The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Kevin J. Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

the street, where it was still raining.
    The invisible man wore a long coat, slouching hat, dark pince-nez, and full
white makeup on his exposed skin. He opened an umbrella to shelter himself from
the downpour. "Care to snuggle close?" he asked Mina. "Heh."
    "I'd rather get drenched, thank you." She lifted her chin and turned away
from his greasepainted leer.
    "Come now, you're not still upset about that little incident at Miss Rosa
Coote's Correctional Academy for Wayward Gentlewomen, are you?"
    Mina turned to him regarding his unreadable mask coolly. "That is only one of
the many despicable things about you, Mr. Skinner. Getting girls pregnant by
claiming to be the Holy Spirit—indeed! How am I to choose only one reason to
avoid you?"
    As they walked down the wet stone steps toward the street, Quatermain stopped
in his tracks. Instead of a hansom cab, a strange vehicle waited for them at the
curb, massive and six-wheeled with a brute engine under its expansive hood.
"What in God's name is that?"
    Mina Harker and the invisible man also looked surprised and puzzled, but Nemo
simply strode forward. "It is mine."
    "Good one, Nemo. It really helps when you're so bloody mysterious," Skinner
said. "What
is
it?"
    "The future, gentlemen. The future."
    "I believe it is an unorthodox design of an automobile," Mina said. "I notice
several fundamental similarities to the contraptions currently being marketed by
Karl Benz in Germany and Henry Ford in America."
    Nemo regarded this as somewhat of an affront. Although Karl Benz was indeed
selling automobiles—and would probably become the most successful manufacturer
of the vehicles within a year or two—Ford had yet to do more than build a
prototype. If Ford didn't begin a marketing program soon, Nemo doubted the man's
work would ever amount to anything.
    The captain, a consummate designer and inventor in his own right, had
researched the capabilities of every model in the world to date and found them
all wanting, so he had created his own design. He was proud of the innovations
his vehicle represented, but he did not intend to share them with other
money-hungry industrialists.
    Nemo stepped up to the side of the muscular automobile. Its steam exhaust
vents and swirling lines were marked out in elegant Hindu style, functionality
with a veneer of ornateness. Though spattered with the dirt and soot of London's
streets, the metallic adornments showed gleaming gold, silver, and chrome over
colorful alloy body plates. The vehicle's six wheels would allow it to drive
overland as well as down the smoothest streets.
    A tough-looking older man stepped away from the car and saluted Nemo.
"Waiting for you, Captain. Ready to go." He opened the side hatch and bade them
enter.
    Nemo nodded politely to the man and introduced him. "This is my first
mate."
    "Call me Ishmael," said the old man.
    Curious, Skinner clambered into the dry car then reached out his gloved hand
to help Mina in, but she pointedly entered without his help. "I wouldn't want
you to smear your makeup."
    "What, Missy? You were intending to give me a little kiss? Aheh!"
    "I meant to smear it with my knuckles, not my lips."
    Nemo entered the car, and Quatermain came last, taking a final wary glance at
the street. From the far corner, he once again saw the suspicious looking young
man lurking on a sheltered stoop, still watching them. Quatermain frowned, then
ignored the observer who was so painfully obvious about being unobtrusive. "If
the Fantom hires only amateurs like that, then we don't have much to worry
about," he muttered.
    The vehicle's engine rumbled loudly, then the six tires began to turn, moving
them at increasing speed along the streets. "Our destinations not more'n a mile
away," Ishmael said. "Hang on."
    "What a cheerful fellow," said Skinner.
    Uncomfortably silent, Quatermain, Nemo, and Mina sat in the car.
    The invisible man turned to Quatermain. "So how did M get you?"
    "It's none