Khronos (Hanover and Singh Book 3) by Chris Paton Page B

Lena dropped the half-eaten crust onto the wooden tray. “Here,” she pulled the flask from her pocket and tossed it to Vladimir.”
    “In tea?” Vladimir fumbled the flask from where it landed in his lap.
    “What kind of giant are you?” Lena shook her head. “I thought you were Russian?”
    “Lena,” Stepan waved his hand in front of the Cossack’s face.
    “What?” a smile playing across her bread speckled lips, Lena pulled her eyes away from Vladimir and stared at Stepan.
    “I think we will need more of your help. We need to get out of Arkhangelsk, and get military assistance from Moscow.”
    “Moscow?” Lena shot forward in her chair. “I will be hanged in Moscow.”
    “Not if I protect you,” Stepan placed his cup on the tray.
    “Kapitan,” Vladimir placed a hand on Stepan’s arm. “Nikolas?”
    “Yes,” Stepan took a deep breath. “Vladimir, my old friend, I need your help.”
    “You want me to find Nikolas?”
    “Yes,” Stepan exhaled. “I have a duty to the people of Arkhangelsk. Even if I found my son, I would have still have to fight these...” he looked at Lena, “so-called emissaries .”
    “We will fight them together.”
    “No, Vlad, you must not fight them. Not yet. We need to know what they are really doing here, and I think we will know soon enough.”
    “Then I will find your son.” Vladimir emptied Lena’s flask into his tea. Tossing the flask into the Cossack’s lap, he raised the cup to his lips and drained the contents in one gulp. “Like a true Russian.”
    Lena laughed. “ Da , I like him, Kapitan. He is a true Russian.” She slipped her flask back into her pocket.
    “And a good friend,” Stepan slapped Vladimir’s thigh. Pausing a moment, Stepan tapped the false watch face stitched into his leather wristband. “Now then,” he turned back to Lena. “Are you as tough as your father, Lena Timofeyevich?”
    “You have to ask?” Lena’s chair crashed to the floor as she stood. Knocking the cup from Vladimir’s hand, she gripped the Poruchik by the lapels of his jacket and kissed him full on the lips. Biting his lower lip, Lena tugged at it between her teeth until Vladimir cried out. She slapped his cheek with her hand. “A man such as this,” Lena turned to Stepan, “a true Russian, is worth fighting for. I will come to Moscow with you. If you can stop me swinging from a bureaucrat’s rope, then this man can find your son. Together we can fight these metal emissaries.”
    “Vlad?” Stepan grinned.
    “Kapitan,” Vladimir pressed the tip of his finger to his bloody lip. He stared at Lena. “You fought her father?”
    “ Da ,” Lena’s cheeks dimpled. “And my brothers and their wives.”
    “I even think there were some children.”
    “Of course there were children,” Lena shook her head. “Where else do they learn to fight but in battle?”
    “A good point,” Stepan conceded. He stood up. “If we are to get out of Arkhangelsk and all the way to Moscow.”
    “We will need one of those giant iron snakes,” Lena grinned.
    “I think she means a train, Kapitan.”
    “You speak Cossack ?” Stepan turned to Vladimir, a smile playing across his lips.
    “I might have to,” Vladimir licked his bottom lip.
    Lena took a step closer to Vladimir, gripping the back of his neck in her tiny hand. “You will wait for me, da ?”
    “I am not sure I have a choice,” Vladimir nodded.
    “Good,” Vladimir’s head rocked as Lena released her grip on his neck. “Come, Kapitan. We must get to the railroad station.” Leaning her head to one side, she pointed at the broad crease in Stepan’s jacket. “That uniform usually comes with a sword. You will need a weapon, Kapitan. It will not be easy leaving Arkhangelsk.”
    “No,” Stepan agreed. “I don’t believe it will be.”
     

Chapter 7
     
    The Flying Scotsman
    Somewhere over the North Sea
    May, 1851
     
    The wheels of the winch squealing in the bowels of The Flying Scotsman turned slowly,