Marc L. Abbott
Roosevelt Smithers glanced up at the massive envelope of the hot-air balloon that carried him over the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Designed and constructed by industrialist William Tyner, the balloon was a feat of ingenuity. It featured a large clock face embedded in its panels and a gondola designed to mimic an actual boat but with steel decks. A modified burner pushed steam, not hot air, into the envelope, allowing the balloon to carry greater weight.
As the science reporter for the New York Times, Smithers found Tyner’s work fascinating and ingenious. Seeing it up close was exhilarating. He retrieved from his pocket the invitation that Tyner had sent him and read it while wondering what marvels the man intended to reveal this evening. As he placed it back in his waistcoat, he glanced down the gondola and spotted New York City Mayor Miles standing by the railing staring perplexed at the smokestack.
“I’ll be damned,” Roosevelt whispered to himself as he approached him. “It’s steam.”
Mayor Miles was startled. “I beg your pardon?”
“The white smoke is steam. The ship is powered by water. Tyner built a device that allows the ship to suck in moisture from the air then convert it to steam power. He’s a real man of the environment.”
“Interesting.” He pointed at Roosevelt. “Do I know you?”
“Roosevelt Smithers, reporter for the Times.” He extended his hand. “Honor to meet you Mister Mayor.”
“William didn’t tell me there were reporters invited to this meeting.”
“I report mostly on the science-based industrial work Tyner does.”
“Ah. You’re the one who did the article about his designs for submersibles to cross the East River. I recognize your name now.” Mayor Miles’ gaze narrowed. “I took particular interest in how you thought we should pay for it by cutting my salary.”
“Only my opinion, Mister Mayor.”
“Some things are best kept to oneself.”
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between them. Roosevelt smirked as the mayor stared into his eyes as if daring him to respond to his comment.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what Tyner is presenting tonight,” Roosevelt said, breaking the silence. “Apparently, he’s discovered a way to help combat the city’s hunger problem. Beyond the soup kitchens, of course.”
“Hm,” the mayor folded his arms. “That explains why he didn’t tell me anything.”
“Touchy subject, Mister Mayor?”
“Not at all. Tyner likes to make a bigger deal about that than it is. If those people simply pick themselves up and get to a good job that wouldn’t be a problem,” Mayor Miles said. “Uh, and that’s off the record.”
“Of course.” The gondola jerked and the balloon started to descend, the boat-shaped gondola settling into the water. “See you at the event.”
Roosevelt headed forward, leaving Mayor Miles to ponder what Tyner wanted to show them.
***
The gondola docked at a private pier. As Roosevelt, Mayor Miles, and his security detail, Patrick and Anderson—two Pinkerton detectives dressed in long coats—exited, they spotted a specialized trolley waiting for them. The windows were covered with velvet curtains so no one could see inside, but clearly it was Tyner’s, bearing the inventor’s signature style. Built completely of copper and steel, it too ran on steam rather than the electrical cables, as the city trolleys did. Such a trolley could go anywhere in the city and not be affixed to the tracks.
Upon their approach, the back door of the trolley opened and a portly man in a red waistcoat stepped out. Roosevelt recognized William Tyner from the photographs they’d run in the Times. His slick handlebar moustache was more impressive in person.
“Gentlemen,” Tyner beamed. “So happy you could make it. Welcome to Brooklyn. Come on aboard. We have a big night ahead of us. Refreshments are inside.”
“William,” Mayor Tyner said, “My time is limited. You have one hour.”
“I understand, my old friend. An hour is enough.” He shook their hands, starting with the mayor’s. “Roosevelt, a pleasure. Let’s go.”
Once everyone was aboard, Tyner ordered the driver to take them to the special site. Roosevelt barely heard him, marveling as he examined the interior, so elegantly appointed, clearly for Tyner’s own comfort. His attention, however, was quickly caught by a table that ran the length of the trolley. It held an impressive array of fruit.
“Where did you get all of this?” Roosevelt said in astonishment.
“You’ll see soon enough. Please, enjoy. Try some grapes. And there is pineapple over there.”
Mayor Miles eyes widened as he moved in the direction Tyner was pointing. “Pineapple? This must have cost a fortune. Even by your standards.”
“There is more where this came from.”
As he picked up a fragrant bunch of grapes Roosevelt noticed three crates full of fruits off to the side. Before he could inquire about them, the trolley slowed to a stop. Tyner opened the door, picked up one of the crates, then left the trolley. He was gone only seconds before he got back on empty handed. The trolley started up again as soon as he shut the door. They stopped two more times before they reached their destination.
“What were those stops for?” Roosevelt asked.
“Just spreading my good fortune with the less fortunate,” William said.
Everyone filed out of the trolley and found themselves in front of a tall fence. Beyond that stood a skyscraper. The façade was done but Roosevelt saw through a window the inside was still incomplete. Tyner led them to an open gate where a guard stood watch.
