"Is the place in use?"
Adena startled as the creature spoke. She drew a deep breath, reluctant to give it any help. "Not these days. Our airships are more fuel-efficient nowadays, they have longer ranges."
"There is no garrison?"
"Not that I'm aware of." Adena shrugged. "This is BloodDark. Anything could be there."
The thing fell silent. It stayed that way as they approached the mesa, circling around to the east of the huge plug of rock. Adena didn't need to pass orders. Her crew had visited the way station in the past and knew the course to steer. A crack in the rock face appeared, one wide enough for Oculus Nightingale to fit in sideways. "This is it."
The creature's appearance had diverged from that of Cathy Kozinski in the short time they'd spent traversing the sides of the mesa. It seemed to be abandoning any pretense at disguise now. The illusion of clothing had reverted to a silver skin on a humanoid body. Adena noticed areas of darker silver, patches of steel gray and gunmetal, and wondered if they indicated damage. She filed the information away for future reference.
The creature pointed. "There is a cave."
Damaged or not, it seemed to have impressive senses. Adena knew the place of old, yet even she would've had difficulty picking out the giant cave in the darkness. "That's where we're heading."
"You will follow procedures. If anyone hails us you will act as if nothing is wrong."
"Aye aye, skipper," Adena ground out.
The creature didn't react to her sarcasm.
The cave opened. Had the way station been occupied, a line of lanterns would've indicated the approach to the moorings, but the runway remained dark.
"There's nobody home," Hsu-Li announced to the bridge at large.
Again, the creature didn't react. "Slow all engines. Neutralize buoyancy," Adena ordered. "Ground crew prepare to head ground-side for mooring duty."
Acknowledgments sounded throughout the airship. Adena watched her crew go about the well-oiled routine. "All engines stop."
Oculus Nightingale slowed. Her mooring crew ground-side hauled her into the docking ring by main strength. Hsu-Li looked back at Adena, still ignoring the creature.
"All secure for ground-side, Captain."
Adena looked at the creature. "Well, here we are."
It didn't respond at first. Adena made to speak again but stopped when the creature turned.
"We will go ashore," the woman ordered.
"As you wish." Adena gestured. "After you."
"No." The deadly blade waved. "You will go first. Your crew will not do anything to jeopardize your well-being."
Adena scowled but did as she was told. Zared followed in a trance.
The air felt cold and dry after the warmer confines of the ship as Adena stepped onto the gangplank rigged by the ground crew. The brow led to a gigantic wharf constructed of field stone gathered from the area. A crewman handed her a lantern, flinching away when the creature moved close.
"You might not need visible light, but we do!" Adena snapped at it.
Blank silver met her eyes. "Understood. Proceed."
Adena proceeded. "What do you want here?"
"A place to lie up and repair. I am fully capable of dealing with you should you try to stop me carrying out my objective."
"I don't doubt it." Adena headed down familiar ways then pointed to where a passageway opened out of the bare rock. "There's a series of offices that way. They have one door. It should suit your requirements."
"Lead."
As the silver lady stepped forward something shot over her head, brassy clicking and glittering in the lantern light. The creature stopped short. "What was that?"
Adena felt a small flicker of hope spring up in her breast. "I think it was my parrot."
"Parrot?" The creature's gaze scanned the area. "What is a parrot?"
"My pet. A mechanical companion."
"If it threatens me, I shall destroy it."
"It won't threaten you."
"Lead on."
Adena headed for the offices. They lined either side of the passageway, the doorways closed off by simple wooden doors. The creature scanned them. "What is the function of these places?"
"They were used by traders, or quartermasters, of the airships in times gone by."
"Are we likely to be disturbed by traders or quartermasters in the immediate future?"
"No," Adena drawled. "You'll be able to rest undisturbed."
Without another word the creature stepped over to the nearest door. It worked out the simple latch mechanism then entered the dark space inside. It paused on the threshold.
"I have exceptional hearing, Captain. Should you try to leave in your airship I shall know it — and I will take action against you all." With that it went inside, closing the door after it.
Adena made an obscene gesture at the closed door and turned away. Mr. Phibuli was nowhere to be seen. She hoped her old friend wouldn't tip his hand — if he had a plan of any kind — too soon.
The parrot waited for her at the wharf, perched comfortably on a bollard. Adena drew up short at the sight of him.
"I didn't see you pass back this way." Adena frowned.
If brass and leather features could look smug, she reckoned Mr. Phibuli looked smug now. He clattered his wings. "If you didn't spot me, neither did my erstwhile comrade."
"Do you have a means of dealing with it?"
He nodded. "I think I do — but I require your help."
Chapter 12
Greg emerged from his drug-induced somnolence to see a brass and leather parrot gazing at him from a perch on the head of the bunk. From Greg's point of view the parrot looked upside-down. It didn't appear to be happy.
"Hello?" Greg ventured. His tongue felt like it was thick with hair.
"Hello, Greg. I need your help."
"Uh, yeah?" Greg gasped as he inadvertently knocked the stump of his forearm against the bulkhead.
"Hold still," the parrot commanded. It hopped down, landing daintily on the humped form of Greg's knees under the blanket. "I can't do anything to heal your arm — yet — but I can at least make the pain easier for you to bear."
He lowered his head to the stump. Greg drew back nervously.
"Keep still!" Mr.
