The Airship Race (Clockwork Calico Book 3)

by Lana Axe

  “I’d love that,” Florence said. “I think I’ll call him Gadget.”

  The dog barked approvingly as he trotted over to lick her face.

  “Gadget it is,” Lionel said.

  Cali thought Fidget would be a more appropriate name, but Gadget was suitable as well. Anything was better than Specimen.

  Florence cradled Gadget in her arms. “The girls at the factory are going to love you,” she said.

  “Bring him in the workshop,” Lionel said. The sooner he finished removing the nonworking implants, the sooner he could get back to his engine.

  “Come on, Gadget,” Florence said. Gadget trotted along beside her.

  Cali waited until the room was clear before motioning to Emmit. He crept out from under the chair and followed her into the workshop. The feline chose to sit in front of a stack of crates, the perfect hiding place for her friend.

  “You know, I don’t think Lionel would mind you being here,” Cali said. He was fond of animals, and if he knew the services Emmit had rendered both Cali and himself, he would likely consider the mouse a friend.

  “Florence would mind,” the mouse replied, still hiding.

  “True,” Cali said. Florence had employed Cali’s services as a mouser for the lamp factory. That’s where she and Emmit had met. He’d almost been Cali’s dinner. Now she bribed mice away with gifts of food rather than chasing them. The thought of harming a mouse was unthinkable. But Florence wouldn’t agree. She’d shriek and insist that Cali do something about the mouse. It was best for Emmit to remain hidden.

  Lionel placed a cushion on top of the workbench for the dog’s comfort. Setting him upon it, he stroked Gadget’s fur. “This won’t hurt a bit.”

  Those words were not empty. Cali knew firsthand that Lionel wouldn’t allow the dog to feel any pain. Her own experience had been quite pleasant, and she’d come through better than before. In fact, her only complaint was that she’d had to sit still and remain awake through half the procedures.

  Gadget appeared perfectly at ease, settling onto his cushion while Lionel turned him from side to side. Making up his mind to begin with the hips, Lionel reached for a bottle of liniment. “This is no snake oil,” he said. “It really works, and you won’t feel a thing.” Gadget appeared unbothered. Parting the dog’s fur, he applied a small amount to his skin. The tinker allowed it to soak in a minute while he attached a magnifying lens to his glasses.

  Florence swallowed hard and took a seat next to her brother’s workbench. “Can I help?” she asked.

  Lionel shook his head. “Not with this part,” he said. “But if Gadget starts to get uncomfortable, you can help calm him.”

  Nodding, Florence sat back in her chair and kept a close eye on the dog. He seemed quite comfortable, barely noticing the work that was being performed.

  To fill the silence, Florence asked, “How was the test flight?”

  “Not bad,” Lionel said. “We had a few minor hiccups, but once I’ve worked out the kinks, we can try again.” He looked up at her and smiled. “Flight two will go much smoother. You’re welcome to come along.”

  “No thanks,” she replied.

  Lionel turned back to his work. “Morcroft thought he could mount these gears outside the hip joint and add strength,” he said. “That’ll never work.”

  “I hope he didn’t hurt Gadget with those experiments,” she said.

  “He doesn’t appear to have any damage to him,” Lionel said. “Morcroft was probably afraid to dig too deep.”

  “That’s a good thing,” Florence said.

  Cali wondered if Gadget might not have been Morcroft’s only enhanced animal. Who knows what other creatures might have suffered at his awful hands? She shuddered as she thought of it. At least she was able to save Gadget by bringing him to Lionel. She couldn’t help the others, but she’d do all she could for Gadget.

  The work was delicate, requiring precise movements on Lionel’s behalf. Cali grew bored and lay down, tucking her paws beneath her. Emmit stayed as close as he dared, moving slowly to avoid alerting the humans.

  “Is he removing the implants, or leaving them?” he asked.

  “I believe he plans to remove them,” Cali answered.

  “Huh,” Emmit said, scratching at his chin. “Seems like he could fix the dog so he’s enhanced like you.”

  Annoyed, Cali flattened her ears. “Why would he want to do that?”

