The large formal sumo wrestler threw out a low, deep, masculine laugh; Takahashi's laughter was surprisingly feminine, though she hadn't covered her mouth like Oda did.
"Lieutenant Izumo, I noticed earlier that you were teaching jujitsu to an ensign," Oda said. "A white woman?"
"Yes, Oda-san. She wanted to learn and I didn't see harm."
"I think that is very good of you, Lieutenant Izumo. If you don't mind me saying."
"Thank you, Oda-san. Though I feel undeserving of such praise."
"You're welcome, sir."
"Isn't she a friend of Doctor Sakusa?" Takahashi teased with an obvious emphasis on the word friend, though she seemed friendly about it to him. Oda poked her in the ribs.
"Humiko-chan!"
"I don't know, Takahashi-san," Hirohira said. "You jealous about something?"
More laughter filed the room as a man--Airman 3rd Class, entered the room to check out the heated stones under and around the tub.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
A Friendly Meal.
"More tea, ma'am?"
"Yes. Thank you," Momiji said to the very pale-skinned slave maid serving the table. Momiji had read that the slaves who worked outside in the field were darker skinned than the ones who worked inside the house; that the men kept the paler skinned slave women in the house to have sex with, but the men's wives weren't allowed the same right. She understood part of it was due to the need to carry on a family name since the same concerns existed in Japan. Christian-influenced Western societies and their sexual morals still seemed unnatural to her. As long as the issue of a woman's pregnancy didn't happen or didn't become public then what was the big deal? Momiji always noticed that there was an odd similarity to Neo-confuscianism in much of those Christian ideas, even though she couldn’t find any writings where Jesus supported such things.
"What do think?" Ashton said.
"Oh I'm sorry, Ashton," Momiji said. "What did you say?"
"I was asking you what you thought of Michigan. We're originally from Missouri. It's much warmer there and here it always seems much too chilly. Even in the summertime."
"Indeed she was, Miss. Sakusa." The woman speaking was the James' other guest, Sister Annunziata-Maria Bonati, a nun from a Catholic nunnery nearby Rome. Momiji wasn't sure why the nun was a friend of Ashton since the Jameses both weren't Catholics.
"Yes, Ashton," Momiji said. "I agree it is much chillier around here than back in California at my ranch near Santa Barbara."
"I'm delighted that we agree, Momiji. I was hoping we could be friends."
"Yes, Ashton," Momiji said. "That would be pleasant."
Ashton smiled at her. She gestured at the slave maid and pointed to her own teacup. The slave maid came around the table with the hot teapot that she was holding with mittens. She poured tea into the cup and as she pulled away she accidentally burned Ashton's pale forearm with the pot.
Ashton screamed and slapped the slave maid across the cheek causing the teapot to spill on the floor.
"You stupid clumsy mongrel!" Ashton shouted.
"Oh my!" Frank said. "Are you okay, Ashton?"
"She burnt me! Get out of my sight! You clean up that mess."
The slave maid hurried for the kitchen carrying the pot. Another older slave maid arrived to clean up the spilled tea, a middle-aged slave woman walked into the dining room carrying a small jar.
"Let me put this stuff on your poor sore, Mrs. James," the slave woman said.
"Betsey, look what that girl did to me," Ashton cried. "It hurts!"
"I'm sorry about that silly girl. Poor Mrs. James." Betsey rubbed the goo on Ashton's little red spot. "How does that feel?"
"Better. I wouldn't know what to do without you."
"Very kind of you, Mrs. James," Betsey said and left.
"I want that foolish girl beaten, Frank," Ashton said.
"Yes, Ashton," Frank said. "I'll see to it.
Barbaric! Momiji knew better than to say the word out loud. Not to mention that it was barely a burn. Just a little thing. She can be so kind to me, but treat that girl worse than a dog. Of course, I know Japanese people in California who treat the Indios the same way. They're just as barbaric, I say. We are all human beings and science is starting to prove that we all may have come from the same place. Somewhere in Africa. I wonder what Ashton would think of that theory? Probably not much.
"Are you okay, Ashton?" Momiji tried to show concern and not distaste for Ashton.
