Sky Pirates

Chapter 66

Mildred and Edith worked at cleaning out the fountain. Perry had to spend the morning grooming the horses because old Isaac was under the weather, despite the fine sunny day.

"Edith, I have to talk to you about everything."

"I told you, I'm fine with the four of us playing at this game."

"No, us, I have to talk to you about us." Mildred stopped raking the muck growing at the fountain's floor.

Edith didn't say a word, her eyes bore longingly into Mildred's. We're to play the charade like the boys, right? We're to pretend..."

"I don't love you like that," Mildred blurted out. "I—"

"You what? I thought." Edith sank to the ground. She wiped a dirty hand at her tears, bringing mud onto her cheeks."

Mildred rushed to her side. "I do love you, but like a sister, only like a sister."

"Like a what?" Edith regained her strength. She reached into the fountain, took a handful of muck and threw it at Mildred. It landed on her neck.

"What is this?"

Edith hit her with another glob. "We kissed. We touched." Her voice grew louder, more shrill.

"I was confused." Another handful of mud and leaves hit her in the face. "Listen," said Mildred, wiping at herself, "I've never known the love of a woman and I was confused by you, by us." More stuff hit her. "That's enough!" Mildred reaped her own handfuls of slimy leaves and threw them at Edith, hitting her square in the face.

Edith choked and sobbed. Mildred rushed to her, helping to clean the leaves from her face. At one moment, the girl was about to strike, but then Mildred laughed. Edith laughed, too.

"Edith, I do love you like a sister."

A long pause was followed by Edith pulling Mildred into an embrace. "It will have to do," said Edith.

She heard the ship before she saw it. A great humming, like when she was covered with bees, both jolted and comforted her. Mildred turned her eyes skyward. Searching the cloudless blue for the dot. The dark dot grew larger. It was the biggest airship she'd ever seen in her life. Perhaps ten or even twenty times the size of a mail schooner. Those are the ships that usually came through Wickwillowshire.

The thing grew larger and closer. It was descending. It passed over the garden, over the manor house, barns, and stable. Toward the great field and the river.

Forgetting her state, Mildred clutched Edith's sticky hand and the girls ran toward the ship as it continued to descend.

"What? What is it?" Cole shouted toward his sister. He looked in the direction she was headed and saw the massive ship with its great propellers, gliding easily to the ground and a solid landing in the river. It verily created a dam that caused the water to flood out over the banks and into the field around the ship. He wiped his hands and began running with Edith and Mildred.

"Wait for me," Horatio called, having finally put down the book he was reading and looking around at the activity. He got up and ran after the others.

The name was easy to read from their vantage. "Balsa Robin." It had only been a rumor, a tale. But no, here it was, the big ship, in their very yard.

"Ahoy!" shouted Parker Greene. The gangplank lowered, he made his way quickly to his wards. "Whoa! What a mess you are." He refrained from hugging them.

"Uncle! Uncle! You've returned in great style," said Mildred. "This is Edith Wickliffe, my great friend."

"Ah, yes, Miss Wickliffe, how is your dear father."

"Fine, sir." Edith curtsied. "And, this is my brother, Horatio."

"Fine name." Parker, after checking the boy's hands, offered his own hand forward and the two men shook.

Men and women began disembarking from the ship. Samuel and Rifle barked instructions and orders.

"Uncle!" Mildred held a hand over her mouth. "There are so many...little people." She stifled a laugh.

"Yes, yes, I'll explain it over lunch. Come, it must be nearly time for luncheon." As Parker Greene spoke the tower clock chimed eleven times. "You've done it. You've fixed the clock!" He looked toward Mildred who pointed at Cole. "My boy, you've done it." He shook his nephew's greasy hands.

Cole didn't speak, just smiled and cast his eyes down toward his feet.

"Rifle, ladies, Samuel,Cole, come. It's time for luncheon. We shall dine in an hour." He turned towardthe charges. "That will give us all time to clean up and dress properly. Comecome. Into the house."