Khronos (Hanover and Singh Book 3) (20 page)

“You see, Herr Blom,” Cairn gestured with an extravagant wave of his hand, “she is cooperating.”

“She has little choice, Captain,” Blom clasped his hands around the opening of his jacket, squeezing the buttons between pudgy fingers. “Not when we have her friend in our custody.”

Luise stifled a gasp with one hand as she followed the Oberleutnant’s gaze. “Hari?” Pushing past Jacques, she ran forward, reaching for the knots binding Hari’s hands as he fidgeted within the grip of two German soldiers.

“It is all right, Miss Luise,” Hari caught Luise’s eye as more guards approached her from behind.

“But your arms, Hari.” Luise struggled as the guards pulled her away with a firm grasp of her shoulders. “Release him,” she wheeled around within the guards’ grip, staring at Cairn first and then Blom. “Let him go, or I will not help you.”

“Really?” Cairn withdrew the flechette pistol from its holster. He pointed it at Hari. “I think you will do exactly as we say, Miss Hanover. Furthermore,” he pulled back the firing hammer with his thumb, “I think you will do it right now.”

“The machine cannot help you...”

“That is for me to decide.” Cairn lowered the pistol. He nodded at the leather armchairs, one on each side of the wheel. “Wait there, Jacques, in the chair opposite mine.”

“Jacques,” Luise fidgeted between the guards. “Remember what I said.”

“It’s all right, Jacques.” Cairn holstered the pistol, the scars burning red around his eyes. “No matter what Miss Hanover might have told you, might have warned you about, there is nothing to fear.”

“If you say so, Captain.” Jacques sat down on the port side of the wheel, resting the impediment machine in his lap.

“I do, nephew,” Cairn smiled. “But forgive me a moment. We must get rid of a distraction. “Master Whyte?”

“Aye Captain?” The door to the Captain’s galley swung open as Whyte stepped onto the bridge.

“Is the lifeboat ready?”

“Aye,” Whyte pointed to the balcony in the recess below the bridge window, in front of
The Flying Scotsman
’s wheel. “It is secured to the railing as ordered.

“Well then, Blom. It is your turn I believe.” Cairn gestured at the guards holding Luise. “Bring her along. It will make for good entertainment.”

“Hari?” Luise watched as Blom’s soldiers pushed Hari around the wheel and down the steps to the balcony beneath the bridge window, the stars pricking at the glass. Luise struggled across the deck in the grip of her guards as Hari was pushed onto the balcony. Cairn and Blom followed.

“Hari Singh is far too distracting, Miss Hanover, and I need you to be focused on my needs.” Cairn reached around Hari and pulled at his belt. Hari’s robes sagged around his waist as Cairn removed his belt and the kukri in its scabbard. He handed them to Blom. “I am not an animal, Miss Hanover,” Cairn picked at the knot in the rope tethering a single lifeboat to the railing. “But neither do I let too much sentiment cloud my purpose.” Pulling the rope free he thrust it toward Hari. “Lift up your hands, Hari Singh, and hold on to the rope.”

“Hari,” Luise pushed forward.

“Miss Luise,” Hari struggled with the soldiers, flinching at the sound of Blom’s hand striking Luise’s cheek.

“There is simply no need for that, Miss Hanover,” Cairn sighed. “So long as your friend can hold on to the rope,” he cast a quick glance at the ground below, “he should be fine.”

“Murderer,” Luise screamed. “There is no harness.” Rushing forward again, Luise doubled over as Blom punched her in the stomach. Her satchel sliding off her shoulder, Blom took it from her.

“Stop,” Hari lurched forward.

“Really,” Cairn shook his head. “This has to stop.” He nodded at the soldiers. “Goodbye, Hari Singh.”

“Miss Luise,” Hari shouted as the soldiers lifted him onto the railing.”

“Hari,” Luise looked up from where she lay sprawled on the deck of the balcony.

“Look for me,” Hari grasped the rope with his fingers. “I will be back, with friends.” Locking his eyes on Luise’s, Hari held his breath as the soldiers pushed him over the edge.

