by Brad R. Cook
“He called it the Arial Tracking Dial,” Baldarich said as he set our position just off the coast of the Mediterranean. I thought we’d made it further, but then he adjusted the second arm in front of the other about an inch apart.
Confidence surged within me. Looking at the dot marked London, we’d tracked Hendrix and his goons across all of France. I wondered how far was the distance between where we were now and London? The key was written in German, but showed an inch was about ten kilometers. I smiled.
“Alexander, keep an eye on the Tracking Dial and make sure this contraption follows their movements,” the captain said. He ran his fingers through his distinctive bushy mustache continued across his cheek to his sideburns.
I saluted, “Aye, aye captain.”
Using a previous point marked on the map, Baldarich laid the tip of the ruler down, and drew two lines angled like a cone, including much of the Egyptian coast. “They’ll make landfall here.”
My father studied the map. “That’s a massive area, Captain. And it encompasses delta and desert. They could be going anywhere.”
“They can’t keep to the skies,” the baron injected. “The Templar Air Corp would too easily spot them. I’d put my money on Alexandria. They could doubtless slip through the large crowds.”
The captain leaned over the table, “Makes sense. They can escape by auto, train, camel, horse, boat. We’ll have to keep a close eye on them.”
The baron ran his finger down the map. “We will hunt them through Egypt. I have enough contacts that they won’t be able to slip by. Captain, please escort the children back to London.”
Genevieve put her hands on her hips, “Father, I must protest.”
“I’ll not hear it. I thank you for all you’ve done, but this is not the place for the three of you. Mrs. Hinderman will–”
“I will not be sent back to my governess.”
“Enough,” the baron said as he turned his attention back to the captain. Baldarich just nodded and the three men continued discussing what to do once they reached the coast, as if the decision had been made. This time, I remained silent as a tense mood settled around us.
I pulled back from the table and stared around the baron to see Genevieve’s reaction to his dismissive tone. She’d crossed her arms, her chin stuck out, and her eyes were fixed elsewhere, like an unconcerned, perfect aristocrat. Watching her, she periodically side-glanced back to the map, cocking her head to hear better. Yep. She was anything but disengaged.
Owethu, tapped my shoulder and gestured for me to follow him. I checked my father, who hovered over the map with the captain and baron, and slipped over with Owethu. He leaned in and whispered, “With all the equipment we saw, they will travel by boat or train.”
“How do you know?”
“Camels and horses could never carry such heavy equipment, and the desert is no place for a car.”
Everything he said made sense. I knew the Templars would have them all covered, but we could search those two places and continue tracking the lady assassin. Now, we just had to figure how to get off the airship.
Dinner smelled amazing and drew me to the galley. We were all invited to sit with the captain, so we all squeezed in around the table. My stomach growled wondering what feast Gustav would create. With my father on one side of me and Owethu on the other, I had enough room, but didn’t see Genevieve. She and the baron were the last to enter.
Gustav burst in with platters in each hand. The rotund chef spun gracefully on his heel, “I have pretzel bread.” He set down a plate stacked with long dark breadsticks. “And some of my finest spiced potatoes.”
My mouth watered. Gustav disappeared and reappeared with a tray stacked high with sausages that smelled divine. He set it down with a large three-pronged fork, and quickly returned with a steaming bowl of cabbage. Gustav winked at me, “May I present the best sausages in the sky. Only the fatherland has better sauerkraut.”
“It’s true,” the captain said with a playful smile. “The night I met him, he served his sauerkraut and sausage. The Kaiser said it was the best he’d ever tasted, so, of course, I knew I had to steal him away.”
It had been ages since I had eaten so well. I couldn’t stop shoveling the feast into my mouth, and Gustav kept bringing out more. I think my father said I should slow down, but I wasn’t going to stop until I was so stuffed they’d have to roll me out of there.
