One Million Monkeys, Ltd.

Originally published in Steampunk Tales: www.steampunktales.com, Issue #3 (October, 2009)

"The Falcon is the only vessel swift enough to rescue the Countess before harm befalls her," said Sir Conrad, his face red with anger. "Or worse, before she betrays England."

Seated in his firm's library, Ian Donaldson drew on his pipe and exhaled. "I sympathize with the unfortunate lady's plight, but my firm is in no position -"

"You have a racing steamship," Sir Conrad interrupted.

"I do not possess a steamship. My firm has been engaged by the proprietor to test her seaworthiness and performance limits."

"But because of the Egyptian imperial patrols, Mr. Donaldson, there are no British warships in the Mediterranean!"

Ian took off his spectacles and rubbed his eyes wearily. "Despite the name of my firm, we do not possess one million monkeys. We have in our care nearly a hundred African and Indian monkeys and a few dozen apes. Though they serve well for their trained tasks, they are not an army of men. You ask the impossible."

"Impossible? You've taken the Falcon to sea! Before the telegram from London, I watched your monkeys maneuver her expertly in the harbor."

"You've seen me and three of my men supervising a number of apes like Aphrodite here." The chimp, polishing a brass candlestick on the floor, looked up. "Though trained to operate the Falcon, they're not fit to undertake a rescue mission from Gibraltar to Alexandria, Egypt."

Conrad snorted. "I can supply officers from the border force for the rescue itself. It is the Falcon and trained crew that I require."

"Then you must understand this: A Chinaman is a man. An Egyptian is a man. Even a savage Apache is a man. My apes are not men. I have discovered an elixir that raises them closer to the intellect of a man, but we are as gods compared to them."

"And yet I have seen them smoking pipes as men."

Ian sighed. "The vices of men are not what distinguish us from beasts."

"Dammit, sir! They can be wild dogs, so long as they get us to Alexandria in the span of a week!"

****

The queens' paddlewheel barge descended the placid Nile toward Alexandria.

Ada, Countess of Lovelace and daughter of Lord Byron, fanned herself. The twin queens, Cleopatra XIV and Cleopatra XV, had servants to do that for them. In the heat, Ada's scalp prickled beneath her bound auburn hair; her European dress was damp with perspiration. She felt homely in the presence of the queens' beauty and would rather be alone, reading.

The queens sat in the salon's twin thrones as servants combed their black hair. Brightly colored hieroglyphics embroidered their gowns, and gold bracelets in the shape of vipers snaked around their forearms. One of the Cleopatras spoke to a servant, who handed her a wooden box.

Ada inhaled sharply. My cards.

The queen unlatched the box and lifted its lid. She removed a punched card from the box, holding it toward Ada. "What will this do?" she asked in Latin.

"It is a Jacquard card," Ada replied, also in Latin. "A set may be used to operate an automatic loom."

The queen hurled the stiff card in her face. "Do you think us simpletons?!"

Her hand shaking, Ada picked up the card. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came.

"Give me the card!" commanded the queen.

Ada handed it to her.

The second queen spoke quietly, "We are not so different, Countess, you and we. Save that my sister and I have the blood of Pharaohs and Roman emperors in our veins."

"And I..." Ada tried to keep her voice light, "I have the blood of mathematicians and poets in mine."

"That and a beggar's bowl may gain you a crust of bread in the streets of Cairo," snapped the first queen.

Ada felt her cheeks grow hot.

The second queen smiled kindly. "We three are all educated women, traveling to the greatest library in the world. On the library grounds is being constructed a great clockwork mechanism that your Professor Babbage calls an Analytical Engine. And your cards?" She looked at the countess expectantly.

"Are for the Engine," said Ada in a resigned voice.

The queen looked at her sister triumphantly.

****

Aphrodite clung to the branch that stretched from the front of the floating forest, feeling the warm sun on her fur, inhaling the sea air. Perched above the water, she watched silver fish flashing beneath the waves.

Behind her, the huffing, clanking monster at the heart of the floating forest belched clouds of smoke. The god ape, Ian, had chosen her for this journey, along with five other chimps and Hercules, the gorilla. One task of the chosen ones was to feed the hot hunger of the monster. Now was not her turn of ordeal in the fire room, though.

"Aphrodite!"

She turned at the sound of her name.

Ian made the sign that he had chosen her for a task. She clambered back onto the deck, where Ian stood with Sir Conrad beside a wooden crate.

"This should put your mind at ease about the Egyptian Navy," Conrad said to Ian.

