Adventures of Captain Xoey and the Mystery of the Djinn
Laura Dasnoit
Auspicious Apparatus Press 2016
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not nor should they be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons—living, dead, or undead—is entirely coincidental.
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN XOEY AND THE MYSTERY OF THE DJINN Copyright © 2015 by Laura Dasnoit. All rights reserved. Produced in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any currently available manner or any future manner that becomes available through technological advancement without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews.
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Published by special arrangement with Auspicious Apparatus Press.
www.apparatuspress.com
ASIN: B01FZDJI7C
FIRST EBOOK EDITION
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three: The Under City
Chapter Four: Old Town
Chapter Five
Chapter Six: Desert Town
Chapter Seven: Giant’s Pass
Chapter Eight: Nix
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten: Shiro Tamashii
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen: The Circus
Chapter Sixteen: The Docks
About the Author
Publisher’s Note
Dear Readers,
Xoey here. Just wanted to let ya know that there will be some drawings of us throughout the story. Rayne Ehnd is the talented artist - drew them on the streets in Old Town.
Sometimes, according to Nadine, he draws on walls, sidewalks, and even on the streets! Maybe one day I’ll task him to paint my ship.
~Xoey
Author note: Thank you to Dean Henry, aka, Rayne Ehnd for the lovely drawings of Xoey and friends!
~Laura
Prologue
“All hands on deck,” said the Captain. Captain Brighton was just as his name described—a head full of red hair and a temper to match. He had large calloused hands revealing a lifetime of work, a crooked nose from backyard fights, and a large burly chest with which to exhale a gruff voice.
Xoey moved through the crowd of men. Her father, Bran, was the second in command. He had dark green eyes that shimmered when he laughed, a sloped nose, and long dark hair he was always too busy to brush. And so he resorted to using his fingers and ended up with strands of hair sticking out all over. If time allowed, she would brush it for him. He patted her on the head. “We’re heading inland for provisions. Maybe you’ll get to see Grittle, after all.” Grittle was a vast country filled with steam locomotives and amazing flying contraptions.
The Captain shouted, “Move inland!” The ship steered to the left. Over the course of several weeks, they had scoured the bottom of the sea looting riches. It was a long grueling process, but it was all Xoey had ever known. She smiled at her father. “Aye.”
BOOM! She turned to see the sky light up in red. The blazing balls arched in the air, heading straight for their ship. The Captain shouted, “Gangway!” Xoey knew the phrase meant to get out of the way. Chaos erupted along the deck as the men shielded their heads from the fire plummeting down through the sails. Brighton searched the land for the source of attack. Another round shot up from the port. “Man the cannons!”
Barefoot, as always, Xoey hopped along the deck to dodge the smoldering fire. Black smoke filled the air, making it hard to breathe. She pulled her shirt over her mouth as she searched for a bucket. It could have been waste water, but water was water. All around her rose screams of pain and fear; everything around her was chaotic and horrid. She picked up a bucket, spilling the contents across the burning deck. “Xoey,” she heard her father say. He grabbed her by the waist. Something in his eyes wasn’t right; they were filled with remorse. In one swift motion, he threw her overboard.
The saltwater stung her eyes as she desperately gulped for air and then screamed, “Father!” The rope ladder burned away. She could see everything on board was smoldering. Ash drifted down on her lashes. The ship disappeared in a blast of exploding flame as the powder hold went off. Xoey opened her eyes to see the remains of the ship fold in on itself. “No!” she screamed until her voice was hoarse. Gripping onto the lip of the barrel, she wept for the loss of her father, the crew, and her only home.
Chapter One
She coughed, spewing up salt water. The loose drab clothing danced around the eleven-year-old girl’s small and lanky frame. Her muscles ached despite keeping her movements as still as possible. She was in foreign waters, and there could be monsters swimming…waiting for her to indicate she was easy prey. The current brought over hardtack, a few meaty bones, and a bottle of liquid that likely was not safe to drink. Pieces of charred wood idly floated by, reminding her yet again of the explosion from a day or so ago.
