An Improper Derailment Chapter Thirty Eight

Where stuff happens…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catch up with chapter 37…

Start the adventure from the beginning.

Marshall managed to wrangle up a log,

with the reluctant help of the kid that stuck around. The kid was so enthralled with the airship he wasn’t even interested in helping either friend get to the doctor about his ankle, or the preacher’s son to find a replacement meal for Mary.

Dropping the log, Marshal dusted his hands together. “It’s not nearly as fine as the furnishing in your home Mrs. Kessler, but it’s the best I can do at the moment.”

“It’s a far sight better than sitting on the ground, I dare say,” Mary commented.

“Oh no, don’t tell me you’ve been forced to sit on the ground?” The preacher’s wife asked.

Mary tucked her new skirt around her as she claimed a sitting spot on the log. Her laughter was like the chiming of a Fine China bell. “I’ve had to sit on the ground, and I’ve even sat on the back of a sauran. This trip has turned into quite the adventure. One I never would have dared to dream up in my wildest of imaginations. I’m sorry I don’t have any tea to offer you.”

“My Henry should be back with your dinner some time soon. I hope that boy hurries and beats the storm back here.”

Thick fluffy clouds that foretold of an incoming storm, sailed across the sky.

“How is my air ship, what is going on here?” Captain Forsyth came blustering into the clearing.
“We’ve got The Profound Name tied up pretty securely, captain,” Marshall said.

“Is this contraption yours?” the kid asked.

“Why yes this is my air ship,” Forsyth answered.

“Can I see it? This fellow won’t let me climb on board,” he complained.

“No,” Marshall snapped.

“Tell you what my young man, if you help me make sure she is properly secure, and then you can take a look.”

“Captain,” Marshall barked.

“Tsk, tsk, of course he can take a look.”

Marshall grumbled and stalked away.

“You know, dear, this storm rolling in looks like it will be a big one. You aren’t planning on staying out here are you?” Mrs. Kessler asked.

Mary sighed. “I guess if the ship is tied up well, we would stay aboard. There isn’t a hotel in town, is there?”

“What kind of person would I be if I let you stay in a hotel, or on that flying boat. We have plenty of guest rooms. Why don’t you stay with us for the night?”

Mary’s mouth dropped open. It was a relief to not have to spend the night on a boat during a storm. She had already had a difficult enough time during the hard winds they had encountered already.

“Captain Forsythe, did you hear? We’ve been invited to spend the night at the parsonage. Marshall? Oh here did he get off to?”

“I’d rather stay with my ship,” the captain said. “As long as she is secure, she’ll withstand to storm.”

Mary got to her feet and twisted around until she saw Marshall. She dashed to his side. “Did you hear? A guest room!”

Marshall smiled down at her and patted her arm. He lead her on a short walk away from the preacher’s wife. “I’m very glad to have a roof over our head for the night.” He lowered his voice so only Mary could hear. “I let the preacher’s wife think we are married. We can have a spat later and I’ll sleep in the barn.”

“I figured that out, all ready. I’ll go grab a few things from the ship for the night.” She lifted the front edge of her skirt and dashed for the air ship.

She scampered up the ladder with a surprising ease. The gondola rocked under her feet.

“Grab that rope, boy, secure my ship!” Forsythe commanded from on the ground.

A stiff gust of wind hit The Profound Name. The boat lurched and Mary lost her balance. She fell back against the side. As she hit against a bulkhead she reached out and grabbed a coil of rope, and the rope came loose. It began to unfurl at a rapid pace.

“Why is the air ship moving?” someone yelled.

“Grab that rope!”

Mary staggered to her feet. The gondola rocked back and forth as if being pitched back and forth on a violent sea.

“What is going on down there? Stop rocking the air ship so hard.”

She struggled to look over the edge of the gondola. “Marshall!” She screamed as she realized that she and the boat were floating away and no longer tied down.

 

Will Mary float away on her own? Tune in next time…

©2025 Lulu M. Sylvian