Airship Shape & Bristol Fashion Read Online Free Page A

As ever, I shaved, dressed, ate. Found myself smoking too many cigarettes. And — as evening turned into night — I headed towards the harbourside, stopping on my way in a couple of pubs for a couple of warming drinks, taking care not to have too many. I’d be no good to anybody half-cut, or worse.
     
    I passed through the unlocked gate onto the appointed quay. It was deserted, as planned. Whichever Vapours were boarding the ship were nowhere to be seen. I made a careful circuit of the quayside, found nothing overly suspicious, and finally climbed the ladder leading to an open-topped watch tower. Settling down against its railings some twenty feet up, I opened my book and began to read under the glowing gas-lamps.
     
    I was just marvelling at how the same man could write so much crass, bawdy doggerel and something as moving as the tale of Attis when I noticed movement by the gates. I stuffed the book away and checked my watch. 11 pm exactly.
     
    A small group — perhaps twenty or so people — entered quietly through the gate. My eyes had adjusted to the light, and I picked out the tall, spare figure of Joshua. I straightened up and descended the ladder. Moving swiftly towards them, I said clearly, “Liberty”.
     
    “Liberty,” replied Joshua’s calm voice. I walked over to meet the group. Joshua was dressed in tough, plain clothes, far removed from his usual sartorial elegance, as were the other Vapours, men and women, behind him. They were carrying bags and cases, but not in vast amounts; presumably most of what they needed was already on board. I recognised the dancers from several days before among their number. Evidently the underground had spread the news (and deactivated several Limiters) swiftly. By Joshua’s side was a short youth dressed in corduroys, work-boots, and a flat cap. It was only when I looked more closely that I saw the smiling face of Jessica.
     
    “I thought that a lad might arouse less suspicion at a quayside,” she explained. “And clothes like these are a sight more practical than my usual apparel.”
     
    I pushed the thought that she actually looked curiously attractive to the back of my mind. “Not that many passengers and crew, are there? I’d have thought that there’d be two or three times this many.”
     
    Joshua grinned. “And you’d have thought correctly.” He walked over to a warehouse building and knocked on its doors, firmly, three times. There was the faint sound of a lock being removed, and the doors swung slowly open. Inside, one extinguishing the small oil lamp and all gathering up their belongings, were another thirty or so of the dock-hand Vapours. Even among their great bulks, Robert towered visibly.
     
    “Just because surgery made them less intelligent, it didn’t make them complete idiots,” Joshua said proudly. “They’re strong, they don’t have Limiters, and they understand what we’re all working towards. They asked to come with us.”
     
    A small group of Vapours was already making its way up the gangplank, moving to start up the ship. The throbbing beat of its great engines rumbled steadily as the remaining Vapours gathered their belongings and began to board.
     
    By my side, Jessica was grinning fiercely. “It’s all going wonderfully. Better than I’d hoped!”
     
    That was when another set of gates was flung open.
     
    Swiftly, silently, a mob of men rushed through it, running to confront our group. Tough, hard-featured men, carrying truncheons and clubs. They formed up in a line, blocking easy passage to the ship.
     
    Jessica swore harshly at my side. “Anthony,” she hissed in fury.
     
    Smirking, Anthony Willans swaggered to the front of the line. He reached in his pocket, drew out a huge cigar, and lit it slowly, ostentatiously. Exhaling a huge belch of smoke, he strode forward a pace or two further.
     
    “Did you honestly think that I wouldn’t be keeping an eye on what you were doing? Something as suspicious as this?