Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) (25 page)

Anger boiled up in Belle. There were men on horses and camels running in circles around
Gambit
, rifles and swords waving in the air. They all wore shiny metal helmets from which their long black hair escaped and trailed down their backs. Most had mustaches with long strands hanging down the sides of their mouths. A row of the men with deadly looking brass cranked crossbows lined up along the side of
Gambit
with arrows pointed at their inflatable. A man on a prancing grey horse confronted them, a rifle raised above his head. Silver coins jangled from his horse’s bridle.

“Invaders, come out or we will destroy your ship,” he yelled. He wore a gray and black tunic with loose trousers tucked into knee high boots. A pointed metal helmet sat on his head draped with a white scarf. His yellow tinged skin revealed creases from exposure to the sun and his narrow eyes tilted up at the corners.

“Bloody hell,” Benji swore and for once Belle did not correct him.

“Bedouins,” Sam said. “We’d better do as they say. The inflatable can’t be replaced. Maybe we can bribe them.”

“Bloody hell,” Rett echoed Benji. “How did they find us?”

With no other option available, they filed out over the gangplank and stood in the sand before the leader of the Bedouin group. Belle wanted to launch herself at the man on the gray horse. Another delay in their trip. This was disastrous. They needed to be on the trail before it disappeared.

“This is our oasis,” the leader said. “You have defiled it. The only way to reclaim our honor is through death.” He brandished a sword over his head. His men whooped and yelled, wheeling their mounts about and around the small group of
Gambit
’s crew.

“Sir,” Belle said stepping forward and holding out her hands to them. “I beg you. There are powers at play here that may destroy all of us. Please listen to me.”

The man on the gray horse fixed his flashing black eyes on her, frowning. “Woman, beg all you like. In the law of the desert you have offended us by using our oasis without our permission. You must die.”

He motioned to his men who grabbed her and Rett, forcing them to their knees.

The men on horses and camels came to a semicircle in front of them. They brandished swords, knives and other weapons, grimacing and yelling, closing in on the rest of the group.

Benji let out a guttural yell and ran with his head down, butting the man beside Belle away. He pulled his dagger out and pointed it directly at the leader. “Back away. Don’t touch her or I will kill you all.”

“Benji,” Belle cried. “No, they’ll hurt you.” She struggled to rise but the man on the other side of her still had her arm in a vise-like grip. After a moment, the fingers digging into her arm loosened their grasp and then slid away altogether.

She staggered to her feet and brushed the hair away from her face. Rett rose as well and they stared about in shock. The attackers lowered their weapons and stared at Benji with wide eyes and mouths gaping open. Puzzling, he wasn’t really a very threatening figure. He crouched in a fighting stance in front of her, brandishing the dagger back and forth.

The leader dropped his whip to the sand and slowly dismounted. He walked forward with halting steps, the squeak of leather and chinks of metal the only sounds in the little oasis. He stopped about three feet in front of Benji and jabbed a finger at him.

“Where…where did you get that dagger?” he demanded.

At this range, he appeared to be about thirty-five years old, but weathered from the intense sun. He wasn’t as tall as Belle, but his dangerous posturing made him seem taller. Knives, swords and pistols stuck in the numerous leather belts buckled around his body.

Benji straightened a little but kept his eyes on the leader. “Why do you want to know?”

The man hissed and swept his arms in the air. His men released the crank handles of their crossbows and withdrew the metal arrows. The other men put up their swords and rifles and began to mumble and whisper among themselves, casting furtive glances at Benji.

Rett had been released and came to Belle’s side. She couldn’t help taking his arm as her knees shook so hard she thought she might sink to the ground.

“That dagger has been missing for over twenty years.” The leader paced in front of them, hands on his hips. The long tail of his helmet’s white scarf trailed behind him in the sand. “It is an ancient symbol of the strength of our tribe. Our tradition says whoever holds it is the sacred ruler of the Mandagols.”

Benji straightened the rest of the way and his arms fell to his sides. “Who are you?”

“I am, ah,
was
the leader of the Mandagol, Kef Solmin.”

