Clockwork Twist : Missing (6 page)

After letting Storm run off to sleep, Aden and Twist discussed the fastest route to Australia. Aden suggested that the
Vimana
, while being a fine ship with a valiant crew, might not be the fastest airship available. Remembering how infuriating it had been to convince her crew about Jonas’s existence, the idea of trying to talk them into flying all the way to the other side of the world didn’t sound at all appealing to Twist.

Aden promised to find the quickest possible route, while also getting his Rooks started on unraveling the problems inherent in rescuing a missing man, and asked Twist to meet him at the airship later that morning. Twist eagerly accepted—simply happy to finally have something proactive to do—and returned to the
Vimana
with Myra to collect their luggage.

Twist knelt on the bare floor before the traveling trunk that contained most of his worldly possessions, packing what he needed into his small traveling bag. He knew that the odds of running across the
Vimana
again were very high, and so decided to leave some less useful items to collect later. His magical, never-ending book, the small copper globe that always told him where he was, and his electrically charged walking stick were among the few things he decided to bring.

When he was nearly finished, he noticed that there was someone watching him. Twist turned around to see Myra, Arabel, Howell, and even the ship's engineer, Zayle, all peering through the doorway with concerned expressions as they watched him silently. Twist gave a sigh and turned his attention back to the last of his packing.

“Twist, why don’t you just wait here for Aden’s people to come up with something?” Howell asked. “You might not even have to go anywhere.”

“That’s true,” Arabel pointed out.

Twist’s stomach turned as he unraveled their words’ true meaning. They couldn’t believe that they had forgotten about their missing family member, so it naturally seemed ridiculous for Twist to run off across the world to save him. Clearly, in their minds, Jonas was nothing more than some flight of fancy, and what Twist truly needed was a sanitarium.

Twist closed the trunk and stood up, taking his bag in one hand and his walking stick in the other. “I’m going to Australia to prove that my best friend isn’t a figment of my imagination, and then I will find a way to rescue him from whatever strange situation he has been flung into. If you’re all so certain that I’m insane, then I’m sorry, but I really don’t want your advice. Myra and I need to be leaving soon anyway.”

“Myra, honey,” Arabel asked with a forced smile, “do you even want to go with him?”

Twist frowned. Why was this a question?

“I’ve always wanted to see Australia,” Myra said with a thin smile. “I hear they have some very fascinating animals. And everyone walks upside down.”

Arabel seemed about to respond, but then shook her head as if to clear it. “Yes, but did he even ask you?” she persisted.

“What are you trying to do?” Twist asked Arabel darkly.

“I’m trying to make sure that you cause as little damage as possible,” Arabel replied. “You’re obviously hell-bent on running yourself into the ground no matter how much we try to tell you to rest. But there’s no reason to drag Myra down with you.”

For just an instant, Twist caught sight of how his actions must appear to Arabel. She had every right to believe him to be quite insane. And he hadn’t actually asked Myra to go with him on his quest. Even after talking with Aden, Myra probably still saw him the same way that Arabel did. He had felt nothing but fear in her every time he touched her.

“Arabel, I’m surprised at you,” Myra said primly. She stepped into the room, turned to stand beside Twist, and slipped her arm through his. “Twist doesn’t have to ask me to follow him, no matter where he’s headed or why.” There was still a great deal of uncertainty and fear in her touch, but it seemed to be covered over with pride now as she spoke. She looked to Twist with a warmth in her eyes that he hadn’t seen all day. “You’ll never leave me, and I will never leave you. It wouldn’t make any difference, even if you actually were insane.”

Twist stared back at her, stunned. Her unwavering loyalty shone into his Sight like a lighthouse in a storm: clear, certain, and breathtaking. He wanted to say something, but couldn’t find any words that were good enough.

“Well, that’s a lovely sentiment,” Arabel said darkly, “but it doesn’t solve the problem. There’s no reason to do this. You’re not helping by encouraging him.” Twist felt his jaw tighten, and his eyes flashed with cold fire.

“Jonas is right about you,” Twist said to Arabel.

“Oh, your imaginary friend?” she asked him acidly. “What did he say about me?”

“Well, he spent a good part of his life running away from you, for starters.”

“He’s done a fantastic job,” Arabel replied. “He’s gotten so far away that I’ve never even heard of him.”

“Ara, please,” Howell said softly behind her.

“What?” she snapped, turning on him.

“Now is the time for kindness,” Howell said to her gently. Arabel rolled her eyes and looked away, her arms crossed. Howell looked to Twist, over her shoulder. “Twist, are you sure you have to leave?”

“I’m not staying here,” Twist answered. “Excuse me,” he muttered, stepping to the doorway with Myra. They all moved back into the hall, letting him leave the room—all but Arabel.

She stood solidly before him, staring at him critically. “Fine,” she said in a huff before stalking away toward her cabin.

