Wind Dancer: Secret War Steampunk Series - Adventure, Mystery + Mad Science by Raven Bond

Author:Raven Bond [Bond, Raven]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Impish Press
Published: 2014-12-23T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Main Mess Hall, Wind Dancer

Tikku walked into the mess, weary from a long day. First she had to direct the Tiger exercises, because the Arms-Master was babysitting some British toff they had picked up from the battle, then she spent the rest of her day looking to rigging duties under Chief Bobby. The Chief Rigger had made no bones about him wanting every inch of Wind Dancer inspected for battle damage. Which meant that Tikku had squatted for hours inspecting the hull while secured by only the safety ropes. It was hard, dangerous work which left you tired down to your bones. She was startled to see the English ‘Scholar’ sitting alone at one end of a long mess table. She was wearing airdevil togs clearly in an attempt to ape her betters, Tikku thought. Well it wasn’t going to work with her, she vowed. Coming from Jakarta as she did, she knew all about British trickery and snobbery. Her people had been taken twice over, first by the Dutch and then by the English. The English were a tricky lot, and none more so than the upper classes like Lady Whats−her−name.

Tikku stalked over to the tea station and grabbed a hot mug. She saw a group she knew sitting at the other end of Miss Fancypants’ table and called out a greeting to them, then walked back as they cleared a spot for her on the long bench that served as mess hall seating.

“Here now Tikku,” Greeted Roger a fellow rigger, hosting his tea mug. “Friggin’ hard day checking out for battle damage eh?” Tikku shrugged at this. She gave a sidelong glance at the British woman as she sat down.

“I do not know about that Rog,” she replied loudly. “At least it’s honest work. Not like some folks who just loll around, living off the sweat of others.” She sipped her tea, turning back towards Roger. Roger’s current bedmate, a young man who worked up in engineering, leaned towards her with a hiss.

“Lay off, Tikku,” he said in a low voice. “I heard from Chief Neelam herself that Lady Hadley worked all yesterday to keep the ship from having a cascade failure. She’s earned her berth.” Tikku looked down her nose at him.

“Likely an English trick,” she announced in the same loud voice. “It’s common knowledge that they trick anyone who’s not them when you’re not looking. Aye, and steals from them too!” This last pronouncement was met by an uncomfortable silence among her mates. Tikku slammed her mug on the table.

“What?” She demanded of her fellow airdevils, “You know what I say is true!” A voice came from the far end of the table.

“Would that also apply to your own First Officer as well?” Abagail inquired mildly. Tikku jumped up, stalking down the tables’ length towards her.

“You leave the FO out of this,” she yelled stabbing with her finger. “You are just trying to trick me into violatin’ the Articles!” She raised both her arms in appeal to the room.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.