The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) Read online

  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 raised a finger to trace along the paneling’s chair rail. He gasped in amazement and stopped in his tracks. Mr. Tanner nearly ran into the startled man. “This…this is paint! How…?”

  Mr. Tanner chuckled. “The latest import from France, Sir. Painting one thing to look like another, I believe it is called Trompe L’œil. It’s really amazing and hard to keep from touching it. You will get used to it, Sir. There’s quite a bit of it on board.”

  “Amazing indeed Sir! Thank you Mr. Tanner, I now feel somewhat enlightened.” Although Jerard had to wonder at the extravagant expense of painting this much hallway.

  “If you are interested in architectural features then I must direct your attention to the circular stairway that leads to B deck.” Nichols chimed in pointing to what appeared to be an elaborately carved wooden stairway with leaves and vines picked out in gold gilding. “It’s duralumin, Sir. Mr. Beardmore explained to me that it gets its strength from being molded all of one piece. Quite a feat of engineering, if I say so myself, Sir and another example of this tromp lee stuff.”

  Jerard nearly laughed out loud at the engineer’s mangling of the French. He ran his hand along one of the balusters and shook his head. “It really does feel like carved wood and it certainly looks like it. So I have to ask, the settee and other furniture on the bridge? Duralumin?”

  “Right again, Sir. I am given to understand that Miss. Smythe-Harris and Mr. Beardmore worked together on those. The lady seems to have quite an eye for design and according to Mr. Beardmore she has the technical understanding to make these pieces as strong as they are beautiful. Mr. Beardmore seems to hold the lady in the highest esteem.”

  Phillips nodded and filed away these two pieces of information about Miss. Smythe-Harris. The first, she appears to be an intelligent and tasteful designer and the second, a man famous for manufacturing and design holds her in esteem. Most curious. “Lead on Mr. Nichols, I am thinking that I am in for many more surprises today.”

  Nichols and Tanner shared a knowing look of agreement before Nichols turned to the first door in the passageway. “This Sir, is Mr. Wallace’s cabin and directly across here is Mr. Pruette’s. This next door here Sir, is your’s and my cabin is directly across here.” Nichols indicated the door across from where the trio stood before he turned and took a key from his pocket. He unlocked the door and handed the key to Jerard. “This is a master key. I have one as does Mr. Howell. It fits all of the locked doors on the ship with one exception.”

  “Oh?” Phillips said curiously.

  “Yes Sir, the exception is the secure locker further up the companionway. Here is your key for that door, Sir. I have one, you have one, Mr. Starblower has one as does each of the Landover brothers.”

  “Very good, Mr. Nichols, I assume you will enlighten me on what that locker contains at a later time.”

  “I can tell you now Sir, all of the crew is aware of it. It’s the weapons locker.”

  Jerard raised an eyebrow but declined to comment. What the devil does a passenger ship need with a weapons locker? Never mind, he thought, something else to explore later. Jerard opened his cabin door and gasped out loud. This was the biggest airship cabin he had ever seen! He took several steps into the room to get a good look.

  A large bed accompanied by a small table to each side took up the far end of the room. An oversized viewing port complete with elegant draperies was set into the wall directly over the bed. In front of the bed was a pair of upholstered chairs with a small cabinet between them. The chairs were angled slightly toward one another so that their occupants could share the large ottoman set in front of the chairs. To his right was a huge French style armoire and to his left a secretary and chair. To Jerard’s surprise a rather large cabinet was positioned beside the secretary. This unusual piece of furniture had a porcelain bowl for washing set into the top and a matching water pitcher. The washing stand was completed by a large mirror set above it. His fingers itched to touch the elaborate mirror frame to determine if it were wood or duralumin.

  “Mr. Tanner,” Nichols said into the silence. “Would you do the honor of showing our captain the amenities?”

  “Of course Sir.” Tanner grinned. He placed Jerard’s valise on the ottoman and moved to the armoire to open the doors. “I shall unpack your things into here for you Sir once we get underway.” Tanner then moved to one side of the bed and indicated a pair of strange lights, one set above the other and whose arrangement was repeated on the other side of the bed. “The top light here, Sir is a standard gas light, the matches to light them are in the bedside tables.” Tanner unnecessarily demonstrated by opening the drawer. “Now these lights below, Sir are electric.”

  Curious, Jerard moved closer. “How do you light them Mr. Tanner? I believe this is my first up-close look at an electric light.”

  Tanner reached up and twisted something that looked like an over large rivet at the bottom of the bulbous globe. The light snapped on with a pale nacreous glow. “They are self igniting Sir, quite ingenious.”

  “Agreed Mr. Tanner, agreed.”

  “There is a master control switch for the lighting on the bridge and in the engine room Sir.” Nichols interjected. “In cases of foul weather the gas lines can be closed so that only the electric lights work. A useful safety feature I believe Sir.”

  Jerard nodded but had a question. “Why then Sir have both electric lights and gaslights? These electric lights seem quite marvelous.”