The words were too jumbled for Aphrodite to understand. What do they want me to do? The god apes were looking at the crate.

Ian signed for her to pry it open. For all their powers, the god apes had weak hands and arms. One by one, she pulled away the boards to reveal a shiny piece of god machinery mounted on wheels. She sniffed. Inedible oil.

Ian looked puzzled. "What is it?"

"A Gatling gun," said Sir Conrad. "A new weapon from British America. With a strong man turning the crank, it fires six hundred rounds per minute."

"Bullets, you mean?"

Sir Conrad smiled. "Should we be stopped by an Egyptian warship, this will transform my little squad of five border officers into an army of hundreds." He clapped Ian on the back. "Feeling better about our odds now?"

The god ape Conrad looked happy. Ian did not.

****

Ada set down her mathematics book.

In the bustling harbor at Alexandria, Egyptian workers rushed to tie up the royal paddlewheel barge. Through a porthole, Ada looked out at irrigated gardens and rich buildings. On the front of a temple was a huge statue of the jackal-headed god Anubis. A week ago, captive aboard an airship from Rome, she'd seen nothing of Alexandria.

A servant entered Ada's cabin and gestured for her to follow. The woman spoke no Latin. Ada tried to convey to her that if they were leaving the boat, her books must follow her. The puzzled servant finally nodded, herding her off the boat and along the dock.

People were waiting for the queens to disembark. The hot midday sun beat down on Ada, and she had no parasol. The thick hem of her dress dragged in sand beside the street. In the harbor floated Egyptian oil burners, Greek and Roman steamships, and older sailing ships. Ada heard the crack of whips mingled with the shouts of Egyptian foremen. Ibises foraged at the water's edge. She smelled Arabian horses and saw them fidgeting in the harnesses of carriages that looked just like those in London.

People bowed down as the queens emerged from the parlor deck of the river barge, servants accompanying them. The foremen's shouts ceased. The harbor grew so quiet Ada could hear locusts. She lowered her head, but did not kneel. The servant beside her, nearly prostrate, hissed and tugged at Ada's dress. Ada swallowed her fear and remained standing.

She heard hollow footsteps of the royal party approaching on the wooden dock, heard the whinny of a horse behind her, and kept her eyes on her feet.

"Countess," commanded a queen.

Ada looked up, meeting the Cleopatras' dark eyes stoically.

The queen on the left shook her head in cold amusement. She said something in Coptic, and the servant at Ada's feet leapt up. The royal party dispersed to the carriages, and the servant jabbered, pulling Ada by the hand toward the queens' carriage. Guards stood like statues by both sides of the carriage's door, muskets shouldered.

The queens got in and sat down. The servant pushed Ada from behind. Ada held back, but a Cleopatra gestured for her to sit on the fabric-covered seat across from them.

A guard closed the door, sealing in the heat.

"You will stay in our palace," said a queen in Latin.

Ada nodded her acceptance. "I shall require my books."

The second Cleopatra raised her hand to strike Ada, but her sister stayed her hand. She gave an amused laugh and said, "The English."

The carriage rolled bumpily through the streets, part of the train of carriages. Soldiers on horseback guarded them on both sides. Hooves clopped against sandstone. There were no people along the street. Soldiers ahead of them must have cleared the way.

"Tomorrow, you will see your Analytical Engine."

****

Aphrodite squatted on a hatch cover beside Hercules, the gorilla. He was trying to light his pipe by scratching lightning sticks. The god apes could do it with one quick, magical motion. She sometimes thought Hercules as clever as the god apes, but not at this. He picked out some of the charred leaves, offering them to her to taste. She wrinkled her nose. Ian had given him the pipe, and he was fond of it. Aphrodite couldn't comprehend why. The only thing that stinks worse than charred pipe leaves is smoke from the fire room's rocks-that-burn.

One of the god apes shouted.

Ian, drenched in sweat, swung open the door of the fire room, where he supervised the chimps on duty.

"What is it, man?" he called. "A ship from Tripoli?"

"Use my spyglass, sir."

To Aphrodite, the sounds the god apes made might as well be the buzzing of bees. Ian accepted the small club the god ape handed him, sticking it in his eye.

"An airship! Sir Conrad! I shall damper the engine!" Ian ran back inside the fire room.

The other god apes looked excitedly in the air. What do they see? Aphrodite sniffed, smelling nothing new.

Abruptly the clanks of the monster machine slowed, and the huffing of the floating forest changed to a long wheeze.

The fire room door burst open again. Ian emerged.

