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  Adena nodded. "And then?"

  "They stripped us of everything we had, including clothing. One of the thugs gave Cathy a robe to wear then took her someplace. I never saw her again. I was given a scrap to wear like a kilt and taken across a big courtyard or something to a building and thrown into a cell." He grimaced. "I wish we'd stayed together, maybe I could've protected Cathy."

  "I doubt it, Greg." Adena's voice sounded sympathetic. "You, alone against a city full of Pure Bloods and their minions? They would've killed you."

  Greg sighed. "They thrashed me, anyway. I was left alone in the cell for some time. I've no idea how long. Whatever spell the guy cast on me wore off after a bit and I went hoarse yelling for help and a lawyer. I lost track of the time." He looked at her. "Does this place ever see daylight? It's like it's always night."

  "On this side of the world, yes, it is." Adena thought for a moment, then picked up Greg's uneaten apple. She stood and held it toward the light bulb set in a small grill directly over his bunk. "It's like this. Our world has one face permanently in sunlight. That's the day side. The other side is in perpetual darkness. We call it the Dark Side. Our world orbits our sun so..."

  She demonstrated by swinging the apple up and around the lamp, holding it so one side was lit all the time. "The City of Night is almost in the center of the dark side. That's the realm of the Pure Bloods, and their influence stretches to cover most of this hemisphere. We," she gestured around her, "come from a place called Penumbra City. It's a mile or so into the Day Side. The Pure Bloods dare not venture there, or they'll die. The sunlight's fatal to ‘em."

  "So that part of the myth — the one about them hating sunlight because it'll kill ‘em — is also true?"

  "Oh yes. I understand you Earth people also believe Pure Bloods have an aversion to holy symbols. That's not true — or, if it is, it's not true on BloodDark."

  "Uh huh? I sure wished I had something that would've worked against the scumbag who took Cathy and me."

  Adena's face showed sympathy. "You never saw her again?"

  "No. One of the thugs, a guy like something out of a Grimm's fairytale, came and took me and a bunch of other guys from the cell. They herded us onto a train out of God's train set and took us to the mining camp where you found me. They made us work until we dropped and were no further use. " He shivered again. "I don't know how much longer I would've survived if you hadn't come along."

  Adena looked him over. "From your condition, I'd say that you must've been at the camp for around a couple of months."

  "You have months, and days, and weeks?"

  She smiled. "Yes, but I suspect not as you know them. You managed to escape. We saw the riot."

  "Yeah. One of the ogre taskmasters at the work-face choked on his food. I took a chance and buried a pickax point in his chest. The rest you know, or can guess at."

  She nodded and her eyes twinkled. "Indeed. It was well done."

  He smiled out of modesty, liking her praise. "How did you come to be there at the camp, Captain?"

  "We're on a cargo run to the City of Night. The fires alerted us to something going down in the mining camp, so we took a look-see." She shrugged. "Most times the Pure Bloods are busy bickering among themselves, and that's fine for us. We don't poke the nest if we can avoid it. Other times..."

  She grinned, and Greg noticed for the first time how pointed her canine teeth looked. He found the effect unnerving.

  "Other times," she went on, "we pick up what we can from them, when we can." Adena looked at him and rubbed her jaw. "You might be a bonus find on our run. Equally, you might not."

  He sat up in alarm and clutched the blanket, remembering his nakedness almost too late. "You're heading back to that city? I don't want to be retaken by those scumbags!"

  She held up a hand. "We won't let it happen. Finder's keepers, I think you say."

  Her eyes closed until they were mere slits. She appeared to be thinking. Greg ventured a question that had been weighing on him. "Captain, is... is there any way I can rescue Cathy and get back home?"

  Adena opened her eyes fully. "There's always a chance, Greg, but I'm sorry to tell you it's small. The Portal's in the center of the City of Night, and it's the only way on and off this world. The great Houses of the Pure Bloods vie for control of it. Some are more lax at guarding it than others. As far as I know, the current controllers are House Alpha. They're tougher than most, but under Pure Blood law they have to let others use the Portal. All the Houses who hold control tax those who use it. It's what makes controlling it so good for them. Did you see an emblem anywhere after you arrived through the Portal? I might be able to tell you who took Cathy."

