Agatha H and the Voice of the Castle

“I cannot. A connection has been made which has extended my awareness, but that is all.”

“How annoying.”

“You have no idea,” the Castle complained. “I will guide you part of the way, but beyond the Serpent’s Gallery, I will be unable to talk with you.”

Agatha sighed. “Another dead area?”

“Oh, no. It is quite active. I am currently attempting to take control, but there is a fragment of my personality already occupying the area. Because I am damaged, that part of me will most likely not recognize you as the Heterodyne. In addition, I fear that it may be quite insane.”

Agatha tried to keep her face neutral. “You think so? That’s… worrying.”

“There is one bright spot though; I believe I can reassimilate it, and during the process, it will probably be too busy fighting back to hinder you much.”

“‘Probably’? ‘Much’?”

“I can’t guarantee your safety, of course.” The Castle sounded completely unconcerned. “I recommend that you retrieve your young man and return to a safe location as quickly as possible. Still, it should be all right…as long as nothing else goes wrong with my mechanisms.”

Deep within the castle’s walls, the newly-freed pocket clank surveyed the expanse of inert machinery and rubbed its little brass hands together. So much to be done! And so much to do it with!

Gil opened his eyes. His head was filled with that familiar tingling he always got after contact with ungrounded electricity. The first thing he saw was one of Zola’s minions, clad in short pants and a simple grey singlet, rubbing a bump on the back of his head. He was pointing a nasty little black pistol in Gil’s general direction. “I say we kill him,” the man was snarling.

Zola stood before him, unarmed but without fear. Playing the adventuress to the hilt, Gil realized with a touch of admiration.

“Don’t be absurd. He hasn’t done anything wrong. Besides,” she waved a hand, “he’s obviously useful. He got the door open, didn’t he?”

They both noticed that Gil was awake and Zola frowned at him.

“Your ‘loyal crew’, on the other hand, appears to have deserted you. Why?”

Gil rubbed his head. “How should I know? I guess they’re just not as tough as your guys.”

As he’d thought, this statement mollified the angry man slightly. “At one point, I got the door open halfway. They wanted to leave you behind, and when I wouldn’t go, they got mad.” He ruefully rubbed the back of his head. “I didn’t think they were that mad, but after that, things went black and here we are. We should get out of here as quick as we can.”

Professor Tiktoffen spoke up. “He’s right, we should get moving. I wouldn’t worry about those fools. They were too far back to hear anything when the two of you were talking and I’ll be surprised if the Castle doesn’t crush them, if it hasn’t already.”

He leaned in. “It was that Zeetha girl, I’ll bet. She must’ve seen how it was between you and young Gil here and realized she didn’t have a chance, if you know what I mean.”

Instantly Zola’s trepidation vanished. “Of course!” She turned to Gil. “You always were completely clueless when it came to women. And this certainly isn’t the first time its bitten you, is it?”

Gil would have liked to argue, but he really couldn’t. Zola nodded in satisfaction. “I could tell she had her eye on you. I knew it as soon as I saw her.” She clapped her hands. “All right everyone, grab your equipment and let us be off!”

Gil slowly packed his equipment back into his satchel. When he looked up, Professor Tiktoffen was handing him a wrench.

“Thank you, professor.”

“It’s the least I could do…sir.” The sudden use of the honorific caused Gil to pause and look closely at the man.

Tiktoffen nodded slightly. “I like to think that I’m rather good at knowing what to do—or say—in order to keep things moving smoothly.”

Gil realized this was not about handing him the wrench. “Is that so?”

Tiktoffen nodded again as he stood up. “Oh yes, sir,” he said quietly. “It’s one of the reasons why I was chosen to be the one to report to your father.”

Gil blinked and glanced over towards Zola.

“Have no fear, sir,” Tiktoffen breathed. “I’ll keep your secret. I’m very good at that, I assure you.” And with that, he turned away.

Gil, not reassured at all, stared after him until Zola took his arm and led them all out. “I knew you could do it,” she said. “You’re always so handy to have around.”

“I’d probably be even more useful if I knew more about what you’re doing in here.”

Zola nodded. “That does make sense.” She called out to Tiktoffen. “What am I going to do, Professor?”

The professor fished a small device from a pocket and consulted it. His eyebrows rose. “Have a party, I think,” he said in a distracted voice.

Gil wasn’t sure if he’d heard correctly. “A party?”