by Lara Nance
They skipped the commercial flight booths and stopped to purchase some peanut encrusted chicken kabobs on bamboo skewers that enticed Belle. While they nibbled on these they strolled through the stalls finding everything from books to guns for sale. It had the flavor of an eastern bazaar with venders calling out to the travelers to sample products or warn them they would not see their particular item at the next port of call.
Belle gravitated to a booth with telescopes as well as more elaborate viewers sprouting all sorts of lenses and attachments. She selected a pair of brass distance viewers with a moderate amount of lenses that would fit in her pocket and purchased them. Benji studied firearms at the booth beside her.
“I say, Belle, I think I should have a p, p, pistol given the danger we might face.” He picked up a slender weapon with a bronze barrel and polished wooden handle.
“Hmm, I don’t believe a pistol would be as useful as a knife.” She tried to divert his attention. No doubt the captain would be very unhappy if Benji began target practice from the gondola during their journey. She strolled on to a booth displaying a wide variety of knives and swords.
He followed her and the owner of the stall produced a weapon and presented it to Benji with a flourish. The tall, olive skinned man had a round, brimless hat on his head and wore long white robes. No doubt a resident of Pandistan. The knife he held had a straight silver blade and looked like something made in mass quantities for the tourist trade. The handle was elaborately carved wood, painted gold—flashy rather than functional.
Benji took the knife and hefted it in his hand, his expression showing he understood this was a cheap reproduction of the traditional Pandistani tribal knives. He handed it back to the man and shook his head.
“Ah, I see the young master knows his weapons.” The stall owner laid the weapon on the table and his eyes shifted to Belle and back to Benji. “If I may ask, where is the young master headed? That will help me chose a worthy weapon.”
“We’re going t, t, to Carabarras,” Benji said, tilting his head to one side as he studied the knife seller.
“Then I suggest a blood dagger.” The man nodded. He reached under his display and pulled out a slim leather box about a foot long. The black leather was well worn and adorned with a heavily engraved brass lock in the shape of a lion’s head. The mouth of the lion held the key hole. The vender produced a skeleton key on a chain and handed the box and the key to Benji.
Belle took a step closer. The worn leather and the craftsmanship of the lock proclaimed it the work of an artisan, and quite old. Benji looked to her and she nodded, eager to see the weapon as well. From the confident look of the owner of the booth, he had recognized someone with money as well as knowledge. No doubt he felt he could get a decent price for this more authentic weapon from them.
Benji took the box in one hand and the key in the other and inserted the key in the lion’s mouth. He turned it until the mechanism clicked and the head slid upward revealing a lever beneath. He pulled the small lever back and the clasp fell open so he could lift the lid. Inside, on a bed of faded black velvet, lay a bronze handled dagger in a scabbard of red stained leather. A red cabochon stone was embedded in center of the hilt. Benji lifted the knife from the box and gripped the bronze handle in his hand, withdrawing the blade from the leather sheath.
Belle let out the breath she held as Benji lifted the weapon. It was steel, honed to a sharp edge, thin and deadly. The blade of a warrior.
“Where did you g, g, get this?” Benji asked as he twisted it to catch the light of the gas lamps, his eyes wide.
The shop owner leaned forward. “It belonged to a tribal chief. It is a blood blade given when a young man comes of age. To make it yours you must cut yourself and smear the blood on the blade and then name it. That will make it yours and obey only your will,” he said in a lowered voice.
Benji turned to Belle with a look of such entreaty she knew she would have to purchase the dagger. She turned to the owner. From his smile, he knew it also.
“How much?” she asked.
“If it please the lady, two hundred in gold,” the man said with a slight bow of his head.
Benji gasped at the price. But Belle knew bargaining was part of the Pandistani culture. She would have this dagger, but she had to play the game.
She smiled at her young friend. “I’m sorry Benji, but this man is trying to steal from us. That blade is clearly worth no more than fifty in gold.”
Benji cast a longing look at the weapon but sadly handed it back to the owner.
“Come along, we’ll see if there is anything else here. You can always get a knife when we get to Carabarras.” She took his arm in her hand and began to pull him away.
“My Lady, is very shrewd. Perhaps the price is a little high. But surely you can tell that this is a quality blade.” He held it up and allowed the lights to play off the polished surface. “And did you notice the ruby in the hilt? It’s genuine I assure you. Mined in the Matahala Desert by the Wanderers. Perhaps one-fifty in gold?”
Belle took the dagger in her hand and inspected it closely. “It is clearly a fine blade, but I fear I cannot give more than one hundred in gold for it.”
She handed it back to the owner and he placed it in the sheath and laid it on top of the leather box. Benji looked back and forth between them.
“Your ladyship is clearly an experienced negotiator. I can take one-twenty in gold and not a coin less.”
“One-ten,” Belle said facing him and meeting his stare.
“One- fifteen, if it please the lady and we shall have a deal,” he replied.
“Done.” She reached in her pocket and extracted the gold slips and counted them out in the happy man’s hand.
