Iron Horsemen

by Brad R. Cook

  Captain Baldarich flipped open the farthest right copper tube and yelled, “Fire!”

  The cannons roared and shook the deck under me. The rapid popping of the Gatling gun quickly followed.

  I wanted to run to the window and watch the battle, but I’d been given an assignment. I worried about my father, but knew that stopping ships and not sinking them was a specialty of these Sky Raiders.

  As we continued the turn, Genevieve sat in the chair and steadied herself with the brass railing that extended off the engineer’s station.

  The Sparrowhawk shuddered and lurched. I fell, slid across the bridge, and slammed into the map table.

  One of the needles suddenly drop and Genevieve said, “We’re losing engine one.”

  “Damn, that’s the one on top.” Baldarich flipped open the furthest left copper tube and clearly heard German cursing. “Gears, status report!”

  “Some lead shot the size of my arse just ripped through the steam pipes, captain!”

  Baldarich’s head snapped up. “It’s the Storm Vulture, take evasive action!”

  Coyote pulled back on the wheel and the Sparrowhawk rose into the sky. I started to roll backward but caught the leg of the map table and pulled myself back to my feet. I returned to Genevieve’s side.

  Baldarich flipped open the furthest-right copper tube. “Ignatius, load the port guns. Prepare for a broadside.” He walked over to Coyote. “Bring us alongside, and be quick about it.”

  Coyote nodded. “We’ll get there captain.”

  I pressed against the port window encircled by bolted brass and saw the Storm Vulture flying alongside but traveling in the opposite direction. A very different design from the Sparrowhawk, it had a cylindrical fuselage with four propellers attached to the back of two fixed wings that sat below a large blimp. The front of the fuselage was made of square plates of glass that even extended to the underside. I saw Captain Zerelda standing defiantly, ordering her crew at a frantic pace.

  Baldarich stroked his moustache, and winked at me. He opened the middle-right copper tube and said, “Mr. Singh, retract the wingsails. Coyote, dive and bank to port.”

  The Sparrowhawk lurched forward as Coyote pushed the wheel and spun it to the left. I watched the wingsails retract, the taut canvas folding over in the wind. Puffs of smoke lined the length of the Storm Vulture. Cannon balls soared just over Sparrowhawk.

  I turned toward Captain Baldarich standing calm amidst the battle. The man had the steeled nerves of a naval captain and the swagger of a pirate.

  The outer hull beside me exploded inward as an iron cannon ball ripped in and soared straight through the other side. I tumbled backward but was uninjured.

  “Zerelda, you crafty minx. She saved a cannon knowing I’d duck.” Baldarich leaned into the furthest-right copper tube. “Hunter, get topside.” He yanked me back onto my feet. “Go to the conning tower and help Hunter raise the deck gun, hurry boy.” Then he leaned back to the tubes and said, “Mr. Singh, I need those wingsails before we drop out of the sky.”

  I glanced at Genevieve who shut off the fuel, and monitored the other two engines. She looked at me with concern, I nodded and ran off.

  The Sparrowhawk banked in the opposite direction but I continued down the corridor without missing a step. Perhaps I’d finally found my sky legs.

  As I reached the conning tower, Hunter ran up from below. We ducked into the little chamber that held a deck gun mounted on a vertical track.

  Hunter grabbed the chain. “When the hatch opens pull this. I’m heading topside to man the gun. Once it’s fully deployed, just keep feeding shells into this hopper. Got it?”

  I took the chain. “Got it.”

  Hunter ran out the hatch and climbed up through the conning tower. I watched the hull. As it opened, sunlight poured down and a strong wind buffeted the hatch behind me. I pulled until my muscles strained and the cannon started to rise, but it took all my strength, and the rushing wind fought every heave.

  Hunter called down from above, “Hurry, the Storm Vulture is turning around.”

  I pulled until the metal-grating base banged against the hull. Hunter slid a lever and locked it into place. Within moments he had loaded the first shell and the cannon fired. As Hunter opened the breach, the empty shell casing fell and I threw myself against the wall to avoid it. The next shell ran up a conveyer belt from the hopper and I checked to make certain another waited to take its place. Three more shells sat in the hopper. I held my ears as the cannon fired again.

