I nodded. “Aye, aye captain, but we’ll have to use the back stairs.”
“I’m not leaving until she’s dead.” Genevieve said.
“You can’t kill me. I am a Horseman!” Zerelda smacked Genevieve away and tried to slice me as I passed. “I’ll kill you for what you’ve done to my ship, boy!”
Genevieve screamed, “No!” and blocked her blade. Rodin landed on her shoulder and blasted the pirate queen with fire. Genevieve beat the blade back and thrust her saber into Zerelda. She pulled her sword from the wound, and Zerelda stepped back, but didn’t fall over.
“You can’t kill me! I’m the Horseman of Plagues!” Zerelda stood up, black wisps seeped from both wounds. Her pupils grew larger until all I saw was black.
I loaded a percussion cap into my Thumper and aimed it at Zerelda. I pushed the button, and the blast sent her tumbling to the front of the gondola. “And I’m the Black Knight!” I grabbed Genevieve’s arm, “We have to get out of here.”
“I can defeat her.” Genevieve said.
“But at what cost?” I locked eyes with her. “Genevieve, please, we have to get out of here.”
She stared at me with pain blazing in her eyes. She looked at Zerelda, and then me. She nodded, and we ran toward Captain Baldarich. He cleared the stairs with his lightning cannon and we rushed up to the deck above. Gun decks lay on either side. They continued to spit lead at the Sparrowhawk. I reached into my leather bag and pulled out the powder charge I’d been carrying through the mountains. I shoved a wick inside and called for Rodin. “I need fire!”
The little dragon flew over and landed on my shoulder. Without another word, he blew a flame onto the wick. I tossed the powder bag toward the cannons that were firing and ran after Genevieve and the captain. A moment later, I heard a small boom, followed by a bigger explosion. The whole airship shook and we were tossed against the wall.
The captain led us back toward the aft section of the Queen Z’s Revenge. We passed a door marked Engine Room and Mr. Singh burst through. He raised his Katar dagger, until he recognized the captain. Then a large smile crossed his face. Lianhua rushed out with the owl right behind her. I heard Ignatius’ revolvers firing inside the engine room.
“We have to get out of here, captain,” Mr. Singh said lowering his Katar. “They flanked us on the port side.”
“Keep moving aft, Mr. Singh. That’s where the hanger bay has to be,” the captain said pointing with his lightning pistol. And take these three with you.” The captain stepped up to the door as Ignatius ran through and he fired his lightning cannon into the engine room.
Mr. Singh led the way and we all followed until we climbed through a hatch and entered into a large open area.
“Look at this!” I couldn’t believe it. Hornets, like the ones that attacked the Sparrowhawk hung by hooks on a cable system.
“Get in,” Mr. Singh ordered. “Two to a ship.”
Genevieve and I jumped in one. She settled into the pilot’s seat and I aimed my Thumpers at the hatch. Rodin curled up in my lap. Mr. Singh pulled a lever which opened the hanger door on the underside of the airship and spun the wheel to move us into position. A hook lowered and snagged our craft. It dropped us out the ship, Genevieve started the propeller and the hook released. We dropped but the wingsails billowed, and we started moving forward.
Genevieve flew us along the side of the Queen Z’s Revenge and I saw a large hole on the gun deck.
I kept an eye on the underside, a moment later Mr. Singh and Lianhua dropped out of the hanger with the owl following behind them. I leaned closer to Genevieve, “We need to go back to make sure the captain and Ignatius make it out.” She nodded and banked us back toward aft section.
I saw the captain and Ignatius being lowered out on the hook, but Ignatius was still firing into the hanger bay. I leaned in and said, “Get us closer.”
She flew up underneath the Queen Z’s Revenge and I noticed the hook holding their craft was being retracted into the War Zeppelin. As we passed them, I raised my thumpers and fired. The blasts hit the hook, and obliterated it. The captain and Ignatius dropped and as the propeller spun to life, we both flew off toward the Sparrowhawk.
CHAPTER 37
KRAKATOA
Mr. Singh and Lianhua demonstrated how to get back on the Sparrowhawk. He flew over the top of the aerodirigible and they jumped off. The Hornet continued on and arced toward the ground.
