tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51409996620408980622024-03-14T07:44:14.931-07:00Brass BoltsMark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-73807652042641177942016-02-17T14:17:00.001-08:002016-02-17T14:17:49.427-08:00"Reading" Lamp I Made<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwrVt2nyQXuDc3n1_HddjTaX1sGd8rbNEsXcEzhB1dRoiGvK-QxJ5iw2U0SQCmeDX6I5FBEZo2gvfY3CFJmBMa-pndHuM9y2Yhzsb0mE2_6Q2PHfeVeNJeSSvmTpMPUfXoXN-guE3F0/s1600/ReadingLamp2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NwrVt2nyQXuDc3n1_HddjTaX1sGd8rbNEsXcEzhB1dRoiGvK-QxJ5iw2U0SQCmeDX6I5FBEZo2gvfY3CFJmBMa-pndHuM9y2Yhzsb0mE2_6Q2PHfeVeNJeSSvmTpMPUfXoXN-guE3F0/s640/ReadingLamp2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I
decided to get crafty this Christmas and made a few lamps. This one
turned out exceptionally well, I think. It took a bit of figuring out,
but once I had the plan, the actual execution was fairly simple. The
system is 12v LED (it plugs in to his ass) and the valve you see is the
on/off switch. I wanted to make it a dimmer, but it turns out there
aren't any readily available potentiometers that fit.<br />
<br />
The
pipe is mostly from Home Depot, they have big bins of the stuff you can
sort through undisturbed. I won't list all the pieces here, as I'm sure
you can figure it out if you want to make one. The only specialty bits
of pipe were the head and the cross-piece for the shoulders and they
were both easily available from a local specialty plumbing shop (you can
get them on Amazon, but with shipping it would have been twice the
price).<br />
<br />
The electronics is really simple. I used an old
12v power supply I had left over from an external hard drive, bought
the socket for it to attach, the bulb socket (G4 type), and a 12v LED
bulb at a local electronics shop. I had to order the rotary switch to
fit inside the valve online, but it was only $6, even with shipping.<br />
<br />
The
book is two pieces of copper pipe I had left over from the other lamp I
made for Christmas hammered flat and soldered together. <br />
<br />
The
only complex bit of the whole process was drilling out the valve so the
wires would fit through, filing off the threads so the valve doesn't go
in and out (it would crush the switch) and fixing the valve to the
switch with epoxy. Also, it's a good idea to soak your pipes in TSP or
other degreaser because they're pretty greasy from the store.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV0Mxr0UFukzxEIgYI3L8bzZz0n4bpyb9oOP0gSDbWo1BQEmZZUjUrsdpQ1fCT7iVet-RDoq9hzz5jFjG8l3JV8OURiBKHpB8-mBmdmBlxXuX5foGaX4Fhkk0dZGkx9QhAiqA_rDt95o/s1600/ReadingLamp1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV0Mxr0UFukzxEIgYI3L8bzZz0n4bpyb9oOP0gSDbWo1BQEmZZUjUrsdpQ1fCT7iVet-RDoq9hzz5jFjG8l3JV8OURiBKHpB8-mBmdmBlxXuX5foGaX4Fhkk0dZGkx9QhAiqA_rDt95o/s640/ReadingLamp1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you want any more info on how to make one, feel free to ask in the comments!Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-31855848463174860742016-02-17T13:56:00.000-08:002016-02-17T14:17:06.258-08:00Son of a Pitch: The Proxy Initiative (take 2)<style>
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<br /></div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
</h3>
<b>The Proxy Initiative</b><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8932272449497755061" itemprop="description articleBody">
<b>Adult Science-Fiction Thriller</b><br />
<b>80,000 Words</b><br />
<br />
<b>Query</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Proxy Initiative is a government cybersecurity contractor founded to infiltrate
people's minds through their wetware – computers implanted directly in the
skull – and Ethan Pryce is their lead programmer. When he finds out the people
he's working for are more interested in their own power than using the tools he
developed to fight terrorism, Ethan goes rogue. He downloads a head full of damning
data that could destroy The Proxy Initiative and he taps into their system, so
the next time they hack someone he'll take over instead.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When unforeseen
glitch overloads his wetware, he loses control and his life becomes irrevocably
twined with the lives of strangers.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
every night Ethan is forced into the bodies of strangers. He experiences the
world through their eyes, feels their pain, and controls their bodies while a
trio of psychopaths working for The Proxy Initiative hunt these bodies down. To
locate the real Ethan, they'll murder and torture him as many times as they
have to because he's the only one with the power to stop them.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Due to
the glitch in his wetware, the data that he sacrificed so much to get is
inaccessible without specialized hardware. Hardware owned and guarded by the
very people hunting him down. With only the help of a rebellious young woman
he'll have to find a way to destroy the Proxy Initiative before they destroy
him and use their technology to overthrow the government.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>First 250 Words</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>
<style>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />The message flashes in my brain. I grab the cable jacked into the base of my skull with sweat slicked fingers and scan the list of documents.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />Shit. The Proxy software isn’t downloaded. I rearrange the files and send mental instructions to override the wetware-brain barrier. It will overwrite some personal memories, but I need that software.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />My past is best forgotten anyhow.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />“It's time, Ethan.” Meridian takes her eyes off the view of Central Park, and rises from my couch, dark face crinkling with anticipation. “Got everything?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />“Not quite. Proxy ‘ware’s incomplete.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />“You didn’t download it first?” Meridian scowls at me. "I thought you were supposed to be smart."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />“Just a few seconds.” I flick a nervous smile at her. "You can give me that much more of this life."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />Meridian takes in my penthouse apartment. "You got it good here, but you'll adapt." Her face twitches. She's a surprisingly bad liar for a double agent betraying one of the most secretive and powerful companies in America.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />"I'm tougher than I look." I puff out what little there is of my chest. "What's it like… being poor?"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />"For starters, don't say shit like that or you'll get a punch in the—"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />Loud popping noises from the hall outside my penthouse apartment cut her off mid-sentence.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />“Time to go.” Meridian draws a pistol from inside her jacket and chambers a round.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />"You're going to kill them?"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />"What the fuck you think, Ethan?"<b><br /></b> </span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-89322724494977550612016-02-14T23:00:00.000-08:002016-02-15T13:49:21.686-08:00Son of a Pitch: The Proxy Initiative<b>The Proxy Initiative</b><br />
<b>Adult Science-Fiction Thriller</b><br />
<b>80,000 Words</b><br />
<br />
<b>Query</b><br />
<br />
<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">The
Proxy Initiative is a government cybersecurity contractor founded to infiltrate
people's minds through their wetware – computers implanted directly in the
skull and Ethan Pryce is their lead programmer. But when he finds out the
people he's working for are more interested in their own power than using the
tools he developed, Ethan goes rogue. He downloads a head full of damning data that
could destroy The Proxy Initiative and he taps into the Proxy system, so the
next time they hack someone he'll take over instead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Unfortunately
he overloads his wetware and loses control.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Now,
every night Ethan is forced into the bodies of strangers. He experiences the
world through their eyes, feels their pain, and controls their bodies while a
trio of psychopaths hunt these proxy bodies down. To locate the real Ethan,
they'll murder and torture him as many times as they have to because he's the
only one with the power to stop them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Due to the glitch in his wetware, the data that he worked so hard to get is inaccessible without specialized
hardware. Hardware owned and guarded by the very people hunting him down. With
only the help of a rebellious young woman he'll have to find a way to destroy
the Proxy Initiative before they destroy him and use their technology to
overthrow the government.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>First 250 Words</b><br />
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Drive full</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana";">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">The message flashes in my brain. I grab the cable
jacked into the base of my skull and scan the list of documents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Shit.</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> The Proxy software isn’t downloaded. I rearrange
the files and send mental instructions to override the wetware-brain barrier.
It will overwrite some personal memories, but I need that software.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">My past is best forgotten anyhow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“It's time, Ethan.” Meridian takes her eyes off the
view of Central Park, and rises from my couch, dark face crinkling with
anticipation. “Got everything?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“Not quite. Proxy ‘ware’s incomplete.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“You didn’t download it first?” Meridian draws a
pistol from inside her jacket and chambers a round.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“Naw, parallel’s much faster. I just—”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Loud popping noises from the hall outside my
penthouse apartment cut me off mid-sentence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“Time to go.” She grabs my wrist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“Don’t.” I recoil from her touch. “Almost there.” I
hold the plug with quivering fingers, ready to yank it out the moment the
download’s done. “I hijacked the Proxy system while I was in there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“Good for you.” Her body tenses. “Get ready.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">More popping noises from the hallway. Someone
shouts instructions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“You don’t get it…. Next time they hack somebody I’m
going hitch a ride on their signal.” The download timer reads forty seconds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 42.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">My apartment door flies open and three men from my
security detail burst through. “Ma’am, we’ve got a situation,” The leader
addresses Meridian.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">“Cover
the door.” Meridian points her pistol at my head. “If they get past you, I’ll
kill him myself.”</span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-58786849606820010952014-10-20T19:26:00.000-07:002014-10-21T09:12:40.557-07:00First Pages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtQniGvhdnQ9c1wBtmCq-bacArQRnyJ_gEHxoIyD40j4bmHkSxfqJN6VuVmG7veHX8KaOCHC9TyfttYrsd2KaCWC8hTYikKFL1Fa9vqzucdceadzOJN8sucEuqi8FcL6xmdohK75sKYM/s1600/Ligne_11_-_Arts_et_me%CC%81tier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtQniGvhdnQ9c1wBtmCq-bacArQRnyJ_gEHxoIyD40j4bmHkSxfqJN6VuVmG7veHX8KaOCHC9TyfttYrsd2KaCWC8hTYikKFL1Fa9vqzucdceadzOJN8sucEuqi8FcL6xmdohK75sKYM/s1600/Ligne_11_-_Arts_et_me%CC%81tier.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image source: Wikipedia</span></div>
<br />
Starting a new project always gets me thinking about the first few pages. After all, they have to impress or they're the only pages a prospective reader will ever see.<br />
<br />
In general, I believe good opening hooks come in five flavors which can be mixed and matched to suit.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Conflict: This is probably the easiest for a new writer to master. When two forces collide it brings out character and it arouses curiosity. Which side will win? Where will this go? This hooks for the same reason you listen at the walls when you hear your neighbors arguing. The urge to watch conflict unfold is a deeply ingrained part of the human psyche. </li>
<li>Character: There are characters who could read the dictionary and you'd be riveted. Compelling, quirky, funny, dark, or anything else that draws us in. If we want to see your lead character in action we'll read on. (note this one dovetails nicely with conflict because as I said, conflict tends to bring character to the fore)</li>
<li>Suspense/mystery: These can be tricky. If you're just holding a bit of crucial information back it's bound to backfire. There has to be an inherent danger present in the scene. It doesn't have to be a physical threat, but it should be a permanent threat, getting kicked out of school, or losing a job, can work as well as a deadly threat, but if the threat is passing it will not hook as effectively.</li>
<li>Plot: If you have a great story and you can really get the ball rolling on the first page, readers will be instantly engaged. Like in a spy movie, where some important secret is stolen in the very beginning and this drives the action to follow.</li>
<li>Voice: This is always a tricky one (see my previous blog post). Voice on its own can work as a hook, but I recommend combining it with some of the above for best effect (unless you're the second coming of Douglas Adams, then do as you please, and would you autograph a few books for me?)</li>
</ol>
<br />
Which brings me back to my own work. Here's the beginning of my latest, a near-future YA thriller. Please let me know what you think in the comments!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chapter 1</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wake up and Smell the Gasoline</div>
<br />
I sit at the back of a large, dingy basement made up like a church. A few dozen congregants, mostly black, listen to the Pastor rattle on about passive resistance, making our voices heard, blah blah blah. A perfectly normal scene, but everything about it – every fucking thing – is wrong.<br />
<br />I don’t know how I got here, I don’t know who I am, and I’m certain the middle-aged woman’s body I’m wearing like a meat puppet isn’t my own.<br />
<br />Three men walk in the back door as I scan around in confusion. An odd bunch, the lead with greasy black hair and ill-fitting cornflower blue suit, followed by an aging pot-bellied punk rocker in a studded red leather jacket, and an Asian man, short, but so muscular he seems ready to burst out of his perfectly-tailored grey silk suit. All three carry army style duffel bags.<br />
<br />The Pastor adjusts his steel-rimmed glasses. “Excuse me, this is a private gathering.”<br />
<br />“This won’t take long.” Rumple Suit smiles broadly. He unzips his duffel and produces a U-lock, which he snaps into place on the exit doors. The other two head for the side doors while Rumple Suit withdraws a heavy pipe wrench from his bag. “Plumbing emergency.”<br />
<br />“You can’t just barge in here.” The Pastor backs away from his lectern nervously.<br />
<br />“Sir, please bear with me, this won’t take a minute.” Rumple Suit takes three quick steps, leaps onto the improvised stage next to the Pastor, and addresses the congregation. “Now, if you’ll all just interlace your fingers behind your heads and bend forward so your face touches your knees we can finish up here with no fuss.”<br />
<br />A few people comply.<br />
<br />The Pastor says, “I demand to see some kind of identifi—“<br />
<br />Rumple Suit smashes the pipe wrench into the Pastor’s nose sending a mist of bright red blood spatter across his face and clothes.<br />
<br />The Pastor crumples like overcooked spaghetti. Blood pools around his head as he stares unblinking through broken glasses.<br />
<br />Rumple Suit draws a pistol and waves it at the pews. “Let’s play a game. Simon says. <i>Heads. Down.</i>”Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-49489304878799998342014-09-26T09:44:00.005-07:002014-09-26T09:44:54.274-07:00Voice<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x_G7HJgtcDzsJUnZ5FbhzsCCthsfWfrl7NAhX9ZPrw7m8llVUNWaZRnHqmN15XIKf67JMMe856TGDxVQem272tz_GFAZdy1UtfeklS8RgPjyvwhAaCiIvh184UlU876OjKBoQtxzgIw/s1600/steampunk_victorian_audacity_icon_by_pendragon1966-d5gys6t.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x_G7HJgtcDzsJUnZ5FbhzsCCthsfWfrl7NAhX9ZPrw7m8llVUNWaZRnHqmN15XIKf67JMMe856TGDxVQem272tz_GFAZdy1UtfeklS8RgPjyvwhAaCiIvh184UlU876OjKBoQtxzgIw/s1600/steampunk_victorian_audacity_icon_by_pendragon1966-d5gys6t.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Picture courtesy Pendragon1966 - Deviantart)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
When I first started writing, there were a million new things to learn. I was always a good student in English class, and while I did take some post-secondary English, it was not my central area of study. So I plugged away at it, learned how to use commas correctly (most of the time), mastered the em-dash, the ellipsis, use of quotation marks in dialogue, all with the help of guides and books that told me clearly, if x then y. If your quoted dialogue ends in a period, then goes on to give attribution, the period is moved to the end of the sentence, after attribution, and the spot at the end of the quote becomes a comma.<br />
<br />
Easy right? There are rules.<br />
<br />
Then I heard about voice.<br />
<br />
Agents want to hear voice. Many agents say they <u>must</u> have a good sense of voice from your first page, or they won't read on.<br />
<br />
I researched voice, but I never really came up with anything helpful. "You know it when you see it." Seemed to be the consensus.<br />
<br />
Well I think I have it now and I'm willing to share.<br />
<br />
To me, voice is the <u>character</u> telling the story. It may be the author's own personal voice, but unless you're a <u>character</u> in the leap off the page sense, I think you need to invent that character.<br />
<br />
Here's an example:<br />
<br />
"Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the
western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.
Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-two million miles is an
utterly insignificant little blue green planet whose ape-descended life
forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches
are a pretty neat idea. <br />
<br />
This planet has - or rather had - a problem, which was this: most of
the people on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many
solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were
largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper,
which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of
paper that were unhappy. <br />
<br />
And so the problem remained; lots of the people were mean, and most of
them were miserable, even the ones with digital watches." - Opening to
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams<br />
<br />
<br />
Nothing happens. No characters are introduced. There's no conflict, no real plot development. The voice does all the work, and you'd read on, wouldn't you? Who could put it down after reading just the first page? Because this voice, this is someone cool, someone funny, someone with charisma. This voice is the person you want to stand next to at a party, because you <u>know</u> they're going to say interesting things and you won't be bored. If you gave this voice to an actor/actress they'd leap off the screen.<br />
<br />
This voice is stardust.<br />
<br />
<br />
Not that you, or I, or anyone should attempt to be Douglas Adams. We have to find our own paths, our own voices that suit our work. While we work at it though, it's important to remember the <u>qualities</u> of great voice. Big, bold personality, charisma, wit, and above all, confidence. There is little that draws humans to another person like confidence.<br />
<br />
Read your favorite authors and think about why you like their voice. Write a list of attributes they have that appeal to you and examine how you can develop those in your own writing. Do not attempt to copy another writer's style. There's only one of them, just as there's only one of you and copies inevitably pale in comparison to the original.<br />
<br />
Above all, write.<br />
<br />
Revel in the act of creation.<br />
<br />
Be the god of your world and bring that godlike confidence to your readers. Take them by the hand, give a confident squeeze and say, "Come with me, I've got something amazing to show you." Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-49726997479640829872014-08-18T19:39:00.000-07:002014-08-19T10:53:34.070-07:00BiographyI was born.<br />
<br />
Then some other things happened.<br />
<br />
I read a lot of books. Mostly under the covers at night with flashlight in hand and one ear cocked for the creaky floorboards outside my door.<br />
<br />
At an early stage I decided what I really wanted from life was to write.<br />
<br />
I kept that desire secret. Maybe people would laugh. No... certainly <u>some</u> people would laugh. I drew maps, planned characters, plotted epic fantasies... and never started a single story.<br />
<br />
The bios of my favourite authors spoke of madcap careers Army, professional juggler, rodeo clown... I don't remember all of them, but I was amazed at how many jobs my idols had gone through before finding writing.<br />
<br />
What I needed to do, I decided, was to see the world in the most interesting way possible.<br />
<br />
After High School, I registered to join the Canadian Army, with the intention of a career in the Infantry.<br />
<br />
I wasn't offered a place in the Infantry. Too good at math. Electronics and Optics, that's where the big machine that read my test said I should go.<br />
<br />
I took the offer.<br />
<br />
Basic training was hard. I don't think a civilian can understand how hard it is. When you fail, they either choose to bump you back two weeks, where you enter a new platoon and try it all over again, or they discharge you... send you back home.<br />
<br />
I failed. I could make a lot of excuses. There certainly were extenuating circumstances, but ultimately it was <u>my</u> failure.<br />
<br />
They don't give third tries.<br />
<br />
I failed again.<br />
<br />
During my interview, I must have said something to impress the Captain. He noted that there were some irregularities in my training and gave me one... last... shot.<br />
<br />
I screwed up again, but I made it.<br />
<br />
In the second-to-last week of training, my punishment (for having a sweatshirt in the wrong part of my locker) was to carry a cement block weighing 20 kilos or so during the entire time. This week of training saw lots of un-burdened trainees fall out due to exhaustion, but I was more determined than ever.<br />
<br />
I never came last on a run, in fact I made sure to be in the lead half of the platoon in everything we did, in spite of my extra load.<br />
<br />
After basic it was all easy. After that all I had to do was be good at math and get through my electronics training.<br />
<br />
When I joined my unit they were off in Cyprus on a Peacekeeping tour.<br />
<br />
That's what I was there for, but I wasn't allowed to go. I had to wait in the empty barracks, doing simple tasks for months until they returned.<br />
<br />
Several years later, when the chance to volunteer for Peacekeeping in the former Yugoslavia came along, I jumped at the chance. They didn't have openings for me in my trade, but they needed drivers. Even though I wasn't going as a technician, I was thrilled at the chance. We trained hard for two months and flew over.<br />
<br />
I won't go into all the details. We lost two good men. Cpl. Johnny Baichard, and my friend, Capt. Jim Decoste. The stories are heart-wrenchingly awful, especially Cpl. Baichard's death, so, suffice to say I'd seen enough. I got out of the Army.<br />
<br />
I wandered.<br />
<br />
Emotionally.<br />
<br />
Career-wise.<br />
<br />
I forgot all about writing. <br />
<br />
I couldn't settle down. I did construction. Went to college, but couldn't stick with anything.<br />
<br />
In retrospect, I probably had PTSD. Maybe I still do.<br />
<br />
I found computer animation, and the creative outlet was good for me. Even working to the crazy demands of some clients was satisfying in its way.<br />
<br />
A lull in work became a gap, then a chasm. I needed something to fill the time, and that's when I started to write again. At some point I realized I'd done just what I'd set out to do. See the world, experience life from all different angles.<br />
<br />
Now all I had to do was put all that experience on the page somehow.<br />
<br />
That's the hard part.<br />
<br />
I'm still trying.<br />
<br />
Maybe I'll get there one day.Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-29432273516438311432013-01-09T10:23:00.000-08:002013-01-09T10:23:07.390-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-6, C-3
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers (humans who have been turned into animalistic killing
machines by exposure to Mist) and a Mist infestation with the help of
sharpshooter Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship
Hecate. In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to a crime-boss,
Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named Shorty came to
their rescue and joined the crew. On a smuggling run to Atlantis they picked up
the latest member of the crew, Dog, a runaway gladiator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Lately the crew tried to recover several tons of
gold from Charkart’s warehouse, but they had to dump it to avoid crashing into
a lake, as Hecate had taken heavy damage during a firefight. Tom managed to
rescue some of the gold, but was dragged through a wisp of Mist. Before the
psychotic rage that overtook him caused him to kill anyone, Ishara, a
mysterious ghost-woman who haunts Hecate, twisted something inside his brain
that knocked Tom unconscious. Now she’s patched his brain to keep him from turning
into a Dragger, but the fix is only temporary. What’s more, Charkart has assembled
an army to recover the lost gold and his forces are assaulting Bedford, where
Hecate is currently undergoing repairs.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">6</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
3</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Half-way to the staccato sound of gunfire, Willow
caught up with Tom and the Sheriff. “Tom, you have to come quick!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stopped. “What’s wrong, can’t you see we’re in
the middle of a war?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s Ishara, she’s gone all crazy, says she needs
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Crazier than usual?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Incandescent, Tom. You need to come.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Sheriff nodded at Tom. “Go on, son. One gun on
the line won’t win the battle. Best we just prepare to fight the good fight,
and surrender on our own terms.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom bolted for Hecate, leaving Willow behind,
panting in his wake. When he got close he could see the entire bridge of Hecate
was lit up and shimmering, like a powerful spotlight passing through water. The
open field where Hecate rested on her stubby landing legs was bathed in pale
blue light, casting eerie shadows in all directions. He threw open the forward
hatch, and saw that the rest of the crew was waiting nervously outside the door
to the bridge. Even Dog looked uneasy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Inside the bridge, Ishara was raging. Tom shielded
his eyes with his arm and approached her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You made me do this Tom! You foolish, foolish boy.
Why oh why wouldn’t you listen?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What’s going on Ishara. Let’s just settle down a
little, okay?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I will not settle down! You made me do this! It’s
on your head.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom could still make out the faint sounds of gunfire
at the edge of town. He hoped the locals were still holding their own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara, we have a bit of a war going on here. I
really do not have time for your games right now. What are you doing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m calling to them, Tom. They’re coming. Can’t
you feel them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom could feel something. A presence that wakened
the malevolent spirit wormed deep in his brain. Something in the hills was
drawing closer.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh hell Ishara. Did you call Mist and Draggers
down?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Had to do it… You made me. Your fault. Your greed,
foolish boy. Now go, I’m tired.” With that she flickered out like a blown
candle, leaving only a faint afterimage in Tom’s vision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom turned and saw the rest of the crew staring
through the open door. “Well, what’s the matter? You never seen a ghost before?
Get going, warn the townies they’re about to face the worst Mist they’ve ever
seen!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The crew scattered, and Tom fell to his knees.
Charkart’s men were about to be massacred. They might have been on the wrong
side of things, but nobody deserved what was coming for them. Was it all his
fault as Ishara had said? The spirit worming its way through his brain said
yes. Yes it was Tom’s doing, and it was good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">An explosion of pain ripped through Tom’s head. He pressed
at his temples, trying to hold his skull together. It felt like his brain might
explode any moment. The spirit within him wrestled him for control of the body.
It was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> body… not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his</i> body in that moment. The two of them
shared equal dominance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom squeezed his eyes shut, and focused every bit
of his being on fighting the evil presence. He screamed until his throat was
raw, his stomach roiled, and he fell to the ground, convulsing in pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Then without warning, it was gone, and Tom was
alone with his thoughts. He was curled in a fetal position in the bushes at the
edge of Hecate’s landing field. The fight with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other</i> in his head had seemed mere seconds long, but somehow he’d
left Hecate’s bridge and wandered away in that time. He shivered against the
cold night. There was a vile taste in his mouth and a hollow in his belly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom raised his hand to rub his eyes and smelled the
iron tang of blood. What had he done? He rose unsteadily and ran toward Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When he burst onto the bridge, Agatha spun his
chair around and raised an eyebrow. “Where have you been? You look like hell.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom paused, panting for breath. He’d half expected
to find the rest of the crew dead. “I… uhh, checking the perimeter. How are
things here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha tilted her head to the side. “Well, we were
a little worried about you, but all things considered it was an uneventful
night. I guess you’d know, you had the front-row seat, after all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah… uh…” Tom pulled out his pocket watch, it
read four-fifteen. Six hours since Charkart’s attack had started. There should
have been Mist and Draggers running rampant through town, instead Agatha was
acting like it was just another night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom burned with questions, but he was afraid to
give himself away. Agatha might very well put a hole in him if he said the
wrong thing, and he’d not only given her permission, he’d written her the
perfect excuse in his journal. He swallowed. She might even be right to finish
him off now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m gonna go clean up. You want me to relieve you
on watch?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha squinted at him suspiciously, fingering the
grip of her revolver. “Nah, you look like you need the rest more’n I do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stumbled to the head. The mirror showed him a
wild man with matted hair and dark splotches across his face. He gently applied
some soap and water to reveal himself under all the muck and blood. There were
two nasty gashes near his temples that looked to have been made by his own
thumbnails. Tom breathed a sigh. At least it seemed all the blood was his own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He stared deep into the mirror, but as far as he
could tell he looked normal. The thing in his brain was silent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Safely back in his own cabin, Tom collapsed on his
bed. “Ishara… Ishara what the hell happened?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Tom… I’m glad you’re okay.” She didn’t appear, and
her voice was a mere mosquito buzz in his ear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m glad I’m okay too.” Tom grinned, but it
quickly turned to a grimace. “Am I okay?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“For now. Did I ever tell you that you remind me of
Nergal?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara, this is no time for reminiscing. What
happened?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“People thought Nergal was evil… well some did. Did
you know that? He wasn’t evil. He was actually really nice, but he’s gone now,
along with so many others.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Please try to focus. I need to know what happened,
and I can’t ask the others. They’ll kill me if they find out I’ve been infected
by Mist.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We needed him. Killing him was the big mistake.
