A bell tingled to signal someone was at the front door. He peered into the bent telescope fastened through the wall. Lt. Harris stood at attention on his porch. Speaking into the voice tube he had perfected from the captain’s design, he called, “Turn the bird on top of Napoleon’s head. Two times left, two times right, two times left, one time right. Come in. Go down the hall. I’m at the back.”

Harris looked around with a startled expression. He dropped his bags and reached for the bird. When the door swooshed open with a burst of steam, he picked up his belongings and walked in. With a hiss, the door closed behind him. Walking with cautious steps down the hall, Harris entered a room full of equipment.

Albert sat at his worktable and grinned at the man’s amazed expression. “Join me for a cold supper. My housekeeper always leaves me too much food.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, help me eat this. She gets upset if I don’t finish it all. Besides, we need to talk and get acquainted.”

Harris pulled over a stool and grabbed a thick slice of bread. He methodically spread on mustard, layered meat on top, and covered it with a second slice of bread.

They both ate in silence. When finished, Albert leaned back and studied the man. “Know anything about machines? How they run?”

“Kept my father’s farm equipment in perfect running order. He told me I have a way with machines. But not really, I just listen to the noise they make and adjust them from that.”

“Your father misses your help?”

“Nope. I taught my younger brother everything, and in some cases, he’s better at the repairs than I am.”

“Besides that, why did Roosevelt pick you?”

“I speak Japanese. My father was a captain of a merchant vessel and traveled the world. At one stop, he met my mother. It was hard for her to break Japanese tradition and come with him. But in the end, they negotiated. She would marry him if he quit sailing and settled down. Also, her mother comes with her and needs land to grow things. Dad now owns a fairly large farm with cattle, chickens, and a garden with weird plants growing in it. I take after my father in looks, but sisters and brother look more Japanese.”

Albert waited, he sensed there was more. The soldier’s face gave nothing away.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I also speak some Russian. One of the immigrant workers on the farm taught me. I have an ear for languages.”

“That may be something we keep to ourselves.”

“My thinking also.”

“Let’s clean up here. I’ll show you where to sleep.”

Later Albert led him to a blank wall and gripping a knob, slid it to the side. A light came on, and they stepped into a tall box. “A little something, I borrowed from my kidnapper. One day I’ll tell you about that.” He turned lever 2 and the lift quietly rose.

Later in the night, he kicked at the covers in his sleep. Whistles wheezed. Hot steam blew across his face. His peaceful dream turned into a surreal nightmare.

No, that’s not it! He jerked awake. The downstairs alarms were triggered. Someone was breaking in! Albert grabbed his cane and slipped on his robe. Not sure if Harris was a light sleeper, he quietly opened the door and discovered the man was already up. Through the open curtain, there was enough moonlight to reveal his robe pocket sagged from the weight of a weapon. A second gun was clutched in his fist.

“People are breaking in. My alarms were triggered, front and back,” Albert whispered.

“Heard the one in the back trip on something.”

“One of my traps. Couldn’t get in the front door, so another broke a window.”

Harris looked him over. “You need a gun?”

“No, I’m fine with my trusty cane.” He clicked the case off, and the silver blade gleamed.

“Alright, I’ll go down the stairs. You take the lift. If the light can be turned off?”

Albert did not answer. He stepped into the lift and flipped the light switch. On the first floor, the door opened to a dark hall.

In the sitting room, a vase fell over and shattered. Albert grinned. That was one a student gave him, and his father hated. It sat on a table in front of the window.

Someone cursed in a foreign language, not Russian this time.

A shifting shadow indicated Harris reached the bottom step. “Now?” he whispered.

Albert reached out and flipped a lever. All the lights in the house came on. A man appeared beside him with sword raised. Albert reacted too slowly. His blade was only half raised when Harris’s gun roared.

The other man charged from the sitting room throwing black flat objects. Harris dropped to one knee and fired again. The attacker clutched his chest and fell over. The objects hit with a thud on the wall above them.

Harris rolled him over and tried to stop the bleeding. The man muttered something and died.

“What did he say?”

“We only were to damage his hands, not kill him.”

“These things he threw?” Albert pulled one from the wall.

“Lethal or disabling. The police are here. Someone must have heard the gunshots. I can mention the president, but that could escalate the situation. We need to keep the connection secret.”

“I’ve decided you are my valet since the police will ask. That will give you a good enough reason to travel with me. But what about these men?”

“Robbers. The broken window and back door support the story. Yes, but let’s get these black things out of the wall. No need to explain them. They both had swords, so my use of deadly force is warranted. But, Albert, is there anything in your gadgets that involves a gun? You may need it next time.”

“Next time? This is the second attack today by different factions.” Albert sighed.