A group of nervous boys followed Harris into the room. He indicated for them to spread out and wait. They were invited to Albert’s presentation of his new device. As an opening act, the miniature green dragon circled overhead just out of their reach.

“Can I hold it?” a brave boy asked. Harris could be scary with his dos and don’ts.

Only Albert and Harris knew of the miniature’s ability. They discovered the strange creature understood them but could not talk. Using a system of wing waves, they conversed with it.

The miniature sat motionless on his shoulder.

“It is a very fragile being. Even I don’t hold the dragon. As you see, it perches like a bird.”

“Is it a real dragon?”

Albert paused for a moment and studied their trusting faces. He did not want to lie. But there was something about the creature even, he could not understand. “I think it is more like an insect, the dragonfly for example.”

Harris hefted a basket onto the table next to Albert. “Now, boys, Dr. Timmons will show you his mechanized creation made of metal and whirling gears.”

Albert bent down and with a flourish, uncovered the device beside him.

The boys in unison breathed, “Oh.”

He built two models. The one for the Japanese Emissary was steam powered, the other used the miniature dragon’s strange powers. Both had three heads and were built in accordance with Japanese legend.

What made the second device special was the compartment in its center head. Designed to hold the small dragon, eyes like camera lenses helped to see in large images. His pulser design sent out continual energy. A system of commands and signals was set up. Worried at first that continual shots of energy would damage the creature, Albert was hesitant, but the dragon reassured him that was not a problem.

Giving the command, “Now,” the little dragon dropped onto his hand.

He hid his next action from the inquisitive boys. Opening a flap, the dragon slipped in.

“All set?”

At the signal of its wing, Albert closed the small door and stepped aside. A long, snake-like monster stared menacingly at the boys. Light bounced off its shiny metal scales. Including the tail, it was almost seven feet long and slid forward on two three-clawed feet. Pointed extension-like horns protruded from the center of each head. Two heads turned constantly, while the middle third one remained stationary. Six eyes continually moved studying the room.

The boys yelled in fear. The smallest one started crying.

Harris clapped to get their attention. He picked up the crying boy and set him on a table. “It is just a machine. You observed Dr. Timmons joining the gears. It was designed to appear scary. Let’s play a game. We brought some specialized weapons.”

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The basket Harris brought was full of fresh dinner rolls. He tossed one at the nearest boy. “Good catch. Now all of you spread out, see if you can catch them, too.”

The rolls were loaded into an opening on the two outside necks. Albert whispered, “Go easy until they get the rhythm.”

A roll flew out toward a boy. Caught in midair, he stuffed it in his mouth. Over the next few minutes, the rolls flew out in rapid succession. The small boy next to him whimpered. None came his way. Albert handed him a roll.

After finishing the basket of ‘weapons’, the mechanical dragon slithered around the room, swishing its tail back and forth. It stopped at each boy, waiting to be petted. Even the smallest one timidly touched the shiny scales.

“Time to leave. Dr. Timmons needs to make a few adjustments to Metallica.”. Harris scooted the last boy out and shut the door.

The miniature dragon popped the hatch open and flew out to land on Albert’s shoulder.

“Thank you. That was an excellent demonstration, and the boys had fun, too. I wish you could tell me where to get more of the green stones. I don’t feel right using you for this. Are there more available?”

The dragon indicated a ‘yes’ by a wing flutter.

“Can you show me?”

Stillness by the creature meant, ‘no’.

“Secret?”

Again, a wing fluttered.

“Are there more like you? If you ask?”

The miniature’s bright green eyes studied him. After a moment, a wing fluttered.

Someone pounded on the metal door. He slid the dragon in his pocket. Harris opened it, and the huge bodyguard entered followed by Izumi.

“You chose to demonstrate the device first to a bunch of riffraff boys and not Emissary Tamako?”

Albert bowed in apology. “It was to save my embarrassment. I needed to ascertain my creation worked. The power source ran at first but stopped after a short length of time. I know what the problem is and should have it ready tomorrow for a proper demonstration.”

“Tomorrow then, after lunch we will come.”

“On the upper deck. I will use ammunition heavier than the dinner rolls.”

“Very well. Oh, and I will need the toy dragon back.”

“It’s in pieces. I took the dragon apart to determine how it worked. When we arrive in Japan, I can put it back together.”

Izumi turned abruptly and glided from the room.

“I don’t think she was happy about that.” Harris closed the door behind her.

Albert uncovered the second dragon. Harris helped him lift it onto the cart. The first one was packed in a wooden crate. Shoved against the wall, and with another crate on top, it appeared to be only one of Albert’s boxes.

He bent down and unscrewed the back panel. Turning a few wheels, Albert made a minor adjustment and closed the panel. “I think it has enough steam to get us to the lift, and then down the corridor to our room. Give it a go?”

“I can follow with the cart, just in case. Metallica is heavy.”

The lift was empty so there were no surprised passengers, but the corridor was a different matter. Two women discovered the gleaming dragon coming toward them and ran screaming to their rooms. A porter dropped the tray he was carrying and fainted.

“I say, what have you got there? My wife said it was some giant monster.” A man’s head popped out from one of the doors.

Albert pressed a button and steam burst from each nostril. At a second touch, each head waved in different directions.

Startled at first, the man took a deep breath and then a chuckle shook his body. “You are the famous Dr. Timmons, inventor, everyone is whispering about. Wait until I tell the others what I saw.”

“Harry, come back in. Help me,” a female voice wailed.

“Well, got to help the wife. This was a real experience.” He entered his room and closed the door.

“That was a satisfactory trial run. Now if I can get it to spit out something other than dinner rolls,” Albert muttered as he guided Metallica through the door.

“Don’t worry. I will think of something suitably dangerous,” Harris reassured him.