by Pelaam
An hour passed, and Nicolas found Melbeck to be formidable in regards negotiating. Having no such experience himself, Nicolas was glad he’d at least researched what sort of remuneration he should seek. Melbeck had started at a much lower payment, even taking into account he’d provide food and a bed.
In his turn, Nicolas argued he would be a member of the crew, not a passenger, and eventually they came to an agreement on a sum satisfactory to both.
“I shall have a contract drafted for you.” Melbeck leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers together. “If you would be so good as to return here in three days, at the same time, you can sign it, and then you’ll have precisely three more days in which to present yourself as a member of my crew on the Strawberry Fields.”
“How do I get to her?” Nicolas didn’t even know at which port the ship was docked. Liverpool had an enviable port regarding airships, but Nicolas wasn’t aware if the same was true of ships that travelled beyond the stratosphere.
“I’ll have a member of the crew come to fetch you. From your uncle’s house. Much easier that way.”
“Very well. I’ll see you in three days.” Nicolas turned to leave.
“Miss Speckle will show you out.” Melbeck rose from the desk and shouted the secretary’s name.
The door opened almost immediately, as if Miss Speckle had been eavesdropping at the door.
“Yes, sir?” Miss Speckle eyed Nicolas with the same degree of suspicion and disdain as when he first entered, and Nicolas was certain it must be her normal expression.
“Mr. Broadberry is joining my crew. He’ll be back here in three days. Be sure to make him feel welcome. Good afternoon, Mr. Broadberry.”
“Good afternoon, Captain Melbeck.” Nicolas followed Miss Speckle downstairs and was glad to be back out on the street when Miss Speckle closed the door firmly behind him.
For a moment, Nicolas simply stood and processed all that had passed between him and Melbeck. A journey through the ether was the last thing Nicolas had ever envisioned himself doing, but now he had less than a week before he’d be on board a space ship for the first time in his life.
At least the job itself sounded ideal. Nicolas would enjoy working with automatons, and that would at least give him a foothold as far as future employment was concerned. The next thing he had to consider was how to tell his mother.
Chapter Eight
Less than one week after meeting Captain Melbeck, Nicolas found himself, duffle bag on his shoulder, staring at the odd bug-shaped ship, the Strawberry Fields. If he was honest, the ship was nothing as Nicolas had expected. Somehow, he’d imagined something, well … more child-friendly, for want of a better way of putting things. Instead, the ship looked daunting, almost intimidating.
As immense as an ocean liner, the ship stretched into the distance. Its hull may once have glistened and gleamed, but now it was dark, dented, and scorched.
Nicolas wished it was nothing more than his over-active imagination, but the nearer he got to the ship, the colder he felt. It was almost as if he was sensing an unseen presence. And it was far from friendly.
With a shake of his head, Nicolas strode forward more purposefully. His escort was already waiting for him at the door of a dilapidated building.
“We go in through ‘ere.” The man jerked his thumb at the door. “Up a few flights, and we access the ship up there.” He waved in a vague manner toward the top of the ship. “Once we’re aboard, someone else will take care of you.”
“I see. Thank you.” Nicolas had the distinct feeling that the man would be only too glad to pass Nicolas over. So long as the next person was a little more friendly, Nicolas would be as equally glad to be away from him. Nicolas hoped this man wasn’t typical of Melbeck’s crewmen.
A group of coarse, surly, and taciturn men hardly seemed the ideal pick for transporting children. Nicolas was sure there would be a matron, perhaps even a school teacher, as part of Melbeck’s team. The appropriate type of people to care for those children leaving all they knew and loved in hopes of making a better life for themselves.
As he gazed at the ship, Nicolas silently wished all the children making this voyage the best of luck in beginning over.
“’Urry up. I’ve got other work to do.”
At the exasperated shout, Nicolas picked up his pace. It would hardly do to get a bad report about dawdling or daydreaming on the first day of his new job with Melbeck. The moment he’d caught up with the other man, he was led inside the building.
“I thought we were boarding the space ship?” Nicolas increased his pace to keep up with the man who scurried rapidly ahead.
