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A bronze award winner in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards
https://readersfavorite.com/contestants-page?id=7d6606b1332620c9fe99eaa92bcc32ec
The year is 2836. It has been eight hundred years since The Great War. There are small groups of people scattered in isolated pockets around the world, but most are too suspicious of each other for any intimacy. If they don’t stop hiding, and learn to help each other, there won’t be anyone left on earth.
Liberty has grown up in this post-apocalyptic world. Her home is an airship built by her adopted father. Since his death, each day is just another day trying to survive in a hostile environment. That is until her father's dying friend asks if she’ll take custody of a small, child-like robot.
The last thing Liberty needs is another responsibility. Surprisingly, once the endearing robot is aboard Airus, she discovers there is more to life than just living, and loving someone can be as easy as breathing.
I Will Breathe
Chapter One
Liberty tapped the glass on the pressure gauge, and when the needle didn’t budge, a sense of dread pooled in the pit of her stomach. “Bloody hell.”
Thinking it needed gentler persuasion, she switched tactics and added a few sweet words of encouragement. “You can’t give up on me now, baby. We’re almost there.” If she didn’t do something soon, the entire ship was going to blow itself to Kingdom Come.
Pressure needed to be released, but what if she let out too much? The airship’s balloons needed to be filled to capacity to clear the last and highest peak. According to the numbers on the altimeter, Airus was barely going to have enough lift as it was.
Liberty eyed the ever-nearing jagged mountaintop. She was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t.
“Captain, what do you think?” She wished for the millionth time since her father’s death that there was someone else to help with these types of difficult decisions. In the end, she did what she always did, put one hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. She briefly closed her eyes, took a much needed relaxing breath and pulled the release valve chain. Immediately, a mass of condensation from the steamer’s drum blew out from a pipe at the rear of the airship and a loud whoosh ripped through the air overhead.
Liberty leaned over and tapped the pressure gauge again. Thankfully, this time the needle bounced down a couple of notches, out of the red. With no time to celebrate, she refocused all her attention on surviving the next immediate problem – the trip over the peak. All she needed was thirty more minutes of airlift. There was a good source of water waiting on the other side. Once the tanks were refilled, she would head to Shatter’s place to trade the bits and pieces she had found in the Forsaken Lands, for the spare parts she needed to replace the seals on the pressure tank.
Liberty ran to the side of the gondola and peered over the edge. The nearness of the mountaintop took her breath away, but she forced her fear to the back of her mind. There’d be time to contemplate fear later – she hoped. She ran back to the helm and held onto the wheel, waiting for either the crash or to sail clear over without a problem. She eyed the altitude and pressure gauges, and kept her mind on how nice it would soon be taking a much needed bath.
Seconds stretched out into eternity, all her senses set on high alert. Cold air and a damp mist cut through the thin fabric of her short-sleeved blouse and long skirt. Every so often she wiped a buildup of moisture from her googles. Without her dad’s old hat, her long curls would have been a tangled mess by now, blown about in the heavy wind. Goosebumps covered her arms and had her wishing she hadn’t left her jacket in the cabin. What she needed more than warmth now, though, was to be prepared for the worse. She relaxed her fingers on the wheel, just enough to cross them for good luck.
She listened closely for any sounds of Airus striking against the sharp, jagged rocks. Fortunately, the only ones so far were the usual; the friction wheels turning, water boiling, wind whistling by.
The airship was nearing the highest point of the peak and all looked good. Liberty relaxed her shoulders and allowed herself a faint smile. Maybe, just maybe everything was going to be okay after all.
Close to halfway over, Liberty allowed that smile to take over her entire face. “Looks like we’ve avoided another catastrophe, my friend.” She patted the shiny brass of Airus’s helm. “Just a few more minutes, old girl, and we’ll be at the lake. You deserve a nice long drink after all we’ve been through these last few months.”
As fate would have it, her happy pronouncement marked the start of a loud, scraping noise. When the airship titled portside, Liberty raced over to check on the damage, just in time to see an avalanche of rocks sliding down the mountainside. She watched in grim fascination as it increased in speed and destruction raced down the slope. It wasn’t until the mass hit the forest covering the valley floor below that the sound finally became muffled and eventually stopped altogether. Only then did she run over to check Airus’s gauges again.
The pressure needle was back in the red, but before Liberty had time to worry, a flash of reflected light caught her attention. She again sprinted over and this time looked down at a most welcome sight – the lake.
She pumped both fists into the air before pulling on the pressure release chain and letting out another blast of steam. In less than two minutes, Liberty had the airship settled on the banks of the crystal clear lake in the center of the valley.
Although a beautiful view, other things were of greater concern. She flipped her googles up onto the brim of her hat and scanned the area. She had never encountered any of the rough mountain men known to hunt around here but had heard enough to know to avoid them at all costs. When her father had been alive, he had insisted she stay hidden below deck whenever they landed here. He’d never said why she couldn’t leave the airship, but since his death and she had taken over dealing with Shatter at the trading post, she had learned that they were a dangerously insane lot who enjoyed murdering for sport.
The lake and nearby forest seemed clear so she lowered the anchor. As soon as there was no danger of Airus breaking loose, she started throwing water hoses overboard, all the time keeping a sharp lookout for any signs of movement. As soon as they were in place, she set her hat and googles on the captain’s seat. They were both irreplaceable and would only be in the way with everything she had to do on the ground.
