The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

Rhysto glared up at him for several more seconds. He then walked away without looking back. Karl stayed where he was until the man turned the far corner out of sight. He nearly collapsed onto the swing, making the chains sing out in protest. He jumped when Bess spoke.

"That was very well played, Mr. Gilmore. He won't forget you anytime soon."

"I'd rather he forgot the whole damned thing," Karl said. His trembling came through in his voice. "He'll be back, and you might not be as safe as you think."

"I'm safer than you know," she said. "He'd have to burn the house down to dislodge me."

"And if he does burn it down?"

"Then I slit his throat for him and go on about my life with a very pleasant memory. Ms. Schofield is ready now."

Karl shook his head, more aware than ever that he was far out of his depth with this crowd. He was also too far in to walk away, at least for now. Loretta opened the door before he could knock.

"He's gone?" she said.

"Yeah, but I doubt he'll be gone for long," Karl said. His heart was finally slowing down. "Nice guy."

"We'll be away before he returns." She stepped out and handed Karl two heavy leather bags. She carried two herself, one that sounded like it was full of coin. "Keep the revolver. We need to get out to the shaws before he has a chance to."

"I'll keep the gun if you'll show me how to use the dammed thing," Karl said. "I don't know if I could shoot it on purpose or not."

"The safety's on. You don't have any bullets. You're not likely to shoot yourself or anyone else just yet, but I'll teach you. I promise. I'll send word to you when I return, Bess."

Karl jumped again when the other woman spoke from right behind him.

"Very well, ma'am. I'll maintain current procedures until you do."

A tall, strong woman with her dark red hair pulled back stood before Karl. Her blue eyes seemed to evaluate and understand every part of him before she held out her hand. She shook his with a strong grip, nodding once.

"Safe travels, Karl."

"Thank you, Bess. Take care."

Karl followed Loretta off the trolley, not nearly so worried about being seen. A vengeful shaw pilot knowing what he looked like made him a lot less worried about someone he hadn't seen in a decade recognizing him.

The crowds around the grand airships weren't as big as when the shaws first arrived. Karl never forgot his older brothers dragging him into those nightmare swarms of people when he was too young, and too small, to resist. He'd spent the whole time terrified of either getting trampled to death or losing sight of his brothers. He hadn't been back since until today.

He couldn't decide if he'd been too afraid to notice back then or if the designs of the ships had changed that much in twenty years. Unlike the sleek silver military airships patrolling out of Stensue, none of the ferry shaws looked the same. Some of the huge air balloons were long and narrow like the patrol ships. The ends were less pointed, the fabrics far more colorful. A few had two or more perfectly round balloons tethered together with thick ropes. Still others had what looked like one huge balloon that bulged in several places as if someone had thrown a gigantic blanket over the smaller ones.

The vessels below that carried the cargo were nearly as varied, with some wide and flat, others shaped like vast wooden tubes. Most were tall with rounded sides and flat surfaces just under the balloons. Karl wondered if the shapes varied according to what they carried or simply to suit their owners. With so many of the balloons and flags matching the tents pitched nearby, in shades of everything from bright white to vivid blue to darkest black, he suspected preference played a role.

Most of the goods the long wooden ships carried had already been sent away to merchants, the rudder mouths’ outlandish tales already told to starry-eyed young girls. Now the camp moved to a fairly orderly rhythm.

Instead of curious shoppers and young people, only peddlers and workers providing services to the pilots and crews moved about. Porters carried loads of food or clothing or tools for repairs. Brightly dressed men and women clearly there to take care of other needs strolled among the camps.

The noise of hammers and fires, the smell of roasting food and too many bodies, and the blur of constant motion were making Karl's head ache.

"Not all the shaws are loyal to Rhysto," Loretta said into his ear, dragging his attention away from the spectacle. "He's made nearly as many enemies as allies. I've made a point of keeping track either way in case I need transport off the official routes again."

They passed several ships with their airbags missing or collapsed for repair sitting on curved wooden cradles, broad rear propellers nearly touching the ground. A few were airborne and tethered to spindly looking wooden or metal towers with chains or ropes.

Karl had never been off the ground for any reason. He wasn't looking forward to finding out if he got airsick or not.

Loretta continued out to the edge of the camps, where a small group of ships gathered apart from the others.

"I'll talk to them," she said. "You stay back when I say. I want to be sure they see you, but they'll know who I am."

"You said you needed me to make the arrangements."

"Bess has been busy since she sent that letter," she said. "She's been in contact with the pilots I can trust. They know to expect me. Since they don't know who you are yet, this will go a lot faster."

"Make sure they see the hired muscle," Karl said, trying to keep it under his breath. "Even if he doesn't have a clue what he's doing."

"Something like that."

They