  “True Sir, they are but the gaslights are a magnitude brighter. I think that you will find Sir that should you wish to do any work or reading in your quarters you will need the gaslights at night.

  “Ah.” Phillips said, nodding in understanding.

  Tanner then moved to the washing cabinet Jerard had noticed earlier. He turned to Phillips grinning like a schoolboy with a secret. “This Sir is the commode.”

  Jerard chuckled, “I can see that Mr. Tanner.”

  “Oh not yet Sir, look at this!” Tanner moved the water pitcher and bowl from the top of the cabinet to the secretary. He lifted the cabinet’s lid and exposed a small hook that he used to secure the cabinet’s top to a matching eye set into the wall. He then opened the front of the cabinet with a flourish and folded the door back on an unusual set of hinges so that it lay flat against side of the cabinet.

  Jerard burst out laughing when he saw the large chamber pot placed in the middle of the now three sided cabinet. “Bravo Sir! I never would have guessed that was there.”

  Tanner motioned Phillips forward. “Look Sir, here is the best part. Do you see the lever at the back of the cabinet there? Watch, Sir.” Tanner stepped on the flattened leaver and the bottom of the chamber pot opened up to reveal a dark open hole.

  “I say! Now that’s handy!”

  “Especially for me Sir,” Tanner replied trying hard not to smile. “You can use your shavin
g and washing water to rinse out the pot when your ablutions are completed. Very tidy, Sir.”

  “Very tidy indeed, Sir,” Phillips agreed, still chuckling.

  Jerard heard a sound from outside. He cocked his head trying to identify it. “Do you hear that gentleman?”

  Both men paused in an attitude of listening. “Ah,” Nichols said. “That would be Miss Smythe-Harris and Gopal arriving.” He turned to Tanner, “Sir, I expect Mr. Howell will be wanting you in the cargo bay.”

  “Yes Sir, uh, Sirs” Tanner replied and made a hasty retreat.

  “Mr. Nichols?”

  “Yes Sir?”

  “Is Miss. Smythe-Harris arriving by motorbike? I would swear that is the sound I am hearing.”

  “Yes Captain you are correct on both counts and from what I am hearing the engine should be cut about…now. The next sound you will hear is…ah, there it is. That is the sound of the vehicle cradle being raised.”

  Jerard not only heard the sound of chains and pulleys but also the sound of a small steam engine. A few moments later there was a definite thud as the cargo bay lift seated itself. Jerard sighed and looked at Nichols, “If you will excuse me Mr. Nichols, I should go to the cargo bay and greet Miss. Smythe-Harris.”

  “Oh no Sir. We have strict instructions to be at our stations and ready to lift off the moment they arrive.”

  “Very well then.” Phillips said a bit stiffly. “Perhaps we can resume the tour once we get underway.”

  “Very good Sir.” Nichols saluted and exited the cabin at a very fast walk.

  I wonder what the hurry is, Jerard thought. Most of the women he had ever come into contact with took forever to get themselves settled. We could probably have finished the tour of this deck before her ladyship decided to give the order to depart. Phillips moved into the hallway and locked his door before heading back toward the bridge.

  As Jerard stepped onto the bridge he heard Mr. Jones talking loudly into the speaking grill. “All hands to stations, prepare for take-off.” Jerard was pleased to note that all of his bridge crew was in place and ready for their departure. He noted the time was 7:50 and recalled that Miss Smythe-Harris wanted to depart London at 8:00 am sharp. Very good, he thought.

  “Ground crew, open roof doors!” Mr. Jones shouted into a separate speaking grill.

  Jerard could faintly hear Jones’ orders echoed outside of the airship. Roof doors? Curious Jerard moved to the front of the gondola to peer out of the glass. He could see two men, one at each visible corner of the hangar, working at what appeared to be huge steam engines. As the steam played over the ship she began to rock gently as if she were awaking from a long slumber. He found himself laughing out loud both from the thrill of being off and from the fact that he hadn’t noticed the men and huge engines when he first entered the hangar. It was obvious to him now why the great crowds of ground crew he was used to were not present. Especially if there were two more great engines positioned on the other side of the hangar.

  Looking up as far as he could see, Jerard could tell that the engines powered a series of chains and pulleys. As he observed the chains begin to move, a great creaking sound could be heard from overhead. “Fantastic!” He said out loud.

  “Agreed Sir!” Mr. Wallace replied. “It’s one o’ me favorite bits. When this lady’s at home there’s none o’ that dragging her around with ropes. No Sir. It’s first class all the way, I just float her up through the hangar roof. Landing in here’s near as easy, we just drop the lines and the lads winch her in. Nice bit o’ kit if I do say so Sir.”

  “I’m glad you approve Mr. Wallace.”

  Jerard whirled around at the sound of the warm and distinctly feminine voice. “Madam, it’s good to see you again.”

  “And you Mr. Phillips.” Tash nodded in Jerard’s direction. “Are we ready to depart Gentlemen?”

  The chorus of “Aye” was sharp and prompt. Tash smiled. “Excellent! Mist…er…Captain Phillips, if you would give the command, I believe it is time to take her up.” Tash glided past Jerard and down the step into the navigation bubble.

