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“We’re going to die and never see Harmony or any of our family again.”
“Go sit down. It’s going to be fine.” Rat tried not to grin at Boy’s unblinking stare or at the fact that he had already said they were going to die at least ten times now. The tiny robot was a persistent little bugger.
If Rat had been a less patient man, he would have ranted on about Boy’s constant worrying chatter about dying, but he loved Boy and Molly as much as he did the rest of Harmony’s family. The two of them had befriended him long before anyone had ever trusted him. Besides, growing up as he had on the banks of a roaring, muddy river, with a father who beat him for not moving faster enough or for looking at him for too long, had taught him that a family was the people who stood by your side through good or bad. But more importantly, family wasn’t necessarily determined by blood but by who held you close in their heart.
Rat walked over and patted the top of Boy’s glass head. “I promise we’re not going to die today.”
“But what about tomorrow?”
Rat laughed. “I wish I knew.” He patted Boy’s head one last time before heading back to the helm. “Let’s get through today first before I make any promises about tomorrow.” He glanced over at Boy. “Fair enough?”
Boy blinked and nodded. “Fair enough.”
Before Rat could breathe a sigh of relief, Boy added. “But if all hell breaks loose before nightfall, I’m blaming you.”
“You’d blame me no matter what.” Rat increased the speed of the friction engine and raised the air pressure. The balloon rose but he kept a close eye on the fast approaching mountain top, just in case the lift wasn’t going to be enough. Resting his fingers on the steam vent knob, he waited to see what needed to be done next, the thought that he was about to lose his airship on its maiden voyage constantly plaguing him. He had worked too many long days and nights to let that happen.
“Come on, Baby. You can do it.” Rat patted the helm, held his breath and continued to wait. Even though the high altitude cold air should have kept his fingers from sweating, it hadn’t. He took his hand off the knob and wiped them on the leg of his pants.
Before leaving, he had promised Harmony he would bring Rat and Molly home and he was going to keep that promise, even if it was the last thing he ever did.
“Look here.” Rat grinned. “She handles like a dream.” He was so proud he patted the helm again as Independence glided over the peaks of the mountain range, as if she had done so a hundred times before.
He might have been more excited if the water gauge hadn’t been within eyesight. It was bumping down near empty.
Rat motioned for Boy to join him at the helm. “Handle the controls while I scout out the area. Don’t let us drop below five thousand until I tell you to.” As soon as Boy was seated in the captain’s chair and had his fingers on the steam vent knob, Rat raced over to the starboard side rail. He needed a miracle or a lake. Whichever came first would be good enough for him. It turned out that both were waiting when he looked down. The most beautiful lake Rat had ever seen sat at the foot of the far side of the mountain range, a range that was reflected back in a such a way that it turned its stark gray edges into a crystal blue picture of perfection.
Rat might have stood there and admired the lake’s beautiful splendor forever had he not been so aware of how close they were to running out of water.
He called over to Boy, “Let’s start setting her down,” to which Boy immediately released a plume of steam into the air.
Independence gradually began its descent, and as they neared the banks of the lake, Rat called over, “Set her down here. There’s not a tree in sight and the banks are covered in the greenest grass I’ve ever seen. It should be a soft landing.”
It only took a few minutes for Independence to settle onto the ground, the landing not disappointing Rat in the least. The airship had responded just as he had hoped—with grace and agility.
Rat pumped his fist into the air and called over to Boy, “See! We didn’t die today.”
Instead of the cheerful reply Rat had hoped for, Boy only said, “Yet.”
Molly headed over to Rat. “Harmony would be so proud of you.”
That thought broadened Rat’s smile. Before meeting Harmony, no one had ever been proud of him. Humiliation and hunger were the only things that had filled his life. Harmony and her family had filled his stomach and then his heart. Everything he did now was to show them that he had been worthy of their effort.
Rat might have dwelled over the successful landing if there hadn’t been so many things still to do.
He ran over to the anchor and lowered it until it landed safely on the ground. There wasn’t anything to hook it onto but Rat was counting on its weight keeping Independence stable long enough to fill the water tanks. And that water appeared so crystal clear he didn’t think there would be any problem doing so, no weeds or anything else to clog the water lines.
“Have you scouted the area yet,” Boy shouted, “to make certain there’s no one around to watch out for? We only have the one hand pistol, remember. That won’t fight off a whole gang of ruffians.”
Rat placed his hat and goggles on the co-pilot’s chair before answering “Not yet”. He tucked a long brown braid behind his ear, taking pride in how clean he kept his hair these days. Growing up, it had always been matted with mud and sticks. Catching rats had been a messy job. He was delighted that he hadn’t had to eat one since going to live with Harmony. He shuddered at the thought of ever having to go back to being a mud-covered hermit again—the kind that lived on the thin edge of life and death. Back then there had been nothing to take pride in, nor anyone to teach him there was a better way to live.
“This place is so beautiful. Do you really think anything bad could happen here?” It didn’t seem possible but Boy had seen more of the world, so Rat waited for his friend’s advice before deciding to head off ship.
Boy blinked and nodded. “Bad things can happen anywhere.”
That was all Rat needed to hear.
He pointed toward the port side and instructed Molly to go and check over there whilst he shimmied up the pole that anchored the balloon to the ship for a better view. When he reached the ring that held the balloon’s open mouth, he steadied himself and looked out across the lake. The valley floor seemed to extend for miles.
“What do you see?” Boy called up from the deck.
“People, and it looks like they’re heading this way.” He shaded his eyes against the sun’s glare and watched dark shapes moving through the valley’s tall grass. Some, though, didn’t appear to be moving of their own free will, although it wasn’t easy to tell at the great distance. Eventually, he concluded that they were being dragged behind the others.
Rat hollered down, “Maybe they’re just looking for water,” although his instincts screamed otherwise.
“Are they close enough to see Independence’s balloon?” Boy asked.
Rat scampered back down the pole. “If I can see them, they can see the balloon. We’ll have to be quick.”
Checking the anchor was secure, he jogging over to the water hoses, Boy at his heels.
“How many were there?”
Rat shrugged as he lowered the hoses to the ground. “It’s hard to say. Five, six. I don’t know.”
“Men or women?”
Rat shrugged again. “Too far to say.” Once both hoses were fully uncoiled he turned and placed a hand onto the top of Boy’s head. “They’re still a good distance away. I should have the tanks filled and us back in the air before they get here.”
Boy nodded. “I’ll go fetch the pistol and keep watch from up here.”
“Okay,” and Rat motioned for Molly to follow him. “Keep at the controls,” he shouted after Boy. “I want Independence ready for takeoff as soon as the water hoses are back onboard.”
Molly followed him to the ladder and lowered her voice. “You looked worried. What are you not telling Boy?”
Rat leaned in close and whispered, “Something’s not right about ‘em.” He patted Molly’s head. “Don’t worry, though. It’s going to be fine. They’re still a great distance from the airship.”
He looked up at Independence’s balloon and then back at Molly. “There’s no wind to blow the ship from this spot. Do me a favor and pull the anchor and ladder back aboard the moment I’m on the ground. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about but why take chances.”
He slung one leg over the side but then stopped and grinned sheepishly at Molly. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back in the air in no time, and no one will ever know we didn’t find Freedom at our first attempt.”