"And listens like a three years' child: The Mariner hath his will"-Samuel Taylor Coleridge
"Hey Jock, I have a question for you," Kit said to the scruffy engineer. Kit was inside the engine room of the Iron Vulture assisting Jock with some routine engine maintenance that the engineer was conducting.
"What is it mon garcon?" asked the terrier.
"Where did the Iron Vulture come from? I mean Don Karnage didn't build it did he?" asked Kit.
"Ha, Don Karnage build anything? Never. He got her the old fashioned way. He stole her," answered the engineer with a smile.
"Who did he steal her from? Usland? Thembria?" Kit asked.
"No, neither. He stole it from Reichland. Of course Usland and Thembria had been working on their own but none had ever entered service," said Jock.
"Why not?" asked Kit.
"The Great War ended before anyone could use them. This one was slated for the scrap heap after the war and notre capitaine stole it before it could get there," said Jock.
"When was that, right after the War?" Kit asked.
"Oui, it was 1919 and right after the Mersailles Treaty was signed," the engineer paused for a moment and then looked at Kit with a smile, "Would you like to listen to a story mon ami?"
"That'd be swell," said Kit who sat on a stair step and put his chin in his hand.
"Well, it was in late August of 1919, the 24th if I remember correctly…" started Jock.
"You were there?" asked Kit with amazement.
"Who did you think got him aboard?" said Jock with a wink.