  The mouse shrugged. “Why not have an enhanced dog along with an enhanced cat?”

  Cali looked away and scoffed. Lionel would never create a duplicate. He might eventually enhance another creature, but it would no doubt be quite different from her own design. She was one of a kind and would remain so. With a look of smug satisfaction, she said, “If he does decide to enhance Gadget, maybe he can get rid of some of his annoying dog habits.”

  Emmit laughed. “I wouldn’t mind a few enhancements myself,” he said.

  “What needs improving?” she asked.

  “Eyes, ears, nose—I wouldn’t mind being able to jump like you.”

  “Jumping twice the height of a normal mouse still isn’t a very high jump,” she pointed out.

  Chuckling, he replied, “Yes, but it’s still better than I can do now.”

  “I think you’re perfect the way you are,” she said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  “Thanks, Cali,” he replied.

  Cali doubted Lionel would be enhancing mice any time soon. But she could understand Emmit’s line of thinking. Before meeting Lionel, she would never have considered such implants. Hadn’t she been good enough before? Of course she had, but she was much better now. The implants worked with her, enhancing her feline abilities without a single negative effect. Though she knew Lionel could easily put her back the way she was, she would never want that. She was proud of her enhanced body.

  In time, it was possible Lionel would decide to return to her schematics and improve on them. She might gain new abilities. The thought put a smile on her face. For now, she was content, and Lionel was busy with other inventions, his airship foremost among them.

  It was evening before Lionel finished his work. “Good as new,” he announced, scratching Gadget behind his ear.

  The dog gave Lionel’s face a few licks before jumping onto Florence’s lap. She wrapped her arms around him and held him, kissing the top of his head.

  “He looks much better,” she said. No more metal coils or gears protruded from his body, though he had a few bald patches where it had been necessary to remove the fur to get to the implants.

  “Once his fur grows back, no one will ever know,” Lionel said. Removing his glasses, he wiped them on a cloth to remove the dog saliva. “I’d better get back to the airship,” he said.

  Cali jumped to her feet and gave a pitiful wail. He couldn’t leave before feeding her dinner.

  “Oh,” Lionel said. “I suppose I best feed these two.”

  Cali wound herself around his ankle, purring. She knew he’d get the message.

  “You go ahead,” Florence said. “I’ll feed them. Then Gadget and I will head to the market for some dog food.” She stroked his fur. “We can’t have you eating cat food all the time.”

  Cali suspected dog food wasn’t nearly as good as her own tinned favorites, but she chose not to tell Gadget. Trotting into the kitchen, she sat back on her haunches and waited for Florence to open a tin.

  Shredded chicken in gravy was placed before the feline, who savored the aroma before taking a bite. The sound of slopping and smacking annoyed her, and she looked up to see the dog had finished his meal in two bites. When he ran toward her, she crouched low and hissed.

  “This is mine,” she said. “Next time eat slower.” No way was she sharing her dinner with Gadget.

  The dog backed away, his head low. “I’m still hungry,” he said.

  “Beg Florence,” Cali suggested.

  Gadget barked and stood on his hind legs, pawing at Florence’s skirt.

 
“You want some more?” she asked. “All right.” She opened a second tin and placed its contents in a dish. “Poor thing,” she said as she watched him gobble up the food. “You’re so skinny.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’ll just have to feed you extra until you’re back to your ideal weight.” With such a healthy appetite, it likely wouldn’t take long.

  Cali took her time finishing dinner. She left a few shreds behind for Emmit, whom she hadn’t seen since leaving the workshop. Licking at her paws, she rubbed them over her mouth to make sure it was clean. Once she was perfectly groomed, she returned to her perch on the windowsill.

  Florence strode over to pet Cali’s fur. “We’ll see you later,” she said. “Come on, Gadget. You need a new bed and food and toys…”

  Cali flicked her tail as the pair exited, the door clanging shut behind them. She knew Gadget would have a happy life, and she would be seeing him often. He would likely accompany Florence to work, where Cali frequently visited. The apartment’s rear-door flap was always open, so Gadget could come inside whenever he liked. It was a perfect arrangement—Cali would still have her personal space, and Gadget would have a warm, loving home.

