Part 4: A girl and her airship
Evelyn had just finished writing her letter when a maid called for her. The shipment of wood had arrived, coming to a sum of a hundred pounds. Evelyn cringed slightly- this project was using up all the emergency money, but she handed over the sum and bid the transporters a good day. Head of the home, she was allowed to do as she pleased, within reason, and used that power to work on her airship in between her lessons. Her tutor, Morentino, was around fifty, and taught her all about the world and mechanics. He enjoyed their lessons, as Evelyn preferred a more interactive approach that most of his other students. She would tinker at inventions whilst he taught the correct terms for each part or paint murals on the walls instead of a canvas. She would run around, seeming to put the pieces together in her mind as she explored the physical world, occasionally tapping the table while working out a maths problem or studying outside if they were doing English. Morentino was not one to judge, and it made the lessons interesting and exciting, better than teaching his other students' rudimentary skills from a textbook. The only time Evelyn was able to sit still and absorb information was when she was reading the book from her late mother, as she clearly drew out parallels between herself and Sara. Both had lost their fathers, both were financially struggling, albeit Evelyn's spending on her project was her fault, and both were isolated and relied on their imaginations for escapism. Morentino even suspected that Evelyn had Sara as an imaginary friend, since he had found a letter addressed to her in a pile of papers once, but he never confronted her about it. The poor girl had gone through enough, she didn't need more stress.
Evelyn took in the shipment of wood, bringing it to the covered workshop. What had originally been a ballroom was now a storage unit for an aircraft, painted schematics lining the walls in a style replicating her father's classic paper and pencil techniques. One of the walls was converted into a sliding door years ago, to allow the airship to be wheeled outside on its platform. She put on her father's old apron and picked up a hammer, finishing off the roof of the living quarters. Finished, almost ready to go and find her father in Omaha. Perhaps he had gotten delayed by work, perhaps he had fallen ill, or even…no, he was alive. He had to be.
After finishing up the day's construction and lessons, Evelyn headed out to the park, walking along the streets. Along the river path, she caught sight of her reflection in the water, for a split second seeing herself with shorter hair. She blinked, and it was just herself. A trick of the light, surely. In her blouse pocket sat a little present from her father, a tiny pearl he had given her before he disappeared. Carriages lined the streets, and vendors offered her food, but she politely declined. She reached into her satchel and pulled out the worn book, and a letter for Tommy to read if he was there. She sat down in her familiar spot and waited for him to arrive, ready to tell Tommy how the airship was coming along. She'd disclosed her plans a few weeks prior, and he seemed very interested. She wanted to invite him over but hadn't managed to find the courage to ask yet. She was worried about what the servants would think, since Tommy was her secret friend, and he might think the airship was silly when he saw it. But she brushed off those thoughts and waited for his arrival.
Tommy enjoyed sneaking up on Evelyn. She'd get absorbed in her book, blocking out everything, and that's when he made her jump. Sometimes it was a slight gasp, but other times Evelyn would genuinely get startled and begin to chase him around, the two having a friendly rivalry. That day, Evelyn worked up her courage, and they agreed to walk to her home together, Tommy managing to convince Nurse Kait. Evelyn led him through the polished halls, before they arrived in the huge workshop. Tommy gazed up at the intricate airship, a giant red balloon almost touching the top of the ceiling. The ship itself held living quarters, a huge control panel full of contraptions Evelyn had created, and an off-limits room where the mechanisms were held for the balloon's flame. She had somewhat copied her father's old schematics but modified them to fit her capabilities. So, since the balloon was ready, Tommy decided to ask his secret question.
For weeks he'd been getting a double dose of Ombizine from the nurses, as well as stealing their small jars of the pills. He took one dose each day and put the other in a tiny pouch, hiding it in his pillowcase. These pills could last him for quite some time, and Evelyn would never need to know he was sick. He'd kept this from her, mainly due to his own insecurities about living in a hospital and the fear that she would be disgusted or pitiful of him, two things he didn't want. So, he packed privately, and planned ahead. Mustering his courage, he took Evelyn's sleeve and made her face him. "Evelyn…can I come too?" he whispered, the girl's eyes widening.
