The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures)

by Giles

  “Aye Captain.” Gus deReuter answered.

  When Jerard did not hear an answer from Dortsmorn he looked up. The man was standing and blankly staring off into space. Mr. Wright was standing beside Dortsmorn and elbowed him in the ribs. Jerard asked, “Mr. Dortsman, are you well? Did you understand my orders?”

  Dortsmorn seemed to snap out of whatever fog he was in and came to attention. “Yes Sir!”

  Jerard spared him another look before going back to his roster. “Mr. D'Arcey, you are the senior officer for the auxiliary bridge and engine room. I am assigning Messrs Wright, Collins and Adams to you.

  D’Arcey came to attention and saluted. “Oui Captain.”

  Phillips returned the salute with a smile. He turned to Mr. Wallace and said, “And last but not least, Mr. Wallace you will have bridge watch.

  Wallace too snapped to attention and offered a smart salute. “Aye, aye, Captain, SIR!” He then grinned from ear to ear.

  Jerard could not find anything wrong with the salute but he had the sneaking feeling he had just fallen victim to a little Scottish mockery. He raised an eyebrow at the young man but did not comment, instead he continued addressing the room. “That’s it gentlemen, are there any questions or comments?”

  “Sir, if I may?”

  “Yes Mr. Wright?”

  “Well Sir I was thinking...I mean...” Wright ducked his head shyly.

  “Go on Sir.”

  “I was thinking that any threat would come from the outside of the ship. And maybe it would be a good idea if Mr. Dortsmorn and I did a sort of patrol around the ship. I mean Sir...I think Mr. Landover should stay on the door Sir but maybe...I mean any threat would come from the outside right?” Wright trailed off and ducked his head again.

  “A very good point Sir. Hm...” Jerard trailed off and looked at the duty sheet to give himself a moment to think. It was a good point but there was no way he would trust those two out of sight of a senior officer. He honestly did not think that Dortsmorn would notice a fly landing on his own face and Wright was acting a little too shy. His previous observations of the man had given him the impression that he was a bit of a bully; particularly in the way he ordered Dortsmorn around. Jerard glanced up and caught the expressions on Adams’ and Collins’ faces, their frowns seemed to reflect his own feelings so he made a decision.

  “That is a very good idea Mr. Wright but I believe I will assign Mr. Randal to that task. Mr. Dortsmorn is needed to assist Mr. deReuter as they will doing a preflight check of the gas bags. Also Mr. Wright I believe Mr. D'Arcey will have you on the task of checking and balancing the pressure gauges, is this not your area of expertise Sir?”

  “Yes Sir.”

  “All right. Any more questions?” Jerard looked over his crew and when no one answered. “Good let’s get going gentlemen. Dismissed except for Messrs Randal and Landover we need to work out a patrol pattern. Oh and Messrs Adams and Collins, I need a word with you as well.”

  When the others had filed out Jerard turned to Fred Randal. “Sir, I would like for you to take a stroll. I am not really expecting any trouble out there but I want you to use your gift of gab. Chat up any crewmen you see out there, especially any German ones. See if there is anything odd going on. All should be quiet as I expect the dignitaries are all attending the opera. Let’s see who is on all of these ships and if they are expecting any more passengers, if you take my meaning.”

  Fred winked. “Oh I think I can manage that Captain. But I might be needin’ one o’ those fine cigars you occasionally smoke, you know, to have as a reason to be walkin’ about.”

  Jerard rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Very well Mr. Randal.” Jerard mock frowned at Fred. “Oh and Fred, this is not a bribe to do your job, it is a disguise and I do know how many are in that box.” He tossed his cabin key to the grinning man.

  Fred caught the key and with a jaunty “Aye, aye, Captain” he was off.

  Jerard turned to the Landover brothers. “Sirs, please try to keep each other and Fred in sight at all times. I have been warned that there may be trouble but I honestly do not know which direction it will come from. Ah Jeremy, I don’t expect you to necessarily be standing at the door at all times. I ask that you do what you do best. Besides, a cigar out in the night air sounds like a good idea, I think I may be standing at the door for a bit myself.” Since Jerard had met the Landovers he had been glad to have professional military men on board. But he never thought he would be in a position to use them in their trained professional capacity.

