Free Terra Mechanica: A Steampunk Anthology by Terri Wagner (Editor)

the time of his release from the challenge was nearing daily. He could almost feel the sands in his cosmic hourglass running down. Every breath brought him closer to Kathleen. Would she still be waiting?
    The day he was to pick up his mechanoid, he set Heidi upon his knee. “I must be leaving today, Heidi, and I don't know if I will ever be back this way. You’ll take care of Grandfather for me, won't you?”
    “I promise,” said the child solemnly. “You must go home to your sweetheart now, mustn't you?”
    “How did you know?”
    “I heard you whispering by the fire last night, when you were laying down to sleep. Is she pretty, your Kathleen?”
    “As pretty as all the stars above the mountain.” He stood her on her feet and rose to his.
    “I am happy for you, Toby. Your eyes are shining again. Shall I be someone's sweetheart someday?”
    “I am sure you shall,” he answered, kissing the top of her head in farewell.
    Herr Schultz was waiting when he went down to the village to retrieve Chester. The clockmaker had removed both of Chester's battleworn legs and replaced them with sturdy telescoping limbs that gave him greater mobility and adaptability.
    “Wonderful, sir!” Toby left a second stack of coins on the counter when he took Chester away.
    With only six days until the end of the challenge, Toby eagerly boarded an airship for Ireland. Nothing else would do. He needed to be close to her, to embrace her as himself as soon as he was able.
    The night his cursed life would end, he bedded down in a forest clearing remarkably like that in which he had met the devil all those years before. He sat by the fire, back to a log, and waited, his carving knife in hand. Waiting.
    It was nearly dawn when he heard the rustling of someone approaching through the undergrowth.
    Toby set the queen he had been whittling down beside the other chess pieces. It was amazing how productive an anxious man could be. He lacked only three pieces for the set.
    “’Bout time you got here,” he called to the Toymaker as that gentleman limped into the firelight.
    “You aren't my only concern this evening,” grunted the Devil in reply. “I must say, I didn't expect to see you again.”
    “You thought you'd get my soul, but I'm hardier stock than that.”
    “So I see.” The Toymaker lowered himself to a seat with a sigh. “I fully expected the cold would get you if the loneliness didn't, but you were never really lonely, were you? You managed to make friends despite this.” He waved a hand at Toby's unkempt appearance. “You beat me fair and square.” He began to slip out of Toby's old coat. “Now, just give me back my jacket, and I'll be on my way.”
    “Not so fast,” Toby barked. “You ain't leaving me in this condition.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “You are going to bathe and shave me proper. I'll not go another moment wrapped in this filth that was your making.”
    The Toymaker narrowed his eyes at Toby. “I see. Steel beneath the mud, is there? Oh, all right. I'll do as you ask.”
    There was a warm spring nearby, and Toby led the way to it. Seven years of grime took a while to wash away, but as the sun rose, it touched upon a different man than it had set upon.
    Toby was clean-shaven once more, and his hair fit his head like a sleek cap. His clothes had fallen to rags, but the Toymaker replaced them with clean and simple garments. Toby retrieved his ring from his trousers and burned the rags in the fire. Finally, he handed the Toymaker back the magical jacket with its pockets of never-ending treasure.
    “There you go. We're square.”
    “I believe I promised you riches,” countered the Toymaker.
    “I don't need riches, though I would like to give that dancer to my girl someday.”
    The Toymaker reached into the pocket of his coat where it was kept and handed Toby the little brass box. “You are an unusual man, Tobias Kincaid.”
    “No,” Toby answered with a grin. “I happen every day.”
    The Toymaker gave a