Lindsay Buroker

Hunted

PART I

A tiny brazier burned on the deck of afoot-long model ship, sending hot air into an oblong patchwork ofkerchiefs sealed with a custom paraffin concoction. The balloonexpanded until it bulged like an overstuffed sausage casing. Theminiature ship rocked on the workbench twice, then rose. Inch byinch, it levitated into the air.

A spool on the deck played out telephone wirethat attached to a small control box. Kali McAlister wore a grinbrighter than the Northern Lights as she picked it up.

She glanced toward the windows at the frontof the workshop. The door was locked and the shutters pulled, butsomeone wondering why her tinkery was closed might press a noseagainst a crack….

“Don’t be paranoid,” she told herself. Dawsonmight have a bustling population compared to Moose Hollow, but shehad not been open for business long, and she was lucky to get acustomer a day.

Kali flicked one of the four tiny levers onthe control box.

A signal pulsed through the telephone wire,and a click sounded inside the hull of the ship. Powered by a flakeof flash gold, the miniature engine thrummed to life. Delightcoursed through Kali, but anxiety as well. Lots of peoplesuspected she had flash gold, her dead father’s alchemicalmasterpiece, but only her former beau, Sebastian, and her businesspartner, Cedar, knew for sure. If anyone caught a glimpse…

“This is necessary,” she told herself. “Youcan’t build the real thing without constructing a working modelfirst.”

Right. That sounded like a plausible excuse.Anyway, the hull of the ship hid the telltale flash of the vibrantenergy source.

With the engine purring like a kitten fat onmilk, the model floated higher. Kali flicked another lever. Therudder turned, and the ship changed direction, veering away fromthe wall and out over her collection of disassembled boilers,half-built projects, and crates of brass, steel, and iron parts. Itlofted toward the back corner of the building, skimming beneathceiling beams decorated with cobwebs and owl pellets. Theex-fur-storage warehouse wasn’t posh, but at least the rent wascheap.

The shop door creaked open, and nippy springair swirled in, smelling of wood smoke, melting snow, and yeastfrom the brewery next door.

“Tarnation,” Kali cursed under herbreath.

She turned, hoping it was Cedar. It wasnot.

When she identified the well-dressed man whostepped through the doorway, her hand clenched the control box sotightly she nearly broke one of the levers.

The clean-shaven man wore a tailored blacksuit, a green silk vest, and a creamy button-down shirt with fancystitching about the collar. A sleek, beaver-fur top hat perchedabove a mane of thick blond hair that fell straight to hisshoulders. His clear green eyes and easy smile could dazzle alady…until that lady wised up and realized he was a con man. Acon man who could make love to a woman and promise to help herescape the frozen North, all the while scheming to get at her mostprized possession.

Kali forced her grip on the control box toloosen so she could turn off the engine. No need to flaunt thatprized possession.

“Sebastian,” she growled through clenchedteeth. “How’d you get in? I locked that door.”

“Did you?” He slipped something that mighthave been lock picks or a skeleton key into a pocket, then sweptthe hat from his head and bowed deeply. “Kali, dear, how areyou?”

“How am I?” She gaped at him. “How amI?”

Though she had turned off the model’s engine,the fire still burned, and the unattended airship smacked into awall. Cursing, Kali raced to the corner and caught it before itfell to the floor. As it was, the wire tangled, creating a mess shewould have to unravel later. She dumped out the coals in thebrazier and laid the model on her workbench.

“You lied to me, tried to steal my father’slife’s work, and then, when I wouldn’t give it to you, you rattedme out to Soapy Smith and the Scar of Skagway.” Kali slid a handinto a cubby beside the workstation. “Now I’m being hunted morefiercely than the beaver that died for your idiotic hat. And youwant to know how I am?” Her fingers closed about cold steel,and she pulled out her favorite weapon.

“Yes, dear, I’m terribly sorry about that.”Sebastian flipped those blond locks out of his eyes and replacedthe top hat. “I was a tad angry at the time. After all, you threwone of those smoking shrapnel gewgaws and nearly unmanned me. Canyou imagine the egregious horror it would be to my family-andmankind as a whole-if I were not able to one day have chil…” Hisrambling nonsense came to a halt when he noticed what Kaliheld.

She stood ramrod straight with her modifiedWinchester 1873 aimed at his chest. “I reckon I can still make sureyou don’t have any children.”

“Ah, Kali, dear.”

“Don’t call me dear.”

“Ah, yes, Kali, then.”

“Ms. McAlister,” she said. “Or ma’am will do.Though you needn’t use either, since I’m inviting you to seeyourself out and not bother me again. Ever.”

“Now, now.” He patted the air with his hands.Between the kerosene lamps burning indoors and the daylight seepingthrough the clouds outdoors, she had no trouble seeing hisperfectly manicured nails with not a hint of dirt crusting thebeds. “I made a mistake, and I can admit to that. I apologize. Iwas in my cups and, like I said, recovering from the wounds youinflicted upon me. It really isn’t right to target a man down inthat region, you know.”

Her finger tightened on the trigger of therifle.

He was close enough to see it. “Er, like Iwas saying, I came to apologize. You must know I didn’t mean forthose gangsters to hear about you. I didn’t go to them, Iassure you. I was just expressing my displeasure over how thingsended.”

“In a crowded bit house with dozens of earsperked your direction,” Kali said.

“Well, that was a tad unwise, for certain,but it’s all a misunderstanding. There’s no reason we can’t get ontogether again.” He dared to eye her up and down. “You’re stilllooking mighty fine.”

Kali gaped at him. She wore baggy,grease-stained overalls with tools bristling from every pocket andmore gear dangling from her belt. A screwdriver was stuck throughthe end of her long braid, and sawdust sprinkled her hair, thanksto the final planing she had given the deck of the airshipearlier.

“Why don’t you just tell me what you want?”Kali asked. “I’m not the naive girl who fell for your glacier-slicktongue before. I’m older now. Wiser. Mature.”

“Mature? You’re eighteen, and it’s only beenfour months since I left you.”

“I left you. And nearly blew up yournuts.” She jerked the rifle toward the door. “Now go away.”

“What? You just invited me to tell you what Iwant.”

“That was a rhetorical question, not aninvitation.” Kali sighted down the rifle’s barrel.

“You’re not going to shoot me. You’re a goodperson.”

She fired.

Sebastian squawked, hurled himself backward,and landed in the muddy quagmire of thawing permafrost outside thedoor. In an ungainly combination of roll and sideways scramble, hedodged behind the protective cover of the wall.

With the rifle raised, another roundautomatically chambered, Kali waited for the inevitable return.

A couple of heartbeats passed-she imaginedhim patting himself down for bullet wounds, despite the lack ofpain he had to have noticed-and then another distressed squawkcompeted with the distant buzz of a sawmill.

“My hat?” Sebastian leaned around thedoorframe. Mud spattered his suit, his hair, and smudged his jaw.He thrust his top hat aloft, displaying the daylight now visiblethrough a bullet hole. “That was a little reckless, don’t youthink?” Though he tried for nonchalance, the way he kept most ofhis body out of sight meant he was no longer positive she wouldn’tshoot him. Good.

“You’re right.” Kali lowered the rifle. “Whenthe bullet passed through the hat, it might have hit an innocentpasserby.”

“I meant reckless for me! If you’dmissed by a half an inch, you could have shot me in the brain.”

“Nonsense. Your brain isn’t that large. Iwasn’t even close. Besides, I’m a better shot than I used to be.I’ve been the beneficiary of lessons.” She wondered if mentioningher business partner was a talented bounty hunter would intimidatehim-or make him more likely to stay and ask questions. The latterwould be intolerable.

“Look.” Sebastian eased inside again, handsspread wide. “Just give me two minutes to explain why I’m here. Ifyou’re not interested in my offer, I’ll leave you aloneforever.”

“Without tipping off flash-gold-huntingpirates and thieves on your way out of town?”

He winced. “Kali, I never meant to get thosemen on your trail. I was just mad and-”

“That dog won’t hunt. Say your piece andabsquatulate.”

“I just filed for a claim on Sixty Mile,”Sebastian said. “I want you to help me work it. We’ll splitwhatever we find.”

Kali stared at him, both because the idea ofhim “working” was ludicrous and because… “Panning for gold?That’s for fools who don’t understand statistics.”

“Don’t you know how much gold is being foundout there right now? Once word gets south, people will be swarmingto Dawson. Thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Those whofile now will get rich, while those who arrive too late will belucky to work for bread and salt, mining somebody else’sclaim.”

“Prospecting is hard work,” Kali said. “Idon’t believe you’ll be out there getting your hands dirty.”

“I’ll be out there. Directing others to gettheir hands dirty. I’ve already hired a team.”

“Then why do you need me?” she asked.

“To be my engineer. You think I’m going to goat this like some rube straight off the steamer from San Francisco?Panning in the shallows? I’ve got boilers on the way. We’re goingto build steam shovels and pumps so we can dig down to hunt forveins. Word around Dawson is you’re the best mechanic around.”

“I see,” Kali said. “You spent three monthscourting me, and presumably time before that researching me tolearn how to get at my father’s secrets, and yet you had to hearfrom strangers that I’m good with my hands.” The urge to shoot theman spilled into her again.

Sebastian’s lips twitched, as if they weretrying to form a scowl, but he forced a smile back into place. “Areyou interested or not? Half the gold we pull out of the claim isyours.”

She doubted that would prove true, but evenif he was not lying, the answer was the same: “No.”

“I thought you wanted to get out of theYukon. Here’s a chance. Besides, you’ll be safer in the wildernessif bounty hunters come looking for you. As long as you’re here,anyone in town can direct them to you.”

“A predicament I’m in only because of you.”Kali hefted the rifle again. “Now get out. As you can see, I’m notdefenseless. And I already have a plan for getting out of theYukon. One that’s far more likely to pan out than your goldclaim.”

Sebastian scratched his head. “How could youpossibly earn the money to go anywhere? Are you joining the girlsof the line? You aren’t pretty enough to charge big money.”

Her grip tightened on the rifle. Maybemissing had been a mistake. She wasn’t sure if she was moreinsulted that he thought the only way a woman could earn money wasby whoring or that he didn’t think her bright enough to findanother way out of the north.

“Honey, don’t look so shocked. You clean upall right when you get out of those man-clothes, but nobody’spaying more than pennies for half breeds. Ruse or not, you shouldthank me for spending time with you because no man with teeth,hair, and halfway decent prospects would look twice at someone likeyou.”

Kali stood so still she forgot to breathe.How was it that he still had the power to make her feel like thesludge in the bottom of a sluice box?

“Problem?” a familiar voice came fromoutside.

Cedar stepped across the threshold, duckinghis head to keep from clunking it on the frame. His broad shouldersfilled the doorway, and Sebastian eased back a few steps. Cedarwore clothing practical to the rough-around-the-edges town: deerskin trousers, work shirt, oilskin duster, and a black slouchhat that threw his face into shadows. Kali knew his features byheart, though, and hoped Sebastian felt intimidated when he took inCedar’s strong square jaw, cool blue eyes, and the scar on hischeek that proclaimed him a survivor of at least one knife battle.Both a rifle barrel and a sword hilt were visible over hisshoulder.

“No problem.” Sebastian removed his hat andbowed as deeply as he had for Kali, though he paused on the way upto scowl at the hole in the beaver fur.

“Cedar,” Kali said. “This is Sebastian.” Sheput enough emphasis on the name to make it clear this wasThe Sebastian. While she had not shared much of her pastwith Cedar-being fool enough to get betrayed by a con man wasnothing to be proud of-he knew Sebastian was the reason bountyhunters, pirates, and other opportunistic thugs were calling uponher now.

A silent moment passed as Cedar studiedSebastian from boots to top hat.

“Want me to kill him?” he asked.

The offer didn’t surprise Kali so much thatshe dropped the rifle, but she did fumble it. He waskidding, wasn’t he?

“Uh, pardon?” Sebastian glanced back andforth between them.

“I don’t know,” Kali said, meeting Cedar’seyes over Sebastian’s head. “Is there a bounty out on him?”

“I could check. After I kill him.”

Sebastian raised a hand. “Are we joshing? Idon’t have a bounty on my head. I’m a law-abiding citizen.”

“Yes, apparently swindling women isn’tagainst the law,” Kali muttered.

“We could tell the Mounties it was amistake,” Cedar said. “I’ve taken out enough criminals for themthat they wouldn’t likely arrest me.”

“Who are you?” Sebastian asked.

“I’m her-”

“Beau,” Kali blurted before Cedar could saybusiness partner.

Then she groaned inwardly, hating herself forthe ridiculous impulse. She did not respect women who played gamesinstead of simply speaking the truth, and here she was, trying tolook good for Sebastian. Like a woman who could get a manwith teeth and hair, thank you very much.

“Yes,” Cedar said, deadpan. “Yes, I am.”

“You?” Sebastian asked with insultingskepticism. “You’re courting her? Why?”

Cedar strolled inside, not-so-accidentallybumping Sebastian with his shoulder on the way past, and joinedKali. Despite the hat shadowing his face, she caught the glimmer ofamusement in his eyes. Good. She was relieved. He always seemed totolerate her wit, if she could call it that, but he had neverintimated that they should have a relationship that was anythingbut professional. Oh, there were days when she thought he wastrying to impress her, but the couple of times she had hinted thatthey might go have a drink at the dancing hall, he had rejected theidea, pointing out that she would be unwise to attend such publicvenues, given the bounty on her head. She had not had the courageto suggest a private dinner.

“Because,” Cedar said, wrapping his armsaround her from behind, “I’d be a fool not to.”

Something clunked against her collar bone. Arock. It dangled on a chain around his neck. She had never seen itbefore and could not guess why he might wear such a thing. Well,she’d ask later. Now, thanks to her big mouth, she had a part toplay.

Kali leaned against Cedar, enjoying thestartled expression on Sebastian’s face despite herself. Eventhrough the layers of clothing that separated her from Cedar, shecould feel the hard muscles of his chest and arms. He spent a lotof time training to be a capable bounty hunter. The evidence ofthat training felt nice. All right, more than nice.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to kill himfor you?” Cedar asked. “It’d be worth going to jail if it made youhappy.”

Sebastian coughed. “Er, I’ll just, uh. I’llgo now. Yes.” He backed out the door. “My offer’s still good if youchange your mind Kali!”

The door thumped shut so hard it bounced openagain.

A couple of seconds passed before Cedarreleased her, and she found herself wishing he wouldn’t, but hestepped away, arms dropping. The cold air against her back made heraware of his absence.

Kali turned to face him. “That was…” Niceof you, she thought. Pleasant. Something we should do again withoutsilly pretexts or ex-beaus looking on. “Scratchy,” she saidinstead. “I hope you shave that stubble before entertaining theladies at the dancing halls. And why are you wearing a rock likeit’s a diamond?”

Cedar’s brows arched.

Kali closed her eyes. She was an idiot. “Imean, thanks for, you know. Helping.”

“You’ve told me enough about what he’s done,”Cedar said. “Reckon I wouldn’t mind tormenting him some for you,though I do need to retract my offer of a killing. I must findCudgel Conrad and avenge my brother before I do something thatcould see me hanged or jailed for years.”

“Understandable.” Despite all her threats,she could not find it in herself to wish Sebastian dead anyway. Shewasn’t the sort to kill folks, making it strange that she’dpartnered up with a bounty hunter, but Cedar’s deal had been toogood to resist, and she did not have so many allies that she couldturn them away.

“And this-” Cedar lifted the rock and spunit, “-is a lodestone. I won it gambling. It’s supposed to bringluck.”

“If the previous owner lost it gambling, itcan’t be that lucky.”

“True, but the chain is silver. I can alwayssell it.”

Ah, yes, speaking of monetary matters… “Didyou find Koothrapai?” she asked, naming adeserter-turned-murderer-and-rapist who had come to Dawson toescape the law. Normally she left the scouting of targets to Cedar,but the thug had wandered past her shop, and she had recognized himfrom the newspaper.

“Yes,” Cedar said.

“And did you…?” Kali glanced at hissword.

“Yes.”

“And collected the reward money?”

“Yes.”

She waited. This was the point when heusually handed over her share. He did not.

“We’re not splitting this one?” Kali asked.It was understandable, since she had done little to help this time,but Cedar had stipulated a fifty-fifty cut when she first agreed towork with him, modifying his weapons and making usefulcriminal-thwarting gadgets.

Cedar hesitated before answering. “I did nothave need of your services to take Koothrapai down.”

“True, but I did alert you to the man’spresence in town.”

“Which began a three-day hunt, during which Ihad to traipse all over the valley after a man who served as ascout and knew how to hide his tracks and fight when cornered.”

“Yes, but you like those activities.”

“I do. My argument is that your portion ofthe work was not commensurate with a fifty percent cut.”

Kali propped her hands on her hips. “Really.Did you use any of my smoke nuts?” she asked, naming theshrapnel-flinging smoke grenades that were one of her trademarkinventions.

He hesitated again. “Yes.”

“See, I helped. You just tracked him down.It’s not my fault it took you three days. A trained hound could dothat job.”

