deliver machine parts and pick up more rum. We're flying low as it is but I can take on a few more if you can do the work. Keeping the ship afloat is tricky business over the ocean and not something I like entrusting to someone who's never flown.”
“We learn quickly,” David assured him. “If you can take the weight, we're willing to do whatever work you have.”
Sophie looked doubtful but Brian nodded.
“You have a plan for when you reach the islands?” the captain asked.
“Nothing beyond getting out of the city as quickly as possible.”
“Dangerous thing to admit to a stranger,” the captain said.
“Only if you do not have the means of taking care of yourself in a bad situation,” David said, his voice gone dangerously monotone. “Trust me, Captain Murphy, the people who have tried to interfere with us have come out the worse for it. I intend to keep that trend.”
The Captain nodded. “If you're who I've heard about, I wouldn't doubt it. There are a lot of crazy rumors going around about you metal men. And the ones about the metal women are even worse. I'll keep my crew to themselves and you'll find yourself unharmed wherever we land, provided you can pull your weight and work where you're needed.”
“We can do what's necessary,” David assured him.
“Even the lady?” the captain asked with the hint of a leer.
“The lady is not afraid of hard work,” Sophie said, pulling herself up. “But whatever rumors you've heard, they are nothing compared to the reality.”
With a slight blanch, the captain cleared his throat. “I'm glad to hear you're not afraid of the work,” he said. “Like I said, I'll make sure my men keep to themselves and you'll arrive unmolested.”
“I'm glad to hear that, captain,” David said, turning the captain's attention back to himself. “When are you planning on lifting?”
“Two hours,” he said. “You'll want to be on board before that.”
“Obviously,” David said.
“If you want the lift, we're in Airfield 9. I'd hurry if I were you.” The Captain stood.
“Will you not be escorting us there?” Sophie asked, not sure she liked where this was going.
“No, if I'm taking on two inexperienced flyers, I need to make some preparations. If you're not there by the time we lift, we'll be leaving without you.”
The captain left and Sophie listened to his retreating footsteps until they were lost in the din of the bar. “I don't like this,” she said. “I don't trust that he just offered jobs on his airship, which is leaving in 2 hours, to us. He didn't ask enough questions, he didn't have any qualms about being paid for passengers.”
“Yes, your concerns are valid,” David said. “But he was also the only person to approach us. We will wait a bit longer but if no other help is on offer, we will take Captain Murphy up on his offer.”
“It was too easy,” Bryan said. “He didn't even look twice at me and I know he saw me when we came in.”
“Like I said,” David replied.
They waited as long as they could and no other offers came to their booth. With a feeling of trepidation, they left out the back and made their way down the dark alley that would spill out near the main road to the airdocks.
Chapter 18 - Set Up
As they came out on the main road, a crowd had gathered around a black cab. The constables had been called but some of the men were already going through the contents of the cab.
“I can't believe she killed him,” one of the women near them said.
“Who killed him?” David asked.
Not turning to look, she leaned his way. “The arsonist. You know, the one who tried to kill her landlady because she couldn't pay the rent? Guess she couldn't pay for the cab, either, but didn't bother setting a fire.”
“What?” Sophie exclaimed.
“That's quite an accusation. Are you sure it was her?” David asked.
“Well, that's what the boys are saying. Says someone saw her do it and recognized her from the
“We learn quickly,” David assured him. “If you can take the weight, we're willing to do whatever work you have.”
Sophie looked doubtful but Brian nodded.
“You have a plan for when you reach the islands?” the captain asked.
“Nothing beyond getting out of the city as quickly as possible.”
“Dangerous thing to admit to a stranger,” the captain said.
“Only if you do not have the means of taking care of yourself in a bad situation,” David said, his voice gone dangerously monotone. “Trust me, Captain Murphy, the people who have tried to interfere with us have come out the worse for it. I intend to keep that trend.”
The Captain nodded. “If you're who I've heard about, I wouldn't doubt it. There are a lot of crazy rumors going around about you metal men. And the ones about the metal women are even worse. I'll keep my crew to themselves and you'll find yourself unharmed wherever we land, provided you can pull your weight and work where you're needed.”
“We can do what's necessary,” David assured him.
“Even the lady?” the captain asked with the hint of a leer.
“The lady is not afraid of hard work,” Sophie said, pulling herself up. “But whatever rumors you've heard, they are nothing compared to the reality.”
With a slight blanch, the captain cleared his throat. “I'm glad to hear you're not afraid of the work,” he said. “Like I said, I'll make sure my men keep to themselves and you'll arrive unmolested.”
“I'm glad to hear that, captain,” David said, turning the captain's attention back to himself. “When are you planning on lifting?”
“Two hours,” he said. “You'll want to be on board before that.”
“Obviously,” David said.
“If you want the lift, we're in Airfield 9. I'd hurry if I were you.” The Captain stood.
“Will you not be escorting us there?” Sophie asked, not sure she liked where this was going.
“No, if I'm taking on two inexperienced flyers, I need to make some preparations. If you're not there by the time we lift, we'll be leaving without you.”
The captain left and Sophie listened to his retreating footsteps until they were lost in the din of the bar. “I don't like this,” she said. “I don't trust that he just offered jobs on his airship, which is leaving in 2 hours, to us. He didn't ask enough questions, he didn't have any qualms about being paid for passengers.”
“Yes, your concerns are valid,” David said. “But he was also the only person to approach us. We will wait a bit longer but if no other help is on offer, we will take Captain Murphy up on his offer.”
“It was too easy,” Bryan said. “He didn't even look twice at me and I know he saw me when we came in.”
“Like I said,” David replied.
They waited as long as they could and no other offers came to their booth. With a feeling of trepidation, they left out the back and made their way down the dark alley that would spill out near the main road to the airdocks.
Chapter 18 - Set Up
As they came out on the main road, a crowd had gathered around a black cab. The constables had been called but some of the men were already going through the contents of the cab.
“I can't believe she killed him,” one of the women near them said.
“Who killed him?” David asked.
Not turning to look, she leaned his way. “The arsonist. You know, the one who tried to kill her landlady because she couldn't pay the rent? Guess she couldn't pay for the cab, either, but didn't bother setting a fire.”
“What?” Sophie exclaimed.
“That's quite an accusation. Are you sure it was her?” David asked.
“Well, that's what the boys are saying. Says someone saw her do it and recognized her from the
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