Read Online The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Matthew J. Kirby
Ads: Link
Branch’s apprentice.”
The man stepped aside without another word, and Frederick skirted past him into the shop. Inside, a very large woman dressed in black tilted halfway over the counter, and Master Branch bent away from her like a reed before a gale.
“Your work is marvelous, Master Clockmaker,” she said.
“Thank you, Madame.” Master Branch clutched the lapels of his jacket. Frederick knew that such praise made the shy old man uncomfortable.
The woman had a much quieter companion at her side, a young girl with long hair. Both of their backs were to him, but the girl seemed familiar.
“I must commission a piece,” the woman said.
Master Branch nodded. “Yes, of course, Madame. In thinking about what you desire, do any of the pieces here inspire you?”
“Let me see.” She looked away from Master Branch for a moment to survey the room, and then she spotted Frederick. “And who is this young man?”
The woman’s companion turned around then, and Frederick recognized her as the girl from the street. That night her thick hair had been braided, but now it fell loose over her shoulders. She appeared to recognize him, too, because she gave him a curious smile.
Master Branch perked up. “Oh, this is my apprentice, Frederick.”
“What a handsome boy,” the woman said. “But it looks as though he’s been in some sort of row.”
Frederick had not thought about how he must look after the alley fight.
Master Branch squinted at him. “Goodness. Are you all right, Frederick?”
“I’m fine.”
“Boys. It’s just in their nature,” the woman said. “Frederick, are any of these your work?” She gestured toward the clocks hanging about the shop, and the watches in the display cases.
“A few,” Frederick said.
“Don’t be modest, lad,” Master Branch said. He appeared relieved at the opportunity to deflect some of the attention, and came out from around the shelter of the counter. “Many of them are his.”
The woman turned back to Master Branch. She smiled and began to pace the small shop with her hands behind her back. She leaned her nose toward the clocks and the glass cases, and cooed like a dove. “My, but they are all so wonderful,” she said.
“Take your time, Madame.” Master Branch rubbed his forehead.
The girl from the street slid over near Frederick, turned to him, and whispered, “Your poor donkey isn’t still missing, is he?”
Frederick laughed, but it came out rigid and artificial. He felt a heat like the metal forge on his cheeks. “Thank — thank you again for giving me directions the other night. I was —”
“I believe I have made a selection,” the large woman said. She spun on feet that seemed too small for her size. “But I have an unusual request, Master Clockmaker, one that I hope will not offend you.”
“At my age I am not easily offended, Madame. Ask of me what you will.”
“I would like for Frederick to make my clock.”
Frederick felt a thrill that almost lifted him to his toes. He watched Master Branch for the old man’s reaction.
“Madame Pomeroy,” Master Branch said. “Such a request might very well offend another clockmaker. But I am honest with myself about the degree to which I rely on my apprentice. I will design your clock, and Frederick shall construct it. What would you like us to create for you?”
“There again, my request is unusual. I do not want a clock.”
“No?” Master Branch sounded intrigued. “A watch, then?”
“No. Within the courts of the various kings and queens that I’ve been honored to visit, I have seen many clever little contraptions called automatons.”
Frederick studied the woman. There was no way she could know about his clockwork man, but the direction of this discussion still made him uneasy.
Master Branch said, “I have seen many automatons in my day, Madame, and I have made quite a few.”
“Wonderful!”
“What type of clockwork would most delight you?”
“There, I trust
The man stepped aside without another word, and Frederick skirted past him into the shop. Inside, a very large woman dressed in black tilted halfway over the counter, and Master Branch bent away from her like a reed before a gale.
“Your work is marvelous, Master Clockmaker,” she said.
“Thank you, Madame.” Master Branch clutched the lapels of his jacket. Frederick knew that such praise made the shy old man uncomfortable.
The woman had a much quieter companion at her side, a young girl with long hair. Both of their backs were to him, but the girl seemed familiar.
“I must commission a piece,” the woman said.
Master Branch nodded. “Yes, of course, Madame. In thinking about what you desire, do any of the pieces here inspire you?”
“Let me see.” She looked away from Master Branch for a moment to survey the room, and then she spotted Frederick. “And who is this young man?”
The woman’s companion turned around then, and Frederick recognized her as the girl from the street. That night her thick hair had been braided, but now it fell loose over her shoulders. She appeared to recognize him, too, because she gave him a curious smile.
Master Branch perked up. “Oh, this is my apprentice, Frederick.”
“What a handsome boy,” the woman said. “But it looks as though he’s been in some sort of row.”
Frederick had not thought about how he must look after the alley fight.
Master Branch squinted at him. “Goodness. Are you all right, Frederick?”
“I’m fine.”
“Boys. It’s just in their nature,” the woman said. “Frederick, are any of these your work?” She gestured toward the clocks hanging about the shop, and the watches in the display cases.
“A few,” Frederick said.
“Don’t be modest, lad,” Master Branch said. He appeared relieved at the opportunity to deflect some of the attention, and came out from around the shelter of the counter. “Many of them are his.”
The woman turned back to Master Branch. She smiled and began to pace the small shop with her hands behind her back. She leaned her nose toward the clocks and the glass cases, and cooed like a dove. “My, but they are all so wonderful,” she said.
“Take your time, Madame.” Master Branch rubbed his forehead.
The girl from the street slid over near Frederick, turned to him, and whispered, “Your poor donkey isn’t still missing, is he?”
Frederick laughed, but it came out rigid and artificial. He felt a heat like the metal forge on his cheeks. “Thank — thank you again for giving me directions the other night. I was —”
“I believe I have made a selection,” the large woman said. She spun on feet that seemed too small for her size. “But I have an unusual request, Master Clockmaker, one that I hope will not offend you.”
“At my age I am not easily offended, Madame. Ask of me what you will.”
“I would like for Frederick to make my clock.”
Frederick felt a thrill that almost lifted him to his toes. He watched Master Branch for the old man’s reaction.
“Madame Pomeroy,” Master Branch said. “Such a request might very well offend another clockmaker. But I am honest with myself about the degree to which I rely on my apprentice. I will design your clock, and Frederick shall construct it. What would you like us to create for you?”
“There again, my request is unusual. I do not want a clock.”
“No?” Master Branch sounded intrigued. “A watch, then?”
“No. Within the courts of the various kings and queens that I’ve been honored to visit, I have seen many clever little contraptions called automatons.”
Frederick studied the woman. There was no way she could know about his clockwork man, but the direction of this discussion still made him uneasy.
Master Branch said, “I have seen many automatons in my day, Madame, and I have made quite a few.”
“Wonderful!”
“What type of clockwork would most delight you?”
“There, I trust
Similar Books