“No,” Luise reached through the bars of the balcony. “Hari,” she stared at the lifeboat balloon as it sank beneath the airship, and at Hari’s body as it slipped further and further down the rope.

Cairn took a last glance over the edge of the balcony. “It is done then.” He turned to Blom. “If you will have your men return Miss Hanover to the bridge, perhaps we can continue.”

Luise tasted salt on her lips, the glow of the moon reflecting in her tears as they streamed down her face.

Chapter 14

The Amphitrite

In the skies above Denmark

June, 1851

“Can you see it, Major?” Smith leaned inside the crawlspace in the bowels of
The Amphitrite.
“A small handle, close to the propeller, along the shaft.”

“I can’t see very much, Mr. Smith. Perhaps if you were to...” Noonan pressed his left arm deep inside the left-hand shaft protecting the starboard manoeuvring propeller. Resting his chin on the outside of the shaft, Noonan gripped the metal grille deck with the fingers of his right hand, urging his left arm deeper into the shaft.

“Just be careful, Major,” called out. Cursing and sweating in the heat, he crawled along the walkway to where Noonan lay pressed against the shaft. “As soon as you remove whatever has got itself stuck down there, the propeller will spin, once it is free.”

Noonan licked at the corner of his mouth with his tongue. “Almost there.” His eyes widened as Smith entered the tiny compartment. “There. I have it.”

“Good man, Major. Now, remember...”

A spattering of blood blistered Noonan’s face, faster than the Major could scream.

“Major,” Smith gripped Noonan’s shoulders as he slumped over the propeller shaft.
The Amphitrite
swung to port. Smith pulled Noonan free of the shaft as the airship heeled over three degrees. The bloody stump of Noonan’s left hand, all four fingers severed at the second knuckle, dripped blood over the grille, spotting Noonan’s grimy shirt with burned-copper stains. Smith propped Noonan against the wall, removed the handkerchief from the Major’s head and bound the stumps of his fingers.

“Smith?” Noonan’s head limped from side to side.

“Don’t speak. Not yet.” Smith finished tying the knots. He leaned into Noonan as the airship returned to a horizontal attitude. “I think we can say you have given your all for this mission, Major.” He checked the bandage. “Let’s get you back to the accommodation deck. It is time for you to meet the Captain.”

The stubs of Noonan’s fingers dripped all the way along the crawlspace, smearing the rungs of the ladder in the hold and spoiling the cuffs of Egmont’s jacket as he reached down through the hatch and pulled Noonan up onto the accommodation deck.

“A sterling effort, Major Noonan,” balancing on one foot, Egmont lowered Noonan to the deck.

“A
sterling effort
, Admiral?” Noonan sprawled on the walkway, blood dripping between the metal grille squares. He nursed his hand. Fighting to regain control of his rapid breathing, Noonan looked up at the Admiral. “Are those your words or the Captain’s?”

“Well...”

“I thought so,” Noonan looked away. “I have sweated and bled for this ship since we boarded her. Blind in the hold but for updates from the bridge that you,” he stabbed his bandaged appendages at Egmont, “have given me.
We’ve come this far. We are gaining on them. We are above them.”

“We were,” Egmont frowned. He shrugged at Smith as he clambered up the ladder and out of the hatch.

“I want to know what is
really
going on, Admiral.” Noonan staggered to his feet. “Take me to the Captain. I won’t do another thing for this mission before I see him,” Noonan raised his bloody hand, “and he sees me.”

“Very well, Major,” Egmont gripped the railings and spun upon his foot. “Follow me.” Egmont led the way with Smith following in Noonan’s wake, stepping over the spots of blood dripping from the Major’s bandage.

The walkway, pinched on either side with rubbery reserve sponsons of gas, led straight to the bridge, closed to the rest of the ship with a thick metal door. Flaked with a brittle layer of rust, the door made a smacking sound as the rubber gaskets were parted and the door swung open. Egmont stood to one side, leaning against the railing.

“In you go?”

“You’re not going to introduce me?” Noonan’s brow furrowed as he looked at the Admiral.

Egmont shook his head. “The bridge is cramped enough as it is, Major. There’s room for only one, plus the Captain.”

