Aloft (Petronaut Tales) (14 page)
Read Aloft (Petronaut Tales) Online
Authors: Ben Rovik
Lundin glanced down at the dial as he cranked. Ten more seconds. He raised his head, and caught sight of Viscount LaMontina looking back at him. Standing still with his hand raised awkwardly to his chest in the Sign of Warding, and his ornate black-and-crimson armor undented by battle, he looked like a statue. His youthful face, though, was alive with emotion; confusion, regret, concern, and at this point, a trace of fear. But then that sheepish smile Lundin had only seen once or twice before crept onto his face, almost as if to say he couldn’t believe himself to be the center of so much fuss.
“Mister Lundin,” the Viscount said, his voice quiet and calm. Lundin swallowed and nodded. “Have you called the Petronauts?”
The dial was glowing dully; a passably full charge, at last. He flicked the switch, snatched the telescoping stalk of the thinner trumpet and drew it upwards to his lips. “Transmitting now, Your Grace,” he said. Samanthi stabbed the base of the antenna into its socket on the side of the Communicator, and handed the conical, corded earpiece to Lundin. He raised it to his ear, hearing only the grey, fuzzy sound of an incomplete connection. Who knew how much time would pass before Sir Kelley would respond to the signal.
He took a deep breath, and looked back into LaMontina’s eyes. Time stretched out. “Don’t worry, Your Grace. Help is on the way,” Lundin said in a quavering voice, his emotions surprising him.
The young nobleman shifted his shoulders and stood to his full, proud height, his eyes clear. “I’m not worried,” he said in a soft voice that filled the entire pavilion.
And then, as four black disks came fluttering down from the ceiling, Viscount LaMontina burst into flames.
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