Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) (7 page)

He turned to Sam and his friend’s expression indicated he had detected the signs as well. “Stoke up the engine, mate. We need to beat this storm to Eagle’s Peak.”

Sam nodded and drained his cup of coffee, then opened the hatch and climbed down into the engine room. The shovel crunched into the coal as Sam added more to the burner and a rush of hot air wafted up when he opened the hopper.

Rett eased the throttle forward to increase the speed of the fans. Wind rushed past him and he spread his feet to maintain his balance.

Sam stomped back up the steps and closed the hatch. “All right then. We’re good for half an hour at this speed.”

“That’ll do.” Rett nodded, his eyes focused on the sky before them and hands clamped on the wheel. “Hang on, it’s going to be a rough ride.”

Chapter 4

It had been three years since Belle had been to Cross Roads. She eagerly joined Benji at the rail to view the sights as they approached the large city. Poor Jasper fought a bout of airsickness in his berth and hadn’t peeked his head out in over an hour.

The beams of large gas-lit skylights circled in the air as they approached the aeroport. As predicted by Captain Joe, they had reached the gateway to the east by midnight. Other than the gas lights, only the moon provided any illumination, and right now that was covered by a thick bank of clouds.

Stretched out beneath them glowed lights of houses and businesses in the busy city. Even at midnight a place of such convergence stayed active with carriages, steam carts and people moving about on the streets.

Fantasy Flyer
soared gracefully through the air only a few hundred feet above the ground as they approached the aeroport. Captain Joe had already sent a flyer pigeon forward to the control tower announcing their intention to land and awaited their reply.

“How long will we be on the g, g, ground?” Benji asked.

“Not long. We’ll take on coal, that’s all we need according to the captain. He hopes to make Eagle’s Peak by morning so we can cross the Kaspan Mountains in daylight.”

A flutter of dark gray streaked by them and Arabella turned as the flyer pigeon returned to its perch beside the piloting station. Captain Joe reached it and removed the paper from the tiny leather pack on its back. He read the note and then motioned to his pilot to proceed as he made his way down the steps to the main deck.

“We’ll be on the ground in a few minutes.” He flipped up his goggles as he approached Belle and Benji. “Then we can put on coal and be out in less than an hour. Shouldn’t be too many ships ahead of us at this time of night.”

“Is there anything we c, c, can see while we’re here?” Benji asked.

“Best not leave the main building, young Master Benji. There won’t be enough time. But there are lots of venders there with items that may interest you.” The captain gave an indulgent laugh. Belle could tell he’d taken a liking to the inquisitive young man already and had even allowed him a few minutes at the wheel.

“Zounds, that will b, b, be brilliant,” Benji said.

Belle eyed him with misgiving. With all the best intentions in the world, Benji could wander off if he saw something in the distance that interested him. She made a vow to keep him close by her side.

“Go down and tell Jasper we’re almost there. Being off the ship might make him feel better and we can look for airsickness remedies at the aeroport,” she said.

He hurried away and Belle glanced at the captain. “He does have a tendency to wander.”

Captain Joe chuckled. “Don’t worry, My Lady. I’ll help keep an eye on him. He’s a bright one, he is. Reminds me of myself at that age. Always asking questions till my Pa would swat my ears.”

She smiled imagining anyone swatting Captain Joe’s ears. Then one of the crew called out to the captain that they were about to land and he touched the brim of his helmet to her and went back up to the piloting station.

They had descended quite a bit while talking and the deck hands rushed to their stations and tossed out the long heavy ropes that would be used to anchor them to the ground. Ahead, a group of ground workers waited with long handled hooks, ready to grab the ropes and haul the airship to the docking area. Their forward momentum slowed and the captain called for reverse to stop them in place. The landing crew ran the four lines through heavy iron pulleys in the ground and hauled on the lines.
Fantasy Flyer
slowly settled.

Benji returned with the news that Jasper would attend My Lady in a few moments after making himself presentable and would dearly love to find an airsickness remedy. Then the boy leaned over the rail to admire the docking procedures.

As soon as the tethers were secure, the captain escorted his guests down the gangplank to the outside.

