They didn’t get far.

Even though The Water Angel was superior in speed to the Sentinel, Walcox was able to utilize his long range bow canon to its maximum potential.

Dales was blown to pieces when the first shell ripped through The Water Angel’s gondola, forcing the airship down into the ocean off the coast of Haven. While Troy and the others clutched the wreckage, the Captain attempted to finish them off by having his crew fire small arms down on them, riddling officer Yanis with bullets by the time a passing steamship took notice.

The Sentinel had left them for dead and Troy, Jimmy and Sargent Hanson were then fished out of the water by the passing ship’s crew. It was a miracle they had survived the crash, an even bigger miracle that Walcox hadn’t managed to kill them all. Now they stood on the ship’s outer deck, soaking wet and dripping as crewmen surrounded them with suspicious curiosity. Troy raked his hair with his hand to get the water out, and then thanked the woman in charge.

Mabel Daisy was a short black woman with a spindly body and grey streaks in her shoulder length hair. Probably in her early fifties. Troy recognized her. She and her family owned Daisy Shipping, an import-export company, though they were one of the smaller ones in Haven.

Troy assured her that they were not criminals, but they’d been fleeing the Citadel Guard after all, and Mabel had a right to be skeptical of men who could easily be on the lam, but Sargent Hanson cleared that up pretty quickly.

“So tell me again why they were tryin’ so hard to kill you,” Mabel said.

“We had orders from the Mayor to bring in a man called Karl Raven—“ Troy began, but Mabel cut him off.

Oh, I’ve met him. He’s a big competitor in the shipping business, you see.”

He’s a big competitor in everything, Troy thought.

Another woman who had lingered a few paces back came closer. She was obviously another Daisy by the way she resembled Mabel, though not as thin, and her hair was much longer without the grey. She looked concerned, but not for Troy and the others. She leaned in and whispered something in Mabel’s ear but Mabel seemed to ignore her.

“Anyway,” Troy continued, “Karl stole a confidential file from the Mayor’s office. We brought him in, but it turns out what was in the file isn’t in the best interest of the city.”

“More like circumstantial evidence for treason,” Hanson added.

Troy hadn’t wanted to say that. Not yet.

“When we confronted the Mayor about it,” Troy continued, “he tried to have us whacked, as you saw.”

Mabel looked like she was about to respond when Jimmy spoke. “The Mayor is committing treason by making secret deals with XuiGuan.”

Did she need to know that, too?

The woman smiled, crossed her arms again as she shifted her weight onto her other hip. “Let me guess. He’s trying to give Haven to the XuiGuani or something?”

Close enough, but nobody responded to her question. Jimmy probably realized how ludicrous he sounded. Would she try to turn them in?

Mabel waited for a while, and then eventually said, “Well, it’s obvious what he’s doing!” She sounded impatient. “Been sayin’ it for months now.”

The younger Daisy shifted nervously. “Mabel, don’t talk like that. We don’t even know these men. They could be anybody.”

Mabel waved a hand to shoe her away. “I’ve seen this man here before.” She jabbed her index finger directly at Troy. “Yeah, aren’t you that fellow from the papers? Some kind of detective, right? You saved those two girls from that kidnapper. And you, you’re Mr.…?”

“The partner,” Jimmy said, voice a little raspy. “Jimmy Lennix. Holloway and Lennix PIs. At your service, Ma’am.” He put out a hand.

Mabel chuckled and took it. “Oh yeah. That’s right.” She turned to the other woman. “You happy, Raia?”

Raia pursed her lips before turning around to stamp up the steps leading into the ship’s wheelhouse.

“Raia’s my baby sister. She don’t trust nobody.”

“With good reason,” Hanson said, his tone dour. He was hunching and it made him look shorter than he was.

“It makes me so mad,” Mabel said. “Still can’t figure exactly why he’s doin’ it, though.”

So she was sympathetic, Troy thought. Swell. He wondered if he could get her to help them. “Berries,” he said. “Lots of ‘em. They’re trying to bring in enough refugees to create a new voter base so George—I mean the Mayor—can stay in office and eventually repeal the slavery laws at the behest of the XuiGuani High Cleric.”