Twist went to the
Vimana
’
s
open deck alone, to wait while Myra packed quickly and changed her English dress for a much more travel-friendly soft tunic and sari with simple sandals on her bare metal feet. When she stepped out onto the deck to meet Twist, he was surprised to see her in non-Western style clothing. She had only recently changed her style to match the cities that they were in, but the change had seemed complete.

“What is it?” she asked bashfully. “Do I look all right in this?”

“You look lovely in anything,” he said easily. “But those colors suit you well,” he added, admiring the gentle fade from a sweet orange on her shoulders to pale pink at her feet. The sari that hung around her face was a slightly darker pink than the tunic, and complemented her copper complexion and dark-maroon hair brilliantly.

“Oh Twist…” she said coyly, covering her smile with a dainty hand. “You flatter me so! Say it again,” she said eagerly, batting her eyes at him.

Twist laughed and stepped closer, taking her hands in his as he looked at her. “You look better than sunrise over the Atlantic.”

Myra giggled. A wave of delight rippled over his skin from her touch. Twist savored it for only a moment before his Sight began to ache again—pain burning brightly behind his eyes—and forced him to pull away. Myra didn’t seem to notice his hidden discomfort and turned as Arabel approached with her own travel bag on her shoulder.

“Well, I’m as ready as I’m going to be,” Arabel muttered.

“Where are you off to, then?” Twist asked her.

“I’m following you, you dolt.”

“Wonderful!” Myra cheered, clapping her hands.

“But why?” Twist asked. “Don’t you believe I’m just wasting my time?”

“You are,” Arabel said with a shrug. “And you have no idea what you’re doing. You’ll wind up lost and penniless in South Dakota if you try to get all the way to Australia by yourself, with or without some magpie helping you out.”

Twist bristled instantly, standing straighter and putting on a stern expression. “I can manage very well, thank you very much. I’ve already been around the world once, you know.”

“No, you can’t,” Arabel said, shaking her head. “You only speak English, for heaven’s sake.”

“I speak everything,” Myra mentioned, fiddling with the edge of her sari.

“That’s right, she does,” Twist said, nodding.

“Twist, I’m coming along and that’s final,” Arabel said. “Now quit complaining. Are we going or not?”

Before Twist could respond, Arabel walked around him and started over the gangplank to the docks. Twist stared after her, at a total loss of how to respond.

“There, there,” Myra said gently, patting at his shoulder.

Twist let out a sigh and followed after Arabel, with Myra on his arm. He checked his pocket watch to find that they still had a little over half an hour before they were due to meet with Aden, and so headed to the entrance to the airship docks to wait for him. Even though it was still fairly early in the morning, the docks were bustling with activity. Twist, Myra, and Arabel continually had to shift about to stay out of everyone’s way.

“Oh, there he is!” Myra exclaimed suddenly, having spotted Aden and a pair of larger men in black suits approaching them.

Seeing them as well, Aden waved a hand to Twist in greeting as the two groups met. “Still eager to set off, I see,” he remarked.

“Oh yes, we’re ready to go,” Myra answered, smiling.

“Lovely,” Aden said with a nod. “I’ve decided to send an agent with you.” Twist’s expression snapped into surprise. “There will be no argument about this,” Aden went on firmly. “I know you, Twist. I know just how resourceful and quick to action you can be. I don’t want you vanishing off into the aether. I intend to keep an eye on you. And besides, you agreed to let me help.”

“You should really stop encouraging him, you know,” Arabel said, frowning. Twist shot her a glare.

“Whatever is happening here,” Aden said to her patiently, “whether the trouble lies with Twist or with the rest of the world, it’s confusing my Sight. That’s never happened before, and I intend to put a stop to it.”

Arabel gave a sigh but didn’t reply.

“Anyway,” Aden went on, “there’s a cruise bound for Melbourne leaving in an hour. It will arc over the pole and back down toward Japan, and so arrive in Australia faster than anything else leaving London today. Now, how many tickets do you need? Two?” he asked, glancing between Twist and Myra.

“Three, actually,” Arabel said. “If you’re really going to fund his madness.” Twist felt a flash of fire in Myra’s touch when she looked to Arabel sharply.

“I prefer to think of it as an intelligence-gathering enterprise,” Aden said pleasantly. “Besides, our funds aren’t exactly tight. I’ll happily pay for the flight, if Twist will let me choose it and let me send someone along with you.”

Twist glanced at the two sharp-suited men uncertainly.

“No, not these two,” Aden said with a smile. “I’ve got a very good, solo agent whom I’m sending with you. She’s on her way, but you might not meet her until you’re in the air. I’m sorry, but there just isn’t the time to do this properly. As I said, the ship leaves within the hour.”

Twist rubbed at his face with a hand. “You’re certain this is the fastest way to Australia?”

“Absolutely,” Aden said with a nod.

“Then it’s fine,” Twist said. “I don’t care. Send whomever you like along with us.”

“Thank you, Aden,” Myra said sweetly to him. “This is a big help.”

Twist glanced to her incredulously. Aden gave Myra a kindly smile and a nod.