His nostrils flared and his eyes grew flinty.Even before that, Kali regretted her words. He was her only friendhere-one of her only friends in the world.

She rubbed her face. “I’m sorry, but I needmoney to build my airship.”

“Perhaps,” Cedar said, “in this instance, anominal finder’s fee would be suitable.”

She closed her eyes, glad he was too matureto lash out at her life’s work the way she had at his. Or maybe shewished he would. It was hard knowing she was the childish one.

“A finder’s fee?” Kali asked, glad shemanaged a reasonable tone of voice. She almost gave in out of hand,but if she accepted those terms once, might he not try to pressthem on her every time? If so, it could take her years to reach hergoal. “You said we were partners who would split everythingfifty-fifty. I came along because you seemed like the best bet forearning the money for the parts and raw materials that can one dayget me out of this frozen-eight-months-out-of-the-year hell.”

“Is that the only reason you came with me?”Cedar asked, surprising her. That wasn’t what he was supposed tolatch onto.

“What?” she asked. Was he trying to derailher argument? “Of course that’s why I came. What other choice did Ihave? You cost me any chance of winning that dog sled race andgetting my airship money that way.”

“I see.” He sounded disappointed in her.

And that made her bristle more than themoney. “I can’t order what I need if all I’m getting are ‘finder’sfees.’ Once I have everything I need, I’ll help you for free whileI’m building my airship. That’ll take months. And, listen, if youhaven’t found Cudgel in that time, I’ll help you hunt him down.”She tried a smile. “By air.”

Cedar’s eyebrows disappeared beneath the brimof his hat. There, that had him intrigued. “Perhaps,” he said, “butI’m hoping we won’t need that much time. When I was turning inKoothrapai’s head, I ran into an old comrade who gave me atip.”

He gripped her arms. His eyes burned with anintensity that had not been there during their argument.

“On where to find Cudgel?” Kali asked.

“Possibly.” Cedar noticed his grip andreleased her. “One of Cudgel’s trusted men, John Wilder-or WildJohn as he goes by-just registered a claim up river. His head isworth a couple hundred dollars, but more importantly: when he’saround, Cudgel’s never far off.”

Kali forced a smile, trying to show she washappy for him, but her first thought was that he’d have littlereason to stick around and work with her once he’d completed hisquest. “Think he’s here, trying to get rich?” she asked. He wasprobably waiting for her to say something encouraging.

“Must be.” Cedar nodded. “Your old beau isright.”

She winced. She did not want that wordassociated with her and Sebastian.

“Big finds were made here last year,” hesaid, “and folks’ll be flooding the town this summer. Thepopulation’s already growing.”

“I know. This is all new. My mother’s peoplehad a camp here when I was a girl. Nothing short of gold would makemen stupid enough to build a city on land that turns into a swampwhen it thaws. I used to-er, wait. You were standing outside,listening to our conversation?” That meant he had heard thoseinsults. The last thing she wanted from him-or anybody-waspity.

“Ah. Well…” Cedar removed his hat andscraped his fingers through his tousled black hair. “When I heardthe gunshot, I ran over to check on you. Thought bandits might haveinvaded the shop. Then, when I figured that wasn’t the case, Iwasn’t sure if I should walk in or not.”

“Oh.”

“Are you game to help with Wilder?” heasked.

“Yes,” Kali said, glad to change the subject.“You want to go out and check on his claim, see if he’s about?”

“Yes, but claim jumpers are a problem uphere, aren’t they? Folks might get suspicious if we’re roamingabout, peering about people’s properties.”

“You think someone is going to mistake me fora claim jumper?” Kali patted her overalls, causing tools to clinkand clatter.

“You, perhaps not. But it’s possible folksmight think me…” He touched the scar on his cheek.

“Menacing?”

“Dangerous,” Cedar said.

“Dangerously menacing?”

“I’m not menacing. Villains aremenacing.”

“You cut people’s heads off, Cedar.”

“I cut villains’ heads off.”

“Which is a menacing practice,” Kalisaid.

“A noble one. I help bring peace and justiceto the world.”

“Menacingly.” She bit her lip to keep a grinfrom sprawling across her face. She much preferred it when theywere not arguing about anything serious.

Cedar stuffed his hat back on his head andglowered at her from the shadows it cast over his face.

“Yes, exactly. That’s menacing.” Figuring hemight not appreciate further teasing, she switched the topic. “So,what’s the plan for investigating this Wild fellow’s claim? Want meto pack a bunch of tools and parts in case we need to do anythingcreative?”

“Wouldn’t you do that whether I wanted to ornot?”

“Well, yes.”

Kali looked around, already figuring how muchshe could stuff into a packsack. She eyed the airship model,wishing she could bring it along, not because it would serve anypurpose but because it would be fun to fly it out in the open. Bestto lock it up in her hidden, booby-trapped flash-gold vault though.No need to tempt the world.

“After you pack,” Cedar said, “let’s headover to the claims office and see what piece of land your Sebastianfiled.”

Kali had turned toward her workbench togather her gear, but she tripped over her feet at this lastcomment. “What? Why?”

“He offered you a job, didn’t he? His claimmight be close to Wilder’s since they filed at similar times. Wecould pretend to work for him while spying on the other man.”

“I don’t want to work for him, I want toshoot him.”

“Perhaps we’ll have a gunfight with Cudgel’smen and he’ll get caught in the crossfire.”

“Cedar… This isn’t a good idea. We can’ttrust him.”

“We don’t have to. We shouldn’t have to staythere long.”

Kali sighed. “Fine.”

Glass clanked outside the door.

Kali frowned. Was someone out there listeningto them?

Before she finished the thought, Cedar hadrun to the doorway. He stepped outside and paused.

“Someone there?” Kali asked.

“They were.”

She joined him outside before liquid-filledbottles hanging from ropes attached to an eave. The rudimentary“ thermometer” had come with the warehouse. The variousliquids-mercury, coal oil, Jamaica Ginger extract, and Perry DavisPainkiller-froze at temperatures ranging from forty to seventybelow zero, thus providing an indicator of the severity of a winterday. With the warmer spring weather, none were in danger offreezing now, and the contents sloshed inside the bottles, as ifsome wind buffeted them-or someone had bumped into them.

Cedar pointed to footprints in the mud underthe thermometer.

“Sebastian?” Kali guessed.

“Different prints.” Cedar waved to the deepboot marks on the other side of the door, where Sebastian had stoodto lean inside. The new ones were no larger than Kali’s ownfootprints. “Judging by the stride length, the person sprintedaway.”

Kali peered up and down the street, wonderingif anyone had seen the eavesdropper.

The covered boardwalks fronting the logsaloons, gambling halls, and boarding houses were empty. A horseteam pulling a wagon struggled with deep mud in the nearestintersection, but the drover, busy with his whip, did not glanceher way. Nor did any of the people conversing on the wood porch infront of Gamgee’s Mercantile amp; Liquorgive any indication that suspicious folk had been about.

“I’ll see if I can track him-or her-down,”Cedar said. “Want to pack whatever you’ll need for the trip andmeet me at the claim office in an hour?”

“That depends,” Kali said. “When we take downCudgel, am I getting fifty percent or a finder’s fee?”

“I’d like your full help for Cudgel, which isworth half of the five-thousand-dollar bounty.”

She swallowed. Twenty five hundred dollars?With that kind of money, she could order brand new parts instead ofscrounging for used pieces and putting them to creative new uses.She could even hire people to help her assemble her airship. Withinthe year, she could finish it and be sailing south, over themountains and far away from icy, dark winters where the sun did notshine for months.

“An hour to get ready?” she asked. “Who needsthat much time? I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.”

Cedar lifted two fingers to the brim of hishat in salute and trotted toward the end of the building where theprints disappeared around the corner. He paused. “By the way…theladies at the dancing hall like my stubble.”

Before she could decide if she wanted toretort, he jogged out of sight.

Kali squished through the mud, her bulkypacksack bumping on her back. She crossed Main Street and headedfor the wooden steps of the claim office. Piles of dirty gray snow,sunken and melted like candle wax, hunkered against its walls.Dwindling icicles dripped water from the eaves, vexing peoplestriding along the boardwalk below.

Layers of clothing served as a method ofidentifying newcomers. Natives who had suffered through the longfrigid winter welcomed the cloudy skies and forty-degreetemperatures with rolled-up shirt sleeves, while those fresh to theYukon were bundled in scarves and jackets against weather that hadto seem nippy for May.

“Kali!” came Cedar’s voice from above.

He, too, had gathered his gear, and hetrotted down the stairs with a packsack and rolled blankets ridingon his back along with rifle and sword. He joined her at the baseof the steps.

“Good news. Sebastian Bosomhall’s claim isdiagonally across the river from Wilder’s. We’ll be able to observethe enemy camp.”

“Good,” Kali said. “I guess.” She struggledto find enthusiasm for working with Sebastian again. Maybe one ofthe claims directly adjacent to Wilder’s would consider hiringthem.

Cedar cleared his throat. “Bosomhall?That’s his name? You’re fortunate his marriage offer wasn’t inearnest. That’d be a curse of a surname to have hung around one’sneck.”

“I’m still waiting to learn your name,MK,” she said, citing the letters etched on the inlay of hisWinchester. “If you were to file for a claim, what would you writedown? Assuming the claim is only binding if you use your legalname.”

“Since I’m not filing for a claim, there’s noneed to speak of it.”

“Why don’t you tell people? Is itembarrassing? Do you believe sharing it would concede some powerover you to someone else?” Her mother had believed that, butperhaps it had been a truth for her. She had possessed otherworldlypowers few understood. Kali preferred to think it was that talentthat had driven her mother mad enough to kill herself-notdisappointment in her only child.

“I don’t use it anymore. What’s important nowis that we can move forward with this task. If we leave now andwalk fast, we can get to Bosomhall’s claim today. From there, I canspy on John Wilder and-” Cedar clenched a fist, “-find out whereCudgel is.”

Kali let him drop the name issue, though sheplanned to pry the secret out of him someday.

“Did you find our eavesdropper?” she asked asthey squished down the muddy street toward the river beyond. A roadmeandering past the docks would take them out of town and towardthe claims.

“No. I followed her for several blocks, whichwas difficult since she seemed cognizant of being tracked and chosewell-traveled streets.”

“She?” Kali asked.

“I thought the tracks might belong to a boyat first, but hips give a gait a distinctive sway, usuallyidentifiable in one’s footprints.” They turned to follow thewaterline. “The tracks left town and veered into the trees. Thetrail ended behind a hill where two lines gouged a snow drift. Logsmight have rested there, or boards. They were parallel, like a pairof large skis. Ideas?”

“I…no.”

“Coincidence perhaps. She may have taken tothe trees. I chose to return for our meeting instead of scoutingfurther.”

“Good.” Kali stopped before the last dock. Itsported a tiny log boathouse. “A girl likes to hear that a manwould rather turn his back on intrigue than miss a scheduled datewith her.”

Cedar tilted his head. “I returned becausethe possibility of finding Cudgel is my priority.”

“I see. I’m incidental.” She strode onto thedock.

“No, I didn’t mean to imply you weren’timportant. I-where are you going?” Thumps sounded as he jogged tocatch up with her. “I’ll keep an eye out for this woman. If she’s athreat to you, I’ll protect you. Or I’ll watch your back while youhurl smoke nuts at her and shoot her. Whatever you wish.”

“So long as Cudgel isn’t around?”

“Kali…”

She stopped in front of the tiny boathousedoor and lifted a hand. “Relax, I’m not angry. I know Cudgel’s yourlife’s quest. And I’m just… Look, I appreciate that you humor meby listening to me prattle about my work. Not many people want tohave anything to do with me.” And if she wished he might be morethan a business partner, well, that was not something she shouldwish for.

“I don’t humor you,” Cedar said. “I’minterested in your work. Especially when you’re making weapons andexplosives. And modifying my rifle.”

She smiled. That did seem to tickle him. Shehad modified the loading mechanism on his Winchester to work likehers, automatically chambering a new round after the first bulletfired. She wondered what those dancing hall ladies thought when heinsisted on sleeping with the rifle.

“And I’m currently interested in why we’restanding here. The mining claims are that way.” Cedar pointedupriver. “Unless you intend to steal a boat?”

“No, I made a deal with a fellow who lost hisfishing boat last fall. I fixed his furnace in exchange for freerent.”

“Free rent for what?”

“You’ll see.” Kali patted her pockets. “Uhoh, did I forget the key?”

“It doesn’t look like you forgot anything.”Cedar’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he nodded at her lumpy,bulging packsack. “Except a blanket. Or did you intend to share myEuklisia Rug?” he asked, naming his fancy bedroll. “To further theguise of us as lovers?”

Heat flushed her cheeks. “No! I mean… Ijust assumed since Sebastian offered employment, he would providethe basics.” Dear Lord, this plan would involve her havingto back up her thoughtless proclamation. Possibly for days. Oneill-considered word. She groaned.

“You needn’t appear so appalled,” Cedar said.“I’ve been told I’m a fine companion. True, my face is a littlebattered, but I make up for it with what’s beneath my clothing.” Hesmiled, but it faltered immediately. “I didn’t mean anything luridby that. Just that some women have suggested my physique ispleasant to, uhm, need help with that lock?”

Kali shook her head and dug out a couple offine tools. Quicker to pick the lock than run back through all thatmud to the workshop. “I’m sure you’re fine.” More than fine. “Ijust don’t sleep with men whose names I don’t know.”

“Ah.”

If she had thought her statement wouldmotivate him to reveal his name, she was mistaken. He merelywatched her until the lock thunked and she pushed the dooropen.

“Huh,” he said.

“What?”

“You can pick locks.”

Kali shrugged and walked into the boathouse.“I can make locks. Picking them is easy.”

“Remind me not to throw you in shackles.”

“Is that something you contemplate often?”Kali untied a tarp draping a chest-high, six-foot-long object thatrested not in the water but on the dock.

“Not…often.” Cedar smiled and lifteda finger, as if he might say more, but the words changed to a gaspwhen she removed the tarp, revealing the machine beneath. “Whoa.What is that?”

The reverence in his tone warmed her far morethan the spring weather, and she forgot his fumbled words on thedock.

“Just a little hobby,” Kali said. “You knowI’ve been antsy waiting for the parts I ordered to come upriver.I’m calling this a self-automated bicycle.” Few bicycles had tiresthat thick and rugged-or a smokestack for that matter-but it wasclose enough. “It’ll take time to heat up the boiler, but it cantake us up the trail at ten to twenty miles an hour, depending onthe terrain. We can be at Sebastian’s claim in time to watch himcook us supper.” She pointed at the broad seat. “I made it bigenough for two.”

Cedar touched the head-high smokestack risingfrom the compact boiler in the back, then slid his hand along thesturdy black frame. “It’s fantastic,” he breathed.

Kali grabbed a shovel from a coal bin in thecorner, intending to load the firebox, but Cedar took the tool fromher.

“Allow me,” he said.

“If it’ll make you feel useful.”

“Your gratitude always warms me.”

Kali smirked. “Are these the times you startthinking of shackles?”

“Maybe.”

Her humor faded. “Cedar, I’d like to ask afavor before we go. Can I give you something to hold for me? I, ofcourse, figure I can handle myself in a brawl, especially if I havemy tools, but I don’t believe an army could get through you.”

Cedar, a shovel full of coal poised in theair, tilted his head, eyebrows raised.

Kali checked outside the door to make surenobody was lurking on their dock, then fished a tiny bundle out ofher pocket. She unwrapped two vials filled with golden flakes thatpulsed with soft yellow light.

“With the help of my model, I’ve done somecalculations,” Kali said, “and I don’t believe I’ll need the entirebrick you saw to power the airship. I shaved off some flakes incase I need to use them on something to help you with Cudgel.”

Cedar gazed not at the gold but at her face.“I’m not quite clear on what your flash gold does but I know it’sprecious, especially to you. I appreciate this gesture.”

“It’s a power source,” Kali said. “More thanthat, it’s…well, it has properties. You can imbue it withcommands, sort of like teaching a dog to sit and stay. Nothingfancy, mind you, and not a long list, but, a sample as large as mybrick could accept a series as complicated as a punchcard programfor a loom. My father was working on even more complexity when hedied. He was always disappointed I couldn’t…”

A whistle of steam escaped from the vent. Thebicycle was ready.

“Never mind.” Kali pressed the vials intoCedar’s hands. “Take care of them.”

“I will,” he said.

PART II

The self-automated bicycle or SAB, as Kalishortened it to in her mind, chugged over the uneven trail, itsbroad tires thus far handling the roots, rocks, and snow patches.The mud was more problematic, but it thinned as they climbed awayfrom the morass pooled beneath Dawson.

The sun came out, dappling the forest floor,and Kali found herself enjoying the trip. The road narrowed to atrail following the river, and she and Cedar had to duck periodicbranches, but that did not bother her enough to tear the grin fromher face. So far the SAB was doing well on its firstexpedition.

The wildlife seemed less enthused with themachine. Whenever it neared, shrubbery thrashed as critters fledthe trail. A part of her hoped a stubborn moose would stand intheir path, staring them down, so she would have an excuse to trythe steam horn.