“We are. There’s a gangplank, as we call it, that runs between ‘ere and the ship.” The crewman barely glanced in Nicolas’s direction. “Once everyone’s aboard, the gangplank is drawn back, and the ship can take off.”
“I see.” Nicolas felt as if a flight of butterflies had taken wing in his stomach. But the feeling wasn’t entirely apprehension. It was a similar sensation to the day Nicolas had stood outside Melbeck’s office. There was an edge of excitement and anticipation, as though something momentous was about to happen.
The crewman led Nicolas to an ancient elevator. In dull grey metal and hexagon-shaped, the elevator reminded Nicolas of a cage, with its open appearance. A metallic spiral staircase, snaked around the elevator as it creaked and groaned its slow way upwards.
Nicolas would almost have preferred to have used the stairs, wondering if the mechanism could safely complete the journey. The seconds ticked by with interminable slowness, and Nicolas’s heart thundered as if he’d run up the numerous flights of stairs the elevator passed by.
Eventually, the elevator came to a juddering stop. The crewman strode out with Nicolas close behind him, glad to be back on solid ground once more.
“Right, now.” The crewman stopped and jerked his thumb at a door ahead of them. “Through there. If yer don’t like heights, don’t look down. I don’t want to be coming across after you if you stop halfway.”
“Very well.” Nicolas wondered what the man meant, but as the door was opened and the crewman stepped away, Nicolas saw the reason for his warning.
A narrow metal runway with rails ran from the doorway Nicolas stood at and across to the space ship. Even with the rails, Nicolas could imagine anyone with a fear of heights would find it impossible to traverse the aptly named gangplank.
Determined not to fail at the first hurdle, Nicolas made sure his duffle bag was secure on his left shoulder and stepped down onto the gangplank. He’d have felt better if beneath his feet the plank had been solid, but it was the same mesh-like arrangement as the sides.
As he walked out, Nicolas felt a cold breeze, and the gangplank rocked gently. Gripping the handrail, Nicolas let the metal slide through his fingers as he fixed his gaze resolutely on the ship ahead.
As he got closer, Nicolas spotted another member of Melbeck’s crew. The man grinned widely, as if well-aware of Nicolas’s discomfort. Taking a deep breath, Nicolas stood taller and strode resolutely forward, but didn’t relinquish his hold on the rail.
“Broadberry isn’t it? The tinker that Cap’n Melbeck hired?”
“Yes. I’m Nicolas Broadberry.” If Nicolas had thought the other crewman rough, this one was missing most of his teeth and looked as if he hadn’t bathed in a month.
“Good. I’m Morgan, one of his engineers. The cap’n is busy at present. He’ll see you later. Go straight ahead to the first set of stairs and go down. Another member of the crew will take you to your cabin and give you an overview of the ship.”
“Thank you.” Nicolas edged past the bulky man and into the ship. It was nothing as Nicolas had expected. The lights in the ship were dim, and oppression weighed heavily on Nicolas’s shoulders.
Shadows danced and flickered on the cold, metal walls as if vying for a better view of him. For a heart-stopping moment, Nicolas was certain the walls were closing in on him and that he’d be crushed.
So
mething loomed toward him, out of the shadows, with a wheeze of pained breath and an ominous metallic clunk. Nicolas froze, unable to galvanize his legs into movement.
“Hello? Are you Master Broadberry? Master Nicolas Broadberry?” A masculine voice, soft yet clear, reached Nicolas’s ears and he calmed slightly.
“Yes. Who … who are you?”
The figure came to a stop in a patch of pale light and Nicolas openly stared. The light from the lamp, or maybe it was the refection of the copper walls, turned the stranger’s hair blood-red, but his face—it was the face of a Botticelli angel. Pale, smooth, flawless skin, perfect pink Cupid’s bow lips, and framed by the shoulder-length red tresses.
The man was more beautiful than anyone Nicolas had ever seen. And he seemed totally out of place aboard Strawberry Fields. Gentle, polite, he was the antithesis of the men Nicolas had met so far.
It was only when the man took another step, that the origin of the mechanical sounds was revealed. The stranger had a mechanical brace on his left leg. Nicolas scowled. It looked ancient, rusted in places, and in desperate need of attention.