Before lowering the airship’s ladder, Liberty took another quick look around. Unfortunately, the forest offered too dense a cover to be sure no one was there, so she hoped for the best and kept her pocket pistol close at hand. Even this didn’t stop a nervous flutter from stirring in her chest, or her stomach from twisting into knots the moment she swung her leg over the rail. The sickening feeling of no longer being in complete control became more pronounced with each step down the ladder. Leaving the safety of the air was the most hazardous part of her journeys, and if left up to her, she would never set foot on the ground again. Unfortunately, some things could only be done down there, and so she cautiously continued climbing down.
This part of the world was beautiful when seen from the safety of Airus’s lofty perch, but its beauty was a lure and a lie. The closer she got, the more certain she was that she could smell treachery and danger behind every piece of lovely green foliage.
Liberty jumped from the last step, and out of habit, patted both her skirt’s pockets. One held her father’s pocket watch, the other the loaded gun. The gold watch hadn’t worked in over six hundred years, but the feel of its hard case calmed her enough to get on with what needed to be done.
It took three trips of running back and forth from the lake to get the hoses into the water. As soon as it was done, she climbed back aboard and turned the pumps on. By this time, sweat was dripping from her. Her blouse and waistline were both soaked and so she scanned the area again before heading to the lake with a different purpose in mind. There hadn’t been enough water aboard Airus for the luxury of a bath for over three months now so she quickly stripped off and jumped into the lake.
Liberty only submerged long enough to get her hair wet. It would have been wonderful to enjoy the crisp, cool water all day long, but she hurried through scrubbing her scalp and body. No doubt her hair would be a tangled mess for a couple of days. It would take at least that long to work all the knots loose with her fingers. The last two teeth of her only comb had broken off months ago. The chances of ever seeing another one were slim to none. She would have to make do. After all, that was what she did, wasn’t it?
By the time she had everything stored back on Airus, the sun had sunk toward the treetops. Without a moment to spare, she headed for the trading post. If she could wrap up her business with Shatter fast enough, she could have the valve replaced and be back on her way before nightfall. It was never smart hanging around this corner of the world for very long. There was no point in taking any chances that someone might become a bit too interested in her airship. She would defend it at all costs if she had to for she certainly had no intention of losing the only home she had ever known.
https://readersfavorite.com/contestants-page?id=7d6606b1332620c9fe99eaa92bcc32ec
The year is 2836. It has been eight hundred years since The Great War. There are small groups of people scattered in isolated pockets around the world, but most are too suspicious of each other for any intimacy. If they don’t stop hiding, and learn to help each other, there won’t be anyone left on earth.
Liberty has grown up in this post-apocalyptic world. Her home is an airship built by her adopted father. Since his death, each day is just another day trying to survive in a hostile environment. That is until her father's dying friend asks if she’ll take custody of a small, child-like robot.
The last thing Liberty needs is another responsibility. Surprisingly, once the endearing robot is aboard Airus, she discovers there is more to life than just living, and loving someone can be as easy as breathing.
I Will Breathe
Chapter One
Liberty tapped the glass on the pressure gauge, and when the needle didn’t budge, a sense of dread pooled in the pit of her stomach. “Bloody hell.”
Thinking it needed gentler persuasion, she switched tactics and added a few sweet words of encouragement. “You can’t give up on me now, baby. We’re almost there.” If she didn’t do something soon, the entire ship was going to blow itself to Kingdom Come.
Pressure needed to be released, but what if she let out too much? The airship’s balloons needed to be filled to capacity to clear the last and highest peak. According to the numbers on the altimeter, Airus was barely going to have enough lift as it was.
Liberty eyed the ever-nearing jagged mountaintop. She was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t.
“Captain, what do you think?” She wished for the millionth time since her father’s death that there was someone else to help with these types of difficult decisions. In the end, she did what she always did, put one hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. She briefly closed her eyes, took a much needed relaxing breath and pulled the release valve chain. Immediately, a mass of condensation from the steamer’s drum blew out from a pipe at the rear of the airship and a loud whoosh ripped through the air overhead.
Liberty leaned over and tapped the pressure gauge again. Thankfully, this time the needle bounced down a couple of notches, out of the red. With no time to celebrate, she refocused all her attention on surviving the next immediate problem – the trip over the peak. All she needed was thirty more minutes of airlift. There was a good source of water waiting on the other side. Once the tanks were refilled, she would head to Shatter’s place to trade the bits and pieces she had found in the Forsaken Lands, for the spare parts she needed to replace the seals on the pressure tank.
Liberty ran to the side of the gondola and peered over the edge. The nearness of the mountaintop took her breath away, but she forced her fear to the back of her mind. There’d be time to contemplate fear later – she hoped. She ran back to the helm and held onto the wheel, waiting for either the crash or to sail clear over without a problem. She eyed the altitude and pressure gauges, and kept her mind on how nice it would soon be taking a much needed bath.
