Sky Pirates

Chapter 53

Parker Greene stood at the tunnel entrance. He'd pushed the button he'd seen others push to activate the lift, but nothing happened. Greene looked around, but there was no one in sight. There was no way to get from his home island to the workshop, except through the tunnel. No boat sailed the water, no flying ship traveled the sky. He wondered about that and began walking along the beach. No one lounged or frolicked at the water's edge. He followed the shore for several hours and encountered no one. Most of the sands were pristine, except for his own footsteps and those of the birds who made a meal of the small fish, crabs, and creatures in the shallows.

Parker arrived back where he'd begun and a bit winded and tired from traipsing through the sands, loosened his collar and shirt, removed his hat, and reclined under a tree while using its strong trunk as a back support.

"You'll not want to let them see you inspecting the islands. They don't care for that."

He looked up at the feminine voice whose owner, with the sun to their back, was fully in shadow. Greene began to get up, but the woman raised a hand in protest. Instead, she first handed him a glass with a cloudy beverage inside, and then lowered herself to the ground, her skirts flouncing out in all directions.

"There," she said once she and the fabric that surrounded her had settled.

"Thank you for the drink, what is it?" Parker tasted the concoction as a way of avoiding the woman's voluptuous breasts that were now in easy reach of his eyes and his body as she thrust them out and toward him.

"Well, it's a homemade brew of ginger beer and fresh squeezed lemons. I have a prolific lemon tree." As she spoke of the lemons she leaned a bit forward, allowing Parker a view of her décolletage. "I'm so pleased that you enjoy it."

"I do. So, what were you saying about the pirates?"

"I'm Miss Ebony, by the way." She held out a gloved hand, and Greene politely shook it. "I was saying that you should be careful of your inspection of the islands. All those who have taken to those sorts of antics have mysteriously disappeared. One or two have had their heads appear again in the square. Some of them...simply gone."

"Thank you for the warning. But, I was simply taking a walk. I had hoped to go into the workshop today, but can't make the contraption take me down to the tunnel."

"Well, of course not. Not on Wednesday. The electricity doesn't run on Wednesday." Miss Ebony took up her fan, opened it with an expert motion that reminded Parker of a certain type of woman, and she fanned herself.

"Really? Everything in my home seems to be working just fine this morning."

"Steam. Our homes are powered by steam, not electricity. But, the lifts and the lights and the workshops and the lamps and so on are all powered by the electricity. The generator is not run on Wednesdays."

"Why is that?" Greene was intrigued.

"They give those little creatures the day off. The little ones, they sit on seats and pedal like mad for several hours straight. Shift after shift around the clock. They tried to build a larger version, but it never worked, for some reason, creating the grander machine didn't work. So, Every day but Wednesday. It's nice of the Admiral and the Magistrate to give them time off." Miss Ebony continued to fan. "Drink up. There's more where that came from if you'd like a refill?"

Parker Greene considered what the woman had said and wondered how it would affect their plans. His own arrival had been on a Wednesday. "So, the Balsa Robin never arrives on Wednesdays?"

"Oh, the beautiful Robin, she comes and goes as she wishes. There is always a look out and a call when the bird arrives. All hands on deck. Or," here Miss Ebony laughed behind her fan, "all feet on the pedals."

They were both silent.

So, that explained the dwarfs. They were the only ones who could fit into and work as part of the machine. Parker finished his drink and stood. If he took the dwarfs with him, he would further paralyze the islands by taking away one of their power sources. "Well, I guess I'll return home and work on my projects there." He offered his hand to the lady who accepted and stood up with Greene's assistance.

"Why don't you leave off work for the day and spend the time with me. I'm sure I can bring you pleasure and happiness." Miss Ebony continued to work her fan in a seductive way.

This was not the first time Parker Greene had been propositioned by a courtesan. "You are very kind, but I think I will spend the day to my own devices." His tone was flirtatious and seductive.

"As you wish, my Lord."

"Oh, Miss Ebony, I am no lord, not on these islands, for I serve at the Admiral's and the Magistrate's pleasure. Good day to you." He remained polite, trying not to become too entangled in the woman's game, especially since he didn't know what that game might be.

Returning home, he felt light headed and assumed the drink was either alcoholic or laced with something. He was sure to lock the front door behind himself. Greene settled in the office and rang the bell. When the small servant arrived, he asked for a pitcher of water.

He worked to clear his head as he contemplated the idea that there would be no electricity on the island once the call had been made to the dwarfs. He'd have to plan appropriately.

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