The Case of the Torpedo Breaker

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

The usual suspects copyright Mr. Simon Barber

Alpha Rote was having the time of her life. In front of her was an ancient B1460 Aircraft engine. Known as the Armstrong Siddeley "Ounce", it was a twin horizontal opposed engine with dual ignition. This one though had been sitting in a junk heap for over ten years. Left exposed to the elements, banging and bumping as other junk was tossed upon it, moved around and sifted through. It was her dorms responsibility to get it started again.

“Alpha” Elizabeth Juniper asked softly. “Is this repair possible.” Elizabeth was the elected dorm leader. Elected more for her steady personality and eyes open understanding of society, rather than the fact the nutria was larger than anyone else.

Alpha had herself just completed a detailed study of the engine in question. At the moment she was silent, her eyes rolled up in her head as was normal while she crunched numbers. Of course not a single remaining screw had been removed as yet, still her dorm had learned to let the Cranium Island Mad Scientist examine equipment her way first. “Very difficult” the shrew reported as her eyes returned to normal. “Megan, we will need...” She began listing things as they were known in the Songmark manuals, not as how she would list them if she were on Cranium Island. It was one of the reasons her mental calculations had taken so long. Of everything she had learned on Cranium Island during her life, it seemed only a pawfull of her knowledge was usable here.

Beside her Megan Brightwhite carefully wrote down every item Alpha mentioned. She was the dorms scrounger, having more than proved herself on many tests before. Though a Canadian Martin by species she was from England, and very proud of her country. When Alpha finished her list it was three tightly written pages long. “This I can do” she announced. “If Katrina will help?”

“Ah dear sweet. My aid shall you have” the American Marsh Rabbit and hack actress answered. Together the two vanished. First to that massive junk pile outside the work area they had been given, then eventually other places. One thing Alpha and Elizabeth had long ago learned not to ask was anything about those ‘other places’ until later. Much later. Alone now the two began to carefully dismantle the ancient abandoned engine, and it wasn’t even an hour after breakfast yet.

As the two worked parts slowly began appearing. Other than the junk yard, Megan and Katrina studiously avoided Superior Engineering’s property. However when a brand new set of rings, exactly the type needed for this long obsolete engine appeared Elizabeth held them up to Alpha. “Maybe they have a time machine” the nutria observed.

“With Megan” Alpha answered as she continued edging the last piston from its time welded place, “I think nothing impossible. Maybe have own little bottle with Genie living inside.” Her answer was soft laughter from the nutria, until a wrench slipped and she barked her knuckles. Alpha carefully noted the words her companion used then. Some she knew were anatomically impossible. At least, if one wanted to survive the action.

At lunch they all took a break, while behind them various engine parts soaked in freshly filtered thin penetrating oils (second hand, they were allowed nothing new.) It was while they were eating that a rather cute Telegraph boy arrived, calling out for Mrs. Rote. With well practiced ease Alpha accepted the telegraph while Megan and Elizabeth managed to encircle their prey. Though nothing would occur, there simply was not enough time, one very flustered young coyote later peddled away on his bicycle with two new names and contact information in his pocket. For a tip it was one of the best he’d had in months.

“What does it say” Elizabeth asked.

Alpha flattened out the page, leaving thin smears of penetrating oil on its surface as she did so. “Is from Lady Allworthy. From Macau” she answered. “Says. Need Torpedo Breaker. Stop. Must protect sea warship from incoming torpedo. Stop. Conventional equipment only. Stop. Will expect results in five days. Stop. Lady Allworthy.” She looked to Katrina who’s ears were always open to the social news. “Is Lady Allworthy” the shrew asked.

“Lady Allworthy my dear sweet” the rabbit answered. “Was formally known as the third year Miss Amelia Bourne-Phipps, who is also a priestess in training. Currently incommunicado, as she is on a special school exercise.” Katrina picked up the yellow paper, re-reading what was written there. “So now we know. She has in truth taken the title to her bosom. She is also looking out for her people, unlike the previous owner of that title. Alpha, exactly how would you go about stopping a twenty to forty foot long torpedo moving at fifty knots from hitting a ship. Using as she says here, only conventional equipment.”