The biggest. They all needed some place to go. Without somewhere to go, all
they did was hang around. And you can’t leave that much power just floating
around now can you? Someone’s bound to take advantage.” Ishara sighed. “Everything
was better before they killed Nergal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom had never felt the urge to slap a woman before
in his life. Now that he did it was useless. He laughed at the thought.
Slapping a ghost, that was a joke. He was a bigger joke, thinking he could get
any sense out of her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Why are you laughing at me Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Not at you… at myself.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Really? I’ve heard your jokes. They’re not that
funny.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It wasn’t that kind of laugh.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh… the sad kind then? Are you sad Tom? What’s
wrong?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What’s wrong? I have some evil spirit fighting for
control of my body, a fight you’ve told me I’m destined to lose sooner or
later, I keep blacking out and losing time…. I thought I’d actually killed some
of my own crew! On top of that my first mate is ready to kill me if I blink
funny and I haven’t a thrice-damned clue what’s been going on for the past six
hours!” Tom paused, panting. “Other than that I’m doing great! How about you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, I’ve been better. I’m dead you know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rubbed at his eyes. “Yeah… I’d figured that one
out. Thanks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Really? I didn’t know until just a few hours ago.
I guess it explains a lot.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Like what?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I keep losing bits of myself… Like memories, and
other things.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sanity?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Now, now, be nice. Though I suppose I must seem a
little bit crazy to one in your position.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“A little bit… yeah. Just like I’m in a little bit
of a bad place myself, you know the whole turning into a monster who will kill
all my friends before my twenty-first birthday. Ha ha… Just a teensy bit
annoying that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Really? I’d have thought it would upset you more.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sighed. “That was a joke.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“See? That’s what I mean. You really need to work
on your sense of humour, Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah… why don’t you tell me a joke for a change?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Okay, how about this.” Ishara giggled. “I actually
managed perfect control of the Mist. I think that’s because of the artefact up
in the hills. It’s a powerful one, maybe one of the Decatria. The Mist swept
down and engulfed Charkart’s men before they knew what had happened. A few
survivors ran toward the Bedford defenders and were picked off like lambs. The
entire attacking force, hundreds of men, were killed or turned to Draggers in a
matter of hours. It was a total massacre.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That’s not funny… that’s horrible. Poor beggars.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Horrible? Oh. I guess I’m not good at telling
jokes either.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rolled his eyes. “You can say that again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I guess I’m not good—”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom snorted a humourless laugh. “Not what I meant!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Made you laugh.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You know, the more I talk with you, the more I
wonder which one of us is crazy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Can’t it be both?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom closed his eyes and massaged his face. “I’m
going to sleep now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We were just getting to the important matters.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Gosh, and here I thought we were off on another insane
tangent of yours designed to drag me down into your own personal world of crazy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If you want to be like that, I won’t tell you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rolled his eyes. “Fine, what is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, no. You’re tired, and you need your beauty
rest.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara, just tell me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Wouldn’t want to interfere with your precious
sleep. No no no, that would be a crime.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Aww, don’t pout, just tell me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Won’t. But in the morning you should really ask me
about how to cure you, fix the Mist problem and save the world… that’s all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What? Ishara, you know how to do that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yes, it all came back to me just now. That’s why I
did it. That’s why I’m here, and that’s why I keep saving you. Good night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara, this is very important. I need to know
now, before you forget again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom listened intently but heard no response.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara, please tell me now. I’m sorry I called you
crazy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was still no response.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara! Ishara!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">End of Episode 6</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/12/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-6-c-2.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> Next -----></span></span></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-83143826674421491542012-12-23T15:19:00.004-08:002012-12-23T15:19:44.030-08:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4njkzcVw6a3uNsFFkStFfFavFNq-_GaooyfsSmliW3yW-g56uDeAcTJUsquYLcdEUxDDgHjJh1SwXKwOWDv0wUkQork2YMo2r3Khwt3dHZYu0CVydaxIxTN-VZd7SvtPgBNob3X4eoM/s1600/Steampunk+Santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4njkzcVw6a3uNsFFkStFfFavFNq-_GaooyfsSmliW3yW-g56uDeAcTJUsquYLcdEUxDDgHjJh1SwXKwOWDv0wUkQork2YMo2r3Khwt3dHZYu0CVydaxIxTN-VZd7SvtPgBNob3X4eoM/s640/Steampunk+Santa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The Orphans are taking a well-deserved break for the holidays. They'll be back in the new year with more fantastic adventures!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Art courtesy <a href="http://steampunkscholar.blogspot.ca/">Steampunk Scholar</a></span>Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-16643638531202463512012-12-18T09:32:00.002-08:002013-01-09T10:23:30.995-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-6, C-2<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers (humans who have been turned into animalistic killing
machines by exposure to Mist) and a Mist infestation with the help of
sharpshooter Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship
Hecate. In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to a crime-boss,
Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named Shorty came to
their rescue and joined the crew. On a smuggling run to Atlantis they picked up
the latest member of the crew, Dog, a runaway gladiator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Lately the crew tried to recover several tons of
gold from Charkart’s warehouse, but they had to dump it to avoid crashing into
a lake, as Hecate had taken heavy damage during a firefight. Tom managed to
rescue some of the gold, but was dragged through a wisp of Mist. Before the
psychotic rage that overtook him caused him to kill anyone, Ishara, a
mysterious ghost-woman who haunts Hecate, twisted something inside his brain
that knocked Tom unconscious. Now she’s patched his brain to keep him from
turning into a Dragger, but the fix is only temporary. What’s more, Tom just
found out that Charkart is assembling an army to invade Bedford, where Hecate
is currently undergoing repairs, because Charkart thinks they still have the
gold.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">6</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter 2</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom took a deep breath. “Whoa now… before I start,
you have to promise me two things.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha’s pistol wavered for a moment from his
forehead, then she snapped it back into position. “Why should I promise you
anything?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They’re simple requests. All I want is that you
keep this conversation between the two of us for now, and that you hear me out
fully before pullin’ that trigger.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Okay, but only if you back off a few paces.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom slowly stepped backwards until Agatha lowered
the barrel of her revolver. He let out a breath and thought about how he could
phrase things to avoid being filled full of holes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Don’t make me wait too long, Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right… sure, well first off, I wasn’t being quite
straight up when I told you I didn’t hit any Mist.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha snapped the revolver back up into firing
position, aimed straight at his head. “I knew it! God damn bastard! I should
kill you right now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You promised! Agatha, hear me out. Am I acting
like a Dragger?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She lowered the gun so it was pointed at his chest.
“No… but I don’t know everything about Draggers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, you don’t. I don’t think many people do.
It’s…. You know where you go when you die?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re seriously not doing anything to allay my
concerns here, Tom, talkin’ about me dyin’ and all…. I suppose you’re just
gone, finished, blackness, whatever.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, seems it’s more complicated than that. Mist
is made up of dead people, Agatha, somehow their souls have been… I don’t know,
defiled or something. They possess the living ‘cause they’re impotent on their
own.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re still not convincin’ me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right, well Ishara is a ghost too. Only she’s
whole, and she has some kind of powers. She fixed me so the spirit inside me
can’t take possession.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You have any idea how crazy all this sounds?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grimaced. “Some. If I hadn’t lived it I
probably wouldn’t believe it either. You’ve got to admit it explains Ishara at
least.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha paused and rubbed at her temple with her off
hand. “Yeah… it does that. So why is she undamaged, and everyone else is driven
to killin’ rage?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I have no idea, but I think we can use this. If we
can learn more, we can figure out how to do somethin’ about the Mist. Maybe
even get rid of it entirely.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha holstered her revolver. “Even the chance of
that is worth the risk. You show any signs of cracking though, and I won’t hold
back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “Agatha, if it comes to that, I expect
no less. I’ll write a journal explaining everything, and keep it in the secret
compartment in my room. If you have to kill me, you can use that to explain why.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of
her sleeve. “Tom I…” her eyes started to mist, and she looked away, “I hope it
don’t come to that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right, well I second that. Now, let’s go back a
page. Who the hell could have stolen my gold?”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Harry Rees did not look pleased to see Nikki and
Willow again. “You brought the gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki nodded and held up a messenger pouch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Rees brightened slightly. “Let’s see it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki dropped the heavy bag on the table. “There’s
a bonus in it for you, if you can keep word we’re alive from getting back to
our parents.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Rees sniffed. “You two ought to give me a bonus for
being a pain in my ass. If Charkart invades, I’ll have to find a new place to
do business.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow pushed the bag forward. “Well then you ought
to be thankful. An extra two pounds of gold should help you relocate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Rees laughed. “Fair, but you know they’ll hear
about you sooner or later.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You let us worry about that.” Willow turned and
led Nikki out. “Come on, let’s get back to Hecate before anyone misses us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki sighed. “Yeah… yeah.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’re just doing what we got to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Stealing from Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow put her arm around Nikki’s shoulder. “We’ll
make it up to him, and it’s a damn sight better than going back to Mom and
Dad.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki nodded. “The plan was for us to have so much
gold Tom’d never notice it missing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nikki, I don’t like crossing Tom either, but we
did what we had to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I know… I just, I’d feel better if he was awake. I
could have asked.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nikki, don’t you do it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Do what?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re going to tell him when he comes ‘round
aren’t you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No…” Nikki shoved her hands deep in her pockets, “well
maybe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Just let it be, he’ll be right cranky when he
finds out it’s missing. We add in our affiliations, which is bound to come out
in that discussion, and we might as well just go back to the Dodgers now.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Where have you been?” Tom eyed Nikki and Willow as
they boarded Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki was about to speak when Willow elbowed her in
the midriff. “Just stretchin’ our legs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki swallowed and nodded. “I’m so glad you’re
okay, Tom. You are okay… right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned. “Well, truth told, I felt terrible
when I woke up. Now I’m doing a whole mess better. If it weren’t for the
missing gold and Charkart on the warpath I’d be right dandy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki shuffled her feet and cleared her throat. She
looked ready to say something when Willow threw her arms around Tom and gave
him hug. “We were worried about you ya big lug.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom put an arm around Nikki’s shoulder. “Well, I’m
fine. Is that what’s getting to you, or losing the gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Bit of both, I guess.” Nikki sniffed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s okay, really. I’m fine. I was pretty wound up
when I found the gold missing, but I don’t blame you. I will stake whoever took
it to an anthill and smother him in honey though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow punched him in the arm. “Don’t you think
that’s a little harsh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “Right, maybe I’ll just yank out all
their finger and toenails with a pair of rusty pliers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, we’ll probably never know who did it, so
what does it matter? Gone is gone. We’ll find a way to make more.” Willow
shrugged. “We should get back to helping Shorty fix up Hecate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You don’t think it was one of the crew?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow scratched her ear. “Maybe, but we had a
half-dozen or so people from Bedford on board before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anyone</i> noticed the gold was missin’. Could have been any one of
them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What I don’t get is why they left us enough for
repairs. Why not take all of it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Who knows what goes through the minds of thieves
and criminal lowlife types. We’re just a couple of small-town girls, right
Nikki?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki frowned at her sister and sighed. “Yeah…. By
the way, Tom, Sheriff is holding a town hall tonight. He wants one of us to
stop by, give our side of things, you know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sure, I can handle that, sounds like fun.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Get out of our town!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom ducked as a beer bottle whistled overhead. The crowd
gathered in the town square roiled with anger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Pipe down!” The Sheriff of Bedford stepped
forward, shielding Tom. “Any one of you throws another thing is going to land
in jail so fast they’d swear they was born there!” He waited a moment for the
crowd to settle. “Now, y’all know this has been comin’ for some time. If it
weren’t for Hecate and her crew, Charkart would be comin’ in a month, or a
year, maybe two, but sure as shootin’ he’d be comin’. Point is they didn’t bring
trouble.” The Sheriff waved his hand in Tom’s direction. “Charkart is the enemy
here, and any in-fightin’ goes on here only helps him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If we got rid of them at least we’d have another
while to prepare!” A tall man from the crowd pushed forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That ship has sailed my friend. Once Charkart
mounted an army there was only one place he was going to point it. There’s no
way he’ll stand down, even if they left today.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“But what if we turn them over?” A woman’s voice
from the crowd. “All he wants right now is them!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Sheriff tipped his hat. “Ma’am, respectfully,
he wants the gold he thinks they have more than he wants them. Even if we
turned ‘em over, he’d think we were hidin’ the gold.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, how do we know they ain’t hiding the gold?”
The tall man pressed forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah who would dump that much gold!” a fat man at
the front said. “I’d push my wife out first if the load needed lightening.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’d push your wife out for free!” shouted
another voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Point is,” said the tall man, “we think they’re
holdin’ out. And we want our share!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We want a share! We want a share!” The crowd
chanted, all of them surging forward at once.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Sheriff backed off and put his hand to the
revolver at his side. “Sorry ‘bout this Tom. I suspect Charkart’s men have been
working behind the scenes here to rile folks up. They ain’t normally so
cutthroat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom was about ready to draw his own pistol, when a
series of gunfire reports echoed across the small valley. Everyone froze and
listened to the wind. The shots continued, a rapid exchange of fire between two
sides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They’re here!” called the Sheriff. “Every armed
man get to your perimeter stations. Tom, you come with me.” He took off at a
run toward the sound of battle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/12/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-6-c-1.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2013/01/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-6-c-3.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-72477058765530572952012-12-10T10:58:00.000-08:002012-12-18T09:33:00.576-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-6, C-1<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers (humans who have been turned into animalistic killing
machines by exposure to Mist) and a Mist infestation with the help of
sharpshooter Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship
Hecate. In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to a crime-boss,
Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named Shorty came to their
rescue and joined the crew. On a smuggling run to Atlantis they picked up the
latest member of the crew, Dog, a runaway gladiator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Lately the crew tried to recover several tons of
gold from Charkart’s warehouse, but they had to dump it to avoid crashing into
a lake, as Hecate had taken heavy damage during a firefight. Tom managed to
rescue some of the gold, but was dragged through a wisp of Mist. Before the
psychotic rage that overtook him caused him to kill anyone, Ishara, a
mysterious ghost-woman who haunts Hecate, twisted something inside his brain
that knocked Tom unconscious.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">6</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
1</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom woke feeling like he’d spent the night with a
horse sleeping on him. Every fibre of his body was sore and cold. More than
that, his spirit was flayed raw, he felt angry and afraid. Something had
happened to him… but he was at a loss to figure out what.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He squeezed his eyes shut. “Shut up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh… you’re awake? Rise and shine sleepy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom couldn’t place the voice. He blinked his eyes
open and gradually the world swam into view around him. He was lying on his bed
on Hecate. No engine noise, so they must be stopped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He turned to the side and groaned. “Not you…
Ishara, what are you doing here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yes me, of course me…. Should I be offended by his
ever-so-rude manner? Perhaps I should give him a little wiggle room on this
one, after all it’s not every day a man gets himself infected by Mist through
his own stupid greed and general thick-headedness, now is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I… that wasn’t a dream?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nonono, Tom dear. You were naughty, ignored my
advice didn’t you. Ignored my advice and paid the price, that’s what happened
to poor Tom Cain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“But I’m not… you know, a raving maniac.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Saved you, I did that. Saved you from your idiocy.
Though why I bother is beyond me. Men like you can never really be saved.
You’ll find a way to undo all the patches I’ve made in your head soon enough.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sat up, his head swam. If he focused, he
realized he could see straight through Ishara to the bulkhead behind her. She
really was a ghost. “Patches?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She shook her head. “Temporary… though I suppose
all things are. Even the land which hath borne Man shall one day turn to dust.”
She frowned. “Where do I know that from?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“How long until the patches fail?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“En-men-lu-ana.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What the hell are you talking about Ishara?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“En-men-lu-ana.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom took a deep breath. “What does that mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“En-men-lu-ana was a poet, and a king. I knew him
as a poet first, before the throne went to his head. He was a lousy poet after
he ascended. That’s where I remembered the line from. It was one of his.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I don’t care about your stupid poet! How long
until the patches in my brain fail and I turn into a bloodthirsty beast?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh… that.” Ishara narrowed her eyes at Tom. “Two
weeks, two months, two years… one of those I think. Probably not two days or
two hours.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Not, maybe, two decades?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara laughed. “Two decades is twenty years Tom.
No, you have two something, at most.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“At most?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yes Tom… that means maybe less.” She rolled her
eyes at him. “Depends on you. I can help you fight, but only while you’re
young. Once you’re a full adult….”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I lose my mind and start killing anybody in
sight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara nodded. “That is a good summary Tom, I’m
glad to see you’ve been paying attention.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Thanks.” Tom groaned and rolled to the edge of the
bed, pulling the sheet with him to cover his nakedness. His clothes were there,
but his pistol was gone, and his rigging knife was missing from his belt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara laughed. “I will go now. You have a lot to
catch up with.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, whatever. Say hi to Enmenlulu for me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“En-men-lu-ana. I’d say hi, but he’s been dead for
several millennia.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grunted. “Aren’t you dead too?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara’s face fell. “Tom, it’s very rude to remind
me of that. How would you feel if you were dead and the living rubbed your nose
in it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rubbed his eyes, unsure which would drive him
insane first, the twisted remains of a human soul nestled inside him, or
Ishara. “I mean, if he’s dead, isn’t he a ghost too?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh Tom, how do you think this works?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Honestly, I haven’t a deuced clue, and I don’t
much care either.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well fine, be that way then.” Ishara faded from
nearly substantial-looking to nothing, and in no more than a second she was
gone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head and mumbled under his breath,
“Crazy bitch.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
heard that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom threw his boot in the direction of the
disembodied voice. “Yeah, well stay the hell out of my quarters! Did you hear
that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was no response.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After getting dressed, Tom swung his door wide and
nearly fell over Agatha. She sat against the opposite side of the hall, with
her feet nearly in his doorway. One leg was bound up in a cast. Tom began to
wonder how long he’d been out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha blinked and looked up at him. Her eyes shot
open, and she made a grab for her revolver.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Whoa whoa, Agatha! What’s goin’ on?” Tom raised
his open hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha narrowed her eyes at him. Her revolver was
clear of its holster, but she left it pointed away from him. “You feelin’ okay
Tom?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shrugged. “Sore as hell, but I reckon I’ll
live.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha played her trigger finger back and forth
across the trigger guard, as if itching to slide it inside. “What do you
remember?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Y’all dumped the gold… I saved some bars and got
on the ladder… I got to the top and… passed out I guess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nothin’ else? You didn’t hit no Mist?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom remembered the cold shock of his leg connecting
with the tendril of Mist. The evil spirit worming its way into his brain,
overwhelming Tom’s persona with the desire to kill. “No. If I had, I wouldn’t
be talkin’ to you now would I?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha slipped her revolver back in its holster.
“All right. You were laughing some crazy when we hauled you in. I was ‘bout
ready to blast you full of lead when you collapsed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well thanks for holding back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Tom, I ain’t never gonna hold back. If it hadn’t a
been for my broken leg, and Willow jumping on my arm, you’d be a dead man right
now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ahh… I see. How long was I out?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nearly three days. A lot’s happened. Help me to my
feet, and I’ll catch you up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom got Agatha to her feet and handed her the
crutch that had been lying next to her. The two of them made their way to the
galley, and Tom began to prepare himself a feast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After a few bites, Tom looked around. “Where is
everybody?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Busy. Look, Tom, we done pissed off Charkart
something royal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“But, no big deal right? We made it away. We just
won’t go back to that neck of the woods for a few years.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s a very big deal Tom. I don’t think he knows
we dumped most of the gold. Story is he’s amassing an army in Havenvale,
getting ready to invade.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom blinked. “Charkart’s going to invade Johnson
City?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Didn’t make it that far. Six gasbags were
punctured, and we were losin’ altitude even after droppin’ the gold. We only
made it as far as Bedford, and you can thank Nikki for that. Charkart’s only a
half-day’s trip away, and Bedford has nothing like the manpower we’d need to
defeat him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“So what’s the plan?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Townies are right sideways about it. They want us
gone yesterday. Only the Sherriff and a few old hands took our side, they’re
organizin’ a militia to help fight off Charkart. Shorty’s got the others
workin’ to fix the gasbags, but he figures it’ll be at least a week before we
can get airborne.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rubbed his eyes. “So what’s the plan to defend
Bedford?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’re hopin’ it don’t come to that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Holy hell Agatha! You hope! That’s the plan?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha dropped her gaze. “I don’t know how to fight
a war, Tom. Do you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom was about to answer that he had no idea either,
but there was something inside him that did. He tried not to think too deeply
about it as he accessed the knowledge of the psychotic spirit lodged inside his
skull. Whoever the spirit had been in life, they knew a lot about warfare, and
though Ishara had created an emotional barrier between Tom and the other, it
didn’t block all passage of thought. In fact it was almost as if the other
man’s skills and training belonged in Tom’s own past. The only thing missing
was the memories that would have given that knowledge context.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well first light tomorrow, we need to run a team
of scouts up to the ridge overlooking Black Lake. If I remember the terrain
right, it’s a natural choke point. Even a handful of rifles there could hold
off an army for several hours. They can take to the trees at night, like we
did, and watch for movement during the day.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What good does a few hours buy us? We need a
week!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, we don’t. There’s what… eleven or so hours of
daylight per day, this time of year. Movin’ a big group of men overland slows
things down, so the trip’s gonna take at least nine hours. All the men on the
ridge have to do is hold them for two, three hours, then retreat. Our small
unit can take to high ground and spend the night in the trees, but a big army
can’t do that. They’ll have to turn back or face the Mist.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha narrowed her eyes. “How do you know all
this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned. “I guess I read too many adventure
stories when I was younger.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha snorted. “That explains a whole mess of
things about you, Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Speakin’ of adventures… where’s my treasure at?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha averted her eyes. “I put it in the armoury
safe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom frowned. “What’s the matter?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Uhh, Tom, I don’t rightly know how to say this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh come on! It can’t be that bad. Did you spend
too much on parts? That’s okay, I must have rescued a dozen pounds of gold
easy! We’re still sittin’ pretty right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, ‘bout that Tom….” Agatha grimaced and shook
her head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well for Lord’s sakes, spit it out! The suspense
is killin’ me. Is it gone?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha looked about ready to cry. Tom had never
seen her that upset before. He was so used to her being the tough one, he’d
almost forgotten she was younger than him by a few years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s gone isn’t it! What, all of it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m so sorry Tom. I don’t know what happened! We
put the gold away safe, like I said…. Next mornin’ it was nearly all gone. If
we cut a few corners there’s enough for repairs, and a new cargo lift, and
that’s it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom felt woozy. The shock of losing all that gold,
after he’d sacrificed what he had…. Doomed himself to decay and eventual
insanity. He felt the spirit wormed into his brain testing, probing for
weakness. The urge to kill crept forward. He started to hyperventilate, then
the rapid breathing turned to laughter. It would be so easy to spill her soul.
There would be nobody to stop him, and she deserved it, losing his money like
that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A metallic click brought him back to reality. Tom
blinked and realized he was staring down the barrel of Agatha’s revolver. She
stood, quivering in a corner of the mess. When had he crossed the room, or even
arisen from his chair? There were gaps in time he couldn’t explain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom raised his hands slowly. “Whoa there Agatha.
Just hold it. Sorry I went off a bit there… umm, so who could have taken the
gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha raised her left hand to steady her aim.
“What’s goin’ on with you, Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nothin’, really… I’m fine. Just, sorta taken
aback…. You know, losing all that gold.”</span></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">She narrowed her eyes. “That’s not it. You’d better do some quick
explainin’ Tom, my finger is gettin’ awful twitchy here.”</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/12/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-6.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.ca/2012/12/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-6-c-2.html"> Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-31714149991071137832012-12-02T22:15:00.001-08:002012-12-10T10:58:54.321-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-5, C-6<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to
a crime-boss, Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named
Shorty came to their rescue and joined the crew. They did lose what they
thought was a near-worthless cargo of lead bars. It turned out the ‘lead’ was
actually gold, with a thin coating of lead to disguise it. Now the crew is
trying to recover their lost treasure. Nikki, Shorty and Willow are due any
minute rendezvous at Charkart’s warehouse with Hecate. Tom, Dog and Agatha are
running out of time, they’ve moved the cargo to the third floor, but Charkart
set fire to a cargo of diesel fuel on the ground.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">5</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter 6</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The temperature on the third floor shot up in
seconds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“The wagon is still on the lift! It stopped just
short of this floor.” Dog pointed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom ran over to see that the lift had come up
several inches short of the third floor. The three of them threw their weight
into it, but it was too much to pull the five ton cargo over.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha scrambled up onto the wagon and started
throwing bricks off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No!” screamed Tom. “We’ll build a ramp!” He ran to
grab some boards while Agatha ignored him and carried on dumping their cargo.