“When do I get to drive?” Cedar asked acouple of miles into the trip.

“When you build one of your own,” Kali saidover her shoulder.

She was trying to ignore him and the factthat her lack of handles or grip bars for the rear passenger meanthe had to use her to hold on. The sensation of hands resting on herwaist-and twice all the way around her when they ascended a steepincline-was not…unpleasant but it made her think of thingsunrelated to mechanics and steering. Things that were whollyinappropriate, given that they were on a quest to find and killsomeone.

“Do you still not trust me fully?” Cedarasked. “Or are you simply unable to relinquish control over yourdevices?”

She smiled. The latter, of course, but…“How can I trust a man with so many secrets?”

“Are you referring to my name again?”

“That and other things. Aside from thosebrief revelations at my old workshop when you were trying to enlistmy aid against Cudgel, you’ve never spoken about yourself.You-”

A shadow fell across the trail-a largeshadow.

“What’s that?” Kali slowed down.

It disappeared as quickly as it had come, andbeams of sunlight found the forest floor again.

“A cloud?” she asked.

“No,” Cedar said.

Yes, that had come and gone too quickly to bea cloud. Eagles were common in these parts, but that had been toolarge a shadow to indicate a bird.

Kali stopped the SAB and dropped her feet tothe ground. Spruce and pine branches created a latticeworkoverhead, impeding the view of the sky.

“An airship?” she asked, thinking of thepirates who had attacked her in the dog sled race monthsearlier.

“I don’t think it was that big,” Cedar said.“And it moved quickly for an airship. Listen.”

With the chugging pistons of her vehiclestilled, Kali could hear more of the sounds around her. No hint ofbird chattered cheered the forest. Something else sounded in thedistance however. Faint clacks and clanks.

“Some sort of machinery?” Cedarsuggested.

“Hm.” The sounds were already fading, as ifthey belonged to a vehicle driving-or flying? — away. The idea seemedpreposterous. Who up here besides her made such things? Thetownsfolk of Dawson, while not quite as quick to curse her and callher a witch as those of Moose Hollow, thought her peculiar and herinventions doubly so.

The sounds faded altogether, leaving theforest silent except for the soft rumble of her own vehicle’sidling engine and the rush of the nearby river.

“Maybe it’s nothing,” Cedar said. “We couldbe close to a claim where people are using steam machinery.”

“Or maybe somebody’s hunting me,” Kali said.When she had left Moose Hollow, she had not told anyone where shewas going except her friend Nelly, and nobody had attacked hersince she arrived in Dawson. Given the proximity of the two towns,and the size of the bounty on her head, she was surprised it hadtaken this long for anyone to find her.

“A possibility,” Cedar said.

“Should we take any precautions?” she asked,willing to concede to his wisdom when it came to matters ofbattle.

“Yes.”

“Such as?”

“You should let me drive so I can familiarizemyself with the workings of the vehicle.”

She glared over her shoulder and found himsmiling.

“Are you truly using the possibility of a newand dangerous enemy to further your argument for why you should beallowed to play with my bicycle?”

“If we’re attacked,” Cedar said, his smilewidening, “and there’s an incident rendering you unconscious, Ishould know how to work this contraption so I can port you back tocivilization.”

“You needn’t look so excited at the prospectof my incapacitation.”

“I merely believe in being prepared. May Idrive?”

“No.” Kali shoved the lever that controlledthe speed, and the SAB surged forward. “If I’m knocked out, wavesmelling salts under my nose. I’ll rouse myself enough todrive.”

They continued onward for another hour,navigating around mud puddles and horse droppings on the trail.Twice more Kali heard the clanking sound in the distance, thoughwhatever was making it did not venture close enough to be seenthrough the evergreen canopy. Nor did another shadow darken thepath.

They came to the edge of a meadow with theburned hull of an abandoned log cabin hunkering in the middle. Halfits roof had caved in, and the door hung from a single, rustyhinge. Drifts of snow framed the clearing, though it had melted inspots touched by sunlight, leaving patches of matted deadgrass.

The trail passed through the meadow, butCedar gripped her shoulder before they entered it.

“Stop here,” he said.

“A likely ambush point?” she guessed.

“Yes.”

Kali gazed at the unimpeded expanse of skybefore them. “I am reminded of the open area where that airshipattacked us on our last outing together.” She eyed the sky again.She did not hear any of those clanks at the moment, but…

“While I’d enjoy driving this,” Cedar said,“I’d prefer you be conscious at the time in order to give meinstructions. Can we go around the clearing and stay under thecover of the forest?”

She eyed the shrubs and brambles growingbetween the trees. “Not unless you want to cut a path with yoursword.”

“I don’t cut vegetation with my blade. Itwould take an hour anyway. It’s not that big of a clearing. We’llchance it.”

“If you say so.” Kali eased the SAB into themeadow. “I suppose if you’re wrong, there’s always the chance anassailant will target you first. You are larger and moremenacing.”

“I prefer I be conscious for my firstdriving lesson as well,” Cedar said. “And I’m dangerous, notmenacing.”

They had traveled less than a third of theway into the clearing when the clanks sounded. Kali should havegroaned and sent an irritated eye roll to the heavens, but hercuriosity distracted her. She wanted to see the source.

She did not have to wait long.

A metallic…contraption with giant meshbutterfly wings bobbed over the treetops. The clanks grew louder asit approached the meadow, and moving machinery came into the view.The wings flapped in synchronization with the clanks. Kali cranedher neck, searching for another source for the craft’s propulsion.The large wings might keep the flying machine aloft once it gainedmomentum and found a place in the air, but they could not provideenough thrust to carry it into the skies. Could they? The metalframe appeared too sturdy to be light, and a compact furnace andcopper boiler behind the pilot’s seat must add significant weight.Could magic be involved? Or even…flash gold? Was it possiblethere was more out there?

Kali’s fingers twitched at the idea ofclambering about the thing, investigating every inch. The ridersitting at the controls might object. Wrapped in brown, headincluded, the figure was impossible to identify, though from theslightness of the form, Kali guessed it might be a woman. The onewho had eavesdropped on them? Goggles covered the person’s eyes,making it impossible to read her face, though Kali had a sense ofdetermination.

“…faster?” Cedar was saying.

“What?” Kali had been so focused on the airvehicle and its pilot she had missed his words.

“Can’t you go faster? She’s aiming forus!”

Before she could answer, a rifle shot firedbehind her ear. She flinched and nearly lost grip of thehandlebars, a calamity that would have pitched them oversideways.

She glanced back as Cedar fired a secondshot. “What are you doing? She hasn’t even-”

Something thumped to the earth ten metersbefore them.

Cedar grabbed Kali’s arm. “Veer away. Veeraway!”

More on instinct-and his orders-than out ofunderstanding, Kali pulled and pushed on opposing handles andleaned into a hard turn. They skidded as wheels ground on old snow,but they caught, and the SAB sped to the side.

A concussive roar filled the clearing, andrealization pelted Kali. No, that was shrapnel. It clanged off theSAB and hammered against the charred side of the log cabin.

Kali turned again, figuring the structurecould provide cover. “She’s hurling grenades at us?”

“From a launcher in the front,” Cedar said.“It appears to be some sort of crossbow-like device, loadedwith-”

Another grenade hit the ground, this oneexploding right away.

Kali sped behind the wall of the cabin andyanked on the braking mechanism.

“-multiple projectiles,” Cedar finished.

Rifle in hand, he hopped off the SAB. Kalihesitated, reluctant to leave her vehicle for fear it would make aneasy target if it was stationary. She probably ought to be moreworried about being a target herself, but the idea of losing such arecent invention…

Cedar leaned around a corner of the cabin tofire again. Kali nudged the SAB into motion, rounded the othercorner, and found the doorway. She considered the width. Could shefit her vehicle inside? Probably not.

Above, the flying contraption tilted,circling the end of the meadow to come back at them.

Cedar grabbed Kali’s arm. “Inside!”

“I don’t think it’ll fit,” she said.

“I meant you!”

The flyer flew closer, and Kali hesitatedagain, fascinated by the wings, the construction, and even thepilot. Was she the creator? Or had she merely purchased it?

The projectile launcher fired again.

“Kali!” Cedar pulled her toward the door.

Kali barely had time to grab her packsack andrifle.

An explosion rocked the earth, and shegrabbed a log wall to keep her feet under her. Metal clanged asshrapnel hit the SAB. She growled, her awe over the steam flyertamped down by her concern for her own vehicle. She dropped herpacksack and readied her rifle.

Shadows danced on the earthen floor of thecabin as the flyer soared overhead. Rhythmic clanks echoed from thelog walls. Though the fire-damaged roof held copious holes, thevehicle sped past too swiftly to target.

“We need a plan,” Kali said. “She’ll becoming around again.” And she would probably hurl the next grenaderight in the cabin.

Cedar loaded a fistful of bullets into hisrifle. “Yes?”

“The wings seem a potential target, but theirsurface area is great, so I doubt even a couple of dozen bulletholes would cause them to falter. A catastrophic boiler explosionwill derail any steam engine, but engineers are well aware of thatweakness and build them soundly. I doubt a bullet would pierce theplating, but it may be the most vulnerable part of the machine.Perhaps we should target the boiler and hope for the best.”

“I was just going to shoot the pilot,” Cedarsaid.

“Oh. I guess that could work too.”

When the clanks of the flyer grew louderagain, Kali and Cedar stepped outside. She dropped to one knee andleaned around the corner of the cabin, rifle to her shoulder. Cedarstood above her, his weapon poised as well.

Something that looked like glass providedprotection for the pilot, probably a deterrent to bugs and rain,but surely it would not stop a bullet. Kali eased her rifle up andplaced the woman’s head in her sights. Her gut lurched at the ideaof shooting at someone with the intent to kill-especially if thatsomeone had invented that fascinated machine-but the womanwas trying to blow them up.

Her finger found the trigger, but Cedar,doubtlessly with fewer qualms, fired first.

The bullet struck the protective shield infront of the woman’s eyes, and her head dropped out of view. Theflyer lurched sideways and dipped toward the trees.

“Bulls-eye,” Cedar said with grimsatisfaction.

But the flyer did not crash. Its noseelevated, and the craft skimmed the treetops. It knocked branchesfree with cracks that rang through the forest, but it soon flewhigher again, out of danger. The flyer banked and turned backtoward the meadow.

The pilot’s head was visible again throughthe clear shield. Concentric cracks ringed the spot where Cedar’sbullet had struck, but it must not have penetrated.

“Amazing,” Kali breathed. “There’s no waythat’s glass. Unless it’s extremely thick, but the weight would beridiculous, and a flying machine would need to be light, like aneagle’s hollow bones. It’d…”

She trailed off when she noticed Cedar’sglare. He seemed less amazed at the invulnerable shield and moreirked.

“Sorry,” Kali said.

“Let’s go back to your idea,” he said as theflyer drew closer again. “You said I should aim at the boiler?”

Kali eyed the shield again. It protected thepilot to the front and the sides, but it was open on the top.Presumably the woman entered and exited the control seat fromthere. It left her no protection from projectiles from above,though she had no reason to anticipate weapons fire from overhead.Air vehicles were rare, and the flyer was quicker and far moremaneuverable than an airship, so it could easily evadeballoon-based transport.

When it came in for another pass, Cedarloosed a few ineffective rounds at the boiler. Kali considered thestructure of the craft, especially the supports for the wings,supports that angled upward behind the pilot. She closed her eyes,remembering problems she had worked through in her father’smathematics books. At the time, she had been trying to win hisfavor by showing interest in his studies. He had been too busy tonotice, but she remembered many of the lessons, and a chapter ofgeometry problems involving balls on a billiards table came tomind.

“Same principle for bullets, right?” shemurmured.

“What?” Cedar asked.

“See that support beam behind her?” Kalipointed. “You’re a better marksman than I am. Can you see if youcan hit it…hm…about a foot above that joint?”

Cedar threw her a bewildered look, but heraised his Winchester and aimed when the flyer came into range. Itbobbed toward them, a grenade ready in its launcher. Cedar grewstill, then fired.

The bullet ricocheted off the angled supportpost and slammed into the back of the pilot’s shoulder.

This time she screamed-the first sound shehad voiced-and the craft lurched. It sped off, wobbling as itskimmed the treetops. The nose came up briefly, but it droppedagain, and Kali lost sight of the flyer. A thunderous crack soundedin the distance.

“Crash,” Kali murmured, imaging the twistedwreckage. She wished they could have downed the vehicle withoutdestroying it.

“Crash,” Cedar agreed without any of herregret.

Kali leaned her rifle against the logs,jumped, caught the corner of the roof, and wriggled herself up top.Conscious of the fire damage, she stayed over the stout supportbeams as she crept to the peak. Though the trees still towered overher, the added height let her see smoke wafting in the distance.Definitely a crash.

Had it killed the woman? Her shouldersslumped with regret at the thought. It was silly, given the pilot’sinclination toward killing her, but Kali hoped the woman hadsurvived. She ached to talk to her, to find out more about thecraft.

A touch on her shoulder brought her attentionback to the cabin. Cedar stood beside her.

“Good thinking,” he said.

“Er, yes, sorry it was slow to come. I wasn’texpecting to come face-to-face with…” Kali groped for a way todescribe her feelings. Would he understand and forgive her forbeing so distracted? Or would he, the professional bounty hunter,believe there were no acceptable excuses?

“Your mechanically inclined twin?” Cedarasked. “Yes, that must have been surprising. And intriguing.”

Kali let out a sigh of relief. He didunderstand.

“Intriguing, yes.” She wanted nothing morethan to hop down from the roof, sprint into the forest, and findthat woman. “Any chance you’d like to delay our trip to Sebastian’sclaim to go check on that smoke and question this woman if she’sstill alive?”

Cedar gazed into the woods, not toward thesmoke, but upriver, toward the claims. With one of the Cudgel’sallies nearby, he must feel the pull of his quest more than ever.But someone who had staked a claim was not going anywhere any timesoon.

Perhaps the same thoughts spun through hishead, for he sighed and said, “Yes, we should check the wreckage.If the woman recovers, she may come after you again.”

“Me? Are you sure she’s not after you?Perhaps she’s some ex-lover you irritated, and she’s been planningfor years to take her revenge.”

“I don’t irritate my lovers.” He hopped offthe roof.

“Just business partners?” Kali climbed downafter him and gave him a smile to let him know she was joking.

Cedar did not return it. Helooked…glum.

“Maybe there’ll be a bounty on her head, andit’ll be worth the side trip,” Kali said.

Cedar grunted and pointed at the SAB. “Therewon’t be a trail to the crash site. Think that can maneuver throughthe forest?”

“It’d probably get stuck in the snow orundergrowth,” Kali admitted, feeling a twinge of envy for theflyer. If she had an air-based vehicle, she wouldn’t have to worryabout such pesky things. Someday, she promised herself, thinking ofher airship design, though she was already wondering if the flyermight inspire modifications.

“Let’s walk then.” Cedar shouldered hispacksack, and they set out.

A branch swung back and smacked Kali in theface. She grunted and scraped spruce needles out of her hair. They,along with twigs, leaves, and sap, already provided her braid withmore decorations than a totem pole.

“I know I mentioned this before,” Kali said,“But you could cut some of this undergrowth with yoursword.”

“One does not use a high quality, importedJapanese katana to whack weeds,” Cedar said.

“It came all the way from the Orient? Youmust have paid a fortune for it. Perhaps, to justify thatsubstantial investment, you should use it for more than slicingpeople’s heads off.”

He slanted her a dark look over his shoulder.“I got it from Jiro, one of my early mentors. We were hunting afellow who’d massacred a family in Florida when Jiro got shot inthe leg. He said I wasn’t experienced enough to go after the man onmy own; I was sixteen and figured I knew plenty. I left him to adoc and tracked the cutthroat all through the swamps. Nearly lost aleg to an alligator, but I got my man. Jiro said he’d been wrong,and I was ready to hunt on my own. He retired and gave me thekatana to put to good use.”

Kali knew Cedar had traveled, but she had notrealized how much. Even though a sane person would probably not beexcited by stories of swamps and alligators, her heart ached withlonging to see such places.

“Alligator tussle, huh?” she said. “Must haveleft a giant scar.”

“Yup.”

“Can I see it some time?”

“Reckon so.” Cedar glanced back, hisexpression lighter this time. A glint in his eyes suggested herinterest pleased him. Men always liked to show off war wounds.

Kali dodged another branch whipping back inthe wake of his passage and resolved to stay farther behind. Smokethickened the air, though, promising they were close. She had tosquash an urge to lean to the side or bounce up and down so shecould see around Cedar. At one point, she tried to slip past him,but he blocked her with a gentle nudge. Being protective, washe?

Flames came into view, licking bark andnibbling spruce needles high up in trees. Broken branches hung fromseveral trunks, but metal glinting on the forest floor drew Kali’sgaze downward.

She could not muster caution, and she dartedpast Cedar, this time evading his protective grasp.