“Not now” Elizabeth countered, snatching the yellow paper from her friends paw. “Only one major problem a day. Alpha promised.”

Alpha gritted her teeth. To her the answer was so simple, so obvious. Yet she had promised. One major problem a day. “Engine first. Then design interceptor” she agreed. “May have paper?” Accepting the paper from Elizabeth she refolded it, placing it back into its envelope then into a back pocket. It was an easy problem to solve she knew. But first this engine. If it was not running by midnight they would probably not be in Songmark by morning song. That was the important job right now.

When Miss Blande arrived an hour after sunset song it was to find the four girls still cleaning their work area. As her eyes passed over the engine they had been given to repair she was surprised. Where its metal had been rusted or covered with corrasion it now almost gleamed in the artificial light. A polished propeller was mounted upon its shaft, though it was obvious that this wooden propeller had been cut down from a larger one. “Very pretty” she announced, amused when her students dropped what they were doing to stand in line. “She will, of course start?”

“She runs yes” Elizabeth reported. “We have half hour on her already. Though I would not wish tah fly with her.”

“I see. Considering that piece of scrap was missing parts, and had not seen a drop of oil in at least ten years, you will understand if I demand that you prove this claim?”

“Yes Mam. Shall we start her up now?”

“Yes Elizabeth. Please do.” Standing well out of dangers way should that propeller explode Miss Blande waited. To her pleasant surprise the engine came to life on their first attempt, revving up to quickly settle down into a steady idle. There was no indication of an unbalanced propeller, no squeal of metal upon metal. Still she waited a full ten minutes before indicating that they should shut the engine off. “And how was the propeller modified” she asked.

“That was Katrina’s work” Elizabeth answered. “She spent least two hours afore she was happy with it.”

Walking closer to the cooling lump of metal Miss Blande carefully studied each fitting, each repair. It was obvious to her that many of the parts were scrounged, why that was part of a door hinge she noted when studying one mounting. A carburetor from an old truck had been fitted using, of all things a cut down food tin. There were many parts used in repairing the ancient workhorse that the original manufacturer would have been horrified to find mounted upon his engine. It was also just as obvious that putting this monstrosity into any aircraft would be tantamount to suicide. Still it ran, if even for a few minutes. That was the true test. It was the propeller that amazed her the most. Carefully cut down, sanded, refinished and obviously balanced as well as a factory could manage. “How is your paw today Miss Schmidt” she asked without looking at the rabbit. She was of course referring to the ugly scar that Katrina would wear to her grave.

“Somewhat sore Miss Blande” the Southern girl answered. “It will ache tonight, still it is not as bad as it could be. Megan was very helpful with the rough cutting. It is not as bad as I expected. I truly believe that I am healing well. With powered tools I will still be able to follow my original trade. Should I need to.”

“Let us hope so Miss Schmidt. I still believe that you should have been sent home that day. It would have been better for you. Still. What is done is done. Mrs. Rote. You received a telegram?”

Quickly Alpha pulled the envelope from its pocket, walking up to her instructor in order to deliver it to her paws. Accepting the now smudged paper Miss Blande read its contents carefully before returning it to Alpha. “And will you accept this commission from Lady Allworthy” she asked.

“Already complete design. In head” Alpha answered. “Is very simpledevice. Easytobuild.”

“I hesitate to ask, but your charge for this work will be?”

Alpha hesitated, thinking. “Am not sure” she admitted. “Maybe baselineexamine” A groan from Katrina came from behind her, certain proof that the rabbit had allowed herself to be ‘baseline examined’ before. “Or maybe companion for next pass.” Shrugging the shrew frowned. “Nancy say I cannot experiment on Songmark student. We not need money, so payment options limited.”

