Volume Eleven
Chapter Three
Pachyderm Pursuit
In which Dodger decides
what course to take
Ched decided to remain aboard the line, sighting his intense
dislike for crowds. Dodger reckoned it was for the best, considering most folks
disliked Ched’s presence. Boon once again refused to depart from PAUL, and considering
the tension between the lovers, no one argued with him. On the other side of
things, Lelanea begged Dodger to force Torque to remain on the line as well,
not wishing to deal with the mechanical man’s untoward affections. Dodger took
pity on her situation and did as asked, though he was sorely tempted to unleash
the clockwork fanatic on her just to see what would happen.
Bigby insisted on introducing the entire circus crew before
he got around to sharing the kidnapping tale. From the acrobats and the sharp
shooters, the strong man to the clowns, the crew of the Sleipnir got a warm
handshake from every single member of the circus. Sarah enjoyed the
interaction, while the doc giggled nearly as much as the little girl. Before
the owner could move on to his menagerie of animals, Dodger reminded the man
that the crew were already running on borrowed time. This seemed to kick the
Frenchman back into gear, and he led the group to his personal caravan. Once
everyone settled into the small office, Bigby asked Duncan to share the torrid
tale.
According to Duncan, the circus was headed back to their
home base for a few weeks of recuperation after a turn of big springtime shows
along the west coast. A day prior to the train’s arrival, the campsite was
approached by a pretty young redhead on horseback—Kitty, no doubt—inquiring
about the circus’s elephant. Bigby explained that the circus was on a break,
and the animals weren’t currently available for display. The redhead countered
with a generous offer for the elephant, sight unseen, on behalf of an anonymous
benefactor. The Frenchman turned down her offer, thanking her and her
benefactor, assuring her Baby was not for sale.
The redhead wouldn’t take no for an answer, and drew down on
Bigby in front of his entire troop. Duncan was the only one armed and responded
in kind by drawing his weapon on her. He also upped his size to an impressive height,
towering over both her and her mare. This seemed to put the fear of God into
the woman, for she returned her weapons to their hostlers and apologized for
her behavior, blaming the heat of the day for her rash actions. Duncan kept his
size up and his guns trained on her as she retreated, and that seemed to be
that.
Only, when the night came on, the redheaded rider returned
with two dozen well-armed men at her side. She held Bigby and some of the
others at gunpoint, once again demanding the elephant. Bigby boldly refused,
which earned him a bullet in the lower leg. Rex’s men then descended on the
circus, tearing the place to shreds as the troop watched on, helpless to intervene.
Duncan and the others wanted to fight back, but with lives on the line there
was little they could do. Once the bullies had torn the place apart, they put
some kind of metal contraption at the back of Baby’s neck and lead her away
from the circus. To Bigby’s surprise and grief, the elephant obeyed the
commands of her new masters and followed some of the men due south. The redhead
kept most of the armed men behind with her, remaining just long enough to give
the others a good head start. The last thing she said was this:
“Commander Rex thanks you for your willing participation.”
After which she flung a handful of gold coins at the owner
and left with the other riders.
“Oh my,” the doc said, once Duncan was finished. “That is an
awful story.”
“Explains why the place is in tatters,” Lelanea said.
“Oui,” Bigby said, looking around his ruined office. “Not
only did they steal my Baby, they almost destroyed my circus. But the tents and
other things are just that—things. I would give my own life to know my Baby is
safe once more.”
“You say they paid in gold?” Dodger said. “Do you mind I
take a look?”
The Frenchman opened a desk drawer, grabbed something from
inside, then flipped the thing to Dodger. It spun in the air between them,
sparkling as it arched across the office. Dodger caught it, mid-flight, then
held the thing up to the light.
A small circle of yellow gleamed between his forefinger and
thumb. The half he held toward him bore the profile of an older, distinguished
looking gentleman, the portrait of someone Dodger didn’t recognize. The other
side showed a small dog’s rump, wagging its tail. Cute. Dodger pushed his nail
against it, feeling it give way just a bit. It was gold, all right. A special
made coin for a special mad man.
“You mind if I hang onto this for a while?” Dodger said.
“Go ahead,” Bigby said. “I don’t want her filthy money
anyways.”
Dodger tucked the coin into his pocket. “You say they went
due south, huh?”
