Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) (31 page)

Behind the soldiers, the evil Dr. Krakov walked beside an elaborately dressed man in purple robes and a heavy metal helmet. He must be the local warlord. Her fingers curled into claws and she imagined squeezing the doctor’s scrawny neck between her hands.

Two guards marched her father up on the platform of the scaffold and Dr. Krakov followed. He placed the noose around her father’s neck himself with a smirk on his face. Then he turned to the crowd and raised his arms over his head.

There was no need to motion for quiet, the people stood waiting as still as death. They glanced about, confused, unsure of how to react to this public execution. Unfortunately they were just a convenient audience for Krakov to carry out his revenge against her father.

“People of Manu Picca,” Krakov shouted. “This man is a convicted traitor against the country of Carabarras. He plotted to overthrow the Imperial Warlord and lead invaders into this land.”

The people shuffled their feet and mumbled among themselves. But no one would question this decision with soldiers standing by, rifles ready and their own warlord going along with it.

Belle’s hand moved under her cloak and she saw Rett reaching for his pistol as well. They had to act soon, before they pulled the lever to release the trap door under her father’s feet. She watched his face. He eyes revealed his anger, his mouth formed a grim line, but he stood calmly awaiting his fate like a gentleman. If only he would look in her direction, then he could have some hope, but he stared straight ahead, proud and brave.

“We execute him today to show that no one threatens the great country of Carabarras, and soon the entire world will know of our greatness,” Krakov shouted. He lowered his arms and stepped from the platform. The hooded executioner adjusted the noose around Sir John’s neck.

Belle reached down and took the knife from her boot and pulled her multi-shooter from the holster just as an explosion and rumble sounded and the ground shivered under her feet. People stumbled about and their exclamations rose up to cover Krakov shouting at the executioner. Another explosion hit and the floor shook again. This time small pieces of rock broke free from the ceiling and fell down on the crowd.

Benji! He was firing on the citadel.

That did it. People ran in all directions trying to escape the shards hitting them on the head. Even a few of the lights from the ceiling grid detached and crashed to the ground. Their worst fear must be having their underground world collapse on them and it was happening. They rushed for the tunnels which probably led to outside exits.

Krakov screamed, his face red and hands clenched in fists at his sides. He acted oblivious to the possibility the whole cave might fall in. The bastard only focused on his revenge seeing Sir John swinging from the rope around his neck. The executioner turned from side to side, unsure, then slowly made his way toward the lever.

Belle pulled out her weapon and fired three shots. The big man’s arms went up and his head jerked back as he went to his knees and then fell on his face. People screamed at this new development but continued to scramble for the tunnels. Krakov’s mouth fell open and his eyes popped wide.

“Help me up,” Belle shouted to Rett. He made a cradle of his hands, she put her foot in it and he hoisted her up on the platform. “Cover me.”

She ran to her father and pulled the noose from his neck. Krakov started for the steps but Rett’s pistol cracked and the little coward ran yelling for the soldiers. A hand grabbed her ankle and she looked down to find the wounded executioner latched on to her although he grimaced in pain. She raised her knife and buried it in the side of his neck. His hand fell away from her as he found a better use for it…holding in his blood.

“Belle, good God! What are you doing here?” Her father exclaimed as she pulled him toward Rett.

“I’m here to rescue you,” she yelled over the noise. A bullet went over her head as another explosion rocked the cavern. At least one of the soldiers followed Krakov’s orders to attack them, another jumped on the platform and lunged toward her. She pressed the button on her shooter’s handle and the blade popped out. She brought it down on the man’s neck as he reached her and drove it in. A spurt of red blood erupted, shooting out in a fountain. The other guard seemed overwhelmed by the stampeding crowd and jumped from the platform to save himself.

Rett helped Sir John and then Belle from the platform. Her father frowned and looked from Rett to Belle.

“Everette Brockton?”

“Yes, sir,” Rett said as he pulled out a knife and cut the rope that bound the man’s hands. “I guess you’re surprised to find me here with Belle.”

“Surprise is certainly
one
of the emotions I’m feeling.”

