by Raven Bond
Saira stood quietly beside her while Abigail drank, looking out at the last stars and the streaks of light on the horizon that heralded another dawn. Finally, Saira began to chant over the rushing of the wind, a lilting rise and fall of liquid syllables that peaked with her holding up her arms to the new dawn. The hairs on the back of Abigail neck shivered at the beauty of her voice.
“That was beautiful,” Abigail said over the wind. “What does it say?”
Saira frowned in concentration. “It is hard to translate.” She looked out at the rising light and after a moment said:
'O Dawn who comes in radiant beauty,
Goddess of Joys and Colors!
Grant us Your blessing.
Increase our fortunes,
Light our travels!'
“I am no poet,” Saira said with a shrug. “It does not sound so lovely in English I am thinking.” Saira continued to look out as the dawn. Abigail watch the first rays of the sun move across the dark face lighting it like some ancient statue.
“It was very beautiful, thank you,” Abigail said. “'Light our travels'. We very much need that I fear.” Abigail sighed, looking down in her own mug.
“Saira,” she began slowly, “what happened at the tower last night? When you were fighting Petrov, I saw something... different when I looked at you.” She hesitated, feeling foolish for her reactions. It was clearly Saira who stood next to her now, the same brave woman who had been a friend to her from the moment that they had met. Saira nodded as if she was expecting Abigail's question.
“What you saw was the Dark Face of the Goddess,” the Arms master explained. “It is given to the Naga that She will come into her children when there is great need. It was necessary, for Petrov was possessed by a great demon. Fortunately, the demon had not as strong a grasp on Petrov as the Lady shares with me.” Abigail sipped her tea in silence. She should have known that the Hindu woman would have some mystical explanation for it all.
“I am sorry Saira,” the Scholar said finally, “but I do not believe in Gods, or demons, or magic. There is some rational, scientific answer I am sure, a trick of the light perhaps, or shock. Yes,” Abigail said more forcefully, “that must be it, shock and the speed at which everything was happening.” Abigail turned towards the other woman, “Please do forgive me for my bad behavior earlier.” Abigail hoped that the other woman would not be too offended by her response. To Abigail's surprise, Saira's response was to giggle.
“You English!” the Arms Master exclaimed with a laugh. “I can show you a painting, or a baby, or the Dark Face Herself. If it does not agree with how you believe it should, you will say the painting is a board and the baby a cabbage, rather than admit what your own eyes have seen!” Saira shook her head. “I have never met a stubborner people.” She faced Abigail. “So, do you mean to be telling me that this is what has you not sleeping?”
Abigail fiddled with the now empty cup. She might as well confess all, she decided. She had already made a fool of herself flinching at shadows.
“Will said that after my first encounter with Petrov I had learned that I could do what needed doing,” Abigail began. “Last night, I believed that was true, and I did. . .things. But now, I have had dreams.” Abigail paused, and said in a rush, “Does it ever get any easier?”
“For some, it does,” Saira replied gravely. Abigail noticed that Saira did not even ask what 'it' was. “That can hold its own dangers, should it become too easy. For others it never is, and that can hold other dangers.” The Arms master laid a hand on Abigail's arm. “Tell me, my sister, why did you fight as you did last night?”
“They were holding my father, or so I believed,” Abigail replied. She blinked at the question. “They had to be silenced before they could warn the others to harm him. Later, well, they were trying to kill us, not only myself, but you and Tesla, and the others.” Abigail wondered why Saira was asking such a question. It seemed obvious to her. Saira nodded at her words.
“So you fought as you did for love of your father, and for your companions, no matter how terrible that fighting had to be?” Saira asked. “That is why all true warriors fight. They fight for love.” The other woman caught Abigail's eyes and smiled, “As you did.”
“I do not know that I am that much of a warrior,” Abigail said ruefully.
“You are,” Saira replied firmly. She removed her hand from Abigail's arm, holding it palm up towards her. “I was honored to fight at your side, for the fierceness of your love, Abigail Hadley. I would be proud to do so again.”
