The First Sin

by Jessica Brawner

  Moving out of his light, I watched from across the room, not wanting to interfere. The Miter took shape under his pencil, illustrations with dimensions, and a surprising amount of detail.

  I sat taking in everything he said. The church was old, powerful, and from everything I had seen, corrupt. Perhaps not at the parish level, where priests cared for the poor and fed the hungry, trying to ease suffering where they could. At the higher levels, however, most leaders were interested in nothing but power.

  "So what would you say the value of the Miter is? In the unlikely scenario that the Vatican was trying to sell it, for example?" I asked, as thoughts whirled through my head.

  "Oh, given its age and historical relevance, for the right buyer, several hundred thousand gold I imagine. Though I don't know who would have that kind of money other than the Vatican or one of the royal houses. But would anyone dare purchase it and face the Church’s wrath?"

  "Merely a speculative question. Though, I imagine there are collectors out there who would love to get their hands on it."

  "Of a surety. Including several museums who are less than scrupulous about how they acquire their antiquities," Abraham replied, sketching quickly. When he was done, some minutes later, he stood up.

  “Thank you for this.” He held up the notebook with the sketches. “How do I contact you when I have the translation?”

  “Leave a message with the Airfield Master here and I will contact you.”

  “How long do you think it will take you to translate it?” I asked.

  "I’m not completely versed in ancient Aramaic. That will depend entirely on whether I can find anyone who speaks it or if I will have to rely on research." Abraham stood and stretched, massaging his shoulder. "I imagine it will take a few months at the least. Unless I happen to get very lucky. I wish you safe journey, Captain.”

  I wrapped the Miter quickly in its concealing cloth and put it back in my satchel, slipping out the door behind him.

  Onboard The Indiana I felt myself starting to yawn. It had been a long night. I sat at my desk and took out a small sewing kit and began stitching the lining back into the Miter. My eyes felt heavy and I kept nodding off over the fine work. As I sat there, mind fogged with tiredness, it came to me that it would be useful to hide one of David’s tracking devices in the lining. The trackers were hard to make and hard to power. I had one embedded in my elbow that allowed me to call The Inara to me if she was within range and allowed the crew to track my movements. It had proven very handy in the past. Unfortunately, I only knew of the one in my elbow that connected me with the ship and with my airhopper.

  The sun was just peeking over the horizon. I stopped by the galley and poured two strong mugs of coffee before knocking on the door to Marie’s quarters.

  She answered the door, hair charmingly disheveled, coveralls half on, and only half awake. I handed her the cup of coffee. “You are up early captain.”

  “I haven’t been to bed yet,” I replied. “Have you worked out how to build trackers like those David has provided us in the past?”

  “Non. Not yet,” she said, yawning. “He brought us a new one he wanted to test. Longer range, but we don’t know if it works yet.”

  “Okay. Can you show me?”

  “Of course. But David will be here soon. He can explain how it works much better than I can.” Without bothering to brush her hair, she led the way to her workshop, pulling up her coveralls as we walked.

  This device was smaller than the one David created for me. A lightweight, flat circular disk about the size of a doubloon. “It still has to be calibrated to the ship as well,” Marie said. “We were planning on doing that today.” I picked it up and marveled.

  “Oh, hello David! We were just discussing your tracker.”

  “Good morning Marie! Jac darling, I hadn’t expected to see you so early. Is everything okay?”

  I explained my idea about putting his tracker in the Miter. Marie nodded in agreement. “Oui, that makes a good deal of sense. A little extra security.”

  “David, mon chéri, what do you think? Would you be willing for us to use your creation in such a fashion?”

  He looked pensive, staring off into the distance. "You know I don’t like this business you are about, and I certainly don't like helping you to do it." He paused for a moment longer, shaking his head. "But it would be safer—for you, especially—to have a tracking device on that thing, at least until it is delivered. Jac, the things you do sometimes…" He growled in annoyance. “This has longer range than the one you currently have, three miles instead of one. Assuming it works of course. I haven’t tested it yet.”