If anyone understood such an implication, it would be a woman like her; Mabel’s ancestral country was close to XuiGuan, which had first introduced her people to slavery on the receiving end nearly a hundred years ago. She scowled. “So to reduce the cost of shipping their slaves, they need our island as a stopping port to refuel and all that so they can use airships instead? Hmm, yeah lot faster.” Her lips twisted with distaste.

They just had to destroy Haven first. The freedom to vote away your freedom, he thought. Mabel looked like she was about to be sick. “There’s still a chance we can stop this from happening.”

“How?”

“We need Karl Raven,” Jimmy said. “The refugees are rioting because of him. He’s the one who blew up the relief supply warehouses this morning.”

Her dark brows knitted. “Do what, now?!”

“Hamper the big cheese of course,” Troy said, feeling slightly impatient. “Cause chaos, anarchy—whatever.”

“Yeah? Well he caused a lot of problems for me too,” Mabel said, narrowing her eyes. “Just about destroyed my business.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Troy said. “But this is a power struggle and it’s going to be messy. No other way.”

“Hmmm.” She looked at them, studied each of them in turn for a long time. Then she said in a soft voice, “Come with me.”

They followed her into the wheelhouse where they found Raia and another man accompanying her at the helm. Troy gave them both a friendly nod. Raia made a face and turned back to her instruments as the helmsman introduced himself as Curtis Hays, a big fella with a square jaw. He was dressed in blue pants, a white work shirt with suspenders and a wool cap. Raia didn’t seem too pleased that Curtis was friendly toward Troy and Jimmy, and seemed relieved when they were cut short by Mabel who brought a XuiGuani man out from the radio room.

Troy felt unbidden anger rise. Was this why some people disliked the refugees? The carpetbagger from the other day came to mind. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Hazsh,” Mabel said, indicating the short, squat non-human. “He works for us. Has for a long time now. Long before this refugee crisis.”

Troy just stared at him, trying not to snarl like an angry bulldog.

Mabel arched an eyebrow at him. “You know, these riots are the reason we decided to leave. There’s no telling how bad it could get before things cool down. At the last minute, the Citadel Guard showed up, told us they needed the airship for matters of security—blah, blah…”

“They wouldn’t even allow us to stay so we could unload our things,” Curtis said. “Most of our personal possessions were on that airship, too.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Raia’s lips twitched. She looked like she was about to snarl, or break down in tears, or maybe both. Troy sighed, feeling in a way, somewhat responsible. He should have listened to Karl when he’d had the chance.

Damn you, George. “I’m sorry,” he said, feeling exhausted.

“Mmmhm,” Mabel noised patiently. “But no use cryin’ over it. We’ll be all right. Still got this boat. Now back on topic.” She gestured toward the fur-covered XuiGuani man. “Hazsh here left XuiGuan ‘bout ten years ago. He’s a hard worker…he’s loyal, too.”

Hazsh nodded, his front canines protruding somewhat like all XuiGuani, and unlike the refugees, he was dressed like a regular Havenite in black leather shoes, wool pants, and a long sleeved shirt with suspender straps. “Wanted only to create a better life for my family,” he said, voice ponderous.

“So, if you want me to help you with something, Troy, you better tell me why.”

“So we can stop this madness,” he said, gesturing with both arms a little too forcefully. “Sorry. It’s just…if we don’t stop the Mayor we’re going to end up with a very different Haven in a matter of only a few years.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know that,” Mabel said. “But what I really wanna know is what will happen to people like Hazsh once we save your friend and kick out all these so called refugees?”

Troy would do whatever it took to save the city; that began with rescuing the General, with or without Mabel’s help unfortunately. “The General won’t ban XuiGuani from entering Haven, so long as they value being a true Havenite. Trust me; I fought under him in the war. He’s an honorable man.”

“Except when he’s not,” Mabel said, obviously referencing his recent incarceration.

“That business about taking him in—“ Jimmy began, but Troy cut him off.

“—was an unfortunate misunderstanding.”

Oddly, Hazsh nodded. “Most my countrymen care nothing for your rules. They want entitlement.”

Troy raised an eyebrow at the sudden statement.

“XuiGuani theocracy,” Mabel added. “We’re all second class citizens in their country.”

