The Venusian Gambit by Michael J. Martinez Read Free Book Online

ornate door cut into the lower hull. “Anyway, I shall do what needs be done. How fares the Lady Anne, sir?” O’Brian asked.
    Weatherby smirked, his mind rushing back thirty years to an impromptu fencing lesson—and Anne being the one to teach a very young Midshipman O’Brian a few things. “She is well, Paddy. Already trying to come up with ways to increase efficiency here and produce more Mercurium. T’was never a problem she didn’t enjoy solving, even if there was none to solve at first!”
    The two men laughed as they walked along the wooden path, the hustle and bustle of portside activity all around them. The stars shone clear, and the Sun’s corona was visible around Mercury’s dark sphere below. Above, alchemically-treated sails fluttered in the solar winds, helping to keep the outpost in place, rather than plummeting toward the dark, cold desert of Mercury’s night side. “It was good of you to mention Nelson in there,” O’Brian said. “I know you didn’t get on with him, but since Trafalgar, the men—the officers in particular—see him as a martyr. And we, of course, served with him at the Nile.”
    “Actually, we interrupted him at the Nile,” Weatherby said. “Displaced his favorite captain and put a decisive end to an otherwise long battle. I’m sure he was quite put out. But yes, we need our heroes in these days. If Nelson can continue his service from beyond, then we must use his memory well.”
    Just then, bells began to toll across Elizabeth Mercuris. Old church bells, ship bells, even strings of carriage bells. The entire outpost erupted in a nerve-wrenching jangle.
    It was the general alarm. Something—someone—was coming for the outpost.
    Weatherby turned to O’Brian. “You’re in the van. Take two frigates and make sail at once. See what’s coming and report back as quickly as you can. Do not engage if outnumbered. I’ll be along shortly.”
    O’Brian turned and yelled toward the quarterdeck. “Beat to quarters! Prepare to make sail! Clear lines and moorings!” A moment later, Thunderer ’s bell joined the cacophony of others, and her captain turned and extended a hand to Weatherby. “An honor to be sailing with you again, sir.”
    “The honor is mine, Captain O’Brian,” he replied with a small smile, taking his friend’s hand firmly. “But don’t stand on ceremony. I’ll get out of your way. Go be my eyes, Paddy.”
    Weatherby turned and quickly made for the gangplank, clambering across onto the wooden pier of the outpost. He quickly hurried along, ignoring the salutes of fellow sailors when they came—and they were few and far between, with Elizabeth Mercuris erupting into chaos. He ventured a glance off toward the Void, but saw nothing. He could only hope that the brigs and sloops on picket duty had been able to signal the outpost well in advance. If not, they would be hard pressed to sail quickly.
    “Tom!” a voice called from behind. “What is it?”
    Weatherby turned and saw Anne, half-covered in silver-black soot, her gown a perfect wreck, her hair a tangle absently drawn back. She looked worried, and rightly so—she had not been upon Elizabeth Mercuris for many, many years, and likely had dismal memories of what such an alarm might bring. Then again, her memories of the place were dismal no matter the condition.
    “I cannot say, my lady,” he replied quickly, not breaking stride, though Anne quickly took her place beside him and matched his pace neatly. “How goes your Mercurium refinements?”
    “We are close, very close, but then your fleet’s alchemists rushed to their ships, leaving things in a complete state of arrest. I should wish them back post-haste.”
    Weatherby smiled slightly; she knew the request to be absurd, and a glance at her showed as much in her smirk. “I shall, of course, send the lot of them back to you as soon as I’m able. But there is the slight matter of their duty to their ship, first and foremost.”
    “Very well.