“Take that walkway to the main building and be back here in no more than half an hour,” he said pointing to a stone paved path at the side of the tarmac. “I’ll be getting the coal on board and filing flight plans to Eagle’s Peak.”

“Very well, Captain. We’ll be sure to return in ample time,” Belle assured him.

Jasper emerged from the ship, and despite a slightly green cast to his skin, had a spring in his step and an eager expression as he hit solid ground.

“All right let’s go. I want to look for some distance viewers while we’re here.” Belle started off for the path with Benji and Jasper trailing along behind.

Inside the main building, Belle couldn’t imagine it being any more active had it been the middle of the day. Large gas-lit chandeliers hung from the high ceiling casting a bright glow over the floor. Colorful vender stalls lined the walls in one section and in another area, booths advertised charters, scheduled passenger flights on the big commercial airship company ships, travel planning, foreign banks, and any other service a traveler might need. Food stalls and carts sent up a curious mixture of aromas -- spicy and exotic as there were foods from almost every country represented. People milled around in all the areas taking advantage of a break in their journeys.

They skipped the commercial flight booths and stopped to purchase some peanut encrusted chicken kabobs on bamboo skewers that enticed Belle. While they nibbled on these they strolled through the stalls finding everything from books to guns for sale. It had the flavor of an eastern bazaar with venders calling out to the travelers to sample products or warn them they would not see their particular item at the next port of call.

Belle gravitated to a booth with telescopes as well as more elaborate viewers sprouting all sorts of lenses and attachments. She selected a pair of brass distance viewers with a moderate amount of lenses that would fit in her pocket and purchased them. Benji studied firearms at the booth beside her.

“I say, Belle, I think I should have a p, p, pistol given the danger we might face.” He picked up a slender weapon with a bronze barrel and polished wooden handle.

“Hmm, I don’t believe a pistol would be as useful as a knife.” She tried to divert his attention. No doubt the captain would be very unhappy if Benji began target practice from the gondola during their journey. She strolled on to a booth displaying a wide variety of knives and swords.

He followed her and the owner of the stall produced a weapon and presented it to Benji with a flourish. The tall, olive skinned man had a round, brimless hat on his head and wore long white robes. No doubt a resident of Pandistan. The knife he held had a straight silver blade and looked like something made in mass quantities for the tourist trade. The handle was elaborately carved wood, painted gold—flashy rather than functional.

Benji took the knife and hefted it in his hand, his expression showing he understood this was a cheap reproduction of the traditional Pandistani tribal knives. He handed it back to the man and shook his head.

“Ah, I see the young master knows his weapons.” The stall owner laid the weapon on the table and his eyes shifted to Belle and back to Benji. “If I may ask, where is the young master headed? That will help me chose a worthy weapon.”

“We’re going t, t, to Carabarras,” Benji said, tilting his head to one side as he studied the knife seller.

“Then I suggest a blood dagger.” The man nodded. He reached under his display and pulled out a slim leather box about a foot long. The black leather was well worn and adorned with a heavily engraved brass lock in the shape of a lion’s head. The mouth of the lion held the key hole. The vender produced a skeleton key on a chain and handed the box and the key to Benji.

Belle took a step closer. The worn leather and the craftsmanship of the lock proclaimed it the work of an artisan, and quite old. Benji looked to her and she nodded, eager to see the weapon as well. From the confident look of the owner of the booth, he had recognized someone with money as well as knowledge. No doubt he felt he could get a decent price for this more authentic weapon from them.

Benji took the box in one hand and the key in the other and inserted the key in the lion’s mouth. He turned it until the mechanism clicked and the head slid upward revealing a lever beneath. He pulled the small lever back and the clasp fell open so he could lift the lid. Inside, on a bed of faded black velvet, lay a bronze handled dagger in a scabbard of red stained leather. A red cabochon stone was embedded in center of the hilt. Benji lifted the knife from the box and gripped the bronze handle in his hand, withdrawing the blade from the leather sheath.

Belle let out the breath she held as Benji lifted the weapon. It was steel, honed to a sharp edge, thin and deadly. The blade of a warrior.