Troy nodded. “Well they can’t be allowed to come here and act like they’re still living in XuiGuan. This is Haven.”

“We need to get back to the city,” Jimmy told Mabel.

“And we need to rescue Karl Raven,” Troy added. That’s not what he’d thought yesterday. So he was a sap after all. Swell.

“Does Raven have a specific plan to save the city?” Mabel asked.

Troy nodded. “He alluded to one, but we don’t know what it is.”

“And why not?”

Sargent Hanson grunted, still dour since the deaths of officers Dales and Yanis. “Too occupied bringing him in.”

Raia shook her head, made a sound of disgust.

“Oh yeah,” Mabel said, quirking her mouth up in amusement, “that…. But by what you tell me, Troy, and what’s clearly obvious around here, is that the XuiGuani seem to be at the center of this political corruption. We need to get them out. So you’re hopin’ Mr. Raven’s got a plan to do that. Is that right?”

Troy nodded. “The Mayor and the District Chiefs are the real problem. We get rid of them, and this whole problem goes away.” The task seemed insurmountable. George had the Haven PD on his side, not to mention the Citadel Guard. Together they made up a force of about a dozen airships. Troy didn’t even have one airship, and certainly not a fleet of them to challenge the Mayor’s superior position. He felt resigned, yet there was still some hope.

Karl better have a good plan, he thought.

Raia crossed her arms. “And what about when the authorities find out we’re helpin’ them?” She still managed to flourish one of her hands. “We’re talking about treason, Mabel.”

“Raia,” Curtis said, entreating. “We’re Havenites. If there’s somethin’ we can do to help these men, then it behooves us to do whatever we can.”

Troy thought Curtis must be Raia’s husband. She huffed and moved back to her station, giving Troy a look that was not at all pleased. “If we get caught helping these fugitives, I’m holdin’ you responsible, Mabel.”

“Mmmhm,” the older woman said, sounding bored. “Curtis, turn the ship around.” The helmsman smiled and obeyed as Raia glared at him from across the bridge. “Well now that we have all that outa the way,” Mabel continued with an overt air of mock wide-eyed drama, “maybe we can get back to the matter at hand?” She turned to Troy. “What exactly do you think I can help you with?”

Curtis pulled down on the blow horn. It blared, loud and ponderous over the dark waters night waters. It nearly made Troy wince. “Can you help us rescue the General?”

Raia snorted. “From the city jail?”

“I can take you back,” Mabel said, “but I can’t help you with that.” She paused, thoughtful. “But our airship might still be at the docks. That I can let you have. Well…at least until after you save the city.” She chuckled.

“Mabel! You just gonna give it to ‘em?”

“I’d rather give it to this man here before letting the Citadel Guard have it.” She turned to Troy. “If you’re quick, you should be able to get to the airship before they’re finished unloading it. There were only two of ‘em, and that’s a lot of cargo to unload by themselves.”

Troy nodded, somewhat dumbfounded. Mabel actually trusted them enough to lend them her airship. “How about some weapons?”

Was he pushing his luck?

“What?” Raia squawked. “And now you want guns too? Mabel, come on!”

“Oh shush!” Mabel snapped. “Listen, Raia, if something don’t change in Haven we might as well never go back. And if we aint going back, then there’s no reason not to let Troy barrow the airship. Besides, if he gets caught, we can just tell anyone who comes asking that we don’t know nothin’ ‘bout that. We can’t help it if these outlaws steal our stuff when we aint home to look after it. Now is that okay with you?”

The younger woman was silent. She glanced toward her husband. He nodded. Finally the younger woman relented. “Fine. But they aint takin’ my gun!”

Mabel smiled. “I got plenty of guns.”

“So you’re going to help us?” Jimmy asked. “Just like that?”

Mabel hummed with amusement. “Yeah.”

Swell, Troy thought, incredulous. What an interesting lady.

Mabel regarded him for a moment. His surprise must have showed, because she said, “Listen, sugar, I wasn’t born yesterday. I know that fool in the Citadel is corrupt to the core. That’s why we decided to leave for a while. Would have taken our posessions too if the damn Guard would have let us stick around. Now if you can do something to change the political situation in the city, I want to help you boys. Is that so hard to believe?”

