Take Back the Skies by Lucy Saxon Read Free Book Online

pipe end.
    Catherine wiped her oil-stained fingers on her trousers. They hadn’t been doing anything too difficult; just basic maintenance on the engines, with Matt showing her what things looked like when they were working perfectly, and common signs of something malfunctioning. She picked it all up quickly, and was hooked already. She’d always been intrigued by machinery – her father had loathed her interest in it because he felt it was beneath her station. But learning how several innocent-looking pieces of metal could be shaped and put together to create something complex was fascinating to her. Working on Samuel had been her only experience of mechanics, and it thrilled her to learn more.
    Letting Matt lead her back up to the galley, she hung back slightly when they reached the door. She had one crew member left to meet, and she had no doubt that if Harry’s wife disagreed with her staying, she’d be out on her ear before she could say Anglya.
    â€˜Go on, lad. Alice is lovely,’ Matt urged, nudging her through the door. Everyone but Ben was already inside, and they looked up at the noise. Alice was standing at the head of the table, spooning a thick stew from a large tureen into bowls. She was a short, curvy woman, her blonde hair threaded liberally with grey and tied in a bun. Her warm blue eyes fixed on Catherine. By no means overweight, she was differently shaped from the painfully thin, tightly corseted women of the government. She looked natural and homely, wearing a blue dress with ruffled skirts that swept the floor and a short brown jacket with large brass buttons. Catherine found herself instantly relaxing.
    â€˜You must be Cat, then,’ Alice declared, her voice clear and friendly.
    â€˜Yes, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ she said shyly. Matt and Harry broke into loud guffaws.
    â€˜Oh, hush up, both of you! There’s nothing wrong with having a bit of manners,’ Alice scolded, hitting Harry sharply on the shoulder with her serving spoon. ‘You just ignore them, Cat, lad. They wouldn’t know politeness if it smacked them in the face.’ She walked around one of the long tables, her laced boots clicking on the waxed floorboards.
    â€˜You’re an orphan, I presume?’ she asked.
    â€˜Something like that,’ replied Catherine, remembering Fox’s own phrase. Alice frowned.
    â€˜No parents waiting who might be pleased to hear their little one has escaped Collection?’ She peered down at Catherine, one hand resting on her waist.
    â€˜No, ma’am, no one waiting for that,’ Catherine replied quickly, pleased not to have to tell a lie. Alice pursed her lips.
    â€˜One more mouth to feed won’t kill us, I suppose. I expect you’ll work hard?’ By now she was addressing the crew. Matt nodded his head readily.
    â€˜He’s been a good lad, Alice. It’s good to have a sprog to scrabble under the narrower pipework.’
    â€˜All right, then,’ Alice agreed. ‘Welcome aboard, Cat. We run a tight ship and don’t you forget it! I’m Alice.’ She smiled and reached out a soft hand. ‘Unfortunately shackled by marriage to this scoundrel.’ She jerked her thumb towards Harry, who faked an offended look. ‘I can’t say it’ll be bad to have a sprog on the ship again, now Fox is almost grown.’ She smoothed a hand over Fox’s messy red hair. He ducked out from under her hand, but his expression was fond.
    â€˜Just sit right there, dear,’ Alice prompted, setting a bowl at the empty space next to Fox. With a tentative glance towards him, Catherine slipped on to the bench. Alice poured from a bottle of mead for the rest of the crew and herself, and Catherine and Fox were given water.
    Jumping as a brass spoon was shoved in front of her face, Catherine took it from Fox’s hand, smiling in thanks.
    â€˜Aren’t we waiting for Ben?’ she