“A pleasure to do business with such an intelligent woman. Please allow me to present you with this bracelet as a token of my appreciation of this encounter.” He held out a copper bangle with carved lions running around it.
Belle accepted the token, knowing it was customary to give a small gift along with a large purchase. She slipped it on her arm and gave him a satisfied nod.
Benji tucked the leather box beneath one arm, his face wreathed in smiles. Jasper walked up then and told them he had found some ginger pills guaranteed to end his airsickness.
“Then we should hasten back to the ship. Our time is about up.” She herded the men to the door that led to the docking area.
When they arrived at the ship, the captain hurried up to her.
“My Lady, I have some important news,” he said. “The Blackwatch left just a couple hours ago. I talked to the coal monger and he said one of the crew let slip that in fact their final destination was Carabarras.”
“Indeed?” Belle’s heart flooded with excitement. They were on the right track. Her father was only a few hours ahead of them. If they could keep up, they would surely find a way to rescue him once they reached Carabarras. “That’s very good news, Captain. Do you know where they will stop next? Is there any chance we can catch up and have an opportunity to rescue my father before they reach Carabarras?”
Captain Joe shook his head and looked down. “I doubt that will be possible, My Lady. They are too far ahead of us and according to the flight planner here they will skip the stop at Eagle’s Peak and go directly to Harruca.”
“Isn’t that stretching their resources a bit?” Jasper frowned. “They might run out of coal.”
“Yes, but whoever is behind this kidnapping is driving Wildeye Perry hard to get their prisoner to Carabarras. There is also news of a storm heading this way from the southwest. They are far enough ahead to risk passing the stop in Eagle’s Peak. But unfortunately, we will not be.”
A sinking feeling invaded Belle’s stomach.
“Will we make it t, t, to Eagle’s Peak before the storm?” Benji asked.
“We need to leave at once,” Captain Joe said. “The coal is loaded and we’re ready.”
Arabella nodded and motioned for Benji and Jasper to head int
o the gondola.
In a matter of minutes, the airship rose from the docking area with the crew running around the deck, pulling in lines, and securing them. The captain and pilot stood on the aft deck working on the controls to get the heavy ship in the air and along the path to Eagle’s Peak as quickly as possible.
“Thank you, Belle,” Benji said as they stood at the rail. The lights of Cross Roads fell behind them. He looked down at the leather box, eyes ablaze with wonder. “I never thought t, t, to own such a thing.”
She smiled and put a hand on his arm. “It’s a good dagger, Benji. Take care of it. I have a feeling it will come in handy in the days ahead.”
“I w, w, will,” he said, tucking it under his arm.
“My Lady, would you care for some tea?”
She looked around. Jasper stood behind her with her china tea service on a silver tray, resplendent in his butler tails and waistcoat.
“Why, Jasper, you look better,” she said.
“Yes, My Lady. The ginger is a miracle. Now I believe you and the young master should be having your tea. I brought the dark Bellaca, your favorite.”
Belle now realized why Jasper had so much luggage. He had brought along the luxury items he thought she should have as befitted her station. A surge of fondness invaded her heart. Jasper hadn’t needed to come on this treacherous trip, but he was so dedicated to his job that he found a way to join them and bring along the tools of his trade.
“Yes, of course, Jasper. Tea is exactly what we need. Come along Benji. We’ll go down to the salon.”
She took a last look at the clouds gathering in the dark sky and the wind picked up, whipping about them. The storm was coming up from the south and she could only hope they made it to Eagle’s Peak before it overtook them. Meanwhile, her father was headed to Harruca with the possibility they would run out of fuel before they reached their destination. She sent up a silent prayer for all of them to make it safely through the next twenty-four hours.
Chapter 5
Rett turned the wheel and reached up, tugging the muffler away from his face. The temperature had risen enough that he was finally warm. He could feel his toes again and ice no longer crackled in his hair.
The wind picked up, coming directly from the south and Gambit bucked against the head wind. They made slow progress relying on the fans to fight against the increased current pushing them backwards. The wind whistled through the ropes that attached the gondola to the inflatable and they vibrated against the pressure. Sam made rounds on the main deck, testing lines and checking oil in lanterns.
“I see the lights,” Sam said as he climbed the stairs to the aftcastle.
Rett squinted and could just barely make out a glow on the horizon. It had to be the lights of Eagle’s Peak. They were still about half an hour away and the storm rose with wind like a firm hand, pushing them away from their destination. A blast of illumination lit the sky. Lightening, too far away to hear.
“Yeah, I see them. Is everything tied down?” Rett glanced at his first-mate.
“We’re as ready as we can be,” Sam replied. “I’ll put in another load of coal and water.”
Sam opened the hatch to the engine room and lowered himself to stoke the big steam engine for the coming storm.
A burst of air sent the ship higher and Rett had to hold tight to the wheel to stay upright. Sam cursed accompanied by a clatter of tools.
“Wind’s picking up,” Rett called. “Better get up here.”
The glow on the horizon grew closer, but a spit of rain drops hit Rett in the face. A rattle of coal below indicated Sam filled the engine hopper. Then he hurried up the ladder.
