Outrageous Fortune-Errant Freight Book One

Chapter 16

Soon after Rory and Eitan's departure, John and Jagati locked down the Errant and headed for the airfield gates.

Outside, a light rain fell while the mists rose from the Avon, contributing to the overall damp.

John took a lungful of moist air and considered the airfield which, in the wet and fading light, put him in mind of an underwater seascape and the airships, floating low from their moorings, a host of great underwater beasts, tethered to the ocean's floor.

He said as much to Jagati, who ranged at his side, a study in fire and earth in vivid contrast to the Nikean watercolors.

Her response was to scowl and then point out that underwater beasts wouldn't be tethered anywhere.

"Unless you believe all those drunken sailors and their mer stories," she added, hitching the waterproof duffle over her shoulder. "In which case, a'ight, maybe a mer would have the stones to tame an ichthyosaurus or a whale or—except, wait, would mers have stones? And if they did, where—"

"Never mind," John said.

"But now you've raised the philosophical question, I want to know."

He glanced sideways. "The philosophical question of the existence of submarine humanoids or that said submarine humanoids have stones?"

"Both."

It was, of course, a ludicrous conversation, but one that allowed both to appear unconcerned by the other bodies headed towards the airfield's tram station, any of whom might be after the calculator.

If any of them were, John hoped they believed the calculator was inside the satchel slung crossways over his jacket—the same satchel he'd taken out of Dyar's Canyon—and not inside the Errant.

"I still don't like leaving the 'ship unguarded," Jagati said under her breath, as if she'd been reading his mind.

"No help for it." He lengthened his stride as he spied the mag tram beyond the main gate.

"Only because you insisted on Rory playing decoy," she pointed out, keeping up.

"Better a decoy in the city than a sitting duck inside the Errant," John pointed out, then stopped because she had stopped too. "What?" he asked while, around them, cargo drones and airship crew and newly arrived travelers continued on towards the tram.

"You wanted him safe," she said, her tone almost accusing.

"Of course I did. I have found, over the years, it's best to keep my crew alive. Which is also why Eitan is following him," he added with a little hurry up gesture, which she ignored.

"Did you really think we needed a decoy?" she asked. "Or were you just you trying to keep Rory out of the crossfire?"

"Which answer will get us on that tram the fastest?"

She glared.

He gave up. "They're both true," he said. "Dyar's Canyon proved two aren't enough to keep the 'ship safe, even if one of them is Eitan. But," he added, "I also believe what I said about Sameen's interest and Tariq's focus so," he gestured, "can we go now?"

In answer, she gave a shake of the head that sent a spray of fine drops out in an echo of the rain, then started to jog towards the waiting mag tram, leaving him to follow.

* * *

Typical of their recent luck, the tram was crammed full by the time they boarded, with each passenger contributing to the fust for which Nike's public transportation was famous.