Soon the crew cleared out, leaving the captain and the rest of us talking around the table. Usually this would be the part I most wanted to escape from, but sitting here meant I could continue to pick from the platters. If nothing else, I could listen to conversation.
Eustache pivoted. “Baron, you spent the last year in Egypt. Surely you heard something about the Knights of the Golden Circle.”
“Nothing which I found unusual.” The baron rubbed his hands together. “I spent a great deal of time investigating subversive groups and threats to the crown. Never once did I run into one of their agents.”
My father pulled off his glasses to clean the lenses. “Odd; perhaps Egypt is not their final stop.”
Chief Zwelethu added, “If it is the Zulu they are after, then southern Africa is what they seek.”
The baron smiled. “That would be helpful. We’d have plenty of time to track them.”
The captain pointed to the baron. “So, why were you in Egypt? Besides getting better.”
“I must remain silent on that, but I can say we were tracking down several threats to Her Majesty’s interests.” The baron lifted his glass and finished the rest of his port.
“What about your crew, Captain? What prizes have you taken recently?”
The captain threw his head back and bellowed. “We’ve been raiding several nations’ airships throughout the Mediterranean Sea.”
“Has business been good?” My father asked.
“We might have made a few more enemies in the last year,” the captain chuckled, “but our spoils have been good. Any news to share about our friends?”
The baron shook his head, “No, we’ve had no news on the Golden Circle, either.”
My father pushed his glasses onto the bridge of his nose. “They were laying low until the attacks at Eton.”
The captain slapped the table, waking those who’d grown lethargic from dinner. “So why have the vipers slithered out now?”
“They were trying to stop those of us who were helping Her Majesty. McCafferty was a geologist; Cobblefield, an explorer and anthropologist.”
And you, Professor, a Master of dead languages.” The captain poured himself another glass of ale.
“Hendrix said they were cleaning up loose ends,” I said. All the adults turned to me, puzzled. I shrugged.
“There’s something else.” Genevieve searched my eyes, then dropped her head. “We learned who the assassin is. Well…,” she lifted her gaze to the Chief and Owethu, “at least who it isn’t.”
The baron clasped her hand in both of his, “Genevieve? Who?”
“The woman who joined you in Egypt.”
CHAPTER 20
ALEXANDRIA
The baron hadn’t said a word as the Sparrowhawk descended toward the airdocks of Alexandria. Neither had Genevieve. They stepped into one of the cabins after dinner, and although their muffled voices could be heard, they hadn’t said a word to anyone else.
Standing on the bridge, looking out the windows, I studied the city that Alexander the Great created, the place that bore our name. I had always wanted to visit; the great king had left after laying the foundation and only returned in death. Buried in a golden tomb within his city, the location lost to myth long ago. Now I was here. Only, I’d never imagined it would be in search of the Knights of the Golden Circle.
The city wrapped around the harbor, most of which appeared to be slipping into the sea. Not much of the original city remained. The treasures, like the great library of Alexandria and the temples where Cleopatra and Julius Caesar walked hand in hand, had be
en destroyed in antiquity. What remained was a city of minarets, a cosmopolitan of every culture in the world. I hadn’t seen so many different people in one place since we’d left New York.
My father came up behind me, “I wish we had more time. I’d love to show you some of the city.”
“Me too,” I said, “but don’t worry, we’re here for a more important reason than being a tourist.”
“Very true.”
The captain commanded, “Heinz, bring the ship in line with the airdocks and maintain a steady descent.”
“Aye-Aye, Uncle,” Heinz said, and the captain just shook his head.
Ignatius pivoted in his chair, turning from the wall of dials and meters in front of him. “Captain, pressure is building in engine three.”
Baldarich flipped open one of the copper tubes in front of him. “Gears. What’s going on down there?”
A voice echoed out of the tube, “Pressure’s building, Captain.”
“Are we going to make it to the ground?”
“I hope so.”
“That’s not the confidence I want to hear, Gears.” The captain pinched his nose.