  "Thank you for letting us use it at all," I replied, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.

  “I assume you will want to put it in as soon as possible, so I’d better calibrate it to The Indiana.” He reached for the device, plucking it from my open palm. “I’ll bring it to your cabin as soon as it’s ready.”

  I kissed his cheek again. “Thank you. You are marvelous.”

  David left to go upstairs. When he was down the hall Marie commented, “You have a good one there, Captain. I hope you realize how lucky you are.”

  “You are quite right Marie, and he deserves so much better than me,” I replied thinking about my late-night meeting with Abraham. Lying to David about involving Abraham in this venture was weighing heavily on me.

  “I know that look, Jac. What's bothering you?" David came in to my cabin, carrying the tracking device.

  “We’re being watched. It would be best if we left today.”

  David wrapped his arms around me, holding the tracking device up in front of my nose. “For you my dear. Fully calibrated.” I turned around within the circle of David's arms and kissed him. "I'm still sifting through the history lesson your friend gave. Fallen Angels? Really?"

  "It is an entertaining history to be sure. But you did ask, and he is well versed in Catholic theology and history." David bent his head down and kissed my forehead. "Just be safe, would you? I worry about you, you know."

  I stroked the side of his face, smiling up into his eyes. "As safe as I can be, mon chéri."

  We fell into each other's arms, his lips crushing against mine. Danger had its downsides, but it had its compensation as well. Just as I felt David's hands start to slide up under the edges of my shirt, Niccolò burst through my door.

  "Captain! Captain!" He slid to a stop in front of the two of us. "Captain! That Guard Captain from before." Looking back and forth from David to myself he stopped, stammered, and blushed furiously. "Um. Perhaps now is not a good time." He started to back out of the room.

  "Niccolò!" I said, more sharply than I intended. "If you thought it was important enough to come bursting in, then tell me what it is."

  He stopped backing up and took a deep breath, still red to the ears. "Captain. I saw the guard captain from the Vatican. He's here.” He took another deep breath. "I don't think he saw me. Or if he did, I don't think he recognized me, but he is headed this direction."

  I grimaced and untangled myself from David. "Thank you for bringing this to me so quickly."

  Niccolò stood up a little straighter, ignoring our disarranged clothing. "Yes, but it will take him a while to get here. The Airfield Master is walking with him."

  "Merde. Do you know where Tyler is?" I combed my fingers through my hair to straighten it. Turning to David, I said, "I'm sorry, mon chéri, it may be nothing, but I have to look into this."

  David smiled, hiding any annoyance. "We can pick this up again later."

  I gave him a quick kiss and followed Niccolò up on deck, slipping the tracking device into my pocket.

  Jacqueline

  Tyler was nowhere to be found, and Nina was out buying last minute supplies. I let Seamus know about the problem and kept an eye on Charles's progress with my spyglass. He did appear to be coming this way. The Airfield Master was waving his arms angrily and shouting at him.

  The Indiana's hull and pro
file design were not unique. The base ship model had been very popular two decades ago when ships moved from floating on the sea to floating above it. Unfortunately, because it was an older model ship in excellent repair it stood out, and the modifications we had made over the years, the grand poche holding multiple smaller balloons instead of the standard large balloon, the carved railings, the cargo platform at the base, gave it a subtly unique appearance.

  “Niccolò, help Seamus start preparing the ship for departure.” There was a speaking tube at the pilot’s station that led directly to the engine room. “Marie, are you down there?”

  “Oui, Captain.” Marie’s voice came floating out from the depths of the ship.

  “We’ve spotted the Captain of the Guard that boarded us on the way here. Prep the engines for departure.”

  His progress was slow. As he got closer, I could see he was checking off notes against a sheet of paper, and handing papers over to the Airfield Master.

  David came up on deck. "Who is this Charles? With as much attention as you are giving him I may have to be jealous," he said.

