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

"We could say we didn't notice it, except it's so big."
    The
Colonel ignored Albert and said to me, "Miss, you are quite correct. I
have chosen to not make any of those decisions. Since it is with you, I have
granted it safe passage as if it had its own passport."
    I
didn't know how to reply. This man was nothing like what I had heard British
military officers were like. Either he was an exception or the people who told
me about the British were mistaken.
    "As
I was saying about a favour. I believe we are in the position to assist one
another. You need a fast ride to London in order to get there before Saturday.
We have a private locomotive preparing to leave tomorrow morning to transport a
new weapon to London. We could benefit from knowing if there are any G.B.H.I.s
along the route."
    "Do
you expect them to attack?"
    "No,
I'd just like you to mark any G.B.H.I.s your automaton discovers on a map. If
you agree to this exchange of services, I will make arrangements for your rail-car."
    "I
agree, to be sure. That's wonderful!"
    The
Colonel smiled at me and said, "Follow me, Miss, and I will show you what
you will be looking after. Have you ever heard of a railway gun?"
    I
shook my head.
    "It
is a large naval cannon mounted on a flatcar so a locomotive can take it into
land battles."
    We
walked a short distance to where a locomotive was idling on the tracks. It
looked of recent construction and had a tender, flatcar, a couple of boxcars,
and a brake van behind it. I noticed something resembling a Gatling gun mounted
on the flatcar, but it was unlike the one I had seen before. Beside it was a
panel with almost a dozen gauges mounted on it. Albert went up to the engine to
talk with the fireman while the Colonel and I continued to the flatcar. Two
soldiers were leaning on it.
    "Let
me introduce you to Lieutenant Mills and Lieutenant Reed. They are trained to
operate and maintain the railway gun. This is Fianna Kelly. I'm sure you have
already heard about her."
    I
blushed and curtsied. "I am pleased to meet you."
    "How
long before you can give a demonstration to our guest?"
    Lieutenant
Mills pulled himself up on the flatcar and checked the gauges. "You are in
luck. We are ready now."
    Lieutenant
Reed grabbed a wooden target, mounted a horse, and set off at a gallop down the
road while Lieutenant Mills busied himself with an assortment of controls while
glancing at the gauges frequently.
    I
thought about men with their toys and how they just can't resist showing off. I
sighed. Perhaps I will do the same if I had a shiny new rifle, but I didn't
think so. It was something that men did, not women.
    The
Colonel pondered for a moment and asked me, "Do you know how magnets
attract iron?"
    I
was going to tell him that I was not some stupid girl, but instead gave him a
glaring look that was just as good.
    He
continued, "Well, what this gun does is put a series of magnets in front
of the bullet to pull it forward at incredible speeds. It doesn't need any
shell casings. The ammunition is all bullet. It doesn't use gunpowder so there
is no chance of a powder magazine explosion during intense firefights. It has
the destructive power of a small cannon with a much higher rate of fire."
    We
heard a gunshot from the direction Lieutenant Reed had gone. "That's the
signal," the Colonel stated. He led me over to a telescope on a tripod
that I hadn't noticed before. "Look through here. You will be able to
clearly see the target on that small hill. It is precisely two miles
away."
    "Surely,
you can't hit anything that far away with such a small gun. The best I can do
with any accuracy is 700 yards," I replied rather smugly.
    "Just
watch and see what happens."
    He
motioned to Lieutenant Mills. I heard a sound like a crack of a whip and a
second later the target I was looking at was wooden shavings in the distance.
    He
said, "Did I mention it hardly makes any noise? All you hear from the gun
itself is the bullet as it accelerates away."
    Colonel
Reynolds