The Amazing Airship Adventure by Derrick Belanger Page B

of control right below Sherlock Holmes and the dinner guests. The driver was able to regain control of the horses just as the bus almost crashed straight into 221 B Baker Street.
    â€œOh, those poor people,” Mrs. O’ Hare cried and turned away.
    â€œAt least they’re safe,” Mrs. Hudson consoled her.
    â€œLook!” Jimmy called out. “The barrel..It’s going to crash!”
    The barrel ship began to quickly lower itself onto the street below. Just as its nose was about to smash into the ground, the ship wobbled, and then, seeming to defy gravity, it suddenly shot back up into the sky. It bobbed up and down slightly, and returned to its journey above Baker Street.
    â€œOh! It is going to fly right by us,” Emma said excitedly.
    As the ship flew up past the window, Emma got a good look at the device. Below the giant silver ship, there appeared to be a small cargo hold, with a man on what looked to be a pedal of sorts. The man seemed to be running and steering the mystery ship, as if it was a bicycle.
    Just as Emma peered forward to get a better look, a blinding light flashed through the window. Everyone ducked down, moved away, and Mrs. Hudson shouted out in pain. No one could see anything. Suddenly, there was a sound of smashing glass, and something fell into the room.
    1 Fun Facts: In the time period of this story, the automobile hadn’t yet been invented. Everyone traveled by train, boat, or horse drawn carriage. A hansom cab was a two wheel carriage driven by a single horse. A bus (or omnibus) was a long carriage, driven by two horses, with seats along the sides.

Chapter 3: Ransom!
    Mrs. Hudson, Dr. Watson, and the MacDougall parents called out in pain. Smoke and soot filled the air of the house, and shattered glass covered the floor. “Stay calm, everyone,” the ten year old Emma reassured them. “It was the blinding flash of light from that aircraft. Your vision should return soon.”
    Sure enough, Dr. Watson started seeing the return of blurry shapes, and then, when his vision returned, he saw a startling sight. The apartment was a disaster. The dinner table was flipped on its side, and the food was splattered across the floor. Poor Mr. MacDougall was covered in gravy from his hair down to his belly. “What happened?” he called out.
    â€œWhen I saw the light turning towards us, I did my best to shield everyone. Unfortunately, when I flipped up the table,” Sherlock Holmes continued, “I only was able to shield the twins and myself.”
    â€œIt’s okay, Mr. Holmes,” Mrs. MacDougall assured him while removing chunks of bread that had landed in her hair. “The children are top priority. Now, what happened to your beautiful window?”
    Glass shards were sticking out of the carpet on the floor, and they were even embedded in the walls and ceiling. “This caused it, mom,” explained Jimmy. He was holding up a large rock (more like a small boulder). Around the grey stone was tied a red ribbon, holding a rolled up paper. “It must have come from that thing in the sky.”
    â€œGood job, Jimmy,” Sherlock said and grabbed the rock from the boy. He held it between his hands, lifted it towards the ceiling, and ran his finger through the grains of dirt still stuck to the rock’s body. Then, he carefully slid the scroll out from the red ribbon, unrolled it, and read it over, his face turning grim.
    â€œWhat’s it say?” Mr. MacDougall asked.
    Sherlock handed the letter over to Jimmy and Emma. “Take a look.”
    The letter was written in a strange format. It was made up of all capital letters cut from magazines and newspapers, and then glued together to form words. The note said,
    MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,
    TELL YOUR BROTHER TO BRING ONE MILLION POUNDS TO 221B BAKER STREET TOMORROW AT 5 OR ELSE ALL OF LONDON WILL SUFFER!
    SINCERELY,
    THE MAD BOMBER
    â€œOh, Heavens!” Mrs. Hudson called out.