Abigail could sense that she was being offered something important. It came to her that she valued the friendship of this woman highly. She had heard enough whispers from the other crew to know that Saira had been some sort of exotic assassin in the past. The rest of the crew also seemed to have no trouble accepting that she was a 'sorceress' as well. Abigail did not put much stock in such things. What she did know was that Saira was someone who would always be there for her, should she need it. She was not sure how to respond, so she spoke from her heart.
“Thank you,” Abigail said. “I am proud to know you, you know. I would fight beside you as well.” She held out her hand. Saira smiled, entwining her fingers with Abigail's so that they held hands palms touching.
“So be it, my sister,” Saira said as if it was a vow. “The way of a warrior can also be a burden as you now know. Promise me that you will not suffer through the night alone again. Such burdens are more readily defeated when shared. Seek me out.” She emphasized this with a squeeze of her fingers.
“Alright, I will.” Abigail promised gratefully. She did feel better for talking about it for some reason.
“Now,” Saira said, “I am cold and can feel that you are as well. Let us go down, yes? I know that the Cap'n will be calling on you soon about the plague question. Besides, did he not ask you to look after the fakir Tesla?”
“Oh my God, I had forgotten!” Abigail released her hand suddenly. She had been so caught up in her own affairs that she had forgotten that world's foremost inventor and scholar was her charge. They reached the cabin that had been given to Tesla just as the Savant opened the door.
“Ah, good morning Lady Hadley,” he said with a glance at her attire. His mustache twitched. Abigail couldn't tell if his response was disapproval or something else. She was certainly more dressed than she had been last night! Tesla turned to Saira with a courtly bow. “Good morning, Arms master Brighton. I regret that we have not had more time to converse. Do I understand correctly that the title Arms master means that you are the ships general-at-arms?”
“It means that I am the leader of the fiercest of fighters on a ship of fierce fighters, yes.” Saira replied, returning the bow, and then straightened up to look Tesla in the eye. She placed her hands on her hips. “It also means that if I tell you to do something it must be done, and quickly. Do we have any difficulties with that we need discussing?”
“Not at all,” Tesla replied. “I merely wished to ascertain that was in fact true. After what I have seen of your abilities, we are very well protected indeed. Thank you.”
Abigail could tell that this was not the response that Saira was expecting. She looked at the man for a moment, as if measuring him, then bowed again.
“You are most welcome, fakir,” Saira said sincerely. “Now, I must leave you in Abigail's most capable hands. I need to check on our other guests.”
“How is Madame Chang?” Abigail asked.
“I doubt highly that she is either a 'Chang' or a 'Madame.'“ Saira remarked and then made a rude noise. She looked at Abigail with an intense expression. “Do not be trusting her no matter what she may say to you. She is a sorceress is that one, though she tries to hide it. She can twist you about with her words alone. I have already warned the Captain and he agrees.”
“But as you know, I do not believe in your magic,” Abigail protested. “Besides, you claim to be a sorceress as well. Does that mean that you should not be trusted either?”
“If you were my enemy, you definitely should not trust me. Would that not be so?” Saira grinned at Abigail. The Arms master then turned serious again. “Abigail, were I to tell you that someone was armed and very dangerous, would you believe me?”
“Of course I would,” Abigail replied without hesitation. “And I would never wish you for an enemy. But I simply cannot believe that old woman can bespell us by twitching her nose or whatever. “
“Babies and cabbages,” Saira muttered. She looked at Abigail seriously again. “In this, trust me Abigail, she is armed and very dangerous. And now I must go let her out of her cabin.” Saira shook her head. “It is a good thing that Dancer is a cruiser or we would never find rooms for you all.” She affected another little bow at Tesla, “Fakir,” she said to him. “Doubtless you also find my warnings so many feathers.”
“On the contrary, Arms Master,” Tesla replied. “I always listen when an expert in their field tells me that there is a concern. I too believe that the Chang woman may be a threat.”