She’d dumped a few dozen by the time he got the makeshift ramp in place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Try again!” called Tom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha jumped down and hauled at the wagon, while
Dog moved to the rear of the lift and pressed his back against the wagon, using
his feet straight against the wall of the elevator to push.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Smoke billowed up the staircases, and the floors
under their feet were getting warm as the wagon lurched from the lift.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Run run run! We need some speed built to get the
back wheels over!” called Tom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The three of them strained to build momentum. The
wagon’s rear wheels hit with a crunch and almost rolled back, but for a final
push from Dog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha coughed and blinked back tears from the
smoke. “Pull, come on!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The wagon creaked around the corner, and jammed
against a row of shelves. The passage was too narrow for them to make the turn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Come on we’ve got to get these shelves out of the
way!” Tom started to unload the end of the shelves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog put an arm out, blocking Tom. “Let me.” He drew
his gladius and hacked at the wooden legs of the shelf on the far side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha drew her revolver and set to work shooting
out the next leg. Soon the entire shelf groaned and collapsed against the wall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They hauled the wagon to the window, but there was
no sign of Hecate yet. Smoke was boiling up the staircases, and sweat poured
off the three crewmates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom checked his watch. “They’re not due for another
two minutes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog pointed to the far side of the warehouse, where
flames were starting to climb the staircase. “I don’t think we have two
minutes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The smoke was too thick, Tom coughed repeatedly,
and stuck his head out the window for a breath of fresh air. A crackle of
gunfire below sent exploding brick shards into his face. Tom hurriedly
withdrew.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha and Dog were lying on the floor, wheezing
for air. Tom lay next to them. “We’re going to have to jump if they don’t show
soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha coughed. “Charkart’s gonna eat us alive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shrugged. “You wanna burn?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A large section of floor collapsed, sending a gout
of flame up to the third floor. The heat washed over the three crewmates. It
cleared the smoke away, but the air was so hot and dry it burned their lungs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom closed his eyes. “I’ll go with whatever you
guys decide. Do we jump or stay?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha took Tom’s hand in her right, and Dog’s hand
in her left. “I say we stay. Stick together to the end.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog nodded. “It would be good to die among friends.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">At that moment another crackle of gunfire came from
below. Above they heard a faint, “Yaaahoo!” and the sound of a shotgun
returning fire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stuck his head out to see Hecate’s lift. Shorty
dangled over the edge, blasting merrily away at the crowd below with his
sawed-off shotgun. “You folks need a lift?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom and Dog scrambled behind the wagon and pushed
it over. Gunfire from below continued. Agatha jumped on to the elevator and
began to snap off shots at the men below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Slowly the wagon rolled across, bumping down as it
moved from the building to the lift. As the front wheels of the wagon hit, the
lift began to sink, tipping the whole cart forward dramatically. Several dozen
gold bricks teetered forward, and spilled off the edge of the lift onto the ground
below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Behind them, there was a mighty roar and woosh, as
the far wall of the warehouse collapsed. The rear wheels of the wagon cleared,
and it shot forward, out of Tom and Dog’s control, smashing against the far
side of the elevator cage. They heard a scream from the front of the wagon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty launched a flare, and Hecate powered up,
full throttle, pulling them away from the side of the warehouse. Tom slammed
the elevator gate shut, just as the wagon came rolling back up against it, and
they were off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">More gunfire crackled below, but it faded in the
distance. Tom scrambled around the wagon to see Agatha lying on the floor of
the lift, clutching at her leg. “God damn wagon ran me over!” Her lower leg was
bent at a funny angle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom turned to Shorty. “We’ve got to get her up!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty took the winch controls, the lift jolted
upwards, then stopped. He tried again, with the same result. “Too heavy!” He
looked up to the belly of Hecate, where Willow was leaning out, watching the
action below. “Willow! We need a ropeladder!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She cupped her hand to an ear, and Dog bellowed,
“Rope-ladder!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow nodded and withdrew her head. A moment later
a ropeladder snaked down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog picked Agatha up, and slung her over his
shoulder. “Tom, you go first and help me get over the lip when we reach the
top.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head. “Shorty, you do it. I’m stayin’
with the gold. Tune the engines for speed when you get a chance. I think we
might have company soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty nodded and scrambled up the ladder. Dog
followed a moment later, climbing carefully with one hand holding Agatha, and
one for the ladder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shivered as the night wind whistled around the
elevator cage and admired his haul. Enough gold for all of them to do as they
pleased. He hoped the crew wouldn’t break up, given the choice he’d rather stay
with them, and Hecate, no matter how rich he became. Maybe he’d retire to an
estate on Atlantis when he was done adventuring around the world, away from the
Mist. Until then the money was insurance. They’d never have to take a shady
deal, or fight for work again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Behind them a spotlight stabbed into the night,
skewering Tom and the lift in its beam. Tom blinked and shaded his eyes. The
pursuing zeppelin was far behind. Once Shorty tuned the engines, Hecate would
be safely away before they figured out what had happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom thumbed his nose at their pursuers, though they
were probably too far off to see it. “Never catch us now, suckers!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was a clang and the sound of breaking wood
from the side of the lift cage. Tom peered over the edge to see they were
skimming treetop height. The lift cage had just trimmed the top of a tree. What
was Nikki thinking? They were way too low.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate angled up, straining against gravity. Tom
heard the engines change pitch, one by one as Shorty tuned them, but they
weren’t gaining any altitude.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate was forced ever lower, now they had to
follow a deep valley to avoid crashing. Some of the gasbags must be leaking,
shot out in the firefight back in Havenvale. At the end of the valley, coming
up far too fast, a sight Tom recognized from the hike in. Black lake, seething
with Mist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog leaned out of the belly of Hecate’s cargo bay.
“Tom, we must jettison the lift!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom looked at the enormous pile of gold. “No!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“There is no choice! Take the ropeladder!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom ignored him. He scrambled to the pile of gold
bars and began to stuff as many as he could in his pockets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Tom, do not be a fool! Grab the ladder!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">One last brick into his jacket pocket, and Tom
waddled to the ladder, bulging at the seams. He looked ahead and saw they were
nearly at the lake. The mass of Mist towered over him, and the lift was headed
straight for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom hooked his arm onto the ladder and looked up.
“Okay! Cut it!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">One of the four steel cables holding the lift to
Hecate’s cargo bay severed with a sharp twang. The loose end sliced through the
air, narrowly missing Tom. Another twang and the next cable snaked past.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The lift below tilted at a crazy angle, and spilled
some of it’s cargo into the lake below, but the cage held fast, and most of the
gold remained. Above there was a groan of protest, the sound of metal too
strained to hold up. Then with a crash, one of the winding drums gave, then the
other. They smashed their way out of the cargo bay, and ripped through the air
past Tom. The whole mess disappeared into the Mist below, followed by a splash
as it hit water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate, suddenly freed of five tons of dead weight,
shot upward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Not fast enough. The wall of Mist in front of Tom
was building, even as Hecate rose upward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He wasn’t going to make it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom tried to climb, but he was too weighed down
with gold. Hecate strained upward, the ladder swung toward a clear patch in the
Mist, and somehow, miraculously, Tom threaded the needle of seething tendrils
that reached out clumsily for him. He was in the clear!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">One last weakened strand of Mist shot upwards. Tom
twisted to the side as far as he could go to swing himself away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The tendril connected with Tom’s leg, like a splash
of cold water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">At first he couldn’t believe it. Nothing had
changed. Maybe he was still too young to be infected by Mist. A deep sense of
loss overwhelmed him, replaced by anger, frustration and sadness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom looked up. Above, Shorty had rigged the
ropeladder to the remains of Hecate’s lift mechanism to haul him in. Willow
peered over the edge, smiling at him, and Tom wanted to rip her throat out. She
had what he needed. She had joy. He would tear her apart, and devour her soul,
then the others aboard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A laugh bubbled from his lips, the thrill of
knowing he’d soon possess their most treasured feelings. That was what he
needed, killing them would make everything better, make the pain go away and
warm his withered heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He could feel them, their pleasures, happiness,
love, satisfaction. Everything he lacked. He would take it all from them, rip their
chests open and take what he needed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara appeared beside him, and for the first time
he knew exactly what she was. A complete soul. A ghost, but not one that had
been stripped of all its warmth and humanity, like the one worming its way into
his brain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The thing inside him urged him to take her, but
Ishara just sighed. “Told you not to be greedy Tom. Told you, told you, now
I’ve got to scold you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom looked up again. He was nearing the lip of the
cargo-bay. Hands reached out for him. The urge to kill them all was nearly
overpowering, there was barely enough self-control left, but he held back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">As helping hands grabbed hold of his clothes to
pull him aboard, Ishara cocked her head to the side. “We’ll talk about this
tomorrow. For now, you need sleep if you’re to fight off the intruder.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She reached inside Tom’s forehead and pulled a cord
inside his brain, flipping a switch he never knew he had. Instantly the world
receded and Tom fell into darkness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-5.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/12/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-6-c-1.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-60878127715728687052012-11-25T22:07:00.004-08:002012-12-02T22:19:32.783-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-5, C-5<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to
a crime-boss, Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named
Shorty came to their rescue and joined the crew. They did lose what they
thought was a near-worthless cargo of lead bars. It turned out the ‘lead’ was
actually gold, with a thin coating of lead to disguise it. Now the crew is
trying to recover their lost treasure. Nikki, Shorty and Willow are scheduled
to rendezvous with Tom, Dog and Agatha at Charkart’s warehouse in the middle of
the night.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">5</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
5</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Two blocks from Charkart’s jail they heard shouts
for help behind over the rumble of their stolen wagon’s wheels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom broke stride and let go of the wagon’s harness.
“Oh hell. Somebody’s gonna hear pretty quick.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Should we go back and shut them up?” Agatha
fingered her revolver.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog pushed Agatha’s hand away from her sidearm. “No
killing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have to go. I
can get the job done.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog took her by the shoulders. “You do not know
what you are saying, Agatha. Every man you kill… it changes you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom frowned. “It’s okay Dog, I don’t think she has
the stones for it anyhow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha turned angrily on him. “Wanna bet? I’ll go
do it right now!” She tried to turn, but Dog held her firmly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head. “Gunshots would be worse than
yellin’ anyhow. Best we just make tracks for the warehouse and hope Hecate gets
there before Charkart’s men. Let’s get movin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha slipped the leather retaining strap back in
place over her revolver. “All right, fine. But don’t doubt my nerve. Not either
of you. Killin’ ain’t no big thing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog let her go. “Do not take that path Agatha.
Anger and killing will lead you down a course you do not want to follow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha grunted and shrugged past them. She picked
up the harness for the wagon and began to pull on her own. “Of all people, I
never took you for a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pacifist</i>, Dog.”
She said the word ‘pacifist’ like most women would say, ‘rapist’.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The cherry of a cigarette flared in the darkness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That’s number three.” Tom hissed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The three crewmates had hidden their wagon in an
alley a block away and scouted around the warehouse. Every entrance was
guarded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shrugged. “He’s probably got some expensive
stuff in there. Lowlife like Charkart’s always got more irons in the fire.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Roof looks like our only option then. Up where
there’s no guards, then down through a top-floor window.” Tom clapped Dog on
the shoulder. “You think you can climb that drainpipe?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog eyed the indicated route. “I am willing to try,
but I am no great climber.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“All right then. Me and Agatha will go that way,
you wait around the corner here. When we get inside we’ll open that door, and
the three of us jump the guard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog nodded. “That is probably safer. If you can
distract him from inside, I can catch him off-guard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom took the lead. The solid, cast-iron pipe was
just right for a hand hold, and in minutes he was dangling clear over the
eaves, three stories above the alley below. A quick swing up and over, and he
scrambled onto the sloped roof.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A moment later he heard a grunt, and Agatha’s hand
came scrabbling at the edge of the roof. Tom lay down and took her hand to help
her clear the eaves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Together they crawled to the front of the building.
Tom leaned over as far as he dared. “How about I take you by the legs and you
see if you can jimmy the window?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There
must be another way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shrugged. “Maybe, but we don’t have time to
look. This is the easiest way in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha peered over the edge. “I just don’t like it
is all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You afraid of heights?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha snorted. “No… I ain’t afraid of anything.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What then?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She hesitated. “Fine, lower me down.” Agatha
shucked her gun belt and glared at Tom as if he’d done something wrong. She lay
on her stomach at the edge of the roof. Tom lay between her legs, took her
knees against his shoulders and wrapped his arms around her legs, then they
inched forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When Agatha’s waist cleared the edge she took in a
sharp breath. “Wait… you sure you got me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah c’mon, let’s go.” Tom tipped her over the
side, sliding her thighs against the corner of the roof until she was hanging
straight down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He could feel her moving around, then she twisted
sharply, almost out of his grip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Agatha, I’m losing you, come back!” Tom hissed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She squirmed more and kicked him in the face.
Before Tom knew what was happening she slithered free from his grip and fell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom scrambled forward and peered over the edge. The
window was open and Agatha was nowhere to be seen. He quickly slipped her
gunbelt over his own and turned to hang, legs down, from the edge of the roof.
His legs slipped through the window, and Tom lowered himself as far as he
dared, then swung up, and let go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He landed on the floor with a grunt. All around him
were corridors of shelving and crates, dimly lit by oil lamps at the
intersections.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hey, who’s there?” A man’s voice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rolled over and was caught in the beam of a
hand-held lantern. Before Tom could do anything, the guard inhaled sharply,
grunted and fell to the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha lowered the book she’d hit him over the head
with, and glanced at the cover. “Hmm, Crime and Punishment… fitting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rolled the man onto his stomach and began to
tie him up. “Does it ever seem to you like we’ve been doin’ this a lot lately?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When the man was securely bound, Agatha strapped on
her revolver. She and Tom snuck down to the ground floor, but didn’t see any
more guards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha hiked up her gunbelt and pulled her jacket
down to conceal it, then walked up to the door leading outside. “Hide, I got
this one.” She flung the door wide. Tom barely had time to duck behind a row of
shelves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The guard on the other side turned and stared at
her in surprise. “Who are you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha rolled her head to the side. “Why, hello
there. I’m looking for my Dog, have you seen him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No ma’am, there ain’t any dogs ‘round here. Who
let you—” An arm snaked around his neck, the guard’s eyes bugged, out. He
struggled for a moment, then went limp. As he fell, Dog caught him under the
arms, and dragged him into a dimly-lit corner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">As he was binding the man, Dog looked up at Agatha.
“Looking for your dog?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She grinned at him. “Worked, didn’t it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom checked his pocketwatch. “Hecate’s due in about
an hour. You two see if that trick will work again to disable the guards on the
main door, then get the wagon. I’ll look for the gold.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The ground-floor search turned up a large shipment
of fuel barrels, an array of antique furniture and other miscellaneous items,
but no gold bars. Tom did find a large diesel-driven lift however, which meant
the gold could be anywhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He found it on the second floor at about the same
time Dog and Agatha returned with the wagon, and ran down to meet them. He and
Dog manhandled the wagon onto the lift. It barely squeezed in after Dog hacked
a few extra bits off with his sword. Then they piled crates in front of the
downstairs doors so they wouldn’t be caught unawares if Charkart and his men
showed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Half an hour later, they were almost done loading
the wagon when they heard the sound of splintering wood below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ah hell! Agatha, you watch the north staircase,
I’ll take the south. Dog, keep loading, then get the wagon into the elevator!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom was just scrambling into position, prone at the
top of his staircase, when he saw a shadow move. He snapped off a quick shot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was a scramble of activity below. It sounded
like at least a dozen men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hold fire! Surely we can talk this out.”
Charkart’s voice floated up from the ground floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Like hell!” Tom called back. “Last time you tried
to sell us off as slaves. If I were a bettin’ man I’d guess you’ve got worse in
store this time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Perhaps we can work something out, no need for violence,
right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A shot from Agatha’s side of the warehouse betrayed
Charkart’s words. Below there was a grunt of pain, followed by a low moan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I think I winged one!” Agatha called. “How’s that
for some violence, you trumped up goose turd!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A moment later a gun opened up below, six shots in
rapid succession on Agatha’s side of the warehouse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You okay Agatha?” Tom called.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, just grazed me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Enough of this deuced business Charkart! Any one
of your men opens up below and you’re going to lose your entire warehouse of
goodies!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart laughed. “Oh yes? And how will you manage
that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I was hoping you’d ask!” Tom blasted eight quick
shots from his volcanic pistol on the fuel barrels below. The smell of diesel
fumes quickly filled the building. “You gonna risk ignitin’ that mess?” Tom
shoved fresh cartridges into the pistol’s magazine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You heard him men, hold fire…. What do you want?
We have this establishment surrounded. There is no possibility of you getting
out without going past us!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog came up behind Tom. “The wagon is loaded and on
the lift. Do I take it up, or down?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Up I guess… We’re going to have to figure a way
out from up there. Windows aren’t big enough for Hecate’s lift.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I will see what I can do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart’s voice came from below again, “What is it
going to take to get you out of there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well now, let me think. Perhaps your boys could
all lay down their weapons and let us take them prisoner?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You know that will never happen right? Stop playing
bloody fool games!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The lift engine kicked to life as Dog moved it to
the higher level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What are you up to?” Charkart called. Then, to
someone below he said, “Shut down that engine! No not with your rifle idiot,
you’ll set the place on fire, take that crowbar!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Soon after, the clang of metal on metal sounded,
and a moment after that, the diesel engine sputtered and died. There was no way
of knowing if Dog had made it to the top floor or not. Tom checked his
pocketwatch. Hecate was due in another five minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I am finished toying with you boy!” Charkart
sounded anxious. “You surrender now or I will burn this place to the ground
myself!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom snorted. “You’d torch your own stuff? Not
likely!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">From above came a crashing noise, repeated several
times, then a crushing, rending noise, followed by a karumf of heavy weight
falling into the street outside. Tom hoped that was Dog working on the escape
route. The smashing noises continued.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Now Charkart sounded frothing mad. “You’re tearing
my building apart, I see your stratagem now. Well, your precious airship won’t
save you! Everyone fall back, outside, and bring those useless guards with
you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned. “Aww, don’t be like that! We were just
getting friendly, you gonna run away?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If you come down now, I promise I will not kill
you!” Charkart sounded composed again, his words clipped and precise. “You have
ten seconds.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom checked his watch, Hecate was due in three
minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nine!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re bluffing!” Agatha called.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Eight!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He’s bluffing, ignore him!” she called again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Seven!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom wasn’t so sure. He got up and ran to Agatha’s
position.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Six!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Five!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I think he’s serious Agatha. Let’s go help Dog.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Four!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom gave Agatha a hand up, and they ran for the
staircase.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Three!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Two!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“One!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They reached the top floor and saw Dog had
collapsed a large section of wall using what looked like an antique warhammer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“So be it!” Charkart’s final words were followed by
a gunshot and a woosh of flame as several-hundred gallons of diesel caught all
at once.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-4.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/12/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-6.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-2067000132080964232012-11-18T21:22:00.003-08:002012-12-18T09:20:34.417-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-5, C-4<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to
crime-boss, Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named
Shorty came to their rescue and joined the crew. They did lose what they
thought was a near-worthless cargo of lead bars. It turned out the ‘lead’ was
actually gold, with a thin coating of lead to disguise it. Nikki, Shorty and
Willow waited with Hecate for word from Tom, Dog (an ex-gladiator the crew
rescued from Atlantis) and Agatha who were travelling overland to Havenvale,
but ran into trouble on the way.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">5</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
4</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That must be Black Lake.” Agatha pointed toward
the vista that opened up as she cleared the last ridge on the road to
Havenvale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom trudged a few more steps up the steep incline
before he could see it. “I have never seen the like.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Below the valley was completely shrouded in Mist,
it swirled and boiled angrily, sending dark tendrils flailing against the sides
of the valley, like a great beast in its death throes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“The trail is still clear behind us.” Dog crunched
up the gravel road behind Tom. “Does the Mist not usually behave that way?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head. “Last time I saw Mist this
aggressive was at Milton. I heard tell some spots on Earth are like magnets for
Mist though, maybe this is one of ‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“C’mon boys. We haven’t got all day to puzzle it
out.” Agatha gazed to the west. “About four more hours of sunlight left, and a
lot of miles still to cover.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right, I could use a night in a proper bed, and some
proper grub.” Tom shifted his gun belt so it would chafe at a slightly less raw
part on his waist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What, a handful of berries not good enough for
you?” Agatha turned with a grin and set off down the trail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Without you, we would not have even had those.”
Dog smiled and threw his shoulders back. He took a deep breath of the mountain
air and sighed. “It’s not so bad.” He clapped Tom on the shoulder. “Come on,
like Agatha says, time is not our ally.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grumbled, but quickly caught up with Agatha on
the downhill slope.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The sun was low in the sky when they finally came
in sight of Havenvale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sat on a rock outcropping for a moment to rest.
“’Bout time. I thought we might have to spend another night in the trees.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog grinned. “This way you will not get sappy
again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Was that a joke Dog?” Agatha raised an eyebrow at
him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Not a very good one. I am afraid humour is not my
strength.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“Not to worry, you have other strengths.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog nodded. “We all have our roles to play. That is
the nature of the world.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“How ‘bout we discuss this deeply philosophical,
and no doubt important stuff over beer and a hot meal?” Tom got up and set off
down the trail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">On the outskirts of town, they came across a small
saloon with a couple of rooms upstairs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The barkeep eyed the three of them suspiciously.
“Where’d you lot come from?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned. “We were with the caravan that pulled
in yesterday, from Bedford.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That a fact?” He narrowed his eyes at Tom and
Agatha. “Suppose you’ll be wantin’ a room an’ a hot meal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That’d be about right.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, I can oblige, we have one room open, supper
is bean stew, be ready in an hour. Meantime you can break a tooth on these if
you like.” He pulled a basket of bread slices from under the bar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Once they’d negotiated a fair price, Dog set off
for the telegraph office so Tom and Agatha could minimize their risk of being
spotted by Charkart’s men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom and Agatha sat in the empty taproom chewing on
the stale bread to curb their hunger, and washing it down with mugs of watery
ale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha scratched at her hair. “Let’s get a tub
goin’ in our room. I sorely need a bath.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “I suppose you’ll be wantin’ first
crack at it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha grinned. “You don’t mind, do you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom made a mocking half-bow. “Ladies’ prerogative.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After a dozen trips, the tub was full to Agatha’s
satisfaction. She made a shooing motion with her hand. “You wait outside, I’ll
let you know when I’m done.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was no lock on the door, so Tom sat with his
back to it and listened to Agatha’s splashes and sighs of contentment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog came up the wooden staircase that led to the
rooms and nodded at Tom. “We have a few problems.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom laughed. “Yeah? New ones?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog nodded, looking thoughtful. “Yes. Charkart’s
men spotted Nikki in Bedford. She stopped them before they could telegraph Charkart,
but there’s no knowing if they passed word to others in Bedford before she got
to them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nikki did that? How’d she manage it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“She did not say. There is also a poster of you,
Agatha, Nikki, and Willow at the telegraph office.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What’d it say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog ducked his head. “I don’t read, Tom, but I can
guess it’s not good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom ran his hand over his face. “Yeah… I doubt
Charkart’s remindin’ everyone our birthdays are comin’ up. There’s a good
chance we’ve already been spotted by someone who’s seen those posters.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog nodded. “If so, Nikki bought us time by
stopping Charkart’s men, but that time is running out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom leaned back and thunked his head against the
door three times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He heard a splash. “Yeah?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Better get your clothes on. We might have company
soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I was just gettin’ comfortable here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom snorted. “At least you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">got</i> a bath.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A loud voice came from downstairs, “They took a
room up there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The bartender responded, “Yup, keep your voice
down. Walls ain’t too thick here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A moment later they heard the pounding of footsteps
on the wooden staircase. Tom drew his volcanic pistol.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I will take the front position. Only shoot if I am
about to be killed.” Dog edged to the corner of the wall so he’d be out
of sight for as long as possible for anyone coming up the stairs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A scream came from their room. Tom turned and
shouldered the door, just as the first of the men reached the top of the
stairs. Behind him he heard a bloodcurdling whoop from Dog as the door burst
open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Inside the room, Agatha was buttoning her shirt.
“Can’t a lady get a little privacy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Behind them, various grunts and moans told them Dog
was doing an effective job on the men coming up the stairs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I heard a scream.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, that was him.” Agatha pointed out the open
window. A man lay on the ground outside moaning, one of his legs was bent at an
extraordinary angle. “Should know better than to come a’ peepin’. She finished
the last button as Tom charged out the door to see if Dog needed help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He didn’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog had cleared the staircase of men and stood in
the middle of the taproom with his sword at the throat of the bartender. “You
called them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom ran down the stairs as the bartender stuttered,
“N-n-no.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The taproom was surprisingly clean. Tom had
expected blood everywhere. Instead the gang of men lay crumpled around the
floor, unconscious or moaning over broken limbs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog withdrew his sword, then made a quick
horizontal slice above the bartender’s head. A tuft of greying hair wafted down
in the wake of the blade. The bartender trembled violently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You called them.” Dog returned the tip of the
sword to the man’s adam’s apple.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yes… I’m sorry okay! Please don’t hurt me, I have
a wife and a family to support, two little kids, you wouldn’t want to starve
two little kids would ya?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha reached the bottom step and surveyed the
mess. “I’ll get these folks secured.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Missed all the action, I guess you’ve got to
contribute somehow, Agatha?” Tom leaned against the wall next to the bartender.
“Who else knows about us?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Mostly us, I think. Me ‘an the boys didn’t want to
split the reward too many ways. Some of ‘em probably told their women though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sighed. “Naturally… why do things always get so
complicated?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The bartender glanced between Tom, Dog, and the
sword at his throat. “I-I don’t know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Never mind… that’s what some folk call a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rhetorical</i> question. So if you lot ain’t
seen tonight, Charkart’ll find out?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Probably… Oh hell, he’s gonna want to skin me
alive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You an’ me both pal. Only I don’t plan on getting
caught. One last query and I’ll be out of your hair.” Tom smiled. “Where does
Charkart warehouse his goods?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The bartender swallowed. “I honestly don’t know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog growled low at the back of his throat and put a
little pressure on the blade.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Okay! Sorry, can’t fault a guy for tryin’ can ya?
It’s a dozen blocks east of the building he held you at last time you stayed in
town.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That’ll do. Now lie down with the others.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The bartender wiped his forehead. “Thank you.” He
lay next to the other men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Soon he was neatly trussed along with the others. Agatha
surveyed her handiwork. “Well this is an all-round muddle. What do we do now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog shrugged, and they both turned to Tom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“There was a wagon in the stable yard right?” Tom
scratched his chin. “Let’s load ‘em up. We can’t stay here, and we can’t leave <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">them</i> unguarded.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There were no horses, but between the three of them
they could tow the wagon easily, even with eight men, a few blankets to cover
them, and the pot of bean stew.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog got behind to push the wagon. “Where to,
Captain?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom smiled, he’d never get tired of hearing that
title applied to himself. “I know the perfect place.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart’s jailor was more than a little surprised
to see Tom at his door. He quivered for a moment, then turned and ran inside
the low brick building where the crew had been imprisoned during their last
stay in Havenvale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">It took Dog only one great leap to bring the man
down from behind. They tumbled on the floor. The jailor opened his mouth to
scream, but before he could draw breath, Dog cuffed him with a quick backhand
across the face. “No noise, or I will gut you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After that the jailor gave no resistance. The three
of them piled the bound men and the jailor into the small cell. Tom noted that
the steel bars in the small ground-level window he’d cut through when the crew
had escaped the cell had been replaced by a metal plate with holes in it.
Charkart wasn’t about to let anyone get out the same way again. He smiled and
swung the iron-bound door closed before locking it with the jailor’s key.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog held the pot of stew. “Time to eat?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom could feel the saliva forming in his mouth.
“Ab-so-lutely!” He grinned at the others. “You’ve got to hand it to me right? I
mean this is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> last place anyone
would come lookin’ for us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha arched an eyebrow. “Don’t let it go to your
head.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The three of them crowded around the stewpot,
scooping out mouthfuls on stale bread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.
“How long you figure until someone tells Charkart his men are missing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha sat back and patted her belly with a sigh.