Baldarich pointed to the wall of dials. “Ignatius, if the engine redlines, shut it down. We’ll just land a little hard.” Ignatius nodded. “Heinz, just get us down in one try. I don’t think we’ll get a second chance at this.”
Heinz wiped his forehead and exhaled. “I’ll try; Uncle, but we have some strong winds off the water.”
The Sparrowhawk teetered toward one of the empty airship bays. Mooring arms reached out to grasp us as we settled into the embrace of iron girders. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Captain Baldarich stood up. “Ignatius, shut everything down, and have Gears get in engine three, see what the trouble is, and sell off all the cargo we have onboard. I’m going to get some answers as the baron and professor head off to find metal man.”
My father squeezed my shoulder and I looked up, “I will need to depart soon.
“I still want to come.”
“I know, but it will be safer if you return to London with the captain. You’ve already done enough. A great job, really. Africa is a dangerous place, and I need to know you’re safe.”
Even though I had fought the German army and the Knights of the Golden Circle last year in London, for some reason that didn’t matter anymore. I was seventeen; I would graduate soon and be a real man, but everyone kept treating me like a child. How was I supposed to become a knight if no one would let me near danger? I knew this fight was pointless, so I just nodded.
He squeezed my shoulder once more and departed. I stayed at the window gazing out at the city. The city didn’t look dangerous. No more so than London. Yet, one thought kept cropping up: once my father and the baron were gone, Genevieve, myself, and Owethu could sneak away. If they wouldn’t take us with them, we would go ourselves. Besides, we’d had better luck tracking the KGC than they had.
Gears’ voice echoed out of the copper tube, “Captain, I got her shut down. She’s all gunked up. I’m going to need some time for the engine to cool down and give her a good scrubbing.”
Ignatius walked over and leaned into the tube. “Go ahead, Gears. I don’t think the captain is leaving anytime soon.”
Gears voice trailed off. “Dampen the fire boys, and someone get the water.”
That gave me an idea. Without a word to the others on the bridge, I slipped off and rushed to find Genevieve. I knocked on the door of the cabin she shared with her father. The baron opened the door. Behind him, I found Genevieve sitting on her bed with her knees up and her arms wrapped around them. A scowl etched across her face. The baron nodded but returned to gathering the last of his things. I waved at Genevieve and she looked up. Her expression brightened, but I still saw the pain in her eyes. I motioned for her to come out into the corridor.
“I wish you the best,” Genevieve said to her father as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
The baron stopped and faced his daughter. “I will find her, Genevieve. I will stop this.” He walked over to her, and as she stood, he clutched her tight.
She broke free from his grasp and ran out of the cabin.
I started to say something, but she ran past me to the ladder leading down to the gundeck. Rodin flew after her. Her father rushed out, releasing a soul crushing, “Genevieve….” He stopped when he saw me. He nodded, taking a moment to collect himself. “Keep an eye on her, will you? This bit about her mother has her understandably upset.”
“Of course.” I paused. I wanted to say more, but knew it wasn’t the time. The baron patted his pockets and checked the blade within his cane. He gathered his belongings and walked off to the cargo doors and the gangplank.
I rushed downstairs to find Genevieve. My father expected me at the gangplank to say goodbye, but I needed to make certain she was all right. I checked the gundeck. The crew had already unloaded the cargo, so she didn’t have many places to hide, but still, I couldn’t find her. She could have already slipped off the ship, but a nagging in my gut said she was nearby. Our room.
I lightly knocked on the door and opened it slowly. “Genevieve, it’s Alexander.”
She sat on one of the crates with Rodin atop the pyramid of cannon balls beside her. Long bouncing locks of auburn hair covered her face. She reached up underneath her hair and wiped her eyes. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Extending my arm toward her, she reached out and took the cloth. I sat on the edge of my hammock, gripping the side, and wondering if she’d break the silence.
After a few minutes, I said, “I had a thought about getting off the ship.”
