14. Jack
FOURTEEN
JACK
Not in Jack’s wildest dreams could he have imagined something like this. The four emissaries to the Queen boarded the machine. To Jack’s surprise, the inside of the carts were spacious, even comfortable.
They boarded the second cart with the help of a small step ladder attached to the side. The section of the machine they entered was directly behind what Jack had imagined was the engine. Inside was a carpeted room that didn’t look much different from the inside of the palace.
“We’ll be underway soon.” Sloan walked to a small table with a map of the Outland spread out on top. “The locomotive will take us as far as it can. We’ll stop right before the tracks run out and take horses from there. With any luck, we’ll be in Burrow Den in a week.”
“A week?” Jack looked toward the rear of the car they boarded, eager to see what was in the next cart. “That fast?”
“We’re not on vacation, Jack. We’ll ride hard.” Sloan noticed his gaze. “Wondering what else is back there?”
Jack turned his large brown eyes to a smiling Sloan and nodded.
“This is the meeting or lounging cart. The one ahead of us is where all the power comes from, the mage engine. The three behind us are sleeping quarters, the lavatory, the supply room, and the kitchen.”
“This thing has a kitchen and a bathroom in it?” Aareth was quietly examining the interior of the machine, but he spoke up at mention of the facilities. “What’s next, a flying ship?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Sloan shrugged. “I mean, the way Edison and Dr. Livingston are headed in the name of magic.”
“Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the doctor. What is he anyway? Your boyfriend?”
“He is not my boyfriend.” Sloan’s fair skin turned red. Her green eyes burned with fire. “And if you ever talk to me like that again, so help me God, I’ll?—”
At that moment, there was a shrill whistle cutting off the rest of Sloan’s threat. The locomotive slowly began to move.
Although Jack couldn’t hear what Sloan said, the chopping motion she made with her hand was clear enough.
Jack took a seat near a window in a thickly cushioned armchair.
He could hear his father, Sloan, and Aareth looking over the map of the Outland.
They were already preparing a plan. As the locomotive gained speed and started forward, all Jack could think about was giving his full attention to the steam-powered machine that would no doubt change history.
At first, the locomotive moved only inches forward; however, as whistles blew and smoke spewed from the dark stacks, the machine gained speed. Within minutes, inches turned into feet and feet turned into yards.
Soon the steam-powered engine was rocketing forward.
How the others weren’t as excited as he was, was beyond Jack.
The locomotive pulled them along at a steady pace, making short work of the tunnel running under the palace.
For a brief second, all was dark as they left the station room under the palace behind them and entered the dark tunnel that led to the city above.
The darkness in the passageway was short-lived.
Within a few seconds, the locomotive broke forward, reaching the surface and entering the very heart of New Hope.
Tracks had already been set up inside the city and barriers guarded both sides of the rails, ensuring pedestrians were nowhere close to the ton of hurtling steel.
Men, women, and children all stopped what they were doing and stared wide-eyed at the beast of a machine.
Children smiled and waved as they ran along the locomotive’s side.
Jack couldn’t help himself as he waved back to the strangers, who seemed so happy to witness man’s latest and greatest invention.
The sun was already high overhead as the locomotive snaked its way through the city and toward the Outland.
Once again, Jack was struck by the immensity of the city and what it had to offer.
He could feel the desire to explore the city build inside him.
He knew he was sadder at leaving than he should be.
Don’t worry, you’ll be back, Jack told himself, and somehow he knew it was the truth.
Tall buildings passed on both sides of the tracks as the locomotive moved forward at a steady pace, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake. Jake tried guessing how fast they were going. He decided that they were traveling at the same pace his horse would at a quick trot.
This, however, was a much more comfortable ride than sitting in a saddle. There was no jerking side to side or bouncing up and down. On the contrary, the engine made for a smooth ride, far surpassing any horse or carriage Jack ever used to travel.
Soon the mage engine was breaking through an entrance in the city’s outer wall. New Hope was behind them. The desert spread out in front of them in all directions, the steady chugging heartbeats of the mage engine caressing the air.
“Hey, Jack.” Jack almost jumped from his chair at the mention of his name. He turned from his seat and saw Aareth looking down at him. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Want to go get our presents Edison left us? They’re in the last cart in the back.”
Jack smiled at the thought of getting his hands on the metal staff again, then hesitated at who he was going with. If his father was correct, and he usually was, Aareth was a dangerous man.
“I’ll go with you two.” Sloan stood up from a seat she had taken behind Jack. “I think Edison said there was something for me as well.”
Jack, Aareth, and Sloan made their way past a lounging Marcus, who thanked them for the offer to tag along but reassured them he was very comfortable where he was. The trio passed through a small hall that connected each cart.
