“We need that doctor,” Lilia cried.
“Hopefully he survived the explosion,” Demyan replied, glancing back at the wreckage. Smoke and fire engulfed the majority of the ship, which was sinking quickly. Demyan removed his belt and wrapped it tightly around Nikolai's wounded arm.
Gotfrid, Pyotr, and Igor scrambled up the beach, coughing violently. Pyotr and Igor were covered in minor burns. Gotfrid appeared relatively unharmed.
“Where's your doctor?” Zoya asked them. “Did he survive?”
“How the hell should we know?” Igor spat. The pirates fell onto their backs, breathing heavily.
“Where's the other one?” Lilia asked. “Adam?”
Igor frowned. He cleared his throat and replied, “Dead.” Lilia's lips twitched into a smile.
A few moments later, Snezhana appeared.
“Doesn't a captain go down with her ship?” Zoya asked.
“We're pirates, dear,” Snezhana replied, taking a seat in the sand. “Those types of honor codes don't really apply to us.”
“You don't say.”
“Oh good,” Anya gasped, standing. “Alexi is ok!” He swam toward the beach, but appeared to be weighed down by something. As he reached the shore, he pulled an unconscious Captain Sokoll out of the water and dragged him to dry sand.
“You saved him,” Zoya said. “I wish I could say I don't blame you. But I do.”
“Zoya,” Anya said. “He's his father.”
“He's a murderer,” Zoya said. She stood and walked away, looking for the doctor.
As she walked down the beach Zoya heard the whirring of engines from above. Over the trees a colorful airship appeared, its spotlights illuminating the shipwreck and the beach.
Slowly, the airship floated down to the ground, landing a few hundred feet from the survivors. The door to its gondola opened, and Yeremiy Robertov stepped out.
“Well,” he said, putting his hands on his hips. “Looks like this was the perfect time to hijack an airship.”
“I didn't know you had it in you, Mr. Robertov,” Snezhana said as she approached the airship. “I'm impressed.”
“Yes, good work, navigator,” Gotfrid said, winking at Yeremiy. The survivors all gathered around the airship.
“How did you manage this?” Alexi asked. Yeremiy looked inside the airship gondola and gestured for someone to come over. A moment later, the bright-haired man and woman from Valoselo stepped forward. They smiled hesitantly at the pirates.
“I've made us some new friends,” Yeremiy said. He gestured to the man and woman. “This is Vlad, and this is Svetlana. They're going to kindly fly us to Mirgorod in their airship.”
Lilia stepped back. “No.”
Zoya moved toward her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Lilia, it will be alright. With our recent luck on marine ships, maybe we'll fare better on this.” She nodded toward the airship.
Lilia shook her head. “Absolutely not. Those ships may not have survived, but we did. If something happens on the airship…”
“Come now, Lilia, this man got us a new ship.” Captain Sokoll sat up and pointed toward the vessel. His voice was weak. “Now, I've never captained an airship before, but there's a first time for everything. I'll enjoy the challenge.”
“This airship isn't for you,” Yeremiy said. “This airship isn't for any of you pirate bastards. I'll be taking myself and my friends to Mirgorod, and then I'll get myself back home to Nanowrinsk. I made a promise.”
“As nice as that is,” Lilia said, “I'm not setting foot on that airship.”
“Yeremiy,” Demyan said. “Are there any first aid supplies on this airship?” Yeremiy looked to Vlad and Svetlana.
“Yes,” Svetlana said. “We always make sure to keep the basics in stock.” Demyan turned to Lilia.
“We need to worry about Nikolai right now,” he said. “If we get him on that airship, he'll be off of this dirt and into somewhere more hygienic. We'll be able to clean out his wound and properly bandage it.”
“We could bring him into the town,” Lilia said.
“Not likely,” Yeremiy replied. “We made quite the commotion in town. I suppose I should have mentioned: we really must be off soon. The authorities are hunting for us.”
“For god's sake,” Captain Sokoll said as he slowly climbed to his feet. “Just hit the girl over the head and knock her out.” Lilia stumbled backwards, glaring at Captain Sokoll. Zoya, Anya, and Demyan stood in front of her, blocking his way.
