He hesitated, then walked toward the distillery. Sometimes, actions could demonstrate what words failed to convey.
“Today’s the day, Ralston,” he said, approaching the gondola. He nodded to the ten men holding the ropes. The envelope was still shivering, anxious to be gone from earth like a winged thoroughbred.
“That it is, Your Lordship. That it is.”
Both men stared up at the huge blue silk envelope. This ship differed from the one in which he’d taken Veronica. The first balloon had been launched to test the air currents. This ship would master them. The envelope was larger, oval, with a pointed nose. The gondola was rectangular and much longer than the basket for his balloon.
The main difference between the two vehicles, however, was that he could control the direction of the airship. At the top of the envelope were several baffles controlled by wires fed down through the balloon to a control panel in the gondola. In addition, he’d created vents on either side of the ship to direct airflow and a set of fins on the rear and the front to control direction.
If his design proved as successful as he hoped, he’d petition the United States government to reestablish the Balloon Corps. A balloon had a practical application beyond that of spying on the enemy’s troop movements in time of war.
“I’d ask you to accompany me,” he said to Ralston, “but you’ve already indicated how you feel about flying.”
“And if you’d asked me, I’d just have to tell you no, Your Lordship. I’m Scots by birth, British by law, and a Highlander by the grace of God, but I’m no eagle.”
Montgomery laughed, entered the gondola, and began his last-minute checks on the burner.
Ralston surprised him by producing a bottle of wine with a flourish. “I trust you’ll not object, sir, but I’ve taken a bottle from the cellar to christen your ship.”
“To do that, I’d have to name her, Ralston,” he said.
Ralston looked crestfallen. “Is that not done, sir?”
“Indeed it is,” he said, thinking of the two ships he’d piloted in the war. TheFreedomhad gone down in 1862; TheUnionhad been retired a year later.
“Have you any ideas, sir?”
“TheIntrepid,” he said, thinking of Veronica.
“A good choice, Your Lordship,” Ralston said. “Fearless.”
“Or audacious,” Montgomery said.
Ralston handed him the uncorked bottle of wine. Montgomery poured a little over the corner of the basket. “Should I say something, do you think?”
They stared up at the envelope, then at each other. The corner of Ralston’s mouth twitched.
“I’ve no knowledge of christening rituals, Your Lordship. Not for airships.”
“What about sailing ships? I’d think it would be similar, don’t you?”
Montgomery poured a little wine on the grass outside the gondola. “I christen thee theIntrepid.”
“A good choice, Your Lordship.”
“A good idea, Balloon Master.”
Ralston grinned, the unexpected expression banishing twenty years from his face.
He donned his gloves, turned the burner on full, and saluted Ralston.
“Best of luck, Your Lordship!” Ralston shouted over the increasing noise of the burner.
“Let it go, Ralston,” he called out.
Ralston gave the nod to the four lines of men holding the mooring ropes, and slowly they began to walk toward the gondola.
The inhabitants of Doncaster Hall cheered as the airship began its slow ascent. He smiled, pleased by their reaction, and waved. A moment later, however, he was involved with the details of flight: checking the burner, testing the navigational paddles as well as the wires to the baffles.
