1889: Journey To The Moon (The Far Journey Chronicles) (5 page)

There’s his smell again, Billy thought. An odor so thin, no one else seemed to notice. It emanated from Conklin like the faintest of fumes and reminded Billy of the buffalo skinners who, after a full season of hiding and gutting the entrails from the shaggy animals, would come into town ready to cleanse themselves. They threw their old clothes away and bought fresh ones, and they would bathe and soak every day, sometimes twice a day, yet the same faint smell was always on them. It was in their pores, Billy figured, just like the Doctor. Only the smell coming off Conklin was not buffalo, and that was what made Billy uneasy.

Jonathan Conklin eased one eye beyond the corner to observe Billy. He had picked up on Billy’s unease. Jonathan talked to himself, as he often did. “The veneer of civilization is razor thin on that lad. He is someone to be careful of, yes indeed.” He spied Merkam coming aft with Denys and went to join them, exchanging pleasantries all around.

Jonathan said, “Tell me, Denys, how do you like Jude’s creation?’

“Most impressive, I must say. Not at all what I expected. The polished wood and plush seating remind me of the best houses in London. I was rather expecting cold metal, creaking pipes, and noisy gear assemblages, but there is none of that. This is luxury in every detail.”

Nikola Tesla joined them at the end of the conversation. “Luxury is fine, but it’s worth nothing if the ship doesn’t fly.”

Merkam shook his head, “Nik, Nik. You must be patient. We will leave soon.”

“You’ve been saying that for two weeks. I expect you will say it for the next year.”

Merkam bristled, “We leave on the morrow for our first test flight. I trust that settles your bile.”

“Morning or evening?”

“In full dark. I want no curious eyes tracing our actions.”

Denys stiffened and said, “Are there men plotting to commandeer your machine?”

Merkam said, “I’ve heard talk of sky pirates hiding in the mountains near Manitou Springs, waiting for a chance to board us as soon as we ascend. I know personally of other engineers who would cheer if we failed. Their ilk are also not above sabotage, or hiring sky pirates to do their thievery.”

Denys said, “I suggest we all maintain a high degree of alertness for the next several days.”

“By all means,” Conklin said.

[ 5 ]

Ekka finished checking the exterior lip of the hatch and walked across the yard to join Billy. Billy asked, “What do you think of Doctor Conklin?”

“I don’t think of him.”

Billy blinked at the answer, “Well, uh, what I meant was—“

Ekka gave him a quick wink. “It was a joke, Billy.” She started to the ship, “Come, we have a few things in the engine room where Ross may need your help. His hand is too large.”

Billy hurried to catch up, saying to himself, “I think I may be in love.”

Ross was at the hatch to the engine room when they arrived. He said, “There’s a problem with the spindle coupling on the base of the transmogrifier. It’s dragging for some reason.”

They followed Ross through the hatch and the first thing Billy saw was the giant robot. “Whoa,” he said. The robot’s metal head turned toward them with a whirring sound. The voice vibrated the air in the room and sounded like the lowest notes on a bass violin played in the bottom of a barrel.

The robot said, “Unauthorized personnel.” A small red glow showed in the back of an oval hollow in the robot’s forehead. It looked like a ruby glinting sunlight from the back of a shallow cave. The light grew in intensity until Billy saw a red dot on his shirt.

Ross said, “He is one of the crew. He is authorized to be here, upon my order.”

Billy said, “What’s that red light?”

“It uses that as a locator, sort of like eyes, since it doesn’t have any.”

The red light blinked off and the head whirred back to its original position facing the transmogrifier.

“It sure gives me the willies,” Billy said.

“I hate it,” Ross said. “It is one of Merkam’s mechanical pets though. Among the two dozen he has on board.

“No good will come of them.” Ekka said. “Mark what I say. They will cause us trouble.”

Billy said, “This one looks spooky enough just standing there like a statue.”

Ross said, “Forget the talking machine. Let’s check the spindle.” Ross lay on his back and made Ekka and Billy do the same so he could point out the trouble area. “It’s this part right here.”

Billy said, “The part in that little hole?”

“Yes,” Ross showed them his large hand and fingers, “I can’t get these digits in there to see if it is merely loose and can be tightened, or whether it is faulty.”

Ekka said, “If it is faulty, what then?”

Ross sighed, “I have to disconnect and detach the transmogrifier to replace it, then we have to calculate it, well, Koothrappally would calculate it, so that it is absolutely harmonious with the spin. If it is off even one hundredth of an inch, we cannot fly.”

“And if it is loose?”

“Then, hopefully, all we have to do it tighten the spindle. The transmogrifier is already in harmonious balance. Koothrappally even double checked it.”

Billy said, “What happens if we just run this thing as it is?”

“The transmogrifier spins at two million revolutions per minute. The friction caused by the tiniest bit of drag would heat the spindle to melting, which would collapse and drop the entire mechanism resulting in a massive explosion that would destroy the ship.”

Billy looked at Ekka and said, “Well let’s not do that then, okay?” Ekka turned her head to the side to hide the smile.

Ross said, “Billy, can you fit your hand and fingers in there to check it?”

“I can try.” Billy worked his arm into position and angled his hand so the middle finger could slide in the hole. It was snug, but he got it inside. “I’m touching something in there.”

“See if you can slide it left or right.”

“It’s moving.”

“Good. Now see if you can feel a bump on the surface.”

“Yes. Is that a screw slot I’m feeling?”

“It is, now use this driver to tighten it. Do not over tighten.”

“How do I know when it is tight enough?”

“Firm is all it has to be. It will naturally hold in place after that.”

Billy took the tiny screwdriver and said, “This looks like the ones they use on eyeglasses.”

“It is. But it works fine. Now tighten it, please.”

