The Firebird Mystery (19 page)

Lucy clenched her fists. ‘They have no right to keep us locked up in here!'

‘I suppose they are still trying to get everyone aboard,' Scarlet said.

‘How can they?' Lucy asked. ‘There are thousands of people inside the tower. We need to leave while we can.'

Mr Doyle entered the cabin. ‘We should be departing in the next few minutes.'

‘What about the people on the tower?' Scarlet inquired.

‘The Nazis have been chased off by a fleet of French airships. They've done some damage, but it appears the tower is not about to fall,' he said. ‘As a precaution, everyone under the point of impact is being evacuated to lower levels. Anyone above is moving to the top.'

‘Why did the Germans attack?' Jack asked.

Mr Doyle gave him a nod. ‘That's a good question, my boy.' He sat on a bunk. ‘General Churchill believes their targets were Mr Bell and Mr Harker.'

‘Because they know how to find the bombs?' Lucy asked.

‘Yes. And they know how to defuse them.'

‘So where is the
Jeanne d'Arc
heading?' Scarlet asked.

‘We're going into battle,' Mr Doyle said. ‘The assault on the Paris Metrotower has forced our hand. We will be attacking the Berlin tower within the hour. A coalition of countries will make a simultaneous ground invasion into Germany.'

‘Which countries?' Jack asked.

‘Many of our allies are involved,' Mr Doyle explained. ‘The Prime Minister is asking world leaders for assistance. So we have troops from Spain, France, Holland and Russia. Australia may even send troops.'

It's war
, Jack thought.
How horrible.

‘I wonder what Germany will make of all this,' Lucy said.

‘The allied troops will use minimum force, unless provoked,' Mr Doyle explained. ‘Most of the German people are outraged that the Nazis have taken control without elections. Many of their troops are refusing to fight. Others have taken to fighting each other. We expect to reach the Berlin Metrotower with little opposition.'

‘So our job is to attack the top while the land troops attack the base,' Jack said.

‘Very astute,' Mr Doyle congratulated him. ‘The military men are hoping to catch the Germans in a pincer movement and seize the bombs.'

A bell rang.

‘It sounds like we're departing,' Mr Doyle said.

Jack went to the window. ‘There's still a line of people.'

‘Other ships are arriving to take on passengers.'

Mr Doyle was right. A fleet of steamers had assembled to evacuate the Paris tower.

‘And this is all because of those bombs,' Jack said. ‘What a lot of bother over a couple of weapons.'

‘Those weapons mean power,' Lucy said. ‘Absolute power.'

‘Well, you know what they say about absolute power,' Mr Doyle said. ‘It corrupts absolutely.'

Another bell rang out. The entire vessel shook as it surged away from the dry dock. Jack peered out the window. The tower arrowed down to the planet like an iron needle stabbing the earth. Smoke poured from a point midway.

‘I can see where the airships attacked,' he said.

The others grouped about the porthole.

‘It's more a bee sting than an assault,' Lucy said.

Another alarm signalled.

‘What now?' Mr Doyle wondered. He opened the door to the corridor and grabbed a passing sailor. ‘What's the meaning of that alarm?'

‘That's general quarters,' the sailor yelled. ‘It means we're about to attack.'

‘Already?'

The sailor raced along the passage, shouting over his shoulder, ‘The German steamer
Bismarck
is on its way. It's brought the war to us.'

He disappeared from sight. Mr Doyle turned to the others. ‘It seems all hell is about to break loose. I suggest we make our way to the main lounge.'

They started from the chamber. As they headed out, Jack saw a metal shutter dropping over the window.

‘They're closing all windows,' Mr Doyle explained. ‘To shield us from cannon fire.'

Jack and the others headed down a corridor and took stairs to the upper decks. Two floors up, they turned along a passage and entered a hall with tables and chairs bolted to the floor, an open galley at the other end. A group of passengers was seated at the tables. An elderly lady clutched her handkerchief while a tall fellow with a long white beard stood gripping a chair.

‘I demand you turn this vessel around,' he said.

Jack heard the kitchen hand offer his apologies.

