Agatha H. and the Airship City by Phil Foglio;Kaja Foglio

Author:Phil Foglio;Kaja Foglio [Foglio, Phil Foglio;Kaja]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: SteamPunk, Fiction, Fantasy, General, Science Fiction, Humorous
ISBN: 9781597802116
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 2011-01-25T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

“Jägermonsters are hard to kill, because the devil don’t want them in Hell.”

—Peasant saying

“I’m the what?”

“You’re the Baron’s beautiful daughter, surely.”

“I am not the Baron’s daughter.”

The hanging man looked nonplused for a moment. His brow furrowed around the visor that hid his eyes. “Are you sure? I’m usually very good at spotting the offspring of evil geniuses…” Then his face cleared. “Ah! Then you must be the plucky lab assistant here to set me free!”

Agatha began to feel like she was on stage and didn’t know her lines. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

The man grinned and, astonishingly, managed to make himself look imposing, even restrained as he was. “Ah, allow me to introduce myself. I am Othar Tryggvassen—Gentleman Adventurer!” He smiled modestly. “Perhaps you’ve heard of me. I’m told the stories are getting around.”

Agatha felt her feeling of unreality increase. “Othar. The Othar. The man who defeated the wooden warriors of Dr. Krause.”

“That would be me, yes.”

“The hero who saved the hamlet of Lunkhauser from the ever-widening moat.”

“The very same.”

“The savior of the town of Mount Horeb from the rain of mustard.”

Othar’s grin slid off his face. He chewed his lip. “I… uh… I’m afraid you have me on that one.”

Agatha nodded approvingly. “I made it up.” She peered down the shaft below. Much to her surprise, the bottom was quite visible, as were the gigantic gears that would swiftly grind anything that fell into them into a fine lubricating paste. She looked back at the again grinning Othar. “You don’t seem too worried about…” She gestured downwards.

“About being a prisoner in a seemingly hopeless predicament? Well I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t inconvenient, but I’ll escape eventually. I am the hero, after all, and you are just what I need!”

“An audience?”

“Ye—no! You can be my spunky girl sidekick. I’m fresh out at the moment. Release me and we’ll blow up the Baron’s Dirigible of Doom, escape by the skin of our teeth, and then it’s cocoa and schnapps all around!”

Agatha folded her arms. “‘Spunky girl sidekick.’”

“Sure! It’ll be fun!”

Agatha nodded and began to resume her edging around the pit towards the far door. “Look, no offense,” she said, “but I’ve been around Sparks and their labs most of my life.”

Othar’s grin faltered. “Oh?”

“Uh-huh, and I’d rather not end up being the Easily Duped Minion Who Sets the Insanely Dangerous Experiment free. Or the Hostage Who Ensures the Smooth-Talking Villain’s escape.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t have any proof that you really are Othar Tryggvassen, or even that you’re really human.”

“Er…”

Agatha reached the far side and dusted herself off. “This Girl Sidekick job doesn’t call for a lot of smarts, does it?”

The hanging man had the grace to look embarrassed. “Um… Not as such, no, but no matter who or what I am, is it right to leave a fellow sentient strung up like this?”

Agatha considered this. “That depends on the nature of the experiment.”

Othar frowned. “I think you spent a little too much time in those labs.”

Agatha looked surprised. “Really? Why?”

The door behind her slammed open.

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