“Fine!” Lilia shouted, waving her hands. “Fine, I'll go! Get me on the airship now before I change my mind.”
As Zoya helped, Lilia boarded the airship, followed by their friends, Gotfrid pulled out his gun.
“We'll be coming too,” he told Yeremiy. The other pirates pulled out their guns as well. Vlad and Svetlana ran behind the walls inside the gondola. Yeremiy laughed.
“Don’t be foolish,” he said. “I know all your guns are waterlogged. You couldn’t shoot me if you tried.”
Gotfrid threw his gun to the ground and clenched his fists.
“We had a deal, Yeremiy,” he said.
“What?” Zoya asked, turning back around. “What are you talking about?”
“Yes, I’m interested to know as well,” Snezhana said, dropping her pistol. “What deal?” Yeremiy ignored them.
“Yes, we did.” Yeremiy ran his fingers through his hair, muttering under his breath. “Fine. No weapons on the airship,” he stated. “Waterlogged or not, it's too dangerous. I don't think any of us wants to be in another explosion.”
“Absolutely not,” Snezhana said. “You're not in any position to set such conditions.” She unsheathed her sword and pointed it at Yeremiy.
“Captain,” Gotfrid said, placing his hand on her arm. “If I may, I think he may be right. About guns, at least. We'll keep our swords.”
“Absolutely not,” Yeremiy replied. Gotfrid glared at him.
“Your friends, then,” Gotfrid said. “They can have our weapons.”
“What kind of foolhardy plan is that?” Igor shouted.
“Fine,” Yeremiy replied. “Distribute any swords and daggers you have to my friends. Leave your guns on the beach.”
Gotfrid nodded and turned to Snezhana, who eyed Yeremiy and Gotfrid warily. She removed her swords and daggers nonetheless. Once Snezhana was disarmed, Anya sprinted over to her. Without a word, she snatched the bag that held the gadget and returned to stand by her friends. Snezhana rolled her eyes.
“Why is he letting them on board?” Zoya asked Demyan. “What deal do they have?”
“Same one we heard, I’m betting,” he replied. “He helps them get to Mirgorod, and they let him go home.”
“But he refused that deal, remember?”
Demyan shrugged. “So he changed his mind. At least we'll get their weapons.”
Zoya sighed and continued into the gondola.
By the entrance of the gondola was a full-size kitchen, stocked full of fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, and more. Beyond that was a dining and sitting area, decorated with green and blue striped wallpaper, mahogany furniture, and gilded trinkets. At the front of the gondola were the control and navigation rooms. Toward the back was a long corridor of cabins and two bathrooms. Lilia crouched in the corridor, away from any windows.
As the pirates boarded the airship, Zoya strode over to Yeremiy. “Could I ask a favor, since you decided to bring the pirates along?” She made no effort to hide her displeasure.
Yeremiy's face flushed. “Of course,” he replied. “What can I do?”
“Tie Edmund up,” Zoya said, “and put him in a different room. One of the cabins in the back.”
Yeremiy smiled. “Gladly.”
“You will address me as Captain!” Edmund said, limping toward Zoya.
“You’re no captain,” Zoya replied.
Demyan stepped between Edmund and Zoya and folded his arms.
“I refuse to be tied up like an animal!” Edmund said.
&
nbsp; “Have you not noticed you're woefully outnumbered?” Snezhana laughed. She looked to the other pirates. “I'm sure we can find some rope.”
“Aye, Captain,” Igor grinned. “I'll make sure he's nice and snug.” He and the other surviving members of Snezhana's crew circled Edmund and shoved him toward the back of the gondola.
“Get your hands off me!” Edmund yelled, pushing back. He grunted as Igor jabbed him in his wounded side. Edmund doubled over. Snezhana and her crew took advantage of his pain, and dragged Edmund to the back of the ship.
After everyone had boarded the ship, Yeremiy distributed the pirates' swords and daggers to Zoya, Anya, and Demyan. Lilia, who sat on the floor, refused a weapon. She shook her head violently, closed her eyes, and tucked her head between her arms. Sighing, Yeremiy headed into the control room, followed by Vlad and Svetlana. Igor and Pyotr paced up and down the corridor, while Gotfrid stood silently by the cabin in which Edmund was stowed. Alexi and Snezhana leaned against a wall near the control room, watching everyone else.