“Less than a day, for sure.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog nodded. “We should act tonight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I reckon.” Tom rubbed his chin in thought. “You up
for another trip to the telegraph office, Dog?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Certainly, what is the message?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Pick-up at two in the morning, twelve blocks east
of our previous accommodations. Be ready for anything.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-3.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-5.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-85022650461353085132012-11-11T22:23:00.003-08:002012-11-18T21:23:45.862-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-5, C-3<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate has a mysterious stowaway, a young woman
named Ishara, who rarely comes out of hiding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to
crime-boss, Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named
Shorty came to their rescue and joined the crew. They did lose what they
thought was a near-worthless cargo of lead bars. However, it turned out the
‘lead’ was actually gold, with a thin coating of lead to disguise it. Nikki,
Shorty and Willow waited with Hecate for word from Tom, Dog and Agatha who are
travelling overland to Havenvale, but they never checked in. This week we find
out why.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">5</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
3</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stared into the forest for a minute. Dog was
right, there were shapes moving among the trees. Beyond that, down the side of
the trail the first tendrils of Mist were gathering to push their way up-slope.
He looked over his shoulder at the cart he’d been riding on with Agatha and Dog
a few minutes before. It was about twenty yards ahead, climbing the steep road
that zigzagged up the ridge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Under his breath Tom said, “You suppose they’ve noticed
the Draggers yet?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog followed his gaze. “They seem calm.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha nodded at Tom. “I think we should try to
catch up, without doing anything to spook them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The three turned and walked as fast as they dared
toward the wagon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A low chuckle came from the side of the road. An
instant later<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kent, their
wagoneer, turned with his eyes wide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom, Dog, and Agatha burst into a run as a
cacophony of full throated laughter opened up behind them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kent called, “Draggers on our back!” and slapped
the reigns down furiously on his horses, and pulled the long whip from beside
his seat to further encourage them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The crew from the Hecate were still a dozen paces
behind when the wagon started to outpace them. Tom glanced over his shoulder.
Ten, maybe twenty Draggers followed them on the road, with more coming from the
forest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“This way!” called Agatha, as she split from the
main trail and took a steep path up hill, cutting across the switchback road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom was panting within minutes on the steep trail,
but with luck the shortcut would get them there before the caravan passed. The
Draggers followed, but the steep trail and rough terrain limited their passage
to single-file.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ahead of him, Tom could hear Agatha’s laboured
breathing. Behind, Dog ran easily. Tom’s lungs burned, his legs felt like
rubber. The climb seemed endless. He glanced back and saw the Draggers were
gaining ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ahead he heard the clatter of running hooves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">An instant later the three crewmates burst onto the
road, just in time to see the last wagon pass them by.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom bent double to catch his breath. “Now… what?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog rolled his shoulders, closed his eyes, and
breathed deeply. When he opened his eyes again there was a fierce glee there.
“Now, we fight!” He turned to face the trail with a snarl on his lips and
gladius in hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom drew iron and flanked Dog on one side, Agatha
took the other. Draggers boiled up the trail. They pushed and shoved, each
vying to be the first to the top of the trail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">>Boom!< Agatha fired a shot, and a Dragger collapsed,
entangling those behind him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hold off!” Dog called. “Save your bullets, just
keep them from surrounding me.” He swung his sword in a vicious arc,
decapitating the first of the Draggers. Those behind barely slowed. Again and
again he swung, until there was a pile of bodies at the top of the trail,
Draggers started to fan out. Tom and Agatha were forced into action to keep
them from coming up the sides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The volcanic pistol felt just right in Tom’s hands.
Each shot found a target, although he sometimes had to fire multiple times to
stop the Dragger he was aiming at.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Behind the Draggers, the Mist crept upwards through
the trees at an alarming rate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Reloading!” Agatha called, followed by a tinkle
like little bells as she dumped her spent casings on the hard-packed road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom aimed for a Dragger on her side, but when he
pulled the trigger, his pistol’s hammer fell on empty air. “I’m out too!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog was forced into triple-duty, swinging on all
sides as Draggers pushed them back. Tom scrambled to reload.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha fired a shot, back in action on Dog’s far
side, but it was too late. They’d been pushed back from the edge, and now the
Draggers faced them on the flat road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom fired a shot point-blank into the chest of a
Dragger, then kicked it back toward the crowd coming up the hill. “Retreat!
We’ve got to get up the hill!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha and Dog turned with him, while the Draggers
chased them across the road. Tom pushed Agatha into the lead on the next trail
and let Dog take the rear-guard again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom scrambled uphill until his lungs felt ready to
burst. He could taste the iron tang of blood on every breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When they hit the a near vertical stretch in the
trail, Dog turned and backed up the hill slashing down at the pursuing
Draggers. Their numbers had dwindled to a mere dozen or so, but behind them
came the Mist, clawing its way upward on smoky limbs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha fired from up the trail, taking another
Dragger in the heart. Dog swung at another, sending the body tumbling downhill
on the other Draggers. Tom fired a shot, but it went wild, his heart was racing
and sweat ran into his eyes. He fired again, and spun a Dragger around, its arm
dangling uselessly at its side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Again and again he fired, pumped the lever and
fired. The action clicked on a dry chamber at least a half-dozen, before he
noticed he was out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog roared and swung his blade one last time, and
the Draggers were done. A few groaned on the slope below, too crippled to
climb, the rest were dead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The three crewmates collapsed to the ground,
panting for breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Better… get moving… Mist… coming up… fast,” Dog
managed between gasps for air.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom lay on the slope, his chest heaving. He tried
to climb to his feet, but collapsed again and slid a few feet downhill. Beside
him, Agatha was in similar condition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog dragged himself to his feet and wiped his sword
clean on a dead Dragger’s clothes. “We cannot stay here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Three more gulps of air and Tom tried to rise
again. A nearby tree supported him, but he didn’t have the strength to carry on
up the trail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Below them the mist was sweeping over the dead
bodies of Draggers on the road below. He’d never recover in time to run.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha rose unsteadily to her feet. She blinked the
sweat out of her eyes and pointed uphill. “Trees.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded and turned toward the stand of tall
trees Agatha had indicated. He fell to his hands and knees and began crawling
upslope.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog took Agatha’s arm over his shoulder and helped
her climb. “I’ll come back for you Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Go.” Tom made a dismissive gesture with his hand.
He wanted to tell Dog not to bother coming back, it would probably be too late,
but he didn’t have the breath. Instead he just inched his own way upwards, nose
several inches from the ground, each breath a silent scream. He could feel the
Mist closing in. Its dark malevolence sent a chill up his back. It seemed like
he could feel its thoughts. It wanted to possess him, turn him into a
bloodthirsty thing, a tool to satisfy its dark needs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A chill bit at Tom’s ankle as he clawed his way
upslope. He curled his legs up as high as he could and glanced back. A tendril
of Mist made a swipe at him, coming within inches of his foot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Panic gave him new strength, Tom hauled himself
upwards, fingers bleeding from the sharp rocks. The Mist settled back,
gathering itself for another push. Spittle dribbled from Tom’s chin, his
breathing frantic, he could feel the blast of chill air as the Mist below
surged up toward him again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A hand grasped at Tom’s wrist, and pulled him
upward. Tom cleared the lip, and flopped down on a broad ledge with several
large trees growing form it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Up you go.” Dog shoved at Tom’s behind, while Tom
tried to make his limbs move in a climbing motion. When he was about six feet
in the air, Dog left him and leapt into a nearby tree just as the Mist surged
again. It nipped at Dog’s heels, but it was too late. For several minutes, it
swirled and probed at the trees, but couldn’t find purchase.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom hung limply for a few minutes before he could
move. The mist was slowly mounding up to try and reach them. Slowly Tom worked
his way up as high as he could and fastened his gunbelt around the bole of the
tree. Nearby, Dog and Agatha hung from other trees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After fifteen minutes or so, when her breathing had
normalized, Agatha cleared her throat. “This is a fine mess we’re in this time
Tom, and no two ways about that,”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “I seem to have a knack for pickin’ ‘em
don’t I?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yet we all keep following you, don’t we?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why
is that? I ain’t exactly been doing a great job.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shrugged. “I sure couldn’t do it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Do what?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Keep everyone together, make Hecate a working ship
and a home for us that need it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sighed. “You seem to have plenty of ideas.
Every time we argue it seems you turn out right in the end. Maybe you should be
Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If I was Captain, we’d still be sitting in Johnson
City lookin’ for work. You found us something, even though it didn’t earn much,
it paid enough to keep us flying a little longer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sighed. “I keep gettin’ us near killed. One day
I’m going to step over that line. You know it Agatha, you say as much all the time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m hard on you because you can do better, and
sometimes you need a contrary opinion.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yet here we are. Hangin’ out in trees, waitin’ for
the Mist to come claim us.” Tom shook his head. “Hell of a job I’m doin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog grinned. “It is not the cry, but the flight, by
which the goose makes others follow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha gaped at him. “What the hell does that
mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog laughed. “My old master was full of such
sayings. I think it is about leading by example. They follow you because you
always put them first, and you try to do what is best, not what is easiest.
That is all anyone could ask.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Careful Dog, or you’ll fill my head so full of hot
air I won’t be able to keep my feet on the ground.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog pressed his hands together and made a mock bow
at Tom. “A man who always keeps both feet on the ground cannot put on his
pants.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom smiled. “Thanks, you two…. Friends like you
almost make up for being stuck in a tree, surrounded by mist. Hecate crew’s
turnin’ out like a real family.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha laughed. “A man who sits around on a pine
tree branch all day gets sappy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-2.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-4.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-52578098931538279812012-11-04T22:14:00.000-08:002012-11-11T22:24:17.078-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-5, C-2<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate has a mysterious stowaway, a young woman
named Ishara, who rarely comes out of hiding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to
a crime-boss, Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named
Shorty came to their rescue and joined the crew. They did lose what they
thought was a near-worthless cargo of lead bars, only it turned out the ‘lead’
was actually gold, with a thin coating of lead to disguise it. Nikki, Shorty
and Willow wait with Hecate for word from Tom, Dog and Agatha who are
travelling the dangerous overland route to Havenvale.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">5</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
2</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Bored… Boredboredbored. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bored!</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shut up Willow.” Nikki sat at Hecate’s controls on
the bridge while her sister ranted on. It was Shorty’s turn to wait at the
telegraph office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m bored.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki rolled her eyes. “Really? You don’t say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“How come they get to go off and do exciting stuff
while we sit around watching dust settle.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You could get a cloth and go do some cleaning.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You know what I mean.” Willow stamped her foot.
“Life has been good since Tom’s been around, hasn’t it? I haven’t done anything
to feel guilty over in weeks…. But the straight life is fucking boring
sometimes!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Willow! You wash your mouth out! If father was
here he’d thrash you somethin’ fierce.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow stuck her tongue out. “He died in Milton
with Mom, and good riddance I say.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki gaped at her sister. “Willow… How… how can
you say that, they’re our parents, and we don’t know for sure they’re dead.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They’re bad folk, an’ they only ever treated us
slightly better than the people they made us rob.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was a clang and a creak as one of Hecate’s
exterior hatches opened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki put a finger to her lips. “Not a word of this
Willow. If the rest of the crew finds out about our past they’ll kick us out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Tom wouldn’t do that. He’d understand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki grabbed her sister by the lapels. “Not a
word, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i> to Tom!” She
released her grip as the wheel on the bridge’s hatch turned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty stepped on to the bridge. “Well, they’re
closed for the day. I guess there’s no news from that end.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki’s heart jolted uncomfortably to the side.
“They were supposed to check in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty shrugged. “I’m sure they made it just fine,
Nikki. They probably just got there too late for the telegraph office.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They should have been there hours ago.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’ll check back in the morning. I’m sure they’ll
report in then.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The telegraph operator shook his head at Nikki the
next morning. “No Ma’am, we ain’t got no messages today.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Can you check again, please?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No need, last message was late yesterday
afternoon. Been quiet ever since.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Are you sure?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ma’am I’m the only telegraph operator in Bedford,
no message comes in that doesn’t go through me, and I ain’t heard no
clickety-clack since yesterday afternoon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s just that my….” what was Tom to her? Her
parents had never let her get involved with boys unless there was some sort of
payoff involved, Nikki didn’t have the experience to understand how she felt
about Tom. “My friend… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">friends</i> were
with the caravan to Havenvale yesterday. They were supposed to check in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The telegraph operator smiled. “Oh, well I can help
you there.” He pulled a slip of paper from a drawer behind the counter. “The
last message I got was when the caravan checked in.” He cleared his throat and
read, “Arrived Havenvale STOP Dragger trouble en-route STOP Three guards
missing END MESSAGE” He glanced from the paper to Nikki’s face. “Oh… were your
friends working as guards?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki swallowed, the room suddenly felt too hot.
“Y-yes… three of them. P-please hold any messages for me.” She stumbled to the
entrance of the telegraph office and leaned against the doorframe, taking great
gulps of air.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They were gone. Missing, but missing was as good as
dead if they were out overnight in Dragger territory with no refuge towers
around.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We should still man the telegraph office. Give
them a week before we give up hope.” Shorty fidgeted with his shotgun and
sighed. “I should have been with them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They’ll be fine, buck up you two! Them three can
handle themselves if anyone can.” Willow hugged her quilted bear, Sir
Furrybottom tightly, betraying her brave words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’ll go back. I just thought you two should hear
the news.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty put a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have
to go Nikki. I can do it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No. I want to be there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki left Hecate in a daze. She trudged through
the dusty streets of Bedford, barely looking up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hey now, there’s a familiar sight.” A
seedy-looking man hopped down from his perch on a railing. He cocked his head
to the side. “I know that pretty little face.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki kept her gaze fixed on the ground. “I’m sure
you don’t.” She tried to keep walking, but the man stood in her way while his
two companions flanked her from behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The seedy man reached out and forced her chin
upwards. A great smile lit his face. “I know someone’s been looking for you.
Where are your friends?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki’s mind raced. Did he know her parents or was
it something else? “I’m alone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“’Scuse me Ma’am, is this piece of filth bothering
you?” A tough looking old coot with a shiny silver badge, and a revolver at his
side appeared from the shade of a nearby building.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ummm, yeah, I guess.” Nikki batted her lashes at
the Sheriff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Sheriff placed his left hand on the grip of his
revolver. “You heard the lady, clear off Wayne, and take your compadres with
you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The seedy man – Wayne – tilted his head to the side
and winked at Nikki. Under his breath he said, “You’ll be hearin’ from us
again.” Then he tipped his hat in mock-politeness to the Sheriff and waved for
his companions to follow him. The three men disappeared up a side-alley.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I hope you’re all right Ma’am.” The Sheriff tipped
his hat to Nikki. “Havenvale’s main export is scum like them. Entire town’s
under Charkart’s thumb, and now he’s trying to move in on his neighbours.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m fine. Thank you Sheriff.” Nikki nodded
politely then hurried on her path to the telegraph office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She burst through the door. “Has anyone been in
here to send a message?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No Ma’am, you’re the only customer of the day so
far.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Good.” She gave the man her most winning smile.
“Do you know a thug named Wayne?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“One a Charkart’s men, ain’t he?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yes, that’s the one,” Nikki purred. “Y’all could
be a wonderful help to me if you could… mislead him into thinking the telegraph
was broke when he comes in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I can’t do that Ma’am, it’s my job to send
messages for people. And besides, I don’t want to run afoul of Charkart and his
men.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Just for a few hours, please? Tell him you’ll have
it working by noon. I’ll make sure to take care of Wayne and his friends so
nobody bothers you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The operator heaved a great sigh. “All right Ma’am,
but only because I like you, and I don’t like them, but I don’t want no trouble
from this. He presses the issue and it’ll get ‘fixed’ right quick.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Thank you, thank you.” Nikki took the man’s hand
between hers. “I’ll take care of it.” She rushed out of the office and ran back
to Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When Nikki burst on to the bridge, Willow was alone
there, playing a game of poker with Sir Furrybottom. She’d strategically placed
a mirror behind her bear so she could see his cards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Willow, where’s Shorty?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He went for a little walk ‘round town, why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I was spotted by some of Charkart’s men. Sure as
shootin’ they’re gonna tell Charkart we’re in the area. If Tom and the others
are alive, it’ll mean every man in Havenvale will be on the alert for them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow put her bear aside. “What are we going to
do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I bought us a few hours at the telegraph office,
but the three of us ain’t enough to take these guys alone. We need help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nikki, no.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You know it’s our only choice Willow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“The minute we contact the local Dodger it means
we’re gettin’ dragged back into that life. No Nikki.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What if it means Tom’s life?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, Nikki, don’t say that…. I don’t wanna go back
to bein’ bait. I was just startin’ to feel clean.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Me too, but what choice do we have?”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The local Dodger, a burly, sweaty man named Harry
Rees, greeted them warmly in a smoky back-room full of rough-looking men. Nikki
and Willow showed him the rat in a triangle tattoos on their hips.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He gazed closely at their faces and smiled. “That
would make you Nikki and Willow, correct?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The sisters nodded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Your parents have been lookin’ for you. They’d
just about given up I understand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki stared. “They alive?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Were a few weeks ago.” He sniffed. “Escaped that
disaster at Milton on the last airship to get out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Second to last,” Willow corrected. “We were the
last. Why didn’t they come looking for us?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Harry shrugged. “You’re askin’ the wrong fella.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’ll sort that out later.” Nikki put her hands on
the table and leaned forward. “What we need right now is some help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What sort of help?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Umm, ten, maybe twelve tough guys to intercept a
few of Charkart’s men and hold them for a few days.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“And what might be your method of payment?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki swallowed hard, Dodgers never gave anything
away for free. “We’re lookin’ at comin’ into some gold in the near future.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Harry raised an eyebrow. “In other words you’ll pay
me back later?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Uhh, yeah, on my word.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“How much gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki bit her lip, hastily guessing how much a
pound of gold might be worth. “Two pounds.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Dodger narrowed his eyes. “I might accept that,
if you had it for me now… but you don’t.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Five pounds?” Nikki said. She felt a sharp kick
from her sister under the table. Was she giving in too easily? She fidgeted
nervously with a button on her coat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Make it ten.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Seven?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The man reached across the table to shake, but
before his hand touched hers, he said, “Nine and you’ve got a deal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki took his hand and shook before she could
think it through. “Deal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Harry tilted his head to the side. “And if you
don’t come through with the gold, will your parents consider this a favour
owed?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki frowned, she couldn’t really speak for her
parents, she never even wanted to see them again. “Yes,” she lied, “they’ll
consider it their marker.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Harry leaned back in his chair with a broad smile.
“Anything you need darlin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“As I said, I need a some of your men to intercept
three of Charkart’s, hold them for a few days.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Harry leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin.
“Then release ‘em?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Do what you want with ‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re asking me to risk a heap-load of trouble
little lady, but I’m sick of them Havenvale types musclin’ in on my business.
You’re on, but if you don’t come through, your parents are gonna owe me big.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki reached over the table and shook hands with
the man. “Pleasure doin’ business with you Harry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Harry laughed and winked at her. “Likewise. I
almost hope you don’t come through with the gold. I’d enjoy having a marker
over your parents, but not to worry, I’d find a use for their help soon
enough.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki gave Harry the details of where to intercept
Charkart’s men, then left with Willow in tow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When they hit the street, Willow jabbed Nikki with
her elbow. “You can’t make those sorts of promises!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki turned on her sister. “What was I supposed to
do? Please wasn’t going to cut it!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Our parents are alive. They are going to track us
down, you know it Nikki! When they do, they are not going to be happy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’ll deal with our parents when the time comes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow darted in front of her sister and stopped in
the middle of the street. “Don’t you remember what happened to Uncle Billy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki stopped. “Of course I remember Bill. That was
just an accident, nobody knew that bank had an armed guard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Our parents sent him in there, day after he lost a
bundle at the poker table, and promised their marker to make good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki frowned. “That was a coincidence.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Wake up Nikki! Stop being their mind slave. Dad
got his own brother killed for doin’ what you just did. Make no mistake about
it, they’ll find us, and when they do—”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki pushed past her sister. “It’s different with
us, Uncle Bill was always in one scrape or another. He probably got killed on
that job due to his own bad planning, and besides, what choice do we have? We
need help, and that was the only way to get it. Now go back to Hecate, or
Shorty will begin to wonder where we are. I’ll go wait at the telegraph office.
I’ll let you know what happened when I get back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’d better hope Tom comes up with the gold.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He will.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If he’s not dead.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki shoved her sister hard. “Get back to the
ship!” She turned and brushed at the corners of her eyes with her coat sleeve
as she walked toward the telegraph office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-1.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-3.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-28574379984386341872012-10-28T21:13:00.001-07:002012-11-04T22:17:41.055-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-5, C-1<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate has a mysterious stowaway, a young woman
named Ishara, who rarely comes out of hiding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">In the town of Havenvale they nearly lost Hecate to
a crime-boss, Ponderoy Charkart, but a vertically-challenged mechanic named
Shorty came to their rescue and joined the crew. They did lose what they
thought was a near-worthless cargo of lead bars. It turned out the ‘lead’ was
actually gold, with a thin coating of lead to disguise it. Now Tom and the crew
are going back to try and recover their lost cargo.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">5</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
1</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom awoke from a deep sleep to find a girl
straddling him. Not normally a bad way to wake up, but this one had a crazed
look in her eyes, and she radiated cold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Good morning sleepyhead.” She had a dark
complexion, silky black hair, and wore only a light cotton dress.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara?” Tom sat up in surprise. “It is Ishara
isn’t it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You guessed it, you guessed it…” she replied in a
singsong voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What are you doing here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I like you Tom. You’re a man of your word.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I appreciate that, but it really doesn’t explain
why you’re here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh!” She looked puzzled. “Oh, oh, ooooh. Yessss I’m
here for a reason.” She stared at him expectantly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom flared his nostrils and tried to keep his
frustration from showing. “And that reason is?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara frowned as though trying very hard to
concentrate. “You’re in danger Tom. Soon you’ll face a choice Tom. Mustn’t be
greedy Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Where have you been hiding?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Everywhere and nowhere Tom.” She giggled. “You’ll
never find me if I want to hide.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom took a deep breath. “Look, I’m tryin’ to
understand, but none of the words comin’ out of your mouth make any sense. Why
should I believe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i> you say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara put a finger to her lower lip and plucked at
it. “Buhb, buhb, buhb. Oh! The drawer. Haven’t found that yet, have you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Enough Ishara, I think you need help. Please don’t
hide anymore, I’m sure Nikki, or Agatha, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">someone</i>
might know what to do. Come with me, we’ll go see them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara looked terrified. “No! Nooooo.” She crawled
back to the far corner of Tom’s bed. “Can’t… can’t see too many people at once.
Even one… even you… hard to think. Drawer under cabinet.” She pointed to the
low chest of drawers next to the bed. “Bottom panel, slide right, then pull.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ishara, what’s wrong with you? Will you let me
help?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Beyond your help Tom. Helping myself, slowly.
Takes time. I’m not all here, you see?” She laughed, as though that were a
terrific joke.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Someone knocked at the door. “Tom?” It was Nikki’s
voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom glanced at the door. “Yeah?” When he looked
back, Ishara was gone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The door opened. “Tom? You talking to someone in
here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sat, mouth agape. “Ishara… she was here a
minute ago… I think.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki’s face turned stormy. “Ishara was here? What
were you two up to? I heard laughter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, it wasn’t like that. She needs help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki arched a brow. “And you’re the one to give it
to her I suppose?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, not like that! She’s wrong in the head. Where
the hell did she go?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki put a finger to her lips and leaned forward.
She whipped the bedclothes off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom lay there naked for an instant before tumbling
off the side of the bed and scrambling for his clothes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Honestly Tom, you got nothin’ to be ashamed of.”
She laughed and peered under the bed. “You sure there was someone here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah… I mean I think so. I was asleep… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">maybe</i> it was a dream? Powerful strange
dream if it was.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well nevermind. Day’s startin’, an’ Willow has
coffee a-brewin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Coming, just gimme a minute.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki nodded and shut the door behind her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom scrambled into the rest of his clothes. He was
about to follow Nikki when he paused. It wouldn’t hurt to check out the chest
of drawers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The panel gave with a sharp click, and the drawer
opened just enough that he could gain purchase on the edges. Tom slid the
drawer all the way out. Inside the red felt lined compartment was the strangest
pistol he’d ever seen. It had a very long barrel with a feed-tube underneath
and a lever mechanism, like on a lever-action rifle, that looked to be
manipulated with the index and middle fingers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was also a gun-belt and a few hundred rounds
of ammunition. One of the previous captains of Hecate liked to be prepared.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom went to the galley and slapped the pistol down
in front of Agatha. “What is this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha looked up from her breakfast. “Volcanic
pistol. They were popular for a while, twenty years or so back. Fell out of
fashion. More accurate than a revolver, but slow rate of fire, finicky
ammunition and lots of jams.” She wiped her hands on her pants and picked the
pistol up. After checking it was unloaded, she worked the action, opened it up
and checked the insides, looked down the barrel. Finally she put it down on the
table and frowned at it, like it had done something to annoy her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well? Is it worth carrying, or should I stick to
the revolver?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha sniffed. “Normal volcanic, I’d say no… but
this one. I ain’t seen nothin’ like it, I’ll tell you that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What do you mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Remember how Shorty described the engines on
Hecate? Look on the outside to be normal, but on the inside they’re just
perfect, flawlessly made. This pistol’s like that. Nine rounds, bet it shoots
straight as hell, and the action’s slick as whale snot on an iceberg.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Where’d it come from?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha exhaled between her teeth. “Beats me.
There’s no stamp on it, an’ I don’t know of anyplace in Europe or the Americas
can do such a fine job.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded, and strapped on the belt for the
volcanic pistol. It felt comforting at his side, like they were meant for
eachother. “Just another Hecate mystery I suppose.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, I heard you had a run-in with Ishara.”
Agatha grinned. “Nikki was pretty steamed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I think… I’m pretty sure it was a dream.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m not sure if she’d be more, or less upset about
that.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The door to Dog’s bunkroom was unlatched, so it
swung open when Tom rapped on it. “Comin’ up on Bedford in an hour. We don’t
have a lot, but I can give you a few guilder to get you on your feet. You shouldn’t
have much trouble findin’ work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog sat, lotus-style on his bunk, his face a mask
of calm, his eyes closed. “You would prefer it if I left?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re a useful hand in a tight spot Dog, but
we’re taking risks you don’t need to take on.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I would like to help, if you will have me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hell yeah we’d like your help. It ain’t your fight
though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog opened his eyes and regarded Tom calmly. “I
prefer to avoid fighting, but you saved me. I owe you a debt I can never
repay.” A smile curled at the edges of his mouth. “And I like it here. If you
will have me, I would like to stay.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You don’t owe us nothin’ Dog. We just did what was
right.” Tom offered his hand. “But I’m glad to have you aboard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog took the hand, swung off the bed and threw his
arms around Tom, leaving Tom’s arms dangling awkwardly at his sides. When he
released Tom, a brilliant smile shone against his dark face. “Then this is my
new home.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Bedford was a mere pimple of a town, but it was the
closest place to Havenvale with docking towers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom weighted one corner of the chart down with Sir
Furrybottom, and unrolled the other end. “There’s a clear road through here. Me
and Agatha will hitch a ride with a caravan, or hoof it.” The whole crew
gathered around, jostling for space in the crowded bridge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I will join you.” Dog crossed his arms. “If there
are Draggers on the ground I will be best put to use there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Better with a weapon.” Shorty grinned up at the
hulking ex-gladiator. He produced a finely crafted gladius and scabbard from
behind his back. “This was meant as a good-bye present, but seeing as you’re
staying, I guess it’s a welcome-aboard gift.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog smiled and hefted the sword. The blade was
mirror-smooth steel, it had a brass pommel shaped into a snarling dog, and
finely polished hardwood grips. “This is beautiful work, Shorty. Many thanks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s just stock steel, I wanted to make it
Japanese-style, folding the metal, but I don’t have the gear on board for
that.” Shorty glanced meaningfully at Tom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rolled his eyes. “We can’t afford a blast
furnace for your hobbies, and even if we could, it wouldn’t fit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, I was thinking, if we expanded the machine
room into the cargo bay we could—”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ain’t gonna happen Shorty,” Tom cut in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty shrugged. “Anyhow, next one I’ll find a
forge and fold proper for you Dog. You familiar with Japanese swords?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog smiled. “Only from the wrong end I am afraid.