“Yes, sir,” Duncan said. “I can’t believe they got Baby to go
with them. She is smart but she’s headstrong. They lead that elephant out of
here without a problem. I’ve never seen anyone get Baby to do something so
easy.”
“I am certain the device has something to do with it,” the
doc said. “Probably some form of mind controlling device.”
“Mind control?” Bigby said.
“It’s kind of hard to explain,” Dodger said. “How long ago
did you say this happened?”
“I reckon it was about five in the morning,” Duncan said.
“Has anyone tried to go after them yet?”
“Not yet,” Duncan said. “We were waiting for sunrise. In
fact, we were just in the process of forming a posse when I spotted the train.”
The doc pulled his pocket watch. “It’s half past eight now. Is
your elephant specially trained or enhanced in any way for speedy travel?”
Bigby blinked, as if unsure what the question meant. “Non?”
“Good.” The doc pushed his watch back into his vest pocket.
“African or Asian?”
“African.”
“Excellent. Considering the average top speed of the African
elephant is around eleven miles an hour, and taking into account her unusual
size, I estimate they are no further than thirty miles from here. Forty at the
most.”
Bigby leaned into Dodger. “He just happens to know that?”
“He happens to know a lot of things,” Dodger said.
“No doubt.”
“Shouldn’t be too much trouble to reach them,” the doc said.
“Thirty miles will take some time,” Duncan said.
“Thirty miles in the Rhino is a breeze,” Dodger said.
“A rhino?” Bigby said. “As in a rhinoceros?”
“Precisely,” the doc said, ignoring the man’s obvious
confusion. “Now, please describe the mind control device to me.”
“It was a curved metal strip,” Duncan said, “about yeah long
and so wide.” Duncan held his hands out about a foot apart, then switched them
to a few inches atop one another.
“How did they attach it to the elephant?”
“A couple of the men lassoed her by the legs, while one of
them crawled up on her back and slapped it on her neck. I don’t know how the
thing stayed in place ‘cause she sure kicked up a fuss the whole time. But once
they had it where they wanted it, the man on her back told her to calm down and
she did. Just like that.” Duncan snapped for emphasis.
“I see. The control unit is probably held in place by either
barbs or some kind of pressure point system.”
“Barbs?” Bigby said, going pale at the thought.
“Unfortunately,” the doc said. “Don’t worry about it too
much. If that maniac wanted your elephant injured, he would have done just that
very thing long before now. And I should have something in my lab that should
be able to counteract it.”
“Great,” Dodger said. “Duncan, who were you plannin’ on taking
with you?”
“Gerald and Doug,” Duncan said, counting off names on his
right hand. “Oh and Alice and Andy.”
“Any of them good with a gun?”
“Alice and Andy are our show’s sharpshooters.”
“That’ll come in handy. Maybe we should bring the Long Shot?”
“Excellent thinking,” the doc said. “Six are a tight fit in
the Rhino.”
“Four can go with me, and two can follow on horseback.”
“I am going as well,” Bigby said.
Dodger raised his hand. “I think you should remain here,
sir.”
“I will not sit here while my Baby-”
“Monsieur Bigby,” the doc said. “I know you are concerned
about your elephant, but you needn’t worry. I trust Mr. Dodger with not only my
life, but the lives of my family. He will find and return your Baby to you,
completely unharmed.”
The Frenchman visibly relaxed at the doc’s words.
Dodger only wished the professor hadn’t laid it on so thick.
Completely unharmed? What an expectation.
“Ah, oui,” Bigby said. “That does make me feel much better. I
trust you, Monsieur Dodger. Merci.”
“You’re welcome, sir,” Dodger said. “But you might want to
save your thanks until we are back. Get your folks together, Duncan. I’ll bring
the Rhino around.”
“Will do.”
Once Duncan left, Bigby offered to show the doc and Sarah
around the circus a bit more. Both of them jumped at the chance, and departed
from the small office with the Frenchman, leaving Lelanea and Dodger behind.
“Are you not coming, Miss L?” Sarah said from the bottom
step of the caravan.
Dodger glanced to Lelanea, unsure if she approved of such a
nickname.
“Not just now,” Lelanea said. “I need to talk to Dodger for
a minute.”
“Oh,” Sarah said, giving a little frown. Her disappointment
was soon replaced by more giggling as a pair of garish clowns distracted her.
(click forward to continue chapter)
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