Demyan and Zoya placed Nikolai comfortably on a couch in the gondola's parlor as Anya searched for the first aid supplies.
“Here,” Anya said, stepping out of the kitchen with a small white kit. She pulled out some clean rags and began working on Nikolai's wound. The skin all around his shoulder was swollen and red, and he was still bleeding.
“Turn him over a bit,” Anya told Demyan. Demyan obliged, moving Nikolai so that Anya could see the back of his shoulder.
“There's no exit wound,” she said. “The bullet is still in there.”
“So we need to get it out, right?” Zoya said.
“Yes, but I'm not a doctor,” Anya replied. “Let's just clean it up for now. A doctor in Mirgorod can fix whatever we don't.”
“His wound doesn't look good,” Demyan said. “What if…”
“We don't have time for what ifs,” Zoya interrupted. “We'll clean his wound, and he'll be fine.”
“Yes, exactly,” Anya agreed. “Of course, he'll be fine.”
“You're not a doctor,” Demyan said, staring at Anya. Anya ignored him, picking up a cloth and a bottle of clear liquid from the medical kit. She sniffed the liquid, wrinkled her nose, and soaked the cloth with it. Then she applied it to Nikolai's shoulder. Lilia still sat in the corridor, watching her friends tend to Nikolai.
Once Anya had finished bandaging Nikolai, Zoya walked toward the control room.
“Yeremiy,” she called. “I noticed there are some speakers in the walls of the sitting area. Can this ship get telegrams or play music? It might help Lilia calm down.”
Yeremiy turned to Vlad and Svetlana.
“Yes, sir,” Vlad said. “I can turn on the telegraph. We also have a gramophone on board, and a large library of discs to play on it.” Vlad grinned widely, then sauntered into a small side room where he started flipping switches and turning dials. After a moment, a series of beeps echoed out of the speakers. Zoya listened and tried to decipher them.
New steel ships give Starzapad edge over Morozhia at sea…Morozhia’s fleet much greater…many small towns in ruins…Vernulaia may join war…
“Change it,” Zoya said, rushing to where Vlad fiddled with the telegraph. “Something more soothing, maybe? Yes, perhaps one of the gramophone discs.” Vlad's head bobbed up and down as he adjusted another dial. He moved to another panel, above which sat the large gramophone. Its base was a dark wood, engraved with images of airships, and its horn was polished brass. The beeping telegram faded away and was replaced by the soft sound of piano and violins emanating from the gramophone.
“Will that play through the speakers as well?” Zoya asked.
Vlad tapped a cluster of wires by the base of the gramophone. “We’ve modified this one so that it transmits through these,” he said, grinning again.
“Thank you,” Zoya said, returning to the sitting room.
“You don't think they're right?” Anya asked.
“Who?” Zoya replied.
“Whoever sent the telegram. Vernulaia wouldn't go to war?”
“Of course not,” Zoya replied. “It must be a slow news day.”
Alexi tut-tutted on the other side of the room.
“What is that about?” Anya asked him.
“I'm just amazed by your naiveté,” he replied. Anya rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Nikolai.
Zoya turned to look down the corridor. “This song is nice, isn't it, Lilia?”
Lilia, in spite of herself, began swaying to the melody. “It's a good dance tune,” she said. She glanced over at Nikolai, asleep on the couch. “If Nikolai were awake, he'd complain about it. He'd say it's not exciting enough.”
Demyan chuckled. “Maybe he'd say that in front of everyone, but I've caught him listening to this type of music quite a bit.” The friends laughed, and began to relax on the airship. Anya reached into her bag and pulled out the gadget.
“Here,” she said, handing it to Zoya. “I think this will be safest with you.” Zoya smiled and took the gadget. She turned it over in her hands, trying to figure out what had activated it before. Nothing immediately stood out. Zoya glanced up at the members of Snezhana's crew.
Gotfrid now stood by a window, his arms crossed behind his back as he peered out. Igor and Pyotr were still pacing, now joined by Alexi.
“Will you sit down already?” Anya asked.
“We're restless,” Alexi said. “We're not used to not working. Not to mention your friend is bringing us to our execution.”
