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“THERE IT IS!”
Rat heart’s almost stopped when Isa leaned precariously over the bow railing. She turned, as though to make sure he had heard, then pointed to a spot on the jagged mountain ahead. Rat, though, could see nowhere on it where a person could survive the night much less live out their life.
He went over to join her, and to check if there was anywhere he could land Independence.
“Are you serious?” he asked.
When she only nodded and smiled, he again looked down at the flanks of the jagged mountain then back at her.
“But where?” He couldn’t believe anyone, never mind four fragile women, could live in such an inhospitable place. “I can’t land my airship down there, and it will take you hours to climb up if we land on the valley floor.”
By now the other three women had emerged from his cabin. Rat wasn’t surprised to see that Selena had an apple in each hand. She had obviously not heeded his warning. The odds were she was going to have a very long and uncomfortable night ahead of her if she wasn’t careful. But then, he had to admit to himself, experience was always the best teacher.
When he then asked exactly where they lived, Isa pointed to a narrow ledge he’d unsurprisingly not noticed before. “Lower your ladder and we’ll climb down to it.”
“Are you crazy? The wind gusts will blow you off the ladder before you could reach it, and anyway, where do you plan on going even if you can get onto that ledge?”
She jutted out her chin in that now familiar way, and her tone held the barest hint of a challenge. “Our home’s near that ledge.” Her chin lifted even higher. “So, do I assume you can’t hold the airship still long enough for us to climb down safely?”
Rat blew out a long breath. “It doesn’t have anything at all to do with what I can or can’t do. The wind-shear up here is too strong. It will whip you right off the ladder before you make it halfway down. I didn’t rescue the four of you just to see you get killed here.”
Isa jutted her chin out even more. “At least let me try.”
“So I guess, if you die climbing down the ladder, the others will be happy for me to land in the valley and make their own way home from there.” He glanced at the others to see if they were just as crazy as Isa. Unfortunately, they just stared at him, as though expecting him to lower the ladder without any further argument.
Isa placed her hand on his arm. “But I’m not going to die, and when I make it safely onto the ledge, I can hold the ladder steady for the others, so it won’t be as dangerous for them.”
“But who’ll make it safe for you?” He didn’t think his heart could stand it if he let something bad happen to her. Even though he was never going to see her again, he wanted to be able to think back and fondly remember that he had once saved the most beautiful woman on earth, not to have to try and block out the memory of having killed her.
Her smile lit up her whole face. “You will. I know you will.”
Rat wished he was half as certain as she appeared to be, and stepped away from the group of women. He needed to be able to think without being surrounded by so many expectant faces. He was quickly learning that being the captain of his own airship was more than knowing about low-pressure lift and high-pressure water. Before leaving home he had no idea he might also have to make decisions that could get someone killed.
As Rat walked by the helm, Boy approached him. “Lower me down. I’ll hold the ladder steady for the ladies, and after they’re safely on the ground, just bring me back up.”
“Do you have any idea what Harmony would do to me if I didn’t bring you and Molly both back in one piece?” But secretly he couldn’t stand the idea of losing his best friend.
“It will be safer for me because I’ll be tied to the rope. There’s no way the wind will knock me off.” Boy stared at Rat; his big soulful eyes could sometimes appear so surprisingly wise for a piece of machinery.
“You’re not going to die on me today, right?” Rat touched the top of the tiny robot’s head.
“I’m not going to die, not today.”
Rat glanced at the four women then back at Boy. “If I agree to this, you’re going to do exactly what I tell you to do. I’m lowering you down, but the moment they’re all safely on the ground with you, you get Isa to recheck your rope before I pull you back onboard. Okay?”
Boy nodded. “Okay.”
It wasn’t a great plan, but with the women willing to risk death to get back home, there was very little Rat could do but try. He went and got the rope he used to load and unload Boy and Molly, whose legs weren’t made to bend enough for them to climb up and down ladders.
Despite the near-freezing temperatures at this altitude, a layer of sweat covered Rat’s face. He tried not to think about everything that could go wrong as he tied the rope around Boy, then as he tested its knot several times. Finally, he picked the robot up and sat him on the rail.
Rat pointed close up to Boy’s face, to make sure the robot was paying attention. “I don’t want any heroics. Do you understand? If you get even one dink in that hard head of yours, Harmony will surely go insane and kill the both of us.”
Boy touched Rat’s face. “I love you too.”
Rat sucked in a ragged breath and nodded. Words were now beyond him, so all he could do was pat Boy’s head once again. And with that, he lifted the robot and carefully lowered him down the side of Independence, until, despite the wind tugging him this way and that, he was finally flatfooted on the narrow cliff ledge.
Once in position, the robot waved for Rat to go ahead and lower the ladder, which he quickly did, given he wanted this adventure behind him as soon as possible. When Boy eventually had the bottom rung tightly in both hands, Rat waved for Isa to climb onto it. He could see her forced bravery slipping now the moment had come.
Rat clamped her tiny waist between his big hands, but paused to tell her, “You don’t have to do this. I can pull Boy back onboard and land on the valley floor. It will take you a little longer to get home but at least it won’t be so dangerous or fool-hearted a trick.”
Isa smiled, although thinly this time. “You’re a strange man, Rat. You didn’t have to save us and you didn’t have to go out of your way to bring us home.” Her cheeks flushed crimson and she lowered her voice. “These cliffs are my home. I’d know my way around even if my eyes were closed.” She nodded then looked down. “But, if something were to happen to me, take the others to the valley floor. Promise me you won’t take any chances with them.”
He nodded before helping Isa onto the railing then down onto the ladder. Even when she was secure he had to pry his fingers from her arms, his heart rising to his throat. “I promise nothing is going to happen to any of you,” he said as he leaned forward and made her look at him. “You take it one step at a time, okay? Don’t get into such a hurry that you lose your footing; and in case you do, keep at least one hand on the ladder at all times.”
Rat placed a finger under her chin and lifted it. “If you need me, I’ll be down in a jiffy. You understand?” He nodded toward the mountainside. “I’m going to come back here one day with an entire basket of apples. I expect a warm welcome and you still to be in one piece.”
Isa smiled. “Is that a promise?”
He returned her smile; how could he not after seeing her eyes light up for the first time since they had met? “It is.”
She reached out and touched one of his braids for a moment, then met his eyes again. “I’ve been wanting to do that ever since I saw you.”
He reached out and rubbed a strand of her long raven hair between his fingers. “Me too.”