Fellowship With No Rings?

Kaze speaks quckly.

"Saburo is injured. And Mr. Voinovich's lungs were damaged in the Great War."

She slides off an exquisite gold and jade bracelet and hands it to Van Cortlandt. Bows.

Van Cortlandt is taken aback.

"Now, hold on," he says, spreading his hands so as not to touch the bracelet. "I'm out of the fee for service business. For Grimnoir, especially. I can repair gas and blast damage for Mr. Voinovich -- are you going to introduce me? -- and Saburo's got nothing that I can't ..."

He takes another look, then whistles.

"Whew ... that burn on the side is a strange one. Did he -- was there a tattoo there, with mystic significance? Because there are blood vessels leading to it that nobody should have."

Kaze takes a calming breath. And then another.

"Mr. van Cortland, I should like to introduce Saburo, late of the Shadow Guard and a former classmate.He considers himself masterless now, but we share a common enemy."

"Miss Tane and Mr. Voinovich were, indeed, recruited as Grimnoir by Mr. Richter very recently. They do wish to fight the Imperials who are responsible for the deaths of several friends. They have taken the oath."

Nodding to Saburo:

"Yes, there was a tattoo there. It drew great power from the source of magic--but it also allowed the power-stealer, his former master, to locate him . so he burned it off, rather than endanger us."

Fuji said earlier, "Van Cortlandt never mentions he's a Healer. He enjoys the reaction when people find out."

Sky smiles, not because he is no longer in pain, but because he realizes that any chump not knowing Van Cortlandt is a Healer can be conned into a sucker bet at twelve to one!

(A secondary reason to keep the secrets of the Grimnoir is to avoid being impoverished by sucker bets with guys what know the score.)

Van Cortlandt: "With fifteen Knights, I think we can undertake to rescue Ron Richter. These Imperium types are operating in the U.S. illegally, I think it's safe to say. Any reason not to bring in the police or the BI, or perhaps the Army?"

Voinovich says, "We, Christine and I, are wanted in four states. But if you think you need the police's help, just give us a few hours' head start."

Van Cortlandt: "If you're good enough for Richter, you're good enough for me. We won't give you up to the law."

"Belle Weather, can you help our little airship make good time to St. Louis? We don't know how long Richter's got left. Because as soon as the Imperials find out all they can from him, well, they have no further reason to keep him alive."

Voinovich: "I hate to insist, but those rings you wear may be pointing out our location to the enemy. I respectfully request they be left behind."

Things Happen Quickly in New York

Janet steps forward "Richter was taken by the tattoo man. He was in pretty bad shape, and we suspect they took him to one of their Active schools. Richter left Sky in charge, but he don't like it much, so the fake Richter moved it to me. So we don't really have anyone "in charge" at the moment."

Van Cortlandt smooths one side of his moustache with a finger.

"No one in charge, eh?" he says. "Well, that's Atlanta's worry. Although you certainly have been recruiting ... that fellow over there has Shadow Guard tattoos, you know. But the Imperials have one of our Knights, and they're taking him to a school, you say? Fuji, what do you think of that?"

A sumo in layers of creaking armor has floated down beside Van Cortlandt as softly as a feather.

Fuji says, "Bad practice, Boss. If they get away with it, they will think they can do what they like in our territory. And some of them, maybe most of them, will do just that, at least once, to see how it feels."

Van Cortlandt nods.

"I assume the Southern Knights want to get him back. The Gee-Bee can get us to this school in a day or so; plenty of time to consult with San Francisco, and for all we know, maybe Europe."

He steps close to Sky and studies him intently, one finger crooked on his, Van Cortlandt's, chin.

"Oh, that's what it is. You've got a bad case of dehydration, pal, right down to your bones."

He puts two fingers on Sky's face. Sky feels a rush of heat, then the total absence of his second-degree burns, which is as much of a lift as champagne from a magnum while cutting the rug with a dame who's lucky to be around.

Van Cortlandt nods in satisfaction.

"That will hold you," he pronounces. "Let me see that leg, Mister," he says to Voinovich. "And that leg, too, Sonny-Boy. Janet, you've got some serious burns on your back; I'll attend to those first. As for the rest of you, any pain you're carrying you'd rather be rid of?"

Fuji smiles.

To Kaze, he says,

"Van Cortlandt never mentions he's a Healer. He enjoys the reaction when people find out."

Do Not Trust Everyone

She looks at her comrades. The Western ones.
"That is how Americans speak, is it not?"

Van Cortlandt: "Okay, I see a guy in a white hat smoking a cigarette. Is that you?"

Sky says, "What do you want to bet it's me? I'll give you five to three it's not."

When Voinovich nods at Kaze, she says, "Indeed, that is Mr. Masterson."
"The fire was their doing so it is advisable to extinguish it."
"Moments ago, we received a call, probably from their leader on Mr. Richter's ring, pretending to be Mr. Browning. He ordered us to San Francisco to assist in its defense against a major attack. I do not know if he has contacted other groups"

"It is likely they are at a training school. We know the location."

She adds:

"In addition to our original number, we have another. Saburo. A thorn. He fights with us."

