Joey and Esther arrived at the Aquil Airport. Fond memories flickered in Joey’s mind, and he smiled, recalling his father taking him on a hot air balloon ride. They’d floated over the lake estate, his father’s steady hand on his shoulder, as Joey marveled at the glinting water and sprawling trees below.

Back then, Joey had been eager to explore the unknown, dreaming of crossing borders, riding a Zeppelin, or diving deep underwater in a submarine. His father had gone to great lengths to make these dreams come true.

“Professor. Constable. It’s an honor. The mayor has instructed me to assist you with whatever you need,” the director of the airport boomed, his voice matching his stout, towering frame. Joey grimaced, feeling as if he were being shouted at like an old man hard of hearing.

“Thank you, Director,” responded Esther, smiling.

Joey noticed how the director leaned forward slightly; it was likely he was the one hard of hearing—a hazard from years of flying. Joey raised his voice to match the volume.

“We were hoping you’d take us as high as possible. We need the widest view of the lake we can get.”

The director’s eyes brightened. “That means we’ll take the Albatross.”

Esther nodded with a pleasant smile. “That’s perfect, Director.”

“Follow me. The mayor’s orders were to give you the best treatment, and I’m the best pilot in the fleet.”

The director’s modest pride drew a grin from Joey as they followed him to the airship.

“Tell us about the Albatross, Captain,” Joey said, adjusting the title now that he knew the director would be flying them.

“It’s one of our newest. She can reach about 15,000 feet.”

Joey whistled, impressed. “And her capacity?”

“Forty-two passengers.”

Exiting the terminal, they reached the airstrip, where the director led them to a colossal hangar. He barked a few orders to the crew, and the bay doors rumbled open. Horses began pulling the Albatross from its shadowed lair into the sunlight, and Joey blinked, his gaze sweeping over the Albatross’s massive hull. It was gigantic, dwarfing most of the city’s buildings, and shaped like a sleek gray missile.

“Ain’t she a beauty?” the director asked, his pride evident.

“Most certainly,” replied Esther. Joey, still dazzled, simply nodded, awestruck by the airship’s towering size and elegance.

As the takeoff preparations wrapped up, the captain brought Joey and Esther aboard the zeppelin, up a ladder and onto the gangways. As they ascended the latticed paths, Joey felt the metal creaking softly beneath their steps, each step drawing them deeper into the heart of the airship’s intricate framework.

“What do you use to make the envelope?” Joey asked as they walked.

The captain’s booming voice drowned out part of his question. “Yes. You’re right. It’s dope.”

Esther couldn’t hold back a giggle.

“No, no—what fabric is the envelope made from?”

The captain laughed. “Ah! Goldbeater’s skin.” Joey’s eyebrows rose in surprise—processed sirenian membrane. He wondered if any of his father’s old sea cow herd might live on, in a way, aboard this vessel.

Joey pointed at the giant containers flanking their path. “And are those the fuel tanks?”

“You’re welcome. It’s a pleasure,” the captain responded with a grin.

Esther stifled another laugh, and Joey shot her a bewildered look. “I asked if those were the fuel tanks,” he repeated.

The captain chuckled. “Oh! No, no. Those are the gasbags. They give us lift.”

As they walked along the gangways, the crew busily scurried around the structure, conducting final checks. The captain occasionally barked compliments or corrections. After what felt like a long trek, they reached the gondola. The captain opened the hatch, and they stepped inside.

Joey took in the rich scent of the paneled wood and the bolted furniture. The captain led them through two large, polished, spacious rooms. “These are the dining room and the saloon. The two largest compartments inside the gondola. This is where passengers dine, mingle, and chat.”

On the port side, they were shown the reading and writing rooms, quieter spaces lined with books, and elegant desks. “For when you want a little peace and quiet,” the captain explained. Finally, he led them to the sleeping cabins, located as far as possible from the engines to ensure a restful night.

Joey’s favorite feature, though, was the promenade, a corridor lined with inclined glass windows offering a breathtaking view of the ground below. The corridor circled the entire gondola, and he could see a crew member outside, carefully polishing the glass for an unobstructed view. Joey felt a thrill at the thought of seeing the lake from thousands of feet in the air.

“That’s the whole tour. Make yourselves at home. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get this baby off the ground.” The captain slipped through the same door they’d entered, disappearing back along the gangways toward the navigation car in the bow.

