The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (25 page)

Nichols scrambled forward and rounded the corner that formed the rear edge of the nose cone. He gasped as even in the gloom, he could see the great black scorch mark running up the side of the ship where her fabric met ring number 93. Also at this point, he could clearly see gas bag number 15 and at least one wildly flapping mooring rope. From the way the bag was moving he knew that there must be another broken rope. Another five steps and he could see Tash and Gopal crouched over something on the catwalk.

Dear God, Nichols thought, it must be Gus! Needing to run to his crewman but forcing himself to slow down; he moved carefully on the slippery catwalk. A drop of water smacked him between the eyes. He looked up and saw that the hull appeared to be weeping. He had never seen anything like that in his life and shivered. Movement ahead of him mercifully ripped his attention away from the hull.

In the gloom he saw deReuter being helped to his feet by Tash and Gopal. Thank heavens the man appeared to be alright. Before he could ask deReuter spoke.

“It’s bad chief. Ring number 93 took a direct hit Sir. The hull is not ripped, at least not that I could see. Watch out Sir!”

Nichols ducked instinctively as a rope whipped over his head. “What the….?”

“The gas bag ropes Sir, two of them are loose; I think it’s what knocked me down.”

“Are you ok son?” Nichols asked.

“Fine Sir, although I will probably need a new uniform shirt.” The Dutchman grimaced and turned his back so all could see. It looked like someone had lashed the man with a whip, his shirt was opened in a straight line across his shoulders and a bloody trail could be seen on his skin.

“Here it comes again!” Tash shouted and all four threw themselves onto the catwalk.

The whipping rope cracked like a pistol right over their heads.

“We need more rope to get that bag secured,” Nichols shouted, trying to make him self heard. “If this is allowed to continue the other bags will be damaged for sure.” Nichols looked at deReuter. “Are you up for a climb Gus?”

“Aye Chief. But….”

“Yes, I know. You won’t be able to do this by yourself. I’m trying to think who would be best to assist you.” Nichols said as they all got to their feet.

“I think the choice would be obvious Lance.” Tash shouted.

Nichols turned to look at his tiny employer, he had forgotten for the moment that she was there. “Please enlighten me then madam.”

“Gopal and I will assist Mr. deReuter.”

“What? Out of the question!” Nichols managed to shout even louder.

Tash raised an eyebrow at Nichols and Gopal crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. The Indian had not said a word but the ‘why not?’ was quite evident.

DeReuter cleared his throat. “Actually chief I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have up there than Tash and Gopal. I would trust them on the ropes more than any other.”

Nichols turned his anger on the airshipman. “You are out of line!” He roared.

DeRuter ducked his head in acknowledgment and then stood tall. “Maybe so, Sir! But the truth is that I have been mountain climbing with these two; and more than once Sir.

Nichols turned back to Tash. She and Gopal both nodded and then ducked as the mooring line cracked above their heads again.

“This is insanity! I won’t allow it!” Nichols heaved a great breath. “Tash, you asked what you could do to help. So now I am telling you, you and Gopal go and retrieve the ropes and have the extra canvas and repair supplies brought up from the ship’s hold. Airshipman deReuter, please stay here and watch this situation and be careful man! I am going to get volunteers to help with the repairs. Dismissed!”

Tash opened her mouth to object but closed it again as Gopal laid a hand on her arm. Without a word the pair moved off down the catwalk to follow the directions they had been given. Nichols turned to deReuter to give him a piece of his mind. Just what in the hell was the man up to even suggesting Tash do something this dangerous? But Lance changed his mind when his eyes met deReuter’s. The Dutchman stood tall and unmoving.

“She saved my life once Chief. I’ve been climbing in the Alps since I was a boy, my father was a guide. I will tell you Sir I have never seen better climbers than Tash and Gopal. It was how I met them Sir and how I came to be here on this ship. You must believe me Mr. Nichols; it will be safer for everyone if you allow me to work with Tash and Gopal.”

Nichols covered his face with his hands and once more addressed the Virgin Mary. If Tash gave him a direct order he would have to allow this but as a man it was against everything he stood for to let a lady go directly into danger. And that the lady in question was Tash made it ever so much harder. He cared for the lass as if she were his own daughter. But what this all came down to was that in his heart, he too knew that Tash and Gopal were the only real choice to help Gus. The hand over Nichol’s face raked up and back through the man’s damp hair.

