Author:
Alex McGilvery has been reading since before he can remember, and writing almost that long. He has published 18 books and is author and editor at his imprint Celticfrog Publishing. He lives in Kamloops with his dog and the stories clawing their way out of his head.

They’re chasing a myth in the name of science.

Calliope works for her explorer father as an artist, recording what he brings back from his journeys in her sketchbooks. When she’s given a chance to go along on a trip to capture a sea serpent she doesn’t hesitate.

Life at sea isn't what she expected, and she ends up fascinated by the engine room of the steamship HMRV Peregrine. A tragedy makes her assistant engineer, but Pentam, her father’s protégé, is even more determined than her father to make Cal a fine lady. That means protecting her from danger, even if it drives her crazy.
When science and legend collide, Cal is the one who must take up the challenge of survival, even if it means risking her new-found feelings for Pentam.

Calliope

 "It couldn't get thick enough to trap us, could it?"


"That's one question I'd rather we not answer the hard way. A ship this big is hard to row."


The captain finished his soup and left the mess as Monky walked in.


"Heh, Missy. How're things topside?" He fetched a mug of tea and sat across from her.


"Lots of seaweed and small creatures. Crabs mostly. I didn't know there were that many kinds of crab. Fish too, under the weeds. Prof. Orthin has a periscope he uses to look under water."


"I'm not doing much but sketching whatever they ask me to. Oh, I almost forgot." Cal dug through her satchel. "Here I thought you'd like this." She handed him a page from her sketchbook showing him beside the boiler. The fire glowed fiercely as he shoveled coal into its maw. "I wanted to thank you for teaching me about the engine."


Chapter 26: The Sargasso Sea Part 2