Dizgaia ~ The Dreamfinder's Daughter

Chapter 23 ~ Horseplay

The workshop in the Mercurial residence was impossibly large. One wouldn't think it to look at the small door at the back of the single-car garage, but through that door was a workshop big enough to house the Dream Machine with room still yet to spare. This was, of course, accomplished with the use of Imaginergy.

The Dream Machine was suspended by thick wires which hung from the ceiling. Blair Mercurial lay on a padded garage creeper beneath the brass basket of the dirigible. His usual garb had been replaced by a mechanic's jumpsuit, and in place of his hat, he wore a welding mask. Figment lay asleep in a wicker dog bed with a blanket pulled over him. It was hard to tell which was louder – the dragon's snoring or the sounds of the blow torch.

The door to the workshop creaked open and Snow entered, carrying a mug of coffee. Blair paused in his work and slid out from under the dirigible. He removed his mask, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Ah. Thank you, Snow," he said, accepting the coffee and taking a sip. He set the mug on the workbench and slid back beneath the Dream Machine.

"You've been working for several days without a break," said Snow, sitting cross-legged on the floor beside him. "Have you gotten any sleep at all?"

"I'll get sleep when my daughter is back home safe and sound. Now hand me that dog-legged clencher there."

"Uh...." Snow's hand hovered uncertainly over the tool chest. Cindy grabbed the proper tool and handed it to Snow, who handed it to Blair.

"I understand your worry, Uncle Blair," said Cindy, leaning against the workbench, "But slave-driving and sleep-depriving yourself isn't going to help anybody. The 10 Kingdoms are on high alert. Vandsgaard and Rosebriar's navies are out searching as we speak. There's been no sign of the island yet, but with so many allies out looking, it's only a matter of time before—"

"That's what concerns me," said Blair from beneath the dirigible. "With this sort of attention, word of my daughter's location and her vulnerable situation could reach the ears of The Dark Ones."

"All 10 monarchs were briefed on the situation and the search is being conducted with the utmost discretion," Cindy assured him.

"And I appreciate that the kingdoms have come together to help search for the island, but I don't like the idea of simply sitting around and waiting for someone else to find my daughter. I have to do something! And the first step is getting this old hunk of machinery up and running again. Flynn's been doing research on the DizNet and keeping up to speed with recent Neverland sightings. He's logging them all down for me. Together we'll see if we might be able to deduce a pattern and get a lead."

"I understand, Uncle Blair, but I fear you're overtaxing yourself. You've noticeably lost weight these past couple weeks."

"Good," Blair grunted as he turned the clencher on a particularly stubborn bolt on the dirigible's undercarriage. "I could afford to lose a few pounds."

"You know what I mean," said Cindy exasperatedly. "We're worried about you."

"And I'm worried about my daughter."

"But she'll be all right, Uncle Blair," said Snow with a tentative smile. "Miandra's clever and resourceful. Besides, Peter Pan may be a handful, but all things considered, he's not a bad kid."

"It isn't Peter I'm worried about," said Blair. "Call me paranoid, but I just can't shake the feeling that Miandra is in grave danger."

~~~

Mia held tightly to Slightly's hand. The hem of her simple white dress fluttered around her thighs as she ran. Her bare feet padded over grass, dirt, and rocks. It hadn't much bothered her before, but now she wished she had a good pair of track shoes. The ticking was getting closer.