Flight of the Phoenix (15 page)

“It's so much worse than that,” Fenix sobbed. “Draak Priest has an evil cardinal living inside his head. The cardinal came out, stole the dagger from Bryn and disappeared. Then he reappeared and stabbed poor Bryn with it.”

Arthur's jaw dropped. “What are you saying? My dear, Fenix, this is all highly irregular. You're telling me there is someone living inside Priest's head? You must be ill, my dear. I know, it's the heat. I will take you into the house and find you a cool beverage.”

Fenix threw his hand off her arm. “I know it sounds crazy, God, it sounds totally insane, but it's true. When Priest used Cardinal Malenfant's bones in that hideous ritual to regain his youth, the Cardinal entered him and took up residence. He was driving Priest totally bonkers and then when there was a massacre in the village, blood was everywhere, vampire blood was swirling in the air, and he somehow escaped Priest. Bryn had the dagger. Oh, Arthur, we were so close.” Fenix started sobbing, her body wracked by a bout of crying so painful she felt torn in two.

Tomlinson's guileless countenance reflected disbelief and concern. He tried to comfort her and she threw him off yet again. “If you cannot help us, then I must return to the mountain and give Bryn the bad news.”

Brighthouse bustled toward them accompanied by Fingle holding a huge wrench. “Arthur, dear boy, I believe the machine is ready for a test flight,” Brighthouse said. “Roll the roof back.”

Fenix brightened. She grabbed Tomlinson by the shoulders. “If it flies, you must help us.”

“Help who?” Brighthouse asked.

“Is there something a matter, Miss Fenix?” Fingle asked. His usual hound dog expression replaced by one of concern.

“Fingle, Miss Bryn is dying. Tell Tomlinson he must help me save her.”

Fingle barked twice and Tomlinson groaned and rolled his eyes. “Commodore, I believe we are taking a trip up the Nile.”

“Capital!”

Fingle worked the enormous steam-powered crank that rolled the two sections of the barn's metal roof apart. As the roof of the huge barn separated in the middle, each side rolled back to reveal the overcast sky. “At least it's not raining,” Tomlinson said. “This is the dampest, hottest, muggiest climate I have ever attempted to build a machine in.”

“Yes, indeed, all of this rain has been a severe trial,” the Commodore said.

Tomlinson pointed to a set of steps leading to the cabin of the flying machine. “Fingle, take Miss Fenix into the cabin and see she's made comfortable while the Commodore and I attempt to fly this crazy contraption.”

Commodore Brighthouse slapped Tomlinson on the back. “Don't be such a Nervous Nelly, Arthur. Think of the adventure. Why, this entire trip has been the best adventure of my life.”

Tomlinson rolled his eyes. “It has been interesting. I just don't wish to die having it.”

Fingle led Fenix into the cabin which was appointed in much the same fashion as the underwater vessel; black leather and brass studs for the furniture, brass rails and polished wood for the walls. The windows were much like the portholes of the ship, round and bolted shut with brass fasteners.

“Have a seat, Miss,” Fingle said. “I need to make sure everything is in place because this devil-inspired machine don't fly like no bird, oh no. It takes off straight into the air, it does, and who knows whether it will do what the Commodore and that evil vampire bitch, Tures, who done stole my Samantha away, says it will.”

“Sam is happy with her, Fingle. Try to understand.”

“Oh, I understands, I just don't like it.”

Fenix had given Tomlinson instructions on how to reach the mountain. Now all she had to do was pray the machine would actually fly.

With her face pressed to the windows, she held her breath and waited. The huge propellers started turning, slowly at first, then faster. The front of the aircraft began to lift and then the back. It hovered six feet off the ground for several minutes while Fenix fretted, and then it slowly lifted straight out of the barn and into the sky.

When she saw trees under the aircraft, they stopped lifting and hovered again. They hovered in the same place for what she thought was a really long time. Were they having trouble moving forward? Was the craft only able to rise and that was it? Fenix wanted to scream. She had no idea what was happening in the cockpit. As she walked up and down the aisle between two rows of comfortable seats, pacing like a caged animal, she spotted a long pipe with a funnel-like appurtenance at its end. She immediately recognized it as a speaking tube just like the one on the underwater vessel. She prayed it would connect her to Tomlinson or Brighthouse as she removed it from its clip on the wall and screamed into it.

