He sensed a tenseness in the atmosphere around him. The birthday celebration was in a few days. Between Izumi’s interrogation under the pretense of pillow talk, and Harris’s secretive movements, Albert resented being stuck between them with no answers.

A loud snore broke his concentration. Harris stretched out asleep on a worktable. The man was up to something. A couple of times, when he thought everyone slept, Albert heard him sneak out into the night. He frowned at the memory. Harris could be in a lot of danger if discovered.

“Why the frown?”

“You’re awake.”

“Of course. Breakfast is due any minute. While we are bent over our food at the table, we can discuss a few things. Politely tell the workers how wonderful they were and send them off.”

“Haruto is coming also.”

“No. The audiences have been missing him. They are demanding his presence.”

“You have this all worked out.”

“Yep. It’s time to discuss our escape.”

After eating, Albert gave an emotional speech, translated by Harris, to the workers. “I have been honored by your dedication. The dragon could not have been completed without your help. Now, we are finished. Enjoy the time with your family and friends.”

After a series of bows, the guards escorted them out. As the door closed behind them, Albert turned and demanded, “Tell me.”

Harris gave him an enigmatic smile. “Don’t suppose we can explore those crates that were never opened. The one with the gadgets in them. You mentioned a flying platform?”

A feeling of excitement surged through him. Whatever Harris planned; it would be fun. He grabbed a knife and cut through the rope. With a crowbar, they opened the sides. A bunch of small devices tumbled out to expose an odd shape wrapped in a cloth.

“This is smaller than the original ones I designed. They were meant to carry extra weight. This only carries one man. What made you think of this?”

“The wind, remember? It said, ‘Dr. Timmons will fly away’.”

“What about you?”

“I have my ways of disappearing.”

Albert unwrapped the cloth bindings. “If anyone asks, this is part of a surprise for Emperor Meiji’s birthday celebration. But how to get it out of here?”

“When they remove the building side to release the dragon., we can wheel it out, and you take off.”

“Too simple.”

Harris bent over and searched through the devices on the floor. “I know, but for the rest, we will improvise. Do you have any more pulsers? And what other toys are in here?”

“They are scientific experiments not toys,” was his indignant reply.

“Yea, right. They are fun to use, though.”

“Why do you need another one?”

Harris got up to lock the doors and explained, “Don’t want any surprise visitors. I have a favor to ask. Let’s sit for a few minutes. You discovered I have been sneaking out at night. Well, on one of my night excursions, I sensed someone following me. Taking twists and turns down alleys and streets, I could not shake him. Finally giving up, I stood in the street and waited for him to appear.”

****

A man dressed as a monk walked toward me. His face was covered by a cowl pulled down over his head. He said, “Good game. I enjoyed the run.”

For a strange reason, I did not feel threatened.

He flipped his hood back to reveal a shining bald head. His white face glowed in the dark. But it was his intense green eyes that caught my attention. Something about their color bothered me until I realized they matched the green stone from the miniature dragon.”

“You must be Harris. Yuso told me about your kindness. Also, he was impressed with Dr. Timmons, his knowledge and imagination.”

“Are you real? Or another mechanized form?”

“Interesting question, but yes, I am real.”

“What do you want?”

“Yuso said you wanted some green stones. I suggest a trade.”

“We need a secure place to talk.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“The temple. Follow me. There is a side entrance.”

We sat on a stone bench inside a small, narrow room. In the silence, I thought there was a flutter of wings. “Yuso, that is his name? He never could talk.”

“The woman who captured pried at his eyes and mouth with a steel tool. Damaged his ability to speak. He is well, now. It was ingenious how you communicated with him.”

Another long silence followed. The man seemed to have trouble asking me for something. I leaned back to wait and let the peaceful atmosphere flow around me.

“The trade I mentioned. Yuso described the dragon Dr. Timmons created. He was excited because he controlled it by himself. The others did not believe him. We are willing to give you two green stones in exchange for it.”

“Did he tell you what was involved? We sent jolts of power through him to run the device. He reassured us it did not hurt him, but I wondered. I would have to give him the ability to shock himself.”

“He now sings longer and on a higher note. Even the monks noticed.”

I glanced up to a dark corner in the room. “Yuso, is this what you want? I can make this happen.”

The small dragon flew down and landed on my shoulder. It tweeted a soft melody, almost a purr.

“The day of the birthday celebration, we can sneak it out the side of our work area.”

“Tonight, is better. At that time, we will make the exchange of stones.”

I stood and stretched. “Not sure of the time, but I must get back.”

The green-eyed man waved at the solid wall and a door opened. “Follow me.”

*****

I was halfway home when I discovered my passenger. He lifted his hat. Yuso flew out and landed on Albert’s arm.

“Glad you came back. Missed you.” Albert ran a finger down the miniature’s spine.

