Fianna Kelly Versus the Jeebees: A Collection of Steampunk Stories Read Free

making so much noise moving around the farm. I
figured it was pacing about on some kind of guard duty that only made sense to
automatons or strange beings.

• June 7
     
     
    I
expected to wake up with the rising sun, but had slept in. I checked the time
and saw it was almost nine o'clock. My pocket watch was wonderful. I could see
through the face to the inside where gold-coloured gears moved slowly as time
passed. It made me think about the automaton. Its gears did not show. All its
inner workings were concealed behind metal plates. Now thinking about
concealing; will I dress for my mother or for myself? I didn't feel like
sweeping the path with my skirt again today, so 'tis the green knee-length
skirt.
    I
made it halfway to the barn to check on the automaton and stopped, stunned.
Laid out next to each other were two graves with wooden crosses in an X shape.
I guessed they were placed above the remains of the strange beings. The
realisation of what I did last night hit me hard. I knelt down, cried a few
minutes, and said a short prayer for the souls of the departed wherever they
had gone.
    How
was it that I had been so uncaring last night? I had just shot them and left
them. One was going to attack me, but I should have had some respect for the
dead, whatever they were. Even a machine had more consideration than I had and
these things were disassembling it. It had more reasons to dislike them than I
did, yet it buried them and marked the graves.
    I
shouted, "Hello! Is there anyone or anything here?"
    The
automaton lumbered out of the barn to stand in front of me.
    "I
am going now. Try to keep all your parts where they belong."
    I
WILL WARN IF DANGER
    "Oh,
so you want to go with me, yes?"
    YES
    "Can
you carry my portmanteau and bag of supplies?"
    YES
    "Do
you have a name?"
    NO
    "Well,
since you are coming with me, I need to call you something... How about Bradan?
I knew a guy with that name who was also very quiet."
    BRADAN
IS OKAY
    "Wonderful!
Let us be on our way now."
    The
question was which way were we going; forging ahead, or going back? Neither
choice was enticing. What I had experienced so far could be a sample of what
was ahead. What was behind me was not likely to have improved overnight.
However, I was no longer alone so continuing on seemed okay.
    I
can't stand silence. I am accustomed to people and animals and things making
noise around me all the time. I could hear a bit of nature sounds, but that
wasn't doing much to help me relax. We had walked for a few miles before I
couldn't stand the silence anymore.
    It
was difficult to have a conversation with Bradan. I would ask a question, get a
response, then expect him to ask me something on the same subject. A few minutes
later, I would try again.
    "Bradan,
why is it that you can understand what I say and respond in English?"
     UNKNOWN
    "I
guess I'd have a similar response if someone asked me. Maybe it is related to
what those beings said about being scarier if they talked so we could
understand them. On that subject, why can you hear, but not speak?"
    UNKNOWN
    "I
would think that they would want you to have a deep scary voice to frighten us.
You seem to know enough words to answer my questions. Do you have any questions
for me?"
    NO
    "So
you aren't the curious type. That's wonderful. I have enough questions for both
of us. For example, how will you know if we are in danger?"
    I
CAN SENSE IT
    "You
really are one of a kind, Bradan. Are there any more automatons around like
you?"
    UNKNOWN
    "Do
you mind if I sing? It helps the time go faster."
    IT
IS OKAY
    Once on
a bank of roses laid,
And where soft violets grew,
I saw the Queen of Fairies braid
Her wreath of varied hue,
Her wreath of varied hue. [ii]
    I
knew that steam engines required water and some kind of fuel to keep running. I
wondered if Bradan was capable of feeding himself or if I would have to do it.
Perhaps he had refuelled at night while I slept. Hopefully, he wasn't going to
run out soon. I had to stop