Escape from the Ophiuchus
“Captain! Are you all right?”
Emily Tichborne awoke to see Obediah Wollcott’s prosthetic hand reaching through the flames. Her head was throbbing. She felt the unmistakable stickiness of blood matted hair when her navigator lifted her from the rear bulkhead of the Ophiuchus’ gondola.
“It feels like we’re spinning, and is the ship sideways?”
“Yes ma’am. We took a direct hit to the envelope. The hydrogen went up in a flash. The ship’s nose up, barely being held up by the sails. Bingham was flung from the crow’s nest. Never saw who got us. Guess they’re waiting in the clouds for the ship to crash.”
While updating Captain Tichborne on the events of the last couple of minutes, Obediah jettisoned all ballast and opened the supply hatch. Allowing the spinning of the crippled airship to sling out the now useless provisions, he hoped the crash landing would be soft enough to preserve the treasure in the cargo hold.
Emily braced herself against what used to be the ceiling, and unbuckled her evacuation glider. The glider was light, but with her head injury it was too much for her to handle. Obediah saw her predicament,. He knew that even if she could launch, there was no guarantee she could stay conscious to glide to a safe landing. With a deep swallow, he unbuckled Bingham’s glider. Bingham had been a large, imposing figure. He came in handy for heavy work and when a show of muscle was needed. Now Obediah hoped Bingham’s extra large glider would be enough to get both of them safely to land.
With the trap door to the supply hold open, Obediah laid Emily on her back with a seat cushion behind her head. He strapped the glider on, tied the Captain to himself , and crawled out the former bottom of the ship. Without hesitation he leapt from the spiraling ship. To suddenly stop spinning seemed as disconcerting as when it first started. A quick yank on the release cord allowed the spring loaded wings to swing out and lock open with a loud, reassuring snap.
Captain Emily Tichborne felt the transition from freefall to gliding. She could feel her head cradled on the cushion by Obedia’s “contraption arm.” She swore to herself at that moment she would do whatever it takes to fulfill his dream. A drill, a saw, and other attachments to replace his mechanical hand. With that, she allowed herself to relax knowing they were safe. as long as they don’t land back in war zone they just left.