The Airship Race (Clockwork Calico Book 3) Read online

  Emmit shrugged. “It’s better to have extra, isn’t it?”

  Cali laughed. “Sometimes, but I think we should keep it light so it doesn’t affect Lionel’s flight. Otherwise he’ll leave it behind.”

  Together they measured out a portion that they hoped would be enough. Attaching it to some of Lionel’s spare cables, they made a makeshift harness. Now the tinker wouldn’t need to hold on with his arms and risk losing his grip. Cali retrieved a bag from Lionel’s closet and tucked the parachute inside.

  “All done,” she said, sticking out her chest.

  “Are you going to test it?” Emmit asked, grinning.

  Cali narrowed her eyes. “You can if you like.”

  He shook his head, and the two shared a laugh.

  “It’s getting late,” Cali said. “I should go up and check on Lionel. Would you like to come along? I bet he’s planning another test flight.”

  Emmit’s paws began to sweat, and he wrung them as he stammered, “S-sure.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll be right there to catch you if you fall.” She could sense his apprehension, the scent of it strong in her nostrils. Failing to find the words that would properly reassure him, she patted him on the back and said, “Come on.”

  He obeyed, keeping pace with her as they exited the apartment and ascended the stairs to the roof.

  “I wish Lionel would install a button on that lift,” Cali said. “Then we could ride up from the workshop rather than going all the way around.” Without thumbs, she wasn’t able to operate the pulley system the tinker had put in place.

  Lionel was working at the ropes of his balloon when he spotted the calico. “Evening, Cali,” he said, waving to her. He glanced up at the sky. “It is evening already, isn’t it?” He shook his head. “I’ve been at this all day.” Stooping, he stroked the feline’s fur. “I want to get in one more test flight,” he said. “There’s talk of rain tomorrow.”

  Cali glanced over at Emmit, who had concealed himself on the far side of the airship. Her instincts were correct. The tinker was indeed planning another test flight. Cali hopped inside the basket, and Emmit climbed over the edge, keeping himself hidden behind her fur. With her mechanical claw, she pointed to a section of the engine where he could ride in safety. It was identical to the compartment in Morcroft’s engine, a standard on most airships. The only difference was Lionel’s was larger, leaving the mouse room to turn and maneuver as he pleased. The tinker’s design was less clunky than the average vessel, reducing weight and increasing speed. Cali wouldn’t mention that to Emmit right now. He had enough to worry about.

  “Off we go!” Lionel called to her as he adjusted his goggles.

  Cali hopped onto her perch, looking over the side of the basket. Liftoff was smooth, the basket remaining steady throughout the process. Lionel cranked the engine and opened the heat valve wider, allowing the balloon to lift higher and drift on the wind.

  “Easy at first, then we’ll give her a push,” the tinker said, smiling.

  Cali purred, approving of his plan. One look at Emmit was enough to let her know that he was not so happy about it. Slow and steady was fine with him.

  Motioning for her friend to come out of the engine, Cali made space for him on her perch. Cautiously, the little mouse left his shelter and climbed up next to her.

  “Are you sure this is safe?” he asked, his voice strained.

  “Perfectly,” she said. Adjusting her fur, she covered him so Lionel would not see him should he look in her direction. Of course, she doubted that he would. His content expression at the wheel of his ship let her know that he was entirely at ease. There wasn’t a worry in his mind.

  Cali felt Emmit trembling, so she offered a paw to secure him. After a few minutes, he settled in and began to relax.

  “See, it’s not so bad,” she said.

  “I haven’t looked down yet,” he said. “I’ve been keeping my eyes straight ahead.”

  “Wait until you’re ready,” she said. “You’d be surprised how nice the city looks from above.”

  It was nearly an hour before Emmit had the courage to look down. “You’re right!” he said, delighted. “I never realized how many patches of green there are among the cobblestones.”

  Cali smiled inwardly. That was what she wanted to hear. Could her friend really be enjoying the flight? “Now try looking upward,” she said. In her experience, looking up could be more dizzying than looking down.