“Tomlinson! What's wrong? Why aren't we moving?”

A hollow voice whispered out of the funnel. “Hallo, there, Fenix, we are experiencing a small difficulty with changing the rotors from the lift mode to a forward motion. Tures or someone else designed many of the controls. Don't worry, old girl, we shall figure it out soon. The engines are functioning as expected.”

Fingle lurched out of the galley just in time to be thrown to the deck as the air ship suddenly lurched and shot forward. Fenix was thrown to the floor as well, but she managed to hold onto the tube. “I say, Commodore, you've got it,” she heard Tomlinson say.

“Arthur!” Fenix screamed into the tube. “Head for the tallest peak, the Tooth. Bryn will be waiting there.”

“I say, Commodore,” Tomlinson said. “This is a bit of all right.”

Fenix grunted with frustration and climbed into the closest seat. Fingle crawled across the floor and pulled himself into the seat next to hers. His drooping eyes held no fear. He patted her hand. “Don't be a worrying yourself, Miss. Those two flying this contraption know what they be doing.”

“They are completely impossible.”

“Yes, ma'm, those two be a little difficult to handle, but they knows this air machine. They done taken it apart and put it back together at least twice.”

Fenix stayed glued to a portal, running from one side of the airship to the other, as they climbed over the trees and headed toward the mountains. The aircraft was capable of amazing speeds. It covered the same ground they took days tramping through in minutes. When the Tooth filled the window, she grabbed the speaking tube to tell Tomlinson what to look for.

“Tomlinson, are you there?”

“Yes, my dear, isn't this amazing?”

“It is, but please make note of where we must go. On the side of the mountain, there is a waterfall and a flat plateau. We camped on that plateau. Quinn and Bryn will be there awaiting your arrival.”

“I see a plateau,” he said. She heard him talking to Brighthouse who must be piloting the machine. “Commodore, can we land on that plateau?”

“It is rather small,” the Commodore answered. “Might be a little dicey, but we'll give it a go, old chap.”

“Buckle yourself into a seat,” Tomlinson told her. “Commodore Brighthouse is going to attempt to land. I don't see anyone down there yet.” He paused. “Oh wait, there's a huge golden dragon coming out of the mountain.”

“Yes! That's Moregon, Draak Priest's mate.”

“What?”

“Ignore that for the moment.” Fenix unbuckled her safety harness and ran to the window. She spotted Moregon and on the dragon's back, three people. “Look! Bryn is riding the dragon. Land.”

“Yes, yes,” Tomlinson replied. “We will, if it is at all possible.”

Fenix ran back to her seat. Flying held no terror for her. She was immortal and could change into the phoenix if necessary. Her concerns were for the two mortals piloting the craft and poor Fingle. If anything were to happen to them, all would be lost. There would be no one left to fly Bryn to Giza and the pyramids. If they were to crash, there would be no way to get her to them in time.

The aircraft sank, rose and sank again. Fenix's stomach rolled and she swallowed hard. They banked left and then the craft righted itself. Fenix held her breath as trees flashed by the windows, then they lifted again and she saw the waterfall so close to them she felt like she could touch it. They lifted up along the plunging stream until she saw the face of the Tooth through the portals. The aircraft shuddered as the engines roared. The nose tilted down and Fenix covered her mouth with her hand as they dropped, and hit hard. The aircraft's nose fell with a crash and the craft began skidding sideways. It spun into a headlong rush back towards the falls and the escarpment's edge. If they went over the cliff, it would mean the end of everything. The craft would be destroyed and Tomlinson and Brighthouse would surely die.

She heard a screeching sound and smelled burning rubber. The sideways motion stopped. The aircraft tilted, and then righted again. She clutched her armrests as they began spinning. The spinning slowed, they rocked violently and then the aircraft finally shuddered to a stop.

Breathing hard, Fenix ripped off her belt. Fingle leaped for the door and flung it open. Standing on wobbly legs, Fenix had to hold onto one of the brass rails. When she reached the door, she was immediately hit by a wave of hot moist air and the roar of the engines. Ignoring the heat, she leaped down the stairs. The aircraft's rubber tires were all flat. The craft sat canted over to one side but the engines still worked. Gusts of air stirred by the huge propellers buffeted her as she tried to walk.

