The Astounding Adventures of Gregori Rasputin, Rascal-at-large, Solver of Obscure Problems and Ladies' Man

By M. Lazarus

Dr. Sara Thane, assistant to her father (Dr. Thane the Elder, the famous, unconventional, and independent scientist), is at a loss when her dear old papa vanishes in mysterious circumstances at a crucial moment in his research into radiotelegraphoscopy. The police are of no use to her and floundering in the most desperate of desperate straits, Dr. Thane (the lady) seeks out a man who positively backstrokes through the waters of the mysterious - a man who claims to be the long presumed-dead rogue, Gregori Rasputin. This lusty and loutish mystic is Sara Thane's only hope for finding and defeating the unknown devils who have snatched away her venerable father.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. Lazarus
• Release date: Oct 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301432196

M. Lazarus

Mordechai Lazarus writes things that he hopes you will find entertaining.

Book preview

The Astounding Adventures of Gregori Rasputin,

Rascal-at-large, Solver of Obscure Problems and Ladies' Man

by

Mordechai Lazarus

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 M. Lazarus

Absent-mindedly handing over a note that was far too large for the fare, Sara carefully stepped out of her taxi-cab into the impersonal night rain. Her face was a fragile representation of deep anxiety. She combed streaks of drizzle from her black hair with her fingers and delved into the depths of a navy-blue coat, eventually emerging with a crumpled scrap of writing-paper. She held it up and squinted at the sliding ink of a precisely hand-printed address, while the paper proceeded to become increasingly sodden. Sara stood for several more moments, frozen in the drumming cold downpour, her knuckles growing paler still as she clutched at the stained and vanishing address.

Taking a deep breath of the cutting air, she walked directly towards an unremarkable brown door set at the end of the alleyway. Above the door, a rusted sign promoted the health benefits of 'Marvel's Famous Tonic'.

Without breaking her stride, Sara pushed the door open.

Waves of pleasantly warm air wrapped around her as she carefully stepped down old brick spiral stairs that were lit in an apathetic manner. In a few moments, Sara arrived at a similarly illuminated corridor that led into a sizeable cavern of a drinking hall. The room around her was carved into the underside of the street and the murmuring wash of low-spoken conversations came from every nook and corner. Despite the unassuming exterior, Sara was surprised to find the bar decorated with some elegance. Faded red tapestries hung on the walls and the furniture was worn but of sturdy quality, adding to the impression of the establishment as a faded grand-dame. Sara negotiated her way past a handful of men lounging on orange cushions and arguing heatedly around a hookah pipe and made her way to the long stone bar.

Eh. Can I help you with anything, little mademoiselle? asked the barmaid, an Amazonian woman whose dark shaved head almost brushed against the low stone roof. She had thin white scars lining each of her cheeks. Sara did her best not to stare.

Yes, thank you, she replied, I'm looking for a particular gentleman.

The bar-lady suspiciously examined the anxious woman before her.

Oueh, that's all fine and well, but I am more in the line of providing drinks, the barmaid gruffly responded, her eyes narrowing.

A pink gin, please, then, Sara Thane said.

Bien. Who exactly are you looking for, little one? the barmaid said while swirling the gin viciously over ice in a cocktail-shaker.

A Mr. Newman,

The barmaid shook with laughter.

Mademoiselle, I do not know anything about that one ever having been a gentleman, but I will see if he is to be found here tonight.

With an amused expression on her face, with surprising delicacy the towering barmaid coated a frozen thin-stemmed glass with bitters and poured in the cold gin.

Sara sipped quietly at her drink while the barmaid vanished for several minutes.

My dear lady, said a silken voice that suddenly appeared at her side.

The voice came from a tall, pale man whose face was reminiscent of the edge of a fine blade, drawing a line between an impossibly sculpted dark beard and shining black hair. Sara was certain that he had not been there a moment ago. He had somehow noiselessly slid right to her side. He fixed her with a hungry smile.

You seem to be making short work of that drink, my pet. May I offer you another? the black-haired stranger purred.

Ah, Mademoiselle, Mister Newman will see you - the barmaid began as she strode back to Sara, rolling her eyes at the sight of the pale man who had appeared in her absence. Indeed, Sara did not feel entirely comfortable with this dark-haired stranger at her side. The way he stared at her skin as if he were an unfed beast made Dr. Sara Thane somewhat wary, and she was wondering how she might politely disengage herself from his unwelcome company when she was saved of the need by a commotion.

KRAVVVVVVEN! roared a voice from the other end of the bar and the alarmed pale man whipped around like a startled serpent.

An imposing fellow with wild hair and feral beard who was squeezed into an ill-fitting and worn black coat and suit stormed over towards Sara like an enraged wolf. This hairy fellow pointed an accusing finger at the pale man called Kraven by Sara's side.

Kraven, you dog, you worm, you lowest louse offspring of a thousand generations of vermin, this young woman is my guest here. You will keep away from her, you unspeakably vile abomination! the shaggy fellow boomed.

The two men stared at each other for a moment, weighing up