That night, the two children had packed their things, Evelyn bringing along extra blankets and pillows for Tommy, and she got changed. An outfit she'd saved for today, different from her usual blouse and pinafore combination. Instead, it was a cream blouse and a long red skirt, with a darker maroon cardigan full of embroidery. She tied a red bow around her neck to match, and placed her goggles atop her head, ready to be pulled down when they commenced the flight. Walking into the ballroom, she called Tommy over and they pulled open the enormous sliding door. Just then, the duo heard footsteps, panic appearing on both of their faces.
Morentino walked into the workshop, astounded at the huge contraption in front of him. He knew she was building a flying machine, but to this scale was unfathomable. Contrary to the children's expectations, he simply walked over to the front and pulled the airship toward the door. It was extraordinarily heavy, but somehow he could manage its' weight, possibly due to it being at a downhill angle. After the slight pull, it moved itself outside on rails, the man briefly pausing to catch his breath before addressing the two children. "Both of you, good luck." He whispered, Evelyn hugging him tightly. She'd known the man seven years, he was like her grandfather, and losing him would be painful. He smiled down at her, before playfully saluting Tommy. The two children climbed aboard the airship, Evelyn sitting down in the pilot's cockpit whilst Tommy sat in a corner, remembering his instructions if he was ever to take control of the ship for a few minutes or needed to use any of the various buttons or pulleys scattered around. Morentino watched as Evelyn took a deep breath, before pulling the lever to activate the flames, which were suspended much more securely in the airship than in her father's schematics. He had used an open ring to control them, while she had organized a series of interlinking furnaces below, whose hot air would rise and cause the ship to float. This type of ingenuity showed Morentino how much of her parents' genius she had inherited, easily able to surpass her father in mechanics and her mother in writing. Evelyn met his eyes, giving him a small wave, and then they began to rise.
Soaring above the house, Evelyn oriented herself with a small compass, deducing they needed to fly East, so she pulled a lever to activate the airship's wings, of sorts. They were essentially built out of old abandoned sails left by the river, which she took and modified into extending mechanical arms which could expand and retract as needed. They were attached to both the blimp and the ship itself, allowing for maximum propulsion. The airship was blown by the breeze, allowing Evelyn to focus on steering, and Tommy stood up, admiring the incredible view of London below.
The airship was heralded by curls of smoke from chimneys, glittering lights below reminding the boy of stars. The entire city seemed painted in blue, the moonlight above sending rays down and casting shadows in the streets. Soon enough, a crowd of people gathered to look at the airship, some whistling and clapping in admiration, others doubtful that it could fly for much longer. As they passed street after street, Evelyn felt her heart grow heavy. London was all she'd ever known, her home and the place she knew like the back of her hand. Omaha would probably be very different, and tracking down her father might be difficult without any knowledge of Nebraska, but she was determined to try. They passed over taller buildings, Evelyn sending a burst of hot air to the blimp, and they flew higher than ever, Tommy able to see the hospital from his viewpoint. Since he was six, he had dreamed of flying just like this, and now his dream had come true. Joyful tears filled his eyes, before Evelyn turned to him, giving him a huge grin. He walked over to her, hand on the side, and offered to take over for a moment, allowing her to look over the side for a little while. The girl agreed, tightening a bolt on the way, and wandered over to the side of the ship, right as a familiar chime resounded across the city.
Evelyn gazed out at the sight before her- she was face to face with Big Ben. Both of them seemed to tick mechanically, Evelyn's brain full of gears and mechanics whilst the head of the clock face was full of mechanical components. Evelyn felt an impulse grow inside her, and leaned, palm outstretched. She caught herself on one of the ropes as she began to lose balance, the balloon slowing slightly due to a change in the wind. In that moment, Evelyn took a deep breath and leaned out again, her fingers brushing against the face of Big Ben, feeling the heavy clock's hand move to mark a minute passing. She smiled, assuming pilot again with newfound determination. The two stared out at the horizon, exchanging smiles and gazing at the sights.