Seconds stretched out into eternity, all her senses set on high alert. Cold air and a damp mist cut through the thin fabric of her short-sleeved blouse and long skirt. Every so often she wiped a buildup of moisture from her googles. Without her dad’s old hat, her long curls would have been a tangled mess by now, blown about in the heavy wind. Goosebumps covered her arms and had her wishing she hadn’t left her jacket in the cabin. What she needed more than warmth now, though, was to be prepared for the worse. She relaxed her fingers on the wheel, just enough to cross them for good luck.
She listened closely for any sounds of Airus striking against the sharp, jagged rocks. Fortunately, the only ones so far were the usual; the friction wheels turning, water boiling, wind whistling by.
The airship was nearing the highest point of the peak and all looked good. Liberty relaxed her shoulders and allowed herself a faint smile. Maybe, just maybe everything was going to be okay after all.
Close to halfway over, Liberty allowed that smile to take over her entire face. “Looks like we’ve avoided another catastrophe, my friend.” She patted the shiny brass of Airus’s helm. “Just a few more minutes, old girl, and we’ll be at the lake. You deserve a nice long drink after all we’ve been through these last few months.”
As fate would have it, her happy pronouncement marked the start of a loud, scraping noise. When the airship titled portside, Liberty raced over to check on the damage, just in time to see an avalanche of rocks sliding down the mountainside. She watched in grim fascination as it increased in speed and destruction raced down the slope. It wasn’t until the mass hit the forest covering the valley floor below that the sound finally became muffled and eventually stopped altogether. Only then did she run over to check Airus’s gauges again.
The pressure needle was back in the red, but before Liberty had time to worry, a flash of reflected light caught her attention. She again sprinted over and this time looked down at a most welcome sight – the lake.
She pumped both fists into the air before pulling on the pressure release chain and letting out another blast of steam. In less than two minutes, Liberty had the airship settled on the banks of the crystal clear lake in the center of the valley.
Although a beautiful view, other things were of greater concern. She flipped her googles up onto the brim of her hat and scanned the area. She had never encountered any of the rough mountain men known to hunt around here but had heard enough to know to avoid them at all costs. When her father had been alive, he had insisted she stay hidden below deck whenever they landed here. He’d never said why she couldn’t leave the airship, but since his death and she had taken over dealing with Shatter at the trading post, she had learned that they were a dangerously insane lot who enjoyed murdering for sport.
The lake and nearby forest seemed clear so she lowered the anchor. As soon as there was no danger of Airus breaking loose, she started throwing water hoses overboard, all the time keeping a sharp lookout for any signs of movement. As soon as they were in place, she set her hat and googles on the captain’s seat. They were both irreplaceable and would only be in the way with everything she had to do on the ground.
Before lowering the airship’s ladder, Liberty took another quick look around. Unfortunately, the forest offered too dense a cover to be sure no one was there, so she hoped for the best and kept her pocket pistol close at hand. Even this didn’t stop a nervous flutter from stirring in her chest, or her stomach from twisting into knots the moment she swung her leg over the rail. The sickening feeling of no longer being in complete control became more pronounced with each step down the ladder. Leaving the safety of the air was the most hazardous part of her journeys, and if left up to her, she would never set foot on the ground again. Unfortunately, some things could only be done down there, and so she cautiously continued climbing down.
This part of the world was beautiful when seen from the safety of Airus’s lofty perch, but its beauty was a lure and a lie. The closer she got, the more certain she was that she could smell treachery and danger behind every piece of lovely green foliage.
Liberty jumped from the last step, and out of habit, patted both her skirt’s pockets. One held her father’s pocket watch, the other the loaded gun. The gold watch hadn’t worked in over six hundred years, but the feel of its hard case calmed her enough to get on with what needed to be done.
It took three trips of running back and forth from the lake to get the hoses into the water. As soon as it was done, she climbed back aboard and turned the pumps on. By this time, sweat was dripping from her. Her blouse and waistline were both soaked and so she scanned the area again before heading to the lake with a different purpose in mind. There hadn’t been enough water aboard Airus for the luxury of a bath for over three months now so she quickly stripped off and jumped into the lake.
Liberty only submerged long enough to get her hair wet. It would have been wonderful to enjoy the crisp, cool water all day long, but she hurried through scrubbing her scalp and body. No doubt her hair would be a tangled mess for a couple of days. It would take at least that long to work all the knots loose with her fingers. The last two teeth of her only comb had broken off months ago. The chances of ever seeing another one were slim to none. She would have to make do. After all, that was what she did, wasn’t it?
By the time she had everything stored back on Airus, the sun had sunk toward the treetops. Without a moment to spare, she headed for the trading post. If she could wrap up her business with Shatter fast enough, she could have the valve replaced and be back on her way before nightfall. It was never smart hanging around this corner of the world for very long. There was no point in taking any chances that someone might become a bit too interested in her airship. She would defend it at all costs if she had to for she certainly had no intention of losing the only home she had ever known.
Freedom isn’t a place Harmony would normally travel to, but
she’s there on a mission to rescue her brother and cousin, Walker and Journey.
Since The Great War, the world has become a barren and unfriendly place. If
Harmony didn’t already know that, she certainly does the moment she winds up in
the walled-off city of Freedom. It turns out that this city is anything but free.
Its people are ruled by a group of huge, spider-looking robots aptly named
Overseers.