“There you see?” Saira looked to Abigail with a self-satisfied smile. “You should listen to your fakir; he is wiser than he appears. Now I suggest that you both go for food. I am sure that The Cap'n will call the meeting shortly.”
“What meeting is this?” Tesla inquired.
“Exactly,” Saira said as if her answer explained everything. As Saira walked away, she said over her shoulder, “Mind you what I have said!” With that she was gone, moving down the corridor.
“Forgive her, Tesla.” Abigail said, somewhat embarrassed for her friend. “She is a product of her culture. Despite her talk of sorcery, she really is quite,” the Scholar searched for the right word, “sensible.”
Tesla looked at her, eyes twinkling. “No apologies are needed Lady Hadley. Nor should you be so quick to dismiss her warnings of sorcery. I myself have seen things that are not easily explained by other theories. I sometimes feel that Western man has perhaps overlooked such things, to his detriment.”
“Surely a man such as yourself cannot believe in such things,” Abigail protested.
“I am Serbian; we have perhaps kept closer to the other world than you English.” Tesla said with a very Slavic shrug. “Also, I did not say I believe, only that some phenomena are not easily explained. It was not that many years ago that people such as that idiot Kelvin thought me a 'mystical madman.' I keep an open mind, and I encourage you to do the same.” Tesla looked up and down the corridor. “Forgive me, but did that charming woman say something about breakfast? I find that I am quite hungry. My captors were not very hospitable.”
“Of course,” Abigail said, suddenly remembering her manners. He had been held captive for some days and was quite likely starving. She pointed down corridor. “The mess hall is this way. The environment may not be what you are used to, but the food is quite good.”
Abigail was unprepared for the reaction of the air devils in the mess. She knew that it was watch change, and expected the usual friendly bedlam. The loud voices stopped abruptly when they entered. The line for food quietly parted as if Tesla was Moses and they the Red Sea. Tesla for his part, seemed to take this behavior in stride. He walked up to a very silent Wu and politely asked for breakfast. Abigail had never seen a man move as quickly as Wu did. Shortly they were seated with full plates. Tesla looked at his plate and counted to himself under his breath.
“Is everything alright?” Abigail asked. “I am certain that Wu will provide something else if you need it.”
“It is quite all right.” Tesla waved her question away with a smile. “The circumference of the plate matches the number of these little cakes times pi perfectly. It could not be better.” With that extraordinary statement, he raised knife and fork and began eating. After a moment, he looked up. “Delicious,” he declared. “I have not had better at Buckingham Palace. Would it disturb you greatly if we discussed the radiant detector while we eat, Lady Hadley? I find that combining activities is most efficient. There is never enough time, is there?”
While they sat eating and discussing the needs of manufacturing the detector, Abigail was aware of the covert stares of the room. Tesla for all he was very neat about it, rapidly made short work of the cakes and four eggs on his plate. He had just remarked that the tea was 'acceptable, if fussy' when an older air devil she didn't recognize came hesitantly up to stand at their table. He stared at Tesla.
“Beggin' your pardon, your lordship,” he said in voice that had surely grown up within hearing of Bow Bells, “But is it true that you're the great Doctor Tesla?”
“I am Tesla, yes,” Tesla stated calmly, cup still in hand. “And whom might I be addressing?”
“George Shears, rigger's mate” The man's face broke into a wide gap toothed grin. “I had to make sure it was you,” Shears explained. He wiped his hand on his pants and held it out. “My Ma, my younger brothers and sisters was all in London when the Spiders came. It was you and your Shield what saved them. I was with Rogers on the Nike see, and couldn't look after them me self. Thank you.”
“If you were on the Nike, then it is I who should thank you, sir.” Tesla sat down his cup and gravely shook the man's hand. “It was such bravery that ultimately saved us all by taking the fight to the Invaders.”
Abigail noticed that Shears face had become that interesting mixture of pleased and embarrassed that strong men sometimes get when praised. Tesla was about to speak more when Mr. Rogers came up to them. Shears stood aside for the First Officer.
