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“Drink something before you head back out.” Boy shoved a jar of water into Harmony’s hands.
The sun sunk low on the horizon, bringing to close to one of the hottest days Harmony could ever remember living through. It hadn’t helped that she had made at least thirty trips back and forth between Airus and the jar factory.
“Thanks.” She wiped sweat from her forehead and leaned against the rail. She might have stopped sooner but wanted to be finished with loading so she could get over the mountains and to the lake. The water tanks had to be filled before heading toward the east coast. Word had probably already spread about why she was behind schedule, but just in case there were a few who didn’t know, she wanted to drop in before another airship owner could trade for their produce.
“We have enough. Don’t go back. If you do, the sun might set before you get back.” Boy blinked and moved in front of the ladder.
It was tempting not to listen to his warning but she knew he only had her best interests at heart. “I guess you’re right. I want to get into the air before dark anyway. If the wind’s in our favor, we could reach the lake by tomorrow night.”
Boy’s mouth moved but only a clicking noise came out. He finally said, “You’re working too hard.” He turned and looked in the direction of Freedom. “I miss them too, but it was their decision to stay behind.”
Even though the only things within view were row after row of buildings, Harmony too looked toward Freedom. “I know. I don’t even know why I care. They were only with us for a short time but I kind of got used to Molly dropping screws everywhere.”
Harmony cleared her throat and held her hands up, displaying their grit and grime. “I’m going to go clean up before we take off.” She turned to leave but a loud thundering noise in the distance held her in place. “What’s that?”
They both listened until it struck them what the sound was. Harmony pushed past Boy and threw a leg over the rail.
Boy reached out and grabbed her arm. “Take me with you.”
“Climb on my back.” Once he was in place, she shinnied down the ladder and ran as fast as she could toward the railway tracks.
Boy asked, “What if it isn’t them but the Overseers.”
“I don’t think there’s any way they could get the Overseers running again, but we’ll find somewhere to hide until we’re certain.” She jumped over a pile of trash. “If by some chance it is the Overseers, I’ll get us back to Airus before they have time to see us. It won’t take long to get the airship up and out of reach.”
Harmony ducked behind a large chunk of concrete and lowered Boy to the ground. They both then peered around it toward the tracks, waiting for the train to arrive, safe in the knowledge they were far enough away to escape if it did turn out to be filled with Overseers.
She crossed her fingers, not wanting to get her hopes up but unable to tamper them down completely. It seemed to take forever for the train to come to a complete stop, and when it finally did, no one got off for what seemed like a very long time.
Boy tapped her on the shoulder. “Maybe it’s a trap.” He turned and looked back at Airus’s balloon. “Whoever it is knows we’re here.”
Disappointment quickly replaced hope. “You’re right. We should head back now and not take any unnecessary chances.”
Before she could move, Boy touched her elbow. “Look.”
The cab door opened and Harmony held her breath and waited. When a figure emerged and jumped to the ground, she took off running, sliding to a stop inches from Griffin, her face stretched to a wide grin. It was impossible to believe he had really come, after so much hoping and wishing.
Griffin slipped his hands into his pockets. His expression was like quicksilver, though, switching back and forth between happy and apprehensive. “We were afraid you wouldn’t be here.”
“We?” Harmony turned and found Boy standing inches from Molly, his hand on her shoulder. It was clear from their unblinking stares they were happy to see each other.
Harmony turned back to Griffin. “I didn’t think you would come.”
“I hope you don’t mind.”
She shook her head.
“To hell with this,” and he grabbed her, pulling her into a deep hug.
She sighed, loving the feel of his arms around her. Harmony finally pulled away and stepped back. “So, does this mean you and Molly are coming with us?
Griffin grinned and nodded toward the train. “Bolts wants to come along too, if you’ll have all of us.”
Bolts jumped out of the cab. She winced when he fell to his knees but was relieved when he made it back up before she could offer to help.
“I believe Airus is big enough to hold the five of us.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I did say I would take you wherever you wanted to go, and Boy needs a couple of friends to keep him busy and out of trouble.” She leaned forward and whispered, “It will take up most of his time picking up Molly’s screws and finding out where they’ve fallen from.”
Griffin drew her against his chest. “If you let me, I want to go wherever you go. That would make me the happiest man on earth.”
Harmony cupped his face in her palms and looked into his beautiful brown eyes. “There are rules.”
He slipped both his arms around her waist. “Rules?”
She grinned. “Of course.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Such as?”
“The first one is I can swear as much as I want, whenever and wherever I want.”
He nodded. “Agreed.”
“The second one is no one is allowed in Boy’s chair but Boy.”
Boy broke in, “Except Molly.”
Harmony and Griffin both looked at the two robots.
Harmony said, “Except Molly.”
Griffin nodded. “Agreed.”
“Rule three is you have to learn a few more swear words if you plan on hanging around me and Boy.”
He pulled her in even closer. “Agreed. Will you also teach me how to fly Airus?”
Harmony nodded. “Only if you agree to rule four.”
“Okay; which is?”
“It’s the most important one, mind.” She focused on his square jaw, to avoid his eyes. Her stomach now felt like it was filled with butterflies. “Rule four is you have to promise you’ll never leave me again.”
Griffin tilted her face up so she had no other choice but to look him in the eyes. “I promise,” he said, solemnly.
Bolts clanked up and tapped Harmony on the shoulder. “If I promise never to leave you again, will you teach me how to fly too?”
Harmony and Griffin both laughed. “Of course,” She said.
The End