Auntie Joon entered the back of her shop, closed the door behind her, and locked it. Standing there for a moment, she closed her eyes as she did some calming breaths. Things in the Dangling Market were tense. Rumors were flying like tiger-thrushes, swift and unpredictable.
The most prevalent gossip was that war was coming. This caused a mix of hoarding, fluctuating prices, and desperate deals. Some people said that all the other major city-states had united to take on the Bastion. Others were convinced that the Bastion was in a civil war. There was even talk that they had some new secret weapon that made them unstoppable. That was the one that worried her the most.
“Gerta!” she called out, “Can you please make me some tea?”
Gerta stepped into the back room holding a burgundy envelope, affixed with a brass-colored wax seal.
“This was delivered when you were out,” said the assistant, handing it to her.
Auntie Joon cracked the seal, read the contents, and promptly burned them.
“I’m afraid I will likely be out for the rest of the day,” said Auntie Joon.
“Should I close the shop?”
“No. I trust you know how to handle things.”
“Of course. If any of the preferred customers should ask for your expertise?”
“Tell them I’ll contact them when I get new items in stock.”
“Understood.”
With a nod, Gerta returned to the front of the store, leaving Auntie Joon alone. Taking out a worn Leapers outfit, complete with crampon shoes, she quickly changed, donned a large hood, and set out.
Moving through the back alleys and across the gaps of the Dangling Market, Auntie Joon made her way to her destination. It was not a direct path, she double- and triple-backed her route until she found herself in the food market.
It was one of the largest structures in the Dangling Market, filled with merchants, cooks, and airship pursers, each trying to get what they needed. Bustling was the most accurate description of business here but now there was an undercurrent of panic. As worrying as that was, it made it easier for Joon to slip through the crowds unnoticed.
Reaching the stand that sold a large variety of pickled foods including fish, mutton, and peppers, to name but a few, Joon caught the eye of the man behind the counter and with a subtle nod, he directed her to the barrels full of his brined wares. Slipping in between, she tapped a rat-a-tat-tat on one of the barrels, and a moment later, the top dropped out and she climbed in.
Climbing down the narrow passage, Joon emerged into a chamber where Camila and another Guild Master sat around a small table.
“Have a seat, Joon,” said Camila.
She did so and a cup of tea was poured for her.
“So, what’s happened?” asked Joon.
“The item your niece and nephew found is now in possession of the Bastion,” said Gordu, the other Guild Master.
“We don’t know that for sure,” said Camila.
“How many Mechano-Men do you think are running about?” asked Gordu.
“Do you know?” snapped Camila.
“What about Kim and Jae?” Joon asked.
The two others looked at each other before speaking.
“We’ve heard they were involved with that incident in the Hexagonal Prefecture,” said Camila.
“And there were some accounts of a figure flying off after that,” said Gordu looking over his note, “But nothing after that.”
“I see.”
“The fact is,” said Camila, “we don’t know where they are.”
“Have they contacted you?” asked Gordu.
Taking a sip of tea, Joon said, “No. I told them to disappear and they have.”
“I really wish you had come to us sooner with this,” said Gordu.
“And what would you have done? Is there a Mechano-Man sanctuary where they could’ve whiled away the hours?” asked Camila.
“Please try to be helpful!” said Gordu.
“When did the Bastion get Fortunato?” asked Joon.
“Who? That’s right, they named it. Apparently, sometime after the last report, the Bastion started making raids on minor outposts of other city-states.”
“How long has that been going on?” asked Joon.
“Unclear. They don’t leave any witnesses.”
“What are they looking for?” asked Joon.
“At first, it felt like raw aggression. But we’ve heard that they massacred almost everyone at a small Utajiri port looking for Prime artifacts.”
“This is all horrifying, but why did you summon me here?”
“We think it’s time to leap forward,” said Camila.
Joon said nothing at first. The idea of leaving everything behind felt wrong. She promised to look after Kim and Jae, and she couldn’t even do that. Leaping forward seemed like running away.
Camila lay a hand on hers and said, “I wish there was another way.”
Pushing down all her regret, grief, and anger she said, “There isn’t. It’s too dangerous to stay. I’ll get my bolt bag and I’ll leave on the next airship out.”
“I’ll send someone to pick it up for you,” said Gordu, “You have a code phrase for your assistant?”
She told him the phrase and response.
“Right, I’m going to get someone to get that for you. They should be back in an hour or so.”
Gordu stood up and was about to leave when he stopped and said, “I’m sorry about Kim and Jae. They were good Leapers.”
“Thank you.”
With that, he left.
“Well, if I’m going to leap forward, I better change things up,” said Joon.
Camila produced a packet with scissors, a comb, and a hair dye kit. After about an hour, Joon’s long hair was cut short and was now grey.
“I look ordinary,” said Joon as she looked in a hand mirror, “Thank you.”
“When you get to where you’re going, avoid Guildhalls. More and more, Leapers are being rounded up. Keep your head down.”
“Of course. I’ll look for the hidden signs.”
“Gordu’s runner should be back any moment,” said Camila, as she looked at her watch.
“Good, I need to get out of Dangling Market as soon as I can.”
“Watch out for any Peace-Keepers, they are likely to come looking for you.”
“Not just them. Every city-state would do anything to get their hands on a working Mechano-Man. At least three of them think I might lead them to it.”
“Skies!”
“I should gone with them. Maybe they’d still be…”
“You don’t know they’re not safe.”
“I don’t know anything.”
“You won’t be able to leap with all that baggage,” said Camila.
“I’d argue with you but I won’t win.”
“Nope,” said Camila with a grin.
“Thank you.”
“I’d say it’s nothing but I’m no liar.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
“The runner ought to be here by now.”
“Things are crazy these days, but a Leaper shouldn’t let that slow them down. Let me take a look.”
Camila uncovered the obscura-scope and gazed into it.
“Very strange.”
“What?”
“Look.”
Joon peered into it and saw an empty food market. A few people rushed past the entrance but the hustle and bustle that was there just an hour past had vanished.
“Here’s all the coin I have on me,” said Camila as she handed Joon a sack of money, “And some extra gear. You need to go. Now.”
Joon slipped the gifts into her pockets and they both climbed upwards. The silence of the large room gave them chills. As they exited out on the loading docks in the rear, in the distance, black smoke rose.
“My shop,” said Joon with a grim face.
Camila swore.
“Look after Gerta, she’s a hard worker and sharp as a cutlass. I should’ve told her that.”
“Probably.”
“I’d say tell her for me but I’m not sure she’d believe you.”
“I’ll figure something out.”
“I should go.”
“We’ll see each other again when this is all over.”
“Of course.”
With that, the two friends separated. Joon made her way to Zip Ferry so she could get to the Isle of Open Arms and hop the next airship out. As she traveled, she could see the fire had spread and lots of people were there to help put it out. Flame spreads easily, so it’s everyone’s problem.
Pushing down rage and bitterness, Joon arrived just in time to jump on the zip ferry and get across. Room on outgoing airships was scarce and prices were higher than she had ever seen. Then there were an unusually large number of Peace-Keepers mixed into the crowds, making things more complicated. Finally, she had a bit of luck when she was able to find a berth on a small airship with the caveat that she would have to work as a deckhand. She’d put up with worse but at least she was out of the fire for now.
As she began her first shift, securing and cleaning portholes in the outer passages, she heard a familiar voice.
“Joon, what a coincidence! I’ve been looking high and low for you,” said Heimgar, agent of the Jarlands.
The Writings of Leo Byrne Jenicek 