JOYRIDE

It had been nearly a week since Monti was admitted to the hospital. His sickness had become a mystery that was proving impossible to solve. Blood samples and X-rays of his chest had been sent to specialists around the globe, but nobody could pinpoint a cause.

Some wondered if it was fatigue, others thought the coughing might be caused by acid reflux. There were suggestions of pneumonia and whooping cough, and one doctor wondered if Monti had contracted a fungal infection called valley fever. None of them were right.

The pressure to finish the portal scanner was more than he could handle, and more than once, Monti tried to escape. One time, a nurse caught him dressed in a janitor’s jumpsuit, pushing a bucket and a mop down the hall. If the sensor in his medical bracelet hadn’t tripped the alarm, he would have made it out. After that, the nurse threatened to handcuff him to his bed if he tried to leave again.

That left Harley alone in the workshop with Monti’s clockwork mechanics. Monti called him as often as the nurses would allow, which they soon limited to twice per day. He spent the rest of the time reviewing the scanner’s specifications as well as any results from tests that Harley had run.

Monti’s growing frustration only served to exacerbate his symptoms, so Doc Trimble prescribed medication that put Monti to sleep. Even then, his dreams were fitful. He thrashed and moaned, tearing the sheets from his bed. Nothing helped.

Harley wasn’t getting much sleep, either. Between homework and his new responsibilities at the workshop, there wasn’t much time for rest. Though the portal scanner ate up most of his day, there were other responsibilities as well. Clockwork mechanics broke down, conveyor belts snapped, and pipes burst. In addition, gadgets coming off the assembly lines required testing.

Despite all that, Harley decided to throw a party for Max and Ernie late Saturday afternoon. Making the varsity Round Table team was an impressive accomplishment—especially for Ernie, who hadn’t been expected to survive the first round of the tournament.

Harley thought it was important for the Grey Griffins to celebrate together, and Monti gave his blessing to host the party at his workshop. Besides, Monti had decided to pay Harley for all the work that he’d been doing. For the first time in his life, Harley had spending money.

He assigned some of the clockworks to clean out an area big enough for a table loaded with cookies, punch, and a sheet cake that looked like the back of a Round Table card. There were balloons tied to folding chairs and a DJ booth manned by a clockwork with a digital music player and speakers built into its chest.

“You did this all by yourself?” Natalia asked.

“Jasper and some of the other clockworks helped,” Harley said, deflecting the attention.

“Well, I think that it’s brilliant,” Natalia said.

Harley blushed.

“Where’s Ernie?” Max asked.

“I left him a message, but I never heard back,” Harley said.

“He’ll be here,” Natalia said.

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Max said.

“The pizzas are nearly finished, sir,” Jasper said.

“You made pizza?” Natalia asked.

“They don’t have pizza in New Victoria, so I brought some over from Leonardo’s,” Harley said. “They’ve been sitting in the freezer. Jasper is just warming them up.”

“How about some punch?” Jasper asked.

“I’d love some,” Natalia said.

“Me too,” Max said.

“Sir?” Jasper asked, turning to Harley.

“Sure, thanks.”

“Very well, then,” Jasper said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Maybe we should call Ernie,” Natalia suggested as the clockwork walked over to the snack table that Harley had set out.

“What’s the point?” Max asked. “He’s not going to pick up when he sees that it’s us.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Natalia said. “But it’s infuriating. I mean, I don’t know if I should feel sorry for him or be angry.”

Harley shrugged. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. He’ll come around or he won’t, and nothing that we do or say is going to change that.”

“Here we are,” Jasper said. He was holding a tray with plastic cups filled with punch. “I’m sorry that we don’t have better tableware, but this is the first gathering that the master of the house has held at our humble workshop.”

“It’s perfect,” Natalia said before taking a sip.

“How’s that pizza coming?” Harley asked.

“It should be just about done,” Jasper said.

The clockwork was about to return to the kitchen when the music stopped. Then static started to blare through the speakers before a voice spoke.

“… I repeat, this is not a drill. All available emergency vehicles should report to number Eight Harbor Drive. A group of masked vigilantes, presumed to be the Agents of Justice, have entered the abandoned apartment building. Smoke is pouring out from the second- and third-story windows….”

“That has to be Ernie,” Natalia said.

“How far away is that apartment building?” Max asked.

“Eleven point four miles,” Jasper said.

“Is there a subway stop nearby?”

“The nearest is next to Drummond Park, four blocks away.”

“We’ll never make it,” Max said.

“Yes, we will,” Harley said. “Monti has a team of clockwork mechanics working on Logan’s aerocar. Most of the structural work is done. So is the engine. All it needs is some paint.”

“It only holds two people,” Max said.

“That’s not a problem,” Harley said. Then he smiled. “I have my own ride.”

Even without the fog, it would have been difficult for Max and Natalia to see the streets from the sky. It was only six o’clock, but the streets of Bludgeon Town were already wrapped in darkness. Besides, the aerocar was moving so fast that the world below was a blur.

The headlights weren’t helping much, even with the high beams. All Max could see were swirling vapors and an occasional seagull that would dive out of the way as they tore through the sky. There were gas lamps meant to light the streets, but most were either snuffed out or shattered.

Flying with Logan had been unnerving. Flying without him was terrifying. Max gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. His jaws were clenched and his breathing was shallow. “Do you have the map working yet?” he asked just as a church steeple emerged through the fog.

Max jerked the steering wheel to the left, and the aerocar followed. At the insane speed they were traveling, the slightest adjustment was amplified. The aerocar dipped, sending Max into the driver’s side window as Natalia’s head snapped hard to the left.

“What are you doing?” she asked. Her chest was heaving and her eyes were wild with worry.

“Sorry,” Max said as the aerocar leveled out, “but it’s hard to see in this mess.”

Natalia tried to compose herself, pushing out thoughts of splattering into the side of a building. She hit a series of buttons on the panel until a screen showing a grid of the city came to life. “That must be us,” she said, pointing to a flashing light.

“Where’s the fire?”

Natalia typed the address into a keyboard below the display. When she hit Enter, a red dot appeared. “We’re close.”

Pulling his eyes away, even for a moment, was risky. There were clotheslines draped between the buildings like strands of a spiderweb, not to mention a forest of chimneys releasing steam from factories and smoke from fireplaces. Still, Max looked at the map.

They were off course, but not by much, so Max nudged the steering wheel until the green light was heading directly toward the red dot.

“Can you see Harley?” Max asked as he shifted his attention to the horizon.

“I can’t see much of anything,” she said as she strained to look at the streets below.

“What about the comlink?”

“I’ll try,” Natalia said. “Harley, can you hear me?”

There was a crackling sound.

“Harley, are you out there?” she asked.

More static.

“There must be some kind of interference,” Natalia said.

“Natalia,” Harley finally said, though the connection was poor. “Where are you?”

“Where are you?” Natalia asked.

“It’s hard to say,” Harley said. “What about you?”

“We’ll be there any minute.”

“Don’t do anything crazy until I get there. I brought some heavy firepower.”