The Steampunk Detective (18 page)

The lift slowly shuddered to a halt. They all looked at each other for a moment until the door slowly slid open.

“We have arrived,” General Churchill announced.

They exited the lift and clopped into an open area with tables and chairs. Some people were sitting around drinking tea. A maid carried a tray over to them, taking stiff steps across the room. Jack realised he was now walking in the same manner.

Windows looked out onto the earth beneath them. The tower arced away, disappearing into clouds miles below them. Entire continents and oceans spanned across the surface of the globe like an enormous map. Jack wanted to stay and look out. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, but the General urged them onwards away from the windows.

“Must keep moving,” he said gruffly.

They walked down another passage. People were everywhere. A group of nurses walked past with a determined expression on their faces. Soldiers stood around in groups, smoking and chatting. A woman handed out food and refreshments to waiting people.

“The steamers are still boarding,” Major Evans explained. “There’s quite a backlog.”

“How many ships are there?” Jack asked.

“Three French and four British ships,” he said. “The Nazis will have to listen to reason, else they’ll have a full scale war on their hands.”

Jack nodded grimly. They moved down the corridor into an enormous waiting area. It reminded Jack of the departure lounge for a sea going vessel. Hundreds of people stood around. Some of them looked at their watches. Others nervously drank tea and looked out at the view.

As they drew closer to the windows, Jack saw one of the steamers outside. The vessel looked like an enormous battleship. Made from bronze coloured metals, thousands of rivets covered the hull. Scores of portals decorated the side. The bridge looked like a big square cap positioned at the top of the ship. Square panels dotted the side at regular intervals.

“That’s the Joan of Arc,” Major Evans said. “It’s one of the largest ships in the French navy.”

“What are the panels on the side?” Jack asked.

“Those are the cannons,” Major Evans replied. “Three decks of them. Twenty–one on each deck. A steam ship can fire all sixty–three at once.” He leaned closer to Jack. “Our British steamers are rather larger. The Nelson has four decks of cannons. A total of one hundred in all.”

“What about the Germans?” Jack asked. “Don’t they have steamers too?”

The Major pursed his lips. “They do, my boy.”

He said nothing more after that.

They followed the General to one of the docking bays. A long deck jutted out from the tower towards the French ship. Jack felt a little awkward. They had come all this way to say goodbye to Mr Harker and Mr Bell. Both the men were headed off on a potentially dangerous mission and might never return. Both the girls tenderly kissed them on the cheeks. Scarlet dabbed at her eyes. Jack and Ignatius Doyle shook hands and wished the men good luck. The men gave a final wave and exited through the departure doors.

They stood about in a group looking at each other for a moment with nothing to say. Both Scarlet and Lucy looked upset about leaving their fathers. Jack tried to think of something comforting to say, but nothing sprang to mind. Mr Doyle looked out at the airship thoughtfully.

“Time to go,” General Churchill declared. “And time for all of you to head off to the safety of home.” He held out a hand to Mr Doyle. “Well done, Ignatius. We would never have come this far without you.”

As Mr Doyle shook his hand, he nodded to Jack. “You must thank Jack as well. He risked life and limb to get us this far.”

The General gravely shook Jack’s hand. “Don’t forget what I said about soldiering. It’s a wonderful life and we need brave men such as yourself.”

“I won’t forget,” Jack promised.

“I suppose –.”

The General stopped as the entire tower shuddered. An alarm started to ring.

“Wait here,” he ordered.

He hurried through the anxious crowd and spoke to a military man standing at a desk. They had a swift conversation before the General sped back to their group.

“There’s been an attack,” he said. “The Nazis have crashed the aeroplane into the side of the tower. We are now in danger of collapsing, so the entire structure is being evacuated.”

“Will we be able to get down?” Mr Doyle asked.

“We’re not going down,” the General replied. “We’re leaving on the steamer.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Five minutes later Jack found himself squeezed into a cabin with Scarlet and Lucy. Ignatius Doyle had gone with the General and Major Evans to evaluate the situation. Jack squeezed his face to the window. All he could see was an endless line of people steaming down the covered gangway to board the ship.

