Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows (Coyle and Fang Adventure Series Book 1) by Robert III (great books for teens .txt) 📗

of ammunition, medical supplies, survival gear, emergency rations and signaling devices,” he said. “The tube will shoot you into the higher altitudes where breathing is difficult. When we enter the tubes, make sure you push the switch here on your helmet to activate the breathing device on your suits.

“Once in the air, the tubes will be guided to the Dawn’s Edge through a series of gnomish

array-wave signals. Then, the airship will automatically launch a series of magnetic coils to catch and pull the tube into the cargo bay. Once we are inside the bay, we will begin our search for the emergency activation beacon. Duone and I will stick with Coyle, seeing as how we’re the three investigators. Poes, Bolt and Quolo will stick together as the other portion of our team. The rest of the armed men are with us to provide lethal options, if needed.” He paused for a short time and looked around the room. “Each of you has an important part to play in this mission. Stay safe, and God be with us.”

Coyle flinched as the ceiling pulled away with a screech of metal. The wide expanse of the blue sky was above them, and she squinted through the bright sunlight pouring in. Vonteg pointed, and their eyes followed his direction. A long, dark oval floated in the distance. Thin clouds and a hazy atmosphere made the airship look like a ghost ship sailing along a forgotten course.

The Dawn’s Edge.

“There she is,” he said. “It’s large enough to hold four hundred twenty-five passengers and seventy-five crew with multiple decks, wide halls, and grand ballrooms. This won’t be easy, but we’re going to work together, and we know there is strength in unity. Remember our creed: strength through adversity.” He looked each of them in the eye, and each gave a nod in response.

One by one, the gnomes finished their work and set equipment to the side. Coyle stepped aside and glanced around the room as the armed men hurried around them. A pair of hands tugged at her, and she turned. Poes looked into her eyes and nodded. She nodded in turn before being led to one of the tubes. She swallowed and looked back at Poes.

He glanced back, locking eyes with her. With that one, knowing glance, Coyle remembered their secret. Everything made sense now. But now, yes now was too late wasn’t it? No one would understand, of course. She would have to wait until this played out to see what would happen. Poes finally turned away and crawled into the pod in front of him.

As her eyes refocused, she had the odd sensation of being stared at. Against her better judgment, she glanced to the other side and saw Bolt, his dark eyes piercing hers. He stared for a heartbeat before pushing himself into the opening. She turned her attention to her own tube.

The space inside looked smaller. Darker.

Like a coffin.

The edge of the opening blurred out of focus. With labored breathing, she pressed the switch on her chest plate. There was a tap and a click and then clean, cold oxygen flowed into her mouth and nose. She bit her lip. Her anxiety forbade her to cross the threshold.

“Everything all right, miss?” Chief Sykes looked up and asked. “Need help with anything?”

“Are you sure these are safe, sir?” she asked.

“We use these almost daily for mail and package delivery to our transport ships,” he said, holding his cigar. “Please be assured, these are perfectly safe, miss.”

“Safe for people to travel in?”

“...Yes.” He patted the tube.

She blinked and hesitated for a few moments more before someone gave her a gentle push. She crawled through the opening, and the soldiers handed over the harness straps. She leaned back, pulling the harness close to her body, and clasped the brass fittings together. The door closed with a heavy thud. She shut her eyes.

Thisisnotacoffinthisisnotacoffinthisisnotacoffin.

“Grab the handrails,” one of the men said. “The handrails, Miss Coyle?”

Her trembling hands shot up and grabbed the handholds by her shoulders. Someone outside tapped against something a few times before she opened her eyes, glancing out the portal. She heard a small argument between Chief Sykes and another gnome, something about something-something-something or else it won’t work.

Panic shot through her body. She reached for the clasp, but it refused to cooperate with her struggling fingers.

“What’s wrong? Miss Coyle?”

She didn’t answer. She only knew this was all a mistake, and she had to leave right now. She glanced outside and saw a gnome give them a thumbs-up. He slammed his hand against a switch and loud machinery pushed the pod outside at an angle. Air, light and noise rushed in all at once. She struggled against the tight straps but then looked up through the holes in the tube at the cold, blue sky. And somehow, the bright color soothed her mind. She didn’t have to panic. This was going to work.

I’m a tiger, remember?

She shut her eyes again, trying to remember the comforts to which she would soon return: the plush carpets, baked bread, hot baths and beautiful vases with fresh-cut flowers. She was going on a trip and returning soon. Everything was going to be fine.

A strange noise grew around her, as if a thousand people were sucking in a long, deep breath. She sucked in her breath as well.

Plush carpet. Beautiful vase. Scent of—

FOOM!

A giant hand pressed against her, crushing her lungs, her head struggling to turn. Her breath came in shallow gasps. A long, loud blast deafened her, and her ears rang incessantly.

Her eyes shifted out of the small window and caught familiar sights: sun, clouds, mountains, sky. Then the clouds and the mountains and the sun sank out of view as the tube was steered through the sky. The pressure against her body relaxed a bit. She eased forward and breathed long, full breaths.

A flash of silver caught her attention. Another tube in the distance flew through the air. Its metal wings unfurled while a puffy white