This will be more than adequate, but thank you for the thought Shorty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You bring Tom and Agatha back safe, that’s thanks
enough.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom cleared his throat. “As I was saying. We’ll go
overland. The rest of you wait here and man the telegraph office, we’ll send a
message when we know where and when we need you to pick up the cargo.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki frowned. “I don’t like it Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom put an arm across her shoulder. “Don’t you
worry, we’ll be just fine. You’re in charge while we’re gone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha nodded. “We’ll be fine Nikki. The three of
us can take care of ourselves. Well,” she glanced admiringly at Dog, “two of us
can at any rate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty glared at Dog. “I could go too. I know how
to take care of myself.” He put his hand on the butt of the sawed-off shotgun
he carried like a pistol.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head. “No, sorry but you can’t keep
up if we have to run.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty glanced between Agatha and Dog, his brows
knitting into a deepening frown. “I can keep up, I’d be fine.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I said no Shorty. That’s final.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You take care now Tom.” Nikki rubbed at her eyes.
She had slipped in to Tom’s room in the pre-dawn light. Thankfully he was
already awake and dressed, too full of nervous energy to sleep in. Finding a
caravan had been easy, the few traders who risked the overland route were more
than happy to have some extra security. They were set to leave on the
eight-hour trip at dawn, and if there weren’t too many delays they’d arrive in
Havenvale well before sunset.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’ll be fine.” Tom checked his volcanic pistol for
the fifth time. He’d practised with it a few times, and true to Agatha’s word
it was an accurate little package. She was still a far better shot, but at
least he could hit what he was aiming at most of the time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m serious Tom.” Nikki threw her arms around his
neck. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, come on. I’ll be back in a couple of days.
Nothin’ to worry about.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki pulled hard on his neck, so his eyes came
level with hers. “I’m not letting you leave without you promising to come
back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’ll come back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She dug her nails into the nape of his neck.
“Promise me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“All right, I promise! I’ll come back, safe and
sound.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No foolish risks, right? It’s only money.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Only enough money to buy and sell a large city. “I
promise, I’ll take care of myself, and I’ll telegraph, soon as we get to
Havenvale.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’d better. I have a bad feeling about all
this.” Nikki pulled him close and kissed him hungrily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When she finally released her grip, Tom took a gasp
of air and put his arm out for balance. Before he could say anything further
she was gone.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Coffee?” The wagoneer offered the pot back to Tom.
He was sitting with Dog and Agatha on the tailgate of the rear-most wagon of a
ten wagon long caravan. The mid-morning sun dappled the road through the trees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, yes please.” Tom poured a mug for himself and
passed the pot to Agatha, she took a large mug as well, but Dog turned it down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">About four hours out of Bedford it was shaping up
to be a nice quiet trip. The sun had warmed everything to a pleasant degree,
birds and small animals chirped and sang from the trees, if only they hadn’t
needed such an early start it would be near perfect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom yawned and passed the coffee pot back to the
wagoneer. “Thanks Kent, I don’t know how you do it, gettin’ up so early for
these runs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kent leaned back over his shoulder to take the pot.
“I don’t mind much. Pay’s good ‘cause nobody else wants the work, an’ the
trail’s mostly safe ‘cept around Black Lake.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha nodded. “You let us know when we’re gettin’
close to Black Lake then.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kent laughed. “Oh you can’t miss it. We take the
ridge road to stay as high as possible. Black Lake will be the dark pit to the
right, completely covered in Mist.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sounds… inviting.” Tom yawned again, and downed
the last of his lukewarm coffee. “I’m goin’ to stretch my legs for a bit.” He
hopped off the tailgate and walked behind the wagon, it was a brisk pace,
enough to get his blood flowing. They were travelling through a wooded
hillside, steep incline forced the road through a series of switchbacks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog joined him. “You think we will see Draggers?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Dunno, but if there’s Mist around, it’s likely.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They die like men?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah,” Tom nodded, remembering Airman Giles
Whitworth, his transformation into a Dragger, how the knife in Tom’s hand had
ended his life when it reached his heart, “stronger, faster, completely insane,
but they die like regular people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“How do you tell a Dragger from a normal person?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They just come at you… sometimes they can be
patient, but when they come you’ll know. All they care about is killing, they
don’t even mind dying, and when they’re closing in for a kill, they can’t help
themselves but laugh.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha set her mug aside and hopped off the
tailgate to join the others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog stopped in the road, eyeing the forest on the
downhill side closely. “Do they ever stalk their prey, building larger numbers before
they attack?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom frowned. “Usually they’re not that smart… but
sometimes, yeah. Why do you ask?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog glanced over his shoulder at the receding
caravan. “Because I think we are being followed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-4-c-3.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/11/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-2.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-86783430089683253752012-10-24T22:00:00.000-07:002012-10-28T22:24:15.813-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-4, C-3<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Note to readers: </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">This will be the last Thursday update of Orphans for a while. I hope to return to a bi-weekly schedule in the new year. Until then episodes will continue to come out every Monday. Also, if you, or your friends prefer an e-reader format, the first two episodes of Orphans are available free from <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mfenger">Smashwords</a>.</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Captain Tom Cain and the crew of the airship Hecate
transported a gang of thieves and their ill gotten gains to Aethiopica on
Atlantis while being pursued by the mysterious military airship, Actaeon. Tom,
Agatha and Shorty were to escort the thieves to their buyer, and collect
payment for Hecate’s service, but the thieves gave them the slip in a maze of
alleys. When we left our trio they’d just been spotted by a group of soldiers
from the military airship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Recently we spent some time with Dog, an escaped
Gladiator, who made his way from the Inner Precincts of Atlantis to the city of
Aethiopica, but today we return to Tom, Agatha, and Shorty, as they flee
through the back alleys of Aethiopica from a group of soldiers in black.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Episode
4</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
1</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The men in black were too fast. Agatha kept up, but
Shorty had to take three steps to every two Tom took.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“This way!” Tom charged around a corner, nearly
bowling over an old woman picking through a pile of trash. He was hopelessly
lost in the maze of alleys. He took the next right, then a left, but there was
nothing to help them lose their pursuit. Tom tipped garbage bins over in their
path, but the men in black simply leapt the obstacles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“In here!” a promising-looking alley. Tom and the
others rounded the corner, only to see it was a dead end. Garbage was piled
high along one wall, but it was too late to hide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They heard the men in black stop behind them at the
mouth of the alley and turned to face their pursuers. All six of the soldiers
carried short lever-action rifles or shotguns, and all of the weapons were
levelled at Tom and his friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha slowly slid her hand down to her revolver
and unhooked the leather strap holding it in place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom put his hand over hers. “You can’t get all of
them.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">One of the men in black stepped a pace forward.
“Raise your hands so we can see them, and come out of there peacefully. We have
you surrounded. There is no possible escape.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The next instant the garbage bins beside the six
soldiers exploded outward. A large black youth leapt from behind them. In an
eyeblink he dropped the two soldiers nearest him with his fists. The remaining
four soldiers turned toward their attacker.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom charged up the alley, screaming madly to try
and distract the soldiers. Behind him he heard Agatha call. “Get down Tom!”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The soldiers’ assailant kicked a shotgun aside, and
followed through with a downward chop from his right hand, disarming another
soldier. Then he spun in place and swung a foot high, catching a third soldier
in the temple.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The last man, an officer by the look of his uniform,
turned and had a bead on the black man with his shotgun. Tom dove, caught the
officer around the waist and brought him crashing to the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha and Shorty ran up and gathered all the
weapons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom got to his feet and pulled his revolver to
cover the three conscious soldiers. “Nobody move.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The black man stared at Tom, with a mixture of fear
and puzzlement on his face. He looked ready to bolt.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom smiled. “Thanks for saving our hides.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The black man’s nostrils flared and he narrowed his
eyes.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hey, you okay? We ain’t gonna do anything to you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha was busily tying the soldiers’ hands behind
their backs with their own belts, while Shorty covered them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The black man turned to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hey wait!” Tom called. “Can I do anything to help
you? You really saved our bacon there. I’m Tom. No need to be scared, all I
want to do is help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The young man stopped and turned to face Tom. “I am
called Dog. And I am not afraid of you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Dog? That’s not much of a name.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog cocked his head to the side. “It is not mine by
choice, but it is all the name I have. How do you think you can help me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Seems obvious you’re runnin’ from somethin’. Can
we give you a lift?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“A… lift?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You know, a ride. We have an airship, named
Hecate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog smiled. “Yes, I would appreciate a lift on your
Hecate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Great, it’s settled then.” Tom turned to see
Agatha was finished restraining and gagging the soldiers. “Good work Aggy,
shall we go?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She stood up to face him. “Don’t call me Aggy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Okay… let’s get going… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Agatha</i>. Comin’ Dog?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog shook his head. “I do not think you know who I
am.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shrugged. “Does it matter? You helped us out,
now we can give you a hand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog pointed to a scrap of paper glued to the wall
of the alley. Tom turned and read it, “Wanted, Dead or Alive, by order of
Emperor Ellil. 50,000 guilder reward.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom whistled. “Fifty thousand? What did you do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog looked ready to run again. “You will turn me
in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha stepped forward. “Tom has his flaws, but
he’s a man of his word. He’ll treat you square.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog relaxed a little. “Those posters are
everywhere. I cannot simply walk to your Hecate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty strolled over. “Give me fifty guilder I’ve
got a plan, Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Fifty?” Tom dug into his pocket.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Just trust me, you want to save him right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom hung his head. “Fine…” he dropped a purse into
Shorty’s hand, “Here’s a hundred. Make it quick before anyone notices this
mess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty took off at a run, while Tom, Agatha and Dog
worked to conceal the bound men beneath a pile of garbage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Profit is down to three-hundred fifty now.” Agatha
threw a tied-up stack of newspapers on top of a soldier. The man grunted in
pain. “After we re-fuel and such, we’ll be lucky to clear two hundred.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine, I take all the
blame when things go wrong, but when things go smoothly it’s all Agatha, or
Nikki, or Shorty….”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh quit your whining and hand me that sack of
rotting lettuce.” Agatha threw the bag at the officer’s head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s not whining, I’m just saying… I never get any
of the credit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You know what your problem is?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom paused with his hands in a pile of mouldy bread
crusts. “No Agatha. Tell me, what is my problem?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You think you’re too smart by half. If you’d just
listen to the people around you for half a second before flying off on one of
your wild campaigns we’d all be better off!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If it weren’t for me we’d still be rotting in
Johnson City!” Tom heaved an empty metal bin on top of a soldier. A staccato
squeal came from the man, as though he were trying to scream obscenities
through his gag.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, fine, so instead of rottin’, we’re digging
through rot. Vast improvement!” Agatha kicked some browned fruit in the general
direction of the soldiers, splattering the pile of garbage in foul-smelling
juice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“So you’re suggesting I should just do nothin’?
Sell Hecate for scrap and be done?” Tom hefted a bin and spread the contents
liberally over the pile of soldiers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha threw handfuls of egg shells and coffee
grounds at the growing pile. “No, just stop and think for once in your life!
People around you have ideas too you know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The only signs of the soldiers in black were an
occasional muffled, “NnnnnNnngh!” and a rustling noise from behind a wall of
garbage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">With an ear-splitting shriek, Dog pushed a large
metal bin across the alley to help hide their handiwork. “Are you two…
involved, or something?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No!</i>” Tom
and Agatha turned on him at the same instant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Don’t be disgusting.” Agatha wiped her hands on a
scrap of cloth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog spread his hands. “Merely asking. When will
your little friend return?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Up the alley the sound of wooden wheels on the
rough stones approached along with a reek of fish. Tom and Agatha drew their
weapons, and Dog pressed himself flat against the corner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A moment later, Shorty appeared, towing a heavy
vending cart. “Hop in Dog!” He lifted the lid to show the inside of the cart
was one large compartment used to transport the goods back and forth to market.
Currently it was half full of extremely smelly fish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty tossed the purse back to Tom. “Sorry, I had
to spend seventy, didn’t have time to haggle.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha raised an eyebrow at Tom. “Puts us down to three
hundred thirty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shut up!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She grinned impishly. “Just sayin’ is all.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What are you lot doing with a vending cart?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entrance to the airship port was
cordoned off, and all passages in and out were blocked by Atlantean Homeland
Police.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A hairy man in a slightly rumpled AHP uniform gazed
suspiciously at Tom, Agatha and Shorty with his little piggy eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“My cousin was supposed to bring some fish to our
ship,” Shorty volunteered. “He’s laid up, so he let us borrow his cart and do
it ourselves.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Fish you say? That’s all I’ll find if I look
inside?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom laughed. “Of course. What are you folks out
here lookin’ for anyhow?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Big black guy.” The copper pointed to the “Wanted”
poster nearby. “If you see him, you report him to me, got it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sure thing officer.” Shorty nodded vigorously.
“You want a look?” He grabbed the lip of the cart’s lid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The officer wrinkled his nose and nodded
reluctantly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom held his breath as Shorty flipped the lid up.
The odour of fish came out in a foul-smelling cloud.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The copper pinched his nose and squinted into the
dim interior of the cart. “A’right, close it!” Shorty let the lid fall. “Now get
out of here!” The officer didn’t even look back, as the three crewmates wheeled
the cart into the port.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate was waiting for them, lift down on the
ground. Tom and Shorty manoeuvred the cart on to it and Agatha took the lift
control.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom knocked on the side of the cart. “We’re in the
clear, you can come out in a minute.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shook her head. “Well, I’m glad that
catastrophe’s over. At least we got out with our skins intact.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty laughed. “We’re not away yet. I bet the
Portmaster has some words reserved for the captain after our stunt coming in to
port.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha grinned. “Well then, at least it’s over for
all of us but Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “Yeah,
laugh it up you two.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The lift ground to a halt in Hecate’s cargo bay.
Shorty flipped the lid of the cart open, and a very smelly Dog piled out,
clothes matted to his body with fish slime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What, no welcome back?” Tom stared around the
empty bay. He walked to the cargo bay’s com unit and flicked the switch for the
bridge. “We’re back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki’s voice answered, she sounded anxious. “We’re
on the bridge Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Captain?” Agatha frowned. “Since when does she
address you as Captain?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog frowned. “He is the Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, technically yes, but discipline is pretty
loose around here.” Agatha opened the hatch out of the bay and climbed up the
companionway. “Only one who usually calls him Captain is Willow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She threw open the door to the bridge, stopped
suddenly, then edged inside slowly. Sitting there, holding a pistol on Agatha
was a dark-skinned, Middle-Eastern looking officer in a black uniform. He was
flanked by two other men, holding shotguns on Nikki and Willow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“This must be Captain Tom I’ve heard so much
about.” He proffered a hand to Tom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Reluctantly, Tom stepped on to the bridge and took
it. “What do you mean to do with us?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh! I’m not going to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> anything.” He motioned with his pistol. “Why don’t you all come
in.” Dog and Shorty stepped on to the now-crowded bridge. “In case you hadn’t
guessed, I am Captain of the Actaeon. My name is Etana. And you are… Let me get
this right, I already know Nikki and Willow, the rest of you must be Captain
Tom, Agatha, Shorty…” he frowned, looking at Dog, then a smile played at the
corners of his mouth. “Dog, the escaped gladiator. Everyone on Atlantis is
looking for you.” Etana wrinkled his nose. “You certainly do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">smell</i> like a dog.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog nodded. “I did not expect to find an Aesir
here. You are not as fat as the others I have known.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Etana laughed. “I differ from my brethren in many
ways.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom strode over to Etana until the other man’s
pistol was nearly touching his chest. “Yes, you know our names. Good for you.
Introductions are over, now what do you want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You gave me a great chase. Not many airships could
run as fast as yours. How did you come by her?” Etana said it in a light tone,
but his face was deathly serious as he eyed the crew closely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha’s hand crept toward her revolver. “None of
your business!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head slightly at her. “We found her
abandoned, in a town called Milton that was overrun by Mist and Draggers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Captain Etana tilted his head to the side. “Curious…
and why do you think anyone would abandon her?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I don’t know. Now I need you to answer a few
questions for me.” Tom pressed even closer to Etana, the other captain was
muscular, but short, so Tom hoped to intimidate him. “What are you going to do
with us?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You already asked that question.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Are you going to answer this time?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Etana chuckled and holstered his pistol. He nodded
at the two soldiers and they lowered their shotguns. “You are a precocious pup.
I just want to talk Captain Tom, I don’t mean you harm.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“And Dog?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I don’t fear the Emperor, and I don’t need his
rewards. Dog can go with you if he likes. Anything else?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Aesir, Dog said you’re Aesir. What does that
mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ahh, yes. That’s a name we use among ourselves,”
Etana wrinkled his nose in distaste, “or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they</i>
use among <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">themselves</i>…. The Aesir are
the masters of Atlantis.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha made a sign against dark magic, which
brought another laugh from Etana. “I don’t have any special powers young lady. No
need to fear me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Magician or not, the though of an Aesir on his ship
made Tom nervous. “I thought you people never left the Inner Precincts.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Most don’t, I am a rare exception. Now, if you’re
just about done with your little questions, I have a proposal for you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “Shoot.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I understand you were merely transporting the thieves.
If I’d thought for one minute you fully understood what you were doing, I’d
have brought your entire airship down. Clear so far?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom narrowed his eyes. “Clear.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If you should encounter any unusual artefacts
again, you are to contact me. Send an all-stations telegraph addressed to
Actaeon and you will be well rewarded for your assistance.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“And if I don’t you shoot us down next time… yeah,
got it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re stealing my thunder here, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">young</i> Captain Tom. Yes, we will shoot
next time. If you make an account for Hecate I’ll send an all-stations
telegraph if I have work for you. I do pay quite handsomely, and with this ship
you could be very useful to me.” Etana waved to his two soldiers. “Now I think
it’s time we left.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom cleared his throat. “A few more things
Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Etana paused. “Yes?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Some of your men tried to jump us. You’ll find
them tied up in an alley off the market square we landed in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Is that so? I was wondering why Lieutenant Brax
hadn’t reported in. Thank you Captain. Anything else?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You come on my ship again without permission, and
I’ll be the one doing the shootin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Etana laughed and led his men off the bridge.
“You’re a treasure Captain Tom. I look forward to doing business with you.”
Their footsteps retreated down the corridor, followed by the sound of Hecate’s
exterior hatch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well… that was tense.” Shorty re-fastened the
strap on his shotgun. “What are we going to do now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom threw himself into his Captain’s chair and
cupped his hands under his chin. “I’m tired of working for hire, I say we pick
up our own cargo.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki frowned. “But we don’t have the money to buy
a cargo.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Not buy… steal. Though I suppose it’s not really
stealing if it’s yours in the first place. Willow, plot us a course for
Havenvale! Let’s cast off in five minutes. I’m getting’ sick of this dump.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki cleared her throat. “Umm Tom?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Warm up the engines, Nikki, let’s get goin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki grimaced. “Yeah, about that. We’re not goin’
anywhere.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What? Come on! This is a chance to get our gold
back. Charkart probably hasn’t realized what he has yet. If he still thinks
it’s lead he’ll hold on to it for a while ‘till he figures any stories we’ve
told about him are forgotten. It’s not like it’ll be hard to steal, I mean
nobody in their right mind would bother to steal lead right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No… it’s not that. I think getting the gold back
is actually a pretty good idea.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“C’mon, out with it. I want to get outta here
before we lose any more of our profit on this deal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We can’t leave because the portmaster had us
chained to the tower. He said he won’t release Hecate until he’s seen you… and
something about a two-hundred guilder fine for illegal manoeuvres in city
limits. Plus we owe a mooring fee, we need to take on more supplies, and
refuel.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha cleared her throat. “You know… normally I
hate to say I told you so, but—”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom glared at her. “Then don’t.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">End Episode 4</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-4-c-2.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-5-c-1.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-12296564742705956932012-10-21T22:09:00.002-07:002012-10-28T21:15:39.164-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-4, C-2<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Captain Tom Cain and the crew of the airship Hecate
transported a gang of thieves and their ill gotten gains to Aethiopica on
Atlantis while being pursued by the mysterious military airship, Actaeon. Tom,
Agatha and Shorty were to escort the thieves to their buyer, and collect
payment for Hecate’s service, but the thieves gave them the slip in a maze of
alleys. When we left our trio they’d just been spotted by a group of soldiers
from the military airship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">But we’re not going back to the crew of Hecate just
yet. We turn our gaze to the east, the coliseum of Bensalem, capital of
Atlantis, where a young man named Dog is badly injured after defeating a giant
of a man, but he still has two of the coliseum’s finest to defeat if he wants
to live.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Episode
4</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Prologue
Part 2</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog circled Kaz, neither swordsman stepping within
range of the other. The sun beat down across his shoulders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Every whisper of feet on sand came clear to Dog’s
ears. The audience had fallen into a dead hush. He could feel thousands of eyes
prickling into his skin, behind each pair the same thought, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could this young upstart actually win?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog made a quick lunge forward and stepped back, and
felt something tear inside his chest. The pain was nearly unbearable, even with
the dampening techniques Quan Fa had taught him. Kaz didn’t even flinch. He
held his sword in front of him, tip downward and circled Dog with purposeful
steps.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hai!” Kaz lunged forward and lashed out with his
sword. Dog darted back and the tip missed his skin by a hair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Breath came hard, just circling with Kaz was making
Dog wheeze for air. No matter how deeply he tried to inhale, there just didn’t
seem like enough. His whole chest was a mass of bruises, and he was pretty
certain many of his ribs were broken. Every step, every breath was agony, but
he did his best to tune it out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hai!” Kaz lunged again. This time Dog was a little
slow. The tip of the blade scratched his chest and stomach, leaving a shallow cut,
beading crimson behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Every gasp seemed to give Dog less air than the
last. He staggered around like a drunk, coughing up more blood. The tip of his
sword dropped, and then dragged in the sand, as Dog lost the strength to hold
it aloft and circle with Kaz at the same time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kaz frowned. Probably reluctant to kill such a
weakened foe. Kaz was not an animal, he would never be an animal, not like Dog.
Kaz steeled himself, his muscles tensed. He was going to make one more lunge
and Dog couldn’t dodge, he could barely stand upright.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog’s mind drifted for a moment. Back to his first
day with Quan Fa as his trainer. He’d been taking a beating from Quan Fa’s
wooden sword. Somehow, no matter what he’d tried Quan Fa had anticipated. Dog
had grown frustrated, and he’d thrown his sword at his trainer. Quan Fa had
simply stepped aside as the wooden blade spun harmlessly past, then he’d
proceeded to thrash Dog to the brink of death. Even though he’d been barely
conscious, Dog always remembered his master’s words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">As he’d lain there, beaten and broken, Quan Fa had
bent down and said, “Dog, you never throw your sword. One time in a thousand,
you may get lucky, the rest of the time you are leaving yourself defenceless.
Never throw your sword.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kaz stood there, frozen. The crowd urged him on,
roaring for Dog’s blood. Kaz took a step forward for his final attack, and Dog
threw his sword.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog never knew why Kaz didn’t simply sidestep the
clumsily thrown blade. Perhaps he’d been distracted, or maybe he’d just wanted
to die. In any case, the weapon spun through the air toward him. It seemed to
take forever, hanging there, frozen in time. Kaz raised his sword high over his
head, and Dog’s blade spun on.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hai!” Kaz shouted, and began to draw his blade
downward just as the tip of Dog’s sword entered his chest. Kaz’s face twisted
into a brief smile, then he collapsed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog lay beside Kaz, gasping for air. He couldn’t
remember falling. One moment he was standing, the next he was not. His vision
swam with black dots. He felt the toe of a boot prodding him. “You’re not done
yet.” Zeuxidamus stood over him, haloed by the sun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Everything was a blur. Dog blinked to try and clear
his vision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Zeuxidamus was just a dark smudge walking circles
around him, orating aloud for the audience’s benefit. “Emperor Ellil brought me
out of retirement so I could kill you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog fought his way to his hands and knees, reached
out for his sword and pulled it free from Kaz’s corpse. A coughing fit overcame
him and he collapsed back to the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’ve killed the first two, but you won’t kill
me…. I am the only gladiator <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever</i> to
go undefeated over five-hundred matches.” He turned to face the Emperor’s
viewing box. “I killed for you! Hundreds of men, for your entertainment! And
you promised me a quiet retirement, you said no more killing! Now I know what
your word is worth.” Zeuxidamus spat on the sand of the coliseum. The crowd
gasped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“All of you! You’re fat and lazy! Slaves do the
work, slaves entertain you, die for your pleasure!” Zeuxidamus backed several
paces away, and lowered his trident toward Dog’s chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog tried to rise to his feet, but there wasn’t any
air. He stumbled and fell hard on the ground, tried to rise again, but there
was nothing left.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“The Emperor wants you dead Dog!” Zeuxidamus
charged across the sand. “But as far as I’m concerned, he can get off his fat
ass and come do it himself!” Zeuxidamus reversed the trident. He ran toward Dog
with the three tines pointing straight toward his own chest. At the last
moment, he lowered the butt of the weapon to the ground. It caught and held.
