Chapter 23

Without guidance England would likely loose this war; collapse into revolt and madness, as had occurred in Russia and which France stood on the brink; and all of Europe would fall under the influence of Germany and their Austrian partners. To Edgar Cizko, this was eminently clear; that others could not see it was only further evidence of his superiority. Should Germany win this world-wide war, the greatest Allied fear was the sudden appearance of a fleet of Bosch warships docking at English ports and swarms of zeppelins hanging threateningly over London skies; but Edgar knew Germany would certainly not invade and seize the British Isles; the Kaiser and his commanders had interest only in strength, not occupation; and maintaining stability within the intertwined web of royal families would preclude immediate replacement of an established system, the actions of which would result in rebellion and resistance. By failing at this war, England would not immediately be transformed; but a German victory would make life far more difficult and very unpleasant for Englishmen under German rule. The British leadership had demonstrated they had no will nor ability to prevent this; the series of mistakes and oversights which had framed their attempts, from failing to prepare to poorly-planned tactics and strategies to the apparent willingness to sacrifice wave after wave of men for no other reason than to claim a few feet of bloodied progress; was evidence a capable leader must assert himself by any means necessary.

Beginning in the Autumn of 1916 no passengers were permitted to cross the Atlantic without Government credentials, and if Edgar had somehow been able to land in France or Denmark or Sweden or another of those unmemorable countries by first traveling to the Americas, north or south; from there booking passage back to Europe; transportation into Germany would have been all but impossible. By November 1918 the war had ended, primarily due to the endless resources of the United States and the failing resources of Germany. So Edgar had not been able to prove his abilities and for the remainder of his life he would have to live with the fact that during the War to End all Wars, a time when men were honored, actions glorified and lives defined; he had contributed nothing. But this was not his fault; he had tried, and been prevented. He had been laughed at and pushed aside and insulted by men who patronized him with names from 'son' to 'friend'; and these men must pay. The Government which floundered when Edgar would have taken action; must take responsibility. Every man who considered himself a 'servant of the people' must personally bear the disappointments Edgar had carried; each person who could have shown him a kindness; provided an opportunity; understood the greatness of the man standing before them, would be made to feel Edgar's frustrations, his pain many times over; among men who should be kneeling at his feet in admiration and awe and because they were so far beneath him they should hold no other place, Edgar vowed; these men would finally recognize and respect his brilliance.

"It's already begun" Edgar commented to himself, folding the newspaper in half and tucking it beside his emptied breakfast dishes. "Demonstrations and disloyalty from soldiers released from service; attempted mutinies by those expected to fulfill their responsibilities; and the Government's official response is to listen, and talk, and appease; the same weak, haphazard response that results in nothing other than more demands and a populace which believes they know best. Bolsheviks and Socialists threaten our very foundation, and the Government replies to these threats as if they were nothing but misbehaving children. During the war, when French and German leadership were faced with similar revolts, failures of those who refused to comply with higher authority; those governments responded with decisive actions; even if that meant executing those who did not follow orders. What a sad world when I am the only person who knows who should, and should not, be killed."

Edgar knew by his intelligence and abilities and leadership he would have risen to top Governmental position; if he'd only had the chance. He would have become an inspiration to those who lacked his potentials; which was everyone; if only he'd not gone unappreciated and unrecognised. But he could not expect men of such limited intelligence to understand and it was up to him to save England; through controlling their minds and therefore their actions, he would guide them toward the peaceful and purposeful return to stability. Only he could do this, and the responsibility was heavy. The path to redemption is filed with pain and those unable to fulfill the journey, those with weak minds or soft hearts or who dared to oppose; were of little loss. The lion does not regret the death of a flea.

"You've adjusted the calibrations per my calculations, correct? Any repetition of the statistical abnormalities experienced on our most recent test is unacceptable."

"I've done my best, sir, but there's certain variables..."

"Any 'variables' should be anticipated and adjusted prior to their appearance," Edgar warned the man standing beside him who, other than the clipboard he held and white laboratory jacket he wore, was dressed similarly to the other men who attentively adjusted dials and maneuvered levers and scattered forth and back through the vast warehouse space, careful to avoid the towering sculpture of crystal and steel and the machines designed for its use. "That's what I'm paying you for, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir" the man replied. "Not paying that much," he muttered.

