Joker

Clockwork Nessie, Part 8

Near the mouth of the cave, Sarah and Thomas stood in an embrace, kissing. I backed out of sight and coughed loudly before I emerged the second time.

“We were about to come fetch you, Miss, what with the tide coming in,” Thomas said. He did sport some evidence of concern on his face, but Sarah’s blush told a different tale.

“I appreciate your concern. I’m ready to bid this place farewell. Thank you both for your indulgence.”

On the trip home, I pondered the amazement that was the sea monster automaton. Why did Papa build it? Who was Robert? Who or what was Rankine? Why was the aquatic automaton in the caverns?

Sarah and Thomas flirted and teased each other, but I barely heard them. I needed to search Papa’s study again. Surely I would find some sort of clue in his effects, something I had missed before.

“… she saw it herself, she did, that monster in Loch Ness.” Thomas shook his head as he sought to convince Sarah of a tall tale. “Said it were just off the western shore of Dog Island.”

“That’s crazy talk. T’ain’t no such thing, Thomas. You’ve a mind to hoodwink me, I can tell from that dimple in your cheek, right there.” She touched the betraying tic.

(To Be Continued)

Inkling

Clockwork Nessie, Part 7

“Oh, great balls of evolution! Please don’t eat me!” I scrambled in reverse to the rock face of the ledge where it angled back and opened into a recess not visible from below.

The creature continued to eye me, but shut its jaws with a low groan.

Inside the small space, I found a slip of paper tucked into an eye-level crevasse in the wall.

“To Do:

1. Remind Robert: Nessie needs to have her points oiled and a good cleaning to remove seaweed and brine buildup.

2. Bring new schematic to the Dog Island lab.”

It looked like Papa’s handwriting, but who was Robert?

The creature named Nessie withdrew from the ledge, bit off and swallowed a large piece of rock, then slipped silently into the water. Did it wait for high tide to take it out to sea or did it reside in the watery depths of the cave?

Descending the ladder, I noticed the tide had encroached to within a few yards; time to go.

(To Be Continued)