‘Do you know who I am?' the stranger demanded. ‘I'm Charles Hogan the Third. I earn more in a day than you do in a year.'

Scarlet pushed past Jack. ‘I understand you're not happy,' she said to Mr Hogan.

‘I am most displeased,' Hogan replied.

She waved a finger at him. ‘I'll have you know there are fighting men and women aboard this ship willing to sacrifice their lives for our country!' she snapped. ‘And they don't need complaining old men like you.'

‘How dare you!' Hogan said, his face turning red.

‘She dares very much,' Mr Doyle said, joining her. ‘The young lady is correct. We must stand together, now more than ever.'

An enormous boom rang out. Hogan went pale. ‘What was that?'

‘I believe we have opened fire,' Mr Doyle said.

The shooting increased. Some ladies at the tables covered their ears in terror. Mr Doyle took the frail Charles Hogan by the arm and steered him back over to them. A series of thuds from the hull echoed through the vessel. They sat down quickly.

‘I imagine the Germans are returning fire,' Mr Doyle said.

It's like being in a tomb
, Jack thought.
A huge, metal coffin.

Once, when he was very young, he and his parents had gone wandering through an old cemetery. They had happened upon an ancient mausoleum. Someone had broken the lock on the door. Out of curiosity, they had followed the staircase to the crypt below. There had been nothing to see as the coffins were sealed behind walls, but while they were there a storm blew up. Jack had stood between his parents, each holding one of his hands as they stared out at the tempest. Lightning had flashed as thunder echoed around the damp chamber.

That's what the cannon fire sounded like now.

The battle raged. The
Jeanne d'Arc
fired and there was the resounding thud of the
Bismarck
's cannonballs striking the hull. Lucy, Scarlet and Jack exchanged glances. ‘We'll be fine,' Mr Doyle said. ‘I've been through much worse in the war.'

The ship swayed and the globes on the gaslights trembled. A glass smashed in the galley. A lady started to weep. The steamer gave a lurch, and another lady fell to the ground. Jack leapt to his feet and hurried over. The vessel tilted, and he grabbed her arm, helping her back into her seat. Several of the women now wept in terror. Old Mr Hogan's face had turned pale.

Mr Doyle clenched his jaw. ‘The
Jeanne d'Arc
is the pride of the French fleet. A masterpiece of construction.'

An explosion came from below decks, almost as if to undermine his words. The vessel tilted to one side. People screamed. Pots and pans flew across the galley and plates smashed everywhere. A woman prayed. Half the lights went out in the kitchen. Jack felt a sudden surge of terror as he imagined the
Jeanne d'Arc
being ripped apart and he and the others spilling into the unforgiving night of space.

Bazookas
, he thought.
This might be the end.

The sound of footsteps echoed across the floor. Jack spun about to see Major Evans hurrying through the dining room.

‘Excuse me, Major,' Mr Doyle called to him. ‘Do you require assistance?'

‘Ah, Doyle,' the major responded. ‘Good chap. I'm afraid the main boiler's exploded and we need every man available.'

‘I'll come,' Jack responded.

‘We'll come too,' Lucy said.

‘These passengers need your assistance.' Mr Doyle indicated the other group. ‘It's best you remain here.'

‘Of course,' Scarlet said.

The major led them along a hall and down several flights of stairs. The temperature increased as they passed through doors on the lower level, and within seconds Jack was lathered in sweat. He should have left his green coat behind. Checking his pockets, he made certain he still had the picture of his parents and the compass. At least they hadn't been lost in the confusion.

Another set of doors opened on to the main engine room. The heat smothered them like a wave. For a few moments Jack could not breathe. Smoke and steam were everywhere. Someone cried out in pain. A few men lay to one side, burned and unable to move.

Major Evans grabbed a passing engineer. The man's face and white overalls were covered in grease and coal dust. A trickle of blood ran across his cheek.

‘Monsieur Dubois,' he said. ‘I've got a couple of volunteers. How can they help?'

‘We need the injured transported to the infirmary,' Dubois replied. ‘That's up on the next level.'

‘You heard the man,' Evans said to Jack and Mr Doyle. ‘There are stretchers set into the walls.'