“Why are we here at night?” Roosevelt asked.
“I didn’t want any publicity if someone saw the mayor, and it’s better to do this while the workers are away. Watch your step,” Tyner pointed. “We’re going into the foundation over here. Then we go up.”
A touch nervous, Roosevelt kept his eyes on the wood planks they crossed. Once across he looked up at the dimly lit skyscraper before them. Tyner led them to an open-air elevator that ascended along the side of the building. Once they all entered, Tyner pulled a lever to his right.
“Everyone, stand close. Don’t want anyone to fall out.”
The elevator ascended, giving them a look of the rooftops of lower Brooklyn with the lights of Manhattan twinkling in the distance. Ferries crossed the East River slowly, smoke drifting out of their stacks.
“We finished the facade last month. There’s still internal work to be done but the tower is complete. That’s where we’re headed,” William said. “Beautiful city, isn’t she? She can be the crown jewel of this country after I show you what I discovered.”
“You want to tell us what this is about?” Mayor Miles asked.
The elevator suddenly stopped with a jerk. Tyner excused himself and stepped off the platform onto the floor. He then approached an iron door with three keyholes in it. Reaching inside his waistcoat pocket, the industrialist removed a ring with three keys and proceeded to unlock the door. Roosevelt noticed he used his weight to push it open. Dim light filtered through the doorway and somewhere inside, something ticked loudly. Tyner waved them all forward then pulled a lever connected to a power source and illuminated the room. Roosevelt gasped in astonishment at the largest clockface he had ever seen.
It sat up off the floor on a long iron base with two clamps at the ends to keep it straight. The body of the clock was made of polished copper and the hour numbers shone in beautiful brass. The dials, made of cast iron and bolted together, were enormous. Roosevelt could see the main and escape wheels behind the open face. The construct took up one entire side of the room leaving only a few inches of clearance between it and the ceiling.
“This, gentlemen, is going to be the beacon seen atop this building. It already keeps perfect time. I plan to have three more made, exactly like the clock tower in London. Did you know the dials on that clock are twenty-two-and-a-half feet? Mine are nineteen. Didn’t want to overshadow the one over there.” He chuckled. “This building will have a clock that faces all four points of the city. And this one… oh, this one will be the centerpiece.”
“You brought us here to see a clock, William?” Mayor Miles said.
“This is no ordinary clock.” Tyner walked to the far side of the room and retrieved a medium-sized metal ball adorned with gears on the side. Numbered and lettered typewriter keys mounted atop thin, three-inch-long rods clustered above the ball.
“Is that a Hansen writing ball?” Roosevelt asked, excitedly.
“It was. I made special modifications to it. Let me show you.”
He pressed seven of the keys. The gears started to whirr and spin. The ball shook in his hand as the top half with the keys turned counterclockwise. Tyner pressed down on a center key and the top split from its lower half. Removing the top half, he placed it on the floor then turned it so they could see the inside.
A series of wires and small tubes snaked together around a copper ring a half-inch thick. In the center of the ring sat a piece of black, metallic stone held in place by two tiny tuning forks.
“That’s graphite, isn’t it?” Roosevelt asked.
“Yes, that’s exactly what that is. It stores the energy then serves as a battery. You see this?” Tyner pointed to a small black button on the copper ring above the tuning fork. “That’s what starts the reaction process.”
Roosevelt moved closer for a better look. “What’s this for?”
Tyner motioned for them to follow him behind the clock. Roosevelt was fixated on what Tyner was about to do. He approached the pendulum, which was moving back and forth at a steady pace. Standing before it, he pressed the button on the device, then, as the pendulum passed him, he attached the device to it. Then he shooed them back around to the face of the clock, where he removed his pocket watch, opened it, and slid his finger clockwise on the inner cover.
A humming sound started out soft then progressively grew louder. Electrical sparks crawled and danced over the large clock’s face and numbers. The dials began to turn in opposite directions. Tyner held the watch up higher. An electric spark shot out from the bolt holding the dials and seized the watch. He let it go and watched it levitate through the air and into the center of the bolt.
“Back up!” he said.
As they did so, a horizontal energy wave blasted out and passed through all of them. It stopped, turned vertical, and then moved back to the clock. When it struck, the clockface burned bright white. After the light dissipated, the face was gone. Like a painting in a frame, a different world sat before them where it had been.
Roosevelt marveled at the sun shining in a crystal blue sky when above him stars twinkled. And at the green pasture, adorned with fruit and nut trees as far as he could see. He saw no sign of animal life or any other people. But he could smell the clean air wafting through.
“What the hell?” Mayor Miles said.
“Is that real?” Roosevelt said.
“As real as we are. Come.”
Roosevelt followed Tyner to the edge of the clock. He motioned for him to wait then he stepped over the frame and into the world beyond. Approaching one of the trees, he reached up and plucked two apples. He walked back out, handed one to Roosevelt and to Mayor Miles.
