Free The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) by Giles, Lori Othen Page B

crew member that I knew for certain would be at his station.”
    “Aye of course Mr. Jones, of course. How could I ‘ave possibly mistaken this for part o’ the great tomato feud, my apologies Sir!” Mr. Wallace turned back to face the helm again, Jerard could see his shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
    Jerard was fighting to keep a straight face himself. He had not clue as to what the great tomato feud might be but he knew this would not be the time to ask about it. He also had never witnessed such a non-professional display on a ship’s bridge and was frankly at a loss as how to respond to it. The only thing he was certain of was that every time he looked at Mr. Jones from here on out he would be thinking of the man as Annie. Damn you Wallace! He cursed to himself, trying again to not laugh. Thank god Mr. Jones was carrying on in a professional manner.
    “Now then Captain, all of the speaking grills are wired to the bridge. This is the only place where you can access all of the grills individually. You do so by depressing the appropriately labeled switch. This switch here,” Mr. Jones pointed to the last switch on the first row, “will activate all of the grills at once so you can send out a ship wide message.”
    “That is amazing Mr. Jones. So, if I were in another part of the ship and I heard the call for the Captain to come to the bridge then I would depress the switch next to the grill and speak into it.”
    “Yes Sir, that is correct. But you must remember to hold the switch down while you are speaking and then let go of it to hear a reply.”
    “Very good Sir. Thank you Mr. Jones, carry on!” He turned away from the junior navigator proud that he had not called the man Annie to his face.
    Jerard next moved to the last unexplored station, the one he assumed was his. There was a tall chair anchored to the deck with more of the swirling brass fittings. He noted that it also swiveled like the other crewman’s chairs and had a rather comfortable looking green velvet cushion. While the presence of a captain’s chair was not unusual on an airship, it was not something he was used to. Jerard was happy to see it, it would be a welcome treat on long flights. However what was unusual was the podium like structure in front of the chair. On close examination he discovered that its lid lifted and it contained the captain’s log, several sheets of fine vellum and several strange pencil shaped things but no inkwell. I shall have to have a look at this latter he promised himself, but not now, not when everyone seemed to be staring at him. Now, he thought, we shall have a look at the rest of this beauty, all 500 odd feet of her. Being a true pilot himself Jerard was anxious to get to the rest of the tour; he had so many questions.
    He closed the podium lid with a snap and turned to find Nichols having a brief word with one of the stewards in the bridge doorway. Nichols caught his eye and offered. “Your baggage is aboard Sir. would you care to see your cabin next?”
    “Yes I think so Mr. Nichols.” Jerard turned back to the still assembled bridge crew, “I understand that we will be underway soon gentleman, you are dismissed for now to make any further preparations.”
    Nichols smiled at Jerard in obvious approval and led the way out of the bridge, across the ante chamber and up the slight grade of the companionway into the heart of the ship. Tanner followed with the captain’s lone piece of luggage. Jerard caught the faint sound of conversation behind them and wondered what his new crew was discussing.
    The main hallway ran the entire length of the keel and was every bit as elegant as the bridge and anti-chamber had been. The walls appeared to be paneled half way up in wood, the upper portion sported an elegant damask wallpaper in a pale green. Jerard shook his head at the weight extravagance, this much wood must weigh a ton considering that the hallway was nearly 400 feet long. It was beautiful though and he