Askaro of the Falcon

by Lady Li Andre

  Chapter 6 – Storm Watch

  Captain Delkaro put a hand on Askaro’s shoulder. “Look at those clouds carefully and tell me what you see.”

  Askaro studied the rolling clouds. He’d seen many storms in his lifetime and knew from his lessons how they worked. He looked for patterns that indicated the flow of the wind within the storm. He found what he was looking for. “There is an updraft in the clouds to the right of the oncoming front.”

  His grandfather chuckled. “Well done! I’m glad to see you paid attention to your lessons. Now I’m going to show you how the Falcon can take advantage of that updraft. Right now, the winds pushing the storm are stronger than the winds in front of it. That is what causes that updraft. The air in the storm is colder than the air here. The warm air is rising over the front.”

  Askaro looked toward port. “The sky is clear to the south. Shouldn’t we change course to avoid the storm?”

  “In other circumstances we might but our destination lies to the west not the south. There are even taller mountain ranges south of the Capital. If the Falcon were to go too far south and west, we’d have to tack against the fall winds all the way back to the ocean. It would be difficult and dangerous because we are fully loaded. The hull sits heavy. Our peato reserves are getting low. We have no choice but to weather the storm and head for Rokathalon.”

  He motioned for Askaro to follow. They went back in. Other Officers and several Masters had come to the Bridge. The bells for Fourth Watch rang. Askaro wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t want to interrupt the Captain to ask to leave so he remained quiet and stayed behind him. He listened to the conversations of the worried men.

  The Captain stopped in front of the massive chart that hung between the two large forward windows. “I know this looks bad but we’ve spotted an updraft in the wall of the front. We’re going to adjust course to take advantage of it.”

  The First Mate cleared his throat. “Sir, with all due respect, this is a large storm. With the Falcon so heavy, if we misjudge the updraft, the dirigible could be torn free of the hull.”

  The Captain’s face tightened. “I’m aware of the risks, Mister Osalith. I will note your concern in the log. But we are too close to the coast to correct south any farther to avoid the storm.” He turned to face another man. “Master Thorson, please give account of our current peato stock.”

  The Quarter Master glanced at the others. “We’re running low. The Captain and I have discussed this problem already. We have no choice but to make for the Capital. With the weight of the ship, we’d be out of fuel before we could reach the Savasa Marshes to the south.”

  There were concerned whispers among the assembly. Askaro’s father stepped forward. “How much time do we have to prepare the ship before the storm is upon us, sir?”

  The Captain glanced out the window. “By the advance of the front, a turn or less. I might be able to buy us a little more time. Askaro, grab the instrument case and come with me.”

  There was a collective gasp from around the room. Several men frowned. His father grinned and pointed for him to follow the orders he’d been given. The Captain had already turned away from the group and was headed for the door.

  Askaro took the case from the shelf and followed Delkaro back out onto the Weather Deck. He’d only been allowed to use the instruments at his grandfather’s desk before. He was secretly excited to see them used for their true purpose but wished the circumstances were different.

  The Captain stopped at the forward rail. “Begin with the compass. Get a true heading for the ship.”

  Askaro swallowed hard. “Me, sir?” His grandfather nodded. He knew better than to argue. He opened the case and pulled the compass from its spot in the padded velvet interior. He lined up the compass with the bow sprit. “Three units south of due west, sir.”

  “Very good. Now we need to determine our position related to that of the updraft.” The Captain moved to the starboard rail of the Weather Deck and Askaro followed with the instruments. “Get a compass bearing on the center of that updraft.”

  Askaro carefully balanced the compass and sighted along the line. “The updraft is eighteen units north of northeast.”

  “Now use the oculometer to get a reading of our distance from it.”

  Askaro replaced the compass in the box and took out the oculometer. He extended the barrel and focused on the center of the rising clouds. He turned the outer barrel until the image was perfectly clear and read the dial on the side of the barrel. “Fifteen leagues.”

  The Captain gripped the railing. “Damn. This will be close.” He looked down toward the angry ocean below. “What’s our height?”

  Askaro focused the oculometer on the water and read the dial. “Four hundred and twenty units.”

