Albert closed the last student paper, wrote on its cover, and sighed. Some of them revealed so much promise, others needed to try another field of study. A short rap on the door caught his attention.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Henry stepped in.

“Father?”

“He requires your presence, now.”

It was instilled in him. When the Admiral said, “Now”, he went.

“Let me straighten your collar and tie.” Henry’s adept hands adjusted his clothing. Next, he removed Albert’s coat from the rack and helped slip it on.

“Time that important?” Albert asked as he reached for his hat and cane.

“Yes, the Admiral’s carriage is outside and ready to go.”

He climbed in and leaned back on the plush cushion. His stomach rumbled. “I hope where we’re going has good food. I forgot to eat breakfast.”

The horses clipped along the street and passed many of his father’s favorite eating places. Something about the route caught his attention. When the carriage stopped, he straightened up and glanced around. A memory surfaced. The President temporarily moved to a building during reconstruction of the White House. It was in Jackson Place, on the west side of Lafayette Square.

They stopped at a plain building under a canopy. Men dressed in black stood on either side of the entrance with rifles held across their chests. Not sure what was expected of him, Albert waited.

A man dressed in a large topcoat stepped out and opened the carriage door. As he moved, pistols fastened to his waist were revealed. “Dr. Timmons, follow me.”

He carefully climbed out and reached for his cane. Glad to see only three steps, Albert tried not to limp as he followed the man. The door opened as they approached. Another man directed him to a closed door on the left and rapped once on it.

“Enter.”

Vice-President Roosevelt sat behind a desk and gestured for him to come over. “Albert, good to see you. Of course, the last time I saw you, your arm was in a cast.”

Albert nodded with an amused expression. “Tied on some wings and jumped off the roof. I was six at the time.”

“Your father was furious and terrified. But, enough of this, I have someone for you to meet.”

“Lieutenant Harris, let me introduce Dr. Timmons to you.” A square shaped, muscular man stepped forward. His hair was so black it looked streaked with blue in the light.

A timid small voice broke through the introduction. “Father, have you seen my hedgehog?”

“In the corner over there. I thought you were to keep it caged.”

“Sorry, somehow he got out.” A young boy rushed across the room and scooped up his pet.

“Close the door behind you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Teddy resumed his discussion. “Now, Albert, your trip to Japan comes at a very serious time. I don’t want the visit to become an international catastrophe. That’s why Lt. Mark Harris will accompany you. Not as a guard, mind you, but as some sort of travel companion. Hush, hush. He will watch for anything that could be trouble and contact me.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Albert started to say something, but Roosevelt stopped him. “No sense in arguing. I gave your travel papers to Harris. He will keep them safe and present them as needed.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. He will come by your place this evening and get settled. That is all, both of you have a good trip.”

Henry stood next to the open carriage door and watched him with a curious expression. “The Admiral requests your presence for lunch.”

Albert, deep in thought, nodded at him and climbed in.

He sat across from his father at the Club and ate lukewarm chicken and rice. The wine, a standard vintage was almost vinegar. The admiral never paid for an upgrade, so Albert suffered in silence. At least the coffee and pastry were good. He gratefully sipped from the porcelain cup. Murmured conversations flowed around them. An occasional sneeze broke through the monotony, and the waiter hurried over with a handkerchief.

As the table was cleared, the Admiral lit his cigar and leaned back. Under bushy eyebrows, he examined Albert. “You are going?”

“You should know I had no choice, what with your friend, Roosevelt interceding.”

“Umph. That’s no excuse, I could tell Teddy you can’t leave. It’s for adventure. No use trying to fool me. When do you go?”

“Next week. My classes are finished for the year. I took a yearlong sabbatical.”

“Year?”

“Hopefully not that long. I take a train to the west coast and from there catch a steamer. Mr. Tamako assures me we will travel in style. Carriage on the train and berth on the ship is first class.”

“What does the emperor want from you?”

“To build a giant, mechanical dragon.”

“They must be mad, and you also for going along with this.”

“It’s the challenge. Plus, their engineers built a miniature that breathes fire and flaps its wings. I want to discover the propulsion that drives the mechanisms. Only way to find out is to go there.”

“What does your brother, Jack, say to all of this?’

“He is at sea. I left a letter at his quarters with details of the trip. Jack will catch up with me if necessary.” Albert paused as the waiter refilled his cup.

He sipped the steaming coffee while his father puffed on a pungent smelling cigar. Neither chose to break the silence.

Ding, Ding. The Admiral’s pocket watch chimed the hour. He rose and straightened his jacket. Without a backward glance, his father walked out of the room.

Nothing ever changed. All their meals ended the same way, Albert being dismissed without a goodbye.

Henry, the old man’s aide had been with him a long time. He once told Albert, “You look so much like your mother. When she died, he was devastated.”

Either his father was unconcerned about his youngest son or was afraid to show his emotions. Over the years, Albert decided it was the latter and accepted the curt dismissal.

Jack on the other hand would be livid. He could picture his brother’s reaction when the letter caught up with him. After the rescue from Captain Napoleon, now this, a jaunt off to Japan, the response might be explosive.

Albert grinned at the thought. His brother was getting too full of himself and needed a distraction.

He took his hat and coat from the rack and walked out into the sunshine. There was so much more he wanted to pack. One trunk was ready to send to the embassy, but the second was only half full. Preoccupied with his plans, he was surprised when a hand grabbed his cane arm and something sharp poked him in the back. Off balance, he stumbled for a moment.

“Keep going over to those trees. We need to talk,” a guttural voice growled in his ear. Reaching the shadowed area, the man’s heavy hand slammed Albert face forward into a tree trunk.

The assailant made one mistake, he turned loose of the cane arm. Albert flipped a lever, and the wood case broke apart. His swordstick now exposed; he jammed it into the man’s shoe. Sharpened to a fine point, the blade sliced through the leather to the ground. His scream of pain startled the birds nesting in the trees. They flew up in a swirl.

“Don’t suppose you still want to talk?” Albert leaned on the sword stick for support.

“Pull it out! Pull it out!” the man moaned.

“Answers. Who sent you?”

“My boss at the Russian Embassy. He said to warn you off. Make sure you didn’t board the train.”

A man wrapped in black emerged from the shadows. “Sir, if I may be of assistance. Mr. Tamako directed me to help when needed. If you please, I will handle this.”

Albert removed his sword stick and glanced around for the wood case. After slipping the blade into its holder, he looked up. Both men were gone. No chance now to interrogate the attacker. He knew both Japan and Russia were threatening war with each other, any day that could explode into a full conflict. But what did a mechanical dragon have to do with it?

A sharp pain in his foot reminded him of the present. Oh well, there were other things to accomplish. Finish packing and sew up the slit in his coat from the knife. He strolled home, leaning heavily on the cane.