Van Cortlandt: "Wait, WHAT happened in San Francisco? And who has one of our ... you know what? Never mind. We'll answer everything face to face, when we're sure we're really us."

The fire dissolves as though by magic.

The Gee Bee turns sideways and starts drifting down to land. It seems to take forever.

Van Cortlandt says: "Air temp's dropping. We don't want to crunch this ship into the deck. Can you compensate?"

Voinovich: "That's me. I'm keeping my wound cold to control it. I can stop, if that's absolutely necessary."

Sky: "Wait, WHAT? Browning was not a fake! He relieved me of command! If he's a fake, then I'm in charge, and if I'm in charge, I officially say he is not a fake!

"Um. Uh --what first tipped us off to the idear that he was a fake? Anyone? Casey? Kay Zee? How do you say your name again?"

"Kah-zhe, Mr. Masterson."

"As to how we know the person to whom we spoke was simply masquerading as Mr. Browning:

"His syntax was in the manner of someone who was not well-versed in English. The sentence structure was much more reminiscent of that of our own Japanese language. Most have not or are not given the attention to detail in the study of Western languages."

"His use of honorifics, too, showed a distinct awkwardness."

"His attempt to get us to divulge information--and, unless I am mistaken, the mobile base stratagem is not one that the Knights of San Francisco employ. Very clever to get him to show his hand that way.

"He did not know Janet's proper name. He was unfamiliar with the colloquialism, 'Missy.'"

"He did, however, know Saburo's name."

"And, finally, when I gave him a bow of courtesy, he returned it, although he tried to prevent himself from doing so."

Voinovich smiles.

"But apart from all that, it's mere guesswork," he says. "But if he can speak through your rings, he might be able to find you through your rings. If we head straight for St. Louis, he will know it."

"Might I suggest the rings be sent off in another direction, or left here?"

Van Cortlandt climbs a ladder to the ground. He's slim, short, has a pencil moustache and uses hair oil.

"Ron Richter was supposed to be in charge," Van Cortlandt says quickly. "I don't see him. Who's the boss and what's the skinny? Seems like we got here after the emergency's over."

Allies Aloft

Kaze looks around for cover--and to size up the terrain.

Janet cancels the connection on her ring. She feels uneasy that the impostor was looking at her when he spoke his last commends, but decides to talk it over with the others once they knew what this airship was about. In the mean time, she joins Kaze in looking for a hiding place, and encouraged the others to do the same.

There are many hiding places in the ruined forest, and many pools of shadow under fallen trees. Anyone who does not want to be seen won't be.

Voinovich spies the airship first, and points silently.

The ship is a two-engine framework job, with engines and gondola outside the gas envelope. The engines are huge, boomed well away from the hull to clear their massive propellers. Although not suited for heavy weather, this airship is fast and highly manueverable. A short-distance delivery or stunt ship, then. Airship enthusiasts (or veterans, like Belle) recognize it as a Curtis GeeBee. Six seats, 150 mph, 1000 mile range with full fuel tanks. It doesn't sail well without fuel.

The ship circles. Everyone's rings tingle again.

Kaze raises one delicate eyebrow.

Then she finds cover and answers the ring's summons.

Sky to Voinovich: "I lay you better than even money that we make that two thousand miles in time, and that Browning had it all laid out, clean as a whistle. What do you say, two cee notes at three-to-five?"

He is pulling out his roll of twenties when the airship motors are heard overhead. He looks up, frowns, then shrugs and smiles a rueful smile and puts the roll away. "Never mind. It was a sucker bet anyway."

Kaze's ring forms a blurry pattern; she hasn't mastered the scrying spell yet.

"Your connection awful," says a crop-haired fellow with thick glasses, really more like goggles. "Wait one."

He does his own scrying spell in the air, and the connection clears. Kaze can see four more faces gathered around.

"That's better," says the goggled man. "I'm Van Cortlandt, from New York. I've got four with me, plus our pilot, Mr. Kent. Victoria's Massive, Tojiro's a Brute, Angie's a Cog, and Lauren's the best Torch you'd ever want on your side. You've got fire below - can we put it out so we can land, or do you need the fire for some reason? If that's the case, we can drop ropes and haul you aboard, but if anyone's wounded, that's going to be painful."

"Oh, and before we set down, someone show himself. I don't have any idea where you are."

A Conversation in the Ozarks

Kaze says: "The tattooed man's name is Hitomi. He is using a Bottomless Well kanji to tap the source of magic, to keep him replenished. His method for drawing different powers is the same as the chairman's. It can be learned.

 Hitomi has also captured Richter, who is near death from burns. Our plan -was- to rescue him from a school they run in St. Louis, but it is possible Hitomi has him in San Francisco, yes?

"One of their number is fighting with us now. A thorn. I know him. Also Mr. Voinovich and Miss Tane are with us."

Browning's image says: "Saburo survived? Excellent! To our secret headquarters in San Francisco, bring him, along with your other auxiliaries, and we will yet see our enemies broken. Some of you must know where it is."

