“Keep it,” Winston said. “Just don’t tell anyone where you got it. I’d get in a lot of trouble.” If I’m not already . . .
“Thanks,” Jayla beamed, and Winston smiled back.
The Mackenzies left All the Time in the World Temporal Travel Company with a promise they would surely come again. They pulled up their hoods, despite already being drenched in seawater, and filed out into the rain, the smallest among them clutching a two-thousand-year-old arrow to her chest as if it were a teddy bear. Winston watched them go until they disappeared into their car, then locked the door and let out a very long, exhausted sigh.
Maybe teaching wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Alyssa Eckles
Alyssa Eckles writes funny birthday cards for American Greetings, and speculative fiction in her spare time. Her work has appeared in DreamForge, Shoreline of Infinity, and several anthologies. When she’s not writing, Alyssa likes running, grabbing a bowl of pho, or planning elaborate vacations she'll never take. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio with too many books and her cats, Libel and Poe.
Website: www.alyssaeckles.com
Twitter: @alyssaeckles
Emaiclass="underline" Alyssa.eckles@gmail.com
FAIRY LIGHTS
by Laurie Lucking
10,000 Words
I WIPED BEADS of sweat from my brow with my handkerchief. Bringing the oddly thick square of material closer to my eyes, I squinted at it. Only a narrow shaft of daylight reached me where I lay sprawled on a flat board propped up by casters underneath the carriage. Oilcloth, not handkerchief. Nicely done, Rae. My sigh turned into a giggle as I returned the cloth to my back pocket. Where’s the harm in one more smudge?
Angling my screwdriver back into place, I removed the last screw holding the water tank on. I grunted as its full weight collided against my chest. Still plenty of water, and its connection to the heating element was fastened. Why wouldn’t the engine start? I gave the valve a tug. Stuck. Wincing, I rummaged through my tool basket for my tube of lubricating grease. Always look for the most obvious explanation first. How Daddy would have laughed at me for such a novice mistake.
If only he were here to help me.
Clenching my jaw, I unscrewed the cap from the tube and squeezed a drop of grease onto the edge of the valve. After massaging it in, I jiggled the valve again. Much better. I replaced the grease and gripped my screwdriver, holding the water tank in place until each attachment was secure.
Time to attempt another trial run.
The midday sun made me blink as I scooted out from beneath the carriage. I gathered all my tools into my basket and placed it on the front stoop. Please let this work. I vaulted into the coachman’s seat and pushed the dark hair escaping from my ponytail behind my ears. With a deep inhale, I yanked the lever into the on position and hovered my foot over the pedal. If the stuck valve was the only problem, the heating element should be warming the water, then—The carriage let out a sputter and jerked forward. My jubilant laugh echoed down the cobblestone street.
It worked. It actually worked! Mother, Dianthe, and Herra would be the only ones in a steam-powered carriage on their way to the ball tonight. What a grand entrance they would make. And how many more townsfolk would start taking me seriously as a mechanic. Maybe enough that I could finally open my own shop.
After a quick jaunt around the nearest cluster of houses, I drove the carriage back into our large barn. The three different speed settings worked, as did the brakes and steering. I would help Dagen, our coachman, drive it to the palace, then wander the gardens until my stepmother and stepsisters had enough of the stuffy ballroom and throngs of people. I heaved the barn door closed and secured the latch.
They’d be home soon, and I wanted to save my success as a surprise for the ball.
“Do try to hurry, Dianthe!” Mother called from the foot of the winding staircase, her fingernails clicking on the black steel railing. She paced back to where Herra and I lounged in the sitting room. “Her poor maid never knows what to do with those curls.”
Herra poked at the mass of braids and curls adorning her own head. “Oh, Raella, how can you bear to miss the ball? The palace will be spectacular, and to lose the chance to dance with Prince Hendrick . . .”
Surrounded by people, not knowing how to act or what to say. Just another opportunity to be an embarrassment to Mother . “I confess I would enjoy a look at the inner workings of the palace, but ideally under quieter circumstances.”
Mother coughed. “I wouldn’t count on a private audience any time soon, Raella.”
The clock on the mantel chimed, the central gear rotating a set of six smaller gears until they formed an image of a seven-pointed star. My favorite of my father’s creations.
Mother tapped her accordioned fan on the back of my chair. “Ah, here’s your sister.”
Dianthe strutted down the stairs, her wild blond curls tamed into an elaborate braid interspersed with an occasional fabric rose. A black jacket with puffed sleeves was draped over her scarlet corseted bodice and ruffled skirt.
Herra squealed and jumped up from the settee. “What a pair we’ll be! Prince Hendrick is bound to notice.” Her ensemble was formed in a similar style, but her dress was silver, her jacket a deep blue with buttons down to her elbows.
“Indeed.” Mother strode forward. “But I’m afraid that entrance will be late unless we get going.”
I rubbed my sweaty palms against my cropped pants. Time for the big reveal. “Of course. The carriage is all ready for you out front.” The moment they’d sequestered themselves to get ready for the ball, I’d given Dagen a quick lesson, then driven the carriage out just beyond the porch and polished off the layers of dust.
I led the way out the door, pressing my lips together to hide my grin.
“But where’s the horse?” Mother placed her hands on her hips. “Dagen, what is the meaning of this?”
He winked at me from his perch on the driver’s seat. “It seems we don’t need Dolly anymore.” The top of his balding head almost disappeared beneath the layer of fringe dangling from the front canopy.
Mother huffed. “Of all the idiotic—”
“It’s true.” I rushed ahead of them to Dagen’s side. “You asked me to fix the carriage, and I added . . . well, an enhancement. The carriage drives itself now.” My grin finally escaped my attempts to subdue it. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“And a surprise it is. Quite an accomplishment, Raella.” Mother’s expression was more sour than ever.
“You mean it has an engine?” Dianthe squinted into the dim light cast by the nearest streetlamp.
“Yes, precisely. Once I pull this lever, the heating element will—”
“But think of all that horrid steam.” Dianthe wrinkled her nose. “Mother, we cannot attend the ball in such a contraption. No one will want to come within miles of us.”
“Perhaps they’ll think it’s interesting.” Herra gave me a half smile.
“It will be the only one, at least for this ball.” I placed my hand on the twisted metal of the tall front wheel. “But after everyone’s seen it, by the next event I’m sure dozens will—”