The Falling Machine Read Online Free

quick flick of his wrist the eyepieces extended out into two telescopes. He put the back of the box up to his eyes. “Most peculiar….It's larger than it first appears. The gondola is almost like a boat….It also seems to have a propeller attached….But what powers it? And who designed it?”
    Nathaniel tapped his shoulder. “Sir Dennis? If we might, I'd like to continue our conversation.”
    “What?” The Professor lowered the device and shook his head slightly before gazing back. “Not now, Nathaniel! You're standing at the top of the world—enjoy it!” He compacted the lenses by pressing them back into their case. “Come by the Aereodrome when we're back at the mansion and I'll show you what I've put together.” He slid the box back into his pocket.
    Sarah's voice rang out urgently. “Professor—”
    Nathaniel cut her off with an impatient growl. “Not now , Sarah. Can't you see we're talking about something important?”
    “Oh, she knows it, lad,” Barry said. “But I think she's referring to me, and I'd like yer attention as well.”
    The two men turned to look at the Irishman. A metal frame was lashed around his upper body. It was a complicated affair made of brass pipes, springs, and gears, all held together by a leather harness and straps pulled tight enough to dig into the cloth of his coat. But the most noticeable items were the two steel cages around his arms; each one holding in place a short harpoon tipped with a shining barb that sprouted out a foot from the end of it.
    The Professor's voice was calm and even as he gave the command: “Tom, fire the emergency rocket.”
    A brass hatch in the Automaton's shoulder popped open, ripping through the fabric of his jacket. A cloud of white smoke sprayed up from the hole, followed by a small rocket flying up and out of him. In an instant it rose a hundred feet into the air above them and then exploded with a green phosphorous glow that burned like a tiny second sun in the New York City sky.
    “Neat trick, metal man,” Moloney exclaimed as he leaned back. Two long rods were attached to the back of the harness. When they touched the ground he braced himself against them. “But it won't save you.” He put his right leg up against the Automaton and gave him a solid shove. One of Tom's gloved hands scrabbled against the stone as he tumbled, but with his legs bent backward he couldn't find any purchase against the granite. The mechanical man teetered on the edge for a moment; then his momentum carried him over and he disappeared from sight.
    Darby bolted to where the Automaton had disappeared. “No!” He turned back to look at the Irishman. “What have you done?” Nathaniel knelt next to the Professor and held him back from the precipice.
    Moloney nodded. “Removed a threat, Sir Dennis….But that's not my main job here today.”
    Nathaniel jerked forward threateningly. “Who are you, really?”
    “Easy now.” The Irishman smiled broadly through his red whiskers. “You've probably figured out that I'm not Moloney the foreman. But you can call me the Bomb Lance.”

 
    T he shock on Sir Dennis's face transformed into anger. “Whatever it is you want, sir, you won't get it from me.”
    Sarah had quietly edged up behind the Irishman. Keeping his eyes, and weapons, locked on the two men in front of him, he only moved his head slightly to the left to acknowledge her. Get with the others, lass, before you force me to do something unpleasant to yer friends.” He prodded her slightly as she walked around him toward Nathaniel. “I would have guessed that the Industrialist's daughter had a bit of her father's courage, but being a fool will only get someone hurt.”
    Darby raised his cane and shook it. “Don't threaten her, villain! The Paragons will put a stop to you!”
    “Oh, I'm counting on it.” He took a step back. “I'm not alone, Sir Dennis, just the first.” He thrust out his lance toward the old man. “Now let's have that key from around