Free Khronos (Hanover and Singh Book 3) by Chris Paton Page B

are plenty of people to choose from, are there not? Here and in Germany.” He gestured at the Germans and the Northfleet men chatting on the dockside. “I cannot imagine it will be a problem. Plenty to go around.”
    “Against their will...” Hannah whispered.
    “What’s that?” Khaos let go of Aether. Walking slow circles around Hannah, she ran the nails of her right hand along Hannah’s shoulders, across her chest. “What did she say?”
    “It was nothing, Khaos. I am sure,” Aether held out his hand. “Come, Romney , let us banter with the men as we walk to the Steamjammer. Fräulein von Ense looks like she is in need of a pause for thought.” Taking Khaos’ hand, Aether pressed his finger upon Hannah’s chin, tugging her bottom lip down, exposing her fine teeth. “Do think, Hannah. Take as much time as you wish. It will be better that you do.” A fine blue light seeped out of the pores of the skin of Aether’s finger. The light spread over Hannah’s chin, drifting into her mouth.
    “Aether,” Khaos warned. “We must not...”
    “Calm yourself, dearest,” Aether soothed over his shoulder. Hannah’s jaw locked, her tongue sitting heavy in her open mouth. “I have often found, a long time ago, that a little demonstration of power is sometimes necessary.” Pulling his finger from Hannah’s chin, he stepped back as she pressed her fingers around her jaw. “There. Is that better?” Aether smiled. “What’s that? You can’t speak? Don’t worry, I have only slowed the muscles and skin around your mouth.” He leaned in closer. “Imagine what I could do to your whole body. Paralysis is such a time-consuming state to be in. Nothing to do but think. The brain is the only thing we can’t slow. Think about that, during your little pause, Hannah von Ense.”
    Hannah pawed at her jaw as Aether and Khaos walked over to the men. She watched as Aether reassured Armbrüster with a light touch on the arm that Hannah would be joining them in a moment. His words carried by the wind. Khaos waved, twirling about the men, her damp, red hair shedding beads of devilish amusement in the shifting shadows beneath the spinning arms of the derricks.
     
    ҉
     
    The wind whipped at Hari’s robes as he plunged toward the roiling surface of the North Sea. Hands outstretched, the airship escaped him, growing smaller every second as he pitched downward. Hari stared, at the tiny people crowding the windows, peeping above the sill, staring, pointing at something to their right. Hari squinted in the wind as his view of the airship was obscured by a small gasbag deflating with a burst of gas bubbling from the valve in the bottom of the bag.
    The oily black balloon filled Hari’s vision, shadowing his face from the onslaught of rain, and slamming into his body. Winded, Hari stuttered as he grasped at the ropes criss-crossing the balloon, scrabbling for purchase.
    “Take this, Hari,” Luise yelled into the wind. Suspended in the leather bucket-harness, she tugged a hemp halter over Hari’s head as he slid down the face of the balloon. “Get your arms through it. Quickly.”
    Hari gripped the leather guys fastened to the balloon cradle. Luise’s legs slipped sideways as Hari’s weight dipped the balloon. Slipping his arm through the halter, he cast a glance at the sea below, the roar of the waves competing with that of the wind.
    “Never mind the sea, Hari,” Luise pulled the halter tight as Hari fought his other arm through the opening. Securing Hari to the chest strap of the bucket-harness, Luise leaned back to stare up toward the airship.
    “Thank you,” Hari dangled beneath Luise’s head, his body twisting in the wind.
    “We’re not there yet, Hari,” Luise leaned father back. “Where is he?”
    “Who?”
    “Jacques. He is supposed to...” The balloon jerked upward, its descent slowed with an abrupt stop. “There,” Luise gripped the leather steering guys.
    “You have a rope attached to the balloon?”