Noonan sniffed the air escaping from the bridge. “It smells of whale oil.”

“A lubricant,” Smith slipped his hand onto Noonan’s shoulder. “Amongst other things. You’ll find your answer inside, Major. Go on. It is quite safe.”

“Wait a moment, Major,” Smith pushed past Egmont. “You are perhaps expecting something or someone quite different from the Captain you are about to meet. I suggest you prepare yourself...”

“For
anything
?” Noonan scoffed. “That would seem to be the motto of the last few hours. Do you have anything more specific to add?” He waited.

“No, Major,” Smith shook his head. “That is all.”

“Well, I had better go and meet the Captain then.” Noonan took a breath of air from outside the bridge, leaned inside the door and clambered down a long, thin ladder.

“The secret’s out then, Smith.” Egmont smoothed his hand over his beard.

“It’s not such a terribly important secret is it now, Admiral?”

“We’ll see.” Egmont nodded toward Noonan’s head as the Major reached the bottom of the ladder. “Including the two of us, the crew and the queen, Noonan is the ninth person outside of The Factory to know about the Captain of
The Amphitrite
. It wouldn’t do for the German Confederation to know just how far we have come in the years since Trafalgar.”

“
The Amphitrite
is a prototype. How many are in production?”

“I don’t know,” Egmont peered into the gloom of the bridge. “Ten? Perhaps more.” He turned to Smith. “Germany isn’t the only country preparing for war, old friend. If the Wallendorfs ever got wind of this...” Egmont turned and smiled at a sudden gasp from Noonan. “I think the Major has been formally introduced.” Reaching past Smith, Egmont gripped the side of the door and pulled it closed. “We’ll let them get acquainted.”

҉

The moonlight rippled across the surface of the coastal waters slipping past
The Regal Giant
and surfing onto the beach. Hannah swung her legs over the side of the bed in her cabin and stood up. She crossed to the porthole, tapping the glass as she stared out.

“Aether and Khaos are recruiting for their order.” Hannah turned to the desk and removed the telegram from a drawer. “Luther Wallendorf is waiting for us to dock in Hamburg. I don’t know how much the old man understands, but these demons have possessed his daughter
and
the German Confederation’s Foreign Office Minister. That should be enough to gain his full support, and attract the attention of his more intelligent assistants.”

“You know this Wallendorf?” Blaidd picked at his knuckles.

“
Ja
,” the telegram wrinkled in Hannah’s grasp. “When I was a little younger and more easily impressed.” She thrust the telegram into Blaidd’s hands. “Forget about Luise Hanover. Accept this new mission and I will see that you are rewarded.”

Blaidd unfolded the telegram, his eyes flicked back and forth across the page as he read it. He looked up at Hannah. “What are you proposing, eh?”

“To stop Aether. To get the demon out of Romney’s body...”

“That will require some powerful magic,” Blaidd folded the telegram.

“And you have magic inside of you,” Hannah stepped forward, turning Blaidd’s palm upwards in her hand. “I propose to stop them, to stop Aether from releasing more of his kind into our world. If I can just avenge what he did to Herr Bremen, If I can just...” Hannah sighed. She looked up at Blaidd. “Help me.”

“And what are you paying?”

“Double the amount the British are paying for Hanover.”

“Double, eh?” Blaidd removed his hand from Hannah’s grip and pushed the telegram into her palm. “It won’t be enough,” he tapped the telegram with his finger. “All those walkers and, what are they called? Emissaries?”

“They are armed automotive machines, controlled by humans. They have been in the field for a few years. Tried and tested...”

“Against humans. Demons are different, eh?”

“
Ja
, but perhaps they cannot be affected by the demons slowing powers.”

“Didn’t you just say the emissaries were controlled by humans?”

“
Ja
, but...” Hannah’s hands shook as she gestured at Blaidd. “We can try.”

“We can
try
, eh?” Blaidd turned his back on Hannah. He walked to the cabin door and opened it. Stepping into the corridor, he turned to face Hannah. “I will help you,” Blaidd’s eyes glistened as he stared at her. “For reasons of my own.” Hannah looked away. “Do we have a deal? Eh?”