Chapter 6: The Heart of the Ship

The man is insane! How Nigel maintained his position as ship's historian, regardless of how clever, accurate and thorough he might be with his research, was beyond Laurence's comprehension. He would never presume to say such a thing about any woman let alone one that held his livelihood in her hands. Her rank and accomplishments commanded the very least of respect. Other men might take Mr. Wellington to task, take up the lady's cause and defend her honor in a time proven manner. Unfortunately, Laurence knew exactly what the end result would be should he choose to deliver such a challenge. The women of the world must search for a champion outside of him, but that didn't stop him from delivering a scathing look.

Nevertheless, Laurence knew he couldn't estrange Mr. Wellington. They would work closely together, and it made no sense to create a hostile work environment for himself by picking a battle he honestly had no right to involve himself in. Captain de Sade was a clever woman who seemed to know her crew. He put forth an effort to contain his affront.

"Indeed." Laurence smoothed his hands over the lapels of his suit coat then gave an indignant sniff before he let the subject go. He continued to walk with Mr. Wellington instead without the need to be encouraged along. "Now if you please, I'd like to see the engines and my quarters."

Nigel's pleased grin remained on his face as he inclined his head towards Mr. Kane. "Yes, of course. Fortunately for you they are one and the same." He gestured for Laurence to climb the stairs before him.

If Laurence had been impressed by what he had thus far seen of The William's Hunt, he was downright overcome by what he found in her engine room. This was to be his little world, his kingdom, since here his word was law by the Captain's say so. He had expected to see something marginal that he could improve upon as he gained time, equipment and parts. What waited for him was quite the opposite. Laurence found himself gazing adoringly upon what was, in his opinion, the most beautiful part of the entire ship, and his outrage at the Historian's cheek was forgotten.

The engine was in two parts. The back two thirds were the turbine that propelled the ship in flight. It was the least of Laurence's interest since any monkey that understood mechanics could operate, repair and maintain that part. The front third was what concerned him, as that was the chrono-engine itself. The same alloys that made up the hull of the ship encased the engine, as well as made up the framing that contained the thick glass polymer where all of the magic happened. A certain arrangement of atoms, when charged up by a certain measure of static and then flooded with steam created by a combination of heated liquids, punched a hole through reality into the past. In other words: it created a wormhole. Once through the wormhole the engines would recognize the chrono-pattern for the entry way for five days. Within that time, the engines could reopen the hole and reverse the transfer to return the ship to the point in time from which it came. But if the window of opportunity was missed they would be stranded in the past until another ship towed them back through another wormhole. This made marauding, pirating, and other mercenary work, outside of Naviwerks, dangerous and risky ventures since there would not be a friendly fleet to retrieve them.

Laurence had seen and worked with chrono-engines in his university days when he earned his Horotechnology degree, but they had been earlier, less desirable designs. They were good for students to tinker with and learn from, but not for current, commercial use. He had seen diagrams for the chrono-engines in present use by Naviwerks, and all hope of using and working on one rested upon being hired by the corporation that held a monopoly on time travel, a task he had never managed to accomplish. That is until Captain de Sade approached him and made her offer. As Laurence looked upon the marvelous machinery before him every hurdle he met with thus far was worth it. Laurence Kane was in love!

Nigel stood behind Mr. Kane, who seemed to be stuck on the top of the short set of stairs that led down into the engine room. He touched his hand to Laurence's shoulder and gave it a gentle nudge. "Welcome home, my good fellow." Nigel smiled to Laurence when he glanced at him then the Horotech started down the stairs into his little kingdom. The Historian chuckled to himself then turned with a small shake of his head, intent on returning to his own quarters from which he could inform Reynolds that Mr. Kane was settled, and his cases could be delivered.