“Where did you g, g, get this?” Benji asked as he twisted it to catch the light of the gas lamps, his eyes wide.

The shop owner leaned forward. “It belonged to a tribal chief. It is a blood blade given when a young man comes of age. To make it yours you must cut yourself and smear the blood on the blade and then name it. That will make it yours and obey only your will,” he said in a lowered voice.

Benji turned to Belle with a look of such entreaty she knew she would have to purchase the dagger. She turned to the owner. From his smile, he knew it also.

“How much?” she asked.

“If it please the lady, two hundred in gold,” the man said with a slight bow of his head.

Benji gasped at the price. But Belle knew bargaining was part of the Pandistani culture. She would have this dagger, but she had to play the game.

She smiled at her young friend. “I’m sorry Benji, but this man is trying to steal from us. That blade is clearly worth no more than fifty in gold.”

Benji cast a longing look at the weapon but sadly handed it back to the owner.

“Come along, we’ll see if there is anything else here. You can always get a knife when we get to Carabarras.” She took his arm in her hand and began to pull him away.

“My Lady, is very shrewd. Perhaps the price is a little high. But surely you can tell that this is a quality blade.” He held it up and allowed the lights to play off the polished surface. “And did you notice the ruby in the hilt? It’s genuine I assure you. Mined in the Matahala Desert by the Wanderers. Perhaps one-fifty in gold?”

Belle took the dagger in her hand and inspected it closely. “It is clearly a fine blade, but I fear I cannot give more than one hundred in gold for it.”

She handed it back to the owner and he placed it in the sheath and laid it on top of the leather box. Benji looked back and forth between them.

“Your ladyship is clearly an experienced negotiator. I can take one-twenty in gold and not a coin less.”

“One-ten,” Belle said facing him and meeting his stare.

“One- fifteen, if it please the lady and we shall have a deal,” he replied.

“Done.” She reached in her pocket and extracted the gold slips and counted them out in the happy man’s hand.

“A pleasure to do business with such an intelligent woman. Please allow me to present you with this bracelet as a token of my appreciation of this encounter.” He held out a copper bangle with carved lions running around it.

Belle accepted the token, knowing it was customary to give a small gift along with a large purchase. She slipped it on her arm and gave him a satisfied nod.

Benji tucked the leather box beneath one arm, his face wreathed in smiles. Jasper walked up then and told them he had found some ginger pills guaranteed to end his airsickness.

“Then we should hasten back to the ship. Our time is about up.” She herded the men to the door that led to the docking area.

When they arrived at the ship, the captain hurried up to her.

“My Lady, I have some important news,” he said. “The
Blackwatch
left just a couple hours ago. I talked to the coal monger and he said one of the crew let slip that in fact their final destination was Carabarras.”

“Indeed?” Belle’s heart flooded with excitement. They were on the right track. Her father was only a few hours ahead of them. If they could keep up, they would surely find a way to rescue him once they reached Carabarras. “That’s very good news, Captain. Do you know where they will stop next? Is there any chance we can catch up and have an opportunity to rescue my father before they reach Carabarras?”

Captain Joe shook his head and looked down. “I doubt that will be possible, My Lady. They are too far ahead of us and according to the flight planner here they will skip the stop at Eagle’s Peak and go directly to Harruca.”

“Isn’t that stretching their resources a bit?” Jasper frowned. “They might run out of coal.”

“Yes, but whoever is behind this kidnapping is driving Wildeye Perry hard to get their prisoner to Carabarras. There is also news of a storm heading this way from the southwest. They are far enough ahead to risk passing the stop in Eagle’s Peak. But unfortunately, we will not be.”

A sinking feeling invaded Belle’s stomach.

“Will we make it t, t, to Eagle’s Peak before the storm?” Benji asked.

“We need to leave at once,” Captain Joe said. “The coal is loaded and we’re ready.”

Arabella nodded and motioned for Benji and Jasper to head into the gondola.

In a matter of minutes, the airship rose from the docking area with the crew running around the deck, pulling in lines, and securing them. The captain and pilot stood on the aft deck working on the controls to get the heavy ship in the air and along the path to Eagle’s Peak as quickly as possible.