Zeetha thoughtfully took a sip of wine. “They said ‘for her own protection.’ What was that about?”
Wooster glanced at the nearest table—occupied by a single old man apparently engrossed in his newspaper. An odd feeling of déjà vu flickered across his mind. Agatha cleared her throat and Wooster leaned forward and lowered his voice. “The castle is haunted.”
The ladies stared at him blankly. Wooster looked embarrassed. “Well, I guess that’s the easiest way to explain it.”
Agatha looked skeptical. “Easy is rarely accurate.”
Wooster sighed and looked about to signal the waiter for a refill. Agatha handed him hers. “Right. Some of this is common knowledge, some is from the Baron’s files.” A troubled look flitted across his face. “I doubt it’s important enough that they would have bothered to make false files…”6
Wooster collected his thoughts. “Castle Heterodyne is purported to be a single, gigantic mechanism. In its heyday, it was apparently one of the Seven Mad Wonders of the World.7 Details are a little sketchy, as the Heterodyne Boys never talked about it much and their predecessors didn’t encourage tourism. But from anecdotal evidence, it was quite amazing.
“Overnight guests spoke of awakening to discover their rooms in a completely different part of the castle. There were reports of mysterious voices and invisible servants. Intruders found themselves lost inside it for weeks, if they didn’t disappear entirely.
“After the attack, it lay broken and abandoned for years. The locals refused to go near it.
“Eventually a young professor from Transylvania Polygnostic University led a team of researchers inside.8 Their objectives were the Great Library and any other research notes they could salvage.
“Once they were deep inside, the Castle spoke to them. It demanded to be repaired. One of the team members spoke up against the idea, and the Castle made it clear that this was not a request.
“Six months later, one of the assistants finally emerged, much the worse for wear. In that time, the town had been taken by the Baron. The assistant explained that the Castle was directing its own repairs, but in an extremely haphazard manner. The job would take years.
“The food stores had run out and the assistant had been sent out to procure more food, tools, materials, and, if possible, more labor.
“The Baron had an idea. He managed to negotiate with the Castle, who actually remembered him as an associate of the Heterodyne Boys, and he got the professor and his remaining people out.
“To replace them, he offered to send in actual Sparks, which the Castle could direct as it saw fit. Ever since then, the Baron has used it as the ultimate punishment detail. I have to assume that once it’s been made safe, he plans on looting it himself.”
Wooster sat back and took another drink. Agatha slowly shook her head. “I’ve never heard about any of this.” She paused. “One of the Heterodyne Boys novels,9 The Heterodyne Boys and the 20,000 League Boots, mentions that they had an invisible servant in their castle, but that was one of the parts I never took seriously.”
Wooster nodded. “It is easy enough for the Baron to keep it a secret, of sorts. Those people who don’t believe that the place is haunted just think that the place is full of booby traps.”
Agatha frowned. “But the Baron has had people working inside it for how long?”
Wooster did a quick calculation in his head. “Almost fourteen years, I believe.”
“And people believe the place is still booby trapped after fourteen years?”
Wooster nodded. “Who is going to tell them otherwise? The locals? This is Castle Heterodyne. It’s a point of pride for them.”
Agatha sat back. “Well, if it remembered the Baron, perhaps—”
At that moment, Krosp dashed around a corner, scrambled under the chair of the old man reading his paper, and leapt straight onto the table. “Agatha!”
Agatha dropped her fork. “Quiet,” she hissed. “Someone will hear!” Indeed, the old man was regarding the agitated cat with astonishment.
Krosp glanced at him and waved a paw dismissively. “In a minute he isn’t going to care about a talking cat!” He grabbed Agatha’s sleeve and tried to drag her along behind. “Come on!”
Wooster quickly dropped a few coins on the table while Zeetha cheerfully stuffed the rest of her quiche in her mouth and they all rose to follow.
“What’s happening?” Wooster asked.
Krosp continued to pull Agatha along. “You know how everyone in town is buzzing about how the Heterodyne heir is coming?”
“Of course,” Agatha muttered. “We—”
Krosp jerked her around a final corner. “She’s here!”
And indeed she was.
It was one of the larger squares in the town. In the center was the famous cast iron statue of the Heterodyne Boys—jaunty grins on their faces, giving their famous “thumbs up” salute.
The square was packed with people—townspeople and tourists alike—with more pouring in every second. Floating directly overhead was a small airship, newly minted, if the gleam still on its engines was any indication. It was astonishing both for the large gold trilobites emblazoned upon the sides of its gasbag, and the fact that said gasbag was a shockingly vivid pink.
The girl standing proudly upon the statue’s pedestal—with the Boys towering behind her beaming down approvingly—was almost as pink herself.
Her outfit was a splendid confection straight from the overly-fussy fashion houses of Vienna, with a full skirt, puff sleeves, and a high collar, all framing a round, rosy face. Golden trilobites were scattered about her outfit, even nestled in her shimmering blonde hair.
Her voice, which was obviously being boosted by some unseen mechanism, was high, clear, and rang with noble sincerity.
“Greetings, people of Mechanicsburg! I am the Lady Zola Heterodyne—” There was a murmur of surprise from the crowd at this, which quickly died down. “—daughter of William Heterodyne! At long last, I have returned to my home!”
This got a burst of applause—discreetly led by the ring of men that Agatha now noticed surrounding the statue’s base. They were all of a single mold: tall, weirdly slim, dressed in dark frock coats and striped shirts, with matching stovepipe hats nearly as tall and narrow as themselves. Their eyes were covered with black smoked goggles. Each man held a different, uniquely odd machine—each machine clearly the work of a Spark.
“I have long been in hiding, for there are many who have vowed to destroy me!” This provoked another burst of noise from the crowd. “But now, the Baron lies injured! Powerless! He can no longer defend the Empire, let alone my beloved Mechanicsburg!”
Silence washed over the square now. This was dangerous talk. “I fear that his incapacity will lead to war that will threaten this place—this beloved town of my ancestors! I have a duty to you, my people! There will be danger, but I will face it, for I must protect my city!”
She squared her shoulders and looked adorably resolute. “Thus, despite the risk to my person, I return to claim my own—and I begin with Castle Heterodyne! Come along and bear witness, for a new era begins!” And with that she unhesitatingly leapt from the base of the statue, provoking a gasp from the crowd which turned into cheers as she was effortlessly caught by two of the tall men awaiting her below.
The girl took her place at the head of a procession, surrounded by a phalanx of her tall dark men—the still-growing crowd falling in behind her. With a roar, they swept out of the square and followed her towards the castle gates.
Zeetha turned and saw Agatha staring, her mouth agape. She reached over and pushed Agatha’s mouth closed with a delicately outstretched finger. “Do try to face the new era with some dignity,” she advised.