  Turning his face skyward, the mouse stumbled, his balance lost. Cali was there to catch him. With her paw holding him firmly in position, he was in no danger.

  “I guess I need to get my air legs,” he joked.

  Other balloons came into view as they neared the river. Lionel waved hello to the drivers. “My competition,” he called over his shoulder. “But don’t worry, Cali. This ship is going to win.”

  Cali meowed in agreement. Racers had already arrived in Ticswyk, coming from hundreds of miles away. There was no way of knowing any of the other ship designs, but she had every confidence Lionel’s would be the best. He was the smartest human she knew.

  “Morcroft’s balloon is gone,” Emmit said, pointing down toward an empty rooftop.

  Scanning the area, Cali saw no sign of the vessel they’d inspected days before. “Let’s hope he’s not on a test flight,” she said, her mouth going dry.

  With no sign of Morcroft, the pair settled in for a spectacular sunset. The sky lit with shades of pink and orange, the sun moving ever lower until it disappeared entirely from view. A soft shade of purple accompanied their ride home, delivering them smoothly to the factory rooftop.

  Emmit scurried back inside the engine, a look of pure satisfaction on his face. The flight had done him a world of good. He was no longer afraid of flying.

  Once the vessel was at a full stop, Lionel shouted, “Woohoo!” Spinning around he lifted Cali in his arms, holding her high in the air. “We did it, Cali! A perfect flight!” He spun around again before hugging her to his chest.

  She purred and rubbed her face against him.

  “We’d better get you some dinner,” he said. “Let me gather all this up first.” Carefully tucking the balloon inside the basket, he moved the vessel onto the platform. Working at the pulleys, he guided their descent into the workshop.

  Lionel closed the hatch behind them. “We don’t want any rain getting inside,” he commented. “That could ruin everything.”

  Cali hadn’t realized that she’d missed lunch, but her stomach was reminding her now. The smell of tinned tuna nearly sent her over the edge. She gobbled up her dinner, swallowing too fast and making her throat hurt. She coughed twice, but then settled down, slowing her pace to complete her meal. After a thorough bath, she was ready to retire for the night.

  Lionel gave a loud yawn and headed for bed. She trotted along after him, and snuggled at his side. Late in the night she awoke to thunder. Lionel’s weather prediction had come true.

  The rain lasted all day the following day, but Lionel wasn’t worried. He spent the day double and triple checking the engine, with plenty of time to spend with his favorite feline. Cali enjoyed his company, and the two played games with her favorite feather toy and a ball of yarn.

  Between play sessions, Cali caught up on naps. During one particularly vivid nap, she dreamed of sailing all over the world. With Lionel at the wheel, she journeyed to Egypt and looked down upon massive pyramids. Then they headed north, toward sapphire-blue seas. Drifting along the wind, she saw lush green fields of olives and grapes, and orchards full of trees whose fruit she didn’t recognize.

  When they reached the far north, the snows pelted them, forcing them to turn back. Neither of them wanted to be cold. The far side of the globe offered spectacular sunsets, and a land where a massive wall stretched for miles, seemingly endless. On the route toward home, she spotted dense forests and rolling prairies.

  “I don’t think I’m quite ready to return home,” Lionel said as they ho
vered near Ticswyk. “What do you say we journey south?”

  Cali agreed most enthusiastically. She wanted to see what was out there as much as her companion did. The south offered plenty of ocean, ranging from azure to emerald and all colors in between. Massive deserts gave way to fertile valleys, where giants roamed the land on four unhurried legs. Images she had glimpsed in news clippings now sprang to life, the world at her paws.

  She awoke with a smile and stretched her four legs and twitched her ears. Sitting upright, she gazed out her window. Ticswyk suddenly seemed small. She wondered if Lionel might be interested in a real trip around the world, courtesy of his own vessel. But then her thoughts turned to Emmit and how she would miss her friend should she go away on an extended journey. Perhaps she could persuade him to join them.

  Lionel made sure both he and Cali were well-fed throughout the rainy day. “We might be adding extra weight to the airship,” he joked before shoveling a slice of apple pie into his mouth. He’d already gone out in the rain twice to visit the bakery.

