Steampunk Omnibus: A Galvanic Century Collection by Michael Coorlim Page A

scopilizer–"
    "Gyroscopic Stabilizer," I said.
    "–device was taken first, and the thief encountered Henderson on his way out. And given that the weapon used was an improvisational one and the murder so inconveniently messy, it is most likely that our murderer killed Henderson out of panic, and simply ran off afterwards."
    "Who would gain from sabotaging the Rio Grande ?" I asked.
    "Mr. Herbert." Bartleby turned towards the industrialist. "A man of your status has his share of enemies, doesn't he?"
    "I've stepped on more than a few petty men on my way to the top," Mr. Herbert replied. "Business rivals that would love to see me fail. The Luddites hate the technology I employ in my factories. My own son, fat lout that he is, can't wait until I die so he can inherit what he's too incompetent to earn."
    "Luddite fanatics might well sacrifice themselves to take down the ship," I hazarded, "but would your rivals? And your son – he's aboard himself, isn't he?"
    "So a fanatic or dupe is most likely," Bartleby said. "Unless the saboteur intends to steal one of the ship's aeroboats and escape the fate selected for the rest of us."
    "You've no spare aboard?" I asked.
    "The stabilizer is highly guarded proprietary technology, created using advanced alloys and manufacturing techniques." Mr. Herbert said. "The only other prototype is in our Dallas airshipyards. We of course plan to manufacture more, but it was imperative that we launch the maiden voyage in a timely fashion."
    "Your impatience may have killed us all, Herr Herbert," Captain Nussbaum said. "Chief, how long do we have until the ship destabilizes?"
    "Given the rate of oscillation and the current tilt," the Chief said, "a matter of hours."
    "I might be able to rig up a temporary solution," I said. "With the Chief's assistance."
    Mr. Herbert looked relieved. "I cannot begin to thank you, Mr. Wainwright."
    "I don't mean to bestow upon you false hope. With the limited spare parts and scant knowledge of what I'm doing, I can stave off disaster for another few hours at best. We still can't leave the city's skies."
    Captain Nussbaum reached for the ship's intercom. "I'll order evacuation proceedings immediately."
    "An evacuation won't save London," Bartleby said. "Give us time to try and find the culprit before you give that order – if he believes that James is still the primary suspect, his guard will be lowered and he may not hurry his escape. If we evacuate, he could melt through our fingers and off into the countryside, laughing all the way. Laughing at the dead, laughing at Mr. Herbert, and laughing at you, Captain."
    Captain Nussbaum's face tightened. "I will not risk the passengers and my crew–"
    "Listen." Mr. Herbert raised a sweaty palm. "I will not be made a fool of. I won't have it! A disaster of this scale would ruin my name, ruin my business. We have to try and bring this devil to justice and find the gyroscopic device to save the city below."
    Nussbaum set his face into a grimace. "Herr Herbert, you may have financed the Rio Grande , but I am her Captain, and in the air my word is law. I can allot Herr Bartleby two hours to find the gyroscope, perhaps three if Herr Wainwright can create a temporary fix. After that, the ship will be evacuated. Am I understood?"
    "Quite." Mr. Herbert nodded. "I would expect no less concern from you."
    "Very well. I suggest we waste no more time. I will tell Herr Dewit to place a guard on the ship's aeroboat."
    "The aeroboat?" Bartleby asked.
    "Yes. We cannot have this scoundrel escaping."
    "No, I mean you only have one aeroboat? For the entire vessel?"
    "Well, the chances of needing it were slim to none," Mr. Herbert said. "It's hardly likely that we'd ever use it. Mostly for show."
    "That doesn't seem very–"
    "No, he's right, Bartleby," I interrupted. "In almost any disaster scenario the Rio Grande's hydrogen would ignite, killing all hands almost instantly."
    The information was apparently unsettling to the others, for they