A
Study In Satin
by Tigger
"A most promising result, Herr Doctor Buchner," Moriarty said in
great bonhomie, "for all the patient did, in the end, sadly die."
"I must point out, Herr Professor," the broadly built academician
hurried to insert, "that we did not truly observe a gender
transition in this case. Our autopsy clearly shows that the
monkey was still fully female, externally and internally, at the
time of death."
"True, true," Moriarty replied magnanimously, "But it is a most
remarkable and obvious change, is it not? I do think you are on
the correct path of inquiry at last, Doctor Haber, Doctor
Buchner. So, what is your proposed plan at this point?"
"Ummm. .Professor, as you are no doubt aware, we are dealing with
limited supplies of certain of the key herbal ingredients. This
particular treatment uses a significant amount of one particular
herb - significantly more, in fact, than any of the other herbs,"
Sweat was beading on Buchner's forehead. "Disproportionately
more, I should say."
"What are you telling me, sir?" Moriarty's pleasant mood had
evaporated and the room seemed to become instantly cold.
"Only that we do not have sufficient of that one herb for very
many experiments, Herr Professor," Haber bravely broke in. We
have enough to treat, perhaps twenty or so monkeys, or six to
eight chimpanzees, and at most three or four human subjects. Or
some combination of those options."
"I see," Moriarty said coldly, his mind already working at
solutions to this unanticipated logistical problem. He had,
quite overly optimistically, assumed that he had more than
adequate supplies of the special Amazon herbs for his needs. *I
simply had not anticipated the true lack of scientific talent
that mark these so-called leaders in their fields. They are the
ones who have wasted my precious supplies. Hopefully, the next
experiments will prove successful - we are SO close, but how to I
acquire more if I should need them?*
"Would it be possible, Herr Professor, to obtain additional
supplies of these remarkable herbs?" Buchner asked.
"I am already, as we speak, Herr Doctor, dealing with that issue.
You and Dr. Haber are to come up with a plan of action that will
suit me and make the most efficient use of your remaining
resources. Trust me that you truly want to succeed in this
endeavor, or perhaps I should say, you truly do not wish any
further failures."
With that, Moriarty spun on his heel and walked from the room.
He would have to consider having Carver make a voyage to the
Amazon. It was, at the moment, the only solution that seemed to
make any sense. But that would wait until he returned with the
second set of chimpanzees. "Six to eight" was probably more than
the six they currently had, and Moriarty wanted to be sure that
the new potions worked on the chimps. It was, at most, another
day.
~-----------------~
The sun was low on the horizon as Katrina slowly made her way
back the hotel after a long day of running errands. She had not
even been able to make time to see Erich and thank him for his
promise to keep her secret. She made her way along the water,
and stopped for a few moments. Tossing stones into the icy river
like the boy she pretended to be turned out to be a good way to
think, Katrina realized. At least she had learned to throw like
a boy.
Not that she had managed to do much else right in this cursed
guise. *Unmasked by a twelve year old boy,* she fumed to herself
as she heaved a particularly heavy stone into the frigid water.
*What does that say about poorly I am carrying off this role?
Does my continued presence here as Karl endanger the woman I
honor as my Mother and the woman I love?*
She turned from the river and automatically put her hands into
the pockets of her coat. *Sherla must be correct when she said
that most adults fail to look at other people's children with a
critical eye. It is likely the only reason I have gone
undiscovered for so long a period of time. So, the question
becomes, do I stay, and wait for us to move on to Meringen where
I will have a second chance to be 'Karl', or do leave Brienz and
return to Irene's Paris cottage?*
She passed the train station on her way to the hotel and was
surprised when Herr Loche waved to her and greeted her by name.
*Evidently he hasn't recognized me as anyone other than Karl
Huxley. That's reassuring since I have been around him more than
I have any other adult. It is also unfortunate, because it would
make my escape to Paris more difficult. Even if I changed back
to Katrina before purchasing the ticket, I would be purchasing it
from Herr Loche. A pretty yet unfamiliar girl would draw his
attention, I think, and then he might connect Katrina with Karl.
Curse it, what a coil.*
She had reached the hotel for supper without finding any better
solution to her problem. *I will just have to be careful until we
move to Meringen. Thankfully, Erich told me that the rails will
be fixed sometime tomorrow. Finally.*
"Ready for supper, young Herr Huxley?" Herr Schmidt asked,
clapping Katrina on her shoulder. The blow nearly toppled her,
but she somehow managed to keep her balance and smile up at the
innkeeper.