The tiny dragon whistled a soft melody for their ears only.

“He wants to practice driving the mechanical dragon by himself. Yuso plans to show off for the others. They didn’t believe his story.”

“I can start with that first. Make sure everything is synced. Get you set up in the head slot. The jolts of energy did not bother you?”

Yuso shook his head,

Harris smiled. “They said, he sings in a higher tone.”

Albert methodically studied every inch of the mechanical dragon. He filled the water tank while Yuso watched. He unfastened the head flap, and the miniature dragon strutted down his arm and into the opening.

“I fixed the cord to the pulser, so you can pull from the inside.”

A faint glow from the spark, followed by a surprised tweet from Yuso, and Albert’s dragon started rumbling. Steam burst from its nostrils.

They watched as the metal beast crawled around the room.

Harris commented, “The little guy is happy. I can hear him singing.”

“Any idea how to get it out of here?”

“The monk said he would take care of that tonight.”

“Good, we need to concentrate on the next part of the plan.”

They lifted the flying machine from the carton. After setting up the platform, Albert showed him how to connect the struts and position the steam engine on it. He sparked the motor to start the steam reaction.

They listened to the engine run for a couple of minutes each with heads bent to the side. Albert said, “Something’s off.”

“Mind if I make an adjustment?” Harris stooped down and twisted a couple of screws. “That should take care of it. No more whistles.”

Someone jerked the locked door. Next, something heavy banged on it. Yuso maneuvered his mechanical dragon to a corner and shut it down. Harris threw a cover over the machine.

Albert approached the door and unfastened the lock.

Izumi stood angrily in front of him. The guard next to her held a thick pole ready to beat the door open. “I thought it was understood. No locked doors.”

“What I am working on is a personal gift for the emperor. Too many spies around. I want it to be a surprise.”

She walked into the room and studied the flying machine. “This is strange, what is it for?”

“A flying machine. My personal design. As the dragon moves down the street, I will fly overhead and drop confetti.”

“Confetti? Is that some kind of food?”

“Chips of colored paper. I can also use short strips of ribbons. If you can arrange that for me? Several small bags should be enough.”

He thought for a moment she was going to refuse, but then Izumi gave a calm smile and nodded. “I am here to take care of your needs. They will be delivered this afternoon.”

They watched the door close behind her.

“That was close, but your quick thinking will help. After dropping the ribbons overhead, you can circle and head for the steamship. The ship docked two days ago full of dignitaries for the birthday celebration. The captain will expect you to land on it while leaving port.”

“What about you?”

“Made my own plans. We’ll meet on the ship.”

Hidden in the grayness of dusk, right as night ascended, a cart parked outside. During the day, Harris removed all but a few screws fastening the wall to the building. As he removed the last ones, the green-eyed monk slipped in and helped him shift it to the side. Yuso moved his mechanical dragon toward them.

The monk laughed when he saw it. “The monster is as you described. But where are you?”

The head flap popped open and Yuso whistled to him.

Harris glanced out into the street. “We don’t have much time before the night guards come. Let’s get this on the cart.”

They lifted Albert’s dragon. Yuso maneuvered the device across the wood planks. With a blue fabric thrown over it, the odd shape almost disappeared in the dark.

“As agreed.” Following the Western tradition, the monk shook Harris’s hand. He turned and bowed to Albert, then taking the horse’s bridle, let the cart through the dark street and disappeared.

Harris fastened the wall back on while Albert lit the lamps. They returned to work on the flying machine. Occasionally, Albert smiled at the memory of Yuso driving his dragon. He asked, “Don’t suppose you know what he is going to do with it?”

“No idea. Can even figure out where they will hide it in the temple. The interesting part is that they mentioned ‘others’.”

Albert stepped on the metal platform and started the engine. He flipped on the fan blades, and the machine lifted off the ground. He flew close to the ceiling for about a half hour, turning left, and then right. Though quiet, it spewed out steam and left a trail as he maneuvered around the room.

“Think it will fly long enough to get you to the ship?”

“Oh, yes. Only used a little of its power. How does the engine sound?” He flew to a back corner and brought the machine down.

“Smooth. No whistles. Though one of the blades has a kind of ‘whooping’ sound.”

“Off balance a bit. I’ll fix that.”

“Guards are here. Don’t suppose we can eat, rest, and take care of that tomorrow?”

Albert’s stomach gurgled. At Harris’s laugh, he said, “Good idea.”

Later that night, he tried to sneak out and work on the machine.

Harris met him at the door. “It seems we both have nighttime goals.”

“Just a few minor adjustments. I want to check on the dragon also. You be careful.”

“I will. Just need to check on a couple of things. Haruto comes in the morning to practice his riding, probably late though. He has a midnight performance.”