"Yes. Thank you, dear Momiji. You can train those creatures as best as you can and they still show you how dumb they really are. Don't understand why some folks think they should be free. What would they do? Savages would just kill and eat each other like they did in Africa."
Should I agree?
"Oh," Momiji said.
"Now. Now," Frank said. "Don't upset yourself, Ashton. That's hardly polite talk for the dinner table."
"Yes, Frank," Ashton said. "That's very true. Sorry, Momiji and Sister Annunziata. I was very upset. I hope you both forgive me."
"That's okay, Ashton," Momiji said. "All is forgiven."
"Thank you, Momiji."
"Of course, Ashton," the nun said. "God knows that discipline must be kept in a Christian society, especially among the inferior races."
"I agree, sister," Ashton laughed. "You're so sweet."
After dinner Ashton led Momiji and the nun to a room where the three women sat and talked about electricity for an hour. Momiji mentioned the time and asked to leave for her bedroom and left. Momiji went into the bedroom that had been provided for her. She heard the slave man named Teddy lock the door to her bedroom with his key. Momiji sat in a chair and looked around. Even with all of the fancy clothes, bed and others stuff it still was a prison room no different than the one Madam Chung had put her in days ago.
How long ago was that? Do I want to know how long ago it was? Momiji sighed and took off the dress that had been given to her. It was very pretty. She was glad the huge dresses that needed a couple of servants or slaves to help get it on or off were no longer popular anywhere in the world. She picked up the broken broomstick that she had found in her room and did a few practice swings. Her Kendo practice was now the only thing that she had to keep herself sane. Also she might be able to use the broomstick as a weapon if she had a chance to escape.
Escape where, Momiji?
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Colonel Custer.
Captain Parsons checked the time on his pocket watch. 22:10 p.m. He walked to the ladder. "Mr. Brice! What is the time?"
The quick reply was, "22:12 p.m. on the mark, Captain!"
"Thank you, Mr. Brice!" Captain Parsons had found that the AM the navigators used gave almost perfect time, thanks to their link with the Venusian satellites.
"Mr. McKeon," Captain Parsons said. "I wish to speak to the chief engineer."
"Yes, sir," Lieutenant McKeon handed the captain the communications tube.
"This is the captain speaking, Mr. Flagg. Bring the engines to silent mode. We're going down."
"Yes, sir," came the reply from the tube and Captain Parsons returned it to McKeon.
Captain Parsons turned to his first officer. "I believe we are ready to drop off our friends and their equipment, Commander Matsuo."
"Yes, Captain," Commander Matsuo turned to the elevator man. "Lieutenant Woodsworth, begin descending to 3,000 feet and await further orders."
"Yes, Commander!"
"Our lights will be off, Mr. Brice," Commander Matsuo said to the navigator. "Keep us informed of where we are by use of the satellites.
"Yes, ma'am," Lieutenant Commander Brice said from the Nav Room.
"Lieutenant," Captain Parsons said to the communications officer. "Inform Mr. Jacobson of the U.S. Army that we are descending from the high altitudes. He should get his people ready to unload quickly."
"Yes, sir," Lieutenant McKeon turned to his communications console.
#
The Airs
hip Kaede flew down under the power of its Venusian rocket engines with the silence of an angel. All seemed peaceful below. The airship landed; all the doors around it opened. Marines exited the airship like army ants. They set up a protective perimeter around the area as airmen held the airship down with lines and spikes driven into the ground. The U.S. Army guys brought out with their supplies and a Lieutenant Bathurst set up a makeshift wireless telegraph to contact their allies.
"You're sure that your people are supposed to show up here, Captain Jacobson?" Major Cooper said atop the same horse that Doctor Sakura had been riding many days before.
"Yes, Major Cooper," Jacobson said. He rode a grey horse that had brought with him. "Give them time."
"Should I send out a scout, sir?" Lieutenant Bathurst gazed through the eyepiece of a telescope.
"No, Lieutenant," Captain Jacobson said. Bathurst handed him the telescope to look through. "I've done this before and--Ah! There's someone. Now they're gone." Jacobson handed Cooper the telescope. "I think that might be a scout from one of Harriet's people. That ole' lady is one hell of a scout leader, I must say."
"I don't see anyone," Major Cooper said with an eye on the eyepiece. "But I'll take your word for it."