Less wreckage than she expected scattered theforest floor. The vehicle’s wings drew her eye first. The fall hadmangled them, warping the framework and tearing holes in themembrane. Kali rubbed the unique mesh between her fingers. Thoughcool and sleek like metal, it had a lightweight, sinuous natureunlike any alloy she knew about. She wished she could talk to themaker, discover what exactly this was and how to make it. Already,she could think of dozens of uses for it.

She slipped her knife out and cut a sample totake home.

A shadow fell over her shoulder, and Kalijumped. But it was only Cedar, rifle at the ready, guarding herback.

Still crouching, she surveyed the rest of thewreckage. “Where’s the furnace, the boiler, and the entire bottomof the flyer?”

“Where’s the woman?” Cedar asked.

“Yes, that’s a useful question too. Maybe thebottom half broke off from the top and landed somewhere else?”

He left her side and scouted the crash site.Only a few seconds passed before he stopped, pointed at the ground,and said, “No.”

Kali joined him. A pair of long, thindepressions gouged the spruce needles, mud, and snow. They headedinland in a straight line.

“These are the same width and depth of thelines behind the hill outside Dawson,” Cedar said, “except thosewere short and didn’t continue into the forest.”

The smell of freshly cut wood mingled withthe smoke, and Kali spotted broken branches on either side of thetracks. Some had been snapped, but other larger ones were sawnoff.

“Brilliant,” Kali breathed. “The lower halfmust be a ground vehicle that can work without the top half.” Shehad a hard time tearing her gaze from the tracks. Even the hewnbranches impressed her-the vehicle must have some sort offast-working saw created for brush clearing. She hadn’t thought toadd that to her bicycle. “Cedar, I think I’m in love.”

“With the vehicle or the woman who wants tokill you?”

“The vehicle, one hundred percent. Thewoman… It depends on if she’s the person who made the vehicle ornot.”

“I doubt she’ll prove lovable if she worksfor one of the gangster’s trying to collect the secrets in yourhead.”

Kali sniffed. “Nobody like that would workfor a gangster.”

“You seem certain about a great number ofthings for someone so young and untraveled.”

“What great number of things?” sheasked, annoyed to be reminded she had been so few places. Thatwould change one day soon.

“The motives of villains. The fact thattracking is so easy a hound can do it.”

Ah, so that comment still rankled him. It hadbeen unfair of her, but she had trouble admitting when she waswrong. “That’s only two things.”

“If we mean to track her down before dark, wecan’t loiter.” Cedar strode up the center of the broad trail.

“What are you doing?” Kali blurted.

“Walking?”

“Up the middle of the trail? If I waswounded, and I thought someone was following me, I’d booby trap themost obvious route. We might get hurt if we presume it’s safe toamble up the hill after her.”

“You have an alternative proposition?” Histone held a struggling-for-patience edge.

He probably didn’t appreciate her telling himhow to track. But this person was dangerous, maybe far moredangerous than the usual thugs he hunted down. He might needher help.

“Maybe we can guess where she’s going andavoid the tracks.”

Cedar waited, arms folded over his chest.

“She may have transportation,” Kali said,“but clearing the undergrowth will slow her, and we did shoot her,so she’ll need to stop to tend that wound soon.”

“Likely.”

“Do you have a map?” she asked.

Wordlessly, Cedar removed his packsack andwithdrew a compass and map.

Kali unfolded the latter. Her people hadcamped up and down these rivers when she was growing up, and sheknew the area well, but she wanted to see the overheard viewpointsince their attacker would have been watching the world fromabove.

“Maybe this ridge.” Kali tapped a stony grayterrain feature on the hand-colored map. “There are caves up there.Should be about three miles from here. I know a trail that heads upthere. It’s out of our way, but it should be faster than cuttingthrough the brush, especially since someone won’t deign to use hisfancy pig sticker-”

“Katana,” Cedar said.

“Right, since someone won’t use his katanafor brush clearing, it’ll be better to go the long way. It’ll putus up on top of the ridge where we can look down from above andmaybe sneak up behind her.”

She caught Cedar gazing into the woods again,not toward the ridge or the direction of the tracks, but toward theriver and the claims.

Kali returned the map. “This won’t take long.We’ll capture her and still make it up to Sebastian’s claim beforeit gets dark.”

“Hm,” was all Cedar said.

Late afternoon sun played tag with theclouds, though it did little to melt the snow on top of the ridge.Kali and Cedar knelt in a shadowy hallow, hidden from anyonelooking up from below. She scanned the hillside with a collapsiblespyglass, hoping to catch the smoke puffs of a steam engine. Ifthey were out there, the forest cloaked them.

“Do you see the tracks?” she murmured. “Ifshe drove in a straight line, she would have come out aboutthere.”

Her alternate route up had taken an hour. Hadthe woman already come through and gone? Or was she hiding in acave?

A creek meandered down into the valley, andKali checked up and down the shoreline. It seemed a likely placefor an injured person to stop for water and to attend a wound. Thetrees hid much, though, and even from the high ground, she couldnot see everything.

Cedar tapped her shoulder and pointed. Sheshifted the spyglass, thinking he had spotted their opponent. Hewas pointing out a doe and her fawn, down from the hills todrink.

“Cute,” Kali said, though she was moreinterested in finding the woman. They would have to go down thereand… She could feel Cedar’s gaze upon her. She lowered thespyglass. “What?”

He lifted his eyebrows, and she had a feelingshe had missed something.

“You were pointing at the deer weren’tyou?” she asked. “I didn’t miss… Oh. Mama probably wouldn’t beroaming around down there with her baby if a human was nearby.”

“Especially a human driving a noisy,steam-powered contraption.”

“You don’t think she made it this farup?”

He did not answer, and Kali did not ask theother obvious question, whether he thought they had wasted timedetouring out of the way.

“She was wounded,” Kali said. “Maybe shecouldn’t continue this far.”

“What’s next?” Cedar asked.

Kali chewed on the inside of her cheek. Hewas letting her take the lead, maybe being nice…maybe giving herthe rope to hang herself. She had asked for it, though, hadn’t she?After stopping him earlier, she could not bring herself to ask himto take over now.

“How about we follow the creek back downtoward the crash site?” Kali suggested. “Maybe we’ll find she camepart way up to the ridge and stopped to deal with her injury. Ifshe turned a different direction, we’ll probably still come acrossher tracks.”

Cedar held out a hand, palm up. Yes, she wasstill the leader.

As they traipsed downhill, picking a tediouspath between trees and through undergrowth, Kali grew aware of thepassing minutes. Every time the sun poked through the clouds, hershadow grew longer and thinner where it stretched across the forestfloor.

Where were those cursed tracks?

Now and then an animal would startle in theunderbrush, and she’d jerk her rifle that way, half-expecting theiropponent to jump out at them. Each time Kali would chastiseherself-if anything, that woman would lob grenades at them from adistance, not attack at close range-but she remained on edgenonetheless.

“Kali.” Cedar pointed toward a muddy stretchof land to their right. The parallel tracks of the woman’sdevice.

Kali jogged to the spot. “Huh. Good eye. Iwasn’t expecting them this far over.” She turned to get herbearings. The ridge stood over a mile away now, meaning they werealmost halfway back to the wreckage. She sighed. Prudence bedamned. She had wasted a lot of time trying to second-guess thewoman. “They’re paralleling the ridge now, aren’t they?”

“Appears so.”

She gave him a flat look. “I know what you’redoing. You’re hoping I’ll be proved wrong, that tracking isn’t aseasy as I claimed.”

“Shall we follow them?” Cedar asked. “Or doyou still fear booby traps?”

“Follow,” Kali said, eyes narrowed. “Butlet’s keep our eyes open.”

“As you wish.”

The tracks only ran parallel to the ridge fora quarter of a mile. Then they surprised Kali by angling backtoward the main river and the route she and Cedar had been on whenthey were attacked.

Her heart lurched. “We’re heading back towardthe cabin.” And the SAB.

What if the woman, deeming her own transporttoo damaged to keep, stole Kali’s vehicle? While they were not sofar from Dawson that they could not walk, she hated the idea oflosing her latest invention. She had so many refinements she wantedto make. For one, a brush cutter was a brilliant idea. And shecould add an-

“Kali!” Cedar grabbed her arm.

She tumbled back against him. “What isit?”

Nothing stirred in the brush, and birdschattered in a nearby thicket. When she detected nothingout-of-place in their surroundings, she searched his face. He waspeering at the tracks a few feet in front of them.

“What’s that black rectangle?” he asked.

It took Kali a few seconds to find theobject. There, mostly buried beneath needles and leaves, laysomething flat and dark, the size of poker card.

“Back up,” she said.

When they had gone ten meters, she grabbed arock and tossed it at the object. Her projectile clipped thecorner. A boom thundered through the forest, and rock and dirt flewtwenty feet into the air, pelting branches overhead and landing allabout. Kali lifted an arm as shards rained down upon her andCedar.

“There’s my booby trap.” Kali had no reasonto be smug, not when she would have blundered onto it if Cedar hadnot stopped her, but being proven right about her hunch mollifiedher. The woman was someone to employ protectivemeasures.

“And now the owner knows exactly where weare,” Cedar said, an eyebrow arched.

“Oh.” Yes, that sound had probably beenaudible for miles. Kali closed her eyes. Idiot. “Guess we couldhave gone around it without detonating it.”

“Likely.”

She would have given him a lengthy glower,but she was worried about her bicycle. With an eye toward thetrail, she strode forward again. They passed-and avoided-three morebooby traps before reaching the cabin.

“There’s the SAB!” Kali blurted, relievedwhen it came into sight.

She kept herself from running over to checkit since the tracks led straight toward it. She and Cedar steppedcarefully, searching for hazardous deposits on the ground. Theyfound nothing more treacherous than a pile of bear dung, but Kalilingered a few feet from her vehicle without going close enough totouch it.

“Let’s be optimistic,” she finally said.“Maybe she knew we were after her and went straight through.” Shepointed to the tracks, which continued past the bicycle and backdown the road she and Cedar had followed up the river. It madesense that the woman would need to return to town to have her woundtreated.

“She stopped here.” Cedar pointed to theground next to the bicycle. “The tracks are deeper where thevehicle came to rest.”

Kali groaned. She spent the next fifteenminutes inspecting the SAB, checking all the spots she would boobytrap if her goal were to incapacitate someone’s steam vehicle.

Cedar spent the time leaning against a tree,cleaning beneath his fingernails with a knife. “Shall I set upcamp?” he asked at one point.

“No, but I wouldn’t mind something to eat, ifyou’re offering,” Kali said, her voice echoing oddly since she hadher head stuck in the furnace. The fire had burned out while sheand Cedar were roaming the hills. When he did not respond to hercomment, she withdrew her head and looked at him. “Oh, was thatsarcasm?”

His eyebrow twitched. “Possibly.”

He had to be getting impatient with this sidetrip. Might he be wondering why he had bothered to take her along?Aside from providing a mode of transport, what had she done toassist him? Even the transportation was of dubious worth. He wouldbe closer to Wilder’s claim by now if he had walked up thetrail.

Maybe they would catch this woman and findout she was some sort of super villain with a huge bounty on herhead, and that would make this detour worthwhile.

Kali climbed on top of the SAB seat. Thoughthe bicycle was a broad, sturdy contraption, it wobbled under herweight, and she kept a hand on the smokestack for balance. Shepeered inside it. And froze.

“What the blazes is that?”

“What?” Cedar strode over.

Something dark and lumpy nestled inside thesmokestack. It lacked the clean lines of the booby trap from thetrail and did not appear mechanical-or explosive-but Kali stared atit for a long moment before reaching an arm inside. Her fingerscame up a foot short. Her own body blocked the daylight when sheleaned in farther, and the bicycle seat wobbled beneath hertoes.

“I need help,” she said. “Can you hold me, soI can lean in farther?” She must sound ridiculous with her headstuffed in the smokestack.

Hands squeezed her waist, and she squawkedwhen Cedar lifted her off the seat so her feet dangled in the air.His firm grip had the steadiness of steel, though, leaving her moresecure than when she had been relying on her own balance. Thanks tohis height, Cedar could also boost her entire body above thesmokestack without trouble.

“Thanks,” she called, her voice supremelymuffled now. “I appreciate your strength and-” She inhaled soot andbroke into a coughing fit. The stuffy, hot environs pressed in fromall sides, and she could see nothing. Lingering smoke made her eyestear.

“My strength and what?” Cedar asked, hisvoice distant to her ensconced ears.

When she tried to speak, she ended upcoughing again.

“Ah,” Cedar said. “I’m to guess at the rest.I see. You appreciate my strength and…masculinity?”

The confines of the smokestack made movementawkward. Kali had to wriggle and twist to loosen a shoulder enoughto extend her arm to touch the obstruction. It was hard, lumpy, andfaintly sticky. It did not tick or whir or do anything to suggestmoving parts or a timer set to spark an explosion. More likely itwas there to stuff up the smokestack, which could cause anexplosion of its own volition if built-up exhaust could notescape.

“Strength and virility?” Cedar asked.

Kali felt around the edges of theobstruction, hoping she could remove it, but the solidified massstuck to the inside of the stack with the tenacity of a badger. Shescraped a sliver off and held it to her nose. Though the sootysmokestack made it hard to put her olfactory organs to satisfactoryuse, the gunk had a pungent identifiable scent. She groaned.

“No? Strength and good looks?”

“Pull me out,” Kali said.

“Not until you finish that sentence.”

“What?” She had barely been paying attentionto him.

“You appreciate my strength and what else?”Even though the smokestack dulled the nuances of his tone, she hadno trouble imagining the amused smirk on his lips. Better than thesarcasm, she supposed.

“Strength and willingness to grab myhindquarters and hold me aloft,” Kali said. “Now get me down.”

“Hm, I doubt that’s a trait unique tomyself.” Cedar lifted her free of the smokestack and lowered her tothe ground. The smirk she had anticipated rode his lips, and ittransformed into a full-fledged grin when he saw her face. “Youlook like one of the black gang on a steamship.”

“What?” Kali wiped her face. Her alreadysooty sleeve grew sootier. “Ugh. I’m losing my love for this woman.She’s starting to vex me.”

“Did you get the…whatever it is yousought?” Cedar asked.

Kali scowled. “No. It’s just pitch glue, butit’s wedged in there good. We can’t use the bicycle until I can getback to my workshop and find some turpentine or something suitablefor breaking the bond.” Kali jammed her hands against her hips. “Weshot this woman, Cedar. How could she possibly be spry enough toperform all these pursuit-delaying feats with blood gushing downher arm?”

“Human beings are resourceful and dangerous,doubly so when they’re desperate. Which is why tracking them isalways perilous and takes experience and expertise.” Cedar foldedhis arms over his chest. He must be employing great restraint notto add, “I told you so.”

“All right, I apologize for belittlingtracking,” Kali said. “I know your work is dangerous and hard, andI know a dog couldn’t do it. I was just…irked about the money,even though I knew you were right and I hadn’t done anything tocontribute, much as I haven’t done anything today.” She curled alip at herself. “I’m not…good at patience. I had hopes of gettingmy airship together this summer and escaping this place before Iwas stuck here for another dark endless winter of being haunted bymemories that are impossible to forget when you face constantreminders.”

Cedar lifted an arm and stepped forward, asif to hug her. Her eyes widened. She was just letting loose somesteam; she didn’t need a hug. What kind of female meltdown did hethink she was having?

He must have read her expression, for hedropped his arm before touching her. He clasped his hands behindhis back, and she wanted to kick herself. No wonder he had nointerest in going to the dancing hall with her. She was as warm andinviting as a glacier.

“We better go if we want any chance ofreaching Sebastian’s claim before it’s completely dark out here,”Kali mumbled. “Especially since we’re walking.”

“Do you want me to go after the woman? I candeal with her and meet you at the claim.”

“No, it looks like she’s heading back toDawson. Her annoying booby-trap skills aside, she’s still human, Iassume, and she’ll need time to heal and recover. I bet we can findher there when we’re done up here.” Besides, as good as Cedar was,Kali worried this woman might have tricks up her blood-saturatedsleeve that could thwart him. “And,” she added, “if I show up alonewith my bedroll forgotten, Sebastian might think I want to reunitewith him.”

“I assume you would be quick to disavow himof that notion,” Cedar said, but he was already heading up thetrail.

She caught up and walked beside him. “With myWinchester if necessary.”

“Good.”

PART III

Though long days graced the Yukon in May,Kali and Cedar still did not make it to Sebastian’s camp beforenightfall. The faintest hint of twilight lightened the horizon, butfull darkness blanketed the forest. Fortunately, a well-used trailran along the Sixty Mile. The sound of rushing water guided themfurther, though they had to step carefully when they reached theclaims. Sluice boxes, pans, and mining tools littered the rockybank, and in places water flowed over the trail. With the snowmelting, the river ran wide and high. One might stand on one sideand shoot a critter on the other, but swimming would be a trickyendeavor. Since Wilder’s claim lay on the far side, she assumedCedar would have to borrow a boat to investigate.

“Are we getting close?” Kali asked softly,aware of men nearby.

