Voyages of the Flying Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page A

brushed the shoulder of the mountain.
    Missy heard a scream and looked down on the deck. Everyone had secured themselves at Lenis’s warning, even Andrea up in her crow’s nest, but Shujinko either hadn’t heard or hadn’t taken her brother seriously. The cabin boy was sprawled out on the deck, crying for help as the force of their flight dragged him aft. She saw he was in no immediate danger. As long as Shin held them steady, the worst that could happen to him would be falling down the stairs leading below decks. Shujinko obviously didn’t realise that, though. He kept screaming and scrabbling for a handhold. Missy had to remind herself that this was the first time the HiryÅ« ’s new cabin boy had ever flown on an airship.
    She was considering getting up and giving him a hand when they suddenly plunged into the smoke coming from Fronge.
    â€˜I can’t see anything,’ Shin croaked from the tiller.
    The smoke quickly filled the bridge. Missy started coughing along with everyone else, but she was the only one who could guide them now. She pulled her scarf up over her mouth and detached her spirit-self from her body. Its wracking cough soon faded into the background as she rushed on through the smoke, once more into the smouldering town of Fronge.
    They had come farther and faster than she had thought possible. Whatever Lenis had done to the engines had more than doubled their speed. Missy made her way quickly to the square. The number of townsfolk had diminished greatly, she noticed with a pang of guilt. However fast they were going, it wasn’t fast enough. She brought herself back to her body. The old records keeper, Kami Tenjin, was kneeling next to her, shaking her shoulder.
    â€˜What is it?’ Missy asked through a hoarse throat.
    Tenjin was visibly relieved. ‘I thought you had lost consciousness.’
    He pulled her down to the floor, where the smoke wasn’t quite so thick. She tried to get her breath back. Missy couldn’t see anything beyond a couple of feet, much less out of the crystal dome. The smoke was too thick.
    â€˜We’re almost through,’ Arthur called from the direction of the bridge’s entryway.
    â€˜Mister Clemens,’ Missy heard the captain call from somewhere on the hazy bridge, ‘please reduce our speed.’
    A moment later the engines groaned and the HiryÅ« slowed. Missy and Tenjin were thrown forwards, their momentum sending them crashing into the back of Arthur’s legs. All three fell down the stairs to the deck, landing in a pile on top of Shujinko as Tenjin cried out.
    â€˜Lord Tenjin!’ Arthur called.
    Missy righted herself. Tenjin remained sprawled on the deck, clutching his leg. Missy crawled over to him and touched his shoulder. ‘Are you all right, Lord Tenjin?’
    He looked up at her, soot turning the creases in his face into dark lines. ‘I believe I have hurt my ankle, Miss Clemens.’
    â€˜Come on,’ she said, pulling one of his arms around her neck, ‘I’ll help you to the doctor.’
    Shujinko took the old man’s other arm. ‘I will take him.’
    The cabin boy looked pale but composed. His thoughts were awhirl. Missy didn’t have the patience to sort through them. She left Tenjin in his care and ran over to the railing. It was easier to see out here on the deck now that they had passed through the smoke. The sky behind them was black with it still, but they were now upwind of it. Missy took a moment to orient herself.
    â€˜We’ve overshot the town,’ she said to Arthur and then followed him back to the bridge. ‘We have to come about. The square is near this end of Fronge.’
    Arthur nodded. The bridge was still filled with smoke. The first officer relayed the order and the HiryÅ« came about.A moment later they began to descend. Missy’s throat felt raw, and tears were pushing against her resolve to hold them back. How many people