  “And now we need the height of the center of the upwelling. Use the sextant. Set the main sight on the horizon and angle the tube at the top of the updraft.

  Askaro swapped instruments and followed the directions. He read the angle. “Thirty seven units, sir.”

  “Make the calculations for a jib course based on those readings.”

  Askaro went cold. He’d done such calculations in lessons but never when the fate of the ship depended on it. He closed his eyes and focused on the numbers. His palms became sweaty and he put away the sextant so he didn’t drop it. He finished the calculation and swallowed down the lump in his throat. “With a full jib set, we’d have to correct northward by eleven units.”

  Delkaro grinned. “Well done again. We’ll also need to rise to get any advantage from that updraft. Let’s go make our course correction.”

  Askaro carried the instrument case back onto the Bridge and returned it to the shelf. The Captain gave the orders for the jibs to be added and for more heat to rise. Everyone grew quiet. Askaro turned around.

  The Captain was looking at him. He pointed toward the Helmsman. “Please inform the Helm of the needed course correction.”

  There were several muffled gasps around the room. His father smiled and nodded at him. Askaro pulled in air to steady himself. “Mister Fantori, please correct course eleven units to the north.”

  The Helmsman’s body went stiff. His hands clenched the wheel spokes. He didn’t look at Askaro. “Is that the course the Captain wishes to take?”

  Delkaro’s face wrinkled as he frowned. “It is, Mister Fantori. Are you having difficulty making that correction?”

  The Helmsman turned the wheel slightly, watching the large bubble compass mounted in front of him. “Course corrected as the Captain requested.” He emphasized the title.

  Delkaro shook his head and turned to the other men. “Secure the ship. This won’t give us much more time. Master Elvarian, please set extra lashings on all sails and have more canvas ready if needed. All men on safety lines.” The Sail Master nodded and hurried out.

  Jakaro stepped forward. “Sir, I’d like to set extra rope between the Sky Deck and the masts for added support.”

  “My Chief Engineer knows his ship. Make it so, Mister Jakaro.” Askaro’s father gave him a brief nod and left the Bridge.

  The Captain turned to the Boson. “Mister Cullans, have all watch crews at the ready. We may need all hands when the storm catches up.”

  “Yes, sir.” He nodded smartly and left.

  The Quarter Master looked grim. “We can’t make a mistake on this, sir. There’s no going back. If we have to rise again in the storm, it’s going to take most of our remaining peato.”

  “I realize that, Mister Thorson. Make sure there are extra crews on hand to dispense the peato to the hot room bins. Divide up what’s left. Only hold back what we’ll need to bring us into port.”

  “Sir, if we use it during the storm we won’t have any to spare for contingencies.”

  The Captain walked forward and put a hand on the Quarter Master’s shoulder. “Thor, if we don’t use it to get through this storm, we’re sunk anyway. How sad it would be to get this close to home and fail.”

 
; The Quarter Master nodded. “Understood. I’ll also have crews standing by the water tanks in case we need to dump for ballast.”

  The captain nodded. “Only on my word. You and I both know the price of water in Rokathalon.”

  The Quarter Master saluted and left the Bridge. Many of the other Officers and Masters had also scurried away after hearing the Captain’s plan. Only a few remained.

  The First Mate finished giving directions to several Masters and turned to the Captain as they departed. “I’ve directed extra details to the sails and ropes. I’m going to keep Mister Hadley on the Bridge and station Mister Mickels in the Control Room. Where do you want Mister Jonad?”

  “In the Beak. Make sure he’s well secured. We’ll need good communication during the storm. If the winds blow us all the way to the coast, Mister Jonad will have to warn us as we approach the Teeth.”

  The First Mate glanced at the chart. “Heavens above help us if we are still pressed by the wind when we reach them. I was young when we sailed away from Rokathalon but I’ll never forget the passage through the Teeth.”

  Askaro looked at the chart, wondering what the Teeth might be. He found them at the western edge of the map, not far from the coast. They appeared to be tall jagged rocks that bordered the mainland.

  His grandfather pulled him gently toward the Ready Room door. “You did well. I have something for you.”

