“The Doom Bell,” Carson declared proudly. “Only to be rung when a new Heterodyne is born, an old Heterodyne dies, or the Heterodyne returns from abroad.”
“So I guess you’ll have to ring it for Agatha when you’re convinced she’s the real deal,” Krosp remarked.
Carson looked startled and then a growing expression of worry crossed his face. “We…we might…” he conceded. “Oh, dear.”
That sounded like a subject that should be explored at a later date. “So what do we do now?” Agatha asked.
Carson snapped out of his musing. “What we do is send you in through the front door.”
“What? But you said—”
The old man waved a hand dismissively. “The trick is to make it seem like you don’t want to go in.”
In the Great Hospital, Gilgamesh was slumped in a chair. He had a slightly sick look upon his face and he was breathing heavily. A small sound jerked his head up and an instant later he was by his father’s side.
He scanned the array of monitoring instruments and nodded in satisfaction even as the Baron’s eyes fluttered slightly and then snapped open. Gil took a deep breath, adjusted his clothing, ran a hand through his perpetually disheveled hair, and stepped into his father’s line of sight. He was surprised at how gratified he was when, at the sight of him, the Baron noticeably relaxed.
“I see you’re awake, Father.”
“…” The Baron opened his mouth but nothing came out. Gil reached over and held a cup of water to the old man’s lips. The Baron sipped and in short order emptied the cup. He slowly ran a tongue over his lips and tried again. “I must be,” he whispered. “Dreams don’t hurt this much.” He closed his eyes. “How long?”
“Two days.”
Klaus absorbed this. “Damage?” he asked.
Gil didn’t need to consult the chart for this. “Seven broken ribs. Severe fracture, right leg. Fractured clavicle. Some crush injury, but the kidneys appear unharmed. First and second degree burns on upper back and lower arms. Third degree on lower back. Four broken fingers, three broken toes. Sprained and bruised muscles throughout, major and minor lacerations, and a concussion.”
Klaus’s mouth twitched. “Hmph. I’ve had worse.” His eyes examined the room before him. “We’re in Mechanicsburg.” Gil nodded. Suddenly Klaus’s eyes sharpened and he twisted his head slightly towards his son. This caused him to grimace. “Balan’s Gap?”
Gil took a deep breath. “Contained.” Klaus opened his mouth but Gil continued. “In addition to the forces already in place, I reinforced them with the 13th Chemical Division, the 2nd Armored Infantry Battalion, and the 117th Interceptors. I placed the Seismic Rangers and Chained-Fire Horsemen on picket, and the Heliolux Airfleet is maintaining communications.” He finished—and waited.
Klaus paused…and closed his mouth. Gil felt the same elation he had experienced when he had passed his first doctorate exam. With great effort, he kept his face blank.
“Lucrez—”, his father rolled his eyes towards him and again licked his lips. “The Heterodyne girl. Is she here?”
Gil nodded. “I believe so, although there is also an imposter.”
Klaus wearily closed his eyes. “Nothing is ever simple where that family is concerned,” he whispered. “Where is she?”
“She has entered the castle. I believe she is part of a larger plot taking advantage of your injuries. She has minions, equipment, up to and including her own airship. This tells me she has powerful backers.”
Klaus frowned. “And she managed to coordinate all this while traveling in a circus across the Wastelands? She’s more dangerous than I’d thought!”
Gil blinked. “Oh, no. Sorry, Father, that’s the imposter. Agatha is still in town. She’s making coffee at a café.”
Klaus stared incredulously at his son and then his great head sank back onto his pillow. “Oh dear,” he muttered. “I am still dreaming. And it hurts.” He sighed. “How unfair.”
Gil rolled his eyes. “Father, about Agatha—”
A hint of the old steel entered the Baron’s voice. “She is the Other.”
Gil spread his hands. “Coffee?”
Klaus rolled his eyes. “The flesh she wears is different, but she is Lucrezia Mongfish! I talked to her! She didn’t even try to deny it! There is no mistake!” Klaus saw the emotions flickering across his son’s face and tried to reason with him. “You must understand. This girl you care for is not what she seems. She was aboard Castle Wulfenbach for what? Less than two weeks? I knew her for years. She’s a consummate actress. Ruthless, manipulative, and convinced that she is destined for greatness.” He closed his eyes, exhausted. “You must believe me,” he whispered.
Gil refilled his father’s cup and helped him to drink. As he did so, he spoke. “Father, I agree that there is a lot to consider. The preliminary reports from the teams inside Sturmhalten Castle are extremely worrying. Rest assured that I am aware that there are serious questions about her and everything that has happened since we found her.”
Klaus and cocked a shaggy eyebrow. “—But?” he whispered.
Gil cleared his throat. “The very trait that allows Sparks to apparently warp the laws of physics seems to affect probability and statistics within their vicinity as well. Every visible action will be open to misinterpretation and their motives can easily be misconstrued.”
Klaus looked startled. Gil leaned in. “Your words, Father, used to explain a rather catastrophic incident in your father’s laboratory when you were eleven, if I remember correctly.”
Klaus glared at his son. “I was lying. I knew the cat was there.”
Gil tried to look shocked.
Klaus’s eyes narrowed. “You are trying to change the subject. Even if she wasn’t the Other, this girl is a Spark and that makes her dangerous enough. You do know that every single woman I have ever known who has possessed the Spark has tried to kill me?”
Gil crossed his arms. “I think that’s just you, Father. How many women that you’ve been involved with without the Spark have tried to kill you?”
An odd look crossed Klaus’s face. “I… I don’t see what that has to do with anything,” he muttered. “This girl—”
Gil made a chopping motion with his hand. “Father, I’m not going to argue about this now. I sent the Jäger to bring her here and then I—we—will examine her. Until then, you should rest.”
Klaus’s eyes widened in surprise. “The Jäger…Vole? Captain Vole? You sent him to fetch your Heterodyne girl?” Gil nodded, and a great weariness filled Klaus’s face as he closed his eyes. “Well, that should solve everything. It’s what I would have done myself.” He took in a deep breath. “I seems I have misjudged you. Well done, son.”
A chill skittered across Gil’s heart. There was something he wasn’t getting here… He leaned in. “Is this another test?”
The Baron twitched and a small pained sound escaped from his mouth. “Please,” he whispered. “Don’t make me laugh.” He took another deep breath. “No,” he announced. “There will be no more tests, my son. The time for such things is over. Now give me your report. What has been done?”
Gil stared at his father for a second—his mind racing—then he straightened up and organized his thoughts. “Castle Wulfenbach is not yet here. I have closed the city gates and established a perimeter. I am reinforcing the garrison. I was trying to do it subtly, with troops rotated out of Balan’s Gap, which has also allowed us to secure the main road. Tourists and non-residents are being urged to leave. No one can enter except for vetted residents. The garrison here was never very large, and the false Heterodyne neutralized the Black Squad when she entered the castle. We’re…still trying to locate them.