Phoenix Rising Read Online Free PDF Page B

safety of his desk drawer, the two figures had descended two of the four storeys. He could just make out the larger man’s chuckling to the smaller figure trailing behind him. From the man’s gait, it could only be the Director, Doctor Basil Sound.
    Here it comes, Wellington.
    Should he prepare a spot of tea for him and his assistant? Or would that appear ostentatious? How many other department heads did so on surprise inspections, unless it were to soften a pending hammer blow or butter up the Director in order to gain something? Then again, apart from his own department and the clankertons, how many other departments were there in the Ministry, really?
    One storey remaining . . .
    Wellington yanked out the concealed blotter again, followed his fingers down to the desired sequence, and then punched it into the difference engine. With his thumb depressing the “3” key, a quick burst of steam drowned out the concerto for an instant and then the device clicked and purred while No. 1 in A Minor continued to play uninterrupted.
    â€œI say, Wellington, you are full of surprises.” Doctor Sound beamed, and immediately the Archivist was on the defensive. “I should have known you had also provided this difference engine of yours a library of music.” He allowed his hand to float in time with the music. “Johann Sebastian Bach, I do believe. One of my favorites. ‘Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Major.’ ”
    Wellington cleared his throat, “Minor, sir.”
    Doctor Sound’s conducting stopped. His wiggled his fingers as he glanced over his shoulder and then back to Wellington. “Ah, yes. Quite.” He then quickly turned behind him to motion to the second figure lurking in the shadows. “Now come along, it’s not like we are strangers here.”
    His back suddenly wrenched upward at the sight of his Angel of Destruction, Field Agent Eliza D. Braun, who seemed preoccupied at the vastness of her surroundings.
    â€œAgent Braun!” Wellington brushed off his hands and extended one towards the striking field agent. “I can now properly thank you for saving my life.”
    Her heard turned quickly to look at him and the look of awe vanished. “Yes. Not bad for an idiot, eh, Agent Books?” The bitter edge was obvious in her voice.
    So, she hadn’t forgotten.
    Now it was Wellington’s turn to fidget. “Ah, yes, well . . . words uttered in the heat of the moment. I do apologize if you took them as a slight to your character.”
    Her eyebrows rose. “And pray, how else was I supposed to take them?”
    â€œNow, now, Agent Braun,” Doctor Sound chided. “Our boy Wellington here was out of sorts. I mean, how would you feel if you were entering in a pub one moment with high hopes and expectations for an evening of fine dining and companionship, only to awaken mere moments later in the hands of our most formidable opponents, bound for Antarctica?”
    Bach’s concerto concluded there. Wellington depressed the “Stop” key, leaving only the constant dripping to interrupt the heavy solitude.
    â€œSounds like you have a leak somewhere, Books.” Braun shattered the quiet. “You should have that seen to.”
    Wellington opened his mouth as if to reply, only to have his words kept at bay by Doctor Sound. “Agent Books, as a token of gratitude to Agent Braun here, would you mind giving us a brief tour of the Archives?”
    â€œYes, Director. Agent Braun, follow me, if you please.” The Archivist forced a smile and motioned with his hand towards rows of gaslight lanterns that extended into the darkness. He felt a muscle twitch in his jaw, just for a moment. Wellington eventually did break the silence; and even to his ears, his words sounded rehearsed. “Welcome to the Archives. In this section of the Ministry, we catalogue all case notes and related artifacts. Obviously, some years are more