“Is this safe?” Mayor Miles asked.
“I wouldn’t give it to you if it wasn’t,” Tyner said.
Mayor Miles bit into it and chewed. His eyes widened as a smile grew on his face.
“Tastes as good as the one you fed us on the trolley.”
“It came from the same place.” Tyner pointed to the clock. “There are thousands of trees on that side waiting to be picked. I planted some of the seeds myself. Since time works differently on that side, what would take years to grow here took only days. There’s enough food that we could feed all of New York City ten times a day and still have more.”
“How did you… I mean, this place you found…” Roosevelt said.
“That machine I built creates a high resonating sound that when attached to the pendulum creates a temporal rift within the clock. At least, that’s what I believe it’s doing. So far it has opened portals to two different worlds. This one here has an endless supply of food. I have been bringing things back and giving it to the workers to take home to their families. Those stops we made tonight; those were for the soup kitchens.
“The other world provides me with building materials. Steel, iron, and bricks. As much of it as I can use, which has been a godsend with all the projects that I have around the city. The beings of that world have been extremely friendly because I bring them food as well. Much like the poor souls of our city, they’re suffering from hunger and… well, hold on, let me show you.”
Mayor Miles held his hand up. “I’m sorry, did you say beings?” he looked at Roosevelt. “Did he say beings?”
“He did,” Roosevelt answered without looking back.
Tyner opened his watch again, placed his finger on the face, and rubbed a circle around the edge.
The picturesque world before them dissolved and what appeared next made Roosevelt cringe.
A dreary landscape appeared before them. A light rain fell over an industrial city. Tall smokestacks in the distance billowed thick, black smoke into an already overcast sky. A flash of lightning revealed four large creatures that resembled whales coasting in the sky, their flippers moving up and down slowly propelling them through the air. As one of them got closer to the portal, Roosevelt saw their bodies were outfitted with metal plating. Porthole windows embedded in their sides glowed with light.
Among the buildings, set atop tall trestles, were rails where a train moved slowly then stopped. At first it looked like it was about to derail as it listed to one side. But then it righted itself and started to lift off the track backward. What Roosevelt had thought were wheels bent outward and took on the shape of claws. The rear “wheels” clamped down on the track as the locomotive stood up. Its back was a train, but the underside was an organic creature that let out a half-scream/ half-whistle as it looked in their direction.
“What madness is this?” Roosevelt whispered.
From in front of them came a croaking sound, followed by clicks and wheezes. Roosevelt’s gaze fell on a single street, slick from rain and shimmering in the lamp light. A humanoid creature, no taller than him, walked toward them, hunched over. As it neared, Roosevelt could see that it was wearing armor over one of its hands. The other hand was a fleshy claw, but it had only three long fingers protruding from a stump. The wheezes and clicks came from the covered hand, where piston-like rods moved up and down from the elbow to the stump. It lumbered closer, its webbed feet slapping against the stone street as it walked.
Roosevelt recoiled in horror as its face came into view. A single eye sat dead center where a nose should have been. Below that sat a gaping hole—a mouth, he supposed—with teeth on the top and bottom. Two protrusions sat atop its head… ears, or devil horns? Thick, fleshy tendrils covered its head and went down to the middle of its back.
Tyner smiled and moved to a crate against the wall, selecting an apple and moving toward the portal. The creature croaked again but higher pitched and it hurried to greet Tyner as he stepped through the clock frame. The creature hugged him, then stepped back, turning its hand over and waiting for Tyner to give it the fruit. Once he did, the apple disappeared into the gaping hole. Roosevelt quickly looked away from the oscillating mastication.
“Ellis, my friend, how are you? Where is your brother?” Tyner asked.
Ellis croaked loudly and a second creature lumbered out of the dark to greet Tyner.
“Roosevelt, toss me your apple.” Roosevelt tossed it through the portal. Tyner caught it and handed it to the second creature. “Here you go, Tobias.”
Tobias ate the apple and began to undulate up and down with apparent joy. It then ran away down the street and disappeared around a corner. A grinding, scraping sound rose from that direction, and after a moment, Tobias returned dragging a massive water pipe. It passed Tyner, stepped past Roosevelt into the clock room, and set the pipe down. The Pinkertons scrambled to cover the mayor, but Tobias ignored their presence. It returned through the portal and hugged Tyner.
“Thank you, my friends. These men here are also friends, and I wanted them to meet you.”
Ellis and Tobias looked at Roosevelt, Mayor Miles, and the Pinkertons, then waved with their metal hands. Only Roosevelt waved back.
A crack of thunder shook the foundation. All eyes looked to the sky. It turned from its dark dreary tone to an aubergine as the clouds started to part. A creature resembling a giant jellyfish floated above them. Its tentacles—long, thick, and covered in spikes—seemed to dance as it moved.
“Oh, dear,” Tyner said. “Roosevelt, quickly, get the entire crate.”
