Free Island of Doom: Hunchback Assignments 4 (The Hunchback Assignments) by Arthur Slade Page B

she dropped him. He fell several feet before grabbing onto the landing rope and slipping down it to the ground. She was disappointed. Not even a broken leg.
    As the soldiers began unloading the cargo, she climbed down the net ladder and strode across the island to Dr. Hyde’s cave. The Crystal Palace glowed with the red light of the setting sun; the dull Pacific evening was still warm and humid. She felt as though she was being watched from the palace’s observation deck. That was how the Guild Master wanted her to feel: watched. He had numerous telescopes and would often look down on his creations; perhaps he was watching her right now as she marched up the hill and into the cave. She straightened her shoulders.
    Dr. Cornelius Hyde was under the gaslight holding two tubes in almost the exact same position she had left him in nearly a week earlier. The man, old as he was, rarely stopped working. If she were to make a sudden noise, he would startle and drop the tube, smashing it and destroying the contents. She had done that only once before and set his work back by days. So she cleared her throat lightly until he looked up.
    “Ah, Ingrid. It is such a pleasure to see you.”
    “And you as well, Cornelius. I have brought you more fine specimens. How does your work go?”
    “It is frustrating, Ingrid. Typhon was such a success. He made me feel I was born to design human beings.” He paused. “That does sound somewhat mad, does it not? But I see so much potential!” He lifted his hands to emphasize his point. “Every molecule. Every cell is connected. Run through with veins and nerves. And with Typhon I was able to animate it all using that metamorph’s finger.”
    “Metamorph?”
    “Agent Modo. Metamorphs—like a tadpole to a frogand back again. Remember how he changes shape? There is something about his cells, his blood that, combined with the right electrical impulses, brought Typhon to life.”
    “You do remember who brought you his finger, don’t you?” she said slyly.
    “Of course, Ingrid. I praise you every day for that. But I need more of his tissue.” He pointed at the empty cages where several chimpanzees had once been. There was also an aquarium on four wrought iron legs. Inside it was a large octopus that had seven arms. “All other attempts have failed. The secret is in his flesh.”
    “Would you like me to bring him here, piece by piece?” she asked.
    “Ah, if only you could. But the Guild Master has promised me more material very soon. Typhon was only the beginning, Ingrid.” He grabbed her by the hand. “Imagine if you could live forever in a larger and more powerful body. Imagine that? Never breaking down.”
    “It would be glorious,” she admitted.
    “Well, it is within my grasp. We are marching toward a beautiful and brave new world.”
    Perhaps he was mad, but he hadn’t been wrong yet.

13

A Stronger Woman
    I nside the fiacre, Octavia’s eyes moved from the window to her pocket watch and back. They had asked the driver to stop in an alley, where they had a good view of the whole bureau. The building and grounds looked to be quiet, guards standing upright at their posts. No alarms had sounded since Modo had disappeared inside. The two young women spoke in hushed tones. “Remind me how long you expected this little adventure to last?”
    “According to my calculations it would take Modo three minutes to enter the building, four minutes to reach Quint’s office, less than a minute to pick the lock. He’ll need at least ten minutes to find the proper files. Then he has to retrace his path back to the gate. Therefore, I estimate twenty-five minutes. Though we should allow him at least ten minutes’ leeway.”
    “Thirty minutes have passed,” Octavia said. “Any moment now he should be walking out that door.”
    “You care about him deeply, don’t you?” Colette said
    Octavia was about to say something glib, but when she saw the look on the young woman’s face she fell