“I need to put in a damage report, I’ll be back shortly. Stand watch here man and be careful!”

****

On the bridge Aneurin Jones barely heard the thump from the pneumatic tube. He reached over and retrieved several message tubes. “Damage reports arriving Sir.”

“Thank you Mr. Jones, can you read them to me, Sir?

“Aye Captain,” Jones replied as he quickly emptied the message tubes. “Mr. Collins reports no damage to the engine room; engine number two still functioning at 80 % power and holding steady. Mr. Adams reports from auxiliary bridge: no damage, all systems functioning except for the speaking grills.” Jones stopped a brief second before reading aloud the next message, he was trying not to smile when finally started speaking again. “ Mr. Roger Landover reports no damage to the nose cone and respectfully asks: “What the hell happened?”

Jerard chuckled. “Mr. Jones please
respectfully
inform Mr. Landover that we have been hit by lightning and ask him to hold his post for the moment.”

“Yes Sir,” Jones replied grinning like a Cheshire cat. Before he could take pencil in hand another message popped into the tube. Opening it he read it aloud.

“Captain this is from Mr. Adams he is back in the electrical room and has found the problem with the speaking grills. He says it is a short Sir and he will have them back on in just a few minutes.”

“Excellent! But what about Nichols? And the chap in charge of the gas bags? Any word?”

“No Sir, I shall contact Mr. Collins again as the engine room was Mr. Nichol’s last known location.”

Jerard nodded and placed his hand on the helm. “There is something wrong, do you feel it Mr. Wallace?”

“We’re still droppin’ a wee bit still captain 6,500 feet at present, but I feel something else as well Sir but I canna tell you what it is.”

“Hm…me either. Carry on Sir.” Jerard turned away from the helm and returned to his captain’s chair. If the truth were to be told, he was a little worried. Nichols should have been the first to report…

Mr. Jones jumped to retrieve a new message. Jerard impatiently waited for the man to open and read the report. He turned to face the officer expectantly.

“It’s from Mr. Nichols Sir. He says we have taken a direct hit on ring 93 and two of the mooring ropes of gas bag number 15 have broken loose. He is in the process of having it repaired now. He will report back when he is finished.

Jerard frowned. Damn, damn and thrice damn! He thought, wishing he had made it up to the gas bag chamber during the tours. He could only picture the military configuration of bags and somehow he doubted that they would be the same in this lovely lady.

“Sir?” Wallace queried as quietly as he could in the pounding rain. “Could a loose gas bag cause the vibration in the helm?”

Jerard shook his head. “No, a gas bag has no mass.”

“Well then Sir…”

“As you were Wallace!” Jerard interrupted the helmsman before he could continue. Jerard was not about to allow any of his men to become panicked. The truth was that the vibration might be nothing…at least Jerard hoped this was the case. But somehow things never worked out like that did they? “Jones, send a return message to Mr. Nichols, let him know that the helm controls are less than stable.”

****

After Nichols sent his report to the bridge he returned to the damaged area to find that Jeremy Landover had joined the repair team. He was wearing a strange looking harness, and maneuvering a series of hanging ropes. He looked up to see a several bobbing lights above. Not wanting to distract the man he quietly moved closer.

Right on cue, the loose gas bag’s mooring line whipped over head. It tangled in the ropes and Landover shouted in a great booming voice, “Got it!! Let ‘er go slowly!” The heavily muscled man hauled gently on the tangled ropes, coaxing the mooring line towards him.

Nichols realized he was holding his breath and let it out slowly. The mooring line went taught and Jeremy let out his rope to follow, then reeled it in again. This see-saw went back and fourth for what seemed like hours and reminded Lance of watching fishermen in the deep sea. Pull in, let out, pull in…on and on until Landover had the end of the mooring line in his hands. In a smooth movement he reached behind him and snagged another rope that was tied to the ship’s frame and quickly knotted the two together.