Harmony’s big plan is to run in, rescue Walker and Journey and then steal one of the Overseers’ steam engines as a way of making their big escape. The only thing going in her favor is a run-away from Freedom and two rusted-out, falling-apart robots who have offered to help. Now Harmony has the strategies made, all she needs to do is sneak Walker and Journey out of their jail cell and then figure out how to run a steam engine. Easy right? Throw into this crazy mixture a few Overseers determined not to let this strange group escape and a steam engine low on water. Their adventure turns into a long flight back to Forbidden that is fraught with danger.
Harmony’s big plan is to run in, rescue Walker and Journey and then steal one of the Overseers’ steam engines as a way of making their big escape. The only thing going in her favor is a run-away from Freedom and two rusted-out, falling-apart robots who have offered to help. Now Harmony has the strategies made, all she needs to do is sneak Walker and Journey out of their jail cell and then figure out how to run a steam engine. Easy right? Throw into this crazy mixture a few Overseers determined not to let this strange group escape and a steam engine low on water. Their adventure turns into a long flight back to Forbidden that is fraught with danger.
Book 3 in my Forbidden Series.
It has been eight hundred and seventy years since The Great War, but thanks to the pioneering spirits of Harmony’s grandmother and grandfather, the quality of life in the war-torn countryside has slowly been improving.
Harmony and Boy have been flying her grandmother’s airship since her death. They use it to deliver food supplies and scavenged objects from The Forbidden Lands to the last few remaining humans on earth. It’s on one of these trips up the east coast that an unexpected storm pulls the airship out into the open ocean. Even though Harmony struggles to keep Airus airborne, the strong winds are too much and it’s sent crashing into the ocean.
When Harmony regains consciousness, she discovers that the currents have pushed Airus onto the shore of a tiny island – but that’s the only good news. There’s no fresh water, her two robots are damaged, Airus’ balloon is deflated, and the friction engine is broken. All of this may have been enough to defeat someone else, but Harmony has never been known to give up. She’s lucky enough to be blessed with her grandmother’s grit, determination and bullheadedness.
A sneak peek-
An Ill Wind
“Go to the cabin!” Harmony yelled, hoping Boy could hear over the howling wind and booming thunder.
Since early morning, driving rain and hurricane-force winds had battered Airus and its occupants, making it difficult to function and stay airborne. Harmony was concerned the rain was harming Boy’s internal workings and wanted to get him out of it, but of course that was only if she could convince him to leave her alone at the helm. The little robot was stubborn and cankerous on a good day and this was most definitely not one of those.
“The hell I will. It will take both of us to keep the airship from crashing.”
It was pointless wasting her breath arguing so Harmony wiped the rain off her goggles and checked the altimeter again. She had never flown in such high winds and was wondering if she should try to get Airus above the storm. Her biggest problem was that the friction engine was sputtering like it was going to die, and what if she did somehow manage to get Airus above it all? Would the colder air there pull the airship even farther out to sea?
“Don’t blame me if, when we do get out of this mess, you’re rusty and nothing works right.” A gust of wind blew her hat off and it would have gone flying overboard if not for Boy grabbing it in midair.
He held it out. “You should put this somewhere safe.”
Harmony shook her head. “I can’t let go of the wheel long enough.” Even with both feet planted and both hands struggling to keep a firm grip of the wheel, the airship was struggling to stay in the air. She was afraid that, even if they did finally come out on the other side of this storm in one piece, they were going to be hopelessly lost at sea. Navigating on land came easy to her but she knew nothing about flying without landmarks. Her father had tried to teach her how to use the stars to navigate but she had never been very good at it.
A sudden downdraft almost knocked the hat out from under Boy’s arms and she thought it a good enough excuse to get him off deck. “Take that to the cabin. It will give you a chance to check on Molly.” When Boy didn’t move, she chanced removing a hand from the wheel long enough to place it on top of his glass head. Even though he was a robot, he responded better to touch than he did words. “Go on. I’ll be fine.”
Boy stared unblinkingly at Harmony for several seconds before finally saying, “Don’t die.” With that he headed toward the cabin, leaving her alone at the wheel.
Harmony immediately missed his calming presence and wished she’d reassured him before he left that everything was going to be okay, but the truth was, she was afraid this was one battle she wasn’t going to win. The winds were too brutal to fight against, and even though she hadn’t said anything, it hadn’t gone unnoticed that pieces of the airship were now sailing past her at an alarming rate. How much more could Airus take and still remain airborne? The answer came almost immediately when the airship dropped like a rock, straight into the sea. Harmony was sent tumbling, the last thing remembered being an excruciating pain radiating throughout her head.
It has been eight hundred and seventy years since The Great War, but thanks to the pioneering spirits of Harmony’s grandmother and grandfather, the quality of life in the war-torn countryside has slowly been improving.
Harmony and Boy have been flying her grandmother’s airship since her death. They use it to deliver food supplies and scavenged objects from The Forbidden Lands to the last few remaining humans on earth. It’s on one of these trips up the east coast that an unexpected storm pulls the airship out into the open ocean. Even though Harmony struggles to keep Airus airborne, the strong winds are too much and it’s sent crashing into the ocean.
When Harmony regains consciousness, she discovers that the currents have pushed Airus onto the shore of a tiny island – but that’s the only good news. There’s no fresh water, her two robots are damaged, Airus’ balloon is deflated, and the friction engine is broken. All of this may have been enough to defeat someone else, but Harmony has never been known to give up. She’s lucky enough to be blessed with her grandmother’s grit, determination and bullheadedness.
