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By Root 247 0

writing this, I am reminded of my journey to and from America, locked away in my cabin, feeling the ship move around me as it sailed the ocean. It was a long journey, both ways, and I was intensely ill both times. Although the “aetheric ocean” is quite unlike the oceans of Earth, many people have drawn a comparison between travelling the two. For one thing there is much less listing as we journey through the aether; I cannot feel the ship move around me, except for the slight vibration beneath my feet. And, although I fear I am not a swimmer by any means, I think would fair much better in water than I would in the emptiness of space. For that is all that surrounds me. And yet I do not feel nauseous as I did when I travelled to America; there is no tightening of my stomach, no overwhelming desire to deposit my breakfast onto the wooden planks that make up the floor.

Perhaps I am finding my aether-legs in a way I was never able to find my sea-legs. If this is so, then maybe, just maybe, I am suited for aether travel after all.

2.

“WHAT DO you know of The Agreement Governing State Activities on Luna, Professor?” Captain Folkard asked, once they were all seated.

Nathanial noticed a dark look thrown at Folkard by Lieutenant Bedford. Nathanial was not entirely convinced that such a look of annoyance suited the strong features of Bedford’s face. The captain seemed not to notice, or if he did he chose to pay it no mind. Nathanial mentally shrugged, and replied. “This would be The Luna Treaty? I believe it prohibits any one nation claiming rights to Luna, and prevents the establishment of any colony or research facility on the planetoid.”

Folkard nodded. “Quite succinct, Professor. Over the past year we have become aware of an increased Russian interest in Luna, but the British Government, though concerned, have been unwilling to investigate. Luna has been of very little interest to the British Empire ever since Edison and Armstrong found their way to Mars.”

“And now things have changed?”

“Indeed. Perhaps you are aware of Vladimir Tereshkov?”

Nathanial looked from Folkard to Bedford. It was quite clear that Bedford was not happy with the way this conversation was going, but he knew better than to question his captain in front of a guest. Now Nathanial understood why Folkard had dismissed the cabin boys once they had finished laying the captain’s table. The information about to be parted was not for the scuttlebutt. Clearly Folkard thought Nathanial needed to be aware of it, although the young scientist could not think why, and it appeared that the first officer was of the same opinion as Nathanial. Bedford was now looking at Nathanial with his dark piercing eyes. Nathanial held his eyes steely; there was something of a predator about Bedford, Nathanial thought, and he intrinsically knew that to show weakness would be a mistake.

“I am familiar with the name, Captain,” he said, inwardly sighing in relief as Bedford looked away. “I believe I have heard talk of him. A Russian nastavnik of some repute, unless I am mistaken?”

“Of some repute indeed. It will, no doubt, be of little surprise for you to learn that we have spies close to the Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias.”

“No surprise at all,” Nathanial agreed with a soft smile, “to learn Her Majesty’s Government has spies anywhere, Captain Folkard. Be it in the Russian courts or, indeed, in Arizona,” he concluded pointedly. This provoked a smile from Folkard, but only increased the frown on Bedford’s countenance. “Which is, of course, how I came to be conscripted to work at the Construction Yard in Chatham in the first place. British spies are quite good at what they do.”

Folkard raised his glass. “A toast to British spies, may they continue to serve the Empire and be ‘quite good’,” he said, and sipped the port within. Both Nathanial and Bedford joined him in the toast, and once their glasses were back on the table, the captain resumed. “Tereshkov was working for the Russian government; in 1887 he was at the forefront of their research on precision modulation of