I turned around expecting to tell Genevieve which direction to dodge the incoming cannon fire. Instead I found the Queen Z’s Revenge turning south. Zerelda was running. I wondered why, but had to assume we’d damaged the war zeppelin more than I thought.
The captain and Ignatius jumped onto the top of the Sparrowhawk. Their Hornet sailed off and Ignatius shot it full of holes. Genevieve angled us toward the Sparrowhawk. We lined up behind the airship and she pushed the propeller to full speed. As we neared the conning tower in the center of the aero-dirigible, I untied myself and Genevieve did the same. Rodin flew off. I tapped Genevieve on the shoulder. “Ready?”
She put her thumb up and we leapt off. We dropped onto the Sparrowhawk and ran for the conning tower. The captain slapped each of us on the back, and then we all climbed down the ladder into airship.
We rushed to the bridge to see what damage the shell had done. Bent metal and shredded canvas on each side of the nose brought the wind whipping in. Shattered glass and splinters of wood stuck in every surface. Including Heinz. He sat at the controls with bandages wrapped around his arms, and side. He looked pale but remained at his station.
Hunter stood in front of the captain’s chair. He had cuts and scrapes, but nothing as bad as Heinz. Hunter turned and nodded. “Glad you’re back captain. Apologies for not returning her in the best of shape.”
“I’m just glad you both are okay.” He turned to me and Genevieve. “Alexander, help Heinz down to his bunk and tend to his wounds. Get Gustav to help you. Milady, I wonder if you’d do me the honor of piloting this wounded bird.”
I nodded and walked over to Heinz. Genevieve sat down as I helped him up. He was weak and leaned on me.
“Hunter, go with them and get yourself checked out,” the captain said as he brushed off his chair.
Hunter helped me with Heinz and as we passed the captain, he stopped us. “You did well, nephew.”
Heinz smiled, and Baldarich sat down. We limped off the bridge. Hunter and I helped Heinz to his bunk and I ran to get Gustav.
I saw Lianhua in the corridor and she turned to me. “Is everyone okay? Mr. Singh was worried about the men.”
“Heinz, the pilot, is injured. I’m looking for Gustav to help heal him.”
“I can help,” she said.
“Thanks, we’ll take whatever we can get.” I pointed down the corridor toward the crew quarters. Then I ran into the galley. “Gustav. Heinz needs you.”
The cook emerged from the kitchen, “I was boiling up something to help and getting some new bandages.”
“He’s in his bunk.” I pointed over my shoulder. “I’m going to get Mr. Singh and see about patching up the nose of the bridge.” I ran off to find Mr. Singh.
Soon, he and I were back on the bridge with canvas and wood to make some quick repairs. The captain looked surprised to see us, but he smiled and we got to work. We cut away some of the twisted metal and braced it with wood.
I looked out and saw we were chasing the Queen Z’s Revenge. I turned to Genevieve, “She’s running away?”
“More like limping, but they’re still dangerous.”
Baldarich leaned on his elbow. “Looks like we took out one of her engines, and damaged another, but she’s still roaring over the ocean. However, I think her steering is messed up because she’s flying in a curved line.”
“I did smash the pilot’s station with my Thumper.”
Baldarich chuckled. “We can’t get too close or she fires on us, but I’ll not let her go. Like a hunter with a wounded animal. I will follow until we can
knock her out of the sky.”
“Shouldn’t we be heading back into the mountains?” I asked. “The baron— ” I stopped speaking as I looked at Genevieve. “I think General Hendrix is on his way to America. He wants to resurrect Emperor Burr’s vision of my country. I think he means Aaron Burr, and it’s not a pretty vision.”
Baldarich shook his head. “If we let her go, she’ll come back with all the power of the Horsemen. She’s already corrupted to the core. I worry what she’ll be like if we let that kind of power fester.”
I couldn’t argue with him. She’d taken two stab wounds and it barely affected her. I knew about the effects of the Hearts, and she was one of the original bearers. What did that mean for Hendrix?
I turned back and began helping Mr. Singh fix the hull. Once we had a structure that would hold, we wrapped the outside in canvas. I nailed the treated material to the structure we’d created. Then we did the same thing to the other side.
