The White City by John Claude Bemis

Author:John Claude Bemis [Bemis, John Claude]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-375-89312-4
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE GROUP GRUMBLED OVER Lamprey’s incomplete map of the hall, went back and forth on possible plans, and generally argued over next steps. Conker hardly slept for worrying over the plans and about Buck, who continued coughing but so far seemed to grow no worse.

It was late one night, as Conker was watching the moon set over the lake, that a bit of luck came their way. “We were reassigned,” Mister Lamprey announced before the rowboat had even touched the Snapdragon’s stern. “Malley, Jimmie, and me.”

“To the Gog’s hall?” Conker bellowed, as he caught the mooring line. He pulled hard, and the boat smacked heavily against the steamer’s hull, nearly toppling the crew into the lake.

“Easy there,” Mister Lamprey said as he scuttled up on the deck. “Let’s go first to the Pirate Queen’s chambers.”

As the others stumbled off to bed, Conker followed Lamprey to the Pirate Queen’s door, where he gave a small rap. “Are you awake, my lady?”

“I am now, you idiot,” she grumbled. “Come in.”

Conker followed Lamprey inside. The Pirate Queen sat up in her plush bed and placed the pistol she slept with at her side. Rosie, sleeping beside her mistress on the floor, opened her beady eyes and then closed them again with a whine.

“What is it?” the Pirate Queen asked.

“The crew assigned to the Hall of Progress,” Mister Lamprey said, “apparently they’ve disappeared. At least, the boss said they didn’t show up for work last night or tonight. So he put us on their route. We got in.”

“What about the danger of the Darkness!” she barked.

“Marisol and Redfeather, they already gave us those charms to wear,” Mister Lamprey said, patting the front of his shirt. “Just in case we got in.”

“But there’s three of you,” the Pirate Queen said. “Wouldn’t one of you get—”

“Big Jimmie never goes in,” he explained. “It’s the routine. Two collect the trash in the halls while the third unloads it in the wagons.”

Conker waved his hand impatiently. “Could you get the hammer?”

Mister Lamprey shook his head. “We don’t go on the main floor. There’s a service entrance around the back, down a ramp and below street level. All the trash for the hall is picked up there.”

Before Conker could say anything, the Pirate Queen raised a hand. “We learn more before striking. Lamprey, memorize the routine of the guards at the service entrance. Do they use the same men every night? See if there’s a chance to explore further in the hall. But be careful! No unnecessary risks.”

“Aye, my lady.” Mister Lamprey smiled and then nodded toward the door at Conker. Conker followed him down the hall and out onto the deck. Although he was trembling with impatience, he knew the Pirate Queen was right. And more important, they at last had a way into the Hall of Progress. The Nine Pound Hammer was nearly in his grasp.

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