Amaretto smiled when Johanna turned her head. She looked down the street an then turned to the cabbie and spoke in her monotone voice. "Please turn down the next street and wait there please."
The cabbie tipped his hat and then climbed into the driver's seat and dirrected the horses to take the carriage downtown the next street to wait. Johanna then turned to Amaretto and grabbed her by arm and began to husstle her towards the alleyway.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
Johanna didn't speak to Amaretto, but instead spoke to Alice. "Iron men are on the way. We need to get out of the street."
Alice's face turned grave and then she carefully took Katherine's arm and began to direct her as well.
Amaretto tried to stop Johanna, but was unable to. "What are Iron Men?"
Alice looked aghast at what Amaretto said. "How do you not know what Iron men are?"
Katherine smoothly inserted a response, "We are actually from Indus. In Indus there are no Iron men out there."
Alice turned to Johanna and Johanna nodded her head. "They are at the other side of the Empire. They are a colony. That is outside of the Empire's purview. They don't use Iron men."
At this Alice nodded. "Iron men are the policing force here."
"Aren't they called 'bobbies'?" Amaretto looked confused.
Alice responded. "No. They switched to a more... reliable policing force a with the invention of the steam engine."
Amaretto looked at Katherine, who made a slight shrug of her shoulders. Amaretto allowed herself to be dragged along by Johanna before she asked, "What do you mean?"
At this Johanna put up a hand. "They are almost here."
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Grain...
Alice clapped her hands together She turned to Johanna and said, “Did you hear that? We come highly recommended.”
Amaretto looked to Johanna and saw the woman nod her head but the blank look that was in place never seemed to change. Alice turned to face Amaretto and then allowed her face to turn into a serious look. “Our first stop should be the Tower Clock.”
Amaretto had a spark of recognition to what Alice said, but quirked her eyebrow. “You mean the Big Ben? I've always wanted to see it.”
Alice stopped and frowned at Amaretto and then turned a look to Johanna. Johanna shrugged and then Alice turned back to face Amaretto and then said, “What is Big Ben?”
Amaretto blinked and bit her lip for a moment and then looked at Johanna who stared back with an equally blank stare. She had not really expected anything from the woman but when she looked back at Alice, the blond still had the questioning look on her face. “Isn't that the name of the clock?”
Alice turned back to Johanna and then stared blankly back at Amaretto again. “Do you mean Ol' Henry?” I don't think I have ever heard it called Big Ben before.” Alice frowned and then put a single hand on her hip. “Where did you say you were visiting from again?”
Katherine spoke up almost instantly in order to smoothly cover up suspicion. “We never said. We lived in Indus for most of her life. While there, we might have not heard some of the things that they told us correctly.”
Alice nodded and smiled as if that explained everything. “Well then, you are in for a treat then. I am almost sure that you will love all the new amenities that Johanna and I will show to you. You cannot leave here without seeing Buckton Palace. It's where the current Queen resides.”
Amaretto listened, amazed at how different everything was. She knew some of the facts of England, but this was not the same place that she grew up with across the Atlantic ocean. This was a different place altogether, with a different history and a different destiny. She was not sure if she could stomach the difference. The oddness of it all was the most disconcerting part. Talking with Tempus most certainly did not help her at all. Amaretto took a deep breath. Here they were in a place that looked like old England, acted like old England, but was not in fact old England.
At that moment, there was a hiss and a clanking sound. Johanna turned around and looked behind them all down the lane. The sky was no longer pelting rain, and the humidity was now causing the cobblestones to steam just a little. With a voice that was just above a whisper, “they are coming. I would suggest that we adjourn away from the street. This way the Iron Men will not see us.”
Alice nodded her head vigorously in agreement. “I don't think we should go into the clock shop though. We have to make sure that no one is found.”
Amaretto looked at Alice with confusion. “What do you mean?”
Katherine cut in, “Perhaps in the alley way?”
Alice looked over at the alley way and then grabbed Amaretto and hustled towards the thin space in between the buildings across the street with Johanna and Katherine following closely behind. As they bustled into the alley Johanna paused and looked around the side. “They are coming down the lane.”
Amaretto still looked concerned. “What's coming down the lane? What are you so worried about?”
Alice turned to Amaretto. “you've never heard of the Iron Men? How have you never heard of them?” Alice looked sternly and rather confused.
Katherine smoothly answered again. “We come from Indus. There is no need for them there.” Katherine spoke with a reserve and a hesitancy however when she said it. Amaretto suddenly realized that her aunt was trying to lie. Alice did not seem to notice.
Johanna spoke softly to Alice. “Not all of the colonies have them Alice. I know that Indus does not have them.”
Alice seemed to accept this and turned back to Amaretto and said, “Iron Men are the policing force here. They have been up in arms for days now because someone tried to kill the Chancellor.”
Amaretto looked to her aunt and Katherine and her aunt mouthed 'Prime Minister'. Amaretto nodded her understanding. She turned to ask her next question.