  “Understood Captain.” Jeremy Landover said.

  “Yes Captain.” Roger Landover said.

  “Excellent, you are dismissed gentlemen.”

  Jerard then turned to the helmsman. “Mr. Wallace Sir, please catch up with Mr. Randal and have him bring me a cigar as well and fetch up a cup of tea for us both, I am thinking we will need it.”

  “I’m thinkin’ you’re right Captain, I’ll be right back Sir.”

  Jerard waited a few moments until he was sure that Wallace was well away. “Now, Airshipmen Adams, Collins, I had observed several meaningful looks passing between you and several frowns. I would know the meaning of these. Please speak freely, we are alone.”

  Another of those looks was exchanged between the two men before Airshipman Adams spoke up. “Sir, Mr. Collins and I would like to report some strange and unusual behavior.”

  “Proceed Sir.” Jerard said calmly, trying to damp down his curiosity.

  “It’s Wright and Dortsman Sir.” Mr. Adams began. He shifted nervously before continuing. “I think I understand about Dortsman. Mac says he is probably one o’ them savants. Meaning he’s brilliant at one thing but an idiot about everything else.”

  Jerard looked thoughtfully at Adams. “Yes, I have heard the term before. And Mac’s right it would explain his odd behavior. So what you are saying Sir is that you are uncomfortable working with him?”

  “Yes Sir...I mean no Sir. Dortsman’s all right Sir. You should see him with the engines, he knows everything there is to know about those Wolseleys. In fact he’s made a couple of improvements since he’s been here. He gets in there with them big machines and it’s like they’re his babies. He talks to them and sometimes Captain...” Adams hesitated, “I would swear they were talking back to him. That’s just how good he is Sir.”

  “What Mr. Adams is tryin’ ta’ say Capt'n is that it’s Wright we don’t like.”

  “Yeah Captain,” Adams interjected. “He’s always being mean to the old man. Always pushing him around and tellin’ him to shut up. When Wright’s around you can’t hardly even talk to Mr. Dortsman.”

  “Wait a minute, you said ‘old man’. Are you talking about Mr. Dortsman or someone else?”

  “Ed, Mr. Dortsman Sir.”

  “Oh, I didn’t think he was that old.”

  Collins and Adams both nodded but Adams spoke up. “I figure he’s near sixty Sir. He moves like an older gent, I thought it was ‘cause he was an idiot but Mac says no, he agrees that Dortsman is a lot older than he looks.

  “It sounds like you and Mr. McPherson have had several conversations about Mr. Dortsman.”

  “We have Sir. One day when Ed seemed sick I went to fetch Mac to have a look at him. Mr. Wright made us both go away and wouldn’t let Mac see him. He kept sayin’ that Dortsman was his responsibility and he would take care of him. Locked the cabin door he did. So Mac, Collins and I have been keeping an eye on both of them ever since.”

  “I see and why was I never told about this?”

  “Well Captain, there honestly aint really anything to tell. It’s just odd Sir.”

  “I told Mr. Nichols about Wright Sir.” Collins said.

  “What about Wright?”

  “He don’t know nothin’...no, that’s not right, what I mean Sir, is that he can’t do anything. He knows plenty. I swear Sir, his first day on the ship I saw Ed showin’ ‘im how ta hold a spanner. He’s s’posed to be an engineer, what kind o’ engineer don’t
know how to actually work on an engine, it aint all book learning Sir.” Collins said and he crossed his arms over his chest as if he were daring Jerard to argue.

  “And he’s always slinking around Sir.” Adams interjected. “Seems like you can always find him standing just around a corner like he’s listening to your conversation. But that’s not all Sir. I was gonna report this to Mr. Nichols when he got back but I think I should tell you now Sir.”

  When Adams hesitated Jerard motioned for him to go on.

  “Well, a day or so ago Mr. Nichols and I was doin’ regular maintenance to the aux bridge. I was cleanin’ and checkin’ the backup telegraph and it looked like someone had recently used it. I pointed it out to the chief and he said we should both keep an eye on it. Well Sir I have found and reported to Mr. Nichols that someone has used the machine two more times. But tonight Sir, I’m pretty sure it’s Mr. Wright doing it.”

  “What, Mr. Adams, do you mean by ‘pretty sure’, did you actually see him using the machine?”

