Metal Emissary (17 page)

“Hanover?” The chest creaked as the boatswain pushed himself up and onto his feet. “I remember reading something about a Hanover. There’s plenty to read when doing the mail run,” he tapped the newspaper. “There’s a Hanover that has invented something or other. Might be as it was a woman. Might be that she had the first name Luise.”

“Truly?” Hari folded the paper. “Can I keep this?”

“I was going to pitch it in the river,” the boatswain shrugged.

“Thank you.” Hari opened the satchel hanging from his shoulder inside his robes. Slipping the paper inside, he walked over to the hawk and presented it with another morsel of meat.

“What’s your interest?” the boatswain shuffled behind Hari. “In the woman?”

“I know her brother,” Hari stroked Shahin’s breast.

Squinting at Hari, the boatswain spat. “Just as well. Can’t see the likes of you two meeting otherwise.” Brushing past Hari, the boatswain stepped inside the wheelhouse and steered the boat closer to the western bank of the river.

Holding out his arm for Shahin, Hari turned away from the boatswain and carried the hawk to the bow of
The Cotton Licker
. The sun’s rays caught the brass-plated tops of the steamjammers’ masts anchored in the deep water at the mouth of the
Indus
.

“There is our passage to England, Shahin,” Hari smoothed his fingers along the hawk’s wing all the way to the tip. “What perils and pleasures await us at the end of our journey, I wonder?”

The bow wave melted into the river as
The Cotton Licker
slowed and the boatswain nosed the little steam-powered boat into the busy stream of vessels servicing the steamjammers as they took onboard supplies, freight and passengers bound for the lush meadows of Queen Victoria’s British Isles.

Cast of Characters

In order of appearance

Luther Wallendorf,
Direktor of Wallendorf Industries

Hans Schleiermacher,
Wallendorf’s aide

Ludvig Wallendorf,
Manager of Wallendorf Industries

President Franz Baum
of the German Confederation

Herr Richter
of the German Confederation’s Ministry of Finance

Herr Bremen
of the German Confederation’s Ministry of Foreign Service

Romney Wallendorf,
Steamracer, Luther Wallendorf’s daughter

Lieutenant Jamie Hanover
of the British Royal Navy

Hari Singh
of the Office of Indian Cartography

Farshad Daarmak,
a Pashtoo warlord

Captain Lev Bryullov,
a Political Officer with the Russian Army

Najma Daarmak,
Farshad’s daughter

Khan Daarmak,
Farshad’s eldest son

Corporal Courtney Mint
of the Queen’s Arachnid Scouts

Aisha, a caravaneer

Khaled Nazari,
Commander of Shah Orbalaye Bal’s military forces

Shah Orbalaye Bal,
the Shah of Adina Pur

Acknowledgments

My thanks to Sarah Acton for her invaluable and extensive feedback. If the story is lacking, it is only because I strayed from the path and not for lack of support or constructive criticism. Thanks, Sarah.

February, 2015

Chris Paton

About the Author

British by default, Chris Paton (1973) has English and Welsh parents, and a Scottish surname. But it is his Welsh heritage - something about dragons - that seems to drive Chris' writing. Graduating from Falmouth University in 2015, Chris has a Master of Arts in Professional Writing, and a couple of other degrees that help pay the bills. Chris' favourite books include any genre with a bit of magic, giant squids and spaceships. Chris is a teacher by profession and a canoeist by choice. He lives in Denmark with his wife, Jane. You can find him in Denmark or online here:

www.chrispaton.dk

www.facebook.com/chrispaton.author

www.twitter.com/Aarluuk

By the Same Author

The Adventures of Hanover & Singh

Metal Emissary, book 1

Slow Demons, book 2

Khronos, book 3