“What in God’s name is that?” Mayor Miles yelled as he pointed.
“Nothing you should be concerned about.” Tyner held out his hands. “The crate.”
Roosevelt picked up the crate and rushed it to the portal.
“Hurry, step in,” Tyner said.
“What?”
“Cross over and give it to me. It’s okay, you’re safe.”
Fighting trepidation, Roosevelt stepped through the portal. He kept his eyes on the floater. His hands trembled.
“Here,” he said.
“This is my friend, Roosevelt,” Tyner said as the creature moaned, then tilted on its dome and continued to float. “He is a good one. You see, he brought the crate.”
Tyner took the crate, showed it to the creature, then handed it to Tobias who took it and ran off.
“We can go,” Tyner said. “Ellis, I will return soon. More food.”
Tyner and Roosevelt stepped back through the portal and it closed behind them.
“Was that creature a god?” Roosevelt asked.
“Not sure. I know that the creatures there have a relationship with it,” Tyner said. “These beings look up to it and it allows me to feed them as a form of trade.”
“This is iron,” Mayor Miles said as he looked at the pipe. “Real iron.”
“That one piece of pipe will be taken to Gowanus and get cut and fashioned into everything from tools to rivets for the bridge you want to build.” Tyner smiled. “Think about all we can accomplish, and it will barely cost us pennies to obtain the raw materials.”
“Lower manufacturing costs means more money in our pockets,” Mayor Miles said grinning from ear to ear. “I see where you’re going with this, William.”
“I don’t think you do. You see, the less we spend on manufacturing, the more money the city has for the people,” Tyner said. “We could give the hard-working men and women of this city the kind of money that will help them thrive. They’ll be able to afford houses, own businesses, be more productive.”
Mayor Miles’ smile fell. A confused look took its place. “You mean you’re thinking of making everyone in this city wealthy?”
“Well, that’s impossible to do. You can, however, make them comfortable. Think about the brick mason who comes to these sites everyday getting paid enough to live in one of the homes he’s built,” Tyner said. “Wouldn’t that be great?”
“You think the wealthy families in this city want a brick mason living next to them on Park Avenue?”
“Why not?” Roosevelt said as he joined the conversation. “You’re always saying that this is a city of opportunity. That people deserve a chance.”
“I meant through hard work, not charity,” Mayor Miles said.
“This isn’t charity,” Tyner added. “They will work, it’s just that the money…”
“Since when did you care so much about the common man? You’re practically swimming in money from city real estate and your investments,” Mayor Miles said.
Tyner’s gleeful look turned to sadness. “Since that horrible fire at the warehouses in Red Hook. Those poor workers who died there. Burned beyond recognition. Families lost. That area suffered from unemployment and homelessness because of that. Those people deserved better. With this I can make amends by providing food and jobs.”
“William, I told you a hundred times to let this go. We did everything we could for those people. It’s not our responsibility to give handouts.” Mayor Miles raised a finger. “You’re not to mention this to anyone else or give out any more food until I say so.”
Tyner shook his head. “I would have thought you would be on board with this. After what you…”
“Shut the hell up, Tyner.” There was fury in the mayor’s eyes. “The people of this city, the proper people, entrusted me to keep New York strong and unwavering. I will not let it fall into the hands of the lazy and the poor. You will not go over my head, is that understood?”
“I thought my contributions were enough to earn that right since I put you where you are,” Tyner said. Mayor Miles looked shocked. “So, all that talk about wanting to save this city was balderdash?”
“I am the city. You want to change that, you’ll have to take my place and you don’t have what it takes. Finish your building, have your ribbon cutting, and know your place. I forbid you to continue to use this device.” He held out his hand. “In fact, give me the unit you use to open this.”
Tyner shook his head. “Absolutely not. This stays with me.”
“Patrick,” the mayor called over his shoulder. The Pinkerton on the right drew a firearm from inside his coat. A modified break-action Colt Navy Percussion revolver with a thin telescopic sight attached to the top. The cylinder turned on its own and locked into place.
“You heard the mayor, hand it over,” Patrick demanded.
“Miles,” Tyner said. “You would kill me over this?”
“I refuse to be made a villain. I won’t let that happen, so hand over the device.” Mayor Miles held out his hand. When Tyner didn’t comply, he dropped his hand and sighed. “Okay then, have it your way.” The mayor looked at Patrick. “Do it.”
Patrick took aim but then changed his mind and holstered his weapon.
“What are you doing?” the mayor asked.
“Gun would be too messy,” he said. He reached behind his back and produced a hunting knife. “I’ll make this up close and personal.”
He advanced quicky. Tyner staggered back. Patrick grabbed the device, moved in close, brought the knife around behind Tyner and stabbed him in the upper spine. He removed the knife and stabbed him again lower then again in the kidney. Tyner gasped and started to fall to the floor, letting go of the device.