“I see. Mrs Rote. A suggestion. You should retain all patents and such to yourself. Should you create a viable torpedo breaker I am quite certain that the object could make you rather rich. Considering how your wife is fairing, you may desperately need such riches. Secondly, none of that dorm hold any interest in such companionship. In truth the doe would probably kill you simply for asking her. I caution then that you refrain making such a suggestion.” She turned to Elizabeth. “Very well. Return to the compound. Passes are waiting you in Miss Devinski’s office. I strongly suggest that you clean up well first. Until Sunday afternoon.” She turned to leave when Alpha’s cleared throat caught her attention. “Yes” she asked, not turning around.

“If buy own supplies. May use school shops buildprototypes” the shrew asked.

“Your wife has no pass?”

“This weekend they sleuth” the shrew answered. “Have Sunday morning with Nance. Saturday have nothing.”

Turning around to face the shrew Miss Blande weighed her options. “Nothing. For a Cranium Island Mad Scientist that means Hell does it not?”

“Yes Miss Blande” Alpha admitted. “Could try calling up old ones” she admitted. “But Nance say not good idea to upset local priestess any more.”

“I agree. A warning Mrs. Rote. Should you return for a second year. Those books of yours must remain at home. Understood?”

“Yes Miss Blande” Alpha agreed.

Taking a pad from her pocket the instructor wrote quickly, then tore off the paper to give to her student. “No explosives. Nothing dangerous to anyone but yourself. All conventional materials so that anyone in any shop on these islands could reproduce a working device. Understand?”

“Yes Mam. Please. All electronics stores closednow...”

“Anything you use from school stores you must replace with new. Failure to do so and anything you create becomes property of Songmark in payment. Accepted?”

“Yes Mam. Thank you Mam.”

“Now you will join your dormmates, wash well, eat. Only then will a third year allow you entrance to the shops. Any help you need must be paid for. Do not use any equipment you have not been cleared to use without a third year helping you. Goodnight Mrs Rote. And good luck.”

Several days later ‘Lady Allworthy and party’, now simply Amelia and her friends, flew in from Tillemooke. All were tired, all were hungry and other than a certain doe who seemed to be having a headache, they were in good spirits. That was, until they returned to Songmark and met Miss Blande.

“You sent a telegram to little Mrs. Rote” the feline noted.

“Yes Mam” Amelia answered. “Maria felt that if anyone could create what was needed, it would be a Cranium Island Mad Scientist.”

“Understood. Well young Lady Allworthy. I must then have the great pleasure to report to you that your mad scientist pulled through. Though she was forced to spend two nights and a day working constantly. Currently she and her dorm are on South Island, thus it will be I who show you the fruits of her paws. Your commission was completed with help from Miss Akroyd’s dorm, who took their payment from both Mrs Rote’s for their services. On Casino Island. In the Shepard’s Hotel.” Turning her back on the four Miss Bland started for the shops. Molly carefully slipped Amelia’s luggage from her, having for some reason automatically fallen into the character of Mrs. Allworthy’s Maid when Amelia had been called by that name. Leaving Amelia to her fate the three hurried to their dorm. They had not, after all, been invited.

When Amelia entered the machine shop it was to gasp in surprise. Sitting on a special wooden shelf, one obviously designed for them, were ten short torpedo shapes. Each was no more than three and a half feet long, no more than eight inches wide. Painted bright red they seemed to extrude a sense of dangerous intent. “These are” Amelia asked softly, afraid to raise her voice lest these devices wake up.

“Interceptor torpedoes Mrs. Allworthy. Exactly what you ordered.” Walking past Amelia the feline picked up a rather fat envelope, offering it to her student. “In this packet are all the drawings, all the circuits, everything needed to build more from scratch. I assume you realize that you personally have just shifted the balance of world military power. Rather decidedly into the defenders advantage?”

“They... They work?” Amelia asked, first accepting the envelope, then walking over to touch one of the devices.

