The San Francisco Trilogy

Disguised:

Disguised:

What started out as an exercise to take Helena’s mind off her stepfather’s failure to return after the fighting had acquired a mind of its own. Lane worked hard to keep up the pace, fighting to reach home before dark, but it was impossible, given the road conditions and the distance.

With two of Sigmund’s glasses of brandy inside her, Helena slept for a good portion of the way. His goal was to help steady her nerve, not to knock her out, but since she had never tasted brandy, it hit her hard. In the fading light, Helen clutched the locket that held Missy’s picture.

Somewhere between cities, Lane needed to stop and refuel. Helena woke, surrounded by the tallest trees she had ever seen. The waxing gibbous moon high in the sky gave sufficient light to view the road that cut through the trees. However, Lane topped off the oil lamps to help illuminate their path.

“Where are we?” she asked.

Lane said, “About halfway home.”

“What is that?” Helena pointed off into the woods at four flickering lights the size of torches or lanterns dancing in the distance.

“Where?” Sigmund asked as Lane sped up his fueling.

“Right over there.” Again, Helena pointed off into the woods toward the ocean.

“Lane, I think the time has come for us to leave,” Sigmund said.

“Way ahead of you. I’m almost finished.” Lane did a final check of the lids before dropping the kerosene can in the backseat with the two passengers.

“Hey, watch my feet. Will somebody please tell me what’s going on? Those lights might be somebody needing help.”

Lane had the car moving down the dark road at an unsafe speed, but the hazards on the road didn’t scare him as much as the hazards in the woods.

Once clear, Sigmund took his hand off his pistol and tried to explain. “The world is not how many people believe it is. Most believe humans are the most dominant creatures on the earth. Some things feed off humans. I’m not sure what those lights were, but better not to find out the hard way.”

“What do you mean feed?”

“Like how you feed off T-bones,” Lane joked over his shoulder not taking his eyes off the road.

“Like monsters? What did you think those were?”

“More like things we don’t understand. In England, we called them will-o’-the-wisp. I don’t know what they are. I was taught not to follow them. People become lost in the woods, and people end up dead.”

“Those were fairies,” Lane again over his shoulder. “Mean bastards will steal everything worth anything off your body—even the gold out of your teeth.”

“How did the two of ever learn about these things?” Helena asked.

“I learned about them from my grandma. She grew up in the swamps outside of Houston. She had all kinds of stories,” he said.

Sigmund said, “I had to read books. Most students in London must learn about the magical creatures from books. We never got to witness them,” he said as he scanned the night sky. “I’m glad the moon is not full.”

Not knowing what he meant by that, Helena suddenly became happy it wasn’t a full moon as well.

“It will be too late to continue when we reach home.” Helena made a statement, not a suggestion.

“Bessie needs a good rest and to cool off. A bath wouldn’t hurt her, either.”

“I agree. Any plans for our course of action tomorrow?” Sigmund asked.

“Are we going to continue?” Helena asked.

“I don’t see why not. We haven’t found the young woman yet, have we?”

“Let me sleep on it then. Right now, it might be the brandy, but I think I need more sleep before I make that decision. I’m learning rash decisions can be very deadly.”

“I wish more people would learn that,” Sigmund replied.

“Amen!” came from the front seat.

Rest of the trip transpired without event. They made it to the estate before midnight. Bessie’s boiler was glowing red from Lane pushing the car to its upper limits. Sigmund was prepared to carry an unconscious Helena to her bedroom, but he found her awake as soon as the car came to a stop.

Ready for bed, but Helena realized she needed to take care of a few things, or at least, get a few things started before she went to bed. She appeared more than a little shocked when she opened her door to the bedroom and found Wai Han kneeling at the foot of her bed, waiting for her return.

Surprised at the sight, Helena said, “Wai Han, what are you doing? You should be asleep.”

“Miss Gertie and I waited.” Wai Han motioned to the sleeping Gertie on the fainting sofa. “She sleep.”

“You should be asleep too.”

“I must thank you again for saving me. How I can repay you?”

“Oh. honey, right now. I’m just exhausted. Aren’t you tired?”

A little embarrassed, “Night my work time. Get nightmares when I sleep.”

“Then I do need something. Do you think you can ask the men of the house to see if you can find some men’s clothes that will fit me?”

“I will do my best, mistress.”

“Please, call me Helena.” She turned and started taking off her road worn riding clothes. “I’ll bathe in the morning.”