Her ears tingled with a looping static impossible to ignore in the silent openness. The sound, however, grew in intensity. Xoey rubbed her ears, hoping to knock some sense into them. She looked up, thinking it was a bug, and then dropped her jaw at the sight of a massive crane hovering above her. Attached to the crane was something of a flying ship.
At home, there were tales of Grittle’s legendary flying contraptions. She’d scoffed at such stories, thinking it was pointless for a ship to float in the air when they were meant for the water. Everything she’d ever said or thought on the subject was obviously moot. It was a large but elegantly robust steam-powered creation of metal and wood held up by giant red sails and patchwork balloons. The crane opened. Xoey let go of the barrel in a desperate attempt to outswim the moving device. Wide-eyed, she found herself enclosed within the grasp of the metal jaws.
With a flat hand, Xoey banged on the inside of the contraption. “Let me out of here!” Stability was not in her favor and she found herself stretched out, arms and legs spread-eagle to keep right side up. The winds pushed and pulled gleefully, and Xoey knew her face was slightly green.
Along the deck, the crane opened and out spilled Xoey. She pulled herself into a sitting position. “Oh, you poor dear,” a female voice said from some distance behind her. Xoey turned her head to see what possible danger she was in.
Between her and the motherly figure was a man with an expression of contempt. His tawny hair curled under the copper goggles resting along the top of his head. He had green eyes that settled into pale skin. There was a slight leftward curl to his lips.
“We’re the Tinkertons,” he said simply as he offered Xoey a thick blanket. She pushed herself up. She was on the upper deck of the contraption. The steam from the smokestack was carried away from the sails, back behind the quarterdeck, by an elongated petticoat topped with a copper cap. Each cherry wood panel spread along the deck delicately fashioned together to create a tightened seal to prevent dirt and grime from slithering into the crevices. The wind stirred the sails. It was a bizarre feeling to be on a ship and not feel a heave.
She smiled wearily. “Xoey. It ain’t short for nothing…just Xoey.”
“I’m Captain Roe. And this is my wife, Nell. Behind you in the doorway are our son and daughter, Mal and Nadine.” Xoey took the blanket, swinging it over her shoulders. The warmth settled in very quickly. Upon introd
uction, the siblings moved in beside their parents. Nadine was about fourteen-years-old, while Mal looked to be a year or so younger. They both stood at about the same height.
“She’s not old, at all,” Mal, a splitting image of his father, exclaimed with a gesture toward Xoey’s white hair. It wasn’t unusual for a passerby to do a double take at her pristine white hair or slanted green eyes.
Despite the guffaw, Xoey shrugged as she had no need to say anything. Nell struck her as a gentle soul. When she moved, she did so with purpose—much like a clock that chimes, for no other reason than to indicate the hour.
Nadine and Nell both had long russet locks with eyes to match. They appeared too delicate to be aboard a ship. Though gentle appearances were deceiving as their soot-ridden attire indicated otherwise.
Nadine shot an elbow into her brother’s ribs. “Pay no heed to my brother, Xoey. Sometimes his brain doesn’t work properly.” Mal exaggerated the pain, hoping to obtain the attention—and sympathy—of his parents. He sighed when the reaction, or rather lack thereof, was less than thrilling. Xoey wasn’t comfortable with the family staring at her. Fortunately, she didn’t feel like a drowned rat any longer.
Roe bent down to meet her level. “How did you end up floating at sea?”
Uncertain of how to answer the question, she pulled the blanket closer around her. “Our intentions were pure, Cap’n. We were heading to land for provisions when suddenly the sky lit up, the flames heading directly for our ship.”
She wiped her face with the back of her sleeve. Her throat closed up as she tried desperately not to cry. The thought of her father gone made her feel very alone. Pulling every ounce of courage, for that’s what pirates do, she continued. “Nothing we could have done. We couldn’t even see the source of attack to retaliate—though we tried.” An uneasy silence settled among the family. Xoey looked overboard to see if there was a plausible chance of her surviving the jump. The long descent down indicated otherwise.