"What was that?" Edgar surged. "You are dissatisfied with your compensation? Have you the intelligence to consider any monetary incentive I provide is nothing more than a side benefit to your actual payment; which is each day you're allowed to continue your worthless life?"

"Ah, no sir. Thankful for the opportunity."

"As you should be. In fewer than twenty-four hours I embark upon my mission, and to state as simply as possible so that even you may understand, there will be no oversights; mis-steps; fumbles; or slip-ups. Now, I must rest, leaving this," he gestured from wall to wall, "in your some-what capable hands. Do you believe you can manage for one day without veering too far into negligence?"

"Yes, sir, 'a course."

"Well," Edgar sighed; "I have little choice. Do not bother me unless something arises which only I can...no, I am needed for most everything. Do not bother me unless it is a matter of success or failure; and I remind you only one of those outcomes is acceptable."

Chapter 24

Tea was waiting, and both of Etta's guests were late. With half of their little group living at Etta's flat, each time the women wanted to share ideas; discuss suggestions; or determine their next course of action, only Kate and Maravati needed to be contacted: The first by a phone call to her patrol station; the second, whose parents no longer allowed her to speak on the phone to any of 'those women' but just as easily, by a quick note through the mail.

"She's a grown woman, Miss Etta" Eve affirmed. "I should just go over there and bring her back. Lila and me were on our own when we weren't much more than half her age."

"Do you know where Mira lives, Eve?" Tess asked, reaching out for a pillow. "We wouldn't want to loose you too. Didn't your friend Jack say he'd deliver a message to who-ever we wanted?"

"My friend!" Eve remarked. "Just 'cause he seems to think so don't make it true, Tess. 'Sides, I don't think him or any of his peculiar-named pals are around no more. Last time I think we scared them all off. Somewhere near Woodford."

"We scared them all the way to Woodford?"

"No, Tess. That's where Mira lives. I heard her once when she was saying what train she needs to take. And let me get whatever you're reaching for, you know you shouldn't be moving around like that."

Etta re-positioned the cups and saucers on the serving tray for the third time, hesitant to leave the room as she expected someone to knock at the door at any time. "Woodford's a large area, dear. Best to wait. Didn't you say you wanted nothing else to do with that Jack, or any of his friends?"

"Said if he ever comes around, he'll need watching. So it he does, may as well put him to work."

Etta was at the entry following the second but before the third soft, but precise tap sounded, opening her door while Kate's hand was still suspended in mid-air. "Thought it best to knock, rather than using the key," Kate stated, unshaken by Etta's sudden appearance. "Particularly as I'm not alone."

"Aren't those boys again, is it?" Eve asked, swiveling toward the doorway.

"Naw, jus me, Maddie O'Connel. But every'n jus calls me Maddie."

"Oh" Eve answered dejectedly.

"Etta, your message said there were important developments we needed to discuss; Maddie had been such a help before, I thought she might be able to help us again. I hope it was alright to bring her?"

"Twas nothin" Maddie replied, looking around the room. "But seem like the company's changed a mite. That one," she pointed at Tess; "got more bandages now than she did before. 'N weren't there two more? That one with the circle 'a fire, an' another, all wrapped up in robes like she's givin' Sunday Sacrament. What were they, killed? Hope you're not be 'spectin me to jump in 'n do anything dangerous."

"Miravati should be here any moment; and Diana's left us, I'm afraid" Etta answered.

"Lef' ya all alone, did she? Didn' seem the type. Dead?"

"NO!" Eve announced. "Diana will be back. She just had things she needed to do."

"No need getting' all huffy, missy" Maddie warned. "The way things is, never know who could be murdered next. You hear about them down 'round Waterloo that walked in front of a trolley like they didn't even see it comin'? An' men that jumped off buildings like there was nothin' to live for, when they was workin' and didn' even have any mouths to feed 'cept their own? Bad things happen'n, an I didn't get to be my age by dallyin' 'round bad things."

"Eve."

"What's that, missy?"

"My name's EVE. Not 'missy'."

"Huh. Look like a missy ta me."

Before Eve could rouse more steam than the kettle simmering on Etta's stove, three even knocks rasped at the door.

"There she is!" Etta announced joyfully, relieved that Mira had arrived at just the right moment to prevent one of Eve's protestations.