Zeuxidamus continued his suicide charge, impaling himself on his own trident.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog collapsed into darkness. He could hear the sand
blowing across the coliseum with a slight breeze. Everyone in the audience was
holding their breath in shock. Footsteps approached, then rough hands rolled
him onto a stretcher.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He’s still alive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Get him to the ambulance then.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Emperor wants him dead.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Rules say we do what we can for the live ones. If
Emperor Ellil wants him dead, he’ll have to try again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was a jolt of pain across his chest as the
men lifted the stretcher and Dog blacked out.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Collapsed lung! Get me a chest tube.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog was staring at a ceiling in a brightly lit
room. People bustled around him, but everything seemed fuzzy, unreal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Chest tube, doctor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Something stabbed deep into Dog’s ribcage and he
felt the pressure in his chest subside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He’s coming around.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Give him another shot of morphine.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Same dose?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog strained to sit up. Something was happening to
him… his thinking was fuzzy, he’d been hurt in the arena.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Get it in him now, before he pulls this tube out!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A light prick in the shoulder. Warmth spread
through Dog’s body, he relaxed and slipped back into darkness.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">>toc< >toc< >toc< Repetitive
sound, a little like wooden swords clashing, but more regular. It was
approaching Dog’s bed. He opened his eyes. Curtains hung round him, and there
was a low murmur of several quiet conversations at once.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The noise stopped, and his curtain was pulled aside
by a grey-haired nurse. Dog tried to think back. Memories came slowly, bouncing
through his mind in random order, reassembling into the full picture one piece
at a time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I see you’re awake again. Feeling better dear?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog tried to sit up, but his arms were pinned down.
He looked at his wrists and found they were bound to the rails of his bed by
steel manacles. “How long have I been here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, bless your heart. You ask me that every day.”
The nurse walked to the foot of Dog’s bed and pulled up a clipboard. “Almost a
month now. You’ll be back in the arena in no time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Back in the arena…. After last time the Emperor
would be livid. Dog grinned as he remembered some of the things Zeuxidamus said
before he died. More than livid. Ellil would be in a frothing rage. He’d
probably throw Dog into the arena naked and hobbled with his wrists chained
behind his back next time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Thank you for fixing me up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Dear me, it’s the least we can do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I am sorry that all of your hard work will be undone
as soon as I get back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The nurse patted Dog’s hand. “Now now, don’t you
worry about that love. Time for your medicine.” Before Dog could object she’d
stabbed him in the shoulder with a hypodermic needle. She pressed the plunger
home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Warmth and tiredness spread through Dog’s bones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The nurse slid a tray of food over his bed. “Now,
you eat quick dearie, before those meds knock you out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog was already starting to feel woozy. He looked
at the food. “What did you give me?” When he looked back up the nurse was gone,
and the curtain swung gently.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Wake up Dog!” A splash of something cold hit his
face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Motion. Bouncing around on rough streets. Dog
opened his eyes. He was in the back of an ambulance, transport back to the
arena no doubt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Quan Fa was there. He shook Dog by the shoulders.
“Wake up!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I am awake.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ahh, good. You have to hurry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hurry where?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Next stop, corner of Peta and Kibrat Street. You
get out there. Make sure no one sees you. Make way to Kanpa boulevard and turn
right. Go until you see the green lantern in a window. Knock on the window and
wait.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Master I do not understand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You will, in time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog was surprised to find he could sit up. All of
his restraints were gone. “Where do I go after that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They will tell you, better if I do not know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What will I do? I have no trade.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Just escape, leave Atlantis. When you have
experienced life outside, you will see what is rotten inside. When you know
right from wrong, do what you can to help fix this place.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Me? I would not know where to start.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Quan Fa nodded. “Reading a thousand books will not
teach as much as travelling a thousand miles.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What does that mean? Master, I have no time for
your riddles.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The brakes squealed and the ambulance began to
slow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“This is it Dog, when it stops, you must go. You
will understand what you need when you need it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog frowned, but he knew from experience that
pressing Quan Fa would lead nowhere. “They will kill you if they find out you
helped me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Then so be it. I have lived long, but you have the
chance to live well.” Quan Fa opened the rear door of the ambulance and shoved
Dog into the night. “Peace be with you.” He closed the doors, and the ambulance
drove away in a cloud of diesel exhaust.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog was left standing on a wide boulevard, lined
with buildings, columns, and open terraces all made of white marble that glowed
in the moonlight. Rows of trees and hedges lined the sides of the road. In the
distance he could hear music and laughter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The warm night air was sweet with the scent of lush
gardens. He stood for a while, breathing the strange new smells in, staring
about him in wonderment, frozen to the spot in bemusement. Just like that he
was a free man, his destiny in his own hands for the first time in his life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">For the first half-hour his walk was peaceful, but
Dog’s mind would not stay quiet. The brisk air, and the exercise cleared up the
muzziness he’d felt from the drugs. He wondered if Quan Fa would be okay, why
Zeuxidamus had given his life like that, what life outside Atlantis would be
like, or for that matter, what he would do when he got there. All he’d ever
been good at was fighting. It was all he remembered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A motorcar approached at high speed, and Dog
stepped back into the hedge he was walking beside. He was wearing only a pair
of short, undyed breeches and his dark skin helped him blend in with the night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The vehicle shone a searchlight at the side of the
road, but it sped past too quickly for the passengers to see Dog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A few minutes later, another automobile cruised
past. This one was moving more slowly. Dog got some deep scratches worming his
way back into the hedge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the next hour, dozens of vehicles crisscrossed
his path. In the distance, Dog even saw a couple of airships, their giant
spotlights lancing through the night, scanning the streets. In the distance he
could hear men shouting and dogs baying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">It took another hour of worming his way from hedge
to hedge and darting across open streets for him make it the last five blocks.
The green lamp was barely more than a flicker. If he hadn’t been looking for it
he’d never have noticed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When he knocked on the window, he was greeted by a
grizzled old slave. “We’ve been expecting you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog moved from house to house over the next weeks.
Walking from one to the next during the night. Always he was greeted by a slave
and guided to a cellar, a barn, a hayrick. They fed him, clothed him, told him
of their lives when they had a moment to spare, and let him know where to find
the next stop on the path.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">At last in a villa near the mountains, the slave
who was caring for him, a middle-aged woman, said, “This is the end of the
road.” She pointed at a row of mountains in the distance. “Through that pass
and you’re out of the Inner Precincts. I’ve been told you can see Aetheopica
from the other side. Go there, and find passage away from Atlantis.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She gave him cheese and a blanket, and after two
nights of sleeping rough, Dog found himself lost among throngs of people in the
big city. He’d have felt comfort there, anonymous among so many others of
different colours and sizes, except that his face was plastered onto every
wall, in every alley. There were words below his picture. When he first arrived
he asked a stranger what they meant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The man told him, “Wanted, dead or alive.” He
turned to look Dog in the face, went white and backed away slowly. After a few
paces, the man turned and ran, screaming for the constables.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After that Dog kept to the back alleys, hiding his
face, and ducking out of sight every time another person approached.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">So, when he heard a large number of people running
toward him at high speed, it was only natural for him to duck into the nearest
alley, and hide himself behind the pile of garbage bins he found there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“In here!” someone called.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He heard three sets of footsteps run past him and stop,
then a larger group ground to a stop directly in front of his hiding spot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A commanding voice cried out, “Raise your hands so
we can see them, and come out of there peacefully. We have you surrounded.
There is no possible escape.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-4-c-1.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-4-c-3.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-83026150374837085282012-10-17T22:14:00.001-07:002012-10-24T18:45:47.513-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-4, C-1<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Captain Tom Cain and the crew of the airship Hecate
transported a gang of thieves and their ill gotten gains to Aethiopica on
Atlantis while being pursued by the mysterious military airship, Actaeon. Tom, Agatha
and Shorty were to escort the thieves to their buyer and collect payment for
Hecate’s service, but the thieves gave them the slip in a maze of alleys. When
we left our trio they’d just been spotted by a group of soldiers from the
military airship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">But we’re not going to pick up exactly where we
left off. We turn our gaze to the east, and the Great Coliseum of Bensalem,
capital of Atlantis, where a young man named Dog is about to fight for his
life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Episode
4</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Prologue</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Dog, you must concentrate!” Quan Fa slapped Dog
across the thigh with a stick. It stung for a moment, but Dog blocked it out
and concentrated on his breathing. “You should not have killed him. </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“You should not have killed him. You
must take care not to hurt the Emperor’s favourites.</span>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The pre-match training room beneath the coliseum
reeked of sweat and fear. Electric lights cast their glow across rows of wooden
benches and equipment racks. Currently only Dog’s equipment hung from the
racks, and the large room was empty except for him and Quan Fa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He was too good for me to manage a disabling attack.”
Dog winced in preparation for the coming blow; Quan Fa hated excuses. It never
came.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Then I have failed you. Emperor Ellil will see you
face a harder task today. You must kill without hesitation if you are to
survive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yes Master.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Do you wish to survive?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog meditated on the thought for a while. “Yes
Master.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Then let loose your inner animal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog hesitated. Years of training kept his inner
animal at bay. When Dog had arrived on a slave ship from Africa he had been
full of anger and hate. He’d snapped and bit at his Atlantean masters until
they gave up trying to train him and shipped him off to fight in the pits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The first time had been five years prior; he’d been
twelve at the time. They threw him and a large mongrel dog, both half-starved,
into a pit with a bowl of meat between them and not a weapon in sight. The mutt
had gone for the bowl. His mistake; Dog had gone for the throat. He remembered
the fierce thrill of sinking his teeth in, feeling the animal’s life blood rush
across his lips.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After he’d survived his first dozen matches on pure
rage, they’d handed him over to his Master. Quan Fa had taught him calm his
mind, fight without anger, and kill only when necessary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">These thoughts trickled through Dog’s mind, his
fear at returning to that animalistic state was so strong he could taste it,
but even more than that, he wanted to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">live</i>.
“Yes Master.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Heat shimmered off the sand of the Coliseum as Dog
tried to find his inner animal. The sun beat down on his bits of armour and
dark skin, leaving him hot and sweaty before the contest even began. They left
him there, alone, for a long time. No doubt the Emperor wanted to prey on his
nerves. Dog tried to build anger around that thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The glassy eyes of a dozen cameras trained on him.
They would like to re-play his death in theatre newsreels for weeks. Dog wasn’t
prepared to give them that satisfaction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The crowd of Aesir started to boo and yell
obscenities at him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog spun slowly in place, staring at his
tormentors. “If anyone among you is bored you can come down here and fight me
yourself!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They laughed at him. That sparked his anger. Not
enough for a killing rage, but it got him going.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Three gates in the outer wall of the Coliseum
opened at once, and three gladiators emerged. A hush swept through the crowd.
That was when Dog realized the full extent of the Emperor’s displeasure. This
is what killing his favourite brought. Three of the arena’s finest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kaz, an import from Japan, from all accounts a
mighty soldier who had dishonoured his lord and, if rumour could be believed,
had actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">volunteered</i> to serve as
a gladiator. With his bamboo armour and wickedly fast sword-strikes he would be
a challenge to handle all on his own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Alyparsian the Tatar giant, who carried a
metal-banded club the size of a tree trunk. Nine feet tall if he was an inch,
and twice as broad across the shoulder as a normal man. Dog had been on his
side for a team match several times, but he’d been nearly useless; Aly was a
team all to himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Finally, Zeuxidamus the Greek, who had been retired
from the Coliseum for several years. Dog had never seen him fight, but his
exploits were legendary among gladiators. He carried the traditional trident
and net, and had two short throwing spears slung across his back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Any one of them would take everything Dog had.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The three men approached him as Dog spun slowly in
place. At twenty yards they stopped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Dog, they want you dead.” Zeuxidamus spoke first.
His Spartan helmet lent his voice a metallic quality.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I kill you Dog…. Sorry.” Alyparsian slapped his
club down into the palm of his left hand with a crack like thunder. He didn’t
look very sorry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kaz said nothing, but bowed and drew his sword.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog flipped his dog-faced helm down on his head,
checked the straps on his small, round shield and drew his gladius. “Come on
then. Get it over with!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Zeuxidamus shook his trident over his head and
spoke as much to the audience as Dog. “There is no honour in this. I will not
fight you three-on-one. If you defeat the other two, then I fight.” He planted
the butt of his trident in the ground and leaned on it. The crowd booed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kaz bowed low to Zeuxidamus, knelt in the sand and
lay his sword on the ground before him. The boos grew louder, some threw food
at the gladiators, the gravest of insults, but it never came close to the four
figures in the middle of the arena.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Me first!” Alyparsian raised his club and shook
it. The crowd roared in approval as Aly charged forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog circled to Alyparsians’s left, forcing the
giant to slow his charge or go stumbling past his quarry, and keeping the massive
club as far away as possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Between those long arms and the seven-foot shaft of
the club, Aly’s reach was over ten feet, giving him easily six feet of
advantage on Dog. The giant knew it too. He walked slowly toward Dog, club at
the ready.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog took a quick step forward, then dodged back to
test Aly’s reaction, but the giant refused the bait, marching steadily forward,
pushing Dog toward the arena wall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">As Dog neared the outer wall, the food thrown by
the spectators started to make footing difficult. He stepped on a piece of
fruit and stumbled. Alyparsian leapt forward and swung his club flat and low to
the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog tumbled backward to avoid the worst of the
blow, bracing his shield. The massive metal-sheathed end of the club crunched
into Dog’s shield like a cannonball. The shield shattered under the impact. Dog
rolled with the blow and landed on his stomach. His left arm was completely
numb below the elbow from the force of the blow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The crowd cheered and whistled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The whistle of the club descending gave Dog just
enough warning to roll aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sand
leapt into the air, leaving a crater where Dog had lain a moment before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The crowd moaned, disappointed to miss the
spectacle of a man crushed flat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog got to his feet and looked down at his damaged
arm. The brass Dog-emblem on his round shield had been crushed flat, and the
remainder of the shield hung in tatters from leather straps. His arm was laced
with cuts and broken shards of wood, but the bones appeared unbroken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog took a dozen quick steps backwards and worked
his sword inside the leather straps of his shield. He twisted, pushed the blade
deeper and they parted with a snap. The remains of his shield dropped to the
sand. Released from the tension, feeling came back into his arm, excruciating pain,
like it had been run over by a chariot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">No time for pain. Dog threw up mental blocks
hastily to stem the sensation as Alyparsian closed on him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The crowd booed as Dog retreated again. Those
nearest began to pelt him with food and rocks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A rock connected with the side of Dog’s head,
exactly what he’d been waiting for. He faked a stumble and when Aly reacted
with another low sweeping blow of his club, Dog darted forward and dove over
the shaft of the club. He rolled in the sand and slashed at the giant’s legs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Alyparsian shifted his momentum and tried for a
backhanded swing, but Dog spun in behind him. Dog made an overhand slash for
the giant’s back, but Aly dropped the heavy weapon and spun in time to deflect
Dog’s sword on his forearm bracer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The blow turned aside, Dog’s sword sliced through
empty air, throwing him off balance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Aly staggered around, blood seeping from a long gash
along his thigh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog flexed his left arm. Feeling beyond mere pain
was returning. Blood ran down over his hand from the cuts and a splinter of
wood the size of a fountain-pen was imbedded deeply between the bones of his
forearm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Alyparsian spread his arms and paced toward Dog.
“You fight well Dog. Now come to me and die.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog backed away. Aly’s eyes darted to the ground
and Dog realized his mistake. The giant leapt forward to retrieve his club and
Dog charged, sword raised over his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">At the last second, Alyparsian abandoned his club
and rose to face Dog bare-handed. Dog swung a vicious horizontal slice toward
Aly’s shoulder, but the giant ducked and sprang forward, wrapping his arms
around Dog’s chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The sword was knocked from Dog’s grasp by the
impact, it fell to the dirt. Alyparsian roared and lifted Dog off the ground,
squeezing tighter. Dog pounded the giant’s face with his fists, but he had no
leverage, and Aly shrugged the blows off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Aly looked to the audience and roared again. Then
he began to bear down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog could feel his bones grind together. He
couldn’t draw breath. Black dots flickered from the edge of his vision. There
was a groan and a crackle as his ribcage began to give way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">With the last of his energy, Dog reached for the
pen-sized splinter of wood embedded in his arm. He jerked it free and stabbed
deep into Alyparsian’s eye.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The roar turned to a howl. Aly reflexively dropped
Dog, and with the last of his strength, Dog lashed out, punching the splinter
deep into Alyparsian’s brain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Aly looked surprised. He quivered for a moment,
still standing. His last breath escaped in a sigh. Then the giant collapsed on
the spot like a rag doll.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog collapsed too. His insides hurt. He coughed and
tasted blood. Dimly he was aware of a shadow blotting out the sun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He blinked and tipped his head back for a look. It
was Kaz, standing over him, sword at the ready. Dog retched and spat blood and
bile onto the sand. He clawed his way to his knees, then staggered to his feet.
The world swam sideways through his vision, and he landed on the ground again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kaz stood over him. “When you are ready.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog laughed, but it turned into a coughing fit,
spraying more blood on the ground. He closed his eyes and tried to focus. He
could hear the crunch of sand under Kaz’s feet. The Japanese warrior walked
away, then returned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The crowd was eerily silent. Dog opened his eyes
again. Kaz stood a few feet away, holding Dog’s sword toward him, hilt first.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Dog took another breath. The air burned like he was
inhaling fire. Something in the left side of his chest was badly broken, he
could feel the broken ends of his ribcage gnawing away at his insides with
every breath. Dog grimaced, and spat another gob of blood onto the ground. He grasped
the sword and rose to his feet. The world didn’t spin too badly. He stumbled,
but managed to remain erect. “You’ll regret that if I win.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">It was meant as a joke, but Kaz didn’t smile,
instead he bowed low before Dog. “Then it is my honour to die before you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A bored murmur passed through the crowd.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Kaz bowed again. “They grow restless. I apologize
for the inconvenience, but I think we must begin soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Fine,” Dog straightened up, “get this over with.”
He raised his sword over his head and the crowd roared in response.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-3-c-3.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-4-c-2.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"> </span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-35230072866688102492012-10-14T22:00:00.000-07:002012-10-17T22:15:00.937-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-3, C-3<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate has a mysterious stowaway, a young woman
named Ishara, who rarely comes out of hiding. Last episode she helped a
vertically challenged mechanic called Shorty to rescue the crew from a crime
syndicate in the town of Havenvale, then disappeared, back into the bowels of
Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Unable to find more honest work, the crew took on a
group of five rough-looking men headed for Atlantis with a mysterious cargo.
Thanks to Ishara and Shorty, they know it’s a crystal skull, which would be
worth an inconceivable amount of money if it weren’t broken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">We rejoin them as they’re being pursued by Actaeon,
a military airship of unknown origin.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">3</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
3</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Actaeon was still there. A few hundred feet below
and losing ground ever so slightly, but tight enough it would be a race to dock
and get everyone off Hecate before Actaeon could drop a ground-party.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The cold, grey line of dawn had barely reached the
eastern horizon, and it was already clear it would be a very long day. Somehow
the crew of the Actaeon had picked up on Hecate’s late-night altitude change.
Somehow they were keeping up. Somehow they had known exactly were to go in the
first place to find Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom dropped the spyglass from his eye. “Who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> those guys?” He shivered inside the
high-altitude flight-suit. All the fleece lining in the world wasn’t enough
with sixty-five knot winds at minus thirty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The climb down to the gondola left Tom panting in
the thin air. His lungs burned from the ice crystals formed every time he
breathed in too sharply. He paused and leaned against the rail to catch his
breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha was waiting inside the hatch. “So’d we lose
‘em?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head and stumbled into the bridge.
The exertion of the climb had left him lightheaded. He flopped down in his
chair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The whole crew was gathered on the bridge to hear
the news, all of them bundled up in fleece-lined coveralls and gloves like him.
They stared anxiously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’ll beat ‘em to Aetheopica. But just barely.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If only we had more time, I’m sure I could give
you a little more output on the engines.” Shorty frowned. “We should get some
fuel additives in Aetheopica… I could get another ten, maybe twenty percent
more power.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom smiled. “You did great already Shorty. Thanks
to you and Nikki we’re going to win this race.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha said, “What are you gonna tell the boys in
the hold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’ll tell ‘em the way it’s gonna be. We do an
emergency drop-off, then Agatha and I escort them to their buyer and take our
cut.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m comin’ too.” Shorty stepped forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha gave him a once-over. “Can you handle
yourself if it comes to a fight?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty nodded and pulled out a long leather
holster. From it he withdrew a double-barrel, sawed-off shotgun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha took it and nodded. “That’ll do it. When did
you have time to make all that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yesterday, we had some leather stock, so I made
the holster. Cutting the shotgun down was easy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom laughed. “You know, some people call a
sawed-off a shorty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah Tom, I’ve always favoured them. Where do you
think I got my nickname?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I thought you said it was from your last name?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty shrugged. “My story changes, depending on
when you ask me.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Four hours later, Tom was back in the crow’s nest,
along with Agatha as Hecate passed the last of the Mist and entered the halcyon
zone around Atlantis. Crystal-blue waters below were dotted with fishing
vessels on the world’s only stretch of Mist-free ocean. Far off in the
distance, Atlantis was only a thin smudge against the horizon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha gaped in amazement. “I have never seen open
ocean before…. How do they keep the Mist away?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom laughed. “I said almost the same thing my first
time. Answer’s the same, nobody knows, ‘cept maybe the Atlanteans. I’ve never
known anyone who met a proper Atlantean though, so good luck askin’ about it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s like… the way the world should be, you know?”
Agatha got a far-off look, but snapped herself back a moment later. “Anyhow,
enough sightseeing. I’m goin’ below to make sure everythin’s ready.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right, I’ll keep an eye out for a while longer. Be
down soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha clipped in to the jackline, swung on to the
rigging and disappeared from sight. Actaeon was still there, like a stray dog
that’s been fed. What did they want?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom leaned in to the intercom. “When do we begin
our descent?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki’s voice came back, “Fifteen minutes for
optimum speed Captain. Asking every five minutes won’t make it come any
sooner.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom flicked the com switch off and rubbed his face
to keep the frostbite away. “Yeah, easy for you to say down there, out of the
wind.” He hugged himself tightly and stamped his feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The intercom crackled on. “Hello?” a woman’s voice
asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom toggled the switch back on. “Who is this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Don’t trust them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Who am I talking to?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oathbreakers, they’re oathbreakers. Don’t trust
them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Don’t trust who?” Tom waited for a reply. “Who’s
there? Is this Ishara?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The hiss of empty aether was the only reply.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Be careful down there, you can’t trust these
guys.” Nikki leaned in and gave Tom a hug. The two of them were alone in the
galley, grabbing a bite to eat before things got busy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I know that. Why does everyone keep telling me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We want you to be safe Tom.” Nikki gazed up into
his eyes. “I want you to come back safe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom smiled, her eyes drew him in…. Green, how was
it he’d never noticed her eyes were green before. He felt a kick of adrenaline
and could feel the flush creeping up to his cheeks. Nikki turned her face
upwards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom leaned forward so he could feel her breath on
his face, their lips brushed and….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m starving! What are you guys eating?” Agatha
blundered in to the galley. “Oh… sorry, did I interrupt?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki sighed. “No, just getting some lunch. Join
us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha looked from Tom to Nikki. “Maybe I’ll just
grab a couple slabs of bread and some ham. I’ll eat elsewhere.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shrugged. “No, it’s fine, really. I was just
leaving anyhow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Behind Agatha’s back, Nikki shot him a dark look.
Tom shrugged, wondering how following her lead could possibly have been the
wrong thing to do.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ready?” Tom reached down and adjusted his revolver
on his gun belt. It never quite sat right with him, something about the weight
was just a bit off. He was gathered on the lift with Shorty, Agatha and the
five toughs. The men had left their guns and other gear behind at Tom’s
request, and carried only the box with the crystal skull. All of them wore
goggles and flight helmets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty put his hand on the winch control. “Soon as
we get the signal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Jim Smith scratched at his beard. “An’ we have a
minute or two to clear off before Actaeon’s troops hit the ground?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Assuming they rappel, yeah. If they dock first we
have longer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Jim grimaced. “Oh they’ll rappel all right. Etana’s
got a bug up his arse.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The light on the cargo-hold intercom went green.
Nikki’s voice came on, “Time to go, good luck!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty hit the winch control and the lift descended
through the floor of the Hecate’s cargo-bay. Wind howled around them as multi-storey
brick buildings flashed by on either side. Below, pedestrians looked up in
surprise, and traffic came to a near stop as the airships’s shadow passed.
Shorty continued their descent until they were fairly skimming over the heads
of the shocked people below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom gripped the rail of the lift and grinned. “This
is what I call a ride!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The pitch of Hecate’s engines changed and Shorty
called, “Hang on!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The lift swung forward as Hecate’s full power
turned to reverse, Shorty pushed the lift control and they began to drop
towards a large plaza filled with people and temporary shops.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Get ready to jump!” Tom called. He swung his feet
over the rail and dangled above the crowd. People below screamed and scattered
when they saw the lift bearing down on them. The eight passengers gripped the
sides, as Shorty gave the lever one last toggle to drop them within a
half-dozen feet of the brick road below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The lift neared the end of its arc and came to a
near-stop.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Go, go!” Shorty yelled, and let go of his side. He
fell, and bounced awkwardly off a kiosk. The others followed, landing among the
market patrons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Above them they could hear the hiss of gas-bags
inflating and Hecate’s lift shot upward. The eight of them gathered their wits
and got to their feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Actaeon’s comin’ up fast!” Tom pointed to the
airship as it followed in Hecate’s wake. A dozen men in black uniforms dangled
from ropes over the crowded street.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Jim and his toughs led the way. They bulled through
the crowds, heading for a maze of narrow alleys he had suggested as the best
place to lose their pursuit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom glanced over his shoulder as they neared the
edge of the market. “They’re dropping!” Twelve black clad men slid easily down
their ropes and began to push through the crowds in the wake made by Jim and
his men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“This way!” Jim called. The alley was barely a
metre wide, and near dark to Tom’s eyes after the sunlit plaza. A dozen yards
in they came to an intersection. Jim and his cohort dodged right, then left at
the next one. All the alleys looked the same. Stout doors flashed by. Overhead,
washing on lines dripped on the runners below. Garbage littered the sides,
piled into huge stinking masses in places, leaving only a thin trail for foot
traffic between mounds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They rounded corner after corner, at a dizzying
rate. Tom lost all sense of direction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ahead, Tom heard Jim call, “We have an appointment
with Mister Thonian. Those three aren’t with us!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The five thugs fled up the street while Tom and company
were blocked by two musclebound bruisers. They both levelled shotguns at the
approaching trio.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom skidded to a halt. “We have business with them!