A sneak peek-
An Ill Wind
“Go to the cabin!” Harmony yelled, hoping Boy could hear over the howling wind and booming thunder.
Since early morning, driving rain and hurricane-force winds had battered Airus and its occupants, making it difficult to function and stay airborne. Harmony was concerned the rain was harming Boy’s internal workings and wanted to get him out of it, but of course that was only if she could convince him to leave her alone at the helm. The little robot was stubborn and cankerous on a good day and this was most definitely not one of those.
“The hell I will. It will take both of us to keep the airship from crashing.”
It was pointless wasting her breath arguing so Harmony wiped the rain off her goggles and checked the altimeter again. She had never flown in such high winds and was wondering if she should try to get Airus above the storm. Her biggest problem was that the friction engine was sputtering like it was going to die, and what if she did somehow manage to get Airus above it all? Would the colder air there pull the airship even farther out to sea?
“Don’t blame me if, when we do get out of this mess, you’re rusty and nothing works right.” A gust of wind blew her hat off and it would have gone flying overboard if not for Boy grabbing it in midair.
He held it out. “You should put this somewhere safe.”
Harmony shook her head. “I can’t let go of the wheel long enough.” Even with both feet planted and both hands struggling to keep a firm grip of the wheel, the airship was struggling to stay in the air. She was afraid that, even if they did finally come out on the other side of this storm in one piece, they were going to be hopelessly lost at sea. Navigating on land came easy to her but she knew nothing about flying without landmarks. Her father had tried to teach her how to use the stars to navigate but she had never been very good at it.
A sudden downdraft almost knocked the hat out from under Boy’s arms and she thought it a good enough excuse to get him off deck. “Take that to the cabin. It will give you a chance to check on Molly.” When Boy didn’t move, she chanced removing a hand from the wheel long enough to place it on top of his glass head. Even though he was a robot, he responded better to touch than he did words. “Go on. I’ll be fine.”
Boy stared unblinkingly at Harmony for several seconds before finally saying, “Don’t die.” With that he headed toward the cabin, leaving her alone at the wheel.
Harmony immediately missed his calming presence and wished she’d reassured him before he left that everything was going to be okay, but the truth was, she was afraid this was one battle she wasn’t going to win. The winds were too brutal to fight against, and even though she hadn’t said anything, it hadn’t gone unnoticed that pieces of the airship were now sailing past her at an alarming rate. How much more could Airus take and still remain airborne? The answer came almost immediately when the airship dropped like a rock, straight into the sea. Harmony was sent tumbling, the last thing remembered being an excruciating pain radiating throughout her head.
Finding Liberty
Aapeli
Chapter One
When the airship entered the valley, Aapeli leaned over the railing to get a better view of the area. He never grew tired of looking at the pristine lake that took up much of the valley floor. It was the main water source for everyone who lived within a thirty mile radius – the good and the bad. Stately pine and oak trees snuggled up to the edges of the mountain, creating a wonderful hiding place for anyone interested in stealing his airship or killing him.
“Looks good so far.” He didn’t know when he had taken to talking to himself but took comfort in the fact there was no one there to witness it. Sometimes he just liked hearing a voice – any voice. The daily solitude was a way of life and had been for many years, but there were times he missed sharing ideas and words with someone else. It didn’t help knowing that he was heading toward the loneliest place in the world - The Forbidden Lands.
Aapeli adjusted his goggles and leaned even farther over the edge of the railing, remaining ever vigilance of what might be hiding in the forest. The nearby caves were supposed to be inhabited by men who loved killing for the sport of it. The rumors were they ate their victims. In his twenty years of stopping at the foot of the mountains to refill the water tanks, there had never been any indication that these tales about the cave-dwellers were true.
It was quite possible the tall tales were just that – tall tales, but it didn’t hurt to keep a sharp lookout just in case there was some grain of truth in them. The last thing he wanted was to wind up on a roasting stick. It would certainly be safer to refill his water tanks elsewhere, but Big Lake was the nearest source of water before heading over the mountains into the Forbidden Lands.
Satisfied that all was well, Aapeli ran over to the helm, checking all the gauges before pulling a level that sent a plume of steam into the air. Slowly but surely the airship began its descent. It skimmed over the tops of a row of trees before settling onto the banks of the lake.
Aapeli patted Airus’ helm. “Way to go, girl, another perfect landing.” A couple of turns on a nearby large brass wheel lowered the anchor until he felt it hit the ground. To make certain it was secure he tugged it a couple of times before running over and throwing the water hoses over the starboard side. Not wanting to chance losing his hat or goggles he carried them over and sat them on the captain’s chair. They had belonged to his father, grandfather, and great grandfather, so he felt it was his duty to protect them.
Satisfied everything was secure Aapeli lowered the ladder but instead of heading downward, he sat with one leg over the railing, casting an eye over the area one more time just to be certain no one had entered the valley while he had been busy at the helm. A flock of birds flew out of the trees closet to the lake. He held his breath and listened for any unusual sounds, and when he didn’t hear anything he rubbed his pocket watch for good luck and headed downward.
