The Adventures of the HMS Harlot

Part 5: Seymour Kipps, Sniper

"Land," Barty squeaked from the crow's nest.

Even from below deck I noticed the factory several minutes earlier. There were smoke towers for God's sake. I'm convinced Barty is half blind and only goes to the crow's nest to nap. I moved from the porthole and focused back on the workbench. My rifle lay disassembled on the table. Ethel flew us through several clouds on the scouting mission, which is great for concealment but less so for firearms. I removed the screws for the trigger guard and applied a healthy amount of grease to the trigger works. After replacing the guard, I went over the rest of the rifle, replacing the gas canister, and greasing the piston. This current rifle was rather interesting since it used high pressured gas to eject and rechamber a round. Finished, I lifted the rifle towards the light, inspecting my work.

I've probably owned close to a dozen rifles over three decades of being a crazed gunman and this rifle was probably the ugliest. The rifle was designed to penetrate a ship's hull, create punctures in airship balloons, and cause a majestic warship like The Gabriel to plummet to the ground with a single shot. Nowadays most ships have reinforced balloons to prevent this, but it can still punch through bunkers, walls, and weak points just fine. The final product was a heap of steel and brass, with an awful muzzle brake on the end of the barrel. To top it all off the gunsmith used a polished wood finish for the butt, attempting to add some beauty to the gun. It's like putting lipstick on a goat. 

My teacher, the old woman, would have called the weapon an elephant gun. Apparently elephants were still around when she was alive. The old women would always tell me stories about the rifles that were around before we left earth. There were guns that could hit accurately from miles away, and scopes that could see through buildings. Today, most of that knowledge is long gone; I'm lucky I'm not using a ramrod and pouring powder down the muzzle. Fortunately, people are always turning up with something new.

I'd started on the sights when I heard light footsteps jumping down the stairs from the deck towards the kitchens. 

"ELDON!" I shouted. "Get in here," a pause, "please."

"Yeah, Skipps?" slowly walking into the closest of a room.

Pretending I didn't hear the new nickname, I continued.

"I wanted to thank you for the hardtack that you gave me."

After the scouting mission, I found the crow's nest filled with pieces of the stuff. Due to the amount of crumbs, I figured he was using his slingshot from the quarterdeck.

Eldon hesitated; I think he was unsure if I actually liked the gesture. I know some don't like the texture, but it's my favorite. My coat pockets are usually filled with the stuff.

"You're welcome?"

"I also wanted to know how your pointed stick training with Roy is going."

"Not too bad. I'm no pro yet but I bet I could take on a CE if it was his first day on the job."

"Did he teach you how to block bullets or cannon fire yet?"

"With a sword?! Not sure that's physically possible but if you could teach-"

"The whole sword fighting thing is a waste of time, Eldon. We should be teaching you how to shoot, not how to parry and flourish."

"I know, but the Captain won't let me near the good stuff, says I'm not old enough."

"I was much younger than you when I started," I snapped.

For once Eldon didn't have a clever retort. The room was quiet, besides the creaking of the wooden boards, and the shouting of voices above deck. 

"I know the captain won't allow you; but when she does I will teach you." No way in hell Barty is going to. The boy will end up shooting himself in the foot.

"In the meantime I wanted to pay you back for the hardtack."

I reached in my sack and handed Eldon a small bundle wrapped in the cloth. He unwrapped the package, revealing small metal bolts with a wickedly barbed point, and a notch at the end.

"For your slingshot," I said. "They're called Philippines. Better than using a rock if you want to hit a CE."

Eldon picked one up and tested the point against his finger. "Why are they called Philippines?" he asked.

"They were used way before we went into the skies. I think it was named after a place, or they were made by a guy named Phillip. I don't know just take them." Smartass.

"Who the hell is-" Eldon began to speak but I cut him off.

"Remember your debts Eldon. Now get out, I need to finish fixing my rifle."

Eldon hurried out of the room. When he left, I took a piece of his hardtack from my pocket, eating it while adjusting the sights.

S.Kipps