A Matter of Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 1) by Ichabod Temperance Page A

a success.”
    “Yes, Ma’am. The hardening process that we worked out with the chemysts has proven itself. So has my hope that these monsters’ own juices may be turned back against them. The hastily prepared mold of my Bowie knife worked perfectly to pour the ectoplasm into. The hardening agent worked to create a most formidable, monster-killing blade.”
    “Mr. Temperance, I am very proud of your having developed such an effective weapon. Congratulations, sir!”
    “Oh, gee, golly, shucks, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am. I’m just glad it worked out for us.”
    In spite of my already flushed state from the spider fight, I feel a rush of blood to my face. I can’t help but to blush whenever Miss Plumtartt flashes her electric blue eyes on me.
    “However, my clever combatant, we have no time to waste. Let us hurry back to the train station so that we can make passage to the continent.”
    ‘Yes, Ma’am.”
    - - -
    “It’s a shame our horse ran off, but I reckon we're about halfway to the station, Miss Plumtartt.”
    “I say, it does seem to be much further when forced to walk, Mr. … Oh!”
    “Miss Plumtartt! Are you alright?”
    “I say, I had an ugly sensation wash over me, Mr. Temperance.”
    “Did you also hear a distant, yet familiar and disheartening cry of a panicked horse whinnying in fear?”
    “Yes, quite so, Mr. Temperance. This one sounds like it is behind us by less than a mile. I suggest we hasten our pace.”
    “Many dogs in the area are taking up the alarm, Ma’am. Another panicked horse whinnied somewhere off to our left, maybe a little closer this time.”
    We continually increase our pace. Soon, we are running for the little village of Elderberry Pond. From disparate areas we hear a growing tumult of frightened animals.
    “Hang in there, Miss Plumtartt, we’re getting into town, now. There’s the train whistle! It’s fixin’ to pull out! We really gotta fly these last few blocks!”
    “Oh, I am done in, Mr. Temperance. I don’t think I shall make it.”
    “Hey, looky there! It’s a bicycle! Dad-gum, that is the dangdest bicycle I ever saw. There’s two seats, and two sets of pedals! It’s a bicycle constructed for two people!”
    “Perhaps if we asked them nicely, they would consider lending us their serendipitous contraption, eh hem? Oh, no, I see you have a more direct approach in mind, Mr. Temperance.”
    “Look out, y’all!”
    “You villain! What are you doing, you fool?”
    “I’m latching onto this here front wheel tiller and bringing y’all to a halt, sir. I wish I had time to ask nice like, but as we are in a hurry, I’m just gonna have to tump y’all off this here bike.”
    “You’ll do no such...augh!”
    “Hop on, Miss Plumtartt! Sorry, mister, but this is an emergency! I’ll leave her at the station.”
    “Mr. Temperance!”
    “I meant the bicycle, not you, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am!”
    “I am afraid that my dress does not allow for the use of pedals. I am forced to lift my hem.”
    “But Miss Plumtartt, somebody might see your bloomers!”
    “You sir, shall keep your eyes forward and hurry us to the station!”
    “Yes, Ma’am!”
    “Faster, Mr. Temperance! We are being overtaken!”
    “Miss Plumtartt, why ain’t you pedalin’?”
    “Oh, a strange sensation bounds through me. Something is happening.”
    “Miss Plumtartt!”
    “Unh!”
    There is a red flash of light and accompanying explosion right behind us. This upsets the two-wheeler and sends us tumbling onto the train platform.
    “The train is pulling out! Come on, Miss Plumtartt!”
    Miss Plumtartt can’t hardly stand, so I grab her around the waist and hurry her to the departing caboose.
    I hear and feel something hit the platform.
    I ain’t even gonna take a look with the goggles. I don’t think I want to know what is behind me. I just got to get on this dang train and hope that whatever it is doesn’t catch us.

Chapter 20 – Ipswich after dark.
    Persephone
    “Although we have