Skyjackers - Episode 3: The Winds of Justice (Skyjackers: Season One) by J.C. Staudt Page B
Authors: J.C. Staudt
Ads: Link
do. Please stay with us, if you can spare the
time. We’d be glad to have you. And it would make my Lyddie so happy.”
Jonathan thought for a moment. “If you really think it would
help…”
“Indeed I do.”
Chapter 22
Benedict swabbed his brow with the monogrammed blue
kerchief Gertrude had given him for his birthday. For all those who had ever
wondered what to get the man who has everything, the answer was, apparently, a
monogrammed blue kerchief. Benedict blew his nose and tossed the kerchief into
the jungle. There were nineteen more just like it in his cabin wardrobe—identical
copies Gertrude had embroidered while practicing for the real thing, which was
currently being displayed in a shadowbox on the wall beside his writing desk.
A twig snapped behind him. He whirled, bringing a bottle of
spiced rum to bear on his unsuspecting assailant. What appeared through the
overgrowth was no tribesman, however. It was his daughter Misty, trailed at
some distance by his taller and less angry daughter Vivian.
“Leave me alone,” Misty was saying. “I’m going to help Daddy,
and you’re not allowed to come. Oh, hello, Daddy.”
Benedict closed the distance and gave his youngest daughter a
warm hug. Her hands were full, but he didn’t notice what was in them at first.
“There you are, poppet. Daddy is so glad you’ve returned safe and sound.”
“You’re hurting me,” Misty said. “And I’m still cross with
you.”
Benedict released her. “What happened to the Intrepid ?”
“She gave it to the sky marshals,” Vivian said.
“I did not. They stole it. Then we escaped aboard Vivian’s
ship, and Vivian tried to hold me against my will, so I vanquished her by the
sword and rose victorious from her evil clutches.”
“She held Mr. Buffner hostage until I agreed to a
swordfight.”
“Vivian,” Benedict snapped, “be nicer to your sister.”
“Oh, sure. It’s not as if I rescued her from an airship teeming
with sky marshals or anything.”
“Say, Misty… why are you carrying a tray of tea cakes and a
box of rat poison?” Benedict asked.
“I heard you were going to make peace with the brown men, so
I thought I might give them a peace offering.”
“Then what’s the rat poison for?”
“Oh, that’s for anyone who eats the cakes. It’s in them, you
see.”
Benedict gave his daughter a tolerant smile. “Now, Misty. We’re thieves, not murderers. I
intend to take this land from its rightful inhabitants without the use of violence.”
“Then why does everyone have weapons?”
“You ought to brush up on your one-hundred thirty-seven rules
of piracy, poppet. I trust you still have the brochure I gave you?”
“Of course I do, Daddy.”
She didn’t.
“I’m afraid there will be no poisoning today, my sweet.”
“You’re just saying that,” Misty said. She winked
conspicuously, several times in a row.
“No, I’m not joking. I mean it.”
“It’s alright, Daddy. I know what you really mean.”
“Yes, but I’m afraid you don’t.”
“Right.” Misty tapped the side of her nose and pointed at
him, then followed the crew down the path they were clearing through the
jungle.
“Keep an eye on her, Viv.”
“Have been,” said Vivian, maintaining her pursuit. “Don’t
intend to stop now.”
***
Today was the day. After leaving Mr. Dawson in charge
of the Hummingbird , Poleax went ashore and visited the building site of
the Caine family’s new home. Benedict wasn’t there. According to the foreman,
Caine had gone into the jungle to meet with the locals. Against his better
judgment, Poleax set off through the trees alone, following the trail of
hacked-off undergrowth Benedict’s crew had left in their wake.
Although Poleax had come of age far from the southern lands,
he’d grown accustomed to the stifling jungle humidity during his time living
with the Caines in Azkatla. By contrast, the Kailodean jungle reflected the
island paradise’s sandy terrain and cool
time. We’d be glad to have you. And it would make my Lyddie so happy.”
Jonathan thought for a moment. “If you really think it would
help…”
“Indeed I do.”
Chapter 22
Benedict swabbed his brow with the monogrammed blue
kerchief Gertrude had given him for his birthday. For all those who had ever
wondered what to get the man who has everything, the answer was, apparently, a
monogrammed blue kerchief. Benedict blew his nose and tossed the kerchief into
the jungle. There were nineteen more just like it in his cabin wardrobe—identical
copies Gertrude had embroidered while practicing for the real thing, which was
currently being displayed in a shadowbox on the wall beside his writing desk.
A twig snapped behind him. He whirled, bringing a bottle of
spiced rum to bear on his unsuspecting assailant. What appeared through the
overgrowth was no tribesman, however. It was his daughter Misty, trailed at
some distance by his taller and less angry daughter Vivian.
“Leave me alone,” Misty was saying. “I’m going to help Daddy,
and you’re not allowed to come. Oh, hello, Daddy.”
Benedict closed the distance and gave his youngest daughter a
warm hug. Her hands were full, but he didn’t notice what was in them at first.
“There you are, poppet. Daddy is so glad you’ve returned safe and sound.”
“You’re hurting me,” Misty said. “And I’m still cross with
you.”
Benedict released her. “What happened to the Intrepid ?”
“She gave it to the sky marshals,” Vivian said.
“I did not. They stole it. Then we escaped aboard Vivian’s
ship, and Vivian tried to hold me against my will, so I vanquished her by the
sword and rose victorious from her evil clutches.”
“She held Mr. Buffner hostage until I agreed to a
swordfight.”
“Vivian,” Benedict snapped, “be nicer to your sister.”
“Oh, sure. It’s not as if I rescued her from an airship teeming
with sky marshals or anything.”
“Say, Misty… why are you carrying a tray of tea cakes and a
box of rat poison?” Benedict asked.
“I heard you were going to make peace with the brown men, so
I thought I might give them a peace offering.”
“Then what’s the rat poison for?”
“Oh, that’s for anyone who eats the cakes. It’s in them, you
see.”
Benedict gave his daughter a tolerant smile. “Now, Misty. We’re thieves, not murderers. I
intend to take this land from its rightful inhabitants without the use of violence.”
“Then why does everyone have weapons?”
“You ought to brush up on your one-hundred thirty-seven rules
of piracy, poppet. I trust you still have the brochure I gave you?”
“Of course I do, Daddy.”
She didn’t.
“I’m afraid there will be no poisoning today, my sweet.”
“You’re just saying that,” Misty said. She winked
conspicuously, several times in a row.
“No, I’m not joking. I mean it.”
“It’s alright, Daddy. I know what you really mean.”
“Yes, but I’m afraid you don’t.”
“Right.” Misty tapped the side of her nose and pointed at
him, then followed the crew down the path they were clearing through the
jungle.
“Keep an eye on her, Viv.”
“Have been,” said Vivian, maintaining her pursuit. “Don’t
intend to stop now.”
***
Today was the day. After leaving Mr. Dawson in charge
of the Hummingbird , Poleax went ashore and visited the building site of
the Caine family’s new home. Benedict wasn’t there. According to the foreman,
Caine had gone into the jungle to meet with the locals. Against his better
judgment, Poleax set off through the trees alone, following the trail of
hacked-off undergrowth Benedict’s crew had left in their wake.
Although Poleax had come of age far from the southern lands,
he’d grown accustomed to the stifling jungle humidity during his time living
with the Caines in Azkatla. By contrast, the Kailodean jungle reflected the
island paradise’s sandy terrain and cool
Similar Books
