The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (16 page)

The pair moved off down the hallway and were met by the most delicious smell and the sounds of cooking. A few more steps revealed a large open doorway to Jerard’s left. He peered in and saw Mr. Vinnetti leaning over the open door of one of two very large ovens. Jerard waited until the man closed the door and stood up. “That smells like beef wellington, Sir.”

Mr. Vinnetti turned and smiled. “Si! My Captain! We will feast tonight, yes? Miss Tash has ordered a special meal for the crew.”

Jerard raised an eyebrow, he had not heard about this but then again so much had happened today he was not surprised that no one had told him. Mr. Vinnetti must have caught his look and quickly jumped in to explain.

“It was supposed to be the surprise, yes? Miss Tash tell me that she had to order the men to stay close to the ship, no leave time. So she have me make this nice meal, see?”

“I do see Mr. Vinnetti, thank you. I will be sure to keep the secret, and I am very much looking forward to this feast.”

“Si, si, I get back to the work now. And Captain, if you see Mac, you will tell him I need him, yes?”

“Mac?” Jerard questioned.

“Mr. McPherson Sir. He is Vinnetti’s right hand man in the galley.” Nichols said before turning to Vinnetti. “Uh, Paulo, I think Tash told him he could go and visit with his father for a bit.”

Mr. Vinnetti smacked his palm against his forehead and muttered something in Italian. “Ok then, you get Roger for me, yes?”

“Will do.” Nichols replied and motioned for Jerard move on. He opened the door across the hallway and explained, “This is the electrical room.” He ushered Jerard in and closed the door. He leaned against it and sighed. “Sorry for the rush there Sir but Vinnetti has been known to co-opt anyone standing around for kitchen duty.”

Jerard chuckled, “Sounds like me Mum.”

“Aye, Sir, and mine as well, best to stay clear unless you want to find yourself peeling and chopping vegetables!” Nichols rolled his eyes and then stepped away from the door. “Now Sir, here we have our main generator.”

Jerard looked about the room and for the first time he actually felt more at home on the ship. Here was the heart of this graceful lady. The room was dominated by a large barrel shaped device linked by a drive shaft to a good sized internal combustion engine. Multiple pipes snaked their way out to the outer hull from the engine presumably carrying its exhaust gasses. While other smaller lines of pipe and wire bundles fed in and out of the assembly. Nichols allowed him a moment to pan the room before continuing.

“The main generator is rated to 20 kw Sir and runs on blaugas from the main fuel stores saving us from having to install another fuel system. As a back up, the ship’s four Wolsey engines each has a small dynamo attached to it via a flywheel. So, while the ship is under power we can augment our power needs from them. Collectively they can’t supply more than 12 kw, its not quite enough for our cruising needs, but its better than having no back up at all.”

Moving to a wall panel emblazoned with sinister looking lightning slashes Nichols continued. “Behind this access panel we have a double row of lead acid batteries to store accumulated power. The opposite wall as you can see is the monitoring station. Airshipman Adams is usually on station here during flight to make sure the power requirements are kept stable. On the wall is the speaking grill and pneumatic tube that allows us to keep in touch with him in flight. Now here…” The chief engineer moved to a hatch set flush into the floor and pulled the duralium door upwards with little effort. “…is the access to the search light.”

Phillips looked down and saw a small a metal ladder descending perhaps six feet into the glass observation bubble that held the swivel mounted searchlight. Contemplating this he asked, “So has the crew much experience with night landings then Mr. Nichols?”

“A few times Captain, Mr. Starblower is fond, it seems, of dashing off on one of his forays at all hours. We have the procedure down fairly well, why I recall one time over the Yorkshire moors we just couldn’t safely set her down but the command came up from the cargo bay that we were ‘close enough’ and he drove his motorcycle right out of the doors to drop the last few feet or so!”

“Impressive” was all Jerard said out loud. Idiotic, was what he thought, airships had no business landing at night except at a proper facility. Still in a perverse way it was a good sign that this ship’s duties would be less routine and boring than he first had assumed. Moving to another machine towards the back of the room he knelt down by it and looked back at Nichols. “And what's this Sir?” He queried. The device was clearly another engine but not an internal combustion type.