They owe us money.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Not our problem pal,” said the slightly larger of
the two. “Nobody goes into Thonian’s territory without a pass.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom squared his shoulders and prepared to push
through the men, shotguns or no, but Agatha grabbed him by the shoulder and
spun him around. “Nevermind that Tom. We lost ‘em. Game’s over.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Jim Smith and the others rounded a corner and
disappeared from sight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ah hell, you’re right….” Tom turned and walked
away. “I guess we take our lumps. Five hundred ain’t bad profit anyhow. At
least we didn’t get in any trouble.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shook her head. “Portmaster’ll probably fine
you a hundred or so for dangerous flying.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Okay… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">four</i>
hundred ain’t too bad.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty raised an eyebrow. “Do I still get those
tools you promised?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom was about to answer when a cry came from the
far end of the alley. “There they are!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Six black-clad soldiers stormed toward them.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">End
Episode 3</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-3-c-2.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.ca/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-4-c-1.html">Next -----></a></span></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"> </span></div>
</div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-2060221184070269422012-10-11T08:41:00.002-07:002012-10-14T22:16:43.718-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-3, C-2<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate has a mysterious stowaway, a young woman
named Ishara, who rarely comes out of hiding. Last episode she helped a
vertically challenged mechanic called Shorty to rescue the crew from a crime
syndicate in the town of Havenvale, then disappeared, back into the bowels of
Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Unable to find more honest work, the crew took on a
group of five rough-looking men headed for Atlantis with a mysterious cargo.
Thanks to Ishara and Shorty, they know it’s a crystal skull, which would be
worth an inconceivable amount of money if it weren’t broken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">3</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
2</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’ve got company!” Agatha burst in to the bridge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom was lounging in the Captain’s chair, wondering
what to do with the news Shorty had delivered. Nikki was tending the controls
and Willow was off in the galley.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What do you mean?” Tom sat up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Big airship, right on our six. Gaining fast.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“How fast?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Give ‘em a half hour and they’ll be in shootin’
range.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki swivelled in her seat. “They have guns?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shrugged. “Dunno, but movin’ like that, an’
lookin’ the way it does it’s probably a warship.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom picked up the handset to the intercom and
buzzed the machine room. A moment later Shorty picked up. “Hello?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shorty, remember that conversation we had about
the engines?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Of course.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m going to need you to look into that. See what
you can come up with.” Tom placed the receiver back on the hook.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha frowned. “What’s that about?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He said something the other day, about how the
engines could be tuned to double their power.” Tom turned. “Nikki!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If we doubled output from one engine, how much speed
would we gain?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki closed her eyes for a moment. “Seven, maybe eight
knots.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“And all four?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Maybe twenty knots or so.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Good,” Tom turned and checked his revolver.
“Agatha, come with me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha checked her own sidearm. “What’s this
about?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom led her to the companionway toward the cargo
hold. “Time to renegotiate.” He jumped so his feet were on the railings, and
leaning on his elbows, slid to the bottom, with Agatha right behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">>bang< >bang< >bang< Tom rapped
with the butt of his revolver against the cargo hold door, and slipped it back
into its holster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A moment later a muffled voice answered. “Whadda ya
want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We got company. Big airship, closing fast.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hold on.” A screech of metal on the other side as
the men in the hold moved the barricades, then the door opened a crack. Jim
Smith peeked out. “You get a name?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom frowned. “Name?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Of the airship, what’s she called?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha stepped forward. “Actaeon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Jim winced. “Ah hell.” The door slammed in Tom’s
face and he could hear voices raised in heated conversation on the other side.
Jim opened it again, looking defeated. “Well, we’re pooched then. The boys an’
I are gonna make a stand. Give us a warning when they board.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I don’t want any shootouts on my ship.” Tom
smiled. “But there may be another way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Jim’s face brightened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom knew he had Jim right where he wanted him. “Our
engineer says he can get some more power out of the engines.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, by all means! Hell yeah!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Problem is, it’s going to burn them out. I’ll need
to replace four engines. I can’t afford that on a thousand guilder.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Jim shook his head. “Well ain’t you the clever one.
I figgered we’d be takin’ advantage of a young ‘un like yerself. Now I see it’s
t’other way round. How much you want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ten thousand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ten thousand! Why you lyin’ sack a….” Jim breathed
deeply. “A’right, we don’t have that kinda cash, but,” he angled his head
toward the cargo bay, “when we sells off our prize, it’ll fetch enough.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Deal then?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You get us away from that bastard Etana, and it’s
yours.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook hands with the man. “Pleasure doin’
business with ya.” Then he turned and leapt up the companionway, three stairs
at a time. Back in the bridge he slapped the button to buzz Shorty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah Captain?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shorty, try and increase the power, just one
engine to start with.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Aye Captain, I’ll tune number one right away.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nikki, prepare for a bit of extra thrust from the
port side.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What can I do?” Willow stood in the doorway with
egg yolk on her nose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You been in a crow’s nest before?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow shook her head. “Nope.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well c’mon then.” Tom grabbed the big spyglass
from it’s shelf, slipped it into its leather pouch and slung that from his
shoulder. Then he donned a flight helmet, a pair of goggles and a safety-belt
and showed Willow how to put hers on properly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Agatha, you hold things down here while I go topside.”
Tom grinned. “Is anyone else having a great day?” He ducked out the door before
Agatha could throw something at him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow followed him out to the balcony that
surrounded the gondola. Tom secured their harnesses to the jackline and swung
onto the rigging. “This is the best part of flying!” He leaned way back and
looked down. They were over open ocean now, but it was only visible in small
patches, the rest was covered in a thick blanket of Mist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He could feel the Hecate surge forward as Shorty
tuned the engine. Wind rushed over his body, setting loose straps slapping
against his leather jacket in hollow applause. He grinned at Willow. “C’mon
up!” Then he darted up the rigging. Willow swung out with only a slight
hesitation. Her weeks aboard Hecate had taught her a little confidence on
rigging.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They reached the top and climbed into the small
crow’s nest, little more than a few square metres of decking, some railings,
and an intercom that linked to the bridge. Tom braced the heavy spyglass
against the rail and observed their pursuers. Their dark zeppelin stood out
starkly against the cloudy sky. After a few minutes he breathed a sigh. Hecate
was clearly pulling away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We did it, see?” Tom handed the spyglass to
Willow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She spent a few minutes looking. “Captain? They’re
still gaining on us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Let me see that.” Tom took the spyglass and peered
through it. Sure enough the Actaeon was gaining on them. He buzzed the bridge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Captain?” Agatha sounded anxious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Tell Shorty to lay on more power.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Do that an’ we risk giving it up that we’re more
than a simple trader.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom paused, he hadn’t thought of that. “Won’t
matter if we outrun them. Our designation’s on the bow. From behind we look
just like any other trader.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">It took a moment for Agatha to respond. “Full power
on all four?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Full speed ahead. Let’s see what she can do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Aye Captain, I’ll pass it on to Shorty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A few minutes later the wind howled around the
crow’s nest from the extra speed. Willow’s face was red and chapped where it
wasn’t covered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom called down to the bridge. “What’s our speed?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sixty-one knots Captain. They still there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hold on, Willow’s checking.” Tom leaned toward the
girl. “How we doin’?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Don’t know, Captain. At first it looked like we
were pulling away… Now I’m not sure.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom spoke to the handset. “Wait one.” He took over
the telescope from Willow. Actaeon certainly hadn’t grown any smaller. Tom
watched for a few minutes to be sure. Actaeon was slowly gaining on them. She’d
be in shooting range around nightfall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He handed the spyglass back to Willow. “Who are
those guys?”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">On the bridge of the Actaeon, Captain Etana lowered
his own telescope. “Helm, increase the power.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s full-on Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Speed?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Just over sixty-one knots.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Captain Etana shouldered the lieutenant at the helm
aside and tapped at the speedometer. The dial remained steady. He looked up at
their quarry again and frowned. “Who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>
those guys?”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Back on the bridge of the Hecate, Tom was getting
nervous. “What if we do a dogleg, swing ‘round a few points now and angle back
for Aetheopica in the dead of night?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki glanced back at him. “Wouldn’t work. They
know our heading, even if we lost ‘em it would be easy to guess where we were
headed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What if we climbed above the cloud layer during
the night? If they didn’t see us they might go off lookin’, thinkin’ we’ve
veered off.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha snorted. “Clouds are mighty thin Tom.
Probably be burned off by mid-mornin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He might be on to somethin’.” Nikki pulled down
the ship’s aeronautic manual down from the small bookshelf on the bridge.
“Every airship has an optimum altitude for speed, normally pretty high.” She
ran her index finger across a page. “Ahh, here. Twenty-six thousand feet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom whistled. “Can we climb that high?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki leaned back in her chair, brow furrowed in
concentration. “Umm not sure. Willow, pass me the slide rule.” Slide rule in
hand, Nikki jotted down a few numbers and mumbled to herself. “Pretty close…
Depends on how much all the passengers and crew weigh, few other factors….”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stared at her. “Where‘d you learn all that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki blushed. “Oh, umm.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Our Dad taught us.” Willow cut in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He was a pilot?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Umm, yeah.” Nikki cast her eyes down at her
controls. “So you want us to climb?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, not yet. We climb now and it slows us down.
They’ll catch up before night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha nodded. “So, we wait, and climb through the
clouds in the dark.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That’s the plan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shuddered. “Why do I always get the willies
whenever you say that word.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned and winked at her. “We’re smuggling an
ancient artefact into Atlantis for a bunch of shifty thieves, being followed by
a warship we know nothin’ about, and our best plan is to climb high as we can
and hope for the best…. What could <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">possibly</i>
go wrong?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-3-c-1.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-3-c-3.html">Next -----></a></span></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-48989675396417429102012-10-07T22:00:00.000-07:002012-10-11T08:42:28.302-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-3, C-1<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Hecate has a mysterious stowaway, a young woman
named Ishara, who rarely comes out of hiding. Last episode she helped a vertically
challenged mechanic called Shorty to rescue the crew from a crime syndicate in
the town of Havenvale, then disappeared, back into the bowels of Hecate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Now the crew is looking for honest work, but
finding that honesty is not always the best policy.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">3</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
1</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s too bad about the gold though.” Shorty
straightened up from behind the lathe, brushed some metal shavings from his
sleeves and pulled a brass queen from the machine’s metal jaws. Even standing
full-upright he only came up to Tom’s chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What?” Tom was impressed by the skill Shorty had
shown. He’d built a beautiful chess-set in a couple of days in Hecate’s simple
machine room and he seemed to know everything about engines. What’s more he
actually knew how to cook.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“The gold? Must have been worth a serious fortune.
How did you come across such a haul?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Whoa, back up a minute… Gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah.” Shorty brushed the brass to complete the
finish and set the queen down on the newly created board. “Ishara told me those
bars you had in the hold were just coated in a thin layer of lead. Were you
smuggling them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom felt like he was about to pass out. He took a
deep breath. “Wait… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">solid</i> Gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty nodded. “Yeah, under a thin layer of lead to
disguise them.” He looked at the chess board and wrinkled his nose. “I need
some of those engraving tools we talked about.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Five tons</i>
of gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, more or less, yeah.”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Real gold?”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty rolled his eyes. “Yes Tom, real gold. Oh and I need a miniature file set too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I had my hands on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">five tons of gold</i>?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yes Tom, gold. It was gold in the hold. The hold
was full of gold, or so I was told. Perhaps the gold was cold?” Shorty smiled
wryly. “I’m a poet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“She was certain?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, seemed to be. What’s the deal with her
anyhow? She doesn’t spend much time ‘round the rest of you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I really dunno Shorty…. Like I said before, she
was stowed away when we found Hecate. Far as I can tell from the logs she’s
some bigwig from Atlantis. You’ve seen more of her than I have. How’d she know
it was gold?” Tom didn’t know which was worse, the thought that he’d held a
massive fortune in his hold and lost it without ever knowing, or that Charkart,
double-dealing lowlife, now had his hands on it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“How’d she know you guys needed help, or that you
were on that rooftop?” Shorty shrugged. “She just seems to know things. You
think she’s one of those Atlantean witches? That’d explain how she’s been able
to hide.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom raised an eyebrow. “Those are just stories, an’
even in the stories they never leave the Inner Precincts.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Would explain the funny way you said the Mist
acted around Milton.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You think she wiped out her own crew?” Tom shook
his head. “That’s cold…. Nah, like as not that was just coincidence.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Maybe… she’s a bit peculiar if you ask me though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">There was a growing list of questions Tom had no
answers for, but he did know one thing. Shorty had a gift for understatement.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They’d sat like dead-weight for a week in the
Johnson City port. Nobody trusted such a junior crew to care for their cargo,
and trying to find passengers had proven hopeless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom hit the portside saloon, Harlequin Jack’s with
Nikki, as he had every day. That was where the majority of the port’s airship
business was carried out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Cheer up Tom, maybe today we’ll get a job.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s not that Nikki… not entirely.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“The gold?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, if we had that gold we wouldn’t have to
worry about work. Ever.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki put an arm across his shoulders. “It’s gone
now Tom. Let’s focus on earning some business.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You kidding me? We’ve been in port a week. Portmaster
came looking for his moorage fee again today. If we don’t find something soon
we’re going to have to sell off more of our gear.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki elbowed Tom in the ribs and hissed, “Try not
to scare off any potential clients. And whatever you do, don’t come off as too
eager.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He looked up and saw two rough looking men
approaching them through the near-empty saloon. One, broad-faced with a thick
black beard, and the other thin as a whip and ginger-haired.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The bearded one cleared his throat. “I hear you’re
lookin’ fer work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “Passengers or cargo?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Bit ‘o both. Can you an’ your crew keep yer noses
to yerselves?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“’Course we can. It’ll cost extra though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Beardy smiled. “Then I think we can work together.
M’name’s Jim Smith, an’ this here is John Brown. There’s three more of us, and
a small parcel headed for Aetheopica. I got five-hunnert guilders to pay now, same
again when we arrive safe. When can we set off?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shot his hand forward and shook with the men.
“Gentlemen, you have a deal. Our ship is the Hecate, in landing-bay nineteen
and we can leave the moment you’re ready.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What was that all about?” Nikki frowned at Tom as
they passed through the crowded streets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Got us a job didn’t I?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You know they’re up to no good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stopped and held Nikki by the shoulders. “Of
course I do, sure as I know their names are not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Smith</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brown</i>. I just
don’t care. We need this, and a thousand guilders will keep us out of debt for
a while.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Dealin’ with people like that…. Just watch your
back. We’ll be lucky if we get to keep the five-hundred up front without
trouble.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s no problem Nikki, I’ve got it handled.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha was less impressed than Nikki. “You gave our
cargo-hold over to a bunch of criminals?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Now Agatha, we don’t know their business.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, ‘cause you promised we’d keep our noses out of
it. What do you think, they’re bible salesmen?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“’Course not.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“An’ what if the Atlanteans search us comin’ in to
Aethiopica? Odds-on that’s some form of contraband they’re smugglin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sometimes you gotta take risks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re risking all of us landing in an Atlantean
jail, or shipped off to the inner precincts as slave labour! Shouldn’t we have
a say in that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m protecting you! All of you.” Tom took a
breath. “We can’t cannibalize Hecate for parts to sell. If we go down that road
where does it end? She’s our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">home</i>.
Where would you go if we lost her?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shrugged. “Dunno, don’t have any place I
guess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well neither do Nikki an’ Willow. Shorty might
find another job if he can get someone to take him serious. I could get another
berth on a trader, but it wouldn’t be the same. Hecate is our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">home</i> and I’m not going to lose her
because we’re having trouble finding work. If we can manage to save a bit we
can buy and sell our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i> cargo. We’d
be independent. Nobody could tell us what to do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha nodded. “Makes sense Tom, but I still don’t
like letting these thugs on board. They won’t even let me in the hold, they
barred the door. What if there’s an emergency?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“A <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cargo</i>
emergency?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha grinned. “Yeah, maybe not, but we don’t know
what it is. Could be dangerous.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom laid a finger aside his nose. “That’s why I’m
gonna have Shorty climb through the ducts and have a li’l peek tonight.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Get Willow to do it, she’s smaller.” Shorty
crossed his arms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom raised his hands. “Willow is thinner, I’ll give
you that, but your engineering know-how might come in handy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re just picking on me ‘cause I’m short.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If you don’t wanna, I understand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I don’t want to go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom picked up the finely detailed model of Hecate
Shorty was working on. “We could use some of the money from this job to get
those tools you wanted.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty hesitated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned. “Throw in a first-rate salmon dinner
in Aetheopica.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh all right, but you owe me some new clothes if
these get ruined in there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Done.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s a deal then…. Say, Tom, I was meaning to
mention it. I’ve been familiarizing myself with the engines and such, and I
found an odd thing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Good or bad?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Good, well, seems to be good anyhow. To a casual
inspection they’re all standard old, reliable Wharburg Mark Fives, but on the
inside’s a different story. The machining is too perfect for Wharburgs, a few
things are just a little off, and they all have a dial to adjust the fuel-mix,
which is certainly not standard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stared blankly. “So?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“So I think you could sacrifice fuel-efficiency for
power, if you wanted to get two, maybe almost three times as much horsepower
out of ‘em.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Will that damage the engines?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, these things… they’re works of art Tom. Even
overheating the one like you did coming in to Havenvale didn’t do any lasting
damage.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom took a breath, every time he thought he had her
figured out, Hecate threw another mystery out. “Good work Shorty. Wait ‘till
three or so to check our guests’ package, they should be well asleep by then.
Wake me when you go, so I can be ready in case you get in trouble.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Why did I ever agree… Damnit!” Shorty skinned his
knuckles as he tried to unfasten the last bolt holding the air-vent’s grille in
place. Outside the ducts the five thugs slept on rough blankets, their cargo
was just out of Shorty’s sight against the bulkhead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He applied some oil and gave it a minute to sit and
tried again. The bolt gave a loud creak then came away smoothly. Inside the
hold one of the men stirred, rolled on to his back, and started to snore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty let out his breath. Carefully he picked the
grille up and set it aside. He crawled out silently and got to his feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hi Shorty!” Ishara greeted him, nearly making
Shorty jump out of his overalls. She sat there like a child, cross legged,
playing with something in her lap.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shhhh!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Look what I found.” Ishara held up a crystal
skull.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shhh! You’re going to get us caught!” Shorty put
his finger to his lips.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The snoring tough grumbled something sleepily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara put a finger to her lips and giggled. “Is
this a game?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, you’re going to get us both killed!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara laughed aloud. “Too late.” She paused
staring into the distance, then held up the skull again. “Know what this is?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“A crystal skull?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, nonononono… well yes, but not just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a</i> crystal skull.” She leaned close as if
revealing a great secret. “One of the Decatria.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What’s that mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara frowned. “Ooooh, I know this one…” She
thumped a fist repeatedly against her forehead and rocked front to back. “Ah!
It’s a crystal skull!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty sighed. “I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> that. Is it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">worth</i>
much?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“To the right person, it’s worth a fortune… a
fortune of fortunes… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inconceivable</i>
wealth.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty’s eyes went wide. “Thanks. I gotta tell the
Captain. You’d better scram too, before one of them wakes up.” He turned to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Just one problem.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty stopped. “What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s broken.” Ishara pointed to a hairline crack
running through the skull.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Are you…” Shorty clenched his fists and stood
there breathing heavily. It was like trying to have an intelligent conversation
with a parrot. No point getting angry with her. “What does that mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Someone might buy it… but not for a fortune.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">One of the men started to cough and Shorty
scrambled for the vent. He slipped the cover back in place just as the man
roused and looked around. Shorty held the grille with his fingers. Any moment
there would be a shout and the men would jump Ishara. Shorty would be left to
help and probably get killed himself, or get the others and likely arrive too
late to save her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Who left that out?” The tough got up and paced
towards the corner where Ishara had been a moment before. He picked up the
skull, laid it back in the box and closed the lid. Then he returned to his
pallet, lay down and shuffled in under his blankets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty let his breath out, quickly refastened the
grille and went to report to the Captain.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-2-c-3.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-3-c-2.html">Next -----></a></span></span> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-54519944719827324532012-10-03T22:18:00.001-07:002012-10-07T22:14:33.236-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-2, C-3<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate. As
they were pulling out of Milton, a young woman appeared at the door to the
bridge, but she ran away before any of the crew could ask her what had
happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They came to the town of Havenvale looking for
repairs, but ran afoul of the local syndicate, had their drinks dosed and wound
up in a cell. When we last saw them, the crew of the Hecate had managed to
escape their cell, but fell straight back into the hands of the Ponderoy
Charkart, leader of the syndicate.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">2</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
3</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned. “I don’t suppose you’d like to give us
a do-over on the whole escape thing would you?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart shook his head. “I don’t suppose you’d
like to tell me who helped you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow whispered out of the corner of her mouth,
“Push me down by the side of the road.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom frowned. “What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart looked at him, questioningly. “The name of
the person who helped you? Otherwise my boys will be forced to play rough with
you and your friends.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow hissed, “Push me.” Then aloud she said, “I’m
going to tell him if you don’t.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No you’re not!” Tom had no idea what her game was,
but any plan was better than no plan, which was what he had at the moment.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It was—” Willow’s words were cut short as Tom
slammed an open hand against her chest. She was surprisingly light and flew
through the air a lot further than he’d intended, landing in a heap in the
gravel at the side of the road. When she got up she didn’t use her hands
normally, she clutched at them as though her wrists were injured. Whatever plan
she’d had, he must have just ruined by pushing her too hard.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart waved his men forward. “Cut her off from
the others. Let’s hear what she has to say.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The thugs moved in from both sides in a
disorganized mass.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Just before they reached her, Willow shouted,
“Run!” She turned her hands upwards to reveal two rocks. The first shattered a
pane of glass and missed the flame of the lamp, but the second impacted
square-on.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A gout of orange flame shot upwards, and in an
instant the light was extinguished, leaving a bright afterimage on Tom’s
retinas. He grabbed Nikki and Agatha by the hands and propelled the three of
them towards Willow. They brushed past someone big, and heard a grunt. A moment
later, a man’s voice cried in pain.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">In the darkness, Tom heard Willow’s voice. “This
way, come on!” He followed it through the crowd, brushing past men, and inducing
havoc as the blinded men attacked eachother. He heard Nikki squeal in pain, and
a moment later caught a grazing blow to his left ear. The impact deafened him
on that side, and he could feel a trickle of blood flow down and over his
shoulder. He stumbled and fought off a wave of dizziness.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Finally they were free of the melee. The four of
them dashed around a corner to a well-lit thoroughfare. A few late-night
strollers were out on the boardwalks.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Excuse me,” Said Tom, trying to appear calm.
“Which way to the airship port?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A startled young man stared at Tom. “You’re
bleeding.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">With supreme effort, Tom refrained from shouting.
“Yeah, I know. The port?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Five blocks that way, hang a right and go another
seven. Can’t miss it.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Thanks!” The crew rushed up the street.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Behind them they heard a shout. “This way lads!” A
moment later a gunshot shattered the night air.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A small explosion of wood chips flew from the
railing beside Agatha. She shouted over her shoulder, “You’re a lousy shot, you
know that?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom glanced back and saw Charkart lining up for
another shot. “Duck!”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart fired and the shot shattered a window they
were passing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The four of them ran as hard as they could, with
Tom and Agatha helping Nikki and Willow to run faster, but the men behind gained.
No more shots were fired, but by the time they’d cleared the first five blocks
and turned the corner the thugs were right on top of them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“This way!” Tom led them into the front entrance of
a building without looking at the sign. Inside, an array of beautiful women
were busily entertaining the establishment’s male clientele. Most of them were
barely dressed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stopped and stared.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha smacked Tom on the back of the head. “Move
it, idiot!”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom closed his mouth and gathered his wits. He
pushed one of the women off a heavy chaise and jammed it under the doorknob
just as a heavy weight hit the door on the other side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A large elderly woman came from the back room and
shouted, “Get out! Charles! Get your lazy ass out here, you got some evictin’
to do!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom turned to the young woman he’d just dumped on
the floor. “Back exit?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That way, hon.” She pointed to a door behind the
bar, just as the biggest man Tom had ever seen emerged from it, carrying a
large club.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shit… Stairs?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">She pointed to the left. Tom led the others for the
stairs. Behind him he heard the young woman call, “Y’all come back when you’ve
got a bit more time, ‘kay love?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They charged up the stairs to the sound of
splintering wood below. By the time they reached the first floor, they heard
heavy boots hit the stairs below.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Up, up!” Tom shouted.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Up where?” said Agatha.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom didn’t answer, mostly because he had no idea.
Running made more sense than stopping, as long as they kept running there was
still a chance they might get away.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They reached the top floor panting for breath.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha confronted Tom. “Now which way genius?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That way!” Tom pointed to a ladder at the end of
the hall. He pushed Nikki and Willow up through the trap-door to the roof while
Agatha tipped a wardrobe she’d found down the staircase. Shouts from below told
him she’d had perfect timing.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Go!” yelled Agatha as she tore up the hallway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom scrambled up the ladder with Agatha close
behind. He rolled on to the roof and slammed the trap-door shut. “All of you,
sit on this!”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The girls sat, while Tom went to survey the
surrounding buildings. He could hear thumping noises from below, but the girls
were too heavy for the men below to lift. All of the buildings around were too
far away to even consider jumping.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No way out. We’re stuck here,” Tom reported.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha growled angrily. “What now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">>Boom!< A shot came from below, punching a
neat hole in the trap-door, sending splinters into Willow’s arm. The three
girls dove off the hatch just as a second shot drilled through where Agatha had
been sitting a moment before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom dove forward. “Grab the edge!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">He managed to get his fingers on the lip of the
trap-door just as a heavy weight hit it from below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">>Boom!< >Boom!< >Boom!< Three
more shots pierced the wood hatch, one narrowly missed Tom’s hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Surrender, and I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might</i> decide to let you live!” said Charkart’s voice from below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’d like some guarantee of that before we give
up!” Nikki shouted down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom heard a hiss of moving air overhead and looked
up. There was a zeppelin, gliding in just above rooftop height, headed straight
for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I could give you my word as a man of commerce?”
said Charkart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Are you serious? I’d rather have a thief’s word!”
said Nikki.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I heard you fellas could use a lift?” Tom turned
to see the Hecate’s freight elevator bearing down on him. Shorty hung off one
of the ropes, waving his cap at them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom scrambled to his feet just as it reached them.
“Grab on!” He neatly swung aboard the leading corner of the elevator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty grabbed at Nikki, and hauled her into the
cage, Agatha jumped nimbly aboard, but Willow missed her grip and fell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki ran to the rail. “Willow!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom jumped off and ran to the girl. The elevator
was moving about ten miles an hour, they could still catch it. He picked Willow
up to her feet and propelled her forward. Grasping hands caught her as they
neared the elevator. As she cleared the rail, she kicked out and caught Tom in
his wounded ear. He tripped and fell on to the gravel roof.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A rectangle of light behind him appeared as the
trap-door opened and men came spilling out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook his head and got to his feet. The blow to
his ear had thrown his balance off. He tried to run, but kept stumbling to the
side. Finally he got a pace going, but he was well behind the lift.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The elevator cleared the side of the building just
as Tom got up to speed. He ran as hard as he could, but it seemed like it was
getting further away. Still, there was nothing for it but to jump. Charkart
would surely kill him if he stayed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom leapt harder than he’d ever strained in his
life. For a moment it was like he had wings. The elevator swung back in his
direction and he landed hard on his chest against the lip of the doorway. It
knocked the wind out of him. He scrabbled for a hand hold, but slid backwards,
legs pumping madly over empty space. Helping hands pulled him aboard and Tom
collapsed. His chest burned where he’d slammed into the elevator and every
breath was painful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty pulled a lever and the elevator began to
lift into the belly of Hecate’s gondola, at the same moment all four of her
engines kicked to life. The elevator swung alarmingly as she accelerated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom got unsteadily to his feet. “Who’s flying?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty glanced at him with a puzzled expression.
