Chapter 2

Jules had settled on a log beside the river in silence per his companion's preference. He cataloged his new knowledge, occasionally shaking his ratter tail. As the forest darkened, he closed his eyes, dozing. Through the sound of running water and leaves shaking in the wind, a familiar sound came to his ears, a low-pitched whirling. Jules opened his eyes. Looked up.

"I can't believe it."

He blinked and stood, looked up through the trees. To the northwest, above the treetops, he saw the Aurora hanging in the sky. The early evening was so quiet he could hear her propellers softly humming in the distance. So grateful to see her again, Jules grabbed Jason's arm and pointed her out. "Friends!" Jules cried happily. "They must be looking for us."

Jason took in the marvel in the sky and gave a soft curse under his breath. "They are going to attract the attention of everyone within twenty miles. We can't get into town to get my nephews without surprise. We got to signal that thing to land."

Signaling the Aurora without a flare was difficult, but Jason Singleton was a determined man. He and Jules moved to a clear, shallow area along the river. Jason pulled another rifle from one of his horse's packs and waded into the water. Kneeling on a sandbar near the middle of the riverway, he set the ladder sight of the rifle and sent a shot into the fair airship's bow.

High above, with no warning, the thud of a shot hitting the outer hull of the gondola had been an unmistakable shock. Surprise sent the occupants scrambling away from the sides to take cover. All occupants but Phileas, that is. He took great exception to being shot at and headed to the observation window, looking for his attacker. Down below, as a second shot hit the bow not a foot from him, Fogg saw two men standing in the middle of the riverway. One was kneeling, ready to make a third shot. The smoke from his rifle hung in the light breeze around him. A second man was waving his arms in the air. Even at this distance, Phileas knew that dark, curly head.

"Verne!"

"Passepartout, turn the Aurora's bow to the north and land in that clearing further upriver from them. I don't think Verne's friend wants us to approach the town."

"Yes, Master. Very quickly."

When the airship's bow changed position, no further shots were fired. Slowly, she descended to the riverbank. Jules met the ship and its occupants on the shore, getting an enthusiastic hug from Rebecca first. She came off the airship with a leap, tackling him.

"Jules! When I am not so overjoyed to see you again, I will personally murder you for running off without telling us!"

"And I may hold you down as she does it," Phileas said, coming off the deck with more decorum than his cousin. "Nonetheless, it is good to see you well."

Jules caught the tone and all it implied, giving him a soft smile and a nod. It was all Fogg would voice of his own concerns. It was all that needed to be said. He turned to Jason Singleton, who had been watching from further away.

Jason shook his head in frustration at the fond greetings. One tenderfoot he had figured he could deal with, as long as the boy did as he was told. Now I have a woman and an overdressed dandy. Correction, a very stunning lady and a dandy.

"If you don't mind too much," Jason said, "would you be kind enough to get that balloon out of here before it attracts any more attention?"

"I will do just that, sir, once I know just what is happening and if I need anything from it," Phileas said. "You are Captain Jason Singleton, I believe?"

"I am."

"This is my cousin, Rebecca Fogg. I am Phileas Fogg," he said. "Your sister sent us to you. We missed your leave-taking but could deduce your direction."

"Pleased to meet you," Jason said, taking Rebecca's hand and removing his hat. He did not offer to shake Phileas's hand.

"Your sister told us much about you," Rebecca said, returning his warm smile.

"All kind, I hope?" Jason said, giving the lady a closer inspection. She was his height with the fire red hair he liked so much. His Katie had had hair like that. But she was gone three years now.

Frowning at the man's very obvious preference for Rebecca, Phileas remembered what Mrs. Ridgemont and James West had told them of this retired soldier. He looked very much as expected, hard and ill tempered. The cavalryman wore a tan hat that had seen better days, tan belted pants, and a deerskin overcoat over a mellowed shirt covering his thin short frame. He was only an inch or two taller than Verne, but the face made up for what his general appearance lacked. The eyes were hard and set with the confidence of a man that had held authority and knew what to do with it. The mouth, what Fogg could see of it under the luxurious silver mustache, was pressed determinedly, communicating what came out of it should be heeded without question. Normally, Fogg would have bristled at the man's attitude, but having been given Singleton's background, Phileas attempted to handle him more carefully.

"Mrs. Ridgemont told us about what has befallen her sons and Verne," Phileas said. "You are here to remove your nephews from Liberty? Tell me what we can do to help."