Sky Pirates

Chapter 15

Lt. Currant led Lord Greene through a maze of hallways, each one formed of solid wooden flooring, wood-paneled walls, and thatched ceilings. Parker noticed that the wood of the walls and floors changed every ten or so feet. The cuts and grains didn't match. Just as they stopped at a beautifully carved door, it dawned on Parker: all this wood came from disassembled ships—they used everything here, wasted nothing.

Able Currant knocked at the door, waited four beats, opened it, and, with a hand on Greene's elbow, led the man into a small waiting room. The interior matched the grandeur of the carved entry door. The walls were covered in ornate, though mismatched guilt-framed mirrors which bounced the light from the small porthole-sized window at the side of the room back and forth, up and down, and generally, blindingly around the space.

While still visionless, Able rapped at an interior door.

"Enter," was sternly called.

Able pushed at a wall and it rotated open, revealing a very thin man in slim pants and blouse of simple linen. No jacket, no tie. As Parker continued to survey the man, he realized, barefooted. Had the man just rolled out of bed? Despite his simple dress, he looked crisp and ironed, and, when he turned toward Parker Greene, the sight was shocking.

"Oh, pick up your jaw," said the man.

"You...it's you...it's really you?" That was all Parker Greene could get out.

"Yes, it most certainly is me. That will be all, Lieutenant."

Able bent at the waist, clicked a heel, and retreated, leaving Parker Greene to fend for himself.

"Take a seat, if you wish. Or, there's wine and spirits on that table there, if you'd like." The man continued to read a letter as he spoke and absently pointed.

Parker took the moment to align himself. How could this traitor, this scallywag be the one in charge? Greene had only recently seen him at the opera in London. What was that? Three months ago. Like so many of the others he'd encountered since his capture, this man, this awful human, had been at college with him, too. He'd been the scholar, the hero, the head of his house.

Lord Parker Greene felt the pistol push in his jacket. In a swift move, he could easily kill Baki, the obvious leader of these pirates. Of course, if he did such a thing, it meant certain death for himself. He'd never be able to escape these remote islands. He'd figured out he must be in or near the Caribbean, but where, he didn't know. He'd require a boat or airship, but an airship would require a crew. A water escape would require a small crew, too. Instead, he walked to the indicated table and poured himself a glass of wine. Parker drank it off and then refilled his glass before moving back, closer to Baki Frogs, the king of the pirates.

"Sit...sit."

Parker sat. The office was rather sparse: A side table with the glasses and wine. A round table with a faded map of the world held down by four cannonballs at the corners. A desk with a big chair and two smaller chairs facing, of which Parker took one. No rugs on the floors. No art on the walls except a fine rendering of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

"Really, it will be just one more moment...."

Greene thought back to that final match. His house against theirs. He against Baki. His given name was Landaus Frogs. Parker didn't know if the man had a middle name. He never did discover why everyone at school called him "Baki." But, that's what he went by. He made up for his short stature by being mean to everyone. He was an ogre to the young boys entering his house. Yet, everyone living there, the upperclassmen, seemed to love him. Maybe it was because he came from a wealthy family and could provide sweets and extras for those boys. Maybe it was because he won every cricket match he played. Every single match, except that final one, the one against Parker Greene's house. There it was, the two of them repeatedly stealing the ball from the other, their feet a blur of movement and grass and ball, crowds of boys from both houses shouting encouragement, instruction, as the two young men kicked and fought for that wet ball. Rain. Yes, it had started to rain. In a moment of pause as he wiped mud and hair and wet from his forehead, Baki looked right at Greene, right into his eyes. He whispered, "You'll never win. You don't have what it takes." Baki, in a quick jab, kneed Greene in the crotch. The pain horrible. And, Baki stole that ball and bolted it into the net. After the goal, as he celebrated with his team, he never took his eyes off of Greene.

Finally, Landaus "Baki" Frogs looked up from his letter, smiled at Parker Greene, and sat in his large desk chair. "So, we finally meet again. Me, the guy in charge. You, said to be the most brilliant man in England."

"You flatter me, sir. I suspect there are others more intelligent."

"Well, your brother was said to be the smartest, until he disappeared. How we would have loved to have captured him! That would have been wonderful. A real feather in our cap. But, he got away; Cecil Greene ran off into the jungle."

"You? Baki, you were the cause of his disappearance?"

He offered a bemused smiled toward Parker. "Most people around here call me 'Sir,' or 'Admiral.' He ran into the jungle like a rabbit. I'm sure he's been eaten by a snake by now. You Greene boys don't know how to win games."

Parker Greene pulled his thoughts back from his brother. There was no reason to get lost there at this moment; no need to show any of his anger to Baki. "So, what plans do you have for me, Admiral?"

"That depends on you, Lord Greene. There are so many projects underway that would benefit from your keen mind, from your knowledge of the plant kingdom, not to mention your understanding of the workings of...well...everything. It was amazing to me when we were boys at school together that you could look at something, close your eyes, and then fix it. Your brother had that skill, too. Though, not as keen as you when it came to gears, if I remember correctly."

Parker Greene enjoyed the moment of flattery, but said nothing.

"We have come into possession of a great many plans and designs for machines of all various sorts. We want someone to assess them, determine if they are practical, and if they'll operate properly once built."

"The contest. You've been stealing the airships to get the contest entries." It suddenly made perfect sense.

"Stealing is such a harsh word. But, in short, yes."

"And, then you've been returning the other mail...."

"That's it, Lord Greene. It has not been our goal to disrupt all mail service around the world. We only wish to become dominant when it comes to machines. So, we've procured as many plans as possible. Some of the men and women do occasionally, how shall we say...acquire a fob or farthing. But, that aside, we've built this series of workshops here on our little island home. We're securing whatever resources are necessary to build the things. But, we don't know what is viable or not until it's built. This is cumbersome from a time and resource perspective. We want to quicken things. And, with your mind, we know we can do that."

"And, if I refuse, Admiral?"

"We'll try to persuade you otherwise, for a while, at least."

"Persuade?" Greene immediately thought of the handsome Able Currant. He'd be able to persuade Parker of just about anything.

"Well, we can offer you a very comfortable life if you join us. And, if you choose not to, we can offer a very uncomfortable life...or end your life."

Parker was intrigued about what a comfortable life would mean to these pirate savages. Going along with this would allow him to discover in more depth what the pirates' plans were for taking over all this technology. Yet, if he came across as willing too quickly, they might question his motives.

"I'll give you twenty-four hours to decide. And, during that time, I'll also give you a taste of the two options."

"Is this the question that Lt. Currant spoke of?"

"No. If you decide to join us, then I shall ask you the question."

"What then?"

"Enough for now." Admiral Frogs rang a bell and a group of dwarfs entered the room. Without words or direction, the little men and women took Parker Greene by the hands and arms and led him out of the office.

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