"Yes, sir. I am very hungry. Mother has had me running to just
about every shop in the city this morning."
"Good lad!" Herr Schmidt said jovially. "Run and get your
lovely Momma and sister, and we will feed that appetite of yours.
Frau Schmidt made her apple strudel for the sweet, just for you."
"Oh, thank her for me, sir," Katrina said with honest gratitude,
and hurried off to find Irene.
*Boy needs feeding up. Polite as that sister of his is
flirtatious, but he needs to build some muscle - get himself a
manly figure. Well, Momma's food will put some meat on those
skinny bones. I'll have her give Frau Huxley some of her
recipes, too. Good lad.*
~--------------~
"Ah, Carver, you have brought in the first load of chimpanzees
without incident?" Moriarty asked.
"Nary a one, Professor," the seaman responded. "They're snug and
warm in that room off the main lab area. Those two science coves
be checkin' that lot over as I stands here talking to yer. But,
they seemed right lively to me when I turned 'em out into that
big holding cage."
Carver had worked with the previous shipments of animals and had
learned how to care for and to read the reactions of the lab
animals. Moriarty nodded in satisfaction. "And you'll be
heading back for another load." It was not a question.
"First thing in the morning, Professor. The station master
expects me after lunch again. By the time I get them back, the
rails to Meringen will be fixed and the lot of 'em will be only a
couple of easy miles away."
"True, true. Once you are back, I have another mission for you,
Carver. One that will make use of your seaman's skills. Tell me,
have you ever sailed to South America before?"
"Couple times, Professor," the big man shrugged. "Took leave in
Rio once or twice. Smuggled some art out of Buenos Aires, too."
"Excellent. I shall tell you more when you return." It was
obviously a dismissal, but Carver was hesitant to leave.
Moriarty gave him a stern stare, but still the seaman stood his
ground. "You have something else, Carver?" Moriarty's tone made
it clear that Carver had better have something else to share with
his leader.
"Ummm. . . Professor? You remember when you told me to be on the
lookout? When we first got set up here?"
Moriarty only stared at Carver, rare confusion in his eyes.
~------------~
Buchner and Haber had been watching as the big sailor went into
speak with Moriarty. They were working at getting the new
animals settled and deciding which would be their next test
subject when Carver burst from Moriarty's office, the old man
appearing immediately behind him in the doorway.
"You have your orders, Carver! I am too close. Success is
within my reach at last, and I will take NO chances. See that
you are back here before dark tomorrow. Do . . . NOT. . . FAIL!"
The two captive scientists became very obviously involved in
their tasks, and tried to move out of the enraged Moriarty's line
of sight.
Not entirely successfully.
~--------------~
Sherla smiled in relief as Katrina began to loosen her stays.
The three women had just concluded a short planning discussion
dealing with their itinerary for the next three days. Irene,
satisfied with their plans, had left to make arrangements with
the concierge for handling the packing and transport of their
luggage leaving the two younger women to prepare for bed. "If
Irene finds out the tracks have been deemed ready for passenger
traffic, we shall be on our way to Meringen at last."
"I am glad, Sherla. Truth to tell, I was beginning to get
nervous about my masquerade. Every time someone smiles at me, I
almost expect them to ask what a nice girl like me is doing
dressed up like a rough and tumble boy."
"Nonsense, sweet, you are doing wonderfully. Remember, *I* have
been watching you. And you are becoming more adept at the role
with each passing day."
"Well, if you say so, petite, but I shall be glad to start anew
in a new place."
Something in her lover's wistful tones caught Sherla's full
attention. "Would you prefer to stay in tomorrow?"
Katrina sighed. "I would prefer to stay in, but I promised Erich
I would help him load the sleigh with chimpanzees again." *In
return for his promise to keep my secret,* she thought darkly.
"Then I am going to claim I must be here to help pack and leave
the train station as soon as possible."
"Irene could send a message to Herr Loche that you are ill if you
would rather spend the entire day here." Sherla said, finally
recognizing how nervous her lover was acting recently. *Perhaps
the strain IS getting to her. Well, the role has served its
purpose and there really is no need for her to venture out once
we get to Meringen.*
"No, it is all right. Besides, I would then show up the next day
hail and hearty when it was time to leave the next day, which
might draw undue attention to us."