  Jerard fancied he could feel her excitement or was it just his own? Casting his eyes at the rest of crew he realized that the entire bridge was as excited as he.

  “Yes Madam.” Jerard replied, executing a sharp salute. He was still not sure about how this whole private airship captaining was to work. Perhaps he should have bowed as he was addressing a lady? I will worry about this latter he thought as he moved to stand at his station, for now let’s get this girl in the air!

  “Start the engines Mr. D'Arcey. Mr. Wallace, take her up at your...” Phillips paused as it dawned on him the irony of what he was about to say, “...At your discretion, Sir”

  “Aye captain.” The helmsman acknowledged with a grin. “Lateral props to 90 degrees, sound the alarm lads we’re off!”

  As the warning claxon sounded within the ship, on the outside the small brass cylinder lamps set at her compass points flickered. Their amber glass glowed a soft warning as the stately airship came to life.

  Rotating on servos the two central propellers of the Soul of Discretion dropped from directly aft to face the concrete floor of the massive hangar. In the engine room a clutch was engaged and the six foot long blades began spinning. Clouds of steam, escaping from the hangar door machinery, billowed in all directions as the propellers engaged.

  In unison the amber running lights became green, and below, squinting from the wind the ground crew to a man grinned as the ship ascended directly upwards. Technically they should close the door right after she cleared it but none of them had gotten tired of watching their ward rise like some shimmering silver fish into the morning air.

  Back in the cockpit Wallace thumbed a control and announced, “We have cleared the hanger. Mr. D'Arcey, engage engines three and four.”

  “Heading 280 degrees north by northeast Wallace.” Pruette declared without looking up from his map station.

  The second pair of engines engaged rotors, and Jerard felt the upward movement change to a diagonal climb. Shifting his balance at the unfamiliar pull he slowly settled into the captain’s chair.

  Seeing Wallace had finished twirling the rudder wheel he essayed a question. “Can all the props swivel like that Mr. Wallace?”

  “No Sir just the middle pair, gives us a couple of extra options like this.” the Helmsman began.

  “They improve stability in fine maneuvering Captain Phillips.” Tash broke in without turning away from the amazing view.

  “And I can see how this would save venting gas. A very versatile design Ma’am.” Jerard acknowledged.

  “Nothing but the best for Mr. Starblower, Captain Phillips.” she replied a trifle smugly, as the ship wheeled about above the London Docklands.

  “280 north north-east. Five hundred feet.” Wallace announced.

  “Take us up to a thousand Mr. Wallace then accelerate to cruise speed.” Jerard replied easily.

  A minute or so later, with the propellers all angled aft, the ship’s engines began to throb and the Soul of Discretion was underway for Scotland at precisely 8:00 am.

  Tash stood as still as a statue at the forward rail in the navigator’s bubble and watched the city of London grow smaller and smaller. Looking down on something so large was exhilarating and frightening all at the same time. Not for the first time Tash wished she had wings so she could fly unassisted and free. However flying this way was nearly the same, or so she supposed. Her fingers itched to take the helm as she had done so many times before. But she reminded herself that this captain was new and totally unknown. She would have to get to know him better and establish the rules before she could be so bold in front of the man.

  Tash tried not to resent the new captain, the circumstances that caused his presence on this ship were none of his doing. She just missed Captain Mather terribly. His death had been a blow that she had not gotten over and she doubted any of the crew had either. Captain Mather had been well respected and genu
inely liked. He and Tash had formed a bond through flying that had surprised both of them. Her knowledge of this beautiful ship was mainly due to him and his insistence to the rest of the crew that she was to be treated as one of the lads. Tash smiled at those memories and found that it eased the growing tightness in her chest.

  “Miss Tash?” Archibald Pruette said softly from behind her.

  Tash turned and moved to stand beside his desk. “Yes?” She asked, equally as soft.

  “Are you OK Tash? I could nearly hear your thoughts and felt your grief from here. I miss him too. It is so hard to sit here and try to do this job without the Captain jollying us all along.”

  Tash nodded afraid that if she spoke the tears she had been holding back would spill over. She put her hand on Pruette’s shoulder and he covered her hand with his own. The pair remained that way for several minutes grieving in silence.

  Jerard had been watching this curious scene but could not fathom what it was about. He noticed Jones and Wallace were watching Pruette and Smythe-Harris as well, but somehow they seemed to almost be participating. Wanting to break the awkward tension Jerard stood up. As he did so he caught a movement from the corner of his eye and turned to look at Jones. The man firmly shook his head ‘no’ and indicated that Phillips should not disturb the pair. With a shrug Jerard sat back down but not before noticing that D’Arcey was having quite a different reaction. The Frenchman seemed almost too busy at his station, studiously ignoring the little tête-à-tête going on in the forward bubble. Interesting Jerard thought, that man is acting almost guilty, well maybe not. Perhaps that is his way of dealing with whatever this is, I think I remember Nichols saying he was new as well.