Grigory's Gadget

by E. A. Hennessy

  “If you want to destroy it, why didn’t you just take it and throw it into the ocean?” Zoya asked.

  “I thought about it,” Snezhana said. “But the research I’ve done suggests it floats. And if it floats, it can be found again. I can’t take that risk. It needs to be destroyed outright.”

  “But why do you need me?” Zoya slammed a fist into the table, eyes fixed on Snezhana. “Why kidnap me and my friends when you could have just stolen the gadget?”

  Snezhana closed her eyes and took a breath. When she opened her eyes again, they were fixed on the table.

  “The Bronnerush is connected to you, to your family,” Snezhana said. “I don’t know how. But you are the one who activated the gadget. I think you’re the only one who can activate it.”

  “So you think I’m the only one who can destroy it?”

  “Perhaps.” Snezhana rubbed her temples. “I won’t know how to destroy it until we find Grigory Orlov’s lab in Mirgorod. But I think destroying the Bronnerush might destroy you as well.”

  Zoya’s knuckles turned white as she grasped the Bronnerush tighter. She grasped it so tightly she feared, or perhaps hoped, the gadget might activate again.

  “We’re not sacrificing Zoya,” Demyan said, standing. “How can you suggest that? You say you’re sorry for the pain Zoya’s gone through, and in the next breath say you want to kill her? To destroy some metal ball? Zoya’s right, she needs to protect the gadget from people like you.”

  “That’s how I thought you’d react,” Snezhana said. “That’s why I didn’t tell you before.”

  “Why tell us now?” Zoya asked.

  “Because it probably doesn’t matter now. Because it’s likely my crew is right, and we’ll be arrested when we get to Mirgorod. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a drink.” Snezhana strode toward the kitchen, nearly knocking Yeremiy over as he emerged from the control room.

  “Alright, get comfortable,” Yeremiy announced as he entered, ignorant to the tension in the room. “It will be about a day's travel before we land outside of Mirgorod. I think we could all use some rest.”

  Zoya stood, hugging the gadget tight, and marched down the corridor to a cabin. Silently, everyone else followed suit.

  “I'd rather stay in the corridor,” Lilia said, gesturing toward the windows in the rooms.

  “Close the curtains,” Anya said. “Just imagine you're on a normal ship.” Lilia fidgeted with her hands for a moment before finally entering a cabin.

  “Nikolai's wound really isn't looking good,” Demyan said as he carried Nikolai into a cabin.

  “We'll get him to a doctor,” Anya told him. “Replace the bandages in the morning. He'll be fine.”

  Demyan placed Nikolai onto a bed then sat on the other bed in the cabin. Zoya stood in the doorway, glancing around.

  “Goodnight,” she said at last. Her face flushed as she looked away.

  “Goodnight,” Demyan replied with a tired smile.

  ”I wanted to say I’m sorry,” Zoya said. She picked at the wood of the doorframe.

  “About what?”

  “What I said to you, before the boiler explosion.” Zoya chuckled in spite of herself. “Before the first boiler explosion.”

  “Oh. That.”

  “I was frustrated,” Zoya said. “I was angry, tired, confused. I shouldn’t have taken that out on you.”

  Demyan crossed the room and pulled Zoya into a tight embrace. Zoya buried her face into Demyan’s neck.

  “It’s alright,” Demyan said. “I forgive you, if you can forgive me. I love you.”

  “I forgive you,” Zoya replied. “I love you too. We need to rely on each other. You, me, Lilia, Anya, and Nikolai. We’re the only ones we can trust.”

  Demyan nodded. He kissed Zoya’s forehead then stepped back and stared into her eyes.

  “We’ll stick together, and we’ll be fine,” he said. “Right now, the best thing we can do is rest.”

  Zoya smiled and kissed Demyan goodnight. Then she wandered down the corridor toward her cabin.

  As Zoya entered, Snezhana appeared by the doorway.

  “Zoya,” she said. “I meant what I said. I am very sorry for the part I've played in making your life worse, more difficult. In causing you loss.” Snezhana grabbed Zoya's hand and looked her in the eye. “The best I can do, as penance, is to destroy that gadget and see you set free from all of this.”