“Sorry Shears,” Rogers said to the rigger. “Lady Hadley,” Rogers greeted. “Sir,” He said addressing the last at Tesla. Abigail was secretly amused to see that Rogers appeared to be restraining himself from standing at attention. “The Captain's compliments and he requests that both Lady Hadley and yourself join him in his day cabin as soon as possible.” Taking their leave of Shears, Rogers walked them through the bridge where the inhabitants stopped what they were doing and stared at Tesla.
“As you were,” Rogers growled at the bridge crew. He knocked once on the Captains' door, and then opened it for Tesla and Abigail to enter before him.
William Hunting Owl sat in his chair looking for all the word to Abigail as if he hadn't moved from it since the previous night.
“Abigail, Tesla,” Will greeted them warmly. “Have a seat. I hear that you had breakfast. Hope that it was to your liking, and you are feeling better after some sleep.” He directed this last at Abigail. She was sure that somehow he knew all about her trouble sleeping.
“Quite better, thank you Will,” Abigail replied stiffly as she sat down. “May I ask what you require?” She was perversely damned if she would admit to any difficulties, especially after making such a fool of herself with Saira.
“Your hospitality is very good Captain,” Tesla said, also sitting down in one of the wicker and cane chairs. “I assume that you wish to discuss the plague detector?”
“Right,” Will said, leaning back in his chair. “I want to make sure that you get what you need. We have a metal workshop if that will help.” He looked at Abigail, “You have some idea of what we have, Abigail, so I'm looking to you for any suggestions.”
“We were just discussing that over breakfast,” Abigail said. “The workshop would be an ideal area to work in. I believe that a brief consult with Devi should give us what materials we need. Also, I am sure that she would like to meet Tesla as well.”
“Alright, I'll call down to Devi to expect you,” Will said. “You have my say so to get whatever you need that's within reason. If someone tells you that its without reason, send them to me, and take it anyway. We're making good time, near as we can figure. Unless we run into trouble we should be there about this time tomorrow. I want that plague thingamabob by then. Is that going to be a problem?”
“I do not believe so, Captain,” Tesla replied. “The device is rather simple to construct, given the materials. But if I might inquire, what trouble are you anticipating?”
“Y
ou do know that outside of Hong Kong and the little town they call a Free City at Shanghai, the rest of the country is full of bandit-like warlords and Smoke-blasted areas?” Will gave Tesla a look that Abigail interpreted as questioning how much the Savant was in his right mind. Hunting Owl folded his arms across his chest.
“Some of those warlords might not take too kindly to us flying over their territories,” the Capitan said.” Some of them have air ships, if the stories are right. I doubt they have anything that Dancer can't handle, but they could throw off our schedule a might.” Will was sometimes so much the Inscrutable Tribesman that Abigail had difficulty knowing when he was being sardonic. She suspected, from his tone of voice, that this was one of those times.
“Ah,” Tesla said with relief. “So long as it isn't anything to seriously inconvenience us then.” Tesla turned to Abigail, “In that case, shall we go build the detector, Lady Hadley? I believe that you will find the exercise of some interest.”
Chapter 16
HMS 'Mercury', Government Air Tower, Hong Kong
“Visitor for you, Milord,” Bates announced. He could see Lord Graves within, sitting at his desk, the flicker of the oil-lights causing strange shadows to cross His Lordships face. Lord Graves dwarf, mute secretary, Treacle, stood near the door. He looked up at Bates in that fashion that always made him feel as if something had walked across his grave. Despite his long service to his Lordship, Bates was never comfortable around the personal secretary.
Bates had commanded Lord Graves air yacht since he had joined the secret society the Lux Invictus. As a former British Air Navy officer, Bates was very capable of donning the guise of a serving officer with ease. The courier boat Mercury was one of the more useful disguises that the yacht could assume to enable Lord Graves to travel without attracting attention. That was important. Lord Graves held the position of First Secretary to the Foreign Minister in the current British Cabinet, as well as being a Master of the First Circle of the Light in the Lux Invictus. Both positions often required Bates to fly wherever Lord Graves ordered with no reason given as to why.