“Oh yes. There were fifteen originally. Certain tests were arranged. Other than what was probably a tube failure causing one to explode prematurely, all were a success. Even that early detonation was somewhat a success, as the attacking torpedo was knocked off course. You are going to sell these to the Direwolf?”

“I guess... I do not know Miss Blande. I need to think” Amelia admitted. “I never expected her to really do it.”

“I suggest then Lady Allworthy, that you speak to Amelia’s special friend first” Miss Blande agreed. “Who right now considers little Mrs. Rote too dangerous to allow to ever leave Spontoon again. At least, not alive. You may hold in your paws the life of a fellow student, two fellow students actually, or more. Seeing as four other girls assisted in the mass production, thus have the knowledge. I am afraid that you also owe her payment for a job well done. Very, very well done. Nor has she any need for money Mrs. Allworthy, so I suggest you think very hard about what you can offer as payment. Now you should return to your dorm, and think.”

After Amelia left Miss Blande looked back at those ten deadly objects. None were armed or charged of course. It was much too dangerous to have one hundred pounds of high explosives, or student paw made filled compressed air cylinders just sitting around after all. It was the simplicity of the device that had caught everyone by surprise. Expecting some Rube Goldberg device, a simple multiple input acoustic sensor attached to an electronic guidance device, all built from easily obtainable civilian parts, had caught even a certain ferret completely flatfooted. Basically, five small microphones fed into three circuits what they detected. From that the circuits adjusted fins sitting behind the single propeller, their movements causing the device to be directed towards a certain range of sound frequencies. A filter circuit kept the thing from attacking one of its sisters, as their propellers ran much slower than their targets. A simple radio based detection device, more sensitive than those magnetic ones in current use. But so simple to make, detonated ten pounds of high explosive. This resulted in the much larger target torpedo being badly damaged, its frame bent enough that it could not travel in a straight line, or more often broken into pieces. Underwater, a near miss was as good as destruction in those tests.

Five tests had been conducted. Five tests with Alpha and her dorm acting as the target ships crew. Defending while unarmed torpedoes were fired from various distances, speeds and directions at them. They had a simple, single round pivoting launcher for their device. Had only Megan’s eyes from their ‘crows nest’ as a detector. Five shots, five kills. Those responsible for the attack had been stunned, their commanders jaws had hit the deck of their ship with soft thumps. One Commodore had mentioned blowing up those four girls with cannon rounds. Right then. A suggestion that had almost been taken seriously. In the least, any ready ship armed with these devices would be almost impossible for any torpedo to attack successfully. Miss Blande knew that right now a rather important meeting was going on. One that Miss Devinski was attending. Spontoon wanted those devices, hungered for them. In the least it would make the islands ships safe from enemy submarine attack. At best. Oh the sales to other countries.

She turned away from those ten little killers. Only one thing had kept her from debating about cutting the shrews throat herself. That was the fact that these were purely defensive devices. Their range much too short to more than protect a single ship, or two very close together. Their warheads were also too small to damage a ship badly. She shuddered as she closed and locked that door, nodding to Prudence, who now stood guard outside with Ada. Between a certain Italian student and a simple telegram to a shrew, Songmark had been turned into an important military think tank. One simple telegram. And what else was that little shrew capable of she wondered.

On South Island a very long meeting was getting no shorter. Two Rain Island Naval Officers were again going over the reports in their paws. Each hoping to have missed some significant clue as to how to defeat this new weapon. Both were still shaken by what had occurred ten miles West of Main Island the day before. Their submarine had been loaded with practice rounds of course, it would have been too expensive, and dangerous to use live rounds. Against them the Juniper dorm had been based upon an old fishing boat. One who’s loss to this test had been to the owners gain, then five torpedoes had been launched at that decrepit floating bundle of battered wood. Once two at a time, but never in any specific pattern or from any specific direction. Not one had reached its target, and of the five only one had been recovered in a repairable condition. They had carefully chosen a test area where the water was only thirty feet deep, a sand bar that probably sat on top of a volcano. One that centuries, or millennium before had died just missing reaching the surface. Five torpedoes...