Billy struggled for a while, getting cramps in his hand, but he eventually got the blade in the slot and tightened the screw. Firmly.

Ross clapped his shoulder and said, “Nicely done, Billy.” He moved to a tool cabinet, opened it and removed a bottle of bonded whiskey, the good stuff, Billy noticed. “We should have a drink to celebrate.”

Ekka said, “I believe so.”

Billy said, “I’m game.”

Ross found three coffee cups and filled them all to the brim. He said, “Salud,” and tilted the cup.

Ekka followed suit, as did Billy.

When they finished, Billy said, “Now that will put a rosy outlook on the rest of your day.”

Ross said, “You and Ekka are welcome any time. You know where I keep it.”

“Much obliged, “Billy said.

Ekka touched Billy’s arm. “Come, we have more work to do before tomorrow night’s ascending.”

Ekka led Billy to her bed in the sleeping quarters and pulled a slender suitcase from the small trunk beside it. As she opened it, she said, “If we are boarded by pirates, it will be hand to hand.” The suitcase contained six slender knives with etched handles and similarly filigreed scabbards. Each knife was sixteen inches long and one and one half inches wide. “These I brought from the Caucasus. They were the kinzhals of my father and brothers.” She drew one from the sheath. It was beautiful and sleek, with a straight, narrow, needle-pointed blade sharpened on both edges and a blood groove down the center on both sides. The metal shone from repeated polishing and sharpening. Ekka handed Billy the one she held.

Billy said, “It’s a heck of a gift, your father’s knife.” He handled it with respect.

Ekka grinned, showing her white teeth. The word
radiant
came to Billy’s mind. She said, “I will want it back, Billy.”

“Oh! Well sure.”

“It will serve you well if they board. Is your pistol available?”

Billy patted his coat on the side. “Always.”

“If the airships are close enough for you to shoot one of the pirates, do so. I think they may try to talk their way on board first, using the women.”

“Women pirates?”

“They are some of the worst of the lot. No mercy. If you hesitate, they will kill you.”

“Okay.”

“Wear the kinzhal from now until we safely land.”

“I will.”

Ekka removed two of the knives and slid the scabbards on a leather and brass-studded belt and put it around her waist. One blade on each side.

Billy said, “Do you fight with both at the same time?”

“Yes.” She closed the suitcase and put it in the trunk. “Now, let us find Jay-Patten.”

“I guess he can spritz those pirates with perfume when they board.”

Ekka looked at him, “You are young, Billy.”

“You and I are the same age.”

“I have seen much of the world, and you have not. Do not be so quick to judge, for the heart of a person cannot be known by how they dress, or how they smell. They can be good or bad, angel or devil, hero or knave.”

Billy thought about that, and of his former bloody life as Billy Bonney, “Can they be both?”

Ekka looked for a long second at him, “Yes, they can.”

They located Denys at his bed, opening the canvas tubes. The first one contained the 6.5 JPM and Billy said, “What kind of rifle is that?” Denys explained, then handed him the weapon. Billy balanced it in his hands, then brought it to his shoulder, and finally handed it back to Denys. “That’s as light a feather, I swear. What does it weigh?”

Denys said, “Slightly more than one and one-half kilograms when loaded.”

“How much is that in pounds?”

“About three and a half.”

“Accurate?”

“Highly.”

“How far out there can you bring something down?

Denys began opening the second tube as he said, “In your American parlance, the maximum range is fifteen hundred yards. I have personally dropped African game at just under one thousand yards.”

“I sure would like to see what Billy Dixon could do with something like that.”

“Billy Dixon?”

“Friend of mine from a while back. He was a buffalo hunter and Army scout. He once shot a Comanche off his horse at fifteen hundred yards.”

Denys became very interested. “What type of scope did he use?”

“No scope, open sights. He used a Sharps.”

“That is…phenomenal shooting.”

“We all thought so. None of the other buff hunters even attempted a shot like that. But those men were all good shots out to seven, eight hundred yards, and Bat Masterson said that kind of shooting saved their bacon at Adobe Walls.”

“I should think so.” Denys next removed a beautiful, engraved side-by-side weapon. “This is my double, a 500 Nitro Express. It is my lion rifle in the bush, where shooting is close. It has great impact on the target.”

Billy picked up one of the huge cartridges, as wide as his thumb and three times as long. “I can imagine.”

The weapon Denys removed from the last canvas tube was a conventional double-barreled twelve gauge shotgun. “I keep this one for bird hunting,” Denys said. He leaned all three against the wall by his bed, muzzles up.

Ekka said, “Keep them near and ready, Denys. We may have trouble tomorrow night. Or sooner.”

“Brigands?”

“Of a sort. Sky pirates.”

Billy added, “And any friends they may have on the ground.”

Jay-Patten nodded, “I will be ready if needed.”

Billy tossed him the 500 Nitro Express cartridge and said, “Bring some of these along if the party starts.”

Denys grinned, “Assuredly.”

[ 6 ]

“What’s with all the foliage?” Tesla asked. They were inside the
Arcadia
, at the heart of the ship—the huge cylinder containing the engine room and the engine itself, Merkam’s transmogrifier. Tesla pointed at the emerald green blanket of tiny ferns that enveloped the exterior of the engine room.

“Oxygen, man. Oxygen,” Merkam stated. “The other problem was the obviously foreseeable buildup of breath gasses.”

“Ah. Carbon dioxide,” Tesla intoned.

“Why along the side?” Billy Gostman asked.

Merkam continued, “What are the walls now will be the floors or ceilings later on. I think you’ll find them a nice cushion, should they ever need to be used as such.”

“Impressive,” Denys Jay-Patten said. To Jay-Patten’s right was Abigail Ross, the steam engineer’s wife.