Mal was the first to break the dead air. “You’re a pirate. I knew it!” Nell shushed her son, and yet they all searched for answers within her gaze. Xoey chewed her lower lip. Pirates had always been praised throughout the world. They were the few brave souls who scoured the treacherous seas for treasure. There was a contract with the hierarchy to split the loot 60/40.
Roe straightened his back and tilted his head to listen. “We have visitors…” The family scurried, pushing Xoey into the bowels of the ship. She attempted to object, uncertain as to what to expect, but was met with a stern shushing.
Once inside, the ship opened up into a large room separated by a partition in the middle. She walked through, gazing side to side, in a trance. There were oiled concoctions with boiling flasks under cast iron burners, powered by steam billowing through the flexible tubing assembled behind the tables on which they rested. Bizarre bronze ranged weapons were neatly positioned along the far wall. Aged books rested in every corner that was not occupied; large stacks of them filled every chair. Many different gears of antique clocks were stored in open trunks scattered about willy-nilly.
The most fascinating part was the glass in the shape of a well-rounded pyramid, with the point facing down, which had been shoved through the wood ceiling. Inside were tiny flickering emblems of gold, providing soft light, and as she stood on her tiptoes to see a bit closer, she could see they were not flecks, but little glowing winged fairies.
Roe gestured for his children to go further below. “Take her with you.”
Nadine grabbed Xoey by the hand and tugged her along down the steps to the right. Mal led them down two flights. The sound of their feet clattering along the wood was a bit noisy. They kept silent, otherwise. Out of habit, she expected to wade through bilge water scoured with rats as they descended down to the lowest level. Much to her surprise, the door opened to reveal a small curled kitchen that led into a dining room. Xoey’s stomach gurgled at the ravenous scents of cooked meat rubbed in spices. She could have pouted when they went past the galley. Her watering mouth opened and closed in protest, but nothing squeaked out.
Far above them, something clanked. “We have to hide.” Mal pushed on down the narrow hall and when it intersected into a T, he stopped dead in the center. The thick sole of his boot tapped the baseboard three times, this followed by two knocks and a cough. A soft ringing of gears turning could be heard behind the bulwark. Then, a door that wasn’t there before opened in front of them. Nadine stepped beyond the threshold still tugging Xoey along. Mal followed in behind. The room was compact. An adult would have to hunch over or risk hitting his head along the sloped ceiling. Behind her, the door closed in the same fashion as it opened. The siblings, rather solemnly, lit two taper candles.
Xoey plopped down in the plush velvet chair. The weight that rested on the springs caused it to squeak softly. “Why did we have to hide?” she asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Mal tugged at his white collar. “They likely tracked the uncoordinated movements of our crane and are seeking answers.” The sister stepped over to the chest of drawers and after rifling through them, she tossed Xoey a bit of jerky.
Xoey’s stomach churned in appreciation. “Thank you,” she said, rather softly. Chewing the dried meat, Xoey inquired, “Who are they? Why did they track the crane?”
Nadine smiled thinly. “Nix and his council rule our town,” She replied in a hushed tone. “Some people have been charged with treason for helping pirates…such as yourself.”
Xoey gulped down a rather thick piece. “I didn’t know. I don’t want to get the lot of you in trouble.”
Mal scratched his head, deep in thought. “Nah, our parents can take care of themselves. We just had to get you out of sight, out of mind…that’s all,” he said, attempting to reassure them, and perhaps himself, too.
Nadine brushed some of the soot from her iron-colored trousers. “It isn’t your fault, Xoey. This law passed mere moons ago—which has caused protests and unnerving movements in attempt to gather propaganda for Upper City. We’re not certain as to what the leader, Nix, is up to, but there isn’t much we can do other than keep you under the radar.”