"Raise sails! Let them think we're a slow cargo ship!"

He signed to Aphrodite and the other apes: "Chosen" and "Re-leaf the forest."

This was Aphrodite's favorite task. She raced to a trunk and climbed, reaching a branch and deftly unwrapping vines. As the giant skin fell free and billowed, she moved to the next branch.

More skins caught the wind, and trunks and branches creaked. Aphrodite swung through the forest of vines. A gull swooped past her. Below, Ian and the other god apes pulled on vines, tightening them. The entire floating forest swayed in the wind.

Finally, with the forest in full leaf, Ian sank wearily onto a hatch cover, panting from exertion. Aphrodite swung down from a vine and dropped to the deck nearby. She wasn't winded at all.

Sir Conrad joined Ian. "Slow progress this way."

"Safer not to be seen racing to Alexandria." Ian paused for breath. "That airship will be out of sight soon enough: off to Rome, I wager."

"'Tis a pity it came no closer. I'd have given it what for with the Gatling gun. That would have been glorious!"

Ian looked uncomfortable. After a moment's hesitation, Aphrodite clambered onto the hatch beside him. She probed through his hair with her long fingers, looking for mites.

The god ape Conrad's lip curled, and he walked away.

****

The Egyptian engineer sweated profusely, but not just from the heat. Looking even more uncomfortable than Ada, he stood stiffly before one of the queens, who lounged on the divan carried into the building by her servants. The other Cleopatra walked elegantly beside the clockwork machinery, touching shafts and gears. Servants fanned both sisters, but little of that breeze reached the engineer.

Ada couldn't pronounce his name. In fact, she followed little of his speech, though he was giving it in Latin at the queens' request. He mangled declensions, tenses and moods, and his accent was so thick that at first Ada thought he was speaking Coptic.

Relieved that the queens' attentions were on the engineer, Ada stared in awe at the Analytical Engine. It filled the hall behind the engineer, nearly the size of her house outside London. There were polished brass barrels with pegs, levers and gears: she recognized everything from Charles Babbage's drawings. She also smelled Arabian oil. The Egyptians had replaced Babbage's plan for a coal-fired steam engine with an oil combustion engine. She tried to imagine everything the clockwork in motion, like a giant music box, but playing her program instead of music. Such a racket it would make!

"You say it can solve any riddle," said the queen on the divan, pulling Ada back to reality. The Cleopatra was apparently responding to something the engineer had said. "Countess, how would you ask it the riddle of the sphinx?"

"That is an allegorical riddle," Ada explained cautiously, "not a mathematical one."

"A riddle is a riddle," said the standing queen, peeved.

Ada looked at the engineer for support, but his gaze was riveted on his feet. She saw that the Cleopatra on the divan held the wooden box with Ada's program.

"If you open that box, my lady, you will see that there is nothing written on the cards, only holes representing numbers and operations for the computing mill. The machine only understands the language of mathematics."

The queen opened the box and looked at a few cards. "There are numerals written on the backs," she observed.

"That is in case the cards are dropped. The mill requires that the cards be entered in order. In the same way that a cook follows the steps in a recipe."

"And Professor Babbage has taught you all his recipes. His recipes of holes."

Ada hesitated to correct a queen who knew little of mathematics. "I create my own recipes," she said finally.

"But before, you had no place to cook them. Now, by the grace of our cooperation with Professor Babbage, you are free to do so."

"I am not free," she said, barely audible. "And Babbage did not cooperate with you."

The standing Cleopatra stepped dangerously close to Ada. "If you think yourself a slave, you have not seen how we whip them in the streets! And how do you think the Analytical Engine was built, if not with Professor Babbage's aid?"

"He was raising funds to have it built in England."

"Where it never would have been built in his lifetime!"

"He would not betray England," said Ada.

"Science is not a genie to bottle inside one empire," said the reclining Cleopatra calmly. "You will come to realize that, just as he."

****

Rocking in deep twilight, the floating forest was at rest. After days of ravenous hunger and activity, the clanking monster at its heart had finally gone to sleep. Besides the god apes, only Hercules and Aphrodite were awake. What do they want us for?

"Sir Conrad, your plan is madness," said Ian.

"Only to your non-military eye. I've no doubt the Egyptians have the countess chained to the Analytical Engine. Enslaved to the machine and made to operate it. My lads and I will row the longboat ashore, enter the hall of the machine, unchain the countess, and time permitting, perform some mischief on the machine itself. Then we return to the Falcon and steam home. Simplicity itself."

