Vindication by Thomas Webb

Author:Thomas Webb [Webb, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947683150
Publisher: Cobble Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-02-26T22:00:00+00:00

18 Hessian Consulate Building - Boulder, Colorado, March 1867

The servant's line into the Hessian consulate building stretched back to the street, at least eighteen people deep. Late march snow fluttered down from a steel-gray sky. The frigid air cut through cloth, leather, and flesh, freezing to the bone. Day workers clutched threadbare coats and matted furs tight to chests and necks in a futile attempt to fight the chill. Grumbles and curses of how spring was taking its sweet time spilled from shivering lips.

Soldiers in pea-green uniforms manned the iron gates, the spikes atop them like the teeth of dragons from a children's fairy story. The Hessian soldiers, seemingly impervious to the bitter cold, scowled at the day servants as they scrutinized their work passes. Only when the gruff professional soldiers were satisfied did they allow the workers entry. Above them, the Hessian flag-lion, crown, and sword on a field of white with two red stripes-hung limp against the gray morning sky.

Abe, warm in his exquisite clothing, sat next to his minder, taking in the scene from the window of their steam carriage. There would be no waiting outside in the servant's line for them. Instead, they would wallow a while in the luxurious interior cabin of their vehicle. Then, as soon as they were cleared for entry, Abe and Blackjack would be riding into the consulate as honored guests of the nation of Hesse.

Blackjack's cover, a minor aether baron from California accompanied by Abe as his secretary, was as tight as an airship envelope. So far, it was holding steady with help in no small part from some well-forged paperwork and a bit of telegraph sleight-of-hand. Their clothing, consisting of handmade suits of clothes, silk neckerchiefs, and mink fur coats, along with their ridiculously well-appointed steam carriage, completed the illusion.

Abe looked down at his gold pocket watch.

Half past nine o' the clock.

They were scheduled for lunch in the consul general's private quarters at noon, followed by a series of meetings to discuss Hessian investment in the aether mines.

If all went well, they would never make it to that lunch. Or any of the afternoon's meetings.

Abe looked out the window at the people waiting to enter the consulate for their daily work. A group of young men and women stood out from the rest of them. They were dressed just a bit better, seemed to shine a bit brighter, and stood just a bit apart from the cooks, cleaners, mechanists, and technists who kept the consulate functioning. They were a rainbow hue-a woman from Nippon, skin translucent in the winter light and a young freedman, tall, with eyes the color of chestnut. The group of men and women had only one thing in common. Al of them were strikingly beautiful.

One in the group, in particular, caught Abe's eye. He smiled. He watched her there, haughty and shivering in the cold while she waited for the soldiers to check the common servants' papers. She wore a bearskin coat of good quality, warm gloves of the same material.

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