Chapter 5Racing around the corner, Ryland saw three men attacking Henry. He flipped his umbrella and depressed one of the buttons. “Adam! Alert! Intruders in the shop. Protect Henry. Use whatever force necessary. This is a direct order.”
The alert had worked as a magnified sound of a police whistle began to ring out. Nearing the shop, Ryland watched as Adam stomped in from the laboratory. The mechanical grabbed the nearest man standing over Henry, and threw him through the window. Then he stood protectively over the older man.
Ryland wasn’t entirely helpless, despite the distance remaining. As a second man raised a wooden cudgel, Ryland flipped his umbrella and depressed a second button. With a whoosh of steam, the umbrella’s steel tip flew out and imbedded itself in the man’s hand.
The