"Miss Etta Candy of 41 Tredegar Road?" the young girl standing at Etta's door enquired "I am Hirava Mukerjea; beside me is my chaperon, Auntie-ji."

"...and that is why, when Mirava disobeyed Father's instructions, leaving our house without chaperon and traveling on a train while telling no one of her destination and loosing a boot, is why Father will now not allow her to leave our home, at all. Although we were together, as older sister Father holds her responsible."

"It's not right, a grown woman, having to stay inside just 'cause her father says so. Just not right."

"Miss Brown, you do not know how Father can be."

The six women were gathered in Etta's front parlour, sitting where-ever there was room to sit. The seventh; Aunti-ji; stood in the background, nearby Hirava, keeping her constantly in sight.

"It's unfortunate about Mira," Kate began; "but no matter her age, she must respect authority. As long as she's living under her father's roof, he has the right to tell her what she can, and cannot do. Providing he remains within the law. What were you and she doing that she thought it so important to take such a risk?"

"AH! That's why I am here. Mirava remembered once seeing something very odd near Father's warehouse. His warehouse is in Lambeth; far from our home. She knew if she had asked permission to travel so far, to a place where Father would think she had no reason to be, he would refuse. But she remembered seeing a bright light flash from inside a building not far from Father's warehouse, where there should be no such light. Precious stones, she said, flash and perhaps that building is where the dishonest men who have been robbing women of jewelry, have hidden what they have stolen."

"Could'a just been someone working" Tess mentioned. "What made her think it was jewels?"

"She didn't know why there was light, but at that time she also saw shadows of men who were not working but standing in place; and also the shadow of a small child."

"A child, like the one from the alley, that ran away?"

"Yes, Policewoman Sandsmark. And that area of Lambeth, the warehouses near the docks, is where many animals and, I have heard, even people have taken their own lives, may they be forgiven."

"Oh my" Etta gasped. "You two are fortunate to have gone all that way, and returned, safely. I can understand why your father is upset."

"But we almost didn't return safely; that's what I must tell you. When Mirava recognised the building she remembered, we found an alleyway that joined onto the back of the building's property, separated only by a fence. Mirava climbed to the top, but was seen by three men; possibly four; who threatened and chased us almost to the railway station. On the property there was nothing but crates and pieces of metal and nothing important; Mirava could not see inside the building, the only windows are at the top of the walls; but looking from one of those windows, she noticed a little man was watching; at first she thought it may have been child, but she is certain, now, it was a little man."

"Little, like a runt?" Eve suggested.

"A man who has never grown; I think they are called 'dwarves'."

"Midget, I think, is the proper term, Hirava. At least that's what they're called in shows, and stage."

"Officer Kate, I've been on stage and I aren't ever seen one" Eve added.

"Ya talkin' about the Doc?" Maddie stated.

"The 'Doc', Maddie?"

"Sure, Kate. I aint' seen'm in must be over a year. Thought he'd gone to greener pastures, so they say. Not that nobody missed 'em, 'p'ticularly. Always claimin' he knows what we was thinkin', 'n that one day he'd be a 'big man' like that was some kind'a joke ; bout his size, ya see. Got mad when anyone laughed, though. Even tried to join the army and never understood why they didn' want 'em. Good riddance, I says."

"Mr. Holmes was looking for a little man" Tess spoke. "He thinks there's a connection between the stolen jewelry and the deaths and the men we fought in that alley; and that's where Diana and Kate saw the child running away, who just as well might have been a dwarf; or midget, whatever they want to be called. Mr. Holmes didn't say anything about bright lights, or Lambeth, or warehouses."

"Yeah, Diana saw him first."

"Has Mr. Homes paid a call, Tess?" Etta questioned, wondering just who had been visiting her house without her knowledge. "Of course, as long as you're resting here you can invite over any guests you'd like; but it would nice to have a bit of advance notice; to prepare, you see."

"He only come by once, Etta; while you and Eve were out. Only to check on me. I think he still feels responsible for that first time I was in hospital. It's refined, how he tries to help."

"Does he?" Kate asked. "Help?"

"He does what he can" Tess answered, pulling her blanket more tightly around her and adjusting herself in the chair so she wouldn't have to look at her friends.

Etta jumped when two sharp knocks struck the door. "Who can that be? I wasn't expecting anyone; anyone else." She looked out the sidelight to find Sherlock Holmes, hat raised in greeting, looking back at her.