Lucy clenched her hands with frustration. “They have no right to keep us locked up in here.”

“I suppose they are still trying to get everyone aboard,” Scarlet said.

“How can they?” Lucy asked. “There are thousands of people inside the tower. They can’t hope to get everyone onto a few steamers.”

Mr Doyle entered the room. “We should be departing in the next few minutes.”

“What about all the people on the station?” Lucy asked.

“The aeroplane has caused some damage, but it appears the tower is not about to fall,” he said. “As a precaution, everyone under the point of impact is being evacuated downwards. Everyone above that deck is slowly moving to the top.”

“Why did the Germans attack the tower?” Jack asked.

Mr Doyle gave him a nod of approval. “That’s a good question, my boy.” He sat down on one of the bunks. “We believe it was actually an attack on Mr Bell and Mr Harker.”

“Because they know how to defuse the bombs?” Lucy asked.

“Yes.”

“So where is the Joan of Arc heading?” Scarlet asked.

“Unfortunately,” Mr Doyle said, “we’re going into battle. We are attacking the German tower immediately. At the same time, a coalition of countries are making a ground assault into Germany.”

“What countries?” Jack asked.

“All our allies have become involved,” Mr Doyle explained. “The Prime Minister personally rang several world leaders to ask them for assistance. As a result we have troops from Spain, France, Holland and Russia. Even Australia is sending troops.”

It’s war, Jack thought. How horrible.

“What does Germany make of all this?” Lucy asked.

“The troops are not attacking, unless they are provoked. There is still an enormous amount of confusion regarding the coup,” Mr Doyle explained. “Most of the German people are outraged that the Nazis have taken control without elections. Many of their troops are refusing to fight. Others have taken to fighting each other.

“As a result, our coalition forces are making straight for the base of the German metrotower, mostly without opposition.”

“So our job is to attack the top while the land troops attack the base,” Jack said.

“Very astute,” Mr Doyle congratulated him. “The military men are hoping to catch the Germans in a pincer movement and seize the weapons.”

A bell sounded across the ship.

“It sounds like we’re departing,” Mr Doyle said.

Jack went to the window. “There’s still a line of people waiting.”

“Other ships are lined up to take on passengers,” Mr Doyle said.

Jack looked to his left. Mr Doyle was correct. A line of steamers had assembled to evacuate the French Tower. Jack felt terrible that the French had already suffered so much to assist them.

“And this is all because of those bombs,” Jack said. “What a lot of bother over a couple of weapons.”

“Those weapons mean power,” Lucy said. “Absolute power.”

“Well you know what they say about absolute power,” Mr Doyle said. “It corrupts absolutely.”

Another bell rang across the ship. Jack looked out the window. It appeared the top of the tower was moving away from them, but of course they were moving away from it. After a moment he could see the entire tower poking into space. It arrowed down towards the planet until it looked like a single metal beam arcing towards earth.

About half way down he saw a smudge on the edge of the beam.

“I can see where the plane hit,” he said excitedly.

The others grouped about the small window.

“It seems strange the Nazis should sacrifice their own people to attack the tower,” Scarlet said.

“Many of the Nazis are fanatics,” Mr Doyle said. “Such people are often without fear.”

“I don’t care how fearless they are,” Scarlet said angrily. “They have killed innocent people.”

No–one argued with her.

Another bell chimed across the ship.

“What now?” Mr Doyle asked. He opened the door to the corridor and grabbed a passing sailor. “What’s the meaning of that alarm?”

“That’s general quarters,” the sailor explained hurriedly. “It means we’re about to attack.”

“Already?” Mr Doyle asked, astonished.

The sailor continued down the corridor, speaking over his shoulder. “The German steamer Bismarck is on its way. It’s brought the war to us.”

The man disappeared out of sight. Mr Doyle turned to the others grimly. “It looks like all hell is about to break loose. I suggest we make our way to the main lounge.”

They started out of the room. As they headed out, Jack saw a metal plate sliding down over the window.

“They’re closing off all windows,” Mr Doyle explained. “In case of cannon fire.”