I turned to Genevieve. Opening her eyes fully after squinting for so long into the open air, she rubbed tears away with her sleeve. Several of the windows were gone, but with the nose made up of many smaller panes, her vision wasn’t too hindered.
We followed the Queen Z’s Revenge for hours. Nothing but the dark ocean shimmering in the moonlight lay below us. As the sun rose, Captain Baldarich called me to the bridge. “Alexander, take over for Genevieve so she can get some rest.”
“Captain, I’m fine. I can keep going.” Genevieve said, even as she stretched her neck to relieve the tension.
“Rest. That’s a request.” He smiled. “I’d never presume to order you, milady. I don’t need that sword fight.”
She laughed and nodded. “I will but just for a short time.”
I walked over and slipped into the pilot’s chair. I was finally going to get to fly the Sparrowhawk. I’d dreamed of this day, and as I gripped the wheel my heart soared. As if nothing stood between me and the clouds.
Genevieve leaned in, “She’s favoring to port. Not sure why, and don’t force her past three quarter speed, the engines are running hot.”
I looked up and said, “Thanks, I’ll remember that.” For hours, I stayed on the tail of the Queen Z’s Revenge, but out of the reach of her guns. The ideas I had about flying, dashing maneuvers needing quick second reflects, were the dreams of someone who’d never flown. All I did was make course corrections as Zerelda drifted offline and adjusted the throttle whenever Ignatius told me the engines were acting up.
In the distance, I could make out an archipelago of islands. The captain stepped over to the map table. He drew a few lines, and made some calculations. “She’s heading to southern Sumatra. I think her plan is to get lost in the pirate bays scattered amongst the islands.” The captain came over and stood by me. “In order to lose us she’ll have to attack. If I had to guess she’s used this time to repair the guns.”
“Agreed.”
He looked down at me, and smiled. “Get ready to follow orders. Do everything I command.”
“Of course, Captain.”
Baldarich studied the Queen Z’s Revenge. His fingers traced his beard, and he even leaned in as if those couple extra inches would make the scene clearer. I watched him in awe and looked at the airship, trying to see what he saw. Then I noticed the propellers slowing down, I could see the individual blades. Seeing the captain’s expression change I knew he saw it, too.
He pointed. “This is it!” He stepped back to his chair and sat down. “Up angle three degrees. Speed to full. Yaw, three degrees starboard and rotate us twenty degrees.”
“Aye, aye captain.” I pulled back the wheel until the one dial matched, then rolled the airship on its side to aim the cannons down on the Queen Z’s Revenge. As the captain predicted, Zerelda’s war zeppelin had slowed to draw us in. Now we were climbing above her, and she was trying to turn. “Course corrections made, sir.”
“Level out our assent but keep us rolled on our side.” The captain hit his armrest. “I need those guns pointed down.”
“Yes sir.” We all had to hold on as the Sparrowhawk tilted so far to one side. With the port side angled down. We were slowly losing altitude.
The guns of the Queen Z’s Revenge began to fire but couldn’t tilt as far as we could and we remained above their guns. The captain waited. He flipped open the brass tubes and paused. We were still out of the range of our guns, and I thought he would wait longer, but he slammed his fist on the railing surrounding his chair and said, “Fire!”
All three guns and the Gatling gun erupted, raining lead down upon the Queen Z’s Revenge. The cannon balls slammed into the roof of the War Zeppelin as the rounds from the Gatling gun shredded through the canvas. Being above the airship meant our cannon’s range was extended. We couldn’t miss.
“That’s brilliant!” I smiled, but held the wheel tight so we wouldn’t slip, and I had to maintain the tilt. “Captain, you’re a genius.”
“She might be a queen, but I am king of the skies,” Baldarich leaned back to the copper tube. “Fire!”
A moment later, the second round of cannon fired roared. The lead ripped through the ship. As the center section deflated, I saw an orange glow within the war zeppelin. The Queen Z’s Revenge burst into flames.
“Hard to port and level us out!” The captain shouted. “Get us away from her in case she explodes!”
