The Headline
The Headline
A domed city split by four rivers, an island at its
center. In the southeast quadrant, a white mansion stood on 192nd
street in a heavy downpour. On the second story, a folded newspaper
lay atop a tea-table.
I sat at the tea-table gazing at the curtain
of water formed by the rain as it passed over the eaves. Thunder
cracked, whip-like, as lightning flashed. Black clouds hung in the
early morning sky.
Seven days ago, the gentleman investigator
Blaze Rainbow and I rescued twelve-year-old David Bryce from his
kidnappers. Could I ever forget the sound of blood dripping, the
gore splattered on white walls, the screams and moans of dying
men?
This past week in my sickbed, I had ample
time to consider this matter. The men I killed had friends,
families, people who loved them. Could I have found another way to
escape that basement and avoid whatever horrors Frank Pagliacci and
Jack Diamond planned for us?
A coughing fit struck, and when it passed, I
drew my robe around me, exhausted. I had been ill ever since I was
caught in the storm after delivering little David to his mother.
Between sickness and my more womanly troubles of a monthly nature,
the past week had been miserable. I lit a cigarette, gulped down
honey-lemon tea, and unfolded the newspaper, hoping to find
something more pleasant. Then I saw the headline:
Alcatraz Coup 100th Anniversary Celebration
Planned
Clubbs Host Zeppelin Station Spectacular
Back home in the Pot, March 1st was a day of
mourning. Here, they celebrated.
The Pot was once the most beautiful part of
the city of Bridges. A hundred years ago, Xavier Alcatraz betrayed
his king, Polansky Kerr. With the help of the first Acevedo
Spadros, he slaughtered my people. Today the Pot lay in ruins, its
inhabitants despised. The idea of celebrating their treachery
almost made me throw the paper away.
But then I discovered this article:
'Miracle Gem' Health Benefits
A Breakthrough in Modern Medicine
The esteemed physician Dr. Overs Gocow of London
presented a report at the Royal Academy of Science General
Conference Tuesday with the results of his research into the spinel
gemstone. According to his studies, this jewel provides benefit in
various illnesses and a general health improvement to those without
malady.
Dr. Gocow produced a document specifying illnesses
treated with each gem color, with recipes for various tonics and
elixirs. His document was received with acclaim from the physicians
at the conference, who were interested in conducting their own
research on the subject.
Spinel is a naturally appearing gem, dug from the
earth near the tonic spring near Agree, at the outpost located in
Old Montana. It is thought that the gem's proximity to the tonic
spring may contribute to its beneficial properties.
Being ill myself (and weary of it), I found
this article fascinating. If I obtained a gem, perhaps I might
avoid illness in the future. Where might I purchase one? I searched
for more about these gems, and found this article in the financial
section:
Gemstone Merchants Posting Record Sales
Trade in the so-called 'miracle' gemstone spinel has
been brisk over the past two weeks, with the price of the gems
going up weekly. The Bridges Daily editor, Mr. Acol Durak,
interviewed the noted Market Center financier Tenace Mitchell: AD: What are the future prospects for spinel
sales?
TM: This is the best investment in decades.
AD: How did you come to this conclusion?
TM: Any time you have a new product combined with a
scientific breakthrough, the opportunity for profit is good. In
this case, where the product brings clear health benefits, the
price can only go up.
We in Bridges are fortunate to have leading
gemologist Dame Anastasia Louis with us. She obtained license to
produce the tonics and elixirs according to Dr. Gocow's
specifications to be shipped for sale to the rest of the
country.
AD: So this discovery will bring jobs and commerce
to Bridges as well.
Could this be true? I didn't recall the name
Tenace Mitchell, but I had no knowledge of finance. I searched the
paper further. In the classifieds, a large advertisement read: Louis Gemstones And Fine Jewelry
Cut, Polished, And Set By
"The Queen of Diamonds"
Dame Anastasia Louis, Expert Gemologist
Featuring "The Miracle Gem"
15116 Snow, Spadros
This sounded terribly exciting. Dame
Anastasia had been one of my informants for years. Not only that,
she lived on our very street. Why had she not once told me of
it?
My lady's maid Amelia Dewey came in. Amelia
was short, middle-aged, and plump, with brown eyes and graying
black hair. "Ready for me to draw your bath, mum?"
Being a "grand lady" (as Amelia put it once)
was mostly a matter of routine. Wake, tea, newspaper, toast, bath,
hair, dress, prayers, breakfast, morning meeting, and so on.
Running a home with several dozen servants and supporting my
husband in the Business was close to a full time job. Today,
though, my husband Tony made it clear my only duty was to make
myself presentable for luncheon today. Joseph and Josephine Kerr
were invited, and their visit needed to go well.
The Kerrs and I had once been the closest of
friends. And my relationship with Joe had become so much more. But
time seemed to have put distance between us, at least for their
part. At our last meeting I was drunk, and behaved rudely. This
luncheon was our attempt to learn how much damage had been done,
and if possible, to make amends before the Queen's Day dinner.
I stood. "Yes, I'm ready." I felt I had
already survived the worst I might ever face. No matter what
happened, I knew I could handle it.
I was a fool.