“No!” Roosevelt screamed. He rushed toward Patrick who spun around and slashed at him, cutting him across his upper arm. Roosevelt stepped back, looked at the knife, and went for it. “Give me that!”
They struggled. Patrick tried to break free of Roosevelt’s grip but when he couldn’t he struck him in the head with the device, sending him to the floor. While Roosevelt rolled back and forth holding his head Patrick moved to the mayor.
“It’s time to go, Mister Mayor.” He handed over the device then turned to Anderson who had been silently watching. “Get him out of here. I’ll finish these two.”
“I’m sorry it had to come to this, Tyner,” the mayor said as Anderson escorted him briskly back to the elevator.
Patrick turned his attention to Roosevelt. He knelt next to him, held him still with one hand, and raised the knife with the other. Roosevelt attempted to fight back but Patrick slapped his hand away and stabbed him in the shoulder. Roosevelt cried out. As Patrick raised the knife again, the portal flashed. He turned to see a creature, five feet tall with an elongated head, no mouth, long oily skinned arms with tendrils for hands and a single eye near the top of it head, step out. It looked at Tyner, made a sad cooing sound then looked at him.
“Holy Mary Mother of God,” Patrick said with a look of horror. He scrambled to his feet as the creature let out a horrible cry.
Patrick tossed the knife and drew his Colt. Firing twice without aiming, he missed. The creature advanced. Panicking, he fired four more times, missing twice more but scoring two hits. The creature paused, looked at the wounds on its arm, then growled and advanced quicker. Patrick pulled the trigger in rapid succession but was out of shots. He ran for the elevator but tripped over the water pipe the other creature had dragged in. As he hit the floor, his gun went sliding out of reach. Looking over his shoulder, Patrick tried to scramble to his feet as the creature turned its eye toward him. A horizontal slit formed in the middle of its face, parting to expose rows of sharp teeth. Patrick’s scream blended with the creature’s roar as it whipped out its tendrils, wrapped them around his throat, and dragged him over to its mouth. Patrick tried to struggle but something about the tendrils paralyzed him. In the end, all he managed was to let out a faint scream as it began to chew his face off.
Roosevelt ignored the sound of muffled screams and gnashing teeth as he rolled onto his belly and crawled on his good arm.
“Tyner?” Roosevelt reached over and turned him onto his back. The industrialist cried out his upper body stiffening, while the lower lay limp.
“Roosevelt, I-I can’t feel my legs.”
“I’m going to go for help. Hang on.”
“D-Do you know why I asked you to come tonight?” Tyner’s eyes turned to look at him. “Because of all the people I know, I respect your intelligence and integrity. The heart you have for this city. I knew you would understand what I was trying to do.”
“Tyner, the mayor will pay for this, I promise you.”
“I think you’ve earned the right to call me William, don’t you?” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “So much for my grand idea to help the city.”
Roosevelt looked over and saw the creature stand. It took hold of Patrick’s right ankle and dragged him to the portal. With a powerful shift of its arm, it tossed his limp body into the other realm. Roosevelt cried out but quickly covered his mouth with a trembling hand. The creature then lumbered toward where Tyner and he lay. Roosevelt dropped his hand stared at the creature with a mix of shock and fear.
Tyner opened his eyes and looked at Roosevelt. “Roosevelt, don’t fear it. They are my friends, those creatures.”
The creature reached down and scooped William up in it arms, cradling his body as though he weighed nothing at all. Then it turned and walked quickly back to the portal.
“William!” Roosevelt cried with his hand outstretched as if to grab him.
William didn’t respond. As he and the creature disappeared into the other realm, the portal shut.
For a long time, Roosevelt stared at the gateway in disbelief. When he finally snapped out of his daze, he crawled as far from the clock as he could and perched himself against the wall in a sitting position. With some effort, he got his shirt off and made a sling for his arm.
While struggling to get to his feet, the portal opened again. Roosevelt pressed his back against the wall bracing for the creature’s return. But William came through the portal, dressed in a brown long coat, with hooks instead of buttons holding it closed.
“I hoped you would still be here,” he said. Smiling and limping, he approached. A hiss accompanied each step, and Roosevelt saw peculiar movement under the coat.
As William drew closer, Roosevelt’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Embedded in the right side of the man’s face was what looked like a giant starfish with a bulbous eye in the center of its body.
“What the hell is that on your face?”
“The Charybdis—that’s the name of those creatures—use this to help me heal. Time moves differently beyond the portal. I’ve been there for several weeks their time. I learned how to calculate time in a place where it doesn’t exist.” He chuckled. “They showed me how to use the portal from their side so I could return at this point. Miles neglected to take the piece off the back of the clock, so I was able to home in on the gateway here. Anyway, onto the business at hand.” He reached into his pocket and removed a letter. “Leave this for the foreman of this site, Cosgrave Paerdegat. Put it under the door of his shed downstairs.” He slid it into Roosevelt’s pocket. “Now, this is for you.” He reached under his right sleeve and removed what looked like a wristwatch, though there were no numbers on it, just a dial and a green flashing light.