  “Set free?” Zoya replied, pulling her hand away. “Death isn’t freedom. Get out of my cabin.”

  War escalates…Sunday battle on Morozhian soil…Vernulaia expected to break peace treaty…

  Zoya listened to the telegram as she sat by a window in the parlor. She looked out over the gray ocean and overcast skies as she picked at a plate of sliced apples.

  “Has Lilia been out of her cabin yet today?” Anya asked, sitting next to Zoya.

  “I don't think so,” Zoya replied.

  “Has she eaten?”

  Zoya shook her head then glanced between the kitchen and the corridor. “I'll bring some food to her,” Zoya said, standing.

  Zoya grabbed an apple and an orange, along with a piece of soft bread. She looked at the store of fresh meat and decided against preparing a piece. It was doubtful Lilia would be able to keep much food down. Best start light. Zoya took the food and headed down the corridor.

  She found Lilia curled up on her bed, turning Pavel's necklace over in her hands.

  “Did we land yet?” she asked as Zoya entered.

  “No,” Zoya replied. “But I brought you some food.”

  Zoya put the plate down on a small table next to the bed. Lilia didn't move.

  “Do you want company?” Zoya asked. “Or would you rather be alone?”

  “Alone for now,” Lilia said. “But maybe come back in an hour?”

  Zoya smiled. “No problem.”

  Zoya stepped back into the hall, closing Lilia's door behind her. She turned to head to the parlor and stopped. Zoya bit her lip and glanced over her shoulder toward the end of the corridor. She glanced back at the parlor. No one was paying attention to her. Instead they seemed to be enjoying the views out of the windows.

  Zoya put her hand on the hilt of her sword and walked to the end of the hall. She stopped at the last door, and switched her grip from her sword to her dagger. Unsheathing it, Zoya opened the door slowly and quietly.

  Edmund lay on the bed asleep. His arms and legs were bound, and his mouth gagged. Zoya stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.

  She shook Edmund awake, making no effort to be gentle. The man started, opening his eyes wide. When he spotted Zoya, his face relaxed into a relieved smile. Zoya removed his gag.

  “I knew sooner or later my crew would come free me,” he said. “We can take Snezhana and the others, no problem. No problem at all.”

  “I'm not one of your crew,” Zoya told him, glaring. “And I'm not here to free you.”

  “Don't be silly,” Edmund replied. “Don't tell me that Snezhana—”

  Zoya pressed her dagger to Edmund's throat and leaned in.

  “I'm tired of your lies, your manipulation,” Zoya said. “I'm here for one purpose, and that is to hear you tell me why you killed my mother.”

  Edmund laughed, stopping as Zoya pressed harder on her dagger.

  “I don't even know who your mother is,” Edmund said.

  Zoya pulled back her dagger, and then sliced at Edmund's arm. He grunted at the pain, a thin line of blood trickling down his sleeve.

  “Wrong answer,” Zoya said, returning the blade to Edmund's throat.

  “So feisty,” Edmund said, grinning. “I suppose you must get that from your mother. I hear your father was quite the coward.”

  Zoya sliced at Edmund's other arm, tears welling in her eyes.

  “Don't you dare,” she said, her hand trembling as she returned the blade to his throat. “I will slit your throat if you say another word against either of my parents.”

  “You ask m
e to explain why I killed your mother, and then stipulate I can't speak ill of her. One way or another, you won't be happy with what I have to say.”

  “What's going on here?” Gotfrid opened the door and, seeing Zoya with her dagger, rushed into the room. He grabbed Zoya and began pulling her away from Edmund.

  “Stop! Let me go!” She shouted. “He killed my mother. This bastard owes me an explanation!”

  “He'll do plenty of explaining in prison,” Gotfrid told her, overpowering her struggles and moving her toward the door. “And then he'll be hanged. Your mother will get justice.”

  Zoya shook Gotfrid off as he pulled her out of the room and shut the door. Her friends had gathered in the corridor, sad expressions on their faces.

  “Don't look at me like that,” Zoya said. “We all want him dead, don't we? You should have let me do it!”

  Zoya pushed past her friends, hurrying down the corridor until she came to her room. She entered and slammed the door behind her.

  “Lilia,” Anya whispered. “Lilia, wake up.” Lilia groaned and shifted in her bed.