  “No Sir, But Sir, remember earlier when you called Mr. Nichols to your cabin? Well I was headed to the aux bridge and passed Mr. Nichols, he wanted me to go back to the engine room and write down all of the gauge readings so he could compare them to aux readings. He thought we might be having pressure problems.”

  “Yes, he indicated such to me. That is why you gentlemen are working on this matter this evening. What has this got to do with Mr. Wright using the backup telegraph?”

  “Well Sir you see the whole reason I was down there was to get another pencil, we try to keep a bunch of them in the engine room but they always seem to go missing. That’s why Mr. Nichols could not tell me over the speaking grill to write the readings down, because I was not there Sir. I was on my way to the aux bridge.”

  Jerard wanted to rub his eyes, instead he motioned for Adams to continue. He knew there must be a point to this lengthy story he just wished Adams would get to it. The man’s nervousness was probably due to the fact that he was addressing a ship’s Captain directly. Jerard realized that he was going to have to try to make him more comfortable. “And...” Jerard prompted affably.

  “And Sir, I continued on to the aux bridge instead of going straight back to the engine room, because I needed a pencil.”

  “Well I believe that is quite all right Sir. I am sure you returned to your station in the engine room after retrieving a pencil.”

  “I did Sir, but the point is I was not where I was supposed to be. When I entered the aux bridge I saw Mr. Wright holding open the cover on the backup telegraph. It was obvious I startled him Sir. He slammed the the cover closed and hurried out of the room without sayin’ anythin’. I went over and checked the machine and it was on like he was going to use it. We keep the machine turned off at all times. No one is allowed to use that machine Sir without permission from you or Mr. Nichols.”

  “I see.” Jerard said. “Well done lads, you have definitely identified odd and unusual behavior. For now I will ask you to not repeat any of what you have said to me to anyone else. Am I clear? As soon as Mr. Nichols gets back we will have another meeting and get to the bottom of this. It is possible that Wright’s actions are innocent but...” Jerard stopped speaking, he had heard Mr. Wallace speaking to Landover in the anteroom so he finished with, “Thank you gentlemen, good job that, keep your eyes open and I will inform Mr. Nichols. You are dismissed.”

  Both men nodded and slid past Wallace as he entered the bridge with two cups. One of the cups had a cigar balanced precariously across the rim.

  “Better take this Cap, I can’t believe I made it this far.”

  “Thank you Mr. Wallace.” Jerard said as he took the cup and cigar.

  “So what was that all about?” Wallace asked conversationally.

  “Oh not much.” Jerard said as he considered telling Wallace some of what was going on. Deciding to take an alternate tact he continued, “Mr. Wallace, I would ask you, have you heard any rumors concerning Mr. Wright and Mr. Dortsman?”

  The helmsman chuckled. “Only one Cap and I nay asked fur details.”

  “Oh?”

  William Wallace leaned toward Jerard and in a stage whisper said, “I heard they was nancy boys.”

  “Oh.” Jerard said trying not to look as shocked as he felt. “Do you believe this rumor?”

  Wallace straightened up and shrugged. “Don’t know, don’t care Sir. But they do always seem ta be tagether. That what Adams and Collins told ye?”

  “Well no, actually.”

  “Probably ‘cause they nay believe it either. But if ya ask the chief and deReuter they will tell ya that they seen it.”

  “Well this is interesting. What other rumors have you heard Mr. Wallace?”

  Wallace scratched his chin. “Nothin’ really, we be a pretty boring lot Sir. Oh wait, seems like Mr. D'Arcey and Mr. Wright don’t get on very well. I asked D'Arcey ‘bout it, told me to mind me own business he did.”

  Jerard chuckled. “And did you Sir?”

  Wallace nodded. “Yes Sir, oh ‘e was nice ’nough ‘bout it, I like ole D'Arcey Sir. He’s a good chap, ye know, fur a frenchie. Knows ‘is business too Cap ‘tis a pleasure a flying wi’ ‘im.”

  “It is indeed Mr. Wallace.” Jerard said and took a long drink of the cooling mug of tea. He admonished himself for not following the number one unwritten rule of being a Captain. Know your crew. All of your crew, know each man’s weakness and his strengths. Know their emotional state and be able to predict how they will react. Jerard sighed.

