An Airship Named Desire (Take to the Skies Book 1) (15 page)

Geoff shrugged. “No idea. Those numbers sound more like an identification tag than any navigational lingo.”

“At least it gave us a direction.” I crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it onto the ground. “We’ll travel tonight. If we’re not on a clear horizon we have less chance of being seen.”

“After,” Isabella stopped, and her voice shook. Her lips formed a thin line as she forced the words out. “After the Captain...” she trailed off.

“Yes.” Familiar numbness clenched my jaw, blurring my vision. “Tonight.” We left the cabin, and I gave orders for a rowboat, tinder, stone, and some soil. The Captain deserved better, but we would send him off the best way we could manage right now.

***

Sundown came faster than any of us prepared for. Some of the crew had wandered off during the wait while others holed up in their rooms, and more roamed the deck like aimless orphaned children. I hid in my chambers. A blank pad sat before me, ready for when I started writing what to say, but instead I just tapped my finger stylus against the desktop.

A pocket knife dangled from a cord, attached to the jutted wooden desk corner. I stole that knife from a Morlock the day Isabella got shot. Captain and I looted the bodies, trying to find something to salvage from the botched operation.

I searched for words, hour after hour, but nothing surfaced in my mind. Nothing solidified the void he left, or the emptiness wrenching my insides. Out the window, the first signs of sunset cast amber rays along my desk, causing my heart to race like the aether batteries of our engine. Crimson streaks trickled through the broad horizon like loose threads on a frayed tapestry.

My limbs seized. I didn’t want to go. I couldn’t. The crazy events over the past two days still held a touch of unreality, and that sense of wading through a nightmare kept me going. Once tonight faded, the Captain’s passing became real, and I couldn’t return to the past. A deep breath hardly settled me, but the air coerced my muscles into motion. I grabbed a bottle of rum from my dresser and left. With each step towards the surface, my emotions wound tighter like a cork readied to zip from the bottle. I approached the deck where the crew rallied.

Without a word, I tapped Seth on the shoulder. I didn’t have to explain his job as Morris’s oldest friend. We trudged into the captain’s quarters and lifted the body, carrying his inert form wrapped in the blanket. I didn’t glance down, just focused on getting him up and onto the deck.

The rowboat I’d asked for shifted back and forth in the waters below. We maneuvered the corpse down the rope ladder and onto the docking bay. I focused on the bottle of rum in my holster, thudding against my hip rather than the man wrapped in the blanket. Slowly, the deck filled up around us, and our crew trickled down, but I scarcely paid attention. This task consumed the remaining sanity I clung to. Seth and I placed Captain Morris in the rowboat.

For a moment, I stopped and stared.

Despite the blood and the terrible way he died, Captain Robert Morris seemed peaceful. Though his skin had turned an ashen white, and a chill emanated from the blanket, his eyes closed in final rest. The scar on his lip glowed under the battered sunset and forced through several rough memories of that job so many years back when he saved my life. The sun descended against the horizon line with a finality reserved for this occasion.

Seth and I heaved the buckets of soil and stone overtop his still body to create the tumulus. No one offered any help because nobody wanted to. Burying the captain wasn’t a task I ever thought I’d have to do. Next on the pile we placed dry wood, and several deckhands brought some over to help us. We scattered the tinder over the rowboat, and Seth stepped back. I pulled out the rum, kissing the bottle before spreading the contents over the kindling. No one in the crew uttered a word, as silent as the setting sun until I found my voice from its hiding spot and stood before the boat.

“Captain Robert Morris,” my voice faltered. Seth reached from his jumpsuit and offered me his fabled flask. He never offered anyone the flask. I took a deep draft of spiced rum thicker than syrup, letting it strengthen my resolve. “He built her. From the ground up, built this girl and treasured her, more than most knew. You could tell by more than just the ship though. The Captain’s care, his strength, and his pride shone through us. He pulled most of us from crap situations and took us under his wing. The Desire became our home when we had none.” Tears glittered in the eyes of many of the crew, and more than a couple choked sobs echoed across the deck.

“He offered us a home, offered us companionship. Taught us, trained us. His impact will never be lessened. Ever. Captain Morris will live on through every single one of us. His ideals will resurrect when we protect ours and every time we take care of his girl, the one love of his life. Desire’s not just some ship. She’s a treasure of the skies, and he always knew it. So we’ll keep his dream alive and protect her with our lives.”