  Greg thought. "I did see a badge on the vampire guy's cloak. It looked like a Gothic arch with two white hands in prayer underneath."

  She nodded at once. "House Caronel. They're one of the minor Houses, but that's not to say they're weak."

  "So, we're heading back there." Greg's voice sounded flat to his ears.

  "We are. Should be there in two days."

  "It's not like I have much choice." He sighed and looked Adena in the eye. "I owe you a huge debt, Captain. I don't know how I'll repay you."

  "Something will come in time, perhaps." Adena stood to go then paused and touched his hand where it lay outside the bedclothes. "You must rest. I don't expect you to work your passage, so be easy. If you need anything, Conner's just a call away. Use the bell button on the wall above you. When you're feeling up to it, and if your feet don't hurt too much, we'd welcome you at dinner. There's only one other passenger on this run. He might like the company."

  "Thanks."

  Adena left. Greg sipped some water then laid down, the effort of talking so much tired him. His mind turned to Cathy with an attached sense of guilt at not thinking of her earlier. I wonder if she's even alive? Whatever happens, I'll try to find her!

  Adena walked through the lounge on her way to the flight deck and found Zared waiting for her. As she entered he stood and drew a sealed envelope from the interior pocket of his jacket. "We are one day out from Penumbra City, Captain. As promised here are the directions to the location in the City of Night my uncle wishes you to fly to."

  He handed her the envelope. Using her thumb, Adena broke the wax seal and opened it. She scanned the few lines of directions and her eyebrows rose. "The location written here is quite deep within the city. It's risky."

  Zared shrugged. Adena thought he'd matured since coming aboard. His nervousness had quite disappeared, evident in the way he stood straight and looked her in the eye. "It's what my uncle requires, and I need hardly remind you he is paying you quite well for this voyage."

  "Of course. If this is what Erasmus wants, it's what he'll get." She pointed to the doorway to the flight deck. "My navigator is layin’ the course right now."

  "Thank you. I shall retire to my cabin until lunch."

  He gave her a full bow and departed. Adena shook her head and walked through to the flight deck. Hsu-Li Oliphant occupied the navigation booth at the rear, her head lowered over the drift scope that peered down at the desert. A chart of the area laid spread on the small navigation table beside her. Adena rapped on the flimsy screen separating the booth from the rest of the flight deck.

  "Hsu-Li, we have the coordinates." She handed the young Asian woman the paper. "Lay in a course, please."

  Hsu-Li looked at the coordinates and raised her eyebrows. "This location won't be easy to get to, Skipper. It's House Caronel territory. Those Pure Bloods have all kinds of nasty stuff in the area."

  "I know. Ours is not to reason why, ours is just to do the job and get the heck back home to collect our pay."

  She clapped her on the shoulder and went to the helm. Standing with her hands behind her back, Adena stared out at the scenery passing below. Wide beds of rough gravel alternated with crumbling rocky outcrops and patches of pale sand. Away off to her left higher outcrops rose to form a unified chain of rugged mountains. It all loo
ked familiar from previous runs to the City of Night. For a few moments Adena thought about Oculus Nightingale's destination, the problems they would face getting into — and out of — the City of Night.

  But we'll cross that chasm when we get to it. Do I allow Greg to slip the leash, to go find his friend? I rather like him. He seems like an educated guy. He'd be an asset to the crew once he's recovered and got some meat on his bones. Troubled, she shifted her stance. I fear his friend may be dead — or as good as — already, and I'd sure hate to see him killed in a futile rescue attempt.

  His duty discharged, Zared returned to his cabin and turned out the lamp. He opened the shutter over the single window and gazed down at the desert. The blue-silver starlight and pools of deep shadow between the dunes and rocks entranced him. His mind felt hot and alive with possibility.

