Free Wind Dancer: Secret War Steampunk Series - Adventure, Mystery + Mad Science by Raven Bond Page A

I were to freeze again as on Defender …” His voice
trailed off as Hunting Owl forestalled him with a hand to Rogers’ shoulder.
    “It’s time you did this, Lawrence,” the younger man said
gently. “I’ve watched you; I know you can do this. As my father used to say,
you have to get back up on the horse sometime.” He went on, giving the
Englishman no time to respond. “Besides, I can’t let Saira have all the fun now
can I? Now I’m going to suit up. You have the bridge,” he finished formally.
Rogers straightened.
    "Aye, aye, Captain," Rogers replied stoutly.
"I have the bridge."
     
    Lower Corridors, Wind Dancer , China Sea
    "We’re suiting up as well." Saira said to Ravin as
they strode quickly down the corridor. She had met him up with him while
heading to the armory. "Most surely yon Chinaman has some sparkies, though
hopefully not many.” She was pleased with how Ravin had settled down after his
first drop.
    “Joy,” Ravin said shortly at the prospect. The hot rubber
suits were not comfortable to put it mildly.
    Saira privately agreed with him, but had been glad that Cap’n
Will had agreed to the expense of the suits. Electric small arms were becoming
common, and the rubber suits gave the best protection possible against their
‘bullets’. The suits were not perfect protection. If not properly sealed, or if
they got torn, the current could still kill the wearer, but to face sparkies
unarmored was tantamount to suicide.
    "Be of good cheer,” she said to Ravin with a smile. “We
go from freezing up here to sweltering down there. It is very good for the
blood. Besides," she continued seriously, “you truly do want the rubber if
you get zapped, trust me. So keep it sealed up.”
    They entered the armory, a room with benches for changing
down the middle, weapons racked along the walls, interspersed with suit lockers.
Others were already changing, or checking weapons. The room echoed to the usual
banter and catcalls of the Tigers.
    Saira began peeling off layers as she went, grabbing the suit
that had her name above it. No one bothered about skin lasted long on an
airship, there simply wasn't room. She put it beside her on the bench, and sat
to pull off her boots.
    “Oy, Saira!" Tikku called from down the room in a
lilting voice. "When do I get to suckle those big bubbies of yours?" Tikku
had started the joke upon her first boarding action. Saira, far from finding it
annoying, thought it endearing in a way. Saira stood, pulling on the rubber
leggings up her limbs. Feeling impish, she cooed back to the woman without
missing a beat.
    "Why tonight, Tikku, my light of love," Saira
gushed breathlessly. For a moment, all other chatter died in the room.
    The only things more guaranteed to get her Tigers attention
than a boarding action were sex, pay, and grog, although not always in that
order. It was common knowledge that the islander Tikku really only fancied the
males. That sort of knowledge traveled quickly onboard ship.
    Tikku’s running joke though, gave voice to what half of them
thought upon seeing Saira’s ample endowments, the Arms-Master knew. Her usual
answer to Tikku was a good natured
get stuffed
in increasingly inventive
language that had grown into part of the Tigers boarding ritual. It also reminded
anyone what they’d get if Saira wasn’t interested at the same time. This was a
new turn though, and the others stopped to see how it would play out.
    "Really?" Tikku had frozen in surprise, a boot in
one hand. Her voice now held a slight quiver to it, and her eyes were wide as a
startled deer’s.
    "Aiya, tonight," Saira replied sweetly. She stood
slowly with a sultry smile, pulling on the rubber tunic. Saira left the frogs
open until she had to close them. Most did. The rubber didn’t breathe at all,
and there was no point in sweating more than you had to. After fastening her
knife belt in place, she stood facing Tikku with her hands on her hips,
thrusting her exposed chest out. "In your