I lit the tinder and dropped it onto the kindling. Seth helped me push the boat out into the waves as the fire spread. The flames licked across the tumulus, and the glimmer of fire rivaled the golden burning sun as it crashed onto the horizon line. We watched in silence, his entire crew, as the boat drifted further and further into the ocean until the burning vessel melded with the fiery hues of the sunset in the distance.

“To Captain Robert Morris.” I saluted the disappearing boat. A murmur of repetition sounded behind me, and we watched as the vessel carried our Captain away, out to meet the depths of the sea.

Chapter Fifteen

We filed back on board, and true to our plans, Spade and Geoff set sail. Lucky for us the captain already paid her fee, so we were free to go. Unlucky for us, we hadn’t bought the new parts Seth needed to fix Desire. We’d have to find them in Reno and pray we didn’t have any interceptions along the way. 

I stalked along Desire’s whorled wooden planks and wandered over toward the navigation bay. Her limbs creaked as we ascended into the night sky, and a full moon cleared our path. The stars glittered like gold in a pan rushed by a stream. I leaned against one of the beams supporting the canopy, and my shoulders slumped. Desire’s steam engine kicked in as her ivory balloon inflated in full again. Moonlight glinted off the steel bands around the lookout, and the nickel plating held the navigation bay sturdy.

With her full colors on display, the ship ascended, and we cleared the dock. Spade stood by the helm with both hands guiding the wheel, and Geoff took his position at her thrusters. He pressed on them in slow spurts to drive the power necessary for full sail.

“I hope the sudden change didn’t shock you boys out of your panties. I assumed you’d both be man enough to handle the position.” I passed them a saucy wink. Spade smirked back, but Geoff’s expression didn’t change. “Anyway,” I continued, “I hate to break up this perfect romance here, but we’ll be finding you a new helmsman, Spade. When we begin our search for someone else, I’d like your input since they’ll be working alongside you.”

I placed a hand on Geoff’s shoulder. Warmth emanated through his clothes like the heat of a boiler tank, and I briefly recalled the honeyed taste of his lips. “And you get to do your favorite thing, keep me in line.” He didn’t say anything. Had last night had been too much for him?

Geoff shook his head, and strands of his wild brown hair swung with the motion. “Well, someone needs to. Let you run rampant with a ship and a crew and within weeks we’ll resort to cannibalism.”

My voice dropped low. “Good. I’m glad you’re okay with it. I’m sure you never wanted the burden, but there’s plenty of that going around these days. How far to Reno?” I turned to Spade.

“Morning.” He grunted. Shadows coated his stubble, emphasizing the seriousness of his gaze.

“Lovely,” I replied. “Why do I get the feeling I won’t sleep a wink tonight?”

“Jitters?” Geoff raised a brow. “That’s unlike you, doll.”

“That was before I had real responsibility. Now I have to wave my fingers and make these ‘decision’ things. And they affect people now too, not just my own sorry hide.” I ran my fingers through my tousled strands. Jitters indeed. More like tensed violin strings right before a concert. The wind picked up with our speed and ruffled my long curls to sweep against my shoulders. We were aloft again, and that alone usually inspired fisticuffs with one of the boys on deck or a game of Faro to bet the little money I had. Emptiness twisted my stomach because I wouldn’t feel that carefree again for some time—if ever. I punched Geoff in the shoulder.

“And hey, moving into the first mate cabin, you’ll get into my bed!” The joke slipped out, but once I said it, I knew I shouldn’t have. Geoff’s face darkened, and he didn’t respond. Spade avoided my gaze. That time I pushed too far. I turned my head to avoid the hurt I caused, even though it tightened my chest. Loathing crawled through me like a horde of roaches, and I wandered off towards the cabin steps before awkwardness and shame halted my steps. I’d have to apologize for that later, but right now I needed to be away from all these feelings.

Great job as captain, tuck tail and run. Stupid. Why had I said that? Of course he’d be hurting, and Geoff had done nothing but comfort me throughout this whole ordeal. The scuff of my boots echoed down the stairwell. I didn’t deserve a friend like him, nor did I deserve the attention he gave me. Shadows curled around the lamps lighting the hallway, making their glow more desperate.

