Second Veil by Wilson David

Author:Wilson, David [Wilson, David Niall]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2011-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The Axis docked without a hitch beside the Vector on the first airship tower at The Outpost. Slyphie, Lyones, and Myklos were all business, securing the airlocks and descending to the platform, but Zins stood for a long time on his bridge, staring over at the Tangent. It was huge. The lines were similar to the smaller ships, but it was obvious that she was more durable than the smaller craft. There were twice the normal number of supports lining the outer hull, and the inner hull, an Imperium membrane similar to those used for the patches, was still visible in areas where construction had yet to be completed.

Termac stepped up beside Zins.

"She's magnificent, I'll grant you that," he said. "Most of the cities don't even have a dock that could accommodate her."

"Euphrankes is crazy," Zins said. "But it doesn't matter. I have to get on board that ship, and I have to find out if it can do what he says it can. There are a lot of things to work out in a very short amount of time. I hope he doesn't take his time on the road from Urv."

"He's as anxious as you are," Termac replied. "More so, I'd think. After all – you admire it, but Euphrankes built it."

"He did indeed," Zins said. "Let's get down below and see what we can do to help get started on more of those patches. I swear, it's like the secret fell into Euphrankes' lap the second it was needed. I don't give two thoughts to the words of Myril and his priests, as you know, but if I were a religious man, I'd have to say our friend appears to be blessed."

The two gathered their crew and descended to the airship platform, then down to the ground of The Outpost. Lyones was waiting for them with one of the small carts, and they rode on to the main complex in relative silence. Zins was the first to break it.

"This would never be tolerated in Urv," he chuckled. “Riding when we could walk, using up precious air…"

"We make more than we waste," Lyones told him. "We have our own pumps, and they're working round the clock…we also have a recycling system that retains more of what we breathe than the old one did. It's really pretty simple."

"Perhaps," Zins laughed, "but I'm not an engineer, or an inventor. I leave the creation of amazing things to people like Euphrankes – and then I put them to use. Like the Axis. You know his father designed her, yes?"

Lyones nodded. "Euphrankes has talked about it. It was one of the first, wasn't it?"

Zins laughed. "The second, to be exact. The first ship – the Alexis – crashed. One of the lessons learned in air travel has been to remain between the veils whenever possible. Flying directly over the surface of the outworld affects changes in the way the ships handle. But you know all of this."

"My father was on the Alexis," Lyones said.

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