Clockwork Twist : Trick Read Free Page A

reached the third floor and walked along the crowded open ramparts toward the docked Vimana , near the end. “All I ever got from England is my accent and a handful of ancestors.”
    The Vimana hung in the air beside the docks like a storm cloud.  The large, three-level hull seemed to absorb all the color around it into its gray wood, while the enormous gray balloon above shaded it from the sun.  The lay against the stone ramparts, inviting them back aboard, beside a number of large crates that hadn't yet been loaded.
    “Someday,” Twist said to Myra softly, as they came under the shadow of the Vimana's balloon and flanking wing-like sails, “he's going to realize that he's just as much an Englishman as I am.  I'm sure it'll give him quite a fright.”  Myra giggled behind a hand, drawing's Jonas's suspicious attention as he reached the gangplank.
    “Get back!” a voice hissed to them as a hand covered in black cloth snatched at Jonas's arm.  Aazzi Rodés pulled him behind a tower of large wooden crates to the side of the gangplank, and hurriedly gestured for Twist and Myra to hide as well.
    “Ow, ow!”  Jonas winced and pulled at the vampire’s talon-like grip. “What's goin—“
    Aazzi spun him around in an alarmingly fast movement and held him tightly from behind with one hand over his mouth and another pinning his arm to his stomach.  His eyes opened wide in shock as she turned her mouth close to his ear.  He let out a muffled sound and struggled to free himself, pulling at her immobile grip with his free hand.
    “I'm not going to bite you,” Aazzi spat impatiently on a hushed voice. “Now be quiet.”  She looked to Myra with silver eyes, from the darkness of her shaded face, under the red shawl of silk over her head. “You're in trouble, little one.”
    “What?  How?” Twist asked quickly.
    “There are Rooks on board, talking to Howell,” Aazzi said.  Jonas reached up with a finger to tap on the hand over his mouth. “Are you going to behave?” Aazzi hissed, turning her voice to his ear.  Jonas's body shuddered visibly and his eyes flinched closed, but he nodded.  The instant Aazzi released him, he moved well out of her reach to stand on the other side of Twist.
    “God you're terrifying!” Jonas whispered harshly through clenched teeth.  He rubbed at his neck, where her breath had been.  Aazzi smiled at him slightly. “So, why are we frightened of magpies, then?” he asked her quietly.
    “Rooks?  Magpies?” Twist asked. “Why are we talking about birds?”
    “Rooks, not magpies,” Aazzi amended quickly to Twist.
    “Oh, so it’s just one kind of bird, then,” Twist said, starting to feel his level of annoyance rise quickly.
    “Shut up,” Jonas said, holding a silencing finger before Twist's face as he spoke to Aazzi. “So, there are mags on the ship.  What of it?”
    “Howell registered a 'life-sized clockwork puppet' as belonging to him, when he brought the British navy to Indonesia to catch Quay,” Aazzi explained quickly. “Apparently, the Rooks saw the report.  Now, they're here for Myra.”
    “Shit,” Jonas hissed darkly. “Would Howell sell her out from under Twist?”
    “What?” Twist snapped.  A jolt of Myra’s fear crept through Twist’s Sight as she wrapped both of her hands around his arm.
    “Would he have a choice, is a better question,” Aazzi said.  She offered Twist a calming smile. “We all got paid well enough when we claimed the reward for Quay.  Howell and the rest of us can see very clearly how important Myra is to you.  We wouldn't take her from you.”  Twist nodded quietly, patting at Myra's nervous grip. “Howell might try to lie about her to the Rooks,” Aazzi said, looking back to Myra, “but if they see her...”
    “We have to get out of here,” Jonas said to Twist, his tone now startlingly serious.
    “We're not actually talking about birds, are we?” Twist asked slowly.
    “Go to this cafe, and wait for me,” Aazzi