“I guess not,” Troy said, feeling grateful as well as eternally indebted to this woman. Mabel was a true patriot. He’d have to visit her sometime after this was all over.

“Mmmm,” Mabel said, smiling. “Good!”

Troy chuckled and then asked her if they could get a look at the guns.

#

After getting the drop on the Guardsmen at the Daisy Shipping headquarters, Troy and the others took Mabel’s airship, which was still partially full but not so heavy as to make flight cumbersome.

When they got to the Haven City jail, Troy sent Sargent Hanson in to distract the guards. Surprising and subduing the skeleton crew was easy. After securing the guards in a separate cell, Troy led Karl and his gang out to Mabel’s airship.

The old General seemed relieved now that he and his people wouldn’t be going to their trial and execution. Troy extended a hand to the man. “About our misunderstanding…”

The General had a firm grip. “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Mr. Halloway. We all make tactical errors from time to time. Besides, you came around in the end. Now let’s fix this mess before it’s too late, shall we?”

Troy nodded. “Please, General, call me Troy.”

The other man smiled. “All right, Troy. And you can call me Karl.” He looked at Jimmy, shook his hand and said, “Now that we’re working together, I think further introductions are in order, don’t you?”

Troy nodded and the General introduced Jon Fasbourn, his top lieutenant. He was that relatively short and inconspicuous looking fella from the club, the sort of man that could melt into a crowd and disappear because he had a face that was easy to forget. And then there was Anna Johnson, who seemed—now that Troy was paying attention—to share a close relationship with the old boy in a father-daughter way. Troy was reminded of the jab he’d made about her being Karl’s gangster girl.

Stupid.

Her rose-bud lips quirked into a little smirk as she shook Troy’s hand. “Pleasure.”

Troy smiled.

Finally, Karl introduced Al Driscol, the young man who’d tried to bump them off in the street the day before. Apparently the young man had not been acting under Karl’s directive. He seemed embarrassed as they shook hands, but Troy was friendly. Sargent Hanson just nodded from the helm controls, and then asked Troy what the heading was.

Troy left the decision to the General. “We need those gold reserves. Without them, we have no chance at stopping the Mayor.”

“Why not?” Jimmy asked.

“I plan to pay my brother off for the temporary use of his airship patrol fleet. But I warn you, he’s Community.”

Swell, Troy thought. Just what they needed, allies from Community.

“I know what you’re thinking, but we need him.”

“Otherwise,” Jon said, “we might as well give this whole thing up.”

Jimmy nudged his fedora forward. Somehow he had managed to keep the thing even after the crash. “How does he plan to use Community resources to help us?”

“His superiors will never even know he abandoned his post,” Karl said. “He’s done it before.”

Troy didn’t like the sound of that at all. What if this man decided to hand Haven back over to Community so he could be a war hero or some jazz like that? Though it was better than leaving the city in George’s hands. “And you think the value of your brother’s help is equal to the amount of berries the Haven gold reserves are worth?” Haven was a productive city, lucrative with big money; the gold reserves would be replenished either way, but he still had to ask.

Karl smiled. “He has to pay off his subordinates down to the last airman. That’s a lot of dough getting spread around before he takes his share. Besides, it’s what my brother thinks it’s worth, not me.”

Troy shrugged, deciding it sounded fair and then suggested they go back to the Blue Lady and rearm for the fight against the Guard gathering the aforementioned gold. The General shot him down. “Can’t,” he said, shaking his head. “There’s no time. If we don’t get that gold to my brother tonight, he’s going to have to pull out. His patrol route takes him back north tomorrow. If he disappears from his route for too long, he’ll be discovered by his superiors. No, this is our shot. Besides, with the riots raging, the Mayor probably doesn’t have a lot of the Guard to spare, even for the gold!” He laughed. “Their own creation is miring them.”

“Not just that,” Troy said. “The Mayor’s still paranoid about assassins after what you pulled.”

Jimmy nodded wryly. “He’s surrounded by the Guard, holed up pretty tight.”

Karl chuckled.

Together the small company began to devise a plan of action for the coming battle to take the Citadel and stop George.