The claims were long and narrow, each with asmall piece of waterfront, so numerous camps were visible along theshoreline. Cedar and Kali had already passed through severalwithout the prospectors noticing.

“Yes,” Cedar said.

Campfires burned at intermittent spots, mostnear the water. Men’s voices rose and fell in conversations andsometimes song. Drink gave some of the voices a boisterous slur.Kali doubted there were many women out here, if any, and she wasglad to have Cedar at her side.

She tapped a pocket where she carried twosmoke nuts. Her Winchester, fastened to her packsack, was withineasy reach as well. She trusted Cedar still had her two vials offlash gold flakes; they were not weapons but, given time, theycould be made into useful tools.

Kali picked out a familiar voice, fortunatelynot singing.

“That’s him,” she murmured to Cedar, whowalked quietly, even with no light to brighten the trail. Shereached out to brush his arm now and then to make sure he was stillthere.

Sebastian sat with five other men around afire pit. All had the bearded, grizzled appearance of veterans, andmore than one sported a scar on his face. A fellow with a greasybeard dangling halfway down his chest scratched beneath an eyepatch with the stumpy nub of a half-missing finger. Rifles andshotguns leaned against logs or rocks, no more than an arm’s lengthfrom their owners.

Rectangular shadows behind the men delineatedtents. The claim farther up the bank from Sebastian’s lay dark, itsprospectors either gone to sleep or perhaps into town, but a fireburned at the one diagonally across the river, the one thatsupposedly belonged to Cudgel’s crony. Nobody sat around it, thougha tent and the beginnings of a log cabin rose near the flames.

“Doesn’t look very active,” Kali said.

“Your old beau?” Cedar asked. “Well, he has aflask of whiskey in his hand. That slows a man down.”

“I meant the camp we’re here to spy on.”

“Ah. I’ll sneak over tonight if I can find away across the river. Let’s get settled in here first. Those menlook rougher than I expected based on my initial encounter withyour Sebastian.”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d stop calling himmy this-or-that,” Kali said. “And just because he’s a dandydoesn’t mean he’s not a fine flannel-mouth. I’m sure he talkedthese fellows into helping with promises of riches, and theybelieved him. As for their roughness, Sebastian probably pickedthem for that. It’s dangerous up here, and you’re like to have yourclaim jumped if anything shiny comes out of it.”

“Understood.”

When they were within a dozen meters of thefire, Kali called out, not wanting to surprise anyone with twitchyreflexes. “Sebastian?”

Sebastian bolted to his feet, eyes largerthan Francis Barton’s prize nuggets. “Kali?”

“Yes.”

Despite Sebastian’s acknowledgement, the manbeside him grabbed his shotgun. He raised it to his shoulder andKali tensed, ready to throw herself to the ground. A riflethundered a foot away from her ear. The shotgun flew from itsowner’s hands. Cursing, the man flung himself behind a log even asthe rest of Sebastian’s cronies lunged for their weapons.

Cedar fired two more times.

“Sebastian!” Kali ducked and scrambled behinda stump. She found her own rifle, but she did not want to fire, notif this was a misunderstanding. “What’re you-”

“Stop!” Sebastian called. “Everyone stopgrabbing for your firearms.”

None of his men had managed to fire a shot,not with Cedar preempting them, but they had all found cover, andirritated snarls came from behind the rocks and logs.

“I invited her up here,” Sebastianwent on. “She’s the one I told you about. Albeit, I wasn’texpecting her so soon.”

A twinge of irritation ran through Kali. Whyhad he expected her at all? Did he truly think his offer thatirresistible? If not for Cedar, she would not have taken a singlestep in Sebastian’s direction.

A shadow moved at her elbow, Cedar joiningher behind the stump.

“Have I mentioned how much I’m enjoying theenhanced chambering speed your modifications have granted myWinchester?” he asked while Sebastian calmed down his men.

“Not since Thursday. Do you think that onewas going to shoot me?” Kali asked, already unimpressed withSebastian’s comrades.

“If I thought that, I would have shot hischest, not his firearm.”

“Ah, so that was merely a warning for anambiguous action.”

“Precisely.”

“Kali?” Sebastian called. “Who’s withyou?”

“Cedar,” she said. “The, uh, fellow you metat my workshop.”

“He wasn’t invited,” Sebastian said.

“He’s willing to work too. Why turn down anextra hand? He’ll take a cut of my share. No need to pay him.”

“That so?” Cedar murmured.

She elbowed him.

“He willing to take a cut of your rationstoo?” Sebastian asked. “Because we don’t have enough to feedsomeone that big.”

“We brought our own food,” Kali said.

“You didn’t even bring a blanket,” Cedarwhispered.

“Sshh.” She could see nothing of his featuresin the dark, but sensed his humor was tickled by the situation. Ormaybe gun-slinging put him in a good mood.

“Come in,” Sebastian said. “We’ll work outthe details in the morning. It’s late. Long past when respectablefolk ride up on a camp.”

“Yes…we were delayed.”

Kali stood and walked toward the fire, armsspread to show she had no weapons in hand. She supposed thecourteous thing to do would be to mention that a dangerous womanmight be about and that Kali’s presence could bring danger to theentire camp.

“Getting sexed up, probably,” Sebastianmuttered to the man at his side who snorted and nodded.

Kali narrowed her eyes and reconsidered thelevel of courtesy she would show the man. Such as, maybe shewould warn him if she saw a grenade plummeting toward his head.

Cedar did not stray from her side as sheapproached, and she admitted a smug satisfaction at having himlooming there. She knew Sebastian would not be jealous-that wouldhave required him to have had an actual interest in her-but atleast Cedar’s presence proved she was not so undesirable as hebelieved. Except, she reminded herself, Cedar was not her beau andshe had lied to Sebastian. Her smugness faded.

“You arrived sooner than I expected,”Sebastian told Kali. “The steam equipment isn’t here yet. We’ll bebringing it up on a raft from Dawson soon.”

“That’s fine. We can help with the sluice boxor whatever you have set up so far.” Kali glanced around. Thoughshe and Cedar had passed numerous claims with such equipment, shehad not noticed any on Sebastian’s land. Maybe she had missed it inthe darkness.

“Good. We have lots to set up,” Sebastiansaid. “We’ve barely got the tents pitched.”

“Is there room for us in one?” she asked.

“Sorry,” he said in a tone that assured hewas not. “They’re already claimed. You can bed down over there.” Hesmiled and pointed to rocky ground near the fire.

“Thanks,” Kali said, glad the air did notsmell of rain.

The men watched Cedar as he moved fartheraway from the fire than Sebastian had indicated. He ignored them.Well, Kali doubted that, but he acted as if he was ignoringthem. The way nobody introduced themselves struck her as odd, butthe gunfire greeting had probably set the men on edge. Thus far,the night did not hint of future friendships, so she hoped Cedarcould complete his business with John Wilder within a day ortwo.

She laid down her gear and, under the guiseof performing her nightly ablutions, checked the two smoke nutsnestled in her pocket. She decided to sleep with them and the knifeon her belt as well. While she doubted anyone would bother her withCedar around, she did not like the camp atmosphere.

When she returned from washing at the riverand saw Cedar’s all-in-one bed-blanket-pillow stretched over therocks, she remembered she would be expected to spend the nighttucked into it. With him.

Though the rest of the men had disappearedinto the tents, Sebastian sat on a log by the fire. He probablywanted to see if another man would actually share a bed with her.She glowered at Sebastian and stalked over to join Cedar.

He crouched beside his blanket, waiting forher. He lifted a hand, perhaps asking if she wanted to get infirst. She waved for him to go. Sebastian glanced their way, andshe dropped her hand. Presumably people who shared beds workedthese details out early in their relationships, though she supposedshe could claim this was their first night on the trail together ifanyone voiced suspicions.

Cedar removed his boots, though thankfullynone of his other clothing. A part of her would not mind seeing himsans garments some day, but not with an audience nearby. He slidbetween the blankets and laid his rifle close by.

“Not sleeping with it tonight?” Kali sat downto remove her own boots.

“I didn’t want you to get jealous.”

She snorted.

“Will you be all right here if I leave laterto scout Wilder’s claim?” Cedar whispered.

“I think so,” Kali said. Thus far Sebastian’sstory had panned out, though admittedly coming in at night meantshe had seen little of his claim and his operation. “But on thechance he’s planning something squirrelly, when would you beback?”

“Morning. Early.”

“I suspect I can keep myself out of troubleuntil then.”

“Hm.”

Kali poked around for a way into thecocoon-like bedding. Cedar lay on his side to provide more room forher. Her options were facing him or not. The former seemed far toointimate, so she laid on her side with her back to him. Hard, lumpystones pressed into her ribs, and cold seeped through the blanket.Spring might have come to the Yukon, but all that meant was sheprobably wouldn’t wake with ice crystals freezing her eyelashesshut.

“Can you slip me one of my vials?” shemurmured. “Just in case I can’t keep myself out of troublewhile you’re gone?”

The blanket rustled. The small container hepressed into her hand was warm, and she wondered where he had beenkeeping it. Kali wriggled about, finding space to draw her knee up,and she slipped the vial into her sock. She pillowed her head withher arms and closed her eyes.

“Does this mean we’re not putting on ademonstrative display to convince him of the veracity of ourrelationship?” Cedar asked, his words tickled with amusement.

“You’re my beau,” she whispered, “not myhusband. For all he knows, we’ve just begun our courtship andhaven’t had, er, you know, yet.”

“Ah. No kissing either?”

“Are you just teasing me because it’s fun andyou can right now without risking a punch in the belly, or are youimplying that you’d actually like to do…stuff?”

Long seconds passed without a response, andshe winced. Had she implied she wanted him to say he wanted to do‘stuff’? Because if he did not want to do ‘stuff,’ she certainlydidn’t want him to think she wanted him to do ‘stuff.’ She closedher eyes and groaned inwardly. When had she become sucha…female?

“I only mention the latter thing, because itwould puzzle me,” Kali said, “seeing as how you turned down mysuggestion we might go to the dancing hall last month and I’venever caught you leering suggestively at me when I’m bent over asteam engine.”

That drew a chuckle from him, but thenanother silence. She pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders.Maybe they should just go to sleep. Sebastian had left,disappearing into one of the tents.

“When I was a boy,” Cedar said, “there wasthis hound that showed up in town. He was all mange and ribs, butyou could tell he’d be a handsome boy if you fixed him up. He was asmart feller too. He knew how to open Old Lady Harrison’s screendoor and filch her meal preparations off the kitchen counter. Thedog didn’t have a collar, so I figured I could claim him and he’dbe the perfect hunting companion for a boy. Trouble was, he wasscared of people. He’d flinch away if you lifted a hand to pet him,and if you cornered him he’d growl and snarl like a rabid wolf. Mygrandpa said folks had beat him, and it’d take a passel of patiencefor someone to get past that fear and turn him into a friend. I,being ten or so, reckoned I was just the person.”

Kali was quite positive Cedar had neverstrung so many words together in a row. She was not sure she likedthe implied comparison, but she listened without interrupting,curious where he would take the story.

“I used some meat to trick him into a pen,”Cedar went on, “and I trapped him there. I brought him food andwater every day and I spent hours talking to him and trying to gethim used to me. It seemed to be working. He didn’t growl so much,and he wagged his tail when I showed up. Well, I wanted to pet himpowerful bad, so I slipped into his pen one day, gave him his food,and tried to get close to him. He got real still and wary, but hedidn’t flinch away, so I thought everything was working like I’dplanned.”

Kali had an inkling of how the story wouldend, but she asked, “What happened?” anyway.

“He bit me, jumped the fence of the pen, andran off. I never saw him again.”

“Am I correct in guessing you’re comparingthis mangy, scrawny dog to me?” Though more amused than angry, shehad a feeling she should give him a hard time.

“No, of course not.” Cedar cleared histhroat. “Maybe a little.” Another beat passed, and he switched hisanswer to, “Yes.”

“At least it was a handsome and smart dog,”she muttered. “Under the mange.”

“Very smart,” he said carefully.

“So, this story means…you’re afraid I’dbite you if you took me to the dancing hall?”

“More afraid I’d bite you,” he said.“And then you’d run away.”

“Oh.” Kali caught her bottom lip between herteeth. She grew aware of her heartbeat, its rapid thumps againsther ribs. Her eyes were probably huge too. Like those of a startleddoe. She was glad for the darkness and that he was behind her so hecould not see her face. “I…know I can be a little…standoffishat times.”

He snorted.

“Most times,” she admitted. “But nobody everbeat me. No scars or anything. Well, except for that one scar fromthe time I decided to make guncotton. Oh, and the first time Itried to make those metal dogs and incorporate the flash gold,well, that needed stitches from Doc. Marvin, but I’m notbite-you-and-jump-the-fence damaged. Really.” She winced. She meantthe words, but at the same time she felt like she was trying toconvince herself.

The fire had died down, and men snored. Upand down the river, the sounds of croaking frogs competed with thegurgling water.

“It’s possible to scar someone withouttouching them,” Cedar said quietly.

“I guess.” Between Sebastian, her mother, andher father, she had certainly been hurt often enough. It was hardto dismantle her booby traps and let people get close. She was notcertain she could even have this conversation-admit thisvulnerability-with Cedar by the light of day.

Cedar stirred. Since she had crawled underthe blanket with him, he had been careful to keep his distance, butnow he rested a hand on her waist. Her instincts reacted before hermind, and she tensed. She rolled her eyes at herself and forcedherself to relax.

“You all right?” he asked.

“Just depressed. I am that dog.”

He chuckled softly, his warm breath stirringthe hairs on the back of her neck. He started to retract theembrace. Kali caught his hand to keep it there. She wrapped herfingers about his calloused palm and she shifted onto her back,turning her head toward his. Darkness hid his face, but, for whatshe intended next, maybe that was easiest-safest. She wanted tobelieve he desired a relationship with her, but nobody ever hadbefore, not without an ulterior motive, and it was hard to believesomeone like him would be the first.

Stop analyzing this, came the thought fromthe back of her mind. Do it before you lose your nerve.

Cedar must have sensed her intent for he wasthe one to lean close. She almost grinned when that beard stubblerasped against her jaw, but then his lips pressed against hers, andshe forgot about that earlier conversation. The chilly Yukonevening grew warm. She was vaguely aware of releasing his hand andsliding her arm around him, twining her fingers into the soft,thick hair on the back of his head. The closeness of theirbodies.

Too soon, he broke the kiss. His callousedhand came up to cup her jaw, and he stroked her cheek with histhumb. Another night, the touch seemed to promise, when we’re noton the ground, in a camp full of strangers, with a mission toaccomplish. And, as close as they were, she had no troublebelieving his interest now.

“Milos,” Cedar murmured.

“What?”

“My name.”

Oh! The M on his Winchester. “That doesn’tsound so bad,” she said.

“Milos Kartes. I got close to Cudgel inDenver, and he framed me for an ugly series of murders. There maybe a Pinkerton detective after me. I figured it wisest to go backto my childhood nickname.”

“Ah.” So, someone was hunting him as well.Although it was criminals who sought her, while the law stalkedhim. If she continued to work with him, could that mean trouble forher someday? Did it matter, given all the trouble already courtingher? Once she had her airship, she could evade those who huntedher. No need to stay in any one port for long, not when she had aworld to see. Maybe Cedar would even want to come along. “Thank youfor trusting me with your name. Though I must admit, yourreluctance to share it had me hoping for somethingembarrassing.”

A long moment passed, as if he wereconsidering something. Finally, he said, “My middle name isKallisto.”

“That’s…pretty.”

“Oh, very pretty. It was my Greekgrandmother’s name.”

“Grandmother?”

“Yes, my mama had been saving it for when shehad a girl. After only boys, she decided to pass it on to heryoungest. Me. Apparently it means most beautiful.”

Kali did not manage to keep from laughing,though she stifled it quickly. The last thing she wanted was toruin things by offending him.

“My Han name is Tsul Gah,” she said, feelingthe need to match his honesty. “Small rabbit. My mother thought Iwas going to be a precious little daughter, not a troublemaker whodisassembled the chief’s dog sled to make skis out of the runners.When I went to live with my father, he just called me, “girl,” so Idecided to pick my own name, a white name. The only white women inMoose Hollow were prostitutes. Kali was the middle name of one whowas decent to me. I later learned it was a Hindi name that meansblack. Guess I wasn’t meant to be white.”

He did not speak for a long moment, and shewondered if she should have kept the information to herself. Theexplanation for his middle name was cute and endearing. Herexplanation was… Well, it certainly made her childhood seempathetic.

“Did you ever know happiness growing up?”Cedar asked.

“Making things made me happy. Beinggood at making things. If you’re good at something you liketo do, it gives you the self-assurance and confidence to deal withthe world’s disappointments.” Mostly.

“Then I’m glad you had that.”

He kissed her again, though it had thebrevity of a goodnight kiss. She forgave him for not offering morewhen he slid his arms around her and snuggled against her back.

“I like Milos,” Kali said. “May I useit?”

“Yes.”

“What about Kallisto?”

