Carol Hughes - Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves

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For my John

Jack Black ran up the hill and paused at the top to catch his breath.

Before him lay the airfield with its rust-colored airstrip, wooden buildings, canvas tents, herd of sheep (to keep the grass short), and tall mooring mast. Looming over it all was the giant airship hangar. The hangar was five hundred feet high and more than one thousand feet long. It was so huge it could create its own weather, but even so, it was only just big enough to house the Bellerophon, the largest airship in the world. Five times bigger than the biggest blimp and faster than an ocean liner, the Belle was magnificent. It was hard to see her full glory, housed in the hangar as she was with men swarming about her, obscuring her with their scaffolds and ladders. But Jack had seen her when she'd been out on test runs, when the helium in her gas cells lifted her high above the airfield. Then the sun had bounced off her silver skin and dazzled all who'd seen her. She was an aweinspiring sight, almost a thousand feet long and three hundred feet high, and, best of all, Jack's father, Captain Henry Hugo Black, was to be her captain.

Jack set off down the hill, but the sudden roar of a plane overhead made him stop and turn sharply.

The plane, a bright yellow Berger 17, shot past.

Gadfly! yelled Jack, waving frantically at the famous aviator's plane. Gadfly's back!

The yellow plane landed neatly, red dust from the airstrip rising behind it. By the time Jack reached the hangar, the yellow plane was taxiing to a stop.

Jack caught up with it and jumped onto the wing. He clung to the edge of the cockpit and laughed as he tried to pull the goggles off the pilot's face.

Gadfly, ya varmint, he yelled at the top of his lungs. I'm commandeering this plane. Hand it over!

Why, you little rotter, laughed Gadfly. I'll teach you to go climbing on my plane. He grabbed hold of the back of Jack's belt, pulled him into the cockpit headfirst, and began to wallop him on the backside with his big gloved hand. Putting your footprints all over the Viper's pretty wings. Blunt won't be happy having to clean this off.

With an effort, Jack pulled himself upright and shot a glance at Gadfly's mechanic, Blunt, who sat in the rear cockpit bundled in flying jacket, helmet, and goggles. All Jack could see of Blunt's face was his sour, down-turned mouth.

Hello, Blunt, said Jack cheerily. Didn't see you there. How are you?

Blunt just stared through Jack as though he didn't exist. Jack shrugged and leaned close to Gadfly's ear.

Blunt wouldn't be happy if he won a diamond tiara in a raffle.

Shhhh, hissed Gadfly. He's the best mechanic in the world, and I'm not going to lose him just because you don't like his looks. Besides, you never know, a tiara might suit him.

Jack burst out laughing again.

As Gadfly brought the plane into the shadow of the giant hangar, Jack jumped down and ran to see the Belle. He knew every inch of her by heart: the twenty-four engines arranged twelve along each side, the four tail fins, the main gondola suspended beneath her belly. He stared up at the men climbing over the hull and tried to imagine what it would be like when the airship was thousands of feet above the world, cutting through the clouds. The rudders on her tail fins would shift slightly, and the Belle would respond by turning in a wide, graceful arc. Jack smiled. Fast planes like Gadfly's were his first love for sure, but the Bellerophon was special in a different way.

How's she looking? shouted Gadfly as he climbed down off the Viper.

Fantastic! replied Jack. Come and see.

You've seen one airship, you've seen them all, laughed Gadfly. He leaned against the wing of his plane and wiped his hands on a rag.

She's almost ready for the launch, said Jack, rushing back to Gadfly's plane. That's next week, you know. Of course you know. You're going along, aren't you?

Gadfly frowned. Didn't your father give you his answer yet?

He promised to tell me when he gets back, Jack said. His plane should be here after tea. Jack pulled a face. If he isn't going to take me along, I wish he'd just come out and say so.

Jack, you know your father is a cautious man, said Gadfly, and you're his only son. Attempting to fly around the world on an airship is no small thing. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to you.

What could happen to me? said Jack. Even he says that airships are the safest way to fly. It's not as though I'd be flying a plane solo through a storm. Jack gazed up at the windswept sky. He longed to learn how to fly, but his father wouldn't teach him or even let him take lessons. Jack sighed. I don't think I'll be able to bear it if he says no. He's got to let me go. If he doesn't, I swear, I'll run away to sea.

Gadfly laughed and threw his rag at Jack. Your father will let you go. You just have to show him you're up to it. When he steps off that plane this evening, look him in the eye and ask him.

Couldn't you talk to him about it? Jack asked. He scooped the rag off the ground and wiped little circles over the Viper's wing.

No, I can't, replied Gadfly. Come on, now. What am I always telling you? You mean every man must make his own way in the world?

Exactly, and that means you have to ask your father, I can't do it for you. Now, come on and help me carry my bags to the Officers' Club, and I'll buy you a beer.

Jack's eyes lit up. You will?

Ha! Got you that time! Gadfly grinned and ruffled Jack's hair. Jack threw the rag at him as Gadfly set off at a run toward the Officers' Club.

Can't catch me, he laughed. Jack tried, but he couldn't. He gave up and dropped to the ground laughing.

Gadfly was so wonderful. Jack watched him as he ran back, threw himself into a forward roll, and landed next to Jack. Together, they lay on the ground and stared up at the sky.

Jack had known Gadfly all his life. Jack's father and Gadfly had been at school together, and they'd fought side by side in the last war. It seemed he was always at the house having dinner or just visiting. Until recently, of course. Since Jack's father had been made a captain, he hardly ever came to visit.

Gadfly sighed. Enough lying around, he said. Come on, give us a hand up.

Jack leaped up and grabbed Gadfly's hand, but as he pulled, he lost his grip and flew backward, colliding with Blunt, who had come up behind them. Blunt shoved him away.

Hey! Jack said. He spun around and caught the insolent look on Blunt's broad, greasy face. The mechanic had removed his leather flying helmet, and his damp dun-colored hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat. A thick red welt showed where his helmet had been too tight, and around his eyes were the imprints of the flying goggles.