Iron Horsemen (10 page)

I looked around the bridge and saw Ignatius and Coyote
staring at the captain, Genevieve's words had challenged him, and they awaited his response.

Captain Baldarich smiled, put his hands on his hips, and threw his head back with a cackling laughter. “You both have spirit, I'll give you that. Coyote take us down; look for one leaving the harbor with its guns out.”

Looking out the windows I watched as the wings unfurled. The Sparrowhawk dove over the harbor and skimmed the top of the high-masted merchant ships.

Rounding the Rock of Gibraltar I saw a ship with its gun ports open and a frantic crew running around on deck.

“Captain.” I pointed toward the harbor. “There it is.”

Baldarich looked out the window and smiled. “Coyote, bank right three degrees.”

“Aye captain.”

“Ignatius, get to the gun deck. Aim for the sails. I want to slow them, not sink them.”

“Aye captain,” Ignatius ran from the bridge, his dark brown duster billowing behind him.

Baldarich turned to Genevieve and me, “You two watch those dials and let me know if any of them go past the red lines.”

I replied, “Aye Captain.”

Excited to feel like part of the crew, I rushed over to the wall of large brass dials. The hands of the largest dials showed the three main engines running at sixty percent. The needle began to rise and I kept a keen eye on the red line at ninety percent.

I looked over the other dials and scales. Three marked Oldruck, monitored the oil pressure of each engine. One labeled Kraftstoff displayed fuel levels and looked full. Then I turned my attention to the dials labeled Helium-druck, which were well above the red lines.

The captain let out a guttural cry that startled me. “Bring the guns around.”

“Aye captain.” Coyote turned the wheel and stepped on one of the petals below him. The vessel banked to the right.

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.

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 protested 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.”