  I chuckled, my stomach still in knots. "Here, have a look. See the man in gold and blue? That would be Charles, Captain of the Swiss Guard. He will recognize me if he sees me, something I would like to avoid, and it appears our ship is his intended destination." My palms grew sweaty at the thought, but a part of me thrilled to the danger.

  My nerves jangled, and I paced the deck discarding one bad plan after another. We could leave without Nina and Tyler but I preferred not to if possible. Nina was a much better pilot that I or anyone else on board. When my pacing became too much for David's nerves he grabbed me. "Jac, stop it. Wearing a hole through the deck isn't going to solve anything."

  I growled in frustration. "Unless he is blind he is sure to find us out.”

  David held my shoulders firmly. "What exactly do you think he can do while you are in Port? They cannot come on board without the French authorities’ permission. And why would they even be looking for The Indiana, she was never in Rome."

  I cocked my head to one side and looked at David like he'd grown two heads, then planted a kiss on his lips. "You're partially right at least. Rome has no reason to suspect me in this. That doesn't mean he won't recognize the ship, or the crew. Tyler knows where to meet if we get separated. I’m afraid you will have to come with us though."

  “Seamus, Niccolò, Marie,” I called into the ship-wide communication tube. “Prepare for departure.” I strode to the pilot’s stand and began the un-tethering sequence. “David, please pull that lever on the clank to release the hull,” I directed, pointing at a large lever twice the length of his arm.

  The sounds of ‘Aye Captain’ came floating up through the tubes. I heard the rumble of the gas jets igniting as Marie pre-heated the balloons. “Henri, keep watch.” I shouted down into the hold. He scrambled up the ladder and grabbed my spyglass, standing with his back to the pilot’s station, within easy speaking range so he could keep me apprised of everything that passed.

  Niccolò and David were casting off the tether lines when Henri saw Tyler and Nina at the main gate of the airfield.

  “Merde. There is no way they’ll make it in time.” He muttered.

  I watched from the pilot’s deck at Charles’s angry, open mouthed expression as the clank opened its mandibles. He started running across the airfield shouting. I could hear ‘Stop!’ floating up on the breeze.

  I pulled the lever allowing helium to fill half the balloons. The ship rose, bumping on the edges of the docking clank. I winced and steadied the wheel. “He’s coming captain!” Henri said, with the spyglass trained on Charles. Glancing over the railing I saw Charles sprinting up the stairway that connected the ship to the ground.

  Niccolò and David untethered the remaining lines with a shout, and Marie gave me the all clear for full burn on the engine. I pulled the release allowing the flame jets to super heat the air in the remaining balloons. The ship rose straight up, and I turned the bow west, maneuvering over the tops of the docked airships. Henri relayed that Charles was sprinting back across the airfield for his own ship. I smiled. We would be gone before they could heat their engines.

  Henri found Nina and Tyler again. “They’re leaving, captain. What’s the rendezvous point?”

  “Aubagne. Let’s hope they can make it by tomorrow evening. It’s twenty miles or more. Keep an eye for Charles’s ship.”

  Charles

  Fumingly angry, Charles sprinted back across the airfield to the Blue Raven, shouting for his crew to prepare for takeoff. He had just received a writ from the mayor of Marseille allowing him to board The Indiana, and the dammed Airfield Master had delayed him just enough to let the ship slip through his fingers again.

  To hell with bureaucracy, he thought, as he took the stairs up to the boarding platform two at a time. Next time I’m just going to board the ship and let Rome deal with it later.

  By the time he arrived on deck, the crew had everything prepared. He gave the order to take off. The Indiana was already far ahead of them and heading out across the ocean.

  Jacqueline

  Iguided the ship west, out over the ocean, and then south until we rounded the peninsula. When nothing but trees and mountains were visible, I turned the ship east toward the valley where Aubagne sat, nestled among a ring of mountain peaks. We had a small head start, and I hoped we could lose the inevitable pursuit in the mountains. Navigating an airship through mountains took special skill. The higher peaks created their own weather that made airship travel dangerous and unpredictable. Updrafts buffeted the ship, causing the deck to sway and jump under foot, and the darkness of night came swiftly, hiding us from our pursuit. We reached the Aubagne valley well after dark and rather than attempt to dock at the small airfield, we set the air anchor, hovering over a small alpine lake above the town. We left the lanterns unlit, and blacked out all of the portholes to hide us through the night.