Jack and the others headed down a corridor. It led to a set of stairs that they climbed to the upper decks. Two floors up, they turned down another corridor and entered a room with tables and chairs bolted to the floor and an open kitchen at the other end. A number of older people were seated at the tables. An elderly lady clenched a handkerchief tightly. Another older man with a long, flowing beard stood gripping one of the chairs angrily.

“…were not expecting this sort of thing to happen,” he was saying.

“Who are those people?” Jack asked.

“There were a number of visitors aboard the ship when it was called into battle,” Mr Doyle said. “I think a few of them are rather displeased at the turn of events.”

The bearded man went over to one of the galley staff preparing tea at the bench.

“I demand you turn this vessel around immediately,” he said.

They heard the staff member offer his apologies.

“Do you know who I am?” the man asked. “I’m Charles Hogan, the third. I earn more in a day than you do in a year.”

Scarlet pushed past Jack and made her way over to Mr Hogan.

“I understand you’re complaining,” Scarlet said.

“I certainly am,” Hogan replied.

“I’ll have you know there are fighting men and women aboard this ship willing to sacrifice their lives for our country,” she snapped. “And they don’t need complaining old men like you around.”

“How dare you!” Hogan said, his face turning red.

“She dares very much,” Mr Doyle said, joining her. “The young lady is correct. We need to stand together, now more than ever.”

“But I didn’t ask to be in the middle of a battle,” the man protested.

“Neither did our country,” Mr Doyle said firmly. “And yet we are. May I suggest you –.”

A enormous boom rang out.

“What was that?” Hogan asked, looking frightened.

“I believe we have fired on another vessel,” Mr Doyle said.

Another series of shots rang out, one after another. Some of the ladies at their tables covered their ears in terror. Mr Doyle took the elderly Charles Hogan by the arm and led him over to them.

“These ladies need your assistance,” Mr Doyle said. “I suggest you offer them some comfort.”

Mr Hogan sat down next to them, looking shocked and scared. Still, he took the hands of one of the woman and patted her hand. Mr Doyle and Scarlet returned to Jack and Lucy.

“I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he said. “I suggest we take a seat.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a series of thuds from the hull echoed through the vessel. They sat down quickly at another table away from the older group.

“I imagine the Germans are returning fire,” Mr Doyle said.

It’s like being in a tomb, Jack thought.

Once when he was very young he and his parents had gone wandering through an old cemetery. They had happened upon an ancient mausoleum. Someone had broken the lock on the entry door. Out of curiosity, they had walked down the stairs to the crypt below.

There had really been nothing to see as the coffins were actually sealed behind walls, but while they were down there a storm had started. Lightning had flashed, finding its way down the winding staircase as thunder echoed around the damp chamber.

That’s what the cannon fire sounded like now. 

The battle continued. It seemed to comprise of a series of bangs as the Joan of Arc fired on the other ship and resounding thud of the other ship’s cannon balls striking the hull. Lucy looked tense. Scarlet clenched her hands tightly. Only Mr Doyle sat up resolutely. He glanced over at Jack.

“We’ll be fine, my boy,” he said. “I’ve been through much worse in the war.”

The ship shuddered from side to side as the battle continued. The globes on the gas lights rocked slightly with the sway of the vessel. A glass smashed in the galley. One of the elderly ladies started to weep.

Suddenly the vessel gave an enormous lurch to one side. One of the elderly ladies fell to the floor. Jack leapt to his feet and hurried over to her as the ship leaned over. He grabbed the ladies arm and helped her back into her seat. Now a number of the women were weeping in terror. Old Mr Hogan’s face had turned pale.

Jack shot a look back to his companions and a moment later Mr Doyle and the girls had joined the long table where the elderly passengers were seated.

“There, there,” Scarlet said, taking the hand of one of the older ladies. “Everything will be fine, I’m sure.”

“It sounds like the ship is falling apart,” an elderly woman with her hair in a bun stammered.

Mr Doyle clenched his jaw and said confidently, “The Joan of Arc is the pride of the French fleet. A masterpiece of construction.”