"She is the daughter of an English lord!" Ian retorted. "I dare say they will lodge her in the royal palace!"

"You do not know these Egyptians as I do."

"They are reasoning men, not beasts!"

"What would you have me do? Storm the palace? Though one Victoria is worth two Cleopatras, we are outnumbered by an army of Egyptians."

"Someone should... inquire, at least."

"What?" said Conrad. "In English? Who is mad now?"

"I speak a little Coptic. A few words."

"Then that should be your task, while we are engaged with my plan. Or are you not man enough to step ashore?"

Aphrodite saw anger in Ian's eyes that she had not seen before, even when he punished the small long-tailed thieves.

"I shall come."

Sir Conrad raised an eyebrow. "Then you'd best bring someone with you. That Jerome of yours is a good man if there's a fight."

Ian shook his head. "If I don't return, you'll need him to manage the apes for the Falcon's return."

The god apes began using vines to lower the floating forest's child onto the dark waves. Then, one by one, Conrad and the five god apes of his tribe climbed down onto it. Aphrodite heard a hollow scrape as the child rubbed its parent's flank affectionately.

Ian signed to Hercules: "chosen," and gestured for him to join the god apes. Hercules lowered himself onto the floating child with a grace that belied his size.

"Bloody hell!" shouted Conrad.

"You told me to bring someone," Ian called down.

Hercules squatted on the middle of the forest child as the god apes eyed him with mistrust.

Ian signed to Aphrodite: "chosen."

She was glad Hercules had gone first. She swung down, just like from a tree in the forest. But she misjudged the forest child's playful dance on the waves. She hit its bone-like edge and tumbled into the waves.

Gagging on saltwater, she reached out toward the forest child, just beyond her grasp. She splashed desperately, trying to stretch her muzzle above the waves, but failing. Unlike a stream, there was nothing solid beneath her feet. The water sucked her beneath the surface.

Suddenly a strong hand gripped the fur of her shoulder, dragging her from the sea. Hercules! He swung her with a thud onto the belly of the forest child, where she lay coughing. The gorilla looked at her in concern. None of Conrad's tribe had moved.

Aphrodite watched as Ian descended the ladder of vines. He sat down facing Hercules and reached out a hand to her.

"Your monkeys will be the death of us," growled Conrad.

She didn't understand his words, but heard his disgust. Is it because of my clumsiness?

Four of Conrad's tribe took straight branches and began stroking them in the water. The point where they touched the forest child creaked with each stroke.

Ian lit his pipe. Hercules gestured for his own, so Ian handed it to him, along with the lightning sticks.

"Mark my words," said Conrad. "Once loosed in Africa, that will be the last you'll set eyes on these monkeys."

****

As the forest child neared the shore in darkness, Aphrodite smelled the god apes' growing fear. Why? By the light of a claw-shaped moon overhead, nothing looked frightening. Only palm trees and sand. In the distance flickered welcoming god ape lights. Why had Conrad avoided them?

The forest child slid to a halt in the surf. Two of Conrad's tribe jumped out, wading to help it ashore. Aphrodite waited till it was safely on sand to climb out.

As Conrad's tribe gathered palm branches to hide the forest child from predators, Ian pointed inland.

"Look there. Three iron airship towers, with two airships moored. Have you ever beheld such marvels?"

"If you've lost your nerve," snapped Conrad, "best stay here with the boat. I'll not share the risk of your clumsy monkeys as my men rescue the countess near the Library."

"I said I'd inquire," said Ian. "I keep my word."

"Very well. But this boat leaves at 3 AM, with or without you and your monkeys."

Ian regarded him grimly.

Conrad handed him something. It glinted by moonlight.

"A pistol?" said Ian. Aphrodite saw how he looked at the object with distaste. "If I cannot find the countess by stealth, I surely will not by force of arms."

"'Tis not for the Egyptians. If the countess cannot be freed, this is your recourse. Do you take my meaning?"

Ian looked at the god ape Conrad in revulsion.

"Better for her than a life of slavery," said Conrad. He waved at his tribe. "Come, lads. For God and Queen!"

They marched over the sand, between the palm trees, into the gloom.

Aphrodite heard waves lapping against the sandy shore behind her. From the city came a long whistle she recognized, of the giant god-snake that slides along shiny roots, belching smoke. She inhaled scents of dust and seaweed, palms and fish. Such a pleasant place.

Hercules snuffled, looking around warily. What does he know of the god apes' plans that I don't?

"Time to see this through," Ian muttered.