“What is it?”
“You’re part of my inner circle now. Show this to Paerdegat when you’re ready to see me again.”
“You’re going back? What about the mayor?”
“Paerdegat will handle him. Incidentally, when you go to the hospital, tell them that you were mugged. They’ll believe that more than the truth.” He handed him the wristwatch. “Remember, show it to Paerdegat. See you soon.” William turned and walked back through the portal.
Roosevelt felt a twinge of fear when what appeared to be a single eye watched him from the back collar of William’s coat.
***
Several weeks after the incident, Cosgrave Paerdegat called a press conference to address the progress of the building. Roosevelt attended. To his surprise, Mayor Miles showed up as well, along with Anderson. While Paerdegat spoke, Roosevelt and the mayor made eye contact. Miles looked nervous until Roosevelt turned his attention back to the press conference and ignored his presence.
“I’m in charge while Mister Tyner is away. I am excited to announce the tower will be ready in two weeks.” Paerdegat stretched his arm back, presenting the building to those assembled. As he gestured, his sleeve pulled back from his wrist, baring a wristwatch like the one William had given Roosevelt.
“Mister Paerdegat, Richard Madison, Chelsea News. Many Tyner properties have been getting overhauls around the city. The Mercantile on the west side of Manhattan, the commerce bank in Queens, and the Galviston Center of Art in The Bronx are all being refitted with ornate rooftops.”
“I fail to hear a question.”
“Why are these additions being made from brass? There is rumor going around that Mister Tyner is doing this as an experiment with power. Is he trying to circumvent the New York Gas Light Company’s regulations?”
Paerdegat stared at the reporter for a moment, then his pointed gaze moved over to Mayor Miles, who watched him with interest. The foreman cracked a smile then turned his attention back to the reporter.
“It is an experiment. Brass is a great conductor of electricity, as you know, and being that the buildings you mentioned are some of the tallest in the city, Mister Tyner believes that if we can harness electricity directly from the atmosphere it could provide a new way to power the buildings. It would reduce electrical costs and put money back into the pockets of the people of this great city.”
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press,” Mayor Miles put his hand up. The press focused their attention on him. “What Mister Paerdegat hasn’t noted is that Mister Tyner’s experiment must still go under review. He’s been a bit impatient about things which is why…”
“If you all will excuse me,” Paerdegat interrupted. “Thank you for coming.”
With a nod, the foreman departed. The press called after him, but he ignored them.
Roosevelt followed at a slight distance as the foreman moved toward the building. When Paerdegat reached the door, he stopped and turned abruptly.
“Stop following me. I’m done talking to the press,” he said.
Roosevelt pulled up his sleeve and bared his own wristwatch.
Paerdegat’s eyes widened. “Are you Roosevelt?”
“I am.”
Paerdegat’s gaze softened. “Sorry about that. William told me all about you. How’s the arm?”
“Healing.”
“That’s good. That SOB mayor got something coming to him.”
“You have been in contact with Mister Tyner? How is he?”
“Come with me. William said you might stop by.”
Paerdegat led him to the elevator, and they boarded it, riding in silence to the tower. When they reached the tower, the doors opened, and they stepped out into the area of the clock.
It looked very different from weeks ago.
The concrete walls had been covered by galvanized steel panels held together with rivets. Brass panels covered the floor. Before the clock stood a huge arch with gears that turned counterclockwise within its metal surface. At the top, on either side of it, exhaust holes poured out steam. Heat and moisture permeated the air, making it uncomfortable to breathe.
“This is all in preparation for his final return,” Paerdegat said. “He’s been back a few times with his friends from the other realm. They’ve been supplying us with materials to finish this building and the enhancements around the city.”
“You know about the creatures?”
“I spent time in that world among them,” Paerdegat said. Roosevelt gave him a shocked look. “I was once one of the city’s poor souls you see William trying to help. He gave me a job on the Mercantile. I helped reconstruct it after discovering a flaw in the design. He was so impressed he insisted I help design this tower. After discovering the portal, I volunteered to go through, broker the deal for materials and built a stable relationship with them.” Paerdegat rolled up his sleeve, exposing the wristwatch. “I’m supposed to let him know you’re here. Give me a moment.” He turned the dial and the portal arch started to light up. “Be warned, William isn’t the same man you knew.”
When the portal opened, Paerdegat walked before it and waved. “He’s here, William.”
William stepped through the portal using a brass cane, his hand resting atop a glowing blue orb. Small, writhing tentacles extending from it wrapped around his wrist. He was dressed in the same brown coat as before only this time it was open, exposing gill slits on either side of his stomach. The right side of his face was covered with tiny boils that upon closer inspection opened to reveal eyes. The hiss of a piston accompanied the movement of his right leg. Roosevelt looked down and saw that from the knee down had been replaced by a bronze metal appendage with injection pistons and rods embedded in the flesh of his thigh. The sight caused Roosevelt to retch.