  A shadow chased away the light coming through the metal grating above. Running over to the conning tower, I looked up and saw the Storm Vulture above us.

  Climbing the ladder I stuck my head out and felt the wind whip my face like sand paper. Through my biting vision, four grappling lines from the Storm Vulture sank into the vessel.

  The doors on the bottom of the Storm Vulture opened and a large metal coil with two steel prongs extended out. I heard a crackling sound and the whirring of an engine. Huge bolts of lightning shot from the Storm Vulture and struck the Sparrowhawk. Everything sparked as the electrical current ran throughout the hull. The shock jolted me and I was tossed from the ladder. I fell down through the conning tower and smashed onto the planking below.

  Captain Baldarich ran toward me. “You okay? I want you and Genevieve to hide with the Helium tanks.”

  All I managed was a strained, “Aye captain.”

  I struggled to my feet and ran for the bridge. I grabbed Genevieve by the shoulder. “Come on, the captain has ordered us to hide.”

  “Wait, we should help,” Genevieve rose to her feet, but pulled away from me.

  “I know, but the captain insisted.”

  Genevieve paused, but finally agreed and we ran to hide. As we passed the conning tower, I looked up and saw the Storm Vulture getting closer by drawing in the grappling lines.

  I kicked open the hatch and we crawled inside. Slipping back beside one the large helium tanks we crouched together and listened as pirates landed on the hull above.

  CHAPTER 14

  THE CREW IS INTERROGATED

  I counted at least twenty people landing on the hull above. The Sparrowhawk only had a crew of fifteen.

  Genevieve moved closer to me and the smell of her hair filled my senses and made my mind spin until I’d almost forgotten about the crew.

  I snapped back to reality when I heard Captain Zerelda’s voice. It came from below in the engine room as she gathered the crew of the Sparrowhawk in the narrow confines surrounding the engines.

  Zerelda’s Dutch accent reverberated against the inner hull. “Bring Ignatius here, and you two keep scouring the ship, Baldarich and those two brats have to be here somewhere.”

  I crept over to a sliver of light shining into the compartment from the engine room below. A missing rivet in the seam allowed the two pieces of sheet metal to separate. I peered down into the engine room and saw Ignatius being dragged before Captain Zerelda. Blood gathered in the corner of his mouth and a large purple bruise formed beside his eye.

  The sight nearly knocked the air out of me and my hands shook in anger.

  One of Zerelda’s men tied Ignatius to a support beam, and stepped aside. Tobias approached. Reaching behind, he pulled a long club connected by a cord and wound a crank on a small box on the back of his belt. He chuckled and leaned within a few inches of Ignatius. The gunslinger spit in Tobias’s face and laughed. Tobias plunged the club into his stomach and it sparked with electricity.

  Ignatius screamed, but laughed when he pulled it away. “Afraid to bruise your fists?”

  “I’m asking the questions here.” Tobias slammed the club back into Ignatius’s gut with a smile, relishing the pain he caused as if it were the London symphony. “Where did Baldarich take the kids? Where are they hiding?”

  Ignatius smiled and pulled against his bonds. “Is that all, it tickles.”

  Tobias plunged the club back into his ribs, the crew of the Sparrowhawk prote
sted but their pleas went unanswered.

  Genevieve tapped his shoulder and I slid back to let her see. I wondered what fiendish torture that pirate scumbag would come up with next. Genevieve gasped, and I wanted to know what happened, but couldn’t ask. Genevieve rolled back away from the crack and I quickly replaced her.

  I didn’t like seeing my new friends being tortured. The gunslinger protected me. They all did. I couldn’t believe they would. I was scared beyond all reason and wished that I could give of myself the way they did.

  Zerelda grabbed Gears and strung him up to the same support beam as Ignatius.

  She stepped in front of the two captives. “I want answers, so I’ll ask politely, where is your captain hiding with the two little brats?” She waited a moment but no one answered. “Electricity, it’s the future you know. The joyous wonder of this new age. It’s beautiful. Lethal when you need it to be, and can heal many an ailment, but I like it best as a motivational tool.”

  The man with the tattooed face first struck Ignatius in the neck and then slammed the heavy club into Gears, just above his belt. Both screamed in pain, but neither said a word.