Belle hugged her father. “It’s a long story and we don’t have time to tell it. Rett’s helping, that’s all you need to know right now.”

A bullet whistled over their heads and they ducked while Rett returned fire. “Let’s try to reach the steam engine room. No one is headed that way. They’re going for the exits.”

Belle took her father’s arm and pulled him toward the tunnel that led to the engine room. People bumped into them running in the opposite direction. Rett had to help with Sir John, he was in much worse shape than Belle had originally thought. He stumbled along, and she could see bruises and cuts on his face where he’d been beaten.

She looked back, but Krakov had disappeared among the mass of fleeing people. Damn, she desperately wanted to put a bullet between his eyes. Two soldiers fired at them but the others were gone. She aimed her shooter and hit one of them in the shoulder.

“I see the shooting lessons have paid off,” her father said, panting as they pushed through the crowd.

She couldn’t help laughing. They weren’t out yet, but she was so happy to see her father and hear him say something like that after so long. “I told you it would come in handy.”

“Your mother will be delighted to hear it.”

Rett fired another shot over his shoulder. “Ha, got the other one.” He grinned at Belle.

“My Lady,” a shout to their left directed their attention to the group of black robed spies running to the mouth of the same tunnel they were headed for.

They finally reached the spies, freed from the press of the escaping people. Another explosion hit and then a new sound rumbled through the cavern—a clanking, rumbling sound The floor of the immense cave shook under their feet.

Fear shot through Belle like a burning poker. She immediately knew what that sound meant. They were cranking open the huge metal doors to shoot their massive cannon. No, no. Benji and the others were in desperate danger. She doubted Gesic had made it back to the camp yet, so they had no idea what was coming at them.

“What’s that noise?” Rett said. He turned to Belle whose eyes must have revealed her terror and his lips pressed together. “Bloody hell, they’re opening the doors for the cannon.”

“What?” Perron’s eyes narrowed.

“Can’t you hear it?” Belle pointed behind them, her hand trembling. “That has to be the door in the cannon room opening. They’re going to fire on our friends. They’ll be killed.”

Perron’s brows went up. “We must leave here at once.”

Belle wasn’t sure she could take another step as despair swept over her. She had saved her father, but at what cost? She would lose Benji, Armani, Jasper and Sam. The whole Mandagol tribe could be wiped out. All her fault.

“Hurry, we don’t have much time,” Perron jerked her arm.

“Wait, what’s going on?” Rett asked.

“We sabotaged the cannon so when it’s fired it will not shoot the projectile out, instead it will blow up inside the ravine. It may not ignite the remaining shells but it will bring the mountain down on top of it.”

Rett and Belle shared a look of horror and started running, pulling Sir John between them, almost dragging him along. The spies rushed ahead to the engine room.

“Rett, I don’t think he can climb up the rope,” Belle gasped out the words as they ran. “He’s too weak.”

Rett frowned. “We’ll have to tie the rope to him and pull him up last.”

“We have to hurry,” she said.

Perron spun the metal wheel and the door to the engine room opened. They hurried through the maze of machines to the rope. The Gandis group scampered through the opening in the rock and climbed up the rope with the speed and agility of monkeys.

“Go, Rett, I’ll tie him up. You have to be ready to pull as soon as I’m up.” Belle looped the end of the rope around her father’s waist.

“Belle…” Rett’s face held a tortured light.

“Go!” she yelled. “There’s no time. I’m right behind you.”

He took hold of the rope and pulled himself through the opening into the chasm, his last look at her sent chills up her spine. Did he really care so much if something happened to her?

“Father, listen. Once I’m up we’ll start pulling. Just push off from the walls so you don’t get hung up. Okay?”

He put his arms on her shoulders. “Belle you’re the best daughter a man could ever have. Did I ever tell you that?”

“You just did.” She smiled and reached up to kiss his cheek. He grabbed her and held her close for a second.

“All right, go on, my dear.” He gave her a wink, just like old times.