****

Ian had started out trailing Conrad's tribe, but eventually led the apes a different way. And got lost. Aphrodite could tell by his frustration. Dwellings of god apes formed a canyon around them, but they must not be his tribe, for he walked in fear. And muttered to himself.

"There's the Library, with its Eternal Flame atop the dome. And the royal palace just beyond. So we're close, mates, dangerous close. Got till 3 AM." He exhaled a shuddering breath.

Ian led them through dark canyons lined with buildings, constantly checking if she and Hercules were following. Hercules plodded on his knuckles, tensely turning his head side to side. Aphrodite walked close behind, shivering with excitement. Despite Ian's and Hercules' apprehension, she was enjoying this. The canyons smelled of food and animals; she heard chickens, donkeys and goats.

When they reached the end of a canyon, a small savanna lay beyond, a great building of the god apes at its heart.

"Almost there, mates. Inside that wall to the left is the livery, but you'd scare the horses. Royalty's in the center, two queen bees in their hive. That wing to the right, that's the place for us. Find a servant, ask our question, and be done." He shivered. "One way or another."

He paused for a moment, taking deep breaths. Then he started across the savanna. As they got closer to the building, there were more palm trees. Aphrodite looked up longingly. She wanted to climb.

When they reached the wall, Ian began muttering again.

"Gate's barred, but of course it would be. Don't need so many guards. No fools, these Egyptians. 'Cept they didn't plan on apes." He turned to her. "Aphrodite."

She looked up at him, and he signed: "chosen." He made gestures of climbing the wall and doing something to the gate. She understood the climbing part.

The wall was made of stone blocks with hard dirt between them. Aphrodite's strong fingers and toes easily found holds and she climbed to the top quickly. Atop the wall, she looked over. There were trees. Fig trees.

So this was why the god ape had told her to climb over. My reward! She descended quickly and climbed the nearest tree. The figs were ripe, and she began eating. Better and more plentiful than the food on the floating forest. Why had the god apes been afraid? And why wasn't Hercules following her? She hooted, calling to him.

The gate rattled, and she heard Ian call her name. I've barely started eating! She pretended not to hear. Ian continued calling. And muttering. He wasn't pleased. She gathered as many figs as she could hold and walked to the gate. There were cracks between the thick boards, and she spotted the eye of the god ape.

"Put the figs down!" Ian hissed. "Open the gate!"

She didn't understand, and couldn't see him, except his eye. Does he want a fig? She held one up, and tried to push it between a crack, but it was too big, and she succeeded only in squashing it. She licked her fingers.

"For God's sake, Aphrodite! Open the gate. Lift the bar. Lift. Lift. Lift!"

She knew the word. Lift what? The gate was too heavy. There was a long club attached to it. Does he want that? She set down her figs and tried to pull it, but it was stuck. He'd said to lift, though, so she did. At that point, the gate swung toward her, and she jumped back.

Ian pushed through, followed by Hercules.

"Good girl." His tone of voice didn't mean it.

I've done something wrong. Contrite, she offered him a fig, which he refused. Hercules gathered up her pile. She knew better than to argue with a gorilla.

"Come! Come!" hissed Ian.

They walked around the fig trees toward the god ape building. A few lights glowed from big holes in it.

The god ape went from gate to gate along the building. She watched. Hercules ate her figs.

Ian opened a gate. "Unlocked. Come! Come!"

She and Hercules followed him, into darkness.

"Never thought I'd get this far," he whispered. "Where's a servant to ask? No lights here. A light from that stairway, though." There was a hill in the building.

He began climbing it. She and Hercules followed.

Nearly to the crest, something startled him, and he called out, "Hercules! Hold!"

It was not a word Aphrodite knew. Hercules, wiser than her, lunged forward. When she reached the crest, she saw the gorilla standing erect, hugging a god ape. Not in affection, for the god ape was gasping for breath. A battle between god apes! Ian walked behind him and knelt down. He sniffed a cup and took a sip.

"Egyptian beer. I'll leave you that, but not your musket." He picked up a long, shiny stick. "Let's try some Coptic: English woman where?"

The other god ape made choking sounds.

Ian pointed the stick at him. "Hercules. No hold."

The gorilla released him, and Ian said, "Show. Woman."

The other god ape coughed, cowering.

"Woman," said Ian, frustrated. "English. Woman."

The other bent slowly, lifting a flame holder from the floor, which shook in his hand. Light danced on the walls.

"English," said Ian. "Woman."

The other god ape nodded unhappily and started up the next hill, watching over his shoulder. Ian followed with the stick pointed at him. Aphrodite was beginning to share Hercules' apprehension.