Amaretto looked to Johanna and saw the woman nod her head but the blank look that was in place never seemed to change. Alice turned to face Amaretto and then allowed her face to turn into a serious look. “Our first stop should be the Tower Clock.”
Amaretto had a spark of recognition to what Alice said, but quirked her eyebrow. “You mean the Big Ben? I've always wanted to see it.”
Alice stopped and frowned at Amaretto and then turned a look to Johanna. Johanna shrugged and then Alice turned back to face Amaretto and then said, “What is Big Ben?”
Amaretto blinked and bit her lip for a moment and then looked at Johanna who stared back with an equally blank stare. She had not really expected anything from the woman but when she looked back at Alice, the blond still had the questioning look on her face. “Isn't that the name of the clock?”
Alice turned back to Johanna and then stared blankly back at Amaretto again. “Do you mean Ol' Henry?” I don't think I have ever heard it called Big Ben before.” Alice frowned and then put a single hand on her hip. “Where did you say you were visiting from again?”
Katherine spoke up almost instantly in order to smoothly cover up suspicion. “We never said. We lived in Indus for most of her life. While there, we might have not heard some of the things that they told us correctly.”
Alice nodded and smiled as if that explained everything. “Well then, you are in for a treat then. I am almost sure that you will love all the new amenities that Johanna and I will show to you. You cannot leave here without seeing Buckton Palace. It's where the current Queen resides.”
Amaretto listened, amazed at how different everything was. She knew some of the facts of England, but this was not the same place that she grew up with across the Atlantic ocean. This was a different place altogether, with a different history and a different destiny. She was not sure if she could stomach the difference. The oddness of it all was the most disconcerting part. Talking with Tempus most certainly did not help her at all. Amaretto took a deep breath. Here they were in a place that looked like old England, acted like old England, but was not in fact old England.
At that moment, there was a hiss and a clanking sound. Johanna turned around and looked behind them all down the lane. The sky was no longer pelting rain, and the humidity was now causing the cobblestones to steam just a little. With a voice that was just above a whisper, “they are coming. I would suggest that we adjourn away from the street. This way the Iron Men will not see us.”
Alice nodded her head vigorously in agreement. “I don't think we should go into the clock shop though. We have to make sure that no one is found.”
Amaretto looked at Alice with confusion. “What do you mean?”
Katherine cut in, “Perhaps in the alley way?”
Alice looked over at the alley way and then grabbed Amaretto and hustled towards the thin space in between the buildings across the street with Johanna and Katherine following closely behind. As they bustled into the alley Johanna paused and looked around the side. “They are coming down the lane.”
Amaretto still looked concerned. “What's coming down the lane? What are you so worried about?”
Alice turned to Amaretto. “you've never heard of the Iron Men? How have you never heard of them?” Alice looked sternly and rather confused.
Katherine smoothly answered again. “We come from Indus. There is no need for them there.” Katherine spoke with a reserve and a hesitancy however when she said it. Amaretto suddenly realized that her aunt was trying to lie. Alice did not seem to notice.
Johanna spoke softly to Alice. “Not all of the colonies have them Alice. I know that Indus does not have them.”
Alice seemed to accept this and turned back to Amaretto and said, “Iron Men are the policing force here. They have been up in arms for days now because someone tried to kill the Chancellor.”
Amaretto looked to her aunt and Katherine and her aunt mouthed 'Prime Minister'. Amaretto nodded her understanding. She turned to ask her next question.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Grain...
Alice looked at Amaretto with a perplexed look. "Lightning? Why are you looking for lightning? The rain storm just ended some time ago."
Amaretto rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you have never heard the phrase?"
Johanna shook her head and Katherine placed a reassuring hand on her charge's shoulder. "You must remember Amaretto, that we have traveled quite far and they may have in fact never heard of the coloquialisms that we use."
Amaretto thought for a moment and them realized that her aunt was indeed right. This was a whole other place. Even if it looked like Victorian England, that did not mean that it was.
"I'm sorry," Amaretto said a little demurely. "My aunt Katherine is right. Forget what I said."
Alice smiled warmly and then moved to stand next to Amaretto, her red dress almost instantly clashing with Amaretto's own. "Don't worry about it. The Watchmaker said you would have some mannerisms that would be considered passing strange."
At that moment, Amaretto thought that the way Alice spoke was 'passing strange'. She looked to Katherine an her god mother smiled back. Katherine then turned to Alice and them said, "so the Watchmaker said you would show us around?"
Alice smiled. "Indeed."
Amaretto rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you have never heard the phrase?"
Johanna shook her head and Katherine placed a reassuring hand on her charge's shoulder. "You must remember Amaretto, that we have traveled quite far and they may have in fact never heard of the coloquialisms that we use."
Amaretto thought for a moment and them realized that her aunt was indeed right. This was a whole other place. Even if it looked like Victorian England, that did not mean that it was.