After a few hours, the two reached the sea. After passing countless towns and buildings, they were finally at the ocean. By Evelyn's calculations, they would reach Omaha by sunrise. They soared over the ocean, before a strong wind came from nowhere and blew them off course. Evelyn, frantic, rerouted the wings, but a large thunderclap halted her thought process. Despite the night being previously calm and tranquil, the two had somehow landed in an enormous storm. Worried her mechanical antics would conduct the lightning, Evelyn left Tommy to try and steer, while she clambered down into the mechanical heart of the airship, retracting the wings and shifting the mechanical arms underneath the blimp, so that they wouldn't cause a fire. As the balloon rose higher, Evelyn resurfaced to find Tommy struggling to steer, his mind set on turning them away from the storm. She took over, before Tommy spotted something strange inside the mass of clouds. Someone was shining a light.
On the other side of the mist was another person, flashing their light in a sequence to try and communicate with the lost airship. The pilot had seen it approaching and wanted to help, getting them back to the shores of England before they lost power or crashed into the ocean. Evelyn flew toward the light, interpreting the morse code as "Come here", and managed to get close enough that they were able to see the person's vehicle. A bright balloon, created with fabric which looked otherworldly and earthly, several huge bundles atop it looking like vines or flowers. Nevertheless, it was very clearly a balloon, and one Evelyn could steer them toward to find their way through the storm. She activated her own light with a press of a button, pressing with one hand to spell out the sequence "We are coming" in response. They flew closer, able to hear the pilot of the balloon yelling but unable to make out their words. The person used morse instead, writing out the phrase "Who are you?" and in response, Evelyn wrote her name and then Tommy's name in the codes. Suddenly, the owner of the balloon stopped signaling and seemed to become distracted, before Evelyn's eyes went wide. The flame in the centre of the balloon had suddenly become much larger, enveloping the fabric in a flurry of sparks. Tommy turned, his own eyes agape at something else. "Evelyn…" he choked out.
They were most certainly going to die.
What lay before them was a giant tunnel in the clouds, lightning and thunder coming from inside. The bottom of the trail was lined with some strange, ethereal bricks, painted yellow and shimmering in the light. The tunnel itself started out as the familiar storm clouds, but progressed and became much brighter, though they were unable to see what lay on the other side of it. Their airship was being dragged inside, and their only hope of survival was going up in flames. In a moment of panic, hoping to save the pilot, Evelyn tore at a loose rope, shining the light rapidly to try and get the pilot's attention. She stood on the control panel and threw the rope overboard, hoping the pilot would catch it. The person clearly tried, but the imbalance of the burning balloon made it an impossibility, and Evelyn's eyes filled with tears as the balloon's basket was enveloped in the flames, the bottom disconnecting and falling, the pilot going with it. The person tumbled through the air, the balloon following behind them, and the sea swallowed them both up, destroying hope of escape. Evelyn felt the airship shake and almost tumbled off the edge herself, Tommy grabbing her and pulling her off the cockpit and onto the floor. The two were forcefully pulled into the tunnel, the airship itself almost being torn apart by the force. In a moment of panic, Tommy yelled for Evelyn to brace, and she crouched down, him instinctively throwing himself over her to protect her. As the airship crashed, for a moment, all was still, and then it all went black.
When Tommy awoke, he found himself in a smoking wreckage of metal and wood, laying down and covered in dirt and blood. He felt his head spinning and sat up, the sky a bright blue above him. For a moment, it occurred to him that he may be dead, but he felt very much alive, tingling sensations settling over all of his limbs. They hadn't landed in the sea and drowned, so that was something, but he wasn't sure where on earth they were. Dazed, he noticed something strange under the rubble and gently pushed some damaged metal off it, discovering a yellow brick below it all. Then another, then another. As Tommy lifted his head, he saw a vibrant landscape with paths of this shimmering and iridescent yellow brick, all leading to a central green city. This city was unlike anything he'd ever seen, made of the most intricate golden trimmings and seemingly mechanically run. Evelyn would enjoy this…and speaking of which, he had no idea where she was. He searched the rubble, suddenly frantic. Bits of scrap metal and fabric were strewn all over this path, leading to a heap of rubble which was clearly produced from an awful crash. Tommy had been thrown out of the ship during the crash, evident by his landing, but Evelyn was nowhere to be found. He pulled at pieces of metal and ropes, before finding a shoe under the rubble, then a hand. Lifting the largest piece of metal, making up part of the living quarters, he found Evelyn underneath, still in one piece but unconscious and bleeding. He gritted his teeth and retrieved her, deciding to go into the city to look for help.