  Leaning away from the window long enough to fetch his pistol, he sat and commenced stripping and cleaning the weapon. He did so without conscious thought, paying the task little attention as he gazed out at the perpetual night.

  With everything in hand, I can finish my uncle's business, then begin my own. The City of Night holds no terrors for me now.

  He picked up the pistol and sighted down the barrel at his reflection in the window pane. His reflected smile looked colder than the night outside.

  Chapter 6

  Late on the last full day before reaching the City of Night, Greg ventured out of his cabin for the first time since coming aboard. Conner had given him directions to the lounge, and Greg headed there, using a cane Conner had provided for him. He found Captain Nightingale sitting on a padded seat below the window, reading a book. She looked up and smiled as he entered.

  "Greg! I'm pleased to see you up and about."

  He gave her a sheepish smile. "I couldn't stay in my cabin any longer, Captain. I don't make a good invalid, I go crazy after a day or so."

  "I know what you mean." Adena pointed at his feet. "Are those recovering?"

  "They are." Greg sat on one of the folding chairs around the table. "Up to now they couldn't take more use than the short trip to the head and back. Conner salved them with some form of medicine, and they feel fine — or at least they feel much better than they look."

  "He's a good man, one of my best crew members. He feeds you well?" Adena looked at him with an appraising eye. "You do look more fleshed out."

  Greg gave her an easy grin. "He's a good cook too, Captain, and I like my vittles."

  She smiled back. "Call me Adena. You're not in my crew, and we can be informal. Come." She patted the seat next to her. "Sit down and let's talk." Her expression turned serious. "There are a few things we need to discuss before we reach the City."

  "That sounds ominous." Greg moved over. "Although I guess you need to know what I intend to do."

  Adena gave him a direct look. "I know what you intend, Greg. What I need to know now is how you propose to go about it."

  He grimaced. "I want to find Cathy, rescue her if I can. If you can help I'd appreciate it. If not, I'd like to borrow a weapon or two and go after her alone if need be."

  Adena rubbed her thumb over her eyebrow. "Well, it so happens we'll be landing our goods in a part of the city not far from House Caronel territory."

  Greg flashed a hopeful look at Adena. She held up a hand.

  "It won't be easy getting there, Greg, and if you stir up trouble, it'll be a lot more difficult to leave. We'll wait for you, but bear in mind we can only tarry so long in the City before the Pure Bloods take notice. Then we will leave, with or without you."

  She leaned closer and looked him in the eye. He noticed her perfume again, mingled with the scent of her skin.

  "What I will do is give you directions and the names of people who might help you. I'll even give you a gun if you can handle one and think it'll help. Be warned, if you find yourself in a gunfight you've already lost whatever gains you might have made."

  Greg felt defensive. "I can handle a gun. My job sometimes takes me to places where it's necessary to be ready to defend myself."

  Adena didn't even blink. "Have you ever killed?"

  He began to deny doing so, then thought of the mine. "The ogre overseers. I think I killed three of them, maybe more. That fight's all kind of hazy in my head."

  "Did you enjoy it?" Her voice sounded mild but her eyes looked sharp, questioning.

  "No. I killed because I had to."

  Adena nodded and drew back. "Good answer. I've no time for those who kill for pleasure or compulsion." She checked the clock on the wall. It looked strange to Greg in some way that bothered him until he realized the face had ten hours. "I'll give you one of our air pistols. We use them on hydrogen ships like these to reduce the danger of fire. They have the added advantage of being nearly silent."

  "I appreciate it, Adena."

  "We're not far from the city limits." She glanced at his feet. "Are you up for a tour of the ship? You haven't had a chance since you came aboard. I can show you the highlights before I have to return to the flight deck."

  "Sure!" Greg stood and tried to hide a wince as his feet protested the sudden activity. Adena gave him a censorious look and shook her head. Greg felt his face grow warm. "I'm an idiot." He reached for the cane.

  "Better. Come on."