“Well, I’m Benj…ah…Benjamin.”

“Then, Kef Benjamin…” The leader went down on one knee and brought his fist to his chest in salute. “You are now the leader of the Mandagol.”

The air resounded with the thuds of the other men bringing their fists to their chests and then going to one knee before their new leader.

Benji turned around and looked at Belle with astonishment spreading over his features. Then a spark of something flickered in his eyes and one side of his mouth curled up.

He wheeled back around and held the knife high over his head. “Mandagols, rise. We must reclaim the honor of the dagger. I came to you because we have a mission to fulfill.”

The men rose at once, leaping in the air, yelling and cheering as they brandished their weapons. Solmin came to his feet more slowly and stood silently regarding Benji, a wary look in his eyes.

“Kef Benjamin, what is the quest you set before us?” Solmin asked.

Belle held her breath. What was the boy thinking?

“The airship that crashed in the sand,” he said pointing back to where
Blackwatch
lay like a beached whale. “We need to find the people who were in it. There is a man among them who is being held captive and we must rescue him. Otherwise the entire world will be engulfed in war. This is a worthy quest that will restore honor to the dagger and to the Mandagol.”

Solmin gestured for one of his men to come forward. The man ran over to them, eyes alight with eagerness.

“This is Gesic, my, uh,
your
second in command.” He motioned to Gesic. “Tell the Kef what you saw yesterday while on patrol.”

Gesic nodded. “The big ship came swooping down out of the mountains with huge Ravanges attacking the inflatable. The people shot at them, but their claws had already damaged the fabric and they were forced to land as it came apart in shreds.”

“What are ravanges?” Belle asked, the name made a shiver creep over her skin.

“I’ve read about them but I thought they were extinct,” Benji exclaimed, then answered Belle. “They’re huge raptor type birds. There are stories that they can attain a wingspread of twelve feet or more.”

“We see them hunting over the desert occasionally, but their nests are in the mountains where no one ever travels,” Solmin said. “They are viciously territorial. No doubt that ship invaded their nesting area.”

“What happened after the ship landed?” Benji asked.

“I was surprised when only a little later a caravan appeared, as if they had planned to meet despite the crash. There are no cities near here and then I recognized the banners of the soldiers who accompanied the men on camels. They were from Manu Picca, the stronghold of Warlord Mastihan.”

“Why did you think they had arranged to meet? Couldn’t they have happened upon the crashed ship?” Benji asked.

“Not likely. Manu Picca is located in the mountains, clear across the Matahala desert from here. Several days travel by camel,” Gesic replied. “Besides, this is Mandagol territory, they endanger themselves by trespassing here.”

Belle and Rett shared a glance.

“Sounds like Wildeye planned to drop off his cargo here instead of going in to Terrabba,” Rett said. “Not a bad idea. There aren’t any curious eyes out here to notice what’s going on.”

“So now all of them are on their way to this Manu Picca?” Belle asked.

“Can you take us to Manu Picca?” Benji asked Solmin. “We can fly in the airship if you guide us.”

Solmin inclined his head. “As the Kef wishes. But if you plan to attack the stronghold it will not be easy and certainly impossible from your flying ship.”

“Why do you say that?” Benji frowned.

“It is not called the stronghold for nothing. The entire structure is built into the side of a solid rock mountain. It has held out against sieges that lasted for several years and never fell. You will need a clever plan to defeat the warlord.”

Belle crossed her arms, frustrated. They were so close to finding her father and now it sounded like he was in an impregnable prison. How would they ever get to him?

“There may be a way in if we choose a less direct route however,” Solmin added and Gesic nodded with a slightly evil smile on his face.

“Then we need to discuss a plan,” Benji said.

“If you permit, my Kef, the blade needs the blood ceremony to bring it back to the tribe and the rest of the Mandagol need to see their new leader. We should go back to our camp. From there we can plan the campaign that will bring glory back to our people.” Solmin gave a small bow.

Benji glanced at Belle. She was eager to reach her father without delay, but if these Mandagol could help them it was too good an offer to pass up. If they knew a secret way into the citadel it could be the secret to success. She put a hand on his arm and nodded.