“What do you think, Esther?” Joey asked, glancing around the zeppelin’s spacious interior.

“It’s an impressive vessel,” she replied, nodding. “I’d heard rumors, but I’m glad we get to use it.”

“It’s the biggest I’ve been on,” Joey said, smiling.

“Same here.”

Outside, the low rumble of the propellers signaled their imminent departure. The tethers loosened, and the zeppelin began its ascent. The floor hummed softly beneath their feet as the buoyant gasbags overcame gravity, lifting the Albatross smoothly into the air.

“So, what’s the plan?” Joey asked, turning to Esther as they rose.

“From this height, clines should show up as shifts in the water’s color. If there’s a pattern we’ve missed, this view might reveal it.”

“How long will that take us?”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“A week, give or take,” she said with a determined look.

Joey nodded thoughtfully, glancing out over the vast lake below. “Let’s hope it pays off.”

*

“As you can see, gentlemen, all our equipment is state-of-the-art.” Geoffrey gestured to the gleaming Nautilus and the rest of the submarine fleet. Each vessel had been meticulously polished, shining so brightly that some guests had to squint. In the distance, the resident dolphin pod added a festive touch, performing graceful acrobatics over the water’s surface.

“Ooh. Impressive, Mr. Geoffrey. The submarines are well-maintained.”

“Such marvelous creatures.”

As Geoffrey strolled through his estate, his entourage trailed behind him like students on a school outing. Merchants, ambassadors, and business tycoons. They were all exceptionally wealthy, and none shied away from risk. If they had, they wouldn’t have dealings with pirates or dared to buy his oil under the table.

Among the guests, Geoffrey counted ambassadors from thirteen nations, at least six hailing from the wealthiest countries. He noted Mary Oakland, the Railway Empress, who owned 70% of the railways. Cool as always, she surveyed the fleet with her trademark calm, unaffected by its grandeur. Next to her, Mr. Daniel, one of the planet’s largest cotton magnates, stood chatting with Geoffrey’s senior bank manager. Even an aide from the mayor’s office had appeared—a surprise addition. Yet Geoffrey felt only the faintest ripple of concern. The oil he’d sold was untraceable. They were far too late.

“Before the Flood, we managed a herd of three hundred manatees,” Geoffrey explained. “But after the disaster, many ranchers couldn’t care for all their stock. To support them, I’ve taken on part of their herds. We now own fifteen hundred manatees, twelve hundred dugongs, and five hundred balatees, not to mention a Stellar sea cow ranch on the Ash Islands. And this is only the beginning.” Geoffrey paused, letting the numbers sink in. “Geoffrey Inc. owns nearly 10% of the global energy market!”

His voice rose slightly as he delivered his pitch. “We’re expanding rapidly, and we need land, capital, and resources. If you’re interested in the future of Geoffrey Inc., I invite you to invest. I guarantee a return of 10% in the next three months.”

Surprised murmurs rippled through the crowd. Geoffrey watched the expressions of seasoned investors as they calculated potential returns. In the first phase of his plan, he’d built a name in the black market and gained valuable allies. In the second, he’d undermined his competition, increasing his appeal to potential backers. Now, all that remained was for them to take the bait.

“I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour,” he concluded. “If you wish to invest in Geoffrey Estates, please leave your information with Deborah. We’re only accepting investments above two hundred thousand crowns, with a guaranteed 10% return over two years. Let’s brighten the world together.”

As the crowd dispersed, Geoffrey noted with satisfaction that one ambassador was already speaking with his secretary.

“Excuse me, Mr. Geoffrey?”

Geoffrey turned to find the mayor’s aide waiting with an unreadable expression.

“Hello! You’re the mayor’s aide, Mr. Finley, right?”

“Excellent memory, sir.”

“What business does the mayor have with my humble estate? Perhaps city hall is considering investing public funds?”

“No, I’m here on my own.”

On his own? Who is he working for, then?

The aide’s tone turned pointed. “One of your... associates told me about your little operation. I’d like to ask a few questions.”

Geoffrey’s stomach tightened. Did he know about his dealings with the pirates?

“Of course,” Geoffrey replied smoothly, maintaining a calm smile.

“You’re promising a 10% return within three months, yes?” Finley asked.

“Yes, absolutely. My estate and livestock serve as collateral.”

“Suppose I invested five billion crowns,” the aide replied casually.

