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“When you said we were going undercover, I confess to anticipating a different outcome.” Steel held the brightly colored ornament as if it were a creature that would abruptly come to life and attack him.
“There are times when hiding in plain sight is the most effective way to gleaning information, especially when dealing with Transuranics.” Sapphire took the ornament from him and hung it carefully. “We are merely here to observe and it is to our advantage if they do not detect us.”
“But do we have to listen to the music? I’ve heard this last song three times already.”
“I noticed that, too.” She hung up another ornament. “Who would want a hippotomus as a gift?”
“Someone who doesn’t realize how odiferous and onerous they are.”
Sapphire laughed. “You’re still angry that one of them chased you.”
They hung more ornaments quietly for a few moments and then Steel stopped. “It’s that song again. It’s becoming annoying.”
Steel?
Yes?
You don’t suppose someone is trying to signal someone else with it, do you?
Steel finished with the garland he had been wrapping around the tree. “I think we are done with this one. Where’s the next tree?” Can you locate the source?
I can try. Sapphire’s eyes glowed blue as she pretended to consult her worksheet. “Follow my lead.” She gathered up the remaining decorations and led the way to the elevators. “Next stop is Ladies’ Intimate Apparel and Gentlemen’s Readymade Suits.” She looked him up and down. “While there, perhaps they could help you with something new.”
“I beg your pardon. This suit is perfectly in fashion,” Steel sputtered, trying to make it look as if she’d flustered him. Any lurking Transuranic would know that Steel never gets flustered or cared about his clothes. A perfect cover story for them.
“That suit went out at the time of Edward the VII. You look like a Teddy boy.”
“Now that’s going above and beyond insult.” Steel had no idea what a Teddy boy was, but it didn’t sound good.
The elevator arrived and they waited for it to empty before piling in. It was odd that there was no lift operator in it.
It took Steel a moment to figure out the controls. We should be using the goods lift for this, but it’s not like they can fire us. Sapphire?
“Yes?”
What’s a Teddy boy?”
The doors opened then and a man and woman entered. Obligingly, Sapphire and Steel moved to the back of the elevator car. Sapphire kept her face turned away and Steel was hidden by stacks of garland.
“Do we know where the trouble is?” the woman murmured.
The man gave the pair a sidelong glance. “Apparently, either in the canteen, the basement or floor three. I propose we start at the top and work out way down.”
The elevator doors opened again and Sapphire cleared her throat. “’Scuse us, mate. Shift it.” Her cockney accent was strong and unpolished.
After a bit of maneuvering, they managed to get out and looked over the department. The lights were dim and the sale staff seemed frozen in place.
Immediately, the decorations were abandoned and they rushed down the flight of stairs.
“Sapphire?”
“I’m trying, Steel, but I don’t want to alert them that we are here.” She looked around frantically. “There must be a device that is trapping and twisting Time here. It’s not happy when it’s being confined.”
“That’s an understatement.” Steel started to work his way through the department. There was a large mechanical Santa Claus standing there, its expression waxen and slightly threatening. Curious, Steel reached out to touch it and then jumped as it started to move.
“Ho, ho, ho, Little Boy, do I have a surprise for you.” Abruptly Steel found himself trapped and being crushed by two strong steel arms.
“Not as much as I have for you.” Steel grunted, then twisted. Within a moment, the figure was a pile of metal on the floor. “Low freezing point,” he muttered as he held his coat closed.
Sapphire hurried to a nearby display of blankets and throws. Within a few moments, she had practically hidden Steel beneath a stack of them.
“What are you doing?”
She spun and studied the speaker. It was not the man from the elevator, but a white-haired gentleman.
“I was clearing for the floor for your Christmas tree. We’re the decorators.”
“Don’t mind me, luv, but Peacock will have your job if he catches you on the floor. You were supposed to knock off by opening bell.” He held out a hand. “Harmon, from Packing. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on with the overhead.”
“Yes, that song is rather annoying,” she said, smiling at him.
“Now what happened here?” Harmon frowned at the pile of metal that had once been a Santa. “Typical, isn’t it? Shoulda made it in Hong Kong, not here.” He sighed and began to collect the pieces.” It suddenly dawned upon him that things were not quite right. “What’s goin’ on wif everyone? They playin’ a game?”
“Um, yes… statues.” Sapphire grasped the word out of the air.
Sapphire, why isn’t he affected?
I’m not sure. Possibly he wasn’t here when the loop started. Like us, he’s an outsider.
“Guess I’d best get this down to Packin’ ‘fore someone starts yelling.” He struggled to get his armful off the floor and Sapphire watched after him.
“Steel, that wasn’t the device.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that.” Steel dug his way out of the blankets. By the menswear counter, there was another display. This one was a head wearing a hat.
When Sapphire approached it, the hat suddenly started to twirl and lift as the eyes flashed. She let out a squeal as Steel tackled her back down to the protection of the blankets.
“I like it. I like it!” a disembodied voice announced. The hat settled back into place.
“I’m glad someone does,” Steel muttered as he helped Sapphire sit up. “Still no change.” He closed his eyes against the sound of the song starting again. “I cannot take anymore.”
He climbed free from the blankets and walked from the floor. A moment later, the music stopped and it was as if someone a flicked a switch. People started moving and talking.
“What on earth happened?” an older woman asked, her expression both angry and a bit fearful.
“It was unworldly.” A young woman, dressing in a similar outfit, but with less frills at her throat cringed.
The men sprung to life as well, both looking a bit befuddled. “Okay, I’ve heard about going slow, but that was just taking it to an extreme.”
“Who are you?”
Sapphire realized she was being addressed. “We come to decorate your tree, Guv.”
“Decorating staff must leave the floor before the store opens. That was… how odd.” He paused and looked around.
“What’s wrong, Captain Peacock?”
“I seem to have lost track of time.”
“We all done.”
“Did, Miss Brahms.” The older woman corrected her gently.
“Okay, then we all did done. That’s doesn’t sound much better.”
Sapphire! Steel’s voice shouted in her head and Sapphire frantically looked around.
Steel? Where are you?
“Call for a retrieval squad now. I have them trapped in the goods lift, but I’m not sure how long I can contain them. Hurry!
The decorated Christmas tree sparkled with its lights and, when pressed, the staff had to admit they’d not seen a better-looking tree. From his position on the podium, Steel had a better-than-average view of it and of the fitting rooms beyond. It gave him something to study while the two clerks were busy with their tape measures.
“Mr. Humphries, that’s the third time you’ve measured his inside leg.”
“I know, Mr. Lucas, but it pays it to be sure.”
“There you are, sir. The suit will be ready on next Friday, just in time for Christmas entertaining.”
“Thank you,” Steel murmured, his eye still focused upon the tree. Then suddenly Sapphire came out and Steel started to wonder what he saw in the tree at all. The dress she wore was perfect.
“Doesn’t madam look beautiful?” Captain Peacock asked and the men nodded.
“Indeed, she does.” Steel, still in his stocking feet, walked over to her. “Sapphire?”
“Do you like it?” She twirled and he nodded.
“Very much.”
“The staff have invited us to their Christmas party and I thought it was just the thing.”
Must we?
Think of it as a learning experience.
He nodded. “I’d best get changed. We need to get to our next assignment.” Then he paused, Sapphire?
Yes, Steel?
What’s a blow tickler?