 “I understand that the shrew has found a love of swimming” a certain ferret noted.

“She swims better than our otter students” Miss Devinski answered. “If you are going to kill her, I suggest that you take her wife as well.”

“That option is already off the table” the ferret admitted. He turned his attention to an attractive, but currently very tired bobcat sitting next to him. “They are your people” he reminded his wife.

“And thus not disposable by anyone but myself” Elizabeth Saphano answered. “Lest you wish to deal with me, and my very close friends. I need them, the squirrel at least. Nor do I waste good material. Now then, having heard about a dozen theories” she turned to the two Rain Island officers. “Would one of you please be so kind as to explain the pros and cons of this device. In simple terms that all of us will be able to understand.”

She was unsurprised when the fox answered her, seeing as he outranked his otter companion. “Simply put, this makes attacking any ready ship with torpedoes almost laughable” he answered. “Which severely reduces any submarines effectiveness. Today.” He gave his pile of papers to his companion, walking over to a waiting blackboard. “There are always advances in weaponry, we will simply have to find a way around this one.”

He turned to the blackboard as he spoke. “Submarine tactics depend upon a lot of things, one of which is that their weapon, the torpedo, will strike its target. Other than the Cipangu navy, their only other weapon requires them to surface, reducing the effectiveness of their design. With this new counter-weapon, the only weapon any commander would be able to depend upon is his deck gun. Today. That is the bad news. Here is even worse news. That proximity detector is so beyond anything we have today that when placed upon a standard torpedo it will change the balance of power by itself. Transfer that guidance system and set it for the slower sounds of say, a freighters screw, then you have an unmitigated disaster for surface ships. Submarines as well.”

He picked up a piece of chalk. “Now the good news. Today we can overload what Mrs. Rote built by launching a strike spread apart in time, but not direction.” He started marking the board. “That cavitation bubble these things make upon detonation masks the sounds of any following torpedoes. By adjusting the time of launch, we can be fairly well assured that two or three torpedoes will get through. It takes time to reload and warm up those little bastard’s electronics after all. I’ve a few other ideas, but nothing I would want to mention until I have time to access the reference library at base.”

He dropped the chalk to its waiting tray, looking towards his companion. “The idea of killing Mrs. Rote and her friends, along with everyone who had anything to do with this, is not the answer.” He was speaking not to the group, but his companion. “She has proven the concept, most importantly we all know this. A proven concept can be repeated. But if we keep this a secret. As much as any secret can be kept. Then it will give Spontoon, Rain Island and our allies a rather major advantage should war rise up again. I want these things on our ships. We lost a few last year due to a raider. Armed with these and kept at the ready by an alert crew, every one of those ships would still be alive. Along with their crews.”

He returned to his chair and sat, looking pointedly at the ferret. “This is one weapon from that woman. One single weapon that she designed in her head. Not using Cranium Island’s rare resources. Designed so we have already built two examples on our own from the photographic copies of her papers that you gave us. Sir. I beg of you. Do not throw away a resource like this. If she can create this over a weekend, admittedly it can and does need to be improved of course. Then think of what else can she create. I’m not talking just weapons here. I’ve seen that magnetic fan of hers. Though it had to be brought out of Songmark for me. Even moved it worked. A magnetic fan to move air quietly? Hospitals are always looking for quieter fans. Homeowners as well, though that one uses a bit more power than a normal fan. What other amazing creations are in that shrews little head.”

He tapped the table with one claw, gathering his thoughts. “If we add or modify a single tube to our submarines, say convert a stern tube. A standard twenty five foot torpedo can be replaced by seven of these things. A submarine that can defend itself from enemy torpedoes? Oh yes, that would be a wonderful advantage that I very much want for my own ship.”

