Free Clockwork Twist : Waking by Emily Thompson Page A

swung his shovel at his head, swift and strong.
    The thug let out a yell of pain as the unexpected blow connected hard against the side of his head.  He fell to the coal at Twist's feet in a heap, and the other thug rushed with a growl to attack Twist.  Twist thrust his shovel forward into the thug's stomach, the force of the blow pushing him back a step.  The thug let out a grunt, his eyes glassing over as his dropped to the ground beside his fellow.
    “Come on,” Twist said over his shoulder to Halil, already heading out into the hallway again.  “Which way is the bridge?”
    “How did you...?” Halil gasped, stepping carefully around the fallen thugs.
    “Halil,” Twist snapped, stopping to turn on him with a threatening fire in his bright, steel-blue eyes, “I have neither the time nor the patience.  Are you coming or not?”
    Though he jumped back at the sight of Twist's intent gaze, Halil nodded quickly and pointed. “Down that hallway, and take the stairs.”
    The two hurried through the cramped passageways with Twist taking the lead.  Halfway along the upper hallway, a man appeared in a corridor to the right.  Twist swung his shovel back without slowing his steps.
    “Benny!” Halil yelped, hurrying to the new man. “Twist, don't!”
    Twist backed away from Halil and glared at him like an angry dog.
    “He's a slave, like us,” Halil said, his voice shaking slightly.  Twist glanced up to see a fair skinned older man now behind Halil.  He stared back at Twist with green eyes, edged with alarm.  He was holding a tray of wretched looking food and a metal cup of dark liquid.
    “Halil, what are you doing?” Benny asked with an accent invisible to Twist's ears.
    “Escaping...” Halil said, looking rather uncertain about it.
    “Where are you going with that?” Twist asked, nodding at the tray of food.
    “The captain ordered something to—“ Benny began.
    “The captain is on the bridge?” Twist asked, a wicked grin taking shape on his face.
    “Yes, he usually eats—“
    “Perfect,” Twist said, nodding to himself. “Take the lead, Benny,” he said, stepping back to let him pass.
    “But … how do you plan to—” Benny began to ask.
    “Now,” Twist said, his voice quiet but sharp as a knife.
    Benny stared at him for only an instant longer before he hurried past him and on towards the bridge.  Twist and Halil followed him silently until they stopped at another closed metal door with a wheel in its center.
    “I'm supposed to announce myself and then enter,” Benny said quietly.
    “Get on with it then,” Twist said with a heavy helping of indignation.
    “I want no part of this escape of yours,” Benny said, pulling himself up to his full height as he stared back at Twist.  Twist looked up at him, unmoved.
    “Afraid the pirates will beat you for helping me?” he asked, his voice even but acidic. “Open the door or I'll beat you until you beg for them.”
    Benny only spared one more moment before he gave a sigh and turned to the door.  He knocked and yelled through the metal that the captain's meal had arrived.  After a pause, the door was opened.  The man who opened the door didn't even look at Benny.  Instead, he turned right around and walked away into the room.
    “Why are we still only at half speed?” a voice said from within.
    Twist pushed Benny aside with his shovel and leaped into the room.  Large flat windows filled the front half of the room, looking out into the green sea over consoles of varying design.  A single brass chair with blue velvet cushions sat in the center of the room, the ship's captain sitting at the edge of it.  Many other controls, pulls, and speaking tubes filled the back wall along with the now opened door.  Three other men stood at places inside the bridge, each concerned only with the consoles in front of them, as Twist swung his shovel back.
    The first man was struck heavily across his shoulders from behind, and he fell instantly,