Mariah Mundi and the Ship of Fools (30 page)

Zane pulled the final knot from the metal ring and dropped the rope to the floor. Flames exploded from the other side of the tower as Zane jumped quickly back through the door of the gondola.

Charity burst through the doorway and saw the fire around them.

‘There’s only one way off this building,’ he said as the
Bicameralist
began to pull slowly away. ‘Grab the towing rope – quickly, Mariah.’

Mariah could see the thick rope being dragged across the roof of the tower as the skyship floated slowly upwards, its tip trailing across the stone. He ran towards it with Charity keeping pace at his side. He reached out – his fingertips touched the rope. Charity grabbed the line to steady it. The skyship lurched backwards as an explosion below sent a thermal of hot vapour into the sky. It pulled the towing rope away from the roof and Charity, still clinging on, dangled high above the city as the skyship hovered, its engines straining.

‘I’m trapped!’ screamed Mariah as the flames ruptured through the granite slabs beneath his feet.

‘Have faith – you’ll have to jump for the rope.’

‘I can’t – I can’t do it,’ Mariah said as he felt the building begin to crumble beneath his feet.

‘Run for the rope,’ Charity shouted as the
Bicameralist
revved its engines.

Mariah paced back. His face was torn with fear. He looked to the rope. Charity held out his hand. The building began to shake and tremble.

‘Go on, Jack. Leave me here,’ he shouted to Charity.

‘Have faith …’ Charity replied.

Mariah steeled himself. He could feel the building start to fall. He began to run. Just as he reached the lip of the ledge the stone gave way. He leapt out into the air as below him the Eulogian Tower fell to the ground like a deck of cards.

It felt to Mariah as if he was in the sky alone. That he flew like an eagle. He reached out, his eyes fixed on Jack Charity. The skyship lurched towards him with the upward blast from the falling building.

Charity grabbed his arm and gripped his coat as if to squeeze the life from him.

‘Thank God for your madness,’ Charity screamed as Mariah looked to the ground. What was left of the Eulogian Tower
stuck up from the ground like a gigantic broken cross. The streets below were filled with dust and ash.

‘Will they have got away?’ he asked.

‘Isambard Black would have seen to that,’ Charity replied. ‘We need to get in the skyship.’

Mariah climbed first. The rope cut at his hands. It was crisp with sea salt and burnt his skin. They were soon under the gondola and Mariah swung onto a small ledge with a narrow window. To his right was an inspection door used for mooring the skyship.

Charity wasted no time kicking it in. The door splintered as it burst open and Mariah jumped inside.

The gondola was empty. It smelt of leather and fresh oak, just as it had done on the night he and Biba were rescued from the sea. The ship rocked from side to side as the turbulence plucked it up and down and the engines churned faster.

‘I never thought you would get away,’ Zane said as he came through a hatch above them. ‘This makes things difficult …’

Mariah saw he was holding a small harpoon in one hand.

‘Guns cannot be used on the
Bicameralist
for fear we would all be blown up. I only have one arrow and I don’t know which one of you I should kill,’ Zane said eagerly as he eyed them both.

‘The one who will do you the most harm if he lays his hands on your throat,’ Charity replied as he stepped towards him.

‘Choice made,’ Zane said quickly as he pulled the trigger of the harpoon.

The arrow flew forward. Mariah dived into its path. Zane gasped as it struck the boy in the chest.

Without warning, Charity grabbed Zane by the arm and pulled him towards him. Zane stumbled forward, unable to resist. Then Charity turned and pushed the man towards the open door at the back of the gondola. Zane fell through. His
cries grew fainter and fainter as he spun faster and faster towards Manhattan. It was as if an angel fell from heaven.

Inside the gondola Mariah lay on the deck, not moving. His face was white, his eyes closed. The arrow lay beside him. Charity feared to look.

Taking the arrow in his hand Charity broke it in two. He looked at the shaft. There was no blood.

‘Spiderweb! It worked …’ he said as he pulled Mariah by the front of his waistcoat, shaking life into him. ‘Mariah … Mariah …’

Mariah opened his eyes.

‘I want to go home …’ he said as he held his chest.

‘We shall fly there,’ said Charity as he lifted Mariah onto a leather bench and leant him against the window.

‘A trip to Scarborough?’ Mariah asked.