She wriggled through the opening and began the climb using the knots in the rope to push up with her feet. One foot slipped and she almost lost her hold, dangling in the bottomless chasm. She grimaced and held tight until her feet found the rope again. She was more careful then to keep from losing her foothold.

It seemed like it took forever but finally she reached the edge. Evening shadows cast a purple haze over the sky striking a strange contrast to the artificial atmosphere in the underground city.

“Pull,” she yelled as soon as she swung her feet over the rim. She scrambled to her feet and ran behind Rett to help. “Go, pull!”

The black clad spies had the end of the rope and they all strained back. The rope slowly moved then picked up speed. Her hands chafed from gripping the rough line, and she heard Rett grunting in the effort. A scream escaped her lips when her father’s head finally showed above the top of the crevice.

Rett grabbed his shoulder and hauled him over the edge. Sir John gasped for air and his face took on an ashen hue.

“Father, come on we have to get off this mountain,” she said as she untied the rope from his waist. The spies ran down the hill, their feet sending rocks flying.

He gave her a weak nod and with Rett on one side and her on the other they supported him as they slipped and scrambled down the rocky cliff.

“Belle,” her father panted. “You should go on without me. I just can’t take another step.”

“Yes, you can. Come on. Where’s the man who told me never to give up?” she yelled. “You have to make it. The whole world is depending on you.”

He grimaced and pressed his lips together, struggling over the uneven terrain and groaning.

Thankfully they reached the bottom with her father still on his feet. Their horses had already been unhobbled and harnessed by the Gandiss men, but there was no time for saddles. They had to be as far from the mountain as possible when the cannon was activated.

“Sir John, can you ride?” Rett asked him.

He nodded with eyes closed, his breath coming in short gasps.

Suddenly the earth shook under their feet.

“They must have fired the big cannon,” Belle said, she could feel sand shifting under her feet.

“We have to get out of here.” Rett pushed Sir John to a horse and practically threw him on his mount.

Belle didn’t wait; she’d ridden bareback many times as a child. She grabbed the reins and swung up, throwing one leg over the horse’s back. Another rumble sounded and the horses pranced about on the vibrating earth.

“Let’s go,” Rett yelled. He had the reins of Sir John’s horse.

Her father slumped over but his hands gripped the horse’s mane.

“Hold on,” she called. They kicked their horses into a run back toward the hills where they had met the Gandiss spies the previous night. The other group was already far ahead of them.

Behind them another explosion sounded and Belle put her hands over her ears at the deafening sound. Debris hit her back and the horses’ eyes went white in fear as they ran. She was afraid to look back, instead she kept her eyes focused on her father, making sure he didn’t slide from his horse. But Rett turned and glanced over his shoulder.

He yelled at her, “We’re being followed.”

She turned then. All she could see was a huge rolling mass of dust, obscuring any view of the mountain. Riding out of the edge of the dust cloud was a small group of riders coming in their direction. It looked like three or four, but she couldn’t be sure. It might be a coincidence, just other people escaping the catastrophe. But somehow she didn’t think so.

“Keep going, we have to get to the hills.” She waved Rett on.

They rode until they reached the shelter of the hills where the Gandiss spies camped. Belle wondered if they were still there or if they had already left to return to Lord Ismatan and tell him of their success.

They slowed their horses and Rett dismounted. His gaze froze into a blank mask when he turned toward where Manu Picca had been.

Belle pulled her horse to a stop and looked over her shoulder. The mountain wasn’t visible above the dust cloud that now reached into the clouds above it. The riders behind them still headed in their direction. She hung her head thinking of all the innocent people who died without ever knowing the reason for the tragedy. Why did evil people like Dr. Krakov have to exist? They always caused heartache for people who were just trying to lead normal lives.

“We need to hide,” Rett said. “I don’t trust anyone coming from that place.”

“Let’s see if Perron and his men are at the camp. We have to let them know.”

“All right, let’s go.” Rett started off, leading his and her father’s horse.

“Belle?”

She raised her head at her father’s voice and slid from her horse. “Are you okay?”

He nodded, still slumped over the horse’s neck, and mumbled, “Water.”