William stared at him for a moment then turned to Paerdegat. “How did it go?”
“The one from the Chelsea paper took the bait. Asked about the rooftops around the city. I told him exactly what I told you I’d say, and the mayor jumped right in and took control of the press conference,” Paerdegat said. “The last conduit will be in place by the end of the week.”
“Excellent.” William’s left eye watched Paerdegat but the other eyes stayed on Roosevelt. “Don’t look mortified. The Charybdis did this so that I could live among them. I assure you, I’ve never felt better. Or wiser.”
Roosevelt took a step back. “What have you become?”
“One who has seen the error of his ways. I’ve made a deal to save my city from the evils of men. This world must go to bring about a new one. A new chance at life for the poor. Wait until you see what I have in store.” William stepped closer. “You will be a part of it too.”
Roosevelt scrambled away despite the weakness in his legs. He ran for the door to the elevator room, his heart thudding rapidly like an overwound watch. He was almost there when he was tackled to the ground. Paerdegat rolled off him then brought him to his feet.
“W-What are you going to do to me?” Roosevelt asked.
“Take care of him,” he heard the thing that used to be Tyner say. “The salvation of New York City is at hand.”
Paerdegat reared his hand back and slapped Roosevelt so hard, he blacked out.
***
The heat woke him. He felt as though he were floating. Wherever he was, machine gears ground around him. To his right large pistons and gears pumped and turned. On his left, wet tendrils of ooze dripped down the walls. When he lifted his head to look forward, he discovered he lay on a moving gurney, which stopped abruptly. A Charybdis stepped up, spread its tentacled hand, and spewed black ink from the center into his eyes.
Roosevelt fell into a state of euphoria as strange images appeared before him. He saw mountains of metal and rock where creatures collected large chunks of materials and brought them to factories. Smokestacks billowed plumes of black smoke, turning the sky to ash.
At the rumble of thunder Roosevelt expected a storm. Instead, structures rose from the ground. They looked like buildings attached to one another, varying in height. While they shifted and turned, he saw stairs and windows. He recognized the shape of Brooklyn’s iconic brownstone, glowing from lines within the rock.
Huge creatures made of rock ascended into the sky; their backs arching as they carried the buildings on them. Their heads billowed fire and smoke from open mouths. Four more rose in the distance.
The world around him melted away like a watercolor painting in the rain. He found himself on the bridge of an airship strapped to a chair by his wrists and ankles. The entire room, including the floor, was thick glass. He looked down and saw one of the floating, living islands. Miles of streets lined with brownstones, townhouses, schools, and supermarkets, even a few high-rise towers that looked like office buildings. An amusement park and regular parks, as well. A whole city except there were no people. No life moved among the streets.
“You’ve come out of the vision,” Tyner said as he stepped into view.
“What did I just see?”
“Exactly what you see before you. Each one of these islands is a fully contained, self-sustaining neighborhood. All the energy comes from within the giant Mitsukurina owstoni, whose backs they’re built on. In a few hours they will be filled with those New Yorkers our illustrious mayor and city council have abandoned. The downtrodden will want for nothing. They won’t have to work hard to have the best.”
“In return you will turn people into something like you?”
Tyner put on a smile. “Only those who stay behind and live in the old city face that fate.” He reached over and undid Roosevelt’s bindings. “Let me show you.”
Roosevelt cautiously rose from the chair and turned around. A large machine, resembling an engine, sat in the center of the bridge. In the middle of the machine, in a glass cylinder filled halfway with a lavender fluid, floated Mayor Miles, naked and terrified.
“What did you do to him?” Roosevelt said.
Mayor Miles glared at them. “You let me out of here this instant!”
“I’m afraid not.” Tyner approached a table before the engine. A map of New York City lay opened on it. Atop that was the city charter. “I would like to thank you for getting this document amended for me. Believe me, you made a great deal.” Tyner rolled up the document, then looked at the map before him. X’s marked various locations. “Come see this, Roosevelt.”
Roosevelt drew closer. “What are all the X’s?”
“Those are the buildings I and Paerdegat have prepared with the Charybdis’s help. They are the conduits that will transport New York City into the outer realm.”
Roosevelt froze. “I’m sorry, did you say transport it to the outer realm?”
“Yes. The infrastructures are made of the same metal you saw the Charybdis harvesting. Once they are aligned with the conduits and the last of the downtrodden are transferred to their new homes, we will activate the portal and the entire city will be taken into the realm of my Elder God. The great city of New York, with its rich and wealthy will reside for eternity under its watchful eye. The rest of us will remain here, upon the backs of the Mitsukurina owstoni as loyal servants.”
“The wealthy agreed to this?” Roosevelt asked.
“They agreed for me to take the destitute and the poor away. The chance to control this city is all they care about.”
