22. Sloan
TWENTY-TWO
SLOAN
“Captain—Captain Sloan! Come quickly!”
Sloan was readjusting the brown sheath around her waist and examining the stitching on her right arm after the doctor had finished. She ran from the tent to see men scrambling in every direction. “What’s going on?”
“Lights!” The foreman sprinted to her with Marcus at his side. “Moving lights approaching from New Hope along the tracks.”
“How many of them?” Sloan asked as she started running toward the distant sound of rumbling motors.
“At least two, maybe more. Are the men that attacked the locomotive back?” Christopher asked.
“I don’t know, but get your workers ready for a fight. Marcus, with me.”
Marcus ran beside her as Christopher headed out to order his men in position.
Soon Sloan could see the two lights for herself.
They were heading to the tented city fast. Sloan drew her sword and flipped on the switch that made it hum to life.
Sloan caught action out of the corner of her eye as Marcus reluctantly drew the ends of his staff from the sheath on his back and connected the two pieces.
Christopher and his men weren’t suited for battle, but they formed a line behind Sloan with whatever they could use as an improvised weapon: shovels, picks, wooden planks, and steel bars.
The two roaring machines were mere yards away. Marcus lowered his staff as he realized who was headed their way. The two apparatuses stopped. A smiling Jack and Aareth hopped off the mage-powered bicycles.
“Wow, we surrender, Captain,” Aareth raised both hands in mock submission.
“Are you all right, son?” Marcus ran to Jack’s side.
“More than all right. We saw what happened to the locomotive while we were riding up—I thought you were?—”
“I’m fine, son. We both are.”
“Wait ‘til you ride one of these things.” Jack let a deep sigh escape before a grin crept over his lips.
There was a collective exhalation in the camp as the men realized they wouldn’t be fighting for their lives.
Sloan gave Jack and Aareth a stern look before sheathing her sword. Jack readied himself for the tongue-lashing, or at least the stern talking-to he was sure would follow. To his surprise, Sloan smiled. “I’m glad you two are back safe.”
Jack and Aareth exchanged shocked expressions. Marcus smirked like he was privy to a secret.
“Ummm… thanks?” Aareth said.
“Now let’s see who’s responsible for attacking the locomotive and derailing the Queen’s greatest achievement, shall we?” Sloan motioned for one of the men standing near the crowd to hand her the lantern he carried. The worker obediently complied.
“How do we do that?” Jack cocked his head to the side.
Sloan walked over to the two mage-powered machines and slowly moved the lantern around the bicycles’ exterior.
The group of men who gathered to ward off what they thought was a threat were beginning to disperse. Some made their way back to the tents while others hung around, waiting to get a chance to examine the pair of strange machines themselves.
“What are you looking for?” Jack asked.
“These mechanisms are on par with what the military in New Hope is developing.” Sloan was bending over, examining the leather saddle on one of the strange machines. “Most manufacturers leave a brand or stamp on their products. There has to be one on this—here!”
The three men ran to her side and leaned down, eyes squinting at the back of the dark brown saddle on the steam-powered machine.
Sloan was pointing to an almost invisible emblem branded into the seat.
It was a picture of a tiny “L” and “I” that looked like smokestacks with steam wafting from them in a circle that resembled a gear.
“What—what does “LI” mean?” Jack asked.
“It stands for Livingston Industries,” Sloan answered.