Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Steampunk
Cast of Wonders 151: Master Madrigal’s Mechanical Man (Staff Pick 2014)
Show Notes
Every year in January Cast of Wonders takes a break to catch our breath, plan out the year ahead, and highlight some of our favourite episodes from the year just passed.
We hope you enjoy Marguerite’s favorite story from 2014, Master Madrigal’s Mechanical Man by Scott C. Mikula, which originally aired March 23, 2014 as Cast of Wonders 120.
Master Madrigal’s Mechanical Man
by Scott C. Mikula
I tried to shut out the crowd’s roar, but the thunder of a thousand feet pounding above us in the arena stands rose until I could feel the breastplate of the mechanical swordsman vibrate beneath my touch. Master Madrigal gestured with his palsied hand for me to replace the automaton’s helmet, but I hesitated to examine the delicate inner workings. Just one small adjustment
A cuff to the back of my head arrested my motion. “We have spoken of this, Cetta,” said Madrigal. “There is no problem with the balance.” He crossed his arms, tucking his useless right hand out of sight beneath his sleeve.
I persuaded my mother to send me to her uncle Madrigal after his illness, when I was just twelve years old. The word apprentice was never used. Girls did not apprentice to craftsmen like Madrigal, and I don’t think he would have taken an apprentice in any case. He referred to me as his hands. My deft fingers did the work his no longer could.
(Continue Reading…)