When he arrived, he was instantly greeted by a strange and small little man, wearing green goggles and having a huge moustache and beard. The little man had elf ears and was a pale peach, wearing a strange little hat atop his head and a waistcoat. He wasn't human, but he didn't seem inhumane, and immediately registered the situation. Normally, he would ask for visitors of the city to state their business, have them fill out paperwork and such, but this boy and girl seemed in need of urgent care, so he took them to the infirmary, full of magical bottles and potions which would heal them. "Arrabus! Please take care of these children!" the strange man commanded, Tommy immediately being sat down by a group of living plants, Evelyn still unconscious in his arms. "Melchius, I am on a very limited schedule today." Somebody spoke, with a very smooth voice which made Tommy a little nervous. "Arrabus I insist. Take a look. They're unlike any case we've ever seen. At least the Wizard landed without too much injury!" the little man protested, the voice sighing. From the shadows appeared a man fused with an insect, his hair slicked back and wearing blue goggles. His clothes glowed a vibrant purple in the darkness, and two pincers were plucking potions off the shelves. Tommy's mouth was in an O at this, and terror was enveloping him. "Well don't just stare child. What is it you need?" Arrabus asked, turning to face the battered and bruised boy. "Um…anything to help us. We were in an airship crash…" he whispered, Arrabus's eyes rolling. "Yes, I know. The entirety of Oz has been talking about it." He muttered. "Oz?" Tommy asked, confused, Arrabus facing him and holding a turquoise jar. He stooped down, the plants suddenly seizing Evelyn and moving her further away, into a bed. Arrabus began pouring a ruby-red liquid onto Tommy's wounds, before he continued to speak. "Yes, Oz. That is where you are. But more specifically, you are in the Emerald City." He gently explained, Tommy feeling his pain subside.
After some time, Arrabus had healed the boy, before frowning slightly. "Something tells me you are not quite well. Do you have something else the matter?" he asked, Tommy chuckling a little and hoping Evelyn wouldn't wake up. "Something like that. I'm very sick and will die at some point. But there's not much anyone can do about it." He explained, Arrabus eyes going sad and wide at this revelation. "You have some pills?" he suddenly asked, pointing at Tommy's pouch. "Yes, but not many." He responded, showing the insect. Arrabus peered at the medicine, before nodding. "These are no good. And I don't know of any earthly cures, I'm afraid. But, I am sorry." He whispered, handing them back to the child. Tommy shrugged. "It's alright. Thanks for helping me, I feel way better now." He smiled, Arrabus giving him a smile. He then turned to Evelyn, still asleep on the bed. "She's much worse off. I see various injuries which will require some time for me to fix. Melchius, you may take the boy and show him around. I will ring the bells when I am done." He explained, pointing up to an intricate system of mechanical bells above. Melchius nodded and led the boy outside, ready to show him around Emerald City.
The city was large and grand, comprised of some of the most incredible magic and engineering feats known to man. An enormous golden planet diorama fountain sat in the centre, a small orb attached to the centre circling it in a representation of the earth and the sun. Around it, little homes, and small people dressed in green chattered, every so often pointing at Tommy and whispering about him. Paying them no heed, Melchius took a key and unlocked a large double door, taller than even the enormous planet diorama. Inside stood a strange device, a sort of clock and elevator contraption, with a drape over it to disguise any sorts of mechanics. Melchius discarded this drape, allowing Tommy to stand on a gilded platform, which rose up in a circular motion around the building, before the wind whipped his face as he found himself outside, standing upon a huge and mechanized balcony. From above, the city was grandiose, the planet diorama acting as a central point which helped to unite the green and mechanical buildings surrounding it. Melchius turned to Tommy, and began to speak.