  Soaring among the clouds, Cali closed her eyes and felt the wind on her face. All the scents of Ticswyk drifted toward her, including the succulence of the fish market. She inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma. A sensation of weightlessness came over her, as if she were flying unaided by the airship. Only the hum of its engine reminded her it was there. This was bliss, high above it all, floating carefree amid the blue.

  A sputtering drew her out of her daydream, and she glanced back at the engine. A man was there, tending it, but it wasn’t who she expected. Where’s Lionel? she wondered. In his place was a tall, slender man, dressed in a black top hat and cloak. He turned to look at her, a sinister grin on his face. Morcroft!

  How did he get into the airship? Cali had taken off with Lionel at the wheel. Her mind whirled, her eyes darting side to side. What had become of Lionel? Had he fallen? More likely he was thrown if Morcroft was aboard. But how had Morcroft managed it? There was no room for a stowaway, and she hadn’t seen a second vessel approach.

  There was no time to figure it out. Morcroft bore down on her, his hands grasping. A deep, menacing laugh sounded in his throat. His intentions were clear. He had harmed Lionel, and he was about to do the same to her.

  Cali extended her claws and shifted power to her hind legs. No matter what, she wouldn’t allow him to take the ship. She’d dispose of this fiend and find Lionel. Wherever he was, he needed her help.

  Pouncing with all her might, the feline aimed for the villain’s face. Swiping with her metal claws, she expected to hear him cry out. He didn’t. Instead he disappeared in a puff of smoke, sending her flying past the airship. She was falling!

  Grasping at the sky above her, her claws could find no purchase. She attempted to twist her body in hopes of landing on her feet, but her spine would not budge. Frozen, she plummeted toward the earth.

  Thwack! Cali landed sideways just below the windowsill.

  “Cali?” Awakened by the sound, Emmit was stunned to see the feline on the floor.

  Cali blinked several times, taking in her surroundings. She was still inside the apartment. “I was dreaming,” she said, still in disbelief.

  “You fell off your cushion,” he said. “Are you all right?”

  “I think so,” she replied.

  “What were you dreaming about?”

  Her fur bristled as she remembered the disturbing images.

  “It must have been pretty bad,” the mouse said.

  “It was,” she replied. “Morcroft had somehow taken over Lionel’s airship.” She swallowed hard and decided to keep the part about Lionel’s disappearance a secret. She couldn’t bear to speak the words that he might have been harmed or worse.

  “You sure you’re OK?” Emmit asked, reaching out to touch his friend’s paw. Her eyes looked a million miles away.

  “I’m not hurt,” she answered. Though she wasn’t injured, she still had a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. The dream was a warning. Deep down, she knew Morcroft would try something. Whether it was revenge he was after or the airship itself, she couldn’t be sure. But it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t sit idly by while Morcroft schemed against Lionel. A fire entered Cali’s eyes as determination set in.

  “I know that look,” Emmit said. “You’re planning something.”

  “We have to find out what Morcroft’s up to,” she said.

  Emmit noted the use of the word “we.” It was only natural for Cali to include him. He’d been there for the bank heist and the walking mummy, so of course he’d accompany her wherever she needed him. He only hoped that she didn’t need him inside the airship. “What are we going to do?”

  “We should talk to Gadget,” she said. “He might know something about Morcroft’s intentions.”

  “I doubt it,” the mouse replied. “He threw out the poor dog after keeping him locked in a cage. Gadget probably never heard or saw anything important.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” she said. “But it can’t hurt to ask him.” Going in well-informed was preferable to flying blind. “Come on,” she said. With a flick of her tail, she disappeared through the flap leading into the factory.

  Emmit followed along, seeing no sign of Lionel. He likely got up early and headed back up to the roof. With the tinker so distracted, Emmit had slept out in the open, next to Cali on her windowsill. Now it was time to hide again. The ladies inside the factory frightened easily, especially in the presence of rodents. If he chose, he could clear the room, but he had no desire to cause a scene. He skirted along the wall, taking the longer route to Florence’s office.