The door to the infirmary lay at the end of the hall. I sped down the corridor and tugged at the doorknob, ready to distract myself with something else. Isabella and Edwin sat at the table. A couple of days ago Jensen sat with them, and his hulking shoulders loomed over everyone else. My blood boiled at his name, but I still struggled to disassociate any good memories of him. After such a heinous action, I could never forgive him.

“Does anyone have a stiff drink?” I asked and stepped into the room. Adelle lay on one of the beds with her wounded ankle propped up over a pillow.

Isabella’s face softened, and she tried on a smile. “Now Bea, you haven’t been taking Seth’s advice on captainship have you?”

“If I took Seth’s advice, I’d already have a flask handy.” I pulled up a seat at the table. “What are you folks doing to pass the time?”

“It’s hard to think of doing anything with Captain Morris gone.” Edwin tapped his fingers against the table. “I spend all this time fixing up the crew and then we go and lose him.” 

A familiar lump rose in my throat again, and I straightened my back. “Didn’t you hear, Edwin? We’re playing the light conversation game,” I said. My fingers dug into the cushion of the chair, imprinting divots into the vinyl.

“We’ll grieve however we choose to.” Isabella’s words were clipped. She passed me a glare, and Edwin stifled a sob as she placed an arm around him. He pressed his shaky palms against the table, his body shaking as silent tears poured down his cheeks. Isabella leaned against him, holding tight. 

Bitterness roiled around my stomach. Neither of them witnessed Jensen’s betrayal, nor did they clean up the mess. I was the one who had to tough up for the crew, so I could bury and burn my Captain. All I wanted to do right now was to shoot the hell out of something or tumble into bed with someone.

I pulled my chair over by Adelle’s bed. Since we brought her in, I barely had the chance to speak with her, and besides, I needed some sort of distraction before I pissed off my entire crew. Adelle turned her head, studying me with those inquisitive almond eyes. She wore the same dirty overalls, the fabric dimpling from the size.

“How are you feeling?” I asked. “The ankle doing better?” Edwin must have wrapped her ankle because the gauze sealed up tighter than an engine piston. The man might be scatterbrained, but no one cleaned wounds like him. I ignored the hushed sniffles from Isabella and Edwin behind me.

“It’s okay. Mr. Edwin gave me something to drink, so it doesn’t hurt any more, but I’m not allowed to walk around on it much. He said it’ll make my ankle worse.” She folded her arms over her chest, and I caught the minor glare in his direction. I hid my grin. Definitely still a teenager.  

“Edwin makes some pretty crazy drafts. You’ll do well to listen to him. He’s a skilled doctor. Are you feeling more comfortable on the ship?”

She nodded with the hint of a smile. “I like it better. The slaver caravan wasn’t…” She shuddered, and I remained silent, waiting for her to continue. “Before that, I lived with a bunch of other people. My parents sent me off to a boarding school when I got too smart, but I think they just didn’t know what to do with me. I haven’t seen them in years.” Parental neglect, something else I could relate to.

“Well, you have a place here as long as you put in your work.” I winked.

She gave me a tentative grin, but it faltered. “What happened to that man who welcomed me on board? Did someone kill him?”

My tongue prepared a sharp retort, and anger surged into my stomach. But I stopped. The poor thing was a teenager, new to the ship, and had no idea what happened. I took in a deep breath and calmed myself. The simple action of pausing before I spoke gave me the prescience to stay composed.

“That man was our Captain. A crew mate, Jensen, stole our cargo and murdered him.”

Her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. “The other one who helped me?” she asked. I nodded but couldn’t wrangle the words. “That’s very sad.” The statement struck me like a slap. So simple, so unassuming, but completely true.

“You’re right,” my voice lowered to a hush and cracked. “Captain Morris was an honorable man. The best of us.” Isabella and Edwin’s gazes heated my back, but I didn’t bother turning around.

“Are you in charge now?” She tilted her head, and long strands of her black hair shifted down her back. I nodded again, not daring to speak after showing that much weakness. My eyes stung, and my throat tightened.

“Yes,” I said after a moment. “I’m leading the crew. But I’m going to take care of everyone, don’t you worry. We’re going to catch that traitor and make him pay for hurting our Captain.”

She nodded, satisfied with my response. “I know you will. You saved me.”

This girl didn’t hold back the emotional punch. I bit my lip to keep it from trembling. Several deep breaths calmed me again, and I pinched the blue cameo around my neck to regain control before picking up her hands in mine.

