pedestrian catwalks was suspended high above the floor, so as not to interfere with the movement of the airships in and out, or the ground crews. We started up a spiral staircase and climbed the two hundred and fifty steps to the catwalks. I paused, taking in the stunning view. I could see the entire hangar, and there must have been close to a hundred ships currently docked inside. I asked someone where berth 32 was and got pointed in the right direction.
An entire section of the heliodrome was devoted to shipbuilding, and I saw some massive alumiron skeletons, all their ribs and vertebrae showing. Another ship was closer to completion, and the sailmakers were inflating the huge gas cells within her mainframe. Still others were being fittedwith their outer skin. From start to finish, the building of an airship could take years.
We were halfway across the heliodrome when, to my astonishment, I saw Kate de Vries walking towards us along a converging catwalk. She wore a purple tailored suit with a fur collar and cuffs, and a wide-brimmed hat sprouting violet feathers. Beside her strode Mr. Slater. We came face to face and stopped, fourteen stories above the earth, in the dead centre of the heliodrome.
“Miss de Vries,” I said.
“Mr. Cruse,” she returned. There was a terrible moment of silence as everyone looked at everyone else. No introductions were offered.
“Might I have a moment alone with you?” Kate said to me.
“I don’t see why not.”
“Excuse us just a moment, please.” She smiled politely to Nadira and Mr. Slater, and the two of us walked off a ways.
“So, who’s your charming gypsy friend?” Kate asked conversationally.
“That’s Nadira.”
“Lovely name,” she said.
“Isn’t it?”
“Have you known her long?” Kate inquired.
“Practically forever. I’m surprised I never mentioned her to you.”
“Look,” Kate said, putting a hand on my arm, “I’ve been trying to reach you at the Academy. Where have you been?”
I moved my arm away. “Making plans.”
“Deirdre told me you called last night,” Kate said.
“Yes. I spied you with your gentleman friend. Mr. Slater, I believe.”
She smiled. “I can explain.”
“You don’t need to explain anything. I’m turning a blind eye. Just like Miss Simpkins.” I wished I had been blind, rather than see Slater bending over her. “You can do whatever you want.”
“You think I’m interested in him?” said Kate.
“I saw you kiss him.”
“He tried to kiss me!”
“And did you let him?” I demanded.
“Fortunately Marjorie entered the room.”
I didn’t think that exactly answered my question. “It’s none of my business anyway,” I said coldly.
“Ah, but it is your business, very much so.” Her eyes twinkled. “It’s our business.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“That gentleman over there,” she said, “is going to fly us to the
Hyperion
.”
“I never said I was going.”
“Of course you’re going,” she said.
“Maybe I am, but who says with you?”
“Oh, stop being dramatic, Matt. Mr. Slater has a ship that can go very, very high.” She raised an eyebrow significantly.
I stared stupidly for a second. “You’re not serious.”
“He built one,” Kate told me. “Just six months ago.”
“A skybreaker?” I breathed in amazement. I looked over atSlater. “He’s awfully young to have his own ship. Does he come from money?”
“Made every penny himself, I gather,” Kate replied. “He struck out on his own and did awfully well.”
Ship owner and captain both. I felt my jealousy reignite.
“How did you find him?” I wanted to know.
“Philippe, my ornithopter instructor, put me on to him. So I asked Mr. Slater over last night to see if he would be a suitable pilot for us.”
“I gather you found him agreeable.”
“He’s a very brazen man,” Kate said. “In normal circumstances, I’d never associate with him. All I care about is his ship. So there. You
An entire section of the heliodrome was devoted to shipbuilding, and I saw some massive alumiron skeletons, all their ribs and vertebrae showing. Another ship was closer to completion, and the sailmakers were inflating the huge gas cells within her mainframe. Still others were being fittedwith their outer skin. From start to finish, the building of an airship could take years.
We were halfway across the heliodrome when, to my astonishment, I saw Kate de Vries walking towards us along a converging catwalk. She wore a purple tailored suit with a fur collar and cuffs, and a wide-brimmed hat sprouting violet feathers. Beside her strode Mr. Slater. We came face to face and stopped, fourteen stories above the earth, in the dead centre of the heliodrome.
“Miss de Vries,” I said.
“Mr. Cruse,” she returned. There was a terrible moment of silence as everyone looked at everyone else. No introductions were offered.
“Might I have a moment alone with you?” Kate said to me.
“I don’t see why not.”
“Excuse us just a moment, please.” She smiled politely to Nadira and Mr. Slater, and the two of us walked off a ways.
“So, who’s your charming gypsy friend?” Kate asked conversationally.
“That’s Nadira.”
“Lovely name,” she said.
“Isn’t it?”
“Have you known her long?” Kate inquired.
“Practically forever. I’m surprised I never mentioned her to you.”
“Look,” Kate said, putting a hand on my arm, “I’ve been trying to reach you at the Academy. Where have you been?”
I moved my arm away. “Making plans.”
“Deirdre told me you called last night,” Kate said.
“Yes. I spied you with your gentleman friend. Mr. Slater, I believe.”
She smiled. “I can explain.”
“You don’t need to explain anything. I’m turning a blind eye. Just like Miss Simpkins.” I wished I had been blind, rather than see Slater bending over her. “You can do whatever you want.”
“You think I’m interested in him?” said Kate.
“I saw you kiss him.”
“He tried to kiss me!”
“And did you let him?” I demanded.
“Fortunately Marjorie entered the room.”
I didn’t think that exactly answered my question. “It’s none of my business anyway,” I said coldly.
“Ah, but it is your business, very much so.” Her eyes twinkled. “It’s our business.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“That gentleman over there,” she said, “is going to fly us to the
Hyperion
.”
“I never said I was going.”
“Of course you’re going,” she said.
“Maybe I am, but who says with you?”
“Oh, stop being dramatic, Matt. Mr. Slater has a ship that can go very, very high.” She raised an eyebrow significantly.
I stared stupidly for a second. “You’re not serious.”
“He built one,” Kate told me. “Just six months ago.”
“A skybreaker?” I breathed in amazement. I looked over atSlater. “He’s awfully young to have his own ship. Does he come from money?”
“Made every penny himself, I gather,” Kate replied. “He struck out on his own and did awfully well.”
Ship owner and captain both. I felt my jealousy reignite.
“How did you find him?” I wanted to know.
“Philippe, my ornithopter instructor, put me on to him. So I asked Mr. Slater over last night to see if he would be a suitable pilot for us.”
“I gather you found him agreeable.”
“He’s a very brazen man,” Kate said. “In normal circumstances, I’d never associate with him. All I care about is his ship. So there. You
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