  Florence stopped by to share in the bounty of sweets. Gadget came along and accepted several bites in exchange for performing tricks. His most theatrical of the bunch was Florence’s favorite, and she asked him to do it repeatedly. “Bang!” she would say, holding her fingers like a pistol. Gadget would drop to his belly and crawl before rolling slowly onto his back and remaining still.

  Lionel seemed to enjoy it too. “He’s got a flare for the dramatic,” he commented.

  Cali shook her head and looked away. Dogs, she thought. Rather than put on any sort of performance, she stood at Lionel’s ankles and mewed. She was rewarded with the same amount of pastry that had been given to the dog. She looked at him with a smug grin, but the dog didn’t seem to mind.

  “It’s a busy day for you tomorrow,” Florence said.

  “Yes, we’ll have to load up at dawn,” Lionel said. “I’ve already hired the carriage.”

  “Is everything ready to go?” she asked.

  The tinker nodded. “It’s all bundled and ready, every item I’ll need, including the parachute.” He gave her a knowing smile.

  “That’s good,” she replied, oblivious to his hidden meaning.

  Cali stayed quiet, grateful that neither of them had dwelt on the subject. She was glad Lionel had given his sister credit for the parachute’s sudden appearance, and that he was bringing it along.

  “You be sure to get a good night’s rest,” Florence said. “Gadget and I will be heading to the race grounds early. We want to have a good view of the starting line.”

  “There’ll be a crowd like you’ve never seen,” he replied.

  “I’m counting on it,” she said. “How long is the course?”

  “It’s about an hour flight, circling the edges of the city and back,” he replied. “They mainly want to see who has the fastest starting power. They want to sponsor a new balloon engine for short trips.”

  “Making airships more available for short commercial flights, rather than long-distance ones,” she said.

  “Yes, indeed,” he replied. “And that’s going to require a well-built engine that can start and stop and take off again without any hitches.”

  “If anyone deserves to win, it’s you.” She smiled warmly at her brother and squeezed his hand. Standing, she brushed the crumbs away from her skirt. “I better tend to things at the factory. I want everything in order before the weekend. I might even let the girls leave early today to prepare for the race.”

  “Are they competing?” Lionel asked, surprised.

  “No, but they need time to plan what they’ll wear,” she replied. “Come along Gadget.”

  The little dog bounced into her arms.

  “See you tomorrow,” Lionel said. He sprang to his feet and headed back to the workshop to give his engine a final inspection.

  Though their bellies were still full at dinner time, both Cali and Lionel managed to put away a small meal. Cali saved a few pieces of cheese for Emmit, stashing them away for morning. Since they’d be leaving at dawn, he wouldn’t have time to go wandering around the city in search of breakfast. She needed him focused on his task, and he couldn’t do that if he was hungry.

  By moonrise, the rain had finally subsided, leaving behind a soft, earthy scent. The sky was filled with stars and limitless possibilities. Cali wondered if Lionel might one day craft a vessel to travel across the cosmos. Sailing among the stars was an adventure she would most willingly take.

  * * * * *

  Cali awoke with a start, the noise of Lionel’s feet scuffling along the floor. When she padded into the sitting room, she saw that he was already dressed and had placed his engine near the front door.

  “Morning, Cali,” he said when he spotted her. “Breakfast is already in the kitchen.”

  She sniffed at the engine before heading into the kitchen to enjoy her small feast. It was shredded beef mixed with chicken. Not bad at all. She lapped it up despite the butterflies that were beginning to flutter in her stomach. This was Lionel’s big day, and she could barely contain her excitement.

  A knock sounded at the door, and Lionel opened it with a cheerful greeting. “I’m all set,” he said to the man outside.

  A familiar whinny brought a smile to Cali’s face. The carriage Lionel had hired to take him to the starting line was pulled by her equine friend, Nellie. They were in good hands, or hooves, as the case may be.

  Emmit scurried into the sitting room, keeping close to the walls. Cali spotted him and offered him the cheese she’d held aside. The mouse gobbled it up and licked his fingers clean.

