Chapter Twenty-Five

“Torquilstone”

1.

The wall panel in Professor Wren’s lab slid aside, revealing a room beyond. Harsh light poured from it, and there was a strange buzzing feeling in Nathanial’s ears.

“My God, Stone, you were right,” Fullbright said. “A secret room! I would have never guessed, not in my wildest imaginings.”

“Something in my conversation with Dolan made me think of it,” Nathanial replied. “Jasperse had said, when we came here the first time, that the room seemed smaller than he would have imagined. I did not think of it then, but he was right. So, I checked the plans just before I told you about it, and the answer was there. The laboratory is smaller by half, than it is listed on the blueprints. I cannot say with certainty, but I would wager that if you measured the other rooms on this block, they, too, are of a different measurement than the ones shown here.”

“Damned sly, if you ask me.”

“Yes, it also means a different set of blueprints were provided to van den Bosch, allowing the ruse to continue.”

“But toward what ends?”

Nathanial held out a hand, indicating they should enter. “That’s what we’re here to see.”

They pushed on into the room, and there they came under the awesome presence of Torquilstone, the real Torquilstone, not the one that lay in ruins back in Professor Wren’s lab. Here was what Le Boeuf had come to Peregrine Station to build, in the privacy of his lab, and here he could run his experiments without fear of van den Bosch’s involvement, courtesy of a cleverly edited blueprint.

Fullbright’s mouth hanged open as he circled Torquilstone’s base, his eyes never leaving the swirling mass of dark held in check within its magnetic field. Nathanial, knowing what they were likely to find, held his spot, nodding with approval.

“What the hell?” Fullbright asked.

“It’s an aether machine,” Nathanial replied, and briefly explained its construction. Fullbright, an excellent engineer in his own right, was quick to understand. If anything, understanding Torquilstone increased his awe.

“Do you have any idea the implications of such a machine, Stone?”

Nathanial grinned. “Of course. Or rather, I can grasp only a handful of possibilities, but really, it has limitless applications. It’s a self-perpetuating energy source. That alone is enough for me to be struck dumb.”

“So, this is what van den Bosch was hiding?” Fullbright asked.

“I can only assume; the doctor isn’t telling, after all. He must have known if Le Boeuf was here, he wasn’t going to allow his machine to be so openly on display. Thus the smaller machine in Professor Wren’s laboratory. Since he could not find the machine himself, van den Bosch decided to sabotage the stabilisers to draw Le Boeuf out of hiding, believing the man would never allow this station or Torquilstone―his twin masterpieces―to be destroyed.”

Fullbright grunted. “It would appear this Le Boeuf called the Juggernaut’s bluff. Listen, Stone, I don’t mean to belabour the point, but we must find a solution to our stabilisers soon. We mustn’t allow this to be destroyed. It’s far too important.”

“Agreed.”

“I can’t wait to show Provost.”

“I would advise against it,” Nathanial said. “This machine is a secret worth killing over, Fullbright. Van den Bosch murdered Professor Wren. Le Boeuf has proven himself a casual killer, as well. The manner in which he dispatched the bomber proves forethought and intent, unless he’s the sort of fellow who travels around with a poisoned needle on his person. It was as though he was killing the bomber before we had a chance to apprehend him. Now, why is that?”

Fullbright became nervous, and turned away from the machine, glancing all around him. “Should we be here?” he asked. “What if he’s about somewhere, watching us?”

“He might be, at that,” Nathanial said. “But he won’t. For whatever reason, he can’t repair the stabilisers. He needs me to do that. You’re as safe with me right now as you will ever be.”

“I’ve got to get the heliograph in working order. We’ve got to flash word to Earth.”

“That seems a prudent move. Whatever the case, they should know of what is transpiring here. How long will that take?”

“Assuming you get the stabilisers back in order?”

“Of course.”

“A week perhaps.”

Nathanial furrowed his brow. “Why so long?”

“Hague, damn his eyes. Five of the men who found themselves on the end of his little massacre were my heliograph operatives. I’ve only got two left.”

“Can anyone be trained to assist?”

“Possibly. I don’t know.”

Nathanial clapped his hands together. “Right, then. I suppose I should get back to work, then.”

“What will you do now?”

“I’ll think of something, Fullbright. When I do, I’ll let you know.”