Chapter 14

Morning in the English forest had a delightful tranquility when compared to the war ravaged skies of France. Captain Mors was far from his airship which was now being re-plated. A private train had taken him, Irma Vep and Gregor Samsa to a quiet station in the countryside; from there they were to go east through the forest.

A soft westerly breeze caressed the verdant green fronds and leaves that decorated the natural landscape. Gentle birdsong emanated from the plush canopy, which filtered the Sun so that bright rays of sunlight illuminated the forest floor. Butterflies fluttered through the rays to draw nectar from the many flowers, Rabbits and squirrels were seen darting away from the visitors' path.

"This forest is vast." Said Irma. "I hope we get some idea of where we're going."

Mors turned to her. "M was rather vague as to where we should precisely go. There should be method to his madness."

"We could be wondering through these woods for days. I haven't seen a single signpost and the walking trails are getting fainter and fainter."

"M strikes me as someone who knows what he is doing."

Irma grinned. "He strikes me as someone who has had too much brandy and cigars."

The domino mask dropped over Mors' face obscuring his reaction to the women's scrutiny.

Gregor began to gyrate his limbs, Mors could tell that he was receiving a new stimulus untypical of the forest. The Insect man directed his two companions to a clearing. Once there Gregor gestured Mors and Irma to stay put, then spread his wings flew up above the tree roofs and traveled further east.

"He's must be going to investigate something nearby." Said Mors.

"Or leaving us to remain completely lost." Uttered Irma.

Ten minutes later the large flying bug hovered above the clearing then spiraled down to a light landing with a cigar clenched in his pincer. It was the same type used by M.

"You found M Gregor. Can you lead us there?" Asked Mors.

Gregor nodded negatively then opened up all his limbs inviting both Mors and Irma to enter his clutches.

Both Mors and Irma had to overcome a great deal of reluctance, but both realised this was their way to finish a long forest hike that had a dwindling appeal.

"You can carry two people at once?" Asked Irma.

Gregor nodded affirmatively. Each individual pressed their backs to the pulsating insect abdomen then felt the limbs clamp them to the bug body, The sound of the wings vibrating was met with trepidation and the lifting sensation awkward as the ground went further and further away from their feet.

Once they were above the forest canopy a sense of exileration and wonder cut in. Irma found the experience much more exciting than standing over the rooftops of Paris at night. Mors was no stranger to flying, but beforehand had always had a solid surface beneath his feet, this was totally different and much more stimulating. His only regret was, he had no control over where he was going.

Their destination was a compound a little to the east. It was a small number of wooden buildings amidst the woods. Gregor landed with ease, his two passengers smiling.

M was there, he greeted the League members. "It seems you enjoyed your trip."

The two new arrivals only nodded, being much to exhilerated to speak. Gregor gave his usual nod of affirmative.

"Now to verify your communications: Biggles is in hospital being treated for smoke inhalation and Lord Greystoke has taken the opportunity to visit his son posted to the Argonne front. Tom Swift has been returned to his escort and is probably now testing his Great War tank on the same front?"

"That is all correct." Stated Captain Mors.

"And Fraulein Doktor is dead." Added Irma Vep.

"Right." Said M. "I'll want you all together again soon.

"I drew Gregor here with a lure for his olfactory senses to pick up on. I wanted to test the concept; that's why your travel directions were vague. I have commissioned some chemists to expand this concept which hopefully will allow Gregor to track one of those super zeppelins back to its base of operations."

"You can't leave breadcrumbs in hundreds of miles of sky." Mors said.

"We believe it can be done." Uttered a small yet robust man stepping out a building. "The chemical lure would have to be strong, the wind light, the pursuit fast and the hound on the ball." He indicated Gregor.

M introduced the man in the lab coat."This is Andrew Blodgett Mayfair."

"They can call me Monk." Said the man.

"He is one of three chemists from America who have accepted this commission to manufacture the chemical tracking agent."

Monk Mayfair had a small stature but very large arms with plush rusty red hair cascading out of his lab coat sleeves. His head matched his arms in that they both gave the impression of being ape-like rather than human. His friendly smile and squeaky voice reminded the visitors that he was human. A silver sword emblem sewn onto his shirt revealed that he had done service in the American infantry.

"The other two can show themselves now." Said M.

Monk yelled for the two other lab coated chemists to come out. The two fgures came out of separate buildings. Paul Carruthers was the first introduced, he was carrying the carcass of a bat he was experimenting on. His greeting conveyed origins more middle European than American. Jonathon Crane sounded all American but his greeting came with overtones and a grin that suggested wickedness. he positioned himself in front of a vegetable garden with a crudely built human effigy to keep thieving birds away.

Paul Carruthers said. "This project to make a pheromonal agent to draw a beast to a select target is just up my alley. It is an almost irresistable challenge."

Jonathon Crane cut in. "We should make them fear us."

Monk answered. "If we did that they would stay out of our reach. Then they cannot be dealt with."

"I am a cosmetic chemist." Continued Paul Carruthers. "Sounds like you want a specially powerful perfume M. I hear perfumers have been employed by your order before?"

M was uncomfortable, he clearly did not want to go where the conversation was leading. An abrupt change of subject was in order. "The Captain and the burglar will join me in devising a way to attach the completed compound to it target. Gregor here will join you three in perfecting the said product and do not refer to him as a beast."

The three chemist showed little shock at the sight of Gregor Samsa, they had been braced for the bizarre vision. They took the man insect into their laboratory for a series of tests.

The discussion about attaching the finished compound to a super zeppelin amounted to pretty much what M said. "I'll tell you where to find one but after that you're the airship captain and you're the catburglar. You figure it out."