Lecturer EamorieDepartment of AntiquitiesByronton UniversityAP Box 2 Dear Professor, I’m sorry to inform that I will be delayed in reaching the University; I was riding the evening train to Byronton when it unexpectedly lost its forward locomotion. We (that is to say the passengers) were informed (that is to say, by the conductor) that there… Continue reading

Ronald stayed up far into the night studying the automaton’s description of the system that powered it. It had been Professor Q’s innovation, and one which he had not shared with Ronald. Still, he wanted to present the professor with the solution to the puzzle of how Doctor Witherspoon’s pocketwatch-sized device had disabled Elektra. Ronald… Continue reading

Doctor Witherspoon, having arisen at his usual hour and dawdled over his newspaper, his breakfast, and the day’s wardrobe, was forced to ask the driver of the steam taxi to hurry to Harrow’s in order not to be late to his first appointment. Harrow’s was the financial institution — considerably more than just a bank,… Continue reading

The next morning, Imelda and Fritz were in the laboratory early, well before Doctor Witherspoon had even awakened. This was normal, of course; one of the eccentricities cultivated by inventors — especially the more wealthy of them, which certainly fitted Witherspoon — was rising late and dallying over eggs, bacon, toast, and tea while reading… Continue reading

Ronald spent the next two days and nights in the laboratory, first disassembling the automaton’s components even further, looking for jammed gear trains, wobbles in tiny jeweled flywheels, checking intricate glass parts for cracks, and testing India rubber seals for leaks. Finding nothing, he began to reassemble Elektra. When the gleaming figure was complete, Ronald… Continue reading

“Ronald! Ronald, come here immediately!”  “On my way, Professor,” came the reply from the storeroom. Ronald emerged, carrying a jeroboam of the acetic acid Professor Q had sent him to fetch. He set the large bottle down carefully and rushed to the Professor’s side. “Look at this, Ronald, just look!” The professor indicated his shoes.… Continue reading