The Steampunk Detective by Darrell Pitt

Author:Darrell Pitt [Pitt, Darrell]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Steampunk, Sci Fi & Fantasy
ISBN: 2940011407871
Publisher: Darrell Pitt
Published: 2011-07-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Despite the heating within the airship, Jack still felt cold. He had suffered yet another restless night’s sleep and risen early. This airship – the Britannia – was much larger than the Lion’s Mane. A three tiered gondola hung beneath its enormous balloon. Scarlet, her father, the Harker family and Mr Doyle had all taken passage as had a number of MI5 agents and a contingent of soldiers. They had left an airfield in Manchester with a squadron of other airships. In addition, more airships had joined the convoy from France. A few Swiss ships were also due to meet them at their destination.

Jack yawned. The sun was still low in the sky. A man in the galley had made him a cup of hot chocolate and he held it tightly in his hands to keep them warm. When he lent his face close to the glass, he breathed on it and the surface fogged immediately.

“You’re up early,” a voice said from behind him.

He turned to see Ignatius Doyle.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he said. “What about you?”

“Not very well,” Mr Doyle admitted. “I kept waking up thinking about the battle ahead.” He drew his coat around him. “I thought you’d like to know that I’ve taken some steps regarding the poor creatures living on the island.”

“What will happen to them?”

“I spoke to Griffin. He is sending a team over there to find them all and bring them back. Hopefully a cure will be found for their condition.”

Jack looked out the window. “How long till we arrive at the falls?”

“We’ll be there in three hours. However, before we arrive, there’s something I’d like to give you.” He pulled out a small box and handed it to Jack.

“What is it?”

“Have a look inside.”

Jack opened it. The box contained a magnifying glass, a curious rubber object, a lump of something that looked like wax and a metal device with a series of springs and cogs measuring about three inches in length.

“Every detective must own a magnifying glass,” Mr Doyle explained. “The science of detection begins with one thing – observation. Following observation is deduction - assembling all the pieces into a coherent picture.”

Mr Doyle picked up the metal object. “This is a lock pick. A very handy device on occasion.”

Jack took it from him carefully.

He now had his lock pick. He really was a detective – or a criminal.

Mr Doyle seemed to read his mind. “Use only when necessary.”

Jack picked up the next object.

“A rubber nose,” Mr Doyle said gravely. “Every detective should own one. I shall show you later how it is applied.”

Jack looked into the box at the last item – the odd shaped piece of wax.

“My apologies,” Mr Doyle popped it into his mouth. “I was wondering where that cheese went.”

Looking into the box, Jack tried to remember when he had last received a gift.

He realised it was that last Christmas with his parents. His mother had given him a compass, a small brass object with a delicate needle that always pointed in the right direction.

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