Brotherhood of the Strange (Kingship, Tales from the Aether Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

fingers into ears. The sound was clearly emanating from the bridge and all five crew members went to investigate only to be met with silence, the controls secured as Winston had set them when he left for dinner. They had looked around for several minutes and were about to give up when the sound happened again, the shrill static-filled screeching had been loud enough to dull the senses. This sound was unique not only in sheer volume, but that another sound seemed to be carried along as well, a faint whisper that dripped with a deep malignancy. Vance would have regulated the whisper and accompanying feeling of dread to his imagination or his mind attempting to apply logic to the unfamiliar, however the looks on the other four crew confirmed he had not been alone.
    It had been clear the sound had come from behind a panel in the radio room, a small windowless office to the rear of the bridge. Wingnut had removed the panel to revel a contraption that resembled some form of radio, though far more advanced and alien than anything Vance had seen in his career. Winston spat a curse at its discovery, muttering that he had thought that blasted relic would have been removed, stating he never knew exactly how the thing worked, nor did he care to. Stating no good could come from a cursed wireless, he would elaborate no further, nor go anywhere near it. Vance knew if Winston was being tightlipped, it was probably best not to ask.
    “What seems to be the problem gentlemen?” Vance asked the two, emerging from the door into the control and valve laden room.
    “The problem? Lad, that bucket o’ banshee cursed parts is caterwauling up and down my bridge again! Like I been sayin’ for two months, we should get rid o’ that thing!”
    “I didn’t hear anything,” Vance admitted. “Though I was near the aft of the ship.”
    “It wasn’t nearly as loud as before, Fekitoa,” Afa replied, using the nickname he had bestowed upon Vance.
    “What in William Wallace's name brought you up to the bridge anyway Afa?” Winston continued. “Look at you tracking dirt and mud onto me spit polished control room! Get back to yer garden and leave the flyin’ to the experts.”
    As loud and boisterous as he was being, Winston’s assessment of Afa was not too far off. His shoes were covered in topsoil and he still clutched a muddy spade in one hand. While it was not exactly odd to find Afa on the bridge, he could most often be found in the launch bay turned greenhouse tending to his garden, on deck watching the horizon, or in the Kingship’s galley preparing the fruits of his labor into delicious, though often spicy, meals for the crew. Winston, on the other hand, practically lived here among the valves, dials, switches and enormous windows that made up the bridge of the Kingship.
    Vance entered the radio room with Afa, whose size made the small room feel even smaller. He adjusted the knobs and dials, not knowing any more now than what they did before. As usual, no matter what he or any of his crew did, the device was unresponsive. Superficially, it resembled a wireless radiograph, similar to the mundane one Vance had installed when he took the ship out of storage eight years ago. As this model looked to be an original part of the fifty year old ship, it provided a casual mystery Vance was enjoying, as he did not believe the technology had been around that long. Wingnut had all but taken the device apart herself. She probably would have, but even she, with her uncanny technical expertise, was befuddled by its function and couldn't identify more than half of the components. In her opinion, judging by the way the contraption was wired, it probably shouldn’t do anything.
    “Well it seems to have quit again,” Vance muttered flipping a few more brass switches, somewhat disappointed he had missed those brief seconds where it had come to life.
    “Don’t be fiddlin’ with it too much there, lad,” Winston warned. He had deliberately taken his seat