"I'm sorry," Amaretto said a little demurely. "My aunt Katherine is right. Forget what I said."
Alice smiled warmly and then moved to stand next to Amaretto, her red dress almost instantly clashing with Amaretto's own. "Don't worry about it. The Watchmaker said you would have some mannerisms that would be considered passing strange."
At that moment, Amaretto thought that the way Alice spoke was 'passing strange'. She looked to Katherine an her god mother smiled back. Katherine then turned to Alice and them said, "so the Watchmaker said you would show us around?"
Alice smiled. "Indeed."
Grain...
The Black carriage stopped in front of the watch shop and the two horses on front of the cab nickered. Amaretto looked to her aunt. Katherine raised an eyebrow in return. The man driving the cabbie jumped down from the front seat and came around to open the door on the side. As he opened the door, he doffed his cap and then put his hand out.
From inside the cab stepped a woman in a bright red dress with a small bustle on the back. Her blond hair was wound tightly into curls which draped from under a rather large brim hat that was draped with a small veil. Her hands, covered with long gloves made of lace trimed with fur, gracefully accepted the cabby's hand and stepped down from the carriage.
As the woman moved to the side, the cabbie held out his hand an another woman took his hand. This woman had long delicate hands and long straight black hair that had been brushed to an almost impossible shine. It was held back by a simple band of blue ribbon. She was wearing a governess dress that was easier on the eyes than the other woman's red. The navy colored silk however clung scanalously to her frame. Large brown eyes stared back at Amaretto, seemingly lidded by tiredness.
The blond lifted her hands and carefully pulled back the veil. With curious eyes she looked first at Katherine and then at Amaretto.
"Are you both friends of the Watchmaker then?" The blond looked at them both earnestly and Amaretto looked at her aunt for guidance.
Katherine smoothly turned what appeared to be confusion into confidence and said, "Indeed; we are both aquainted with him."
At this the blond smiled and said, "Wondeful. I am glad to see we arrive on time then." The woman put her gloved hand out to Katherine, who in turn grasped it and shook. "My name is Alice Crowley, and this is my friend Johanna Dee."
Katherine smiled in turn. "My name is Katherine and this in my neice Amaretto. A pleasure to meet you."
Amaretto blinked at Alice's candor and put her hands on her hips as she frowned. "Aren't you forward with information? How are you sure we are the ones that you are looking for?"
Alice looked at Amaretto with a blank look on her face. She turned to look at Johanna who held a blank expression. Her face was a perfect mask of neutrality.
With a frank tone, Johana proclaimed, "No one can lie about the Watchmaker."
Amaretto frowned and looked at Katherine. She then said in a rather sarcastic voice, "Tempus is the nicest person I have ever met." she raised her eyebrows and then said, "This whole trip is not the most unfair thing to ever happen to me." She looked up at the not so dreary sky and then looked at Alice and Johanna. "Where's the lightning?"
From inside the cab stepped a woman in a bright red dress with a small bustle on the back. Her blond hair was wound tightly into curls which draped from under a rather large brim hat that was draped with a small veil. Her hands, covered with long gloves made of lace trimed with fur, gracefully accepted the cabby's hand and stepped down from the carriage.
As the woman moved to the side, the cabbie held out his hand an another woman took his hand. This woman had long delicate hands and long straight black hair that had been brushed to an almost impossible shine. It was held back by a simple band of blue ribbon. She was wearing a governess dress that was easier on the eyes than the other woman's red. The navy colored silk however clung scanalously to her frame. Large brown eyes stared back at Amaretto, seemingly lidded by tiredness.
The blond lifted her hands and carefully pulled back the veil. With curious eyes she looked first at Katherine and then at Amaretto.
"Are you both friends of the Watchmaker then?" The blond looked at them both earnestly and Amaretto looked at her aunt for guidance.
Katherine smoothly turned what appeared to be confusion into confidence and said, "Indeed; we are both aquainted with him."
At this the blond smiled and said, "Wondeful. I am glad to see we arrive on time then." The woman put her gloved hand out to Katherine, who in turn grasped it and shook. "My name is Alice Crowley, and this is my friend Johanna Dee."
Katherine smiled in turn. "My name is Katherine and this in my neice Amaretto. A pleasure to meet you."
Amaretto blinked at Alice's candor and put her hands on her hips as she frowned. "Aren't you forward with information? How are you sure we are the ones that you are looking for?"
Alice looked at Amaretto with a blank look on her face. She turned to look at Johanna who held a blank expression. Her face was a perfect mask of neutrality.
With a frank tone, Johana proclaimed, "No one can lie about the Watchmaker."
Amaretto frowned and looked at Katherine. She then said in a rather sarcastic voice, "Tempus is the nicest person I have ever met." she raised her eyebrows and then said, "This whole trip is not the most unfair thing to ever happen to me." She looked up at the not so dreary sky and then looked at Alice and Johanna. "Where's the lightning?"
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