  “Come on, Lilia,” Anya urged.

  “I don't want to fly,” Lilia murmured. “I want to be on the ground. I'm not opening my eyes until we're on the ground.”

  “We are on the ground!” Anya said. Lilia's eyes popped open.

  “Oh my god,” she said, jerking upright. “We crashed, didn't we? Ok let's go. Let's run out before we burn up!” Lilia scrambled to her feet and started lacing up her boots.

  “Lilia!” Anya laughed. “We didn't crash. We landed safely, and we're just outside of Mirgorod.” Lilia sat up and stared her friend in the face.

  “Don't lie to me,” she said.

  “I'm not lying, look out the window,” Anya said. Hesitantly, Lilia stood and leaned toward the window. The airship sat in a grassy field surrounded by a dense forest. Along the edge of the forest was a cobblestone road.

  “Where's Mirgorod?” she asked.

  “It's about two miles from here,” Anya replied. “I saw it when we landed.” Lilia's face lit up.

  “What did it look like?”

  “Beautiful!” Anya said. “It had tall, shining buildings and a boardwalk along the ocean.”

  “Well what are we waiting for?” Lilia asked. “Let's go!”

  Outside, Yeremiy was looking at a map with Vlad, Svetlana, and Gotfrid. Demyan and Alexi stood chatting nearby. Nikolai was lying next to them, visibly exhausted but awake, on a gurney. Zoya stood there as well, silent, her eyes cast down to the ground. Edmund was lying on the ground by the back of the airship, his legs and arms tied, and a gag in his mouth. Snezhana, Pyotr, and Igor leaned against the front of the airship in silence.

  “We can pick up the road about a quarter mile that way,” Yeremiy said, pointing. “We should be able to blend right in. That's where you come in, Gotfrid.” Gotfrid nodded.

  “Wait,” Lilia said, confused, as they eaves dropped. “Since when do Yeremiy and Gotfrid get along and work together?”

  “I'm not sure,” Anya said with a shrug. “I wish we knew what sort of deal they made.”

  “It is suspicious,” Lilia said. “Well, as long as we all get to Mirgorod.”

  The two of them joined their friends.

  “So, are we heading out soon?” Anya asked them.

  “Yeah, any minute now,” Alexi said. “Excuse me.” He walked away from the group, heading toward the airship.

  “How are you doing, Lilia?” Demyan asked.

  “Fine,” Lilia replied. “Now that we're on solid ground, I can breathe again. Nikolai, how are you?”

  “My shoulder hurts like hell,” Nikolai replied. “But I'm fine.” The skin around the bandage on his shoulder was still swollen and red. Nikolai’s face was covered in beads of sweat, and his eyes were unfocused.

  “Are you sure you're alright?” Zoya asked. “Let me feel your forehead.”

  Zoya reached down, but Nikolai swatted away her hand.

  “I'm fine,” he insisted.

  “Fine,” Zoya said. “But as soon as we get to Mirgorod, we're getting you to a doctor.”

  “Alright,” Snezhana announced as she stepped away from the airship. “Everybody off the ship? Let's start heading toward the city.”

  “I guess they'll have to untie Edmund's legs,” Zoya muttered. She glanced around. “Wait, where did he go?” He was nowhere to be seen.

  “Where is my weasel of a brother?” Snezhana demanded. She drew her sword. As the company began searching the area around the airship, Alexi walked back outside.

  “Where were you?” Demyan demanded.

  “Just making sure nothing was left behind,” Alexi replied. “Are we all set to go?” Zoya marched up to him.

  “You let him go, didn't you?” she asked.

  “Who?”

  “Your father,” Zoya said. “He's gone.”

  “What?” Alexi gasped. He glanced around. “How?”

  “You,” Zoya said. “Who else would want to let him go?”

  Alexi glared at her.

  “I want my father tied up as much as any of you.”

  “And yet you rescued him from the Hell's Jewel,” Zoya said.

  “We have a complicated relationship,” Alexi replied.

  “We can see that.”

  “Enough!” Anya said. “This isn't productive. We need to find Edmund.”

  “I think we should just try to get to Mirgorod,” Demyan suggested. “Keep alert.”