  “You ready for today?” she asked.

  “As ready as I can be,” he said. “I redrew the plans to Morcroft’s engine last night.”

  “Why?” she wondered.

  “To be sure I remembered where everything was,” he replied. “I’m going to have to think on the fly and act quickly if I’m going to thwart his efforts.”

  True. It was no easy task Cali had laid at the mouse’s feet. He was going to deserve an extra special reward when this was all finished. She might have to steal another wheel of cheese. “I hope you know how much I appreciate your help,” she told him.

  “I do,” he said. “Besides, Morcroft isn’t just a danger to Lionel. He’s bound to harm anyone who gets in his way.”

  “You’ll be the unsung hero of the race,” she said.

  “Unless Morcroft decides not to show up,” he replied. “But I don’t suppose we could be so lucky.”

  “Probably not, but here’s hoping,” she said.

  The two stood outside the front door, waiting for Lionel to finish loading the wagon. Instead of a normal carriage, Nellie was pulling a flat wooden buckboard suitable for carrying large cargo. Lionel secured his engine, balloon, and basket before climbing into the seat.

  Cali hopped into his lap while Emmit climbed up the wheel and hopped into the basket. No one but the feline noticed the stowaway.

  “Good morning, Nellie,” Cali said to the mare.

  “Fine day,” the horse replied. “Or it will be when the sun is up.”

  “I hope so,” Cali said.

  “Are you flying with Lionel today?” the horse inquired.

  “I plan to,” she answered. “But I’m not sure he knows it yet.” Lionel hadn’t mentioned whether she was to be in the basket or not. One thing was certain, she wouldn’t be left on the ground. Whether the tinker allowed it or not, she would travel with him. He needed an extra pair of eyes to watch for danger, and hers were the best around.

  “Good luck to you,” Nellie said. “I hope you win.”

  “Will you be watching?” Cali asked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “Once the race is underway, my master won’t be taking any more passengers. He’s determined to watch the race uninterrupted. I’d like to as well.”

  “I’ll wave to you from the air,” Cali said.

  The horse nodded and started off down the street. They passed several other w
agons, each loaded with equipment for the race. The soft glow of gas lamps along the street gave the entire city a surreal look that didn’t ease Cali’s growing nerves. She huddled next to Lionel, sensing only excitement from him. He didn’t seem the least bit worried.

  Cali wondered if he had dismissed Morcroft as a threat. No, he couldn’t have done that. He knew Morcroft was a dangerous man, but the tinker was so confident in his ability to outrun him that he wasn’t bothered by the threat. Cali had no intention of spoiling his mood, and instead she decided to take heart from her friend’s bold spirit.

  They arrived at the starting point as the soft light of dawn was breaking through the darkness. The wide field of green near the river was alive with racers readying their vessels for the event. Lionel hopped down from his seat and headed for the back to unload his engine. The driver offered his assistance, carefully removing the basket and balloon.

  Cali glimpsed Emmit, who was still nestled inside the basket. He wouldn’t budge until he knew the coast was clear. Cali thanked Nellie for the ride before trotting away to join her companions. She saw Lionel slip the driver a few coins, and then the man departed. Cali hoped he and Nellie would have a good view of Lionel’s win.

  The tinker had brought minimal tools, preferring to keep his cargo light. With only the essentials at hand, he began assembling his vessel. With all the practice he’d had, it wouldn’t take long. Cali positioned herself between Lionel and Emmit, though the tinker was probably too distracted to notice the mouse climbing out of the basket. He hid himself on the far side of it, and took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves.

  “Are you all right?” Cali asked. There was still time for the mouse to back out if he needed to. She wondered if she was asking too much of him.

  “I’m fine,” he said. “Just nervous.”

  “That’s understandable,” she said. “I’m a little nervous myself.”

  In less than half an hour, Lionel had the vessel ready to go. A steady stream of warm air inflated the balloon, its colors vivid in the early-morning light. Looking down the row of balloons, he said, “There are more than I expected.” The smile remained on his face, and he showed no hint of uncertainty. He was still confident in his impending win.