June in San Francisco can be warm enough to sleep on top of the covers. She made it down to her three-quarter union suit before she flopped on the bed and fell asleep.

She woke up as soon as the sun filtered through the gossamer sheers hanging over her window. As she opened her eyes, she knew it was too early, the house still quiet. At the foot of her bed knelt Wai Han with a small paper package wrapped with string in front of her.

“Wai Han, did you stay up all night long?” Helena asked.

“You asked me to find clothing. When I couldn’t find your size, I borrowed from gardener and fixed for you. Then I washed. When I come back up, you asleep. I been waiting to make sure clothes would fit,” Wai Han said.

“My word, I’m sure they will be fine. Now, this is an order, and I want you to follow it. I want you to lie down on my bed, and I want you to fall asleep, and I don’t want you to get up until you’re no longer sleepy. I don’t want you to argue with me about how it’s not proper. I’m going to clean up and wear your clothes. Before you complain, I’m sure they will fit wonderfully.”

Wai Han did as directed, removing her uniform before climbing into bed. Helena went over and grabbed her comforter and tucked her in. “Now go to sleep.”

“Gertie, I don’t want you to help me get ready for today. I want you to stay up here and take the day off. You and Wai Han can both sleep in my bed and relax. I will let the house know that you’re both up here and not to be disturbed.”

Gertie struggled out of the sofa when Helena called her name. “Yes, miss,” she answered right away.

“And the same goes for you. From now on, I want you to call me Helena.”

In a strange turn of events, Gertie still had to help Helena dress for the day since she didn’t know where her things were stored. Gertie had taken care of her for so long, Helena became slightly ashamed of herself for being so helpless.

Before she headed downstairs, she grabbed The Professor’s goggle gift. Every good detective needed a magnifying glass.

“Miss Helena?” Helena stopped in her tracks as a weak voice peeped out from under the covers pulled up just under her eyes.

“Yes, Wai Han?”

“If you go downtown, please let Miss Tsang Mei Yan at girl’s school know I all right? In alley near Montgomery and Jackson.”

“If I am in the area, I will try to find it and let her know you are all right.”

“Thank you, Miss... Helena.”

Dressed as a man, looking more like a teenager, a young teenager, Helen ran down the back-servant stairs. She hadn’t been on this staircase in her own home for at least ten years, “When did I change?” she asked herself as she opened the back door to the kitchen. Inside, she saw all the estate’s help getting ready for the day.

“Hey, you scalawag, how did you get down those stairs?” the rotund cook called at Helena, pointing with a chef’s knife.

“Miss Andrea, it’s me, Helena. Did you forget me so soon?” The heavyset black woman did a double take as she looked at the much-changed Helena before she rushed toward her, locking her in a most inappropriate embrace, nearly smothering her in her gigantic bosom.

“Child, I haven’t seen you forever. My, you have changed. Sit down let me get some food in your stomach. You need to put on some weight.”

Miss Andrea did her best to pick Helena up and sit her down with the other workers at the servant’s table, but in the end, Helena got herself there without breaking any pottery, dishes, or glasses.

“Why you dressed like a boy?” Miss Andrea asked.

“I’m going looking for someone, and I don’t think a young lady would find it easy to move on the scene like a man,” Helen looked down at herself for a moment before continuing, “or a boy.”

“Well, your get-up is really good at first glance, but you’re missing two things.”

Helena did a quick check of her costume, and she thought it looked near perfect. “I don’t see what I could’ve missed.”

“You’ve never been around boys much, have you?” she took two of her sausage size fingers and rubbed them on the side of the black, oily cast-iron skillet. She then walked over and smeared the black and grease on Helena’s nose and right cheek, “You don’t wash that off. Just rub it in like it’s been there for a couple of days. The other thing is you need to do something to hide these.” Miss Andrea reached down and grabbed both of Helena’s orange size breasts, giving them a little shake for emphasis. “Boys don’t have a bosom, but I think I got something that can help. Let me finish cooking your breakfast, and I’ll give a look and see what I can find.”

Helena sat and had the most fun she could remember having in a very long time. Lane and Sigmund were fun enough to be around, but they always tried to be so proper. She couldn’t remember half of the staff’s names, but she vowed during breakfast that needed to change. She didn’t notice Miss Andrea leaving the kitchen. She was having so much fun.