*There is more to this than a desire to avoid dirtying her hands
in monkey droppings,* Sherla thought. "What is really bothering
you, love?" she asked gently.
Katrina turned away, focusing her attention on the fire instead
of Sherla before answering. "Oh, just what we were speaking of a
moment ago. I feel like . . . I . . I feel like I am on borrowed
time in this guise." *And the loan has already come due and
marked past due. Oh god, I wish I had never agreed to this
charade. Now I am lying to her!* "I am terrified that I will
give away the entire charade," Katrina continued. "You've
convinced me how deadly, how purely evil this Moriarty truly is,
and I don't want to be the instrument of your or Tante Irene's
death! And I would be if some failure of mine brought you to
this fiend's attention before you were ready to move against
him."
Sherla considered her words carefully, and then took Katrina's
hand in hers. "Come over to the settee, darling. Here, sit."
Sherla pressed her lover into the soft cushions and then went
down on her knees in front of her. "I have already told you that
I think you are doing wonderfully in the role, and I promise you,
that IF I thought there was the slightest chance of your disguise
being pierced, I would end this scheme, for I would not put YOU
in danger. Understand me?" Sherla looked Katrina straight in
her eyes. She stared back for a few moments before her guilt
over her secret failure made her look away. She finally managed
a barely perceptible nod.
"Good, and in the second place, young miss, I am and have been
ready to move against Moriarty the moment he shows himself to me.
He won't surprise me, love. Remember who I am and who I was. I
defeated him when I was Sherlock, and I will defeat him as
Sherla."
"You sound so certain now, but last night, when you spoke of him
you sounded far more cautious."
"Cautious, yes. Frightened, no. Trust me, my love. We will
triumph."
A knock on the outer door interrupted them. Shrugging, Katrina
rose from the settee and walked over to open the door. Herr
Schmidt entered, a pleased smile on his broad face. "A message
has arrived, young Herr Huxley, for your lovely sister," he said,
holding out a wax-sealed envelope. He cast a paternal grin at
Sherla. "I was asked to wait for a reply, Fraulein."
*This is NOT an appropriate time for whatever has put that look
on our host,* Sherla thought with mild annoyance, even as she
pasted a flirtatious smile on her own face. "And who would be so
very bold, I wonder?" she asked as she hurried over to snatch up
and open the missive.
Dear Fraulein Huxley,
I would be honored if you would accept my
invitation for a moonlight sleigh ride
followed by dinner at my home. Naturally,
your charming mother and your young brother
are included in both invitations. I would
like to earn the privilege of calling on you
once you and your delightful family are
settled in our little community.
Affectionately,
Hans-Peter Kreuger
*Well, well. . . the man from my very erotic dream wants to
escort me out. The dream father of my dream child,* she thought,
a bittersweet smile coming to her lips.
"What is it, sister?"
"An invitation, Karl, for a sleigh ride and dinner - from Hans-
Peter." *If we were to be here any longer, it might do well to
encourage this - he would be useful in that he knows the location
of Moriarty's hideaway and he has that very nice sleigh to
transport us, but that would endanger him and his family too
much. It would be much less suspicious if the estate agent Irene
has contacted in Meringen was the one who showed us that
property.*
Sherla turned back to the innkeeper. "Herr Schmidt, I cannot
accept this very nice invitation. Mother, Karl and I will be
quite busy tonight and tomorrow preparing for our trip to
Meringen. Please convey our regrets to Hans-Peter." She saw the
surprise on Herr Schmidt's face and nodded to confirm her
decision. *And my failure to send him a message in my own hand,
or to speak to him myself should put paid to any further
overtures from Hans-Peter. I only hope that I have not truly
hurt his feelings or his confidence.*
Katrina saw the sad smile on Sherla's face and felt her insides
twist. *She wants him. She has told me she loves me, but she
wants him, and now her honor prevents her from taking what she
truly desires. If I were not here, she'd be free to follow her
heart. All I have to do to keep her is stay, and that would be
the most reprehensible act I could ever commit.*
She waited until the confused innkeeper took his leave, and then
turned to face Sherla. Tears were burning at her eyes, but she
took a deep breath to help her control herself. "I. . . think,
Sherla, . that. . . that since my role here is done, I . . I
would prefer to go home to Paris. . .instead of this Meringen
place. I am tired of this boy disguise, but my face is. . .too
well known and I can't change back here." A stray tear or two
escaped her eyes, but she ignored them and turned her face away.
