Goliath Read Online Free PDF Page B

blamed. Only Dylan’s quick thinking had saved the situation from total calamity.

“PONDERING.”
     

“But that was, what, seven weeks ago? Is this what they call news in America?”
    “This paper took its time getting to me, but yes, it was old news from the start. Apparently this man Malone has run out of your secrets to spill.”
    “Thank heavens,” Alek murmured, following the story to a page inside. Another photograph was printed there: Dylan swinging from the metal trunk of the elephant, flailing at one of the Germans.
    “ ‘A Daring Midshipman Handles the Situation,’” he read aloud, smirking. For once it was Dylan in the limelight instead of him. “May I keep this?”
    The wildcount didn’t answer—he was glaring at the ceiling, where a message lizard had appeared.
    “Prince Aleksandar,” the creature said in Dr. Barlow’s voice. “Mr. Sharp and I would like the pleasure of your company in the cargo bay, if possible.”
    “The cargo bay?” Alek said. “Of course, Dr. Barlow. I’ll join you shortly. End message.”
    Volger waved his hand to shoo the lizard away, but it had already scuttled off into a message tube. “Excellent. Maybe now we’ll get some answers.”
    Alek folded up the newspaper and slipped it into a pocket. “But why would they need me?”
    “For the pleasure of your company, of course.” The wildcount shrugged. “Surely a lizard wouldn’t lie.”

     
    The cargo bay smelled like a tannery, a mix of old meat and leather. Long strips of dark brown were piled everywhere, along with a few wooden crates.
    “Is
this
your precious cargo?” Alek asked.
    “It’s two tons of dried beef, a hundredweight of tranquilizers, and a thousand rounds of machine-gun ammunition,” said Dylan, reading from a list. “And a few boxes of something else.”
    “Something unexpected,” Dr. Barlow said. She and Tazza were in the far corner of the bay, staring down into an open crate. “And quite heavy.”
    “Quite,” the loris on her shoulder said, eyeing the crate with displeasure.
    Alek looked around for Bovril. It was hanging from the ceiling above Dylan’s head. He held his hand up, and the creature crawled down onto his shoulder. Count Volger, of course, did not permit abominations in his presence.
    “Guten Tag,”
the creature said.
    “Guten Abend,”
Alek corrected, then turned to Dr. Barlow. “May I ask why the czar wanted us to pick up a load of dried beef?”
    “You may not,” she said. “But please take a look at this unexpected cargo. We need your Clanker expertise.”
    “My
Clanker
expertise?” Alek joined the boffin beside the crate. Nestled in the packing straw was a jumble ofmetal parts, shiny and glinting in the darkness. He knelt, reached inside, and pulled one of the parts out. Tazza gave it a sniff and made a whining noise.
    It was some kind of electrikal part, about as long as a forearm and topped with two bare wires.
    “The czar didn’t tell you how to put this all together?”
    “There wasn’t meant to be any machinery at all,” Dylan said. “But there’s almost half a ton of parts and tools in here. Enough to drag poor Mr. Newkirk into a pine tree!”
    “And all of it Clanker-made,” Alek murmured. He stared at another part, a sphere of handblown glass. It fit atop the first part with a satisfying click.
    “This looks like an ignition capacitor, like the one aboard my Stormwalker.”
    “Ignition,” Bovril repeated softly.
    “So you can tell us the purpose of this device?” Dr. Barlow asked.
    “Perhaps.” Alek peered down into the crate. There were dozens more parts there, and two more boxes to come. “But I’ll need Klopp’s help.”
    “Well, that is a bother.” Dr. Barlow sighed. “But I suppose the captain can be convinced. Just see that you’re quick about it. We reach our destination tomorrow.”
    “That soon? Interesting.” Alek smiled as he spoke—he’d just seen another part that would fit onto the other two. It was tightly