"Years ago, when the wizard of Oz arrived, he was the one who changed our lives for the better. He took me, an orphaned Ozite, and allowed me to work for him in this Projection Chamber, as he called it. He was extraordinary, using magic to bring our city to life, and give the Ozites a better home and future." He explained, his eyes becoming misty with admiration and melancholy. "Where is he now? Could he use magic to help us get home?" Tommy asked, Melchius instantly shaking his head. "He departed a while ago, to the mythical land of Lundenya." He spoke, apologetic, and Tommy shrugged, before he heard the bells ring and Melchius knocked him by mistake. Tommy felt his throat closing and started coughing violently, Melchius immediately apologizing and bringing him down the elevator, before carrying him to a nearby house, specially prepared for the two voyagers. Melchius waited for him to stop coughing, before offering him a pill, which the boy took whilst laying in bed. "You should get Evelyn…" he whispered, Melchius frowning. "She is in Arrabus's care for now, and she can wait a little longer. You are sick, and I want to take care of you." He whispered, his voice holding a certain tenderness and care which reminded Tommy of his adoptive grandfather. "Melchius…you can't really do anything." Tommy admitted, the small creature simply giving him a hug as he sat up, Tommy falling into the embrace and returning the gesture, peaceful and accepting. He felt his throat open again and smiled at the small creature, who led him outside to allow them to meet with Evelyn.
She was dressed in a new outfit, a charcoal black shirt with gold trims and matching trousers and shoes, a little black hat atop her head. She stood out amongst the vast landscape of green and gold, Tommy then realizing his own clothes had been practically destroyed in the wreckage and how silly he looked in this state. Arrabus stood behind her, his iridescent wings now unfurled as his pincers clicked approvingly. "Her clothes were in bad shape, so I got Yainbur to help her out whilst I retrieved everything I could from the wreckage. I found this small item, do either of you know what it is?" he gently posed, presenting them with a small, white pearl. Evelyn took it in her palms, nodding. "Thank you Arrabus. This was a gift from my father." She explained, holding it up to the sky. "He told me that it reveals one's true self."
After some time, the two were settled, Tommy having been given a similar outfit to hers yet in white with silver trims. Evelyn decided to explore, Tommy gently saying he was sleepy and needed to rest a little. She found herself at the large planet diorama, weird markings engraved into the golden metal. "It's Ozean." A voice suddenly spoke, revealing Melchius had been watching. "Ozean?" Evelyn asked, confused, and Melchius nodded. "Our native language. Each area has its' own dialect and quirks, but we speak to each other in Ozean for the most part. The North has a variant called Bizean, whilst the South has Munese as well as Ozean. I spoke to Arrabus in English to ensure it wouldn't frighten you two, but normally we speak purely in Ozean." A passer-by suddenly spoke, yelling "Skwerk!" at the two, with Melchius responding accordingly with "Gurenskwerka!". Evelyn watched, her eyes agape, the language was unlike anything she'd ever heard. "That means 'hi!' and 'hello!'" he explained, Evelyn nodding. Melchius then looked closer at the globe. "Delinskinka ver Ozika." He read out, each symbol meaning a different syllable. "Wizard of Oz." he translated, Evelyn smiling. "So the wizard made this huge diorama?" she asked, Melchius nodding. "He made it with magic. That small ball there rotates around, and that marks a year passing for us. We celebrate every year, singing native songs and holding a wrentianle, or a feast." He explained, before checking his wristwatch. "Oh look at me babbling on. Perhaps you should check on Tommy, he may have taken a rest by now." He advised, before a nearby vendor yelled at Melchius. "Oi, vorkimschalzinka!", Melchius instantly turning red and running away, with Evelyn wandering off. Though he was glad she didn't understand that particular word, Melchius felt a small swell of pride. No one had really cared about their language since the Delinskinka first arrived years ago.
In their room, Tommy was just waking up, finding Evelyn poking around. She found boxes underneath her bed and began pulling at them, Tommy gently trying to get her attention but failing. The genius was at work again. He sighed, before standing and pushing the boxes toward her, managing to get them free from the crammed positions they were in. Evelyn opened one and gasped, her eyes widening with recognition. "Nova and Steven…" she whispered, pulling some mechanical toys out. "What are those?" Tommy asked, gazing down at the small dragonfly model and plush toy. "Well, my father made them for me…"