Mr Doyle took a stretcher and laid it next to the nearest victim. He instructed Jack to grab the man's feet as he lifted his shoulders. Jack tried not to look at the sailor. His face was badly burnt and his breathing laboured.

They lifted the stretcher and carried him up to the medical bay. The chamber was filled with injured men, crying out and moaning. Mr Doyle queried a doctor as to where to place the casualty.

‘Wherever you can fit him,' the doctor said and continued working.

Jack and Mr Doyle carried another half-a-dozen men to the hospital. There was constant thudding of cannon fire as the
Jeanne d'Arc
traded blows with the enemy. Just as they delivered the last man, the vessel gave an almighty heave and alarms rang throughout the ship.

‘That sounds rather ominous,' Mr Doyle said.

Churchill and a team of officers came barrelling down the stairs. The Englishman introduced Captain Girard and his Commanding Officer DePaul.

‘What's happening?' the detective inquired.

‘The bridge has just decompressed,' the general explained. ‘We're moving to the auxiliary bridge at the bow.'

Mr Doyle and Jack joined the group, and soon found themselves in a small chamber in complete darkness. An officer activated a lamp and the yellow glow of gaslight filled the room. Another soldier pulled a lever and the wall before them slid across, revealing the stars. The edge of the German vessel drifted into view. It was listing in space, but still firing cannonballs at them.

‘We can't take much more of this,' DePaul said.

‘Bring her around so we're firing directly into their aft side,' the Captain ordered.

DePaul relayed the order into a speaking tube.

‘The engine room is responding, but she'll be sluggish,' he said.

‘I'll take what I can get,' the Captain replied.

A blast, the biggest yet, jarred the ship and everyone was thrown sideways except Girard, who hung on to the console. As they scrambled to their feet, the Commanding Officer yelled, ‘One more hit and we're done for!'

‘The game's not over yet,' Captain Girard pointed. ‘Look!'

Another vessel filled the viewing screen. Jack saw a flag emblazoned on the side.

‘It's one of ours!' Jack cried out. ‘It's British!'

‘It's the
Wellington
!' Churchill yelled. ‘That'll show those Nazis who's in charge!'

The steamer came about and positioned itself between the
Jeanne d'Arc
and the
Bismarck
. It was impossible to hear what was happening, though Jack assumed a great battle was in progress.

‘Now's our chance, Captain,' General Churchill said.

‘What are you suggesting, monsieur?'

‘If we dock with the Berlin Metrotower now we may still be able to track down the bombs.'

‘My first allegiance is to the safety of this ship,' the Captain declared. ‘Are these weapons so important?'

‘I assure you, Captain, they are.' Winston Churchill shook his jowls. ‘The planet is doomed if the Nazis unlock their secrets.'

Girard nodded. ‘We will do as you say, but I cannot guarantee the outcome.' Churchill thanked him.

The Captain ordered the
Jeanne d'Arc
to approach the Berlin Metrotower. As they drew close, he arranged for a small fighter craft to deploy from the rear of their vessel. Major Evans joined the landing craft. Jack saw it chug toward the towers and dock. The
Jeanne d'Arc
slowed. Men scrambled from the fighter and swarmed over the outside of the tower like ants over a nest.

At last, a sailor wearing a space suit waved a green flag from high up on the tower.

DePaul peered through his binoculars. ‘That's our signal,
mon capitaine
. They've found an entry point.'

‘Bring us in,' Girard commanded.

The
Jeanne d'Arc
slid into docking position. Major Evans returned and announced he would form a search party. He and General Churchill accepted Mr Doyle and Jack's offer to accompany the group. As they made their way to the docking exit, the major turned to the detective.

‘It seems all is not well within the German ranks,' he said. ‘There is enormous outrage at the Nazis' actions. Much of Germany is in rebellion.'

‘Will we encounter opposition on the station?' Mr Doyle asked.

‘I don't believe so,' the major replied. ‘We should remain vigilant, but many of their personnel are surrendering without a fight.'

They arrived at the docking bay where they encountered Mr Harker and Mr Bell.

‘Thank God you escaped the Paris tower!' Mr Bell cried. ‘The good Major would not allow us to check on your wellbeing.'