"I am so damnably tired of these itchy trousers. I . . .I
believe I shall go . . go and pack."
All but stupefied, Sherla watched as her lover nearly ran from
the room. *What in heavens name was that all about?* She followed
Katrina and slipped into the bed chamber before the other girl
could latch the door. It was the final straw for Katrina and she
broke down completely. In an instant, Sherla had her wrapped in
her arms and was making soft, comforting noises. The deluge of
tears took a while to die down, but eventually, an exhausted
Katrina found herself lying on the bed, cuddled in Sherla's arms.
"Now, tell me what is truly the matter."
"You wanted him," Katrina said simply. "You wanted to go with
him, but you didn't, because of me."
Sherla considered that. "That is true, at least in part. I may
have wanted him, a little bit - that's curiosity - and I did not
go with him, in part because of you, but mostly because of me."
"He could give you things I cannot, my love, and I want you to
have everything good life has to offer. . ."
"And you are thinking that includes children, is that it?" A
shaky nod answered her. "I have been giving children a great
deal of thought of late myself. Part of my monthly blues, I
suspect, and having a lovely little baby all but dropped into my
arms yesterday, but I know. . .listen to me, my love, I KNOW that
is not my path."
"You're just saying that. . . because you feel obligated,"
Katrina heard herself whine and hated it.
Sherla brought her hand up to cup Katrina's chin up so that she
was looking directly into Sherla's eyes. "Goose," she said, a
loving smile glowing from her face. "I could never be satisfied
and fulfilled as a wife and mother, noble though those life paths
are. After all, I may be Sherla, but I am also still *Holmes*,
and the hole in my life without adequate challenge to my
intellect would be greater than any due to the lack of children
or a husband. I truly believe that I was put on this earth to
stop criminals from preying on the innocent. However, all that
is secondary to this, by far more important truth, you silly
widgeon. I . . . love . . . YOU, and I want you in my life more
than anything else I could possibly have in this new world that
has opened up before me."
"You're sure? Truly?" Sherla only managed a nod before Katrina
began crying again.
"What is the matter?!?" Irene's voice called from the still open
bed chamber door. Neither young woman had heard her return from
her last-minute-get-together with the concierge.
"Ah, Irene, just the person we need," Sherla called. "Would you
come in for a moment? I have a declaration to make that must
needs be witnessed."
Irene slipped into the room and stood by the bed. Sherla rose
from the bed, and then pulled Katrina to her feet as well.
Taking both of Katrina's hand in hers, Sherla faced Katrina. "My
love, I want to make my life with you, and I do hereby pledge
myself to making you as happy and fulfilled as I possibly can."
"Oh, beloved," Katrina sighed, "That is what I want, as well. I
was just afraid that. . ." then she stopped herself short, and
squared her shoulders. "I would pledge myself, but I am already
yours, as I have been since that first night together. I want
nothing more from life that to spend mine with you."
A single finger came up to shush Katrina. "Thank you" Sherla
whispered, and then kissed Katrina softly, but possessively on
her lips. "You are mine and I am yours."
Katrina was instantly in Sherla's arms, kissing her fervently,
her fingers again seeking the fastenings on Sherla's clothing at
the same time. Irene chuckled, "I can see that I have become
quite de trops now that my witness function is no longer needed,"
and let herself out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Well, you've made your choice, love" Sherla purred as Katrina
finally finished loosening her stays, "And now you are MINE!"
She stretched sensuously and enjoyed the feeling of an
unrestricted deep inhalation. She speedily dispensed with her
chemise and pantaloons before turning to help Katrina divest
herself of Karl's clothing. "Have I ever mentioned, just how
much I LOVE unwrapping you at bedtime? You are the most
wonderful gift I have ever been given in either of my lives, and
I get to open you EVERY single night for the rest of our lives!
God, you are so WONDERFUL!"
Katrina blushed as Sherla planted soft, possessive kisses on each
patch of slowly exposed skin. "I love you, too," she whispered
as she felt the fire begin to flare in her loins.
Sherla slid on to the bed and beckoned to now nude Katrina.
"Come and love me, Katrina. Come and let me love you."
"Whenever you wish, my love," Katrina sighed. *for however long
we can.*