“And Lady Allworthy” Elizabeth Saphano added. “She did bid this device to the Direwolf after all. It would be a blow to her building image should she fail to deliver. A minor one, as the concept is so strange, still a blow. We need that advantage her new name gives her, don’t we Albert.”

“It there a way to build those things so that they cannot be reverse engineered” Albert asked the group around him.

“Embed the electronics in cast black resin” Miss Devinski supplied. “Set it up so that you can replace a burned out tube, but a small charge would detonate should you try to do any more. Enough to ruin the electronics at least. You might even add parts it doesn’t use or need in order to further confuse the issue.”

“Still once the idea is out” Albert continued. “That it can be done. I don’t like that. I think it best that Lady Allworthy report that her people were unable to create what was needed. Leave it at that.” He looked around the table. “Further objections, suggestions or comments? No? Then let us hear from Mrs. Rote exactly how this new device works.” He nodded to a waiting guard, who quickly stepped out of the room, soon bringing a certain shrew in with him. Alpha though showed no fear. She had faced down a radioactive cream monster in her own kitchen at the age of six. It had been intended to be her breakfast, except her brother had grabbed the wrong jar from the icebox. Several normal mortals were nothing compared to that. Quietly she walked to the blackboard, quickly erasing what was there.

“This is test Miss Devinski” she asked in all seriousness.

“As long as you are a Songmark student Mrs. Rote, everything is a test. Please explain how your device works and why it will not attack its sisters.” She leaned back, unconsciously vamping a bit. “In such a way as say, a six year old non-Cranium Island child might understand?”

“Of course Miss Devinski.” Turning to the board Alpha sketched quickly, preparing herself for the headache to come as she did so. Though not an artist she had drawn diagrams for so long that her work looked highly professional. When she had finished she stood back. “The task. As granted me” she started. “To stop large weapon. Before sinks ship. There many ways to do this. This chosen because easiest create. Standard torpedo is twenty, twenty five feet long. Moves at fifty knots. That still much slower than sound underwater. So place five acoustic microphone in star pattern. Want six, not enough on island. Each feed into three circuit. Why three? If one fail other two override. Stronger signals. Two extra microphones backup.“ She pointed at the nose section. “Is made wood. Very thin for microphone, thick enough not crack when hit water. These lines feed to amplifier circuit. As can see, is audio filter here, here and here. Filter only allow sound between X and Y frequencies through. That range ofhighspeedpropeller.”

She paused a moment, more to slow her own thinking than to catch her breath. She had caught herself speeding up her speech as the pain began to bloom. “Sorry. Of high speed propeller. Unit has mid-speed propeller. Sound not make through filter.”

“Mrs Rote” the Rain Island officer broke in. “Why does the magnetic fuse not detonate, seeing as it should be close enough to its sister to detect it.”

“Most of unit made of aluminum” Alpha explained. “Not magnetic. Not affect radio signal same way as steel.”

“So if the enemy torpedo was made of non-ferrous material, it would not be detected. Correct?”

“Correct. To point. Mass also in equations. Unit is small, torpedo seven times larger. Is why added sound detector fuze. When sound make through filter reach certain level unit explodes anyway. Since sisters sound not detected, ship sounds not detected, then no chance accidental detonation. Final fuze detonates when propeller slows below certain speed. Set now at ten revolutions per minute.”

“I see” the fox continued. “So there is little chance that this device may be captured.”

“Correct. Also little chance endanger other ships.” Alpha turned back to the blackboard. “Small battery here. Chose small because only need few minutes power. It powered by outside quick release plug until launched. Only two tubes each circuit, makes six total. Filament main power drain so stayed with 2C51 type. Very small tube. Uses only six volts at point three five amp. Very good design. Six tubes only need little over two amps power. Battery used balance warhead weight.”

Moving to the units rear she touched one section. “Compressed air. Give five minute power. Not much. But closing speed mean not need much. Propeller civilian brass design. Control fins aluminum. Controlled by servos run by those three circuits. So is simple. Unit hits water, settles as searches for target. Depending on where sound is strongest, that where goes. When one of three fuzes activated explosive detonate charge. Questions?”

