Revenge of the Brotherhood (Book 3 in the Tom & Laura Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

either side of the ship. Pipes connected the propellers to a huge lead box at the far end of the ship. Though the ship was off the ground, the box was firmly on it. There were slots in the box above the pipe work, as though the ship had been lowered into the box.
    “I don’t understand?”
    Dougal grinned at his friend. “This is a powered balloon. The problem my father had was that though you can make a small dantium engine, the weight of its shielding would make its use impractical on a balloon. He solved the problem by removing the engine’s shielding.
    Tom took a step back from the box. Dantium killed by damaging every cell in the body and making those cells fight against each other.
    “The dantium engine makes steam, which powers a pump, which drives those propellers using pressurized air. The crew are located in the cupola at the front of the ship, far enough away from the unshielded engine to avoid its deadly effects. Ingenious isn’t it? When the ship lands, it will be lowered over lead boxes like this one, which will protect those on the ground.”
    “And what will this Air Ship be used for?” Tom asked.
    Dougal sighed.
    “Oh, for war, Tom. What else? Mr. Gatling has provided two of his prototype rotary guns to us along with an engineer. The truly refreshing thing about Americans is they will sell anything to anybody if the price is right.”
     
    Alice Short helped Tricky into the telegraph-boy costume. He was not pleased with the fit.
    “She’s made mi trousers too short. Cutting into mi nadges sumat rotten they are.”
    “I measured you mi-self. You must’ve grown. ’sides, it’s not like you got any use for them.” Alice said as she slapped at his hands for playing with his collar. She thought he looked good in uniform and she hoped the trousers wouldn’t do him any permanent damage. She had Tricky marked as husband material. As her mum was always saying, ‘You have to think ahead.’
    “’slucky we’re only missin’ ethics. Becket ’ud cane us fer sure.” Becket was their mathematics teacher and liked to cane at least one pupil, girl or boy, every lesson. It was unusual to be taught in a mixed class, but then the school was unusual. Only children with variant magical gifts attended it.
    “Things we do fer MM3,” Alice agreed.
    “T’aint even them. It’s fer ’is lordship. If I’s caught, it’ll be the drop for me.”
    Alice frowned, as this was a real possibility.
    “Don’t get caught then,” she said tartly.
     
    Tricky strode into the reception of MM3 as though he owned the place. He ignored Miss Talbot and went straight for the stairs.
    “Stop, young man. Where do you think you’re going?” Miss Talbot said imperiously.
    Tricky stopped in mid stride halfway up the first flight. “Telegram to deliver. Urgent, ma’am,” he said holding a telegram up in the air. He didn’t turn as he didn’t dare. Miss Talbot had seen his face on a number of occasions.
    “Who for?” Miss Talbot asked suspiciously.
    “Mister Smith,” Tricky said desperately. No one had thought to give him any names.
    “Which floor?”
    “Second, Miss, been there lot’s of times.” Sweat began to gather under Tricky’s collar.
    “Then you should know its Doctor Smyth, not Smith, and be quick about it.”
    “Doctor Smyth, you’re right, Miss. Got it now.”
    Tricky ran up to Baxter’s floor. Then he had to stop and wait for the stitch to go away before he could move on.
    He ran past a couple of people on the way to the office. Nobody stopped him or said a word. It was if he was invisible.
    “I’m keeping this costume if I’s gets out alive,” Tricky informed himself as he slid into Baxter’s office. “P’vided Alice can stop ’em nippin’ mi nadges.”
    Tricky got up on a chair to remove the painting the safe was hidden behind. Its lock was of the tumbler type and Tricky used his gift to watch the tumblers move as he turned the dial. He had memorized Trelawney’s combination, which he