The Emerald Key - By Christopher Dinsdale Page 0,64

We’re going to give it back to them when we’re done.”

“And what are we going to do with this steamship?”

She shrugged. “He said something about killing two birds with one stone. He seems to like that expression. I assume one of the things has to do with finding his brother.”

“I’ve never met a priest like this before.”

She grinned. “Neither have I, but if you’d prefer to go back to Montreal, we’re not going to force you to get on the boat.”

Daniel jumped onto the gangplank that led to the Carpathia II. “Go back to the orphanage so I can miss this adventure of a lifetime? Forget it! I’m in!”

Jamie realized that if the heist of the Carpathia II was to work, they would have to be well away by first light and then manage to stay ahead of the authorities, who he was sure would be hot on their trail. He took the six oldest orphans down into the boiler room. The brand new twin engines gleamed in the light of the freshly lit oil lamps. The six young teenagers had spent the entire trip on Big John’s steamship below deck in the engine room, learning how a big steam engine operated — with the help of the Kentson crew. Now Jamie was banking everything on the hope that their brief education had taken hold.

“But there’s two of them!” protested Daniel, the self-designated chief engineer, pointing to the two huge boilers.

Jamie shrugged. “So you just double everything. Two boilers, two pistons, two walking arms, and two paddlewheels. Just do everything twice! Here, let me help you get things started.”

Jamie divided them up into two groups of three. He then pointed out the boiler doors, the coal, the shovels, and the lighter fluid.

“So, Daniel, you’re in charge of the boiler on the right and Laura, your group can take the boiler on the left. Talk to each other. Everyone will need to work together as a team to make this work. Now I need to head topside. Give it your best shot. We’re counting on you.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” replied Daniel, saluting. The other orphans burst into hysterical laughter. After months in a boring orphanage, it was like Jamie had just given them the best Christmas present imaginable. Jamie looked back from the stairs.

“All right, start stoking those boilers and get them fired up as soon as possible. We need to get this bucket of bolts moving.”

“Aye, aye, Captain!” they all shouted in unison, followed by a salute and another burst of laughter.

Jamie shook his head, smiling, as he disappeared up the stairs. Beth was waiting for him at the top. Behind her were three girls, two boys, and Colin. “We’ve gone through the entire ship. They must have been just about ready to sail — the cupboards are stocked full of food. There’s no bedding yet in the staterooms so we’ll have to sleep on the bare wooden frames. Other than that, everything looks good.”

“That’s great news,” said Jamie. “See if you can find anything soft to throw on those bed frames. We’ll need to get rest in shifts at some point. This is going to be a long trip. And remember, don’t carry candles or oil lamps on the open deck or anywhere near the windows. We need to run dark until we’re well away from Prescott. Someone might see our escape and alert the authorities.”

The children hurried off toward the passenger berths.

Daniel poked his head up the stairs from the engine room. “The boilers are lit and the steam pressure is starting to rise. I think we can get started in a minute and increase speed later on as the pressure continues to build.”

Jamie could smell the thick smoke flowing out from the stacks above his head. “Brilliant work, Daniel. I think we better get going before someone smells that burning coal.”

Jamie walked down the elegant, wood-panelled corridor towards the bow. He reached the first mooring rope and unlashed it from the cleat. With the bow free, he could feel the river’s current begin to push the front of the ship away from the dock. He quickly ran along the outer walkway to the stern and pulled in the stern line. Another run along the length of the ship and Jamie headed up top to the wheelhouse. Just as he had hoped, the current had moved the nose of the boat a good ten feet away from the dock while the stern stayed close. Getting around the moored ships