  “I agree,” Snezhana said, walking over. “Edmund is wounded, and weaponless. If we don't stumble upon him, he'll be bound to run into Vernulaian authorities at some point. He can run for a time, but he'll have to face his fate eventually.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The group walked down the road toward Mirgorod, Demyan pushing Nikolai along on the gurney. Nikolai made no effort to hide his displeasure, listing complaints and insisting he could walk on his own. The weakness in his voice betrayed that lie. Vlad and Svetlana glanced back at their airship then at Yeremiy.

  “You really want us to just abandon our airship?” Svetlana asked at last.

  “It's locked up, isn't it?” Yeremiy replied. “I told you, after I make sure my friends make it safely into Mirgorod, you and your brother are to take me to Nanowrinsk.” Svetlana and Vlad both twisted their lips into frowns.

  “That may require extra compensation,” Svetlana said.

  “Insurance, in case something happens to the airship,” Vlad added.

  “Yes, of course,” Yeremiy said, waving a hand.

  “Who knew you had it in you?” Snezhana asked Yeremiy with a grin. “Bribery? I would have thought that below your moral high ground.”

  “It was necessary,” Yeremiy replied. “Don't think this makes me anything like you. Like a pirate.”

  “No of course not,” Snezhana said. “You're far too righteous for that.”

  “We're almost to the city,” Demyan announced, pointing ahead to the gates appearing through the trees. Tall buildings rose above the canopy and glistened in the sunlight. A small airship flew overhead.

  “This is it, guys,” Zoya said. “We've reached our destination!”

  “So now what?” Lilia wondered. “We have to figure out where Grigory's lab was?”

  “All of the books say the gadget is indestructible,” Snezhana said. “But they also say Grigory left most of his writings and data in his lab. He must have had a way to destroy it.”

  “So we're looking for a hidden lab in a city we've never visited before?” Anya asked.

  “Don't underestimate us,” Demyan said. “You've got two archaeologists on your side. If anyone can find hidden places, it's us!” Demyan patted Nikolai on his good shoulder.

  “You read books and look at old drawings,” Anya told him. “When was the last time you found any hidden places?”

  “There's a secret passage in Nikolai's basement,” Demyan said. “It leads out to the alley.” Anya laughed.

  As the
group approached the gates to the city, a large unit of police officers appeared, led by Edmund.

  “What is he doing?” Snezhana growled.

  “There they are!” Edmund cried, pointing toward the group. “They're the ones who hijacked that airship and kidnapped me!” Edmund grabbed the side of his abdomen where he had been wounded.

  “No,” Zoya gasped.

  Yeremiy ran forward with Vlad and Svetlana. Gotfrid joined them.

  “Please help us,” Yeremiy said. “Please, they're pirates! They’re armed!”

  Lilia gaped at Yeremiy. “What? What are you doing?”

  Snezhana's focus was on Gotfrid.

  “What exactly do you think you're doing?” she shouted.

  “You really should keep better watch over your captives,” Gotfrid replied, nodding toward Yeremiy. “And your own crew.”

  The police drew their guns and surrounded the group.

  “You are all under arrest,” one officer stated. “If you do not come peacefully, we will not hesitate to use force against you.”

  “What about Nikolai?” Lilia asked. She pointed toward Nikolai, who was now unconscious on the gurney.

  “We will take him,” the officer replied. Two officers rushed toward Demyan, handcuffing him and taking control of the gurney.

  “It's ok,” Zoya whispered to her friends. “We were supposed to be on a ship to Mirgorod. We'll explain what happened. We'll be fine.”

  As the police handcuffed the pirates, Alexi glared at his father.

  “What was that about protecting me?” he spat. One of the officers glanced between Alexi and Edmund.

  “I have no idea what he's talking about,” Edmund pleaded. “He's obviously trying some ploy.”

  The police proceeded with their arrests, leading their prisoners into the city of Mirgorod.

  Zoya and her friends hardly saw any of the city. The police locked them into the back of a windowless cart and brought them straight to the station. They were briskly led into a mighty marble building, and into booking in the basement. Immediately upon entering the police station, Zoya's bag, and the gadget within, was taken.

  “What is this?” an officer asked, holding up the gadget.