“It’s getting rough,” Sam said as he closed the hatch. “How much longer?”
“At this rate, maybe fifteen minutes. Let’s hope the wind doesn’t get any worse or we’ll never make it.” Rett inched the power lever forward to add some speed to the fans.
The spotlights of the Eagle’s Peak aeroport sliced through the sky. The clouds rolled white and dark blue against the grayish pink sky of approaching dawn.
“Send out the flyer pigeon,” Rett yelled above the rising wind. “Ask for a covered berth.”
Sam nodded and ran down the steps to the deck and the cabin beneath. He returned in a moment with one of the hardy dark feathered birds held between both hands. He set it on the pilot perch and it ruffled its feathers, then let out a soft coo. Sam placed the note announcing their arrival and docking request in the bird’s tiny backpack.
“Ready,” Sam said as he scratched the bird’s head.
“Let ‘er go,” Rett said, as he widened his stance and gripped the wheel. The ship bucked on a layer of rising air and then settled down.
Sam walked to the side and released the pigeon. Its large wings carried it swiftly out of their sight straight as an arrow to the aeroport control tower.
“Send the landing light down,” Rett said.
Sam lit the large gas lantern and closed the glass door to protect the flame from the wind. He lowered it with a rope just over the bow so the land crew could see them more clearly. He then checked the lines at all four corners of the vessel to make sure they were ready to haul over the sides.
Rett steadied the descent and could now make out the landing area ahead of them. Gas fueled spotlights ringed the large rectangular field and the small specks running around were the ground crew working to get in the flurry of arriving ships before the storm hit. Enormous tin roofed buildings lined the sides of the field and Rett hoped there was space in one of these hangers for them to dock.
Gambit’s gondola swung to starboard as another blast of wind passed them. Rett leaned on the wheel and gave it a nudge to stop the body of the ship from starting a dangerous pendulum swing.
A flutter of feathers and their flyer pigeon returned to its perch, flapping its wings to find its balance. Sam ran up the steps and gave the bird a treat, then removed the message from the backpack. He rested one hand on the bird’s back as he read the slip.
“Great! We’re in hangar number four,” Sam announced with a big grin. He handed the slip to Rett so he could see the light sequences that would guide him in.
A surge of relief ran through Rett’s chest. They could ride out the storm protected from the wind and rain. The cargo waiting for them would more than pay for the luxury of the covered slip and leave enough to pay off their debt to the Baron. Sam would be happy to work on ship repairs in the comfort of a closed hanger. Seemed like their luck had turned at last.
He could now make out the flashing lights and began the descent. They would barely make it. Icy spears of rain hit him and Sam took the pigeon below so it would be out of the burst of storm they would have to endure before they entered the hanger. He gritted his teeth, tightened his hold on the wheel and pulled the lever back. They were going in.
###
Belle clung to the rail as the wind rose and drops of rain like bullets stung her face. They were still an hour away from Eagle’s Peak according to the captain. The gondola of the large ship swung side to side in the heavy wind. Jasper had gone below to take more ginger when the wind picked up. Benji was up on the aftcastle with the captain watching the navigation maneuvers with intense interest.
She pulled her scarf around her face and looked out into the swirling gray clouds. The ground below was no longer visible. Her father was out there somewhere ahead of them. She could only hope they had outrun the storm and would make their next port safely.
A smile curved her lips as she thought back on all the times her father had come to her rescue or supported her against the odds. When she invented the steam powered spinning wheels he had been as proud as if she had managed to marry the Prince of Urbannia. He was skeptical when she decided to set up her own business instead of selling the invention to some man more capable of organizing a major manufacturing endeavor. But when she’d succeeded, she saw the pleasure reflected in his eyes.
A surge of fear stabbed her heart when she
realized she was his only hope at this point. What if she failed? Her fingers tightened on the rail as a tear mingled with the rain on her cheek. The thought of losing her father was too painful so she pushed it away with determination.
“My Lady.” The captain came to her side.
“Will we make it?” She searched his worried face.
“It will be close. I’ve got the ship moving as fast as possible, but the storm is overtaking us. I can’t lie. It would be best if you go below, My Lady.”
She looked up to where Benji pointed out in front of them, talking to the pilot. “You must tell Benji to come below, Captain. I doubt he will listen to me.”
The captain nodded with a slight smile.
She took his offered arm and let him escort her to the door leading to the cabins, grateful for the steady support as the deck bucked beneath her boots. She held tightly to the stair rail as she descended to the salon area. Jasper sat there, pale but at least not green.
He rose when he saw her and came forward to help her to a chair as she stumbled across the pitching floor. It was a good thing the furniture was secured or it would have been sliding all over the place.
“My Lady, this seems quite perilous.” He frowned as he settled her in a chair. “What does the captain say?”
“The storm is overtaking us. We must trust in his skill to get us to the port.” She sighed and unwound the scarf from her neck. “How is your airsickness?
“Better with the ginger. Where is Master Benji?” he asked, brow furrowed.