“Not unless you want me to use your pliers topull your tongue out through your nostrils.”

She smirked. “Do you always threaten womenafter you kiss them?”

“You didn’t think I was a nice boy, didyou?”

PART IV

Kali woke to something pressing against hermouth. Her first thought was of Cedar giving her a kiss, but thatfantasy evaporated quickly. The pressure was too hard. It smotheredher nose as well as her mouth and cut off her air. Someone’s hand.She tried to unleash her teeth, to gnash down on it. The gripmerely tightened.

She tried to sit up, but failed to rise aninch. Hands forced her shoulders down, and something across herlegs pinned them to the ground.

Darkness still blanketed the forest, but shefigured out what was going on. Cedar had gone to investigate theother camp, and Sebastian was taking the moment to truss her upfor…whatever stupid plan he had now.

She writhed and bucked in the blankets,though only to disguise her real goal: she found the two smoke nutsin her pockets and yanked them free.

“Hurry, pick her up,” Sebastianwhispered.

Trying to be quiet was he? He must fear Cedarwould hear and return. Good.

Now if Cedar’s fancy blanket weren’tconstricting her almost as much as her assailants, she might beable to do something. The men-at least four of them-hefted her intothe air with the Euklisia Rug still tangled about her. She grippeda smoke nut in each hand, thumbs poised to press up on the triggertabs.

“In the tent?” a man with a guttural accentrasped.

They started moving her, stumbling over therocky ground as they went. Maybe they would be more distractednow.

“No, we don’t want her lover to be able toget to her,” Sebastian said. “We need to-argh!”

Kali grinned fiercely as she bit down on hishand, glad he was the one who’d sport tooth marks. He snarled andlet go.

“Cedar!” she bellowed.

One of the hands gripping her shoulder let goto reach for her mouth. The maneuver dipped her down, so her headalmost cracked against the rocks.

Sensing she had her moment, Kali yanked herarms from beneath the blanket, flicked a trigger tab, and droppedone of the smoke nuts. She twisted and used her free hand to grabthe closest thing to her face. A belt. Perfect.

Something slammed into her back. She almostdropped her second smoke nut, but she managed to yank on the beltand stuff the device down the owner’s trousers.

Unfortunately, she was as close to the smokeweapons as the men. Kali burrowed back into the cocoon of blankets,squeezed her eyes shut, and dug for the knife at her belt.

“What did she-”

“Damn it, move!” Sebastian yelled. “It’s oneof her things!”

Whoever held her legs dropped them. Kalithrashed, though she made sure not to leave the padded shelter ofthe blankets. The last man with a grip on her lost it, and she hitthe ground, a hard nodule gouging into her side. She rolled away,not wanting to smother her own artillery.

She did not hear the click that heralded therelease of the metallic shards, but yelps of pain told the story.Though she was rolling away as fast as she could, severalprojectiles struck the side of her blanket. A couple burrowedthrough the material and her clothing, slicing into her skin. Itwas not as bad as it would have been if she had no padding though,and she scampered out of the blankets without permanent damage.

Smoke from the weapon stung her eyes. In thedarkness, she struggled to see what was happening, but angry shoutsof “It got me!” and “Get it out!” told her where people were.Agonized screams came from the man who had taken the projectile inthe pants. Given these thugs’ goals, she could feel littleremorse.

Kali patted about, looking for her rifle.They must have taken it. She could not find her packsack-hertools! — either. Damn Sebastian. He must have moved all herbelongings first. Damn her heavy sleep too.

Knowing the smoke nuts would not buy herindefinite time, she scrambled away from the camp. All the firesalong the shoreline had gone out, and clouds hid the stars and themoon. Only the sound of the river helped her navigate. Though shewas on the wrong side of the waterway, she headed in the directionof the Wilder camp, hoping Cedar had heard the commotion and wascoming to help.

“Which way’d she go?” one of the men behindher snarled.

Kali kept running, not bothering withstealth. The pained curses of the most injured man pierced thenight, and concerned calls from other claims covered herretreat.

“Get her, you idiots,” Sebastian yelled.“She’s worth a lot of money.”

That quieted some of the outcries.

A blocky shape loomed out of the darknessahead of Kali. She threw out her hands to keep from crashing intoit. Hard, cold metal met her touch. A couple of seconds of gropingallowed her to identify a steam engine and furnace. Had flames beenburning in the firebox, she might have come up with a creative usefor the machinery, but she merely noted it was probably used to aidin digging and that a mine shaft would be nearby. She skirted thearea.

“Sebastian?” came a man’s whisper from aheadof Kali.

She froze.

“I lost track of the big bloke with the gunskills,” the speaker went on, raising his voice. “Sebastian, isthat you?”

“Stay up there,” Sebastian yelled to the man.“She may have gone that way. Head her off.”

Boots crunched on river pebbles. Kali easedback until she bumped against the boiler. She hunkered in itsshadow, hoping it would camouflage her. A hint of dawn brightenedthe sky, and it would grow harder to hide soon.

“A hundred dollars cash to whoever finds thegirl,” Sebastian called.

At first Kali thought he was still trying torally his men, but an answering call came from a claim downriver.“What’s she look like?” That wasn’t one of Sebastian’s thugs.

“A woman!” Sebastian called. “There aren’tmany up here.”

“Oh, right. You want her dead or alive?”

“Women ain’t no good dead!” came a call fromacross the river.

Kali thunked her head back against theboiler. The entire Sixty Mile River was going to be after her in aminute. She glared down at the puny knife she still held. If shehad her pack, she would have tools and supplies and might be ableto build something. In lieu of that, her rifle would be handy justthen too.

“Anyone who touches the woman dies.” That wasCedar. Good. His voice came from across the river. Not good. Howhad he gotten over there and how long would it take him to return?She had not seen any boats.

“Says who?”

Kali had no idea who that was.

She patted around the dormant steam engine.Maybe this claim held something useful she could use. Since nobodyhad come out to check on the ruckus, she figured the owners were intown.

“The last man you’ll ever see if you hurther.” Cedar’s voice was closer. He must be on the shorelinedirectly opposite from her.

In the growing light, she thought she couldpick out his tall form over there, but she dared not call to him.She patted the ground, found a stone, and hurled it in hisdirection. The surrounding shouts kept her from telling if itsplashed down or clattered onto the bank next to him, but she hopedhe heard and guessed where it had come from.

A shot fired. It originated in Sebastian’scamp, and she had little trouble guessing the target. Her stomachchurned with concern for Cedar, but it was best to leave him to hisown devices and figure out a plan of her own.

Kali returned to her inspection of theequipment. Her knuckles bumped against a wood box. She found thelid, opened it, and groped inside. Charcoal and a smaller boxcontaining long wooden matches. She grabbed the latter, though shedid not know how she might use them yet.

More gunshots fired, going back and forthacross the river, and the chatter died down. So far no bullets hadslammed into the ground near her, but the scout was still standingguard up ahead-she could make out his dark figure now too-and hewas bound to see her if she made a run for the forest.

On her hands and knees, she crept around theboiler, still hoping to find something she could use. Her fingersbrushed air. The mine shaft entrance, nothing but a hole in theground with a pipe leading into it. Not digging equipment afterall. Maybe some sort of heating system to thaw the permafrost andmake it easier to work? If so, there might be a whole network oftunnels beneath her.

Tunnels she could get herself trapped in. Sheshook her head. Going in was not a good idea.

Unless…

Could she make them believe she had gone in,get them all to follow, and then escape into the forest whileeveryone was searching the tunnels? She better check and see howextensive the system was first.

Hoping the one-man-versus-the-entire-rivergunfight Cedar had started would give her time, she eased over thelip of the hole. She probed for a bottom with her feet. There. Fivefeet below.

She released the lip and dropped to thebottom, clunking something with her elbow on the way. A lanternstuck in a niche in the wall. She grabbed it and followed thepiping system into a low tunnel that led away from the river. Thewalls radiated coldness and smelled of damp earth. Creeping intothe Stygian darkness made her think of the tombs and sepulchers ina book she had once read about the Dark Ages. The gunfire grewmuffled and distant. When she judged herself far enough from theentrance so the flame would not be visible, she lit thelantern.

Pickaxes and shovels leaned against dirt andstone walls marbled with quartz and thin threads that might havebeen gold. For all she knew about mining, it might have been ironpyrite too.

A few meters ahead, the passage branched intothree tunnels. Enough exploring. The mine promised the maze she hadhoped for, one her would-be captors could waste several minutesexploring. All she had to do was set a decoy at the entrance sothey believed she had gone down and then hide nearby until theydropped down to explore. It’d be better if she could figure outsome sort of time-delay device to cause a sound, making the meneven more certain she was down there, but she did not want to riskdelving further and genuinely being trapped.

Kali was about to turn around when somethingglinted in the darkness, reflecting her lantern light. She onlyhesitated a heartbeat before jogging toward it. Just anothermoment….

The tunnel broadened into a small room filledwith… Were those potatoes? She peered closer. Several crateslined the wall. Though they must have been harvested monthsearlier, they appeared fine, preserved by the surroundingpermafrost. But why were they in a mine?

A rusted, decommissioned boiler stood in thecorner while rows of ceramic jugs lined the opposite side of thechamber. A clunky metal contraption rose against the back wall. Itwas the source of the reflection she had noticed. Theobject-machine? — might have been anything; the mishmash of partscomprising it reminded her of something she would create out ofscrap metal. It was only when she opened a box that emitted ayeasty smell that the pieces clicked together.

“Oh.” She rolled her eyes, feeling foolishfor taking so long to get it. “Alcohol. Right.”

A thump sounded near the entrance. Someonejumping down.

Kali cursed under her breath and cut out thelantern. She had dawdled too long.

“Kali?” came a soft call.

She blew out a relieved breath. “Cedar, backhere.”

“We have a problem,” he said, voice drawingnear.

She relit the lantern. “You’re mad that Ishot up your fancy sleeping blanket?”

“All right, two problems.”

Cedar jogged into view, water sloughing fromhis clothes and matting his hair to his head. He bore a rifle inone hand while his sword dripped blood in the other. A second riflepoked over his shoulder, scraping against the wall as heapproached. He also wore his packsack. No, wait. That was herpacksack. Her tools! Excellent.

“Your old beau is gathering his men, and he’sabout to search in here,” Cedar said, letting her help him out ofthe packsack. She tore into it as he continued to speak. “Iapologize for my ineptness, but it’s getting light, and he spottedme when I went for your gear.”

“I’ll think of something.” Kali pulled toolsout of her pack. “Can you guard the entrance?”

“Yes, but, ah…” Cedar cleared histhroat.

Kali glanced up. “What?”

“On account of people shooting at me, I hadto choose between your pack and mine.”

“So…no fresh smallclothes until we get backto town?” She tapped a pickaxe leaning against the wall. Maybe shecould dismantle it and-

“No fresh ammo,” Cedar said. “I have abox on me, but I won’t be able to hold an advancing army off forlong if they’re enthusiastic with their siege.” He leaned herWinchester against the wall. “I don’t suppose you have any?”

Kali fished in her pack, groping around thebottom, and pulled out a fistful of cartridges. “Sorry, I’d usuallyhave a full box, but I had to make room for my pliers. And mywrench set. And-”

“Never mind.” Cedar grabbed the cartridgesand shoved them in his pocket. His gaze fell upon the potatoes.“Too bad those can’t be used for ammo. They’re probably frozenharder than cannon balls.”

“Technically, I suppose you could make somesort of spud launcher.”

His eyes brightened. “You could? Now?”

“No, not now. I don’t have time to do thatand get us out of here.”

“Oh.” Disappointment tugged down the cornersof his mouth.

“Just do the best you can with the rifles,huh?” Kali grabbed her wrench and tore into the piping on theceiling to rip a segment free.

Sand and rock dribbled into the hole thatmarked the entrance to the mine. Cedar whirled, raising his rifleand firing before Kali spotted anyone.

A yelp came from above.

“Yup, they’re down there,” a man called.

Kali grabbed one of the pickaxes and kickedthe iron end off, figuring she could turn it sideways to use as thebit in a hammer drill. The tool she had in mind would be clunky atbest, but it only needed to work long enough to dig a way to thesurface, preferably from the end of a tunnel far from the entrance,so the gunmen waiting outside would not hear her.

The drill would need a lot of power, and shedid not have the time to build a steam version. She pulled out oneof the vials in her sock and eyed the glowing flakes.

Cedar fired again. “I better go up front andsee if I can discourage them from getting so close. Sooner or laterone of them will think to try and smoke us out. Kali?”

She lifted her eyes from her growing pile oftools and salvaged equipment. “Huh?”

He hesitated. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.I’ll keep them away as long as you need.”

Jaw set with determination, he strode towardthe entrance. Kali worked. Much to do, little time.

Shots fired while she twisted metal andhammered her casing into shape. Cedar shot at anyone who camewithin his field of vision, but she knew he could not poke his headout of the hole, lest someone shoot it off. The gunmen could creepdangerously close, as evinced by more than one bullet ricochetinginto the tunnel. One bounced off the rock-hard floor, hit a wall,and skidded all the way back to her chamber. Any one of thosebullets could hit Cedar. Or her.

“Work,” she told herself. “Focus.”

While thumps, groans, and gunfire continuedat the mine entrance, her fingers flew. The drill itself was easy,but the motor took a steady hand and a lot of squinting, given thepoor light. More than once, she fumbled a small screw, and itbounced onto the uneven floor to hide in a crevasse. At least shehad all the parts she needed.

A clash of steel announced the end of Cedar’sbullet supply.

Kali lunged to her feet, remembering he hadtaken her cartridges but not her rifle. She grabbed it and dartedto the front of the mine. She almost stumbled over an inert body onthe way. A bullet had taken one of Sebastian’s men in the eye. Shegulped and stepped over him.

Cedar stood a few feet from the hole, hisback toward her, his sword poised and ready. Blood spattered hisshirt. Not his, she hoped.

“Cedar,” Kali said, not wanting to startlehim, not when he held that sharp blade. “Here’s my rifle.”

Before he even turned around, she was leaningit next to him. She had to get back to the drill so they could finda way out of there.

Thunk!

A tin can bounced off the wall and landed onthe ground. Fire spat and hissed at the end of a fuse.

Cedar lunged, snatching it and hurling it outof the mine in one motion. Inches above the entrance, it explodedwith a flash and a bang that thundered in Kali’s ears. The walls ofthe mine shuddered, and dirt and rock rained down. Black powdersmoke hazed the air, and its pungent smell flooded the tunnel.

Before Kali could scramble back from theentrance area, Cedar grabbed her rifle. With smoke blanketing theentrance, he used the opportunity to stand straight, his head andshoulders above the hole in the ground. The rifle cracked severaltimes.

Outside, screams of pain erupted.

Kali closed her eyes and reminded herselfthese men had intended to hand her over to gangsters-or worse. Shehad no idea how Cedar could see his targets through the smoke-theymust not have moved after the explosion-but she was glad for hisaccuracy.

“Pace yourself,” she said. “I need five moreminutes.” She ran back to her workspace.

Gunfire answered her, and she glanced back intime to see Cedar duck low. Dirt knocked loose by the bulletsspattered his head and face, but he gave her a somber nod and wavedfor her to go.

Kali dropped to the floor before her drill.The construction was complete. It just needed a power source.

She slipped a flake of flash gold out of hervial. Despite the need to hurry, she took the time to cap thecontainer and tuck it back into her sock. If the goons outsidefound that vial, it would end up in the hands of some criminal.It’d be hard to deny the existence of flash gold after that, andshe would have even more people hunting her.

The flake pulsed as she tucked it into a slotshe had etched for it next to the motor.

Streaks of lightning coursed up themetal-reinforced wooden shaft, merging and sparking above the drillhead. The air crackled around the tool, and energy hummed up Kali’sarms.

“You could be less obvious about yourpresence,” she told the gold chip.

It throbbed in response, and one could almostbelieve it sentient. Not for the first time, she lamented that shehad not inherited either of her parents’ gifts for sensing andmanipulating otherworldly elements. She could instill commands intothe gold, something her father’s research said most people couldlearn to do, but she could never make more of the substance.

Kali pressed her thumb against the flake andclosed her eyes to concentrate. With such a small piece of gold, itdid not take long. It could not accept a complicated imprint, butit would do what she needed.

“Spin and hammer,” she whispered to it,imaging the actions she wanted the drill to perform.

The pickaxe point twitched, then rotated.Though slow at first, the revolutions soon picked up speed. Ithitched with each revolution, thanks to the haste she had used onthe chuck, and the perfectionist in her growled at the hiccup, butshe reminded herself the tool need not last for long. It wasworking. That was all that mattered.

Kali touched the drill bit to the closestwall. The hitch grew more noticeable, but stone sheered off asreverberations coursed through her body. Tiny shards pelted her,reminding her of the shrapnel from her smoke nuts.

She dug out her snow goggles, grabbed thelantern, shouldered her pack, and ducked into the three-wayintersection. Cedar knelt beneath the entrance, like some knightfrom centuries past, his sword point pressed to the ground beforehim, his hands atop the hilt, ready. It had grown quiet outside.The men must have paused to concoct some plot-or build anothergrenade.