Aapeli had nearly reached the bottom ring when an eerie wailing cut across the lake’s usual silence. He halted in mid-step, and chills ran down his spine.
“What the hell??” Every sense snapped on full alert and without thinking he slipped the small handgun out of his jacket pocket before jumping the rest of the way to the ground. The lust, green grass insured a quiet landing.
Before Aapeli had time to decide what to do next another cry filled the air. He flattened against the ship and cocked the pistol. As soon as that cry faded away, an unnerving silence settled over the lake. For some reason that was even more alarming than the wailing.
Which direction had the high pitched sound originated? It was tempting to pull up anchor and get the hell out of there, but that would mean he’d have to backtrack to Little Lake. Damn. Totally unacceptable. That would set him back at least a couple of days. Not such a big deal any other time of the year but winter was quickly approaching. The delay could easily make the return trip over the mountaintop dangerous as hell. The wind currents were unpredictable once the freezing temperatures reached the higher altitudes. The added threat of snow was also a concern. Any added weight would make Airus sluggish.
Those thoughts were interrupted by another wail ripping throughout the stagnant air.
The smart thing to do would be to pull up the anchor and get out of there. The crying had surely drawn someone else’s attention.
“Shit.” To hell with being smart. Maybe someone needed his help. Aapeli stepped forward and scanned the area again.
Something about the crying troubled him. It sounded like more a child’s sob instead of a man or woman’s. Was this one of the tricks the mountain men used to entice their victims?
“What are you going to do? Shit or get off the pot. Some mountain man is out there licking his chops hoping you’re stupid enough to run right into his arms.” But none of the stories he had heard over the years had ever lead him to believe the cave-dwellers were smart enough to pull such a trick.
“Mommy!”
“What the hell?” It wasn’t possible for a grown man to disguise his voice enough to sound that much like a little girl. He stood on his toes and strained to see over the tall grass. He couldn’t chance it really was a child. How long before the cries drew the attention of someone looking for an easy meal?
“You can’t stand here all day.” With no firm plan in mind, Aapeli took off running, silently cursing himself with each step. He was a damn fool for taking such a chance and was probably going to wind up in someone’s soup pot tonight.
Keeping the pistol aimed and ready, Aapeli stopped every couple of steps and glanced around, checking to be certain no one had maneuvered between him and the airship. When he turned back around, a movement at the tree line caught his eye.
Anger replaced his apprehension. What kind of fool left their child alone in such a dangerous place? Aapeli ran across the open field toward the edge of the tree line. He stopped a few feet from the child and peered into the dense underbrush to make certain there was no one in there waiting to attack him. Not seeing anyone he quietly approached her.
Her big eyes watched his every movement so he slowly knelt in front of her to try to keep from spooking her. Her curly, red hair was filthy and matted. Tears had washed some of the grime off her face. A river of snot ran from her nose and off her chin. Where was her mother? He looked over his shoulder at Airus and debated over what to do. He couldn’t leave her here without any protection but he couldn’t take her with him either.
“This is a damn fine mess.” Aapeli scooted in to be closer.
With an innocent expression of curiosity the girl eyed the shiny pistol before reaching out to touch it. Before she could, Aapeli slipped it into his duster pocket.
The little girl was longer crying but was now drawing in ragged breaths.
“Where’s your mommy?”
She slipped a thumb into her mouth and hiccupped.
Before he could question her further, a shrill yelling bounced down the mountainside. This time there was no mistaking the fact that danger was heading their way. Aapeli looked up toward the caves. Seeing a mass of dark dots speeding toward the valley floor, he scooped up the little girl, stood and took off running. Calmly with each step he mentally clicked off what needed to be done before takeoff.
The trip up the ladder took less time than it did down. Once onboard, Aapeli swiped his hat and goggles off the captain’s chair and disposed the child in their place. He vaguely noted that her tears had stopped and her big eyes watched him with interest and not fear. Sensing she could probably use some reassurance that everything was going to be okay, he quickly patted the top of her head before running over and spinning the wheel, hauling the anchor up. With that done, he dashed over to the portside and pulled on the ladder until all of its links of chain were safely back on deck.
Feeling safer now the ladder and anchor were hauled up and no one could climb on board, Aapeli took a moment to look out at the herd of men rapidly running toward the airship. With them all bunched up and on each other’s’ heels it was hard to tell the exact number but the best he could tell it looked to be a group of twenty to thirty men. By now they were at the furthest edge of the lake and were heading in his direction.
“Damnation!” Aapeli glanced over to make certain the little girl was still in the captain’s chair. It was a surprise to see that even though she was now sucking her thumb she hadn’t moved. She was a mystery that was going to have to wait to be solved after they were out of danger. With that thought, he ran over to the helm. He increased the speed on the friction engine and opened the steam vent to release hot air into the balloon.
Even though the friction engine was running on it highest setting, it was an excruciating wait for the airship to achieve air lift. Aapeli pulled out his pistol and looked over the railing. The crazed mob were now beating on the sides of Airus with bare hands and large sticks.
Aapeli shook his head. If that was all they had, they were going to leave here disappointed. Since he had built Airus, he knew exactly how much punishment it could take and a few rocks and sticks were useless against the seasoned cedar planking.