When they topped the hill, the god ape led them through a tunnel to a wooden gate. Aphrodite saw his hand shake as he poked a shiny stick in the gate. It opened.

Another tunnel. Partway down it, the god ape hesitated, then rapped on a gate with his fist.

"English?" Ian asked him. "Woman?"

The other god ape nodded. He looked miserable.

"Countess?" Ian called. "Are you within?"

"Who's there?" The voice of an ape goddess.

"Ian Donaldson of One Million Monkeys, Ltd., in Her Majesty's service."

The gate opened partway, and an ape goddess in a robe peered out warily. She, too, held a flame holder. Her eyes took in Ian and the other god ape. At the sight of Hercules and Aphrodite in shadow, her other hand went to her throat.

"Does Her Majesty wish me dead, then?" she said.

"No, my lady. Victoria wishes you well. Our boat leaves the harbor tonight, and we bid you be aboard."

"'Tis a late hour for an invitation. I am not dressed." She looked worriedly at the other god ape. "Do the queens know?"

"They will soon enough, if we continue prattling."

"But I do not know you, sir."

"Time is of the essence. We must leave the harbor in darkness. Do you wish to return to England or not?"

Aprhodite saw a conflicted expression on her face.

"But... why do you travel in the company of apes?"

"My lady, we must be off!"

She raised her flame holder, regarding Hercules and Aphrodite uncertainly, and swallowed. "I will get dressed."

"Hurry, my lady," he hissed.

She re-entered her room. The gate shut.

Ian fidgeted, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He muttered to himself, "Englishwomen."

Much later, Aphrodite heard the gate open. The ape goddess' hair had grown longer, falling past her shoulders.

Ian prodded the other god ape into the room, around the ape goddess. He made him sit in a chair and bound him with vines. Ian gestured for Hercules to pull the vines tight. The seated god ape cried out. Ian set down the long stick.

"Follow me, my lady."

"My books."

"What?"

"I shall not leave my books behind." She gestured to a small wooden trunk.

"You can purchase books in London, my lady."

"Not these." The ape goddess made no move to leave.

Ian stared at her, then lifted the trunk. He looked at Hercules and Aphrodite. What does he want? she wondered. But Ian only sighed, carrying the trunk from the room.

He retraced their route through the building, with the ape goddess at his side, followed by Hercules and Aphrodite.

As they walked past the fig trees, Ian was staring into the distance, so Aphrodite pulled herself up into one of the trees. He won't notice a few figs.

But he did. He turned to scold her.

They went out through the gate and across the savanna.

"Where are your captain and crew?" asked the goddess.

"I am the temporary captain of the Falcon. She is British, but not a Navy ship, anchored outside the harbor for safety. A party of soldiers will row us out to her."

"You are not a British soldier, but a mercenary, then."

"I volunteered my services and my apes. I receive no coin for this."

After a long pause, she said, "I thank you, sir."

"Do not thank me until you are safe aboard the Falcon."

Beyond the savanna, Ian led them through narrow canyons. "Do you see those tethered airships, my lady? Our boat lies nearby."

Aphrodite sensed the ape goddess's fear. Is she afraid of Ian?

"I'm told the Egyptians captured you because you are a great mathematician," said Ian.

"A fair one. But I understand how to program Professor Babbage's Analytical Engine better than any man."

"And how is that a threat to the British Empire?"

"Imagine your million monkeys all trained in ciphers, all solving one problem. That is the power of the Engine."

"The queens' Arabian oil seems a greater threat. Our own warships run on coal from our mines. Oil is the future, my lady."

Thunder boomed behind them. Aphrodite turned, startled, for the night was clear. An orange glow lit the side of a massive god ape building.

"That will wake the city," said Ian, alarmed. "Can you try harder to keep up with me, my lady?"

"You are not wearing a dress, sir."

"And you, my lady, are not carrying a trunk."

Aphrodite heard gongs in the distance behind them.

"That fire is Sir Conrad's work," said Ian unhappily.

Aphrodite heard voices nearby, and the clatter of pots. Her nose wrinkled from the smell of something delicious. It came from a side canyon. She couldn't resist.

"Aphrodite! No!" hissed Ian. He set down the trunk and ran after her.

She stopped abruptly, knowing she'd displeased him. He led her back by the hand.

Hercules hadn't strayed. Ian grunted as he lifted the trunk, then led them to a wider canyon. He kept them close to buildings, shadowed from moonlight.