The first cart they entered was the kitchen, decorated in copper and steel. The second was the sleeping quarters, with bunk beds situated into the sides of the walls, and the last was a small lavatory and the supply closet.
The supply room was cramped, and shelves bursting with their contents lined every spare wall.
Items like water, cooking supplies, cleaners, towels, and tools filled the racks.
It was clear which items were meant for them.
Smack in the center of the floor were three long black boxes stamped with a marker that read “A.M.M.O.”
Jack and Sloan stood admiring the boxes as Aareth eased himself past the two.
He opened the first container. Jack was surprised to see the large man squat down with child-like glee.
He went to work with all the enthusiasm a youngster would on a special birthday.
That was when Jack began to wonder how old his traveling companions were.
If he had to guess, both Aareth and Sloan were in their late thirties.
“Here, this one’s yours, Jack.” Aareth handed him the first shorter black box. Jack accepted the container and opened its hard, shell-like exterior. Inside, the box held the modified staff, a black belt with a holster for the weapon, and a thick book of directions.
Jack wasted no time in strapping on the belt over his own. The metal rod rested low on his right hip.
“Wow,” Aareth said as he handed the next box to Sloan. “Christmas has come early for the captain of the guard.”
Sloan raised her eyebrow, not sure how to take the comment, yet still accepting the chest handed to her. Jack saw her open the case. Her eyes immediately doubled in size. Sloan reached inside and pulled out a saber the likes of which Jack had never seen.
The sword was average in length, but that was about all that was average about it.
The handle was thick and reinforced with copper plating.
Coming up from the handle and midway up the blade were two thin copper pipes.
There was a temperature gauge on the handle as well as a small lever near where the wielder’s thumb would rest.
“What does it do?” Jack asked more to himself than his two companions. “Is it powered by magic?”
“I’m not sure,” Sloan shook her head, “but the weight feels amazing.”
“Well, let’s see.” Aareth looked up from his kneeling position. “Flip the switch.”
“No way. You saw the explosion in the armory this morning. I’m going to read the directions twice before I point this thing somewhere and it does who knows what.”
Aareth shrugged, clearly not understanding the logic, and opened his own box. The last case was a little smaller than the other two. Inside were two grey steel gauntlets that resembled the ones Jack had seen in pictures of warriors in suits of armor.
Of course, these were no ordinary gauntlets.
They had wires running to each knuckle from a small crank that was placed on the underside of both gloves, near the wrists.
As Aareth turned the gloves over, Jack also saw one small button on the inside of each palm.
Aareth wasted no time in placing the gauntlets on his hands.
“You should really wait and read the directions,” Sloan said as she took a step back. “You’re just asking for trouble.”
“No way. These things are a perfect fit. Let’s see what these babies can do.”
Jack took Sloan’s lead and took a step back as a grinning Aareth stood up, flexing his fingers.
“Look, see? Nothing to it. I wonder what the buttons on the palms are for.”
Aareth opened his hands, palms to the ceiling, and touched each button with the tips of his middle fingers. There was a crackling noise as the gloves began to glow. Thin lines of blue magic disappeared and reappeared just as quickly.
Jack didn’t know what to think. Never in his life had he seen anything remotely similar.
“Aareth, you should really—” Sloan took another step back.
“Captain, please. I know you’re in charge, but I’m not a child. I can think—” As Aareth said the word “think,” his right arm came up and his pointer finger touched the side of his temple.
There was a loud snap followed by Aareth’s entire body being thrown into the side of the cart. His large frame collided with the rack of supplies. He fell to the ground, motionless.
Jack and Sloan looked at one another, taking a moment to try and process what just happened.
“Is he—is he dead?” Jack took a cautious step forward.
“No.” Sloan shook her head as she joined him. “His chest is still moving. But my gosh, did you see that?”
“How could I miss it? He must weigh over two hundred pounds and he was thrown across the room like a rag doll.”
As they bent down over Aareth’s body, the bright blue currents over his gauntleted hands dissipated.
Jack reached out with a tentative foot to prod Aareth. Before he could roll Aareth over on his back, the large man sat up with a scream more suited more for a small child than a grown man.
“Ahhhhhh!”
Jack and Sloan fell backwards as Aareth teetered in a sitting position. His hair was standing in all different directions. A line of spit fell down the left side of his lip. A piece of toilet paper from the rack he had fallen against wrapped itself around his head like a turban.
“What—what just happened?”
“I think you just knocked yourself out.” Jack raised a hand to stifle his laughter.
“I told you to read the directions.” Sloan coughed, trying to hide her own smile.
Aareth wobbled to his feet as he slowly took off the gloves.
“You have a piece of toilet pa?—”
“What Jack’s trying to tell you,” Sloan interrupted with a wink, “is that it’s time for some food before you decide to give yourself another concussion.”