“Ah that's our old generator engine Sir, a 30 horsepower Armstrong-Klein gas pressure engine. Had it replaced in the current refit with the Beardmore 45 here.” He said tapping the cowling of the larger generator engine. “We’ll be dropping it off on our return to Mr. Starblower’s residence as there is essentially nothing wrong with it, though its fuel chambers have already gone. That's where we managed to get the extra batteries installed you see Sir.”

“I see, pity in a way, I always was fond of the Armstrong-Klein engines Mr. Nichols. If you will excuse for saying so, the stink of the diesel in the modern engines seems almost too high a price to pay for the supposed extra power they provide.”.

“Oh I tend to agree with you Sir, it’s just the mass constraint we have here in an airship, that makes the petrol engines look appealing. I shouldn’t worry for the old ‘A-K’ engine Sir it’ll be powering ground and sea vehicles for years to come. I understand that Mr. Beardmore has a section of his engineers looking into making A-K’s out of lightweight material, just for use in ships like this. Our tail booster engine is one of the first to be built.”

Exiting the electrical room and walking slowly aft. Phillips realized he had seen this section of the ship briefly before. Both men gravely regarded the closed hatchway to the boost engine set in the gangway floor. The site of the fatal sabotage. Not wishing to reopen that particular compartment, just yet, Jerard stepped past it and instead asked Nichols a question.

“I meant to ask you earlier Sir. How long does it take to recharge the boost engine?” Jerard was thinking of how useful the sudden acceleration would be in a war airship.

“Approximately, 8 hours Sir. As long as the Woolsey’s are running.” Nichols explained as they walked. “Captain Mather was fond of just putting a little power through this engine at all times, said it kept it ready for use and prevented drag from the idle fan blades.”

“Yes, yes it would, that’s a brilliant idea. It sounds like I have some large shoes, or should I say this being Starblower & Co ‘boots’ to fill, eh Nichols?” Jerard smiled.

Nichols didn’t return the smile, but instead replied deadpan. “Yes Sir Captain Mather was a fine officer and very knowledgeable about his crew and machinery Sir.”

Jerard read the man’s stiffening manner immediately and returned in a serious voice. “Then it shall be my honor to carry on his traditions Sir. He clearly was a great man, one of Britain's finest captains as he knew his craft and crew and died in an effort to succor them both.” There was a moment’s awkward silence in which Jerard observed the pain in Nichol’s face.

“You speak the truth Sir.”

Clearly the accident was going to remain a touchy subject at best for some time to come... “What were those two doors just in front of the hatch by the way?” Jerard asked trying to change the topic once more.

Nichols turned back to look at Jerard. “Oh, sorry Sir. Those are the crewmen’s quarters. There are three sets of rooms on each side, connected by a small hallway. Did you want to see them Sir?”

“Oh, no, that’s fine. I was just curious is all, carry on.”

Nichols nodded and turned to face aft again. “These two large doors on either side of me are the cargo bays. We’re not carrying much now, just supplies. This next set of four doors all lead to the vehicle bays.”

“The what?” Jerard said, he was not sure he heard the man correctly.

“Vehicle bays Sir.” It appeared that Mr. Nichols was trying hard not to smile. He tapped one of the doors and said, “There are a pair of motorcycles in this one and…” Nichols tapped the next door. “This one contains Miss Tash’s motorcycle and side car. The two on that side contain Mr. Starblower’s special toys for his African trip.”

“And what, may I ask, are those Mr. Nichols or it is another of our mysterious employer’s secrets?” Jerard asked amused by the man’s choice of phrase.

“One contains a horseless carriage Sir…” Nichols said sharing a wry grin with his captain, “…made entirely out of duralium like the ship herself. The second there contains a cart that you can hitch up to it that contains a micro still as well as field tents for a small expeditions. Only used it the once, that I know of, during a trip to the Ivory Coast. Airshipman Collins said they were chopping up bits of tree bark towards the end to make enough fuel to get back to where they had left the Discretion. It’s quite a story, you’ll have to let Collins tell you about it.”

“Well I’m blessed!” Jerard exclaimed “I have never heard of such a thing. I mean yes an airship this size should have the free weight for it but...” He trailed off quite stunned at the luxury of it all. Regaining his composure he looked at Nichols and added. “I can see this is a very different type of craft to my old Vickers 234.”