That is until she came back in with a long thin cloth. “You come back here in my room, and I’ll help you hide them things so no one will ever find them.”

Helena finished eating and jumped up to follow Miss Andrea into the back room.

“Take your shirt off. Now, this is called binding. Slave women used to do this back before the war so they wouldn’t look so appealing to their masters. Back then, you had to be careful dropping something, or someone might try to take you from behind.” Miss Andrea made quick work of wrapping the cloth around Helena’s chest, hiding her breasts from view.

“Has it always been so bad to be a woman?”

Miss Andrea had to think for a moment before answering the question. “Honey, it’s not all bad. It’s just the way it is. When you don’t have rights, and men can do pretty much what they want to do… I think that’s just the way it’s always been, but it’s different for you. You're white and has money. You only need to be afraid if you’re caught alone, and you can’t defend yourself.”

“Are all men such monsters?”

“No, not all men. Just most of them. Now put your shirt back on. Don’t want any of those fellas out there to get the wrong idea.”

Breakfast finished and breasts bound, and it was still too early to expect Lane and Sigmund to be down. Besides, if they went to the city now, nothing would be open. Better to go exploring her own property. She knew exactly what she wanted to go check out—the stables.

She knew all the horses well. When it was warm, she would go riding at least once a week, often as many as four times a week. She loved to ride, and especially loved to jump, but she had to be out of view of the house before she jumped anything.

This morning, she had another goal in mind. On the long drive yesterday, she became fascinated by the way Lane not only drove the automobile but the way he kept Bessie running for such an extended period of time. Many people thought Lane was a little slow in the head, but she realized yesterday that he had an exceptional talent that many people would never be able to master. He had a natural gift for mechanical creations. Helena wouldn’t be surprised if he could operate many contraptions with limited or no instruction. Helena had always been intrigued by the inner workings of mechanical devices, but she had none of the gifts she felt Lane had.

She opened the door to Bessie’s double stable. The morning sunlight glistened off the clean car. Lane must’ve stayed up last night and washed the car after we went to bed. I wonder how much work goes on around me while I sleep my life away? The revelations thrust upon her yesterday had changed her. She could feel the way she thought about many things in life was evolving. She walked along the side of the vehicle, letting her fingertips softly caress the mahogany that formed the frame. The Professor not only made terrific mechanical instruments, but he also made them beautiful. Near the rear the vehicle, she examined the now empty shelf that Lane had stored the food and kerosene. She inspected how it worked and thought about how it might be improved, standing at the back of the car and thinking how amazing this apparatus honestly was. She looked up, and there stood Lane, spanner in hand, ready to do some damage.

“Step away from the vehicle, and no one needs to get hurt,” Lane growled at the front of the vehicle.

“Lane, it’s me, Helena.” She stood still.

Taking a step back, not letting his guard down, he spoke again, “Step into the light so I can get a better look at you. No sudden moves or I’ll hit you a good one.”

“Are you always so grumpy first thing in the morning?” Both her hands raised, she walked deliberately out into the morning sunlight.

“I’ll be damned. That is a good disguise. I’m not even sure I would recognize you in the sunlight if you didn’t speak. Now you need to think of some way to disguise your voice. Make it deeper.”

“Like this?” Helena tried to mask her voice, making it sound more of a tenor from her natural alto, but she sounded more like a female impersonator than a female impersonator.

“We’ll need to work on that, or you could always play deaf and dumb.” Lane chuckled at his joke.

“And you don’t have to play dumb.” Helena took a swing at Lane’s mid-drift and caught him in the stomach by surprise. She blinked, surprised Lane’s stomach felt like a rock even when he wasn’t ready. She had to shake out her wrist after the punch.

“If you want to learn how to fistfight, I can teach you, but right now, we need to head back up to the house. Sigmund’s looking for you.” Lane turned and started walking to the main house.

“I know what we need to do today. We will need Bessie. Thanks for staying up last night to get her ready.”

“Machines are just like animals. They need to be taken care of. I was raised where humans are the last ones to go to sleep. All the animals get taken care of first.”

“Next time you wash Bessie, I want to help. I also want you to teach me how she works.”

“Sure thing.” Lane opened the servants’ door, and they both walked in. “Look what I found looking over Bessie.”

“Miss, please, if you going to go walking around the grounds, let somebody know,” Sigmund said.

“Miss Andrea knew I went to the barn. Did you ask her?”

