The Cog Work Apprentice in Dark Skies by Lee William Tisler

Author:Lee William Tisler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, steampunk, alternate history, fantasy adventure, airships, kindle book, steampunk adventure, bushranger, dark skies
Publisher: Lee William Tisler

Chapter 6: The Operator Latchkey

John turned to face Ned, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

“I saw Elise and Jesse. I yelled to them, but they didn’t hear me because of the commotion,” Ned said, pointing at the sky.

John listened but reserved his excitement about Elise. He noticed Ned adjusting something in a pocket under his coat, but Ned stopped when he saw John watching. John could see movement against the backdrop of the burning house and saw someone limping away from it. He rushed over to see the lieutenant, beat up and slightly burned, but otherwise okay. Ned and the lieutenant stared at each other. It was obvious to John that they knew each other, but he said nothing. The lieutenant straightened himself and brushed off debris.

“Did Edwin and Ox make it?” John asked.

“No, I just slipped through the doorway before it shut,” the lieutenant answered.

Ned walked over, and when within a few arm’s lengths, the lieutenant sprang forward and grabbed Ned around the neck.

“You son of a—” Ned cursed but had to stop to catch his breath.

“…I will kill you,” the lieutenant said.

Ned pushed the lieutenant, who was still unsteady on his feet, onto the ground.

“You stupid fool.” Ned spoke down at the man before taking a few steps back, allowing him to get to his feet.

“It would be best if you hand it over, Ned.”

“I don’t have it, but I know who does. My nephew, Jesse, has it.”

“What is going on?” John demanded.

There was no response from Ned or the lieutenant.

“What do you have in your inner pocket?” John asked.

The lieutenant’s eyes lit up as he stared at Ned. Ned brought a thin wooden box with a metal clasp out from his pocket and made to open it.

A shot flew past Ned’s head, narrowly missing him. John fired back wildly with his capacious disperser, as he didn’t know where the shot came from. Out of the corner of his eye, John saw Ned hastily put the wooden box away. The lieutenant squatted to make himself a smaller target, but he had no weapon. No shots followed the initial one.

“Did we hit him?” John whispered.

“Maybe he retreated.” Ned whispered back.

After a short period of time, the tension eased, and Ned brought the box out and opened it. John moved to get a better look at half an operator latchkey made of metal. It had different alloy parts, with minimal riveting and some unusual indentations. On seeing the key, the lieutenant swore profusely.

“Jesse has the other half, I am sure of it. We are wasting precious time standing around,” Ned said.

The lieutenant agreed, and Ned led them off in the direction Jesse had headed. A short period of time passed before John found himself thinking of Elise.

“Elise is probably still with Jesse, John. She will be okay.” Ned said, as if he had read John’s mind.

His mind at ease about Elise, John wanted to know more about the key. “Ned, what is the latchkey for, and why does Jesse

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