The deck was dark; lights apparently disabled. Albert slid his night vision glasses on and moved from shadow to shadow.

Harris walked along the open deck and whispered, “Dominic?”

Albert saw a shadow move after he passed by and waited.

Dominic stepped out from the stairwell, “Over here.”

The shadow that followed rushed forward with a rope held tight in both fists. In a quick motion, it slipped over Harris’s head and was tightened.

The two forms twisted and struggled in the dark. Albert could see with his glasses that Harris, instead of grabbing at the rope around his neck, was frantically pulling the pulser’s string.

A blue spark shot across the dark night followed by a scream.

Realizing his plan was not working, Dominic raised a pistol. Albert charged with his swordstick held like a bayonet. At the same time, Harris turned his convulsing assailant around to stand in from of him. The shot, intended for him, hit the man’s partner.

Albert changed the angle of his attack and drove the sword into Dominic’s foot. The man gasped and tried to pull his foot free. Taking pity on him, he removed the sword, wiped the blade, and slipped it into the wooden cane shield.

Dominic cursed and hopped around. Dropping the gun, he sat on the metal stairs and pulled off his shoe. “Your cruel, you know that?”

“You should be grateful. I could have gone for your hand.” Albert pulled out a handkerchief and turned to stuff it in the other assailant’s bleeding shoulder.

“No time for more than that. We need to get out of here. Someone must have heard the gunshot. They will take care of both.” Harris clutched Albert’s arm and yanked him down the stairs. Stopping at two floors below, he led them through the steerage class, past bunks full of sleeping passengers.

At a closed metal door, he jerked it open. Heat from massive boilers hit them in the face. Pistons pounded shaking the floor under their feet. Harris let them through bursts of steam to a door. This opened to another stairwell. Back up the three flights of stairs, they stood exhausted outside their cabin door. Albert had trouble hitting the right notes to unlock the metal spider.

“How did you know it was a trap?”

“He used the name Roosevelt instead of The Admiral.” Harris poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Albert.

“Any idea who they work for?”

“Nope, but I’ll find out. Don’t know how many times I pulled the string but aimed the pistol at his jaw. Plus, the shot in the chest put him out of action. When he comes around, I’ll question him. What worries me is that the original Dominic is dead, maybe even before we left port.”

“I gave Dominic, or whoever he is, a strong thrust with my sword into his foot. He’ll be limping slow for a while.”

Harris sprawled on the sofa, and Albert dropped in his chair at the desk. “My father took me on some of his voyages before settling down. The ship was my playground. It was a good thing most ships are built the same way.”

They sipped their wine in silence.

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“I cannot let this distract me. I am close to a workable plan. If Izumi will bring me that toy, I can study how it is powered.” Albert frowned at his drawing.

A timid hand rapped on their door. Harris rose and opened it.

Izumi stood before him. “I came to see Albert. Step aside.”

“Did you bring the dragon?

“I came to invite you to lunch tomorrow, 12:00 at the emissary’s table. And yes, here is the toy. The power source appears to be dead.” She pulled the green miniature from her sleeve.

“Doesn’t matter. I need to study it, see how the gears work.” Albert held it under the lamp and examined the object from all angles. As light hit the green stone eyes, they glowed, and a wing quivered. He turned to hide it from Izumi’s view and glanced at Harris.

He caught the unspoken request, and commented, “Izumi, Dr. Timmons needs to work in silence. If I may escort you to the door?”

She glared at him and pulled out her fan. With a twist of her wrist, it snapped open. Harris stepped back from the door to avoid the knife sharp edges. Izumi gave him a superior smile and walked out.

“Did you see how light activated the stones?”

“No, I only saw your panicked expression.”

“Here, I’ll show you.”

Again, the eyes glowed when he placed it under the lamp. The toy quivered.

“Interesting green stones. At first, I thought they were emeralds, but this is something different.”

Harris touched the protruding snout. The dragon’s mouth opened and tried to bite the tip of his finger. “Playful creature, though.”

“This creates a whole new concept for my design. I wonder if it is the light or the energy it projects.” Albert held it away from the light. The miniature shut down.

“I never took the pulser from my wrist. Shall I try two pulls and then touch the gun to its eye?” Harris pumped the gun and started to reach over.

“This thing could explode,” Albert cautioned.

“I don’t think so, I can feel it tugging at the built-up energy. The gun is vibrating.” Harris held the gun a couple of inches from the eye and released the charge.

The miniature dragon raised its head and flapped both wings.

“Want more?” He built up a second charge and released it.

They watched in shock as the toy rose and soared around the room. An occasional short flame burst out.

“I’ll need a bigger work area.” Albert’s voice shook. He reached for the flying miniature. The dragon gracefully floated down to perch on his finger.

“Is it just me, or do you feel it also?”

“Yes, it is not a mechanical toy, but something else. Almost alive. I can study it, but not take the dragon apart. Even the eye stones must stay intact.”

“I’ll find you some large, secure place and get these boxes carted to it. But not box #3. It stays with us. Any more useful devices inside it?”

“A one-man flying platform. That’s why it is heavy. A few more devices I’m perfecting, and extra door locks.”

Harris bribed stewards, waiters, and anyone else available to set up Albert’s laboratory in the steerage class free space. There were only a few passengers, and they were eager to eat in the fancy dining room (meals paid for). With Albert’s special locks, the room would be secure.

Not sure where they came from, a troop of young boys followed him around. Their eyes round with excitement at the mysterious boxes.

“This is exactly what I need. Bring those tables together and form a big square. Oh, and I will need to do some metal work.” Albert stared at him, waiting for a solution.

“Some of the boiler mechanics should be able to help you.”

“Good.” Already engrossed, he started removing gears and sheets of metal from one of the boxes.

The days passed in fascination for Harris. He helped bend, cut, and form the wheels and gears. The dragon’s metal skeleton was shaped.

Albert was pleased at the man’s ability. “You do have an affinity for mechanics.”

“All my life. Kept the farm machinery running. When Dad bought a new piece, especially the powered one, I checked them out, and in some cases, improved them.”

A timid knock sounded on the door. When Harris opened it, Izumi wheeled in a cart of food. She studied the tables with all the different gears laid out, and then said, “Dr. Timmons, Emissary Tamako sends lunch. We rarely see you in the dining room. I hope all is going as planned?”

“Yes, yes. Harris, I need another sheet of paper.” As a clean paper was spread before him, Albert commented, “Can’t talk right now. Please thank Mr. Tamako.”

Izumi glanced at him already engrossed with his design. Her face broke from its usual serene expression to one of anger. She noticed Harris watching her and switched back to her normal countenance. Shoulders straight, Izumi gracefully drifted from the room.

“Well done. You do know how to aggravate a woman.”

Albert looked up, confused at the statement.

“Well never mind, must be your natural charm,” Harris said with a laugh.