  “What’s wrong Captain? Ye look sad.”

  “Not sad Sir. Just pensive. Oh, by the way, did you speak to Mac earlier?”

  “I did Sir, he told me ta stay alert and help ye however I can an don’t trust anyone else.”

  “Hm...Do you know if he spoke to anyone else?”

  Wallace shrugged. “He called me to the galley Sir, Vinetti, Tanner and Phelps were there. So that’s all I kin fur sure. But if I was o’gamblin’ man I would bet he told the Landovers and Collins and Adams.”

  “And why would you bet on that?”

  “‘Cause we’ve all been air sailin’ tagether fur o’while now.”

  Jerard chuckled. “So Sir, you are saying that McPherson doesn’t trust strangers?”

  “Ah now Captain, I kin what ye might be a’thinking and you’d be wrong. Mac says that you be the best thing ta happen ta this ship.”

  “And what do you think Mr. Wallace?”

  “I be in agreement Sir. It’s the ship, she seems ta have come alive since ye been here. Ye got a feel fur her Sir and she knows it.” Mr. Wallace affectionately patted the helm then looked over at Jerard and smiled.

  “Thank You Mr. Wallace.” Jerard was touched.

  “Just speakin’ tha truth Sir.”

  Jerard could not stop himself from grinning, Wallace was more of a 'character' than he had realized. “Well Mr. Wallace, I suppose we should get on with our job of watching. I am going to walk the ship and then I shall step out the door and partake of this cigar. I will check in with you later Sir.”

  “Aye Captain.”

  Jerard nodded and tucked the cigar into his jacket pocket. He turned and headed out of the bridge. He was thinking he would check in with Paulo first and then make his way to the aux bridge before checking the cargo bays. He realized that he had not detailed anyone to have a look at them.

  Paulo was busy preparing a ‘snack’ for the men. As usual the little chef was going above and beyond as it looked more like a four course meal was to be served. Jerard just shook his head and moved on lest he be conscripted to help.

  As he approached the door to the auxiliary bridge he heard raised voices. He stopped with his hand on the door to listen but the voices were too muffled. When he opened the door the voices stopped and he found D'Arcey and Wright looking at him it was fairly obvious the two men had been arguing.

  “How goes things here gentlemen?” Jerard said pretending he had not heard them.

&nbs
p; “Very well Captain.” D'Arcey replied. “Mr. Wright informs me that there is no problems with the pressures. We believe the problems are with the main gauges. The readings here in the aux are correct Sir. I will need to go to the main bridge and check them there.”

  “I can do that for you Mr. D'Arcey Sir. I was going to walk the cargo bays first; I realized that I did not assign anyone to search them. So when I return I will call you on the speaking grills. Can you wait that long?”

  “Ah Captain, that would be very kind of you but we do not wish to interrupt you. It will be easy enough for Mr. Wright to remain here while I go to the bridge.

  “Or, Captain, Sir.” Wright interjected. “I could go and search the cargo bays if you needed to get back to the bridge. This way Mr. D'Arcey could remain at his post.”

  Jerard was taken aback at the glaring look D'Arcey shot Wright as the room seemed to fill with animosity. “Mr. D'Arcey, is there a problem?”

  “Non Captain. Mr. Wright will remain here and with your permission I shall go to the bridge and communicate back the gauge readings to Mr. Wright. We do need to get this finished Sir as there is much more to do.”

  “Very well Mr. D'Arcey, I do know that Mr. Nichols left quite a list. Since you are going to the bridge I will have a word with you Sir. Mr. Wright, carry on.”

  D'Arcey hurried up the steps to the aux bridge catwalk and followed Jerard out the door. He carefully but firmly closed the door behind himself.

  “I would ask you, Mr. D'Arcey, is there a problem between you and Mr. Wright?”

  “Non Captain, Mr. Wright he is sometimes...um, how do you say? Not obey rules.”

  “Disobedient?”

  “Oui Captain. He does not like to work.”

  “Then I shall have a word with him.”

  “Non Captain, please, I am his superior and I must try to deal with this first, yes?”

  “Fair enough Mr. D'Arcey but I will not tolerate that sort of behavior on my ship. See that you fix this problem tonight.”