The hand swept down, and struck the surface with a dull thud. The hand withdrew, leaving the playing cards resting face-down on the surface of the gaming table.
"Aw, heck, I fold," Scott Sherwood said somewhat glumly. He leaned over to whisper to Phileas, "Remind me to pay you back somehow."
Phileas shook his head, saying, "Nonsense, Sherwood, think nothing of it. A favor from one enlightened gentleman to another." Phileas looked around to the remaining cardplayers, pushed forward several gaming chips, and said, "Call."
"Two pair, Queens and Threes," Richard Collier announced.
"Three of a kind, all Aces," smiled the Doctor.
"Two Fours," grumbled Doc Brown.
James Cole, grimacing, said, "Three Sixes."
"Full house, Jacks and Nines", said Phileas smugly. He raked in the chips as the others threw down their cards disappointedly. "Well, gentlemen, I hate to win and run, but we really should be getting back, shouldn't we, Sherwood?"
"Good idea, Phil," Scott said, as Phileas winced once more at the nickname Scott seemed to enjoy using.
"Please, Sherwood, it's 'Phileas'," Fogg said as he stood up and moved to cash in his chips. Taking his money and putting it safely away, he led Scott towards the exit of Preston & Logan's, and out into the street.
The dark of evening had descended whilst the pair had been enjoying their cardplaying. The breeze from earlier had stilled, and the trees lining the avenue no longer swayed in the wind.
"Do you know, Sherwood," Phileas said pleasantly as they walked along the street on their way back to the Aurora, "I've had the most pleasant time this evening winning back the money I let you borrow."
Scott laughed. "You know, I didn't even think of it that way, Phileas."
"Well, I knew I could never bear to part with so much money once I saw how badly you were playing this tonight."
"Yeah, I don't know what to say, I'm usually on top of my game," Scott said, thrusting his hands in his pockets. "Well, you got your money back, so no harm done, right?"
Phileas smiled as they turned a corner to head down a side street. "No problem, Sherwood..." He trailed off as he saw what the side street revealed a short distance away. "Rebecca, what the hell has been going on??" he called as he and Scott dashed over to her.
Rebecca Fogg, clad in a tight-fitting leather outfit, gadgets and gizmos attached to her belt and other places, stood poised and ready to strike, one foot firmly on top of a black-clad man who lay face-down and unconscious on the street. Jules Verne knelt beside an unconscious Betty Roberts, gently attempting to revive her.
"I got tired of waiting," Rebecca replied slyly.
Scott rushed over to Betty and crouched down next to her. "Is she all right?"
Jules looked up at Scott. "I think so. She wasn't struck very strongly. I think she's coming around."
Betty's eyes fluttered, and she tried to focus her eyes. She smiled weakly as she saw Scott. "Hi..." she attempted to say.
"Shhh, shhh, don't speak, Betty," Scott said soothingly, running his fingers through her hair. "It's OK, you're all right." Scott kept his eyes locked on Betty's as he asked Jules, "What happened?"
Jules stood up, leaving Betty in Scott's arms. "I think the League of Darkness is after us again. They are a group of men and women determined to bring chaos and evil into the world. We've run up against them a few times before. This one attacked Betty, and was about to attack me."
Rebecca interrupted, saying, "Fortunately I was happening by. Well, not exactly coincidentally. I thought I had seen something out the Aurora's windows just after Betty and Jules left, so I decided to follow them. Once I saw this fellow attack Miss Roberts, I had to intercede."
"Thank you, Rebecca," Scott said, as he helped Betty stand up.
Rebecca picked up the unconscious Watcher and dumped him unceremoniously into some nearby bushes, neatly brushing herself down afterwards.
Phileas looked around. "How many times have we told you not to walk down darkened streets, Jules?" he said scoldingly. "Come on, we'd best be getting back to the Aurora."
As Scott helped Betty walk gingerly back towards the airship, Jules, Phileas and Rebecca kept alert, scanning their surroundings constantly.
*****
Passepartout threw open the doors as he saw the group approach the airship. "Master! What is been going on? Is Miss Roberts being hurt?"
Scott led Betty over to a chair, and helped her ease down into a comfortable position.
"Passepartout, we must be on our guard," Phileas said sternly. "The League of Darkness is about. Would you mind making some tea for our guests?"
Passepartout's eyes widened at the mention of the League. He nodded and withdrew to prepare the requested beverages.
Scott pulled up a chair next to Betty and sat, holding her hand. "I'm OK, Scott," she said. "You don't need to be so protective."
"I know," Scott said, smiling. He noticed Betty didn't protest much further, nor did she withdraw her hand.
Meanwhile, Phileas, Rebecca and Jules conferred about the situation.
"I think," Phileas announced, "that the League of Darkness knows about our guests, and the fact that they have come from the future."
"How could they know that?" Jules asked.
"Well, at a guess," Rebecca explained, "for one thing I'd say their style of dress might give it away. Also, the League has demonstrated their ability to overhear our private conversations from a distance. I'd hazard a guess that after our conversation in the Aurora, our friend out there was hoping he'd be led to the means of their time travel. Once he figured out that wasn't where they were headed, he got impatient and attempted a kidnapping. I can only assume they would have attempted to torture her to get the information."
Scott looked up in shock. "Torture?"
"Yes, Sherwood," Phileas said gently. "The League is very adept at gleaning any sort of information they desire out of their captives."
"Why go after Betty?" Scott asked, his anger rising.
Rebecca replied, "I would say that they assumed that Miss Roberts would be the...excuse the statement, Miss Roberts...'weaker' of you two. Therefore, she would be the easier subject for interrogation."
Scott frowned, and looked at Betty. "I'm sorry, Betty. I'm sorry I got you into this mess."
"It's all right, Scott," Betty answered, smiling back at the angered Scott Sherwood.
Scott turned back to the Foggs and Jules Verne, as Passepartout returned with their tea. "Where can we find this League of Darkness?" he asked them, his voice seething with vengeance.
Where the Air is Rarified
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