  David was down in Marie's workshop flirting and discussing possible ship upgrades. Seamus and Niccolò were in the common room, huddled over a crate with a tiny lantern. Seamus was teaching Niccolò to play a card game that looked familiar. After checking over the ship, I relieved Henri and took the next watch. Most of the crew didn’t like the late-night watch, but I found it an excellent time to think without distraction.

  I didn’t like leaving Tyler and Nina in Marseille, but I wasn’t too concerned. The bookstore at Aubagne was one of our rendezvous points if we got separated. We had set locations in a variety of different regions. Aubagne was however the nearest small city to Marseille – even if we hadn’t lost our pursuers in the mountains, it was likely that Charles or one of his Lieutenants would come this direction. I decided we would leave the ship anchored here, out of sight, and take the airhoppers into town in the morning.

  “David, darling. Are you certain you don’t want to simply stay here in Aubagne and make your way back to Paris from here? It’s terribly dangerous for you to stay on-board with us…” I trailed off, watching his face.

  “Jacqueline.” He shook his head. “I’m not made of glass. I’ll stay onboard and help Marie with a few things while you go find Tyler and Nina.” He smiled. “I’m half afraid that if I went with you to town, you’d find a way to take off without me just to keep me safe. I was disreputable long before you knew me, and though I’ve mended my ways… mostly. I can still take care of myself.”

  “Fine then. I shall rely on your disreputable nature to keep you out of trouble,” I replied, laughing. If David was not inclined to leave, then I wouldn’t make him. One of the harder lessons I had learned when we met was that he was his own man and would do as he pleased.

  Petri’s bookstore was a few blocks from the airfield, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I landed The Inara next to a hay manger on a farm just outside the city wall and paid the farmer a few coins to let me leave her there for the day.

  The streets of Aubagne were charming, shopkeepers sweeping
their stoop, the baker setting out fresh bread and pastries on his counter, a small market with vendors setting up stalls of ribbons, and pies, and hardware, a clock-smith taking advantage of the morning light, focused intently on repairing an open clock, an oculus held in one eye.

  The dim interior of the bookshop was welcoming. I had a small library, but there wasn't much room to store books on the airship. It was one of the few things I missed about the estate. My father had loved books, and my sister and I had been encouraged to read and study despite our sex. We were educated much more in line with the way male heirs were treated, and I cherished my father’s memory for that, as well as so many other things. I missed my father and sister – both dead in an untimely fashion. I couldn’t prove that my sister’s death had been foul play. My father had tried and had, himself, disappeared.

  A bell jangled when I opened the door to the bookshop, and a petite, birdlike man popped his head up from behind the counter.

  "Monsieur Petri, it is so good to see you again." I smiled, and a grin split his face.

  "Jacqueline! It's been too long. Are you here on business or pleasure this visit?" he asked, holding up a book in each hand.

  Monsieur Petri and I had known each other for a very long time. He only knew me as the Contessa and had always treated me as an adored grandchild. "A bit of both, thought I came down mainly for the pleasure of your company," I replied lightly.

  He smiled warmly. "You do know how to flatter an old man. I have some lovely new fiction that I think you will adore, and several biographies have recently come in as well."

  Nothing at this bookstore ever seemed to change. My father had introduced me to Monsieur Petri when I was young, bringing me to the bookstore on a family holiday. I found out in later years that many of the books in the estate library had come from this shop, and that the two men had carried on a great deal of correspondence. Monsieur Petri was always finding new books and always had excellent recommendations. He handed over one of the two books he was holding. As I flipped through it, I said, "I need a book or two on the city of Rome and the Vatican. I’m interested in the architecture of the Vatican in particular, and a history of the city, and the church there."