“Very well, Solmin. You will travel with us in the airship and we will follow the rest of the men from the air.” Benji tucked the sacred dagger back in his belt.

Solmin gave instructions to the other men and then followed them into
Gambit
. Belle felt certain he had not been on an airship before. He looked around him with curious eyes but if he was afraid, he hid it well.

They went up to the deck and Rett and Sam prepared the ship to leave. Solmin and Benji stood at the rail with Benji explaining to the other man how the ship worked with the helium and steam engine. She smiled. Before long the previous leader of the Mandagol would be captured by Benji’s charm as everyone was eventually. Armani sat on a deck chair watching Benji with an admiring gaze.

Belle climbed the steps to the aft deck where Rett adjusted the levers to lift
Gambit
from the sand. They rose about a hundred feet in the air and followed the Mandagols on their horses and camels.

“What do you think?” Belle asked.

Rett chuckled. “That kid is something. You’d think he’s been leading a tribe of bloodthirsty Bedouins all his life.”

“You know what?”

“What?”

“Did you notice he hasn’t stammered since confronting the attackers?”

Rett’s brows went up, and then he nodded. “You’re right. Interesting. Better not mention it to him.”

“Do you know this place, Manu Picca?”

“Only by reputation. It’s supposed to be unassailable—never conquered since it was carved out of the mountain a thousand years ago.”

“Great, just great. What shall we do then?” Belle’s heart sank. Would she find her father’s location but be unable to reach him?

“Sounds like the Mandagol may know a way in. We’ll have to go along with their traditional ceremonies to gain their support and then see if they can help us break into the citadel.”

Sam came up from the engine room. “Engine’s all set.” He cast a glance at Benji and let out a short laugh as he went down to the gondola.

Jasper brought up his typical extravagant tea tray with sandwiches and cookies. Solmin looked at this service with approval. Belle was sure he assumed Jasper was Benji’s servant. She put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile when Jasper looked up at her and rolled his eyes.

They followed the cavalcade until nearly sunset. The troop led them north until they reached the edge of the dessert. Small bushes and twisted trees appeared more regularly. Here and there, patches of wild grass gone brown scattered. In the distance, the tops of palm fronds waved along the horizon.

At last, the Mandagol camp came into view: a large oasis with swaying palm trees and areas of green grass. A massive grouping of black canvas tents had been erected among the trees, and herds of goats, horses and camels roamed through the grassy areas, while chickens and dogs ran through the paths between the tents.

Rett set the ship down at the edge of the camp and they went down the gangplank to the ground. Sam made sure iron stakes were driven into the sand to secure the tether lines of
Gambit
.

After a few moments, a growing roar erupted from the camp. Benji looked at Solmin who explained, “The men have told our people of the return of the dagger. They are shouting in joy.”

Armani held onto Benji’s arm as a crowd spilled forth from the tents and headed toward them like a giant multicolored wave. What these people gave up in color for their tents, they made up for in their clothing. Tunics and loose pants tucked into boots were of every color imaginable. Similarly, colorful scarves wrapped around the men’s heads and trailed down their backs. The men waved their swords or knives in the air and shouted as they ran.

The women had long black hair hanging in small braids to their waists and threaded with tinkling golden coins. Gold bangles clanked on their arms and numerous golden necklaces draped around their necks. Their dark-lined eyes shone with happiness as they clapped their hands and made a strange hooting sound in celebration.

Rett walked up and whispered in Benji’s ear. Benji nodded and straightened his shoulders as he pulled out the dagger and held it in the air. The people gathered before him, leaping about, their shouts and hooting echoing across the desert. They finally surrounded him and lifted him in the air, carrying him on their shoulders through the encampment.

Belle and the others followed behind, marveling at this outpouring of adulation. It was difficult believing in this ironic development of their journey. She imagined sitting in her townhouse back in Aereopolis just a week ago and she would not have thought such a thing could be possible. But here they were, in the middle of the desert, with Benji the newly elected king of this tribe, hoping they would be able to rescue her father from an unassailable citadel. She shook her head.