“What are you talking about?” Anya asked.
“As soon as we land in Mirgorod, he'll have us arrested,” Alexi explained. “That is, assuming every single one of us isn't arrested immediately anyway.”
“I don’t understand,” Anya replied. “You all wanted to come on the ship.”
“My father wanted to come on the ship. And Gotfrid.”
Anya looked over at Snezhana, who had been listening.
“Gotfrid was very keen to come on this airship,” Snezhana said. “That one always seems to have a plan. But I’m wondering now where his loyalties lie.” She peered at Gotfrid, who had resumed his post by Edmund’s door.
“I say we take the ship,” Igor suggested, his hands forming fists. Zoya put a hand on the hilt of her sword.
“And how's that?” she asked. “Your friend Gotfrid liked to remind us you always have a gun. Well, that's not the case anymore, is it?” Igor grumbled and resumed his pacing.
“We'll get away, won't we Igor?” Pyotr asked. He looked up at Igor with wide eyes.
“Of course we will, kid,” Igor replied.
“Stop telling him lies,” Alexi said. “Poor boy's green enough as it is. You're only making it worse by treating him like a child.”
“He is a child!” Igor replied.
“I am not!” Pyotr said. “Igor, do you actually think we'll get away? Do you think we'll be fine?” Igor glared at Alexi then looked at Pyotr.
“I don't know,” Igor said. “But I'll be damned if I admit defeat.”
“Attention everyone,” Yeremiy said in an authoritative voice as he emerged from the control room. “For our safety, we will be landing outside of Mirgorod. As pirates and hijackers, we'd likely not get permission to land in Mirgorod's port unless we surrender.”
“A wise decision,” Snezhana said.
Zoya stood, her hand still on the hilt of her sword.
“What is it exactly you want in Mirgorod?” she asked Snezhana. Based on what they'd found in the library, Zoya figured she knew the answer. Snezhana wanted to find Grigory's Lab to discover the key to unlocking the Bronnerush's full power. Zoya wanted to hear it from Snezhana.
“At this point, I imagine we both want the same thing,” Snezhana said.
“And what is that?”
“I want to destroy the Bronnerush.”
Zoya stared at Snezhana, wrinkling her brow. Snezhana, seeing Zoya's obvious confusion, pointed to the gadget.
“Th
at,” she explained, “is called the Bronnerush.”
“I know that,” Zoya replied. She hugged the gadget close to her body. “You want to destroy it?”
“Yes,” Snezhana said. “Look at how much trouble it's caused you. That's a small fraction of the trouble it's caused me. Because of this device, I've lost friends, family. My own brother framed me for a murder he committed and sent me to prison.”
Zoya, staring at the Bronnerush, sat back in her seat. Snezhana took a seat across from her and folded her hands.
“I am sorry for the part I played in your mother's death,” she said. “Though I wasn't the one who killed her, I was the one who led our crew to Lodninsk in the first place. The Bronnerush is nothing but trouble, Zoya. We must destroy it.”
Zoya regarded Snezhana for a moment.
“If you protect it, it will protect you,” she said. “That's what my grandmother told me before she died. All the trouble we've gotten into? That wasn't this gadget; it was petty sibling rivalry between you and your brother. The Bronnerush is mine to protect, not yours to destroy!”
“Zoya, you saw how dangerous the gadget is,” Alexi said. “If Pyotr hadn't knocked you out, it likely would have enveloped your entire body. And those blasts it was shooting out of your hands…”
“It was protecting me,” Zoya said. She pointed to Snezhana. “From her! From all of you!”
“Yes,” Snezhana said. “It was. And as long as the Bronnerush exists, you will continue to need protection, because you will continue to be a target. If not from my brother, than from others. If we destroy it, you can just live your life. You won't have to worry about people like my brother abducting you, manipulating you, trying to steal from you. And believe me, there are many more like my brother, and many worse.”
“I think she's right,” Anya said, placing a hand on Zoya's shoulder. “We left Lodninsk because we didn't want to live in constant fear anymore. Because we wanted to be free. As long as we know people are after this gadget, we'll still be in fear.”
“I agree,” Demyan said. He reached over to Zoya and clasped her hand. Zoya nodded.
Grigory's Gadget Page 18
