Emilie & the Hollow World - By Martha Wells Page 0,67

way around. She didn't think it was large enough to have two decks. The oblong windows were larger, but she couldn't see anyone moving around inside. The compass pointed toward the airship, or at least toward that end of the compound.

A plank bridge ran from the flat roof of the tower up to the closed door of the airship. The prisoners could be inside there, Emilie thought.

There were no windows in the top of the tower, but there were big trees along the ridge of the valley; and the bottom of the cabin, and the metal catwalk, were just above their heavy branches. It looked like a possibility to Emilie. Maybe the only possibility. The plank bridge suggested that there must be a trap door in the roof to allow access to the airship. But surely that door would be guarded too. Maybe not, if the prisoners are locked up in rooms inside the tower, she thought.

Emilie settled back into the ferns to think about it, knowing this was no time to act rashly. And that she had a few hours left until the next eclipse, so she might as well spend it resting, spying, and trying to think of a less mad plan.

But by the time the eclipse fell, she was fairly certain a mad plan was the best way to go.

Sometime after darkness fell, Emilie crouched on the edge of the valley, in the stand of big trees that overhung the airship, impatiently waiting for someone to notice her distraction.

The Nomads had lit their encampment with lamps made from big curving shells, burning fish oil. The lamps lit the paths between the buildings and the pools, but the light didn't quite reach the airship, which was now just a big shape in the dark. While that would prove helpful, Emilie was afraid it was too dark to see her distraction.

Maybe I should just go ahead, she thought. She chewed her lower lip, considering it. The problem was, she wasn't sure she could do this at all, let alone do it in complete silence. But you can't just sit here, she thought in frustration. She couldn't come this close and stop.

Then below, a merperson came running from the opposite end of the compound, calling out to the others, pointing back over his shoulder. Emilie sat up, relieved. Finally.

Earlier, as the eclipse had been about to descend, she had crept around to the opposite end of the valley from the airship, and heaped up a big pile of dead brush and fallen palm fronds. The wood was green and damp, so setting it on fire had taken most of the Cirathi matches that Emilie had tucked into her pocket. But it had finally started to smolder and then burn.

She still couldn't see the smoke, but a moment later the breeze brought her the scent of it, which must have alerted the merpeople. Many of them ran toward that end of the compound, calling out to each other. Several dived into one of the pools, disappearing under the surface, presumably to carry the word or get reinforcements. The three men who were guarding the door of the tower moved away from the open doorway, facing down the valley, trying to see what was happening.

Emilie took a sharp breath; she had hoped they would leave, but had known that was a little much to expect. All right, here goes, she thought, and stood and turned to the tree she had picked out.

She started to climb, gritting her teeth as the ridges around the trunk dug into her fingers and toes. This tree was older and pointier than the one she had climbed earlier, but the trunk was also bigger around, giving her more room to climb. It was so dark she couldn't see her hands on the trunk, and the merpeople were all still occupied trying to decide if the fire meant an attack by the Queen's forces. But it was still a relief when she reached the shelter of the screen of drooping palm leaves.

Emilie was sweating by the time she reached the gentle bend where the trunk broke up into individual branches, extending in curves out toward the airship. She shook the sweat out of her eyes and peered ahead. So far, so good. The balloon and the cabin now blocked her view of the tower and the guards, but also their potential view of her.

She gripped the trunk with her legs and scooted awkwardly forward, out onto the highest