The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) by Giles & Lori Othen

Author:Giles & Lori Othen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Steampunk, Alternative History Fiction
Publisher: Giles & Lori Othen
Published: 2014-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

9:00 pm

Near the Gasworks

Stavanger, Norway

Slipping away from the Discretion the figure ambled easily over to the office of the gas-works and entered the rear door of the large gray building. Nearly half an hour later this same figure exited the building from the front door. He had changed out his cap for one of a simpler design. Assuming a jaunty step he headed out of the compound and strode towards the corner shop.

“God kveld Sir.” The balding shopkeeper muttered automatically from behind a lone counter as he entered the small crowded tobacconists. Rows and rows of jars made their way in a dizzying pattern up the walls to the heavy beamed ceiling. Smoke hung every where in blue white curls, the smell of it reminding him of rum and old oak barrels.

“Guten ab.. God kveld. Hvordan er deg?” he replied with an effort. “Hva rulletobakk anbefaler du Sir?” He added after a moments thought. While the fellow bustled about presenting a selection of his loose tobaccos for his inspection he fingered the hastily penned note in his pocket.

Glancing at the array of jars laid out before him he tuned out the mans sales babble as best he could and leaned in to smell each of the jar’s contents. Trying to formulate an innocent sounding query in a foreign language was a challenge even for one such as he which was why he lingered over each individual jar. Pointing out two of the more expensive brands he asked for two ounces of each. While the man weighed out his purchase he casually asked “Leverer du også min gode Sir?” (Do you deliver?)

"Ja, vi har jeg en gutt som ikke for meg" the shopkeeper replied affirmatively. This would do he thought, buy a few ounces of this man’s finest and have his delivery boy drop off the letter as he went. Congratulating himself on killing two birds with one stone he offered the letter to the man explaining that he would take it as a kindness if his boy would deliver the tobacco and drop off this message at the telegraph office as he went. The shop owner, pleased to have made such a good sale despite the lateness of the hour, easily agreed. So with a lighter step the figure left the small shop and headed back to the gas-works before he was missed.

A part of him was excited by the secrecy that his own delicate mission required, but another part of him was disquieted. Clever moves that put the enemy out of position were all and well but deliberately misleading men of honor? It was taking more getting used to than he had at first thought. As with so many generalizations it was easy to be annoyed at the British as a race. However, now that he had spent some time with these imperialists as people, he was beginning to see some of them had personal value.

Only he and the engineering crew really knew how close they had all come to being dumped unceremoniously into the North Sea.

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