Colton turned to Cassie. She blinked hard and met Colton’s gaze, fighting back tears. But as Colton watched, her expression slowly hardened into determination. “Brandon, if you tell me the flight details, I can drive Colton to your brother’s airship.”
Colton listened as they worked it out between them, wondering if this was another of his strange visions. He was going to India. He was going to save Danny. He was going to keep his promise to Christopher Hart.
Although Colton could read, he hadn’t had much experience in writing. He figured it would be a lot like reading, but in reverse: he would already know the words before they were put on paper.
He sat in Danny’s room for two nights in a row, anxious about what he was going to say and how the Harts would react upon finding the note. Colton didn’t want to give himself away. There was no telling if Christopher would follow him to India, or tell the Lead.
The words came out shaky but legible. His handwriting wasn’t as confident as Danny’s, but at least he wrote it himself, and he hadn’t needed to ask Cassie to do it for him. He wanted this message to come from him—his apology, his reasoning, everything.
Just before dawn, he finished the note and sat back, rereading it several times to make sure it was what he wanted.
Christofer and LaylaLeila,
Please do not be upset with me. There is something I have to do befor I return to Enfield. I will be back when I can. PleesePlease tell no one.
I promised that I would do nothing to hur damm damage my town or Danny. I will keep that promise. If you trust Danny, please trust me.
Colton
It didn’t feel nearly enough. He knew he should mention that Danny was in danger, but he couldn’t get anyone else involved.
Feeling oddly heavy, Colton put on Danny’s clothes and the leather-covered cog holder. Big Ben’s cog still rested in his pocket. He wondered if the spirit had somehow known that Colton would be traveling and would need this extra strength.
He still had money, but discovered more of it squirreled away in one of Danny’s drawers. With a promise to repay Danny somehow, Colton added it to his traveling bag. He chose a spare shirt and trousers, just in case something happened to the ones he wore. He also packed the notes and both photographs of Danny.
Colton hesitated on the landing, looking at the Harts’ bedroom door. The letter sat on Danny’s desk, waiting to be found. They deserved better. But it was all he could give them for now.
Cassie waited for him outside, the sky dim and gray in the early clutches of the morning. She gave him a sad look when he got into her auto, and they took off down the quiet London lane.
They were mostly silent, though Cassie asked questions every now and then. “Do you have money? Do you need more? What about a map?” By the time they reached the docking station, Cassie held the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said when she’d parked. Colton could see the large airship being loaded several yards away. “I’m getting one of my bad feelings. There has to be another way.”
He took her freckled hand in his. “Cassie, thank you for everything you’ve done. If Christopher and Leila ask you questions, pretend you don’t know anything. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
She drew in a deep breath that shook as she released it. She squeezed his hand gently. “Danny is lucky to have you.”
“He’s also lucky to have friends like you and Brandon.” He looked back at the airship and found two people walking toward them. They got out of the car to meet them.
“Colton, this is David, my brother.” Brandon gestured to the tall young man beside him. They looked similar, though David had a wider mouth and forehead. He was dressed in a blue uniform with aviator goggles hanging around his neck.
“Crikey, s’true then,” David mumbled, looking Colton up and down.
“He’s going to smuggle you into the cargo hold when the crew leave, before the passengers come on.”
“I’ve never smuggled anything before, and I could lose my job if I’m caught,” David warned them. “I’m only doing this as a favor for my brother. If someone finds you, you’re on your own.”
“I understand,” Colton said, ignoring Cassie’s growl of displeasure.
“The loading crew looks like they’re about to take off,” David said, craning his head around to check. “Shall we?”
Cassie pulled Colton into a sudden, brief hug. “Come back with him, Colton.”
“I will.”
Brandon patted his shoulder. “Good luck, mate.”
Following David to the airship, Colton wondered if this was how Danny felt when he’d boarded his own airship: strangely alone, his excitement tempered with dread. He looked over his shoulder and waved to the others. Cassie waved back, and Brandon gave a single nod of encouragement.
The airship loomed above them, its propellers lazily circling, the engines warming up. Colton would be in there soon, climbing toward the sky. Heading for India. Running from Enfield.
He took out the photograph of Danny’s smiling face.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I can’t wait for you this time.”
Suspicious people had been seen near the clock towers in both Meerut and Lucknow. One city was east of Agra, the other south.
“It’s clear we need multiple eyes in both locations,” Dryden said. “As much as I would like you three to stick together, I believe we need to split our forces. Perhaps Kamir—”
“Kamir is sick,” Meena interrupted.
“Ah, well. I’ll let you three decide among yourselves, then.” The Major left to speak with his officers.
“I suppose Meena could go to Lucknow with Akash,” Danny ventured, but Daphne shook her head.
“We should both be with someone who’s more familiar with the surroundings.”
“It would be better to go with either me or Akash,” Meena agreed. “Danny, why don’t you go with Akash to Lucknow? He can take the Silver Hawk—”
“No,” Danny said. “Absolutely not. I’m not getting back in that godforsaken plane of his.”
Daphne sighed. “I’ll go to Lucknow. I don’t mind the plane ride.”
Danny didn’t like the thought of Daphne and Akash alone, but he didn’t like the thought of another plane ride more. He shared a look with Meena.
“I suppose we’ll go to Meerut,” she decided.
Major Dryden came back a minute later and seemed pleased with the result. He rubbed his hands together in excitement.
“Spiffing. Miss Richards, you’ll fly to Lucknow with an escort. Mister Hart, you and Meena will take the train up to Meerut.” Danny contained a sigh of relief. “I’ll make arrangements immediately.”
The next morning, they assembled before Major Dryden, who outlined their journeys and named the soldiers who would attend them.
“You two will be escorted by Captain Harris,” he told Danny and Meena. To Daphne he said, “You will have Lieutenant Crosby.”
Danny gave Daphne a triumphant smile. She grimaced back at him.
“This will likely take several days,” Dryden warned. “Perhaps a week or more. You will report daily on what you find. In the meantime, some of my men will be on the lookout for that rebel airship.”