Prologue

Tyson gazed out of the electric blue airship named Silver-Hawk as it drew closer and closer. He saw the airships small silver but still mighty harpoon glistening in the glazing sun, as the airship got ready for action. He heard the roar of the engine firing up like a burning, crackling beacon of fire. Tyson sensed danger, the engine was overheating it was going to blow. Staring to his master, Tyson shouted “For all the ticks making this world work, you should jump first, you are more important, Human before Mechanimals now JUMP!”

Chapter 1

Peering across the jagged concrete playground, making Southern Grammar Primary School for Girls look tiny, Esther Pebble ensured there was nobody to give her the familiar detention after school. Gingerly, Esther quietly clambered upwards against the chequered gate putting each foot in the holes. Soon she was over the gate in no time (although sadly she sprained her ankle while doing it but she did not care one bit) because she was free and away from that dreadful school. Once again she unfolded the letter and read through the horrible, horrific dreadful news. Esther’s Father, Johnathan Pebble was missing and his own airship, Ladylancer, crashed terribly and was easily destroyed with the harsh force smashing the bow of the ship. But Esther thought the last words in the letter was so strange and something her father would never say ‘Pick the correct rose to find the mystery.’ She thought to herself how does that make any sense to anyone, it’s impossible to get the right understanding of it. Many nights she had lain awake leaning gently against a Willow tree covered in red and orange leaves. Esther kept wondering what the saying might mean, but she had zero understanding of it so she left it for the night giving up. At the moment, Esther heard a strong, loud and even irritating puff of cold breath, soon enough a well known face appeared from behind a Silver Burch tree. “By every tocks and ticks, you have been taken a clogging long time to get out of that horrid prison.” shouted Tyson, “Also this is a big favour but give me a little wiz-waz on the old winder will you? I have used up the largest piece of energy ever escaping from them dreadful little scally-wags: Esther broke a timid smile as she carefully wound up the ice cold key, and Tyson gave a giant huff and puff of satisfaction. Tyson’s raven black fur was lightly singed by the crash of the airship, besides that he was as fine as his normal grumpy self.

That late afternoon, James (Esther’s old friend) was bewildered to see A mini bull sitting by Esther’s shoulder. “Why are you in Regret Alley” James asked suspiciously. “Don’t know but even so why are you lurking around here.” Esther replied with a stern voice. Changing the subject Tyson nudged Esther making her push him away. James said very quickly and sharply, “Your Mothers vase is probably back in the OLD house you know which one.” Esther and James exchanged a small smile. “Back to the old house shall we!” said James “Well then let’s go back to the house shall we.” Let’s go!!!

Chapter 2

Brackenbridge Manor stood proud and silent. Worrying, Esther glanced up at her father’s study room Weirdly there was no glint in the window of the burning fire nestled in the corner of the room. From outside of the house autumn infected leaves skated around the driveway, it was like they were performing a special dance, the skeleton like trees swished and swayed in the gentle cold breeze. Esther pulled out her hair pin and rattled it into the lock, a couple of seconds later the was a warming click in the door. The door squealed open usually there would be the warmth of the heater but all the was, was cold air beckoning Esther into the Manor the breeze was extremely unwelcoming. Inside the manor, dark gloomy shadows blanketed every sun-kissed space in the room.

Esther and James bounded upstairs to Esther’s old welcoming bedroom. Everything was still in perfect condition and it was how she left it before leaving to the dreaded boarding school she despised. Her ornate books was still and the correct shelf and her drawings was still carefully placed in Esthers favourite drawer. Esther posters was still pinned to the wall covering the plain white wallpaper which she found soothing. With a sigh of relief, Esther could see her Mother’s Vase perched on her own bedside table. Curiously, James carefully cradled the vase and searched the outside, sides and inners trying to look a bit more smart. Tyson sniffed and puffed around to look for any juicy clues. Suddenly, James yelled and said “I’ve got something I really have it looks as though it is a diagram but it is glued down.” James started scraping and peeling off the glue finally James got hold of one edge of the glue. He ripped it off furiously, but while he was doing that he was scrunching up the blueprint like diagram. Unfolding it Esther peered over the top of Tyson, trying to spot anything.

Stuttering James said “It looks as though it is trying to show you how to make a Moon and Wind powered Hot-Air Balloon.” “The price people would pay for it would be life changing amounts” Esther blurted out pushing Tyson away, and snatching the diagram from James. It would put many shops and stores out of business for life. This is crazy. No wonder your father has so many enemies.

So this is what all the fuss is about.

“Indeed” came a suspicious voice from the corridor outside of the room. Instantly, Esther recognised the tone of voice, it was her father’s old annoying friend, Doctor Bronzehawk. He stroked his jet black cane and smiled, sadly it was not a kind welcoming smile, it was a dead smile. It lacked everything which could possibly be nice and good in this world. “I have been preparing for you to lead me to your father’s design.” scowled Doctor Bronzehawk. I knew he hidden it somewhere away from my grasp, but now it is as close as ever. Because of you two vagabonds.

“And I will be snatching that off you if you don’t mind.” he said in a stern voice. A couple of minutes later, Esther and James were locked into an old coal-collecting shed. James couldn’t stop coughing, and Esther could not blame him. There was only the smallest window ever to peer out and spot what that double crossing man is doing. To make matters even worse he locked it so tight that the pressure over-powers everything, you can’t open it. “That man” Esther quietly said fervently.

“We will never get out of this silly place, never ever, ever” Shouted James placing himself on a small coal stack bunched up in the corner, while wiping his dirty coal covered hands.

“Oh we will get out of here if it is the last thing I ever do” Esther said trying to be as positive as she could. “We are going to escape today, and collect my fathers drawing like design and rescue my father as well as that. Got it.”

“Ha, good luck with that plan” James mumbled to himself looking at the floor, but all James could feel was a large sense of dread.