Free Fianna Kelly Versus the Jeebees: A Collection of Steampunk Stories by Harry Dodgson Page A

strange gases inside connected to other glass spheres
with thin wires. I saw metal contraptions with gears and pistons and devices
powered by steam engines. I felt overdressed as the few women attending the
convention were wearing the same dresses that they wore any other day.
    There
were periods where we'd have several interested families at once and times when
we were standing around by ourselves. I had to keep too curious children from
getting close to Bradan as there were places on his body that could burn them.
This did not help Felix's speech about household automatons as few would want
one that could catch their house on fire by accident. I think Felix would have
done better with a few barrels lashed together and a smile painted on one.
    Felix
bought us some sausages for lunch. He said they had been cooked by electricity.
I didn't think that would ever be popular because they were unevenly cooked
with some areas cold and other spots burnt. At least it was real food. He also
brought us salads with giant vegetables grown by special processes. It seemed
to me that a tomato only had so much flavour, and when you made it bigger, each
slice was less tasty. Lettuce had no taste to me no matter what size it had
grown to.
    I
was talking with one man several times during the day. He'd always have a
technical question about Bradan. He said that he was a professor at a
university in Scotland. Some of the questions I could answer; mainly the ones I
had already asked Bradan. The other ones I just looked back at Bradan and let
him respond. The man scribbled some notes in a pad each time and then he went
off to another place to talk with another person. I got the feeling that Bradan
was acting as the professor and he was the student.
    As
it got towards evening, many of the people had left and we had a scant few left
in our tent to talk with. Felix's wife, Mary, arrived with our dinner in a
picnic basket. It was so much better than lunch and I expressed my appreciation
for her efforts. Felix was a lucky man as she made sure he ate at regular
intervals in spite of his work. She had dressed extra special today because
Felix had promised her a great evening. He had only promised me that I wouldn't
hate being here. At least I wasn't the only woman overdressed here anymore.
    I
could hear a band tuning their instruments in another tent. I checked the
programme and saw it was a local group. Bevin sometimes helped them out when
they needed more musicians. I sometimes helped Bevin out when she needed more
singers. I didn't need to try hard to convince Felix and Mary to come along
with Bradan and I to hear them play.
    It
wasn't just music though. There was an amazing display of electric lights in
all colours and shapes. The band was on a stage that was lit by four bright arc
lights from over 50 yards away. I hoped all that light did not blind the
musicians. Unlike most of the exhibits here, I could imagine some of this
becoming popular. It kept one's attention focused on the band and not wandering
around the tent looking for mischief.
    Bevin
was on the left side playing her concertina. I thought about waving to her, but
I doubted she could see me. Perhaps the lights were meant to keep the performers
focused as well. If they couldn't see the audience, they wouldn't get stage
fright. Since I wanted to talk to her, the four of us headed that way when the
band took a break.
    I
had an idea and I told it to her and she told it to the band leader and he told
it to the band and then to the people controlling the lights. The next set
started and they covered the arc lights so the stage was barely lit. The music
kept playing though. I ran for the right side of the stage while Felix helped
Bradan up on the left side. We were in position when the next song started; the
one I had picked. They uncovered one arc light to show just me as I sang.
     In
Glasgow Town my Mither dwells,
As sure the Maidens ken,
For oft her counsel warns the Girls,
O ne'er to trust