Free Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) by Lara Nance Page A

spotlights of the Eagle’s Peak aeroport sliced through the sky. The clouds rolled white and dark blue against the grayish pink sky of approaching dawn.
    “Send out the flyer pigeon,” Rett yelled above the rising wind. “Ask for a covered berth.”
    Sam nodded and ran down the steps to the deck and the cabin beneath. He returned in a moment with one of the hardy dark feathered birds held between both hands. He set it on the pilot perch and it ruffled its feathers, then let out a soft coo. Sam placed the note announcing their arrival and docking request in the bird’s tiny backpack.
    “Ready,” Sam said as he scratched the bird’s head.
    “Let ‘er go,” Rett said, as he widened his stance and gripped the wheel. The ship bucked on a layer of rising air and then settled down.
    Sam walked to the side and released the pigeon. Its large wings carried it swiftly out of their sight straight as an arrow to the aeroport control tower.
    “Send the landing light down,” Rett said.
    Sam lit the large gas lantern and closed the glass door to protect the flame from the wind. He lowered it with a rope just over the bow so the land crew could see them more clearly. He then checked the lines at all four corners of the vessel to make sure they were ready to haul over the sides.
    Rett steadied the descent and could now make out the landing area ahead of them. Gas fueled spotlights ringed the large rectangular field and the small specks running around were the ground crew working to get in the flurry of arriving ships before the storm hit. Enormous tin roofed buildings lined the sides of the field and Rett hoped there was space in one of these hangers for them to dock.
    Gambit’s gondola swung to starboard as another blast of wind passed them. Rett leaned on the wheel and gave it a nudge to stop the body of the ship from starting a dangerous pendulum swing.
    A flutter of feathers and their flyer pigeon returned to its perch, flapping its wings to find its balance. Sam ran up the steps and gave the bird a treat, then removed the message from the backpack. He rested one hand on the bird’s back as he read the slip.
    “Great! We’re in hangar number four,” Sam announced with a big grin. He handed the slip to Rett so he could see the light sequences that would guide him in.
    A surge of relief ran through Rett’s chest. They could ride out the storm protected from the wind and rain. The cargo waiting for them would more than pay for the luxury of the covered slip and leave enough to pay off their debt to the Baron. Sam would be happy to work on ship repairs in the comfort of a closed hanger. Seemed like their luck had turned at last.
    He could now make out the flashing lights and began the descent. They would barely make it. Icy spears of rain hit him and Sam took the pigeon below so it would be out of the burst of storm they would have to endure before they entered the hanger. He gritted his teeth, tightened his hold on the wheel and pulled the lever back. They were going in.
    ###
    Belle clung to the rail as the wind rose and drops of rain like bullets stung her face. They were still an hour away from Eagle’s Peak according to the captain. The gondola of the large ship swung side to side in the heavy wind. Jasper had gone below to take more ginger when the wind picked up. Benji was up on the aftcastle with the captain watching the navigation maneuvers with intense interest.
    She pulled her scarf around her face and looked out into the swirling gray clouds. The ground below was no longer visible. Her father was out there somewhere ahead of them. She could only hope they had outrun the storm and would make their next port safely.
    A smile curved her lips as she thought back on all the times her father had come to her rescue or supported her against the odds. When she invented the steam powered spinning wheels he had been as proud as if she had managed to marry the Prince of Urbannia. He was skeptical when she decided to set up