Tesla: A Teen Steampunk/Cyberpunk Adventure (Tesla Evolution Book 1) by Mark Lingane Page B
Authors: Mark Lingane
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The closer the device was the more it buzzed.
Nikola stood up. “I’ll organize word to be sent.”
“What should I do?”
“You can move in with the other teslas. Go back to the gate and ask one of the guards to direct you to their quarters,” he called over his shoulder as he hurried away over the cobblestones.
Sebastian sat on the stool surrounded by potted flowers, watching the figure retreat. Frustration and confusion rose through his exhausted mind.
*
He was woken by someone gently nudging his shoulder. He opened his eyes. A goat was trying to nibble his ear.
“Getorff,” he shouted and shooed the hungry animal away. It made him recognize his own hunger.
He was still at the front of the small flower shop, on his stool leaning against the stone wall. He sagged back against the wall, letting his nerves settle and his vision clear. He took a couple of deep breaths and staggered to his feet. His arms and legs ached. He was almost amenable to the idea of having a bath. As long as he didn’t have to wash his hair.
He wandered back to the main gates and spent some time exploring the front of the city. It was quiet, and people were few and far between. He explored some of the alleyways to see what shops he could find. They consisted mainly of transportation shops. Things for horses. Things for carts. Things for people traveling on horses or carts. While he was examining a strange shop that seemed to be full of equipment for people doing strange things to other people, he noticed a distant figure with a familiar gait. He ran off in pursuit.
“Mr. Stephenson,” he called.
The figure turned. He was relieved to see that it was Mr. Stephenson. He waved at his old teacher.
“Why, Sebastian, fancy seeing you here. I thought you’d be celebrating after your narrow escape from the beasts.”
“I haven’t been told about any celebration.”
“Well, we haven’t won the war yet. Perhaps they’re waiting for a more significant moment. Come eat with me, my boy, in my quarters. I’ve got a very nice place up on the top of the apartment buildings next to Old Benjamin.”
A multitude of questions spun around Sebastian’s head, but one was vying for attention. “Food? When?”
“We can call into the kitchens and ask them to prepare something within the hour.”
Sebastian’s stomach groaned. An hour was a long time, but he had questions to ask. “What’s a tesla? Nikola said I had to stay with the other teslas.”
“Really? How interesting. So you’re destined to become a tesla. Very interesting.” He wandered on in silence, staring ahead. Eventually he spoke. “A tesla, at its simplest level, is someone who can sense magnetic fields.”
“My head hurts when those things come near. Do you mean like that?”
“Hmm. Hurts, you say? Today is a very surprising day.”
“You said something about war.”
Mr. Stephenson sighed. “Yes. There’s been talk of various unpleasant disturbances to the west, and recently we’ve been under attack by the great scary flapping beasts. Or GSFBs for short.”
Sebastian pulled a face. It was an unexciting name considering how terrifying they were. “Are there any other names for them?”
Mr. Stephenson chuckled. “We’ve been able to ascertain that the enemy’s name for them is digital reptilian airborne guardian ordnances network.”
“D-R-A-G … dragons?”
“Yes. It’s a stupid and inappropriate name.”
“I like it,” said Sebastian. He nodded his head in agreement with himself. He would decree it when he was king.
“Ah, the folly of the young.”
“It sounds like they look.” A question sat nagging at the back of Sebastian’s mind. “Mr. Stephenson?”
“Hmm?”
“On the last night you were at our place …” Sebastian trailed off, hoping his teacher would come to his aid. The memories of that night still hurt. It was the last time his mother had been the person he had known all his life. As she had gotten sick, her
Nikola stood up. “I’ll organize word to be sent.”
“What should I do?”
“You can move in with the other teslas. Go back to the gate and ask one of the guards to direct you to their quarters,” he called over his shoulder as he hurried away over the cobblestones.
Sebastian sat on the stool surrounded by potted flowers, watching the figure retreat. Frustration and confusion rose through his exhausted mind.
*
He was woken by someone gently nudging his shoulder. He opened his eyes. A goat was trying to nibble his ear.
“Getorff,” he shouted and shooed the hungry animal away. It made him recognize his own hunger.
He was still at the front of the small flower shop, on his stool leaning against the stone wall. He sagged back against the wall, letting his nerves settle and his vision clear. He took a couple of deep breaths and staggered to his feet. His arms and legs ached. He was almost amenable to the idea of having a bath. As long as he didn’t have to wash his hair.
He wandered back to the main gates and spent some time exploring the front of the city. It was quiet, and people were few and far between. He explored some of the alleyways to see what shops he could find. They consisted mainly of transportation shops. Things for horses. Things for carts. Things for people traveling on horses or carts. While he was examining a strange shop that seemed to be full of equipment for people doing strange things to other people, he noticed a distant figure with a familiar gait. He ran off in pursuit.
“Mr. Stephenson,” he called.
The figure turned. He was relieved to see that it was Mr. Stephenson. He waved at his old teacher.
“Why, Sebastian, fancy seeing you here. I thought you’d be celebrating after your narrow escape from the beasts.”
“I haven’t been told about any celebration.”
“Well, we haven’t won the war yet. Perhaps they’re waiting for a more significant moment. Come eat with me, my boy, in my quarters. I’ve got a very nice place up on the top of the apartment buildings next to Old Benjamin.”
A multitude of questions spun around Sebastian’s head, but one was vying for attention. “Food? When?”
“We can call into the kitchens and ask them to prepare something within the hour.”
Sebastian’s stomach groaned. An hour was a long time, but he had questions to ask. “What’s a tesla? Nikola said I had to stay with the other teslas.”
“Really? How interesting. So you’re destined to become a tesla. Very interesting.” He wandered on in silence, staring ahead. Eventually he spoke. “A tesla, at its simplest level, is someone who can sense magnetic fields.”
“My head hurts when those things come near. Do you mean like that?”
“Hmm. Hurts, you say? Today is a very surprising day.”
“You said something about war.”
Mr. Stephenson sighed. “Yes. There’s been talk of various unpleasant disturbances to the west, and recently we’ve been under attack by the great scary flapping beasts. Or GSFBs for short.”
Sebastian pulled a face. It was an unexciting name considering how terrifying they were. “Are there any other names for them?”
Mr. Stephenson chuckled. “We’ve been able to ascertain that the enemy’s name for them is digital reptilian airborne guardian ordnances network.”
“D-R-A-G … dragons?”
“Yes. It’s a stupid and inappropriate name.”
“I like it,” said Sebastian. He nodded his head in agreement with himself. He would decree it when he was king.
“Ah, the folly of the young.”
“It sounds like they look.” A question sat nagging at the back of Sebastian’s mind. “Mr. Stephenson?”
“Hmm?”
“On the last night you were at our place …” Sebastian trailed off, hoping his teacher would come to his aid. The memories of that night still hurt. It was the last time his mother had been the person he had known all his life. As she had gotten sick, her
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