Mr. Timmons was the first to react. He crossed his arms over his chest, scowled at the Professor and said, “Rubbish.”
I was impressed that was all he said, but he seemed sincerely determined to follow my request. Or perhaps he thought he could murder the werewolf with his hostile gaze. Either way, he was restraining both his hands and his energy, even though I could feel he wanted to engage both to strangle Prof. Runal.
“Oh, I assure you, sir, the threat is real, very real,” Prof. Runal said, his tone still jolly despite his words.
“Why not send a telegraph then?” Mr. Timmons growled.
“That wouldn’t suffice,” Prof. Runal responded. “I needed to come personally. I have nothing but Beatrice’s best intentions at heart, truly I do.”
“That’s not what Drew says,” Mr. Timmons said in a deceptively soft voice.
Mr. Timmons was at his most dangerous when he was quiet.
“Drew is here then?” Prof. Runal mused, not at all flustered by the implied accusation. “Interesting. I wasn’t sure where the poor boy had run off to. Well, it’s good to know, good to know. Have you by any chance noticed a very short fellow, a dwarf in fact, with a ponytail and goatee?”
That paused the conversation, long enough for me to notice that the crowds had rapidly dispersed and we had the platform almost entirely to ourselves.
“You’d made mention a few times about such a person in your correspondence,” I commented.
“Indeed I did,” the Professor assented. “So have you?”
“No, I don’t believe we have,” Mr. Timmons answered for us, his voice still cold steel. “What has that to do with anything?”
“Perhaps nothing, nothing at all,” Prof. Runal said as he also gazed about, sniffing the air.
I knew the werewolf well enough to know he was concealing something; I also knew he wouldn’t disclose what it was until he was prepared to do so.
“As your warning is useless, I invite you to board the train and go home in one piece,” Kam spoke for the first time, his rough voice echoed in the rumble of thunder from a cloudless sky. “Or in many pieces, as you wish.”
Prof. Runal studied the tall African, noting the elaborate skin markings. I was sure he could also see how they shifted about and changed. Would he understand what they meant?
“A sky spirit of some sort,” the Professor murmured, his attention fixed on one of Kam’s muscular arms. “Most intriguing.”
Kam peered down at the Professor, studying him in turn and none too pleased with what he found. His markings glowed. “Heed my words well, dog.” With that, he departed.
“So what about the dwarf?” Cilla asked, as eager for information as she was to ease the strained ambiance.
Prof. Runal, distracted from his studies, turned to her, his face beaming as if greeting a favorite granddaughter. “If you should see such a fellow around here, you must inform me at once and avoid him at all costs, avoid him completely. He’s a hunter, you see.”
My eyebrows rose of their own accord. “There are many hunters who pass through Nairobi, Prof. Runal. It’s rapidly becoming a hub for such activity.”
Prof. Runal rubbed his hands together, as if he could start a fire from the force of friction between his skin. “Oh, he’s a very special sort of hunter, my dear, an unusual sort. For he has an unnatural interest in the supernatural, and means to hunt us for his own foul purpose. He means us ill.”
Even I was skeptical at that, but it was again Mr. Timmons who spoke for the group: “I’ve heard similar reports about the Society in regard to their purpose.”
Prof. Runal glanced at him, unconcerned about the implied criticism. “I’m sure you’ve heard a great many things, as I have about you, Mr. Timmons.”
Mr. Timmons looked as if he would choke on his own breath, for his face darkened; before he could say or do anything, he turned about and stalked away.
“What was that about?” Cilla asked before she hurried after her godfather.
I wondered too, but was intrigued to learn more about the dwarf. “Is the hunter the reason you always use your pendulums? You fear he might be lurking about?”
The Professor smiled slightly at that. “He’s one of the reasons, my dear.”
My frown deepened. “It seems a bit far fetched to me: a dangerous dwarf listening in on our conversations and now he’s come to this distant colony to hunt us down? Why have you never mentioned his intentions previously?”
Prof. Runal stared down at me, as if pondering my inability to grasp the serious nature of the situation. Finally, he remarked not unkindly, “There are many things you are uninformed about, Beatrice, a good many things indeed. I didn’t feel it necessary to instruct you on all matters concerning the Society.”
“Such as my brother still being alive, and my mother being a witch,” I snapped, hoping he’d be goaded into a confession.
Instead, the Director of the Society continued as if I hadn’t interrupted him. “As for the dwarf, he’s not to be trifled with, mind you, despite his diminutive stature. Don’t imagine he’s as easy to manage as the other creatures you’ve encountered.”
I stiffened at that, for I was certain the old dog’s assumption was ill-informed and he didn’t know everything I’d managed as of late.
Prof. Runal didn’t take notice of my irritation, for he continued as jolly as ever. “Well then, that will be all for now, my dear. It’s been a delight to see you. I’m sure we’ll have further opportunity to discuss all sorts of matters. In particular, I wish to review this misguided notion of your resignation, Beatrice. What an odd idea.”
“It’s more than an idea,” I said, fuming. “It’s a fact. I’ve resigned.”
“We shall see about that, my dear, we shall see,” he said with a chuckle. “Shall we be off?”
“Where to?” I asked sharply.
Prof. Runal’s eyes opened wide. “Did Mr. Steward not tell you? He was very kind as to offer me a room in his house until I should acquire another venue. Very kind man.”
My hand clenched as I replied, “No, he neglected to mention that. Then again, we’ve been rather distracted lately with one thing and another.”
“Indeed, indeed,” the Professor said as he lumbered off the platform. “All this talk of weddings and other disasters. No wonder it slipped his mind.”
“Indeed,” I repeated.