"This cannot succeed!" the goddess said tightly.

"We are nearly there, my lady."

Aphrodite heard running boots behind her. She paused to look.

Ian noticed her delay and turned to pull her along, but saw the god apes approaching at a run. "Soldiers," he gasped. "Six of them." He dropped the trunk and pulled out the object Conrad had given him. As he raised it in one hand, it glinted in the moonlight. "Stand back, my lady! But wait..."

He stepped from the shadows. "Sir Conrad!" he called.

The god apes slowed, panting from exertion.

"What a stroke of luck!" said Ian.

"Are these your soldiers?" said the ape goddess.

"Countess, allow me to introduce Sir Conrad."

"My lady," said Conrad, wheezing. "No time. Egyptian soldiers. Coming."

Ian gave the trunk to one of Conrad's tribe and led them into a narrow canyon. "They may not find us here."

They traveled in single file, Conrad taking the lead.

"Did you find the Analytical Engine?" Ian asked.

"Yes," Conrad wheezed. "Destroyed now. Set afire."

"What?!" exclaimed the ape goddess.

"Not sure we could do it," he gasped. "At first, the lads and I smashed things. Drums, shafts, levers. Then we found tanks. Arabian oil! Spread it everywhere. Then a sulfur match. Glorious!" He laughed.

"It may never be built again," said the ape goddess.

Aphrodite thought she sounded sad.

The god apes spoke little after that. The goddess was slowing them down. Sounds of waking voices came from around them in the canyons. Aphrodite saw faces peer from narrowly open gates that closed as they walked past.

The canyons finally led toward the sea. Aphrodite heard waves on the shore, and the pounding heartbeat of a floating forest. She didn't need moonlight to see it: The forest's bright lights shone toward shore.

"Bloody hell!" said Conrad.

"Where is your boat?" asked the countess anxiously.

"Hidden, my lady," said Ian, "but we cannot leave in haste with the Egyptian Navy nearby."

"Yet haste is necessary," said Conrad. "Dawn and soldiers approach."

Aphrodite inhaled sea air, wanting to stay ashore. Ian looked back toward land. Perhaps he would lead them into the canyons in search of food. Or let Aphrodite find food for them. That was what she was best at.

"An airship," the god ape said suddenly.

"By Jove!" said Conrad. "Two of them, still tethered."

He led them away from shore, toward the god-made clouds floating above the trees. When they came to a high wall, they walked till they found a gate. Ian signed to Hercules: "chosen," and motioned for him to tear the gate apart.

They passed through the broken remains: Conrad and his tribe, then Ian and the ape goddess, then the apes. Within the walls lay a savanna, and from it grew three tall god-trees that reflected moonlight as if wet. God-made clouds were snagged at the tip of two of them. A building of the god apes stood nearby.

Conrad led the way to the closest tree. The surface of the cloud above it undulated with the breeze from the sea. The tree was a skeleton, and he led them inside its trunk.

"The tower lift is out of action," Ian said. "Do you think you can climb so many stairs, my lady?"

Aphrodite saw the countess bite her lip, looking up at flat branches leading into the skeleton. "I shall have to."

Conrad and his tribe started up through the tree. Ian and the goddess climbed more slowly, followed by the apes.

"I am not in the habit of ascending mountains," the goddess said, panting as she rested partway up the tree.

"We are from Gibraltar," said Ian.

"A mountain," she said, nodding. "One of the Pillars of Hercules."

"The same. A good deal steeper than your London."

When at last they reached the top of the tree, Aphrodite saw an agitated Conrad waiting by a path that led to a cage beneath the cloud.

"Quickly!" he said. "Egyptians are on the field!"

They entered the cage. The path pivoted as the cloud turned with the shifting wind, and Aphrodite tried to back out. Hercules pushed her forward. Once they were inside, Conrad released knobby vines binding the cloud. They fell with clanks onto the tower, and he closed the gate. The cloud drifted from the tree, creaking in the wind.

Aphrodite felt uneasy. I've never climbed so high.

"You had best start the engine," said Conrad.

"I?" said Ian. He looked about the cage. "I thought there would be an Egyptian aboard."

"You operate a steamship," said Conrad sternly. "Surely this is similar."

"No. It is not!" said Ian. Aphrodite thought he sounded upset. "I have read treatises, but never touched an Egyptian combustion engine."

The cloud drifted sideways high above the buildings of the god apes, pushed by the wind. The cage swayed. Ian hurried to the back wall, which looked like the inside of the floating forest's fire room.