“Good work Sir!” Nichols shouted above the sound of the rain. The sound of the rain…good God! He just realized that it was raining inside the hull! Nichols reached a tentative finger and poked the hull skin. A bead of water popped through and ran down the inside. Fearing the worst, Nichols moved closer to the scorch mark and poked again. The fabric gave way as if it were rotted and Nichols watched in horror as a small hole opened and steady stream of water poured in. His eyes followed the scorch mark as far as he could see. Did the scar reach all the way to the apex of ring 93?

He turned to Jeremy standing beside him to see the man steadily working at the ropes and looking up. Nichols was startled to find that one of bobbing lights seemed to be moving towards them, like a spider descending from a web. He watched in fascination as the light moved closer. It did not take long for Nichols to realize that there was a figure at the end of the rope holding the light and it took even less time for him to see that it was Tash.

“Good God!” He shouted but quickly closed his mouth to keep from distracting Landover who was now obviously guiding her down.

Tash laughed as she dropped lightly onto the catwalk. “Not God Lance, it’s just me. Now back up a bit love, we’ve got to attach this line so I can get back up there.”

“You’re not!” Nichols sputtered, shocked beyond belief that this woman had been dangling from a rope from twenty feet in the air. “What do you think you are doing?”

Tash looked at Nichols and shrugged. “I am taking the mooring line back up to Gus so he can secure it again.”

Landover had untied the mooring rope from the strut and was dropping the slack over the side of the catwalk. He turned cool eyes on Nichols but did not comment as he took the end of the rope and tied it to a large clip hanging from the harness Tash wore. “Ready?” He asked Tash.

“Let’s go.” She replied and began climbing the strut that was hull ring 93.

Nichols gasped loudly as the tiny woman sprang up the side of the ship. The light hanging from her belt illuminated the scorch mark and Nichols sucked in a sharp breath. The thing was huge!

Mistaking the sound as fear for Tash, Jeremy Landover spoke. “She is quite good Sir. I’ve never met anyone like her. Fearless b’god!”

“Indeed.” Nichols muttered making note of Landover’s admiration and lack of fear.

Seconds later Landover grunted as the light swung free of the side of the hull and he took all of Tash’s weight on the rope.

“Is she falling?” Nichols shouted in alarm.

“No Sir, the curve of the hull prevents further climbing. Now the three of us are holding her and guiding her to where Gustav is waiting to secure the mooring.”

“But! But! The light is swinging!”

“Yes Sir, she must swing towards Gustav so he can catch her.”

“But what if he misses?”

“Then we try the swing again until he is able to catch her.” Landover grunted as the light swung back away from the hull. “Like that Sir.” Landover heaved a great breath and hauled on the rope. “Excuse me Sir, I must concentrate.”

“Of course.” Nichols sighed and took a step back. He looked around; there must be something he could do to help. After all he was still a strong man, only a little past his prime. Nichols looked up again and saw the light swing towards the hull and stop. He’s caught her then, he thought as the two lights seemed to be stationary. Long seconds passed before Lance could hear a sharp shrill whistle. He turned expectantly to Landover.

“That’s it then Sir. The first line is secure. Now we move on to the second line.”

“Ah,” Nichols said, “I felt sure there were two loose, where is the second wayward line?”

“Directly above Sir, they found it when they climbed the stairs to the observation dome.”

“Good.” Nichols said pleased that his initial assessment had been correct.

“Not so good Sir and for the record I mis-like the plan for securing the second line.”

“What plan?” Nichols said wearily wiping the water off his face. “Never mind, I don’t think I shall ask Sir. Instead, how can I help you Mr. Landover?”

Jeremy Landover looked over at the engineer, his eyes traveled up and down the man’s form before he spoke. “You look strong Sir. If you could handle Miss Tash’s line while I hold deReuter it would be helpful. The two of them have to be hauled up to the apex of the ship. Gopal is already there Sir and will help in bringing them up. His climbing line is here but he is also secured by a secondary line to the stairwell to the observation dome. Once Tash and Gus reach the apex they will also have securing lines to the stairwell, it’s already set up.”

“How?” Nichols asked as he looked up risking another face full of water. He could not see the top of the stairwell but he mentally measured the distance to the apex of the girders.

“It's actually quite ingenious Sir. Miss Tash and Gopal designed it on the fly, if you will Sir. You see they…