“In another realm. How will they manage that?”
“Physically, you mean? Well, I have that all figured out.”
“You can’t do this to me,” Mayor Miles screamed. “I’ll contest that document to the governor.”
“You cannot promise your donors what I am giving them. Absolute control of all five boroughs by taking away the scourge of the city. But don’t worry, I have assured them that you will still play the part they elected you for.” Tyner pulled the lever. “Under the direction of my Elder God.”
The liquid in the cylinder bubbled. Mayor Miles looked down in confusion before starting to scream. Tyner pressed a small button atop the lever. The engine rattled, followed by a plume of steam rising from a pipe alongside the cylinder, blocking their view of the mayor. When it dissipated, a large tentacle was sliding down around Mayor Mile’s body. Another, much thinner tentacle slipped down and began to caress his face. He opened his mouth to scream, and the tentacle slid into him. Slowly his body sank into the liquid, and he disappeared.
“Sir, the last airship has left Queens and is making its way to its island,” Paerdegat said as he entered the bridge. “Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island are done. Manhattan is taking longer to vacate.”
“Reroute all available airships to Manhattan Island. Once the sun goes down, we make our move.”
Paerdegat nodded and exited the bridge.
Tyner motioned for Roosevelt to follow him to the forward section. He took hold of a massive ship wheel, steering the airship out over the East River where they had a complete look at the city. Roosevelt marveled at the sight of the huge floating islands shadowing the world below. The sun, making its descent, slowly disappeared behind the massive Manhattan structure.
“It is almost time.” Tyner mustered a smile. “I have reserved a space for you among us.”
“What about your god? Won’t I have to serve him as you do?”
A whistle from the engine prevented Tyner’s answer. They turned and watched the fluid from the cylinder drain out onto the floor through a hole at the base.
“The mayor and his Pinkerton are nearly ready.” Tyner reached into the pocket of his waistcoat, retrieved a pocket watch, and looked at it.
“Here come the airships,” Roosevelt said.
Five large dirigibles with long metal noses were flying toward the floating Manhattan Island. In the middle of the island stood six tall iron spires that lit up an electric blue color as the airships floated close to them. The noses attached themselves to the spires and the ships docked.
“Perfect timing,” Tyner said. “Come, I have to deal with the final piece of my mission.”
They returned to the machine and Roosevelt saw the cylinder was empty. Tyner pushed the lever forward. Gears turned inside and something unlocked. The machine split open slowly, revealing two glass cylinders encased in metal. Inside were two figures that no longer looked human. Parts of their upper body resembled a tentacled underwater creature. The one to the left was Anderson. The one to the right’s facial features had not yet been transformed, and Roosevelt recognized the mayor. His left eye was sealed with a flap of skin. Tendrils that writhed like small snakes hung from the side of his face.
“Tyner, this isn’t right,” Roosevelt said, disgustedly.
“Wiiiiilliam.” Mayor Miles placed his tentacle sucker arm on the glass. “What have you done to me?”
“Prepared you for your journey. This ship will take you back to Manhattan. I have fulfilled my promise to the people, and the sacrifice to my Elder God.”
Tyner took his watch out again, held it in his palm, and turned it counterclockwise. A portal opened to their right. He took hold of Roosevelt’s arm and pulled him through. Roosevelt found himself standing on a balcony below the clock of the Williamsburg Building looking out at Manhattan Island and the giant Mitsukurina owstoni above it. It dwarfed the airship he had been on as it descended toward the city.
A loud boom sounded as the clock behind them chimed. In Manhattan below, the rooftops of Tyner’s building glowed blue. A beam emitted from the one at the southern point of the island and connected to the others. Then the beam shot back into the clock. A large portal opened beneath Manhattan and swallowed the entire island. As it closed, the Mitsukurina owstoni let out a burst of flame from its mouth and scorched the water as it descended creating gravity waves. When it settled, a complete replica of Manhattan sat in place, indistinguishable from the original.
Rising from the new city were beautiful long schooners that had been converted into airships. Steam trains on elevated tracks rocketed along the river fronts. Fireworks burst into the air in celebration as dirigibles left their moorings and headed north.
Soon, the other Mitsukurina owstoni over the Bronx then Queens then Staten Island landed in holes left by the original city. Brooklyn was the last to land. Roosevelt realized then he was not in the original borough any longer as he looked down at the city streets teeming with life. People happy and moving about in steam-powered automobiles. At the base of the building, hundreds had gathered to cheer for Tyner.
The clock above chimed once more then went silent.
Tyner smirked. “I told you I would reclaim New York… for the people.”
Roosevelt looked up into the evening sky with tear-filled eyes. Within a group of clouds, giant tendrils danced then faded away. The skies darkened like the world he had seen through the portal. His New York was gone. Fear consumed him as he watched people move around on unearthly conveyances like those of another world. All in the presence of the Elder God now keeping a watchful eye over its new domain.