  Askaro was relieved when his grandfather shut the door. He’d purposefully avoided looking at the Helmsman. He knew how Mister Fantori felt about him. He’d seen the hatred in the man’s eyes after he’d been given the course correction. “Sir, I know you want me to be more than I am but I don’t wish to cause a problem among the Officers.”

  Delkaro went to his desk and opened a drawer. He searched through the contents. “Your father wasn’t much older than you are now when the Falcon left Rokathalon. I’d made him Third Watch Engineer. Many thought that he was too young for such responsibility but he’d been by my side from the very first plans through the building of the ship. He knew it better than Mister Yan, the first Chief Engineer.” Delkaro looked up at him. “You have been aboard this ship your whole life. Both your father and I have been training you since you were a babe in arms to one day become a Sky Wizard in your own right.”

  Askaro chewed on his lower lip. “I understand that, sir, but too many of the Officers and Masters see me as a slave.”

  The Captain came around his desk. He opened a small box and withdrew a pendant on a chain. “I was going to wait until tomorrow to give this to you but you earned it today.” He placed it around Askaro’s neck and rested his hands on his shoulders. “You are my grandson. I don’t care what any other man, be he Officer, Master, or Crewman on this ship, says. I am the Captain and I have final say on all matters, even the charter. That’s what the last clause means. ‘By the Captain’s judgment.’ I can change the charter if need be. But it’s irrelevant. Your father made it clear when he took your mother that she was to be his wife. She was the daughter of the highest chieftain of the Tree People. He refused to see her as a common pleaser.”

  Warning bells began to ring. Askaro nodded at his grandfather. “With your permission, sir. It’s well into Fourth Watch and I should be helping Master Ofalo with the ropes. I know my father requested additional lines be set. The Master will need all hands.”

  The Captain leaned close and moved his hands to Askaro’s cheeks. “Promise me you will work with caution and heed your safety.”

  “I will, sir.”

  Delkaro sighed and let him go. “I’d rather have you by my side but you’re right. The Master will need all hands. You are dismissed to go to your duty station, Mister Askaro.”

  He caught his breath at the added title, saluted sharply, turned and hurried from the room. The pendant swayed across his chest. He didn’t want it to be in the way or get lost. He pulled it off, removed a wrist band, looped the chain around it securely, and retied the leather cuff to his wrist with the pendant tucked between the leather and his skin.

  He stepped out of the Forecastle onto the main deck. Work crews were everywhere, some belaying lines from added sails and others adding rope and tackle to the braces between the metal framework of the sky deck that capped the dirigible and the wooden hull of the ship. He headed for the rope pit.

  Master Ofalo was giving orders to crewmen and slaves working together to keep the ropes from getting tangled in the increasing wind. He looked surprised when Askaro came up to him. “From what Mister Cullans said, I didn’t expect to see you. I figured the Captain might keep you on the Bridge.”

  “I thought you might need me here more and the Captain agreed. Where do you want me, sir?”

  “Go give Chitano a hand belaying that rope. The winds are picking up. Once you have that secured, make sure the two of you get safety tethers on.”

  “As ordered, sir.” Askaro ran across the deck to help the struggling boy.

  Chitano was leaning into the rope, trying to take the slack up. He glanced up as Askaro grabbed the rope and pulled. “Glad to see you decided to make this duty shift. We’re almost half a turn into it.”

  Askaro helped him secure the end. “Don’t expect a regular watch routine. We’re on Storm Watch now. All hands have been called to duty.”

  Chitano took a moment to catch his breath. “You don’t say. I would have never guessed. Why aren’t we changing course to head out of the storm?”

  Askaro grabbed his arm and headed for the tether locker. “We’re too close. If we headed south out of the storm the wind would blow us past our destination.”

  They were almost to the locker when the ship lurched. Askaro heard the snapping of timber. He looked up in time to see a broken spar headed right for them. He pulled Chitano aside. The ship leaned. The added angle knocked both of them off their feet. They skidded across the deck.

  Askaro tightened his grip on Chitano’s arm. He tried to slow their progress with his other hand. There was nothing to grab on to. He heard Chitano cry out. They were spinning now but he managed to get a glance in the direction they were headed. The port side railing was only a few units away.

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