Extraordinary Circumstances 7: The Clockwork Man

By Stephen B5 Jones

The Kitchen offers comfort for those in extraordinary circumstances. Hanich, the apprentice at the Kitchen, finds himself in desperate need of that comfort when an old friend arrives, and subsequently, a young friend departs. And what is the story behind the well-dressed young woman who has Mr. Scrimm so worried? More unusual events in the Extraordinary Circumstances series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen B5 Jones
• Release date: Aug 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370383627

Stephen B5 Jones

Husband, Father, Philosopher, Bus Driver, Writer. Missionary.. but that's just today. I grew up in the U.S. southwest. I've been writing, sometimes coherently, since Jr. High. That was a long time ago.

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Extraordinary Circumstances

Episode Seven: The Clockwork Man

Stephen B5 Jones

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 by Stephen Jones.

All rights reserved.

A Timely Visitor

An Abrupt Departure

The Well DressedYoung Woman

The Hospital

Guests of the Collector

Previously: Early in his time working as an apprentice at a soup kitchen in the neighborhood known as the Academia, Hanich met a toddler with secondary hands where here feet should have been, a man who jumped through time in ten year increments, and a woman who occupies herself by collecting unusual people. Also, during the incident of the Christmas gremlin, Hanich has inadvertently come to the attention of at least one member of the societal services.

A Timely Visitor

Professor? the voice called as it knocked on the front door.

It was late, everyone in the Kitchen, a soup kitchen in a neighborhood called the Academia, had gone to sleep hours ago, yet Hanich, the apprentice who slept in the main room, was awake almost at once. He had grown up with four sisters and three brothers. In such a family situation the luxury of deep sleep could be hazardous.

It was still an hour before midnight, the three-quarter moon touched the sky with a splash of light which fended off a more complete darkness. The weather, of late, was cool, but dry and quite pleasant.

Quickly Hanich threw a robe around himself knowing if he answered the door without proper covering, it would become an unwilling topic of conversation throughout the Academia. He knew before he opened the door he would be seeing a member of the league of red-eyed gentlemen. It was a group of local men who had once worked in the mines. They had dinner at the Kitchen every Tuesday night. Also, they all had illuminatium poisoning, which made their eyes glow red.

Mr. Ismael? Hanich said. The members of the league always called each other as Mr. and always referred to Mr. Scrimm as Professor.

In the darkness of night his eyes looked particularly bright, even through his dark purple glasses.

Look at who I found in front of the Ice Creamery, Mr. Ismael said as he motioned toward a man standing behind him.

Dr. Gates, Hanich said as the man, wrapped in a borrowed coat, came inside the main room. It is so nice to see you back.

How long? Dr. Gates gasped.

Dr. Gates was a time traveler. He jumped forward in time by ten year increments and stayed for two or three days. Mr. Scrimm had been working for at