“I’m going to make a backdoor.” She heftedthe drill.

He gaped at the tendrils of lightningstreaking along the tool’s shaft. She wished she had time to buildmore of a casing to hide the telltale signs of the magic, but, withluck, nobody except Cedar would see the drill.

“If you could arrange some extra noise,” Kalisaid, “I’d appreciate it.”

He dabbed at a cut dribbling blood into hiseye. “You don’t want much, do you?”

Kali winked. “I just want to make sure youearn your fifty percent.”

Cedar tilted his head, listening to someconversation outside, and she left him to his work. Later, shecould ask him if his spying had given him a bead on CudgelConrad.

With the whirring drill in one hand and thelantern in the other, Kali delved deeper into the tunnels. Alabyrinth of passages spread out around her, and she soon wonderedif the owners of the claim had mined beneath the adjoining parcelsas well. If so, she hoped they had scraped all the gold out ofSebastian’s land. Had that bastard even intended to mine, or hadthis all been a setup to capture her and turn her over to somegangster? He must think her a delightful idiot for showing up andsleeping ten feet away from him. If not for Cedar’s scheme, shenever would have come up here, but even with that excuse she wishedshe had been too vigilant to get caught.

A likely dead-end opened to Kali’s right andshe stopped, figuring she had better choose her spot before thetunnels wound her around so much she ended up drilling out rightbeneath Sebastian’s toes. She thought she was under the trees now,several dozen meters from the river, but the permafrost kept rootsfrom piercing the ceilings anywhere. She hoped the tunnel had notslanted down, putting a dozen feet of earth above her head. Cuttingthrough more than a couple of feet would be a tall order, even fora flash-gold-powered tool.

She lifted the tip to the low ceiling. Thoughit lacked the grooves of a typical drill, the pickaxe “bit” spunand pulsed so rapidly it ate into the dirt and stone anyway. Beingon the other end of the tool jarred her to the core; her teethrattled, her body quaked, and her joints ached as if she were theone being drilled, not the rock. Dust filled the passage and sooncoated her tongue and nostrils. Clumps of dirt and rock fell,pelting her on the head. Too bad she did not carry a helmet as wellas goggles in her pack.

Too slowly for her tastes, a concave holeformed over her head. She went slower than she wished, conscious ofthe noise the activity made. If Sebastian heard the drill and hadmen standing at the top when she broke through, she would have madetheir situation worse, creating two entrances to guard instead ofone.

She should have created something capable ofissuing loud booms and given it to Cedar to use as a diversion.

“Kali?” his voice came from the tunnelsbehind her. “Which way did you go?”

Unease roiled in her stomach. If he hadabandoned the entrance, that must mean it had been breached.

“Back here.” She lowered the drill.

“Don’t stop,” he whispered, appearing out ofthe darkness. “If I did it right, your distraction is coming.”

Shouts echoed through the tunnel. Lots ofshouts from lots of throats. Just how many men had Sebastian luredinto helping?

“A stampede of invaders wasn’t thedistraction I had in mind.” Kali returned to drilling, certain theyonly had seconds before armed men swarmed into their tunnel.

Then a massive explosion boomed, pounding hereardrums like a steam hammer. The earth heaved and hurled Kalibackward.

She would have hit the floor, but she crashedinto Cedar, and he wrapped his around her, keeping her upright. Howhe remained upright, she had no idea.

A thunderous roar filled the tunnels. Anotherexplosion? No, a cave-in. Multiple cave-ins maybe. Screams added tothe cacophony, but they sounded distant, as if piles of rubbledivided them from Kali and Cedar.

“You all right?” Cedar released her with apat on the arm.

The lantern had tipped over and gone out.Somehow Kali had kept a hold of the drill, and the slender streaksof lightning arcing along the tool provided the only light. It wasenough. She found her hole and went back to work. This time she didnot bother with slow and quiet.

“I reckon that’s a yes.” Cedar, sword inhand, turned to guard her back while she worked.

“Did you cause that explosion or did they?”Kali asked, her voice vibrating with the reverberations of thedrill. Dirt and rock sloughed from the growing hole.

“I did.”

“How?”

“You, being a bright book-reading girl, knowthat hydrogen is flammable,” he said, referencing the airship shehad crashed. “I, being a bright alcohol-drinking boy, know thatvodka is flammable.”

“You blew up the still?”

“Not bad, eh?”

She agreed, but all she said was, “Huh.”

“There you go again,” Cedar said, “making meblush with your fulsome praise.”

The dim lighting hid her grin.

She rose on her tiptoes, pressing the drillhigher. Cedar would have to take over soon if she didn’t reach-

A draft of fresh air whispered across hercheek. Her grin broadened. The resistance disappeared, and thedrill poked through.

“I’m going to need a boost.” Kali widened thehole so Cedar’s broad shoulders would fit through.

“I’ll go first and pull you up.”

She cut off the drill and nodded toward thehole. “Not interested in handling my hips again?”

“Oh, I’m interested, but let’s make surenobody’s waiting to put a bullet in your head first.”

“Or drop a grenade on it,” Kali muttered.

Cedar grabbed both sides of the hole andpulled his head through. Long seconds passed while he hung, bootsdangling above the ground. At first, she marveled that he couldhold himself in that position so long. Then she lost patience andwanted to shove him out of the way so she could look.

Elsewhere in the tunnel, the screams hadabated, and she doubted it would be long before some of the menclimbed out, if only to tend to each other’s wounds.

Finally, Cedar pulled himself up, slitheringover the edge without a sound. Only a trickle of dust marked hispassing.

As promised, he soon extended a hand for her.Kali plopped the handle of the drill into it. With their ammo gone,it was the best weapon she had. Besides, she would not leave itbehind with precious flash gold embedded in it.

Cedar lifted the drill out, then lowered hishand again. She gave him her pack, which he also pulled free.

“What’s going on up there?” she asked,wondering how much time they had.

“Ssh,” he whispered and wriggled hisfingers.

Kali grabbed his hand and bunched her legs,preparing for a good jump, but he simply pulled her out as if sheweighed no more than a snared rabbit. She settled beside him wherehe crouched above the ragged hole.

Dawn had come to the river valley, revealingmore stillness than expected, considering the activity of momentsbefore. As she had hoped, they were in the trees above the rockybank. The engine and boiler that marked the mine entrance satdownhill twenty meters away. Several bodies lay on the bank,unmoving, and Kali swallowed, numbly aware of the carnage they hadcaused. More dead must be buried in the rubble beneath them. Aconcave depression marked a cave-in, right about where the stillwould have been. She clenched her teeth, resenting Sebastian allover again for starting her along this path where bountyhunters-and simple prospectors-vied to turn her in for areward.

“Stay here,” Cedar whispered. “I’m going formy pack and ammo.” He pointed to Sebastian’s camp. His mangledbedroll lay visible on the rocky earth. “Keep an ear open. Ithought I heard some mechanical noises in the forest behind us whenI first poked my head up.”

“Blazes,” Kali said. “That woman again?”

Why couldn’t she have gone back to Dawson torest, like a normal just-shot person?

Cedar left her side to follow the tree linetoward Sebastian’s claim. The spring foliage soon hid him. Kalitook a few steps from the hole and put her back against a spruce.The undergrowth should hide her from anyone who came out of themine.

She closed her eyes for a moment, bothbecause looking at the bodies made her uncomfortable and becauseshe wanted to listen for suspicious noises.

Kali did not have long to wait. In the woodsbehind her, a soft click-whir grew audible. It repeated, steady andregular, like the ticking of a clock. Oddly, the sound seemed tocome not from the ground but from the trees, perhaps ten or twentyfeet in the air. It couldn’t be the flyer; she and Cedar hadcrashed that. The noises were not the same either.

She craned her neck, her eyes probing thecanopy. Though birds should have been chirping to welcome the dawn,no animal sounds drifted from the woods. Water rushed by in theriver, and a soft breeze rattled tree branches, but nothingwarm-blooded stirred.

Click-whir, click-whir, click-whir.

It was definitely coming from thetreetops.

Movement rustled a clump of needles high upon a spruce. Kali squinted. Another breeze? No. The other branchesremained still.

She chomped down on her lip, tempted toinvestigate, but she should wait for Cedar’s return. If that womanwas responsible-and who else would be out here with things thatclicked and clanked? — Kali would need help against her.

She checked on Sebastian’s camp and did notspot Cedar, but his packsack had disappeared. The first man wascrawling out of the mine entrance. Time to get going.

Something sharp stabbed Kali in the butt, andshe gasped in pain, almost dropping the drill. She glared behindher, thinking Cedar was playing a joke. The pain had been enough tobring a tear to her eye, and she planned to give him a mouthful ofvitriol.

Nobody stood behind her.

She patted her rump, expecting shrapnel or adart protruding from it. That had been too powerful to be a bugbite, especially given the thickness of her trousers.

Cedar slipped out of the foliage to her side,glanced at her hand placement, and raised an eyebrow.“Problem?”

She yanked her hand away from her backsideand glowered suspiciously at him, but the angle of his approach waswrong. Whatever had attacked her had come from behind. Behind andmaybe above.

Click-whir.

Kali lifted her eyes. Leaves shuddered.“Something’s up there.”

Cedar knelt beside her and plucked somethingfrom the mud. A tiny metal sphere, perhaps a third of the size ofan old musket ball, glinted in the palm of his hand.

Low voices came from the mine entrance.Another man had crawled out. Blood stained his sandy hair andsaturated his shirt.

Weariness dragged Kali’s shoulders down; shehad grown tired of this adventure and wanted to go back to the citywhere she could rely on the defenses in her workshop to protecther. And where no one need be injured. Or killed.

“We can go back to town,” Cedar said, perhapsguessing her thoughts. “Wilder…isn’t going to pan out. He isn’twith Cudgel any more.”

“Didn’t you say his head is worth money inits own right?”

“I’m not collecting on it. He says he’s gonestraight, and I believe him. He’s up here with his pregnant wifeand one-year-old son. They’re hoping to find enough gold to make afresh start.”

“Oh.” Kali did not know what Wilder had doneto earn his bounty, but she could not argue for killing a man witha new family to provide for. “Sorry the trip was a waste foryou.”

“Not a total waste. I got kissed.”

“By Wilder?”

Cedar snorted. “By you.”

“I know about that. I was just makingsure I didn’t have competition. This Wilder might be a looker.”

He waved away her goofy comments. “Wilder didsay he agreed with me in that Cudgel was probably on his way up toDawson. He’s too greedy to miss an opportunity like this.” Hespread a hand to indicate the river and the claims.

A thud sounded beside Kali’s ear, and shardsof bark flew off the tree beside her. A gouge appeared in thetrunk.

“Time to go,” Cedar said.

“Do we face the angry humans by the river orthe unknown somethings in the forest?”

“Your choice. I have ammo now.

“We can cut back to the trail through thetrees.” Kali glanced at Sebastian’s injured men. “I’m tired ofhurting people.”

“You want to hurt machines?” Cedar led theway into the forest.

“No, but I want to see them up close.”

“Even if they’re shooting at you?”

“I’m odd,” Kali said. “I know.” She wanted toknow what powered them and what directed them to move-and shoot.Nothing natural. That much she knew.

Something glided out of the branches. BeforeKali got a good look, burning pain lanced into her abdomen. Shehunched over, clutching her stomach. Again, the wound was notenough to break skin or rip clothing, but she would have a bruisebefore long.

“You all right?” Cedar gripped her shoulder.“I saw it. It’s a foot long and looks like a big butterfly withwings made of the same mesh as the flyer.”

“If you saw it, why didn’t you shoot it?”

“Don’t we want your friends to believe wewere caught in the cave-in?”

Right. Weapons fire would give them away.“All right,” she said, “let’s get out of here. That thing is aimingfor me.”

They broke into a jog with Cedar leading theway. Though no trail meandered through the forest, enough peoplehad clomped around their claims that Kali and Cedar could maneuverbetween the trees, following paths of trampled foliage. Theirfootfalls drowned out the click-whirs of the mechanicalcreature, but she feared it was not far behind. Between thepacksack bumping on her back and the drill snagging on branches,she was not moving quickly. More than once, Cedar glanced back andslowed his pace for her.

Without warning, another tiny projectilehammered Kali in the jaw.

“Tarnation!” she blurted, grabbing her chin.Without the protection of clothing, that one hurt more than theothers. Warm blood dribbled through her fingers. “How’d it get infront of us?”

“I don’t know. Another quarter mile, and I’llrisk a shot.”

They kept running. Though the balls did notcause overbearing pain, the face shot made Kali aware of thepossibility of getting one in the eye.

The next stab of pain came from the side. Shegrowled in frustration and gritted her teeth.

Sword in hand, Cedar darted in front of herand crashed into the undergrowth. He leaped into the air andwhipped the blade upward so quickly Kali could not track its path.Metal clashed against metal, and something slammed into a treetrunk. Her eyes finally caught up with the action when thecontraption clattered to the ground.

“Keep running,” Cedar said. “There’s morethan one.”

But she sprinted over to check out thedevice. It was worth a few more balls in the butt if she could takeone home to study.

The winged, bronze and steel creature had afinely wrought carapace, and Cedar’s blade had sliced its body inhalf. When she picked up a piece, its lightness surprised her.

“Go, go.” Cedar pulled her to her feet andgave her a shove.

He was staring past her shoulder, and sherisked a glance before running the direction he indicated. And shegulped. No fewer than ten of the flying creatures were descendingfrom the trees and angling toward her, like a swarm of bees.

Still clutching the broken one, she tookCedar’s advice and ran. There were no clear trails, and shestumbled on roots and rocks. Branches whipped her face and snaggedher hair. She almost dropped the drill, but she did not have timeto dig the flash gold out, and she refused to leave a piece ofthat on the forest floor.

Footsteps thundered behind her. Cedar.

“They’re staying out of sword reach,” hesaid.

“They’re smart.”

“Flash gold smart?” He must have alsorealized no natural explanation could account for the autonomouscreations.

“Maybe.” Flash gold was her father’sinvention, and she did not think much of it was out there in theworld, if any. She had read of witches animating inanimate objectsand controlling them, and thought that a more likely explanationfor the swarm, but she could not be sure. She lacked the breath toshare her speculations.

Cedar grunted, then cursed. He was runningdirectly behind her and taking the hits.

“You don’t have to…do that,” she said.

The effort of holding the pace was catchingup with her. Without the packsack, she would have an easier time,but she was unwilling to leave her tools behind. She could havedropped the drill or the metal carcass, but she might find anotheruse for the former, and she had to check out the latter assoon as there was time. This woman’s work was incredible.

“Veer right,” Cedar said. “The river bendsahead, and we’ll run into some rapids if we keep goingstraight.”

“It’d be nice if…someone would have…madea trail for us.”

“We’ll meet up with it soon.”

When Kali tried to follow his instructionsand run right, movement in that direction made her falter. Two ofthe creatures swooped out of the canopy.

Cedar’s rifle cracked. One of the constructsflew backward, smashing into a tree. The other returned fire. Thebullet was too small to track, but Cedar cursed and dropped hisrifle. He snatched it up and caught up with Kali.

“They’re herding us,” he said.

Yes, she was getting that feeling. “To cornerus…at the river? I’m hot and tired enough to jump in and…takemy chances with the current.”

“With all that gear?” Irritating thathe did not sound out of breath. “You’d sink like a goldbar.”

Before she could think of a retort, the treesand undergrowth ended, and she stumbled onto a granite bank, dampwith spray. In the center of the river, white rapids frothed andchurned, but Kali’s gaze went to a shallow niche filled with calm,dark water-and a brown-clad figure standing in a metal boat. No,not a boat. The lower half of the flying machine, the half they hadnot found in the wreckage. The furnace and boiler appearedundamaged, and puffs of gray wafted from a narrow smokestack. Somesort of screw-style propeller kept theflying-machine-turned-land-vehicle-turned-boat from drifting outinto the rapids.

Kali slowed down, not sure what to do next.Stop and talk? God knew she was curious about this woman. Or turnright and run downriver, taking her chances navigating thetreacherous slabs of rock framing the waterway?

Cedar had no trouble deciding what to do: hefired his rifle.

The transparent barrier still protected thepiloting area, but since the woman was standing, her torso roseabove it. The bullet slammed into her chest. Or it should have. Itclacked, as if hitting rock, and ricocheted off without the figurereacting. Actually she did react. She tilted her head and gaveCedar a look that managed to convey, even with goggles covering hereyes, pity for such a simple creature whose only solution toproblems was gunfire.

He seemed to get that message too for hegrowled like a bear roused early from hibernation.

Click-whirs grew audible over the roarof the rapids. The flying constructs drew closer, forming a tightsemicircle at Kali and Cedar’s backs. One buzzed a couple of feetfrom her ear.

“What do you think of my cicadas?” the figurecalled. The head wrapping did not cover the speaker’s lips, so thevoice came out clearly. It definitely belonged to a woman, an olderwoman, Kali guessed. “Incase you’re thinking of fleeing, I shouldinform you that you’ve experienced only Setting One of theirfirepower. There are three settings.”