“You know what we say around this ship?” I told her, “We protect ours. Even though the captain’s gone, that won’t change one bit. I will always protect mine.” My voice took on a ragged edge, but I kept my breathing even. Edwin and Isabella’s sniffles were not helping in the slightest. “We’re heading to Reno. We should be there in the morning, and we’ll hunt down that traitor then, don’t worry.” I reached over and ruffled her hair.

“Not quite morning,” she spoke. “We’ll be there in less than a half hour since we’re maintaining a steady pace of thirty knots.” My jaw dropped. Just a teenager, my ass. I tilted my head to the side.

“How…how did you figure that out?” I glanced back to Isabella and Edwin, but between the wide eyes and confusion, I assumed they were just as surprised as I was. “Did either of you say anything?”

“Like I’d know where we are.” Isabella snorted. Edwin shook his head.

Adelle spoke up again. “Well, it’s easy to calculate the airspeed based upon the drift of the ship and our position over land. We’re midway there since Reno isn’t that far, and we’re not passing ocean. The winds over the Pacific bring in a different calculation due to the water’s tampering with solid airflow.”

I raised both my eyebrows. “Easy for whom?” I muttered. “Where did you say you went to school again?”

“I didn’t.” She shrugged. “But I attended the Vernian School for Gifted Children. I didn’t like it very much though.” A distant look overtook her eyes, the same one the captain used to get when struggling with a bitter old memory. Apparently the slavers hadn’t captured some random girl—she must have been one of their prized ones. Renewed hatred for those cruel men penetrated my skin, crawling around underneath.

“How do you calculate that being here inside the cabins?” I hunched over and rested my elbows against my knees. “You can’t even see outside.”

“I don’t need to. Wherever I am, I’ve always found my way around—I just feel it.” A hint of a smile quirked her lips. “You know when you’re little and your mom loses you at the marketplace? She may not have known where I hid, but I was never lost. I’ve been like that for as far back as I can remember. It’s like having a map inside your head for reference at all times.”

I exhaled real slowly. “Well doll, that’s an important talent you’ve got.”

Edwin opened the book on his table and soaked the pages with his tears before he joined us by her bedside. The surprised lift of his brows wrinkled his forehead, elongating his face. “You say it’s been like this since you were born? No implants? No bionics or chips used to alter modes of thinking? Maybe a GPS chip feeds information to your cerebral cortex in blips.” He wiped away the remaining liquid around his eyes with his long sleeve. Leave it to Edwin; his professional intrigue trumped any grief he’d dwell over.

“Well, I’m not a robot or anything. I just grew up with the ability. My parents weren’t rich enough to pay for those fancy implants you’re talking about. The government gave them a hefty chunk of credits to take me into the program.”

The bony man quivered with excitement. “I’ve never heard of a geographical sense trigger. Perhaps in the cerebrum, the lobes honed in on accelerated movement diagnostics.” Edwin peered over her. She folded her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes. Brilliant navigational genius or no, the girl still acted like a teenager. I bit back a laugh, stepping away from the bed as Edwin scurried into my spot to bombard the poor girl with tons of his precise scientific questions. Meanwhile, her abilities gave my mind some jerky to gnaw at.

I turned to leave, but a hand tugged at my shoulder. Glancing back, Isabella stood behind me.

“Don’t worry sweetie, no one will tell that our fierce ol’ Captain choked up.” My jaw tensed. Right now her teasing enflamed my temper. Isabella fixed me with her patented no-nonsense look before continuing, “Bea, stop beating yourself up and taking it out on us.”

I opened my mouth, ready to retort, but couldn’t. Isabella knew me too well and for too long. Hopefully Geoff would understand too.

“Will you be ready to move out once we hit Reno?” I asked her. “Are you still getting dizzy spells from the poison?” 

She gave my shoulder a quick squeeze before flashing me an attempted smile. “They’ve all but stopped at this point. After being out yesterday back in action again, I’m convinced I’ll be fine. My leg doesn’t have the spring it used to.” The shift of her skirt when she lifted up her left leg exposed her caramel skin. “But I can still run, and I’ve been strength training. Don’t leave me behind. I’m going to hammer the nails into that bastard’s crucifixion cross. Not even a week ago I—” she stopped but the thought finished itself.