A Man Called Rat by Regina Puckett

Author:Regina Puckett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cyberpunk, Steampunk, Futuristic, Steam Powered, Dystopian
Publisher: Regina Puckett
Published: 2016-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“THERE IT IS!”

Rat heart’s almost stopped when Isa leaned precariously over the bow railing. She turned, as though to make sure he had heard, then pointed to a spot on the jagged mountain ahead. Rat, though, could see nowhere on it where a person could survive the night much less live out their life.

He went over to join her, and to check if there was anywhere he could land Independence.

“Are you serious?” he asked.

When she only nodded and smiled, he again looked down at the flanks of the jagged mountain then back at her.

“But where?” He couldn’t believe anyone, never mind four fragile women, could live in such an inhospitable place. “I can’t land my airship down there, and it will take you hours to climb up if we land on the valley floor.”

By now the other three women had emerged from his cabin. Rat wasn’t surprised to see that Selena had an apple in each hand. She had obviously not heeded his warning. The odds were she was going to have a very long and uncomfortable night ahead of her if she wasn’t careful. But then, he had to admit to himself, experience was always the best teacher.

When he then asked exactly where they lived, Isa pointed to a narrow ledge he’d unsurprisingly not noticed before. “Lower your ladder and we’ll climb down to it.”

“Are you crazy? The wind gusts will blow you off the ladder before you could reach it, and anyway, where do you plan on going even if you can get onto that ledge?”

She jutted out her chin in that now familiar way, and her tone held the barest hint of a challenge. “Our home’s near that ledge.” Her chin lifted even higher. “So, do I assume you can’t hold the airship still long enough for us to climb down safely?”

Rat blew out a long breath. “It doesn’t have anything at all to do with what I can or can’t do. The wind-shear up here is too strong. It will whip you right off the ladder before you make it halfway down. I didn’t rescue the four of you just to see you get killed here.”

Isa jutted her chin out even more. “At least let me try.”

“So I guess, if you die climbing down the ladder, the others will be happy for me to land in the valley and make their own way home from there.” He glanced at the others to see if they were just as crazy as Isa. Unfortunately, they just stared at him, as though expecting him to lower the ladder without any further argument.

Isa placed her hand on his arm. “But I’m not going to die, and when I make it safely onto the ledge, I can hold the ladder steady for the others, so it won’t be as dangerous for them.”

“But who’ll make it safe for you?” He didn’t think his heart could stand it if he let something bad happen to her. Even though he was never going

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