"Thank you, Major, but just be careful, Lieutenant, have the men mount up."
"Yes, sir!" Lieutenant Bathurst turned to Sergeant Jacob. "Have the men mount up, Sergeant.”
"Yes, sir!" Sergeant Jacob said.
Major Cooper watched the army sergeant turn to the soldiers who, after getting everything unloaded, stood by the horses they had brought with them. Counting the lieutenant and the sergeant, Captain Jacobson had about twenty-five men. He thought a few might be women or boys in disguise instead of men. In the military tradition of western nations, the sergeant cursed the raw recruits for being girls and told what he would do to them if they didn't mount up fast enough. The recruits got up quickly and smoothly. They must have been drilled a lot before they came here and the major approved. He turned away as a bird whistled. Almost immediately more whistled.
"Reply, Sergeant," Captain Jacobson ordered.
"Yes, sir!" Sergeant Jacobson held his hands to his mouth, and made a similar bird call. Soon it was responded to.
A number of men on ragged looking horses came out of the forest. They were dressed in equally ragged uniforms. Some wore Confederate uniforms. One waved a Texan's hat in the air and led the others forward. As they got closer Major Cooper noticed that only two were riding horses or mules. The rest were on foot; many were barefoot or with rags on their feet. They didn't look like much of an army. To him they looked like a dying army, which might be what they were. Poor souls.
"Captain Jacobson!" shouted the man in the Texan hat with wild long hair and beard as yellow as an Easter flower. "I'm glad you made it back home!"
"I'm glad to be back, Colonel." Captain Jacobson gestured to Major Cooper. "Allow me the honor to introduce Major Kurt Cooper of the Imperial Union Marine Corp. Major Cooper, this is my commanding officer, Colonel George Armstrong Custer, CO of the remaining U.S. Army."
"How do you do, sir?" Major Cooper said and they shook hands.
"Pretty good, Major," Colonel Custer said. "I'm pleased to meet you and I appreciate your help."
"And this brave young lad is Lieutenant Bathurst," Captain Jacobson said.
"Ah!" Colonel Custer said. "Did you have time to graduate from that Canadian officer school?"
"Yes, sir!" Lieutenant Bathurst said.
"Good, man." Colonel Custer shook hands with the young man. "That is the biggest and most impressive airship that I have ever seen my life, Major Cooper."
"Thank you, Colonel," Major Cooper said. "If you have the time, Captain Parsons would like to invite you and your officers to dinner tonight in his cabin."
"A pleasant offer, Major. And one I wholeheartedly accept. This area is our best stronghold. There's no way the Confederates will be stupid enough to try and take it."
Everyone dismounted. The colonel told the sergeant to get the supplies counted and moved to wherever they kept them. Major Cooper handed his horse over to Paul the stable boy who led the horse back to the Kaede's stables while Major Cooper escorted the colonel and his officers to the passenger stairs leading into the Kaede.
#
Captain Parsons waited as his personal steward examined his dress uniform one last time. "Are you sure it's good enough for you, boss?"
"I suppose it will have to do, Captain," his steward mumbled.
"Kind of you, sir." Captain Parsons sat down.
Hirohira stood behind his chair with the rest of the officers gathered around the table in the captain's cabin. Hirohira knew better than to sit before the captain and his superior officers were seated. And so did everyone else.
The door opened; Major Cooper walked in and stood at attention. "Captain Ian Parsons, the commanding officer of their imperial majesties airship Kaede, sir! May introduce to you the honorable Colonel George Armstrong Custer, commanding officer of the U.S. Army in the remaining U.S. territory!"
In walked Colonel Custer. Everyone looked at him-it was hard not to—the man had a huge presence that couldn't be ignored—a lion's mane of blond hair and beard that hung over the top of his uniform jacket. A mystical power seemed to envelope the man as if he had a kami or Christian saint keeping an eye on him. Colonel Custer introduced his officers as Major Dodger, Captain Jacobson, Captain Collins, Captain Goncalvez, Lieutenant Taylor and Lieutenant Bathurst. Captain Parsons introduced his officers: Commander Matsuo, Lieutenant Commander Brice, Major Cooper, Dr. Miller, Lieutenant Commander Flagg, Lieutenant McKeon, Ensign Montgomery and Hirohira. Everyone was seated. The stewards brought in the wine and the first course of the dinner.
