Footsteps headed our way. Inventor Maxim Call, a brown, wiry old man with piercing blue eyes, strode out wearing a dusty tweed jacket, several white-clad Apprentices in his wake.

We immediately rose; the men bowed.

I curtsied low. “Would you like tea, sir?”

Maxim Call considered the matter. “A cup would do.” He turned to his Apprentices. “Wait with the carriages.” He sat between Tony and Morton, across from me.

I poured his cup, then returned to my seat.

“To what do we owe the honor of your visit, sir?” Tony said.

Inventor Call blew on his tea, then took a sip. “My work's done here. There’s nothing more we can do for your Magma Steam Generator. We've searched thoroughly — the controls to it must be in another piling. We’ve located a piling in Spadros quadrant and are moving to investigate.”

Tony’s mouth hung open. “You’re leaving?”

“Some of my Apprentices will stay in the workshop. I’ll have the man in charge introduce himself. But,” he wagged a finger, “they’ll only stay until their work’s completed. I left instructions with your butler as to where we’ll be and what we’ll need.”

Tony paused for a long moment. “There’s something you should be aware of.”

The Inventor was in the midst of drinking. “Oh?”

“A group called the Red Dogs has attacked several Families, ranging from theft to violence. I’ve even been assaulted.” Tony hesitated. “I can’t guarantee your safety should you leave.”

“No one would dare attack us!” He chuckled, patting Tony’s arm. “I appreciate your concern, dear boy. But I don’t order my affairs according to the whims of ruffians. Neither should you.” He drained his cup then rose, as did we all. “Good day.”

With that, he turned back inside.

“Wait,” Tony said. “What about my mechanical computer?”

Inventor Call stopped in the middle of the dining room, then spoke to Tony as if he were a child. “It’s a fine idea. Yet how would you operate it without power?” He shook his head. “Finding the controls to the Generators takes precedence over everything. I have a man working on your gadget. But my job lies elsewhere.” He rounded the corner and was gone.

Tony sat heavily, shock on his face. “Maxim Call has been in Spadros Manor since I was a boy.”

Morton said, “What’s wrong with your Steam Generator?”

Tony and I exchanged a glance. If Maxim Call knew about this, the other Inventors did too. But if the public learned Bridges neared standstill because we couldn’t fix our own Generators, then the Feds might seize the city, claiming mismanagement.

I didn’t know how much Morton knew. Obviously, Tony had such a binding deal with Morton that he trusted him, even though Morton refused to reveal what happened the day of the explosion. Tony had beaten our old Dr. Salmon — who’d been in the Family for generations — for a similar offense.

“He claims it needs repair,” Tony said. “But he’s got the situation under control.”

“That’s good to hear,” Morton said. “An entirely mechanical city such as this — without power — would be unlivable.”

I pictured the rivers stagnant, the streetlights dark, the trains silent, the Aperture unable to open, and I shuddered.