He couldn’t decide whether to be afraid or amused at sight of the ragtag lot. They were grabbing whatever they could and throwing it at the base of the airship, as if that would be enough to stop it from taking off. Most of the small rocks and sticks fell harmlessly back to the ground but every now and then a few would land onto the heads of whoever had thrown them. Of course that only stirred them into a greater fevered pitch, but thankfully to no avail. Airus was slowly gaining altitude and climbing out of reach. By now, even the rocks and sticks could no longer reach the airship.
Aapeli grinned and waved at the mob. The smile was all for show because their crazed growls and hoarse screams had unnerved him more than he wanted to admit. No doubt they would have torn him and the little girl into tiny pieces if they had gotten their hands on them.
Slipping the pistol into his coat pocket, he headed over to the helm and increased the steam pressure. He looked at the dirty little girl and sighed. Shit. What was he going to do with her? She was sucking on her thumb with renewed vigor, but there wasn’t in fear in her big brown eyes - only curiosity.
Not knowing what else to do or say, he patted the top of her head again. When he did, her face lit up with a huge smile.
Before he turned back to the airship’s controls, he knelt in front of the captain’s chair hoping reassure her. “I’ll stop by Shatter’s. I bet if anyone knows who you belong to, it’s him.” That statement was rewarded by another bright smile. Someone was surely looking for this beautiful little girl. If she was his daughter, he would never stop searching until he found her.
With a mission set, Aapeli headed Airus toward the local trading post.
Aapeli
Chapter One
When the airship entered the valley, Aapeli leaned over the railing to get a better view of the area. He never grew tired of looking at the pristine lake that took up much of the valley floor. It was the main water source for everyone who lived within a thirty mile radius – the good and the bad. Stately pine and oak trees snuggled up to the edges of the mountain, creating a wonderful hiding place for anyone interested in stealing his airship or killing him.
“Looks good so far.” He didn’t know when he had taken to talking to himself but took comfort in the fact there was no one there to witness it. Sometimes he just liked hearing a voice – any voice. The daily solitude was a way of life and had been for many years, but there were times he missed sharing ideas and words with someone else. It didn’t help knowing that he was heading toward the loneliest place in the world - The Forbidden Lands.
Aapeli adjusted his goggles and leaned even farther over the edge of the railing, remaining ever vigilance of what might be hiding in the forest. The nearby caves were supposed to be inhabited by men who loved killing for the sport of it. The rumors were they ate their victims. In his twenty years of stopping at the foot of the mountains to refill the water tanks, there had never been any indication that these tales about the cave-dwellers were true.
It was quite possible the tall tales were just that – tall tales, but it didn’t hurt to keep a sharp lookout just in case there was some grain of truth in them. The last thing he wanted was to wind up on a roasting stick. It would certainly be safer to refill his water tanks elsewhere, but Big Lake was the nearest source of water before heading over the mountains into the Forbidden Lands.
Satisfied that all was well, Aapeli ran over to the helm, checking all the gauges before pulling a level that sent a plume of steam into the air. Slowly but surely the airship began its descent. It skimmed over the tops of a row of trees before settling onto the banks of the lake.
Aapeli patted Airus’ helm. “Way to go, girl, another perfect landing.” A couple of turns on a nearby large brass wheel lowered the anchor until he felt it hit the ground. To make certain it was secure he tugged it a couple of times before running over and throwing the water hoses over the starboard side. Not wanting to chance losing his hat or goggles he carried them over and sat them on the captain’s chair. They had belonged to his father, grandfather, and great grandfather, so he felt it was his duty to protect them.
Satisfied everything was secure Aapeli lowered the ladder but instead of heading downward, he sat with one leg over the railing, casting an eye over the area one more time just to be certain no one had entered the valley while he had been busy at the helm. A flock of birds flew out of the trees closet to the lake. He held his breath and listened for any unusual sounds, and when he didn’t hear anything he rubbed his pocket watch for good luck and headed downward.
Aapeli had nearly reached the bottom ring when an eerie wailing cut across the lake’s usual silence. He halted in mid-step, and chills ran down his spine.
“What the hell??” Every sense snapped on full alert and without thinking he slipped the small handgun out of his jacket pocket before jumping the rest of the way to the ground. The lust, green grass insured a quiet landing.
Before Aapeli had time to decide what to do next another cry filled the air. He flattened against the ship and cocked the pistol. As soon as that cry faded away, an unnerving silence settled over the lake. For some reason that was even more alarming than the wailing.
Which direction had the high pitched sound originated? It was tempting to pull up anchor and get the hell out of there, but that would mean he’d have to backtrack to Little Lake. Damn. Totally unacceptable. That would set him back at least a couple of days. Not such a big deal any other time of the year but winter was quickly approaching. The delay could easily make the return trip over the mountaintop dangerous as hell. The wind currents were unpredictable once the freezing temperatures reached the higher altitudes. The added threat of snow was also a concern. Any added weight would make Airus sluggish.
Those thoughts were interrupted by another wail ripping throughout the stagnant air.
The smart thing to do would be to pull up the anchor and get out of there. The crying had surely drawn someone else’s attention.
“Shit.” To hell with being smart. Maybe someone needed his help. Aapeli stepped forward and scanned the area again.
Something about the crying troubled him. It sounded like more a child’s sob instead of a man or woman’s. Was this one of the tricks the mountain men used to entice their victims?
