Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Old Firm XVIII: A Steampunk Tale

Master M sipped his tea as the countryside raced by. His minions looked around nervously as they took in the large warnings posted on every available surface of the carriage.

"Any word from the Duke?" Master M asked as he added another lump of raw sugar to his tea. "We should be receiving a transmission," he looked down at his pocket watch, "Very soon, yes very soon indeed."

"Sir, our airborne scouts report attempts at blockage across the Firth of Forth."

Master M grinned. "Really now? How nice of them. Proceed at our current speed, we have a deadline to meet and a meddlesome bunch of do-gooders that keep popping up.


Rebecca sat down and took out her flask sipping the fiery whisky contained within. She closed her eyes and let out a slow sigh as her shoulders loosened as the tension relaxed.

"I hope I am not disturbing you," Stefania said as she sat down across from Rebecca.

"Not at all," Rebecca offered Stefania her flask and shifted her body to a more comfortable position. "What's on your mind?"

Stefania blushed. 'Well...I am a confused," she paused as she considered the words she wanted to use. "This ...arrangement with John and Maureen, it is very untraditional, radical even."

Rebecca threw back her head and laughed heartily. Stefania jerked back her face clearly showing her confusion.
"Sorry, "Rebecca said as she wiped her eyes, "You think we are some kind of radical couple don't you?"

Stefania could only nod. Rebecca reached out and took her hand. "It's nothing like that, we do consider ourselves a family, but that is because of the job we do, it threw us together and well, its nice to know the people you work with care about you."

Stefania nodded. "I think I understand," she said slowly her italian accent coming out thicker than normal. "It is very non-traditional."

Rebecca nodded. "I prefer it that to be honest. Better than slaving away for some drunk of a husband and caring for a brood of children."

"You do not want children?" Stefania asked her voice clearly revealing her surprise.

"John is far more trouble than a pack of children," Rebecca chuckled. "No, I have no desire to be barefoot and pregnant all the time."
"John is not like the men of my country."

"John isn't like the men of his country either," Rebecca winked as she stood up. "Speaking of the child, he's been quiet for far too long, excuse me," Rebecca said as she made her way out of the compartment.

To be continued....