Summer of the Moon Flower (The de Vargas Family) Read Online Free PDF

reverently to the Five, before turning to the knights in
front of him. His mouth was dry and he cursed himself for not taking a sip of
ale before he rose.
    “My Great Leader, I have difficult news to impart.
Our intelligence was correct; the shipment arrived in Vienna as expected.” He
closed his eyes briefly, as his mind worked furiously. He was going to have to
be very accurate in his representation of events at the Westbahnhof as the
automatons would have an analogue record of all that had occurred. He assumed
they were fitted with miniature analytical engines, as wealth was no hindrance
for this Council. He could only hope they were placed at such an angle so they
did not see the woman’s hair fall from her helmet, nor record him retrieving
the glove from the floor outside the last exit after she had escaped.
    “The product was collected at the station
by a courier and we were unable to follow it to its destination as we were
otherwise occupied”— he turned and inclined his heads to the automatons—“attempting
to catch the observer at the station. Our mechanical friends were unable to
hold that person and even though I gave chase, he managed to elude us, making
good use of the darkness of the early dawn.”
    Bowing, he deferred to the mechanical men
flanking the Leader. “Perhaps they observed more than I was able to see when I
gave chase?”
    He swallowed nervously, to moisten his dry
throat and waited for the automaton to correct his version of the night’s
events.
    The one on the left turned to the leader
and extended his mechanical arms. A low rumbling came from his chest and a
short clipped voice followed.
    “Observe, if you please.”
    There was a series of gasps from the
assembled man as the Leader reached over and turned the cog on the top of the
automaton’s chest and a small screen slid out slowly in front of the five men
sitting at the table. Dougal’s heart pounded as they watched the events at the
station play out. Clenching his jaw, he kept his face impassive as he stared
silently at the men in front of him. As light reflected from their faces,
Dougal was able to keep up with the events that were being reenacted on the
square glass.
    As the light shone from the dirigible,
Dougal had looked down and seen the blonde tress fall from the observer’s
helmet at the same time the automatons had moved out of the shadows. He waited
for the Leader to speak, but the Five watched silently.
    Dear God, please let it be too dark to let
them see me pick up the glove. His jaw ached from the effort of keeping his
face emotionless.
    The cogs whirred and with a loud click, the
automaton closed his chest plate. The Leader of the Great Council stood and
stepped to the centre of the platform. Dougal held his breath, his heart
thudding slowly as he kept his gaze locked on their leader without breaking eye
contact. The cold eyes of the old man stared at him for a full minute before
the Leader turned away and addressed the men assembled.
    “We need to select another to join the Earl
of Rothmore. Is there one among you, eager to co-operate in the venture to
achieve our goal?” He looked across the small gathering and his gaze rested on
Edward, the young usher who had assisted Dougal to set up the Hall.
    “I will, your Lordship.” His voice was
eager.
    “It will no doubt be dangerous,” replied
the old man. He stroked his long white beard and considered the young man for
several moments.
    “Is there no one of greater years who
wishes to join?” He paused and looked solemnly at the men.
    To Dougal’s surprise, none met his eye. No
one else stepped forward.
    The Leader held both arms out, pointing to
the young usher and to Dougal.
    “Come, my Lords.” Turning, he reached for
the jug of wine, poured earlier by Dougal from the vat he had collected from
the Inn, and waited as the two young men made their way to the table. The
Leader ushered them to the middle of the floor and stood between them, reaching
up and