Michael says: "Of course we don't know where it is. It's mobile. I'm surprised you, of all people, would forget something like that Mr. Browning."

Kaze arches a delicate eyebrow at Mr. Browning's speech--particularly when he mentions Saburo by name.

"I am impressed with the Grimnoir's intelligence. Our actives operate clandestinely, of course."

She gives an honorific bow which, in Japanese culture, would demand one in return.

Browning's image dips slightly, then recovers.

Browning: "You said there were not Grimnoir persons present, Mister Michael. I wished to avoid exposing our secrets by speaking past the matter rather than directly toward it. But now it is done, completing your mission must be to save what remains."

Kaze: "Naturally, we will meet you as soon as possible," she says smoothly.
She drops her eyes appropriately and scans the area around "Browning's" image for any signs of Richter.

Sky says, "By the way, Mr Browning, I got put in charge of this little outfit by mistake, but giving orders is really the kind of thing flatfoots do, if you take my meaning. I'll lay to twelve to seven the little Missy here would do better 'n me, on account of she knows these jaspers, whereas I finds myself unable to keep track without a racing form."

Browning: "It is not for you to question the assignment your superiors make, Mr. Sky! But in this case, your unwillingness to shoulder the burden of command indeed disqualifies you to exercise it. Missy, take charge of your detachment and bring them to San Francisco to assist us!"

That last was directed to Janet; his image was speaking directly to her when he told her to take command.

Voinovich to Sky, quietly: "I don't know you people, but how does he really expect us to get 2000 miles in time to do anything about his problem? Your boss might be too excited to think straight."

The whirring drone of airship motors becomes audible from the east.

From Afar

Janet puts her ring in the center of a diagram in the dust. The dust rises to form the vague outline of a human head. Gradually the dust motes settle down into a jumpy image of a bearded, long-faced man with deep-set, piercing eyes. It is the face of John Moses Browning, head of the San Francisco Grimnoir.

"The Imperials have attacked San Francisco," he says without preamble. "Many Grimnoir knights are dead. They are led by a man covered with kanji, who is learning our Powers in a fatal process. We cannot oppose him, but some may yet be saved. Come at once!"

Rails or Roads?

Sky takes Kaze to one side and says, "Listen you seems to have an enlightenmental aptitude for what's going down, whereas I am a gambler who wears brass knuckles. Whenever youse has gots any idears about what our missing leader would be wanting us to do as a team, you tell me, and don't be shy. Because I aint never lead nobody except a boy scout patrol once, and then the senior patrol leader found out about the gambling ring I was running using merit badges for chips, which gots me thrown out of the scouts. See?

"St. Louis, Missouri, is a significant nexus for food distribution, primarily beef cattle. The American rail system has the characteristic--in this case a virtue--of somewhat chaotic scheduling. A major road, such as that which would lead to St. Louis and we would therefore travel, must many times encounter such locomotives and their trucks as the lines would logically parallel. Should the opportunity present itself, I would suggest we avail ourselves of this inconspicuous transport--although our clothes..." she glances at the snappy if travel-worn garments "...would ideally be exchanged before boarding."

"An alternative would be to simply slip aboard an ordinary carrier---but whatever we do, we should certainly 'ditch' this vehicle."

Everyone's Grimnoir rings buzz, in a manner familiar to owners of cell phones but pretty unusual in 1934. Unless you work on the railroad and feel the rails buzz when a train ten miles down the track hits the brakes -- it's said to really make your teeth rattle.

Anyhow. This is the signal for someone to use the communication spell to receive an incoming message. It takes a bit of magic to do, so anyone who's tapped out for now can't do it.

Does anyone sketch the spell in the dirt, or on a racing form, or something? Or not? You're pretty sure you're supposed to answer Grimnoir messages.

Saburo Explains

Sky says, "Mr. Voinovich! Your suggestion is an excellent one! Everyone -- ah! -- do the things you need to do to get ready! Clean and reload your weapons, sharpen your swords, make our your wills, straighten your neckties, and propose to your doll, cause she won't forgives youse guys if you die without popping the question!"

Sky turns to Voinovich, and says, "Okay, any other suggestions for how we get there, quick as possible? Is there any place we can steal an airship nearby? Or win one in a crap game?"

Voinovich was looking at Kaze for some reason, but turns back without a ready reply.

Michael says, "I think stealing an airship is a bad idea. If we are going to have any hope of saving Richter, we need to take them by surprise. We need a way to get there quickly without attracting attention, and, if possible, do some reconnaissance. Saburo, what can you tell us about the security of this school?"

Saburo says, "Structural is security only. A fence, a low wall, many entrances with locks. Plainclothes men with pistols are on the grounds, few in number. It is in the forest far from the city, so police response is limited in duration."

"Most of the force at the school is its students. They are organized by age, not by Power, but some of the older classes have had some training. This is America, so the training is athletic, not military, but they would be able to work as a team. Without their adult advisers, though, they are unlikely to do more than react. Taking the advisers hostage would, in my opinion, neutralize the students. But they are American and may not react normally."

Voinovich says, "We could be there in six hours if we get rolling now."