Rebel Skyforce (Mad Tinker Chronicles) Read Free Page B

drunkard. We’ve got gas for night work and bad weather, but any spark I’ve got goes into the machines.”
    “Why not purchase another dynamo? It looks like you’ve got plenty of work; you must be able to afford it.” It wasn’t always a polite topic, but Kezudkan needed a sense of the kuduk’s financial situation. He needed someone who could afford to float a bit of risk.
    “If I had another dynamo, I’d use up the spark putting in more machines. More profit in that than in buying spark lights when I’ve got a perfectly good system running.”
    “Fair enough. Can’t argue with higher profits.”
    “As for the rest, I’ve got the best factory for custom jobs you’re likely to find. I’ve built airship parts here, and not just those ridiculous vacu-dirges you Ruttanians seem so fond of.”
    Kezudkan held up his palms. “Don’t look at me. It’s a kuduk decision which airships to purchase.”
    “Anyway, those liftwing airships are finicky. Shape the wing or prop wrong, they fall out of the sky. That’s why the Grangian aerial command buys from me: I don’t build anything half-arsed. They get what they put on vellum.”
    “Runes?”
    “Didn’t I just say I worked on airships? I don’t care how light you think you can make one, no liftwing can get airborne with a load of coal on board, or a steamer big enough to get the prop up to speed. So yeah, we do runes here.”
    “Yes, but do you call in for someone to empower them, or do you have—”
    “Eleven humans who can manipulate runes. Mr. Graniteson, I don’t mind questions, but you’re starting to sound like you don’t have confidence in my operation here.”
    “If you’re looking for an apology—”
    “I’m simply looking for an explanation, Mr. Graniteson.”
    “Not here,” Kezudkan replied. “Somewhere private.”

    The lower levels of the factory were more suited to Kezudkan’s taste. The walls might have been buttressed with steel beams, but rough cut stone was all around. The tunnels and caverns had been kuduk carved, and appeared passably safe. There were gas lamps throughout, leaving the air with a heavy odor that brought back memories of a youth before the spark had spread like a plague and made the lights all sterile, with an annoying hum.
    Draksgollow chased a handful of workers out of a tiny chemical etching room that had tables for Kezudkan to lay out his plans. As Draksgollow tidied up the etching plates and bottles of acids, Kezudkan picked up one of the pieces and examined the runes. They were commonplace workmanship, lacking the style and purposefulness of runework chiseled by hand. His eyes wandered the patterns, following the logic of the designer.
    “These getting ready to be rolled flat?” Kezudkan asked, brandishing the piece.
    Draksgollow grabbed a work log and scanned it. “How’d you—well, of course one of your kind would be able to read them. They’re for a new airship. They need the lightsteel to be hair-thin. Runes will get flattened out in the rolling process, then they’ll get new ones to strengthen the material after it’s formed.”
    Kezudkan nodded absently and fished inside his coat pockets. He withdrew a folded wad of papers and opened them in the spot Draksgollow had cleared. They were hand drawn in a tidy, efficient script, but what drew Draksgollow’s eye were the diagrams. Kezudkan smiled as he watched the kuduk tinker’s eyes widen as he browsed the documents.
    “What is all this?” Draksgollow asked.
    “The key to our fortunes. Unlimited wealth and power.”
    “Cut the rat-baiting. What does it do?”
    Kezudkan leaned in close. “What would you say if I told you there were other worlds besides Korr?” he asked.
    The tinker’s face twisted into a scowl. “I’d say I’ve wasted my morning. Good day to you, Mr. Graniteson. Find someone else to buy your bunk.”
    Draksgollow moved toward the door, but Kezudkan’s cane swung up and barred his path. The tinker tried to push past, but