“No, I did not think to ask in the kitchen. I will not make that mistake again. I apologize. Now, you had time to sleep on your decision. Where would you like to start the search this morning?”

“Yes, there is a Chinese Girls’ School in an alley near Montgomery and Jackson. It is run by Miss Tsang Mei. I think we should start there.”

Sigmund didn’t ask where she got her information, but her idea sounded as good as any he’d had. “Very well. That sounds like an excellent first move. Lane, do you know the area?”

“Course I do. That’s Chinatown.”

Sigmund nodded, “Then I suggest you get Bessie ready. We will leave as soon as we are able if Helena agrees.” Lane did half a salute before he left.

“I think it’s a great idea. The more we investigate I have a growing foreboding that it’s more than merely a missing friend.” Helena stood and watched Lane walk off, a small grin on her face.

“I tend to agree with you. How are you feeling?”

“I was exhausted last night. This morning, I feel energized. Can you tell the other staff to let Gertie and Wai Han rest in my room today? They stayed up late last night helping me prepare for today. When we find a chance, I would like to discuss the staff, their hours, their pay, and how we normally provide for them. I want to learn how the estate is run.”

“Of course, in all respects. I will handle the ladies in your room. Shall I meet you out front?”

“Yes.” Helena began to like the feeling of her new-found independence.

She almost grabbed a parasol as she went out the door, but instead, looked at her dirty face under her flat-cap in the hall mirror. She barely recognized herself. “Wonder what other disguises I can come up with,” she said to herself.

She stepped outside when she heard Bessie coming down the path from the barn. In no time, she had herself in the backseat waiting for Sigmund to join them. It would be a quick trip downtown.

Lane let them out at the corner of Montgomery and Jackson. “Don’t get lost. Let me find parking, and I’ll join you soon.” Then Lane pulled off, leaving the pair in the hustle and bustle of downtown San Francisco on a bright sunny day. Helena beamed as she tried to take in every sight and sound going on around her, the horse traffic alone more than she had ever seen. She never left the estate unless to visit someone else’s house for dinner, a party, or some other get-together. It all amazed her. She missed so much.

They had been on the street less than a minute before the couple became swarmed by a mob of children, all patting their bodies asking for money. Sigmund did his best to shoo the urchins off, but one of them must have found Missy’s locket before he chased them off.

Helena beamed happily. She loved the children. In her mind, they were just a little younger than her and wanted to play. Then one of them screamed. The others ran while Helena turned to find that Sigmund had picked a tiny child up by the scruff of her neck and held her feet off the ground.

“Sigmund, what you doing? Don’t hurt her,” Helena said through her teeth. “People are looking.” People really weren’t looking because that sort of thing happened all the time. The pickpockets would mob an unsuspecting tourist or sailor or anyone who looked fresh off the boat and steal whatever they could. Pick them clean if they weren’t careful.

“Give it back, or I’ll snap your neck like a twig and take it off your dead body,” Sigmund directed toward the little girl. In a much calmer voice, he looked at Helena. “She lifted the locket. If you ever want to find Missy, we will need that locket.”

“Set her down. Let me try. Just keep her from running.” Sigmund did as ordered. The last thing he wanted was to have the police involved.

Helena started talking to the mousy little girl, kneeling so she could be at her level. “Honey, I’m looking for a lost girl, and I need that locket to be able to find her. If you were lost, and somebody came looking for you, wouldn’t you want them to have every chance of success? If you give me the locket, I will give you a dollar. Does that sound like a fair trade?”

The silent little girl shook her head yes and rapidly produced the locket from one of the many folds concealed in her rags that passed as clothing.

Once Helena had the locket firmly in her grip, she turned her back to the street and put it somewhere no one would be able a find it. Turning toward Sigmund, she said, “Give her a dollar.”

He looked ready to complain but shrugged like that would be a battle for later. He produced a shiny silver dollar from a chained coin purse under his coat. The young girl grabbed it, and as soon as Sigmund loosened his grip, she ran off like a shot.

Helena turned, seeing the group of children that had helped to rob her. “Sigmund, those children look hungry. We need to buy them some food.”

Lane came from around the corner and said, “What’d I miss?”

“You have come back in time to go feed those children.” Sigmund pointed to the group Helena had indicated, giving Lane a dollar to handle the cost.

Unknown to the trio, no less than ten pairs of eyes watched the entire episode. Some watched from sewer grates, their actions noted.