  She led him into the passageway running along the center line of the gondola and forward to the flight deck. Jake saw her enter first. "Captain on deck!"

  Adena waved to the flight deck crew. "As you were." She ushered Greg in. "This is the nerve center for Oculus Nightingale. Everything's controlled from here."

  Greg advanced a few steps into the area and looked around. A profusion of polished brass, glass and fine wood met his gaze. Valves, levers and dials seemed to dominate what first looked like clutter. His engineer's eye soon saw it to be a compact and organized arrangement. A broad sweep of glass to the front and both sides gave a superb view of the terrain. To his right a companionway ladder rose to a hatch and presumably the interior of the envelope. He could see the elegant curves of the airship above. A small, screened area held a map table over which hung a bright light. The little area was occupied by a young Asian woman with jet-black hair and a pretty oval face. Distracted by their entrance, she glanced up and flashed Greg a smile before bending over her chart again.

  The bridge crew numbered eight, from the navigator through the first officer standing by the wheel looking forward, the two helmsmen, and two other crew in charge of what appeared to be the ballast and venting controls. An engineer sat by the most complex board to the rear of the compartment, keeping watch on the dials and instruments relating to the airship's engines.

  The last of the crew present, a large woman clad in a fleece-lined leather jacket and flying helmet, sat facing aft in a kind of pod set into the floor. The pod seemed far too small for her to fit, but she nested there as snug as a hen on a nest. A fine metal grill covered the opening to the pod so people could walk over it unhindered. As Greg watched, the woman pressed a pedal and the whole pod rotated, bringing what appeared to be a Gatling gun into view. He realized it was a gun-turret, its weapon locked and loaded ready for action. It reminded him the airship wasn't flying on a pleasure cruise, and the thought made him shiver.

  He looked at Adena. "It's certainly impressive."

  She wore an expression of quiet pride. "Thanks. She's a good ship. Here you see our bridge crew. We have engineers in the aft gondola looking after the engines, which we'll see in a while. All in all, we have twenty-four souls aboard."

  "I see. You've been captain long?"

  "Captain and owner for five years since my father died. I sailed aboard her under my dad's command for years before, though. Shall we take a look up top? You'll see what keeps us aloft."

  Jake took a fleece-lined coat from a peg and handed it to Greg. "You'll need this. It's cold up there."

  They toured the ship, from the bloated buff-colored gas bags within the envelope to the engineering deck and the individual gun
positions dotted at strategic locations in the gondola and even atop the envelope. A lone gunner sat in his turret there, swiveling the mounting more to keep himself warm than to scan for threats. It reminded Greg of footage he'd seen of World War II bomber crews on raids over Germany and Japanese-held Pacific islands. Adena stood on a small platform attached to the ladder in the access tube below the gun position and gestured to the man.

  "It gets cold up here, even by our standards. We have to swap out the gunners every hour or they wouldn't be able to take it."

  "You need gunners here?" Greg stopped by her side and stared past the gunner and up at the thin veil of stars overhead.

  "Definitely. I've not known a voyage where we didn't have to beat off some kind of threat. We have flying creatures here that could carry off a fully grown Overseer." She reached out to pat the wall of the tube in open affection. "The old girl's still here."

  "Do you do much trade with the City of Night?"

  "Quite a lot." She climbed a little further and stared up at the stars. Her profile looked noble and relaxed silhouetted against the dusting of stars. "The Pure Bloods have their needs, and their servants and slaves have needs too. Not all of them can be met through their efforts by any means. It wasn't always so."

  "No?"

  "No. The Pure Bloods came from another world, like you, only theirs was — or is — much farther away. From what the legends say, they were driven into exile by the Kloog, a race far more powerful than they. The Pure Bloods fled here and established their base where the City of Night now stands. It expanded over time and they dominated the dark side of the world. Gradually their power declined." Her lips twisted. "They're losing their technology, and they bring more slaves through the Portal to compensate. Nowadays the slaves outnumber the bastards by a wide margin. Some slaves escape and find their way to the Day Side or the Terminator Line."