home intro one two three four five six seven eight nine 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 appendix
That afternoon the Baron sat reading and writing in a secluded wooded garden on his estate, next to one of his smaller cottages. Gunther came up, his pack filled with oddball notions clanking at each step. He was using the clanking to keep the beat of some lively march he was singing, "You sent for me M'lord?" he said as he doffed his cap.
The Baron smiled, "Gunther, I have something which needs your attention." He held in his hand an old alarm clock.
As Gunther walked the final steps to the Baron his manner transformed into that of a quiet scholar. He took the clock and studied it carefully, "There is much that needs my attention, Baron." he answered. The Baron watched Gunther. He was always amazed at how quickly Gunther could transition from noisy and flamboyant to mousey and nondescript. Giving him a detail to concentrate on, such as this clock, could bring about the transition.
The Baron continued, speaking quietly, quickly and earnestly, "This Johanne Porter connection with the Kalchonikovs comes out of nowhere. Others have researched Johanne Porter for me. He has a reputation as an ambitious behind-the-scenes operator. But, he has no record, no trail of accomplishments in paper, only a word-of-mouth reputation. What is more curious, my researchers report this, then don't grasp the significance of what they are saying. They blithely stare at me as if this is the end of the matter."
"There may be much on their mind. The railroad project is a big, complex one." Gunther opened the clock and fiddled with the insides.
"These men are as experienced in their ways as you are in yours. They sift papers and numbers looking for clues as to which people will defraud me, and they pass by this waving red flag as if it were nothing? Now this meeting with Mr. Bob Packar and Miss Sarah Booles. These people are first rate convincers, and they are working for this same mysterious Mr. Porter. In addition to his other talents, whatever they are, this Mr. Porter can recognize good people, and afford them. He is worthy of attention.
"And the Kalchonikovs?"
"And the Kalchonikovs. That pack is openly fighting against this project... at least as openly as they do anything. That I was expecting, and I was sincerely hoping that as they steadfastly fought this, they would fade into history as an evil memory -- that the change would sweep them away.
The Baron leaned back, relaxing his eyes on the old oak bordering his garden, "It's hard to believe how much progress mankind has made against their kind already. The Kalchonikovs are now a center of evil because the greater evils have all been swept away. Now the time has come for me to do my share against these abominations of nature. This railroad will sweep ignorance from our valley, and the dread of the Kalchonikovs will become a memory... unless my plan is upset.
"This Mr. Porter has turned from a curiosity into a nasty surprise." the Baron continued, "He's a Kalchonikov? With the ear of Ludwig? Could this be true? Could these old, sleeping dogs be learning new tricks? Or, could this Porter be a rebel, an outcast. Could he be using Ludwig's name as a smokescreen?"
Gunther closed the clock and put it in his pack. Loudly he said, "Could be a trick to this, I'll be a day or so looking into this, by your leave, sir." Quietly his said, "There are few who leave the Kalchonikovs, as you know. Those that do rarely survive long... they are rarely trusted to be discrete. If he is outcast, why does he reveal himself? If he is not, how could the family support him?"
"Find out about Mr. Porter. But you be careful as well as discrete, Gunther. Don't approach him directly, and be careful of those who do! There are whiffs of magic floating about this situation, but the user is being so discrete I can tell you little. My people have not been controlled, but they have been persuaded. Persuasion connotes greater power and experience than control. The evil behind Mr. Porter will swallow you once he recognizes you. You can't afford that; I can't afford that."
Gunther nodded deeply, "Yes sir, will there be anything else?"
"Thank you, Gunther, that's all for now." The Baron continued his reading and writing, Gunther hefted his pack and wandered back to the main house, rattling and singing. Next stop would be the kitchen to wheedle the cook out of a snack in exchange for a romantic song.
The Baron's household knew Gunther as an eccentric half tinker, half minstrel who entertained the Baron in a harmless way. He was tolerated, allowed access to the Baron, and otherwise ignored, which is exactly the relation a Baron and his chief covert investigator should have.
home intro one two three four five six seven eight nine 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 appendix