Khronos (Hanover and Singh Book 3) by Paton Chris

Author:Paton, Chris [Paton, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Steampunk Alternative History
Publisher: Chris Paton
Published: 2015-08-27T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Arkhangelsk

Russian Empire

May, 1851

Taking two steps at a time, Stepan pulled Lena down the station staircase, through a service door, and into a train maintenance shed with two locomotives parked on tracks leading up a gentle incline to the surface. He pointed at a work area at the far end of the underground shed, opposite the exit. Picking their way around work tables, winches, coal spilling from reserves piled against the wall, and wall to wall tools of all sizes, Stepan and Lena slowed as they approached a thick wooden door in the far wall.

“This is the office.” Stepan pressed his ear against the door. “Yes,” he nodded, “there is at least one person inside. Let’s find out who it is.”

“Let me go first,” Lena drew her pistol.

“No, Lena. It is most likely an engineer. I don’t remember any of them being a day under sixty. I am sure he will not be a problem, and I don’t want you scaring him with that.” Stepan pressed the pistol toward Lena’s chest. She slipped it between the bandolier straps.

“After you, Kapitan,” Lena took a step back, nursing her bloody right hand.

“Okay,” Stepan leaned against the door, gripped the metal handle and turned it downward. The door creaked as he pushed it open.

“Who’s there?” a voice croaked out from the gloom of the windowless office.

“Kapitan Stepan Skuratov,” Lena shouted from behind Stepan’s shoulder. “And ten men from the Imperial Navy.” She grinned at the clatter of metal and porcelain coming from within the office. “Better than a pistol,” Lena laughed.

“Lena,” Stepan hissed. “Shh.”

“What?” Lena pushed Stepan toward the door with her left hand. “It is one old man. Get inside before the emissary finds us.” Following Stepan inside the office, Lena paused at the sight of a hunched engineer, with long grey hair tied in a messy bun, a large metal wrench wobbling in a two-handed grip. “Not a man,” Lena frowned. “Who is she?”

“My name,” the engineer let the head of the wrench wobble to the tabletop between them, “is Oksana...”

“Zhidkova,” Stepan smiled and stepped around the table to embrace the old woman.

“Careful now, Kapitan,” Lena chuckled. “Remember we might need her.”

“Stepan Skuratov,” Oksana gripped Stepan’s arms as he hugged her. “Your father was a dear friend.” She stepped back as Stepan let go. “What are you doing here? And what is going on outside? There has been no end of crashing and banging all day.”

“You have not been out?” Stepan moved the wrench to sit on the table.

“No,” Oksana gestured at the untidy cot at the rear of the office. “I slept late, and when the banging began I decided I could stay here. I am getting too old to investigate every little thing. If it was important, I knew someone would come and find me.” She patted Stepan on the thigh. “And now here you are. Alexander’s little boy.”

“Yes,” Stepan took Oksana’s hand in his own. “And now we must tell you about the important things going on outside.

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