  Cali took her time and visited a few of her favorite workers. They always had treats to share, and today was no exception. In addition to tons of pets and scritchins, she received a bite of pastry complete with creamed sugar. A second person offered her some apple, but the feline turned her nose up and walked away. She wasn’t in the mood for fruit, unless, of course, it was in the form of strawberry jam. When a third lady offered her a dollop of the sticky-sweet jam, Cali couldn’t resist. She licked the woman’s hand until the flavor was gone.

  Arriving at Florence’s office, she saw Emmit’s tail disappear inside his house. Her delicate ears picked up the sound of a wrapper, suggesting the mouse was enjoying some breakfast of his own.

  Gadget lay on his belly, his paws stretched in front of him. Held between those paws was a blue rubber bone, his attention focused entirely on the toy. He turned his head sideways and gnawed at the bone, oblivious to Cali’s presence.

  “Hi, Cali,” Florence said, glancing up from the papers on her desk. She reached down to scratch the feline behind her ear.

  Finally taking notice of the calico, Gadget sat up and barked.

  “Shh,” Florence said to him. When he obeyed, she blew him a kiss and turned back to her work.

  Cali sat beside Gadget on his cushion. “We need to talk,” she said.

  The dog dropped back down to continue chewing on his bone. “What about?” His words were muffled by a mouthful of bone.

  “Aren’t you two cute together?” Florence interrupted.

  Cali waited for Florence to turn her attention back to her work before continuing. “I need to know anything you can tell me about Morcroft.”

  “Sure,” he replied.

  “He intends to enter the airship race. Did you ever hear him talk about it?”

  Gadget gave his bone two more bites, then looked at the ceiling. “Airship race,” he repeated. “Yes, I think he might have mentioned it.” He immediately shoved the bone back in his mouth.

  Cali rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. She wanted to grab the bone away, but she didn’t want to alert Florence. She might think the two were fighting.

  “What are his intentions?” she asked. “Is he planning to cheat?”

  “Cheat?” Gadget asked,
tilting his head.

  “Sabotage,” Cali said. “Dirty, underhanded tricks?”

  “Probably,” Gadget said. “Sounds like him.”

  Laughter erupted from the mouse hole. Emmit was listening.

  Cali touched a paw to her forehead. Why couldn’t dogs be as smart as cats? Don’t think that way, she told herself. Dogs are different, that’s all. She failed to convince herself and continued to wish that Gadget had a more feline thought process.

  “Let’s try again,” she said. “Did he say anything specific? Think, Gadget.”

  Staring at his bone, Gadget tried to think back to everything he’d seen and heard while at Morcroft’s house. It was difficult. Those days had been full of sorrow and loneliness. There were no toys and no one to talk to. He’d much rather think about today. He was warm and comfortable with plenty to eat and lots of toys to play with.

  “I need to know,” Cali said, her tone soft. “I’m afraid Morcroft will try to harm Lionel.”

  “I don’t want that to happen,” Gadget said. Lionel had helped Gadget become a normal dog again. He would always be grateful for that. “I remember him saying he had a crew working on an engine,” he said. “They had been at it for a long time. Long before I came there.”

  “Did you ever see any schematics?” she asked.

  “Schematics?” He shook his head. “I don’t know what that means.”

  “Drawings,” she said. “Plans, blueprints, an outline of what the airship or its engine would look like when finished.”

  Gadget shook his head. “Nothing like that. I only heard him talk about it. Morcroft said he would win his prize, one way or the other. I don’t know anything else.” He wished he had better information to offer, but he hadn’t been allowed out of his cage long enough to see anything useful.

  “That’s all right,” Cali said. Stepping closer to Emmit’s house, she said, “Emmit, I think we should pay a visit to Morcroft’s workshop.”

  “Which one?” the mouse asked, sticking his head out of the hole. Morcroft had at least two workshops that they were aware of.

  “Good question,” Cali said. “Gadget, do you know the location of the workshop where Morcroft was keeping his engine?”