Read Online Chasing the Star Garden: The Airship Racing Chronicles (Volume 1) by Melanie Karsak - Free Book Online
Authors: Melanie Karsak
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modifications were rampant amongst pirates. The racing league kept tight restrictions on the design of airships and the composition of their crew, but there was a strong call for the allowance of double propulsion such as the Burning Rook used.
“And look at this,” Sal said, pointing to a model balloon hanging from the ceiling.
“The balloon has a semi-rigid structure,” Master Vogt told us. “It will keep buoyancy better and be easier to navigate. It is a prototype.”
I gazed upward but said nothing. I suspected I was seeing the future.
“But, I do have business with Monsieur Souvenir for which I am late. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Colonna,” Master Vogt said.
I could see the crushing disappointment on Sal’s face.
“My thanks, Master Vogt, for showing me your creations. They are genius.”
The old man smiled. “Please, stop again on your way back to England. There is more!” the old man said happily.
I looked up at Etienne. “See you in Valencia,” I told him and pulled him into a hug. “Don’t despair. As they say, the course of true love never did run smooth,” I whispered into his ear.
He kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you, mon amie.”
With that, Sal and I left the workshop and headed back to the Stargazer . Sal was lost in thoughts of the clockwork man, but he had wrapped his arm around my waist and kept me close. Coming down from my opium high, I was left with mixed emotions. I was confused, afraid, and angry. Was someone really following us or was the thief just looking for easy pickings in the opium den? It wouldn’t be the first time someone had lifted my belongings while I was out cold, but it angered me all the same. I’d accepted that the trip to Venice might entail unpleasant interruptions, but I wasn’t expecting someone to try to stab me. I needed to be more careful and to keep my sidearm a bit handier.
I also thought about Etienne’s words. They left me feeling confused. Would my life only consist of an endless string of lovers? Why was I so unable to allow myself to really connect with anyone? Even I knew I was a ridiculous mess. At least I was having fun, wasn’t I?
I sighed heavily. It shook Sal from his thoughts.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I smiled at him. “Thank you for coming.”
“Who can say no to an adventure with Lily Stargazer?”
We stopped. The moonlight shone down on us. Sal put his hand on the back of my neck, stroking the nape. I gazed up at him. His steel colored eyes glimmered. He pulled me into a kiss. It was a soft, warm, but passionate kiss, the kind of kiss that left you feeling dizzy and seeing stars. I didn’t remember him kissing me like that before.
“Italians… you are so passionate,” I said with a grin.
“Indeed, you give me much to be passionate about. Come,” he said, and we headed back to the Stargazer .
Chapter 9
J essup and Angus were already sleeping in their hammocks. They had even been nice enough to string up mine. I led Sal to my hammock, and we lay down for the night. I snuggled into Sal’s arms and no sooner had we lain down then Sal was asleep. At first I was surprised, but then I remembered that Sal was much older than me, and it really had been a long day. Perhaps I had tired him out.
From below, the sounds of a fight drifted upward. I listened as the two men swore at one another in German. Their argument was heated; both men shouted loudly. Soon I heard the grunting sounds of physical fighting. The sound took me back to my days at St. Helena’s.
“You say that again, and I’ll do you like they did Mary Queen of Scots,” I threatened Maggie, another girl at St. Helena’s, sliding my finger across my throat as I stared the doe-eyed girl down. We were about six years old, and she had just told me for what seemed like the hundredth time that day that I was a piece of rubbish.
Maggie gritted her teeth and lunged at me.
I picked up a handful of dirt and threw it in her face. She
“And look at this,” Sal said, pointing to a model balloon hanging from the ceiling.
“The balloon has a semi-rigid structure,” Master Vogt told us. “It will keep buoyancy better and be easier to navigate. It is a prototype.”
I gazed upward but said nothing. I suspected I was seeing the future.
“But, I do have business with Monsieur Souvenir for which I am late. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Colonna,” Master Vogt said.
I could see the crushing disappointment on Sal’s face.
“My thanks, Master Vogt, for showing me your creations. They are genius.”
The old man smiled. “Please, stop again on your way back to England. There is more!” the old man said happily.
I looked up at Etienne. “See you in Valencia,” I told him and pulled him into a hug. “Don’t despair. As they say, the course of true love never did run smooth,” I whispered into his ear.
He kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you, mon amie.”
With that, Sal and I left the workshop and headed back to the Stargazer . Sal was lost in thoughts of the clockwork man, but he had wrapped his arm around my waist and kept me close. Coming down from my opium high, I was left with mixed emotions. I was confused, afraid, and angry. Was someone really following us or was the thief just looking for easy pickings in the opium den? It wouldn’t be the first time someone had lifted my belongings while I was out cold, but it angered me all the same. I’d accepted that the trip to Venice might entail unpleasant interruptions, but I wasn’t expecting someone to try to stab me. I needed to be more careful and to keep my sidearm a bit handier.
I also thought about Etienne’s words. They left me feeling confused. Would my life only consist of an endless string of lovers? Why was I so unable to allow myself to really connect with anyone? Even I knew I was a ridiculous mess. At least I was having fun, wasn’t I?
I sighed heavily. It shook Sal from his thoughts.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I smiled at him. “Thank you for coming.”
“Who can say no to an adventure with Lily Stargazer?”
We stopped. The moonlight shone down on us. Sal put his hand on the back of my neck, stroking the nape. I gazed up at him. His steel colored eyes glimmered. He pulled me into a kiss. It was a soft, warm, but passionate kiss, the kind of kiss that left you feeling dizzy and seeing stars. I didn’t remember him kissing me like that before.
“Italians… you are so passionate,” I said with a grin.
“Indeed, you give me much to be passionate about. Come,” he said, and we headed back to the Stargazer .
Chapter 9
J essup and Angus were already sleeping in their hammocks. They had even been nice enough to string up mine. I led Sal to my hammock, and we lay down for the night. I snuggled into Sal’s arms and no sooner had we lain down then Sal was asleep. At first I was surprised, but then I remembered that Sal was much older than me, and it really had been a long day. Perhaps I had tired him out.
From below, the sounds of a fight drifted upward. I listened as the two men swore at one another in German. Their argument was heated; both men shouted loudly. Soon I heard the grunting sounds of physical fighting. The sound took me back to my days at St. Helena’s.
“You say that again, and I’ll do you like they did Mary Queen of Scots,” I threatened Maggie, another girl at St. Helena’s, sliding my finger across my throat as I stared the doe-eyed girl down. We were about six years old, and she had just told me for what seemed like the hundredth time that day that I was a piece of rubbish.
Maggie gritted her teeth and lunged at me.
I picked up a handful of dirt and threw it in her face. She
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