Page 42 of Across Space and Time

The first man blew out air, making his lips flap. “Well, we need to do something. I’ll not have any more thievery. Handle it, Adam.”

“Yes, sir,” said the second man.

Then Jack heard heavy footfalls receding and deduced that the first man was leaving. He waited under the window, watching the house until he saw a light go on in a room on the third level, and then the casement window there opened. There seemed to be nothing more happening in the dining room.

He circled around the house until he was under the place where the light had come on. He pulled off his top hat to expose his horns, setting it on the ground. Then, in one mighty bound, Jack leaped from the ground to the third story windowsill, landing on the ledge as easily and silently as a bird, crouching there in the open window. He peered in to see the profile of a very large middle-aged man in a fancy coat, sitting in a high-backed chair that looked like it might not be entirely able to hold his weight, smoking a pipe. He didn’t seem to notice Jack on the windowsill. Jack raised his hand and tapped one of his claw-tipped fingers against the glass to get his attention.

The man looked up, then started, nearly dropping the pipe as he stared at the window, wide-eyed. Jack put on his most dashing smile. “Ah, Mr. Duke of Westchester, I presume?”

“Good God, man, this is the third floor!” the Duke blustered, standing up and brushing at his tailcoat.

“It is,” Jack agreed. “Hardly a challenge.”

The Duke blew out another breath. “You are Spring-Heeled Jack. The creature everyone has been talking about.”

“Guilty as charged!” Jack said, hopping down into the room and giving a low, dramatic bow with his cape.

“What are you doing here?” the Duke asked, edging toward the mantle. Jack could see that he seemed to be trying to grab what looked like a pistol in a box.

“I assure you, sir, I mean you no harm.” He held out his hands from his sides. “Please.”

The Duke hesitated before slowly nodding. “Then what is it you want?”

Jack gave him another suave smile. “I believe we have a mutual friend. The owner of a certain… magical shop?”

The Duke stared at him for a long moment before he seemed to relax ever so slightly. “What has he got to do with this?”

“Nothing, really,” Jack said, waving his hand through the air. “But he gave me your name, as someone I might be interested in speaking to.”

“Oh? About what?” The Duke seemed intrigued.

“He mentioned that you purchased some seeds from him. Apple seeds.” Jack’s smile didn’t waver.

Neither did the Duke’s. “I have an apple orchard out behind the house. I have purchased seeds from any number of places.”

“Oh, these were quite special,” Jack said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Perhaps even… biblical.”

The Duke laughed a bit. “What are you implying, sir?”

Jack grinned, then suddenly leaped up and onto the back of the chair the Duke had been sitting in, gazing down at him. “I have heard that there might be apples out there from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Goodness, that is quite the mouthful.”

“And where did you hear that?” the Duke asked, stumbling back a few steps, his large belly wagging as he did.

Jack tapped the side of his nose lightly with his finger. “I have my ways, sir. But I have encountered at least one person who likely ate an apple from that tree. I don’t know what is in those apples, sir, but that was quite the sight.”

The Duke let out a frustrated sound through his lips. “That was an unfortunate accident. The Waking is supposed to be confined to Eden.”

Jack cocked his head curiously. “I’m sorry, the what now?”

“The Waking,” the Duke replied again.

“I’m afraid I’m not familiar,” Jack said, tipping his head to the other side, as if it would make more sense in the other ear.

“You are not a creature of The Waking?” the Duke asked curiously.

“Since I do not know what that is, I would assume I am not,” Jack said thoughtfully. “But if you explain it, perhaps we shall both learn something new.”

The Duke gazed at him. “Where are you from, Mr. Spring-Heeled Jack?”

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