Chasing the Star Garden by Melanie Karsak

Author:Melanie Karsak [Karsak, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780615878775
Amazon: 0615878776
Publisher: Clockpunk Press
Published: 2013-11-14T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“Lily?” I heard Sal’s voice break in. From his tone, I could tell it was not the first time he’d said my name.

“I’m sorry. What is it, love?”

“Wine,” he said with a laugh, pushing a glass toward me.

I pulled off my goggles. The sun was already setting. I looked across the deck of the Bacchus. Celeste raised her glass to me in toast then took a drink. I took the cup from Sal.

“The crew says we will near Malta within the hour,” he said, taking a drink from his goblet. “Ah, as I suspected. On the Bacchus, they have good wine. Drink, my Lily, it will clear your head,” he said then, eyeing me with perception that made me uncomfortable.

I locked the wheel and took a deep drink, swishing the dark red wine in my mouth. The dry flavor of the grapes, with undertones of cedar and lavender, crept up my nose.

“Are you all right?” Sal asked me.

“Do you remember a boy named Abbot? A parts vendor? Bradley’s son.”

“I think so.”

“Whatever happened to him?”

“Hmm, yes, I remember,” Sal said taking a sip of his wine. “He died. Bradley closed his stall for a week. The boy became a sailor and was drowned at sea. Why?”

“I just remembered him… from before.” It grieved me to know his fate. It was like the ocean had taken their little family. Having barely escaped the water myself, I shuddered. I tried to shift my attention away. “Have you ever been to Malta?” I asked Sal.

“Oh yes, many times,” he said as he swirled the wine around in his cup. “Interesting place,” he added with a grin then drained the glass.

“Very interesting,” I said with a smirk as I took a long drink. Indeed, how many times had I woken up in Malta not knowing how I’d gotten there? One of my best memories was of waking up on board a yacht docked in Malta with Byron at my side. We played near the tranquil and startlingly azure waters of the Blue Lagoon until Byron’s fans became too overwhelming. Byron did like attention, but only when he wanted.

The airship towers came into view just as the sun was beginning to set. They were situated around St. Mary’s Tower, a stone fortress turned sailors’ port on the small Maltese isle of Comino. The scene below the towers was raucous. Loud, cheerful voices rose upward into the night’s sky. From the fireworks exploding in the air to the tall bonfires burning along the beach, it seemed that nothing about Malta had changed.

I piloted the Bacchus into port on the most distant tower. Most of the air docks were already occupied, and in the water below, boats of every fashion were anchored all around the island. Roni’s crew checked in with the stationmaster. We would spend the night in Malta and leave for Kos in the morning.

“Let’s get into trouble,” I told Sal after the Bacchus had been anchored.

“While I couldn’t agree more, we must be careful in case someone recognizes you,” Sal said.

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