“My father paid the crew to make sure I stayed on board. He’s forbidden me from pursuing this any further.”
“When has that ever stopped you—us—before?”
“He’s thought of everything.” Rodin jumped into her lap and stuck his head up through her locks. She rubbed the horned nubs on his head and sighed. “He’s paid them to watch me while in port, and to ensure we depart immediately, so I can’t escape.”
I clapped both my hands on my knees. “Then I have some good news. We’re not leaving right away. Gears has to scrub engine three before we can take off. Also, Captain Baldarich already took off for the city.
She looked up at me. I could see the gears turning in her mind.
“One day they’ll understand we’re ready, that we aren’t children any longer. I mean, come on, we saved the earth last year.” I kicked the deck with my boot. “I never did get to meet the queen.”
“I’m sorry you couldn’t attend the dinner at the palace.”
“My dad wouldn’t let me go.” I ground my heel into the wooden floor. “I had a test he wouldn’t let me forego.”
She sighed and lowered her head. “I cannot defy my father. He made it very clear—I am not to go anywhere near that woman, or the Knights of the Golden Circle.”
“He’s just trying to protect your heart.”
“He thinks that woman really is my mother. He’s obsessed with her. When it comes to her, he can’t think straight.”
“This is tough on him, too.”
She nodded. “I know.” She sobbed, but choked back the tears, and turned her eyes to me. “Alexander, I know it’s not her. It can’t be.”
My heart sank. Her pain was mine. I knew it all too well. I wanted nothing more than to see my mother one more time. But if it wasn’t Genevieve’s mother … the thought crushed me. A hot tear rushed down my cheek. “I’m so sorry. The Golden Circle can be so cruel.”
“Alexander, you have signs … feelings. What does your gut tell you about her?”
I searched back when I’d encountered her outside my father’s office. “I know she’s the assassin who tried to kill my father—and us.” I turned toward Genevieve, got up, and walked over to her. I took her hands in mine. “She may look like the picture in your locket, but, she is nothing like the stories you’ve told me about your mother.�
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“Thank you, Alexander.”
I patted my stomach. “My gut tells me we should go find them.”
She laughed and her face lit up. Seeing her smile made my courage swell.
I stood up. Rodin took flight and landed on my shoulder. “Shall we, milady?” I said and bowed.
Genevieve pulled back her hair, and wrapped it in a bun. She stood up, smoothed out her coat, and curtsied. Genevieve took a deep breath. “Since I am being monitored by the crew, you’ll need to tell Owethu, and gather the things we’ll need.”
“Get ready, but stay in your father’s room. That will make them think you aren’t leaving.” I rubbed Rodin’s head. “You’re coming with me?”
The little dragon nodded. With regal grace, Genevieve walked out of the room. I waited several heartbeats and then stepped to the door. I poked my head out and looked her way. A crewman followed a few paces behind her. I waited until they climbed the ladder, and crossed the gundeck.
CHAPTER 21
BY TRAIN OR BOAT
I stayed below as Owethu said goodbye to his father. I heard the chief, the baron, and my father on the deck above me. A sense of guilt washed over me as my father asked, “Where is Alexander?”
“Apologies, Professor, I asked him to look after Genevieve. She’s not taking this well.”
The baron’s heavy boot steps echoed on the metal grating of the gangplank. “Come, we can waste no more time.”
After hearing their footsteps subside, I rushed up and found Owethu coming toward the ladder. “Just the man I’m looking for.” I pulled him close and whispered, “We’re leaving.” Without a word, he nodded. He followed me to our room on the gundeck. I gathered my things, which wasn’t more than another set of clothes and the goggles I’d had around my neck since the Kite Flinger crashed. The dark lenses would be great for the dessert. I already wore my Thumper on my belt.
I needed a pair of pants, though, something thinner than my wool trousers. At least a pair that wasn’t stripped. I turned to Owethu who stared down at his suit.
