The Iron Man [Serial]

The Torpedo

We met again outside the palazzo that was our hotel, luggage in hand and dressed in traveling regs. I had a pair of goggles hanging idly about my neck in anticipation of continuing our trip by road. My attention was draw by a waving hand; I almost failed to recognize Hedone without xer bloomers, as xe was instead dressed in drab chinos and navy jacket.

Murphy greeted Hedone with customary cheek kisses, and when Hedone moved along to kiss my face, I felt momentary awkwardness at still not being used to this custom.

"The torpedo's here," Hedone said.

As we moved through the milling pedestrians I glimpsed the Italian sport-model steamcab.

Hedone caressed its gloss-red torpedo-like body as xe walked around to the far side. "Isn't it pretty?"

"Posh," I said.

Valentine, standing on the running board to lean into the darkly-upholstered rear seat, straightened and looked over his shoulder. "You like my ALFA? He turned full round, and stepped to the ground with a bronze statue in one hand. Looking past me, Valentine grinned. "I named it after you."

"As if I'd ever let you drive," Alpha said from my side.

Valentine glanced down at the tacky bronze amorino, then up to Alpha, "I think you would."

"Do not make me gag."

Valentine laughed loudly. "That could be arranged."

Alpha attempted to change the subject, "Is this thing even big enough to fit all of you and luggage?"

"Nothing wrong with a tight fit." As Alpha walked away from him, Valentine threw up a hand. He swore under his breath then called to Murphy, "Here! Give Hedone a hand," Valentine heaved the winged bronze figure at him. Valentine walked after Alpha to the rear of the cab. "Look, Man, you set me up for that one!"

"Jade," Prim whispered, "do you know the cause of this irksome behavior between them?"

I answered honestly, "I do not."

I looked to see if I could be of help elsewhere. Hedone held a matching amorino statue and was gesturing to Murphy how he should strap his to the cab's front-right fender. Sina was nearby, waiting where we had dropped the luggage. She had a white scarf covering her hair and tied in place beneath her chin. 

"But," I said, looking again to Prim, "I think you could ask him. It's difficult, with us, because he's our Captain." I shook my head.

Prim put his left hand to my shoulder and offered his right. "It has been good working with you, Jade." I shook his hand. "Good luck, and we'll see you in Egypt."

"You too. Take care, Prim."

Murphy came to us, having fixed the amorini to the front fenders. "Prim," he said, "get him safely to Alex."

"I quite understand."

Murphy parted with cheek kisses. "Help me with the luggage, Jules," he said.

I took up pieces of luggage with Murphy and Sina. It seemed Valentine and Alpha had at least cooperated in fixing a large trunk to the back of the ALFA to hold the baggage.

"Take care of my kids, Erik," Alpha said.

"I will." Valentine gave Alpha's arm a pat. "No hard feelings."

"I have never had hard feelings for you, Valentine."

"I walked into that one, yeah?"

"I detest you."

Valentine laughed. "About ready, Murphy?"

"Right there."

Valentine gave a nod then walked around to the driver's seat.

I thought Murphy would have something to say to Alpha, or might kiss him in parting, but he only looked at him, silently, a moment then drew Sina away with him.

"Murphy's in command," Alpha said.

"Yes, Sir."

"You can trust Valentine and Hedone in a professional capacity."

I nodded. "Yes."

"Keep your focus on the mission, and on training and study when you can. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Do you?" There was a slight raise of Alpha's brows; his head tilted just so.

"I should be professional. Sir."

Alpha smiled. "On your way."

I wished to say more, but it had sounded like I was being dismissed, so I moved around to the right side of the car. Murphy had left the rear door open, and I stepped up onto the running board and then into the rear seat to sit beside him.

We were quickly on our way, with Valentine driving with Hedone at his side, and Murphy in the rear with Sina and I either side. The sleek red sports-cab navigated the oldest of Napoli's city streets, passing street-rail cars and horse-drawn carriage both.

There was not much room to move, and the rush of wind made conversation difficult, even it felt invigorating on hair and skin. Still, the ride was pleasant enough. There were new landscapes along the road, and I had Murphy at my side, and the small collection of daily reviews and picture-novels he kept on his lap.

When we reached the Autostrada connected to Napoli, I was struck by how little there was between the large cities but lengths of rail or road. Either side of us were green landforms, but ahead and behind a pair of roadways like black ribbon across the country.

We came to the first of several sections marked by construction where the air reeked of tar. Here Valentine was obliged to slow the pace of his ALFA as all vehicles diverted to a single lane while crews operating heavy engines laid new sections of road. As we rolled by, I could see the large machines leveling earth, dispersing gravels and tars, and flattening the fresh surface with enormous rollers.  

"They are doing this all through Italia," Valentine said, "In Egypt they are digging for treasures, and here they lay the Autostrade."

"I have no wish for people to know disuse and unemployment," Murphy said, "But it disturbs me they are arbitrarily assigned to these tasks simply by default of not having found other work."

"I didn't mind my work so much," I said.

"But can you imagine going to interview for other work blotchy and tired from the dhobitorium?"

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No dice rolls or music video but you get to see slides of the 1920s Alfa Romeo 20/30 HP ES Sport, which is a real life car and not Valentine's alternate-history sports-cab, but a close approximation of what it might look like. Erik's cab would be a bit more steampunked out and has tacky bronze cherubs on it for purposes of weight redistribution.