“My name’s Nathan. Nathan Smith. Captain Melbeck told me to show you to your quarters and acquaint you with the ship.”
“Thank you.” Nicolas pointed at the brace. “That doesn’t sound too good. Let me take a look at it.”
“I don’t think—” Nathan started to object, but Nicolas had already closed the distance in three strides and dropped to one knee to peer closely at the brace.
Its condition was appalling. Nicolas was almost sure that Nathan would walk better without it. But that would be jumping ahead too far, considering he and Nathan had only just met.
“Once I’m set up in my workshop, you must visit me.” Nicolas glanced up, and he smiled at Nathan whose cheeks flamed so red, Nicolas was sure he felt their heat.
“I-I … thank you.” Nathan ducked his head, but when he looked up at Nathan again, a soft smile curved his lips. “Let me tell you a little about Strawberry Fields, Master Broadberry.”
“Please, just call me Nicolas.” The feeling Nicolas got from Nathan was nothing like he’d ever felt before.
That Nicolas felt he could trust Nathan implicitly was not an entirely novel feeling. But it was coupled with such a sense of warmth and ease, as thought they were long-time friends, that Nicolas was immediately inclined to offer Nathan a degree of intimacy he’d not extended to anyone so quickly before.
“Nicolas, then.” Nathan smiled briefly. “The ship is divided into sections. The fore section contains the captain’s bridge and accommodation for him, his first mate, and his head of security. The midsection of the ship, where we are now, has crew’s quarters, medical bay, ship’s stores, the conservatory, galley, and mess hall. Aft is the engine room and the furnaces. I’ll show you around once I’ve shown you your quarters. You also have a workroom towards the aft section.”
“I’m sure I’ll get lost the first time I try and find my way around.” Nicolas wasn’t joking, but the quiet laugh from Nathan was well worth the confession.
“It is something of a rabbit warren. The best I can say is that the crew’s quarters are more fore, and the conservatory more aft, the rest is in the middle. So, if you reach either of those areas, you’ve most likely gone too far.”
“That’ll be a help.” Nicolas followed Nathan, and keeping his gaze fixed on the other man helped him to ignore how cramped and dim the ship really was.
His quarters looked little more than a store cupboard with a bed and a locker with a thin shelf above it.
“The crew’s, um … bathroom facilities are at the end of that corridor.” Nathan indicated the direction from Nicolas’s room. “Water is an expensive commodity, so bathing is prohibited. Each man can draw a small amount for essential hygiene, but no more.”
Everything Nicolas encountered made his heart sink more. “How long does it take to reach New Eden?”
“Just a few short weeks.” Nathan smiled. “Much the same as travelling from Liverpool to New York by ocean steam liner. Amazing, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes.” Nicolas couldn’t work up any enthusiasm. Given the choice between this vessel and an ocean liner, Nicolas would choose the liner every time.
“If you want to bring your tools, I’ll take you to your workshop.” Nathan waited in the doorway while Nicolas removed his bag of tools from his duffle bag.
When Nicolas pulled out his toolbox, he frowned. Then he opened it up and removed a set of tools in a wallet he could keep in an inside pocket. He looked over his shoulder at Nathan.
“Do you sleep in a room like this, or with the rest of the crew?”
“Well, actually, yes, I have a small room of my own. It’s by the conservatory. Why do you ask?”
“I’m a good judge of people.” Nicolas decided to be honest. “I can’t lock the door here. Does the workroom have a lock?”
“Well, no. There’s no reason to lock it. No one makes use of the room as no one knows how to make mechanicals work.”
“My tools are very important to me. As I’m sure you must appreciate. You’re the only member of Melbeck’s crew I’ve felt I can trust. I’ll leave some basic pieces in the workroom, easily replaceable ones. But I’d like to leave the more valuable pieces with you. If you’d care for them? Please?”
For a moment, Nathan didn’t answer, but his eyes grew round as if he’d been asked to look after the crown jewels. Then he nodded.
“I’d be honored, Nicolas. But only if you’re really sure.” Nathan’s expression was so earnest that for a moment Nicolas was speechless.
