Newton's Cannon by J. Gregory Keyes

Author:J. Gregory Keyes
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: SteamPunk, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781568658292
Publisher: Del Rey / The Ballantine Publishing Group
Published: 2008-06-25T14:00:00+00:00

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Part Two

THE CANNON

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1.

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City of Science

“There they are, Ben,” Robert Nairne observed, thrusting his index finger toward the horizon. “The white cliffs! England at last!”

Ben nodded eagerly and drew in a deep breath, certain that he detected the faint scent of land. Their good ship the Berkshire now drew her wake through the straits of Dover, nearing the mouth of the Thames. More ominous was the green line of France in the east, though Ben supposed what he saw was Calais, in British hands at the moment. Unless he had inadvertently furnished the French with some new weapon, one which, during his three-month voyage, had allowed them to push Marlborough’s troops into the sea. But since the Berkshire was equipped with an aetherschreiber and the captain had kept them apprised of most news, he imagined he would have learned of a new French offensive.

“I’d be in love with any land I saw right now,” Ben said. “And happy with any sod beneath my feet.”

“Let’s hear you repeat that in a week,” Robert said, shaking back his thick auburn hair. His changeable eyes were green with the sea, or perhaps with the emerald fields peeping over the chalky cliffs. “Three years I’ve been away this time. I once said I would never miss England, but I repent it all. There’s some wonderful wild places on the Earth, Ben, but there’s no coast in India nor the South Seas nor the Caribbean as can compare.”

Ben shrugged. It was hard not to envy Robert’s travels, but at the moment the thought of another ocean voyage did not provoke any excitement in him. For between the destinations there was only the monotonous, endless sea. Everything on a long voyage wore out—the wonders of porpoises and flying fish, the novelty of travel. People said the same things over and over again. Fortunately, one of those people had been Robert. The son of a military man, Robert was now, at twenty-one, something of an adventurer, and he had many interesting stories to tell—some probably even true. They had begun swapping pirate stories after Robert had learned of Ben’s encounter with Blackbeard, and they had quickly discovered they had many interests in common. Though his scientific book learning was scanty, Robert had a quick grasp of new ideas. Their long days of discussing what could be had kept Ben from dwelling on what had been.

“I’ve a mind just where we might stay,” Robert went on.

“We?”

“Well, certain, if y’d like. I had no mind’t‘ turn you loose in London alone!”

“I’d be happy of a guide and a friend in London,” Ben said quickly. “I hear ‘tis something bigger than Boston.”

“Something bigger? Oh, yes,” Robert replied. “London! The best food, the finest entertainments, the sweetest little whores in all the world.”

Ben’s ears burned a bit. “Well, I’ve more to do than that sort of thing.”

“Oh, but o‘ course, my young philosopher. You’ll be seekin’ out those scientific men and whatnot. But I’ll wager I can find some time to help y‘ learn the finer sorts of pleasures.

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