“What are you going to do? Shit or get off the pot. Some mountain man is out there licking his chops hoping you’re stupid enough to run right into his arms.” But none of the stories he had heard over the years had ever lead him to believe the cave-dwellers were smart enough to pull such a trick.
“Mommy!”
“What the hell?” It wasn’t possible for a grown man to disguise his voice enough to sound that much like a little girl. He stood on his toes and strained to see over the tall grass. He couldn’t chance it really was a child. How long before the cries drew the attention of someone looking for an easy meal?
“You can’t stand here all day.” With no firm plan in mind, Aapeli took off running, silently cursing himself with each step. He was a damn fool for taking such a chance and was probably going to wind up in someone’s soup pot tonight.
Keeping the pistol aimed and ready, Aapeli stopped every couple of steps and glanced around, checking to be certain no one had maneuvered between him and the airship. When he turned back around, a movement at the tree line caught his eye.
Anger replaced his apprehension. What kind of fool left their child alone in such a dangerous place? Aapeli ran across the open field toward the edge of the tree line. He stopped a few feet from the child and peered into the dense underbrush to make certain there was no one in there waiting to attack him. Not seeing anyone he quietly approached her.
Her big eyes watched his every movement so he slowly knelt in front of her to try to keep from spooking her. Her curly, red hair was filthy and matted. Tears had washed some of the grime off her face. A river of snot ran from her nose and off her chin. Where was her mother? He looked over his shoulder at Airus and debated over what to do. He couldn’t leave her here without any protection but he couldn’t take her with him either.
“This is a damn fine mess.” Aapeli scooted in to be closer.
With an innocent expression of curiosity the girl eyed the shiny pistol before reaching out to touch it. Before she could, Aapeli slipped it into his duster pocket.
The little girl was longer crying but was now drawing in ragged breaths.
“Where’s your mommy?”
She slipped a thumb into her mouth and hiccupped.
Before he could question her further, a shrill yelling bounced down the mountainside. This time there was no mistaking the fact that danger was heading their way. Aapeli looked up toward the caves. Seeing a mass of dark dots speeding toward the valley floor, he scooped up the little girl, stood and took off running. Calmly with each step he mentally clicked off what needed to be done before takeoff.
The trip up the ladder took less time than it did down. Once onboard, Aapeli swiped his hat and goggles off the captain’s chair and disposed the child in their place. He vaguely noted that her tears had stopped and her big eyes watched him with interest and not fear. Sensing she could probably use some reassurance that everything was going to be okay, he quickly patted the top of her head before running over and spinning the wheel, hauling the anchor up. With that done, he dashed over to the portside and pulled on the ladder until all of its links of chain were safely back on deck.
Feeling safer now the ladder and anchor were hauled up and no one could climb on board, Aapeli took a moment to look out at the herd of men rapidly running toward the airship. With them all bunched up and on each other’s’ heels it was hard to tell the exact number but the best he could tell it looked to be a group of twenty to thirty men. By now they were at the furthest edge of the lake and were heading in his direction.
“Damnation!” Aapeli glanced over to make certain the little girl was still in the captain’s chair. It was a surprise to see that even though she was now sucking her thumb she hadn’t moved. She was a mystery that was going to have to wait to be solved after they were out of danger. With that thought, he ran over to the helm. He increased the speed on the friction engine and opened the steam vent to release hot air into the balloon.
Even though the friction engine was running on it highest setting, it was an excruciating wait for the airship to achieve air lift. Aapeli pulled out his pistol and looked over the railing. The crazed mob were now beating on the sides of Airus with bare hands and large sticks.
Aapeli shook his head. If that was all they had, they were going to leave here disappointed. Since he had built Airus, he knew exactly how much punishment it could take and a few rocks and sticks were useless against the seasoned cedar planking.
He couldn’t decide whether to be afraid or amused at sight of the ragtag lot. They were grabbing whatever they could and throwing it at the base of the airship, as if that would be enough to stop it from taking off. Most of the small rocks and sticks fell harmlessly back to the ground but every now and then a few would land onto the heads of whoever had thrown them. Of course that only stirred them into a greater fevered pitch, but thankfully to no avail. Airus was slowly gaining altitude and climbing out of reach. By now, even the rocks and sticks could no longer reach the airship.
Aapeli grinned and waved at the mob. The smile was all for show because their crazed growls and hoarse screams had unnerved him more than he wanted to admit. No doubt they would have torn him and the little girl into tiny pieces if they had gotten their hands on them.
Slipping the pistol into his coat pocket, he headed over to the helm and increased the steam pressure. He looked at the dirty little girl and sighed. Shit. What was he going to do with her? She was sucking on her thumb with renewed vigor, but there wasn’t in fear in her big brown eyes - only curiosity.
Not knowing what else to do or say, he patted the top of her head again. When he did, her face lit up with a huge smile.
Before he turned back to the airship’s controls, he knelt in front of the captain’s chair hoping reassure her. “I’ll stop by Shatter’s. I bet if anyone knows who you belong to, it’s him.” That statement was rewarded by another bright smile. Someone was surely looking for this beautiful little girl. If she was his daughter, he would never stop searching until he found her.
With a mission set, Aapeli headed Airus toward the local trading post.