“Who do you think?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom looked at the other three, their expressions
reflected the confusion he felt. They were nearly to the cargo bay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Wouldn’t be asking if I knew.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty smiled and shook his head. “You didn’t know
she could fly? I thought she was your pilot, way she handles herself on the
bridge. That was very clever of you to leave someone behind, but tell everyone
it was just the four of you. I couldn’t have come got you without her.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The elevator halted in the cargo bay with a clang.
Shorty opened the door and stepped into the bay. All the lead bars were gone,
apparently Charkart had stripped their cargo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom turned to the others and mouthed, “Who?” They
just shrugged in response.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I can see why you left her aboard though,” Shorty
continued. “She’s exotic and damn pretty. Liable to attract a bit too much
attention in a town like Havenvale.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The others followed Shorty up the companionway to
the bridge. When they got there it was empty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty turned to the others. “She’s gone. That’s
odd.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Who?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Why, Ishara of course. Is it that strange that
she’d help rescue you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Ishara, the mystery passenger. In all the
excitement Tom had forgotten about her. “Oh… Yeah, I guess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki quickly slid into the pilot’s seat and
shivered. She ran her hands over the freshly repaired controls. “Looks like
they did a good job fixin’ her up. We’re headed due east.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right, Willow, have a look for someplace we can go
to find work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow sat down at her station, gave Sir
Furrybottom a hug and went to work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grinned. He’d won Hecate back, and he was
Captain again, no matter what Agatha said. “Shorty, get your gear stowed in the
machine room, and then Agatha’ll show you your quarters.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty nodded. “Aye Captain… You got a first mate?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">It didn’t take Tom two seconds to decide. “Agatha’s
first mate. Any time I’m not around, you get your orders from her.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Aye Captain.” Shorty saluted and left for the
machine room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Me?” Agatha turned to Tom. “Why’d you pick me, we
can’t agree on nothin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Exactly, you’ll keep me honest, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> you to argue with me when I’m being
pig-headed. Just… one favour?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, sure.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Try not to enjoy it too much.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha grinned and walked away. “I’m afraid I can’t
do that… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Captain</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">End of Episode 2</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-2-c-2.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-3-c-1.html">Next -----></a></span></span> </span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-65801108468198706162012-09-30T21:59:00.002-07:002012-11-05T15:30:34.713-08:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-2, C-2<style>
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<br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate. As
they were pulling out of Milton, a young woman appeared at the door to the
bridge, but she ran away before any of the crew could ask her what had
happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They came to the town of Havenvale looking for
repairs, but ran afoul of the local syndicate, had their drinks dosed and wound
up unconscious, lying on the floor of a saloon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">2</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
2</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When Tom awoke he had a splitting headache and the
inside of his mouth tasted like he’d been licking garbage cans. He hawked and
spat in the corner. He was in a dimly-lit room with a dirt floor, roughly
heaped in a corner with Agatha, Nikki and Willow atop a straw-filled mattress. Four
stone walls, a stout wooden door in the middle of one, and high in the opposite
wall was a grate of bars, perhaps two feet tall by four across that let in a
crack of light from the gas-lamps outside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grabbed the bars, jumped and held his face
level with the opening. The window was set at street level, but there was
nobody outside. He dropped back down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Uhh, bastard drugged us.” Agatha sat up, rubbing
her face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What was your first clue?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Shut up.” She got to her feet and surveyed the
room. “Got a plan to get us out of this mess?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If you’re looking to me for a plan, does that mean
I’m the Captain?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Captain of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i>?
Charkart’s probably flyin’ off in Hecate right now, laughing at our stupidity.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Repairs’ll take at least a day.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh good, so between now and then, all we have to
do is escape, make our way there without getting caught, and get past whatever
guards he puts on ‘er when he realises we’re gone. Easy, right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom pinched the bridge of his nose. Agatha was
making his headache worse. “I’ll get Hecate back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, so what’s the plan genius?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I don’t know! I’m still thinking, but it’ll come.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha snorted. “Well good luck with that. Tell you
what, if you actually get us Hecate back, I won’t hassle you about bein’
Captain no more.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You mean it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah sure, since it’ll <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never happen</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’ll get her back. Just give me some time to
think.” Tom retreated to a corner of the cell and sat, contemplating a way out,
while Agatha toured the room, probing, punching, and kicking anything that
looked like a weak spot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom stared at the pool of light on the floor. Even
that had shadow-bars across it. There had to be something, there was always a
way out, he just had to find it before Charkart shipped Hecate off. Tom pounded
his fist into the dirt floor, being Captain of an airship had been his dream
for as long as he could remember, and for two short days it had come true. He wasn’t
going to let it end so soon. Besides, he owed the others, they all had a share
in Hecate, and none of them had a place to go if she was lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Uhh, what hit me?” Willow rose unsteadily to her
feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“They spiked your sarsaparilla.” Agatha frowned. “I
shoulda seen it comin’, he was too pushy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Ain’t your fault Agatha.” Tom stood and gazed out
the barred window again. “My fault. I shoulda been more prepared.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow shrugged. “None of us saw it comin’ Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m the Captain! Things go wrong it’s always my
fault.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Exactly, you’re the Captain. You’ll figure us a
way out of this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">For a miracle, Agatha let it lie at that and
returned to probing their cell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What happened? I feel like I’ve been run over.”
Nikki sat up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You drank too much beer.” Tom shrugged.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“This the drunk tank?” Nikki shook her head and
winced. “What’s Willow doin’ here then? She was drinkin’ sarsaparilla.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha stomped over. “Stop messing with her head
Tom. Charkart drugged us so he can steal Hecate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A metal slot grated open at the bottom of the door.
A pitcher of water, a bucket, and a tray of bread and cheese was shoved through
from the far side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom ran to the door but the slot closed before he
got there. He pounded on the door. “Hey! This ain’t legal! We salvaged Hecate
fair ‘n square. You can’t just lock us up and take ‘er away!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The voice that answered was deep and rough, not
Charkart’s. “There ain’t no law in this town but Charkart’s law. He wants
somethin’, he takes it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What’re you gonna do with us?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, yer lucky there son. He figures ain’t nobody
gonna believe a bunch of kids word over his, specially if the airship they
claim to own is nowhere around. He’ll ship Hecate out when the repairs are done
tomorrow night, an’ hold you ‘till the next slaver comes through.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom kicked the door. “Slavery’s not legal in
America!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh quit your moanin’. Cushy life that, slave in
Atlantis. No Mist to worry ‘bout.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah then why don’t you sign up?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I already have a cushy life, running Charkart’s
cells.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki put on a breathy voice. “Well, since you’re
the man in charge here, perhaps you could think about letting us go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The man on the other side coughed. “Why would I do
that miss?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh, I think I could make it worth your while.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">After a pause they heard the voice again. “I’m a
married man… happily married I mean.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Surely there must be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">some</i> things your wife doesn’t do for you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Never you mind that missy, we get along fine.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well, there are other things. Things of value on
Hecate. You get us to her and we can pay you real handsomely.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Charkart would have my hide. That’s all I’m a
gonna say on the matter. G’night folks, might as well get comfy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We could take you with us!” Nikki’s voice lost the
husky undertone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Footsteps receded from their door, and a moment
later the streetlamp outside went dark, leaving the crew with only a faint
trickle of moonlight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Nice try Nikki.” Willow patted her on the
shoulder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You wouldn’t have… given yourself to him, would
you?” Agatha gaped at Nikki.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No….” Nikki blushed and looked down. “’Course not,
I’m not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> kinda gal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow grinned impishly. “Why don’t you tell ‘em
what kind of gal you are?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki rounded on her sister. “Enough Willow!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean—”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Pssst!” Someone was at the window.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom hauled himself up by the bars so he could see
out. It was the short guy they’d seen earlier in the day, the one claiming to
be a mechanic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What do you want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The small fellow doffed his flat cap, he looked
older with it off. “Can we try with the introductions again?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Fine, Tom Cain here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Elias Short.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom laughed. “Your name is… Short?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Elias grinned. “Yeah, most people call me Shorty…
on account of my name.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, I’m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sure</i>
it’s on account of your name, not… anything else.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty tilted his head to the side with a
half-smile. “Hey listen, do you want my help or not?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m listenin’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I overheard you say each of you has an even share
in Hecate, that right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “I’m Captain though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty shrugged. “Sure thing, you’re Captain… I
want in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“In what?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You give me an even share in Hecate, I’ll get you
guys out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No, you can come aboard for a wage, like regular
crew.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“All right. Good luck gettin’ out.” Shorty turned
and took a step away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Wait!” Nikki said from below. “Tom, surely goin’
from a quarter to a fifth of somethin’ is better than goin’ from a quarter to
nothin’ at all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty stopped and looked back over his shoulder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom dropped down and turned to the girls. “You all
feel this way?” They nodded. “Okay.” He pulled himself back up to the window.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty grinned at him. “We have a deal?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, get us out of here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Shorty produced a small saw. “Work on the bars so
they’re almost cut through. Hide the cuts and metal shavings. Tomorrow night,
when the streetlight goes out, climb out of there, and get to the port. I’ll have
Hecate all warmed up and ready to fly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right, don’t leave without us.” Tom grabbed the
saw and dropped to the floor. “Let’s get to work!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The sound of Shorty’s footsteps receding was nearly
drowned by the rasp of the small saw. They took shifts with it during the night
and by the time the first fingers of dawn began to massage the horizon they had
one very dull saw and four bars weakened enough so they could be removed by
hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grabbed some dirt from outside the window and
covered up their night’s work. “Oughta do it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow grinned at him. “I knew you’d come up with
something Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha crossed her arms. “It was Shorty came up
with the plan, not Tom!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki lay down on the mattress and glanced at Tom.
“I… I, think it’s time we got some rest.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah,” Tom stretched out his sore muscles. “I feel
like my arm’s gonna fall off.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m cold.” Nikki shivered and smiled up at Tom. “D’you
think you could lie next to me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sure.” Tom settled down on the mattress and threw
an arm over her. Nikki took his hand, pulled it over her like a blanket, and
hugged it tight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh for the love of—” Agatha growled in anger. “I
don’t recall buying tickets to the burlesque.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow lay down beside her sister and settled in
for sleep. “Jealous?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“No! Of course not…. Eww.” Agatha stood over the
rest of the crew, hands on hips. “Shove over will ya?” Agatha pushed at Willow
until there was a space for her too.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The day passed quietly. Around noon their guard came
and gave them another meal, exchanged their bucket for a clean one and left
again, refusing to let Nikki engage him in further conversation. A thick layer
of clouds rolled in around sunset, and a chill breeze came in the open window.
The gas lamp in the street came on and soon after the stars were out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’d love to see the look on Charkart’s face when
he finds we’ve flown the coop!” Tom did a little jig.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Better yet, when he finds Hecate’s gone too.”
Willow took his arm and spun with Tom across the floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“We’re not clear yet.” Agatha jumped and lifted
herself on an uncut section of bars. “What time did the streetlight go out last
night?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shrugged. “Dunno, it was full dark when I woke
up. Don’t matter, we just have to wait.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They were all full of nervous energy, pacing,
jumping up to look out the window, trying to guess the time. Soon enough their
evening meal, and bucket replacement arrived. Nikki didn’t even try to talk to
the guard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">They were all quietly eating when the streetlight
went out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom jumped to his feet. “Hot damn, let’s get out of
here.” He twisted the pre-cut bars free and tossed them down to Agatha, then
dropped to the ground and offered his hands like a stirrup. “Ladies first.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha ignored his hands, took a run and planted a
foot on the wall to propel herself upwards, then grabbed two of the remaining
bars and slithered through the opening like it was nothing. Tom helped Nikki
and Willow through, then jumped and hauled himself out the opening.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom’s eyes hadn’t fully adjusted yet, and it was
near total darkness on the street. Only the faint light of from distant
thoroughfare gave him some orientation. The others were just standing there,
doing nothing. “Hey, let’s get a move on!” Tom hissed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">That moment the gas-lamp came back on. Ponderoy
Charkart stood underneath it, eyes twinkling. “So, I heard you’d like to see
the look on my face when I found out you’d escaped.” He grinned, showing all
his pointy teeth and pointed a finger at himself. “Well… this is it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Each end of the street was blocked by a half-dozen
thugs with cudgels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> <span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-2-c-1_23.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/10/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-2-c-3.html">Next -----></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140999662040898062.post-81767782113512593642012-09-23T22:31:00.000-07:002012-09-30T22:10:30.892-07:00Orphans of the Celestial Sea, E-2, C-1<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The
story so far…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom Cain rescued sisters Nikki and Willow Keats
from psychotic Draggers and a Mist infestation with the help of sharpshooter
Agatha West. They fled Milton on the apparently deserted airship Hecate. As
they were pulling out of Milton, a young woman appeared at the door to the
bridge, but she ran away before any of the crew could ask her what had
happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Now they limp toward the nearest repair station on
one engine, with heavily damaged controls.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Episode </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">2</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Chapter
1</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Town ahoy Captain!” Willow withdrew the spyglass
from her eye with a grin and leaned back from the railing of the Hecate’s outer
deck. She’d raided the spare clothes from the old crew and now wore a pair of
flight-goggles, a bomber hat, and an oversized navy pea-coat that she’d belted
at the waist with a yellow silk scarf.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Is it the right one?” Tom furrowed his brow,
squinting at the horizon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow rolled her eyes. “Yeah Tom. We took the
course heading I gave, arrived within minutes of the timetable I plotted, but
it’s the wrong town. Try to have a little faith.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom smiled at her. “Sorry, I’m new to this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Don’t apologise! You’re the Captain, try to act
like it, ‘kay?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Hey, you two mind moving aside? I’d like to see
where I’m steering.” Nikki’s muted voice came through the glass of the bridge.
She was doing the best she could on Hecate’s smashed control console, but it
made her irritable. She’d returned Tom’s flight jacket and raided the
mystery-passenger’s wardrobe for a black-trimmed red wool overcoat to keep her
warm. She didn’t quite have the curves to fill it out yet, but if she’d been a
few years older it would fit her like it was made for her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Of the mystery passenger herself, they’d seen no
further sign. Tom had locked all the food and drink away at night in an attempt
to draw her out, but she either had her own supplies wherever she was hiding,
or was too scared to take the bait.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom and Willow walked around the side of Hecate’s
bridge and in through the forward hatch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I should fix us some lunch.” Tom turned toward the
galley.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow groaned. “Lemme guess, beans and bacon?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shrugged. “I like beans and bacon, ‘sides it’s
the only thing I know how to cook.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow shuddered. “We have got to get someone
aboard who can do better in the galley.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You wanna cook, go ahead, but I’m not taking any
more crew on ‘till we’ve done some cargo runs and can pay ‘em proper.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Don’t want to give up more of your share?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Exactly, Hecate could be great for all of us. It’s
a new start, an’ if we take the right steps we can all live on her as long as
we want. Aint you ever wanted to see the world?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow’s eyes crinkled at the corners like she was
holding back a smile. “Of course.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha was bustling around the galley when they arrived.
“There’s no food!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow laughed. “There’s hard-tack.” She opened a
cupboard and tapped one of the biscuits inside against the table. It sounded
like a block of wood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha made a face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m cooking up some beans and bacon.” Tom grabbed
a pan and slapped it down on the stove.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha’s face grew even more twisted. “Bleh,
hard-tack it is.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I thought you liked my beans!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“The first time. Second time they were okay too,
but after the fifth meal, I have to say they started to become just a mite
repetitive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That’s it, I’ve had enough abuse for one day.” Tom
turned the heat off the pan. “I’m gonna hit the town and get myself a nice
steak and potatoes in a few hours anyhow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow sighed. “I wonder if they’ll have pork pie.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha paused with the biscuit half-in her mouth.
“Oh don’t! You’ve got me drooling now. How are we gonna pay for all this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I was gonna talk to you about that. Armoury has
way more than we could ever need, why not sell a rifle or two?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, I’ll go have a look.” Agatha set the hard-tack
down on the table and turned to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Lock our sidearms away while you’re at it.” Tom
tossed her his revolver.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You sure?” Agatha felt the revolver at her side.
“I-I don’t feel right without it on.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“It’s a big town, we’ll be safe enough.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah… okay.” She ducked out of the doorway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rubbed his jaw, it was starting to develop some
stubble, but he was loath to use another man’s razor. “You reckon she’ll stay
on?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow nodded. “Yep, she’s got nowhere else to be.
She’ll grouse about it, but she’ll come ‘round.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“And the two of you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“That’s a little trickier. Nikki wants to stay, but
says we got obligations.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“What do you say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow sighed. “I say our family’s prolly all dead.
That means we’re free.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Free? Why wouldn’t you be free?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow looked away. “Oh, just family debts… you
know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom was about to respond when the zeppelin gondola
started to shudder rhythmically. A deep rumble came from the starboard engine.
He dashed for the bridge with Willow close behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The door to the bridge was locked so Tom hammered
with his fist. As he was pounding the shaking and noise ceased. Hecate went
eerily silent without any engines running, just the hiss of wind past the
canopy to let them know they were still moving.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Who is it?” Nikki’s voice from the other side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Open the damned door Nikki! What’s going on!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The door clicked and swung open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Engine troubles.” Nikki slid back into the pilot’s
chair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Obviously! Why was the door locked?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki raised an eyebrow. “You told me to lock up
when you or Agatha wasn’t around.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right… right. What’s the situation?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Looks like the engine ran out of oil. I couln’t
see it ‘cause that gauge is smashed.” She waved at the array of mostly-broken
dials above her station. “I think I got ‘er shut down before the engine was completely
destroyed. We’ll have to glide the rest of the way and hope the boys manning
the mooring tower are lookin’ sharp today.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“You’re kidding me. Glide a fifty ton airship in,
close enough to a dead-stop that a half-dozen boys crewing the tower can reign
it in?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Do we have a choice?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom glanced out the bridge windows. The town was
rapidly approaching. “How long ‘till we hit… err <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">land</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki gave an aggravated sigh. “About five minutes.
Look, this isn’t as easy as it looks. I’m trying to gauge the wind, bleed off
some speed by fishtailing back and forth, while keeping enough momentum to make
it there. Is there something else you could be doing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “I’ll double up the rigging.” He turned
and raced from the bridge. Finally something he knew better than the girls
aboard. He’d been a rig-monkey for two years, but even with that practice it
would be tight getting four extra guylines in place in under five minutes.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The last line clipped in place just as the airship
was caught by the mooring towers. The boys down below were sharp, they had six
of the lines tied off in a matter of seconds. The stays groaned, cables
stretched to their fullest and one of the towers leaned alarmingly far. Tom was
thrown forward from his perch, but clung tightly to the rigging with calloused
hands. When they’d settled in place he hung for a moment, suspended over the
town of Havenvale. Best view in the house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom swung his legs up to the rigging and scrambled
down to Hecate’s outer deck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Are you crazy!” The Portmaster came storming onto
the top of the nearest mooring tower. “Damn near wrecked us you maniacs!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom smiled back. “My apologies. We didn’t have much
choice, lost our last engine about five minutes ago.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Oh….” The look of anger on the Portmaster’s face
faded. “Well, you come to the right place then. We can fix durn near anything,
if you’ve got the price.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom grabbed a spare bit of rigging that hung down
from the envelope and swung across to the tower. “How’s the market for lead
these days?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Portmaster frowned. “Look, can I talk to your
Captain? I’d rather not have to repeat myself.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“He is the Captain.” Willow copied Tom’s move and
swung across to the tower.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Is not!” called Agatha from the deck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Portmaster looked from one to another of the
teens. “Well, is he or ain’t he?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom glared at Agatha and mouthed, “Not now.” She
folded her arms and frowned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I am the Captain. Hecate is our salvage after the
previous crew was wiped out in a Dragger attack at Milton.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Portmaster whistled. “That so? We was wonderin’
why the regular flight never came in from Milton. How bad was it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Bad…. Far as I know the four of us are the only
ones to make it out sane and alive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The boys manning the tower had swung a gangplank
across to the Hecate’s deck. Nikki and Agatha walked across to join them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Portmaster sized up the crew and smiled.
“You’re the whole crew? Just you four?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom beamed. “Yep, Hecate was banged up pretty bad,
but we got ‘er here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The Portmaster’s grin grew two sizes larger. “Is
that a fact?” He hastily wiped the smile from his face and checked his
pocketwatch. “Aright, I’ll contact the Guild. A rep’ll meet you here in, say two
hours?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sounds good.” Tom slung the long canvas bag with
the rifles over his shoulder and climbed down to the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">When the rest of the crew arrived he gave them a
big grin. “We made it! Time to celebrate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Havenvale was as dirty a town as Tom had seen in
his travels. There were berths for a dozen airships, but only three in port
aside from Hecate. Beyond the port were rows of machine shops and hangars.
Sparks flew from welding torches, hammers beat metal into shape, and
apprentices ran in every direction carrying a variety of parts. Beyond that was
a row of saloons and a few shops for the visiting aircrew. The buildings in
town were mostly five or six stories high, made from brick and mortar, every
surface varnished a dark hue from years of greasy smoke. There were a few
refuge towers on the outskirts, but with the large buildings in town, people
would simply climb to the roofs during a Mist attack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The packed-earth streets and boardwalks bustled
with activity, most of it on foot, though horse-drawn wagons were common. There
were even a few horseless trucks and autos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A little guy, about Willow’s height, wearing a
flat-cap and suspenders waited outside Havenvale’s telegraph office with a
toolbox and large duffle. “Hey, you from the Airship that just docked?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “Yeah.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Can you ask your Captain if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he could use a hand in the machine
room? I’m a journeyman mech, looking for a berth. I work real hard and don’t
eat much.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom frowned. “I’m the damn Captain, is that so hard
to believe?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha shook her head. “No you’re not.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rounded on her. “Look Agatha, I’m getting sick
of your attitude! I’m the only one with years of flight experience. Who else is
suited to the job?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Two years of fixing rigging does not prepare you
to command an airship.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Who led you three safely out of Milton? Who got us
aboard and free from the Draggers?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I freed Hecate from the Draggers, remember?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Yeah, good shooting, but who told you to shoot?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha rolled her eyes. “You told me to make my
shots count. What kind of lame-brained advice is that anyhow? Like I was just
going to waste them doing some target practice? I was the one who figured out
to shoot for the bow line!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“If I’d known you could shoot like that, maybe I’d
have thought of it first!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Well you didn’t.” Agatha paused, breathing
heavily. “Way I figure it, four of us each have an equal share in Hecate. We
should vote on who’s Captain.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I’m the Captain. Mine’s the only vote that
counts!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The small guy coughed into his hand. “If I can
interject here a second….”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom barely glanced at him. “No!” He began to move
up the street, and the others followed. “We shouldn’t carry on like this in
public.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha nodded. “We do need a mechanic though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom rolled his eyes. “Fine, we need a mechanic, but
not him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Why not him?” Agatha crossed her arms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Because he’s a kid! And a liar to boot. Since when
does a kid that age get a journeyman’s ticket.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki slipped in between Agatha and Tom. “He looked
about your age if you ask me, just short.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom gritted his teeth. “Even if he’s my age, it’s
too young to be a journeyman.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki clicked her tongue. “Still, it’s worth
talking to him. Maybe he’s tellin’ the truth… and we need a mechanic.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom growled in exasperation. “This is a full scale
mutiny! Are you all against me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow winked at him and saluted. “You have my
support Captain Tom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Nikki frowned. “Are you going to give him a
chance?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha gave an exasperated growl. “Can’t be a
mutiny. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’re <u>not</u> the Captain</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“In order. Thank you. No. And I’ve heard enough of
that horse-crap for one day.” Tom stopped in front of a pawn shop and unslung
the bag of weapons from his shoulder. “This looks like a good place.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Half an hour later, the four of them sat around a
table in a quiet saloon, patting comfortably full bellies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom banged his mug down on the table. “Now that was
a fine meal.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Agatha leaned forward. “We can’t keep this up
though. If we pawn off everything on Hecate how are we going to fuel her, or
get her fixed up?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Obviously. Ain’t nothin’ a little work won’t pay
off.” Tom sighed and leaned back. “We’ll be fine, once we pay off the repairs
there’s gonna be enough lead left over to get us some operating cash.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">A portly gentleman in a bowler and waistcoat loomed
over the table. “Pardon me ladies and gentleman, but I’ve been informed that
you are the crew of the Hecate?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom nodded. “Yup, that’s us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The man sat at the table without invitation. “Extraordinary,
so it’s just the four of you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The whole crew nodded and grinned proudly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“I heard a rumour that you’ve some lead bars you
wish to sell, is that correct?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom sat straighter. “You heard right mister. You
buyin’?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The man nodded and proffered a hand. “Ponderoy
Charkart, I happen to deal in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all manner</i>
of goods.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Tom shook with the man, which he found highly
distasteful. Charkart’s hands were cold and damp. He wiped his palm on his
pants under the table. “Logbook says we have five long tons of lead aboard. If
you’re offerin’ a better price than the mechanics, it’s all yours.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart whistled. “That is quite the load. I’ll
tell you what, I can’t do business of this magnitude on a dry throat.” He waved
the bartender over. “A round of beer for our table, your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">best brew</i> for my new friends.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Willow wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like beer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Sarsaparilla for the young lady.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The drinks came fast, and the bartender handed them
out along with a big bowl of salty pretzels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Now, let’s drink to profitable partnerships, and
get down to brass bolts shall we?” Charkart raised his mug. “Cheers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">The others around the table echoed Charkart’s
toast, and copied him as he downed half his drink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">“Right, that hit the spot didn’t it? Are you
feeling ready to do business now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Truth told, Tom wasn’t feeling good at all. He
blinked and shook his head to cure his double-vision, but that only made things
worse. “Shii you fizzed our drins you baser.” His tongue was two sizes too
large in his mouth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;">Charkart leaned forward as Tom heard the gentle
thumps of his crewmates sliding to the floor. “I’ve been called worse. Sweet
dreams lad.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> <span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana;"> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-1-c-4.html"><----- Previous</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-chapter-1.html">Start from the Beginning</a> <a href="http://brassbolts.blogspot.ca/2012/09/orphans-of-celestial-sea-e-2-c-2.html">Next -----></a></span></span></div>
Mark Fengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922616270777907779noreply@blogger.com0