Mal scoffed. “With that head of hair?” Xoey ran a hand through her lily-white mane in a protective manner.
Nadine rolled her eyes. “It just needs to be tied up and pinned under a hat. We can color her eyebrows.”
“How did you end up as a pirate?” Mal’s eyes blazed with curiosity.
She looked down, speaking to the cream-colored carpet with intricate blue flower detail. “My mother was born in Yorego.” It was a secluded port nestled at the southeast portion of Grittle. The residents were known for their superstitions, thus it was rare to see them outside of the wall. “My father was an outsider, and their love was strictly forbidden. After my mother died giving birth to me, the villagers saw my hair as an omen and we were cast out of the village. Due to my father’s fishing skills, we were taken aboard Cap’n Brighton’s ship.” She paused, realizing she was wringing the blanket in her hands. “Been on that ship since…well, until recently.”
Mal, oblivious to her sadness, grinned sheepishly. “Did you ever kill anyone?”
With a quick movement, Nadine whacked her brother square on the back of his head. “So insensitive.”
Mal yelped at the smack. “What? I just asked a question, that’s all.”
They moved back to the subject at hand. “When we land, you’ll have to blend in. You can even stay with us.” Mal stood up, straight and tall. His slender thumbs snapped at his suspenders. “Girls are supposed to wear dresses on land, and no hats.”
Xoey’s eyes narrowed. “I ain’t wearing no dress.”
He harrumphed. “You’re a girl.”
Her nose crinkled in defiance. “I’m no girl either.”
He scoffed in retaliation. “Well, you’re not a boy either, so what does that make you?”
> She gave a sly smirk and said, “A pirate.”
Nadine stood between them. “Enough.” She carefully took in Xoey’s wiry features. “You could pass for a boy for a year or two, at the most, and since we’ll be relying on the hat, we’ll just put you in a pair of trousers and a button up.” Nadine’s dark eyes flicked to the pirate’s bare feet. “And of course…shoes.”
Mal stepped in from behind his sister. “No way is she ever going to look like a boy.”
The westward sun settled beneath the plunge of the world. Roe stood along the forecastle watching a small motorized bike embellished with four tiny red wings soar around the ship three times before landing on deck. The driver removed his wrap-around goggles, and quickly checked his midnight hair. He stood a couple feet above a yardstick, and though short in stature, he was imposing by way of his reputation. Gesler was known to work for the leader of Upper and Lower City, Nix. Gesler straightened his starched popped collar and then adjusted his blue tie. His beady little eyes screamed shady as they shifted side to side taking in everything around him. He limped a few steps toward Roe. Gesler fought in the Great War, but the rumors of the war injury died out rather quickly only to be replaced with the fact that his wife stabbed him in the thigh.
Roe inquired, “To what do I owe this privilege?”
Gesler sighed. “I do hate flying topside for a simple inquiry.” He removed his leather gloves, and further added, “Business is business, I suppose. There was an unauthorized drop so very near the remains of a very naughty ship.” He cast a weighed look of judgment. “We hope you have not picked up any stowaways.”
“We had a malfunctioning system,” responded Roe, dry mouthed. “Nell is replacing the gears as we speak.”
Gesler gave a slight nod, cordially. “Of course. Do you mind if I inspect?”
Roe gestured the man inside. “We would not have it otherwise.”
Gesler was in the lead. Roe walked in behind him. The fairy lights glimmered, passing along shadowy images throughout the interior of the hull. Nell stood by the bulkhead. She hunched over a table, tinkering with the crane mechanism—a delicate piece filled with gears as small as the width of a fingernail. In order to see each piece, she wore glasses with six lenses connected to two rods on either side of the frames. She flicked the stronger lens down over her right eye. Meticulously, Nell removed the remains of the rubbed down culprit. Roe watched intently as Gesler observed his wife. He could only pray that the second in command would take the planted evidence as truth.
Adventures of Captain Xdey Page 1