"An amazing, airship you have here, Captain Parsons," Colonel Custer said. "I've never seen anything like it. The pride of the fleet, I'm sure."
"Oh, quite so, Colonel Custer," Captain Parsons said. "A fine airship."
"Yes. And the speed that you brought us here was...well, impossible, from what I've heard of the latest in technology. Almost magical, Captain Parsons."
"No such thing as magic," Doctor Miller tossed in.
"Oh, I don't know," Colonel Custer said. "I've seen some strange things in my time."
"So have I...when I've had too much to drink," Doctor Miller replied.
Everyone laughed.
"Well, I never said I had proof, Doctor," Colonel Custer said. "I did see the old Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull while he was dying, talked Chief Red Cloud into joining the fight against the damn rebels. It was an impressive sight. Maybe that isn't magical. I don't know."
Colonel Custer shrugged, took a deep swallow of his wine and asked for more.
"I thought the Sioux and Cheyenne were close to surrendering to the CSA army," Commander Matsuo said.
"Some are," Colonel Custer said. "What I'd give for some of their help."
Hirohira found the meal was a feast of many wonderful courses the cook and her assistants had been working hard to get done in time. There probably would be plenty of extra food for the rest of the crew. Captain Parsons had asked his first officer and all his department heads to show up with a few junior officers, such as himself. And he was almost glade to be there.
Hirohira currently had no particular job on aboard the airship. He and his first officer weren't sure what to do with him, especially if they could get Dr. Sakura back alive. When the meal was over the stewards removed the dinner items then served tea and coffee. They cleaned the table with impressive speed, Lieutenant Commander Brice laid a big map of northern Michigan on the table.
"This is where General Frank James has his plantation." Colonel Custer twirled his mustache. "He left a platoon of Confederate soldiers to protect it, but it has plenty of artillery, including anti-aircraft Gatling guns. Sorry, Captain, my spies aren't exactly sure where those anti-aircraft guns are."
"Understood, Colonel," Captain Parsons said. "Go on..."
&nbs
p; "My spies say she is imprisoned in a bedroom on the second floor of the house in the east wing," Colonel Custer said. "Many times she is released to eat with the James family and is permitted to walk around the plantation, but never alone. They seem to be trying to get her to help the General's wife with her experiments. Oh-you might not know that Mrs. James is a lady scientist too."
"We suspected something like that," Commander Matsuo said. "They must have had some kind of unique vehicle to get Doctor Sakura out of Canada as fast as they did."
"Our spies suspect she has been working on things far worse than that," Major Dodger said. "She has been collecting body parts from the recently dead, like in that book Frankenstein by that crazy writer...uh..."
"Mary Shelley, sir," Hirohira dared to add.
"Yes, thank you, Lieutenant," Major Dodger said. “Did you say, Mary? I thought it was Percy Shelly.”
Ahoka, I shouldn’t have opened my mouth, Hirohira thought. Americans were as bad as the British when it came to women writers.
"But that was a work of pure fantasy, Major," Doctor Miller said. Much to Hirohira’s relief. "You can't put body parts from various people together and make them live. That can't happen. Madness!"
"Probably is madness, Doctor Miller," Colonel Custer said. "But that's what she is trying to do. And it might be mad, but she might still do it."
"As you probably know, the Confederates have made the newest and best designs of automaton artificial limbs," Major Prescott said. "We think Mrs. James is trying to connect body parts with the artificial limbs."
"Why would they want to?" Lieutenant Commander Brice. "They already have a slave work force that is the keystone of their society."
"God help us," Doctor Miller said. "They're making soldiers."
Beautiful, Hirohira thought. Hopefully no one will remember that I corrected that major on who was the author of Frankenstein is. I wonder how intelligence agency in Honolulu found that it.
"That's what we fear, Doctor," Colonel Custer said. "An army of unfeeling, fearless creatures. An unbeatable army. I think your own government would have cause to fear that. They would sweep through both Canada and California. Possibly beyond."
The Mighty Airship Kaede. (The Mighty Airships of Earth. Book 1) Page 16