  Captain Zerelda pointed to Coyote. “Let’s see if I can get him to talk.”

  Tobias threw Coyote into the little storage unit and shut the door behind Zerelda.

  I pulled away from the crack, unable to continue watching.

  Genevieve looked at me and the usual fire in her eyes had faded, replaced with sadness, and unease. I wanted to turn myself over to Zerelda, to end the torment of people I had started to call friend, but that would make their noble effort worthless. I slid closer to her, the scent of her brought me comfort but the next screams made me cringe.

  Zerelda’s words ran through his mind and I realized she was still looking for the captain. I whispered to Genevieve, “She thinks the captain is with us.”

  Genevieve’s amber eyes lit up. “We should try and help him.”

  “But we don’t know where he is. Maybe we can create a distraction.”

  Genevieve nodded in agreement, but as we started to creep away a hand reached out from behind one of the helium tanks and snatched my shoulder. I started to scream, to fight, but a hand crossed over my mouth silencing me. Genevieve whipped around, her expression made me stop fighting.

  Baldarich sternly whispered, “I told you both to wait here.”

  I pointed to the crack and whispered, “But they’re killing them down there.”

  Captain Baldarich leaned over the crack and spied on the situation below. I leaned over him and tried to see too. Zerelda stomped her heels on the grating as she charged out of the storage room and over to the boiler.

  “Maybe some cooking will soften those tongues of yours.” Zerelda yanked on the exhaust handle of the boiler. “Have I told you about the joys of steam?”

  A blast of white hot steam burst from the nozzle and engulfed the two men. They screamed as the burning vapor seared them. Baldarich cringed and clenched his fist until the skin on his knuckles turned white. I saw the vapor rising through the crack, but still Gears and Ignatius said nothing.

  I heard Zerelda as she stormed out of the engine room and said, “If they won’t talk when they’re in pain maybe they’ll talk when another’s in pain. Bring the Sikh.”

  Genevieve and I slipped over to the hatch and Baldarich followed. We heard Zerelda one floor below and slipped over to peer through the seam of the cargo doors. Zerelda appeared with Mr. Singh. She ordered her men to tie a rope to his legs. I wondered what was happening but Baldarich twisted his fist in his palm.

  Zerelda leaned close to Mr. Singh’s ear. “One chance. Tell me where they are.”

  Mr. Singh, his turban removed, had been forced to his knees before the pirate captain. His long dark hair whipped around his face as he stared with unwavering courage. “As part of my faith, I must resist tyranny in all its forms. I am ready to meet my god, are you?”

  Zerelda pushed Mr. Singh out the cargo door with her boot heel. “Say hello for me.”

  Genevieve gasped.

  Baldarich turned to the two youngsters and cracked his knuckles until I thought he broken them. “Damn that sky-witch! We’re taking back my ship.”

  CHAPTER 15

  RETAKING THE SPARROWHAWK

  Captain Baldarich pulled me over to the conning tower. “When you hear all hell break loose I need you to cut the grappling lines. Take this bowie knife.” The captain handed me a huge knife with a curved tip and walked over to Genevieve. “You and I need to create a diversion.”

  Genevieve unsheathed her saber. “I’ll distract Zerelda.”

  “No you won’t,” Baldarich silenced himself to a whisper. “She’s too dangerous.”

  I nodded. “I agree.”

  “If someone doesn’t distract her she’ll organize her men and we’ll all be captured. Danger isn’t something we can avoid.”

  I waited for Baldarich to tell her how crazy she was, but from the way he stroked his moustache, I knew he was thinking about her argument.

  Baldarich slapped my back. “Get in place.”

  I nodded, grabbed a pair of brass and leather goggles and quietly climbed the conning tower’s ladder. Genevieve followed Baldarich to the stairs. I slipped onto the Sparrowhawk, and the fierce wind whipped my hair.

  The Storm Vulture hovered alongside and the grappling lines drooped across the sky, connecting the two vessels like clotheslines hung between buildings.

  Leaning over the edge, I saw Mr. Singh dangling just above the waves. It wrenched my heart to see my friend treated like a bag of tea.

  An idea struck, like the lightning gun on the underside of the Storm Vulture.