“Could this be scaled up. Say to a standard torpedo size” the Rain Island officer asked.

“Anything be scaled up” Alpha answered. “Is easy part. Hard part scaling down. Why want hunter unit twenty-five feet long? Waste of effort.”

“Not if it were set up to hunt a ship or submarines propeller” The fox answered.

To Alpha’s credit she barely swayed as his words made sense to her. “To kill people? I did not design weapon. Only defense.”

“I understand that. As a defensive weapon it is excellent. As an offensive weapon it would rarely have any real use, but the possibility is there.”

Alpha threw her chalk down, no one noticing as it shattered on the stone floor. “I withdraw hunter unit from consideration. I not build weapons kill people. I only build defense. You want to kill, send to Cranium Island. They die there.”

Miss Devinski stood, taking one of the shrews paws into her own. It was cold, shaking the hound noted. “Gentlemen, Lady. If you will give Alpha and I some time together please?” She quietly led the furious shew out of the room, down a hall to another, smaller room. Behind them the group looked at each other, wondering. Didn’t Cranium Island have a running contest to see who could destroy the world first?

“Not kill” Alpha growled as Miss Devinski shut the door behind them. “I am scientist. Dorm say Mad Scientist, though Cranium Island not agree. I am not killer.”

“Sit down Alpha, regain your composure” Miss Devinski ordered. She waited until the hairs on Alpha’s tail began to lower. “Do you know what a Kiliki bat is?”

“See game played once yes” Alpha admitted. “Very physical game.”

“Yes it is. That bat was originally designed to kill people. Alpha, no matter what you design. What you build. Someone will find a way to kill with it. That fan of yours. What if it were turned very high, and say Beryl were to take a bath without checking the water temperature first.

“Make Nance very happy” Alpha admitted. “Beryl have maybe ten, twenty seconds searing pain before all over. I be sick for weeks.”

“Your little Hunter-Killer. It is to save lives yes?”

“Yes” the shrew agreed.

“Listen. Say Nancy were on a ship somewhere and a war was going on. An enemy ship decides to sink her ship. Her ship has your hunter killers. She’s safe. If not. How long would you survive without Nancy.”

“Depends” Alpha answered. “How long take get back Cranium Island. Take swim black pond.”

“And there would be hundreds of husbands, wives, mothers and fathers feeling exactly like you. So if a friendly submarine or warship were in the area and had this scaled up torpedo. Would using it to damage or kill that enemy ship before it could sink Nancy’s ship be a bad thing?”

“Not after either” the Cranium Island girl agreed. “Not revenge. Justice.”

“Tell me Alpha. This device. Where would it aim usually? The ships screw?”

“Screw? Oh, propeller. Yes. So only disable enemy ship. Maybe few die, not all. Yes, understand now. Miss Devinski...”

“Yes Alpha.”

“Why do people want kill each other all time?”

Miss Devinski pressed her skirt flat. “Alpha, some to protect their families, their countries. But I will be honest with you. Quite a few because they are nothing more than mad base animals with no right to exist.”

Alpha took a deep breath, turning her full attention towards her instructor. “Then I now know what will do when leave Songmark” she declared. “I find way either cure such madness, or remove mad animals from planet forever.”

“That is a serious calling” the hound advised. “Wouldn’t simply destroying the planet be easier?”

“Destroying planet means kill Nancy. Kill Elizabeth, Megan and Katrina. No Miss Devinski, I no longer follow Cranium Island madness. I will make world better if can. Thank you for giving new path. New goal.”

“Your welcome” the hound almost laughed. “Now may we return to those waiting people?”

“Yes.”