I turned the wheel and hit the foot pedals to make the turn. The Sparrowhawk already wanted to go that way so it wasn’t hard. Ignatius and the captain stood to get a good look. I peered out the window as well. The entire aft section was engulfed in bright orange flames. The Queen Z’s Revenge drifted forward as she began to drop out of the sky.
The fiery wreck plummeted toward a mountainous island, but I could tell they still had some steering capability left. The fiery wreck veered into the volcano’s smoldering crater. Suddenly, the captain yelled, “Get us out of here!”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, but before anyone could answer, my stomach twisted in knots and I doubled over the wheel. I fought the pain to remain in control of the Sparrowhawk, but I knew I hadn’t felt anything as severe since I’d first run into the Iron Horsemen.
CHAPTER 38
FLIGHT OF THE SPARROWHAWK
“What’s happening?” I said, my hands gripping the wheel.
“Krakatoa is erupting.”
“The volcano?” My heart lurched in my chest and I nosed the ship north and started to climb, but the captain said, “No take us down we’ll need the speed.” The earth rumbled and roared, making the most frightening sounds I’d ever heard. An explosion ripped through the sky and rattled the bones of the Sparrowhawk. Chunks of the island, billowing ash, smoke, flaming magma, and heated gases blew thousands of feet into the sky. Far above the Sparrowhawk. A concussive blast, like a Thumper hooked up to a Heart of the Horsemen, smashed against the Sparrowhawk. The aero-dirigible bounced about in the sky. We tumbled and spun, losing over a hundred feet of altitude.
The wheel ripped free and whipped back and forth. I grabbed hold and forced it to center. I strained all my muscled to right the Sparrowhawk and stop the spinning. A flaming hunk of stone smashed into the hull above us, burned through the canvas and slammed into the deck behind the captain. Baldarich and Ignatius smothered the flames. The eruption blocked out the sun, bringing darkness to the world around us. A bright orange glow forced me to look up and I saw a flaming boulder the size of a house coming our way. I spun wheel and pressed the pedal, turning and tilting the Sparrowhawk as the hunk of magma sailed by.
“What is going on?” I screamed. “We are miles from that island.”
The captain grabbed hold of the railing. “The Heart must have amplified the eruption. This is bigger than anything I’ve ever seen or heard of.”
Genevieve ran up onto the bridge. “Captain, we lost one of the cannon when the rope snapped and it crashed out of the gun deck.”
“Is everyone all right?” Baldarich asked.
“Y
es, so far. Everyone and everything is being tossed around. They tied Heinz to his hammock.”
Hot ash and smoke engulfed the aero-dirigible. It poured in through the hole. We coughed and choked as it burned our lungs. I pulled my goggles over my eyes so I could still see, and we burst out from the billowing maelstrom. Ignatius brushed off the dials, and turned to the captain. “Sir, we’re overheating, I have to shut down engine three or we’ll lose her.”
“We need it. Alexander throttle back engine three for now.” Baldarich flipped open one of the copper tubes and said, “Gears, I need all my engines or we’re not going to survive this.”
I pulled the third lever back to one third. I turned the wheel to dodge the ash cloud and found a small pocket of mostly clear air. The airship was still losing altitude and the ocean was getting closer, but I was able to keep our speed up and out run the worst of the eruption. Small pebbles still pelted the hull, some even ripping through rattling on the deck. Strong winds radiating out from the volcano, pushed us in every direction. I struggled to keep the Sparrowhawk under control, but I knew if I let the gusts dictate our course we’d be torn to pieces.
The aero-dirigible lurched and shook. Those of us on the bridge looked at each other and knew something had struck the Sparrowhawk. The captain flipped open all four tubes and yelled. “Report!”
Mr. Singh’s voice echoed back. “We have a burning hunk of rock on the gun deck. We’re trying to put it out before it hits the powder.”
The captain didn’t say anything, but tension built as thick as the ash cloud as we waited for the next minute for a second explosion. Then Mr. Singh’s voice called out, “Rock removed. Flames extinguished.”
I released a huge sigh of relief as the captain wiped his brow.
Gears voice carried through the copper tube and said, “I’ve cleaned the ash out of engine three, she’s back in business.”
“Excellent!” The captain pointed at me. “Full speed ahead, Alexander, get us out of here.”
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