But, if his instincts were to be trusted, Nathan was the only member of Melbeck’s crew he’d got a good feeling from. None of the others so far, not even Melbeck himself, struck Nicolas as fully trustworthy.
Only Nathan. Nicolas smiled, reached out, and gently squeezed Nathan’s thin shoulder.
“I put a great deal of faith on my instincts, my friend. I trust you.”
“Thank you, Nicolas. That means a great deal to me. More than you could know. Please, organize your belongings. I’ll wait outside. There isn’t really room for two.”
Although Nicolas would have preferred to keep Nathan closer, he was right about room. There was scarcely enough room for Nicolas to move comfortably in the room. Recreation wasn’t a consideration. This was a room to sleep in, not for relaxing.
Not wanting to keep Nathan waiting, Nicolas unpacked quickly, putting some of his most useful pieces in a belt which he settled in place. He then had a small toolbox of basic and readily available items, topped with his roll of more expensive and specialized pieces. These he would leave with Nathan.
It also gave Nicolas a perfect excuse to see the other man.
“All ready?” Nathan asked.
“Ready.” Nicolas held up his leather case. “Lead on.”
The second trip along the narrow, oppressive corridors of Strawberry Fields for Nicolas wasn’t as bad as his first. Having Nathan chatting as they walked helped immeasurably, and Nicolas hoped that as time passed, he’d become more accustomed to the claustrophobic environment.
“This is where you’ll eat.” Nathan indicated a dull metal door that looked no different to any of the others Nicolas had seen.
But when Nathan opened it so Nicolas could peer inside, he was instantly reminded of the kind of dinner hall he’d faced in school. Rows of plain tables with benches either side ran the length of the room. Over to his left, Nicolas could see the serving counter, behind which, he assumed, the kitchens themselves would be.
“There are three meals a day served here, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus, you can come here for a drink and a biscuit mid-morning and again in the evening. I’m afraid the quality of the food won’t be anything like you’re used to.” Nathan offered an apologetic smile. “It’s obvious, even to me, you’re used to the better things in life. Breakfast on the ship is very simple—plain biscuits with butter and marmalade, with tea or coffee. Melbec
k allows me to tend the apple trees and grow vegetables in the Conservatory, so with dinner tonight, you’ll get an apple and there’s fresh lettuce to go with the salt pork. Other meals will include salted or dried fish, and tinned boiled mutton. The rest of the garden helps produce breathable air, and is a place for promenading, or peace and solitude. None of the crew go there, preferring to be in their own bunks when not working.”
“Not anymore.” Nicolas shook his head. “Now I need to work. I can live with the ship’s food for a few weeks.” At least, Nicolas hoped he could. Everything about this ship suggested Melbeck wasn’t the type of man to part easily with his money. It gave Nicolas a sinking feeling over what he may face with the automatons.
“I’ll show you the engine room next.” Nathan set off and Nicolas kept close behind.
Even before they reached the engine room, its heat and scent reached Nicolas. Nathan stopped at a doorway.
“Down here. We won’t go down today, though. They’re very busy and the men will get angry if they’re disturbed. These are the furnaces that keep the engines fueled. There are half a dozen automatons here, and I think there are another half-dozen in your workshop.” Nathan stepped aside, and Nicolas looked inside.
Even from the doorway, the heat was stifling. If hell was imagined as an engine room, Nicolas was sure he was staring at it. Steam and smoke turned the engine room into an apocalyptic landscape. The smell of burning coal, smoke, and steam singed his nostrils, and sweat broke out on his brow.
The metal walls were hidden by years of soot, only the mechanisms that were regularly used still maintained a metallic color. The automatons worked steadily. Back and forth in a stiff, regulated dance, from immense coal stores to the massive furnaces.
Men milled around, but their jobs seemed more to keep an eye on the many gauges and twist and turn the various wheels. Nicolas fervently hoped he’d need to spend very little time down here.
“I don’t know how the men cope.” Nicolas shook his head. To be in such heat as well as a windowless, claustrophobic environment day in, day out, was more than Nicolas could have tolerated.