“Who are you?” Kali asked. Maybe thequestion should have been, “What are you?”

Though the voice and the swell of a bosombeneath the brown wrapping made femininity clear, Kali struggled tobelieve this was a mere woman. Cedar had shot her the daybefore-they had seen blood-but no sling cradled the arm, nordid the figure appear wounded now.

“Who do you think I am?” the woman asked, asmile in her voice.

Kali glanced at Cedar, but his face wasmasked, and he said nothing.

“A witch who studied engineering?” Kali saidto the woman. “Or an engineer who studied witching.”

“Witching.” The woman chuckled.

“Oh, good,” Kali muttered. “I amuse her.”

“Your first guess is most accurate.” Shesmirked. “Huzzah.”

“And what do you want with me?” Kali asked.“It is me, right? I couldn’t help but notice your littlebutterflies had a fixation for my bottom.”

“I’m here to kill you.”

Cedar took a step forward, his knuckles whitewhere he gripped his rifle. “If you try, I’ll kill you first.”

“Not likely, dear,” the woman said. “Youdon’t seem too bright.”

“Why?” Though Kali did not think Cedar wouldbe rash enough to charge the woman, she put a hand on his armanyway. The hard knotted muscles beneath the sleeve testified tothe tension in his body. “Why kill me? Most people just want tokidnap me. Which is a might inconvenient, too, but preferable todeath.”

She eyed the woman’s vessel as she spoke,mulling over a way to sink it or push it out into the rapids. Ifthey could manage that, the river might sweep their foe milesdownstream before the woman could pull herself to shore. That wouldgive her and Cedar time to escape. But if the “cicadas” truly had asetting three times as powerful as the one she had already felt,she might be filled with holes before she could reach the shallowsand the boat.

The woman’s gaze fixed on the drill. Kali hadturned it off, but the flake of flash gold continued to glow, as itwould for all eternity unless someone destroyed it. Maybe it wasvisible from the boat.

“The secret of flash gold must die,” thewoman said.

Ah, yes, visible from the boat indeed.

“Most people want the secret,” Kalisaid, “which I don’t have, by the way, so there’s no need to killme. As far as I know, nobody living has the secret.”

Kali subtly poked through the innards of thebroken cicada, looking for a clue that might let her nullify themall. If they were decommissioned somehow, charging the boat mightbe a less foolish proposition. Her fingers tingled as she touchedsome of the fine gears. Magic?

Cedar watched her hands through hoodedeyes.

“You know how it’s made even if you lack thepower to imbue it,” the woman said. “You’ve studied your father’snotes, I’m sure.”

“Notes?” Kali said. “Was he supposed to leavenotes? He must have forgotten. He was busy dying.”

“Ezekiel kept excellent notes. I know. I washis research partner for more than ten years.”

Kali blinked. “You knew my father?” She hadnever met anyone outside of Moose Hollow who did. Old Ezekiel haddone a good job of falling off the map when he came north. IfSebastian had not blabbed to the wrong people, all thesetroublemakers would never have known of her existence.

“Yes, did he never speak of me? Amelia?”

“No.”

“That figures,” the woman said, voice likeice. She-Amelia-picked up something. A small bronze box. Some sortof controller for the cicadas? Had she grown tired of chatting?

“My father didn’t speak to me aboutanything,” Kali said, trying to buy more time. She went back toprodding the wreckage of the broken cicada. “If you were lovers orsomething, he might still have cared. I just wasn’t…a confidantof his. He barely acknowledged me.”

“Because you lack power, I imagine. If thearrogant coot hadn’t been obsessed over looks, we mighthave…”

She did not finish, but Kali could guess.They might have had a child. So, this was some spurned woman herfather had not chosen for a lover. Maybe Amelia wanted Kali deadfor more reasons than flash gold.

“Sorry, he didn’t love you,” Kali said. “Butit’s not my fault. Killing me won’t-”

“It will ensure no more flash gold is evermade,” Amelia snarled. “It’s bad enough that it exists at all, butnow that gangsters know about it, they’ll not stop until theycapture you and wring its recipe from your brain. They’ll findsomeone who can imbue it, and the world will suddenly have powerenough that countries can destroy each other without ever fieldingan army.”

Kali’s probing in the broken cicada revealeda small cracked compass. “Don’t you think flash gold has power forgood? To be used as an energy source? It’s more efficient thanburning coal or wood and-”

“Don’t lecture me, child. I know what it is.I helped invent it. And then I watched as the first experimentburned half of a town and killed dozens of people. I wascaught in that fire.”

For the first time, Amelia lifted a hand toher face and pushed up her goggles. She used her left hand. Maybethat bullet in her right shoulder had hurt after all.

Next she removed the wrapping, letting itfall about her neck like a scarf. Short graying blonde hair frameda narrow face with a pointed chin. She might have been pretty once,but shiny scar tissue ran up and down the right side of her face,contorting her features.

“I have that lodestone with me,” Cedarwhispered, and Kali realized he had been watching her finger thecompass. “Wrapped up in the bottom of my pack.”

Kali caught on immediately. If the cicadasused the compasses for navigation, a lodestone, with its magneticproperties, might be enough to throw them off by a hair. A hairmight be all they needed. “Get it,” she whispered back. “Hook it onthe lead one’s wings.”

She tossed the broken machine aside, and tooka couple of steps toward Amelia, placing herself to block thewoman’s view of Cedar. “I’m sorry you were injured, but look.” Kaliheld out the drill with both hands. “Flash gold is a brilliantinvention. It needn’t be used as a weapon. I’ve used it for toolsand plan to use it for transportation. I’m sure there are a millionways it could make people’s lives better.”

“It would only take one unscrupulous personto use it to destroy the world,” Amelia said. “It’s too dangerousto keep around.”

“We just have to make sure it doesn’t fallinto an unscrupulous person’s hands. If we worked together we coulddo that. You have no idea how much I’d like to learn from you. I’venever had a teacher.” Kali was buying time, yes, but the ache ofsincerity in her voice surprised her.

It must have surprised Amelia too for shefrowned thoughtfully at Kali. Might she consider it?

“It’s true I’ve no magical gifts,” Kali wenton, “so I couldn’t make the alchemical potions or whatever you usedto heal yourself and deflect that bullet…” She raised hereyebrows. She was guessing since she had little knowledge ofwitchery, but Amelia nodded slightly. “I’m told I’m a fair tinkererthough.” Kali juggled the drill so she could remove her packsack.“I love to make things. I can show you some of my handmadetools.”

“I was impressed by your vehicle,”Amelia admitted. “Nobody taught you, you say?”

“I’ve had to learn it all on my own.” Kalitook another step. If Cedar gave her a chance, she would have tosprint forward and act before Amelia had time to think upsomething. “This drill isn’t fancy since I only had a couple ofminutes to make it, but it shows you the potential flash gold hasfor useful things.”

Amelia’s face hardened. Mentioning the goldagain had been a mistake.

“No,” Amelia said. “It’s too dangerous. And,because you know its secrets and criminals know of you,you’re too dangerous.”

A clunk sounded behind her. Cedar tossing thelodestone at one of the flying creatures?

Before she could turn around to check, metalclashed. He was attacking the cicadas. That was her cue.

Kali sprinted toward the water, gripping thedrill in both hands.

Amelia sneered and pushed a lever on hercontrol box.

With the river roaring in her ears, Kalicould not hear the click-whirs of the machines, but she knewCedar could not take them all down at once. They would be pursuing.Pursuing and shooting.

Balls hammered the granite bank, bouncing offlike hail. None struck Kali, but she sprinted faster anyway.

Three strides from the shallows, she touchedthe flash gold flake with her thumb to turn on the drill. Cedarsurprised her by running past her. He leaped into the air, clearlyhoping to jump over the shield on the boat and land on Amelia. Shesaw him coming, though, and hurled something. A small black ballexpanded into a net, entrapping him in a heartbeat.

Kali splashed into the shallows, high-kneeingit to the back of the boat.

Though the net entangled Cedar, his momentumtook him into the pilot’s seat. He crashed down on top of Amelia,who shrieked in anger.

Kali reached her destination, the furnace andboiler at the back of the boat, but frigid water reached to herchest, and a strong current tugged at her body. She spread herlegs, trying to brace herself on the slick bottom. She would needleverage if she meant to succeed at her task. Something akin to acat fight was taking place in the pilot’s seat, with both peopletangled in the net.

“Cedar!” Kali called. “Get out of there!”

Stones shifted and moved beneath her feet,and the current threatened to suck her into the rapids, but shefound a big rock to brace her boot against.

Amelia screamed in pain.

A splash sounded-Cedar obeying her order.Good.

Kali closed her eyes, tucked her chin, andpressed the drill to the side of the boiler. As soon as she feltthe tip pierce the metal casing, she dove down, hoping the waterwould provide her some protection from the-

Boom!

Even though she knew what to expect, she hadno way to defend against the raw power of the boiler failure. Thewater did little to soften the blast wave, and it hurled her intothe stony river bottom. Her back slammed against the rocks. Herbreath escaped in a burst of bubbles.

For a dazed moment, she could do nothing. Thecurrent swept her off the rocks, and she forced her stunned limbsto work. She kicked and stroked, hoping she was angling toward thesurface, but the powerful water defied her efforts. It swept herout of the shallows and into the rapids where she picked upspeed.

She clawed her way to the top only to bebattered against a sharp rock. She managed a gasp of air, but thetorrent forced her underwater again. More rocks barred her way, andshe bounced between them until her hand caught on something.

Rope?

If so, it was narrow, but she wasn’t going tocomplain. She twined her fingers around it and lunged for anotherpiece with the other hand. Not rope, a net.

As soon as she gripped it with both hands,she felt herself being hauled out of the current. Her head brokethe water. Rivulets streamed into her eyes, but she dared not letgo to wipe them, so she merely trusted it was Cedar.

The current lessened, and her knee bumpedagainst the bottom. Shallow water. She heaved a sigh of relief.

Strong hands gripped her by the armpits andpulled her out of the water. Before she could so much as wipe hereyes, she found herself crushed into a soggy hug. She did not relaxinto the embrace immediately; she craned her neck, searching forAmelia and the vessel. Kali had been swept a good hundred metersdownriver, and she could barely see the bank where she’d started,but she squinted and spotted a couple of cicadas, flying around,lost. One crashed into a tree and went down. Others were alreadysmashed into the ground. Kali did not see Amelia or the boat.

“You sank it,” Cedar said. “She wentdownriver in the rapids. I got her with my sword through the net,but it wasn’t a mortal blow. I don’t know if we’ve seen the last ofher or not.”

“The last of her for today, I hope.”

Kali let herself slump against Cedar forsupport and warmth. Now that she was no longer thrashing to escapethe current, shivers coursed through her body. Though May lackedthe harsh bite of a Yukon winter, it held no warmth either, and acold breeze needled her through sodden clothing.

Cedar released her. “We better fetch our gearand get out of the area before those prospectors come looking forus.”

“Agreed.” Kali jumped up and down. Her teethchattered.

“Did you bring a change of clothing?” Cedarasked. “Or only tools?”

“Of course I brought clothing, and don’t youpick on me about how I packed. Not when you brought a rock.”

“A lodestone.” He grinned. “And it came inhandy, didn’t it?”

She tamped down her own grin and sniffed.“Moderately, I suppose.”

“You’re still a hard lady to please, Isee.”

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

EPILOGUE

Kali lined the crosshairs up with theman-shaped target tacked to the wall of her workshop. This wasgoing to make a mess. She ought to test the device outside, but shedid not want to explain it to passersby. More people were streaminginto Dawson every day, and it was hard to walk out the door withouttripping over someone.

Her finger found the trigger, and she tappedit. The weapon responded perfectly. A chunk of potato shot from thebroad wooden barrel, sailing across the workshop until it thuddedinto the neck of her target.

“Spud to the jugular.” Kali lowered theweapon. “Embarrassing way to go.”

Her front door creaked open, and Cedar duckedinside. Milos, she reminded herself, determined to start callinghim by his real name.

Clean-shaven and dressed in a nicebutton-down shirt, he strolled toward her. He gave the SAB a pat onthe way by-it had taken her an entire day to fix it up so she couldbring it home-and halted when he spotted the potato launcher.

“You made one?” A grin split his face as hereached out to touch it. “I didn’t truly expect you to… Can I tryit?”

“Of course. You didn’t think I’d makesomething so silly for myself, did you?” Kali put it in his handsand grabbed the other half of her potato. “It’s like an old muzzleloader. You stuff your ammo in through the barrel. It’s bladed soit’ll shave your spud down if it’s too big. Then you need to crankthat lever a few times. It pumps air into the large-volume chamberwhere it builds up pressure. When you pull the trigger, thatcontrols the dump valve and…” A concerned furrow creased Cedar’sbrow so she stopped the explanation, pumped the lever, and pointed.“Just pull the trigger.”

“I may not be bright enough for this one,” hesaid dryly.

“No, no, you knew about the lodestone, andyou set a still to blow up in about thirty seconds. I don’t evenknow how you did that. You’re smart.”

His eyebrows flew up. “Did you justcompliment me?”

“Er, maybe.”

“Huh.”

Cedar pointed the spud gun, but did not fireright away. He met her eyes. “I just saw Bosomhall limping up thestreet, his arm in a sling.”

“Oh,” Kali said, not certain how shefelt.

She had wondered if he made it out alive. Onthe one hand, she did not hate anyone enough to wish death on aperson. On the other hand…it would have been better for her ifSebastian had never returned from the wilderness. Before, greed hadmotivated him to strike at her. Now, revenge might addextra…color to his plans for her.

“I thought you should know,” Cedar said.

“Yes, thank you.” Kali pushed aside herworries for another time. “Are you going to try that thing, ornot?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He lifted it, aimed, and fired. The potatochunk soared across the workshop and took the target in the eye. Itwas amazing that someone so tall, muscular, and battle-hardenedcould grin like a school boy, but he managed it.

“Accurate, good velocity, nice.” He loweredthe gun, and his grin softened to something warm and intimate.

She blushed, remembering their kiss, andstuffed her hands in her overall pockets while studying the floor.“So, uhm, sorry you didn’t get any closer to finding Cudgel.Blazes, we didn’t even get to collect a bounty on anyone upthere.”

“Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that.First, I need to apologize for getting you involved in that mess. Ididn’t realize just how despicable Bosomhall was. You never wouldhave walked into his trap if it hadn’t been my idea to use him andhis claim. Second…” Cedar drew a purse from within his duster,counted out a stack of Morgan silver dollars, and set them on herworkbench.

Kali scratched her head. “You’re not tryingto pay me for the spud launcher, are you?”

“No, that’s your fifty percent fromKoothrapai.”

“You don’t have to do that.” She eyed thestack, thought of the parts she could buy with it, and her fingerstwitched toward it. She forced those fingers back into her pocket.“You were right,” she made herself say. “I didn’t do anything, soit’s not fitting I get a cut.”

“No, you were right. We have a deal.Fifty-fifty on everything. And anyway…” He was the one to stickhis hands in his pockets now. “I didn’t get in this for the money.My reasons for hesitating to give you your share earlierwere…personal.”

“Oh?” What was he about? Kali tried to readhis face, but he was studying the floorboards.

“I was concerned that you’d get your airshipput together and leave the Yukon forever.”

“That is my plan,” she said.

“Without me,” Cedar added.

Kali blinked. “Oh. I didn’t realize that wasa concern of yours.”

“I can’t leave without getting Cudgel, and ifWilder spoke the truth, he’s either in Dawson or on his way. Thanksto the gold, I reckon half the world will be up here before long.He’s not going to miss out on it.”

“Uh huh. So, what you’re really saying isyou’d miss me if I left.”

He looked up from the floor. “That’s what I’msaying. Did you think I’d let someone I wasn’t partial to curl upin my Euklisia Rug?”

“I’ve known men who would curl up with justabout any woman.”

“But not in their expensive,mail-ordered-from-Wales Euklisia Rug.”

“So, I’m special?”

“Oh, I think you know that.” Cedar tapped thebarrel of the potato launcher.

“Well, yes, but not everyone appreciatesit.”

“I do. And I’d be honored if you’d accompanyme to the dancing hall tonight.”

Kali bit her lip to keep from grinning like afool. Then a realization struck. “I don’t have a dress!” Sebastianhad given her a couple-he’d said it was embarrassing to be seen inpublic with her when she was wearing her greasy work clothes, theass-but she hadn’t bothered to hunt for them after her home inMoose Hollow had been burglarized.

Cedar nodded to the stack of silver coins.“Perhaps you could purchase a suitable garment with yourearnings.”

“You want me to buy a dress with myairship money?”

“It was just a thought.”

She considered him for a moment, then pluckedat her grime-streaked overalls. “Would you dance with me if I worethis?”

“Of course.” His blue eyes crinkled. “Thoughnow that most of the snow has melted, nudity is an option too.”

“I’ll buy a dress.”

“If you insist.”

Content

Lindsay Buroker
Hunted

PART I

PART II

PART III

PART IV

EPILOGUE