“Yes indeed Captain, she’s twice as long and only two thirds as fast as those little darlings, as I am sure you have observed.” The chief engineer replied wryly.

Jerard realized that Nichols seemed a little pleased that the scope of the Discretion was finally beginning to rattle him. But honestly, who wouldn’t be a little rattled? Jerard was confident that there was nothing else in the air quite like the Discretion, nor on the ground for that matter! He made a mental note to try to keep his surprise under check from here on out.

“Not quite true Mr. Nichols,” he contradicted mildly. “You say with the booster engine we can hit over 70 knots? That’s about the same cruise speed of a Vickers.”

“Well yes, but that’d have to be straight line movement. I’d hate to think what would happen to this lady’s frame if we tried to turn her like a Vickers at that speed.”

“Let’s hope we don’t have to find out anytime soon then Sir.” Jerard grinned at the shock that crossed Nichol’s face. Clearly the thought of even trying to turn the Discretion that fast had wretched at Nichol’s reality. The man visibly shuddered. “So last stop on this deck is the auxiliary bridge yes?” He prompted.

“Indeed Captain, here we are.” The final door in the passageway opened onto a metal framed catwalk above the rear bridge module. Stairs to their right led down to the control room floor while the catwalk itself snaked around left to what appeared to be an observation platform aft. Nichols started off down the stairs automatically but Phillips quietly strolled around the catwalk towards the observation post.

Looking down he could see a couple of crewmen in maintenance uniform fussing over a control station. One man had his face and arms obscured as he worked on something at the back of the station. The other appeared to be assisting by handing the first tools. Even from above Jerard could tell that there was something not quite right about the standing man. However he could not put a finger on what it was. Curious, he turned to retrace his steps and go see, as he did his foot caught on something.

Under his boot heel was a strange ring pattern cut into the floor plate. Recognizing it Phillips eyes narrowed as he picked out the four bolt points at the quarters of the circle. What in heavens name was a gun mount doing here in a civilian ship? Admittedly Nichols had said the Discretion was something of a testbed for its manufacturers before Mr. Starblower had acquired it but, Beardmore and company were not an armaments firm he knew. Jerard turned back and took a second look at the observation port, it took a moment but his eyes were able to find the latches to open the port. Definitely a gun mount he thought, ah well, something else to ask about later.

Jerard retraced his steps around the catwalk and descended the metal stairs. He observed Nichols now speaking to the two men. At Phillips’s approach the engineer turned and sketched a salute..

“Captain, this is Airshipman Dortsmorn and Airshipman Wright. They were completing repairs this morning and were not able to attend the early morning muster.”

The two men touched their hands to their temples nervously; Wright left a slight smudge of sealant on his cheek as he did so. In fact Mr. Wright seemed overly flustered and abashed. While in contrast the man Jerard had observed a few moments before, now identified as Dortsmorn, seemed overly languid and for lack of a better word, dull.

“At ease gentleman, I’m not demanding a parade.” Phillips said while studying the faces of the pair. A slight reddening mark on Wright’s forehead made Jerard wonder if the poor chap had bumped his head in an effort to extricate himself from the control array just now. “What were you working on Mr. Wright?” He asked conversationally.

“Erm, just re-caulking the inner seals behind the navigator’s desk Sir.” The man stumbled out.

“Good show wouldn’t want a sudden draft to send the charts flying about now would we? Not much room under there I guess Mr Wright?”

“No Sir it’s pretty cramped.” The man replied obviously still not at ease. Phillips decided to let him be and passed onto Dortsmorn.

“Unusual name Mr. Dortsmorn, where are you from?” He asked studying the middle aged man’s tranquil face.

“Holland, Sir” came the unhurried reply “My father is Dutch, but we moved to England when I was twelve.”

“I see, and have you much experience with airships Mr. Dortsmorn?” Jerard asked, noting the man’s features. He would have pegged him as German but what did Jerard know? It is not like he had spent much time in either country.

“No Sir, this is my first but I have been working with combustion engines most of my life…it’s something of a family tradition…” Dortsmorn trailed off uncertainly.

“A tradition eh? How did you make the jump to airship engines then Sir?” Jerard had noted the confused look on the man’s face, it was as if he were trying to recall something.