Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology by Anika Arrington & Alyson Grauer & Aaron Sikes & A. F. Stewart & Scott William Taylor & Neve Talbot & M. K. Wiseman & David W. Wilkin & Belinda Sikes

Author:Anika Arrington & Alyson Grauer & Aaron Sikes & A. F. Stewart & Scott William Taylor & Neve Talbot & M. K. Wiseman & David W. Wilkin & Belinda Sikes [Arrington, Anika]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jane Austen Charles Dickens Charlotte Bronte expansions, classical literature expansions into steampunk, Victorian science fiction with classical characters, Jane Austen fantasy short stories, classical stories with steampunk expansion, steam engines in steampunk short stories, Cyborgs, steampunk short story anthology, 19th century British English literature expansion into steampunk, Frankenstein Phantom horror story expansions, classical stories in alternative realities, airships
Publisher: Xchyler Publishing
Published: 2013-04-18T04:00:00+00:00

LONDON OPERA HOUSE FITTED WITH NEW ELECTRIC LIGHT, AUDIENCES IN DELIGHT

“Audiences are in delight, dear Firmin,” the manager sputtered. “In delight!”

“Hmm . . .” Firmin was mostly unmoved, wheeling as he was from relief that the headline heralded no disaster. “I suppose we’d better look into this ourselves.”

“Look into it? Goodness, I’ve already told Mme. Giry to handle it.”

As if on cue, Madame Giry appeared in the doorway, her wiry frame doing little to block the light, but somehow dimming the small office with her presence.

“Ah! Madame Giry,” Armand motioned her in, eyeing her nervously. “We were just discussing—”

“He won’t do it.” She wasted no time, delivering her message curtly, with a tone as flat and colorless as her austere attire.

“Oh, but surely he must—” Firmin began, calm as ever.

“Must what?” Giry cut in. “Must be your houseboy? Must waste his time with your projects—all so you can turn another tidy profit?”

“We meant no disrespect, Mme. Giry,” Armand soothed, “but with his talents, we thought surely that—”

“You thought wrong,” she looked from one man to the other. “The Ghost does not wish to have his opera bathed in the garish and vulgar light of Mr. Swan’s infernal invention.” She bid them good day and swept out of the room.

“Well!” Armand put the full effrontery he felt into that one word. Firmin was already scribbling furiously on a piece of stationary, one finger held up to request silence.

“There,” he put the final flourish on the note then passed it over, “I suppose we’d both better sign it.” At Armand’s puzzled look he explained, “We’ll send it today—M. Garnier surely must know someone who can aid us in this endeavor.”

“But the ghost—”

“Hang the ghost! If all he’s willing to contribute is clockwork trickery and cheap smoke and mirror illusions—we’re looking at the future here, and I’ll be damned if we get left in the dark.”