Some hours of discussion later the meeting closed. “So” an elderly owl declared, one who had much earlier proven that his word was law here. He looked to the still standing shrew. “It comes to this. We have in our grasp a genius. A Cranium Island genius I admit, which brings danger to all who are near her. Still she has a wife, thus any true danger is the squirrels to deal with. The idea that we would even let a Cranium Islander upon our shores still gives me the shivers, yet it has been done. If she fails Songmark” he turned his head so he could look at the hound on his left as he spoke. “And I am in no manner suggesting it be done” he said directly to the hound. “Then she and her wife will be quietly absorbed into Spontoon’s intelligence committee under Elizabeth’s direct control.” He lifted a paw, turning his head again to study the deadly talons upon each finger. “Yes she continues. We keep very close watch upon her. Very close. There will be no long swims this time. Not simply for being so intelligent that she scares anyone who meets her. Lady Allworthy will pay for the devices in whatever coin this young woman demands. This you Miss Devinski will direct her. She will then be nudged to turn copies of such over to certain parties who Mrs. Rote has already spoken too. At a profit of course. Mrs. Rote will, after leaving Songmark, find herself well compensated for her design. We will share this with Rain Island as per treaty. But with no one else at present, as per treaty. Direwolf can sing for its lost supper. So it is to be done. This meeting is ended.”

As everyone shuffled out, some happy, some angry, other simply accepting what had been decided. Miss Devinski stopped Elizabeth. “You signaled” she asked.

“How bout supper. I’m hungry an have a huge report tah write tonight. My treat.”

“Your husband?”

“He wont be home till tomorrow. Gotta talk with Rain Island, officially pass over those photographs of tha shrews design. Your girls, he can’t keep up with them anymore.”

“So he enlisted you” the hound asked, bluntly leaving her own papers behind as she walked towards the door.

“So he enlisted me” Elizabeth admitted. “Though ah wanted Songmark more. Ah just couldn’t answer yer second request. Ah couldn’t. Doecan’s dead. You have good security, but one whisper of what Doecan did attached to my name. I’d be ah dead woman. Now where do we eat?”

“The Pearl on Meeting Island sounds good tonight” Catherine decided, taking a deep breath of fresh air as they exited the building. “It is so good to be alive.”

“Huh, you’ll outlive me” the bobcat laughed. “I’m workin myself tah death. Already need a vacation. The Pearl it is.”

Late that evening a certain Dorm had finished debriefing its near insane member. “And what may you ask in payment for all your work” the rabbit Katrina asked.

Alpha laid back on her bed, still unaware of how such actions drew the rabbits attentions to her. “All ready have. A cottage” she answered. “Workshop. Peaceful place Nance I retire too when ready. On Allworthy estates. Not to much ask yes?” Not looking at her dormmate she missed how her words wounded the rabbits heart.

“No. Not at all” Katrina agreed. “A peaceful place to spend the waning years of your life with one you love. No, that isn’t too much to ask.” She turned away from the shrew, least Alpha see the tears in her eyes. Her other two companions though did not miss anything. Megan decided to change the subject.

“Katrina. We had the engine running. Why did you badger us into cleaning it up. It was just a test.”

Katrina shrugged. “Pride in workmanship little belle. You simply must have pride in your work, else why bother to do anything?”

“Still” Elizabeth noted as she pealed off her Songmark uniform in preparation for the waiting cold shower. “Other than that propeller, the entire thing was tossed back onto that scrap heap. And Megan. Just where did you find those rings dear.”

Megan smiled. “An old parts supplier. I simply asked. ‘Hon. Yah’all might have what ah need?’ He told me to look in the back, anything that old was junk anyway.”

“So it cost what” Alpha asked. “Another horror story?”

“No Alpha. I gave him just a flash of softest fur, a touch and one kiss. Nothing important. We passed, now tha was important.”

“Your impossible” Katrina laughed, readying herself to follow Elizabeth to the waiting freezing shower. “Simply impossible.”

“Thank you” the martin laughed, accepting what was said as a compliment. “And tomorrow is another disaster. Correct Alpha?”

Her answer though was only the sound of a shrews soft snore.