Geoffrey’s eyes widened, struggling to mask his shock. Five billion crowns—that sum could buy a country. “I—”

“Could you make it 20% within two months?”

Geoffrey stood speechless. He hadn’t anticipated anyone would be willing or able to invest on that scale.

“I-I’m sorry. I can’t promise that.”

“A shame. Well, I must be going.” Finley left, leaving Geoffrey grappling with a mix of disbelief and something close to envy. Just who was this man? How did he own so much wealth? Was he just messing with him?

“Mr. Geoffrey?” The familiar voice of Mary Oakwood pulled him back. She approached with her usual poise.

Geoffrey had no choice but to push his shock aside. “Mrs. Oakwood. What an honor to have you here. Please, go ahead with your questions.”

*

Five days of flight had passed aboard the Albatross. Thanks to its powerful engines, the zeppelin achieved speeds of up to a hundred kilometers per hour. Even so, Lake Grassum stretched six hundred kilometers east to west and three hundred kilometers north to south, and covering its vast expanse took time.

Esther and Joey spent most of their days in the promenade, meticulously mapping the clines. She’d asked the captain to fly in progressively smaller circles, creating a whirlpool pattern that gave her better reference points on the shoreline and a sharper sense of scale. Each loop grew faster as the circles drew tighter: it had taken two full days to circle the lake’s edges, a day and a half for the next loop, and now they were managing more than a circle each day.

Joey leaned over Esther’s shoulder, feeling increasingly useless in the survey. He had tried to help her trace the boundaries of the clines but struggled with the precision required. Esther, in contrast, had a steady hand and drew each line with quiet confidence. Joey realized he had taken the hard work of cartographers for granted. As a policeman, he often relied on maps, but he’d never truly considered the skill it took to make one.

“Your hand hardly ever falters,” he remarked. “How confident are you that your drawing resembles the real thing?”

“Very,” she replied without missing a beat.

Joey wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Are you bored, Joey?” she asked, glancing at him.

“To be honest? Yes. I’m not exactly essential here.”

“Your presence is appreciated, Joey,” Esther said with a small smile. “I feel safer knowing you’re watching my back.”

“You don’t need to say that,” he muttered.

“I mean it,” she insisted gently, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

“Well… My boss would never have let me stay home, anyway. Do you know the city treats you like a messianic figure? You could ask for nearly anything, and they’d deliver it.”

“I’ve noticed a certain… hospitality.”

Still, his thoughts drifted to his family. He could almost smell his daughter’s strawberry-scented shampoo and hear her laughter echoing through their home. As much as he longed to be with them, Joey knew he had a job to finish here. He took a deep breath and reminded himself to stay focused—home would be waiting once this was over.

“Professor, how long would you say we have left before we can go home?” Joey asked, watching Esther as she studied the landscape and then her map.

“We’ve been fortunate—clear skies all week, and the winds haven’t been too harsh,” she replied. “Today, we’ll finally fly over the lake’s center. If all goes well, we’ll be back in the city by tomorrow.”

“Good,” Joey said, a genuine smile breaking through. After days of confinement, he was more than ready for action again. “Shall I go prepare some coffee? Maybe a snack?”

“That would be lovely. Thank you.”

In the kitchen, Joey went about his ritual. He boiled the water for fifteen minutes—the only place on the zeppelin where fire was allowed. Ignition near the helium-filled gasbags was too dangerous. He pulled a small vial from his pocket, placing a single drop on each ingredient he would use. The liquid stayed clear—no toxins. He sniffed and tasted each item carefully, then set about preparing an omelet and brewing the coffee.

Suddenly, a scream rang out, muffled but unmistakable. A surge of adrenaline shot through him, and he dropped the coffee, cups shattering on the floor as he drew his gun and sprinted toward the promenade where he’d left Esther.

When he reached her, she was standing frozen, her hands covering her mouth, eyes wide with fear. The pen she’d been holding lay forgotten on the floor. Joey moved quickly to her side, following her gaze.

“Joey… it’s…”

He looked down through the window. Beneath them, the lake’s surface was an unnatural ochre yellow. His first thought was that they’d come across a new kind of cline, but something felt wrong. He looked further, realizing the color shift curved along the horizon in a giant circle. In the middle of that circle was a dark shape, nearly a kilometer wide and… expanding.

The shape shifted, and a sickening awareness dawned on Joey.

It was an eye.