"Knobs and levers," Ian muttered. "Labels in Coptic. That tube must lead to a fuel tank outside the gondola."

"Hurry!" demanded Conrad. "The lift to the other airship is ascending."

"No burner door," Ian muttered. "Well, of course not: the bags are full of hydrogen gas. This wheel must control vanes outside the gondola. Now what do these levers do?"

The god ape pulled on a club, and Aphrodite felt the cage lift her higher.

"I believe I dropped ballast," said Ian, pleased.

"The wind is taking us toward the city!" said Conrad.

"I have seen it operated," said the ape goddess.

"That scarcely suffices, my lady," said Conrad.

The goddess's mouth gaped. "Englishmen!"

Ian played with toys on the wall, but looked worried. At last he stepped back, bowing to the ape goddess.

She swiftly picked up a bent branch from the floor and jabbed it in a hole in the wall. Grunting as she tried to turn the branch, she couldn't make it budge.

Ian signed to Hercules: "chosen" and gestured for him to mimic the goddess. She jumped out of the way, and the gorilla turned the branch. There was a coughing noise, like the waking heartbeat of the floating forest. The goddess turned something on the wall with her fingers, and the coughing rose to a clatter. Outside the cage, a long flat club swung in circles, striking nothing but air.

"Glorious!" said Conrad. "I'll steer the airship."

He repeats that word as if talking about a favorite food. Aphrodite saw Ian look outside.

"The other airship is in pursuit," he announced.

The cage enclosing them began to turn toward the sea.

"Look!" said the ape goddess. "Where the smoke is rising. The Library itself is in flames."

Hercules approached Ian and motioned for his pipe. Ian took the pipe and box of lightning sticks from a pocket, then changed his mind. He feigned horror, making a series of gestures Aphrodite tried to understand. Will striking a lightning match here call down lightning from the sky? Ian set the pipe and matches on a shelf and signed: "forbidden."

"The other airship means to cut us off," said Conrad. "But if it's a race they want, we shall give them one!"

Conrad turned the same toy the goddess had. The cloud's clattering heartbeat stuttered and died. Aphrodite heard the goddess gasp.

"Bloody hell!" said Conrad. He picked up the bent branch, forcing it into the hole in the wall, and turned with all his strength. The goddess turned the smaller toy on the wall, and the clattering grew again.

"I fear they will overtake us," said Ian. "This has all been for naught."

"Steal an airship, you suggested," said Conrad bitterly. "We'd have had a better chance out-rowing that Egyptian steamer in the harbor."

"What will they do to us?" said the goddess.

"The queens shall want you," said Ian, "to help restore the Analytical Engine. But it will be the noose for me, I fear." Aphrodite saw him look at her and Hercules sadly.

Conrad looked at the apes. "We'd lighten our load without your monkeys."

"This race is already lost!" Ian snapped.

"The Egyptians will dispose of your filthy beasts soon enough anyway."

Ian balled his fists, advancing on Conrad.

"Stop it!" said the goddess. "Stop it!" Tears ran from her eyes.

The other cloud was almost directly below them now.

Hercules touched the fur of Aphrodite's face, signing furtively: "chosen." He walked slowly past Conrad's tribe toward the gate they had entered by.

"Hercules?" called Ian.

Hercules opened the gate, paused for a moment to regard Ian with a sad expression, then to Aphrodite's horror, leapt from the cage. She climbed to where she could see out.

"Your foolish monkeys are deserting!" said Conrad.

By moonlight, she saw Hercules plummet onto the other cloud, barely catching himself by vines wrapped around it. The gorilla's impact had torn the cloud's skin. He clung by his feet, holding something in his hands.

"He's taken the sulfur matches!" exclaimed Ian.

As Aphrodite watched helplessly, there was a spark in Hercules' hands, which blossomed into yellow flame.

"The other ship is afire!" shouted one of Conrad's tribe. "To starboard, sir! Turn to starboard!"

Their cloud turned slowly from the growing fireball. Aphrodite could no longer see Hercules in the inferno. Its light illuminated the interior of their cage. The other cloud began to fall below them.

"Merciful heavens!" said the goddess. "They are burning alive!"

Aphrodite clutched Ian's hand, but it was shaking.

With a radiant expression, Conrad steered the cloud back toward the sea. "Glorious! We've bested both their queens and only lost a pawn!"

Aphrodite saw tears in Ian's eyes as he watched the other cloud plummet toward the city in flames.

Whatever Ian and his kind were, she decided, they were not gods.

Copyright (C) George S. Walker 2009.