Wind Dancer: Secret War Steampunk Series - Adventure, Mystery + Mad Science Read Online Free PDF Page B

on the Aetherwave, then selling
the information to others. Both governments and companies used them covertly, all
the while casting doubts that such ‘tapping’ was even possible. She knew that
McGuire was very intelligent; he had to be to do such things. She also knew
that he had no such scruples as he protested.
    “Come now, Michael,” she purred, moving so that her open vest
revealed more of her unbound breasts. Saira had always disliked wearing more
clothes than she had too, and the ship’s temperature was still tolerable for
her. “Surely you can tell a shipmate?”
    McGuire looked at her for a moment and swallowed. He saw a
short, olive-skinned woman with an angular face and startling blue eyes crowned
by close-cut ink black hair. Her body was all taut muscle and round curves. His
own body stirred at her implicit invitation. Even though this was a game they
had played before, he knew that she would freely share her favors with him if
he ever said yes to one of her offers. He also knew she was the deadliest
person he had ever shared a table with, which dampened his ardor somewhat. Then
there was the whole spooky mind-reading thing, even though she vowed that she
didn’t actually read minds. He had grown up on tales of mortals mixing it up
with the fairy folk. No good ever came to the mortals. Even though she wasn’t
really a fairy, the principle was the same. Besides, he thought, there was
Naomi to consider. Even if Saira took such things lightly, Naomi certainly
didn’t. He gave a great regretful sigh and focused back on his tea.
    “You can be a most vexing woman at times, you know,” he said
in mock exasperation.
    “But it always gets your attention so nicely!” Saira laughed.
What would Naomi say?”
    “That once again you’ve proved that I’m not dead yet, as you
well know,” he replied grinning back. Shifting back to a serious expression, he
leaned forward, lowering his voice. “All I know is that something has gone bad,
and that we’re moving back to Calcutta as fast as we can. Cap’n has had Devi
crank up the engines to full.”
    Saira frowned at that, opening her mouth to say something,
when a huge hairy paw of a hand landed on her shoulder. Restraining herself
from responding by immediately cutting off the offending hand, she looked up to
see a swaying giant, leering at her with a mug in his other hand.
    “You’re the one they call Saira, the darkie sorceress aren’t
ya? They tell me that you like to do it as part of your spells.” The giant
slurred at her in accented English, while leering.
    “Look here man…” McGuire began hotly. Saira held up a hand,
stopping McGuire.
    “That is all right Michael; our friend is clearly new here.”
She turned on the bench towards the drunken giant. She saw two of the rigger
crew stagger drunkenly into the mess. They stopped with dismay as they saw what
their new friend was doing.
    “Yes, I am called Saira,” she replied sweetly. “Yes I am a
sorceress and yes, I ‘do it,’ as you say, for both the spirits and my Goddess.”
McGuire’s face paled where he sat across from her. He knew that tone in her
voice. “What is your name, tall and manly,” Saira cooed.
    “Olaf Anderson,” the giant said with a grin, his speech
slurred with drink. “I wan’ you ta know that I aint afraid of no darkie
spirits.” He squeezed her shoulder harder. “So let’s go do it then.”
    “Why that is a most kind offer, Olaf Anderson,” she replied
coolly. “I think that you should look down though.”
    Puzzled, the man blearily looked down to see a very large
blade pointed at his crotch. He stared in astonishment, as he’d not seen her
draw the knife. He froze as the blade touched his pants.
    “Now listen carefully, Olaf Anderson,” Saira speared his gaze
with her eyes, ensnaring his soul in their entangled gazes. She carefully
ignited a nameless terror deep within him that froze his muscles, while
continuing to speak. “You signed Articles when you