The Calderan Problem (Free-Wrench Book 4) by Joseph Lallo

Author:Joseph Lallo [Lallo, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-09-20T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Digger, Gunner, and Alabaster crept along the uneven ground, Wink clinging to Gunner’s side as they went. It was midday, the bright sun casting the fug into a twilight glow that would have made their ship easy to spot. Fortunately for them, a shipyard was an even easier thing to spot. It was nearly impossible to fill an envelope with phlogiston without losing some, and every wisp of the lighter-than-air substance traced a brilliant line of green skyward as it escaped. Once they knew roughly where to look for it, the place was hard to miss, and keeping it from being discovered must have required some very careful positioning as well as every ounce of distraction Alabaster could provide.

Once they were certain they had found the supposed shipyard, they set down far enough to avoid notice and proceeded on foot. This was less than pleasant for Alabaster, who couldn’t be trusted to be left alone in the airship and certainly couldn’t be trusted to behave himself without some light encouragement from some rope around his wrists. More agonizing for him, though, was the gag around his mouth. Remaining silent was visibly distressing for him.

After a long trek they were finally approaching the jagged edge around a circular impression in the landscape about a half mile in diameter.

“Hanlon Crater,” Digger whispered as he approached. “You know, as a boy I wanted to visit this place? I had a precalamity book with pictures of the great natural marvels of Rim, and I thought for sure this one would have survived.”

“Let’s see what your people have made of it, shall we?” Gunner said.

They eased up to the edge and gazed over. A smooth slope led down to a bustling facility they’d only gotten a glimpse of before deciding they couldn’t risk bringing the ship any closer. It was a slapdash operation. Towers and cranes covered the ground, most with the telltale flimsiness of temporary constructions. The crew was a small one, but working feverishly. To call it a shipyard was a massive overstatement. It was ill equipped to do anything but perhaps construct a single ship at a time. Indeed, there was but one vehicle under construction. They were just putting the finishing touches on it, men with brushes applying what looked to be the third or fourth coat of stain to its decking. The vehicle was distinctive, but it was not unique.

The envelope was bright, beautiful red. Five polished turbines with etched detailing wrapped around the center of the envelope. A pair of offset cannons jutted from the front of the gondola, a third emerged from the back. Beautiful, intricate brass filigree decorated just about every inch of the ship where there was room for it, providing an artistic flair seldom seen elsewhere. It was, however, seen in one other place. Precisely one.

The ship before them was a perfect duplicate of the Wind Breaker.

“This is… astounding,” Digger said.

“This is why they were after anything from the Wind Breaker they could get their hands on,” Gunner said.

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