  Grabbing hold of the nearest grappling line with my hands and feet, I shimmed over to the other vessel. Halfway across, I dared to look down. Fear seized me but I couldn’t stop. Several crewmen heaved Mr. Singh out of the water and then released the rope plunging him back into the Mediterranean. After dragging Mr. Singh through several waves they hauled him up several feet. I heard Zerelda yelling and moved faster.

  I climbed onto the fuselage of the Storm Vulture. As I looked around I noticed the hydrogen tank connected to the fuselage with metal straps but a latch secured the strap. I pulled the bowie knife from the leather strap that wound around me.

  The flash of sharpened steel drew my eye inside the open cargo doors on the Sparrowhawk’s main deck. Zerelda smacked Gustav in the back of his head with the hilt of her sword sending him sprawling to the deck. Then she pulled Hunter close and kicked him toward the open cargo door. I hoped the captain would strike soon.

  Being careful not to alert the crew still inside the Storm Vulture, I slipped over to the nearest latch. I pried it open with my bowie knife. It snapped back, whipping by my face. I jumped back. “Whoa! That was close.” I looked around, but no one investigated. No one on the Sparrowhawk noticed either.

  I slid along the side of the Storm Vulture and used the knife to unlatch two more. As I moved to the fourth strap, I saw a cloud of steam erupt on the main-deck of the Sparrowhawk. Baldarich’s signal.

  I saw Genevieve step through the billowing steam cloud. Bolts of lightning from Baldarich’s hand cannon arced behind her.

  Genevieve raised her sword. “Captain Zerelda, your time is through.”

  Zerelda emerged from the white wall of fog. “Baldarich, you sent a girl to die.”

  Genevieve’s sword cut through the steam. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Genevieve ducked and avoided Zerelda’s cutlass only to have her attack blocked by the sky pirate.

  Genevieve fought well, really well, but I cringed as Zerelda’s sword missed.

  “Aarrhhh.” Zerelda swung her cutlass wildly but a calculated Genevieve met her every stroke.

  She fought just like her father had at Eton.

  A bolt of electricity coursed between Genevieve and Zerelda, one of the captain’s shots I bet. I had to stop watching. I had a job
to do, too.

  The Storm Vulture listed to one side and the strap next to me snapped from the pressure. I had done enough. Now I needed to get out of there.

  I ran and leapt onto the grappling line. Snagging the rope with my arm, I struggled not to fall. I wrapped the braided line around me and secured it under my armpit.

  Then I did the dumbest thing I’d ever done: I cut the rope behind me.

  The wind rushed past me as I swung like a pendulum toward the Sparrowhawk.

  “Alexander!” Genevieve’s voice cut through the air. She’d seen me jump. As I dangled below the Sparrowhawk, I shoved the bowie knife into my leather strap and climbed, hand over hand, up the rope.

  I grabbed hold of the yardarm of the wingsail and pulled myself onto the stretched canvas. Through the open cargo door all I saw were shapes darting through the dissipating clouds of steam. All I heard was the ringing of steel on steel and the stomping of shoes on the wooden deck. Sword fights and hand-to-hand combat. I hoped my friends could hold their own. I had one more task.

  “Zerelda,” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “Your ship is about to plunge into the sea!” I climbed up the ribbing to the first grappling line and cut it free with my knife. The Storm Vulture shook and lurched in the sky. I looked down at the deck. Zerelda screamed, and I smiled. I cut the next two grappling lines, and the crewmen of the Storm Vulture flooded out of the conning tower. I saw Tobias and knew I was in trouble, but I had to keep going. I had to cut the last line.

  Tobias looked up and drew his pistol. I dove and grabbed hold of the last grappling line to keep from sliding off the Sparrowhawk. Shots rang out but flew overhead. I pulled myself back atop the vessel and drew the Thumper from my holster. Too far to strike Tobias, I hoped the flash would make him run.

  I popped up and pushed the trigger, the loud shot made the men drop, and the concussive blast knocked the tattooed man on his backside. Several crewmen grabbed the drop lines they’d used to board the Sparrowhawk, and leapt off as they desperately tried to get back to the Storm Vulture. Tobias jumped onto one of the lines and swung out over the sea. I stood and grabbed the last grappling line as Zerelda emerged from the conning tower.