She put one hand on her hair to keep it from whipping her in the face as she ran to embrace Bryn. He sister' head drooped and she stood supported by Quinn's strong arms. Fenix immediately noticed her sister's pallor. Bryn's complexion was the color of wax. Blue veins traced the translucent skin of her face. Fenix grabbed the hand on her sister's injured arm. The scent of fresh blood assailed her nostrils and she moaned. “She still bleeds.”

“We must hurry,” Quinn said. “She's fading fast.”

Draak Priest stepped forward. “The dagger has mortally wounded her. I believe we need it to save Bryn.”

Fenix turned on him, red fury rising in her chest. “You! She wouldn't be dying if not for you and that hideous creature you carry inside your skull. You only say that because you want us to help you rid yourself of him.”

“You need me, you do,” Priest said. “Take me along. I swear I will do everything in my power to help Bryn live.”

“You've hounded us for centuries. Why should I believe that now, you suddenly are on the side of good? Why should I trust you, Draak Priest?”

“I know, I followed you and harassed you, but believe me, it was because I desired Bryn. I loved her. I still do, but I now understand she is not for me and never could be for me.”

Fenix snorted. “And I'm supposed to believe you had this overnight epiphany?”

Priest suddenly grabbed his head and started shrieking. “No! No! I will not kill her. Leave me alone.”

He fell to the ground in front of Fenix and began yanking out handfuls of his hair. The golden dragon bellowed. She rushed to Priest and nosed him. Her golden eyes spun with anxiety and Fenix felt her grief. Thoughts flowed into her mind. “
Please help him. I know you can. I will give you anything you wish.”

Fenix groaned as Tomlinson and Brighthouse appeared around the corner of the aircraft. Tomlinson rushed to his friend's side. “Quinn, old chap, what's happened to Bryn?”

“She was slashed by the Lazarus dagger and she's bleeding slowly to her death. She says we must take this stone to the pyramids and place it in order to save her.” Quinn pulled the capstone out of his pocket and handed it to Tomlinson.

“My God, old man, is this what I think it is?”

“Yes, the capstone for the Great Pyramid of Cheops. It was buried under mounds of treasure we found inside this mountain guarded by the golden dragon.”

“Is this why Fenix came to fetch us?”

“Yes.” Fenix pushed Tomlinson aside. “We can talk later. It's imperative that we leave immediately. Would you please take Bryn into the aircraft?” She grabbed Tomlinson's arm. “Hurry, Arthur, she's in a bad way.”

Inside her head she heard the dragon beg for Priest once more. “
Please help him. I would go with him, but I cannot leave the mountain. I must guard my treasures.”

Fenix threw up her hands. “Fine, you load him.” She grabbed Quinn. “I promised the dragon I'd try to help Priest rid himself of his hateful burden. In return, she's going to help place the stone.”

Quinn lifted one arched eyebrow. “You sure you want that nut case on this aircraft?”

“No, I don't, but I don't want the gigantic gold dragon to incinerate it in midair because she's angry with us, either.”

He nodded. “I see your point.”

With Fingle's help, they muscled Priest inside and strapped him into a seat. He muttered and clawed at his head and seemed completely out of his mind. At times, he spoke to himself and the conversations were frightening. They consisted of plans for torturing innocent maidens, dismemberment and murder. Fenix had to give credit to Priest; he fought Malenfant's attempts to take him over and refused to even consider the horrible things Malenfant urged him to do.

Fenix buckled herself into a seat across from Quinn with Bryn slumped in the seat next to him as Fingle disappeared into the galley again. When they were all strapped in, the engines roared to life, the aircraft righted itself and slowly lifted off the plateau. The nose rotated and pointed north toward Giza and the pyramids.

“This must work,” Quinn muttered.

“I know. I understand your anxiety. This is our last effort to end the curse. It has to be successful or Bryn will die.”

Wind currents coming off the waterfall and the mountains buffeted the air ship. It rocked, lifted and plunged toward the earth. Priest moaned and fought his demon ignorant of any danger. Bryn, too, was ignorant of what was happening around her. Fenix and Quinn sat perched on the edge of their seats staring out the windows as they flew over jungle and huge lakes. The Mountains of the Moon slowly faded into a smudge on the horizon behind them.