Absynthe by Brendan Bellecourt
On a crisp spring day in 1928, Liam Mulcahey found himself sitting in the back of a sleek maroon Phaeton, headed for the grand opening of the new flashtrain line. As the Phaeton navigated the roads of the Chicago suburb, the driver glanced into the rearview mirror with his glowing blue eyes. “Are you quite certain it will be all right for me to attend, Master Aysana?” His voice was slightly garbled, the speaker built into his faceplate in need of repair. In the driver’s seat was a mechanika named Alastair, the chauffeur of the Aysana family, whom Liam worked for. Sitting beside Liam in the back seat was Morgan, son of the famous rail baron Rajan Aysana. “I’m certain,” Morgan said with a placating smile. Alastair had been giddy with excitement for days at the prospect of seeing the new flashtrain debut.